[CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:03]
THE ZONING AND PLANNING COMMISSION.
WE ARE IN AUSTIN, CITY HALL, BOARD AND COMMISSIONS.
WE'VE CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER.
UH, THERE IS NO PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.
SO COMMISSIONER STERN IS NOT HERE.
COMMISSIONER FLORES IS NOT HERE.
SO WE HAVE SEVEN PRESENT, TWO ABSENT, AND TWO VACANCIES, WHICH WE MAY NOT EVER GET FILLED.
UM, IS THERE ANYBODY HERE IN THE AUDIENCE TO SPEAK FOR GENERAL PUBLIC ITEMS? NOT ON A SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEM.
SEEING NO HANDS RAISED, WE'LL GO
[Consent Agenda]
TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON THE, UH, JULY 16TH MINUTES? SEEING NONE, WE WILL INCLUDE THE JULY 16TH MINUTES AS A CONSENT.
ITEM ONE, CONSENT ITEM NUMBER TWO, THE REZONING C 14 20 24 DASH 0 0 8 7 AT 12 1 0 4 JEKYLL CIRCLE.
IT IS A REZONING REQUEST FROM LICO TO CF.
IT HAS STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ITEM THREE IS A REZONING CASE, C 14 20 24 DASH 0 5 7 AT 2100 PATSY PARKWAY IN DISTRICT TWO.
IT IS A REZONING FROM SF TWO TO MF THREE.
IT IS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH STAFF.
RECOMMENDATION ITEM FOUR IS A REZONING CASE, C 14 20 24 DASH 0 9 3 AT 79 0 1 PERMAN TRAIL.
IT IS A REZONING CASE FROM MH TO SF THREE.
IT HAS STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ITEM FIVE IS C 14 20 24 DASH 0 0 8 9.
IT IS A REZONING CASE FROM MH TO SF THREE.
IT IS RECOMMENDED AN ON STAFF CONSENT AGENDA, EXCUSE ME.
ADAM SIX IS A REZONING CASE C 14 20 24 DASH 0 0 5 4 AT EIGHTY TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTY THREE HUNDRED NORTH MOPAC.
IT IS A REZONING CASE FROM LO AND LR TO G-R-M-U-V DB 90.
ITEM SEVEN IS A CONSENT POSTPONEMENT BY STAFF FROM TO AUGUST 20TH.
IT IS C 14 20 23 DASH 0 0 4 8 AND IS A CONSENT POSTPONEMENT TO AUGUST 20TH.
ITEM EIGHT IS A REZONING CASE, C 14 20 24 DASH 0 6 2 AT 31 52 EAST STATE HIGHWAY 71 SERVICE ROAD, EASTBOUND.
UM, IT IS REZONING CASE FROM IRR TO CF AND IS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH STAFF.
RECOMMENDATION ITEM NINE IS C 14 20 24 DASH 0 8 4 AT 65 75 DUCKER LANE, TRACK TWO, DISTRICT ONE.
IT IS A CONSENT ITEM AND IT IS STAFF POSTPONEMENT TO AUGUST 20TH.
SO ITEM NINE IS THE STAFF POSTPONEMENT AUGUST 20TH WITH STAFF.
RECOMMENDATION ITEM 10 IS C 14 20 23 C 8 20 23 DASH ZERO 7.0 A.
A RE SUBDIVISION OF LOT ONE DAVIS LAWN, SECTION ONE, DISTRICT ONE.
IT'S AN APPROVAL OF VARIANCE TO THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE 25 4 1 71 TO ALLOW LOT 1D TO BE A PARK LAND LOT AND NOT HAVE FURNISH ON THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY.
IT HAS BEEN PULLED FOR DISCUSSION BY A CITIZEN.
ITEM 11 IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL VARIANCE.
SP 2023 DASH 0 4 0 1 C AT 2,900 PALMER LANE INDUSTRIAL, PALMER INDUSTRIAL.
UM, IT IS 1 0 0 9 5 EAST US HIGHWAY TWO 90 SERVICE ROAD EASTBOUND.
UM, IT IS A VARIANCE REQUEST, REQUEST OF VARY LDC 25 8 3 41 TO ALLOW CUT UP TO 15 FEET AND REQUEST OF VARY LDC 25 8 3 42 TO ALLOW FILL UP TO 16 FEET.
AND IT IS RECOMMENDED WITH STAFF RECOMMENDATION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
UM, THAT IS IT FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA.
SO AGAIN, WE HAVE ITEM ONE, WHICH IS THE MINUTES.
ITEM TWO, REZONING CASE ITEM THREE IS A REZONING CASE.
ITEM SEVEN IS A POSTPONEMENT TO AUGUST 20TH.
ITEM EIGHT IS A REZONING CASE.
ITEM NINE IS THE POSTPONEMENT TO AUGUST 20TH.
ITEM 10 IS BEING PULLED FOR DISCUSSION.
AND ITEM 11 IS A ENVIRONMENTAL VARIANCE.
DO I HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? YES.
UM, SO ON ITEM SIX, UM, MM-HMM.
PROHIBITING THE FOLLOWING USES.
DO YOU HAVE THOSE? COMMUNITY RECREATION, PRIVATE COMMUNITY RECREATION, PUBLIC
[00:05:01]
HOSPITAL SERVICES, GENERAL HOSPITAL SERVICES, LIMITED ALTERNATIVE FINANCIAL SERVICES, AUTOMOTIVE RENTALS, AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SERVICES, AUTOMOTIVE SALES, AUTOMOTIVE WASHING OF ANY TYPE BAIL BOND SERVICES, COMMERCIAL, OFF STREET PARKING, OFF STREET ACCESSORY PARKING, OUTDOOR ENTERTAINMENT, OUTDOOR SPORTS AND RECREATION, PAWN SHOP SERVICES, PETTY CAB STORAGE AND DISPATCH, PLANT, NURSERY SERVICE STATION, AND CUSTOM MANUFACTURING.AND THOSE WERE ALL WHAT WAS AGREED TO RIGHT BY THE STAFF AND THE NEIGHBORS.
UM, AND WE'D ALSO LIKE TO ADD A RECOMMENDATION.
I GUESS YOU DON'T WANT THIS IN THE MOTION.
WELL, COMMISSIONER SHERRY CERTIS WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, IT HAS BEEN BECOME A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFICULTY AT CITY COUNCIL TO UPHOLD THOSE MOTIONS.
SO WE'VE BEEN ASKED NOT TO PROHIBIT ACCESS AT THIS TIME BECAUSE THAT WILL BE DEALT WITH AT THE TIME OF SITE PLAN REVIEW.
SO WE'RE HOPING THAT YOU WILL PROHIBIT ADDITIONAL ACCESS POINTS ON BEN TREE ROAD, RIGHT? SO THE CONDITIONS SHE READ IN WILL ALL BE A PART OF THE CONDITIONAL OVERLAY.
NOT REQUEST IS TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH STAFF AND THE RESIDENTS ABOUT NOT ALLOWING ACCESS TO BEN TREE ROAD.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? I WOULD LIKE TO BE SHOWN AS VOTING NO ON FOUR AND FIVE, WHICH ARE MH TO SF THREE, WHICH I FEEL IS A LOSS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS WELL AS THE ENVIRONMENTAL VARIANCE.
NUMBER 11, SIMPLY BECAUSE THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION DIDN'T RECOMMEND IT.
I, I THEY DIDN'T VOTE FORWARD.
SO I'D JUST LIKE TO BE SHOWN AS VOTING NO ON THAT ONE.
AND WE DO NEED SIX VOTES TO APPROVE.
SO IF COMMISSIONER VOTES NO, THEN WE STILL CAN PASS THESE ALL ON THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH COMMISSIONER GREENBERG SHOWING NO ON ITEMS 3, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, AND 11 AND 11.
ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OKAY.
DO I SEE A VOTE? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY, AYE.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND? OH,
CAN I HAVE A MOTION? YOU WANNA MAKE THE MOTION? NO.
SO YOU'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AND WE'RE SHOWING I, UH, COMMISSIONER GREENBERG OPPOSING ITEMS FOUR, FIVE, AND 11.
DO I SEE A SECOND? I HAVE A SECOND.
WE WILL NOW GO TO ITEM, UH, 10.
THE SUBDIVISION VARIANCE C 8 20 23 DASH OH IN YOUR MOTION INCLUDED CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, CORRECT? CORRECT.
SO THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
SO NOW WE'LL HAVE A BRING UP ITEMS ITEM 10 C 8 20 23 DASH 0 0 0 7 0.08.
IT'S A RE SUBDIVISION OF LOT ONE DAVIS LAWNS, SECTION ONE, DISTRICT ONE AT 5 0 0 4 HEFLIN LANE.
UM, AND WE HAVE A RESIDENT TO SPEAK AND WE DO NOT HAVE A STAFF MAKING A PRESENTATION AS I UNDERSTAND IT, VIRTUAL.
WE DO HAVE A VIRTUAL PRESENTATION FROM STAFF.
SO DO THE STAFF PRESENTATION FIRST.
UM, THIS IS WITH THE DEVELOPMENT.
CAN YOU TURN YOUR CAMERA ON? TURN YOUR, SO WE CAN SEE YOU SO WE CAN SEE YOU MAYBE
I'M HAVING PROBLEMS OF, UM, SETTING UP THE, THE VIEWER.
[00:10:05]
OKAY, GO AHEAD.GO AHEAD AND DO THE PRESENTATION WITHOUT YOUR, YOUR CHATTING FACE ON THE SCREEN.
UH, I DON'T HAVE A FORMAL PRESENTATION.
UH, WHAT I COULD DO, I COULD INTRODUCE A CASE.
UH, WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU IS KCA 2000, UH, 23 0 0 0 7 0.0 A.
THIS IS, UH, A VARIANCE TO A SUBDIVISION.
UH, THE RE SUBDIVISION OF LOT ONE DAVIS LANE, SECTION ONE, LOCATED AT 5 0 4 HEFLIN LANE OF THE, UM, PROPERTY IS ZONED SF THREE AND P.
AND, UH, THE, WHAT THEY ARE PROPOSING IS RESIDENTIAL USES ON THERE.
WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR, THE VARIANCE IS FROM SECTION, UH, 25 4 1 70, UH, 1 71 A TO ALLOW, UH, A LOT IN THE PROP OR IN THE PROPOSED PLAT TO NOT HAVE FRONTAGE TO A PUBLIC ROAD.
UH, THE, WHAT THEY ARE PROPOSING IS TO HAVE, UM, ACCESS TO A JOINT USE ACCESS EASEMENT.
AND, UH, THE LOT THAT IS BEING PROPOSED TO NOT HAVE FRONTAGE IS A PARKLAND LOT OR IS BEING DEDICATED A PARKLAND LOT PER PLAT.
UH, THERE WILL BE CONNECTED TO A PARKLAND EASEMENT THAT IS TO THE REAR OF THIS PROPERTY.
AND, UH, AND THAT WOULD HAVE ACCESS THROUGH THERE AND ALSO THROUGH THE JOINT ACCESS EASEMENT THAT IS, UH, CONNECTS TO HELEN LANE.
UM, I AM HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
AND SO IS THE APPLICANT, UH, STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THIS.
AND, UH, WE'RE AGAIN, WE'RE HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
WHERE ARE WE AT IN THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENT FOR A 30 DAY REVIEW ON THIS PROJECT? THIS IS, UM, THE, THIS IS ONLY FOR THE VARIANCE.
THE CASE HAS, UM, IS PENDING THAT AND, AND, UM, EVERY, ALL THE REVIEWERS HAVE SIGNED OFF ON IT.
THE, THIS IS JUST WAITING THIS FINAL ACTION BY COMMISSIONER IN ORDER TO PROCEED, UM, TO, UH, FOR APPROVAL.
YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OF STAFF? YEAH.
COULD MR. GREENBERG, COULD YOU EXPLAIN THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN AN EASEMENT? UM, BECAUSE RANDY SCOTT FROM, UM, PARD SAID THIS IS NOT PARKLAND DEDICATION.
IT'S WHAT IS BEING DEDICATED IS A LOT AS PARKLAND.
THE ACTUAL LOT HAS AN EASEMENT THAT IS A PARKLAND LOT.
IF YOU REFER TO YOUR, UH, EXHIBIT C IN THE PROVIDED, UH, BACKUP, THAT GIVES YOU A GENERAL, UM, OVERVIEW OF WHAT THEY'RE PROPOSING ON THERE.
AND THE GREEN AREA ON THERE WOULD BE WHAT, WHAT WOULD BE LOT 1D.
SO THIS IS A, THIS IS PARKLAND, A PARKED LOT, NOT PARKLAND.
IT'S FLAGGED UP TO THE RIGHT OF WAY, BUT THIS GREEN AREA IS NOT.
SO THEY'RE ASKING FOR A VARIANCE THAT THIS BE RECORDED AS LOT 1D AND NOT BE, HAVE ACCESS TO A PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY.
I I CAN, I'M THE APPLICANT HERE.
I DON'T KNOW IF NOW WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR ME TO GIVE A LITTLE MORE BACKGROUND, BUT I CAN DO SO IF NEEDS WOULD BE APPROPRIATE, THAT WOULD BE GOOD.
DO WE HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS OF STAFF? UM, NO.
IF THE APPLICANT WANTS TO GO AHEAD FURTHER EXPLAIN.
AND I'M NOT, I HAVEN'T BEEN GIVEN ANY FEEDBACK ON WHAT THE, UM, PUBLIC COMMENT IS YET.
SO MAYBE I CAN ADDRESS THAT AS WELL SUBSEQUENTLY.
BUT, UH, THE REASON WHY THIS LOT DOESN'T NEED TO HAVE ANY ACCESS, THE LOT DOESN'T HAVE TO FRONT ON HELEN LANE IS BECAUSE THE PURPOSE OF THE PARKLAND DEDICATION IS FOR A GREEN BELT TRAIL THAT'S PROPOSED ALONG THIS CREEK THAT RUNS TO THE REAR OF THE PROPERTY.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S ANOTHER SUBDIVISION THAT'S ALREADY BEEN APPROVED CALLED THE PORT BRANCH CREEK SUBDIVISION.
THAT'S THE ONE THAT'S HATCHED IN THE, THE NEON BLUE COLOR THERE.
UM, AND THEY'VE ALREADY DEDICATED THEIR PARK LANE EASEMENT, WHICH IS THE, FOR THIS TRAIL THAT ART IS PROPOSING SHOWN, THERE IS THE 1.59 ACRE PARKLAND EASEMENT THAT EASEMENT DOES FRONT ON EAST MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
UM, THE TRAIL WOULD THEN, YOU KNOW, TRAVERSE ALONG THE CREEK AND PART HAS REQUESTED THIS 0.9, OR I'M SORRY, 0.09 ACRES OF PROPERTY FROM US AS A PARKLAND EASEMENT FOR THE TRAIL TO TRAVERSE THROUGH OUR PROPERTY.
AND THEN IT WOULD CONTINUE DOWN FOLLOWING THE CREEK, UH, BECAUSE THERE WOULDN'T BE ANY PUBLIC ACCESS FOR PEOPLE TO LIKE JOIN THE TRAIL THROUGH OUR PROPERTY.
SINCE OUR PROPERTY IS JUST THREE SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCES.
THAT'S WHY IT'S NOT NECESSARY TO HAVE THE, THE LOT, UM, CONNECT ALL THE WAY TO HETLAND LANE.
HOWEVER, WE ARE PROVIDING THIS JOINT USE ACCESS EASEMENT, WHICH YOU SEE IN PINK.
IF THERE EVER WAS A NEED TO HAVE MAINTENANCE OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE, GET BACK THERE TO ACCESS THE LOT, UM, FROM THE CITY'S PERSPECTIVE.
BUT THERE'S NO NEED FOR A PUBLIC ACCESS POINT.
AND THE LOT IS RELATIVELY, AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S PRETTY LONG AND SKINNY.
SO THE MAIN REASON IS WE JUST DON'T HAVE ROOM FOR AN ADDITIONAL FLAG LOT THERE.
THE SERVE LOT 1D AND THIS LOT IS NOT, IS IT BEING DEDICATED TO THE CITY OR IS IT GONNA BE MAINTAINED BY THE OWNERS? IT'S GONNA
[00:15:01]
BE DEDICATED AS A PARKLAND EASEMENT WHO WILL OWN THE PROPERTY.IT'LL, IT'LL STILL BE OWNED BY THE APPLICANT.
BUT THE ENTIRETY OF THE LOT IS AN EASEMENT.
SO THAT'S WHY IT'S NOT BEING PARKLAND DEDICATION, BECAUSE THE APPLICANT'S STILL GONNA OWN THE PROPERTY, BUT IT'LL BECOME A PARKLAND EASEMENT.
NOBODY CAN, SO THE PUBLIC CAN USE IT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT OR STAFF? WE SHOULD HEAR FROM THE RIGHT IF, IF NOT, WE'LL GO AHEAD HEAR FROM THE, THE RESIDENT.
JUST HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE HERE.
JUST PUSH THE BUTTON ON THE, ON THE FRONT AND IT'LL TURN GREEN.
I'M GONNA TRY AND BE REAL CIVIL AND REAL BRIEF.
YOU HAVE A THREE MINUTE TIMEFRAME, IS THAT CORRECT? IS THERE SIX MINUTES? THIS IS MY, MY PROPERTY IN MY LIFE, SO MY LIFE IS WORTH A FEW MINUTES.
YOU HAVE, YOU HAVE SIX MINUTES.
THIS PROPERTY THAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT LITERALLY HITS MY PROPERTY LINE, THE BACK PART.
I'M ON ELMS GROVE 44 0 1 ELMS GROVE THAT LITERALLY MEETS THIS PROPERTY.
AND I'M OPPOSED TO ANYTHING GOING THERE THAT IS GOING TO IMPEDE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE ALREADY HAVE AT THE CORNER OF WEBER AND HEFLIN, UM, A WHOLE SET OF TOWNHOUSES.
THEY'RE LITERALLY SITTING THERE EMPTY.
WE HAVE FLOODING AT THAT CUL-DE-SAC AT THE BASE WHERE I LIVE THE, I LIVE AT THE BASE OF THE CUL-DE-SAC THAT HITS THAT HALFLING PROPERTY.
AND EVERY TIME IT RAINS, THAT WATER RUSHES RIGHT INTO THERE.
SO WE HAVE DRAINAGE ISSUES TO START.
SO LET'S JUST CUT SOME MORE VEGETATION DOWN SO WE HAVE AN EVEN BIGGER PROBLEM THERE.
I WANNA KNOW WHAT ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES HAVE BEEN, HAVE BEEN DONE FOR THAT.
UM, LIKE HE SAID, THEY'VE ALREADY HIJACKED THE OTHER END OF ELMS GROVE BY PUTTING THE SUBDIVISION THAT HITS MLK THAT HITS EXACTLY THE OTHER END OF ELMS GROVE.
WHAT I HAD TO DO TO WORK WITH THE APPRAISAL DEPARTMENT TO GET, I HAVE A 1,250 SQUARE FOOT HOUSE THAT WAS BUILT IN 1966 AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO OUR COMMUNITY, OUR PROPERTY TAXES IS UNCONSCIONABLE.
AND I SPENT NO LESS THAN 30 HOURS COMING UP WITH THE LEGITIMATE REASONS WHY IT WAS OVERPRICED.
BECAUSE THEY ARE PUTTING UP THESE PLACES THAT BASICALLY LOOK LIKE SHIPPING CONTAINERS ON STEROIDS AND THEY'RE CRAMMING THEM IN THERE FOR THEIR OWN.
IF I CAN, LET ME FINISH MY, LET ME FINISH SO I DON'T RUN OUT OF TIME.
THE METRO POLICE RIGHT NOW IS 80% STAFFED.
SO IF YOU, UNLESS YOU HAVE A SHOOTOUT OR YOU'RE BLEEDING OUT YOUR EYES, IN WHICH CASE I'D ACTUALLY CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TAKES ROUGHLY 10 MINUTES FOR HELP TO ARRIVE.
THIS IS A HISTORICALLY AFRICAN AMERICAN MEXICAN COMMUNITY, WHICH WE ARE ONCE AGAIN BEING JUST PUSHED ASIDE, I'M, I KNOW MY NEIGHBORS, I KNOW THE PEOPLE THAT ARE THERE.
AND I LIVED ON THE EAST SIDE WHEN I COULD NOT GET A PIZZA DELIVERED BECAUSE I LIVED ON THE EAST SIDE AND NOW IT'S GENTRIFIED.
I LIVED WHEN WE HAD THE OLD MUELLER NEIGHBORHOOD AIRPORT AND ALL THIS GENTRIFICATION IS DESTROYED THE CHARACTER OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND WE HAVE HOMES NOW IN THERE THAT ARE RENTALS.
THEY'RE NOT EVEN, PEOPLE AREN'T EVEN LIVING THERE.
IT IT, I DON'T, I'M I'M BEFUDDLED AS TO WHY ALL OF THIS IS, IS BEING ALLOWED TO HAPPEN.
THEY'RE PUTTING UP THINGS, THEY DON'T MATCH THE COMMUNITY.
THEY'RE OUT PRICING EVERYBODY.
UM, THEY'RE, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT WHEN
DON'T TELL ME THAT BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE IT FOR A MINUTE.
'CAUSE I KNOW WHAT THAT COMMUNITY HAS ALWAYS BEEN.
AND IF WE WERE ON THE WEST, WE WOULDN'T BE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION AT ALL.
AND THEY CAN SAY THEY'RE GOING TO DO WHATEVER THEY WANT, BUT I WATCHED THE FLOODING, I WATCHED WHAT THEY'RE ALLOWING TO BE PUT INTO THESE PLACES.
THE CITY WAS JUST SUPPOSED TO COME AND FIX OUR ROAD.
I GOT THE LETTER, THEY WERE GONNA COME, THEY WERE GONNA FIX DOWN BY THE CUL-DE-SAC.
WELL GUESS WHAT? THEY CAME DOWN.
STONEGATE WENT UP A TAD TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT WHERE I AM ALL UNDONE.
SO DON'T TELL ME THAT ANYBODY CARES ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON DOWN THERE.
I STILL HAVE ALUMINUM HOUSE, I STILL HAVE ALUMINUM WINDOWS ON MY HOUSE.
YOU'RE GONNA PUT ME UP AGAINST PEOPLE WHO ARE PUTTING SELLING PROPERTIES FOR 600,000 GO A MILE AWAY TO SPRINGDALE.
AND THEY'VE GOT PROPERTIES THERE THAT ARE
[00:20:01]
BEING SOLD FOR 600 TO $1.3 MILLION.THIS IS NOT ABOUT WE NEEDING THESE PROPERTIES.
THIS ISN'T, THIS IS ABOUT BOTTOM LINE PUTTING MONEY IN POCKETS.
SOME OF THEM, THEY'LL COME IN, PUT LIPSTICK ON A PIG, THESE OLDER ONES AND THEN SELL 'EM OUT.
BUT I AM WELL AWARE OF WHO IS MOVING INTO THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS AND WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN THERE FOR DECADES, IF NOT GENERATIONS.
AND I AM, I'M, I'M SO TIRED OF BEING ROLLED OVER AND WE ARE BEING ROLLED OVER ON THE EAST SIDE BIG TIME.
AND I ABSOLUTELY, I'M ABSOLUTELY LIVID THAT I KEEP GETTING THESE NOTICES.
I KEEP FILLING THEM OUT SAYING NO, HAS ANYONE CHECKED THE FLOODING? WHAT ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES HAVE BEEN DONE? HOW IS THIS GOING TO IMPACT? DON'T TELL ME THEY'RE GONNA PUT THIS LITTLE EASEMENT IN AND PEOPLE AREN'T GONNA TRY TO COME THROUGH THAT LITTLE AREA.
IS IT CUT THROUGH? BECAUSE I'M ALREADY SEEING WHAT HAPPENED ON THE OTHER END.
AND THE NEIGHBORS ARE LIKE, OH YEAH, THEY JUST SAID IT WAS GONNA BE FOR EMERGENCIES.
WELL I KNOW AS SOON AS THEY GET THOSE BUILDINGS UP THAT PEOPLE ARE GONNA BE ACCESSING THAT BECAUSE IT'S EASIER.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OUR, WE HAVE OUR, UM, COMMUNITY OVER THERE FOR, UM, SHELTER FOR WOMEN.
WE HAVE, I MEAN THEY'RE JUST BLOWING US OVER AS THOUGH WE DON'T MATTER.
WE DON'T EXIST BECAUSE THE TAX DOLLARS FOR THE BOWMAN ARE GOOD AND FINE.
YOU WANNA PUT THE DEVELOPERS WANNA PUT THE TAX DOLLARS IN THEIR POCKETS, COME LIVE IN THOSE DEVELOPMENTS, COME LIVE AND DEAL WITH WHAT WE DEAL WITH EVERY SINGLE DAY BECAUSE THAT'S ALL THEY'RE DOING.
AND IF YOU LOOK IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT I'M IN THAT WHOLE LITTLE AREA, THEY ARE SIMPLY PUTTING THESE THINGS UP AND MOVING ON TO THE NEXT THING.
THE ONLY THING WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE, UH, SORRY.
THE, THE ONLY ITEM WE HAVE BEFORE US TODAY IS A VARIANCE TO HAVE ONE OF THESE LOTS NOT ACCESSED PUBLIC RIGHT OF AWAY.
SO IT CAN BE DEDICATED AS PARKLAND.
'CAUSE EVERY TIME I FILLED THIS OUT, I LET YOU SPEAK, I NEED YOU TO LET ME SPEAK.
THE ONLY ITEM WE HAD BEFORE US IS TO APPROVE ONE LOT THAT WILL NOT HAVE ACCESS TO PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY SO THEY CAN EXTEND A TRAIL THROUGH THAT PROPERTY.
WE'RE NOT APPROVING THE SUBDIVISION, WE'RE NOT APPROVING THE CONSTRUCTION OF ANYTHING.
WE'RE NOT APPROVING THE, THE ZONING ZONING.
ALLS WE'RE DOING IS SAYING IF YOU DO THIS, THIS ONE LOT CAN PROCEED WITHOUT HAVING ACCESS TO A ROADWAY SO THAT YOU CAN HAVE A TRAIL THROUGH THIS LOT.
THAT'S THE ONLY THING WE'RE APPROVING TODAY.
FLOODING AGAIN, WE'RE NOT APPROVING THE CONSTRUCTION OF ANYTHING.
SO NOTHING WILL BE BUILT WITH OUR APPROVAL HERE.
IT CAN BE DONE UNTIL EVERY SINGLE THING IS LAID OUT AND, AND WE'RE NOT APPROVING ANYTHING TO BE BUILT TONIGHT.
ALLS WE'RE APPROVING IS THAT IF THIS PROJECT APPROVES, AND WE'RE NOT SAYING IT'S GOING TO TO PROCEED.
WE'RE SAYING IF IT DOES, YOU CAN ALLOW THIS ONE LOT TO NOT ACCESS PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY.
SO YOU CAN HAVE A TRAIL THROUGH THIS ONE LOT.
THAT'S THE ONLY THING WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT.
AND I DON'T BELIEVE IT FOR A MINUTE AND I HAVE BEEN WATCHING WHAT HAS HAPPENED OVER IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
WELL IF, IF YOU READ THE POSTING, IT'S A VERY LONG TIME, MA'AM.
THE ONLY THING WE'RE APPROVING IS APPROVING ONE LOT TO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY.
THAT'S THE ONLY THING IS AM I CORRECT STAFF? I MEAN, WE'RE NOT APPROVING THE SUBDIVISION, WE'RE NOT APPROVING CONSTRUCTION OF ANYTHING.
THEY CAN'T GO OUT AND BUILD A LOT WITH THIS VARIANCE.
AND WE'RE JUST SAYING IF YOU PROCEED WITH THIS PROJECT, THIS ONE LOT HAS THE ABILITY TO, BECAUSE MOST LOTS HAVE TO HAVE ACCESS TO PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY.
BUT WE CAN GRANT A VARIANCE SAYING THIS ONE LOT DOESN'T HAVE TO BECAUSE THE ONLY USE THIS ONE LOT WILL HAVE IS 0.09 ACRES.
IT WILL BE ABLE TO CONVEY A, A TRAIL THROUGH THIS LOT.
SO THE ONLY THING WE'RE SAYING IS IF YOU CAN, UH, GET STAFF AND RESIDENTS, EVERYBODY AGREED TO THIS THING, THEN THIS ONE LOT CAN NOT HAVE ACCESS.
AND YOU CAN BUILD A TRAIL THROUGH THIS ONE LOT.
SO THAT IS CORRECT COMMISSIONER, THIS IS THAT IS CORRECT.
WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU IS VARIANCE.
ONLY SO I'M GONNA GIVE THE PPLICANT A THREE MINUTE REBUTTAL.
AND AGAIN, WE'RE, THE ONLY THING WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS A VARIANCE THAT THIS ONE ALL LOT NOT ACCESS RIGHT AWAY.
AND IT MAY NEVER GET APPROVED.
THE SUBDIVISION MAY NEVER GET APPROVED.
WE'RE JUST APPROVING THAT IF YOU DO PROCEED, THIS ONE LOT DOES NOT HAVE TO ACCESS PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY.
AND YOU CAN PUT A TRAIL THROUGH THIS ONE LOT.
THAT'S THE ONLY THING WE'RE PROVING TONIGHT IS THAT I THINK, AND I'M THAT NO, I I I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 42 YEARS.
I CAN FIRMLY TEST TELL YOU THAT THAT'S THE ONLY THING WE'RE APPROVING TONIGHT IS THAT ONE LOT DOES NOT HAVE TO ACCESS PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY.
AND THAT IF, IF THEY GO THROUGH AND RECORD THIS PLAT, THAT LOT DOES NOT HAVE TO ACCESS PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY.
AND IT CAN BE USED FOR PARKLAND ONLY.
NOTHING CAN BE BUILT IN THIS 0.09 ACRES.
THAT'S THE ONLY THING WE'RE APPRO.
THE, THE PROCESS IS GONNA GO FORWARD WITH ANOTHER PROJECT
[00:25:01]
BEFORE SOMEBODY ELSE, BUT NOT BEFORE THIS BOARD TONIGHT WITH WHAT WE'RE HEARING.DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? TOTALLY MAKES SENSE.
I'M GONNA LET THE APPLICANT HAVE THEIR THREE MINUTE IF THEY WANT IT.
I I DO WANNA SAY I JUST RESPECT, YOU KNOW, THE OPINIONS OF THE, UM, THE PROTEST HERE AND UH, LIKE TO ECHO, I MEAN I'VE LIVED IN AUSTIN MY ENTIRE LIFE AND I ALSO VALUE OUR COMMUNITIES.
UM, THE DECISION TO HAVE A TRAIL THROUGH THIS CREEK IS NOT MADE BY US AS THE APPLICANT.
THAT WAS THE DECISION THAT R HAS MADE.
THEY HAVEN'T FINALIZED THAT DECISION AS FAR AS I KNOW.
THEY JUST TOLD US THAT A REQUIREMENT OF OUR SUBDIVISION WAS TO DEDICATE THIS PARKLAND EASEMENT, YOU KNOW, FOR THEM TO POTENTIALLY BUILD A TRAIL.
SO I DO THINK IF, YOU KNOW, THEY OBVIOUSLY THINK THE TRAIL WOULD BE A COMMUNITY AMENITY.
UM, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE WHAT OTHER AVENUES, I'M SURE THERE'S, THERE ARE OTHER AVENUES THAT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT GIVES THE COMMUNITY TO HAVE INPUT ON WHAT PROJECTS THEY MOVE FORWARD WITH.
SO I AGREE WITH THE COMMISSIONER THAT THIS EASEMENT DOES NOT AUTHORIZE THE CONSTRUCTION OF A TRAIL ANYWAY.
JUST WOULD GIVE THE PARKS DEPARTMENT THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD ONE.
AND THAT'S KIND OF MY FULL REBUTTAL.
BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS AND, AND WHAT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT TRIES TO DO IS WHEN PEOPLE COME THROUGH AND SUBDIVIDE PIECES OF LAND, THEY TAKE THAT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUIRE WHAT THEY NEED TO BUILD AUSTIN'S TRAIL SYSTEM.
THAT'S HOW, RATHER THAN GOING OUT AND HAVING TO BUY THIS LAND, THEY CAN USE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET THE LAND FOR FREE TO PUT A TRAIL THROUGH THERE.
SO THAT'S WHAT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IS LOOKING TO DO, IS FOR NO COST, GET AN AN ACCESS TO CONTINUE A TRAIL THROUGH THIS PIECE OF LAND IN QUESTION ONE STATE DO THAT.
HOW, WHAT, WHAT STUDIES HAVE THEY DONE TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF THE DRAINAGE AND FLOODING THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN THAT AREA? AGAIN, THE ONLY THING THAT'LL BE BUILDING IS A TRAIL.
AND I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT STUDIES.
WE'RE WE'RE, WE'RE NOT APPROVING THEM TO BUILD A TRAIL.
WE'RE JUST APPROVING THAT THIS PIECE OF LAND COULD BE RECORDED AS A LEGAL LOT THAT WOULD ALLOW A TRAIL TO BE BUILT IF THE CONSTRUCTION PLANS ARE APPROVED TO DO, TO DO ANYTHING.
WE'RE NOT APPROVING CONSTRUCTION OF ANYTHING.
WE'RE JUST APPROVING A VARIANCE THAT THIS ONE LOT COULD BE PLAID TO NOT ACCESS PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY BECAUSE IT DOESN'T NEED TO.
'CAUSE IT'S ONLY GONNA HAVE A TRAIL GOING THROUGH IT.
AND THAT'S THE ONLY THING WE'RE APPROVING TONIGHT.
DOES THAT HELP YOU AT ALL? I AM WELL AWARE OF GIVING SOMEBODY THIS MUCH SPACE AND THEN SAYING, WELL WE GOT THIS, WHY CAN'T WE HAVE THAT? RIGHT? AND I HAVE BEEN WATCHING IT FOR A LONG TIME, I SUSPECT TO THESE PEOPLE DIDN'T LIVE ON THE EAST SIDE WHEN THEY COULDN'T GET A PIZZA DELIVERED.
WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING UP AND TALKING ABOUT THIS.
I I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO KEEP TRACK WITH WHAT'S GOING ON BECAUSE THERE WILL BE TIMES TO COME UP AND TALK ABOUT WHEN THEY'RE ACTUALLY PLANNING TO BUILD THINGS ON THIS PROPERTY AND SUBDIVIDE THE LAND.
BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT.
THINGS GET DONE, UNDERSTAND, DONE IN INCREMENTS.
THEY GET STOLEN IN INCREMENTS.
QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSIONERS? DO I HEAR A MOTION? MOTION TO APPROVE? OKAY.
I HAVE A, A MOTION TO APPROVE THE VARIANCE.
AND AGAIN, THE VARIANCE IS JUST TO ALLOW THIS 0.09 ACRE AT TRACT OF LAND TO NOT HAVE TO ACCESS PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY SO THEY CAN ACCOMMODATE A TRAIL.
THE LOT IS IN, IN ITS ENTIRETY AS IN FLOODPLAIN AND DEDICATED AS PARKLAND.
DO I HEAR A SECOND? WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER GREENBERG.
ANY DISCUSSION CHAIR? WHO WAS THE FIRST MOTION MAYOR? UM, I'M SORRY.
UM, ANYTHING ELSE? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE IS UNANIMOUS.
AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE STAFF TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH HER AS AN APPLICANT AS THIS PROCEEDS THROUGH THE SUBDIVISION PROCESS.
'CAUSE THAT'S REALLY WHERE HER CONCERNS ARE AT, I THINK.
IS THAT THE SUBDIVISION PROCESS? NOT AT THE, WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW.
THAT CONCLUDES THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS]
DISCUSSION AND ACTION TO RECOMMEND TO CITY COUNCIL TO RESOLUTION FOR BIRD SAFE BUILDINGS PRESENTED BY HEIDI TRUDEL, TRAVIS AUDUBON SOCIETY AND LILY REIK SPONSOR OF VICE CHAIR GREENBERG AND COMMISSIONER THOMPSON.DO WE HAVE A STAFF PRESENTATION? HEIDI AND LILY ARE PRESENT VIRTUALLY.
UH, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S BECAUSE OF
[00:30:01]
THE MEETING.OH, IT LOOKS LIKE I CAN CHANGE THAT HERE.
WE CAN SEE A BOX WITH BOTH OF Y'ALL'S NAMES.
I'M HERE TO INTRODUCE MS. HEIDI TRUDEL
I'M A VOLUNTEER WITH THE TRAVIS AUDUBON SOCIETY AND A MEMBER OF THEIR ADVOCACY COMMITTEE.
I ATTEND THE ANN RICHARD SCHOOL FOR YOUNG WOMEN LEADERS AND I'M IN THE 10TH GRADE.
I'M ALSO AN AVID BIRDER MYSELF.
THE MISSION OF THE AUDUBON SOCIETY IS TO PROTECT AND CONSERVE BIRD LIFE.
AUSTIN IS A KEY AREA FOR BIRDS BECAUSE IT LIES DIRECTLY UNDERNEATH THE CENTRAL FLYWAY OF BIRD MIGRATION.
AND OUR AREA PROVIDES A PRIME STOP ON THOSE LAWN JOURNEYS WITH OUR RIVER HABITAT.
THE TRAVIS AUDUBON SOCIETY WAS FOUNDED IN THE 1950S OVER FEARS OF DISAPPEARING HABITAT.
AND AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THE SOCIETY HAS BEEN UNABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE RATE OF DEVELOPMENT SINCE THEN.
IN FACT, IN THE PAST FEW DECADES, BIRTH POPULATIONS HAVE BEEN DEVASTATED AND NEARLY 3 BILLION BIRDS HAVE BEEN LOST.
AT PRESENT BIRTH POPULATIONS ARE VERY FRAGILE.
OUR OWN GOLDEN CHEEK WARBLER, WHICH NESTS ONLY IN CENTRAL TEXAS, IS ON THE ENDANGERED SPECIES LIST BECAUSE BIRD STRIKES WITH WINDOWS AND BUILDINGS ARE THE SECOND DEADLIEST THREAT OF ALL TIME TO BIRDS BEHIND OUTDOOR CATS.
WE LOSE MILLIONS OF BIRDS EVERY YEAR IN NORTH AMERICA WHO WOULD SURVIVE OTHERWISE BY SIMPLY BEING ABLE TO PERCEIVE GLASS AS A BARRIER.
SO THE TRAVIS OTTOMAN SOCIETY HAS ASKED HEIDI TRUDEL AN EXPERT IN BIRD SAFE BUILDING DESIGN TO UPDATE THE CITY OF AUSTIN ON WHAT CAN BE DONE PRO TO PROTECT BIRDS FROM OUR BUILDINGS.
SHE'S A NATIVE TEXAN WHO GREW UP SURROUNDED BY THE UNPARALLELED BIRD LIFE THAT TEXAS HAS TO OFFER.
HER BIRD COLLISION WORK BEGAN IN 2003.
IN OCTOBER OF 2023, HEIDI WAS IN CHICAGO TO PRESENT ABOUT BIRD COLLISIONS AT THE FACADES PLUS CONFERENCE.
THE PRESENTATION FELL ON THE DAY AFTER THE MOST CATASTROPHIC BIRD COLLISION INCIDENT IN RECENT HISTORY OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL HOURS, MORE THAN 960 SONGBIRDS STRUCK THE GLASS AND DIED AT THE MCCORMICK PLACE CONVENTION CENTER.
WHILE THOUSANDS MORE WERE DOCUMENTED AS INJURED, WERE DEAD ACROSS CHICAGO.
WE DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT HAPPEN HERE.
AUSTIN HAS QUALIFIED AS A BIRD CITY AND WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT AS A BIRD SAFE CITY.
RECENTLY, GUARDIAN GLASS HAS HIRED MS. TRUDEL AS A TECHNICAL CONSULTANT WHERE SHE HELPS THE COMPANY NAVIGATE BIRD FRIENDLY REGULATIONS AND CODES.
SHE CURRENTLY LIVES IN ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN.
AND NOW PLEASE WELCOME MS. HEIDI TRUDEL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE INTROS.
I'M GONNA TRY TO SHARE MY SCREEN.
I KNOW LAST TIME IT STRUGGLED A BIT.
ARE PEOPLE ABLE TO SEE MY SCREEN YET? WE CAN SEE YOU BUT NOT YOUR SCREEN.
HEIDI, WE HAVE YOUR PRESENTATION.
WE CAN SHARE IT ON OUR END IF YOU'D LIKE THAT, THAT MIGHT WORK OUT BETTER.
'CAUSE IF IT'S GONNA NOT COOPERATE THE WAY IT DID LAST, THERE WE GO.
DON'T WHAT WAS THERE FOR A SECOND THERE.
IT'S JUST TELL US WHEN TO ADVANCE THE SLIDES.
SO, UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.
UH, THIS IS ESSENTIALLY THE SAME PRESENTATION THAT I'VE GIVEN TO, UM, A COUPLE OF OTHER COMMITTEES THAT Y'ALL HAVE.
UM, LET'S JUMP RIGHT IN THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
SO, REAL QUICK OVERVIEW, WE'RE GONNA START A BIT WITH THE GEOGRAPHY, SOME OF THE HISTORY OF WHY THE CONSERVATION ENDS UP BEING SO IMPORTANT, AND THEN WE'LL CLOSE WITH DESIGN INACTION, UH, AND THE PROACTIVE MEASURES THAT CAN BE TAKEN.
UM, JUST REMEMBER EVERY SLIDE IN HERE COULD BE ITS OWN PRESENTATION.
SO, UM, THIS IS THE, THE BARE BONES OVERSIMPLIFIED VERSION OF EVERYTHING.
UH, BUT, BUT TRUST ME, IT'S, IT'S SO EXCITING.
UM, THERE, THERE IS A REPORT SLASH SUMMARY THAT WAS PRESENTED ALONG WITH THIS, UH, FOR REFERENCE AND A LOT OF CITATIONS.
UM, AND HONESTLY, IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS SINCE ALL OF THIS WAS PUT TOGETHER, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME UPDATES.
UH, PLEASE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
SO, AS LILY MENTIONED, AUSTIN IS IN THE HEART OF NORTH AMERICA'S CENTRAL FLYWAY, AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF SPECIES OF BIRDS ING INTO MILLIONS OF BIRDS THAT MIGRATE ACROSS THE STATE EVERY SPRING.
[00:35:01]
FOUR TIMES AS MANY BIRDS MIGRATING BACK IN THE FALL ONCE THEY'VE DONE THEIR SUMMER BREEDING.UH, AND TEXAS UNFORTUNATELY IS HOME TO THREE OF THE TOP 10 DEADLIEST CITIES FOR BIRDS.
UH, CHICAGO IS NUMBER ONE FOR GEOGRAPHIC REASONS LARGELY, UM, BUT ALSO LIGHTING AND HOUSTON, DALLAS AND SAN ANTONIO ARE THE OTHER BIG PROBLEM CITIES.
NOW, A LOT OF THAT IS JUST BECAUSE THE SHEER AMOUNT OF GLASS AND A LOT OF THAT IS LIGHT.
UM, BUT THERE ARE OTHER FACTORS THAT, THAT FOLD INTO THAT AS WELL.
SO IT'S, IT'S NOT THAT YOU'RE NOT TRYING HARD ENOUGH.
UM, IT'S JUST THEY'RE AHEAD OF YOU.
SO, MOST CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS HAVE BEEN WELL UNDERSTOOD FOR CENTURIES.
UM, GLASS IS AN ANOMALY BECAUSE IT'S A RELATIVELY NEW MATERIAL IN TERMS OF HUMAN CIVILIZATION.
UM, AND HISTORICALLY IT REALLY WASN'T A VERY DANGEROUS MATERIAL FOR BIRDS BECAUSE OF THE IMPERFECTIONS.
UH, IN THIS IMAGE, YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE'S SOME KIND OF WARPED IMAGERY AS YOU'RE TRYING TO LOOK THROUGH IT.
UM, SO THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THE, THE BEST THAT YOU COULD GET BACK IN THE DAY.
NOWADAYS WE HAVE REALLY IMPROVED TECHNOLOGY.
AND IT WASN'T UNTIL BASICALLY 1960 THAT WINDOWS WERE ACTUALLY GOOD.
UM, ORIGINALLY THE, THE WARPED TEXTURES FROM BEING EITHER POURED OUT OR SPUN, UM, REALLY CREATED A SURFACE THAT COULDN'T FORM A REFLECTION.
AND IN ORDER TO GET THAT GLASS HAD TO BE BUFFED AND POLISHED DOWN.
SO IT WAS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE.
AND NOW FLOAT GLASS MANUFACTURING HAS MADE IT CHEAP, REALLY HIGH QUALITY AND VERY WIDELY AVAILABLE.
NATURAL LIGHT IS A BEAUTIFUL THING.
UM, BUT NOW WE HAVE SUCH GOOD REFLECTIONS THAT HUMANS OFTEN DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT.
LOWER RIGHT PHOTO IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THAT.
WE'RE LOOKING AT A BUILDING WHILE SEEING THROUGH PARTS OF IT, WHILE IT'S SIMULTANEOUSLY REFLECTING WHAT'S BEHIND THE PHOTOGRAPHER AND ADJACENT TO THE BUILDING.
SO IF WE'RE SEEING THIS IMAGE, THIS, IT'S SO MUCH WORSE FOR BIRDS.
WELL, THIS WAS, UH, A GIF OF A FELLOW WALKING TOWARDS THE DOOR, REACHING TO OPEN IT AND BUMPING INTO IT GENTLY.
THAT'S REALLY SAD THAT IT DIDN'T WORK.
UH, THIS IS FOOTAGE OF A FELLOW SPRINTING THROUGH A MALL AT FULL SPEED AND CRASHING THROUGH A GLASS DOOR.
MY DESCRIPTION DOES NOT DO IT JUSTICE, BUT, UM, YOU GET THE IDEA ESSENTIALLY BECAUSE BIRDS NEED TO BE MOVING FAST TO STAY IN THE AIR, THEY END UP STRIKING FACE FIRST WITHOUT A HELMET AT FULL SPEED.
AND IT'S KIND OF DOUBLY BAD BECAUSE BIRDS REALLY HIT TWICE.
THEY HIT ONCE TO IMPACT THE GLASS, AND THEN WHEN THEIR BODY FALLS, THEY CAN ACTUALLY INCUR ADDITIONAL INJURIES FROM THAT FALL.
SO TO, TO GET THE LIGHTING SITUATION OUT OF THE WAY.
UM, LIGHT ARTIFICIAL LIGHT AT NIGHT IS VERY BAD FOR HUMANS AND WILDLIFE AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
UH, BUT GLASS, GLASS THAT'S NOT BIRD FRIENDLY IS WHAT ACTUALLY KILLS THE BIRDS.
SO TO, TO HAVE A GOOD AND COMPREHENSIVE, UH, BIRD SAFE CITY, YOU REALLY DO NEED TO, UM, INCLUDE LIGHTING MEASURES IN YOUR, UM, YOUR CODES AND THAT ADDRESSES WHEN IT'S NEEDED, WHERE IT'S NEEDED, MAKING SURE THAT IT'S NOT TOO BRIGHT, MAKING SURE THAT THE SPECTRUM IS RIGHT AND MAKING SURE THAT IT'S BEING ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, DIRECTED AND POINTED TO WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE USED.
NOT LIKE UP UP IS NOT GOOD FOR, FOR BIRDS OR BUGS OR ANYTHING ELSE.
SO AGAIN, SHIELDS, DIMMERS TIMERS, MOTION SENSORS, UH, ALL OF THESE ARE GREAT WAYS TO ALSO, UH, SAVE ENERGY.
UM, A CITY IN CHINA, ACTUALLY AS OF YESTERDAY, UM, WAS TOLD THAT THEY NEEDED TO TURN OUT THEIR LIGHTS AT NIGHT BECAUSE THEY'RE HAVING SUCH BIG ENERGY SHORTAGE ISSUES.
UM, SO IT'S AN EASY THING THAT MOST FOLKS AREN'T GOING TO MISS BECAUSE USUALLY THEY'RE ASLEEP ANYWAY.
UM, SO YEAH, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL EMPHASIZE THAT MIGRATION IS WHEN LIGHTING NEEDS TO BE CONTROLLED.
UM, BIRD MIGRATION FOR TEXAS TECHNICALLY STARTS IN FEBRUARY AND CONTINUES THROUGH THE END OF APRIL.
THEN IN FALL IT'S LIKE END OF AUGUST THROUGH LIKE
[00:40:01]
BASICALLY MID-NOVEMBER.THAT'S A HUGE CHUNK OF THE YEAR.
AND IF YOU'RE TRYING TO ADJUST TIMERS FOR LIKE, IT, IT'S KIND OF POINTLESS TO SHUFFLE IT FOR GIANT CHUNKS OF BEER WHEN YOU COULD JUST DO IT YEAR ROUND AND NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT.
SO I'M A HUGE PROPONENT OF DARK SKY PRACTICES YEAR ROUND.
ALSO, I REALLY MISS LIGHTNING BUGS AND, UH, IF YOU'RE RELYING ON YOUR BUTT TO GLOW TO COMMUNICATE, UM, ARTIFICIAL LIGHTING AT NIGHT, IT REALLY HURTS THAT.
SO, UM, ENOUGH OF THAT DIGRESSION.
SO WHEN I'M TALKING ABOUT BUILDINGS AND BIRDS, WHEN WE'RE THINKING ABOUT BIRDS IN GENERAL AND BUILDINGS LIKE THE IMMEDIATE DEFAULT IS SKYSCRAPERS AND LIKE PIGEONS AND SPARROWS.
UM, THIS WAS ONE LUNCH BREAK THAT I TOOK IN MID-SEPTEMBER.
GRANTED IT'S IN MICHIGAN, BUT AFTER WALKING AROUND THE BUILDING AND PICKING UP ALL OF THESE DEAD BIRDS, TOOK THE PICTURE, WALKED BACK TO MY CAR AND PICKED UP TWO MORE HUMMINGBIRDS ON THE WAY.
THESE ARE BIRDS THAT WERE BREEDING IN CANADA, THE BOREAL FORESTS.
THEY WERE IN THE PROCESS OF MIGRATING SOUTH TO CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA, UM, OR JUST THE TEXAS COAST.
UM, BUT THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE BIRDS THAT HIT WINDOWS ARE WARBLERS.
THEY'RE THRUSHES IN THE MIDWEST, LIKE 20% OF THEM ARE HUMMINGBIRDS.
UM, THESE ARE NOT SPECIES THAT ARE YOUR, YOUR TYPICAL, UM, YOU KNOW, COMMON ABUNDANT SPECIES.
SO THE ESPECIALLY HARD HITTING THING FOR ANY OF THE COFFEE DRINKERS, UM, THESE ARE THE BIRDS THAT WINTER ON COFFEE FARMS. THESE ARE THE BIRDS THAT EAT THOSE PESTS.
SO LIKE EVERY TIME THERE'S A CARTOON SOMEWHERE THAT SAID, EVERY TIME A MICROWAVE DINGS, UM, AN ANGEL FISH LOSES ITS REEF.
THIS IS NOT QUITE THAT, BUT EVERY TIME A BIRD HITS YOUR WINDOW, IT'S GONNA BE ANOTHER DROP OF PESTICIDES IN YOUR COFFEE.
UM, THAT MUCH IS PRETTY MUCH A DIRECT CORRELATION, UM, WHEN WE'RE LOSING OUR PEST EATING BIRDS.
I DO NEED TO POINT OUT THAT THE AVERAGE HIGH RISE BUILDING KILLS BETWEEN 25 AND 30 BIRDS PER YEAR.
THAT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE MUCH, BUT THE STUDY THAT DETERMINED THAT WAS ALSO, UM, BACK BEFORE WE KNEW THAT FOR EVERY BIRD WE FIND THERE ARE FIVE TO EIGHT THAT WE DON'T FIND.
AGAIN, IT SOUNDS LOW, BUT ACROSS THE SPAN OF A, THE LIFESPAN OF A BUILDING THAT ADDS UP SIGNIFICANTLY, ESPECIALLY IF THERE'S GOOD HABITAT.
NOW WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR LOW RISES AND RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS? LOW RISES, CONGRATULATIONS ALSO KILL ABOUT 25 BIRDS A YEAR, ASSUMING THEY HAVE VERY BORING LANDSCAPING.
UM, I SUSPECT AS PEOPLE ARE FOCUSING MORE ON POLLINATOR GARDENS AND GOOD HABITAT, THAT NUMBER IS PROBABLY A LOT HIGHER THAN IT WAS WHEN THE STUDY CAME OUT.
AND RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS, IF THERE ARE BIRD FEEDERS, IT'S EASILY OVER 30 BIRDS A YEAR.
IF THERE ARE NO BIRD FEEDERS, IT MIGHT ONLY BE AROUND 10 BIRDS A YEAR.
SO THERE IS SOME VARIATION THERE.
BUT ALSO BUS SHELTERS, THE AVERAGE BAD BUS SHELTER KILLS ABOUT 10 BIRDS A YEAR.
SO BY THE TIME YOU ADD THESE UP, IT'S JUST A REFLECTION OF HOW MANY OF WHICH BUILDINGS YOU HAVE IN YOUR COMMUNITY.
SO WE CAN'T SAY OUR COMMUNITY IS ENTIRELY BIRD SAFE UNLESS ALL OF YOUR BUS SHELTERS, RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS, LOW RISE, NON RESIDENTIAL AND HIGH RISES ARE.
BUT THAT BEING SAID, THERE ARE WAYS TO TARGET THE HIGHEST RISK AREAS, THE HIGHEST RISK BUILDINGS, UM, AND GENERALLY GET GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
BUT UNTIL YOU GO IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, YOU'RE PLATEAUING AT A DEFAULT THAT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE.
AS LILY MENTIONED, UH, BIRD POPULATIONS ARE DOWN PRETTY MUCH 30% SINCE THE 1970S.
AND THAT IS WITH THE RECOVERY FROM DDT.
UM, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE SHOULD HAVE, THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN AN UPTICK THERE.
AND FOR OSPREYS AND EAGLES, YES, BUT FOR THE REST OF OUR BIRDS, WE HAVE NOT SEEN THAT TO BE THE CASE, LARGELY BECAUSE CATS AND GLASS.
UM, ANYWAY, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
UM, WHAT'S GOOD FOR BIRDS IS GOOD FOR PEOPLE.
GOLDEN SHEIK WARBLERS ARE A PHENOMENAL BOON FOR TEXAS.
UM, I WAS THIS CLOSE TO GETTING MARRIED AT BELL COUNTY'S CANYON LANDS BECAUSE GOLDEN SHEIK WARBLERS ARE AMAZING.
UM, WHAT WE HAVE FOUND IS THAT PLACES THAT ARE GOOD FOR BIRDS ARE LITERALLY GOOD FOR PEOPLE.
THAT'S MENTAL HEALTH, FINANCIAL HEALTH, ECOLOGICAL HEALTH.
[00:45:01]
ALL OF THESE IMPACTS END UP BENEFITING US AS WELL.SO, IF BIRD WATCHERS IN TEXAS WERE THEIR OWN COUNTRY, THE GDP OF THE BIRDWATCHING COUNTRY WITHIN TEXAS WOULD BE LARGER THAN A COUPLE OF THE SMALLER COUNTRIES, PERIOD.
LIKE THERE ARE MORE BIRD WATCHERS IN THE STATE THAN MOST OTHER, NOT MOST OTHER STATE POPULATIONS.
UM, BUT THERE ARE A HANDFUL OF STATES THAT DON'T HAVE AS MANY PEOPLE AS TEXAS HAS IN BIRD WATCHERS.
YOU'LL HAVE AN ABSURD NUMBER OF BIRDS IN TRAVIS COUNTY ALONE, UM, BASICALLY MORE IN YOUR COUNTY THAN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN.
AND I, I DO THINK ABOUT THAT WAY TOO MUCH.
UM, BUT BECAUSE YOU'VE COMMITTED TO MAINTAINING THE BIRD CITY DESIGNATION, THAT SHOULD HOPEFULLY COME WITH SOME RESPONSIBILITY TO NOT JUST SAY WE'RE GOING TO PLANT POLLINATOR GARDENS, BUT BY ATTRACTING BIRDS TO YOUR AREA, UNLESS YOU FIX YOUR WINDOWS, YOU'RE PUTTING THEM IN DANGER.
YOU WOULDN'T THROW BIRD SEED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET.
BUT ESSENTIALLY THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING WHEN YOU HAVE COMMUNITIES THAT AREN'T BIRDS SAFE WHILE TRYING TO CATER TO BIRDS.
SO AS OF FEBRUARY THIS YEAR, THE LATEST STUDY SHOWED THAT 621 MILLION BIRDS PER YEAR IN THE US IS THE LOW END.
UH, MORE REALISTICALLY IT'S PROBABLY 2 BILLION.
AND THE HIGH END OF GUESSTIMATES WAS OVER 5 BILLION BIRDS PER YEAR.
THAT'S REALLY NOT SUSTAINABLE.
UM, SO BIRD SAFE BUILDING STANDARDS DO FIT IN BEAUTIFULLY WITH AUSTIN'S VALUES.
YOU ARE ALREADY AN EXTREMELY BIODIVERSE AREA.
YOU WANT TO BE AN ECOLOGICALLY RESILIENT COMMUNITY.
UM, WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN IMBALANCES OCCUR WITHIN POPULATIONS.
WHITE NOSE SYNDROME WAS DEVASTATING FOR BAT POPULATIONS, AND THE ONLY WAY TO REALLY SAFEGUARD POPULATIONS IN GENERAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR NUMBERS DON'T GO DOWN.
UM, AND WE REALLY NEED TO GET THAT CURVE OF 30% OF THE BIRDS LOST BACK TO NOT THAT.
UM, SO EVERY BUILDING THAT'S MADE BIRDS SAFE PROACTIVELY, WE CAN SAY, ASSUMING THAT THEY FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES AND USE APPROPRIATE PRODUCTS, WE'LL BE SAVING DOZENS TO HUNDREDS OF BIRDS PER BUILDING PER YEAR.
SO, WHILE NO CITY IN TEXAS HAS ENACTED A BIRD SAFE STANDARD, UH, THERE ARE A LOT OF CITIES IN THE US UH, AND ESPECIALLY CANADA, THAT HAVE ADOPTED BIRD SAFE BUILDING CODES.
I DO NEED TO ADD, AS OF LAST MONTH, UM, WE HAVE BOTH PORTLAND'S NOW PORTLAND, OREGON AND PORTLAND, MAINE HAVE ADOPTED BIRD SAFE BUILDING CODES.
UM, WE DO KNOW THAT THERE ARE RUMORS AFOOT FOR BOTH BOULDER, COLORADO AND NASHVILLE.
SOMETIMES IT TAKES A YEAR OR TWO FOR THINGS TO PASS, BUT I LOVE UPDATING THIS CHART AND, UH, SINCE Y'ALL ALREADY HAD THIS ON FILE, I DIDN'T SUBMIT AN UPDATE, BUT, UM, GOOD NEWS, GOOD NEWS ALL AROUND.
SO BIRDS AND BUILDINGS CAN ABSOLUTELY COEXIST.
THE COSTS DON'T HAVE TO BE REALLY A PROBLEM.
UM, IF YOU LOOK AT PICK AN AIRPORT, ANY AIRPORT, A LOT OF THE TERMINALS HAVE THESE PATTERNS ON THE GLASS THAT IF YOU CHANGE THE PATTERN EVER SO SLIGHTLY CAN BE BIRD SAFE GLASS, UM, IT'S AGAIN, SAME COST YOU'RE GETTING THE SAME ENERGY BENEFIT.
IT WOULD JUST BE A SLIGHTLY MODIFIED PATTERN AND OOPS, IT WOULD BE BIRD SAFE.
SO THERE'S, THERE'S REALLY NOTHING, UM, TERRIBLY NEW OR UNIQUE ABOUT BIRD SAFE DESIGN.
IT'S JUST USING WHAT WE HAVE IN WAYS THAT ARE PROACTIVELY BIRD SAFE, UM, WHICH CAN BE AESTHETIC.
UM, BUT YEAH, THE, THE IDEA IS THAT IT NEEDS TO BE FACTORED IN VERY EARLY IN DESIGN SO THEY CAN CONSIDER THE THERMAL BENEFITS, UM, OF THE PRODUCTS OR ADJUST ACCORDINGLY.
SO THEY'RE NOT AT THE LAST MINUTE BEING LIKE, OH NO, WE NEED TO DO THIS THING.
AND BECAUSE WE DIDN'T PLAN FOR IT, THAT INCREASES THE COST.
AND THEN FOR BUILDINGS THAT ARE BUILT WITHOUT ANY BIRD SAFE MEASURES, IF THEY NEED TO RETROFIT AS MCCORMICK PLACE IS FINDING OUT, IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE.
UM, AND UNFORTUNATELY, THE COST OF RETROFITS NEVER REALLY GOES DOWN BECAUSE THE, THE BULK OF THE COST ENDS UP BEING IN LABOR.
SO A BIRD SAFE BUILDING WHEN IT'S BEING BUILT, YOU DON'T HAVE EXTRA COST FOR LABOR.
YOU CAN FACTOR IT INTO YOUR DESIGNS AND IT'S A FRACTION OF THE TOTAL PROJECT COST.
I LOVE THIS BECAUSE, UH, IT DOES POINT OUT
[00:50:01]
THAT PEOPLE MAY INTENTIONALLY OR UNINTENTIONALLY TAKE BIRD SAFETY INTO THEIR OWN HANDS.BUT IT SHOULD ALSO BE NOTED THAT MURALS, INTENTIONAL MURALS ARE ALSO AN EXCELLENT WAY TO ENGAGE WITH YOUR COMMUNITY, UM, AND TO MAKE THINGS BIRDS SAFE IN THE PROCESS.
SO A GOOD EXAMPLE OF A COMPREHENSIVE CODE WOULD BE THE NEW YORK CITY, UH, LOCAL LAW 15.
UM, I WOULD CHANGE ITS RETROFIT OPTIONS A LITTLE BIT, BUT OVERALL IT GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF THE FIRST 75 FEET OF THE BUILDING NEED TO BE TREATED, NEED TO BE BIRD SAFE.
UM, AND THAT BECAUSE NEW YORK CITY HAS RELATIVELY LOW CANOPY LEVELS, UM, MAKES THINGS RELATIVELY SAFE, WHERE THE MAJORITY OF BIRDS WILL BE HITTING IT DOES INCLUDE HAZARDOUS, UM, CONSTRUCTION FEATURES.
SO GLASS WALKWAYS, RAILINGS AND CORNERS HAVE SPECIFIC LEVELS OF SAFETY THAT THEY NEED TO MEET.
UM, IT DOES APPLY TO NEW CONSTRUCTION AND RETROFITS IF WINDOWS ARE BEING REPLACED.
IT DOESN'T RESTRICT HABITATS, UH, IT DOESN'T RESTRICT TYPE OF BUILDING.
AND IT HAS DEFINED MEASURES OF COLLISION PREVENTION.
UH, THE LEAD INNOVATION CREDIT IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING UPDATED.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT VERSION FIVE IS GOING TO SAY, BUT 4.3 IS ALSO PRETTY FANTASTIC.
SO THERE ARE REALLY GOOD EXAMPLES OUT THERE THAT YOU CAN FOLLOW.
BUT THERE ARE ALSO A LOT OF CODES THAT DON'T MAKE A WHOLE LOT OF SENSE, SO YOU CAN FOLLOW THEM TO A T AND STILL HAVE A REALLY BAD BUILDING.
SO, UM, BUILDINGS OVER A CERTAIN HEIGHT, THAT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE.
WE KNOW THAT EVEN BUS SHELTERS CAN BE INCREDIBLY PROBLEMATIC IF THEY'RE IN GOOD HABITAT.
UM, BUILDINGS OVER A CERTAIN SQUARE FEET, AGAIN, I'M GONNA KEEP DEFAULTING TO BUS SHELTERS.
UM, UNTREATED GLASS IS DANGEROUS WHEREVER, WHEREVER IT ENDS UP BEING.
SO I WOULD SAY FOCUS ON THE NEW YORK CODE LEAD.
UM, THEY ARE A GOOD BASIC, UH, FOUNDATIONS FOR A CODE BECAUSE OTHERWISE YOU START GETTING INTO THE WEEDS OF, YOU KNOW, ARE YOU WITHIN 300 FEET OF A TWO ACRE PARK? IF YOU LOOK AT MAPS OF WHERE BIRDS ARE HITTING, THEY'RE HITTING EVERYWHERE
UM, AND ALSO IT'S, IT'S NOT STRICTLY A CITY PROBLEM.
THAT'S JUST WHERE BUILDING CODES EXIST, UH, IN WAYS THAT ARE REALLY ENFORCEABLE.
SO IT'S PRETTY EASY TO IDENTIFY A HIGH RISK BUILDING IF THERE ARE INDOOR PLANTS AND ATRIUMS VISIBLE FROM THE OUTSIDE.
IF IT LOOKS LIKE A BIRD COULD FLY FROM ONE SIDE OF THE BUILDING THROUGH IT TO THE OTHER, UH, IN THIS CASE IT'S A STRUCTURAL TRAP.
EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT A U-SHAPED, UH, ALCOVE OR ANYTHING, IT'S STILL VISUALLY VERY CONFUSING.
LIKE YOU'RE PRETTY SURE YOU'RE IN THE CORNER OF A BUILDING, BUT IF YOU WERE A BIRD, YOU WOULD BE INCREDIBLY DISORIENTED.
SO ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE ARE LANDSCAPE REFLECTIONS, UM, YOU, YOU CAN PRETTY WELL GUESS THAT SOMETHING IS GOING TO BE HITTING SOONER THAN LATER.
SO LANDSCAPING IS A RISK FACTOR, BUT IT IS NOT A PREVENTION METHOD.
EVERYTHING AROUND THIS BUILDING COULD BE PERFECTLY MOWED AND BIRDS WOULD STILL FIND A WAY TO HIT IT.
SO, UM, DROPPING A MIRRORED BOX IN THE MIDDLE OF A A BRICK AND CONCRETE NEIGHBORHOOD, BIRDS WOULD STILL FIND A WAY TO HIT IT.
IT'S LIKE TODDLER PROOFING AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
UM, YEAH, IT'S, IT'S A CHALLENGE.
SO ALSO THE BETTER THE HABITAT IS, THE HIGHER THE RISK, UM, THE BUILDING WILL BE TO BIRDS.
THERE ARE ALSO A LOT OF MISCONCEPTIONS IN THE ARCHITECTURE COMMUNITY.
SO THINKING THAT LOW REFLECTIVITY GLASS IS SAFE, UM, USING SUPER CLEAR GLASS SO BIRDS CAN SEE WHAT'S ON THE INSIDE, OR CHANGING THE AMOUNT OF GLASS ON DIFFERENT SIDES OF A BUILDING BECAUSE OF ITS CARDINAL DIRECTIONS.
YEAH, BIRDS DON'T ACTUALLY PAY ATTENTION TO ANY OF THOSE THINGS.
UM, EVEN MUSEUM GLASS, IF YOU GET AT THE RIGHT ANGLE, CAN FORM A REFLECTION.
UM, AND ONCE A BIRD IS NO LONGER MIGRATING FROM POINT A TO POINT B DURING THE DAY, THEY DROP DOWN TO FEED IN THE PROCESS OF FEEDING, THEY MOVE AROUND AND THEY WILL HIT WHATEVER SIDE OF THE BUILDING USUALLY HAS THE MOST VEGETATION.
[00:55:02]
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.THIS IS A NATATORIUM ON THE EASTERN MICHIGAN CAMPUS.
IT HAS EXTREMELY TINY WINDOWS AND NOT VERY MANY OF THEM.
AND THE ASSUMPTION THERE WAS THAT THE MORE MASONRY A BUILDING HAS, UM, THE FEWER BIRDS WILL HIT IT.
UNFORTUNATELY, THIS BUILDING KILLED ALMOST AS MANY AS THE BUILDINGS AROUND IT, BUT ALL OF THE BIRDS WERE FUNNELED INTO SMALLER SPACES.
SO IN THIS CASE, BECAUSE BIRDS SAW THAT THERE WAS A SLIVER OF SOMETHING THEY COULD FLY THROUGH, THEY WENT FOR IT.
SO IN THIS CASE, AGAIN, YOU COULD HAVE MOWED EVERYTHING DOWN AROUND IT, UM, BUT BIRDS STILL WOULD HAVE FOUND A WAY TO HIT THE SMALLEST BIT OF A GLASS AVAILABLE.
SO THIS IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SLIDE.
WE DON'T HAVE TO DIVE INTO ALL OF THE OPTIONS.
UM, AGAIN, THERE'S, ASIDE FROM UV, REALLY NOTHING REVOLUTIONARY IN THE PRODUCTS THAT EXIST TO PREVENT BIRD COLLISIONS.
ASSET ETCH IS BEING USED IN DESIGNS, OFTEN INSIDE BUILDINGS, BUT WE'RE SEEING IT A LOT MORE OUTSIDE OF BUILDINGS.
WE SEE DECORATIVE WINDOW TREATMENTS ON COFFEE SHOPS JUST BECAUSE IT LOOKS COOL.
IF YOU TAKE THOSE BASIC PRINCIPLES AND EXPAND THEM A LITTLE BIT, YOU HAVE BIRD SAFE BUILDINGS.
UM, FRT, AS I MENTIONED WITH AIRPORTS, THAT IS A VERY COMMON APPROACH TO MANAGING THERMAL, UM, SOLAR HEAT GAIN.
SO ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE BEING DONE, IT'S JUST NOT BEING DONE NECESSARILY INTENTIONALLY WITH THE SPACING IN MIND THAT WOULD HELP BIRDS.
UM, THE AMERICAN BIRD CONSERVANCY HAS REALLY FANTASTIC EXAMPLES OF BOTH LEGISLATION, UM, BIRD SAFE BUILDINGS ALL OVER THE WORLD.
UM, THEIR BIRD FRIENDLY DESIGN GUIDE IS ABOUT 10 YEARS OUT OF DATE.
UM, BUT THEIR PRODUCTS THAT PREVENT COLLISIONS IS A DATABASE THAT'S UPDATED REGULARLY.
SO, UM, THE, THE STUFF IS OUT THERE.
I GUARANTEE IF YOU MOSEYED AROUND TO AUSTIN, YOU WOULD SEE A HANDFUL OF BUILDING ELEMENTS THAT ARE BIRD SAFE.
THEY JUST HAVEN'T BEEN APPLIED BROADLY ENOUGH ON EXISTING BUILDINGS TO MEET, UM, A BIRD SAFE STANDARD.
SO, TEXAN BY NATURE HAD A REALLY INTERESTING POINT IN COMPANIES NOT INVESTING IN CONSERVATION PROJECTS.
AND I WOULD ARGUE, UM, THAT BIRD SAFE BUILDINGS ARE A VERY UNDERAPPRECIATED FORM OF CONSERVATION.
UM, BUT IT'S JUST LACK OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THEIR IMPACT.
UH, WE KNOW THAT EVERY BIRD SAFE BUILDING WOULD SAVE DOZENS TO HUNDREDS OF BIRDS.
AND WE KNOW THAT EVERY BUILDING THAT ISN'T BIRDS SAFE, UNFORTUNATELY IS KILLING DOZENS TO HUNDREDS OF BIRDS PER YEAR.
SO INTEGRATING THAT KNOWLEDGE AND COMBINING IT WITH THE INCREDIBLY POWERFUL ECONOMICS OF SPECIFICALLY BIRDWATCHING IN TEXAS, UM, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE JUST DON'T KNOW.
AND THESE ARE NATURAL RESOURCES THAT WE CAN'T GET BACK ONCE THEY'RE GONE.
SO, UM, PRIORITIZING IT AND MAKING SURE IT'S KNOWN THAT COMMUNITIES VALUE THE BIODIVERSITY, UM, I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
NEXT, PLEASE, UM, THIS SLIDE SHOULD REFERENCE OR LINK TO, AND HOPEFULLY EVERYONE HAS A COPY EMAILED TO THEM TO CLICK THROUGH TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION REPORT.
UM, BUT YEAH, WHAT'S GOOD FOR BIRDS IS GOOD FOR PEOPLE.
ALL OF THIS RESULTS IN A HEALTHIER ENVIRONMENT.
UM, I SHOULD ALSO NOTE, WHEN YOU HAVE BUILDINGS THAT KILL A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF BIRDS, YOU END UP FEEDING SCAVENGERS.
SO NEW YORK CITY HAS A MASSIVE RAT PROBLEM.
THEY ALSO HAVE A MASSIVE COLLISION PROBLEM.
SO EVEN IF THEY WERE POISONING RATS LEFT AND RIGHT, THE RATS STILL HAVE A BUFFET OF NON POISONED BIRDS TO FEED.
UM, IN THE MIDWEST, IT'S LARGELY SQUIRRELS AND SHIP BOOKS THAT DO THE SCAVENGING OF GROUNDED BIRDS.
UM, BUT ALSO IT'S A BIRD FLU YEAR.
WE, WE REALLY, UH, DON'T NEED TO BE EXPOSED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO MORE WILDLIFE THAN WE NEED TO BE.
UM, SO WITH, WITH THAT EXCITING NOTE, UM, I DO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR, FOR TAKING THIS TOPIC INTO CONSIDERATION.
[01:00:01]
I'M HAPPY TO OPEN IT TO QUESTIONS.IF WE HAVE TIME CHAIR, WE WILL HAVE ONE SPEAKER ON THIS ITEM IN FAVOR, UM, PAM MADI.
UH, MARA, YOU WILL HAVE SIX MINUTES.
I'M THE CHAIR OF THE ADVOCACY COMMITTEE WITH TRAVIS UBON SOCIETY, AND WE ASKED HEIDI TO PREPARE THIS REPORT FOR YOU.
THE WRITTEN REPORT, UH, ESPECIALLY I WANNA CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO, BECAUSE YOU CAN TELL FROM THE PRESENTATION SHE JUST MADE, THIS IS A HUGE TOPIC AND THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION OUT THERE, BUT HER WRITTEN REPORT HAS GONE THROUGH, UH, ALL THESE, UM, DIFFERENT SOURCES AND KIND OF DIRECTS YOU TO, UH, THE MOST PROMINENT AND IMPORTANT ONES.
SO, UH, I HOPE YOU WILL TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONERS GREENBERG AND THOMPSON FOR INVITING US TO DO THIS.
UH, I WOULD URGE YOU TO, UM, ENDORSE THE RESOLUTION ON THIS TOPIC.
AND I DID WANNA ALSO MENTION THAT THIS IS VERY GOOD TIMING BECAUSE THE OTHER, OTHER MAJOR CITIES LIKE NEW YORK, CHICAGO, SAN FRANCISCO, THEY HAVE ALREADY IMPLEMENTED BUILDING CODES WHICH, UH, PROMOTE, UH, BIRD SAFE BUILDINGS.
AND BECAUSE OF THAT, THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY NATIONWIDE IS NOW, UH, UM, MANUFACTURING GLASS AND OTHER BIRDS SAFE MATERIALS AT LOWER COST THAN THEY WERE SAY 10 YEARS AGO.
UM, TEXAS DOES NOT HAVE ANY MAJOR CITY OR ANY CITY THAT I KNOW OF THAT HAS IMPLEMENTED A BIRD SAFE BUILDING CODE.
SO WE WOULD LIKE TO BE FIRST ONES OUT THE GATE IF WE CAN WITH THAT.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WE NEED TO READ THROUGH IT UNLESS SOMEONE WANTS TO READ IT.
OTHERWISE, ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE DRAFT RECOMMENDATIONS, UH, THAT WERE PUT FORTH? DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE DRAFT RECOMMENDATIONS? MOVE TO, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE DRAFT RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE IN THE BACKUP.
COMMISSIONER GREENBERG MOTIONS TO APPROVE.
I'M GONNA GO WITH CARRIE THOMPSON ON THE SECOND ON THIS ONE.
SORRY, SHE HAD HER HAND UP BEFORE YOU AND IT WAS HER MOTION.
WE'LL WON'T YOU BE THE THIRD
ANY DISCUSSION? I THINK IT'S A, IT'S A GREAT PRESENTATION AND A GREAT RECOMMENDATION.
UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
IT'S A LOT OF WORK WENT INTO THAT.
I JUST WANTED TO STATE FOR THE RECORD THAT THE SPEAKER ON ITEM 10 WAS JOANNA BION DILO, AND SHE WAS SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION.
AND SINCE THE ITEM WAS A PUBLIC HEARING, WE WILL NEED A MOTION AND A VOTE TO CLOSE THAT PUBLIC HEARING.
DO I HEAR A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 10? COMMISSIONER GREENBERG VOTES TO OPPOSE IT.
WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER FAUNCE.
IS UNANIMOUS PUBLIC HEARING'S CLOSED? THANK YOU.
ITEM 13, DISCUSS AN ACTION TO AMEND THE BYLAWS AND RULES OF PROCEDURE TO ADOPT A DEADLINE FOR BACKUP.
SPONSORS MYSELF, CHAIR SMITH AND VICE CHAIR GREENBERG, AND YOU HAVE AN ITEM IN THE BACKUP THAT IS THE DRAFT RECOMMENDATION.
UM, THE ONLY THING I'VE HEARD FROM STAFF ON THIS WAS THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE 3:00 PM ON THURSDAY PRIOR TO A MEETING.
THEY'D RATHER IT BE CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON FRIDAY, BUT THAT IS OUR DISCUSSION.
THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT CAME FROM STAFF SAYING THAT THEY GENERALLY HAVE THE, THE POSTING BACK, IT'S NOT AT 3:00 PM BECAUSE IT, THEY CAN'T POST IT BEFORE 3:00 PM SO THEY USUALLY HIT THE BUTTON AT THREE AND IT TAKES ABOUT 15 MINUTES FOR THE COMPUTERS TO GET EVERYTHING POSTED.
UM, BUT THEN THEY ALSO GET A LOT OF COMMENTS THURSDAY EVENING AND FRIDAY MORNING FROM PEOPLE SAYING, HEY, WE, WE NEED TO
[01:05:01]
ADD THIS TO THE BACKUP, ADD THIS TO THE BACKUP.SO THEY WERE REQUESTING WE MAKE IT FRIDAY AT FIVE SO THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TIME TO POST IT ON THURSDAY AT THREE AND ADD THE ADDITIONAL BACKUP AS REQUESTED ON FRIDAY.
THAT WAS STAFF'S ONLY REQUEST.
DO YOU NEED AN AMENDMENT CHAIR? WE HAVE A STAFF PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU CHAIR, ERIC THOMAS WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
AND I'LL JUST ADD THAT WE, WE DO CONTINUE TO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL LATE BACKUP UP UNTIL RIGHT BEFORE THE MEETING.
AND SO WE WILL OBVIOUSLY CONTINUE DOING THAT.
UM, BUT THAT'S TYPICALLY, UH, THINGS LIKE LETTERS FROM CONSTITUENTS, UM, AND, AND MINOR, NOT, NOT, NOT NECESSARILY MINOR, BUT IT WOULDN'T BE THINGS THAT ARE NECESSARILY, UM, PRINCIPALLY CHANGING THE, THE CONTENT OF THE STAFF REPORT ITSELF.
ONE THING WE, AND AND AGAIN, I'M NOT SAYING WE'VE APPROVED THIS, BUT THE CONCERN WE HAVE ABOUT CHANGING IT FROM THURSDAY AT THREE TO FRIDAY AT FIVE IS, IS SUDDENLY WE'RE NOT GONNA GET ANY BACKUP UP TILL FRIDAY AT FIVE.
UM, WE, WE, WE NEED THAT BACKUP THURSDAY AT THREE TO CONTINUE.
UM, SO I DON'T WANT IT TO BE A, UM, AN IDEA THAT, HEY, WE'VE GIVEN YOU TILL FRIDAY AT FRIDAY TO GIVE US BACKUP
UH, SO OUR, OUR LONGSTANDING CONSISTENT PRACTICE WITH BACKUP IS TO POST IT AT THE LATEST ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON BEFORE THE TUESDAY MEETING.
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO POST IT AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE.
UM, TYPICALLY THAT WOULD, WOULD BE DOABLE ON A THURSDAY.
OCCASIONALLY YOU MIGHT SEE US POSTING IT ON FRIDAY JUST DEPENDING ON, UH, IF THERE'S A BIG COUNCIL MEETING THE NEXT WEEK.
BUT WE, WE WOULD DEFINITELY CONTINUE TO POST IT ON THURSDAY AS FREQUENTLY AS POSSIBLE.
SO WOULD YOU BE COMFORTABLE CHANGING IT THURSDAY AT THREE? GO AHEAD.
WOULD IT HELP TO MAKE IT THURSDAY AT FIVE? I THINK YOUR ARGUMENT SAYING WHEN WE POST ON THURSDAY, THEN WE GET INFORMATION ABOUT ADDITIONAL MATERIALS THAT SHOULD BE POSTED AND THOSE GET POSTED ON FRIDAY IS TO ME AN ARGUMENT THAT WE SHOULD STICK WITH THURSDAY SO THAT THOSE ADDITIONAL THINGS DO GET POSTED BEFORE THE WEEKEND.
UM, SO I WOULD REALLY PREFER TO STICK WITH THURSDAY.
IT'S NOT LIKE, I MEAN, WE'RE JUST SAYING AGENDA ITEMS FOR WHICH BACKUP IS NOT POSTED IN A TIMELY MANNER SHALL BE POSTPONED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE COMMISSION.
WE'RE NOT SAYING IF YOU DON'T GET IT POSTED BY X, THERE'S SOME KIND OF PENALTY.
IT'S JUST REALLY HELPFUL TO THE COMMISSIONERS WHO LOOK AT IT ON THURSDAY AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC IF THIS GETS POSTED BY THURSDAY, LATE IN THE DAY.
UM, SO I WOULD PROPOSE THAT WE SWITCH FROM 3:00 PM WHICH APPARENTLY IS SOMEHOW ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO ME,
ANY UPDATES NEEDED GET POSTED ON FRIDAY.
AND OF COURSE THERE'S STILL OPTION FOR LATE BACK UP ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY.
AND AGAIN, WE'RE NOT SAYING THAT IF YOU DON'T POST IT BY THURSDAY AT FIVE O'CLOCK, THE ADAM GETS PULLED.
WE'RE JUST SIMPLY SAYING IF YOU DON'T GET IT POSTED BY THURSDAY AT FIVE O'CLOCK, IT CAN BE A REASON THAT WE COULD USE TO SAY, HEY, ON OUR TUESDAY MEETING MAY WANNA POSTPONE THIS 'CAUSE WE'RE SIMPLY NOT READY, WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN THE BACKUP.
AND WE HAD THAT DISCRETION REALLY ANYWAY.
SO WE'RE NOT REALLY CHANGING THAT.
WE'RE JUST SAYING WE REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO POST THE BACKUP BY THURSDAY AT FIVE O'CLOCK.
SO THAT'S KIND OF THE THRUST OF WHAT WE'RE SAYING HERE.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT THE AGENDA AND BACKUP ARE POSTED TOGETHER.
UM, THERE WERE SOME INSTANCES IN THE PAST WHERE WE WOULD POST BACKUP EARLY BEFORE THE AGENDA AND THEN THINGS WOULD MOVE AROUND AND WE WOULD HAVE TO, THE BACKUP WAS LABELED WRONG.
UM, SO I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT AS WELL.
SO WHEN WE ARE POSTING, WE'RE POSTING THE AGENDA AND THE BACKUP.
UM, SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY.
OKAY, YOU MAY BE DOING THAT NOW, BUT THAT'S NOT BEEN THE LONGSTANDING PRACTICE.
WE SAW BACKUP ON THURSDAY AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT FRIDAY MORNING THE AGENDA GOT POSTED.
TYPICALLY NOT REQUIRED TO BE FRIDAY MORNING.
UM, JUST REQUIRED 72 HOURS BEFORE THE MEETING, BUT THAT WAS THE PRACTICE.
UM, THAT'S MOST HELPFUL TO, TO US AND I'M SURE HELPFUL TO THE PUBLIC AS WELL.
UM, SO WE HAVE TO POST THE AGENDA AND BACKUP TOGETHER SO THAT EVERYTHING'S ALIGNED WHEN WE POST.
UM, SINCE WHEN WHAT? SINCE WHEN THAT WASN'T.
SO THE ISSUES IN THE PAST WERE THINGS WOULD SHIFT IN THE AGENDA
[01:10:01]
AND THEN ALL THE BACKUP IS POSTED INCORRECTLY WITH THE INCORRECT ITEM NUMBERS.SO I'M JUST SAYING THAT WHEN WE DO POST, IT WILL HAVE TO BE THE AGENDA AND THE BACKUP.
SO IF WE'RE STILL CONFIRMING ANY CHANGES, SAY THURSDAY EVENING OR THURSDAY AFTERNOON AFTER THREE, WE WOULD HAVE TO POST ON THAT FRIDAY ONCE YOU POST THE AGENDA.
SO IF YOU HAD TO POST THE AGENDA AND THE BACKUP, WHICH MAKES SENSE, UM, ON THURSDAY AND IT'S NOT REQUIRED BY STATE LAW OR RULES TO BE POSTED UNTIL FRIDAY, CAN YOU CHANGE THE AGENDA AS OPPOSED TO CHANGING THE BACKUP ON FRIDAY? WE CAN REVISE THE AGENDA AND PROBABLY SHOULD REVISE THE AGENDA.
WE CAN REVISE IT UP TO 3:00 PM ON FRIDAY.
SO IF SOMETHING GETS POSTED IN ERROR ON THURSDAY, YOU CAN DO A REVISE AGENDA.
SORRY, I I WANNA JUST CLARIFY, WE CAN REVISE IT TO BE POSTED AT 3:00 PM 3:00 PM OBVIOUSLY WE WOULD WANT TO REVISE IT BEFORE 3:00 PM RIGHT? RIGHT, RIGHT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM ANYBODY? DO I HEAR A MOTION? DO YOU WANNA GO WITH THE THURSDAY AT FIVE? YES.
SO THE MOTION IS THE BACKUP AS WRITTEN, BUT CHANGING THURSDAY AT 5:00 PM UM, AND AGAIN, THIS IS JUST DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
IF NOT, WE DO RESERVE THE ABILITY TO POSTPONE IT IF WE HAVE TO.
ALL, ANY MORE DISCUSSION? YES.
WE HAVE IN OUR RULES, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT YOU HAVE TO REQUEST A POSTPONEMENT BY NOON ON MONDAY.
BUT THERE'S NOTHING THAT FORCES US TO NOT GIVE A POSTPONEMENT IF SOMEONE ASKS FOR IT LATER THAN THAT.
YEAH, WE HAVE THE SAME THING FOR PEOPLE WANT TO DISCUSS, THEY HAVE TO REQUEST BY FIVE 30 TO HAVE A ITEM PULL FOR DISCUSSION.
BUT WE PULLED THE ITEM TODAY BECAUSE SHE SHOWED UP AT SIX O'CLOCK.
SO IT'S, IT'S ALL WITHIN OUR DISCRETION.
UH, WE DON'T HAVE TO SPELL IT OUT IN THE RULES.
UM, WE HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? MAYBE THIS IS, SHOULD WAIT TILL WE HAVE OTHER THINGS IN THE RULES THAT ARE, I WOULD SAY OUTDATED.
LIKE, UM, YOU HAVE TO TURN IN A COMMENT CARD.
UM, SO WE SHOULD PROBABLY, MAYBE IT SHOULD BE A FUTURE AGENDA ITEM THAT WE TALK ABOUT, HAVE SOME FURTHER CHANGES TO OUR RULES.
AND WE HAVE A RULES COMMITTEE.
OPPOSED? YOU SUPPORTING IT? OH, I, I OPPOSED? I PUT MY HAND DOWN.
I DUNNO WHETHER YOU WERE OPPOSING.
ITEM 14, DISCUSS AND APPROVE AN ANNUAL INTER INTERNAL REVIEW AND REPORT.
DO WE HAVE ONE? WE MAY NOT HAVE ONE.
I DON'T THINK WE HAVE AN INTERNAL REVIEWED REPORT TO APPROVE
I'LL WORK ON TRYING TO GET THAT DONE BEFORE THE NEXT MEETING.
GENERALLY STAFF PROPOSES THAT AND GIVES IT TO US.
DRAFTS IT THEN GIVES IT TO US TO APPROVE.
BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY KIND OF DRAFT, SO I WILL TRY TO GO BACK THROUGH THE MINUTES AND SEE IF I CAN COME UP WITH SOMETHING FOR THE NEXT MEETING.
[WORKING GROUP/COMMITTEE UPDATES]
JOINT COMMITTEE.ANYTHING WE HAVEN'T MET?
I DON'T THINK WE'VE MET SINCE THE LAST TIME.
SMALL AREA PLANNING, JOINT COMMITTEE.
ANY UPDATES? WE'RE SCHEDULED TO MEET NEXT WEDNESDAY, I BELIEVE.
[FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS]
I THINK WE SHOULD VISIT THE BYLAWS WITH A LITTLE MORE COMPLETENESS AND I'M HAPPY TO LOOK THAT OVER.THAT'S WHAT I, THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING WITH THAT.
YEAH, IN FACT, THIS WAS POSTED AS BYLAWS AND RULES.
AND TO MAKE CLEAR, WE ONLY ARE CHANGING THE RULES.
GREENBERG, WHAT EXACTLY IS YOUR SHE'S GONNA START JUST REVIEWING THE RULES.
I THINK THE VERY NEXT POINT ON THE RULES WAS THAT, UM, YOU HAVE TO TURN IN A COMMENT CARD AND THAT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, PRE-INTERNET.
[01:15:01]
NO,THE WAY I'M READING THAT IS COMMISSIONER GREENBERG'S GONNA GO BACK, KIND OF READ THE RULES, SEE WHAT IS OUTDATED, BRING THAT TO US AT A FUTURE MEETING.
I'M NOT GONNA COMMIT HER TO WIN.
UM, AND THEN WE MAY HAVE A FUTURE CHANGE OF THE RULES IF, IF THINGS ARE JUST OUTDATED.
SO JUST A GENERAL UPDATE TO THE RULES OF PER AND PROCEDURES.
AND NO DEADLINE OR OR COMMITTEE OR ANYTHING BEING FORMED.
IF ANYBODY'S WANTS TO REDO THE RULES AND GIVE COMMISSIONER GREENBERG OUR THOUGHTS, YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO ANYTHING ELSE.
AND DO WE HAVE A CO-SPONSOR FOR THIS FUTURE ITEM? I'LL CO-SPONSOR IT.
IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE, UM, WE WERE ADJOURNED AT SEVEN 17.