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[Call to Order]
IT'S 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING ON MAY 30TH, 2024.AND I WILL NOW CALL TO ORDER THE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL FOR THIS REGULAR SCHEDULED MEETING.
UM, WE ARE MEETING IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, WHICH ARE LOCATED IN CITY HALL AT 3 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
UH, BEFORE I GO THROUGH THE ORDER OF THE DAY, WE'RE GONNA TAKE UP ONE OTHER MATTER.
UH, EVERY SIX MONTHS, THE COUNCIL, UH, ROTATES ITS SEATS ON THE DAAS.
UM, AND IT'S BEEN SIX MONTHS SINCE THE LAST TIME WE DID THAT.
AND, UH, THE ONE DIFFERENCE THAT WE'VE MADE IN THE PAST TWO YEARS IS THAT THE MAYOR PRO TIM, WILL MAINTAIN A PERMANENT SEAT, UH, IN THE SEAT JUST ON THE OTHER SIDE OF ME FROM THE, UH, THE CITY ATTORNEY.
SO WITH THAT, WE WILL ASK THE CLERK TO COME FORWARD, AND EACH MEMBER WILL DRAW A NUMBER AND THE NUMBER WILL DESIGNATE THEIR SEAT, UH, WHEN WE COME BACK IN JULY.
SEAT NUMBER ONE IS WHERE COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE CONTINUES TO SIT OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
IF HE DRAWS A NUMBER ONE, EVERYONE GO BUY A LOTTERY TICKET BECAUSE WE'RE ALL WINNERS TODAY.
IF I GET NUMBER ONE AGAIN, THIS WHOLE THING IS RIGGED.
UH, MR. MAYOR, WHAT'S YOUR NUMBER? OH, I HAVE SIX MR. MAYOR? YES.
THIS CORNER OVER HERE IS A PACKAGE DEAL.
SO WHEREVER WE, WE, WE SHIFT TOGETHER.
NUMBER FIVE, TWO, TELL US, TELL US WHAT, UM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, HAS DRAWN AN EIGHT COUNCIL MEMBER.
AND, UH, CITY MANAGER, IF YOU'LL TELL US WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER DREW NUMBER FOUR.
UM, YES, ONE FOR HARPER MADISON.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTERS NINE.
SO YOU WANT US ALL TO GO OVER THERE?
COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ IS THE NUMBER THREE COUNCIL MEMBER VELA 10.
SO, UM, ALL RIGHT, THERE WE GO.
UH, WE'VE TAKEN CARE OF THAT BIT OF BUSINESS.
WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS READ NOW THROUGH, UM, UH, THE ORDER OF THE BUSINESS FOR TODAY.
UH, THE FIRST THING I'LL DO IS, UH, I'LL READ CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS INTO THE RECORD.
UH, WE WILL THEN GO TO OUR 10 O'CLOCK, UH, CONSENT AGENDA, AND WE WILL HEAR FROM SPEAKERS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
UH, WE WILL THEN HAVE AN A HFC MEETING AT AN APPROPRIATE TIME.
IT'S, IT'S SET FOR 10 30, BUT WE WILL TRY TO, UH, AND WE'LL TRY TO DO THAT AS NEAR TO 10 30 AS WE CAN.
UM, THEN WE WILL HAVE AN A-H-P-F-C MEET BOARD MEETING AGAIN, UH, AT A NEAR THAT TIME, CERTAIN WE WILL GO TO POOLED ITEMS. RIGHT NOW, ITEM 1 71 AND 1 0 6 ARE THE TWO POOLED ITEMS, BUT 1 0 6 WE WILL TAKE UP AT 1:00 PM AT A TIME CERTAIN AT NOON, WE WILL HAVE OUR TIME, CERTAIN OF PUBLIC COMMUNICATION AND LIVE MUSIC.
WE WILL, UH, TYPICALLY WHAT WE DO AND WHAT WE'LL DO TODAY IS WE WILL HAVE THE PUBLIC COMMUNICATION THAT USUALLY WILL LAST TILL, UH, 12 30, 12 35 OR SO.
WE WILL RECESS FOR LIVE MUSIC, BUT WE WILL RECONVENE AT 1:00 PM UH, THEN WE WILL GO TO THE NON-CONSENT ITEMS. UH, AND THAT WILL BE ITEM 1 27 AND ITEMS FROM COUNCIL COMMITTEES.
SO 1 28, 1 29, 180, AND 180 2.
WE WILL ALSO TAKE UP PUBLIC HEARINGS.
UH, A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WERE ON THE AGENDA FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS THAT HAVE BEEN POSTPONED.
ITEM 1 32 HAS BEEN POSTPONED TO JULY 18TH.
ITEM 1 41 40, WHICH IS RELATED TO ITEM 1 32, IS POSTPONED TO AUGUST 29TH.
ITEM 1 33 HAS BEEN POSTPONED TO JULY 18TH.
ITEM 1 38 HAS BEEN POSTPONED TO JULY 18TH.
AND THE REASON I AM IS IF YOU ARE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AT THOSE PUBLIC HEARINGS, UH, YOU MAY NOT NEED TO BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN POSTPONED.
AND IF YOU ARE WANTING TO STILL SPEAK ON THOSE PUBLIC HEARINGS, YOU'LL BE ALLOWED TO SPEAK ONLY ON THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT.
SO AGAIN, 1 32, POSTPONE TO JULY 18TH, ONE 40, POSTPONED TO AUGUST 29TH, 1 33, POSTPONED TO JULY 18TH, AND 1 38 POSTPONED TO JULY 18TH.
WE WILL THEN, AT SOME POINT, GET TO OUR TWO O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, WHICH ARE ZONING, UH, ZONING MATTERS, AND WE WILL TAKE THOSE UP AT THAT TIME.
WITH THAT, I WILL READ, UH, CHANGES IN CORRECTIONS INTO THE RECORD.
AND BEAR WITH ME WHEN YOU HAVE AN AGENDA THIS LONG, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS.
ITEM NUMBER ONE SHOULD READ, APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION ON APRIL 30TH, 2024,
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AND REGULAR MEETING OF MAY 2ND, 2024, AND DELETE AND REGULAR MEETING OF MAY 16TH, 2024.ITEM NUMBER THREE, AUTHORIZE NEGOTIATION AND EXECUTION OF A COST PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT WITH DELETE, UH, CP OR GP DECKER, LLC, AND REPLACE IT WITH BCPD DECKER LP FOR THE CITY TO REIMBURSE AND SO FORTH.
ITEM NUMBER FOUR, THE SAME CHANGE AS IN ITEM NUMBER THREE.
ITEM NUMBER 10, POSTPONED TO JULY 18TH, 2024.
ITEM NUMBER 20, APPROVE A RESOLUTION DECLARING THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S OFFICIAL INTENT TO REIMBURSE ITSELF FROM PROCEEDS OF TAX EXEMPT OBLIGATIONS, DELETE ISSUED BY THE AUSTIN PUBLIC FACILITIES CORPORATION, SO THAT IT READS TAX EXEMPT OBLIGATIONS IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $8,500,000.
ITEM NUMBER 18, AUTHORIZED NEGOTIATION AND EXECUTION OF DELETE THE WORDS A GROUND LEASE SO THAT IT READS NEGOTIATION AND EXECUTION OF AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT.
AND BY THE WAY, ON 18, IT GOES ON TO THE END OF THE SENTENCE.
I'M JUST NOT READING THE WHOLE THING.
ITEM NUMBER 99, WITHDRAWN AND REPLACED BY ADDENDUM ITEM 180 4, ITEM 1 0 2, WITHDRAWN AND REPLACED BY ADDENDUM ITEM 1 68, ITEM NUMBER 1 0 5, ADD MAYOR PRO TEM LESLIE POOLE AS A SPONSOR.
ITEM NUMBER 1 0 7, ADD COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE VELASQUEZ AS A SPONSOR.
ITEM NUMBER ONE 15, ADD COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER AS A SPONSOR.
ITEM NUMBER 1 24, WITHDRAWN AND REPLACED BY ADDENDUM ITEM NUMBER 1 76.
ITEM NUMBER 1 32 IS WITHDRAWN.
ITEM NUMBER 1 33, POSTPONED TO JULY 18TH, 2024.
ITEM 1 38, POSTPONED TO JULY 18TH, 2024.
ITEM ONE 40, POSTPONE TO AUGUST 29TH, 2024.
ITEM 1 56, DELETE DISTRICT 10, AND REPLACE IT WITH DISTRICT TWO ON BOARDS AND COMMISSION ACTIONS.
ITEM TWO, SHOULD READ MAY 21ST, 2024.
NOT RECOMMENDED BY THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION ON A 2 1 4 VOTE WITH CHAIR STONE VOTING AGAINST COMMISSIONER JOHNSON, ROBBINS SOUS AND SILVERSTEIN ABSTAINING, COMMISSIONER FARMER OFF THE DAIS, COMMISSIONER GARY, ABSENT, AND TWO VACANCIES.
THOSE ARE ALL THE CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS TO BE READ INTO THE RECORD.
UH, NOW WE WILL, UH, GO TO OUR CONSENT ITEMS, BUT LET ME BE, LET ME, UH, TELL YOU HOW WE'RE GONNA DO THIS.
UH, WE WILL HAVE, WE WILL HAVE SPEAKERS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, UH, BE ABLE TO SPEAK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THEY WILL BE ALLOWED TO SPEAK ON EACH ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA THAT THEY HAVE SIGNED UP ON, AND THE CLERK WILL INDICATE THE AMOUNT OF TIME, IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK ON A NON-CONSENT ITEM OR AT A PUBLIC HEARING, THOSE ITEMS WILL BE TAKEN UP, AND YOU, YOU'LL BE CALLED UPON TO SPEAK AT THE TIME WE TAKE UP THE NON-CONSENT ITEMS OR THE PUBLIC HEARINGS.
UNLESS IT IS JUST MORE CONVENIENT FOR YOU AND YOU WANNA SPEAK, WE WILL HEAR FROM YOU DURING THE, DURING THE CONSENT AGENDA.
PEOPLE MAY WILL BE ALLOWED TO DONATE TIME, UH, UP TO TWO PEOPLE MAY DONATE TIME TO A SPEAKER, BUT I WOULD ASK THAT YOU PLEASE GO TO THE CLERK AND LET THEM KNOW THAT NOW, SO THAT WE MIGHT WORK THAT OUT ON THE FRONT END.
UM, THE OTHER THING I WANNA SAY IS THAT, UH, DURING ANY PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, INCLUDING, UH, ITEMS THAT ARE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, THERE IS BEHAVIOR THAT WILL VIOLATE THE RULES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING AND WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.
YOU MAY NOT SPEAK OUT OF TURN.
UH, YOU MAY, IF YOU WISH, CRITICIZE A PUBLIC OFFICIAL, BUT YOU MAY NOT USE PERSONALLY DEROGATORY OR DISPARAGING REMARKS.
YOU MAY NOT DEFAME ANOTHER PERSON.
USE OBSCENE LANGUAGE, USE ABUSIVE LANGUAGE THAT IS LIKELY TO INCITE A BREACH OF THE PEACE, MAKE THREATS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST ANY OTHER PERSON OR OTHERWISE DISRUPT THE ORDERLY CONDUCT OF THE MEETING, SUCH AS STANDING UP AND YELLING OUT COMMENTS, UM, THAT, THAT SORT OF THING.
NOTE THAT, UH, IF YOU'RE SPEAKING ON AN A NUMBERED AGENDA ITEM, YOU MUST BE SPEAKING RELEVANT TO THAT ITEM.
AND WHILE I, UH, DON'T ENJOY DOING IT, I WILL CALL THAT OUT AS A VIOLATION OF THE RULES IN ORDER TO ASSURE THAT ALL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC HAVE SAFE AND EFFICIENT ACCESS TO WITNESS TO COUNSEL'S DELIBERATIONS.
YOU MAY NOT SIT OR STAND IN THE AISLES OR OTHERWISE OBSTRUCT THE EXITS OR EMERGENCY EXITS.
IF YOU WISH TO DISPLAY A LARGE SIGN OR A FLAG OR OTHER
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OBJECT, YOU NEED TO DO THAT IN THE DESIGNATED AREA, WHICH IS IN THE BACK OF THE CHAMBERS.YOU MAY NOT OBSTRUCT THE VIEW OF OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO ARE SEATED IN THE SITTING AREA.
SO WE ASK THAT YOU DON'T HOLD UP SIGNS OR FLAGS OR THOSE KINDS OF THINGS IF YOU'RE SEATED, UH, IN THOSE CHAIRS, UH, THERE MAY NOT BE DEMONSTRATIONS AT THE PODIUM, MEANING THAT IF YOU'RE CALLED UPON TO SPEAK, THE SPEAKER SHOULD BE THERE, UH, AND NOT A GROUP OF PEOPLE OR ANY OTHER PEOPLE.
SO, UH, AND THE OTHER THING I'LL, I'LL MENTION IS AS THE CLERK CALLS NAMES, BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AS THE CLERK CALLS NAMES, THEY WILL TYPICALLY CALL IN THREE TO FIVE NAMES AT A TIME.
THAT'S NOT JUST SO THAT YOU'LL KNOW WHEREVER YOU'RE SEATED IT IS SO THAT WE CAN BE EFFICIENT AND, AND SHOW RESPECT FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AFTER YOU, WHO MAY END UP BEING HERE A LONG TIME BECAUSE OF THE LENGTH OF THE AGENDA AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE SPEAKING.
SO, IF SHE CALLS YOUR NAME, PLEASE SHOW RESPECT FOR THE OTHER SPEAKERS BY GOING AHEAD AND COMING DOWN FRONT AND TAKING ONE OF THE SEATS THAT'S UP FRONT SO THAT YOU'LL BE READY TO SPEAK, UH, WHEN YOUR TIME COMES UP.
AND IF YOU, IF YOUR NAME IS CALLED AND YOU COME FORWARD AND THERE'S NOBODY AT THE MICROPHONE, GO AHEAD AND FEEL FREE TO TAKE THE MICROPHONE, IT'S YOURS AT THAT POINT IN TIME, AND JUST STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
UM, WITH THAT, I THINK WE'RE READY TO GO TO THE CONSENT AGENDA, BUT I'M GONNA FIRST RECOGNIZE OUR CITY ATTORNEY ON ITEM NUMBER 93.
ITEM 93 IS A SETTLEMENT OF A LAWSUIT.
UH, WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU APPROVE PAYMENT OF AN ADDITIONAL $100,941 OVER THE SPECIAL COMMISSIONER'S AWARD FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $442,500 TO RESOLVE THE LAWSUIT STYLED CITY OF AUSTIN VERSUS CSW TEN SIX ZERO ONE NORTH LAMAR.
UH, AS DISCUSSED IN A RECENT MEMO TO COUNCIL, THIS IS A 2022 CONDEMNATION LAWSUIT TO ACQUIRE PROPERTY INTEREST NECESSARY FOR CIRCUIT 8 1 1 TRANSMISSION ELECTRIC LINE UPGRADE PROJECT.
IN EXCHANGE FOR THIS PAYMENT, THE CITY WILL OBTAIN A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ITS FAVOR, ENTITLED TO THE NEEDED PROPERTY INTEREST, THUS CONCLUDING THE LAWSUIT MEMBERS.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF THE CITY ATTORNEY ON ITEM NUMBER 93, WHICH IS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ALRIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBER, ALISON ALTER, DID I SEE YOUR HAND UP? YOU DID.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO ASK TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR FOR, UM, 1 0 6 FOR, UH, NAMING CHRIS RILEY BEND.
ALSO WANTED TO BE ADDED FOR 1 73.
COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS'S ITEM RELATED TO COASTAL MAIL THEFT AND ITEM ONE 12 FROM COUNCIL MEMBER HUBBER MADISON FOR THE MOBILE COURT PROGRAM, PLEASE THANK YOU.
UM, WITHOUT OBJECTION, COUNCILMAN RAISON ALTER WILL BE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR OF 1 0 6, 1 73, AND ONE 12.
AND, AND WE HAVE, WE HAVE THREE MEMBERS THAT ARE JOINING US VIRTUALLY, AND I'LL SAY TO ALL THREE OF YOU, I'LL, I'LL, I'LL DO MY BEST TO KEEP LOOKING UP, BUT IF YOU DON'T, DON'T WORRY IF, IF I DON'T CALL ON YOU, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL OUT AND MAKE SURE I, I KNOW THAT YOU WANT TO TALK.
ALL RIGHT, THANK, SO, THANK YOU AND THANKS FOR, FOR JOINING US THAT WAY.
WITH THAT, I WILL NOW TURN IT OVER TO, UH, THE CLERK AND ASK THAT YOU HELP US NAVIGATE THROUGH OUR NON
[Public Comment (Part 1 of 2)]
OUR CONSENT SPEAKERS.THE FIRST SPEAKER WE HAVE IS REMOTE AND NEEDING SPANISH INTERPRETATION.
MARIA MORALES FOR ITEM ONE 13 AND ONE 15 FOR A TOTAL OF 12 MINUTES.
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MY NAME IS MARIA MORALES, AND I LIVE IN THE ZIP CODE 7 8 7 4 4.I WANT TO ASK YOU TO VOTE YES FOR ITEMS 113 AND 115 FOR 113.
WE NEED A PLAN OF A FLOOR INSURANCE FINANCIAL AID PROGRAM TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY IN CASE OF A FLOOD.
I ALSO WANT TO ASK YOU TO HELP THE CITY RESOURCES TO HELP US RECOVER WHEN WE ARE AFFECTED BY NATURAL DISASTERS.
ALSO IN ITEM 115, I'M IN FAVOR, AND WE NEED TO ESTABLISH POLICIES AND INCREASE ANTI DISPLACEMENT PROGRAMS AND FINANCIAL EDUCATION.
WE NEED PROTECTIONS FOR HOMEOWNERS TO PREVENT THE DISPLACEMENT OF LOW INCOME FAMILIES.
EVERYONE NEEDS TO VOTE YES FOR ITEM 115 AND 113.
THANK YOU, JORDAN MIDDLEBROOK, ITEM 1 15, 3 MINUTES.
UM, ARE YOU ALL ABLE TO HEAR ME OKAY? YES.
UM, I'M TESTIFYING TODAY IN SUPPORT OF VOCAL TEXAS, UM, DEMANDS AROUND THE RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAM, PARTICULARLY EXTENDING, UM, THE TIMELINE SO THAT FOLKS HAVE ADEQUATE TIME TO ACTUALLY START ACQUIRING, UM, WHAT'S NEEDED TO SUPPORT THE MARKET RATE RENTS THAT THEY'RE BEING ASKED TO PARTICIPATE IN.
UM, AND ALSO MORE CONNECTIONS TO SUPPORT.
SO, UM, JUST WANT TO TESTIFY TO INDICATE MY SUPPORT FOR THEIR DEMANDS FOR THAT PROGRAM, UM, AND ASKING YOU ALL TO TAKE THE NECESSARY ACTION SO THAT THE RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAM, UM, PREVENTS MORE PEOPLE FROM SLIPPING THROUGH THE CRACKS.
THANK YOU, AND I WILL WAIVE THE REST OF MY TIME.
NALU, ITEM ONE 15 AND ONE 16 FOR A TOTAL OF SIX MINUTES.
UH, HEY, GOOD MORNING, COUNSEL.
UH, MY NAME IS SIKA NALU AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK IN, IN FAVOR OF THESE ITEMS, UH, ESPECIALLY ONE 15, WHICH I BELIEVE IS, UH, THE FINANCING OPTIONS TO HELP, YOU KNOW, UNLOCK HOME TWO TYPE STUFF FOR, FOR PEOPLE THAT MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO GET, UH, A NORMAL FINANCING FROM A BANK.
UM, YEAH, I THINK THIS IS A, THIS IS A GREAT STEP.
I, I SPOKE IN FAVOR OF HOME TWO AT THE PREVIOUS MEETING, AND I THINK, UH, THAT THAT WAS JUST ONE STEP LIKE THAT WE NEEDED, BUT IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, NOT, NOT NO ONE STEP IS EVER GONNA BE ENOUGH.
SO I THINK WE NEED, UH, THIS AS WELL.
CHRISTIAN FOGARTY, ITEM 1 16, 3 MINUTES.
HELLO, UH, MY NAME IS CHRISTIAN FOGARTY.
I'M A RESIDENT OF D NINE, UM, SPEAKING TODAY IN SUPPORT OF ITEM ONE 16.
UH, LAST WEEK, I DROVE INTO AUSTIN AFTER DRIVING THROUGH RURAL WEST TEXAS FOR ABOUT SEVEN HOURS.
AND IT REALLY PUTS THINGS INTO PERSPECTIVE ABOUT HOW MANY TEXANS RELY ON PRIVATE COMPANIES TO PROVIDE SEPTIC TANKS, WATER SUPPLIES, AND OTHER WATER INFRASTRUCTURE.
HERE IN AUSTIN, WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE PUBLIC UTILITIES THAT PROVIDE THESE, THESE PUBLIC GOODS AT A RELATIVELY LOW COST AND HIGH QUALITY.
AND THIS RESOLUTION IS A NO-BRAINER TO START EXPLORING HOW TO DO THAT FOR THE BARTON CREEK INTERCEPTOR IN A WAY THAT COULD SATISFY MULTIPLE VIEWPOINTS ACROSS THE POLITICAL COALITION.
UM, I HOPE THIS STUDY PROCEEDS IN A WAY THAT INCORPORATES DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES ON WATER INFRASTRUCTURE, DOES NOT PRIORITIZE ONE SIDE OVER THE OTHER.
AND, YOU KNOW, AND WE SEEMS LIKE HERE WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE HOW TO FIX, EXTEND THESE WATER SERVICES TO NEW PEOPLE MOVING TO AUSTIN, UM, ENHANCING EXISTING QUALITY OF LIFE AND ALSO ADHERING TO EXISTING ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, WASTEWATER IS ONE OF THOSE KIND OF INVISIBLE PUBLIC GOODS THAT PEOPLE FORGET ABOUT, BUT THIS IS A, JUST A GREAT CHANCE TO MAKE IT VISIBLE AND BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER OVER A PRETTY POSITIVE VISION ON A VERY ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE, BUT, YOU KNOW, PROMISING AND UNIQUE GEOGRAPHICAL PART OF AUSTIN.
UH, SO YEAH, JUST WANNA EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR IT.
THAT'S ALL THE REMOTE SPEAKERS AT THIS TIME.
FIRST UP IS LAUREN ROSS, ITEM ONE AND 15 FOR A TOTAL OF SIX MINUTES.
THEN BEN EBBY, WILLIAM BUNCH, GERARD, KENNY, ROY WHALEY.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY DOWN AND I CAN ANNOUNCE THE ITEMS IN TIME.
PLEASE COME FORWARD IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED LAUREN ROSS, BEN EBBY, WILLIAM BUNCH, GERARD, KENNY, ROY,
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I ARE YOU BEN? I, YES.BEN IS SPEAKING ON ITEM EIGHT, NINE AND ONE 14 FOR A TOTAL OF NINE MINUTES.
MY NAME IS BEN SOY, UM, UH, MAYOR, COUNCIL, CITY MANAGER.
UM, I'M JUST WANNA LET EVERYBODY KNOW I'M HERE, SPEAKING OF PERSONAL CAPACITY, UM, BUT I AM PROUD TO BE AN AUSTINITE.
I'M PROUD TO BE AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE LABOR COMMUNITY AS A RANK AND FILE MEMBER OF AFSCME 1624, MEMBER OF AUSTIN DSA BIG SOCCER FAN.
UH, I SHARE SOMETHING WITH EVERYONE ON THIS COUNCIL, UH, EVERYONE ON THE DIOCESE THAT, UH, I LOVE THE CITY AND THE PEOPLE IN IT, AND I SEE THAT IN THE ACTIONS, MANY OF THE ACTIONS OF THE ITEMS THAT YOU'RE TAKING UP TODAY.
UM, SO I WANTED TO THANK YOU, UM, FOR PAYING ATTENTION TO ITEMS LIKE, UH, EIGHT AND NINE.
UM, AS A TAXPAYER, I, I REALIZE THAT SOME OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE HOUSING, HEALTH CARE, MENTAL HEALTHCARE, FOOD, ALL THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN OUR COMMUNITY HAPPEN AT THE TRAVIS COUNTY JAIL.
UM, IT IS, UH, SO MUCH BETTER AND SO MUCH, UH, SUCH A WISER USE OF OUR PUBLIC FUNDS.
OUR TIGHT PUBLIC DOLLARS TO DO DIVERSION PROGRAMS, TO KEEP PEOPLE OUT OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
UH, IT'S BETTER FOR THEM, BUT IT'S ALSO GOOD FOR THE PRIORITIES IN OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE REALIZE HOW TIGHT THE BUDGETS ARE.
THE STATE HAS IN ITS INFINITE WISDOM, PUT CAPS ON OUR ABILITY AND LIMITS ON OUR ABILITY TO DO THE THINGS WE NEED TO DO TO TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER HERE.
AND, UH, Y'ALL KNOW THAT BETTER THAN I DO
UM, AND I SEE THIS AS ONE OF THE MANY DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE TO, UH, MORE WISELY SPEND THE DOLLARS THAT WE DO HAVE, AND THAT HELPS THE COMMUNITY PRIORITIES THAT WE HAVE.
I'M A PROUD RESIDENT OF D FOUR, AND I REALLY LIKE, UH, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR COMMUNITY'S USING THE SIDEWALKS.
UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE ON, ON PROVIDING THOSE GOODS ITEMS LIKE THIS THAT KEEP PEOPLE OUT OF, UH, OUT OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, FREE UP DOLLARS TO HELP US WITH THINGS THAT WE ACTUALLY NEED.
UH, THE OTHER ITEM THAT I REALLY WANTED TO SPEAK TO IS ONE 14.
LIKE I MENTIONED, I'M ACTIVE IN THE LABOR MOVEMENT HERE IN OUR CITY.
I THINK IT'S REALLY GOOD WHEN LARGE EMPLOYERS, LIKE THE CITY OF AUSTIN, SET A GOOD STANDARD ON THE WAY THAT IT TREATS THE WORKERS AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING, BUILDING OUT LITERALLY BUILDINGS THAT ARE GONNA SERVE US THE PUBLIC.
SO, UH, THOSE WORKER PROTECTIONS ARE EXCELLENT.
IT LETS OUR COMMUNITY KNOW THAT WE ARE NOT IN A RACE TO THE BOTTOM, BUT WE'RE GONNA HOLD A HIGHER STANDARD.
UH, WE DON'T HAVE TO, UH, HOLD OURSELVES TO THE BARE MINIMUM THAT'S REQUIRED BY FEDERAL LAW.
UH, I KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY INSTANCES WHERE THE STATE LIMITS YOUR ABILITY TO, UH, DO GOOD THINGS.
IT SAYS YOU CAN'T, YOU CAN'T HAVE A HIGHER MINIMUM WAGE FOR THE CITY, ACROSS THE CITY.
BUT WHAT YOU CAN DO, AND I LOVE WHEN THE CITY LOOKS FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO, YOU KNOW, IGNORE THE THINGS YOU CAN DO AND FOCUS ON THINGS, YOU CAN DO THINGS LIKE THIS WHERE YOU CAN SET A HIGHER STANDARD FOR YOUR CONSTRUCTION SITES AND SAY, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THAT WE'RE PARTNERING WITH, UH, CONTRACTING WITH PART OF THAT CONTRACT IS YOU, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A HIGHER STANDARD.
YOU'RE GONNA TAKE CARE OF THESE PEOPLE.
THEY'RE GONNA HAVE OSHA, THEY'RE GONNA HAVE WATER BREAKS, UH, ESPECIALLY IN, IN A CLIMATE LIKE TEXAS.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THIS ACTION, UH, TO ALL THE, THE, THE SPONSORS, CO-SPONSORS.
THIS IS TAKING CARE OF OUR COMMUNITY.
IT IS SOMETHING TANGIBLE THAT WHEN YOU'RE OUT AND ABOUT, WHEN I'M RIDING THE BUS, WHEN I'M TALKING TO MY NEIGHBORS, I CAN POINT TO AND SAY, THIS IS WHAT THE CITY COUNCIL IS DOING TO TAKE CARE OF US.
UH, BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO FEEL DISENGAGED OR FEEL IGNORED, AND HAVING TANGIBLE GOOD THINGS LIKE THIS, WE CAN POINT TO 'EM AND SAY, THIS IS HOW THEY'RE ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF THE WORKING CLASS.
UM, YOU KNOW, UH, BIG SHOUT OUT TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE THE CITY RUN AND BUILD OUT, UH, THE, THE CONSTRUCTION THAT WE'RE SEEING, UH, THE PEOPLE WHO WORK HERE FOR THE CITY, UH, PUBLIC SERVANTS WHO MAKE BEHIND THE SCENES WHO MAKE THIS PLACE RUN.
UH, THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS KEEPING THEM IN YOUR MIND.
ROY WHALEY SIGNED UP FOR ITEM 16 27 85 AND ONE 15 FOR A TOTAL OF 12 MINUTES.
SAY THAT AGAIN PLEASE? WHAT ITEMS, PLEASE? 1 15 85 AND 1 71.
IS THAT CORRECT? OH, MY APOLOGIES.
I HAVE YOU DONATING FOR ONE 16.
I BELIEVE I'VE GIVEN MY TIME ON ONE 16 TO MR. BUNCH, BUT, UM, I WANNA START OUT WITH ITEM ONE 15 BECAUSE MY FRIEND, UH, MONICA GUZMAN, WHO IS A FREQUENT ALLY OF SIERRA CLUB AND, UH, WITH GO AUSTIN VMO
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AUSTIN, UH, SHE COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY FOR FAMILY LEAVE.ARE YOU SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THAT ITEM? YES, I AM.
IS THAT ONE OF THE ITEMS YOU WAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON? ONE 15? YEAH.
JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU, YOU DIDN'T KNOW AND I DIDN'T KNOW EITHER.
WELL, I, I KNEW YOU WANTED TO HEAR IT ANYWAY, SO.
ANYWAY, IF YOU'D STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
I'M THE CONSERVATION CHAIR FOR THE REGIONAL AUSTIN REGIONAL GROUP OF THE SIERRA CLUB.
UM, AND FOR MONICA AND, UH, OWN, OWN, UH, SHE WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, UH, NEED TO PRIORITIZE LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSE HOMEOWNERS AND PROGRAMS. AND WHEN ASSISTING LOW AND MODERATE INCOME FOLKS IN EXCHANGE FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, THE ADDITIONAL UNIT MUST BE REASONABLY PRICED FOR 15 YEARS REASONABLY PRICED UNITS, OR THOSE UNITS RENTED OR SOLD TO FAMILIES WHO OWN, WHO EARN NO MORE THAN 50% OF THE MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME, WHO WOULD SPEND, UH, NO MORE THAN 30% OF THEIR FAMILY INCOME ON HOUSING.
AND WHEN WE GET ON THIS 50% MFI, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, WHY WOULD ASK IS THAT WE START PUTTING REAL NUMBERS TO THAT.
IT'LL BE AN ESTIMATE, BUT THERE ARE SO MANY OF US THAT DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT 50% MFI IS 30% MFI, IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A GOOD COMMUNITY CONVERSATION, EVEN THOUGH I KNOW THAT NUMBER WILL NOT BE A STATIC NUMBER AND, AND FOREVER, UM, LET'S START TALKING ABOUT REAL NUMBERS SO THAT WE HAVE A BETTER IDEA OF WHAT WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT.
SO I WANTED TO TAKE CARE OF MY FRIEND MONICA FIRST.
UM, AND THEN I, YOU KNOW, ON 180 2, WELL, IT SOUNDS GOOD.
UH, AND I KNOW THAT THERE'LL BE A GOOD PEOPLE WORKING TO MAKE IT BE SOMETHING GOOD.
UH, ALSO ON 85, THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO THE NATURE CONSERVANCY AND THE 180 8 PLUS ACRES.
UM, AND THOUGH I DIDN'T SIGN UP TO SPEAK, THANK YOU, CHRIS RILEY.
UM, NOW LET'S GET TO THE TIME LIMIT THING.
I MEAN, WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS.
THAT'S A COUPLE OF TIMES THAT'S A PULLED ITEM.
OKAY? I AM NOT ABLE TO SPEAK ON THE PULLED ITEM.
YOU CAN, YOU CAN, BUT YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO SPEAK ON IT WHEN IT'S, WHEN WE BRING IT UP.
AND WHEN WILL THAT BE, SIR? WELL, WHENEVER WE GET TO IT.
WELL, I ENJOY YOUR COMPANY SO MUCH, BUT I MAY HAVE TO LEAVE EARLY.
SO I WILL GO AHEAD AND SAY, MANY OF Y'ALL ARE UP FOR REELECTION, AND I DON'T THINK IT'S A GOOD CAMPAIGN MESSAGE TO SAY, BLOCK WALK FOR ME.
GET YOUR FRIENDS TO BLOCK, WALK, CONTRIBUTE TO MY CAMPAIGN, SIGN UP, LINE UP, VOTE FOR ME.
AND IF YOU DO, I'LL GIVE YOU TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK TO ME AT CITY HALL.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S A WINNING CAMPAIGN MESSAGE.
I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU WOULD SEE THAT MOST OF US TRY TO BE RESPECTFUL WITH OUR TIME.
AND, AND MR. MAYOR, I KNOW THAT WE HAD A SPEAKER ON THE PHONE THAT SPOKE FOR 30 MINUTES, AND I'M NOT REALLY SURE WHAT WAS EVER SAID IN THAT 30 MINUTES.
YOU, AS THE PERSON RUNNING THIS MEETING, YOU HAVE THE DISCRETION TO BE ABLE TO SAY, YOU'VE ALREADY SAID THOSE THINGS, MA'AM, AS A COURTESY TO THE OTHER MANY PEOPLE IN THE AUDITORIUM THAT HAVE TAKEN TIME OFF FROM WORK OR THEIR LIVES OR WHATEVER, TO COME DOWN AND ENGAGE IN THEIR DEMOCRACY.
WHEN, AT A TIME WHEN THE DEMOCRACY IS UNDER ATTACK ACROSS OUR NATION TO COME AND SPEAK, IT'S THREE MINUTES.
NO ONE PROMISED YOU IT WAS GONNA BE EASY WHEN YOU APPLIED FOR THIS JOB.
IT IS YOUR JOB TO LISTEN TO THE CITIZENS.
AND I WILL AGAIN SAY THANK GOODNESS THAT, AND THE LONG AGO AND FAR AWAY, WE STILL HAD THAT IN PLACE.
AND THE CITIZENS, ALMOST A THOUSANDS OF A A THOUSAND OF US SHOWED UP AND SPOKE FOR THREE MINUTES AND SAVED BARTON SPRINGS WHEN THE VOTE WAS LOCKED IN TO GO AGAINST US.
SO PLEASE DO, DO THE BASICS OF THE JOB.
WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO COME AND MAKE APPOINTMENTS WITH YOU AND YOUR OFFICE LIKE SO MANY OF THE, UH, DEVELOPERS AND, AND THEIR, UH, MOUTHPIECES.
NO, NO INSULTS INTENDED, MICHAEL.
UM, SO WE HAVE THIS THREE MINUTES, AND WE HOPE THAT THIS WILL BE SOMETHING THAT CAN SWAY YOUR VOTES.
COME TO IT WITH AN OPEN MIND, PLEASE.
IT'S THE HARDEST THING TO DO, IS TO
[00:30:01]
HAVE AN OPEN MIND.AND I KNOW IT'S HARD BECAUSE I STRUGGLE WITH IT.
SO DON'T COME IN HERE WITH YOUR MINDS ALREADY MADE UP.
PLEASE LISTEN TO THE CITIZENS.
AND I THINK I HAVE MORE TIME, BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT I HAVE MORE THAN I REALLY NEED TO SAY.
AND SO, AS I SAID, TO RESPECT YOUR TIME, I'M GOING TO GO SIT DOWN AND LET SOME OF MY FELLOW CITIZENS SPEAK TO YOU.
HOPE Y'ALL HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY.
YOUR NAME WAS PREVIOUSLY CALLED, IF YOU'D MAKE YOUR WAY DOWN.
AND WOULD MR. BUNCHA SIGNED UP FOR ITEM 11 61, 63, 64, 65, 74, 80, 85, 91, 1 15, 1 16, AND HAS TIME DONATED FOR ONE 16 FROM ROY.
ROY, YOU'RE HERE FOR A TOTAL OF 36 MINUTES.
UH, MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS BILL BUNCH WITH SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE.
UM, I WILL CERTAINLY NOT BE SPEAKING FOR 36 MINUTES CONSISTENT WITH WHAT MR. WHALEY JUST SAID, UH, BEING RESPECTFUL OF YOUR TIME AND ONLY TAKING, UH, WHAT I VIEW AS NECESSARY.
UH, BUT I SHARE IN HIS CONCERNS.
I'LL ADDRESS 1 71 THOUGH LATER SINCE THAT WAS PULLED.
UM, STARTING WITH I, I'LL JUST GO IN ORDER, STARTING WITH ITEM 11.
THIS IS EXTENDING THE MUELLER MASTER DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH CATIS.
UM, AND YOUR NOTICE DOES SAY, INCREASING THE ADMINISTRATIVE FEE PAID TO THE PARTIES, BUT IT DOESN'T SAY HOW MUCH AND EVERY OTHER ITEM YOU HAVE THAT HAS AN AMOUNT OF MONEY.
UH, THERE'S BEEN ENORMOUS AMOUNTS OF DEVELOPER WELFARE PUMPED INTO THE MUELLER REDEVELOPMENT.
UM, IT'S TIME TO CUT THAT OFF.
UM, AS POSTED, THIS VIOLATES THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT.
UH, IT ALSO VI VIOLATES, UH, THE CITY ORDINANCES THAT REQUIRE THE CITY MANAGER TO PROVIDE A FISCAL NOTE ON EVERY ITEM THAT'S GONNA COST YOU SOMETHING.
THERE'S NO FISCAL NOTE POSTED.
UM, THE BACKUP ALSO IS GROSSLY DEFICIENT AND VIOLATES YOUR DIRECT GUIDANCE TO THE CITY STAFF AND MANAGER TO PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION THAT YOU NEED, THAT THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO ASSESS AN ITEM THAT'S ON THE AGENDA.
UM, HERE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, AND SPECIFICALLY MOVING TO AMEND A LONGSTANDING AGREEMENT WITH THE MUELLER DEVELOPERS.
BUT WHAT'S POSTED IS JUST, WE'RE GONNA AMEND THIS SECTION THIS WAY, AND WE'RE GONNA AMEND THIS SECTION THIS WAY.
BUT THE ACTUAL AGREEMENT THAT'S BEING AMENDED IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE BACKUP.
SO THERE'S NO BASIS, THERE'S NO BASELINE TO HAVE ANY WAY THAT YOU OR THE PUBLIC CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT THESE AMENDMENTS ACTUALLY MEAN.
UM, MUELLER, AS YOU KNOW, IS ALSO TIED UP IN A TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE.
ASSUME SOME OF THAT MONEY'S, UH, INVOLVED IN THIS, UH, THAT'S NOT MENTIONED AT ALL IN YOUR NOTICE EITHER.
SO, UH, PLEASE POSTPONE THIS AND BRING IT BACK WITH A, A, A LEGALLY COMPLIANT NOTICE AND A FISCAL NOTE AND A RED LINED, UH, AGREEMENT SO YOU ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT YOU'RE VOTING ON.
UH, JUMPING TO ITEMS 61, WHICH, UH, ALSO, UH, RELATES TO ITEM 64 AND 65.
THIS TOTALS OVER A BILLION DOLLARS.
THESE ITEMS OVER A BILLION DOLLARS OF SPENDING TO EXPAND OUR WALNUT CREEK WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.
UM, A CAPACITY FOR TREATING SEWAGE.
UM, NOW OF COURSE, WE GOTTA TREAT OUR SEWAGE, BUT THE IDEA THAT YOU'RE GONNA SPEND OVER A BILLION DOLLARS ON CONSENT WITH, AGAIN, MINIMAL BACKUP THAT EXPLAINS WHAT THIS BILLION DOLLARS IS ACTUALLY GONNA BUY US.
UM, AND ALSO BUILDING OFF OF, UH, YEARS, GOING BACK TO 2019 OR SO OF, UH, SORT OF MOMENTUM, UH, SLEEPWALKING PERHAPS, UM, TO EXPAND OUR TREATMENT PLANS.
UM, TODAY, Y'ALL CLAIM YOU'RE LOOKING FOR MONEY.
YOU DON'T HAVE MONEY TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT, UH, IMPLEMENT OUR CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN.
UH, YOU CLAIM THAT YOU'RE PAYING ATTENTION TO THE DROUGHT
[00:35:02]
AND WHAT CLIMATE CHANGE MEANS FOR OUR FUTURE WATER SUPPLY.BUT HERE YOU HAVE A BILLION DOLLARS OF SLEEPWALKING SPENDING WITH THE ASSUMPTION THAT WE'RE GONNA KEEP EXPANDING.
HOW MUCH WA INCREASING HOW MUCH WATER WE PUMP OUT OF OUR DWINDLING WATER SUPPLIES WITH ROUGHLY HALF OF THAT CONVERTED INTO SEWAGE THAT IS GONNA KEEP INCREASING IN CAPACITY.
YOU NEED TO STOP RIGHT HERE AND NOT SPEND THIS BILLION DOLLARS, AND INSTEAD COMMIT OUR CITY TO DOING WHAT WE'VE DONE FOR DECADES UNTIL JUST THE LAST FEW YEARS WHERE OUR WATER SAVINGS WAS MATCHING AND OFFSETTING OUR POPULATION GROWTH.
WE'RE AT A CRITICAL JUNCTURE NOW WHERE WE KNOW THE RELIABILITY OF OUR WATER SUPPLY IS NOT THERE.
IT'S A FRACTION OF WHAT WE THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A FEW YEARS AGO.
AND YET, HERE YOU ARE JUST LIKE, AGAIN, SLEEPWALKING AS IF WE'RE GONNA KEEP PUMPING MORE AND MORE WATER, KEEP GENERATING MORE AND MORE SEWAGE.
AND SO WE HAVE TO KEEP EXPANDING THESE GIANT FACILITIES AT ENORMOUS COSTS TO RATE PAYERS.
AND THEN YOU'RE GONNA TURN AROUND AND SAY, WE HAVE NO MONEY TO IMPLEMENT OUR CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN.
WE HAVE NO MONEY TO PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT.
YOU NEED TO PUT THIS ON POSTPONED, AND YOU NEED TO TELL THE STAFF, COME BACK AND LET'S FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH FARTHER WE CAN PUSH THIS OUT UNTIL WE REALLY NEED AN EXPANDED WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLAN.
AND IN THE INTERIM, WE'RE GONNA DO, MAKE, DO EVERYTHING WE POSSIBLY CAN AND SPEND THIS MONEY REDUCING OUR WASTEWATER CONSUMPTION, I MEAN, OUR WATER CONSUMPTION AND IN TURN, REDUCING HOW MUCH SEWAGE IS GENERATED AND HAS TO BE TREATED.
THIS IS ON CONSENT SERIOUSLY, WITH THIS SKELETAL INFORMATION.
SOME OF Y'ALL ARE NEW, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND.
OH, THIS GOT STARTED EARLIER AND I'M, I'M JUST HERE TO ROLL EVERYTHING AND KEEP ROLLING IT ALONG.
THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU'RE ELECTED FOR.
AND MY GUESS IS, IF YOU TAKE THAT APPROACH, UH, YOU MIGHT NOT BE REELECTED.
AND THIS IS A COMMON THEME ON ANOTHER MATTER LATER THAT I'LL GET TO.
UM, SO THAT JUST JUMPED OVER SEVERAL OF MY ITEMS. UM, ITEM 80.
OKAY? THIS IS THE ONE THAT YOU ARE ACTUALLY ENJOINED BY THE DISTRICT COURT FROM IMPLEMENTING BASED ON OUR, UH, OPEN MEETINGS ACT AND CHARTER VIOLATION LAWSUIT.
UM, YOU HAVE IT PROPERLY POSTED HERE.
AND SO IT'S ENTIRELY APPROPRIATE THAT THIS IS BACK ON THE AGENDA, THAT YOU'RE HANDLING IT THE WAY, UH, THE COURT RULING REQUIRES.
UH, BUT THIS IS SPENDING 3 BILLION, EXCUSE ME, $3 MILLION TO STUDY EXPANDING THE DELIVERY OF, UH, THE TREATMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF WA WATER, AND I BELIEVE SEWAGE AS WELL.
UM, IT'S A SOUTHWEST PRESSURE ZONE, SO THAT'S PROBABLY WATER.
AGAIN, THE BACKUP IS VERY SKETCHY, BUT THIS IS IN THE BARTON SPRINGS WATERSHED, THE RECHARGE ZONE.
THIS PRESSURE ZONE COVERS THE RECHARGE ZONE FOR BARTON SPRINGS AND THE IMMEDIATE, UH, WESTERLY, UH, CONTRIBUTING ZONE THAT ALSO, AND IT AGAIN, HAS BAKED INTO THE, THIS ASSUMPTION THAT WE'RE GONNA BUILD ANOTHER SMALL CITY OUT OVER THE AQUIFER THAT'S IN DIRECT VIOLATION OF THE IMAGINE AUSTIN COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
AND, UH, AND SO THAT'S ADDS A WHOLE WATER QUALITY AND SAVING THE LIFE SOURCE OF THIS CITY, MARTIN SPRINGS.
BUT IT'S OF THE SAME PIECE AS THE PREVIOUS ITEMS WHERE YOU'RE, AGAIN, YOU'RE SLEEPWALKING THROUGH THIS IDEA THAT WE HAVE TO KEEP EXPANDING AND DELIVERING WATER AND SEWER SERVICE WHEN WE DON'T HAVE
[00:40:01]
THAT EXP INCREASED WATER TO DELIVER IN THE FUTURE.AND ESPECIALLY IN THE BARTON SPRING ZONE, THE MANDATE TO THE STAFF NEEDS TO BE, OKAY, YES, WE'RE GONNA REDEVELOP, THERE'S GONNA BE IN MORE INTENSIVE DEVELOPMENT LIKE AT BRODY OAKS THAT Y'ALL APPROVED.
UM, BUT THAT NEW DEVELOPMENT HAS TO FIGURE OUT.
AND WE AS A COMMUNITY HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO SERVE IT WITHOUT SPENDING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
'CAUSE THIS IS JUST THE STUDY, BUT IT'S IN CONTEMPLATION OF HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF BIG BUILDING, BIGGER PIPES, BIGGER PUMP STATIONS, BIGGER TREATMENT PLANTS TO SERVE DEVELOPMENT IN THE EXACT PLACE THAT WE, OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN SAYS, WE DON'T WANT IT, PLEASE VOTE NO ON THAT AND AT LEAST PULL IT OFF THE CONSENT ITEM AND POSTPONE IT AND GET BETTER INFORMATION.
UM, ITEM 85, WE SUPPORT THAT BUYING SOME PRESERVE LAND IN THE BARTON CREEK WATERSHED BEFORE IT'S DEVELOPED.
UH, THANK YOU FOR HAVING THIS ON THE AGENDA.
THANK YOU FOR MOVING FORWARD WITH IT.
UH, IT IS A LOT OF MONEY, SO MAYBE Y'ALL HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.
I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU WOULD, UM, ON BALANCE.
IT'S A FANTASTIC AND IMPORTANT MOVE.
ALMOST NEVER DO YOU REGRET PRESERVING CRITICAL WATERSHED LANDS, ESPECIALLY NOT ON BARTON CREEK, I MEAN, ESPECIALLY ON BARTON CREEK.
UM, THIS, AGAIN, IS IN THAT SAME MODE.
AND THE POSTING IS, YOU KNOW, DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO STUDY OPTIONS RELATED TO REMOVING WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE FROM ONE THIN BARTON CREEK RESTORE PIPE CAPACITY AND TO RETURN WITH AN UPDATE AND RECOMMENDATION.
IF YOU ACTUALLY READ THE RESOLUTION, IT'S NOT, UH, RESTORING THE PIPES.
IT'S, AGAIN, THE, THE, THE PUSH IS TO EXPAND THE CAPACITY IN THE SEWER LINE THAT RUNS UP THE GREEN BELT, UH, IN THE BARTON CREEK FLOODPLAIN.
UM, IF THIS WERE AMENDED, WE'D BE EXCITED ABOUT IT.
IF IT WAS AMENDED TO SAY, LET'S MAKE SURE THIS PIPE IS NOT LEAKING.
'CAUSE THERE'S THIS PRETENSE IN THERE THAT THIS IS ABOUT CLEANING UP THE CREEK.
THIS IS ABOUT PUTTING IN A BIGGER PIPE TO SERVE MORE DEVELOPMENT.
IT'S VERY CLEAR TO INCREASE DEVELOPMENT IN ROLLING WOOD IN WESTLAKE, WHERE WE HAVE NO AUTHORITY TO IMPOSE A SOS ORDINANCE.
SO THIS IS ABOUT POLLUTING BARTON CREEK, ABOUT POLLUTING BARTON SPRINGS, AND ABOUT SPENDING THIS FIRST 3 MILLION IN CONTEMPLATION OF, OF SPENDING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS MORE TO DELIVER WATER.
WE DON'T HAVE TO TREAT SEWAGE THAT WE, WE, WE, WE DON'T HAVE THE WATER TO CREATE THE SEWAGE TO TREAT.
AND AGAIN, ENORMOUS SUMS OF MONEY THAT HAS TO BE REDIRECTED TOWARDS WATER EFFICIENCY AND RE UM, THAT RESOLUTION NEEDS AMENDING OR IT NEEDS TO BE VOTED DOWN.
UM, I THINK THAT IS ALL OF MY ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
1 71 WAS PULLED OFF CONSENT, RIGHT? YES.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
ZENOBIA JOSEPH, CHASE, WRIGHT, CARLOS, LEON, ANDY BROWER.
IF YOUR NAME HAVE BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME DOWN AND THEN I'LL ANNOUNCE YOUR ITEMS. PLEASE COME FORWARD IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED.
ARE YOU CHASE WRIGHT? YES, I AM.
ITEM 32, 3 MINUTES, THREE MINUTES.
CAN SOMEONE AFTER THIS SHOW ME HOW TO GET A LONG TIME, LIKE 36 MINUTES LIKE THEM? BUT ANYWAY, THANK YOU, COUNSEL.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HUNGRY HILL FOUNDATION.
WE ARE AFRICAN-AMERICAN LED NON-PROFIT WHO, WHOSE MISSION IS TO HELP UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS REENTERING INTO SOCIETY.
AND I'M SORRY, I'M A LITTLE SHORT WINDED HERE TODAY.
SO I HAD A FEW LITTLE POINTS HERE.
UM, HUNGRY HILL IS REALLY EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE WILL BE EXPANDING WITH OUR WORKFORCE TO HELP THE UNHOUSED.
[00:45:01]
UH, WE WENT FROM 120 INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN OUR LOCAL PARKS DOWN ALL THE WAY TO FIVE INDIVIDUALS.SO THAT'S A HIGHLIGHT OF OUR MOMENT.
ALL THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE RECEIVED HOUSING SINCE THEN.
UM, NAVIGATING CITY BARRIERS, UM, I'M GONNA JUST, WE GOT THREE MINUTES HERE.
SO, NAVIGATING CITY, CITY BARRIERS UP TO THIS POINT HAS BEEN VERY DIFFICULT.
UH, I'VE BEEN AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE LAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS, AND I MUST SAY THIS IS THE, THE BEST I'VE SEEN IT DONE.
UH, OUR ECOSYSTEM IS REALLY SHOWING ITS POWERPOINTS AND IT ALL STARTS WITH OUR CITY OFFICIALS.
SO I'M NOT GONNA BE THE ONE HERE YELLING AT YOU GUYS TODAY WHO CAN RELAX.
UH, BUT I WANNA THANK YOU PERSONALLY.
UH, THEN, THEN, THEN YOU DON'T KNOW HOW IT WORKS.
WELL, WELL, I WANNA THANK YOU GUYS PERSONALLY AND, AND, AND MOVING FORWARD, UM, TO OUR CITY MANAGER.
UM, WE ARE 8% AFRICAN AMERICANS HERE IN THE CITY.
WE'VE SEEN WHAT YOU DID IN DALLAS AND WE APPRECIATE THAT WORK AND WE HOPE IT TRANSLATES DOWN HERE TO AUSTIN AS WELL.
UM, WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE OUR CITY THRIVE.
WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE OUR UNHOUSED MEMBERS GET THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED.
BUT FURTHERMORE, ANY INDIVIDUAL THAT'S CONSIDERED UNDER-RESOURCED, LIKE MOST PEOPLE WERE IN EAST AUSTIN WHEN I GREW UP, UM, AT THAT RATE, WE KNOW IT'S NOT A ONE PERSON JOB.
SO DON'T, DON'T LET NOBODY COME UP HERE AND AND YELL AT YOU SPECIFICALLY.
'CAUSE YOU JUST GOT HERE AND SEEDS HAVE ALREADY BEEN PLANTED.
WE WANNA BE ALIGNMENT WITH YOU.
AND I CAN SPEAK FOR ME AND OTHER AFRICAN AMERICAN NONPROFITS THAT ARE OUT HERE.
UH, YOU ARE ONE OF THE FIRST BROTHERS I'VE SEEN UP THERE PERIOD SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE AND I'VE BEEN HERE MY WHOLE LIFE.
UM, SO AT THAT RATE, WE WANNA SAY THANK YOU, UM, TO OUR, TO, TO OUR PARTNERS, OUR COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS.
WE WANT TO THANK THE, UH, PARTS DEPARTMENT FOR GIVING OUR OPPORTUNITY TO OUR UNHOUSED WORKERS SO THAT THEY CAN TRANSITION BACK INTO THROUGH SOCIETY, UM, THROUGH WORK OPPORTUNITIES.
WE WANNA THANK OUR PARTNERS OUT AT TWO.
WE WANT TO THANK OUR PARTNERS WITH, UH, ANY, ANY OF OUR COLLABORATIVES THAT HAVE BEEN, UH, BOOTS ON THE GROUND WITH US HERE WHILE WE'VE BEEN FIGHTING THIS CRISIS HERE IN OUR CITY, UH, OF UNHOUSED, INDIVIDUALS WHO WANNA SAY THANK YOU.
UM, WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO DIP INTO THE FACT THAT WE ARE FACING AN OPIATE CRISIS RIGHT NOW IN OUR UNHOUSED COMMUNITY.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT OUR RESOURCE OFFICERS CONTINUE TO HAVE THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED SO WE CAN BE ON TOP OF THIS, UM, VIOLENCE IN OUR CITY GUN GUN VIOLENCE IN OUR CITY.
I WANT TO ASK THAT OUR PARTNERS STEP IN AND WE ALL PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN KEEP THIS DOWN AND DECREASE.
HOW WE CAN HAVE BOOTS ON THE GROUND'S EFFORT AND BRING THOSE INDIVIDUALS OPPORTUNITY AND RESOURCES SO THAT THEY'RE NOT OUT THERE SEEKING NEGATIVE OPPORTUNITIES.
IF ANY INDIVIDUAL WOULD LIKE TO COLLABORATE WITH THE HUNGRY HILL, Y'ALL CAN FIND US.
THE NOIA, JOSEPH CARLOS LEONE.
ARE YOU ANDY BROWER? NO, I'M DENISE.
UM, I HAVEN'T CALLED YOUR NAME YET.
MY KIDS MA MA'AM, WE'LL GET SOMEBODY TO VISIT WITH YOU ABOUT THE NO MA'AM.
BUT THAT'S NOT THE WAY THAT, BECAUSE YOU HAVEN'T SIGNED UP TO SPEAK YOUR NAME.
BUT YOUR NAME HASN'T BEEN CALLED AND WE'RE GONNA FOLLOW THE RULES.
YOU DON'T, CAN'T JUST COME UP.
IT'S EITHER TAKE US 36 MINUTES.
CAN I TAKE A MINUTE OR TWO? NO MA'AM.
WELL, I'LL, I'LL, I'LL EXPLAIN IT TO YOU SOME OTHER TIME I CAN'T SPEAK BECAUSE YOUR NAME HASN'T BEEN CALLED AND WE FOLLOW RULES.
WELL THEN WE'LL GET SOMEBODY TO TRY TO HELP YOU WITH THAT RIGHT NOW.
UM, FOLLOW I EVERYTHING TELL WELL, I'M, I'M SORRY MA'AM, BUT THAT WE'RE GONNA FOLLOW.
AND WE'LL GET SOMEBODY TO TALK TO YOU RIGHT NOW.
MA'AM, YOU NEED YOU, YOU NEED TO LEAVE CARLOS LEON.
NEXT UP, ANDY BROWER, DARCY FRAZIER AND JACOB EMERSON.
SO CARLOS LEON, FIRST AND FOREMOST FOR LETTING ME SPEAK AGAINST ITEM 77.
THIS SPECIAL FURNITURE FUNDING BECAUSE A PL CANNOT BE TRUSTED TO LAWFULLY USE IT AS DESIGNED, EVIDENCED BY DIRECTOR ROOSEVELT WEEKS AND HIS LIBRARY AND SECURITY STAFF BLATANTLY VIOLATING THEIR LIBRARY USE RULES AND YOUR RULES FOR PUBLIC USE OF CITY PROPERTIES IN MULTIPLE BRANCHES TO ABUSE THEIR OFFICIAL CAPACITIES.
TO UNCONSTITUTIONALLY BAN ME PERMANENTLY FROM ALL A PL PROPERTIES DO UNLAWFULLY PUNISH ME FOR LAWFULLY TRUTH.
TELLING ABOUT THE STOLEN 2020 RIGGED ELECTION, PRESIDENT TRUMP TRULY WON COUNTING EACH AND EVERY LEGAL LEGITIMATE VOTE ONE TIME ONLY WITH EQUAL WAITING ONLY THOUGH I JUST HANDED YOU DETAILS.
NOW, A PD OFFICER ODE TOLD ME AP STAFF AT HOUSING AT TERRYTOWN ADMITTED I DID NOTHING WRONG.
MAY 13TH MORNING WHERE THEY CALLED A PL SECURITY AND A PD TO COME OUT WITHOUT WARNING TO ISSUE ME A CRIMINAL TRESPASS NOTIFICATION PERMANENTLY BANNING ME FROM ALL A PL PROPERTIES.
[00:50:02]
ODEAN SAID A PL STAFF CLAIM TO FEEL UNSAFE AROUND ME.AND A PL SECURITY SAID THE CTN WAS ISSUED BECAUSE OF THE MAY 9TH INCIDENT AT QUARRY BY FAR WEST.
THEN IN THERE HEAD LIBRARIAN MS. BROWN TOOK ISSUE WITH ME LOUDLY AND PROUDLY TRUTH TELLING 2020 MASSIVE ELECTION FRAUD OUTSIDE THE CLOSED LIBRARY, 40 FEET AWAY FROM THE ENTRANCE OFF PROPERTY.
WHEN I SUBSEQUENTLY TRIED TO SILENTLY ENTER THE LIBRARY WHEN IT OPENED, SHE DENIED ME LIBRARY USE FOR THE DAY WITHOUT JUST CAUSE I PROMISED TO HOLD HER ACCOUNTABLE, MY CIVIL RIGHT AND CIVIC DUTY.
DO I WAS NOT DOING OR THREATENING ANY PHYSICAL VIOLENCE AGAINST HER, ANYONE ELSE OR THE PROPERTY.
AND I WAS NOT PREVENTING IMPAIRING OR INTERRUPTING LIBRARY USE.
SO SHE TOLD SECURITY GUY HANS DAYTON.
SHE FELT THREATENED, WHO THEN TOLD HIS BOSS I HAD THREATENED HER AN EGREGIOUS ESCALATION LIE TO JUSTIFY THE CTN TO DENY ME POSITIVE FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO ACCESS INFORMATION AND IDEAS AT THE PUBLIC LIBRARY IN PERSON.
ALSO BECAUSE SECURITY REFUSED TO HAND ME THE WRITTEN CTNI CANNOT REQUEST A CITY HEARING TO OVERTURN IT.
VIOLATING PUBLIC USE RULES FOR LIBRARIES AND CITY PROPERTIES AFFECTING US ALL.
APLS, FIRST AMENDMENT, FREE SPEECH, AND FIFTH AMENDMENT DUE PROCESS VIOLATIONS ARE BRAZEN ATTACKS AGAINST ON OUR PRINCIPLE PILLARS, SUPPORTING OUR CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC.
NEXT, REVOKE THE CTN AND VOTE NO ON ITEM 77.
ITEM 88, JACOB EMERSON, JESUS GONZALEZ, FOLLOWED BY JASON HASKINS.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE START MAKING YOUR WAY DOWN.
PLEASE COME FORWARD IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED WILL CARDWELL MARYANNE DELEON.
OKAY, WILL CARDWELL ITEM 103 MINUTES.
UH, I REPRESENT, UH, DHA CAPITAL.
UM, I'VE COME JUST TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT Y'ALL MIGHT HAVE REGARDING, UH, CONSENT ITEM 100.
UM, WHAT WE HAVE IN THIS CASE IS A RESOLUTION THAT WAS PASSED IN, UH, 1972, WHEREBY THE CITY COUNCIL WAS TO CONVEY A PORTION OF VACATED HODGES STREET TO THE ORIGINAL OWNER, WHICH WAS THE NEIGHBOR.
UM, FOR WHATEVER REASON THAT CONVEYANCE NEVER OCCURRED.
UH, NOW WITH THE PROPERTY HAVING CHANGED HANDS A COUPLE OF TIMES, UH, IF WE WERE TO PROCEED WITH THAT RESOLUTION AS WRITTEN, THE VACATED PORTION OF THE STREET WOULD END UP WITH A PARTY WHO NO LONGER HAS ANY INTEREST IN THE AREA.
SO AFTER SPEAKING WITH STAFF, UH, THE SOLUTION THAT WE PROPOSE IS A SIMPLE AMENDMENT TO THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE THAT RATHER THAN CONVEYING IT TO THE NAMED, UH, ORIGINAL PROPERTY OWNER, THE MARY LEE FOUNDATION, WE SIMPLY ADD AND OR SUCCESSORS INTO SIGNS, MEANING THAT THE SUCCESSORS OF THE MARY LEE FOUNDATION COULD RECEIVE THE CONVEYANCE.
AND, UH, THAT WAS PROBABLY THE SIMPLEST WAY TO ACHIEVE THE LEGAL REALITY THAT THE CITY COUNCIL IN THE 1970S WAS HOPING TO ACHIEVE.
SO TO THE EXTENT YOU'LL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER 'EM.
ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.
JUST STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.
I'M THE CEO OF THE TEXAS BOOK FESTIVAL.
UM, I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF ITEM NUMBER 1 0 5.
UM, I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF OUR STAKEHOLDER, UH, BOARD CHAIR, HONORABLE GIGI EDWARDS BRYANT, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS, TARA LOWERY HART AND SUSANNA EY, WHO ARE HERE WITH ME.
UH, I WANNA THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ABOUT WHY TEXAS BOOK FESTIVAL SHOULD BENEFIT FROM THE CITY'S GENEROUS WAIVER PROGRAM FOR THE 2023 FESTIVAL, WHICH TAKE TOOK PLACE LAST NOVEMBER.
AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHY TEXAS BOOK FESTIVAL SHOULD BECOME A CITY OF AUSTIN CO-SPONSORED EVENT.
UH, I WANTED TO START BY THANKING COUNCIL MEMBERS, FUENTES QUADRI, UH, RYAN AND ALLISON ALTER, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA AND MAYOR PRO TEM LESLIE POOLE FOR SPONSORING THE RESOLUTION AND TO SOME OF THE OTHER OFFICE, UH, OFFICES FOR COMMUNICATING YOUR SUPPORT OF THE SUPPORT OF THE MEASURE TO US DIRECTLY.
UH, MY COLLEAGUE, DOLLY AND AZI
[00:55:01]
AND I HAVE HAD A REALLY GREAT TIME GETTING TO KNOW YOU ALL AND YOUR OFFICES AND HAVE BEEN, UH, REALLY, UH, UH, WELCOMED BY CITY HALL.UH, THE TEXAS BOOK FESTIVAL, MUCH LIKE OUR VIBRANT CITY, IS A CELEBRATION OF DIVERSITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY.
SINCE ITS INCEPTION, THE FESTIVAL HAS BEEN DEDICATED TO UPLIFTING THE VOICES OF ALL COMMUNITIES WITH A FOCUS ON COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
THIS COMMITMENT ALIGNS PERFECTLY WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S VALUES OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION.
UH, THE FESTIVAL CREATES A UNIQUE SPACE WHERE AUTHORS AND READERS FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS CAN COME TOGETHER AND SHARE THEIR STORIES AND ID AND IDEAS.
UH, THIS FREE GATHERING OF NEARLY FI UH, 50,000 PEOPLE IN AND AROUND THIS, THE TEXAS STATE CAPITOL NOT ONLY CELEBRATES THE JOY OF READING, BUT ALSO FOSTERS A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF OUR RICH MULTICULTURAL TA TAPESTRY.
BY HIGHLIGHTING AUTHORS OF COLOR AND THEIR WORK, THE FESTIVAL ENSURES THAT VOICES THAT HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED ARE CELEBRATED.
MOREOVER, THE BOOK FESTIVAL ACTIVELY WORKS TO CREATE AN EQUITABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS INITIATING SUCH PROGRAMS AS READING ROCK STARS.
TO BRING AUTHORS INTO A ISD TITLE ONE SCHOOLS ON THE FRIDAY BEFORE THE F THE TEXAS BOOK FESTIVAL, WE'RE PROVIDING CHILDREN FROM UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES WITH ACCESS TO BOOKS AND INSPIRING, UH, AND AN INSPIRING, UH, EXPERIENCE, UH, BY ALLOWING THEM TO MEET THE AUTHORS IN PERSON.
THIS PROGRAM, AMONG OTHERS, DEMONSTRATES THE FESTIVAL'S COMMITMENT TO LITERACY AND EDUCATION FOR ALL REFLECTING THE CITY'S OWN GOALS OF COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT AND DEVELOPMENT.
BY BECOMING A CO-SPONSORED EVENT, THE TEXAS BOOK FESTIVAL WILL GAIN THE RECOGNITION AND SUPPORT NEEDED TO EXPAND ITS REACH AND IMPACT EVEN FURTHER, ALLOWING, UH, THE ORGANIZATION TO SAVE PHILANTHROPIC DOLLARS ALONG THE WAY.
UH, THIS PARTNERSHIP WILL NOT ONLY ENHANCE THE THE FESTIVAL'S ABILITY TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO SOLIDIFY AUSTIN'S REPUTATION AS A CITY THAT CHAMPIONS LITERATURE, CULTURE, AND DIVERSE VOICES.
WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AND ALL YOU DO.
WE HAVE SEVERAL SPEAKERS FOR ITEM 1 0 6, BUT THAT HAS BEEN MOVED TO A TIME CERTAIN OF 1:00 PM SO I'M MOVING ON TO THE NEXT ITEM FOR ONE 15 AND ONE 16 FELICITY MAXWELL, FOLLOWED BY NOOK TURNER.
FELICITY HAS SIGNED UP FOR ONE 15 AND ONE 16 FOR A TOTAL OF SIX MINUTES.
I'M ACTUALLY SIGNED UP IN A FEW OTHER ITEMS AS WELL.
OH, MAY I SPEAK TO ALL OF THEM NOW? WE WILL CALL.
OH, YOU WANNA SPEAK TO ALL OF THEM NOW? MAY I, MAYOR? THAT'S OKAY, RIGHT? YES, WE TRY TO DO IT WHEN WE PULL 'EM.
WELL
BUT WHAT, WHAT ITEMS DO YOU WISH TO BE HEARD ON? UM, THAT'S FINE.
I'LL JUST DO ONE 16 AND ONE 15.
UM, GOOD MORNING, FULL CITY MAXWELL DISTRICT FIVE RESIDENT OR A BOARD MEMBER.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF ITEM ONE 15.
UM, WE ARE DELIGHTED TO SEE THESE FOLLOW-UP ITEMS, PARTICULARLY THE EFFORTS TO ENSURE HOME ONE AND HOME TWO TO LOW MIDDLE INCOME HOMEOWNERS.
THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD AND WORKING CLOSELY WITH OTHER COUNCIL OFFICES AND CITY STAFF TO ENSURE THE BEST VERSION OF THIS RESOLUTION.
WE'RE EAGER TO SEE THESE EDUCATIONAL FINANCE PROGRAMS BE INITIATED AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORK SUPPORTING THIS WORK IN THE COMMUNITY.
UM, REGARDING ITEM ONE 16, WE ARE IN FULL SUPPORT OF THE ITEM AND EAGER TO HEAR THE FINDINGS OF STAFF REGARDING THE BEST WAY TO IMPROVE OUR WATER QUALITY AND ALLOW MUCH NEEDED REDEVELOPMENT OF OUR OUTDATED 1980S LOTS IN WEST AUSTIN.
NOOK TURNER, FRANCIS, UNA, ANITA, AINA SANCHEZ.
UM, COUNSEL, I'M ALWAYS EXCITED TO HAVE, SO WHAT'S YOUR NAME? NICK TURNER.
UM, ONCE AGAIN, I WAS LIKE, I WAS ABOUT TO SAY, I AM ALWAYS EXCITED WHEN I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU GUYS.
UM, WE PUT ON JUMP ON IT WEEK, JUMP ON IT IS AN ONGOING COMMUNITY PROGRAM THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING SINCE 1997.
UM, AND SO WE HAVE JUMP ON A WEEK COMING UP AND ONE OF OUR EVENTS ARE AT, IT'S AT WALTER ELONG PARK.
AND WE WERE APPROVED BY THE PARK, UM, LAST YEAR TO EXTEND THE CURFEW TO 11.
UM, BUT WE FOUND OUT, UM, ABOUT A MONTH AGO, A LITTLE BIT OVER A MONTH THAT IT NOW GOES THROUGH THE MUSIC OFFICE AND WE HAD TO GET THE SOUND, UM, EXTENDED FOR THAT.
SO I, I HOPE THAT EVERYONE, UM, VOTES IN FAVOR OF US GETTING AN EXTENSION FOR WHAT WE'RE DOING FOR OUR COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING ON THAT.
AND ALSO, UM, WE HAVE SOME PROGRAMMING DURING JUMP ON IT WEEK, UM, THAT'S GONNA TAKE PLACE ON MONDAY.
[01:00:01]
IT'S GONNA TAKE PLACE ON MONDAY WHERE WE'LL WE'LL BE DISCUSSING, UM, THE BLACK EMBASSY.AND FOR THOSE THAT ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE BLACK EMBASSY, IT WAS PART OF A RESOLUTION THAT PASSED THROUGH COUNCIL, UM, IN 2021.
WE'RE STILL WORKING AND MOVING FORWARD ON THAT.
SO I'M GLAD I GET A CHANCE TO FINALLY SEE YOU.
MAYOR, I'VE BEEN CALLING AND TEXTING YOU.
I FINALLY GOT A CALL BACK LAST WEEK.
UM, BUT DEFINITELY I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU THERE, UM, SO WE COULD UPDATE THE COMMUNITY ON WHAT WE'RE DOING AND MOVING FORWARD WITH THE BLACK EMBASSY AND TO OUR NEW CITY MANAGER, THANK YOU FOR ACCEPTING THE INVITE FOR BEING THERE.
ON MONDAY AT HOUSTON TILLISON, WE'LL BE HAVING COMMUNITY PANELS.
WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT, UM, WHAT WE SEE AS A COMMUNITY ON WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS REBUILDING THE COMMUNITY, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, SPEAKING ON THE UPDATE OF THE BLACK EMBASSY AND MAKING SURE THAT WE FOLLOW THE DIRECTIVES THAT WAS IN THE RESOLUTION THAT PASSED UNANIMOUSLY, UM, IN 2021.
SO THANK Y'ALL FOR THE TIME AND IF ANYONE WANT TO CHECK OUT, JUMP ON IT.
UM, WE RUN JUNE 2ND THROUGH JUNE 9TH.
WE DO HAVE SOME SPONSORSHIP FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN BY WAY OF THE THRIVE GRANT AND OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS.
WE DO PROGRAMMING FOR YOUTH, ADULTS, COMMUNITY, AND, UM, IT, IT'S BLACK CULTURE 360 AND WE'RE WORKING ON BUILDING A SITUATION TO WHERE WE HAVE A DESTINATION LOCATION IN AUSTIN THAT BRING BLACKS BACK TO THE CITY.
AND WE STILL HAVE SOME CULTURE HERE AND LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT JUST GONE AND WE'RE A RELIC AND WE'RE OF THE PAST, WE'RE FIGHTING TO REBUILD THAT IN THE CITY.
SO IF ANYONE WANT ANY INFORMATION ON THAT IS JUMP ON IT WEEK.COM AND YOU ALSO CAN FIND OUT, UM, INFORMATION ABOUT THE RESOLUTION AND ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THE BLACK EMBASSY@BLACKAUSTINCOALITION.COM.
BUT WE'RE AVAILABLE TO SPEAK AND HOPEFULLY I'LL SEE YOU THERE, UM, ON MONDAY, MAYOR.
IF NOT, WE CAN CORRESPOND AND MOVE FORWARD ON, ON WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THAT INITIATIVE.
BUT THANK Y'ALL FOR ALL YOUR TIME.
MY NAME IS ANINA ANINA SANCHEZ AND I WANT TO ASK YOU TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF ITEM 113.
WE NEED A PLAN OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO OBTAIN FULL FLOOD INSURANCE TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY IN CASE OF A FLOOD.
ALSO TO HELP US WITH CITY RESOURCES WHEN THEY'RE AVAILABLE TO RECOVER WHEN WE FACE ANY NATURAL DISASTER BECAUSE WE NEED TO RECOVER.
ALSO, I LIVE IN THE AREA OF THOSE SPRINGS AND THIS IS A FLOATING ZONE.
ALL PRICES HAVE INCREASED, FOOD HAS INCREASED.
UTILITIES, TAXES, ELECTRICITY.
PLEASE VOTE IN FAVOR OF ITEM 113.
NOW SHE'S GONNA SPEAK OF ITEM 115.
WE NEED TO ESTABLISH POLICIES TO INCREASE THE ANTI DISPLACEMENT PROGRAMS AND FINANCIAL EDUCATION.
WE NEED PROTECTION FOR HOMEOWNERS TO PREVENT THE DISPLACEMENT OF LOW INCOME FAMILIES.
I LIVE IN THE AREA OF THOSE SPRINGS FOR 34 YEARS AGO.
[01:05:01]
BE A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION.NOW, NOT HAVING THE BASIC SERVICES SUCH AS CLINICS, FOOD STORES, CONVENIENCE STORES ON ANY SERVICES THAT I'M USED TO, TO LIVE WELL FOR MY WELLBEING.
THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING YOU THAT THIS WILL AFFECT US IN THE FUTURE.
AND WE NEED PROTECTION TO KEEP OUR HOMES.
PLEASE VOTE FOR ITEM IN FAVOR 115.
FRANCIS UNA FOR ONE 13 AND ONE 15.
AND HAS TIME DONATED BY PEDRO SANCHEZ.
ARE YOU HERE, PEDRO? PEDRO, COULD YOU RAISE YOUR THANK YOU.
UH, IT'S FOR A TOTAL OF NINE MINUTES.
UH, MY NAME IS FRANCIS UNA AND I WANNA THANK THE COUNCIL, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.
AND UH, ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE IN SUPPORT OF ITEM ONE 13 AND ALSO AT ONE 15.
UM, THESE TWO ITEMS MEAN A LOT TO ME.
I'VE BEEN WORKING ON FLOODING FOR MANY YEARS, AND I HAVE ALWAYS HEARD PUSHBACK AND POINTING FINGERS FROM CITY TO STATE, FROM STATE TO CITY, AND EVERYBODY POINTING AT EACH OTHER BECAUSE NOBODY WANTS TO TAKE A, UH, A RESPONSIBILITY.
I, UM, I'M ALSO GRATEFUL BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR, AND RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN, UH, TRAINING AND HOW TO ANTICIPATE, PREPARE, AND RESPOND TO DISASTERS, AND ALSO, UM, HOW TO TRAIN, UH, THE NEIGHBORHOODS WHICH THEY LIVE IN.
UH, YES, THIS IS A GREAT POLICY, A GREAT RESOLUTION, BUT THERE IS A, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING IN THE RIGHT, THE RIGHT DIRECTION, THE TOWARDS THE SAFETY OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS IN THE AREAS THAT ARE MORE IMPACTED BY FLOODING.
NOW THAT YOU WILL PASS THIS RESOLUTION, BECAUSE I KNOW YOU'RE GONNA PASS IT, UM, THE NEXT STEP IS TO ADVOCATE FOR FUNDING FOR A BIGGER PREPAREDNESS THAT WHERE THE CITY IS CONNECTED TO COMMUNITIES THROUGH THE BLACK CAPTAINS, UH, PROGRAM, SO THAT WE ARE ABLE TO, SO THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO, UM, BE STIPEND FOR THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
AND BY THE WAY, THE BLACK CAPTAIN, IT'S, UM, WHERE RESIDENTS ARE BEING TRAINED SO THEY COULD BE ABLE TO PASS INFORMATION DURING A DISASTER.
AND, UM, THE CITY IS ABLE TO CONNECT WITH THE RESIDENTS AND THE RESIDENTS WITH THE CITY, SO THERE COULD BE A BETTER, FASTER RESPONSE IN CASE OF A DISASTER.
AND WE ARE TRAINING THOSE RESIDENTS TO DO JUST THAT.
SO I'M ASKING THAT, UM, FOR THE BUDGET, REMEMBER THAT, UH, PARTNERING WITH, IT'S ALSO NECESSARY TO PARTNER WITH, UH, OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND TO AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, UH, IN ORDER FOR, UM, IN, UH, ORDER TO ADDRESS THE TRAUMA AND THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES CAUSED BY THE, UM, CLIMATE DISASTERS.
UM, ALL OF THAT IS VERY NECESSARY BECAUSE, AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH SO MANY, UH, FLOODS AND WINTER STORMS AND ALL OF THIS, UH, CLIMATE RELATED, UH, TRAUMAS THAT ARE NOT BEING ADDRESSED.
AND I MEAN, NOBODY HAS TELLING ME, BUT I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT AFTER, UM, A STORM, UH, YOU KNOW, A RAIN OR A SEVERE, UM, THUNDER, LIGHTNING RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN WITH STROKES, WITH HEART ATTACKS, WITH, UM, PANIC ATTACKS, AND ALL OF THAT IS VERY REAL BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT WE GO THROUGH.
I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT I, MYSELF STAND IN FRONT OF A POND SO I COULD BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT RESIDENTS, THAT THE WATER DOESN'T OVERFLOW THE POND AND THE WATER DOESN'T GO INTO NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, INTO THE RESIDENTS, UH, HOMES.
UH, THAT IS VERY DEAR TO ME BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I HAVE BEEN DE DEGRADED.
I HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED BY THE CAPITOL, BY CONGRESS, BY SENATE.
I HAVE BEEN, UM, I HAVE, I DON'T KNOW, I'VE BEEN FEELING LIKE I'M NOTHING WHENEVER I GO AND TRY TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF RESIDENTS.
SO, UH, THIS ITEM ONE 13 IS TO ME IS, YOU KNOW, IT TOUCHES MY HEART.
WHEN I WAS READING IT, I WAS CRYING BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR
[01:10:01]
RESIDENTS TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD THEIR FLOOD INSURANCE FOR RESIDENTS TO BE ABLE TO RECOVER FROM A DISASTER.UM, I'M ALSO IN FAVOR OF ONE 15, AND, UM, SINCE YOU ALREADY PASSED HOME INITIATIVE ONE AND TWO, UM, I ASK THAT YOU PUT SOMETHING IN PLACE SO RESIDENTS COULD BE PROTECTED FROM DISPLACEMENT.
UH, I KNOW, UM, I WAS READING IN GOOGLE, UH, ABOUT DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS WHERE YOU CAN PUT SOMETHING IN PLACE TO PROTECT YOURSELVES AS THE CITY RESIDENTS, UH, FOR DISPLACEMENT AND ALSO THE, THE, UM, DEVELOPERS OR, UM, YOU KNOW, FROM DOING THE WRONG THINGS AND THE INJUSTICE THING.
SO READ ABOUT IT AND PAY ATTENTION TO THE IMPACT THAT IS THE RESIDENTS ARE GOING THROUGH.
I KNOW MYSELF BECAUSE I WAS DISPLACED.
I KNOW THE TRAUMA THAT IT TAKES FROM LEAVING MY HOME, MY FOREVER HOME AND GOING INTO AN AREA THAT I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT, UH, I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE THAT TOOK ME.
SO, UM, LIKE ADINA WAS SAYING, YOU KNOW, FINDING A PLACE FOR A DOCTOR.
I STILL DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A DOCTOR IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
I MEAN, I DO 36, 37 MINUTES TO THE NEAREST EMERGENCY ROOM.
UM, I CALLED THERE THREE 11 AND THEY SAID, GOOGLE, IF THERE'S A, UH, FOR THE CLINIC CLOSEST TO YOU.
SO IN ORDER FOR RESIDENCE TO BE DISPLACED, YOU COULD SAY, WITH A LITTLE BIT OF PRIDE, I, I ASK THAT YOU PUT THINGS IN PLACE THAT AT LEAST RESIDENTS KNOW WHERE THEY'RE GOING AND KNOW THE PROCESS OF DISPLACEMENT, BECAUSE IT IS TRAUMATIZING.
WHEN, WHEN, UM, THE REALTORS ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF YOU, IT IS VERY HARD WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING AND, AND HOW YOU'RE GONNA GET THERE.
SO, UM, PLEASE READ ON, ON DEVELOPMENTS AGREEMENTS, AND PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING.
YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO BE CHAMPIONS OF, YOU KNOW, PROTECTING THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE STILL HERE.
I PANICKED WHEN THE FIRST HOME CAME, SO I STARTED LOOKING FOR A HOME BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS GONNA GO THROUGH WITH YOUR DECISIONS.
I, MYSELF, BEING AN ADVOCATE, I TOOK TIME OF THINKING, WHAT IF I DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO GO CLOSE TO AUSTIN SO I COULD KEEP A JOB? I'M A SINGLE MOTHER, SO AS A SINGLE MOTHER, I BELIEVE I, YOU KNOW, I, I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE TO GO IN ORDER FOR, FOR ME TO GET SOME KIND OF, UM, ADVICE ON WHAT TO DO.
SO, UH, IT'S HARD WHEN YOU AS AN ADVOCATE ARE GETTING YOUR RESIDENTS TELLING ME, WHY DID I GIVE UP? WHY DID I STOP FIGHTING TO STAY AT MY HOUSE? YOU KNOW HOW THAT FEELS? THAT FEELS AWFUL BECAUSE I FELT LIKE I LET THEM DOWN AS A LEADER.
AND I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW YOU GUYS FEEL IF YOU FEEL IT, BECAUSE I KNOW I FELT IT WHEN MY RESIDENTS TOLD ME THAT I WAS LETTING THEM DOWN.
WHY DID I STOP FIGHTING FOR MY HOME? BECAUSE I LIVE 10 MINUTES FROM HERE, AND NOW I LIVE 30, 40 MINUTES FROM HERE.
ONE HOUR, WHENEVER I COME IN THE MORNING, IT'S ONE HOUR TRAFFIC.
SO AM I GRATEFUL THAT I MOVED? I'M GRATEFUL BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS, BUT I DO HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT BECAUSE I HAVE RESIDENTS THAT I HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT I SUPPORT AND THAT I LOVE, AND I STILL LOVE AUSTIN, AND I JUST DON'T LIKE THE POLICIES THAT ARE PUT IN PLACE WITHOUT PROTECTIONS.
I BELIEVE YOU CAN DO A LOT BETTER JUST BY LISTENING A LITTLE BIT TO WHAT WE GO THROUGH.
YOU CAN DO A LOT BETTER THAN WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
[01:15:01]
FOLLOWED BY CINDY REED, ALEXIA LE CLERK, CHRIS PAGE.IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MR. KENNY, I SEE YOU SITTING OUT THERE AND YOUR NAME WAS CALLED IN THE FIRST BATCH OF PEOPLE YOU MIGHT WANNA MAKE YOUR WAY FORWARD.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
LET ME REPEAT THOSE AGAIN REALLY QUICK.
CINDY REED, ALEXIA LA CLERK, CHRIS PAGE.
JULIAN REYES FOR ITEM 1 13, 1 15, 1 16 FOR A TOTAL OF NINE MINUTES.
DANIELLA SILVA, DAVID CHINCH, CHINCH CHIN, VALERIE MENARD, MARY KALE, DAVID REGI, ALICE WOODS, SOLE PRAXIS.
SIR, PLEASE COME ON DOWN IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, AND JUST STATE YOUR NAME INTO THE MIC HEARING AND COUNSEL.
THIS IS, I'M GERARD KENNY, ARCHITECT LONG LIFELONG AUSTINITE, AND I'M SPEAKING TO ITEM 11 AND, AND ITEM ONE 70.
AND WHAT I HAVE TO SAY ACTUALLY RELATES TO BOTH, UH, AS MANY OF YOU MAY KNOW, I CHAIRED THE, WELL, I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE MILLER DEVELOPMENT SINCE IT WAS THOUGHT OF IN OUR, IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE EARLY EIGHTIES, AND CHAIRED THE CITY TASK FORCE THAT ESTABLISHED A VISION FOR MILLER THAT WAS ADOPTED BY COUNSEL.
UM, I'M IN FAVOR OF THE IDEA OF EXTENDING CATA, UH, CONTRACT TO FINISH THE JOB.
I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF REASONS THAT THEY COULDN'T COME UP WITH SPECIFIC AMOUNTS OF MONEY INVOLVED.
UH, AND SO IT MAY NEED TO BE POSTPONED TO DO THAT, BUT IT CERTAINLY NEEDS TO BE EXTENDED.
BUT THE, ONE OF THE CONCERNS I HAVE IS THAT RECENTLY IT WAS DECIDED TO CANCEL THE CONTRACT FOR THE REPURPOSING OF THE OBSERVATION TOWER.
THE PUBLIC HAS BEEN ASSURED SEVERAL TIMES PUBLICLY THAT THE TOWER WOULD BE REPURPOSED SO IT COULD BECOME FUNCTIONAL, AND THE PLANS ARE BASICALLY DONE FOR DOING THAT, BUT, BUT IT'S BEEN CANCELED.
I'M HOPING THE EXTRA TIME WILL GIVE THE CITY THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO AHEAD AND FIND A PERMANENT USER AND TO FUND THE REPURPOSING OF THE OBSERVATION TOWER.
THE OTHER RE THE OTHER THING I'M SPEAKING TO IS ITEM ONE 70, WHICH HAS TO DO WITH THE SEEMINGLY UNRELATED, UH, HANCOCK CHERRYWOOD AREA PLAN.
THE, THE RELATION, THE, THE REASON THAT IT'S RELATED TO MILLER IS THAT I KNOW THE MAYOR HAS CONTINUALLY, HAS SEVERAL TIMES TALKED ABOUT REPLICATING MILLER.
THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT REPLICATE, IT'S NOT A MATTER OF REPLICATING A PLAN, IT'S REPLICATING A PROCESS.
AND THE PROCESS OF MILLER WAS THAT THE COMMUNITY AND THE RE NEIGHBORHOODS AROUND MILLER ARE THE ONES THAT ACTUALLY MADE IT HAPPEN.
WITH RESPECT TO THE HANCOCK CHERRYWOOD AREA PLAN, MANY OF YOU MAY KNOW THAT THAT PLAN, HANCOCK CENTER AND FIESTA AND THAT WHOLE, THAT WHOLE AREA, IT WILL BE BECOME CONNECTED BY THE NORTH CAP OF I 35.
SO THE NORTH CAP OF I 35 CAN BE THE CATALYST FOR BRINGING THESE TWO SIDES TOGETHER AND DEVELOPING, DEVELOPING A PLAN THAT WILL ACTUALLY BE A WIN-WIN WIN THAT IS THE DEVELOPERS WILL CAN WIN, BUT THE COMMUNITY CAN WIN.
UH, AS WELL, THE, THE, THE ADDITIONAL DENSITY AND HOUSING THAT CAN RESULT FROM AN AREA PLAN CAN BE BETTER FOR ALL THE USERS.
SO I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT ITEM ONE 70 AS WELL.
ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE, I'LL BE GLAD TO ADDRESS.
[01:20:01]
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNSEL.MY NAME IS ALICE WOODS, AND I SERVE AS THE VICE CHAIR OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING COALITION.
AND ON BEHALF OF THAT COALITION, I'M SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF ITEM ONE 15.
TODAY 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.
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 ENTHUSIASTICALLY SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION UNDER CONSIDERATION IN ANY PROGRAMS OR OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE THE DIVERSITY OF HOUSING OPTIONS THAT WILL SOON BE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE HOME INITIATIVE, EASILY AND PROACTIVELY AVAILABLE TO LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOMEOWNERS, HELPING THEM TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE PROGRAM AND HELPING TO ADDRESS AND PREVENT DISPLACEMENT.
WE ALSO WANNA STRESS THE NEED FOR INVESTMENT AND BUDGET ALLOCATION TOWARD THESE PROGRAMS IN ADDITION TO THESE POLICY CHANGES.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR CONTINUED WORK ON THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE.
UH, MY NAME IS DAVID COURAGEOUS.
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT ITEM ONE 15 AND SUPPORT THE HOME INITIATIVE.
I AM WITH UNIVERSITY OF FEDERAL CREDIT UNION, WHERE I DESERVE AS THE CORPORATE COUNSEL AND DIRECTOR OF COMPLIANCE AND LEGAL, UH, BUT DON'T HOLD THAT AGAINST ME, PLEASE.
UM, WE HAVE HEARD THE CALL, UH, AND, UM, WE WANT TO HELP, UM, AND I'M SPEAKING FOR NOT ONLY UFCU, BUT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, CREDIT UNIONS IN GENERAL.
FOR THOSE OF Y'ALL THAT DON'T KNOW, CREDIT UNIONS ARE NOT-FOR-PROFIT INSTITUTIONS.
WE PROVIDE CREDIT TO THOSE WHO CANNOT OTHERWISE OBTAIN IT.
THIS ITEM SPECIFICALLY IS WHY WE ARE HERE, NOT JUST HERE TODAY, BUT IN EXISTENCE.
WE WANT TO EMPOWER OUR NEIGHBORS TO ACHIEVE FINANCIAL SUCCESS AND BRIGHTER FUTURES.
THAT IS WHAT WE DO EVERY DAY, EVERY CREDIT UNION IN AUSTIN THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, WE ARE COMMITTED TO HELPING AUSTINITES CREATE GENERATIONAL WEALTH THROUGH HOME OWNERSHIP, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, OWNERSHIP RETENTION.
SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW, BUT I'M A FIFTH GENERATION AUSTINITE.
I CURRENTLY LIVE IN DISTRICT EIGHT, BUT MY ENTIRE FAMILY IS FROM DISTRICT THREE.
I HAVE NO RELATIVES THAT LIVE THERE ANY LONGER, MY GRANDPARENTS BEING THE LAST BECAUSE THEY CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO LIVE IN EAST AUSTIN.
WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT, AND WE WANT TO HELP.
WE WANT TO KEEP IS KNIGHTS IN THEIR HOMES AND HELP THEM TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES CREATED WITH THE HOME INITIATIVE, NOT ONLY FOR THEM TODAY, BUT THEIR FAMILIES IN THE FUTURE.
WE WANNA LEVERAGE OUR ROOTS IN HIGHER EDUCATION TO HELP CREATE FINANCIAL EDUCATION RESOURCES.
WE HAVE GREAT PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE UNIVERSITIES ALL ACROSS CENTRAL TEXAS, AND WE CAN PROVIDE THOSE AND LEVERAGE THOSE PARTNERSHIPS TO HELP THE CITY OF AUSTIN AS THE UNIVERSITY SHOULD ALREADY BE DOING.
BUT WE'RE GONNA MAKE SURE THAT WE DO EVERYTHING THAT THEY CAN TO HELP.
WE ALSO WANT TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE AND RESPONSIBLE FINANCING, UH, BECAUSE IT IS ABSOLUTELY KEY TO PROTECTING OUR NEIGHBORS FROM RISING COSTS AND BEING ABLE TO ENJOY THE, THE BETTER ECONOMY THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY ENJOYING.
REALLY, I'M, I'M HERE TODAY TO THANK YOU.
UM, THANK YOU FOR BEING BIASED TOWARD ACTION.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING PROACTIVE STEPS TO SOLVE THE AFFORDABILITY PROBLEM TODAY AND INTO THE FUTURE.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I AM WITH WORKERS' DEFENSE, AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF ITEM ONE 14.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM FORTH AND WANNA TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY JUST TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF EDUCATION FOR FOLKS IN THE ROOM WHO AREN'T FAMILIAR WITH, UM, THE LABOR MOVEMENT.
BUT TEXAS REMAINS THE DEADLIEST CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IN THE COUNTRY WHERE A WORKER DIES EVERY THREE DAYS.
60% OF TEXAS CONSTRUCTION WORKERS REPORT NOT HAVING SAFETY TRAINING.
ONE IN FIVE WORKERS GET SERIOUSLY INJURED ON THE JOB REQUIRING MEDICAL ATTENTION.
YET ONLY 40% OF WORKERS REPORT THAT THEY HAVE WORKERS' COMPENSATION.
TEXAS WORKERS FREQUENTLY LABOR IN DEADLY HEAT WITHOUT ACCESS TO REST BREAKS AND DRINKING WATER, PUTTING THEM AT A GREATER RISK FOR ACCIDENTS.
[01:25:01]
41% OF WORKERS REPORT THEY DON'T RECEIVE REST BREAKS.EVERYTHING ABOUT OUR GREAT CITY TODAY IS THANKS TO LABORERS, OUR ICONIC SKYLINE, THE STRONG ECONOMY, THE ROADS, BRIDGES, SIDEWALKS AND PUBLIC TRANSIT LINES THAT CONNECT US ALL.
THEY ARE ONLY MADE POSSIBLE BY THE HARDWORKING PEOPLE IN BUILDING TRADES.
THESE FOLKS DESERVE SAFE, DIGNIFIED JOBS THAT PAY THEM ENOUGH NOT ONLY TO LIVE BUT THRIVE IN THE CITY THAT THEY ARE BUILDING BETTER BUILDER PROTECTIONS ENCOMPASS SAFETY, TRAINING, A LIVING WAGE, REST BREAKS, COMPLIANCE MONITORING AMONG OTHER THINGS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT SACRIFICING THE LIVES AND LIVELIHOODS OF HARDWORKING TEXANS FOR THE LUXURIES THAT WE BENEFIT FROM ALL THROUGHOUT AUSTIN.
WITHOUT THESE PROTECTIONS, WORKERS ARE FORCED TO WORK IN EXTREME TEMPERATURES WITH NO BREAKS.
THEY EXPERIENCE WORKPLACE INJURIES AT MUCH HIGHER RATES AND ARE OFTEN LEFT WITHOUT LITTLE TO NO WAYS TO HOLD THEIR EMPLOYER ACCOUNTABLE AFTER THE HARM HAS BEEN CAUSED.
UM, FOLLOWING BETTER BUILDER STANDARDS ALSO ENCOURAGES, UM, PROJECTS TO HIRE LOCAL APPRENTICESHIP FOLKS FROM LOCAL APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS. AND AT THE PACE THAT OUR CITY IS GROWING, IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT LARGE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS PLAY A ROLE IN ENCOURAGING AND DEVELOPING A HIGHLY SKILLED LOCAL WORKFORCE.
SO AGAIN, I THANK YOU ALL FOR PUTTING THIS ON THE AGENDA TODAY.
HELLO, MY NAME IS MARY KALE AND I SERVE ON THE BOARD OF PRESERVATION AUSTIN AND I CHAIR.
ITS ADVOCACY COMMITTEE PA EXISTS TO EMPOWER AUSTINITES TO SHAPE A MORE INCLUSIVE, RESILIENT, AND MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY CULTURE THROUGH PRESERVATION.
WE'RE HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF COUNCIL MEMBER OF ALASKA'S RESOLUTION TO ENSURE THE HOME INITIATIVE IS ACCESSIBLE TO LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOMEOWNERS AS THE ONLY CITYWIDE NONPROFIT DEDICATED TO PRESERVATION, WE ARE FUNDAMENTALLY COMMITTED TO PRESERVING COMMUNITIES, AND WE'VE HEARD MUCH TODAY ABOUT PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO STAY IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT COUNCIL MUST INCLUDE CLEARLY DEFINED RESOURCES, TIMELINES, AND ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES FOR THESE MEASURES TO SUCCEED.
AS DISPLACEMENT CONTINUES TO IMPACT HISTORIC COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, PARTICULARLY IN EAST AUSTIN, COUNCIL MUST ACT URGENTLY TO STEM THESE HISTORIC AND ONGOING HARMS. WE ASK COUNCIL TO ADOPT THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS TO ENSURE THE RESOLUTION SUCCESS.
DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER AND WELCOME TO OUR CITY TO DEVELOP A DETAILED IMPLEMENTATION PLAN, INCLUDING SPECIFIC ACTIONS, RESPONSIBLE PARTIES, AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES.
ALLOCATE A SPECIFIC BUDGET TO IMPLEMENT ALL ASPECTS OF THE EXPANDED HOME PROGRAM, IMPLEMENT CLEAR PROGRESS INDICATORS FOR ALL INITIATIVES UNDER THE RESOLUTION.
THE CITY MANAGER MUST REPORT THE INITIAL FINDINGS AND ONGOING PROCESS TO THE CITY COUNCIL, BUILD PUBLIC CONSULTATION SESSIONS INTO THIS PROCESS TO GATHER FEEDBACK ON THE RESOLUTION'S IMPLEMENTATION, AND REFINE THE APPROACH BASED ON COMMUNITY INPUT.
WE STRONGLY MEN RECOMMEND THAT COUNCIL ALSO LOOK AT STRENGTHENING FOOT PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON OLDER AND HISTORIC HOUSING, SUCH AS EXISTING HOME REPAIR PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY LAND TRUSTS.
IN 2023, PA CO-SPONSORED A-U-I-L-I TAP REPORT WITH THE CITY'S ANTI-DISPLACEMENT OFFICE THAT OUTLINES RECOMMEND POLICIES, TOOLS, AND PROGRAMS FOR PRESERVING, PRESERVING HISTORIC AGE HOUSING, MAINTAINING AFFORDABILITY, AND STEMMING DISPLACEMENT.
WE HOPE THAT COUNCIL AND CITY STAFF WILL LOOK TO THIS REPORT AS A RESOURCE FOR ADDITIONAL SOLUTIONS TO MITIGATE THE DISPLACEMENT OF AUSTIN'S HISTORIC COMMUNITIES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND SERVICE.
ITEMS 1 13, 1 15, AND ONE 16 FOR A TOTAL OF NINE MINUTES.
ALL RIGHT, SO, UM, I I'M NEUTRAL ON ITEM ONE 13, UH, AND I'M 4 1 15.
AND SO LET ME GIVE YOU MY OUTLINE.
I DID HAVE A VIDEO THAT I WANTED TO PRESENT, BUT, UH, WE COULDN'T GET IT UP IN TIME, SO I'M GONNA BE SPEAKING INSTEAD.
I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING PREPARED.
UM, AS FAR AS, UH, UH, THE ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT, THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE, THE FLOODING.
WE, WE KNOW THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAD A SECRET AGREEMENT WITH LAKE AUSTIN WEALTHY RESIDENTS TO KEEP THEM FROM FLOODING, AND THAT'S WHAT FLOODED ONION CREEK AND THE REST OF AUSTIN, WHICH THE CITY AT THE TIME, WHICH WAS UNDER A DIFFERENT CITY COUNCIL.
BUT YOU GUYS ARE STILL RESPONSIBLE.
UM, DID EMINENT DOMAIN ON MULTIPLE PEOPLE'S HOMES BECAUSE THEY WERE FLOODED TO PROTECT THE RICH.
WHAT WE HAVE AS A PROBLEM, UM, WITH FLOODING AND DEVELOPMENT AND STOPPING DEVELOPMENT, WILL, IS, IS THE ANSWER TO THAT RATHER
[01:30:01]
THAN LOOKING AT FLOODING, UH, SAVE MYSTERY CREEK AND PRE PALESTINE.UM, ON ITEM ONE 15, UM, WE HAVE A VIDEO, UH, NO VIDEO.
IT'S AVAILABLE, AVAILABLE FOR ME TODAY, BUT I'LL BRING IT IN THE AFTERNOON.
UH, ANOTHER, UH, UH, NON-CONSENT AGENDAS.
UM, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT, UH, LAND DEVELOPMENT AND MAKING, UH, HOUSING AVAILABLE FOR MIDDLE INCOME AND AFFORDABLE, THOSE ARE THE WRONG PEOPLE.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE PEOPLE ON THE STREET.
I SEE ARMY, AIR FORCE, MARINES, THE AIR AEROSPACE, EVERYTHING ON THE WALL.
AND WE'D SAY THAT WE SUPPORT VETERANS FOR MEMORIAL DAY, BUT MEMORIAL, IN MEMORIAL, Y'ALL HAVE DESTROYED PEOPLE'S LIVES AND MURDERED PEOPLE ON THE STREETS THAT ARE VETERANS USING YOUR POLICE AND THE ILLICIT SWEEPS OF PEOPLE'S EMERGENCY ITEMS, INCLUDING BEFORE THIS LAST STORM.
MY FRIENDS HAVE PERSONALLY DIED.
I JUST MET, TALKED TO ONE OF MY FRIENDS THAT LIVES DOWNTOWN.
HE IS BEEN ON DOWNTOWN FOR YEARS, AND HE HAS NO LEGS.
I I, I WOULD ASK CITY COUNCIL, HIS, HIS LEGS JUST GOT REMOVED, UM, FROM THE LAST FREEZE.
THEY CUT HIS LEGS OFF AT, UH, I FORGET WHICH HOSPITAL IT WAS.
HE SAID IT WAS A NICE HOSPITAL AND THERE WAS MAGGOTS IN HIS LEGS THAT THEY SAID THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT SAVED HIS LIFE.
'CAUSE THOSE MAGGOTS WERE ACTUALLY PERFORMING MEDICINE ON DEAD, DEAD TISSUES.
THIS IS WHAT YOU GUYS ARE, HOW YOU'RE SUPPORTING THE VETERANS.
YOU HAVE FLAGS, BUT NO ACTUAL CARING.
AND I'VE BEEN TALKING TO THE CITY COUNCIL ABOUT THIS FOR YEARS.
THE ELICIT SWEEPS OF PEOPLE'S STUFF.
IT'S A VIOLATION OF THE FOURTH AMENDMENT, 14TH AMENDMENT, THE EIGHTH AMENDMENT, AND IT'S IN SEVERAL CURRENT AND, AND PAST CASE LAWS, FEDERAL CASE LAWS YOU GUYS NEED TO GET WITH THE PROGRAM.
THE OTHER THING IS, WHEN, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT RAPID REHOUSING AND, AND THINGS LIKE THAT, IT'S A LIE.
THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT'S A SHELTER.
WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING IS LIKE, YOU GUYS DON'T HAVE ANY LIVED EXPERIENCE.
YOU TALK TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE SOLD OUT TO YOU.
YOU'VE GOT AGENTS WORKING WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES, MESSING UP MY GROUPS AND OTHER GROUPS.
WHAT HAPPENS IS PEOPLE ARE KNOCKED OUT.
THERE WAS A GUY THAT MAN THAT WAS KNOCKED OUT BY THE SECURITY STAFF AT SOUTHBRIDGE, THEY KNOCKED HIM OUT BECAUSE THEY, HE HAD SCHIZOPHRENIA AND THEY TRIGGERED HIM OUT OVER HIS MASK IN THE LOBBY.
THEY DRAGGED HIM, THE SECURITY, DRAGGED HIM OUT BY THE THEIR FEET, BY HIS FEET.
AND A PD ARRESTED HIM WITH NO MEDICAL.
TELL ME THIS IS HELPING PEOPLE.
YOU GUYS, AUSTIN'S SUPPOSED TO HAVE A BIG HEART, BUT I'M NOT SEEING IT.
UM, THE TONS OF THINGS YOU GUYS IGNORE ARE FELONIES.
AND YOU GUYS BASICALLY HAVE BECOME THE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE BECAUSE YOU REFUSE TO LISTEN TO PEOPLE LIKE ME.
INSTEAD, YOU PUT PEOPLE LIKE ME IN JAIL REPEATEDLY FOR SPEAKING THE TRUTH.
IF THE TRUTH IS SO CONTROVERSIAL UP HERE, AND IF WE ONLY GET TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK, HOW CAN YOU JUSTIFY TAKING THAT PAYCHECK IN GOOD FAITH AND CALL YOURSELF A GOOD PERSON? HOW CAN YOU SMILE WITHOUT BEING A SOCIOPATH OR A PSYCHOPATH? I WORRY ABOUT YOU GUYS.
I REALLY DO WORRY ABOUT CHEETO.
NO, I REALLY WORRY ABOUT YOU GUYS.
IT'S OBVIOUS, AT LEAST NATASHA HARPER MADISON WAS HONEST ENOUGH TO TELL US THAT THE DEVELOPERS BASICALLY PAID Y'ALL, AND THAT Y'ALL ARE DOING WHAT THE DEVELOPERS WANT.
SO I KNOW YOU'RE GONNA VOTE ON HOWEVER YOU WANT.
YOU'RE NOT REALLY LISTENING TO US LIKE NATASHA SAID, AND I'M COOL WITH THAT TOO.
UM, MACKENZIE KELLY, THE BLOOD IS ON YOUR HANDS TOO.
YOU PUSH THIS AGENDA IN PROP, PROP B, YOU OR PROP A, WHATEVER THE HECK IT IS.
Y'ALL HAVE SO MANY PROPOSITIONS AGAINST THE POOR AND IN THE NAME OF HOUSING PEOPLE, WHICH SAVE, SAVE AUSTIN NOW SAID THEY'RE DOING, THEY'RE ACTUALLY CALLING, THEY'RE SUING THE CITY FOR NOT KILLING ENOUGH OF US ON THE STREET.
THERE'S ANOTHER APARTMENT COMPLEX UP ON NORTH LAMAR, SO THERE'S AN ABANDONED PROPERTY CALLED, THEY CALL A BANDO.
AND SO IT'S BEEN ABANDONED FOR YEARS.
UM, THE CITY, I TALKED TO CITY PEOPLE, THEY SAY, GOOD, I HOPE THEY ALL GOT JAIL.
YOUR, YOUR CITY EMPLOYEES ARE OUT THERE.
A VETERANS SAYING, I HOPE THE VETERANS GO TO JAIL TOO.
UM, UM, STUFF THAT THEY'RE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR.
THEY'RE BEING BLAMED FOR EVERY BAD THING THAT HAPPENS.
AND IF, IF SOMETHING, IF SOMEONE GOES AND DOES SOMETHING, SHOULD WE BLAME Y'ALL? LIKE, THAT'S NOT FAIR.
IF THERE'S AN INDIVIDUAL BREAKING A LAW, THAT'S ONE THING, BUT DON'T CRIMINALIZE AND DEMONIZE ALL OF US AS A BOOGEYMAN.
'CAUSE THE POOR ARE NOT KEEPING POOR PEOPLE, RICH WHITE PEOPLE DOWN IN THE CITY, THE RICH, AND YOU ARE KEEPING WHITE PEOPLE DOWN IN THE CITY.
IT, THE, THE, IT'S NOT THE POOR.
SO YOU'VE KIND OF, IT'S THAT CODE SWITCHING AND THAT THAT BLAMING THE VICTIM TYPE THING THAT Y'ALL ARE DOING.
AND THAT HATE SPEECH HAS LED TO HATE CRIMES.
WHEN Y'ALL, WHEN Y'ALL SIT THERE AND LET PEOPLE, LIKE AT THAT LAST MEETING AT THE, AT THE WOOD, WOOD LAWN BAPTIST CHURCH WHERE PEOPLE WERE SAYING, LET PEOPLE DIE OF OVERDOSE, DON'T GIVE 'EM NARCAN.
THEY, THEY WERE JUST CALLING FOR DEATH.
IT WAS A BUNCH OF WHITE MIDDLE CLASS PEOPLE.
YOU WANT TO HELP WITH DIFFERENT INITIATIVES WHILE THE LOWER CLASS, YOU'RE UNDERESTIMATING THE UNDERDOG AND IT'S JUST RABID.
THE, THE RABID HATE THAT Y'ALL HAVE, MA THAT Y'ALL HAVE ALLOWED.
AND THE MEDIA HAS ALLOWED, FRANKLY, KXAN AND OTHERS, FOX NEWS AND OTHERS THAT THEY'VE, AND EVEN THE CHRONICLES AND HIT PIECES AGAINST THE HOMELESS AND PUT OUT HATE SPEECH.
NO WONDER THEY'RE BURNING OUR TENTS DOWN.
NO WONDER THEY'RE DOING DRIVE-BY SHOOTINGS.
[01:35:01]
NO WONDER YOUR RESIDENTS ARE FOLLOWING IN LINE WITH WHAT Y'ALL SAY.SO Y'ALL ARE SUPPOSED TO BE LEADING US AND NOT BEING SILENT.
YOU'VE BEEN SILENT TOO LONG ON THIS.
I I SUGGEST THAT Y'ALL AVOID ANYMORE HARM TO VETERANS, WOMEN, PEOPLE OF COLOR, MARGINALIZED COMMUNITY, TRANS GAY COMMUNITY.
I SUGGEST, AND, AND PEOPLE THAT HAVE MEDICAL NEEDS.
UH, A UH, AN ADDICTION IS A MEDICAL NEED.
UM, A MENTAL HEALTH IS A MENTAL, MENTAL HEALTH NEED.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO DEMONIZE THIS.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE HAVE VOICES IN OUR HEADS OR WHATEVER.
THERE'S A, THERE'S SOME PEOPLE, BUT NOT EVERYBODY.
AND THOUGH SOME PEOPLE, LIKE FOR INSTANCE, THERE'S A ELDER BLACK WOMAN THAT SITS THERE VERY QUIETLY.
SHE DOESN'T DO DRUGS, SHE DOESN'T DO ALCOHOL, SHE DOESN'T NOTHING BUT SIT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE ARCH AND THERE'S NO PLACE FOR HER.
SHE'S BEEN SITTING THERE FOR YEARS IN THE, IN THE SNOW, IN THE HEAT ALL THE TIME.
SHE'S, WHATEVER HER MENTAL ISSUES ARE OR HER BOUNDARIES, SHE DOESN'T, SHE, SHE WON'T EVEN TAKE A BOTTLE OF WATER FROM ME.
I JUST TALK AND SAY HI AND AS I PASS HER BY, BUT THE CITY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HER.
AND THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE LIKE HER THAT THE CITY IS DEMONIZED AND SAID SHE'S ON DRUGS, SHE'S DOING CRIMES.
YOU KNOW WHAT, I WANNA KNOW WHEN THE LAST TIME ALL Y'ALL HAD A DRUG TEST AND A MEDICAL CHECK, BECAUSE Y'ALL ARE MENTAL.
ANYWAYS, I'LL SEE YOU THIS AFTERNOON.
Y'ALL KNOW HOW TO GET AHOLD OF ME.
UH, GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS DAVID CHENIN AND I SERVE AS THE POLICY DIRECTOR FOR WORKERS DEFENSE.
WE ARE A MEMBER LED ORGANIZATION THAT ORGANIZES ALONG ALONGSIDE IMMIGRANT WORKERS TO BUILD POWER, DEMAND, RESPECT, AND JUSTICE AND DIGNITY FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.
UH, I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF OUR MEMBERS ON, UH, IN SUPPORT OF ITEM ONE 14.
UM, AND I WANT TO, UH, THANK THE, THE CO-SPONSORS FOR WORKING WITH US TO BRING THIS ITEM FORWARD.
UH, IN PARTICULAR COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES OFFICE, UH, AND STAFF, UH, WHO WE WORK WITH, UH, TO, UH, BUILD THIS RESOLUTION.
AND, UM, THIS RESOLUTION IS SIMPLY MEANT TO REAFFIRM A AND STRENGTHEN A COMMITMENT THAT, UH, THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAVE ALREADY MADE, UM, INCLUDING THROUGH A COUNCIL RESOLUTION, UH, THAT IS REFERENCED IN THIS TEXT, UH, FROM 2019.
AND THAT COMMITMENT IS TO ENSURE THAT THERE ARE REAL WORKER PROTECTIONS, UH, IN THE FORM OF THE BETTER BUILDER PROGRAM ON ANY AND ALL THIRD PARTY DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS THAT THE CITY ENTERS INTO.
SO THE PROGRAM INCLUDES A SET OF COMMON SENSE AND LIFESAVING WORKER PROTECTIONS, UH, THAT HAVE BEEN EMBRACED BY OUR COMMUNITY AS THE BASELANDS BASELINE STANDARDS NEEDED FOR CONSTRUCTION WORKERS IN OUR AREA.
IT'S BEEN INCLUDED IN THE JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT OF PROJECT CONNECT, UH, IN MAJOR INVESTMENTS AT A CC, AT A ISD IN TRAVIS COUNTY AND AT THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
IT'S BEEN INCLUDED IN PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENTS AND EXPEDITED REVIEW PROJECTS, UH, AND EVEN THE Q2 STADIUM WHERE AUSTIN FC PLAYS WAS BUILT UNDER THE BETTER BUILDER PROGRAM.
UM, SO WE WERE HERE AT THE LAST MEETING, UH, UH, AT A PREVIOUS MEETING, UM, DISCUSSING THE INFRASTRUCTURE ACADEMY, AND WE WERE REALLY GRATEFUL THAT Y'ALL WERE BRINGING THAT FORWARD.
UH, WE HAD A CHANCE TO MEET WITH SEVERAL OF YOU, INCLUDING, UH, FOLKS FROM, UH, MAYOR WATSON'S OFFICE AND WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE VELAZQUEZ.
AND WE HAD SOME REALLY GREAT CONVERSATIONS, VERY ENCOURAGING YOU, COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH US, UH, ON ENSURING THAT WHEN FOLKS PARTICIPATE IN COMPLETE TRAINING FROM THAT INFRASTRUCTURE ACADEMY, THAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOOD JOBS TO MOVE, MOVE INTO.
UM, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE, UH, TO HELP CREATE GOOD JOBS AND TO SUPPORT THOSE WORKERS THAT ARE BUILDING OUR HOMES, OUR OFFICES, OUR CITY, OUR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN A VERY REAL WAY.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR, UH, BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD.
I HOPE, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU ALL SUPPORT IT.
UM, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH YOU, ESPECIALLY ON ENSURING THAT, UH, THIS POLICY IS IMPLEMENTED IN A TIMELY AND AN APPROPRIATE WAY.
AND THAT IN THAT IT INCLUDES THAT KEY COMPONENT OF BETTER BUILDER, WHICH IS THE INDEPENDENT THIRD PARTY MONITORING, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMITMENTS THAT ARE ACTUALLY MADE, UH, ARE, ARE TRULY MET AND THAT WORKERS HAVE THE PROTECTIONS THAT THEY DESERVE.
[01:40:05]
DE S GOOD MORNING.MY NAME IS RNA RODRIGUEZ AND I'M AN ACTIVIST IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
I WANT TO ASK YOU TO VOTE IN FAVOR FOR ITEM 113 FOR A PLAN ON FINANCIAL PROGRAM TO ASSIST WITH FLOOR INSURANCE TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY IN CASE OF A FLOOD.
ALSO, I NEED TO ASK THAT YOU HELP US WITH RESOURCES FROM THE CITY SO WE CAN RECOVER WHEN WE ARE AFFECTED BY A NATURAL DISASTER.
AND ALSO BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN MANY PEOPLE IN MY COMMUNITY AFFECTED BY FLOODS, ESPECIALLY IN ONION CREEK, SENIOR CITIZENS AFFECTED BY THIS.
AND I HAVE SEEN THIS IN REAL, IN IN PERSON
I WANNA TELL YOU PART OF MY STORY.
I USED TO LIVE IN THOSE SPRINGS AND NOW I'M DISPLACED.
I LIVE IN, BUT RIGHT NOW, I, THE MOTHER OF FIVE CHILDREN, IT'S BEEN VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME.
I HAVE TO LEAVE AUSTIN AND I HAVE, UH, ONE OF MY CHILDREN HAS SPECIAL NEEDS.
AND BECAUSE I LIVE IN, BUT I CANNOT HAVE MEDICAID, I DON'T HAVE ASSISTANCE.
EVERYTHING THAT SHE NEEDS, IT DEPENDS FROM ME.
SO I CANNOT HAVE ANYTHING, THE SERVICES THAT SHE REQUIRES OF MEDICAID, BECAUSE I DON'T LIVE IN TRAVIS COUNTY, AND EVERY TIME I NEED SERVICES, THEY ASK ME FOR A WARRANTY FROM MY HOUSE.
AND I DON'T HAVE A WAY TO SHOW THAT BECAUSE I LIVE IN BUTRA.
IN BUTRA, THE ACCESSING SERVICES IS VERY DIFFICULT AND I NEED TO ALWAYS ASK, UH, ACCESS SERVICES IN AUSTIN, I HAVE SEEN ALSO PEOPLE THAT GET DISPLACED TO BASTROP AND OTHERS, OTHER PLACES THAT ARE VERY FAR AWAY.
THAT'S A VERY PAINFUL SITUATION, NOT JUST FOR ME, FOR, FOR MANY FAMILIES.
[01:45:02]
AND THE SYSTEM IS, HASN'T WORKED FOR ME, AND I REALLY NEED THAT.THIS IS FIXED BECAUSE I HAVE MY DAUGHTER AND SHE'S ALWAYS A, SHE ONLY WEIGHS 125 POUNDS.
SHE HAS CEREBRAL PALSY AND SHE HAS LIKE A, A KIDNEY PROBLEM.
SO I NEED LIKE THE RESOURCES FOR HER AND I NEED TO BE COME BACK TO AUSTIN.
I THINK IN MY MIND, EVERYTHING IN MY MIND IS REALLY HARD FOR ME.
WHAT THING I COME, I KNOW BECAUSE I ACTED FROM AUSTIN AND I COME, I KNOW AT MANY RESOURCE, BUT WHEN I ASKED FOR INTEGRAL CARE AND I NEED ASSISTANCE FOR MY DAUGHTER, SHE ASKED ME FOR WARRANTY AND EVERYTHING.
EVERY TIME I NEEDED SOMETHING, I NEEDED ROOM TO AUSTIN.
AND WHY THE OTHER FAMILY, THE PEOPLE ESPECIALLY HAVE THE SPECIAL, SPECIAL NEED.
THE, THE PEOPLE, OLD PEOPLE AND THE OTHER FAMILY NOT HAVE ANYTHING.
SO I, IT IS BROUGHT MY HEART AND I SAY THANK YOU.
ITEM ONE 15, JULIE WOODS, CELINE RENDON, CARLOS PINON, BETHANY, CARSON, FRAN TATTOO.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE LET US KNOW YOU'RE HERE AND MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT.
LUIS OTE LUGO LUGO FELIC LIK TU AND EDGAR HANDEL.
LUIS OLUGO DISTRICT ATE, UM, HERE IN SUPPORT OF ONE 15.
I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO GIVE CAPITAL ACCESS, BUT I THINK IT'S EVEN MORE IMPORTANT THAN WE DON'T JUST TRY TO LIKE, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, PAY LIP SERVICE TO PROVIDING CAPITAL ACCESS, BUT STILL MAKE THE, THE PROCESS OF SUBDIVIDING A HOME AND TRYING TO BUILD THE SUB TOP AND THE TOP OF IT A TWO YEAR PROCESS THAT IS LIKE A PHE AND TASK THAT ABSOLUTELY NO ONE WILL WANT TO GO THROUGH.
AND WE'LL STILL INSTEAD JUST CONTINUE SELLING TO A DEVELOPER AND NOT HAVE CONTROL OVER THEIR OWN LIVES.
SO LET'S JUST NOT, NOT JUST GIVE THEM MONEY, BUT MAKE IT MAKE IT SO EASY THAT THEY CAN TAKE CONTROL OF THAT PROCESS BY THEMSELVES.
UM, DO WE ALSO SPEAK INTO THE O OTHER, OTHER ITEMS MAY OR JUST ONE 15 IF IT DEPENDS WHAT ONE 15 AND ONE 16.
UH, OTHER THING IS, UH, I THINK WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT DISPLACEMENT AND WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT EQUITY, BUT FUNDAMENTALLY THE ONLY, NO MATTER HOW MUCH MONEY WE POUR INTO DISPLACEMENT, IF WE CONTINUE ONLY POURING LITERALLY ALL THE HOUSE CONSTRUCTION PRESSURE ONTO THE EAST SIDE, WE'RE STILL GONNA COME UP WITH THE SAME OUTCOMES WE'VE HAD FOR THE LAST 40, 60 YEARS OF POLICY.
UH, THINGS LIKE THE WASTEWATER PIPING AND THE WAY THAT IT'S BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, PUMPED THROUGH THE GREEN BELT WAS A BE BASICALLY CUT BACK IN THE, THE, YOU KNOW, THE LAST, UH, CENTURY TO SET THAT DECIDED THAT IT WAS WORTH, IT WAS A WORTHY SACRIFICE TO PUMP POOP WATER INTO THE GREEN BELT AND ALL CAUSE ALL THE ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION THAT IT HAS IF WE GOT TO BLOCK HOUSING IN THE RICH NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND I THINK THERE'S LIKE A BETTER PATH FORWARD.
WE CAN NOT PUMP POOP WATER INTO THE GREEN BELT AND BUILD HOUSING IN THE RICH NEIGHBORHOODS.
I THINK IT'S A WIN-WIN THERE FOR US.
AND I REALLY HOPE YOU GUYS PASS THIS AND, AND THAT THE CITY MANAGER IMPLEMENTS IT IN THE KIND OF, UH, AGGRESSIVE FASHION THAT WE NEED TO, SO WE CAN BUILD HOUSING IN A LOT OF THE HIGH AMENITY NEIGHBORHOODS, IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE IN SOUTHWEST AUSTIN.
HI, I AM EDGAR HANDEL, UH, LIVE IN DISTRICT THREE, UM, VICE PRESIDENT OF AURA.
UM, I'M IN FAVOR OF ITEM ONE 15.
UH, I WAS VERY MUCH, UH, VERY MUCH RESONATED WITH ME WHEN I SAW THE AUSTIN JUSTICE COALITION AND THE AUSTIN AREA URBAN LEAGUE AND LABOR UNIONS, UH, COME OUT WITH A YES AND RESPONSE TO THE HOME INITIATIVE, WHICH SAYS, WHICH SAID THAT, UM, YES, WE NEED MORE HOUSING AND WE NEED MORE ABILITY TO BUILD SMALLER HOMES, BUT WE ALSO, IT'S ALSO VERY IMPORTANT TO PROVIDE, UM, THINGS LIKE CAPITAL ASSISTANCE EDUCATION.
AND, UH, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, UM, THERE'S PROPOSED CASE MANAGEMENT HERE FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED, UH, HELP USING THESE PROGRAMS SO THAT IT'S NOT JUST ACCESSIBLE TO THE WEALTHY.
UM, THE SUBDIVISION PROCESS, AS I HEAR, IS DIFFICULT AND EXPENSIVE, AND THAT'S NOT REALLY THE WAY IT NEEDS TO BE IF WE WANT HOME TO BE ACCESSIBLE TO LOW INCOME AND MIDDLE INCOME PEOPLE.
UH, I, I GREW UP IN A WORKING CLASS NEIGHBORHOOD TO, UM, HISPANIC, PALESTINIAN IMMIGRANTS AND, UH, THERE ARE PEOPLE THERE THAT I KNOW FROM MY HOME COMMUNITY THAT ARE, UH, LOW INCOME, BUT THEY HAVE LAND AND THEY HAVE EQUITY AND THEY CAN'T
[01:50:01]
REALLY USE IT THAT WELL.AND I WISH THEY DON'T LIVE IN AUSTIN.
'CAUSE I'M NOT FROM AUSTIN, THOUGH I'VE LIVED HERE FOR A VERY LONG TIME AT THIS POINT.
BUT I WISH THAT THEY WERE DOING THESE THINGS IN MY HOMETOWN BECAUSE I THINK IT COULD REALLY HELP PEOPLE STAY IN THEIR HOMES OR PEOPLE WHO ARE AGING IN, UM, 50, 60-YEAR-OLD HOMES THAT ARE FALLING APART AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO, UM, I THINK IT'S, THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND I HOPE THAT WE FOLLOW THROUGH ON THIS AND MAKE SURE THAT IT'S A PROGRAM THAT WORKS FOR EVERYBODY.
UH, ON ITEM ONE 16, I ALSO SEE THIS KIND OF AS PART OF THE SAME COIN, WHERE IF WE DO WANT TO MAKE THINGS MORE EQUITABLE AND FAIR ACROSS THE CITY, THEN DEVELOPMENT CAN'T JUST HAPPEN IN CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS.
I THINK THAT MOVING AND IMPROVING OUR WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE AND KEEPING IT OUT OF THE, THE CREEKS AND THE GREEN BELTS IS, UM, DEFINITELY A WIN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, BUT IT'S ALSO A WIN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND FOR EQUITY IF WE CAN BUILD MORE HOUSING IN PLACES THAT HAVE TRADITIONALLY EXCLUDED PEOPLE.
AND IN THE END, I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO RELIEVE THE PRESSURE ON THE EASTERN CRESCENT AND IN GENTRIFYING NEIGHBORHOODS FROM DEVELOPMENT AND, UM, PEOPLE SEEKING TO MOVE TO AUSTIN, WHICH IS HAPPENING AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS.
SO, UM, YOU SAID ONLY ONE 15 AND ONE 16, RIGHT? CORRECT.
UM, WELL, UH, THAT'S ALL I HAD TO SAY ON THOSE TWO ITEMS. UH, THANK YOU AND LET'S, YOU KNOW, PURSUE THESE HOLISTIC HOUSING SOLUTIONS.
ONE 15, CRAIG NASER, AMBER, SEAN ATKINS, STEVEN SHAY, REBECCA LEONARD, ABBY GILFELLEN.
IF I'VE SAID YOUR NAME, PLEASE MOVE DOWN TOWARDS THE FRONT AND THEN JUST STATE YOUR NAME IN AT THE PODIUM, PLEASE COME TAKE THE MICROPHONE AND GIVE US YOUR NAME.
UH, IS IT ONE 15 AND 1 71? IT'S 1 15, 1 70.
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES, MR. NAZER.
I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE AUSTIN ENVIRONMENTAL DEMOCRATS.
AND OUR ORGANIZATION WAS VERY SUSPICIOUS THAT HOME TWO WOULD, UH, REALLY WORK EQUITABLY AND AFFORDABLY.
AND WE'RE STILL SUSPICIOUS BECAUSE, UH, BECAUSE THAT'S SORT OF THE NATURE OF HU OF, OF HUMAN CIVILIZATION ON THIS EARTH.
UH, WHEN YOU LOOK THROUGH HISTORY MANY TIMES THERE'S BEEN A, A, A, A GROUP ON TOP EXPLOITING THE PEOPLE UNDERNEATH.
SO THE GROUP ON TOP HAD A LOT MORE RESOURCES, A LOT MORE FREE TIME, A LOT MORE WEALTH.
AND, YOU KNOW, I'M A MUSICIAN AND WHEN YOU STUDY MUSIC, IT'S REALLY PRETTY INTERESTING.
SOME OF THE GREATEST MUSICIANS IN THE WORLD, WHEN MUSICIANS HAD TIME TO, TO COMPOSE AND WORK ALL THIS STUFF OUT.
IT WAS IN THE LATE 18 HUNDREDS WHEN EUROPEAN CULTURE WAS ESSENTIALLY IN CONTROL OF THE WORLD AND DRAWING THE RESOURCES ALL OVER THE WORLD BACK INTO TO, TO EUROPE.
NOW THAT'S VERY INTERESTING BECAUSE I THINK AMERICA IS KIND OF COMING THROUGH THAT TIME AGAIN WHERE WE'RE GETTING A BIGGER SEPARATION BETWEEN THE WEALTHY AND THE POOR AND WHAT I THINK THAT IT IS CAUSING ANOTHER TIME LIKE THAT.
IF YOU'RE LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE IN THAT TOP PLACE, YOU MAY HAVE THE TIME TO STUDY MUSIC.
YOU MAY HAVE THE TIME TO BE A PROFESSIONAL DANCER, YOU MAY HAVE THE TIME TO MAKE AUSTIN WEIRD.
AND I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
AND THAT HAS TO DO WITH EQUITY.
IT'S HAS TO DO NOT JUST IT, IT HAS TO DO WITH THE PEOPLE WITH A DIFFERENT IDEA OF WHAT IT'S LIKE TO LIVE ON EARTH.
IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT MAKING MONEY, IT'S ABOUT HAVING A FAMILY.
IT'S ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE LOVE TO GARDEN AND SOME PEOPLE THEY BECOME LANDSCAPERS.
WE HAVE HAD SOME GREAT LANDSCAPE PEOPLE IN THIS TOWN, BUT THEY DON'T MAKE A LOT OF MONEY.
IT'S A HOT JOB AND IT'S GETTING WORSE BECAUSE OF CLIMATE CHANGE.
PLEASE THINK ABOUT ALL THIS AND FIND A WAY YOU'VE PASSED HOME TOO.
FIND A WAY TO MAKE IT EQUITABLE.
FIND A WAY TO MAKE IT SO IT DOESN'T DRIVE MORE PEOPLE OUT OF AUSTIN.
UM, I I I'M GONNA HAVE THE CLERK.
HOW MANY NAMES HAVE YOU CALLED THAT, THAT WE HAVE THAT ARE HERE? I THINK THERE'S FOUR PEOPLE WAITING.
UM, CALL, CALL THOSE NAMES SO WE CAN GET A, A SHOW OF HANDS IF THE NAME'S BEEN CALLED AND IF THEY'RE WAITING TO SPEAK IF YOU'VE ALREADY, IF YOU'VE ALREADY CALLED THEIR NAME.
[01:55:04]
SEAN ATKINS.AND WHAT'S EARLIER YOUR NAME, SIR.
AND WHAT'S YOUR NAME? MY NAME IS STEVE SHAY.
AND AND YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED? YES.
SO WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO MEMBERS IS THE TWO PEOPLE THAT ARE DOWN FRONT WHOSE NAME HAS BEEN CALLED.
THOSE WILL BE THE, THE TWO SPEAKERS WE WILL HEAR FROM BEFORE WE PAUSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, AND WE GO TO OUR 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN PUBLIC COMMENT.
UH, AS A REMINDER, WE WILL GO TO THE 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, UH, WHEN THAT IS COMPLETED.
WE WILL RECESS, UH, UNTIL ONE O'CLOCK, AT WHICH POINT WE HAVE ANOTHER TIME CERTAIN.
AND THAT ONE O'CLOCK, UH, THAT ONE O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN IS ON ITEM 1 0 6.
WE WILL TAKE THAT UP, UH, AT THAT POINT IN TIME.
AND THEN, UH, WE WILL COME BACK TO THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO, AS PART OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
SO WITH THAT, I APOLOGIZE FOR INTERRUPTING.
I JUST WANT TO DO A LITTLE TIME MANAGEMENT.
OUTSTANDING AND GOOD MORNING, UH, MAYOR AND COUNSEL.
AS I SAID, MY NAME IS STEVEN SHAY AND I'M HERE WITH SIMON PROPERTY GROUP, AND I FLEW IN FROM INDIANAPOLIS TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF ITEM ONE 16.
UH, WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO REDEVELOP BARTON CREEK MALL FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 YEARS WITH IMPROVED ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS, UH, AND HAVE BEEN TOLD ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THAT THE WASTEWATER PIPE WILL NOT SUPPORT ADDITIONAL CAPACITY.
AND FOR THIS REASON, THE REDEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN STALLED.
THE MALL CAMPUS IS 120 ACRES, WHICH INCLUDES PARCELS OWNED BY OTHERS.
AND AS YOU KNOW, THE SITE IS LOCATED FIVE MINUTES FROM DOWNTOWN AUSTIN AND HAS ACTIVE BUS SERVICE.
CLEARLY, THE SITE'S POTENTIAL IS UNREALIZED AND STUCK IN AMBER.
DUE TO CONSTRAINTS BEYOND OUR CONTROL, WE ENVISIONED A VIBRANT REDEVELOPMENT THAT WOULD PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED HOUSING AND IMPROVED ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS THAT HAVE COME INTO EFFECT.
SINCE THE MALL WAS BUILT IN 1981, I'VE HEARD NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS HAVE CONSIDERED PORTIONS OF THE EXISTING PARKING LOT FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
HOWEVER, ANY AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT FACES THE SAME ROADBLOCKS AS OURS, SPECIFICALLY A LACK OF WASTEWATER CAPACITY.
IMPORTANTLY, ANY FUTURE REDEVELOPMENT WOULD COMPLY WITH CITY CODE FOR WATER QUALITY PROVISIONS.
WE'RE EXCITED THAT THIS RESOLUTION NOT ONLY SEEKING TO MOVE THE WASTEWATER PIPE OUT OF THE ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE CREEK, BUT ALSO BUILDING A NEW PIPE THAT WOULD PROVIDE CAPACITY TO ALLOW OUR PROJECT AND OTHERS TO REDEVELOP IN A MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS WAY, PLEASE APPROVE THIS RESOLUTION AND IN NOVEMBER RETURN WITH A PLAN THAT HELPS ENCOURAGE LANDOWNERS LIKE SIMON TO REDEVELOP UNDER CURRENT CODE AND FURTHER THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S GOAL OF MORE HOUSING CLOSER TO THE CITY CENTER.
UH, REBE, REBECCA LEONARD WITH LIONHEART.
UH, WE ARE LAND PLANNERS, URBAN DESIGNERS, AND LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS.
I'M ALSO A RESIDENT AND A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, UH, IN AUSTIN.
UH, RECENTLY, UH, WORKED WITH MANY OF YOU ON THE, UH, THE REDEVELOPMENT FOR OF BRODY OAKS AND THE PUD THAT WENT ALONG WITH THAT.
AND SO, UH, CAME HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF ITEM NUMBER ONE 16, UH, THE COUNCIL RESOLUTION THAT WILL REMOVE WASTEWATER FROM BARTON CREEK.
TWO MAIN REASONS I SUGGEST THAT Y'ALL SUPPORT THIS IS, UH, BY REDUCING THE RISK OF, UH, CONTAMINATION AND LEAKS IN THE CREEK.
OF COURSE, UH, WE IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THE, OF THE WATER IN BARTON CREEK, WHICH WAS A VERY IMPORTANT, UH, ELEMENT OF THE BRODY OAKS REDEVELOPMENT.
UH, IT ALSO INCLUDES, IT ALSO IMPROVES THE HEALTH OF HUMANS AND WILDLIFE FOR THAT AREA.
BUT IN ADDITION, I WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT, UH, IN THIS PART OF THE CITY, MOST OF WHICH WAS DONE 40, 50 YEARS AGO, IS NOT REALLY IN ALIGNMENT WITH TODAY'S REGULATIONS ENVIRONMENTAL ETHOS.
AND WE DISCOVERED THIS, UH, DURING THE BRADY OAKS, UH, PROJECT.
WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY IT IS TO TAKE SOME OF THESE SITES THAT WERE DEVELOPED UNDER PREVIOUS CODES AND UPDATE THEM TO CURRENT CODES.
UM, THE TO DO REDEVELOPMENT IS NOT A CHEAP AND EASY THING TO DO, THOUGH, UH, IT REQUIRES DENSITY AND IT REQUIRES, UH, CAPACITY, UH, WITHIN, UH, THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS AVAILABLE FOR THAT DEVELOPMENT.
SO I'M HOPEFUL THAT, UH, THE GREEN DOTS THAT ARE IN IMAGINE AUSTIN, UH, CAN BE IMPLEMENTED BY INCREASING THE CAPACITY, UH, IN THIS WATER LINE AS WELL.
UH, MEMBERS, WE'RE GOING TO PAUSE
[02:00:01]
THE, UH, CALLING OF NAMES ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, UH, UNTIL, UH, AFTER WE FINISH THE TIME CERTAIN AND THE BRIEF RECESS, AND THEN THE ONE O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, UH, BEFORE WE GO FORWARD, I, I WOULD JUST WANNA REITERATE THE, THE RULES OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD THAT I READ EARLIER TODAY.SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE NOT BEEN HERE, BUT THEY, I'LL, IF I NEED TO, I'LL REMIND FOLKS OF THOSE AS WE GO FORWARD.
YOUR NAMES ARE YOU, YOU KNOW THE ORDER IN WHICH YOUR NAMES WILL BE CALLED.
I SEE SOME PEOPLE, IT, IT APPEARS TO ME THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE PREPARED TO, UH, COME FORWARD ALREADY AND SPEAK.
IF YOU KNOW YOU HAVE SIGNED UP FOR THIS PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, IF YOU WOULD, UH, BE PREPARED TO MAKE YOUR WAY FORWARD, UH, WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED OR EVEN BEFORE YOUR NAME IS CALLED, WE WOULD APPRECIATE THAT.
MADAM CLERK, IF YOU'LL START ON OUR 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
GREG STOKER, FOLLOWED BY HANNAH YOSHIMOTO AND THEN HANNAH BARCO.
MAKE YOUR WAY FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.
HELLO, MY NAME IS GREG STOKER AND I'M A FORMER UNITED STATES ARMY RANGER.
I HAVE A BACKGROUND IN SPECIAL OPERATIONS AND MILITARY INTELLIGENCE, AND I CONDUCTED FOUR COMBAT DEPLOYMENTS TO AFGHANISTAN DURING THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR.
I NOW DO GEOPOLITICAL ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARY, AND I'VE RISEN TO A MODEST PROMINENCE IN THAT ARENA BY THE SIMPLE VIRTUE OF BEING ACCURATE.
I ALSO DO A BIT OF HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISM, BUT DON'T WORRY, I WON'T BORE YOU WITH THAT.
I'M NOT INTERESTED IN WASTING MY TIME OR YOUR TIME BY TRYING TO GET YOU TO CARE ABOUT THE 15,000 CHILDREN THAT ISRAEL HAS QUITE OBVIOUSLY AND INTENTIONALLY TARGETED WITH KINETIC STRIKES.
THERE ARE ACTUALLY MORE CHILDREN SLAUGHTERED WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS AND THAT BASED OFF CRUDE DEATH RATES FROM COMPARABLE CONFLICTS.
SIR, IF I CAN JUST PAUSE HIS TIME FOLKS, WE NEED EVERYBODY TO HAVE ORDER IN THE CHAMBERS.
SO I'M GOING, THIS IS ONLY OUR FIRST SPEAKER AND WE'RE ALREADY DOING THIS.
HANG ON ONE SECOND FOLKS, IF YOU'RE TALKING AND YOU'RE NOT STANDING AT THE PODIUM, IT'S NOT WHAT YOU OUGHT TO BE DOING.
WHY ARE YOU DOING MONEY FOLKS? WHY ARE YOU TRYING TO SAVE SEATS? THEY, THEY ALLOWED EVERY WEEK IT FEELS LIKE WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH A NEW RULE.
THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE IN THE MIDDLE THAT ARE CONTINUING TO TALK, EVEN AS I ASK YOU TO QUIT TALKING, I'M ASKING YOU TO QUIT TALKING.
SOMEONE IS SPEAKING WHETHER YOU AGREE WITH HIM OR NOT, HE HAS THE FLOOR AND I'M GONNA ASK THAT WE MAINTAIN ORDER SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A PUBLIC COMMUNICATION PROCESS THAT IS MEANINGFUL.
SIR, I APOLOGIZE THAT I HAD TO INTERRUPT YOU, BUT WE NEED TO GET CONTROL OF THIS, UH, YOUR TIME.
YOU, YOU, IT DIDN'T COST YOU ANY TIME, SO PLEASE CONTINUE.
THERE ARE ACTUALLY MORE CHILDREN SLAUGHTER WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS THAN THAT BASED OFF CRUDE DEATH RATES FROM COMPARABLE CONFLICTS.
BUT IF THAT DOESN'T BOTHER YOU YET, PROBABLY NEVER WILL.
SO I'M JUST HERE TO STATE THAT YOU'RE BACKING A LOSING HORSE THAT IS NOW THE GREATEST STRATEGIC LIABILITY TO THE UNITED STATES GLOBAL INTERESTS.
THE IDF HAS BEEN OPERATIONALLY DEFEATED IN BOTH GAZA AND THE NORTHERN FRONT IN SOUTHERN LEBANON.
I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO GET INTO THAT OBVIOUS MILITARY REALITY.
THAT FORMER DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE MOSSAD, RAHM BEN BARAK, SAID ON MAY 18TH AND I QUOTE THE WARREN GAZA IS AIMLESS.
WE'RE FORCED TO RETURN TO FIGHTING IN THE SAME AREAS, LOSING MORE SOLDIERS, LOSING ON THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE, DAMAGING RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES AND CAUSING THE ECONOMY TO COLLAPSE.
WE HAVE SUCCEEDED IN UNQUOTE, THEY'VE SUCCEEDED IN NOTHING BEYOND SHOWING THE WORLD THEIR CRUELTY AND THEREBY MAKING THE PALESTINIAN LIBERATION CAUSE THE MOST PRESSING ISSUE ON THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE, ISRAEL WILL CONTINUE TO BE ISOLATED AND WILL BECOME A PARIAH STATE.
THE QUESTION IS, WHEN WILL YOU DO WHAT YOU CAN TO PRESSURE THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO STOP THIS MADNESS FOR OUR OWN SELFISH INTERESTS? BECAUSE OF THIS CATASTROPHE AND ABSOLUTE FAILURE AND LEADERSHIP FROM POLITICIANS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE, THE WORLD IS TURNING AGAINST US.
MOHAMMAD BIN SALMAN, CROWN PRINCE OF SAUDI ARABIA.
OUR TRADITIONAL ALLY IN THE REGION IS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 20 YEARS TRAVELING TO IRAN TO BEGIN REPAIRING RELATIONS WITH THAT REGIME.
NON-WESTERN COUNTRIES ARE NOW LOOKING TO CHINA WITH ITS MASSIVE BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE IN RUSSIA RECENTLY VINDICATED BY ITS INEVITABLE VICTORY IN UKRAINE FOR ALLIANCES AND LEADERSHIP.
WHILE OUR HYPOCRISY ABOUT WESTERN VALUES, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND THE RULE OF LAWS PLAIN FOR ALL TO SEE, THERE WILL BE IRREPARABLE CONSEQUENCES FOR AMERICAN INTERESTS BECAUSE OF THIS.
THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT, WHICH WAS BOTH FOUNDED AND FUNDED BY THE US
[02:05:01]
AND BRITAIN AND IS MEANT TO PROJECT WESTERN HEMEN HEGEMONY ACROSS THE GLOBE, HAS NOW TURNED ON AN ALLY.IT WAS DESIGNED TO PROTECT IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN ITS OWN JUDICIAL LEGITIMACY.
AND WE ARE NOW TRYING TO DISCREDIT THE ICC WHEN THE ICC WAS VITAL FOR DECLARING PUTIN A WAR CRIMINAL AND THEREBY GIVING CAUTIOUS BELLY FOR US EXPANDING THE WAR IN UKRAINE.
OUR GLOBAL INSTITUTIONS ARE CRUMBLING AND BECAUSE OF IT, WE'RE GOING TO LOSE OUT TO CHINA.
WE'RE GONNA LOSE OUT TO RUSSIA AND BRICKS AND FOR WHAT? IF YOU CARE ABOUT THAT, NOT THE CHILDREN, NOT THE CIVILIANS, YOU SHOULD PROBABLY DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
ISRAEL HAS ALREADY BEEN STRATEGICALLY DEFEATED.
WHY ARE WE GOING DOWN WITH IT? I'LL BE BACK AFTER SUMMER RECESS TO SAY, I TOLD YOU SO.
STOP THE KILLING AND THE MADNESS CEASEFIRE NOW IT'S THE ONLY WAY FORWARD FOR US.
I AM A QUEER OKINAWA AND JEWISH AND MY PRONOUNS ARE THEY THEM.
MAYBE MORE IMPORTANTLY TO YOU, I'M A DISTRICT ONE RESIDENT OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND A SO-CALLED OUTSIDE AGITATOR TO MY FELLOW COMRADES, FIGHTING FOR A FREE PALESTINE OUM OR PEACE B UNTO YOU.
TO OUR MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL WHO HAVE REFUSED TO LISTEN TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS, BEG AND PLEAD FOR A CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION SHAME ON EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU.
I AM HERE TODAY IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE OF PALESTINE AND SPECIFIC LEAGUE OF GAZA.
I'M HERE TO HONOR THE OVER 40,000 MARTYRS WHO HAVE BEEN UNJUSTLY MURDERED BY THE ISRAELI APARTHEID REGIME.
I AM HERE TO STAND FOR THE 138 PLUS UT STUDENTS AND AUSTIN RESIDENTS, INCLUDING MYSELF, WHO HAVE BEEN UNJUSTLY ARRESTED OVER THE LAST FIVE WEEKS.
IT IS NOT LOST ON ME THAT I WAS VIOLENTLY ARRESTED DURING PASSOVER, A JEWISH HOLIDAY THAT COMMEMORATES WHEN WE AS A PEOPLE WERE LIBERATED FROM SLAVERY.
AS A COLLEGE STUDENT FROM PITZER RECENTLY SAID, TO BE JEWISH IN A TIME OF GENOCIDE MEANS THAT YOU HAVE A DUTY AND A RESPONSIBILITY TO SPEAK UP.
THERE HAVE BEEN MANY CLAIMS THAT THESE PROTESTS HAVE BEEN FUELED BY ANTISEMITISM.
THIS IS SIMPLY A FALSE NARRATIVE PUSHED TO DISCREDIT THE MOVEMENT CENTERED AROUND PALESTINIAN LIBERATION.
THE ONLY THREAT TO MY SAFETY ON THE DAY OF MY ARREST WAS THE DISPROPORTIONATE POLICE PRESENCE ORDERED BY UT ADMINISTRATORS.
MANY JEWISH COMM COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE BEEN LOUDLY SUPPORTING LOCAL PALESTINIAN ORGANIZERS AND WE WILL NOT STOP.
MY JEWISH FAITH CALLS ON ME TO STAND, STAND AGAINST OPPRESSION WHEREVER IT MAY OCCUR, AND TO ORGANIZE FOR THE FREEDOM OF ALL PEOPLE.
IT IS BECAUSE OF MY JEWISH IDENTITY AND NOT IN SPITE OF IT THAT I HAVE BEEN COMPELLED TO JOIN THIS INTERFAITH MULTIRACIAL MOVEMENT FOR PALESTINIAN LIBERATION.
I SIMPLY REFUSE TO SIT BY AND BE SILENT AS A GENOCIDE IS BEING COMMITTED IN MY NAME AND WHILE MY ARREST AND MY TIME IN JAIL WERE TRAUMATIZING.
IT IS NOTHING COMPARED TO THE HEARTBREAKING REALITY THAT THE PEOPLE OF GAZA HAVE BEEN FACING.
SEVERAL DAYS AGO, 45 PALESTINIANS WERE KILLED WHEN ISRAEL BOMBED TENTS IN A SAFE ZONE IN RAFA.
WE NOW KNOW THAT SOME OF THOSE VERY BOMBS WERE MANUFACTURED RIGHT HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.
THESE ARE TWO QUOTES FROM SURVIVORS.
WE WERE SITTING DOWN IN PEACE.
WHEN WE SUDDENLY HEARD AN EXPLOSION, IT WAS SO SUDDEN THE BOMBS CAME DOWN WITHOUT A WARMING WARNING.
WE SAW TENTS ON FIRE AND HAD TO IMMEDIATELY RECOVER DISMEMBERED LIMBS AND DEAD CHILDREN.
SECOND QUOTE, THEY SAID, THESE WERE SAFE ZONES.
THE OCCUPATION IS DESPICABLE AND CRIMINAL.
JUST LIKE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU SITTING UP THERE AND PRETENDING TO LISTEN TO US.
I HOPE THAT YOU HAVE THE DAY THAT YOU DESERVE CEASEFIRE.
NOW, FREE PALESTINE, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
YES, IF YOU CAN YOU PAUSE THE VIDEO PLEASE? THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
ON APRIL 5TH, TWO UT STUDENTS, ONE OF WHICH WAS DRESSED IN TRADITIONAL MUSLIM ATTIRE, WERE ATTACKED BY THREE ASSAILANTS WHO MOCKED AND TAUNTED THE VICTIMS YELLING ISLAMOPHOBIC HATE SPEECH BEFORE ATTACKING AND INJURING THEM.
I'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH ONE OF THE STUDENTS SINCE THAT DAY.
LAST MONTH I CALLED ON YOU ALL TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST THIS HATE CRIME, TO SUPPORT THE VICTIMS AND SHOW US ALL THAT YOU ACTUALLY GIVE A CRAP ABOUT ARABS, MUSLIMS, BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE, AND I KNOW YOU KNOW THIS MAYOR, THE A PD HATE CRIME REVIEW BOARD UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO CLASSIFY THIS AS A HATE CRIME ON MAY 9TH BEFORE LAST CITY COUNCIL MEETING, AND YOU'VE BEEN DEAD SILENT.
YOU HAVE FAILED THESE VICTIMS. YOU HAVE SHOWN THEM THAT THEY DO NOT MATTER AND PROVEN TO THEM THAT THEY ARE NOT SAFE IN THIS CITY BECAUSE THEY ARE MUSLIM, BROWN, OR BOTH.
IF YOU WERE TRYING TO HIDE YOUR RACISM FROM PUBLIC VIEW, YOU FAILED.
UT PRESIDENT J HARTZEL FAILED THESE VICTIMS BY STAYING SILENT TOO.
HE THEN FAILED THE REST OF HIS STUDENT BODY SHOWING THE WORLD JUST HOW MUCH MONEY HE SPEAKS FOR HIM.
HE WOULD RATHER HAVE U-T-P-D-A-P-D
[02:10:01]
AND DPS ATTACK HIS OWN INNOCENT STUDENTS THAN TO ALLOW THEM FOR THE FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO PROTEST A GENOCIDE.APPARENTLY ENOUGH WEALTHY DONORS SUPPORT ISRAEL CAN'T LOSE THAT MONEY.
RIGHT? THIS IS WHY IT'S A LOCAL ISSUE.
ON APRIL 24TH AT UT WI EYEWITNESS MOUNTED DPS ON CLYDESDALE'S RAM AND CHASE DOWN STUDENTS, I SAW POLICE AND RIOT GEAR SHOVE THE CROWDS OF STUDENTS KNOCKING DOZENS OF PEOPLE DOWN LIKE DOMINOES, CAUSING BLEEDING AND INJURY, TACKLING PEOPLE AT RANDOM, DRAGGING THEM OUT TO ARREST THEM.
IT WAS OBVIOUSLY NO ONE FROM UT OR THIS CITY GOVERNMENT WAS GOING TO PROTECT THESE STUDENTS FROM THE PHYSICAL VIOLENCE THEY WERE ENDURING AND WOULD CONTINUE TO ENDURE ON APRIL 29TH.
ONCE AGAIN, I WATCHED POLICE IN RIOT GEAR WITH ASSAULT RIFLES, CIRCLE UNARMED STUDENTS WHO WERE CALLING FOR PEACE USING THEIR VOICES THE WAY WE'RE SUPPOSED TO.
I SAW PEOPLE, I SAW POLICE ATTACK AND DRAG PEOPLE AWAY TO BE ARRESTED.
I WAS ARRESTED, MISTREATED AND NEGLECTED IN JAIL, BUT SO MANY PEOPLE WERE TREATED SO MUCH WORSE.
IT'S CLEAR SOMETHING WAS NEVER THERE OR HAS BROKEN WITHIN YOU ALL SINCE YOU BECAME POLITICIANS.
WHERE'S YOUR HUMANITY? HAVEN'T YOU SEEN ENOUGH DEAD PALESTINIAN CHILDREN, DECAPITATED BABIES LIKE YOU SAW IN MY VIDEO THAT ARE WELL DOCUMENTED, BURNED BODIES, SCRAPS OF HUMAN FLESH WHERE A PERSON ONCE STOOD BLOWN OFF LIMBS, PEOPLE TAKING THEIR LAST BREATH, AGONIZING SCREAMS OF LOSS.
HAVING YOU HAD ENOUGH? WE'VE HAD ENOUGH TO LAST MANY LIFETIMES.
WE'VE ALSO HAD ENOUGH OF SPEAKING TO YOUR FOREHEADS.
WE ARE FINISHED WAITING FOR YOU TO CATCH UP AND DO THE RIGHT THING AND OPPOSE AN ACTIVE GENOCIDE.
WE DECLARE PEOPLE'S RESOLUTION.
YOUR VOICES WILL BE, OUR VOICES WILL BE HEARD WITHOUT YOU.
ENJOY YOUR VACATIONS YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IN THE LAST OF US IN THIS ROOM.
UNTIL THEN, GO F**K YOURSELVES FREE.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
MY NAME IS BRYCE BENJAMIN AND I'M A CYBERSECURITY ENGINEER IN DISTRICT THREE OF AUSTIN UNOCCUPIED ANOS LAND.
FOR EIGHT MONTHS, WE WITNESSED A GENOCIDE THAT UNFOLD UPON THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE IN HU, BUT THE PART OF ISRAEL WITH AT LEAST 36,000 PALESTINIAN CIVILIAN DEATHS AND COUNTING DAYS AFTER THE ICJ ORDER, ISRAEL TO HAL HIS MILITARY OFFENSIVE IN RAFA SAFE ZONE THAT DOES DESIGN BY THE IDF INITIALLY.
ISRAEL THEN PROCEEDED THE BOMB BRAFA, AND WITHIN FOUR DAYS HAS MURDERED, BURNED ALIVE, OR DECAPITATED.
66 PALESTINIAN MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN, AND INFANTS LIVING IN TENTS.
MAYOR WATSON, ON FEBRUARY 7TH, 2024, YOU MADE A LINKEDIN POST THAT SAID A PROPOSED RESOLUTION OF OFFICER CITY COUNCIL WENT OUT REALISTICALLY IN THE VIOLENCE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE GLOBE.
IN 2003, THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL LED BY MAYOR GUS GARCIA, PASSED A RESOLUTION TO URGE PRESIDENT BUSH TO NOT TAKE UNILATERAL PREEMPTIVE MILITARY ACTION AGAINST I IRAQ.
MAYOR GARCIA STATED THAT ALL POLITICS ARE LOCAL AND THE RE, RE, RE ITSELF STATES THAT MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAQ WILL COST BILLIONS OF DOLLARS AT A TIME WHEN THE AMERICAN ECONOMY IS STRUGGLING.
THOSE KINDS OF MEMBERS UNDERSTOOD THAT THE IRAQ WAR, JUST LIKE THE ISRAELI GENOCIDE AND KZA, IS A LOCAL ISSUE THAT WOULD AFFECT THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY.
THEY UNDERSTOOD THE NECESSITY TO LISTEN TO THE DEMANDS AND NOT ALLOWED TAX DOLLARS TO BE USED FOR FOREIGN WARS OR GENOCIDES.
NOW I SEE FROM THIS COUNCIL IS THE EXACT OPPOSITE.
INSTEAD OF INSIGHTFULNESS, I SEE IGNORANCE INSTEAD OF EMPATHY, I SEE APATHY.
INSTEAD OF COURAGE, I SEE COWARDICE BY NOT PASSING CEASE FIVE RESOLUTION.
TO AVOID DIVIDING AUSTIN, THIS INACTIVITY HAS MADE AUSTIN MORE DIVIDED THAN EVER.
WE HAVE HAD PALESTINIAN ARAB AND MUSLIM CITIZENS SUFFER ISLAMOPHOBIC HATE CRIMES THAT INCLUDE THE OF ZARIA
WE HAVE SEEN VIOLENT OPPRESSION OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH BY THE A PT AGAINST STUDENT PROTESTORS AT UT, RESULTING IN MORE THAN A HUNDRED ARRESTS OF STUDENTS AND AUSTIN COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
BY REFUSING TO PASS THIS RESOLUTION IN FEAR OF ASSIGNING MORE HATE IN THIS COMMUNITY, YOUR OUTNESS HAS ONLY ENCOURAGED MORE ANIMOSITY, MORE VIOLENCE, AND MORE DISTRUST.
JUST LIKE THE VIETNAM WAR, THE ALGERIAN LIBERATION MOVEMENT, THE BLACK PANTHER PARTY MOVEMENT AND THE WARSAW GHETTO UPRISINGS HISTORY WILL ABSOLVE THOSE WHO HAVE FOUGHT AGAINST INTIMIDATION, HATE, RACISM, AND CENSORSHIP, PROCEEDING WITH LIBERATION OF OPPRESSED PEOPLE.
CONVERSELY, HISTORY WILL NOT ABSOLVE THIS CITY COUNCIL FOR REFUSING TO LISTEN TO THEIR CITIZENS.
WHEN THE SOUTHERN COLONIAL STATE OF ISRAEL IS DEFEATED AND POWER STATE IS FREE FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA WITHIN OUR LIFETIME, THEN IT'LL BE THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN THAT WILL BE ABSORBED BY HISTORY.
ARE YOU HERE? MICHAEL IS REMOTE.
ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO, AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, A MOVIE ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE WAS RELEASED.
THANK YOU TO THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL FOR HEATING ITS WARNINGS
[02:15:01]
AND IMPLEMENTING CLIMATE FRIENDLY POLICIES.TODAY I'M MOURNING YOU ABOUT ANOTHER INCONVENIENT TRUTH, ONE THAT IS UGLIER AND MOVING FASTER.
IN THE PAST MONTH OR TWO, WE HAVE SEEN A WAVE OF PROTERRA ACTIVISTS TAKE OVER COLLEGE CAMPUSES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
IT HAS BECOME CLEAR THAT THESE ARE WELL-FUNDED, WELL ORGANIZED NATIONAL MOVEMENTS.
THEY WEAR THE SAME MASKS, THEY WEAR THE SAME YAAR RAFFA SCARVES.
THEY DRESSED LIKE HAMA TERRA AND YA.
WE ARE HAMAS TO ANYONE WITH AN EARSHOT ON CAMPUSES THROUGHOUT THE US.
IT'S ALREADY FOUND IDENTICAL PAMPHLETS THAT INSTRUCTED PROTESTORS ON HOW TO ESCALATE.
THE PROTESTORS ARE BACKED BY QATAR, AEN AND HAMAS.
IT'S ESTIMATED THE QATAR HAS INVESTED A TRILLION DOLLARS IN THIS ANTI-WESTERN SOFT WAR.
WHY DO THESE SUPPOSED ACTIVISTS NOT PROTEST AGAINST RUSSIA'S UNPROVOKED WAR IN UKRAINE OR NORTH KOREA STARVING ITS PEOPLE, OR WHEN HAMAS MURDERS THEIR OWN CI CITIZENS IN ORDER TO STEAL AIDS AND RESELL IT TO GAMS AT MASSIVELY INFLATED PRICES? IT'S BECAUSE THE GOAL IS NOT SOCIAL JUSTICE.
IT'S A DEMONIZED JEWS THE WEST AND ENCOURAGE ATTACKS HERE ON AMERICAN SOIL.
THEY WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH PEACE.
THAT METHOD OF ACTIVISM IS TO DENY REALITY.
AS THIS IS HAPPENING, THIS PRO HAMAS KARATE HAS BECOME SO GOOD AT GASLIGHTING.
THEY CAN MAKE IT A PROFESSION.
THEY'VE TURNED THE WORD CEASEFIRE INTO A DOG WHISTLE, JUSTIFYING ANYTHING FROM VANDALISM OF JEWISH OWNED BUSINESSES TO RAPE AND MURDER.
AS A RESULT OF THIS, THE JEWISH COMMUNITY IS NOT SAFE.
THE PROMA CROWD IS QUICK TO TOKENIZE A FEW JEWS WHO AGREE WITH THEM.
I ASK YOU TO REMEMBER THAT THERE ARE WOMEN WHO OPPOSE THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN TO VOTE IN THE US OVER A HUNDRED YEARS AGO.
THANKFULLY, THOSE ANTI SUFFR JETS WERE PROVEN WRONG.
THE PROTERRA CROWD WILL DECRY THE TRAGIC CIVILIAN DEATHS IN GAZA AND NOT EVEN POINT THE FINGER AT HAMA, WHO BRAGS ABOUT DELIBERATELY PUTTING CIVILIANS IN HARM'S WAY.
AN EXAMPLE FROM HERE IN THE US IS JANITORS WERE BEING KEPT HOSTAGE.
IN HAMILTON HALL AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, THE TERRORISTS SYMPATHIZES CLAIM THAT THEIR PROTESTS WERE PEACEFUL.
THEY DID DENIED THAT THEY SUPPORT TERROR WHILE AT THE SAME TIME SCREAMING GLOBALIZE THE ADA.
MAKE NO MISTAKE, AUSTIN IS INCLUDED IN THIS GLOBALIZATION.
AS SOMEONE MUCH SMARTER THAN ME SAID, WHEN SOMEONE SHOWS YOU WHO THEY ARE, BELIEVES THEM, THESE PROTESTORS HAVE CLEARLY SHOWN US WHO THEY ARE.
THEY CALLED FOR A MILLION MORE OCTOBER 7TH, A DAY WHEN HAMAS MURDERED 1200 PEOPLE.
MUSLIMS, CHRISTIANS, JEWS, AMERICANS, FILIPINOS, TI CANADIANS, MEN, WOMEN, CHILDREN, EVEN DOGS.
THIS IS WHAT HAMAHA SUPPORTERS IN THIS COUNTRY, IN THIS CITY, SOME OF 'EM, THE VERY ROOM WHO WILL SPEAK TODAY WANT TO DO RIGHT HERE IN AUSTIN.
WE HAVE BEEN WARNED THEIR ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN VIOLENT.
THEY CALLED FOR MORE VIOLENCE.
THERE ARE SIGNS IN THIS ROOM RIGHT NOW THAT INCITE VIOLENCE.
LISTEN TO THEM, BELIEVE THAT THEY WILL FOLLOW THROUGH ON WHAT THEY SAY THEY WILL DO.
ENOUGH OF ENTERTAINING LIVES AT CITY HALL.
POLLSTER POLL SHOWS THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DON'T BELIEVE THEM.
THANK IT TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR RECOGNIZING THIS GASLIGHTING FOR WHAT IT IS AND IGNORING CALLS TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS FARCE.
DO THIS TO PREVENT A TERROR ATTACK IN AUSTIN.
MAYOR, I HAVEN'T CALLED FOLKS.
I HAVEN'T CALLED WE A SPEAKER.
I HAVEN'T CALLED THE NEXT NAMES YET.
WELL, ARE THE, ARE YOU ANA CONFIT? I'M SANNA YUSEF, BUT I, FROM WHAT I SAW ON THE LIST, I WAS NEXT.
SO I HAVEN'T CALLED THE NAMES YET.
SO PLEASE WAIT FOR FOR US TO CALL YOU ANA CONFIT MORGAN DAVIS.
ARE YOU HERE? OKAY, ON ANA, PLEASE COME DOWN.
I COME FROM A LINEAGE OF ORTHODOX RUSSIAN JEWS.
MY GREAT GRANDMOTHER WAS SCARED TO INTERACT WITH NON-JEWS BECAUSE OF THE 17 MEN IN HER FAMILY WHO HAD BEEN MURDERED IN PEN POLAND IN THE EARLY 19 HUNDREDS.
THEY WERE MURDERED FOR BEING JEWISH.
HER FEAR WAS A FEAR IS JEWS JUSTIFIABLY HOLD DEEP IN THEIR PSYCHE TO BE PERSECUTED FOR WHO YOU ARE IN YOUR BLOOD AND IN YOUR BONES.
AS ERIC ANDRE SAID, YOU DO NOT NEED TO CUT OFF PEOPLE'S WATER SUPPLY IN THE NAME OF JEWISH SAFETY.
YOU DO NOT NEED TO BOMB UNIVERSITIES BOMB AMBULANCES IN THE NAME OF JEWISH SAFETY.
YOU DO NOT NEED TO BOMB CHILDREN IN THE NAME OF JEWISH SAFETY.
I UNDERSTAND EITHER YOUR FINANCES OR YOUR EGOS DO NOT PERMIT YOU THE MORNING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE MOURNING AND RAGE DUE TO THE GOD THE GENOCIDE AND APARTHEID HAPPENING TO PALESTINIANS.
I HEAR YOUR SILENCE REGARDING THE HATE CRIMES IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
MISUSE OF LOCAL TAX DOLLARS USING CAP METRO BUSES AS COOLING STATIONS FOR A PD DURING PRO-PALESTINIAN PROTESTS AND LACK OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FOR THE COMPLETE DISRESPECT
[02:20:01]
OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM OF WOMEN WHOSE HIJABS WERE FORCIBLY REMOVED IN THE TRAVIS COUNTY JAIL ON 4 29.HOWEVER, YOU ARE BEHOLDEN TO THE SAFETY AND NEEDS OF THE CITIZENS OF YOUR CITY.
AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY HOSTS STORY STORY TIMES FOR CHILDREN, FOR COUNTRIES SUCH AS JAPAN, UKRAINE, AND GERMANY.
I THOUGHT I WOULD HOST A PALESTINE STORY.
TIME FOR TODDLERS, UH, WITH KITES.
JUST BEFORE THE KITE ZILKER KITE FESTIVAL MOM, LIBRARIANS UNDERSTOOD THEIR POLICY TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC AFTER THEY RECEIVED CALLS AND THREATS FROM A SMALL BUT LOUD GROUP OF ANTI PALESTINIANS WHO WERE THREATENING, WHO WERE THREATENED BY THE IDEA OF PEOPLE CELEBRATING PALESTINIAN CHILDREN.
THEIR THREATS CREATED ENOUGH TENSION TO CONCERN LIBRARY STAFF TO CALL FOR HEIGHTENED SECURITY.
TWO POLICE CARS AND UPPER MANAGEMENT PRESENCE AT A TODDLER STORY TIME, A TODDLER STORY TIME LIBRARIANS UNDERSTAND PALESTINIANS HAVE THE RIGHT TO EXIST SAFELY IN ALL SPACES.
THE QUESTION IS, DO YOU A CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION, WHICH INCLUDES HOSTAGE RELEASES, SENDS THIS SAME MESSAGE THE A DL SITES, THAT IN THE LAST 22 YEARS THERE HAVE BEEN ZERO HATE CRIMES COMMITTED AGAINST JEWS BY ISLAMIST OR LEFT WING PARTIES.
PERPETRATORS OF ANTI-SEMITIC HATE CRIMES IN THE USA SINCE 2002 HAVE BEEN 100% RIGHT WING.
YOUR SILENCE PERPETUATES THE SAME KIND OF FEAR THAT JEWS KNOW TOO WELL.
THERE IS NOT A BETTER ANSWER TO THIS ISSUE BECAUSE AT THE END OF IT, PALESTINIAN AND JEWISH SAFETY IS ALL INTERTWINED.
MY NAME IS ROSANNA AND I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A SCREENSHOT OF ISRAEL'S TERRORISM SINCE THE 1940S.
IT'S A SCREENSHOT BECAUSE WE COULD SPEND A LIFETIME AND NOT GET OVER WITH THEIR TERROR ATTACKS.
LET'S START IN 1946 WITH THE KING DAVID HUEL BOMBING.
IT WAS DONE BY ERGON AND HANA AND LEHI TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS.
THEY WERE ZIONISTS MILITARY FORCES KNOWN AS TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS AROUND THE WORLD.
URIAN AND HANIN, WHO LATER BECAME PRIME MINISTERS OF ISRAEL.
WERE PART OF THESE TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS GIVING US THAT THE US WILL DEAL WITH SOME TERRORISTS.
OVER 700,000 PALESTINIANS WERE ETHNIC CLEANSED.
OVER 500 TOWNS AND VILLAGES WERE WIPED OFF THE MAP.
15,000 PALESTINIANS WERE KILLED IN HORRIBLE MASSACRES LIKE ENE, WHERE VICTIMS WERE MADE RAPED AND KILLED.
DO YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT SYSTEMATIC RAPE? PALESTINIANS HAVE BEEN BEING RAPED SINCE 1948.
MEN WERE PUT IN ROCK TO BE PARADED BEFORE BEING KILLED.
PREGNANT WOMEN'S STOMACHS WERE OPEN, AND THAT'S WHERE A CHILD WAS ACTUALLY BURNED, ALIVE AND THROWN IN AN OVEN.
ZO MASSACRE, 200 PALESTINIANS WERE KILLED.
MEN WERE LINED AGAINST IN THE SYMMETRY ROLE AND SHOT.
THERE ARE MASS GRIPES UNDER WHAT? AT A BEACH RESORT TODAY, HANES MASSACRE.
IN THE 19 56, 200 400 PALESTINIANS KILLED IN THE ISRAEL ILLEGALLY OCCUPIED GOLAN HEIGHTS.
THOUSANDS OF SYRIANS WERE KILLED, INJURED, AND DISPLACED IN THE 19 2 8 19 82 INVASION OF LEBANON, WHERE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PALESTINIANS AND LEBANESE CIVILIANS WERE KILLED IN BR SHALA ISRAELI BACKS MALICIOUS KILT BETWEEN 2000 AND 3,500 PALESTINIAN AND LEBANESE IN TWO DAYS.
HORRIFIC ACTS OF SLAUGHTER, MUTILATION, AND RAPE WERE COMMITTED.
THE IBRAHAM MASSACRE IN 1994 BY OV GOLDSTEIN, AN AMERICAN ISRAELI EXTREMISTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CANAS MOVEMENTS, WHO TODAY RAFI, WHO WORKS IN THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT, FOLLOWS THAT MOVEMENT.
SO IT IS ACTUALLY A TERRORIST GOVERNMENT IN ISRAEL DURING THAT ATTACK.
IN 1994, BARAL GOLDSTEIN SHOT OF 29 PALESTINIANS, AS THEY PRAYED IN A MOSQUE IN 1996, THE KNDA MASSACRE IN SOUTH SOUTHERN LEBANON.
THE ISRAELI OCCUPATION FORCES, OR THE ISRAELI TERRORIST FORCES SHELLED A UNITED NATIONS COMPOUND, WHERE OVER 800 CIVILIANS HAD SOUGHT REFUGE BECAUSE ISRAEL TOLD THEM TO EVACUATE AS THEY DID TODAY.
IT IS NOT NEW FOR THEM TO BUMP UN COMPOUNDS AND HOSPITALS AND SCHOOLS.
THEY'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR DECADES.
THE KILLINGS IN RAZA SINCE 2008, WHERE THOUSANDS OF PALESTINIANS HAVE BEEN KILLED.
THE MASSACRES ON A DAILY BASIS, THE CURRENT GENOCIDE WHERE WE ARE ENTERING ALMOST EIGHT MONTHS OF MASSACRES, COMMITTED DAILY THAT WE CAN'T EVEN KEEP UP.
AFTER THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE RULING A FEW DAYS AGO, ASKING THE ISRAELI TERRORIST FORCES TO STOP BOMBING
[02:25:01]
NOT SOME DEBUNKED THEORY.THEY ACTUALLY BEHEADED BABIES.
I LEFT MY CHILDREN PLAYING IN THE TENTS.
I CAME BACK PANICKING AS I HEARD AIRSTRIKES.
I FOUND MY SIX CHILDREN THAT COULDN'T FIT IN THE TENTS.
I'M SORRY, BUT YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
PLEASE COME FORWARD, 'EM FORWARD.
STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, IF YOU DON'T MIND.
DO YOU HAVE THE SLIDES? THERE YOU GO.
UM, COULD YOU PLAY THE, THE LITTLE AUDIO CLIP? OH, OKAY.
ALRIGHT, SO FOR THE RECORD, THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER WHO WAS SCHEDULED, UM, DID NOT FEEL SAFE ENOUGH TO APPEAR HERE AND SPEAK.
UM, I CAN'T GET OUTTA MY MIND.
A CHILD CAME IN ALIVE, LITERALLY BURNT TO THE BONE.
IF THEIR HANDS WERE CONTRACTING.
PEOPLE HAVE EXPLOSIVE INJURIES AND WE'RE GIVING THEM TYLENOL.
WE'RE GIVING 'EM IBUPROFEN FROM AN ARM THAT'S BEEN BLOWN OFF OR BURNS TO 30% OF THEIR BODY.
ANOTHER DOCTOR I SAW A BOY, HE RAN INTO A BURNING TENT TO HELP HIS MOTHER WHO COULDN'T WALK BECAUSE OF THE FIRE.
TODAY WHEN THE FIRE DISTINGUISHED, WE WENT BACK TO LOOK FOR THEM.
WE FOUND 'EM HUGGING DEAD IN CHARRED, A JOURNALIST IN GAZA.
WE HAVE SPENT THE LAST FEW MONTHS PLEADING WITH YOU TO HAVE THE MOST BASIC AND MINIMAL MORALITY TO PASS A CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION IN HONOR OF THE MOST VULNERABLE, WHO ARE FACING THE MOST UNIMAGINABLE HARM AND DESTRUCTION THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE 21ST CENTURY.
BECAUSE EVERY DAY THERE IS NOT A CEASEFIRE.
THE STREETS OF GAZA ARE LITTERED WITH CORPSES.
UM, CAN YOU PLAY THE VIDEO TO THE RIGHT OR NO? OKAY.
ANYWAY, THE INHUMANITY AND SUPREMACY OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM IS SHOCKING.
NOT EVEN FOR A CEASE FIRE THAT PLACATES EVERYONE.
THIS IS A BASIC LIKE, I CAN'T, I DON'T EVEN HAVE WORDS FOR THIS.
IT'S DEEPLY FRIGHTENING TO WATCH AS A BROWN MUSLIM PERSON TO WATCH OTHERS JUSTIFY AN EGG ON SLAUGHTER, OFFENDED BY EVERYTHING BUT ASHAMED BY NOTHING.
THIS WEEKEND, PALESTINIAN CHILDREN, MOTHERS, FATHERS, BURNED ALIVE FOR ALL OF US TO SEE.
FACES ERODED, CHILDREN BEHEADED, MELTED, AND CHARRED BODIES.
THERE IS AN ISRAELI BLOCKADE OF LIFE SAVING AID.
HOSPITALS AND WORKERS ARE CONSTANTLY UNDER ATTACK, RENDERED DYSFUNCTIONAL BY THE IDF.
THERE'S INSURMOUNTABLE AND OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE FOR THIS.
IMAGINE YOUR FAMILIES HAVING TO SLEEP IN THESE TENTS AS REFUGEES BURNED ALIVE UNDER THE SOUND OF CONSTANT DRONES SLEEPING IN UNIMAGINABLE SUFFERING AND FEAR JUST TO DIE.
ANYWAY, THESE BONDS ARE KNOWN TO KILL FAMILIES AS THEY EAT, PLAY STAND IN LIVES, STAND IN LINES FOR FOOD AND WATER, EVACUATE IN MATERNITY WARDS AND ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY SLEEP.
BY NOT CONDEMNING THE DEATHS OF THESE CHILDREN, BUT BEING MORE THAN ABLE TO CONDEMN OTHERS, WE SEE YOU'RE DEEP SEATED INHUMANITY.
IT'S NICE TO SEE PEOPLE STARTING TO FINALLY PAY ATTENTION ABOUT THIS.
WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT FOR MONTHS, BUT YOU ARE SILENT IN YOUR SILENCE.
YOU'RE SHOWING THAT YOU'RE MORE THAN OKAY WITH THIS BEING NORMAL.
BY NOT CONDEMNING THE SLAUGHTER OF CHILDREN, MOTHERS, FATHERS, AND RESULTING HATE VIOLENCE IN AUSTIN.
DUE TO THIS, IMPUNITY SHOWS THAT THIS IS MORALLY ACCEPTABLE TO YOU.
WHY? BECAUSE YOU VIEW THESE PEOPLE AS LESS EQUAL.
WHAT'S THE EXCHANGE RATE FOR YOU? HOW MANY PALESTINIAN DEATH DO AN ISRAELI BEFORE YOU CALL IT OUT IS WRONG WHEN YOU ATTEMPT TO MAKE AN EQUIVALENCY BETWEEN THOSE WHO WANT ENDLESS SLAUGHTER TO STOP VERSUS THOSE WHO WANTED TO CONTINUE.
YOU'RE SAYING SOME LIVES SIMPLY DON'T MATTER.
THOSE ARE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AT THE PUBLIC.
COMMENT, UH, TIME CERTAIN OF NOON WITHOUT OBJECTION.
WE ARE IN RECESS UNTIL ONE O'CLOCK.
[02:30:01]
THE CITY COUNCIL'S IN RECESS UNTIL ONE O'CLOCK.[Live Music CasinoATX]
WE'RE IN FOR A TREAT TODAY.AS YOU CAN ALREADY TELL, UH, BY JUST THE WARMUP.
UH, CASINO A TX IS A RAPPER, WRITER AND PRODUCER WHO SPECIALIZES IN, IN WRITING AND PERFORMING.
HE'S WON SEVERAL AWARDS OVER THE YEARS FOR PERFORMING SOLO AND WITH GROUPS AND IS KNOWN FOR MAKING CLUB PARTY TRACKS AS WELL AS MUSIC THAT IS LACED WITH CLEVER NERD AND POP CULTURE REFERENCES.
HE'S MOST PROUD OF HAVING WON A GROWING THE TRADITION AWARD FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO AUSTIN'S HIP HOP AND BEING SHOWCASED IN THE TEXAS MUSIC HISTORY MUSEUM.
LIKE AUSTIN SLOGAN OF KEEP IT WEIRD.
HE IS A RAPPER WHO CAN EMBRACE HIS NERDY SIDE WHILE MAINTAINING A SHARP EDGE CASINO.
A TX PARTNERED UP WITH SEVERAL LONGTIME MUSIC FRIENDS AND OPENED A PRODUCTION COMPANY CALLED RAW WIT THE DOLL THAT SPECIALIZES IN PRODUCING SONGS, MAKING THE BEATS, AND WRITING THE SONGS.
CURRENTLY THEY'RE WORKING WITH SEVERAL AUSTIN BASS RAPPERS AND R AND B SINGERS DOING EVERYTHING FROM MAKING THEIR MUSIC TO HELPING THEM THROW RELEASE PARTIES AND SHOOTING MUSIC VIDEOS.
THEIR STUDIO KNOWN AS THE STASH SPOT IS BASED IN NORTH AUSTIN, OFF NORTH LAMAR.
AND I'VE GOT A, A DEAL HERE THAT I WANNA MAKE SURE.
IS THIS YOUR RULE? THE RULE IS EVERYBODY PARTY TOGETHER LIKE THERE'S NO TOMORROW.
THAT'S HIS, THAT, THAT'S THE RULE.
SO LET'S PARTY CASINO A TX, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
WE DON'T NEED THESE MIC STANDS.
LET'S GET THOSE OUT THE WAY NOW.
UM, WITH A LOT OF DISARRAY AND UPSETTING THAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW, WE LIKE TO TRY TO BRING GOOD ENERGY.
SO LET'S TRY TO DO THAT TODAY.
I PRETTY MUCH GREW UP RIGHT HERE IN AUSTIN ON THE NORTH SIDE, AND UH, MY GRANDMA USED TO ALWAYS TELL ME, IF YOU'RE LOOKING GOOD, YOU'RE PROBABLY FEELING GOOD.
SO IF YOU LOOKING GOOD TONIGHT, LET'S MAKE SOME NOISE REAL QUICK.
WE TRY TO KEEP IT EASY, BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE LIKE TO GET GET IT GOING A LITTLE BIT.
YOU READY? I MAKE IT LOOK EASY CATCH ON DECK.
THAT'S HEY, HEY, HEY, HEY, HEY.
HEY, NOW FEEL FREE TO GET UP AND DANCE A LITTLE BIT.
IF YOU WANT TO SHOOT GAME FRESH, STRETCH TO DEATH.
GIRLS GET I MAKE, I MAKE IT LOOK EASY TO GAME FRESH.
CASI, YOU KNOW I'M BLACK GIRLS STAY.
JUST LIKE A I AND YOU WANT YOUR SISTER ON MY G SIR, YOUR UHUH ALWAYS KEEP PLAYER ACTING LIKE THIS.
SL I GRIND FOR MY CHEESE AND I ALWAYS KEEP IT PLAYER.
YOU ACTING LIKE THE LITTLE PLAYER OFF.
CAN YOU JUST A SOME LOVE RAPPING JUST TO GIVE SOME BUZZ.
HE GIVING ME 1:00 AM THE HARDER YOU ARE JUST A LIP NOODLE.
I KEEP IT LIKE PROS VERSUS JOE'S.
'CAUSE MY SHOE CAME FRESH, FRESH, FRESH TO DEATH.
LET'S GO GIRLS AGAIN, LET'S GO.
OKAY, STRETCH TO CASH ON DECK.
[02:35:01]
AN STILL OH FOUR, WAITING ON THE PAYCHECK.MAKE MY OWN IS EXTRAORDINARY IN THE MORTUARY WHILE I'M EARNING PENSION.
ONLY NOTHING LIKE I WAS O JAMES.
I'M JUST LIKE A BLACK REPUBLIC.
YOU WANT JUST A CUSTOMER, YOU'RE JUST, AND NOT ON ONE NIGHT HER, YOU ARE A SIN.
I WALK WITH THE LIP, YOU WALK WITH SOME TIPS.
YOU WERE JUST A CHAMP WITH YOU.
HIT YOUR BLOCK AND NAKED SHAKE.
I'M JUST LIKE, HAMMER, LIKE TO MAKE THEM DANCE.
YOU'RE LIKE, HAMMER WHITNEY FELLA SUPER BROKE WITH STUPID PANTS BECAUSE MY SHOE GAINED FRESH, FRESH STRESS TO DEATH.
HEY, HEY, APPRECIATE SMACK ALL TO LETTING US DO IT.
HEY, I MAKE THIS FOR THE CITY, CITY OF AUSTIN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, CARTERVILLE MAYOR SIX, BABY.
NOW LEMME SEE IF I CAN MAKE THIS LOOK EASY.
I'M GONNA MAKE A PROCLAMATION HERE TODAY.
BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS IS BLESSED WITH MANY CREATIVE MUSICIANS WHOSE TALENT EXTENDS TO VIRTUALLY EVERY MUSICAL GENRE.
AND WHEREAS OUR MUSIC SCENE THRIVES BECAUSE AUSTIN AUDIENCES SUPPORT GOOD MUSIC PRODUCED BY LEGENDS, OUR LOCAL FAVORITES AND NEWCOMERS ALIKE.
AND WHEREAS WE ARE PLEASED TO SHOWCASE AND SUPPORT OUR LOCAL ARTISTS.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 30TH, 2024 AS CASINO A TX DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
WHERE, HOW CAN WE FOLLOW YOU ON SOCIAL AND, AND AND WHERE CAN WE HEAR YOU? UM, EXTREMELY EASY TO FIND.
LITERALLY YOU COULD GOOGLE CASINO, A TX.
IT'S GONNA ASK YOU, DO YOU MEAN CASINO TEXT? JUST SAY YES.
IT'LL TAKE YOU TO ALL OF MY SOCIAL MEDIA SITES.
UM, ALL OF MY, I'M ON EVERY SINGLE STREAMING PLATFORM.
AND WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING.
ALRIGHT, LET'S HOPE, LET'S HOPE WE'RE OUTTA HERE.
BUT, UH, DEFINITELY I'LL BE PERFORMING AT, UM, UH, JUMP ON WEEK SO YOU CAN CATCH ME OUT ON, OH YEAH, SURE.
UH, YOU CAN CATCH ME ON JUNE 5TH AND YOU CAN CATCH ME AGAIN ON JUNE 8TH.
UM, UH, JUNE 5TH IS GONNA BE AT THE MILLENNIUM YOUTH CENTER.
NICK TURNER WAS HERE TODAY AND MENTIONED IT.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, CASINO A TX.
ALL RIGHT FOLKS, WE'RE GETTING READY TO START.
IF I COULD GET Y'ALL TO COME TO ATTENTION.
WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY.
IT'S 1:00 PM AND I WILL CALL BACK TO ORDER THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
I, BUT I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET ANYBODY'S ATTENTION ALL DAY LONG.
SO LET ME SEE IF I CAN START NOW.
COULD I GET EVERYBODY TO, HEY FOLKS, YOU, SO THAT YOU'LL KNOW, YOU MAY, MAY NOT KNOW THIS, YOU'RE AT A CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
UH, SO THAT I CAN CALL US BACK TO ORDER.
AS I INDICATED, IT'S 1:00 PM ON, UH, MAY 30TH, 2024.
AND I'M CALLING BACK TO ORDER THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL FOR THIS REGULAR SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
AND WE'RE MEETING IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, UH, THREE OH AT CITY HALL.
3 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, AS I INDICATED.
UH, WE HAVE A ONE O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, AND
[02:40:01]
THAT WILL BE FOR ITEM[106. Approve an ordinance naming a segment of the Shoal Creek Greenbelt Trail located between West Avenue and 5th Street as “Chris Riley Bend”; waiving the requirements of City Code Chapter 14-1, Article 4; and directing the City Manager to update documentation, maps, and signage. ]
NUMBER 1 0 6.AND I'M GOING TO RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER ON ITEM 1 0 6.
COUNCIL MEMBER, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
YOU KNOW, TODAY, REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE EVERYBODY HERE TO TALK ABOUT FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER CHRIS RILEY.
YOU KNOW, DEDICATING A PARK OR PUBLIC FACILITY IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE DO EVERY DAY.
IT IS A HIGH HONOR RESERVED FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE AN EXTRAORDINARY CONTRIBUTION TO AUSTIN.
AND TODAY'S A SPECIAL DAY BECAUSE ITEM 1 0 6 RECOGNIZES A LIFETIME OF EXTRAORDINARY SERVICE TO AUSTIN BY RENAMING PART OF THE SHOAL CREEK TRAIL AS THE CHRIS RILEY BEND IN HONOR OF FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER CHRIS RILEY.
SO, FIRST I WANNA RECOGNIZE, AS WE ALL SAW, FORMER COUNCILMAN O'REILLY IS HERE TODAY, AND IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU.
AND I WANNA THANK ALL THE FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS FOR JOINING US.
UH, WE, MY OFFICE HAS RECEIVED SO MUCH SUPPORT, UH, FOR CHRIS IN THIS RECOGNITION AS CLEARLY, YOUR WORK TOUCHED SO MANY AND THERE IS A LOT OF LOVE AND APPRECIATION FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE FOR AUSTIN.
CHRIS RILEY SERVED ON THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL FROM 2009 TO 2015 AS ONE OF THE PREEMINENT FORCES FOR IMPROVING BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE, REDUCING CAR DEPENDENCE, ENHANCING URBAN SPACES, AND EXPANDING OUR URBAN TRAIL NETWORK, INCLUDING, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LIMITED TO THE SHOAL CREEK TRAIL.
AT A TIME WHEN FEW AUSTINITES LIVED DOWNTOWN AND EVEN FEWER COULD IMAGINE LIFE WITHOUT A CAR, CHRIS SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED FOR REPLACING PARKING SPACES WITH PATIOS ESTABLISHED AUSTIN'S VIVA STREETS SE I ALWAYS MISPRONOUNCE THIS WORD, SELO, AND DISTRIBUTED COPIES OF DONALD SCHOOP'S BOOK, THE HIGH COST OF FREE PARKING TO ANYONE WHO WOULD READ IT, CHRIS WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN AUSTIN PASSING THE SAFE, THE SAFE PASSING ORDINANCE, THE BICYCLE MASTER PLAN, AND LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR THE ALL AGES AND ABILITIES NETWORK WE CONTINUE TO BUILD UPON TODAY, WHILE MANY MORE OF US NOW SEE REDUCED CAR USAGE AND BETTER BIKE PET INFRASTRUCTURE AS OBJECTIVELY GOOD AND COMMON SENSE.
THAT WAS CERTAINLY NOT THE CASE WHEN CHRIS WAS ON THE COUNCIL.
HE WAS TRULY AHEAD OF HIS TIME AND HIS WORK DID NOT START OR END WITH HIS TIME ON THE CITY COUNCIL BEFORE BEING ELECTED.
CHRIS CO-FOUNDED THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND SERVED AS PRESIDENT FOR FIVE YEARS, SERVING, SERVED ON THE AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION BOARD FOR FIVE YEARS AND SERVED ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR SIX YEARS, INCLUDING TWO YEARS AS THE CHAIR.
SINCE LEAVING COUNCIL, CHRIS HAS CONTINUED HIS COMMUNITY ACTIVISM, INCLUDING SERVICE TO BIKE AUSTIN SAFE STREETS, AUSTIN, DOWNTOWN AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, OLD AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, CONGRESS FOR THE NEW URBAN NEW URBANISM, CENTRAL TEXAS CHAPTER AND AUSTIN GIANT CHESS.
THIS SECTION OF TRAIL THAT WE ARE NAMING HAS SPECIAL MEANING TO CHRIS AND WE OWE ITS CURRENT STATE TO HIS WORK.
BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER HIS TIME ON CITY COUNCIL, AFTER BEING WASHED OUT IN THE 1981 MEMORIAL DAY FLOOD, IT'S STOOD DERELICT FOR YEARS.
CHRIS'S TIRELESS ADVOCACY ULTIMATELY LED TO RECONNECTING DOWNTOWN WITH THE REST OF THE HISTORIC SHOAL CREEK GREENBELT.
IN THE FUTURE, THIS BEND WILL CONNECT FUTURE GENERATIONS OF AUSTINITES TO THE LIFE AND WORK OF CHRIS RILEY.
WE ON THE CITY COUNCIL STAND ON THE SHOULDERS OF THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE US, AND IF WE CAN ADVANCE CERTAIN URBAN MOBILITY AND HOUSING POLICY, IT IS ONLY BECAUSE WE ARE BUILDING UPON THE FOUNDATION BUILT BY THE LIKES OF CHRIS RILEY.
INDEED, EVERYONE WHO RIDES ROADS OR WALKS AROUND AUSTIN HAS BENEFITED FROM CHRIS'S WORK.
SO, I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL WHO REACHED OUT TO SUPPORT ALL OF YOU WHO ARE HERE TODAY TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT.
MY COLLEAGUES, COUNCILMAN VELA ELLIS CADRE FOR CO-SPONSORING.
AND CHRIS ON BEHALF OF A GRATEFUL CITY OF AUSTIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
YES, I AM SORRY, MR. MAYOR, IF I MAY, CAN I ADD MY NAME TO THAT CO-SPONSORSHIP WITHOUT OBJECTION? UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION.
COUNCILMAN HARPER MADISON WILL BE SHOWN AS, UH, BEING A SPONSOR OF ITEM NUMBER 1 0 6.
MAYOR, THIS IS COUNCIL MEMBER LEY.
IS THERE ANYBODY I'D LIKE TO ALSO BE
[02:45:01]
ON? LEMME ASK.LET, LET, LET, CHRIS, WE'RE REALLY GONNA FIND OUT SOMETHING HERE.
IS THERE ANYBODY THAT DOESN'T WANNA BE A SPONSOR?
AND, AND BY THE LOOKS OF IT, WE WOULD HAVE A COUPLE OF PREVIOUS CITY COUNCILS ALL SIGN ON IT.
UH, IT'S, IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE SO MANY FORMER COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, IN THE CHAMBERS WITH US.
WE HAVE TO, UH, TURN TO THE CITY CLERK HERE BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS, UH, WHAT APPEARS TO BE A UNANIMOUS ITEM,
SO, AGAIN, WE HAVEN'T HAD THIS HAPPEN YET WHILE I'VE BEEN MAYOR THIS TIME, BUT WE'LL JUST FIND OUT WHETHER THEY TALK US OUT OF IT.
UH, UH, SO, UH, LET, LET'S CALL ON SOME FOLKS AND, AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK.
THANK YOU MAYOR ADAM GREENFIELD.
PLEASE COME ON DOWN AND STATE YOUR NAME INTO THE PODIUM.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, ADAM GREENFIELD.
UM, THIS IS, THIS IS A GREAT DAY.
UM, CHRIS'S IMPACT ON THE CITY HAS BEEN PROFOUND.
HIS IMPACT ON SO MANY OF THOSE WHO ADVOCATE FOR CHANGE IN THIS CITY HAS ALSO BEEN PROFOUND AND MANY OF US.
IT'S, UH, REALLY A LIFE HONOR, MYSELF INCLUDED, TO CALL CHRIS, UM, A FRIEND.
UH, I, I JUST WANNA SAY TODAY WE HONOR CHRIS WITH, WITH THIS DEDICATION TOMORROW AND, AND ON FROM THERE, LET US HONOR CHRIS WITH GOOD DECISIONS, GOOD POLICIES.
'CAUSE I THINK THAT'S, THAT REALLY MAKES CHRIS VERY, VERY HAPPY.
CHRIS WAS RIGHT ABOUT THE DIRECTION OSSER NEEDS TO GO LONG BEFORE IT WAS POPULAR TO BE RIGHT.
AND SO I THINK IT IS EXTREMELY GRATIFYING TO SEE SO MANY OF THE SEEDS THAT CHRIS PLANTED, UM, COME TO FRUITION DURING THIS COUNCIL'S TERM.
AND I THINK WE ARE GONNA CONTINUE TO SEE THAT WHERE INTO THE FUTURE.
UM, AND I WANNA SHARE WITH YOU THAT I'VE HAD THE INCREDIBLE PRIVILEGE, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, TO WORK FOR CHRIS RILEY WHEN HE WAS ON THE CITY COUNCIL.
AND I'VE ALSO HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF REMAINING HAVING HIM REMAIN AS A DEAR FRIEND OF MINE.
UM, WHEN I STARTED WORKING FOR HIM, I GOT A FRONT ROW SEAT TO POLICYMAKING.
I WAS IN SCHOOL AT THE TIME LEARNING ABOUT CITY PLANNING AND LEARNING ABOUT POLICYMAKING, AND THEN I WAS ALSO IN AN OFFICE WORKING ON IT, DEALING WITH IT ON THE GROUND.
I LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT DEDICATION TO PUBLIC SERVICE, BOTH TO THE JOB AND TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
I LEARNED ABOUT FOCUS ON GOOD POLICY AND DOING WHAT'S RIGHT BOTH FOR CONSTITUENTS AND FOR THE CITY AT LARGE.
I LEARNED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE AND CONS CONSIST OF CONSISTENCY WITH CURRENT GOALS AND WITH A VISION FOR THE FUTURE.
AND I LEARNED THAT TENACIOUSNESS AND CONTINUING TO WORK TOWARD A GOAL THAT MAY SEEM IMPOSSIBLE OR IMPOSSIBLY FAR AWAY IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
UM, NOW ALL THESE YEARS LATER, I GET TO SEE A LOT OF THE RESULTS OF THAT WORK, AND I SEE HOW CLEARLY IT WAS IMPORTANT, UM, THAT, THAT CHRIS HAD THOSE ATTRIBUTES WHEN HE WAS WORKING FOR THE CITY.
UM, SO MANY OF THE THINGS HE WORKED ON THEN, AS WE'VE HEARD, HAVE COME TO FRUITION AND SO MANY ARE, ARE BEING WORKED ON RIGHT NOW.
HE WORKED ON PARKING REFORM, A PERSONAL FAVORITE OF MINE.
WE ALL KNOW
UM, CLIMATE POLICY WAS, WAS, WAS, WAS PART OF OUR, OUR EVERYDAY CONVERSATION.
UM, AND I I WANNA POINT OUT THAT WE OFTEN SAY THAT CHRIS WAS AHEAD OF HIS TIME, BUT I ACTUALLY THINK HIS TIMING WAS JUST RIGHT, BECAUSE IF HE HADN'T BEEN SAYING THESE THINGS AND LAYING THE GROUNDWORK AT THAT TIME, UM, WE WOULDN'T BE WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
UM, SO THE SUCCESSES THAT AUSTIN HAS SEEN AND THE NAMING OF THIS TRAIL IS SUCH AN APPROPRIATE WAY TO HONOR CHRIS, I WANNA THANK YOU ALL, UM, FOR THAT WORK AND FOR ALL THE GREAT POLICY CHANGES YOU'RE CONTINUING TO MAKE AND CONTINUING TO WORK ON.
UM, IF CHRIS HADN'T DONE THE WORK HE'D DONE, I WOULDN'T BE THE SAME PERSON AND, UH, AUSTIN WOULDN'T BE THE SAME CITY.
I, UH, A FEW OF THE POLICY A WE ALL WANTED TO SIGN UP.
UH, YOU KNOW, WE COULDN'T NOT SIGN UP EVEN THOUGH WE'RE NOT.
COULD YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD? OH, I'M SORRY.
I JUST TALKED TO A COUPLE OF US, UH, ON THE POLICY SIDE, YOU KNOW, POLICY ADVISORS FOR CONFIDENTIAL ONE SIGN UP BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE BEEN TOUCHED BY CHRIS AND BEEN WITH HIM OVER THE YEARS.
AND SO I'M JUST SAYING WE'RE NOT ALL GONNA SPEAK.
WE JUST WANT WANTED TO, COULDN'T NOT SIGN UP.
VERONICA CASTRO, DERA, RAMI CO LEWIS LEFT.
COME ON DOWN IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, IF THERE'S AN EMPTY MIC, IT'S YOURS.
[02:50:02]
UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNSEL.UH, I AM SOMEWHAT BREAKING A UNWRITTEN RULE ABOUT CURRENT COUNSEL STAFFERS TESTIFYING IN FRONT OF THE COUNCIL ON ITEMS, BUT I FELT LIKE THIS WAS ONE OCCASION WHERE IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO DO SO.
UH, LIKE MY COLLEAGUE TIMOTHY BRAND, UH, UH, DIVIN LOEFFLER AND OTHER FOLKS, UH, WHO ARE STILL IN THIS OR WORKING IN THIS BUILDING RIGHT NOW.
UH, I WORKED ON HIS FIRST CAMPAIGN AND HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING HIS, UH, UH, QUESTIONNAIRE WRITER.
UH, SO I HAD A FRONT SEAT TO ALL OF THE BRILLIANT, INCREDIBLY IN-DEPTH AND COMPLEX POLICY KNOWLEDGE THAT, UH, UH, CHRIS BROUGHT TO THE TABLE.
UH, I REMEMBER DRIVING DOWNTOWN TO GO TO HIS CONDO AT NIGHT SO THAT WE COULD GO OVER EVERYTHING I'D WRITTEN DURING THE DAY, EACH EVENING.
AND I REMEMBER THINKING, WHO LIVES DOWNTOWN
AND, AND VERY, VERY SORT OF SURPRISED.
THERE'S CONDOS HERE, THERE'S SOMEBODY WHO LIVES HERE.
AND, UH, OF COURSE THINGS ARE, YOU KNOW, DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT TODAY.
AND I'VE GOTTEN TO SEE THAT OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS I'VE BEEN HERE IN THE CITY.
AND I CAN SEE JUST HOW MUCH CHRIS HAS BEEN A PART OF THAT.
THE WORK THAT I, UM, AM PRIVILEGED TO DO TODAY.
I'M CONSTANTLY SURPRISED BY HOW OFTEN, YOU KNOW, I'LL BE TALKING WITH TIM OR SOME OTHER FOLKS AND SAY, WOW, THIS IS BUILDING OFF SOMETHING CHRIS DID, RIGHT? OR THIS IS BUILDING, THIS IS EXTENDING WHAT HE'D WORKED ON PREVIOUSLY.
SO IT'S MY TREMENDOUS PLEASURE AND HONOR TO BE HERE, TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THIS INCREDIBLE ITEM.
I THINK IT IS ABSOLUTELY THE MOST APPROPRIATE WAY, UH, TO HONOR CHRIS, AND I'M GLAD TO BE ABLE TO BE HERE TO SEE IT.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
UM, I'M HERE IN MY PERSONAL TIME AND CAPACITY SPEAKING AS A FORMER CITY HALL STAFFER FOR COUNCIL MEMBER RILEY.
YOU KNOW, CHRIS REALLY CHANGED THE COURSE OF MY LIFE, AND HE REALLY CHANGED HIS CONTRIBUTIONS OVER TIME, HAS CHANGED THE LIVES OF A LOT OF PEOPLE IN AUSTIN.
HE GAVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN AND GROW AS A CHIEF OF STAFF WORKING AT CITY HALL, SHARING HIS KNOWLEDGE AND CHALLENGING ME IN SUBTLE AND MAYBE NOT SO SUBTLE WAYS, UH, TO FIND UNIQUE SOLUTIONS TO LONGSTANDING AND NEW CHALLENGES THAT WE CONTINUE TO FACE FROM THE POLICY ARENA.
AS I LOOKED BACK AT EMAILS, HIS FIRST EMAIL TO ME ABOUT THE SHOAL CREEK TRAIL GAP WAS TWO WEEKS AFTER HE WAS, UH, FIRST SWORN IN AS A COUNCIL MEMBER IN 2009.
AND THE LAST ONE WAS FIVE YEARS LATER AS WE FINALLY GOT A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT ONTO A CITY COUNCIL AGENDA.
SO THIS WAS ALWAYS A PRIORITY FOR HIM, THIS PARTICULAR TRAIL.
AND THERE WERE SO MANY MEETINGS AND DISCUSSIONS WITH CITY STAFF AND STAKEHOLDERS ABOUT HOW DO WE GET THIS DONE? HOW DO WE GET THIS DONE IN AN APPROPRIATE WAY? AND THAT'S, UH, GETTING THAT TRAIL GRAB OVER THE FINISH LINE.
BUT THIS PROJECT'S SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME IS JUST ONE OF MANY THAT'S REPRESENTATIVE OF WHO CHRIS IS.
HE'S AN EFFECTIVE ADVOCATE FOR SAFEWAYS TO MOVE AROUND AUSTIN.
HE'S A PERSISTENT AND LIFELONG PUBLIC SERVANT WHO HAS GIVEN MUCH OF HIS TIME AND ENERGY TO THE CAUSES HE BELIEVES IN, AND HE WANTS TO SEE AND CREATE A BUILDER AND BUILD A STRONGER COMMUNITY.
MANY OF HIS IDEAS AND POLICY POSITIONS WERE SEEN AS THE EDGE OF WHAT'S POSSIBLE BACK THEN, AS WAS MENTIONED.
BUT TODAY IT'S BEEN AMAZING TO SEE SO MANY OF THOSE BECOME THE MAINSTREAM, BECOME CORE ELEMENTS OF THE CITY'S ADOPTED POLICIES AND PLANS OF WHAT WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS.
AS I'VE CONTINUED MY CAREER AFTER WORKING WITH CHRIS, UH, I REALIZED MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE, I TOOK AWAY THE CURIOSITY TO CHALLENGE EXISTING THINKING AROUND DIFFERENT POLICY TOPICS, HIS ATTENTION TO DETAIL, VERY SPECIFIC ATTENTION TO DETAIL, TO ALL THINGS.
UH, UNDERSTANDING HOW SPECIFIC WORDS YOU CHOOSE TO USE CAN REALLY INFLUENCE AND CHANGE THE OUTCOME OF THE CONVERSATION THAT'LL STICK WITH ME AS I ACHIEVE THE HIGH TRY TO ACHIEVE THAT HIGH STANDARD THAT HE SET FOR HIMSELF AND OTHERS.
YOU KNOW, AS WAS MENTIONED, IT'S SAID TODAY THAT WE STAND ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS.
THESE ARE BUILDING UPON THE IDEAS OF THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE US.
CHRIS HAS MADE A GIANT INTANGIBLE IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY, AND HIS MANY YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE PUSHED US FORWARD IN SO MANY WAYS, ACROSS SO MANY POLICY AREAS.
I'M APPRECIATIVE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TODAY THAT SPONSORED THE ITEMS, SUPPORTING IT AND BRINGING IT FORWARD SO CHRIS CAN GET THIS RECOGNITION TODAY AND SEE WHAT KIND OF IMPACT HE'S HAD AS WE CONTINUE TO STAND ON HIS SHOULDERS, CONTRIBUTING TO A SAFER, HEALTHIER, MORE SUSTAINABLE PLACE THAT WE ALL DESIRE AND THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY DESERVES.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR ME AND FOR AUSTIN.
CHRIS, MIKE TI, JULIE MONTGOMERY, LUISA BRUMATE, FELICITY MAXWELL.
WHAT WAS THE FIRST NAME YOU CALLED? MIKE TI.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE PEOPLE HEAR THEIR NAME.
UH, I'M HERE TODAY, UH, CAN'T REALLY READ MY NOTES TO, UH, RECOGNIZE CHRIS AS A LOCAL BOY.
UM, I'M ON BEHALF OF HIS CLASSMATES FROM CAIS AND O HENRY AND AUSTIN HIGH SCHOOL.
WE HAVE WATCHED CHRIS BE AN AMAZING COMMUNITY LEADER, CIVIC
[02:55:01]
LEADER ON, ON ALL KINDS OF GREAT IDEAS, BIKES, PARKS, URBAN PLANNING AT THE BEGINNING.THESE ALL SEEM LIKE NEWFANGLED IDEAS, BUT I'M SO DELIGHTED THAT A LOT OF THESE IDEAS HAVE COME TO FRUIT WITH THIS COUNCIL, AND I JUST WANTED TO TRY TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY SHIRT TODAY WAS SELECTED.
IT'S GOT A LITTLE ARMADILLO RIDING THE BICYCLE, AND I THOUGHT THAT REFLECTED CHRIS'S ROLE.
HE'S A NATIVE OF AUSTINITE, HE'S A BIKE.
HE, HE'S SO MUCH MORE, BUT WE ARE SO PROUD AND HONORED TO HAVE CHRIS AS A LOCAL BOY.
UH, MY NAME IS JULIE MONTGOMERY.
I'M ALSO HERE BREAKING THE RULE ABOUT, UH, THE UNOFFICIAL RULE ABOUT COUNCIL AIDS, NOT SPEAKING.
UM, BUT I JUST, I JUST HAD TO BECAUSE I WILL NEVER FORGET, UH, MY, I WENT TO A BIKE AUSTIN MEETING IN MAYBE 20 12, 20 13 IN THAT TIMEFRAME.
AND, UM, I WAS NOT SUPER INVOLVED IN CITY ADVOCACY AT THAT POINT, UM, JUST KIND OF DIPPING MY TOES IN IT.
UM, BUT SITTING COUNCIL MEMBER, CHRIS RILEY WAS THERE IN PERSON AT THE MEETING.
AND I JUST REMEMBER BEING SO EXCITED TO SEE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL TAKING AN INTEREST IN THE THINGS THAT I CARED ABOUT SO MUCH.
AND IT REALLY INSPIRED ME TO THINK ABOUT WHAT POWER AND WHAT A DIFFERENCE THAT, UH, CITY COUNCIL CAN MAKE IN EVERYBODY'S LIVES AND IN MAKING OUR CITY A SAFER AND A HAPPIER PLACE.
UM, AND SO JUST THANK YOU FOR OVER A DECADE OF INSPIRATION, CHRIS.
AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR OUR CITY.
HI, FELICITY MAXWELL WITH AURA.
UM, I, OF COURSE DIDN'T, THINKING OF HOW WE COULD HONOR CHRIS WANTED TO GO BACK TO THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE ALL OF OUR KNOWLEDGE LIVES IN THIS CITY.
SO I FOUND WHAT HE WROTE IN DECEMBER OF 2018 OR 2008 WHEN HE ORIGINALLY WAS PLANNING TO RUN FOR COUNCIL.
AND THE DIRECT QUOTE IS, I'M RUNNING FOR CITY COUNCIL TO OFFER PROVEN LEADERSHIP IN THE DIFFICULT TIMES AHEAD AND TO DELIVER THE KIND OF CREATIVE SOLUTIONS THAT AUSTINITES DEMAND AND DESERVE ADDING.
NOW I'M READY TO TAKE MY SERVICE TO THE NEXT LEVEL, AND I'M ASKING FOR THE SUPPORT OF A BROAD RANGE OF AUSTINITES TO HELP ME DO MORE, TO IMPROVE OUR COMMUNITY'S QUALITY OF LIFE.
HOW APTLY THIS DESCRIBES CHRIS'S INTENTIONS AND HIS LEGACY ALL THESE YEARS LATER, WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH HIS SERVICE TO THE CITY AND HOW MUCH WE HAVE BENEFITED FROM HIS LEADERSHIP.
SO THANK YOU, CHRIS, ON BEHALF OF ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF THE PARKING REFORM NETWORK, ALL OF THE ADVOCACY YOU'VE DONE OVER THE YEARS, WE ARE SO APPRECIATIVE OF YOU AND YOUR SERVICE.
I'VE CALLED ALL THE SPEAKERS FOR 1 0 6.
I'M SORRY, I HAVE CALLED ALL THE SPEAKERS FOR ONE SIX.
UH, UH, MEMBERS, YOU'VE HEARD THAT THAT'S ALL THE SPEAKERS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP.
UM, UH, I DIDN'T HEAR ANYBODY AGAINST THIS, SO I THINK WE'RE IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE.
UM, LET ME ASK IF THERE, I'LL, I'LL, I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER FOR A MOTION ON ITEM NUMBER 1 0 6.
PASSAGE OF ITEM 1 0 6, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER MOVES PASSAGE OF ITEM 1 0 6.
IT SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, UH, DISCUSSION, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.
UM, I JUST WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO HIGHLIGHT, UH, SOME OF THE MANY CONTRIBUTIONS, UH, TO THE CITY AND OUR COMMUNITY FROM CHRIS RILEY, UH, AND WHY WE ARE HONORING HIM TODAY.
UH, AND THEN, AND I GUESS THE MOST UP-TO-DATE CONTRIBUTION IS HAVING ALL OF US ON THE SAME PAGE ON A, ON AN ITEM
UH, CHRIS WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, UH, GRADUATING FROM AUSTIN HIGH SCHOOL, UH, BEFORE TEMPORARY LEAVING TOWN, UH, TO ATTEND A SMALL UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CALLED HARVARD UNIVERSITY.
UH, THOUGH HE CAME BACK TO US AS SOON AS HE COULD TO GO TO SCHOOL AT UT LAW, UH, HE WOULD GO ON TO, TO FIND, TO FOUND DANA THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IN 1997, UH, AND SERVE AS ITS PRESIDENT, UH, FOR FIVE YEARS.
HE ALSO SERVED AS OUR PLANNING COMMISSIONER, UH, A PLANNING COMMISSIONER FOR SIX YEARS, INCLUDING TWO AS CHAIR.
AND HE FURTHER SERVED IN THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION, THE WATER CONSERVATION TASK FORCE AND THE, AND THE STREET SMARTS TASK FORCE.
HE HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN A NUMBER OF NONPROFITS, INCLUDING THE AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION, ALLIANCE FOR PUBLIC TRUST, AND THE AUSTIN HISTORY CENTER ASSOCIATION.
AND OF COURSE, HE WAS ONE OF OUR PREDECESSORS SERVING IN AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL, WHERE HE ADVOCATED FOR BETTER TRANSIT HERE FOR CONDITIONS FOR PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS AND MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
MANY OF THE PROJECTS INITIATIVE HE WORKED ON, WE CONTINUE TO STAND ON HIS SHOULDERS AND BUILD ON HIS, AND BUILD ON HIS SUCCESSES TO THIS DAY.
UH, SO FOR THESE REASONS AND MANY MORE, UH, I'M SO HAPPY TO DEDICATE THE CHRIS RILEY BEND ON THE SHOAL CREEK GREEN BELT TRAIL TODAY.
COUNCIL MEMBER COUNCILMAN ELLIS.
A COUPLE OF YEARS BACK WHEN THE SAFE STREETS CAMPAIGN REALLY LAUNCHED, UH, MY CHIEF OF STAFF, JULIE, WHO SPOKE EARLIER, AND I WENT OVER TO, TO THE TWO DOOR HOUSE IN PEACE PARK, AND WE WERE THERE FOR THAT LAUNCH, AND WE GOT REALLY EXCITED.
WE SAID, WE'RE GONNA RIDE OUR BIKES DOWN THERE, IT'S GONNA BE GREAT.
WELL, AFTER THE EVENT ENDED, WE HEADED OUR
[03:00:01]
WAY BACK TO CITY HALL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE COULD GET HERE, AND WE GOT LOSTSO WE HAD TO TURN AROUND AND WE BUMPED INTO CHRIS RILEY AND WE SAID, HEY, CAN YOU HELP US GET BACK TO CITY HALL? AND HE DID
AND SO WE JUST REALLY APPRECIATE HOW MUCH YOU'VE BEEN IN THE COMMUNITY FOR EVEN JUST THE SMALLEST MOMENT IN ANYBODY'S DAY TO REALLY BE THERE AND, AND TO BE A GREAT, UH, COMMUNITY ADVOCATE.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER MAYOR, PRO TEM.
WELL, I WANNA ADD MY APPRECIATION ALSO, UH, AND GRATITUDE FOR CHRIS RILEY'S WORK HIS MANY DECADES OF PUBLIC SERVICE, AND ESPECIALLY FOR THE LEGACY THAT HE LEAVES ON OUR URBAN TRAIL SYSTEM, ALONG WITH HIS COMMITMENT TO SAFER STREETS FOR BIKES AND PEDESTRIANS THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY.
CHRIS BROUGHT HIS VISION OF AUSTIN AS AN ACTIVE URBAN OASIS TO LIFE, AND WE NOW SHARE IN THAT LEGACY ALONG SHOAL CREEK TRAIL AND THROUGHOUT DOWNTOWN.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? MEMBERS? THE YES.
COUNCIL MEMBER VALA JUST WANTED TO ADD MY VOICE AND I, I WANNA SAY, AS SOMEONE WHO WAS INTERESTED IN PUBLIC POLICY AND FOLLOWING POLITICS IN THE TWO THOUSANDS, UH, HE WAS ONE OF THE VOICES THAT I HEARD.
UH, HE WAS THE KIND OF THE ORIGINAL URBANIST.
I DON'T EVEN THINK THAT THE TO TERM WAS COINED AT THE TIME, BUT HIS ADVOCACY FOR PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLISTS AND GOOD URBAN DESIGN REALLY RESONATED WITH ME AND IS ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I'M ON THE DAIS TODAY.
UH, GREATLY, GREATLY APPRECIATED.
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY, THIS MAY BE AN A CITY HALL MYTH, BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT HIS COUNCIL PARKING SPACE WAS CONVERTED TO A BICYCLE PARKING SPACE.
SO EARLIER WHEN, WHEN RAMEY WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW THEY WOULD GO OVER HIS, UH, QUESTIONNAIRES AND HIS ANSWERS ON QUESTIONNAIRES AS THEY WERE HEADED BACK, I, I THOUGHT, HOW DID THEY DO THAT ON THE BICYCLE
UH, AND, AND IT'S, IT'S SO GREAT TO SEE A, A PIECE OF THE, OF THE BIKE TRAIL THAT YOU FOUGHT SO HARD FOR NAMED IN YOUR HONOR.
DID I SEE A, A MEMBER THAT'S VIRTUALLY WITH THEIR HAND UP? NO.
THEN, UM, MEMBERS, THAT CONCLUDES THE DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM.
THIS IS A SPECIAL ITEM, UH, AS, AND WE ALL FEEL THE JOY OF IT.
SO, UM, UH, CUSTOMER RILEY, UH, TYPICALLY WHAT WE DO IS, WITHOUT OBJECTION, SOMETHING PASSES, BUT ON THIS, SOMETHING LIKE THIS, UM, WHERE EVERYBODY WANTS TO EXPRESS THEIR APPRECIATION FOR YOU, THE WAY THAT WE ALL DO, UM, MEMBERS, YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION, IT'S TO ADOPT ITEM 1 0 6, AND THERE'S A SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THIS MOTION, PLEASE RISE.
COUNCIL MEMBER RILEY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING? I JUST WANT TO THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR ALL THE SUPPORT AND TO ALL THOSE SPEAKERS AND EVERYBODY HERE.
I, I, I, I, I, I MOVED AND TOUCHED AND I, I, I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE SUPPORT.
UM, I, IT, IT, UH, I DIDN'T HAVE ALL THAT SUPPORT.
I WISH I'D HAD SOME OF THAT SUPPORT WAY BACK.
GREAT ANSWER IS GREAT TO HAVE IT.
I YOUNG, YOU KNOW, Y'ALL TALKED ABOUT STANDING ON THE SHOULDER, ON THE SHOULDERS OF OTHERS, AND I FEEL LIKE I OWE EVERYTHING WE DID TO SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE WHO WERE SO INTEGRAL TO EVERYTHING WE WERE DOING, UM, YOU KNOW, AND MANY OF WHOM ARE HERE IN THE ROOM TODAY.
AND I, AND, UH, I CAN'T THANK EACH OF YOU ENOUGH FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE, UH, TO MAKE MY LIFE SO SPECIAL.
UM, AND TO BE HERE TODAY TO REFLECT BACK ON.
AND, UH, IT MEANS A LOT TO ME.
AND I JUST WANT TO THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH.
YOU, YOU MEAN A LOT TO US, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU.
UM, NOW TO MAYBE NOT AS JOYOUS
UM, WE, WE APPRECIATE Y'ALL TAKING THE TIME TO BE HERE, AND OF COURSE, SO MANY, UH, DIFFERENT MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
SO COUNCIL MEMBER RILEY, GOOD LUCK TO YOU AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL YOU MEAN TO US.
[03:05:02]
MEMBERS.[Public Comment (Part 2 of 2)]
WHAT WE WILL DO NOW IS WE WILL GO BACK TO THE CONSENT AGENDA, PUBLIC COMMENT, AND, UM, I WOULD ASK THAT THE CLERK, UH, CALL OUT THE FIRST FEW NAMES, AND SO WE GET PEOPLE COMING DOWN.FOLKS, IF I COULD ASK, UM, IF I COULD ASK YOU, PLEASE TAKE YOUR COMMENTS OUTSIDE.
PLEASE GO AHEAD FOR ITEM ONE 16, AMANDA SOAR.
RICHARD SU, RICHARD SUTTLE, DANIEL KAMAN, MELVIN REN.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD TO THE MICROPHONE.
FOLKS, CAN I GET EVERYBODY TO COME TO ORDER? WE, WE HAVE A SPEAKER, SO I'D APPRECIATE EVERYBODY COMING TO ORDER.
IT'S, IT'S FUN TO SEE EVERYBODY, UH, BE EXCITED ABOUT SOMETHING IN THIS ROOM.
UM, UH, GOOD MORNING, UH, MARIN, OR GEEZ LOUISE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MARION COUNCIL.
UH, I WORK FOR A SHOAL CREEK CONSERVANCY AS THEIR PROJECTS AND POLICY MANAGER.
UM, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT ITEM ONE 16, WHICH INITIATES A PROCESS TO REMOVE A WASTE, MOVE A WASTEWATER PIPE OUT OF BARTON CREEK IN ADD THAT NEEDED CAPACITY TO ALLOW RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS IN WEST AUSTIN, ROLLING WOOD AND WESTLAKE HILLS TO REDEVELOP.
UH, THIS ITEM IS CRITICAL AS IT RECOGNIZES THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE.
AS THE REGION GROWS, THE REGION WILL GROW AND PRETEND OTHERWISE IS NOT GREAT.
AND, UH, AS IT'S GROWING, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE THE WATER QUALITY OF BARTON CREEK.
THE CURRENT ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS REGARDING IMPERVIOUS COVER AND SOS WATER QUALITY DO NOT CHANGE.
AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE A INCREASE IN WATER QUALITY IN THIS WATERSHED.
AND AS THE REDEVELOPMENT OCCURS THAT THIS ALLOWS, WE GET TO UPDATE SOME OF THOSE PRE SOS, UM, PARCELS AND OLDER PROPERTIES WILL NOW COME INTO COMPLIANCE WITH MORE RECENT AND STRINGENT ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS.
MORE BROADLY, SEWER PIPES DO NOT BELONG IN CREEKS.
THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO DO TO IMPROVE THE WATER QUALITY OF OUR CREEK CITYWIDE.
I HOPE THIS CAN SPARK A LARGER CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW WE TREAT OUR CREEKS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, INCLUDING NOT ONLY BARTON CREEK, WHICH TENDS TO GET THE MOST ATTENTION OUT OF ALL THE WATERSHEDS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, BUT ALSO OUR MORE URBAN DEVELOPED AND HEAVILY IMPAIRED URBAN CREEKS SUCH AS SHOAL CREEK.
WE CANNOT HOPE TO RESTORE OUR CREEKS TO A CONTACT RECREATION SAFE STANDARD WHILE WASTEWATER PIPES RUN THROUGH THEM, WHICH INEVITABLY LEAK AND INCREASE E COLI IN THE WATER.
WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY THIS ITEM PRESENTS TO ALLOW US TO RECTIFY YEARS OF MISTAKES IN THE WAY WE TREAT OUR CREEKS AND ENVIRONMENT IN AUSTIN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND THANK YOU, OF COURSE, ESPECIALLY TO AFER AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS FOR WORKING SO HARD ON THIS.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE, THE TERRACE, WHICH IS A PROJECT AT THE CORNER OF LOOP 360 AND MOPAC.
AND WE'RE HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF AND OFFERING ASSISTANCE AS A RESOURCE IN THE STUDY.
PROPOSED IN NUMBER ONE 16 IN NINE, AS FAR BACK AS 1995, WE STUDIED THIS VERY ISSUE AS THIS PROJECT WAS COMING FORWARD.
AND IN 1995, THE COUNCIL PASSED ANOTHER RESOLUTION, INSTRUCTING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT TO, UM, DO SOME WATER QUALITY STUFF AND TO INCREASE CAPACITY.
AND, AND THE COUNCIL AUTHORIZED THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF FINANCING OF CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THIS LINE, WHICH THEN DID.
THE CONSTRUCTION DID OCCUR IN 1997.
AND, UM, AS PART OF THAT AGREEMENT, THE, WHEN THE OWNER AGREED TO MAKE THE IMPROVEMENTS, THE CITY AGREED THAT IT WOULD NOT MAKE ANY NEW WATER WASTEWATER COMMIT OR WASTEWATER COMMITMENTS, RESERVATIONS, OR OTHER TYPES OF ALLOCATIONS, OR INCREASE THE UPSTREAM LIFT STATION PUMPING RATES SO AS TO CAUSE THE BARTON SPRINGS LIFT STATION TO EXCEED CERTAIN CAPACITIES.
AND THAT WAS A SAFEGUARD, BOTH FOR MY CLIENT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY WERE DOING SOME WORK FOR THE CITY, THAT WE WEREN'T GONNA OVER OVER SURCHARGE THESE LINES.
AS PART OF THAT STUDY, WE STUDIED THE LINE AND THE LATERALS, WHICH YOU WILL FIND WHEN YOU, WHEN THIS STUDY GETS GOING, IT'S NOT JUST THE LINE IN THE CREEK, BUT THE LATERALS GETTING TO IT, THAT LEAK.
WE HAD FIELD TRIPS WHERE WE WOULD FIND STUFF COMING OUT INTO THE CREEKS.
BUT ANYWAY, ALL THAT BEING SAID, MY CLIENT STANDS READY TO BE A RESOURCE IN THIS STUDY AND, UM, BE HAPPY TO SHARE ANY INFORMATION ON THOSE AGREEMENTS BACK IN 95 AND 97.
AMANDA SWAR, MELVIN REN, SARAH JACKSON,
[03:10:01]
BARBARA SCOTT, HELEN MILLER, DANIEL RONAN, CHARLES VETO.IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
I'VE CALLED ALL THE NAMES FOR CONSENT, MAYOR.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
HAS YOUR NAME BEEN CALLED? IT CERTAINLY HAS, BUT NOT FIRST.
WELL, I SAID COME, PLEASE COME FORWARD IF IT'S AN EMPTY MICROPHONE, IT'S YOURS.
UM, AND HELLO MAYOR PRO TEM, UH, CITY MANAGER AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M THE INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT THE AUSTIN HISTORY CENTER ASSOCIATION.
IT'S BEEN A LOVE FEST FOR CHRIS RILEY.
I JUST WANNA LET Y'ALL KNOW HE USED TO BE OUR CHAIR, 2006 2008.
UH, I AM A VIKING INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR HERE AT THE ASSOCIATION, SO I'M HAPPY TO, UH, LIVE OUT HIS LEGACY.
I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF, UH, AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 1 72, AUTHORIZE NEGOTIATION EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT WITH THE AUSTIN HISTORY CENTER ASSOCIATION TO SET FORTH TERMS AND OBLIGATIONS RELATED TO FUNDRAISING AND DEVELOPMENT OF AN ADVISORY VISION PLAN FOR THE AUSTIN HISTORY CENTER CAMPUS.
AND I REALLY JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK, UH, EARLIER TODAY WE HAD TWO MEMBERS OF LIBRARY STAFF IN, UH, OUR PRESENT IN OUR PRESENCE TO, UH, TO, TO BE IN SUPPORT OF THIS, UH, AGENDA ITEM.
THAT'S, UH, HANNAH TERRELL, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR PUBLIC SERVICES, AS WELL AS CODY SCOTT FACILITIES PROCESS MANAGER FOR THE LIBRARY.
AND OF COURSE, TO, UH, OFFER MY THANKS TO DIRECTOR OF LIBRARIES ROOSEVELT WEEKS.
ALSO IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY IS, UH, OUR PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD, CHARLES PTO, UM, WHO IS ALSO, OF COURSE, A LARGE SUPPORTER OF OUR ORGANIZATION.
UH, WE OF COURSE, UH, THE ASSOCIATION WAS FOUNDED IN 1979 ON DECEMBER 27TH TO PROTECT THE DEMOLITION OF AUSTIN'S ORIGINAL PUBLIC LIBRARY, UH, WHICH WAS GOING TO BE DEMOLISHED FOR AN UNDERGROUND PARKING LOT TO BUILD AN 1978 FOX BUILDING.
WHAT ENSUED WAS, UH, THE ABILITY FOR AUSTINITES TO COME AROUND THEIR HISTORY AND STEP UP TO PROTECT, UH, NOT ONLY OUR HISTORY, BUT OUR PRESERVATION LEGACY HERE IN, UH, IN AUSTIN.
AND, UH, THIS AGREEMENT THAT YOU, UM, WILL BE APPROVING FOR, UM, AUTHOR, AUTHOR AUTHORIZATION RATHER AND NEGOTIATION, WILL ALLOW US TO REALLY SERVE THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND THE AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY TO, UH, FUNDRAISE FULLY FOR THE BROADER VISION OF AN EXPANDED AUSTIN HISTORY CENTER CAMPUS THAT IS MERGING THE ORIGINAL 1933 BUILDING AND THE 1978 BUILDING AS ONE AUSTIN HISTORY CENTER.
SO, UH, REALLY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, UH, YOUR ONGOING SUPPORT OF THE AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY, THE AUSTIN HISTORY CENTER, AND, UH, WE STAND WITH YOU AS WELL AS, UH, WITH THE AUSTIN, UH, LIBRARY FOUNDATION TO, UH, SUPPORT OUR LIBRARIES AND, UH, OUR CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS AT THIS CRITICAL TIME IN OUR DEMOCRACY.
AND I, HOW YOU DOING? I'M MELVIN LAND, UH, MAYOR, UM, ASSISTANT MANAGER AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, UH, BARBARA SCOTT AND HELENA MILLER AND MARGARITA DEERA.
MY WIFE HAD TO LEAVE ALONG WITH SARAH JACKSON.
UH, BUT I WANNA BRING OUT, AND ONE IS I'M SUPPORTING, THIS IS THE ADAMS WITH COLONY PARK.
UH, IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING, UH, WAVE, PROBABLY TOO LONG.
UH, BUT I WOULD SAY TO YOU THAT, UH, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE FACT THAT BARBARA SCOTT HAS BEEN THE ANCHOR TO WHAT WAS GOING ON BACK IN 2012.
FEBRUARY 12TH, 2012, UH, THE CITY CAME TO OUR COMMUNITY AND ANNOUNCED THAT THEY HAD A $3 MILLION GRANT, WHICH WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT THE COMMUNITY ACTUALLY BECAME AWARE OF A GRANT.
AND ORIGINAL CORE TEAM WAS BARBARA SCOTT, HELEN MILLER, UH, MARGARITA DETO, AND MYSELF, ALONG WITH A GENTLEMAN BY THE NAME OF BRANDON WHO, WHO STEPPED DOWN AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME.
BUT THE KEY WAS THAT CORE TEAM MET WITH, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING AND STAKEHOLDERS EVERY WEEK FROM TWO, FROM THE 2000 FROM THE ANNOUNCEMENT UNTIL 2000 DECEMBER, 2014.
EVERY WEEK, THE CORE TEAM PULLED TOGETHER, UH, THE, AND SELECTED THE DESIGNER DESIGN TEAM, AND THEY CREATED A, UH, PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT COMMUNITY OUTREACH PLAN THAT THE CITY SHOULD LOOK AT AND USE BECAUSE
[03:15:02]
IT WAS THE MOST EFFECTIVE OUTREACH.AND JUST LIKE TODAY OR LAST, THE LAST HOLIDAY, WE SERVED 300 TURKEYS.
WE PASSED OUT TO THE DIFFERENT FAMILIES, AND YOU HAVE DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES.
WE ALSO HAVE NEXT TO IT 80 PLUS ACRES DEALING WITH, UH, PARKLAND.
AND IN NOVEMBER, YOU'LL BE INVITED OUT TO HAVE THE DEDICATION OF, OF A SWIMMING POOL THAT WAS NOT ON THE SITE OF ANYONE AT THE TIME.
SOMETIME PROBABLY NEXT YEAR YOU'LL BE INVITED OUT FOR THE HEALTH CENTER THAT WAS NOT ON THE SITE AT ANY PERIOD OF TIME.
AS A RESULT OF THE DILIGENCE OF BARBARA SCOTT, HELEN MILLER, UH, THEY'VE STAYED WITH US ALL THE WAY THROUGH AND, AND WE'RE STILL INVOLVED TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD.
UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT INFORMING THE CORE TEAM WE'RE DEALING WITH CENSUS TRACK 22 0 1, 22 0 2, 22 0 8, 22 11, 22 12.
IT'S, IT IS A MINORITY MAJORITY, UH, AREA.
IT HAS A SUPERS SATURATION OF TAX INCOME, LOWER LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT PROPERTIES HAS A SUPERS SATURATION.
I MENTIONED THAT BECAUSE I KNOW WHEN WE PUT THE DEVELOPMENT TOGETHER, IT MAY ALLOW FOR MORE HOMES USING THE TAX INCREMENT, UH, PROCESS.
UH, SO I WANNA MENTION THAT TO YOU BECAUSE IT TOOK A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME WHEN ONE COULD LOOK AT IT AND SAY, IF IT'S GONNA BE A PROJECT IN EAST AUSTIN, WE HAVE TO GO BY THE HISTORY OF EAST AUSTIN AND SAY THE 1920S DIDN'T CHANGE WHAT TOOK PLACE OVER THE LAST YEARS.
UH, AND, AND THANKS FOR YOUR WORK.
AND THANK YOU EVERYBODY THAT HAD TO LEAVE TOO.
THANK YOU ALL SPEAKERS WERE CALLED MAYOR.
MEMBERS, UH, THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS THAT HAVE BEEN CALLED, UH, WITH REGARD TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[Consent Agenda]
ASK FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.AND WHEN I HAVE A SECOND, THEN WE WILL OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION.
THE MOTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, I JUST WANNA POINT OUT, MEMBERS WILL NOT INCLUDE ITEM 90.
ITEM 90 HAS TO BE BROUGHT UP AND TAKEN UP AFTER WE HAVE HAD THE A-H-P-F-C MEETING.
SO, UH, JUST KEEP THAT IN MIND THAT THE CONSENT AGENDA WILL NOT INCLUDE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE MOVES ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT AGENDA, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ.
WITH THAT, I WILL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, THE, THE ORDER THAT I'M GONNA GO IN ON REMARKS, UH, BEFORE WE THEN TAKE THE VOTE WILL BE COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER, THE MAYOR PRO TIM, THEN COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER.
AND THEN I'LL, I'LL KEEP MOVING THROUGH.
UH, SO COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, ALLISON, ALTER YOUR RECORDS.
MR. MAYOR, YOU SAID IF WE'RE OFF CAMERA AND YOU CAN'T SEE US, I'VE BEEN RAISING, RAISING MY HAND.
SO I WAS TRYING TO SECOND, WELL, WE ALREADY HAVE, WE ALREADY, WE ALREADY, I DON'T WANNA SPEAK.
I JUST WANNA SAY RESPECTFULLY THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF COMMENTS I WANNA MAKE TODAY, AND I THINK THERE ARE SOME REALLY GOOD FRIENDS ON THE DAIS WHO ARE GONNA SPEAK ON MY BEHALF TODAY.
WE HAVE A MOTION, WE HAVE A SECOND.
SO I'LL NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER, THE MAYOR PRO TIM, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER.
UM, COLLEAGUES, I WANTED TO IDENTIFY ITEM 51, WHICH INITIATES A QUALITY OF LIFE SURVEY FOR AUSTIN'S FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN.
THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME PRIORITY OF OUR EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL, AND I KNOW THAT THE RESULTS WILL BE ILLUMINATING FOR US AS POLICY MAKERS.
WE KNOW WITH CERTAINTY THAT ADDITIONAL TRANSFORMATIONAL INVESTMENT IS NEEDED TO SOLVE OUR CHILDCARE CRISIS FOR FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN.
AND TWO WEEKS AGO, TRAVIS COUNTY TOOK A PIVOTAL STEP, AND THEY'RE POISED TO PLACE AN ITEM ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT TO DO JUST THAT.
I ANTICIPATE THAT THIS STUDY WILL AFFIRM THE NEED FOR THIS INVESTMENT, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE OTHER INSIGHTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS THAT EMERGE SO WE CAN BEST SERVE OUR LOCAL FAMILIES AND CAREGIVERS.
I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 83, UH, WITH RESPECT TO TREE FOLKS, THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF USING CITY LAND TO HELP ADVANCE OUR MISSION TOWARDS ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY.
I'M REALLY PLEASED TO SEE THIS EXPANSION OCCUR AND WISH TREE FOLKS THE BEST OF LUCK IN THEIR WORK.
I ALSO WANNA NOTE THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL IMPORTANT PARK INVESTMENTS, INCLUDING RENOVATIONS AND ACQUISITIONS, AS WELL AS A VERY IMPORTANT AND LARGE WATER QUALITY LAND ACQUISITION FOR THE MARFORD PROPERTY IN ITEM 85.
UM, THIS IS KIND OF A DOUBLE AGENDA, SO THERE ARE MANY, MANY OTHER ITEMS THAT I COULD HIGHLIGHT, BUT I DID WANT TO RAISE THOSE FEW.
COMMISSIONER ALTER, UM, I, IF YOU ARE WATCHING VIDEO IN THE CHAMBERS, PLEASE TURN OFF THE SOUND.
SORRY, I, I, I JUST, IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS IN HERE.
UM, CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THAT THEN.
UH, THEN I'LL RECOGNIZE THE MAYOR PRO TIM, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, ELLIS.
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I WANT JUST TO TOUCH ON, UH, REALLY QUICKLY.UM, THIS IS REMOVING THE WASTEWATER PIPE FROM BARTON CREEK.
I'M REALLY PLEASED TO SEE THAT WE WILL FINALLY REMOVE THIS WASTEWATER PIPE FROM THE CREEK.
WASTEWATER PIPES DON'T BELONG IN CREEKS.
THEY ALSO IMPERIL LOCAL ECOSYSTEMS AND CAUSE HARM TO PEOPLE AND FISH AND WILDLIFE.
REMOVING THIS PIPE FROM THE CREEK BED OFFERS A NUMBER OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS BECAUSE THE PIPE'S CAPACITY WAS CONSTRAINED.
IT HAS PREVENTED SEVERAL OLDER PROJECTS FROM BEING REDEVELOPED.
A REDEVELOPMENT OF THESE OLDER PROJECTS WOULD PROVIDE HIGHER WATER QUALITY STANDARDS, LOWER IMPERVIOUS COVER, AND VALUABLE COMMUNITY ASSETS LIKE PARKLAND AND TRAILS THAT CHANGE BEGINS TODAY.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING AUSTIN WATER'S PROPOSAL IN NOVEMBER.
AND WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD.
COUNCIL MEMBER, OH, I'M SORRY.
ITEM ONE 15, I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ.
THIS IS THE, UM, ACCESS TO, UM, TO, UH, RESOURCES ITEM.
I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ FOR HIS LEADERSHIP ON THIS INITIATIVE AND FOR THE AMAZING PARTNERSHIP WITH ALL THE CO-SPONSORS WITH HOMEM, WE APPROVED POLICIES THAT ARE RECOMMENDED IN THE UPROOTED REPORT, AND BY THE ANTI DISPLACEMENT TASK FORCE, SPECIFICALLY, SMALLER MINIMUM LOT SIZES, MORE UNITS BY RIGHT, AND THE ABILITY TO SUBDIVIDE.
LAST YEAR, WHEN WE STARTED WORKING ON HOME ONE AND TWO, WE KNEW THAT A CRITICAL COMPONENT WOULD BE MAKING SURE THAT AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE COULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE POLICIES.
NOW, WITH THIS ACCESS TO CAPITAL AND AFFORDABILITY INITIATIVE, WE CAN EMPOWER FAMILIES WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO ADAPT AND PROSPER IN OUR EVOLVING CITY.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE CAN HELP FAMILIES STAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS THEY HAVE LONG CALLED HOME.