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[Call to Order]
I'LL CALL TO ORDER THE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.IT'S 10:00 AM ON MAY 16TH, 2024.
WE ARE MEETING IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, WHICH IS LOCATED AT.
THE CHAMBERS ARE LOCATED IN CITY HALL, WHICH IS AT 301 WEST SECOND STREET.
AND WE HAVE A QUORUM OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL PRESENT.
MEMBERS. THE ORDER FOR THE DAY IS THAT WE WILL HEAR SPEAKERS, BOTH VIRTUAL AND IN PERSON, ON OUR AGENDA ITEMS. I WILL READ MOMENTARILY CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS INTO THE RECORD, AND THEN WHAT WE WILL DO IS WE WILL OPEN PUBLIC HEARINGS WITH REGARD TO EACH OF THE ITEMS AND THE ORDER THAT I INTEND FOR US TO GO IS THE ORDER THAT I TALKED ABOUT DURING THE WORK SESSION THAT DIDN'T REALLY WORK IN LAYING OUT AMENDMENTS, AND WE'LL TAKE THEM UP IN NUMERICAL ORDER AT THE TIME WE TAKE VOTES.
BUT FOR PURPOSES OF THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP ON SPECIFIC ITEMS, WE WILL GO IN THE ORDER OF ITEM SIX, ITEM THREE, ITEM FIVE, ITEM FOUR, ITEM ONE, AND ITEM SEVEN.
WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARINGS.
WE WILL HAVE. ONCE WE CLOSE ALL THE PUBLIC HEARINGS, WE WILL TAKE ACTION.
AND I WANT TO CLARIFY AT THIS TIME THAT ANYONE THAT'S REGISTERED TO SPEAK ON MULTIPLE ITEMS WILL BE CALLED WHEN WE TAKE UP THAT ITEM. IN OTHER WORDS, WHEN WE JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR, WHEN WE TAKE UP ITEM NUMBER SIX, YOU WILL BE CALLED UPON.
IF YOU SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER SIX.
NOW YOU MAY BE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THREE, FIVE, FOUR AND ONE AS WELL.
BUT WE'RE GOING TO JUST HEAR YOU ON ITEM SIX.
BUT I'M GOING TO TRY TO KEEP KEEP US IN A SITUATION WHERE WE STAY ON THE ITEMS THEMSELVES.
WE WILL, AT NOON, HAVE OUR TIME, CERTAIN PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
AND THEN THE INTENTION WILL BE THAT WE WILL AT ROUGHLY 1230 BASED UPON THE WAY WE DO THAT, 1230 TO 1235, WE WILL RECESS AT THE END OF THAT PUBLIC TESTIMONY AND PUBLIC COMMENT, AND WE WILL COME.
WE'LL RECESS UNTIL 1:00, AND WE WILL COME BACK AT 1:00, AND WE WILL CONTINUE AS WE GO FORWARD.
MEMBERS I WANT TO MENTION ONE THING FOR THE PUBLIC AND Y'ALL AND JUST TRANSPARENCY.
ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT I AND FOR YOUR INFORMATION ON ITEM NUMBER THREE ON TUESDAY, WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT IT, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I TALKED ABOUT WAS ONE OF MY AMENDMENTS REQUIRED MAPPING, AND WITHOUT THE MAPPING, YOU COULDN'T MOVE ON IT.
STAFF HAS MOVED RAPIDLY AND PUT TOGETHER THOSE MAPS.
ALL OF THOSE MAPS ARE OR WILL BE SHORTLY IN THE BACKUP, SO THERE'S NO NEED FOR A POSTPONEMENT.
IT WILL BE A VERSION TWO OF THE AMENDMENT BASED UPON THE MAPS THAT WILL BE IN THE BACKUP.
AND I JUST WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW THAT IN ANTICIPATION, BECAUSE IT ALSO MAY IMPACT HOW PEOPLE COMMENT ON ON THE ITEMS. SO WITH THAT, LET ME READ CORRECTIONS AND CHANGES INTO THE RECORD.
ITEM NUMBER TWO IS WITHDRAWN AND REPLACED WITH ITEMS FOUR THROUGH SEVEN ON THE ADDENDUM.
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO IS WITHDRAWN AND PLACED WITH ITEMS FOUR THROUGH SEVEN ON THE ADDENDUM AGENDA.
WITH THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS, WITHOUT OBJECTION, LET ME MENTION WE HAVE A COUPLE OF FOLKS THAT ARE VIRTUAL FOR SPECIFIC REASONS THAT THEY'RE VIRTUAL AND AND THEY WILL BE PARTICIPATING ALTHOUGH VIRTUALLY.
SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF THAT.
SO THANK THANK THOSE THOSE MEMBERS.
WITH THAT, AND WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER SIX.
[6. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance amending City Code Title 25 (Land Development) to revise regulations that apply to lots with one housing unit, including small lots, and flag lots (also known as HOME Phase 2). (Part 1 of 3)]
AND I WILL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK FOR HELP NAVIGATING THE PUBLIC COMMENT.FIRST SPEAKER ON ITEM SIX IS AN ADELIA OBREGON.
GOOD MORNING, I'M OLIVIA OBREGON AND DISTRICT TEN, AND I SUPPORT ITEM SIX.
I LIKE THE FACT THAT IT LOWERS LOT SIZE.
THERE IS A MINIMUM ALLOWED IF YOU WANT TO BUILD SOMETHING.
I LIKE THE IDEA OF BEING ABLE TO BUILD A GRANNY FLAT BEHIND MY HOUSE.
WE NEED TO BE CREATIVE IN ALLOWING FOR MORE DENSE CONSTRUCTION.
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AND I SUPPORT THIS ITEM.HI. GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS AND MR. MAIER. THIS IS ARIF PANJU WITH THE INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE AND IN OUR TEXAS OFFICE, AND ALSO A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE.
THE CITY. IN LOOKING AT REDUCING THE MANDATORY MINIMUM LOT SIZE.
AND THAT WAS A LONG HISTORICAL GROUNDING FOR A LOT OF THE PROPERTY RIGHTS THAT ARE PROTECTED UNDER OUR STATE CONSTITUTION, AND DIVISION AMONGST OUR POPULATION REALLY BENEFITED FROM IMPOSING MANDATORY MINIMUMS, INCLUDING MANDATORY MINIMUM LOT SIZES.
BUT REDUCING IT SIGNIFICANTLY IS THE NEXT STEP, AND WE ARE IN FAVOR OF THAT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER IS BARBARA EPSTEIN.
HELLO. MY NAME IS BARBARA EPSTEIN, AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE HANCOCK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
IF YOU'RE SO INTERESTED IN AFFORDABILITY, WHY HAVEN'T YOU DEALT WITH VACANT HOUSES? I LEARNED OF THREE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD JUST NORTH OF UT WITH HOLES IN THEIR ROOFS.
CITY STAFF SAYS THERE ARE 19,757 VACANT HOUSES.
WHY HAVEN'T YOU DONE SOMETHING ABOUT THEM FIRST? WHY HAVE YOU KEPT CITY ORDINANCES THAT HAVE PREVENTED HOMEOWNERS FROM CREATING AFFORDABLE UNITS IN THEIR BACKYARDS BY CONVERTING SINGLE STORY DETACHED GARAGES OR GUEST COTTAGES ON 10,000 SQUARE FOOT LOTS IN THE LEGAL AID USE.
ALTHOUGH THE CITY HAS LOOKED THE OTHER WAY WHEN AN ABSENTEE OWNER DID IT.
FINALLY THERE ARE 701 SPARKS AVENUE U AND THE LANDMARK COMMISSION LET AN ABSENTEE OWNER WITH 11 OTHER PROPERTIES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD DEMOLISH IT, EVEN THOUGH THE CITY HAD RECOMMENDED IT FOR THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES, AND 71 NEIGHBORS SIGNED LETTERS SUPPORTING PRESERVATION TO ADD INJURY TO INSULT. THE DEMOLITION MAY HAVE POLLUTED ADJACENT WATER AND SOIL IN EASTWOOD'S PARK.
THAT SHOWS HOW YOU'RE LISTENING TO THE AUSTIN PUBLIC.
I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT TEN AND I AM IN FAVOR OF THIS MOTION.
I AM A RESIDENT OF COOPERATIVE HOUSING AND THIS COULD ONLY BE DONE.
WILL THE EXPANSION OF COOPERATIVE HOUSING CAN ONLY BE DONE IF WE REDUCE THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE OR REFORM THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE? THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS BILL SPELLMAN.
HELLO, THIS IS ANNE CHARLOTTE PATTERSON.
I'M OPPOSED TO THESE MEASURES UNTIL AN ANTI-DISPLACEMENT AND AFFORDABILITY OVERLAY.
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IT HAS BEEN PRESENTED AND IMPLEMENTED DUE TO THE RAPID GENTRIFICATION AND DISPLACEMENT OF RESIDENTS IN AUSTIN.MA. OVERTON? YES. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE.
I LIVE IN THE BLACKLAND NEIGHBORHOOD IN EAST AUSTIN.
AND ALTHOUGH I DIDN'T GROW UP HERE, I LIVED IN EAST AUSTIN FOR 30 YEARS.
AND MY FAMILY HAS A LONG HISTORY HERE IN AUSTIN.
I'M THE NIECE OF VOLMA OVERTON SENIOR, WHO WAS A CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER AND PRESIDENT OF THE AUSTIN NAACP CHAPTER FOR MANY YEARS, THE COUSIN OF RICHARD OVERTON, WHO HAD MANY NOTE BECAUSE OF HIS LONGEVITY OF LIVING 112 YEARS AND HIS WORLD WAR TWO SERVICE.
I HAVE A STRONG FAMILY CONNECTION HERE.
MY MOTHER GREW UP IN BLACKLAND AND CURRENTLY LIVE HERE NOW, SO IT'S WITH DEEP FAMILY CONNECTIONS.
ALSO STRONG TIES TO THE EAST AUSTIN AREA IN PARTICULAR THAT I'M ASKING YOU TO OPPOSE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE HOME PHASE TWO AND THE 2024 MASTER PLAN.
THE PLAN, AS IT IS CURRENTLY WRITTEN, IS VERY INVESTOR MARKET DRIVEN WITH NO AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS, AND IT'S NOT TRULY AFFORDABLE HOUSING REQUIREMENTS. THE PLANS WILL NOT IMPROVE THE AFFORDABILITY FOR AUSTIN'S LOW INCOME HOME OWNERS AND RENTERS IMPACTED BY THE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS.
WITHOUT AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS, THOSE WITH THE MOST MONEY OUR REAL ESTATE INVESTORS WILL BE THE ONES TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE ABILITY TO BUILD MULTIPLE UNITS ON ONE PROPERTY. I'VE SEEN THIS HAPPEN ON THE ON ON THE STREET THAT I LIVE ON.
THAT WAS A SINGLE LOT FAMILY HOME THAT WAS SUBDIVIDED INTO FOUR UNITS, FOUR HOMES.
NONE OF THOSE HOMES WERE AFFORDABLE.
THEY ALL WERE SOLD IN MARKET MARKET RATES.
SO I'M NOT SPEAKING HYPOTHETICALS.
I MYSELF YOU KNOW, EACH YEAR WHEN I GET THAT PROPERTY TAX BILL AND IT HAS GONE UP INCREMENTALLY EVERY YEAR, I'M WONDERING, IS THIS GOING TO BE THE YEAR THAT I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO PAY THAT INCREASE? I ALSO SEE THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS.
I'M FORTUNATE TO BE A FIFTH GENERATION OWNER OF PROPERTY THAT I WOULD LIKE TO BUILD ON.
HOWEVER, I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO BUILD HOUSING THAT WOULD BE AFFORDABLE FOR SOMEONE AND NOT HAVE TO TRY TO, YOU KNOW, STRUGGLE TO GET FINANCING AND THEN HAVE TO PAY EXORBITANT CHARGE, EXORBITANT RENTS FOR SOMEONE TO LIVE IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO I UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR MORE HOUSING.
I UNDERSTAND THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE OKAY WITH INCREASED DENSITY, BUT I'M ASKING THAT YOU DO NOT PASS THIS WITHOUT FIRST PASSING THE EQUITY DISPLACEMENT OVERLAY THAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO COUNCIL.
I KNOW THAT THERE IS A PLAN TO TALK ABOUT THAT ON MAY THE 30TH, BUT YOU DON'T NEED TO PASS THIS AND THEN COME BACK AND LOOK AT THAT WITHOUT FIRST HAVING SOMETHING CONCRETE IN PLACE WHERE YOU KNOW THAT THE PEOPLE WHO WOULD MOST LIKELY BE DISPLACED AND WON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO BUILD THE WAY YOU'RE ASSUMING WITHOUT HAVING SOME CONCRETE WAYS IN PLACE IN WHICH THEY CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE.
THANK YOU. SPEAKER. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
GOOD MORNING, AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING MY TESTIMONY ON THIS ISSUE.
I AM HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF ITEM NUMBER SIX.
I THINK MINIMUM LOT SIZE REFORM IS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR AUSTIN TO DO MULTIPLE GOOD THINGS.
IT WILL LEAD TO LESS EMISSIONS ON A PERSONAL BASIS AS WE USE MORE LAND, LESS LAND TO BUILD MORE HOUSING AND REDUCE THE NEED FOR SPRAWL THAT WE'VE SEEN WITH OTHER CITIES. I'M ALSO IN SUPPORT OF THESE REFORMS, AS THEY WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL IN DRIVING DOWN THE COST OF HOME OWNERSHIP IN OUR CITY.
AUSTIN IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO GROW.
MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO LIVE HERE.
AND I BELIEVE THESE I BELIEVE THESE REFORMS WILL MAKE IT SO TO WHERE PRICES WON'T GO UP AS MUCH.
[00:15:07]
SO PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING AND PLEASE GO AHEAD AND APPROVE THESE MEASURES.AND I ALSO SUPPORT ANY FUTURE REFORMS TO OUR RULES AND REGULATIONS TO MAKE IT EASIER TO BUILD.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING MY TESTIMONY.
NEXT SPEAKER IS WAYNE DAVISON.
I'VE BEEN IN AUSTIN RESIDENT AND TAXPAYER FOR 55 YEARS.
NEVER IN MY 55 YEARS HAVE I SEEN A CITY COUNCIL THAT WANTS TO DESTROY THIS CITY.
I TESTIFIED AT THE DECEMBER 7TH PUBLIC HEARING AND THOUGHT THAT THOSE OPPOSED TO THE HOME LAND DEVELOPMENT CHANGES HAD GOOD ARGUMENTS, AND MANY HAD DATA TO SUPPORT THEIR NO POSITION. MOST OF THOSE IN FAVOR STATED THEY COULDN'T AFFORD A HOME IN AUSTIN, AND THEREFORE ONE OF THE CITY TO HELP THEM BY ALLOWING TINY HOMES IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS.
AS YOU KNOW BY THE MAJORITY, NO VOTE IN DECEMBER.
HOWEVER, THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR VOTED IN FAVOR, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MCKENZIE KELLY.
ONCE IN OFFICE, THESE HEARINGS ARE ONLY TO SATISFY LEGAL NOTICE NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS.
MY GUESS IS THE AGENDA IS GLOBAL C40 THAT AUSTIN IS A MEMBER.
THE OTHER GOAL IS TO SECURE FUNDS TO BUILD THE UNDERGROUND TRAINS THAT SERVE NO REAL FUNCTION, AS THE STUDIES SHOW THAT ONLY A TINY FRACTION OF AUSTIN RESIDENTS WILL BE USING IT. HAVE YOU COMPLETED THE COST ANALYSIS? WHY NOT WAIT UNTIL THE CONNECT TRAIN IS PROVEN FEASIBLE AND FUNDED? WHY PROCEED WITH HOME IF PROJECT CONNECT IS QUESTIONABLE? IF MONEY IS THE ISSUE? WHY NOT SWITCH TO ANOTHER ELEVATED TRAIN LIKE PORTLAND? YOU WILL NEVER CONVINCE ME THAT HAVING THE LOT NEXT TO OUR HOUSE SOLD TO A DEVELOPER DIVIDED INTO THREE LOTS WITH HOUSING FOR UNLIMITED NUMBER OF UNRELATED ADULTS WITH ONLY STREET PARKING WILL INCREASE MY ENJOYMENT OF OUR PROPERTY OR THE ATMOSPHERE OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, OR THE VALUE OF OUR PROPERTY.
ANYONE WITH LOGIC MIND KNOWS THIS.
THE ENTIRE PROCESS STARTED YEARS AGO, WITH CODENEXT NOW RENAMED HOME.
MORE DECEPTION PUT THIS ISSUE ON THE BALLOT.
THE CITY HAS NOT CONDUCTED THE NECESSARY INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES FOR POWER.
YOU HAVE NOT ADDRESSED OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES THAT MUST BE RESOLVED.
OUR AIRPORT APPEARS TO BE NEAR ITS LIMIT.
PLEASE ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS.
IS IT LEGAL FOR THE CITY TO ISSUE A BUILDING PERMIT, KNOWING THAT THERE IS A LEGAL BINDING PROPERTY DEED THAT CONFLICTS WITH THE BUILDING PERMIT? WHAT IS THE CITY GOING TO DO IF YOU CAN'T FUND PROJECT CONNECT? THANK YOU. SPEAKER. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THANK YOU SIR. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS HOLLY READ.
I'M HOLLY REED WITH THE WEST AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP.
WE ASK THAT YOU LISTEN TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITIES AND POSTPONE ACTION ON HOME PHASE TWO.
COMBINE HOME PHASE ONE AND TWO INTO A NEW ZONING DISTRICT, ALLOWING APPLICATIONS FOR THIS NEW DISTRICT AND NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AMENDMENTS TO BE CONSIDERED CONTEXTUALLY ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS THROUGH THE REGULAR ZONING PROCESS.
THIS WOULD ALLOW FOR GREATER DENSITY IN NEIGHBORHOODS WITH COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION.
AMEND HOME PHASE TWO TO KEEP THE EXISTING FRONT AND REAR SETBACK REGULATIONS TO REDUCE FLOODING RISK, STORMWATER RUNOFF, AND CUTTING DOWN UNPROTECTED TREES TO CLEAR THE LAND FOR MORE BUILDINGS, PLEASE ELIMINATE THE USE OF SMALL LOTS AS SHORT TERM RENTALS.
LIMIT THE FLOOR AREA RATIO FOR LOT SMALLER THAN 57 50FT² TO 0.45.
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AND BEFORE YOU VOTE ON THESE AMENDMENTS, ASK YOURSELF WHO IS THIS GOING TO BENEFIT? WHO IS THIS REALLY FOR? PLANNING COMMISSIONER GRAYSON COX ASKED CITY STAFF THIS IMPORTANT QUESTION ON APRIL 23RD.IT SEEMS LIKE ALL THE THINGS WE ARE PASSING HERE ARE TAILORED TO THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY, THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BANKS AND LOANS AND BIG MONEY BEHIND THEM TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS.
CAN REGULAR PEOPLE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE THINGS? WE ARE PASSING AND THE CITY STAFF'S ANSWER WAS WE DON'T KNOW.
PLEASE CONSIDER THIS AS YOU ARE VOTING ON HOME PHASE TWO.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, GWEN ROLLAND.
NEXT SPEAKER SPEAKING ON ITEM SIX IS ANGELA GARZA.
I'M ANGELA BENAVIDES GARZA, AND I KNOW GOOD PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS COIN, AND I THINK WE ALL WANT SOME KIND OF CONSENSUS THAT WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER TOWARDS SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO MAKE SENSE FOR ALL OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE IN VULNERABLE AREAS.
IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE SO MANY FOR SALE SIGNS GOING UP IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ALREADY, SO WE DO NEED SOME SOLUTIONS THAT ARE GOING TO HELP OUR FAMILIES THROUGHOUT NEIGHBORHOODS. FABIANO'S COLLABORATING WITH MANY PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE NEIGHBORHOODS AS WELL TO TO WORK ON COMMON SOLUTIONS THAT ARE GOING TO HELP AND WORK FOR THE FAMILIES OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, AS WELL THROUGH A CONTACT TEAM THAT'S WORKED REALLY HARD ON WEEKENDS, NIGHTS CANCEL VACATIONS, YOU NAME IT, SO THAT WE CAN COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT MAKES SENSE FOR THE FAMILIES OF AUSTIN, TEXAS.
THE EQUITY OVERLAY DISPLACEMENT OVERLAY IS SUPER IMPORTANT PLACE.
THIS GOES BACK TO DELIA GARZA, GREG CASAR AND NATASHA MADISON AS WELL.
CAN I CONTINUE? YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THE EQUITY OVERLAY WAS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT BACK THEN AS WELL.
WHY DOES EQUITY OVERLAY WITH SUPER IMPORTANT? WE DON'T HAVE SEEN NOT AS EXTREME IN WEST AUSTIN VERSUS EAST AUSTIN.
SO WE DO ACTUALLY NEED SOLUTION.
AND WE ALSO HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH PAM AS WELL FOR THE LOAN ACCESS.
AND AUSTIN, TEXAS, THERE SEEMS TO BE A BLOCK FOR THE 100 YEAR FLOODPLAIN IN AUSTIN, TEXAS AS WELL.
OKAY. CAN I CONTINUE? YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU.
ALL RIGHT. SO MELISSA'S WORKING WITH MIKE.
OKAY. THANK YOU. SO I WAS WORKING WITH MY DAD.
WHETHER WE'RE ON A COMPUTER FOR THE VIRTUAL MEETING BECAUSE I'M AT HOME SICK RIGHT NOW.
AS WELL, BUT ALSO MAKING SURE THAT HE UNDERSTANDS EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON WITH ALL THE CHANGES IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, THAT LOAN ACCESS TO 0% LOAN JUST ON THE GROUND WITH SOME OF THE FAMILIES HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET ACCESS TO, IS NOT ACCESSIBLE TO THEM FOR ONE REASON OR THE OTHER TO ALLOW THEM TO STAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS, TO CODE UP THEIR PROPERTIES PROPERLY, BECAUSE WE WILL HAVE MORE FLOODING, UNFORTUNATELY.
THANK YOU. SPEAKER. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
NEXT SPEAKER IS KALU JAMES SPEAKING ON ITEM NUMBER SIX.
I SEE COUNCIL. I'D LIKE TO EXTEND MY GRATITUDE TO COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS.
WHEN IT COMES TO ITEM SIX, DENSITY IS NOT AFFORDABILITY.
AND THE EQUITY OVERLAY IS SO IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT DISPLACING PEOPLE WHO ARE PREDOMINANTLY LIVED IN THIS AREA, WHICH ARE NATIVE AUSTINITES AND ARE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES. SO I OPPOSE ITEM SIX AND ASKING THAT CITY COUNCIL REALLY DOES LOOK IN AND CONSIDER
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THE EQUITY OVERLAY THAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED BY SO MANY PEOPLE.TO BE ABLE TO BUILD NEW PROPERTIES ON YOUR LOT.
MEANS IN SO MANY WAYS THAT YOU CAN AFFORD TO DO THAT.
AND A LOT OF FOLKS THAT ARE BEING DISPLACED AND WILL BE DISPLACED BY THIS, AS WE ALREADY SEE FROM WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH FOR SALE SIGNS BEING UP ARE PEOPLE WHO CANNOT AFFORD TO DO THAT.
SO PLEASE DO CONSIDER THE EQUITY OVERLAY.
THANK YOU. AFSHON KAMARUDIN SPEAKING ON ITEM SIX.
HI, COUNCIL. MY NAME IS AFSHAN.
I WANT TO REGISTER MY OPPOSITION TO THE AFOREMENTIONED AFOREMENTIONED INITIATIVES WITHOUT THE EQUITY OVERLAY, AND I SPEAK STRICTLY FROM MY EXPERIENCE AS A PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTITIONER WHO HAS STUDIED THE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL IMPACTS OF INTERNAL DISPLACEMENT, THE IMPACT OF ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EVENTS SUCH AS HOUSING INSTABILITY ON EARLY LEARNERS AGED 3 TO 8.
THESE ARE THE PERSPECTIVES I HAVE AND THE ONES I'M GOING WITH YOU TODAY.
YOU MAY HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE LACK OF TRANSPORTATION, FOOD DESERTS, FAILING INFRASTRUCTURE AS CONTRIBUTORS TO POOR HEALTH, BUT THIS MAY BE WHAT YOU ARE ALTRUISTICALLY TRYING TO ADDRESS WITH THESE INITIATIVES.
HOWEVER, THESE ARE NOT THE ONLY FACTORS THAT IMPACT COMMUNITY HEALTH FOR MANY OF THE CURRENT RESIDENTS THAT ARE BEING IMPACTED BY THESE INITIATIVES, DISPLACEMENT IS IMMINENT AND DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTS THE MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES.
IT CAN LEAD TO POOR HEALTH, REDUCE IMMUNE FUNCTION.
IT CAN LEAD TO MORE INFECTIOUS DISEASE SUCH AS FLU, RSV, COVID.
AS YOU SEE, THIS POLICY IMPACTS THE PEOPLE, THE FAMILIES AND THE COMMUNITY.
FORTUNATELY, YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MITIGATE THESE IMPACTS.
IN A 2017 ARTICLE, RESEARCHERS CONCLUDED THAT, QUOTE, URBAN RENEWAL PROGRAMS THAT RESULTED IN GENTRIFICATION TENDED TO HAVE NEGATIVE HEALTH EFFECTS, PRIMARILY IN RESIDENTS THAT WERE LOW INCOME.
URBAN RENEWAL POLICIES THAT WERE INCLUSIVE OF POPULATIONS THAT WERE VULNERABLE FROM THE BEGINNING WERE LESS LIKELY TO RESULT IN GENTRIFICATION, MORE LIKELY TO HAVE POSITIVE IMPACTS TO IMPACT ON HEALTH THROUGH PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL IMPROVEMENTS.
THE COMMUNITY IS HERE TO SPEAK WITH YOU AND SHARE THEIR CONCERNS, AND I URGE YOU TO LISTEN TO THEM.
I WANT TO SHARE AN ANECDOTE THAT I HOPE, I HOPE WILL HELP ILLUSTRATE THIS DIRE SITUATION THAT YOU ARE PUTTING THE RESIDENTS TWO, THREE AND FOUR IN AND THE RIPPLING EFFECT THIS WILL HAVE ON THEIR HEALTH AND THEIR CHILDREN.
THIS GROUP BEGAN WITH INTRODUCTIONS.
THE FACILITATOR ASKED WHAT ZIP CODE EACH PERSON WAS FROM.
THIS ROOM WAS FULL OF ALL KINDS OF WOMEN.
THEY ALL MOSTLY MENTIONED THE ZIP CODES THAT THEY WERE CURRENTLY IN.
BUT WHAT I NOTICED, HOWEVER, WAS THAT WHENEVER A PERSON OF COLOR AND ESPECIALLY AN AFRICAN AMERICAN RESIDENT STATED THEIR ZIP CODE, THEY STATED THE ZIP CODE THEY WERE CURRENTLY IN. AND THANK YOU, SPEAKER.
THESE WOMEN STATE. NEXT SPEAKER IS CASSIE LYDON SPEAKING ON ITEM SIX.
AND THAT'S PRIMARILY BECAUSE I'VE BEEN A PARAMEDIC FOR OVER 18 YEARS.
I'M CURRENTLY A MEDIC WITH A FAMILY OF FOUR, WOULD HAVE TO WORK FOR THE CITY FOR OVER TEN YEARS TO AFFORD TO LIVE IN THE CITY, MEANING THAT THERE'S LITTLE CHANCE FOR A NEW EMPLOYEE COULD AFFORD TO LIVE ANYWHERE CLOSE TO WHERE THEY WORK.
I WANT TO SEE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR EVERYONE.
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SHE CURRENTLY SPENDS OVER 42% OF HER INCOME EACH MONTH ON RENT WHILE SHE LIVES INDEPENDENTLY.AND FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT SHE'S TAKEN CARE OF.
THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS STACY FRAZIER SPEAKING ON ITEM SIX. GOOD MORNING.
WONDERFUL. THANK YOU FOR CONFIRMING.
I AM A MIDDLE CLASS DISTRICT THREE RESIDENT AND HOMEOWNER.
I'M ALSO A COMMUNITY RADIO HOST WITH A LOCAL SHOW FOCUSED ON SYSTEMIC RACISM.
I URGE CITY COUNCIL TO VOTE NO ON ITEM SIX TODAY.
TO BE CLEAR, I AM PRO DENSITY PRO, MULTIGENERATIONAL FAMILY ARRANGEMENTS AND PRO COOPERATIVE LIVING.
I AM AGAINST THE PROCESS THUS FAR TO ARRIVE AT TODAY'S VOTE AND THE ABSENCE OF AN EQUITY OVERLAY IN THE THREE SHORT YEARS THAT MY FAMILY HAS LIVED ON MANSELL AVENUE IN GO VALLEY TO RAISE OUR FIVE YEAR OLD SON, I HAVE WITNESSED AND FELT A DRAMATIC CHANGE IN OUR SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD AND ON OUR BLOCK.
WE HAVE LOST AT LEAST THREE NEIGHBORS WHO HAVE LIVED HERE FROM 20 TO 50 YEARS.
IN THE THREE YEARS I HAVE LIVED ON THE BLOCK, I WENT FROM KNOWING NEARLY EVERYONE ON THE BLOCK BY NAME, NUMBER, AND SOMETHING MEANINGFUL ABOUT THEM TO KNOWING HARDLY ANYONE.
I CERTAINLY FEEL LESS SAFE AS A RESULT, AND THERE IS A PERVADING AIR OF SADNESS AND LOSS OVER THE EROSION OF THE ONCE VIBRANT CULTURAL FABRIC THAT EXISTED HERE.
I RESPECTFULLY AND LOVINGLY INVITE MAYOR WATSON AND AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL TO DELAY TODAY'S VOTE ON ZONING AND LAND USE CHANGES UNTIL A LEGALLY SOUND, COMMUNITY BASED PROCESS CAN TAKE PLACE.
TO DEVELOP AN EQUITY ANTI-DISPLACEMENT OVERLAY, I SUSPECT THAT DELAYING THE VOTE MAY COME WITH GREAT REPUTATIONAL AND ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCE FOR SOME OF YOU.
I THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME.
I THANK YOU FOR VOTING NO TODAY ON ITEM SIX, AND LET US HAVE A REAL FAIR EQUITY AND ANTI-DISPLACEMENT COMMUNITY INFORMED PROCESS PUT INTO PLACE.
NO RUSH AND NO SENSE OF URGENCY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THIS GREAT CITY AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
NEXT SPEAKER IS MEGAN MEISENBACH SPEAKING ON ITEM SIX.
HELLO, THIS IS MEGAN MEISENBACH AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I'M AGAINST HOME.
AND I WISH YOU WOULD BE VOTING NO TODAY AGAINST ITEM SIX.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO CALL OUT MISS READ FOR HER WONDERFUL TESTIMONY.
PLEASE LISTEN TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
LET'S DELAY THIS AND GET A GOOD EQUITY OVERLAY.
DENSITY DOES NOT CREATE AFFORDABILITY.
YOU HAVE TIME BEFORE THE SUMMER.
HOME. NEXT SPEAKER IS TRENTON HENRIKSEN, SPEAKING ON ITEM SIX.
THE DRIVER OF AFFORDABILITY AND LOSS IN AFFORDABILITY IN AUSTIN IS INCOME INEQUALITY AND NOT SUPPLY.
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AUSTIN THAN WERE MOVING HERE.AND WITH OUR LARGEST EMPLOYEES STILL DRIVING MASSIVE LAYOFFS, THAT'S SAD, BUT TRUE.
AUSTIN POPULATION COULD STILL BE SHRINKING.
WE DID NOT AND DO NOT HAVE MORE AUSTINITES THAN WE HAVE HOUSES.
THE HOUSING SUPPLY WE LACK IS THE HOUSING SUPPLY AT LOWER MPHYS, AND MULTIPLE STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT THIS IS THE HOUSING SUPPLY THAT HOME PHASE TWO WILL DISPLACE. WHILE I'M STATING THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE ALREADY FIGURED OUT DENSITY ISN'T GREENER IF ESSENTIAL WORKERS HAVE TO MOVE TO THE SUBURBS, YOU SHOULD MEET WITH THEM AND FIND OUT WHAT HOUSING OPTIONS THEY CAN AFFORD.
THIS DOESN'T MEAN I'M OPPOSED TO GROWTH.
WHAT WE NEED ARE COMMON SENSE TOOLS LIKE THE ANTI-DISPLACEMENT OVERLAY PROPOSED BY COMMUNITY POWERED ATX, AND HAVE DENSITY TIED TO SOME AFFORDABLE, AFFORDABILITY CONTROLLED HOUSING.
SIMPLE COMMON SENSE CHANGES AND WORKING WITH YOUR COMMUNITY.
COMMUNITY CAN PREVENT DISPLACEMENT AND STILL MAKE ROOM FOR GROWTH.
BUT PLEASE STOP REPEATING THIS NEW AGE MAGIC.
THINK THAT RIPPING UP CODES ARE THE SECRET CURE TO GENTRIFICATION.
THE VOTERS IN YOUR COMMUNITY AREN'T FOOLED.
THAT IS ALL THE SPEAKERS WE HAVE FOR REMOTE AT THE MOMENT.
WE'RE GOING TO CALL THREE PEOPLE AT A TIME.
JUST START SPEAKING AND AND READ YOUR NAME INTO THE RECORD.
THANK YOU. AND IF I CAN, I'LL JUST HIGHLIGHT THAT IF THERE'S AN OPEN PODIUM AND YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED FEEL FREE TO STEP UP TO IT AND AND START SPEAKING TO THE COUNCIL.
SHE WILL CALL IN BATCHES OF THREE.
AND OUT OF RESPECT FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WILL BE FOLLOWING YOU.
THANK YOU, MADAM CITY CLERK, IF YOU'LL PLEASE START CALLING NAMES.
GOOD MORNING. MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I SERVE AS THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF HOUSING WORKS.
WE ARE DEDICATED TO EXPANDING ALL KINDS OF HOMES IN ALL PARTS OF TOWN FOR ALL KINDS OF FOLKS.
WE BELIEVE THAT REDUCING THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE FOR ONE UNIT WHEN COMBINED WITH THE RECENTLY APPROVED HOME PHASE ONE AMENDMENTS, WOULD ALLOW FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A GREATER DIVERSITY OF HOUSING TYPES AND LIVING ARRANGEMENTS THAN CURRENTLY ALLOWED IN OUR SINGLE FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS, WHICH WOULD INCREASE THE ACCESS TO ATTAINABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR MORE FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR MORE HOUSEHOLDS THAT HAVE RANGE OF INCOME LEVELS, ESPECIALLY FOR FIRST TIME HOMEBUYERS AND SENIORS WHO ARE LOOKING TO REMAIN IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND GENERALLY INCREASE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES IN HIGH OPPORTUNITY AREAS, WHICH IS A CRITICAL GOAL OF OUR ORGANIZATION AND OF THE CITY AS A WHOLE. WE FURTHER RECOMMEND THAT THE COUNCIL ENSURE TIMELY IMPLEMENTATION OF PROGRAMS THAT REALLY ENSURE LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOMEOWNERS ARE ABLE TO AVAIL THEMSELVES OF INCREASED DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR POTENTIAL OF SINGLE FAMILY LOTS, INCLUDING THOSE CONTEMPLATED BY COUNCIL, IN A RESOLUTION LAST DECEMBER.
WE ALSO ASK THAT YOU PROTECT LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOMEOWNERS FROM PREDATORY REAL ESTATE ACTIVITIES WITH A NUMBER OF TOOLS INCLUDED, AND WE REALLY THANK A NUMBER OF COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE WORKING ON BRINGING FORTH GUIDANCE FOR STAFF TO WORK ON THESE VERY ITEMS ON AT THE MAY 30TH AGENDA AND HOUSING WORKS HAS BEEN A PART OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS, AND WE THANK THOSE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR IT.
HOUSING WORKS ALSO SUPPORTS THE CITY WIDE COMPATIBILITY CHANGES, THE EQUITABLE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT CHANGES, AND THE CHANGES BEING PROPOSED TO CHAPTER 418 BY COUNCIL MEMBER COWDREY AND OTHERS.
WE JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND WE WANT TO THANK MAYOR PRO TEM POOL FOR BRINGING FORTH THIS ITEM AND FOR ENSURING THAT WE'RE EXPANDING AFFORDABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR ALL OF YOU, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THESE ISSUES.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, MY NAME IS BILL MCKINLEY.
AND WE'RE SUPPORTING THE PACKAGE TODAY.
[00:40:01]
BUT IN RELATION TO THIS ITEM SPECIFICALLY, JUST TWO QUICK THINGS.NUMBER ONE, WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT HOME, ONE THAT WE DID LAST YEAR, DOUGHTY WATKINS, THE HEAD OF CAPMETRO, CAME TO ONE OF OUR MEETINGS AND SAID, LOOK FOR TRANSIT TO WORK.
YOU NEED MORE PEOPLE LIVING CLOSER TOGETHER.
THE SECOND THING I'LL SAY IS, MR. MAYOR, YOU KNOW THIS BETTER THAN ANYBODY.
WE'RE GOING TO NEED 10,000 PEOPLE EVERY YEAR UNTIL 2040 FOR ALL THE NEW CONSTRUCTION AND TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE NEEDED HERE IN AUSTIN, INCLUDING THE BUILDOUT OF THE NEW BUS AND TRAIN LINES, THOSE FOLKS NEED A PLACE TO LIVE, WHICH IS WHY YOU SEE ALL THE LABOR UNIONS GOING OUT OF THEIR WAY TO REALLY SUPPORT THESE NEW INITIATIVES.
SO WE STAND IN SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM AND IN THE NEXT COUPLE ITEMS. LOOK FORWARD TO TALKING TO YOU ABOUT THE OVERLAY.
BIG CHANGES ARE NEEDED AND THEY REQUIRE BIG PEOPLE TO MAKE THEM.
THANK YOU FOR BEING THOSE FOLKS.
APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU. TY JOVANKA IS NEXT.
ON DECK ARE GREG ANDERSON, CHRIS GANNON, AND PAUL ROBBINS.
HI, I'M TEHOVEC AND DISTRICT FIVE SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF HOME TWO AND ALL THE PROPOSED LAND USE REFORMS. SO PEOPLE REGULARLY BRING UP HOUSTON AS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW REDUCING MINIMUM LOT SIZE AND ALLOWING TOWNHOMES WOULD LEAD TO AFFORDABILITY.
BUT I WANTED TO SEE THIS FOR MYSELF.
SO I LOOKED AT ZILLOW FOR A SIDE BY SIDE COMPARISON OF AUSTIN AND HOUSTON.
WHEN I LOOKED AT A MAXIMUM PRICE OF $200,000 AND FILTERED IT FOR HOUSES, HOUSTON HAD 413 FOR SALE.
MEANWHILE, AUSTIN HAD 21 BELOW THAT PRICE IN TERMS OF TOWNHOMES.
HOUSTON HAD 180 TOWNHOMES FOR SALE UNDER 200 K.
IN AUSTIN, WE HAVE ZERO FURTHER UP THE PRICE LIMIT OF 250 K.
HOUSTON HAD 267 TOWNHOMES AND A 1128 HOUSES FOR SALE.
ALSO ONLY HAS THREE TOWNHOMES AND 23 HOUSES FOR SALE AT THAT PRICE.
OBVIOUSLY THERE'S SOME OTHER FACTORS LIKE HOUSTON'S A LITTLE BIT MORE SPREAD OUT.
BUT EVEN WHEN I ZOOM IN ON THE MAP, MOST OF THOSE WERE CLOSER TO THE CENTRAL CORE, WHICH TELLS ME THAT DESPITE WHAT THE NAYSAYERS WILL HAVE YOU BELIEVE, A REDUCED MINIMUM LOT SIZE AND THE ABILITY TO BUILD MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING WOULD BE AN ABSOLUTE WIN FOR AFFORDABILITY.
WELL, YEAH. IF TOWNHOMES ARE INCREDIBLY SCARCE IN OUR CITY, THEN OF COURSE THEY WILL.
AND THEY'RE ALSO LIKE IN MUELLER, WHICH IS ONE OF THE MOST COOL NEIGHBORHOODS IN OUR CITY.
THEN, YEAH, THEY'RE GOING TO BE THE MOST EXPENSIVE.
BUT TRYING TO SAVE THOSE TREES TO PREVENT DENSITY IS LITERALLY MISSING THE FOREST FOR THE TREES.
32% OF OUR WATER IS USED FOR LAWNS.
BUT EVEN IF WE DON'T ALLOW FOR DENSITY, THOSE PEOPLE STILL WILL MOVE HERE AND INSTEAD BUY A HOUSE ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF TOWN, A HOUSE THAT WILL SIT ON A 5000 SQUARE FOOT LOT THAT WOULD USE WAY MORE WATER.
I URGE COUNCIL TO VOTE YES ON HOME TWO, AND I HOPE THAT COUNCIL GOES EVEN FURTHER AND REDUCES THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE TO 1500 FEET, OR 1399 IF YOU WANT TO BE BEATING HOUSTON AT THEIR OWN GAME.
BUT I'M THANKFUL FOR CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR FOR THEIR EFFORTS.
MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM CITY COUNCIL.
WE SENT IN OUR LETTER OF SUPPORT.
I HOPE YOU ALL HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK OVER IT.
I THINK IT'S REALLY GREAT TO SEE CHAMBERS SO FULL OF SO MANY PEOPLE TODAY.
IT MEANS THAT YOU'RE LIKELY CONTEMPLATING MAKING IT EASIER TO BUILD HOMES IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
I THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
AND WELCOME NEW CITY MANAGER, T.C.
BROADNAX. WHAT A TIME TO JUMP IN.
[00:45:01]
I'M THE HOUSING ADVOCACY CO-CHAIR AT AUSTIN'S AIA CHAPTER.I'M HERE TO SUPPORT HOME PHASE TWO, AND I'M ALSO HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR THE PC AMENDMENTS, INCLUDING A SMALLER MINIMUM LOT SIZE. I FIGURE IF WE NEED A MINIMUM LOT SIZE AT ALL, I LOVE THE 1399 IDEA.
IF THAT DOESN'T FLY, I THINK THAT MAYOR WATSON'S AMENDMENT AT 18 IS A GREAT PLACE.
I WOULDN'T GO HIGHER THAN 18 THOUGH.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO ADVOCATE FOR ZERO LOT LINES ALONG NEWLY SUBDIVIDED LOTS.
THERE ARE FIRE SEPARATION PROTECTIONS BUILT INTO THE BUILDING CODE IN BOTH THE IRC AND THE IBC.
WE DON'T NEED TO ZONE FOR THAT.
THE BUILDING CODES HAVE IT BUILT IN, SO PUTTING A ZERO LOT LINE ALONG NEWLY SUBDIVIDED LOTS.
SO NOT ALONG YOUR NEIGHBOR'S LOT.
BUT IF YOU'RE TAKING A LOT AND YOU'RE SUBDIVIDING, LET'S ALLOW ALL THOSE LOT LINES TO BE ZERO.
THAT WILL BUILD IN FLEXIBILITY.
AND ON THAT ONE, I THINK THE SAFE STREETS AMENDMENT OF A TEN FOOT FRONT YARD SETBACK AND A FIVE FOOT PORCH ALLOWANCE THERE. I THINK THAT THAT'S A GREAT AMENDMENT, AND I WOULD FULLY, FULLY SUPPORT IT.
AND ONE LAST ONE, THE FLAGPOLES FOR A FLAG LOT.
THERE IS TALK ABOUT INCLUDING THE CALCULATIONS INTO THE IMPERVIOUS COVER.
I THINK THAT IMPERVIOUS COVER NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT HOLISTICALLY.
I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND PULLING IN A NEW IMPERVIOUS COVER CALCULATION RIGHT NOW AS PART OF THIS.
THANK YOU. PAUL ROBBINS IS NEXT.
ON DECK IS JEAN WILKINS, KIMBERLY LEVINSON AND RILEY PATTERSON.
PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT.
THIS SIR. THE WAY, THE WAY WE'RE DOING IT AND THE WAY WE INDICATED AND HAVE INDICATED MULTIPLE TIMES IN ANTICIPATION OF THIS MEETING, IS THAT WE WOULD HAVE PUBLIC HEARINGS ON EACH ONE SEPARATELY, AND EACH PERSON WOULD BE GIVEN THREE MINUTES PER ITEM.
I WILL DO WHAT I CAN, SIR, BUT THREE MINUTES, YOUR TIME WILL BE UP.
MR. ROBBINS, I YOU CAN COME BACK ON THE.
YOU CAN COME BACK ON THE OTHER ITEMS AND YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES FOR THOSE.
CITY CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE START MY TIME? MY CHILDHOOD HOME WAS LOCATED ON THE BANKS OF THE HOUSTON BIO FOR MOST OF THE YEAR.
ONE OF MY STARKEST CHILDHOOD MEMORIES WAS WATCHING THE WATER RACE BY ONLY 40FT FROM OUR BACK WINDOW AT WHITEWATER VELOCITY.
I WAS AFRAID IT WOULD OVERRUN THE BANK AND FLOOD OUR HOME.
HAD I BEEN FOOLISH ENOUGH TO PLAY NEAR IT, I WOULD HAVE BEEN SWEPT AWAY AND DROWNED.
SEEING THIS YEAR AFTER YEAR HAD A MAJOR INFLUENCE ON ME BECOMING AN ENVIRONMENTALIST, AND GIVEN THIS FORMATIVE EXPERIENCE, IT APPEARS TO ME THAT SOME OF THE COUNCIL DO NOT REALIZE HOW VULNERABLE AUSTIN IS TO FLOODING.
HEAVY RAINS THAT SOMETIMES FALL HERE CAN QUICKLY SATURATE SHALLOW SOILS AND BECOME DANGEROUS, GIVING THE APPEARANCE OF A LACK OF HISTORY. I PREPARED A FEW SLIDES.
I CAN'T SHOW ALL OF THEM BECAUSE OF MY LACK OF TIME.
BUT THIS IS HOW MEMORIAL DAY 1981 STARTED.
SUPPLIED THE BANKS OF SHOAL CREEK SLIDE.
MANY PEOPLE WERE RESCUED FROM THE TOPS OF ROOFS AND STRANDED CARS SLIDE.
[00:50:01]
ADJUSTED FOR INFLATION, THIS EVENT CAUSED $127 MILLION IN DAMAGE.BECAUSE AFTER THE HORRENDOUS 20 1981 FLOOD, THERE WAS THE 2015 MEMORIAL DAY FLOOD. AND NEXT SLIDE.
THIS IS THE BALLPARK JUST NORTHWEST OF DOWNTOWN, ALSO FLOODED BY SHOAL CREEK.
I'M GOING TO STOP HERE BECAUSE OF THE CHOREOGRAPHY, BUT I DO WANT TO MAKE A POINT THAT FLOODS DO NOT CARE IF THERE'S AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROBLEM? FLOODS ARE AN INANIMATE FORCE THAT WON'T ENDANGER.
THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, JEN JEAN WILKINS.
KIMBERLY LEVINSON, RILEY PATTERSON, MICHAEL KNAUS.
MY NAME IS JEAN WILKINS, AND I LIVE IN THE BARTON VIEW NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH ABUTS THE 75 ACRE CITY WATER QUALITY TRACT, WHICH IS A WILD LAND AREA IN WEST AUSTIN. SOUTHWEST AND ALSO MY NEIGHBORHOOD IS BY THE BARTON CREEK GREENBELT AREA, AND IT IS VERY PRONE TO FIRE.
THERE ARE TWO ROADS INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND ONE ROAD HAS A LARGE NURSING HOME THREE BLOCKS IN.
WE HAVE A VERY ROBUST FIREWISE GROUP AND HAVE A LOT OF MEETINGS.
AND WE HAVE BEEN WARNED IN A MEETING ATTENDED BY FIRE DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVES THAT GO TO THOSE TYPES OF MEETINGS THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, IN A CASE OF A WILDFIRE EVENT, WILL FOCUS EFFORTS ON SAVING THE HELPLESS RESIDENTS AT THE NURSING HOME, WHICH, OF COURSE, IS UNDERSTANDABLE, MAKING DUNMORE ONE OF THE TWO ROADS REALLY NOT ACCESSIBLE.
THERE NEEDS TO BE AN AMENDMENT ADDRESSING DANGERS IN THIS AGGRESSIVE INFILL IN THE AREA.
WHAT GOOD IS IT TO HAVE A STUDY BY STAFF IF THEN YOU'RE NOT GOING TO LISTEN TO STAFF WHO DID THE STUDY, WHICH I HEARD FREQUENTLY AT THE WORK SESSION, WHICH I LISTENED TO YESTERDAY.
THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR FIRE PROTECTION IS NOT IN PLACE.
THE REQUIRED FLOW IS 3500 GPM.
NUMEROUS. AND THAT'S FROM THE LAND CODE DEVELOPMENT.
NUMEROUS BUILDINGS ON LOTS PROBABLY REQUIRE THE SAME.
I ALSO HAVE A GRAVE CONCERN ABOUT THE LOSS OF TREES WITH THIS REVISION, EVEN THOUGH THE IMPERVIOUS COVER WILL BE CAPPED AT THE EXISTING 45% OF THE BUILDING SITES, THE SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE LOT AND WILL THEREFORE WILL IMPACT THE CANOPY AND THE FRAGILE CRITICAL ROOT ZONE.
SINCE THE LEGISLATURE DOESN'T ALLOW PROTECTION OF TREES LESS THAN 19IN DIAMETER, THIS PANDORA'S BOX OF CODE CHANGES UNLEASHES UNTOLD DESTRUCTION AS WE AS A CITY CANNOT STOP IT.
THANK YOU. I'M KIMBERLY LEVINSON, I LIVE DOWNTOWN.
I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL FOR THE HARD WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING ON THIS.
TO HELP MAKE AUSTIN MORE AFFORDABLE.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU SUPPORT THE HOME PHASE TWO AND THE OTHER CHANGES THAT ARE PROPOSED HERE TODAY IN ORDER TO CREATE MORE HOUSING FOR WORKERS, FOR FIRE, FOR EMS, FOR POLICE OFFICERS, FOR TEACHERS, FOR NURSES AT SAINT DAVID'S.
[00:55:10]
MORE AFFORDABLE, THAT ARE IN ALREADY EXISTING NEIGHBORHOODS, THAT WILL REQUIRE LESS INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT AND THAT WILL HAVE LESS SPRAWL FOR ENVIRONMENTAL REASONS.SO EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING HERE TODAY IS HIGHLY APPRECIATED.
AS TO THE NEW CITY MANAGER, SORRY YOU'RE GETTING THROWN INTO THE FIRE.
THAT'S HOW IT WORKS HERE IN AUSTIN.
WELCOME. ANYWAY, THANK YOU ALL.
THANK YOU. RILEY PATTERSON AND MICHAEL KNAUS.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME INTO THE RECORD.
I'M A RESIDENT OF TARRYTOWN IN DISTRICT TEN.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF HOME PHASE TWO.
IN PARTICULAR TO THE MERITS OF THE PROPOSED DECREASE IN MINIMUM LOT SIZE.
I THINK IT'S A CRITICAL GOAL TOOL TO ACHIEVE OUR SUSTAINABILITY GOALS.
MY WIFE, DAUGHTER AND I LIVE ON A 2700 SQUARE FOOT LOT THAT WAS SPLIT A LONG TIME AGO.
AND WE'RE SURROUNDED BY A HANDFUL OF OTHER SMALL LOTS.
AND OUR PARTICULAR AREA AS WELL AS SOME APARTMENT BUILDINGS THAT WOULD NOT BE LEGAL TO BUILD TODAY.
OUR IMMEDIATE AREA HAS A DENSER, MORE WALKABLE FIELD THAN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AT LARGE.
WE WALKED TO THE HEB SEVERAL LOCAL RESTAURANTS.
WE SEE OUR NEIGHBORS DOING THE SAME.
WE'RE ABLE TO BIKE AND TO TAKE THE BUS DOWNTOWN LIKE I DID THIS MORNING.
CLOSE TO WHERE THEY WORK AND WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE TO DEPEND ON CARS AS MUCH.
DECREASING MINIMUM LOT SIZES IS AN IMPORTANT STEP TOWARDS THAT.
HOWEVER, IT WAS LESS THAN HALF THE PRICE OF NEARBY HOMES ON 6500 PLUS SQUARE FEET.
IN DISALLOWING SMALL LOTS, WE SIMPLY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH SMALL HOMES IN AUSTIN TODAY.
THE BEST TIME TO START BUILDING MORE DENSER HOMES ON SMALLER LOTS WAS, OF COURSE, DECADES AGO.
BUT THE NEXT BEST TIME IS RIGHT NOW.
THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK.
PASSING HOME PHASE ONE AND TOWARDS PHASE TWO SO FAR.
GOOD MORNING. MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, WELCOME.
I AM CHAIR OF THE CITY'S ECONOMIC PROSPERITY COMMISSION, AND I SUPPORT HOME PHASE TWO.
THERE IS A REPORT BY RICHARD HAYMAN ATTACKING THE ECONOMICS BEHIND SHRINKING.
SHRINKING THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE.
THERE'S NOTHING IN DOCTOR HAMMOND'S CV TO INDICATE HE'S AN EXPERT ON ECONOMICS.
THIS REPORT USES RHETORICAL TRICKS.
I'VE WRITTEN UP A SUMMARY OF MY ARGUMENTS AGAINST IT.
IF SOMEBODY WOULD LIKE TO DISTRIBUTE THIS TO CITY COUNCIL, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.
IF YOU GIVE IT TO THE CITY CLERKS.
THERE ARE FEWER THAN 200,000 SINGLE FAMILY LOTS IN AUSTIN AND MORE THAN 1 MILLION FAMILIES IN THE METRO AREA, SO WE HAVE LESS THAN ONE LOT FOR EVERY FIVE FAMILIES IN THE METRO AREA.
WE ALLOCATE LAND BY WHO CAN AFFORD IT, SO WE ARE HANDING IT OUT TO THE TOP 20% BY INCOME.
THE WAY TO CREATE MORE LOTS IS TO SPLIT THEM.
BUT 85% OF SF THREE ZONE LOTS CANNOT BE SPLIT.
BOTH HALVES WOULD BE LARGER THAN THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE.
SO THE ONLY WAY TO CREATE MORE LOTS FOR MORE FAMILIES IN AUSTIN IS TO SHRINK THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE.
IF YOU NEED A NUMBER TO GO BY ON ZILLOW, YOU CAN FIND THE CHEAPEST LOT.
THAT'S THE COVER CHARGE TO GET INTO AUSTIN.
IF YOU FOLLOWED THE REALTOR'S ADVICE AND SPEND AS MUCH AS YOU CAN, IS $190,000 ON A HOUSE RIGHT NOW.
THEY'D SPEND 90,000 JUST GAIN THE LAND.
HOUSTON HAS A SMALLER MINIMUM LOT SIZE.
[01:00:02]
THEY HAVE LOTS AVAILABLE FOR $25,000.THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD HAVE HERE IN AUSTIN.
MAYOR. WE HAVE SEVERAL SPEAKERS THAT HAVE CALLED IN FOR ITEM SIX.
NEXT IS DWAYNE READ, SPEAKING ON ITEM SIX.
SIR. IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW MANY BLACK AND BROWN FRIENDS YOU CAN COUNT ON YOUR HAND.
DISENFRANCHIZING RACISTS THROUGH THE PROXY OF POLICY IS RACIST.
MY GUESS IS THAT YOU'RE SO BEHOLDEN TO THE DEVELOPERS CONTRIBUTING THE $300 MAX TO YOUR CAMPAIGN.
I WOULD LIKE TO APPEAL TO YOUR HUMANITY.
IF IT NO LONGER EXISTS, THEN HOPEFULLY THESE WORDS GET TO THE EARS OF AUSTIN VOTERS.
YOU CONTINUE TO IGNORE US AND PASS THIS ILL CONCEIVED POLICY ANYWAY.
TITO ALREADY INFORMED US IN HIS NEWSLETTER A PHASE TWO PASSING BEFORE THE VOTE.
SO WE KNOW THAT HE'S DONE LISTENING AND IS HERE TO MERELY PUT UP AN APPEARANCE OF CARING, EVEN THOUGH A MAJORITY OF HIS DISTRICT WILL BE DISPLACED DISENFRANCHIZED AND DENIED A VOICE. MRS HARBOR MADISON DECLARED THAT SHE WOULD VOTE YES IN THE MIDDLE OF A PUBLIC COMMENT, OVERWHELMINGLY OPPOSING HOME PHASE ONE.
WE CAN ALL BUT GUARANTEE WHICH WAY SHE WILL VOTE.
I'LL PUT AWAY MY PRETEND NAIVETE AND PLAINLY SAY, IF YOU DON'T LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE WHO PUT YOU HERE, THEY WILL UNBURDEN YOU FROM YOUR SEATS AND GIVE THEM TO THE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO HELP. LET'S GET REPRESENTATIVES THAT WILL AT LEAST CONSIDER REASON RATHER THAN FURTHER ENRICH DEVELOPERS WITH THE.
WITH THIS PLAN TO EASE THEIR EFFORTS TO LAND GRAB BY CODIFYING IT INTO LAW.
CITIZENS WAKE UP! BY THE TIME THE REAL IMPACT OF THIS FOLLY IS FELT.
WHAT YOU'RE DOING HERE IS KIND OF SIMILAR TO BREXIT.
IN THE FACE OF OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE POINTING TO THE FLAWS AND FALLACIES BEING TOLD, YOU WILL TRUDGE ALONG AND STUBBORNLY PASS POLICY, INEVITABLY RESULTING IN THE OPPOSITE OF THE SOLUTION YOU PRETEND TO SOLVE.
FUNNY THING IS, I WANT TO SEE MORE DEVELOPMENT IN MARKETS SENSIBLY AND EQUITABLY.
WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING INCREASES, INCREASES, AND ENCOURAGES MORE EXPENSIVE HOUSING.
TRULY PENALIZE DEVELOPERS FOR NOT BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
ONE OF THE BEST MARKETING TACTICS THAT STILL LIVES ON TODAY.
RICH FARMERS TOLD ORDINARY PEOPLE IT WAS IN THEIR INTEREST TO LET THEM OWN PEOPLE AS PROPERTY, BECAUSE PEOPLE LIKE FARMERS, LIKE THE FARMERS WERE BETTER THAN THOSE SUBHUMANS. THE KOCH BROTHERS AND OTHER RICH LANDOWNERS ARE DOING THE SAME THING LABELING PEOPLE NIMBYS, MAKING THEM FEEL SUPERIOR SO THAT THEY CAN PUSH THESE OTHER RICH PEOPLE'S AGENDA.
EVERYONE DOESN'T WANT TO LIVE IN A TOWNHOME OR MULTI-UNIT BUILDING WITH LITTLE TO NO GREEN SPACE.
GO BACK, TALK TO YOUR COMMUNITY, LISTEN TO THEM, AND ROLL THIS OUT IN A WAY THAT DOESN'T SO BLATANTLY CUT THEM OUT FROM ANY OF THE BENEFITS OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT.
IF YOU CAN'T LISTEN TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS THIS NOVEMBER, THANK YOU.
SPEAKER. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
VALERIE MENARD SPEAKING ON ITEM SIX.
GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL AND MAYOR.
I'M VALERIE MENARD AND A VOTER AND RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE.
WHAT A TREAT TO HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
I'M CALLING TO VOICE MY OPPOSITION TO HOME TWO.
IN FACT, THE REALITY ON THE GROUND DISPROVES IT.
LOT SIZE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH AFFORDABILITY.
SAN ANTONIO, MY HOMETOWN, WAS LAUDED BY A HOME TO PROPONENT FOR ITS AFFORDABILITY.
BUT SAN ANTONIO IS NOT AFFORDABLE BECAUSE OF LOT SIZE.
IT'S AFFORDABLE BECAUSE OF LOW WAGES.
IT WAS SELLING FOR $325,000 ON ANOTHER LOT.
THE ORIGINAL HOME FLATTENED TREE HOUSES.
[01:05:02]
THESE TALL TREE HOUSES, AS THEY'RE KNOWN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH ARE NOT COMPATIBLE FOR FAMILIES OR ELDERLY HOMEBUYERS.ONE WAS SELLING FOR $650,000, THE OTHER FOR $550,000.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS IN MONTOPOLIS.
AND WHEN MY HOUSE SITS ON YET THEY WERE VALUED ABOVE MINE.
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN LOTS ARE DIVIDED TO BUILD MULTIPLE UNITS.
SOMETHING AT HOME WILL ONLY ACCELERATE.
HOME TWO WILL ONLY ACCELERATE.
NO AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS BUILT, ONLY MORE OVERPRICED HOUSING.
BUT YOU CAN AVOID ALL OF THIS.
I ASK THAT YOU POSTPONE THE VOTE ON HOME TWO AND ALLOW TIME FOR PUBLIC INPUT AND REAL SOLUTIONS LIKE THE ANTI-DISPLACEMENT OVERLAY PRESENTED BY A COMMUNITY POWERED ATX TO BE CONSIDERED. THE OVERLAY WOULD PROTECT AND PRESERVE EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND PRODUCE HOUSING THAT IS TRULY AFFORDABLE IN NEIGHBORHOODS IN WHICH RESIDENTS ARE VULNERABLE TO DISPLACEMENT BY CREATING AN ANTI-DISPLACEMENT EQUITY PROTECTIVE OVERLAY.
THE OVERLAY WOULD ENCOURAGE TRULY AFFORDABLE DENSITY RATHER THAN INCENTIVIZING MARKET RATE, UNAFFORDABLE DEVELOPMENT, WHICH ACCELERATES DISPLACEMENT AND DRIVES UP HOUSING COSTS AND INCENTIVIZES DEMOLITION OF EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THERE'S STILL TIME TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS TONYA VASQUEZ.
TONYA. UN MOMENTITO, POR FAVOR.
DO YOU NEED AN INTERPRETER, OR ARE YOU INTERPRETING FOR YOURSELF? OKAY. HOW MUCH TIME WILL IT TAKE? WILL I BE GIVEN IF I INTERPRET BY MYSELF? OR. YOU KNOW WHAT? GIVE ME AN INTERPRETER.
OKAY. YOU GET SIX MINUTES ON ITEM NUMBER SIX.
MADRE ABUELA, ABUELA EL VIVIDO AQUI EN AUSTIN POR MAS DE 60 ANOS Y SOY MUTANTE.
IS SOMEONE TRANSLATING? MY NAME IS TANYA VASQUEZ AND A MOTHER, GRANDMOTHER AND GREAT GRANDMOTHER.
I'VE BEEN LIVING IN 60 YEARS IN AUSTIN, AND I'M A VOTED.
THANK YOU. ESTOY HUMILLADO Y TENGO UN INGRESO FIJO DECIRME.
Q PUEDO CONSTRUIR UNA ADDITION EN ME PROPIEDAD ESTA FUERA DE ME CAPACIDAD.
QUIÉN ME VA A DEJAR PEDIR PRESTADO ESA CANTIDAD DE DINERO A ME EDAD MIRAD COMO LO DE VOLVER A.
FIXED INCOME. HOW CAN I BUILD AN ADDITION ON MY HOUSE? I DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO PAY A LOAN ON MY AGE.
HOW CAN I REPAY THIS LOAN? A LAS MENDEZ, THE COMMUNITY POWERED ATX IMPULSADA POR LA COMUNIDAD.
WHAT? NO A LA PASOS HOME REDUCCIONES DE CAPACIDAD Y ITOD SI NO SE INCLUYE LA TIENDA DE EQUIDAD E ANTES DESPLAZAMIENTO.
THE SUP SEAN CUBRIR CUALQUIER AREA CONSIDERADA VULNERABLE AL DESPLAZAMIENTO BASADA EN EL INFORME DE SAGRADOS Y SECRETARIA A TRAVÉS DE UN PROCESO BASADO EN LA COMUNIDAD DIRIGIDO POR DADOS DE VIVIENDAS, INQUILINOS Y RESIDENTES, SINO HOEGER DIRECTAMENTE AFECTADO POR EL DESPLAZAMIENTO.
THIS AMENDMENT IS TO COVER ANY VULNERABLE AREAS, CREATING A PROCESS BASED ON THE COMMUNITY.
THAT INCLUDES OWNERS, TENANTS, HOMELESS PEOPLE AND EVERYBODY THAT WILL BE AFFECTED BY DISPLACEMENT.
EL CONSEJO DEBE DE APROVECHAR ESTA OPORTUNIDAD PARA PREVENIR EL DESPLAZAMIENTO.
[01:10:06]
THE COUNCIL NEEDS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PREVENT DISPLACEMENT.LA CONCEPCION DE DERECHOS Y LA CONCEPCION DE CAMBIOS DE SON APPLICATION IN AREAS VULNERABLES NO DEBEN OCURRIR HASTA DESPUÉS DE LA RELACION SUPER POSITION SUPERPOSITION DE PROTECCION DE EQUIDAD ANTE DESPLAZAMIENTO.
THE CONCESSION OF RIGHTS AND THE CHANGES IN ZONING SHOULD NOT OCCUR ONLY AFTER THE OVERLAY OF THE ITOD PASSES TO PREVENT THE DISPLACEMENT AGAIN.
GRACIAS. NEXT SPEAKER IS CATHERINE CHAMBLEE, SPEAKING ON ITEM SIX.
GOOD MORNING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS CATHERINE CHAMBLEE.
I'M ASKING YOU TO VOTE AGAINST HOME PHASE TWO.
IT WILL. IT ALREADY ALLOWS TRIPLE THE HOMES ON ANY INDIVIDUAL LOT.
THE MARKETS MARKETS GO UP, THEY GO DOWN.
THEY FLUCTUATE NATURALLY, OFTEN IS QUITE CLEARLY ON A DOWNWARD TREND.
WE HAVE COMPANIES LEAVING AUSTIN.
WE HAVE PRICES COMING DOWN OF HOMES ALREADY.
IT JUST DOES NOT MAKE SENSE TO ME FROM A FINANCIAL OR ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVE, WHY WE WOULD BE FURTHER DIVIDING UP LOTS AT THIS POINT UNDER THE ARGUMENT THAT, YOU KNOW, THINGS NEED TO BE MADE LESS EXPENSIVE.
ADDITIONALLY, AUSTIN ALREADY HAS A FLOODING ISSUE.
I THINK THE COMPARISON WAS MADE TO HOUSTON EARLIER.
I DON'T THINK THE COMPARISON TO HOUSTON IS ALONG THE FINANCIAL OR ECONOMIC STANDPOINT.
WHEN THEY CONCRETED IT, IT LED TO FURTHER FLOODING AND THAT THAT WAS CLEAR DURING HURRICANES.
AND EVERY, YOU KNOW, ANYTIME HOUSTON GETS A LARGE AMOUNT OF WATER, THEY FLOOD.
THAT'S THE SAME THING THAT WILL HAPPEN IN AUSTIN IF WE CONCRETE AUSTIN FURTHER BY ALLOWING, YOU KNOW, JUST THE MASS COVERAGE OF LOTS WITH HOMES AND IMPERMEABLE, IMPERMEABLE COVER.
AND THE UNFORTUNATE PART ABOUT THAT IS IT WILL AFFECT THE SMALLER, OLDER HOMES FIRST.
AND THOSE SMALLER, OLDER HOMES WERE BUILT FLAT ON THE GROUND.
THOSE WILL ABSOLUTELY BE SUSCEPTIBLE, THE FIRST ONE SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE FLOODING.
AND WE'VE CONSISTENTLY ASKED YOU NOT TO GO FORWARD WITH THIS.
AND YET IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE ARE OVERLOOKED OVER, YOU KNOW, JUST WRITTEN OVER AT EVERY POINT.
I'M ASKING YOU ONCE AGAIN TO VOTE NO VOTE AGAINST HOME PHASE TWO.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.
GOODBYE. NEXT SPEAKER IS SOPHIA SNAP, SPEAKING ON ITEM SIX.
MY NAME IS SOPHIA SMITH AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE AND STUDENT AT UT AUSTIN.
I'M HERE TO VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR ITEM SIX, THE HOME PHASE TWO ORDINANCE.
AS MENTIONED AT THE APRIL 11TH MEETING WHERE I CAME TO SPEAK, I'M AN ENVIRONMENTAL AND HUMANITARIAN ENGINEERING STUDENT AT UT, A CIVIL ENGINEERING AND TURN IN A HOPEFUL LONG TERM AUSTINITE. I SAY HOPEFUL BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME FINDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING NEAR MY WORK AND NEAR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT MANY UT AUSTIN STUDENTS HAVE EXPRESSED AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS A CONCERN TO ME, AND BOTH MY ROLE AS A UT STUDENT GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND IN A PERSONAL CAPACITY.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THIS ISSUE SERIOUSLY.
NEXT SPEAKER IS JOHN GUTIERREZ SPEAKING ON ITEM SIX.
HELLO? CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES. OKAY.
[01:15:01]
MY NAME IS JOHN GUTIERREZ.I AM A WORKING CLASS MEXICAN AMERICAN THAT LIVED IN DISTRICT FIVE OF AUSTIN.
I WORK SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSING FOOD ACCESS AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ISSUES FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN THE EASTERN CRESCENT. AND I CATCH MY BREATH ONE SECOND.
I'M SPEAKING UP TODAY AGAINST ITEM SIX AS WELL AS ITEM THREE, FOUR, AND FIVE FOR THE HOME.
I'M REQUESTING ACCOUNTABILITY FROM CITY COUNCIL.
JOSE. POSEY, RYAN MCKENZIE, LESLIE PAIGE, ZOE ALLISON, AND KIRK WATSON, PLUS OUR OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS. PLEASE LISTEN TO THE VOICES OF YOUR CURRENT COMMUNITY WHO ARE SUFFERING IN THIS HOUSING CRISIS, JUSTIFICATION CRISIS, PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS, THE YOU SUPPORT THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY OR DO YOU SUPPORT DEVELOPER INTERESTS? DO YOU SUPPORT PROFITS OVER PEOPLE? DO YOU CARE ABOUT BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES? DO YOU STAND BEHIND YOUR VALUES OF EQUITY AND JUSTICE THAT YOU SPEAK SO OFTEN TO? DO YOU WANT TO BE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY? DO YOU SUPPORT WHITE SUPREMACY? DO YOU SUPPORT STRUCTURAL VIOLENCE? DO YOU WANT TO BE A GOOD ANCESTOR? WHAT ARE YOUR VALUES AND WHAT LEGACY DO YOU WANT TO LEAVE BEHIND? IN A WORLD IN TIMES OF INCREASING VIOLENCE, DIVISION AND STRUCTURAL OPPRESSIONS, PLEASE DO NOT ADD MORE STRUCTURAL VIOLENCE BY PASSING HOME AS IS.
WE ARE REQUESTING THE EQUITY OVERLAY TOOL AND AMENDMENT THAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED BY COMMUNITY POWERED RTX, AT LEAST 40 LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, COMMUNITY LEADERS AND I INCLUDING GO AUSTIN, AUSTIN, GAVA, BOULDER, THE TEXAS ANTI-POVERTY PROJECT, SAVE OUR SPRINGS, AND MANY MORE ARE ASKING FOR AN AFFORDABILITY CLAUSE WITHIN HOME ANTI-DISPLACEMENT CLAUSES AND PROTECTION FOR WORKING CLASS PEOPLE AND FAMILIES.
THESE ARE CURRENTLY NOT INCLUDED IN THIS.
SO WE NEED THIS PROTECTION FROM THE STATE PENSION ON STRUCTURAL LEVEL.
WILL YOU RISE TO THE OCCASION OR WILL YOU TO CONTINUE TO BE COMPLICIT WITH STRUCTURAL OPPRESSION AND DO MORE HARM IN THE COMMUNITY THAT IS ASKING YOU TO STEP UP RIGHT NOW? THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS CHARMAINE SELLERS, SPEAKING ON ITEM SIX.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I'M A CITIZEN OF AUSTIN, ALSO A LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER, AND I AM SPEAKING OUT IN FAVOR OF HOME TO ONE OF THE THINGS.
TWO OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO EXPRESS IS THAT THE LOWERING OF THE LOT SIZE TO 2000FT² WILL, FOR THE EXISTING CITIZENS WHO HAVE CONTINUALLY BEEN DISPLACED, SPECIFICALLY IN AREAS SUCH AS EAST AUSTIN, THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PART OF THE DECISION MAKING OR THE GROWTH OF THEIR CITY, AND ALSO PROVIDE A GENERATIONAL WEALTH BY THEM DIVIDING UP THE EXISTING LAND THAT THEY HAVE TO SELL TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND THERE ARE LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS, AS MYSELF, A CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS WHO ARE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVOCATES, HAVE BEEN FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS WHO WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
HOWEVER, WITH THIS LOT SIZE AS IT IS, IT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT.
SO THE ABILITY TO HAVE THIS HOME TO BE APPROVED WOULD HAVE TWO SIDES OF BEING ABLE TO ASSIST EXISTING CITIZENS TO BUILD GENERATIONAL WEALTH AND HAVE DECISION MAKING AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND ALSO BE ABLE TO SERVE PEOPLE IN MIDDLE INCOME, WHICH ARE SERVICE WORKERS IN EMTS, POLICE, TEACHERS, AND ESPECIALLY OUR VETERANS WHO HAVE SERVED OUR COUNTRY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
GOOD DAY. NEXT SPEAKER IS SUSAN WHITMORE, SPEAKING ON ITEM SIX.
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS SUSAN WHITMORE AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT EIGHT.
I'M CALLING IN FAVOR OF HOME PHASE TWO.
I'M A RETIRED ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER.
[01:20:06]
I LIVE ON A FIXED INCOME OF LESS THAN $47,000 PER YEAR.THIS IS A VERY SCARY THOUGHT, AND I KNOW IT IS A REAL POSSIBILITY IN AUSTIN'S REAL ESTATE MARKET.
YOUR APPROVAL OF HOMES PHASE TWO WOULD ALLOW.
MY DAUGHTER OWNS THE HOME, BUT A SMALL ADDITIONAL HOME ON HER PROPERTY FOR ME TO MOVE INTO AS I AGE.
I KNOW THAT MY INCREASING AGE WILL LIKELY BRING ME MORE HEALTH ISSUES, AND LIVING SO CLOSE TO MY DAUGHTER WILL ALLOW ME TO BE CARED FOR BY MY FAMILY AND STAY IN MY HOME FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.
ALEXANDRA SAVLOV SPEAKING ON ITEM SIX.
HOUSING AND AFFORDABILITY IS IMPORTANT FOR AUSTIN'S FUTURE, AND THE BARRIERS TO CREATING MORE DENSITY CAN BE GREATLY REDUCED BY SUPPORTING THIS AGENDA ITEM AND ALSO AGENDA ITEM FOUR AND FIVE.
THANK YOU. BILL SPACEMAN SPEAKMAN SPEAKING ON ITEM SIX.
AMONG OTHER THINGS, I AM A PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR ON A SUPPLY CHAIN PROJECT AND UNDERSTAND THAT SUPPLY CHAINS ARE VERY COMPLICATED.
YOU MAKE MORE HOMES, THEY'LL BE CHEAPER.
SUPPLY CHAINS ARE INCREDIBLY COMPLICATED.
THEY INVOLVE ALL KINDS OF ALWAYS INVOLVE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.
AND THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF THEM HERE.
WHAT YOU SHOULD LOOK AT IS THE UT REPORT BY RICHARD HYMAN TITLED THE FLAWED LOGIC AND LACK OF EVIDENCE BEHIND AUSTIN'S HOME INITIATIVE. HE SAYS THAT THE HOME INITIATIVE IS BASED ON FAULTY ASSUMPTIONS.
AND THEN, IN AN AUSTIN CHRONICLE AD OPINION, DOCTOR HYMAN SAID THIS RESEARCH DOES SUGGEST THAT THE DEREGULATION OF LAND USE AND ZONING IS LIKELY TO INCREASE LAND VALUES IN GENERAL, AND TO IMPACT NEIGHBORHOOD VULNERABILITIES TO GENTRIFICATION THE MOST. THE HOME HOME INITIATIVE IS UNLIKELY TO INCREASE AFFORDABILITY FOR MOST AUSTINITES.
YOU NEED TO GO TO THE TO THE PROS HERE AND NOT JUST DO WHAT SEEMS TO MAKE SENSE, WHAT'S GOING TO MAKE PEOPLE THE MOST MONEY? THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS WITH THE IDEA THAT THIS INITIATIVE WILL INCREASE AFFORDABILITY, AND THE THINGS THAT IT DOES BRING WITH IT ARE TERRIBLE. THERE'S THE LACK OF CITY INFRASTRUCTURE.
WHEN YOU INCREASE THE DENSITY BY, YOU KNOW, FACTORS OF THREE TO 6 TO 9, WHATEVER.
THOSE ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.
THE LOSS OF TREES IS GOING TO INCREASE THE TEMPERATURE IN OUR CITY BY YOU KNOW, MEASURABLE AMOUNTS, 5 TO 10 DEGREES WITH ALL THE TREES THAT ARE REMOVED IN ORDER TO MAKE ROOM FOR ALL THESE NEW HOUSES, WHICH IS GOING TO MAKE ENERGY COSTS GO UP AND THE RELIANCE ON ENERGY GO UP, EVEN THOUGH WE KNOW WE HAVE REALLY POOR ELECTRIC GRID.
SO I CONCLUDE BY STATING AGAIN THAT THE HOME INITIATIVE IS MISCONCEIVED, AND I THANK YOU.
SPEAKER. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
TURNED MISS CASSIE SODERGREN IS SPEAKING ON ITEM SIX.
[01:25:02]
HI. MY NAME IS CASSIE SODERGREN.I'M SPEAKING TODAY IN OPPOSITION TO ITEMS THREE, FOUR, FIVE, AND SIX SPECIFICALLY AGAINST HOME PHASE TWO AND OTHER ZONING CHANGES THAT THREATEN THE DISPLACEMENT OF EXISTING RESIDENTS.
I'VE SPOKEN PREVIOUSLY ABOUT HOW THESE PROPOSED CHANGES ARE ROOTED IN A SUPPLY AND DEMAND NARRATIVE THAT LACKS CONTEXT, INTEGRITY AND DUE DILIGENCE, AND IN REVIEWING AND UNDERSTANDING DATA.
COMMUNITY POWERED RTX HAS SPOKEN AND REACHED OUT TO COUNCIL EXTENSIVELY TO ENGAGE IN MEANINGFUL DIALOG AROUND REAL SOLUTIONS TO THE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS THAT ALL OF US ARE HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT, AND ALL OF US HERE TODAY CARE ABOUT.
IT LACKS MORAL FORTITUDE TO PASS POLICIES THAT CAN TEAR DOWN AFFORDABLE HOUSING, TO BUILD LUXURY AND RAISE PROPERTY TAXES AND RENT WITHOUT ANY PROTECTIONS AGAINST DISPLACING PEOPLE.
I'M TRULY PERPLEXED AROUND THE HESITATION THERE IS TO IMPLEMENTING AN EQUITY OVERLAY.
TO DO OTHERWISE IS CONTRADICTORY TO THE CLAIMS MANY COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE MADE ABOUT CARING, ABOUT RIGHTING THE WRONGS OF THE PAST, OR SUPPORTING OUR NEIGHBORS WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO STAY IN AUSTIN.
PLEASE SUPPORT THE EQUITY OVERLAY AMENDMENT FOR THE HOME PHASE TWO AS WELL AS FOR FOR THE ITOT AND COMPATIBILITY AND PROTECT PEOPLE FROM BEING DISPLACED.
THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS TRACY WITT ON ITEM SIX.
I'M TRACY WITT FROM DISTRICT ONE.
IN A SURPRISINGLY CANDID MOMENT OF THE CODE NEXT TO CONSULTANT, ECONORTHWEST DROPPED A SLIDE ON THE PUBLIC, EXPLAINING THAT ADDITIONAL ENTITLEMENTS, EITHER BY RIGHT OR THROUGH A DENSITY BONUS, MEANS QUOTE DEVELOPERS CAN PAY MORE FOR THE LAND, AND MORE LANDOWNERS MAY THEN BE WILLING TO PART WITH THEIR PROPERTIES FOR MORE.
ENTITLEMENTS. MEANS GREATER LAND VALUES, MEANS MORE RESIDENTS MAY GIVE UP AND GO.
INCREASING ENTITLEMENTS THROUGH HOME OFFERS LATITUDE FOR SOME HOMEOWNERS WITH FINANCIAL WHEREWITHAL TO BUILD ADDITIONAL STRUCTURES FOR THOSE STRUGGLING TO PAY THEIR MORTGAGES AND TAXES, HOME WILL CHANGE WHAT THEIR LAND IS WORTH, ESPECIALLY AFTER NEIGHBORS START SELLING AND THE LAND IS SCRAPED AND REDEVELOPED MORE DENSELY.
THEIR TAXES MAY GO UP, THEIR BURDENS AND RISKS OF DISPLACEMENT MAY INCREASE FOR THEM.
THE ONLY OPTION MAY BE THAT THEY CAN NOW SELL THEIR LAND FOR MORE THAN.
IF ONLY 1 OR 2 UNITS COULD BE BUILT AFTER THE LOT IS CLEARED.
DO THEY KNOW HOW MUCH MORE THEIR PROPERTIES WORTH IF 3 TO 6 OR MORE STRUCTURES ARE NOW POSSIBLE? IF THE LAND WORTH 3 TO 6 TIMES MORE THAN WHAT IT WAS, MAYBE YOU CAN ASK SOME DEVELOPERS TODAY HOW HOME INCREASES THEIR LAND BUDGET.
YOU MAY NOT THINK IT'S THE CITY'S BUSINESS TO EDUCATE PROPERTY OWNERS ABOUT HOW MANY UNITS ARE POSSIBLE ON THEIR LAND, AND WHAT THE UP ZONING TRANSLATES TO IN THE PROPERTY VALUE FOR THEM. HOWEVER, IF YOU FAIL THEM IN THAT REGARD, THEY MAY ACCEPT OFFERS FAR BELOW WHAT THE LAND IS ACTUALLY NOW WORTH.
SURELY THAT IS NOT THE POINT TO DRIVE THEM OUT AT A BARGAIN PRICE.
WOULD YOU PLEASE ADD LANGUAGE FOR APPROPRIATE STAFF TO DETERMINE HOW MANY UNITS ARE CREATED UNDER HOME THAT SEEK AN STR LICENSE, OR ARE FOUND TO BE ADVERTISING WITHOUT A LICENSE? I SINCERELY HOPE THAT HOME DOES NOT FOLLOW THE EXPERIENCE OF 78702 WITH THE URBAN INFILL TOOLS, WHICH WERE ALSO SOLD TO THE COMMUNITY AS AN AFFORDABILITY INITIATIVE, BUT INSTEAD UNLEASHED AN EPIDEMIC OF BESPOKE, CURATED LUXURY TRAVEL ACCOMMODATIONS WHERE ONCE WERE NEIGHBORS, WE ARE SAID PERPETUALLY TO BE IN A HOUSING CRISIS AND PERHAPS ALWAYS WILL BE ABSENT THE WILL.
AND WHILE TO SHUT DOWN THIS SORT OF RESIDENTIAL ASSETS.
AND. NEXT SPEAKER IS CATHERINE REITMEYER ON ITEM SIX.
HI. GOOD MORNING, CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR.
MY NAME IS CATHERINE RIGHTMIRE.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT SIX AND I OPPOSE THE HOME AMENDMENT STAGE TWO.
[01:30:04]
10,000FT². THE INCREASE IN POPULATION WITH SMALLER LOT SIZES WILL INCREASE THE NEED FOR WATER, AND THE SUPPLY OF THAT IS ALREADY A MAJOR PROBLEM. SMALLER LOTS DEMAND A REWORKING OF WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE AND SEWER SYSTEMS. THE DEMAND FOR ELECTRICITY WILL LEAD TO OUTAGES BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH ELECTRICITY AND THE SMALLER LOTS ON ESTABLISHED RESIDENTIAL STREETS WILL CREATE TERRIBLE PARKING AND ACCESS SITUATIONS AND CHAOTIC CONDITIONS, WITH THINGS LIKE EXCAVATIONS AND BLOCKING OFF THE STREETS FOR GOOGLE LINE POSITIONING AND FUTURE INFRASTRUCTURE WORK.THE JUMBLE OF GARBAGE BINS WE DON'T THINK ABOUT, BUT THEY'RE THERE.
THERE WILL BE LESS PARKING SPACE FOR EACH RESIDENT AND FAMILY.
IT WILL REDUCE FAMILY SAFETY DUE TO THE INFLUX OF TRANSIENT ADULTS WITHIN A STREET OR NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT WILL ELIMINATE OR REDUCE INTERLINKED ECOSYSTEMS OF PLANTS, ANIMALS, BIRDS AND INSECTS.
AND IN PARTICULAR, AS OTHERS HAVE MENTIONED, THE LOSS OF TREES.
AND IT WILL MAKE GARDENING AND GROWING ONE'S OWN VEGETABLES IMPOSSIBLE.
I ASK YOU TO PLEASE VOTE NO ON HOME PHASE TWO, AND I THANK YOU FOR THIS TIME THIS MORNING.
THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS KIMBERLEY KOHLHAAS ON SIX.
GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL AND MAYOR.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK THIS MORNING.
I'M A RESIDENT OF D9 FOR 24 YEARS, AND I'M AN ARCHITECT AND A REALTOR.
AND I IMPLORE YOU TO VOTE AGAINST ITEM SIX.
WE HAD PEOPLE DIE IN THEIR HOMES WITH RECENT FREEZE AND WE LOST POWER.
YOUR CONSTITUENTS WHO VOTED YOU IN NEED TO FEEL SAFE IN THEIR OWN HOMES.
MY ISSUE WITH 2000 SQUARE FOOT LOTS WITH THREE TOWNHOMES IS THE STRAIN ON UTILITIES.
AUSTIN IS HEADED TO BECOME A RENTAL PLAYGROUND, AND THIS CHANGE PAVES THE WAY.
I FEAR FOR MY NEIGHBORS WHO WILL NOT FEEL SAFE IN THEIR OWN HOMES.
AND I IMPLORE YOU TO VOTE NO ON ITEM SIX.
THANK YOU. LAURA FLYNN SPEAKING ON ITEM SIX.
THANK YOU. PLEASE GO AHEAD AND MUTE.
YES, SIR. I WAS JUST IN THE MIDDLE OF EATING.
THANK YOU TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WILL SPEND A LONG DAY TODAY HEARING US SPEAK.
AND ESPECIALLY TO ALL THOSE WHO DECIDE TO SUPPORT THESE IMPORTANT MEASURES.
I'M SPEAKING TODAY IN SUPPORT OF ALL THE HOUSING MEASURES.
[01:35:01]
BUT I WANT TO BRING UP AN ISSUE THAT I BELIEVE DESERVES SPECIAL ATTENTION.THEN AUSTIN CITY STAFF SAID NO TO THIS.
IT SEEMS THAT UNELECTED STAFF HAVE THE FINAL SAY IN OUR LAWS.
DO WE LIVE IN A DEMOCRACY? AND WHY IS THERE NO ATTEMPT TO ADDRESS THIS IN HOME TWO? THE NEED FOR MORE HOUSING IS A RESOUNDING YES.
IT IS A YES IN THE DATA, AND IT IS A YES ON THE FACES OF SO MANY THERE TODAY.
IN SUMMARY, SUPPORT THESE MEASURES AND BUILD MORE HOUSING FOR ALL PEOPLE.
DO MUCH MORE THAN JUST THESE MEASURES.
MAKE AUSTIN A PLACE WHERE EVERYONE CAN AFFORD TO LIVE.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. LAURA.
YOUR MIC. ROB SCHNEIDER SPEAKING ON SIX.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FIVE.
I'M ALSO AN AARP VOLUNTEER, AND I'M A MEMBER OF AARP TEXAS STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE HOME TWO PROPOSAL.
WHEN WE ASK PEOPLE WHERE THEY WANT TO LIVE AS THEY AGE BY WIDE MARGINS, THEY INDICATE THAT THEY WANT TO REMAIN IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND IDEALLY IN THEIR HOMES. WE ALSO KNOW THAT FOR MOST PEOPLE, AS THEY AGE, THEY WILL NEED SOME FORM OF SUPPORTIVE CAREGIVING, WHETHER THAT BE ASSISTANCE, GETTING GROCERIES OR MANAGING THEIR FINANCES, OR MORE SUBSTANTIAL ASSISTANCE LIKE HELP FEEDING THEMSELVES OR BATHING.
FOR SOME PEOPLE, THEIR ONLY OPTION IS MAYBE TO BE AWAY FROM THEIR HOME IN A FACILITY.
WHEN AARP SPOKE A FEW MONTHS AGO IN FAVOR OF THE FIRST HOME PROPOSALS, IT WAS BECAUSE THEY PROVIDED PEOPLE WITH NEW OPTIONS TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES OR THEIR COMMUNITIES AS THEY AGE. BUT GIVING THEM OPPORTUNITIES TO MOVE THEMSELVES, FAMILY MEMBER OR CAREGIVER INTO AN ADU, AND MAYBE ALSO BUILD A TINY HOME ON THEIR PROPERTY, OR TO BRING IN RESOURCES OR SUPPORT THEMSELVES BY RENTING OUT A UNIT THAT THEY'VE BUILT ON THEIR PROPERTY.
THIS NEW PROPOSAL OFFERS ANOTHER OPTION FOR A PERSON WHO OWNS THEIR HOME TO SELL A PORTION OF THEIR PROPERTY AND STILL REMAIN IN THEIR HOME, PROVIDING THEM WITH RESOURCES THEY MAY NEED TO SUPPORT THEIR OWN CAREGIVING NEEDS AS THEY AGE AND STILL REMAIN IN THEIR HOMES.
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR HOMEOWNERS OF ALL INCOMES TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE HOME PROPOSALS, FOR EXAMPLE, TO HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOWER COST FINANCING, TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE PROGRAM, AND TO HAVE PROTECTIONS AGAINST ANY UNSCRUPULOUS PRACTICES IN THE MARKET IF THEY DEVELOP.
IN THAT REGARD, WE THANK COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, MAYOR PRO TEM POOL AND THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THEIR COMPANION AFFORDABILITY ITEM THAT'S SCHEDULED FOR MAY 30TH. AGENDA DISCUSSION.
AND IN ADDITION, WE'D URGE THE COUNCIL TO REQUIRE REGULAR REPORTING FROM STAFF TO QUICKLY IDENTIFY PROBLEMS THAT EMERGE, PARTICULARLY AMONG OLDER HOMEOWNERS AND LOWER INCOME HOMEOWNERS.
THANK YOU. SEAN THOMAS SPEAKING ON SIX.
LAURA. OKAY, SO, MAYOR, I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO REMOTE.
THANK YOU. AGAIN, WE'LL BE CALLING THREE AT A TIME.
PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM AND READ YOUR NAME INTO THE RECORD.
PLEASE GO TO THE. PLEASE GO TO THE NEXT THREE.
ELIZABETH, WOULD EDGAR HANDEL AND ANOUSH ROZEN.
[01:40:06]
ADAM GREENFIELD.IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, FEEL FREE TO USE THE MICROPHONE.
HI, I'M EDGAR HANDEL, VICE PRESIDENT OF AURA.
I LIVE IN GO VALLEY IN DISTRICT THREE WITH MY WIFE AND TWO KIDS.
MY MOM, MY MOM SPENT THE LATTER PORTION OF HER CHILDHOOD IN A CITY IN THE LA AREA.
WHEN I TALKED TO HER, IT'S CLEAR SHE LOVES THE PLACE WHERE SHE GREW UP.
BUT ASTRONOMICAL INCREASES IN HOUSING COSTS MEANS RETURNING IS ESSENTIALLY OUT OF THE QUESTION.
WHEN SHE VISITS HER NOW UNAFFORDABLE HOMETOWN, SHE SEES THE SAME BUILDINGS AND HOMES.
THE SAME IS TRUE OF THE WORKING CLASS NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE I GREW UP WHEN I VISITED.
THE STREETS ARE THE SAME, THE HOMES ARE THE SAME, BUT THE PRICES ARE NOT.
MY CHILDHOOD HOME, DESPITE BEING A HALF CENTURY OLD, COST SEVERAL TIMES WHAT MY PARENTS PAID, TO THE POINT THAT THE BURDEN OF PROPERTY TAXES AND FEAR OF DISPLACEMENT IS VERY COMMON TOPIC IN TALKS WITH MY DAD.
AFFORDABILITY IS A HUGE ISSUE, BUT IT SEEMS CLEAR TO ME THAT MANY, IF NOT MOST, NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE NOT SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGED THEIR ZONING IN DECADES BUT GOT HIT BY THE HOUSING CRISIS JUST AS HARD ANYWAYS.
PRESERVATION IS HARDLY ANY GUARANTEE OF AFFORDABILITY, SO WHAT CAN WE DO? ONE OF THE BEST OPTIONS IS DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO RESIDENTS IN NEED AND DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT GIVING PEOPLE THE OPTION TO GENERATE INCOME BY BUILDING ON OR SUBDIVIDING THEIR LAND IS ONE WE CAN IGNORE.
I LEARNED ABOUT AUSTIN'S 5750 SQUARE FOOT MINIMUM LOT SIZE, AND I REMEMBER EXPLAINING IT TO MY DAD, WHO IMMEDIATELY RESPONDED WITH, THAT'S THE SIZE OF MY LOT, AND WE COULD FIT THREE HOMES ON IT EASILY.
OF COURSE, IT'S NOT THE ONLY THING THAT WE CAN DO.
I'D LIKE TO ECHO THEIR SENTIMENTS THAT WHILE HOME IS A STARTING POINT FOR ADDRESSING THE HOUSING SHORTAGE, WE ALSO NEED OTHER MEASURES FOR AFFORDABILITY, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE AT RISK OF DISPLACEMENT, INCLUDING TAX PAYMENT ASSISTANCE, GIVING VULNERABLE HOMEOWNERS ACCESS TO CAPITAL, BUILDING DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND MORE FOR MINIMUM LOT SIZE.
IN PARTICULAR, WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO MAKE SURE THE SUBDIVISION PROCESS IS ACCESSIBLE TO ALL.
IT CAN'T BE A LENGTHY, EXPENSIVE PROCESS USED ONLY BY RICH HOMEOWNERS AND DEVELOPERS.
TO SUM IT UP, I THINK HOME IS A MEANINGFUL STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
HOME TACKLES RULES THAT HAVE HELPED PUSH FAMILIES LIKE MINE OUT OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND CITIES.
HOME WON'T FIX EVERYTHING, BUT I EARNESTLY BELIEVE IT WILL HELP.
LET'S IMPROVE ON AND PASS HOME ITOD AND COMPATIBILITY REFORM TODAY.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE APPROACH THE DAIS AND READ YOUR NAME INTO THE RECORD.
LUIS LUGO, DISTRICT EIGHT RESIDENT.
I HOPE YOU ALL ARE HAVING A WONDERFUL DAY.
WELCOME TO AUSTIN CITY MANAGER BRODNAX.
AND I WANTED TO SAY MY COMPLETE AND UTTER SUPPORT FOR HOME PHASE TWO AND THE COMPATIBILITY AND REQUIREMENTS THERE ARE COMPROMISED, BUT I THINK THEY'RE A GOOD STEP FORWARD WHERE WE NEED TO BE AS A CITY.
AND I WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT ALL OF THE AMENDMENTS PASSED FORWARD BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
AUSTIN JUSTICE COALITION FOR PUTTING TOGETHER A BROAD AND DEEP COALITION THAT SUPPORTS A BETTER AND MORE AFFORDABLE AUSTIN, ESPECIALLY IN CONTRAST TO GROUPS LIKE COMMUNITY POWER, WHICH HAVE DONE NOTHING BUT SPREAD LIES AND MANIPULATION.
AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED THIS CITY'S MOST SUCCESSFUL AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAM, LED BY OUR WONDERFUL CONGRESSMAN GREG CASSAR AND OUR DISGRACE TO THE CITY.
AND I HOPE YOU ALL TAKE ALL OF THEIR AMENDMENTS SERIOUSLY AND EARNESTLY FORWARD TO MAKE MINIMUM LAW REFORM ACCESSIBLE TO EVERY SINGLE HOMEOWNER AND EVERY SINGLE POTENTIAL HOMEOWNER WHO WANTS TO BE WHO WANTS TO BUILD A LIFE HERE IN AUSTIN FOR THEMSELVES, FOR THEIR FAMILY, FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES.
VIVIAN PATTERSON, ZEESHAN MALIK, ELIZABETH WOOD, ANUSH RAISIAN, ADAM, ADAM
[01:45:08]
GREENFIELD, LUCY BAIG, AND NICOLE NOSEK.YES. ANYTIME YOU'D LIKE TO START.
JUST IDENTIFY YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS VIVIAN PATTERSON.
WE LIVE IN A 1600 SQUARE FOOT HOUSE THAT WE LOVE.
IT'S LIKE LESS TO MAINTAIN WHICH IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT NOW THAT WE JUST HAD OUR FIRST DAUGHTER.
THE WALKABILITY FELLOW PARENTS CAN HOPEFULLY SYMPATHIZE HAS BEEN SO NICE BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE TO STRAP IN A BABY SCREAMING INTO A CAR SEAT EVERYWHERE YOU WANT TO GO. YOU CAN JUST POP THEM IN THE STROLLER AND ACTUALLY GET YOUR ERRANDS DONE BECAUSE WE'RE LIKE WALKING DISTANCE FROM THE HEB AND A LOT OF OTHER PLACES WE WANT TO GO.
YEAH. REALLY GOOD FOR YOUR SANITY.
YEAH. AND WE GOT REALLY LUCKY BECAUSE THIS HOUSE IS GRANDFATHERED IN.
YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO BUILD IT TODAY.
IF WE ALLOW THE OPTION TO START BUILDING HIGHER DENSITY HOUSING TODAY.
AND YEAH, PLEASE SUPPORT THE HOME INITIATIVE.
WORKING AS A SOCIAL WORKER, PARTICULARLY IN SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, HAS GIVEN ME FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE INTO THE STRUGGLES MANY FACE IN SECURING STABLE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN OUR CITY. HOME OFFERS PROMISING STEP OF EMPOWERING HOMEOWNERS TO SUBDIVIDE THEIR LOTS, AND IT WILL OPEN THE DOOR TO CONSTRUCTING, CONSTRUCTING ADDITIONAL HOMES AND ALLOWING RESIDENTS TO REMAIN IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
THIS INITIATIVE PRESENTS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE HOUSING MORE ACCESSIBLE TO OUR EDUCATORS, HEALTH CARE WORKERS, SOCIAL WORKERS, FIRST RESPONDERS, AND COUNTLESS OTHERS WHO CONTRIBUTE TO OUR CITY'S WELL-BEING.
WE LIKELY WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD OUR CURRENT HOME IF I HADN'T BEEN ALONE ON A LARGE LOT.
INSTEAD OF SHARING THE LOT WITH ANOTHER HOME, I ALSO APPRECIATE THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO SETBACKS.
I GREATLY VALUE FEELING COMMUNITY WITH MY NEIGHBORS AND BRINGING HOMES CLOSER TO THE STREET WHERE WE WALK AND PLAY WOULD BE A BIG IMPROVEMENT OVER THE LAWNS AND FENCES THAT DIVIDE US. I WAS INSPIRED BY THE RECENT PRESS CONFERENCE HELD BY THE AUSTIN JUSTICE COALITION, AUSTIN AREA URBAN LEAGUE, AND THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS, WHERE I SAW COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ORGANIZATIONS SHOW HOW HOME COULD HELP STAVE OFF DISPLACEMENT AND ALLOW US TO SHARE AUSTIN WITH MORE PEOPLE.
AND I HOPE WE CAN PURSUE THESE POLICIES WITH THE SAME ENERGY AS LAND USE REFORM.
GOOD MORNING. MAYOR AND COUNCIL ADAM GREENFIELD, DISTRICT THREE RESIDENT.
I AM HERE TO SPEAK IN STRONG SUPPORT OF HOME PHASE TWO AND IN PARTICULAR, THE REDUCTION OF FRONT SETBACK REQUIREMENTS TO TEN FEET, AS THE PLANNING COMMISSION PROPOSES.
THERE'S A BEAUTIFUL, ANCIENT MAXIM THAT THAT I CAME ACROSS A FEW YEARS AGO THAT I THINK SPEAKS BEAUTIFULLY TO THIS MOMENT, AND THAT IS 1ST MAY JUDGE OF A KING BY THE STATE OF DANCING DURING HIS REIGN.
AND THE REASON WHY I THINK THAT REALLY APPLIES SO BEAUTIFULLY HERE IS BECAUSE I THINK IT APPLIES TO THE MODERN CONTEXT, IN THAT OUR LEADERS SHOULD BE INTERESTED AND INVESTED IN THE SOCIAL CONNECTEDNESS OF THEIR CONSTITUENTS.
I THINK THAT HOME PHASE TWO IS A BEAUTIFUL RESPONSE TO ADDRESSING THAT EPIDEMIC OF LONELINESS.
BY BRINGING NEIGHBORS CLOSER TO EACH OTHER, BY BRINGING HOMES CLOSER TO THE STREET.
A TEN FOOT SETBACK WITH A FIVE FOOT ENCROACHMENT IS REASONABLE.
PERHAPS ONE DAY WE'LL REVISIT THAT AND ASK WHY WE HAVE FRONT SETBACK REQUIREMENTS AT ALL.
[01:50:04]
BUT I THINK THIS IS A GREAT STEP FORWARD FOR OUR CITY.I WAS RECENTLY SPEAKING WITH A NEIGHBOR OF MINE WHO'S 70, ON HER PORCH AND WAS TELLING HER ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF REDUCING FRONT SETBACKS, AND AS I SAID THAT HER EYES LIT UP BECAUSE HER PORCH HAS BEEN SUCH A WONDERFUL RESOURCE FOR HER TO CONNECT WITH COMMUNITY AS AS HER, AS HER HOUSEHOLD BATTLES WITH PARKINSON'S DISEASE. SO I HOPE THAT MANY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN THE FUTURE WILL GET TO ENJOY THOSE SAME BENEFITS.
I THINK THERE'S ONE WORD THAT MAKES AUSTIN A GREAT CITY, AND THAT WORD IS COMMUNITY.
AND I EXPECT HOME PHASE TWO TO THOROUGHLY CONTRIBUTE TO THAT.
CERTAINLY IT IS NOT THE BE ALL AND END ALL OF ADDRESSING OUR LAND USE ISSUES.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. PLEASE BEGIN.
GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I'M HERE TODAY TO SUPPORT HOME PHASE TWO AS A TOOL FOR GIVING SMALLER HOMES A BIGGER CHANCE IN A CITY WITH THE THIRD LARGEST LOT SIZES AMONGST BIG CITIES IN THE COUNTRY, AN AVERAGE NEW HOME SIZE OF 2800FT², AND A HOUSING STOCK THAT IS CURRENTLY ADDING HOMES OVER 5000FT² AT A FASTER RATE THAN HOMES UNDER 1000FT².
I'M ALSO THE FORTUNATE OWNER OF A HOME ON A 2500 SQUARE FOOT LOT, WHICH WAS THE LEAST EXPENSIVE PROPERTY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD OF CESAR CHAVEZ, WHERE MY HUSBAND AND I BOUGHT IT 13 YEARS AGO.
ALMOST 25% OF THE EXISTING LOTS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ARE LESS THAN THE CURRENT MINIMUM OF 57 50FT².
OF THOSE, THE SMALLER ONES TEND TO BE ON CORNERS.
WHAT MANY OF THESE HOUSES HAVE IN COMMON IS THAT THEY WERE BUILT CLOSE TO THEIR FRONT PROPERTY LINES, SOMETIMES AS LITTLE AS FIVE FOOT AWAY, ALMOST ALWAYS LESS THAN 15 FOOT. THIS GAVE HOMEOWNERS THE FLEXIBILITY TO HAVE A SMALL REAR OR SIDE YARD OR PARK TO THE SIDE OF THEIR HOUSE OR THE REAR OF AN ALLEY.
THAT LED THEM TO OPPOSE THE PC RECOMMENDATION OF A TEN FOOT FRONT SETBACK.
I DO NOT BELIEVE THE REDUCTION IN FLEXIBILITY THAT A 15 FOOT SETBACK IMPOSES, BY COMPARISON, IS WORTH THE TRADE OFF FROM OUR EXPERIENCE ON THESE SMALL LOTS. EVERY FOOT OF SETBACK FLEXIBILITY MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
REMEMBER, TOO, THAT THE STREET SIDE YARD WAS REDUCED TO 5 FOOT OR 10 FOOT THROUGH PHASE ONE.
MAKING THE FRONT YARD SETBACK TEN FEET WILL MAKE THEM CONSISTENT WITH THE SETBACKS ALREADY ESTABLISHED UNDER HOME PHASE ONE, AND WITH HISTORICAL PATTERNS OF DEVELOPMENT IN AUSTIN THAT HAVE SO MUCH TO TELL US ABOUT HOW TO BUILD GOOD NEIGHBORHOODS.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU MEMBERS MADAM CLERK.
WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE DO IS WE CALL THE NEXT TWO SPEAKERS.
WE HEAR FROM TWO MORE SPEAKERS ON THIS PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER SIX, AND THEN WE WILL PAUSE THAT PUBLIC HEARING SO THAT WE CAN GO TO OUR 12:00 TIME CERTAIN BEFORE WE GO TO OUR 12:00 TIME CERTAIN.
LET'S HEAR FROM THE NEXT TWO SPEAKERS.
AND THEN I WOULD ASK THAT THE THE CLERK ANNOUNCE THE NAMES OF THE NEXT FIVE SPEAKERS THAT WILL COME WHEN WE COME BACK AT 1:00 TO RESTART THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
THEY'LL KNOW THAT THEY'RE UP, AND THAT WAY THEY'LL BE PREPARED TO TO START WITH US.
SO IF YOU WOULD CALL THE NEXT TWO SPEAKERS, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT.
IF YOU'RE HERE, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND SO WE KNOW I WON'T GO.
[01:55:01]
PLEASE COME. HAS TIME DONATED BY BRAD MASSINGILL.IS BRAD HERE? THANK YOU. YOU HAVE SIX MINUTES AND THIS WILL BE OUR FINAL SPEAKER IN THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
WE WILL PAUSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
WE WILL GO TO OUR NOON TIME CERTAIN.
WE WILL RECESS AFTER THE NOON TIME, CERTAIN UNTIL 1:00, BUT WE WILL CALL OUT THE NAMES AFTER SHE FINISHES OF THE FIRST FIVE PEOPLE AT 1:00, SO YOU'LL KNOW TO BE HERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
MAYOR WATSON COUNCIL MEMBER COUNCILWOMAN FUENTES, COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ AND COUNCIL, YOU ALL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROTECT COMMUNITIES FROM THE THIRD MASS DISPLACEMENT TO HIT THE EASTERN CRESCENT.
OVER 40 COMMUNITY AUSTIN COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND 100 COMMUNITY LEADERS REPRESENTING COMMUNITY MEMBERS DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY THE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS, HOMELESS HOMELESSNESS SERVICE PROVIDERS, ADVOCATES AND RESEARCHERS HAVE SIGNED ON TO A LETTER DEMANDING THAT ANY NEIGHBORHOODS AT RISK OF DISPLACEMENT AND GENTRIFICATION ARE PROTECTED FROM ANY ZONING CHANGES APPROVED ON MAY 16TH, PENDING REVIEW DURING AN EQUITY ANTI-DISPLACEMENT OVERLAY PROCESS.
WE, THE COMMUNITY, HAVE GIVEN YOU EVERYTHING YOU NEED IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE HARM YOU WILL LIKELY MAKE THE CHOICE TO CAUSE TODAY WITHOUT AN EQUITY ANTI-DISPLACEMENT OVERLAY, LOW INCOME BIPOC NEIGHBORHOODS WILL EXPERIENCE INCREASED DISPLACEMENT PRESSURES AND WILL BE TARGETED FIRST FOR DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE PROPERTIES IN THE EASTERN CRESCENT YIELD HIGHER PROFITS. TO PREVENT DISPARATE IMPACT ON LOW INCOME DISPROPORTIONALLY DISPROPORTIONATELY BIPOC COMMUNITIES, WE MUST PUT PROTECTIONS IN PLACE.
WE DEMAND THAT MAYOR WATSON AND AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL CREATE AN EQUITY ANTI-DISPLACEMENT OVERLAY THROUGH A COMMUNITY BASED PROCESS IN ORDER TO PROTECT COMMUNITIES VULNERABLE TO DISPLACEMENT, DELAYING THE GRANTING OF ENTITLEMENTS WITHIN AREAS AT RISK OF DISPLACEMENT.
THIS IS SUPPORTED BY 40 PLUS COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.
IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF AN EQUITY OVERLAY AFTER ZONING CHANGES ARE PASSED, BECAUSE ENTITLEMENTS GRANTED TODAY CANNOT BE TAKEN AWAY, THE PURPOSE OF THE ANTI-DISPLACEMENT EQUITY OVERLAY WOULD BE TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND PRODUCE HOUSING THAT IS TRULY AFFORDABLE IN NEIGHBORHOODS IN WHICH RESIDENTS ARE VULNERABLE TO DISPLACEMENT.
THE PROTECTIVE OVERLAY SHOULD COVER ALL THE NEIGHBORHOODS IDENTIFIED AS VULNERABLE IN THE UPROOTED REPORT, BASED ON THE MAP OF MOST VULNERABLE CENSUS TRACTS THROUGHOUT AUSTIN, CENSUS DATA AND A COMMUNITY BASED PROCESS CAN ALSO BE USED TO CONSIDER THE ADDITION OF NEIGHBORHOODS TO THE OVERLAY BASED ON NEIGHBORHOOD VULNERABILITY.
THIS IS DEMONSTRATED IN THE 2002 REPORT IDENTIFYING BERKELEY POTENTIAL IMPACTS ON DISPLACEMENT AND EQUITY BY THE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ANTI-EVICTION MAPPING PROJECT, AND COMMISSIONED BY THE BERKELEY RENT STABILIZATION BOARD.
UPZONING CAN LEAD TO SPECULATION, INCREASED LAND VALUES, AND DISPLACEMENT.
BY THE SAME TOKEN, UPZONING HAS LED TO GREATER RACIAL INTEGRATION AND HAS UPZONING HAS LED TO GREATER RACIAL INTEGRATION AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES, UPZONING ALONE IS UNLIKELY TO MAKE HOUSING AFFORDABLE TO THOSE MOST IN NEED IN BERKELEY AND MAKE BERKELEY'S HOUSING MARKET MORE EQUITABLE.
CONSIDER A SPECIAL DISTRICT OVERLAY TO PRESERVE AND DEVELOP AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND VULNERABLE AREAS.
THE OVERLAY SHOULD ENCOURAGE TRULY AFFORDABLE, DENSE DENSITY RATHER THAN INCENTIVIZING MARKET RATE.
COUNCIL MUST LIMIT THE ZONING CHANGES TO AREAS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AS AT RISK OF DISPLACEMENT AND GENTRIFICATION BY THE UPROOTED AND DELAY UPROOTED REPORT AND DELAY THE CONSIDERATION OF ZONING CHANGES FOR AREAS VULNERABLE TO DISPLACEMENT IN ORDER TO CREATE AN EQUITY ANTI-DISPLACEMENT OVERLAY.
DO I KNOW YOU STILL HAVE A MINUTE? 38 I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT BEEP WAS.
[02:00:07]
MAYOR WATSON, YOUR LEGACY WILL BE DISPLACEMENT COUNCIL MEMBER VILLA.YOUR LEGACY WILL BE MAKING AUSTIN A HOSTILE PLACE FOR POOR PEOPLE AND PEOPLE OF COLOR.
THERE ARE CLUSTERS OF CHARACTERISTICS.
THEY ARE NOT SIMPLY RACE BASED.
AND IN SUMMARY, Y'ALL DON'T HEAR US, BUT YOU WILL IN NOVEMBER.
MADAM CLERK, WHAT I WOULD ASK YOU TO DO.
WE NEED TO GO TO OUR 12:00 TIME.
CERTAIN. SO I APPRECIATE YOU ALL BEING IN ORDER.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ THE NEXT THE FIVE NAMES THAT WILL BE CALLED AT 1:00 AFTER THE RECESS BOBBY LEVINSKY, RYAN SUZUKI, KAI GRAY, SEAN ATKINS, AND RICE JACKSON.
THOSE ARE THE FIVE PEOPLE THAT WILL BE CALLED ON RIGHT AT 1:00 SO THAT YOU CAN BE PREPARED.
[12:00 PM - Public Communication: General]
TO THE CITY CLERK TO BEGIN THAT PROCESS.FIRST REMOTE SPEAKER IS SYDNEY HOLLINGSWORTH.
MY NAME IS SYDNEY. MY HOME IS IN DISTRICT EIGHT.
BROGDEN. YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD THAT FOR THE PAST SEVEN MONTHS, A BROAD, SWEEPING, MULTI-FAITH COALITION, INCLUDING FIVE CITY COMMISSIONS HAS ASKED THE CITY COUNCIL TO PASS A SIMPLE CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION.
HOWEVER, MANY QUESTION WHETHER THE MAYOR AND ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE ACTUALLY READ IT.
I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ASK THE DAIS, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND OR OTHERWISE INDICATE THAT YOU HAVE TRUTHFULLY READ THE AUSTIN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION IN FULL. THANK YOU.
SLIDE, PLEASE. AND ATTENDING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS.
THE FIRST TEN PEOPLE TO SIGN UP TO GIVE GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT SHOULD BE THE TEN PEOPLE SELECTED TO GIVE GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT IN THE JUNTA ARE THE FIRST TEN PEOPLE WHO SIGNED UP IN THE NEON GREEN ARE THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SELECTED.
BEGINNING IN JANUARY, BLATANT DISCREPANCIES HAVE BEEN ERODING PUBLIC TRUST AND DISPROPORTIONATELY HARMING PALESTINIAN AUSTINITES AND MEMBERS OF THE COALITION SUPPORTING THE CEASE FIRE RESOLUTION.
IN THE DATA DISPLAYED, YOU CAN SEE THE SIXTH PERSON TO SIGN UP AS MACKENZIE KELLY'S CONSTITUENT.
TWICE. LOUIE WAS ELIGIBLE AND IN THE FIRST TIME ABLE TO SPEAK, BUT WAS PICKED OVER.
LIKELY MOST EGREGIOUS WERE THE DISCREPANCIES OR THE APRIL 4TH MEETING, THE 19TH, 22ND AND 25TH PEOPLE SHOULD SIGN UP USING FORMSTACK, THE TOOL THAT THE CITY USES FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
SIGN UP WERE SELECTED TO GIVE GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS.
THE COUNCIL SETS THE TONE IN THE CITY AND HAS ENABLED AN ENVIRONMENT OF RECENT HATE CRIMES AGAINST MUSLIMS AND ANTI-ZIONIST JEWS, AND OPEN SEASON POLICE BRUTALITY ON PEACEFUL UT STUDENTS.
ADP HAS TRAINED AND COLLABORATED WITH THE IDF.
WE SAW TACTICS THAT ARE USED ON PALESTINIANS AND PALESTINE USED IN OUR STUDENTS.
MAYOR WATSON, YOUR CONSTITUENTS EXPECT A BARE MINIMUM DECENCY OF YOU ACCEPTING YOUR MEETING WITH YOUR CONSTITUENTS HARMS. CITY MANAGER BRODERICK, AS I RUN OUT OF TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A MEETING WITH YOU TO EXPLAIN MY OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVIDED TWO HANDOUTS FOR YOUR REVIEW.
ERICA. HOWARD, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM.
[02:05:04]
ADAM MCCORMICK.FATHER OF FIVE CHILDREN IN THE COMMUNITY.
PROFESSOR OF CHILDHOOD TRAUMA AND A SOCIAL WORKER WHO.
FROM PHYSICAL ABUSE TO SEXUAL ABUSE TO SCHOOL SHOOTINGS TO TRAFFICKING.
ALL ISSUES THAT MANY MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL HAVE BEEN VERY QUICK TO TO SPEAK UP FOR.
TO DATE, 15,000 CHILDREN HAVE BEEN KILLED, 18,000 HAVE BEEN ORPHANED, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS MORE HAVE BEEN DISPLACED THANKS TO NEW WEAPONRY USED IN UNIMAGINABLE WAYS.
WE ARE SEEING A COHORT OF CHILDHOOD AMPUTEES UNLIKE ANYTHING THAT WE'VE EVER SEEN BEFORE.
THE PAIN AND SUFFERING OF THE CHILDREN OF GAZA WILL BE FELT FOR GENERATIONS.
AND ONE THING THAT I'VE LEARNED AS SOMEONE WHO SPENT HIS WHOLE LIFE WORKING IN CHILDHOOD TRAUMA, IS THAT THE ONLY THING WORSE TO EXPERIENCE CHILDHOOD TRAUMA IS TO EXPERIENCE IT ALL ALONE, TO HAVE YOUR TRAUMA MET WITH INDIFFERENCE AND APATHY IN SILENCE.
AND IN DOING THIS WORK, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, AT TIMES YOU GET REALLY DISAPPOINTED WITH ADULTS, PARTICULARLY ADULTS IN POWER, WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR SPEAKING UP ON BEHALF OF CHILDHOOD SUFFERING AND SURVIVORS OF CHILDHOOD TRAUMA.
AND IN 24 YEARS, I HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE DISAPPOINTED WITH A BODY THAN I AM WITH THIS COUNCIL AND THEIR SILENCE AND THEIR COMPLICITY ON THE ISSUE OF THE ISSUES IN THE EXPERIENCES OF THE CHILDREN IN GAZA.
SO I SPEAK NOT TO YOU, BUT RATHER TO THE FOLKS WHO ELECT YOU.
SO I ENCOURAGE EACH ONE OF YOU AND EACH MEMBER IN THIS COMMUNITY TO DO JUST THAT.
VIEW YOURSELVES, OR PERHAPS YOUR CHILDREN OR YOUR GRANDCHILDREN, YOUR NIECES, YOUR NEPHEWS THROUGH THE EXPERIENCES OF THOSE CHILDREN IN GAZA, CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN MURDERED AND MAIMED AND ORPHANED AND HUMILIATED, CHILDREN WHO LOOK TO THE SKY EACH DAY WONDERING IF BREAD OR BOMBS WILL FALL.
LOOK TO THEIR EXPERIENCES THROUGH YOUR OWN, OF THOSE PARENTS WHO EACH DAY ARE TASKED WITH PROTECTING AND LOVING AND COMFORTING AND REASSURING THEIR CHILDREN, ALL THE WHILE KNOWING THAT THEY COULD BE NEXT.
WHEN IT COMES TO THE SUFFERING OF CHILDREN, THERE ARE NO BOUNDARIES.
THERE ARE NO BORDERS, THERE ARE NO JURISDICTIONS.
THERE ARE NO LIMITATIONS TO DOING WHAT IS RIGHT.
AS I TELL MY STUDENTS EVERY DAY.
THANK YOU SIR. YOUR TIMING IS PERFECT.
ARE YOU MISSED, MISS HOWARD? JUST STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.
I'M AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF UT STUDENT GOVERNMENT.
I RECEIVED THE UT STUDENT GOVERNMENT OUTSTANDING CO-DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR AWARD, AND MY AGENCY, THE FOOD SECURITY AGENCY, RECEIVED THE OUTSTANDING STUDENT GOVERNMENT AGENCY OF THE YEAR AWARD FOR THE 2023 2024 SCHOOL YEAR.
I'M ALSO A LIFELONG AUSTINITE.
I JOINED THE CAMPUS PROTEST ON APRIL 26TH.
I BROUGHT MY DAUGHTER WITH ME.
YOU CAN SEE HER DANCING HERE IN COMMUNITY IN A SAFE SPACE ON THE SOUTH MALL.
ON APRIL 28TH, AFTER SINGING FOR PEACE AT THE CAPITOL WITH AN INTERFAITH GROUP OF JUSTICE SEEKERS, I ATTENDED A SONG CIRCLE LED BY JEWISH VOICES FOR PEACE, JOSHUA BLAIN, WHO WAS HEAVILY INVOLVED IN THE JEWISH COMMUNITY AND WHO PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS A ZERO WASTE ADVISER TO FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER ORA HOUSTON, LED THIS GROUP.
THE NEXT DAY ON THE LAWN, YOU ALL ATTACKED US FOR SETTING UP TENTS.
[02:10:01]
ATTACKING US WAS WRONG AND IT WAS WRONG TWICE.BUT WE AREN'T FOOLING OURSELVES.
WE KNOW YOU MIGHT KILL US IF WE TRY SETTING UP TENTS AGAIN.
THIS PICTURE MAY SEEM INNOCUOUS TO MOST, BUT TO US IT NOW REPRESENTS A TREACHEROUS PLACE.
WE HAVE BEEN BETRAYED BY OUR UNIVERSITY.
I PERSONALLY HAVE BEEN BETRAYED BY DEAN J.R.
WE STUDENTS HAVE BEEN BETRAYED BY EACH ONE OF YOU SITTING UP HERE.
WHO HAS NOT CONDEMNED THE MILITARIZED VIOLENCE WAGED AGAINST STUDENTS AND OUR ALLIES FOR DEMANDING OUR UNIVERSITIES CEASE TO FUND THE HEINOUS GENOCIDE IN PALESTINE? BUT WE KNOW WHO WE ARE.
MY SON, WHO MIGHT HAVE BEEN A FOURTH GENERATION LONGHORN, WILL NO LONGER BE APPLYING TO UT AUSTIN.
I DO NOT BELIEVE IT IS A SAFE PLACE FOR HIM TO LEARN AND LIVE.
FOR THE RECORD, I HAVE GOTTEN TO LEARN AND EXPERIENCE MORE JEWISH CULTURE AND EXPERIENCE MORE JEWISH COMMUNITY IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS THAN I HAVE EVER IN MY ENTIRE LIFE, INCLUDING THIS INTERFAITH SERVICE.
THESE ARE THE FACULTY THAT HAVE OUR BACKS.
AND WHEN I SAY YOU YES, I MEAN YOU YOU ARE COMPLICIT IN THE ATTACKS ON STUDENTS.
THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT SPEAKER IS ANOBIUM ISLAM.
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS THE REVEREND DOCTOR JENNY BENNINGA AND I RESIDE IN DISTRICT FOUR.
I BEGAN WITH AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT WE MEET TODAY ON THE ANCESTRAL LAND OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES, EXTERMINATED USING THE SAME STRATEGIES OF DISPOSSESSION, VIOLENT ERASURE, AND SETTLER COLONIALISM EMPLOYED BY ISRAEL AGAINST PALESTINIANS.
TODAY, WE SEE THEM PLAYING OUT IN REAL TIME IN THE MIDST OF A GENOCIDE.
BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, I AM THE MOTHER OF A FIVE YEAR OLD CHILD.
I COULDN'T UNSEE THE MACHINES OF OCCUPATION AND SETTLER COLONIALISM EVIDENT IN THE APARTHEID WALL.
THE CHECKPOINTS WHICH I EASILY CROSSED WITH MY PRETTY BLUE AMERICAN PASSPORT AS I WATCHED PALESTINIANS BEING DENIED ENTRY, THE DESTROYED OLIVE TREES, THE BLACK BARRELS, PALESTINIANS AND EAST JERUSALEM HAVE TO USE TO STORE WATER BECAUSE THEY ARE DENIED ACCESS TO THE SYSTEM AND SETTLEMENTS SLOWLY ENCROACHING ON PALESTINIAN LAND.
WHEN ASKED WHAT WE AMERICANS COULD DO TO STOP THIS DEHUMANIZATION, MY PALESTINIAN FRIENDS TOLD US TWO THINGS TO USE ECONOMIC LEVERAGE THROUGH BOYCOTT, SANCTIONS, AND DIVESTMENT AND TO TELL THEIR STORY.
AS A CHRISTIAN, I STAND WITH MY JEWISH AND MUSLIM COLLEAGUES PALESTINIAN CHRISTIANS AND THOSE OF OTHER TRADITIONS AND NONE AT ALL, AND CALLING ALL LEADERS LOCAL TO GLOBAL TO HAVE THE COURAGE TO QUITE LITERALLY PUT THEIR MONEY WHERE THEIR MOUTHS ARE AND DO THE RIGHT THING BY PUBLICLY TAKING A STAND AGAINST GENOCIDE.
IT'S THIS DEMAND TO TEAR DOWN WALLS AND TO DECRY OPPRESSION THAT KEEPS ME DEMANDING A CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION HERE AND STANDING AGAINST LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL SUPPORT OF A GENOCIDE WITH MY TAX DOLLARS.
AT A RECENT RALLY, I WAS MOVED TO TEARS.
THEY ARE OUR LEADERS AND I CHOOSE TO FOLLOW THEM.
MY FIVE YEAR OLD UNDERSTANDS THIS.
WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR YOU ALL TO UNDERSTAND IT TOO? WE AREN'T GOING AWAY.
[02:15:02]
THANK YOU. THANK YOU.NEXT SPEAKER IS JUAN ANTHONY, FOLLOWED BY HAMZA SITE.
MY NAME IS ANNA BIN BEN ISLAM.
I AM 49 YEARS OLD AND I HAVE BEEN A HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
TODAY I AM HERE NOT JUST AS AN ACTIVIST, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY AS A MOTHER.
TODAY I CALL ON EVERY MOTHER AND FATHER AROUND THE WORLD.
I CALL OUT TO THE WORLD TO SAVE THE FUTURE OF OUR CHILDREN.
I WENT TO PRESCHOOL AT MY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN WHAT WAS THEN CALLED WEST GERMANY.
I ALSO STUDIED RELIGION AND CULTURE FOR TWO YEARS IN BANGLADESH.
I MOVED TO THIS COUNTRY IN 1985 TO NEW YORK CITY AND COMPLETED THE REST OF MY EDUCATION.
I WORKED IN THE TOWER ONE ON THE 33RD FLOOR FOR THREE YEARS.
EXACTLY ONE WEEK BEFORE THOSE BUILDINGS WERE DESTROYED, I TOOK UP A JOB OFFER WITH A FINANCIAL GROUP LOCATED AT THE CHRYSLER BUILDING THE DAY IT HAPPENED, I WAS IN THE OFFICE.
I WATCHED THE TOWERS BURN FROM OUR CONFERENCE ROOM WINDOW.
WE WERE IMMEDIATELY EVACUATED FROM THE CHRYSLER BUILDING BECAUSE WE BECAME AUTOMATIC TARGETS, AS WELL AS GRAND CENTRAL STATION, EMPIRE STATE BUILDING, AND ALL THE BUILDINGS IN MANHATTAN BECAUSE NOBODY KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON.
STEPHEN BAUM, WHO IS A JEWISH VIETNAM VET, WAS MY BOSS, AND HE WAS THE KINDEST AND SMARTEST MAN THAT SAVED MY LIFE THAT DAY.
HE GRABBED MY WRIST AND TOOK ME OUT OF THE BUILDING, AND I WAS IN A HYSTERICAL MOMENT OF CRYING.
I HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS GOING ON, BUT STEVE TOOK ME OUT, FOUND A YELLOW CAB, PUT ME IN THERE, AND HE TOLD THE CAB DRIVER, DON'T OPEN THE DOOR, DON'T OPEN THE WINDOWS, JUST TAKE HER HOME.
I DID NOT KNOW WHY HE SAID THAT.
EXCUSE ME. SO TALK ABOUT ONE BUILDING STANDING.
I SAW IT WITH MY OWN EYES WHEN ONE BUILDING DROPPED AND THERE WAS ONLY ONE BUILDING STANDING AND IN HORROR, I WATCHED FROM THE CAB A HUMAN BEING, A HUMAN BEING, JUMP OUT OF THE BUILDING IN SLOW MOTION BECAUSE IT IS SO HIGH UP THAT HE WAS FALLING IN SLOW MOTION. AND I WATCHED THAT.
AND I WILL CARRY THAT IMAGE FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.
THAT WAS THE FIRST DAY IN MY LIFE THAT THE WORLD AROUND ME MADE ME REALIZE THE COLOR OF MY SKIN.
IT MADE ME FEEL VERY CONFUSED AND BETRAYED BECAUSE THIS IS THE ONLY COUNTRY I CONSIDER MY HOME.
THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT SPEAKER IS RAFAEL GUILLEN.
GOOD AFTERNOON. PLEASE CONTINUE.
APOLOGIES. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WATSON AND CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS RAPHAEL AGUILAR AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SEVEN.
I'M ALSO A TEACHER. AND WHILE MY TESTIMONY IS ADDRESSED.
OKAY. NEXT SPEAKER IS HINES SITE.
UP NEXT. HELLO, MY NAME IS MAYA VEDROS.
I'M A MEMBER OF AUSTIN DSA, AUSTIN JEWISH VOICE FOR PEACE AND YOUR UNION SIBLING AND AFSCME 1624.
I AM ALSO AN ANTI-ZIONIST JEW SPEAKING ON MY OWN BEHALF, BUT LET ME BE CLEAR THAT I DON'T EXPECT TO SWAY ANY OF YOU, FOR YOU ARE THE WHITE MODERATES THAT DOCTOR KING WARNED OF IN HIS LETTER FROM THE BIRMINGHAM JAIL.
AND THIS GOES DOUBLE FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS WALTER KELLY AND MR.
[02:20:01]
WATSON. MY SPEECH IS FOR THE PEOPLE OF THIS GREAT CITY WHOM YOU SUPPOSEDLY REPRESENT.I DID NOT FEEL SAFE WHEN APD, UTPD AND DPS WERE BRUTALLY ARRESTING MY FRIENDS AND FELLOW JEWS.
I DID NOT FEEL SAFE WHEN THOSE SAME DPS OFFICERS WERE PROWLING MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
AT THE DIRECT INVITATION OF MR. WATSON, I DID NOT FEEL SAFE WHEN THOSE SAME APD OFFICERS WERE CAUGHT ON CAMERA FIST BUMPING NEO-NAZIS ON THE MOPAC OVERPASS A FEW YEARS AGO.
I HAVE BEEN CALLED A RACE TRAITOR, A CAPO, A FAKE JEW, AND MORE.
BUT IRONICALLY, THEY ARE SAID AND SUPPORTED BY THE SAME PEOPLE WHO RUN TO THE ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE WHENEVER THEY SEE A KEFFIYEH OR A PALESTINIAN FLAG AND THEY CRY ANTI-SEMITISM. PERHAPS MORE IRONICALLY, THE ADL THEMSELVES ARE MAKING IT HARDER TO TRACK ACTUAL, MEASURABLE JEWISH SAFETY BECAUSE THEY CLASSIFY ANY AND ALL ACTIONS IN SUPPORT OF PALESTINE AS INSTANCES OF ANTI-SEMITISM TO INFLATE THEIR NUMBERS AND FALSELY CONFLATE SUPPORT FOR PALESTINE WITH ANTI-SEMITISM ITSELF.
THE ADL AND THESE OTHER ZIONIST ORGANIZATIONS TRAFFIC IN THE IDEA THAT NO JEW IS SAFE IN THE DIASPORA, AND THAT REAL JEWISH SAFETY CAN ONLY COME FROM A MILITARIZED JEWISH ETHNO STATE, OR THAT WE NEED SOME SORT OF NUCLEAR BUNKER JUST IN CASE THE SPECTER OF NAZISM RETURNS.
BUT IN REALITY, ANTI-ZIONISM IS NOT ANTI-SEMITISM.
THE PROJECT OF ZIONISM BEGAN AS A WAY FOR EUROPE TO EXPORT THE UNIQUE CRIME OF ANTI-SEMITISM AND ABSOLVE ITSELF OF THE HOLOCAUST AND THE CENTURIES OF POGROMS BY CREATING A JEWISH STATE IN PALESTINE.
A REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE ADL SPOKE TO THE TEXAS SENATE ON TUESDAY, SAYING, QUOTE, SINCE 1913, THE MISSION OF THE ADL HAS BEEN TO STOP THE DEFAMATION OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE AND TO SECURE JUSTICE AND FAIR TREATMENT FOR ALL.
BUT I ASK WHAT COULD BE MORE DEFAMATORY THAN OPEN SUPPORT FOR GENOCIDE AND COLONIALISM? AND HOW CAN YOU BE FOR JUSTICE AND FAIR TREATMENT FOR ALL BUT CONVENIENTLY EXCLUDE PALESTINIANS? YOU KNOW WHAT REAL JEWISH SAFETY LOOKS LIKE? IT LOOKS LIKE A CEASEFIRE.
IT LOOKS LIKE DIVESTMENT FROM WAR PROFITEERS AND FEAR MONGERS LIKE THE ADL.
IF JEWISH SAFETY IS YOUR REAL GOAL, THEN MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL, YOU HAVE LONG SINCE FAILED US AS A PEOPLE, BECAUSE IT IS WE WHO KEEP EACH OTHER SAFE.
NOT YOU, NOT THIS COUNCIL, NOT.
RAFAEL GUILLEN IS BACK ONLINE.
CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS RAFAEL AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SEVEN.
I'M ALSO A TEACHER, AND WHILE MY TESTIMONY IS ADDRESSED TO THE COUNCIL AND TO THE MAYOR, I'M CHOOSING TO CALL IN DURING MY ALLOTTED BREAK TO DELIVER THIS TESTIMONY FROM THE CLASSROOM. AFTER SEEING THE INACTION OF CITY HALL FOR EIGHT MONTHS, I'M REALLY ADDRESSING MY OWN STUDENTS AND THE FREE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD.
LISTENING. SINCE OCTOBER, I, LIKE MANY OF YOU, HAVE WATCHED IN HORROR AS OUR COUNTRY GREENLIT THE WORST GENOCIDE OF OUR LIFETIMES IN THE FACE OF THIS INDESCRIBABLE TRAGEDY, OUR CITY COUNCIL HAS REMAINED INDIFFERENT, EVEN HOSTILE TO EFFORTS TO BRING FORTH A CEASE FIRE RESOLUTION FOR OVER HALF A YEAR.
THERE AREN'T ANY STATISTICS OR NUMBERS I COULD QUOTE TO YOU AT THIS POINT.
I'M MERELY REMINDING THEM THAT THEIR INACTION IS A BETRAYAL OF OUR VALUES AS A COMMUNITY.
THEIR CONSTITUENTS WILL NOT FORGET, AND MANY OF THEM WILL NEVER FORGIVE THEIR INACTION.
AUSTIN IS AMONG THE LARGEST CITIES IN THE COUNTRY WITH CONSIDERABLE INFLUENCE.
BUT WHAT DO I TELL THEM WHEN OUR CITY COUNCIL HAS HARDENED THEIR HEARTS TO THE CRIES OF THE OPPRESSED? HOW DO I EXPLAIN TO THEM THAT IN THE MIDST OF A CATASTROPHE, OR NAKBA OR SHOAH, OUR RESIDENT ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVE CHOSEN APATHY OR INTIMIDATION OVER ACTION, EVEN AS THE VIOLENT HATE CRIMES AGAINST PALESTINIANS CONTINUE IN OUR CITY AND STATE SPONSORED POLICE BRUTALITY AGAINST OUR UNIVERSITY, STUDENTS MAKE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES. I REFUSE TO ACCEPT THAT SILENCE IS THE ANSWER.
I REFUSE TO BELIEVE THAT OUR VOICES IN SOLIDARITY CANNOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
OUR COMMITMENT TO LIFE AND TO END UNNECESSARY SUFFERING DEMANDS NOTHING LESS.
THEREFORE, WE WILL CONTINUE TAKING TO THE STREETS.
YESTERDAY MARKED THE 76TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BEGINNING OF THE NAKBA.
[02:25:02]
THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE NOON.PUBLIC COMMUNICATION SPEAKERS.
PLEASE COME FORWARD. WAS YOUR NAME CALLED? OKAY. SORRY. PLEASE GO AHEAD.
PLEASE. WHAT IS YOUR NAME? PLEASE IDENTIFY YOURSELF.
YES. MR. HALPERN, GOOD AFTERNOON.
I'M A PROUD RESIDENT OF AUSTIN AND HAVE BEEN FOR THE LAST TWO DECADES.
I'M ALSO THE CURRENT BOARD CHAIR OF SHALOM AUSTIN, WHICH IS THE HUB OF JEWISH LIFE IN CENTRAL TEXAS, REPRESENTING CLOSE TO 40,000 JEWISH COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND SERVING PEOPLE FROM A RANGE OF JEWISH AND NON-JEWISH BACKGROUNDS.
I WANT TO START BY SAYING THANK YOU TO MAYOR WATSON AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WE IN THE JEWISH COMMUNITY APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT YOU'VE SHOWN US SINCE THE OCTOBER 7TH WAR BEGAN.
ANTI-SEMITISM. JEW HATRED HAS NEVER BEEN HIGHER IN MY LIFETIME.
I ALSO KNOW HOW MUCH NEGATIVE PUBLIC RHETORIC HAS BEEN DIRECTED AT YOU.
THANK YOU FROM THE BROADER JEWISH COMMUNITY FOR YOUR UNYIELDING SUPPORT, AND FOR HOLDING FIRM AGAINST BRINGING A CEASE FIRE RESOLUTION TO THE AGENDA, WHICH WOULD ONLY SERVE TO MARGINALIZE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR REASONABLENESS AND WILLINGNESS TO LOOK BEYOND THE SCREAMING VOICES THAT I BELIEVE REPRESENT A MINORITY OF AUSTIN RESIDENTS.
THE LEVEL OF HATE SPEECH THAT SURFACED IS QUITE CONCERNING.
SUPPORTERS OF THE RESOLUTION HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY TARGETING, QUOTE UNQUOTE, ZIONIST BUSINESSES.
THIS IS CODE FOR BUSINESSES OWNED AND OPERATED BY JEWS.
THERE HAVE BEEN PROTESTS OUTSIDE OF SYNAGOGUES, HATEFUL GRAFFITI ON JEWISH STUDENT CENTERS, ONLINE TARGETING OF THOSE WHO SPEAK OUT IN SUPPORT OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY, AND MORE.
MY GREAT GRANDMOTHER WAS A TEENAGER WHEN SHE FLED THE RUSSIAN POGROMS IN THE EARLY 1900S.
VICIOUS RIOTS TARGETING JEWS, WHICH TOOK THE LIVES OF MANY OF HER NEIGHBORS.
RUSSIAN SOLDIERS FIRED AT HER BACK AS SHE RAN TO A SHIP.
OTHERS SHE TRAVELED WITH WERE KILLED.
THIS ROOM IS NOT THE PLACE TO TACKLE INTERNATIONAL CONFLICTS.
NOT THE EVENTS OF SOUTH SUDAN, NOT CHINA'S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UYGHURS AND NOT GAZA.
FOR ALL THE POSITIVES OF OUR INCREDIBLE CITY, THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT LOCAL QUESTIONS TO WORK THROUGH, WHETHER GRAPPLING WITH THE TREMENDOUS GROWTH OF AUSTIN, WRESTLING WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING, OR ADDRESSING A GROWING UNHOMED POPULATION, THE CITY HAS ITS HANDS FULL.
LET'S CONTINUE TO LEAVE FOREIGN POLICY IN THE HANDS OF GOVERNING BODIES WHO ARE BEST POSITIONED TO ADDRESS IT, RATHER THAN TRYING TO TACKLE IT HERE AND BROADEN THE DIVISIONS THAT CLEARLY ALREADY EXIST.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP.
THANK YOU. THAT ALL MEMBERS, WITHOUT OBJECTION, MEMBERS THAT THAT CONCLUDES EVERYBODY THAT HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE ARE RECESSED UNTIL 1:00 PM.
AND EVERYBODY, IT'S 1:00 PM ON MAY 16TH, 2024.
[6. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance amending City Code Title 25 (Land Development) to revise regulations that apply to lots with one housing unit, including small lots, and flag lots (also known as HOME Phase 2). (Part 2 of 3)]
I'LL CALL THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL BACK TO ORDER AFTER A BRIEF RECESS.AND THAT WAS A PUBLIC HEARING THAT WAS OPENED EARLIER TODAY.
AND WE ARE HEARING PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM NUMBER SIX.
JUST BEFORE WE HAD THE RECESS, I ASKED THE CITY CLERK TO NAME THE FIRST FIVE PEOPLE THAT WOULD BE CALLED, AND I SEE AT LEAST ONE OF THEM, SO I'LL ASK HIM TO STEP UP TO THE MICROPHONE. I'LL ASK HER TO SAY THOSE NAMES AGAIN, AND IF SHE CALLS YOUR NAME, I'D ASK YOU TO COME TO THE FRONT OF THE CHAMBERS AND HAVE A SEAT SO THAT YOU'LL BE READY AND TAKE EITHER MICROPHONE IF IT'S OPEN, AND WE'LL BEGIN AGAIN.
JACKSON. I THOUGHT YOU'D CALL LAVINSKY, TOO, BUT.
OKAY. I'M TRYING TO BE ON TIME.
BOBBY LAVINSKY SILVER SPRINGS ALLIANCE.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK FOR THREE MINUTES.
NOT TO ME TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE BALANCED IN MY COMMENTS.
AND, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THAT'S AN INCENTIVE NOT TO PASS THIS, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT EVEN IF I WEREN'T WORKING FOR SOS, I'D STILL BE AGAINST THIS BECAUSE IT GOES TOO FAR.
[02:30:07]
TIPPED FROM THE BEGINNING.IT'S BEEN KICKED ON FOR A LATER CONVERSATION.
AND ACTUALLY, I'M A LITTLE BIT SCARED OF THAT CONVERSATION, TOO, BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT REMOVING DRAINAGE REQUIREMENTS IN AREAS THAT WE KNOW HAVE LOCALIZED FLOODING CONCERNS. THE AREAS OF THE OF THE CITY THAT ARE GOING TO BE MOSTLY IMPACTED, THIS ARE NOT THOSE THAT ARE PROTECTED BY DEED RESTRICTIONS.
THAT'S KIND OF ONE OF THOSE THOSE THINGS THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT'S NOT BEING TALKED ABOUT VERY MUCH.
WHERE YOU WANT THIS DENSITY TO OCCUR, IT WON'T HAPPEN BECAUSE THERE'S PRIVATE DEED RESTRICTIONS.
HOUSTON'S BEEN TOUTED A LOT IN THIS CONVERSATION BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE GOT LOWER LOT SIZES, BUT IT'S ALSO A CITY THAT HAS PUBLICLY ENFORCEABLE DEED RESTRICTIONS. IT'S DIFFERENT THAN AUSTIN.
HOUSTON'S NOT A GREAT EXAMPLE.
WE HAVE TO DO BETTER THAN HOUSTON.
I REALLY SUPPORT THEIR COMMENTS.
I APPRECIATE THEM, BUT I THINK THAT THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT NEED TO BE STATED.
THIS IS NOT BECAUSE OF A LACK OF A COMPREHENSIVE REWRITE.
THE CURRENT COUNCIL HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR 15 MONTHS.
THE SAME LAWS APPLY TO THESE CHANGES AS IT APPLIES TO THE COMPREHENSIVE REWRITE.
IF YOU WANT AN EQUITY OVERLAY, IT COULD BE DONE THAT WAY.
BUT AN EQUITY OVERLAY DOESN'T RELY ON THAT.
WE HAVE ZONING OR OVERLAYS ALL OVER THE CITY THAT HAVE DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS. WE HAVE HOMESTEAD PRESERVATION DISTRICTS.
WE HAVE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AMENDMENTS THAT COULD BE USED TO TO FACILITATE A LOT OF THIS.
AND IT HAS THE MAJOR DIFFERENCE IS THE PUBLIC PROCESS PART OF IT, WHERE YOU'RE ACTUALLY COLLABORATING COMMUNITY AND YOU ARE WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT JUST CAUSING DISPLACEMENT IN AREAS WE DON'T WANT IT TO OCCUR.
THANK YOU. YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME.
MY HUSBAND AND I ARE HOMEOWNERS IN DISTRICT ONE.
THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF HOME PHASE TWO AND OTHER REFORMS BEFORE YOU TODAY.
SIMPLY PUT, OUR CURRENT MINIMUM LOT SIZE REQUIREMENTS PRIORITIZE YARDS OVER HOMES.
I AGREE WITH THE PRIOR SPEAKER THAT WE SHOULD BE BETTER THAN HOUSTON.
WE CAN BUILD MORE HOUSING AND MORE INFRASTRUCTURE.
THESE GOALS ARE NOT IN CONFLICT WITH EACH OTHER.
HELLO. MY NAME IS SHAWN ATKINS.
I'M HERE TODAY TO SUPPORT HOMES TWO.
I'M LUCKY. I'M FAIRLY MIDDLE CLASS.
I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE WHAT IT'S LIKE FOR SOMEBODY LOWER ON THE ECONOMIC LADDER.
I SHOULD BY ALL MEANS BE PRETTY GOOD.
BACK WHERE I'M ORIGINALLY FROM, I GREW UP IN A SMALL MIDWESTERN TOWN.
I WOULD BE ABLE TO OWN A HOUSE BY NOW.
NOW THIS FEELS LIKE A PIPE DREAM.
SO WHEN I I'LL TELL A LITTLE PERSONAL STORY INSTEAD OF JUST RAMBLING.
BASICALLY IN 2021, I WAS LIVING IN FAR SOUTH AUSTIN.
I THINK IT'S DISTRICT TWO NOW.
I GOT A RENT INCREASE OF 20% IN ONE YEAR.
I CAN ASSURE YOU, I DID NOT GET A RAISE OF 20% IN ONE YEAR.
SO WHAT DID I DO? I HAD TO MOVE.
THE ONLY POSITIVE SIDE WAS I FINALLY ASKED MY GIRLFRIEND TO MOVE IN WITH ME.
BUT BESIDES THAT, THIS WAS A VERY NEGATIVE EXPERIENCE.
THIS, BECAUSE I'M A NERD, INSPIRED ME TO READ SOME BOOKS ON HOUSING POLICY, AND IT BECAME VERY APPARENT THAT THERE WAS A CLEAR MISMATCH OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND IN THIS CITY THAT COULD ONLY BE SOLVED BY BUILDING MORE HOUSES.
I WAS EXTREMELY INSPIRED AND HAPPY WHEN I SAW HOMES ONE PASS.
IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I FELT LIKE I NEEDED TO COME SPEAK AT CITY HALL.
I URGE YOU GUYS TO PLEASE CONTINUE WITH THESE AMBITIOUS POLICIES.
THEY ARE HAVING MEASURABLE REAL LIFE BENEFITS FOR PEOPLE.
I'VE HAD TWO CONSECUTIVE LEASE RENEWALS SINCE 2021 WHERE I'VE HAD LOW SINGLE DIGIT RENT INCREASES.
[02:35:03]
GOING TO WANT TO KEEP ME THERE.THIS WAS UNFATHOMABLE JUST A FEW YEARS AGO, AND IT IS ONLY POSSIBLE NOW BECAUSE YOU GUYS HAD THE GUTS TO TAKE A STAND ON AN ISSUE THAT IS DEEPLY CONTROVERSIAL AND DO THE RIGHT THING.
YOU SHOULD BE PROUD THAT YOUR VOTERS ARE PROUD OF YOU.
THE VOTERS WHO SUPPORT WHO SUPPORT YOU ARE WORKING JOBS RIGHT NOW.
I MYSELF HAVE ONE OF THOSE FAKE LAPTOP JOBS.
I'M LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE HERE, BUT MOST OF YOUR VOTERS DO NOT.
WHO DO ALL THESE MEAN THINGS? SUPPORT THE PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR YOU, OFTEN IN OVERWHELMING MARGINS.
I LOOKED AT MOST OF YOUR VOTER POOLS OR YOUR ELECTION RESULTS.
YOU HAVE MANDATES TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
IF YOUR NAME WAS CALLED, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME.
I'M PRESIDENT OF THE AUSTIN INFILL COALITION, AND I'M HERE TO SUPPORT SMALLER LOT SIZES.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS.
I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE STATUS QUO AND THE ISSUES WE HAVE WITH THE STATUS QUO.
IF THESE CHANGES DON'T PASS, THEY'RE GOING TO KEEP BUILDING LARGE, EXPENSIVE, SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.
IF WE THINK THERE'S A SHORTAGE OF $3 MILLION HOMES, MAYBE WE SHOULDN'T PASS THESE REFORMS. BUT IF YOU AGREE THAT THAT'S NOT OUR ISSUE, THAT WE NEED MORE SMALLER HOMES ON SMALLER LOTS, THAT IS THE POINT OF THIS LEGISLATION.
AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOME OTHER THINGS TOO.
AND IN THE YEARS SINCE THEN, THERE'S MORE PEOPLE HERE.
SO THE ONLY WAY TO FIT MORE PEOPLE IN IS IF WE ALLOW PEOPLE TO LIVE ON SMALLER LOTS.
IF WE DON'T DO THAT, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO LIVE FARTHER AND FARTHER OUTSIDE THE CITY.
AND WHAT DOES THAT LEAD TO? IT LEADS TO TWO PROBLEMS. FIRST, SINCE MOST OF THE JOBS ARE STILL IN CENTRAL AUSTIN AND MOST OF THE OTHER ACTIVITIES, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO STILL BE DRIVING TO CENTRAL AUSTIN, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE FORCED TO LIVE FARTHER AND FARTHER OUT.
IF YOU BELIEVE THAT CLIMATE CHANGE IS A CENTRAL ISSUE, THIS IS ONE OF THE IMPORTANT WAYS TO FIX IT.
SECONDLY, TO ME, IT'S NEVER ABOUT LOTS AND HOUSES.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S POSITIVE FOR ANYBODY.
SO THAT'S WHY I REALLY HOPE THESE CHANGES CAN MOVE FORWARD.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS.
THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKERS ARE JUSTIN EHRENSTEIN, MIKE KENNEDY, AND DAVID SULLIVAN.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
GREETINGS, MAYOR. MAYOR PRO TEM POOLE, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CITY MANAGER.
30 YEARS IN THE SORT OF NEIGHBORHOOD, NEIGHBORHOOD AND ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST.
AND I'M SPEAKING IN MY INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY TO SUPPORT ITEMS FOUR THROUGH SIX.
THEY WILL REDUCE MINIMUM LOT SIZES FOR SINGLE FAMILY PROPERTIES, RELAXED COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS TO ALLOW MORE HOUSING ALONG MAJOR ROADS AND INCREASE HOUSING DENSITY NEAR FUTURE LIGHT RAILS, AS CONFIRMED BY THE CITY'S AFFORDABILITY IMPACT STUDY.
SMALLER LOT SIZES WILL HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON HOUSING COSTS BY SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCING THE UNIT COST FOR SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AND BY REDUCING THE UNIT SIZES, AND IS ALSO CONFIRMED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION'S MAY 1ST RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL.
[02:40:07]
IMPROVE WALKABILITY AND INCREASE MASS TRANSIT.SINCE MY SUPPORT REPRESENTS A CHANGE OF HEART OF THINKING FOR MYSELF, I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE A STORY ABOUT HOW I CAME TO RECEIVE THIS CERTIFIED NIMBY FIGHTER TROPHY FROM MY CHILDREN.
SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW I HAVE SERVED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERSHIP ROLE FOR ABOUT 30 YEARS WITH THE WEST AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP, THE CENTRAL WEST AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD CONTACT TEAM, AND I WAS ALSO ON THE MCMANSION TASK FORCE.
FOR THIS WORK, I ACTUALLY RECEIVED THE ROBERTA CRENSHAW HONOR AWARD IN 2006.
AND WHILE THIS WORK WAS INTENDED TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT THE NEIGHBORHOOD, SOME, INCLUDING SPECIFICALLY MY CHILDREN, WOULD CALL OUT OUR REACTIONARY OPPOSITION TO ACCOMMODATING MORE DENSITY AS A NIMBY ATTITUDE.
HOWEVER, MY OWN CHILDREN AND NOW MY GRANDSON HAVE GROWN UP IN A CITY THAT IS JUST TOO EXPENSIVE FOR THEM TO AFFORD, AND THEY OFTEN POINT OUT THAT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS OPPOSITION TO CHANGES, EVEN SMALL CHANGES LIKE REDUCING THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE, IS MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THEM TO LIVE HERE.
WE EVEN CONVINCED THE WEST AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP TO RECOMMEND SOME IDEAS TO COUNCIL TO HELP PROMOTE SMALLER, MORE DIVERSE HOUSING TYPES THAT WOULD BE LESS EXPENSIVE THAN EXISTING SINGLE FAMILY STRUCTURES, NAMELY, REDUCING THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE FOR SINGLE FAMILY ZONING DISTRICTS WHILE RETAINING FAR AND IMPERVIOUS COVER.
I BELIEVE THAT'S THE ISSUE BEFORE YOU TODAY.
AND THEY ALSO NEED TO EXPLAIN BETTER HOW SMALL LOT DENSITY IS GOOD FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT BY MITIGATING URBAN SPRAWL, HELPING PRESERVE NATURAL HABITAT, REDUCING THE CARBON FOOTPRINT ASSOCIATED WITH NEW CONSTRUCTION, AND EVEN REDUCING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.
I'M ONLY GOING TO TALK TO YOU ON THIS ONE ITEM BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT OUR BACKUP MATERIAL ALREADY.
THE MAIN REASON WE'RE SUPPORTING THIS IS TO TRY TO CURB URBAN SPRAWL, TO PRESERVE THE BLACK BLACKLAND PRAIRIE ON OUR EAST AND THE HILL COUNTRY, AND ALSO RESEARCH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT BERKELEY.
COOL CLIMATE SHOWS THAT DENSER HOUSING GENERALLY LEADS TO LOWER GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.
NOW ANOTHER POINT, THOUGH ABOUT OUR RESOLUTION WAS WE HAD SOME OTHER POINTS THAT WE WANTED TO MAKE.
AND I'M GOING TO READ THESE BECAUSE LOOSENING DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPED, BECAUSE LOOSENING DEVELOPMENT RESTRICTIONS TO ALLOW DENSER HOUSING COULD LEAD TO THE INVOLUNTARY DISPLACEMENT OF LOW INCOME RENTERS.
THE. THE CITY SHOULD TRACK THIS DISPLACEMENT AND TAKE STEPS.
TAKE STEPS TO ASSIST IN RELOCATING DISPLACED TENANTS.
THE CITY SHOULD TRACK CHANGES IN TRANSIT USE.
MICROMOBILITY, USE WALKABILITY, ETC.
BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
AND I DO SUPPORT ITEMS FOUR, FIVE AND SIX.
THANK YOU. MR.. VOLIN. CINDY REED WITH TIME DONATED FROM ROCHELLE WILSON.
ARE YOU HERE? MIKE WAINWRIGHT, ELIANA MEDRANO.
WITH TIME DONATED FROM RICHARD HAYMAN.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM AND READ YOUR NAME INTO THE RECORD.
THE PODIUM? WHO IS THE DONATOR OF TIME? WHERE IS CINDY READ.
WHERE IS RACHELLE WILSON? OKAY. YOU GET THREE MINUTES.
THANK YOU. THIS IS A BATTLE FOR THE SOUL OF THE CITY.
THIS IS A BATTLE FOR THE SOUL OF THE COMMUNITY.
[02:45:01]
GREED. AND MANY OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS CAMPAIGNS ARE HEAVILY FUNDED BY THIS SPECIAL INTEREST.SO DEREGULATION IS NOT A PLAN.
YOU CAN'T CONTROL THE END COST.
SO WHO IS THIS FOR? I'VE HELD MANY TITLES MOM, WIFE, TEACHER, FRIEND, STUDENT, REALTOR, DEVELOPER.
AND THESE PLANS, THEY'RE RACIST, THEY'RE CLASSIST, AND THEY'RE UNEQUITABLE.
HOME AND REZONING THE ENTIRE CITY.
REMOVING COMPATIBILITY E TODS.
AND IRONICALLY, HOME IS GOING TO MAKE PEOPLE HOMELESS.
THIS IS A MODERN DAY REDLINING.
YOU ARE CODIFYING DISPLACEMENT THROUGH CODE.
YOU ARE COLONIZING EVERY CURRENT RENTER AND HOMEOWNER THROUGH CODE.
YOU ARE USING A MACHETE INSTEAD OF A SCALPEL, DESTROYING EVERY SINGLE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE ONLY THING YOU CANNOT PROTEST UNDER YOUR PROPERTY TAXES.
AND WORST OF ALL, YOU'RE FEIGNING IGNORANCE WHEN YOU KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN.
THE EXAMPLE IS RIGHT HERE IN YOUR STUDIES.
POOR PEOPLE WERE PUSHED OUT, INCOMES WENT UP BLACK AND BROWN POPULATION DECREASED.
AND IRONICALLY, IRONICALLY, TRANSIT BUS RIDERSHIP WENT DOWN.
THE WORKING POOR ARE NOT TAKING LIGHT RAIL.
THE EMT, THE PEACE OFFICERS, FIREFIGHTERS, TEACHERS, CONSTRUCTION WORKERS, THE JANITORS HERE TODAY, THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE THE CITY TICK, YOU ARE WILLINGLY AND KNOWINGLY PUSHING THEM OUT. THIS IS WHY WE NEED AN EQUITY ANTI-DISPLACEMENT OVERLAY AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.
HOW DARE YOU? HOW DARE YOU HIRE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE YOUR RACIST, CLASSIST AND UNEQUITABLE POLICIES? I AM A FREQUENT VOTER, A REGULAR VOTER, AND I'M VOTING IN NOVEMBER AND WE WILL REMEMBER THIS IN NOVEMBER.
AND IRONICALLY, YOU HAVE ON THE WALL WE ALL BELONG AND YOU'RE PUSHING PEOPLE OUT.
THIS IS THE STATUS QUO FOR AUSTIN.
IT'S THE ONLY GROWING CITY TO CONTINUALLY LOSE THE BLACK POPULATION.
AND IT'S BEEN LIKE THAT FOR YEARS.
AND YOU'RE CONTINUING THAT STATUS QUO.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, APPROACH THEM.
HI. MY NAME, I HAVE A SLIDE IF YOU GUYS CAN PUT THAT UP.
I AM A 24 YEAR AUSTIN RESIDENT IN DISTRICT ONE.
I'M A MUSICIAN AND TOUR GUIDE HERE IN TOWN, AND IT'S BEEN EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTING TO HEAR THE ARGUMENTS AGAINST HOME PHASE TWO, BECAUSE INEVITABLY THEY PRESCRIBE POSSIBLE OUTCOMES TO WHAT IS A PROPOSAL WHEN THESE THINGS ARE ALREADY HAPPENING.
NONE OF THESE SPEAKERS OR OPPONENTS OF ALLOWING SMALLER LOT SIZES HAS ATTEMPTED TO EXPLAIN WHY THESE CATASTROPHIC OUTCOMES HAVE NOT OCCURRED IN SAN ANTONIO AND HOUSTON, WITH MUCH SMALLER LOT SIZES THAN OURS.
TOWNHOMES FOR SALE FOR UNDER $200,000 A PIECE.
NONE OF THE SPEAKERS HAVE THESE PEER CITIES ARE DRASTICALLY MORE AFFORDABLE THAN OURS.
I'VE HEARD NO ATTEMPT TO EXPLAIN THESE FACTS FROM OPPONENTS OF ZONING REFORM.
WHY DOES SAN ANTONIO'S SMALL LOT REQUIREMENTS NOT DISPLACE THEIR MINORITY POPULATIONS? WHY DOES IT NOT WORK LIKE THAT IN SAN ANTONIO? ARE WE THAT SPECIAL? ZERO COMMENTS ATTEMPTING TO ADDRESS THIS OBJECTIVE FACT.
HOUSTON DENSIFIED BY ADDING MORE TOWNHOMES BY RIGHT.
VERY, VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING WITH HOME TWO.
THEY KEPT THEIR MINORITY POPULATION.
MEANWHILE, WE'RE DOING THE OPPOSITE, HAVING THE OPPOSITE EFFECT.
AND PEOPLE INSIST THAT IF WE JUST KEEP DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING, IT'LL MAGICALLY CHANGE.
THIS IS ABSURD, UNFORTUNATELY.
[02:50:01]
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THAT WE'VE HEMMED AND HAWED WITH FOR DECADES AND DECADES.DELAYING ACTION AS OUR CITY HAS BECOME UNAFFORDABLE.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE UNSPOKEN POLICY PREFERENCE OF OPPONENTS TO THIS MEASURE IS THAT PEOPLE SHOULD NOT MOVE HERE, THAT PEOPLE SHOULDN'T BE PERMITTED TO BUY AND SELL PROPERTY AS THEY CHOOSE. THAT STUDENTS WHO HAVE LIVED HERE THEIR ENTIRE LIVES SHOULD MOVE AWAY TO AFFORD TO LIVE.
THESE SOLUTIONS ARE PROVEN FAILURES FOR FOUR DECADES SINCE WE PUT INTO PLACE THESE REGULATIONS.
YET WE INSIST ON MORE OF THE SAME THAT WE STOMP OUR FEET HARD ENOUGH.
ALL OF THESE INJUSTICES WILL BE PUT INTO MEANWHILE, THE INEXORABLE FORCES OF THE MARKET THAT THESE OPPONENTS REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE EVEN EXIST GRINDS THE LESS AFFLUENT COMMUNITIES TO DUST IN OUR CITY.
EMULATING OUR PEER CITIES WHO ARE ALREADY SUCCESSFUL IS A NO BRAINER.
IGNORE THOSE WHO SAY THAT THIS IS HAPHAZARD OR ANTI-COMMUNITY.
FOUR DECADES OF HEMMING AND HAWING HAS MADE THIS CITY A PLAYGROUND FOR THE RICH PAST.
ARE YOU ILEANA? YES. AND YOU HAVE TIME.
IS RICHARD HERE? THANK YOU. YOU GET SIX MINUTES.
HI. MY NAME IS ELIANA MEDRANO.
I'M A UT SOCIAL WORK GRADUATE STUDENT AND INTERN WITH COMMUNITY POWER AT ATX, AND I'M HERE TO URGE YOU TO VOTE NO ON HOME PHASE TWO AND SUPPORT THE EQUITY AND ANTI-DISPLACEMENT OVERLAY. AS I SPENT THE PAST TWO YEARS AT UT AND SEEN THE AWFUL IMPACTS OF SB 17, AND I'VE SEEN MANY OF YOU COME TO CAMPUS AND SEEN YOU SUPPOSEDLY SUPPORT OUR ADVOCACY AND FIGHT AGAINST THIS BILL AND FIGHT FOR DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION.
YOU CAN'T ONLY SYMBOLICALLY FIGHT FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
HOME SUPPORTERS CLAIM THAT THIS WILL INCREASE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
BUT THIS BEGS THE QUESTION AFFORDABLE FOR WHO? WITH NO AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS IN HOME PHASE TWO, HOUSING WILL CONTINUE TO BE BUILT FOR THE WEALTHIEST RESIDENTS.
THIS ARGUMENT OF TRICKLE DOWN THEORY OR FILTERING IS OFTEN USED TO SUPPORT THESE CHANGES.
THAT HOUSING WILL EVENTUALLY LEAD TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT EVENTUALLY, IS IT ENOUGH? HOPING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS NAIVE, AND IF WE LEAVE THAT UP TO DEVELOPERS, TRULY, DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN.
BASED ON IDENTIFYING BERKELEY A GROUNDBREAKING REPORT REVIEWING UPZONING AROUND THE COUNTRY.
A KEY FINDING WAS THAT UPZONING CAN LEAD TO SPECULATION, INCREASED LAND VALUES, AND DISPLACEMENT.
ANOTHER QUOTE FROM A NATIONALLY FROM THE ANTI-EVICTION MAPPING PROJECT IS THE IMPACT OF RECENT DEVELOPMENT IN WEST BERKELEY DEMONSTRATES THAT WHEN STRONG MEASURES TO ADDRESS AFFORDABILITY AND HOUSING EQUITY ARE NOT INCORPORATED INTO CHANGES TO CITY ZONING AND PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT ALONE IS LIKELY TO ACCELERATE DISPLACEMENT AND THE LOSS OF BIPOC AND LOW INCOME RESIDENTS.
THEY MAKE HOUSING MORE EXPENSIVE.
A STUDY IN MINNEAPOLIS 2018 DECISION TO ALLOW UP TO THREE RESIDENTIAL UNITS ON PARCELS PREVIOUSLY ZONED ONLY FOR SINGLE FAMILY HOMES SHOWS THAT UPZONE PROPERTIES HAD RAPID HOUSING SALES PRICE INCREASE OF 3 TO 5%.
THEY FIND THAT PLAN RELATED PRICES ARE LARGELY INEXPENSIVE, SORRY, ARE LARGER TO INEXPENSIVE NEIGHBORHOODS, AND FOR PROPERTIES THAT ARE SMALL RELATIVE TO THEIR IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORS. AGAIN, WE'RE NOT AGAINST DENSITY.
WE'RE AGAINST DENSITY WITHOUT PROTECTIONS FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES BECAUSE.
UP ZONING IMPACTS LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES DIFFERENTLY THAN IT DOES WEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS.
FOR LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES, IT CAUSES PRICES TO GO UP.
AND FOR WEALTHY WHITE COMMUNITIES.
ADDITIONALLY, THESE FEASIBILITY STUDIES, ANNUAL REPORTS AND IMPACT STUDIES THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED ABOUT FURTHER DEMONSTRATE THE EQUITY AND TRULY AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS AN AFTERTHOUGHT FOR YOU ALL.
WE URGENTLY NEED TRULY AND DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND I WOULD LIKE TO AGAIN URGE YOU TO POSTPONE YOUR CONSIDERATION OF HOME PHASE TWO UNTIL AFTER STAFF AND COUNCIL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE THIS.
[02:55:08]
CONFERENCE YESTERDAY, DO NOT APPLY TO OUR REQUEST.WE KNOW THAT IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT THIS OVERLAY IN A LEGAL WAY, A PROPER A PROCESS WITH A PROPER NOTICE IS NEEDED IN ORDER TO, IN OTHER WORDS, THE OVERLAY CAN'T JUST BE THROWN TOGETHER NOW. IT WILL BE ILLEGAL AND LIKELY VERY HARMFUL.
WE'RE CALLING FOR A COMMUNITY BASED PROCESS.
MAYOR WATSON'S STAFF BROUGHT THIS UP AS AN ISSUE, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE CALLING FOR A PROCESS TO CREATE AN EQUITY OVERLAY RATHER THAN THE OVERLAY, JUST BE PUT TOGETHER AND IMPLEMENTED. NOW, THE SECOND ARGUMENT IN REGARDS TO FAIR HOUSING CLAIMS THAT LIMITING GEOGRAPHIC AREAS OF THE ZONING CHANGES CURRENTLY APPROVED TO AREAS THAT ARE NOT VULNERABLE TO DISPLACEMENT IS A RACE BASED GEOGRAPHIC CALL.
FOR ANOTHER VULNERABILITY IS TO.
DISPLACEMENT IS NOT SIMPLY A RACE BASED DESIGNATION.
THERE ARE A CLUSTER OF CHARACTERISTICS.
COMMUNITY POWER IS SHARED PAGES AND PAGES OF RESEARCH.
THE EQUITY OVERLAY IS SUPPORTED BY OVER 40 COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND IS ROBUST.
AND IT'S GOOD AND IT'S FOR THE COMMUNITY.
COMMUNITY POWER GAVE YOU EVERYTHING LEGAL ARGUMENTS, RESEARCH, COMMUNITY FEEDBACK, AND MORE.
YET, IT SEEMS LIKE THE COUNCIL IS CHOOSING TO LISTEN TO PEOPLE WHO WON'T BE IMPACTED.
SINCE DECEMBER, COMMUNITY POWER HAS TIRELESSLY WORKED TO MEET WITH YOU.
DON'T MAKE THIS PLACEMENT YOUR LEGACY.
COME NOVEMBER, WE WILL REMEMBER.
THANK YOU. NEXT FIVE SPEAKERS ARE PETER BRETON, SAILEN SHOURIE, SHALIN ROUNDS, SCOTT TURNER, AND GERALD BILOCCA.
HELLO, MY NAME IS SHALIN ROUNDS AND I'M HERE TO TESTIFY TODAY AGAINST THE SUITE OF HOME PHASE TWO POLICIES AND THE GENTRIFICATION IT WILL CAUSE, ESPECIALLY IF NOT GIVEN THE AMENDMENTS THAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT THREE AND I WORK IN THE SAINT JOHNS NEIGHBORHOOD IN DISTRICT FOUR.
VULNERABLE, AS IN, THEY'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING DISPOSSESSION AND DISPLACEMENT FOR DECADES AS A RESULT OF BULLISH CITY POLICIES THAT CATER TO INVESTORS AND IGNORE AND STEAMROLL THE WELLBEING AND RIGHT TO EXIST OF BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.
WHY? BECAUSE IT'S PROFITABLE FOR DEVELOPERS, WEALTHY PEOPLE AND THEIR PEERS.
GENTRIFICATION IS NOT NATURAL AND IT IS NOT INEVITABLE, AND IT WILL ACCELERATE WHEN POLICIES ARE WRITTEN AND PASSED THAT INCENTIVIZE DEVELOPMENT AND GIVE EXTRA ENTITLEMENTS THAT INCREASE PROFIT MARGINS FOR DEVELOPERS, ESPECIALLY IN HISTORICALLY DISINVESTED BLACK AND BROWN NEIGHBORHOODS.
IS YOUR PRIORITY CATERING TO THE WEALTHY AND CREATING CONDITIONS FOR THEM TO MULTIPLY THEIR WEALTH? OR IS IT TAKING CARE OF YOUR PEOPLE? IF SO, YOU SHOULD BE AMENDING YOUR POLICIES TO INVEST IN THE THREE P'S PROTECT, PRESERVE AND PRODUCE.
PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN HERE.
OUR LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES AND OUR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR THAT HAVE GIVEN AUSTIN THE REPUTATION THAT SO MANY PEOPLE MOVE HERE FOR, PRESERVE EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHICH THE ITOD WOULD ENCOURAGE EXISTING LOW INCOME PROPERTIES TO BE DEMOLISHED AND REDEVELOPED AND PRODUCE HOUSING THAT'S TRULY AFFORDABLE AND WE SAY TRULY AFFORDABLE BECAUSE 80% MFI IS NOT AFFORDABLE.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO PASS THESE POLICIES, YOU MUST DELAY THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ENTITLEMENTS UNTIL THERE IS AN ANTI-DISPLACEMENT AND EQUITY OVERLAY CREATED BY A COMMUNITY DRIVEN PROCESS.
WE ALREADY KNOW WHAT THE EFFECTS OF THESE POLICIES WILL BE WITHOUT SAFEGUARDS.
THE DEVELOPERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO BUILD THE DENSITY THEY WANT IN CENTRAL AND WEST AUSTIN FIRST.
BUT ANYWAYS DO YOU WANT TO BE THE CITY COUNCIL WHO SACRIFICED VULNERABLE NEIGHBORHOODS IN ORDER TO HAND THE CITY OVER TO BILLIONAIRES, THE SAME CITY COUNCIL WHO KNOWINGLY AND WILLINGLY CONTINUES TO DRIVE OUT LIFELONG AUSTINITES?
[03:00:09]
GO AHEAD AND STATE YOUR NAME, PLEASE.GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WATSON AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M PETER BRETON, AND I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT EIGHT.
AUSTIN DESPERATELY NEEDS MORE KINDS OF HOUSING AND ALL KINDS OF HOUSING.
MISSING MIDDLE MARKET RATE, DEEPLY AFFORDABLE AND MORE.
PLEASE STICK WITH ME THROUGH AN IMPERFECT ANALOGY IF WE'RE BEING REDUCTIVE.
HUMANS HAVE THREE MAIN FUNCTIONS TALKING, EATING, AND WALKING.
DISPLACEMENT IS LIKE A BASEBALL CAP TO THE KNEE KNEECAPS.
YOU CAN'T PROVIDE COMMUNITY JUST LIKE A PERSON CAN'T REALLY WALK WITH BROKEN LEGS.
AS AUSTINITES WHO LOVE OUR CITY AND OUR COMMUNITIES, WE CAN'T DISMISS DISPLACEMENT OUT OF HAND.
THERE ARE PEOPLE TODAY WHO WILL COME UP HERE AND ASK YOU TO STOP.
THEY'LL SAY THAT YOU'RE POURING SALT ON THE WOUND.
BUT WHAT? THEY'RE ASKING FOR MORE RESTRICTIVE ZONING AND REGULATIONS IN PLACES WHERE PEOPLE ARE FACING DISPLACEMENT IS LIKE USING A TOURNIQUET TO FIX A BROKEN LEG. IT MAY STOP SOME BLEEDING, YES, BUT SOON SHELLS START TO SHUT DOWN.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS STOP WORKING.
IT IS A CUDGEL AND INAPPROPRIATE RESPONSE TO A FIXABLE PROBLEM.
WE MUST FIX THE BROKEN LEG WITH TOOLS AND PROCEDURES.
WE DON'T HAVE TO CUT OFF A LEG BECAUSE OF A FIXABLE INJURY.
PEOPLE ARE FACING DISPLACEMENT BECAUSE SINCE 1980, WE'VE NEARLY TRIPLED OUR POPULATION.
OVER 600,000 MORE PEOPLE IN AUSTIN, AND WE'VE ONLY ADDED 250,000 MORE UNITS.
WE KNOW WHAT CAN HELP SOLVE DISPLACEMENT.
THEY'RE ASKING FOR SOLUTIONS TO DISPLACEMENT LIKE TAX PAYMENT ASSISTANCE, ACCESS TO CAPITAL FOR HOMEOWNERS, AND MORE SO THAT WE DON'T GO DOWN THE SAME ROAD THAT AUSTIN DID BACK IN 1984.
WE NEED ABUNDANT HOUSING OF ALL SHAPES AND SIZES THAT FITS THE VERY NEEDS OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
WE CAN'T DO THAT WITH THE STATUS QUO.
WE CAN'T MAKE IT HAPPEN WITH RESTRICTIVE ZONING.
WE CAN'T BACK AWAY FROM THE OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE TODAY TO DO THE RIGHT THING FOR OUR FUTURE.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM AND READ YOUR NAME INTO THE RECORD.
THE NEXT FIVE ARE MAX MANN, RITA THOMPSON, DAVID RICE, JUDAH RICE, AND KELLY SHANNON.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND TAKE A SEAT ON THE FRONT.
OR JUST IF YOU SEE AN OPEN MICROPHONE, GRAB IT.
HELLO? I THOUGHT I WAS WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY, AND THERE'S BEEN SO MANY THINGS, FRANKLY.
COULD YOU COULD YOU STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD? I'M SORRY, RITA THOMPSON.
SO FIRST, SO MANY OF THE PEOPLE HERE ARE CONCERNED ARE NOT WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER WELL CONNECTED AND NO DISRESPECT, BUT SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE AREN'T HERE BECAUSE THEY'VE ALREADY WRITTEN THEIR CHECKS.
I'VE LIVED IN AUSTIN SINCE 1977.
IT'S BEEN MY HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO CALL SOME OF THOSE ALLIES AND FRIENDS.
I OPPOSED TO THE CHANGES TO THE LDC ON AN EQUITY OVERLAY BASIS.
IT HAS TO BE IN PLACE BEFORE IT'S BEEN SUGGESTED THAT EQUITY CAN BE DEALT WITH AFTER THE FACT, ONCE HOME TWO IS PASSED, THE DISRUPTIONS TO THE INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES WILL BE SIGNIFICANT, AND THE RESILIENCY THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BE EXPRESSED.
IT'S TOO BROAD, IT'S TOO FAST.
MANY OF THEM ARE COPING BY THEIR NEIGHBORS, THEIR COMMUNITIES, AND THE FAMILY MEMBERS.
THEY'VE MOVED INTO THEIR HOMES.
I HEARD A PLANNING COMMISSIONER SUGGEST THAT NEIGHBORHOODS CAN BE INFORMED THAT SIGNIFICANT CHANGES ARE COMING TO THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, AND MAYBE THEY COULD TELL THEM THAT AT SITE PLANS, SINCE THESE WERE SO WIDE SWEEPING.
AND THE CITY STAFF STATED THAT THAT WAS BOTH MANAGEABLE AND POSSIBLE, AND THEY WOULD LOOK INTO THAT.
WHILE ANOTHER PLANNING COMMISSIONER SAID IN SO MANY WORDS, WHY THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING AT THAT POINT.
[03:05:06]
AND THERE IT IS.I SERVED ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
I HAVE NOTHING BUT RESPECT FOR YOU.
BUT I REMEMBER WHEN THINGS CAME BEFORE US, WE DIDN'T SAY, OH YEAH, WE'LL CROSS OUR FINGERS AND HOPE ALL THE OTHER THINGS ARE DONE, AND THEN, YOU KNOW WE'LL DEAL WITH IT. WE SAID COME BACK WHEN THESE CONCERNS ARE ADDRESSED.
THESE EQUITY OVERLAY IN PARTICULAR NEED TO BE ADDRESSED BECAUSE IT'S TOO LATE.
SO LET THEM COME BACK LIKE WE DID AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
THERE'S SO MANY CONCERNS ABOUT LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE, THE TREES.
I CALLED MY COUNCIL MEMBER'S OFFICE.
THEY WERE VERY NICE, BUT THEY SAID, WE'RE LOOKING AT MAYBE DOING TREE REPLACEMENT.
YOU CAN'T MAKE UP FOR THE LOSS OF THOSE TREES.
THAT BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT AFTER THIS IS GOING TO BE SLAMMED.
THEY HAVE NOT HAD ANY STAFFING ON WHAT'S ABOUT TO COME BEFORE THEM.
IF YOUR NAME WAS CALLED PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME.
MOVING ON JEFF DICKERSON, GO AHEAD.
IF YOUR NAME IS CALLED, PLEASE.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, DON'T BE SHY ABOUT GRABBING A MICROPHONE.
GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS KELLY SHANNON.
I'M A FOURTH GENERATION LIFELONG AUSTINITE IN D5.
SPEAKING TO YOU BEFORE, I DESCRIBED MY CHILDHOOD HERE IN AUSTIN, RIDING MY BIKE ALL OVER TOWN AND THE MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF HOUSING I ADMIRED BECAUSE PEOPLE COULD BUILD WHAT THEY NEEDED.
THERE WAS AN INVENTORY BUILT OVER DECADES OF UNUSUAL, SMALLER HOMES FOR VARIOUS TYPES OF HOUSEHOLDS IN EVERY PART OF THE CITY, BUT THOSE TYPES OF HOMES WERE NO LONGER ALLOWED AFTER OUR 1984 CODE.
THAT HOUSING DIVERSITY ENABLED MY GREAT GRANDMOTHER TO LIVE ALONE INTO HER 90S IN A TINY HOUSE, ABLE TO WALK TO NEARBY SHOPPING, AND THAT HOUSING DIVERSITY ALLOWED MY FAMILY OF FOUR, SUPPORTED BY A SINGLE MOTHER, TO BUY ONE OF THE SMALLER, MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSES WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE TO ONE OF THE BEST ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN TOWN.
THOSE ARE OPTIONS FEW AUSTINITES CURRENTLY ENJOY.
BUT OUR LARGE LOT CODE ISN'T WHAT'S PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITIES OR LOWERING HOUSE PRICES.
THE LOSS OF OUR COMMUNITIES IS IN PART BECAUSE OF THE CAR CENTRIC, SINGLE FAMILY, LARGE, LOT, SPRAWLING, CITY, ONE SIZE FITS ALL BUILDING CODE THAT WE'VE BEEN LIVING UNDER FOR THE LAST FOUR DECADES.
WITH YOUR VOTE TODAY, YOU COULD UNLOCK SUCH OPTIONS FOR MORE PEOPLE ALL OVER AUSTIN.
WHAT'S MY THEME TODAY? MORE OPTIONS.
SO TO MY KIM RYAN ALTER THE HOME REGULATIONS ARE WRITTEN MOSTLY AS IF EVERY LOT IS A RECTANGLE.
AS YOU KNOW, BARTON HILLS IS CHARACTERIZED BY MANY UNUSUAL LOT SHAPES, SO THE AMENDMENTS REGARDING SETBACKS AND IMPERVIOUS COVER COULD SEVERELY LIMIT REDEVELOPMENT OPTIONS FOR MANY OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
MANDATE OVERLY RIGID AMENDMENTS TACKED ON TODAY, OR BY PREFERENCES FOR HOW IT'S ALWAYS BEEN FORMED BY SOME AUSTINITES UNDER CODE THAT'S BEEN IN PLACE FOR ONLY 40 YEARS. HOME PHASE ONE WAS A GREAT FIRST STEP, AND I THANK YOU ALL FOR VOTING FOR IT.
SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF PHASE TWO TODAY.
SO WHEN YOU WRITE THESE POLICIES, WHO ARE YOU LISTENING TO? ARE YOU TAKING NOTES FROM MILLIONAIRE INVESTORS WHO WANT TO REMAKE AUSTIN IN THEIR IMAGE? OR ARE YOU LISTENING TO THE LOW INCOME RESIDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN ON THE FRONT LINES OF KEEPING AUSTIN LIVABLE FOR GENERATIONS? COMMUNITY POWERED ATX HAS REACHED OUT TO MANY OF YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS.
[03:10:05]
UPROOTED REPORT HAVE CONFIRMED THAT THIS KIND OF OVERLAY IS ESSENTIAL TO PROTECTING LOW INCOME RESIDENTS.ARE YOU LISTENING OR ARE YOU JUST PUSHING FORWARD DEVELOPER AND PROFIT FRIENDLY DEREGULATORY POLICIES WITH NO REGARD FOR THE DISPLACEMENT THIS CAN CAUSE? AT PLANNING COMMISSION, CITY STAFF HAVE ADMITTED THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE IMPACT ON GENTRIFICATION AND DISPLACEMENT WILL BE FROM THESE POLICIES.
ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH THAT? AS YOUR OFFICE HAS PUSHED FORWARD THESE POLICIES THAT WILL DISPLACE PEOPLE AS LOTS AS LOTS REDEVELOP AND PROPERTY VALUES RISE EVEN MORE? THIS COUNCIL HAS ALSO REFUSED TO TAKE A STANCE AGAINST THE GENOCIDE IN GAZA, WHERE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN VIOLENTLY DISPLACED FROM THEIR HOMES.
YOUR LACK OF ACTION AND URGENCY AGAINST DISPLACEMENT HERE AND ABROAD IS SHAMEFUL.
LISTEN TO COMMUNITIES DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY DISPLACEMENT.
DRIVERS DON'T JUST STUDY THE IMPACTS OF HARMFUL POLICIES ONCE IT'S DONE, PASS THE EQUITY OVERLAY.
ALSO, CONSIDER THE GROUPS THAT HAVE BEEN PROPOSING THIS EQUITY OVERLAY AND FIGHTING AGAINST DISPLACEMENT IN AUSTIN HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR GENERATIONS AND ARE STILL DOING THIS NOW, SUCH AS PODER AND NOW VOCAL ATX.
DON'T JUST BLINDLY PASS THESE POLICIES.
THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBERS MAYOR. MY NAME IS JEFF DICKERSON.
LET'S BE HONEST, MOST PEOPLE RESIDENTS CANNOT AFFORD TO SUBDIVIDE EVEN IF THEY COULD AFFORD THE EXPENSE OF SUBDIVISION.
WHO'S GOING TO PICK UP THE MATERIAL COST? WHO'S GOING TO PICK UP THE FEES? WHO'S GOING TO PICK UP THE INCREASE IN TAX LIABILITIES THAT WILL OCCUR WHEN THESE THINGS ARE REDEVELOPED OR BUILT WITH NEWER MATERIALS? IT'S A CITY OF AUSTIN VOLUNTEERING TO PICK UP THOSE COSTS.
I DON'T THINK SO. I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOOD PRACTICES.
IT IS ALSO FAIR TO MENTION THAT SMALLER LOTS MEAN INCREASE IN LOCALIZED FLOODING, REDUCTION OF AVAILABLE GREEN SPACE, GREEN SPACE, INCREASE IN TRAFFIC POLLUTION, NOISE POLLUTION, AIR POLLUTION.
AGAIN, I SAY NO, NOT EVERYBODY WANTS TO LIVE IN MOTHER GOOSE'S SHOE BOX.
DID I MENTION THAT COUNCIL PASSED AN ORDINANCE IN PHASE ONE THAT ELIMINATED THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT LIVED IN HOUSES? WITH APOLOGIES TO MOTHER GOOSE.
THERE WAS AN OLD WOMAN THAT LIVED IN A SHOE.
SHE TRIED TO KEEP ORDER, BUT THEY WERE A ZOO.
THAT ALSO BECAME CHAOS THROUGH AND THROUGH.
I LEAVE IT TO YOUR IMAGINATION.
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN YOU HAVE SMALLER LOT SIZES, REDUCTION IN SETBACKS, AND ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC FOR THE AUDIENCE AS A AND FOR COUNCIL THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT REALLY DO WANT PEACE AND QUIET.
THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT WANT YARDS, GARDENS, THERE ARE GOOD STEWARDS OF TREES AND CANOPIES.
WE HAVE THE SAME CONSIDERATION AS THOSE THAT WANT TO LIVE IN WALKABLE AREAS, THAT WANT TO LIVE FIVE MINUTES FROM THEIR CAFE LATTE SHOPS. THERE ARE THOSE THAT WANT PEACE AND QUIET HOT.
THE ORDINANCES THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO PASS IS APPLYING THE SLEDGEHAMMER WHEN YOU NEED TO USE A PINE KNIFE. FINALLY, FOR YOUR BENEFIT, I KEPT A RUNNING TOTAL OF FOR AND AGAINST.
AND RIGHT NOW IT'S 33 FOR HOME, TWO AND 29 AGAINST.
SO YOU CAN SEE THE SPLIT THAT IS OCCURRING.
AND I THINK THERE'S A DELAY THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
NEXT SPEAKERS ARE ERIC HOLLIS, EVELYN GOMEZ RIVERA, MARIO PEREZ, MATTHEW LOW AND CHLOE WILKINSON.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME.
HELLO, MY NAME IS ERIC PAULUS.
I'M A DISTRICT THREE RESIDENT.
OKAY. I'M HERE TODAY TAKING TIME OFF WORK TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM SIX IN ITS CURRENT STATE.
I AM, HOWEVER, IN FAVOR OF MANY OF THE DESIRED OUTCOMES THAT PROPONENTS OF THIS ITEM CLAIM TO SEEK LIKE A MORE LIVABLE CITY, BETTER TRANSIT OPTIONS, SMALLER HOMES, DISSUADING SPRAWL, AND SO ON.
[03:15:02]
THIS SOUNDS LIKE A VISION FOR A GREAT CITY, BUT I'M LEFT ASKING MYSELF A GREAT CITY FOR WHO? IF WE STOP AND LOOK TO ACTUAL RESEARCH AND NOT SOUNDBITES AND BLOG POSTS, THE WARNING SIGNS ARE CLEAR IN FRONT OF US.THESE POLICIES WILL MAKE LAND VALUE MORE EXPENSIVE, NOT LESS.
THESE POLICIES WILL RAISE THE TAX BURDEN, NOT LOWER IT.
SO MUCH FOR A RIGHT TO REMAIN.
THIS PROPOSAL IN ITS CURRENT STATE IS NOT A PLAN FOR PRODUCING AFFORDABILITY.
IT'S A HOPE FOR AFFORDABILITY.
AND WE'LL RAISE THE OVERALL VALUE OF LAND FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT WANT TO SUBDIVIDE.
WE HAVE DECADES OF PROOF TO PRODUCE AFFORDABLE HOMES.
WE CANNOT SIMPLY LEAVE IT UP TO THE MARKET.
WE HAVE BILLION DOLLAR HEDGE FUNDS BUYING HOMES BY THE THOUSANDS.
WE HAVE INTERNATIONAL MONEY LAUNDERING OPERATING THROUGH THE HOUSING MARKET.
WE HAVE POTENTIALLY 20,000 SHORT TERM RENTALS OPERATING IN THE CITY.
THESE ARE THE MARKET FORCES HOME TO IS RELYING ON TO PROVIDE AFFORDABILITY.
WE MUST PASS AN EQUITY OVERLAY BEFORE HOME.
TWO PASSES. WE ARE ALL TOO FAMILIAR WITH CITY COUNCIL'S BAIT AND SWITCH TACTICS.
POSTPONE THIS VOTE UNTIL A ROBUST EQUITY OVERLAY IS INCLUDED.
LET'S CREATE A CITY FOR ALL OF AUSTINITES.
I'M URGING YOU TO POSTPONE THIS.
WE NEED. WE NEED THIS TO PASS BEFOREHAND.
YOU CANNOT RELY ON THEM OTHERWISE.
THANK YOU. BEFORE YOU BEGIN, LET ME JUST SAY, SINCE COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ IS JOINING US REMOTELY, AND HE MAY NOT BE ON THERE RIGHT NOW, BUT THE REASON HE IS NOT HERE IS BECAUSE HE'S HAD A DEATH IN A PRETTY IMMEDIATE FAMILY, AND HE'S ADDRESSING SOME OF THOSE THINGS, AND AT THE SAME TIME TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT HE CAN BE HERE AND HEAR FOLKS, HE HAS STAFF THAT'S ALSO PAYING ATTENTION, AND YOUR COMMENTS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO HIM.
YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR TIME STARTING NOW.
GOOD MORNING. OH GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS MARY ELLEN PEREZ OF DISTRICT NINE.
I'M CALLING IN SUPPORT OF HOME PHASE TWO, ITEM SIX.
BEFORE I'VE ARRIVED AT THIS WONDERFUL CITY, I'VE SEEN AND HEARD MANY SLOGANS.
I HAVE HEARD A NEW SLOGAN TODAY KEEP AUSTIN PRIVILEGED.
I'M NEW BLOOD TO THIS CITY AND I DON'T COME FROM MONEY.
I WISH I COULD HAVE SECURED A MORTGAGE IN THE 80S, BUT UNFORTUNATELY I WAS TOO BUSY NOT EXISTING.
I SAY, LOOK AT THESE RISING HOUSING COSTS.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, I CAN ASK HOW? HOW CAN I HAVE A HOUSE? I'M ONE GUY.
ONE PERSON. DO I NEED SO MUCH SPACE FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME? THAT'S NOT A QUESTION OF LIVING.
NOW, LET ME SAY, AS AN OUTSIDER, I CAN SEE PATTERNS HERE.
THESE HIGH MINIMUM LOT SIZE REQUIREMENTS.
WHAT IS THE ROUTE? IT WAS DESIGNED TO KEEP PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T COME FROM A PLACE OF PRIVILEGE OUT OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS I'VE SEEN OR I'M SORRY, I'VE HEARD TERMS TODAY SUCH AS EQUITY AND ANTI-DISPLACEMENT. AND TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH, I AGREE.
TO ME, THIS IS ABOUT EQUITY, FAIR, IMPARTIAL TREATMENT.
THERE WAS NOT A HISTORY OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITY IN ACQUIRING HOUSING.
AND RIGHT NOW I DON'T WISH TO LIVE IN LUXURY.
I WISH TO LIVE IN THIS TIME OF RISING HOUSING COSTS.
MANY HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF CHOOSING WHETHER TO LIVE HERE OR NOT.
MORE DO NOT I AM ANTI-DISPLACEMENT BECAUSE I HAVE SEVERAL PEERS WHO HAVE BEEN PRICED OUT OF THE CITY, PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN DISPLACED OUT OF THEIR DREAMS AT AUSTIN BECAUSE OF THESE OBSTACLES. MANY OF MY PEERS SHARE THIS IDEA.
THIS IS ABOUT ALLOWING NEW BLOOD TO FLOW THROUGH THE CITY.
OTHERWISE, AUSTIN WILL CONTINUE TO CHANGE FROM THE CITY OF THE PEOPLE TO THE CITY OF THE PRIVILEGED.
AS SOMEONE WITHOUT ROOTS HERE, I CAN TELL YOU THE EFFECTS OF THIS CULTURE.
I LIVED AT THE CHEAPEST DORM ON CAMPUS, BASICALLY A SHOEBOX.
LET'S DO A QUICK GAME OF JEOPARDY.
COUNCIL MEMBERS. HOW MUCH WAS I PAYING A MONTH? $1,600. AND LET ME TELL YOU.
HE STUNK. I MEAN, I HAVEN'T EVEN FACTORED IN WHAT MY TUITION COST.
I AND MANY OF MY PEERS CAN GUARANTEE CHANGE GROWTH IN THE CITY'S FUTURE.
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT THE FUTURE.
AND AS OF NOW, IT SEEMS BLEAK.
[03:20:08]
CITY. NIMBY.WHAT DOES IT STAND FOR? NOT IN MY BACKYARD.
YIMBY. WHAT DOES THAT ONE STAND FOR? YES, IN MY BACKYARD.
OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I'M HERE TO TELL YOU GUYS THAT SOMEDAY I WILL LIKE A BACKYARD.
MANY OF YOU KNOW ME AS A MEMBER ON THE BOARD OF AURA.
ONE THING THAT I HEAR A LOT AT FROM STUDENTS WHILE I SERVE ON THE COMMITTEE FOR TRANSPORTATION, IS THE NEED FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND THE NEED FOR HOUSING.
WE DO NOT HAVE A HOUSING COMMITTEE, SO I OFTENTIMES ACT AS THE DEFAULT SORT OF GO TO FOR MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT HOUSING BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT TRANSPORTATION AND HOUSING ARE SO CLOSELY LINKED TOGETHER.
ONE OF THE THINGS I HEAR FROM YOUNG PEOPLE AT ACC IS THE NEED FOR HIGH DENSITY LIVING TO ALLOW PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO EXIST IN OUR CITY.
AND I AM GLAD THAT I REPRESENT ACC AND THAT I REPRESENTED NOT JUST AS A STUDENT THAT IS QUEER, BUT ALSO AS THE AVERAGE AGE OF ACC OF 26 AND BELOW THE AVERAGE INCOME OF $20,000 A YEAR.
THE IDEA THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ADVOCATING FOR HOME, FOR GOD, FOR, YOU KNOW, ALL THESE PRO HOUSING AFFORDABILITY REFORMS ARE SOMEHOW MULTI-MILLIONAIRES IS RIDICULOUS.
I AM NOT GETTING PAID TO ADVOCATE FOR THIS.
I'M TAKING TIME OUT OF MY DAY TO ASK YOU, PLEASE GIVE US AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE ARE SPENDING OUR OUR EDUCATION IN THE CITY.
WE ARE PURSUING ACADEMICS IN THE CITY.
SO PLEASE PASS HOME CLASS ITOD PASS AFFORDABLE HOUSING REFORM.
A FEW YEARS AGO, WHEN NIMBYS HAD THE UPPER HAND IN CITY HALL, THINGS FELT HOPELESS.
AUSTIN DIDN'T FEEL LIKE A CITY WHICH HAD A FUTURE FOR THE AVERAGE RESIDENT.
I WANT TO THANK CITY COUNCIL, AND PARTICULARLY MY COUNCILWOMAN, VANESSA FUENTES, FOR SUPPORTING HOME PHASE ONE AND FOR SUPPORTING ITEMS FOUR, FIVE AND SIX WHICH ARE UNDER CONSIDERATION TODAY.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR.
I DID NOT VOTE FOR YOU IN THE PREVIOUS ELECTION.
YOU WILL HAVE MY VOTE IN THE NEXT ONE.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK MY FELLOW MEMBERS OF AURA FOR THEIR FIERCE ADVOCACY FOR EFFECTIVE REFORMS THAT SUPPORT HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND BETTER TRANSPORTATION IN AUSTIN. OUR CITY IS QUICKLY BECOMING A NATIONAL LEADER IN REFORMING OUTDATED, RACIST, UNJUST, AND DEEPLY HARMFUL EXCLUSIONARY ZONING POLICIES THAT WERE DESIGNED TO INFLATE PROPERTY VALUES AND KEEP PEOPLE OUT OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
TODAY, WE CAN TAKE ANOTHER SMALL STEP TO BRING AN END TO THIS MODERN DAY FORM OF REDLINING, AND IN SO DOING, WE CAN TAKE STEPS TO MITIGATE URBAN SPRAWL THE AFFORDABILITY CRISIS, TRAFFIC CONGESTION, HOMELESSNESS, POLLUTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COURAGE AND YOUR DEDICATION.
THANK YOU FOR VOTING YES ON ITEMS FOUR, FIVE AND SIX TODAY.
THANK YOU. NEXT ON DECK FOR NEXT IS TESS ORTEGA.
IS BARBARA HERE? YOU HAVE DONATED TIME BY MARY ENGLE.
IS MARY HERE? OKAY. YOU GET SIX MINUTES.
SUSAN SPATARO, RICARDO RAMIREZ.
I HAVE LIVED IN AUSTIN FOR OVER TEN YEARS, AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FOUR.
[03:25:04]
ANTI-DISPLACEMENT ANTI-DISPLACEMENT AMENDMENT.I'D ALSO LIKE TO ASK FOR THOSE WHO ARE THE EVERYDAY AUSTINITES WHO'VE COME UP.
WE'RE NOT DEVELOPERS WHO'VE COME UP IN SUPPORT OF HOME PHASE TWO.
HOW MANY OF YOU ARE ACTUALLY LIVING AND WORKING IN COMMUNITY WITH THOSE WHO WOULD BE MOST IMPACTED BY THIS PROPOSAL? HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE ACTUALLY TALKED TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND DONE THE WORK TO LEARN ABOUT THEIR STORIES AND HOW THIS WOULD IMPACT THEM? AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO COME UP HERE AND ARE LOW INCOME, WORKING CLASS INDIVIDUALS IN SUPPORT OF HOME PHASE TWO AND ARE ASKING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THIS IS NOT THE THING THAT WILL GET YOU AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BECAUSE IN FACT, THERE ARE NO AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS IN HOME PHASE TWO.
AND I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I REALLY DON'T BELIEVE BELIEVING THE BEST INTENTION OF DEVELOPERS TO JUST MAKE THINGS AFFORDABLE IF THEY ARE NOT REQUIRED TO DO SO.
SO I ASK FOLKS, PLEASE SUPPORT A DELAY IN THE VOTE AND ALLOW FOR THERE TO BE THE EQUITY AND ANTI-DISPLACEMENT OVERLAY. AND TO REALLY LOOK AT THIS AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY COMMUNITY POWER THAT HAS TRIED TO MEET WITH FOLKS MULTIPLE TIMES ASKING YOU TO HEAR OUT SOLUTIONS.
THEY'RE NOT ANTI SOLUTIONS LIKE ANTI COMING UP WITH CHANGES TO THE STATUS QUO.
WE JUST WANT TO HAVE REAL COMMUNITY INPUT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS WILL REALLY SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND GET US WHAT WE NEED, WHICH IS DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING. PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING AND SUPPORT A DELAY IN THE VOTE.
STUDENTS FOR CARL AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT EIGHT.
I DON'T WANT TO REPEAT WHAT OTHERS HAVE SAID, SO THIS IS GOING TO BE KIND OF DISJOINTED.
BUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I DON'T HEAR TALKED ABOUT IS THAT OUR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT AFFORDABILITY, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? I MEAN, NO ONE IS DEFINING WHAT WE NEED.
I MEAN, A TENT IS REALLY AFFORDABLE COMPARED TO A HOUSE, BUT THAT'S NOT REALLY WHAT WE NEED.
WHAT ABOUT CHILDREN? CHILDREN NEED YARDS, PARTICULARLY POOR CHILDREN WHO PARENTS DON'T HAVE MONEY TO PAY FOR CAMPS AND THAT TYPE OF THING.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT THIS DOES.
THE OTHER THING IS, THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH PEOPLE WHO OWN A HOUSE.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? I WORKED MY WHOLE LIFE TO GET THAT HOUSE.
AND AT THE BEGINNING, I LIVED IN A TINY LITTLE APARTMENT AND THEN A LITTLE BIGGER ONE.
AND THEN I TOOK TWO EXTRA JOBS TO GET MONEY FOR A DOWN PAYMENT.
SO, YOU KNOW, IT ISN'T EASY FOR MOST PEOPLE TO GET A HOME.
SO I THINK WE SHOULD GET THAT THAT OUT OF OUR MINDS.
THE OTHER THING THAT HAS NOT BEEN TALKED ABOUT, AND I THINK IS CRITICAL, IS I'M NOT SEEING ANY DEFINITIONS OR FINANCIAL DOCUMENTATION OF AFFORDABILITY, AND THE TRUTH IS THAT HAS TO BE DONE.
WHEN THIS FIRST CAME OUT, I DON'T HAVE A FEEL FOR SPACE.
SO I LOOKED AT HOW BIG MY YARD WAS, MEASURED IT OUT AND SAID, WHAT WOULD THIS LOOK LIKE? I HAVE A YARD THAT'S MY LOT OF 6200FT².
AND SO IT COULD UNDER PHASE ONE, IT COULD BE DIVIDED INTO THREE AND UNDER TWO, THREE MORE.
SO THERE'S NINE WHERE MY ONE 1800 SQUARE FOOT HOUSE IS.
SO I TALKED TO AN ENGINEER AND HE SAID, YOU KNOW, THIS JUST CAN'T WORK, SUSAN, BECAUSE THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS NOT EVEN CLOSE TO BEING SUPPORTIVE OF EVEN PHASE ONE, MUCH LESS PHASE TWO.
AND LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE WHAT HE SAID.
I'M NOT AN ENGINEER, SO I'LL QUOTE HIM THAT YOU CAN USE AN EXAMPLE OF WHEN A BUILDER COMES IN AND THEY'RE LOOKING AT WASTEWATER, THEY LOOK AT WHAT THE DEVELOPMENT IS AND THEY THEY PROVIDE THAT PLUS LIKE A 20% FUDGE FACTOR.
BUT NOW YOU TAKE THOSE LOTS THAT LOT AND YOU NOW DIVIDE IT INTO THREE LOTS.
AND THEN IF YOU GO INTO PHASE TWO AND YOU GET THREE MORE LOTS YOU NOW NEED INSTEAD OF 120 GALLONS OF
[03:30:09]
WASTEWATER GOING OUT, YOU NEED 1080.WHERE DOES THAT COME FROM? WHAT IS THE COST OF IT? AND THERE'S NONE OF THAT OUT THERE.
WE'RE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE GRID AND ELECTRIC.
NOW. HOW ARE WE GOING TO PROVIDE THAT? WHAT IS IT GOING TO COST? THANK YOU, MISS SPATARO.
PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
THAT'S THE WRONG. THAT'S THE WRONG POWERPOINT.
OKAY, BARBARA GETS SIX MINUTES.
LET'S WAIT TILL HE CAN GET MY POWERPOINT UP AND WHO IS THE PERSON DONATING TIME TO MISS MARY ENGLE? VERY GOOD. THANK YOU.
HI, MY NAME IS BARBARA MACARTHUR.
I LIVE IN THE BRENTWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD.
FIRST, I'D LIKE TO READ SOMETHING TO YOU FROM A WORLD FAMOUS PROFESSOR AND ACADEMIC.
MAKE NO MISTAKE, THIS IS DEREGULATION AND NOTHING ELSE.
WHAT WILL HOME DO? IT WILL CAUSE A RISE IN LAND VALUES AND TAXES CONTRIBUTE TO GREAT GENDER GENTRIFICATION, DISPLACEMENT AND VULNERABLE NEIGHBORHOODS DAMAGE THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE TREE CANOPY, AND IT DELIVERS A HUGE WIN TO COKE BACK DEREGULATION INTERESTS AND THEIR SUPPORTERS WHO FAILED AT THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE BUT ARE CONFIDENT THAT THEY'RE GOING TO SUCCEED IN AUSTIN.
NEXT SLIDE. IN CASE ANYONE DOESN'T KNOW WHO KOCH INDUSTRIES ARE, THE WASHINGTON POST HAS DESCRIBED THE MERCATUS CENTER AS A STAUNCHLY ANTI-REGULATORY CENTER, FUNDED LARGELY BY KOCH INDUSTRIES.
AND THIS IS WHO MOST OF THIS COUNCIL IS SUPPORTING RIGHT NOW.
THE SECOND ONE WAS REMOVED WHEN SOMEONE TOLD HER THEY WEREN'T COOL.
BUT BOUDREAU IS ALSO A BIG PART OF THE MERCATUS INSTITUTE, AND HIS LEADING LARGE ARTICLE TALKS ABOUT ONE ACRE AND MORE LOTS. IT DOESN'T TALK ABOUT 5000 SQUARE FOOT LOTS.
ANYONE WHO SAYS THAT A 5000 SQUARE FOOT LOT IS A MASSIVE LOT.
DETERMINED TO KEEP PEOPLE OUT IS CONFUSED.
MUELLER. YOU DON'T LIKE TO TALK ABOUT MUELLER.
7300FT². THE TAX ON IT IS $250 A SQUARE FOOT ON THE LAND.
THIS HOUSE COSTS 400,000 MORE THAN THE HIGHEST MIDDLE INCOME AUSTIN WAGE EARNER COULD BUY.
IF YOU DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT MUELLER, TALK ABOUT MY STREET.
80% OF MY LOTS ON MY STREET HAVE BEEN SUBDIVIDED.
GUESS WHAT? THE SUBDIVIDES GO FOR ALL 1.2 MILLION EACH.
CONGRATULATIONS. FORECAST TAX REVENUE.
THIS IS A STUDY FROM THE RICE INSTITUTE.
THE BLUE SHOWS WHERE PEOPLE WHERE LOW INCOME DISPLACEMENT OCCURRED IN HOUSTON, YOU KNOW, DEFENDS DEED RESTRICTIONS.
THESE ARE THE NEIGHBORHOODS WITHOUT DEED RESTRICTIONS TO DEFEND THEIR LOT SIZES.
INSIDE THE LOOP IS WHERE THEY MADE THE SMALL LOTS.
JUST DO PEOPLE SEE BLUE ON THIS MAP? I DO, AND I KNOW THERE'S BEEN TWO STUDIES PUT OUT THAT SAID HOUSTON IS WONDERFUL AND IT'S NOT HURTING THE MINORITY POPULATION.
BUT PART OF THE REASON IS IT WAS IT WASN'T CORRECT.
ONE FIFTH OF THE NEW DENSE HOUSING WAS A RESULT OF CONVERSIONS ON COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL LAND.
SINGLE FAMILY TO TOWNHOUSE CONVERSIONS WERE CONCENTRATED IN THE URBAN CORE, WERE SMALLER AND OLDER HOUSES HAD EXISTED AND PRODUCED RELATIVELY AFFORDABLE HOMES. AND THAT'S THE DISPLACEMENT YOU SEE ON THIS MAP, NO MATTER WHAT OTHER REPORTS.
[03:35:09]
CAN YOU ADVANCE IT? THESE ARE SPECIFIC AREAS YOU CAN SEE IN MOST OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS, THERE WAS A 20 TO 40% REMOVAL OF LOWER INCOME PEOPLE WHEN THEY MADE THE SMALL LOTS.HE PREVIOUSLY WORKED IN LA, WHERE THEY CONVERTED SILVERLAKE, A PREDOMINANTLY HISPANIC NEIGHBORHOOD, INTO A NEIGHBORHOOD OF SMALL, LOT VERY EXPENSIVE HOMES. THE QUOTE ON PUBLIC TV WAS THE TROUBLE IS, WE FOCUS ON THE PEOPLE WHO GET DISPLACED.
YOU JUST FOCUS ON THE MONEY MAKING.
AND I'LL SAY ONE THING REAL QUICK ABOUT THAT MAP OF SAN ANTONIO DOESN'T DISPLACE PEOPLE.
THE AVERAGE LOT SIZE IN SAN ANTONIO IS 7500FT².
WHEN YOU DO THIS, THE AVERAGE LOT SIZE IN AUSTIN CAN BE 2000.
I SAY AFFORDABILITY, NOT PROFITABILITY.
JUST SAY NO TO THE TECH BILLIONAIRES DEREGULATION PLAN FOR AUSTIN.
THE LEGISLATURE SAID NO, BUT YOU DON'T SEEM TO BE ABLE TO SAY NO TO THESE COKE INDUSTRY POLICIES.
NEXT SPEAKERS ARE LYDIA ZEIDMAN, ROBERTO RONDERO DE MORSIER.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME.
THE DATA JUST DOESN'T SUPPORT IT.
PRICES ARE NOT BEING CAUSED BY ZONING.
THEY'RE BEING CAUSED BY MARKET FORCES.
DEREGULATION OF MARKET FORCES DOES NOT IMPROVE THAT SITUATION.
RICHARD HAYMAN'S REPORT AND THE CITY'S OWN REPORT SUPPORTS THIS POINT FROM THE CITY'S REPORT.
IT'S NOT REALLY ABOUT MIDDLE INCOME EMPOWERMENT ANYMORE.
IT'S ABOUT MOBILITY AND EQUITY.
THE REALITY IS WE'RE ALL WE ALL WANT THE SAME THING.
WE ALL WANT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE ALL WANT PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO STAY IN THE CITY.
THE QUESTION IS, DOES THIS REALLY DO IT? AND I THINK YOU'RE ALL SMART ENOUGH TO KNOW.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHY IT GOT REBRANDED.
I, I THINK THE REAL REASON WE'RE DOING THIS IS BECAUSE MR. WATSON WANTS TO BE REMEMBERED AS THE MAYOR WHO GOT PROJECT CONNECT DONE.
AFTER ALL, WE DO NEED FEDERAL FUNDING AND TO GET FEDERAL FUNDING, WE NEED DENSITY.
SO WHY ARE WE BEING SOLD OUT? POSSIBLY BECAUSE OF A TECH BOOM THAT WAS SELF-INDUCED.
BIG MONEY SEES LUXURY CONDOS MAXED OUT AND NOW WANTS INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU EVER HEARD SOMEONE SAY, I REALLY WANT 120 FOOT BUILDING RIGHT BEHIND MY HOUSE? YOU KNOW THAT THE MAJORITY OF OUR AUSTINITES ARE AGAINST THIS.
YOU KNOW IT FROM THE SPEAKERS, NO MATTER HOW MUCH ANYBODY WANTS TO SPIN IT.
SO I ASK YOU, REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOUR TRUE BELIEF IS ON THIS, WHAT HAPPENED TO BEING CIVIL SERVANTS? WHAT HAPPENED TO BEING REPRESENTATIVES? THAT WORD MEANS THAT YOU REPRESENT THE PEOPLE WHO YOU ARE ELECTED TO REPRESENT.
YOU'VE SOLD OUT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVED HERE WITH US.
AND I DO WANT TO JUST QUICKLY THANK MACKENZIE KELLY AND ALISON ALTER FOR VOTING AGAINST IT, BECAUSE I DON'T I DON'T WANT TO THROW YOU IN WITH THE REST OF THEM, BUT I WILL JUST END BY QUOTING MR. ACKERS, WHO SAID, YOU HAVE ACHIEVED YOUR ELECTORAL MOMENT AND ARE TAKING NO PRISONERS.
THIS IS ABOUT YOUR POLITICS, IT'S ABOUT YOUR CAREERS.
IT'S CERTAINLY NOT ABOUT AFFORDABILITY AND IT'S NOT ABOUT THE PEOPLE OF BOSTON.
[03:40:05]
HELLO, I'M PAMELA BELL, DISTRICT NINE.I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE NORTH UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
I'M SPEAKING AGAINST HOME TWO AND THE ITOD OVERLAYS.
20 YEARS AGO, THE CITY OF AUSTIN REQUIRED SEVEN NEIGHBORHOODS TO DEVELOP NEIGHBORHOOD PLANS.
WHEN NUNEZ ENCD WAS APPROVED IN 2004, WE WERE THE SECOND DENSEST NEIGHBORHOOD.
THESE ARE OLDER HOUSING STOCK AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UPZONING PROPERTIES AND CARVING UP EXISTING SINGLE FAMILY LOTS TO INCREASE DENSITY WILL INCREASE IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING BEING DEMOLISHED AND AFFORDABLE AND UNAFFORDABLE.
$1,500 PER BEDROOM WITH NO WINDOWS.
UPZONING. ALMOST ALL OF THE NUNA PROPERTIES WILL DRAMATICALLY CHANGE OUR HOOD.
INSTITUTING THE HOME TWO INITIATIVE AND OVERLAYING ITO D AND D B E T O D ZONING ON OUR NCC D WITHOUT MEETING WITH NUNA FLIES IN THE FACE OF COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY PLANNING.
WHEN I ASKED STAFF TO COME MEET WITH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, I WAS TOLD WE DON'T DO NEIGHBORHOODS AND ANOTHER PERSON SAID, IF WE MET WITH YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, WE HAVE TO MEET WITH THEM ALL.
RUSHING. THIS PROCESS IS ONLY REQUIRED BY INTERNAL STAFF DEADLINES.
THE PROJECT CONNECT APPLICATION IS DUE SOMETIME IN THE LATE SUMMER.
THE MAY 30TH DEADLINE IS ARTIFICIAL.
WE PROTEST THIS ATTEMPT TO DESTROY OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WITHOUT MEANINGFUL INPUT.
WE WANT YOU TO SET ASIDE CHANGING OUR NCC D AT THIS TIME, WE WELCOME MEETING WITH CITY OF AUSTIN PLANNING STAFF TO EXAMINE ZONING CHANGES TO OUR NCDHH.
BECCA TUCHMAN, JOHN GOOD, LAUREN ROSS, IS IS LAUREN ROSS HERE? OKAY. ALICIA TORRES.
I'M AN OWNER AND PRESIDENT OF PEARL STREET CONDOS HOA IN HERITAGE.
I DID A CALCULATION BASED ON THE WORDING OF THE DRAFT 80% OF THE MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME IN THIS AREA IS ROUGHLY 8000 $88,240.
I PLUGGED THAT NUMBER INTO A LOAN CALCULATOR IN THE AFFORDABLE HOME COST IS $326,700. THE CURRENT LOAN RATES FOR A SCORE IN THE MID SEVEN HUNDREDS.
LET'S LOOK AT A SMALL DEVELOPER UNDER YOUR PLAN DEVELOPING A 48 UNIT HIGHRISE.
HE HAS TO SET ASIDE 5.76 UNITS.
THE FEE IN LIEU, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, IS $1,881,792.
IF THEY MITIGATE THAT FEE BY SPREADING IT EVENLY OVER 48 UNITS, THAT MEANS THEY ONLY HAVE TO INCREASE THE COST OF EACH UNIT BY $39,240 FOR A HOME IN OUR AREA.
THIS NOT ONLY INCENTIVIZES THE DEVELOPER TO PAY THE IN LIEU, BUT TO BUILD HIGHER PRICED UNITS TO ASSURE THAT IT IS WORTH HIS EFFORT.
THEY ARE SIMPLY NEVER GOING TO SELL A UNIT THIS FAR BELOW MARKET.
[03:45:04]
SO IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE HE AND LOU ACTUALLY WORKS AGAINST YOUR SPOKEN GOALS FOR AFFORDABILITY, SUSTAINABILITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION. MAYBE THE PEOPLE WHO CAN AFFORD TO LIVE IN THESE PRICEY NEW HIGH RISES WILL TAKE THE BUS WHEN THEY FEEL LIKE IT.BUT IT WILL BE AN OPTION FOR THEM AND THEY PROBABLY WON'T.
YET WE ARE DESTROYING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS IN A FUTILE ATTEMPT TO COAX THEM INTO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
FEE IN LIEU. IF YOU ARE A DEVELOPER IS YOU CAN HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT TOO.
HELLO. MY NAME IS ALICIA TORRES, AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT THREE.
I AM HERE TO ASK COUNCIL MEMBERS TODAY TO DELAY THE VOTE ON ITEMS FOUR, FIVE, AND SIX UNTIL AN EQUITY OVERLAY AND ACCESSIBILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY GUARANTEES ARE BUILT IN. I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT INVESTORS AND DEVELOPERS DO NOT HAVE MY WELL-BEING IN MIND.
I KNOW THAT DEREGULATION OF HOUSING WILL NOT ENSURE I AM ABLE TO BECOME A HOMEOWNER.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT THREE, A DISTRICT THAT HAD STUDENT APARTMENTS TORN DOWN, DISPLACING STUDENTS.
BUT YET THESE NEW HOMES ARE NOT HOUSING THE FAMILIES THAT ONCE POPULATED DISTRICT THREE.
IT HAS NOT TRICKLED DOWN TO ME BEING ABLE TO BECOME A HOMEOWNER.
WE, THE COMMUNITY THE MOST IMPACTED BY THIS DECISION, DESERVE A FAIR AND ACCESSIBLE PROCESS TO CREATE AN EQUITY OVERLAY AND ACCESSIBLE GUARANTEES TO BE BUILT IN. DELAY THE VOTE AND ENGAGE IN AN INTENTIONAL SOLUTION IN CREATING IN AN INTENTIONAL SOLUTION.
CREATING CREATING PROCESS WITH COMMUNITY.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS JUNIPER LOREN ROSS AND THANK YOU, CARLOS FOR THE DONATED TIME.
THANK YOU. I MOVED TO AUSTIN IN 1974, AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE.
I ORGANIZED WITH UNDOING WHITE SUPREMACY AUSTIN.
WE ARE AN ALL VOLUNTEER COMMUNITY OF MORE THAN 2000 FOLKS WHO IDENTIFY WITH OUR MISSION TO EXAMINE THE MANIFESTATIONS OF RACISM IN AUSTIN AND TO WORK FOR RACIAL EQUITY, UNDOING WHITE SUPREMACY.
AUSTIN OPPOSES THE PROPOSED LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE CHANGES IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY, AND WE ARE 100% BEHIND COMMUNITY POWERED ATC'S REQUEST FOR AN EQUITY OVERLAY TO PROTECT THE AUSTIN CENSUS TRACTS THAT ARE MOST VULNERABLE TO DISPLACEMENT AND GENTRIFICATION. THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE CHANGES THAT YOU ARE DISCUSSING TODAY ALIGN WITH CENTURIES OF RACISM AND WHITE SUPREMACY IN AUSTIN. OVER AND OVER AGAIN, AUSTIN CITY COUNCILS AND THE POWER BROKERS THAT ELECT YOU HAVE SACRIFICED THE HOMES, THE WEALTH, THE SAFETY AND THE INTEREST OF AUSTIN'S BLACK, BROWN, ASIAN AND INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES TO BENEFIT THEMSELVES.
BUT ALL OF US HAVE LOST AN AFFORDABLE AUSTIN IN THE FACE OF RISING RENTS AND HOME COSTS.
OUR FRIENDS AND CHILDREN HAVE ALSO MOVED ELSEWHERE.
IN RECENT YEARS, IT'S BECOME FASHIONABLE TO TALK ABOUT AUSTIN'S RACIST HISTORY.
SOME OF US REMEMBER WHEN NO ONE KNEW ABOUT OR TALKED ABOUT THE 1928 MASTER PLAN THAT FORCED BLACK AND BROWN FAMILIES FROM NORTH AND WEST AND SOUTH AUSTIN INTO DESIGNATED AREAS OF EAST AUSTIN.
[03:50:02]
IT HAS BEEN TEN YEARS SINCE AUSTIN RESIDENTS VOTED TO REPLACE AT LARGE COUNCIL SEATS AND THE GENTLEMAN'S AGREEMENT WITH DISTRICT ELECTIONS.THE GENTLEMAN'S AGREEMENT, FOR THOSE OF US WHO MAY NOT REMEMBER, DESIGNATED ONE COUNCIL SEAT FOR BLACK CANDIDATES AND ANOTHER FOR BROWN CANDIDATES.
AND IT WAS CONCOCTED AND IMPLEMENTED BY THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN DONORS TO ENSURE THAT EVERY SINGLE COUNCIL VOTE WAS ACCOUNTABLE TO THEM, TO THEIR INTERESTS, AND TO THEIR PROFITS.
AND WE NOW, AS OF TONIGHT, SEEM HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT OUR RACIST HISTORY, AS IF TALKING ABOUT THE PAST CAN SOMEHOW EXONERATE US FROM THE COMPLICITY AND THE RACISM THAT IS LIKELY TO HAPPEN TODAY, BECAUSE YOUR VOTES ON HOME WON AND YOUR LIKELY VOTES TODAY ILLUSTRATE THE CONTINUED FAILURE OF AUSTIN POLITICS TO REPRESENT ITS PEOPLE, RATHER THAN THE INTERESTS THAT ARE DONATING TO YOUR ELECTION CAMPAIGNS.
VOTES THAT ERASE THE LAST VESTIGES OF AFFORDABILITY FOR AUSTIN'S POOR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.
COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE, DESPITE DECADES OF OPPRESSION, CLUNG WITH A TOEHOLD, CLUNG TO THE SOIL THAT IS SATURATED WITH THE SWEAT, THE BLOOD AND THE TEARS OF THEIR ANCESTORS RIPPED FROM THEM TO MAKE AUSTIN ALMOST AFFORDABLE FOR ORACLE TECH WORKERS.
AND I HAVE GOT NOTHING AGAINST MY TECH BROS.
I AM THE MAMA OF A TECH ROWE, AND I AGREE THAT EVERY SINGLE PERSON AND I'M GOING TO INCLUDE ELON MUSK AND I'M GOING TO INCLUDE NO I CAN HARDLY SAY THEIR NAMES, LUKE AND NICOLE KNOW.
SICK. THEY DESERVE A RIGHT TO AN AUSTIN HOME.
BUT IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY, MAYOR WATSON.
WHO WILL FIGHT OUR FIRES, TEACH OUR CHILDREN, STAFF OUR HOTELS, PLAY OUR MUSIC, PAINT OUR MURALS, SWEEP OUR STREETS AND PICK UP OUR GARBAGE. WE ARE ASKING YOU TO KEEP AUSTIN DIVERSE.
WE ARE ASKING YOU TO KEEP AUSTIN CONNECTED TO AND ACCOUNTABLE TO OUR HISTORY.
WHO WILL? EVERY STUDY SHOWS THIS.
WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING TODAY IS GOING TO LAND RIGHT ON THEM.
SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY POWERED ATX OVERLAY AND LET'S MOVE TOWARDS AUSTIN.
THAT WILL BE TRULY AFFORDABLE FOR ALL OF US.
I'M GOING TO TRANSITION QUICKLY TO REMOTE.
ALEXANDRIA ANDERSON ON ITEM SIX.
PLEASE CALL THOSE NAMES AGAIN.
GO AHEAD. YES. MY NAME IS ALEXANDRIA ANDERSON.
HELLO. MAYOR WATSON AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT ONE, AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST ITEM NUMBER SIX.
THOSE WHO BELIEVE THAT EVERYONE WHO IS VOTING AGAINST HOME TO THE TIDES IS A NIMBY HAS NO IDEA WHAT IT IS, WHAT IT IS TO ACTUALLY SEE THESE THINGS HAPPENING IN YOUR COMMUNITY AND THE MANY ORGANIZATIONS AND UNPAID INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE DOING THE WORK DAILY TO TRULY MAKE AUSTIN A LIVABLE CITY FOR EVERYONE.
WHAT I HAVEN'T HEARD TALKED ABOUT IS HOW IS THIS GOING TO AFFECT THE ALREADY INADEQUATE INFRASTRUCTURE ATTACKS GRID? A TREE CANOPY AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES SUCH AS OUR SEEPS AND SPRINGS.
THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO AFFORDABLE REQUIREMENTS IN HOME PHASE TWO.
THE MECHANISMS FOR THESE INCREASED MARKET VALUES, WHICH CAUSE CAUSES INCREASED PROPERTY TAXES, SLASHED RENT AND INCENTIVES DEMOLISHING THE EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS PRODUCED.
[03:55:06]
MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE WHO WILL BUILD, WHETHER IT IS A TINY HOME, IS GOING TO LOOK FOR SOME TYPE OF PROFIT AND TO SEE THE LARGE NUMBER OF STRS IN MY DISTRICT, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS CLOSEST TO DOWNTOWN.AND WHEN HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF ANYONE TRULY WANTING A 120 FOOT BUILDING BEHIND OR NEXT TO THEIR HOMES? I AM IN SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY POWER OVERLAY.
COUNCIL MUST LIMIT THE ZONING CHANGES TO THESE AREAS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A RISK FOR DISPLACEMENT AND GENTRIFICATION, AND TO DELAY THE CONSIDERATION FOR ZONING CHANGES IN AREAS MOST VULNERABLE TO DISPLACEMENT.
IN ORDER TO CREATE AN EQUITY ANTI-DISPLACEMENT OVERLAY, THIS WILL GIVE US TIME AS A COMMUNITY TO DEVELOP WHAT IS NEEDED TO PROTECT AGAINST THE DISPLACEMENT PRESSURES.
THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKERS ARE MICHAEL CURRY.
IS MICHAEL HERE? YOU HAVE TIME. DONATED BY LAURIE WYLDECK.
IS LAURIE HERE? OKAY. YOU GET SIX MINUTES.
ROBERT DREWS, RYAN NILL AND CRAIG NAZOR.
MICHAEL CURRY WHEN I TESTIFIED AT THE HOME PHASE ONE HEARING, I OBSERVED THAT THE ADOPTION OF PHASE ONE WOULD VIOLATE SECTION 211.0 04A OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE AND ARTICLE TEN, SECTION SIX OF THE AUSTIN CITY CHARTER, WHICH REQUIRE ZONING REGULATIONS TO BE ADOPTED IN ACCORDANCE TO AND CONSISTENT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
YOUR ACTION TODAY DOES NOT CURE THAT ILLEGALITY.
WHAT WOULD CURE IT, HOWEVER, WOULD BE TO CONSOLIDATE BOTH PHASES OF HOME INTO A NEW ZONING DISTRICT AVAILABLE THROUGH THE TRADITIONAL ZONING PROCESS, WITH THE SIDE BENEFIT OF ALLOWING CONTEXTUALLY BASED DECISION MAKING AND COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION.
I KNOW THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE HOME IS NOT ABOUT IMPLEMENTING THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
IT'S ABOUT DEREGULATING THE DEVELOPMENT INDUSTRY.
SO THE INDUSTRY, NOT THE GOVERNMENT AND CERTAINLY NOT THE COMMUNITY, WILL HAVE MORE LATITUDE, SOMETIMES SOLE DISCRETION, TO DECIDE WHETHER TO PROVIDE PARKING, HOW TALL THEIR BUILDINGS ARE NEAR HOMES, HOW CLOSE THEY ARE TO THE STREET, AND WHICH HOMES IN A SINGLE FAMILY NEIGHBORHOOD WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEW, OFTEN MORE EXPENSIVE UNITS IN MULTIFAMILY STRUCTURES.
WE HAVE MULTIFAMILY ZONING IN THE CODE FOR THAT.
HOME TWO ISN'T ABOUT ALLOWING SMALLER LOTS.
HOME HAD ONE CLEAR PURPOSE TO MASS REZONE THE CITY ALL AT ONCE.
NOW TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY IN THE VAST MAJORITY OF CASES FROM HAVING A VOICE IN THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS, FROM TAKING AWAY THEIR AGENCY AND TURNING THE DECISION OVER TO THE DEVELOPMENT INDUSTRY.
AND TO INVESTORS WHO WILL BE DEVELOPING AS OWNERS THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE REDEVELOPED PROPERTIES AND IN PASSING HOME PHASES ONE AND TWO. YOU'RE SAYING THAT THE COMMUNITY DOES NOT NEED A VOICE BECAUSE THE MARKET CAN'T BE WRONG.
IT CAN'T MAKE A WRONG DECISION.
TODAY YOU'RE SAYING THAT MORE UNITS, SMALLER LOTS, SMALLER SETBACKS, MORE DEVELOPED IMPERVIOUS COVER AND HIGHER FARES WILL ALWAYS BE THE BEST DECISION EVERYWHERE, EVERY TIME FOR EVERYONE.
OR YOU'RE SAYING AT LEAST THAT'S THE MARKET'S CALL.
IF THE MARKET SAYS SO, IT MUST BE SO.
WE DON'T NEED TO HEAR FROM THEM.
BUT OF COURSE YOU'VE NOT BEEN SAYING THESE THINGS, AT LEAST NOT OUT LOUD.
INSTEAD, YOU WANTED TO TALK ABOUT AFFORDABILITY AND MIDDLE INCOME HOUSING UNTIL IT WAS DEMONSTRATED THAT THE MARKET DOES NOT CREATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR IN A MARKET LIKE BOSTON, EVEN MIDDLE INCOME HOUSING, EVEN ON SMALL LOTS IN THE MUELLER DEVELOPMENT.
[04:00:01]
YOUR SHANGRI-LA.YOU POINT TO HOUSTON AS A SMALL LOT SUCCESS STORY, BUT THERE'S EXPERT DISAGREEMENT ON THAT, WHICH IS A TYPE OF DISAGREEMENT THAT'S INCONSISTENT WITH MASS REZONING. A BETTER PLACE TO LOOK MIGHT BE AUSTIN'S CHESTNUT NEIGHBORHOOD, WHERE SMALL LOT REDEVELOPMENT RESULTED IN MASSIVE DISPLACEMENT OF PEOPLE OF COLOR.
I APPLAUD EVERYONE WHO SHOWED UP HERE TODAY ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE.
BUT DON'T FORGET THAT ABOUT 15,000 PEOPLE ALSO WEIGHED IN WITH WRITTEN PROTESTS AGAINST HOME PHASE ONE AND TWO. AND THOSE PROTESTS ARE ALIVE TODAY.
THREE OF YOU CAN VOTE TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND FORCE THE A COMMUNITY INFORMED NEGOTIATION FOR A NEW ZONING CATEGORY THAT CONSOLIDATES BOTH PHASES OF HOME AND ALLOWS PRINCIPLED, COMMUNITY INVOLVED DECISION MAKING AS PART OF THE ZONING PROCESS.
I WOULDN'T WANT TO BE THE ONE PERSON WHO CAST THE NINTH VOTE.
ONE POSTPONE ACTION UNTIL AN EQUITY OVERLAY IS AVAILABLE FOR AT RISK AREAS.
THIS WILL HELP ADDRESS DISPLACEMENT AND GENTRIFICATION IN THE CITY'S MOST VULNERABLE AREA.
TWO. AMEND THE PROPOSAL TO KEEP THE EXISTING FRONT AND REAR SETBACK REGULATIONS.
INCREASE THE SPEED AND VOLUME OF WATER DRAINING FROM THE SITE, CONTRIBUTING TO LOCAL FLOODING.
THREE. ELIMINATE THE USE OF SMALL LOTS AS STARS.
STARS ARE ANTITHETICAL TO THE CREATION OF HOUSING.
FOUR LIMIT THE FA ON SMALL LOTS TO 0.45.
THIS WILL REQUIRE ACTUAL SMALL HOMES ON SMALL LOTS, WHICH IS WHAT THE COUNCIL SAYS THEY WANT.
HELLO, MAYOR. HELLO, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
SO I RECENTLY MET WITH TWO OF MY OLD FRIENDS I HADN'T SEEN IN A WHILE.
A FEW MONTHS AGO, THEY RECENTLY MOVED.
HE WORRIES HE'LL END UP LIKE HIS AUNT, WHO LIVED WITH HIS GRANDPARENTS UNTIL THEY PASSED AWAY.
HIS YOUNGER BROTHER LIVES IN A SIMILAR SUBURBAN SITUATION.
HE LIVES WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND, HIS GIRLFRIEND'S TWO KIDS, AND HIS GIRLFRIEND'S MOM.
ADDITIONALLY, THE OLDER CHILD IS GOING TO IS GOING AWAY TO COLLEGE, SO HE'S UNSURE OF WHERE OR HOW THEY WILL LIVE WITHOUT TWO MEMBERS OF THEIR HOUSEHOLD WHO ARE MOVING AWAY. THE SUPPORT OF THE THIRD WAGE EARNER AND ALSO AFFORD THE OLDEST CHILD'S COLLEGE.
THESE TWO BROTHERS AREN'T SELF-PROCLAIMED URBANIST.
THEY DON'T WANT TO LIVE IN A BIG APARTMENT.
THIS MARKET PRODUCES BIG SUBURBAN HOMES BECAUSE FEDERAL FINANCING GUIDELINES INCENTIVIZE THAT AND LOCAL ZONING GUIDELINES PREVENT THEM FROM BEING BUILT. NOW, Y'ALL CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE FEDERAL FINANCING GUIDELINES, BUT YOU CAN REMOVE THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE OR REDUCE THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE SO THAT PEOPLE CAN BUILD SMALLER HOMES, BECAUSE THE BIG HOMES THAT MOST OF US GREW UP WITH DON'T MEET THE CHANGING FAMILIES OF TODAY.
SO I URGE YOU ALL TO VOTE FOR THESE CHANGES.
I WILL PRIMARILY BE ADDRESSING ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.
A QUOTE FROM WRITER WENDELL BERRY.
WE HAVE LIVED OUR LIVES BY THE ASSUMPTION THAT WHAT WAS GOOD FOR US WOULD BE GOOD FOR THE WORLD.
[04:05:05]
WE HAVE BEEN WRONG.THAT REQUIRES THAT WE MAKE THE EFFORT TO KNOW THE WORLD AND LEARN WHAT IS GOOD FOR IT.
THERE ARE SOME GOOD IDEAS IN HOME TWO.
IT DOES NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT IMPORTANT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND DOES NOT EARN OUR APPROVAL.
THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT ESTIMATED IN 2017 THAT AUSTIN HAD ALMOST $2 BILLION IN UNMET NEEDS FOR DRAINAGE, WATER QUALITY, EROSION AND PARKLAND ACQUISITION.
45% IMPERVIOUS COVER IS AN AVERAGE ESTIMATE.
THESE WILL INCREASE DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE.
HOME TWO WILL INCENTIVIZE MAXIMUM IMPERVIOUS COVER WITHOUT REGARD TO LOCALIZED FLOODING ISSUES.
WHEN THESE ISSUES HAVE NEVER BEEN FULLY ADDRESSED, THE INCREASED DENSITY INCENTIVIZED BY HOME TWO HAS NO MECHANISM TO FUND LOCAL PARK LAND ACQUISITION. MORE DENSITY WITHOUT INCREASED NEARBY PARKLAND WILL INTRINSICALLY CHANGE THE CHARACTER OF AUSTIN.
CHILDREN LIVING IN SUCH PARK DEPRIVED NEIGHBORHOODS WILL HAVE LESS CONTACT WITH NATURE, WHICH WILL MAKE IT HARDER FOR THEM TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOOD FOR THE WORLD AS THEY GROW OLDER, AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION WILL CONTINUE.
HOME TWO WILL NOT MAKE AUSTIN MORE AFFORDABLE.
IT WILL NOT MAKE AUSTIN MORE EQUITABLE.
I'VE NEVER SEEN ANY EVIDENCE THAT INCREASED DENSITY PREVENTS URBAN SPRAWL AT HOME.
TWO WILL CONTINUE TO DRIVE NATURE OUT OF AUSTIN.
RUSSELL MEANS, OGLALA SIOUX, ONCE SAID, BEFORE I WAS SIX YEARS OLD, MY GRANDPARENTS AND MY MOTHER HAD TAUGHT ME THAT IF ALL THE GREEN THINGS THAT GROW WERE TAKEN FROM THE EARTH, THERE COULD BE NO LIFE.
IF ALL THE FOUR LEGGED CREATURES WERE TAKEN FROM THE EARTH, THERE COULD BE NO LIFE.
IF ALL THE WINGED CREATURES WERE TAKEN FROM THE EARTH, THERE COULD BE NO LIFE.
BUT IF ALL THE HUMAN BEINGS WERE TAKEN AWAY, LIFE ON EARTH WOULD FLOURISH.
THAT IS HOW INSIGNIFICANT WE ARE.
IF HOME TWO IS ALLOWED TO RUN NATURE OUT OF AUSTIN, THAT WILL BE A GRAVE AND PERMANENT MISTAKE.
HELLO. MY NAME IS ROBERTO DE MORSIER.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE.
YOU KNOW, THE FIRST HALF OF THE 20TH CENTURY.
YOU KNOW, AS LONG AS THEY'RE STILL LIVING IN A CAPITALISTIC SOCIETY, WE NEED MORE SUPPLY OF HOUSING, BECAUSE OTHERWISE THE EXISTING SUPPLY WILL CONTINUE TO GET GRABBED AND PRICES WILL REMAIN UNAFFORDABLE.
IRONICALLY, OPPOSING MEASURES TO INCREASE HOUSING SUPPLIES, PIGGYBACKING OFF THAT HISTORICALLY PURPOSEFUL EXCLUSIONARY ZONING THAT WE ADOPTED MANY, MANY YEARS AGO AS PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES HAVE MENTIONED AND IT MOST AFFECTS THE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES HOME WILL FACILITATE MORE HOUSING OPTIONS TO HELP STEM THAT HOUSING COST GROWTH.
IT WILL ENCOURAGE INCLUSION AND MAKE DISPLACEMENT LESS COMMON.
IT CAN BE SOMETIMES HARD TO SEE IN THE SHORT TERM, BUT LONG TERM SUPPLY WILL EASE PRICING CONCERNS.
AND THE LESSON IS SIMPLE WHEN THERE'S MORE HOUSING AVAILABLE, DISPLACEMENT PRESSURES ARE REDUCED.
IT'S TIME TO VOTE YES ON HOMES SO THAT WE CAN ALL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO OWN A HOME.
THANK YOU. NEXT BATCH ARE ALEXANDER CHOI.
SEWELL, MATTEO BARNSTONE, CAMERON DUKE, ALEEM VIRANI.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AT THE PODIUM.
[04:10:01]
MY NAME IS PARKER SEWELL.I'M HERE SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF HOME PHASE TWO, ITEMS FOUR, FIVE, AND SIX.
THESE CHANGES WILL CREATE MORE HOUSING OPTIONS AND MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS.
AND I'M SPEAKING TO THE AUDIENCE HERE, BUT I THINK PEOPLE WOULD BE REALLY SURPRISED AT THE NUMBER OF NEW APARTMENTS THAT GO UP THAT OFFER LOTS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. IT REALLY IT SURPRISED ME AND I WAS THE ONE DOING THE RESEARCH.
SO HOME PHASE TWO IS THE FIRST STEP TO UNLOCKING A LOT OF THOSE NEW AFFORDABLE UNITS.
BUT IT'S ALSO THE FIRST KEY STEP TO BUILDING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS AS WELL.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NONPROFIT, AFFORDABLE DEVELOPERS REALLY NEED.
SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S BROUGHT TO YOUR ATTENTION AS WELL.
AND YOU CONSIDER THAT. SO LET'S NOT DELAY.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
YOU'RE MAKING A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE FOR OUR FUTURE.
THANKS EVERYONE. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AS A NEW SEAT, WE ADVOCATE FOR BUILDING THE PLACES PEOPLE LOVE BY PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE URBAN GROWTH, CREATING VIBRANT, WALKABLE, ECONOMICALLY, CULTURALLY, AND SOCIALLY DIVERSE COMMUNITIES THAT CITIZENS CHERISH.
THROUGH CAREFUL URBAN DESIGN, ADDITIONAL DIVERSE HOUSING SUPPLY ALLOWING SMALLER HOMES ON SMALLER LOTS AND ALSO ALLOWING MORE INTENSITY BY MIXING IN MORE RESIDENTIAL UNITS ON OUR TRANSIT CORRIDORS WILL ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND HELP FOSTER THE VIBRANT NEIGHBORHOODS THAT AUSTINITES ADORE AND PROVIDE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MORE PEOPLE IN THE PROCESS.
WHILE WE DON'T BELIEVE IN MAGIC BULLET SOLUTIONS TO THE CHALLENGES PRESENTED BY EXPLOSIVE GROWTH IN OUR COMMUNITY, WE DO BELIEVE THERE IS A SECRET SAUCE TO MAKING ANY LAND USE REFORM WORK IN URBAN PLACES, AND THAT IS PROXIMITY IMPROVING ACCESS TO DAILY NEEDS, WANTS AND DESIRES BRINGS US CLOSER TO OUR FRIENDS, OUR WORK, OUR FAMILIES, OUR HEALTHCARE, OUR FOOD, OUR PARKS, AND ALL THE PLACES THAT WE GATHER AND INTERACT WITH OUR LOVED ONES, ACQUAINTANCES, COLLEAGUES AND STRANGERS ALIKE.
PROXIMITY IS COMMUNITY AND THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR IT.
BY INCREASING DENSITY IN TRANSIT RICH AREAS, THESE REFORMS PROMOTE MORE EFFICIENT LAND USE, REDUCE RELIANCE ON RELIANCE ON AUTOMOBILES, AND BOLSTER PUBLIC TRANSIT AND OTHER ALTERNATIVE MODES OF TRANSPORTATION THAT DO NOT REQUIRE A CAR FOR EVERY TRIP AND APPROACH THAT NOT ONLY BENEFITS THE ENVIRONMENT, BUT ALSO ENHANCES SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC VITALITY. WHILE WE ENDORSE THE STAFF PROPOSAL, WE URGE YOU TO CONSIDER THREE KEY AMENDMENTS SUGGESTED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION REDUCING SETBACKS TO TEN FEET AND ELIMINATING THEM ENTIRELY ON MAIN STREETS, FOSTERING WALKABILITY, AND CREATES INVITING SPACES FOR SOCIAL INTERACTION.
REDUCING MINIMUM LOT WIDTH TO 15FT PROMOTES FINER GRAINED URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS, MARKET RATE, AFFORDABILITY AND CONNECTIVITY TO AMENITIES AND ALLOWING LOT SIZES DOWN TO 1500 SQUARE FEET ENCOURAGES HOUSING DIVERSITY AND AFFORDABILITY AND INCLUSIVITY.
ONE ADDITIONAL NOTE ON COMPATIBILITY REFORM.
IF WE'RE GOING TO ADOPT A STRATEGY OF ALLOWING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF HOUSING TO BE BUILT ON OR NEAR A MAJOR TRANSIT CORRIDORS, IT'S OUR MORAL IMPERATIVE TO ALSO DO THE WORK TO TRANSFORM THESE CORRIDORS INTO BETTER PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE.
I'LL GO AHEAD AND CONCLUDE MY REMARKS THERE.
[04:15:02]
JUSTIN ATKINSON.IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND HAVE A SEAT OR JUST GO TO A OPEN MICROPHONE.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT TWO, SPEAKING TODAY IN SUPPORT OF ITEMS FOUR, FIVE AND SIX.
I THINK THESE CHANGES WILL MAKE A MAJOR DIFFERENCE IN THE HOUSING SUPPLY ALLOWED IN AUSTIN.
I LOVE THE IDEA OF ALLOWING MORE UNITS ON A SINGLE LOT.
I'M GLAD THE COUNCIL IS TAKING STEPS TO REDUCE COMPATIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.
BUT WE SHOULD REALLY HAVE A DIVERSITY OF HOUSING OPTIONS SO THAT INDIVIDUALS CAN CHOOSE TO STAY IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AS THEY UPSIZE OR DOWNSIZE THEIR HOMES AND STAY NEAR FAMILY AS THEY MOVE OUT.
I THINK THE ETOD IS AN EXCELLENT STEP TO CREATE MORE HOMES NEAR HIGH QUALITY TRANSIT SO MORE PEOPLE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FORGO A CAR, POTENTIALLY SAVING THEM ON A LOT OF MONEY.
WHICH FAMILIES? WHICH ARE FAMILIES SECOND BIGGEST EXPENSE AFTER HOUSING? I THINK ALLOWING MORE HOUSING NEAR TRANSIT IS A GREAT STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, AND I ABSOLUTELY THINK WE SHOULD TAKE THAT STEP INSTEAD OF MAINTAINING THE STATUS QUO, EVEN IF IT ISN'T PERFECT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH COUNCIL, FOR YOUR HARD WORK ON THIS INITIATIVE.
THANK YOU. IF YOUR NAMES HAVE BEEN CALLED, PLEASE GO TO THE MICROPHONE.
GOOD AFTERNOON. COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR.
SHANE JOHNSON. HE AND PRONOUNS.
I KNOW YOU ALL KNOW WHO I AM BY NOW.
SO I WAS CO-CHAIR OF THE GROUNDBREAKING CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN.
AND I'M HERE TO URGE YOU ALL TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY.
PART EIGHT AT AMENDMENT TO ALL OF THE ZONING CHANGES BEFORE YOU TODAY, AND OTHERWISE VOTE NO.
BECAUSE THESE ARE HARMFUL TO THE ENVIRONMENT.
THESE ARE HARMFUL TO THE CLIMATE.
AND I'LL GO INTO A LITTLE BIT WHY? AND WE CAN'T ACHIEVE, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE WITHOUT HELPING AND PROTECTING LOW INCOME AND BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.
UNLESS PROTECTIONS ARE PUT IN FIRST, YOU CANNOT RETROACTIVELY PUT IN A LOT OF THE PROTECTIONS.
IF YOU UPZONE EVERYTHING FIRST YOU KNOW YOU'RE PUTTING NAILS IN THE COFFIN AT THAT POINT.
UNFORTUNATELY, I'VE BEEN TRICKED INTO BELIEVING THE WAY AND DIVERSITY OF HOUSING MEANS NOTHING IF THE DIVERSITY OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN EVICTED AND DISPLACED.
THAT'S BECAUSE YOU ARE CREATING THIS FAUX POLICY THAT WON'T WORK, THAT YOU'RE USING TO JUSTIFY THESE HARMFUL POLICIES THAT WILL CAUSE MASS DISPLACEMENT.
AND I DO NOTICE THAT THE ONLY COUNCIL MEMBER LOOKING AT ME IS ALISON ALTER.
I AND OTHERS ARE NOT ANTI YOU KNOW MORE HOUSING IF IT'S AFFORDABLE.
I WANT MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN CENTRAL AND WEST AUSTIN.
BUT YOU IT'S SHOCKING HOW LITTLE HOW MUCH THE DIOCESE MISUNDERSTANDS THE BASICS OF THESE POLICIES AND WHAT RACIAL EQUITY ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE. THESE CAME FROM A KOCH BROTHERS INSTITUTE.
VANESSA FUENTES, YOU'RE A PROGRESSIVE.
[04:20:01]
WHY ARE YOU SUPPORTING KOCH BROTHERS POLICY? ZACHARY, YOU'RE A PROGRESSIVE.WHY ARE YOU SUPPORTING KOCH BROTHERS POLICY? PAIGE ELLIS, YOU'RE AN ENVIRONMENTALIST.
WHY ARE YOU SUPPORTING KOCH BROTHERS POLICY? MY TIME IS BASICALLY UP, BUT Y'ALL ARE CAUSING A LOT OF HARM AND WON'T EVEN LOOK ME OR OTHERS IN THE EYE.
AND YOUR LEGACY IS DISPLACEMENT AND YOUR LEG.
YOUR TIME IS EXPIRED ANDREA FRYBERGER ELLA THOMPSON.
IS ELLA HERE? JANICE RANKIN, ALICE WOODS.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME, PLEASE.
I'VE HAD TIME DONATED TO ME, SO I HAVE SIX MINUTES.
IS JEFF THOMPSON HERE? THANK YOU. YOU HAVE SIX MINUTES.
MAYOR WATSON, CITY COUNCIL, CITY MANAGER.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE, AND I STRONGLY SUPPORT THE HOME PHASE TWO INITIATIVE AND THE 1500 SQUARE FOOT MINIMUM LOT SIZE RECOMMENDED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION, ALONG WITH THE REST OF THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS.
I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN CENTRAL AUSTIN, AND I'M A FOURTH GENERATION AUSTINITE.
I DON'T THINK MY CHILDREN WILL BE FIFTH GENERATION AUSTINITES.
THIS IS THE END OF THE LINE FOR MY FAMILY.
THE HOUSE I GREW UP IN WAS BUILT OVER A CENTURY AGO, BEFORE THE ADVENT OF EXCLUSIONARY LOT SIZE.
MY NEIGHBORHOOD EXEMPLIFIES EVERYTHING THAT I LOVE ABOUT AUSTIN.
IT'S WALKABLE, HISTORIC, FILLED WITH COMMUNITY.
PEOPLE HERE TODAY HAVE BEEN TELLING YOU THAT WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
HOME. PHASE TWO IS THE ONLY THING THAT CAN PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE THING THAT KILLED THEM HAPPENED IN THE 80S.
THIS IS THE CODE THAT AUSTIN HAS BEEN GENTRIFYING UNDER FOR THE PAST 40 YEARS.
ON THE STREET I GREW UP, ONLY ONE OTHER FAMILY IS STILL THERE.
THE REST HAVE MOVED AWAY AND THEIR HOMES HAVE BEEN BULLDOZED AND REPLACED BY FANCY NEW DEVELOPMENTS.
THE EXISTING CODE DOESN'T PROTECT THE FAMILIES, THE CULTURE OR EVEN THE BUILDINGS.
ALL IT PROTECTS ARE THE SETBACKS AND THE LOT SIZES.
YOU'RE NOT VOTING TODAY ON WHETHER THERE WILL BE DEVELOPMENT IN AUSTIN.
LIKE IT OR NOT, THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
IF YOU VOTE NO ON ITEM SIX TODAY, THAT ISN'T GOING TO STOP PROPERTIES FROM BEING REDEVELOPED.
TODAY'S VOTE IS ON WHETHER WE ARE ALLOWED TO BUILD SMALL, AFFORDABLE HOMES OR ONLY MCMANSIONS.
THIS VOTE IS ON WHETHER ORDINARY PEOPLE ARE ALLOWED TO SUBDIVIDE THEIR LOTS AND BUILD BACK UNITS SO THEY CAN STAY IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, OR WHETHER ONLY HUGE DEVELOPERS WHO CAN AFFORD A GIANT LOT CAN BUILD.
THIS VOTE IS ON WHETHER WE WANT AUSTINITES LIVING IN COMMUNITY AND MULTI-GENERATIONAL, WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOODS, OR WHETHER WE WANT PEOPLE PUSHED AWAY FROM EACH OTHER BY MASSIVE LOT SIZES AND SETBACKS, ISOLATED FROM FRIENDS, FAMILY AND NECESSITIES LIKE GROCERY STORES AND PARKS.
THE VOTE IS ON WHETHER I, AS A YOUNG COLLEGE GRADUATE WHO HAS LIVED IN AUSTIN MY ENTIRE LIFE, CAN AFFORD TO STAY IN THE CITY I LOVE, OR WHETHER THE CITY IS ONLY AFFORDABLE FOR THE RICHEST, MOST PRIVILEGED PEOPLE.
THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO RECAPTURE THE THINGS WE LOVE ABOUT THE MOST ICONIC AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN AUSTIN THAT ARE GENTRIFYING ARE SO BELOVED PRECISELY BECAUSE THEY WERE BUILT IN A TIME BEFORE THE CURRENT ANTI-HOUSING CLIMATE KILLING CODE, WHEN COMMUNITIES WERE BUILT TO SERVE PEOPLE INSTEAD OF CARS, AND ALLOWED US TO LIVE CLOSE TO OUR NEIGHBORS, TO CULTURAL CENTERS, AND TO THE ENVIRONMENT.
THIS IS THE WAY THAT PEOPLE LIVED FOR DECADES BEFORE THE CURRENT LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE WAS PASSED.
INSTEAD OF BEING NOSTALGIC FOR THE OLD AUSTIN WE LOVED, WHY NOT RETURN TO IT BY BRINGING OUR LAND CODE CLOSER TO THE LAND CODE THAT PRODUCED IT? THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS ELLIE ALLEN, AND I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE AUSTIN INFILL COALITION.
THESE CHANGES ARE IMPORTANT STEPS IN CREATING MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING IN AUSTIN, AND WE SUPPORT THIS INITIATIVE AND CONTINUED HOUSING INITIATIVES THAT WILL MAKE OUR CITY A MORE INCLUSIVE AND ACCESSIBLE PLACE TO LIVE.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK ON THIS.
THANKS. HELLO MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS ALICE WOODS AND I SERVE AS THE VICE CHAIR OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING COALITION.
WE ARE A COALITION OF NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, INCOME RESTRICTED AFFORDABLE HOUSING, DEVELOPERS, HOUSING AND POLICY EXPERTS, AND OTHER BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS THAT SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF SAFE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR AUSTIN RESIDENTS.
[04:25:08]
HIGH LAND COSTS IN AUSTIN CONTINUED TO BE A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR IN THE NUMBER OF INCOME RESTRICTED UNITS.OUR MEMBERS ARE ABLE TO PRODUCE OUR CURRENT LARGE LOT SIZE MINIMUMS, RESULTING IN HIGH LAND ACQUISITION COSTS, KEEP LIMITED OWNERSHIP, HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE, OR ODA DOLLARS IN STATE AND FEDERAL FINANCING FROM STRETCHING FURTHER, RESULTING IN FEWER INCOME RESTRICTED UNITS THAN WE KNOW ARE NEEDED TO MEET AUSTIN'S DEMAND FOR AFFORDABLE UNITS. A REDUCTION IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S MINIMUM LOT SIZE WOULD ALLOW OUR MEMBERSHIP GREATER FLEXIBILITY IN THE INCOME RESTRICTED HOUSING PRODUCTS IT DEVELOPS AND PRESERVES, ALONG WITH AUSTIN HOUSING COALITION SUPPORT FOR THE CHANGES CONTEMPLATED TODAY UNDER HOME PHASE TWO.
WE REQUEST THAT THE CITY CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE AND DEVELOP ANTI-DISPLACEMENT RESOURCES FOR LOW INCOME HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS, IN KEEPING WITH OUR ORGANIZATION'S MISSION TO PRESERVE EXISTING INCOME RESTRICTED AFFORDABLE HOUSING THROUGHOUT AUSTIN.
THE AUSTIN HOUSING COALITION DEFINES AFFORDABILITY AS ENSURING THAT RESIDENTS DO NOT PAY MORE THAN 30% OF THEIR INCOME ON HOUSING AND PROGRAMMATICALLY, THAT HOUSING BE AFFORDABLE FOR THE SPECTRUM OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES, BOTH RENTERS AND HOMEOWNERS WHO CANNOT AFFORD MARKET RATE HOUSING IN AUSTIN.
WE HOPE THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN WILL TAKE A BOTH AND APPROACH TO OUR AFFORDABILITY CRISIS BY BOTH PASSING HOME, BY BOTH PASSING THE HOME TO REFORMS TODAY AND INCREASING INVESTMENT IN INCOME RESTRICTED AFFORDABLE UNITS AND SUBSIDIES AND INCENTIVES THAT ADDRESS AND PREVENT DISPLACEMENT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED WORK ON THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MR. MAYOR AND MR. CITY MANAGER.
I'M A RETIRED ATTORNEY AND I'VE LIVED IN AUSTIN SINCE 1988.
I BECAME A HOMEOWNER IN COUNCIL DISTRICT 7 IN 1992 AND HAVE BEEN PAYING PROPERTY TAXES EVER SINCE, INCLUDING THE 24% TAX INCREASE THAT SUPPORTS PART OF THE PROJECT CONNECT COST.
I HAVE SPOKEN AGAINST THE HOME ONE HOME TWO COMPATIBILITY REDUCTIONS IN PROPOSALS PREVIOUSLY.
I'M STILL OPPOSED BECAUSE THE PURPLE CARD IS NOT ADEQUATE NOTICE TO THE PEOPLE OF WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO THEIR PROPERTIES, AND THE COUNCIL NEEDS TO ALLOW THE TAXPAYER VOTERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON THESE PROPOSALS.
THIS SWEEPING LAND USE CHANGE DEMANDS A PUBLIC VOTE, NOT COUNCIL FIAT.
THE HOLME ONE AND HOLME TWO PROPOSALS FOR 20 FOOT WIDE LOTS AND SUBDIVIDED LOTS ARE UNRELATED TO TRANSIT RIDERSHIP AND ARE MORE ABOUT CREATING HIGH DOLLAR CONDOS, TOWNHOMES AND ROWHOUSES MILES AWAY FROM ANY PROPOSED LIGHT RAIL STATION.
THIS IS A BIG TICKET EXPERIMENT THAT MAKES AUSTIN HOMEOWNERS AND RESIDENTS YOUR GUINEA PIGS.
CHANGES LIKE THIS CALL FOR PUBLIC TRANSPARENCY AND TRUE COLLABORATION UNDERSCORE TRUE COLLABORATION WITH STAKEHOLDERS IN EACH DISTRICT. WITH HER PERMISSION, I'D LIKE TO SHARE SOME COMMENTS FROM MARY FARROW, A LONG TIME CAPITAL AND COUNTY EMPLOYEE AND A HIGHLY REGARDED AUSTIN RESIDENT.
WHAT YOU ARE DOING HERE CAN NEVER BE UNDONE.
THESE CHANGES WILL FOREVER CHANGE AUSTIN WITH THE WHOLESALE ELIMINATION OF NEIGHBORHOOD PROTECTIONS, AND YOU'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH INSUFFICIENT UNDERSTANDING AND A TROUBLING LACK OF CONCERN ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES.
AUSTIN WAS ONCE WIDELY RECOGNIZED FOR ITS LEADERSHIP AND PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT.
BUT THE ACTIONS OF THIS COUNCIL HAVE FAILED TO UPHOLD THAT LEGACY.
THE PROPOSED HOME AMENDMENTS WOULD DEGRADE OUR CITY THROUGH UNFETTERED DEVELOPMENT, INCREASING THE HEAT ISLAND EFFECT THAT ALREADY EXISTS HERE WHILE CONTRIBUTING TO INCREASED RUNOFF AND FLOODING.
I'D LIKE TO THINK YOU CARE ENOUGH TO PROTECT THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE AUSTIN VOTERS, AND WILL HAVE THE FORESIGHT TO RESPECT AND PRESERVE THE BEST AND MOST BEAUTIFUL ASPECTS OF AUSTIN, INSTEAD OF UNLEASHING THE BACKHOES TO PLOW IT UP FOR A DO OVER.
MICHAEL CURRY HAS A SENSIBLE AND OUTSTANDING SOLUTION YOU COULD FOLLOW.
[04:30:04]
THANK YOU JENNY.RENDON. CARMEN YANEZ, IS CARMEN HERE? OKAY. SUSAN LIPPMAN, IS SUSAN HERE? OKAY. CARMEN HAS SIX MINUTES.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM.
JENNY GRAYSON, SPEAKING AGAINST HOME TWO COUNCILWOMAN HARPER.
MADISON, I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOU TO TURN ON YOUR CAMERA DURING MY TESTIMONY, AS I'M AD1 RESIDENT.
THE REBUTTAL INTO A REBUTTAL TO ANOTHER PERSON'S TESTIMONY.
HOUSTON HAS 637MI², SAN ANTONIO HAS 505MI², AND AUSTIN ONLY HAS A LITTLE MORE THAN 300MI² EACH HAVE MORE THAN 200MI² MORE THAN AUSTIN.
SIMPLY, WE DON'T HAVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF SPACE AS OTHER CITIES.
BUT BASED ON THE LOGIC THAT SMALLER LOT SIZES AND SMALLER SQUARE FOOTAGE EQUAL AFFORDABILITY, AUSTIN SHOULD BE MORE AFFORDABLE, RIGHT? BUT THAT'S NOT OUR REALITY.
THE PROPOSED ZONING CHANGES ARE FOR DEVELOPERS, NOT FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.
WHEN PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBERS ASKED QUESTIONS OF STAFF DURING THE APRIL APRIL 23RD MEETING, THE ONLY QUESTION ASKED FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A HOMEOWNER WAS HOW WILL A HOMEOWNER AFFORD TO SUBDIVIDE THEIR PROPERTY IF IT COSTS BETWEEN 50 AND $100,000 TO DO SO? THE ANSWER WAS SIMPLY WE'RE WORKING TO REDUCE THAT COST.
WE'VE TRIED SIMILAR TACTICS HERE BEFORE.
WE'VE TESTED IT WITH THE EAST RIVERSIDE CORRIDOR PLAN.
IT WAS SUPPOSED TO CREATE AN IDEAL PLACE FOR FAMILIES FROM A RANGE OF INCOMES TO LIVE.
YET THE RESULT WAS AN INFLUX OF WHITE YOUNG ADULTS WITH HIGHER INCOMES WHO LIVE ALONE.
IN FACT, THE WHITE POPULATION HAS INCREASED BY 180 TO 400% SINCE THE DEVELOPMENT BEGAN.
WE BUILT IT AND IT DOESN'T WORK.
HOME2 DOES NOT PROVIDE, DOES NOT PROTECT GENERATIONAL FAMILIES.
IT DOESN'T PROTECT BLACK AND BROWN FAMILIES RIGHTS TO LIVE IN THEIR MULTIGENERATIONAL HOME.
DENSITY IN THIS MANNER COMES AT THE COST OF DISPLACING THE CURRENT RESIDENTS.
DENSITY DOESN'T LEAD TO AFFORDABILITY.
SMALLER LOT SIZES DOESN'T LEAD TO AFFORDABILITY.
IN FACT, THE PLAZA SALTILLO TODD STATES THAT DUE TO LAND PRICES AND CONSTRUCTION COSTS, NEW MARKET RATE DEVELOPMENTS IN THESE AREAS ARE NOT LIKELY TO BE AFFORDABLE TO LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS. THAT REMAINS TRUE TODAY.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO INCENTIVIZE HOMEOWNERS AND DEVELOPERS TO BUILD UNDER THE CURRENT ZONING CODES.
OH. SORRY. THAT'S TRYING TO MOVE THIS MIC TOO MUCH.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
SO MANY GOOD THINGS HAVE BEEN SAID.
I'M IN DISTRICT NINE, WHICH CURRENTLY HAS THE MOST MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING IN OUR DISTRICT.
THE IRONY HERE IS THAT WHILE THAT MISSING MIDDLE, BUILT BEFORE THE 1984 REWRITE, HAS SOME OF THE MOST AFFORDABLE RENTAL UNITS BECAUSE IT'S OLD AND OWNED BY LOCAL INVESTORS, IS ACTUALLY THE HOUSING THAT IS MOST TARGETED BY YOUR UPZONING POLICIES IN ITOD BECAUSE THERE IS NO PROVISION TO PROTECT EXISTING AFFORDABLE MULTIFAMILY BECAUSE COUNCIL MEMBER VELA STRUCK IT MONTHS AGO.
WE CARE DEEPLY ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND TRANSIT.
IT'S OUR COMMUNITIES WHO DEPEND ON IT.
[04:35:01]
THAT IS YOUR TEACHERS, THAT IS YOUR FIRE FIGHTERS.WE KNOW THAT YOU ALL DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO LIVE IN THIS HOUSING EITHER.
IS THAT REAL ESTATE EQUITY BECAUSE IT'S NOT SOCIAL EQUITY.
WHO WAS THERE IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS? WERE NOT THE PEOPLE HERE WHO HAVE CRAFTED AN EQUITY OVERLAY AND REALLY DESERVE AN HONORARY PLANNING DEGREE, BECAUSE WE DID THE REAL RESEARCH, LEGAL AND PLANNING.
MANY CITIZENS HAVE TRIED TO GET IN THE DOOR, AND THERE WAS A PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUEST TO FIND OUT WHO WAS MEETING WITH LOUISA BRINSMADE AND ATHA PHILLIPS AND LESLIE POOLE'S OFFICE, WHO WAS AT THE TABLE WHILE WE WERE NOT.
RIGHT. AND THE INFILL DEVELOPERS WHO HAVE TURNED $500,000 LOTS IN BRENTWOOD INTO $4 MILLION LOTS IN BRENTWOOD, TRIPLING, QUADRUPLING THE PRICE OF HOUSING AS THEY DO IT. AND THEY WERE TOLD THEY HAD NINE GIGABYTES OF INFORMATION ABOUT MEETINGS WITH EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS.
AND WE WERE WAITING TO GET THAT, YOU KNOW, IT WAS DELIVERED SIX EMAILS.
THAT'S FRAUDULENT AT THIS POINT.
I'M SURE SOMEBODY WILL SAY UP HERE THAT IF YOU PUT A REQUIREMENT ON IT, THE HOUSING WON'T GET BUILT.
IT WON'T END UP IN THE LANDFILL.
I TALKED TO FOLKS ON 37TH STREET WHO WOULD LOVE TO START A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, RECLAIM 6 OR 7 OF THOSE VACANT HOUSES AND REHAB THEM TO BE TRULY AFFORDABLE FOR STUDENTS, CREATIVES, AND THE LIKE.
WHERE'S THE APPROVAL OF MANUFACTURED HOUSING FOR ADDITIONAL UNITS SO THAT ACTUAL LOW INCOME HOMEOWNERS COULD PARTICIPATE IN HOME, OR EVEN JUST TO PUT AN ADU THAT WOULD MAKE AFFORDABILITY ATTAINABLE FOR A FEW PEOPLE IN IMPACTED AREAS.
WHERE'S THE PRIORITY TO AMEND OUR DRAINAGE CRITERIA MANUAL? SO FOR DRAINAGE SO THAT YOUR FLOOD IMPACTED AREAS DON'T BEAR THE BRUNT OF THIS POOR DEVELOPMENT? VANESSA, YOU DON'T LET YOUR EFFORTS GO TO WASTE WITH THIS.
WHY IS THERE NO APPETITE TO WORK WITH COMMUNITY DEVELOPERS TO REDEVELOP? YOU COULD ACQUIRE SOME OF THIS LAND.
WHERE IS THE INTEREST TO NEGOTIATE FOR MORE COMPACT AND DENSE SUBDIVISIONS? IN OUR GREENFIELD DEVELOPMENT, FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN ARE MOVING FARTHER FROM THE CENTER AND SPRAWLING BECAUSE THERE'S MORE AFFORDABLE AND FAMILY FRIENDLY HOUSING STOCK OUT THERE.
WHY NOT EXPERIMENT WITH ROWE HOMES AND MISSING MIDDLE IN AREAS WHERE PEOPLE DON'T ALREADY LIVE? WHY NOT COMBINE HOME ONE AND TWO INTO A ZONING DISTRICT AND APPLY IT WHERE IT MAKES SENSE? THAT'S TRUE COMMUNITY PLANNING, WHERE REDEVELOPMENT IS ACTUALLY BENEFICIAL AND NOT JUST EXPLOITIVE EXPLOITATIVE.
THE OPTION IS IN FRONT OF YOU.
YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE UP HERE SOMETIMES WITH ANY SENSE ON THIS EQUITY THING.
VANESSA, WE KNOW YOU'RE ON THE ON THE VERGE VELASQUEZ.
KADRI, YOU TOLD ME THIS WAS EASY TO GET BEHIND.
BUT YOU COULD SAVE US FROM THE THIRD MASSIVE WAVE OF DISPLACEMENT.
DON'T ABDICATE YOUR POWER, YOUR LAWYER.
SUCK. THE PEOPLE WHO TOLD YOU THIS WAS YOU COULDN'T DO IT BECAUSE OF RACE BASED.
AND WE'VE ALREADY TOLD YOU THAT'S A DIVERSION.
YOUR LAWYERS KEEP LOSING IN COURT OVER AND OVER AGAIN BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT BEING HONEST WITH YOU.
DENSITY. WE DO IT ALL THE TIME IN EAST AUSTIN.
WE'D LOVE TO DO IT ALL OVER THE CITY.
THANK YOU ALL. MAKE THE DIFFERENCE.
THANK YOU. BRIAN KING, JAKE WEGMAN, TANZANIA. KARIM, PLEASE CALL THE NAMES AGAIN.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD SO YOU CAN GIVE YOUR COMMENTS.
BRIAN KING, JAKE WEGMAN, TANZANIA KARIM IS TANZANIA HERE? RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU ARE.
IS MARIANNE SANCHEZ HERE? MARIANNE, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AT THE PODIUM.
[04:40:01]
YES. WELL, WHILST WE WAIT, I JUST WANTED TO TAKE 10S TO INTRODUCE EVERYBODY TO MY SON ALISTAIR.PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
I'M A LAND DEVELOPMENT ENGINEER AND I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF AUSTIN FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS.
I'M HERE TODAY TO OPPOSE HOME PHASE TWO AND URGE CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR KIRK WATSON TO TRULY UNDERSTAND THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS PROPOSAL AND POSTPONE HOME, SINCE IT CAUSES MORE HARM THAN GOOD TO THE MOST VULNERABLE NEIGHBORHOODS IN EAST AUSTIN.
I'M ALSO ASKING FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AN EQUITY OVERLAY TO PROPOSE DEVELOPMENTS OUTSIDE OF AREAS IDENTIFIED AS AT RISK DEVELOPMENT, DISPLACEMENT AND GENTRIFICATION, PER THE UPROOTED REPORT, AND INCORPORATE LOW INCOME RESIDENTS OF COLOR IN THE DECISION MAKING FOR A REVISED PROPOSAL.
I FIND IT FITTING THAT Y'ALL PRESENT PHASE TWO A DAY AFTER THE 76TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NAKBA, WHERE DROVES OF PALESTINIANS WERE EXPELLED AND ARE STILL BEING EXPELLED FROM THEIR HOMELAND HOMELAND BY COLONIZERS.
THE WAY I HEAR THE DISINGENUOUS CRIES OF ZIONISTS DEFENDING THE OCCUPATION OF PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES IS THE SAME MANIPULATIVE CRIES I HEAR FROM THESE UPPER MIDDLE CLASS BRATS THAT TESTIFY UP HERE AND CLAIM THAT HOME BENEFITS THEIR FINANCIAL FUTURES WITHOUT ANY REGARD TO THE LIVELIHOODS OF THOSE THAT THEY'RE FORCIBLY DISPLACING.
MEANWHILE, MADONNA AND THOUGH I KNOW YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN WHEN I SAY DUNYA, MY PEOPLE FOR 76 YEARS HAVE BEEN PAINFULLY PLEADING TO SAVE THEM FROM THE CRUSHING GRIP OF AN IMPERIALIST REGIME.
AND THAT'S ALL ABOUT BOILS DOWN TO IS POWER FOR Y'ALL.
SO VANESSA, NATASHA, JOSE AND I GUESS.
Y'ALL ALL RUN ON A RAN ON A PLATFORM PROMISING TO PROTECT AND FIGHT FOR YOUR OWN KIN.
WHERE IS YOUR INTEGRITY? WHERE IS YOUR INTEGRITY? WE CAN NO LONGER BE FOOLED BY THE VALUE OF SEEING HALF THE CITY COUNCIL AS PEOPLE OF COLOR.
THAT'S LOST ALL SIGNIFICANCE AFTER THIS APPALLING APPROVAL OF THIS PROPOSAL.
JUST LIKE THE POLICE AND THE IDF, FOOT SOLDIERS OF WHITE SUPREMACY COME IN ALL COLORS, RIGHT? PEOPLE OF COLOR WHO DO NOT CONTRIBUTE TO THE DISMANTLING OF THESE OPPRESSIVE SYSTEMS, INSTEAD, PARTICIPATE IN THEM AND THEY BENEFIT FROM THEM.
AND SPEAKING OF PEOPLE OF COLOR, I SEE THE HOME STRATEGIC TEAM DID A GREAT JOB IN WEAPONIZING MY OWN SOUTH ASIAN DIASPORA TO TESTIFY IN FAVOR OF OF THIS PROPOSAL.
THE MASSES WILL THINK, OH WELL, THESE ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM THIS PROPOSAL.
BUT IN FACT, EAST AND SOUTH ASIANS IN AUSTIN RANK AMONG THE HIGHEST EARNERS IN THIS CITY, LARGELY DUE TO THE FACT OF HB ONE VISA THAT REQUIRES IMMIGRANTS TO HAVE LUCRATIVE PROFESSIONS AND HINT, HINT THEY'RE ALL WITHIN THE TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY, THE INDUSTRY THAT Y'ALL ARE SO DESPERATELY WANTING TO DOMINATE.
I'M A PRODUCT OF A PARENT WHO CAME FROM THAT VERY PRIVILEGE, AND I CAN GUARANTEE YOU, THESE UPPER MIDDLE CLASS BRATS HAVE THE SAME PRIVILEGE AND HAVE INHERITED WEALTH AND ARE CAPITALIZING ON THEIR BROWN IDENTITIES OR THEIR PRIVILEGE AND THROWING OTHER PEOPLE OF COLOR UNDER THE BUS PEDESTALS.
PEOPLE IN FAVOR OF THIS PROPOSAL KEEP PREACHING THAT THE ENDS JUSTIFY THE MEANS, WHICH PARALLELS EXACTLY WITH WHAT WE'RE WITNESSING IN PALESTINE, SACRIFICING ACTUAL LIVELIHOODS TO SETTLE ON LAND THAT WAS NEVER YOURS TO BEGIN WITH.
AND JUST LIKE ZIONISTS, PROPONENTS OF THIS PROPOSAL VICTIMIZE AND CENTER THEMSELVES BY SAYING HOME WILL BENEFIT THE MIDDLE CLASS, NEVER HAVING THE COURAGE TO ACTUALLY ADMIT THAT THEY'RE WILLING TO SACRIFICE THE LIVELIHOODS OF BLACK AND BROWN FAMILIES IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THAT.
AND EVEN IF YOUR TALKING POINTS WERE CORRECT, WHICH LET ME BE CLEAR, THEY ARE NOT.
YOU FAILED TO KEEP THE MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS SAFE AND PROTECTED, AND INSTEAD YOU CUT A DEAL WITH MR. OPPRESSOR HIMSELF. AND I WON'T NAME NAMES, BUT WE ALL KNOW WHO I'M REFERRING TO.
[04:45:08]
AND IF HISTORY, IN MY OWN LIVED EXPERIENCE, HAVE TAUGHT ME ANYTHING, IT'S ALWAYS LISTENED TO BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE.SOMETHING THAT YOU ALL HAVE PLAIN, PAINFULLY FAILED TO DO, BOTH LOCALLY AND GLOBALLY.
AND PLEASE, I'M BEGGING YOU HOME.
JUST DELAY IT FOR OUR OWN SAKE.
THANK YOU. READ THE NEXT NAMES, PLEASE.
THE NEXT SPEAKER, NOAH, ALIAS ELI CORTEZ.
IF YOU'RE HERE, PLEASE COME TO THE FRONT ROW SO YOU'RE CLOSE TO THE PODIUM AND GRAB A MICROPHONE.
CAN YOU READ THE NAMES AGAIN, PLEASE? SURE. NOAH.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME.
GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS NOAH ELIAS.
I AM FROM ANTHOPOULOS IN DISTRICT THREE, REPRESENTED BY JOSE VELASQUEZ.
I'M HERE TO TO TELL YOU THAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO VOTE ON VERY IMPORTANT CHANGES TO OUR CITY.
SO WE NEED PROTECTIONS LIKE THE EQUITY ANTI-DISPLACEMENT OVERLAY PROPOSED BY COMMUNITY POWERED RTX.
SO YOU HAVE PRESENTED THESE POLICIES POLICIES AS A WAY TO TACKLE AFFORDABILITY, BUT WE KNOW THAT THEY WILL DRIVE UP HOUSING COSTS, MAKING THE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS WORSE FOR EVERY ONE OF US.
THESE POLICIES GIVE DEVELOPERS MORE ENTITLEMENTS TO DESTROY AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND BUILD MORE LUXURY AND MARKET RATE UNITS TO INCREASE THEIR PROFITS. THIS IS THE NEW MASTER PLAN.
THESE POLICIES WILL COST AND FORCE DISPLACEMENT OF BIPOC COMMUNITIES.
THESE POLICIES ARE ANTI-WORKER.
THEY HARM OUR WORKING CLASS COMMUNITIES, OUR TEACHERS, OUR CUSTODIANS, OUR CAFETERIA WORKERS, OUR RESTAURANT WORKERS, OUR CONSTRUCTION WORKERS WILL BE HARMED BY THESE POLICIES.
AND I'M ASKING THE CITY COUNCIL, I'M ASKING SPECIFICALLY VANESSA JOSE VELASQUEZ, TO STAND WITH THE COMMUNITY, THE COMMUNITY THAT VOTED YOU IN THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU ARE SEEKING THEIR VOTES IN NOVEMBER TO STAND WITH US AND SUPPORT THE POLICY.
THE EQUITY ANTI-DISPLACEMENT OVERLAY THAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED BY COMMUNITY GROUPS.
PLEASE SUPPORT THIS POLICY TO PROTECT THE MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES IN THE EASTERN CRESCENT.
I FIRST OF ALL JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I'M PROUD OF THE CITY FOR PASSING HOME PHASE ONE LAST YEAR.
AND I HOPE THAT CONVINCES SOME OF THE NAYSAYERS.
THESE ARE NAYSAYERS WHO SAID THAT THE ONLY WAY TO KEEP AUSTIN AFFORDABLE WOULD BE TO RESTRICT HOUSING SUPPLY AND SENTENCE AUSTINITES TO LIVE IN EVER OLDER HOMES WHILE THE REST OF AMERICA MOVES ON WITH THE APPARENT IDEA THAT THE PATH TO AFFORDABILITY FOR AUSTIN LAY NOT IN LEVERAGING OUR PROSPERITY INTO INCREASING HOUSING AVAILABILITY AND HOUSING CHOICES, BUT DECREASING HOUSING DESIRABILITY AND QUALITY.
[04:50:03]
OR I GUESS, FROM THESE OTHER PEOPLE SPEAKING, DOING NOTHING AND WAITING FOR THE COMMUNIST REVOLUTION TO COME TO TEXAS AND SOLVE ALL THEIR PROBLEMS FOR US.WE ARE TEXANS AND WE LIKE BIG SKIES.
BACK WHEN I WAS LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO LIVE, I LOOKED AT HIGHLAND.
IT HAD A VERY BIG YARD, RIGHT SIZED, GOOD LOCATION.
BUT WHEN I WENT INTO THE BACKYARD, I COULDN'T HEAR BIRDS CHIRPING OR WIND RUSTLING TREES.
I HEARD THE CONSTANT DIN OF THE UPPER DECK OF HIGHWAY 183.
DAN WAS AS GOOD AS IT GETS THERE BECAUSE YOU ALSO GET SIRENS REVVING ENGINES AND CRASHES.
SO INSTEAD, I MOVED NEXT TO THE RAILROAD TRACKS BECAUSE THE RAILROAD TRACKS ARE QUIETER.
IT'S ACTUALLY, I COULDN'T BE HAPPIER WITH THAT DECISION.
THE HOUSE I LIVE IN NOW IS THE SAME DISTANCE FROM 183, BUT I CAN HEAR INSTEAD OF 183.
IT'S DELIGHTFUL. AND THAT'S BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF THREE STORY HOMES AND MODESTLY TALL APARTMENT BUILDINGS IN THAT COMMUNITY THAT BLOCK THE NOISE, SO THEY DON'T SIGNIFICANTLY BLOCK MY VIEW OF THE SKY.
BUT THEY DO MAKE IT A LOT NICER PLACE TO LIVE.
BUT MAYBE SOME OF THESE EASED HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS CAN BRING US A LITTLE BIT OF PEACE.
ZACHARY FADDIS, JUAN CRUZ, SUSIE BEESON.
CAN YOU CALL A COUPLE MORE NAMES? EDWIN BAUTISTA, ADAM POWELL AND KEISHA PRINCE.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF AURA AND A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE.
ESPECIALLY PAINFUL AS THE YOUNG PEOPLE, FEARING IT WILL CAUSE THEIR DISPLACEMENT.
THE PAIN AND HURT THEY ARE EXPRESSING IS REAL AND IT SHOULDN'T BE IGNORED.
TO BE FRANK, I THINK THAT SOME OF THAT PAIN IS BEING MALICIOUSLY DIRECTED BY THE SAME PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUED TO STOP OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAMS AND WHO HAVE ALLIED THEMSELVES WITH CONSERVATIVES AT THE STATE LEVEL TO TRY AND KILL PROJECT CONNECT.
THEY BELIEVE THAT THE ONLY WAY THEY CAN PROTECT THEIR COMMUNITIES IS BY STOPPING ANY KIND OF CHANGE.
THEY BELIEVE THIS DESPITE DECADES OF EXPERIENCE.
THEY SAY WE MUST DELAY TO PREVENT DISPLACEMENT, BUT THAT WILLFULLY IGNORES THE MASSIVE AMOUNT OF DISPLACEMENT THAT HAS OCCURRED BECAUSE OF OUR CURRENT SYSTEM, AND THAT IS OCCURRING EVERY DAY THAT WE ACCEPT THE STATUS QUO.
DETRACTORS ARE RIGHT THAT THIS DOES NOT DO ENOUGH FOR THE POOREST AMONGST US.
TO BE FRANK, WE NEVER CAN DO ENOUGH.
FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS. THIS IS BETTER.
THE ONLY PURPOSE OF MINIMUM LOT SIZES AND COMPATIBILITY IS TO WRECK ARTIFICIAL BARRIERS TO HOUSING, TO PROTECT THE WEALTHY FROM THE INDIGNANTS AND MINOR ANNOYANCES THAT COME FROM LIVING NEAR PEOPLE OF LESSER MEANS.
I DO NOT BELIEVE IN THE BASIC PREMISE OF COMPATIBILITY OR MINIMUM LOT SIZE.
I DO NOT BELIEVE HOMES ARE INCOMPATIBLE WITH HOMES.
BUT THIS IS BETTER. THIS IS MUCH BETTER.
USERA HAS A VISION OF AN AWESOME WHERE NO PERSON IS OVERBURDENED WITH RENT, OR FIND THEMSELVES WITHOUT A SAFE SPACE TO SLEEP AT NIGHT, WHERE EVERYONE CAN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE WITH DIGNITY THROUGHOUT OUR CITY WITHOUT THE BURDEN OF OWNING AN EXPENSIVE PRIVATE VEHICLE.
IT'S TAKEN US SEVERAL DECADES OF EXCLUSIONARY POLICY TO GET US INTO THE DEEP HOUSING DEFICIT WE FIND OURSELVES IN, AND I FEAR IT MAY TAKE AN EQUAL AMOUNT OF TIME TO GET US TO A PLACE OF ABUNDANCE.
THE LENGTH OF THIS ROAD MAKES IT ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT WE CELEBRATE EVERY INCH ALONG THE WAY.
SLATE OF HOUSING REFORMS TODAY WILL NOT SOLVE ALL OUR PROBLEMS, BUT IS A SIGNIFICANT STEP ON THE RIGHT PATH, OR IS HERE TO SUPPORT THESE CHANGES TODAY, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO SHOW UP AT EVERY OTHER STEP ALONG THE WAY WITH BIG HEARTS, BOUNDLESS OPTIMISM AND ACHIEVABLE PUBLIC POLICY.
THANK YOU ALL FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO.
[04:55:08]
ERICA. ELAM.IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT.
IS SOL HERE? IS JULIE WOODS HERE? OKAY. AND TERRY ADAMS SOL WILL GET SIX MINUTES.
ON DECK AGAIN ARE ERICA ALLAM, BERTHA RENDON.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, GO AHEAD AND APPROACH THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME, PLEASE.
OH, AND I HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE DONATING TIME TO ME RIGHT NOW SO THAT I HAVE NINE MINUTES.
THANK YOU. SOL PRAXIS DISTRICT THREE.
IF YOU, MAYOR WATSON, VANESSA FUENTES, JOSÉ VELASQUEZ, NATASHA HARPER, MADISON AND CHITO VELA AND ALL OF YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT AN EQUITY AND ANTI-DISPLACEMENT OVERLAY, YOU ARE CHOOSING TO SACRIFICE THE MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES IN AUSTIN FOR DEVELOPER PROFITS AND FOR TECH BILLIONAIRES.
HOW WILL AVERAGE AUSTINITES LIKE US FEEL AND SEE WHAT YOU ALL ARE DOING TO US? WE WILL FEEL IT IN HIGHER PROPERTY TAXES, IN MORE DESTRUCTION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, MORE INVESTORS SITTING ON ABANDONED BUILDINGS.
WE WILL FEEL IT IN RISING RENTS AND DISPLACEMENT.
WE HAVE GIVEN YOU ALL EVERYTHING OUR LIVED EXPERIENCES WITH HUNDREDS OF STORIES, WITH DIRECTLY IMPACTED BIPOC RESIDENTS BEGGING YOU NOT TO DO THIS FOR MONTHS ON END, CRYING IN FRONT OF YOU, SAYING THAT THEY HAVE TO JUST SWALLOW THEIR PRIDE.
WE HAVE GIVEN YOU ALL RESEARCH.
QUOTE. MARKET DRIVEN SOLUTIONS TO THE HOUSING CRISIS WILL LIKELY REPRODUCE THE SAME DYNAMICS THAT PLAY OUT TODAY, WHERE PARTIES WITH MORE RESOURCES MAY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE NEW REGULATORY LANDSCAPE AND THOSE WITH THE FEWEST RESOURCES EXPERIENCE AN INCREASE IN PRECARITY.
RATHER, IT IS THE PRODUCT OF LAND SPECULATION AND THE RIGHT TO TREAT HOUSING AS AN INVESTMENT.
THIS WILL NOT PRODUCE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
NEXT. QUOTE UPZONING HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED NEIGHBORHOODS HAS LED TO DISPLACEMENT.
THAT'S WHAT OUR OVERLAY IS ABOUT.
FOR MORE ON THE MARKET, END QUOTE.
BEFORE I CONTINUE WITH MORE RESEARCH, I WANT TO NOTE THIS WAS MARKETED TO THE PUBLIC, AS WE KNOW, AS A PLAN TO MAKE HOUSING AFFORDABLE, AND DURING THE LAST PLANNING COMMISSION HEARING, COMMISSIONERS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDED THAT COUNCIL EXPLORE AN EQUITY AND ANTI-DISPLACEMENT OVERLAY.
WHY DID THEY DO THAT? WE MADE THAT HAPPEN WITH THE COMMUNITY SHOWING UP TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY POWERED ATX OVERLAY RECOMMENDATION, BECAUSE SEVERAL COMMISSIONERS WERE HORRIFIED THAT THEY HAD BEEN LIED TO, THAT THIS WOULD CREATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
DURING THAT HEARING, THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR, ERICA LEAK, ADMITTED THEY DON'T KNOW THE AFFORDABILITY IMPACTS OF THIS PLAN BECAUSE UPZONING HAS DIFFERENT IMPACTS DEPENDING ON THE REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT AND MARKET.
WE THANKED HER FOR BEING HONEST ABOUT NOT KNOWING, AND SHE SAID THERE WAS RESEARCH ON BOTH SIDES.
AND SHE SAID, OH, SOMETHING FROM NYU THAT SEEMS REPUTABLE.
AND WE ASKED WHAT DEPARTMENT SHE TALKED ABOUT THE FURMAN CENTER.
[05:00:06]
RESEARCH THAT IS NOT EVEN PEER REVIEWED.SHE LOOKED DOWN WITH A LOOK OF OH SHIT ON HER FACE.
THIS ENTIRE CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN FULL OF MOMENTS LIKE THAT, LIKE WHEN RYAN ALTER STAFF TOLD US THAT THIS WILL BE AFFORDABLE TO TEACHERS LIKE MY MOTHER IF THEIR SPOUSE MAKES SIX FIGURES, WHERE DID THEY GET THIS BULLSHIT RESEARCH LIKE THAT? AND LIKE THE KOCH BROTHERS FUNDED RESEARCH FROM THE MERCATUS CENTER THAT LESLIE PAUL CITED IN HER ORIGINAL RESOLUTION, TEXANS FOR REASONABLE SOLUTIONS.
THE ANTI-HOMELESS RIGHT WING BILLIONAIRE COLONIZERS, CONFIDANTS OF WHITE SUPREMACIST AFRIKANER ELON MUSK DOING HIS BIDDING BY FUNDING THE CRIMINALIZATION OF HOMELESSNESS TO CLEAR THE WAY FOR WHAT THEY'RE DOING NOW REMAKING THE CITY FOR THE SUPER RICH.
THERE'S NO PLACE FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR.
THERE'S NO PLACE FOR POOR PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
YOU ALL ARE MAKING THIS A HOSTILE CITY TO THE PEOPLE WHO MADE THIS CITY.
ADAM POWELL I KNOW YOU'RE NOT HERE ANYMORE, BUT DON'T TELL US SHE HAS GOOD INTENTIONS.
YIMBY ACTIVISTS, LISTEN UP AND READ THIS RESEARCH.
THE DIFFERENTIAL OUTCOMES RELATE TO HOW HOW MUCH, NOT WHETHER, THE VALUES GO UP.
HOMES IN LESS EXPENSIVE COMMUNITIES BECAME MORE EXPENSIVE COMPARED TO THOSE IN MORE EXPENSIVE AREAS.
THE IMPACTS OF UPZONING DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT LOWER INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS.
NEXT FROM THE ANTI-EVICTION MAPPING PROJECT'S LITERATURE REVIEW.
QUOTE. OTHER RECENT RESEARCH SUPPORTS FREE MARK'S POINT ABOUT THE LACK OF EVIDENCE FOR UPZONING, LEADING TO AFFORDABILITY, DISPARATE IMPACTS ACROSS NEIGHBORHOODS, AND A GENERAL RISING OF VALUES AND THE PRICES IN THE WAKE OF UPZONING, GREENWAY, MCGREEVEY, PACHECO, SORENSEN ANTI-EVICTION MAPPING PROJECT, RODRIGUEZ AND STORPER, CHUNG AND TIO.
THESE ARE ALL DIFFERENT STUDIES.
THE OTHER STUDY THAT LOOKS AT THIS ASPECT, COLEMAN IN 2021 FOUND THAT IN MINNEAPOLIS PROPERTIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS BELOW THE MEDIAN HOUSE PRICE SAW GREATER PRICE APPRECIATION AFTER THEY PASSED THE POLICY THAT Y'ALL ARE ABOUT TO DO THE SECOND PHASE OF WITHIN A CITY, A BLANKET UPZONING WILL HAVE DIFFERENT IMPACTS IN DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS.
FURTHERMORE, THE RESEARCH SHOWS THAT RISING PROPERTY VALUES OFTEN PRECEDE UPZONING, INDICATING THAT BECAUSE OF THE SPECULATIVE NATURE OF THE REAL ESTATE MARKET, EVEN THE ANTICIPATION OF UPZONING CAN NEGATIVELY IMPACT VULNERABLE NEIGHBORHOODS.
RODRIGUEZ AND STORPER INSIST THAT, QUOTE.
THERE IS ALSO VIRTUALLY NO EVIDENCE THAT SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER COSTS TRICKLE DOWN TO THE LOWER TWO THIRDS OF HOUSEHOLDS, OR PROVIDE QUALITY UPGRADING OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
ARE Y'ALL LISTENING? WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? NOT ALL HOUSING UNITS ARE ON ONE MARKET.
THIS SUPPLY AND DEMAND STUFF IS TOTAL FUCKING BULLSHIT.
SUPPLY AND DEMAND ONLY WORKS IN SUB MARKETS.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PROTECTING LOW INCOME BIPOC COMMUNITIES IN THOSE SUB MARKETS.
HAVE YOU BEEN LISTENING? WE AREN'T TALKING ABOUT NEVER CHANGING THE LDC AND PRESERVING THE EXISTING ZONING CODE FOREVER.
PREVIOUS LAND USE AND ZONING CHANGE PROCESSES HAVE INCORPORATED AN EQUITY OVERLAY.
THIS IS RECOMMENDED BY MULTIPLE LEADING LOCAL HOUSING RESEARCHERS, INCLUDING LIZ MUELLER OF THE UPROOTED REPORT, AND REPORTS ON UP ZONING HAVE SAID THIS IS A KEY BEST PRACTICE FOR PREVENTING DISPLACEMENT, DESPITE THE PRECEDENT OF EXPLORING AN EQUITY OVERLAY.
WE RAISED THIS ISSUE WITH YOUR STAFF, MAYOR WATSON, AND WE WERE TOLD THAT THERE'S JUST A RUSH TIMELINE THAT WE HAVE TO DO FOR DENSITY IN PURSUIT OF THESE FEDERAL GRANTS FOR TRANSIT, AND IT UNFORTUNATELY JUST OUT OF SYNC WITH WHAT WOULD BE NEEDED THIS MONTHS LONG PROCESS TO CREATE AN EQUITY OVERLAY.
WE WEREN'T GIVEN ANY REASON AS TO WHY Y'ALL HADN'T TAKEN CARE OF THAT FROM THE JUMP.
THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN PART OF THE TIMELINE.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE CALLING ON MAYOR WATSON TO FIX THIS UNACCEPTABLE MISTAKE TO INITIATE.
AND YOU NEED TO INITIATE A COMMUNITY BASED PROCESS FOR AN EQUITY AND ANTI-DISPLACEMENT OVERLAY.
RIGHT NOW, GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO DETERMINE THE ZONING CHANGES AND PROTECTIONS NEEDED IN ORDER TO PRESERVE EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND BUILD THE TRULY AFFORDABLE HOUSING WE NEED DEVELOPMENT THAT DOESN'T ACCELERATE DISPLACEMENT, DELAYING THE CONSIDERATION OF ZONING CHANGES THROUGH A COMMUNITY BASED PROCESS ON A TIMELINE SET BY COUNCIL THAT SHOULD
[05:05:06]
BE SUFFICIENT FOR COMMUNITY INPUT, MEANS THAT WE WOULD HAVE A SET DATE FOR WHEN RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD BE MADE ON THE TYPE OF ZONING CHANGES THAT ARE MOST CONDUCIVE TO OUR GOALS OF MITIGATING DISPLACEMENT, PROTECTING AND PRODUCING TRULY AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN AREAS AT RISK OF DISPLACEMENT.WE CAN HAVE DEEPER AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS, STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS TO PRESERVE EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT OTHERWISE IN THIS SITUATION, WHAT THE STATUS QUO THAT Y'ALL ARE RE ENTRENCHING AND MAKING WORSE ARE GOING TO BE INCENTIVIZED FOR DEMOLITION IF THESE ZONING CHANGES OCCUR NOW.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME.
GO AHEAD. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME. HI, I'M TERRY ADAMS. IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO HEAR A SPEECH LIKE THAT, ESPECIALLY FOLLOWED BY SO MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING CLASS AND CONFUSED ABOUT WHERE THEIR INTERESTS LIE.
SO IF YOU EVER FIND THAT YOU ARE ALIGNING WITH CAPITALIST INTERESTS AND YOU ARE WORKING CLASS, THEN YOU NEED TO YOU NEED TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND REALIZE THAT THESE INTERESTS ARE IRRECONCILABLE.
SO WHEN YOU WERE ELECTED TO REPRESENT THE PUBLIC, THAT WAS A DEAL THAT WE BASICALLY MADE WITH THE CAPITALIST CLASS THAT WE'RE WE'RE GOING TO ALLOW WE'RE GOING TO ALLOW A BUREAUCRACY TO SPEAK FOR US.
RIGHT. SO WE ELECT THE PUBLIC ELECTS YOU.
SO IF YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE PEOPLE COMING UP HERE AND TELLING YOU YOUR BUSINESS, THEN JUST NEGOTIATE WITH THEM IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST. SO HAVING SACRIFICING THE EASTERN CRESCENT SO THAT DEVELOPERS WHO HAVE ALREADY BOUGHT THOSE PROPERTIES UP, LET'S BE HONEST, LIKE THIS ISN'T SOME KIND OF LIKE THING WHERE YOU'RE MAKING THIS POSSIBLE FOR SOME FUTURE THING.
NO, THEY'VE ALREADY BOUGHT THE PROPERTIES THAT THEY'RE PLANNING TO BUILD ON.
THEY'RE JUST TRYING TO JUICE IT.
THEY'RE TRYING TO GET AS MUCH AS THEY CAN WITHOUT ANY, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT ANY, LIKE, REAL GUARANTEES FOR ANY OF THE THINGS THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE ASKING FOR.
THESE PEOPLE ARE COMING TO YOU AND SAYING, WE WANT TO LIVE HERE.
WE WANT TO HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SO YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO EITHER DEAL WITH THE CONSEQUENCES AND IN NOVEMBER YOU WILL, OR YOU CAN GO TO THE PEOPLE IN NOVEMBER AND SAY, LISTEN, I LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE. I LISTENED ALSO TO THE DEVELOPERS, BUT I, I ACTUALLY DID SOMETHING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY'S VOICE WAS HEARD.
COUNCIL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LETTING ME SPEAK HERE TODAY.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CONSIDERING THIS IMPORTANT LEGISLATION.
I AM PROFOUNDLY SUPPORT THE HOME INITIATIVE AND THE REST OF THESE LAND USE REFORMS. BUT YOU'RE PROBABLY WONDERING WHY I SUPPORT THESE INITIATIVES.
YOU KNOW, IT WAS RAINING OUTSIDE AND I CAME IN HERE IN THE RAIN AND GOT WET.
I HAD TO TAKE TIME OFF WORK TO GET HERE EARLY.
BUT WHY DO I CARE SO MUCH? AND THE REASON I CARE SO MUCH IS BECAUSE THERE'S A BUNCH OF PEOPLE WHO COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY WHO REALLY ARE STRUGGLING WITH THEIR RENTS BECAUSE IT'S EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE IN AUSTIN. PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO MOVE AWAY, PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO COMMUTE FURTHER THAN THEY WANT TO.
A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY BUT WANT TO BE HERE TODAY.
AND PART OF FEELING WELCOME IS FINDING A PLACE YOU CAN LIVE.
YOU KNOW, I'M NOT. I'M NOT BORN AND RAISED IN AUSTIN.
AND PART OF ME BEING WELCOME HERE IS FOR COMMUNITIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS TO MAKE SPACE FOR ME.
YOU KNOW, WHEN WE GO TO A NEIGHBORHOOD, THERE'S DIFFERENT PEOPLE WE WANT IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
BUT A DIVERSITY OF PEOPLE REQUIRES A DIVERSITY OF HOUSING TYPES.
AND I THINK THIS IS WHAT THESE INITIATIVES ARE ABOUT.
THESE INITIATIVES ARE ABOUT CREATING SPACE FOR PEOPLE, DIFFERENT KINDS OF PEOPLE.
[05:10:02]
SO I'M HERE SPEAKING FOR MYSELF, BUT ALSO FOR ALL THE PEOPLE WHO COULDN'T COME HERE TO SPEAK TODAY.HELLO. MY NAME IS ANTONIO ROMERO AND I AM AN AUSTINITE.
I LIVED HERE ALL MY LIFE, AND I'M ASHAMED OF ALL OF Y'ALL TO COME DOWN AND VOTE THROUGH THE SECOND TIME WITH ALL THIS BULLSHIT, MAN. YOU'RE ACTUALLY DRIVING ALL OUR PEOPLE, OUR HERITAGE, EVERYBODY, OUR KINFOLKS, OUR BLACKS OR WHITES, YOU KNOW, OUR LATINOS. I SAY VOTE NO TO THIS SHIT.
WHY? BECAUSE Y'ALL NEED TO MAKE AFFORDABLE LIVING HOUSING FOR ALL AUSTINITES THAT ARE ALREADY HERE.
YES, WE'RE HAVING A HARD TIME WORKING 2 OR 3 JOBS TRYING TO MAKE ENDS MEET BECAUSE OF THE BULLSHIT.
HAS RAISED THE RENT, HAVE IT SO HIGH THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE TO MOVE OUT FARTHER THAN WHERE OUR ROOTS ARE ALREADY HERE. OKAY, WE COME TO YOU TO MAKE SURE Y'ALL DO A GOOD DECISION FOR US AUSTINITES HERE.
YOU KNOW, I'M AN INSIDER, AND I'M ALREADY BEING PUSHED OUT.
PLEASE. BECAUSE ALL OF OUR PEOPLE ARE CRYING AND DYING OUT THERE, NEEDING MEDICAL ASSISTANCE.
AND BEING DOWN CLOSER TO DOWNTOWN HELPS US.
INSTEAD OF TRYING TO REACH IN OUR POCKETS AND GIVING US, YOU KNOW, WE HAD TO PAY ALL THIS HIGH EXPENSES TO COME AND GET OUR MEDICAL ATTENTION HERE IN AUSTIN.
SO AS AND I PLEAD, PLEASE VOTE NO TO THIS AND JUST STOP IT TO STOP BECAUSE IT HURTS.
IT REALLY HURTS TO SEE OUR PEOPLE GO THROUGH ALL THIS SUFFERING BECAUSE Y'ALL DECIDE.
SO Y'ALL WANT TO POCKET THIS MONEY? I WANT TO KNOW HOW Y'ALL LIVE EVERY DAY, HOW Y'ALL GO TO SLEEP, HOW Y'ALL EAT, HOW Y'ALL GET UP KNOWING THAT THIS IS HURTING OUR PEOPLE.
SO LIKE I SAID AGAIN, VOTE NO FOR THIS AND STOP.
I'M A SENIOR CITIZEN AND I'M A HOMEOWNER LIVING IN OAK HILL.
BUT I'M ALSO A FATHER AND A GRANDFATHER, AND MY OPINION ABOUT BUILDING MORE HOUSING IS BASED MORE ON MY FEELINGS ABOUT YOUNG PEOPLE THAN ABOUT TRYING TO PRESERVE THE VALUE OF MY HOUSE AND OPTIMIZE IT BY STOPPING HOUSING FROM BEING BUILT.
THERE'S A LOT OF JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN AUSTIN.
THERE'S A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE THAT WANT TO MOVE HERE, YOUNG FAMILIES.
I DON'T THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE TO LIVE UP IN CEDAR PARK OR DOWN IN BUDA.
I THINK THEY WANT TO LIVE IN AUSTIN.
SO AGAIN, AS A FATHER AND A GRANDFATHER, I'M ON THE SIDE OF THE YOUNG.
I'M A HAPPY OLD PERSON, BUT THE OLD PEOPLE IN SINGLE FAMILY HOUSES IS NOT THE FUTURE.
AND I HOPE THAT COUNCIL DOES WHATEVER IS NECESSARY TO ALLOW MORE HOUSING TO BE BUILT.
THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKERS ARE YVETTE FLORES, SCHUYLER CORNWALL, MICHAEL RHODES, HALIMA FOSTER.
HI, MY NAME IS HALIMA FOSTER AND I'M BORN AND RAISED HERE IN AUSTIN.
I'VE BEEN STUDYING THE REAL ESTATE MARKET SINCE SEVENTH GRADE.
SO I JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU THAT I HAVE SEEN THAT THE PAST ATTEMPTS TO INCREASE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY HAVE FAILED, INCLUDING ALLOWING DUPLEX UNITS TO BE SOLD SEPARATELY, WHICH ACTUALLY RESULTED IN A SHARP INCREASE IN THE PRICES OF THE UNITS.
[05:15:02]
SO IT WOULD BE A HOUSE THAT USUALLY USED A DUPLEX THAT USED TO COST 500,000, SUDDENLY GOT SPLIT UP, AND THERE WERE 300 TO 400,000 PER UNIT. IT DIDN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE.SO FREE MARKET AND TRICKLE DOWN ECONOMICS DON'T WORK.
IN 2021, OVER 90% OF THE PEOPLE MOVING TO AUSTIN MADE AN AVERAGE OF $150,000 A YEAR.
THAT IS A LOT MORE THAN THE ALREADY EXISTING PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE AND TRYING TO STAY HERE.
I WANT TO POINT OUT ALSO THAT ALL NEIGHBORHOODS WILL NOT BE AFFECTED THE SAME, BECAUSE HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATIONS AND DEED RESTRICTIONS WILL OVERRIDE THE CITY ZONING ORDINANCE, MEANING THAT THIS WILL CLEARLY HARM, IN EFFECT, LESS AFFLUENT AREAS WHO CANNOT AFFORD BEING HEARD OR THAT AREN'T BEING HEARD AND CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY REPRESENTATION LIKE THEIR MORE AFFLUENT COUNTERPARTS.
I ALSO WANTED TO POINT OUT THIS IS ME ALSO KNOWING THE REAL ESTATE MARKET.
I WAS VERY CLOSE TO BEING ABLE TO BUY A HOUSE IN AUSTIN IN 2011.
I WAS LOOKING AT 3 TO 5 BEDROOM HOMES FOR 120 TO $150,000.
BY 2012, THAT SAME NEIGHBORHOOD, AN EMPTY LOT, COST $450,000, AND THAT WAS THE RESULT OF INVESTORS AND SPECULATORS BUYING HUNDREDS OF HOMES AT A TIME AND TELLING US, HEY, HERE'S THE NEW PRICE.
THIS IS HOW THINGS ARE GOING TO BE NOW.
I, I WISH I COULD SAY THAT I WILL BE ABLE TO AFFORD A HOME HERE, BUT ALMOST EVERY PART OF THIS SITUATION IS MAKING ME REALIZE I'M GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE. MIGRATION TO TRAVIS COUNTY BETWEEN 2020 AND 2021 BROUGHT A $1.9 BILLION RISE IN ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME, WHICH IS A 6% INCREASE.
THE AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY FROM 2019 SAYS THAT FROM 2019 TO 2022, THE SHARE OF HOUSEHOLDS MAKING LESS THAN $25,000 A YEAR DROPPED FROM 13 TO 10%, PEOPLE MAKING 29 TO 49,000 DROP FROM 17 TO 13%, AND PEOPLE MAKING 100,000 OR MORE HAS INCREASED FROM 40 TO 47%.
IT'S PRETTY CLEAR WHO WE ARE TRYING TO ACCOMMODATE HERE BY MAKING THESE MOVES.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FIVE, WHERE I'M RENTING AN APARTMENT.
AND I CAME TODAY TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF HOME PHASE TWO.
AND, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE WORRIED ABOUT DISPLACEMENT, AND THAT'S FAIR.
I DON'T WANT TO SEE PEOPLE DISPLACED.
I WANT LONGTIME COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO STAY.
AND I HOPE, YOU KNOW, THE OPPONENTS OF HOME UNDERSTAND THAT THE STATUS QUO IS NOT THEIR FRIEND, THAT THE STATUS QUO IS DISPLACEMENT, THAT YOU HAVE TO CHANGE THIS IF YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO STAY HERE.
AND THAT MEANS YOU NEED AFFORDABLE MARKET RATE HOUSING.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET SUPPORT.
THERE ARE NO MECHANISMS TO PROTECT THEM OR KEEP THEM IN THEIR HOMES.
THEY WILL BE DISPLACED IF WE DON'T PROVIDE AFFORDABLE MARKET RATE HOUSING.
SO I WANT TO SEE INVESTMENT IN TRANSIT.
I WANT TO SEE HOMES BUILT ALONG FUTURE TRANSIT LINES.
YOU KNOW, I WANT ALL THESE RESTRICTIONS ON LOT SIZE CLEARED UP SO THAT WE CAN BUILD DENSER HOUSING THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE, REGARDLESS OF THEIR NEEDS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR STAGE OF LIFE AND GOING FORWARD WITH THESE PROGRAMS, YOU KNOW, HOWEVER IMPERFECT THEY ARE, IS CLEARLY NECESSARY TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
SO I HOPE THE COUNCIL WILL CONTINUE WITH THESE PROJECTS, WITH PROJECT CONNECT, YOU KNOW, TO GIVE PEOPLE ACCESS TO BUSSES AND HOMES, NEAR TRANSIT AND TRAINS AND WHATEVER MOBILITY PEOPLE NEED.
SO THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THIS TIME.
GLOCK, MICHELLE ALDRIDGE, SCOTT BRUTOCO, CHRISTOPHER PAGE.
[05:20:03]
MY NAME IS AMY DELUNA.HELLO, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
AND WELCOME CITY MANAGER BRODNAX.
I AM HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF ITEM SIX.
I HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE FOR NINE YEARS.
I GOT A DEGREE FROM UT IN 2019 AND GOT A JOB LATER THAT YEAR WORKING FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS.
MY STARTING SALARY AT THAT JOB WAS $39,000 PER YEAR.
THIS WAS A FULL TIME POSITION THAT REQUIRED A DEGREE PLUS ONE YEAR OF RELATED EXPERIENCE.
I ALSO DIDN'T OWN A CAR, AND MOSTLY RELIED ON MY BIKE AND THE BUS TO GET AROUND.
WHEN I STARTED MY JOB, I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO LIVE RIGHT NEXT TO THE SEVEN BUS ROUTE.
AS IS COMMON FOR MOST GOVERNMENT JOBS, SOME ENTRY LEVEL POSITIONS AT MY AGENCY HAVE BEEN HARD TO FILL AS FEWER QUALIFIED CANDIDATES LIVE IN THE AUSTIN AREA, AND SEVERAL ENTRY LEVEL WORKERS END UP LEAVING IN PURSUIT OF HIGHER PAYING JOBS.
MOST OF MY COWORKERS DON'T LIVE IN AUSTIN BECAUSE THEY ARE UNABLE TO BUY OR RENT A PLACE IN AUSTIN.
OKAY. STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.
CHRIS PAGE, PRESIDENT OF THE HOMEWOOD HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, EAST AUSTIN.
LOOKING AT MARKET BASED SEGREGATION.
DOES THIS THING WORK? NONE OF THIS STUFF IS COMPLEX, AND IT'S BEEN MARKETED AS TERRIBLY SIMPLE.
THIS IS WHAT THE MARKET REALLY IS.
WE GOT INELASTIC SUPPLY OF MUNICIPAL LAND.
THE ONLY EXCEPTIONS ARE ANNEXATION AND ANNEXATION.
I THINK ELON MUSK JUST GOT AWAY WITH 2100 ACRES.
IT'S NOT GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT EITHER.
WE'RE LOOKING AT THE WORST DROUGHT IN 1200 YEARS AND IN THE AMERICAN SOUTHWEST.
WE'RE AT A THIRD OF OUR WATER SUPPLY OF WHERE WE SHOULD BE.
THAT'S FLOODING IN 2023 KILLED FOUR PEOPLE, 1200 HOMES.
OUR URBAN CANOPY IS NOT PROTECTED EITHER.
4% OF THE TREES URBAN HEAT SINK.
IF YOU READ RICHARD HAMMOND'S PAPER, YOU'D UNDERSTAND THAT YOU GET HIGHER.
WE HAVE A HIGH NET IN-MIGRATION OF WEALTHY BUYERS THAT ARE BIDDING PRICES UP.
YOU'VE GOT REDEVELOPMENT, RESETTING THE DEPRECIATION CYCLE, ESCALATING VALUE.
YOU'VE GOT ZONING CHANGES THAT SPIKE THE VALUE.
YOU KNOW THAT THAT'S PROBABLY WHY YOU'RE DOING ALL THIS AMENITY EFFECTS LIKE RAIL.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE A 300 MILLION ANTI-DISPLACEMENT WHICH YOU HAVEN'T SPENT MOST OF.
GOOD LUCK WITH HOW MUCH THAT'S GOING TO GET YOU.
YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHERE YOU'RE GOING.
HERE WE GO. DEREGULATION OF THE RESCUE.
RIGHT? SO IN 2021, 41% OF HOMES IN AUSTIN WERE BOUGHT BY INSTITUTIONAL BUYERS AND INVESTORS.
ORDINARY PEOPLE CAN'T COMPETE WITH THAT.
[05:25:03]
YEAH. THANK.YOU. KNOW, I HAVE NINE MINUTES.
WELL, WE DIDN'T ESTABLISH THAT AT THE BEGINNING.
LET'S MAKE SURE WE GET IT ESTABLISHED.
BECAUSE IF YOU DO, I WANT YOU TO HAVE YOUR FULL TIME.
DOES HE HAVE TIME DONATED? HE DOES NOT. HE'S SPEAKING CURRENTLY FOR ITEM SIX ONLY.
I'VE GOT IN DAYCARE AND I'VE GOT.
DID YOU. DID THEY CHECK IN WITH THE CLERK BEFOREHAND? WELL, SEE, THAT'S NO.
OBLIGATION. THAT'S NOT WHAT'S HAPPENING.
CUT IT OUT. WE DO HAVE RULES THAT WE TRY TO FOLLOW.
AND THE RULES. HAVE YOU COME UP? SO ARE THEY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? YES, YES. WELL, THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE RULES.
SO WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS IN THE MIDDLE OF A HEARING.
GET IT? MAKE MAKE SURE WE'RE CLEARED AWAY.
AND THAT WAY YOU'LL GET THE TIME THAT YOU WANT.
SO NOT ONLY DOES HE DO, NOT ONLY DID HE MAKE A WHOLE BUNCH OF MONEY THE WAY THAT WE ALL KNOW HE MADE IT, BUT HE'S ALSO GOT PORTFOLIO COMPANIES THAT DO SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL SHORT TERM.
WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S SHORT TERM OR NOT, SO DON'T WANT TO GET SUED.
WELL, AND IT'S NOT HIM DIRECTLY AGAIN, IT'S ONE OF HIS PORTFOLIO COMPANIES.
HERE'S WHAT JIM TOWNE TAUGHT ME ABOUT TINY HOMES.
BASICALLY, IT'S SELLING THIS AMERICAN DREAM TO MILLENNIALS THAT CAN'T BUY HOUSES, BECAUSE THE MARKET'S DOING THAT LARGELY THROUGH REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS AND COMPANIES LIKE BLACKROCK. HERE'S A LOCAL INVESTOR WHO DOES NOTHING BUT UPZONE PROPERTIES.
USE THE NEW VALUE TO TO BORROW AGAINST AND THEN BUY MORE PROPERTIES.
THIS IS WHAT'S IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
THESE ARE EMPTY LOTS THAT HAVE SOME OF THE HIGHEST ENTITLEMENTS THAT WE'VE SEEN.
BUT YOU GUYS DON'T CARE ABOUT INCENTIVIZING INCENTIVIZING THOSE TO GET USED.
INSTEAD, YOU'D RATHER JUST CONFER ADDITIONAL VALUE SO THAT THIS WHOLE THING CAN GROW LIKE A TUMOR.
WHAT IT'S DONE IN THE LAST WELL, SINCE 2012.
YOU GOT 2300 REGISTERED, BUT THERE'S AN ESTIMATED 12 TO 15,000, SOME ESTIMATE AS HIGH AS 18,000.
UNREGULATED. YOUR WHOLE MARKET NEEDS GUARDRAILS, YOU KNOW THAT.
BUT INSTEAD YOU'RE TRYING TO DEREGULATE IT.
WELL, IS THIS TRANSIT SUPPORTIVE DENSITY HOME ONE AND TWO AND REDUCE COMPATIBILITY.
DO NOTHING ABOUT PUTTING NEW HOUSING AROUND TRANSIT.
AND THEN WHAT YOU HAVE WITH ETOD IS THE OPPOSITE.
YOU SAW A 41 TO 73% REDUCTION IN RIDERSHIP.
YOU SAW A 60% INCREASE IN CAR OWNERSHIP AND MASSIVE GENTRIFICATION, AFFORDABLE LAND.
MY NEIGHBORHOOD'S A GREAT EXAMPLE.
WE'RE TOTALLY DEREGULATED FOR THE MOST PART.
I MEAN, RELATIVE TO OTHER PLACES.
AND IT IS. WE'RE IN THE FASTEST GENTRIFYING ZIP CODE IN THE COUNTRY.
I ACTUALLY FOUND THERE'S A CITY RESOLUTION IN 2013 THAT IDENTIFIED THAT.
THEY JUST HAVEN'T BEEN SUBDIVIDED TO SELL OFF TO INVESTORS.
WE KNOW THAT FROM OUR HOUSING DEPARTMENT.
OH. COME ON. THEN WE'VE GOT THE HUMAN APPEAL.
NONE OF THIS STUFF HAS AFFORDABILITY IN IT.
NOW YOU GOT DISCRIMINATION THROUGH LAND USE.
WELL, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE STATUS QUO, WHAT'S IN THE STATUS QUO? WELL, HERE WE ARE.
WE'VE GOT EVERYTHING IN PINK THAT ATTRACTS REDEVELOPMENT.
AND YOU'VE BEEN PUTTING THAT TOGETHER.
MAYOR WATSON, SORRY, I WANT TO CALL YOU MR. RIGHT NOW. IT JUST FEELS RIGHT.
AND ON THE OTHER SIDE, YOU'VE GOT EVERYTHING THAT PREVENTS REDEVELOPMENT.
YOU'VE GOT SEGREGATION IN 1928.
AND STILL WE ARE SEGREGATED TODAY.
EVERYTHING PURPLE IS WHERE THE WHITE PEOPLE LIVE.
[05:30:01]
TO USE TO UPZONE THROUGH COMPATIBILITY REDUCTION ON ROADS THAT ARE TWO LANE RESIDENTIAL STREETS THAT YOU TREAT AS THE EQUIVALENT OF I-35 URBAN REMOVAL, WHICH IS WHAT WE CALL IT IN THE US, AND OPPORTUNITY ZONES, WHICH CAME UP UNDER THE TRUMP ERA.WHERE DO YOU SEE THOSE ON THE MAP? YOU GOT NEIGHBORHOOD PLANS BEING DISMANTLED AND PEOPLE ARE MAKING A KILLING ON THAT.
YOU'VE GOT THE TANK FARMS THAT WE KNOW ABOUT THAT WERE GIVING PEOPLE CANCER.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THAT.
THAT'S MAYBE ACTUALLY SOMETHING YOU DID WELL FOR THE COMMUNITY.
BROWNFIELDS IS ALL THE INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION THAT'S STILL LEFT BEHIND.
THIS IS MY NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE WE HAD PESTICIDES.
WE HAD LEAD ARSENIC ALL IN OUR SOIL.
AND THAT'S THE PLANTABLE SPACE.
WHAT'S MISSING? ALL THE TREES IN EAST AUSTIN? STRANGE. WE'VE GOT OUR CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION THAT I IDENTIFIED IN 2020 OR IN 2013 THAT WE WERE THE FASTEST GENTRIFYING ZIP CODE.
AND YOU'RE DOING THAT AGAIN TODAY, AND YOU'RE SAYING YOU DON'T NEED AN OVERLAY.
FOR GOD'S SAKE, BE PROFESSIONALS.
WE GOT DISCRIMINATION THROUGH WEALTH.
WE'RE THE FASTEST IN-MIGRATION OF NEW MILLIONAIRES.
THREE YEARS AGO, HERE WE ARE TODAY, $28,000 LATER.
AND WHAT HAVE WE DONE FOR OUR AFFORDABILITY AND OUR DENSITY BONUSES? WE'RE STILL HOVERING AROUND 80% MFI AND CALLING THAT AFFORDABLE.
YOU'RE NOT REACHING ACROSS THE WEALTH GAP.
THAT IS SEGREGATION EXCLUSIONARY, RIGHT? SO YOU'RE NOT GETTING ACROSS THE WEALTH GAP.
YOU'VE GOT 300 MILLION IN ANTI-DISPLACEMENT AND YOUR UPZONING EVERYTHING BEFORE YOU USE IT.
YOU'VE GOT NO TRANSIT SUPPORT.
YOU'RE UNDERMINING TRANSIT SUPPORT WITH A THING THAT YOU SAY IS TRANSIT SUPPORTIVE.
WE KNOW ENTITLEMENTS ARE NOT HOUSING, AND THAT'S ALL YOU'RE GIVING OUT HERE.
WE KNOW THAT AFFORDABILITY ISN'T POISON.
RIGHT, GREG? THIS IS I MEAN, THIS IS LITERALLY WHAT YOU'RE SAYING ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
YOU KNOW WHAT LANGUAGE THAT IS? THAT'S THE LANGUAGE OF INVESTORS.
LAYLA. SHAMS. GABRIELLE. WOJTALA.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AT THE DAIS.
HI, MY NAME IS GABRIELLE AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT THREE.
THIS IS MY FIRST TIME SPEAKING AT A CITY COUNCIL MEETING, SO I'M EXCITED TO BE PART OF THIS PROCESS.
TODAY I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF PROPOSALS FOUR, FIVE AND SIX.
I UNDERSTAND THE CITY IS WORKING ON PROVIDING EFFICIENT OPTIONS FOR RESIDENTS TO TRAVEL AROUND THE CITY IN A SAFE AND EQUITABLE MANNER, BUT HOW CAN WE ENSURE THE TRANSITION TO LEVERAGE TO LEVERAGE PUBLIC TRANSIT IN AUSTIN? THIS STARTS WITH PROVIDING SPACES FOR FOLKS TO LIVE UNDER THESE PROPOSED REQUIREMENTS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND HARD WORK ON THIS IMPORTANT MATTER.
THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, HONORABLE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CITY MANAGER BRODNAX.
I'M A LONG TIME D-2 RESIDENT AND RESIDE WITHIN THE EASTERN CRESCENT.
I AM ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF THE AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOODS COUNCIL.
WE DO NOT SUPPORT ITEM SIX, ARTICLE TEN OF THE CITY CHARTER STATES.
AND IN CASE Y'ALL HAVEN'T READ IT, IT IS THE PURPOSE AND INTENT OF THIS ARTICLE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL ESTABLISHED COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING AS A CONTINUOUS AND ONGOING GOVERNMENTAL FUNCTION IN ORDER TO PROMOTE AND STRENGTHEN THE EXISTING ROLE, PROCESSES AND POWERS OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
TO PREPARE, ADOPT AND IMPLEMENT A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO GUIDE, REGULATE AND MANAGE THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS AND EXTRATERRITORIAL JURISDICTION OF THE CITY TO ASSESS THE MOST APPROPRIATE AND BENEFICIAL USE OF LAND, WATER AND OTHER NATURAL RESOURCES
[05:35:03]
CONSISTENT WITH THE PUBLIC INTEREST.THROUGH THE PROCESS OF COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING AND THE PREPARATION, ADOPTION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, THE CITY INTENDS TO PRESERVE, PROMOTE, PROTECT AND IMPROVE THE PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY, COMFORT, ORDER, APPEARANCE, CONVENIENCE, AND GENERAL WELFARE.
FACILITATE THE ADEQUATE AND EFFICIENT PROVISION OF TRANSPORTATION, WATER, WASTEWATER, SCHOOLS, PARKS, RECREATION, RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, HOUSING AND OTHER FACILITIES AND SERVICES, AND CONSERVE, DEVELOP, UTILIZE AND PROTECT NATURAL RESOURCES.
IT IS FURTHER THE INTENT OF THIS ARTICLE THAT THE ADOPTED COMPREHENSIVE PLAN SHALL HAVE THE LEGAL STATUS SET FORTH HEREIN, AND THAT NO PUBLIC OR PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT SHALL BE PERMITTED EXCEPT IN CONFORMITY WITH SUCH ADOPTED COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OR ELEMENT OR PORTION THEREOF, PREPARED AND ADOPTED IN CONFORMITY WITH THE PROVISION OF THIS ARTICLE.
WHAT IS BEING DONE UNDER PHASE ONE AND IS BEING PROPOSED UNDER HOLM? PHASE TWO TOTALLY TOTALLY DISREGARDS ARTICLE TEN OF THE CITY CHARTER.
OUR PRIMARY CONCERNS INCLUDE THE ONGOING DISREGARD FOR THE INCLUSION OF THE EQUITY OVERLAY AND TRUE AFFORDABLE HOUSING REQUIREMENTS, DISREGARD FOR THE DISPLACEMENT AND DISPARATE IMPACT OF OUR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, DISREGARD FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS INCLUDING DEADLY AND CATASTROPHIC RISK, AND LOCALIZED FLOODING, ESPECIALLY IN DISTRICT TWO. LOSS OF TREE CANOPY AND URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT DISREGARD FOR CRITICAL SUSTAINABILITY OF DRINKING WATER FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE RESIDENTS.
LACK OF ADDRESSING OR SERIOUSLY COMPROMISED.
DRAINAGE AND UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE.
DISREGARD FOR SUSTAINABLE PUBLIC SAFETY.
THAT INCLUDES OUR FIRE, POLICE AND EMS AND SOCIAL SERVICES.
THE AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOODS COUNCIL STANDS WITH OUR MEMBER NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS SAVE OUR SPRINGS, REWILD AUSTIN, COMMUNITY POWERED ATX BOULDER, AND TEXAS AGAINST POVERTY. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
YEAH. GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR.
MY NAME IS SREEKAR NALLURI, AND I'M A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE.
I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO SUPPORT ITEM SIX, REDUCING THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE TO BUILD A HOUSE.
WE'RE HERE CONSIDERING THIS ITEM BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO ACCOUNT FOR ALL THE GROWTH THAT AUSTIN HAS SEEN, ALL THE CHANGES, AND HOW TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN GROW SUSTAINABLY IN THE FUTURE.
HOWEVER, WHAT WHAT HASN'T CHANGED IN THE PAST HUNDREDS OR EVEN THOUSANDS OF YEARS IS HUMAN NATURE.
WE'RE ALWAYS SCARED OF CHANGE.
SCARED OF PERHAPS WELCOMING NEWCOMERS.
ONE OF THE FIRST LAWS THAT ESTABLISHED A MINIMUM LOT SIZE IN IN OUR LEGAL SYSTEM, THE COMMON LAW SYSTEM HAPPENED BACK IN THE 16TH CENTURY AND IN THE US IN THE RECENT PAST.
WE'VE EVEN ONE UP THAT WITH WORST MOTIVATIONS.
AND WE'VE ALL HEARD ABOUT THE 1928 PLAN IN AUSTIN.
WHAT'S UNIVERSAL ACROSS THE PLACES THAT HAVE DONE MINIMUM LOT SIZES IS THAT THEY REALIZE IT WAS A MISTAKE IN HINDSIGHT, THAT 16TH CENTURY LAW WAS REPEALED IN 1775 BECAUSE, QUOTE, IT HAD MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR POOR PEOPLE TO FIND HABITATION, END QUOTE.
I SINCERELY HOPE THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER 150 YEARS TO FIX THE MISTAKE IN OUR PAST.
IN ADDITION TO LOOK CLOSER TO HOME, HOUSTON STARTED REDUCING THEIR MINIMUM LOT SIZES IN THE 90S.
HERE IN AUSTIN. WE HAVE THE BENEFIT OF HINDSIGHT NOW, AND I HOPE WE HAVE THE BENEFIT OF LEADERSHIP THAT WANTS TO AVOID PERPETUATING THESE MISTAKES AND LEADERSHIP THAT REPRESENTS THE MAJORITY OF AUSTINITES.
NEXT SPEAKER IS DO WE HAVE SOME NAMES? GREAT. HELLO, MY NAME IS IDALIS MALDONADO.
HI, JOSE. CONDOLENCES ON YOUR LOSS.
I HAVE ALSO GRIEVING AS WELL AS GRIEVING A LOVED ONE.
AND A LOT OF YOU ARE PROBABLY LOOKING AT ME CRAZY BECAUSE I WALKED HERE IN THE RAIN.
[05:40:03]
BUT FOR ME, THAT WAS A OFFERING TO MY ANCESTORS AND THE LAND WE STAND ON TODAY.MISS WINTERS, WE MET BACK WHEN I FIRST BECAME A VOTER DEPUTY REGISTRAR IN DOVE SPRINGS, AND MY MY LOVE FOR MY COMMUNITY AND MY MY NEED TO TO EDUCATE THEM AND EMPOWER THEM IS WHAT BROUGHT ME HERE TODAY. I THINK A LOT OF YOU PROBABLY HAVE YOUR MINDS MADE UP, BUT I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT, YOU KNOW, I HEARD THE OTHER TESTIMONIES AND PEOPLE CALLING US NAYSAYERS, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE AGAINST THIS HOME TWO INITIATIVE WITHOUT ANY OVERSIGHT OF EQUITY AND DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION.
VANESSA AND JOSE, YOU HAVE ALL AND ANGELO, YOU HAVE ALL BEEN SUPPORTERS OF CULTURA, WHICH IS HERE TO PRESERVE LATINO ART AND CULTURE IN AUSTIN.
BUT WHAT IS LEFT TO PRESERVE WHEN WE'VE ALL BEEN PUSHED OUT, WHEN WE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE PROGRAMS, WHEN WE HAVE TROUBLE GETTING FUNDING FOR THOSE PROGRAMS, WHEN MONEY GOES TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE NOT UPLIFTING AND NOT UPHOLDING THE VALUES OF COMMUNITY AND CULTURE AND WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN AUSTIN, WHAT DOES COMMUNITY MEAN TO YOU? DOES IT LOOK LIKE FULL OF COLORS AND PEOPLE WHO CAN ALL GET ALONG? I'M BORN AND RAISED HERE, AND EVERY DAY I GRIEVE THIS CITY.
BUT I'VE LEARNED TO TO ASSIMILATE TO MY HOME.
AND I JUST ASKED FOR YOU ALL TO RECONSIDER THIS PLAN WITHOUT REALLY LOOKING INTO WHAT YOU'RE DOING. AND STOP PUTTING INVESTORS FIRST.
ALL THE HOMES IN DOVE SPRINGS WILL GET BOUGHT UP, JUST LIKE THE ONES IN THE EAST SIDE.
JOSE. AND THEY'RE GOING TO GET BUILT ON AND BUILT ON.
WHAT ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO BUILT THE CITY, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE FROM HERE, THE PEOPLE WHO WHO MADE THE CITY WHAT IT IS TODAY AND THE PEOPLE WHO WHO WANT TO CONTINUE TO EXIST.
AND I THINK THERE'S ROOM FOR EVERYONE.
BUT AT SOME POINT YOU ALL HAVE TO TAKE A STEP BACK.
AND SOMEBODY, SOMEBODY QUOTED MLK AND I JUST WANT TO REFER TO THAT.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME.
THE NEXT NAMES ARE JAMES THOMPSON, SHANE MOONEY, MARK DUNCAN.
IS MARK HERE? MARK, ARE YOU HERE? IS LEAH ZIEGLER HERE? WHERE? OKAY.
ALL RIGHT. SO ONE QUESTION I'VE GOT IS WHY DID WE COME? WE KNOW YOU ALL HAVE THE VOTES TO PASS THIS.
SO I FIRST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL THE PEOPLE WHO CAME TO SPEAK OUT, OFFER THEIR STORIES, THEIR TIME, THEIR ENERGY, THEIR ALTERNATE SOLUTIONS DURING A WEEKDAY, EVEN THOUGH WE SUSPECT IT WILL FALL ON MOSTLY DEAF YEARS.
MY NEXT QUESTION IS WHERE IS THE DATA? I'VE ASKED CITY STAFF AT OUR RECENT OPEN HOUSE AT ANDERSON HIGH SCHOOL.
WHERE'S THE DATE ON THE TAX IMPLICATIONS FOR HOMEOWNERS AND BETWEEN FOUR STAFFERS THEY DID NOT KNOW.
AND THEY EVENTUALLY, AFTER SOME, SOME CONFERENCE, SAID THAT THEY CAN PRODUCE A VIDEO FROM FIVE YEARS AGO WHEN THE TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR SPOKE TO COUNCIL DURING CODENEXT, I'VE ASKED THE MAYOR'S STAFF FOR DATA ON WHAT WE CAN EXPECT FOR ITOT IMPACTED IMPACTS ON HOMEOWNERS AND DEVELOPMENT, ANYTHING RESEMBLING A TIMELINE, A PACE OF DEVELOPMENT, PEOPLE EXPECTED TO BE DISPLACED.
THERE WAS NONE TO SHARE FOR A PLAN WHOSE IMPLICATIONS IS IN THE HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
THIS WAS NOT INCLUDED IN PHASE ONE.
I SURE HOPE IT WILL BE INCLUDED IN HOME PHASE TWO, BUT I'M NOT HOLDING MY BREATH.
PREVIOUSLY, I HAD SHARED DATA FROM RICE'S KINDER INSTITUTE.
[05:45:08]
EXODUS OF BROWN, BLACK AND POOR FOLKS AND AN INFLUX OF ANGLO AND MIDDLE AND HIGH INCOME EARNERS.SO THE REALITY IS, FROM WHAT I CAN TELL, THIS IS MOSTLY HOUSING ECONOMICS AND MACROECONOMICS.
AND IN PARTICULAR I REFER TO DOCTOR CAMERON MURRAY.
AND HE BREAKS DOWN FIVE DIFFERENT EQUILIBRIA THAT HOUSING MARKETS ARE GUIDED BY.
THIS IS A GUY THAT'S SUCCESSFULLY PREDICTED COVID.
SO WHAT DOES HE SAY ABOUT SUPPLY SIDE SUPERSTITION? HE WRITES, IN 2022, I RECEIVED AN OUT OF THE BLUE PHONE CALL FROM THE UK OFFICE OF INNOVATION.
THIS OFFICE WAS TASKED BY ITS GOVERNMENT WITH VALIDATING THE SUPPLY MYTH AND FINDING EXAMPLES FROM AROUND THE WORLD FOR CHANGING PLANNING AND ZONING REGULATIONS RESULTED IN CHEAPER HOUSING.
THEY WERE HOPING THAT MAYBE THERE WERE SOME AUSTRALIAN EXAMPLES I HAD NONE TO OFFER.
SO WHAT DOES IT SAY ABOUT UPZONING? THIS IS A LITTLE LONG ONE, BUT HOPEFULLY YOU'LL STICK WITH ME.
YOU CAN BUILD 200 APARTMENTS IF YOU WERE GIVEN THE PROPERTY RIGHTS TO BUILD ON THE PUBLICLY OWNED SITE NEXT DOOR, BUT YOU COULD ALSO BUILD 200 IF YOU'RE GIVEN THE PROPERTY RIGHTS TO BUILD IN THE AIRSPACE ABOVE.
WHILE YOU WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE MARKET PRICE FOR THE PROPERTY NEXT DOOR.
AND ESSENTIALLY WHAT HE SAYS IS THE ENORMOUS COST OF UPZONING IS HOUSING POLICY IS WIDELY IGNORED BECAUSE IT SUITS PROPERTY OWNERS WHO BENEFIT FROM BILLION DOLLAR GIVEAWAYS THAT HAVE NO EFFECT ON THE ABSORPTION RATE EQUILIBRIUM.
SO ONE SENTENCE HE HAS THAT I THINK MOST APTLY SUMS UP WHERE WE ARE.
HE'S TALKING AGAIN ABOUT UPZONING, AND IT COULD DELIVER THESE BENEFITS AND HOMES OF LOWER PRICES, EVEN WITH THE COST OF SOCIAL COSTS OF DISORDERLY AND HAPHAZARD DEVELOPMENT LOCATIONS, IT WOULD BE A TRADE OFF WORTH MAKING.
BUT WHERE THESE BENEFITS. YES.
AND THEN HE CONCLUDES, THIS IS WHY HOUSING SUPPLY ANALYSIS IS HARD.
SO THIS YOU'RE LOOKING AT HERE THAT'S GIVEN TO ME BY SHARED WITH ME BY DEVELOPER.
THIS IS A CALCULATION THAT THEY USE TO UNDERSTAND LAND TAX VALUE.
AND ADDING VALUE ENTITLEMENTS TO LAND WILL INCREASE PROPERTY TAXES AND RENTS.
SO MY FEAR AMONG THIS PROPOSAL IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE MAKING THE CITY LESS AFFORDABLE FOR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE DOING IS CHANGING THE REVENUE EQUATION OF THE LAND.
AND THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO THE MAYOR WHO CAME TO US AND SAID, WE HAVE AN OFFER.
AND INSTEAD I SAY ONE SOLUTION WE HAVE OFFERED IS FOLLOW THE AUSTIN STRATEGIC MOBILITY PLAN.
GO AHEAD AND EXEMPT THE MIDDLE OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS FROM HOME.
IT'S NOT IN LINE WITH THE PLAN.
OTHERWISE IT WOULD SHOW A MASSIVE SWATH OF 170,000 LOTS OVER THERE.
I HAVE NO IDEA WHY WE CAN'T DO THAT HERE.
WHEN SOMEBODY COMES WITH A CRAZY PLAN TO BUILD SEVEN UNITS NEXT TO THEM, AND FINALLY, I WANT TO HELP MAKE SURE THAT NEXT TIME WE DO THIS, IF THERE IS A NEXT TIME WE INVOLVE NEIGHBORHOODS AND RESIDENTS FROM THE GET GO.
I KNOW THAT THERE ARE DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPERS IN MY PART OF TOWN THAT WILL WORK WITH NEIGHBORHOODS AND RESIDENTS TO COME TO ARRANGEMENTS AND AVOID THIS LONG, DRAWN OUT AND BITTER CONTEST THAT WE'RE HAVING RIGHT NOW.
THIS WILL NEVER HAPPEN WITHOUT NEIGHBORHOOD PARTICIPATION.
I CANNOT RECALL A SINGLE TIME THE LAST SIX YEARS WHERE ME OR ANYBODY FROM THE AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL HAS BEEN INVITED TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION BEFORE THE QUOTE UNQUOTE SOLUTION HAS BEEN ROLLED OUT.
THERE ARE SOME INCREDIBLY TALENTED PEOPLE WITH DEPTH OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS SPACE, THE JIM DUNCANS OF AUSTIN THAT WE KNOW AND AGREE WITH, THAT WE NEED LAND USE REFORM, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN ENTIRELY CUT OUT OF THIS PROCESS.
SO I HOPE THAT YOU RECONSIDER AND DO THAT GOING FORWARD.
THIS IS ACTUALLY AS OF MAY OF THIS YEAR WHERE WE ARE WITH HOUSING.
AND THERE ARE TWO TAKEAWAYS THAT I WANTED TO SHARE WITH THIS.
THANK YOU. AND TWO TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS LAURA MARTINEZ.
AND SHE HAS DONATED TIME FROM MONICA SANCHEZ.
[05:50:02]
AND THEY ARE BOTH HERE.THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE BEEN FROM THE CITY COUNCIL, SO I'M A LITTLE BIT NERVOUS.
MY NAME IS LAURA ANN MARTINEZ.
I'M FROM DISTRICT TWO, PLEASANTVILLE, PLEASANT HILL NEIGHBORHOOD.
I'M A LEADERSHIP AND VOCAL TEXAS AND A MEMBER OF COMMUNITY POWERED ATX.
I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE HOME PHASE TWO BEING PROPOSED IN THE CITY.
TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND BEING VOTED ON TODAY AS THESE PLANS DO NOT PREVENT THE DISPLACEMENT OF CITIZENS, NOR THE GENTRIFICATION OF OF THE COMMUNITIES, WE NEED TO THE CITY COUNCIL TO VOTE NO TODAY.
IF THIS PHASE PASSES WITHOUT THE MODIFICATIONS PROPOSED BY THIS COMMUNITY, EXCUSE ME, COMMUNITY POWER COALITION, THE RESULT WILL SURELY BE THE DISPLACEMENT OF THE CURRENT RESIDENTS AND THE GENTRIFICATION OF THE COMMUNITY.
I'M JUST WONDERING WHAT YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN TO THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE DISPLACED.
WHERE WILL ARE THESE LONG TIME AUSTINITES GO? THERE IS NOWHERE TO GO.
IT WILL INCREASE THE HOMELESS POPULATION AS YOU DISPLACE THESE PEOPLE FROM THEIR HOMES.
BOTH OF THESE BOTH OF THESE COULD INCREASE THE DRUG USE, AND THAT COULD ALSO INCREASE THE SPREAD OF HIV AND AIDS. ALL OF THIS AFFECTS ALL OF US IN OUR CITY.
THIS AFFECTS MAINLY MAINLY THE MIDDLE AND LOWER CLASS, BUT IT DOES AFFECT ALL OF US AND ALL PEOPLE.
AND WE DON'T WANT THAT IN OUR TO BE BOTHERING OUR CITY AND OUR SITUATIONS.
IT'S NOT EQUITABLE, EQUITABLE DISPLACEMENT PATTERN.
AND IT'S BASICALLY FOCUSES ON THE LOWER MIDDLE AND PEOPLE OF COLOR.
AS A SORT OF A PROOF, I'D LIKE TO REFERENCE THE OBVIOUS GENTRIFICATION OF THE SOUTHERN AND WESTERN AUSTIN AREAS WHICH ARE OCCURRING CURRENTLY.
THAT YOU CAN SEE IF YOU JUST DRIVE AROUND THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS ALSO SUPPORTING LOCAL TEXAS.
WE'RE TRYING TO REDUCE HOMELESSNESS, MASS INCARCERATION, INCARCERATION, DRUG USE AND THE SPREAD OF HIV AND AIDS, ALL OF THOSE THINGS WHICH I MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY.
THE RAPID REHOUSING INITIATIVE OF LOCAL TEXAS IS IMPORTANT TO TO STOP WHAT HAPPENED TO ME, WHICH WAS THAT I BECAME UNHOUSED AGAIN AFTER MY RAPID REHOUSING EXPERIENCE BECAUSE OF A RANDOM RULE THAT THAT REQUIRED ME TO SAVE 60% OF MY INCOME.
THESE TYPES OF THINGS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN.
YOU SHOULD NOT BECOME HOMELESS AFTER YOU HAVE BEEN THROUGH RAPID REHOUSING.
YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE PROBLEMS LIKE THIS INCURRING TO MAKE US HOMELESS AGAIN, TO MAKE US BECOME DRUG ADDICTS AGAIN, TO MAKE US GET HIV OR AIDS BECAUSE WE ARE DESPERATE AND BECAUSE WE LOSE HOPE.
I'M. I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR LISTENING.
OUR RECENT RISE IN PRICES ACROSS ALL KINDS OF HOMES IS DRIVEN BY THE DYNAMICS OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND.
WE HAVE AN AFFORDABILITY CRISIS WHICH RISKS DRIVING PEOPLE OUT OF THE CITY OR INTO HOMELESSNESS.
I'M A RELATIVELY WELL OFF TECH WORKER WHO MOVED HERE FROM SAN FRANCISCO, IN LARGE PART BECAUSE HOUSING IS EXTREMELY UNAFFORDABLE THERE, IN PART DUE TO RESTRICTIVE HOUSING POLICY. I CAN TELL YOU FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE THAT WHEN YOU DON'T BUILD ENOUGH HOUSING, PEOPLE LIKE ME AND MY TECH WORKER FRIENDS WIND UP FILTERING DOWN THE MARKET AND MOVING INTO WHATEVER'S AVAILABLE, INCLUDING HISTORICALLY MINORITY AND LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES.
THAT DRIVES UP PRICES AND DISPLACES STUDENTS AND WORKING CLASS PEOPLE TO DISTANT SUBURBS AND EXURBS.
[05:55:04]
RESTRICTIVE HOUSING POLICY HASN'T STOPPED GENTRIFICATION IN CALIFORNIA.ALL IT'S DONE IS DRIVE UP PRICES AND DRIVE PEOPLE OUT OF THE CITY OR ONTO THE STREET.
I DON'T WANT TO DISPLACE ANYONE.
LET'S BUILD ENOUGH HOMES FOR EVERYONE.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM.
HI. FELICITY MAXWELL, D5 RESIDENT IN AURORA.
MAYOR. PRO TEM. COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WELCOME. CITY MANAGER BRODNAX, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME THIS AFTERNOON.
THANK YOU. ON BEHALF OF OUR UT AUSTIN, EHMCKE, HOUSTON, HOUSTON, TILLOTSON AND OTHER UNIVERSITY STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO STAY IN OUR CITY AND BEGIN BUILDING THEIR LIVES HERE BECAUSE OF THESE CHANGES.
THANK YOU. ON BEHALF OF THE AUSTIN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT AND ITS FUTURE STUDENTS, WHO WILL SEE INCREASED SERVICES AND BETTER FUNDING BECAUSE WE'RE BUILDING MORE HOMES NEAR THE SCHOOLS WE ALL LOVE.
THANK YOU. ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN FINANCE DEPARTMENT AND ALL OF OUR STAFF WHO WORK HARD TO ENSURE THE BEST USE OF OUR LOCAL TAX REVENUE AND THE INCREASE WE WILL BE CREATING IN THOSE REVENUES BY KEEPING RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES HERE IN OUR CITY LIMITS.
THANK YOU. ON BEHALF OF ALL OF THE INNOVATORS IN AUSTIN, OUR MUSIC MAKERS, POETS, ARTISTS, ENTREPRENEURS, WRITERS AND BUILDERS FOR PROVIDING HOUSING THAT ALLOWS THEM TO CONTINUE TO DREAM AND CREATE AND STAY IN THE PLACE THAT INSPIRES THEM EVERY DAY.
AND THANK YOU, ON BEHALF OF THE 2022 VOTERS OF AUSTIN, WHO MADE IT CLEAR AT THE BALLOT BOX THEY WANTED MORE HOUSING IN MORE PLACES, IN MORE SHAPES AND SIZES, AND MORE AFFORDABLE PRICES.
THANK YOU FOR RESPECTING AND RESPONDING SO CLEARLY TO THAT ELECTORAL MANDATE.
FINALLY, THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF MY ORGANIZATION, ORA.
WE VALUE AND APPRECIATE THE HOUSING AND TRANSIT LEADERSHIP OF MAYOR PRO TEM POOLE, MAYOR WATSON, COUNCIL MEMBERS VELA, FUENTES, VASQUEZ, HARPER, MADISON QUADRI ELLIS, AND RYAN ALTER AND WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE TREMENDOUS WORK OF THIS COUNCIL TO SUPPORT A MORE SUSTAINABLE, EQUITABLE AND FUTURE FORWARD.
AUSTIN, THANK YOU FOR HELPING OUR CITY BECOME A LEADER IN LAND USE AND TRANSIT NATIONWIDE.
SIR, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT.
WELL, THEN WHY DON'T YOU STEP OUTSIDE? I GOT A MICROPHONE RIGHT HERE.
JUST TRY TO FOLLOW THE RULES, FAKE OR OTHERWISE.
OH, SORRY. IS THIS ON? YES. HI, EVERYONE.
MY NAME IS MIKE GORSE AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SEVEN.
I'M ALSO ON THE BOARD OF AURA.
I WANTED TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF RESOLUTIONS FOUR, FIVE AND SIX.
[06:00:03]
FOR ONE THING, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY OWN COUNCIL MEMBER, LESLIE POOLE.I KNOW THAT HER POSITION HAS EVOLVED ON THIS OVER THE YEARS, AND IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY TO DECIDE THAT YOUR POSITION NEEDS TO EVOLVE OVER TIME, AND I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE HER FOR DOING THAT.
I'M NOT HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST IT.
WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT HOUSING IS DIFFICULT TO FIND, BOTH FOR YOUNG PEOPLE STARTING OUT AND FOR PEOPLE WHOSE LIFE SITUATION IS CHANGING AND WHO MIGHT NEED TO MOVE. PEOPLE NEED THE ABILITY TO MOVE, NOT JUST THE ABILITY TO STAY.
A WHILE AGO, I WAS AT THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF TEXAS CONVENTION, AND I REMEMBER A TALK FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE TEXAS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED. AND ONE OF THE THINGS I REMEMBER HER SAYING WAS THAT IT'S DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO FIND STAFF BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY THE SALARIES THAT PEOPLE NEED IN ORDER TO LIVE IN THE HOUSING, AND OVER TIME, THAT'S BECOMING AN ISSUE FOR AUSTIN.
AND I KNOW THERE ARE SOME CAVEATS THERE.
BUT OVERALL, THAT'S BEEN THE TREND.
PEOPLE ARE BEING DISPLACED UNDER THE CURRENT CODE.
AND HAVING LOWER LOTS, HAVING A LOWER MINIMUM LOT SIZE REQUIREMENTS WILL ALLOW OPTIONS OTHER THAN JUST TEARING DOWN SMALL HOUSES AND BUILDING MUCH LARGER HOUSES.
FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO AREN'T ABLE TO DRIVE, WE RELY ON TRANSIT AND WE'D LIKE A HIGH QUALITY TRANSIT SYSTEM, AND THAT'S GETTING THAT CAN BE A CHALLENGE GIVEN FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS AND SUCH.
BUT WE TO MOVE IT WILL HELP TO MOVE THE NEEDLE TO ALLOW MORE PEOPLE TO LIVE IN PLACES NEAR TRANSIT, WHICH IS LIKE WHAT THE FOR ONE THING, THE TOD ORDINANCE IS DOING, AND ALSO LOWERING MINIMUM LOT SIZES.
SO PARTICULARLY IN PLACES THAT ARE SERVED OR CAN BE SERVED BY HIGH FREQUENCY TRANSIT, IT'S DESIRABLE TO GIVE PEOPLE NOT TO FORCE PEOPLE TO LIVE THERE, BUT TO GIVE MORE PEOPLE THE OPTION.
WELCOME. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR COUNCIL.
I'M A RENTER IN DISTRICT FOUR, SPEAKING AGAINST ITEMS THREE THROUGH SIX.
SO EVERYONE AGREES THAT THE STATUS QUO IS NOT WORKING.
BUT WHAT IS THE STATUS QUO? IT'S BASED ON MARKET DRIVEN DEVELOPMENT THAT PREYS ON AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN SUBJECT TO SYSTEMICALLY RACIST ZONING.
NOW THAT ALL THOSE AREAS HAVE BECOME DESIRABLE BECAUSE OF THEIR PROXIMITY TO JOBS AND AMENITIES DEVELOPERS CAN MAKE THE MOST PROFIT FROM REDEVELOPING THEIR BECAUSE PROPERTY VALUES ARE LOWER.
THIS ONCE AGAIN DISPLACES THOSE RESIDENTS.
NOW THAT THEY HAVE FOUGHT OFF, THE INDUSTRY THAT POISONED THEIR CHILDREN, HAVE FOUGHT FOR PARKS AND BIKE LANES, AND HAVE BUILT RELATIONSHIPS THAT SUSTAIN EACH OTHER IN THE FACE OF EXTREME DISINVESTMENT FROM THE CITY.
WE'VE ALL SEEN THAT THE STATUS QUO CREATES EXPLOITATIVE, SPECULATIVE DEVELOPMENT, NOT AFFORDABILITY.
MARKET SOLUTIONS LIKE UP ZONING AND DEREGULATION ARE NOT A DEPARTURE FROM THE STATUS QUO.
THEY ACTUALLY JUST PUT THE STATUS QUO ON STEROIDS BY DRIVING UP PROPERTY VALUES AND INCENTIVIZING REDEVELOPMENT OF EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND THEY'LL EXACERBATE EXISTING INEQUITIES AND MARKET PRESSURES.
THE CITY'S OWN HOUSING DEPARTMENT SAID THAT MARKET DRIVEN SOLUTIONS TO THE HOUSING CRISIS WILL LIKELY REPRODUCE THE SAME DYNAMICS THAT PLAY OUT TODAY, AND WITH THOSE WITH THE FEWEST RESOURCES, WILL EXPERIENCE AN INCREASE IN PRECARITY.
LOW INCOME BIPOC NEIGHBORHOODS WILL EXPERIENCE INCREASED DISPLACEMENT PRESSURES AND WILL BE TARGETED FIRST FOR DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE PROPERTIES IN THE EASTERN CRESCENT YIELD HIGHER PROFITS. FURTHERMORE, DEED RESTRICTIONS THAT INSULATE MANY HISTORICALLY AFFLUENT AND WHITE NEIGHBORHOODS FROM THE PROPOSED LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE CHANGES FURTHER INCREASES REDEVELOPMENT AND DISPLACEMENT PRESSURES ON LOW INCOME BIPOC COMMUNITIES.
PLEASE PASS THE EQUITY OVERLAY TODAY TO PROTECT COMMUNITIES VULNERABLE TO DISPLACEMENT, DELAYING THE GRANTING OF ENTITLEMENTS WITHIN AREAS OF RISK AT A RISK OF DISPLACEMENT. FOR ANY ZONING CHANGES PASSED TODAY TO ALIGN WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AN OVERLAY THAT WILL BE DETERMINED BY A TIME LIMITED, COMMUNITY BASED PROCESS, IT IS NOT
[06:05:08]
ENOUGH TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF AN EQUITY OVERLAY AFTER ZONING CHANGES ARE PASSED, BECAUSE ENTITLEMENTS GRANTED TODAY CANNOT BE TAKEN AWAY.GENTRIFICATION IS NOT INEVITABLE.
THE STATUS QUO CAN BE INTERRUPTED.
WE NEED TO SLOW DOWN AND EXPLORE OTHER SOLUTIONS TO INVEST IN AND PROTECT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THERE ARE OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE CREATED PROCESSES WHERE HOMEOWNERS CAN OPT IN TO SUBDIVIDE THEIR LOTS, IN CASES WHERE IT WOULD HELP THEM RETAIN THEIR HOMES RATHER THAN RAZING PROPERTIES.
IF INVITE THE WEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY TO THE TABLE.
I PROMISE I DIDN'T PLAN THIS IN ADVANCE.
I'D LIKE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WATER.
BY ONE ESTIMATE, IT'S LIKE TAKING TEN MORE BATHS IN A WHIRLPOOL TUB PER DAY THAN YOUR NEIGHBOR.
NOW I KEEP CLEAN, BUT I DOUBT ANYONE ELSE KEEPS IT THAT CLEAN EVERY DAY.
AND THE WATER USE FROM THAT KEEPS GROWING.
SPEAKING FROM EXPERIENCE, I'VE HAD THE SAME SIZE TOWNHOUSE, DUPLEX, OR CONDO FOR THE TEN YEARS THAT I'VE RENTED HERE IN THIS CITY, AND THE BIGGEST FACTOR IN MY WATER BILL HAS ALWAYS BEEN HOW LARGE IS MY LAWN? BECAUSE IT GO ANYWHERE FROM NOTHING TO FLAT FEE FOR A COUPLE OF BUCKS TO HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS IN OUR DROUGHT YEARS.
AND AS IT STANDS, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO HAVE WHAT MANY OF MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS HAVE AND OTHER TEXAS CITY A SMALL HOUSE OR ROW HOME WHERE THE BACKYARD IS JUST BIG ENOUGH TO ENJOY THE SUNSHINE ON THE GOOD DAYS, BUT NOT LARGE ENOUGH AS TO REQUIRE CONSTANT MAINTENANCE.
NOW I HAVE TO LET THE CITY COUNCIL IN ON A SECRET.
ALLOWING MORE HOMES ON SMALLER LOTS MEANS ALLOCATING MEANS, ALLOWING FUTURE HOMEOWNERS TO CUT THEIR OWN WATER CONSUMPTION AUTOMATICALLY BY GIVING THE CHOICE, NOT THE REQUIREMENT.
THE CHOICE OF A SMALLER LOT, WHICH WE CURRENTLY PROHIBIT TO ALL AUSTINITES.
GREATER INFILL MEANS LOWER PER CAPITA WATER USE.
WE HAVE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO RELEASE MILLIONS OF GALLONS OF WATER BACK INTO OUR RESERVOIRS, OUR AQUIFERS AND OUR STREAMS AND SET ASIDE MORE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, FEEL FREE TO BEGIN TESTIMONY.
HI, MY NAME IS KRISTEN HERRING, AND I'M IN DISTRICT SIX.
I'M HERE WITH COMMUNITY POWERED ATX TO ASK YOU ALL TO VOTE AGAINST HOME TWO.
I HAVE BEEN LIVING IN AUSTIN FOR ALMOST A DECADE NOW.
I'VE TRIED FOR YEARS TO CREATE ROOTS HERE AND TO START MY OWN FAMILY IN AUSTIN, AND HAVE FELT AND HAVE DEALT WITH SO MANY SETBACKS DUE TO THE FAILURE OF LEADERSHIP IN AUSTIN AND IN TEXAS, DESPITE TEXAS LAWS ALMOST KILLING ME, I HAVE STAYED BECAUSE OF THE PEOPLE.
I WANT TO LIVE HERE, BUT I LITERALLY CAN'T AFFORD TO WHILE LIVING HERE.
I HAVE NEVER MADE LESS THAN $12 AN HOUR.
MY HUSBAND ALSO WORKS A FULL TIME JOB AND GETS PAID BY THE VA.
AND YET EVERY SINGLE YEAR WHEN OUR LEASE ENDS, WE'VE HAD TO MOVE BECAUSE OF THE RENT INCREASE.
I'VE LIVED HERE FOR EIGHT YEARS.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW MY HUSBAND AND I CAN WORK FULL TIME AND STILL NOT AFFORD TO RENT IN AUSTIN.
[06:10:08]
THAT'S JUST RENT.I FEEL HOPELESS LIVING IN AUSTIN.
I DON'T KNOW WHY HAVING THREE INCOMES ISN'T ENOUGH TO BUY A HOUSE IN AUSTIN, BUT IT'S NOT.
THE MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME HERE IS $110,000 A YEAR, AND IT'S INCREASING.
WHEN ARE Y'ALL GOING TO START CARING ABOUT PEOPLE MORE THAN MONEY? LET ME TELL Y'ALL WHAT HAPPENED WITH UPZONING IN CHICAGO.
I GOT A FEW QUOTES OVER HERE, SO JUST BEAR WITH ME, OKAY? FREE MARS IS IN 2020.
THE VALUATION OF CHICAGO TWO FINDS SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN UP ZONE PROPERTY VALUES.
EVEN AS HE DOES NOT IDENTIFY NEW HOUSING CONSTRUCTION.
AS NOTED EARLIER, PARCELS ABOUT 20% BOOST IN ALLOWED DENSITY HAD A 15 TO 23.2% INCREASE IN SALES PRICES, WITH THE INCREASE CAPITALIZED BETWEEN BETWEEN SIX MONTHS AND TWO YEARS AFTER REZONING.
OKAY, BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH, RIGHT? BUT 7 TO 10% INCREASE IN PER UNIT HOUSING COSTS WITHIN UPZONE NEW YORK NEIGHBORHOODS, THOUGH THE LIMITED STATISTICAL SIGNIFICANCE AND CHICAGO WHO WAS RECENTLY WHO WAS RECENTLY UP ZONED IN 2013 TO AND 2015, MAINLY AROUND SEVERAL TRANSIT CORRIDORS. A TYPE OF UP ZONING KNOWN AS TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT.
TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT DIRECTS HOUSING PRODUCTION AND ECONOMY.
CAN WE MAKE SURE HER MICROPHONE IS ON, PLEASE? WILL YOU TRY THAT AGAIN? HELLO? LET THEM DO THAT OVER THERE.
DON'T, DON'T. HELLO? NO. WOULD YOU MOVE OVER THAT MICROPHONE, PLEASE? SURE. GO AHEAD. THAT IT.
I'M CURRENTLY THE PRESIDENT OF THE GALINDO NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND DISTRICT THREE.
I'M HERE AS MARK DICKENS SAID, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW ALREADY WHAT THE VOTE'S GOING TO BE.
IT'S PRETTY OBVIOUS HOW YOU ALL FEEL ABOUT MOST OF US HERE IN AUSTIN.
DESPITE PROMISES FROM YOU, MAYOR WATSON, WHEN YOU CAME TO OUR CANDIDATE FORUM THAT YOU WOULD INCLUDE THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN ANY DISCUSSIONS THAT WOULD BE PERTINENT TO THEM, THAT JUST HAS NOT HAPPENED.
THE ONE THING THAT IT REALLY IS FRUSTRATING TO ME IS WORKING AS A NEIGHBORHOOD ACTIVIST FOR 20 YEARS NOW IS THE DIVIDE THAT'S PERPETUALLY GIVEN BY YOU ALL THAT IT'S US OR THEM? NO, IT'S ALL OF US IN THIS TOGETHER.
AND WE'RE PART OF THE SOLUTION AS WELL.
WE LIVE IN A GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION THAT DOESN'T GET RAIN.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHERE THE WATER WILL COME FROM.
WE'RE NOT. OUR STREETS ARE A MESS.
WE DON'T HAVE A POLICE CONTRACT.
WE'VE ASKED OVER AND OVER AGAIN, WILL YOU PLEASE SHOW US HOW THIS IS GOING TO WORK FOR OUR COMMUNITY? WHERE ARE THE METRICS THAT YOU'RE USING? CRICKETS. WHAT'S GOING ON? HOW CAN WE? WE'RE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE WILL BE MOST AFFECTED, AND WE CAN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AND WHAT THE REALITY IS WHEN WE UPZONE AND GIVE THE THE DEVELOPERS TOTAL
[06:15:09]
CONTROL OVER ANY DEVELOPMENT THEY MAKE WITHOUT HAVING TO COME TO ANY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION OR ANYBODY TO ASK, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT AND NEED IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD? THE ANSWER IS NO.ON MY STREET, IT'S BEING WE HAVE MILLION DOLLAR HOMES.
NOW. ALMOST EACH HOUSE THERE'S LIKE 4 OR 5 SWIMMING POOLS RIGHT NOW.
WE COULD TALK ABOUT THOSE USING A LOT OF WATER IN AUSTIN.
FIVE, FIVE BATHROOMS. THEY'RE ALL POURING IN.
THE. ALL THAT WATER IS JUST GOING INTO TINY LITTLE PIPES.
CYNTHIA VASQUEZ MONICA GUZMAN, WHO HAS TIME DONATED BY ROY WHALEY.
IS ROY HERE? MONICA, YOU GET THREE MINUTES.
THERE'S MR. I SEE ROY MR. WHALEY. SO MISS GUZMAN HAS SIX MINUTES.
SO LUIS PERALTA, JESUS SALCEDO, CYNTHIA VASQUEZ, JANICE BOOKOUT, AND WHIT IRWIN, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM, PLEASE.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, COME FORWARD.
I'M MONICA GUZMAN, POLICY DIRECTOR AT GO AUSTIN.
GALA THANKS. THE SIERRA CLUB AUSTIN REGIONAL CHAPTER FOR THE DONATED TIME.
HOME PHASE ONE WAS VOTED THROUGH DESPITE THE CLEAR MAJORITY OF SPEAKERS OPPOSED.
OUR VOICES ARE LOUD AND SOMETIMES ANGRY.
WHAT IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT? ANGER IS A COLLECTIVE OF EXPERTISE, DEVELOPING A PLAN TO ACCOUNT FOR GROWTH WHILE MITIGATING THE THREAT OF DISPLACEMENT.
THIS PLAN, CREATED THROUGH THE HARD WORK OF THE FOLKS AT THE COMMUNITY POWERED ATX, HAS BEEN VETTED THROUGH COMMUNITY MEMBERS, PLANNING EXPERTS AT UT, AND EVEN DEVELOPERS. THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE TO SUPPORT AND APPROVE THE CPW ATX EQUITY ANTI-DISPLACEMENT OVERLAY.
APPROVE IT BEFORE APPROVING HOME PHASE TWO.
IT WOULD ENCOURAGE TRULY AFFORDABLE DENSITY RATHER THAN INCENTIVIZING MARKET RATE.
THE PROTECTIVE OVERLAY IS PROPOSED TO COVER ALL NEIGHBORHOODS IDENTIFIED AS VULNERABLE IN THE UPROOTED REPORT ON THE MAP, BASED ON THE MAP OF MOST VULNERABLE CENSUS TRACTS IN 2016, MORE RECENT CENSUS DATA CAN ALSO BE USED TO DETERMINE NEIGHBORHOOD VULNERABILITY.
PROVIDE A MINIMUM OF 50% OF UNITS AFFORDABLE TO EXISTING RESIDENTS WHO ARE RENT BURDENED, HOUSING INSECURE, AND AT RISK OF DISPLACEMENT WITH UNITS BELOW 50% MFI.
58,400 FOR A HOUSEHOLD OF FOUR AND 30% MFI.
35,050 FOR A HOUSEHOLD OF 4 OR 50% OF THE MFI.
FOR THE CENSUS BLOCK GROUP, THIS PROPOSED EXCUSE ME.
THIS PROPOSAL DEFINES AFFORDABILITY BASED ON WHAT IS AFFORDABLE TO RESIDENTS IN NEIGHBORHOODS VULNERABLE TO DISPLACEMENT, AND BEGINS TO ADDRESS THE INEQUITY OF AUSTIN'S HISTORICAL LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE AND DISPLACEMENT IMPACTS.
THIS MAY REQUIRE PRIVATE DEVELOPERS TO LEVERAGE EXISTING FUNDS FOR TRULY AFFORDABLE HOUSING, I.E.
HOUSING. A MESSAGE FROM D5 RESIDENT SUE REDDING.
I'M AN 80 YEAR OLD SINGLE WOMAN LIVING ON A MONTHLY SOCIAL SECURITY PAYMENT OF $1,413.
I LIVE IN A ONE BEDROOM APARTMENT IN SOUTH AUSTIN.
FOURPLEX MY MONTHLY RENT IS $1,095.
PLUS, THERE'S A UTILITY DISCOUNT OF $69, SO I PAY 1026.
I GET $179 IN SNAP BENEFITS, BUT FOOD PRICES ARE UP.
[06:20:03]
MY UTILITY BILL IS ALMOST $100 A MONTH, INCLUDING $40 FOR SOLID WASTE PICKUP.I MIGHT HAVE 1 OR 2 SMALL BAGS OF GARBAGE EVERY WEEK.
OTHER BILLS INCLUDE CAR INSURANCE, PHONE, AND INTERNET.
DANG IT, CLICK THE WRONG THING.
THERE'S ONE SUCH PLACE I SAW IN SOUTH LAMAR AREA.
ALL OF THESE BEHIND THE BIG THEATERS AND UNAFFORDABLE RESTAURANTS AND OTHER FUN STUFF IN THE AREA.
I APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS OF THE HOUSING ASSISTANCE ORGANIZATIONS, BUT IT APPEARS THAT THE CITY PEOPLE WHO CONTROL OUR HOUSING HAVE NO IDEA WHAT REAL FINANCIAL NEED IS AND HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO OBTAIN ASSISTANCE OR EVEN FIND OUT HOW TO GET IT.
SUE AGHAVEA, RESIDENT LEADER IN OUR EARLY YEARS, IS A DEAR FRIEND TO ME AND OTHERS AND IS ONE OF MANY WHO ARE STRUGGLING AND IN NEED OF DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING. SO SHE IS ABLE TO EXPERIENCE A QUALITY LIFESTYLE WHILE AGING IN PLACE.
IN THE AUSTIN INDEPENDENT MAY 14TH POST FOUNDING EDITOR AND FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER DARYL SLUSHER INCLUDED A SECTION TITLED QUOTE, TITO VELA, NOT QUITE THE LORAX, UNQUOTE, IN WHICH SLUSHER INCLUDES THE BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN VELA AND A CITY STAFFER ABOUT LAWNS, TREES AND WATER.
CONSERVATION STAFF IS CONCERNED ABOUT GREEN SPACE IN FRONT OF HOUSES, TO WHICH IN PART VILLA SAID, QUOTE, I MEAN, PERSONALLY, I'M NOT A BIG FAN OF FRONT LAWNS.
I THINK THE MORE IS A KIND OF WASTED SPACE, UNQUOTE.
YOU ARE NOT THE COMMUNITY'S COUNCIL, YOU'RE THE DEVELOPERS COUNCIL.
THIS COUNCIL HAS CHOSEN TO SACRIFICE THE COMMUNITY FOR DEVELOPER PROFITS.
AND BY THE WAY, NUESTRA GENTE SE HA ESTADO YENDO DURANTE CIENTOS DE ANOS.
LONG BEFORE ANY OF US WERE BORN.
NOW THEY LIVE TOGETHER NOT BECAUSE THEY WANT TO, BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE ON THEIR OWN.
FINALLY, A MAN WHO SPOKE EARLIER MAKING A DISPARAGING IMPLICATION ABOUT THOUSANDS OF US.
IF OUR VALUES DO NOT ALIGN, DON'T VOTE.
I'M A RENTER IN DISTRICT NINE, AND I SUPPORT ITEM FOUR, FIVE, AND SIX.
YOU'VE HEARD FROM THE DETRACTORS AND THEIR VISION OF A PRESERVED AUSTIN THAT STAYS RELATIVELY SMALL AND AND REMAINS RELATIVELY UNAFFORDABLE AND INACCESSIBLE TO MANY, I ARGUE INSTEAD FOR HOUSING ABUNDANCE.
ABUNDANCE MEANS HAVING NOT JUST ENOUGH HOUSING FOR EVERYONE, BUT MORE THAN ENOUGH.
IT MEANS ALWAYS HAVING GOOD ALTERNATIVES.
IF YOUR LANDLORD IS A PROBLEM OR YOUR RENT IS GOING UP, IT MEANS THAT WHEN YOU WANT TO EXPAND YOUR HOUSING TO ACCOMMODATE A GROWING FAMILY, YOU'RE ABLE TO DO SO WITHOUT MOVING TO THE BIRDS. IT MEANS BEING ABLE TO AFFORD TO BUY WHEN YOU'RE READY.
HOUSING ABUNDANCE MEANS MORE OPTIONS, MORE AVAILABILITY, AND THUS LOWER RENTS.
LOWER RENTS MEANS A LOWER COST OF LIVING, WHICH CAN BE A HUGE EFFECT ON ONE'S LIFE.
GIVEN HOW BIG AND EXPENSIVE HOUSING IS, IT MEANS LESS TIME DEVOTED TO JUST MAKING RENT.
IT NECESSARILY SQUEEZES EVERY RESIDENT INTO WORKING MORE JUST IN ORDER TO TO MAKE RENT.
[06:25:10]
SWALES, BERMS, DRY PONDS AND OTHER RETENTION STRUCTURES INTO OUR YARDS TO ALLOW FOR MORE WATER INFILTRATION, WHICH RECHARGES THE AQUIFERS AND AVOIDS FLOODING.I ENCOURAGE YOU TO STOP WATERING YOUR OWN LAWN AND EMBRACE PERMACULTURE.
WE HAVE LIZARDS, BUTTERFLIES, LIGHTNING BUGS.
IF YOU HAVE A GARDEN, YOU CAN USE A FRACTION OF THE WATER WITH TARGETED DRIP IRRIGATION.
WITH RESPECT TO TRAFFIC, WE MUST REALIZE THAT AUSTIN WILL NOT BE CAR DOMINATED FOREVER.
MOST ARE NOT AWARE THAT A MODERN, HIGH WATTAGE ELECTRIC BIKE CAN GET YOU THERE WITH MINIMAL SWEAT, NO POLLUTION, SOME BENEFICIAL EXERCISE, AND IN LESS TIME AND AT LESS EXPENSE THAN IT WOULD TAKE YOU TO DRIVE.
THAT'S COMPELLING, AND IT WILL BE A MUCH BIGGER PART OF OUR TRANSPORTATION MIX AS PEOPLE CATCH ON.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO A PODIUM.
HAS YOUR NAME. IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, YOU'RE WELCOME TO TESTIFY.
THANK YOU. IN 2020, WITH MY BUSINESS SHUTTERED, STATE YOUR NAME? I'M SORRY. JANICE BOOKOUT.
THANK YOU. IN 2020, WITH MY BUSINESS SHUTTERED AND MY HUSBAND FURLOUGHED INSTEAD OF COWERING, I ROSE AND HELPED START A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT TO OPERATIONALIZE EQUITY DURING THE PANDEMIC. THAT IS WHO I AM.
MANY OF YOU WORK TIRELESSLY THROUGH THE PANDEMIC AND ROLLED UP YOUR SLEEVES DURING STORM URI.
MY DATA SAYS AUSTIN, HAS THE LOWEST DEATH RATE OF ALL CENTRAL TEXAS LARGE CENTRAL METROS IN TEXAS, AND IS THE SEVENTH LOWEST IN THE US IN A STATE THAT CAME IN 45TH WITH LOWER THAN AVERAGE DEATH RATES ACROSS EVERY DEMOGRAPHIC GROUP.
YOU LISTEN TO AND WORKED WITH THE COMMUNITY.
YOU FOLLOW THE DATA IN A CONSTANT STATE OF INQUIRY.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW, FOR THE RECORD, I HAVE VERY GOOD FRIENDS ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS DEBATE.
I RESPECT THEM AND I KNOW ONE TOLD ME WHAT TO THINK.
I DID THE RESEARCH MYSELF, ANALYZED THE DATA MYSELF, AND I'M EXPERIENCING LOW INCOME MYSELF.
THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ FOR THE AMENDMENT.
BUT UNTIL YESTERDAY, NO ONE TOOK THAT FIRST STEP.
YOU DID, BUT YOU CANNOT TAKE ENTITLEMENTS.
GIVEN ASKING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXPLORE THE FEASIBILITY OF AN EQUITY OVERLAY MEANS THAT WHEN IT COMES BEFORE COUNCIL, IT WILL BE TOO LATE UNLESS YOU TAKE ACTION NOW TO WRITE IN A DELAY. IMPLEMENT A DELAY IMPLEMENTATION UNTIL AN EQUITY OVERLAY IS WRITTEN.
ANY RESTRICTIVE OVERLAY WILL BE NULLIFIED.
WE HAVE A PRECEDENT FOR AN EQUITY OVERLAY.
DELAGARZA MOTIONED ONE BACK BASED ON THE UPROOTED STUDY BACK IN 2019.
IT WAS SUPPORTED BY COUNCIL HISPANIC QUALITY OF LIFE, FOOD POLICY BOARD, MUSIC COMMISSION, AND AJC.
WHY THE AUSTIN HOUSING MARKET IS DYNAMIC ON AND COMPLEX.
THAT IS WHERE PLANNERS OFTEN DISAGREE WITH ECONOMISTS.
AND I CAN I SAY THE RENT NEVER GOES DOWN UNLESS YOU MOVE.
SO SUPPLY TRICKLING DOWN TRANSLATES TO PEOPLE MOVING TO LOWER QUALITY, CHEAPER, SMALLER HOUSING.
AND THAT PART OF THE SUPPLY IS SHRINKING, NOT GROWING AS THE ENTITLEMENTS FLOW.
LET'S NOT EXPERIMENT ON BEHALF OF THE MIDDLE CLASS AT THE EXPENSE OF THE WORKING POOR.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU SELENA.
SHE ALEXIA LECLERC KENDRA CERVERA.
[06:30:03]
ALVIN. SANDERSON.IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT.
WELCOME. IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND FEEL FREE TO MAKE YOUR COMMENTS.
YEAH. SARAH RODRIGUEZ, AUSTIN NATIVE.
I WANTED TO PROVIDE SOME CLARITY ON THE EQUITY AND ANTI-DISPLACEMENT OVERLAY, DELAYING THE CONSIDERATION OF ZONING CHANGES THROUGH A COMMUNITY BASED PROCESS ON A TIMELINE SET BY COUNCIL MEANS THAT WE WILL HAVE A SET DATE FOR WHEN RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD BE MADE ON THE TYPE OF ZONING CHANGES THAT ARE MOST CONDUCTIVE TO OUR GOALS OF MITIGATING DISPLACEMENT, PROTECTING AND PRODUCING TRULY AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN AREAS AT RISK OF DISPLACEMENT.
IN THE LONG TERM, THIS WOULD ENSURE THAT WE HAVE WE DO HAVE MAKE ZONING CHANGES THAT CORRECT COMBINATION OF INVESTMENTS, INCENTIVES, TOOLS, PROTECTIONS ARE IN PLACE, SUCH AS DEEPER AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS AND STRATEGIC INVESTMENT TO PRESERVE EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT WOULD INCENTIVIZE FOR DEMOLITION OF ZONING CHANGES OCCUR NOW.
STRATEGIES TO REDUCE SPECULATION, WHICH PRODUCES NO SUPPLY OF UNITS.
A LOT OF HOPELESSNESS, A LOT OF DISMAY.
THIS IS NOT JUST A HOUSING ISSUE.
IT'S A WAY WE ASK FOR FEEDBACK.
YOU KNOW, AT THE CITY, IT'S THE WAY THAT WE WAIT TILL LAST MINUTE.
IT'S THE WAY THAT WE TALK DOWN TO ADVOCATES AND COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, SUPPORTERS.
IT'S IT'S ACROSS MULTIPLE ISSUES.
IT'S ACROSS AI, IT'S ACROSS HOUSING.
BECAUSE THIS ISN'T GOING TO BE A SILVER BULLET.
THIS ISN'T GOING TO SUPPLY THE THIS ISN'T GOING TO CREATE THE SOLUTION THAT WE NEED.
SO I'M JUST ASKING YOU GOING FORWARD, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE MAKING THESE DECISIONS, NOT WAITING TILL THE LAST MINUTE AND REALLY, TRULY INVOLVING COMMUNITY IN THESE CONVERSATIONS.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COME UP.
HELLO. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBER AND MAYOR.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT FIVE AND I'M IMPACTED BY THE HOUSING CRISIS.
I'M CURRENTLY HOUSED BY THE RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAM.
I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
MY RENT NOW IS 1495 AND IT'S GOING UP ANOTHER $500 NEXT YEAR.
PROTECT EASTERN CRESCENT AND NEIGHBORHOODS VULNERABLE AND DISPLACED TO DISPLACEMENT ARE.
THEY ALL DRIVE UP HOUSING COSTS AND ACCELERATE THE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS FOR ALL RESIDENTS, BUT THE WEALTHIEST IN THE MIDDLE AND LOW INCOME RESIDENTS IMPACTED BY DISPLACEMENT AND HOMELESSNESS.
INSTEAD, IT'S GOING UP TO THE POINT I HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN RENT AND FOOD.
WE JUST WE SHOULD HAVE TRULY AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO ALL.
I I MAY NEED TO MOVE OUT OF AUSTIN DUE TO THE RENT GOING UP AND THE LACK OF AFFORDABILITY HOUSING.
WE NEED A REAL SOLUTION TO THE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS.
AND FOR A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THIS COUNCIL MEMBERS IS WHERE MY SISTER LIVED AT.
THEY BUILT THREE HOUSES IN THAT SAME PLACE, AND THE THE PRICES OF THAT HOUSE WENT UP.
NOT JUST THAT, BUT THE HOUSES AROUND THE SAME AREA.
THEY WENT UP A LOT TO THE POINT THAT I COULDN'T EVEN AFFORD IT.
EVEN MY SISTER THAT LIVED THERE IN THAT HOUSE CANNOT AFFORD EVEN LIVING IN THAT SAME AREA ANYMORE.
SHE HAD TO MOVE OUT OF THE AREA.
AND ALSO SHE'S ACTUALLY NOW IN THE PROCESS OF BEING HOMELESS ALSO HERSELF.
[06:35:01]
AND IT'S AFFECTING MY COMMUNITY.I LIVE HERE AND PLEASE VOTE NO.
THANK YOU SIR. CANDICE WALTZ, JOHN WALTZ, PHILIP WYLIE.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM.
PLEASE GO TO ONE OF THE PODIUMS TO STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS PHILIP WYLIE.
I'D LIKE TO WELCOME YOU ALL TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND THANK OUR NEW CITY MANAGER FOR FOR JOINING US.
I'M SURE YOU HAD A LOT OF OPTIONS.
AND CONSIDER US EXTREMELY FORTUNATE THAT YOU'VE CHOSEN US.
I'VE BEEN SITTING HERE FOR HOURS AND I ALMOST FORGOT WHY I CAME.
THE THE THE FEAR OF THE CONCERN.
I WISH I COULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.
I WISH I COULD SUGGEST A FIX, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING TO US IN IN THIS COUNTRY, IN THE CITY. IT'S A WONDERFUL CITY.
I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE BEING HERE.
WE HAVE SOME THINGS THAT WE NEED TO FIX.
WE NEED TO GET BETTER AT THINGS.
WE NEED TO GET BETTER AT HOUSING PEOPLE.
AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT IDEAS ON HOW TO GET BETTER AT HOUSING PEOPLE.
SMALLER LOTS COSTS LESS THAN BIGGER LOTS.
AND AND I'M SORRY IF THAT'S OFFENSIVE TO ANYBODY, BUT THE IDEA IS SOLID.
ACROSS THE STREET FROM ME, AND IT'S DIFFICULT FOR ME TO BRING THIS UP.
BUT ACROSS THE STREET FROM ME IS A IS A CONDOMINIUM REGIME THAT WAS GOING TO BE BUILT WITH 20 UNITS IN THE EARLY 80S, AND THEY THEY RESIZED THAT WITH THE ECONOMY TO 12 UNITS.
THAT'S 12 UNITS ON ONE SF THREE LOT.
YOU USED TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT IN AUSTIN.
MOST OF THE PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT WHAT WE'RE WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED HERE TODAY IS LESS THAN WHAT YOU COULD DO IN THE EARLY 1980S.
IF WE DISCOURAGE PEOPLE FROM MOVING HERE, COULD WE KEEP THIS WONDERFUL GARDEN OF EDEN INTACT AS IT WAS? AND IT DIDN'T WORK? IT JUST DIDN'T WORK.
AND I ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER POOL FOR FOR THE COURAGE THAT IT TOOK TO TO BRING THIS FORWARD.
I KNOW IT ISN'T EASY DOING THINGS LIKE THAT IN THIS COMMUNITY, BUT A LOT OF RESPECT AND THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. IF YOUR NAME IS CALLED, FEEL FREE TO STEP UP TO THE MICROPHONE.
HI, MY NAME IS ALEXIA, BUT I'M ACTUALLY HERE TO READ A STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF MINA RODRIGUEZ.
CAN YOU STATE YOUR FULL NAME FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE? ALEXIA LECLERC. THANK YOU.
HI, MY NAME IS MINA RODRIGUEZ.
AND TODAY, WITH ALL MY HEART, I URGE YOU TO VOTE AGAINST THIS ITEM.
AND I STAND DEEPLY IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE DEMANDS OF COMMUNITY POWERED ATX.
I HAVE FIVE KIDS AND AN ADOPTED DAUGHTER WHO IS DISABLED.
I WAS DISPLACED BECAUSE OF THE HIGH LIVING COST OF LIVING.
I USED TO LIVE IN DOVE SPRINGS IN DISTRICT TWO, BUT NOW I LIVE IN BUDA.
MARKET RATE APARTMENTS WITH THESE POLICIES PROMOTE.
WE WANT PROTECTION FOR COMMUNITIES MOST VULNERABLE.
WE NEED THE EQUITY ANTI-DISPLACEMENT OVERLAY.
WE NEED TO PROTECT AND BUILD DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
[06:40:01]
ZONING CREATION PROCESS, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THEY AREN'T AT ALL.AND I WISH THAT SHE WAS THE ONLY PERSON I KNEW THAT'S BEEN DISPLACED.
BUT IT'S HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE, IF NOT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.
WE, AS COMMUNITY POWERED ATX, HAVE GIVEN Y'ALL THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY.
AND THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE IS NOT ONLY VALUABLE, BUT THE VOICES WE NEED TO BE LISTENING TO.
THEY ARE COMMUNITY POWERED ATX, AUSTIN MUTUAL AID, GO, AUSTIN.
VAMOS. AUSTIN. COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
UNITED. BORDER UNDOING, WHITE SUPREMACY AUSTIN.
ECOLOGY ACTION, THE HEALING PROJECT, SOUTHWEST, AUSTIN.
NEIGHBORS AND RESIDENTS, INDIGENOUS MOVEMENT CREW, RENTERS AND UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS ALLIANCE, START EMPOWERMENT, NONVIOLENT AUSTIN, INDIVISIBLE AUSTIN, FRIENDS OF MR. CREEK, SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE, AUSTIN SANCTUARY NETWORK, REWILD.
INSIDE AMIGOS, SOCIAL ACTION COUNCIL, MONTOPOLIS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, COMMUNITY NOT COMMODITY AUSTIN BROWN, BERET, UT ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COLLECTIVE, VOCAL TEXAS, RUTH'S PANTRY, ATX FREE FRIDGE PROJECTS, HERB GARDEN AND FOOD JUSTICE PROJECTS.
WE ALSO HAVE EASTERN CRESCENT NEIGHBORHOODS INCLUDING MONTOPOLIS, PONCA, VASQUEZ FIELD, PECAN SPRINGS, SPRINGDALE, LARGE TERRACE, VARGAS GARDEN, EAST TOWN LAKE, MCKINLEY HEIGHTS, BIRD STREETS OF PLEASANT HILL, PECAN SPRINGS, SPRINGDALE, AND HOMEWOOD HEIGHTS.
MY NAME IS FRANCIS ACUNA AND I AM A.
I USED TO BE A LONG TIME RESIDENT OF DUST SPRINGS AS OF TWO MONTHS AGO.
AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST ITEM SIX.
DECREASING LOT SIZES WILL WILL INCREASE, WILL INCREASE FLOODING AND DECREASE TREE CANOPY IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE ALREADY AT RISK.
IT WOULD DISPLACE MORE LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES IN THE EASTERN CRESCENT.
YOU WOULD NOT ONLY BE DISPLACING RESIDENTS ABLE TO WORK, YOU ARE DISPLACING SENIORS THAT HAVE MOVED OUTSIDE OF AUSTIN THAT WILL HAVE TO MOVE OUTSIDE OF AUSTIN, WHERE THERE'S NO HEALTH CARE OR HOSPITALS NEAR THEIR HOME, ESPECIALLY IN DISTRICT TWO, THREE AND FOUR, WHERE YOU HAVE THE MOST CONCENTRATION OF IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES IN DISTRICT FOUR DISTRICTS.
HEARD THAT THERE'S THERE NEEDS TO BE A LOT OF APARTMENTS BUILT, BUILD, BUILD.
AND THE OTHER SOLUTION WAS WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL AN IMMIGRATION REFORM PASSES.
WHEN YOU WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE EASTERN CRESCENT, HOW MANY OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS DO YOU THINK CAN AFFORD TO BUILD ONE HOME IN THEIR BACKYARDS OR MORE OR LESS, HOW CAN THEY PUT MORE THAN THAT? AND THAT IS IS THAT YOUR ANTI-DISPLACEMENT SOLUTION? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA OF THE TRAUMA YOU ARE CAUSING TO THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE LIVED IN THEIR HOMES, THEIR FOREVER HOMES? I WANT TO FIND TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE ANTI-DISPLACEMENT PLAN BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO MOVE FROM AUSTIN.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT I FOUND OUT? THEY TOLD ME WE CAN HELP YOU WITH YOUR MOVING EXPENSES.
I WAS LOOKING FOR SUPPORT FOR.
NOT FOR ME TO STAY IN MY HOUSE.
I WAS NOT LOOKING FOR MOVING EXPENSES.
HOW WOULD THAT HELP THE ANTI-DISPLACEMENT? YOU ARE HERE TO PROTECT US, NOT TO KICK US OUT OUT OF OUR HOMES.
BECAUSE WE DON'T FALL IN YOUR INCOME, IN YOUR ECONOMIC PLAN.
WE NEED AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS AND COMMUNITY INPUT.
AND THIS GOES FOR ALL THE THREE ITEMS. ITEM THREE, FOUR, FIVE AND SIX.
PLEASE VOTE NO UNTIL THERE'S REALLY AN EQUITABLE ANTI-DISPLACEMENT OVERLAY PLAN.
[06:45:11]
HEY, MY NAME IS MISAEL RAMOS AND I AM HERE IN OPPOSITION TO HOME PHASE TWO BECAUSE THE STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT ADDITIONAL SUPPLY WITHOUT AFFORDABLE AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS DOESN'T MAKE HOUSING CHEAPER.BEFORE I GET INTO ALL THAT, THOUGH, I WANT TO MAKE A QUICK OBSERVATION.
Y'ALL GOT ALL THESE WHITE FOLKS UP HERE TALKING LIKE ROBOTS ON THIS HOME POLICY, ALL WHILE OUR BLACK AND BROWN REPRESENTATIVES SIT HERE AS UNENGAGED PUPPETS WILLING TO DO WHAT THEIR MILLIONAIRE AND BILLIONAIRE MASTERS TELL THEM TO DO.
I USED TO BREAK DANCE, BUT I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS MUCH SHUCKING AND JIVING IN MY LIFE.
THE WORST THING IS Y'ALL ARE ALL OFF BEAT TO SOME OF YOU BEING PRO EQUITY BACK IN 2019.
NATASHA. AND FOR SOME REASON IN 2024 NOT BEING PRO EQUITY.
NATASHA SOME OF Y'ALL WANT TO SUPPORT IT TOO.
ZO. BUT STILL PLAYING THE WALL LIKE KIDS OUT OF SCHOOL.
I GUESS OUR MAYOR, THE CHAPERON OF THIS DANCE, HAS Y'ALL SCARED TO COME TO THE DANCE FLOOR WITH THE ACTUAL PEOPLE? HOPEFULLY IN NOVEMBER WE'LL GET BETTER REPRESENTATIVES THAT CAN DANCE TO THE BEAT OF THEIR OWN DRUM.
BACK TO THE AFFORDABILITY, THOUGH.
AT THE OPEN HOUSE AT THE CARVER, I WAS TOLD BY CHEETOS, MR. BRAY, THAT IF WE PASS THIS 2024 MASTER PLAN, IT WILL ALLOW A $2 MILLION HOME IN WEST AUSTIN TO BECOME A $1 MILLION HOME.
WHO THE HELL CAN AFFORD $1 MILLION HOME? THE WORD AFFORDABILITY HAS BEEN CO-OPTED BECAUSE WHAT'S AFFORDABLE TO YOU MAY NOT BE AFFORDABLE TO OTHERS.
AND WHAT'S AFFORDABLE IN EAST AUSTIN IS DAMN SURE NOT AFFORDABLE IN WEST AUSTIN EITHER.
WHEN I ASKED MR. BRAY WHETHER IF HE THOUGHT THAT MILLION DOLLAR HOME WAS AFFORDABLE OR NOT, HE CHUCKLED AND SAID NO.
AND IT WAS ACTUALLY A VERY HONEST RESPONSE.
THE SAD THING ABOUT ALL THIS IS WE ALL WANT THE SAME THING, BUT FOR SOME REASON JUST CAN'T ALIGN.
I DO HOPE THAT WE GET CHAMPIONS TO PUSH FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AN EQUITY OVERLAY LIKE WE HAD GOTTEN BACK IN 2019 WHEN DELIA, YOUR MENTOR JOSE MOVED ON IT AND WAS AND IT WAS SECONDED BY GREG CASSAR, WHO AT THE TIME WAS ALSO COURAGEOUS ON STEPPING OUT ON A LIMB TO SIDE WITH THE COMMUNITY.
WELL, IT'S Y'ALL'S TIME TO STEP UP NOW.
MR. BROWN, ANYTIME YOU WANT TO START.
I'M AGAINST THE WAY THIS IS BEING DONE AND THE CO-OPTING OF OUR SOCIAL JUSTICE TERMS. WE KNOW THAT HISTORICALLY, LAND DEVELOPMENT AND ZONING WAS CREATED TO SEPARATE WHITE PEOPLE FROM BLACKS AND BROWN AND YELLOW AND DIRTY INDUSTRY.
WE MUST DO THIS THROUGH A SOCIAL JUSTICE LENS.
YOU FANCY YOURSELF AS A DEAL MAKER, BUT I WANT I'M HERE TODAY TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THIS IS A DEAL BREAKER, AND THAT YOUR CONSEQUENCES OF YOUR ACTIONS WILL FOLLOW YOU TO THE POLLS IN NOVEMBER.
AND THAT GOES FOR EVERYONE ON THIS DAIS.
Y'ALL HAVE SHOWN ME THAT Y'ALL WOULD RATHER CRAM SOMETHING THROUGH TO MEET A DEADLINE FOR A GRANT, THEN TO TAKE THE TIME TO BE IN COMMUNITY WITH THE PEOPLE THAT ELECTED Y'ALL AND DO THE RIGHT THING AND DO THIS THE RIGHT WAY.
WE COULD HAVE HAD DENSITY, AFFORDABILITY, AND SOCIAL JUSTICE WRAPPED IN ONE.
[06:50:01]
PROFITS SHOULD NEVER COME BEFORE SOCIAL JUSTICE AND RESTITUTION.WHEN IS THE CITY EVER GOING TO PAY THE DEBT THAT THEY OWE? THE DESCENDANTS OF THE GHETTO THAT WAS CREATED IN EAST AUSTIN AND TO QUINCY DUNLAP AND THE URBAN LEAGUE, AND TO CHARLES MOORE OF AJC? THANK Y'ALL FOR SELLING US OUT.
THANK Y'ALL FOR FLIP FLOPPING.
THAT IS TOKENISM AT ITS FINEST.
YOU SHOULD BE STANDING WITH THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN OPPRESSED.
I OPPOSE OPPOSED THIS, AND I'M ASKING THAT THIS DAIS STAND WITH THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.
LOOK AT THE NUMBERS OF ALL THE FOLKS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP.
THERE ARE MORE AGAINST THIS THAN THERE ARE FOR IT.
IF Y'ALL VOTE YES ON THIS, THAT IS NOT DEMOCRACY.
THAT IS A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE OVERRUNNING THE MAJORITY OF US.
PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME.
I'M VICE PRESIDENT OF JUSTICE AND ADVOCACY FOR THE AUSTIN AREA URBAN LEAGUE.
AND I'M HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT HOME, TO NOT YELL AT YOU.
AS A BORN AND RAISED AUSTINITE, I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BARELY SURVIVE, LET ALONE THRIVE.
I'VE NEVER LIVED IN A HOUSE, AND WITH EVERY DAY THAT PASSES MY HOPE FOR OWNING A HOME DIMINISHES.
AND WHILE MY CONSTITUENT BASE IS LOW MEYERS, MY CONSTITUENT BASE ALSO IS TEACHERS AND EMS WORKERS AND THOSE THAT CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE IN THE CITY. DURING THIS DEBATE, I HAVE STOOD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BATTLEFIELD BETWEEN SCREAMS AND PATRONIZING FROM BOTH SIDES, BETWEEN YES AND NO. AND I HAVE WHISPERED, WHAT ABOUT YES AND YES TO DENSITY AND YES TO A TAX ABATEMENT, MITIGATION OF DEVELOPMENT COSTS AND ACCESS TO CAPITAL? YES TO HOMES TWO AND PROGRAMMATIC RESOLUTIONS THAT HELP STABILIZE AND MITIGATE HARM.
SO WHAT DOES YES, ANN, LOOK LIKE AT THIS JUNCTURE? ONE WAY IS A PHASED APPROACH.
AND THE IDEA I SPOKE ABOUT WAS I SPOKE ABOUT THIS IDEA IN THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND FURTHER, AN IDEA THAT THE OFFICES OF HARPER, MADISON, POOLE AND FUENTES ALIGNED ON BUT HASN'T SEEN THE LIGHT OF DAY.
MAYOR, I ALSO SENT IT TO YOUR STAFF.
THEY SAID YOU WEREN'T OPPOSED, BUT YOU COULDN'T CARRY IT YOURSELF.
ANOTHER YES AND AVENUE COULD BE MODIFIED A MODIFIED IMPLEMENTATION DATE SO THAT AGAIN YOU GET TO EXECUTE YOUR PROCLAMATION, BUT THE IMPLEMENTATION BEFORE IT REACHES VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.
THIS DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A BATTLEFIELD.
SO I APPEAL TO ANY OF YOU, IF LITERALLY ANY ONE OF YOU IS READY TO CARRY THE WEIGHT OF YES, AND
[06:55:08]
I'M WILLING TO PUT MY TRIGGERS TO THE SIDE AND SEIZE THAT OPPORTUNITY WITH YOU.IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM.
I WORK AT PODER, AND I'M ALSO A RECENT GRADUATE OF UT AUSTIN.
I WANT TO START SAYING TO COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES CONGRATULATIONS FOR YOUR GRADUATION AT MASS, WITH YOUR GRADUATING WITH YOUR MASTERS OF PUBLIC LEADERSHIP AT THE LBJ SCHOOL LAST SATURDAY. I TOO, GRADUATED FROM THE LBJ SCHOOL LAST SATURDAY, AS WELL AS THE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK.
I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT SOME CORE TENETS OF THE MASTER OF PUBLIC LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, WHICH INCLUDE VALUE DRIVEN DECISION MAKING, NEGOTIATION, CRISIS MANAGEMENT AND FURTHERMORE, THE PROGRAM'S GRADUATES ARE TRAINED TO EXEMPLIFY THE CONFIDENCE TO LEAD STRATEGIC CHANGE INITIATIVES, CREATE PARTNERSHIPS AND MANAGE RISKS, AND APPLY VALUE DRIVEN DECISION MAKING TO LEADERSHIP CHALLENGES.
I HOPE THAT YOU WILL SET YOURSELF APART FROM YOUR COLLEAGUES TODAY AND BE AN INNOVATIVE LEADER TO EXEMPLIFY THOSE VALUES THAT YOUR MASTER'S PROGRAM TAUGHT YOU, AND DO IT AS BEST FOR THE LARGER COMMUNITY.
TO THE REST OF YOU, WE GET IT.
AUSTIN NEEDS MORE HOUSING FOR OUR GROWING CITY, AND DENSITY CAN SOLVE THAT PROBLEM.
BUT WITHOUT AN AFFORDABLE COMPONENT OR AN EQUITY OVERLAY, THIS POLICY WILL NOT HELP OUR COMMUNITIES.
YOU MUST POSTPONE THIS VOTE AND ALLOW FOR MORE TIME TO RESEARCH THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS POLICY.
HOME PHASE TWO NEEDS AMENDMENTS THAT ADDRESS AFFORDABILITY AND EQUITY COMPONENTS, BECAUSE DENSITY WITHOUT AFFORDABILITY UNDERMINES THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE OF HOUSING AS A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT AND RISKS DEEPENING THE HOUSING CRISIS WHILE PERPETUATING CYCLES OF GENTRIFICATION.
I HAVE COME TO YOU TWICE WITH ALARMING DATA ABOUT THE MAJORITY OF ADS BEING OBTAINED BY LLCS, AND HOW UNATTAINABLE THEY ARE FOR THE AVERAGE RESIDENT HERE IN THE EASTERN CRESCENT.
THIS AND MORE. THIS IS MORE COMPLEX THAN JUST SUPPLY AND DEMAND.
THE LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY TOWARDS AFFORDABILITY MECHANISMS, SUCH AS REQUIREMENTS FOR INCOME RESTRICTED UNITS WITHIN THE POLICIES OF UPZONING AND ADU EXPANSION IN AUSTIN EXACERBATES CHALLENGES FACED BY LOW INCOME RESIDENTS.
THE LACK OF SAFEGUARDS AND COMMUNITY CENTERED POLICIES WILL INADVERTENTLY ACCELERATE GENTRIFICATION, DISPLACING LONG TIME RESIDENTS AND ERODING THE CULTURAL FABRIC OF EAST AUSTIN. WITHOUT ADEQUATE PROVISIONS FOR AFFORDABLE UNITS AT 30 TO 50% MFI, THE INITIATIVES FAILED TO ENSURE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO HOUSING FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, PERPETUATING INEQUITIES IN HOUSING ACCESS AND RENDERING THE HOUSING MARKET INCREASINGLY INACCESSIBLE FOR THOSE WITH LIMITED FINANCIAL RESOURCES, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN RAPIDLY DEVELOPING AND GENTRIFYING NEIGHBORHOODS.
THANK YOU. ISAAC COHEN, DAVID JOHNSON, KAREN SAAD, JULIE OLIVER.
HELLO. MY NAME IS ISAAC COHEN.
I WONDER WHERE ALL THESE SOLUTIONS TO AFFORDABILITY FROM OTHER SPEAKERS WERE WHEN CODENEXT WAS SUED OUT OF EXISTENCE? I WONDER WHERE THEY WERE WHEN THE LAST COUNCIL WAS TOO AFRAID TO DEAL WITH ANY OF THIS AFTER THAT LAWSUIT.
I WONDER WHERE THEY WERE WHEN THE LAST COUNCIL WAS BEHOLDEN TO CNC AND SOS.
YOU KNOW, AS A MEXICAN BORN DUAL CITIZEN WHO IS FLUENT IN SPANISH AND CAN ROLL AN ARM WITH THE BEST OF THEM, I KNOW THAT LOT SIZE CORRELATES TO LOT PRICE. AS A DESCENDANT OF SYRIAN AND NORTH AFRICAN JEWS, I KNOW THAT LAWNS CONSUME A HELL OF A LOT OF WATER.
AS THE OWNER AND RESIDENT OF A HOUSE IN BOULDIN CREEK AND THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE BCNA, I KNOW THAT ALLOWING EXISTING HOMES TO CONTINUE TO EXIST AND THEN BUILDING AN ADDITIONAL HOME WITHOUT DESTROYING ANYTHING IS PRETTY ENVIRONMENTALLY EFFICIENT AND INEXPENSIVE.
AS AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEER WITH A MASTER'S DEGREE WHO DID PRETTY WELL IN QUANTUM MECHANICS, I KNOW THAT NO AMOUNT OF FEELINGS IS STOPPING TIME FROM MOVING ON. WE HAVE A HOUSING SHORTAGE.
WE HAVE SAT ON OUR HANDS BECAUSE OF CONCERNS.
[07:00:03]
FOR 20 YEARS WE HAVE TRIED POSTPONING.IT'S TIME TO TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
HELLO, MY NAME IS KAREN SODHI.
BUT I STILL WANTED TO TELL YOU I OPPOSE SIMILAR PROVISIONS IMPLEMENTED IN OTHER CITIES, HAVE PROVEN THEY WON'T PRODUCE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT HAVE INCREASED PROPERTY VALUES, TAXES, AND DISPLACEMENT.
HIGH INCOME PEOPLE WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE HERE BECAUSE THE JOBS ARE HERE.
THERE WILL CONTINUE TO BE HIGH DEMAND FOR HIGH END HOMES.
DEVELOPERS CURRENTLY DO WHAT DEVELOPERS DO.
THEY BUILD TO PRODUCE THE MAXIMUM PROFIT THEY CAN GET.
THEY WILL ALMOST ALWAYS BUILD WHAT WILL MAKE THEM THE MOST MONEY UNDER HOME.
ONE AND TWO OLDER APARTMENTS AND HOMES UNDER 500,000 WILL CONTINUE TO BE TORN DOWN AND REPLACED BY LUXURY APARTMENTS AND 2 OR 3 MORE EXPENSIVE HOMES PER ORIGINAL LOT.
THESE LDC CHANGES WILL NOT CHANGE OR CURB THE PROFIT INCENTIVE.
THE CITY NEEDS TO KNOW WHERE ALL ITS AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS BEFORE LETTING DEVELOPERS TEAR IT DOWN, AND WE NEED TO INCENTIVIZE THE BUILDING OF TRULY AFFORDABLE HOUSING WHILE MAINTAINING WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE THAT IS AFFORDABLE.
IF THE GOAL REALLY IS MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE NEED TO RESTRICT STRS, NOT ALLOWING NEW DEVELOPMENT TO BE AN STR UNLESS THE OWNER LIVES ON SITE, AND ELIMINATING INVESTOR OWNED STRS ACROSS THE CITY.
IN THE OLDEST, EXCUSE ME, AREAS OF THE CITY WHERE MUCH OF THE INCREASED DENSITY WILL OCCUR.
I'M CONCERNED THAT EMERGENCY SERVICES WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ACCESS AREAS WITH GREATLY INCREASED STREET PARKING, ESPECIALLY ON WASTE COLLECTION DAYS WHEN THREE CANS PER DWELLING ARE AT THE CURB FIVE FEET APART, COMPETING WITH SPACE FROM THE PARKED CARS FOR THE RESIDENTS IN THE HOME ON THE 25 FOOT WIDE LOT.
I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT FLOODING, WHICH I HAVE PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED.
THE PROPOSED CHANGES DO NOTHING TO PROTECT THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF THE CITY.
I AM LAURA TABORDA, AND I'M FROM DISTRICT FIVE.
HELLO. MAYOR WATSON, THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITY MANAGER.
I AM AGAINST THE HOME INITIATIVES PHASE ONE AND TWO.
I THANK YOU TO ALISON ALTER AND MCKENZIE KELLY FOR VOTING NO.
YET MAYOR WATSON AND THE MAJORITY OF COUNCIL MEMBERS VOTED FOR IT.
WHY ARE THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS NOT REPRESENTING US? THE THE MAJORITY OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS NOT REPRESENTING US, THE CITIZENS IN OUR WISHES.
THE MAJORITY OF AUSTIN CITIZENS WHO ARE AGAINST THE HOME INITIATIVE ARE A MOTLEY, EDUCATED, DIVERSE, CONCERNED GROUP AND MANY ARE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ACTIVISTS. YOU'VE IGNORED US.
[07:05:08]
PUBLIC. I HOPE THAT LAWYERS AND THOSE WHO UNDERSTAND THE FINE PRINT AND CITY COUNCIL BYLAWS ARE ABLE TO FIND A LEGAL LOOPHOLE THAT DISRUPTS THIS PLAN, SUCH AS SOME OF THE IDEAS SOMEONE EARLIER WHO KNEW A LOT MORE AND WAS, I BELIEVE, A LAWYER.HE KNEW A LOT OF INFORMATION OF HOW THIS IS BREAKING VARIOUS LAWS.
I HOPE THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY HAVE REAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SO PLEASE JOIN ME IN VOTING NO.
OKAY, SO I'D LIKE TO BEGIN TO BEGIN BY OH, I'M IAN HUERTA.
JUST FOR THOSE TAKING TO TALLY.
I'D LIKE TO BEGIN BY STATING THAT I CONSIDER MYSELF A PROGRESSIVE, PRETTY DEMOCRATIC.
ALSO PART OF THE GREEN IN SOME SENSE ENVIRONMENTALIST AND VALUER OF RACIAL EQUITY.
I'VE RECENTLY WATCHED A VIDEO ARTICLE TOUTING THE BENEFITS OF HOME.
HOWEVER, AGAIN, THE MAIN ISSUE STILL IS THE FACT THAT A SMALL LOT IS ALMOST GUARANTEED EVENTUALLY TO GO FOR BEYOND, WELL BEYOND 1 MILLION IN THE NEAR FUTURE. WITHOUT REASONABLE LIMITS, 600,000 ALSO IS LAUGHABLE IF THAT'S CONSIDERED AFFORDABLE.
JUST WANT TO PUT THAT OUT THERE.
I UNDERSTAND WE NEED TO BUILD NEW HOUSING, YET I BELIEVE A BETTER METHOD OF ACHIEVING THIS WOULD BE TO CONVERT EXISTING OFFICE SPACE INTO HOUSING, SIMILAR TO HOW THEY ARE DOING CURRENTLY IN NEW YORK OR BEGINNING TO DO IN NEW YORK.
AND WELL, THIS IS BASICALLY JUST TO UPSCALE THINGS AND SELL IT FOR GREATER.
IN THAT SENSE, IT IS DISAPPOINTING TO SEE THAT DESPITE BEING IN A CITY THAT TOUTS ITSELF AS BEING FUTURISTIC AND FORWARD THINKING. WE'RE STILL DOING THE THING THAT WE DID 200 YEARS AGO, PUSHING OUT THE NATIVE AMERICANS AND, WELL, OTHERS.
AND CURRENTLY KIRK ESPECIALLY SEEMS TO BE THE TYPE OF TOP HAT 1800S AUTHORITARIAN THAT IS STILL JUST TRUDGING ACROSS THE POOR AND THE LOWER INCOME.
AND YEAH, IT SEEMS REALLY LIKE WE HAVEN'T LEARNED ANYTHING IN THE PAST 200 YEARS.
NO, YEAH, I HAVE, I'VE BEEN SEEING YOU GOING IN THERE WITH RYAN TWO.
I EVEN TALKED TO ONE OF YOUR PEOPLE ON THE PHONE.
BY THE WAY, IF YOU REMEMBER ME.
YEAH. FAIR WEATHER, FAIR, FAIR WEATHER.
OH, YEAH. ALL RACES NEED TO BE SUPPORTED.
BUT WHEN IT ACTUALLY COMES DOWN TO IT, IT'S LIKE YEAH.
NO, NO, NO, WE DON'T WE DON'T REALLY WANT TO HELP.
YOU KNOW, WE JUST WE JUST WANT TO FURTHER SCREW THINGS UP.
THANK YOU. HELLO, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M WITH CORTEZ YOUNG SCHOLARS FOR JUSTICE, AND I AM A COORDINATOR FOR IT.
AUSTIN IS FACING A CRITICAL MOMENT WHERE THE VOICES, WELLBEING AND PRESENCE OF ITS MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS, DISPROPORTIONATELY BLACK AND LATINO COMMUNITIES IN THE EASTERN CRESCENT, ARE AT STAKE.
AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE ACTION NOW.
WE MUST PREVENT ACCELERATED DISPLACEMENT AND THE WORSENING OF HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS THAT HOUSING AFFORDABILITY, DISPLACEMENT AND HOMELESSNESS CRISIS CANNOT BE AN AFTERTHOUGHT AND INSTEAD PREVENTING POTENTIAL HARM, WHICH DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTS BLACK AND LATINO RESIDENTS, MUST BE THE TOP PRIORITY AS PLANS ARE VOTED ON, THE READ, DEVELOP AND BUILD MORE DENSITY IN AUSTIN.
[07:10:06]
HOUSING AND DRIVES UP HOUSING COSTS, DISPLACING OUR COMMUNITIES, DELAYING DELAYING THE ZONING CHANGES UNTIL THEY CAN BE REVIEWED.DOING A COMMUNITY BASED PROCESS WHERE WE CREATE AND IMPLEMENT AN EQUITY AND ANTI-DISPLACEMENT OVERLAY WOULD SIGNAL THE COMMUNITY THAT AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL VALUES THE EXPERTISE OF THE 40 PLUS COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTING THE OVERLAY AND THE ACTUAL PRESENCE OF DIVERSE LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME BIPOC COMMUNITIES IN AUSTIN.
IMPLEMENT AN EQUITY SLASH ANTI-DISPLACEMENT OVERLAY PRIOR TO PASSING ANY MAJOR ZONING AND LAND USE CHANGES WOULD MEAN THAT UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES BECOME UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THAT WE, AS FRONTLINE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND LEADERS, WILL NOT FORGET.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM.
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COME FORWARD.
STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
HI, MY NAME IS ALYSSA RHEE AND I'M A RESIDENT OF D4.
I AM NOT HERE TO PLEAD A CASE TO YOU.
AS A STATE EMPLOYEE, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU CAN LOOK OR AVOID THE EYES OF THE PEOPLE PLEADING TO YOU.
INSTEAD, I'M GOING TO DO SOMETHING I NORMALLY WOULDN'T DO BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE, TYPICALLY, THAT YOU CAN CHANGE THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF PEOPLE, BUT PEOPLE IN SUPPORT OF HOME WHO CLAIM TO WANT TO LIVE IN DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES.
I WANT TO ASK YOU, WHO DO YOU MEAN? WHAT DO YOU SAY TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME HERE POURING THEIR HEARTS OUT, TELLING YOU THAT THIS WILL MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THEM TO CONTINUE LIVING IN AUSTIN AS RENTERS AND PUT THEIR DREAMS OF HOME OWNERSHIP THAT MUCH FURTHER OUT OF REACH.
YOU READ YOUR PRE-WRITTEN SPEECHES WHERE YOU'VE MADE ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT WHO OPPOSES YOU AND WHOM NOT HAVING TO GRAPPLE WITH THE FACT THAT WHAT YOU WOULD SUPPORT ACTUALLY CONTRADICTS THE THING THAT YOU ARE CLAIMING TO WANT.
AND IF YOU FEEL SHAME UPON REALIZING THAT, THEN I'D ENCOURAGE YOU TO TURN INWARD.
I'D ENCOURAGE YOU TO ASK YOURSELVES WHY YOU'RE NOT LISTENING TO THE CRIES OF REAL PEOPLE YOU ALLEGEDLY WANT TO BE NEIGHBORS WITH, AND NOT SOME FICTIVE WORKING CLASS PEOPLE OF COLOR. HOME IS SYSTEMICALLY RACIST, MEANING IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT OUR INDIVIDUAL DESIRES AND OUR INDIVIDUAL HOPES ARE.
PASSING HOME WOULD SYSTEMICALLY SHUT PEOPLE OUT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR RENT AND OWNERSHIP.
SO IF YOU REALLY HOLD THESE VALUES, I AM ENCOURAGING YOU TO JOIN THE OTHER FOLKS WHO ARE FIGHTING FOR EQUITY AND ACCESS ALONGSIDE POOR AND WORKING CLASS FOLKS AND FOLKS OF COLOR, INSTEAD OF SOME IMAGINARY NEIGHBORS YOU'D LIKE TO HAVE.
MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS BILL BUNCH, ON BEHALF OF SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE.
I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS PENCILS DOWN DAY UNTIL I READ THE AUSTIN FREE PRESS.
HAD NO IDEA ABOUT THE CONVERSATION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
THAT THIS RUSH TIMELINE IS BEING DRIVEN BY Y'ALL'S NECESSITY OR PERCEIVED NECESSITY TO APPLY FOR FEDERAL FUNDING FOR PROJECT CONNECT. IT'S A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF A CART BEFORE THE HORSE, AND USING SOME VAGUE AND RIDICULOUS EXCUSE FOR IGNORING A MEANINGFUL PUBLIC INPUT PROCESS AND RUSHING AHEAD.
SO AND ESPECIALLY THE OVERLAY THAT'S BEEN REQUESTED FOR FOR EAST AUSTIN, THAT'S NOT ANYWHERE NEAR THE SERVICE AREA FOR THE RAIL LINE. THE PROPOSAL THAT WE SUPPORT FROM THE WHOLE COALITION YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT.
PLEASE PUT THAT FRONT AND CENTER AND UP.
THE JOSE VELASQUEZ AMENDMENT IS AFTER THE FACT.
AND YOU KNOW, SORT OF LIPSTICK ON A PIG.
YOU WOULD NOT BE INCREASING IN ANY WAY WHATSOEVER.
IMPERVIOUS COVER WHICH INCREASES FLOODING.
[07:15:04]
YOU WOULD BE PROTECTING TREES.THERE'S NOT A SHRED OF TREE PROTECTION IN THIS.
AND WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO WITH THESE SHRUNKEN SETBACKS FROM THE FRONT AND EXPANDED, IMPERVIOUS COVER. YOU'RE GOING TO DECIMATE OUR TREE CANOPY, AND THE CENTRAL CITY IS GOING TO BE HOTTER THAN EVER AND COMPLETELY UNWALKABLE FOR SIX MONTHS OF THE YEAR WITHOUT TREES AND WITHOUT SHADE.
PLEASE LISTEN TO MICHAEL CURRY.
CARMINE POLITO, SHOW SOME LEADERSHIP.
RESPECT THE THE CAMPAIGN PROMISES THAT ALL OF YOU MADE TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND FIND COMPROMISE.
PRIMARILY, THIS IS THROWING OUR PLAN AND PLANNING INTELLIGENT PLANNING INTO THE TRASH CAN IN FAVOR OF REAGANOMICS.
DEVELOPER LIBERTARIAN TECH BRO.
DEREGULATION. THANK YOU, MR. BRUNCH. I'M GOING TO SWITCH OVER TO REMOTE SPEAKER.
IAN WILSON SPEAKING ON ITEM SIX.
IF YOU GO AROUND ANY OF THE HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS OF AUSTIN BEFORE ZONING RULES ARE INTRODUCED, YOU WILL SEE TWO THINGS HOUSES RELATIVELY CLOSE TO THE STREET AND LOTS OF OLD TREES. THESE PROPOSED REDUCTIONS IN SETBACK ARE GREAT FOR WALKABILITY AND DON'T NECESSARILY NEED TO NEGATIVE IMPACT TO TREES.
THE CITY HAS TREES, HOUSES, AND STREETS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY, LIVING HAPPILY FOR DECADES.
THE EXISTING REGULATIONS DEMAND TOO MUCH WATER FOR LAWNS.
WE'VE BEEN OVER THIS BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH.
ALL SPEAKERS FOR ITEM SIX HAVE BEEN CALLED.
SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER SIX.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER THREE.
[3. C20-2023-004 - Conduct a public hearing and approve an ordinance amending City Code Title 25 by rezoning property generally located within a certain distance along North Lamar Boulevard, Guadalupe Street, South Congress Avenue, and located south of U.S. Highway 183 and north of Lightsey Road/Woodward Street. Applicant Request: To rezone to add equitable transit-oriented development (ETOD) combining district and density bonus ETOD (DBETOD) combining district. Staff and Planning Commission Recommendation: To grant equitable transit-oriented development (ETOD) combining district and density bonus ETOD (DBETOD) combining district. Applicant: City of Austin. City Staff: Lauren Middleton-Pratt, 512-974-7220. (Part 1 of 2)]
MADAM CLERK, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS OPENED ON ITEM NUMBER THREE.YES. COUNCIL MEMBER ALISON ALTER.
MAYOR, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I'M RECUSING ON ITEM THREE.
MY PROPERTY APPLIES WITHIN THE TODD PROPOSED AREA, AND I FILED AN AFFIDAVIT.
YEAH, YOU MENTIONED THAT ON TUESDAY, AND I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING IT UP.
AND AGAIN, WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS NOTED.
WE'VE OPENED THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM THREE AND WE WILL BEGIN HEARING EXCUSE ME, HEARING SPEAKERS.
I DON'T REALLY HAVE. I HAD ONLY REQUESTED TO SPEAK FOR ITEMS FOUR AND SIX.
OKAY, SO I WILL SPEAK TO YOU AGAIN.
ITEM FOUR. WHEN WE CALL THAT UP, WE WILL.
LARRY ACRES SPEAKING ON ITEM THREE.
EXCUSE ME. DESPITE HOME AND HOME TWO BEING TIED FOR ENABLING MASS TRANSIT, NONE OF THEIR AFFECTED PROPERTIES NORTH OF THE RIVER ARE NEAR THE PHASE ONE PROJECT TO MAKE RAIL.
AND ONLY A SLIVER OF TRAVIS HEIGHTS IS AFFECTED ALONG THE SOUTHERN RIVERSIDE DRIVE WAY.
SINCE THE HOME INITIATIVE PROPERTIES ARE VIRTUALLY ALL DISTANCE FROM THE PLANNED RAIL LINES.
IT'S HARD TO SEE THEM AS MASS TRANSIT NEIGHBORS.
HOME DOES EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE, REDIRECTING HIGH DENSITY DEVELOPMENT INTO NEIGHBORHOODS.
SINCE LAND WILL BE LESS EXPENSIVE IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS THAN ALONG THE RAIL LINES.
THE ECONOMICS OF CONSTRUCTION WILL DRAW DENSITY AWAY FROM THE TRANSIT LINES, NOT TOWARD THEM.
BUT IT'S NOT ABOUT MAKING TRANSIT VIABLE.
IT'S ABOUT GETTING TRANSIT PAID FOR.
[07:20:10]
PUTTING ASIDE VOTERS VISION THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL BELIEVES THAT AUTHORIZING THE REBUILDING OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS FOR DENSITY WILL CONVINCE THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS THAT RAIL SUCCESS IS A SURE THING, PROMPTING THEM TO HAND OVER THE MONEY TO BUILD IT.THE SAVVY STA FDA OFFICIALS ARE NOT LIKELY TO BE SO EASILY PERSUADED.
FEDERAL GUIDELINES FOR FINANCING MASS TRANSIT SPECIFY THE QUALIFYING SERVED POPULATION, BE WITHIN A QUARTER MILE WALK OF A BUS STOP, OR A OR A HALF MILE WALK OR TRAIN STOP.
VERY, VERY FEW HOME PROPERTIES ARE WITHIN THESE RADII AND FURTHERMORE THE CITY MAPS OF ITS DISTRICTS DELINEATE DISTANCE AS THE CROW FLIES, NOT WALKING DISTANCE, AND THEY DEFINE CORRIDORS RATHER THAN PROXIMITY TO RAIL STOPS.
A CLOSE LOOK AT THE CITY'S MAPS REVEALS THAT ONLY ABOUT 20% OF THE PROPERTY PROPOSED TO BE UP ZONED IS WITHIN A QUARTER MILE WALK OF THE STATION, AND A GREAT MANY ARE OUTSIDE THE HALF MILE WALK ZONE.
WELL, FTA AUTHORITIES WILL RECOGNIZE THIS.
THEY WILL ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT PROPERTY DESIGNATIONS ARE PROSPECTIVE, NOT ACTUAL RESIDENTIAL DENSITY THE CITY PROPOSES AS JUSTIFICATION FOR TRANSIT FUNDING IS A FUTURISTIC IMAGINING BASED ON LENIENT PERMITTING GUIDELINES, RATHER THAN REAL OR EVEN REALIZABLE RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION DENSITY.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BUY THE CHARADE GIVEN ALL THE BETTER QUALIFIED PROJECTS THEY COULD FIND.
THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS ANGELA GARZA, SPEAKING ON ITEM THREE.
HI. CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME? YES. YEAH.
OKAY. THANK YOU. THIS IS ANGELA AGAIN, AND THANK YOU FOR.
I WANT TO JUST THANK EVERYBODY FOR GETTING OUR THREE MINUTES SPEAKING TIMES BACK WHERE THEY BELONG.
JUST LISTENING TO EVERYONE AND RESPECTFULLY ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS MATTER.
SECONDLY, MY DAD AND I TRIED TO UNDERSTAND IT A LITTLE MORE.
AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT AS WE WERE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, WE WERE REALLY CONFUSED BY IT, TO BE HONEST.
AND I THINK WE JUST NEED MORE LIKE IMAGES AND MORE VISUALS BECAUSE WE'RE VERY VISUAL IN A COMMUNITY AND WE CAN SEE MORE IN PICTURES, AND WE WEREN'T ABLE TO SEE A WHOLE LOT OF THAT WHEN WE WERE TRYING TO DO THAT, WHEN WE DID THE VIRTUAL MEETING THAT Y'ALL HAD AVAILABLE.
AND THANK YOU FOR THAT. THERE WEREN'T MANY PEOPLE THAT ATTENDED THAT VIRTUAL MEETING, BUT IT DID CONTINUE TO LEARN MORE AND HOW THAT WAS GOING TO WORK OUT WHERE THE ACTUAL PODS ARE, WHERE HOW IT'S GOING TO IMPACT PEOPLE, WHERE THEY ARE GOING TO BE PLACED IN.
IT'S JUST WE CAN'T SEEM TO SEEM TO SEE IT VISUALLY HOW IT'S GOING TO PLAY OUT.
SO WE CAN GET MORE INFORMATION ON THAT A LITTLE MORE, MAYBE EVEN A VIDEO THAT'S GOING TO SHOW US HOW TO WALK THROUGH, TO UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHERE THAT EXIT IPOD IS AND HOW IT'S GOING TO IMPACT FAMILIES, SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THAT VISION IN OUR HAND HEAD, AND HOW THAT'S GOING TO IMPACT PEOPLE AROUND IT WOULD BE GREAT.
I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY SOME USERS WERE ASKING US TO MOVE TO ELGIN, TEXAS.
NOW I UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE ARE ASKING US TO DO THAT.
SO BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO MOVE TO TEXAS.
WE'RE ACTUALLY SLICE OF AUSTIN, TEXAS.
WE'VE DONE SO MUCH WORK, AND WE'VE ACTUALLY DEDICATED SO MUCH TIME ON OUR OWN TIME WITH A WONDERFUL LEADERS IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, ACROSS THE BOARD SO THAT WE CAN HELP OUR FAMILIES UNDERSTAND.
IT'S LIKE A SCHEMATIC FOR THESE ELEMENTS.
THERE SHOULD BE A WAY TO DO SCHEMATIC ON WHAT YOUR ACTUAL PROPOSING HERE AS WELL.
HI THERE. I'M MADDIE BRATT AND I AM SO HAPPY TO BE SPEAKING AFTER EIGHT HOURS OF BEING ON THE PHONE.
[07:25:05]
AND I'M SO HAPPY TO HAVE A JOB THAT LETS ME STEP OUT AND DO THIS.WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THE DOMAIN OR THE TRIANGLE.
WE SAID WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE YOU.
WAIT. I'M NOT. I'M NOT ON MUTE.
CAN YOU HEAR US? THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I'M FRAMING.
THANK YOU. WHEN YOU LOOK AT SOMETHING LIKE THE DOMAIN OR THE TRIANGLE, IT'S A GOOD IDEA.
BUT IN PRACTICE, NEITHER ARE REMOTELY AFFORDABLE.
CHAIN RESTAURANTS AND BUSINESSES ARE THE PRIORITY, NOT LOCAL, AND NATIVE SPACE IS MINIMAL.
THE PLAN SACRIFICES HISTORIC MULTI-FAMILY HOMES AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, SACRIFICES THE PEOPLE IN THOSE HOMES IN FAVOR OF COPY PASTING THE FRICKIN DOMAIN DOWN THE ENTIRE GUADALUPE BAY. IT'S LAUGHABLE TO PUT EQUITABLE, EQUITABLE IN THE NAME OF THIS.
THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NOTHING EQUITABLE ABOUT THIS PLANT.
FURTHERING DISPLACEMENT OF LOW INCOME AUSTINITES TO BUILD YET ANOTHER DOMAIN WHERE 10% OF PEOPLE MIGHT GET TO PAY THE AFFORDABLE RATE OF $1,300, A ROOM ISN'T EQUITABLE, AND YOUR AFFORDABILITY RATES AREN'T AFFORDABLE.
MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT SUPPORT THIS ARE THE ONES NOT FACING DISPLACEMENT.
WE ALL KNOW THAT THE HOUSING YOU'RE GOING TO BUILD IS GOING TO BE COMPLETELY UNATTAINABLE TO ANYBODY THAT ACTUALLY RELIES ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO GET AROUND 10% AFFORDABLE, AFFORDABLE UNITS IS NOT NEARLY ENOUGH.
I LIVE ON 37TH STREET NEAR GUADALUPE.
I WALK TO MY SERVICE INDUSTRY JOB.
I WALKED TO THE CHEAPEST BAR IN AUSTIN.
I WALKED TO THE GROCERY STORE AND I'D WALK TO THE DOCTOR.
IF I HAD HEALTH INSURANCE, I PAY $700 A ROOM.
MY NEIGHBORS AND I, WHO ALREADY ALL LIVE IN TRIPLEXES AND DUPLEXES AND FOURPLEXES AND APARTMENTS, ALREADY HAVE THIS EQUITABLE DREAM THAT YOU SAY YOU WANT TO BUILD, BUT INSTEAD YOU WANT TO BULLDOZE THE ENTIRE HISTORIC TRADITION OF 37 STREET LIGHTS TO CHARGE, NEARLY DOUBLE TO LIVE THERE.
HOW THE HECK IS THAT EQUITABLE? IF I LEARNED ANYTHING FROM SPEAKING AT THE LAST CITY COUNCIL MEETING, Y'ALL AREN'T EVEN LISTENING TO ME RIGHT NOW.
YOU'RE TEXTING AND EMAILING AND SLEEPING ON CAMERA AND NOT CARING ABOUT ALL THE LOW INCOME PEOPLE.
YOU'RE TRYING SO HARD TO DISPLACE.
ME AND MY LITTLE INSTAGRAM ON MY LEFT LIST.
LIVE IN TEXAS WILL REMEMBER THIS WHEN I'M MAKING VOTER GUIDES THAT HAVE 10,000 SHARES COME NOVEMBER.
YOU ARE KILLING 37 STREET LIGHTS.
YOU'RE KILLING AUSTIN AND YOU DON'T CARE.
EXPAND AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR DEVELOPMENT AND REVISIT WHAT AFFORDABILITY ACTUALLY MEANS.
REVISIT WHO QUALIFIES FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND PROTECT OLD AUSTIN TRADITION AND PEOPLE.
AUSTIN IS A LEADER IN NOTHING BUT DISPLACEMENT.
WHEN 37 STREET LIGHTS DIES FOR GOOD, IT WILL BE BECAUSE YOU ALLOWED THE PEOPLE BUILDING IT TO BE DISPLACED AND BECAUSE YOU BULLDOZED THE MULTI-FAMILY HOMES THAT HAVE DONE THIS TRADITION FOR YEARS, THE DEVELOPERS COULD MAKE A DOLLAR.
AS IT STANDS NOW, WE NEED AN EQUITABLE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THIS AREA AND DO THE RIGHT THING.
POSTPONE THIS VOTE UNTIL EQUITY QUESTIONS CAN ACTUALLY BE ADDRESSED.
THANK YOU. SPEAKER. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
NEXT SPEAKER IS JEANNIE RAMIREZ, SPEAKING ON THREE.
I WANT TO KNOW IF I CAN SPEAK ON THAT.
THANK YOU. MAYOR. I'M AGAINST IT, ACTUALLY.
KIND OF CONNECTS WITH THREE, AND I'LL JUST SAY I'M AGAINST ALL THE OTHER ONES I SPOKE OUT.
I'M GETTING READY FOR BANNING HER, SO I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO STAY ON FOR THE OTHER ITEMS. TELL US ABOUT SIX AGAINST THE HOME.
SIR? I SAID TELL US ABOUT SIX.
AND AND I JUST WANT TO SAY I'M AGAINST IT.
I FEEL THAT LESLIE PAUL, WHO BROUGHT THIS WHOLE THING TOGETHER, DIDN'T DO A TRIBAL COMMUNITY LIKE A MEETING AND LIKE, YOU KNOW, WITH, WITH, WITH ALL MINORITIES AND POOR WHITE PEOPLE.
I ACTUALLY CALLED EVERY SINGLE ONE OF Y'ALL WHEN Y'ALL DID PASS IT AND SAID, HEY, I WAS AGAINST IT.
I WAS DISAPPOINTED ALL YOUR STAFF AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF Y'ALL WERE REALLY KIND.
WHEN I CALLED THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, I WAS PUT ON SPEAKER AND THEY WERE LAUGHING AT ME.
THE STAFF AND THE GUY WHO ANSWERED WAS LATINO.
[07:30:02]
WHEN I FIGURED OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS A CHRISTMAS PARTY GOING ON, I SAID, OH, YOU PUT ME ON SPEAKER TO LAUGH AT ME.JUST BECAUSE I HAD A, YOU KNOW, I WANTED THE CITY MAYOR AT THAT TIME.
MANAGER, I'M SORRY TO KNOW THAT HOW I FELT ABOUT THE VOTE.
BUT AGAIN, THAT'S SO IMMATURE.
AND I JUST, YOU KNOW, I WAS JUST SO DISAPPOINTED IN THAT.
AND THEY'RE ALL LATINOS AT WORK.
JUST BECAUSE I HAVE A DIFFERENCE WITH YOU OR SOMEONE ELSE.
AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN LAUGHED AT BY.
I DON'T KNOW IF SHE'S STILL THERE.
SHE'S LATINA AND SHE KNEW WHAT STANCE I WAS AT, AND SHE CALLED ME AND LEFT A MESSAGE SAYING, MISS RAMIREZ, IF YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE GRANTS TO PUT YOUR TINY HOME IN THE BACKYARD, WHAT? WHAT? ANYWAY, I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU THAT AND I'M JUST REALLY TIRED OF THE LACK OF RESPECT.
I KNOW HE'S OUT OF FUNERAL, BUT JOSE VELASQUEZ WAS SHAKING HIS HEAD AS I WAS SPEAKING.
AND, MAYOR, I WANT TO TELL YOU.
THANK YOU. LAST TIME I DID CRITICIZE YOU VERY HEAVILY.
AND YOU WERE YOU YOU WERE VERY RESPECTFUL.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
AND SO I JUST FEEL, YOU KNOW, SO MANY PEOPLE SAID SO MANY AMAZING THINGS THAT I DISAGREE WITH THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST KIND OF REITERATING AND I THINK THE GRANDMA. SWEET.
AND YOU, IF THAT WAS ON THE BACKS OF THE OTHERS.
THE MS WOMAN. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS KIMBERLY.
SIMILAR TO THE PREVIOUS COMMENTER.
BATH? BEDTIME. SO I SPOKE THIS MORNING WITH A PERSONAL STORY.
I'M A HOMEOWNER AND RESIDENT SPOKE IN THE 10:00 HOUR ON ITEM SIX.
BUT A FEW ADDITIONAL POINTS TO IMPRESS.
THE ANALOGY EARLIER OF THIS BEING A FIXING A BROKEN LEG OR PUTTING, YOU KNOW, A WOUND ON ON SOMETHING TO VOTE FOR.
HOME IS DEEPLY HUMAN, DEHUMANIZING.
ALSO, YOU KNOW, PUT STATING THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE ANY MEASURE TO TRACK OR HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE DISPLACED MOVE TO NEW HOMES IS ALSO DEEPLY HUMAN.
DEHUMANIZING. MOVING IS DEEPLY DISRUPTIVE, AND FORCED DISPLACEMENT IS TRAUMATIZING.
I WANT TO URGE THE COUNCIL AGAIN TO PLEASE STEP INTO THE LIGHT AND VOTE NO ON HOME TWO AND THE RELATED ITEMS UNTIL AN ANTI-DISPLACEMENT AND EQUITY OVERLAY CAN BE DEVELOPED.
I AM SEEING THE THE TOWNHOMES AND THE DENSITY THAT'S ALREADY HAPPENING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE MAJORITY OF EAST AUSTIN RESIDENTS CANNOT AFFORD TO BUILD FINANCIALLY.
WE'RE MIDDLE CLASS AND WE COULD NOT.
WE DON'T HAVE THE CAPITAL TO ADD SOME AN ADDITION, EVEN IF WE WANTED.
MA'AM. MA'AM, I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO KEEP YOUR COMMENTS RELATED TO ITEM THREE.
YES. PLEASE RELATE YOUR COMMENTS TO ITEM THREE.
I'M SORRY. YOU NEED TO RELATE YOUR COMMENTS TO ITEM THREE.
I UNDERSTAND AND I WILL TRY TO WAIT FOR THE FUTURE ITEM, BUT I MAY HAVE TO GO TO MY SON.
SO THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO MENTION THOSE WE WE NEED TO.
THANK YOU. AND LET ME JUST SAY, FOR THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, WE'RE ALLOWING THREE MINUTES PER ITEM, BUT YOU NEED TO SPEAK ON THAT ITEM.
AND WE'VE NOW COVERED ITEM NUMBER SIX.
AND WE'VE COMPLETED THAT PUBLIC HEARING.
SUSAN MOFFATT SPEAKING ON ITEM THREE.
[07:35:11]
SUSAN. PLEASE UNMUTE.KIMBERLY. KIMBERLY COLE SPEAKING ON ITEM THREE.
I THINK THAT'S WHO WAS JUST SPEAKING UP, BUT I'M MAYBE.
WE'LL SEND HER BACK TO THE QUEUE.
I'M GOING TO SWITCH OVER TO IN-PERSON ITEM NUMBER THREE, PAUL ROBBINS, TAI CHI, ZEESHAN MALIK, ELIZABETH WOOD, CINDY REED AND BARB SILLY.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM.
PLEASE COME FORWARD. PLEASE COME FORWARD.
HI, I'M TAI CHI FROM DISTRICT FIVE.
I'D LIKE TO START OUT BY MAKING IT KNOWN THAT IN TERMS OF SUPPORT FOR THIS, I KNOW PEOPLE HAVE MENTIONED THERE BEING AN OVERWHELMING AMOUNT OF PEOPLE AGAINST THIS, BUT IF WE ACCOUNT FOR THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY, WORKERS, UT STUDENTS THAT JUST FINISHED THEIR SEMESTER, ETC.
FOR THIS MEETING FOR LIKE 1456 PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR THIS THESE ITEMS TODAY AND 972 WERE AGAINST LAST MEETING, 349 FOR AND 71 AGAINST.
SO THIS DOES HAVE THE SUPPORT AND WE ARE BEHIND YOU.
SO IN OUR LAST DECADE, A LOT OF THE POLITICAL DISCOURSE HAS BEEN ABOUT HOW WHY DO OTHER DEVELOPED COUNTRIES HAVE THINGS LIKE UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE, UNIVERSAL PRE-K, ETC. THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE? I WOULD LIKE TO ADD TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT TO THAT LIST OF NICE THINGS THAT WE AS A DEVELOPED COUNTRY SHOULD HAVE.
A CURSORY SEARCH THROUGH THE INTERNET FINDS THAT CITIES AROUND THE WORLD PARIS, TOKYO, SEOUL, COPENHAGEN, MUMBAI, SO MANY OTHERS HAVE SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT. THIS MEANS THAT WE'RE NOT DOING SOMETHING RADICAL AND UNTESTED.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN PROVEN TO WORK ALL AROUND THE WORLD.
I'VE EXPERIENCED IT MYSELF WHEN I'VE TRAVELED ABROAD.
THE AREAS AROUND THE METRO STATIONS HAD AN ABUNDANT MIX OF HOUSING AND RECREATIONAL SPACES.
THEY WERE THRIVING, VIBRANT PLACES THAT YOU WANTED TO BE IN AND TO LIVE IN.
AND A LOT OF THESE CITIES THAT I MENTIONED HAVE LARGER POPULATIONS THAN AUSTIN, TEXAS, WHICH TELLS ME THAT WHEN YOU SCALE A CITY THE MAIN WAY TO GET PEOPLE AROUND IS MASS PUBLIC TRANSIT.
AND LIKE, WIDENING HIGHWAYS FOREVER.
JUST ASK LA. JUST ASK KATY, TEXAS.
EVEN IF FOR SOME REASON, IF PROJECT CONNECT GETS SUED INTO OBLIVION, HAVING MORE DENSITY ALONG OUR CORNERS MEANS THAT WE WILL MAKE IT'LL BE EASIER FOR US TO RUN FREQUENT BUSSES TO IMPROVE TRANSIT IN THOSE AREAS.
AND I'M ALREADY SEEING THAT TODAY, LIVING ALONG ONE OF ONE SUCH CORRIDOR.
ALSO, WHILE I'M HERE, I WANTED TO MENTION THAT I'M IN SUPPORT OF THESE REFORMS, BUT I HAVE SOME CONCERNS AROUND THE 50% RULE REGARDING REDEVELOPING EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING. JUST A LITTLE WORRIED THAT IT WILL INCENTIVIZE LANDLORDS TO ALLOW THEIR PROPERTIES TO FALL INTO DECAY.
AND SO I HOPE THAT STAFF FINDS A WAY TO GET THE RIGHT BALANCE FOR THAT.
AND THEN LIKEWISE THE 15% AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENT.
THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF A WORRY ABOUT IT WILL LEAD TO LESS HOUSING BEING CONSTRUCTED.
THANK YOU. IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE MICROPHONE.
OKAY. THANK YOU, CINDY REID, DISTRICT FOUR.
RAIL IS IN A DEATH SPIRAL, SO MY MOTHER IN LAW LIVES IN BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE THE THE TRANSIT NEEDS TO BE RELIABLE.
BUT THE FACT THAT WE INVESTED IN RAIL WHEN IT WAS IN A DEATH SPIRAL IS BAFFLING TO ME.
WHAT WE SHOULD HAVE DONE IS INVESTED IN MORE RAPID ELECTRIC BUSSES.
AND WHAT ARE WE GETTING IN RETURN FOR THESE DENSITY BONUSES? WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO BE WORTH IF WE ALLOW FEE IN LIEU?
[07:40:03]
MY MOTHER IN LAW WAS JUST HERE LAST MONTH AND SHE SAID, IT'S GETTING SO DENSE AND THE BUILDINGS ARE SO HIGH IN NEW YORK THAT I DON'T HAVE FRESH AIR. I HAVE STALE AIR.AND JUST BECAUSE YOU ADD THE E TO TODD DOESN'T MEAN IT'S EQUITABLE.
THE OUTCOME HASN'T BEEN REALIZED YET.
SO WHO ARE THESE CONSULTANTS THAT YOU'RE PAYING TO DO THIS WORK? BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
AND I'M GOING TO GO TO YOUR DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND ALL THESE PROMISES OF AFFORDABILITY.
AGAIN, THE DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFTS.
SO FOR THESE DENSITY BONUS PODS, LOOK BACK AT PLAZA SALTILLO AND MLK STATION.
WHERE NEW DEVELOPMENT HAS OCCURRED IN THESE TODS.
THE MFI MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME HAS ALMOST DOUBLED AND IN SOME CASES TRIPLED, AND HOUSES WITHOUT CHILDREN NOW OUTWEIGH HOUSEHOLDS WITH CHILDREN THROUGHOUT THESE CENSUS TRACKS. DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFTS IN MAJORITY BIPOC CENSUS TRACTS ARE NOT UNIQUE TO TODS, BUT INSTEAD CORRELATES TO THE DISPLACEMENT PATTERN ALONG THE EASTERN CRESCENT AND THE EASTERNMOST BOUNDARY OF THE HISTORIC NEGRO DISTRICT.
AND THIS IS THE MOST IRONIC PART.
SO WHO ARE WE BUILDING THE TRAIN, THE TRAIN FOR? AND THE FACT THAT YOU HIRED THE CITY MANAGER? WELCOME TO OUR CITY.
TO EXECUTE THESE RACIST, CLASSIST AND UNEQUITABLE POLICIES IS BAFFLING.
YOU'VE CREATED A PLAN AND YOU'RE GOING TO ASK HIM TO EXECUTE VOTE NO.
SILLY. BEFORE I GET STARTED, I WANT TO CORRECT SOMETHING.
THE LAWSUIT AGAINST PROJECT CONNECT IS NOT EMPHATICALLY DRIVEN BY MAGA REPUBLICANS.
A FORMER COUNTY JUDGE, A FORMER STATE SENATOR, A FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER AND A CURRENT COUNTY COMMISSIONER ARE ALL DEMOCRATS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN DEMOCRATS, AND AS FAR AS I KNOW, WE'LL GO TO THEIR GRAVES AS DEMOCRATS.
SO LET US NOT CHARACTERIZE PEOPLE WHO ARE SUING ON PROJECT CONNECT AS MAGA REPUBLICANS.
OKAY, THE THE 1005 PARCELS OF LAND YOU ARE UP ZONING ARE CLEARLY ASSOCIATED WITH PROJECT CONNECT.
THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA REPRESENTS YOUR RESPONSE.
FIGURE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SUMMER DAYS OF SUMMER OVER 100 DEGREES.
COMBINING ALL THE OTHER ZONING CHANGES YOU ARE PROPOSING, THEY WILL NOT LEAVE ROOM FOR ANY SIGNIFICANT TREE PLANTING THAT COULD MITIGATE THE 100 DEGREE DAYS.
THE STATEMENT THAT TREES CAN SURVIVE IN TEN FEET OF SETBACK MISSES THE FACT THAT VERY FEW TREES SURVIVE IN THESE CONDITIONS, AND THOSE THAT DO TYPICALLY DO NOT CREATE ENOUGH CANOPY TO PROVIDE SHADE.
IN ADDITION, TREES PLANTED IN THESE CONDITIONS ARE VERY HIGH MAINTENANCE, AND THE CITY HAS A VERY POOR TRACK RECORD ON STREET MAINTENANCE OF TREES. ONE OF THE FUNDAMENTAL PREMISES OF MASS TRANSIT PROJECTS IS THAT A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PEOPLE RIDE THEM.
THIS MAY SEEM A STATEMENT OF THE OBVIOUS, BUT MASS TRANSIT RIDERSHIP EVERYWHERE IS DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY AND AUSTIN'S NUMBERS ARE NO EXCEPTION. THE REASON FOR THIS SHIFT IS THE DEMAND AT WORK.
THE DEMAND FOR WORK AT HOME, REMOTE WORK HAS HAD A PROFOUND EFFECT ON WHERE PEOPLE CAN LOCATE.
[07:45:05]
AUSTIN'S DOWNTOWN VACANCY RATE IS ALMOST 25%.THIS OFFICE BUILDING VACANCY RATE DEMONSTRATES THAT UPZONING, A SIGNIFICANT SWATH OF THE CENTER OF THE CITY AND DISPLACING THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS, WILL BE OCCURRING IN THE FACE OF A TREND THAT EVERYWHERE IS IMPACTING RIDERSHIP NUMBERS.
SO AGAIN, I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO REMOTE SPEAKERS.
KIMBERLEY KOOLHAAS HAS SPEAKING ON ITEM THREE.
OH, THEY'RE DISCONNECTING MAIER.
SORRY, I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO IN PERSON, SUSANA ALMANZA.
AGAIN, I AM RISING TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM THREE, SINCE IT DOES NOT ADDRESS LONG TERM AFFORDABILITY OF LOCAL HOMEOWNERSHIP. THIS ITEM IS WASTING FUNDS ON A FAILED FAILING BOND PROPOSAL THAT IS TURNING INTO A TRAIN WRECK FOR AUSTIN RESIDENTS IN IT.
THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO GARNER FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT THIS COUNCIL IS SHORTSIGHTEDLY APPROVING CONGESTION, TRAFFIC, POLLUTION, FLOODING AND CREATING URBAN HOTSPOTS VIA UP ZONING TACTICS.
THIS IS A LITERAL FRENZY OF MONEY PIT THAT THE CURRENT COUNCIL MEMBERS, WHEN THEIR TERM ENDS, WILL NOT HAVE TO LIVE WITH.
I. LONG TERM AUSTIN RESIDENTS HAVE TO LIVE WITH YOUR DECISIONS.
THERE IS NOTHING EQUITABLE ABOUT TODS.
I'M NOT AGAINST TLDS, BUT WHEN A DOCUMENT MENTIONS EQUITABLE, EQUITABLY EQUITABLE ORIENTED 200 TIMES IT SOUNDS LIKE OVERCOMPENSATING FOR SOMETHING OR MAYBE GASLIGHTING.
THIS CONTINUED THIS TODD SHOULD BE TURNED DOWN.
DIFFERENT SUBJECT. I HAVE NUMBERS FOR THE LAST NUMBER SIX.
I'M SORRY, SIR. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NUMBER THREE.
MOVING ON. I THOUGHT YOU WOULD KNOW THE NUMBERS, BUT I GUESS NOT.
NO, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NUMBER THREE.
I HAVE A QUESTION FOR JUST A CLARIFICATION FOR MAYOR WATSON.
IS IT TRUE THAT YOU YOU APPOINTED PLANNING COMMISSION NUMBER THREE TO THIS DEALS WITH THE LOT.
YESTERDAY, AUSTIN MONITOR SAID THAT IN A WORKING SESSION FOR TODD THAT YOU AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION WOULD MAKE THE DECISIONS. NOW THAT'S A HOUSING SETBACK.
I'M THE CONSERVATION CHAIR FOR THE REGIONAL GROUP AUSTIN REGIONAL GROUP OF SIERRA CLUB.
AND I APPRECIATE THAT SO MANY OF YOU ARE LOOKING AT ME AND LISTENING.
I JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE SAME ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS THAT I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, THAT WE NEED TO BE PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH THE FLOODWATERS, HOW WE'RE GOING TO REUSE THOSE, HOW WE'RE GOING TO REUSE THE WATER THAT WE ALREADY BUY FROM LCRA, AND WE CAN USE AGAIN THROUGH A PURPLE PIPE SYSTEM.
YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
[07:50:01]
I SORRY, THE CITY MANAGER, BROADNAX, IS OFF THE DAIS.I WANTED TO WELCOME HIM TO AUSTIN AND LET HIM KNOW SIERRA CLUB IS READY TO MEET WITH HIM AT ANY TIME AND DISCUSS HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER. I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ FOR HIS GAP FUNDING INITIATIVE, AND I HOPE ALL OF YOU WILL SUPPORT THAT.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL IDEAS WITH WITH THIS PROJECT.
THIS PROGRAM WAS TO FIND A WAY TO KEEP PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES ON THEIR LOTS.
IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE COULD TAKE CARE OF OUR LONG TERM AND SHORT TERM AUSTINITES AND HELP THEM WITH THE WITH THE BUREAUCRACY OF GETTING ALL OF THAT DONE AND THEN ARRANGING FOR THEM TO HAVE THE LOANS.
OH, AND VERY MUCH SUPPORT THE EQUITY OVERLAY.
AND WE DO THIS ALL THE TIME, AND IT'S LOTS OF FUN.
AND SIERRA CLUB WILL ALWAYS BE WELCOME TO MEET WITH YOU.
ONE THING I WOULD LIKE IS IF WE WOULD STOP CALLING THIS AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND CALL IT WHAT IT IS, WHICH IS LESS EXPENSIVE, MARGINALLY LESS EXPENSIVE HOUSING.
I WOULD LOVE IT THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THESE NUMBERS INSTEAD OF 50% MFI, 80% MFI, WE PUT REAL NUMBERS TO THAT SO WE CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
CRAIG NASSER, PRESIDENT OF THE AUSTIN ENVIRONMENTAL DEMOCRATS.
AND AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, WE MEET AT EL MERCADO ON SOUTH FIRST STREET, WHICH IS EUROPE ZONING.
HOW LONG MUCH LONGER WILL EL MERCADO BE THERE? I DON'T KNOW, THEY GIVE US A GREAT DEAL.
WHERE ARE WE GOING TO MEET? I DON'T KNOW, BUT I WELCOME YOU TO COME TO OUR MEETING SOMETIME.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. NASER. NEXT SPEAKER.
INGLE. IS MARY HERE? SHANE. JOHNSON.
FRANK CARRICO AND MARGO CARRICO.
SO, SHANE JOHNSON, HE AND PRONOUNS.
WANT TO REEMPHASIZE SOME THINGS I SAY AND AND ADD SOME SPECIFICS ABOUT THE E TOD OR THE E TOD HERE.
SO YOU KNOW, SAME RECOMMENDATION OR SAME POSITION, YOU KNOW, VOTE NO UNTIL AFTER WE IMPLEMENT AN EQUITY ANTI-DISPLACEMENT OVERLAY, WHICH, AS I AND OTHERS SAID BEFORE, HAS TO BE IMPLEMENTED FIRST, OTHERWISE IT WILL BE PREEMPTED BY THESE POLICIES.
AND THE DBE WOULD SUPERCHARGE A LOT OF THE UP ZONING AND DISPLACEMENT RISK IN THESE AREAS.
MY HOW MY APARTMENT I LIVE IN, WHICH IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
IT'S A PERCENT OF IT IS INCOME RESTRICTED IS NOT CURRENTLY IN THE INITIAL IT'S GOING TO BE UP ZONED, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG TILL IT WILL BE. AND PEOPLE KEEP CLAIMING THIS IS FOR, YOU KNOW, LOW INCOME FOLKS, MODERATE INCOME FOLKS, PEOPLE OF COLOR, BUT WITHOUT ANTI-DISPLACEMENT PROTECTIONS.
IT'S FOR NEW FOLKS AND HIGHER INCOME PEOPLE MOVING INTO TOWN.
AND LIKE A PREVIOUS SPEAKER SAID A FEW MOMENTS AGO, THESE THESE TODS, WHETHER OR NOT YOU SLAP EQUITABLE ON THE FRONT, WHICH IS A FARCE HAVE CAUSED SIGNIFICANT GENTRIFICATION IN AUSTIN, THE THE PLAZA SALTILLO AND THE MLK STATION.
[07:55:09]
FOUND SIGNIFICANTLY UP IN BOTH AREAS.THE SAME THING HAPPENED IN HOUSTON.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT IN OTHER AND OTHER AREAS WITH THIS KIND OF DEVELOPMENT AND A SIGNIFICANT DECREASE, PEOPLE OF COLOR, SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN WHITE FOLKS AND HIGH INCOME FOLKS.
AND PARTICULARLY IN AUSTIN, THAT MEANS LOWER TRANSIT RIDERSHIP.
THE PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE THE CORE RIDERSHIP OF CAPMETRO.
THEY'RE THE ONES BEING DISPLACED BY HIGHER INCOME PEOPLE WHO BRING IN CARS TO DRIVE.
AUSTIN'S PRACTICE IS OUT OF ATTAINMENT WITH OZONE.
IT JUST HASN'T BEEN FINALIZED LEGALLY.
YOU'RE DRIVING SPRAWL UNDER THE GUISE OF WE WANT MORE TRANSIT, QUOTE UNQUOTE GOOD FOR THE CLIMATE.
I'M MARGO CARRICO AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE.
AND ON I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT, WELL, BRINGING UP THINGS LIKE WHO LIVES THERE AND THE EQUITY OF THE AIRPORT AND MISSING MIDDLE.
WHO LIVES THERE? I WAS SO SURPRISED.
IN 2023, SENATE BILL 1787 AND 491.
THE FIRST ONE IS THE SAME, JUST LIKE HOME ONE.
SMALL LOTS, MULTIPLE BUILDINGS.
AND I THOUGHT THEY DIDN'T THOUGHT THE TEXAS I THOUGHT I EXPECTED IT IN THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE.
THE OTHER ONE IS 491 UNLIMITED BUILDING HEIGHT.
1550 ONE FEET AWAY FROM A PROPERTY, UNLIMITED BUILDING HEIGHT.
SO I'M LIKE, WHO'S DOING THIS? WHO? WHO IS IT? AND THE SPONSOR, THE PEOPLE WHO INTRODUCED THESE BILLS WITHIN THE SENATE.
WHEN I LOOKED THEM UP, THEY DIDN'T LIVE IN.
THEY WERE EXEMPTED BECAUSE THE FIRST ONE HAD 3000 POPULATION DENSITY BEFORE IT WAS IMPACTED.
CITY DIDN'T LIVE WASN'T IN THAT.
THE OTHER ONE WAS A $700,000 LIMIT, I MEAN 700,000 POPULATION LIMIT.
AND THAT WASN'T THEIR COMMUNITY EITHER.
SO I'M LIKE, WHAT ARE PEOPLE DOING WHEN THEY'RE INTRODUCING BILLS AND IT DOESN'T IMPACT THEM OR THEIR CONSTITUENTS? I WONDERED WHO WAS THE SPONSOR, AND I'M GOING TO TRY.
I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU, BUT WE NEED TO BE TALKING ABOUT ITEM NUMBER THREE ON OUR AGENDA.
RIGHT. SO THIS GOES RIGHT INTO NUMBER THREE, PLEASE.
THERE IS NO EQUITY IN THAT BECAUSE WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS THE EQUITY OF HOMES.
BASICALLY, I THOUGHT, I DON'T REALLY LIKE HOME 1 OR 2, BUT IT'S CITYWIDE RESIDENTIAL.
WHEN YOU GO TO ITOD, IT'S NO LONGER CITYWIDE.
WHY? IT'S IT'S IT'S GOT SO MANY BLUE DOTS ACROSS MY NEIGHBORHOOD THAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
I MEAN, IT LOOKS LIKE IT RAINED ON YOUR, YOU KNOW, THE PAPER THAT I WROTE RIGHT HERE.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU NEED THAT.
I HAVE LIVED IN ALL THESE CITIES.
TOKYO, BERLIN, STOCKHOLM, TORONTO, AND MOST OF THE BUILDINGS THAT THEY HAD, MOST OF THE BEAUTIFUL BUILDINGS ARE ABOUT SIX STORIES.
I WANT TO KNOW WHO ON THE CITY COUNCIL IS WILLING TO HAVE 120FT BESIDE THEM, BEHIND THEM, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THEM? WHO WHO IS IT THAT LIVES HERE THAT WANTS THAT YOU'RE ON OVERDRIVE OVER HERE? I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING.
I MEAN, I LOVE MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE'RE THE MISSING MIDDLE THAT USED TO BE PART.
HOLA. MY NAME IS SONIA VASQUEZ.
E AQUI IN AUSTIN POR MAS DE SANTA ANOS.
ESO TE QUIERO COMPARTIR ESTOY EN CONTRA DE TODOS LOS PUNTOS VAN AVATAR.
HOY Y LES DIGO EN CONTRA LA CONCEPCION.
DERECHOS Y LA CONSERVACION DE CAMBIOS.
[08:00:03]
SIGNIFICATION IN ARIAS VULNERABLES NO ESTA DESPUÉS DE LA RELACION DE UNA POSICION DE PROTECCION DE EQUIDAD ANTES PENSAMIENTO DE TOMAR UN PAIS PARA LA INTERPRETER.GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS TONYA VASQUEZ.
I'M CALLING AGAIN TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I'M AGAINST ALL THE ITEMS IN THE AGENDA.
IN EVERYTHING THAT IS RELATED TO THE ZONING AND EVERYTHING THAT IS RELATED TO THE VULNERABLE AREAS.
FIRST, AS DRAFTED, THE DBE PROGRAM COULD RESULT IN NOTHING BUT HIGH RISE LUXURY CONDOS LINING THE PROJECT CONNECT ROUTE, HOUSING THOSE LESS LIKELY TO USE TRANSIT AND MORE LIKELY TO OWN VEHICLES, ACCORDING TO THE CITY'S OWN REPORT ON ITS EXISTING TODS.
THE AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS ARE SHOCKINGLY LOW IN EXCHANGE FOR HUGELY INCREASED DEVELOPMENT ENTITLEMENTS, AND WOULD ALLOW DEVELOPERS OF OWNERSHIP PROJECTS TO AVOID PROVIDING ANY ON SITE AFFORDABLE UNITS SIMPLY BY PAYING A FEE IN LIEU.
AND BECAUSE THIS ORDINANCE IS NOT CENTERED ON STATIONS AND THE STATIONS WILL BE VERY FAR APART, IT COULD FORCE LOW INCOME RESIDENTS TO WALK UP TO A MILE IN TEXAS HEAT JUST TO ACCESS TRANSIT.
SECOND, THIS DOES NOTHING TO CURB SHORT TERM RENTALS, WHICH ARE CURRENTLY IN AUSTIN, ALLOWED TO TAKE UP TO 25% OF UNITS IN MULTIFAMILY BUILDINGS TO ENSURE HOUSING FOR RESIDENTS.
EVEN WITH THE MAYOR'S AMENDMENT, THIS WOULD STILL ALLOW FIVE STORY BUILDINGS JUST 25FT FROM SINGLE FAMILY HOMES A HALF MILE INTO NEIGHBORHOODS AND ALLOW 12 STORIES AT A 50 FOOT DISTANCE.
A QUARTER MILE IN MANY OLDER CENTRAL NEIGHBORHOODS ALREADY HAVE A MIX OF APPROPRIATELY SCALED MULTIFAMILY BUILDINGS SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD, INTERMINGLED WITH SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.
THESE ARE TYPICALLY JUST 2 OR 3 STORIES TALL, MANY PROVIDING MARKET AFFORDABLE UNITS.
YET THIS ORDINANCE WOULD INCENTIVIZE THEIR DESTRUCTION AND ALLOW HEIGHT, DOUBLE, TRIPLE, OR EVEN SIX TIMES THE CURRENT HEIGHT, TOWERING OVER EXISTING HOMES HALF A MILE INTO NEIGHBORHOODS.
AS ONE PLANNING COMMISSIONER SAID, THIS IS THE OPPOSITE OF PLANNING.
THERE'S TIME TO GET THIS RIGHT.
FEDERAL GRANT AUTHORITIES ARE ONLY CONSIDERING STATION AREAS NOT THE FULL LENGTH OF THE LINE, NOR ARE THEY CONSIDERING ANY PRIORITY EXTENSIONS, AND THE FINAL GRANT SUBMISSION ISN'T EVEN DUE TILL NEXT SUMMER.
WE'RE GOING BACK TO IN PERSON.
JANICE RANKIN, JENNY GRAYSON, JEFFREY BOWEN, LEYLA. DABEKA, NOAH.
I FEEL LIKE I'M ON THE PRICE IS RIGHT.
I INTRODUCED MYSELF EARLIER ON ITEM SIX.
I'M A MEMBER OF COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN SINCE 1992.
[08:05:05]
BEEN PAYING PROPERTY TAXES THERE EVER SINCE, INCLUDING THAT 24% CITY TAX INCREASE TO SUPPORT PART OF THE COST OF PROJECT CONNECT.ITEM THREE CONCERNS MESS UP ZONING OF OVER 1000 PROPERTIES TO THE DENSITY BONUS DESIGNATION, AND THIS ITEM TWO CALLS FOR A PUBLIC VOTE.
INSTEAD, THE COUNCIL IS TAKING REZONING ACTION ON THIS BY FIAT TO ADD E TOD AND E TOD TO THE MIX.
THOSE ARE BOTH BY SENATOR HUGHES, WHO'S FROM MINEOLA, DOESN'T QUALIFY FOR THE KIND OF BRACKETED BILL THAT HE WAS DESIGNING TO HELP IMPROVE HIGH SKY RISE BILLS AND DENSITY KIND OF BONUSES.
SO THIS ITEM CALLS FOR A PUBLIC VOTE TO KEEP FROM MAKING AN END RUN AROUND THE TAXPAYERS.
PROJECT CONNECT WAS NOT BASED ON ITOD ISSUES.
TODD SUPER DENSITY POLICIES WOULD BE NEEDED IN ORDER TO BUILD PROJECT CONNECT.
THE TODD REPORT SHOWS WE HAVE MEDIUM DENSITY.
I UNDERSTAND THE QUEST FOR DEEP DENSITY AND HIGHER DENSITY.
I UNDERSTAND THAT BECAUSE YOU'RE THINKING IT'S GOING TO GET MORE MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT MYSELF, BUT I DON'T CLAIM TO BE AN EXPERT ON IT.
I DO KNOW THAT THIS PURPLE CODE MENTIONS NOTHING ABOUT TODD OR D.B.
TODD. IT SAYS NOTHING ABOUT IT.
IT'S A QR CODE ON HERE, BUT THAT'S A THAT'S OUTSIDE THE FOUR CORNERS OF THIS DOCUMENT.
SO IF YOU DON'T HAVE AN APP OR ACCESS TO A QR CODE, THIS IS MEANINGLESS TO YOU.
AND IF YOU THOUGHT THAT ETIHAD OR D.B.
TODD MIGHT APPLY TO YOU, THERE'S NOTHING ABOUT THAT IN HERE.
THERE'S NOTHING ABOUT PROJECT CONNECT FUNDING IN HERE.
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO WITH THESE ZONING CHANGES.
THIS IS AN UNWISE EXPERIMENT, AND IT WOULD COME AT A HUGE FINANCIAL AND PERSONAL COST WITHOUT CONSIDERING LONG TERM DETRIMENT TO BUSINESSES AND HOME OWNERS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
AND THEY DON'T WANT TO BE YOUR GUINEA PIGS.
I WANTED TO JUST SAY I REMAIN HOPEFUL THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE THE WISDOM AND THE COURAGE TO POSTPONE THESE MEASURES IN FAVOR OF ALLOWING THE PUBLIC TO VOTE ON THEM.
I AM A THIRD GRADE DUAL LANGUAGE TEACHER IN AUSTIN ISD.
I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO POSTPONE THIS.
I'M THINKING ABOUT MY STUDENTS, MY FAMILIES THAT I SERVE.
THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PROPERTIES THAT WILL BE UP SOON.
AND WITH THESE CHANGES, IF YOU VOTE FOR THIS, THAT WILL INCREASE.
SO I'M ASKING YOU TO POSTPONE THIS AND THINK ABOUT YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
THINK ABOUT THE MOST VULNERABLE CONSTITUENTS THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR DISTRICT.
AND I'M ASKING YOU TO POSTPONE THIS.
MATTHEW ATKINSON, KAREN SCHADE, LAURA MARTINEZ.
I FEEL LIKE THE TIDES AND TIDES HAVE MOVED WAY TOO FAST.
WE DIDN'T. THE NOTICE WAS VERY RECENT.
I DID RECEIVE THE PACKET IN THE MAIL.
AND WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY REAL COMMUNITY INPUT IN HOW IT WAS STRUCTURED AND HOW IT WOULD IMPACT NEIGHBORHOODS AND HYDE PARK, BECAUSE WE HAVE LOTS OF OLDER APARTMENTS AND EXISTING BUSINESSES.
[08:10:03]
FROM THE ROUTE AND EVEN FURTHER FROM THE NEAREST STATION? AND THIS IS WITH THE ROUTE BEYOND 38TH STREET NOT EVEN BEING PART OF THE CURRENT FUNDING REQUEST.SO THIS IS FROM PRESERVATION AUSTIN.
HISTORIC ZONING IS THE MOST IMPORTANT TOOL AVAILABLE TO PROTECT AUSTIN'S HISTORIC PLACES, AND THE CITYWIDE HISTORIC DESIGN STANDARDS ADOPTED BY COUNCIL ARE A MODEL FOR HOW PRESERVATION AND INCREASED DENSITY CAN COEXIST TO CREATE MORE VIBRANT NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE HYDE PARK LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT WILL BE THE MOST DIRECTLY IMPACTED IN THE SHORT TERM.
AND WE APPLAUD WE APPLAUD THE INCLUSION OF THIS IMPORTANT PROVISION.
AUSTIN SUPPORTS THE RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY THE OLD AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
IN THEIR APRIL 22ND LETTER TO COUNCIL.
SPECIFICALLY, OANA ASKED THAT THE OVERLAY PROVISIONS RECOGNIZE THE EXISTENCE AND CONTRIBUTING CHARACTER OF CENTRAL AUSTIN NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICTS THAT ARE NOT PROTECTED BY HISTORIC ZONING.
THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS.
DID YOU SAY THE DATE OF THAT LETTER? FOR THE RECORD, THE LETTER FROM PRESERVATION AUSTIN WAS DATED MAY 2ND, 2024 AND IT IS LONGER THAN WHAT I READ, SO I HOPE YOU'LL WANT TO GET IT IN THE RECORD.
ANTONIA ROMERO AND BEVERLY MANNING.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
SPECIAL HELLO TO OUR NEW CITY MANAGER.
I WANT TO TELL YOU VERY DIRECTLY WE'RE BETTER THAN THIS.
AUSTIN IS A CREATIVE, INNOVATIVE, TALENTED, SCRAPPY, NERDY, HOME LOVING PLACE.
I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE WHOLE PACKAGE BEFORE YOU.
IF THIS WAS REALLY AN EQUITABLE, AFFORDABLE, TRANSIT ORIENTED BEAUTIFUL PACKAGE FOR AUSTIN, PEOPLE WOULD BE CHEERING.
AND EVERYBODY I KNOW IN AUSTIN IS.
SO HOW DID WE GET HERE? I'VE BEEN TO THIS COUNCIL FOR GOING ON 30 YEARS.
THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE THAT ARE TRAUMATIZED AND IN PAIN.
THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST DIVISIVE THINGS I'VE EVER SEEN, AND IT REALLY SHOULDN'T BE.
SO I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, HOW DID WE.
HOW DID WE GET HERE? NUMBER ONE, YOUR SIGNATURE AFFORDABILITY PACKAGE HAS NO AFFORDABILITY IN IT.
I'M TALKING ABOUT WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT FLOODING? WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT TREE CANOPY? WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT OUR WATERSHEDS? AND IT HAS NO DATA.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY DATA THAT EXPLAINS WHAT THIS THING IS REALLY GOING TO DO.
[08:15:02]
I CAN TELL YOU WHAT THE AFFORDABILITY IS GOING TO BE.I CAN TELL YOU WHAT THE EQUITY IS GOING TO BE.
I CAN EXPLAIN HOW WE'RE GOING TO MITIGATE THE DISPLACEMENT.
THERE'S NO ANSWERS ON THIS THING.
SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, WITH ALL THE LOVE IN MY HEART AND WITH ALL THE ENDORSEMENT THAT I GAVE MANY OF YOU WHEN YOU RAN, AND I KNOW YOU HAD THE BEST OF INTENTIONS, IS THIS IS A FAIL.
WE SWANG BIG AND BOLD AND WE WE MISSED.
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU PLAY BALL LIKE THIS.
LET'S JUST STEP BACK AND SAY WE CAN DO BETTER.
WE SHOULD HAVE A CONSENSUS ORIENTED WAY OF DISCUSSING THIS TOGETHER, WHERE WE CAN MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER AS A LARGE, BEAUTIFUL CITY THAT'S GOT A GREAT VISION FOR ITSELF.
I KNOW WE'RE CAPABLE OF DOING THAT.
I KNOW EVERYONE HERE WANTS THAT, AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY REASON IN THE WORLD WHY YOU CAN'T JUST STEP BACK, TAKE TAKE A DELAY, REGROUP, AND LET'S GET THAT AFFORDABILITY.
LET'S GET THAT CLIMATE MITIGATION.
SOL PRAXIS IS SOL HERE? MEGAN KING, HALIMA FOSTER.
THAT'S WHY SHE'S CALLING YOUR NAME.
PLEASE COME FORWARD. I'M LAURIE WEIDLICH.
IN MOST NEIGHBORHOODS, APARTMENT BUILDINGS AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTY IS LOCATED ON THE PERIPHERY.
HOWEVER, IN SOME OF AUSTIN'S OLDER CENTRAL NEIGHBORHOODS, LIKE MY OWN NEIGHBORHOOD OF HYDE PARK, APARTMENT BUILDINGS ARE SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS IS BECAUSE HYDE PARK WAS SPOT ZONED FOR MULTIFAMILY HOUSING IN MANY LOCATIONS DURING THE 1960S, TO PROVIDE APARTMENTS FOR UT STUDENTS.
TODAY, THE APARTMENT BUILDINGS THAT WERE BUILT BACK THEN IN THE 1960S ARE STILL THERE AND BECAUSE OF THEIR AGE, ARE MORE AFFORDABLE THAN THE ABUNDANCE OF APARTMENT BUILDINGS THAT RECENTLY CAME ON THE MARKET IN AUSTIN.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THOSE APARTMENT BUILDINGS IF THEY ARE REZONED TO ALLOW FOR 120FT IN HEIGHT? WILL THEY STILL BE MORE AFFORDABLE? NOT LIKELY.
DEVELOPERS WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF LUXURY APARTMENTS FOR WELL-PAID HIGH TECH WORKERS, TRADING A MINIMAL NUMBER OF AFFORDABLE UNITS FOR THAT ADDITIONAL 60FT.
AND THE RESIDENTS OF THOSE LUXURY APARTMENTS WON'T BE TAKING THE TRAIN, WHICH WAS WHICH IS THE EXCUSE FOR THIS PROPOSED UP ZONING. RESIDENTS OF THE EXISTING AFFORDABLE APARTMENTS ARE FAR MORE LIKELY TO USE LIGHT RAIL THAN THE HIGH TECH WORKERS THAT WILL OCCUPY THOSE HIGH RISE LUXURY APARTMENTS.
THIS PLAN ALSO FAILS TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE SIGNIFICANT ISSUE OF INFRASTRUCTURE IN NEIGHBORHOODS WITH INFRASTRUCTURE THAT DATES FROM THE LATE 19TH AND EARLY 20TH CENTURIES.
HOW CAN A BUILDER EVEN GET WATER TO THE UPPER STOREYS OF 120 FOOT APARTMENT BUILDING? PLEASE RECONSIDER THIS PROPOSAL.
IT WILL LEAD TO A VERY FEW AFFORDABLE UNITS.
AND IS RITA THOMPSON HERE? OKAY, SO IT GETS SIX MINUTES.
[08:20:01]
JUST TO REITERATE OUR REQUEST FOR THE EQUITY AND ANTI-DISPLACEMENT OVERLAY.IF COUNCIL VOTES TO PASS HOME TWO REVISIONS TO COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS, WE'RE ON ITEM THREE.
I'M TALKING ABOUT HOLISTICALLY.
WELL, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ITEM THREE.
WE NEED YOUR TESTIMONY ON ITEM THREE.
OKAY. I JUST RAN IN FROM EVERYTHING.
SO CAN SOMEONE GIVE ME WHAT ITEM? WHAT IS THE SUBSTANCE? THREE IS RELATED TO THE ZONING OKAY.
YEAH. NO, THIS IS RELATED TO THAT.
OKAY. IF COUNCIL VOTES TO PASS HOME TWO REVISIONS TO COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS AND OR THE TIED UP ZONING, THEN OUR REQUEST IS THAT THOSE CHANGES BE LIMITED TO CERTAIN GEOGRAPHIC AREAS OF THE CITY, THOSE THAT HAVE NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AS AT RISK OF DISPLACEMENT AND GENTRIFICATION BY THE UPROOTED REPORT.
FOR THOSE AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED IN THE UPROOTED REPORT AS AT RISK OF DISPLACEMENT, POSTPONE CONSIDERATION UNTIL AFTER STAFF AND COUNCIL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE AN EQUITY AND ANTI-DISPLACEMENT OVERLAY WORK WITH IMPACTED COMMUNITIES, AND IDENTIFY TOOLS TO ADDRESS DISPLACEMENT AND GENTRIFICATION IN VULNERABLE NEIGHBORHOODS.
EXECUTE A COMMUNITY BASED PROCESS, DURING WHICH TIME COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS REVIEW AND SUBMIT RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHICH ZONING CHANGES WILL BE MADE WITHIN THE EQUITY OVERLAY AREA THAT ARE CONDUCIVE TO PROTECTING AND PRESERVING EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
MITIGATING DISPLACEMENT, AND PRODUCING HOUSING THAT IS TRULY AFFORDABLE TO RESIDENTS IN AREAS THAT ARE VULNERABLE TO DISPLACEMENT AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE CORRECT COMBINATION OF INCENTIVES, INVESTMENTS, TOOLS AND PROTECTIONS TO PUT IN PLACE.
THIS WOULD BE GROUNDBREAKING FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO TAKE THIS ON.
IT WOULD SIGNAL TO PEOPLE ACROSS AUSTIN THAT YOU ALL GENUINELY CARE ABOUT AND LISTEN TO COMMUNITY AND BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE VALUE TO CITY COUNCIL RIGHT NOW.
I THINK, AS YOU'VE HEARD MOST COMMUNITY MEMBERS FEEL THAT THEY'VE BEEN SHUT OUT.
ACTUALLY, WE KNOW WE'VE BEEN SHUT OUT.
WE REACHED OUT TO Y'ALL. WE PROPOSED THIS EQUITY OVERLAY LONG AGO.
THEY WERE PUT OFF OR THEY WERE SET FOR JUST 30 MINUTES.
WE HAD TO FIGHT SO HARD JUST TO BE HEARD.
THERE WAS ONE COMMUNITY MEMBER THAT CAME TO A MEETING AND AFTERWARDS ASKED ME, IS THIS WHAT THIS IS LIKE? IS THIS WHAT YOU ALL HAVE TO DO? BECAUSE THEY WERE JUST SHOCKED AT HOW WE HAD TO BE SO ON OUR GAME, SO READY WITH OUR RESEARCH, WITH OUR STORIES, AND MAXIMIZE EVERY LITTLE BIT OF VALUE WE COULD GET OUT OF THE SHORT PERIOD OF TIME THAT WE ARE ALLOWED TO SPEAK WITH.
COUNCIL MEMBERS. THAT IS THE OPPOSITE OF HOW PLANNING SHOULD BE HAPPENING.
THIS WOULD BE A COMMUNITY BASED PROCESS THAT WOULD BRING TOGETHER STAKEHOLDERS FROM ACROSS THE CITY, ESPECIALLY FOLKS THAT ARE DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY THE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS. AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS.
THERE ARE MODELS OUT THERE THAT AUSTIN HASN'T TRIED YET.
THAT, COMBINED WITH ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT CHANGES AND CALIBRATING IT TO WHAT IS ACTUALLY NEEDED, COULD BE LIKE AUSTIN COULD DO SOMETHING THAT IS ALMOST UNPRECEDENTED.
IT WOULD DEFINITELY BE UNPRECEDENTED IN THE HISTORY OF THIS CITY.
BECAUSE AS YOU'VE HEARD, PEOPLE DON'T DON'T BUY IT.
THEY DON'T BELIEVE IT RIGHT NOW.
SO I'LL READ SOME FROM THIS LETTER THAT WE HAD FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT OVER 40 ORGANIZATIONS SIGNED ON TO DELAYING THE IMPLEMENTATION AND GRANTING OF ENTITLEMENTS UNDER THE PROPOSED LDC CHANGES UNTIL AFTER AN EQUITY AND ANTI-DISPLACEMENT OVERLAY IS ESTABLISHED IS ESSENTIAL TO PREVENT FURTHER DISPLACEMENT OF VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES, PARTICULARLY BLACK, LATINO, INDIGENOUS AND POC COMMUNITIES IN AUSTIN'S EASTERN CRESCENT.
THE PURPOSE OF THE ANTI-DISPLACEMENT EQUITY OVERLAY WOULD BE TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND MITIGATE DISPLACEMENT AND PRODUCE HOUSING THAT IS TRULY AFFORDABLE IN NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE RESIDENTS ARE VULNERABLE TO DISPLACEMENT.
THE OVERLAY SHOULD BE CREATED THROUGH A COMMUNITY BASED PROCESS THAT PRIORITIZES RESIDENTS MOST IMPACTED BY THE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND DISPLACEMENT CRISES, LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME HOMEOWNERS, RENTERS, AND RESIDENTS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE OF HOMELESSNESS, AS WELL AS FRONTLINE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS.
BASED ON THE MAP OF MOST VULNERABLE CENSUS TRACTS THROUGHOUT AUSTIN, CENSUS DATA AND A COMMUNITY BASED PROCESS CAN ALSO BE USED TO CONSIDER ADDITIONAL NEIGHBORHOODS BASED ON VULNERABILITY. THE OVERLAY SHOULD ALSO ADDRESS PROTECTIONS CURRENTLY MISSING IN THE PROPOSED ZONING CHANGES, SUCH AS PRESERVATION OF SMALL BUSINESSES AT RISK OF DISPLACEMENT DUE TO RISING PROPERTY TAXES.
THE ACTUAL SUBSTANCE OF THE OVERLAY WOULD BE DETERMINED THROUGH A COMMUNITY BASED PROCESS.
AGAIN, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT HOW THIS IS COMPLETELY LEGAL.
OF COURSE, IT WOULD BE ILLEGAL TO JUST SLAP TOGETHER AN EQUITY OVERLAY AND PASS IT RIGHT NOW.
THAT WOULD NOT EVEN BE BENEFICIAL.
[08:25:08]
ZONING CHANGES APPROVED TODAY TO AREAS THAT ARE NOT AT RISK OF DISPLACEMENT.THIS WOULD TAKE INTO ACCOUNT ALL OF THE RESEARCH THAT SHOWS THAT UP ZONING DOES ACCELERATE DISPLACEMENT, SPECIFICALLY IN COMMUNITIES THAT ARE CURRENTLY VULNERABLE TO DISPLACEMENT. THIS IS BEYOND THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
THIS WOULD BE SOMETHING YOU ALL COULD ACTUALLY BE TRULY PROUD OF.
AND IT WOULD BE BASED ON RESEARCH THAT HAS SHOWN THAT WHEN UPZONING IS DONE IN SO MANY OTHER CITIES THE OUTCOMES, THERE'S DISPARATE OUTCOMES BASED ON THE SUBMARKETS AND DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
SO SOME MORE RESEARCH THAT I CAN POINT TO.
I ESTIMATE A SERIES OF DIFFERENCE IN DIFFERENCE MODELS, COMPARING THE SALES PRICE OF HOUSES WITHIN THREE KILOMETERS OF THE MINNEAPOLIS BORDER IN THE YEAR BEFORE AND AFTER THE CITY ADOPTED THE PLAN.
THEY TALK ABOUT HOW THERE ARE PRICE INCREASES FOR UNITS AFFECTED BY.
THANK YOU. IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE PROCEED TO THE PODIUM.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CITY MANAGER BRODNAX.
I'M A LONG TIME D-2 RESIDENT AND RESIDE WITHIN THE EASTERN CRESCENT.
I'M ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF THE AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOODS COUNCIL.
WHAT IS INTERESTING IS THAT THE LANGUAGE REFERS TO EQUITABLE FOR ITEMS THREE AND FIVE.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PROJECT CONNECT RACIAL EQUITY ANTI-DISPLACEMENT TOOL? A GROUP OF US WORKED MANY LONG HOURS ON THIS TOOL, AND ARE LEFT TO WONDER WHY THE INPUT FROM THE BIPOC COMMUNITY IS BEING TOSSED ASIDE, ESPECIALLY AS WE HAVE AS IT HAS BEEN DEMONSTRATED OVER AND OVER AGAIN WHEN OLDER, MORE AFFORDABLE APARTMENT COMPLEXES ARE DEMOLISHED AND CONVENIENTLY REPLACED WITH NEWER, MORE EXPENSIVE UNITS, RESULTING IN DISPLACEMENT. ITEM FIVE REFERS TO DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS THAT MODIFIES HEIGHT AND COMPATIBILITY IN EXCHANGE FOR COMMUNITY BENEFITS.
WE KNOW THAT BECAUSE WHEN IT COMES TO SITE PLANS, CITY STAFF REMINDS US OF THAT.
REGARDING THE PROPOSED INCREASE TIED WITH ADDITIONAL DENSITY, LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN TWO PROPOSED PROJECTS IN THE SOUTH OF MENDEZ MIDDLE SCHOOL IN DOVE SPRINGS. COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES KNOWS ABOUT THIS.
HER STAFF KNOW, CITY STAFF KNOW, AND BOTH PROJECT DEVELOPERS KNOW ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THE SOUTHEAST COMBINED NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN CONTACT TEAM HAS BEEN FORMED ABOUT THIS A LONG, LONG TIME AGO. ADJACENT TO THESE PROPERTIES IS A SMALL CREEK THAT FLOODS.
OPPOSITE OF THESE PROPOSED PROJECTS.
NO ONE IS LISTENING WITH ALL THE SWEEPING CHANGES BEING PROPOSED.
THIS IS ONE EXAMPLE OF A SUBSTANDARD DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WILL RESULT IN DAMAGE TO NEW DENSITY PROJECTS, AND THIS WILL BE REPLICATED CITY WIDE WITH THESE PROPOSALS BECAUSE YOU'RE ONLY LOOKING AT INCREASING HOUSING DENSITY ONCE DAMAGE IS DONE DUE TO FLOODING OR OTHER CLIMATE CHANGE EVENTS, THERE WILL BE NO HOUSING. THE AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOODS COUNCIL STANDS WITH OUR MEMBER NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS SAVE OUR SPRINGS, REWILD AUSTIN, COMMUNITY POWERED ATX BOULDER, AND THE TEXANS AGAINST POVERTY PROJECT.
PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO EVERYTHING THAT TITLED TITLE TEN OF THE CHARTER SAYS YOU NEED TO BE CONSISTENT IN ADDRESSING NOT ONLY HOUSING, BUT ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS, PUBLIC SAFETY FACTORS, EVERYTHING THAT APPLIES.
THANK YOU. IF YOU NEED TO CALL, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COME FORWARD.
I'M SPEAKING ON THE ODDS, AND I JUST WANT TO COVER THREE QUICK POINTS REGARDING UP ZONING.
[08:30:02]
HE SAYS RIGHTS TO AIRSPACE ARE AS REAL AS OTHER PROPERTY RIGHTS.NO WONDER THERE'S A HUGE INCENTIVE TO LOBBY FOR UP ZONING AND FOSTER SUPPLY SUPERSTITIONS.
WHETHER IT'S 90 OR 120FT, THESE PROPERTY RIGHTS COULD BE PRICED INSTEAD IT WOULD BE ECONOMICALLY IRRESPONSIBLE FOR A GOVERNMENT TO GIVE AWAY PROPERTY LIKE A PUBLIC PARK, TO A NEIGHBORING PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNER SO THEY COULD BUILD MORE HOMES.
THAT PROPERTY WOULD BE SOLD AT MARKET PRICES, BUT WHEN THE PROPERTY THE PRIVATE THE PROPERTY RIGHT IS IN THE AIR, WE ALL TOO EASILY GIVE IT AWAY SINCE THESE RIGHTS COULD BE PRICED INSTEAD. THE LOST REVENUE IS AN INVISIBLE COST TO GOVERNMENT BUDGETS AND A GIFT TO PROPERTY OWNERS.
SO MY CONCERN HERE IS THAT THERE'S NOT A LOT BUILT INTO THE PROVISIONS TO BUILD NON-LUXURY HOMES, THAT I GUESS THE HOPE IS THAT WE JUST HAVE SOMEHOW, OVERWHELMINGLY ENOUGH SUPPLY THAT IT SOMEHOW DRIVES DOWN DEMAND.
EVEN THOUGH I'VE SPOKEN TO THE SUPPLY AND DEMAND MYTHS EARLIER.
AND THE FINAL POINT IS REGARDING HOW ALL THIS SEEMS TO BE DESIGNED TO BUILDING MORE MISSING MIDDLE.
BUT I MENTIONED EARLIER THERE IS SOMETHING CALLED HOUSING EQUILIBRIUM THAT GOVERNS THIS SPACE, WHICH COULD BE REALLY DESCRIBED AS THE RISK ADJUSTED VALUE OF THE HIGHEST AND BEST USE AT THE TIME SOMETHING IS ACTUALLY BUILT, WHICH AGAIN, IS GOING TO BE DICTATED BY THINGS LIKE INTEREST RATES AND OTHER THINGS THAT ARE CONTEXTUAL.
WHAT CAMERON MURRAY SAYS IS ONLY WHAT HE SAYS TWO THINGS.
BUT TOWN PLANNING REGULATIONS OFTEN TRY TO ACHIEVE MORE DENSITY AND FAIL.
EXCUSE ME. INCLUDING INTO SMALLER MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING.
PLEASE BEGIN WHENEVER YOU'RE READY.
SURE. CHRIS PAGE, PRESIDENT HOMEWOOD HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, EAST AUSTIN.
THE TODDS WE'VE ALREADY SEEN IN THE DOCUMENTS THAT THE CITY CREATED HAVE THE OPPOSITE EFFECT OF WHAT WE'RE ALLEGEDLY GOING FOR. WE SEE HUGE DISPLACEMENT, HUGE REDUCTION IN BIPOC COMMUNITY.
WE SEE PEOPLE THAT CAN WORK REMOTELY AND HAVE HIGH INCOMES.
AND NO, KIDS OFTEN OCCUPY THE MAJORITY OF THE UNITS THAT ARE CREATED BY THESE.
IT'S FRANKLY PRETTY CLOSE AND SOMETIMES EVEN LESS THAN EXISTING DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS. IF YOUR GOAL IS TO GET FTA GRANTS AS STAFF HAVE RECOMMENDED, I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND GOING ABOUT IT IN THIS WAY.
YOU NEED REAL AFFORDABILITY BECAUSE IF YOU ARE IN FACT SEGREGATING THE COMMUNITY, AS YOU KNOW, STATISTICALLY FROM A TEN YEAR STUDY OF HOW TIDES HAVE OPERATED, IF THAT'S WHAT IT DOES, I DON'T THINK THAT IMPROVES YOUR COMPETITIVENESS.
IN FACT, IT MIGHT REALLY HURT IT.
AND I KNOW THAT GIVEN THE COST OVERRUNS THAT HAVE EMERGED, YOU KNOW, POST-COVID WITH CHANGED COST OF LABOR CHANGE, COST OF MATERIALS. AND FRANKLY, I THINK SOME OF THE MISMANAGEMENT AND PLANNING PROJECT CONNECT, YOU NEED THOSE GRANTS.
SO IF YOU'RE SERIOUS ABOUT RAIL, YOU NEED TO BE SERIOUS ABOUT EQUITY.
AND MY GOD, IS IT INSULTING THAT THEY'RE HERE THIS AFTERNOON TRYING TO SQUEAK THIS THROUGH? IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE FIRST THING YOU GUYS THOUGHT OF.
IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE FIRST THING.
AND THIS WHOLE, YOU KNOW, MARKET DEREGULATION THING.
[08:35:04]
IT'S NOT ACADEMICALLY RIGOROUS.AND WE'VE HAD SERIOUS CONVERSATIONS WITH SO MANY STAFF MEMBERS AND IT'S JUST FALLEN ON DEAF EARS.
IF YOU WANT RAIL, IF YOU WANT COMMUNITIES TO MAINTAIN THEIR INTEGRITY, IF YOU WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN YOUR JOB IN REPRESENTING YOUR CONSTITUENTS, I WOULD RECOMMEND THINKING ABOUT YOUR PRIORITIES AND HOW THEY HAVE OR HAVEN'T MATERIALIZED IN THE RIGHT WAY.
AND THIS IS BASICALLY FOR A FIRST IMPRESSION.
AND SO IF YOU'RE PUSHING SO HARD TO GET THESE THINGS DONE TODAY OR TOMORROW OR SOMETIME, YOU KNOW, WHEN EVERYTHING'S NOT, WHEN IT'S ALL HALF BAKED, THEN I DON'T FIND IT CREDIBLE THAT THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO.
I WOULD FIND IT MORE CREDIBLE THAT YOU'RE HELPING THE MARKET.
JAMES COWSER IS JAMES HERE? IS CAROL BARNES HERE? OKAY. JAMES HAS SIX MINUTES.
THANK YOU. MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, I HAVE A HANDOUT I'D LIKE TO MAKE AVAILABLE.
IF SOMEONE COULD MAKE THAT DISTRIBUTED TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY WIFE DONNA AND I HAVE LIVED IN THE OLD WEST AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD SINCE 1980, AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO APPEAR BEFORE THE COUNCIL IN A LONG WHILE.
SO GREETINGS, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, NEW CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY.
I'M SPEAKING TONIGHT ON BEHALF OF MY NEIGHBORS.
AND MY FAMILY IN SUPPORT OF THE AMENDMENTS THAT THE MAYOR IS PROPOSING.
I WANT TO KEEP THE REMARKS VERY FOCUSED ON ITOD AND THE AMENDMENTS.
BY WAY OF BACKGROUND, I HAVE 40 YEARS EXPERIENCE AS A LAND USE ATTORNEY AND A TERM ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION IN THE 1980S, WHICH WAS VERY EVENTFUL IN THE EARLY 2000.
I WAS PRIVILEGED TO REPRESENT THIS CITY IN A NUMBER OF MAJOR LAND REDEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, INCLUDING THE SIX BLOCKS AROUND THE BUILDING WHERE WE ARE TODAY, THE SECOND STREET REDEVELOPMENT AND MILLER AIRPORT.
AND I GAINED A GREAT RESPECT FOR THE CITY STAFF AND THE CITY LEADERSHIP AT THAT TIME FOR THEIR PROFESSIONALISM AND HANDLING REDEVELOPMENT.
AND I THINK THOSE DEVELOPMENTS, MILLER AND SECOND STREET, THEY SUCCEEDED BECAUSE THEY WERE REALLY BASED ON EVIDENCE BASED PLANNING AND GOOD PLANNING PRINCIPLES.
AND THAT BRINGS US TO THE CURRENT DRAFT OF ITOD.
AND I REALLY DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH DENSER DEVELOPMENT AROUND A TRANSIT STOP TRANSIT STATION WITHIN ONE FOURTH AND ONE HALF MILES OF A TRANSIT STATION.
AND THAT'S PART OF WHAT IT DOES.
BUT IT ALSO SWEEPS IN SITES THAT CAN BE OVER A MILE AWAY FROM A TRANSIT STATION, JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE WITHIN HALF A MILE OF A TRANSIT LINE. AND MOST REPORTS ON ITAD TOTALLY MISSED THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN HALF A MILE FROM A TRANSIT STATION AND HALF A MILE FROM A TRANSIT LINE.
LET'S THINK FOR A MINUTE ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A TRANSIT STATION AND A TRANSIT LINE.
REALLY? I MEAN, WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE IF YOU'RE HALF A MILE FROM A LIGHT RAIL LINE? I MEAN, IS THERE SOMEBODY WHO THINKS THAT YOU CAN JUST FLAG DOWN A LIGHT RAIL TRAIN LIKE YOU WOULD FLAG DOWN A TAXI? THAT METRIC A HALF MILE FROM THE LINE MAKES NO SENSE.
AND THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS, I THINK, THE MAYOR'S AMENDMENTS REALLY ADDRESS.
FOR THE PURPOSES OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD, THE CURRENT VERSION OF ITOD WOULD SWEEP IN ALL OF THE SMALL LOCAL COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT ON THE WEST SIDE OF LAMAR FROM SIXTH AND 12TH, AND WE'VE TAKEN THE MEASUREMENTS OF THOSE LOCATIONS TO THE SECOND AND CONGRESS ITOD STATION NOT THE LINE, BUT BECAUSE THE JOG THAT THE ITOD LINE TAKES SIXTH IN CONGRESS, A SIXTH IN LAMAR IS 1.1 MILES. NINTH IN LAMAR IS 1.2 MILES.
12TH IN LAMAR IS 1.3 MILES FROM THE SECOND AND CONGRESS STATION.
[08:40:02]
NOW, I'VE GIVEN YOU A HANDOUT WITH DATA ABOUT HOW FAR PEOPLE WILL WALK TO GET TO A TRANSIT STATION.THIS IS FEDERAL HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT DATA.
40% OF PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY WILL WALK A HALF MILE TO GET TO A TRANSIT STATION.
GREAT. THAT'S CONSISTENT WITH THAT.
SAME DATA SHOWS THAT FEWER THAN 10% OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY WILL WALK A MILE TO A TRANSIT STATION BY THE TIME YOU'RE GETTING TO 1.25 MILES, WHICH IS WHERE WE ARE FROM 12TH IN LAMAR TO DOWNTOWN STATION, FEWER THAN 5% OF THE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO WALK THAT FAR. SO THERE'S NO REAL WORLD DATA THAT SUPPORTS USING THE TRANSIT LINE AS OPPOSED TO THE TRANSIT STATION TO SET ANITA DISTRICT. NOW, IN A PERFECT WORLD, WE WOULD JUST ASK YOU TO REDO IT AND NOT BASE IT ON RAIL LINES.
SO WHAT WE'RE ASKING YOU TONIGHT IS TO SUPPORT THE MAYOR'S VARIOUS AMENDMENTS, WHICH WOULD ADDRESS SOME OF THESE DISTANCE PROBLEMS. THEY WOULD CREATE ITOD SUBDISTRICTS, THEY WOULD ADD SOME HEIGHT CAPS, AND ESPECIALLY THEY WOULD EXCLUDE SITES, PART OF WHICH ARE MORE THAN ONE HALF MILE FROM ANY TIDE LINE, WHICH DOESN'T REALLY BELONG IN THERE ANYWAY.
AND FINALLY PLEASE REMEMBER THAT MY NEIGHBORS, MY NEIGHBORHOOD, WE HAVE BEEN CONSISTENT SUPPORTERS OF TRANSIT GOING BACK TO THE 1980S WHEN CAPITAL METRO WAS FIRST PROPOSED.
IF YOU LOOK AT OUR VOTE, THESE ARE PRECINCTS THREE, 20 AND 200.
WE VOTED ALMOST 80% FOR PROJECT CONNECT IN THE BELIEF THAT PROJECT CONNECT IS REALLY ABOUT MASS TRANSIT. NOW, IF IT PASSES AS IT'S PROPOSED, THE FIRST DELIVERABLE, WE'RE LIKELY TO GET OUT OF PROJECT CONNECT IS GOING TO BE 120 FOOT TALL BUILDINGS OUTSIDE OUR FRONT DOORS, WHERE OUR FAVORITE WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESSES USED TO BE.
AMY'S ICE CREAM, WATERLOO RECORDS, YOU KNOW, THESE BUSINESSES.
SO MY EFFORT TO YOU TONIGHT IS PLEASE SUPPORT THE MAYOR'S AMENDMENTS.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COME UP AND TESTIFY.
OKAY. ARE WE GOOD? PLEASE BEGIN. SORRY, I'M A NOVICE TO ALL THIS, Y'ALL.
JUST SO YOU KNOW, I AM PRO TRANSIT.
I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO SAY THAT HAS NOT BEEN SAID ALREADY.
I'M SURE YOU HAVE YOUR MINDS MADE UP ON HOW YOU'RE GOING TO VOTE, BUT HERE GOES.
I'M A UT GRADUATE NORTH CAMPUS ALONG GUADALUPE AND NORTH LAMAR HAS SOME OF THE MOST AFFORDABLE APARTMENTS AND RENTAL PROPERTIES FOR STUDENTS OR JUST ANYONE IN THE CITY TRYING TO MAKE IT HERE.
I KNOW AS A QUEER PERSON IN AUSTIN, THAT'S LIKE A BIG HUB OF THE QUEER COMMUNITY.
THESE CHANGES, WITHOUT THE PRESENCE OF AN ANTI-DISPLACEMENT OR EQUITY PROTECTIVE OVERLAY, WILL MAKE AUSTIN COMPLETELY UNAFFORDABLE FOR FOLKS LIKE ME AND LIKE MY FRIENDS DELAYING AND IMPLEMENTING THE EQUITY OVERLAY IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
I DON'T KNOW, I'M AFRAID THIS COUNCIL MIGHT NOT BE INTERESTED IN THAT.
AND PLEASE VOTE TO DELAY THE VOTE AND WORK OUT HOW TO IMPLEMENT THE EQUITY OVERLAY.
IT WOULD REALLY, REALLY HELP US OUT.
WE'RE JUST. WE'RE WE'RE NERVOUS.
WE DON'T MAKE VERY MUCH MONEY.
WE WANT TO MAKE THE CITY A BETTER PLACE.
THANK YOU, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
I'M LAURA SMITH AND I LIVE AT SEVENTH AND BAYLOR, WHICH IS A BLOCK FROM SIXTH AND LAMAR, CLOSE TO MR. COUSER THAT YOU JUST HEARD FROM.
AND IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I JUST WANT TO ECHO WHAT HE SAID.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR PROPOSED AMENDMENTS, MAYOR WATSON, AND WE HOPE YOU ALL WILL VOTE FOR THEM.
[08:45:08]
STREET FROM ME THAT HAVE NEW FAMILIES THAT HAVE MOVED IN, REVITALIZED OUR OLDER NEIGHBORHOOD.NEW FAMILIES ARE MOVING IN WITH CHILDREN.
WE DON'T NEED THE 120 STORY BUILDINGS RIGHT THERE.
AND THESE TWO AMENDMENTS WOULD HELP.
WE ARE ALSO I AM EXTREMELY SUPPORTIVE OF PUBLIC TRANSIT AND IMPROVED AFFORDABILITY.
SOMETHING I WANT TO POINT OUT ABOUT DENSITY AND AFFORDABILITY, THOUGH, IS OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE'VE BEEN THERE 40 AND 50 YEARS.
WAS DENSE AND AFFORDABLE, AND IT HAD A VARIETY OF HOUSING.
IT'S SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, APARTMENTS, CONDOS, DUPLEXES, OLD AND NEW, EXPENSIVE, CHEAP.
BUT WITH THE ADVENT OF SHORT TERM RENTALS, WE LOST SO MUCH DENSITY AND SO MUCH AFFORDABILITY.
I COUNTED JUST FROM OUR HOUSE.
THERE ARE 15 SHORT TERM RENTALS WITHIN TWO BLOCKS OF MY HOUSE.
THAT'S 15 HOUSEHOLDS THAT CAN'T LIVE THERE.
SO WHATEVER YOU DO ABOUT INCREASING DENSITY, IF YOU DON'T ADDRESS THAT, IT WILL ALL BE FOR NAUGHT.
SO I ASK FOR YOUR HELP IN LOOKING AT THAT AND YOUR SUPPORT OF MAYOR WATSON'S AMENDMENTS.
TERRY ADAMS. NATALIE. FRENZEL.
IT IS. YAY! SORRY. A LITTLE OUT OF BREATH HERE.
I'M MONICA GUZMAN, POLICY DIRECTOR AT GO AUSTIN.
AUSTIN, THE OVERLAY IS AN EQUITABLE IS EQUITABLE IN NAME ONLY.
THE CITY WENT 700FT BEYOND THE HALF MILE RADIUS TO CAPTURE PROPERTIES DESIRED FOR REDEVELOPMENT.
HISTORICALLY, WE ARE NOT SUCCESSFUL IN THE UNITED STATES.
DOCTOR JAKE WEGMAN TESTIFIED IN A COUNCIL MEETING IN THE PAST YEAR OR TWO.
HOWEVER, TRANSIT RIDERSHIP TO WORK AND THE CENSUS TRACKS OF STUDY HAS SEEN SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION SINCE 2010 BY BETWEEN 41% AND 73%.
CORRELATING WITH THE REDUCTION IN OVERALL TRANSIT RIDERSHIP TO WORK IS THE INCREASED PERCENTAGE OF HOUSEHOLDS MAKING OVER $200,000, AND THE PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WORKING FROM HOME THE PERCENT.
A HIGH RATING FROM THE FDA REQUIRES COMPREHENSIVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PLANS THAT INCLUDE EFFORTS TO PRESERVE EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BOTH LEGALLY BINDING AFFORDABILITY RESTRICTED HOUSING AND MARKET RATE AFFORDABILITY HOUSING.
A HIGH RATE OF PLAN MUST ALSO EXPLICITLY ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF EXTREMELY LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS.
WE HEARD BACK THAT THE MAYOR WANTS TO POSTPONE THIS ITEM, AS IS STATED IN HIS MOTION SHEET TWO.
WE URGE YOU TO POSTPONE ITEM THREE TO MOVE IT IN A BETTER DIRECTION.
[08:50:06]
DEVELOPERS. COUNCIL THIS COUNCIL HAS CHOSEN TO SACRIFICE THE COMMUNITY FOR DEVELOPER PROFITS YOU'VE SHOWN US YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT.OOPS. NOW I CAN'T EVEN FIND MY NOTES.
COMMUNITY EQUITY, DISPLACEMENT OR AFFORDABILITY? YOU MAKE DECISIONS, INEVITABLY CREATING THE VERY CONDITIONS YOU PURPORT TO ADDRESS, ONLY SERVING TO FURTHER DISPLACE AN ALREADY VULNERABLE POPULATION.
MY NAME IS ALEXIA LECLERC, SPEAKING ON ITEM THREE.
BUT THAT DOESN'T REALLY MEAN ANYTHING IF COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ARE BEING DISPLACED.
AND WE'VE SEEN THIS IN SEVERAL TODS THAT HAVE BEEN BUILT ACROSS AUSTIN.
AND THE IDEA THAT YOU BUILD DENSITY AROUND TRANSIT FOR INCREASED RIDERSHIP, IN THEORY IS GOOD, BUT IN PRACTICE IT DOESN'T ACTUALLY WORK OUT BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT, AGAIN, THESE UPZONING MEASURES LIKE ITEM THREE ONLY LEAD TO MORE MARKET RATE AND LUXURY DEVELOPMENT, WHICH DISPLACES BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
AND WE KNOW THAT TRANSIT IMPROVEMENTS DRIVE UP MARKET VALUES AND CAUSE DISPLACEMENT.
THE AREA BECOMES MORE DESIRABLE, BECOMES MORE PROFITABLE FOR DEVELOPERS.
AND SO THAT'S WHY WE PASSED THE ANTI-DISPLACEMENT FUNDS FOR PROJECT CONNECT.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS THE MLK AND PLAZA SALTILLO TODS AND THEY TRIGGERED EXTREME GENTRIFICATION AND DECREASE OF BLACK AND BROWN RESIDENTS, AS WELL AS DECREASE IN RIDERSHIP, WHICH IS THE OPPOSITE IMPACT THAT Y'ALL CLAIM Y'ALL WANT TO SEE.
AND SO THIS, YOU KNOW, ARTICLE THREE AND THE OVERLAY GIVES ENTITLEMENTS TO DEVELOPERS TO BUILD MORE LUXURY MARKET RATE HOUSING THAT WE CANNOT AFFORD. AND THAT WILL DISPLACE LOW INCOME BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.
SO, AS PREVIOUSLY STATED, WE ARE URGING YOU TO PASS AN ANTI-DISPLACEMENT EQUITY PROTECTIVE OVERLAY TO DEEPEN THE AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS WHEN DEVELOPERS ARE GIVEN THESE ENTITLEMENTS BY DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS. AND IF IT'S, YOU KNOW, IF THE GOAL IS REALLY ABOUT ENSURING DENSITY IN AREAS THAT ARE TRANSIT ACCESSIBLE, WE NEED TO CHANGE THE MAPS TO INCLUDE ONLY AREAS THAT ARE WITHIN THE ACCESSIBLE HALF MILE OF THE THE STOPS, NOT JUST THE LINE ITSELF.
AND SO WE REALLY URGE YOU TO VOTE NO ON THIS ITEM AND TO CONSIDER AGAIN THE OVERLAY.
IT'S THE SOLUTION THAT HAS BEEN HANDED TO YOU BY THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES OF EAST AUSTIN.
THE AMENDMENT IS LITERALLY WRITTEN.
IT HAS WIDESPREAD COMMUNITY SUPPORT.
IT IS WHAT WE ARE ASKING TO PREVENT THE DISPLACEMENT OF COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
AND SO WE URGE YOU TO PASS THAT AMENDMENT.
THANK YOU. ALVIN SANDERSON, AMBER OR ALFREDO REYES.
BROWN. GO AHEAD AND MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME IF YOUR NAME WAS CALLED.
I'M AMY VOORHEES AND I LIVE AT WEST SEVENTH STREET IN CLARKSVILLE, AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF MY NEIGHBORS IN THE GARDENS CONDOMINIUM BUILDING.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO APPLAUD YOUR STAMINA.
I WAS HERE THIS MORNING, I WENT HOME, I'VE HAD A MEAL.
AND YOU ARE STILL HERE? I THINK YOU'RE AMAZING.
SO I'M GOING TO KEEP THIS REALLY SHORT.
MY NEIGHBORS AND I LOVE THE LIVELY MIX OF SINGLE AND MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING SHOPS, RESTAURANTS, BUSINESS AND RETAIL ALL FOUND IN HISTORIC CLARKSVILLE.
WE ARE PRO DENSITY, BUT PRO DENSITY ON A HUMAN SCALE.
THE ETIHAD OVERLAY, AS ORIGINALLY PROPOSED, WOULD DEVASTATE OUR COMMUNITY BY PERMITTING DEVELOPERS TO GIRDLE THIS HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD WITH A BARRIER OF TEN STOREY GLASS TOWERS.
WE OPPOSE INCLUDING THE WEST SIDE OF NORTH LAMAR IN THE OVERLAY FOR THREE REASONS.
[08:55:09]
TWO AS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE MENTIONED, THIS AREA IS A FLOODPLAIN, AND THREE, IT'S ABOUT A MILE AT THAT INTERSECTION OF SIXTH AND LAMAR TO THE CLOSEST PROPOSED LIGHT RAIL.STOP TOO FAR FOR COMFORTABLE PEDESTRIAN ACCESS.
WE OPPOSE THE TOD OVERLAY AS CURRENTLY DRAFTED.
WE SUPPORT THE AMENDMENTS PROPOSED BY MAYOR WATSON TO RETAIN HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS AND SETBACK REQUIREMENTS IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS, AND TO APPLY CURRENT ZONING TO PROPERTIES THAT ARE ONLY PARTIALLY NOT FULLY WITHIN THE OVERLAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
FRANCIS ACUNA, IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT.
HI, MY NAME IS AMBER AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST THIS AND JUST ASK YOU.
I KNOW THAT YOU MADE A MOTION TO CONSIDER POSTPONING THIS FOR FURTHER STUDY, AND I THINK THIS IS A VERY COMPLEX MATTER LEAST OF WHICH IS THAT IT WILL IT WILL DO AWAY WITH SOME COMPATIBILITY.
AND WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO JUST GIVE DEVELOPERS PAY FOR PLAY AND LET THEM DO MORE AND MORE OF WHAT ISN'T AT THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR COMMUNITY.
SO I'M ASKING YOU TO GO AHEAD AND POSTPONE THAT, AND LET'S SEE IF WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT ANY CHANGES ARE INDEED EQUITABLE, AS THE E STANDS FOR.
SO THANKS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
HELLO. MY NAME IS NADIA BARBEAU.
I WAS ONLY HERE ABLE TO COME HERE AT THIS TIME AFTER FINISHING WORK TODAY.
AND I HAVE A STATEMENT FROM ONE OF MY NEIGHBORS WHO IS LIVES NEAR ME IN EAST AUSTIN.
AND I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF MY OWN STATEMENT IF I HAVE TIME AT THE END.
I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN EAST AUSTIN AND STILL RESIDE THERE.
IT SITS ON HALF AN ACRE SURROUNDED BY RUNNING BAMBOO.
I HAVE TWO ADULT CHILDREN AND FIVE GRANDCHILDREN.
HOW WILL HOME ONE AND TWO BENEFIT MY LEGACY? MY GOAL IS TO RETIRE AFFORDABLY AND IN PLACE.
PRESERVING MY LEGACY STRENGTHENS AND SURELY WILL STABILIZE MY FAMILY FOR GENERATIONS.
QUESTION TWO HOW ARE YOU IMPLEMENTING THE HOME INITIATIVES COLLABORATIVELY FOR MIDDLE INCOME AND LOWER INCOME RESIDENTS? QUESTION THREE HOW ARE YOU PLANNING TO SUPPORT LOW AND MODERATE INCOME PROPERTY OWNERS, ESPECIALLY SENIORS AND FAMILIES WHO WANT TO STAY IN AN INHERITED PROPERTY? QUESTION FOUR HOW ARE YOU PLANNING TO RETAIN OLDER HOMES THROUGH FLEXIBLE ZONING AND STREAMLINE DEVELOPMENT REVIEW PROCESSES? QUESTION FIVE HOW ARE YOU PLANNING TO SUPPORT AND HIGHLIGHT LOCAL BUILDERS, CARPENTERS, CRAFTSMEN WHO CAN DO THE WORK? AS A LONG TERM RESIDENT, I WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE BIGGER PLANS.
THE HOME INITIATIVE NEEDS TO SERVE ALL COMMUNITIES AND RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN.
AND FOR MYSELF, I JUST WANT TO SAY I AM WITH THE COMMUNITY POWERED ATX GROUP, AND I HOPE THAT THE COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER THE ANTI-DISPLACEMENT OVERLAY AND GOING THROUGH THAT COMMUNITY LED PROCESS.
YES, SIR. ARE YOU FINISHED? WERE YOU FINISHED? YEAH. I JUST I'M LOOKING AT YOU.
PHILIP WYLIE, I LIVE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT NINE.
I THINK THAT THIS THE TIDE, HIGH TIDE INITIATIVE IS IN DIRECT RESPONSE TO OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
[09:00:09]
MANDATE, SAYING THAT PRIORITY NUMBER ONE IS TO BECOME A MORE COMPACT AND CONNECTED CITY.HAVING PEOPLE NEAR TRANSIT LINES IS WHAT TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT IS ALL ABOUT.
BECAUSE OF PROJECT CONNECT, WE'RE WE'RE NOT JUST DOING THIS FOR PROJECT CONNECT.
WE'RE DOING THIS BECAUSE WE WANT TO HAVE PEOPLE GETTING OUT OF CARS.
THE THE, THE PROJECT CONNECT LINE BASICALLY MIRRORS THROUGH THE CENTER OF TOWN THE 801 AND 803 RAPID TRANSIT BUSSES.
WE DIDN'T NEED TO WAIT FOR PROJECT CONNECT TO GET VOTED ON IN ORDER TO LAY THIS TOD LINE DOWN.
IN THE CORPORATE WORLD, WE WOULDN'T HAVE DONE IT THAT WAY.
AND CORPORATE PLANNING, I WOULD HAVE BEEN EXPECTED TO DELIVER A PLAN AS SOON AS CAPMETRO MOVED THE TRANSIT LINE FROM CONGRESS TO GUADALUPE IN 2014.
I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT YOU BECOME MORE LIKE THE CORPORATE WORLD.
WHAT I AM SUGGESTING IS THAT WE'VE HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO THINK ABOUT THIS AND PREPARE FOR IT.
TEN YEARS SINCE WE MOVED TO GUADALUPE AND THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER CHANGES BESIDES THE CAPMETRO REALIGNING AND THE VOTERS RECONFIRMING THROUGH THE PROJECT CONNECT VOTE THAT THEY WANTED THAT TO BE THE SPINE OF THE TRANSIT SYSTEM.
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HAS RELOCATED SOME OF THEIR BUILDINGS CLOSER TO THE CLOSER TO DOWNTOWN.
THEY THEY'VE THEY'VE THEY'VE DONE SOME MASSIVE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE CAPITOL COMPLEX.
WE HAVE A LOT OF ACTIVITY GOING ON ALONG GUADALUPE.
THAT THAT'S DRIVING AN ABILITY FOR PEOPLE TO GET OUT OF CARS.
AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.
SO I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO NOT GET TOO CAUGHT UP IN PROJECT CONNECT AND THE STATUS OF IT AND THE CHALLENGES, AND BE THINKING MORE HOLISTICALLY THAT WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO GET AS MANY PEOPLE OUT OF CARS AS WE CAN.
AND THE WAY TO DO THAT IS TO BUILD HOUSING NEAR JOBS AND NEAR TRANSIT.
IF YOU'RE IF. YEAH. IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, FEEL FREE TO COME FORWARD.
JENNY GRAYSON, SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION OF ITEM THREE.
NATASHA, IF YOU'RE HERE, PLEASE COME ON CAMERA.
IN PREPARATION FOR THIS MEETING, I STUDIED THE EQUITABLE TOD PROPOSAL AND WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THAT WE ADMIT A LOT OF OVERSIGHT AND IRREVERSIBLE CONSEQUENCES STEMMING FROM TRADITIONAL TODS.
I'D LIKE TO NOW READ THE RESULTS OF THE PLAZA TOD IN THE CITY'S OWN WORDS.
TRANSIT RIDERSHIP HAS SEEN SIGNIFICANT REDUCTIONS SINCE 2010, UP TO 73%.
THE AVERAGE PERCENTAGE OF HOUSEHOLDS WITHOUT CARS HAS DECREASED BY 60%.
SO AFTER I READ THAT, I REVIEWED THE PLAZA SALTILLO PROPOSAL TO SEE HOW WE GOT IT SO WRONG, WHAT WERE YOU EVEN TALKING ABOUT? AND NOW I'D LIKE TO PLAY A GAME WITH Y'ALL TO CALL CALLED GUESS WHICH PROPOSALS THESE STATEMENTS COME FROM? LET'S SEE IF YOU CAN DETERMINE A TRADITIONAL TODD VERSUS AN EQUITABLE TODD.
OR THESE DISTRICTS ALLOW HOUSEHOLDS TO USE CITY TRANSIT AS THEIR PRIMARY MODE OF TRANSPORTATION, ESSENTIALLY MAKING IT EASIER TO GO CAR FREE IN AREAS WHERE POPULATIONS ARE VULNERABLE TO DISPLACEMENT.
[09:05:03]
GOALS. DENSITY LIMITS MAY BE REMOVED IN EXCHANGE FOR THE PROVISION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, OR THIS PLAN GRANTS ADDITIONAL HEIGHT IN EXCHANGE FOR INCOME RESTRICTED HOUSING.SO COULD YOU TELL WHICH STATEMENT THE TRADITIONAL TOD VERSUS THE EQUITABLE TOD? CAN YOU TELL THE DIFFERENCE? WE USE THE WORD AFFORDABLE 153 TIMES IN THE PLAZA SALTILLO PROPOSAL.
BUT DID WE GET AFFORDABILITY WHERE NEIGHBORHOODS PRESERVED? DID OUR COMMUNITIES GROW HOW WE WANTED THEM TO, WHERE SENIORS ALLOWED TO AGE IN PLACE? DID TRANSIT USAGE INCREASE? ACTUALLY, NO. NONE OF THIS HAPPENED.
SO IF WE CAN'T DETERMINE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A TRADITIONAL AND AN EQUITABLE.
TODD. BASED ON THE LANGUAGE WE'RE USING, HOW CAN WE REASONABLY EXPECT DIFFERENT RESULTS? PEPPERING THIS NEW TODD WITH WORDS LIKE INCLUDE, EXTEND, ENCOURAGE, ENHANCE, SUPPORT, AND ALIGN WILL NOT LEAD TO EQUITABLE RESULTS.
WE NEED EXPLICIT, DELINEATED RULES TO HOLD DEVELOPERS AND STAKEHOLDERS ACCOUNTABLE.
I WILL TELL YOU, IT WAS REFRESHING TO COME ACROSS THIS BIT OF TRUTH THAT STILL RINGS TRUE TODAY, ALTHOUGH IT'S SOMETHING THAT Y'ALL, CITY COUNCIL, THE AURORA GROUP, AND OTHER DEVELOPERS WON'T ADMIT TO US DUE TO LAND PRICES AND NEW CONSTRUCTION COSTS.
BUNCH. ISAAC, ARE YOU GOING TO COMMENT? ON DECK IS ISAAC CABALLERO AND CAROL GOODWIN.
IF MR. CABALLERO IS HERE OR MISS GOODWIN, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
COUNCIL MEMBERS BILL BUNCH WITH SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE.
I THINK THERE'S STILL SO MANY QUESTIONS THAT HAVE UNANSWERED HERE.
LOOKING AT THE BACKGROUND REPORTS FROM STAFF, I'M NOT SEEING ANYTHING THERE AT ALL ON IMPACTS FOR FLOODING IMPACTS ON TREES IMPACTS ON WATER QUALITY.
CAPACITY FOR WATER AND SEWER TO SERVE THESE AREAS.
AND WE CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, THIS APPROACH OVERALL MAKES SENSE AT SOME LEVEL.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THE COMMENTS YOU HEARD FROM ROBIN RATHER ABOUT NOT FIGURING IT OUT IN A, IN A HOLISTIC WAY THAT BRINGS THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER RATHER THAN HAVE US FIGHTING IS, YOU KNOW, A LOST OPPORTUNITY.
IT'S BROKEN CAMPAIGN PROMISES.
THE DISPLACEMENT ON PEOPLE IS NOT REALLY EVALUATED.
AND ALSO ON OUR FUNKY LOCAL BUSINESSES.
I MEAN, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN PLACES WE ALL KNOW AND LOVE DISAPPEAR? I DON'T SEE ANY OF THAT THINKING GOING ON HERE.
AND THEN, AS SUSAN MOFFATT POINTED OUT, YOU BUILD HIGH RISE, HIGH DOLLAR CONDOS LOADED WITH PARKING, Y'ALL. PACK YOUR BAGS.
YOU PAT YOURSELVES ON THE BACK BY SAYING, OH, WE ELIMINATED MINIMUM PARKING REQUIREMENTS.
WHAT YOU NEED TO BE DOING IS ACTUALLY PROHIBITING PARKING SO THAT FOLKS WHO ARE BUYING THESE CONDOS ARE GOING TO USE THE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE WE'RE PUTTING IN, AND SO THAT THEY'RE MORE AFFORDABLE BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT SPENDING A FORTUNE BUILDING A PARKING GARAGE.
Y'ALL VOTED FOR $100 MILLION OF TAXPAYER FUNDS TO BUILD A 4000 SLIP PARKING GARAGE FOR THE RICHEST PEOPLE ON THE PLANET, BASICALLY IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT AND ATTACHED TO A TRANSIT
[09:10:08]
STOP ON THE RAIL LINE.LET'S NOT LET'S NOT REPEAT THOSE MISTAKES.
THANK YOU. YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AT THE PODIUM.
HEY, MY NAME IS MISAEL RAMOS AND I AM SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION OF THE GODS.
AND THAT'S WHY WE PASSED ANTI-DISPLACEMENT FUNDS FOR PROJECT CONNECT IN THE FIRST PLACE.
SIGNIFICANT UPZONING CAUSES REDUCED RIDERSHIP BECAUSE IT INCREASES DENSITY OF MARKET RATE UNITS FOR WHETHER FOR WHETHER RESIDENTS WHO ARE DRIVER CAR DRIVERS AND DISPLACES LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME RESIDENTS WHO RELY ON PUBLIC TRANSIT AND THEN, ONCE DISPLACED, OFTEN NEED TO TRAVEL BY CAR.
SO IT ESSENTIALLY JUST INCREASES MORE SPRAWL IN AREAS THAT HAVE ALREADY UP ZONED.
WE SEE BUS STOPS REMOVED DUE TO LOWER RATES OF RIDERSHIP.
THE OVERLAY, AS IT'S CURRENTLY WRITTEN, MAY ACCOMPLISH THE OPPOSITE OF THE PURPORTED INTENT.
IT'S A PLAN DENSITY AROUND TRANSIT INCREASE ITS USE AND DECREASE CAR DEPENDENCY.
THIS IS ALL THESE ARE ALL FACTS FROM Y'ALL'S REPORT.
FOR TRULY EQUITABLE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT, COUNCIL MUST INCENTIVIZE THE PRODUCTION OF UNITS AT MUCH DEEPER LEVELS, AFFORDABILITY ALONG TRANSIT CORRIDORS, AND THAT'S BETWEEN 30% AND 50% MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME.
EXISTING DENSITY THAT'S CURRENTLY THERE.
ACTUALLY HELPS THE FOLKS WHO'VE HELPED BUILD OUR COMMUNITY.
WE'VE SEEN THAT WHEREVER TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENTS ARE, THERE IS A DECREASE IN THE BIPOC COMMUNITY AND AN INCREASE IN WHITE OWNERSHIP AND RENTALS.
AND Y'ALL MAY OR MAY NOT WANT TO PAY ATTENTION TO THIS, BUT THESE ARE WHAT YOUR REPORTS ARE SAYING.
WE NEED MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE NEED DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE WE'VE ALL TALKED ABOUT THIS CONSISTENTLY, SO IT'S TIME TO ACT.
ALL SPEAKERS HAVE BEEN CALLED FOR ITEM THREE.
ALL SPEAKERS HAVE BEEN CALLED ON ITEM NUMBER THREE.
SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER THREE.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
[5. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance amending City Code Title 25 (Land Development) to create regulations, including a density bonus program that modifies height and compatibility in exchange for community benefits, for properties that are located within a half mile of the planned Phase 1 Light Rail and Priority Extensions (also known as the Equitable Transit-Oriented Development (ETOD) overlay). (Part 1 of 2)]
MEMBERS, I'LL POINT OUT THAT WHEN WE TAKE UP THESE ITEMS, ITEM NUMBER FIVE WILL NEED TO BE TAKEN UP BEFORE WE TAKE UP ITEM NUMBER THREE.BUT WE'RE NOW GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING WITHOUT OBJECTION ON ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK.
BETSY GREENBERG SPEAKING ON ITEM FIVE.
HI, MY NAME IS BETSY GREENBERG.
I LIVE IN THE HERITAGE NEIGHBORHOOD IN DISTRICT NINE, WHICH IS IN THE PROPOSED OVERLAY.
I INTENDED TO THANK MAYOR WATSON FOR PROPOSING A POSTPONEMENT ON DBI TOD, AND SUGGESTING THAT HE AND THE REST OF THE COUNCIL USE THIS TIME TO STUDY THE FTA CAPITAL INVESTMENT GRANTS POLICY GUIDANCE DOCUMENT, WHICH PROVIDES THE RECIPE TO EARN THE 50% FEDERAL FUNDING SO BADLY NEEDED FOR PROJECT CONNECT.
PROJECT CONNECT STAFF MEMBER AND NICOLE DAY TOLD PLANNING COMMISSIONERS ITOT AND DB ITOT IS NEEDED RIGHT NOW TO GET READY FOR THE GRANT EVALUATION THIS SUMMER, EVEN THOUGH OTHER ATP STAFF CONFIRMED THAT THERE ARE STILL DESIGN DECISIONS TO BE MADE WHICH ARE NEEDED FOR THE NEPA SUBMISSION, MISS BEAUDET ALSO TOLD THE PLANNING COMMISSION THAT SCORES CANNOT BE EXPECTED TO CHANGE ONCE SUBMITTED, AND RIGHT NOW, SCORES ARE ALL AROUND THE MEDIUM EXCEPT FOR PARKING, WHICH IS LOWER.
[09:15:01]
50% FEDERAL MATCH.THIS IS WHAT WE SHOULD DO INSTEAD OF ZONING.
NOW INITIATE STATION AREA PLANNING FOR ALL STATIONS ON THE CURRENT RAIL ALIGNMENT THE FTA EXPECTS STATIONARY PLANS AND EVEN FUNDED PLANS FOR THREE STATIONS.
UNFORTUNATELY, NONE OF THEM ARE IN THE CURRENT ALIGNMENT.
ONCE THE ENTITLEMENTS FOR 90 OR 120 FOOT TALL BUILDINGS ARE GRANTED, ATP WILL LOSE THE FLEXIBILITY NEEDED TO AVOID DISPLACEMENT AND GENTRIFICATION, AND TO PLAN FOR THE RIGHT MIX OF USES AND HOUSING TYPES AT THE INDIVIDUAL STATIONS.
THIS WILL HURT THE APPLICATION FOR FDA FUNDING.
LOSING AFFORDABLE HOUSING WILL HURT THE GRANT APPLICATION.
ON SITE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS NECESSARY TO SUPPORT TRANSIT RIDERSHIP.
THE FEE IN LIEU OPTION WILL NOT SUPPORT THE GRANT APPLICATION AND SHOULD BE ELIMINATED.
THE ZONING CHANGES SHOULD BE RESTRICTED TO THE GRANT ANALYSIS AREA.
FINALLY, USE THE 300 MILLION AND ANTIDEPRESSANTS.
THANK YOU, ANGELA GARZA SPEAKING ON ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
THANK YOU. THIS IS ANGELA GARZA AGAIN, AND I, WE WANTED TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE HEIGHT DIFFERENCES NOW, PLEASE UNDERSTAND, I ACTUALLY, BECAUSE OF MY DAD DOWNTOWN AUSTIN.
I ACTUALLY LOVE TALL BUILDINGS DOWNTOWN AUSTIN.
THEY IT GETS SCARY FOR THEM FOR A BUILDING TO BE LIKE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT'S REALLY TALL AND THAT'S WHEN IT STARTS GETTING TRAUMATIZING FOR SOME OF THE NEIGHBORS.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE LISTENED TO QUITE A FEW NEIGHBORS AS WELL.
NOT REALLY UNDERSTANDING HOW IT'S GOING TO IMPACT THEIR TAXES NEXT TO THEM.
SEEMS TO BE A CONFUSION AS WELL.
AND WITH ALL DUE RESPECT I JUST WANTED TO SAY WE JUST NOTICED THAT THE BACKUPS WERE BACK UP TODAY, SO THAT DOESN'T REALLY GIVE US A WHOLE LOT OF TIME TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE NEW BACKUPS INFORMATION IS IN THERE.
AND WE DO ALSO WANT TO WELCOME THE MANAGER.
ALSO WELCOME TO AUSTIN, TEXAS AND CONGRATULATE VANESSA FUENTES ON HER MASTERS AS WELL.
SO GOING BACK TO THIS, I THINK WHAT HAPPENS AND I UNDERSTAND I LOVE TALL BUILDINGS DOWNTOWN AUSTIN WHERE THEY BELONG, BUT WHAT MAKES FAMILIES NERVOUS IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS IS WHEN THESE TALL BUILDINGS START APPEARING IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS ALL OF A SUDDEN, AND THEY REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THEY HOW THIS IS GOING TO IMPACT THEM OR AFFECT THEM. AND THERE'S JUST SO MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT, OKAY, SO THIS HAPPENS AROUND THE TIME THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT I MEAN, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE FOR ACTUAL NEIGHBORS THAT ARE LIVING THERE? DOES THAT MEAN THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET DISPLACED? BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE KEEP SEEING A LOT OF IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
AND A LOT OF THEM ARE COLORED PEOPLE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND THERE'S A TON OF FOR SALE SIGNS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND THEY'RE JUST NOT SEEING HOW THEY'RE PART OF THAT PROSPERITY AND THAT.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND.
AND PLEASE UNDERSTAND, I AM A NATIVE OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, THIRD GENERATION AGAIN, ALWAYS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN COMMUNICATE THIS TO OUR FAMILIES AND MAKE IT SIMPLER FOR THEM TO UNDERSTAND AS WELL.
[09:20:05]
YARD. SHE JUST DOESN'T WANT TO GO INTO DEBT HELPING EVERYBODY WITH THEIR YARD.STACY FRAZIER SPEAKING ON ITEM FIVE.
MOVING TO IN PERSON IN-PERSON SPEAKERS.
IF YOUR NAME IS CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM.
SO MANY MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. THANK YOU.
BILL MCCAMLEY. WITH TRANSIT FORWARD, IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY, SO I'LL KEEP MY COMMENTS SHORT.
THESE ITEMS ARE CRITICAL FOR THE APPLICATION TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
I'VE SPOKEN WITH THE FDA, I'VE SPOKEN WITH THE FOLKS OVER AT THE TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP.
THEY KNOW THAT THIS PACKAGE IS CRITICAL BECAUSE THE FTA, A QUARTER OF THEIR METRICS THAT THEY WILL START NEXT MONTH USING TO EVALUATE OUR PLAN REVOLVES AROUND MORE DENSITY BECAUSE THEY KNOW MORE DENSITY, MORE FOLKS THAT LIVE NEAR MORE BUS AND TRAIN STOPS MEAN MORE PEOPLE WILL USE TRANSIT AND HELP THE CITY MEET ITS GOALS.
SO THIS SPECIFIC ITEM, ALONG WITH THE OTHER PACKAGE YOU'RE CONSIDERING TODAY, ARE VERY CRITICAL.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THOSE UP.
THEY'RE NOT ONLY CRITICAL FOR TRANSIT, THOUGH.
IT WILL LEAD TO MORE AFFORDABILITY OPTIONS FOR FOLKS.
YOU'VE HEARD OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY COME AND TELL YOU, IF WE DO NOT HAVE MORE DENSITY AND MORE TRANSIT, GETTING RID OF SOME OF THESE SOLE RIDER CARS, WE'RE NOT GOING TO REDUCE OUR GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO HELP FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE.
AND ALL THE THINGS THAT WE ALSO DESPERATELY CARE ABOUT.
THE MORE PEOPLE THAT USE TRANSIT, YOU HAVE A TEN TIMES DECREASE IN TRAFFIC CRASHES AND ACCIDENTS.
WE DO HOPE THAT THE COUNCIL AND STAFF CAN MONITOR THE PROGRESS ON THESE CHANGES OVER THE NEXT YEAR TO MAKE SURE THAT AFFORDABILITY IS TAKEN TO ACCOUNT, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CHANGES YOU'RE MAKING GET PENCILED IN SO THAT THOSE THINGS GET BUILT.
AND WE ENCOURAGE MAYBE IN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS OR A YEAR TO JUST EVALUATE THAT.
BUT WE ALSO ENCOURAGE YOU NOT TO LET THE PERFECT BE THE ENEMY OF THE GOOD.
AND, MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, IT'S A LONG DAY.
YOU GUYS HAD A TOUGH 12 HOURS OR SO ALREADY UP HERE.
HAVE A GOOD REST OF YOUR NIGHT. THANK YOU.
HI. I'M TAI CHI, A DISTRICT FIVE.
HELLO AGAIN. YEAH, IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY, BASICALLY.
I'M IN FULL SUPPORT OF WHATEVER IT TAKES TO ADD MORE HOUSING ALONG TRANSIT.
IT ALSO MEANS IT'LL JUSTIFY FUTURE IMPROVEMENTS TO THAT BECAUSE YOU CAN SAY, OH, WELL, THERE'S ACTUALLY PEOPLE HERE BEING SERVED BY THIS TRAIN. I DO WANT TO POINT OUT TOO, LIKE THE RED LINE, WHICH HAS BEEN HELD UP, OR SPECIFICALLY THE RED LINE HAS BEEN HELD UP AS LIKE AN EXAMPLE OF FAILURE.
BECAUSE OF, YEAH, SO MANY PEOPLE OF HIGHER INCOMES MOVING IN THERE, ETC..
FOR THIS TO BE SOMETHING CONVENIENT, LIKE PEOPLE AT HIGH INCOMES, LOW INCOMES, PEOPLE ARE OPEN TO USING PUBLIC TRANSIT, BUT THEY WANT THAT LEVEL OF FREQUENCY AND CONVENIENCE THAT MAKES IT WORTH THEIR WHILE AND WHEN IT'S THERE.
AND IF YOU HAVE THESE PEOPLE ALSO LIVING IN CLOSE PROXIMITY, THAT'S A WIN.
THEY'LL USE IT FOR PLAY IF WE CREATE THE ZONES AROUND THOSE STATIONS, TOO.
IF WE MAKE IT PLACES FILLED WITH AMENITIES WITH BARS, CAFES, RESTAURANTS, ETC.
GROCERY STORES, THE PEOPLE CAN GET THEIR NEEDS.
THAT MEANS LESS TRAFFIC FOR EVERYBODY ELSE ON THE ROADS, THAT MEANS LESS CAR CRASHES.
AND I HOPE THAT YOU GUYS FOLLOW THROUGH AND VOTE YES ON THIS.
[09:25:02]
ZEESHAN MALIK, LUIS DE LUGO, ELIZABETH WOOD, EDGAR.ROZEN, ADAM GREENFIELD, NICOLE.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY FORWARD.
I SUPPORT THIS, I HOPE YOU WILL SUPPORT IT, TOO.
MIKE KENNERTY, DAVID SULLIVAN, AND CINDY REED.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I HOPE YOU SUPPORT THIS.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
COOL. MY NAME IS USHA ABA AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FIVE.
AND AGAINST THE EQUITABLE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT OVERLAY.
I AM SOMEONE WHO UTILIZES PUBLIC TRANSIT TO GET AROUND.
WHAT DOESN'T EXCITE ME IS UTILIZING THE PITCH OF A DENSE, WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOOD IN ORDER TO PUSH THROUGH DENSITY BONUSES THAT WILL CREATE THE CONDITIONS FOR ALREADY VULNERABLE NEIGHBORHOODS IN AUSTIN TO BE GENTRIFIED.
THE CURRENT OVERLAY PROPOSES GIVING DEVELOPERS EXCHANGE GIVING DEVELOPERS IN EXCHANGE FOR DENSITY BONUSES, WHICH IS 12% OF OWNERSHIP UNITS AT 80% MFI AND 15% MFI OF RENTAL UNITS FOR 60% MFI, WHICH IS ABOUT 12 $1,200 FOR A STUDIO APARTMENT.
THAT'S WHY WE PASSED ANTI-DISPLACEMENT FUNDS FOR PROJECT CONNECT.
THE MLK AND PLAZA SALTILLO TOD HAS TRIGGERED EXTREME GENTRIFICATION, WHICH WITH DECREASE IN BLACK AND BROWN RESIDENTS AS WELL AS RIDERSHIP, THE OVERLAY GIVES ENTITLEMENTS TO DEVELOPERS TO BUILD MORE LUXURY MARKET RATE HOUSING.
WE CAN'T AFFORD DISPLACEMENT OF LOW INCOME BIPOC AND INCREASE THE PERCENT OF WHITE INFLUENCE.
A BLANKET HALF MILE WALK SHED AROUND THE ENTIRE LINE.
BEING THE MEASURE USED TO IDENTIFY LOCATIONS FOR DEVELOPMENT WOULD MEAN THAT LOCATIONS NOT NEAR STOPS WOULD BE CITED FOR THIS DENSITY BONUS IF THE IDEA IS THAT THE BONUS ADDS DENSITY NEAR STOPS, THEN IT NEEDS TO BE APPLIED THOUGHTFULLY AT THE ACTUAL STOPS, WITH CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE EXISTING HOUSING CONDITIONS.
ALLOWING FOR DENSITY DOES NOT MAKE AN AREA WALKABLE.
IF SOMEONE STILL HAS TO WALK A HALF MILE TO GET FROM NEW DEVELOPMENTS TO AN ACTUAL BUS STOP.
I AM NOT SURE HOW MANY OF YOU ALL HAVE BEEN MADE TO WALK IN 95 PLUS DEGREE WEATHER, BUT IT ISN'T PLEASANT, AND A HALF MILE IS A FAR DISTANCE FROM MANY POPULATIONS OF PEOPLE, INCLUDING FOLKS WITH MEDICAL CONDITIONS, DISABILITIES, AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE CHILDREN.
IF THIS CONTINUES FORWARD, YOU WILL JUST END UP CONTINUING TO DOUBLE DOWN ON CREATING TWO DISPARATE REALITIES FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE ONE GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO WILL DRIVE THEIR CARS AND PAY PREMIUM PRICES FOR PARKING LOTS IN ORDER TO ACCESS THESE NEW DEVELOPMENTS, AND WILL UTILIZE PUBLIC TRANSIT WHEN IT'S CONVENIENT, AND ANOTHER WHO RELY ON PUBLIC TRANSIT OR NEED A CAR FOR WORK, WHO WILL BE TRYING TO NAVIGATE CONSTRUCTION DETOURS AND ARE EXPERIENCING DEVELOPMENT PRESSURES AT THE COST OF NEARBY PROPERTY INCREASES.
THE E IN THE ETOD JUST BUILDING HOUSING DOES NOT MAKE IT AFFORDABLE.
JUST PUTTING HOMES AND BUSINESSES NEAR TRANSIT DOESN'T MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE.
HI. CINDY REED, DISTRICT FOUR RESIDENT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
JUST TO REITERATE, ADDING E DOESN'T MAKE SOMETHING EQUITABLE, AND I WANT TO READ AGAIN FROM YOUR YOUR LITTLE STUDY THAT YOU GUYS PUT OUT, NOT ME. THE FREQUENCY AND RATE OF PARKING REDUCTIONS SHOWS SOME PROMISE IN CURBING RESIDENTS RELIANCE ON PERSONAL VEHICLES, BUT THERE IS MORE TO MAKE IT
[09:30:02]
FEASIBLE FOR MORE AUSTINITES TO MAKE THE SHIFT IN RIDING PUBLIC TRANSIT.LOOK, WE'RE IN 100 PLUS DEGREE HEAT.
OUR SUMMERS ARE GETTING TO BE MISERABLE.
IT WAS ACTUALLY GREEN IN THE SUMMER.
NOT ANYMORE DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE.
AND I BET EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU GUYS DROVE HERE.
SO WHO IS THIS REALLY FOR? CAP METRO WAS CREATED IN 1985.
NOW THAT TRANSIT IS POPULAR AND THE BUZZWORD IN CERTAIN COMMUNITIES, WE WANT TO INVEST IN TRANSIT.
BUT AGAIN, LIGHT RAIL AND RAIL, EVEN IN NEW YORK CITY, IS IN A DEATH SPIRAL.
WE NEED TO INVEST MORE IN BUSSES.
THEY'RE FLEXIBLE. I SAW IT WITH Q TWO.
I LIVED NEAR Q TWO, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO CREATE A BUS STOP RIGHT BEFORE THE GAME STARTED IN THEIR INAUGURAL YEAR, WHICH IS GREAT TO BRING PEOPLE ABOARD VIA THE BUS. BUT NO, THE RICH PEOPLE THAT WANT THIS ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE THE BUS.
THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE LIGHT RAIL.
SO THE ELDERLY, DISABLED FOLKS, PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF, I'VE GOT TWO YOUNG CHILDREN, THE WORKING POOR, THEY NEED THEIR CAR. THE TRADESPEOPLE, THEY NEED THEIR CAR.
WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT SO EXPENSIVE.
WHO IS GOING TO PAINT YOUR HOUSE, FIX YOUR AC, INSTALL YOUR FANS AND DO YOUR ELECTRICITY.
WHO IS GOING TO DO THAT? IT'S GOING TO MAKE THOSE THINGS MORE EXPENSIVE.
HOW ARE PEOPLE PUSHED OUT TO PFLUGERVILLE MAYNOR GOING TO BE ABLE TO RETURN? I'VE SEEN THIS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.
WHEN YOU START REMOVING PARKING, WHAT YOU'RE REALLY DOING IS INCREASING, CREATING AN INVISIBLE WALL, KEEPING PEOPLE OUT, KEEPING THEM FROM THEIR CHURCHES AND THEIR CENTERS OF REFUGE.
BECAUSE YOU START TO REMOVE PARKING, YOU PUT IN TOLLS, AND THEN WHEN THEY'RE TRYING TO COME BACK TO THE CITY TO GO TO THEIR PLACE OF HOME, THEY CAN'T EVEN PARK IT. ODDS ARE FOR THE PRIVILEGED, AND WE REALLY NEED TO RETHINK THIS.
ARE WE TRYING TO BE LIKE EUROPE TO CREATE SUBURBAN GHETTOS? BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE.
WE NEED MORE BUS TRANSIT AND WE WILL REDUCE OUR EMISSIONS MORE BY BY EATING LESS MEAT.
I MEAN, I'VE HEARD THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M A TEXAN, SO I LOVE MY BARBECUE, BUT YEAH, THIS THIS AIN'T IT.
IS KAREN HERE? IS KAREN SAID HERE.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT EIGHT.
BEFORE I GET INTO IT, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER.
VELLA, COUNCIL MEMBER QUADRI, COUNCIL MEMBERS VELASQUEZ AND HARPER MADISON FOR BEING HERE WITH US TODAY, ESPECIALLY TO COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, FELLOW AT ACCELERATOR PEOPLE.
AUSTIN DESPERATELY NEEDS ALL KINDS OF HOUSING.
LIKE I SAID BEFORE, MISSING MIDDLE MARKET RATE AND DEEPLY AFFORDABLE.
WE NEED TO BUILD HIGHER AND WE NEED TO BUILD DENSER IF WE CAN DO THAT.
WHEN THE COUNCIL REVIEWS THE BONUS PROGRAMS LATER THIS YEAR HOLISTICALLY, THAT WOULD GET US EVEN MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND WILL SUPPORT THE RIDERSHIP OF THE FUTURE LIGHT RAIL LINE AND THE BUS SYSTEM.
THAT'S ALL I GOT TO SAY FOR THIS ONE.
GOOD EVENING. YEAH, IT WAS A DARK DAY TODAY.
BUT WHEN SO MANY CITIZENS ARE ANGRY AT THE MAYOR AND.
YOU CAN DENSIFY A CITY AND A COMPATIBLE, INHUMANE WAY.
THE CITY HAS BEEN DENSIFYING EVERY DAY SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE FOR MANY DECADES.
AS WE ALL HAVE TO LIVE CLOSER TOGETHER AS A CITY DENSIFIES, WE HAVE TO FINE TUNE THE CITY.
SO SO IT CONTINUES TO BE LIVABLE AND HUMANE.
YOU'RE WRONGLY THROWING OUT THE VERY TOOLS THAT ALLOW US TO DO THIS.
[09:35:06]
INSTEAD OF MAINTAINING THOSE TOOLS, YOU'RE ABOLISHING THEM AND INITIATING A FREE FOR ALL THAT WILL DEVALUE HOMES.FOLKS HAVE INVESTED IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY LIVE IN.
WHY ARE WE DISMANTLING THE TOOLS WE NEED TO DENSIFY? WHY ARE WE PUNISHING HOMEOWNERS WHO HAVE INVESTED IN THEIR HOMES AND REWARDING INTRUSIVE DEVELOPMENTS? THIS THING IS BACKWARDS.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PROBABLY UNLESS YOU'VE HUNG AROUND HYDE PARK, YOU DON'T REALIZE THAT IN THE 60S, THE CITY WANTED TO SCRAPE ALL THE HOUSES IN HYDE PARK AND MAKE IT ALL APARTMENTS.
BUT THERE WERE PEOPLE LIVING IN THE HOUSES WHO WANTED TO LIVE THERE.
SO WE HAVE ALL THESE LITTLE APARTMENT BUILDINGS THAT WERE JUST DROPPED IN BETWEEN HOUSES.
AND THERE ARE TWO STORIES THERE, 100% IMPERVIOUS COVER.
NOBODY MINDS. THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE ARE FINE.
THE DENSITY IS FINE, BUT THEY'RE ALL COVERED WITH THE ITOD NOW, WHICH RUNS OVER ALL OF THIS.
IS THAT YOUR INTENTION? I'M JUST REALLY SURPRISED.
EVERY TIME SOMEBODY WANTS ONE OF THESE, YOU'RE BACK DOWN HERE FIGHTING AGAIN.
I DON'T THINK THIS IS VERY FAIR.
AND I DON'T THINK IT'S RIGHT TO RUN OVER THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.
YOU'RE ALSO RUNNING OVER EAST SIXTH STREET AND OTHER HISTORIC AREAS.
THERE WAS A TIME WHEN THE CITY ASKED NEIGHBORHOODS TO DO A PLAN FOR INFILL.
THAT'S WHAT NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING IS IN AUSTIN.
INFILL? WELL, IF YOU FELT THAT YOU HAD TO HAVE MORE HOUSING AND THAT WASN'T ADEQUATE, WHY DIDN'T YOU COME BACK TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND SAY YOU GAVE US A PLAN FOR INFILL? BUT IT'S NOT ENOUGH.
WHAT ARE YOUR IDEAS? MAYBE WE COULD HAVE FIGURED THIS OUT INSTEAD OF YOU WRITING ORDINANCES, SENDING POSTCARDS AND SAYING, IF WE LIVE THROUGH THE HEARING, WE'LL JUST VOTE.
YOU'RE TRASHING EVERYBODY'S EFFORTS.
DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT AN INSULT THAT IS? YOU MAY ALL BE STARS AT THE MIDTOWN CONFERENCE, BUT THIS IS STILL AUSTIN.
PLEASE RESPECT YOUR NEIGHBORS AND OUR BEAUTIFUL, LIVABLE CITY.
GEE, DO I HAVE ANY TIME LEFT? NO, I PROBABLY DON'T.
BUT I WILL BE BACK TO TALK TO YOU MORE ABOUT COMPATIBILITY.
PLEASE PROTECT OUR HISTORIC DISTRICTS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS MCGRAW.
HI AGAIN. MY NAME IS ELIANA MEDRANO.
I AM A UT SOCIAL WORK STUDENT, UT SOCIAL GRADUATE.
SORRY, UT SOCIAL WORKER, GRADUATE STUDENT.
AND I'M A INTERN WITH COMMUNITY POWER AT ATX, AND I'M HERE TO URGE YOU TO VOTE NO ON ITOD.
IT GIVES ENTITLEMENTS TO DEVELOPERS TO BUILD MORE LUXURY, LUXURY, AND MARKET RATE HOUSING THAT THE COMMUNITY CANNOT AFFORD, AND IT FURTHERS THE DISPLACEMENT OF LOW INCOME BIPOC COMMUNITIES AND INCREASES THE PERCENTAGE OF WHITE, AFFLUENT AND CAR DRIVER POPULATION.
SO I HAVE SOME FACTS FROM YOUR DATA.
BETWEEN 2018 AND 2022, ONLY 363 UNITS WERE BUILT AT 30% OR BELOW MFI, VERSUS
[09:40:05]
14,143 UNITS BUILT AT 80 TO 120% MFI AND HIGHER.THAT'S 38 TIMES MORE UNITS AT THE 80% AND HIGHER MFI THAN UNITS BUILT FOR BELOW 30% MFI.
THAT'S WHY WE PASSED THE ANTI-DISPLACEMENT FUNDS FOR PROJECT CONNECT.
WE'RE AGAINST DENSITY AND TRANSIT.
THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE TRUE AFFORDABILITY.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES WE CAN SAY THAT MORE.
I'D LIKE PEOPLE TO TAKE NOTE ON WHO'S BEEN SPEAKING FOR AND WHO'S BEEN SPEAKING AGAINST.
TEXANS FOR REASONABLE SOLUTIONS IS LED BY TECH BILLIONAIRES FROM SAN FRANCISCO, NOT EVEN FROM TEXAS.
AND THEY'RE LEADING THE CHARGE FOR THESE CHANGES, CLAIMING THEY CARE ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WHILE THE NOZICK'S DONATED $100,000 TO SAVE AUSTIN, NOW AN ANTI-HOMELESS RIGHT WING ORGANIZATION THAT KILLED AND TERRORIZED UNHOUSED PEOPLE FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO AFFORD HOUSING. HOW DARE YOU LISTEN TO PEOPLE LIKE THIS, PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT THIS, AND NOT COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE BEING DIRECTLY IMPACTED AND DISPLACED, WHO ARE HERE SINCE SEVEN EIGHT IN THE MORNING PLEADING TO YOU, ARE YOU OKAY ALIGNING YOURSELF WITH BILLIONAIRES WHO'VE CAUSED THIS HARM? WE NEED THE ANTI-DISPLACEMENT EQUITY OVERLAY AND TO DEEPEN AFFORDABILITY LEVELS.
IF IT'S TRULY ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, YOU NEED TO CHANGE THE MAP AREAS TO NOT ONLY INCLUDE LOCATION, OR TO ONLY INCLUDE LOCATIONS THAT ARE WITHIN ACCESSIBLE HALF MILE OF STOPS, NOT JUST THE LINE ITSELF.
SOMETHING I'VE HEARD IS THAT WE KNOW BETTER AND WE CAN DO BETTER.
BUT AS WE'VE SEEN, YOU'RE NOT DOING BETTER.
BUT INSTEAD OF DOING BETTER, YOU'RE CHOOSING TO DO WORSE AGAIN.
DON'T MAKE THIS PLACEMENT YOUR LEGACY.
COME NOVEMBER, WE WILL REMEMBER.
SALEM. JERRY SHAY SHALIN ROUNDS.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME.
IT'S LIKE DRINKING FROM A FIREHOSE.
SO WHEN THIS HAPPENS, I'M CONCERNED THAT NEW LDC WILL TAKE PRECEDENCE AND THEY'LL BE HARMED.
OR PERHAPS THERE'LL BE SOME BANTER AND Y'ALL WILL GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION OR BE SUED, AND THEN IT WILL MAKE IT TO THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT, WHICH JUST STATED AT THEIR LAST MEETING.
HEY, DO YOU THINK WE NEED A PRESENTATION ON HOME? THOSE POOR, THOSE POOR PEOPLE, THIS IS NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER HAVE CALLED YOUR OFFICE ABOUT THE TREE ORDINANCE.
EVEN WITH Y'ALL, REALLY, I THINK RESPONSIVE TO ME.
BUT I MEAN, THERE IS NOTHING IN THE WORKS HERE.
AND SO THAT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE.
AND SO I'D HATE TO BE SERVING GOD BLESS HIM ON THE THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT.
BUT WHAT I WOULD SAY IS AGAIN, THAT ANY SOLUTION THAT IS BRINGING MORE PROBLEMS AND THIS LEVEL OF DIVISIVENESS, WHICH I TO I MOVED HERE IN 77, MY HUSBAND 67, HE REMEMBERS THE PROTEST AT UT.
BUT LIKE SOS WAS NOTHING COMPARED TO THE DIVISIVENESS AND THE TOXICITY.
PEOPLE ARE FEELING ABANDONED AND HURT NOW, NOW, MAYOR WATSON, RESPECTFULLY, I VOTED FOR YOU.
[09:45:01]
I THINK IF ANYBODY CAN MAKE A DEAL OR SLOW THINGS DOWN AND JUST KIND OF SAY, TAKE A BREATH, BUT FEEL LIKE NOT ANYBODY'S BEING ABANDONED, THEY'RE JUST EVERYONE'S GOING TO TAKE A STEP BACK.IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I VOTED FOR YOU AT THAT TIME.
BUT I'M TERRIBLY DISAPPOINTED.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY SHAME IN SHOWING A LITTLE BIT OF INTEGRITY AND HUMILITY AT THIS POINT.
FOR ALL OF YOU, I JUST DON'T THINK THERE IS.
AND I JUST HAVE TO SAY IT AGAIN, I'M GOING TO TAKE A LIBERTY HERE BECAUSE I SERVED ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE ATTITUDE COMING FROM THAT COMMISSION, I'M NOT GOING TO MENTION PEOPLE, BUT THE LACK OF HUMILITY AND RESPECT TO THE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
I MEAN, BASICALLY CHEERING AND NODDING ON PEOPLE THEY'VE ALREADY ALIGNED WITH.
GOOD EVENING. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M GOING TO DO SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT THIS TIME.
I'M ONLY GOING TO SPEAK IN PARTIAL OPPOSITION TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
MAINLY THAT IT CREATES ZONING COMPATIBILITY ISSUES LEADING TO DEEP INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE TIRED OF BEING YELLED AT, SCREAMED AT AND ARGUED WITH, SO LET'S TRY THIS.
I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE FEELING THAT THE ODDS ARE TOO LARGE.
HALF A MILE, WHICH IS THE WHOLE MILE IN CIRCUMFERENCE.
WHY DON'T WE DO THIS? WHY DON'T I PROPOSE? WHY DON'T YOU REDUCE IT TO A QUARTER OF A MILE? WHY DON'T YOU TALK ABOUT REDUCING FROM A HALF MILE TO A QUARTER MILE, TO MAKE IT MORE COMPATIBLE WITH WHAT THE NEIGHBORS NEIGHBORHOOD IS ARGUING ABOUT? I THINK MOST PEOPLE FEEL THAT THE INTRUSION OF A HALF A MILE FROM A MAJOR ARTERY CREATES A LOT OF NEIGHBORHOOD PROBLEMS. ANOTHER THING I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE, LIKE MARY WATSON DID, INSTEAD OF HAVING 100FT SEPARATION FROM A BUILDING TO A HOME, LET'S MAKE IT 200FT.
BECAUSE THE SIZE OF THE BUILDINGS ARE, WHAT, 60, 90FT? WHY DON'T WE DISCUSS THAT? THIS IS THE ART OF COMPROMISE AND LISTENING TO WHAT COUNSEL AND STAFF HAVE CHOSEN AND WHAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD LIKE TO SEE.
THANK YOU FOR PAYING ATTENTION.
I'M A GRADUATE OF UT AUSTIN AND I'M HERE REPRESENTING MYSELF TODAY.
I AM TESTIFYING AGAINST THIS ITEM NOT BECAUSE I DON'T WANT A DENSE CITY OR BECAUSE I DON'T WANT DENSITY AROUND TRANSIT.
BUT BECAUSE WHILE WE NEED TO PASS AN OVERLAY TO REQUIRE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ALONG TRANSIT, THERE ARE SEVERAL ISSUES WITH THE WAY THAT THIS PLAN IS WRITTEN THAT I'M REALLY NOT SURE WHY COUNCIL HASN'T ADDRESSED THIS, OR THE OTHER URBANISTS IN THE ROOM HAVE HAVE NOT ADDRESSED OR IN FAVOR OF, FOR INSTANCE, OF THE 1095 PROPERTIES THAT ARE PROPOSED TO BE UP ZONED BY THIS TOD, ONLY 19.7% OF THAT ACREAGE IS WITHIN ONE FOURTH OF A MILE OF THE PROPOSED TRANSIT STATIONS.
I'M CONFUSED AS TO WHY IT'S SPREAD OUT THIS WAY.
WHY? IT'S NOT A MORE A PLAN THAT FOCUSES MORE ON BEING ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE WHO WALK OR USE MOBILITY AIDS TO GET TO THEIR TRANSIT STOP.
I'M CONCERNED THAT THE DENSITY IN THIS TOD WON'T ACTUALLY BE REASONABLE.
WALK FOR PEOPLE WHO USE TRANSIT, AND I'M CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT METHOD WAS USED TO DETERMINE WHAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE ITOD, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE ANY STANDARD DETERMINATION.
IT SEEMS LIKE IT KIND OF INCLUDES RANDOM THINGS AND IT SPEWS OUT WITHOUT A REASON.
ALSO, WHERE IS THE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW MUCH NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING ALREADY EXISTS IN OUR CITY, AND HOW CAN WE PROTECT IT IF WE DON'T HAVE THE INFORMATION ABOUT WHERE LOW INCOME RENTERS ARE ACTUALLY CURRENTLY RENTING AND ENSURING THAT THOSE PROPERTIES AREN'T GOING TO BE TURNED OVER? WE SHOULD TRY TO FULLY UNDERSTAND THE MARKET THAT EXISTS TO ENSURE THE UPZONING DOESN'T LEAD TO THE DESTRUCTION OF THE SMALL AMOUNT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT DOES EXIST.
[09:50:08]
BECAUSE DESPITE THESE ISSUES, THERE ARE LOW INCOME RENTERS IN AUSTIN.AND THESE REQUIREMENTS ARE ONLY APPLYING THESE AFFORDABLE THE AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS OF THE ITOD ARE ONLY ENSURING THAT 15% OF ANY UNITS THAT ARE DEVELOPED WILL BE AFFORDABLE TO PEOPLE AT 60% AND BELOW.
SO YOU RUN THE RISK OF LOSING CURRENTLY EXISTING AFFORDABLE BUILDINGS AND ONLY GETTING A SMALL MARGINAL AMOUNT OF AFFORDABILITY IN RESPONSE, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT HAS HAPPENED AS A RESULT OF UP ZONING ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
THERE ARE COMMUNITY BASED GROUPS OF LOW INCOME RENTERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO ARE FIGHTING AGAINST UPZONING POLICIES THAT ARE NOT EXECUTED PROPERLY. AND THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT.
I'M WONDERING IF ANYONE CAN DEFINE EQUITY AND WHAT IS THE EQUITY THAT'S IN THIS PLAN.
WHY IS IT CALLED EQUITY? TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT.
THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR WATSON AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS CARLOS PINION.
I'M A RENTER IN DISTRICT FIVE, AND OVER THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS, I'VE BEEN ASTOUNDED AT THE WAY I'VE SEEN YOU SPEAK THE LANGUAGE OF PROFIT AND FAIL TO LISTEN TO YOUR COMMUNITY, YOUR CONSTITUENCY, TO THE WORKING CLASS PEOPLE AND PEOPLE OF COLOR WHO HAVE LIVED HERE FOR DECADES.
THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME SINCE DECEMBER THAT I'VE SPOKEN TO YOU ABOUT CHANGES IN OUR LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE, AND IT IS SO CLEAR TO ME HOW YOU'VE UPHELD A SYSTEM DESIGNED TO EXHAUST US TO NO END. TIME AND TIME AGAIN, WE'VE COME TO YOU AT COUNCIL MEETINGS, TO YOUR OFFICES, TO YOUR FORUMS, AND GOTTEN NOTHING.
NOT ONLY THAT, YOU HAVE TO SPEAK ON THEM OUT OF ORDER, CREATING SO MUCH CONFUSION FOR THE WORKING CLASS COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO YOU'VE ALREADY MADE THE ENGAGEMENT PROCESS DIFFICULT FOR. THE AGENDA IS INDECIPHERABLE REGARDING THE ITEM.
THIS IS WHY WE APPROVED ANTI-DISPLACEMENT FUNDING FOR PROJECT CONNECT.
BUT WHERE HAVE THOSE EVEN GONE? THE MLK AND PLAZA SALTILLO TODS TRIGGERED EXTREME GENTRIFICATION WITH A DECREASE IN BLACK AND BROWN RESIDENTS AS WELL AS RIDERSHIP.
THE BOARD GIVES ENTITLEMENTS TO DEVELOPERS TO BUILD MORE LUXURY AND MARKET RATE HOUSING WE CAN'T AFFORD, YOU KNOW? WELL, THIS WILL LEAD TO THE DISPLACEMENT OF LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, WHILE INCREASING THE PERCENTAGE OF WHITE, AFFLUENT CAR OWNERS.
THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN PRESENTED TO US WITHOUT THE E BECAUSE, AS WITH ALL THE PROPOSED LAND DEVELOPMENT CHANGES IN FRONT OF US, WHERE IS THE EQUITY IN THIS COMMUNITY THAT HAS HANDED YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO RIGHT WITH A WELL RESEARCHED EQUITY OVERLAY CONTAINING REAL SOLUTIONS? IF THE THOUGHT IS TRULY ABOUT ENSURING DENSITY IN AREAS THAT ARE TRANSIT ACCESSIBLE, WE NEED TO CHANGE THE MAP AREAS TO ONLY INCLUDE LOCATIONS THAT ARE WITHIN ACCESSIBLE HALF MILE OF THE TRUE STOPS, NOT JUST LINE ITSELF.
MOREOVER, THE ANTI-DISPLACEMENT FUNDS AND OTHER FUNDING SOURCES MUST BE USED TO ACQUIRE AND PROTECT AFFORDABLE HOUSING BEFORE THE OVERLAY IS PASSED AND TRIGGERS MARKET VALUES TO INCREASE, AND PROVISIONS MUST BE ADDED TO PREVENT THE DEMOLITION OF EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH LOOPHOLES FOR SIMILAR PREVIOUS PROVISIONS CLOSED.
I STATED WE NEED TO PASS AN ANTI DISPLACEMENT EQUITY PROTECTIVE OVERLAY AND TO DEEPEN THE AFFORDABILITY LEVELS REQUIRED WHEN DEVELOPERS ARE GIVEN ENTITLEMENTS BY DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS. WITHOUT CONSIDERING THIS RECOMMENDATIONS, YOU'RE REPEATING HISTORY, NOT MAKING IT.
MARIO PEREZ, MATTHEW LO, CHLOE WILKINSON, ALYSSA RAE, TESS ORTEGA.
BARBARA MCARTHUR AND RICARDO RAMIREZ.
CHLOE WILKINSON, AS STATED BEFORE, OR A BOARD MEMBER.
CHAIR OF TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE FOR ACC STUDENT GOVERNMENT.
I SUPPORT YES, YES ON EQUITABLE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT.
BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, NOBODY HAS ANSWERED THE QUESTION WHERE IS THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING? YOU KEEP SAYING IT.
WE'VE BEEN COMING HERE FOR MONTHS, AND SOME OF YOU ARE HERE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS.
[09:55:02]
SOME OF YOU ARE VERY NEW TO THIS.IT TAKES A LONG TIME TALKING WITH THEM.
BOTH SIDES HAVE TO COME TO THE TABLE, AND BOTH SIDES HAVE TO BE WILLING TO COMPROMISE.
I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL FOR ALL THE COMPROMISE THEY DO WITH US SOMETIMES.
WE DON'T ALWAYS AGREE WITH THEM ON THE FINAL CUT OF WHAT COMES THROUGH.
THEY'RE GIVING US A COMPROMISE AND WE THANK THEM FOR THAT COMPROMISE.
WE WANT IT MORE, YOU KNOW, COMPATIBILITY REDUCTIONS.
WE WANT IT MORE SETBACK REDUCTIONS.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE COUNCIL HAS WORKED WITH US.
TESSA ORTEGA, RESIDENT OF COUNCIL DISTRICT FOUR.
AND I, AS I SAID BEFORE, I'VE LIVED IN AUSTIN FOR OVER TEN YEARS NOW.
I AM AGAINST THE ITOD AND ASKING FOR AGAIN.
AS PREVIOUSLY STATED, WE NEED TO PASS THE ANTI-DISPLACEMENT EQUITY PROTECTIVE OVERLAY AND TO DEEPEN THE AFFORDABILITY LEVELS REQUIRED WHEN DEVELOPERS ARE GIVEN ENTITLEMENTS BY DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS. AND I JUST WANT TO SPEAK TO A COUPLE OF SPEAKERS, HAVE KIND OF LIKE COME UP HERE AND CRITIQUED PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD EMOTIONAL SPEECHES.
MAYBE THEY'VE YELLED OR CRIED OR THEIR VOICES HAVE CRACKED.
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY IT'S BECAUSE THIS IS REALLY IMPACTING PEOPLE'S LIVES IN A REAL WAY.
AND I JUST THINK IT'S A REAL SHAME FOR PEOPLE TO SHAME OR PATRONIZE PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING REAL HUMAN EMOTIONS BECAUSE THEIR COMMUNITIES ARE BEING THREATENED.
THEIR THEIR HOMES ARE BEING THREATENED.
BUT FOR SO MANY PEOPLE, THAT'S NOT THE REALITY.
THEY'RE NOT WORRIED ABOUT BEING ABLE TO AFFORD AN ADU.
THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT BEING ABLE TO AFFORD THEIR MORTGAGE.
SO FOR THE FOLKS THAT ACTUALLY HAVE, IT'S SO GREAT FOR THE FOLKS THAT HAVE THE EXPENDABLE INCOME TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL UNIT OR TO THINK ABOUT THE THE BUILDING, WHETHER AROUND TRANSIT.
BUT FOR SO MANY PEOPLE, THAT'S NOT THE CASE.
AND 15% OF RENTAL UNITS BEING FOR 60 MFI OR 12% BEING 80 MFI.
THE MFI FOR THE CITY IS $122,000.
60% MFI IS NOT CONSIDERED DEEPLY AFFORDABLE.
SO HOW DOES THAT SMALL PERCENTAGE MAKE UP FOR THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO BE DISPLACED BECAUSE OF HOW MUCH SOMETHING LIKE THIS WILL RAISE, THE PRICE OF THEIR TAXES, OF THEIR RENTS IN THE AREAS THAT THIS IMPACTS.
AGAIN, I THINK IT REALLY IS SO TELLING HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE COMING UP AGAINST THIS BILL WHO ARE VISIBLY UPSET BECAUSE BECAUSE IT IMPACTS THEIR DAY TO DAY, IT IMPACTS THEIR LIVELIHOODS IN A REAL MATERIAL WAY.
IT IMPACTS THEIR ABILITIES TO STAY IN TOUCH WITH THEIR COMMUNITIES, TO THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY'VE GIVEN THEIR LIVES TO, TO THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT THEY'VE BUILT IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND THIS THREATENS TO SEPARATE THOSE.
I HOPE YOU VOTE AGAINST IT. THANK YOU.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME.
GOOD EVENING COUNCIL. MY NAME IS ALYSSA RESTALL AND I AM STILL A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FOUR.
I GUESS SINCE WE ARE ALSO USING OUR IDENTITIES TO LEVERAGE IN THIS CASE, I AM ALSO A QUEER.
AND I JUST WANTED TO COME UP HERE TO SPEAK TO A FEW THINGS.
ONE, I GREW UP IN DENVER WHERE THERE IS A VERY COMPREHENSIVE LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM.
[10:00:04]
A CITY CENTER THAT DOESN'T RELY ON CARS.I WILL ALSO SAY THAT AS SOMEONE WHO IS SEEING THE IMPACTS OF THAT IN DENVER, THAT THOSE PLACES THAT WERE AROUND THE LIGHT RAIL, ESPECIALLY THAT EXPANDED IN THE LAST 10 TO 15 YEARS, USED TO BE PLACES THAT PEOPLE WOULD CALL UNSAVORY, THAT PLACES THAT PEOPLE WOULD CALL UNSAFE, THAT THEY GENTRIFIED PEOPLE OUT OF IN ORDER TO BUILD WHAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY SPOKEN TO IS WHAT WE KNOW IS DESIRABLE HOUSING FOR THE PEOPLE WHO CAN ACTUALLY AFFORD IT, BECAUSE THERE WERE NO PROTECTIONS IN PLACE FOR PEOPLE IN DENVER.
AND SO I THINK WE CONTINUE TO RETURN TO THIS POINT, THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT AGAINST SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT ARE BEING PUT ON THE TABLE, BUT IT IS THE FACT THAT THERE ARE SO FEW PROTECTIONS FOR PEOPLE WHO REALLY NEED TO BE CLOSE TO THIS TRANSIT, WHO ACTUALLY NEED IT MORE THAN SOME PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME UP TO SPEAK TODAY? I WILL ALSO SAY THAT PEOPLE CONTINUING TO SAY THAT WE COME WITH NO SOLUTIONS, THAT WE AREN'T DOING THE WORK BECAUSE WE'RE NOT IN CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS.
ONE ALSO DON'T KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE COMING FROM THESE GROUND THESE GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS, TO MEET WITH CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, TO MEET WITH CITY COUNCIL STAFF, TO TALK TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND STAFF OUTSIDE AT DIFFERENT AT DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS EVENTS, AT EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WE ARE ALSO DOING THINGS TO KEEP PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS, TO KEEP PEOPLE ALIVE WHEN THEY ARE ON THE STREETS.
SOMEONE MENTIONED WINTER STORM URI AS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THE WAY THAT THE CITY SHOWED UP FOR PEOPLE.
HELLO, MY NAME IS SHAE-LYNN ROUNDS AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT THREE.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT IF THESE POLICIES WERE BEING BROUGHT BY BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES YOU KNOW, SAY, AND PEOPLE WERE SAYING THAT IT WAS GOING TO BENEFIT THEM, THAT'D BE ONE THING. BUT THE FACT THAT IT'S BROUGHT BY LIKE DEVELOPERS AND RICH PEOPLE AND ESPECIALLY WHITE, YOU KNOW, UPPER MIDDLE CLASS PEOPLE KIND OF SPEAKS TO WHO IT'S GOING TO RESULT, YOU KNOW, WHO'S GOING TO BRING BENEFIT TO WE KNOW THAT TRANSIT IMPROVEMENTS DRIVE UP MARKET VALUES AND CAUSE DISPLACEMENT BECAUSE THE AREAS WILL BECOME MORE DESIRABLE AND PROFITABLE FOR DEVELOPERS.
THAT'S WHY THERE ARE ANTI-DISPLACEMENT FUNDS THAT COME WITH PROJECT CONNECT.
THAT WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU KNOW, Y'ALL USED THE MLK AND PLAZA SALTILLO TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENTS TRIGGERED EXTREME GENTRIFICATION, WITH DECREASES IN BLACK AND BROWN RESIDENTS AS WELL AS DECREASES IN RIDERSHIP.
THE OVERLAY GIVES ENTITLEMENTS TO DEVELOPERS TO BUILD MORE LUXURY AND MARKET RATE HOUSING, WHICH THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO LIVE IN THIS LUXURY AND MARKET RATE HOUSING AREN'T GOING TO BE RIDING THE BUS OR THE THE RAIL.
SO IT'S GOING TO HAVE POOR RESULTS.
THAT'S NOT A SACRIFICE THAT Y'ALL SHOULD BE WILLING TO MAKE.
AS STATED PREVIOUSLY, WE NEED TO PASS AN ANTI-DISPLACEMENT AND EQUITY PROTECTIVE OVERLAY AND DEEPEN THE AFFORDABILITY LEVELS THAT ARE GOING TO BE REQUIRED WHEN DEVELOPERS ARE GIVEN THESE ENTITLEMENTS.
THE DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS AND STUFF YOU KNOW, THEY NEED TO HAVE HIGHER, MORE STRINGENT REQUIREMENTS ATTACHED TO IT OF LIKE, WHAT'S AFFORDABILITY? IF THE OVERLAY IS TRULY ABOUT ENSURING DENSITY IN THE AREAS THAT ARE TRANSIT ACCESSIBLE, WE NEED TO CHANGE THE MAP NOT ONLY TO JUST INCLUDE LOCATIONS THAT ARE WITHIN AN ACCESSIBLE HALF MILE OF THE TRUE STOPS, NOT JUST THE LINE ITSELF.
SO THESE THESE ARE GOING TO NEED TO BE LIKE REALLY THINKING, WHERE ARE PEOPLE COMING FROM AND WHERE ARE PEOPLE GOING WHEN THEY'RE USING THIS RAIL? NOT JUST IT LOOKS GOOD ON THE MAP BECAUSE IT'S GOING THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE CITY.
THE ANTI-DISPLACEMENT FUNDS AND OTHER FUNDING SOURCES NEED TO BE USED TO ACQUIRE AND PROTECT AFFORDABLE HOUSING BEFORE THE TOD OVERLAY IS PASSED AND TRIGGERS THESE MARKET VALUES TO INCREASE, AND PROVISIONS MUST BE ADDED TO PREVENT THE DEMOLITION OF EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH LOOPHOLES FOR SIMILAR PREVIOUS PROVISIONS CLOSED.
[10:05:08]
AND ACTUALLY IN CONTEXT FOR WHAT, YOU KNOW, AUSTIN IS LOOKING LIKE OR THE AMENDMENTS.THANK YOU. HELLO, MY NAME IS LONNY STERN, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO CITY COUNCIL AND STAFF FOR THEIR VERY HARD WORK ON THIS ISSUE.
I KNOW WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT FOR MANY, MANY, MANY, MANY YEARS.
AND SO IT'S TAKEN A LOT TO GET US HERE.
AND I'D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR FINDING WAYS TO FIND MORE PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE AND WORK AND SHOP ALONG THE LIGHT RAIL LINE AND INVESTMENTS THAT WE'RE MAKING IN OUR CITY.
THIS WILL PREVENT US FROM MOVING FURTHER AND FURTHER OUT, AND PAYING MORE IN TAX DOLLARS TO BUILD ROADS AND FIRE STATIONS AND POWER LINES AND SEWERS FURTHER AND FURTHER OUT, AND GETTING STUCK IN MORE AND MORE TRAFFIC TRYING TO GET IN EACH DAY.
AS A ZONING AND PLANNING COMMISSIONER, IT'S BECOME OBVIOUS THAT SOME OF THESE USES LIMIT OUR ABILITY TO BUILD HOUSING FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE IN, OR OFFICES FOR PEOPLE TO GO TO WORK ON OUR PRIMARY CORRIDORS AND BOULEVARDS OR ARTERIAL ROADS.
THIS IS WHY WE HAVE PUBLIC STORAGE INSTEAD OF PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE.
THIS IS WHY WE HAVE ONE STORY.
THIS IS WHY WE HAVE A STARBUCKS DRIVE THROUGH ONE BLOCK AWAY FROM DOWNTOWN.
THESE THINGS CANNOT GO ON AS WE ARE THE 11TH LARGEST CITY IN THE COUNTRY NOW.
IT'S BEEN FRUSTRATING TO SEE THAT.
AND AND SCRAPYARDS PARKING LOTS, CAR LOTS WHERE THERE SHOULD BE ABUNDANT HOUSING IN NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND I APPLAUD YOU FOR FINDING A WAY TO MAKE THAT CHANGE.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK AT ALL OF THE IMAGINED AUSTIN CORRIDORS, AND I ALSO WANT TO SAY, I APPLAUD YOU FOR THE PROTECTIONS YOU HAVE IN PLACE. SO THAT WE AVOID THE DISPLACEMENT PRESSURES THAT WILL COME.
AS THIS IS IMPLEMENTED, I THINK IT IS PRUDENT TO AVOID HAVING THOSE HOUSING PRESSURES ON THE NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT IS IN PLACE. SO I THINK IT IS PRUDENT IN THESE EARLY YEARS.
SO THANK YOU FOR KEEPING AN EYE ON HOW TO PROVIDE ABUNDANT HOUSING ALONG THESE TRANSIT CORRIDORS.
THANK YOU AGAIN. IDALIS MALDONADO.
TUCHMAN, JOHN GOOD, LAUREN ROSS, ALICIA TORRES, ROY WHALEY.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM.
GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS JUNIPER LOREN ROSS.
I AM STILL ORGANIZING WITH UNDOING WHITE SUPREMACY AUSTIN, A VOLUNTEER LED ORGANIZATION WITH MORE THAN 2000 FOLKS WHO VOTE FOR YOU AND ARE IN OUR ALIGNMENT FOR RACIAL EQUITY.
I ALSO ORGANIZED A SUPPORT COMMUNITY POWERED ATX.
AND I AM HERE, AND WE COLLECTIVELY OPPOSE THE PROPOSED TRANSIT ENTITY DENSITY BONUSES UNTIL AFTER PROVISIONS FOR ACTUALLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND CONSIDERATIONS OF THEIR IMPACTS ON AUSTIN'S EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSES AND APARTMENTS ARE IN PLACE.
I APPRECIATE YOUR PROPOSAL, MAYOR WATSON, TO DELAY THIS VOTE UNTIL AFTER JULY 16TH.
COMMUNITY POWERED ATX HAS BEEN WORKING HARD FOR MONTHS TO HELP AUSTIN RESIDENTS UNDERSTAND THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE VOTES YOU ARE CONSIDERING TONIGHT, FOLKS ACTUALLY TAKE THE BUS ACROSS AUSTIN TO PARTICIPATE IN THEIR MEETINGS BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY WAY THEY CAN GET THEIR COMMUNITY POWERED.
ATX HAS NOT, THOUGH, JUST BEEN MEETING WITH THE AUSTIN RESIDENTS WHO UNDERSTAND SEEMINGLY BETTER THAN THIS COUNCIL THAT THE PROPOSED DENSITY BONUSES WILL PUSH THEM FROM THEIR HOMES.
[10:10:03]
THEY HAVE ALSO BEEN TRYING HARD TO MEET WITH YOU AND YOUR STAFF AND HONESTLY, WITH FEW EXCEPTIONS, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN ON THE TEXT THREADS WAITING FOR THE CALLBACKS, THEY HAVEN'T COME.AND LET'S BE CLEAR COUNCIL MEETING MEMBERS.
THIS VOTE HAS BEEN GATEKEPT BEHIND PROCESSES THAT ARE DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE AUSTIN RESIDENTS, WHO ARE MOST VULNERABLE TO DISPLACEMENT TO PARTICIPATE IN, AND DEMOGRAPHIC HISTORY SHOWS US EXACTLY WHO THESE COMMUNITIES ARE.
THEY'RE THE SAME COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN DISPLACED BY THE SALTILLO AND MLK TRANSIT PROJECTS.
THEY'RE THE SAME COMMUNITIES THAT ARE LIVING IN ROUND ROCK AND PFLUGERVILLE.
IN RESPONSE TO AUSTIN'S DESIGNATING A DESIRED DEVELOPMENT ZONE, AND IN THE 1990S, THAT WAS THE PLAN, THE DESIRED DEVELOPMENT ZONE WAS THE PLAN THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO KEEP DEVELOPMENT FROM SPREADING OVER THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY.
I URGE YOU TO DELAY THIS VOTE UNTIL AFTER THERE HAS BEEN A MEANINGFUL PROCESS TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN IMPLEMENT DENSITY AND SUPPORT TRANSIT WITH MEANINGFUL PROVISIONS FOR DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING, RATHER THAN IMPLEMENTING IT AT THE EXPENSE OF THE COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE, SINCE 1928 BEEN MOVED AND PUSHED.
HOW ARE YOU GOING? MY NAME IS STILL ROY WHALEY.
I'M STILL THE CONSERVATION CHAIR FOR THE HOUSTON REGIONAL GROUP OF THE SIERRA CLUB.
AND IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE WITH Y'ALL ALL.
ANYWAY I'M A I'M A TRANSIT GUY.
I THINK ANY OF YOU ALL UP THERE THAT KNOW ME KNOW THAT I BELIEVE IN TRANSIT.
I RIDE A BICYCLE, I TAKE THE BUS, AND I HAVE A CAR.
I DO AGREE WITH AN EARLIER SPEAKER THIS EVENING THAT FOR AFFORDABILITY, IF YOU CAN GET RID OF THE EXPENSE OF A CAR THAT IS A BIG CHUNK OF MONEY IN YOUR POCKET, IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOUR HOUSING IS GOING TO BE AFFORDABLE, THOUGH.
AND SO WE DO NEED TO TO SAFEGUARD THAT.
WE DO NEED TO REMEMBER NOT JUST THE NEW PEOPLE IN AUSTIN AND NOT JUST THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF AUSTIN.
I WANT TO CREATE AND PRESERVE A GOOD, HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT.
I WANT THERE TO BE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS IN ALL OF THIS.
AND THEN IT'S NOT MY MY BUSINESS TO TELL THE YOUNGER GENERATION WHAT TO DO WITH THAT ENVIRONMENT.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M ABLE TO HAND OFF.
I CAN DO MY PART TO HAND OFF A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT.
I HOPE THAT GENERATION DOESN'T SCREW IT UP LIKE MY GENERATION DID.
AND WE TRIED, BUT WE WE STILL BLEW IT.
AND THERE ARE A FEW OF Y'ALL UP THERE ON THE DAIS THAT ARE OF MY GENERATION, AND YOU ARE AS RESPONSIBLE IN THAT AS I AM AS AN INDIVIDUAL. THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO KEEP THAT GOING THOUGH.
YOU CAN TAKE CARE OF THE PEOPLE THAT NEED THE MOST HELP, AND WE CAN STILL HAVE A VIBRANT AUSTIN AND A AUSTIN FOR EVERYBODY.
I'M NOT SEEING THIS AS BEING AN AUSTIN FOR EVERYBODY.
YOU CAN DO IT THOUGH, AND PLEASE DO POSTPONE IT.
I APPRECIATE THAT THAT SUGGESTION, I HOPE WE DO POSTPONE IT AND THAT WE GET THAT OVERLAY IN PLACE BEFORE WE DO THIS. THE OLD COUNTRY SAYING IS PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE.
SO LET'S NOT BE A BUNCH OF WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT FROM THE CART.
THANK YOU. LET'S DO THE RIGHT THING.
I. YOU KNOW, I REALLY BELIEVE IN THIS CITY.
I BELIEVE IN YOU PEOPLE UP THERE.
I BELIEVE IN THE PEOPLE THAT DON'T AGREE WITH ME.
BUT LET'S DO THIS FOR THE NOT JUST OFTEN OF NOW, OFTEN OF THE PAST AND THE OFTEN TO COME.
WE NEED TO REALLY MORE CAREFULLY THINK ABOUT THIS.
[10:15:01]
THANK YOU, MAYOR WATSON.YOUR TIME. YOUR TIME IS UP, SARAH CAMPBELL.
HELLO. MY NAME IS CRAIG NAZER.
AUSTIN, ENVIRONMENTAL DEMOCRATS AND CONSERVATION CHAIR, LONE STAR CHAPTER, SIERRA CLUB.
EXCESSIVE BUILDING HEIGHT CAN CREATE PROBLEMS WHEN CONSTRUCTED NEAR SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.
ASIDE FROM THE OBVIOUS CHANGES TO PRIVACY, EXCESSIVE HEIGHT CAN HAVE NEGATIVE EFFECTS ON VEGETABLE GARDENS, ESTABLISHED PLANTINGS REQUIRING LOTS OF SUN AND TREES.
SUCH CHANGES CAN ALSO CREATE DRAINAGE PROBLEMS AS WELL AS CHANGES IN MICROCLIMATE.
SUCH CHANGES COULD ALSO HAVE NEGATIVE EFFECTS ON SOLAR ENERGY.
AUSTIN ENERGY HAS ENCOURAGED AUSTINITES TO INVEST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN ROOFTOP SOLAR.
I BOUGHT MY FIRST HOME WHEN I WAS 54 YEARS OLD.
SO I GET A HOUSE AND I, I SPEND MONEY TO PUT A METAL ROOF ON IT AND EXTRA INSULATION.
AND I INSTALLED 1600 GALLONS OF RAINWATER COLLECTION.
I PUT THREE PANEL GLASS WINDOWS ON MY HOME.
WHEN ALL THIS ENERGY CAME AROUND, THEY SAID, DO YOU HAVE THE MOST ENERGY EFFICIENT HOME IN THIS ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD? AND I GOT A GOOD DEAL WITH SOLAR CELLS, AND I'M NOW RETIRED AND MY BILL IS LOW.
AND THAT'S REALLY, REALLY GOOD FOR ME.
AND IT'S STOPPING CLIMATE CHANGE.
ALL RIGHT. AND THEN I FIND OUT THAT, WELL, THE CITY MAY CHANGE THE SOLEMN BILL, 120 FOOT BUILDING BY MY HOUSE AND SHADE MY SOLAR CELLS. NOW, I'M NOT SURE THAT THAT CAN HAPPEN OR NOT, BUT WHEN I READ WHAT'S GOING ON, I'M NOT SURE.
AND THERE'S NOT BEEN GOOD COMMUNICATION WITH THIS CITY COUNCIL RECENTLY.
AND ALSO, ONE OTHER THING IS, I DON'T THINK SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION ARE DOING YOU MUCH GOOD FAVORS EITHER, BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN VERY RUDE TO ME PERSONALLY. SO ANYWAY, FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD VOTE ON THIS NOW.
I THINK WE SHOULD DISCUSS IT MORE.
MARY ENGLE, IS MARY HERE? PARKER. SEWELL.
GEOFF THOMPSON AND ELLA THOMPSON.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME WHEN YOU'RE AT THE PODIUM.
GOOD EVENING. COUNCIL AND MAYOR.
OR A BOARD MEMBER? THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I THINK WE DON'T SAY THAT ENOUGH.
I'M EXHAUSTED JUST BEING UP HERE, BUT I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT IT'S LIKE FROM YOUR END.
I COULD HAVE SWORN IT WAS DAYLIGHT A SECOND AGO.
BUT SERIOUSLY, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND I DEEPLY, DEEPLY SUPPORT YOU, TODD, AND THE REST OF THE LAND USE REFORMS. AND I HOPE YOU DO VOTE FOR THEM.
I'M GOING TO BET YOU SOMETHING.
I'M GOING TO BET YOU IN A FEW YEARS, ALL THE PEOPLE UP HERE WHO ARE ANGRY ABOUT THIS WILL ACTUALLY TURN AROUND WHEN THEY SEE THE RESULTS, BECAUSE I THINK WHEN PEOPLE CAN TAKE PROJECT CONNECT, WHEN THERE'S DEVELOPMENT AROUND IT, THEY'LL BE LIKE, THIS IS REALLY PLEASANT.
AND THINK BACK TO ANYTHING YOU'VE DONE IN YOUR LEGISLATIVE CAREER.
PEOPLE ALWAYS SAID, YES, THIS IS GOOD, BUT WHAT ABOUT THIS? OR LIKE, HOW ABOUT WE TALK ABOUT IT MORE AND DELAY IT? BUT YOU KNOW WHAT'S BETTER THAN A PERFECT PLAN.
THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH BETTER THAT WILL BE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, HOW MUCH WE GET CHOICE.
[10:20:02]
WE DON'T HAVE TO TAKE A CAR EVERY DAY.AND ALSO HOW THAT WILL BE BETTER FOR EQUITY, BECAUSE FUNDAMENTALLY MORE HOUSING MEANS CHEAPER RENT, WHICH MEANS LESS DISPLACEMENT, AND THAT MEANS IT'S MORE EQUITABLE. SO I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE FOR THIS LEGISLATION.
AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK BECAUSE WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE IT.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME.
GOOD EVENING. COUNCIL SHANE JOHNSON.
LIKE ALMOST CAN'T, YOU KNOW, CAN BARELY HANDLE THE PATRONIZING COMMENTS OF, YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK BACK ON THE DISPLACEMENT, YOU'LL BE OKAY WITH IT IN A COUPLE OF YEARS. SO AGAIN, I WAS CO-CHAIR OF THE GROUNDBREAKING CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN.
I BRING EXPERTISE ON ENERGY CLIMATE ISSUES.
BUT THE DATA SHOWS THAT EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE HOUSING AND HOUSING AND NEW HOUSING THAT IS ONLY BUILT AFTER TEARING DOWN CURRENT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE EVICT PEOPLE, WHERE WE DISPLACE PEOPLE, LEADS TO SPRAWL.
ONE OF THE FEW THINGS WE CAN ALL AGREE ON IS SPRAWL.
IS IS BAD, RIGHT? NEW DEVELOPMENTS LIKE THE THE SALTILLO AND THE MLK STATION THAT THE CITY DEPARTMENT'S OWN DATA SHOWED MASSIVELY DISPLACED PEOPLE, MASSIVELY DROVE GENTRIFICATION, DROVE DOWN AND DECREASED RIDERSHIP RATES.
MORE OZONE THAT WERE ALREADY OUT OF ASSIGNMENT FOR MORE SPRAWL, MORE TRAFFIC, MORE EMISSIONS.
RIGHT. ALL WE'RE ASKING FOR REALLY IS ANTI-DISPLACEMENT PROTECTIONS.
IF YOU DON'T DO THEM FIRST, THEY ALMOST ALL OF THEM GET LEGALLY PREEMPTED OR DE FACTO PREEMPTED.
ALL WE'RE ASKING FOR ARE ANTI-DISPLACEMENT PROTECTIONS FIRST.
I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT LATER. OF COURSE.
PROTECT CURRENTLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
MAKE SURE THAT IS, YOU KNOW, CRYSTAL CLEAR AND YOU CANNOT YOU KNOW, THERE AREN'T LOOPHOLES.
AND THEN PASS, YOU KNOW, PASS AN OVERLAY THAT BLOCKS UP ZONINGS IN ANY NEIGHBORHOOD THAT IT'LL DRIVE GENTRIFICATION, DISPLACEMENT THAT YOU ALREADY HAVE THE DATA FOR. AND THEN IN OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS, BUILD DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH DENSITY BONUSES.
THE BARE MINIMUM STANDARD Y'ALL SHOULD BE FOLLOWING IS WHAT WAS DONE IN AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED.
YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT WORKED PRETTY WELL DEVELOPED.
SMALL DEVELOPERS WERE DOING IT.
WE DON'T WANT TO NECESSARILY INCENTIVIZE LARGE, YOU KNOW, MULTINATIONAL COMPANIES.
SO PLEASE PASS EQUITY OVERLAY FIRST.
HELLO. MY NAME IS ALICIA TORRES.
I WAS CALLED EARLIER WAS RUSHING OVER.
I'VE COME UP AND MADE MY MY SENSE CLEARER ON ALREADY PUT ON RECORD MY SENSE ON THE ASK TO VOTE OR DELAY THE VOTE ON HOME.
AND I'VE BEEN TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, IN BETWEEN WORK LISTENING TO WHAT FOLKS HAVE HAVE BROUGHT UP.
AND I REALLY WANT TO HONE IN ON, I REALIZE THAT THIS IS A GROUP OF CITY COUNCILS THAT, THAT THAT ARE PROBABLY SOME OF YOU KNEW SOME LAST YEAR.
BUT WHEN WE ASK FOR A COMMUNITY CENTERED PROCESS OR A, A PROCESS THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR A COMMUNITY, AN EQUITY OVERLAY AND THAT ENSURES ACCESSIBILITY AND EQUITY.
[10:25:02]
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LOOK TO THE PROCESS THAT THE CITY ENGAGED WITH VIA THE REIMAGINE PUBLIC SAFETY.WAS IT LONG? WAS IT GRUELING? YES. BUT WAS IT EQUITABLE AND WAS IT COMMUNITY CENTERED? AND WAS IT DONE WITH COMMUNITY AND MOVING AT THE PACE OF COMMUNITY? YES, AND THAT IS WHAT THE CITY CLAIMS IT WANTS TO DO.
OTHER FOLKS HAVE BROUGHT OUT MODELS FROM OTHER STATES AND OTHER CITIES.
WE HAVE ONE ALREADY IN AUSTIN.
WHAT WE'RE ASKING IS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITY TO BE INTENTIONALLY NOT JUST TO NAME, BUT INTENTIONALLY BE BROUGHT IN AND HAVE A VOICE AND NOT JUST BE THERE FOR REPRESENTATION, BUT ACTUALLY HAVE POWER.
THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.
AND YOU AS PEOPLE THAT HAVE POWER, I KNOW, UNDERSTAND THAT.
THAT HAD TO DO WITH RAPID REHOUSING.
THAT'S GOING TO BE BEFORE YOU AGAIN.
RIGHT? RAPID REHOUSING IS STEMMING ROOT CAUSE.
IF WE MOVE AT THE PROCESS WITH THE PROCESS THAT IS CURRENTLY BEING PRESENTED.
I CURRENTLY LIVE IN DISTRICT THREE.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT WHATEVER YOU THINK WILL TRICKLE DOWN TO ME WILL NOT TRICKLE DOWN.
DELAY THE VOTE. JENNIE GRAYSON.
IS AMBER OR HERE? JENNIE JENNY GETS SIX MINUTES.
ON DECK IS JEFFREY BOWEN AND CELINE RENDON.
OKAY. JENNY GRAYSON SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION OF ITEM FIVE.
JOSE, I'M SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS.
NATASHA, WHERE ARE YOU? I'LL REQUEST FOR A THIRD TIME IF YOU'RE HERE, PLEASE COME ON CAMERA.
SHE CAN'T COME ON CAMERA WHEN A SLIDE SHOW IS GOING ON.
CAN THEY SEE HER BACK THERE? I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT.
I THINK THEY CAN. WE'VE ALL BEEN HERE FOR NINE HOURS AND ARE REQUESTING TO SEE YOUR PRESENCE.
SO, MAYOR, IF YOU CAN ASK HER TO COME ON CAMERA, PLEASE DO SO.
HERE WE GO AGAIN. SHE'S NOT THERE.
THE RESULTS OF THE PLAZA SALTILLO TODD ARE WHERE NEW DEVELOPMENT HAS OCCURRED.
TRANSIT RIDERSHIP HAS SEEN A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION SINCE 2010, UP TO 73%.
THE AVERAGE PERCENTAGE OF HOUSEHOLDS WITHOUT CARS HAS DECREASED BY.
TRADITIONAL TODD VERSUS EQUITY.
TODD WHO CAN TELL THE DIFFERENCE? SO HERE WE GO. PEOPLE LIVING AND WORKING IN THESE DISTRICTS ARE MORE LIKELY TO WALK, USE TRANSIT AND OWN FEWER CARS.
OR THESE DISTRICTS ALLOW HOUSEHOLDS TO USE CITY TRANSIT AS THEIR PRIMARY MODE OF TRANSPORTATION, ESSENTIALLY MAKING IT EASIER TO GO CAR FREE IN AREAS WHERE POPULATIONS ARE VULNERABLE TO DISPLACEMENT.
THE FOCUS OF PLANNING IS TO STABILIZE EXISTING RESIDENTS AND CONNECT THEM WITH PROGRAMS TO HELP THEM REMAIN IN PLACE, OR LONGTIME RESIDENTS HAVE SEVERAL HOUSING OPTIONS.
THANK YOU. IT SEEKS TO ALIGN TRANSIT INVESTMENTS WITH THE COMMUNITY'S VISION FOR HOW IT WANTS TO GROW, OR IT PRIORITIZES PARTNERS THAT MAXIMIZE SOCIAL BENEFITS IN LINE WITH COMMUNITY GOALS.
SO CAN ANYONE TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A TRADITIONAL VOTER ID VERSUS AN EQUITABLE TOD BY THE LANGUAGE WE USE? THE WORD AFFORDABLE WAS USED 153 TIMES IN THE PLAZA SALTILLO PROPOSAL.
BUT DID WE GET AFFORDABILITY? WERE NEIGHBORHOODS PRESERVED? DID OUR COMMUNITIES GROW HOW WE WANTED THEM TO?
[10:30:03]
WERE SENIORS ALLOWED TO AGE IN PLACE AND DID TRANSIT USAGE INCREASE? NO, ACTUALLY, NONE OF THIS OCCURRED.SO IF WE CAN'T DETERMINE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A TRADITIONAL AND AN EQUITABLE.
TODD. BASED ON THE LANGUAGE WE'RE USING, HOW CAN WE REASONABLY EXPECT DIFFERENT RESULTS? PEPPERING THIS NEW EQUITABLE TODD WITH WORDS LIKE INCLUDE, EXTEND, ENCOURAGE, ENHANCE, SUPPORT AND ALIGN WILL NOT LEAD TO EQUITABLE RESULTS. WE NEED TO EXPLICITLY DELINEATE RULES TO HOLD DEVELOPERS AND STAKEHOLDERS ACCOUNTABLE.
I WILL TELL YOU, IT WAS REFRESHING TO COME ACROSS THIS BIT OF TRUTH THAT STILL RINGS TRUE TODAY, EVEN THOUGH NONE OF YOU WILL ADMIT IT DUE TO LAND PRICES AND CONSTRUCTION COSTS.
AGAIN, JOSE, I'M SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS.
NATASHA, WHERE ARE YOU? I'LL REQUEST FOR A FOURTH TIME.
AND CAN I SEE IF SHE'S ON CAMERA? ALL RIGHT. WE'VE BEEN HERE NINE HOURS.
ALL OF US. LIKE, WE'RE ALL EXHAUSTED.
I HAVEN'T SEEN NATASHA ONCE, EXCEPT FOR 10 A.M.
I DON'T THINK HER VOTE SHOULD COUNT TODAY.
I'M REQUESTING THAT OF YOU, MAYOR.
I WOULD LIKE YOUR SUPPORT IN THAT.
IT'S NOT THE WAY THE RULES WORK.
PLEASE CONTINUE TALKING ABOUT ITEM FIVE.
YEP. THIS IS IN REGARD TO ITEM FIVE BECAUSE SHE'S OBVIOUSLY NOT HERE.
SO, MAYOR, IF YOU CAN ASK HER TO COME ON CAMERA SO WE KNOW SHE'S PRESENT, PLEASE DO.
I'M GOING TO LET THE COUNCIL MEMBER MAKE HER OWN DECISIONS.
ALL RIGHT. I CAN WAIT UNTIL MY TIME IS UP TO SEE IF SHE COMES ON CAMERA.
MAYBE SHE DIDN'T HEAR ME, SO I'LL ASK AGAIN.
NATASHA, IF YOU'RE HERE, CAN YOU PLEASE COME ON CAMERA AND SHOW YOUR REPRESENTATION FOR D1? HOW MUCH LONGER DO I HAVE? OH, COOL. SO, NATASHA, IF YOU'VE COME BACK WITHIN THE LAST.
IF I COULD BE ON CAMERA, IF I COULD BE IN PERSON, I WOULD BE.
I CAN ASSURE YOU I AM PRESENT.
SHE'S GIVING YOU AN EXPLANATION.
I GUESS WE'LL SIT HERE FOR THE MINUTE.
15 AND SILENCE, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.
OH, SURE. I CAN ASK HER AGAIN TO COME ON CAMERA.
SHE'S ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION ABOUT WHAT SHE'S GOING TO DO.
WHY CAN'T WE NOT SEE HER? SHE SHE.
THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING FOR HER, BUT I AM ASKING HER.
SHE JUST GAVE YOU HER ANSWER, NOT ON CAMERA.
I'M ASKING HER TO COME ON CAMERA.
OKAY. YOU HAVE 38 SECONDS LEFT TO ADDRESS THE ITEM.
THE WORD AFFORDABLE WAS USED 153 TIMES IN PLAZA SALTILLO PROPOSAL.
BUT DID WE GET AFFORDABILITY? WHERE NEIGHBORHOODS PRESERVED? DID OUR COMMUNITIES GROW HOW WE WANTED THEM TO? WHERE SENIORS ALLOWED TO AGE IN PLACE? OR DID TRANSIT USAGE INCREASE? NO, NONE OF THIS OCCURRED.
SO IF WE CAN'T DETERMINE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A TRADITIONAL TOD AND AN EQUITABLE TOD BASED ON THE LANGUAGE WE'RE USING, HOW CAN WE REASONABLY EXPECT DIFFERENT RESULTS? THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
GO AHEAD AND STATE YOUR NAME, PLEASE.
SELENE RENDON CALLED ME EARLIER.
THANKS. MY NAME IS LYNN RENDON.
I'M A RENTER. I'M A FIRST GEN GRADUATE FROM UT AUSTIN.
[10:35:07]
THE FIRST OR THE CITY'S FIRST CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN, WHICH WAS THE FIRST TIME YOU ALL EVER TALKED ABOUT EQUITY IN A PLAN? WE TALKED ABOUT TRANSIT AND COMMUNITY BASED PLANNING, WHICH WE DO OFTEN.AND THIS DAY FULL OF PROPOSALS.
AND ITEM FIVE GOES AGAINST EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE WORKED TOWARDS.
WHICH IS WHY I'M SPEAKING AGAINST ITEM FIVE.
FOR THE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT THAT HAS NO EQUITY, THAT'S BEEN PACKAGED WITH OTHER ITEMS. AS A CONTINUED 2024 MASTER PLAN OF DISPLACEMENT.
FOR ALL THOSE THAT WANT THIS DENSITY WITHOUT REGULATION CAUSES DISPLACEMENT.
AND AS MENTIONED BEFORE, WE NEED TO PASS AN ANTI DISPLACEMENT EQUITY PROTECTIVE OVERLAY AND TO DEEPEN THE AFFORDABILITY LEVELS REQUIRED WHEN DEVELOPERS ARE GIVEN ENTITLEMENTS BY THE DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS. IT'S NOT ENOUGH IF IT'S REALLY ABOUT ENSURING DENSITY IN AREAS THAT ARE TRANSIT ACCESSIBLE.
WE NEED TO CHANGE THE MAP AREAS TO INCLUDE LOCATIONS THAT ARE WITHIN ACCESSIBLE HALF MILE OF THE TRUE STOPS, NOT JUST THE LINE ITSELF, THE ANTI-DISPLACEMENT FUNDS, AND THE OTHER FUNDING SOURCES THAT ARE NEEDED TO BE USED TO ACQUIRE AND PROTECT AFFORDABLE HOUSING BEFORE THE OVERLAY IS PASSED.
BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT IT'S GOING TO TRIGGER MARKET VALUES TO INCREASE, AND THE PROVISIONS MUST BE ADDED TO PREVENT DEMOLITION OF OUR EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH LOOPHOLES FOR SIMILAR PROVISIONS.
AS MENTIONED, THE MLK AND PLAZA SALTILLO TOADS TRIGGERED EXTREME GENTRIFICATION WITH THE DECREASE IN BLACK AND BROWN RESIDENTS AS WELL AS RIDERSHIP. THE OVERLAY GIVES ENTITLEMENTS TO DEVELOPERS TO BUILD MORE OF THAT LUXURY AND MARKET RATE HOUSING THAT WE CAN'T AFFORD, AND THE DISPLACEMENT OF LOW INCOME PEOPLE OF COLOR AND THE INCREASE OF WHITE, AFFLUENT CAR DRIVERS.
COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR HAVE REALLY THE Y'ALL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE CHAMPIONS FOR REAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING, TO GO BEYOND THE STATUS QUO IN A TIME OF THE GREATEST WEALTH INEQUALITY KNOWN TO DATE.
WE'VE GIVEN YOU THE OUTLINE OF SOLUTIONS.
YOUR TIME IS. IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM.
GOOD EVENING AGAIN, CARMEN YANEZ.
I'M GOING TO SPEAK TO YOU AS A DISTRICT NINE RESIDENT RIGHT NOW.
WHO LIVE, LIKE I SAID, IN THAT MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING AND IN THOSE MARKET, AFFORDABLE APARTMENTS.
WHO CURRENTLY GET TO LIVE WITHOUT A CAR, THAT'S PART OF WHY THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT.
SO THOSE POINTS ABOUT TRANSIT SUPPORTING AFFORDABILITY.
AND THOSE FOLKS ARE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT GETTING DISPLACED.
AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR YOU ALL TO LOOK FOR A WAY TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
IF IT DOESN'T, IF SEMANTICS IS GETTING IN THE WAY.
BUT WE ARE ASKING YOU AND I'M GOING TO TIE THIS TO ITEM THREE BECAUSE IT IS RELATED THAT YOU CAN DELAY THE UPZONING THE IMPLEMENTATION FOR AREAS WITHIN THE UPROOTED MAPS THAT ARE VULNERABLE TO DISPLACEMENT.
YOU HAVE A PRECEDENT FOR THIS IN DELIA GARCÉS 2019 EQUITY OVERLAY.
SO YOU COULD PROPOSE THE DELAYED IMPLEMENTATION.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE A LIST OF OF APARTMENT BUILDINGS ALONG THE ETA THAT ARE VULNERABLE.
WE MENTIONED SECTION EIGHT TENANTS, TRAVIS HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY.
THESE ARE REAL PEOPLE WHOSE HOUSING IS AT STAKE.
SO THERE IS A WAY FOR YOU ALL TO DELAY IMPLEMENTATION SO THAT YOU CAN DO THIS.
I WAS AT SUNRISE NAVIGATION CENTER THIS MORNING.
THERE ARE 3000 HOMELESS CHILDREN IN AUSTIN, TEXAS RIGHT NOW.
1 IN 3 PEOPLE GOING TO THE SUNRISE NAVIGATION CENTER HAVE CHILDREN UNDER 18.
AND THAT'S NOT THE FULL PICTURE, RIGHT?
[10:40:01]
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE SLEEPING IN A CAR WHILE THEIR KID IS STAYING WITH SOMEONE ELSE? HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO SEND THEIR KIDS AWAY? THIS IS A GROWING PROBLEM THAT WASN'T THIS BAD THREE YEARS AGO, AND WE HAVE WATCHED THE DEMOLITION OF EXISTING AFFORDABLE APARTMENTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH TWO AND THREE BEDROOMS THAT HAS LED TO THIS ISSUE.GIVE US A LITTLE MORE TIME AND LET'S FIGURE OUT HOW TO INVEST, HOW TO PROTECT, HOW TO PRESERVE, AND TO TRULY PRODUCE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT WILL FULFILL YOUR TRANSIT NEEDS.
I ALSO WANT TO SAY I SECOND BETSY GREENBERG'S EARLIER COMMENTS.
I THINK WE'RE LEARNING THAT IF WE RUSH THIS STUFF AND WE MAKE BACKROOM DEALS, IT FAILS.
WE LOSE MONEY AND WE DON'T GET TRANSIT, SO DO IT RIGHT.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM.
I AM FROM THE MONTOPOLIS NEIGHBORHOOD, DISTRICT THREE.
I'M A THIRD GRADE DUAL LANGUAGE TEACHER IN AUSTIN ISD.
THEY RIDE CAPITAL METRO TO SCHOOL, TO THE GROCERY STORE, DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS.
THE FAMILIES IN MY COMMUNITY, MY STUDENTS FAMILIES, THEY MAKE LESS THAN $50,000 A YEAR.
SO IF YOU WRITE CAPITAL METRO, YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THOSE THAT RELY ON CAPITAL METRO ON A DAILY BASIS OR LOW INCOME WORKERS, LOW INCOME FAMILIES, MOSTLY BLACK AND BROWN FAMILIES, THESE FAMILIES WILL BE DISPLACED BY THESE POLICIES THAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO VOTE ON.
SO WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THOSE FAMILIES THAT WILL BE DISPLACED? WELL, THEY WOULD END UP OUTSIDE OF AUSTIN, CEDAR PARK, CEDAR CREEK, DEL VALLEY, BUDA, KYLE AND THEY WILL NEED THEY WILL END UP NEEDING A CAR TO GET AROUND.
THEY WOULD NEED TO DRIVE BACK TO AUSTIN.
SO WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS ACTUALLY CREATING MORE TRAFFIC INSTEAD OF DECREASING TRAFFIC.
AND I'M TALKING ABOUT ALL KINDS OF WORKERS.
SO WE KNOW THESE FAMILIES WILL BE DISPLACED BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WHEN YOU INCREASE DEVELOPMENT AROUND TRANSIT, IT DRIVES UP THE MARKET VALUES AND CAUSES DISPLACEMENT BECAUSE THE AREA BECOMES MORE DESIRABLE AND MORE PROFITABLE FOR DEVELOPERS.
OF COURSE, THAT'S WHY WE TRY TO WE PUT ANTI-DISPLACEMENT FUNDS FOR PROJECT CONNECT.
AND WE ALSO KNOW THIS BECAUSE AT MLK AND AT PLAZA SALTILLO WE GOT EXTREME GENTRIFICATION AND WE GOT DECREASE IN BLACK AND BROWN RESIDENTS AS WELL AS DECREASE IN RIDERSHIP OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
SO THE OVERLAY GIVES ENTITLEMENTS TO DEVELOPERS TO BUILD MORE LUXURY MARKET RATE HOUSING IS EXPIRED.
THE NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE, LAURA MARTINEZ.
GRADFORD. IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE PROCEED TO THE PODIUM.
HOWDY, COUNCIL. MY NAME IS ZACH FADDIS OR PRESIDENT.
YOU KNOW WHO I AM AND WHAT I THINK.
[10:45:03]
I DON'T THINK YOU'RE INSINCERE OR THAT YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITIES.BUT I DO KNOW THAT I DON'T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS.
WE WILL SEE THE CHANGES THESE ITEMS BRING ASSUMING THEY PASS.
I HOPE IT WILL AFFECT OUR THINKING.
I AM DEDICATED TO CREATING AN AUSTIN WITH ROOM FOR EVERYONE.
IF YOU WANT THAT TOO, THEN THERE'S NO REASON WE CANNOT WORK TOGETHER.
I REGRET THAT WE CANNOT BE FRIENDS, BUT WE ARE STILL NEIGHBORS.
AND I HOPE THAT ONE DAY WE CAN BE ALLIES.
YOU DON'T DESERVE THE WAY YOU'VE BEEN TREATED THIS EVENING.
HALIMA FOSTER IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT.
HELLO. MY NAME IS PARKER WELCH.
SO I JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE HERE THAT IN THE SIGN UPS LAST NIGHT, THERE WERE 1500 PEOPLE FOR THESE ITEMS AND LESS THAN 1000 AGAINST.
I ALSO WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE ON THE DAIS THAT YOU ALL WON AN ACTUAL ELECTION.
A PUBLIC MEETING WITH THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO COULDN'T BE HERE TONIGHT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE.
I'M LAURIE WEIDLICH FROM DISTRICT NINE.
PROPONENTS OF THE PROPOSED ETA CHANGE TO THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE SEEM TO HAVE TOTALLY LOST SIGHT OF THE PURPOSE OF SUCH AN ORDINANCE TO BRING TOGETHER RESIDENTS WHO ARE EAGER TO MAKE USE OF PUBLIC TRANSIT WITH PUBLIC TRANSIT STOPS.
DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE THAT RIDERS ARE GOING TO WALK A HALF MILE IN AWESOME SUMMER HEAT TO CATCH A TRAIN? SECOND, WHY DOES THE PROPOSED CHANGE APPLY ALONG THE ENTIRE CORRIDOR INSTEAD OF JUST THE LOCATIONS OF THE PROPOSED STATIONS? STATIONS AREN'T THAT CLOSE TOGETHER.
THIRD, WHY IS THERE SO LITTLE PROVISION FOR AFFORDABILITY IN THIS PROPOSED LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE CHANGE PROVIDING FOR ONLY 15% AFFORDABLE UNITS IS MINIMAL.
IT YIELDS ONLY SEVEN AFFORDABLE UNITS IN A 50 UNIT BUILDING.
[10:50:04]
IN ANY CASE, WHILE I AM NOT OPPOSED TO UP ZONING THE AREA IMMEDIATELY SURROUNDING A TRANSIT STOP, EXTENDING THAT UP ZONING ONE HALF MILE INTO A NEIGHBORHOOD IS POOR PLANNING.IN THAT SITUATION, UP THE UP ZONING THOSE PROPERTIES IS REASONABLE.
ZONING THEM JUXTAPOSES SINGLE FAMILY HOMES WITH 60 AND 120FT APARTMENT BUILDINGS.
NO CITY PLANNER WITH ANY EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, OR SENSITIVITY WOULD SUPPORT THAT.
PLEASE RECONSIDER THIS PROPOSAL AND AMEND IT TO ACCOMPLISH ITS PURPOSE INSTEAD OF JUST PROVIDING A HANDOUT TO DEVELOPERS. UPZONE ONLY THE AREA AROUND STATIONS AND ONLY A REASONABLE DISTANCE INTO THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS. THANK YOU.
LAYLA. SHAMS. GABRIELLE. TALLEY.
MONICA HUMPHREYS, PEGGY MORTON, BRAD MASSINGILL, LUKE METZGER. IF YOU'RE HERE, PLEASE COME ON DOWN AND GO RIGHT TO THE PODIUM.
ALL RIGHT. HELLO AGAIN. COUNCIL.
SO ON THE IPAD THESE ARE SOME OF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS FROM COMMUNITY POWERED ATX.
I'M SORRY. WE KNOW WE KNOW YOUR NAME, BUT FOR THE RECORD, YOU MAY WANT TO PRACTICE.
SO FIRST WE'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT HOW THERE'S A GREAT NEED TO ASSESS RISKS FOR EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE AREA AND NOT ALLOW ANY KIND OF WAIVER TO REPLACING THE UNITS.
THERE SHOULD BE ADDITIONAL PROTECTIONS FOR EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT RISK OF DEMOLITION.
WHEN IT COMES TO DEMOLITIONS, THERE ARE THERE'S EVIDENCE, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT ADMINISTRATIVELY SOMETIMES DEVELOPERS WERE ASSISTED EVEN BY CITY STAFF TO GET AROUND LOOPHOLES AND BE ABLE TO EVICT SECTION EIGHT TENANTS IN ORDER TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED.
SO THOSE ARE THE KIND OF THINGS WE NEED TO LOOK AT AND CLOSE FOR THIS.
THE ANTI-DISPLACEMENT FUNDS AND OTHER FUNDING SOURCES NEED TO BE USED TO ACQUIRE AND PROTECT AS MUCH AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS POSSIBLE BEFORE THE OVERLAY IS PASSED AND TRIGGERS MARKET VALUES TO INCREASE, PROVISIONS MUST BE ADDED TO PREVENT THE DEMOLITION OF EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AS I SAID.
SO WE CAN PROVIDE THAT TO TO YOUR OFFICES.
NEXT, USE PROJECT CONNECT ANTI-DISPLACEMENT FUNDS FOR ACQUISITION OF EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND PROPERTIES WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR DEVELOPING TRULY AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS WELL AS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING BELOW 30% AND 50% MFI.
WE ALSO WOULD LOVE TO SEE AGAIN ON THIS THEME OF HAVING COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND COMMUNITY BUY IN TO CREATE AN OPPORTUNITIES AND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE THAT WOULD OVERSEE THE USE OF THOSE ANTI-DISPLACEMENT FUNDS THAT COULD BE USED.
[10:55:05]
RECALIBRATE FEE IN LIEU ANNUALLY RATHER THAN EVERY THREE YEARS TO REFLECT OR 3 TO 4 YEARS, WHATEVER IT IS NOW, TO REFLECT INCREASED MARKET VALUES AND RETURNS FOR DEVELOPERS, IT NEEDS TO BE INCREASED TO A LEVEL ABOVE THE COST OF THE UNITS.BUT IF THAT WERE TO BE THE CASE THAT WE GOT TO THAT DEEP LEVEL OF AFFORDABILITY OR DEEPER LEVEL, THAT SHOULD REALLY BE ON SITE HOUSING AND FEE IN LIEU SHOULD JUST NOT BE AN OPTION. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
NEXT SPEAKER PLEASE, MR. PAGE. HELLO.
MY NAME IS ANNA ROMERO, AND I FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO POSTPONE THIS VOTE BECAUSE.
SORRY. WHERE I WORK IS PRETTY MUCH A NICE PLACE TO WORK.
IT'S. IT'S A REALLY NICE PLACE TO TO WORK WHEN YOU'RE ENTERING INTO WORK.
I'M SORRY. I WORK AT WHATABURGER, AND IT'S NOT THE MOST HIGHEST PAYING JOB THERE IS IS CERTAINLY BETTER THAN MOST OTHER PAYING JOBS.
BUT EVEN THERE, I HAVE COWORKERS BOTH YOUNGER AND OLDER THAN MYSELF.
WORRYING ABOUT RISING COST OF RENT.
I HAVE PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT MOVING OUT OF AUSTIN BECAUSE WHERE THEY STAY IN AUSTIN IS JUST NOT REALISTIC FOR THEIR INCOME. AND I HAVE THE AND I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS WELL.
I STRUGGLE TO BUY FOOD EVERY DAY FOR ME AND MY MOTHER.
TO JUST FEEL LIKE I'M WELCOME IN AUSTIN ANYMORE BECAUSE OF HOW HOW MUCH MONEY I'M MAKING.
I FEEL LIKE AUSTIN ONLY WANTS HIGH PAYING PEOPLE ABOVE ABOVE MIDDLE CLASS AND EVERYTHING ELSE TO BE IN AUSTIN. IT IS SO HARD TO GET AROUND AUSTIN BECAUSE I PAY, I TAKE PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND I WALK, AND IT'S TIRING SOMETIMES, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THE TIMES THAT I WALK, THE TIMES THAT I WORK IS OVERNIGHT.
AND THOSE. THAT'S THE HIGHEST AMOUNT OF MONEY I CAN MAKE BECAUSE OVERNIGHT POSITIONS ARE SO HARD TO FILL, WHICH IS WHY THEY PAY MORE.
BUT WHEN I GET OFF OVERNIGHT, USUALLY PUBLIC TRANSPORT IS NOT AVAILABLE.
IT'S NOT RUNNING AT THAT TIME, ESPECIALLY WHERE I LIVE.
SO I HAVE TO WALK A FEW MILES BACK HOME A LOT OF THE TIME.
IT FEELS UNSAFE BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOWHERE TO GO.
THEY THEY ARE DESPERATE OUT HERE.
SLEEPING ON THE STREETS AT BUS STOPS.
JUST SO THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO THINK ABOUT NOT HAVING A HOME AND HAVING TO SLEEP ON THE FLOOR.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CITY MANAGER.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENT TEXAS.
WE'RE A NONPROFIT ADVOCATE FOR CLEAN AIR AND WATER PARKS AND WILDLIFE AND A LIVABLE CLIMATE.
AND I'M ALSO A 19 YEAR LONG RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE.
AND I WANTED TO THANK MY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND REALLY SORRY FOR ALL THE NASTY ATTACKS THAT YOU AND THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE BEEN SUBJECTED TO TONIGHT.
I'M REALLY PROUD TO HAVE YOU REPRESENTING ME ON CITY COUNCIL.
BUT THERE'S A BIG HOLE IN OUR EFFORTS TO TACKLE THE CLIMATE CRISIS, AND THAT'S ON LAND USE.
OUR CURRENT LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE ENCOURAGES SPRAWL AND THE LOSS OF NATURAL CARBON SINKS.
[11:00:02]
AND WITHOUT DRAMATIC CHANGES, THESE CHALLENGES WILL GROW AS AN ADDITIONAL 2 MILLION PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO LIVE IN THIS REGION BY 2050.WHERE ARE WE GOING TO PUT THESE PEOPLE? ARE WE GOING TO FORCE THEM TO LIVE FARTHER AND FARTHER OUT? ARE WE GOING TO CONTINUE THE PATH OF MORE DRIVING, MORE SPRAWL AND MORE POLLUTION, OR WILL WE GIVE THE PEOPLE THE OPTION TO LIVE CLOSER TO THE CITY, SHARING RESOURCES AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND GETTING AROUND IN LESS CARBON INTENSIVE WAYS? THE ITOD AND HOME EFFORTS WILL GIVE MORE AUSTINITES THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE IN ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENT HOMES THAT ARE WALKABLE, BIKEABLE AND TRANSIT ACCESSIBLE, AND I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THEM. THANK YOU.
MR.. ARE YOU READY? CHRIS PAGE DISTRICT ONE.
PASSING THESE POLICIES BASICALLY DEPENDS ON OUR IGNORANCE.
THE MARKET ISN'T GOING TO OVERBUILD ITSELF CLUMSILY OR IN A DATA DRIVEN WORLD.
MAYBE SOME PEOPLE THAT DON'T UNDERSTAND REAL ESTATE WOULD MAKE THAT MISTAKE.
THIS IS A PLAN TO BUILD AMENITIES FOR A POPULATION THAT'S GOING TO DISPLACE THE COMMUNITY.
FLAT OUT. WE KNOW THAT FROM DATA.
FRANKLY, I THINK IT SOUNDS LIKE THE WHOLE PLAN IS BASED ON SHORT TERM REAL ESTATE INTERESTS.
PEOPLE THAT DON'T EVEN CARE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS 20 YEARS FROM NOW.
WHERE'S THE EQUITY CONSIDERATIONS? REAL EQUITY CONSIDERATIONS? I DON'T SEE THEM.
SO IF YOU'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR YEARS, SHAME ON YOU.
AFFORDABILITY ON LOCK IS BASICALLY GOING TO BE DEAD ON ARRIVAL.
WHO'S GOING TO WANT TO USE IT? FEE AND LIEU STILL ALLOWS FOR FULLY MARKET RATE UNITS.
WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT TRYING TO REDUCE CARBON FOOTPRINT, REDUCING SPRAWL, GIVING ACCESS TO PEOPLE, GIVING PUBLIC TRANSIT ACCESS TO PEOPLE THAT NEED IT, THIS DOESN'T DO THAT. WE ALREADY KNOW THAT FROM TODD'S.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THINGS THAT DISPLACE PHYSICAL LABOR TO THE PERIPHERY OF THE CITY.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE LABOR IN THE CITY, THEY'RE GOING TO BE DRIVING INTO THE CITY.
IF YOU BRING IN ONLY AFFLUENT, PERSISTENT CAR DRIVERS INTO ALL THE NEW HOUSING THAT'S GETTING BUILT, YOU'RE ONLY GETTING MORE CARS IN THE CITY AND THE ROADS AREN'T GROWING. SO CARS ARE IDLING.
IT DOESN'T HELP YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT.
YEAH, WE DO NEED RAIL, BUT WE NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING AROUND IT AND PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY USE IT.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE, NOT BOXES.
WE CAN'T JUST TEAR APART COMMUNITIES.
AND IF YOU DO, YOU DON'T HAVE ANY AUSTIN LEFT.
WHO WANTS TO COME TO IT? WHO WANTS TO BE HERE? WHAT MAKES THIS PLACE SPECIAL IS THE PEOPLE.
AND FRANKLY, I'M SO GRATEFUL TO THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING SO HARD.
AND YEAH, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO JUST DON'T GIVE THEM A CALL BACK.
WHY IS THAT? YOU'RE SAYING YOU'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR YEARS? WHERE'S THE EQUITY? WHERE'S THE CALLBACK? WHERE'S THE MEETING? IF YOU CARE ABOUT DISPLACEMENT, IF YOU CARE ABOUT REDUCING CARBON FOOTPRINTS, SHOW ME YOUR HEARTS.
MR. PAIGE, YOUR TIME IS EXPIRED.
AS WELL AS FOUNDER OF FRIENDS OF MYSTERY CREEK.
BACK IN 2010, KATRINA SLAMMED INTO NEW ORLEANS.
AFTER KATRINA, AUSTIN REALLY ROSE TO THE OCCASION.
BACK THEN, THERE WERE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HOUSED IN THE CIVIC CENTER.
THAT'S WHEN WE PROVED THAT WE WERE A CITY WITH A HEART.
WE FOUND HOUSING, GIGS AND INSTRUMENTS FOR ANYONE THAT WANTED ONE.
WE HAVE A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF CARING FOR THOSE BEING AFFECTED BY CLIMATE CHANGE.
HAS OUR CITY ETHICS SHIFTED SO MUCH IN 14 YEARS THAT WE CAN'T EVEN MUSTER THE SAME COMPASSION FOR OUR OWN CITIZENS? ARE WE GOING TO BECOME A KATRINA IN OUR OWN RIGHT, WHERE THE REFUGEES FROM ALL THIS DEVELOPMENT ARE SUPPOSED TO GO?
[11:05:03]
LOW COST HOUSING HAS TO EXIST FOR THEM TO STAY IN AUSTIN.ALLOWING UNCHECKED GENTRIFICATION WILL PUSH FOLKS OUT OF CURRENTLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO WHO KNOWS WHERE RIGHT TO RETURN IS BEING PAID LIP SERVICE TO IN THIS PROPOSAL.
WILL THE DISPLACED FOLKS BE HOUSED IN SAME PRICE HOUSING FOR THE ENTIRE DURATION OF THE PROJECT, CAUSING THE DISPLACEMENT, EVEN IF IT TAKES YEARS FOR THAT PROJECT TO BE COMPLETED? WILL MANY POTENTIAL OWNERS OF THIS TEMPORARY AFFORDABLE HOUSING BE WILLING TO FREEZE THEIR INCOME FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD OF TIME? HOW WOULD THAT BE ENFORCEABLE? THE HOMEOWNERS IN THE PROPOSED TOD WILL BE FACING MASS FACING MASSIVE INCREASES IN THEIR PROPERTY TAXES.
THIS WILL MAKE RETIREES AND FOLKS ON FIXED BUDGET PAY A LOT MORE PROPERTY TAXES, DESTROYING LONG STANDING EXPECTATIONS OF BEING ABLE TO RETIRE IN PLACE AS HOME BUDGETS EXPLODE. RENT PRICE PRICES WILL ALSO INCREASE AS LANDLORDS PASS ON TAX BURDEN TO TENANTS.
THESE CHANGES WILL ACTUALLY DECREASE AFFORDABLE HOUSING SUPPLY.
IT IS STILL ONE OF THE ONLY AFFORDABLE OPTIONS IN TOWN.
IT'S TIME TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT IT IS THAT IT'S ABOUT TO BE DONE HERE.
DENSITY AND ACCOMMODATING IT DOES NOTHING TO ALLEVIATE THE OVERARCHING ISSUES.
THIS IS THE WRONG APPROACH FOR AUSTIN'S EXPIRED.
I'M GOING TO CALL A FEW MORE NAMES.
IF YOUR NAME IS CALLED, JUST COME RIGHT DOWN TO THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
SARAH HERZER, KRISTEN HERRING, FRAN TATTOO, KAREN KREBS.
MAYOR. PRO TEM COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I SERVE AS THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF HOUSING WORKS.
AUSTIN. I JUST AGAIN WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR CREATING THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL OF US TO SPEAK TO YOU HERE TODAY, AND ALSO FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING ON CREATING MORE TRANSIT ORIENTED, EQUITABLE SPACES FOR PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY TO HAVE MORE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES.
HERE ARE A GREAT SPACE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE MORE AFFORDABLE OPPORTUNITIES ON OUR TRANSIT CORRIDORS, PARTICULARLY LINKED TO PROJECT CONNECT LIGHT RAIL, BUT ALSO OTHER TRANSIT OPTIONS AS WELL.
SIMILARLY, I ALSO WANT TO THANK COUNCIL AND THEIR EFFORTS AND COUNCIL MEMBER KADRI FOR LEADING ON SOME OF THE WORK AND OTHERS ON LOOKING AT HOW DO WE HAVE AMENDMENTS RELATED TO REDEVELOPMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR MULTIFAMILY THAT WILL TRULY ENSURE THAT WE'RE NOT HAVING A LOW LOSS OF NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING OVER TIME, THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY ABLE TO MAINTAIN THAT, THAT WE'RE ABLE TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE RELOCATION BENEFITS, THAT ALLOW THEM TO BE ABLE TO MOVE TO OTHER PLACES, THAT THEY ALSO HAVE THE ABILITY TO HAVE LEASE FLEXIBILITY AND OTHER ITEMS THAT REALLY ENSURE THAT WHILE WE'RE CREATING MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR WALKABLE, TRANSIT DEPENDENT SPACES AND COMMERCIAL AREAS, AND CREATING NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HOUSING IN GENERAL.
WE'RE ALSO ENSURING THAT WE'RE MAINTAINING OUR NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
I GREW UP IN THE WELLS BRANCH AREA.
EARLY YEARS AND THEN MOVED OUT TO CEDAR PARK.
AND I'VE BEEN IN AUSTIN PRETTY MUCH MY WHOLE LIFE.
Y'ALL HAVE HEARD A LOT TONIGHT.
I JUST WANT TO PAINT A PICTURE OF WHAT A PERSON LOOKS LIKE WHO WILL BE AFFECTED BY THIS ITOD IF WE DON'T TAKE THIS WITH CARE, AND IF WE DON'T TREAT THIS ISSUE WITH THE UTMOST RESPECT OF THE PEOPLE LIVING IN THESE AREAS WHO ARE GOING TO BE DISPLACED. SO I MADE A LASAGNA FOR MY FRIEND MIRIAM ON TUESDAY.
I KNOW HER DAD JUST PASSED AWAY.
SHE WAS KIND OF GOING THROUGH IT AND I WAS LIKE, HOW CAN I HELP? LET ME MAKE YOU A LASAGNA.
SHE TELLS ME SHE'S LIVING IN A NEW PLACE.
SO I'M LIKE, OKAY. SO I GO TO HER APARTMENT AND IT'S ACTUALLY IN A PLACE THAT IS GOING TO BE AFFECTED BY THE TIDE, AND SHE MIGHT BE DISPLACED. YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW, I'M NOT A FORTUNE TELLER, BUT IT'S POSSIBLE SHE IS NEWLY SINGLE, LIVING ALONE WITH
[11:10:02]
HER DOG, WHO SHE HAS TO TAKE TO VET APPOINTMENTS BECAUSE HE'S VERY OLD.AND AND THIS ITOD IS GOING TO MAKE IT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT FOR WOMEN, ESPECIALLY LIVING ALONE WITH THEIR PETS, WITH THEIR DOGS THAT THEY LOVE AND TAKING THEM TO THE VET.
YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST GOING TO MAKE IT A LOT MORE HARDER TO AFFORD TO LIVE IN THE CITY.
AND AGAIN, YOU KNOW, I'M I'M PRO TRANSIT, I'M PRO DENSITY.
BUT I FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO DO THIS WISELY AND WITH CARE AND THOUGHT AND A HEART FOR PEOPLE LIKE MIRIAM WHO ARE AT RISK OF DISPLACEMENT. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL KNOW MIRIAM, BUT SHE IS A PILLAR IN THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY.
PEOPLE LOVE HER, I LOVE HER, AND SHE'LL BE AFFECTED BY THIS.
AND THAT'S A BIG, BIG, BIG THING TO THINK ABOUT.
SO I HOPE WHEN YOU VOTE TONIGHT THAT YOU THINK OF MIRIAM, THAT YOU THINK OF HER CUTE LITTLE GOLDEN RETRIEVER, OLD MAN OF A DOG, AND THAT THIS IS REALLY DONE WITH THOUGHT AND CARE TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE AFFECTED BY THIS. IT'S HARD BECAUSE IT'S IT'S NOT SOME WAVE OF THE FINGER THERE.
THERE ARE PEOPLE LIVING IN PLACES WHO WILL BE DISPLACED.
AND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THINK THAT WE'RE NOT PRO DENSITY.
PEOPLE THINK THAT WE'RE NOT PRO TRANSIT.
IT'S NONE OF THAT. WE JUST REALLY CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN, THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE AUSTIN BETTER, THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE AUSTIN WEIRD, WHO MEMBERS LESLIE, YOU KNOW? ANYWAY.
SECOND, JUST GET MY TIMER UP HERE.
THIS IS WHAT YOU SIGNED UP FOR.
AND THIS IS CERTAINLY WHAT WE'VE ALL SIGNED UP FOR.
I AM WITH COMMUNITY POWERED ATX, PULLED IN BY THE INIMITABLE SOL PRAXIS.
AMAZING. ORGANIZER AND CONNECTOR HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF RESPECT FOR THIS YOUNG WOMAN.
I ASK YOU, PLEASE CONSIDER DELAYING.
I FEEL KEENLY THE NEED FOR EQUITY PROVISIONS.
YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT TRAFFIC.
BY THE SAME TOKEN, I LOVE CITIES.
I ALSO WEAR ANOTHER HAT AS OUTREACH DIRECTOR OF AUSTIN MUTUAL AID AND WORK DAILY, DOING THE HEARTBREAKING JOB OF NOT ONLY TAKING PEOPLE'S SURVIVAL GEAR THAT'S IMMEDIATELY TAKEN AWAY FROM THEM AND SERVICES, BUT ALSO MATCHING PEOPLE WITH ECHO HERE WITH TRYING TO FIND THEM, AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT DOESN'T EXIST, OR THEN TRYING TO GET MATCHED THEM UP FOR THEIR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING THAT HAS COME UP.
SO WE HAVE HOUSING CRISIS, AS I KNOW I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU.
AND DON'T WE AT THIS PIVOTAL TIME, DON'T WE WANT TO BE THE CITY THAT PUTS THAT AT THE CENTER, PUTS THAT RIGHT IN THE CENTER FOR RACIAL EQUITY TO FACE OFF WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON IN THE REST OF THE STATE AND THE COUNTRY.
LET'S BE THE AUSTIN THAT EVERYBODY COMES HERE BECAUSE WE'RE PROGRESSIVE, BECAUSE WE'RE OPEN MINDED, BECAUSE WE HAVE GREAT VALUES AND WE THE PLACE YOU WANT TO RAISE YOUR CHILDREN TO BE GREAT CITIZENS.
I ACTUALLY RAISED MY KIDS HERE AFTER KATRINA, AND THEY'RE GREAT PEOPLE.
THEY'VE, THEY'VE THEY'VE DONE WELL HERE, BEING AROUND SOME DIVERSITY.
NOT AS MUCH AS, AS IN NEW ORLEANS.
BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY DO THE RIGHT THING.
THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO ARE DEPENDING ON YOU.
[11:15:06]
I BELIEVE THAT NUMBER TO BE TRUE.COME NOVEMBER. WE'LL REMEMBER.
MAXWELL. PATTY SPRINKLE, MIKE GORSE, AND BETHANY CARSON.
SO ON BEHALF OF THE 230, 200,030 306 VOTERS WHO SUPPORTED PROP A IN 2020.
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING TRANSIT PROJECT CONNECT AND THIS D.B.
MY NAME IS BETHANY CARSON, A DISTRICT FOUR RESIDENT.
AND I'M THE FIRST PERSON WHO WOULD LOVE TO LIVE NEAR TRANSIT.
BUT IF THIS PASSES WITHOUT AN EQUITY OVERLAY, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT I, OR MANY CURRENT RESIDENTS, OR MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE SPOKEN TODAY COULD AFFORD TO LIVE IN THE AREA BY THE TIME THAT A LIGHT RAIL EXISTS.
THIS AREA, PARTICULARLY AROUND KOENIG NORTH LAMAR, OLTORF, INCLUDES SOME OF THE LAST HOUSING AVAILABLE IN AUSTIN AT UNDER $1,000, INCLUDING EFFICIENCIES AND SOME EVEN MORE AFFORDABLE SHARED ROOMS AND QUITE A FEW ONE BEDROOMS AROUND 12 TO 1300.
THERE ARE TWO BEDROOMS AND THREE BEDROOMS. SOME OF THE TWO BEDROOMS EVEN STARTED AT 1350 TO 1500.
THERE ARE APARTMENTS THAT TAKE SECTION EIGHT AND OTHER LOW INCOME HOUSING.
THERE'S CO-HOUSING THAT CATERS TO STUDENTS.
THERE'S A COMPLEX BY THE HOSPITAL THAT CATERS TO NURSES AND OTHER MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS.
THERE'S A RESIDENTIAL YOUTH CENTER.
FURTHERMORE, WITH FEE IN LIEU ALLOWED FOR OWNERSHIP UNITS, REASONABLY PRICED CONDO COMPLEXES LIKE WHERE I CURRENTLY LIVE IN A RENTAL UNIT THAT I CAN AFFORD, WILL BE REDEVELOPED WITHOUT HAVING TO REPLACE ANY AFFORDABILITY.
WITHOUT ADDITIONAL PROTECTIONS.
THERE'S NO REASON PRIVATE DEVELOPERS WILL BUILD FEWER MARKET RATE UNITS BECAUSE THEY ARE PROFIT DRIVEN, AND THERE ARE PEOPLE COMING FROM OUT OF TOWN OR OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS TO FILL THESE UNITS. THIS WILL DISPLACE LOW TO MID INCOME RENTERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO USE SECTION EIGHT VOUCHERS.
AND THE MFI DOUBLED OR EVEN IN SOME CASES, TRIPLED.
SO AND ANOTHER NOTE, EVEN IF RELOCATION PAYMENT WERE SUFFICIENT FOR RENTERS TO FIND ANOTHER UNIT WITHIN THAT TIME FRAME THAT THEY'LL HAVE WHEN PROPERTIES ARE REDEVELOPED, IT'S DISRUPTIVE.
WE NEED TO SEE MORE OF AN EFFORT TO NOT INCENTIVIZE SPECULATIVE REDEVELOPMENT, TO PROTECT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND TO BUILD DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT 30 TO 50 MFI SO THAT MY UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS CAN ALSO HAVE A ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD.
PLEASE PASS AN EQUITY OVERLAY TODAY SO THAT WE CAN INVITE THE WEALTH OF COMMUNITY KNOWLEDGE TO THE TABLE BEFORE WE GIVE AWAY THE LEVERAGE WE NEED AS A COMMUNITY TO CREATE MORE AFFORDABILITY.
CYNTHIA VASQUEZ, MONICA GUZMAN.
[11:20:03]
OKAY. MONICA GETS SIX MINUTES.MEMBERS. WHILE MISS GUZMAN'S COMING DOWN, IT'S 952.
THIS WOULD BE AN APPROPRIATE TIME FOR US TO PAUSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
JUST LONG ENOUGH TO TAKE A MOTION ON WHETHER OR NOT WE WANT TO EXTEND THE MEETING PAST 10:00.
WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND IS THAT WE EXTEND THE MEETING PAST 10:00 FOR PURPOSES SOLELY OF HEARING FROM THE PUBLIC AND COMPLETING OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS, AND THEN RECESSING SO THAT WE'RE NOT TAKING A VOTE ON THESE IMPORTANT ITEMS IN A LATE NIGHT VOTE OR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND THAT SORT OF THING. AND WE RECESS UNTIL 10:00 TOMORROW MORNING, AT WHICH POINT WE WOULD HAVE OUR DISCUSSION MORE, MORE REFRESHED AFTER NOT HAVING A DAY OF SITTING HERE ALL DAY LONG LISTENING TO TESTIMONY.
AND WE WOULD BE ABLE TO DISCUSS THE VARIOUS ITEMS AT THAT POINT IN TIME.
THE MOTION IS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA TO EXTEND THE MEETING AT SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.
WHAT'S. WHAT ARE WE LAUGHING AT? OH, OKAY.
I HEAR MY STAFF LAUGHING WHILE I'M TALKING.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT.
THE MOTION AND THE SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS IS TO EXTEND THE MEETING PAST 10:00 FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONTINUING AND COMPLETING THE PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON THE PUBLIC HEARINGS.
IS THERE OPPOSITION TO THAT MOTION? COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER AND COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY WILL BE SHOWN VOTING NO.
IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION? OTHER OPPOSITION? THEN WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE MOTION IS COUNCIL MEMBER.
HARPER. MADISON, ARE YOU VOTING NO? NO. MR. MAYOR, I JUST WANTED TO GET A CLEAR PICTURE OF HOW DO YOU THINK THE REST OF THE EVENING GOES? AND THEN WHEN WE RESUME IN THE MORNING, WE GET A CLEARER PICTURE OF.
FAIR ENOUGH. LET ME GET LET ME GET A VOTE, AND I'LL SO THE THE MOTION CARRIES WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER AND COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY VOTING NO.
NOW, WHAT I WOULD WHAT I WAS SAYING IS THAT WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE STILL SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON OTHER ITEMS, AND EACH PERSON IS ENTITLED TO THREE MINUTES ON EACH ITEM AS WAS POSTED.
SO WE WILL COMPLETE THE PUBLIC COMMENT ON EACH OF THOSE ITEMS. AND WE WILL THEN AT THAT POINT IN TIME, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL RECESS UNTIL 10:00 TOMORROW MORNING, AT WHICH TIME THE COUNCIL WILL COME BACK TOGETHER DISCUSS AND DEBATE AND AMEND OR DO WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO ON EACH OF THE ITEMS. OKAY. YES.
YES. THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE IT.
I WOULD PREFER THAT WE CAN CONTINUE.
I'M SUPPOSED TO BE GOING TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM.
I THOUGHT WE'D BE DONE BY TEN.
YES, THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE, WHEN SHE STARTS CALLING, ALL THE NAMES ARE STILL HERE AND WILL STILL OFFER THEIR PUBLIC COMMENT, BUT OKAY, BUT THAT THAT'S THE WHAT I THOUGHT WE WOULD DO IS THEN NOT HAVE SOMEBODY THAT THAT HAS THAT THAT IS IN YOUR, IN YOUR SITUATION NEED TO BE UP ALL NIGHT AND WE, US ALL BE VOTING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND TRYING TO CONSIDER ALL THE AMENDMENTS WE NEED TO WE NEED TO BE FRESHER ON THAT, ON SOMETHING THIS BIG AND THIS IMPORTANT COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, YOU ASK TO BE RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU. YES. I JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE MY MY THOUGHTS AND THAT I'M SUPPORTIVE OF US CONTINUING THE HEARING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HEAR FROM EVERYONE THAT IS STILL WITH US HERE IN THE CHAMBERS TODAY ON THESE IMPORTANT ITEMS, AND THEN HAVING THAT ROBUST CONVERSATION AND DISCUSSION TOMORROW ON THE AMENDMENTS.
THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DID I SEE ANOTHER HAND UP COUNCIL MEMBER COWDREY? YEAH. I DON'T KNOW IF I'LL HAVE A TIME AFTER ALL THE SPEAKERS GO.
I JUST WANTED TO WISH COUNCILOR HARPER MADISON A SPEEDY RECOVERY.
YES, I THINK WE ALL SHARE IN THAT.
ALL RIGHT, WITH THAT BEING SAID, MISS GUZMAN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
WE ARE ON THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER FIVE, AND YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR SIX MINUTES.
GOOD EVENING. I'M MONICA GUZMAN, POLICY DIRECTOR AND D4 RESIDENT.
I'M A NATIVE AUSTINITE AND I'VE LIVED IN AUSTIN FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS.
AS A YOUNG SINGLE PARENT, MAKING A GREAT MINIMUM WAGE OF 310 PER HOUR.
I KNOW I'M SHOWING MY AGE, AND THAT'S OKAY.
[11:25:07]
IT WAS AN EFFICIENCY FOR 325 A MONTH.UNFORTUNATELY, I COULDN'T AFFORD TO RENEW THE SIX MONTH LEASE, SO WE WENT BACK TO BOUNCING BETWEEN MY PARENTS HOMES FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD BEFORE I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO AFFORD APARTMENT RENT.
MAJORITY POPULATION OF BLACK, INDIGENOUS, AND PEOPLE OF COLOR.
WHERE NEW DEVELOPMENT HAS OCCURRED IN THESE TODS.
THIS DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFT INDICATES THE DISPLACEMENT OF BY.
IT'S NOT EQUITABLE, IT'S NOT AN IMPROVEMENT, AND THAT THEY CANNOT SUPPORT IT.
THE OVERLAY WILL DESTROY EXISTING AFFORDABLE APARTMENTS AT 7101 GUADALUPE STREET.
1201 HOUSTON STREET FASHION AREA AT 1406 NORTH LOOP BOULEVARD ON WEST 51ST STREET, ROOSEVELT AVENUE DAVIS SQUARE APARTMENTS AT 903 ROMERIA. DO THE RESIDENTS EVEN KNOW ABOUT THE DECISION YOU'RE ABOUT TO MAKE? PLEASE DELAY AND TAKE THE TIME TO ENGAGE THESE RESIDENTS TO FIND OUT HOW THEY WILL BE AFFECTED.
WE NEED TO PASS AN ANTI-DISPLACEMENT EQUITY EQUITY PROTECTIVE OVERLAY AND TO DEEPEN THE AFFORDABILITY LEVELS REQUIRED WHEN DEVELOPERS ARE GIVEN ENTITLEMENTS BY DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS. IF THE OVERLAY IS TRULY ABOUT ENSURING DENSITY IN AREAS THAT ARE TRANSIT ACCESSIBLE, WE NEED TO CHANGE THE MAP AREAS TO ONLY INCLUDE LOCATIONS THAT ARE WITHIN AN ACCESSIBLE HALF MILE OF THE TRUE STOPS, NOT JUST THE LINE ITSELF.
PROJECT CONNECT ANTI-DISPLACEMENT FUNDS AND OTHER FUNDING SOURCES NEED TO BE USED TO ACQUIRE AND PROTECT EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING BEFORE THE OVERLAY IS PASSED AND TRIGGERS MARKET VALUES TO INCREASE, AND PROVISIONS MUST BE ADDED TO PREVENT DEMOLITION OF EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH LOOPHOLES FOR SIMILAR PREVIOUS PROVISIONS. CLOSE COUNCIL SHOULD INCREASE FEE IN LIEU TO A MUCH HIGHER LEVEL AND EXPLORE TAX ABATEMENT STRATEGIES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES.
I GAVE YOU MY PERSONAL STORY BECAUSE I WAS FORTUNATE TO HAVE FAMILY TO HELP ME OUT.
THE SAME CANNOT BE SAID FOR THE PEOPLE WHOSE LIVES YOU'RE ABOUT TO DESTROY.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, JUST GO TO A MICROPHONE.
I'M JESUS SALCIDO, DISTRICT THREE.
I NEVER SPOKEN AT A CITY COUNCIL MEETING BEFORE, BECAUSE I ALWAYS FEEL LIKE NO MATTER HOW MUCH COMMUNITY SHOWS UP, NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES PEOPLE COME OUT TO SPEAK, OFTENTIMES WE'RE NOT REALLY LISTENED TO.
LIKE WHAT? LIKE THE GREAT PULITZER PRIZE WINNING RAPPER KENDRICK LAMAR.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE US.
AND SOME OF YOU HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHAMPION THIS EQUITY, WHETHER IT HAS A CHANCE OR NOT.
I FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO PROTECT RENTERS.
YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO TO TO PROTECT APARTMENTS FROM BEING DEMOLISHED.
BECAUSE THE THING IS, DEVELOPERS ARE OUT TO MAKE MONEY.
I'VE NEVER SEEN A CITY COUNCIL CALL THEMSELVES, YOU KNOW, OVERALL PROGRESSIVE.
YOU KNOW, LIKE WHAT? THIS DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. AND IN SO MANY POOR PEOPLE ARE GETTING FOOLED BY ALL OF THIS.
SO I YOU KNOW, I THINK WE SHOULD WE SHOULD PLEASE, PLEASE CHAMPION THIS EQUITY OVERLAY.
WHEN YOU GO TO BED TONIGHT, PLEASE THINK ABOUT THIS EQUITY OVERLAY.
[11:30:01]
WE'VE TRIED SO HARD TO REACH SOME OF THE FOLKS ON THIS COUNCIL THAT WE THINK CAN BE TRUE ALLIES TO THE COMMUNITY.WE. I IMPLORE YOU TO CHOOSE THE PEOPLE OVER THE PROFITS.
GOOD EVENING. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
NOW FOR THE SECOND TIME, I'M LUIS LUGO, DISTRICT EIGHT.
I'M SURE YOU ALL HAVE MISSED ME SINCE THE FIRST TIME YOU ALL SAW ME.
I KNOW WE'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT IT.
I HAVE TO GO HOME TO COOK DINNER AND GET SOME WORK DONE BEFORE TOMORROW.
WE'LL PACK THIS BIG DAY FOR THE FAMILY TOMORROW.
MY OLDER BROTHER IS JUST GRADUATING FROM MEDICAL SCHOOL.
THEY ARE DOING ABOUT ITEM FIVE.
ITEM FIVE. WELL, HE WAS TO GET TO THAT.
THEY'RE ACTUALLY PLANNING ON MOVING TO AUSTIN, WHICH IS PART OF THE REASON THAT I'M HERE.
I WANT THERE TO BE AFFORDABLE FOR THEM AND FOR MY LITTLE BROTHER WHO'S A MUSICIAN.
HE WANTS TO MAKE IT BIG IN AUSTIN FOR LIVE MUSIC.
I THINK MY OLDER BROTHER WILL BE FINE EVENTUALLY.
PROBABLY. MY YOUNGER BROTHER THINKS HE'S GOING TO HAVE A MUCH TOUGHER TIME.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I FULLY SUPPORT THESE POLICIES.
I KNOW YOU'VE HEARD A LOT OF THINGS, YOU KNOW HERE ABOUT HOW MINIMUM LOT SIZES ARE GENTRIFYING.
BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO MOVE ANYONE AT THIS POINT.
I THINK IF YOU GET TO THE POINT WHERE YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, CALLING OUT HARASSING SICK COUNCIL MEMBERS, I THINK THAT'S SHOWING A LITTLE BIT OF A DEGRADATION IN POLICY. I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL FOR TRYING TO TAKE THIS IN THE RIGHT SPIRIT.
AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T AGREE WITH EVERYTHING, EVERY DETAIL OF THIS POLICY.
I DON'T AGREE WITH, YOU KNOW, TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS SITTING ON THE DAIS.
AND I APPRECIATE SPECIFICALLY COUNCILMEMBER FUENTES, COUNCILMEMBER VELASQUEZ, AND THE OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS WHO'VE BEEN WORKING ON TRYING TO MAKE THE STUFF THAT WE'RE DOING MORE ACCESSIBLE TO FOLKS.
BUT YEAH. HAVE A WONDERFUL EVENING.
THANK YOU. TRAVEL SAFELY, JANICE.
AND I HAVE DONATED TIME FROM NADIA.
WHAT? IS OKAY? IS NADIA HERE? SHE IS OKAY.
THANK YOU. JANICE BOOKOUT D4 ON A POSITIVE NOTE, BEFORE I GET INTO IT, I'M GENERALLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE EV CHARGING ORDINANCE, BUT PLEASE WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY BASED WORKING GROUP. SO LET'S TALK DENSITY.
NOT ALL DENSITY IS GOOD DENSITY.
AS WELL AS INCREASE, NOT DECREASE CARBON EMISSIONS.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO THINK NOT JUST ABOUT DENSITY, BUT ALSO HOW THESE BUILDINGS ARE BEING DESIGNED AND BUILT TO PREPARE FOR FUTURE IMPACTS AND IMPROVE HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR AUSTINITES. A HEAT MAP OF AUSTIN SHOWS LARGE VARIATIONS IN TEMPERATURE DURING THE SUMMER, WITH EASTERN CRESCENT AND DOWNTOWN MUCH HARDER THAN GREEN OR HOTTER THAN GREENER SPACES MORE PREVALENT IN WEST AUSTIN.
DENSITY IS LESS WALKABLE WHEN A CONCRETE CONCRETE BRINGS THE TEMPERATURE TO 110 DEGREES IN YOUR PART OF THE TOWN, DENSITY DOES NOT EQUAL AUTOMATICALLY EQUAL EFFICIENCY OR CARBON SAVINGS.
THE CARBON LIFE CYCLE AND CARBON PRODUCTION OF TALLER BUILDINGS MAY NEGATE THE POSITIVE, CARBON SAVING IMPACT OF TRANSIT ORIENTED DENSITY, BUT THAT'S BECAUSE THINGS LIKE STEEL AND CONCRETE ARE CARBON EMITTERS, NOT TO MENTION THE LIFE CYCLE OF SUPPLIES.
THAT BUILDING JUST CHANGED OUR FLOOD ZONES IN THE AT THE HYPERLOCAL LOCAL LEVEL.
WOULDN'T THAT BE SOMETHING? I HAVE HEARD SOME ARGUMENTS THAT GENTRIFICATION IS ALREADY HAPPENED.
TELL THAT TO PEOPLE LIVING IN THE SEVEN ZIP CODES FOR WHOM THE MEDIAN INCOME IS UNDER 50.
MFI DENSITY SUPPORTS ESSENTIAL WORKERS.
NOT REALLY. IF THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE THERE, MAYBE IT'S NOT AFFORDABLE, BUT IT'S ATTAINABLE.
NOT WHEN YOUR INCOME IS SLIPPING FARTHER AND FARTHER AWAY FROM THE MEDIAN.
WE'RE NOT GETTING MORE LAND, SO WE HAVE TO BUILD HIGHER.
NO WE DON'T. WE ACTUALLY DON'T.
I'M GENERALLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE EV ORDINANCE.
THERE IS A PLACE FOR WALKABLE DENSITY, BUT WITHOUT ANTI-DISPLACEMENT PROTECTIONS, HOW CAN WE?
[11:35:01]
WE CAN SEE THAT OUR MARKET BASED SOLUTIONS AREN'T WORKING.MY DATA AND THE HOUSING SCORECARD SHOW A NET LOSS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
BUT WHY? WITH THE INFLUX OF HIGH EARNERS, MEDIAN FAMILY INCOMES AND THE INCOME RESTRICTED RENTS ATTACHED TO THEM ARE GOING UP WAY FASTER THAN ANY INCREASE IN INCOME FOR THE WORKING POOR. FOR A FAMILY OF THREE WHERE 65 WAS 4000 $104,100 A MONTH IN 2019, NOW IT'S 5500.
IT'S A FAILED EXPERIENCE EXPERIMENT.
WE KEEP TESTING WITHOUT AN EQUITY OVERLAY, DENSITY IS NOT WORKING.
NOT EVERYBODY MOVED TO ROUND ROCK, PFLUGERVILLE OR MAYNARD.
SOME OF THEM ARE STILL HERE, JUST NOT AT HOMES.
YOU YOU MIGHT THINK THAT THAT MEANS WE'RE NOT MOVING FAST ENOUGH TO ADD SUPPLY, BUT THE VAST MAJORITY OF THEORETICALLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS WAY OVER THE PRICE RANGE OF THE WORKING POOR AND WORSE, ESSENTIALLY A POLICY JUSTIFICATION TO PLACE WAY MORE OVERPRICED UNITS WITHOUT EQUITY OVERLAY.
OUR SUPPLY SIDE EXPERIMENTS ARE HARMFUL IN 14 ZIP CODES IN THE EASTERN CRESCENT.
EVERY TIME YOU INCENTIVIZE DENSITY WITH AN INCOME RESTRICTION OVER 50 MFI, YOU'RE PLACING HUNDREDS OF HOMES AT HIGHER PRICES THAN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AROUND THEM, INCREASING HYPERLOCAL RENTS AND CHANGING THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
MY YEAR OVER YEAR ANALYSIS, NOT DISSIMILAR TO YOUR OWN SCORECARD, SHOWS A NET LOSS IN AFFORDABILITY.
WITHOUT AN EQUITY OVERLAY, DENSITY IS NOT WORKING.
ANALYSIS OF THE HOUSING INCENTIVE THROUGH INCOME RESTRICTED UNITS SHOWS THAT OUR INCENTIVES HAVE PRODUCED 58,182, UNAFFORDABLE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD DISPLACEMENT DRIVING UNITS AND ONLY 5568 AFFORDABLE ONES, HALF OF WHICH AFFORDABILITY IS NOW EXPIRED.
MFI HAS GONE UP 26,000 IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS AS MFI GOES UP 26.
PEOPLE HAVE PEOPLE ARE ASKED TO LEAVE.
AS I'VE SAID IT BEFORE, PEOPLE ARE BEING EVICTED FROM AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THE HEDGE APARTMENTS IN SEVEN, EIGHT, SEVEN, TWO, THREE, 50%.
AND SORRY, THIS IS FROM BOSTON'S DATA OF TOP EVICTORS.
THREE OF THE APARTMENTS OF BOSTON'S TOP EVICTORS ARE AFFORDABLE DEVELOPMENTS.
THE HEDGE APARTMENTS AND 78723 50% RESTRICTED TO 65 EVICTED 80 PEOPLE IN 2023.
THE CHEAPEST TWO BEDROOM IS A 550 SQUARE FOOT AFFORDABLE TO SOMEONE MAKING $55,000 A YEAR.
THE CREEKVIEW APARTMENTS IN 78724 100% RESTRICTED WITH 92% AT 60.
MFI EVICTED 53 PEOPLE FROM AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN 2022.
BRIDGET HARRIS CREEK AND 78753 EVICTED 103 PEOPLE BETWEEN 2022 AND 2023 FROM THEIR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT 60 MFI, AND ALSO THEIR LOWEST COST HOME IS 66 662 SQUARE FOOT ONE BEDROOM.
SOMEONE SHOULD CHECK THAT OUT BECAUSE THAT'S NOT RIGHT IF AFFORDABLE APARTMENTS WILL.
JUST BECAUSE YOU DON'T BELIEVE THIS DOESN'T MEAN IT'S NOT HAPPENING.
FINALLY, THREE MINUTES PER ITEM IS AWESOME.
AWESOME BECAUSE WE HAVE FEWER ITEMS, MORE TIME TO PREPARE, MORE TIME FOR MEETINGS WITH US.
MAYBE DURING THE WEEK. MORE TIME FOR YOU TO PREPARE.
THANK YOU. FOR THOSE WHO MADE THREE MINUTES PER ITEM POSSIBLE.
ADAMS. IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME.
I'M THE HOUSING ADVOCACY CO-CHAIR FOR AUSTIN'S AIA.
IT'S GOOD TO BE WITH YOU GUYS. IT'S BEEN A LONG NIGHT, SO I'LL TRY TO MAKE THIS QUICK.
I'M GONNA BE HONEST, I WAS WARY OF ITOD WHEN IT BEGAN.
I'M A HUGE FAN OF THE PROJECT CONNECT.
REPORT THAT THEY DID, AND IT SEEMED LIKE THERE WAS A REALLY GREAT OUTLINE FOR NEIGHBORHOOD RESPONSIVE ZONING THAT SUPPORTED YOU KNOW, AFFORDABLE HOUSING CREATION IN THE MORE AFFLUENT NEIGHBORHOODS AND THEN PROTECTED THE THE EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE MORE VULNERABLE NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND IT SEEMED IT SEEMED LIKE A REALLY GREAT REPORT.
[11:40:06]
I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO WEAVE THE EA IN.SO I SPENT A LOT OF TIME AND I CALLED A LOT OF PEOPLE, AND I WROTE A LOT OF EMAILS, AND I'M A TRAINED PROFESSIONAL, AND I WAS READING IT AND I IT WAS VERY CONFUSING FOR ME, AND I MISSED A LOT OF IT.
I HAD A LOT OF STUFF EXPLAINED TO ME, AND I'VE COME AROUND, I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF TODD.
I WAS SHOWN CHAPTER FOUR, DASH 18 THAT PROTECTS OLDER APARTMENT BUILDINGS FROM REDEVELOPMENT.
I SAW PROVISIONS THAT SUPPORT EXISTING RENTERS.
I HAD THE FEE IN LIEU REVISIONS EXPLAINED TO ME, AND I, I, I AM NOW IN SUPPORT, ALTHOUGH I'M STILL I THINK THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT BETTER, BUT I AM IN SUPPORT. THE THING THAT FINALLY TIPPED ME WAS THE HISTORY OF RAIL IN AUSTIN.
AND MAYOR WATSON, THIS IS SPECIFICALLY FOR YOU BECAUSE I MOVED HERE IN 2001 FROM EAST TEXAS.
THAT WAS YOUR LAST. YOU WERE AN OUTGOING MAYOR.
IT WAS A YEAR AFTER WE HAD FIRST LOST THE VOTE FOR RAIL.
WHAT A COOL YEAR THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN IF WE HAD GOTTEN RAIL.
IT WAS MOSTLY THE SUBURBAN SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS THAT VOTED RAIL DOWN.
WE JUST GOT THOSE SAME NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGH CAMPEAU, PUSHING A HIGHWAY EXPANSION THAT CENTRAL AUSTIN DOES NOT SUPPORT.
I THANK EVERYONE WHO VOTED AGAINST THAT.
YES. IN 2014, AGAIN, LIGHT RAIL WAS VOTED DOWN.
I THINK THAT THE LESSON LEARNED THERE WAS SWING BIG.
WHEN THAT PASSED, IT WAS NOT A GOOD DAY WHEN WE FOUND OUT HOW MUCH WE COULD AFFORD.
FOR ME, THE MAJOR TIPPING POINT IS IF IT HELPS US GET THAT RAIL, THEN LET'S DO IT.
LET'S BUILD MORE PROTECTIONS IN FOR RENTERS.
KENDRA CERVERA, AMANDA CARRILLO, SARAH RODRIGUEZ, MIA LYNN, MA GONZALEZ IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM AND DINKLER ALVIN SANDERSON. ALFREDO.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME.
I'M WITH THE SONAR AND ALSO WITH COMMUNITY POWER ATX.
TONIGHT, I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY CONCERN ABOUT THE RECENT DECISIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE ON IN.
EXCUSE ME. I'M KIND OF NERVOUS.
THE ACTIONS THAT HAVE CAUSED SIGNIFICANT HARM TO OUR COMMUNITY.
HOWEVER, IT SEEMS THAT OUR VOICES HAVE BEEN DISREGARDED AND MAYOR AND COUNCIL HAVE CHOSEN TO SACRIFICE THE WELL-BEING OF OUR COMMUNITIES FOR THE SAKE OF DEVELOPING DEVELOPER PROFITS.
FURTHERMORE, THE COUNCIL'S ACTIONS HAVE SHOWN A LACK OF CARE FOR CRUEL ISSUES SUCH AS EQUITY, DISPLACEMENT, AFFORDABILITY AND WELLBEING OF THE VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, INCLUDING HOMELESS FAMILIES AND ELDER INDIVIDUALS.
I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS RESILIENT AND WE WILL NOT GIVE UP.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR COMMUNITY DRIVEN RESOLUTIONS TO PRESS HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS.
EXCUSE ME. OUR VOICES WILL BE HEARD AND OUR CONCERNS WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN.
[11:45:03]
PLEASE BE AWARE THAT WE AS A COMMUNITY, WILL REMEMBER THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL'S ACTIONS WHEN IT COMES TIME TO VOTE IN NOVEMBER. WE HOPE THAT THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL TAKE OUR CONCERNS SERIOUSLY, POSTPONE THE VOTE AND SUPPORT EQUITY AND DISPLACEMENT OVERLAY PROPOSED BY COMMUNITY POWER ATX.THANK YOU. IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME.
IF YOUR NAME IS NICOLE, PLEASE COME GIVE YOUR COMMENTS.
HI, MY NAME IS ALEXIA LECLERC AGAIN.
AND EXCUSE ME, I'M A LITTLE BIT TIRED.
I KNOW WE ALL ARE, SO THINGS MIGHT NOT MAKE A LOT OF SENSE, BUT I THINK ALSO STILL MAKE MORE SENSE THAN SOME OF THE ARGUMENTS I'VE HEARD ABOUT WHY THESE PROPOSALS ARE GOOD.
I GREW UP IN AUSTIN AND LIKE MANY, NEVER REALLY USED PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
MY PARENTS HOME IS AT LEAST AN HOUR AWAY FROM THE CLOSEST BUS STOP, AND SO WE USED CARS.
I LATER ENDED UP MOVING TO NEW YORK CITY TO DO MY UNDERGRAD AT NYU, AND THEN MOVED TO BOSTON TO DO MY MASTER'S AT HARVARD AND BOTH THOSE CITIES I USED PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO GET AROUND.
THE PERPETUATION OF RACISM AND THAT IS NOT OKAY.
AND SO I'M HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST THIS ITEM.
YOU KNOW, PLENTY OF RESEARCH AS MY COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE STATED BEFORE ME SHOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THE TIDE WILL INCREASE DISPLACEMENT. WE KNOW THAT BY UP ZONING AND BUILDING LUXURY APARTMENTS, THAT LEADS TO DISPLACEMENT OF BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.
THAT ACTUALLY LEADS TO A DECREASE IN RIDERSHIP OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE WHO RIDE OR USE PUBLIC ACCESS ARE WORKING CLASS COMMUNITIES.
AND SO MY QUESTION REALLY FOR Y'ALL IS LIKE, WHAT ARE WE BASING THIS OFF OF? BECAUSE, I MEAN, WE'VE PULLED UP WITH, YOU KNOW, OVER 40 PAGES OF RESEARCH.
WE'VE SHOWN HOW PAST TODS HAVE LED TO FURTHER DISPLACEMENT AND DECREASED RIDERSHIP, LIKE THE PROOF.
AND THE FACTS ARE THERE THAT THIS WILL WILL CAUSE DISPLACEMENT.
SO THE QUESTION IS WHOSE INTERESTS YOU HAVE IN MIND? WE'VE ALSO SEEN A VERY CLEAR DIVIDE BETWEEN WHO'S SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF THIS VERSUS AGAINST, WITH PREDOMINANTLY BLACK AND BROWN WORKING CLASS COMMUNITIES FROM EAST AUSTIN SPEAKING AGAINST THIS, URGING Y'ALL TO LISTEN BECAUSE THEY KNOW AND LIVE THROUGH THE IMPACTS OF DISPLACEMENT.
AND AGAIN, THE RESEARCH IS ON THEIR SIDE.
I MEAN, EVEN IF I WAS JUST SOMEONE WALKING IN AND LIKE, KNEW NOTHING ABOUT ETHOS OR LAND USE, I WOULD LOOK AT WHO'S ON THE SIDE AND MAYBE LISTEN TO THE DIRECTLY IMPACTED COMMUNITIES, TO THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE AND THE LIVED EXPERIENCE.
BECAUSE IF WE'RE CALLING THIS EQUITABLE, SHOULDN'T WE BE LISTENING TO THOSE PEOPLE, RIGHT, INSTEAD OF JUST MAKING FALSE CLAIMS? AND SO I REALLY HOPE YOU ALL TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO, BECAUSE I REALLY DO BELIEVE, YOU KNOW, Y'ALL CAN MAKE HISTORY BY PASSING THIS EQUITY OVERLAY, BY SHOWING THAT YOU ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT THESE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY AREN'T DISPLACED.
STEPHEN BROWN, FRANCIS ACUNA, ABEL CURRY, SEAN.
OCHOA. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME.
AND I DON'T HAVE TALKING POINTS RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE HEARD EVERYTHING ALREADY.
FIVE AND AND BECAUSE OF, YOU KNOW, IT IS SUCH A HUGE THING IN OUR, IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. YOU'RE GOING TO DISPLACE SO MANY PEOPLE.
SO, YOU KNOW, WHAT ELSE DO I HAVE? RIGHT? BUT ADVOCATE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE STILL IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE STILL FIGHTING TO STAY HERE, AND THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO BE HERE BECAUSE THEY HAVE THEIR KIDS AT HOME, THEY HAVE THEIR HUSBANDS.
[11:50:03]
I'M LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE SINGLE, SO I DON'T HAVE ANYBODY TO TELL ME.DON'T BE AT CITY HALL, RIGHT? AND YES, I DROVE AN HOUR TO GET HERE FROM WHERE I MOVED.
BUT I'M PROUD TO BE HERE ADVOCATING FOR THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE STILL IN DISTRICT TWO, THREE AND FOUR, BECAUSE I HAVE TALKED TO THEM AND I HAVE HEARD THEIR STORIES.
AND AND I KNOW MANY OF YOU HAVE LISTENED TO THEIR STORIES AND I JUST DON'T BELIEVE THIS ITEM OR ANY OF THE ITEMS THAT ARE FACED IN FRONT OF US CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN AFFORDABILITY AND IN DISPLACEMENT.
IT WAS VERY SAD WHEN I HAD TO MAKE THE DECISION OF MOVING BECAUSE RIGHT AFTER THE HOME, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS, BUT I CAME INTO THIS DEEP DEPRESSION WHEN EVERYBODY WAS CLAPPING AND RAISING THEIR HANDS.
CITY COUNCIL RAISED THEIR HAND AND THEY VOTED AGAINST AGAINST ME BECAUSE I WAS IN MY HOME AT 11:00.
AND THAT WAS THE SADDEST THING, THAT I FELT THE DISAPPOINTMENT SO DEEP BECAUSE AFTER BEING HERE AND I LEFT HOME BECAUSE I HAD TO I HAVE A CHILD.
I HAVE ACTUALLY I HAVE THREE, BUT ONE STILL NEEDS ME.
YOU KNOW, THEY ARE GOING TO VOTE IN OUR FAVOR.
AND WHEN I SAW EVERYBODY VOTE AGAINST, EVERYBODY RAISED THEIR HANDS, I WAS AT HOME ALONE.
AND I WAS ACTUALLY CRYING BECAUSE MY HOPE WAS THAT MY COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE ON OUR SIDE. AND YOU KNOW THAT DEEP FEELING IN YOUR HEART AND IN YOUR SOUL THAT YOU ARE LIKE, PEOPLE DON'T CARE ABOUT YOU.
THANK YOU. NIKA ARNOLD, CYRUS TEHRANI, ISAAC COHEN, DAVID JOHNSON, AND JULIE OLIVER.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME.
HELLO, MY NAME IS CYRUS TEHRANI.
I'M A MEMBER OF ORA AND ON THE BOARD OF THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
WE WHETHER THAT'S ESTHETICS, 60, 90FT, I FRANKLY DON'T CARE.
I DON'T THINK THERE SHOULD BE A HEIGHT LIMIT.
SO WHEN IT COMES TO HEIGHT LIMITS, WHEN IT COMES TO ADJUSTING AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS, I'VE SEEN STAFF ASKED SOME IMPOSSIBLE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE RESULTS OF THESE ON GENTRIFICATION, THESE THESE MOVES TODAY.
AND I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE IS THE STATUS QUO.
WE'VE HEARD STORIES ABOUT GENTRIFICATION AND DISPLACEMENT WITH THE STATUS QUO.
WE CAN LOOK AT OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT HAVE HIGH AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS.
INCLUSIONARY ZONING AND HIGH AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS HAVE MADE ZERO CITIES AFFORDABLE.
THEY RELY ON HOUSING BEING REALLY EXPENSIVE.
THAT IS MARKET RATE TO SUBSIDIZE THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
A MOST RECENT UCLA STUDY CAME OUT WHERE, AT A CERTAIN LEVEL, WE ABSOLUTELY CRUSH THE AMOUNT OF MARKET RATE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING BEING PRODUCED BECAUSE NOTHING PENCILS. SO PLEASE, WHEN WHEN ADJUSTING THESE REQUIREMENTS, WHEN LOOKING AT HEIGHT LIMITS, INCLUDING MINIMUM LOT SIZES AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WAS DISCUSSED TODAY, TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHAT'S WHAT WE KNOW IS WORKING.
AND THAT'S ADDING A TON OF HOUSING.
WE'VE SEEN RENTS GO DOWN OVER THE PAST YEAR.
MEANWHILE WE'RE GROWING, ADDING SUPPLY WORKS.
SO PLEASE SUPPORT THESE MEASURES.
PLEASE LISTEN TO THEM AND PASS ITOD AND HOME TO AND COMPATIBILITY REFORM.
THANK YOU. MARION SANCHEZ, ADRIAN MACIAS.
[11:55:02]
ISAAC. CABALLERO.CAROL GOODWIN, IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME TO GIVE YOUR COMMENTS.
MR. BUNCH, ARE YOU GOING TO COMMENT? THANK YOU. MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS BILL BONDS TO SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE.
JUST TO TO ADDRESS A LITTLE BIT MORE THE IMPERVIOUS COVER ISSUE THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER WITH THREE AND OBVIOUSLY FIVE AND THREE ARE TIED TOGETHER CLOSELY AND RATHER ESSENTIAL TO EACH OTHER.
WE NEED WE NEED GREEN SPACE IN THE CENTRAL CITY.
AND JUST AS WE HAVE WITH OUR REDEVELOPMENT WITH BRODY OAKS, FOR EXAMPLE.
AS WE LET THESE FOLKS GO VERTICAL ON TOP OF COMMERCIAL SERVICE AREAS, IT'S JUST A SEA OF PARKING LOTS OR STRIP CENTER THAT HAS, LIKE, 95 TO 100% IMPERVIOUS COVER.
WE NEED TO RECLAIM SOME OF THAT FOR GREEN SPACE, FOR REDUCING FLOODING, FOR REDUCING POLLUTION, FOR INFILTRATING THE RAINFALL THAT DOES FALL ON THE IMPERVIOUS COVER FOR GROWING TREES AND MITIGATING URBAN HEAT ISLAND.
THERE'S NOTHING HERE IN YOUR BACKGROUND AGAIN, THAT ADDRESSES WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR OUR URBAN HEAT ISLAND? WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR FLOODING? WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR WATER POLLUTION? AND THE WAY YOU ADDRESS ALL OF THOSE IS BY SAYING, OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO LET YOU GO UP 120FT, BUT INSTEAD OF 95% IMPERVIOUS COVER, YOU'RE GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, AT SOMETHING LIKE SOME OF THE OTHER ZONING CATEGORIES OF, YOU KNOW, 70% OR 75, SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE HERE, LIVING THERE, HOUSING.
SO LET'S IF THIS IS DELAYED TO JULY 16TH LET'S LET'S DO SOME OF THOSE THINGS, PLEASE.
THANK YOU. MAYOR, ALL SPEAKERS FOR ITEM FIVE HAVE BEEN CALLED.
MEMBERS, THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
[4. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance amending City Code Title 25 (Land Development) to revise height, building placement, and other related regulations that apply to property and are in addition to the base zoning regulations (also known as Compatibility Standards). (Part 1 of 2)]
WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER FOUR.MADAM CLERK. BETSY GREENBURG SPEAKING ON ITEM FOUR.
MY NAME IS BETSY GREENBERG AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE.
ALTHOUGH I SERVE ON THE ZONING AND PLANNING COMMISSION, I'M GIVING MY OWN OPINION.
HOWEVER, I DID NOT SUPPORT THE COMPATIBILITY ON CORRIDORS ORDINANCE THAT PASSED IN 2022.
DECIDE HOW CLOSE YOU WOULD LIKE A TALL BUILDING TO BE TO YOUR OWN HOME, AND USE THAT STANDARD EVERYWHERE, EVEN WITHIN THE ITOD WHERE I LIVE, DIRECTLY BEHIND MY HOUSE IS A MULTIFAMILY PROPERTY.
IN FACT, MULTIFAMILY, OFFICE AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES ARE MIXED THROUGHOUT MY OLDER NEIGHBORHOOD.
ABOUT A YEAR AGO, I INVESTED IN SOLAR PANELS FOR MY HOME.
SO AT THE FIRST OPEN HOUSE ON THESE ZONING CHANGES, I ASKED STAFF WHETHER THERE WAS ANY CONCERN ABOUT TALL BUILDINGS LIMITING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SOLAR PANELS ON NEIGHBORING PROPERTIES, THE STAFF MEMBER WAS UNCONCERNED AND RESPONDED BY ASKING ME, HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE SOLAR PANELS? RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE THREE HOMES ON MY BLOCK WITH SOLAR PANELS, AND I HOPE THE USE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY WILL BECOME MORE PREVALENT.
[12:00:09]
RESIDENCES. THE INFORMATION ON THE CHART IS FOR MULTIFAMILY, WHICH REQUIRES A 50 FOOT DISTANCE FROM A 50 FOOT TALL BUILDING.THE DISTANCE FROM SINGLE FAMILY NEEDS TO BE 150FT FOR A 50 FOOT TALL BUILDING AND 270FT FOR A 90 FOOT TALL BUILDING.
ONE ESTIMATE I'VE SEEN IS THAT THERE'S CURRENT CAPACITY CAPACITY FOR NEARLY 1.4 BILLION UNITS, SO CHANGING COMPATIBILITY WILL BARELY PROVIDE 2% ADDITIONAL HOUSING CAPACITY, AND THAT EXTRA CAPACITY DOES NOT COME WITHOUT CONSEQUENCES.
ANGELA. ANGELA GARZA SPEAKING ON ITEM FOUR.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, THIS IS VALERIE MAYNARD.
THIS IS VALERIE MAYNARD FROM DISTRICT ONE AND BOULDER.
ONCE AGAIN, I'M HERE TO VOICE MY OPPOSITION TO HOME TWO, INCLUDING ITEM FOUR.
HOW IS IT THAT YOU WOULD PLACE A HIGHER VALUE TO THE NEEDS OF DEVELOPERS, OR PEOPLE WHO HAVE YET TO MOVE HERE OVER YOUR OWN CONSTITUENTS? AND I DIRECT THIS SPECIFICALLY TO COUNCIL MEMBERS REPRESENTING AT RISK NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS ONE, TWO, THREE, AND FOUR.
I ASK THAT YOU POSTPONE ITEM FOR TODAY, AND IF YOU CAN FIND THE COURAGE TO DO SO, I INVITE THE REST OF COUNCIL TO VENTURE INTO EAST AUSTIN AND TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED, WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT THEY REPRESENT ONCE COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS ARE GONE.
NOTICE THE INCOMPATIBILITY OF THESE MASSIVE STRUCTURES LOOMING OVER HUMBLE CASITAS THAT HAVE MANAGED TO HOLD ON, BUT IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THEY SUCCUMB TO THE PRESSURE OF INCREASING PROPERTY TAXES.
IT HAPPENED TO CLARKSVILLE, A NEIGHBORHOOD FOUNDED BY FREED PEOPLE AFTER THE CIVIL WAR, BUT WAS BOUGHT OUT AFTER THE 1928 PLAN THAT PRESSURED AND COMPRESSED BLACK PEOPLE INTO EAST AUSTIN.
NOW IT'S HAPPENING IN MONTOPOLIS AND GO VALLEY, BUT BE ASSURED THAT WHEN IT HAPPENS TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS, THEY WILL RESPOND LOUDLY AND STRONGLY IN YOUR HUBRIS MOVING FORWARD WITH AN ORDINANCE THAT IS CLEARLY DIVISIVE.
YOU WILL CAUSE A MASS DISPLACEMENT AND EVEN WORSE, LIVING CONDITIONS FOR THE CITY'S WORKING CLASS.
AND IN THE SAME SPIRIT OF CONDESCENSION WE'VE HEARD FROM THEM.
MAY I JUST SAY, WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT AUSTIN IS A LOT NOW THAT NEIGHBORHOODS ALL ACROSS TOWN, AND NOT JUST IN EAST AUSTIN, WILL SEE THESE AWFUL VERTICAL STRUCTURES THAT ARE INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE HOMES BUILT NEXT TO THEM.
WE WILL NOT BE SILENCED AND WE WON'T FORGET.
I LIVED BEFORE RETURNING TO AUSTIN WITH MY GIRLFRIEND, WHO WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE IN BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, AND WE LIVED IN A SUBSIDIZED OR A RENT CONTROLLED HOUSING AREA, AND THERE WERE PUBLIC PROJECTS AT THE END OF OUR BLOCK THAT WERE 15 STORIES TALL.
[12:05:03]
AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW PEOPLE CAN FEEL SO ENTITLED TO TAKE THEIR PREFERENCES ABOUT ESTHETICS AND PUT THAT IN FRONT OF THEIR COMMUNITY AND PEOPLE AROUND THEM WHO NEED HOMES THAT THEY CAN AFFORD AND NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET AROUND WITHOUT AUTOMOTIVE VIOLENCE THAT KILLS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ACROSS OUR STATE EVERY YEAR. THANKS.I AM RAISING A FIVE YEAR OLD SON IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD IN AUSTIN.
I HAVE I MOVED AWAY FROM AUSTIN AND I LIVED IN NEW YORK AND BOSTON IN DC, AND I WAS IN CALIFORNIA.
I AM PRO DENSITY AND I AM PRO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, BUT I AM VERY MUCH AGAINST THE PROCESS BY WHICH WE ARE ARRIVING AT THOSE THINGS.
I HAVE TO URGE EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER TO POSTPONE THIS AT A MINIMUM TO JULY AND THEN CONSIDER AND URGE YOU TO ADD CONDUCT A PROCESS FOR ANTI-DISPLACEMENT AND FOR EQUITY THAT IS TRULY REFLECTIVE OF THE COMMUNITY AND RECEIVE COMMUNITY INPUT AND MEET THE COMMUNITY, THE LONG TERM RESIDENTS THAT HAVE BEEN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD I LIVE IN.
I WOULD HATE TO HAVE THE SYSTEMIC RACIST APPROACH THAT HAS BEEN PLAGUING THIS CITY WHILE EXTRACTING FROM BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES OF WHO HAVE SEWN THE FABRIC OF THE CULTURAL IDENTITY OF THE CITY THAT PEOPLE COME HERE FOR AND LOVE FOR.
AND SO FOR MY SON TO GROW UP IN A VIBRANT CITY THAT IS TRULY EQUITABLE TO STAY IN DISTRICT THREE, PLEASE, I URGE YOU TO SLOW THIS DOWN.
IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO PAUSE AND REASSESS IS NOT TO DISMISS THE HARD WORK OF EVERYBODY WHO HAS PUT IN SO FAR ON THIS.
I THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS, FOR LISTENING AND CONSIDERING ALL THE HOURS AND HOURS OF TESTIMONY WE HAVE PROVIDED TODAY AS A TESTAMENT TO THERE'S THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS APPROACH.
THERE'S SOMETHING FLAWED, AND IT NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED AND RECONCILED.
AND THEN WE'LL MOVE FORWARD IN A MUCH STRONGER PLACE AS A CITY THAT REFLECTS ITS VALUES OF DIVERSITY INCLUSION.
YOU KNOW, I, I WENT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AND I GRADUATED IN 2003.
BENEFITED FROM ANGELA ANGELA GARZA SPEAKING ON ITEM FOUR.
AND DO YOU WANT TO SEND A LETTER OUT TO HOSEA VELASQUEZ FOR CONDOLENCES FOR WHAT HE'S GOING THROUGH OVER THERE? I'M IN HIS DISTRICT. DISTRICT THREE.
AGAIN, WE'VE HAD TO LEARN IN OUR CONTACT TEAM HOW TO NEGOTIATE AND WORK IN PARTNERSHIPS.
AND THIS, THIS HEIGHT AGREEMENT TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE COULD PULL OUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING OUT OF THE HEIGHT AGREEMENT AND COMPATIBILITY AS WELL. THERE IS A REALISTIC REALITY OF COST TO HAVE INCREASED FOR SOME OF THESE DEVELOPERS.
WE FOUND OUT ON OUR END AS WELL.
IT HAD TO BE A PARTNERSHIP OF UNDERSTANDING ON BOTH SIDES OF THE COIN TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE COULD COME UP WITH THE BEST SOLUTION FOR THE FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE WERE NEGOTIATING COMMUNITY BENEFITS AS WELL.
BUT I THINK THE BIG ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM IS A LOT OF PEOPLE FORGET THAT.
WE ALSO HAVE A STATE IN A ROOM THAT HAS A LOT OF RULES AND LAWS WITH THIS AS WELL.
[12:10:03]
ON THIS DAIS THAT WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING FOR THE PEOPLE AS WELL.AND ALSO, I WANT TO SAY THAT WE LOVE TO WORK WITH CARMEN BECAUSE CARMEN AND HER GROUP HAVE DONE SO MUCH WORK ON THE GROUND TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THAT OVERLAY EQUITY OVERLAY IS, WHERE THAT MIDDLE GROUND IS AS WELL, FOR THE FAMILIES OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, TO STILL BE ABLE TO BE HERE AS THIS COMPATIBILITY ISSUES ARE BEING SEEN.
THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE THERE.
I KNOW THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET THAT MONEY FOR THE TRANSPORTATION.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT WINDOW LOOKS LIKE.
SO I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT ALL THAT IS.
AND I DON'T HAVE ALL THAT IN FRONT OF ME.
DON'T PRETEND TO KNOW WHAT ALL OF THAT IS.
I JUST KNOW THAT EVERYBODY SEEMS TO HAVE WONDERFUL ANSWERS, THAT IF WE COULD COME TOGETHER AT A LOCAL LEVEL AND NOT LET THE STATE WIN HERE AND LET US COME TOGETHER AS A LOCAL LEVEL, THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT, THEN I BELIEVE THAT WE'RE GOING TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING TOGETHER THAT'S MUCH BETTER FOR THE COMMUNITY, SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE SO MANY FOR SALE SIGNS GOING UP IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
THANK YOU. NOW WE WILL MOVE INTO IN PERSON SPEAKERS. SORRY A WISE ESSER GREG ANDERSON, PAUL ROBBINS, TAI HAVANK, CHRIS GANNON, KIMBERLY LEVINSON, RILEY PATTERSON, AND VIVIAN PATTERSON.
HI, I'M TIA BANKE, DISTRICT FIVE, SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF COMPATIBILITY REFORM.
THIS WILL ADD MUCH NEEDED HOUSING SUPPLY TO OUR CITY.
BUT ACCORDING TO REALPAGE ANALYTICS, CLASS C APARTMENTS SAW RENTS DROPPED BY 6.5% IN 2023.
IT ALSO MAKES INTUITIVE SENSE IF TODAY THE MEDIAN MARKET RENT WERE TO JUMP UP TO 3000 PER MONTH, DOES ANYONE SERIOUSLY THINK THAT THE APARTMENTS AT THE BOTTOM END OF THE SPECTRUM WOULD ALSO BE UNAFFECTED COMPLETELY? UNFORTUNATELY, A RISING TIDE HERE WOULD LIFT ALL RENTS.
HOWEVER, IN A STUDY BY EVAN MAST IN 2023, HE DID.
HE LOOKED AT ADDRESS HISTORIES OF OVER 50,000 RESIDENTS IN 12 LARGE CITIES AND FOUND THAT, YEAH, AT FIRST, OVER THE FIRST COUPLE ROUNDS OF MOVES, PEOPLE OF SIMILAR INCOMES ARE REPLACING THE PREVIOUS TENANT, RIGHT.
BUT AFTER ABOUT 5 OR 6 ROUNDS, THEN YOU START SEEING A LOT MORE LOWER INCOME TENANTS MOVING INTO THOSE SPOTS THAT WERE NOW MADE AVAILABLE BY NEW MARKET RATE HOUSING.
BASICALLY JUST OLDER HOUSING STOCK.
ONE STUDY FOUND THAT GENERALLY.
YEAH, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ABLE TO OCCUPY THOSE HOUSES HAVE A LOWER INCOME.
RIGHT. BUT THAT DOESN'T APPLY WHENEVER THERE'S NOT ENOUGH NEW HOUSING SUPPLY ON THE MARKET.
RIGHT LEVEL. WHEN THERE'S A LACK OF THAT NEW HOUSING SUPPLY, YOU END UP SEEING AN UPWARD FILTERING, SO TO SPEAK, WHERE LIKE THAT OLDER HOUSING STOCK NOW BECOMES EXPENSIVE. EXAMPLE SAN FRANCISCO, YOU GOT SOME OLD OR PALO ALTO, YOU GOT THESE OLD TINY CRAPPY HOMES FROM THE 30S COSTING LIKE $1 MILLION, RIGHT? I GET THAT SUPPLY. SKEPTICS ARE WARY OF URBANIST CLAIMS BECAUSE THEY FEEL AS IF WE'RE TREADING INTO, LIKE, KIND OF AN UNKNOWN.
RIGHT? BUT WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT WE DO NOT HAVE ANY STRONG EXAMPLES OF A CITY THAT'S BEEN RAPIDLY GROWING THAT MANAGED TO SOMEHOW STAY TOTALLY DOWN ZONED AND MANAGED TO AVOID HAVING THEIR RENTS SKYROCKET.
IF THERE WERE EXAMPLES, WE WOULD HAVE HEARD THEM SHOUTED FROM THE ROOFTOPS ALL TODAY.
SO WITH THAT IN MIND, I WOULD LIKE I'D LIKE TO AVOID THOSE MISTAKES.
LIKEWISE, A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY I'M NOT, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
[12:15:01]
I'M THE AIA CO-CHAIR FOR HOUSING ADVOCACY.I'M HERE IN TOTAL SUPPORT OF THE COMPATIBILITY REFORM.
THIS IS GOING TO BE HUGE. I'M SO GLAD TO SEE THIS HAPPENING.
I'M ALSO IN SUPPORT OF THE PC AMENDMENTS.
REDUCING THE BUFFER ZONE FOR SMALL LOTS IS CRUCIAL FOR GETTING URBAN INFILL DEVELOPMENT.
I BELIEVE PC REDUCES DOWN TO 15 FOR LOTS UNDER 75FT.
I'VE WORKED ON PROJECTS THAT FAILED BECAUSE OF THAT VERY ISSUE, SO I MAKE IT QUICK, I SUPPORT IT.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING.
EDGAR. HANDEL AND ANOUCHE ROSEN.
HEY, GUYS, WE CAN'T MISS YOU IF YOU NEVER LEAVE.
EXACTLY. LUIS LUIS LUGO DISTRICT EIGHT.
COMPATIBILITY WAS MADE BY RACIST PEOPLE FOR RACIST ENDS.
HONESTLY, I'M KIND OF APOLOGETIC FOR EVEN COMING BACK HERE.
BUT IT'S BEEN A DIFFICULT DAY FOR ME.
MY DAD'S IN THE HOSPITAL, AND I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO IT, BUT ENOUGH THAT I'D WORRY ABOUT HIS LIFE.
AND REALLY, I HEARD SOMEONE EARLIER SAY THAT ALL THE SPEAKERS WHO WERE FOR THIS, I THINK THEY DIRECTLY IMPLIED OR INSINUATED THAT THE FOUR SPEAKERS WERE USING FICTITIOUS PEOPLE OF COLOR.
AND. I DON'T KNOW, I JUST IT DIDN'T REALLY SIT WELL WITH ME.
SO I WANTED TO SAY MY OPINION ON THIS ITEM THAT COMPATIBILITY IS PROBABLY THE MOST DIRECTLY SEGREGATIONIST POLICY THAT I THINK I'VE BEEN TO DISCUSS HERE AT CITY COUNCIL.
IF WE WANT TO HAVE AN HONEST CONVERSATION ABOUT COMPATIBILITY, WE SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A POLICY THAT DIRECTLY ENCOURAGES THE PLACEMENT OF RENTERS, MULTIFAMILY HOUSING, PEOPLE OF COLOR, WORKING CLASS FAMILIES ALONG ARTERIALS AND HIGHWAYS THAT ARE POLLUTED AND DANGEROUS. AND WE CAN ARGUE ABOUT AFFORDABILITY, BUT THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS MUST BE ACKNOWLEDGED.
IF YOU WANT TO DISCUSS A REGULATION, THEN YOU HAVE TO DISCUSS ITS NEGATIVE IMPACTS AS WELL.
MY FAMILY, WHEN I GREW UP, WE LIVED AND I STILL REMEMBER A AN APARTMENT RIGHT IN BETWEEN A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND A MAJOR ARTERIAL ROAD.
AND AS AN ADULT, TO LEARN THAT THIS IS AN INTENTIONAL POLICY CHOICE, THAT PEOPLE STILL WILL COME UP AND SAY THAT SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING SHOULD BE AT THE CORE OF NEIGHBORHOODS, SAFE FROM THE CARS AND THE POLLUTION THAT THE MULTIFAMILY HOUSING SHOULD BE ON THE EXTERIOR OF NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND THIS IS NOT SOMETHING IN THE PAST.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S NEW OR IT'S NOT OLD.
THIS IS HAPPENING, HAPPENED TO MY FAMILY.
IT'S HAPPENING TO PEOPLE TODAY.
AND IF WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT, IT HAS TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED.
MY FAMILY IS MY FAMILY, ME, MY COMMUNITY.
MY FRIENDS WERE NOT FICTITIOUS.
EVERYONE HERE HAS CONCERNS I DON'T WANT TO DISMISS.
I RESPECT ANYBODY WHO COMES UP HERE, EVEN IF I RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE, BUT I JUST DO NOT AGREE WITH THIS IDEA THAT ONLY ONE SIDE HAS ANY SORT OF LIVED EXPERIENCE OR ABILITY TO SPEAK ON THESE MATTERS.
I'M SORRY. IT'S JUST BEEN IT'S BEEN A HARD DAY.
PLEASE DO COMPATIBILITY REFORM.
ADAM GREENFIELD, NICOLE NOZICK, NOSSECK.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM.
MY NAME IS USHA ABA, AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FIVE.
[12:20:03]
MANY OF THE FOLKS WHO SPOKE EARLIER TODAY SPOKE ABOUT BEING EXCITED TO HAVE SETBACKS REMOVED IN ORDER TO SPEND TIME WITH THEIR NEIGHBORS.YOU DON'T NEED THE CITY TO CHANGE ITS HOUSING STANDARDS IN ORDER TO GET TO KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS.
I AM FROM A NEIGHBORHOOD IN TEXAS THAT SITS IN THE SHADOW OF A HOSPITAL SYSTEM.
IT MEANS THAT WHEN THE HOSPITAL DECIDES TO MAKE SMALL CHANGES, WE WATCH CRANES DANGLE IN THE SKY AS A REMINDER THAT DESPITE OWNING OUR HOME, IT STILL FEELS LIKE WE ARE OPERATING ON BORROWED TIME.
PEOPLE DESERVE TO ENJOY THE SUN, THE SKY, THE NIGHT, AND THE SHADE OF A TREE A BLANKET.
I THINK IT'S WORTH ADDING TO THIS CONVERSATION WHAT RESPECT AND DIGNITY LOOK LIKE.
FOR MANY FOLKS, OWNING A HOME IS HUGE, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE BLACK AND BROWN.
COULD YOU IMAGINE FINALLY OWNING A HOME, KEEPING IT LONG ENOUGH TO PASS IT DOWN? AND THEN SOMEONE GREEN LIGHTS A BUILDING GOING NEXT DOOR SO LARGE AND SO CLOSE YOU FEEL LIKE A FUCKING SERF.
TO ME, THAT IS A FUNDAMENTAL LACK OF RESPECT.
THAT'S WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT.
ALSO, JUST AS A SIDE NOTE, IT TAKES A LOT OF PRIVILEGE TO COME UP HERE AND BE CONDESCENDING TO PEOPLE WHO SPEND MONTHS TRYING TO SPEAK TO THEIR COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE BARELY GIVING THEM THE TIME OF DAY.
THIS PROCESS IS HAPPENING RAPIDLY COMPARED TO OTHER CHANGES OF THIS MAGNITUDE.
BECAUSE YOU WERE ON THE SIDE OF PRIVILEGE.
I URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO VOTE FOR AN EQUITY OVERLAY.
I ALSO URGE THE FOLKS THAT ORDER TO GROW THE HELL UP AND TOUCH SOME GRASS.
MEANWHILE, YOU LACK THE FUNDAMENTAL UNDERSTANDING OF WHY THIS HAS BEEN SO EASY AND FUN FOR YOU.
I REPEAT, OR THERE'S GRASS OUTSIDE.
THANK YOU. ALSO, MAYOR KIRK WATSON, I'M NOT A WOMAN.
THANKS. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS RYAN POZYCKI. I LIVE IN DISTRICT ONE.
I AM STRONGLY IN FAVOR OF REMOVING COMPATIBILITY RESTRICTIONS.
I SAY THIS AS A SINGLE FAMILY HOME OWNER IN DISTRICT ONE.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME.
I JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE SOME CONTEXT.
I'VE LIVED HERE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR 25 YEARS, 17 OF WHICH WAS IN DISTRICT ONE IN THE ROSEWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THEN SEVEN YEARS IN SOUTH AUSTIN IN DISTRICT THREE AND SAINT ELMO.
AND WHEN I MOVED HERE, I NEVER REALLY, REALLY WANTED TO LIVE IN A HOUSE, BUT TO BUY A HOME.
THE CHOICE WAS $100,000 FOR A HOUSE, OR $350,000 TO TO BUY AN APARTMENT.
AND SO IT MADE SENSE TO TO BUY A HOUSE.
BUT THAT THAT WASN'T THE CHOICE THAT I WANTED.
IT MADE IT SO THAT I HAD TO BUY A CAR, AND I HAD TO DRIVE AND DO ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
AND SO IT FINALLY GOT TO THE POINT WHERE A HOUSE OR BUYING AN APARTMENT WAS THE SAME PRICE.
AND I DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A CAR.
I DO BIKE EVERY DAY, AND THAT IS A LIFE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE.
BUT WHEN I GO AROUND THE CITY, I NOTICE ALL OF THESE ONE STORY STRIP MALLS WHERE PEOPLE COULD BE LIVING, WHERE PEOPLE COULD BE WORKING THERE AS WELL, BUT THEY CAN'T BECAUSE MAYBE A BLOCK OR SO AWAY, THERE'S A SINGLE FAMILY HOME.
INSTEAD, WE'RE FORCING THEM TO DRIVE BECAUSE SOMEBODY WANTS TO LIVE IN A HOUSE A BLOCK AWAY.
NOW, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT COMPATIBILITY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT UP TO 540FT.
SO FOR CONTEXT, A LANE OF ROAD IS TEN FEET WIDE.
SO WE'RE SAYING YOU NEED TO BE AS FAR AWAY AS THE KATY FREEWAY FROM A SINGLE FAMILY HOME IN IN THE WORST CASE SCENARIO TO BUILD A 6 TO 10 STORY BUILDING.
[12:25:02]
AND THE PROPOSAL HERE IS SAYING TO GO DOWN TO A SEVEN LANE ROAD.SO WE'RE SAYING BE AS FAR AWAY AS CONGRESS AVENUE, THAT THAT DOESN'T SEEM RADICAL.
THAT SEEMS KIND OF PRUDENT AND INCREMENTAL.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO MAKE PRUDENT AND INCREMENTAL CHANGES SO THAT MORE PEOPLE CAN CHOOSE TO LIVE WHERE RIGHT RIGHT NOW, WE'VE JUST GOT SINGLE STORY STRIP MALLS ON PLACES LIKE BURNET ROAD AND ON LAMAR AND GUADALUPE AND SOUTH CONGRESS AND RIVERSIDE PLACES THAT WE GO TO ALL THE TIME, WHERE OUR HIGH FREQUENCY BUS NETWORKS ARE, WHERE WE COULD BE GETTING ON AND OFF AND LIVING AND WORKING.
BUT INSTEAD, ALL WE CAN DO IS GO TO DRIVE THROUGH TACO BELL'S AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. BRYCE JACKSON.
ALMANZA. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR WATSON AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M PETER BRENNAN, AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT EIGHT.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO AJC AND AEL.
I APPRECIATE THE NUANCED POSITION THAT THEY ARE BRINGING TO THE CONVERSATION.
AND EARLIER TODAY, THEY WERE UNFAIRLY AND UNJUSTLY CALLED SOME FRANKLY VERY DISGUSTING THINGS.
THANKFULLY, THEY DO GREAT WORK IN THE COMMUNITY AND BUILD CONSENSUS ON POLICY THAT MOVES US FORWARD.
I ALSO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
I'M SORRY YOU'RE BEING TREATED WITH SUCH DISRESPECT.
YOU DESERVE THAT BETTER FOR THE WORK YOU'VE DONE AND FOR THE HARDSHIP THAT YOU'VE GONE THROUGH.
AT THE RISK OF SOUNDING LIKE A BROKEN CLOCK.
EVERY NEW UNIT ALLOWED BY THE EASING OF THESE REQUIREMENTS IS A NEW UNIT THAT IS ABLE TO BE BUILT WITHOUT THE DISPLACEMENT FROM REMOVING A UNIT CURRENTLY ON THE MARKET, OR THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF A NEW HOUSE BUILT ON EMPTY LAND ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF AUSTIN, WHICH CREATES MORE SPRAWL.
THIS IS ALSO AN EASY POLICY TO PASS IDEOLOGICALLY.
COMPATIBILITY IS FUNDAMENTALLY INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE VALUES WE ESPOUSE.
IT PUSHES AWAY MULTIFAMILY HOUSING TO THE BENEFIT OF SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.
THANK YOU. AND PLEASE PASS IT TOMORROW.
THE REDUCTION OF COMPATIBILITY IS NOT TIED WITH ANY AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENT.
AND AND WELL, IN SOME CASES IT ALLOWS DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS WITH AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS.
AGAIN, WE ARE NOT AGAINST DENSITY.
WITHOUT TRUE AND DEEP PROTECTIONS FOR THOSE VULNERABLE TO DISPLACEMENT.
AT CITY COUNCIL, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO WORK FOR YOUR COMMUNITY.
WHY ARE WE DOING HOURS AND HOURS OF UNPAID LABOR? WHY IS COMMUNITY POWER DOING HOURS AND HOURS OF UNPAID LABOR TO PROVIDE YOU WITH THESE SOLUTIONS? AS A REMINDER, HERE IS THE OVERLAY FOR COMPATIBILITY.
COMPATIBILITY REDUCTIONS WOULD NOT APPLY WITHIN THE OVERLAY AREA.
[12:30:06]
AGAIN, WE NEED TO PROTECT RENTERS AND HOMEOWNERS.THE PROPOSED OVERLAY IS FOR ALL THE ITEMS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY, NOT JUST HOME.
THIS IS FALSE. YOU SAY IT TAKES TIME AND YOU'RE RIGHT.
BUT I'D LIKE TO SHARE AGAIN THAT ONE.
AND TWO, I BEG THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE MAKING THESE CLAIMS TO HAVE AN INTERSECTIONAL LENS, AND THESE ARE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE LISTENING BEHIND ME, LISTENING ON THE TV, EVERYBODY I'VE HEARD WHAT YOU'VE BEEN SAYING.
YOU SAY IT TAKES TIME, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE FACT THAT MOST OF THESE MEETINGS ARE DURING THE DAY, DURING THE WORKING WEEK? WHO CAN BE HERE ALL DAY? IS THERE CHILDCARE HERE? IS THERE SUPPLEMENTAL WAGES FOR LOSS, FOR LOST WAGES FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO TAKE TIME OFF OF WORK? I'M TIRED OF SEEING AND HEARING THE GASLIGHTING AND VILLAINIZATION OF HARDWORKING PEOPLE COMING HERE AND POURING THEIR HEARTS OUT.
WE AREN'T LECTURING. WE'RE NOT INSULTING.
WE'RE NOT BEING DISRESPECTFUL.
WE'RE DOING OUR RIGHTS AS CONSTITUENTS AND HOLDING OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE TO THOSE SHAMING PEOPLE AND BEING INCREDIBLY CONDESCENDING ABOUT PEOPLE'S LIVED EXPERIENCES IN THEIR STATEMENTS.
I URGE YOU TO REFLECT ON WHY THIS IS UPSETTING YOU.
WHY ARE YOU LABELING THEM IN THIS WAY? AND I QUOTE, I WANT TO SHARE IS WHEN YOU'RE ACCUSTOMED TO PRIVILEGE AND EQUALITY.
SORRY. WHEN YOU'RE ACCUSTOMED TO PRIVILEGE AND EQUALITY ACCOUNTABILITY FEELS LIKE OPPRESSION.
THERE'S A LOT OF WORK BEING DONE BEHIND THE SCENES THAT YOU DON'T SEE.
WE ARE ORGANIZERS, NOT SYMBOLIC ACTIVISTS, THAT CLAIM TO CARE ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE ANTI-DISPLACEMENT OVERLAY FOR ALL ITEMS, NOT JUST HOME.
THANK YOU, ADRIAN MACIAS, MARIAN SANCHEZ.
MAN. HELLO, I'M SHAELYN RAWLINS.
DISTRICT THREE. TAKING AWAY CERTAIN COMPATIBILITY REGULATIONS WILL MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO DEMOLISH EXISTING SMALL APARTMENT COMPLEXES. MULTIFAMILY BUILDINGS.
EXCUSE ME? BUILDINGS AND SMALL BUSINESSES.
AND THIS IS ALREADY PROFITABLE.
ALSO, SINCE IT'S A NEW BUILDING, THEY CAN MAKE IT A LUXURY BUILDING.
NOTHING IS MORE SUSTAINABLE THAN THE BUILDING THAT'S THERE CURRENTLY.
SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GREEN BUILDING.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE COMMUNITY THAT'S ALREADY THERE SHOULD BE THE PRIORITY.
THE COMMUNITY WITH THE ROOTS AND THE SUPPORT NETWORKS THAT IT'S CREATED SHOULD BE SUPPORTED.
WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT THE FUTURE.
AUSTIN. BUT WHEN YOU SAY THIS, ARE YOU PREEMPTIVELY ERASING THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES THAT WILL BE PUSHED OUT, OR ARE YOU JUST NOT TAKING THEM INTO ACCOUNT AT ALL? PROPONENTS OF UPZONING SAY THAT YOU ARE ENVISIONING DIVERSE COMMUNITIES, BUT WHO DO YOU THINK IS GETTING PUSHED OUT OF THESE LOTS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BUILD ON? I'M NOT AGAINST MULTIFAMILY BUILDINGS.
I RENT AND I LOVE LIVING IN THE APARTMENT COMPLEX THAT I'M AT.
EVEN TALL MULTIFAMILY BUILDINGS, THAT'S FINE, BUT ANY OF THESE UP ZONING CHANGES NEED TO BE ACCOMPANIED BY THE AMENDMENTS AMENDMENTS PUSHING BACK THE IMPLEMENTATION DATE UNTIL, YOU KNOW, DON'T LET THE DEVELOPERS HAVE THESE ENTITLEMENTS AND START, YOU KNOW, PROFITING AND MAKING THEIR DEVELOPMENTS UNTIL AFTER A COMMUNITY BASED PROCESS AND A RESULTING ANTI-DISPLACEMENT OVERLAY IS CREATED.
LET THE DEVELOPERS DO THEIR THING IN WEST AND CENTRAL AUSTIN FIRST, BUT PLEASE LIKE LISTEN TO US AND PROTECT THE VULNERABLE AREAS AND LET US MAKE THE ANTI-DISPLACEMENT OVERLAY OR THE COMMUNITY, BUT THE ANTI-DISPLACEMENT OVERLAY TOGETHER.
HAS TIME DONATED BY ALEXIA LECLERC.
GOOD EVENING AGAIN, MAYOR WATSON AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
[12:35:02]
MY NAME IS CARLOS PINION.I'M A RENTER IN DISTRICT FIVE.
AND I'D LIKE TO REITERATE TO YOU THAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHOSE FAMILIES SET ROOTS HERE, LASTING OVER MULTIPLE GENERATIONS, ARE STRONGLY OPPOSED TO THESE UPZONING EFFORTS THAT WILL ONLY BRING LUXURY DEVELOPMENT AND DISPLACE LONG STANDING COMMUNITIES.
THIS WILL OPEN THE DOOR FOR ALL OF THE HARMFUL UPZONING PLANS ALREADY PASSED OR IN THE WORKS FOR APARTMENTS IN PARTICULAR, IT WILL INCENTIVIZE THAT CURRENT AFFORDABLE APARTMENTS ARE DEMOLISHED FOR LARGER MARKET RATE DEVELOPMENTS.
ALL OF THE RESOLUTIONS IN THIS ITEM ARE ABOUT GIVING DEVELOPERS MORE ENTITLEMENTS TO BUILD MORE MARKET RATE UNITS FOR MORE PROFITS, BY INCREASING THE MARKET VALUE OF PROPERTIES. THEY ALL DRIVE UP HOUSING COSTS AND ACCELERATE THE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS FOR ALL RESIDENTS BUT THE WEALTHIEST, WITH MIDDLE AND LOW INCOME RESIDENTS IMPACTED BY DISPLACEMENT AND HOMELESSNESS, AND THE EQUITY OVERLAY PROCESS PROPOSED BY COMMUNITY POWERED ATX COMPATIBILITY REDUCTIONS WOULD NOT APPLY WITHIN THE OVERLAY AREA, COVERING NEIGHBORHOODS VULNERABLE TO DISPLACEMENT UNLESS THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENTS MEET THE OVERLAY REQUIREMENTS.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE OVERLAY MAY REQUIRE THAT THE OVERALL PERCENTAGE OF AFFORDABLE UNITS IS HIGHER AND THAT MFI LEVELS ARE TRULY AFFORDABLE TO EXISTING RESIDENTS IMPACTED BY DISPLACEMENT AT 30 TO 50%.
TODAY, I JUST WANT TO SHARE THAT THE MOVEMENT WAS STARTED BY RICH WHITE TECH WORKERS AND DEVELOPERS IN SAN FRANCISCO TO DISRUPT TENANT ORGANIZING AND WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT DEREGULATION WOULD NEVER HELP LOW INCOME TENANTS OF COLOR AT THE BOTTOM OF THE MARKET.
ALEXANDRE FERREIRA, PLANNER AND RESEARCHER AT AN LA BASED TENANT ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION CALLED STRATEGIC ACTIONS FOR A JUST ECONOMY, HAS STATED THAT YIMBY ISM, SINCE ITS CONCEPTION, IS A PROMISE THAT WE DON'T NEED TO REDISTRIBUTE ANYTHING, WE CAN JUST MAKE MORE PROPERTY.
THAT'S WHY BIG REAL ESTATE AND TECH COMPANIES LOVE MS. IT'S QUITE EASY TO PRETEND YOU'RE DOING A GOOD THING IN ENGINEERING A DEREGULATORY FRAMEWORK THAT YOU PROFIT FROM AND PURPORTS TO PROVIDE HOUSING, BUT ONLY FOR THOSE WHO CAN AFFORD TO ADJUST TO THE MARKET'S WHIMS. ANTHONY DAMIANO, A HOUSING RESEARCHER AT THE CENTER FOR URBAN AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS, FOUND IN 2020 THAT NEW BUILDS IN MINNEAPOLIS INCREASE RENTS BY 6.7% IN LOWER PRICED HOUSING, WHILE SLIGHTLY DECREASING RENTS IN HIGH PRICED UNITS NEARBY.
IF THESE CHANGES IN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE PASS AS IS, YOUR LEGACY IS DISPLACEMENT.
YOUR LEGACY IS MORE HOMELESS FAMILIES, MORE HOMELESS ELDERS.
YOUR LEGACY IS MAKING US IN A HOSTILE PLACE FOR POOR PEOPLE AND PEOPLE OF COLOR.
YOUR LEGACY IS A DESTRUCTION OF AUSTIN'S LONG STANDING COMMUNITIES.
THIS, DESPITE THESE ATTEMPTS TO DISPLACE OUR COMMUNITIES, KNOW THIS.
WE ORGANIZE FOR EACH OTHER AND WILL BE HERE AFTER TODAY.
WE FOUND OUR VICTORIES IN THE WAY WE BUILT PEOPLE POWER ACROSS AUSTIN AND DEVELOP SOLUTIONS THAT YOU KNOW ARE FEASIBLE AND CAN STOP THE DAMAGE YOU'LL DO WITH THESE CODE CHANGES. YOU CANNOT REMAIN BEHOLDEN TO DEVELOPERS WHO SEE AUSTIN AS THEIR THEME PARK, AND IN NOVEMBER, YOU WILL REMEMBER THAT YOU'RE ACCOUNTABLE TO WORKING CLASS COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR WHO HAVE LONG RESIDED HERE, WHO THE CITY WOULD BE LIFELESS WITHOUT.
THANK YOU. HELLO, MAX. FROM EARLIER.
REALLY HARD TO FOLLOW THAT AMAZING TESTIMONY.
AND, YEAH, DEFINITELY WANT TO JUST REITERATE EVERYTHING THAT WAS JUST SAID.
AND YEAH, SO MANY AMAZING SPEAKERS TONIGHT.
AND I'M A RENTER IN DISTRICT NINE.
SORRY, I JUST KIND OF SCATTERBRAINED, BUT I HOPE THAT WHEN YOU DISCUSS THINGS TOMORROW, YOU PASS THE EQUITY OVERLAY AND USE THE EQUITY OVERLAY TO PROTECT THE EXISTING SECTION EIGHT VOUCHER, ACCEPTING APARTMENT COMPLEXES AND DIFFERENT PLACES WHERE LOW INCOME RENTERS CURRENTLY LIVE THAT HAVE BEEN LISTED BY PREVIOUS SPEAKERS LIKE MONICA GUZMAN.
AND JUST PROTECT THOSE PLACES WHERE PEOPLE ARE ALREADY LIVING.
[12:40:05]
MAYBE EVEN CONSIDER JUST USING ANTI-DISPLACEMENT DOLLARS TO PURCHASE THOSE BUILDINGS AND PUT THEM INTO CITY PROPERTY, OR GIVE THE TENANTS WHO LIVE THERE THE RIGHT TO PURCHASE IT BEFORE IT'S BOUGHT UP OR LIKE, TURNED OVER INTO A DIFFERENT PROPERTY.BECAUSE SOMETIMES THROUGH THESE CITY PROGRAMS APARTMENT DEVELOPERS GET FUNDING EVEN THOUGH WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS DISPLACING RESIDENTS BY THEIR REDEVELOPMENT.
SO JUST PLEASE TRY TO PROTECT WHAT EXISTS THERE THROUGH THIS VERY REASONABLE TOOL THAT COULD BE APPLIED AND THAT OTHER CITIES ARE PROBABLY ADOPTING TO, TO PROTECT WHAT IS ALREADY THERE, WHERE PEOPLE ARE LIVING.
WHICH YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY THROUGH, YOU KNOW, THE DATA THAT EXISTS.
SO YEAH, PASS THE EQUITY OVERLAY AND THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
JUDAH RICE, SASHA ROSE, JEFF DICKERSON, ERIC.
I RISE IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM FOUR, BECAUSE IT APPEARS TO BE ANOTHER IN A ROUND OF ZONING REQUIREMENTS THAT WAS PART OF CODE NUTS TWO AND WAS STRUCK DOWN BY THE COURTS.
COULD YOU STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD? I'M SORRY, JEFF DICKERSON, DISTRICT FIVE.
I'M NOT GOING TO REPEAT THE SENTENCE TO SAVE TIME.
THE REASON WE HAD THESE ORIGINAL COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS WAS IT WAS A WAY TO FORCE DEVELOPERS AND NEIGHBORHOOD TO WORK TOGETHER TO COMPROMISE. YOU REMOVE THESE COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS, TAKE AWAY SOME OF THE TOOLS THAT THE NEIGHBORHOODS HAD TO NEGOTIATE TO COMPROMISE.
A COUPLE OTHER THINGS I WANT TO MENTION IS THIS ORDINANCE APPLIES CORRIDOR STANDARDS, WHICH COULD BE INCOMPATIBLE WITH NEIGHBORHOODS THAT IT'S BEING PUT INTO WHEN YOU BUILD THESE BUILDINGS BY THE DEVELOPERS.
IS THAT WHAT WE REALLY WANT? THERE'S THIS ORDINANCE ALSO SAYS THERE'S GOING TO BE AN INCREASE IN WAIVERS.
WHO'S GOING TO CONTROL THE WAIVERS.
HOW IS THAT TO BE DETERMINED? THERE'S NO POLICY STATED IN HERE THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOSS OF CONTROL.
AND AGAIN, THE NEIGHBORHOODS WILL HAVE NO SAY IN THIS.
SO I ENCOURAGE MEMBERS TO VOTE DOWN THIS ORDINANCE.
IF YOU DON'T, THEN I ASK THAT YOU KEEP LIMIT OF 540FT FROM THE DEVELOPMENT FROM THE SINGLE FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS. ANOTHER GENTLEMAN USED 183 AS A DISTANCE METER.
WHAT REALLY IS STATED IN THE ORDINANCE IS ITS TWO CITY BLOCKS.
I THINK THAT IS A GOOD DISTANCE FROM A TALL OFFICE BUILDING TO THE END OF A NEIGHBORHOOD.
RICARDO RAMIREZ AND LIDIA ZAIDMAN.
HEY, Y'ALL. CHLOE WILKINSON AGAIN.
JUST BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, MY DEVELOPER CHECK HASN'T LANDED, AND I DON'T THINK IT EVER WILL.
BUT I'M GOING TO KEEP IT REAL SHORT, BECAUSE I JUST WANT TO SAY AUSTIN IS A GREAT CITY.
IT'S ONE OF THE GREATEST CITIES I'VE EVER LIVED IN.
IT'S ONE OF THE ONLY CITIES WHERE I'VE BEEN TREATED LIKE A NORMAL PERSON, EVEN THOUGH I'M TRANSGENDER, LIVED IN A LOT OF CITIES WHERE WHEN YOU'RE TRANS, EVERYONE HAS QUESTIONS THEY ASK YOU INVASIVE, YOU KNOW, SORT OF STUFF.
BUT MOST PEOPLE HERE, ESPECIALLY IN MY GENERATION, ARE PRETTY CHILL ABOUT IT.
AND I WANT A FUTURE WHERE EVERY TRANS PERSON WHO NEEDS A SAFE PLACE CAN COME TO A CITY LIKE AUSTIN AND LIVE HERE AND OWN A HOME AFFORDABLY AND HAVE A FAMILY AND KIDS JUST LIKE I WANT TO DO ONE DAY.
[12:45:01]
YES. IN MY CONDO? YES. IN MY APARTMENT.YES. TO ALL THE STUFF THAT'S BEEN, YOU KNOW, BROUGHT BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TODAY.
NOW, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'M GOING TO GO HOME AND SEE MY TWO LOVELY KITTENS.
NISSI, WHICH MEANS PRINCESS AND APOLLO, WHO I CALL MY LITTLE ASTRONAUT.
HI. TEISSL ORTEGA, DISTRICT FOUR.
I AM ALSO A TRANS RESIDENT IN AUSTIN, BY THE WAY.
AND I AM ASKING OR I'M AGAINST THE COMPATIBILITY MEASURES, AND I'M ASKING FOR THE COUNCIL TO DELAY IMPLEMENTATION IN THE MOST IMPACTED AREAS DETERMINED BY UPROOTED TO ALLOW TIME FOR COMMUNITY PROCESS FOR AN EQUITY AND ANTI-DISPLACEMENT OVERLAY, NOT JUST FOR HOME PHASE TWO, BUT ALSO FOR EASTSIDE TOD AND ALSO FOR THE COMPATIBILITY MEASURES.
I WANT TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY FROM RICH HAYMOND, WHO IS A PHD IN URBAN GEOGRAPHY AND ALSO AN EXPERT IN LAND DEVELOPMENT.
IN THE LATE 1990S AND EARLY 2000, WHILE THE CITY WAS POURING TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO REVITALIZING CENTRAL EAST AUSTIN, MANY PEOPLE POINTED OUT THAT IT WOULD LEAD TO GENTRIFICATION AND DISPLACEMENT.
COMMUNITY LEADERS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS SAID OVER AND OVER IN PRINT, SUCH AS IN THE STATEMENT STATESMAN, THAT WE NEEDED TO LOOK INTO THE ISSUE, STUDY THE ISSUE, PLAN TO PUT IN PLACE SOME ANTI-DISPLACEMENT MEASURES LATER AFTER WE PUT THESE CHANGES IN PLACE.
UNTIL THAT'S DONE, YOU WON'T SEE A DECLINE IN GENTRIFICATION, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE CITY SPENT TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON THE REVITALIZATION, INCLUDING TAX BREAKS FOR DEVELOPERS, PROGRAMS WERE NOT PUT IN PLACE TO PREVENT THE DISPLACEMENT OF REMAINING BLACK RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES.
LOOK WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THESE CHANGES WENT THROUGH.
THE POLITICAL WILL WAS NOT THERE FOR GOING BACK TO THE ISSUE AND ACTUALLY DOING SOMETHING.
WE SHOULD NOT REPEAT THESE MISTAKES.
THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO POSTPONE, DELAY IMPLEMENTATION, AND ACTUALLY ALLOW TIME FOR COMMUNITY PROCESS FOR THE EQUITY OVERLAY AND ANTI-DISPLACEMENT OVERLAY, PLEASE.
YOU'VE HEARD WE'RE ALL TIRED, BUT CLEARLY WE'RE HERE BECAUSE WE WANT TO WORK WITH YOU.
WE ARE HERE BECAUSE WE CARE ABOUT THESE COMMUNITIES.
PEOPLE ARE BRINGING THESE SOLUTIONS.
THEY CAN'T TAKE TIME OFF OF WORK.
THEY CAN'T TAKE TIME AWAY FROM THEIR KIDS.
PLEASE ALLOW US THE TIME AND THE SPACE TO WORK WITH YOU ALL.
WE'VE BEEN TRYING FOR MONTHS, AND MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR YEARS, AND WE'RE ASKING, PLEASE ALLOW US THE TIME TO WORK WITH YOU ALL.
MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS DONE RIGHT.
PEOPLE ARE NOT AGAINST DENSITY.
WE WANT AFFORDABILITY INDEX DONE RIGHT.
THANK YOU. SUSAN SPATARO, ISABEL WEBB, CARRIE MARY LAVELLE, DREW FEINBERG, PAMELA BELL, BECCA TUCHMAN, JOHN. GOOD.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY FORWARD TO THE PODIUM.
IS MARY INGLE HERE? MICHAEL, YOU ONLY HAVE THREE MINUTES.
YEAH. IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'VE BEEN.
MARY SAVED YOU FROM SIX MINUTES.
I ALREADY CROSSED THROUGH THE OTHER THREE MINUTES.
[12:50:04]
PROPOSED REGULATIONS TO PROMOTE COMPATIBILITY.BETWEEN DEVELOPMENT AND OR REDEVELOPMENT AND SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.
YOU'RE NOW PROPOSING TO DISMANTLE THOSE STANDARDS AND ALLOW A 90 FOOT BUILDING JUST 75FT FROM AN EXISTING HOME, WHEN USING THE CITY'S DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM.
THE STAFF PROPOSES TWO JUSTIFICATIONS FOR THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS.
THE FIRST IS TO ENABLE THE DEVELOPMENT OF ADDITIONAL HOUSING UNITS.
HOWEVER, THE STAFF RECOMMENDS REDUCING COMPATIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR PURELY COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS THAT PROVIDE NO HOUSING, CONTRADICTING THEIR RATIONALE. REDUCING COMPATIBILITY FOR COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS INCENTIVIZES TALLER, INCOMPATIBLE COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS THAT ARE TAKING UP SPACE THAT COULD BE USED FOR HOUSING, THAT MAYBE EVEN REPLACING HOUSING.
EVEN WITHOUT HOUSING, THE CITY IS GIVING UP THE OR EVEN WITH HOUSING, THE CITY IS GIVING UP AN OPPORTUNITY TO RELATE TO TRADE REDUCE COMPATIBILITY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AS COUNCIL MEMBER ALISON ALTER'S PROPOSAL DID LAST YEAR ALLOWED ADDITIONAL RELIEF FROM COMPATIBILITY FOR AFFORDABILITY.
THE SECOND JUSTIFICATION IS THAT WE'RE OUT OF LINE WITH PEER CITIES.
STAFF CONTINUES TO INSIST WE'RE OUT OF STEP WITH OUR PEER CITY OF DALLAS.
SO LET'S SOLVE THAT TODAY AND GET IN STEP.
IT'S SECTION 5.1, 4.451A-4.412.
SO IN DALLAS, OUR PEER CITY THAT THE STAFF SO ADORES YOU YOU WOULDN'T BE SO A 90 FOOT BUILDING IN DALLAS WOULDN'T BE 75FT AWAY AS PROPOSED HERE IN AUSTIN, BUT 270FT AWAY.
SO LET'S ADOPT THE DALLAS STANDARDS TONIGHT.
MORE VEHICLES, CONGESTIONS, ETC.
I SHOULD HAVE ACCEPTED THAT OFFER.
HELLO AGAIN. MY NAME IS ALICIA TORRES AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT THREE.
AND AND HERE TODAY, I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT A COUPLE OF THINGS.
I'M REALLY UPSET. I WAS TRYING TO FIND THE WORDS AT HOW PEOPLE LIKE ME.
PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING UP HERE AND SAYING WE ARE DIRECTLY IMPACTED.
LISTEN TO COMMUNITY CENTER, COMMUNITY MOVE WITH COMMUNITY THAT WE ARE BEING WHAT IT FEELS LIKE IT'S AN ATTEMPT AT BEING DISCREDITED AND WHAT YOU HEAR COME ACROSS WHAT YOU'RE NAMING ANGER AND PASSION.
THAT IS US HOLDING ON TO A LINE, TRYING TO SERVE, TRYING TO EXIST.
TRYING TO CLAIM OUR RIGHT TO CONTINUE TO EXIST IN THE CITY.
WE ARE NOT TALKING, PARDON MY FRENCH.
I'M. I'M SAYING WE ARE NOT TALKING.
PARDON MY FRENCH. EVERYBODY CAN IMAGINE BS BECAUSE I WAS DISPLACED MY FAMILY HOME WAS THIS.
I HAD TO WE HAD TO SELL IT AND DEVELOPERS DID NOT COME IN AND SWEEP.
I AM NOT A HOMEOWNER, BUT I CAN TELL YOU WHAT I KNOW BECAUSE I'VE SEEN IT HAPPEN.
HAPPEN AGAIN. PUTTING BLIND TRUST INTO DEVELOPERS OR INTO THIS COUNCIL WITHOUT ANY WRITTEN COMMITMENTS AROUND SAFETY, AROUND AROUND EQUITY, IN ACTUAL PROTECTIONS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THAT IS NOT GOING TO MAKE ME A HOMEOWNER.
I AM NOT WILLING TO BECOME A HOMEOWNER ON THE BACKS OF DISPLACED FOLKS.
SOMEBODY READ IT EARLIER ALREADY, BUT I THINK THERE ARE A COUPLE OF POINTS THAT MR.
[12:55:03]
HINMAN HEYMAN MADE AND AND SO I'M GOING TO READ IT AGAIN IN A SLOWER VERSION IF TILL WHENEVER TIME PERMITS.SOME HISTORY IN THE LATE 1900S AND EARLY 2000, WHILE THE CITY WAS POURING TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO REVITALIZING CENTRAL EAST AUSTIN. MANY PEOPLE POINTED OUT THAT IT WOULD LEAD TO GENTRIFICATION AND DISPLACEMENT.
I WAS PROBABLY HERE DOING THAT.
COMMUNITY LEADERS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS SAID OVER AND OVER AND PUT IT IN PRINT AND SUCH, AND THINGS SUCH AS THE STATEMENT THAT WE NEED TO LOOK INTO THE ISSUE, STUDY THE ISSUE, PLAN TO PUT IN PLACE SOME ANTI-DISPLACEMENT MEASURES LATER AFTER WE PUT THIS CHANGES IN PLACE AND LOOK WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THE CHANGES WENT THROUGH THE POLITICAL WILL THAT THE POLITICAL WILL WAS NOT THERE FOR GOING BACK TO THE ISSUE AND ACTUALLY DOING SOMETHING.
LOOK WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THE CHANGES WENT THROUGH.
THE POLITICAL WILL WAS NOT THERE FOR GOING BACK TO THE ISSUE AND ACTUALLY DOING SOMETHING.
THANK YOU. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
ALL RIGHT. HELLO COUNCIL, I AM STILL ALYSSA RAE.
I AM STILL A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FOUR.
I AM STILL QUEER. I'M STILL ASIAN AMERICAN.
I AM PROBABLY MORE TIRED THAN LAST TIME I WAS UP HERE.
BUT I WOULD LIKE US TO RETURN TO A CENTRAL TENANT OF THE ASKS FROM COMMUNITY POWERED ATX AND OTHERS WHO HAVE BEEN OPPOSING AND ASKING FOR POSTPONEMENT, ASKING FOR MORE TIME BEFORE IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE POLICIES, THAT WE WANT THE SAME DENSITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE THAT YOU ALL DESCRIBE.
BUT AS SOMEONE NOTED, WHO IS FOR THESE EARLIER.
VEBLEN GOODS ARE PRODUCTS THAT INCREASE IN DEMAND AS THE PRICE RISES, RESULTING IN AN UPWARD SLOPING CURVE INSTEAD OF A DOWNWARD SLOPING DEMAND CURVE.
THIS ALL COMES FROM THE MICHIGAN JOURNAL OF ECONOMICS.
THE FIRST REASON THAT A HIGHER PRICE IS PERCEIVED AS AN INDICATION OF HIGHER QUALITY, AND IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE CAUTIOUS WHEN WE ARE THINKING THIS WAY, BECAUSE SOMETIMES A HIGHER PRICE DOES NOT INDICATE BETTER QUALITY.
SO LIKE WHEN PEOPLE BUY UP A LIMITED EDITION PAIR OF JORDANS OR A PS5 OR WHATEVER THE HYPE GOOD IS, IT ONLY DRIVES UP THE FEELING OF SCARCITY, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT DEVELOPERS IN THE CITY DO AT A FASTER CLIP THAN YOUR REGULAR CONSUMERS.
THE HYPE GOOD IS HOUSING, AND YOU'RE COMPETING AGAINST DEVELOPERS WHO CAN PAY CASH OFFERS.
THAT IS THE MARKET THAT WE ARE WORKING IN.
I FEEL LIKE I AM FIGHTING WITH PEOPLE IN THE COMMENTS BETWEEN PEOPLE COMING UP HERE, AND I JUST WANT TO ALSO POINT OUT THAT THE CONDESCENDING ATTITUDE OF PEOPLE WHO CALL THOSE OF US WITH EMOTIONS RANCID, AND THAT WE ARE BRINGING RANCID VIBES, PROBABLY DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW RANCID THE CITY SUPPORTS ARE FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, EVICTION OR HOUSING INSECURITY.
I'VE ENGAGED WITH A COUPLE OF PEOPLE FROM AURORA, AND EVEN SENT ALONG INFORMATION ABOUT A FIRST TIME HOMEBUYER PROGRAM TO LUIS, BECAUSE I DO UNDERSTAND THAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE STILL FACING PRESSURES, EVEN IF YOU MAKE CLOSE TO OR ABOVE THE MFI.
ROBERT RUIZ, RYAN NEILL, JULIE.
SEWELL. MATTEO BARNSTONE IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM.
VIRANI, JUSTIN ATKINSON, NICOLA TANGUAY.
[13:00:09]
PLEASE GO AHEAD. HELLO? COUNCIL. MAYOR.THIRD TIME'S THE CHARM, I GUESS.
THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME OUT AGAIN ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT LAND USE CHANGE.
IT'S LATE. I UNDERSTAND I WON'T MAKE THIS TOO LONG, BUT I'M ACTUALLY VERY OPTIMISTIC.
LET ME TELL YOU WHY. SO, ACTUALLY, I ACTUALLY GREW UP IN A IN A DUPLEX.
THAT'S THE HOUSE MY FAMILY GREW UP IN.
AND I KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT GROWING UP IN DIFFERENT HOUSING FORMS. AND, YOU KNOW, I LIVE IN AN APARTMENT RIGHT NOW.
RIGHT? IF YOU LIVE IN A TRIPLEX, ARE YOU INCOMPATIBLE? IF YOU LIVE IN A DUPLEX, YOU INCOMPATIBLE.
IF YOU LIVE IN AN APARTMENT, ARE YOU INCOMPATIBLE? FOR ME, A NEIGHBOR IS A NEIGHBOR IS A NEIGHBOR.
WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE BRINGING DOWN THE COST OF LIVING.
WE ARE TAKING SOMETHING THAT IS VERY PAINFUL AND MAKING IT A LITTLE BIT EASIER ON PEOPLE.
SO I'M WALKING AWAY TONIGHT HAPPY THAT I GOT TO SAY MY PIECE.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS IMPORTANT WORK.
SHANE JOHNSON HAS DONATED TIME BY MICHELLE RAMOS GETS SIX MINUTES.
GOOD EVENING. COUNCIL OR LONG EVENING? IT'S LATE. WE'RE ALL TIRED AND I'M GOING TO USE THE FULL SIX MINUTES, FOR BETTER OR WORSE.
SHANE JOHNSON HE AND PRONOUNS A NATIVE AUSTINITE I'LL ADD AGAIN.
I WAS CO-CHAIR OF THE AUSTIN CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN WITH EXPERTISE IN ENERGY AND CLIMATE ISSUES.
AND AGAIN, PLEASE PASS THE COMMUNITY POWERED ATX AMENDMENTS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR AN EQUITY ANTI-DISPLACEMENT OVERLAY THAT NEEDS TO GO INTO PLACE FOR ALL FOUR POLICIES.
I WANT TO THANK THE SPEAKER WHO VOICED HIS LIVED EXPERIENCES ABOUT SYSTEMIC RACISM IN HOUSING.
WHO WHO WAS SPEAKING FOR THESE POLICIES? WE NEED TO KNOW AND UNDO THE PAST AND PRESENT OF RACISM IN OUR HISTORY.
WHAT WE CANNOT DO IS EMPLOY A RACE BLIND, EQUITY BLIND APPROACH PUT FORWARD BY SYSTEMICALLY RACIST TECH AND OIL AND GAS BILLIONAIRES LIKE THE KOCH BROTHERS AND THE NO. SIX, AN APPROACH THAT ALWAYS HITS LOW INCOME AND BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES FIRST AND WORST.
THIS COMPATIBILITY REDUCTION PLAN WILL MEAN SMALL APARTMENTS AND ALSO STRIP MALLS AND SMALL BUSINESSES WILL BE TARGETED BY DEVELOPERS WITHOUT WITHOUT THIS OVERLAY AND DELAYING IMPLEMENTATION IN HIGH RISK NEIGHBORHOODS.
THAT MEANS MORE GENTRIFICATION.
AGAIN, WE ARE JUST ASKING FOR ANTI-DISPLACEMENT MEASURES AND REAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ENTIRELY AGAINST ANY COMPATIBILITY AND SAY THESE ARE EXCLUSIONARY NO MATTER WHAT, WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, TAKING ACCOUNT DISPLACEMENT RISK.
YOU THINK IT'S INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE TO SHADE OUT AND DISRUPT THE ONLY WAY THEY HAD TO BUILD A WEALTH IN THE LAST FEW GENERATIONS SO THAT WEALTHIER, WHITER, MOSTLY TECH PEOPLE MOVING TO AUSTIN CAN LIVE IN A TEN STORY BUILDING NEXT TO THEM.
DO YOU THINK IT'S INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE TO TEAR DOWN SMALL BUSINESSES, MOM AND POP BUSINESSES? THROUGHOUT THE CITY FOR DEVELOPER PROFITS AGAIN AND AGAIN FOR WHITER, MORE AFFLUENT RESIDENTS? NO. AND SO, AGAIN, DESPITE THESE NEOLIBERAL POLITICS, WE'RE NOT COMPLETELY AGAINST ANY COMPATIBILITY REDUCTIONS.
WE ARE ASKING FOR ANTI-DISPLACEMENT MEASURES THAT HAVE TO GO IN FIRST OR THEY'RE PREEMPTED.
AND WE'RE ASKING FOR REAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
NOW, I'LL CHANGE TACT A LITTLE BIT AND PROBABLY SURPRISE ALL OF YOU BY TALKING ABOUT LOAD ZONE PRICE SEPARATION, WHICH I DON'T THINK ANY OF YOU WOULD HAVE WANTED ME TO TALK ABOUT, BECAUSE IT'S CONFUSES EVERYONE, EVEN IN MY FIELD.
AND THIS CAN CONTRIBUTE MORE TO HIGH ELECTRIC BILLS BY SHADING OUT THE LOCAL SOLAR SUPPLY WE NEED.
[13:05:03]
THAT IS PART OF THE SOLUTION OF LOAD ZONE PRICE SEPARATION.THAT WOULD THEN FORCE US TO BUY MORE OFF THE GRID LOCALLY, WHICH CONTRIBUTES TO INCREASING BILLS.
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE RIGHT NOW, OF COURSE, TO SAY HOW MUCH THAT RISK IS AND EXACTLY WHERE.
ANOTHER ASPECT I WANT TO WANT TO ADD OR ANOTHER FRAMING IS, IS TO POINT OUT HOW THANKFULLY, YOU ALL WERE, WERE OUTRAGED AND AGAINST WHEN CITY WHEN AUSTIN ENERGY TRIED TO PUT FORWARD A NEW GAS PLANT, WHICH OF COURSE, WOULD PROBABLY HAVE GONE INTO EAST AUSTIN.
BUT PASSING THESE ZONING LAWS AND THEN DOING AN EQUITY OVERLAY AFTER THE FACT WOULD BE THE SAME.
IT WOULD BE THE HOUSING EQUIVALENT OF PASSING THAT GAS PLANT.
THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE DOING ON THE HOUSING FRONT.
AND THE LAST THING I'LL SAY IS THAT, YOU KNOW, A COMMUNITY MEMBER, STEPHEN YOU KNOW, WAS SILENCED AFTER CHANTING AND TONE, YOU KNOW, SHOULDN'T MATTER.
AND FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW ME, I AM HALF BLACK.
THAT'S NOT A THEORETICAL THING.
THAT IS PEOPLE LOSING THEIR HOMES, PEOPLE GETTING PUSHED OUT OF THEIR COMMUNITY.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AT THIS LATE NIGHT, AT THIS LATE HOUR TONIGHT.
ANDREA FREIBERGER, GEOFF THOMPSON, ELLA.
I SPELLED IT WRONG. JENNY GRAYSON SPEAKING AGAINST ITEM SIX.
MADISON, THANK YOU FOR COMING ON CAMERA.
I APPRECIATE SEEING YOU AT THIS MEETING.
YOUR STAFF DOES NOT VOTE ON THE DAIS, THOUGH.
THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING FOR YOUR REPRESENTATION AND PRESENCE TONIGHT.
CHIEF OF STAFF MAYES AND JOHN LAWLER I'M SORRY, POLICY DIRECTOR LAWLER, THANK YOU SINCERELY FOR COMING TO D1 COMMUNITY EVENTS AND RESPONDING TO MY EMAILS.
MANY OF MY FOLLOWING COMMENTS COME FROM A CNC BLOG.
A AND 90 FOOT BUILDING COULD BE BUILT UNDER COMMERCIAL ZONING.
WE'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH THIS HOUSE ON I 35, AND I NAIVELY DROVE BY IT TODAY AND IT WAS DEMOLISHED.
SO THIS COMPATIBILITY WILL BRING THIS DEMOLITION, INCREASED PRICES, INCREASE DISPLACEMENT.
THE CITY ISN'T BEING HONEST ABOUT PEER CITY DATA.
IN REALITY, THE DALLAS ORDINANCE USES A RESIDENTIAL PROXIMITY SLOPE TO DETERMINE COMPATIBILITY, MEANING A 90 FOOT TALL STRUCTURE WOULD BE 271FT FROM THE RESIDENTIAL LINE, NOT 50 LIKE OURS.
[13:10:03]
THE CITY ARGUES THAT COMPATIBILITY IS THE ORDINANCE THAT MOST GREATLY HANDICAPS THE PRODUCTION OF HOUSING.IT CLAIMS THAT 63,000 UNITS OF HOUSING COULD BE BUILT WITH REDUCED COMPATIBILITY.
THE CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE REVEALS THAT THE CURRENT UNUSED ZONING CAPACITY IS 1.3 MILLION UNITS, OR OVER 2,000% MORE THAN THE CLAIMED GAIN FROM REDUCING COMPATIBILITY. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO INCENTIVIZE HOMEOWNERS AND DEVELOPERS TO BUILD UNDER THE CURRENT ZONING AND COMPATIBILITY CODES.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE THE CAPACITY TO BUILD 1.3 MILLION UNITS WITHOUT INCREASING ENTITLEMENTS.
PLEASE DON'T GIVE AWAY AIR RIGHTS WHEN WE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO BUILD MORE HOUSING NOW.
THANK YOU. TAKE JENNY'S LEAD AND SIT. CARMEN YANEZ, DISTRICT NINE.
I'D LIKE TO BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT COMMUNITY POWER RT IS ASKING FOR AND WHY, AND TO REITERATE THAT IS THAT AN EQUITY OVERLAY BE PUT IN PLACE, WHICH WOULD TAKE SOME TIME, BUT WE WOULD LIKE FOR YOU ALL TO INCLUDE AN EQUITY LENS AND ACTUALLY AN ANTI-DISPLACEMENT OVERLAY TO HOME TO COMPATIBILITY CHANGES.
WE ARE NOT AGAINST ELIMINATING OR WAIVING COMPATIBILITY IN MANY CASES.
WE'RE NOT ASKING YOU TO HALT THIS TO KEEP THINGS THE WAY THEY ARE IN PERPETUITY.
WE'RE DOING THIS SO THAT WE HAVE AN ACTUAL SHOT AT COMMUNITY PLANNING, WHERE BEFORE YOU GIVE AWAY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN ENTITLEMENTS WITH NO STRINGS AND NO TRADE OFFS, YOU ALLOW US AN OPPORTUNITY TO PLAN WHERE IT GOES AND NEGOTIATE FOR WHAT WE WANT.
I CAN THINK OF STRIP MALLS IN DISTRICT NINE AND ALL OVER.
SOME OF THOSE THINGS CAN BE REDEVELOPED AND EVEN THOUGH I WILL NEVER FORGET THE PHONE NUMBER 459 2222 I CAN PART WITH THAT EMPTY MR. GATTI'S, BUT I DON'T THINK EVERY SINGLE LOCAL BUSINESS THAT MAKES THESE AREAS INCREDIBLY APPEALING SHOULD BE UPROOTED.
SO WHAT DOES THIS ACTUALLY FOR? WE COULD LEVERAGE OUR ANTI-DISPLACEMENT DOLLARS WITH PRIVATE DOLLARS AND THEN WAIVE SOME OF THESE STANDARDS SO THAT WE CAN GET WHAT WE WANT.
LET'S LOOK FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES TO GET MORE AFFORDABILITY AND CONSERVATION.
ARE YOUR NEW BUILDINGS GOING TO PUT IN DUAL PIPING? WILL YOU ALLOW PEOPLE TO PUT IN HUNDREDS OF NEW TOILETS THAT FLUSH WITH OUR DRINKING WATER AND PLUG INTO OUR MAIN SEWER LINES WITHOUT ADEQUATE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS? THAT'S A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS AROUND ALL OF THIS DEVELOPMENT ARE THERE OPPORTUNITIES? ARE THERE SOLAR BATTERIES AND PANELS THAT NEED TO BE PROTECTED? WE WANT REAL COMMUNITY PLANNING.
WE WANT A CODE THAT SUPPORTS A REAL COMMUNITY INFORMED PLAN.
THAT'S WHAT NEIGHBORHOOD PLANS WERE.
THEY WERE INFILL PLANS TO ADD ZONING CAPACITY UNTIL 2040.
AND MANY OF THEM DID. THAT'S WHY THAT GIANT PURPLE BAR CHART CHART THAT JENNY JUST SHOWED EXISTS.
THERE IS TONS OF ZONING CAPACITY THAT'S NOT BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF FOR OTHER REASONS.
WE NEED REAL PLANNING SO THAT WE CAN PRESERVE WHAT WE WANT.
THAT IS HOW WE GET MORE QUALITY HOUSING.
CELI. SILLY MATTHEW ATKINSON, LAURA MARTINEZ.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM.
ERIC KILBURG, BLAIR MCKAY, ZACHARY.
BEESON, JUDY GRADFORD JEFF GRADFORD BEFORE,
[13:15:07]
IF YOU'LL HANG ON ONE SECOND.IF YOU PARKED IN THE PARKING GARAGE TODAY AND YOU'VE GOT A VALIDATION STICKER, IF YOU STAY AFTER MIDNIGHT, THAT VALIDATION STICKER WILL NOT WORK.
SO IF YOU'RE LEAVING, IF YOU'RE LEAVING NOW WE WISH YOU FAREWELL, AND YOUR STICKER WILL WORK.
SO I'LL TRY TO REMIND YOU AGAIN, BUT BUT PLEASE REMEMBER THAT.
SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU, BUT THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
ZACH FADDIS, D9 OR PRESIDENT? DON'T BELIEVE COMPATIBILITY EXISTS.
I'LL TAKE 50. IF ANYONE'S FEELING BOLD.
GOOD NIGHT. YOUR STICKER WILL WORK.
TEACHER, COMMUNITY ORGANIZER, UNION ORGANIZER.
I'M FROM ANTHOPOULOS, DISTRICT THREE.
THEY ARE TO ENRICH INVESTORS AND DEVELOPERS AND WILL CAUSE DISPLACEMENT OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
WE KNOW THAT WHEN WE INCREASE ENTITLEMENTS ON PROPERTIES WITHOUT REQUIRING REQUIRING AFFORDABILITY, WE CAUSE INCREASES IN PROPERTY TAXES AND INCREASES IN RENT IN THOSE MOST VULNERABLE OR AFFECTED THE MOST.
I ASKED MY COUNCIL MEMBER AND OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS REPRESENTING THE EASTERN CRESCENT COMMUNITIES TO STAND WITH THE COMMUNITY AND TO VOTE NO ON THESE POLICIES. VOTE FOR THE COMMUNITY POWERED AT EQUITY ANTI-DISPLACEMENT OVERLAY.
THIS OVERLAY NEEDS TO BE APPLIED TO ALL OF THESE PROPOSED POLICY CHANGES.
AND MORE DIRECTLY, I'M ASKING MY COUNCIL MEMBER, JOSE VELASQUEZ, TO REACH OUT TO OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS AND TO WORK WITH THOSE COUNCIL MEMBERS FROM THE EASTERN CRESCENT TO CHAMPION THIS OVERLAY TO PROTECT THE MOST VULNERABLE FROM THIS DISPLACEMENT THAT WILL BE CAUSED.
EDWIN BAUTISTA, KEISHA PRINCE, ERICA ALUM.
ESSER. ANA ROMERO, ANTONIA ROMERO, BEVERLY MANNING, SOL. PRAXIS, IVETTE.
FLORES, SKYLAR CORGILL, MICHAEL RHODES, HALIMA. FOSTER.
WE ARE REQUESTING THAT THE EQUITY OVERLAY PROCESS ALSO APPLY TO COMPATIBILITY.
I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE, BUT.
SO SORRY. THIS EQUITY OVERLAY NEEDS TO PROTECT RENTERS FROM GENTRIFICATION, TOO.
THIS NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING HOLISTIC.
IT CAN'T JUST APPLY TO ONE OF THE ZONING CHANGES.
IT SHOULD ALSO BE SOMETHING THAT WE LOOK AT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, RIGHT? SO. WE'D LIKE TO SEE THAT IMPLEMENTATION OF ALL OF THESE ZONING CHANGES WITHIN AREAS AT RISK OF DISPLACEMENT IS DELAYED FOR LONG ENOUGH TO DO AN EQUITY AND ANTI-DISPLACEMENT OVERLAY PROCESS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'D LIKE TO NOTE IS THIS DIDN'T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY.
WE DIDN'T HAVE TO SPEND AN ENTIRE DAY TRYING TO HASH THIS OUT.
EXPRESS EXTREME PAIN AND FRUSTRATION.
[13:20:06]
WE ALL TRIED TO COME TO COUNCIL MEMBERS IN ADVANCE.SO THAT COULD HAVE BEEN INITIATED BY COUNCIL LONG AGO, EVEN BEFORE WE BROUGHT IT UP.
RIGHT. WHEN WE SPOKE WITH LIZ MUELLER, WHO IS ONE OF THE FOLKS SIGNED ON IN SUPPORT OF THE EQUITY OVERLAY PROPOSAL, SHE SAID THAT SHE WOULD BE HAPPY FOR HER STUDENTS TO DO AN IN-DEPTH REVIEW OF EQUITY OVERLAYS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE IN OTHER CITIES AND TRY TO SEE WHAT COULD BE A GOOD FIT FOR AUSTIN AND CONTRAST THAT.
I KNOW THAT AGAIN, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT HOW WE BRING A LOT OF EMOTION TO THIS.
IT'S OUT OF LOVE FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND OUT OF THE FACT THAT WE'VE SEEN PEOPLE WE LOVE CONSTANTLY LEFT BEHIND, CONSTANTLY EXPLOITED AND MARGINALIZED THROUGH THESE PROCESSES. AND IT'S PAINFUL TO SHOW UP HERE.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT I LEARNED FROM MY ABUELITA, AND BECAUSE OF HER, I'M HERE.
I THINK EVERYONE HERE, WE'RE HERE BECAUSE OF OUR GRANDPARENTS.
WE'RE HERE BECAUSE OF OUR PARENTS AND OUR ANCESTORS.
THAT'S WHY WE SPEND OUR ENTIRE DAY AND DAYS ON END.
MONTHS, ACTUALLY, THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS WORK STRUGGLING TO BE HEARD EVEN JUST A LITTLE BIT.
YEAH. SUSAN LITMAN, AMY DELUNA.
SOPHIA GLUCK, MICHELLE ALDRIDGE.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT.
HELLO. MY NAME IS PARKER WELCH.
I'D LIKE TO URGE YOU TO PASS ALL OF THESE POLICIES TONIGHT OR TOMORROW, ACTUALLY.
AND RENTS FELL IN AUSTIN LAST YEAR.
THEY DIDN'T FALL IN INDIANAPOLIS.
THEY DIDN'T FALL IN CLEVELAND.
NOW, THAT'S NOT ENOUGH BECAUSE THE STATUS QUO ISN'T WORKING.
AND IF WE DELAY AND WE CHOOSE NOT TO MAKE THESE REFORMS, WE WILL ONLY BE REINFORCING THE STATUS QUO.
WE KNOW THIS WORKS BECAUSE WE CAN LOOK TO OTHER COUNTRIES AS WELL.
SO I WOULD LIKE US TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE LIKE TOKYO, AND A LITTLE BIT LESS LIKE THE AUSTIN OF 1928 THAT FIRST CREATED AND IMPOSED LOT SIZE MINIMUMS AND SOME OF THESE OTHER RESTRICTIONS.
YEAH. THAT'S NOT GOING TO GET INTO THAT.
MAYOR, YOU WERE AT THE FAIR HOUSING CONFERENCE.
I HEARD YOU TALK ABOUT HOW COMPATIBILITY WAS SOMETHING THAT TEMPERED OVERACTIVE DEVELOPMENT.
I MEAN, THERE'S ALL KINDS OF OTHER POLICIES THAT PROTECT ALL KINDS OF OTHER AREAS.
COUNCIL MEMBER POOLE, YOU ASKED FOR A MAP FOR HOA'S.
WHEN WE LOOKED AT DALLAS AS AN EXAMPLE OR I'M SORRY, NOT DALLAS, HOUSTON AS AN EXAMPLE, AND THEIR DEED RESTRICTIONS AND HOW THEY'RE PUBLICLY ENFORCED, THAT'S CRAZY. THAT'S PRIVATE ZONING.
IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE PUBLIC ORDER, RIGHT?
[13:25:04]
FAIR. EQUAL.RIGHT. WE'VE NEVER HAD THAT, OBVIOUSLY, BUT WE CAN DO SO MUCH BETTER TO TRY TO GET CLOSER TO THAT.
AND IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING HOA RESIDENTS PUTTING THEIR MINDS AT EASE, WHAT ARE YOU SAYING? THAT EVERYONE ELSE IS SUPPOSED TO BE STRESSED OUT? THAT EVERYONE ELSE IS SUPPOSED TO BE TERRIFIED THAT THEY'RE GOING TO LOSE THEIR HOME? BECAUSE WE KNOW HOW THE TAXING WORKS OUT HERE.
WE KNOW HOW COMPANIES BID UP PRICES.
WE KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY THESE NEW, YOU KNOW, MILLIONAIRES THAT ARE MOVING TO THE CITY.
WE KNOW HOW MUCH THEY PAY FOR STUFF.
WHY? BECAUSE SOMEBODY NOW CAN BUILD, YOU KNOW, 3 OR 4 HOUSES THAT WILL SELL FOR $700,000 OR $650,000 IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT MARGINAL SAVINGS SLIGHTLY DECELERATING THE MOST EXPENSIVE HOUSING YOU KNOW IN THE CITY THAT DOESN'T GET IT DONE, YOU NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE NEED AN EQUITY OVERLAY SO DESPERATELY, AND IT IS INSULTING HOW EAST AUSTIN HAS BEEN BROUGHT HERE IN A WAY THAT TRIES TO PUT IT ON ITS KNEES, AND YOU'LL SEE FROM THE PEOPLE THAT ARE STILL HERE, THE PEOPLE THAT TOOK OFF WORK TODAY, WE WILL NOT GO ON OUR KNEES.
LAILA. SHAMS. GABRIEL. WOJTALA.
I'VE COME TO Y'ALL AGAIN BEFORE AS SOMEBODY WHO WAS DISPLACED.
IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO RECOVER.
AND YOU HAVE HEARD FROM MANY, MANY, MANY TESTIMONIES OF WHAT THIS IS GOING TO DO, HOW RAPID IT'S GOING TO PUT OTHER PLACES, FAMILIES DISPLACED.
I'VE SPOKEN WITH YOU, MAYOR WATSON.
MISS FUENTES, MR. VELASQUEZ, I MEAN, IT'S NOT TOO MUCH TO ASK FOR YOUR COUNCIL PEOPLE TO BE PRESENT, TO MAKE THEMSELVES SEEN SO THEY CAN ACTUALLY STILL SHOW THAT THEIR CONSTITUENTS CAN TRUST IN THEM FOR WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR.
YOU SEE, YOUR HOMELESSNESS IS HIGH.
YOU THINK THEY CHOOSE TO SLEEP IN THEIR CARS.
YOU THINK THEY CHOOSE TO SLEEP IN THESE PARKS ON A DAILY BASIS? I SEE THESE PEOPLE AND THEY ARE BROKEN BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING HERE IN THE CITY THAT'S GOING TO HELP THEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN DISPLACED.
AND WE JUST WANT TO KNOW EXACTLY WHO IS THIS FOR.
WHO IS THE AFFORDABILITY FOR? BECAUSE IT'S NOT US.
WE ARE BEING PUSHED OUT FURTHER OUT FROM WHERE WE WERE.
WE WERE A FAMILY IN THE EAST AUSTIN FOR YEARS AND WE WERE ATTACKED.
THIS IS AN ATTACK WHEN YOU LET OTHER AREAS DEVELOPERS COME IN WITH NO GUIDANCE WHERE WE CAN PROTECT OUR VULNERABLE, RIGHT? THE VULNERABILITY OUR ELDERS, THE KIDS GROWING UP HERE WHO HOPE TO ONE DAY BE ABLE TO LIVE IN A CITY THAT THEY GREW UP IN, LEARNED SCHOOLS LIKE YOUR SCHOOLS, ARE BEING IMPACTED.
SO I'M ASKING AGAIN FOR Y'ALL TO.
WE ARE SACRIFICED IN THE PROCESS.
AUSTIN RESIDENTS DESERVE TO KNOW HOME IS A FALSE SOLUTION.
[13:30:04]
IT WILL ONLY MAKE THE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS WORSE.HOW WILL AVERAGE AUSTIN RESIDENTS LIKE US FEEL IT AND SEE IT? WE FEEL IT IN HIGHER PROPERTY TAXES, IN MORE DESTRUCTION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, MORE INVESTORS SITTING ON ABANDONED BUILDINGS.
WE WILL FEEL IT IN RISING RENTS AND AGAIN, DISPLACEMENT.
THE WORST PART IS THIS IS COMPLETELY AVOIDABLE.
THIS IS DESPITE THE HUNDREDS OF RESIDENTS TELLING YOU THAT THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE HOUSING COSTS.
THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS EXPIRED.
I'M BRAD MASSENGILL FROM DISTRICT THREE.
I HAD SOME PREPARED REMARKS HERE.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY AND THE MANAGER UNDERSTAND THAT I'VE HEARD REFERENCE TO REAL PAGE ANALYTICS BEING USED BY GROUPS TO DECIDE SOME OF THIS STUFF.
THEY'RE UNDER INDICTMENT IN WASHINGTON, D.C., FOR ANTITRUST IN PRICE FIXING ON RENTAL PROPERTIES USING AI TO MAXIMIZE THE MARKET.
THIS IS A THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM IN IN A IN A KING COUNTY IN ARIZONA COLLUSION.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL THERE IS THERE'S 400 MAJOR RENTERS THERE THAT ARE BEING CHARGED WITH PRICE FIXING, USING AN AI TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF THE MARKET WILL BEAR.
AND THEY'RE USING THESE FIGURES TO FIX PRICES ON THEIR ON THEIR UNITS.
IT'S MAKING THINGS UNAFFORDABLE UNNATURALLY.
IF THIS IS THE SAME THING THAT'S BEING HAPPENED HERE, WE'RE BEING MANIPULATED BY AI INTO THINKING THAT THERE'S NO AFFORDABLE HOUSING WHEN THERE IS HOUSING THAT'S OUT THERE THAT'S NOT BEING PUT ON THE MARKET, SO THEY CAN HOLD IT BACK TO KEEP THE PRICES ARTIFICIALLY HIGH.
THIS HAS BEEN PROVEN THIS THE US ATTORNEY GENERAL IS ON THIS TOO.
Y'ALL NEED TO BE ON THIS AND PAY ATTENTION TO THIS.
ON ON MY OTHER COMMENTS, IF I HAVE TIME.
THE CITY'S RECENTLY RELEASED ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT HINTS AT A RECOVERY OF OUR URBAN FORESTS AND CREEKS, AN ASSERTION THAT MANY ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY WOULD DISPUTE WHICHEVER WAY ONE LOOKS AT IT.
IGNORING THE CURRENT STRESSORS IMPACTING AUSTIN'S NATURAL SETTING AND ALLOWING EVEN MORE LAX ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS, FLIES IN THE FACE OF ALL THE HARD WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE TO ACHIEVE THESE MODEST AND RECEDING INROADS INTO SUSTAINABILITY, I'M AFRAID THE CITY COUNCIL SINGLE SINGLE MINDED PURSUIT OF FTA GRANT HAS YOU ALL THINKING IN A VERY TWO DIMENSIONAL WAY, WHEN MORE NUANCED THINKING WAS REQUIRED.
LET'S CONSIDER THE EFFECTS OF FLOODING, FIRE, WIND AND HAIL DAMAGE ON THE LOCAL INSURANCE MARKET.
THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY IS IN CRISIS.
FLOODING, FIRE AND WIND EVENTS HAVE BEEN INCREASING IN SEVERITY ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND INSURERS CANNOT MAKE A PROFIT DUE TO INCREASED SOMETHING CALLED COMBINED RATIO.
THAT'S THE RATIO, THE REVENUE TO COST RATIO.
IN OTHER WORDS, THEY'RE NOT MAKING A PROFIT.
THE RATING AGENCY A INVESTS TRACKS THESE FIGURES WITH GAUGES THE HEALTH OF THE INSURANCE MARKET IN 18 STATES AND NUMEROUS INDIVIDUAL MARKETS. INSURANCE COMPANIES HAVE STOPPED ISSUING INSURANCE DUE TO HIGH PAYOUTS AFTER CLIMATE DISASTERS IN PLACES WITHOUT.
HERRING, FRAN TATTOO, KAREN KREBS.
[13:35:04]
CARL MCCLAIN.HI. FELICITY MAXWELL D5 RESIDENTS.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD, THESE EXCELLENT CHANGES TO COMPATIBILITY IN OUR CITY.
THIS IS A LONG OVERDUE CHANGE AND CONFIRMS THAT AUSTIN BELIEVES IN AUSTIN.
AND THANK YOU TO THE LEADERSHIP OF THE DISTRICT FOUR OFFICE AND COUNCILMEMBER VELA ON THIS ISSUE.
I'M A RENTER FROM DISTRICT TEN, AND I SUPPORT ITEM FOUR.
HELLO AGAIN. CITY COUNCIL MAYOR.
I SAW YOU RUBBING YOUR EYES EARLIER.
BUT DON'T WORRY. EVEN AS AN ECONOMIST, I WILL CONSTRAIN MYSELF AND NOT ATTEMPT TO BAMBOOZLE YOU THIS LATE IN THE EVENING WITH FUN TERMS LIKE PRICE DECELERATION OR VEBLEN GOODS. I'D LOVE TO INSTEAD TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR WATER.
AGAIN, IT'S CLEAR COMPATIBILITY IS TOTALLY ARBITRARY.
WHY DOES AUSTIN HAVE THE STRICTEST COMPATIBILITY IN THE NATION, ONLY ENFORCED SINCE THE 1980S.
40 YEARS LATER, CAN WE REALLY SAY THAT FAMILY SINGLE FAMILY HOMES IN ANDERSON MILL OR TECH RIDGE ARE AN ENDANGERED SPECIES? COMPATIBILITY WAS, AS MY MOM LIKES TO SAY, ALL HAT AND NO CATTLE.
WHAT IT HAS DONE IS GUT LOW RISE DEVELOPMENTS.
COUNCILMAN 20 UNITS IN NORTH LAMAR, 40 ON PALMER.
AND SOON YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A SERIOUS HOUSING SHORTAGE.
AND THIS IS LINKED TO SURPRISE BETTER WATER CONSERVATION.
WE KNOW THAT A RATIONALIZED COMPATIBILITY IS LINKED TO GRADUAL DENSIFICATION.
AUSTIN RESIDENTS, ON AVERAGE CONSUME ONE 2130 GALLONS OF WATER PER DAY.
IN PARIS, WHERE THE MAXIMUM HEIGHT IS 140 AND OFTEN THERE'S SIX STORIES, CONSUMES ABOUT 27% LESS WATER PER CAPITA THAN THE AVERAGE AUSTINITE IN TOKYO ALREADY MENTIONED, WITH NO HEIGHT RESTRICTION.
IT'S ABOUT HALF, EVEN IN NEW YORK.
AND A STUDY BY SMART GROWTH AMERICA.
IT COSTS LESS AS MUCH AS A THIRD TO A HALF TO MAKE INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES FOR DENSITY TALLER BUILDINGS THAN IT IS TO CONNECT INFRASTRUCTURE TO NEW SINGLE FAMILY DEVELOPMENTS, FAMILY SPRAWL AND THAT INCLUDES WATER SAVES AS MUCH AS 10% ON MAINTENANCE TO BUILD UP RATHER THAN OUT.
LET'S NOT DRINK UP THE LAST CUP OF WATER FOR THE SAKE OF AN ARBITRARY LINE.
REVERSING THIS IS A SMALL STEP TOWARD SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENTAL FUTURE BY USING LESS WATER.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE REST OF YOU ALL, BUT I COULD GO FOR A DRINK AFTER THIS ONE.
BETHANY CARSON, MONICA SANCHEZ, ROCHELLE WILSON, LAURA.
SALCEDO, CYNTHIA VASQUEZ, MONICA GUZMAN HAS TIME DONATED BY ROY WHALEY AND CELINE RENDON.
IS ROY WHALEY HERE? CELINE RENDON.
WHILE WE. SHE MAKES HER WAY DOWN WITH EWAN.
[13:40:11]
EXCUSE ME.SORRY. PART OF MY STATEMENT INCLUDES A RECORDED STATEMENT, SO.
I'M MONICA GUZMAN, POLICY DIRECTOR.
I'M GOING TO START BY PLAYING A DISTRICT EIGHT RESIDENT RECORDED STATEMENT.
HOPEFULLY YOU'LL BE ABLE TO HEAR IT.
HI, MY NAME IS LAURA OLSON AND I'M HERE TODAY AS A MOM FROM DISTRICT EIGHT.
I AM HERE TO ASK YOU TO DELAY HOME.
AND TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION, TAKE THE TIME TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT.
TODAY, I WANT TO BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO THINKING ABOUT CHILDREN.
THE CHILDREN ARE THE ONES WHO WILL SUFFER.
IF YOU DO NOT DO WHAT IS RIGHT, AND DELAY THIS AND GET COMMUNITY INTO THE PROCESS AND CO-DESIGN SOLUTIONS THAT ACTUALLY ARE GOING TO CREATE TRUE AFFORDABILITY AND ARE GOING TO REDUCE THE LEVEL OF DISPLACEMENT.
UNDERSTANDING, RIGHT, THAT WHEN A FAMILY IS UNDER EXTREME ECONOMIC STRESS, CHILDREN ARE DRASTICALLY IMPACTED, RIGHT? WE KNOW THIS.
SO AS A MOM WHO HAS HAD TO SIT WITH THAT ECONOMIC STRESS AND INSTABILITY AND WONDER, HOW AM I GOING TO PULL THE RENT TOGETHER? HOW AM I GOING TO GET US ANOTHER MONTH? ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TO MOVE AGAIN? BECAUSE UNDERSTAND, FAMILIES ARE HAVING TO MOVE.
WE HEARD IT EARLIER IN TESTIMONY.
AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE FAMILIES HAVE TO MOVE AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIAR COMMUNITIES, THEIR CULTURALLY ALIGNED COMMUNITIES WHO SPEAK THEIR LANGUAGE, WHO THEY CAN COUNT ON TO CARE FOR EACH OTHER.
WE'RE LOOKING AT CHILDREN, RIGHT, WHO ARE WATCHING THIS HAPPEN IN THEIR LIVES, WHO ARE LOSING THEIR SCHOOLS, THEIR NETWORK OF CARE AND STABILITY BY BEING DISPLACED.
A MASS DISPLACEMENT WILL HARM OUR CHILDREN AND PARTICULARLY OUR BLACK AND BROWN CHILDREN.
PLEASE. TODAY YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY.
I'M ASKING YOU TO THINK ABOUT OUR CHILDREN.
I'M ASKING YOU TO CENTER THEM WHEN YOU MAKE THE DECISION YOU MAKE TODAY.
IF YOU'VE ALREADY MADE UP YOUR MIND, I WANT YOU TO QUESTION YOURSELF.
IF YOU'RE THINKING YOU'RE JUST GOING TO ROLL ON WITH HOME, I WANT YOU TO ASK YOURSELF, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO SAY TO A CHILD WHO LOOKS AT YOU AND SAY AND ASKS YOU WHAT YOU DID FOR THEM? ARE YOU GOING TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER THEM THAT YOU DID EVERYTHING YOU COULD TO TAKE CARE OF THEM? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
AS YOU HEARD, THE NEED FOR PROTECTIVE EQUITY ANTI-DISPLACEMENT OVERLAY IS REAL.
IT IMPACTS US ADULTS PAYING THE BILLS.
IT AFFECTS THEIR EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH.
IT OPENS THE DOOR FOR ALL OF THE HARMFUL ZONING PLANS ALREADY PASSED OR IN THE WORKS FOR APARTMENTS.
ELIMINATING COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS CITYWIDE WILL HARM EAST AUSTIN IN PARTICULAR, BECAUSE A LOT OF IT IS ALREADY ZONED FOR COMMERCIAL OR INDUSTRIAL INDUSTRIAL USE, WHERE HOUSES ARE, AND TAKING STANDARDS AWAY REMOVES PROTECTIONS FROM THOSE HOMES.
IT REMOVES A COMMUNITY'S ABILITY TO NEGOTIATE FOR COMMUNITY BENEFITS.
[13:45:02]
BY INCREASING THE MARKET VALUE OF PROPERTIES, THEY ALL DRIVE UP HOUSING COSTS AND ACCELERATE THE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS FOR ALL RESIDENTS BUT THE WEALTHIEST, WITH MIDDLE AND LOW INCOME RESIDENTS DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY DISPLACEMENT AND HOMELESSNESS.LIZ MUELLER, UT PROFESSOR IN THE COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING PROGRAM AT UT AUSTIN SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AND ONE OF THE AUTHORS OF THE UPROOTED REPORT MENTIONED THE NEED FOR PROTECTIVE OVERLAY.
AT THE APRIL 23RD PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING.
WE URGE YOU TO SUPPORT AND APPROVE THE CPA RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE ANTI-DISPLACEMENT OVERLAY BEFORE APPROVING CITYWIDE COMPATIBILITY, AS WELL AS THE REST OF THIS PACKAGE.
COMPATIBILITY REDUCTIONS WOULD NOT APPLY WITHIN THE OVERLAY AREA.
NEIGHBORHOODS VULNERABLE TO DISPLACEMENT.
UNLESS THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENTS MEET THE OVERLAY REQUIREMENTS.
WE NEED TO PASS THE ANTI-DISPLACEMENT EQUITY PROTECTIVE OVERLAY.
I KNOW I HAD THAT BACKWARDS AND TO DEEPEN THE AFFORDABILITY LEVEL IS REQUIRED WHEN DEVELOPERS ARE GIVEN ENTITLEMENTS BY DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS. WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO MANY OF YOU IN THE PAST, WHAT, 12 14 HOURS? PLEASE. FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NOT RESPONDED, WE ASK YOU TO THINK ABOUT YOUR CONSTITUENTS, THEIR CHILDREN AND THEIR FRIENDS.
I'M AGAINST THIS WITHOUT A EQUITY OVERLAY.
I WAS NOT PLANNING TO TALK AGAIN BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THIS IS PRETTY TOUGH.
AGAIN, I'M NORMALLY THE BIGGEST HATER.
LIKE, I HATE THE WAY POLITICIANS WALK.
I HATE THE WAY THAT THEY TALK, THE WAY THAT THEY DRESS.
I HATE THE WAY HOW THEY HOW THEY DON'T LISTEN TO US.
BUT I'M HERE WHEN I LOOK AT COMPATIBILITY, I SEE I SEE HEIGHT FOR DEVELOPERS. IT'S LIKE ANOTHER UPZONING NEOLIBERAL MARKET DRIVEN APPROACH TO HOUSING.
AND THAT'S JUST NOT FOR THE PEOPLE EVER.
THE MARKET IS NOT SOME LIVING BEING.
AND, YOU KNOW, HEARING THE SUPPLY SIDE ARGUMENT, IT JUST IT'S REALLY BASIC.
SO, LIKE TO SAY THAT RENTS WENT DOWN BECAUSE OF THE SUPPLY GOING UP.
IT'S JUST NOT LIKE IT'S NOT TAKING ANY CRITICAL THINKING.
I FEEL LIKE FOLKS ARE MISGUIDED.
WE'RE USING, YOU KNOW, LIKE RACISM, SYSTEMIC RACISM, LIKE, AGAINST US.
AND IT'S LIKE, REALLY, REALLY KIND OF MESSED UP.
I'LL TELL YOU THAT I'M AN IMMIGRANT.
YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN UNDOCUMENTED.
AND I BECAME A CITIZEN NOT TOO LONG AGO.
AND I'M GONNA, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL GOING TO REMEMBER WHAT YOU DID HERE COME NOVEMBER.
YOU KNOW, WE HOPE THAT ONCE AGAIN THAT WE CAN FIND A CHAMPION IN CITY COUNCIL.
WE HOPE THAT WE CAN FIND A CHAMPION FOR THIS ANTI-DISPLACEMENT OVERLAY.
WE HOPE THAT YOU CAN GO GO TO BED TONIGHT AND THINK ABOUT THIS.
COME BACK AND CHAMPION IT AND GO TO BED EVERY NIGHT AFTERWARDS, KNOWING YOU DID THE BEST THAT YOU COULD TO FIGHT FOR US, WHETHER IT HAPPENS OR NOT.
PLEASE BE A CHAMPION OF THE WORKING CLASS.
COUNCIL MEMBERS FUENTES AND VELASQUEZ, PLEASE.
SO I WON'T I'LL TRY NOT TO REPEAT TOO MUCH OF WHAT? SOME OF THESE FOLKS WHO JUST SPOKE SAID.
AND AS A RENTER, AS SOMEONE WHO CARES ABOUT MY UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS, I CARE THAT IT'S GOING TO INCENTIVIZE CURRENTLY AFFORDABLE APARTMENTS TO BE DEMOLISHED FOR LARGER MARKET RATE DEVELOPMENTS. ALL OF THESE RESOLUTIONS WILL DRIVE UP HOUSING COSTS AND ACCELERATE THE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS FOR ALL RESIDENTS
[13:50:04]
BUT THE WEALTHIEST.THAT MEANS THAT REDUCTION SHOULD NOT APPLY WITHIN THE OVERLAY AREA.
AND THAT MFI LEVELS, ARE TRULY AFFORDABLE TO EXISTING RESIDENTS IMPACTED BY DISPLACEMENT.
WE NEED THIS OVERLAY NOT JUST FOR HOME, BUT FOR ALL OF THESE ITEMS SO THAT RENTERS ARE ALSO PROTECTED AND SO THAT WE'RE NOT JUST GIVING AWAY ENTITLEMENTS THAT COULD HELP US INCENTIVIZE AFFORDABILITY.
OTHERWISE, AN UNCHECKED MARKET WILL DEMOLISH THE LITTLE EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT WE HAVE.
BUT GENTRIFICATION IS NOT INEVITABLE.
THE STATUS QUO CAN BE INTERRUPTED, JUST NOT BY DEREGULATION.
WE NEED TO SLOW DOWN AND EXPLORE OTHER SOLUTIONS TO INVEST AND PROTECT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
PLEASE DELAY THESE CHANGES LONG ENOUGH TO IMPLEMENT AN EQUITY OVERLAY WITH ROBUST COMMUNITY COLLABORATION ACROSS ALL HOME TOD AND COMPATIBILITY ITEMS. WE WANT TO WORK WITH YOU.
THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WITH EXPERTISE, IDEAS AND RESOURCES ENGAGED RIGHT NOW.
PLEASE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE TRULY EQUITABLE SOLUTIONS TOGETHER.
FRENZEL, FRENSLEY, RYAN POLLOCK, KENDRA CERVERA, AMANDA CARRILLO, SARAH RODRIGUEZ, MAYA LIN, MARK GONZALEZ, AND DINKLER ALVIN SANDERSON, ALFREDO REYES.
HI, I'M DONNA OSBORNE AND I HAVE LIVED IN AUSTIN SINCE 1959.
I'VE GREW UP IN A RENTER'S FAMILY IN DISTRICT SEVEN AND PARTIALLY IN DISTRICT NINE, AND HAVE LIVED MOST OF MY ADULT LIFE IN DISTRICT NINE, STARTING OUT AS A RENTER AS A POOR ARCHITECTURAL STUDENT.
SO I AM HERE AS A MEMBER OF THE WEST AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
AWANA. OUR CHAIR, CHRISTOPHER HURST, MAILED A LETTER TO ALL OF YOU EARLIER OR LAST WEEK THAT HAD SOME PROPOSALS THAT WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO CONSIDER ABOUT ITOD.
THAT IS WHERE THE RESIDENTS WANT TO LIVE, WANT TO WALK, AND WANT TO USE THE TRANSIT.
AND WE THANK COUNCIL MEMBER KADRI FOR MEETING WITH OUR NEIGHBORS.
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS EMBRACING A BREAKNECK PACE OF CHANGE, LIKE MANY OF THE OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS AND PEOPLE SPEAKING HERE TODAY, AND WE TOO WISH TO MAINTAIN OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, ALONG WITH THE INTEGRITY OF OUR HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER ONE MORE KEY CHANGE TO THE PROPOSED COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS.
OUR RESIDENTS UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR MORE HOUSING TO ACCOMMODATE GROWING POPULATION, AND WE WELCOME IT AND WORK PROACTIVELY OVER THE YEARS, WITH MANY DEVELOPERS SUPPORTING ZONING CHANGES ALLOWING FOR NEW, DENSE COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION, WHILE CAREFULLY BALANCING THE NEED TO PRESERVE THE HISTORIC FABRIC OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
TO HELP MAINTAIN THIS BALANCE, WE ASK THAT YOU ALLOW COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS IN ANY FORM TO TRIGGER BE TRIGGERED TO TRIGGER BE TRIGGERED BY EXISTING LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICTS.
WE HAVE THREE OF THE CITY'S EIGHT LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICTS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
THESE DISTRICTS HAVE SUCCESSFULLY PRESERVED HISTORY CENTURY OLD HOMES, AS WELL AS COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS THAT SIT ADJACENT TO LOTS AND ON NORTH LAMAR AND WEST SIXTH STREET. MANY OF THESE PROPERTIES ARE LOCATED IN OUR HISTORIC DISTRICTS ARE USED AS RESIDENTIAL HOMES, BUT RECEIVED INCONSISTENT ZONING.
[13:55:04]
IN THE PAST, CONSISTENTLY, HUNDREDS OF SINGLE FAMILY HOMES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE BEEN ZONED MULTI-FAMILY.BY ALLOWING THE LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICTS TO TRIGGER COMPATIBILITY, OUR CITY WILL HAVE A MORE CONSISTENT DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE CORRIDORS THAT ABUT TO THE HISTORICALLY PROTECTED PROTON OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
THIS IS A SMALL BUT SIGNIFICANT CHANGE THAT ACKNOWLEDGES OUR PAST WHILE WHILE ALLOWING FOR FUTURE GROWTH OF OUR CITY, IT WILL ENCOURAGE URBAN INFILL PROJECTS THAT CREATE NEW CONTEXTUAL DEVELOPMENT IN SCALE WITH THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD.
WELL, AFTER 12, I BECOME CINDERELLA.
SO MY VOICE IS NOT MY VOICE NO MORE, BUT.
AND I COULDN'T THINK ABOUT COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS, SO I HAD TO GO TO THE CITY WEBSITE, AND IT SAYS THE STANDARDS WERE ADOPTED TO PROTECT THE CHARACTER OF AUSTIN'S OLDER NEIGHBORHOODS BY ENSURING NEW CONSTRUCTION, REMODELS AND ADDITIONS ARE COMPATIBLE IN SCALE AND BULK WITH EXISTING NEIGHBORHOODS.
YOU'RE RELAXING EVERYTHING FOR FOR DEVELOPERS.
SO IT'S IT'S WORKING AGAINST TO WHAT THE CITY WEBSITE SAYS.
EITHER YOU CHANGE THE WEBSITE OR DO WHAT IT SAYS.
MAKE IT DON'T CHANGE THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE CHARACTER, THE VALUES AND EVERYTHING THAT IT'S SAID TO BE RELAXING COMPATIBILITY STANDARD WILL ONLY GIVE POWER TO DEVELOPERS.
I HONESTLY, WITH ALL MY HEART, WANTED TO CRY WHEN I READ THE RESOLUTION THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE SEEING IN ON THE 30TH.
AND I WANT TO SAY THAT IF WE COULD PRACTICE THAT WITH WHAT'S GOING ON WITH FLOODING, IF WE COULD PRACTICE THAT WITH A HOUSING, YOU WOULD HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE VOTING FOR YOU.
AND ALSO WITH COUNCIL MEMBER VELLA AND AND JOSE VELASQUEZ IN THE OTHER DISTRICTS, BECAUSE IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT, THAT WE BELIEVE IN THE PEOPLE THAT WE PUT IN PLACE, THE PEOPLE THAT WE VOTED.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE DON'T LOSE HOPE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE REPRESENTING OUR COMMUNITIES AND AND KEEP US BECAUSE WE ARE THE ONES THAT OR WE WERE, I WAS, BUT THE RESIDENTS WERE THE ONES, OR ARE THE ONES THAT ARE MAKING CHANGES THAT MAKING THE CITY BE A BETTER CITY AND MAKING EVEN THE DEVELOPERS HAVE BUSINESSES AND WE CAN DO IT.
IF WE COULD ONLY COME TOGETHER IN AGREEMENT WITH SOME RESTRICTIONS OR SOME PROTECTIONS FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ALREADY HERE, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE MAKING YOU BE SUCCESSFUL.
HELLO. MY NAME IS CYRUS TEHRANI.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE.
I SUPPORT COMPATIBILITY REFORM.
I THINK IT SHOULD BE ELIMINATED ALTOGETHER.
I THINK THAT WE HAVE SOME GREAT MOMENTUM GOING AS FAR AS LOWERING RENTS.
AND IT'S NOT JUST OVERALL RENTS.
CLASS THREE LOWEST INCOME RENTS ARE DOWN 9.3% YEAR OVER YEAR.
WE'RE SEEING FILTERING WORK HERE IN AUSTIN.
[14:00:06]
WE'RE SEEING LOWER INCOME, MARKET RATE HOUSING GO DOWN TO AND LOWER INCOME FOLKS LIVE IN MARKET RATE HOUSING.SO WE NEED TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO BRING MARKET RATE HOUSING DOWN UNTIL WE LOOK AT OTHER MECHANISMS. AND WE NEED TO KEEP LOOKING AT MECHANISMS TO FUND MASS PUBLIC HOUSING.
THAT IS IMPORTANT, BUT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT TOOLS WE HAVE RIGHT NOW AT THE TABLE.
AND COMPATIBILITY IS A CHANCE TO KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING THAT WE HAVE.
IF YOU WERE TO GO BACK TO CAMBRIDGE TODAY.
IT HASN'T CHANGED MUCH, BUT THE COST OF HOMES IN CAMBRIDGE HAS SKYROCKETED.
THERE'S SOME AREAS LIKE KENDALL SQUARE THAT HAVE CHANGED A LITTLE BIT, BUT WE HAVEN'T.
THE SAME HAS STOPPED DISPLACEMENT.
THE BUILDINGS LOOK THE SAME, THE PEOPLE CHANGE.
AND I WANT TO AVOID THAT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
HERE IN AUSTIN, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE WEALTHY ARE GOING TO MOVE HERE WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT.
WE NEED TO MAKE ROOM FOR THEM SO THEY DON'T PUSH LOWER INCOME FOLKS OUT.
AND THAT COMPATIBILITY IS ONE WAY TO CREATE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF UNITS TO ENSURE THAT HAPPENS.
SO PLEASE SUPPORT COMPATIBILITY REFORM.
IF YOU GO FURTHER IN ELIMINATING IT, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
THERE'S THERE'S JUST NO EQUITY REASON TO TO SEGREGATE THOSE TWO GROUPS.
MAYOR. PRO-TEM. COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I SERVE AS THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF HOUSING WORKS AUSTIN.
I WANT TO COME BEFORE YOU TO SAY THAT HOUSING WORK SUPPORTS PROPOSED CHANGES TO CITY WIDE COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS THAT WILL ALLOW FOR INCREASED DEVELOPMENT OF HOUSING PROXIMATE TO SINGLE FAMILY ZONED AREAS, INCLUDING SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASING THE FEASIBILITY OF NEW DEVELOPMENTS, TAKING ADVANTAGE OF AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING DENSITY BONUS.
THE EXISTING DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS AND INCENTIVIZE GREATER PARTICIPATION IN THESE PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT OUR CITY, REDUCING THE IMPACT OF COMPATIBILITY ON SMALLER LOTS AND SMALLER HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS WILL ALSO INCREASE HOUSING CHOICE THROUGHOUT AUSTIN, WHILE REQUIRING BETTER DESIGN STANDARDS THAN WE'VE HAD BEFORE.
WHETHER YOU'RE JOINING US VIRTUALLY OR JOINING US ON THE DAIS.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY.
THOMAS GRICE SPEAKING ON ITEM FOUR.
HI THERE. COUNCIL, THIS IS THOMAS GRICE, AKA URBAN COWBOY.
I JUST WANT TO SAY I'M HERE TO SUPPORT ALL THE PRO HOUSING POLICIES SUCH AS HOME.
I HEARD SOMEONE EARLIER CITE THEIR GRANDMOTHER AND BEING AGAINST THESE POLICIES.
MY GRANDMOTHER IS CURRENTLY LIVING IN A SUBURBAN AREA IN TEXAS, AND SHE IS NOT HAPPY AS SHE AGES AND IS NOT ABLE TO GET AROUND WITHOUT A VEHICLE, DOESN'T HAVE AS MANY OPTIONS TO DOWNSIZE, DOESN'T LIVE IN A WALKABLE COMMUNITY, OR HAVE MANY OPTIONS FOR ONE.
PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE DISPLACEMENT EXPERIENCE IN THE PAST DECADE OR SO.
WELL, LOGIC WOULD DICTATE THAT THE DISPLACEMENT EXPERIENCE IN THE RECENT HISTORY IN AUSTIN WOULD BE BECAUSE OF THE RESTRICTIVE LAND USE CODE OF 1984, AND NOT THESE MODEST DENSITY IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAVEN'T EVEN PASSED YET.
IF WE LOOK AT CITIES AND REGIONS THAT HAVE RESTRICTIVE ZONING, THE ONES THAT PEOPLE AGAINST THESE POLICIES SEEM TO BE TRYING TO CREATE HERE IN AUSTIN, I THINK OF AREAS SUCH AS THE BAY AREA, SILICON VALLEY, CITIES LIKE SAN JOSE, WHICH HAVE A MEDIAN SALE PRICE FOR HOMES OF $1.5 MILLION.
SO I WOULD LIKE PEOPLE TO THINK ABOUT ALL OF THE BEAUTIFUL, WALKABLE, SAFER, AFFORDABLE, TRANSIT ABLE CITIES AROUND THE WORLD CITIES LIKE VIENNA, TOKYO, PARIS, ETC.
THEY ALL HAVE EFFECTIVELY MUCH MORE PERMISSIVE ZONING AND DENSER HOUSING.
[14:05:05]
SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT AND A THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE STAFF AND COUNCIL FOR LISTENING TO SO MUCH INPUT.THANK YOU. MAYOR, ALL SPEAKERS FOR ITEM FOUR HAVE BEEN CALLED.
THANK YOU. MEMBERS, THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
[1. Approve an ordinance amending City Code Chapter 4-18 (General Permitting Standards) related to density bonus and incentive program requirements for redeveloping existing non-residential space and existing multi-family structures. (Part 1 of 2)]
AND WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER ONE.ITEM ONE. HELLO, THIS IS CANON SWARM.
I DON'T REALLY HAVE A DISTRICT BECAUSE I'M HOMELESS.
I HAVE A SPEECH PREPARED TO SAY, BUT THEN I SIT HERE ALL NIGHT, LIKE, I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE 10:00 THIS MORNING, AND I'VE LISTENED TO EVERYBODY, AND I REALLY, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S VERY MANY PEOPLE LEFT OUT THERE FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO LOOK AT, BUT I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU ALL TO LOOK OUT AT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE STILL SITTING OUT THERE.
I WATCHED A VIDEO WHERE YOU WERE SPEAKING AT UT LAW OR THE SCHOOL OF LAW FOR UT GRADUATION, AND YOU SAID SOMETHING THAT I REALLY LIKED. YOU SAID THAT THERE'S A PHRASE THAT THEY HAVE THERE AT SCHOOL THAT THEY COULD ONLY GET AWAY WITH THERE AT UT.
AND THAT WAS WHAT HAPPENS HERE WILL CHANGE THE WORLD.
SO I JUST WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THAT YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO CHANGE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE'S WORLDS WITH THIS WITH ALL OF THESE ITEMS THAT ARE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED TONIGHT, AND.
I ACTUALLY SUFFERED AT THE HANDS OF, OF THE CITY BECAUSE I'M HOMELESS.
RIGHT BEFORE THANKSGIVING, MY CAMP GOT SWEPT AND I LOST EVERYTHING.
THE CITY EVEN THREW MY VAN IN THE TRASH.
THEY RIPPED IT. IT WASN'T THE CITY.
IT WAS THE CREW THAT Y'ALL CHOSE TO DO THE SWEEP.
BUT THEY TORE THE ROOF OFF MY VAN, STOLE MY ITEMS. $600 WORTH OF COLLEGE TEXTBOOKS WAS IN MY VAN.
I'M ON HORMONES, TRYING TO GO TO SCHOOL.
AND AFTER THE SWEEP, I DIDN'T HAVE NO BOOKS.
I COULDN'T DO ANYTHING. ALL I HAD WAS THE CLOTHING ON MY BACK, MY DOG AND MY PHONE.
I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A QUARTER CHARGE MY PHONE WITH.
I LOCKED MY FINANCIAL AID BECAUSE OF THE SWEEP.
I CAN'T DO NOTHING. I'M STUCK OUT HERE ON THE STREET.
NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE STUFF THAT I'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH.
AND THERE'S PEOPLE THAT I SEE THAT HAVE IT WORSE.
THAT'S $11,000 DOWN THE DRAIN.
I HAVE TO PAY THOSE LOANS BACK.
Y'ALL ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT.
THAT'S ME. I SIGNED THE LOAN, AND IT'S JUST UNFAIR.
BUT Y'ALL HAVE A JOB THAT Y'ALL HAVE TO DO.
Y'ALL HAVE TO ENFORCE PROPOSITION B AND HOUSE BILL 1925.
AND EVEN Y'ALL COULD BE HOMELESS TOMORROW.
YOU NEVER KNOW. I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR THE HARD WORK THAT Y'ALL DO.
HE, ONE OF HIS CONSTITUENTS SAID, YOU KNOW, LOOKED AT HIM AND COULD TELL SOMETHING WAS WRONG.
THANK YOU. Y'ALL HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.
ANGELA GARZA SPEAKING ON ITEM ONE.
I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH, BUT I REALLY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ON THIS ONE.
WE'RE GOING TO GO TO IN-PERSON SPEAKERS.
I WAS THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF HOUSING WORKS, AUSTIN.
[14:10:08]
DEVELOPMENT CODE CONVERSATIONS, THE CHANGES BEING PROPOSED TO CHAPTER 418.SO LET ME TALK ABOUT WHAT DO THESE CHANGES DO? AND I SPECIFICALLY WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE CHANGES BEING PROPOSED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KADRI.
AND I HOPE THAT THAT IS AN AMENDMENT THAT FOLKS WILL BE ABLE TO SUPPORT TOMORROW.
IT WOULD ASK FOR REPLACING ALL UNITS THAT ARE BELOW 70% MFI.
SO ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT THE STAFF ASKED WAS AT 60%, AND WE WOULD GO BEYOND THAT.
THIS WILL CAPTURE OVER 10,000 NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS AND MOVE THEM TOWARDS A PERPETUITY OF AFFORDABILITY FOR UP TO 40 YEARS AT 60% MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME.
SO AGAIN, WE'RE GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT IS PART OF OUR REGULAR DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS. IT WOULD PROVIDE GREATER NOTICE TO TENANTS BEFORE THEY CAN BE ASKED TO VACATE, DURING WHICH TIME THEY CAN ACTUALLY TERMINATE THEIR LEASE WITHOUT A PENALTY AND HAVE THEIR SECURITY DEPOSITS RETURNED.
WE WILL ALSO HAVE RELOCATION BENEFITS GIVEN TO FOLKS THAT WILL BE UP TO FOUR TIMES THE RENT THAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED IN THE PAST MONTH, INCLUDING FIXED COSTS AROUND MOVING OUT THAT WILL BE TIED TO ESSENTIALLY WHAT IS IN THE UNIFORM RELOCATION ACT.
WE WOULD ALSO BE ALLOWING ALL TENANTS THE ABILITY TO COME BACK INTO UNITS OF COMPARABLE SIZE, AND THOSE THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE AFFORDABLE UNITS TO BE ABLE TO MOVE INTO THEM FIRST AS A PART OF A RIGHT TO RETURN, AND LASTLY TO HAVE A WAIVER OF THESE REQUIREMENTS ONLY THROUGH FULL CITY COUNCIL ACTION AND WITH DETERMINATION OF OUR STAFF THROUGH THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING STRATEGIC BLUEPRINT REQUIREMENTS.
SO AGAIN, THIS IS HOW WE TALK ABOUT BUILDING THIS INTO EQUITABLE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT AND OTHER DEVELOPMENTS IN THE FUTURE TO REALLY ENSURE THAT WE ARE PRESERVING NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND EQUITABLY EXPANDING OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAMS. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.
THANK YOU MAYOR, COUNCIL I'M ZENOBIA JOSEPH.
MAYOR, I HAVE A TECHNICAL COMMENT, IF YOU DON'T MIND, AS SPECIFICALLY AS IT RELATES TO THE SIGN UP, I WAS HERE ON TUESDAY AND IT SAID THERE WAS NO MEETING TO REGISTER FOR.
IT DOESN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE KIOSK, AND YOU MAY RECALL SUSANA ALMANZA FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS WHERE YOU ALLOWED HER TO SPEAK BECAUSE SHE CAME IN PERSON AND WAS UNABLE TO REGISTER.
AND SO I JUST WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THE NOTICE.
THERE'S ALSO A PROBLEM AS IT RELATES TO YOU UNILATERALLY ELIMINATING ACTION ITEM NUMBER TWO, WHICH WAS THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR EQUITABLE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT. I WOULD JUST ASK YOU TO ACTUALLY WITHDRAW ALL OF THESE ITEMS. I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER, MAYOR, ON DECEMBER 17TH, 2018, YOU TESTIFIED BEFORE CAPITAL METRO, SPECIFICALLY ON PROJECT CONNECT AND THE LONG RANGE PLAN EXCLUDED NORTH LAMAR TRANSIT CENTER.
BUT THEN FAST FORWARD TO DECEMBER 2020.
CAPITAL METRO GOT $900,000 FROM THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION.
YOU SAY ONE THING, DO ANOTHER, AND THEN DOCUMENT WHAT IS SAID TO FOOL THE FEDS TO GET THE FUNDING.
WHEN YOU GET THE FUNDING, YOU THEN IMPROVE THE RAIL.
AND SO YOU HAVE BASICALLY USED YOUR POWER AND YOUR POSITION TO CIRCUMVENT THE LAW.
IT WAS DEVELOPED EXCLUSIVELY FOR WHITE PEOPLE BY COLONEL MONROE SHIPE, 1889 AND 1924.
AND THEN I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THAT ON MARCH 12TH, 2020, COUNCIL ACTUALLY DECIDED TO PURCHASE ONE ACRE AT THE BAKER SCHOOL FOR $3.8 MILLION, WHICH EFFECTIVELY KILLED AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER ON OCTOBER 17TH, 2019, COUNCIL ACTUALLY REZONED ONE OF THE LARGEST PARCELS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, 1308 UNITS.
SO WHEN YOU'RE SITTING HERE TALKING ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND PRESERVING IT, THAT IS A FALSEHOOD.
MANDY DEMAYO SUBMITTED TO THE HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT OCTOBER 2023, AN APPLICATION FOR $10 MILLION FOR THE PEARL HOUSING GRANT PATHWAYS TO REMOVING OBSTACLES TO HOUSING.
[14:15:03]
AND IN THAT REPORT, SHE ACTUALLY ADMITTED THAT YOU BUILT LESS THAN TEN AFFORDABLE HOMES WEST OF MOPAC.I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS STRATEGIC HOUSING BLUEPRINT THAT YOU KEEP REFERRING TO ACTUALLY SAYS THAT YOU HAVE FEW ITEMS. THANK YOU. AFFORDABLE HOUSING ITEMS IN THE WEST.
COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS JEFF DICKERSON, DISTRICT FIVE.
I AM SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM ONE.
BUT I WOULD REQUEST A COUPLE OF THINGS TO THINK ABOUT TO BE ADDED TO THIS.
ONE IS METRICS TO SEE HOW THIS PROGRAM REALLY IS WORKING.
SOME KIND OF GUARDRAILS TO TRACK HOW THE FUNDING IS DONE, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO BE LIKE LOS ANGELES AND LOSE $20 BILLION.
LET'S BE RESPONSIBLE FOR TAXPAYERS MONEY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.
JANICE RANKIN, LEYLA DEBAKEY, MATTHEW ATKINSON, CARA SAID LAURA MARTINEZ, EDWIN BAUTISTA.
CABALLERO, NATALIE FRIENDLY, SARAH.
I'M MONICA GUZMAN, GALVO, POLICY DIRECTOR D4 RESIDENT.
ALTHOUGH IT IS. AFTER MIDNIGHT, SOMEBODY TOLD ME I TURN INTO A PUMPKIN.
BUT I WILL BE RELATIVELY BRIEF BECAUSE IT'S VERY SHORT DRAFT ORDINANCE, NOT A WHOLE LOT OF DETAILS.
WHAT RAISES MY CONCERN? AND MANY OTHERS.
I ADMIT I DIDN'T READ IT ALL, DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IT ALL.
BUT THERE IS CONCERN ABOUT SUBJECTIVITY FOR DECIDING WHETHER OR NOT A UNIT OR A STRUCTURE IS UNFIT BEYOND REPAIR, BEYOND HABITABILITY.
SUBJECTIVE. I DIDN'T SEE ANY MENTION OF STANDARDS.
I ALSO READ WHAT YOU PUT ON THE COUNCIL MESSAGE BOARD.
YOU KNOW THAT CHICK, CHICK CHICK IN THE LINK IN THE GRAIL? THE ARMOR TO WORK IT TO THEIR ADVANTAGE? IF THERE IS HABITABLE, AFFORDABLE UNITS AND IT CAN BE REPAIRED.
[14:20:01]
IT'S NOT TOTALLY UNREASONABLE.THEN WE NEED TO PROTECT THOSE.
YOU'VE HEARD THAT FROM US OVER AND OVER AGAIN OVER THE PAST 14 HOURS.
PERSONALLY, AS A D4 RESIDENT, I AM SO DAMN TIRED OF PEOPLE WHO ASSUME THAT JUST BECAUSE WE WANT PROTECTIONS, THAT MAKES US THE ENEMY. JUST BECAUSE WE WANT YOU TO PROTECT THE VULNERABLE, THAT MAKES US EVIL.
I BUSTED MY ASS WORKING MY WAY THROUGH COLLEGE FOR MY BACHELOR'S AND MASTER'S DEGREE.
I HAVE VOTED EVERY ELECTION SINCE I WAS 18.
I'LL BE DAMNED IF ANYBODY TELLS ME I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
THANK YOU. MAYOR ALVEY, SPEAKERS FOR ITEM ONE HAVE BEEN CALLED.
YOU JUST HEARD THAT ALL THE SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER ONE HAVE BEEN CALLED.
[7. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance amending City Code Title 25 (Land Development) to create regulations that allow properties to be used for charging electric vehicles. (Part 1 of 2)]
MADAM CLERK. ANGELA GARZA.IN PERSON IS ZEESHAN MALIK, ELIZABETH WOOD, RICE.
JACKSON, CINDY REED, TOM ASHLEY, JEFF DICKERSON, MARY LAVELLE, PAMELA.
GOOD MORNING AGAIN, JEFF DICKERSON, DISTRICT FIVE.
I AM SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM SEVEN, UNFORTUNATELY.
WHY? IT DOES NOTHING TO HELP AFFORDABILITY AND IN FACT INCREASES COST TO PEOPLE LIVING AROUND HERE WITH INCREASED FEES, SERVICING, TAXES.
THE MONEY'S GOT TO COME FROM SOMEPLACE TO BUILD THESE CHARGING STATIONS.
I HEAR PEOPLE ON COUNCIL, PLANNING COMMISSION AND IN THE AUDIENCE THERE COMPLAINING ABOUT HOUSING AFFORDABILITY, RENTAL AFFORDABILITY.
I'M ALMOST POSITIVE THAT THESE SAME PEOPLE CANNOT AFFORD A 45 TO $50,000 EV.
HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU KNOW THAT ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THESE COSTS ARE GOING TO GO OUT TOMORROW AND BUY THAT EV, EV CHARGING STATION SUDDENLY, MAGICALLY APPEARS.
WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS IN THIS IS TO HAVE, BY 20, 36 YEARS FROM NOW, 460,000 PROJECTED EV CARS HERE IN AUSTIN.
DO YOU REALLY THINK THAT IS A REASONABLE GOAL? THE CITY OF AUSTIN, LIKE ANY OTHER MAJOR PROJECT, UNDERESTIMATES REALLY WHAT HAPPENS? THAT'S A SIDE NOTE I KEEP HEARING FROM RECENT GRADUATES, BUT MINIMAL TIME ON THEIR JOB CAREERS INSTANTLY WANTED TO BUY A HOME AND COMPLAINED WHEN THEY CANNOT.
IT TOOK ME 15 YEARS TO BUY A HOME.
NOT BAD. NOT THREE, NOT TWO, NOT ONE.
SO A LITTLE ADVICE FROM A GRANDDAD, A FATHER OR A BOOMER AS MY OWN DAUGHTER CALLS ME. THOSE THAT ARE EXPECTING, EVEN DEMANDING THAT WE PAY FOR THEIR HOUSING SUBSIDIES SHOULD CONSIDER A LITTLE SAVING. MORE EATING OUT LESS, PERFORMING A LITTLE MORE MANUAL LABOR, GARDENING IF SPACE IS AVAILABLE.
I, ALONG WITH A LOT OF SILENT TAX PAYERS, ARE REALLY NOT IN A MOOD TO HAND OUT ANY MORE FREE MONEY.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING AND GOOD LUCK ON YOUR VOTING BOATING TOMORROW.
GET SOME SLEEP AND DRIVE HOME SAFELY.
[14:25:02]
THANK YOU. THANK YOU.GOOD MORNING. EARN YOUR MONEY TONIGHT, AREN'T YOU? YEAH. LUCKILY, I'M A NIGHT OWL, SO IT'S WHAT'S WORKING OUT GREAT FOR ME.
I'M STEPPING IN FOR TOM ASHLEY, WHO COULDN'T BE HERE TONIGHT.
I'M THE SENIOR MANAGER OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOR VOLTERRA.
VOLTERRA IS A COMPANY THAT SITES, INVESTS IN, BUILDS, OWNS AND OPERATES CHARGING FACILITIES THAT ENABLE ELECTRIC VEHICLE DEPLOYMENT AND OPERATION AT SCALE.
OUR BUSINESS SUPPORTS CUSTOMERS RANGING FROM EXACTLY THE TYPE OF FLEETS THAT ARE BEING TARGETED BY THE CITY'S 2030 ELECTRIFICATION GOALS TO BRANDED CHARGING NETWORKS THAT PROVIDE PUBLIC CHARGING.
THE DRAFT AMENDMENT IS AN IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD, BUT WE BELIEVE THERE ARE CHANGES THAT ARE NECESSARY TO ESTABLISH MORE FLEXIBILITY AND ACCOMMODATING THE NEEDS OF FLEETS AND DENSITY OF EV CHARGING STATIONS NECESSARY TO SUPPORT THE ACHIEVEMENT OF THE CITY'S CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN.
WITHOUT THESE CHANGES AND OR THE CHANGES TO THE CITY'S CONDITIONAL USE APPROVAL PROCESS, WE FEAR THAT THE DRAFT CODE AMENDMENT MAY HAVE THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE OF STIFLING, RATHER THAN ENABLING, INVESTMENT BY COMPANIES LIKE VOLTERRA IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND ASSOCIATED FACILITIES CRITICAL TO THE TRANSITION TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES.
ONE WAS TO ESTABLISH A 50,000 SQUARE FOOT SIZE THRESHOLD, RATHER THAN THE DRAFTED 25,000 SQUARE FOOT THRESHOLD, AND TWO TO REDUCE THE 1000 FOOT DISTANCE RESTRICTION TO 500 BETWEEN 500 AND 750FT, OR ESTABLISH A MINIMUM NUMBER OF CHARGERS PER SITE THAT WOULD TRIGGER A DENSITY RESTRICTION.
ABSENT OF THESE CHANGES TODAY, WE RECOMMEND THAT THE COUNCIL DELAY VOTING ON THIS EV CHARGING CODE AMENDMENT TO ENABLE MORE TIME TO STRUCTURE THE CODE BETTER TO ALIGN WITH THE CITY'S ELECTRIFICATION GOALS.
IF YOU CANNOT DELAY, THEN WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND CHANGES TO THE CITY'S CONDITIONAL USE PERMITTING PROCESS TO STREAMLINE THE DEVELOPMENT OF EV CHARGING STATIONS AND FACILITIES. FOR EXAMPLE, WE RECOMMEND THAT THE COMPATIBILITY COMPATIBLE USE PROCESS OCCUR AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SITE PLAN REVIEW, RATHER THAN ALL THE WAY AT THE END.
MAYOR. MAYOR. THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS.
WHAT IF WE DON'T WANT TO QUIT? MEMBERS YOU JUST ANYBODY SPEAKING? YEAH. YEAH. MEMBERS.
FIRST OF ALL, BEFORE WE GET DOWN TO JUST WHAT WE NEED TO DO BEFORE TOMORROW OR ACTUALLY BEFORE LATER TODAY I WANT TO SAY ON BEHALF OF ALL OF THE COUNCIL THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE STAFF THAT HAS BEEN SUPPORTIVE, THAT INCLUDES EACH OF OUR INDIVIDUAL STAFFS OF THE MAYOR AND MAYOR'S OFFICE AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, BUT ALSO THE PROFESSIONAL STAFF THAT'S BEEN WITH US THROUGHOUT THIS AND A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT IS DESERVED BY THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE. SO THANK YOU ALL VERY, VERY MUCH.
WE'VE NOW GONE A LITTLE LONGER.
IF SOMEBODY OBJECTS, THEN WE'LL SEE IT WITH TEN.
BUT WE'LL ALL BE VERY PLEASANT.
[14:30:01]
SO 11:00 IS WHAT I'M GOING TO RECOMMEND ON THAT.SO WHEN WE, WHEN WE RECESS HERE IN A MOMENT, WE WILL RECESS UNTIL 11 A.M.
ON THE 17TH OF 2024, AND WE WILL MEET AGAIN HERE IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
THE REASON WE DID THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF SPEAKERS.
AND I THOUGHT WE WOULD PROBABLY HAVE SOME SPEAKERS LEAVE.
AND SO I, WE THOUGHT WE WOULD DO IS GET AS MANY SPEAKERS AS WE COULD ON THE INITIAL ITEMS. SO TOMORROW, WHAT I WANT TO RECOMMEND IS THAT WE GO IN MORE OF A NUMERICAL ORDER.
WE WILL GO WITH ITEM NUMBER ONE.
THEN I'M GOING TO SAY NUMERICAL ORDER.
BUT I WANT TO SKIP TO FOUR BECAUSE FIVE NEEDS TO COME BEFORE THREE.
HERE YOU GO. ONE, FOUR, FIVE, THREE, SIX AND SEVEN.
AND THEN WE WILL TAKE UP AMENDMENTS.
ITEM NUMBER SIX WILL BE THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION.
AND THEN ITEM NUMBER SEVEN AGAIN WILL BE A STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
FOLKS, REMEMBER THAT IF YOU CAME IN AND PARKED BEFORE MIDNIGHT, THE VALIDATION STICKER THAT YOU GOT AT THE IF YOU GOT IT EARLIER WILL NOT WORK.
BE SURE YOU GET A VALIDATION STICKER AS YOU LEAVE.
I BELIEVE HE HAS BEEN WELL WELCOMED.
COUNCILMEMBER ALLISON ALTER I WANTED TO THANK ALL THE SPEAKERS WHO CAME TODAY AND YESTERDAY TO SPEAK TO US AND JUST WANT TO MENTION WE ALSO HAVE TO WE ALSO HAVE TO WITHDRAW ITEM TWO.
YES. WITH ITEM NUMBER TWO WAS WITHDRAWN AS PART OF THE CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS.
OH IT WAS. YES. AND I READ THAT INTO THE RECORD.
THANK YOU. MY MISTAKE. BUT YEAH IT WAS SEVERAL HOURS AGO.
SO YOU'RE FORGIVEN FOR NOT REMEMBERING.
ALL RIGHT. ANYTHING ELSE WITH THAT? AND WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL IS IN RECESS UNTIL 11 A.M.
[10:00 AM – City Council Convenes]
IT IS 11:00 IN THE MORNING ON MAY 17TH, 2024 AND THE CITY COUNCIL HAS BEEN IN RECESS AND I WILL CALL BACK TO ORDER THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL FOR THIS MEETING.AND WE HAVE A QUORUM OF THE COUNCIL PRESENT.
ITEM NUMBER TWO IS WITHDRAWN AND REPLACED WITH ITEMS FOUR THROUGH SEVEN ON THE ADDENDUM AGENDA.
MEMBERS. THE ORDER THAT WE WILL GO IN TODAY IS ONE ITEMS 145, WHICH NEEDS TO GO BEFORE THREE THREE, SIX AND SEVEN.
A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I'LL POINT OUT TO THE COUNCIL JUST TO KEEP IN MIND, AND I'M SURE THEY'RE ALREADY AWARE, BUT ITEM NUMBER ONE, THE BASE MOTION WILL BE TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER ONE, IT WILL BE BASED ON THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
ALL OTHERS WILL BE BASED ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION.
ITEM NUMBER ONE REQUIRES SEVEN VOTES.
I'M SORRY, I HAD A DIFFERENT NOTE TO MYSELF.
THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT OUT.
YEAH. I'LL CALL OUT THE NUMBER OF VOTES WE NEED ON EACH OF THESE ITEMS AS WE GO ALONG.
I HAD A DIFFERENT NOTE THAT INVOLVED SEVEN, AND SO I APOLOGIZE.
SO 145367 STAFF RECOMMENDATION ON ONE PLANNING COMMISSION ON ALL OF THE OTHERS.
AND THEN I'LL CALL OUT AS WE GO THROUGH MEMBERS.
WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS JUST FOR ORGANIZATION PURPOSES AND REALLY NOTHING ELSE.
[14:35:01]
YOU WHICH AMENDMENTS AND IN WHICH ORDER.I'M GOING TO TRY TO BRING THEM UP.
DO YOU WISH TO BE RECOGNIZED? YES. OKAY.
I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS MORNING IS BIKE TO WORK DAY.
AND YES, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLEN.
I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE ONLY ITEM THAT WE'RE STARTING WITH THE PC RECOMMENDATION IS SIX OTHER ONES HAVE THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION AS THE BASIS.
THAT'S WHAT I HOPE. HOPEFULLY I'VE SAID.
I JUST WANTED TO YOU SAID THAT THERE WERE MORE.
IT SOUNDED LIKE YOU WERE SAYING THERE WAS MORE THAN ONE THAT HAD PC RACKS.
SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT WE HADN'T ADDED ONE.
I WASN'T IF I SAID IT, I APOLOGIZE, BUT IT'S CONFUSING.
LET ME DO IT AGAIN AS WE GO THROUGH THESE IN ITEM ONE, FOUR, FIVE, THREE, SIX AND SEVEN.
ITEM NUMBER ONE, THE BASE MOTION WILL BE BASED UPON THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
ALL RIGHT. NOW WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO CALL UP ITEM NUMBER ONE AND I WILL ASK FOR A MOTION.
[1. Approve an ordinance amending City Code Chapter 4-18 (General Permitting Standards) related to density bonus and incentive program requirements for redeveloping existing non-residential space and existing multi-family structures. (Part 2 of 2)]
AND THEN WE WILL GO TO AMENDMENTS.IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELLA MEMBERS.
THE ORDER THAT I INTEND TO GO IN.
SO. AND I'LL GIVE COUNCIL MEMBER KADRI A SECOND, BECAUSE THIS IS THE ORDER THAT I INTEND TO GO IN ON THE THE AMENDMENTS THAT I HAVE DRAFTS OF KADRI TWO KADRI MOTIONS, MOTIONS TO AMEND, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER, COUNCIL MEMBER VANESSA FUENTES AND THEN MAYOR PRO TEM.
SO THE FIRST ITEM, THE FIRST ITEM I WILL RECOGNIZE.
COUNCIL MEMBER CORDRAY ON HIS MOTION TO AMEND IT, IS A MOTION TO AMEND RESIDENTIAL REDEVELOPMENT REQUIREMENTS. IT IS REPLACING PART TWO OF THE DRAFT ORDINANCE AND ADDING A NEW PART TO THE DRAFT ORDINANCE SO THAT THE ORDINANCE READS.
AND THEN IT HAS THE SECTION COUNCIL MEMBER.
THANK YOU. MAYOR. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.
TEN HOURS LATER. IT'S NOT QUITE AFTERNOON YET.
COME ON, COME ON. GOOD MORNING, GOOD MORNING, GOOD AFTERNOON.
AND IF THAT'S ANY INDICATION OF HOW LONG THIS AMENDMENT IS GOING TO TAKE.
YEAH. BUT I'M HAPPY TO BE BACK.
THANKFUL THAT SO MANY FOLKS ARE BACK IN THE ROOM WHO JOINED US LAST NIGHT.
HOPEFULLY FOLKS GOT SOME GOOD SLEEP AND WERE ABLE TO BIKE TO WORK THIS MORNING.
I HAVE TWO MOTIONS THIS THIS MORNING ON ITEM NUMBER ONE.
THERE'S A YELLOW COPY IN FRONT OF Y'ALL.
THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A YELLOW COPY YESTERDAY.
BUT IT'S. BUT IT'S BEEN ONLINE.
THAT'S MOTION ONE, WHICH THE MAYOR LAID OUT.
YOU KNOW, WHAT WE WANT TO DO WITH IT IS SUPPORT THE CREATION OF MORE HOUSING UNITS.
GOALS OF MORE INCOME RESTRICTED HOUSING NEAR TRANSIT.
IT PROVIDES REGULATIONS FOR ALL BONUS PROGRAMS, NOT JUST ITOD.
WHAT WORKS FOR LAMAR MIGHT NOT WORK FOR CESAR CHAVEZ.
SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT.
IT'S MORE FLEXIBILITY WITHIN THE NOTICE PERIOD.
MOVING COSTS ARE UP FRONT, MORE UNITS IMPACTED THAN STAFF'S ORIGINAL PROPOSAL.
AND OUR VERSION TWO INCORPORATES A LOT OF THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.
IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION TO AMEND? SECONDED BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR PLANNING STAFF.
I BELIEVE ERICA MIGHT BE THE BEST SUITED FOR THIS QUESTION.
[14:40:01]
WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION YESTERDAY.BUT I JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT HERE WHEN, WHEN WE CALIBRATE A DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM OUR GOAL OR OUR STAFF'S GOAL, IS TO TO SET IT AT A LEVEL WHERE IT'S THE PERCENT OF UNITS THAT WE'RE REQUIRING IS NOT SO LOW THAT WE'RE LEAVING SOMETHING ON THE TABLE, BUT NOT SO HIGH THAT NO ONE WILL USE IT.
IS THAT A FAIR INTERPRETATION? CORRECT, ERIC. PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
AND WE DO HAVE CONSULTANTS ON BOARD WHO ARE WORKING TO LOOK AT ALL THE CITY'S DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS AND PROVIDE DIRECTION ON CALIBRATION. BUT YES, IN GENERAL, WE'RE TRYING TO FIND THAT SWEET SPOT.
AND SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THAT, IF WE THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO GET MORE.
BUT IF WE REQUIRE, YOU KNOW, TOO MUCH MORE THAN WHAT WE PUT ON THERE, THEN NO ONE'S GOING TO USE IT.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET ANYTHING OUT OF IT.
IS THAT IN TERMS OF NEW DEVELOPMENT? I THINK THAT WOULD BE CORRECT.
AND SO THE REASON I ASKED THIS QUESTION AND I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT TODAY, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A BROADER CONVERSATION, ESPECIALLY AS THIS STARTS APPLYING TO OTHER AREAS, IS THAT IF YOU LOOK AT SUBSECTION B THREE, IT DOES PLACE A CAP ON THE NUMBER OF UNITS THAT HAVE TO BE REPLACED, THE LOW INCOME UNITS BEING TWICE THAT OF THE ORIGINAL NUMBER.
BUT IF THE THE UNDERLYING DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM, IF WE HAVE ANY MULTIPLIER ON THAT, WHETHER IT'S ONE, ONE AND A HALF, TWO, THREE, IT PUTS IT IN THAT RANGE THAT TIPS THE BALANCE SO THAT NO ONE'S GOING TO USE THIS PROGRAM.
AND WE'RE GOING TO GET ZERO AND 0% YOU KNOW, 30% OF ZERO IS ALWAYS LESS THAN 10% OF SOMETHING.
AND SO I THINK IT'S JUST REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE CONSIDER THAT MOVING FORWARD, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THIS IS ONLY GOING APPLY TO ETOD, BUT IN THE FUTURE IT'S GOING TO APPLY TO OTHER THINGS THAT WE DON'T ACCIDENTALLY INCENTIVIZE, KEEPING UNITS ON THE GROUND THAT ARE GOING TO FALL INTO DISREPAIR AND NOT SERVE SERVE THOSE WHO WE WANTED TO SERVE.
THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER. FURTHER DISCUSSION, COUNCILMEMBER ALLISON ALTER.
SO I WANTED TO ASK, AND I'LL PROBABLY DO THIS A LOT THIS MORNING.
I WANTED TO GIVE STAFF AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK OF ANY FURTHER ISSUES THAT WE NEEDED TO HEAR ABOUT AND, AND ANY CONCERNS THAT THEY HAVE.
IF THERE'S THINGS THAT WE OUGHT TO KNOW BEFORE WE VOTE ON THIS.
COUNCIL MEMBER VERONICA, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.
WE'RE GETTING STUFF UP TO ANSWER THE SPECIFICS, BUT OVERALL, I WANTED TO RESPOND TO THE QUESTION OF RESPONSES WE INITIALLY MADE WHERE WE SAID WE DIDN'T SUPPORT, AND THEN WE CAME BACK WITH A EITHER NEUTRAL OR SUPPORT.
YESTERDAY, WE TOOK THE TIME WE RECEIVED UPDATED VERSIONS OF MOTIONS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS.
BUT WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER FOR SPECIFICS ON THAT ONE.
RACHEL TEPPER WITH THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT.
WE ARE APPRECIATIVE OF QUADTREES OFFICE FOR ALLOWING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A, A STAFF RECOMMENDATION SO WE CAN EVALUATE THE WAIVER AND THE IMPACTS ON STRATEGIC HOUSING AND ANTI-DISPLACEMENT GOALS THAT WILL ALLOW US TO REALLY SEE WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED BY THE APPLICANT AND REQUEST THE, THE WAIVER AND EVALUATE HOW THAT MEETS OUR GOALS.
SO WE'RE WE'RE IT SOUNDED LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER WAS CONCERNED IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION THAN YOU WERE ABOUT THE CAPPING OF THE UNITS, SO HE SEEMED TO BE CONCERNED THAT THAT WOULD STILL BE TOO MANY UNITS TO REQUIRE.
WELL, AS IT RELATES TO CALIBRATION, YOU KNOW, WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT'S EVALUATION OF CITYWIDE DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS, AND I THINK THAT WILL SPEAK MORE TO, YOU KNOW, THAT TIPPING POINT, WHICH WE UNDERSTAND THE BALANCE OF PARTICIPATION VERSUS YOU KNOW, MAINTAINING EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
BUT YOUR ORIGINAL RECOMMENDATION DID NOT HAVE A CAP.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, COUNCILMEMBER VILA? JUST A ACTUALLY A QUESTION.
I'M NOT SURE. THIS IS STRETCHING BACK A FEW YEARS AND WE WERE NOT ABLE TO FIND IT.
[14:45:04]
BUT WHEN UNDER THE CODE NEXT VERSIONS, I KNOW THAT ECON NORTHWEST HAD DONE A A CALIBRATION AND A RECOMMENDATION ON ON THE THE THE BONUSES.AND MY AND AGAIN I'M WORKING FROM MEMORY NOW I WOULD BE HAPPY TO BE CORRECTED OR INFORMED, BUT I BELIEVE THAT THE AFFORDABILITY LEVELS THAT WE'RE PROPOSING HERE WERE HIGHER THAN ANYTHING THAT WAS PROPOSED BACK THEN.
AND INTEREST RATES ARE HIGHER AND CONSTRUCTION COSTS ARE HIGHER TOO.
SO I DO THINK I MEAN, I'M, I SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT AND LET'S SEE WHERE IT GOES.
BUT I DO THINK IT'S AN OPEN QUESTION HOW, YOU KNOW, FINALLY WE'VE WE'VE CALIBRATED IT, AND I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT UP TO SAY THAT THIS IS, I THINK, GOING TO BE AN ONGOING CONVERSATION AND LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE PLANNING AND HOUSING STAFF TO, TO GET THAT, THAT, THAT LEVEL RIGHT, TO MAXIMIZE THE, THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT WE'RE GENERATING. THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? THEN WITHOUT OBJECTION.
COWDREY, AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER ONE IS ADOPTED.
COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY WILL BE SHOWN VOTING NO.
I WOULD LIKE TO BE SHOWN ABSTAINING ON THAT ONE.
MEMBERS. THAT IS A SHEET THAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU THAT INCLUDES DIRECTION TO THE CITY MANAGER.
COUNCIL MEMBER KADRI, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED ON YOUR MOTION TO AMEND ITEM ONE.
THANK YOU. MAYOR. AND I THINK MOTION TO TOUCHES ON SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT SOME OF THE MEMBERS HAD STATED EARLIER FOR MOTION TWO, YOU KNOW, WE CAN AND SHOULDN'T THROW OUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET.
WE NEED MORE TOOLS TO ACCOMPLISH OUR GOALS.
IF WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT THE RIGHT TO RETURN, WE NEED MORE TOOLS THAN JUST CHAPTER 14 TO ENSURE THAT ALL TYPES OF PEOPLE OF ALL INCOME LEVELS CAN FIND HOUSING IN ALL TYPES OF PLACES, ESPECIALLY NEAR TRANSIT.
THIS MOTION CALLS FOR MORE COST ANALYSIS AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT ON CHAPTER 14, PROVISIONS IN FUTURE DENSITY BONUS COLLABORATIONS, AND REQUEST STAFF TO RETURN WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ADDITIONAL TOOLS TO ACCOMPLISH OUR GOALS.
AND WITH THAT, I MOVE ADOPTION OF MOTION NUMBER TWO.
COUNCIL MEMBER KADRI MOVES TO APPROVE MOTION TO AMEND NUMBER TWO FOR ITEM NUMBER ONE.
IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER.
MEMBERS, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT AMENDMENT IS IN THE RECORD.
SO I'M GOING TO READ IT INTO THE RECORD.
I MOVED TO INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING DIRECTION THE CITY MANAGER ANALYZE COSTS OF ADHERING TO CHAPTER 418, AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS ON INCORPORATING THE COSTS INTO FUTURE DENSITY BONUS CALIBRATION, CONDUCT ENGAGEMENT WITH RELEVANT STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING HOUSING AND TENANT ADVOCATES, AND INCORPORATE FEEDBACK FOR FUTURE CHANGES TO CHAPTER 418.
DISCUSSION ON MOTION TO AMEND NUMBER TWO.
HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MOTION TO AMEND NUMBER TWO IS ADOPTED.
MEMBERS STILL ON ITEM NUMBER ONE.
WE WILL NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, WHO HAS A MOTION TO AMEND.
I'M SORRY, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, AND I'LL COME TO COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES AFTER THAT.
COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED ON RYAN ALTER MOTION TO AMEND NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER ONE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MINE WAS THE WAIVER, BUT THAT WAS INCLUDED IN COUNCIL MEMBER CORDRAY.
SO I WILL BE WITHDRAWING THAT AMENDMENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER WITHDRAWS MOTION TO AMEND NUMBER ONE.
THAT WILL TAKE US TO COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.
THANK YOU. I'LL LAY OUT MY MOTION IF I GET A SECOND.
I'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO IT. THANK YOU.
I MOVED TO INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING DIRECTION TO THE CITY MANAGER.
THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER FUENTES MOVES ADOPTION OF FUENTES AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER ONE.
[14:50:04]
IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALISON ALTER.IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES, THIS AMENDMENT COMES DIRECTLY FROM FEEDBACK THAT I RECEIVED FROM OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
THROUGHOUT THE EXTENSIVE COMMUNITY MEETINGS WE HAD AROUND THESE PROPOSED LAND USE CHANGES.
PART OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT I'VE HEARD FROM OUR COMMUNITY IS ASKING US TO IMPLEMENT THE PEOPLE'S PLAN, AND ONE OF THE COMPONENTS OF THE PEOPLE'S PLAN INCLUDES THE RIGHT TO STAY AND THE RIGHT TO RETURN POLICY.
NOW, THE CITY HAS ADOPTED THIS POLICY AS OUR PREFERENCE POLICY FOR OUR COMMUNITY LAND TRUST PROGRAMS. AND WHAT THIS AMENDMENT SEEKS TO DO IS TO EXTEND THAT PREFERENCE POLICY TO ALL OF OUR DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS. AND I FIRMLY BELIEVE IT'S THOSE POLICIES THAT ARE GOING TO HELP OUR FAMILIES STAY IN PLACE.
HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THANK YOU. MEMBERS THAT WILL NOW TAKE US TO MAYOR PRO TEMS. MOTION TO AMEND NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER ONE.
MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
THANKS, MAYOR. I WOULD MOVE ADOPTION OF THIS AMENDMENT, AND THEN I'LL SPEAK TO IT IF I GET A SECOND.
MOTION IS MADE TO APPROVE IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS MAYOR PRO TEM.
YOU'RE RECOGNIZED. SO THIS AMENDMENT, AS I SPOKE TO ON TUESDAY, ALIGNS REQUIREMENTS WITH CHANGES TO THE RESIDENTIAL PORTIONS OF OUR CODE TO AVOID DRIVING REDEVELOPMENT TOWARD OLDER MULTIFAMILY PROPERTIES SO THAT WE DON'T LOSE THEM THROUGH REDEVELOPMENT.
THIS PROPOSAL DOES A FEW THINGS.
IT AMENDS THE RELOCATION REQUIREMENTS TO A PAYMENT EQUALING SIX MONTHS OF RENT PAYMENTS AND REMOVES THE UNIFORM RELOCATION ACT REQUIREMENT, WHICH IS DESIGNED FOR PUBLICLY SUBSIDIZED PROJECTS AND FACILITIES THAT TEND TO DRAW ON LARGER FUNDS OF MONEY.
AGAIN, SO WE DON'T DRIVE REDEVELOPMENT ENERGY TOWARD EXISTING MULTIFAMILY.
AND I JUST WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STAFF, PARTICULARLY DONALD JACKSON AND WARNER COOKE, IN PLANNING FOR PULLING THESE PIECES TOGETHER AND FINDING SOLUTION. WE ALSO MAIER WORKED ON SOME ADJUSTMENTS IN THE OVERLAY AROUND COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES, SO WE WILL BE REVISITING THIS TOPIC WHEN WE GET TO ITEM FIVE. THANK YOU.
VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. MAYOR PRO TEM, FURTHER DISCUSSION.
YES, I'M SORRY, COUNCILMEMBER ALLISON ALTER.
I DON'T SEE THIS IN THE STAFF REPORT THAT I HAVE.
CAN STAFF SPEAK TO THIS AMENDMENT IF THERE ARE ANY CONCERNS? I KNOW THERE WAS A COMPANION ONE AND ANOTHER ITEM THAT WAS SIMILAR, I DON'T REMEMBER.
YES. SO THE STAFF RESPONSE BE TO TABLE WARNER COOKE PLANNING DEPARTMENT CAPTURES ALL OF THE AMENDMENTS AND VERSIONS OF AMENDMENTS THAT STAFF HAD SEEN POSTED PUBLICLY ONLINE BY AROUND 330 YESTERDAY.
IF THAT HELPS. ARE YOU INTERESTED IN LIKE WHAT? OUR RESPONSE. YES.
YES, YEAH. WE SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT.
AND DON CAN SPEAK TO THAT OF THE RELOCATION PIECE HELPING THEM ESTABLISH AFTER THEY ARE MOVED OUT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT IS KIND OF THE KEY THING THAT WILL HELP OUR BUSINESSES THE MOST IN THE IMMEDIACY.
WELL EDDIE HAS SUPPORTS THIS AMENDMENTS AND THIS IS THE GREATER PRIORITY FOR SUPPORTING LEGACY BUSINESS AND CREATIVE SPACE RETENTION AND REESTABLISHMENT.
COULD YOU STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD? DONALD JACKSON, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
FURTHER QUESTIONS. FURTHER DISCUSSION.
HEARING NONE. WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MEMBERS, I AM UNAWARE OF ANY OTHER MOTION TO AMEND ON ITEM NUMBER ONE.
[14:55:03]
BUT BEFORE I MOVE ON, I WANT TO ASK IS THERE ANY OTHER MOTION TO AMEND BEING OFFERED ON ITEM NUMBER ONE? IN THAT CASE, LET'S GO TO.OH OKAY. WE DO NEED TO PASS THE MAIN MOTION, DON'T WE? THAT'S NOT EVEN ROBERT'S RULES, MAN.
THAT TAKES US BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION, AS AMENDED.
THE VOTE WILL BE ON THE MAIN MOTION FOR ITEM ONE, AS AMENDED.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THE MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED? HEARING NONE.
ITEM NUMBER ONE, AS AMENDED, IS APPROVED, WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY BEING SHOWN VOTING NO.
[4. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance amending City Code Title 25 (Land Development) to revise height, building placement, and other related regulations that apply to property and are in addition to the base zoning regulations (also known as Compatibility Standards). (Part 2 of 2)]
ITEM NUMBER FOUR.I WILL ENTERTAIN A BASE MOTION, WHICH IS THE MAIN MOTION TO ADOPT ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
IT IS THE PLANNING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
RECOMMENDATION IS MADE BY COUNCIL.
I'M SORRY. STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
IT'S IT'S COUNCIL MEMBER MOVES ADOPTION.
IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER.
MAYOR, BEFORE WE GET TO AMENDMENTS, I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS FOR STAFF.
SO DURING THE PUBLIC TESTIMONY YESTERDAY THERE WERE QUESTIONS RAISED ABOUT THE COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS THAT WE WERE USING FOR OTHER CITIES AND WHAT WE WERE COMPARING THEM TO, AND PARTICULARLY THERE WERE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN DALLAS.
AND CONCERN THAT WE WERE USING THE WRONG NUMBERS.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW YOU INTERPRETED THE DALLAS NUMBERS? SURE. JONATHAN LEE WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
SO DALLAS HAS TWO DIFFERENT SETS OF COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS, ONE FOR SINGLE FAMILY, AND THAT RISES AT A SLOPE OF 3 TO 1 AND THEN ANOTHER FOR SMALLER SCALE MULTIFAMILY, INCLUDING TOWNHOMES AND CLUSTERED HOUSING.
WE DO APOLOGIZE, THOUGH, THAT THAT WAS NOT EXPLAINED AS A RATIONALE IN OUR STAFF REPORT.
AND WE APOLOGIZE IF THAT WAS MISLEADING FOR MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S A PARTICULARLY TRANSPARENT WAY FOR THE COMMUNITY.
AND NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT'S GOING ON IN OTHER CITIES WITH RESPECT TO THAT.
TO ME, THAT IS SLEIGHT OF HAND.
AND I THINK IT DOESN'T REALLY IT DOESN'T REALLY COMMUNICATE TO THE COMMUNITY THE, THE MAGNITUDE OF THE CHANGE AND THE COMPARISON, BECAUSE FOR MOST PEOPLE, IF THEY'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, CHANGING THEIR LOT, THEY HAVE ONE HOUSE AND THEY STILL SEE SF NEXT TO THEM.
AND SO I JUST I FIND THAT FRUSTRATING FOR THAT TO COME OUT.
NOW I UNDERSTAND STAFF HAD TO MAKE A DECISION.
CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND FOR THE OTHER CITIES WHERE WE SAID, OH, THIS IS WHAT THEIR COMPATIBILITY LOOKS LIKE? WE'RE SIMILAR CHOICES MADE SO THAT IT APPEARS LIKE THE COMPATIBILITY WAS LESS.
I MEAN, WAS I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO PUT THE WORD.
BEEN A LONG COUPLE OF DAYS HERE.
YOU KNOW, FOR THESE OTHER CITIES WHERE THEY WERE SIMILAR ASSUMPTIONS MADE BASED ON THE CHANGE IN ENTITLEMENTS FOR HOME ONE, AS WE LAID OUT WHAT THE COMPATIBILITY RULES WERE IN OTHER CITIES FOR COMPARISON.
AND FOR DALLAS, IF WE WERE LOOKING AT IT WHERE THE LAYPERSON WHO WASN'T CALCULATING THAT WE ADDED ADDITIONAL HOME ENTITLEMENTS IN HOME, WHAT WOULD BE THE COMPARISON IN DALLAS TO HOW FAR OUT YOU WOULD GO BEFORE COMPATIBILITY ENDED?
[15:00:08]
SURE. SO THE THE THE ONE THAT IS FOR SINGLE FAMILY HOMES IN DALLAS EXTENDS AT A 3 TO 1 SLOPE FROM THE PROPERTY LINE.CAN YOU REPEAT THOSE NUMBERS, PLEASE? SURE. SO YOU GET TO 60FT OF HEIGHT AT 180FT OF DISTANCE AND 90FT OF HEIGHT AT 270FT OF DISTANCE AT 90FT AT WHAT, TWO 270.
OKAY. AND WHAT IS IT UNDER THIS PROPOSAL? IT ENDS AT 75FT.
SO YOU COULD GET TO 60FT OF HEIGHT AT 50FT IN DISTANCE.
OKAY. SO YOU CAN GET TO 60FT AT AT 50FT AT 50FT.
COUNCIL MEMBER. VILA. DO YOU KNOW HOW DO YOU REMEMBER HOW MANY CITIES THAT YOU ALL LOOKED AT FOR THE DIFFERENT COMPATIBILITY? IT WAS AROUND A DOZEN.
AROUND A DOZEN, A DOZEN AND THE VAST MAJORITY OF THEM WERE WELL UNDER 100FT.
AGAIN, I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE FULL AVERAGE WAS.
DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT THE AVERAGE COMPATIBILITY DISTANCE WAS? THE AVERAGE WAS ABOUT 75FT, AND THAT IS PARTIALLY WHAT WE'RE BASING OUR STAFF RECOMMENDATION ON.
JUST LOOKING AT THE SHEET AND I JUST WANT TO FOR CLARIFICATION, THE ONES THAT THEY LOOKED AT WERE NASHVILLE, SALT LAKE CITY, RALEIGH MINNEAPOLIS, LAS VEGAS, CHARLOTTE, DALLAS, SAN ANTONIO, ATLANTA, DENVER, KANSAS CITY, SEATTLE, PORTLAND, HOUSTON.
SO AGAIN, IN TERMS OF THE NATIONAL STANDARD THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT AND BRINGING AUSTIN IN LINE WITH WITH BEST PRACTICES NATIONWIDE 75FT SEEMS LIKE A PERFECTLY REASONABLE PLACE TO LAND.
ALTER MOTION TO AMEND NUMBER ONE FOR ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THIS IS THE ALLEYWAY ITEM WE DISCUSSED ON TUESDAY.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VILA.
IS THERE DISCUSSION ON RYAN? ALTER MOTION TO AMEND NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR? HEARING NONE.
ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS THE MOTION TO AMEND IS APPROVED.
THE NEXT ITEM, THE NEXT MOTION TO AMEND IS MY MOTION TO AMEND MEMBERS.
AND I MOVE APPROVAL OF WATSON.
MOTION TO AMEND NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON WATSON? MOTION TO AMEND NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.
WATSON. MOTION TO AMEND ITEM NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS ADOPTED.
MEMBERS. THOSE ARE ALL THE MOTIONS TO AMEND THAT I KNOW OF ON ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS ARE THERE ANY OTHER MOTIONS TO AMEND THAT WILL TAKE US BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION, WHICH IS TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER FOUR, AS AMENDED BY THE TWO AMENDMENTS? COUNCIL MEMBER BAILEY, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR DISCUSSION.
THANK YOU. MAYOR, I JUST I KNOW THAT THAT THE HOME PHASE TWO AND ITOT HAVE BEEN TAKING UP A LOT OF THE THE ATTENTION, BUT HONESTLY, THE COMPATIBILITY CHANGES ARE GOING TO BE ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT REFORMS THAT WE'RE PASSING TODAY.
AND I REALLY WANT TO GO BACK AND REFERENCE EDGAR HANDEL'S TESTIMONY YESTERDAY TALKING ABOUT WHAT THE COMPATIBILITY RULES HAVE DONE IS PUSHED APARTMENTS TO THE CORRIDORS AND USE THEM TO KIND OF PROTECT, YOU KNOW, THE THE INTERIORS OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS, WHICH HAS THE EFFECT OF THE FOLKS THAT ARE IN THE APARTMENTS, WHICH ARE GOING TO LARGELY GOING TO BE POOR.
[15:05:05]
ARE THE ONES THAT ARE YOU KNOW, BREATHING IN THE FUMES ARE THE ONES THAT ARE DEALING WITH THE HIGH TRAFFIC, ARE THE ONES THAT ARE NOT ON THE KIND OF QUIET STREETS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. I THINK THIS IS THERE'S A REAL FAIRNESS ARGUMENT THAT THERE'S NO REASON TO EXILE APARTMENT DWELLERS TO KIND OF THE PERIPHERIES. THE THESE COMPATIBILITY REFORMS WILL ALLOW DIFFERENT TYPES OF APARTMENTS TO APPEAR ALL AROUND THE CITY, AND SHOULD BE A SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT OF QUALITY OF LIFE FOR FOLKS THAT ARE RENTING APARTMENTS.AGAIN, I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT.
I'M VERY EXCITED TO PASS IT TODAY.
FURTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
ITEM NUMBER FOUR, AS AMENDED, IS ADOPTED, WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY BEING SHOWN VOTING NO.
COUNCILMEMBER ALLISON ALTER I'M VOTING NO.
WITH COUNCILMEMBER KELLY AND COUNCILMEMBER ALLISON ALTER BEING SHOWN VOTING NO.
MEMBERS THAT WILL TAKE US NOW TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
[5. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance amending City Code Title 25 (Land Development) to create regulations, including a density bonus program that modifies height and compatibility in exchange for community benefits, for properties that are located within a half mile of the planned Phase 1 Light Rail and Priority Extensions (also known as the Equitable Transit-Oriented Development (ETOD) overlay). (Part 2 of 2)]
ITEM NUMBER FIVE HAS A NUMBER OF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.SO LET ME ASK FOR A MAIN MOTION ON ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
NOW WE WILL GO TO PROPOSED AMENDMENTS ON ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
THE ORDER I'M GOING TO GO MEMBERS WILL BE TO GO TO THE MAYOR PRO TEM ON HER THREE PROPOSALS.
THEN COUNCIL MEMBER VELLA ON HIS TWO COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES ON HERS.
I HAVE THREE PROPOSALS AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER KADRI.
SO WITH THAT, I WILL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER POOLE ON MAYOR PRO TEM POOLE ON POOLE AMENDMENT PROPOSED AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
I MOVE ADOPTION OF MY FIRST AMENDMENT TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE, AND WE'LL SPEAK TO IT IF I HAVE A SECOND MEMBERS YOU HAVE BEEN PROVIDED A COPY OF YOU HAD ONE, BUT THIS ONE IS A YELLOW SHEET THAT SAYS NUMBER ONE AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE.
MAYOR PRO TEM POOLE MOVES ADOPTION OF THE MOTION TO AMEND NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VILA.
AND I'LL RECOGNIZE THE MAYOR PRO TEM.
SO MY MOTION, NUMBER ONE, PROPOSES A TIERED APPROACH ON THE RESIDENTIAL AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS AND ALIGNS WITH THE CURRENT DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS LIKE WE HAVE WITH VMU AND DB 90, WHILE HOLDING ON TO THE STAFF PROPOSAL FOR THE HIGHEST HEIGHT AND THE TEARS IN MY AMENDMENT.
AT 60FT, IT WOULD BE 10% AT THE 60% MFI, WHICH IS THE SAME AS VMU AT 90FT, IT IS 10% AT 50% MFI OR 12% AT 60% MFI, AND AT 120 IT WOULD BE 12% AT 50% MFI OR 15% AT 120FT.
WE WORKED ON THIS PROPOSAL WITH STAFF, TRIED TO KEEP AN EYE TOWARD THE NUMBERS THAT WE KNOW ARE WORKING WELL IN CURRENT PROGRAMS. THE WHOLE APPROACH IS BASED ON THE STAFF REPORT AND THE CONSULTANT'S FINDINGS THAT THE HIGHER PROPOSED AFFORDABILITY LEVELS, AS MUCH AS WE WOULD LIKE TO GET THERE, ARE NOT FEASIBLE AT THIS POINT.
I WOULD LOVE, AS WOULD WE ALL, TO HAVE HIGHER PERCENTAGES.
WE ARE LIKELY TO GET THERE WHEN THE MARKET IMPROVES.
PROJECTS AT THOSE HIGHER HEIGHTS ARE NOT LIKELY FOR THE NEXT YEAR OR MORE.
[15:10:06]
THAT EFFORT WILL CERTAINLY BE HELPFUL TO INFORM ANY ADJUSTMENTS THAT MAY HAPPEN NEXT YEAR AND IN THE FUTURE.AND AGAIN, A SHOUT OUT TO OUR HOUSING AND PLANNING STAFF FOR WORKING WITH US ON THIS PROPOSAL.
WE ALL WANT THE SAME THING AND I THINK WE FOUND A WAY TO GET THERE.
THANK YOU. OH, ALSO, MAYOR JAMIE MAY FROM HOUSING IS ONLINE IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS.
OKAY, I KNEW YOU. YOU WERE NOT FEELING WELL.
BUT, JAMIE, THANK YOU FOR BEING BEING HERE TODAY.
FURTHER DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO POOL AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE, COUNCILMEMBER ALLISON ALTER.
SO I APPRECIATE THE INTENTION BEHIND THIS.
I JUST AGAIN WANT TO HEAR FROM STAFF, ANY RESERVATIONS ON THIS THAT WE SHOULD BE AWARE OF OR POSITIVES FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE? RACHEL TUPPER, THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT WE UNDERSTAND THIS AS A PRAGMATIC APPROACH BASED ON EXISTING MARKET CONDITIONS, AND WE DO LOOK FORWARD TO THE COMPREHENSIVE DENSITY BONUS ANALYSIS THAT WILL PROVIDE US WITH FURTHER GUIDANCE ON WHERE TO SET THOSE LEVELS. OKAY.
CAN YOU CLARIFY THAT? WELL, THIS WILL THIS AMENDMENT WILL BRING US IN LINE WITH DV 90 SET ASIDE REQUIREMENTS.
AND SO WE BELIEVE THAT THAT IS A, YOU KNOW, PRAGMATIC.
GINNIE MAE GINNIE MAE HAS AN DEPARTMENT, HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OFFICER.
IT'S A HEAD COLD. IT'S NOT GOING AWAY.
ANY PROGRAM, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE A CALL.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIND THAT LINE.
THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE HOW THIS AMENDMENT YOU KNOW, ALLOWS FOLKS WHO WANT TO STAY AT 60 FEET TO STILL BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SOME OF THE OTHER ASPECTS, AND DOESN'T PUSH IT ALWAYS TO HEIGHT IN ORDER FOR THEM TO REDEVELOP IN A WAY, FOR INSTANCE, THAT INCLUDES RESIDENTIAL.
I THINK THAT IS AN IMPORTANT OPTION FOR FOLKS.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ITEM NUMBER ONE I'M AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM TO.
ITEM NUMBER FIVE IS APPROVED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY BEING SHOWN VOTING NO.
THAT WILL TAKE US TO THE MAYOR PRO TEM MS MOTION TO AMEND NUMBER TWO.
AND I'LL RECOGNIZE THE MAYOR PRO TEM FOR A MOTION.
AND I MOVE APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO ON THIS ITEM.
THE MAYOR PRO TEM MOVES APPROVAL OF THE MOTION TO AMEND NUMBER TWO TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
IS THERE A SECOND SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.
MAYOR PRO TEM, I RECOGNIZE YOU.
THANKS, MAYOR. YOU'LL SEE ON MY MOTION SHEET A FOCUS ON THE USES AND AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF YEARS OF OPERATION TO CAPTURE LEGACY BUSINESSES.
MY TEAM AND I WORKED REALLY CLOSELY WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STAFF.
ANOTHER SHOUT OUT TO DONALD AND TO DIRECTOR CENOVIA HOLT GRAB A REALLY FOCUSING OUR ATTENTION AND PROTECTION ON THESE TYPES OF LEGACY SMALL BUSINESSES AND CULTURAL ASSETS, AS WELL AS CHILD CARE AND ADULT CARE SERVICES THAT WE KNOW FAMILIES NEED.
AND THIS REALLY IS A BALANCING ACT, AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE.
AND I THINK WE REACHED A HAPPY MEDIUM WITH THESE CHANGES.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU TO DON AND TO WARNER FOR THEIR HELP ON THIS.
AND I THINK WE MAY ALL END UP SAYING THIS MULTIPLE TIMES TODAY, BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE PATRICIA LINK IN LEGAL FOR HER TIRELESS EFFORTS TO HELP US SHAPE THE LANGUAGE SO THAT WE MEET OUR OBJECTIVES.
THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION.
I JUST WANTED TO THANK MAYOR PRO TEM FOR HER WORK ON THIS.
I DO THINK IT STRIKES A GOOD BALANCE BETWEEN TRYING TO PRESERVE EVERY SINGLE BUSINESS IN AN EXISTING DEVELOPMENT AND FOCUSING MORE ON THOSE THAT HAVE A DEEPER, STRONGER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY.
YOU KNOW, YOUR RESTAURANTS OR CHILD CARE CENTERS, YOUR CULTURAL CENTERS.
AND SO I REALLY APPRECIATE HER AND STAFF'S WORK ON THIS.
[15:15:02]
AND I THINK WE'RE AT A AT A GOOD PLACE ON THIS.HEARING NONE. WITHOUT OBJECTION.
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, YOU PROBABLY NEEDED ME TO BE VISIBLE FOR THAT.
OKAY, THANK YOU FOR THAT AND NO PROBLEM.
THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOUR RECOGNITION OF THAT.
WITH THAT, I WILL GO TO ITEM MAYOR PRO TEM MS MOTION TO AMEND NUMBER THREE FOR ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
THANKS, MAYOR. AND I'LL MAKE A MOTION IF I GET A SECOND.
MAYOR PRO TEM MOVES APPROVAL OF HER.
MOTION MOTION TO AMEND NUMBER THREE.
IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION? SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.
MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR DISCUSSION.
THANKS, MAYOR. THIS IS MY FINAL AMENDMENT ON THIS ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
THIS AIMS TO MATCH ENTITLEMENTS FOUND IN THE ITOD REGULATIONS WITH THOSE IN THE EV CHARGING LAND USE REGS BY ALLOWING AN EXISTING GAS OR SERVICE STATION TO TRANSITION TO ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS AS A PERMITTED USE.
AND THIS WILL ENSURE THAT AS OUR TOWN MOVES TOWARD FURTHER TOWARD THE CITY'S CARBON FREE GOALS, WE'LL HAVE ENOUGH CHARGERS IN THE RIGHT SPOTS ALL AROUND TOWN. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? COUNCIL MEMBER ALISON ALTER? YEAH. I LIKE STAFF TO SPEAK TO THIS.
SO IF YOU COULD SPEAK TO THAT, PLEASE.
ANDREW BATES, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
EV CHARGING, ALTHOUGH, IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO ENABLE THE TRANSITION FROM GAS POWERED VEHICLES AS A LAND USE, IT'S NOT PARTICULARLY TRANSIT SUPPORTIVE OR PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY, AND SO ALTHOUGH WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE THE LOCATION OF EV CHARGING AND CERTAINLY WOULD SEE A BENEFIT FROM A TRADITIONAL GAS STATION, THE EXACT SITING NEAR TRANSIT STILL MATTERS, BECAUSE IF YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT A GAS STATION TRANSITIONING TO SOMETHING ELSE, PERHAPS THERE WOULD BE AN EVEN MORE TRANSIT SUPPORTIVE USE THAT COULD BE LOCATED ON THAT SITE.
I KNOW THAT THE STAFF DID A LOT OF WORK TO GET THE RIGHT BALANCE THERE TO MEET WHAT THE INDUSTRY NEEDED, WHAT WE NEEDED FOR OUR TRANSITION, AS WELL AS TO BE ABLE TO SITE THESE EV CHARGING PLACES IN THE APPROPRIATE LOCATIONS.
AND I THINK A CONDITIONAL USE, WHICH IS WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE DON'T ADOPT THIS AMENDMENT REALLY IS MORE IN LINE WITH OUR GOALS OF HAVING TRANSIT SUPPORTIVE LAND USES NEAR HERE.
WHICH I WOULD BE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF DOING, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT TODAY, GIVEN WHAT I KNOW ABOUT, THAT WHOLE PROCESS. GREAT.
YEAH. AS MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE WATCHING HAVE PROBABLY SEEN I.
DO YOU WANT TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON THIS AMENDMENT? ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION TO AMEND BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM AS A MOTION TO AMEND NUMBER THREE FOR ITEM NUMBER FIVE, THEN, WITHOUT OBJECTION, A MOTION TO AMEND BY THE MAYOR.
MEMBERS THAT WILL TAKE US TO COUNCIL MEMBER VELLA.
[15:20:02]
HE HAS TWO PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.THE VILA VELHA AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE IS RELATED TO TRANSIT SUPPORTIVE INFRASTRUCTURE.
COUNCILMEMBER VILA, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR A MOTION.
COUNCILMEMBER VILA MOVES PASSAGE OF VILA AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER VELASQUEZ.
COUNCILMEMBER VILA, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR DISCUSSION ON YOUR MOTION TO AMEND.
THANK YOU. MAYOR. THIS AMENDMENT WOULD ESSENTIALLY ALLOW THE CITY TO TRADE AFFORDABILITY, HOUSING AFFORDABILITY FOR TRANSIT, SUPPORTIVE INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE ETOD WHERE NECESSARY. AND JUST TO GIVE A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES.
THE LIGHT RAIL LINE WILL HAVE THESE LARGE ELECTRIC BOXES THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PUT IN, YOU KNOW, SO MANY LOCATIONS. AND TYPICALLY, YOU KNOW, THEY WE'D RATHER NOT PUT THEM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RIGHT OF WAY, IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, IF WE COULD STICK THEM IN INSIDE OF A BUILDING OR ON A PIECE OF PRIVATE PROPERTY, THIS WOULD ALLOW US TO NEGOTIATE WITH A NEW DEVELOPMENT TO SAY, HEY, CAN WE PUT THAT? OR, FOR EXAMPLE ALONG THE ITOD, WE MAY HAVE TO TAKE SOME RIGHT OF WAY OR WE MAY BE INVOLVED IN SOME KIND OF NEGOTIATION.
SO THE IDEA BEING THAT INSTEAD OF PAYING FOR THAT IN CASH THROUGH SOME KIND OF LEASE OR THROUGH SOME KIND OF, YOU KNOW, EMINENT DOMAIN ACTION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WE COULD POTENTIALLY NEGOTIATE WITH THE LANDOWNER TO REDUCE THE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS IN EXCHANGE FOR TRANSIT SUPPORTIVE INFRASTRUCTURE, AGAIN IN A LIMITED NUMBER OF LOCATIONS.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS GOING TO BE ABOUT A TEN MILE LONG ROUTE.
I'M THINKING THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE 15 STATIONS.
THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON VLA MOTION TO AMEND? NUMBER ONE COUNCIL MEMBER ALISON ALTER? I BELIEVE THIS CAME IN AFTER STAFF FINALIZED THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER WARNER COOK WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
SO WE HAD BEEN WORKING WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBERS OFFICE ON UPDATED LANGUAGE, BOTH FROM THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, THE PROJECT CONNECT OFFICE AND THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT UP THROUGH YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.
YOU KNOW, IT GIVES ANOTHER OPTION FOR FOLKS WHEN THEY'RE PARTICIPATING IN THE DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM TO PROVIDE THAT TRANSIT SUPPORTIVE INFRASTRUCTURE WHILE STILL NOT COMPLETELY WAIVING THEM FROM THEIR AFFORDABLE HOUSING REQUIREMENT.
AND IT GIVES US SOME GUIDELINES FOR THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT AND THE PROJECT CONNECT OFFICE ON HOW TO CONSIDER THE VALUE OF THAT INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WOULD BE OFFERED UNDER THIS OPTION. THANK YOU.
MOTION HAS BEEN MADE IN SECOND TO ADOPT VLA AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? WITHOUT OBJECTION, ITEM NUMBER FIVE IS APPROVED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY BEING SHOWN VOTING NO.
PROPOSED AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
COUNCIL MEMBER VALA. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU. MAYOR. THIS IS A VERY SIMPLE AMENDMENT.
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE SAYING YOU HAVE TO DO COMMERCIAL ON THE GROUND FLOOR.
THE ONLY THING I'M DOING IS ADDING OR CIVIC USES.
CIVIC BEING AGAIN, A VARIETY OF, YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, RELIGIOUS, CULTURAL, COMMUNITY TYPE USES COMMUNITY CENTERS, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT, THAT WOULD SUBSTITUTE INSTEAD OF THE KIND OF CORE COMMERCIAL REQUIREMENT, JUST, AGAIN, TO GIVE FOLKS ALONG THE ITOT A LITTLE BIT MORE FLEXIBILITY WHEN THINKING ABOUT THE USES THAT ARE GOING TO BE AVAILABLE ON THE GROUND FLOOR.
COUNCIL MEMBER MOVES APPROVAL OF THE MOTION.
IT IS SECONDED BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE MOTION TO AMEND NUMBER TWO TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE IS ADOPTED, WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY BEING SHOWN VOTING NO. MEMBERS THAT WILL NOW TAKE US.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
IF I. I APOLOGIZE AND COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON OFF THE DAIS ON A MOTION TO AMEND NUMBER TWO THAT WILL NOW TAKE US TO COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE SHOWN COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON?
[15:25:01]
WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE SHOWN VOTING? I COUNCIL MEMBER FOR THE RECORD, VILA, AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE IS APPROVED, WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY BEING SHOWN VOTING NO.MR. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO BE SHOWN VOTING I.
SURE. SO I MOVE TO INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING DIRECTION TO THE CITY MANAGER.
THE CITY MANAGER IS DIRECTED TO PREPARE A RECOMMENDATION RELATED TO PROHIBITING SHORT TERM RENTAL AS A USE IN THE EQUITABLE, EQUITABLE, TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT OVERLAY COMBINING DISTRICT AND THE DENSITY BONUS COMBINING DISTRICT.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER FUENTES.
MOVES. APPROVAL. IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? COUNCILMEMBER FUENTES. COLLEAGUES, THIS REALLY IS BUILDING OFF A BROADER CONVERSATION THAT I KNOW COLLEAGUES ON COUNCIL, INCLUDING COUNCILMEMBER RYAN ALTER AND THE MAYOR AND OTHERS ARE HAVING REGARDING THE ROLE OF SHORT TERM RENTALS AND THE ROLE THAT THEY PLAY IN OUR HOUSING CRISIS.
I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT MY INTENTION IS REALLY FOCUSED ON NON-OWNER OCCUPIED SHORT TERM RENTALS.
WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT THAT WE ADDRESS THE CHANGES THAT ARE NEEDED.
I KNOW SOME FAMILIES, SOME INDIVIDUALS USE A SHORT TERM RENTALS AS A WAY TO SUPPLEMENT THEIR INCOME.
SO IS THERE MORE THINKING OF HOW TO TACKLE STR ISSUES IN A COMPREHENSIVE MANNER? CHURCH LINK WITH THE LAW DEPARTMENT.
WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR COUNTERPARTS IN THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS TO COME UP WITH A GOOD STRATEGY AND RECOMMENDATION FOR COUNCIL, BECAUSE WE WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THEM ALL HOLISTICALLY. OKAY.
SOUNDS GOOD, BECAUSE I KNOW FIRST OF ALL, I DEFINITELY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT STUFF THAT'S BEING BUILT IN THIS ITOD OVERLAY IS GOING TO AUSTINITES AND GOING TO FAMILIES AND GOING TO HELP MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN GET WHERE THEY NEED TO BE QUICKLY.
I THINK THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT PART OF THIS.
ITOD. WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF EXECUTIVE SESSIONS ON STR LEGISLATION OVER OVER THE YEARS, AND I'M NOT SURE THAT WE AS A BODY HAVE TACKLED THOSE IN THE LAST YEAR AND A COUPLE OF MONTHS.
I MAY ABSTAIN ON THIS JUST BECAUSE I'M STRUGGLING WITH UNDERSTANDING, YOU KNOW, WHEN PEOPLE DO TRAVEL TO OUR REGION, WHERE IS THE BEST PLACE, FOR STARTERS? AND SHOULD THEY BE IN INTERIOR NEIGHBORHOODS OR SHOULD THEY? SHOULD THEY BE ON TRANSIT LINES WHERE PEOPLE DON'T NEED CARS TO BE ABLE TO GET TO THEM? BUT I UNDERSTAND THE PRINCIPLE OF THIS, AND I AGREE WITH WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE AS MUCH ACCESS TO TRANSIT.
SO I MAY ABSTAIN JUST ON THIS ONE, BUT IT'S MORE BECAUSE I'M STRUGGLING WITH THOSE DIFFERENT ANGLES OF THIS AND HOW HOW TO SERVE OUR FAMILIES IN AUSTIN AND STILL MAKE SURE OUR CODE WORKS AS FAR AS HOW AND WHEN TO TO ALLOW OR PROHIBIT STRS.
THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER. FURTHER DISCUSSION.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED A LOT, EVERY ONE OF US, ABOUT HOW WE WANT TO INCREASE OPTIONS FOR HOUSING.
AND I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT OUR STR POLICIES, THE REGIME THAT WE'RE WORKING UNDER FROM A COURT PERSPECTIVE, ETC., IS IS REALLY EATING INTO THE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
FOR HOME AS WELL IN THIS REGARD.
COUNCIL MEMBER COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.
I THINK THAT OUR, OUR DEPARTMENTS ARE WORKING HOLISTICALLY TO TRY AND ADDRESS THIS.
AND WHILE I UNDERSTAND IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, I'M NOT SURE NOW IS THE TIME TO DO IT.
THANK YOU. FURTHER DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO FUENTES MOTION TO AMEND NUMBER ONE, COUNCILMEMBER VELA, I DO PREFER AND I HOPE YOU KNOW IT'S COMING SOON, BUT THE HOLISTIC KIND OF PERSPECTIVE ON ON BUT AGAIN, THIS WOULD BE A RECOMMENDATION DIRECTING TO RECOMMENDATION.
AND I'M, YOU KNOW, PREPARED TO SUPPORT THAT.
BUT I WOULD HATE TO PIECEMEAL OUR STR RULES KIND OF THROUGHOUT THE CODE.
I WOULD MUCH RATHER AS AGAIN, I GOT TO THANK YOU KNOW TRISH LINK AND A LOT OF DEPARTMENT.
THEY PUT ALL OUR AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS IN THAT ONE SECTION.
THE 418. THAT'S GOING TO MAKE IT A LOT EASIER TO ADMINISTER AND TO WORK WITH.
[15:30:04]
SO I UNDERSTAND THAT WE WANT TO HAVE A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO HOW WE ADDRESS SHORT TERM RENTALS, BUT I THINK IT'S A MISSED OPPORTUNITY IF WE DON'T ADDRESS IT.AS WE WERE HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS ON THESE SIGNIFICANT LAND USE REFORMS. SO I WANT TO THANK ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE SPOKEN OUT AROUND SHORT TERM RENTALS AND THE PROLIFERATION OF SHORT TERM RENTALS, AND HOW THAT IMPACTS OUR HOUSING SUPPLY. AND BECAUSE OF THE DIRECT FEEDBACK THAT YOU PROVIDED THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, THAT IS WHY I FEEL COMPELLED TO BRING FORWARD THIS DIRECTION.
SO THAT WOULD COME EASILY WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF WHAT'S GOING TO COME BACK TO US? THAT'S RIGHT. SO IT IS NOT A CHOICE.
MY AMENDMENT IS DIFFERENT BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE DOING SOMETHING TOTALLY DIFFERENT IN THAT CASE.
BUT I THINK THIS ONE IS REALLY JUST ADDING GUIDANCE FOR THE PROCESS THAT WE'RE UNDERWAY.
COUNCILMEMBER FUENTES, I RECOGNIZE YOU TO CLOSE ON YOUR MOTION TO AMEND.
COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES HAS MOVED ADOPTION.
THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION.
ALL WITHOUT OBJECTION, I COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES MOTION TO AMEND NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE IS APPROVED, WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS ELLIS AND KELLY BEING SHOWN ABSTAINING.
WE'RE NOT SURE WHETHER THERE WAS A SECOND.
SO JUST IF YOU NEED A SECOND, THEN I'M HAPPY TO.
SECOND, IF IT WAS, COUNCILMEMBER VELAZQUEZ SECONDED IT.
THANK YOU. YOU STICKING BY YOUR SECOND? ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT BEING THE CASE, IT IS APPROVED WITH THE TWO ABSTENTIONS.
THAT WILL TAKE US. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER FUENTES.
THAT WILL NOW TAKE US TO I HAVE THREE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.
WATSON PROPOSED AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
IS IT CONSISTENT WITH WHAT I HAVE OFFERED AND BEEN SUPPORTED BY THIS COUNCIL, WHICH IS TO ADD THAT STAFF WOULD PROVIDE A STUDY OF IMPACTS AND REPORT BACK TO COUNCIL ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
I MOVE APPROVAL OF WATSON AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
IT'S SECONDED BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? WITHOUT OBJECTION, WATSON.
MOTION TO AMEND NUMBER ONE TO ITEM FIVE IS APPROVED MEMBERS THE SECOND.
WATSON PROPOSED AMENDMENT IS SIMILAR TO WHAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, AND THAT'S WITH REGARD TO THE COMMUNITY CONCERNS WE'VE HEARD REGARDING THE IMPACT OF ALLOWING CERTAIN HEIGHT CLOSER TO THEIR HOMES TO FIND A BALANCE WHERE WE'RE BOTH ENSURING DENSITY.
AND THEN IF WE'RE GOING TO ALLOW 120FT ABUTTING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, WE WOULD NEED TO ASSURE ENSURE THAT THERE'S COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS WITHIN THE CODE TO WORK TO ENSURE APPROPRIATE HEIGHTS.
I UNDERSTAND THAT STAFF HAS INDICATED SOME CONCERN ABOUT COMPETITIVE COMPETITIVENESS, COMPATIBILITY EFFORT, INCENTIVIZING DEVELOPERS TO USE DB 90 INSTEAD, THOUGH THAT MAY BE A CONCERN.
WE ALSO NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE 120FT IN HEIGHT IS OUTSIDE THE NORM FOR SOME OF THESE AREAS ALONG THE RAIL LINE, AND BY IMPLEMENTING THIS SLIGHTLY STRICTER COMPATIBILITY REGULATION, I BELIEVE WE'RE DOING A BETTER JOB OF KEEPING SOME BALANCE BETWEEN THE INCREASED DENSITY AND THE COMMUNITY IMPACT.
AND I MOVE. APPROVAL OF WATSON.
IT IS SECOND BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY I'LL BE ABSTAINING FROM THIS ITEM.
ALL RIGHT. COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY WILL BE SHOWN ABSTAINING.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
MEMBERS WATSON PROPOSED A MOTION.
YOU'VE BEEN PROVIDED THAT VERSION THAT CODIFIES THAT WOULD THAT WOULD CODIFY TWO SUBDISTRICTS THAT ARE IDENTIFIED BY HOW FAR AWAY THEY ARE FROM THE RAIL LINE.
THIS PUTS BOUNDARIES IN THE MAP.
POSTPONEMENT. THAT'S THE GOOD WORK AND GREATLY APPRECIATED.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE, MEMBERS.
I'LL JUST MOVE APPROVAL OF WHAT'S IN MOTION TO AMEND NUMBER THREE TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
IS IT SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELLA?
[15:35:01]
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.WATSON. MOTION TO AMEND NUMBER THREE TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE IS APPROVED, BUT JUST ASKING FOR PERMISSION FROM THE COUNCIL TO HARMONIZE THE TWO AMENDMENTS.
BECAUSE COUNCIL MEMBER POOLE'S AMENDMENT MODIFIES A SIMILAR PLACE.
THEY'RE NOT IN CONFLICT, BUT WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE HARMONIZED.
FAIR ENOUGH. LET ME MAKE SURE I'VE GOT THE VOTE ON.
WHAT'S A MOTION TO AMEND NUMBER THREE TO ITEM FIVE WAS ADOPTED.
OKAY, GOOD. NOW, WITH THAT BEING SAID YOU HEARD THE REQUEST FROM LEGAL COUNSEL.
LET ME ASK, IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO COUNSEL DOING WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AS WE DEAL WITH THESE AMENDMENTS, AND WE ARE PUTTING THESE AMENDMENTS INTO THESE MAIN MOTIONS, HARMONIZING THE WAY SHE JUST DISCUSSED.
ANY OBJECTION? OKAY. YOU'VE GOT PERMISSION.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR CALLING THAT TO OUR ATTENTION MEMBERS THAT WILL NOW TAKE US.
THANK YOU FOR THAT. THAT WILL NOW TAKE US TO COUNCIL MEMBER KADRI.
COUNCIL MEMBER KADRI HAS TWO PROPOSED MOTIONS TO AMEND.
THE FIRST ONE RELATING TO STREET STANDARDS.
COUNCIL MEMBER KADRI, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR A MOTION TO AMEND ITS KADRI.
MOTION TO AMEND NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
COUNCIL MEMBER KADRI COUNCIL MEMBER KADRI MOVES TO AMEND.
IF HE GETS A SECOND, I'LL RECOGNIZE HIM FOR DISCUSSION.
IS I'M JUST CARRYING FORWARD A PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION ON ENHANCED STREET DESIGN.
IT MAY REQUIRE ALTERNATIVE CODE AMENDMENTS TO ACCOMPLISH.
SO I BROUGHT IN IT TO DO JUST THAT.
YEAH, I WAS I WAS OTHER THINGS GOING ON.
CAN YOU SAY THAT AGAIN? OH, JUST FROM THE START.
JUST TELL ME WHAT YOU WHAT YOU SAID.
BECAUSE IF YOU ASKED ME TO DO SOMETHING, I DIDN'T HEAR IT.
I'M JUST CARRYING FORWARD THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION.
GOOD ENOUGH. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO COUNCIL MEMBER KADRI'S? MOTION TO AMEND NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
KADRI. AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO ITEM FIVE IS ADOPTED.
COUNCIL MEMBER KADRI, YOU'LL BE RECOGNIZED ON KADRI.
AND THIS IS THE FACADE PRESERVATION MOTION.
I MENTIONED THIS DURING WORK SESSION ON TUESDAY, WHICH SEEMS LIKE YEARS AGO.
WE WORKED WITH PRESERVATION AUSTIN AURA AND MEMBERS OF THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY TO CRAFT THIS.
AND THEN WE WANT STAFF TO BE ABLE TO EXPLORE HOW BEST TO INCENTIVIZE PRESERVATION OF FACADES AND BUILDINGS THAT ARE MEANINGFUL TO OUR CITY AND CONTRIBUTE TO A WALKABLE PEDESTRIAN REALM ALONG THE FRONTAGE OF OUR LIGHT RAIL CORRIDORS.
HIS MOTION TO AMEND NUMBER TWO TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
IT IS SECONDED BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? COUNCIL MEMBER COWDREY, YOU WISH TO BE RECOGNIZED OR ARE YOU DONE? I'M DONE. ALL RIGHT.
THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION.
COWDREY. MOTION TO AMEND NUMBER TWO TO ITEM FIVE IS ADOPTED.
MEMBERS. I AM TOLD THAT I DID NOT HAVE IN MY NOTES A MOTION A PROPOSED MOTION TO AMEND BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER ON THIS ITEM.
AND SO I'LL RECOGNIZE AND I THINK MAYBE I WAS I'M MAYBE THE ONLY ONE.
IT'S ONE THAT'S LABELED ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
COUNCILMEMBER RYAN ALTER MOTION SHEET MAY 16TH, 2024 COUNCIL MEETING ITOD COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS.
AND THE FIRST LINE IS I MOVE TO AMEND THE DRAFT ORDINANCE TO ADD QUOTE ALLEYWAY CLOSE QUOTE TO SUBSECTION CAPITAL H IN SECTION 20 526 54.
DOES EVERYBODY HAVE A COPY OF THAT? I MAY HAVE BEEN THE ONLY ONE.
THIS WAS JUST A CATCH BY STAFF LAST NIGHT THAT THE COMPATIBILITY AMENDMENT THAT WE HAD TO THE PREVIOUS ITEM, NUMBER FOUR IT HAS, EXCUSE ME, SEPARATE COMPATIBILITY.
SO THIS IS MAKING THEM CONSISTENT FOR ETDS TO HAVE THAT ALLEYWAY PROTECTION.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER YOU WISH TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR MORE DISCUSSION? ANY DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO RYAN, ALTER MOTION TO AMEND NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
[15:40:02]
THE SAME. I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY.YEAH. WE JUST SIT NEXT TO EACH OTHER.
SORRY. I'D LIKE TO SAY I'M BLURRY.
AND, YOU KNOW, AND YOU'D THINK I'D JUST SAY KELLY AND.
NO, BUT, YEAH, IT'S A SAFE BET.
LET ME LET ME BE CLEAR FOR THE RECORD.
RYAN, ALTER MOTION TO AMEND NUMBER ONE TO ITEM FIVE IS APPROVED.
COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY BEING SHOWN VOTING NO.
THANK YOU AND THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE ON THAT.
THAT WILL TAKE US BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION, AS AMENDED.
THE MAIN MOTION IS TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER FIVE, AS AMENDED.
IS THERE DISCUSSION COUNCIL MEMBER KADRI, THEN COUNCIL MEMBER ALISON ALTER.
YOU KNOW, VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOUR AMENDMENT, MAYOR, ON THE HEIGHT LIMITS.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF CONSTITUENTS OF MINE CAME.
THEY BROUGHT UP YOU KNOW, SEVERAL NEIGHBORHOODS DID DURING MEETINGS.
AND I'M GLAD WE COULD FIND SOME COMPROMISE LANGUAGE THAT MANY PEOPLE COULD SUPPORT.
I KNOW THERE'S ALWAYS A LOT MORE WORK TO DO, AND WE CAN DENY THIS IS A HUGE STEP FORWARD.
SO PASSING OUR PROPOSALS REFLECTS A BOLD COMMITMENT TO PROJECT CONNECT.
WE'RE MAKING TRANSFORMATIONAL, GENERATIONAL INVESTMENTS IN THE FUTURE OF AUSTIN, CREATING EVERY TOOL WE CAN FOR A DENSER, MORE AFFORDABLE, MORE WALKABLE AND TRANSIT FRIENDLY FUTURE. SO I'M HAPPY.
THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER, ALISON ALTER.
THANK YOU I APPRECIATE THE RECOGNITION.
I BELIEVE OUR ZONING CODE SHOULD BE GUIDED BY IMAGINE AUSTIN, OUR CITY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, WHICH LAID OUT HOW WE SHOULD STRATEGICALLY PLAN GROWTH ON OUR CORRIDORS AND AROUND ACTIVITY CENTERS.
PLANNING FOR GROWTH ON OUR TRANSIT CORRIDORS COULD SIMULTANEOUSLY SUPPORT OUR TRANSIT INVESTMENTS, INCORPORATE AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS, AND FURTHER OUR ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS. I ALSO BELIEVE IN PROJECT CONNECT AND THE WORK THAT WE HAVE DONE AS A DIOCESE, TOGETHER WITH CAP METRO AND WITH OUR COMMUNITY OVER THE LAST NUMBER OF YEARS THAT WE HAVE SPENT MOVING THAT FORWARD.
AND I BELIEVE THAT THIS POLICY IS IMPORTANT.
THAT'S WHY I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THE APPROACH HERE IN OUR ORDINANCE, WHICH TARGETS GROWTH AROUND INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS THAT CAN ENHANCE OUR ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS WHILE ALSO REQUIRING AFFORDABILITY AS PART OF THE NEW DEVELOPMENTS.
THE ORDINANCE IS IMPERFECT, BUT IT IS BASED ON PLANNING, IT'S BASED ON SIGNIFICANT OUTREACH, AND IT STRIVES TO BALANCE THE COMPLEXITY OF OUR HOUSING, TRANSIT AND ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS.
I WANT TO THANK OUR STAFF WHO WORKED ON IT, AND I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I THINK THAT THE PROPOSAL HAS GOTTEN BETTER AND MORE RESPECTFUL OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS OVER THE PROCESS, SO I WILL BE VOTING FOR IT.
MAY I REMIND YOU THAT ON ITEM THREE, I NEED TO RECUSE MYSELF? I HAVE A NOTE OF THAT ALREADY, AND I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH.
[3. C20-2023-004 - Conduct a public hearing and approve an ordinance amending City Code Title 25 by rezoning property generally located within a certain distance along North Lamar Boulevard, Guadalupe Street, South Congress Avenue, and located south of U.S. Highway 183 and north of Lightsey Road/Woodward Street. Applicant Request: To rezone to add equitable transit-oriented development (ETOD) combining district and density bonus ETOD (DBETOD) combining district. Staff and Planning Commission Recommendation: To grant equitable transit-oriented development (ETOD) combining district and density bonus ETOD (DBETOD) combining district. Applicant: City of Austin. City Staff: Lauren Middleton-Pratt, 512-974-7220. (Part 2 of 2)]
COUNCILMEMBER ALLISON ALTER HAS INDICATED SHE WILL ABSTAIN ON ITEM NUMBER THREE.I'M SORRY, RECUSE HERSELF YOURSELF ON ITEM NUMBER THREE.
COUNCILMEMBER VELA MOVES APPROVAL.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND IT IN.
WE WILL GO TO PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.
THERE ARE TWO PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.
SO I WILL CALL UP FIRST PROPOSED WATSON AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER THREE.
THE ONE YOU HAVE WILL BE SHOWN AS VERSION FOUR.
AND AGAIN THIS IS WITH DEEP THANKS TO STAFF FOR WORKING TO GET THE MAPS WHERE WE NEED THEM.
WHAT THIS DOES IS, AS WE HAVE ALREADY INDICATED, I'LL JUST QUICKLY WALK THROUGH THIS.
IF AN APPLICABLE PROPERTY IS RIGHT ON THE EDGE OF THE OVERLAY.
IN OTHER WORDS, PARTS IN AND PARTS OUT.
THE PROPERTY IS INCLUDED WITHIN THE OVERLAY CURRENTLY UNDER THIS PROPOSAL AS IT WAS THE MAIN MOTION, THIS AMENDMENT WOULD STATE THAT IF A PORTION OF A SITE IS ZONED WITHIN THE TOD COMBINING DISTRICT, IT WOULD BE ELIGIBLE TO BE REZONED AT A FUTURE DATE.
[15:45:08]
I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT THESE PARCELS PARCELS STILL HAVE ACCESS TO THIS DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM, BUT WILL NOT BE REZONED AT THIS TIME IN THIS ACTION. AND I MOVE APPROVAL OF WATSON AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER THREE.IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ.
I APPRECIATE THE AMENDMENT, MAYOR.
IT'S A DETAILED KIND OF BUREAUCRATIC PROBLEM AND I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING IT UP FRONT.
A LOT OF PARCELS KIND OF WERE HALF IN AND HALF OUT.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? WITHOUT OBJECTION.
HEARING NO DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION, WATSON.
MEMBERS. THAT TAKES US TO WATSON.
PROPOSED AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO.
AND I'LL JUST BRIEFLY LET ME JUST SAY THAT IT'S IT'S LABELED, I BELIEVE.
YES, IT'S LABELED AMENDMENT THREE.
SO WHAT'S AN AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE, REALLY TO TO THE ITEM NUMBER THREE IS, IS LET ME LAY IT OUT FOR YOU.
THIS AMENDMENT INCLUDES MAPS THAT IDENTIFY THE TWO SUBDISTRICTS.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE VARIOUS SUBDISTRICTS.
AND I MOVE ADOPTION OF WATSON AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE TO ITEM NUMBER THREE.
IT'S SECONDED BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM.
IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? WITHOUT OBJECTION, I DID YOU HAVE DISCUSSION? WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MEMBERS. THAT TAKES US BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION ON ITEM NUMBER THREE.
YOU'RE COMING UP EARLIER THESE DAYS.
IS THERE SOMETHING I NEED TO KNOW? SO A COUPLE OF STAFF REQUESTS BEFORE THE COUNCIL VOTES ON THE ITEM.
WE HAVE ADDRESSES FOR THESE PROPERTIES, AND WE WOULD LIKE PERMISSION TO ADD THOSE TO THE ORDINANCE.
THE THE MAPS WILL CONTROL IN THE EVENT OF A CONFLICT.
MEMBERS YOU'VE HEARD THE REQUEST OF STAFF, WOULD THERE BE ANY OBJECTION TO THAT? I THINK YOU HAVE DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL.
THE THIRD ASK IS THE ITOD ORDINANCE HAS A DELAYED EFFECTIVE DATE.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE ARE BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION ON ITEM NUMBER THREE.
SO IT IS TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER THREE AS AMENDED.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION OR DISCUSSION WITHOUT HEARING NONE? ITEM NUMBER THREE, AS AMENDED, IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ALISON ALTER RECUSING HERSELF FROM THE VOTE AND COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY BEING SHOWN VOTING NO.
FAIR ENOUGH. THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT OUT.
ALL RIGHT, COUNCIL, THANK YOU ON THAT.
THAT COMPLETES ITEM NUMBER THREE.
MEMBERS. THAT WILL TAKE US TO ITEM NUMBER SIX.
[6. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance amending City Code Title 25 (Land Development) to revise regulations that apply to lots with one housing unit, including small lots, and flag lots (also known as HOME Phase 2). (Part 3 of 3)]
THE MAIN MOTION THAT I WILL ACCEPT IS A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER SIX, WITH THE BASE BEING THE PLANNING COMMISSION[15:50:04]
PREFERRED VERSION.IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.
ALL RIGHT. LET ME MEMBERS THE ORDER I'M GOING TO GO IN ON THIS WILL BE COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES WHO HAS TWO COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.
VELASQUEZ. THE MAYOR PRO TEM HAS TWO COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER HAS THREE, AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALISON ALTER HAS TWO.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE.
COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, I WILL RECOGNIZE YOU FOR A MOTION TO AMEND ITEM NUMBER SIX.
OKAY. SO FOR MY FIRST AMENDMENT, I MOVED TO INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING DIRECTION TO THE CITY MANAGER.
THE CITY MANAGER IS DIRECTED TO CONDUCT AN ANALYSIS OF HOME PHASE TWO, POTENTIAL IMPACT ON DISPLACEMENT OF COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND INCLUDE THIS INFORMATION IN FUTURE ANNUAL IMPACT REPORTS AS REQUIRED BY HOME PHASE ONE.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM.
THIS MAYOR, YOU BROUGHT FORWARD A DATA AN ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT AS REQUIRED BY PHASE ONE.
SO THIS JUST ADDS THIS INFORMATION TO THE REPORTING.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, THE VOTE IS TO ADOPT FUENTES AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO ITEM SIX.
THE AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ TEMPORARILY OFF THE DAIS.
YES, COUNCIL MEMBER, I APOLOGIZE.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM? IS THERE ANY OBJECTION? WITHOUT OBJECTION, COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ WILL BE SHOWN VOTING IN FAVOR.
HE WAS TEMPORARILY OFF THE DAIS.
NOW, COUNCILMEMBER FUENTES, I APOLOGIZE.
I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU ON YOUR PROPOSED AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO TO ITEM SIX.
YES, COLLEAGUES. THIS, THIS I KNOW TODAY WE'VE HAD AN EXTENSIVE CONVERSATION ABOUT A NUMBER OF LAND USE REFORMS. BUT WHAT I HAVE FOUND IS THAT OFTEN THIS CONVERSATION REGARDING THE POLICIES OR PROPOSED TODAY ARE IT CAN LEAD TO THE DISCOUNTING OF THE POLICIES.
I GUESS WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS THAT THE POLICIES WE ARE CONSIDERING TODAY IS NOT BEING DONE IN A VACUUM, AND THERE IS A LOT THAT OUR CITY INVESTS IN TOWARDS AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND PRESERVING EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SO WITH THIS DIRECTION, I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE, FOR THE RECORD, ALL OF THOSE EFFORTS THAT THE CITY HAS AND AND REALLY JUST RECOMMIT AND REAFFIRM OUR VALUES AS A CITY TO THE PRESERVATION OF EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND TO RECOMMIT IN OUR EFFORTS TO ENSURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO ADDRESS AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THESE THESE POLICIES THAT WE'VE ADOPTED TODAY AND ARE CONSIDERING ARE JUST A FEW OF THE TOOLS THAT WE HAVE.
BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL TOOLS THAT WE ARE ACTIVELY EMPLOYING SIMULTANEOUSLY.
SO I MOVED TO INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING DIRECTION TO THE CITY MANAGER.
THE CITY MANAGER IS DIRECTED TO CONTINUE TO CREATE AND PRESERVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN AUSTIN THROUGH THE CITY'S EXISTING PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES, INCLUDING CONTINUE TO ALLOCATE THE 350 MILLION MADE THROUGH THE 2022 AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOND TO DEVELOP AFFORDABLE HOUSING, REHABILITATE AND PRESERVE EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, TO ACQUIRE LAND AND TO FUND THE HOME REPAIR PROGRAMS, AND OF WHICH 120 MILLION HAVE BEEN APPROPRIATED IN FISCAL YEAR 2024.
AND TO DATE, THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION HAS APPROVED 95 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS AND OR ACQUISITIONS AND PRESERVATION, WHICH WILL RESULT IN THOUSANDS OF INCOME RESTRICTED UNITS.
CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO ALLOCATE THE $300 MILLION OF PROJECT CONNECT'S ANTI-DISPLACEMENT FUNDING TO PREVENT DISPLACEMENT AND PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR RESIDENTS WHO LIVE WITHIN ONE MILE OF THE PROJECT, CONNECT HIGH TRANSIT CORRIDORS, AND OF WHICH 120 MILLION HAS ALREADY BEEN MADE AVAILABLE TO ACQUIRE, LAND, PRESERVE AND REHABILITATE EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND INCOME RESTRICTED HOUSING WITH EXPIRING AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS.
[15:55:02]
TO PRIORITIZE THE DEVELOPMENT OF DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT SERVES RESIDENTS EARNING 30% OF THE MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME AND FOR THE COMMUNITY INITIATED SOLUTIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.CONTINUE TO REHABILITATE EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUILDING NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND ADVANCING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HIGHER INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE IN AUSTIN THROUGH THE HOUSING TRUST FUND, WHICH HAS SUPPORTED THE CREATION AND PRESERVATION OF HUNDREDS OF SAFE, AFFORDABLE HOMES, CONTINUE TO SEEK LAND ACQUISITIONS FOR THE CITY'S COMMUNITY LAND TRUST, WHICH I'D LIKE TO NOTE THAT ONE IS CURRENTLY UNDERWAY IN DISTRICT TWO AND TO CREATE LONG TERM AFFORDABILITY AND HOME OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES.
WE HAVE 21 HOMES CURRENTLY USING THE 2018 AFFORDABLE HOUSING BONDS, WITH 20 MORE HOMES IN THE PIPELINE, AND TO DATE HAVE HELPED 24 FAMILIES REMAIN IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS BY UTILIZING THE CITY'S PREFERENCE POLICY.
CONTINUE TO PREVENT DISPLACEMENT THROUGH THE CONTINUATION OF THE ANTI DISPLACEMENT NAVIGATOR PROGRAM, WHICH OF COURSE IS IN ITS PILOT YEAR AND HAS SERVED OVER 221 HOUSEHOLDS, AND THE DOVE SPRINGS AND COLONY PARK NEIGHBORHOODS, WHICH HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS BEING VULNERABLE TO DISPLACEMENT AND LASTLY, CONTINUE TO PROVIDE RENTAL ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE I BELONG IN AUSTIN PROGRAM, WHICH AS OF APRIL 2024, HAS DISTRIBUTED OVER $2,711,000 IN FUNDING AND AN ADDITIONAL 1.7 MILLION IN CURRENT OBLIGATIONS, AND HAS SERVED OVER 206 HOUSEHOLDS ACROSS THE CITY, OF WHICH 88% HAVE BEEN AT 30% MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME AND BELOW AND AT RISK OF EVICTION AND EXPERIENCING FINANCIAL CHALLENGES PAYING RENT.
SORRY, MEMBERS YOU'VE HEARD COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES MOTION.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER.
THAT WILL TAKE US TO COUNCILMEMBER KELLY.
COUNCILMEMBER KELLY, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR A PROPOSED MOTION.
THANK YOU. THIS IS ESSENTIALLY THE SAME MOTION SHEET THAT I LAID OUT ON TUESDAY.
AND IT BUILDS ON WHAT THE MAYOR'S AMENDMENT FROM PHASE ONE WAS.
IT JUST SAYS I MOVED TO ADD A NEW PART OF THE TO THE ORDINANCE THAT DIRECTS THE CITY MANAGER TO INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IN THE REPORT REQUIRED BY HOME PHASE ONE, PART 19.
AS PART OF THE REPORT REQUIRED BY PART 19 OF THE ORDINANCE FOR HOME PHASE ONE.
THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY MOVES APPROVAL OF KELLY AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER SIX.
IS THERE A SECOND SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALISON ALTER? FURTHER DISCUSSION.
HEARING NONE WITHOUT WITHOUT OBJECTION.
KELLY. AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER SIX IS ADOPTED.
THAT TAKES US TO MY PROPOSED AMENDMENT.
MEMBERS. THIS WAS ONE THAT I LAID OUT ON TUESDAY, AND THAT IS TO AMEND THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE IN SUBSECTION F TO 1800 SQUARE FEET.
AND I WOULD MOVE APPROVAL AT, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KADRI.
IS THERE DISCUSSION? COUNCILMEMBER ALLISON ALTER.
I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT THIS IS INCREASING IT RELATIVE TO THE PLANNING PLANNING COMMISSION.
THE BASE MOTION IS BECAUSE I DON'T SUPPORT THE SMALLER.
I'LL SAY IT AGAIN, BUT I WANT TO UNDERSTAND.
SO THIS WOULD BE RELATIVE TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
IT'S INCREASING IF THE BASE MOTION IS THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION.
AND THIS IS AMENDING THAT IT WOULD BE RELATIVE TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION.
OKAY. THANK YOU. FURTHER DISCUSSION.
ALREADY SECONDED. SO THAT ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION WITHOUT A YES COUNCIL MEMBER.
I JUST I APPRECIATE THE THE MOTION AND I THINK JUST FROM A PRACTICAL PERSPECTIVE 1800 DIVIDES INTO 5750, YOU KNOW, IN A YOU COULD DO 1800, 1900, 2000, IN AN EASIER KIND OF MORE SIMPLE WAY.
I THINK IT'S A GOOD PRACTICAL AMENDMENT.
THANK YOU. FURTHER DISCUSSION.
WATSON, AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER SIX IS ADOPTED.
THANK YOU. I REALIZE YOU WERE.
WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS HAND CHARADE THING NORMALLY.
NORMALLY I LOOK DOWN THERE, I GET ALL SORTS OF SIGNALS.
[16:00:02]
THIS TIME I GOT NO SIGNAL, SO.THANK YOU. SORRY, I GOT TO HELP ME OUT.
ALL RIGHT, SO THE MOTION TO AMEND, WATSON.
MOTION TO AMEND NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER SIX IS ADOPTED, WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY BEING SHOWN.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
WE WILL NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ.
YES, SIR. YES, MR. MAYOR, COLLEAGUES, THIS AMENDMENT ASKS THE CITY MANAGER TO INVESTIGATE THE FEASIBILITY OF AN EQUITY ANTI-DISPLACEMENT OVERLAY.
ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK CITY STAFF FOR MOVING SWIFTLY ON THIS, AS THEY'VE REPORTED BACK THAT THEY HAVE ALREADY INITIATED INTERNAL CONVERSATIONS ON NEXT STEPS TO THIS AMENDMENT. COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ MOVES APPROVAL OF VELAZQUEZ AMENDMENT MOTION TO AMEND NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER SIX.
IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.
FURTHER DISCUSSION. COUNCILMEMBER VELAZQUEZ, DO YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ANY COUNCIL MEMBER ALISON ALTER AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER VELLA.
COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ, I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
I THINK IT WELL, I WISH WE COULD ADOPT THE EQUITY OVERLAY TODAY FOR THIS.
I THINK IT ADDRESSES THE VERY REAL DISPARATE IMPACTS THAT THIS PROPOSAL IS GOING TO HAVE.
AND RECOGNIZES THE NEED THAT THIS IS NOT EQUITABLE AS IT MOVES FORWARD.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT.
THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO USE INCLUSIONARY ZONING.
THEY DO KIND OF FREEZE IN PLACE DEVELOPMENT.
MASSACHUSETTS, ANOTHER STATE IN NEW YORK, ALSO HAS VERY SIMILAR MEASURES.
THEY HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL.
ULTIMATELY, WHEN I LOOK AROUND THE COUNTRY AND I SEE WHERE WORKING CLASS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MORE AFFORDABLY PURCHASE OR RENT A HOME THE MARKET BASED SUPPLY IS JUST SUCH A CRITICAL FACTOR FOR AFFORDABILITY.
LIKE I SAID, I SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT.
I JUST WANTED TO ADD, YOU KNOW, ONE MORE THING.
IN TERMS OF THE EQUITY OVERLAY, I HAVE REAL CONCERNS WITH GIVING ECONOMIC BENEFITS TO PEOPLE IN ONE PART OF TOWN, AND THEN ESSENTIALLY DENYING THOSE SAME ECONOMIC BENEFITS TO PEOPLE IN ANOTHER PART OF TOWN.
YOU KNOW, MOST AMERICANS HOME IS THEIR SINGLE GREATEST ASSET.
AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT BLACK AND BROWN HOUSEHOLDS IN PARTICULAR, THEY DON'T HAVE A LIFE INSURANCE.
YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T HAVE AS MANY KIND OF MUTUAL FUNDS, FINANCIAL ASSETS.
AND SO WHEN I LOOK AT THE CHANGES THAT WE'RE MAKING, I SEE THEM AS PRO WORKING CLASS PEOPLE, PRO HOMEOWNERS THAT WANT TO USE THEIR PROPERTY TO SPLIT IT, TO INVITE FAMILY MEMBERS TO RENT IT OUT.
SO AGAIN, I WANT STAFF TO LOOK AT IT, BUT IN MY, YOU KNOW, TEN, 12 YEARS OF OF LOOKING AT THESE ISSUES AND WORKING ON THEM AND AGAIN, IT'S NOT AN IDEOLOGICAL OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
IT'S JUST THAT THIS HAS BEEN TRIED BEFORE ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND HAS JUST QUITE FRANKLY, NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL, VERY INTERESTED TO HEAR WHAT WHAT STAFF HAS TO SAY WHEN THEY BRING BACK THE REPORT THOUGH. THANK YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER FURTHER DISCUSSION.
YEAH, I APPRECIATE THIS ITEM AND WE'LL BE SUPPORTING IT.
I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SOME CONVERSATION, AS WE'VE HEARD FROM SPEAKERS AND DISCUSSED THIS ON THE DAIS ABOUT THE UPROOTED TOOL AND SOME OF JUST THE CHANGES THAT HAVE HAPPENED SINCE THAT TOOL WAS STUDIED.
AND YOU KNOW, HOW OLD IS THE DATA? AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN SEE THE SIGNS OF THE TIME AND UNDERSTAND WHERE TO FOCUS OUR, OUR ENERGY AND OUR RESOURCES, OUR STAFF TIME, OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOND DOLLARS TO PREVENT FURTHER DISPLACEMENT.
AND SO I'M REALLY EAGER TO SEE WHAT SORT OF INFORMATION COMES BACK FROM THIS.
COUNCIL MEMBER, HARPER MADISON, THANK YOU FOR THE RECOGNITION.
I ALREADY DID THIS, AND IT DIDN'T WORK THEN.
IN WHICH CASE, WHILE I'M OPTIMISTIC, I'M HOPING FOR THE BEST.
BUT I WHILE I CAN APPRECIATE THAT MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY HAVE SUCH DEEP CONCERN, ANY IMPLICATION THAT WE WEREN'T ALREADY TRYING, I LITERALLY, ALONGSIDE MY COLLEAGUES, ALREADY TRIED TO BRING FORWARD AN EQUITY OVERLAY AND IT DIDN'T WORK.
SO MY HOPE IS THAT SOMETHING CHANGED IN BETWEEN THEN AND NOW.
[16:05:04]
LEANING ON MEMBERS OF OUR, YOU KNOW, PROFESSIONAL CONSULTING, YOU KNOW, I GUESS STABLE OF SORTS.AND AND WE WERE DIVERSE WITH IT.
SO I HAVE HIGH HOPES THAT WE HAVE FOUND A WAY TO ASSUAGE THEIR FEARS AND REALLY TO COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER'S POINT OUTS AND ALTER'S POINT REALLY MAKES CERTAIN THAT THE POTENTIAL FOR REAL HARM HERE THAT WE DO OUR BEST TO MITIGATE IT.
BUT I ALREADY DID THIS AND SO I WHILE I HAVE HIGH HOPES, I ALSO AM ADMITTEDLY SLIGHTLY SKEPTICAL.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT COMES BACK.
AND SOMETIMES PEOPLE SAY OVER A SHORT TIME, IT HASN'T BEEN SHORT.
I'M FROM HERE. I'M 47 YEARS OLD.
I'VE BEEN WATCHING THE CITY GROW AND CHANGE FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS NOW.
IT WASN'T FAST, IT WASN'T SHORT.
BUT ALSO I HOPE THAT THAT CAN BE MUTUAL AT SOME POINT AS OUR LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.
UP UNTIL THIS POINT, IT'S BEEN LIVING SINCE I WAS THREE YEARS OLD, AND AT THIS MOMENT WE HAVE A BRILLIANT CITY STAFF AND WE HAVE COUNCIL THAT'S DETERMINED TO GET THINGS DONE.
OUR COUNCIL STAFFERS ARE BRILLIANT, OUR CITY STAFFERS ARE BRILLIANT.
I THINK THIS ITERATION OF THIS BODY IS THE ONE THAT I FEEL THE MOST OPTIMISTIC ABOUT.
SO WITH THAT SAID, I THINK THE MOMENT FOR CHANGE IS NOW, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE MOMENTUM BY REALLY SEEKING WHATEVER TOOLS ARE POSSIBLE TO PROVIDE MORE ATTAINABLE, MORE DIVERSE HOUSING TYPES IN EVERY PART OF THE CITY.
BUT TO BE CLEAR BETWEEN WHAT COUNCILMEMBER BELLA JUST SAID AND WHAT ONE OF OUR SOMEBODY WHO SAID THIS YESTERDAY AND I DON'T KNOW THAT I ENTIRELY UNDERSTOOD, AGREED WITH HER TESTIMONY, I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE CLEAR, BLACKNESS AND BROWNNESS IS NOT SYNONYMOUS WITH POVERTY.
AND SO I REALLY DON'T LIKE THAT WE MARGINALIZE THE CONVERSATION AROUND MARGINALIZED HUMANS AND JUST ASSUME, LIKE BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE ARE THE ONLY LISTEN, WE GOT PEOPLE ALL OVER THIS TOWN WHO LOOK LIKE ALL SORTS OF THINGS, WHO COME FROM ALL SORTS OF BACKGROUNDS, WHO ARE DEEPLY EMBEDDED IN THE KIND OF POVERTY THAT THEY WON'T COME OUT OF WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF OUR COMMUNITIES, AND MY HOPE IS THAT WE CAN BE A LITTLE MORE INCLUSIVE WHEN WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ADDRESSING POVERTY, ABOUT ADDRESSING ACCESSIBLE OPTIONS FOR ALL HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS.
I REALLY APPRECIATE HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE SAYING RENTERS.
I THINK THAT'S ACTUALLY SORT OF A SKEWED APPROACH.
THAT SAID, THOUGH, I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THE HOME INITIATIVE IS NOT ENOUGH.
SO I RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE TO WORK FORWARD TOGETHER AND PRIORITIZE AND EXPAND UPON OUR STRATEGIES THAT CREATE MORE HOUSING AND HISTORICALLY EXCLUSIVE, HIGH OPPORTUNITY AREAS OF TOWN.
SO I REALLY YOU GUYS HAVE ALREADY SAID IT, BUT THANK YOU FOR OUR CITY STAFF FOR WORKING THIS HARD.
IT IT MUST FEEL THANKLESS TO GET THIS MUCH WORK IN AND WORK THIS HARD.
AND FOR US TO STILL BE LIKE, YOU KNOW, NOT HAVING FOLKS RECOGNIZE HOW MUCH EFFORT YOU PUT INTO IT.
SO JUST SO YOU KNOW, WE SEE YOU AND WE APPRECIATE YOU.
SO THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR YOUR DILIGENCE.
THANK YOU TO OUR STAFF. AND FRANKLY, THANK YOU TO OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
I NEED TO DOUBLE DOWN ON THIS.
NOBODY SHOULD WALK AWAY FEELING LIKE THEY WERE DISRESPECTED.
COUNCIL MEMBER. VELASQUEZ, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU TO CLOSE ON YOUR MOTION TO AMEND.
VELASQUEZ. MOTION TO AMEND NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER SIX IS ADOPTED.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ.
I WILL NOW MEMBERS WE WILL NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER.
AND WHAT I'M GOING TO PROBABLY DO IS INSTEAD OF JUST GOING TO BOTH OF HER PROPOSED AMENDMENTS, WHEN I BRING UP THE HER FIRST MOTION TO AMEND, I'M PROBABLY THEN GOING TO RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, BECAUSE THERE ARE THREE SIMILAR MOTIONS TO AMEND RELATED TO IMPLEMENTATION TIMING.
SO HOPEFULLY THAT WILL MAKE IT CLEARER, BUT I CAN'T GUARANTEE THAT MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED ON POOL MOTION TO AMEND NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER SIX.
[16:10:02]
MAYOR, THE MOTION, IF I GET A SECOND, WILL BE TO GIVE STAFF'S SOME ADDITIONAL TIME THAT THEY'RE REQUESTING TO PREPARE THE PROCESSES TO ACCEPT APPLICATIONS FOR THE HOME2 PROGRAM, SIMILAR TO HOME ONE, WHICH HAS A HAD A 60 DAY DELAYED IMPLEMENTATION DATE.HOME TWO REQUIRES COORDINATION AMONG MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS AND TOPICS, AND SO THIS AMENDMENT TO GIVE STAFF THE TIME THEY NEED WOULD BE FOR I THINK IT'S 90 DAYS.
IT IS. MOTION IS MADE BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM TO APPROVE POOL AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER SIX.
IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.
DISCUSSION. NOW, NOW WOULD BE THE TIME.
NOW NOW'S MY MOMENT. ARE THERE ANY FRIENDLY AMENDMENTS? YES. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WE DO THIS.
WELL, I'M GOING TO RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER AND MEMBERS YOU HAVE IN YOUR BACKUP A WHAT WAS LABELED OUR ALTERS.
MOTION TO AMEND RELATED TO DELAYED IMPLEMENTATION.
AND I WANT TO RECOGNIZE HIM ON THAT ONE.
IT'S ACTUALLY IT'S RECOMMENDED PHASED IMPLEMENTATION.
HE INDICATES IT REQUIRES TWO CHANGES.
I'M GOING TO RECOGNIZE HIM TO SEE IF WE CAN'T MAKE IT HARMONIZE WITH WHAT IS GOING ON.
AND THEN COUNCILMEMBER FUENTES, I'M GOING TO RECOGNIZE YOU.
SO WHAT IT SAYS IS IT'S A SIX MONTH DELAY FOR THE WUI AREA.
AND THAT CAME AT THE OR THE REQUEST OF STAFF.
THEY'RE WORKING ON THE TECHNICAL CODE FOR THAT AREA THAT WILL APPLY HERE.
AND THEY WANT JUST THE TIME TO FINISH THAT TO PROPERLY APPLY THAT TO THESE.
AND I BELIEVE IT IS ACCEPTABLE TO THE MAYOR PRO TEM.
WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO READ THE WHOLE THING? WELL, NO.
BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT HARMONIZES.
RIGHT. AND SO I DO SEE IT AS FRIENDLY.
WELL, I'M SAYING THAT I'LL SEE I'LL GIVE YOU THE SECOND.
BUT BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS YOU'RE ADDING A PART.
COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER, YOU'RE ADDING A PART TWO TO THE MAYOR PRO TEM MOTION TO AMEND.
AND SO, MEMBERS, AS YOU'RE LOOKING AT THIS, THE FIRST THE TOP PART IS THE SAME.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.
SO MEMBERS COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER MOVES TO AMEND MAYOR PRO TEMS MOTION AMENDMENT NUMBER.
PROPOSED AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE.
SHE SECONDS THAT MOTION TO AMEND.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO THE RYAN ALTER MOTION TO AMEND POOL AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE WITHOUT OBJECTION, IT IS ADOPTED.
COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN. ALTERS MOTION TO AMEND.
MOTION TO AMEND NUMBER ONE IS ADOPTED, WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY BEING SHOWN VOTING NO.
NOW, MEMBERS, I'M GOING TO RECOGNIZE WE'RE STILL ON THE POOL.
AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE, AS AMENDED.
I'M NOW GOING TO RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.
THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES, THIS AMENDMENT THAT'S BEING PASSED OUT WAS CONTINGENT ON SHOULD COUNCIL ADOPT A COUNCILMEMBER RYAN ALTARS AMENDMENT, WHICH SEEKS TO HAVE A PHASED IMPLEMENTATION OF OF THIS POLICY, WHICH ALLOWS THE SUBDIVISION OF LOTS AND AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE THE THE POLICY TO ALLOW THE SUBDIVISION OF LOTS IS A RECOMMENDED STRATEGY THAT COMES FROM OUR UPROOTED REPORT, THAT COMES FROM OUR ANTI-DISPLACEMENT TASK FORCE AND IS RECOMMENDED AS A WAY TO ALLOW FAMILIES TO AGE IN PLACE AND TO STAY IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS BY BY ALLOWING THIS AS A POLICY.
AND WHAT I HEARD VERY LOUDLY AND CLEARLY FROM OUR COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THE EXTENSIVE COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS WE'VE HAD AND MEETINGS THAT WE'VE HAD, IS THE NEED TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE THE FINANCIAL COMPONENT TIED WITH THIS SUBDIVISION OF LOTS AND REDUCING OUR MINIMUM LOT SIZE STANDARDS.
THAT POLICY IS COMING FORWARD.
COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
[16:15:02]
COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER THAT POLICY ON MAY 30TH.AND SO FOR ME, WITH THIS POLICY, WITH THIS AMENDMENT THAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU WE JUST ADOPTED COUNCILMEMBER RYAN ALTER'S AMENDMENT THAT SEEKS TO PHASE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS POLICY.
I'M SEEKING TO ALIGN THE PHASE IMPLEMENTATION TO ENSURE THAT ANY CENSUS TRACK THAT IS IDENTIFIED AS UNDERGOING ACTIVE DISPLACEMENT BY THE UPROOTED REPORT, OR ANY CENSUS TRACT THAT IS IDENTIFIED AS VULNERABLE TO DISPLACEMENT AS UPROOTED REPORT, ALSO GETS THAT SAME COURTESY OF HAVING THAT PHASED IMPLEMENTATION, SO THAT WE HAVE THE FINANCIAL COMPONENT IN PLACE THAT COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER IN A FEW WEEKS.
TO ME, IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE OUR DISPLACEMENT PREVENTION COMMUNITY NAVIGATORS ACTIVATED AND AND OUT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS GOING DOOR TO DOOR, PROVIDING THIS INFORMATION ABOUT THE TOOLS AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES MOVES TO AMEND POOL AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER SIX.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE FUENTES MOTION TO AMEND THE POOL AMENDMENT, AS AMENDED, IS ADOPTED, WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY VOTING NO.
MEMBERS THAT WILL TAKE US BACK TO THE POOL.
AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER SIX, AS AMENDED.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION AND MEMBER PRO TEM DO YOU WISH TO BE RECOGNIZED TO CLOSE? JUST JUST THAT I'M HAPPY THAT WE'RE ALL WORKING TOGETHER WITH STAFF AND GIVING THEM THE TIME THEY NEED TO HARMONIZE THINGS.
VERY GOOD. WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE POOL AMENDMENT ONE TO ITEM NUMBER SIX, AS AMENDED BY COUNCILOR RYAN ALTER AND COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, IS APPROVED.
THANKS, MAYOR. LEGAL STAFF HAD REQUESTED A LANGUAGE CHANGE TO ESTABLISH SIDE SETBACK, NOT BY USE, BUT BY DATE OF SUBDIVISION, SO THAT WE CAN AVOID FUTURE CONFLICTS SHOULD THE USE OF A PROPERTY CHANGE.
AND I'D LIKE TO INVITE MISS LINK TO COME TALK ABOUT THIS AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
I THINK WE'VE REACHED A GOOD PLACE WITH THE LANGUAGE, AND IT LOOKS LIKE SHE'S PREPARED.
MAYOR PRO TEM MOVES APPROVAL OF POOL AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO TO ITEM NUMBER SIX.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.
DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS OF STAFF? HEARING NONE.
POOL AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO TO ITEM SIX IS ADOPTED.
THAT WILL NOW TAKE US TO COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER.
AND THE FIRST BECAUSE WE'VE ALREADY TAKEN UP THE THE PREVIOUS ONE.
COUNCILMEMBER RYAN ALTER, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED ON WHAT I WILL REFER TO AS ALTER RYAN RHINE.
ALTER AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER SIX RELATED TO SETBACKS AND IMPERVIOUS COVER.
GREAT. SO THIS ONE, AND JUST BECAUSE THERE WERE A COUPLE VERSIONS THAT THE ONLINE IT IS AS AMENDMENT THREE VERSION TWO, BUT IT'S TITLED SETBACKS HOME FACE TWO SETBACKS. AND WHAT THIS IS, IS CONSIDERING THE FRONT YARD SETBACK, THERE THERE WERE.
TWO CONCERNS, REALLY, ABOUT PUSHING IT ALL THE WAY TO TEN FEET WITH AN ADDITIONAL FIVE.
AND THAT FIRST CONCERN IS THAT BY LEAVING SO LITTLE ROOM BETWEEN THE FACADE AND THE SIDEWALK, THAT THERE WOULD BE INADEQUATE SPACE FOR, YOU KNOW, OUR GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE ARE TYPICALLY OUR TREES IN IN THESE AREAS.
[16:20:01]
AREA AT THAT DISTANCE, A CAR WOULD BE BLOCKING A SIDEWALK, AND SO YOU WOULDN'T HAVE THAT SAME ACCESS ACROSS THE SIDEWALK.AND SO WHAT THIS DOES IS GOES BACK TO ASK THE QUESTION, WHAT WERE WE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH? AND THE BIGGEST THING WE WERE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH WAS TO REALLY HAVE PORCHES AND ACTIVATED SPACE WHERE WE CAN CREATE COMMUNITY IN THE FRONT.
AND SO WHAT THIS ITEM DOES IS IT MOVES THE SET BACK TO 15FT.
WE'RE AT 25 NOW, SO IT MOVES IT TO 15 WITH AN ADDITIONAL FIVE FEET FOR A PORCH, BUT ALSO ALLOWS FOR AREA TO HABITABLE SPACE ABOVE THE PORCH, WHICH ISN'T TODAY ALLOWED, AND TO THE SIDE OF THE PORCH AS AN ADDED INCENTIVE TO SOMEONE BUILDING A HOME TO DO THAT. SO IF THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT EXTRA FLEXIBILITY, IF THEY PUT A PORCH, THEN THEY GET TO DO THAT.
AND SO IT'S A REAL INCENTIVE AND I THINK WILL ALLOW OR WE WILL SEE A LOT MORE FRONT PORCHES WHERE KIND OF PEOPLE CAN, CAN BETTER CREATE COMMUNITY.
I WANT TO THANK TRISH, WHO HELPED ME WITH ABOUT TEN VERSIONS OF THIS, AND PLANNING STAFF.
WE WE HUDDLED IN THE BACK FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND I THINK LANDED IN A REALLY GOOD SPOT.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO ALTER RYAN ALTER AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE.
I WOULD LIKE TO PCS TEN FOOT RECOMMENDATION WITH A FIVE FOOT OPTION FOR A PORCH.
AGAIN, IF WE'RE GOING TO PRESERVE OUR TREES, WHICH WE WANT TO, WE NEED TO GIVE PEOPLE AS MUCH FLEXIBILITY AS POSSIBLE WITH WHERE TO POSITION THEIR HOUSE, WHETHER IT BE TOWARD THE FRONT, TOWARD THE BACK AGAIN, PUTTING A LOWER SETBACK LIMIT.
DOESN'T SAY YOU'VE GOT TO PUT IT AT TEN FEET, YOU KNOW.
YOU KNOW, TEN FEET FROM THE THE YOU CAN PUT IT FARTHER BACK IF YOU WANT.
AND AGAIN, I THINK THIS IDEA THAT, THAT THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH ROOM FOR TREES, I MEAN, THE ENTIRE THERE'S A SUBDIVISION, THE YOU KNOW, MUELLER SUBDIVISION THAT THAT HAS TEN FOOT SETBACKS OR LESS, I BELIEVE, IN, THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE SUBDIVISION.
SO I WOULD STICK WITH THE PC THE PLANNING COMMISSION VERSION ON THIS.
I THINK THEY TOSSED IT AROUND AND CAME TO A VERY GOOD CONCLUSION.
AND SO I'LL BE VOTING NO ON THIS AMENDMENT.
SURPRISED? COUNCIL MEMBER HARBOR.
MADISON I RECOGNIZE YOU DESPITE COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY'S FANTASTIC SENSE OF HUMOR.
ACTUALLY. SURPRISE! I'M A NOTE TODAY. YEAH, I REALLY RESPECT THE EFFORT, BUT I DON'T THINK THIS IS THE APPROPRIATE PATH FORWARD.
THANK YOU THOUGH COUNCIL MEMBER I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND EFFORT ON IT.
COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY IS THE FREE SPACE ON THE BINGO CARD.
DO Y'ALL HAVE A BINGO CARD I DIDN'T GET? I APPRECIATE THE THE DISCUSSION FROM MY COLLEAGUES HERE.
AND I WAS ALSO IN FAVOR OF PLANNING COMMISSION'S ORIGINAL SUGGESTION.
SO I'M GOING TO I'M GOING TO GO WITH.
OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ.
YOU KNOW, MY MY ACCOUNT IS NOT THAT GREAT.
I'M WITHERING ON THE VINE HERE.
RYAN ALTER WITHDRAWS A MOTION TO AMEND NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER SIX.
YES. COUNCIL MEMBER ALISON ALTER.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I PREFER THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION ON SETBACKS.
CLEARLY, THERE'S A PREFERENCE FOR THE PC, BUT FOR MANY OF THE REASONS THAT COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALDER RAISED IN HIS AMENDMENT, WHICH I APPRECIATE HIM WORKING ON, I THINK WE ARE GOING TO LOOK BACK AND BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE LOSS OF TREES.
WE ARE NOT ABLE TO PROTECT OUR TREES IN THE SAME WAY.
[16:25:03]
I GUESS IT WAS ON TUESDAY.BUT BUT I THINK THAT THE STAFF WERE VERY CLEAR.
MAYBE IT WAS TWO WEEKS AGO ABOUT WHY THE SETBACKS THAT THEY WERE SUGGESTING WERE IMPORTANT.
AND I CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THAT THAT WOULD BE A BETTER APPROACH.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER.
THAT'S WITHDRAWN. THAT WILL TAKE US TO ALTER.
RYAN ALTER PROPOSED AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO TO ITEM NUMBER SIX.
I WILL JUST FIRST MOVE PASSAGE AND THEN I'LL GIVE COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER MOVES.
PASSAGE OF ALTER RYAN ALTER AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO TO ITEM NUMBER SIX.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND THE MOTION AND RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER FOR DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION.
SO MEMBERS WITH THIS ONE DOES IS LOOKS AT OUR IMPERVIOUS COVER IN A COMPARISON OF A LOT AS IT EXISTS TODAY, AND A LOT THAT UNDERGOES SUBDIVISION AND ENSURES THAT WE ARE NOT INCREASING THE IMPERVIOUS COVER IN THAT AREA TO PREVENT FLOODING, TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY.
AND SO I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT JUST WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YOU TOOK A LOT AND SUBDIVIDED IT INTO THREE DIFFERENT UNITS OR THREE DIFFERENT LOTS AS FLAG LOTS.
IF YOU THEN SUBDIVIDE IT AND YOU GO WITH THE BARE MINIMUM FLAGPOLE WIDTH OF FIVE FEET, BUT YOU DON'T DO WHAT I'M PROPOSING HERE TODAY, AND YOU EXCLUDE THAT POLE FROM YOUR IMPERVIOUS COVER CALCULATION.
WE KNOW THAT POLE IS GOING TO BE A DRIVEWAY, BECAUSE THAT'S HOW YOU GET IN AND OUT.
THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THE POLE.
AND SO THAT AREA THERE ALLOWS THE TOTAL IMPERVIOUS COVER TO JUMP TO 29, 54, OR 51.4% OF A LOT. THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY 51 POINT.
I MEAN, THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY 45%.
WHY SHOULD IT BE NOW? AND I WOULD SAY THAT CURRENTLY YOU CAN'T SUBDIVIDE A LOT TO 1800 SQUARE FEET.
AND SO THIS ISSUE IS NOT ONE THAT WE SEE PROLIFERATE TODAY, THAT WE MIGHT SEE IN THE FUTURE.
AND SO I KNOW THAT FLOODING IS AN ISSUE IN CERTAIN AREAS OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND I BELIEVE IT IS CRUCIAL THAT WE PROTECT THIS SAFEGUARD THAT WE HAVE.
COUNCILMEMBER VILA. MAYOR, I'M GOING TO OPPOSE THIS AS WELL, I AGREE THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS IMPERVIOUS COVER. I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT IT IN A HOLISTIC WAY, BROADLY SPEAKING, ACROSS THE CITY WITH HOW WE ARE GOING TO PROTECT OUR CITY FROM FLOODING.
AND I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO DO IT ON A MICRO LEVEL.
I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT LARGER SOLUTIONS LIKE REGIONAL WATER DETENTION PONDS.
THAT IS A REALLY IMPORTANT TOPIC.
I, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE WENT INTO THIS DEBATE ABOUT A HOME, BOTH PHASE ONE AND PHASE TWO, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THE KIND OF CORE PRINCIPLES THAT I REMEMBER DISCUSSING THIS WITH, WITH A HANDFUL OF COUNCIL MEMBERS, WAS THAT WE WERE GOING TO LEAVE IMPERVIOUS COVER ALONE, THAT WE WEREN'T GOING TO INCREASE IT, WE WEREN'T GOING TO DECREASE IT.
WE WERE NOT GOING TO TOUCH IT AT THIS POINT BECAUSE IT'S THERE'S SO MANY MOVING PARTS.
IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT AREA TO TO REALLY GRASP AND HANDLE.
SO I, I APPRECIATE THE DISCUSSION.
IT'S A DISCUSSION THAT WE NEED TO HAVE.
I THINK THAT WE SHOULD HAVE THAT AS A WE GOT TO LOOK AT COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES.
I DON'T WANT TO KIND OF JUST TAKE ONE LITTLE AREA.
I'D RATHER LEAVE IT AS WE MADE NO CHANGES TO IMPERVIOUS COVER THROUGH THIS ENTIRE PROCESS.
[16:30:02]
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER. MAYOR PRO TEM, I WORRY THAT WE WILL LOSE THE ABILITY TO ADD ANOTHER HOUSING UNIT ON A LOT WHEN THE.IF YOU INCLUDE A FLAGPOLE THAT IS NOT CURRENTLY COUNTED AND WE ADDED IN AND THE RANGE THAT STAFF HAD BEEN ABLE TO GIVE US WAS ANYWHERE FROM ONE POINT UP TO ABOUT 4 OR 5 POINTS.
I THINK SINCE WE DON'T NOW COUNT FLAGPOLES, THAT WE SHOULD SCRUTINIZE THE SITUATION AND SEE WHAT COMES OF THIS, AND IF WE HAVE DIFFICULTIES, THEN WE CAN COME BACK AND AMEND AT A LATER DATE.
BUT FOR NOW, I'M RELUCTANT MAYOR AND WILL VOTE NO ON THIS ONE, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO PUT THE ABILITY TO HAVE ANOTHER HOUSING UNIT IN JEOPARDY BECAUSE OF A 1 TO 2 TO 3% INCREASE IN POINT INCREASE IN THE IMPERVIOUS COVER MAXIMUM, WHICH DOESN'T ACTUALLY MEAN THAT THAT'S THE IMPERVIOUS COVER ON THE SITE.
THANK YOU. MAYOR. PRO TEM TEM COUNCIL MEMBER KADRI.
I'LL MAKE MY COMMENTS VERY SHORT.
IN AGREEMENT WITH COUNCIL MEMBER VELLA AND MAYOR PRO TEM POOL.
AND I'LL BE VOTING NO ON THE MOTION.
AND THERE'S JUST GENERALLY A LOT OF ISSUES HERE WITH FLAG LOTS.
AND YOU MAY BE FINDING THAT, YOU KNOW, NEXT YEAR WHEN THIS IS ALL IMPLEMENTED, YOU'RE GOING TO START HAVING PEOPLE COMING IN AND COMPLAINING ABOUT JUST FLAG LOTS, PERIOD. I APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN WALTERS RAISING THE FLAG THAT WE HAVE HEARD OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
WE'RE NOT INCREASING IMPERVIOUS COVER.
AND WHEN YOU INCENTIVIZE MULTIPLE LOTS, YOU JUST REDUCE THE LOT SIZE FROM WHAT THE STAFF RECOMMENDED AND YOU ALLOW THE IMPERVIOUS COVER NOT TO COUNT, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE IMPERVIOUS COVER, WHETHER YOU COUNT IT AS PART.
I MEAN, IT'S SLEIGHT OF HAND TO SAY THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO COUNT IT, BUT IT'S STILL THERE.
YOU'RE STILL HAVING MORE THAN YOU COULD IF YOU ADOPTED WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER IS PROPOSING.
AND SO I THINK THAT WE HAVEN'T TALKED A LOT TODAY ABOUT THE LOCALIZED FLOODING.
WE HAVEN'T TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE WATERSHED IMPLICATIONS OF THESE THINGS.
AND THIS IS A STEP THAT WE CAN TAKE IN THAT DIRECTION.
AND I THINK THAT WHEN WE DON'T DO THAT, WE'RE NOT WE'RE NOT LIVING UP TO THE PROMISE THAT WE MADE OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT WE WOULDN'T BE INCREASING THE IMPERVIOUS COVER.
THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, THEN COUNCIL MEMBER.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER RYAN ALTER, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
IF YOU LOOK, THE FIRST PART OF THE MOTION FOR THE MEASUREMENTS IS I KNOW MOST OF THE CONVERSATION THAT WE'RE HAVING, BUT THERE'S ACTUALLY AN ADDITIONAL EDIT IN THAT SECTION THAT NEEDS TO BE MADE.
SO IF YOU LOOK AT SUBSECTION, WHAT WILL WOULD BE WHAT IS CURRENTLY SEE WE HAVE THE MEASUREMENT OF THE LOT WIDTH FROM THE FRONT SETBACK LINE. AND RIGHT NOW CURRENT CODE SAYS 50.
IT ACTUALLY NEEDS TO SAY 20 IN ORDER TO EFFECTUATE THE CHANGES YOU'RE MAKING HERE TODAY.
WE SHOULD HAVE CAUGHT THAT EARLIER.
IT'S ALL RIGHT. IT'S NOT GOING TO PASS.
NO, NO, WE NEED THAT PART TO PASS.
WELL, WHAT? GOOD LUCK. JUST THAT ONE LITTLE CHANGE.
IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO OFFER THAT AS AN AMENDMENT WHERE THE AMENDMENT PASSES, I'M.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE BITS AND PIECES OUT OF IT.
[16:35:04]
BUT BUT ON A MOTION THAT YOU'VE NOW HEARD A CLEAR MAJORITY OF THE COUNCIL SAY THEY'RE NOT GOING TO SUPPORT, I'M GOING TO ALLOW, AS A PRESIDING OFFICER, IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION TO COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER WITHDRAWING HIS MOTION WHICH PROBABLY TECHNICALLY WE OUGHT TO JUST VOTED UP OR DOWN AND IT'LL GO DOWN.COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER BEFORE WITHDRAWING.
AND I DON'T HAVE IT HERE, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE JUST A COUPLE CLOSING REMARKS.
I AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER VELLA THAT WE DO NEED TO ADDRESS THIS COMPREHENSIVELY.
IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT, BUT WE KNOW HOW AN UNDERTAKING LIKE THAT IS GOING TO TAKE SIGNIFICANT TIME AND IT SHOULD BECAUSE IT'S A IT'S A SERIOUS ISSUE.
AND SO THIS IS GOING TO OCCUR UP UNTIL THAT POINT.
AND SO WE WILL BE SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE WE CAN'T DO IT ALL AT ONCE.
AND I THINK THAT IS NOT THE BEST WAY TO GO.
SECONDLY, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBER OR MAYOR PRO TEM PAUL MENTIONED THE ADDITIONAL NOT BEING ABLE TO TO BUILD BECAUSE OF YOU'D HAVE TO INCLUDE THAT. AND IF ALL WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS A 1 TO 4% IMPERVIOUS COVER AMOUNT, YOUR BUILDING COVERAGE MAXIMUM IS 40% ANYWAYS, SO TYPICALLY WHAT YOU HAVE IF YOU'RE GOING TO MAX IT OUT IS YOU'RE 40% BUILDING COVERAGE AND THEN AN ADDITIONAL 5% FOR YOUR DRIVEWAY.
AND SO IF IT'S ONLY THIS 1 TO 4%, THEN YOU STILL HAVE YOUR FULL 40% FOR YOUR BUILDING THAT IS GOING TO OCCUPY THAT IMPERVIOUS SPACE. SO I THINK THAT IS A LITTLE BIT OF A RED HERRING.
AND AND LASTLY, I WOULD JUST SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, MARGINAL INCREASES ADD UP.
AND SO EVEN IF WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT A COUPLE PERCENTAGES, I JUST THINK AND I KNOW MY CONSTITUENTS FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT THIS, THAT IT'S JUST NOT THE RIGHT THING.
BUT WITH THAT, I WILL WITHDRAW AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE.
MEMBERS. WITH THAT, IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, I WOULD LIKE US TO VOTE ON THAT IF WE CAN.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF RYAN ALTER MOTION TO AMEND.
NUMBER RYAN, ALTER MOTION TO AMEND NUMBER TWO.
I GUESS IT'LL BE NUMBER ONE BECAUSE THE PREVIOUS ONE WAS WITHDRAWN.
NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER SIX.
ALL THOSE VOTING IN FAVOR INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED, RAISE YOUR HAND.
THE MOTION FAILS, WITH FOUR BEING SHOWN VOTING IN FAVOR.
ALL OTHERS WILL BE SHOWN VOTING NO.
AND ON THAT VOTE, THE MOTION FAILS.
WE WILL NOW GO TO PROPOSED AMENDMENTS FROM COUNCIL MEMBER ALISON ALTER.
THE FIRST YOU'LL BE COUNCIL MEMBER ALISON ALTER.
YOU'LL BE RECOGNIZED ON YOUR FIRST PROPOSED AMENDMENT.
MAYOR, CAN I TAKE UP THE WEE ONE BEFORE THE SHORT TERM RENTAL? I'M SORRY. MAY I TAKE UP MY DIRECTION ON THE WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE CODE FIRST? SURE. MEMBERS COUNCIL MEMBER ALISON ALTER OFFERS UP A ALTER AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE THAT IS THE ONE RELATED TO THE INTERNATIONAL WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE CODE AND LOCAL AMENDMENTS.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED ON THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT.
THANK YOU. I MOVE THE FOLLOWING DIRECTION BECAUSE OF THE REDUCED LOT SIZE BEING ADOPTED AS PART OF HOME PHASE TWO, THE CITY MANAGER IS DIRECTED TO PROPOSE AN EFFECTIVE DATE THAT IS 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF ADOPTION, WHICH IS THE MINIMUM ALLOWED BY STATE LAW FOR THE 2024 INTERNATIONAL WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE CODE AND LOCAL AMENDMENTS.
AND I WILL EXPLAIN IT WHEN I HAVE A SECOND COUNCIL MEMBER, ALISON ALTER, MOVES APPROVAL OF A ALTER AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER SIX. IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.
IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, YOU'LL BE RECOGNIZED.
[16:40:01]
WE'VE ONLY BEEN ABLE TO DELAY IMPLEMENTATION IN THE WUI UNTIL NOVEMBER.IT WILL BE VERY TIGHT FOR US TO CLOSE THAT GAP BETWEEN NOVEMBER 16TH AND JANUARY 1ST.
SO SHOULD WE BE ABLE TO ADOPT THE CODE? BEFORE DECEMBER, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE IT BE IMPLEMENTED AS APPROPRIATE TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE AT AN EARLIER DATE.
COUNCIL MEMBER. FURTHER DISCUSSION.
COUNCIL MEMBER. VILA. WOULD THIS DELAY IMPLEMENTATION OF HOME PHASE TWO UNTIL AFTER THE WUI IS ADOPTED? UNTIL 30 DAYS AFTER THE WUI IS ADOPTED? NO. WHAT THIS DOES IS IT PROVIDES DIRECTION TO THE CITY MANAGER TO, INSTEAD OF FOLLOWING THE NORM OF IMPLEMENTING THE WUI CODE CHANGES AS OF JANUARY 1ST. ONCE WE ADOPT THEM IN THE FALL, THAT THEY WOULD GO INTO EFFECT 30 DAYS AFTER, WHICH IS THE MINIMUM WE'RE ALLOWED TO DO IT BY STATE LAW.
SO THIS IS DIRECTION THAT RELATES TO THE PROCESS THAT WE HAVE TRIED TO INITIATE, TO ADDRESS THE SAFETY CONCERNS THAT ARE RAISED BY IMPLEMENTING HOME IN THE WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE AREA, PROVIDING DIRECTION TO STAFF, SO THAT ONCE WE HAVE ADOPTED THE WE CODE AMENDMENTS, THAT THEY GO INTO EFFECT WITH THE LEAST AMOUNT OF DELAY AS POSSIBLE UNDER STATE LAW.
IT EXPEDITES IT OTHER RELATIVE TO WHAT THE DEFAULT WOULD BE.
GOT IT. THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION.
YES. THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR THE RECOGNITION.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER ALISON ALTER FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
TRADITIONALLY, I'VE BEEN REAL FOCUSED ON PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT WHEN I GOT ON COUNCIL, I NOTICED THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ALISON ALTER REALLY KNEW WHAT SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT AND INVESTED IN THIS.
AND I FULLY SUPPORT WHAT SHE'S DOING.
THANK YOU. FURTHER DISCUSSION.
COULD WE ASK THE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ANY THOUGHTS ON ON THIS? I MEAN, AGAIN, I'M JUST A LITTLE CONFUSED ON IT, AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I UNDERSTAND IT.
PLEASE IDENTIFY YOURSELF, SIR.
ABSOLUTELY. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. CITY MANAGER. MR. MAYOR, MAYOR, PRO TEM, COUNCIL MEMBER.
I'M GOING TO HAVE THE EXPERTS WHO KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS TO COME UP HERE AND TALK ABOUT THIS.
CHIEF DELORENZO. SO, MA'AM KNOWS HOW TO DELEGATE RIGHT THERE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE COUNCIL, MAYOR, MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM TO YOUR QUESTION.
IT IS ACCELERATING THE PROCESS.
THEY ARE ON TRACK IF EVERYTHING GOES ACCORDING TO PLAN.
AND IF IT WAS THE NORMAL PROCESS, WE WOULD ADOPT THEM JANUARY 1ST.
THIS WOULD REDUCE THAT TIME FROM JANUARY 1ST TO 30 DAYS AFTER ADOPTION BY THE COUNCIL.
AND AGAIN, TO JUST TO BE CLEAR, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DELAYING THE 30 DAYS, I'M SORRY, ADOPTING IT THE THE 30 DAYS AFTER THE NEW WUI IS PROPOSED OR IS COMES TO COUNCIL AND IS PASSED? YES. AFTER YOU ALL ADOPT IT, IT GOES THROUGH THE NORMAL PROCESS OF THE TECHNICAL REVIEW FOR THAT CODE.
IT WILL GO IT WILL HANDLE ALL THE INTRICACIES OF THAT.
THEN IT WILL COME TO YOU, TO Y'ALL AS SOON AS Y'ALL ADOPT IT.
THEN WE HAVE 30 DAYS TO IMPLEMENT INSTEAD OF THE NORMAL JANUARY 1ST.
RATHER, IT JUST ACCELERATES THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE NEW WUI STANDARDS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. A QUICK FOLLOW UP BEFORE CHIEF DELA ROSA LEAVES.
THAT SEEMS FINE WITH THE DEPARTMENT.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN CAN BE ACCOMMODATED PRETTY EASILY.
THANK YOU. FURTHER QUESTIONS OF COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON.
I WILL HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS.
SAY THAT AGAIN. ONCE WE ADOPT IT, I WILL HAVE A FURTHER QUESTION.
YOU'LL HAVE A FURTHER QUESTION AFTER WE ADOPT IT FOR THEM.
AFTER WE ADOPTED ON THE SAME TOPIC THAT I WANT TO GET IN THE RECORD.
WELL, WHY DON'T YOU DO THAT NOW? OKAY. SO FIRST I WANT TO JUST CLARIFY.
[16:45:04]
WELL, THIS WILL ACCELERATE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CODE ONCE WE ADOPTED IT DOES NOT GUARANTEE THAT THERE WILL NOT BE A GAP BETWEEN IMPLEMENTATION OF HOME FOR THE HOMES IN THE WUI.AND WHEN THAT CODE GOES INTO EFFECT.
AND STAFF HAVE COMMITTED TO TAKE CERTAIN STEPS TO AMELIORATE THE IMPACT.
FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S PERSPECTIVE, THAT IS THE PLAN FOR ADDRESSING THE WILDFIRE CONCERNS IN TERMS OF THE COMMITMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE AMONG STAFF. MOVING FORWARD.
CORRECT. WE'VE WE'RE WORKING WITH A TASK FORCE LED BY DSD, AND WE'LL BE WORKING WITH THE AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS AFD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE FINDING EFFICIENCIES IN PLACES IN THE PROCESS.
AND THE CODES THAT WE HAVE THAT'S OUTSIDE OF HOME TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING ANY WILDFIRE CONCERNS AND RISKS THAT WE HAVE IN THOSE AREAS, NOT NOT ONLY IN THE WUI, BUT AS THE CITY IN ENTIRETY AND FIRE CONCERNS, FIRE CONCERNS OF EXPOSURE, EVACUATION AND JUST ACCESS.
APPRECIATE IT. YES. AND BEFORE I WALK AWAY, CITY MANAGER.
SORRY, I FORGOT TO INTRODUCE MYSELF.
ANDRE DELRAY, IT'S A PLEASURE TO TALK IN FRONT OF YOU HERE FOR THE FIRST TIME.
IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY. THANK YOU.
AND I WANT TO THANK OUR STAFF FOR WORKING TO GET US TO A BETTER PLACE.
I'M STILL NOT COMFORTABLE WITH WHERE WE ARE, AND IT'S NOT DONE YET.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALISON ALTER HAS MOVED ADOPTION OF ALTER AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER SIX.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION? ALISON ALTER, AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER SIX IS ADOPTED.
THAT WILL TAKE US TO COUNCIL MEMBER ALISON ALTER.
MOTION TO AMEND ITEM NUMBER SIX.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALISON ALTER, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
SO I MOVE TO PROHIBIT SHORT TERM RENTALS AND SMALL LOT SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL USE.
AND TO CHANGE SECTION 25 2779 TO READ SUBSECTION F THROUGH M, APPLY TO SMALL LOT SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL USE ON PROPERTIES OWNED SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE, SMALL LOT SF THREE DISTRICT OR MORE RESTRICTIVE AND THAT THAT WAS PART E AND THEN M IS SHORT TERM RENTAL USE IS PROHIBITED.
AND IF I HAVE A SECOND, I WILL SPEAK TO IT.
COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY SECONDS THE MOTION TO AMEND NUMBER TWO OF COUNCIL MEMBER ALISON ALTER.
YOU'RE RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK ON YOUR MOTION.
SO IN CREATING THE SMALL LOT RESIDENTIALS, WE'RE DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN WAS DONE UNDER HOME IN THAT WE ARE CREATING NEW LOTS, PRESUMABLY SO THAT THESE CAN BE SOLD OFF.
I BELIEVE THAT WE WANT TO BE CREATING NEW HOMES FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE IN.
SO THIS IS A GUARDRAIL THAT ENSURES THAT WE DO THAT.
AND AND SO THAT IS MY PROPOSAL.
COUNCILMEMBER KELLY, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
SO I STAND BY MY STATEMENT FROM WORK SESSION AND MY EARLIER VOTE TODAY ON STRS.
SO I WILL BE VOTING AGAINST THIS, BUT I DID WANT TO HEAR MORE ABOUT IT FROM COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER.
[16:50:01]
COUNCILMEMBER ALLISON ALTER I WAS JUST GOING TO ASK STAFF IF THERE IS A MECHANISM WHERE THIS CAN BE IN PLACE TEMPORARILY UNTIL WE HAVE THE FIX SO THAT IT COULD LAST, SAY, A YEAR.AND JUST SAY THAT IT IS PROHIBITED UNTIL SOMETIME NEXT YEAR.
THAT WOULD BE WHEN YOU EXPECT THAT WE WOULD HAVE THE STR REGULATIONS DONE.
THAT WOULD BE LINKED WITH THE LAW DEPARTMENT.
AND ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT I SEE WITH THE HOLISTIC APPROACH IS THAT WE HAVE BEEN SAYING THAT A LOT, AND NOW WE'RE GRANTING MORE AND MORE ENTITLEMENTS. AND ONE OF THE CHALLENGES AND THINGS THAT WE'VE GOTTEN TO A MESS WITH, WITH SHORT TERM RENTALS IS PEOPLE THINK THEY HAVE THE ENTITLEMENT TO DO THAT.
AND SO WE ARE CREATING A NEW OPPORTUNITY HERE.
I'D BE COMFORTABLE DOING THIS, YOU KNOW, WITH A, YOU KNOW, ONLY LASTING A YEAR SO THAT WE HAVE THE TIME TO FIX IT OR LASTING A YEAR, OR UNTIL THOSE, THOSE THAT PART OF THE ORDINANCE IS REVISED.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'D BE A WILLINGNESS TO ENTERTAIN THAT, BUT THAT WOULD SAFEGUARD THE SITUATION.
SO THAT SHOULD WE CHOOSE THROUGH THE HOLISTIC APPROACH TO COME BACK AND SAY WE DON'T WANT THIS, THAT WE WON'T BE VULNERABLE TO THOSE OTHER ATTACKS, TO OUR APPROACH? EITHER APPROACH WILL WORK.
SO I'D LIKE TO AMEND MY MOTION FOR THIS TO BE APPLICABLE UNTIL APRIL OF 2025. APRIL 1ST OF 2025 OR WHENEVER THE SHORT TERM RENTAL CHAPTER IS REVISED, WHICHEVER COMES SOONER.
AND MAYOR, I CAN SUPPORT THAT.
BUT MEMBERS, LET ME READ A PROPOSAL INTO THE RECORD TO TRY TO ACCOMMODATE COUNCIL MEMBER ALISON ALTER'S MOTION TO AMEND HER MOTION. WHAT IT WOULD READ IS SUBPART M, SHORT TERM RENTAL USE IS PROHIBITED.
PERIOD. THIS PROVISION EXPIRES ON APRIL 1ST, 2025, OR UPON PASSAGE OF A SUPERSEDING ORDINANCE.
I'LL LOOK TO LEGAL TO MAKE SURE THEY DON'T SEE ANYTHING THAT BOTHERS THEM ABOUT THAT.
AGAIN, TYPICALLY WE LIKE TO HAVE SOMETHING WE'RE ALL LOOKING AT, BUT I'LL READ THAT INTO THE RECORD SO THAT WE MIGHT ACCOMMODATE THE NUMBER OF AMENDMENTS WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO UP HERE TODAY.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, ARE YOU OKAY WITH WHAT I JUST READ? I AM, THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE IT.
SHORT TERM RENTAL USE IS PROHIBITED.
THIS PROVISION EXPIRES ON APRIL 1ST, 2025, OR UPON PASSAGE OF A SUPERSEDING ORDINANCE.
IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION TO AMEND THE AMENDMENT? IT IS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.
IS THERE DISCUSSION REGARDING THE MOTION TO AMEND? ALLISON ALTER, AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO.
THE MOTION TO AMEND THE AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED WITH THE MAYOR PRO TEM TEMPORARILY OFF THE DAIS.
MOTION TO AMEND NUMBER TWO TO ITEM NUMBER SIX, AS AMENDED.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT AMENDMENT? WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE MOTION TO AMEND, AS AMENDED, IS ADOPTED WITH THE MAYOR PRO TEM TEMPORARILY OFF THE DAIS.
YES. COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, I JUST LIKE TO BE SHOWN ABSTAINING.
I KNOW THAT THE TOURISM COMMISSION IS ALSO WORKING ON THIS.
SO IT'S NOT THAT I'M OPPOSED TO TO TRYING TO MAKE SURE THIS IS IMPLEMENTED.
[16:55:02]
IT JUST SEEMS A LITTLE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO END UP WITH DIFFERENT PARTS IN DIFFERENT PLACES.AND BUT I APPRECIATE THE THE SPONSOR'S WILLINGNESS TO AMEND THAT.
COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS WILL BE SHOWN VOTING, ABSTAINING FROM THE VOTE ON IN WHICH WE PASSED.
ALISON ALTER MOTION TO AMEND NUMBER TWO, AS AMENDED, FOR ITEM NUMBER SIX, AND THE MAYOR PRO TEM IS SHOWN TEMPORARILY OFF THE DAIS.
YES? COUNCILMEMBER VILA, CAN I BE SHOWN JOINING COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS ON ABSTAINING? I APPRECIATE THE INTENT.
I JUST I DON'T WANT TO PIECEMEAL IT.
AND I HAVE I'D RATHER GIVE STAFF TIME TO BRING THIS BACK TO US.
COUNCIL MEMBER BARLOW WILL ALSO BE SHOWN ABSTAINING.
ALL RIGHT, THAT CONCLUDES THE VOTE.
WE CLOSE THE VOTE ON COUNCIL MEMBER ALISON ALTER.
MOTION TO AMEND NUMBER TWO, AS AMENDED.
WITH THAT MEMBERS, YOU HAVE BEEN HANDED A ANOTHER AMENDMENT THIS IS RELATED TO THE DISCUSSION WE HAD ON COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER'S PREVIOUS MOTION TO AMEND AND LEGAL'S DESIRE TO AND EXPLANATION THAT IT FEELS LIKE THERE NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING SPECIFIC PASSED.
AND WITH REGARD TO MEASUREMENTS, THE CHAIR WILL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I FELT LIKE I REALLY NEEDED TO GET ONE PASSED.
YES, THAT'S WHAT WE WERE HOPING FOR.
I THINK YOU'RE ON A ROLL RIGHT NOW.
LET'S SEE IF WE CAN PULL THIS ONE OFF.
THAT'S RIGHT. SO THIS IS THE FIX.
AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS TRISH IS AVAILABLE.
THIS IS LABELED COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER MOTION SHEET NUMBER TWO.
IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ.
IS THERE DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO THIS ITEM? WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE HEARING.
MOTION NUMBER TWO TO ITEM NUMBER SIX IS ADOPTED.
MEMBERS THAT WILL TAKE US NOW BACK.
GOOD. AND BY THE WAY, GOOD WORK, EVERYBODY.
THAT THAT'S A LOT OF AMENDMENTS.
THAT WILL TAKE IT. TAKE US BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION ON ITEM NUMBER SIX, WHICH IS TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER SIX AS AMENDED.
IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER SIX? MAYOR PRO TEM, I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR WORK.
WOULD IT NOW BE APPROPRIATE, OR SHOULD I WAIT TILL WE, AS PART OF THE DISCUSSION? OKAY, GREAT. SO THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES, AND THANK YOU, STAFF AND THANK YOU, COMMUNITY.
OUR WORK IS ESSENTIAL TO ADDING TOOLS AND OPTIONS FOR HOMEOWNERS AND HOME BUYERS.
THIS WORK CONTINUES NOW WITH THE PASSAGE OF HOME TO TODAY, THE HOPED FOR PASSAGE OF HOME TWO.
TODAY I HAVE BROADER COMMENTS FOR LATER MAIER, BUT I SIMPLY WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS MOMENT AND EXPRESS MY MY GRATITUDE TO THE DAIS AND TO OUR HARD WORKING STAFF.
THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM COUNCILMEMBER KELLY, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU MAYOR. SO IT'S APPROPRIATE TO GIVE COMMENTS ON WHY WE'RE VOTING AS PART OF THE DISCUSSION.
THANK YOU. SO WHILE I UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THE INTENT TO INCREASE AFFORDABILITY IN AUSTIN, THESE CHANGES DRASTICALLY UPEND LONG STANDING DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS AT WHAT SEEMS LIKE THE REQUEST OF A FEW OVER THE OBJECTION OF MANY.
WE HEARD FROM THOSE INDIVIDUALS YESTERDAY, I'M OPPOSED TO THESE ITEMS DUE TO WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE FORESEEABLE CONSEQUENCES THAT WILL MAKE AUSTIN A MUCH LESS DESIRABLE AND MUCH LESS AFFORDABLE PLACE TO LIVE.
I RECENTLY ASKED OUR STAFF WHETHER OTHER CITIES HAVE MADE SIMILAR CHANGES AND WHAT THE RESULTS WERE.
UNFORTUNATELY, WHILE SOME CITIES HAVE MADE SIMILAR CHANGES, THERE SIMPLY HASN'T BEEN ENOUGH TIME FOR MEANINGFUL RESULTS TO BE MEASURED, LEAVING US CONDUCTING WHAT MAY SEEM TO MANY LIKE ANOTHER SOCIAL EXPERIMENT WITHOUT CLEAR EVIDENCE OF SUCCESS AND THE POTENTIAL OF UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES FOR THIS PROPOSAL LOOMING FOR OUR PRESENT AND FUTURE RESIDENTS. COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS, FOR EXAMPLE, ARE IN PLACE FOR THE ENJOYMENT OF OUR RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES, ESPECIALLY FROM A PRIVACY PERSPECTIVE.
IN FACT, JUST THE OTHER DAY, I WAS TALKING TO A NEIGHBOR WHO SHARED THEIR EXPERIENCE ABOUT HOW CURRENT COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS ALLOWED THEM TO ENJOY THEIR BACKYARD WITHOUT THE LOOMING PRESENCE OF TOWERING DEVELOPMENTS INVADING THEIR PRIVACY.
[17:00:04]
REDUCING THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE BY NEARLY 70% IN OUR CITY THREATENS OUR TREASURED GREEN SPACES.I AM THE LORAX. I SPEAK FOR THE TREES.
I ALSO SHARE THOSE FIRE CONCERNS THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER RAISED.
THESE CHANGES THREATEN TO INCREASE THE PROLIFERATION OF STRS.
PROPONENTS OF THESE CHANGES, PARTICULARLY THE ITOD, ARE CLEAR THAT UPZONING IS INTENDED TO SUPPORT MASS TRANSIT, BUT I BELIEVE MASS TRANSIT SHOULD BE CREATED TO SUPPORT OUR RESIDENTS WAY OF LIFE, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.
I'M NOT SUPPORTIVE OF ANY ATTEMPT TO REENGINEER OUR CITY'S HOUSING TO SUPPORT ANY MASS TRANSIT SYSTEM, LET ALONE ONE THAT IS FRAUGHT WITH COST OVERRUNS, LEGAL PROBLEMS, AND HAS BEEN DRASTICALLY REDUCED IN SCOPE COMPARED TO WHAT VOTERS WERE PROMISED IN 2020.
PROPERTY OWNERS AND RENTERS ALIKE WILL FEEL THAT ECONOMIC PRESSURE TO MOVE OUT OF AND SELL EXISTING HOUSING STOCK, CONCENTRATING MUCH OF OUR CITY'S PROPERTY WEALTH INTO THE HANDS OF LARGE CORPORATE INVESTORS TO SUBSIDIZE AND REDEVELOP INTO HIGHER DENSITY RESIDENTIAL.
I'VE SEEN NO CONVINCING EVIDENCE THAT THESE NEWLY DEVELOPED, SMALLER LOTS WILL BE ANY MORE AFFORDABLE TO THE AVERAGE AUSTINITE, ESPECIALLY COMPARED TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT WILL BE SACRIFICED IN EXCHANGE.
I NORMALLY DON'T TALK THIS LONG.
THESE CHANGES ARE SIMPLY NOT SOMETHING THAT MY CONSTITUENTS ARE ASKING FOR.
MY CONSTITUENTS ARE INTERESTED IN BETTER DELIVERY OF BASIC CITY SERVICES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT THAT WE HAVE NOW INCREASED PUBLIC SAFETY AND TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT, REPAIRS TO ROADS AND RELIABLE UTILITY SERVICES.
AND I'LL GO BACK TO WHAT I SAID EARLIER ABOUT THAT BOOK WE ALL READ AS KIDS.
UNLESS SOMEONE LIKE YOU CARES A WHOLE AWFUL LOT, NOTHING IS GOING TO GET BETTER.
IT'S NOT. AND THAT'S WHAT THAT SENTIMENT.
I STAND FIRM IN MY COMMITMENT TO PROTECT THE AUSTIN WE LOVE.
AND AS WITH THOSE REASONS, I WILL RESPECTFULLY VOTE NO.
FURTHER DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO PASSAGE OF ITEM NUMBER SIX, AS AMENDED.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY I ALWAYS LOVE DOCTOR SEUSS AND THE LORAX, AND I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING TO KEEP IN MIND. SO BEFORE I KIND OF SHARE THE REMARKS THAT I WAS PLANNING TO MAKE, I DO WANT TO APPRECIATE THAT OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS.
THIS PROCESS THAT WE'VE HAD ACROSS THE MANY DIFFERENT ITEMS, SOME THINGS HAVE IMPROVED A LOT.
SOME HAVE NOT. BUT I APPRECIATE THE APPROACH OF MANY OF YOU.
ONE OF OUR SPEAKERS, THOUGH, A RENTER WHO LIVES IN A DUPLEX IN DISTRICT NINE, SAID THEY AGREED WE NEED TO MAKE CHANGE, BUT THEY ARE AGAINST MAKING CHANGES THAT LACK NUANCE OR EQUITY CHANGES THAT ARE RUSHED THROUGH.
JUST SO WE CAN SAY THAT WE'VE DONE SOMETHING.
I HAVE TO AGREE OUR CODE DOES NEED TO BE UPDATED.
I CHAMPIONED AND SUPPORTED EFFORTS THAT WERE UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED IN THE PAST, WHICH REDUCED COMPATIBILITY ON TRANSIT CORRIDORS AND ALLOWED RESIDENTIAL USES IN COMMERCIAL ZONES. AND I'VE SUPPORTED OTHER EFFORTS WHERE I'VE TAKEN PLENTY OF HEAT FROM NEIGHBORS WHO WANT NO CHANGE.
I BELIEVE OUR ZONING CODE SHOULD BE GUIDED BY IMAGINE AUSTIN.
THAT'S WHY I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THE APPROACH IN OUR ORDINANCE, WHICH TARGETS GROWTH AROUND INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS THAT CAN ENHANCE OUR ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS WHILE ALSO REQUIRING AFFORDABILITY AS PART OF THE NEW DEVELOPMENTS.
[17:05:04]
HOWEVER, UNLIKE THE ORDINANCE, IN MY VIEW, THE HOME AND COMPATIBILITY INITIATIVE SHOWS DO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE ROLE THAT PLANNING CAN AND SHOULD PLAY.INSTEAD, THE APPROACH TAKEN MAKES CHANGES TO THE VAST MAJORITY OF SINGLE FAMILY LOTS IN THE CITY, WITH NO REQUIREMENTS FOR AFFORDABILITY AND MERELY A DELAY ON COMMERCIAL STRS. MEANING IF WE DON'T ADOPT A COMPREHENSIVE STR POLICY SOON, ONE DAY EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THE NEW HOUSING UNITS CREATED ON THESE SMALLER LOTS COULD OPERATE AS AN STR, AND WE WILL NOW HAVE TO MAKE VERY RUSHED ATTEMPTS TO MAKE THESE CHANGES WORK WITHOUT EXACERBATING DISPLACEMENT AND WILDFIRE RISKS, AND LITTLE FOCUS ON FLOODING.
WE COULD TAKE THE TIME TO FIX THESE THINGS NOW.
WE COULD TAKE THE TIME TO RESPONSIBLY CALIBRATE OUR STR POLICIES ESPECIALLY WITH RESPECT TO THE HOME INITIATIVE, BUT INSTEAD WE ARE WAITING TO DO THAT LATER.
WE COULD TAKE THE TIME TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY FROM WILDFIRE RISKS AND LOCALIZED FLOODING, BUT INSTEAD WE ARE ADOPTING THIS TODAY WITH A DELAYED IMPLEMENTATION BECAUSE WE KNOW WE STILL NEED TO HAVE STAFF FIX THE SAFETY ISSUES THAT THIS ORDINANCE EXACERBATES.
WE COULD TAKE THE TIME TO MITIGATE THE IMPACTS OF DISPLACEMENT AND GENTRIFICATION, BUT INSTEAD, BECAUSE THAT IMPORTANT WORK ISN'T READY, WE ARE ADOPTING THIS TODAY WITH A DELAYED IMPLEMENTATION AND ASKING THE VULNERABLE TO WAIT.
THE ONES WHO DON'T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL LATER WILL BE SPECULATORS AND THE CORPORATE DEVELOPERS WHO HAVE THE EXPERTISE AND FINANCIAL WHEREWITHAL TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL THE NEW DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS WE ARE GRANTING BEFORE WE HAVE A CHANCE TO FIX ANY OF THE PROBLEMS OR INEQUITIES THAT TODAY'S AMENDMENTS CLEARLY DEMONSTRATE REMAIN UNRESOLVED.
A GROUP OF PEOPLE WILL BE WINNERS WHO GET AHEAD, AND A GROUP OF PEOPLE WILL BE LEFT BEHIND.
A NUMBER OF OUR SPEAKERS YESTERDAY, INCLUDING DOCTOR LAUREN, JUNIPER ROSS, SOMEONE I THINK WE ALL KNOW AS A RESPECTED PROFESSIONAL WHO'S CONTRIBUTED A GREAT DEAL TO OUR COMMUNITY, SAID THAT IT WAS CLEAR THAT THESE NEW RULES ARE THE PRODUCT OF BACKROOM, CLOSED DOOR CONVERSATIONS THAT WERE NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE AVERAGE EVERYDAY PERSON TO ACTUALLY PLAY A MEANINGFUL ROLE IN, RATHER THAN MERELY A TOKEN CHECK THE BOX ROLE.
WHETHER YOU AGREE WITH DOCTOR ROSS OR NOT, THE FACT THAT THIS PERCEPTION EXISTS IS A MARK AGAINST THIS WORK, AND UNDERMINES PUBLIC FAITH IN THE OUTCOMES THAT ARE BEING PROMISED FOR FOR THESE REASONS AND OTHERS, I'M DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROPOSED CHANGES CONTAINED IN THE SO-CALLED HOME INITIATIVE, AND I THINK THE TIMELINE HAS BEEN UNNECESSARILY RUSHED, LEADING TO A PRODUCT THAT ISN'T FULLY VETTED, WHICH MAY HAVE DANGEROUS YET PREDICTABLE OUTCOMES TO MY CONSTITUENTS.
I WANT TO SAY THAT YOU KNOW ME.
YOU KNOW MY RECORD. YOU KNOW I DO MY HOMEWORK.
IN MY ASSESSMENT, THE HOMO ORDINANCE REMAINS DEEPLY FLAWED.
COUNCILMEMBER. FURTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER SIX.
I WILL THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR THE RECOGNITION.
I DON'T HAVE PREPARED TALKING POINTS, SO BEAR WITH ME.
IT'S GOING TO BE FAST AND FURIOUS.
IT WAS THE YEAR THAT SOME PEOPLE SAID, WE DON'T WANT MISSING MIDDLE ANYMORE.
WE EITHER NEED TO HAVE BIG, LARGE, LOT SINGLE FAMILY HOMES OR PEOPLE NEED TO LIVE IN APARTMENTS.
1984 IS ALSO THE YEAR I WAS BORN, SO I HOPE THAT I'M AGING GRACEFULLY.
BUT I KNOW THAT OUR LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE IS NOT.
BUT THE ONE THING THAT I DO KNOW IS THAT AS DIFFERENT WAYS OF KEEPING SOME FOLKS OUT OF SOME NEIGHBORHOODS TOOK PLACE OVER THE DECADES, THE PAST 100 YEARS, AS THINGS WERE STRUCK DOWN IN COURT, WHAT HAPPENED WAS YOU SAW PEOPLE MOVE TO BIGGER AND BIGGER NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE THEY SAID, WHO COULD AND COULD NOT BE THERE AND WHO DOES AND WHO DOES NOT BELONG.
SO WE MAY NOT AGREE ON THE EXACT APPROACH ON HOW WE ALL NEED TO SOLVE THESE ISSUES, BUT I HOPE WE ARE STILL WILLING TO WORK TOGETHER AND UNDERSTAND WHAT TYPES OF ISSUES WE'RE TRYING TO SOLVE.
[17:10:01]
YOU KNOW, CREATING GIANT, GIANT LOTS WHERE EVERYBODY SPRAWLS OUT AND THEY MOVE ACROSS OUR AQUIFER AND THEY PUSH PEOPLE OUT INTO ALL OF THE DIFFERENT SUBURBS THAT ARE BEYOND AUSTIN CITY LIMITS.WE'RE ALL TRYING TO SOLVE THAT PROBLEM.
WE ALL WANT THINGS TO BE MORE AFFORDABLE FOR PEOPLE, WHETHER THAT'S MULTIMODAL TRANSIT, WHETHER THAT IS PUBLIC TRANSIT, IT'S FIRST MILE, LAST MILE INITIATIVES, BIKE LANES, SIDEWALKS.
THERE'S A LOT OF BIG CITY PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO SOLVE.
WE ARE THE CITY OF AUSTIN, AND WE MAY HAVE A BIT OF TUG OF WAR ABOUT HOW TO SOLVE OUR BIG CITY ISSUES AS WE GROW, BUT THIS 1984 CODE WAS BUILT TO SEPARATE PEOPLE, AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN KEEP THAT AT FRONT OF MIND AS WE MOVE FORWARD, THAT WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER.
THE HOME INITIATIVE IS NOT A STANDALONE ITEM THAT EXISTS AS OUR SOLE CODE, BUT IT DOES HAVE REALLY IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CURRENT CODE AND HOW WE CAN GET MORE UP TO SPEED WITH OUR PEER CITIES THAT ARE TRYING TO KEEP MORE FAMILIES TOGETHER AND MORE FAMILIES CLOSE TOGETHER.
IN DISTRICT EIGHT, I CAN TELL YOU WE HAVE THE HIGHEST RATE OF HOMEOWNERSHIP.
WE HAVE BIG, BEAUTIFUL NEIGHBORHOODS.
A LOT OF THEM CARE IMMENSELY ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.
THERE'S NO HOUSING STOCK AVAILABLE FOR THOSE TYPES OF FAMILIES.
SO I KNOW THAT OUR HEARTS ARE ALL IN THE RIGHT PLACE.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE CODE AMENDMENTS TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
AND SO I HOPE THAT AS WE CONTINUE THESE CONVERSATIONS, WE CAN CONTINUE HAVING FIGHTS HERE IN CITY HALL AND THEN STILL GOING OUT OUTSIDE THE DOORS AND SHAKING HANDS AND GIVING EACH OTHER FIST BUMPS AND REALIZING WE'RE ALL FIGHTING FOR A BIGGER VISION FOR OUR CITY AND A FAIRER, A FAIRER WAY FOR US ALL TO BE ABLE TO BE HERE.
SO I WANTED TO END ON THAT NOTE AS WE TAKE A VOTE ON HOME PHASE TWO.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE DON'T LIKE OTHER PEOPLE COMING IN AND PICKING ON US.
LIKE LIKE WE SEE HAPPEN OFTENTIMES WITH OUR CITY REGULATIONS.
COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER.
EXCUSE ME. COUNCILMEMBER ELLIS.
IT'S. YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN A LONG FEW DAYS.
I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK ALL OF ALL OF AUSTINITES WHO CAME OUT AND SHARED THEIR THEIR THOUGHTS AND PERSPECTIVES ON THESE IMPORTANT REFORMS THAT WE HAVE VOTED ON HERE TODAY. AND ALL THE EMAILS THAT CAME IN, ALL THE CALLS.
AND PLEASE NOTE IT HAS NOT FALLEN ON DEAF EARS.
WHAT MORE WE CAN AND SHOULD BE DOING TO ADDRESS AFFORDABILITY.
AND CERTAINLY I'M COMMITTED TO TO FURTHERING THE WORK AND ENSURING THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD, THAT WE CONTINUE TO HAVE PROCESSES IN PLACE WHERE WE HAVE THIS TYPE OF ENGAGEMENT. I WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO COMMUNITY POWERED POWERED ATX FOR ALL OF THEIR WORK THAT THEY HAVE DONE, AND ORGANIZING AND BRINGING OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER. AND AND FOR THE INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF EFFORTS THAT THEY HAVE UNDERTAKEN THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SOLD FOR FOR YOUR COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK JASMINE SMITH FOR HER WORK WITH THE AUSTIN AREA URBAN LEAGUE.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR FEEDBACK.
AND AND I'M AFFIRMED BY OUR SHARED VISION THAT EVERYONE HAS A RIGHT TO HOUSING.
AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR YOUR PARTICIPATION.
QUINTUS. COUNCIL MEMBER VELLA.
THANK YOU. MAYOR. I JUST WANT TO THANK MAYOR PRO TEM POOL FOR HER EFFORTS ON THIS AND HER LEADERSHIP ON BOTH HOME PHASE ONE AND HOME PHASE TWO, AND HER STAFF, WHO HAS WORKED EXTREMELY HARD.
LOUISA. YES? I'M LOOKING AT YOU.
IT'S BEEN A GREAT WORKING WITH HER OFFICE.
I WANT TO THANK YOU, MAYOR. ALSO PRAGMATIC AND STEADY LEADERSHIP.
WE'VE DONE A LOT OVER THESE LAST 18 MONTHS.
AND WE'VE REALLY MOVED THE CITY FROM A SMALL TOWN KIND OF SUBURBAN SETUP.
[17:15:07]
JUST A BETTER PLACE.THAT CAN ACCOMMODATE AND REALLY WHERE A MILLION PEOPLE PLUS CAN THRIVE AND GROW.
I'VE ALSO GOT TO GIVE A COUPLE OF SHOUT OUTS TO COUNCIL MEMBER CORDREY FOR HIS PARKING ITEM.
AGAIN, THESE ALL ARE PIECES OF THE PUZZLE THAT ARE GOING TO WORK TOGETHER.
AND THE COUNCIL MEMBER KADRI PARKING ITEM WAS ABSOLUTELY EXCELLENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER RYAN ALTER HAS HAD A SUBDIVISION WHICH ACTUALLY WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT HERE, BUT THAT'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER IMPORTANT PART OF OF BOTH, YOU KNOW, HOME PHASE TWO.
AND SO IT'S BEEN IT'S BEEN A GROUP EFFORT.
I KNOW WE ALSO HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ ITEMS THAT ARE COMING DOWN THE ROAD TO, TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR LOW INCOME NEIGHBORS WHO HAVE A HOUSE AND WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT, CAN GET THE FINANCING THAT THEY NEED, CAN GET THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO BUILD THAT GENERATIONAL WEALTH.
SO IT'S BEEN A GROUP EFFORT AND I'M PROUD OF THE COUNCIL AND I'M EXCITED TO TO PASS THIS MEASURE.
I'M GOING TO CALL ON THE MAYOR PRO TEM TO CLOSE ON ITEM NUMBER SIX, AND THEN WE WILL TAKE A VOTE.
COLLEAGUES, THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT DAY.
I'M PROUD TO BE PART OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE ACCOMPLISHING ON SO MANY LEVELS, NOT JUST TODAY, BUT OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF TO CREATE MORE HOUSING.
AND YES, WE NEED CAPITAL, A AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND WE'RE DOING THAT TODAY AS WELL.
I KNOW THIS WORK DOESN'T END HERE.
OUR WORK NEVER DOES, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THIS TRANSLATES INTO EASY APPLICATION AND PERMITTING FOR RESIDENTS AT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES. WE CAN'T DO ANY OF THIS WITHOUT THE INPUT AND ASSISTANCE FROM THE COMMUNITY.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO CAME TO SPEAK TO US ON THE HOME TWO INITIATIVE.
THERE ARE SO MANY TO LIST AUSTIN EMS ASSOCIATION, AARP TEXAS ARBOR, HBA, AURA, CAPITAL METRO TRANSIT, FORWARD, IBEW, LIUNA, AIC, CENTRAL BUILDING TRADES ASSOCIATION, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HISPANIC REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS, AUSTIN, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, HOUSING WORKS, CNU, CENTRAL TEXAS, AIA.
A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO AVANZAR, WHO IS SUCH.
SUCH AN INCREDIBLE ALLY IN OUR EFFORTS FOR HOUSING OF ALL KINDS.
THANK YOU, AVAZ, AND TO FELICITY MAXWELL FOR YOUR ENERGY AND OPTIMISM.
I AGREE, YES, AND IS JUST THE KIND OF ATTITUDE WE NEED TO MAKE OUR CITY ACCESSIBLE TO ALL.
THANK YOU. MAYOR. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM MEMBERS.
THAT'S ALL OF THE DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER SIX, AS AMENDED.
ITEM NUMBER SIX, AS AMENDED, IS APPROVED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALISON ALTER BEING SHOWN VOTING NO. THANK YOU.
THAT WILL TAKE US TO ITEM NUMBER SEVEN.
[7. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance amending City Code Title 25 (Land Development) to create regulations that allow properties to be used for charging electric vehicles. (Part 2 of 2)]
AND I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER SEVEN.COUNCIL MEMBER ALISON ALTER MOVES APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER SEVEN.
IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ.
IS THERE DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER SEVEN? SO I JUST WANT TO BRIEFLY SAY THIS IS AN ITEM THAT I INITIATED AND BUILDS OFF WORK THAT I'VE DONE AND THAT MAYOR PRO TEM POOLE AND OTHERS HAVE DONE TO SUPPORT EVS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
[17:20:07]
YOU KNOW, WHAT THIS DOES? IS IT ALLOW US TO HAVE AN EV USE WHERE THERE WASN'T ONE, SO THAT WE CAN REALLY HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE NEED TO SUPPORT THE AMOUNT OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES TO USE.THIS IS NOT NECESSARILY FOR THE AVERAGE PERSON TO GO CHARGE AT, ALTHOUGH THAT MAY BE AN OPTION.
BUT THIS IS REALLY, YOU KNOW, FOR RIDESHARES, FOR FLEETS, FOR OTHER OTHER FOLKS THAT ARE REALLY TRYING TO TRANSITION THEIR VEHICLES TO EVS TO HELP WITH OUR ENVIRONMENT.
IN PARTICULAR FOR THEIR THEIR WORK.
I APPRECIATE THE, THE WORK OF THE COMPANIES THAT WANT TO COME AND DO BUSINESS IN AUSTIN AND HELP US TO ACCELERATE ADOPTION OF OUR CLIMATE GOALS.
AND I THINK THIS IS THE RIGHT PLACE FOR US TO BE STARTING ON THIS JOURNEY.
AND I, YOU KNOW, REALLY DO APPRECIATE THAT THESE COMPANIES ARE LOOKING TO AUSTIN FOR LEADERSHIP.
AND SO WITH THAT, I OFFER THIS MOTION.
MOTION TO BE MADE AND SECONDED.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
ITEM NUMBER SEVEN IS ADOPTED, WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY VOTING NO.
MEMBERS, BEFORE WE ADJOURN LET ME JUST SAY ON BEHALF OF THE COUNCIL HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE ALL OF THE STAFF. THAT INCLUDES ALL THE FOLKS THAT WORKED ON ALL THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE VOTED ON, OUR PERSONAL STAFFS AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, AND IN EACH INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL OFFICE THAT THE PROFESSIONAL STAFF THAT'S BEEN WORKING SO HARD ON THIS.
WE APPRECIATE YOU, AND WE WANT TO SAY THAT OUT LOUD.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, LET'S SAY AGAIN, THANK YOU TO THE CLERK'S OFFICE FOR A PRETTY MASTERFUL CONDUCTING OF WHATEVER THAT WAS. AND AND WE WE APPRECIATE YOU.
I ALSO WANT TO REITERATE WHAT A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE SAID.
WE'RE NOT ALWAYS GOING TO AGREE.
SOMETIMES WE'RE GOING TO AGREE, DISAGREE MIGHTILY.
BUT THAT'S PART OF THE PROCESS.
AND IT AND WE APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT PEOPLE TOOK THE TIME TO DO THAT BEFORE WE ADJOURN.
I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT A DEAR MEMBER OF OUR FAMILY AND TEAM, KAY GADHIA.
SHE'S SICK RIGHT NOW, AND I JUST WANT US ALL TO KEEP HER, KEEP HER AND JOE IN OUR PRAYERS AND THINK ABOUT THEM AND LIFT THEM UP AS SHE LIFTS US UP.
MEMBERS. THERE'S NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AT THIS MEETING.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE ARE ADJOURNED AT 1:50 P.M.
TAKE CARE OF. WE ARE ADJOURNED.
JUST SMILE ALL THE TIME.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.