Jul 18, 2024 City Council Meetings

UM, WE GET TO PHASE TWO AND WAS ADDED TO THE RFP THAT THERE WAS A SUGGESTION TO HAVE STUDENT HOUSING ON CAMPUS.

WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GO TO REMOTE SPEAKERS FIRST, UH, SPEAKING ON ITEM 63 FOR THREE MINUTES.

JARED DELAINE.

HELLO, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

UM, UH, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY, OR GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY.

UH, MY NAME IS GERARD LAN.

UM, MYSELF, UH, LEGACY, UM, AND THE AUSTIN REVITALIZATION AUTHORITY.

UH, WE'RE ONE OF THE COMPETING TEAMS, UH, FOR THE BLOCK 16, UH, BLOCK 18 REDEVELOPMENT SITE.

UM, YOU KNOW, WE JUST WANT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, WE FELT THAT WE WERE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE PROJECT, BUT WE MAY NOT HAVE RECEIVED FAIR TREATMENT.

UM, DURING PHASE ONE, UM, IT WAS STATED THAT THE NUMBER ONE GOAL WAS AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

UM, WE PROPOSED AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOTH BLOCKS.

UM, I'M ACTUALLY AN HBCU GRAD.

WE REACHED OUT TO HT, UM, AND SAID, HEY, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, WE'D REALLY LIKE TO TALK TO YOU GUYS ABOUT THE PROJECT.

WE WERE TOLD THAT THEY WEREN'T INTERESTED IN TALKING TO US.

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AND WE THOUGHT, WELL, THAT WAS, THAT'S CURIOUS.

LIKE, WHY WOULD YOU ADD STUDENT HOUSING? YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT ON A STUDENT CAMPUS.

YOU KNOW, IT'S A, IT'S A GOOD LITTLE WALK TO GET TO CAMPUS.

SO WE WERE A LITTLE CURIOUS.

WE REACHED BACK OUT TO THE UNIVERSITY AND THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T WANNA TALK TO US.

UH, SO WE ENDED UP CONTINUING WITH OUR PRESENTATION, NOT INCLUDING STUDENT HOUSING.

YOU KNOW, WE FELT THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT FOR OUR COMMUNITY THAT NEEDS HOUSING.

YOU KNOW, STUDENT HOUSING IN OUR OPINION, YOU KNOW, IS FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO DON'T LIVE IN THAT COMMUNITY.

UM, SOME OF THEM WILL STAY IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT IT'S REALLY KIND OF TRANSIENT HOUSING, YOU KNOW, LIVE THERE FOR A FEW YEARS AND MOVE ON.

UM, WE FELT THAT THAT WASN'T THE BEST DECISION FOR THE COMMUNITY.

SO WE INCLUDED ALL THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON OUR PROJECT.

UM, SO ULTIMATELY THE OTHER TEAM THAT WAS COMPETING STUDENT HOUSING IS THEIR BREAD AND BUTTER, AND WE FELT THAT WE DIDN'T NECESSARILY GET A FAIR SHAKE AT IT.

UM, AND NOW IT APPEARS THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ADDITIONAL RESOURCES THAT ARE ON THE AGENDA TO FUND THE CULTURAL ART SPACE WHERE OUR PRESENTATION WOULD'VE BEEN BETTER IF WE KNEW THAT THAT RESOURCE WAS AVAILABLE AND WE COULD HAVE UNDERWRITTEN THEM TO THE PROJECT.

SO I'LL CLOSE IT WITH THIS.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS A HISTORICALLY AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

UH, WE WERE AN AFRICAN AMERICAN LED TEAM.

UM, AND ALTHOUGH UNFORTUNATELY WE WERE NOT SELECTED, YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY IT IS NOT SHOCKING.

UM, AND UNFORTUNATELY IT'S A PATTERN TOO FAMILIAR OF US NOT GETTING ACCESS TO THE RESOURCES IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

SO I WILL SAY THIS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

WE ARE STILL VERY HOPEFUL TO WORK WITH AUSTIN, EDC, ANNIE DAWSON COMMUNITY, OUR FUTURE PROJECTS.

THANK YOU, UH, MEMBERS AND, AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

I, I WANT, BEFORE WE GO TO THE NEXT SPEAKER, I WANNA POINT OUT THAT WE ARE JOINED VIRTUALLY BY, UH, OUR CITY MANAGER, TC BROAD ACTS.

UNFORTUNATELY, UM, MANAGER BROAD ACTS, UH, HAS COVID, AND SO THAT'S WHY HE IS NOT WITH US.

AND I, I HOPE I'M NOT VIOLATING HIS PRIVACY AND TELLING, BUT THAT, BUT, UM, I GUESS I JUST DID.

SO, UM, UH, BUT, UH, HE, THE REASON HE'S NOT WITH US IS HE'S NOT WELL AND HE DOESN'T WANNA EXPOSE ANYBODY.

UM, WE ARE JOINED BY DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, UH, JOHN FORTUNE.

I JUST WANT TO EXPLAIN THAT IF ANYBODY'S WONDERING WHY THE CITY MANAGER'S NOT WITH US.

PLEASE GO AHEAD.

THE STAFF HAS ALREADY VETTED MANY PROJECTS.

THE NEXT SPEAKER REMOTELY IS JAY POPHAM SPEAKING ON ITEM 88 FOR THREE MINUTES.

HI, MAYOR WATSON, COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THIS EXCITING RESOLUTION.

UH, MY NAME IS JAY POPHAM.

I'M A MEMBER OF THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST OF AMERICA AND THE CONSTITUENT OF VANESSA FUENTES IN, UH, DISTRICT TWO.

UH, VERY PROUD TO SEE THIS ITEM UP FOR CONSIDERATION.

I THINK THAT IT'S A, UH, FORWARD THINKING, UH, AND BENEFICIAL PROGRAM TO BE CONSIDERING, UH, FOR THE WELLBEING OF THE CITIZENS OF OUR CITY, UH, FOR OUR LONG-TERM FINANCIAL STABILITY.

UH, AND, YOU KNOW, OUR ABILITY TO ACT TOGETHER AS, UH, AS NEIGHBORS WHO WANT THE BEST FOR, UH, EACH OTHER AND FOR OUR CITY AS A WHOLE.

UH, I'M JUST GONNA, UH, QUOTE VERY BRIEFLY FROM, UH, CONGRESSMAN RASHIDA KLEB, UH, WHO HAD PUT UP A, UH, A MEASURE, UH, ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL, UH, ENCOURAGING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF PUBLIC BANKS.

UH, CONGRESSMAN KLEB SAID, WALL STREET RUN BANKS ARE FAILING TO SERVE MANY OF MY RESIDENTS WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO MEET AND MAKE ENDS MEET.

IT'S LONG PAST TIME TO OPEN DOORS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN SYSTEMATICALLY SHUT OUT.

WE MUST PROVIDE A BETTER OPTION FOR THOSE GRAPPLING WITH THE COST OF SIMPLY TRYING TO PARTICIPATE IN AN ECONOMY THAT'S BEEN RIGGED AGAINST THEM WITH DISCRIMINATORY AND ATORY PRACTICES.

WE NEED A FINANCIAL SYSTEM THAT IS DEMOCRATICALLY ACCOUNTABLE AND PUTS THE LIVELIHOODS OF OUR RESIDENTS AHEAD OF PRIVATE PROFITS.

I THINK WE HAVE A FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK INTO HOW AUSTIN CAN DO THAT HERE.

AND I ENCOURAGE A YES VOTE ON ITEM NUMBER 88.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

NEXT WE HAVE SUSAN PANTEL, WHO HAS REQUESTED TO SPEAK ON ITEM 93.

EVEN THOUGH IT'S BEEN PULLED, SHE'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES.

I STRONGLY SUPPORT MOVING FORWARD WITH A BOND ENVIRONMENTAL BOND THIS YEAR.

THERE'S A LOT OF URGENCY WITH THIS ISSUE.

CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS ARE, YOU KNOW, SERIOUS AND WE HAVE SO MUCH TO DO.

WE HAVE OVER 2 BILLION OF PROJECTS THAT ARE NEEDED THAT WERE IDENTIFIED BY THE JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION.

AND THIS WOULD ONLY BE LESS, PROBABLY LESS THAN 10% OF THOSE PROJECTS.

WE REALLY NEED TO HAVE STARTED THIS YESTERDAY, AND WE DON'T NEED TO STUDY IT FOR ANOTHER YEAR OR TWO YEARS.

THERE'S ALREADY BEEN A LOT OF COMMUNITY INPUT.

ALL THOSE PLANS YOU LIST HAVE HAD A LOT OF COMMUNITY INPUT.

THE JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION HAS PUBLIC INPUT AS FAR IN AS PART OF MAKING THEIR LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS.

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THERE'S ALREADY A NUMBER OF PROJECTS FROM PAST BONDS THAT JUST NEED MORE MONEY TO BE COMPLETED.

SO WE DON'T NEED TO SET UP A TASK FORCE AND STUDY THIS MORE.

WE NEED TO, TO MOVE FORWARD.

ANOTHER REASON IS THERE IS A LOT OF FEDERAL MONEY AVAILABLE NOW FOR THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS, AND THEY REQUIRE A LOCAL MATCH.

AND IN A YEAR FROM NOW, OR TWO YEARS FROM NOW, IF THE REPUBLICANS WIN THE PRESIDENCY, THAT MONEY MAY VERY WELL NOT BE HERE.

SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE MOVE FORWARD AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

BOTH THE JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION AND THE URBAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO MOVE FORWARD THIS YEAR WITH A BOND MEASURE.

AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU'RE PUTTING IT OFF.

WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE FROM THE OUTSIDE IS THAT ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE SUCCUMBING TO PRESSURE FROM THE MAYOR, AND THAT APPEARS TO BE THE ONLY REASON.

I DON'T SEE ANY GOOD REASON TO PUT THIS OFF, AND FRANKLY, THAT DOESN'T LOOK VERY GOOD.

WE'LL NOW MOVE OVER TO IN PERSON SPEAKING ON ITEM 4 25 AND 52 FOR NINE MINUTES.

WILLIAM BUNCH, SPEAKING ON ITEM 47 88, BEN SOTHEBY ON DECK.

RITA THOMPSON.

IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE MIC.

IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND IF THERE'S AN EMPTY MICROPHONE, GO AHEAD AND STEP UP AND IDENTIFY YOURSELF.

BUT ONCE YOUR NAME IS CALLED, PLEASE DON'T WAIT, COME FORWARD.

GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME'S BEN SOTHEBY.

UM, SPEAKING HERE IN MY PERSONAL CAPACITY, UM, I WANT TO THANK YOU FIRST FOR PULLING THREE.

UH, I'M SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF 47 AND 88 THIS MORNING, UH, 47, TAKING A LOOK AT, UH, UH, MORE GATHERING, MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW OUR AGING POPULATION IN OUR CITY, UH, ARE BEING SERVED AND THE NEEDS BEING MET.

I THINK THAT'S EXCELLENT.

I WANNA COMMEND Y'ALL FOR LOOKING INTO THIS.

GETTING FRESH INFORMATION IS EXACTLY HOW WE MAKE GOOD DECISIONS.

THE WORKING CLASS WHO WORK ALL THEIR LIVES DESERVE DIGNITY AND DESERVE ATTENTION IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND THEIR CAREGIVERS NEED, UH, NEED, UH, YOU KNOW, HELP AS WELL.

AND JUST THE NEIGHBORHOOD WE LOOK OUT FOR, FOR EACH OTHER.

SO THANK YOU FOR 47.

GATHER THAT INFORMATION TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MEETING THEIR NEEDS AS WELL.

UH, AND 88 PUBLIC BANKING.

EXCELLENT.

UH, GATHER MORE INFORMATION.

AND KNOW, I WAS JUST SEEING THAT THE SIX MONTH TBI IS YIELDING 4.99%.

UH, YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN POOL OUR MONEY AND, AND HAVE MORE OF THAT STAY HERE IN OUR POCKETS AS A CITY, I THINK IT'S A WONDERFUL THING TO EXPLORE.

OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, NEEDS NOT BEING MET IN THE BANKING, UH, FOR, FOR SEGMENTS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

I KNOW THE CHECK CACHING PLACES IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD CHARGE REALLY HIGH RATES.

UM, BUT FOR SOME FOLKS, THAT'S ALL THEY HAVE.

UM, SO YES, THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS OUT THERE.

GATHER THAT INFORMATION, EXPLORE THIS.

UM, LET'S, LET'S PROCEED WITH, UH, WITH KNOWLEDGE AND, AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT LET'S NOT RUSH INTO THINGS.

THIS IS EXACTLY THE WAY TO DO IT.

SO, UH, TWO GOOD THINGS THAT Y'ALL ARE DOING TODAY, COMMENDATION.

HAVE A GOOD DAY.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR.

COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, BILL BUNCH.

UH, DISTRICT FIVE, UH, JUST I WANT TO, I SIGNED UP FOR 99 ON SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT, AND I WASN'T CLEAR, IS THAT POSTPONED LATER? 9 9 99 HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN AND REPLACED WITH ITEM ONE 20, BUT IT'S FOR A PUBLIC HEARING LATER.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

SO I'LL JUST, I'M SORRY.

ONE 20 WAS POSTPONED TO SEPTEMBER 12TH.

THIS PART OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN EVERYBODY TRIESS TO THROW EVERYTHING ON THE AGENDA FOR A MEETING AND, AND THEN YOU HAVE THOSE KINDS OF THINGS HAPPEN.

BUT, UM, SO THAT ITEM HAS BEEN POSTPONED, BUT WE CAN SPEAK TO THE POSTPONEMENT LATER.

CAN'T, IS THAT RIGHT? OKAY, SURE.

I, I WASN'T PLANNING ON BRINGING IT UP IF IT'S GONNA BE POSTPONED, BUT WE'LL, WE'LL DO THAT IF YOU TELL US THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE POSTPONEMENT.

A BILLION DOLLAR LOAN TO SUPPORT IT.

UM, ITEM FOUR CALLS FOR, UH, THE COUNCIL TO SEEK A ALMOST HALF A BILLION DOLLAR LOAN TO SUPPORT A $1.1 BILLION EXPANSION TO THE WALNUT CREEK WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.

UH, THIS $1.1 BILLION EXPENDITURE WAS APPROVED BY Y'ALL ON CONSENT, UH, A MONTH OR SO AGO, UH, WITHOUT ANY DISCUSSION WITH ABSOLUTELY MINIMUM DETAIL ABOUT IT.

UM, AGAIN, HERE WE ARE WITH HALF

[00:20:01]

ALMOST NO INFORMATION SUPPORTING IT.

WHERE YOU HAVE THE RESOLUTION IS ACTUALLY WRONG.

IT SAYS THAT IT'S A HUNDRED MILLION MGD EXPANSION TO THE PLANT.

IT'S NOT, IT'S A 25 MGD EXPANSION TO GET TO A HUNDRED MGD CAPACITY.

UM, THIS IS RUNNING AHEAD WITH THE IDEA THAT WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE CONSUMING MORE AND MORE WATER THAT OUR CLIMATE CHANGE MODELING TELLS US WE SIMPLY DON'T HAVE.

AND THEN CONVERTING THAT ADDITIONAL CONSUMPTION OF WATER EVER GOING UPWARD, UH, FROM NOW ON, UH, INTO SEWAGE THAT NEEDS BEING TREATED.

UM, THIS IS, UH, HOSTILE TO SUSTAINABILITY.

IT'S A DIRECT THREAT.

IT'S BEARING YOUR HEAD IN THE SANDS WHEN YOU'VE PREVIOUSLY DECLARED A CLIMATE EMERGENCY.

UH, IT'S INCREDIBLY WASTEFUL.

YOU'RE STARING AT A PROPOSED 9.5% RATE INCREASE FOR WATER AND WASTEWATER.

UM, WITH TWO MORE 10% RATE INCREASES COMING IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

YOU'RE STARING LITERALLY A 30% RATE INCREASE FOR WATER AND WASTEWATER WITH THIS IDEA.

AND MOSTLY DRIVEN BY THESE HUGE, EXPENSIVE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS THAT WE CAN READILY AVOID IF WE SIMPLY GO BACK TO WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING UNTIL THE LAST FEW YEARS, LITERALLY FOR 40 YEARS OF KEEPING OUR TOTAL WATER CONSUMPTION FLAT AND THEREFORE OUR SEWAGE GENERATION FLAT.

UM, WHEN YOU HAVE A BUDGET, UH, SHORTFALL, YOU, YOU PUSH OFF THESE EXPENSIVE THINGS AS A MATTER OF FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.

WHEN YOU HAVE A WATER SHORTAGE, YOU DON'T KEEP SPENDING LITERALLY BILLIONS OF DOLLARS ASSUMING THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO, UH, DRAIN THE LAKES BEYOND ZERO.

YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T DO THAT.

UM, WE HAVE, FOR A FRACTION OF THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY, WE CAN GO BACK TO WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING SINCE THE 1980S.

AND THAT IS KEEPING OUR WATER CONSUMPTION FLAT BY BEING WAY MORE AGGRESSIVE WITH A WHOLE RANGE OF A BASKET CASE OF STRATEGIES, UM, THAT WILL, UH, INCREASE OUR EFFICIENCY.

UH, INSTEAD Y'ALL AGAIN VOTED ON CONSENT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OUR HISTORY TO RAISE OUR GALLONS PER CAPITA, BUT, UH, WATER CONSERVATION GOALS AT PRECISELY THE MOMENT WHEN WE NEED TO BE RACING IN THE OTHER DIRECTION.

SO LET'S SAVE A BILLION DOLLARS.

LET'S START IMPLEMENTING A CAREFUL CLIMATE IMPACT REVIEW ON EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE PROJECTS AND HAVE THAT REVIEW INCLUDE WHAT CAN WE DO IN THE ALTERNATIVE TO AVOID THOSE PHENOMENAL COSTS TO AVOID RACING AHEAD LIKE WE HAVE BEFORE, AS IF THERE'S AN ENDLESS WATER SUPPLY AND AN ENDLESS SUPPLY OF MONEY AND AN ENLA ENDLESS, UH, PROGRESSION OF RATE INCREASES.

Y'ALL ARE SUPPOSED TO CARE ABOUT AFFORDABILITY, RIGHT? IS IT TEN NINE AND A HALF, 10% WATER WASTEWATER RATE INCREASE? IS THAT AFFORDABLE WHEN IT'S TOTALLY UNNECESSARY IF YOU JUST STOP AND THINK AND REEVALUATE AND AT LEAST ASK SOME QUESTIONS AND HAVE YOUR RESOLUTION BE ACCURATE.

IT'S NOT A HUNDRED MGDD EXPANSION.

CAN'T YOU EXPECT THE WATER UTILITY STAFF, YOUR OWN STAFF TO LIKE, BE CORRECT ON SOMETHING LIKE THAT, ON A RESOLUTION YOU'RE ABOUT TO VOID ON? I MEAN, THIS IS EMBARRASSING.

PLEASE STEP BACK, POSTPONE THIS, UM, FIND A CHEAPER, BETTER, MORE SUSTAINABLE OPTION.

UM, ITEM 52, I'M ONLY SPEAKING THAT IN MY INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, UH, AS A FORMER TOURISM COMMISSION MEMBER, UM, EXPANDING THE CONVENTION CENTER, UH, TO THE TUNE OF, YOU KNOW, $2 BILLION.

UH, IF, IF WE'RE HONEST ABOUT IT, PERHAPS 3 BILLION, AND THAT'S NOT EVEN, UH, COUNTING WHAT WILL BE ANNUAL OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE LOSSES OF A HUNDRED MILLION OR MORE.

UM, THIS IS THE BIGGEST BLACK HOLE OF CITY MONEY THAT REALLY RIGHTFULLY BELONGS TO CULTURAL TOURISM.

UH, LIVE MUSIC, THE ARTS NATURE, TOURISM, SUPPORTING WHAT REALLY BRINGS PEOPLE TO AUSTIN.

UM,

[00:25:01]

AND, UH, PUTS HEADS IN BEDS AND SUPPORTS OUR LARGER HOTEL INDUSTRY ACROSS THE CITY, ACROSS THE COUNTY, RATHER THAN JUST THE TWO OR THREE BIG EXPENSIVE, UH, DOWNTOWN CONVENTION CENTER HOTELS.

UM, THE CONVENTION BUSINESS IS CRASHING.

IT'S NEVER RECOVERED FROM, UH, UH, PRE PANDEMIC LEVELS.

UM, IT'S BOUNCED BACK SOME, BUT IT'S STILL WAY BELOW PRE PANDEMIC.

ALL THE PROJECTIONS ARE THAT THE MISMATCH IN SUPPLY AND DEMAND OF CONVENTION CENTER SPACE IS GONNA KEEP GOING WAY, WAY DOWN.

UM, AND IF YOU'RE GONNA GO FORWARD, UM, AGAIN, YOU NEED TO STEP BACK AND COMPLETELY REEVALUATE WITH SOME HONEST INFORMATION.

'CAUSE UM, THIS IS LITERALLY LIKE FLUSHING, UH, 30 YEARS AND LITERALLY BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF THAT HOTEL ANCY TAX REVENUE STREAM DOWN THE TOILET.

UM, OUR CONVENTION CENTER HAS NEVER MET THE PROJECTIONS, UH, THAT WERE MADE TO JUSTIFY IT WHEN MAYOR WATSON PUT IT ON THE BALLOT FOR PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY VOTE ON WHEN THERE WAS A BROAD COMMUNITY CONVENTION, UH, CONSENSUS TO DO THAT.

THERE WAS A REAL CASE TO BE MADE IN 1998 TO EXPAND THE CONVENTION CENTER TO GIVE US THE ONE THAT WE HAVE NOW, BUT IT'S NEVER COME CLOSE TO THE PROJECTIONS THAT WERE MADE.

IT SITS EMPTY.

WE'RE WE'RE HEMORRHAGING DOLLARS BECAUSE BESIDES SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST, IT'S BASICALLY SITTING EMPTY EXCEPT FOR LOCAL AND REGIONAL TRADE SHOWS.

UM, WHICH IT, THE CURRENT CONVENTION CENTER FULLY ACCOMMODATES AND SOUTH BY PEOPLE HAVE TOLD ME POINT BLANK, THE CURRENT CONVENTION CENTER WORKS JUST FINE FOR THEM.

UM, SO, UH, IT'S REALLY TIME TO COMPLETELY REASSESS THE CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION.

UM, SO PLEASE, I WOULD SAY VOTE NO AGAINST THIS CONSULTING CONTRACT FOR THIS BLACK HOLE OF DIVERSION OF FUNDS FROM CULTURAL TOURISM WHERE IT BELONGS.

RITA THOMPSON, SPEAKING ON ITEM 70 FOR THREE MINUTES, FOLLOWED BY CRAIG NASER SPEAKING ON ITEM 90 FOR THREE MINUTES.

GUS PENA ON DECK.

IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME TO THE FRONT.

IT WOULD BE A GOOD THING FOR AUSTIN TO KEEP THAT IN MIND WHEN WRITING CITY ORDINANCES IN THE TIME OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, COME ON, MR. NAZER, YOU KNOW THE ROUTINE.

HELLO, MY NAME IS CRAIG NAZER, PRESIDENT OF AUSTIN ENVIRONMENTAL DEMOCRATS.

MY COMMENTS CONCERN ITEM 90 AND WHY WE OPPOSE IT.

SCIENCE TELLS US SOIL IS IMPORTANT.

SOIL IS A LIVING ECOSYSTEM LIKE A FOREST OR A CORAL REEF.

IT SUPPORTS MILLIONS OF SPECIES MOST BEING MICROSCOPIC.

WE NOW KNOW IT HOSTS FUNGAL MICRO, IE.

A MASSIVE WEB OF HY A THAT ACTS AS AN ORGANIC INTERNET THROUGH WHICH PLANTS CAN COMMUNICATE AND EVEN SHARE CHEMICAL RESOURCES.

STRENGTHENING THE ENTIRE FOREST SOIL IS A CRADLE THAT NURTURES TERRESTRIAL PLANTS AND ANIMALS.

SOIL INCREASES WATER QUALITY AND GREATLY AFFECTS WATER QUANTITY.

AND ITS STORES A LOT OF CARBON, CARBON THAT WOULD OTHERWISE SEEP INTO THE ATMOSPHERE AND HEAT THE PLANET.

IMPERVIOUS COVER KILLS SOIL, IT ENT TUNES IT.

AVOIDING THE KILLING OF SOIL SHOULD BE A BIG DEAL TO ALL OF US WHO CARE ABOUT THE PLANET EARTH.

WHEN AN ELECTED OFFICIAL TELLS US THAT THEY WILL NOT INCREASE IMPERVIOUS COVER AND KEEP IT AT 45%, THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PROMISE AND ONE THAT SHOULDN'T BE RENEGED UPON LIGHTLY.

ITEM 90 CERTAINLY LOOKS LIKE IT WILL INCREASE IMPERVIOUS COVER BEYOND 45%.

IF YOU READ BETWEEN THE LINES AFTER WE HAVE BEEN TOLD OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT HOME WOULDN'T DO THAT, AUSTIN ENVIRONMENTAL DEMOCRATS CONTINUE TO OPPOSE INCREASED IMPERVIOUS COVER.

BY THE WAY, THE 45% IMPERVIOUS COVER LIMIT IS NOT BASED ON ANY SCIENCE.

IN FACT, IT MAY AS WELL HAVE EMERGED FROM THE SOUTH END OF AN ARMADILLO HEADING NORTH FOR ALL THE VALUE IT HOLDS.

SCIENCE CLEARLY TELLS US THAT IN ALMOST ALL CASES, AN IMPERVIOUS COVER LEVEL ABOVE 10% BEGINS AFFECTING WATER QUALITY AND HI, THE HIGHER IT GOES, THE MORE NEGATIVE EFFECT IT HAS.

THAT'S WHY IT'S SO MUCH LOWER OVER THE BARTON, UM, CREEK RECHARGE ZONE.

THE REAL PROBLEM WITH SCIENCE IS IT IS TRUE WHETHER YOU CHOOSE TO BELIEVE IT OR NOT,

[00:30:01]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR PRO.

TIM MAYOR CAN GIVE 10 SECONDS REAL QUICK.

YES, MAYOR RYAN ALTER.

I, I KNOW A COUPLE PEOPLE HAVE SIGNED UP TESTIFYING THIS AND, AND MR. NAZER TOUCHED ON IT.

I JUST WANT TO BE ABUNDANTLY CLEAR BEFORE ANYBODY ELSE, UH, COMES FORWARD.

THERE IS NOTHING IN ITEM 90 THAT TOUCHES IMPERVIOUS COVER.

I'VE SAID MANY TIMES FROM THIS POSITION THAT I DON'T INTEND TO INCREASE IMPERVIOUS COVER, SO I JUST WANNA MAKE IT CLEAR SITTING HERE TODAY WHILE EVERYONE IS HERE BEFORE WE HEAR MORE TESTIMONY, IF YOU LOOK THROUGH THE RESOLUTION NOT MENTIONED ONE TIME, AND THAT'S FOR A PURPOSE.

SO JUST WANNA MAKE THAT CLARIFICATION.

COUNCIL MEMBER RITA THOMPSON.

GUS PENA SPEAKING ON ITEM SIX, ITEM 11 FOR SIX MINUTES, FOLLOWED BY MONICA GUZMAN ON DECK.

IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

MS. GUZMAN, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE UP.

THAT'S WHY WE SAY IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

MONICA GUZMAN SPEAKING ON ITEM 1790 AND 91 FOR NINE MINUTES.

UH, I'M MONICA GUZMAN, POLICY DIRECTOR OF GAVA.

GO AUSTIN.

AUSTIN, I HAVE NO STATEMENT ON 17, ON ITEM 90.

GAVA IS OPPOSED, UH, SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE COMMUNITY, UH, STAKEHOLDERS.

IT POINTS OUT, UH, I CAN'T REMEMBER THE NAMES.

A1C, A ONE A AND PRESERVATION.

I CAN'T REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE REST OF THE GROUP.

BUT, UH, DEVELOPERS, URBANISTS, WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE LACK OF TRUE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE AREAS THAT ARE BEING DEVELOPED, THAT ARE IN, IN THE PIPELINE TO BE DEVELOPED AND WITH PROTECTED OR ANTICIPATED NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THEM, POSSIBLY PUSHING THEM INTO RISK OR A HIGHER LEVEL OF RISK OF DISPLACEMENT.

WE ASK THAT YOU MAKE SURE WHETHER IT'S CHANGE THE WORDING OR BROADER DIRECTIVE ABOUT MAKING SURE THE COMMUNITY IS MORE INVESTED AND, AND ENGAGED FOR THIS PROCESS.

GOOD MORNING, UH, MAYOR.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS GUSTAVO PENA.

GREW UP IN EAST AUSTIN, 2327 EAST FIFTH STREET.

I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON NUMBER SIX.

UM, REGARDING, UH, ME, MECHI SUPPORTED NUMBER EIGHT, I WAS AT ST.

DAVID'S AND WE HAVE PROBLEMS OVER THERE WITH THE COMMUNITY AND BEING DISRESPECTFUL.

AND I AM A PRODUCT OF GOING, UH, UH, OF BEING AT, UH, ST.

DAVID'S HOSPITAL.

LEFT A BIG OLD HOLE RIGHT HERE IN THE BACK ON, ON MY SPINE, SO I'M HALFWAY PARALYZED.

THE ISSUE IS THIS, UH, IT SHOULDN'T HAVE OCCURRED.

AND, UH, WE HAVE A TEAM OF, UH, ATTORNEYS THAT ARE WORKING ON THAT AND WORKING WITH, UH, UH, ST.

DAVID'S, UH, SIX NUMBER 63 HOUSING, UH, THAT WOULD, THAT SHOULD BE PASSED.

UH, PEOPLE NEED THAT HOME, THE HOMES.

AND, UH, I JUST WANTED TO LET Y'ALL KNOW I'M STILL ALIVE, UM, EVEN THOUGH I HAD, UH, THREE, UH, SURGERIES FROM THE MARINE CORPS, HELICOPTER CRASHES, BUT I JUST WANNA SAY I'VE BEEN TOUGH WITH Y'ALL BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY NEEDS Y'ALL.

I DON'T NEED Y'ALL.

I GOTTA HAVE GOD WITH ME.

THE ISSUE IS THIS IS PLEASE SUPPORT THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY AND I WILL LEAVE IT AT THAT.

AND, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR I, I'VE BEEN TOUGH ON Y'ALL.

YOU KNOW, YOU'VE BEEN AT THE CAPITOL.

UH, THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO, UH, ANOINT ME WITH THE POSITION OVER THERE.

I SAID, NO, I'M A DEMOCRAT, BUT I JUST WANTED TO LET Y'ALL KNOW I'M HERE AND BACK.

AND MY BABY GIRL, UH, SHE COULDN'T MAKE IT.

BUT, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE HARD WORK THAT Y'ALL DO AND THE STAFF AND EVERYBODY.

NEXT WE HAVE PAT SRES SPEAKING ON ITEM 48 FOR THREE MINUTES, FOLLOWED BY ANDREW HAIRSTON SPEAKING ON ITEM 63.

ON DECK IS CLAY SHORKEY.

IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY

[00:35:01]

TO THE FRONT.

THANK YOU MAYOR.

COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS PAT VAS AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT THREE.

I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEM 48, AN ITEM THAT, UM, PROVIDES ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR SPAY NEUTER THROUGH A THIRD PARTY VENDOR.

UH, IN ADDITION TO THE FUNDING YOU ALREADY PROVIDE FOR EMANCIPATE TO DO SPAY NEUTER IN THE COMMUNITY.

THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND AS I'VE SAID FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, OH, AND ESPECIALLY, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER VELA, YOU INITIATED THIS AMENDMENT AND THANK ALL OF YOU FOR VOTING FOR IT.

AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT YOU HAVE THIS COMMITMENT TO SPAY NEUTER.

I THINK THAT'S THE WAY THAT WE ARE GOING TO SOMEDAY BE A NO KILL CITY THAT DOES NO KILL HUMANELY.

UNFORTUNATELY, AS YOU SAW DURING THE AUDIT PROCESS, THE AUDITOR HAS POINTED OUT THAT WE ARE NOT BEING HUMANE.

WE DON'T, WE NO LONGER HAVE AN OPEN INTAKE ANIMAL SHELTER.

AND THERE IS A HOLE THAT HAS BEEN DUG WHERE MANY, MANY MORE ANIMALS WERE EITHER BORN IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS OR WE'RE BROUGHT INTO THE CITY FROM OUT OF TOWN.

AND IT HAS PREVENTED SOME OF OUR ANIMALS FROM MOVING OUTTA THE SHELTER.

SO NOW YOU HAVE A PROBLEM.

WE NO LONGER HAVE AN OPEN INTAKE ANIMAL SHELTER, AND THAT'S REALLY, REALLY BAD.

WE HAVE PEOPLE COMING TO THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION EVERY MONTH TALKING ABOUT HOW THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH NOT HAVING OPEN INTAKE.

WE NEED TO FUND OPEN INTAKE.

AND I THINK THERE IS A WAY TO GET TO OPEN INTAKE WITHOUT KILLING ANIMALS.

ONE IS TO CONTINUE TO FUND SPAY UTER AS YOU'RE DOING WITH THIS, THIS CONTRACT.

BUT, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO LOOK AT A CITY FACILITY THAT RIGHT NOW IS BEING USED BY AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS BRINGING ANIMALS IN FROM OUTTA TOWN WHILE OUR ANIMALS ARE LANGUISHING IN THE ANIMAL SHELTER.

YOU NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT, WHAT, WHAT'S GOING ON HERE? BECAUSE I LOVE HELPING OTHER COMMUNITIES, BUT THEY NEED TO FUND THEIR ANIMALS.

THEY NEED TO FUND SPAIN NEUTER IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY IN HAYES COUNTY, WHICH WE'VE HELPED THEM FOR YEARS, BUT ALSO NOW WE'RE BRINGING ANIMALS IN FROM THE BORDER AND FROM LAREDO AND FROM SOUTH TEXAS, AND THAT'S NOT RIGHT.

COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, I'VE BEEN TALKING TO YOU ABOUT SPAY NEUTER FOR A REAL LONG TIME, AND YOU ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THAT, AND I APPRECIATE IT.

I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE, THE DISCUSSION ISN'T ABOUT, YOU KNOW, DO WE FUND CHILDREN OR DO WE FUND ANIMALS? THE DISCUSSION IS DO WE FUND PREVENTION OR DO WE FUND SOMETHING ON THE OTHER END, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, THIS HUGE TRANSPORT PROGRAM TO BRING ANIMALS HERE AND THEN SEND THEM SOMEWHERE ELSE.

AND EVERYBODY SAYS WE'RE NO KILL, BUT WE DON'T REALLY KNOW THAT WE ARE.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING TO SOME OF THESE ANIMALS THAT ARE BEING TRANSPORTED.

SO ANYWAY, I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR HELP WITH THIS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

CLAY SHORKEY, J STANLEY AND SYLVIA MORALES ALL SPEAKING ON ITEM 63.

MR. MAYOR? YES.

MAY I MAKE A COMMENT? PLEASE, PLEASE.

UM, PAT, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED ADVOCACY IN THE COMMUNITY AND, AND ESPECIALLY YOUR THOUGHTFULNESS AROUND PREVENTION.

ESP YOU KNOW, WE ARE, AS WE ENTER THIS BUDGET PROCESS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SCARCITY.

AND SO WHEN I THINK SCARCITY, I THINK EMERGENCY AND I THINK BOTTOM LINE, WORST CASE SCENARIO, TO MY POINT ABOUT THE ANALOGY WITH WHETHER OR NOT WE SPARE OUR FOUR-LEGGED FRIENDS OR CHILDREN, I DIDN'T MEAN TO BE OFFENSIVE.

I WAS JUST POINTING OUT THAT WE HAVE REACHED A PLACE WHERE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A VERY LONG TIME, THE CAPITAL CITY OF THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS IS LOOKING AT SCARCITY IN OUR BUDGET.

AND WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WHERE WE APPLY OUR BUDGET.

WE'VE SAID ON SO MANY OCCASIONS, IT'S OUR MORAL DOCUMENT.

UM, AND SO I JUST WANNA MAKE CERTAIN THAT AS WE APPROACH TAKING CARE OF OUR PRIORITIES, WE INCLUDE PRAGMATIC ASPECTS LIKE SPAY NEUTER.

I MEAN, I SEE I GOT TO SEE YOU OUT IN THE WILD AT THE SHELTER.

AND TO YOUR POINT, THREE OF THE KITTY CATS THAT I LOOKED AT WHILE I WAS AT THE SHELTER WERE FROM, UM, UH, NEAR, UM, OH, I CAN'T THINK OF THE NAME CORPUS.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, TO YOUR POINT, AND SO I, I LOOK FORWARD TO US CONTINUING THIS CONVERSATION AND HAVE A ROBUST DISCUSSION, BUT NEVER THINK THAT I'M, YOU KNOW, BEING AN ALARMIST.

I I AM SAYING THAT WE DO HAVE AN ISSUE THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS.

AND I APPRECIATE THAT IT'S BECOMING MORE AND MORE FRONT AND CENTER AND WE'RE HAVING MORE CANDID CONVERSATIONS.

A MONTH AGO, MY FELLOW CHURCH MEMBERS AND I PRESENTED AT AN URBAN RENEWAL BOARD MEETING, UH, AS THIS PROCESS NEARED, UM, THIS POINT OF COMPLETION.

COUNCIL MAYOR, PLEASE, UH, STATE YOUR NAME AND WELCOME.

YES, GOOD MORNING.

I'M ANDREW HAIRSTON.

I'M A DISTRICT ONE RESIDENT.

I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 63.

I'M A MEMBER OF EBENEZER THIRD BAPTIST CHURCH AND I CO-CHAIR THE CHURCH'S SOCIAL JUSTICE AND ADVOCACY MINISTRY.

UH, ABOUT

[00:40:01]

AND WE UPLIFTED SIMILAR POINTS AS WE'RE THINKING ABOUT THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMPONENTS OF THE URBAN RENEWAL AGENCY AND ITS ABILITY TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE, UH, THIS PROJECT.

IT'S OF UTMOST SIGNIFICANCE TO US AS OUR CONGREGATION WILL CELEBRATE.

150 YEARS IN FEBRUARY.

UM, WE WERE ALL OF THE OPINION THAT RACIAL JUSTICE HAS TO BE A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF HOW THIS PROCESS MOVES FORWARD, ESPECIALLY AS THE GROUND WILL BE STRUCK IN 2026 AND THE DEVELOPMENT WILL MOVE FORWARD.

WE HOPE THAT THE DEVELOPER WILL CONSIDER INCLUDING VARIOUS RESOURCES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO OUR CHURCH AND COMMUNITY, CERTAINLY ARE UPLIFTED AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

WE'RE ALSO THINKING ABOUT THIRD SPACES WHERE THE COMMUNITY CAN ENJOY ART AND CULTURE AT LITTLE TO NO COST, AS WELL AS ECONOMIC JUSTICE INITIATIVES TO COMBAT FURTHER DISPLACEMENT AT THIS CRITICAL JUNCTION JUNCTURE OF OUR HISTORY AS A CITY WHERE SO MANY FOLKS ARE FILLING THEIR POCKETS, BEING SQUEEZED TO THE BRINK.

WE NEED SPACES THAT WILL PRESERVE THE RICH HISTORY OF BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES AND AUSTIN, AND ALLOW THEM TO FORGE A PATH INTO THE FUTURE.

WELL, I, I'M CLAYTON SHORT .

THANK YOU FOR LETTING US SPEAK TODAY ABOUT THE TEXAS MUSIC MUSEUM, WHICH IS LOCATED ON 11TH STREET IN EAST AUSTIN.

IT HAS BEEN IN OPERATION FOR OVER 40 YEARS WITH ALL VOLUNTEERS AND SUCH.

AND, UH, UH, TEXAS MUSIC MUSEUM WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1984, UH, BY A GROUP OF AUSTINITES WHO WERE COMMITTED TO PRESERVING AND PRESENTING THE EXTENSIVE HISTORY OF TEXAS MUSIC.

WE RECEIVED OUR 5 0 1 C3 IN 1985, AND OUR FIRST EXHIBIT WAS IN 1986, UH, RELATED TO, UH, TEXAS SESCO CENTENNIAL.

AND WE WERE NAMED BY THE, UH, GOVERNOR AS AN OFFICIAL, UH, SESCO CENTENNIAL PROJECT.

OVER 40 YEARS, OUR, UH, UH, VOLUNTEERS HAVE TRAVELED EVERY PART OF TEXAS ON THEIR OWN FUNDING, BY THE WAY, LOCATING, INTERVIEWING, PHOTOGRAPHING, COLLECTING ARTIFACTS, WHICH HAS RESULTED IN OUR, UH, VERY LARGE AND DIVERSE ARCHIVE.

WE'VE PRESENTED EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT AUSTIN, HOUSTON, DALLAS, SAN ANTONIO, OTHER CITIES, AND WE'VE PROVIDED MATERIAL FOR MANY HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL PROGRAMS. UH, VOLUNTEERS HAVE WRITTEN BIOGRAPHIES, SPRAY BOUNDED EXHIBIT, MATERIAL ASSEMBLY, EVEN PAINTED THE FRAMES.

UH, IT'S TIME FOR TEXAS MUSIC MUSEUM TO MOVE FORWARD FOR A MAJOR EXPANSION TO HELP MAKE AUSTIN THE TRULY AMAZING TEXAS MUSIC CITY THAT IT IS.

UH, PLEASE HELP US MOVE TEXAS MUSIC MUSEUM TO A WORLD CLASS MUSEUM FOR AUSTIN.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR.

GOOD MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS SYLVIA MORALES.

I'M HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT AND IN FAVOR OF ITEM 63.

I'M THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER AT THE TEXAS MUSIC MUSEUM.

THE DEVELOPMENTS AT BLOCK 16 AND 18 OFFER GREAT NEW POSSIBILITIES FOR THE TEXAS MUSIC MUSEUM.

WE CURRENTLY OCCUPY ABOUT 2000 SQUARE FEET AND ARE LOCATED IN THE HEART OF EAST AUSTIN ON EAST 11TH WALKING DISTANCE FROM THE CAPITOL.

WHILE WE HAVE A RICH COLLECTION OF OVER 25 EXHIBITS IN STORAGE, WE CAN ONLY SHOWCASE A SMALL FRACTION OF OUR EXHIBITS DUE TO SPACE LIMITATIONS.

ADDING TO OUR CONCERN IS THE IMMINENT NEED TO RELOCATE OUR STORAGE.

WE HAVE A THOUSAND SQUARE FEET AT AN OFFSITE LOCATION, AND OUR CURRENT ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE ENDING SOON.

WE SEEK A NEW CLIMATE CONTROL LOCATION, WHICH IS CRITICAL IN PRESERVING AND EXPANDING OUR ARCHIVES.

IN ADDITION TO STORAGE, WE NEED MORE EXHIBIT SPACE.

SO IN CONCLUSION, WE'RE SEEKING 13,000 SQUARE FEET, PREFERABLY IN EAST AUSTIN.

EAST AUSTIN HOLDS DEEP SIGNIFICANCE FOR US AS WE'VE BUILT STRONG TIES WITH OUR COMMUNITY.

WITH YOUR SUPPORT, WE CAN ENSURE THAT THE TEXAS MUSIC MUSEUM CONTINUES TO ENRICH AND INSPIRE OUR CITY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

IN OUR ARCHIVE, WE HAVE OVER 100 ORIGINAL INTERVIEWS IN OUR ORAL HISTORY COLLECTION, A VAST COLLECTION OF LPS AND RECORDS CONSISTING OF 40 FIVES AND 70 EIGHTS.

HELLO, EVERYBODY.

MY NAME IS JAY STANLEY.

I'M A DOCENT, COLLABORATOR AND SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER WITH THE TEXAS MUSIC MUSEUM.

[00:45:02]

AND AS FAR AS WE KNOW IT, THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF TEXAS SHEET MUSIC RELATED TO TEXAS MUSIC IN OUR OFFICE.

WE HAVE AN EXTENSIVE COLLECTION OF NEGATIVES, AUDIO AND VISUAL RECORDINGS AND PHOTOS IN OUR ARCHIVES THAT NEED TO BE RESERVED.

AND I BELIEVE IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL IF YOU WANT A CITY COUNCIL, HELP US HELP AUSTIN AND TEXAS IN PRESERVING TEXAS MUSIC.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MENTION AS AN ARTIST, AS MYSELF, AS AN ARTIST, UH, AS A STUDENT AT HOUSTON TILLERSON UNIVERSITY AND AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER IN EAST AUSTIN THAT I AM PERSONALLY IN FAVOR OF ITEM 63.

UM, FOLLOWING THAT RECOMMENDATION.

SCOTT STRICKLAND, LAUREN GOLD, PATRICK BTA SPEAKING ON ITEM 63.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR.

UH, CITY MANAGER.

UM, CITY COUNCIL.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR, FOR YOUR TIME.

UM, MY NAME IS SCOTT STRICKLAND.

I REPRESENT THE DISTRICT EIGHT.

I SERVE AT THE PLEASURE OF, UH, PAIGE ELLIS.

AND, UM, I AM ON THE MUSIC COMMISSION AS WELL.

I AM, UH, SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF ITEM 63 AS, UH, IT PERTAINS TO THE TEXAS MUSIC MUSEUM AND, AND THE, AND THE FACT THAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR A SPACE TO, UM, UM, MOVE TO AND GROW AND, UM, UM, PRESERVE THE, UM, THE INCREDIBLE AND AMAZING, UM, ARTIFACTS IN THE HISTORY THAT THEY HAVE ESTABLISHED HERE IN THE, UH, GREAT CITY OF AUSTIN.

THE, UM, THERE ARE ARTIFACTS THAT THEY HAVE THAT ARE JUST OVER A HUNDRED YEARS OLD AND, UM, SOME OF THESE THINGS ARE, UM, QUITE INCREDIBLE AND IT WOULD BE AN AMAZING THING FOR, UM, THERE TO BE A DIALOGUE, AN EXCHANGE OF CONVERSATION FOR US TO, UM, FIGURE OUT, UM, WHAT WE COULD DO FOR THE TEXAS MUSIC, UH, MUSEUM.

FROM THE MUSIC COMMISSION PERSPECTIVE, WE HAVE NOT TAKEN ANY RECOMMENDATION OUT OF, UM, OUR WORKING GROUP JUST YET.

WE WILL DO THAT AND WE WILL COME BACK, UM, TO YOU DOING THAT.

THE ONE THING THAT I DO WANNA POINT OUT IS THAT THE MUSIC COMMISSIONS, UM, SOME OF OUR MAIN GOALS ARE PRESERVATION, ELEVATION AND INNOVATION, UM, PRESERVATION, MEANING PRESERVING THE PAST, INNOVATION, MEANING TAKING WHAT WE HAVE, AND WE WANT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO ELEVATE THAT.

AND THEN THERE'S ELEVATION, WHICH IS, UM, ACTUALLY, UM, GIVING WHAT WE HAVE A HIGHER PLATFORM.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

APPRECIATE IT.

IT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPRESSIVE.

IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, JUST PLEASE COME FORWARD.

HELLO ALL.

MY NAME IS LAUREN GOULD.

I'M A NATIVE AUSTINITE MUSIC COMMISSIONER FOR DISTRICT TWO AND A FULL-TIME PROFESSIONAL MUSICIAN.

UH, SO THOSE OF US WHO YOU'RE HEARING FROM TODAY ARE PART OF A WORKING GROUP THAT WAS FORMED BY THE MUSIC COMMISSION TO HELP THE TEXAS MUSIC MUSEUM SECURE THE FACILITIES AND FUNDING THAT THEY NEED TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE.

TO THAT END, I'D LIKE TO ADD MY VOICE TO SUPPORT THE TEXAS MUSIC MUSEUM'S INCLUSION IN THE EAST 11TH AND 12TH STREET URBAN RENEWAL PLAN, WHICH WE'RE DISCUSSING ON ITEM 63.

SO IN FAVOR OF ITEM 63 AS WELL.

AND TO EMPHASIZE THE FACT THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN REALLY HAS A DUTY TO PROTECT THE ROOTS OF OUR VIBRANT AND DIVERSE MUSIC COMMUNITY.

UH, THE AMOUNT OF GENRES AND PEOPLE, UM, REPRESENTED IN THIS MUSEUM ARE ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE.

AND IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN, YOU MUST GO AND CHECK IT OUT.

UM, SO AS A TREE CANNOT CONTINUE TO GROW AND BEAR FRUIT WITHOUT STRONG ROOTS, IN THE SAME WAY AUSTIN'S MUSIC ECOSYSTEM, UH, CANNOT CONTINUE TO THRIVE WITHOUT A STRONG CONNECTION TO OUR MUSICAL ROOTS, AS OUR CITY GROWS AND DEVELOPS, WE MUST MAINTAIN OUR CONNECTION WITH OUR HISTORY, TEND TO IT NURTURE IT.

THE FOLKS AT THE TEXAS MUSIC MUSEUM HAVE BEEN TENDING TO THAT CONNECTION VALIANTLY, DESPITE THE DIFFICULTIES THEY'VE FACED.

AND THEY SHOULD BE PART OF THE FABRIC OF THIS NEW DEVELOPMENT WITH FACILITIES AND FUNDING COMMISERATE WITH THE THRIVING MUSIC CITY SUCH AS OURS, SO THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE THEIR GOOD WORK TO SHARE THE STORIES OF OUR MINI CULTURE BEARERS IN THE FU, UH, AND INSPIRE FUTURE GENERATIONS TO CARRY THOSE TRADITIONS FORWARD.

SO OUR WORKING GROUP IS HERE TO HELP FACILITATE PLANS FOR ONGOING COLLABORATION WITH, UH, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ENTITIES TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

SO WE HOPE TO CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION AS THE PROJECT UNFOLDS.

[00:50:01]

UH, COUNCIL, GOOD TO SEE YOU GUYS THIS MORNING.

PAT BTA, UH, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER WITH AUSTIN, TEXAS MUSICIANS ADVOCACY NONPROFIT.

UM, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN DOING THIS WORK FOR A LITTLE OVER FIVE YEARS IN THE COMMUNITY AND, UH, WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH SOME OF YOU GUYS AND ACHIEVED SOME AMAZING THINGS.

UH, THIS IS OFTEN COMPLEX WORK AND HARD WORK.

UH, SO WHEN I SEE SOMETHING THAT'S KIND OF A, OF A NO-BRAINER IN THE MUSIC COMMUNITY, IT'S, IT'S REALLY EXCITING FOR ME.

UH, THE TEXAS MUSIC MUSEUM HAS THE, LIKE WE'VE HEARD TODAY, THE DEEPEST ARCHIVE OF TEXAS MUSIC.

THEY'VE GOT FOLKS LIKE, UH, LOCAL LEGENDS LIKE MANUEL COWBOY DONNELLEY, LIKE, UH, RECENTLY DEPARTED DR. JAMES POLK, EVEN A DEEP ARCHIVE OF CZECH MUSIC FOR BOHEMIANS LIKE MYSELF.

UM, SO, YOU KNOW, I'D LOVE TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP THESE GUYS, UH, PRESERVE THE GREAT WORK THAT DR.

SHORKEY'S BEEN DOING FOR 40 YEARS.

I KNOW WE ARE VERY EARLY IN THE PROCESS ON BLOCK 16 AND 18.

UH, WE'VE BEEN, UH, OBVIOUSLY WORKING WITH MUSIC COMMISSION, UH, WITH A EDC AND, UH, TALKING TO COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HARPER MADISON'S OFFICE TO SEE WHERE WE FIT IN, UH, TO THE MIX.

SO, UH, IN THE MEANTIME, I WOULD LOVE TO INVITE YOU GUYS OUT TO SEE THIS THING.

UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ALEX STRINGERS SPEAKING ON ITEM 70, REESE ARMSTRONG SPEAKING ON ITEM 88.

LUIS OTA LUGO SPEAKING ON ITEM 88.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

I'M SPEAKING, UM, REGARDING ITEM 70 BECAUSE LOOK, WE NEED TO BRING DECORUM BACK TO CITY HALL, OKAY, MAYOR, AND THESE JERKS, YOU KNOW, THESE MAGA HAT WEARING JERKS.

THEY HAVE NO PLACE IN CITY HALL NOR IN AUSTIN.

YOU KNOW, AND THERE'S NOTHING MORE HEINOUS AND EGREGIOUS THAN MOCKING A GOVERNMENT MEETING, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CITY OF AUSTIN DOES SUCH A GREAT JOB WITH REDISTRIBUTING OUR WEALTH TO VARIOUS SOCIAL JUSTICE INITIATIVES LIKE PROVIDING HOTELS FOR OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS AND ALLOWING THEM TO CAMP AT THE GREENBELT NEEDLES, FENTANYL AND HUMAN FECAL MATTER ARE THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO FIGHT OUR CLIMATE CRISIS.

YOU GUYS KNOW THIS.

I KNOW THIS.

EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS IS WHAT THE EXPERTS HAVE BEEN TELLING US FOREVER, YOU KNOW, AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, AS A MAN WHO PUSHED THEIR PREGNANT GIRLFRIEND DOWN THE STAIRS AND GOT RELEASED ON A PR BOND, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOU, TO YOU GUYS FOR GETTING JOSE GARZA INTO OFFICE EXCEPT FOR THAT RIGHT-WING FASCIST MACKENZIE KELLY, BECAUSE HE IS THE MOST PROGRESSIVE DA IN HISTORY.

AND UNDER ANY O OTHER SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES, ANY HUMAN BEING WHO WOULD'VE DONE SOMETHING LIKE THIS WOULD STILL BE IN JAIL, BUT NOT HERE.

AND IT'S THANKS TO YOU.

ALSO.

THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO GET AN ABORTION IN TEXAS BECAUSE ABORTION IS HEALTHCARE.

FURTHERMORE, THE WAY THESE MAGA JUDDS HAVE BEEN MOCKING OUR INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES, IT'S DISGUSTING.

AND WE JUST NEED TO LOOK AT HOW THEY, WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT TRUMP.

AND IT WAS NOT AN ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT, AND HOMELAND SECURITY COULD NOT GO UP ON THAT ROOF BECAUSE IT WAS SLANTED AND SLOPED.

AND THE IRANIANS KNEW THAT, AND THAT'S WHY THEY POSITIONED THE SHOOTER THERE AND ALLOWED HIM 30 MINUTES TO CLIMB THE LADDER AND SET UP HIS POSITION.

WE NEED TO GO TO WAR WITH IRAN RE-IMPLEMENT THE DRAFT TO PROTECT US FROM TERRORISM.

I WOULD GO KIRK, BUT I HAVE PEANUT ALLERGIES, SO I'M UNABLE TO.

THEM TO PAY FOR IMPORTANT EXPENSES AND BE ABLE TO PAY BACK THE LOANS.

GOOD MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I AM REESE ARMSTRONG, A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SEVEN, AND ONE OF THE CO-CHAIRS FOR THE LASA YOUNG DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS OF AMERICA AND THE HIGH SCHOOL AND DISTRICT THREE THAT SERVES STUDENTS FROM ACROSS THE CITY.

I'M SPEAKING BEHALF ON THE ORGANIZATION TODAY.

WE ARE FIRMLY IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 88 BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN THE LIBERATORY POWER OF PUBLIC BANKING.

POOR AND WORKING CLASS.

PEOPLE IN AUSTIN TODAY DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO SAFE, AFFORDABLE, AND RELIABLE LINES OF CREDIT TO SUPPORT THEIR EVERYDAY NEEDS TO THE UPPER CLASS FINANCIAL SYSTEM, NOT LENDING TO THEM UNDER VARIOUS PRETENSES LIKE CREDIT SCORES.

WITHOUT ACCESS TO FAIR CREDIT, THEY ARE FORCED TO TURN TO PREDATORY LENDING PROVIDERS LIKE PAYDAY AND TITLE LOANS.

THESE LOAN PROVIDERS OFFER LOANS FROM ANYWHERE BETWEEN 303000% ANNUAL INTEREST AND ARE DESIGNED TO BE PAID BACK IN AROUND TWO WEEKS.

UNFORTUNATELY, SINCE PEOPLE GET TRAPPED INTO DEPENDENCY ON THESE LOANS TO MEET THEIR BASIC PURCHASES LIKE FOOD, RENT, HEALTHCARE, AND MORE, THEY END UP SPENDING THEIR NEXT PAYCHECK ON PAYING OFF THE LAST LOAN AND HAVING TO TAKE OUT A NEW LOAN TO STAY ALIVE.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO STRESS THAT THIS IS THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN CREDIT IS A NECESSARY TOOL TO KEEP YOURSELF HOUSED, FED AND CLOTHED IN AMERICA.

THIS IS WHERE PUBLIC BANKING COMES IN.

A PUBLIC BANK CAN OFFER LOW INTEREST LOANS TO LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME BORROWERS WHO WOULD OTHERWISE NOT HAVE ACCESS TO FAIR CREDIT.

THIS WILL ALLOW

[00:55:01]

ADDITIONALLY, THE CITY CAN AFFORD TO TAKE ON MORE RISKS THAN OTHER LENDERS AT FAIRER INTEREST RATES.

BECAUSE IT'S SERVING THE PUBLIC INTEREST AND NOT ATTEMPTING TO TURN IN PROFITS FOR SHAREHOLDERS, WE FIRMLY SUPPORT ITEM 88 AND URGE THE CITY TO CONSIDER A MUNICIPAL BANKING AND LENDING STRATEGY FOR THE WORKING CLASS.

MAY I I BE BRIEF, I PROMISE.

UH, I JUST WANNA THANK OUR LAST SPEAKER, THIS SCHOLAR FROM LASA.

UM, IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO SEE UNFAMILIAR FACES IN THIS BUILDING AND ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO SEE YOUNG PEOPLE ENGAGING IN CIVICS AND BONUS FOR TALKING ABOUT FINANCIAL LITERACY.

I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR CONTRIBUTION TODAY.

COUNCIL MEMBER LUIS OTA LUGO, SEAN ATKINS, BARBARA GRANT, BENETTA SPEAKING ON ITEM 89 AND ENOVIA JOSEPH ON DECK.

YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED.

PLEASE COME FORWARD HI TO FOLKS.

UH, LUIS OLUGO, DISTRICT EIGHT RESIDENT.

UM, I JUST WANNA SPEAK IN FAVOR, UM, OF, UM, ITEM 88 WITH WHOLE PUBLIC BANK.

UM, I THINK PUBLIC BANKS OBVIOUSLY CAN BE RISKY, UH, POTENTIAL FOR CORRUPTION AND GRIFT AND OTHER THINGS, BUT I THINK WE'RE A CITY HAVE SHOWN OURSELVES THAT WE CAN TAKE BIG PROJECTS AND DO THEM IN A WAY THAT HAS THE RIGHT TRANSPARENCY AND THE RIGHT CONTROLS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY SERVE THE INTEREST OF THE PUBLIC.

UM, I THINK THEY'RE A REALLY GREAT WAY OF SERVING OUR UMP BANK POPULATION.

THEY'RE A REALLY GREAT WAY OF HELPING ASSUAGE ANY CONCERNS OF POSSIBLE, UH, MISALIGNED INTERESTS WITH THE VARIOUS BANKS THAT WE MAY, UH, USE FOR CERTAIN PROJECTS THROUGH OTHER.

AND HELP MAKE SURE THAT AS WE ARE TRYING TO FUND THE PROJECTS THAT THE CITY'S UNDERTAKING IN A SPEEDY AND SCALABLE FASHION, THAT WE HAVE ALL THE FINANCIAL ES THAT WE NEED IN A WAY THAT GETS US ALL AS MUCH OF THE VALUE AS POSSIBLE.

SEAN ATKINS, DISTRICT THREE.

UM, MY PUBLIC BANK SPEECH WAS MORE CLIMATE BOND SPEECH.

THEY WERE MISSED TOGETHER, BUT NOW THAT THEY'RE SEPARATED, THIS IS GONNA BE REALLY BRIEF.

I JUST WANNA STRESS THAT A CLIMATE OR A PUBLIC BANK, WHATEVER YOU WANNA CALL IT, IS A VERY NORMAL IDEA THAT IS UTILIZED IN A LOT OF DEVELOPED COUNTRIES, PARTICULARLY LIKE WESTERN LIBERAL DEMOCRACIES IN AMERICA.

THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF A, I WANNA SAY LIKE A RESERVATION ABOUT THE PHRASE PUBLIC BANK AND IMPLIES A SORT OF LIKE CERTAIN SOCIALIST LEFT-LEANING, UH, BELIEF SYSTEM THAT I JUST DON'T THINK IS LIKE, ACTUALLY REFLECTIVE OF LIKE THESE TYPE OF INSTITUTIONS THAT EXIST, UH, ALL OVER THE WORLD.

SO GERMANY IS ONE EXAMPLE OF A NATION THAT HAS A REALLY, REALLY WELL DEVELOPED PUBLIC BANKING SYSTEM.

UH, SAME WITH JAPAN.

SORRY, MY NOTES ARE DOWN.

BUT WHAT I REALLY JUST KINDA WANNA STRESS IS THAT A PUBLIC BANK SHOULD PLAY A ROLE IN A SOCIETY THAT IS NOT BEING FILLED BY PRIVATE BANKS IN THAT SENSE, AS THE WONDERFUL SPEAKER, UH, TWO SPEAKERS BEFORE ME POINTED OUT THIS IS LOANING TO LOW INCOME FOLKS, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS THAT ARE NOT REALLY BEING MET BY TRADITIONAL LENDERS.

BUT ALSO I WANNA WARN AGAINST USING A PUBLIC BANK IN A WAY THAT A PRIVATE BANK WOULD ACT, RIGHT? THIS IS SOMETHING THAT GETS LOST IN THE DEBATE.

THE REASON PRIVATE BANKS DON'T LEND TO THESE PEOPLE IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE VERY INTENSE OUTLAYS.

THEY NEED TO COMPENSATE FOR.

THEY ARE LENDING IN HIGH, IN HIGH, UH, INTEREST RATE SAVINGS BANKS, UH, YOU KNOW, FIVE, SIX, 7%.

AND THEN IN YOUR INVESTMENTS YOU NEED TO REACH FIVE, SIX, 7% RETURNS.

THAT MEANS THAT YOU NO LONGER CAN AFFORD TO INVEST IN A PROJECT THAT ONLY HAS A ONE OR 2% RETURN OVER THE COURSE OF A COUPLE YEARS.

ONE OR 2% ADJUSTED FOR INFLATION.

UH, AND THAT MEANS THAT YOU GET PULLED BACK.

SO IF WE DO THIS PUBLIC BANK, I JUST REALLY WANNA STRESS THAT YOU NEED TO MAKE IT A BORING UTILITY, A BORING UTILITY THAT OFFERS CHECKING ACCOUNTS ONLY MAYBE SOME LOW INTEREST RATE SAVINGS ACCOUNTS.

I RECOGNIZE IT'S NOT GONNA BE COMPETITIVE WITH JP MORGAN OR WHOEVER, BUT IF YOU OPEN IT UP TO TRADING SECURITIES, EVEN OFFERING SOMETHING AS MUNDANE AS CDS, YOU'RE GONNA TANK THE BANK BECAUSE ALL OF A SUDDEN IT NEEDS TO MAKE BACK ITS DEPOSITS OR ITS ITS LOANS OR WHATEVER.

AND IT'S GONNA HAVE TO START INVESTING IN PROJECTS THAT ARE JUST FUNDAMENTALLY INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE GOALS OF THE BANK.

ULTIMATELY, BE VERY AMBITIOUS IN WHAT YOU WANT THIS TO LEND TO, BUT CONSERVATIVE IN WHAT IT NEEDS TO MEET.

OTHERWISE, THIS IS GONNA GO UPSIDE DOWN REALLY FAST OR IT'S JUST GONNA OPERATE LIKE A NORMAL BANK.

AND THE WHOLE POINT OF DOING THIS WILL HAVE BEEN ULTIMATELY DEFEATED.

SO BE INVESTING IN SMALL HOMEOWNERS, BE INVESTING IN SMALL PROJECTS THAT JP MORGAN WOULD NOT A SMALL LITTLE COMMUNITY, SOLAR FIELD, SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES.

I REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO THAT, UM, AND TO DO THAT.

THE REASON I BROUGHT UP GERMANY AT THE BEGINNING, IT'S A LITTLE SCATTERED, I DON'T HAVE MY NOTES, IS THAT THIS IS WHAT THESE BANKS DO.

THIS IS WHAT THE KFW DOES, THIS IS WHAT THE SPARK COUSIN DOES.

I PROBABLY BUTCHER THAT PRONUNCIATION, BUT THE BANKS THAT OPERATE IN A REALLY WELL THOUGHT OUT PUBLIC BANKING SYSTEM OPERATE IN THIS INTERESTING MIX OF AMBITION AND CONSERVATISM THAT I REALLY GOT REALLY WANT YOU GUYS TO THINK ABOUT AND TO START EMBRACING IF YOU GO FORWARD WITH THIS.

AND IF WE DO THE CLIMATE BOND, NEVERMIND.

[01:00:04]

GOOD MORNING ALL.

MY NAME IS BARBARA GRANT BONTA.

I'M THE NEW DIRECTOR OF SUCCESS BY SIX HERE IN AUSTIN.

AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK, UH, IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 89.

FIRST, WE WANNA GO AHEAD AND EXTEND OUR SUPPORT TO OUR SPONSORS.

COUNCIL MEMBER ALES AND ALTER, RYAN ALTER, VANESSA FUENTES, JOSE VELASQUEZ, AND PAIGE ELLIS.

AND, UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALWAYS BEING SUCH STRONG SUPPORTERS OF THESE CAUSES.

CHILDCARE CENTER OWNERS HAVE SHARED WITH US HOW THE STREET IMPACT FEE IMPOSES A HEAVY BURDEN, OFTEN IMPACTING THEIR ABILITY TO EXPAND AND SERVE MORE FAMILIES.

CURRENTLY FOR PROJECTS BETWEEN 1000 TO UNDER 5,000 SQUARE FEET, THIS FEE IS $608 PER VEHICLE.

ONE PROVIDER WE SPOKE WITH FACED AN OVERWHELMING $11,000 FEE, WHICH NEARLY DERAILED THEIR PLANS FOR EXPANSION.

AUSTIN CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE MORE CHILDCARE SEATS OR MISS OPPORTUNITIES TO CREATE NEW ONES.

THE DEMAND FOR CHILDCARE IN TRAVIS COUNTY FAR EXCEEDS THE SUPPLY WITH OVER 5,000 CHILDREN ON A TWO YEAR WAIT LIST FOR SUBSIDIZED SEATS, WE MUST DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO SUPPORT THIS VITAL SECTOR.

WE ARE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL TO LIVE IN A CITY THAT RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF QUALITY EQUITABLE CHILDCARE FOR A THRIVING COMMUNITY.

WE ALSO DEEPLY APPRECIATE A CITY COUNCIL THAT SEEKS INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS SUCH AS THIS ONE TO SUPPORT CHILDCARE PROVIDERS.

EVERY BIT OF RELIEF HELPS THESE PROVIDERS WHO ALREADY OPERATE ON RAISE OR THIN MARGINS TO CONTINUE THEIR ESSENTIAL WORK.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION FOR PASSING ITEM 89 AND PROVIDING MUCH RELATE, MUCH NEEDED RELIEF TO CHILDCARE PROVIDERS LOOKING TO EXPAND THEIR OPERATIONS.

YOUR SUPPORT CAN MAKE A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF MANY FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

ZIA JOSEPH, FOLLOWED BY MARIO CANTU AND MARY ENGLE.

MS. JOSEPH, FOLLOWED BY PLEASE COME FORWARD.

MS. INGLE.

GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MARIO CANTU, SOUTH DAWSON.

UH, I JUST WANTED TO MENTION ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, UH, IF IT'D BE NICE TO HAVE STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED IN THIS.

UH, I KNOW THE, UH, YOU'RE LOOKING AT SETTING SOME UNITS ON PROPERTIES, ADDING IN ADDITIONAL UNITS.

UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAD DISCUSSED THAT A WHILE BACK HERE AT CITY COUNCIL AND, UH, PRESERVATION IS GONNA BE REALLY IMPORTANT IN WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOODS.

AND ALSO MAKING SURE THAT, UH, IMPERVIOUS COVER IS TAKEN, UH, INTO ACCOUNT FOR THE, UH, ADDED STRUCTURES ONTO PROPERTIES.

'CAUSE IT'S GONNA BE REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE, WE DON'T WANT TO BE KIND OF A LITTLE BIT LIKE HOUSTON, TEXAS WITH A LOT OF IMPERVIOUS COVERS AND A LOT OF FLOODS.

YEAH, MS. JOSEPH OR MS. INGLE.

ALL RIGHT, PLEASE GO AHEAD.

NATALIE RELEY SPEAKING ON ITEM 90, SUSAN MORRISON, FOLLOWED BY JENNY GRAYSON ON DECK.

PLEASE GO TO THE NEXT THREE.

CARMEN JANNIS SPEAKING ON ITEMS 90 AND 91 NADIA BERNHARD AND LEVI BERNHARD SPEAKING ON ITEM 92.

PLEASE GO TO THE NEXT THREE.

THANK YOU, MAYOR CHRISTIAN FOGERTY IS ACTUALLY SIGNED UP FOR ITEM 93.

UH, HANNAH RANGEL SIGNED UP FOR ITEM 180 5.

GOOD MORNING MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS HANNAH AL AND I AM A VICE PRESIDENT WITH THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE, WHERE I LEAD OUR DEVELOPMENT POLICY AND LAND USE PLANNING EFFORTS AS A MANAGING ENTITY FOR THE DOWNTOWN PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.

THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE ENTHUSIASTICALLY SUPPORTS ITEM 180 5, WHICH WILL INTRODUCE AMENDMENTS TO THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE TO MODIFY THE DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM.

SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2014, THE DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM HAS QUITE LITERALLY TRANSFORMED OUR DOWNTOWN, HELPING TO DOUBLE OUR RESIDENTIAL POPULATION AND INCREASING OUR DENSITY BY MORE THAN 50% IN EXCHANGE FOR OVER FIVE AND A HALF MILLION SQUARE FEET IN DEVELOPMENT BONUS GRANTED TO DEVELOPERS, THE COMMUNITY HAS RECEIVED ENHANCED STREET SCAPES, ELEVATED URBAN DESIGN, OVER $28 MILLION IN FEES DESTINED FOR THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND, AND OVER A HUNDRED AFFORDABLE UNITS ON THE GROUND OR IN THE PIPELINE

[01:05:01]

TODAY.

AT THE SAME TIME, WITH A DECADE OF REAL WORLD DATA ON THE GROUND, WE CAN NOW SEE MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT.

WHEN CONSIDERING HOW OUR DOWNTOWN CONTINUES TO GROW, OUR BASE FLOOR AREA RATIO IS OBSOLETE.

ABOVE GRADE PARKING STILL DOMINATES THE BUILT FORM AND NEW DEVELOPMENT PRESSURES IN ONCE QUIET PARTS OF DOWNTOWN DEMAND TAILORED ATTENTION AND SOLUTIONS.

FURTHER, OUR IMPENDING CITY OF TOMORROW, I THINK I, I'M THE ONLY ONE THAT CALLS IT THAT, UH, INCLUDES NET NEW LIGHT RAIL, A CAPPED HIGHWAY, AND TWO DOZEN ACRES OF NEW PUBLIC SPACE.

IT DEMANDS THAT WE PAUSE AND ASSESS HOW OUR DEVELOPMENT POLICIES WILL RESPOND TO ALL THIS CHANGE.

ITEM 180 5 AS WRITTEN WILL ADDRESS ALL THESE OPPORTUNITIES AND MUCH MORE PROPOSING A TRULY COMPREHENSIVE UPDATE TO OUR MOST CRITICAL TOOL FOR ENGAGING AND MANAGING GROWTH IN DOWNTOWN.

AND WHILE IT MAY NOT BE AN EYE-CATCHING PART OF THE RESOLUTION FOR MOST, WE ARE MOST EXCITED TO SEE THE CLEAR EMPHASIS ON CALIBRATION TESTING AND ENGAGEMENT, BECAUSE THE SUCCESS OF THIS UPDATE RESTS ON THE MARKET'S ABILITY TO HARNESS THE CHANGES BEING PROPOSED TO DELIVER THE DENSITY BUILT FORM AND COMMUNITY BENEFITS THAT REFLECT OUR GA.

OUR GOALS FOR DOWNTOWN AS A KEY STAKEHOLDER AND PARTNER, THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE CAN HELP ENSURE THESE MODIFICATIONS ARE GROUNDED IN MARKET REALITIES AND WILL HELP PUSH OUR DOWNTOWN INTO THE NEXT DECADE OF GROWTH.

AND WE ARE EXCITED TO PARTNER WITH CITY STAFF TO MAKE THESE CHANGES IN CLOSE.

IN CLOSING, IF IT WASN'T CLEAR, WE ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE.

ITEM 180 5 AND LOOK FORWARD TO ITS PROGRESS.

I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND A SINCERE THANK YOU TO THE HARDWORKING COUNCIL STAFF THAT HAS HELPED BRING THIS RESOLUTION TO LIFE.

AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

HELLO.

UH, MY NAME IS CHRISTIAN FOGARTY.

I'M A RESIDENT OF D NINE.

I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE CLIMATE BOND.

UM, I DEFINITELY SUPPORT THE BOND, BUT I'D LIKE TO, UH, ENCOURAGE A YES AND APPROACH.

UH, WE ALREADY KIND OF KNOW WHAT WE NEED TO DO FOR THE MOST PART ON CLIMATE CHANGE.

IT'S KIND OF BORING AT THIS POINT TO TALK ABOUT ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND SOLAR AND ALL THAT STUFF THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOREVER.

UM, LOTS OF GREAT PLANS AND THINGS ON THE SHELF THAT WE CAN IMPLEMENT.

UM, I'VE HEARD TALK ABOUT MAYBE A 2025 BOND, WHICH I THINK WOULD BE GREAT.

I MEAN, EVERY YEAR, EVERY, UH, DECISION THAT'S MADE THAT PUSHES OFF THESE, UH, INVESTMENTS JUST MAKES THE COST IN THE LONG TERM, UH, EVEN HIGHER.

I THINK THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF THAT HAS COME UP RECENTLY ABOUT THE DISTRICT COOLING CENTER, LIKE MAYBE AUSTIN ENERGY DOESN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO EXPAND IT.

SO THAT SEEMS LIKE A KIND OF A LOW HANGING FRUIT THING THAT WE CAN, WE CAN TACKLE RIGHT AWAY.

UM, WHY ISN'T THERE SOLAR AND BATTERIES ON EVERY CITY OWNED BUILDING, EVERY A ISD ROOF? UM, WHY DON'T WE ELECTRIFY EVERY SINGLE BUS RIGHT AWAY, YOU KNOW, AS FAST AS WE CAN.

WHY DON'T WE INSTALL EV CHARGERS ACROSS THE CITY, PUT UP SIGNAGE SO THAT PEOPLE CAN SAY, OH, HEY, THERE'S AN EV CHARGER OVER THERE.

OH, HEY, MAYBE GETTING AN EV IT WOULDN'T BE THAT HARD BECAUSE THERE'S CHARGES ALL OVER THE CITY.

I JUST THINK THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY THAT, OF THINGS THAT WE CAN DO RIGHT NOW, AND MAYBE A BOND PACKAGE THAT'S MORE COMPREHENSIVE IN THE FUTURE WOULD ALLOW US TO, YOU KNOW, KNOW, GET TOGETHER AND, AND THINK ABOUT, UH, MORE COMPREHENSIVE THINGS THAT NEED TIME TO THINK THROUGH.

BUT I JUST THINK THERE'S A LOT OF LOW HANGING FRUIT RIGHT NOW THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD ON PRETTY QUICKLY.

AND LASTLY, I THINK, YOU KNOW, ADMINISTRATIVE CAPACITY OBVIOUSLY IS A HUGE ISSUE WITH ALL, YOU KNOW, THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY AND ALL THE VARIOUS OTHER OFFICES AROUND, UH, YOU KNOW, THE CITY THAT ARE, UM, DOING REALLY GOOD WORK, BUT JUST DON'T HAVE THE TIME, THE ENERGY TO, TO DO ALL THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO.

SO IF WE CAN DO SOMETHING IN THE CLIMATE BOND ABOUT EXPANDING WORKFORCE BOOSTING ADMINISTRATIVE CAPACITY, THERE'S HISTORIC FEDERAL OPPORTUNITIES RIGHT NOW TO WORK ON CLIMATE.

AND AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, IT'S LIKE, UM, I KNOW THERE'S PEOPLE WORKING ON IT, BUT IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, COME ON, THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE THERE.

WE CAN, WE CAN, UH, BE REALLY BOLD ON IT.

AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, 2026 SOUNDS GREAT, BUT WE CAN, I THINK WE SHOULD GO FASTER.

I THINK WE SHOULD MOVE QUICKER ON IT, SO THANK YOU.

FINALLY, WE HAVE PHILLIP WILEY SPEAKING ON ITEM 180 5.

THIS IS YOUR CHART.

PHILADELPHIA HAS 20,000 PEOPLE DOWNTOWN.

UH, MY NAME IS PHILLIP WILEY.

I LIVE DOWNTOWN.

I'D LIKE TO, UH, I I LIVE IN, WHAT IS IT, THE CITY OF TOMORROW, CITY OF TOMORROW.

UM, I LIKE TO TALK ABOUT LIVING DOWNTOWN AND WELCOME PEOPLE TO DOWNTOWN BECAUSE IT'S MORE THAN JUST A PLACE WHERE BUSINESSES OPERATE AND HOTELS FUNCTION.

IT'S A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT HAS 15,000 PEOPLE.

UM, THE CITY OF

[01:10:01]

THEY HAVE A TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF HISTORIC ASSETS THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO PROTECT, AND YET THEY HAVE 20,000 PEOPLE DOWNTOWN.

UH, THE CITY OF SEATTLE HAS OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND PEOPLE LIVING DOWNTOWN ON THE SAME SIZE FOOTPRINT THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS 15,000 PEOPLE.

WHEN YOU HAVE THAT MANY PEOPLE, YOU HAVE, UH, TRANSIT SUPPORTIVE DENSITY.

YOU CAN AFFORD TO HAVE NICE THINGS LIKE SPEND 60 PLUS BILLION DOLLARS ON RAIL.

WE ARE STRUGGLING AND GNASHING OUR TEETH OVER WHETHER WE WANT TO SPEND SEVEN OR 10.

UM, WE CAN, WE CAN DO A LOT BETTER AND DOWNTOWN CAN BE PART OF THE SOLUTION.

I, I, I BROUGHT THIS CHART, OR I WANTED YOU TO SEE THIS CHART.

UM, WOULD YOU MOVE TO THE SECOND ONE, PLEASE? THIS IS, UH, ONE OF THOSE, WHERE'S WALLY OR WHERE'S WALDO? IF YOU'RE A US PERSON, RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DIAGRAM TO THE LEFT.

UH, THIS IS A POPULATION DENSITY AND DENSITY CHANGE, UH, FROM THE CENSUS PEOPLE FROM 2010 TO 2020.

THERE'S SOMETHING THAT REALLY STICKS OUT HERE, THAT WE HAVE TWO CENSUS TRACKS IN THE MIDDLE OF DOWNTOWN THAT ARE, HAVE SUBURBAN LEVEL DENSITY.

WE HAVE A LOT OF SPACE WHERE WE CAN ADD PEOPLE.

THERE IS NO PLACE THAT'S MORE IMPORTANT FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND THE SUCCESS OF ITS TRANSIT SYSTEM THAN HAVING PEOPLE DOWNTOWN LIVING AND WORKING.

AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR CONSIDERATION.

WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, AND THEY'VE BEEN CALLED, UH, WE'RE GOING TO PULL ITEM NUMBER FOUR FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.

MAYOR, THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE CONSENT SPEAKERS MEMBERS, THOSE ARE ALL THE PEOPLE

[Consent Agenda]

LET ME ASK BEFORE WE GO TO, UH, A MOTION AND A SECOND IN DISCUSSION.

UM, UH, IF THERE'S ANY OTHER ITEM THAT ANY MEMBER WOULD LIKE TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.

UH, YES, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER.

I JUST WANNA CLARIFY THAT 93 IS STILL PULLED, 93 WAS PULLED FROM THE BEGINNING, SO THANK YOU.

WE'RE NOW PULLING ITEM FOUR.

IS THERE, IS THERE ANY OTHER ITEM? COUNCIL MEMBER VELA, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA MOVES APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.

IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.

NOW LET'S GO TO DISCUSSION.

UH, I WILL CALL ON ALISON, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALISON ULTRA, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.

HAVE ARGUABLY THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS STILL DO NOT GET, UM, 10 TO 12 WEEKS OF PAID MATERNITY LEAVE.

UM, I WOULD LIKE TO BE SEEN VOTING NO ON ITEM 90 AND ABSTAINING ON ITEM 70, PLEASE.

UM, SO THIS IS AN AGENDA THAT IS PACKED WITH IMPORTANT ITEMS. IT'S ALMOST 200 ITEMS IN AND OF ITSELF, PLUS ALL THE OTHER ITEMS THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT.

UM, SOME OF THOSE ITEMS THAT I WANNA JUST REALLY QUICKLY FLAG ARE THE EXTENSION OF OUR CONTRACT WITH LOCK ARMS FOR LIFE FOR SAFE GUN STORAGE.

ITEM 77, A REVIEW OF OUR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RESPONSE EFFORTS.

ITEM 75, THE LAUNCH OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE STUDY FOR AUSTIN'S AGING POPULATION, ITEM 47, AND THE VARIOUS CULTURAL INVESTMENTS IN ITEM 15.

I WANNA SPEAK, UH, MORE SPECIFICALLY TO TWO ITEMS IN PARTICULAR.

THE FIRST IS MY ITEM, ITEM 89.

UM, I'M VERY EXCITED TO BRING FORTH THIS ITEM, WHICH ADVANCES OUR RECOMMENDATION FROM OUR IMPACT FEE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO WAIVE STREET IMPACT FEES FOR CHILDCARE CENTERS.

AS WE KNOW, EVERY EFFORT IS REQUIRED TO SUPPORT THESE SMALL BUSINESSES AS THEY HAVE AN INCREDIBLY LARGE IMPACT ON OUR ECONOMY AND WORKING FAMILIES.

THIS IS PART ONE OF A PROCESS.

SO WE WILL SEE THIS COME BACK AGAIN, COLLEAGUES IN SEPTEMBER FOR FINAL APPROVAL.

UM, WE HAVE AN EXTENSIVE PROCESS HERE, UM, OF STATE LAW, ET CETERA, THAT GOVERNS HOW THESE FEES CAN WORK.

UM, I DO WANNA THANK MY CO-SPONSORS AND OUR COMMITTEE MEMBERS FOR THEIR RECOMMENDATION AND OUR LOCAL PROVIDERS FOR THEIR CONTINUED ADVOCACY.

I ALSO WANNA SPEAK TO ITEM 69 AND 72, WHICH HAVE TO DO WITH THE UPDATE TO THE EMS AGREEMENT, UM, CONTRACT AGREEMENT AND, UM, THE WORK OF THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER, EXCUSE ME.

THESE ITEMS ARE THE CULMINATION OF A LOT OF GOOD FAITH NEGOTIATING TO SEE HOW WE CAN BEST INTEGRATE ECMO AND EM S'S VITAL WORK TOGETHER.

WHEN WE CREATED THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER ORIGINALLY, WE DID SO FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS.

WE DID SO TO ELEVATE CLINICAL OVERSIGHT ACROSS CITY DEPARTMENTS, INVEST IN QUALITY OF CARE, AND TO BE STRATEGIC IN HOW WE DEPLOY

[01:15:01]

OUR CLINICAL RESOURCES.

WHILE I'M PLEASED WITH THIS AGREEMENT THAT THIS AGREEMENT CAN OFFER INCREASED BENEFITS TO OUR SWORN EMS MEMBERS, INCLUDING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ADDITIONAL TRAINING, UM, AND TO PROMOTE TO A PARAMEDIC PRACTITIONER, I MUST ALSO OPENLY CALL ON CITY LEADERSHIP TO CONTINUE TO EMPHASIZE QUALITY OF CARE AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

I AM MINDFUL THAT AT LEAST DURING MY TENURE, AUSTIN HAS AVOIDED THE FATE OF OTHER CITIES WHICH HAVE EXPERIENCED PROTECTED LITIGATION AND COSTLY AND DEADLY MISTAKES.

WHEN QUALITY CONTROLS HAVE LAPSED, LET'S KEEP IT THAT WAY.

CITY MANAGER, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, CHIEF RIT, AND DR.

ES SCOTT, AS WE MAKE THIS TRANSITION AND BEYOND, I ASK THAT YOU WORK TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT ROBUST CLINICAL OVERSIGHT REMAINS CENTRAL, AND THAT WE CONTINUE TO MAKE INVESTMENTS TO SUPPORT THE CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER AND HIS TEAM'S VITAL WORK.

I UNDERSTAND THAT ALONG WITH THIS CONTRACT AGREEMENT, THERE IS A SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT THAT IT IS ASSOCIATED WITH IT THAT CODIFIES ROLES, UM, AND HELPS US TO MAINTAIN AND EXTEND OUR QUALITY OF CARE.

AND I'VE HAD A A CHANCE TO READ THAT.

UM, AND I THINK IT IS, IS, IS A WELL DONE AGREEMENT, AND I'M GLAD THAT EVERYONE IS ON BOARD WITH IT.

BUT I DO WANNA UNDERSCORE, UM, FOR ALL OF YOU WHO ARE LEADING THIS, THAT IT IS NOT JUST THE AGREEMENT THAT IS GONNA MAKE THIS A SUCCESS.

IT'S YOUR LEADERSHIP.

THAT IS WHAT'S GONNA DETERMINE THE FATE OF OUR EMS SYSTEM AND WHETHER WE UPHOLD OUR HIGH QUALITY STANDARDS.

THESE ARE HIGHLY TRAINED STAFF WHO WE WANT TO ENSURE, CHOOSE TO REMAIN WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

I ALSO HAVE SPENT TIME LOOKING AT THE FINANCES OF THIS AGREEMENT.

UM, THIS IS GONNA COST US ABOUT $400,000.

THERE'S A LATE ANSWER TO A QUESTION.

UM, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I REALLY WANTED TO MAKE SURE HAPPENED WAS THAT THAT $400,000 WASN'T JUST BEING CARVED OUT OF THE REST OF THE EMS BUDGET, BUT THAT WAS ACTUALLY BEING ADDED IN.

IF WE'RE HAVE THIS BIG POT OF MONEY THAT WE HAVE FOR OUR LABOR AGREEMENTS, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT $400,000 IS NOT CANNIBALIZING.

OTHER THINGS THAT WE AS A COUNCIL THINK WE'VE INVESTED IN IN EMS. I'VE BEEN ASSURED, UM, BY THE BUDGET DIRECTOR AND THE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER THAT THAT IS THE CASE.

AND, AND WE'RE GONNA WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S ALL MORE CLARITY, UM, ELSEWHERE.

WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS, I WANNA MAKE A A COUPLE OTHER POINTS ON THIS TOPIC.

UM, WE, WE RECENTLY SAW IN THE BUDGET THAT, UM, CENTRAL HEALTH, UM, IS AGREEING, THEY'RE IN THE PROCESS OF AGREEING TO HELP US TO FUND THE C FOUR PROGRAM.

THAT'S OUR COLLABORATIVE CARE COMMUNICATION CENTER, UH, WHICH IS AN EFFORT THAT WE HAVE TO HELP US ADDRESS LOW ACUITY CARE, AND THAT'S GONNA HELP US MAKE THAT BE 24 7.

I WANNA EMPHASIZE THAT OUR COMMUNITY WOULD GREATLY BENEFIT FROM THE PARAMEDIC PRACTITIONERS OPERATING 24 7, AS WELL AS THOSE SYSTEMS WORK HAND IN HAND.

YOU NEED TO HAVE THE MEDICAL, UM, PHYSICIAN LEVEL NURSE PRACTITIONER RESPONSE TO GO HAND IN HAND WITH THE C FOUR FOR IT TO WORK EFFECTIVELY.

UM, AS WE KNOW, THIS IS A SERVICE THAT HELPS TO RELIEVE EMERGENCY ROOM CONGESTION AND TAKE SOME OF THE WORKLOAD OFF OF EMS RESPONDERS BY FREEING UP AMBULANCES AND FIRE TRUCKS TO FOCUS ON CRITICAL CARE EMERGENCY CALLS THAT REQUIRE TRANSPORTATION TO THE HOSPITAL.

AT ONE POINT, ECMO ESTIMATED THAT THE PARAMEDIC PRACTITIONER PROGRAM SAVED APPROXIMATELY 840 HOURS IN AMBULANCE TIME, WHICH AMOUNTS TO APPROXIMATELY 1,000,005, UM, IN SAVINGS.

AND THIS IS IN PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT GIVEN THE SIGNIFICANT STAFF SHORTAGES AT EMS THAT WE HAVE, THAT THOSE HOURS SAVED.

ONCE AGAIN, I AM PLANNING TO BRING FORTH BUDGET DIRECTION TO FUND THE PARAMEDIC PRACTITIONER PROGRAM TO BE 24 7 VIA AN EXTERNAL PARTNERSHIP OR THROUGH REVENUE GENERATED BY EMS BILLING SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS.

UM, I'LL DO THAT THROUGH THE BUDGET, UM, IFC PROCESS.

SO IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN THAT, UM, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

AND THEN LASTLY, IN THIS AGREEMENT, I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE'RE MAKING GREAT STRIDES AND PROVIDING IMPROVED BENEFITS FOR SWORN EMPLOYEES, SUCH AS THE ABILITY TO CELEBRATE CITY HOLIDAYS LIKE JUNETEENTH THAT OUR NON-SWORN EMPLOYEES ENJOY.

UM, AND ALSO FOR PATERNITY LEAVE, UH, BENEFITS, I DO, UH, WANT TO SHARE THAT WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE RECRUITING A DIVERSE ARRAY OF CADETS TO OUR PUBLIC SAFETY ENTITIES AND EMPLOYEE BENEFITS ARE KEY TO THAT STRATEGY THAT IS PARTICULARLY TRUE OF OUR WOMEN.

UM, TO THAT END, I WANT TO SEE A FD SWORN EMPLOYEES EXPERIENCE ADDITIONAL PAID MATERNAL LEAVE FOR FIREFIGHTERS RECOVERING FROM BIRTH.

MY OFFICE HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS WITH THE A FA.

IT'S A VERY SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE WOULD NEED TO COVER THE TWO OR THREE WOMEN, UM, WHO GIVE BIRTH, UM, WHO ARE FIREFIGHTERS.

UM, WE WILL NOW HAVE 10 WEEKS OF PATERNITY LEAVE FOR OUR EMS, BUT WOMEN WHO GIVE BIRTH AND A FD WHO

[01:20:01]

UM, SO I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN DO THIS THROUGH INTERNAL POLICY CHANGES, BUT IT APPEARS THAT WE NEED A BUDGET AMENDMENT TO COVER THIS.

UM, SO I WILL BE WORKING ON THAT, AND IF THAT INTERESTS YOU, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CODRE.

THEN COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.

IT DOESN'T KNOW JURISDICTIONS.

I WOULD LIKE TO JOIN YOU IN THAT EFFORT.

I THINK THAT'S AN ISSUE THAT HAS COME UP A COUPLE OF TIMES NOW AND JUST SEEMS LIKE WE NEED TO BE DOING MORE TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS WHO ARE STARTING FAMILIES IN THE CITY ARE ABLE TO CONTINUE, UH, SERVING THE COMMUNITY AT, AT, IN THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF CAPACITY AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME.

ITEM NUMBER 62, WE ARE ACCEPTING ALMOST $26 MILLION IN FEMA REIMBURSEMENTS FOR MARA EXPENSES, AND SOME OF THOSE ARE ALSO COVID EXPENSES DATING BACK TO THE YEAR 2020.

SO THIS IS A TOPIC THAT I KNOW THAT WE'RE GONNA COVER, UM, WHEN WE TAKE UP BUDGET, JUST, YOU KNOW, AS WE MOVE FORWARD THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS ABOUT APPROPRIATE LEVELS OF RESERVE.

BUT I HAVE LEARNED A LOT IN THE PAST YEAR OR SO ABOUT HOW MUCH THE CITY HAS TO CARRY EXPENSES AS WE WAIT FOR FEMA TO DECIDE HOW AND WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO REIMBURSE FOR SOME OF THE COSTS THAT THE CITY TAKES UPON ITSELF.

AND SO, AS WE SEE MORE WINTER STORMS, AS WE SEE MORE CATASTROPHIC ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTERS IN OUR COMMUNITY, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE HEALTHY LEVELS OF RESERVE TO BE ABLE TO FLOAT THESE REIMBURSEMENTS FOR UP TO FOUR OR FIVE YEARS, WHICH IS, UH, QUITE A LONG TIME FOR A, A CITY BUDGET THAT HAS, UM, IMMENSE NEEDS LIKE OURS DOES.

ITEM 73 IS FORMALIZING A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY, THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY, AND TRAVIS COUNTY FOR $50 MILLION IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY GRANTS FOR THE CLIMATE POLLUTION REDUCTION GRANT, IF AWARDED THIS WOULD FUND A PROGRAM TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AND INCREASE RESILIENCE FOR CITY AND COUNTY FACILITIES ACROSS THE FIVE COUNTY MSA.

IT'S AN EXCITING EXAMPLE OF REGIONAL COLLABORATION.

I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF, UM, REGIONAL COLLABORATION GROUPS LIKE CAP COG, CAMPO TALKS ABOUT GREENHOUSE GAS GASES AS WELL.

UM, BUT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT WE KNOW DOESN'T STOP AT COUNTY LINES.

WHAT WE DO IN OUR COMMUNITIES AFFECTS THE COMMUNITIES AROUND US.

AND I KNOW NOT EVERYONE THAT SITS NEAR US AND NEAR AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY HAS THE STAFF CAPACITY AND ABILITY TO DELIVER MEANINGFUL RESULTS ON THESE PROGRAMS. SO I'M REALLY HAPPY THAT WE ARE LOOKING TO LEAD ON THIS.

UM, I KNOW THAT THEY WANNA STEP UP AND THEY WANNA PARTNER WITH US IN, IN EVERY WAY THAT THEY CAN TO HAVE CLEAN AIR.

UM, BUT SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO STEP UP AND TAKE THE LEAD ON ON THESE ISSUES.

ITEM NUMBER 77, AS COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER HAD SPOKEN TO, UM, THIS MORNING, WE PRESENTED A PROCLAMATION FOR GUN SAFETY AWARENESS MONTH.

THAT WILL BE AUGUST 20, 24.

MANY LIVES ARE AFFECTED EACH YEAR DUE TO A LACK OF PROPER STORAGE AND HANDLING OF FIREARMS. I'M PROUD TO HAVE WORKED WITH MY COLLEAGUES FOR YEARS TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING FREE GUN LOCKS TO PEOPLE IN AUSTIN.

SAFE STORAGE IS THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE TO ENSURE THAT YOUR FIREARM IS NOT USED BY SOMEONE ELSE TO COMMIT A CRIME OR EVEN ACCESSED BY CHILDREN WHEN YOU ARE NOT HOME.

THESE MEASURES HELP SAVE LIVES, AND I'M PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WE ARE DOING AS WELL AS, AS THE WORK OF OUR ADVOCATES LIKE LOCK ARMS FOR LIFE, AND TO OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT WHO DISTRIBUTES THESE SAFETY DEVICES.

COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.

THEN COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER.

UM, BEFORE I GET INTO TALKING ABOUT ITEMS, UH, 88 AND 180 5, I JUST WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER FOR HER WORK ON ITEM 89, AND I'D LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR.

WITH THAT OBJECTION, YOU'LL BE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR.

NON PREDATORY, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, NON, NON PREDATORY BANKING.

UM, SO YEAH, GETTING INTO ITEM 88, WHICH IS THE PUBLIC BANK ITEM.

UH, YOU KNOW, MANY FOLKS, UH, HAVE ASKED, WHAT IS A PUBLIC BANK? UH, THERE STILL MIGHT BE FOLKS WHO STILL MIGHT NOT KNOW WHAT A PUBLIC BANK IS.

UH, SO TO THAT, A PUBLIC BANK IS A BANK THAT'S OWNED AND OPERATED BY A PUBLIC INSTITUTION.

AND WITH THE INTENT OF THIS ITEM IS, WOULD BE THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND OPERATED IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE HOPE IS THAT THE PUBLIC BANK PROVIDE SERVICES AT COST, UH, AND RETURNING PROFITS TO THE PUBLIC, UH, TO BE USED FOR LOCAL DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES.

UH, THERE'S BEEN SOMEWHAT OF A, A NATIONAL MOVEMENT, UH, FOR PUBLIC BANKING.

UH, WE'VE SEEN IT IN, UH, CITIES LIKE PHILADELPHIA, UH, CITIES LIKE SAN FRANCISCO AND LA UH, AND THEN WE'VE SEEN IT IN STATES LIKE DEEP BLUE NORTH DAKOTA, UH, WHICH IS, WHICH HAS THEIR OWN STATE, UH, PUBLIC BANK.

UH, AND I, AND I REALLY DO HOPE AUSTIN IS ABLE TO, TO JOIN THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, ARRAY OF, OF CITIES AND, AND, AND, UH, THAT, THAT NOT ONLY, NOT ONLY HAVE IT, BUT ARE ARE THINKING ABOUT ESTABLISHING IT.

UH, I, I SAW YEARS AGO, UH, THE STATE OF NEW YORK ACTUALLY TRIED TO SET UP A PUBLIC BANK.

UH, AND THE REASON WAS IS BECAUSE THEY WERE, BECAUSE UNDERSERVED CITIZENS WERE OFTEN BEING DENIED, UH, LENDING OPPORTUNITIES.

UH, AND WHAT THE HOPE OF THIS ITEM IS THAT WE CAN, UH, CREATE LOANS, UH, FOR, FOR PUBLIC PURPOSES, REINVEST IN CITY REVENUES, UH, AND MAKE SURE WE STAY AWAY FROM NON,

[01:25:01]

UM, YOU KNOW, AND MAKING SURE THAT OUR INVESTMENTS ARE CENTERED AROUND THINGS LIKE CLIMATE CHANGE, UH, SUPPORTING LOCAL ECONOMIC GROWTH, UH, AND, AND, AND HOUSING EFFORTS.

SO I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS ITEM.

UH, I WANT TO THANK THE, THE SPEAKERS THAT HAVE SPOKEN, UH, IN FAVOR OF THE ITEM, UH, INCLUDING THE STUDENT WHO WAS HERE, UH, EARLIER TODAY.

UH, I ALSO WANT TO THANK, UH, SARAH FROM MY STAFF WHO WORKED ON THIS ITEM.

UH, AND THEN ALSO WANT TO THANK MY CO-SPONSORS, UH, RYAN ALTER, COUNCIL MEMBER, VANESSA FUENTES, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, VELA.

AND THEN I SAW ON THE MESSAGE BOARD, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM LESLIE POOLE, AND THEN ALSO COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE VELASQUEZ.

SO I REALLY APPRECIATE, REALLY APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT.

UM, AND THEN THE OTHER ITEM I'D, I'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON JUST REALLY QUICK, UH, ITEM 180 5, UM, WHICH HAD TO DO WITH THE DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM.

UH, YOU KNOW, BY NOW IT'S NO SECRET HOW MUCH OF A FAN I AM OF DOWNTOWN, NOT ONLY BECAUSE IT'S IN THE DISTRICT, UH, BUT BECAUSE I WAS A, UH, PREVIOUS RESIDENT OF, OF DOWNTOWN.

UH, AND, YOU KNOW, THIS ITEM HAS SO MUCH OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO MUCH GOOD.

IT, IT HELPS IMPLEMENT THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN PLAN.

IT TAKES ADVANTAGE OF OUR EXISTING EFFORTS TO UPDATE AND STREAMLINE OUR DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS, AND IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING MORE NUANCE TO OUR COMMUNITY, UH, BENEFITS WITH THE PROJECT, UH, CONNECT ALIGNMENT, UH, CULTURAL SUBDISTRICTS, UH, AND, AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION.

UH, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN MAXIMIZE PARTICIPATION IN OUR DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM AND ENSURE IT'S AN ATTRACTIVE PROGRAM FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR, UH, TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF, ESPECIALLY IN ROUGH TIMES OF DEVELOPMENT.

UH, AND I REALLY WANT TO THANK THE DIVERSE STAKEHOLDER, UH, GROUPS THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WERE A PART OF DRAFTING THIS RESOLUTION.

UH, GROUPS LIKE OLD, OLD AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION DOWNTOWN AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, JUDGES HILL, UH, OUR PARTNERS AT THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE, RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT AND HOUSING WORKS AUSTIN.

UH, AND, YOU KNOW, REALLY WANT TO THANK, UH, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE WHO'S BEEN A PART OF THIS.

YOU KNOW, THE, THE JOB'S NOT FINISHED.

UH, YOU KNOW, THE WORK WILL CONTINUE, BUT, YOU KNOW, REALLY THANKFUL FOR, UH, FOR, FOR EVERYONE'S INVOLVEMENT.

COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.

I'D LIKE TO FIRST ADDRESS ITEM 92.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, I EXTEND MY HEARTFELT GRATITUDE TO MY CO-SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT IN BRINGING THIS CRUCIAL PUBLIC SAFETY ITEM FORWARD WITH ME FOR CONSIDERATION TODAY.

I ALSO WANNA GIVE A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO KX SAM'S MATT GRANT, WHO'S IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM.

HIS DILIGENT INVESTIGATIVE COVERAGE BROUGHT THIS ISSUE TO LIGHT.

I'M ALSO DEEPLY GRATEFUL TO THE BERNARD FAMILY FOR SHARING THEIR EXPERIENCE PUBLICLY REGARDING WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM.

I KNOW THEY INTENDED ON BEING HERE TO SPEAK, BUT WERE UNABLE TO DUE TO A CONFLICT.

HOWEVER, TO THE FAMILY, YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SHARE YOUR STORY PUBLICLY, DESPITE THE IMMENSE PAIN CAUSED BY THE TRAGIC ACCIDENT YOUR FAMILY EXPERIENCED IS ADMIRABLE.

MY DEEPEST SYMPATHIES ARE WITH YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE ENDURED.

PLEASE KNOW THAT YOUR COURAGE IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY IS NOT IN VAIN.

THE AWARENESS GENERATED FROM YOUR EXPERIENCE IS DRIVING SIGNIFICANT POSITIVE CHANGE IN YOUR COMMUNITY TO PREVENT SUCH TRAGEDIES FROM OCCURRING.

AGAIN, WITH AUSTIN LEADING THE WAY, I HOPE TO INSPIRE SIMILAR POLICY CHANGES THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY, I TRULY APPRECIATE THE STEADFAST SUPPORT OF MY COLLEAGUES ON COUNCIL IN PASSING THIS RESOLUTION.

AND THANK YOU TO CITY STAFF.

I EAGERLY ANTICIPATE YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE PASSING OF THIS RESOLUTION THIS FALL, AND LOOK FORWARD TO IMPLEMENTING THESE VITAL CHANGES FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY.

MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON ITEMS 10, 11, 12.

WHAT, LET'S DO WE DO THAT USUALLY.

OKAY, COOL.

AFTER WE HAVE EVERYBODY'S COMMENTS.

I WAS JUST GONNA GET IT KNOCKED OUT.

YOU DO AN AWFUL FACT.

JUST TRY AND DO YOU A FAVOR, BUT I USUALLY JUST HAVE, YOU KNOW ON EVERYTHING.

I WILL BE, I WILL BE VOTING NO ON ITEM 88, WHICH I HAVE COMMENTS ON, UM, RELATED TO PUBLIC BANKING.

WHILE I SYMPATHIZE AND EMPATHIZE WITH THE INTENT, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT VENTURING INTO THE BANKING BUSINESS IS WITHIN THE SCOPE OF MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.

I WOULD LIKE TO ENSURE CITY COUNCIL AND STAFF STAY FOCUSED ON DELIVERING RELIABLE AND AFFORDABLE CORE CITY SERVICES BEFORE VENTURING INTO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

AND FINALLY, COLLEAGUES, I'M ALMOST DONE, MAYOR.

UM, I WOULD, IN LIGHT OF THE EVENTS THIS PAST WEEKEND, I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT AND EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF UNITY AND TOGETHERNESS, EVEN IN FACE OF OUR POLITICAL DIFFERENCES.

IT'S DURING TIMES OF CHALLENGE AND ADVERSITY THAT OUR COMMUNITY'S TRUE STRENGTH IS TESTED AND REVEALED.

SO NOW, MORE THAN EVER, I BELIEVE WE MUST COME TOGETHER, SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER, AND WORK COLLABORATIVELY TO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES WE FACE BY FOCUSING ON OUR SHARED HUMANITY AND THE COMMON GOOD WE CAN OVERCOME ANY OBSTACLE AND CREATE A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR ALL.

AND WITH GRATITUDE AND HOPE, MAYOR, NOW I YIELD.

KNOW, CREATING HOUSING THAT PEOPLE CAN AFFORD IS CRUCIAL, AND, AND THAT IS WHY WE PASSED THE HOME INITIATIVE.

COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTAR, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VALA.

AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR.

I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK BRIEFLY ABOUT ITEM 90, THE PRESERVATION ITEM.

YOU

[01:30:01]

BUT PRESERVING HOUSING THAT IS ALREADY AFFORDABLE IS JUST AS IMPORTANT.

AND THAT'S WHY WHEN WE PASSED THE HOME INITIATIVE, WE INCLUDED A PRESERVATION, UH, FOR HOMES BUILT BEFORE 1960 THAT ARE TYPICALLY MORE NATURALLY AFFORDABLE.

BUT THERE WAS A, YOU CALL IT TECHNICAL ERROR SURROUNDING THE FLORIDA AREA RATIO THAT INADVERTENTLY DISINCENTIVIZED THE PRESERVATION THAT WE WERE HOPING TO ACCOMPLISH.

AND SO THAT'S WHY I'M BRINGING FORWARD THIS ITEM TODAY TO START THE PROCESS TO FIX THAT ISSUE SO THAT DEVELOPERS WILL WANT TO PRESERVE A HOME INSTEAD OF TEAR IT DOWN.

AND THIS NOT ONLY PROMOTES MORE ATTAINABLE HOUSING THROUGHOUT THE CITY, BUT IT ALSO PROMOTES THE CITY'S SUSTAINABILITY GOALS BY KEEPING OUR OLDER HOMES OUT OF LANDFILLS.

AND SO I JUST WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ, COUNCIL MEMBER, CADRE MAYOR, PRO TEMP POOL, AND THE MAYOR FOR SUPPORTING ME ON THIS ITEM, AND LOOK FORWARD, UH, TO US GETTING THAT FIXED HERE SOON.

COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER VALA, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.

UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR TO THAT OBJECTION.

YOU'LL BE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR, AND I THINK IT'S AN EXCELLENT ITEM.

UH, IN ADDITION TO THE, UH, AFFORDABILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS THAT, UH, ITEM 90, UH, MOVES FORWARD, THERE'S A HISTORICAL PRESERVATION AND A VERY STRONG HISTORICAL PRESERVATION ELEMENT, UH, TO IT THAT IS GONNA BE VERY IMPORTANT.

I KNOW PRESERVATION AUSTIN WAS, UH, VERY SUPPORTIVE OF IT, AND, UH, I'M GLAD THAT WE GOT THAT FIX DONE OR THAT WE'RE GETTING THAT, UH, FIX DONE.

IT'S A, A REALLY GOOD ITEM, AND I, I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING IT MOVE THROUGH COUNCIL.

I ALSO JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ANOTHER ITEM, UH, THAT'S RELEVANT TO MY DISTRICT.

ITEM 23 HAS TO DO WITH THE RESTORATION OF, UH, BUTTERMILK CREEK.

BUTTERMILK CREEK IS A, A SMALL CREEK THAT'S, UH, ESSENTIALLY A TRIBUTARY TO, UH, WALNUT CREEK.

UH, IT HAS BEEN DETERIORATING, AND, UH, WATERSHED IS GOING TO INVEST A SIZABLE AMOUNT OF MONEY, UH, TO, UH, RESTORE IT AND TO IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE CREEK THAT WILL IMPROVE THE WATER QUALITY IN THE CREEK.

AND SINCE, UH, SINCE BUTTERMILK CREEK IS A TRIBUTARY TO WALNUT CREEK, IT WILL THUS IMPROVE THE WATER QUALITY IN WALNUT CREEK AS WELL.

UH, AN IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD IN, UH, OUR TRANSITION FROM THINKING OF OUR CREEKS IS KIND OF, YOU KNOW, DRAINAGE AND, AND, AND PLACES TO DISPOSE OF THINGS, TO LOOKING AT THEM AS COMMUNITY ASSETS.

UH, REALLY APPRECIATE WATERSHED'S WORK ON THIS, AND I KNOW THE COMMUNITY THERE IN, UH, ST.

JOHN IS, UH, VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT.

ONE LAST THING.

I LOOK FORWARD TO PUTTING MAYBE A COUPLE OF PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE BRIDGES OVER, UH, A BUTTERMILK CREEK, UH, AT, AT SOME POINT IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE AS WELL.

BUT LET'S GO AHEAD AND GET THAT RESTORATION DONE FIRST.

COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

UM, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

I WANNA START BY SAYING, UH, UH, HELLO TO THE COLONY PARK FOLKS.

I SEE, UH, WE HAVE MULTIPLE ITEMS THAT ARE GONNA COME UP TODAY WHERE WE, UH, TALK ABOUT COLONY PARK, WHICH IS SOMETHING I ALWAYS LOVE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO.

UM, THERE ARE SEVERAL ITEMS ON THIS AGENDA THAT I'M PLA I'M REALLY PLEASED TO SEE US PASS, INCLUDING ARTWORK TO PERMANENTLY FEATURE AT GIS PARK AQUATIC FACILITY.

IF YOU'VE DRIVEN DOWN 12TH STREET RECENTLY, YOU SEE THERE'S A LOT OF EFFORT AND TIME BEING PUT INTO, UM, BEAUTIFYING OUR PARK.

UM, SO THAT'S AWESOME.

WE ARE AUTHORIZING THE USE OF PROP BEEF FUNDS FOR CULTURAL TRUST PROJECTS AND FOR REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS.

AND, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL NOTICED THE TREND TODAY, BUT EAST SIDE IS TRENDING ONE, THREE AND FOUR.

UM, HE'S NOT HERE FOR ME TO SAY IT, BUT I WANTED TO OFFER A MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE TO TAKE A SHOUT OUT TO COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ FOR THE WRAP PLAYLIST HE SENT ME OVER THE WEEKEND, UM, KEPT ME GOING AND MY GARDEN WAS HAPPY WHEN IT GOT THE RAIN TODAY.

UM, THAT ALSO BRINGS ME TO SOMETHING I'M EXCITED TO HIGHLIGHT TODAY REGARDING THE APPROVAL OF THE URBAN RENEWAL BOARD'S RECOMMENDATION OF THE PLEASANT HILL COLLABORATIVE PROPOSAL TO REVITALIZE BLOCK 16 AND 18 OFF EAST 11TH STREET.

UM, TO SAY THAT I'VE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS PROJECT, UH, WOULD DEFINITELY BE AN UNDERSTATEMENT.

I'D LIKE TO THANK RALLY AUSTIN, FORMERLY AUSTIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

UM, CONGRATULATIONS ON Y'ALL'S NEW NAME BRANDING AND ALL THE SOLID WORK THAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE DOING.

AND, UH, IT JUST MAKES SENSE TO, TO GET A NEW NAME AS WE KICK OFF THIS FIRST BIG PROJECT.

UM, THE URBAN RENEWAL BOARD, UM, THAT, JUST SO YOU GUYS KNOW, IT'S A GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS WHO SPEND A LOT, AN INORDINATE AMOUNT OF TIME.

I MEAN, HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS GOING OVER REALLY RELATIVELY OBSCURE SUBJECT MATTER, LIKE REAL, REAL ESTATE STUFF AND FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS.

AND SO I JUST WANNA THANK THEM FOR THEIR VOLUNTEER EFFORTS AND SERVICE.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT,

[01:35:01]

UM, THE APPLICANTS FOR THE RFP, THE COMMUNITY STUCK STAKEHOLDERS WHO REALLY STUCK THROUGH AND I MADE LITERAL DECADES OF DISCUSSION.

SOMEBODY EARLIER SAID SOMETHING ABOUT GO FASTER .

AND I FEEL SO MUCH SYMPATHY FOR HIS COMMENTARY.

YOU KNOW, AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN, I ALWAYS SAID, EVERYTHING AT THE CITY TAKES TOO LONG AND COSTS TOO MUCH.

AND THE ONLY THING I GOT BY WAY OF ACTUALLY BEING BEHIND THE CURTAIN IS VALIDATION THAT IT ALL TAKES A LONG TIME AND IT COSTS A LOT OF MONEY MORE OFTEN THAN NOT.

AND SO I'M HAPPY TO SEE US MAKING PROGRESS, UM, IN THE HISTORIC AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE CULTURAL DISTRICT.

UM, I AM, AS WE, AS HAVE THIS CONVERSATION, I WANNA TALK ABOUT GENERATIONS OF AUSTINITES, WHOSE LEGACY, UM, UH, AND FRANKLY OUR OBLIGATION TO THAT LEGACY TO PRESERVE AND CARRY ON WITH THIS DEVELOPMENT AS IT TAKES ROOT.

I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE TALK ABOUT THE SERIOUSNESS WITH WHICH EVERYBODY TOOK IT.

I'M KEEN ON ASSURING, UM, THAT THE PROCESS IN MY HONEST, UH, PROFESSIONAL INTEGRITY DRIVEN OPINION WAS FAIR AND IT WAS DILIGENTLY SCRUTINIZED FOR EQUITY CONSIDERATIONS AND FOR COMMUNITY BENEFIT, MAXIMUM COMMUNITY BENEFIT IS ALWAYS THE D ONE OFFICE'S GOAL.

THERE WAS A CALLER EARLIER WHO IMPLIED OTHERWISE, AND I JUST WANTED TO DO TWO THINGS.

ONE, TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO OPEN UP FOR YOU TO REACH OUT TO US, AND LET'S HAVE SOME COMMUNICATION, UM, ABOUT THE PROCESS AND YOUR EXPERIENCE IF YOU'D LIKE.

UM, BUT NOW THAT THIS PROCESS IS UNDERWAY, I THINK WE'RE ALL ANXIOUS TO SEE REAL PROGRESS REAL SOON.

SO WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A THOROUGH REVIEW AND DEBRIEFING FOR PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS, UM, WE DON'T WANNA LOOK BACK, WE DON'T WANNA TAKE ANY MORE TIME.

LET'S LOOK AHEAD AT THE MANY, MANY OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE'RE GONNA BE AFFORDED BY OUR RELATIONSHIPS.

AND WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE HOW CLOSELY THE D ONE TEAM AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THIS 11 MEMBER BODY HA HAVE, UM, HAD ALONGSIDE VITAL COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS.

WE'VE WORKED WITH RALLY AUSTIN FOR THIS PAST THREE PLUS YEARS TO GET TO THE BEST STARTING PLACE POSSIBLE.

UM, FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, JUST IN TERMS OF CONTEXT, BLOCK 16 AND 18, IT'S THE LAST OF IT.

SO THE URBAN RENEWAL BOARD, THE URBAN RENEWAL PLAN, THE URBAN RENEWAL AGENCY, IT WAS ALL A PART OF A PROCESS.

UM, AKA URBAN REMOVAL, BUT THE URBAN RENEWAL PROCESS IS COMPLETE NOW.

IT WAS A PROCESS WHO SOLE PURPOSED THE MISSION WAS TO COMBAT SLUM AND BLIGHT.

SO AN AREA THAT WAS DEEMED SLUMPED AND BLIGHTED.

THE EAST SIDE, OF COURSE, EAST 11TH AND 12TH STREET, IT'S ALL GONE NOW.

SO BETWEEN PRIVATE AND CITY OWNERSHIP, BLOCK 16 AND 18 WAS THE LAST OF IT.

NOW ALL WE HAVE IS TO LOOK FORWARD TO HOW WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS HISTORIC AND IMPORTANT RELEVANT COMMUNITY AREA, UM, UH, WITH THE DECADES BEHIND US.

YOU KNOW, IN A WAY, THE, THE WORK'S JUST BEGUN.

IT'S MY HOPE THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT EAST 11TH AND 12TH STREET, THE HISTORIC AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL HERITAGE DISTRICT, THE SIX SQUARE MILES THAT CONSTITUTED THAT AREA, THAT REPRESENTED THE BYPRODUCT OF THE 1928 MASTER PLAN.

I HOPE, JUST LIKE JUNETEENTH, WE'RE ALL RECOGNIZING THAT JUNETEENTH IS NOT A BLACK HOLIDAY, IT'S AN AMERICAN HOLIDAY.

EAST 11TH AND 12TH STREET IS NOT JUST THE EAST PART OF DOWNTOWN AUSTIN.

IT IS THE HISTORIC AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL HERITAGE DISTRICT.

AND WE ARE FEW IN THIS CITY, PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE ME, WHICH BY THE WAY, SHOUT OUT TO SEEING A LOT OF FOLKS IN THIS ROOM TODAY WHO LOOK LIKE ME.

I ALWAYS APPRECIATE WHEN THAT'S THE CASE, THAT WE ARE HERE AND WE ARE MIGHTY.

AND THIS IS OUR COLLECTIVE HISTORY.

IT'S NOT JUST BLACK HISTORY IN AUSTIN.

AND THE SOONER THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT'S ALL OF OUR HISTORY, THE MORE THAT WE COLLECTIVELY MAKE ACTIVE INVESTMENTS AND CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT, I'LL CLOSE WITH SAYING AS WE LOOK FORWARD, I WILL BE ONE OF THE MANY FOLKS WHO PLAN TO VISIT THIS NEW DEVELOPMENT, CONSIDERING IT'S BLOCKS AWAY FROM MY HOME TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES TO DINE, TO ENJOY MY COMMUNITY, ALONGSIDE MY BEAUTIFULLY DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOOD AND CITY.

UH, THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR AND COLLEAGUES.

10, 11, 12, 13, 52, 59, 73, 80, 90 AND 91.

COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, MEMBERS, THE MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA AND SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDAS READ.

I HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER VOTING NO ON ITEM 90.

COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY VOTING NO ON 88.

COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU FOR THE OTHER ITEMS YOU HAVE PEN AND PAPER READY? I'M, I'M, I'M LOOKING RIGHT AT YOU.

ALRIGHT, I'LL TRY TO GO SLOW.

AND THANK YOU MAYOR.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTE? COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, I'M NOT GONNA VOTE NO, BUT I'M JUST GONNA ABSTAIN ON 88.

THE PUBLIC BANKING ONLY 'CAUSE I NEED MORE EDUCATION ON IT, AND I'M SURE THERE'S TONS OF LOVELY FOLKS THAT ARE GONNA BE HAPPY TO DO THAT OVER THE COMING WEEKS AS WE GET THAT INFORMATION.

ALRIGHT, ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN RECUSING THEMSELVES

[01:40:01]

FROM VOTING ON AN ITEM ON, I HAVE YOU COUNCIL MEMBER ALT ALTER VOTING, UH, ABSTAINING ON ITEM NUMBER 70.

YOU, YOU STILL WANNA BE RECOGNIZED? OKAY.

YEAH, I WANNA ALSO ABSTAIN ON 88 FOR SIMILAR REASONS.

OKAY, TO COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES, COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES ALTER WILL BE SHOWN ABSTAINING ON 70 AND 88.

COUNCIL MEMBER S ABSTAINING ON 88.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO BE SHOWN ABSTAINING ON AN ITEM? OKAY.

UM, I'M GONNA READ THE NOS ONE MORE TIME TO MAKE SURE I HAVE THE RECORD CORRECT NOTE.

COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER IS VOTING NO ON ITEM 90.

COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, PLEASE, UH, CONFIRM.

88 10 11 12 13 52, 59, 73.

I'M SORRY, 90 AND 91.

ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING? NO.

ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO RECUSE THEMSELVES? ABSTENTIONS, I HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER ABSTAINING ON ITEM 70 AND 88 AND COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS ABSTAINING ON 88.

ALRIGHT, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.

THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ADOPTED WITH THE NOSE AND THE ABSTENTIONS AS I READ INTO THE RECORD.

MEMBERS, ITEM NUMBER FOUR WAS PULLED.

COUNCIL MEMBERS,

[4. Approve a resolution authorizing the City Manager to apply for a low-interest loan for up to $446,842,000 from the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act loan program for the Walnut Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant expansion and enhancements projects and authorizing payment of an application fee of $100,000.]

I'M GOING TO RECOGNIZE THE MAYOR PRO TIM ON ITEM NUMBER FOUR.

COLLINGS, DO YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU, UH, THE PROPOSED CORRECTION ON LINE SIX TO READ, UM, WHEREAS AUSTIN WATER IS CONSTRUCTING AND THEN, UH, DELETE THE WORDS, UH, A AND EXPANSION SO THAT THAT SENTENCE NOW READS, WHEREAS AUSTIN WATER IS CONSTRUCTING AN EXPANSION TO 100, UH, MGD TO THE WALNUT CREEK WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT EXPANSION THAT INCLUDES CAPACITY ENHANCEMENT PROJECTS.

THE MAYOR PROAM MOVES APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER FOUR.

IT IS SECONDED BY, UM, I'LL SECOND THE MOTION COUNCIL MEMBER POOLE WAS, IS RECOGNIZ WAS RECOGNIZED AND SHE MOVES, UM, THAT ITEM NUMBER FOUR BE AMENDED IN THE WAY THAT SHE JUST READ INTO THE RECORD.

THAT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.

UM, DISCUSSION ON THE AMENDMENT COUNCIL MEMBER, JUST REAL QUICK, IT WAS AN, UH, AN INADVERTENT ERROR.

UM, AND SO, UH, WE APPRECIATE THAT BEING DRAWN TO OUR ATTENTION AND MAKE THE CORRECTION THE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION TO AMEND THE VOTE IS ON THE MOTION TO AMEND WITHOUT OBJECTION.

UH, THE MO POOL AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS ADOPTED.

THAT'LL TAKE US BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THE MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED BY THE POOL AMENDMENT? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.

ITEM NUMBER FOUR AS AMENDED IS ADOPTED MEMBERS, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL RECESS THE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AT 11:43 AM AND CALL TO ORDER

[10:30 AM - Austin Housing Finance Corporation Meeting]

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.

GOOD MORNING.

UH, FOR THE RECORD, IT'S 1143 AS WE CALL TO GET THE MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.

GOOD MORNING.

UH, MR. PRESIDENT.

I'M VICE PRESIDENT AND, UH, BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

MY NAME IS JAMIE MAY.

I AM THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OFFICER WITH THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT.

UH, BEFORE YOU, YOU HAVE 11 ITEMS ON YOUR AGENDA.

UM, I WILL REVIEW ALL OF THEM WITH YOU, UH, BRIEFLY AND THEN OFFER THEM ON CONSENT.

UH, FIRST IS THE RATIFICATION OF AN, OF AN EXPANSION TO A LOAN TO HABITAT FOR HUMANITY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF 12 TOWN HOMES ON MONTOPOLIS TOWN HOMES, UH, LOCATED ON CIRCULAR DE AMISTAD.

THE SECOND IS TO AUTHORIZE AN EXECUTION OF A GROUND LEASE, UH, FOR THE A HFC DROWSY WILLOW CORPORATION.

UH, THIS IS, UH, 42 AFFORDABLE OWNERSHIP UNITS ON PLEASANT VALLEY IN THE PLEASANT VALLEY AREA.

UH, NUMBER THREE IS AN EXPANSION OF A, UH, AN EXISTING CONTRACT TO ADD $250,000 FOR, UH, TENANT RELOCATION AND HOUSING LOCATOR SERVICES.

NUMBER FOUR IS TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION APPOINTING JAMES MAY AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR 31 NONPROFIT CORPORATIONS.

NUMBER FIVE IS THE CREATION OF THE A HFC DROWSY WILLOW NONPROFIT CORPORATION, WHICH WILL BE HOLDING THAT GROUND LEASE, UH, MENTIONED IN ITEM NUMBER TWO.

NUMBER SIX IS, UH, THE AWARD OF 78 LOCAL HOUSING VOUCHERS FOR PECAN GARDENS.

UH, THIS IS A, UH, HOTEL THAT HAS BEEN CONVERTED INTO PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING IN DISTRICT, UH, SIX.

UH, NUMBER SEVEN IS TO AUTHORIZE THE NEGOTIATION AND EXECUTION OF AN AMENDMENT, UH, FOR

[01:45:01]

RIO GRANDE LEGAL AID TO PERFORM OUTREACH SERVICES AND EXTEND, UH, EVICTION REPRESENTATION.

NUMBER EIGHT IS, UH, TO APPROVE THE TENANT BASED RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, UH, CONTRACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 25.

NUMBER NINE IS TO CREATE THE A-H-F-C-C-L-O AT NORTH DOMAIN NON-PROFIT CORPORATION TO BE A SINGLE ASSET, SINGLE USE ENTITY, UH, HOLDING THE CIELO APARTMENT COMPLEX.

NUMBER 10 IS, UH, THE CREATION OF THE ANDERSON VILLAGE NONPROFIT CORPORATION, UH, THAT HOLDS THE ANDERSON VILLAGE, UH, APARTMENT COMPLEX, WHICH IS 24 UNITS OF MULTIFAMILY.

AND THEN THE FINAL, UH, ITEM IS TO, UH, ACTUALLY TRANSFER THAT PROPERTY FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO AUSTIN, UH, TO A HFC ANDERSON VILLAGE NONPROFIT CORPORATION, AS WE HAVE WITH ALL OF OUR OTHER ASSETS.

AND AGAIN, I OFFER THESE ALONG CONSENT MEMBERS.

THESE, UH, 11 ITEMS ARE OFFERED ON CONSENT.

IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF WITH REGARD TO THESE ITEMS? COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, BOARD MEMBER VELA, UH, MAYOR, I'M GOING TO NEED TO RECUSE ON ITEM NUMBER, UH, SEVEN.

MY SPOUSE IS AN EMPLOYEE OF TEXAS RIO GRANDE LEGAL AID.

WE'LL MAKE NOTE OF THAT IN THE RECORD THAT, UH, BOARD MEMBER VELA IS RECUSING HIMSELF FROM A VOTE ON A HSC ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, WE HAVE SOME SPEAKERS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP, UH, ON, ON THIS ITEM, SO I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK TO HELP US WITH THE SPEAKERS.

WE'LL GO TO OUR REMOTE SPEAKERS FIRST.

WE HAVE HEATHER E. BURKE, UH, SIGNED UP FOR ITEM NUMBER NINE.

I'M SORRY I, THAT ONE I DIDN'T, THE FORM THAT YOU THANK YOU.

MY APOLOGIES.

HEATHER EBERLY, PLEASE GO AHEAD.

WE'LL MOVE TO IN PERSON.

UM, PERHAPS HEATHER CAN JOIN US AT A LATER TIME.

IN PERSON WE HAVE MONICA GUZMAN SPEAKING ON ITEM NINE, FOLLOWED BY JENNY GRAYSON SPEAKING ON ITEM 10 AND CHRIS PAGE SPEAKING ON ITEM 10 AS WELL.

PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT.

IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE, UH, COME DOWN AS QUICKLY AS YOU CAN.

UM, CLERK, WOULD YOU LIKE TO READ A COUPLE MORE NAMES, PLEASE? THANK YOU, MAYOR PROTE.

UH, THEY ARE, I WILL TRY OUR REMOTE SPEAKER ONE MORE TIME.

HEATHER EBERLY.

HEATHER, PLEASE UNMUTE.

DO WE HAVE THE IN-PERSON, FOLKS? MS. GUZMAN, DID YOU WANT TO SPEAK? I SEE THERE WE HAVE THREE PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR IN PERSON.

I'LL CALL THEIR NAMES ONE MORE TIME.

MONICA GUZMAN, JENNY GRAYSON AND CHRIS PAGE.

UM, TO BE HONEST, I REALLY HADN'T PLANNED TO SPEAK.

HOWEVER, I, I WILL MAKE A BRIEF STATEMENT.

UH, I AM HERE IN PERSONAL CAPACITY ON THIS ISSUE, UH, DISTRICT FOUR RESIDENT.

AND I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH A APARTMENT OWNER THAT'S NEAR THIS PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT.

WE WERE TALKING YESTERDAY AND HE WAS SPEAKING ABOUT CONCERNS ABOUT SAFETY.

WHILE YES, THERE'S A NEED FOR, YOU KNOW, AFFORDABLE, YOU KNOW, APARTMENTS, AFFORDABLE LIVING LOCATIONS, THAT SPECIFIC AREA HAS OPEN DRUG ACTIVITY, SEX WORKERS.

THERE WAS A RECENT SHOOTING ABOUT TWO BLOCKS AWAY.

SO THERE'S CONCERN ABOUT THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE FUTURE RESIDENTS.

ME PERSONALLY, I'M ALWAYS A BIG SUPPORTER OF INCOME RESTRICTED HOUSING.

WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO BALANCE THAT OUT WITH MAKING SURE PEOPLE ARE SAFE WHEN THEY LIVE THERE.

SO JUST, THAT'S IT.

PLEASE CALL THE NEXT NAME JENNY GRAYSON AND CHRIS PAGE.

HEATHER, PLEASE GO AHEAD.

ANY OTHER NAMES? HEATHER EBERLY.

HELLO? AM I, CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME? YES.

HELLO? YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU.

[01:50:08]

PLEASE GO TO THE NEXT NAME.

THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS FOR HFC MAYOR.

UH, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE TAX INCREMENT FINANCING REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER 20.

MEMBERS.

THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF THE SPEAKERS BEFORE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON A HFC ITEMS, UH, ONE THROUGH 11.

UH, AT THIS TIME I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS READ MOTION IS MADE BY BOARD MEMBER RYAN ALTER.

IT IS SECONDED BY BOARD MEMBER CADRE.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO THESE ITEMS? I HAVE.

I'M GOING TO, THE RECORD WILL REFLECT WHEN WE'VE, UH, PASSED THIS WITHOUT OBJECTION.

THAT THAT BOARD MEMBER VELA RECUSES HIMSELF FROM ITEM NUMBER SEVEN.

IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON ANY OF THESE ITEMS? NOT TODAY, SIR.

OH, I'M PROVING YOUR THESIS FROM I UNDERSTANDING MOTION TO ADJOURN.

UM, UH, THE, THE, UH, IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN RECUSING THEMSELVES FROM A VOTE? ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO BE SHOWN, UH, RECUSING OR ABSTAINING FROM A VOTE? WITH THAT WITHOUT OBJECTION, A HFC CONSENT AGENDA, ITEMS ONE THROUGH 11 IS ADOPTED WITH, UH, BOARD MEMBER VELA SHOWN RECUSING ON ITEM NUMBER HIMSELF ON ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, UM, MEMBERS WITHOUT OBJECTION, UH, WE WILL ADJOURN THE MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION AT 11:51 AM I WILL NOW CALL TO ORDER,

[10:30 AM - Tax Increment Financing Reinvestment Zone #20]

IT IS JULY 18TH, 2024 AT 11:51 AM WE'RE MEETING IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT CITY HALL, AND WE HAVE A QUORUM OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESENT MEMBERS.

UM, THERE, WE HAVE TWO ITEMS ON, ON THIS AGENDA.

UH, THE, THE FIRST ITEM I JUST WANNA POINT OUT IS TO CONDUCT ELECTIONS FOR THE VICE CHAIR AND ANY OTHER OFFICERS WE MIGHT WANT.

WE CAN JUST HAVE A VICE CHAIR.

ITEM NUMBER 16 THAT WE PASSED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA OF THE CITY COUNCIL, APPOINTED THE MAYOR AS THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

UH, MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE THAT WE APPOINT THE MAYOR PRO TIM AS THE VICE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE TAX INCREMENT FINANCING, UH, NUMBER 20 BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

UH, AND I, AND THAT MOTION IS MADE BY COUNCIL, UH, BOARD MEMBER KELLY.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY BOARD MEMBER RYAN ALTER.

IS THERE DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? IS THERE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM ONE FOR THE TIF? NUMBER 20? THEY ARE NOT PRESENT AT THIS TIME.

ZENOBIA JOSEPH, MS. JOSEPH, MS. JOSEPH.

UM, IS THERE ANYONE, UH, IS IT WITHOUT THEN, WITHOUT, WITHOUT OBJECTION.

UH, ITEM NUMBER ONE ON THE TIFF NUMBER 20 AGENDA IS ADOPTED APPOINTING THE MAYOR PRO TEM AS VICE CHAIR.

WE'LL GO TO ITEM NUMBER TWO.

UM, AND LET ME MAKE SURE THERE'S NOBODY FROM STAFF THAT WANTS TO ADDRESS ANYTHING WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER TWO.

ALRIGHT, I'LL ASK IF THERE'S ANYBODY WITH ANY, UH, ANYBODY HERE TO TESTIFY WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER TWO.

WE HAVE ONE PERSON SIGNED UP.

UH, THAT BEING THE CASE, UH, MEMBERS, THAT'S ALL, ALL THAT WERE SIGNED UP ON ITEM NUMBER TWO, UH, FOR TIFF.

NUMBER 20, UH, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER TWO.

MOTIONS MADE BY, UH, VICE CHAIR OF THE BOARD, UH, POOL.

IT'S SECONDED BY, UH, BOARD MEMBER HARPER MADISON.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION? ITEM NUMBER TWO IS ALSO ADOPTED, UH, MEMBERS, THOSE ARE ALL THE ITEMS WITH REGARD TO TAX INCREMENT FINANCING.

REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER 20.

UM, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL ADJOURN THE MEETING OF THAT BOARD OF DIRECTORS AT 11:54 AM AND I WILL CALL BACK TO ORDER THE MEETING, THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE AUSTIN, UH, CITY COUNCIL AT 11:54 AM MEMBERS, WE WILL TAKE UP ITEM 1 0 4, ITEM NUMBER 1 0 4.

THE REASON WE'RE TAKING UP ITEM 1 0 4 IS IT IS A PUBLIC HEARING WITH ACTION RELATED TO THE TAX INCREMENT FINANCING REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER 20.

AND SO I'M TRYING TO TAKE IT UP IN CONJUNCTION WITH WHAT THAT BOARD JUST VOTED.

UM, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 1 0 4, AND I WILL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE, UH, TO LET US KNOW ABOUT PEOPLE THAT HAVE MAY HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.

THANK

[01:55:01]

YOU, MAYOR.

THERE'S NO ONE SIGNED UP FOR ITEM 1 0 4 MEMBERS.

THERE'S NO ONE THAT HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 1 0 4.

SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 1 0 4 AND ENTERTAIN A MOTION RELATED TO ITEM NUMBER 1 0 4.

MOTION IS MADE BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM.

IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO ITEM 1 0 4? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.

ITEM 1 0 4 IS ADOPTED.

MAYOR YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER BRAFORD.

I JUST WANNA CONGRATULATE COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON ON THIS NEXT MILESTONE FOR, FOR COLONY PARK AND ALL OF THE COMMUNITY THAT IT'S A BIG, BIG DEAL.

I, UH, I WAS TRYING TO RESIST THE URGE TO BE LONG-WINDED.

UM, SO I, I HELD MY TONGUE.

THANK YOU BOTH.

WELL DONE.

UH, GENERAL CITIZEN COM GENERAL, UH, PUBLIC COMMUNICATION, AND I WILL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK.

UM, REMEMBER WHAT I'M GONNA DO INSTEAD OF GOING INTO THE PUBLIC HEARINGS, UH, BUT WE'RE, WE'RE FOUR MINUTES AWAY FROM THE TIME CERTAIN, AND WHILE I HATE TO WASTE EVEN A MINUTE, UH, WHAT, WHAT I'M GONNA SUGGEST WE DO IS WE RECESS UNTIL THE TIME CERTAIN OF NOON, AND WE WILL TAKE UP OUR PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS AT THAT POINT IN TIME.

AND UNLESS THERE'S OBJECTION, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE IN RECESS UNTIL 12 O'CLOCK NOON.

IT IS 1156.

WE ARE IN RECESS UNTIL 12 O'CLOCK NOON.

I'LL CALL BACK TO ORDER THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AT THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.

IT IS 12:00 PM ON JULY 18TH, 2024.

WE ARE AT OUR TIME CERTAIN,

[12:00 PM - Public Communication: General]

UH, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY BEFORE WE START IS, UH, THAT WE NEED TO MAINTAIN DECORUM, BUT ALSO, IF YOUR NAME IS CALLED, IT IS FOR YOU TO COME FORWARD AND BE PREPARED TO SPEAK.

SO IF YOUR NAME IS CALLED, DON'T WAIT IN THE BACK OR SIT IN YOUR SEAT, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

AND IF THERE'S NO ONE SITTING AT, OR NO ONE STANDING AT THE MICROPHONE, JUST COME FORWARD TO THE MICROPHONE AND THAT'S OUTTA DEFERENCE TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SPEAKING AFTER YOU SO THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO WAIT, UM, ON, ON, ON YOUR COMING FORWARD.

SO WITH THAT, I WILL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK AND ASK THAT YOU PLEASE CALL, UH, THOSE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.

THANK YOU, MAYOR ELIOR AMAR, FOLLOWED BY RUTH SLOSKY, FOLLOWED BY YESENIA CORN.

IF YOU'D PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT.

IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE, YOU GO TO THE MICROPHONE.

IT, IT DOESN'T MATTER.

IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.

UH, MAYOR WATSON, COUNCIL MEMBERS, GOOD DAY.

UM, I WON'T ASK YOU TO VOTE FOR AGAINST THE CEASEFIRE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD.

UM, NOT BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT ENTITLED TO AN OPINION, BUT BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT ELECTED TO SOLVE FOREIGN CONFLICTS.

INSTEAD, I'D ELECT TO PROPOSE A SOLUTION.

I'M ISRAELI.

I KNOW WE CAN BE A LOT.

WE'RE FORWARD.

WE LIKE TO HAGGLE AND WE'LL CRITIQUE YOUR HUMMUS.

BUT WE'RE HARDWORKING PEOPLE.

OUR INNOVATIONS HAVE PROPELLED THE GLOBAL ECONOMY AND BROUGHT ON IMMENSE PROGRESS.

AND NO AMOUNT OF PAID TIKTOK PROPAGANDA CAN CHANGE THE FACT THAT IT IS COUPLE BOND WITH THE UNITED STATES.

PEOPLE ARE ACROSS, THE ANTISEMITISM IS ON THE RISE, BUT THE WORD RISE MAKES IT SOUND LIKE SOME ECONOMIC SHIFT OR A TRENDING HASHTAG.

ANTISEMITISM IS NOT A TREND.

IT'S A DISEASE, A CHRONIC ILLNESS OF SOCIETY.

IT HAS SYMPTOMS. IT AFFECTS OUR LIVES AND IT MUST BE TREATED.

THE YOUNG GENERATION HERE IS DESPERATE FOR MEANING.

IT'S EASY TO MANIPULATE THEM WITH BIG WORDS THAT DON'T UNDERSTAND.

BUT AS A PERSON DRIVEN BY BOTH LOGIC AND EMPATHY, I'M MORTIFIED BY THE LACK OF BOTH.

I'VE SEEN FEMINISTS DENY HORRIFIC SEXUAL CRIMES AGAINST ISRAELI WOMEN, OR WORSE JUSTIFY THOSE ACTS.

COLLEGE STUDENTS OF ALL BACKGROUNDS WHO SHAME OTHERS FOR CULTURAL APPROPRIATION.

NOWHERE KAFI IS AS IF, IF THEY HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH ARAB CULTURE.

LGBT FOLKS RALLY BEHIND FANATICS WHO HAD STONED THEM TO DEATH HAD WE LIVED UNDER SHARIA LAW CAREERS FOR PALESTINE, YOU'RE DEAD IN PALESTINE UNLESS YOU SEEK SHELTER IN ISRAEL AS AN OPENLY GAY MAN, I'M APPALLED BY THE IGNORANCE IN OUR COMMUNITY, THE PEER PRESSURE AND THE HYPOCRISY THAT PUSH THESE POOR FOLKS TO ALIGN THEMSELVES WITH A MOVEMENT THAT REJECTS THEIR OWN IDENTITY.

I'VE BEEN CALLED A WHITE COLONIALIST ME A JEW BORN IN THE ANCESTRAL LAND OF THE 12 INDIGENOUS TRIBES OF ISRAEL, AND ALLOW ME TO DROP THE PC FOR A MOMENT.

I KNOW THAT EVEN IN THE DEAD OF WINTER, WHITE IS NOT THE FIRST THING THAT COMES TO MIND WHEN YOU SEE ME.

I HAVE MOROCCAN BLOOD AND A LOT OF GREECE IN MY VEINS.

AND MY EUROPEAN ANCESTORS WHO HAD FAIR SKIN WERE STRIPPED OF THEIR RIGHTS AND SENT TO DEATH CAMPS EXACTLY

[02:00:01]

BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT VIEWED AS WHITE.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WHEN IT COMES TO THE JEWISH STATE, PEOPLE GIVE UP ALL THEIR VALUES AND THE MENTAL GYMNASTICS CAN BLOW YOUR MIND.

IT'S EASY FOR THOSE CARRYING THAT ANTI-ISRAEL AND ANTI-AMERICAN SENTIMENT TO TRY AND PRESSURE YOU.

IT'S EASIER TO DO THAT HERE IN A FREE COUNTRY THAN TO PROTEST IN ARABIC AGAINST THE OPPRESSIVE PALESTINIAN LEADERSHIP THAT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MOST DESPICABLE CRIMES SINCE THE NAZIS.

BUT IT'S NOT YOUR JOB TO FIX THEIR SYSTEM, JUST LIKE I VOICED MY THOUGHTS IN THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT IN HEBREW.

BUT HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN DO, PASS A RESOLUTION THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN WILL NOT RELEASE ANY STATEMENTS ON A FOREIGN COUNTRY'S POLICIES.

AND THE HATEFUL RHETORIC STAND FIRM AGAINST BULLYING AND PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY FROM FURTHER DIVISION.

THAT'S WHY YOU WERE ELECTED.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

WE WANT TO COME AND LET YOU KNOW THAT WE ARE FIGHTING FOR A $25 MINIMUM WAGE.

I DO HAVE, UH, THANK YOU.

MY NAME IS RUTH GOLD HORSE LEBOWSKI.

I FIRST CAME TO AUSTIN IN 1985 TO ATTEND THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AUSTIN, WHERE I GOT MY DOCTORATE IN COMMUNICATION STUDIES.

I AM THE CHILD OF ONE HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR.

MY HUSBAND IS THE CHILD OF TWO HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS.

AND WE HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS IN ISRAEL.

NOT BECAUSE IT IS A COLONIAL ENTERPRISE, BUT BECAUSE IT WAS A PLACE OF REFUGE AT A CRITICAL TIME.

AND IT REMAINS A, A DYNAMIC, DYNAMIC COUNTRY.

UM, IN MY TRAINING, ONE OF THE THINGS I LEARNED AT UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS IS ILLUSTRATED IN THIS BOOK IS THAT WHEN CALLING UPON ANYONE TO TAKE ACTION, WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PERSUADE, YOU NEED TO CONSIDER WHAT IS WITHIN THE REALM OF POSSIBILITY FOR THAT AUDIENCE TO ACT UPON.

WHEN THE CITY COUNCIL IS ASKED TO PASS A RESOLUTION FAVORING A CEASEFIRE IN GAZA, IT IS NOT WITHIN THE CITY COUNCIL'S CAPACITY TO AFFECT THAT.

SO THEN THE QUESTION REALLY BECOMES ON WHO'S BEHEST AND ON WHOSE BEQUEST ARE YOU BEING ASKED TO DO THIS.

IT IS ONLY A SYMBOLIC GESTURE.

AND WHO'S ASKING YOU TO DO THAT? SO THIS IS MY FIRST SLIDE.

IT IS THE, UM, CO AUSTIN COALITION FROM PALESTINE THAT HAS BEEN VERY VOCAL IN THESE CHAMBERS.

AND AS YOU CAN SEE, ONE OF THEIR, UH, BIG FLAGS IS FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA.

PALESTINE WILL BE FREE.

UH, LET ME BE CLEAR, THEY'RE NOT ASKING FOR A TWO-STATE SOLUTION.

THEY'RE NOT ASKING FOR PEACE.

THEY'RE NOT ASKING FOR A BILATERAL CEASEFIRE.

THEY ARE NOT ASKING FOR A RETURN OF HOSTAGES AND THEY ARE NOT ASKING FOR A LASTING PIECE.

SO LET'S TAKE A LITTLE CLOSER LOOK.

LET'S SEE.

I HAVE NEVER OPERATED ONE OF THESE CLICKERS BEFORE.

OKAY? THIS IS FROM THEIR WEBSITE, THE AUSTIN FOR PALESTINE COALITION AND HOW THEY DEFINE ANTISEMITISM.

THEY SAY THAT BECAUSE OF THE DANGEROUS CONFLATION OF ALL JEWISH PEOPLE TO ISRAEL HAS ALSO BEEN AN INCREASE IN ANTISEMITISM.

WELL, THAT'S AN INTERESTING CAUSE AND EFFECT RELATIONSHIP THEY'RE SUGGESTING THERE.

SO THERE, YOU KNOW, IS THERE REALLY A CONFLATION? I THINK THEY'RE TRYING TO SUGGEST THAT OUT OF WORLD JEWRY ONLY A FRACTION ARE ZIONISTS ARE PRO-ISRAEL ARE IN FAVOR OF A SECURE AND STABLE STATE, A NATION STATE WHERE IT IS LOCATED NOW.

AND, UM, I HAVEN'T DONE A SURVEY.

THIS IS JUST A, UM, A ROUGH DIAGRAM THAT I CAME UP WITH.

I WOULD PROPOSE THAT OF WORLD JEWRY, YOU HAVE THE MAJORITY ARE SUPPORTERS OF ISRAEL.

WHAT, WHAT, UH, THE COALITION WOULD DEFINE AS ZIONISTS.

UH, THEY ALSO WANT TO DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM BEING ANTISEMITIC.

SO THEY COME UP WITH THIS IDEA THAT ANTI-ZIONISM IS NOT ANTISEMITISM, BUT ZIONISM IS A COLONIAL IDEOLOGY BACKED BY IMPERIAL WESTERN POWERS.

IS MY TIME UP ALREADY? I'M SORRY.

YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.

OH, THANK YOU.

BUT THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

YESENIA CORNEJO, COURTNEY TOTO, HOLLY FIRESTONE.

IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT AND STATE YOUR NAME INTO THE MICROPHONE.

WE, WE CAN ONLY HAVE ONE PERSON AT THE MICROPHONE AT A TIME.

PLEASE TAKE A SEAT.

HELLO, MY NAME.

UH, HELLO MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS JIA CORNEJO.

I AM A MEMBER OF UNITED HERE, LOCAL 23, AND I WORK AT PILLA AT THE I AIRPORT FOR FIVE YEARS.

I AM PROUD TO SERVE TO THE, TO THE CITY AND WELCOME THE CITY AND TRAVEL EVERY DAY.

[02:05:03]

THE CITY'S MINIMUM WAGE IN CHRIST HELP JUST A LOT, AND WE ARE PRESSURE THE COUNCIL WORK ON THE BAD.

WE WORK FOR A PRIVATE COMPANY THAT MAKE MILLIONS OF DOLLAR EVERY YEAR AT OURS.

I AIRPORT A PRIVATE COMPANY SHALL NOT PAY JUST THAT MINIMUM.

I GOT, I GOT TO WORK EVERY DAY.

AND DON'T GIVE JUST MINIMUM.

WE WILL KEEP YOU ALL INFORMED ABOUT OURS CAMPAIGN AND WE A PRESSURE YOU ARE SUPPORT.

HAD A BLESSED DAY, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING.

APPRECIATE YOUR BEING HERE.

IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD TO THE MICROPHONE.

MY NAME IS COURTNEY RETO.

I WORK FOR THE ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT EIGHT.

SINCE 1913, THE MISSION OF A DL HAS BEEN TO STOP THE DEFAMATION OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE AND TO SECURE JUSTICE AND FAIR TREATMENT TO ALL.

TODAY A DL IS A GLOBAL LEADER IN FIGHTING ANTISEMITISM, EXPOSING EXTREMISM, DELIVERING ANTI-BIAS EDUCATION, AND FIGHTING THE SPREAD OF HATE IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND ONLINE.

I'M VERY HONORED THAT IN MY LIFE I HAVE WORKED WITH INCREDIBLE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO IMPROVE OUR WORLD FOR THE BETTER.

PREVIOUSLY, THE CIVIL SERVANTS AND REP DOGGETT'S OFFICE AND NOW THE AMAZING WOMEN WHO MAKE UP THE A DL AUSTIN TEAM, THEY CARE SO DEEPLY ABOUT FIGHTING ALL HATE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

MANY OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM AND ON YOUR DAY CAN ATTEST TO THEIR DEDICATION.

THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE, I SPOKE ABOUT HOW BOTH MY JEWISH COMMUNITY AND OUR PALESTINIAN NEIGHBORS WERE GRIEF STRICKEN AND TRAUMATIZED, NOT JUST BY THE ISRAEL HAMAS WAR, BUT BY GENERATIONS OF VIOLENCE AND HOW A CEASE BY A RESOLUTION WOULD EXACERBATE THAT TRAUMA, HOW IT WOULD DIVIDE OUR COMMUNITIES.

AND THAT NOW IS THE TIME TO COME TOGETHER TO BEGIN TO HEAL, TO MOVE FORWARD.

SINCE THEN, I'VE BEEN DOXED THE WAY I LOOK, THE COLOR OF MY SKIN, WHO I AM AS A HUMAN BEING, HAVE ALL BEEN SLANDERED AND MOCKED.

I WAS NOT GIVEN GRACE TO EXPRESS THE FEAR THAT SO MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY FEEL DAILY.

IN THE FACE OF THE ASTRONOMICAL INCREASE IN ANTISEMITISM IN THIS COUNTRY, THE FEAR THAT HAS US COVERING UP RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS OR HIDING OUR NATIONALITIES.

I TRY TO INVOKE COMPASSION FOR OUR COMMUNITY, BUT INSTEAD RECEIVED DERISION AND HATE AND NOT JUST ME, DESPITE THE FACT THAT A CEASE BY A RESOLUTION IN AUSTIN IS SOLELY A PERFORMATIVE MOTION.

WHEN THAT IN COUNTLESS COMMUNITIES HAS GIVEN PLATFORM TO VICIOUS ANTISEMITISM AND HATE.

MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL HAVE ALSO BEEN VERBALLY ABUSED, ACCUSED OF HAVING BLOOD ON THEIR HANDS, TOLD THEY ARE SUPPORTERS OF GENOCIDE CALLED NAMES SCREAMED AT AND SWORN AT THEIR CRIME, FOCUSING ON THE MATTERS THAT DIRECTLY IMPACT AUSTINITES DAILY LIVES.

SO HOW DO WE MOVE FORWARD? HOW DO WE DISAGREE PEACEFULLY? HOW DO WE CONFRONT OUR BIASES, WHICH HAVE LED TO SUCH VITRIOL? HOW DO WE WORK TOGETHER TO COMBAT HATE FROM THE WHITE SUPREMACISTS, NEO-NAZIS AND RELIGIOUS EXTREMISTS WHO CAN CONTINUE TO GROW STRONGER IN TEXAS? PLEASE KNOW THAT A DL WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT AGAINST ALL FORMS OF HATE AND EXTREMISM, AND WE HOPE THAT YOU'LL SEE US AS A RESOURCE AND ALLY TO THE ACTIVISTS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, IT'S NOT THAT YOU OWE US, IT'S THAT YOU KNOW US YOU KNOW THAT A DL AUSTIN WILL BE THE FIRST IN LINE TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST HATE, ALL HATE.

YOU KNOW THAT IF YOU NEED US TO SIGN ON TO A LETTER OR SHOW UP AT AN EVENT, WE WILL BE THERE.

IF THERE IS AN INCIDENT IN YOUR COMMUNITY, WE ARE A RESOURCE FOR YOU AND WE'LL SUPPORT YOU HERE AT HOME.

WE MUST FOCUS ON WHAT BRINGS US TOGETHER RATHER THAN WHAT DIVIDES US.

INSTEAD OF HATING ONE ANOTHER, WE CALL FOR RESPECTFUL DIALOGUE WHERE WE CAN COME TOGETHER AND LEARN FROM EACH OTHER'S DIFFERENCES.

FIND EACH OTHER'S HUMANITY.

I BELIEVE IN A BETTER AUSTIN FOR US ALL MORE, JUST MORE COMPASSIONATE AND LESS HATEFUL.

THIS IS GONNA GO ANYWHERE, THERE'S TWO THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW AND AGREE TO.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU MAYOR WATSON AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL.

I AM HOLLY FIRESTONE.

OVER A DECADE AGO, DURING MY FEW YEAR STINT AWAY FROM AUSTIN, I WENT ON A FIRST DATE AND I SAID, LISTEN, I'M NOT TRYING TO MAKE ANY ASSUMPTIONS HERE, BUT IF

[02:10:01]

I'M RAISING MY KIDS JEWISH AND I'M MOVING BACK TO AUSTIN.

THOSE ARE NON-NEGOTIABLES.

LUCKILY, THAT GUY AGREED WITH MY DEMANDS, AND IN 2016, I CAME HOME TO AUSTIN WITH MY HUSBAND IN TOW, AND WE NOW HAVE TWO BEAUTIFUL JEWISH AUSTINITE CHILDREN.

MY JUDAISM AND MY LOVE FOR AUSTIN HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THE TWO HALVES OF A WHOLE ME.

OUR VALUES AS AUSTINITES AND MY VALUES AS A JEWISH PERSON COME TOGETHER PERFECTLY.

AN EXAMPLE, ODDLY ENOUGH, A SHARED APPRECIATION FOR A CROSS-DRESSING ACTIVIST NAMED LESLIE.

YOUR LEGS ARE GREAT, BY THE WAY.

MAYBE NOT LESLIE GREAT, BUT GREAT , UH, BECAUSE THAT'S WHO WE, HE NEVER TRIED TO COMPETE WITH LESLIE 'CAUSE THAT'S WHO WE ARE AS JEWS.

IN AUSTINITES, WE CHERISH OUR DIFFERENCES AND THE THINGS THAT MAKE US UNIQUE AND EVEN WEIRD, MAYBE ESPECIALLY THE THINGS THAT MAKE US WEIRD.

WE ALSO CHERISH THE THINGS THAT MAKE US THE SAME, LIKE BRISKET THE FOOD OF MY PEOPLE, MY AUSTIN PEOPLE, MY JEWISH PEOPLE, AND MY AUSTIN JEWISH PEOPLE.

, I HOPE THAT IF NOTHING ELSE, WE CAN ALWAYS AGREE ON DELICIOUS, DELICIOUS BRISKET.

AS THE GRANDDAUGHTER OF HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS WHO SURVIVED THE HORRORS OF AUSCHWITZ, I FEEL IT'S MY DUTY, MY RESPONSIBILITY, AND MY PRIVILEGE TO BE STANDING HERE TODAY TO SHOW UP FOR OUR JEWISH COMMUNITY.

IT HAS BEEN A DIFFICULT LAST SEVERAL MONTHS GIVING BIRTH TO MY BEAUTIFUL BABY GIRL.

JUST 11 DAYS AFTER THE HORRIFIC ATTACKS IN ISRAEL HAS WEIGHED HEAVILY ON MY HEART AT A TIME WHEN THE JEWISH COMMUNITY IS DESPERATELY NEEDED TO BE WRAPPED UP IN THE LOVE AND COMFORT OF OUR NEIGHBORS.

WE'VE SEEN QUITE THE OPPOSITE PROTESTS FILLED WITH HATEFUL AND ANTI-SEMITIC RHETORIC, CONSPIRACY THEORIES BEING HUNG ON BANNERS OVER THE HIGHWAY, VANDALISM OF HOMES, SCHOOLS, AND OTHER PUBLIC PLACES.

THIS ISN'T THE AUSTIN I'VE COME TO KNOW AND LOVE.

THE AUSTIN I'VE COME TO KNOW AND LOVE BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER, CHANNEL'S, PASSION INTO RESPECTFUL AND MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE.

IN EARLY DECEMBER, I HEARD GLASS BREAK IN MY TWO YEAR OLD'S BEDROOM.

I WALKED INTO HIS ROOM AND I SAW A BUSTED WINDOW GLASS STREWN ABOUT AND A ROCK ON THE FLOOR.

I FELT LIKE I HAD THE WIND KNOCKED OUT OF ME.

MY IMMEDIATE THOUGHT WAS THAT SOMEONE DID THIS BECAUSE WE WERE JEWISH, TURNED OUT TO BE AN ACCIDENT, UH, WHICH NORMALLY WOULD'VE BEEN MY FIRST ASSUMPTION.

I'M USUALLY A VERY HAPPY GO LUCKY PERSON, BUT THAT HAS BEEN TAKEN FROM ME AS JEWS.

RIGHT NOW WE LIVE IN A HYPERVIGILANT STATE.

HOW COULD WE NOT? WHEN WE HEAR CHANCE IN OUR OWN CITY HALL SCREAMING FOR GLOBALIZING MANATA? WE'RE CONSTANTLY ON ALERT.

WE'RE CONSTANTLY SCARED, AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT FROM DAY TO DAY.

I'M EXHAUSTED.

I'M EXHAUSTED THINKING ABOUT THE BALANCE OF TEACHING MY KIDS TO BE PROUD OF WHO THEY ARE, BUT NOT TOO PROUD TO CELEBRATE OUR SPECIAL HOLIDAYS WITH JOY, BUT NOT TOO PUBLICLY.

WHAT KIND OF FUTURE IS THAT FOR MY CHILDREN? I CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH HOW DISCUSSING A CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION WITHIN THESE CHAMBERS WILL ONLY FAN THE FLAMES OF ANTISEMITISM IN THIS CITY AND BEYOND UNTIL WHAT END? I'M JEWISH.

I'M IN AUSTINITE.

I LOVE MY JUDAISM AND I LOVE MY AUSTIN WITH ALL OF MY HEART.

MAYOR WATSON, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO MAKE AUSTIN A SAFE AND WELCOMING PLACE FOR ALL OF US.

MAYA ASHKENAZI, GLEN TOWERY, BOBBY MARKS.

GOOD AFTERNOON, UH, MAYOR WATSON AND ALL OF YOU CITY COUNCIL.

THIS IS MY SECOND TIME STANDING HERE.

UH, SO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK AGAIN.

UM, I'M ALSO ISRAELI AND ALSO JEWISH AND I'VE BEEN LIVING IN AUSTIN FOR FIVE YEARS AND WE ACTUALLY CHOSE TO LIVE IN AUSTIN BECAUSE IT'S SUCH AN AMAZING CITY.

UH, MY SUBJECT TODAY IS THE CALL FOR ADA THAT HAS BEEN LOUD AND CLEAR HERE IN AUSTIN.

UH, I'M GLAD THAT TODAY IT'S NOT AS HOSTILE AS THE LAST TIME I WAS SPEAKING HERE.

AND I'M JUST GONNA READ FROM MY PAPER.

UM, THE CALL FOR ADA WAS VERY LOUD AND CLEAR DURING THE PRO-PALESTINIAN PROTEST, EITHER HERE IN THIS CHAMBER OR IN OTHER MAIN PUBLIC GATHERING.

HE IS IN FACT, SORRY.

YOU CAN SEE HOW STRESSED I AM.

YOU'RE DOING FINE .

IT'S A CALL FOR A VIOLENT ACT AND IT HAS AN IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY'S SAFETY.

THE WORD ADA EVOKED COMPLEX EMOTIONS AND HISTORICAL CONTEXT.

IT IS OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH HER RACING AND RESISTANCE MOVEMENT.

THIS TERM HAS RESURFACED WITHIN ALARMING IMPLICATIONS FOR OUR CITY AND ITS RESIDENTS.

LET US ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AUSTIN IS A CITY KNOWN FOR ITS VIBRANT DIVERSITY AND WELCOMING SPIRIT.

WE PRIDE OURSELVES FOR BEING A COMMUNITY WHERE PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE CAN LIVE, WORK AND THRIVE TOGETHER PEACEFULLY.

YET THE CALL FOR INTIFADA THREATENS TO DISTURB THIS HARMONY.

WHEN USED IN A CONTEMPORARY CONTEXT, INTIFADA OFTEN SIGNIFIES A CALL TO ARM AND CAN SOW SEEDS OF DIVISION, FEAR AND UNCERTAINTY WITHIN OUR NEIGHBOR NEIGHBORHOODS.

IT DOES NOT FREE INITIATE BETWEEN PEOPLE.

IN FACT, IT AIMS TO DESTROY THE PEACE OF PUBLIC SPACES AND HURT AS MANY.

I'VE BEEN WITNESSED THAT THROUGHOUT MY WHOLE LIFE BACK IN ISRAEL, THANKFULLY NOT HERE.

AS CITIZENS OF AUSTIN,

[02:15:01]

WE MUST CONFRONT THIS CHALLENGE AND CONSIDER ITS IMPLICATIONS.

SERIOUSLY, THE IMPACT ON AUSTIN'S SAFETY CANNOT BE OVERSTATED.

SAFETY IS NOT JUST A MATTER OF PHYSICAL SECURITY, BUT ALSO THE SENSE OF SECURITY THAT ALLOWS US TO GO ABOUT OUR DAILY LIVES WITHOUT FEAR.

WHEN THE SPECTER OF INFA LOOMS LARGE, IT CREATES AN ATMOSPHERE OF TENSION AND DESTRUCT.

IT CAN ENCOURAGE INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS TO ACT OUTSIDE THE BONDS OF LAW AND ORDER LEADING TO INCIDENTS OF SEVERE VIOLENCE.

THIS IS NOT THE AUSTIN WE KNOW AND LOVE A CITY WHERE MUTUAL RESPECT AND PEACEFUL COEXISTS INTIFADA IS MAKING US QUESTION OUR NEIGHBORS AND OURSELVES.

NOW MORE THAN EVER, WE MUST REAFFIRM OUR COMMIT COMMITMENT TO UNITY AND DIALOGUE AND REJECT ALL, ALL CALLS TO DIVIDE US BASED ON RELIGION, ETHNICITY, OR IDEOLOGY.

LET US EMBRACE OUR SHARED HUMANITY AND WORK TOWARDS SOLUTIONS THAT FOSTER UNDERSTANDING AND BUILD BRIDGES OF TRUST.

PLEASE COME FORWARD IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED.

OH, WHEN MY NAME IS CALLED.

I THOUGHT I WAS NEXT.

WELL, ARE YOU GLEN? GLEN TOWERY.

BOBBY MARKS.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS YOU.

SO YEAH, IT'S A GOOD CALL.

, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING ME, SIR.

AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PAST SUPPORT OF US VETERANS.

I REMEMBER WHEN YOU WERE A SENATOR, A TEXAS STATE SENATOR.

I CAME TO YOU, YOU WELCOMED US IN YOUR OFFICE AND YOU DID A VIDEO IN SUPPORT OF THE AUSTIN VETERANS ARTS FESTIVAL.

AND THAT HELPED US A LOT TO CONTINUE MOVING.

SO, AND GROWING.

THIS IS OUR SIXTH ANNUAL FESTIVAL.

FIRST I'D LIKE TO ASK, ARE THERE ANY VETERANS HERE AT THE PLEASE STAND? YEAH, THERE YOU GO.

WE GOT ONE IN, IN.

SHE'S A, I I KNOW HER.

SHE'S A, UH, COMBAT, UH, UM, COMBAT HELICOPTER PILOT, UM, AFGHANISTAN, WHO WENT IN AND DID A LOT OF HEROIC WORK.

SO I'M HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE AUSTIN VETERANS ARTS FESTIVAL AND A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE, THIS IS OUR SIXTH ANNUAL, UM, VETERANS ARTS FESTIVAL.

AND, UH, WE'VE JUST BEEN GOING, MAINLY WORKING WITH VOLUNTEERS TO GET TO THIS.

SIXTH ANNUAL IS BEEN, I CAN'T EVEN EXPLAIN IT TO YOU.

IT'S BEEN A VERY POWERFUL THING.

UM, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE REALLY NEED RIGHT NOW IS FURTHER RECOGNITION FOR THE THINGS WE'VE BEEN DOING OVER THE SIX YEARS.

AND I'D LIKE TO ASK THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO PLEASE CONSIDER PUTTING UP LAMP POST BANNERS FOR OUR FESTIVAL.

THIS IS FESTIVAL CITY.

WE CAN'T AFFORD TO DO IT, BUT IT WOULD BE A SENSE OF PRIDE TO ALL OF THE VETERANS TO KNOW THAT WE ARE BEING APPRECIATED FOR, WITH THIS FESTIVAL, THE AUSTIN VETERANS ARTS FESTIVAL, WHICH LASTS ONE MONTH.

A LOT OF PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW THAT THIS YEAR IT'S GOING TO BE FROM OCTOBER 11TH TO OCTOBER THE 12TH.

AND, UH, WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS, IF YOU GO TO OUR WEBSITE LINED UP FOR US TO DO ALSO, UM, WE HAVE, UH, WE'RE ADDING A FILM FESTIVAL THIS YEAR.

BUT ONE OF THE REALLY BIG THINGS THAT'S HAPPENED FOR US IS I WROTE A, UM, WE DO NOW WE DO TOURNAMENTS.

WE DO, UM, UM, SO ONE OF THE TOURNAMENTS I JUST WROTE IS FOR A BASKETBALL, A HORSE BASKETBALL LEAGUE.

I SENT THAT TO THE SPURS AND WE MET FOR TWO MONTHS.

AND THE SPURS IS NOW SPONSORING THIS LEAGUE HERE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR VETERANS, MILITARY PERSONNEL AND YOUNG ADULTS.

AND, UH, IT'S GONNA BE A, A REALLY BIG THING.

THEY'RE DOING THE WHOLE THING.

THEY'RE PROVIDING THE COSTUME, NOT THE COSTUME, THE UNIFORMS, THE PLACE TO PLAY, THE REFEREES, EVERYTHING.

SO WANTED TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF THAT.

AWARE OF THAT.

IT'S GONNA BE STARTING VERY, VERY SOON.

UH, ALSO, JIM DARWIN HAS BEEN THE PERSON WHO HAS BEEN DOING THE PARADES.

I'M PART OF THE PARADE COMMITTEE, THE VETERANS DAY PARADE.

HE'S BEEN DOING IT SINCE 2016.

I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THAT YOU GIVE A SPECIAL MESSAGE TO HIM.

HE'S ABOUT TO STEP DOWN SOON.

UH, A A COMMENDATION FOR THE WORK THAT HE HAS BEEN DOING.

HE'S DONE IT EVEN THROUGH COVID AND WHEN WE HAD TO CANCEL IT, BUT HE DID IT EVEN THROUGH COVID AND AFTER COVID.

UM, THIS YEAR I ASK YOU THAT YOU GO TO OUR WEBSITE AND JUST SEE WHAT WE ARE DOING.

BOBBY MARKS, NORA, LIEBERMAN, SOLOMON KAHN.

WE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? NO, MAYOR IS THERE SOMEBODY ON THE PHONE? ALL RIGHT.

UM, THESE FOLKS SEEM TO THINK THERE'S SOMEBODY ON THE PHONE.

[02:20:01]

UM, ALL RIGHT.

THOSE ARE ALL MEMBERS.

THOSE ARE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK THAT ARE, UH, PREPARED TO SPEAK WITH US TODAY IN OUR PUBLIC, OUR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.

UM, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL, THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL WILL BE IN RECESS UNTIL, UH, 1 0 1 O'CLOCK, UH PM IT IS 1224.

THE CITY COUNCIL IS IN RECESS.

[Live Music Matthew Brodnax]

WILL THEY SAY THEY CAN FIX IT ALL WITH MORE ROSE, BETTER BUSES TOO? WILL THEY SAY THEY CAN FIX IT ALL MORE, BUT IT LIKE, NO MATTER WHAT, I GOT THOSE I 35 BLUES.

WELL, WE'LL START IT UP.

THAT'S GREAT.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARTS OF THE DAY.

AND WE GET TO, I PROMISED I WAS NOT GOING.

OF COURSE.

WE HAVE A NEW CITY MANAGER WHOSE NAME IS TC BROAD MAX.

AND, AND SO ALL DAY LONG I'VE BEEN THINKING, I HOPE I DON'T STAND UP AND SAY, WELL, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, TC BROAD MAX, UH, INSTEAD IT'S MATTHEW BROAD ACTS AND, UH, WE'RE REALLY PLEASED TO HAVE MATTHEW BROAD MAX.

AND YOU'VE HEARD, YOU'VE HEARD JUST A LITTLE BIT OF SNIPPET AS AS THEY WARM UP AND YOU CAN TELL I'M EXCITED ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GETTING READY TO HEAR.

UH, AFTER CUTTING HIS TEETH IN THE SMOKY BLUES JAMS OF HOUSTON GUITARIST, MATTHEW BROAD ACTS HAS QUICKLY BECOME AN IN DEMAND SIDE MAN AND FORMIDABLE FRONT MAN IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, A TRUE STUDENT OF THE BLUES BROAD ACTS, HIS ENCYCLOPEDIC KNOWLEDGE OF VINTAGE BLUES HAS ALLOWED TO PLAY, ALLOWED HIM TO PLAY A BRAND OF BLUES THAT IS GENUINE AND TRUE TO THE ART WITHOUT BEING DERIVATIVE.

HIS REPERTOIRE INCLUDES CLASSIC BLUES, FUNK, ROCK AND ROLL, AND NEW ORLEANS INSPIRED TUNES.

MATTHEW BUR BRONA CURRENTLY HAS HIS OWN BAND, MATTHEW BRONA AND THE BLUES SHERPAS.

HIS, HE IS LEAD GUITAR PLAYER FOR BIRD LEG AND THE TIGHT FIT BLUES BAND.

OTHER BANDS THAT HE'S PLAYED WITH INCLUDE MS. LAVELLE WHITE, OSCAR EU BLUES IN THE NIGHT, JAO AND THE OLD DOGS AND THE ERIC DIMMER BAND.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MATTHEW BRONA.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR WATSON.

1, 2, 1, 2, 3.

WELL, I'M GOING AUSTIN, I'M ABOUT TO HIT INTERSTATE 35.

WELL, I'M GOING IN TO AUSTIN ABOUT TO HIT INTERSTATE 35.

WELL, I SEE THAT RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC MAY NOT MAKE IT OUT WHILE I'VE BEEN GOING.

BOW 24, WIN THE SPEED LIMIT 70 WHILE I'M GOING BOW 24, WIN THE SPEED LIMIT AIN'T THREE O ON.

[02:25:46]

YOU GOTTA LOVE AUSTIN, TEXAS.

YOU GET LIVE MUSIC AND PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE SAME TIME.

UH, LOVE IT.

NO, THAT WAS GREAT.

LEMME COME OVER.

I'LL COME OVER TO YOU.

HOW ABOUT THAT? DON'T YOU HOLD ONTO THAT? UH, AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO, AM I ON, ALRIGHT, ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO, OF COURSE IS WE RECOGNIZE, UM, OUR, OUR, OUR LIVE MUSIC BECAUSE IT MEANS SO MUCH TO OUR COMMUNITY.

AND SO I'M GOING TO MAKE A PROCLAMATION TODAY AS MAYOR, 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 ARTIST NOW, THEREFORE, I, KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD, AUSTIN, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JULY 18TH, 2024 AS MATTHEW BROAD ACT'S DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.

LET'S GIVE HIM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

TELL US, TELL US WHERE WE CAN HEAR YOU, HOW WE GO ABOUT HEARING YOU, AND WHERE WE CAN FOLLOW YOU ON SOCIAL.

UH, YOU CAN FIND ME AT FACEBOOK.COM/MATTHEW BROAD.

NEXT MUSIC, UH, NEXT SHOW.

ACTUALLY BE IN FAST DROP ON THE 26TH, BUT OUR NEXT SHOW IN HOUSTON, OR IN IN AUSTIN WILL BE WITH, UH, GIL OVER HERE ON THE 31ST DOING A DUO SET AT EVANGELINE CAFE AT SEVEN O'CLOCK.

SO PLEASE COME ON OUT.

THE FOOD IS GREAT, THE MUSIC IS GREAT, AND HOPE TO SEE YOU DOWN THERE.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MATTHEW BROAD.

GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL WILL BE IN RECESS UNTIL 1:00 PM AND WE'LL START BACK PROMPTLY AT ONE.

I WILL CALL BACK TO ORDER THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AT THIS REGULAR SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.

IT'S 1:00 PM ON JULY 18TH, 2024.

UH, WHEN WE TOOK THE RECESS, I INDICATED THAT WHEN WE CAME BACK AT ONE O'CLOCK, THE FIRST ITEM

[112. Conduct a public hearing and consider a resolution related to an application by Travis Park Preservation LLC, or an affiliated entity, for housing tax credits for the acquisition and rehabilitation of a multifamily development to be financed through the private activity bond program to be known as Travis Park Apartments located within the City at or near 1110 East Oltorf Street, Austin, Texas 78704.]

WE WOULD TAKE UP IS ITEM ONE 12 MEMBERS.

ITEM ONE 12 IS, UH, BOTH CONDUCT OF A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDERING A RESOLUTION WITHOUT OBJECTION.

I WILL OP, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER ONE 12, AND I WILL TURN TO THE CLERK'S OFFICE TO HELP US.

IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE HAVE SOME INTERPRETATION WITH, UH, ITEM ONE 12.

AND SO I'LL, I'LL TURN TO YOU ALL TO HELP ME OUT WITH THAT.

I'LL CALL, UH, MAY AL SILI.

AND IF THE INTERPRETER COULD MAKE THEIR WAY TO THE FRONT AS WELL FOR SIX MINUTES.

HI, I AM ONE, NUMBER TWO,

[02:30:05]

PLEASE.

THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO ASK IF PLEASE DO.

UH, SURE.

UH, MY NAME IS MAY AND, UH, I'M SPEAKING REGARDING ITEM ONE 12.

AND, UH, I HAVE FEW POINTS TO, UH, TO EXPRESS HERE TODAY AND SHARE WITH YOU.

UH, ONE, UH, IS CLOSING THE OUTSIDE DOORS BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT A LOT OF, UH, THEFT AND ALSO, UH, SECURITY PURPOSE AS WELL.

UH, WE ALSO LIKE TO IMPROVE THE, THE LAUNDRY CONDITION, THE LAUNDRY ROOM CONDITION.

UH, ALSO THE, THE COOLING SYSTEM, UH, NEEDS TO BE, UH, CHANGED.

UH, WE HAVE DIFFERENT SETUP FOR IT, UH, SUMMER AND THE WINTER, AND SOMETIMES OVERLAP AND WOULD NOT REALLY PROVIDE THE APPROPRIATE, UH, AIR CONDITIONING, UH, FOR THE APPROPRIATE TIME.

UH, ALSO WE NEED, UH, THE, UH, PLAYGROUND, UH, OR GYM FOR THE CHILDREN.

UH, AND ALSO PLACES FOR PEOPLE OR FOR THE PARENTS OR THE FAMILIES TO SIT DOWN.

UH, WE WOULD LIKE TO ALSO HAVE A TRANSLATOR IN THE OFFICE.

SO FAR, UH, CHANGING THE, THE COUNTER SETTING, UH, BECAUSE THEY ARE TOO OLD.

UH, ALSO THE REFRIGERATION, UH, THEY ARE SMALL AND OLD AS WELL.

UH, IMPROVING THE WINDOWS SETUP AND IMPROVING IT TO, TO BE MUCH BETTER, UH, IN TERMS OF USE AND APPEARANCE.

ALSO, UH, ALLOWING, UH, THE, THE FREEZERS OR LAYING THE FREEZER OUT, THEY, THEY NEED, UH, FREEZERS AS WELL TO STORE, UH, FOOD.

NEXT WE HAVE SPEAKING ON ITEM ONE 12, DESAY ALARCON, SAMUEL HK NA AND JEFF MEYER.

IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND, AND STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND PLEASE, UH, GIVE YOUR TESTIMONY.

UM, GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME'S DEE KOON.

I'M AN ORGANIZER WITH BASTA AND SUPPORT TENANTS AT TRAVIS PARK WHO ARE ORGANIZING THEIR NEIGHBORS AS PART OF THE HEROES OF TRAVIS PARK TENANTS ASSOCIATION.

AND I'D LIKE TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS REGARDING, UH, ITEM ONE 12.

SO, AS YOU MAY KNOW, TRAVIS PARK HAS A LARGE AND DIVERSE COMMUNITY OF RESIDENTS, IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, SENIORS AND YOUNG FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN.

AND I'VE SPOKEN WITH A LOT OF TENANTS OVER THE LAST SIX WEEKS WHO'VE TOLD ME THAT THEIR SPECIFIC NEEDS AND CONCERNS AREN'T BEING ADDRESSED.

UH, FOR EXAMPLE, MANY OF THE TENANTS I'VE SPOKEN WITH, AND IN PARTICULAR, THE IMMIGRANTS SAY THAT THEY RECEIVE LITTLE HELP, RESPECT OR EMPATHY FROM OFFICE STAFF AND DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO INFORMATION IN THEIR PRIMARY LANGUAGES.

UM, SOME TENANTS HAVE EVEN TOLD US THAT THEY'RE AFRAID OF MAKING MISTAKES OR ASKING QUESTIONS 'CAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO BE GIVEN LEASE VIOLATIONS OR THREATENED WITH EVICTION.

NOT TO MENTION MANY ISSUES WITH THE PROPERTY ITSELF, LIKE POOR INFRASTRUCTURE, LACK OF ACCESSIBILITY AND SUBSTANDARD CONDITIONS THROUGHOUT.

NOW THERE'S WHERE THE RENOVATIONS PLANS AND TENANTS HAVE TOLD ME THEY HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY REAL INFORMATION ABOUT THEM.

AND THEY FEAR THAT THE CHANGES THAT THEY WANT AND THE CONCERNS THEY HAVE AROUND HOW THE RENOVATIONS ARE GONNA BE CARRIED OUT AREN'T GONNA BE ADDRESSED.

SO GIVEN TENANT'S HISTORY WITH THE OWNERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT, THEY'RE WORRIED THAT THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE RESPECTED OR LISTENED TO IN THE PROCESS.

UH, TENANTS DO WANT THESE RENOVATIONS TO BE CARRIED OUT, BUT THEY HOPE, AND I DO AS WELL, THAT THIS CAN BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR JUSTICE TO BE SERVED AND FOR A PERMANENT IMPROVEMENT IN THEIR LIVING CONDITIONS, THEIR TREATMENT, AND THEIR OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE.

I KNOW THAT TENANTS I'VE SPOKEN WITH WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE SUPPORT FROM CITY COUNCIL AND THEIR EFFORTS TO ACHIEVE THIS.

USE SPECIAL FORCES AND CI IN AFGHANISTAN AND PUT MY FAMILY AND MYSELF LIVES IN DANGER.

IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD, THIS IS SAMUEL HAK NAZARRE, ONE OF THE TRAVIS PARK APARTMENT RESIDENTS.

WE HAVE LOTS OF ISSUE ABOUT THE RENT, REPAIR, MAINTENANCE AND ETC, BUT THE IMPORTANT THING IS THE BEHAVIOR OF THE MANAGEMENT WITH THE RESIDENT.

I'M ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO WORK WITH THE

[02:35:01]

BUT WHEN I CAME HERE AND, UH, BY, UH, SIV SPECIAL IMMIGRATION, UH, SIV OR SPECIAL IMMIGRATION VISA, THIS IS NOT WHAT WE SHOULD SUPPOSED TO DESERVE IN TRAVIS PARK APARTMENT SPECIAL WITH THE BEHAVIORS THAT WE SAW.

LOTS OF DISRESPECT, UH, RESPECT FROM MANAGEMENT.

AND, UH, WE HAVE LOTS OF ISSUE AS I MENTIONED BEFORE.

AND I'M HAPPY TODAY TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IN A STATE OF MY PEOPLE IN A STATE OF THOSE REFUGEE.

WERE NOT HERE AND WERE NOT ABLE TO SPEAK ENGLISH AND SCARED OR TREATED BY MANAGEMENT TRAVIS PARK APARTMENT, UH, TO REQUEST THEIR RIGHTS FROM TRAVIS PARK APARTMENTS.

AND I'M ALSO VOLUNTEER TO WORK IN THE MANAGEMENT TO THE LEASING OFFICE TO HELP MY PEOPLE, THOSE WHO WERE LIVING IN THE TRAVIS PARK APARTMENTS, BECAUSE THEY ALWAYS WENT TO TRAVIS PARK APARTMENT TO REQUEST FOR SOME MAINTENANCE OR REPAIR OR SOMETHING ELSE, BUT ALWAYS THE, SO IT'S MORE RUDE OR DISRESPECT, SO DISRESPECT FROM THE MANAGEMENT AND THEY STAY MANY TIMES ON THE LINE TO REQUEST FOR SOME EASIER CONDITION OR ANYTHING ELSE TO REPAIR FOR THEM.

BUT, UH, THEY DIDN'T, UH, UH, RECEIVE ANY BACK FROM THE MANAGEMENT.

AND BECAUSE THEY HAVE KIDS AND FAMILY OVER THERE THAT THEY HAVE SICKNESSES IN THE HOUSE, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE PEOPLE ARE SICK IN THE HOUSE IN THIS HOT SITUATION IN THE TRAVIS PARK APARTMENTS.

THEY NEED TO BE, UH, TAKE SERIOUS ACTION ON THERE.

UH, IF YOU MIND PLEASE AND, UH, THIS IS ABOUT ALL I HAVE TO MENTION TODAY.

HI, MY NAME IS JEFF MEYER AND I'M COMING BEFORE YOU TO OPEN A DIALOGUE ABOUT THE NEEDED RESERVATIONS OF TRAVIS PARKS THAT NO CURRENT RESIDENT HAVE ANYTHING OR KNOW ABOUT.

UM, WE WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION BEFORE THE RENOVATIONS BEGIN.

UM, I HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT OF TRAVIS PARKS FOR ABOUT NINE PLUS YEARS NOW, AND HAVE BEEN CONSTANTLY HARASSED BY THE CURRENT MAINTENANCE AND, UH, OFFICE STAFF ABOUT MY PHYSICAL DISABILITY AS WELL AS MY PARENT PARTNER'S EXTREME MENTAL DISABILITY CONDITION.

OUR CONDITIONS ARE WELL KNOWN TO THE MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE STAFF AND HAVE EVEN GONE AS FAR AS TRYING TO EVICT US BECAUSE OF OF SUCH LIMITATIONS.

WE WERE HOPING THAT WITH THE NEW RENOVATIONS, THERE WILL BE A LOT OF NEW IMPROVEMENTS AND FIXES TO THE PROPERTY, SUCH AS MORE HANDICAPPED APARTMENTS AS I HAVE MOVED INTO THE NON HANDICAPPED APARTMENT FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS AND HAVE BEEN CHARGED IN EXCESS OF 300 PLUS DOLLARS FOR WEAR AND TEAR DONE BY MY WHEELCHAIR BECAUSE I AM NOT ABLE TO NAVIGATE THROUGH THE NARROW HALLWAYS AS WELL AS WE WOULD LIKE MORE UNDERSTANDING BY THE CURRENT STAFF.

APPRECIATE YOUR BEING HERE.

SARAH WATKINS, DALIA SHARIF, ELI WISE, ARI SAMIR.

IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM.

THEY SUPPORTED THEIR NEIGHBORS AND THEY COLLECTED REPAIR NEEDS.

MY NAME IS SARAH WATKINS.

I'M AN ORGANIZER WITH BASTA AND I SUPPORT MY COLLEAGUE DEME AND THE EFFORTS OF THE TENANTS WITH THE HEROES OF TRAVIS PARK TENANTS ASSOCIATION.

UM, FOR SOME HISTORY HERE, BASTA BEGAN ORGANIZING WITH TENANTS OF TRAVIS PARK, UM, BACK AT 2017.

UM, AND AT THAT TIME, UM, CONCERNS WERE REALLY SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU'VE HEARD FROM FOLKS TESTIFYING TODAY AND WHAT YOU WILL HEAR, UH, WITH THE FOLKS WHO ARE REMAINING TO SPEAK.

UM, FOLKS WERE LOOKING TO HAVE SOME REALLY, REALLY SIGNIFICANT REPAIR NEEDS ADDRESSED.

UM, AND THEY WANTED ONSITE STAFF TO TREAT THEM WITH PROFESSIONALISM, DIGNITY, AND RESPECT.

UM, THEIR ORGANIZING EFFORTS AT THAT TIME WERE MET WITH INCREDIBLE HOSTILITY FROM OWNERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT.

UM, THEIR CONCERNS WERE VARIOUS VARIOUSLY RESPONDED TO BY CALLING THE POLICE THREATENING EVICTIONS, UM, AND IN ONE CASE EVEN FILING AN EVICTION.

UM, SO IN SPITE OF A FEAR AT THAT TIME THAT THEY COULD LOSE THEIR HOMES FOR ORGANIZING, THEY ORGANIZED ANYWAY AND

[02:40:01]

AND OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL MONTHS AND YEARS, THEY ACTUALLY WON SOME REPAIRS.

UM, AND THEY WON, UM, SOME CHANGES IN SOME OF THE BEHAVIOR, UH, FROM THE OFFICE.

UM, BUT AS YOU'VE HEARD TODAY, THOSE CHANGES REALLY HAVE NOT LASTED.

UM, A MAJORITY OF THE TENANTS THAT DESME AND I HAVE TALKED WITH, UH, REALLY WANT RENOVATIONS AND REALLY BELIEVE THAT THEY'RE SORELY NEEDED, UM, AND IN SPITE OF THE FEAR THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE RETALIATED AGAINST AGAIN.

UM, TENANTS ARE NOW ORGANIZING AGAIN BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THAT THESE RENOVATIONS COULD BE A CATALYST FOR REAL CHANGE.

AT TRAVIS PARK, IT IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL THAT TENANTS AND THE TENANTS ASSOCIATION BE INCLUDED IN NOVATION PLANS, UM, AND THAT THEY'RE LISTENED TO AND THAT THEIR CONCERNS BE FULLY ADDRESSED.

THESE RENOVATIONS SHOULD NOT JUST BE TREATED AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE INFRASTRUCTURE.

UM, THEY SHOULD BE TREATED AS A CHANCE TO FINALLY RIGHT THE MANY, MANY WRONGS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE AT TRAVIS PARK.

THAT, THAT, UM, ON A FINAL NOTE, I WANNA SAY THAT EVERYBODY WHO'S HERE TESTIFYING BEFORE YOU TODAY, UM, IS HERE TESTIFYING FOR THE FIRST TIME.

UM, AND I KNOW THAT THEY APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT, UM, AND YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR THE ORGANIZING THAT THEY'RE DOING.

IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COME FORWARD.

HI, MY, CAN YOU HEAR ME? MY NAME IS ELI WISE AND I REPRESENT THE, UH, TRAVIS PARK PRESERVATION, LLC, WHICH IS THE GROUP THAT'S PURCHASING THE PROPERTY.

UM, AND I'M VERY, UH, WELL AWARE OF ALL THE CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE SO FAR AND MAY CONTINUE TO BE MADE.

UM, THE PROPERTY WITH OUR LEADERSHIP HAS A RESERVATION OF TAX EXEMPT BONDS AND LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDITS THROUGH T-D-H-C-A, UH, AND A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE TRAVIS COUNTY HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION THAT IS ALL READY TO CLOSE ON TUESDAY.

UM, SO THIS, THIS, UH, RESOLUTION THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IS THE FINAL PIECE THAT WE NEED TO CLOSE AND PUT THE RENOVATIONS TO WORK.

UM, WE ARE MORE THAN WILLING AND EXCITED TO WORK WITH THE TENANT ASSOCIATION AND, UH, THE TENANTS THEMSELVES AND BASTA TO RIGHT ALL OF THE, THE WRONGS THAT ARE BEING DESCRIBED.

BUT, UH, OUR COMPANY HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR 40 YEARS.

WE DO, WE PRESERVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND HAVE DONE SO IN TEXAS AND IN AUSTIN A LOT ALREADY.

UM, SO WE'RE EXCITED TO PRESERVE THE AFFORDABILITY HERE FOR ANOTHER 30 YEARS AND MAKE TRAVIS PARK AS NICE AS WE CAN FOR ALL THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE.

AND I'M HERE FOR QUESTIONS IF PEOPLE HAVE THEM.

WELL, I'VE GOT A COUPLE.

UM, AND I, I APOLOGIZE TO THE PEOPLE THAT ALSO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK THAT.

I'M GONNA TAKE A FEW MORE MINUTES ON THIS.

TELL ME THE NAME OF YOUR COMPANY.

UH, THE, THE OWNERSHIP ENTITY IS TRAVIS PARK PRESERVATION.

LLC.

WHO, WHO IS THAT? L AND M DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS.

L AND M DEVELOPMENT.

L AND M.

AND ARE THEY ARE THAT, THAT'S THE MAJORITY OWNER OF, OF THE, THE PARTNERSHIP? YEAH.

UM, AND AND WHAT OTHER, WELL, YOU SAID YOU'RE IN, BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR 40 YEARS, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS WAS JUST CREATED FOR THIS ONE ENTITY.

UH, HOW LONG HAS THAT ENTITY EXISTED? UH, MAYBE SIX MONTHS.

YEAH, IT'S A SINGLE PURPOSE ENTITY FOR THE OWNERSHIP OF THE PROPERTY.

AND WHAT IS THE, FOR THE 40 YEAR, WHO'S THE 40 YEAR ENTITY? UH, L AND M AND WHAT, HOW IS IT SET UP? IS IT SET UP IN A WAY TO, UH, SHIELD LIABILITY FOR L AND M? THE SINGLE PURPOSE ENTITY? IT'S A REQUIREMENT OF THE LENDER AND INVESTOR THAT ARE INVESTING IN THE PROJECT.

WHO, WHO'S PROVIDING THE MONEY? UH, THE MOST SIGNIFICANT PORTION IS, UH, FEDERAL, UH, LITECH, UH, LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT.

THAT'S, NO, NO.

YOU SAID IT'S, IT'S SET UP AS A REQUIREMENT OF THE LENDER.

UH, IS, THAT'S NOT THE LENDER? NO, THAT'S THE EQUITY INVESTORS.

THEY BUY THE TAXES.

WHO, WHO IS THE EQUITY INVESTOR? UH, MERCHANT'S CAPITAL IS THE EQUITY INVESTOR.

WHERE IS MERCHANT'S CAPITAL LOCATED? UH, INDIANAPOLIS.

TELL ME HOW IT IS THAT WE MAKE SURE, IT SAYS TO ME LIKE YOU AGREE WITH THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE TESTIFIED THAT THIS HAS BEEN SORT OF A DISASTER FOR THEM TO HAVE TO LIVE IN.

IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S WHY WE'RE BUYING IT AND, UH, MAKING IT BETTER.

THESE PEOPLE OBVIOUSLY NEED? AND YOU OBVIOUSLY, YOU'RE NOW AT LEAST AFFIRMATIVELY STATING MM-HMM, THAT THE REASON FOR YOUR PURCHASING IT IS TO GIVE THEM, HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN HAVE, WE, WE WILL HAVE YOUR COMPLIANCE.

SO HOW, HOW DO WE MAKE SURE AS A, UH, AS A, A BODY HERE THAT WHEN WE HAVE THIS SORT OF LEVERAGE WHERE WE CAN MAKE IMPROVEMENTS THAT

[02:45:01]

UM, I'M NOT SURE HOW EXACTLY YOU WANT TO HANDLE THAT, BUT THE, THE PROPERTY IS GOING TO BE SUBJECT TO ALL SORTS OF INSPECTIONS AT THE STATE AND THE CITY LEVEL JUST LIKE IT NORMALLY WOULD.

UM, AND AGAIN, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH TRAVIS COUNTY, HFC AND WELL, YEAH, BUT, BUT I'M, I'M TALKING, I'M NOT, UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T SERVE ON ANY, MAYBE NOT UNFORTUNATELY, BUT I DON'T SERVE ON ANY, UH, TRAVIS COUNTY BODY.

UM, I, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, THAT THESE PEOPLE, AND I, I DON'T KNOW THAT I SPEAK FOR EVERYBODY ON THE DIES, BUT I'LL SPEAK FOR MYSELF.

I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THESE PEOPLE THAT YOU ARE ADMITTING ARE LIVING IN KIND OF A DISASTROUS SITUATION, ARE GOING TO GET THE BENEFIT OF THIS IN A WAY THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE PROTECTED.

UM, AND, AND I, I, I NEED SOME FORM OF, UH, ASSURANCE IN REGARD TO THAT.

WELL, I'M NOT SURE HOW YOU WANT ME TO ASSURE THAT RIGHT HERE IN THIS MOMENT, BUT WE'RE HAPPY TO TELL ME WHAT YOUR TITLE IS.

PROJECT MANAGER.

DO YOU HAVE AUTHORITY TO COMMIT THAT YOU'RE GOING TO INVOLVE THESE PEOPLE IN THE DESIGN PROCESS? UH, MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON.

UH, CREATE SOME MECHANISM MAYBE THROUGH BASTA SO THAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE GIVEN NOTICE ABOUT WHEN THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN SO THAT THEY, THEY'LL BE IN A POSITION TO NOT BE SUBJECTED TO IMPROVEMENTS THAT WHILE THEY MAY END UP BEING IMPROVEMENTS, THEY MAKE THEIR LIVES MISERABLE AT THE PERIOD AT THE TIME, I CAN GIVE YOU MY PERSONAL AUTHORITY TO NO, NO, NO.

I WANT TO KNOW WHETHER YOU'RE HERE TO REPRESENT.

I AM SOME COMPANY.

AND, AND UNDER YOUR LOAN DOCUMENTS OF THE INDIANAPOLIS BANK, ARE YOU IN A POSITION TO MAKE THOSE PROMISES? I DON'T SIGN THOSE LOAN DOCUMENTS PERSONALLY, BUT YES, I, I REPRESENT THE FRIENDS OF HOUSE.

YOU DON'T KNOW OF ANYTHING THAT WOULD CAUSE YOU TO BE IN BREACH OF THOSE DOCUMENTS BY PROMISING THAT'S THE WAY YOU'RE GONNA HANDLE THIS? DEFINITELY NOT.

ON A, A TENANT ORGANIZER.

MS. DE MAYO, COULD I ASK YOU A QUESTION OR TWO? YES.

MANDY DEO, INTERIM DIRECTOR OF HOUSING DEPARTMENT.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON HERE? SURE.

UM, SO, UH, L AND M IS THE DEVELOPER, AND YOU JUST HEARD A REPRESENTATIVE FROM L AND M, UH, UH, TALK ABOUT THE PROJECT.

UM, THEY ARE PLANNING TO PURCHASE AND REHABILITATE, DO SOME PRETTY SIGNIFICANT REHABILITATION, UM, OF TRAVIS PARK APARTMENTS.

IT HAS BEEN HISTORICALLY, UH, THERE HAVE BEEN, UM, IT HAS BEEN A TROUBLED PROPERTY.

UH, THE ADVANTAGE OF BRINGING IN AN OUTSIDE, UH, DEVELOPER IS IN ORDER TO MAKE SOME PRETTY SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS IN THE PROPERTY, WE HAVE BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH TRAVIS COUNTY, WHO WILL AN AFFILIATE OF TRAVIS COUNTY HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION WILL BE, UM, THE GENERAL PARTNER ON THIS DEAL.

UM, AND SO THEY WILL BE THE GROUND LESSOR, UH, TO THE DEVELOPER.

THEY WILL HAVE ULTIMATE CONTROL OVER THE PROPERTY, UM, WHICH GIVES US A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT, UM, LEVEL OF ASSURANCE.

UH, THEY HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT AND WE HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH BASTA.

WE HAVE HEARD THE CONCERNS, AND CERTAINLY WE HAVE ALL HEARD THE, THE LOUD AND CLEAR, THE VERY REAL CONCERNS OF THE RESIDENTS HERE TODAY.

AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH TRAVIS COUNTY, BASTA AND L AND M, UH, IN ORDER TO ASSURE, UM, THAT ALL OF THESE ISSUES ARE ADDRESSED, UH, AS QUICKLY AND EXPEDIENTLY AND PROFESSIONALLY AS POSSIBLE.

UM, THEY DID L AND M SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION BECAUSE OF COURSE THEY NEED THIS BODY'S APPROVAL FOR THE TAX CREDIT APPLICATION, UM, WHICH IS WHAT IS BEFORE YOU TODAY.

UM, AND AS THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM L AND M SAID, THIS IS KIND OF THE LAST STEP THEY HAVE, UH, TRAVIS COUNTY HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION IS ISSUING THE BONDS, THE DEBT FOR THE PROJECT.

UH, THEY HAVE THE TAX CREDITS LINED UP, AND THEN THEY WILL GO FORWARD AND I BELIEVE IT IS 20 PLUS MILLION DOLLARS, UM, IN REHAB THAT WILL GO INTO THIS PROPERTY.

AND, UM, I WOULD CERTAINLY, UM, COUNT ON THE RESIDENTS BEING INVOLVED, FIRST OF ALL, NOTIFIED AT A MINIMUM, BUT BEING INVOLVED IN THE, UM, UH, REHABILITATION DECISIONS THAT ARE BEING MADE BY THE DEVELOPER MEMBERS.

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? YES, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA, JUST A A, A QUICK COMMENT.

I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE BASTA AND THE RESIDENTS COMING AND, UH, ADVOCATING FOR BETTER MANAGEMENT.

UH, AND I FULLY EXPECT THE MANAGEMENT TO IMPROVE.

AND I DID JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE, WE, UH, RECENTLY I SPONSORED THE ITEM, UH, TO PASS A RIGHT TO ORGANIZE THAT MAKES IT A CRIMINAL OFFENSE IN TRAVIS COUNTY TO CALL THE POLICE

[02:50:01]

SO I JUST WANTED TO EMPHASIZE THAT, THAT THE POLICE SHOULD NEVER BE INVOLVED IN ANY KIND OF SITUATION WHERE TENANTS ARE COMING TOGETHER TO ADVOCATE FOR THEIR RIGHTS.

I'M SORRY, I INTERRUPTED.

SO WHY DON'T WE GO BACK, BUT WHEN THE REPRESENTATIVE STOOD UP TO SPEAK, I THOUGHT IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TIME TO ASK HIM QUESTIONS.

WHY DON'T WE GO BACK TO THE SPEAKERS? ARI SAMIR.

UM, GOOD AFTERNOON.

MY NAME IS ARI SAMIR.

I'M A 16-YEAR-OLD RESIDENT WHO'S BEEN LIVING AT TRAVIS PARK FOR ABOUT 13 YEARS, AND I'M ALSO A PART OF THE, AT TENANTS ASSOCIATION WITH THE NEWLY ANNOUNCED RENOVATIONS THAT ARE GONNA BE HAPPENING.

I DECIDED TO COME HERE AND SHARE SOME CONCERNS AND COMPLAINTS I'VE HAD AS SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN LIVING HERE FOR A LONG TIME TO START, WE AS TENANTS WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE RENOVATIONS WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN NO INFORMATION ON WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN, WHAT'S GONNA BE DONE.

ALL THEY'VE TOLD US IS THERE'S GONNA BE RENOVATIONS AND WE MIGHT INCREASE YOUR RENT.

SECOND OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THEM BOTH THE MANAGEMENT AND THE MAINTENANCE STAFF AT TRAVIS PARK ARE VERY RUDE AND VERY UNPROFESSIONAL, OFTENTIMES TREATING US AS WE ARE LESS THAN THEM OR BENEATH THEM, AND WE'RE TAKING TIME OUT OF THEIR DAY TO SPEAK WITH THEM.

THIRD OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT THE MAINTENANCE STAFF AT TRAVIS PARK ARE INCOMPETENT AT THEIR JOB.

OFTENTIMES, WHEN THEY COME TO FIX APPLIANCES AND FIX STUFF, THEY END UP DOING MORE HARM THAN GOOD, LEAVING WITH SOMETHING ELSE DAMAGED, AND THEY USUALLY COME JUST TO SPY ON US AND LIKE, NOT REALLY FIX THE APPLIANCES.

MY LAST POINT WOULD BE THAT WE NEED, UM, ADDED SECURITY TO THE APARTMENTS AS THE SECURITY RIGHT NOW IS SUBPAR WITH ANYBODY BEING ABLE TO ENTER AT ANY TIME, WHICH HAS LED TO MANY RESIDENTS HAVING THEIR CARS BROKEN INTO AND WINDOWS BEING BROKEN.

IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COME FORWARD.

MR. MAYOR, WHILE WE WAIT, I, I JUST WANNA EXTEND A A SIMILAR THANK YOU TO OUR YOUNG SPEAKER FOR COMING TODAY AND FOR PARTICIPATING AND FOR ADVOCATING FOR YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION.

COUNCIL MEMBER, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

MY NAME IS DALI SHARIF.

UH, I LIVE AT TRAVIS PARK APARTMENT SINCE NOVEMBER, 2013, AND I'M A MOTHER OF THREE CHILDRENS.

I'M A PART OF, UM, BUSTA ASSOCIATION.

I HAVE FIVE POINTS TO SHARE WITH YOU TODAY.

FIRST, ABOUT MANAGEMENT.

UH, WE ASK FOR NO ABUSE OF POWER BY MANAGEMENT AND ALLOW TENANTS THE RIGHTS TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES, RESPECTING TENANTS RIGHTS ACCORDING TO THE LAW OF THIS COUNTRY.

THE SECOND ONE IS ABOUT MAINTENANCE.

THEY SHOULD DO THEIR JOBS NOT BEHAVE AS A PART OF THE MANAGEMENT.

THEY SHOULD BE FIXING THINGS, NOT REPORTING AS, UH, ON ANY TENANTS BEHAVIOR AND GIVING US A VIOLATION.

ACCORDING TO THIS THREE ABOUT RENOVATION.

I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE RENOVATION MEAN AND WHAT INCLUDED.

THERE ARE SOMETHING WE ARE REALLY NEED TO BE FIXED AND CHANGED, LIKE AC UNITS OR MAYBE AC SYSTEM AT ALL, BECAUSE IT IS A OLD AND A NEW SYSTEM AND IT'S REALLY SUFFERING FROM IT.

WE HAVE TO HAVE EITHER, UM, JUST HAVE A HEAT OR COOL ALL THE YEAR.

SO THAT'S WHY WE NEED JUST YOUR HELP ABOUT THAT.

AND THE FOURTH PART ABOUT THE LAUNDRY, UH, WE ARE A BIG COMMUNITY WITH A BIG, LARGE FAMILIES AND NEED EITHER BIGGER, BETTER LAUNDRY FACILITY WITH MACHINES THAT ACTUALLY WORKS, OR MOST BETTER IN UNIT LAUNDRY CONNECTION, WHICH IS MORE PREFERRED FOR ALL THE ATTENDANCE THERE.

AND ABOUT APPLIANCES, THEY SAY THEY WILL CHANGE IT, AND ANY RENOVATION SHOULD BE WORKING FOR TENANTS AND NOT JUST FOR THE OWNER OR THE MANAGEMENT.

SO WE SHOULD HAVE, UH, GOOD BIG APPLIANCES THAT'S FIT FOR THE FAMILIES AND THE SIZE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

AND I ONE MORE TIME WANNA SAY WE ARE SUFFERING THERE.

I'M IMMIGRANT, UH, CAME FROM OUTSIDE UNITED STATES.

UH, I'M COMING TO BE SAFE IN THIS GREAT COUNTRY, BUT WHAT HAPPENS SINCE I'M THERE AS A SINGLE MOTHER FOR THREE CHILDREN, I'M SUFFERING FOR ALL THE YEARS I'M THERE.

I'M UNDER PRESSURE AND THEY GAVE ME MORE SICKNESS AND I'M HERE JUST TO HEAR, UM, FAIRNESS FROM YOU TO HELP US AND KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON THERE.

PLEASE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS ON ITEM ONE 12.

UM, MEMBERS, THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER ONE 12.

WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER ONE 12.

UM, THAT LEADS US TO ACTION ON THE ITEM I'LL RECOGNIZE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FOR A MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEM ONE 12.

COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE MOVES APPROVAL SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, RYAN ALTER, UH, DISCUSSION ON

[02:55:01]

THE ITEM.

COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.

UM, AND I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO CAME OUT TODAY, UH, TO SPEAK ON ITEM ONE 12.

AND I WANT TO THANK BASTA FOR THEIR, FOR THEIR CONTINUED WORK, UH, AND MAKING SURE THAT TENANTS RIGHTS ARE, ARE ALWAYS AT THE FOREFRONT.

UM, AND YOU KNOW, OUR OFFICE HAS BEEN AWARE OF THE SITUATION ALMOST SINCE DAY ONE THAT, THAT I TOOK OFFICE.

UH, WE VISITED WITH A LOT OF THE FAMILIES, UH, AT LEAST THE FAMILIES THAT I VISITED WITH.

MANY OF THEM WERE, WERE REFUGEES FROM AFGHANISTAN, UH, WHO HAD, WHO HAD COME TO THE COUNTRY YEARS AGO.

UH, AND YOU KNOW, NO MATTER WHO IT IS IN THIS, IN THIS COMMUNITY, LIKE I, YOU KNOW, MY OFFICE MYSELF, THE STAN WITH THEM.

BUT YOU KNOW, FOR ME, SEEING THOSE, THOSE FOLKS AND TALKING TO THEM, UH, YOU KNOW, SEEING THEIR FACES AND COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, UH, HAD ALLUDED THIS EARLIER ON, ON SOMETHING ELSE, BUT I, I SAW MY FACE, UH, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT HERE WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, MY FAMILY COMING AS, AS IMMIGRANTS.

UH, I'M NOT HERE, UM, WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, MY GREAT-GREAT-GRANDFATHER LEAVING AFGHANISTAN AND MOVING TO PAKISTAN, AND, AND NOW I'M HERE.

UH, SO I, I SAW MY FACES, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT DAY AND, AND WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING, UH, IS NOTHING SHORT OF, OF CONCERNING.

UM, AND IT'S, IT'S NOT WHO WE ARE AS A COUNTRY, UH, AS A STATE, AS A CITY.

AND WE NEED TO DO BETTER, UH, BY A LOT OF THE CONCERNS THAT THAT, THAT HAVE BEEN MENTIONED, WHETHER IT BE, UH, THE INFESTATIONS OF, OF, UH, UH, OF, OF BUGS AND WHATNOT.

YOU KNOW, AC AND HEATING ISSUES, VEHICLE THEFT, AND JUST GENERAL PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES.

SO, SO, YOU KNOW, MY OFFICE, UH, HAS BROUGHT UP THESE CONT UH, CONDITIONS TO HAKA, AND THAT'S WHY I SUPPORT OF THE REHAB OF THIS PROPERTY.

UH, BUT I CAN'T STRESS, STRESS ENOUGH HOW THE DEVELOPER, THE OWNER, REALLY NEED TO WORK WITH THE TENANTS TO ADDRESS MANY CONCERNS, UH, ESPECIALLY THOSE AROUND PUBLIC SAFETY.

A LOT OF THE FOLKS WHO LIVE IN, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, THE, THE COMPLEX HAVE, HAVE ALREADY SUFFERED ENOUGH AND TO, UH, FOR THEM TO BE CONTINUOUSLY LET DOWN IS, IS, IS INEXCUSABLE.

SO, UH, YOU KNOW, I I REALLY HOPE WE WE DO THIS RIGHT.

UH, NUMBER 93, UH, WHICH WAS A PULLED ITEM.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THE ITEM? YOU'VE GOT A LOT TO LIVE UP TO.

SOUNDS GOOD.

UM, WITH THAT OBJECTION, ITEM NUMBER ONE, 12 IS ADOPTED.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND, AND BOSTON, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING IN THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

WHAT, UM, THAT WILL DO IS TAKE US BACK TO, AND THE, THE ORDER THAT I THINK WILL GO IN IS WE WILL GO ITEM 93, THEN ITEM 96, AND THEN WE WILL GO INTO, DEPENDING UPON TIMING, UH, PUBLIC HEARINGS AND, AND, AND OTHER MATTERS THAT WE HAVE SCHEDULED.

UM, THE REASON I TOOK ONE 12 OUT OF ORDER IS BECAUSE WE KNEW THERE WAS GONNA BE INTERPRETATION AND I WAS TRYING TO, UH, ACCOMMODATE, UH, THAT SITUATION.

UM, THAT WILL TAKE US ITEM,

[93. Approve a resolution related to a comprehensive climate implementation program and comprehensive bond package program for a general obligation bond election to occur no later than November 2026.]

UH, I'LL LAY OUT ITEM NUMBER 93 MEMBERS.

THIS IS, UH, ENDED UP BEING A VERY COLLABORATIVE, UM, RESOLUTION.

THE VERSION TWO IS THE VERSION THAT WE WILL BE, UM, LOOKING AT.

IT IS A, THE RESOLUTION, UH, WE'VE BEEN THROUGH IT ON THE MESSAGE BOARD A NUMBER OF TIMES, BUT THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I WANNA POINT OUT BEFORE WE, UH, START THE, THE PUBLIC, UH, COMMENT ON THIS ONE IS, UM, THERE IS A RECOGNITION, AND I WANT, I WANT IT TO BE CLEAR, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYONE ON THE DAIS THAT DOESN'T RECOGNIZE THE URGENCY WITH WHICH WE WANT TO MOVE.

AND SO ONE OF THE CLEAR MESSAGES THAT I HOPE THAT STAFF GETS AS A RESULT OF US PASSING THIS RESOLUTION ON THIS ITEM IS THAT WHILE, UH, IT SAYS NO LATER THAN 26, THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT HAS TO BE 26, IT IS NO LATER THAN 26.

AND WE WANT TO MOVE WITH THE SORT OF DISPATCH THAT THIS ITEM AND THE COMPREHENSIVE BOND PACKAGE AND ALL THE CLIMATE ASPECT OF IT, CLIMATE INVESTMENT ASPECT OF IT, AND A COMPREHENSIVE BOND PACKAGE, ALL OF THAT DESERVES THAT MEANS A COUPLE OF THINGS.

ONE IS THAT THE COUNCIL WILL BE COMING FORWARD WITH WORK ABOUT THE CREATION OF A TASK FORCE.

UM, AND, AND I'LL PAUSE FOR A SECOND TO SAY THE VERSION TWO THAT EVERYBODY HAS IS A VERSION WHERE LEGAL HAS MADE RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING LANGUAGE RELATED TO THE CREATION OF THE TASK FORCE.

COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER DID AS WELL, AND THAT'S ALSO INCLUDED IN VERSION TWO, BUT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF, WHEREAS PROVISIONS THAT WEREN'T IN THE ORIGINAL VERSION, UH, BUT YOU'VE NOW HAD THAT AND SEEN THAT, UM, WE WILL BE BRINGING FORWARD AGAIN WITH SOME DISPATCH, UH, A RESOLUTION SO THAT WE CAN GET A TASK FORCE APPOINTED IN THE TRADITIONAL WAY THE CITY HAS DONE THAT.

UM, I THINK THE MAYOR PRO TIMM, YOU'VE, YOU'VE PROBABLY ALL SEEN THE MAYOR PRO TIMMS POST ON THE MESSAGE BOARD

[03:00:01]

ABOUT BRINGING FORWARD A RESOLUTION ALONG THOSE LINES.

FROM A STAFF PERSPECTIVE, IT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT, I BELIEVE, AND I'M, I I JUST SAY THIS 'CAUSE I THINK I, I, I'M SPEAKING AGAIN BASED UPON THE MESSAGE BOARD AND THE OTHER COMMENTS I'VE SEEN, UH, MEMBERS HAVE MADE PUBLICLY THAT, UM, AS SOON AS STAFF IS CAPABLE, WE'RE GONNA LET THE PROCESS SERVE THE PROCESS, SERVE ITSELF AND BE A TRUE PROCESS.

BUT AS SOON AS CAN WITHOUT SETTING THIS DEADLINE AND THAT DEADLINE, AT LEAST THE RESOLUTION DOESN'T DO THAT.

BUT STAFF, THAT MEANS IT'S ON Y'ALL TO GET IT BACK TO US AS FAST AS YOU CAN.

AND THAT INCLUDES MAYBE SETTING OUT CLEAR TIMELINES THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO LOOK AT AND COMMENT ON SO THAT WE CAN SAY WHETHER OR NOT WE THINK THAT'S MOVING WITH AN RAPIDLY ENOUGH THINGS OF THAT, OF THAT NATURE.

UH, THAT WOULD INCLUDE BY THE WAY, THE LIST.

UH, YOU'D HAVE A TIME, YOU'D HAVE TIMELINES, BUT IT WOULD INCLUDE THINGS LIKE PROJECT LISTS AS THAT MOVES FORWARD AND AS THAT'S TAKEN TO THE TASK FORCE, UH, ESPECIALLY SINCE, UH, AS, AS HAS BEEN POINTED OUT BY MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF REPORTS AND ITEMS AND, UM, MEMOS OR WHATEVER, DIFFERENT KINDS OF THINGS, HOWEVER YOU MIGHT WANT TO CHARACTERIZE THEM, THAT TELL THINGS THAT WE BELIEVE OUGHT TO BE DONE.

SO AS THOSE, AS THE WORK BEGINS ON THAT AND THE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS, THE THINGS LIKE THE DECISION TREE PROCESS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP BY THE COUNCIL TO STAFF, WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT COMING FORWARD.

THERE IS A REAL SENSE OF URGENCY, UM, TO THIS, TRYING TO DO THIS IN A COLLABORATIVE WAY, CONSISTENT WITH PAST PROCESSES AND CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE MIGHT, CAN DO, UM, WITH OTHER ITEMS BESIDES JUST CLIMATE INVESTMENT IN TERMS OF COMPREHENSIVE BOND PROPOSALS.

UM, SO THAT'S, THAT'S MY LAYOUT.

WHAT I WILL DO IS, I, I GUESS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE COMMENT ON THIS IS, UH, I'LL MOVE THAT WE ADOPT, UH, VERSION TWO OF ITEM NUMBER 93.

IT'S SECONDED BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM, AND THEN WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.

UH, SO I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK FOR PEOPLE TO SIGN AND SPEAK, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE DISCUSSION AND VOTE.

WE'LL GO TO OUR REMOTE SPEAKERS.

ROSARIO LOPEZ CARDENA ON ITEM 93, 3 MINUTES.

ROSARIO, PLEASE UNMUTE.

HI, MY NAME IS ROSARIA LOPEZ.

I STRONGLY SUPPORT THE CLIMATE BOND, SO I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED IT HAS BEEN DELAYED, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE SEEING MORE SEVERE WEATHER ACROSS THE WORLD.

WE ESPECIALLY NEED CLIMATE ACTION NOW, DESPITE THAT, THERE ARE A COUPLE THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO SEE FROM A CLIMATE BOND WHENEVER IT HAPPENS.

I THINK SOLAR ENERGY AND BATTERIES FOR STEADY BUILDINGS AND OPERATIONS IS IMPORTANT, AS WELL AS EXPANDING COMPOSTING.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE CARBON SEQUESTRATION, SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE, MORE BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION EFFORTS, AND LAND ACQUISITION FOR WATERSHED PROTECTION.

I ALSO THINK WE NEED MORE GREEN SPACES AND TREE PLANTING TO COMBAT EXTREME HEAT, ESPECIALLY IN EAST AUSTIN, WHICH HAS PROVEN TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY WARMER THAN WEST AUSTIN.

WE SHOULD KEEP EQUITY IN MIND WITH THIS BOND.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE WEATHERIZATION, A SUSTAINABLE WORKFORCE PROGRAM AND THE SHUTTING DOWN OF THE FA COAL PLAN.

FINALLY, IF THIS BOND ISN'T GONNA HAPPEN FOR TWO YEARS, THEN WE SHOULD RELEASE THIS TIME TO MAKE SURE WE ARE PREPARED TO IMPLEMENT IT EFFECTIVELY SO THAT ALL THE MONEY IS SPENT QUICKLY AND STRATEGICALLY.

WE SHOULD NOT BE DRAGGING OUR FEET ON THIS ISSUE.

NEXT WE HAVE EDWIN BATISTA.

HELLO, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES.

REPRESENTS A RARE, BRIGHT SPOT IN OUR CITY'S RECENT ADMINISTRATIVE EFFORTS.

I APPRECIATE THE, THE CLARIFICATION MAYOR, AND I APPRECIATE THE DILIGENCE ON THIS ISSUE.

UM, MY NAME'S EDWIN TIESA.

I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SEVEN TODAY, I ADDRESSED YOU FROM A POSITION OF NEUTRALITY ON ITEM 93, BUT WITH A COMPELLING SENSE OF URGENCY AND PROFOUND CONCERN FOR OUR CITY'S DIRECTION AND LEADERSHIP.

FIRST, LET'S ADDRESS THE FINANCIAL ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM.

THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS CURRENTLY BURDENED WITH OVER 1 BILLION IN UN ISSSUED BONDS.

THE SIGNIFICANT BACKLOG NOT ONLY HIGHLIGHTS A TROUBLING INEFFICIENCY IN FISCAL MANAGEMENT, BUT ALSO UNDERMINES PUBLIC TRUST IN THE CITY'S ABILITY TO DELIVER ON PROMISE IMPROVEMENTS.

AUSTINITES DESERVE BETTER THAN EMPTY PROMISES AND DELAYED PROJECTS.

THE CREATION OF THE CAPITAL DELIVERY SERVICE SERVICES DEPARTMENT UNDER THE FORMER INTERIM CITY MANAGER WAS A COMMENDABLE STEP.

I THINK THIS DEPARTMENT, WHICH AIMS TO EXPEDIATE PROJECT DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION,

[03:05:01]

UNFORTUNATELY, PROGRESS REMAINS PAINFULLY SLOW.

DESPITE THE NEW PROCESSES INTENDED TO CUT DESIGN TIME, WE ARE SO FAR FROM ACHIEVING THE EFFICIENCY OUR CITY DESPERATELY NEEDS.

MAYOR WATSON, YOUR LEADERSHIP DURING THESE CHALLENGING TIMES HAS BEEN LESS THAN INSPIRING YOUR RELUCTANCY TO SUPPORT AN ENVIRONMENTAL BOND THIS YEAR SIGNALS A TROUBLING DISCONNECT FROM THE URGENT NEEDS OF OUR CITY.

CLIMATE CHANGE IS NOT A DISTANT THREAT, IT'S A PRESENT AND ACCELERATING CRISIS.

THE ARRIVAL OF HURRICANE BARRELS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A WAKE UP CALL.

YET WE SEE A CONTINUED PATTERN OF PROCRASTINATION AND INACTION.

LET ME BE CLEAR, WE NEED BOLD, DECISIVE ACTION, NOT HESITATION AND DELAY.

WHILE, WHILE I RESPECT THE COMPLEXITIES OF MANAGING A CITY AS DYNAMIC AS AUSTIN, IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE ADDRESS THESE FINANCIAL INEFFICIENCIES HEAD ON AUSTIN.

I DESERVE TIMELY AND TRANSPARENT EXECUTION OF CITY PROJECTS AND OUR FUTURE DEPENDS ON ROBUST CLIMATE ACTION.

NOW, NOT YEARS DOWN THE LINE, AS IN AUSTIN, I, I WANT TO SEE THE ENVIRONMENTAL BOND ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER.

IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE A $1 BILLION BOND.

200 TO 300 MILLION WILL SUFFICE.

I URGE HIS COUNSEL AND OUR MAYOR TO REEVALUATE OUR FINANCIAL STRATEGIES, ACCELERATE THE PACE OF OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS, AND TAKE THE BOLD STEPS NECESSARY TO ENSURE A SUSTAINABLE IMPRO PROSPEROUS FUTURE FOR AUSTIN.

WE CANNOT BE CONTENT WITH INCREMENTAL PROGRESS WHEN THE STAKES ARE SO HIGH.

WE'LL NOW MOVE TO IN-PERSON SPEAKERS ON ITEM 93, CHRISTIAN FOGARTY, SEAN ATKINS, CRAIG NAER.

IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT.

HELLO AGAIN.

I'M CRAIG NASER, PRESIDENT AUSTIN ENVIRONMENTAL DEMOCRATS AND THE CONSERVATION CHAIR OF THE LONE STAR CHAPTER OF THIS SIERRA CLUB.

FOR THE PAST 12 MONTHS, THE AVERAGE GLOBAL TEMPERATURE HAS BEEN 1.52 DEGREES CENTIGRADE ABOVE PRE-INDUSTRIAL LEVELS.

ACCORDING TO OFFICIAL PROJECTIONS THAT WASN'T SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN YET.

HOWEVER, THIS WAS ANTICIPATED BY THE MINORITY REPORT TO THE AUSTIN CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN OF 2021, KNOWN AS THE CLIMATE EMERGENCY RESPONSE.

THIS RESPO REPORT WAS SENT TO ALL CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I AM ONE OF A NUMBER OF CO-AUTHORS OF THAT REPORT.

WE UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES AND THE PROBLEMS WITH A BOND ELECTION IN 2024 TO FUND CLIMATE ACTION.

HOWEVER, THE THERMOMETER WILL NOT CARE ABOUT ANY CITY'S BOND RATING.

RECONCILING THOSE TWO REALITIES WILL NOT BE EASY.

THIS MAKES IT VERY IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUNDING WILL TRULY HELP THE CLIMATE FROM A SCIENTIFIC STANDPOINT, DEPENDING ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO BAIL US OUT IF THINGS GET BEYOND US'.

CAPACITY TO RESPOND MAY DEPEND ENTIRELY ON THE RESULTS OF THE UPCOMING ELECTION.

THE STATE OF TEXAS AS WELL IS NOT A RELIABLE PARTNER.

PLEASE KEEP ALL THIS IN MIND IN THE UPCOMING BUDGET DISCUSSIONS.

GOOD LUCK AND REMEMBER, THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY OF AUSTIN CONTINUES TO BE AN, AN INCREDIBLE RESOURCE TO SUPPORT STRONG CLIMATE ACTION.

THANKS, RITA THOMPSON.

BILL BUNCH, SPEAKING ON ITEM 93.

CALL A COUPLE OF OTHER NAMES WHILE HE'S COMING DOWN.

THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS FOR ITEM 93.

MAYOR.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, BILL BUNCH WITH SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE.

UH, WE CERTAINLY SUPPORT, UH, CLIMATE BOND, UM, TARGETED PRIMARILY AT LAND PROTECTION, WHICH IS A BIG PART OF, UH, AND A CRITICAL PART OF THE, UH, AUSTIN CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN.

UM, AND ESPECIALLY REFORESTING AND REWILDING THAT LAND, UH, AS WELL AS REFORESTING AND REWILDING CITYWIDE, ESPECIALLY IN THE CENTRAL CITY, UH, WHERE IT'S, WE DESPERATELY NEED TO HAVE MORE TREES, MORE FOLIAGE, UM, TO ADDRESS URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECTS AND FOR CARBON CAPTURE, BOTH.

UM, YOU WOULD NOT NEED TO POSTPONE THIS EFFORT IF YOU WOULD SIMPLY LOOK AT YOUR BUDGET AND SEE WHERE YOU'RE SPENDING LITERALLY BILLIONS OF DOLLARS

[03:10:01]

BLINDLY RUSHING AHEAD.

UM, WITH PROJECTS THAT ARE GONNA INCREASE CLIMATE CHANGE, WORSEN CLIMATE CHANGE, UH, WITH INCREASED PUMPING COSTS, ENORMOUS AMOUNTS OF STEEL AND CONCRETE, UH, THAT ARE UNNECESSARY.

UM, WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT EVERY ONE OF THESE PROJECTS AS THEY COME ALONG WITH A CLIMATE IMPACT ASSESSMENT AS A REQUIREMENT ON EVERY MAJOR SPENDING ITEM.

IF YOU DID THAT, YOU COULD DO THE CLIMATE BOND TODAY WITHOUT RAISING ANY OF THE BUDGET.

CONGRESS PASSED THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT IN 1970 TO REQUIRE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS ON EVERY SINGLE MAJOR ACTION OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THE IDEA THERE WAS YOU INTEGRATE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, UH, ACROSS ALL DEPARTMENTS, ALL AGENCIES, EVERY MAJOR SIGNIFICANT DECISION WE SHOULD HAVE, CLIMATE TOP OF MIND.

AND IF YOU REALLY CARED ABOUT IT, AND WE'RE IN AN EXISTENTIAL CRISIS LOCALLY AND GLOBALLY, AS YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED TO BE DOING.

SO PRETENDING LIKE YOU KNOW, YOU CARE ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE, WHAT IT MEANS FOR AUSTIN, WHAT IT MEANS FOR OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN, WHAT IT MEANS FOR US RIGHT NOW, WHAT IT MEANS FOR OUR WATER SUPPLY BY TALKING ABOUT A BOND NEXT YEAR AND IGNORING EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING EVERY TIME YOU MEET, THAT IS DIGGING THE HOLE DEEPER FOR US.

AND EVERY CREATURE THAT WE SHARE THE PLANET WITH, PLEASE WAKE UP AND TAKE MEANINGFUL ACTION.

THANK YOU MEMBERS.

THOSE ARE ALL, ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 93.

THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND I'LL, UH, ASK FOR ANY DISCUSSION.

SO WHAT THIS DOES IS IT RECOGNIZES THE URGENCY.

UM, FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA THANK ALL THE FOLKS WHO CAME OUT TO SPEAK TODAY AND, AND THE MANY PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN INVOLVED, UM, WITH THE PROCESS THAT'S BEEN GOING ON SINCE FEBRUARY, THE JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE.

UM, OUR STAFF THAT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN PUTTING FORWARD, UM, THE MEMO THAT HAD A LIST OF THE PLANS, BUT ALSO ALL THE STAFF AND THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED, UM, WITH THIS LIST OF PLANS THAT WE HAVE, UM, FOR OUR CITY THAT REQUIRES FUNDING IF WE'RE GOING TO REALLY, UM, ACHIEVE OUR CLIMATE GOALS.

UM, SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

UM, COLLEAGUES, I PULLED THIS ITEM BECAUSE I THINK THIS MERITS DISCUSSION.

UM, WE DID NOT HAVE ANY OPPORTUNITIES TO DO THAT IN FULL, UM, IN WORK SESSION.

I'D HOPED THAT THE FOOD PLAN DISCUSSION WOULD SEGUE INTO DISCUSSION OF THIS, BUT WE DID NOT HAVE A FULL DIET, SO IT DIDN'T FEEL APPROPRIATE TO HAVE THAT.

UM, AND, YOU KNOW, I WANNA JUST TALK ABOUT SOME OF HOW I'M FEELING ABOUT THIS PROCESS AND, AND THE BOND AND, UM, AND WOULD LOVE TO HEAR MORE, UM, FROM MY COLLEAGUES AS THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE.

UM, BUT IN PARTICULAR, I WANNA CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO AN ANSWER IN THE Q AND A, UM, THAT JUST CAME OUT, OR PROBABLY I THINK THIS MORNING.

I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHEN IT GOT IN THERE THAT I ASKED, UM, ABOUT 93.

AND, AND, UM, IT, THE QUESTION I ASKED WAS, YOU KNOW, TO PLEASE PROVIDE THE REMAINING BALANCES FROM THE 2018 BOND PROPOSITIONS FOR PARKLAND AND WATER QUALITY LAND ACQUISITION.

AND HERE, HERE'S WHAT THE ANSWER WAS.

IN THE 2018 BOND, THERE IS 72 MILLION FOR WATER QUALITY LAND ACQUISITION.

AS OF TODAY, 43.6 MILLION HAS BEEN SPENT.

25, UM, THOU 25 MILLION, I ASSUME THAT IS ENCUMBERED WITH THE REMAINING BALANCE OF 28.4 MILLION.

HOWEVER, THE REMAINING BALANCE IS PROGRAMMED AND SHOULD BE SPENT BY THE END OF THE CALENDAR YEAR.

THE TWO ACQUISITIONS THAT ARE BEING FINALIZED, WHICH ARE PART OF THE REMAINING BALANCE OF 28.4 MILLION, ARE MFR 19 MILLION, DARK 500,000 IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS.

WE'VE REACHED AGREEMENTS ON TWO CONSERVATION EASEMENTS.

THESE LAST TWO AGREEMENTS WILL ADD ABOUT 298 ACRES, AND WE'LL USE ALL THE REMAINING 2018 BOND FUNDING OF 8.5 MILLION FOR WATER QUALITY LAND ACQUISITION.

UM, I'LL EDITORIALIZE HERE AND SAY THAT MEANS WE HAVE $0 LEFT AFTER THE END OF THIS CALENDAR YEAR FOR WATER QUALITY ACQUISITION.

MOVING NOW TO PARD, PARD HAS A BALANCE OF UNCOMMITTED BOND FUNDING OF $1.2 MILLION, $1.2 MILLION.

PARD HAS SEVERAL ACQUISITIONS AND NEGOTIATION THAT HAVE NOT YET BEEN ASSIGNED IN THE ACCOUNTING SYSTEM, BUT THAT WILL TAKE UP THE REMAINING BALANCE, LEAVING ZERO BUDGET WITHIN A YEAR'S TIME.

SO PARD HAS $0 AVAILABLE FOR LAND ACQUISITION ON TUESDAY.

WE HAD A GREAT PRESENTATION ABOUT THE FOOD PLAN, AND I HOPE EVERYONE WILL READ

[03:15:01]

THAT PLAN.

BUT STRATEGY NUMBER ONE FOR THE FOOD PLAN IS LAND ACQUISITION.

DO WE HAVE ANY MONEY? NO, WE DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY FOR THE FOOD PLAN AT ALL.

UM, LET ALONE FOR LAND ACQUISITION.

SO THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE HAVE $0 AT PRETTY MUCH RIGHT NOW, EVEN IF WE WENT TO A NOVEMBER ELECTION FOR THIS.

AND SO NOW, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PUTTING OFF THE CLIMATE, UM, BOND OR ANY BONDS, THAT MEANS WE WON'T HAVE ANY DOLLARS FOR LAND ACQUISITION.

UM, ACCORDING TO THIS PROPOSAL, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, TILL 2027.

UM, 'CAUSE YOU PASS IT IN NOVEMBER AND YOU DON'T GET IT UNTIL THEN.

MEANWHILE, WE HAVE A MARKET RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS THE MOST FAVORABLE WE'VE SEEN SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE DIOCESE FOR PURCHASING LAND.

AND YET WE HAVE NO MONEY.

UM, AND FOR ME, THIS IS A TRAGEDY AND THIS IS, UM, WHY I WOULD REALLY HAVE PREFERRED IF WE HAD HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW WE WERE MOVING FORWARD IN A WAY WHERE WAS TRULY COLLABORATIVE, WHERE WE COULD VOICE THINGS.

HAVING A DISCUSSION ON THE MESSAGE BOARD OVER JULY 4TH WEEKEND, I PERSONALLY WAS ON VACATION, AS WAS MOST OF AUSTIN.

UM, SO PEOPLE WERE NOT ABLE TO CHIME IN, UM, AND SAY THINGS.

UM, AND I THINK THAT MAKING A DECISION LIKE THIS WITHOUT HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO AIR THE FACTS AND THE CHALLENGES PUTS US IN A DIFFICULT SITUATION.

AND SO, UM, WE'D REALLY, YOU KNOW, LOVE TO KNOW WHAT THE SOLUTION IS FOR THE LAND ACQUISITION.

WE HAVE PROPERTIES RIGHT NOW THAT WE COULD GET FOR OUR FOOD PLAN THAT WE CAN'T FUND, THAT WE'RE GONNA LOSE, THAT ARE REALLY, REALLY CHOICE PROPERTIES.

UM, AND, AND SO I I REALLY WOULD'VE PREFERRED A YES AND, AND I WANNA MAKE THAT REALLY CLEAR.

UM, THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY, NO ONE NEEDED TO DO A $1.6 BILLION BOND, WHICH WAS WHAT WAS IN THE INVESTMENT, UM, OPTIONS THAT WE HAD.

BUT WE COULD HAVE DONE AN INTERIM STEP THAT HAD A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS FOR LAND ACQUISITION, WHICH COULD HAVE GOTTEN US TO 26.

WE COULD HAVE DONE ANOTHER A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS THAT WOULD'VE ALLOWED US TO PUT, UM, SOLAR LOCALLY ON CITY LAND IN WAYS THAT WOULD ALLOW US OVER TIME TO REDUCE OUR ENERGY, UM, COSTS AND TO PUT MORE LOCAL SOLAR IN PLACE.

AND I THINK OUR COMMUNITY WOULD'VE SUPPORTED THAT.

UM, AND I, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO, WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT IN, IN TAKING THIS STEP AND HAVING THE CONVERSATION IN THE WAY THAT WE'RE HAVING IT, WE ARE FORECLOSING REALLY IMPORTANT THINGS.

AND, YOU KNOW, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO UNDERSTAND, UM, YOU KNOW, FROM THE MAYOR, WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR ACQUIRING LAND IN THIS INTERIM? UM, HOW ARE WE GONNA DO IT? AND WHAT IS YOUR COMMITMENT TO HELPING US DO THAT? UM, AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO HEAR FROM MY COLLEAGUES, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WANT OUT OF THIS CLIMATE BOND AND WHAT IS THE TIMING THAT YOU'RE HOPING FOR? WELL, BEFORE I RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, LET ME QUICKLY TRY TO ANSWER THAT FOR YOU.

AND, AND I'VE SAID IT A NUMBER OF TIMES PUBLICLY AND ON THE MESSAGE BOARD, I AGREE THAT WE, THAT LAND ACQUISITION HAS TO BE ONE OF THE, THE PARAMOUNT APPROACHES.

BUT I CAN'T TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, AND I DON'T BELIEVE YOU CAN OR ANYONE CAN, CAN SAY EXACTLY HOW WE OUGHT TO GO ABOUT DOING THAT OTHER THAN MAYBE RUSHING OUT AND FINDING LAND THAT'S FOR SALE OR, OR BIDDING ON IT, AND HOW YOU WOULD DO THAT IN A COMPREHENSIVE WAY SO THAT THE, THE DOLLARS THAT YOU'RE SPENDING AS WAS POINTED OUT BY AT LEAST ONE OF THE SPEAKERS, UH, THE DOLLARS THAT YOU'RE SPENDING ARE GETTING YOU THE BIGGEST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK IN TERMS OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

AND FOR THAT MATTER, HOW YOU DEAL WITH THE THE FOOD PLAN.

WHAT THIS DOES IS IT RECOGNIZES THE URGENCY WITH WHICH WE NEED TO MOVE AND IT RECOGNIZES THAT WE NEED TO MOVE URGENTLY IN A WAY THAT MAKES SENSE, SO THAT IF YOU'RE DOING ONE THING, IT WILL GIVE YOU MORE VALUE BECAUSE IT COORDINATES WITH ANOTHER THING.

AND IT RECOGNIZES THAT THE NEEDS OF THE CITY HAVE, WE, WE HAVE NEEDS CLEARLY WANTING TO ADDRESS CLIMATE INVESTMENT IS A KEY NEED OF THE CITY, BUT WE ALSO ARE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE OTHER NEEDS.

AND A COMPREHENSIVE BOND PROPOSAL WOULD BE PART OF THAT.

IN ADDITION, A BOND PROPOSAL FOR CLIMATE INVESTMENT, I ANTICIPATE WILL BE ONLY ONE TOOL THAT WE USE.

THERE WILL BE OTHER TOOLS THAT WE WILL WANT TO USE FOR CLIMATE INVESTMENT.

UM, AND, AND WE NEED TO HAVE AN ANALYSIS OF WHERE, HOW WE GO ABOUT DOING THAT SO THAT THE, A BOND PROPOSAL AND A BOND PACKAGE WOULD FIT WITHIN THAT AS WELL.

[03:20:01]

IT SAYS WE WANT TO MOVE AS RAPIDLY AS WE CAN, BUT WE WANT TO DO IT IN AN ORGANIZED WAY WHERE WE'RE DOING RIGHT BY THE ISSUE AND WE'RE DOING RIGHT BY OTHER ISSUES THAT MAY NEED TO BE ADDRESSED AS WELL.

IT'S INTERESTING TO HEAR ONE OF THE COMMENTS FROM ONE OF THE SPEAKERS THAT WE HAVE 1,000,000,006 THAT HASN'T BEEN SPENT.

I WOULD SUGGEST THAT PART OF THE REASON THERE'S 1,000,000,006 THAT HASN'T BEEN SPENT IS THAT IT WASN'T WELL THOUGHT OUT AT THE TIME.

THOSE THINGS WERE PUT ON THE BALLOT.

AND NOW YOU HAVE 1,000,000,006.

HOW ARE YOU, HOW, HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT GETTING THAT SPENT? WE WANT TO DO THIS THE RIGHT WAY.

WE WANT TO DO IT AS AS URGENTLY AS POSSIBLE, BUT, BUT YOU CAN'T JUST SAY YOU'RE FOR PROTECTING CLIMATE, PROTECTING THE EARTH AND, AND PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT AND THROW SOMETHING AT IT UNLESS YOU'RE THINKING IT THROUGH.

AND THAT'S WHAT THIS DOES.

IT, IT CREATES THE URGENCY AND IT CREATES, UH, THE PROCESS SO THAT WE MAKE SURE WE'RE ADDRESSING EVERYTHING AND WE GET THE, THE RETURN THAT THE, THAT THE PEOPLE PAYING FOR IT DESERVE.

YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT WHEN YOU SUGGEST THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO MAKE LAND PURCHASES.

I'M PRETTY PROUD OF THE ROLE I'VE PLAYED IN LAND PURCHASES IN THIS COMMUNITY, UH, IN THE PAST 25 AND 30 YEARS.

AND IN FACT, UH, WHEN WE DID THAT THE FIRST TIME WHEN WE STARTED DOING IT, THE FIRST FIRST TIME WE DID IT WITH A PROCESS WHERE WE LOOKED AT THE SCIENCE OF WHERE WE WERE GOING TO MAKE THOSE LAND PURCHASES SO THAT WHEN WE MADE THE LAND PURCHASES, NOT ONLY WERE WE GETTING THE RIGHT VALUE FOR OUR DOLLAR, BUT WE WERE GETTING A BETTER SCIENTIFIC RESULT.

AND THAT'S WHAT THIS IS A, A, A PART OF THE GOAL TO BE ACHIEVED.

SO, OTHER, OTHER DISCUSSION, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE YOU HAD INDICATED, OH, I ACCIDENTALLY HAD PUT THAT UP.

OH, SORRY ABOUT THAT.

COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER.

TEM, FOR JAMES SNOW, UH, BUT JUST IN THINKING THROUGH THIS PROCESS AS WE GO FORWARD, YOU KNOW, THE, THERE ARE GONNA BE A LOT OF DIFFERENT ISSUES.

I, UM, YOU KNOW, I IT'S NO SECRET I HOPED WE'RE GONNA BE A DIFFERENT PLACE TODAY.

I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT.

UM, I RECOGNIZE SOME OF THE, THE QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS OF SETTING FORTH A DIFFERENT PROCESS THAN THAN WHERE, UM, THAN HOW WE GOT HERE.

AND, AND I, I, I FULLY RESPECT AND APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, MAYOR.

I, I WOULD TAKE ONLY ONE ISSUE WITH, WITH ONE THING YOU SAID.

AND I THINK THAT IN TERMS OF, OF WHAT WE WERE PLANNING ON PUTTING FORWARD, THE, HOW WELL THOUGHT OUT IT WAS, YOU KNOW, THIS WAS BASED ON THOUSANDS OF HOURS OF PROFESSIONAL STAFF WORK COMING INTO THEN THIS YEAR ASKING STAFF TO ONCE AGAIN REVIEW THAT WORK THAT WAS DONE BY PROFESSIONALS IN THE COMMUNITY AND THEN US AS A, A GROUP TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WOULD HAVE THAT BIGGEST BANG FOR THE BUCK.

AND, AND THAT'S WHY WE FOCUSED ON, YOU KNOW, THE LAND ACQUISITIONS.

UH, COUNCILMAN AL ALTER TALKED ABOUT THE, THE SOLAR THAT WOULD NOT ONLY REDUCE LOCAL, UM, EMISSIONS RELATED TO OUR BUILDINGS, BUT WOULD HELP WITH SOME OF THE ISSUES WE HEARD ABOUT FROM AUSTIN ENERGY WITH LOCAL SOLAR AND, AND WOULD SAVE THE CITY MONEY OVER TIME.

THAT WOULD, WE WOULD HAVE GENERAL FUND TO SPEND ON OTHER PRIORITIES.

UM, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN ENSURE THAT OUR PROJECTS THAT ARE THROUGH THAT 1,000,000,006 THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT THAT IS PRIMARILY MOBILITY RELATED, HOW ALL THAT CONCRETE WE'RE ABOUT TO LAY IN THIS CITY CAN BE, UH, MORE LOW CARBON CONCRETE AND HAVE A, A, A REDUCED EFFECT HOW WE CAN ENSURE THAT WE HAVE LESS FLOOD, UH, LESS FLOODING THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

I KNOW THERE ARE DISTRICTS WHO REALLY HAVE THAT CHALLENGE AND, AND I, IT, IT STICKS OUT IN MY MIND, YOU KNOW, I WENT TO A, A ELECTRIFICATION EXPO OF, UM, VARIOUS EQUIPMENT, WHETHER THAT'S, UH, DUTY, UH, VEHICLES OR, UH, YOU KNOW, LAWN CARE EQUIPMENT.

AND I WAS SPEAKING WITH SOME PAR STAFF ABOUT SAYING, WE WOULD LOVE TO DO SOME OF THIS STUFF, BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE AT OUR FACILITIES, AND THAT'S WHAT'S STOPPING US.

AND, AND, AND SO TRYING TO BE ABLE TO, UH, PUT THOSE TYPES OF INVESTMENTS INTO PLACE SO THAT IT, YOU KNOW, IT WOULDN'T SOLVE THE WHOLE PROBLEM.

IT WOULD BE JUST A PIECE OF THAT COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH.

AND, AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, BUT, BUT, BUT, BUT HERE WE ARE, AND I, AND I RECOGNIZE THAT AND, UH, I FULLY ANTICIPATE THAT WE ARE GONNA HAVE A VERY ROBUST CONVERSATION ABOUT WHERE WE DO NEED TO MAKE PRIORITIES.

UM, AND I, I JUST, I HAVE ONE QUESTION, AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S FOR YOU FOR THE MAYOR PRO

[03:25:01]

WE'RE GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT LIBRARIES, WE'RE GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT PARKS, WE'RE GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT THE CLIMATE, WE'RE GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT ROADS, BRIDGES, YOU KNOW, THE GAMUT.

AND THAT'S, THAT IS IMPORTANT TO WEIGH THOSE THINGS.

WHAT HAPPENS IF WE, AS THIS PROCESS GOES THROUGH, IF WE FIND OURSELVES WITH, UH, A COMPLETED PRODUCT AS IT RELATES TO, LET'S SAY, THE ENVIRONMENTAL ELEMENT OR, UH, THE WATERSHED PIECE THAT FITS INTO THAT, BUT THERE IS EITHER A LIBRARY OR A PARD FACILITY, LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE SEEN, UH, WITH THE DAC THAT JUST, IT, IT IS GONNA NEED ANOTHER FOUR MONTHS OF ENGINEERING AND SCOPING ARE, ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THE TASK FORCE THE AUTHORITY TO COME TO COUNCIL AND SAY, HEY, THAT THAT CLIMATE PIECE OR THAT WATERSHED PIECE THAT'S GONNA PROTECT WATER QUALITY THAT'S READY TO GO.

AND SO HERE IT IS AND Y'ALL CAN MAKE THAT DECISION.

SO I, I JUST DON'T KNOW.

WELL, I'LL TELL YOU THE WAY I SEE IT FOR WHAT THAT'S WORTH IS, IS THE, IS THE PERSON WHO WAS TRYING TO, UH, HELP COORDINATE THIS AS PART OF THE RESOLUTION IS THAT AS SO LONG AS WE ARE MAKING A DECISION WHERE WE CAN SEE THAT COMPREHENSIVE ASPECT OF IT, KNOWING THE URGENCY OF SOME OF THESE ISSUES THAT WE WANT TO ADDRESS, IF WHAT WE DO IS WE SAY, UH, WE'RE READY TO GO ON A, A AND B, BUT THE COMPREHENSIVE PACKAGE WE'RE LOOKING AT AS AN ENTITY, AND BY THE WAY, IT WILL BE THE SAME COUNSEL IN 25 AND 26, UM, THAT ENTITY CAN MAKE A COMPREHENSIVE DECISION AND BE ABLE TO REPRESENT TO THE PUBLIC, HERE'S WHAT WE'RE THINKING, HERE'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO WANT TO DO.

NOW HERE'S WHAT WE MAY NEED TO TAKE A LITTLE MORE TIME ON FOR THE KINDS OF TECHNICAL THING YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

BUT THERE'S NOT A REASON TO, BECAUSE OF THE SENSE OF URGENCY IN MY VIEW.

SO LONG AS WE CAN MAKE A COMPREHENSIVE DECISION, THERE'S NOT A REASON TO SAY, STOP THAT BECAUSE WE NEED TO DO MORE TECHNICAL HERE, SO LONG AS IT'S ALL RIGHT, BEING LOOKED AT TOGETHER.

AND, AND THAT'S, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WAS THINKING, THAT THE PROCESS WOULD WORK.

AND I THINK AS WE GET TOWARDS PROBABLY JUNE, JULY OF NEXT YEAR, WHATEVER THE SCOPE OR RANGE OF PROJECTS WE'RE GONNA KNOW AT THAT POINT, THEY MIGHT NOT ALL BE FULLY BAKED, AND WE MIGHT NOT KNOW THE NUMBERS, BUT, UH, I FULLY ANTICIPATE THAT THE EVERYTHING WILL BE ON THE TABLE AT THAT POINT.

AND SO IT'S MY HOPE THAT WE INCLUDE IN THE RESOLUTION THAT THE MAYOR PRO TEM IS BRINGING SOME AUTHORITY OF THE BOND ADVISORY TASK FORCE TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS AS THEY ARE AVAILABLE SO THAT WE CAN MAKE THAT DECISION, UH, WHETHER WE WANT TO DO A 25 OR JUST DO EVERYTHING IN 26.

I JUST, UM, YEAH.

WELL, AS YOU KNOW, AS YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF VERY STRONG, THOUGHTFUL ENVIRONMENTALISTS IN THIS COMMUNITY, , THAT WERE SAYING 26, 26, 26.

SURE.

AND THE, THE APPROACH THAT HAS BEEN TAKEN, THERE'S SPECIFIC LANGUAGE OF NO LATER THAN 26 FOR A REASON, AND THAT IS BECAUSE THERE IS A SENSE OF URGENCY, LET'S DO THIS.

BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO WAIT.

WELL, I APPRECIATE THAT, AND, UH, I APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, US AS A GROUP COMING TOGETHER TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT PROPER NEXT STEP IS.

AND, AND, UH, THIS APPEARS TO BE IT.

AND SO I'M GOING TO DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO SUPPORT THIS PROCESS, TO GET IT THROUGH TO THE FINISH LINE BECAUSE, UH, THIS IS AN EXISTENTIAL ISSUE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

AND, AND I THINK, UH, IT'S TIME FOR US TO TAKE THAT ACTION THAT THAT WILL HAVE A MEANINGFUL IMPACT FOR GENERATIONS.

AND SO, UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO CARRYING FORWARD THIS CONVERSATION IN THE FUTURE.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THE LEVEL OF INVOLVEMENT AND PARTICIPATION ACROSS THE DAIS FOR THE CONVERSATION.

COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, MAYOR, PRO TEM.

UM, MAYBE JUST TO KIND OF ENCAPSULATE ALL THIS, I I ALSO WANNA JUST, UH, REMIND US ALL THAT IT'S NOT JUST THE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS.

WE HAVE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION, WE HAVE REVENUE BONDS AND THOSE DIFFERENT TOOLS, AND THEN THERE ARE OTHER TOOLS AS WELL.

AND SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CITY MANAGER BRINGING US, UH, THE RECOMMENDATIONS ON TIMING AND WHICH PROJECTS AND WHAT THAT CADENCE LOOKS LIKE SO THAT WE CAN LAUNCH INTO THESE PROJECTS, UM, AS THEY ARE PREPARED AND READY TO GO.

I, I TALK A LOT ABOUT SHOVEL READY PROJECTS, AND I DO HOPE THAT WE CAN MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION FOR THOSE PROJECTS WHERE THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE, UM, BECAUSE I DO THINK THEN, THEN WE CAN GET THE BOND PROJECTS UNDERWAY SOONER.

AND SO I'LL BE LOOKING AT THAT.

BUT MAYOR, I'M JUST SO EXCITED, UM, TO, TO GET THE BOND ELECTION ADVISORY TASK FORCE PULLED TOGETHER.

UM,

[03:30:01]

I RECOGNIZE IT WHEN WE WERE AWAY FROM HAVING COUNCIL MEETINGS EVERY OTHER WEEK, SO IT DID FORCE IT TO BE ON THE MESSAGE BOARD, BUT THAT DID PROVIDE US WITH THE NECESSARY FORUM MAYOR TO GET US TO, TO THE PLACE WHERE WE ARE.

AND, UM, AND I'M JUST REALLY GRATEFUL THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET THERE SO QUICKLY AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH EVERYBODY ON THIS EFFORT.

THANK YOU, MEMBER TIM.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.

UH, THANK YOU MAYOR.

AND, UH, AGAIN, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS ITEM.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE TASK FORCE GETTING TOGETHER AND REALLY EVALUATING WHAT ARE THE PROJECTS THAT ARE, ARE READY TO GO.

I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A A COUPLE OF THINGS.

MY, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT FROM A, FROM A TRANSPORTATION PERSPECTIVE, FROM A MOBILITY PERSPECTIVE, THE, UM, THE, UH, SIDEWALKS WERE BURNING THROUGH THAT MONEY QUICKLY.

UH, WE MAY NOT HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO, UH, FOR ONGOING SIDEWALK CONSTRUCTION BEFORE WE GET TO POTENTIALLY A TRANSPORTATION BOND IN 2026.

AND THAT, UH, IS A REAL CONCERN OF MINE.

UH, THE DISTRICT FOUR IN PARTICULAR, VERY HIGH TRANSIT USAGE.

UH, A LOT OF, UH, WORKING CLASS FOLKS, UH, THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS THAT REALLY NEED THAT, UH, THE, THE SIDEWALK BUILD OUT TO, UH, ACCESS, UH, REALLY EVERYTHING IN, IN, IN THEIR WORLD.

UH, SO I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT IN PARTICULAR, UH, AS SOMETHING THAT WE MAY NEED TO, UH, PUT ON THE TABLE BEFORE, UH, 2026, UH, JUST SOME KIND OF BRIDGE FUNDING OR SOMETHING.

AND MY UNDERSTANDING WITH THAT IS THAT SIDEWALKS WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR, UH, CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION, FOR EXAMPLE, TO CREATE, YOU KNOW, SOME AMOUNT OF, UH, OF BRIDGE FUNDING UNTIL WE GET TO ANOTHER MAJOR TRANSPORTATION BOND.

BUT I JUST WANTED TO, TO HIGHLIGHT THAT.

UH, AND ALSO I, I REALLY APPRECIATE, I'M, I'M, I'M GLAD THAT, THAT WE'RE NOT TRYING TO PICK PROJECTS FOR, YOU KNOW, THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.

I, I REALLY, I, I THINK ABOUT THAT, THAT CARPENTER'S, UM, UH, SAYING ABOUT MEASURE TWICE, CUT ONCE, UH, AND, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING.

I, I WILL SAY, I DON'T WANNA COMPLETELY TAKE A NOVEMBER 25 OFF THE TABLE, UH, THAT, THAT, AGAIN, LET'S GET THE COMMITTEE TOGETHER, LET'S HAVE THEM LOOK AT EVERYTHING.

LET'S SEE WHERE WE'RE GOING.

AND IF IT TURNS OUT THAT WE'RE READY TO GO BY NOVEMBER 25 WITH, YOU KNOW, THESE, THIS SET OF PROJECTS, IT MAY NOT BE, IT MAY BE THAT REVENUE BONDS AND CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION, AND THERE, THERE'S OTHER AREAS THAT, THAT WHERE WE WOULD NEED TO GO TO A GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND.

BUT I JUST DON'T WANNA, AT THIS POINT SAY, YOU KNOW, NO, WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA WAIT TO NEVER, LET'S GET EVERYTHING TOGETHER.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

LET'S SEE WHERE WE ARE, AND THEN LET'S MOVE FORWARD NO LATER THAN 26.

COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA AND I, AND I PRESSED IT ON INTENTIONALLY THIS TIME.

UM, NO, I, I APPRECIATE THE, UH, YOU, YOU KEEP .

IT'S LIKE MORE SCOPE, I MEAN, SOME, YEAH, SOMETIMES I'M TRYING TO JUST GO ON THE A TX SIGN ON THE SCREEN.

UM, NO, I, I APPRECIATE THE DISCUSSION THAT'S CURRENTLY TAKING PLACE ON THE DA.

I, I'M EXCITED FOR THE ITEM AND I ALREADY TALKED TO THE MAYOR PRO TEM WHEN SHE WORKS ON HER ITEM.

IF I COULD, IF I COULD BE A PART OF THAT.

UH, AND I THINK IT'S BEEN SAID ON THE DIOCESE, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO BE BOTH INTENTIONAL AND WE ALSO NEED TO BE URGENT, UH, WHEN IT COMES TO CLIMATE ACTION.

UH, AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS TASK FORCE KIND OF COMING, UH, COMING TOGETHER.

AND, YOU KNOW, KIND OF GOING OFF OF WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER ELLA SAID, YOU KNOW, IF THE, IF THE, UH, TASK FORCE COMES BACK WITH A RECOMMENDATION FOR AN EARLIER BOND ELECTION, UH, ON PROJECTS RELATED TO SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE SHOULD DEFINITELY ACT, UH, IN NOVEMBER OF 2025.

SO THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER, MEMBER COUNCILMAN ELLIS.

I DON'T THINK I PUSHED ANY BUTTONS.

OH, BUT I'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

YOUR, YOUR NAME WAS THERE.

OH, LOOK AT THAT.

UM, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE, THE FOCUS THAT'S HAPPENING HERE.

I KNOW THAT EVERYBODY WANTS TO SEE US ATTACK THESE CLIMATE CHANGE ISSUES VERY, UM, STUDIOUSLY AND AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

UM, THERE IS SO MUCH GOOD INFORMATION THAT HAS COME OUT OF COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER'S ORIGINAL PROPOSAL TO EVEN START GATHERING THIS INFORMATION, THAT IT'S CLEAR THAT THERE'S A NEED AND THAT THERE'S COMMUNITY SUPPORT TO, UM, TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES AND TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN MOST EXPEDITIOUSLY, UM, DO WHAT WE NEED FOR THE COMMUNITY.

I KNOW THERE MAY STILL BE SOME ITEMS OUT THERE AS WE LOOK AT BUILDING A TASK FORCE, UM, THAT MAYBE WE HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT YET.

AND SO THERE MAY BE SOME COMMON AGREEMENT ON MANY OF THESE HIGH PROFILE ISSUES.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO GET, UM, MORE TREES BACK INTO OUR COMMUNITY AS IT GROWS, TRYING TO DEAL WITH FLOOD MITIGATION IS GONNA BE A REALLY HUGE IMPACT.

A LOT OF OUR MOBILITY PROJECTS THAT HAVEN'T, UH, BROKEN GROUND YET, UH, ARE KIND OF STUCK IN A PLACE BECAUSE OF THE FLOODPLAIN CHANGES THAT HAVE HAPPENED WITH ATLAS 14.

AND SO WE NEED TO TAKE THAT INTO

[03:35:01]

CONSIDERATION AND SEE HOW WE CAN BEST PARTNER, UM, WHERE WE ARE COMING FROM AND WHERE WE ARE HEADED AND WHAT WE WANT TO SEE AS A DAAS FOR THESE PROJECTS.

THERE'S A NUMBER OF OTHER ISSUES THAT, THAT WE'RE TACKLING WITH THE CITY, LIKE, UM, REBATES FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND ELECTRIC BIKES.

UM, A LOT OF MY DISTRICT IS NOT ON AUSTIN ENERGY AND THEY DON'T QUALIFY TO PARTICIPATE IN SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS THAT ARE HUGELY SUCCESSFUL THAT WE'RE ALREADY DOING AS A CITY.

AND SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PUTTING ITEMS INTO THIS PACKAGE THAT WILL HELP ALL PARTS OF TOWN EV EVERY TIME THESE COME UP.

UM, I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN JUST A COUPLE OF BOND PACKAGES BEING ABLE TO BE PUT TOGETHER.

UM, BUT THERE'S ALWAYS SOMEONE THAT WILL SAY, OH, I HAVE A PROJECT THAT IS ALMOST READY TO GO, OR, WE HAVE A PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING REPORT AND IF WE JUST ADD THIS OR TWEAK THAT, THEN WE CAN GET A MORE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

AND SO I'M VERY EXCITED TO BE MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS.

I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE DON'T MISS ANY OPPORTUNITY AND HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER FIVE YEARS BECAUSE WE DIDN'T THINK OF SOMETHING IN THAT MOMENT.

SO I APPRECIATE EVERYONE BEING ABLE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO, TO REALLY BUILD THIS AND BUILD IT WELL AND BUILD IT VERY STRONG FOR THE COMMUNITY.

'CAUSE I THINK WE'RE GONNA HAVE A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM AT THE END OF THE DAY.

COUNCIL MEMBER MEMBERS, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER.

UM, I JUST WANNA BE REALLY CLEAR THAT WHAT I JUST SAID IS OUR LAND ACQUISITION MONEY THAT WE HAD IN OUR BONDS IS COMPLETELY SPENT RIGHT ON TIME, RIGHT ON SCHEDULE.

YOU DON'T WORK THROUGH THE LAND ACQUISITION PROCESS THE SAME WAY THANKS TO THE WORK YOU DID EARLIER, MAYOR ON THE AIR, WATER QUALITY LANDS.

WE HAVE A PROCESS.

WE, WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE TARGETING.

WE HAVE HAVE A SENSE OF THAT.

WE HAVE A LONG RANGE PLAN FOR PARD.

UM, WE HAVE A FOOD PLAN.

WE KNOW WHERE WE WANT IT.

WE DON'T CONTROL THE MARKET.

IF WE DON'T HAVE MONEY, WE WILL NOT HAVE THE LAND.

AND THAT IS THE BOTTOM LINE THERE.

AND IT'S NOT THE SAME THING.

I'M NOT, NONE OF US, WERE ADVOCATING A BOND THIS YEAR THAT WOULD'VE REQUIRED ENGINEERING STUDIES THAT WERE HUGE AND OTHER THINGS, YOU KNOW, IF YOU PUT THE SOLAR ON OUR CITY BUILDINGS, IT'S A PROCESS THAT YOU CAN FIGURE OUT IN THAT TIMETABLE AND MAKE HAPPEN IF YOU HAVE THE MONEY TO DO IT.

WE'RE OBVIOUSLY NOT MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT AT THIS POINT, BUT I, I DID REALLY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE TRANSPARENT ABOUT WHAT WE'RE, WHAT WE'RE GIVING UP.

AND I WANNA CHALLENGE EACH OF, YOU WANNA CHALLENGE.

YOU MAY OR WANNA CHALLENGE THE WHOLE DIOCESE AND WANNA CHALLENGE THE CITY MANAGER TO FIGURE OUT WAYS THAT WE CAN ACQUIRE THIS LAND.

IF WE DON'T ACQUIRE THIS LAND, IT WILL BE DEVELOPED.

UM, THERE WILL BE OTHER HEADACHES THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

WE COULD EASILY HAVE SAID WE WANNA ACQUIRE LAND THAT ACHIEVES MULTIPLE GOALS.

UM, PERFECT IS THE ENEMY OF GOOD.

WE DO NOT HAVE TIME TO WASTE ON THIS.

UM, AND SO I REALLY DO THINK THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE NOT GONNA GO FORWARD WITH THE BOND, THEN, THEN, THEN I REALLY WANNA CHALLENGE YOU, EACH OF YOU TO BE CREATIVE.

YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO TO HELP US, YOU KNOW, SECURE THE LAND WE NEED FOR, FOR OUR FOOD PLAN? WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S PARKS IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS? WE'VE LOST PARKLAND DEDICATION FOR ALL EFFECTS.

I MEAN, THERE'S GONNA BE NO PARKS ADDED TO YOUR, TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS, UM, YOU KNOW, FOR THIS COUPLE YEARS.

SO WE NEED MECHANISMS AND WE NEED OPPORTUNITIES, UM, SO THAT WE CAN MAKE, UM, THOSE THINGS HAPPEN.

UM, I ALSO WANNA ASK MY UNDERSTANDING FROM MAYOR PROTON POOL THAT SHE IS PLANNING TO HAVE A DRAFT OF HER RESOLUTION BY FRIDAY.

AND I WOULD INVITE ALL OF YOU TO JOIN US AT AUDIT IN FINANCE COMMITTEE NEXT WEEK.

WE'VE PLACED AN ADDITIONAL ITEM ON THE AGENDA SO WE CAN CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION IN AUDIT AND FINANCE.

AND I THINK THAT AUDIT IN FINANCE FOR A BOND PROCESS AND THIS IMPLEMENTATION PLAN IS THE APPROPRIATE COMMITTEE, UM, TO DO A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF THIS WORK.

AND I INVITE THE MOBILITY COMMITTEE, UM, ALSO I THINK, UM, HAS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN ADVANCING, UM, THESE PIECES.

AND THEN FINALLY FOR THE CITY MANAGER, I MEAN, THERE WAS A TON OF STUFF THAT WAS IDENTIFIED, UM, IN THE WORK THAT FOLLOWED FROM COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER'S, UM, RESOLUTION.

MANY OF THAT IS ALREADY IN THE WORKS IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

AND I DON'T WANT ANY OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY TO BE INTERPRETED AS A STOP OR SLOW DOWN ON THINGS THAT OUR STAFF HAVE ALREADY DECIDED WE NEED TO DO.

AND WE NEED TO MAKE THESE INVESTMENTS AND THAT CAN MOVE, UM, THE NEEDLE ON THINGS.

AND I WANNA ENCOURAGE YOU ALSO TO BE CREATIVE.

UM, YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S A WAY TO GET MORE SOLAR ON OUR BUILDINGS, UM, USING COS OR, OR OTHER THINGS, YOU KNOW, WE NEED, WE NEED TO START THINKING ABOUT IT.

THE LONGER WE WAIT, YOU KNOW, THE, THE HIGHER THE TEMPERATURE GOES.

UM, AND, AND YOU KNOW, WE'VE SEEN WITH THE RECENT HURRICANE IN HOUSTON, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT WE'D BE GOING THROUGH HERE IF WE OWN THE UTILITY THAT THAT FAILED.

AND, AND WE WERE DEALING WITH PEOPLE STILL OUT OF POWER, YOU KNOW, A WEEK PLUS, UM, IN HEAT LIKE WE HAVE.

SO WE, WE, WE HAVE TO TAKE THESE ACTIONS AND WE CANNOT LET PLANNING, YOU KNOW, PERFECTION BE THE ENEMY OF US ACTUALLY ADDRESSING AN ISSUE THAT WE'VE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR FROM OUR COMMUNITY THAT THEY WANT ADDRESSED.

THE BUDGET IN MY COMMUNITY AND I HEARD FROM CONSTITUENTS THAT LIVE IN SOUTH AUSTIN, SOUTH CENTRAL AUSTIN, WHO ARE ASKING ME ABOUT WHY IS IT THAT THE CITY ISN'T BUYING MORE PARKLAND? YOU KNOW, WHAT ABOUT MORE PARKS IN SOUTH AUSTIN? UH, SO IT IS VERY DISHEARTENING TO HEAR THAT WE DO NOT HAVE FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR LAND ACQUISITION UNTIL 2027 AT BEST.

COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.

YES, THANK YOU.

I I JUST WANNA UNDERSCORE THAT YESTERDAY I HAD A, A TOWN HALL ON

[03:40:01]

UM, THAT IS, IT'S DISAPPOINTING.

I I THINK THAT WE HAVE REALLY MISSED AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO OUR COMMUNITY TO GO OUT FOR A BOND, TO BE ABLE TO ACQUIRE MORE LAND.

UM, YOU KNOW, THREE YEARS FROM NOW IS, IS TOO LONG.

UH, SO I AM, I APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES' COMMENTS THAT THERE IS, UM, AN INTEREST IN LOOKING AT 2025, BUT ULTIMATELY, I, I DO THINK WE'VE LOST AN OPPORTUNITY HERE TO MOVE FORWARD IN IN THE COMING MONTHS.

COUNCIL MEMBER MEMBERS, IN CLOSING, I'LL JUST SAY THAT, UM, THIS WILL HAVE THE CITY MANAGER BRING BACK TWO BIG ITEMS FOR US.

ONE IS A COMPREHENSIVE CLIMATE INVESTMENT PROPOSAL AND A COMPREHENSIVE, UM, UH, BOND PACKAGE AS WE, I I THINK THIS HAS BEEN A GOOD DISCUSSION FOR CLARIFICATION PURPOSES.

UM, AND WITH THAT WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF ITEM NUMBER 93, VERSION TWO, WHICH WAS THE MOTION INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.

AYE.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED NAY.

THERE BEING, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, IF YOU'RE CAPABLE OF, UH, SHOWING YOUR VOTE, UH, THERE BEING NINE IN FAVOR AND ONE IN OPPOSITION.

THE AND COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, UH, TEMPORARILY OFF THE DAAS, THE MOTION ON ITEM NUMBER 93 IS ADOPTED.

MAYOR.

MAYOR, IF I JUST MIGHT ADD, I'M VOTING YES BECAUSE I ALWAYS WANTED A YES AND WE, WE DO NEED THE PLANNING FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE LAND.

WE NEED A BOND IN 26.

UM, BUT I JUST THOUGHT WE SHOULD BE PUTTING THAT CLIMATE BOND SOONER.

YES, MA'AM.

CERTAIN, WHICH IS ZONING AND UM, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD PLANS.

UM, MEMBERS, WHAT WE'LL DO AT THIS POINT IS GO TO OUR TWO O'CLOCK TIME

[2:00 PM - Zoning and Neighborhood Plan Amendments (Public Hearings and Possible Action)]

AND THEN WE WILL COME BACK TO ITEM NUMBER 96, AND THEN WE WILL GO TO THE PUBLIC HEARINGS.

SO, UM, I'LL GIVE, UH, MS. HARDEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO RUN DOWN THE AISLE.

OF COURSE, NOW I CAN'T FIND MY, HMM.

CAN I GET YOU? NO, THERE, IT'S OKAY.

I KNEW I ASKED .

UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

I'M JOY HARDIN WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.

A QUICK NOTE BEFORE I BEGIN READING THE AGENDA.

EACH OF THE ZONING AND RELATED NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AMENDMENT CASES ON TODAY'S AGENDA, WHICH ARE REQUESTING DB 90 COMBINING DISTRICT ZONING, ARE BEING OFFERED AS STAFF POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR AUGUST 29TH COUNCIL MEETING.

THE REASON FOR THE POSTPONEMENT REQUEST IS TO ALLOW THE DB 90 REVISION CODE AMENDMENT TO BE RE REVIEWED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON JULY 23RD.

IN ADDITION TO THE STAFF POSTPONEMENT REQUEST, THE EAST AUSTIN CONSERVANCY REQUESTED A POSTPONEMENT OF 11 DB 90 CASES LOCATED EAST OF I 35, WHILE THE CHERRYWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IN METROPOLIS NEIGHBORHOOD NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN CONTACTING EACH REQUESTED INDIVIDUAL POSTPONEMENTS.

AND WE ALSO RECEIVED LATE CORRESPONDENCE REQUESTING A MORTOR MORATORIUM ON ALL DB 90 CASES FROM THE GO VALLEY JOHNSON TERRACE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.

BUT AGAIN, THESE CASES WILL BE OFFERED AS STAFF POSTPONEMENTS TO YOUR AUGUST 29TH COUNCIL MEETING.

BUT OF COURSE THAT WOULD BE UP TO YOUR DISCRETION.

SO I'LL BEGIN WITH, UM, READING THE AGENDA.

THE ZONING AGENDA BEGINS WITH ITEM 1 27 NPA 20 23 0 0 1 5 0.05 POINT SH.

THIS IS THE APPLICANT REQUESTED POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR AUGUST 29TH COUNCIL MEETING.

ITEM 1 29 IS C ONE FOUR H 20 23 0 1 3 7.

THIS WILL BE A DISCUSSION ITEM.

THIS IS THE HISTORIC ZONING ITEM, AND THIS WILL BE HEARD ON THIRD, THE FINAL READING.

AND THIS WILL REQUIRE NINE VOTES FOR PASSAGE.

ITEM ONE 30 IS C 1 4 20 23 0 1, 0 6.

THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT.

THIRD READING ITEM 1 31 IS NPA 20 23 0 0 1 5 0.03.

[03:45:01]

THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

AGAIN, THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

ITEM 1 33 IS C 1 4 20 24 0 0 6 1.

ITEM 1 45 C 1 4 20 23 0 1 0 9.

SO AGAIN, STAFF IS, IS REQUESTING A POSTPONEMENT OF THIS ITEM TO YOUR AUGUST 29TH COUNCIL MEETING, ITEM 1 34 C 1 4 20 24 0 0 5 9.

AGAIN, ANOTHER DB 90 ITEM.

SO STAFF POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR AUGUST 29TH COUNCIL MEETING.

ITEM 1 35 IS C 1 4 20 24 0 0 6 8.

THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

ITEM 1 36 IS NPA 20 24 0 0 3 0 0.01.

THIS IS AN NPA, UM, ASSOCIATED WITH A DB 90 REQUEST.

SO STAFF IS REQUESTING A POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR AUGUST 29TH COUNCIL MEETING.

AGAIN, STAFF POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR AUGUST 29TH COUNCIL MEETING.

ITEM 1 38 IS C 1 4 20 24 0 0 2 8.

THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

ITEM 1 39 IS NPA 20 22 0 0 2 0 0.01.

THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED AS AN APPLICANT POSTPONEMENT REQUEST YOUR AUGUST 29TH COUNSEL MEETING.

AGAIN, APPLICANT POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR AUGUST 29TH COUNCIL MEETING.

ITEM 1 41 NPA 20 22 0 0 0 5 0.01.

UM, THIS IS AN NPA, UH, ASSOCIATED WITH A DB 90 REZONING.

SO STAFF POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR AUGUST 29TH COUNCIL MEETING.

AGAIN, STAFF POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR AUGUST 29TH COUNCIL MEETING.

ITEM 1 43 IS NPA 20 23 0 0 0 2 0.02.

THIS ONE IS BEING OFFERED AS A NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR AUGUST 29TH COUNCIL MEETING.

AGAIN, UM, THIS IS OFFERED AS A NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR AUGUST 29TH COUNCIL MEETING.

THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT.

SECOND AND THIRD READINGS, ITEM 1 46 C 1 4 20 24 0 0 3 9.

SO THIS IS OFFERED AS POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR AUGUST 29TH COUNCIL MEETING.

OH, I THINK I MIGHT, IF I SKIP 1 44, LET ME READ THAT.

I THOUGHT YOU SAID ON 1 44 WAS RELATED TO 1 43 AND IT'S ALSO THE NEIGHBOR THOUGHT I REQUEST TO POSTPONEMENT FOR AUGUST 29TH.

THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT I SAID TOO.

SO THAT WAS 1.4.

MY NOTES ORIGINALLY INDICATED THAT BOTH OF THOSE WERE CONSENT AND ALL THREE READINGS.

WHAT, WHAT THE, BUT THE, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, REQUESTED A POSTPONEMENT AND THE APPLICANT IS IN AGREEMENT WITH THAT POSTPONEMENT.

VERY GOOD.

UHHUH, BUT, BUT, BUT I WANNA BE CLEAR, 1 43 AND 1 44 ARE BOTH NEIGHBORHOOD REQUEST AND POSTPONEMENTS TO AUGUST 29TH.

CORRECT.

AND THE APPLICANT IS IN AGREEMENT WITH THAT RULE.

VERY GOOD.

OKAY, UHHUH, I READ 1 45 AND THAT WAS, UM, THAT'S BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT.

SECOND, THIRD READINGS, UM, 1 46 IS C 1 4 20 24 0 0 3 9.

ITEM 1 64 C 1 4 20 23 0 1 5 4.

SO THIS IS OFFERED AS A STAFF POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR AUGUST 29TH COUNCIL MEETING.

ITEM 1 47 IS C 1 4 2 2 4 0 0 5 2.

ANOTHER DB 90.

SO STAFF POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR AUGUST, 2020 NINTH COUNCIL MEETING.

ITEM 1 48 IS C 1 4 20 24 0 0 1 8.

THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

ITEM 1 49 IS C 1 4 20 23 0 1 3 1.

THIS IS DB 90.

SO, UH, STAFF REQUESTED POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR AUGUST 29TH COUNCIL MEETING.

ITEM ONE 50 IS WITHDRAWN AND REPLACED, UM, WITH ITEM 180 8 AND THAT ITEM'S ON YOUR ADDENDUM, SO WE'LL GET TO THAT.

UM, ITEM 51 51 IS C 1 4 20 23 0 1 5 1.

THIS ITEM WILL BE RELATED TO ITEM 180 8 ON THE ADDENDUM.

AND THIS IS BEING OFFERED.

UM, IT'S THE PLANNING AND COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION JUST TO BE CLEAR ON CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

ITEM 1 52 IS NPA 20 23 0 0 2, 3 0.03 POINT SH.

THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

ITEM 1 53 IS C 1 4 20 24 0 0 1 2 SH.

THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

ITEM 1 54, IT'S C 1 4 20 24 0 0 5 5.

THIS IS, UH, DB 90 ITEM.

SO THIS WAS A, THIS WILL BE A STAFF POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR AUGUST 29TH COUNCIL MEETING.

ITEM 1 55, IT'S C 1 4 20 24 0 0 5 6.

THIS IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

ITEM 1 56 TO C 1 4 20 24 0 0 7 4.

THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

ITEM 1 57 AND C 1 4 20 22 0 1 6 2.

THIS IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT.

SECOND AND THIRD READINGS.

ITEM 1 58 IS NPA

[03:50:01]

2020 TH 22 3 0 1 3 0.01.

THIS SOUNDS BEING OFFERED AS AN APPLICANT.

UM, POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR AUGUST 29 COUNCIL MEETING.

AGAIN, THIS IS ITEMS BEING, UM, OFFERED AS AN APPLICANT POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR AUGUST 29TH COUNCIL MEETING.

ITEM ONE 60 C 1 4 20 24 0 0 4 9.

THIS ITEM BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

ITEM 1 61 IS C 1 4 20 22 0 1 1 8 RCT.

THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT.

ITEM 1 62 A C 14, 20 24 0 0 2 2.

THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

ITEM 1 63, THIS C 1 4 20 24 0 0 4 2.

THIS IS A DB 90 ITEM, SO A STAFF REQUESTED POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR AUGUST 29TH COUNCIL MEETING.

THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

ITEM 1 65 IS AN NPA 20 22 0 0 1 7 0.01.

THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED AS A STAFF POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR SEPTEMBER 12TH COUNCIL MEETING.

AGAIN, REQUEST TO YOUR SEPTEMBER 12TH COUNCIL MEETING AND 1 67 IS C 1 4 20 24 0 0 1 4.

THIS ITEMS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

ITEM 1 68 IS C 1 4 20 24 0 0 4 5.

THIS ITEM OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

ITEM 1 69 IS NPA 20 23 0 0 1 9 0.01.

THIS ITEM'S OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

AGAIN, THIS ITEM'S OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

ITEM 1 71 IS NPA 20 23 0 0 2 5 0.01.

ITEM 1 74 C 1 4 20 24 0 0 4 4.

SO THIS IS A STAFF POST MOMENT REQUEST TO YOUR AUGUST 29TH COUNCIL MEETING.

SO STAFF POST MOMENT REQUEST TO YOUR AUGUST 29TH COUNCIL MEETING, 1 73 IS C 1 4 20 24 0 0 2 5 POINT SH THIS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

THIS IS A DB 90 REZONING.

SO THIS IS A STAFF POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR AUGUST 29 COUNCIL MEETING, 1 75 C 1 4 20 24 0 0 4 3.

ANOTHER DB 90 CASE.

SO STAFF POSTPONEMENT REQUEST YOUR AUGUST 29TH COUNCIL MEETING.

UM, ITEM 1 76 IS C 1 4 20 24 0 0 3 8.

THIS SOUNDS BEING OFFERED AS STAFF POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR AUGUST 29TH COUNCIL MEETING.

UM, THIS IS A DB 90 CASE.

UM, THERE IS ALSO A REQUEST FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD POST, UH, TO POSTPONE.

THIS CASE IS SEPTEMBER 12TH MEETING, BUT AGAIN, THIS IS OFFERED AS A STAFF POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR AUGUST 29TH COUNCIL MEETING.

BUT OF COURSE, THAT'S AT YOUR DISCRETION.

AND ITEM 1 77 IS, UH, DB 90, STAFF POSTPONEMENT TO AUGUST 29TH.

ITEM 1 78 C 1 4 20 24 0 0 7 3 DB 90, STAFF POSTPONEMENT TO AUGUST 29TH.

1 79 IS C 1 4 20 24 0 0 5 3 DB 90.

CASE STAFF POSTPONEMENT TO AUGUST 29TH.

ITEM 180 C 1 4 20 24 0 0 7 DB 90.

STAFF POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR AUGUST 29TH COUNCIL MEETING.

ITEM 180 8 IS C 4 20 24 0 0 7 6.

IT'S A DB 90 ITEM.

SO STAFF POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR AUGUST 29TH AGENDA.

WHAT NUMBER DID YOU SAY THAT WAS? I'M SO SORRY.

SAY IT AGAIN.

I, I, I WORRY WHAT NUMBER YOU JUST CALLED OUT.

OH 180 1.

I THOUGHT YOU SAID 180 8.

SO OH OH 180 1.

LET'S GO BACK FOR CLARITY PURPOSES.

180 1, UH, C ONE FOUR IS A DB 90.

SO IT'S A READ THE NUMBER AGAIN.

YES, BUT IT'S A STATUS POSTPONEMENT.

AUGUST 29.

0.04, WHICH IS RELATED TO ITEM 1 51.

SO 180 1, UM, SORRY IF I MISSPOKE.

ITEM 180 1 C 1 4 20 24 0 76.

THIS IS A DB 90 RE REQUEST.

SO IT'S A STAFF POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR AUGUST 29TH COUNCIL MEETING.

ITEM 180 2 C 1 4 20 23 0 1 1 0 DB 90.

SO IT'S A STAFF POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR AUGUST 29TH COUNCIL MEETING.

ITEM 180 3 NPA 20 24 0 0 1, 6 0.01 S EIGHT.

IT'S A DB 90 ITEM.

SO STAFF POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR AUGUST 29TH COUNCIL MEETING.

AND LASTLY ON YOUR ADDENDUM ITEM 180 8 NPA 20 23 0 0 2, 3

[03:55:02]

THIS IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

AND THIS CONCLUDES THE READING OF THE ZONING AND MPA AGENDA.

AND AS ALWAYS, THIS IS AT YOUR DISCRETION.

THIS IS THE DAY I SHOULD HAVE ASKED YOU TO GO BACKWARDS.

NO .

UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.

MEMBERS, UM, FOR PURPOSES OF A MOTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, WHAT I'M GONNA, HERE'S WHAT I'M GONNA DO.

SHE'S CALLED OUT THE, THE CASE NUMBERS ON ALL OF THESE ITEMS. WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS ACCEPT, TYPICALLY WHAT WE DO IS I GO AHEAD AND READ THESE FOR PURPOSES OF THE CONSENT AGENDA MOTION.

I'M NOT GONNA DO WHAT SHE JUST DID.

UM, UH, I'M NOT SURE ANY OF US CAN SURVIVE THAT .

UM, BUT WHAT, HERE'S WHAT I AM GONNA DO.

I'M GOING TO FIRST READ THOSE ITEMS THAT ARE BEING POSTPONED, THAT, AND IN ALL CASES, UNLESS I SAY OTHERWISE, THEY'RE BEING POSTPONED TO AUGUST 29TH.

AND THEN I WILL READ THE CONSENT ITEMS AND THE NUMBER OF TIMES THAT WHILE READING, WE'RE PASSING THOSE ON.

I JUST WANT THERE TO BE A CLEAR RECORD AS TO THAT.

SO PLEASE, PLEASE HELP ME.

POSTPONEMENTS ARE 1 27, 1 28, 1 33, 1 34, 1 36, 1 37, 1 39, 1 40, 1 41, 1 42, 1 43, 1 44.

UM, NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO AUGUST 29TH.

IT'S NOT ON THIS LIST.

SOMEBODY'S QUESTIONING ME.

WANTED, UH, 1 43, 1 44 UHHUH, 1 46, 1 47, 1 49, 1 54, 1 58, 1 59, 1 63, 1 65, AND 1 66.

BUT THEY'RE POSTPONED UNTIL SEPTEMBER 12TH.

MM-HMM, 1 71, 1 72, 1 74, 1 75 MEMBERS 1 76 WOULD BE POSTPONED AT A STAFF RECOMMENDATION FOR AUGUST 29TH.

THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS REQUESTED SEPTEMBER 12TH.

I'M LOOKING TO SEE IF ANYBODY WANTS TO GO 1 58.

NO, NO, NO.

UM, IF ANYBODY, OTHERWISE, IF I DON'T HEAR AN OBJECTION RIGHT NOW, IF MOTION ON CONSENT WILL BE TO POSTPONE 1 76 TO AUGUST 29TH, 1 77, 1 78, 1 79, 180, 180 1, 180 2, 180 3 AND 180 4, THOSE WILL ALL BE POSTPONED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

AND AS I SAID, THOSE, ALL OF THOSE POSTPONEMENTS EXCEPT FOR 1 65 AND 1 66 WILL BE TO AUGUST 29TH, 1 65 AND 1 66 WOULD BE TO SEPTEMBER 12TH.

NOW, PASSAGE.

CAN I MAKE PLEASE A CORRECTION? WHAT NUMBER ARE YOU? 1 58.

1 59 FOR ITEMS 1 58 AND 1 59.

YOU READ 8 29? YES, I DID.

BUT THERE IS AGREEMENT WHAT, SEPTEMBER 12TH.

THERE IS AN AGREEMENT TO SEPTEMBER 12TH.

UM, SO THAT WOULD BE AN APPLICANT AND NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT TO SEPTEMBER 12TH.

1 57 SECOND AND THIRD READINGS, ONE 60, ALL THREE READINGS.

MEMBERS, I'VE READ THE POSTPONEMENTS, THE ONLY FOUR THAT WOULD NOT BE AUGUST 29TH WOULD BE 1 58 AND 1 59.

1 65 AND 1 66.

AND THOSE WOULD ALL BE FOR SEPTEMBER 12TH.

CORRECT.

THAT WILL BE THE CONSENT MOTION ITEMS THAT WILL BE PASSED.

ONE 30 ON ALL THREE READINGS.

1 31 IN THE COMPANION.

1 32.

ALL THREE READINGS.

1 35, ALL THREE READINGS.

1 38, ALL THREE READINGS.

1 45, SECOND AND THIRD READING, 1 48, ALL THREE READINGS MEMBERS.

I'M GONNA PAUSE ON ONE 50 THAT HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN AND REPLACED WITH 180 8.

AND I'LL COME BACK TO THAT 1 51.

ALL THREE READINGS.

1 52, ALL THREE READINGS, 1 53, ALL THREE READINGS, 1 55, ALL THREE READINGS, 1 56, ALL THREE READINGS.

[04:00:01]

1 61 IS A RESTRICTIVE COVENANT TERMINATION.

SO IT REQUIRES ONLY ONE READING, 1 62, ALL THREE READINGS, 1 64, ALL THREE READINGS, 1 67, 1 68, 1 69, AND ONE 70.

ALL THREE READINGS, 1 73, ALL THREE READINGS, 180 8, WHICH IS THE REPLACEMENT.

AND IT'S IN YOUR AGENDA.

THE REPLACEMENT FOR ONE 50 AND IT'S RELATED TO 1 51 WILL BE ON ALL THREE READINGS.

AND MEMBERS, IT IS THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION.

MS. HARDEN, ARE YOU IN AGREEMENT WITH THE WAY I READ THAT? UM, ALL EXCEPT FOR ITEM.

THAT'S NOT THE RIGHT ANSWER, BUT, OKAY.

UH, ALL OF THE, UM, BUT ITEM ONE 30 INSTEAD OF ALL THREE READINGS, WE'RE AT THE THIRD AND FI.

SO WE'VE HAD FIRST READING, WE'VE HAD SECOND READING, AND WE'RE ON THIRD READING ON ONE 30.

ON ONE 30.

I'M SORRY, MY NOTES WERE, IT'S, SAY IT AGAIN.

SO THAT, THAT WILL BE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

MOTION I'M ASKING.

SO ITEM ONE 30 IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT.

I, I, I, MY NOTES WERE WEREN'T CORRECT.

MEMBERS YOU'VE HEARD NOW AD NAUSEUM, UM, THE MOTION FOR CONSENT, IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA? COUNCIL MEMBER CONDRE MOVES ADOPTION.

SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN.

ALTER MAYOR.

CUSTOMER.

ALLISON ALTER TWO THINGS.

ONE, I JUST WANNA CLARIFY.

SO THE ONLY DISCUSSION CASE IS 1 29.

THE ONLY DISCUSSION CASE IS 1 29.

UM, AND YOU MAY BE ABOUT TO SAY THIS, BUT I NEED TO RECUSE MYSELF ON 1 35.

I OUT OF ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION, I'M WITHIN THE NOTIFICATION AREA FOR THE WE ARE BLOOD CASE.

FAIR ENOUGH.

UM, I, AND THAT'S THAT I WAS GOING TO GET THE COMMENT, PUBLIC COMMENT, UH, ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

BUT FOR THE RECORD, LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER WILL RECUSE HERSELF FROM A VOTE ON 1 35, EVEN THOUGH IT'S INCLUDED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

ALRIGHT, I'LL NOW TURN TO THE CITY CLERK TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYONE SIGNED UP ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

CARMEN GIANNIS SPEAKING ON ITEMS 1 27, 1 28, 1 33, 1 34, 1 37, 1 42, 1 46, 1 47, 1 49, 1 54, 1 63, 1 72, 1 74, 1 75, 1 76, 1 77, 1 78, 1 79, 180, 180 1, AND 180 2 ALL POSTPONED.

I'LL START WITH ALEXANDRIA ANDERSON SIGNED UP FOR ITEM 1 27 AND 1 28 SPEAKING ON THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT.

FOLKS, IF YOU'RE HERE TO TESTIFY ON AN ITEM THAT HAS BEEN POSTPONED, ALL THAT YOU CAN TESTIFY ON IS THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT.

UM, BUT WE'RE HAPPY TO, I SUPPOSE WE'RE HAPPY TO HEAR YOU TESTIFY ON THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT.

SO, UM, SHE'S NOW GONNA CALL YOUR NAMES ON THOSE.

MARK BESSON SPEAKING ON ITEMS 1 27 AND 1 28 ON THE MERITS OF POSTPONEMENT.

KEEP GOING.

JENNY GRAYSON, NO ELIAS, BRAD MASSENGILL.

IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME TO THE FRONT.

WELCOME.

UH, JENNY GRAYSON, PRESIDENT OF THE MCKINLEY HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.

I AGREE THAT THESE ITEMS, DB 90 CASES SHOULD BE POSTPONED SINCE WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT DB 90 WILL BECOME.

SO THANK YOU.

AND, UM, HOPEFULLY THAT WILL GIVE US TIME TO WORK WITH Y'ALL AND Y'ALL TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY A LITTLE BIT MORE.

YOU JUST FINISHED TALKING ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

NOAH ELIAS.

BRAD MASSENGILL.

CHRIS PAGE.

CHRIS PAGE IS SIGNED UP FOR ITEMS 1 27, 1 28, 1 33, AND 180 SPEAKING ON THE MERITS OF POSTPONEMENT.

I AGREE WITH WHAT MS. GRAYSON JUST SAID, AND I WOULD ASK ALL COUNCIL AND STAFF TO HAVE FULL TRANSPARENCY ABOUT WHAT DB 90 IS SUPPOSED TO ENTAIL.

AND I THINK AFTER IT'S BEEN DETERMINED, THE COMMUNITY SHOULD HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO MEANINGFULLY CONSIDER IT.

[04:05:01]

BRAD MASSENGILL, UM, I AGREE THAT THESE NEED TO BE POSTPONED AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.

UH, THESE DB NINETIES ARE GOING UP LIKE EVERYWHERE.

YOU JUST READ OFF A LIST OF WHAT, 40 OF THEM, 35, THAT'S GONNA CHANGE THE LANDSCAPE OF AUSTIN FOREVER.

SO WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THIS STUFF MORE THOROUGHLY.

AND THE NOTIFICATION PROCESS, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS PART OF WHY THIS HAS BEEN POSTPONED, BUT IT WAS WOEFULLY LACKING.

I MEAN THE, THE INFORMATION INCLUDED ON HOW TO PLUG INTO THIS PROCESS.

YOU GO TO THE THIRD PARAGRAPH ON THE NOTE NOTIFICATION, WHICH WE ONLY HAD TWO DAYS OF CITY STAFF TIME TO EVEN QUESTION WHAT THIS STUFF WAS ABOUT BEFORE THE HEARING LAST TUESDAY.

SO I'M GLAD THIS IS BEING MOVED.

I FORWARD.

THANK YOU ZENOBIA JOSEPH SPEAKING ON ITEM ONE 30.

THANK YOU MAYOR PROTE.

MAYOR COUNCIL, I'M ENOVIA JOSEPH SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM ONE 30.

THAT'S 1 1 2 0 9 METRIC, WHICH IS ACROSS FROM THE WALGREENS AT METRIC AND BREAKER.

I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT ON PAGE FOUR OF THE STAFF REPORT, SHERRY, SO WATERS' REPORT, IT SPECIFIES ROUTE 1 42 AND AND 3 25.

1 42 ONLY RUNS ABOUT TWO TRIPS IN THE MORNING, TWO IN THE AFTERNOON FROM DOWNTOWN, AND 3 25 HAS OPERATED AT 60 MINUTE HEADWAY.

IT WAS 15 MINUTES BEFORE CAP REMAP JUNE 3RD, 2018.

I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT ON MAY 30TH, 2024, IT WAS COUNCIL MEMBER VELAS AMENDMENT FOR 120 FEET, SPECIFICALLY THREE TO ONE AREA, UH, FOUR, UH, FLORIDA AREA RATIO.

HE SAID HE WAS TRYING TO MIMIC THE DOMAIN, BUT I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THAT AT THE DOMAIN ON FEBRUARY 17TH, 2020, TERRY GRU OVER AT THE KU DID AN INVESTIGATIVE REPORT AND THE DEVELOPERS ARE PAYING A FEE IN LIEU OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

THERE'S NO AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THIS DEVELOPMENT.

IT'S 495 UNITS SPECIFICALLY IN THE BACKUP MATERIALS.

IT SPECIFIES FIVE FLOORS AND IT ALSO STAY SPECIFICALLY THAT THERE MAY BE HERITAGE TREES THERE.

AND SO I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT ON EAST BREAKER, JUST DOWN THE STREET FROM THIS PARTICULAR DEVELOPMENT, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE OVER 500 UNITS THERE AS WELL.

AND YOU'RE RAISING THE LAND.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO IS ENSURE THAT THE DEVELOPER ACTUALLY FIGURES OUT HOW TO DO LANDSCAPING AROUND THE TREES AS OPPOSED TO JUST CUTTING THEM ALL DOWN.

AND SO I WANT COUNCIL MEMBER VELA TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE'S MORE THAT CAN BE DONE.

MY COMMENTS ARE IN THE CONTEXT OF TITLE VI OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964, WHICH PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE, COLOR, AND NATIONAL ORIGIN.

YOU ARE SIMPLY INCREASING THE TRAFFIC IN THIS AREA.

PROJECT CONNECT WILL NOT ACTUALLY DIMINISH THE TRAFFIC.

NO ONE IN THEIR RIGHT MIND IS GOING TO SIT AT A HOT BUS STOP, A FLAT SILVER BENCH FOR 60 MINUTES WAITING FOR THE BUS.

I WANNA GIVE YOU A REAL EXAMPLE.

THIS WEEK THERE WAS A BLACK MALE WHO ACTUALLY RIDES THE BUS AND CATCHES THE RAIL, AND HE ACTUALLY TOLD THE DRIVER AT 7:01 AM IT'S TOO LATE, I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE IT.

SO YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR CARS, THERE'S NO AFFORDABILITY.

AND I WOULD ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THE NEED TO POSTPONE THE THIRD READING AND TO ACTUALLY DO SOME ANALYSIS TO TELL US WHAT THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT IS.

BECAUSE AS IT STANDS, IT IS SIMPLY MORE DENSITY ON ROUTES THAT OPERATE EVERY 60 MINUTES.

AND LASTLY, I WILL JUST TELL YOU, IT IS YES, A QUARTER MILE FROM A BUS STOP, BUT ROUTE 3 92 BREAKER ACTUALLY REQUIRES INDIVIDUALS, MINORITIES SPECIFICALLY TO WAIT AN ADDITIONAL 25 MINUTES ON SATURDAYS AND SUNDAY.

SO THE WHITE CHOICE RIDERS WHO ARE GOING TO AUSTIN FC CAN ACTUALLY GET TO THEIR GAME ON TIME.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GLADLY ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME.

THANK YOU, MS. JOSEPH.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

MONICA GUZMAN, FRANCIS SHAKIN, AMBER ORR, YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED AND YOU WISH TO TESTIFY.

COME FORWARD, PLEASE.

MONICA GUZMAN, SPEAKING ON THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT OF ITEMS. 1 33, 1 34, 1 37, 1 42, 1 46, 1 49, 1 54, 1 63, 1 72, 1 74, 1 75, 1 76, 1 77, 1 78, 1 79, 180, 180 1,

[04:10:04]

AND 180 2.

I'M MONICA UZMAN, POLICY DIRECTOR GAVA GO.

AUSTIN, BONOS AUSTIN.

AND I SUPPORT WITH JENNY GRAYSON, CHRIS PAGE, BRAD MASSENGILL, AND MANY OTHERS WHO COULD NOT BE HERE ARE ALL THINKING AND SAYING THANK YOU FOR THE POSTPONEMENT.

THIS ALLOWS MORE TIME FOR AUTHENTIC ENGAGEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY TO ENSURE WE HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING AND HOPEFULLY A MORE EQUITABLE PATH FORWARD.

MY NAME IS FRANCIS SHAKIN AND I'M SPEAKING ON ITEM 180.

I SUPPORT THE POSTPONEMENT, BUT I DO QUESTION WHETHER THE PLANNING COMMISSION, WHICH WE ATTENDED LAST WEEK, WILL HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION BY THIS COMING TUESDAY TO BE ABLE TO MAKE, UM, MANY RECOMMENDATIONS TO YOU.

THEY SEEM PRETTY CONFUSED ABOUT DB 90 AND, UM, ASK THE STAFF AT ONE POINT, WHAT EXACTLY ARE THE LIMITATIONS FOR DB 90 AND THE STAFF RESPONSE WAS, WELL, I DON'T THINK WE CAN ANSWER THAT HOLISTICALLY.

SO IN THE NEXT, WHAT, FIVE DAYS, WE'RE GONNA HAVE AN ANSWER TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

I SUGGEST YOU THINK ABOUT GIVING THE PLANNING COMMISSION A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO GET THE INFORMATION.

PLANNING IS DOWN BY ONE STAFF MEMBER AS I UNDERSTAND IT, AND SO I THINK THEY MAY NEED A LITTLE MORE TIME TO ABSORB THIS INFORMATION THEMSELVES.

THANK YOU, AMBER ORR, MARIO CANTU, JODY ZIMMEL.

WILLIAM WEAVER, MARY ENGLE, SUSAN MORRISON.

PLEASE CALL SOME ADDITIONAL NAMES.

PLEASE BEGIN.

UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I'M HERE ON ITEMS 1 58 AND 1 59.

WE SUPPORT THE POSTPONEMENT, BUT WE REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO, UM, MAKE THIS A PRO TRANSPARENT PROCESS.

WE WOULD REALLY LIKE CONDITIONAL USE ON A LOT OF THE ITEMS THAT THE APPLICANT IS ASKING FOR.

AND WHEN WE COME BACK, WE WILL TALK ABOUT THOSE FURTHER.

BUT THIS IS A, A SINGLE FAMILY PROPERTY IN THE MIDDLE OF RESIDENTIAL, JUST ON THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT.

AND SO WE'RE WILLING TO DISCUSS THIS WITH THE APPLICANT FURTHER.

BUT THIS CASE HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE FEBRUARY OF 2023.

IS YOUR, IF ANYONE'S NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

PHILLIP WILEY, BILL BUNCH, MR. BUNCH.

IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD IF YOU'RE GONNA TALK.

HI, PHILLIP WILEY.

I LIVE DOWNTOWN.

IT'S A TOUGH ACT TO GO BEFORE, BUT, UH, I'LL DO MY BEST.

UM, I HAVE SOME CHARTS.

WHAT, WHAT ITEM ARE YOU TESTIFYING ON YOUR NAME? UH, NUMBER 1 73.

PHILLIP WILEY.

MARTIN'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT.

UH, FORWARD PLEASE, FORWARD PLEASE.

THE THIRD, THE START WITH THE THIRD ONE, PLEASE.

YEAH, THERE WE GO.

UM, SO THIS IS THE, UH, ST.

OH, THAT'S GREAT.

UM, I'M PASSIONATELY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS PROJECT, IT'S WAY OVERDUE.

UM, I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON, ON HOW WE GOT HERE.

10 YEARS AGO, UH, BEFORE HE WAS ELECTED MAYOR, UM, MR. ADLER CAME INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AFTER, UH, THE, UH, LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT ON THE MAP WAS NOT ACCEPTED.

IT WAS NOT ACCEPTED BY, UH, THE PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE HAD TWO VALID PETITIONS.

UH, THE PEOPLE WHO HAD PROPERTY WITHIN THE DISTRICT DID NOT SUPPORT IT.

THE PEOPLE WHO WERE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE DISTRICT DID NOT SUPPORT IT.

AND WE BASICALLY HAD A FAMILY FEUD THAT WENT ON FOR FOUR OR FIVE YEARS THAT WAS VERY UGLY OVER THIS WHOLE PROCESS.

AND I'M, IT'S ONE OF THE MOST DISAPPOINTING THINGS I'VE EVER BEEN THROUGH IN MY LIFE, BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS.

UM, IT, IF YOU WOULD GO TO THE NEXT CHART, PLEASE.

[04:15:02]

WHAT YOU SEE HERE IS, UM, ON, ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, IS BASICALLY THE TRANSITION ZONE.

THIS IS A COMPATIBILITY ZONE.

SO WE DID SOMETHING, YOU ALL DID GREAT WORK ON COMPATIBILITY RECENTLY, BUT COMPATIBILITY IS NOT JUST THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, IT'S ACTUALLY BUILT INTO THE ZONING TABLE.

THESE ARE DOWNTOWN PROPERTIES.

SO WHEN I SHOWED YOU A MAP EARLIER TODAY OF, UM, THE CENSUS TRACT AND WHAT HAPPENED FROM 10 20 OR 2010 TO 2020, THIS WAS, UH, WHERE WALLY IS, THIS IS WHERE WALDO IS.

THIS IS A, AN AREA THAT DID NOT GROW FOR 10 YEARS IN THE FASTEST GROWING METRO IN THE NATION.

UM, WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENTLY.

UM, SO WHAT YOU'RE SEEING HERE ON THE OUTSIDE IN BLUE ARE FIVE AREAS THAT HAVE PURSUED MULTIFAMILY HOUSING TO ONE EXTENT OR ANOTHER THROUGH DISCUSSIONS OR THROUGH.

MARY ENGLE SPEAKING ON ITEMS 1 69 AND 1 76 MINUTES.

I WON'T NEED ALL THAT TIME.

AND NOW WE'RE DOING THE STUFF THAT HAPPENED LONG AGO.

UH, MARY ENGEL, RESIDENT OF NORTH UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD, AND I LIVE ON DUVAL STREET.

I'M SPEAKING ABOUT ITEMS 1 69 AND ONE 70, THE DUVAL RESIDENCE 33 0 5.

UM, THERE'S A BACKSTORY TO THIS PROPERTY.

IT'S BEING UP ZONED TO MF ONE.

IT'S AN SF THREE PROPERTY THAT'S SINGLE FAMILY I LIVE SORT OF ACROSS THE STREET.

ALL OF THE HOUSES SURROUNDING OUR SINGLE FAMILY DUVAL SEPARATES, UH, SEPARATES TWO NEIGHBORHOODS FROM EACH OTHER.

WE WERE IN DIFFERENT GROUPS DURING THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN IN 2004.

SO THE NEW PROPERTY OWNER WHO BOUGHT THIS IN 2023 DID NOT DO DUE DILIGENCE.

HE DID NOT CHECK WHETHER THIS OWNER, THE PREVIOUS OWNER, HAD ILLEGAL UNITS.

UM, HE HAS NOT EXHAUSTED ALL REMEDIES AT THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT OR OTHER PLACES WHERE HE COULD COME INTO COMPLIANCE.

THAT'S OUR PROCESS.

SO WE'RE UPZONING BECAUSE WHY, UH, EXHAUSTING ALL REMEDIES MEANS HE CANNOT COME INTO COMPLIANCE WITHOUT GETTING A JUDGMENT.

HE'S ALSO GOT OTHER OPTIONS LIKE RE REZO, UPZONING, THEN O THEN UPZONING, LIKE SUBDIVIDING THE PROPERTY.

UM, FURTHERMORE, WE JUST PASSED HOME ONE AND TWO, WHICH ALLOWS UNITS IN THE SETBACKS AND ALLOWS MORE THAN, YOU KNOW, ONE UNIT ON A LOT OR TWO UNITS.

UM, WHY ARE WE DOING THIS? WHY DO WE UP ZONE WHEN THERE'S ALSO A REMEDY THAT WE CAN USE? NOW I FEEL THAT THIS IS REAL INJUSTICE TO THE REST OF US ON DUVAL WHO HAVE ADHERED TO OUR, UH, ZONING REGULATIONS.

THIS IS REWARDING CHEATERS.

MAYBE THE REST OF US WITH THE SAME LANDMASS WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AN UPZONING TWO TO MF ONE, BUT NOBODY ASKED DO WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ILLEGAL TO DO THAT.

I ALSO THINK THAT THIS IS A CASE OF SPOT ZONING AND AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION, A LAWYER APPOINTEE READ OUT FROM BLACK'S LAW DICTIONARY WHAT SPOT ZONING IS.

SPOT ZONING REFERS, UM, OF WHEN A PIECE OF PROPERTY OR OUR GROUP OF PROPERTIES HAVE SPECIAL ZONING LAWS APPLIED TO THEM THAT DIFFER FROM THE ZONING LAWS SURROUNDING THE PROPERTY.

THE PRACTICE OF SPOT ZONING CAN BE CONTROVERSIAL AND MAY BE ILLEGAL.

THERE ARE NO ADJACENT MULTIFAMILY PROPERTIES.

THIS AREA OF AUSTIN WAS PLANTED EARLY.

WE'VE HAD SOME INCONSISTENCIES IN ZONING IN 2004.

WE TRIED TO CLEAN UP THOSE INCONSISTENCIES AND AS THE STAFF STATED IN THE BACKUP, ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS STATES REMOVE MULTIFAMILY AND COMMERCIAL ZONING ALONG DUVAL STREET, WHERE, WHERE CURRENT AND TRADITIONAL USE IS SINGLE FAMILY.

WHY ARE WE UPZONING TO UNDO WHAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN ACTUALLY TRIED TO DO? MAKE THINGS MORE CONSISTENT.

THIS PROPERTY WAS ALWAYS SINGLE FAMILY

[04:20:01]

SO PLEASE DENY THIS UNWARRANTED REQUEST.

UM, THE ANSWER IS NOT UPZONING THE WRONG, IT'S THE WRONG SOLUTION BECAUSE IT REWARDS BAD BEHAVIOR AND IT SENDS THE WRONG MESSAGE TO THE PUBLIC.

AND THOSE OF US WHO STILL LIVE ON DUVAL AND OF WHO'VE WHO HAVE OBEYED THE LAW.

THANK YOU MAYOR.

THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE ZONING CONSENT SPEAKERS.

OH MA'AM, MY APOLOGIES MA'AM.

WAS YOUR NAME CALLED? YES, IT WAS.

FEEL FREE TO SPEAK SUSAN MORRISON.

AND I JUST WANNA SUPPORT WHAT MARY ENGLE JUST SAID, BECAUSE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE BEING DISRESPECTED IN THIS RUSH OF FOR HOME ONE AND TWO AND THERE IS NO REASON FOR UPZONING ON THIS, ON THIS LAND.

THANK YOU MS. MORRISON.

I, I TAKE IT THAT COMPLETES THE PEOPLE MEMBERS.

UH, THAT CONCLUDES THE COMMENT PER UH, COMMENTS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IT WAS PREVIOUSLY READ.

LET ME ASK, IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ANYONE? COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALT ALTER WILL BE SHOWN RECUSING HERSELF FROM A VOTE ON ITEM 1 35.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, THERE WAS ONE ITEM I WANTED TO BE SHOWN.

VOTING NOW ON FOR CONSENT.

I'M SORRY.

PLEASE, PLEASE TELL ME WHAT THAT IS.

THAT'S GONNA BE ITEM NUMBER 1 29.

IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN ABSTAINING ON A VOTE? ON AN ITEM? OKAY.

UM, MEMBERS FOR THE RECORD, WELL, 1 29 IS DISCUSSION.

YES, YOU'RE RIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR PULLING THAT OUT.

ALRIGHT, MEMBERS, THE, UH, ONLY COUNCIL MEMBER HAR MASS.

LET ME ASK YOU, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU WISH TO BE SHOWN VOTING? NO.

RECUSING YOURSELF OR ABSTAINING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? NO.

THANK YOU MR. MAYOR, AND I APPRECIATE YOU ASKING 'CAUSE MY COMPUTER OF COURSE IS ABOUT TO RESTART IN ONE MINUTE.

UM, WELL WE, WE WILL TRY AND GET THIS VOTE DONE.

UH, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER BAYLA IS GONNA KEEP YOUR CLOSE, YOUR COMPUTER SHUT DOWN.

COUNCIL MEMBER BAYLA.

SORRY ABOUT THAT.

UH, IS THIS APPROPRIATE TIME TO MAKE A QUICK COMMENT ON ITEM ONE 30? YES.

I JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT, UH, IN, UH, ITEM ONE 30, UH, WHICH THERE WAS A COMMENT ABOUT EARLIER, THE DEVELOPERS ARE CREATING A ONE ACRE, UH, PRIVATE PARK AND GOING TO MAINTAIN, UH, A ONE ACRE, UH, PRIVATE PARK AS PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT.

IT'S A SIX ACRE, UH, PIECE OF LAND.

SO THEY'RE GOING REALLY ABOVE AND BEYOND ANYTHING THAT THEY WOULD BE, UH, REQUIRED TO DO.

THEY'RE ALSO AGREEING TO PROVIDE, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING CONSISTENT WITH THE RULES THAT ARE JUST ACROSS THE STREET IN THE DOMAIN.

UH, AND THEN FINALLY, I JUST WANTED TO ALSO NOTE THAT IT, IT IS A PDA AND THE PDAS ARE REALLY KIND OF A BULKY AND DIFFICULT, UH, UH, PROCESS.

AND TODAY I AM A CO-SPONSOR OF, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON'S ITEM THAT WOULD INITIATE IMPORTANT CHANGES TO PDAS THAT WOULD IN THE FUTURE, UH, HOPEFULLY REQUIRE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

SO I JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT FOR THE RECORD.

COUNCIL MEMBER VELA, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, FUENTES.

YES, I'D LIKE TO AB BE SHOWN AS ABSTAINING FROM ITEM 1 0 9.

OH, EXCUSE ME.

IT'S NOT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

ONE.

OH, NINE'S THE FLOODPLAIN MAYOR.

IT'S NOT ON THE YEAH, WE'RE NOT, WE'RE, YEAH.

1 0 9.

THAT'S NOT A ZONING MATTER.

I'LL, I'LL GET TO THAT A LITTLE BIT LATER.

UM, MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED WITHOUT OBJECTION.

THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER BEING SHOWN RECUSING HERSELF FROM A VOTE ON ITEM 1 35 MEMBERS.

THAT WILL TAKE US TO

[129. C14H-2023-0137 - Sinnigson House - Approve third reading of an ordinance amending City Code Title 25 by rezoning a portion of the property locally known as 1100 East 2nd Street, Unit A (Waller Creek Watershed). Historic Landmark Commission (Applicant) Request: To rezone the front house on the property from family residence-neighborhood plan (SF-3-NP) combining district zoning to family residence-historic landmark-neighborhood plan (SF-3-H-NP) combining district zoning. Staff Recommendation and Planning Commission Recommendation: To grant family residence-historic landmark-neighborhood plan (SF-3-H-NP) combining district zoning on a portion of the property. First Reading approved on January 18, 2024. Vote 10-1-0. Council Member Ellis voted against. Second Reading approved on May 2. Vote 9-2-0. Council Members Ellis and Kelly voted against. Owner: Pecan Properties, LLC (owner-opposed). Agent: Joshua Brunsmann. Applicant: Historic Landmark Commission. City Staff: Kalan Contreras, Planning Department.]

ITEM 1 29.

UH, 1 29 IS A DISCUSSION ITEM.

UH, IT IS ON THIRD AND FINAL READING AND IT WILL REQUIRE NINE VOTES.

OH YES.

TWO VOTES AND OPPOSITION AND SOME QUESTIONS, WHICH I HOPE TO ANSWER TODAY AS WE PRESENT THIS CASE FOR THIRD AND FINAL READING.

COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, CALLEN CERAS FROM THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.

ITEM 1 29 IS AN OWNER OPPOSED HISTORIC ZONING CASE INITIATED BY THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION WHEN A DEMOLITION PERMIT WAS SUBMITTED FOR THEIR REVIEW TODAY.

THIS CASE IS UP FOR THIRD READING IT PASSED ON CONSENT WITH ONE OPPOSED ON FIRST READING, THEN WAS PULLED FOR DISCUSSION ON SECOND READING WITH

[04:25:01]

HISTORIC ZONING FOR THIS BUILDING IS RECOMMENDED NOT ONLY BY STAFF, BUT ALSO UNANIMOUSLY BY BOTH THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

THE PLANNING COMMISSION IS CRAFTED A COMPROMISE SOLUTION, WHICH BOTH PRESERVES THE INTACT FRONT OF THE ORIGINAL HOUSE AND ALLOWS ITS INCOMPATIBLE REAR ADDITIONS TO BE REMOVED AND THE BACK OF THE LOT DEVELOPED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE HOME AMENDMENT.

THIS COMPROMISE HAS STAFF'S ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORT.

THE EAST AUSTIN HISTORIC RESOURCE SURVEY APPROVED BY COUNCIL IN 2016 IDENTIFIED THE HOUSE AT 1100 EAST SECOND STREET AS ELIGIBLE FOR LOCAL LANDMARK DESIGNATION CONTRIBUTION TO A POTENTIAL HISTORIC DISTRICT AND INDIVIDUALLY ELIGIBLE FOR LISTING IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.

AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE SURVEY, THE ADDITIONS TO THE BACK OF THE HISTORIC HOUSE AND THE SECONDARY STRUCTURE ON THE LOT WOULD NOT BE ZONED HISTORIC PER THE STAFF AND PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION, RATHER THAN APPLYING ZONING TO THE ENTIRE PARCEL.

AS IS TYPICAL FOR HISTORIC ZONING.

THE PLANNING COMMISSION ACKNOWLEDGING THIS BUILDING'S CRITICAL CONTRIBUTION TO SECOND STREET TAILORED ITS RECOMMENDATION TO ALLOW THE MULTI-UNIT OPTIONS PROVIDED BY HOME TO WORK IN TANDEM WITH THE PRESERVATION OF THE ORIGINAL PORTION OF THE FRONT HOUSE STAFF.

FEELS THIS IS AN EXCELLENT COMPROMISE THAT HELPS PRESERVE ONE OF EAST AUSTIN'S RAPIDLY DISAPPEARING HISTORIC STREET SCAPES, WHILE ALSO ALLOWING THIS SPACE TO CONTINUE TO SERVE AUSTIN'S HOUSING NEEDS.

FIRST, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION OF THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AT THIS POINT? OKAY, WHAT WE'LL DO IS, UM, BECAUSE THIS IS A MATTER OF FOR DISCUSSION, UH, I WILL CALL ON THE, UM, UH, WELL, I GUESS THE P DEPARTMENT'S PROBABLY THE ONES MAKING THE, THE, THE, I'LL NOW CALL ON OPPOSITION AND GIVE, UH, SPOKESPERSON FOR THE OPPOSITION FIVE MINUTES AND THEN WE WILL GO TO SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM.

THOSE IN FAVOR AND THOSE IN OPPOSITION.

SO IS THERE A REPRESENTATIVE OF THOSE IN OPPOSITION THAT WOULD LIKE TO BE RECOGNIZED? THANK YOU, MAYOR.

WE HAVE JOSH BRONSMAN ON THE LINE.

OKAY, LET'S GIVE HIM FIVE MINUTES, SIR.

WHAT WAS THE LAST NAME? BRONSMAN.

WHAT'S UP MAYOR? WE DON'T SEE HIM ON THE LINE.

WE CAN TRY TO REACH OUT.

WE DO HAVE SOME FOUR SPEAKERS.

IF WE HAVE SOME FOUR SPEAKERS, CALL ON THEM PLEASE.

JUAN RAMON RUBIO.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE, SIR.

THIS HOUSE AND OTHERS LIKE IT WILL STAND STRONG A HUNDRED YEARS FROM NOW.

MY NAME'S JUAN RAYMOND RUBIO.

UH, I'M A BOARD MEMBER PRESERVATION AUSTIN AND ONE OF THE LAND, UH, HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSIONERS.

UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR SUPPORTING THE ITEM TODAY TO STRENGTHEN THE PRESERVATION BONUS.

I HOPE YOU CONSIDER THOSE IDEAS RELATED TO HISTORIC ZONING OF THE CITIZEN HOUSE.

UH, MONTHS AGO, WE HEARD A LOT OF TESTIMONY FROM HOME TOO.

THE COMMUNITIES REALLY UPSET BECAUSE THEY FEEL THEY'RE BEING IGNORED.

THEY'RE ASKING YOU, UH, DURING THOSE TESTIMONIES TO PREVENT DISPLACEMENT, MORE TAX ABATEMENTS, MORE PRESERVATION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

THEY ASKED IF YOU'LL HELP SENIORS AGE IN PLACE.

I BEG YOU TO TAKE HEED FROM THOSE CITIZENS THAT WANNA SAVE THEIR COMMUNITIES AND ITS HERITAGE AND HEED FROM YOUR CITY.

PLANS.

TAKE HEED FROM YOUR CITY COMMISSIONS.

LESS THAN 1% OF AUSTIN PROPERTY IS DESIGNATED HISTORIC AND MOST OF THAT IS IN WEALTHY WHITE NEIGHBORHOODS.

IF YOU DESIGNATE THIS PROPERTY, THE OWNER CAN STILL DEVELOP THEIR LAND.

THAT'S WHAT WE'VE SHOWN.

THAT'S WHAT WE'VE PROVEN.

THAT'S WHAT ORDINANCES WE HAVE.

YOU ASKED US TO SERVE ON THESE COMMISSIONS.

YOU ASK STAFF TO HELP GUIDE COMMUNITY EFFORTS.

THERE'S NOTHING WORSE THAN THROWING ALL THAT AWAY.

YOU'RE THROWING OUT ALL THE TIME ADVICE, MONEY AND ENERGY DOWN THE DRAIN.

YOU CAN USE PRESERVATION AS A TOOL TO COMBAT GENTRIFICATION AND FOR AFFORDABILITY PROBLEMS. THE BUCK STOPS HERE.

OUR CITY'S HERITAGE IS AT RISK OF DESTRUCTION BECAUSE TOUGH DECISIONS HERE ARE FAVORING PROFITS OVER PEOPLE FAILING TO SAVE THESE PLACES AGAINST AN OWNER WISHES ENDANGERS.

99% OF AUSTIN, IMAGINE AUSTIN WITHOUT THE DRAG.

IMAGINE AUSTIN WITHOUT SOUTH CONGRESS.

IMAGINE AUSTIN WITHOUT SIXTH STREET.

YOU HAVE THE POWER TO PROTECT ALL OF THOSE PLACES, BUT WE'RE GIVING PRIORITY TO HIS TO PROPERTY RIGHTS.

THINK OF YOUR ROLE IN LEGACY IN PRESERVING AUSTIN.

NO ONE'S GONNA REMEMBER THE NEW HOUSES THAT ARE UNDER CONSTRUCTION TODAY.

THOSE WILL BE GONE IN 50 YEARS.

I'VE SEEN THE SHODDY CONSTRUCTION MYSELF, BUT HOPEFULLY

[04:30:01]

THANK YOU MARY CALLIE SPEAKING ON ITEM 1 29.

HI, THIS IS MARY KALE.

IT'S GONNA BE HARD TO TALK MY FELLOW, UH, BOARD MEMBER OF PRESERVATION AUSTIN JUAN RAYMOND RUBIO, BUT I WILL GIVE MY LITTLE TALK.

UM, UH, WE'RE HERE TO EXPRESS OUR SUPPORT FOR THE DESIGNATION OF THE CITY SINTON HOUSE AS A HISTORIC LANDMARK.

AND LET ME REITERATE WHAT JUAN JUAN RAYMOND SAID WITH LANDMARK STATUS, THE PROPERTY OWNER CAN STILL DEVELOP THE SITE.

LANDMARK STATUS DOES NOT HAVE TO BE A BURDEN.

WE LOVE YOUR SUPPORT FOR PROGRESSIVE PRESERVATION POLICY LIKE THE PRESERVATION BONUS, AND WE ASK YOU TO BRING THAT SAME SPIRIT TO THIS CASE.

UM, AS YOU KNOW, THE 2016 EAST AUSTIN HISTORIC RESOURCE SURVEY LIST, THE BUILDING AS ELIGIBLE FOR LOCAL LANDMARK DESIGNATION AND LISTING ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.

THE STAFF REPORT IDENTIFIED ITS BULK VICTORIAN ARCHITECTURE AND ITS HISTORIC ASSOCIATION WITH THE CARPENTER AND BUILDER CHARLES TON AS THE BASIS OF ITS RECOMMENDATION.

BOTH THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION PUT IN LOTS OF TIME AND EFFORT AND OVERWHELMINGLY RECOMMENDED THIS PROPERTY FOR DESIGNATION.

WE'VE SAID MANY TIMES THAT THE CITY HAS TO TAKE ITS SURVEYS IN THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF OUR COMMISSIONS.

UM, SERIOUSLY, SURVEYS TELL US ABOUT OUR CITY, WHAT IS IMPORTANT AND WHAT WE MUST PROTECT.

AND IF WE ARE NOT ACTING ON THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS, WE ARE FAILING TO STEWARD OUR OWN RAPIDLY VANISHING HISTORY, ESPECIALLY IN EAST AUSTIN.

PROPERTIES LIKE THIS HAVE HOUSED EAST AUSTIN'S WORKING CLASS RESIDENTS FOR DECADES.

WITH EACH OLDER AND HISTORIC HOME, WE LOSE THE DISPLACEMENT OF THESE COMMUNITIES IS CEMENTED.

FURTHERMORE, IN THE WAKE OF THE PASSAGE OF THE PRESERVATION BONUS, THIS PROPERTY IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF HOW IN AUSTIN'S CURRENT HOUSING MARKET, A HOME LIKE THIS COULD BE PRESERVED, RETAINING THE HISTORIC CHARACTER OF EAST AUSTIN, WHILE ALSO PRESERVING THE AFFORDABILITY OF OLDER HOMES.

AGAIN, LANDMARK STATUS DOES NOT PREVENT THE PROPERTY OWNER FROM DEVELOPING THE SITE.

IT'S NOT EVERY HOME THAT ACCESSES THE BONUS NEEDS TO BE A LANDMARK, BUT THIS IS ONE SUCH PROPERTY THAT IS DEMONSTRATED.

ITS WORTHINESS FOR DESIGNATION BY THE CRITERIA SET OUT IN OUR OWN LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.

WE NEED TO ACT URGENTLY WITH THE TOOLS WE HAVE TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN PROTECT WHAT REMAINS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.

I BELIEVE WE NOW HAVE JOSH BREMAN ON THE LINE.

JOSH, PLEASE UNMUTE.

PLEASE, PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE.

JOSH, PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX.

HELLO.

ARE YOU ABLE TO HEAR ME NOW? YES.

MY APOLOGIES.

UH, I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S TIME THIS EVENING.

UH, MAYOR WATSON MAKES YOUR YOUR TIME AS WELL.

UM, I'M THE APPLICANT ON THIS 1100 EAST SECOND STREET.

YOU KNOW, THE, I I UNDERSTAND THE SENTIMENT IN REGARDS TO HISTORIC, UH, PRESERVATION ON THIS PROPERTY, BUT THIS PROPERTY IS IN BEYOND DISREPAIR.

UM, THERE, THERE'S A BIG DISCONNECT IN REGARDS TO ASSOCIATED THE COST TO BRING THIS HOME BACK TO LIFE.

UH, MAJORITY OF THE HOME HAS BEEN ADDED ON OVER THE LAST 30, 40 YEARS.

UH, MUCH OF THE SIDING AND EXTERIOR WINDOWS, THEY'RE NOT THE ORIGINAL, UM, HOME.

SO, YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS WOULD BE A TRAVESTY TO, TO GIVE THIS HOME HISTORIC PRESERVATION AGAINST THE OWNER'S WILL.

UM, AND ALSO THE MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE COSTS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH TO BE ABLE TO PRESERVE THIS HOME IS MUCH HIGHER THAN IT IS FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION.

WE FEEL, UM, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THIS HOME THE OPTION FOR SOMEONE ELSE THAT MAYBE WOULD WANT TO PRESERVE THIS, BUT WE SHOULD BE, UM, ALLOWED TO MOVE FORWARD AND WE REQUEST BE MOVED FORWARD WITH OUR DEMOLITION REQUEST.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE THIS EVENING.

THAT IS ALL THE SPEAKERS WE HAVE.

TO ITEM NUMBER 96 MEMBERS.

UM, MEMBERS, UH, THAT CONCLUDES THE SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM 1 29.

UM, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEM 1 29.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 1 29 ON THIRD READING, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER MOVES APPROVAL.

IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER

[04:35:01]

VELASQUEZ.

UH, MEMBERS, THIS WILL REQUIRE, UH, NINE VOTES IN ORDER TO PASS IT ON.

THIRD READING COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, YOU ARE BEING, YOU HAD REQUESTED THAT YOU BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON THAT ITEM.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO BE SHOWN? VOTING NO.

ON ITEM 1 29, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.

COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, ARE YOU AVAILABLE TO, UH, VOTE COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, ARE YOU AVAILABLE TO VOTE? YES, MR. BECK? VERY GOOD.

ALRIGHT, IN, IN THAT CASE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

OPPOSED SAY NO.

WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS AND COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY VOTING NO.

COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER.

MADISON, HOW ARE YOU VOTING? I'M A NO VOTE AS WELL, MR. MAYOR.

OH, UM, THEN THE MOTION, UH, THERE BEING EIGHT IN FAVOR.

THREE IN OPPOSITION.

THE MOTION TO ADOPT FAILS.

ALRIGHT, THAT'LL, UM, THAT COMPLETES ALL OF OUR ZONING AND NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING ITEMS. IS THAT CORRECT, MS. HARDEN? YOU GOT ANYTHING ELSE? ALL RIGHT.

BEEN GOOD BEING WITH YOU TODAY.

UM, THAT WILL NOW MEMBERS, UH, WHAT WE'LL DO NOW IS, AND, AND FOR THE PUBLIC, WE WILL GO TO ITEM NUMBER 1 26.

I'M SORRY, I DON'T KNOW WHY I SAID 1 26.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.

UM, UH, WE'LL GO TO ITEM 96.

UH, ITEM NUMBER 96, UH, THAT IS GENERALLY CONSIDERED TO BE THE CHARTER AMENDMENTS ITEM MEMBERS.

WHAT WE WILL DO AFTER THAT, IF YOU'RE, IF PEOPLE ARE KEEPING A BOX SCORE, WE WILL GO TO THE PUBLIC HEARINGS.

AND IN SOME INSTANCES, AFTER WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING, WE WILL TAKE UP A RELATED ITEM.

UM, FOR EXAMPLE, 1 0 1, UH, IS AN ITEM RELATED TO 1 23.

WE'LL TAKE THAT UP AT THAT POINT IN TIME.

BUT FOR NOW, WE'RE GONNA GO

[96. Discussion and recommendation regarding proposed charter amendments to appear on the November 2024 ballot.]

MY PROPOSAL ON ITEM, HOW WE ADDRESS ITEM NUMBER 96 IS THAT WE WILL HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT WITH REGARD TO THE ITEM.

I WILL THEN SEEK A MOTION AS TO THE VARIOUS ITEMS BASED UPON THE RECOMMENDATION THAT HAS COME BEFORE US.

I WILL THEN ALLOW OR ASK FOR ANY AMENDMENTS THAT SOMEONE MIGHT WANT TO OFFER.

WE WILL VOTE INDIVIDUALLY ON THOSE ITEMS. THERE HAS BEEN SOME DISCUSSION, AND I'M NOT GOING TO, WE WON'T DO IT RIGHT NOW, BUT, UM, WHEN WE, AFTER WE'VE HAD THE PUBLIC COMMENT, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I WILL DO IS ASK FOR A DIRECTION TO BE GIVEN TO STAFF WITH REGARD TO HOW WE LETTER THE ITEMS. UH, THERE'S BEEN SOME DISCUSSION THAT EVERYBODY HAS VOTED A NUMBER OF TIMES NOW ON PROP A OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND, UH, PROP B OVER AND OVER AND OVER.

AND SO WHAT WE MIGHT WANT TO DO IS, AS A CITY IS START WITH PROP C THIS TIME SO THAT WE CAN GO FROM THERE AND NOT HAVE EVERYBODY, UH, CON CREATING CONFUSION AROUND PROP A AND PROP B.

I'LL ASK FOR DIRECTION ON THAT BEFORE WE THEN GO TO EACH ONE OF THE ITEMS. AND THAT'S HOW WE'LL TAKE THE ITEMS UP BASED UPON ARGUABLY THE NEW LETTERING, ASSUMING THEY PASS.

LET ME ASK IF THERE'S ANYTHING THE STAFF WANTS TO SAY BEFORE WE START AND WE GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT.

ALRIGHT, WELL, IN THAT CASE, UH, WE'RE ON ITEM NUMBER 96, PLEASE, UH, MME. CLARK, HELP US.

THANK YOU, MAYOR SPEAKING.

ON ITEM 96, DELECIA THOMAS, BOBBY LEVINSKY, CHRIS HARRIS, MONICA GUZMAN, WHEN YOUR NAME'S CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD SO THAT YOU'LL BE PREPARED.

AND IF YOU'RE, IF YOU'RE, IF YOU'RE STANDING UP AND THERE'S NOBODY AT THE PODIUM, TAKE THE PODIUM.

MR. HARRIS, ARE YOU GONNA TESTIFY? OOPS, EXCUSE ME.

THERE WAS A STATEMENT I WAS GONNA MAKE THIS MORNING, BUT NOT PREPARED.

SO I HOPE YOU GIMME A LITTLE LATITUDE IF I HIT THE MARK.

NO, IT'S, BUT PLEASE STAY WITH THE RULES.

I THINK YOU'LL UNDERSTAND.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MARION COUNSEL.

I'M MON GUZMAN, DISTRICT FOUR RESIDENT.

BEFORE GOING TO MY R REMARKS, I WANNA SHARE ABOUT A FRIEND AND COMMUNITY LEADER, LEADER DAVID KING, WHO SPENT MANY YEARS SPEAKING WITH AND FOR THE COMMUNITY HERE IN CITY HALL.

HE WAS, AND STILL IS AN INSPIRATION TO US ALL.

I WAS TORN BETWEEN ATTENDING THE CELEBRATION OF HIS LIFE THIS MORNING

[04:40:01]

AND BEING HERE IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS.

YESTERDAY, A COLLEAGUE ASKED, WHAT WOULD DAVID DO? NOW I ASK FOR A FEW MOMENTS OF SILENCE.

REST IN POWER.

DAVID.

I'M MONICA GUZMAN, POLICY DIRECTOR AT GAVA.

GO AUSTIN, VAMOS AUSTIN ON ITEM 96, PROPOSITION C, REMOVING THE ORDINANCE REQUIREMENT FOR CITY COUNCIL PROCEDURE.

AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, YOU'RE ACCOUNTABLE TO ALL PEOPLE WHO LIVE, WORK, PLAY, OR PRAY IN AUSTIN, WHEN EACH OF YOU WERE SWORN INTO OFFICE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION ARTICLE 16, SECTION ONE, YOU SWORE, QUOTE, TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.

HOWEVER, REMOVING THE ORDINANCE REQUIREMENT IS A BLOW TO THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS, EFFECTIVELY DENYING US OUR RIGHT TO SPEAK AND BE HEARD IN A PUBLIC HEARING PROPOSITION.

E INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SIGNATURES NEEDED FOR INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM.

IT IS ALREADY EXPENSIVE AND TIME CONSUMING TO PETITION THE COMMUNITY FOR SIGNATURES FOR A BALLOT INITIATIVE.

EQUITY AUSTIN'S PETITION TO PUT THE AUSTIN POLICE OVERSIGHT ACT INITIATIVE ON THE BALLOT COST APPROXIMATELY $250,000.

THAT'S A QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS PROPOSING THE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF SIGNATURES ADDS TO THE COST, AND THAT IS CERTAINLY NOT EQUITABLE.

THANK YOU, MR. HARRIS.

GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNSEL.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS YOU TODAY.

UH, MY NAME IS CHRIS HARRIS.

I'M HERE TODAY IN MY CAPACITY AS A BOARD MEMBER OF EQUITY ACTION.

UM, AND I'M HERE.

UM, ONE, UH, WILL ECHO THE CONCERNS, UH, RAISED BY THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER, UH, ABOUT, UH, THE RULE CHANGES, UH, INTERNALLY, UH, NOT REQUIRING AN ORDINANCE, UH, BUT PRIMARILY I'M HERE, UH, ONE TO SUPPORT, UH, PROPOSITIONS.

G AND H UH, BELIEVE THAT IT'S, UM, REALLY IMPORTANT THAT, UM, THAT REPRESENTATIVE MAJORITIES DECIDE, UH, AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE WHEN IT COMES TO ELECTIONS IN THIS TOWN.

AND SO MOVING ELECTIONS TO NOVEMBER, EVEN YEARS MAKES SENSE INTO, IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT SIMILARLY, UM, RECALLS THAT REQUIRE VERY FEW, UH, UH, SIGNATURES TO OVERTURN A RECENT DECISION OF A REPRESENTATIVE MAJORITY WITHIN A DISTRICT ARE FUNDAMENTALLY UNDEMOCRATIC.

AND SO IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE ALSO SEE CHANGES TO THE RECALL SYSTEM, PARTICULARLY AS IT BECAUSE OF THE INEQUITABLE NATURE OF HOW EASY IT IS TO RECALL, UH, MEMBERS IN OUR EAST SIDE PRI PRIMARILY PEOPLE OF COLOR DISTRICTS.

I ALSO WANT TO NOTE THAT IT'S BEEN LESS THAN TWO YEARS SINCE THE POLICE ASSOCIATION, UH, PERPETRATED A FRAUD ON THIS COMMUNITY.

AND THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR, UH, THIS WHOLE PACKAGE TO, TO BE MORE EMBLEMATIC OF ALL THE CHANGES NECESSARY TO OUR CITIZEN INITIATED BALLOT PROCESS IN ORDER TO HELP CORRECT SOME OF THE WRONGS THAT ALLOWED THEM TO PERPETRATE THAT FRAUD AND REQUIRED MY ORGANIZATION, UH, TO WIN, UH, THAT EXPENSIVE ELECTION, UH, WITH SOME OF YOUR HELP.

THANK YOU FOR THAT.

UH, IN ORDER TO NOT ONLY, UM, ENSURE THAT A REALLY BAD PIECE OF LEGISLATION DIDN'T PASS, BUT IT DIDN'T ALSO CREATE CONFUSION BECAUSE OF THE, THE FACT THAT THERE WERE TWO SIMILAR INITIATIVES ON THE BALLOT.

UH, AND, AND SO IT, THERE'S NOTE OF INTENT RULES THAT I UNDERSTAND NOW ARE BEING PUSHED TO AN ORDINANCE.

UM, IT IT'S, IT'S A LITTLE IRONIC TO ME.

UH, I UNDERSTAND THEY DON'T NECESSARILY NEED TO BE IN, IN THE, IN THE CHARTER PACKAGE.

THAT SAID THIS WHOLE PACKAGE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE A, A, UH, UH, A BULWARK TO OUR LOCAL DEMOCRATIC PROCESS, UH, BY INCLUDING THOSE THINGS.

AND YET IT STILL INCLUDES, UH, AN ITEM A THREE AND A HALF PERCENT, UH, UM, UH, SIGNATURE THRESHOLD, WHICH IS GOING TO DO WHAT IT'S GONNA PUSH PEOPLE TO DO.

CITIZEN INITIATED MEASURES THROUGH THE CHARTER PROCESS.

IT'S GONNA PUSH EVEN MORE INAPPROPRIATE LEGISLATION THAT CITIZENS BRING INTO THE CHARTER PROCESS IF THAT IS MAINTAINED AND PUT ON THE BALLOT.

SO, UH, DO ENCOURAGE YOU TO, TO, TO, TO NOT MOVE FORWARD WITH THREE AND A HALF PERCENT, UH, REQUIREMENT ON, ON THE SIGNATURE THRESHOLDS SUPPORT GNH SUPPORT THE NOTICE OF INTENT RULES.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE THEM TO BE INCLUDED IN THIS PACKAGE, THOUGH.

IF THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE, THEN IT IN ALL IMMEDIATE HASTE.

AND, AND FINALLY, I WANNA ALSO NOTE THE, THE, THE OTHER IMPORTANCE OF THIS CITY COUNCIL HAVING INDEPENDENT LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND, AND VERY MUCH THE SUPPORT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FTE'S AMENDMENT FOR THAT PURPOSE.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS PACKAGE.

BILL BUNCH.

SPEAKING ON ITEM 96 WITH TIME DONATED BY SUSAN MORRISON.

SUSAN, ARE YOU HERE? IF YOU COULD JUST RAISE YOUR HAND.

YES, SHE'S, SHE'S HERE A TOTAL OF SIX MINUTES WHILE HE'S COMING DOWN, IF YOU'LL CALL OTHER NAMES, IF THERE'S ANYONE ELSE SIGNED UP.

CARMEN YIANNIS, RITA THOMPSON, JENNY GRAYSON.

[04:45:03]

I'D START MAYOR WATSON WITH RAISING THE SAME POINT OF ORDER THAT I RAISED BEFORE.

UH, YOU HAVE 14 DIFFERENT ITEMS HERE.

UM, THAT SHOULD PROVIDE FOR THREE MINUTES OR TWO MINUTES MINIMUM ON EACH ONE.

AND I'D REQUEST THAT I BE GRANTED THAT THIS IS NOT A SINGLE ITEM.

I, I I'M NOT, WE'RE NOT GONNA GRANT YOU THAT REQUEST.

WANTED THAT ON THE RECORD.

SO I HAVE SIX MINUTES? YES, SIR.

THAT DIDN'T EVEN GO THROUGH THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION PROCESS JUST THROWN OUT THERE BASICALLY AT THE LAST MINUTE FROM STAFF.

UH, I'LL JUST SAY THAT'S, UH, WOEFULLY UNREASONABLE GIVEN THE IMPORTANCE OF WHAT YOU'RE HERE POTENTIALLY PUTTING ON THE BALLOT.

UH, ALMOST ALL OF THESE PROVISIONS, NOT EVERY ONE OF 'EM, BUT ALMOST ALL OF THEM, ARE REDUCING TRANSPARENCY IN CITY GOVERNMENT, REDUCING ACCOUNTABILITY TO VOTERS, UM, AND BASICALLY CONSOLIDATING YET MORE POWER INTO YOUR OWN HANDS TO THE HANDS OF THE CITY MANAGER AS WELL.

AND, UH, RENDERING ALMOST MEANINGLESS, THE VERY LIMITED POWER OF DIRECT DEMOCRACY, UH, THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN OUR CITY.

CHARTER'S PROVISIONS FOR, UH, INITIATIVE, UH, REFERENDUM AND RECALL, UH, THE POWER OF REFERENDUM HAS ALREADY ESSENTIALLY BEEN GUTTED, UH, BY THE VERY SHORT TIME WINDOW THAT, UH, IS PROVIDED.

UM, WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING TO DO NOW, UM, IS TO PUT ONTO THIS NOVEMBER BALLOT WHERE THE NOISE AND DISTRACTION LEVELS, UM, AND THE LENGTH OF THE BALLOT WILL BE LITERALLY OFF THE CHARTS.

UM, SO GUARANTEEING THAT PEOPLE WILL HAVE, UH, MINIMUM INFORMATION, UH, TO, UH, OR, UH, AN ATTENTION SPAN TO FOCUS ON THESE CHANGES.

UM, I WANNA SPEC, I'LL START WITH JUST SPEAKING AGAINST SPECIFICALLY THE, UH, RAISING THE SIGNATURE REQUIREMENTS FOR INITIATED ORDINANCES.

RIGHT NOW, IT'S 20,000 A FLAT AMOUNT THAT'S CONSISTENT WITH, AND WE AMENDED OUR CHARTER TO SET IT AT THE SAME LEVEL FOR, UH, CHARTER AMENDMENT PETITIONS.

UM, IT MAKES NO SENSE TO MAKE IT HARDER TO DO AN, UH, ORDINANCE INITIATIVE THAN A CHARTER INITIATIVE.

UH, AND IT CREATES AN INCENTIVE FOR PEOPLE TO AMEND THE CHARTER WHEN IT'S NOT APPROPRIATE OR WOULDN'T BE AS APPROPRIATE TO DO THAT.

THAT'S FIXED BY STATE LAW, AS YOU KNOW.

SO YOU CAN'T MESS WITH IT.

THE IDEA THAT, UM, RAISING IT IS SOMEHOW MORE DEMOCRATIC BECAUSE IT'S TOO EASY FOR WELL-FUNDED PEOPLE, THE RICH AND POWERFUL, THE UBERS AND LYFTS AND THE POLICE UNION AND WHOEVER YOU MIGHT WANNA POINT FINGERS AT TO BANKROLL A PETITION.

UM, RAISING THE LEVEL DOESN'T DETER THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE WEALTH AS IT'S EVER MORE CONCENTRATED, WHO IT DETERS IS THE GRASSROOTS AND MAKES IT VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR A TRUE GRASSROOTS INITIATIVE.

AND THAT'S WHAT INITIATIVE REFERENDUM RECALL IS REALLY INTENDED FOR THE PEOPLE TO SPEAK UP WHEN WE HAVE GRIDLOCK AT CITY HALL GRIDLOCK DRIVEN BY THE INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF REAL ESTATE AND NOW TECH BRO MONEY THAT'S BANKROLLING Y'ALL'S CAMPAIGNS.

UM, AND NOW HERE YOU ARE TRYING TO MAKE IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR TRUE GRASSROOTS INITIATIVES TO GET THE SIGNATURES FOR AN INITIATIVE.

UM, AND THEN YOU'RE DOING IT ON RECALL, UH, RAISING THE SIGNATURE REQUIREMENT, UM, TO, UH, 15% RATHER THAN THE CURRENT 10%.

NOBODY'S EVER EVEN TRIED A MEANINGFUL RECALL PETITION.

IT HASN'T HAPPENED BECAUSE IT'S NOT AN EASY THING TO DO.

AND HERE YOU ARE RUNNING SCARED, TRYING TO TAKE THIS AWAY.

AND THIS SHORTLY, RELATIVELY SHORTLY AFTER WE'VE EXTENDED, UH, TERMS TO FOUR YEARS FROM THREE YEARS.

AND WHEN YOU HAVE THAT LONGER TERM, IT'S EVEN MORE IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT RARE OCCASION WHEN, UH, THERE, THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME ATTENTION TO, UH, GROSS MISMANAGEMENT MALFEASANCE ON BEHALF OF A COUNCIL MEMBER.

UM, THAT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN.

UM, YOU HAVE NOW A WHOLE RAFT OF PROPOSALS

[04:50:01]

UM, AND THOSE ARE, UH, AS MERE MINOR, YOU KNOW, CLEANUP MEASURES.

THERE, THERE ARE WAY MORE THAN THAT.

UM, PROPOSITION B UH, DELETING THE WEEKLY MEETING REQUIREMENT.

OKAY? Y'ALL AREN'T MEETING WEEKLY.

THERE'S NO REAL MANDATE OR REMEDY FOR THAT OTHER THAN YOUR OWN ACCOUNTABILITY.

BUT YOU'RE NOT EVEN COME CLOSE TO, YOU'RE NOT MEETING EVEN TWO TIMES A MONTH.

I MEAN, LOOK AT THIS ABSURD AGENDA.

WE HAVE 180 SOME ODD ITEMS, YOU KNOW, SURE.

TAKE SOME VACATION TIME.

BUT THE COUNCIL USED TO MEET FAIRLY WEEKLY WHEN THEY WERE BEING PAID LITERALLY NOTHING.

AND NOW, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE BEING PAID QUITE A BIT OF MONEY.

YOU HAVE A HUGE STAFF.

AND NOW WE HAVE THESE ENORMOUS AGENDA ITEMS. IS THAT MY SIX MINUTES? THAT'S YOUR SIX MINUTES.

UM, ALRIGHT.

MIGHT HAVE TO SEE YOU IN THE COURT AGAIN.

THANK YOU, MS. BRUNCH.

NATALIE RELEY, MARY ENGLE.

HELLO.

SORRY, I GOT LOST ALONG THE WAY.

AFTERNOON.

I'M NATALIE RESLEY AND I'D LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT ITEM 96.

ITEM 96 IS A IRONIC IN HUMOROUS WAYS.

WHEN I REGISTERED TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, I FOLLOWED PROPER PROCEDURE ONLY TO FIND THAT THE CITY HAD REMOVED THE COMMENT BOX THAT PREVIOUSLY ALLOWED ME 500 CHARACTERS TO EXPRESS MY THOUGHTS ON EACH ITEM I REGISTERED TO SPEAK ON.

CONSEQUENTLY, AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS MY VIEWS ON AN ITEM FOCUSED ON PUBLIC PARTICIPATION WAS REDUCED COMPARED TO WHAT IT WAS LAST MONTH.

MOVING ALONG, ITEM 96, BUNDLES 14 PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENTS INTO A SINGLE AGENDA ITEM FOR WHICH AUSTINITES ARE ALLOTTED ONLY TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK.

THIS GIVES US APPROXIMATELY 8.57 SECONDS TO COMMENT ON EACH PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENT THAT WE WILL BE VOTING ON INDIVIDUALLY IN NOVEMBER.

HOW CAN 8.57 SECONDS PER AMENDMENT POSSIBLY ALLOW FOR MEANINGFUL PARTICIPATION TODAY? SOME OF THESE AMENDMENTS CONCERN REDUCING REMEDIES FOR POLITICAL OPPRESSION, PARTICULARLY PROPOSITIONS EFNG.

WHILE OPPRESSION IS OFTEN VIEWED AS A SMALL SELECT GROUP ERODING THE RIGHTS OF THE MAJORITY, THERE ARE ALSO TIMES WHEN THE MAJORITY ERODES THE RIGHTS OF A MINORITY.

THIS IS WHY CHECKS SUCH AS INITIATIVES, REFERENDA AND FREQUENT ELECTIONS ARE CRUCIAL.

PROPOSITION Z AND G AIM TO MAKE IT HARDER FOR INITIATIVES AND REFERENDA TO PASS BY RAISING THE SIGNATURES THRESHOLD.

WHILE MAJORITY AFFINITY GROUPS HAVE THE NUMBERS TO OVERCOME THE BAR THAT THESE PROPOSITIONS WILL RAISE TO GET THEIR INITIATIVES AND REFERENDA PASSED, BIPOC AND OTHER COMMUNITY MINORITY GROUPS WILL STRUGGLE DUE TO THESE RAISED THRESHOLDS.

IRONICALLY, AND WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, PROPOSITIONS, ENG BAKE IN INSTITUTIONALIZED RACISM INTO AUSTIN'S PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROCESSES.

I'D LIKE TO COMMENT FURTHER ON PROPOSITION F'S IMPACT ON DECREASING THE POTENTIAL FREQUENCY OF ELECTIONS AND HOW THAT IS PARTICULARLY UNFAIR TO MINORITIES.

HOWEVER, MY ALLOTTED TWO MINUTES, 120 SECONDS TO PARTICIPATE VIA COMMENT ON CITY HALL DIMINISHING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THE FUTURE WILL SOON EXPIRE.

SO I WILL LEAVE IT WITH THIS.

PLEASE, I BEG YOU REMEDY THIS BY ALLOWING ADDITIONAL PUBLIC HEARING TIME BEYOND TODAY.

THEM UP ONE BY ONE AND, AND, AND HAVE DISCUSSION.

THAT CONCLUDES THE SPEAKERS FOR ITEM 96.

THANK YOU MEMBERS.

AS I INDICATED, WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND WE DO SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A, A DISCUSSION ON EACH ONE OF THE ITEMS IS, UM, TAKE

[04:55:01]

BUT THE FIRST THING IS THAT THERE'S BEEN DISCUSSION THAT IT MAY BE CONFUSING TO THE PUBLIC IF WE START WITH THE LETTER A AND B, BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY PROPOSITIONS WHERE PEOPLE REFER TO A AND B.

SO, UM, I'LL, THE WAY I WOULD ASK THIS IS IF THERE, I'LL SAY IT OUT LOUD AND THEN I'M CALL FOR DISCUSSION.

IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE DIRECTION TO STAFF WOULD BE THAT IF WE VOTE TO PUT ANYTHING ON THE BALLOT, IT WOULD START WITH THE LETTER C AND THEN FOLLOW AS APPROPRIATE.

SO C, D, E AND GOING FORWARD.

AND SO IN OTHER WORDS, WHAT MIGHT OTHERWISE BE CONSIDERED PROP A AND IN FACT IN THE INITIAL PACKET SAID PROP A ON IT, THAT WOULD BE, IF THAT WERE TO, TO PASS THAT WOULD BE PROP C UM, WITH THE PROPOSED BALLOT LANGUAGE THAT'S HERE.

SO LET ME ASK THE QUESTION.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THAT BEING THE DIRECTION THAT WE GIVE TO STAFF COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER? I'M TOTALLY COMFORTABLE WITH THAT DIRECTION TO STAFF.

AS LONG AS WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT TODAY, WE CAN REFER TO THE LETTERS THAT YEAH, WE'RE LOOKING AT.

SO THE WAY I, THE WAY I DON'T GET MORE CONFUSED THAN FAIR ENOUGH AND, AND, AND I COMPLETELY AGREE.

SO WHAT, WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS DO MY BEST AND I BET YOU'LL STOP ME AND CORRECT ME IF I DO IT WRONG.

UM, I WILL SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, ON PROP A, WHEN I CALL FOR A MOTION, UH, ON IT, I WILL CALL FOR THE MOTION ON AS, AS PRO ON THE BALLOT PROP PROPOSITION C, FORMALLY PROP A, SO THAT WE'LL ALL BE CLEAR ABOUT IT.

AND I'LL TRY TO DO THAT CONSISTENTLY.

BUT I, IF I MESS UP Y'ALL, SOMEBODY WILL TELL ME.

I'M SURE.

UH, YEAH, YOU DO YOUR BEST.

ALRIGHT, SO THAT WILL TAKE US THEN TO WHAT IS CURRENTLY LABELED PROP PROPOSITION A, UM, AND THE, THE, THE BALLOT LANGUAGE MEMBERS.

WHAT I'LL DO IS I WILL CALL FOR A MOTION FOR PROP A WITH THE PROPOSED BALLOT LANGUAGE.

UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER, I MAKE THE MOTION COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, UH, MOVES COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER MOVES TO PLACE PROP A AS PROP C ON THE BALLOT WITH THE BALLOT LANGUAGE THAT'S THERE.

IS THERE, IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN, ALTER MEMBERS.

IS THERE DISCUSSION REGARDING PROP PROPOSITION C, FORMERLY PRO A WITHOUT OBJECTION PROPOSITION C, FORMALLY PROPOSITION A WITH THE PROPOSED BALLOT LANGUAGE.

UH, THE MOTION IS TO ADOPT AND PLACE IT ON THE BALLOT.

AND THAT IS, UH, THAT IS A ADOPTED MAYOR.

UH, YES.

YOU'RE GONNA GET SOME NOS OUTTA ME TODAY.

WELL JUST MAKE SURE YOU, YOU CALL 'EM OUT.

'CAUSE UH, OH, I OBJECT.

WITH, WITH, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER MCKENZIE KELLY BEING SHOWN VOTING NO MEMBERS THAT WILL TAKE US TO WHAT IS CURRENTLY LABELED PROP B BUT WILL BECOME PRO, UH, PROPOSITION D WITH THE PROPOSED BALLOT LANGUAGE.

UM, AND LET ME JUST ASK, IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT PRO UH, PROPOSITION D.

FORMALLY PROPOSITION B COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE MOVES IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.

IS THERE ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? WITHOUT OBJECTION PROPOSITION D, FORMERLY PROPOSITION B IS ADOPT THE MOTION IS ADOPTED WITH THE BALLOT LANGUAGE TO BE PLACED ON THE BALLOT.

COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, CRY OUT FOR ME.

YEAH, I'M GONNA SAY NO, IT'S REALLY NOTARY NECESSARY IN MY OPINION.

DON'T, DON'T HOLD BACK.

I SHOULD JUST KEEP MY MIC ON.

YEAH, DONT, YEAH, DON'T HOLD BACK.

UM, COULD CITY STAFF EXPLAIN WHAT THIS ONE WOULD DO AND WHY WE, WHY WE THINK IT'S NECESSARY? GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNSEL.

UM, THAT'LL TAKE US TO PROPOSITION E, FORMERLY PROPOSITION C.

THAT'S ON PAGE NINE OF THE PACKET THAT YOU MAY HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU IS THE ONE I'M USING.

UM, I'LL ASK, IS THERE A MOTION WITH THE, WITH THE COMBINED WITH THE BALLOT LANGUAGE, IS THERE A MOTION TO PUT IT ON THE BALLOT? AND COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS MOVES THAT WE PLACE PROP E WITH THE BALLOT LANGUAGE, FORMERLY PROPOSITION C.

SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER,

[05:00:01]

NEIL ALGO, UH, OPEN GOVERNMENT DIVISION CHIEF IN THE LAW DEPARTMENT.

SO THIS IS JUST REMOVING THE REQUIREMENT THAT YOU PASS THE, UH, THE, THE, THE, UH, RULES BY ORDINANCE.

UM, YOU CAN STILL PASS IT BY ORDINANCE IF YOU WANT, BUT IT ALSO WILL ALLOW YOU TO DO IT BY RESOLUTION OR SOME OTHER METHOD OF, OF MAJORITY VOTE BY THE COUNCIL.

UH, WE WOULD STILL RECOMMEND THAT THE COUNCIL VOTE ON THEIR, ON, ON THEIR RULES.

OKAY, SO IN THE SITUATION WHERE WE HAD A SET OF RULES AND SOMEBODY WANTED TO DO SOMETHING AND IT WAS AGAINST THE RULES AND SOMEBODY CALLED THEM ON IT, WHAT WOULD BE, THEY COULD JUST CHANGE THE RULES RIGHT THEN AND THERE IN THAT MEETING? OR WOULD THEY HAVE TO POST IT AND CHANGE THE RULES? I MEAN, YEAH, I, I THINK IF THEY WANTED TO CHANGE THE RULES, THEY WOULD HAVE TO DO IT AT THE, AT THE NEXT MEETING AND, AND PROPERLY POST THAT AS AN AGENDA ITEM.

CHANGE THE RULES WOULD REQUIRE, WOULD REQUIRE A VOTE, RIGHT? I'M JUST, YOU SUSPEND THE RULES.

DO WE DO ROBERT'S RULES? AND WE, THERE'S THINGS THAT WE VOTE ON THAT COME UP FROM ROBERT'S RULES, WHICH IS DIFFERENT THAN CHANGING THE RULES.

AND SO I WAS TRYING TO GET CLARITY ON WHETHER THAT COULD HAPPEN AT THE SAME MEETING OR, OR, OR LIKE, IF IT'S A MATTER THAT'S IN WITHIN ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER, THEN YOU CAN DO THAT AT THE MEETING.

BUT IF IT'S AN IF, IF IT'S A MATTER THAT HAS BEEN SORT OF, THAT HAS SUPERSEDED ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDERS BY YOU ADOPTING YOUR COUNCIL RULES OF PROCEDURE, THEN IT WOULD REQUIRE A A, A VOTE THAT'S BEEN PROPERLY POSTED.

COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER MOTIONS HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED.

IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION PROPOSITION E, FORMERLY PROPOSITION C IS ADOPTED.

MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO ABSTAIN ON THAT ONE.

AND WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER BEING SHOWN ABSTAINED MEMBERS THAT WILL TAKE US TO PROPOSITION F, FORMERLY PROPOSITION D WITH THE COMBINED BALLOT LANGUAGE, IS THERE A MOTION, UH, RELATED TO THE ADOPTION OF PROPOSITION F AND PLACING IT ON THE BALLOT, UH, FORMALLY PROPOSITION D, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE MOVES APPROVAL.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA? IS THERE A DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO PROPOSITION F? FORMERLY PROPOSITION D? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION.

I SEE THAT THE LIMITS ON CONTRIBUTIONS TO CANDIDATES IS MENTIONED IN HERE AND IT MENTIONS THE $300 PER CONTRIBUTOR PER CYCLE.

I KNOW THAT THAT NUMBER IS ACTUALLY UPDATED CONSISTENTLY.

COULD STAFF SPEAK TO HOW WE ARE TO LOOK AT THAT NUMBER OR WHERE ELSE? IN THE CHARTER? WE FIND THAT NUMBER UPDATES IT ACCORDING TO THE BOTTOM, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, THAT NUMBER IS UPDATED WITH THE ADOPTION OF EACH BUDGET AND IT'S BASED ON THE CPI.

AND IS THAT MENTIONED ANYWHERE ELSE IN THIS TEXT OR SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE CHARTER? THAT THAT NUMBER IS UPDATED? OKAY, SO WANNA MAKE SURE FOR CLARITY THAT WE'VE HAD, UM, THE NUMBER UPDATED AS COST OF LIVING GOES UP, AS WAGES GO UP, WHICH IS THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX.

UM, SO THERE'S BEEN MOMENTS WHERE IT'S BEEN 400, 450 IS WHERE IT CURRENTLY STANDS.

AND SO EVEN THOUGH IN HERE IT SAYS 300, IT IS UPDATED IN ANOTHER PORTION.

CORRECT? AND IT'S IN YOUR, UH, BUDGET DOCUMENT THAT'S APPROVED.

EGR PERFECT.

AND THE CANDIDATE PACKET.

THANKS.

COUNCIL MEMBER, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO PUTTING PROPOSITION F, FORMERLY PROPOSITION D WITH THE, UH, PROPOSED BALLOT LANGUAGE ON THE BALLOT WITHOUT OBJECTION PROPOSITION? I OBJECTION.

I I WILL SPEAK UP.

SORRY.

I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, WHAT I'LL DO IS I'LL CALL, I'LL I'LL CALL IT OUT.

AND I'LL LOOK TO YOU AND YOU TELL ME.

THAT WAY YOU, YOU DON'T HAVE TO JUMP IN THERE.

PERFECT.

G? CURRENTLY PROPOSITION E ON THE BALLOT.

PROPOSITION F, FORMERLY PROPOSITION D IS APPROVED TO BE PLACED ON THE BALLOT WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY BEING SHOWN VOTING NO.

ALRIGHT, THAT WILL TAKE US TO PROPOSITION E.

IS THERE A MOTION? I'LL, IF PROPOSITION E GETS A MOTION, IT WILL BE PROPOSITION.

UH, FORMALLY IT WAS PROPOSITION E IT WOULD BE PROPOSITION G.

IF IT GETS A MOTION, IS THERE A MOTION TO PLACE PROPOSITION G? WHAT? WHAT WOULD BE PROPOSITION

[05:05:01]

IS THERE A MOTION? THERE BEING NO MOTION PROPOSITION? FORMER PROPOSITION E WILL NOT BE PLACED ON THE BALLOT.

THAT WILL TAKE US TO PROPOSITION F CURRENTLY.

PROPOSITION F AND IT WILL BECOME PROPOSITION.

GHG ONE G.

YEAH, WE WENT THE, THE BEST.

IT'S, YOU KNOW HOW WHEN PEOPLE ARE COUNTING SOMETHING AND THEY START CALLING OUT NUMBERS AND IT MESSED UP THEIR COUNT, YOU START CALLING OUT ALPHABET LETTERS.

I WANT 'EM TO BE REALLY, MY, MY 6-YEAR-OLD AND 3-YEAR-OLD GRANDDAUGHTERS ARE GONNA BE SO DISAPPOINTED IF THEY EVER WATCH THIS .

UM, ALRIGHT, SO PROPOSITION F WILL NOW BE PROPOSITION G IF IT GETS A MOTION AND IS A APPROVED TO BE PLACED ON THE BALLOT.

IS THERE A MOTION TO PLACE WHAT WILL BE FORMALLY PROPOSITION F, NEW PROPOSITION G ON THE BALLOT WITH BALLOT LANGUAGE COUNCIL MEMBER VALA MOVES IS THERE SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER? IS THERE DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO WHAT WOULD BE PROPOSITION G? FORMERLY PROPOSITION F WITHOUT OBJECTION PROPOSITION G IS ADOPTED AND BEING PLACED ON THE BALLOT.

FORMERLY PROPOSITION F WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY BEING SHOWN VOTING NO.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO BE SHOWN VOTING ABSTAIN AND, AND COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY BEING SHOWN VOTING NO.

AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER ABSTAINING FROM A VOTE ON THAT PROPOSITION.

THAT WILL TAKE US TO PROPOSITION FOR FORMER PROPOSITION G, WHICH WOULD BECOME PROPOSITION H IF IT IS, IF THERE'S A MOTION OF SECOND AND IT'S APPROVED WITH THE COMBINED BALLOT LANGUAGE.

SO PROPOSITION G WOULD BECOME PROPOSITION H.

IS THERE A MOTION MOTIONS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA? IS THERE A SEC? SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ.

DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO PROPOSITION G CURRENTLY TO BECOME PROPOSITION H WITHOUT OBJECTION PROPOSITION H, FORMERLY PROPOSITION G WILL BE PLACED ON THE BALLOT WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY BEING SHOWN VOTING NO.

WE'LL NOW GO TO PRO CURRENT PROPOSITION H, WHICH WOULD BECOME PROPOSITION I MEMBERS.

JUST TO FOLLOW PROCEDURE HERE, WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS MOVE ADOPTION OF PROPOSITION I SO THAT WE HAVE A MAIN MOTION OUT THERE, BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE MOTION.

SO IF I, I WOULD LIKE A SECOND TO THE MAIN MOTION SECONDED BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM, THAT WHAT WOULD BECOME PROPOSITION I, CURRENT PROPOSITION H WE HA IS WOULD BE PUT ON THE BALLOT WITH THIS LANGUAGE MEMBERS.

WE HAVE A MAIN MOTION.

I NOW RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.

I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO APPROVE THE FUENTES ALTERNATIVE CHARTER AMENDMENT PROPOSITION H REGARDING THE APPOINTMENT OF THE CITY ATTORNEY MEMBERS.

UH, YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES ALTERNATIVE CHARTER AMENDMENT FOR WHAT HAS BEEN PROPOSITION H WOULD BECOME PROPOSITION I IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ.

UM, MEMBERS, LET ME ASK IF THERE'S, I'M JUST GONNA FOLLOW THE PROCEDURE HERE.

UH, IF, IF THERE'S ANY PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE MAIN MOTION.

ALRIGHT, HEARING NONE THAT PERFECTS THE MAIN MOTION.

ARE THERE ANY PROPOSED? SORRY, I'M JUST MISSING.

SO IS THE MAIN MOTION IS THE, WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO THAT YET.

STICK WITH ME.

I'LL GET YOU THERE.

IS ARE THERE ANY PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES? ALRIGHT, THAT MOTION IS ALSO PERFECTED.

THE VOTE, I'M SORRY, FUENTES AMENDMENT FU THE FUENTES SUBSTITUTE MOTION.

DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY AMENDMENT TO THE FUENTES SUBSTITUTE MOTION? I DON'T HAVE AN AMENDMENT TO IT, NO.

BECOMES THE MAIN MOTION ON WHICH WE WILL VOTE.

THAT BEING THE CASE, WE ARE GETTING READY TO TAKE A VOTE ON WHETHER THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION SHOULD BECOME THE MAIN MOTION.

SHOULD THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION BECOME THE MAIN MOTION? WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION

[05:10:01]

I OBJECT.

YOU OBJECT TO THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION? NO.

ALL AND YOU OBJECT AS WELL.

, HOW ABOUT YOU START TELLING ME WHEN YOU'RE, FOR IT , UM, THAT BE THERE BEING NINE VOTES IN FAVOR? I'M SORRY.

EIGHT VOTES IN FAVOR OF THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION.

BECOMING THE MAIN MOTION.

THREE VOTES IN OPPOSITION.

COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER.

THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION HAS NOW BECOME THE MAIN MOTION.

I'M GONNA ASSUME IT'S GONNA BE THE SAME VOTE, BUT NOW WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON WHAT IS THE MAIN MOTION.

UH, WHEN DO WE HAVE DISCUSSION? THAT'D BE A GOOD TIME.

MAY I PLEASE AB THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I JUST WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER PUENTES FOR HER WORK ON THIS.

I THINK THIS RESPONSE TO SOME OF, UH, THE ISSUES, THE TENSION THAT WE SEE WITH A MANAGER COUNCIL FORM OF GOVERNMENT, WHERE WE ARE THE PEOPLE'S REPRESENTATIVE, AND, AND RIGHT NOW WITH THE, THE MANAGER GOING, UM, OR THE MANAGER APPOINTING THE, THE CITY ATTORNEY, YOU KNOW, THAT IS THAT DIRECT CLIENT RELATIONSHIP.

EVEN THOUGH WE ARE ALSO WITHIN THAT PURVIEW, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO ESTABLISH THAT DIRECT ATTORNEY-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PEOPLE'S REPRESENTATIVES.

AND SO I APPLAUD YOU ON THIS WORK.

I I THANK YOU FOR DOING IT AND IT REALLY BRINGS US JUST IN LINE WITH WHAT WE SEE ACROSS THE STATE.

SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO PUTTING THIS IN FRONT OF THE VOTERS.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER.

UM, CAN STAFF REMIND US, I THOUGHT THERE WAS A PROPOSITION THAT TRIED TO DO THIS AND FAILED PREVIOUSLY.

IF YOU COULD SPEAK TO MY MEMORY ON THAT.

UH, MAYOR AND COUNSEL? UM, I DON'T RECALL EXACTLY WHICH YEAR IT WAS.

THERE WAS ONE PROPOSITION THAT MADE IT ONTO THE BALLOT, UH, THAT DID NOT PASS BY A VERY, UH, NARROW MARGIN.

AND THEN THERE WAS ANOTHER PROPOSAL, I BELIEVE FOUR, TWO OR FOUR YEARS AGO, UH, THAT WAS BROUGHT TO COUNSEL, BUT IT DID NOT MAKE IT ONTO THE BALLOT.

WITHOUT OBJECTION PROPOSITION? THE, THE MOTION IS ADOPTED TO PLACE IT ON THE BALLOT.

COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, I'LL LET YOU CLOSE.

UH, YES, THANK YOU.

UH, IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

CONSTABLE ALLISON ALTER IT NARROWLY FAILED.

I MEAN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A 51 49 PERCENTAGE AND I'M NOT SURE IF THAT WAS A NOVEMBER ELECTION.

SO THIS IS A OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HAVE A MORE ROBUST CONVERSATION WITH OUR COMMUNITY.

I ALSO WANNA POINT OUT THAT TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE DID A, A SURVEY AND 73% OF HOME RURAL CITIES AUTHORIZE THEIR CITY COUNCIL TO DIRECTLY APPOINT THE CITY ATTORNEY.

SO THIS REALLY IS ENSURING THAT WE'RE ALIGNING OUR STRUCTURE ALONGSIDE OTHER BIG CITIES IN TEXAS, UH, AS WELL AS ENSURING THAT WE HAVE THAT MORE ACCOUNTABILITY IN PLACE, UH, FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

SO I LOOK FORWARD TO SHOULD THIS PASS, UH, TO HAVING THAT CONVERSATION WITH OUR COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

THANKS, COUNCIL MEMBER.

WITH THAT BEING SAID, UM, THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MAIN MOTION ON WHAT IT WILL NOW BE PROPOSITION? AYE.

THE OLD, UH, WHICH IS THE FUENTES SUBSTITUTE, UM, FUENTES ALTERNATIVE CHARTER AMENDMENT ON THE CITY ATTORNEY, UH, INDICATE BY SAYING, AYE.

AYE.

OPPOSED? ABS ABSTAIN.

THE, THE MOTION CARRIES WITH EIGHT IN FAVOR.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY VOTING NO.

COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS AND COUNCIL MEMBER AL ALLISON ALTER ABSTAINING MEMBERS, THAT TAKES US TO PROPOSITION WHAT IS CURRENTLY LABELED PROPOSITION A.

THAT PROPOSITION, IN MY HUMBLE OPINION, WOULD BE IN CONTRADICTION TO WHAT THE COUNCIL JUST DID.

UM, BUT I WILL ASK, IS THERE A MOTION ON OLD PROPOSITION? I, IS THERE A MOTION THERE BEING NO MOTION? PRO CURRENT PROPOSITION.

I, THE OLD PROPOSITION, I WILL, UH, NOT BE PLACED ON THE BALLOT MEMBERS.

WHAT THAT HAS DONE BEAUTIFULLY IS PUT US NOW WHERE WE'RE ON THE SAME LETTERING.

SO, UM, WELL DONE EVERYONE.

SO PROPOSITION J, BOTH OLD AND NEW.

UH, PROPOSITION JI WILL ASK, IS THERE A MOTION TO PLACE PROPOSITION J ON THE BALLOT WITH, UM, THE PROPOSED LANGUAGE? IT'S MADE, UH, MOTIONS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER.

IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, ELLIS.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO PROPOSITION J

[05:15:02]

AND, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY VOTES, UH, TO DO THAT AS WELL.

UM, PROPOSITION K, BOTH OLD AND NEW.

IS THERE A MOTION WITH REGARD TO PROPOSITION? K? THE MAYOR PRO TEM MOVES, UH, TO PLACE IT ON THE BALLOT AS PROPOSITION K WITH THE PROPOSED BALLOT LANGUAGE.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION PROPOSITION K IS PLACED ON THE BALLOT AND I OBJECT.

WITH, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY VOTING? NO, THAT TAKES US TO PROPOSITION L.

IS THERE A MOTION ON PROPOSITION L? COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER MOVES APPROVAL OF PROPOSITION L, PLACING IT ON THE BALLOT WITH THE BALLOT LANGUAGE.

IT IS SECONDED BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION? PROPOSITION L IS ADOPTED.

AND I'M OKAY WITH THIS ONE UNANIMOUSLY.

THAT WILL TAKE US TO PROPOSITION M.

IS THERE A MOTION WITH REGARD TO PROPOSITION M? COUNCIL MEMBER VELA MOVES ADOPTION OF PROPOSITION M IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON PROPOSITION M WITH THE BALLOT LANGUAGE? HEARING NONE, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION.

PROPOSITION M IS ADOPTED, UH, WITH THE PROPOSED BALLOT LANGUAGE AND IT'S ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY.

THAT TAKES US TO PROPOSITION N MEMBERS.

PROPOSITION N YOU HAVE IN YOUR PACKET ONE PROPOSED AMENDMENT AND IT'S A PROPOSED, UH, IT'S A AMENDMENT PROPOSED BY ME, UH, RECOMMENDED BASED UPON WHAT, UH, YOU HAVE READ ON THE MESSAGE BOARD THAT THE MAYOR PRO IS GOING TO OFFER AS A PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENT.

THAT WOULD BECOME PROPOSITION O IN ORDER TO MAKE PROPOSITION IF, IF THE MAYOR PRO TIM'S MOTION IS ADOPTED, THEN TO MAKE SECTION, WHAT IS, WHAT WILL BE IN MAKE THAT SECTION CONSISTENT.

WE NEED TO DELETE THE WORD CANDIDATE IF PROP.

SO, SO SINCE WE'RE TAKING THIS UP IN ORDER, I'M JUST OFFERING IT NOW.

IF THE MAYOR PRO TIM'S MOTION WERE TO FAIL, IT WOULDN'T HURT ANYTHING.

WE JUST WOULDN'T HAVE THE WORD CANDIDATE IN THAT SECTION.

IT'D JUST BE ANOTHER CLEANUP ITEM.

BUT I'M JUST DOING THIS IN THE ORDER FOR LESS CONFUSION.

UM, SO WHAT I, SO I, I WANT TO DO THIS WHERE I FIRST ASK FOR AN AMENDMENT.

I, I'M GONNA FIRST ASK FOR A MOTION ON PROPOSITION N AS IT'S SENT BEFORE YOU, WITH THE BALLOT LANGUAGE MADE BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.

NOW I MOVE THAT WE AMEND THAT MAIN MOTION WITH THE MOTION SHEET THAT YOU HAVE, UH, LABELED ITEM 96.

COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA, MAYOR WATSON.

IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION TO AMEND MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER? SECOND IS BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.

THE DISCUSSION WILL BE ON THE MOTION TO AMEND YES.

SO JUST A QUESTION, UH, BECAUSE I ONLY SAW THIS THIS MORNING, WHAT IS NOW PART TWO ON PAGE 28 THAT TALKS ABOUT AN UNSUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE? HOW DOES THAT FALL UNDER IT IF IT'S JUST, IF IT'S FUNDRAISING OFFICE SOLDIER ACCOUNTS? OR DOES THAT MEAN THAT, I'M SORRY, I CAN SPEAK A LITTLE LOUDER.

I DIDN'T HEAR THAT.

UM, I, I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, IS THIS SECTION BOTH FUNDRAISING AND OFFICEHOLDER ACCOUNTS, OR IS IT ONLY FUNDRAISING FOR OFFICEHOLDER ACCOUNTS? THIS IS FUNDRA JUST, JUST ON FUNDRAISING FOR OFFICE HOLDER ACCOUNTS.

WITH CANDIDATES WHO LOSE IT DEALS WITH CANDIDATES WHO WIN.

THEN, THEN WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE THIS SECTION TWO ABOUT AN UNSUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE UNDER THAT HEADING? I'LL LET, SINCE I'M BRINGING THIS ON BEHALF OF THE LEGAL STAFF MAYOR, UH, CAROLINE WEBSTER WITH THE LAW DEPARTMENT, UH, THIS, THE REASON THAT TAKING OUT THE WORD CANDIDATE HERE LEAVES IT JUST SAYING FUNDRAISING OFFICE HOLDER ACCOUNTS.

AND THAT MAKES IT CLEAR BECAUSE THAT SECTION OF THE CHARTER, WHICH IS ARTICLE THREE, SECTION EIGHT, PART F AS IN FRANK, DEALS WITH FUNDRAISING OF DIFFERENT KINDS.

IT DEALS WITH SOME OFFICE HOLDER FUNDRAISING.

IT DEALS

[05:20:01]

SO TAKING OUT THE WORD CANDIDATE KIND OF HELPS TO CLARIFY THAT THAT SECTION F THERE NOW DEALS WITH VARIOUS DIFFERENT TYPES OF FUNDRAISING.

BUT IT DOESN'T DEAL WITH JUST, THAT DOESN'T, I'M JUST CONFUSED BY THE FUNDRAISING COLON SEMICOLON OFFICE HOLDER ACCOUNTS.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S ONLY ABOUT OFFICE HOLDERS, RIGHT? NO, IT'S, IT DEALS WITH FUNDRAISING OF VARIOUS TYPES OF INDIVIDUALS AND THEN IT ALSO DEALS SPECIFICALLY WITH THE USE OF OFFICE HOLDER ACCOUNTS.

I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT THEN.

ALRIGHT, THE VOTE IS ON THE MOTION TO AMEND.

IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION TO AMEND COUNCIL MEMBER VELA? MAYOR, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THE, THE COMMENT THAT THIS ESSENTIALLY ALIGNS THE CITY COUNCIL'S CHARTER WITH FEDERAL LAW.

WE HAVE HAD THESE BLACKOUT PERIODS, UH, KNOCKED DOWN KIND OF ONE BY ONE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.

AND, UH, I I, I THINK THIS IS A GOOD, UH, MOVE TO PREVENT, YOU KNOW, ANY KIND OF FUTURE LITIGATION.

FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE AMENDMENT WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE AMENDMENT TO END IS ADOPTED.

NOW WE'LL GO BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION, WHICH IS TO ACCEPT PROPOSITION N WITH THE COMBINED BALLOT LANGUAGE AS AMENDED.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION AS ON, ON THAT? THAT BEING SAID, WITHOUT HEARING ANY THEN PROPOSITION N AS AMENDED WILL BE ADOPTED WITH THE COMBINED LANGUAGE.

AND THAT'S UNANIMOUS.

I'M SORRY.

WHERE DOES LES, SORRY, I'M CONFUSED, BUT WHERE IS LESLIE'S? SHE'S GONNA HAVE A SEPARATE ITEM.

A SEPARATE CHARTER AMENDMENT OR? YES.

THAT HER, HERS IS PROPOSED AS A SEPARATE PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENT.

OKAY, THANK YOU, ANN.

AS AMENDED HAS BEEN ADOPTED, THAT WILL NOW TAKE US TO PROPOSED PROPOSITION O, WHAT WILL BE PROPOSITION O, AND THAT IS A PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENT REGARDING UNPAID CAMPAIGN EXPENSES OR UNREIMBURSED EXPENSES FROM PER EXPENDITURES FROM PERSONAL FUNDS.

THAT IS BEING OFFERED BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM.

AND I'LL RECOGNIZE THE MAYOR PRO TEM TO MAKE A MOTION.

THANKS, MAYOR.

YESTERDAY I POSTED THE MESSAGE BOARD TO THE MESSAGE TOWARD THE AMENDMENT, AND YOU HAVE THE PRINTED COPY AS WELL.

THIS AMENDMENT WOULD ADDRESS THE LAST VESTIGE OF THE FUNDRAISING BLACKOUT PERIOD THAT THE COURTS HAVE INVALIDATED, AND IT, UH, REMOVES THREE WORDS AFTER LEAVING OFFICE, SO THAT IF AN INCUMBENT WHO IS NOT RUNNING AGAIN HAS A DEBT, UM, THEN THE INCUMBENT WOULD BE ABLE TO RAISE FUNDS ONLY TO THE LIMIT OF THE AMOUNT OF THE UNPAID EXPENSES AND UNREIMBURSED EXPENDITURES.

ONLY THAT AMOUNT CAN BE RECOVERED, AND THAT IS EXISTING LANGUAGE.

SO YOU CAN SEE, UH, THE NEW PROPOSITION O UM, HAS, UH, YOU CAN SEE THE AMENDMENT THERE, THE DELETION OF THE WORDS.

AFTER LEAVING OFFICE, THE MAYOR PRO TIM MOVES APPROVAL OF WHAT WOULD BECOME PROPOSITION O.

IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION? SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN.

ALTER.

UM, SO I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT HOW THEIR CONTRIBUTION LEVELS, DO THEY HAVE TO ADHERE TO THE FOUR 50? HOW DOES THAT WORK? SURE.

HI.

UH, YES.

THE CONTRIBUTION LIMITS WOULD STAY IN EFFECT.

SO IT WOULD BE UP TO CANDIDATES AND, UH, OFFICE HOLDERS ESSENTIALLY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE KEEPING TRACK OF WHAT CONTRIBUTIONS THEY'VE BEEN RECEIVING.

UH, JUST AS THEY KNOW NOW HAVE TO SINCE.

UM, WE'VE HAD VARIOUS COURT CASES THAT TOOK OUT OUR 365 DAY CAMPAIGN PERIOD.

UH, SO THIS BASICALLY WOULD, SO THROUGHOUT THE, SINCE THE LAST ELECTION, SINCE THAT PERSON WAS ELECTED TO OFFICE, THE FIR THE MOST RECENT TIME, THEY WOULD, UH, HAVE BASICALLY, UNTIL THEY'VE ERASED THAT DEBT, THEY WOULD BE CON THEY WOULD BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE RAISING FUNDS.

UH, BUT AGAIN, THAT CONTRIBUTION LIMIT WOULD STAY IN PLACE.

OTHER, UM, DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO THE MOTION AND SECOND, TO CREATE THE PROPOSITION O UH, THAT HAS BEEN LAID OUT BY THE MAYOR PRO TEMP.

THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION.

UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION.

PROPOSITION O IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER.

I'M VOTING.

NO THANK YOU.

VOTING? NO.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOS? ALRIGHT, THE MOTION PASSES WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER BEING SHOWN VOTING NO MEMBERS.

I BELIEVE THAT TAKES CARE OF ITEM NUMBER 96.

[05:25:03]

ITEM 100 WAS POSTPONED UNTIL SEPTEMBER 12TH, 2024.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH, UH, APPRECIATE THAT.

SO ITEM NUMBER 96 IS COMPLETE MEMBERS, UH, THANK YOU ALL.

WHAT WE WILL NOW DO IS GO TO THE PUBLIC HEARINGS.

ITEM NUMBER 99 WAS WITHDRAWN AND REPLACED WITH ITEM ONE 20.

ITEM NUMBER

[101. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance setting the assessment rate and approving the 2025 assessment roll for the Downtown Public Improvement District. Related to Item #123.]

ONE OH ONE, I WILL NOW CALL UP ITEM NUMBER ONE OH ONE MEMBERS.

UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 1 0 1.

I'LL ASK THE CITY CLERK, UH, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN.

I'LL ASK THE CITY CLERK TO CALL OUT NAMES OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.

DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION.

THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS FOR ITEM 1 0 1 MEMBERS.

THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 1 0 1.

UH, SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 1 0 1.

THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED, AND I'LL CALL FOR A MOTION, UH, ON ITEM NUMBER 1 0 1.

IS THERE A MOTION COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON MOVES APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 1 0 1.

IS THERE A SECOND? IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.

UH, ITEM NUMBER 1 0 1 IS APPROVED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY AND COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, UH, TEMPORARILY OFF THE DAAS MEMBERS.

[123. Approve an ordinance approving the Austin Downtown Public Improvement District Service and Assessment Plan and Budget update for 2025 and declaring an emergency. Related to Item #101.]

WILL NOW GO TO ITEM 1 23.

AND I'LL RECOGNIZE, UH, SOMEONE FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE THAT THE ORDINANCE SET FORTH IN ITEM 1 23.

THE MAYOR PRO TIM MOVES APPROVAL.

IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE IS THEIR DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION.

ITEM NUMBER 1 23 IS APPROVED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY AND COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ TEMPORARILY OFF THE DAAS MEMBERS.

THAT WILL TAKE US TO ITEM

[102. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance amending City Code Sections 25-1-83 and 25-4-61 relating to preliminary plan application requirements and waiving requirements of City Code Sections 25-1-501 and 25-1-502 relating to initiation and review of code amendments.]

NUMBER 1 0 2, UH, TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE WITHOUT OBJECTION.

WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 1 0 2, AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK, UH, TO ASK IF THERE'S ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.

THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS FOR ITEM 1 0 2 MEMBERS.

YOU'VE HEARD THERE ARE NO ONE SIGN, THERE'S NO ONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 1 0 2.

SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

ON ITEM 1 0 2, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.

I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER 1 0 2.

COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER MOVES APPROVAL OF 1 0 2.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS SECONDS THE MOTION.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.

ITEM NUMBER 1 0 2 IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY AND COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ TEMPORARILY OFF THE DAAS.

ITEM NUMBER

[103. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance amending City Code Title 30 (Land Development) related to subdivision regulations; and waiving requirements of City Code Sections 30-1-481 and 30-1-482 relating to initiation and review of code amendments.]

1 0 3 IS A PUBLIC HEARING.

UM, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 1 0 3.

THE PUBLIC HEARING IS OPENED.

MADAM CLERK, THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER MEMBERS.

THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 1 0 3.

SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 1 0 3.

THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 1 0 3 AS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER, SECONDED BY THE MAYOR PRO TIM, IS THERE ANY, UH, UH, DISCUSSION WITHOUT HEARING? NO DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION.

ITEM NUMBER 1 0 3 IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, KELLY TEMPORARILY OFF THE DAAS MEMBERS

[104. Conduct a public hearing and approve an ordinance approving project and financing plans for Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone No. 20 (TIRZ No. 20); amending Ordinance No. 20221103-026 to amend the termination provision and the tax increment for TIRZ No. 20; repealing duplicate Ordinance No. 20221103-004; and providing for emergency passage.]

THAT WILL TAKE US TO ITEM NUMBER 1 0 4.

WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 1 0 4.

THE PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN.

MADAM CLERK, THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON ITEM MEMBERS.

THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 1 0 4.

SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

UM, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED.

THE MAYOR PRO TIM APPROVES, UH, ADOPTION OF ITEM NUMBER 1 0 4.

IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON, OR, UM, I THOUGHT WE ALREADY ADOPTED THAT THIS MORNING.

ISN'T THAT COLONY PARK? NO.

HEARING 1 0 4, WE, WE DIDN'T DO A PUBLIC HEARING AND ADOPT THAT.

WE DID 1 23, I BELIEVE IS WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO.

1 23 WAS THE ONE THAT WAS RELATED TO THAT ITEM.

SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 1 0 4 WITHOUT OBJECTION.

ITEM NUMBER 1 0 4 IS APPROVED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, UH, TEMPORARILY OFF THE DAIS.

ITEM NUMBER 1 0 5 HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL AUGUST 29TH.

ITEM 1 0 5 HAS BEEN POSTPONED TO AUGUST 29TH.

ITEM 1 0 6 HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN.

OH, OH, OH, SORRY.

YOUR

[05:30:01]

HONOR.

1 0 4 WAS CONDUCTED THIS MORNING AND APPROVED.

OH, WELL, OKAY.

WE DID IT TWICE THEN.

RIGHT? ALRIGHT.

COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER AND THANK YOU.

UM, MR. SO SHOULD WE COUNT THIS MORNING? SHOULD WE COUNT? I THINK THIS MORNING WE HAD A FULL DI WELL, YEAH, THAT, THAT'S THE VOTE THAT COUNTS SINCE IT WAS PRIOR TIME.

IT'S GOT RIGHT THERE IN MY NOTES.

SORRY, I MISSED THAT.

UM, HERE'S WHAT LET'S DO, JUST FOR CLARITY OF PURPOSE.

EARLIER TODAY WE PASSED ITEM 1 0 4 AND, UM, WE DID THAT BECAUSE I WAS TRYING TO KEEP IT CONSISTENT WITH THE, THE, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING THAT WE HAD JUST HAD, I EVEN REMEMBER TALKING ABOUT IT.

SO I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.

MEMBERS, WHAT I WOULD, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER MOVES THAT WE RECONSIDER THE VOTE BY THE SECOND VOTE BY WHICH WE ADOPTED.

ITEM 1 0 4, IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION.

UH, THE, THE SECOND VOTE BY WHICH WE ADOPTED ITEM 1 0 4 IS, UM, IS RE, IS RECONSIDERED.

AND NOW I'M GOING TO GET QUIET AND I'M NOT GONNA CALL IT BACK UP.

IT'S DONE.

UM, 1 0 5, UH, I SAID AUGUST 29TH, 1 0 6 IS WITHDRAWN.

MAYOR THE CLERK.

THAT HAVE SIGNED UP FOR 1 0 5 IF THEY WANNA ADDRESS THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT.

WE DO HAVE A COUPLE SPEAKERS

[105. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance to repeal and replace parts of Ordinance Nos. 20071018-008, 20101104-046, 20191114-068 and 20210304-079 to update the local incentives the City may provide under the Texas Enterprise Zone Program, Texas Government Code Chapter 2303.]

DO YOU HAVE SPEAKERS? WE HAVE SPEAKERS HERE THAT WANNA SPEAK ON THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT OF ITEM NUMBER ONE OH FIVE.

CALL OUT THEIR NAMES, PLEASE.

GRAY.

JENNY GRAYSON, MARY ENGLE, NATALIE RELEY, SUSAN MORRISON.

ALL WE'RE ASKING IS FOR YOU TO SP TO SPEAK ON THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT, NOT THE ITEM ITSELF.

I THINK POSTPONING IS A FANTASTIC IDEA.

MEMBERS WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 1 0 7.

WILL YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD? NATALIE RESLEY.

UM, WITH THAT, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 1 0 5, AND WE WILL BRING IT BACK UP ON AUGUST 29TH.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, FOR BEING HERE.

ITEM 1 0 6 WAS WITHDRAWN.

ITEM NUMBER 1 0 7

[107. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance approving a Land Development Standards Interlocal Agreement with Eanes Independent School District and authorizing the City Manager to execute the agreement.]

UH, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPENED.

IS THERE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? THERE'S NO ONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 1 0 7.

WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED.

COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS MOVES APPROVAL OF ITEM 1 0 7.

IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER.

IS THERE DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.

ITEM 1 0 7 IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, UH, BEING OFF THE DAIS.

ITEM NUMBER

[108. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance approving a Land Development Standards Interlocal Agreement with Leander Independent School District and authorizing the City Manager to execute the agreement.]

1 0 8, ITEM NUMBER 1 0 8.

WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 1 0 8.

THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPENED.

MADAM CLERK, NO ONE IS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 1 0 8.

SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

ON ITEM 1 0 8, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.

COUNCIL MEMBER VELA MOVES ADOPTION OF 1 0 8 IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER IS THEIR DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION.

ITEM NUMBER 1 0 8 IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY BEING OFF THE DAIS.

ITEM NUMBER 1 0 9

[109. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance regarding floodplain variances for the construction of a multi-family residential building at 506 West Avenue within the 25-year and 100-year floodplains of Shoal Creek.]

WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 1 0 9.

UM, WE HAVE A STAFF.

YES, WE HAVE A STAFF PRESENTATION ON ITEM NUMBER 1 0 9.

AND, UH, I WILL RECOGNIZE YOU TO, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, BEFORE WE DO THAT, IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING? THERE'S NO OBJECTION.

THE PUBLIC HEARING'S OPEN NOW.

NOW, NOW TALK TO US.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

MAYOR PROTIME AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS KEVIN SCHUNK.

I AM THE CITY'S FLOODPLAIN ADMINISTRATOR AND I AM IN THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT.

THE ITEM FOR YOU RIGHT NOW IS A FLOODPLAIN VARIANCE REQUEST AT A PROPERTY AT 5 0 6 WEST AVENUE.

AND IT IS IN THE SHOAL CREEK WATERSHED.

HERE'S A LOCATION MAP WITH THE PROPERTY OUTLINED IN RED, UH, NORTH SOUTH.

THAT YELLOW LINE OF LAMAR BOULEVARD, EAST WEST IS SIXTH STREET.

THAT GIVES YOU A LITTLE ORIENTATION WHERE WE ARE AND YOU CAN SEE A VERY LARGE SWATH OF BLUE, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE FLOODPLAIN THROUGH THIS AREA.

ZOOMING IN CLOSER TO THE PROPERTY.

THE PROPERTY IS ENTIRELY WITHIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, 25 YEAR AND 100 YEAR FLOODPLAIN.

THERE

[05:35:01]

ARE TWO COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS ON THE, ON THE, ON THE LOT THAT ARE IN BUSINESS RIGHT NOW.

TAKEDA, MUO AND IRENE'S, AS WELL AS THE PARKING LOT THAT SERVES THOSE, THOSE TWO ASSUMPTIONS THEY'RE IN IN BUSINESS TODAY.

UM, ON ON THE PROPERTY ITSELF, AS I STATED BEFORE, THIS ENTIRE LOT IS IN, WITHIN THE 25 YEAR AND 100 YEAR FLOOD PLAIN CITY OF BOSTON, FLOOD PLAIN.

THE PARKING GARAGE HAS A RAMP THAT GOES DOWN ADJACENT TO THE RIGHT OF WAY, AND THAT'S HOW RESIDENTS WOULD LEAVE THE BUILDING.

SO IT'S AT THAT POINT RIGHT NOW, RIGHT THERE, WHICH IS WHERE WE PROVIDE THESE DEPTHS OF, OF THE FLOOD WATERS.

AND FOR A 25 YEAR FLOODPLAIN, THE FLOOD DEPTH IS APPROXIMATELY SIX FEET.

AND FOR THE 100 YEAR FLOOD, THE DEPTH OF THAT LOCATION IS APPROXIMATELY NINE FEET.

BOTH OF THOSE FLOODPLAINS ARE NOT, STILL NOT SUPER FAST, BUT THEY'RE ABOUT THREE FEET PER SECOND, WHICH IS STILL MOVING.

A FLOOD DEPTH OF NINE FEET IS SIGNIFICANT IS, AND THAT'S, THAT'S A LOT OF WATER.

THAT'S NOT OF THE AMOUNT OF WATER THAT ANYBODY CAN DRIVE THROUGH THAT.

IT, IT, IT PRESENTS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR THE OCCUPANTS OF THE BUILDING THAT MIGHT BE GETTING OUT AS WELL AS FOR FIRST RESPONDERS THAT CAN'T GET INTO THE BUILDING.

THE DISTANCE TO GO FROM THE BUILDING ITSELF TO AN AREA THAT'S OUT OF THE, OUT OF THE FLOOD PLAIN IS ABOUT 300 FEET, NOT A SHORT DISTANCE TO GET OUT OF FLOOD WATERS AND OUT OR OF HARM'S WAY.

I THINK I PUSHED SOMETHING WRONG THERE.

THERE WE GO.

SO I WANTED TO SHOW THIS MAP TO INDICATE THAT THIS PROPERTY HAS BEEN MAPPED, SHOWN IN A MAPPED FLOODPLAIN AND HAS FLOOD HAZARDS FOR ALMOST 50 YEARS.

BEFORE FEMA WAS FEMA, THE FEDERAL PROGRAM THAT DID FLOODPLAIN IDENTIFICATION WAS THE, WAS HUD AND THEY CAME OUT THE, WITH THESE FIRST FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN, FLOOD HAZARD AND BATTERY MAPS IN 1977.

AND THEY CAN, YOU CAN SEE THERE IN RED, THE PROPERTY IS WITHIN THAT FLOOD POINT THAT THEY SHOWED DURING THAT TIME.

GO AHEAD.

OKAY, THANKS.

IT, IT MIGHT BE A GOOD SUGGESTION, BUT GO AHEAD.

I I GOTCHA.

THERE HAS BEEN SOME HISTORIC FLOODING IN THE AREA.

THIS IS A PICTURE OF THE MEMORIAL DAY FLOOD OF 1981.

THAT'S THE SIXTH STREET BRIDGE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THERE.

SO THE PROPERTY IS RIGHT TO THE RIGHT OF THIS PICTURE.

YOU DON'T SEE THE PROPERTY IN THIS PICTURE, BUT THERE WAS SEVERE FLOODING IN THIS AREA DURING THAT FLOOD ITSELF.

FAST FORWARD MANY YEARS LATER, SAME MEMORIAL DAY, BUT MEMORIAL DAY 2015 ON THE LEFT THERE, WE SEE THIS IS WHEN THE HOUSE SPARKED, FIELD FLOODED.

AND ON THE RIGHT IS REALLY GOOD PICTURE THAT THAT SHOWS IN THE FOREGROUND, THE FIFTH STREET IN THE BACKGROUND, SIXTH STREET.

AND THAT LOT THAT'S IN THE RIGHT THERE.

IN THE MIDDLE IS THE UNDEVELOPED SHOAL CREEK WA SHOAL CREEK WALK LOT.

ON THE VERY RIGHT HAND SIDE, KIND OF THE MIDDLE, YOU SEE, YOU CAN SEE A BUILDING THAT'S THE AUSTIN CITY LOFTS BUILDING JUST TO THE NORTH OF THAT IS WHERE THE PROPOSED PROPERTY IS THAT, UH, UH, THAT IS PART OF THIS REQUEST.

SO DURING THE MEMORIAL DAY 2015, FLOOD, FLOOD WATERS DID GET OUT OF THE BANKS.

TOHO CREEK FLOODED THIS AREA AND CAUSE RISK TO OCCUPANTS IN THE AREA.

WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED ON THIS LOT IS A RESIDENTIAL, RESIDENTIAL TOWER.

IT'S NEARLY 500,000 SQUARE FEET OF CONDITIONED AREA, LIVING AREA.

UM, IT WILL BE 47 STORIES HIGH WITH 359 UNITS WITHIN THE BUILDING ITSELF.

THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING, WHICH WILL BE THE LOBBY, IS PROPOSED TO BE TWO FEET ABOVE THE 100 YEAR FLOOD POINT.

ACCORDING TO CODE LOT, THE FLOORS TWO THROUGH 11 WILL BE PARKING AREA, AND THEN THE FLOORS 12 THROUGH 47 WILL BE THE RESIDENTIAL UNITS ABOVE THAT.

SO OF THOSE 359 UNITS, THOSE 344 PARKING SPACES THAT ARE PROPOSED IN THE BUILDING ITSELF, THE REQUEST FOR VARIANCE, THERE ARE THREE ESSENTIALLY FOR THIS PROPERTY.

AND THE MOST SIGNIFICANT ONE IS THE REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE SAFE ACCESS OUT OF THE FLOODPLAIN AT A PROPERTY THAT IS IN THE FLOODPLAIN.

AND I'LL EXPLAIN THAT IN MORE DETAIL IN JUST A MINUTE.

THE OTHER TWO VARIANCES ARE PROHIBIT THE A BUILDING THAT ENCROACHES INTO THE A HUNDRED YEAR FLOODPLAIN.

AND THEN THE LAST BARR REQUEST IS TO NOT REQUIRE A DRAINAGE EASEMENT AROUND THE FOOT, NOT OF THE FOOTPRINT OF THE BUILDING.

IT'S BASICALLY THE DRAINAGE EASEMENT WILL BE THE ENTIRE LOT, SAVE AND ACCEPT THE BUILDING.

[05:40:04]

SO A LITTLE MORE, MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SAFE F ACCESS CRITERIA.

THE SAFE F ACCESS CRITERIA IS NOT A FEMA MINIMUM STANDARD.

AND WHEN I SAY THAT THE MINIMUM STANDARDS ARE RULES THAT WERE REQUIRED TO ADOPT AND ENFORCE IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM, VARIANCES TO THE MINIMUM STANDARDS CAN BE SEVERE.

AND FEMA LOOKS VERY MUCH LOOKS DOWN UPON THAT.

THE SAFE ACCESS REQUIREMENT IS NOT A FEMA MINIMUM STANDARD.

IT IS A STANDARD THAT THE CITY OF BOSTON HAS.

WE GO ABOVE AND BEYOND THE STANDARD, THE MINIMUM STANDARDS IN MANY WAYS AND MANY COMMUNITIES DO.

BUT THE SAFE ACCESS CRITERIA BASICALLY SAYS THAT YOU HAVE TO WALK FROM A BUILDING TO AN AREA THAT'S OUT OF THE FLOODPLAIN THAT'S ALL AT LEAST ONE FOOT ABOVE THE A HUNDRED YEAR FLOODPLAIN TO HAVE SAFE ACCESS OUT OF THE BUILDING AND SAFE INGRESS TO THE BUILDING IF DURING A TIME OF FLOOD THERE'S A NEED FOR FIRST FIRST RESPONDERS.

SO AGAIN, THE VARIANCE TO THE SAFE ACCESS RULE IS NOT A VARIANCE FROM FEMA'S MINIMUM STANDARDS.

HOWEVER, ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT THERE'S BEEN SOME, SOME, SOME TALK RECENTLY ABOUT THE COMMUNITY RATING SYSTEM IS A PROGRAM THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN PARTICIPATES IN THE FEMA FEMA PROGRAM THAT ENCOURAGES COMMUNITIES TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND FEMA'S MINIMUM STANDARDS WHEN THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT FLOODPLAIN, THE FLOODPLAIN, UH, MANAGEMENT OFFICE, ALL, ALL THE, NOT JUST REGULATIONS, BUT ONE OF THE CATEGORIES THAT THE CITY OF BOSTON GETS, I'LL SAY POINTS FOR, IS TO HAVE HIGHER REGULATORY STANDARDS.

NOW, IF WE HAVE REGULATORY STANDARDS BUT DON'T ENFORCE THEM, THEN CRS MIGHT LIKELY SAY, WELL, YOU, YOU'RE NO LONGER GONNA GET CREDIT FOR YOUR HIGHER STANDARDS 'CAUSE YOU'RE NOT ENFORCING THEM.

THAT COULD AFFECT OUR CLASS RATING AS CRS, WHICH COULD AFFECT THE, THE SAVINGS ON FLOOD INSURANCE PREMIUMS FOR EVERYBODY IN THE CITY.

SO I JUST WANTED TO STEP THROUGH A COUPLE PROPERTIES THAT ARE IN THE VICINITY THAT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED AND TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THOSE.

THIS IS THE PROPERTY IN QUESTION.

AT 5 0 6 WEST AVENUE, THERE ARE TWO PROPERTIES THAT ARE ADJACENT TO IT THAT ARE OFFICE USE BUILDINGS.

UH, THE ONE NORTH OF SIXTH STREET IS THE SRU LOGIC BUILDING, AND THE ONE SOUTH OF SIXTH STREET TO THE WEST OF THE PROPERTY IS THE SHOAL CREEK WALK FACILITY.

BOTH OF THOSE PROPERTIES AT THE TIME THEY WERE DEVELOPED, HAD SAFE ACCESS.

AND SO THOSE PROPERTIES WERE APPROVED BY AN ADMINISTRATIVE FLOOD FLOODPLAIN VARIANCE PROCESS BY STAFF.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO COME TO CITY COUNCIL.

THE GSD AND M BUILDING NORTH OF SIXTH STREET, WHILE YES, IT'S IN THE FLOODPLAIN, LET'S ASSUME THERE'S, UH, THAT THERE'S, UH, EXITS ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE BUILDING, THEN THE, THE OCCUPANTS WOULD HAVE TO JUST CROSS THE HENDERSON STREET RIGHT OF WAY DOWN AN AREA TO THAT'S OUTTA THE FLOOD PLAIN.

SO IT'S NOT A LONG WALK, IF YOU WILL, TO GET OUT OF THE FLOOD PLAIN.

THERE ARE THREE BUILDINGS ADJACENT, CLOSE TO THIS PROPOSED BUILDING, UM, THAT ARE OF RESIDENTIAL USE THAT AT THE TIME THEY WERE DEVELOPED DID NOT MEET THE SAFE ACCESS RULE.

THEY DID COME TO CITY COUNCIL TO REQUEST A VARIANCE.

THEY WERE GRANTED THAT VARIANCE AND THEY HAVE BUILT THEIR BUILDINGS.

THE ONE ON THE FAR RIGHT IS THE, UH, FIFTH AND WEST BUILDING.

AND AT THE TIME THEY WERE, THEY DEVELOPED, THE SAFE ACCESS CRITERIA WAS NOT MET.

I BELIEVE THERE WAS ABOUT 18 INCHES OF WATER AT THE EXIT ON THE ALLEY.

AND SO THEY HAD TO GET RELIEF FROM THAT.

THE AUSTIN CITY LOST BUILDING AND THE MON MONARCH BUILDING WERE DEVELOPED QUITE A LONG TIME AGO.

DIDN'T HAVE SAFE ACCESS AT THE TIME EITHER.

UM, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE DEPTHS WERE AT THAT TIME.

UM, RIGHT NOW THE AUSTIN CITY LOST BUILDING HAS A VERY SIMILAR DEPTH OF NINE FEET FOR THE HUNDRED FLOODLINE THAT THE PROPOSED PROPERTY DOES.

THE DEVELOPMENT THAT THEY'RE PROPOSING IN AND OF ITSELF DOES NOT CAUSE ADVERSE FLOODING ON OTHER PROPERTIES.

THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT THEY PRESENTED THAT TO US AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT, THAT WE AGREED TO IT.

THIS PROPERTY IS NOT INCREASING FLOOD HEIGHTS ON OTHER PROPERTIES.

HOWEVER, THERE'S NO SAFE ACCESS TO THE PROPERTY FOR EGRESS TO THE PROPERTY AS OR, OR INGRESS IF FIRST RESPONDERS NEED TO GET TO IT.

STAFF BELIEVES THAT THIS PROPOSED USE A VERY DENSE RESIDENTIAL USE IS NOT APPROPRIATE.

WHERE WE HAVE FLOOD RISK AS HIGH AS WE DO FOR THIS PROPERTY, NINE FEET IN THE 100 FLOOD POINT IS SIGNIFICANT

[05:45:01]

AND IT'S NOT IN AN AMOUNT THAT WE SEE A LOT.

LIKE I SAID, FIFTH AND WEST WAS 18 INCHES.

WE'VE HAD OTHER SAFE ACCESS CRITERIA THAT, I MEAN SAFE ACCESS VARIANCES.

THE PEARL COMES TO MIND OVER ON CANYON AND GROVER AGAIN, I'M PRETTY SURE THAT WAS LESS THAN TWO FEET.

IT WAS EITHER AROUND 18 INCHES OR 12 INCHES.

SO SOME OF THOSE CONDITIONS HAVE EXISTED.

BUT IN, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS SITUATION IN PARTICULAR, THE DEPTH OF FLOODING AND THE USE THAT'S VERY DENSE, STAFF DOES NOT THINK THAT IT'S A VERY WISE IDEA TO PUT A VERY DENSE USE IN THE FLOOD PLAIN.

AND WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT THE VARIANCE IS BE, BE DENIED PRIOR TO THE CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY.

IN THE DRAFT ORDINANCE THAT'S IN YOUR PACKET, THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT.

ONE IS THAT PRIOR TO, UH, RECEIVING THEIR CERTIFICATE OF OP OCCUPANCY, YOUR CO UM, THEY WOULD HAVE TO INDICATE TO US THAT THE BUILDING IN THE THE FIRST FLOOR IS INDEED A MINIMUM OF TWO FEET ABOVE THE A HUNDRED YEAR FLOOD LANE.

THAT'S A STANDARD REQUIREMENT FOR A FEMA AND CS FOR EXAMPLE.

AND LAST IS THE DEDICATION OF DRAINAGE EASEMENT.

LIKE I SAID, THE VARIANCE IS TO REMOVE THE BUILDING ITSELF FROM THE EASEMENT, BUT ALL AROUND THE BUILDING, THE REST OF THE PROPERTY WOULD BE WITHIN THE DRAINAGE EASEMENT.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE AND I KNOW THAT THE APPLICANT IS HERE TO SPEAK AS WELL.

UM, MEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS TO STAFF? ALRIGHT, THEN WHAT I'M GOING TO, BECAUSE OF A PUBLIC HEARING, WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS I'M GOING TO, UM, HAVE THEM CALL OUT THE NAMES IN, IN ORDER THAT PEOPLE SIGNED UP AND THEN WE'LL ALLOW FOR QUESTIONS FROM THE APPLICANT IF THE APPLICANT'S NOT ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.

HMM.

NO.

IS COUNCIL MEMBER CORY? YEAH, I WAS GONNA ASK A QUESTION.

I MEAN, NOW IS PROBABLY THE BEST TIME TO ASK MR. YEAH, PLEASE.

UH, SOUND GOOD QUESTION.

UM, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND I APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION.

I WAS JUST GONNA ASK, UH, RELATING TO THE MOTION SHEET THAT I HAD PASSED OUT, AND I BELIEVE YOU HAVE AS WELL, JUST, JUST, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS FEEDBACK ON THE MOTION SHEET FOR, FOR ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS? MEMBERS, IF I DON'T, IF I MIGHT INTERRUPT REAL QUICK.

MEMBERS.

COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, IF WE, IF WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS ITEM, UH, MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THIS ITEM.

COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE HAS PROVIDED A PROPOSED, UM, AMENDMENT TO THE MA TO THE MAIN MOTION, WHICH WOULD BE TO THE APPROVAL OF IT.

AND YOU HAVE A COPY OF THAT AND THAT'S WHAT HE'S ASKING ABOUT.

I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE EVERYBODY'S ON THE SAME PAGE.

COUNCIL MEMBER, I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT.

GOT IT.

THAT WAS MY QUESTION.

SO I THINK THE, THE INCREASE IN FREEBOARD FROM TWO FEET TO THREE FEET IS A, IS A POSITIVE MOVE THAT REDUCES FLOOD RISK SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE BUILDING.

I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

UH, THE REQUIREMENTS ON THE NOTIFICATION AND THE EDUCATION OF THE TENANTS, I THINK THOSE ARE GREAT IDEAS.

THE CONCERN THAT I HAVE WITH THOSE IS HOW IS THAT PROCESS GOING TO BE ENFORCED? AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING TYPICALLY WE, WE'VE DONE FOR THE PEARL, FOR EXAMPLE, IN DISTRICT SEVEN, WE DID A, WE, THEY WERE REQUIRED TO PUT TOGETHER A FLOOD SAFETY PLAN.

THERE WAS SIGNAGE INVOLVED, THERE WAS A DOCUMENTATION AND NOTIFICATION, AND WE HAD NO WAY TO ENFORCE THAT THOSE THINGS ACTUALLY OCCURRED OR HA OR ARE HAPPENING.

SO THAT'S THE CONCERN I HAVE.

WHILE I THINK THAT IT'S A GREAT IDEA TO HAVE THAT OUTREACH TO THE RES, TO THE TENANTS, IT'S THE ENFORCEMENT PROCESS THAT I HA I'M NOT QUITE SURE HOW WE'LL KNOW IF IT'S EVER GETTING DONE.

THANK YOU, MEMBER.

WOULD MITIGATE SOME OF THAT ACCORDING TO STAFF.

COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES? I DO, IF THERE IS SOMEONE FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OR OR EMERGENCY SERVICES WHO COULD ALSO SPEAK TO THE SAFETY ACCESS, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.

I JUST DUNNO IF THEY'RE, IF WE HAVE THEM AVAILABLE.

I'M NOT SURE IF THEY'RE HERE.

ANYBODY WANT TO TAKE THAT ONE? NO, BUT I, SORRY.

WELL, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE MIGHT DO, WHAT I WAS GONNA DO IS JUST HAVE US GO IN THE ORDER OF THE SIGN UP, BUT BECAUSE WE, WE'VE ASKED QUESTIONS SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL, WHY DON'T WE HAVE THE APPLICANT COME UP AND SEE IF THE APPLICANT CAN HELP WITH THE ANSWER TO ANY OF THESE QUESTIONS.

COUNCIL MEMBER CODRE, YOU'LL BE RECOGNIZED.

MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

I'M RICHARD SU.

I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT.

SO WE'RE JUST GONNA TAKE PUBLIC HEARING JUST IN ORDER NOT APPLICANT AND THEN WELL, THAT'S NOT, YES, IT'S A PUBLIC HEARING, HOWEVER YOU WANT DO IT.

I'VE WATCHED THE WHOLE MEETING TODAY.

I'M HOWEVER YOU WANT DO IT.

BUT, BUT YOU'RE, YOU'RE THERE.

AND, AND LET'S SEE IF COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE HAS ANY QUESTIONS OF YOU.

IS, I'M SORRY, ARE YOU, ARE WE JUST IN Q AND A RIGHT NOW? WELL, FOR OF THE APPLICANT, BASED UPON WHAT YOU'RE ASKING ABOUT MITIGATION, WHAT YOU HAVE IS YOU HAVE A RECOMMENDATION FROM STAFF THAT WE VOTE NO ON THIS.

CORRECT.

AND YOUR, YOUR MOTION OR YOUR MOTION TO AMEND

[05:50:01]

AND SO I WAS GONNA OFFER THE OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE THERE'S SOME ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS YEAH.

IF THE APPLICANT COULD HELP US WITH HOW THAT WOULD PLAY OUT, HOW YOU WOULD DO THAT, THAT SORT OF THING TO, TO MITIGATE THE CONCERNS THAT STAFF HAS BROUGHT FORWARD.

SO MAYOR, I CAN, I CAN ADDRESS, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, LET'S JUST CHANGE IT ALL UP.

WHY DON'T YOU MAKE A PRESENTATION? OH, WELL, LET MAKE, MAKE, MAKE A PRESENTATION.

YOU MAKE A PRESENTATION AND, AND WE'LL, WE'LL DO IT THE WAY WE TYPICALLY DO ZONING CASES, BUT, UM, BUT WE'LL DO IT THAT WAY.

WE'LL MAKE A PRESENTATION PLEASE.

I'LL DO IT.

AND I'M GONNA START MY PRESENTATION BY ANSWERING COUNCIL MEMBER'S QUESTION.

SO THIS, THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN BEFORE Y'ALL TWICE ALREADY ZONING DENSITY BONUS AT EVERY LEVEL.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE FLOOD PLAN.

THEN WE FILED A SITE PLAN AND, AND THE SITE PLAN REVIEW PROCESS.

WE'VE MET WITH ALL THE DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S REQUEST WAS, WE KNOW THERE'S FLOODING IN THIS AREA.

YOU'VE GOT TO PROVIDE US A LANDING OR AN AREA TO GET TO THAT'S OUT OF THE FLOODPLAIN.

IF WE NEED TO GET TO SOMEBODY, IF IT'S TOO MUCH WATER IN THE ROAD FOR OUR TRUCK, WE WILL BRING A BOAT.

AND THAT WAS THE RESPONSE TO HOW THEY, HOW THEY GET TO THE FOLKS.

DOES DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? SO THE, UH, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WOULD BRING A BOAT TO GET TO THE LANDING AREA THAT WE HAVE PROVIDED, THAT UNDER COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE'S AMENDMENT WOULD BE THREE FEET ABOVE.

BASICALLY WHAT THEY DO IS THEY PULL UP TO THE RAMP MM-HMM.

THAT GOES UP.

AND THEY WOULD HAVE A PLACE TO GET OUT AND, AND GET SOMEBODY OUT IF THEY NEEDED TO.

BECAUSE THE ISSUE WOULD BE IS IF THE AWFUL THING HAPPENED THAT YOU HAD A FLOOD AND SOMEBODY NEEDED TO BE HELPED INSIDE THE BUILDING, AT THE SAME TIME, FIRE DEPARTMENT OR EMS COULD GET TO IT AND REACH AN AREA THAT IS OUTSIDE THE FLOOD AREA, THREE FEET ABOVE IT.

AND, AND HELP THE FOLKS.

AND ARE THERE ANY OTHER FLOOD MITIGATION EFFORTS THAT WE SHOULD BE AWARE OF AS IT RELATES TO THIS PROJECT? I BELIEVE COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE'S GOT A, A LIST OF THEM, BUT BASICALLY WHAT YOU'VE GOT IS, IT'S JUST LIKE DOWN AT THE COAST, YOU'VE GOT A BUILDING BUILT ON STILTS.

THE MAIN THING WE NEEDED TO MAKE SURE OF IS THAT BY POSTING THAT BUILDING THERE, WE'RE NOT INCREASING FLOODING ANYBODY DOWNSTREAM OR UPSTREAM.

SO EVERYBODY AROUND US IS FINE.

AND THEN YOU MITIGATE THE OCCUPANTS SAFETY DURING THE, THE FLOOD.

AND, AND WE HAVE WORKED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE'S OFFICE TO HELP MITIGATE SOME OF THOSE THROUGH EDUCATION, SIGNAGE, UH, UH, NOTICES AND ALL THAT STUFF THAT ANYBODY IN THAT BUILDING'S GONNA KNOW THAT IN THE EVENT THAT RAIN'S COMING, THAT THERE COULD BE A FLOODING ISSUE.

AND COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THIS MOTION SHEET AS IT AS PRESENTED IN HELPING REDUCE THE SAFETY RISK? AND I'M SO SORRY.

I I YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT THIS MOTION SHEET MITIGATES THE SAFETY, UH, RISK? YEAH.

OTHERWISE I WOULD NOT BE BRINGING IT FORWARD.

YEAH, COLLEAGUES, I MEAN, THERE WERE, INITIALLY, I'M CONCERNED WITH THE LEVEL OF, WELL, WHAT WAS CITED AS A RECOMMENDATION FROM OUR WATERSHED DEPARTMENT AND, AND RECOMMENDING A DENIAL OF THIS VARIANCE BECAUSE OF THE ISSUES OF HAVING OUR PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL HAVE ACCESS TO THE RESIDENCE.

BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THERE HAS BEEN CONVERSATIONS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE TO, TO DETERMINE AN ACCESS POINT TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY SERVICES.

IS THAT RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS SHORT ENOUGH, MAYOR.

SO I'LL MAKE A QUICK, QUICK PRESENTATION AND, AND, AND LET'S, LET'S, WHAT I, I, I'VE LOST CONTROL OF THIS.

LET LET, LET'S HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THEN RAISE QUESTIONS AT THE END OF THAT.

SO IF YOU'LL MAKE A SHORT PRESENTATION, THEN WE'LL SURE.

THIS IS AN AREA OF DOWNTOWN THAT CANNOT BE DEVELOPED WITHOUT A FLOODPLAIN VARIANCE.

THAT'S WHY YOU SAW THAT MAP THAT KEVIN SHOWED.

ALL THOSE BUILDINGS ALL AROUND US HAVE ALL RECEIVED BASICALLY THE SAME OR SIMILAR VARIANCES.

UM, KEVIN IS A GREAT GUY AND WE LOVE TO WORK WITH HIM, BUT HE GENERALLY DOES.

HE NEVER RECOMMENDS A FLOODPLAIN VARIANCE.

UM, AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT.

SO THEN IT'S UP TO US TO PROVE THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA HURT ANYBODY ELSE, AND WE'RE GONNA MAKE THE PEOPLE INSIDE AS SAFE AS WE CAN.

SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

AGAIN, THIS IS A, A CASE THAT'S BEEN BEFORE YOU FOR THE ZONING WHERE YOU UPZONED IT, THEN WE CAME BEFORE YOU WHERE WE REDID THE SITE PLAN TO GET EVERYBODY COMFORTABLE WITH THE DENSITY BONUS.

AND THIS IS THE FINAL STEP.

I THINK WE HAVE TWO COMMENTS LEFT.

THIS ONE IN A PARKS COMMENT THAT WE SOLVE, THOSE IN THE SITE PLAN CAN BE APPROVED.

UM, THROUGH WORKING WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE'S OFFICE, WE HAVE ENHANCED THE SAFETY PROVISIONS OF BUILDING, OF THE BUILDING IN THIS SUBPLAN, I WOULD ARGUE POSSIBLY MORE THAN THE OTHER VARIANCES THAT HAVE BEEN GRANTED IN THE SAME AREA ALL THE WAY AROUND US.

AND WITH THAT, I'LL CLOSE AND, AND ASK

[05:55:01]

WELL, NO, BUT, OKAY.

UM, NOW LET'S GO AHEAD AND GET THE OTHER PEOPLE'S, IF, IF SOMEBODY IS SIGNED UP IN OPPOSITION, I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO RECOGNIZE SOMEBODY AS A SPOKESPERSON FOR SOMEONE IN OPPOSITION.

I HAVE CONNIE TEMPLE WITH TIME DONATED BY MERRIMAN SMITH.

IF MERRIMAN SMITH, THANK YOU.

TOTAL OF SIX, SIX MINUTES.

SIX MINUTES PLEASE.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WATSON, CITY MANAGER MAYOR PRO TIM, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS CONNIE TEMPLE.

I'M FROM DISTRICT NINE AND I'M SPEAKING TO ITEM NUMBER 1 0 9.

I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE AUSTIN CITY LOFTS OWNERS ASSOCIATION, OR AS WE REFER TO IT, ACL.

IN THE FIRST PHOTO, YOU SEE OUR BUILDING ON THE LEFT, JUST EAST OF THE WEST FIFTH STREET BRIDGE OVER SHOAL CREEK 5 0 6 WEST AVENUE.

AS YOU SAW FROM THE MAPS EARLIER, IS ADJACENT TO OUR PROPERTY BOUNDARY JUST ON THE NORTH SIDE.

DURING THE MEMORIAL DAY FLOOD, THE WATER WAS SO HIGH THAT THE SIDEWALK GUARDRAILS ON THE BRIDGE WERE COMPLETELY COVERED BY WATER.

IN ANOTHER 2015 PHOTO THAT YOU'LL SEE THAT WAS ON WEST SIXTH STREET, WE'LL SEE OUR BUILDING ON THE RIGHT, BALCONY'S FACING TOWARDS WEST SIXTH AND 5 0 6 WEST AVENUE IS NORTH OF OUR BUILDING, SORT OF BEHIND THE VISIBLE TREE LINE AT THE BASE OF OUR BUILDING.

AND AGAIN, YOU'LL SEE AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF WATER.

THIS PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT, AND I'M GONNA REITERATE THE POINT THAT KEVIN MADE EARLIER.

IT'S A 47 STORY APARTMENT TOWER WITH 359 RESIDENTIAL UNITS.

THE TOWER WOULD BE SITUATED ON THE BANK, WHICH YOU CAN KIND OF SEE BETTER IN THIS PARTICULAR SLIDE HERE OF SHOAL CREEK.

AND IT'S LOCATED MID-BLOCK WITH ACCESS ONLY TO WEST AVENUE.

BY COMPARISON, ACL IS A CONDOMINIUM BUILDING WITH 14 STORIES AND 82 RESIDENTIAL UNITS LOCATED ON THE CORNER OF WEST FIFTH AND WEST AVENUE WITH ACCESS TO BOTH STREETS.

IN FULL DISCLOSURE, AS YOU HEARD, WE WERE THE RECIPIENT OF A FLOODPLAIN VARIANCE OVER 20 YEARS AGO.

BUT WE NOW KNOW THAT CLIMATE CHANGE IS INCREASING FLOOD RISKS IN TEXAS, BRINGING WARMER TEMPERATURES TO CAUSE MORE WATER TO EVAPORATE FROM THE LAND AND OCEANS LEADING TO HEAVIER RAINFALL.

CENTRAL TEXAS HOLDS A NUMBER OF RECORDS FOR 24 HOUR RAINFALL EVENTS, MAKING IT ONE OF THE MOST FLOOD PRONE PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, A REGION.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CALLS FLASH FLOOD ALLEY.

CONTRARY TO WHAT THE APPLICANT HAS STATED, PUBLICLY NEIGHBORS WHO LIVE NEARBY DO NOT SUPPORT THIS DEVELOPMENT.

THE COMMENTS SUBMITTED IN OUR IP FORMS FOR THE 5 0 6 WEST WEST AVENUE SITE PLAN CASE LEAVE NO DOUBT THAT NEIGHBORS ARE NOT SUPPORTIVE OF THIS PROJECT.

THESE INTERESTED PARTIES LIVE IN VARIOUS NEIGHBORHOOD BUILDINGS, NOT JUST ACL.

THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT WOULD INTENSIFY THE PUBLIC SAFETY THREAT AS KEVIN SEAN RE RE REPORTED ON.

VERY WELL.

IT'S NOT ONLY FOR THE OCCUPANTS, BUT IT IS NOTABLY FOR EMERGENCY FIRST RESPONDERS AS THE NEAREST SAFE AREA IS APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET.

WATERSHED ALSO NOTED THAT THE DEPTH OF WATER DURING A HUNDRED YEAR FLOOD EVENT, AND THIS IS WORTH REPEATING AT THE GARAGE ENTRANCE, IS NINE FEET.

THE FOLLOWING IS A QUOTE FROM CARL MACARTHUR WITH WATERSHED DURING A Q AND A SESSION.

WE USE THESE FLOODPLAINS AS PART OF OUR REGULATORY TOOLBOX TO MAKE SURE THAT NEW DEVELOPMENT ISN'T BUILT AT FLOOD RISK.

WE DON'T WANT TO MAKE ANY NEW PROBLEMS. WE GOT ENOUGH OLD PROBLEMS TO SOLVE ALREADY.

FEMA ADVISES THAT THE REASONS FOR GRANTING FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT VARIANCES MUST BE SUBSTANTIAL AND THE PROOF COMPELLING.

PLEASE ASK YOURSELF AS YOU CONSIDER THIS REQUEST TODAY, WHAT SUBSTANTIAL REASONS AND COMPELLING PROOF ARE THERE FOR GRANTING THE VARIANCES BEING REQUESTED BY THE APPLICANT? I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT COUNSEL FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THEY ARE OUR SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS.

JOE IS SAHA, KATHY MARCUS, PHILLIP WILEY, AND SUSAN MORRISON.

PLEASE COME FORWARD, MR. WILEY.

[06:00:06]

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

YOU'LL FOLLOW THEM.

MS. MORRIS, I'M KATHY MARCUS.

I LIVE AT THIRD AND BOWIE.

UM, I LOOK OVER THE RAILING OF MY CONDO AND IF I SEE SOMETHING I DON'T LIKE, THAT'S WHEN YOU'LL USUALLY SEE ME HERE AT CITY COUNCIL.

ONE OF THE THINGS I DON'T LIKE IS THE WAY SHOAL CREEK FLOODS AND WE ARE AT A RIGHT HAND CORNER OF SHOAL CREEK.

SO I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT SHOAL CREEK FLOODING.

SO, UH, PEOPLE IN AUSTIN HAVE SHORT MEMORIES WHEN IT COMES TO FLOODING, ESPECIALLY ALONG SHOAL CREEK.

I WAS HERE IN 1979 WHEN SHOAL CREEK FLOODED AND PEOPLE IN BUILDINGS WERE SWEPT AWAY.

FAST FORWARD TO 2015, I MOVED DOWNTOWN AND WITNESSED SHOAL CREEK FLOODING AGAIN DOWNTOWN.

THE WATER FLOODED THE PARKING LOT AT FIFTH AND BOWIE, WHICH IS NOW THE WHOLE FOODS OFFICE.

AS I WAS STANDING THERE, I HAD TO MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND UP THE WHOLE FOOD STAIRS.

THERE WERE KAYAKS ON BOWIE STREET BEHIND THE N KONA HAVING A GREAT TIME PEOPLE SWIMMING WHEN THE WATER RECEDED, THE CARS WASHED INTO SHOAL CREEK WERE REVEALED.

WHEN I GOT THE NOTICE OF THE HIGHRISE BUILDING IN THE FLOOD PLAIN, I FELT I SHOULD REMIND PEOPLE OF THE FLASH FLOODING AND THE VERY REAL POSSIBILITY OF 5 0 6 WEST OFF WEST AVENUE BEING FLOODED.

WE SHOULD ALL LISTEN TO AUSTIN WATERSHED AND DENY THIS VARIANCE.

IT'S REALLY INAPPROPRIATE.

HI, MY NAME IS, UH, PHILIP WILEY.

I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.

UH, OUR GROUP HAS, UH, ASKED THAT YOU ADD A LOT MORE PEOPLE TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE'VE ENCOURAGED YOU TO FOLLOW WHAT SOME OF THE COMMISSIONS HAVE ASKED YOU TO DO, WHICH IS TO QUADRUPLE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITHIN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD BORDERS.

DOWNTOWN IS THE PLACE WHERE BIG BUILDINGS SHOULD GO TO LIVE.

THAT SHOULD BE THE FIRST PLACE THAT WE PUT THEM IN THE CITY, ESPECIALLY NEAR THE SPINE OF OUR TRANSIT SYSTEM.

FOR THE METROPLEX, WHICH RUNS ALONG GUADALUPE, THERE ARE A LOT OF REALLY, REALLY GOOD REASONS TO HAVE A BUILDING THIS TALL WITH 359 UNITS IN IT.

I AM, I PARTLY CAME HERE MOSTLY TO, TO, UH, LET YOU KNOW.

I THINK THAT WE PUT DEVELOPERS TRYING TO DO AN AMAZING PROJECT LIKE THIS THROUGH A LOT.

UH, WE HAVE GOT TO REALLY STREAMLINE AND SIMPLIFY AND MAKE IT LESS BURDENSOME AND LESS EXPENSIVE TO BUILD IN OUR CITY, TO BUILD DOWNTOWN.

UM, I WOULD NEVER ENCOURAGE ANYBODY TO BUILD A SINGLE FAMILY HOME IN A FLOODPLAIN THAT'S IN MY MIND.

AND, UH, I'M GONNA HAVE TO JUST, UH, KIND OF PUNT THIS ONE AND SAY, I AM NOT A FLOODPLAIN EXPERT.

BUT THERE ARE OTHER BUILDINGS THAT ARE VERY CLOSE TO THIS ONE.

I HAVE EXTREME CONFIDENCE THAT THIS WOULD BE VERY WELL THOUGHT OUT.

VERY WELL DONE.

UH, THIS IS GONNA BE A QUALITY BUILDING AND, UM, I LEAVE IT IN YOUR CAPABLE HANDS.

THANK YOU, MS. MORRISON.

SUSAN MORRISON FROM DISTRICT SEVEN.

I'VE LIVED AND LEASED ALONG SHOAL CREEK, UH, MY ENTIRE LIFE OF LIVING IN AUSTIN.

AND JUST THIS MORNING I GOT UP AND WENT AND TOOK PHOTOS OF HOW SHOAL CREEK IN JUST ONE HOUR'S TIME IN THE RAIN WE HAD THIS MORNING WAS UP TO THE BANKS COMING IN THE ALLENDALE NEIGHBORHOOD.

I'M HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST THIS PROPOSAL BECAUSE YOU NEED TO LISTEN TO YOUR EXPERTS.

THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE IN THE WATERSHED DEPARTMENT.

THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE FOR.

THAT'S THEIR JOB AND YOU NEED TO LISTEN TO 'EM.

WE'VE HAD DEATH AND DESTRUCTION FROM SHOAL CREEK AND OTHER CREEKS.

AND WITH, UH, THE ADDITIONAL, UH, HOME DEVELOPMENTS, IT'S JUST GONNA GET WORSE AS LONG.

AND, AND AS WELL AS CLIMATE CHANGE, IT'S GONNA GET WORSE.

NOT BETTER.

PLEASE

[06:05:01]

LISTEN TO YOUR EXPERTS AND DENY THIS.

ADDITIONAL NAMES.

THERE ARE NO OTHER SPEAKERS SIGNED UP FOR THIS ITEM.

YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED TO SPEAK ON ITEM 1 0 9.

UM, IF YOU'D LIKE TO CLOSE RICHARD SUTTLE ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT.

UM, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE JUST A COUPLE FACTS ON THIS CASE.

ONE, THERE'S EXISTING BUSINESSES THERE TODAY THAT ARE IN THE FLOODPLAIN.

UH, THE RESTAURANTS THERE ARE IN IT, THEY'LL BE REMOVED.

THIS BUILDING WILL COME IN ON STILTS.

THERE WON'T BE ANY OCCUPIED SPACE IN THE FLOODPLAIN.

A COUPLE OF THE SPEAKERS WERE TALKING ABOUT, UM, OPPOSITION TO THE FLOODING, ALTHOUGH WE'VE, WE'VE SHOWN THROUGH THE ENGINEER, AND THAT WAS JOE ISAIAH THAT DIDN'T SPEAK AND WAVED OFF.

BUT WE'VE SHOWN THAT WE'RE NOT AFFECTING THE FLOODING ON ANYBODY ELSE UPSTREAM OR DOWNSTREAM.

UM, THE AUSTIN CITY LOFTS HAS BEEN HERE AT EVERY STEP OF THE WAY SAYING THE BUILDING'S TOO TALL, IT'S TOO CLOSE, AND NOW IT'S TOO FLOOD WORTHY.

BUT IT, WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE ANYBODY IN IN THE FLOODWAY IN THIS BUILDING.

THIS PROJECT ENJOYS THE SUPPORT OF NOW SURPRISE TO ME AND OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, BUT THE OLD AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION BECAUSE WHAT IT COMES WITH IN THE DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM IS A SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION TO BOTH AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THE SHOAL CREEK CONSERVANCY, WHICH WILL BE ALSO HELPING ALONG SHOAL CREEK.

WHAT WE DID IS WE, WE LISTENED TO KEVIN AND, AND HE'S RIGHT FOR, FOR MAKING HIS RECOMMENDATION.

AND WE JUMPED OFF OF THAT AND SAID, BUT IF YOU CAN'T DEVELOP IT ALL UNDER HIS CRITERIA, HOW DO YOU DO IT BETTER? AND WE CAME UP WITH THE LIST OF THINGS, RAISING THE BUILDING UP AN ADDITIONAL FOOT PLUS THE OTHER SAFETY THINGS THAT WE AGREED TO WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.

SO WITH THAT, I'LL CLOSE AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE AND HOPE THAT YOU'LL APPROVE THIS.

COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.

UH, I GOT TWO QUESTIONS FOR, FOR MR. SETTLE.

UH, COULD YOU SPEAK TO THE ADDITIONAL DESIGN REQUIREMENTS FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT IN THE FLOODPLAIN GENERALLY, OR WHAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT IN TERMS OF ADDITIONAL THINGS THAT WE COULD DO? I GUESS BOTH.

WELL, I MEAN, GENERALLY WHAT YOU, YOU CAN'T HAVE IS A FINISHED FLOOR.

THE MINIMUM IS TWO FEET ABOVE THE FLOODPLAIN, AND WE HAVE AGREED TO TO GO THREE FEET.

SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT WATER'S GONNA, IF IF, IF IT FLOODS, IT'S GONNA COME UP UNDER THE BUILDING, BUT IT WON'T BE IN ANY OCCUPIED SPACE.

EVERYTHING WILL BE ABOVE IT.

UM, THE OTHER DESIGN CRITERIA IS, AGAIN, WE CAN'T PLACE ANYTHING IN THE FLOODPLAIN.

WHEN YOU DO THE MEASUREMENTS THAT AFFECTS EITHER UPSTREAM OR DOWNSTREAM FLOODING AS IT, IT DOESN'T MAKE IT ANY WORSE.

AND THOSE ARE THE BASICS.

AND COULD YOU ALSO SPEAK TO THE DESIGN OF THE BUILDING, SPECIFICALLY THE FIRST COUPLE OF FLOORS AND THE IMPACT THE WEDDING WOULD HAVE THERE? WELL, THEY'LL, ONCE THEY'RE OUTTA THE FLOODPLAIN, THERE'S NO DIFFERENT DESIGN STANDARDS.

THEY'LL, THEY'LL BE OUTTA THE FLOODPLAIN.

THEY'RE BASICALLY UP ON STILTS, SO THEY'RE OUT OF THE FLOODPLAIN.

THERE WON'T BE ANY WATER IN THE BUILDING.

THANK YOU MR. SU OH, I'M SORRY.

COUNCILMAN MORALES.

I APPRE, APPRE YOU WERE CALLING ON ME, RIGHT? I WAS.

OKAY, , I WANNA MAKE SURE I HEARD THAT RIGHT.

UH, APPRECIATE THE QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES HERE.

AND I KNOW THERE'S BEEN AT LEAST ONE OTHER CASE THAT WE HAD TO LOOK AT FLOODPLAIN VARIANCES ALONG SHOAL CREEK.

I THINK IT WAS CLOSER TO, UH, NINTH OR 10TH STREET ON THE OTHER SIDE OF LAMAR.

UM, AND THAT WAS ONE THAT WE AS A COUNCIL STRUGGLED WITH FOR A WHILE.

UM, IT WAS A BUILDING THAT WAS ALREADY CONSTRUCTED AND THERE WERE SOME RULES ABOUT CARS PARKING BELOW.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, THAT BUILDING HAD A LOT OF GOOD SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE WHERE IT DID HAVE SIGNAGE UNDERNEATH IT WHERE IT SAYS, HERE'S THE FLOODLINE.

UM, THE FOLKS THAT WORK IN THAT BUILDING ARE FULLY AWARE TO, TO CHECK THE WEATHER AND MAKE SURE THAT IF ANYTHING'S, UM, ON THE HORIZON, THAT THAT FLOOD WATERS COULD BE COMING OR BAD RAINSTORMS, THAT THEY ALERT THEIR EMPLOYEES VERY QUICKLY AND MAY, YOU KNOW, MAKE ACCOMMODATIONS SO THAT PEOPLE DON'T NEED TO BE IN THE BUILDING DURING THOSE CATASTROPHIC EVENTS.

AND SO, I KNOW SHELL CREEK IS, UM, DEFINITELY HAD SOME, SOME BAD FLOODING, BUT I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, IF WE ARE TO BE ABLE TO WORK IN AND AMONG OUR, OUR ENVIRONMENT, ESPECIALLY IN DOWNTOWN, THERE'S GOTTA BE SOME CREATIVITY IN HOW THESE BUILDINGS COME TO BE AND WHAT'S ON THAT GROUND FLOOR.

AND SO THE FIRST QUESTION I ALWAYS ASK MYSELF IS, YOU KNOW, IS IT RESIDENTIAL? ARE PEOPLE LIVING? IS THERE FURNITURE ON THE GROUND FLOOR? ARE THERE BEDROOMS ON THE GROUND FLOOR? AND WHEN I SEE PEOPLE MAKE AN EFFORT TO ELEVATE AND MAKE SURE THAT IT'S NOT SPACES THAT PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN, UM, I, I THINK THAT'S A REALLY CREATIVE WAY TO TRY TO MAKE THE BEST OF A REALLY TRICKY FLOODPLAIN.

AND SO I APPRECIATE YOUR, UM, LOOKING INTO THAT AND APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE'S EFFORTS TO, TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN ACCOMMODATE HOUSING AND TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE.

IS THAT OKAY? DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION TO HIM? OKAY, MR. SETTLE, I'M SORRY.

I'LL ENTERTAIN, CAN WE GET A MOTION?

[06:10:01]

COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON HAS A QUESTION.

SO I WANTED TO GO BACK TO HOW, UM, THE FIRST RESPONDERS GET IN.

I BELIEVE I HEARD YOU SAY YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A LANDING SPACE FOR A BOAT.

IS THAT CORRECT? SO THE DISCUSSION ON THE SITE PLAN WAS THE ONLY THING THAT'S GONNA BE COMING DOWN INTO THE FLOODPLAIN WHERE THE WATERS ARE, IS THE RAMP THAT GOES UP TO THE GARAGE.

WE WON'T HAVE ANY CARS PARKING IN THE FLOODPLAIN.

THEY'RE ALL ABOVE IT.

I DON'T KNOW HOW DEEP A TRUCK CAN DRIVE IN THE WATER IF, IF IT'S 18 TWO FEET, BUT IT CAN GET TO OUR RAMP AND GET UP WHATEVER THAT DEPTH IS WHEN IT EXCEEDS THAT, JUST LIKE IN EVERY OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY, I THINK THEY COME IN ONE OF THEIR, THEIR BOATS.

INTERESTING ENOUGH, WE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM ABOUT PURCHASING AN AMPHIBIOUS MOBILE FOR THEM FOR THIS PROJECT.

AND THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T NEED THAT, DIDN'T WANT THAT, BECAUSE IF IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT THEY HAD TO GET THERE, WHEN THERE'S NINE FEET OF WATER, THEY'LL COME IN, THEY'LL LITERALLY DRIVE UP THE RAMP IN THE BOAT AND GET TO FOLKS.

THANK YOU MR. SO, UM, MEMBERS, I'M GOING TO GET US A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU FOR A MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEM 1 0 9.

UH, YEAH, I MOVE TO PASS ITEM 1 0 9, UH, MOTION.

AND WE KNOW WE HAVE AN AMENDMENT COMING EVERYBODY.

SO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CODRE MOVES TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 1 0 9, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ.

I'LL NOW RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER CODRE FOR A MOTION, UH, TO AMEND.

IS THIS THE TIME WHERE I COULD SPEAK ON THE MOTION OR SHOULD I JUST, WHY, WHY DON'T WE GET, GET IT ALL OUT THERE THAT YOU WANT AND THEN WE'LL SPEAK ON IT.

UH, I, A MOTION TO AMEND ITEM 1 0 9.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE MOVES TO AMEND MEMBERS.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS.

YOU HAVE, UH, THE YELLOW SHEET WITH THE MOTION THAT WOULD ADD CONDITIONS TO PART FOUR OF THE ORDINANCE.

IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.

UH, NOW, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU, UH, ON THE MOTION TO AMEND.

UM, AND YOU CAN SPEAK TO WHATEVER YOU WANNA SPEAK TO, BUT WE WILL COME BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION IF THE MOTION TO AMEND PASSES.

FOR SUPPORTING THIS MOTION.

UM, WELL, I APPRECIATE, UH, EVERYONE WHO CAME TODAY TO, UH, UH, TO SPEAK AND I APPRECIATE THE APPLICANT AND, AND WATERSHED FOR ALSO, UH, PRESENTING EARLIER TODAY.

UH, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THE DEVELOPMENT, YOU KNOW, AND IT, IT'S BEEN SAID ALREADY DOES NOT CAUSE ADDITIONAL FLOODING TO OTHER PROPERTIES, AND THAT THERE IS A HARDSHIP AT THE PROPERTY AND A VARIANCE WOULD BE REQUIRED NO MATTER WHAT WOULD BE DEVELOPED ON THE PROPERTY.

SO WHETHER IT WOULD BE A GROCERY STORE OR A PARKING GARAGE, UH, IT WOULD STILL BE REQUIRED.

AND AS THE APPLICANT NOTED, UH, NEED DEVELOPMENT HAS TO BE BUILT TO FEMA STANDARDS TO WITHSTAND THE FLOODWATERS.

AND THE, AND AS THE APPLICANT ALSO NOTED, UH, RESIDENTIAL UNITS, UM, UM, YOU KNOW, WOULD NOT BE ON THE FIRST FLOOR, WOULD BE DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY, BY THESE FLOODWATERS.

UH, SO IT COMES DOWN TO SHELTER IN PLACE AND TENANT NOTIFICATION.

AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, GOING THROUGH THE MOTION SHEET, UH, AND I HOPE EVERYONE HAD A CHANCE TO GO THROUGH IT, UH, THAT THE APPLICANT HAS AGREED TO ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS WHICH I, WHICH I OUTLINED, WHICH ARE EASILY VISIBLE SIGNS HAVE BEEN ERECTED BY THE PROPERTY OWNER OR AGENT.

IF FLOOD RISK DISCLOSURE FORM OR ADDENDUM NOTIFYING POT, POTENTIAL POTENTIAL OCCUPANTS, A NOTIFICATION SYSTEM TO COMMUNICATE WITH BUILDING OCCUPANTS IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY OR FLOODING THE FINISHED FLOOR ELEVATION, UH, SHALL BE AT A MINIMUM OF THREE FEET ABOVE THE 100 YEAR FLOODPLAIN.

UH, AND THEN ALSO MAKING SURE THERE'S ONGOING AND CONTINUED, UH, EDUCATION.

UH, BECAUSE THE REALITY IS THAT THE FLOODING IS NOT A SIDE BY SIDE ISSUE.

THIS IS A NEIGHBORHOOD WIDE ISSUE.

UH, AND, YOU KNOW, I, LIKE I SAID, I, I HEARD WATERSHED ON, UH, UH, ON THEIR, YOU KNOW, ON SHELTER IN PLACE ISSUES REGARDING ENFORCEMENT.

UH, AND THAT'S WHAT I LOOK FORWARD TO TRYING TO IMPLEMENT, UH, THEIR COMMUNITY RESILIENCE PLAN IN THE AREA THAT HAS BEEN A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE SHOAL CREEK, UH, FEASIBILITY STUDY.

UH, SO THAT THE CITY CAN PROVIDE ASSURANCE WITH HELPING PEOPLE IN, UH, WITH HELPING PEOPLE STAY INFORMED.

UH, I, I BELIEVE WE, THE CITY, UH, NEEDS TO TAKE ON THAT ROLE OF, OF BEING THE EDUCATOR AND, AND MAKING SURE WE ARE THE INFORMER.

UH, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN REVIEWING THE RECOMMENDATIONS TO REDUCE FLOODING, UH, IN LOWER SHOLL CREEK WATERSHED, AND WE'D LIKE TO CONTINUE TO FIN THOSE, UH, AS PART OF OUR FUTURE CITY INFRASTRUCTURE AND CLIMATE CONVERSATIONS.

UH, BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE THE ISSUE, UH, UH, OF THESE, OF THESE FLOOD, OF THESE OF THE FLOODING, UH, YOU KNOW, CAN CONTINUE TO BE IGNORED.

UH, OUR FLOOD CENTERS ENABLE US TO BUILD MORE RESILIENT, UH, IN AREAS PRONE TO FLOODING.

UM, AND YOU KNOW, I, I THINK I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE COUNCIL MARVELLA, HE, UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT COMES TO, UH, US AS A, AS A CITY, UH, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT LARGER, MORE COMPREHENSIVE PROJECTS TO ADDRESS, UH, SAFETY.

UH, AND COUNCILOR MAR BROUGHT UP, UH, THE NEED TO LOOK AT REGIONAL FLOOD WATER PROJECTS, UH, RATHER THAN DEVELOPMENT BY DEVELOPMENT.

UH, SO I, I APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, HONEST SUPPORT.

I APPRECIATE, UH, THE SHILL CREEK CONSERVANCY, UM,

[06:15:01]

UH, AND WITH WITHOUT IT I MOVE ADOPTION TO THE MOTION COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE HAS MOVED APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO ITEM 1 0 9, WHICH WOULD CHANGE THE CONDITIONS TO PART FOUR, THE ORDINANCE.

IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION OF THE MOTION TO AMEND IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY OFF THE DAIS.

WE WILL NOW GO BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION.

OH, BEFORE WE DO THAT, UH, IS THERE ANY OBJECTION BY COUNSEL TO CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 1 0 9? WE'VE HAD ENOUGH OF MR. SETTLE.

UM, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.

UM, WITH, UH, NOW LET'S GO BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED.

I WOULD LIKE TO ASK MR. SHRUNK, UM, IF YOU COULD EXPLAIN AGAIN, THE POTENTIAL IMPLICATIONS, UM, WITH RESPECT TO FEMA AND THE REST OF THE CITY OF APPROVING THIS.

I CAN TELL YOU THAT WHAT THE POSSIBILITIES MAY BE, NOT GUARANTEED GONNA HAPPEN, BUT WHAT COULD HAPPEN IS THAT DURING OUR ANNUAL CRS UPDATE WITH CRS, WE PRESENT TO THEM, HERE'S WHAT WE'RE DOING FOR FLOOD PLAIN MANAGEMENT, PLEASE RATE US.

AND IF ONE OF THOSE THINGS IS HIGHER STANDARDS, WHICH IT IS, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GETTING POINTS FOR NOW, AND THEN THEY ASK THE QUESTION ALSO IS, TELL US ABOUT ALL THE VARIANCES THAT YOUR COMMUNITY'S DONE IN THE PAST YEAR.

AND IF THEY CONNECT THOSE DOTS AND THERE'S, THERE'S A SAFE ACCESS RULE REGULATION, THAT'S GREAT, BUT HERE'S 10 TIMES YOU VARIED THAT REGULATION.

SO WE MAY NOT GIVE YOU POINTS FOR YOUR HIGHER STANDARDS ANYMORE, AND THAT'S, THAT'S NOT GUARANTEED CAN HAPPEN, BUT IT'S POSSIBLY GONNA HAPPEN.

AND THAT MIGHT THEN LOWER OUR SCORE, UH, UH, DECREASE OUR CLASS AND DECREASE THE PERCENTAGE OF, OF SAVINGS THAT THE, SOME OF THE RESIDENTS MAY GET ON THEIR FLOOD INSURANCE PREMIUMS. THANK YOU.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE TO CLOSE ON THE MOTION, UH, TO APPROVE ITEM 1 0 9 AS AMENDED.

UH, YEAH, I MOVE, I MOVE FORWARD WITH, UM, WITHOUT OBJECTION.

ITEM 1 0 9 AS AMENDED IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER BEING SHOWN VOTING NO.

1 22, WHICH IS RELATED TO ITEM ONE 10.

AND COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, YOU WERE JUST THERE.

UM, THERE YOU ARE.

YOU'RE VOTING AYE OR NO? AYE.

VOTING AYE.

AND COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY OFF THE DAAS.

THANKS EVERYBODY.

UH, THAT WILL TAKE US NOW

[110. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance setting the assessment rate and approving the 2025 assessment roll for the East Sixth Street Public Improvement District. Related to Item #122.]

TO ITEM NUMBER ONE 10.

UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER ONE.

10.

UH, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN.

MADAM CLERK, NO SPEAKERS.

THERE IS NO ONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER ONE 10.

UH, ITEM OBJECTION.

WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER ONE.

10.

THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, VELA MOVES THAT WE APPROVE.

ITEM NUMBER ONE 10.

AND SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER.

IS THERE DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.

ITEM NUMBER ONE 10 IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY BEING OFF THE DAIS.

ITEM NUMBER ONE 11 WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON NIGHT.

OH, BEFORE WE GO TO ONE 11, LET'S GO TO ITEM

[122. Approve an ordinance approving the East Sixth Street Public Improvement District Service and Assessment Plan and Budget for 2025 and declaring an emergency. Related to Item #110.]

ITEM 1 22 IS RELATED TO ITEM ONE 10.

UM, AND THAT'S IN ORDINANCE OF APPROVING THIS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA WHO MADE THE MOTION ON ITEM ONE 10 MOVES APPROVAL OF ITEM 1 22.

IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER.

UH, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO ITEM 1 22 WITHOUT OBJECTION? ITEM NUMBER 1 22 IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY BEING OFF THE DAIS MEMBERS.

THAT TAKES US TO ITEM

[111. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance setting the assessment rate and approving the 2025 assessment roll for the South Congress Preservation and Improvement District. Related to Item #124.]

NUMBER ONE 11.

WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM ONE 11.

THE PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN.

MADAM CLERK, THERE'S NO ONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK MEMBERS ON ITEM NUMBER ONE 11.

SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

ON ITEM ONE 11, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED.

UM, THE MAYOR PRO TEM MOVES APPROVAL OF ITEM ONE 11.

IT IS SECONDED BY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION? ITEM ONE 11 IS ADOPTED.

AND NOW WE

[124. Approve an ordinance approving the South Congress Preservation and Improvement District Service and Assessment Plan and Budget update for 2025 and declaring an emergency. Related to Item #111.]

WILL GO TO ITEM 1 24, WHICH IS RELATED TO ITEM ONE 11.

UM, MAYOR PRO TIM MOVES ADOPTION OF ITEM 1 24.

IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ.

IS THERE DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.

ITEM NUMBER 1 24 IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY BEING OFF THE DAIS.

AND FOR THE RECORD, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY WAS OFF THE DAIS ON THE VOTING OF NUMBER ONE 11.

WE WILL NOW GO TO ITEM

NUMBER ONE 13.

UM, WITHOUT OBJECTION MEMBERS, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER ONE 13.

THE PUBLIC HEARING IS

[06:20:01]

OPEN.

THERE IS NO ONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER ONE.

13.

BE POSTED.

ONE 13 AND ONE 14 SHOULD BE POSTPONED TO AUGUST 29TH.

AND THAT, THAT'S NEWS TO ME.

GO AHEAD.

AND THE PUBLIC HEARING SHOULD TECHNICALLY NOT BE OPENED ON THIS.

WELL SURE.

IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT.

SO TELL ME AGAIN.

ONE 13 AND ONE 14 WILL BE POSTPONED.

YES SIR.

I MIGHT JUST POINT OUT THAT WHEN WE HAVE AN AGENDA THAT IS SO LOADED UP AND EVERYBODY'S THROWING EVERYTHING THEY CAN BECAUSE IT'S APOCALYPTIC.

IF IT DOESN'T GET HURT ON JULY 18TH, THIS IS PART OF WHAT HAPPENS IS THINGS GET TAKEN, GET, GET THROWN OFF DOING A GREAT, YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB.

THIS IS HIRE, THIS IS TO BE FAIR, THESE HAD TO BE SCHEDULED FOR THIS 'CAUSE IT'S A, AN APPEAL.

SO, OKAY.

FAIR ENOUGH.

UM, SO, BUT YOU'RE TELLING ME ONE 13 AND ONE 14 ARE BEING POSTPONED CORRECT.

TO AUGUST MEMBERS.

UM, WE OPENED A PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM ONE 13.

SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ONE 13.

ONE 13 IS BEING POSTPONED UNTIL WHEN? AUGUST 29TH.

AUGUST 29TH.

ONE 14 IS BEING POSTPONED UNTIL WHEN? AUGUST 29TH.

AUGUST 29TH.

ARE YOU THE PERSON I TALKED TO ABOUT ONE 15? WE STILL HAVE ONE 15.

YES, WE DO HAVE A ONE 15.

OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER ONE 15.

UH, MEMBERS WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL

[115. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance regarding Undine, LLC’s proposal to increase water and wastewater rates for its customers located in the City’s corporate limits in the area known as Greenshores of Lake Austin.]

UH, THERE BEING NO OBJECTION.

ONE 15 THE PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN.

MADAM CLERK, NO ONE HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER ONE 15.

SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

ON ITEM NUMBER ONE 15, UH, THE MAYOR PRO TEM MOVES A ADOPTION OF ITEM NUMBER ONE 15.

IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.

I RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER AL ALLISON ALTER FOR COMMENT.

I I JUST WANNA CLARIFY THE ADOPTING ONE 15 IS, IS DECLARING THAT THE CITY IS OKAY WITH THE WATER RATES AND NOT OKAY WITH THE WASTEWATER RATES.

ROUNDING.

WHO WANTS TO AN ANSWER A QUESTION? HI, THIS IS CHRISY MANN WITH THE LAW DEPARTMENT.

THAT'S CORRECT.

THAT'S WHAT THE ORDER AND I JUST, I'M SORRY.

THE ORDER IS CONFUSING.

SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE COMMUNICATING CORRECTLY WHAT DETERMINATION OF OUR WATER UTILITY WAS ON THESE, ON THESE RATES.

AND THAT'S THE CORRECT.

UM, AND THEN I ALSO WANTED TO JUST REALLY THANK, UM, MINA AND MY STAFF AND, UM, AUSTIN WATER FOR WORKING WITH US REALLY CLOSELY, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SEX HOUSES THAT ARE IN MY DISTRICT, UM, THAT ARE IN THIS, UM, UTILITY ARE, ARE, ARE REPRESENTATIVE AS BEST WE CAN AT THE PUC.

AND, AND THROUGH THIS PROCESS, UM, THROUGH THE DIFFICULT PROCESS.

I UNDERSTAND WE'RE NOT DONE WITH THE PROCESS, BUT UM, HOPEFULLY THIS WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

I'M GOING TO CALL OUT THE NEXT ITEMS ITEM AND THEN I'M GONNA LOOK TO THE CITY CLERK TO TELL ME IF ANYONE HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK THAT WANTS TO SPEAK AS TO THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.

UM, THANK YOU.

IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER ONE 15 WITHOUT OBJECTION.

ITEM ONE 15 IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY BEING OFF THE DAIS.

UM,

[Items 116 - 118 ( Part 1 of 2 )]

1 16, 1 17 AND ONE 18.

NOW THAT WILL TAKE US TO ITEM ONE 19.

UH, SPEAKING ON THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT OF ONE 16 IS JENNY GRAYSON, MARIO CANTU, MARY INGLE, SUSAN MORRISON, AND ON ONE 17 IS CHRIS PAGE.

IS THERE ANY, UH, ANYONE WISHING TO BE, UH, I DON'T SEE FOLKS IN THE CHAMBERS ANYMORE, UH, THAT WERE CALLED OUT.

IS THERE ANYONE HERE THAT WAS SIGNED UP AND WHOSE NAME HAS JUST BEEN CALLED, WISHING TO SPEAK ON ONE 16, THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT? ALRIGHT, IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO BE THAT'S BEEN, NAME'S BEEN CALLED, WISHING TO SPEAK TO THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT? ON ONE 17, THERE WAS ONE NAME CALLED.

FAIR ENOUGH.

UH,

[119. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance designating the Central Austin Combined Neighborhood Planning Area as an area in which additional regulations will be applied to mobile food establishments in accordance with City Code Section 25-2-812.]

ITEM ONE 19.

WITHOUT OBJECTION.

WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER ONE 19.

UH, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPENED AND WE HAVE SPEAKERS.

UH, WE'LL GO TO THE REMOTE SPEAKER, BETSY GREENBERG.

MY NAME IS MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS BETSY GREENBERG.

CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES.

I BELIEVE THESE RULES SHOULD APPLY CITYWIDE, BUT TODAY I CAN ONLY ASK YOU TO PASS ITEM ONE 19, WHICH ONLY AFFECTS CAMPAK SENIOR PLANNER.

I'M A VICE CHAIR OF THE CENTRAL AUSTIN COMBINED NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING TEAM, AND I LIVE WITHIN THE PLANNING AREA KNOWN AS CAMPAK.

THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING ITEM ONE 19, WHICH PROVIDES EXTRA DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR MOBILE FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS WITHIN CAMPAK.

WITHOUT THIS CHANGE, MOBILE FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS THAT ARE JUST 50 FEET FROM A RESIDENCE MAY STAY OPEN UNTIL 3:00 AM.

IF YOU PASS THIS ITEM, THOSE ESTABLISHMENTS MUST EITHER CLOSE BY 10:00 PM OR BE 300 FEET AWAY FROM SF.

FIVE OR MORE RESTRICTIVE.

[06:25:01]

MAUREEN MEREDITH PROVIDED A LIST OF BUSINESSES AND ADDRESSES FOR THE MOBILE FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS WITHIN CAMPAK.

AFTER CHECKING THE MAP AND LOOKING UP THE HOURS FOR ALL THOSE BUSINESSES, I BELIEVE THERE'S ONLY ONE EXISTING BUSINESS OUT OF ABOUT 40 THAT ISN'T ALREADY IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE PROPOSED RULES.

NONE OF THE MOBILE FOOD BUSINESSES IN THE UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD OVERLAY AREA WOULD BE NEGATIVELY AFFECTED.

PLEASE VOTE IN FAVOR OF ITEM ONE 19 TO MAINTAIN THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN CENTRAL AUSTIN.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.

NEXT IN PERSON WE HAVE BRIAN PENA AND PHILIP WILEY.

PHILIP WILEY.

UM, I DO APOLOGIZE, I PROMISE NOT TO MAKE A HABIT OF COMING UP HERE FOUR TIMES IN A MONTH, MUCH LESS A DAY.

UM, BRIAN UNFORTUNATELY COULD NOT STAY ALL DAY.

HE'S, UH, WAS REPRESENTING, UH, UT DEMS AND, UH, THEY ARE OPPOSED TO THIS.

UM, THEY DON'T, THEY DID NOT GET ANY NOTICE.

THEY DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON.

UM, AND UNFORTUNATELY HE CAN'T BE HERE.

SO, UH, I DIDN'T WANNA LEAVE WITHOUT SOMEBODY SPEAKING TO THIS.

I'D LIKE TO, UM, START WITH A, A BRIEF.

THE, THE REASON I'M OPPOSED TO IT IS BECAUSE THIS IS WITHIN 200 FEET OF THE DOWNTOWN, UM, BORDER.

UH, WEST CAMPUS AND DOWNTOWN COMBINED MAKE UP WHAT WE REFER TO AS THE PRIMARY ACTIVITY CENTER IN, IN, UH, IMAGINE AUSTIN.

THESE ARE PLACES THAT HAVE DIFFERENT RULES THAN OTHER THINGS, OTHER PLACES IN THE CITY, REGARDLESS OF WHATEVER ZONING THEY MAY HAPPEN TO HAVE AT THE MOMENT, WHETHER APPROPRIATE OR NOT, WHEN IT WAS APPLIED.

UM, WHEN, WHEN, UM, MY DAUGHTER CAME TO ME ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO AND SAID THAT SHE WANTED TO BUY A SCHOOL BUS AND RENOVATE IT AND DRIVE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

UM, I HAD TO FIND, MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS OKAY FOR HER TO PARK THAT ON THE STREET.

AND IT IS, IT, IT IS BECAUSE I LIVE DOWNTOWN ANYWHERE BETWEEN THE LAKE AND 29TH STREET, I 35 JETTING OVER TO GUADALUPE AND LAMAR IS TREATED DIFFERENTLY IN MANY ORDINANCES IN THE CITY.

UM, WE STILL HAVE MORE WORK TO DO, BUT, UM, I THINK THAT THIS IS COMPLETELY INAPPROPRIATE TO DO IT ON THE WEST CAMPUS PORTION OF CAN PACK.

UM, I I DON'T REALLY HAVE AN OPINION NORTH OF 29TH WHAT SHOULD BE DONE, AND I'M NOT GONNA, UH, EXERT, YOU KNOW, MY BELIEFS ON THAT MATTER, BUT, BUT I, I, I THINK AT A MINIMUM, UM, WE SHOULD CONSIDER POSTPONING THIS.

IF NOT, UM, JUST RECOGNIZING SOME PARTS OF TOWN ARE DIFFERENT AND NOT EVERYTHING APPLIES EQUALLY EVERYWHERE.

POINT OUT ON 6 1 16, 1 17 AND ONE 18.

THAT CONCLUDES ALL SPEAKERS MEMBERS.

THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER ONE 19.

SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER ONE 19, AND THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED.

UM, IS THERE A MOTION ON ITEM ONE 19? IS THERE A MOTION? IS THERE A MOTION ON ONE 19? THERE BEING NO MOTION ITEM ONE 19 FAILS.

THAT WILL TAKE US TO ITEM ONE 20 BEFORE I GO TO ONE 20.

LET ME, UM,

[Items 116 - 118 ( Part 2 of 2 )]

UM, I MAY HAVE FAILED TO STATE THE DATE TO WHICH THOSE WERE POSTPONED AND IT'S AUGUST 29TH.

AUGUST 29TH ON THE ITEMS. 1 16, 1 17 AND ONE 18.

ITEM ONE

[120. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance amending City Code Title 25 to establish boundaries for new zoning districts located in the vicinity commonly known as the South Central Waterfront; creating a new zoning district and modifying related site development regulations and compatibility standards; creating a new zoning district for density bonus that includes granting additional floor-to-area ratio in exchange for providing community benefits; and initiating zoning and rezoning and necessary neighborhood plan amendments for eligible properties located within the boundaries of the new zoning districts.]

20 IS BEING POSTPONED TO SEPTEMBER 12TH.

MR. BUNCH, ARE YOU HERE TO, YOU WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE POSTPONEMENT EARLIER IN THE DAY.

MR. BUNCH ISN'T HERE.

IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE POSTPONEMENT? TWO SPEAKERS WERE SIGNED UP.

JENNY GRAYSON AND RITA THOMPSON.

POSTPONED TO SEPTEMBER 12TH.

UM, ARE EITHER OF THOSE PEOPLE HERE? ALRIGHT, THAT ITEM WILL BE

[06:30:01]

ITEM 1 21 WILL BE POSTPONED TO AUGUST 29TH.

IS THERE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THAT ITEM? NO.

MAYOR.

UM, MEMBERS, A COUPLE OF HOUSEKEEPING ITEMS. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON WAS TEMPORARILY OFF THE DAIS AND MOVING TO A VIRTUAL PRESENCE WHEN WE VOTED ON ITEM NUMBER 93, SHE, UH, ASKED THAT, THAT SHE BE SHOWN VOTING IN FAVOR OF ITEM NUMBER 93.

IT WOULD NOT CHANGE THE OUTCOME OF THE VOTE.

UH, I WOULD MOVE THAT SHE BE SHOWN VOTING IN FAVOR OF ITEM NUMBER 93.

IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION WITHOUT OBJECTION? COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON WILL BE SHOWN VOTING IN FAVOR OF ITEM NUMBER 93 WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY BEING OFF THE DAAS COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ, UH, WAS TEMPORARILY, TEMPORARILY OFF THE DAAS WHEN WE TOOK UP ITEMS 1 0 1, 1 0 2 AND 1 23, WHICH WAS RELATED TO ITEM 1 0 1.

HE IS, UH, ASKED THAT HE BE SHOWN VOTING IN FAVOR OF THOSE ITEMS. IT WOULD NOT CHANGE THE OUTCOME OF THE VOTE.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA MOVES APPROVAL.

I'LL SECOND THAT MOTION.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION WITHOUT OBJECTION? COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ WILL BE SHOWN VOTING IN FAVOR OF ITEMS 1 0 1, 1 0 2, 1 0 3, AND 1 23 WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY BEING OFF THE DAIS.

I'M GETTING READY TO CLOSE THIS OUT, BUT I'M LOOKING AT SOMEBODY THAT'S LOOKING AT ME TO MAKE SURE , UM, MAYOR I, I, SHE HAD THAT LOOK IN HER EYE.

UM, THERE WAS ONE PERSON WHO WAS SIGNED UP ORIGINALLY AS REMOTE, BUT THEY'RE ACTUALLY HERE IN PERSON.

IT'S ENOVIA JOSEPH SPEAKING ON THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT OF ITEM ONE 20.

IN THAT CASE, UH, BEFORE WE ADJOURN, UM, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER ONE 20.

UH, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPENED WITHOUT OBJECTION.

MS. JOSEPH, PLEASE COME TALK TO US AS TO THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT.