Aug 14, 2024 Austin City Council Budget Adoption

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GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY.

IT'S AUGUST 14TH, 2024, AND IT'S

[Call to Order]

WE ARE MEETING IN CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, WHICH ARE LOCATED AT CITY HALL AT 3 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.

THE ORDER OF THE DAY MEMBERS IN PUBLIC IS THAT WE WILL TAKE UP ITEMS 12 AND 13 FIRST, DEPENDING UPON HOW QUICKLY THEY GO AND WHAT TIME OF THE MORNING IT IS WHEN WE FINISH THOSE.

UH, BUT I DO ANTICIPATE THAT WHAT WE WILL THEN DO IS RECESS THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND WE WILL GO TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION AND, AND MILLER.

UH, WE WILL THEN ADJOURN.

WE WILL ADJOURN THOSE MEETINGS AND APPROPRIATELY AND COME BACK TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING, AT WHICH POINT WE WILL OPEN PUBLIC HEARINGS ON ITEMS ONE THROUGH SIX, AND WE WILL PROCEED THROUGH THE VARIOUS ITEMS. I ALSO ANTICIPATE THAT AROUND NOON, UH, AND WHEN I SAY AROUND NOON, I MEAN THREE TO FIVE MINUTES TO NOON, OR THREE TO FIVE MINUTES AFTERNOON.

WE WILL GO INTO AN EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR 30 TO 45 MINUTES.

UM, AND I JUST WANNA LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT THAT WILL PROBABLY HAPPEN AS WELL.

SO WITH THAT,

[12. Approve an ordinance ordering a general election to be held in the City of Austin on November 5, 2024, for the purpose of electing a Mayor (at large) and City Council Members (single member districts) for District 2, District 4, District 6, District 7, and District 10; ordering a special election for the purpose of submitting proposed charter amendments to the voters; providing for the conduct of the general and special elections; authorizing the City Clerk to enter into joint election agreements with other local political subdivisions as may be necessary for the orderly conduct of the elections; and declaring an emergency.]

ITEM NUMBER 12 IS AN ORDINANCE, UH, THAT WOULD ORDER A GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION.

UH, YOU, YOU HAVE A COPY OF THAT ORDINANCE, AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK TO, UH, ASK IF WE HAVE PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

YES, MAYOR, WE DON'T HAVE ANY REMOTE SPEAKERS.

JUST IN PERSON.

LUIS GONZALEZ.

AND THEN BILL BUNCH.

GREAT.

IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, JUST PLEASE COME FORWARD, UM, AND IF THERE'S NO ONE AT THE MICROPHONE, IT'S ALL YOURS.

SO, WELCOME, SIR.

START OFF OUR DAY RIGHT.

THANK YOU, SIR.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR.

GOOD MORNING, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS LUIS GONZALEZ.

I'M A 15 YEAR RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 10, AND THE CURRENT CHAIR OF THE INDEPENDENT CITIZENS REDISTRICTING COMMISSION SINCE 2021 HAS BEEN MY UTMOST HONOR TO SERVE ON AND LEAD THIS EXTRAORDINARY GROUP OF AUSTIN RESIDENTS AND VOLUNTEERS TO HOW HIGHLIGHT, HOW INDEPENDENT CITIZEN-LED REDISTRICTING EFFORTS ARE.

THE ANTIDOTE TO GERRYMANDERING PRACTICES WE SEE TO OFTEN PLAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHERE POLITICAL DISTRICTS ARE DRAWN FOR THE PURPOSE OF REELECTION AND POLITICAL ADVANTAGES, RATHER THAN TO ENSURE FAIR REPRESENTATION AND INCREASED DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION AS ESTABLISHED BY THE CITY CHARTER.

THE ICRC HAS THE SOLE LEGAL STANDING TO CREATE AND ADOPT MAPS FOR OUR CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS WHILE MAINTAINING STRICT INDEPENDENCE FROM INFLUENCE BY CITY COUNCIL PROPOSITION C.

THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE CITY CHARTER THAT DIRECTLY IMPACTS THE WORK OF THE ICRC WILL HELP THE NEXT GROUP OF COMMISSIONERS THAT COME IN 2031 ACCOMPLISH THEIR GOAL OF PRODUCING A NEW MAP THAT PRIORITIZES EQUAL REPRESENTATION, RESIDENT INPUT AND TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION THE RAPID GROWTH AND CHANGE OUR CITY HAS EXPERIENCED SINCE I ARRIVED TO AUSTIN IN 2009.

THE PROPOSED NEW CHARTER LANGUAGE WILL DEFINE INDEPENDENT AS FREE FROM CITY COUNCIL INFLUENCE, THOUGH STILL FREE TO UTILIZE NECESSARY CITY RESOURCES LIKE MEETING SPACES AND STAFF EXPERTISE.

THE LANGUAGE WILL SPECIFY AN EFFECTIVE DATE FOR FUTURE MAPS IN CASE ANOTHER SPECIAL ELECTION OCCURS.

THE NEW LANGUAGE WILL INCREASE THE NUMBER OF QUALIFIED APPLICANTS ELIGIBLE TO SERVE ON THE COMMISSION AND CLARIFY THE METHOD AND TIMING FOR FILLING VACANCIES OF THE ICRC.

THESE CHANGES MIGHT APPEAR MINOR, BUT SPEAKING FROM DIRECT EXPERIENCE, WE'LL PROVIDE EFFICIENCY AND CLARITY TO FUTURE COMMISSIONERS AS THEY FOCUS ON THE WORK OF REDISTRICTING AND PRIORITIZING PUBLIC TESTIMONY RATHER THAN WORRYING ABOUT ADMINISTRATIVE RED TAPE.

HOWEVER, AN ITEM NOT INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSED NEW LANGUAGE THAT I HOPE CAN EVENTUALLY BE INCLUDED, PROVIDING A STIPEND TO COMMISSIONERS TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS EFFORT THAT WE AS A CITY SHOULD BE EXTREMELY PROUD OF.

I WAS ABLE TO SERVE ON THE ICRC AS A 29-YEAR-OLD WITHOUT PARENTAL OBLIGATIONS, WITH A FULL-TIME JOB THAT PROVIDED A LIVABLE SALARY, REMOTE WHITE WORK FLEXIBILITY, AND UNDERSTOOD THE IMPORTANCE OF REDISTRICTING.

GIVEN THE CONDENSED TIMELINE IN 2021, THOUGH THE ICRC DID FEEL LIKE A SECOND FULL-TIME JOB, NOW THINK OF THE SINGLE MOTHER OR FATHER WORKING TWO JOBS WITH CHILDREN TO MAKE ENDS MEET.

A SMALL STIPEND WOULD BE A COMMITMENT FROM THE CITY THAT THEY DO VALUE THE EXPERTISE AND KNOWLEDGE THAT ALL CAN BRING TO THIS COMMISSION.

A SMALL STIPEND WOULD MAKE THE COMMISSION A TRULY EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL AUSTIN KNIGHTS WHO MEET THE MINIMUM

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THE VOLUNTEER CITIZENS OF THIS COMMISSION ARE SO PROUD TO HAVE CREATED AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS JOINTLY WITH THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN.

WE THANK THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AS A SECOND EVER INDEPENDENT CITIZENS REDISTRICTING COMMISSION, AND WE HOPE THAT PROPOSITION C MAKES IT ONTO THE NOVEMBER PALATE AND GETS THE SUPPORT OF THE VOTERS OF AUSTIN.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

THANK YOU MR. BUNCH.

ARE YOU HERE? BILL BUNCH, MR. BUNCH.

THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS FOR 12 MAYOR.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

UH, MEMBERS, THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO, UH, GIVE US PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM NUMBER 12.

UH, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION AND A SECOND MOTION IS MADE BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.

DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER 12.

COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER.

THANK YOU.

UM, I JUST WANNA REGISTER THAT, UM, DURING THE PREVIOUS DISCUSSION ON THE CHARTER, I HAD ABSTAINED OR VOTED NO ON VARIOUS, UM, PROPOSITIONS.

UM, I DON'T YET HAVE THAT UP HERE TO TELL YOU EXACTLY WHICH ONES THAT WAS, BUT I WANNA STAND WITH, UH, THE SAME, YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT I WOULD'VE ABSTAINED, BUT TODAY WE'RE, OR, OR VOTED NO ON THOSE PROPOSITIONS, BUT TODAY WE'RE JUST CALLING THE ELECTION.

SO I'M VOTING ON CALLING THE ELECTION, BUT I'M NOT CHANGING MY STANCE ON THOSE PARTICULAR, UH, PROPOSITIONS.

THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.

UM, MAYOR PRO TEM AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.

MAYOR, I HAVE A, UH, A MOTION TO AMEND PART TWO OF THE ORDINANCE TO MAKE A CHANGE TO THE BALLOT LANGUAGE OF PROPOSITION.

O UH, WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO READ THAT? YEAH, LET, PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT WAS THE, AND THAT'S IN THE BACKUP.

IT SURE IS.

AND IT WAS ON THE, UH, MESSAGE BOARD AS WELL YESTERDAY.

VERY GOOD.

PLEA, PLEASE MAKE, MAKE THAT A PUBLIC SO THE PEOPLE WILL HEAR, HEAR IT OUT LOUD.

HAPPY TO.

SO I MOVE TO AMEND PART TWO, THE ORDINANCE TO MAKE A CHANGE TO THE BALLOT LANGUAGE OF PROPOSITION O TO, AND TO MAKE A CORRESPONDING CHANGE TO PART 15 OF THE ORDINANCE REGARDING THE LANGUAGE OF THE CHARTER.

THAT'LL BE AMENDED IN PART TWO.

WE WILL ADD THE PHRASE AND TO IMPOSE CONTRIBUTION LIMITS ON SUCH OFFICE HOLDERS AT THE END OF THE CURRENT BALLOT LANGUAGE SO THAT THE BALLOT LANGUAGE, UM, EMBRACES THE FACT THAT, UM, OFFICE HOLDERS WOULD BE CONFINED BY THE SAME CONTRIBUTION LEVELS THAT CANDIDATES ARE CONFINED BY, WHICH AT THIS TIME IS A MAXIMUM CONTRIBUTION OF $450.

SO THE PHRASE AND TO IMPOSE CONTRIBUTION LIMITS ON SUCH OFFICE HOLDERS WOULD OCCUR AT THE END OF THE CURRENT BALLOT LANGUAGE.

UM, AND WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO READ THAT BALLOT LANGUAGE, MAYOR? YES.

SHALL THE CITY CHARTER BE AMENDED TO REMOVE THE RESTRICTION THAT OFFICE HOLDERS MUST WAIT UNTIL AFTER LEAVING OFFICE IN ORDER TO SOLICIT AND ACCEPT POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO PAY UNPAID CAMPAIGN EXPENSES OR TO REIMBURSE CAMPAIGN EXPENDITURES MADE FROM PERSONAL FUNDS AND TO IMPOSE CONTRIBUTION LIMITS ON SUCH OFFICE HOLDERS? AND THEN A SIMILAR PHRASE IS ADDED IN PART 15, THE PHRASE SUBJECT TO THE LIMITATIONS ON CANDIDATES IN THIS SECTION.

AGAIN, THAT EMPHASIZES THAT ALL FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION LIMITATIONS WOULD CONTINUE TO FOLLOW OFFICE HOLDERS AS LONG AS THEY ARE IN OFFICE AND THE LANGUAGE IS, UM, THAT WAY INSERTED.

THANK YOU MAYOR MEMBERS.

YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION.

IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION? SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.

WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN THAT PART YET.

.

UM, ALRIGHT.

THE DISCUSSION WILL BE ON THE MOTION TO AMEND.

COUNCIL MEMBER, KELLY, YOU'RE CHOMPING AT THE BID, NOT THANK YOU FOR LAYING OUT YOUR MOTION.

MAYOR PROTON.

OKAY.

UH, ANYONE ELSE THAT WISHES TO BE HEARD ON THE MOTION TO AMEND WITHOUT OBJECTION? THE MOTION TO AMEND IS ADOPTED.

UH, AND FOR THE RECORD, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON HAS JOINED US VIRTUALLY AND, UM, I, I, I WILL CALL OUT IF THERE'S, IF THERE'S SOME DIFFERENCE IN, UH, HER VOTE BECAUSE PEOPLE MAY NOT BE WATCHING HER THE SAME WAY THEY'RE WATCHING THE DAIS.

AND OF COURSE, IF I, IF I DON'T CALL OUT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON FOR A NO VOTE OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE COUNCIL MEMBER, PLEASE MAKE SURE I DO IT THE RIGHT WAY.

UM, ALRIGHT, MEMBERS, YOU HAVE HEARD THE MOTION, IT HAS BEEN ADOPTED.

NOW WE WILL GO BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION, WHICH WAS, UH, WHICH IS THE ORDINANCE CALLING THE ELECTION AS THE MAIN

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IS THERE DISCUSSION ON THE MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED? ALRIGHT, IN THAT CASE, WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE MOTION AS AMENDED IS ADOPTED.

COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, YOU'RE VOTING.

AYE.

IS THAT CORRECT? THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

UH, THEN IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY MEMBERS THAT

[13. Approve an ordinance ordering a citizen-initiated special municipal election to be held on November 5, 2024, on the question of releasing an area from the City of Austin’s extraterritorial jurisdiction into unincorporated Travis County, the area being located on Menchaca Road south of Slaughter Lane; providing for the conduct of the special election; authorizing the City Clerk to enter into joint election agreements with other local political subdivisions as may be necessary for the orderly conduct of the election; and declaring an emergency.]

ITEM NUMBER 13 IS RELATED TO AN ORDINANCE ORDERING A CITIZEN INITIATED SPECIAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO HELD ON, TO BE HELD ON THE SAME DATE, WHICH IS NO NOVEMBER 5TH, 2024.

UH, IT'S RELATED TO ETJ.

I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION, UH, ON THAT ITEM.

MOTION IS MADE BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.

UH, I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 13.

YES, MAYOR, WE HAVE ONE PERSON IN PERSON.

SUSAN HARRIS, MS. HARRIS, SUSAN HARRIS, SUSAN HARRIS, ARE YOU PRESENT? ALL RIGHT, MEMBERS, THOSE ARE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 13.

UH, THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED.

IS THERE DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION? ITEM NUMBER 13 IS ADOPTED MEMBERS.

LET ME, UH, TAKE A MOMENT TO READ CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS THAT HAVE JUST BEEN DELIVERED TO US.

UH, READ THEM INTO THE RECORD, UH, FOR TODAY.

UH, ITEM NUMBER 22 SHOULD ADD COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE CHITO VELA AS A SPONSOR.

ITEM NUMBER 24 SHOULD ADD COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER AS A SPONSOR.

ITEM NUMBER 26 SHOULD ADD COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE CHITO VELA AS A SPONSOR.

ITEM 29, ADD COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE CHITO VELA AS A SPONSOR.

AND ITEM NUMBER 30, ADD COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE CHITO VELA AS A SPONSOR.

THOSE ARE ALL THE CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS TO BE READ INTO THE RECORD FOR THE DAY.

UM, MEMBERS, IT'S, IT'S 10 12.

UH, WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST

[Public Comment ( Part 1 of 3 )]

BUT AT 10 30, WE WILL RECESS SO THAT WE WILL BE IN A POSITION TO TAKE UP A HFC AND MILLER AT, AT THE, AT A POINT AT THE APPOINTED TIME.

THANK YOU MAYOR.

FIRST SPEAKER IS REMOTE.

FELICIA CABRERA.

UH, YEAH.

HELLO? CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES.

YES WE CAN.

UH, HELLO.

PLEASE BEGIN.

WE CAN HEAR YOU.

OH, YES.

OKAY.

HI THERE.

YES.

UM, GOOD MORNING.

UH, SO MY NAME IS FE GORA.

UM, I AM A RAPID REHOUSING PROVIDER.

UH, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TEST TESTIFY TODAY.

UM, AS A RAPID REHOUSING PROVIDER, I'VE HOUSED SEVERAL PEOPLE IN THEIR NEW HOMES.

THEY CONTINUE TO BE SUCCESSFUL DUE TO RAPID INTERVENTION.

WE CONTINUE TO HOUSE PEOPLE WHO ARE LOW INCOME, NO INCOME, AND HAVE OTHER BARRIERS WHILE SERVING THIS POPULATION, WE WORK AND STRIVE TO PLACE PEOPLE IN HOMES THEY WILL BE ABLE TO MANAGE ON THEIR OWN.

THIS INCLUDES UTILIZING THE SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED IN THE COMMUNITY SUCH AS AFFORDABLE PROPERTIES.

THIS MEANS WAIT LISTS THAT CAN LAST A VERY, VERY LONG TIME, A LONG TIME THAT CAN SURPASS THE RAPID TIMELINE, BUT WITH MUCH DUE DILIGENCE AND HARD WORK, A CASE MANAGER CAN BE VERY SUCCESSFUL IN FINDING A FOREVER HOME.

THE PROGRAM IS NOT PERFECT, AND YES, IT COMES WITH ITS UP AND DOWNS.

HOWEVER, THE PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING.

WE HAVE MADE AN IMPACT TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO FAMILIES THAT DESPERATELY NEEDED IT.

I HAVE BEEN WITNESS TO SEEING PEOPLE BEING TAKEN OFF THE STREETS AND INTO THEIR OWN HOMES, PROVIDED RESOURCES TO HELP THEM MAINTAIN PERMANENT HOUSING.

ECHO SHARED THAT IN ADDITIONAL 1,700 RAPID REHOUSING UNITS OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS ARE NEEDED.

I STRONGLY SUPPORT COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, UH, AMENDMENT FOR 3 MILLION FOR RAPID REHOUSING.

UH, THE CITY NEEDS CONTINUOUS FUNDING FOR FOR RAPID REHOUSING PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND SHELTERS.

UH, PLEASE SUPPORT COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES AMENDMENTS FOR RAPID REHOUSING ALONG WITH FUNDING

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THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY TODAY.

THANK YOU.

UM, MEMBERS FOR THE RECORD, HER TESTIMONY AND PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE CONSIDERED AS PART OF THE PUBLIC HEARINGS, BUT WE NEED TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARINGS ON ITEMS ONE THROUGH SIX.

SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARINGS ON ITEMS ONE THROUGH SIX, BUT AS I INDICATED, UH, WE WILL HEAR ALL SPEAKERS WHO HAVE SIGNED UP ON ITEMS ONE THROUGH SIX AND BUDGET ITEM SEVEN THROUGH 11.

SO, UM, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE RECORD'S CLEAR THAT WE HAVE OPENED THE PUBLIC HEARINGS ON ONE THROUGH SIX.

NEXT SPEAKER ON ONE AND SEVEN DARREN THORNHILL.

SIX MINUTES.

DARREN, UH, ONE SECOND.

SORRY GUYS.

I WAS TRYING TO DO ONE, TWO THINGS AT ONCE.

UM, HI, MY NAME IS DARREN THORNHILL.

I'M THE INCARCERATION OUTREACH SPECIALIST AT THE TEXAS HARM REDUCTION ALLIANCE.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY TODAY.

I WANT TO START BY THANKING COUNCIL MEMBER.

I CALLED DARREN VELAZQUEZ FOR PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ADD FUNDING FOR HARM REDUCTION IN AUSTIN AT THRA.

IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS, WE WORKED HARD TO DISTRIBUTE OVER 7,000 UNITS OF NARCAN TO THE COMMUNITY.

WE CONTINUE TO DISTRIBUTE OTHER LIFE SAVING PUBLIC HEALTH TOOLS, HYGIENE KITS, BUS PASSES, AND MUCH MORE.

AND WE CONTINUE TO BUILD DEEP RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE WITHOUT THE STIGMA OR JUDGMENT THAT SO MANY FACE WHILE NAVIGATING LIFE OUTSIDE OF THRA SERVICES.

THIS WORK IS HARD.

IT'S REALLY HARD AND WE CAN'T REACH EVERYONE DESPITE HOW HARD WE TRY, BUT WE NEED THE CITY SUPPORT TO CONTINUE DOING IT AND TO EXPAND OUR WORK TO REACH MORE PEOPLE.

ALSO, I ALSO WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, MAYOR WATSON, AND THE OTHERS ON THE COUNCIL THAT SUPPORT AMEND AMENDMENTS TO FUND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, SHELTER AND RAPID REHOUSING.

ALMOST ALL OF OUR PARTICIPANTS AT T-S-R-R-A ARE UNHOUSED.

DESPITE OUR STAFF'S INCREDIBLE WORK, IT'S NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP PEOPLE HEALTHY AND ALIVE, CONNECT PEOPLE TO SERVICES THEY NEED WHEN PEOPLE HAVE NO ACCESS TO PERMANENT HOUSING.

I WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THIS POINT.

IF WE HAVE HOUSING FOR PEOPLE, MORE PEOPLE WILL, IF WE HAVE MORE HOUSING, IF WE HAVE NO HOUSING FOR PEOPLE, MORE PEOPLE WILL DIE AND SUFFER ON OUR STREETS.

THAT'S WHAT WE SEE EVERY SINGLE DAY AT THRA WITH THE WORK THAT WE DO.

I HAVE SHARED SOME OF THIS BEFORE I SEE COUNCIL HEARINGS.

I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT MY JOB AT TEXAS HARM REDUCTION ALLIANCE, I WORK WITH OUR PARTICIPANTS TO COMPLETE THEIR COORDINATED ASSESSMENTS AND PSH PACKETS.

IF THEY QUALIFY FOR IT, THEN THEY GO ON TO WAIT ON THEIR HOUSING PLACEMENTS.

MANY PEOPLE I WORK WITH QUALIFY FOR PSH AND RAPID REHOUSING, AND THEY HAVE TO DECIDE WHAT THEY TAKE BECAUSE THERE ISN'T ENOUGH TSH PEOPLE, PEOPLE END UP TAKING RAPID REHOUSING.

SOMETIMES I HAVE CLIENTS THAT COME BACK TO ME WITH NO OPTIONS WHEN A RAPID REHOUSING IS ENDING, AND THAT'S A PROBLEM.

THESE SITUATIONS SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING.

WE SHOULD HAVE ENOUGH FUNDING FOR THE DIFFERENT HOUSING NEEDS OUR COMMUNITY HAS.

IF SOMEONE NEEDS CSH, THERE SHOULD BE A CLEAR PATH TO THEM.

IF SOME, IF SOMEONE NEEDS LESS SERVICES AND TEMPORARY RENTAL ASSISTANCE, THEN WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO OFFER RAPID REHABING TO THEM.

WE NEED TO FUND THE WHOLE CONTINUUM, NOT JUST PIECES OF IT.

THANK YOU AND HAVE A GREAT DAY, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

THANK YOU.

FOR CLARITY PURPOSES, I THINK I'VE SAID THIS, BUT I WANNA SAY IT AGAIN BECAUSE APPARENTLY I'VE, THERE'S CONFUSION.

WE HAVE OPENED THE PUBLIC HEARINGS ON ITEMS ONE THROUGH SIX.

WE ARE TAKING PUBLIC COMMENT ON ALL THE REMAINING ITEMS ON THE AGENDA, AND THAT INCLUDES ITEMS 14 THROUGH 30, ALL OF THE REMAINING ITEMS OTHER THAN, AND THAT'S ON THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA.

WE WILL RECESS AT SOME POINT TO TAKE UP THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION AND THE MILLER DEVELOPMENT, BUT WE ARE NOW HEARING PUBLIC COMMENT ON ALL BUDGET RELATED ITEMS INCLUDING BUDGET IFCS.

THANK YOU KAREN FERNANDEZ.

ONE AND TWO, SIX MINUTES.

HELLO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS KAREN FERNANDEZ AND I'M THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE MATTHEWS LANE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.

I WANNA CALL TO SUPPORT MACKENZIE KELLY'S CALL TO NOT RAISE OUR TAXES.

WE ARE A COMMUNITY THAT HAS BEEN LONG NOT SERVED, AND WE HAVE BEEN PAYING TAXES AND THEY HAVE GONE UP TO A RATE THAT IS JUST UNSUSTAINABLE.

IF YOU REALLY CARE ABOUT KEEPING PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES AND HAVING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, DO NOT RAISE OUR PROPERTY TAXES.

THANK YOU AGAIN TO COUNCIL MEMBER MCKENZIE KELLY.

SHE HAS STOOD BEHIND NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE ONLY THING I REGRET IS THAT SHE'S NOT SERVING MY NEIGHBORHOOD IN DISTRICT FIVE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU BRUCE REINER.

ITEM 1, 2, 6 MINUTES.

[00:20:05]

UH, I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.

I'M A RESIDENT, LONGTIME RESIDENT OF AUSTIN AND RESIDE IN DISTRICT SIX, AND I'M HERE TO, UH, AS THE PERSON JUST BEFORE ME SPOKE.

I'M HERE TO SPEAK, UH, IN SUPPORT OF MCKENZIE KELLY'S PROPOSALS TO REDUCE THE TAX RATE AND TO REDUCE THE SIZE OF THE CITY BUDGET SO THAT IT IS AFFORDABLE FOR ALL RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

AS A LONGTIME RESIDENT, UH, I AM REQUESTING ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS TO TAKE A LOOK AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR KEY RESPONSIBILITY IS, AND THAT IS TO REPRESENT THE WISHES AND NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.

AND ONE OF THOSE IS CLEARLY AFFORDABILITY.

AND THE CITY, JUST A FEW SHORT YEARS AGO, ENACTED A 24% INCREASE IN TAXES, AND THIS BUDGET FOR 24 25 PROPOSES AN ADDITIONAL, ALMOST 6% INCREASE.

WE ALL KNOW THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH A PERIOD OF INFLATION, AND AS A FAMILY AND SOMEONE WHO'S ON A FIXED INCOME, WE HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS AND CHOICES EVERY DAY ABOUT WHERE WE SPEND THE SCARCE DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE.

AND IT SEEMS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL DOESN'T LOOK AT IT AS, UH, OUR MONEY.

THE CITY COUNCIL SEEMS TO THINK THAT IT'S YOUR MONEY AND IT'S NOT.

COUNCIL MEMBERS SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR HOW THEY SPEND TAXPAYER DOLLARS, AND IT'S IRRESPONSIBLE DURING A TIME WHEN PEOPLE ARE ALL ARE ALREADY DEALING WITH AFFORDABILITY TO RAISE TAXES.

IT'S ALSO INCONCEIVABLE TO ME THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN, WITH THE GROWTH THAT IT HAS AND THE INCREASE IN THE TAX BASE, WHY ANY INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE WOULD BE NECESSARY, IT'S TIME FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO START FOCUSING AND PRIORITIZING ON WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT.

IT'S NOT THE ROLE OF CITY GOVERNMENT TO SOLVE NATIONAL ISSUES AND MAKE UP FOR REDUCTIONS IN FEDERAL FUNDING, ESPECIALLY THAT PROVIDED DURING COVID THE LAST TWO YEARS, CITY SPENDING INCREASED OVER 18% WHILE OUR POPULATION HAS ONLY GROWN SOMEWHERE BETWEEN TWO AND 4%.

THE CITY, UH, IT'S TIME FOR THE CITY TO GET CONTROL OF ITS SPENDING AND PRIORITIZE ON WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT, PUBLIC SAFETY, WATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE, PUBLIC WASTE, SAFE STREETS AND PARKS, LIBRARY SERVICES AND FUND, OTHER SERVICES ONLY TO THE EXTENT THAT IT DOESN'T REQUIRE AN INCREASE IN TAXES.

AS TAXPAYERS, WE EXPECT EACH ONE OF YOU TO SPEND WISELY.

A 6% INCREASE IN SPENDING AND A COMMENSURATE INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE IS NOT A WISE DECISION.

SO I WOULD, UH, AGAIN, ASK THAT YOU ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES CRITICALLY.

LOOK AT THE BUDGET, DON'T FUND SOMETHING SIMPLY BECAUSE WE'VE ALWAYS FUNDED IT.

IT SHOULD BE A ZERO BASED APPROACH THAT SAYS THIS IS A TRUE UNMET NEED.

WE NEED TO FUND IT.

AND OTHER THINGS THAT WE USED TO AREN'T AS CRITICAL GIVEN THE BUDGET CONSTRAINTS THAT WE SHOULD PUT IN PLACE.

JUST WANNA SAY AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS, UH, EACH OF THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

UH, I CERTAINLY DON'T THINK IT'S AN EASY JOB.

I KNOW IT'S A TOUGH JOB.

I KNOW ALL OF YOU SPEND, UH, UNTOLD HOURS WORKING ON THE COUNCIL AND ATTENDING COMMITTEE MEETINGS AS WELL AS GETTING INFORMED ON ISSUES.

BUT I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD LISTEN TO COMMENTS SUCH AS MINE AND THE SPEAKER BEFORE ME AND TRULY KEEP AFFORDABILITY IN MIND AND PRIORITIZING WHERE BUDGET DOLLARS REALLY NEED TO BE SPENT VERSUS THOSE THAT ARE NICE TO HAVE.

I WOULD JUST WANNA MAKE ONE EXAMPLE OF A NICE TO HAVE THAT SHOULDN'T BE FUNDED.

IT WAS JUST, I THINK TWO MEETINGS AGO WHERE THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED FUNDING FOR ARTWORK FOR THREE NEW FIRE STATIONS STATE EACH

[00:25:01]

IF WE NEEDED TO SPEND 750,000 IN SUPPORT OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE EITHER TO ADDRESS PENSION ISSUES OR ADDRESS EQUIPMENT ISSUES OR ADDRESS STAFFING ISSUES, NOT ARTWORK.

THAT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE WHERE I THINK THE CITY REALLY NEEDS TO LEARN HOW TO TIGHTEN ITS BELT AS WE TAXPAYERS HAVE BEEN DOING FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.

AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS, UH, THE MAYOR AND THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

I DO APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU.

SASHA ROSE, ITEM SIX AND SEVEN, SIX MINUTES.

HELLO, MY NAME IS DASA ROSE.

I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND LEAD ORGANIZER OF AUSTIN MUTUAL AID.

WE ARE A COMMUNITY LED ORGANIZATION AND WE REALLY GET TO, UH, SEE WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY, UM, THROUGH, UH, OUR WORK OUT AND OUTREACH AS WELL AS OUR, UH, COMMUNITY PAGE WHERE WE, UH, WHERE 3 1 1 ACTUALLY SENDS PEOPLE AS, UH, RESOURCES ARE INCREDIBLY LOW IN AUSTIN.

I WANT TO ADDRESS SPECIFICALLY THE HOUSING CRISIS THAT'S IN AUSTIN.

UM, AS YOU MAY KNOW, WE'VE SEEN A, UH, 30 TO 40% INCREASE IN HOUSING PRICES RECENTLY, AND IN JULY ALONE THERE WERE 675, OH, I'M SORRY, 965, UH, EVICTIONS FILED.

OKAY, SO THAT'S JUST HOUSEHOLDS, RIGHT? WE, WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN, UH, CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING HOUSING, HOUSING CRISIS AND HOUSING INSTABILITY.

WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT SOLVING HOMELESSNESS, BUT WE FAIL TO ADDRESS THE REAL ISSUE, WHICH IS OUR HOUSING CRISIS AND REAL TRUE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN AUSTIN.

UM, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE WANT AUSTIN TO BECOME LIKE SAN FRANCISCO, LIKE A LOT OF THESE PLACES WHERE REALLY, YOU KNOW, IN, IN, IN SAN FRANCISCO IT'S ALL CO-HOUSING, RIGHT? ONLY, ONLY THE WEALTHY ACTUALLY CAN AFFORD TO EITHER RENT OR, OR OWN OUR THEIR OWN HOMES.

AND I BELIEVE THAT WE'RE JUST A FEW STEPS BEHIND SAN FRANCISCO, LA AS WE'VE BECOME THE NEXT TECH CITY, RIGHT? UM, AND IN SOME WAYS THAT IS POSITIVE, BUT IN MANY WAYS THE WAY THAT IT IS, IS IMPACTING OUR CURRENT COMMUNITY IS, IS REALLY HARMFUL.

AND, UM, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE TRENDING AND LOSING SO MUCH OF OUR ARTISTS, OUR BIPOC COMMUNITY IN SPECIFIC, UM, WE DO NOT WANT AUSTIN TO JUST BECOME A WEALTHY PLAYGROUND FOR A PLAYGROUND FOR THE WEALTHY, RIGHT? AND DLE, WE DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN.

HOW CAN WE DO THAT? WE NEED TO INVEST IN HOUSING.

RENT RELIEF HAS BEEN OUT FOR, FOR A LONG TIME, RIGHT? LAST YEAR WE DID IT AND WE HAD A 24 HOUR, WITHIN 24 HOURS RENT RELIEF FUNDS WERE EXHAUSTED.

THIS YEAR WE DRAGGED IT OUT A LITTLE BIT LONGER BY HAVING IT GO THROUGH EL BUEN AND IT WAS A LOTTERY SYSTEM.

A LOTTERY SYSTEM IS NOT AN EQUITABLE SYSTEM.

UM, WE REALLY NEED TO START ADDRESSING EQUITY HERE IN OUR, IN OUR CITY.

WE KNOW THAT OUR BIPOC COMMUNITY IS MORE DEEPLY IMPACTED BY HOUSING INSTABILITY.

AND WE CAN LOOK AT WHERE THAT GOES ALL THE WAY BACK TO WHEN THEY DIVIDED I 35, RIGHT? WE NEED TO BE INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITY, IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, AND WE NEED TO BE WORKING TO SOLVE HOMELESSNESS BY ENSURING THAT THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE CURRENTLY HOUSED REMAIN HOUSED.

AND THAT IS GONNA COME THROUGH RENT RELIEF, UH, PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, RAPID REHOUSING.

ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE CURRENTLY IN DANGER OF BEING CUT.

AND A LOT OF IT IS BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO A PD.

WHY ARE WE LOOKING AT GIVING A PD ANOTHER RAISE RIGHT NOW? WE KNOW THAT THAT MONEY CAN NEVER, CAN NEVER BE TAKEN BACK, RIGHT? DUE TO THE RECENT STATE LAWS.

SO WHY ARE WE LOOKING AT INCREASING AD'S BUDGET WHEN THEY'RE CURRENTLY AT A DEFICIT FOR EMPLOYMENT? AND IT'S NOT BECAUSE OF US, RIGHT? THEY'RE CADETS AND TRAINING PEOPLE ARE GOING IN, THEY DON'T LAST.

THIS IS A PROGRAM ISSUE WITH A PD THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY A PD.

THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND TAXPAYERS NEED TO BE PAYING FOR IF THEY CAN'T KEEP THEIR CADETS, IF THEY CAN'T, YOU KNOW, PROVIDE THE INFORMATION.

I RECENTLY READ AN ARTICLE AND HEARD ABOUT A, A, UH, VERY IMPORTANT HIGH PROFILE CASE WHERE A PD DID NOT PROVIDE IS, IS BASICALLY REFUSING TO PROVIDE THE CAMERAS, UM, THE BODY CAMS FOR THIS CASE.

VERY HIGH PROFILE CASE, RIGHT? UM, WHY, WHY ARE WE GIVING RAISES TO AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS CURRENTLY STRUGGLING INTERNALLY AND NOT FOLLOWING

[00:30:01]

SO I REALLY WANNA ENCOURAGE OUR CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET TO CONSIDER, UM, NOT INCREASING THE CITY, THE A PD BUDGET THAT IS NOT GONNA, WE ALREADY KNOW THAT CRIMINALIZING HOMELESSNESS IS NOT THE WAY TO SOLVE IT.

AND WE'RE ALREADY SPENDING TOO MUCH MONEY, IN MY OPINION, ON CRIMINALIZING HOMELESSNESS, ON CLEANING IT UP, ON SWEEPS, ON CAMP CLEANUPS THAT HARM OUR COMMUNITY, THAT HARM ORGANIZATIONS LIKE AUSTIN MUTUAL AID.

THAT IS COMMUNITY DRIVEN, DONATION DRIVEN.

WE STILL REMAIN UNFUNDED BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN, BY THE WAY, FOR THE WORK THAT WE DO.

SO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU NEED SOME PLACE TO PUT MONEY WHERE IT'LL ACTUALLY SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY, SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET, SUPPORT THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE CURRENTLY ALREADY WORKING IN OUR COMMUNITY, DO NOT INCREASE THE, THE, THE, THE BUDGET TO A PD.

THIS IS NOT GONNA HELP US.

AND WE ARE IN A HOUSING CRISIS, Y'ALL.

WE NEED TO BE FOCUSING ON THAT.

WE NEED TO BE ENSURING THAT WE ARE DOING WHAT WE CAN.

I'M SEEING SO MANY, WE ARE SEEING SO MANY FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN LIVING IN CARS, UM, STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE.

UH, IF Y'ALL HAVEN'T GONE OVER TO OUR COMMUNITY PAGE TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING WITH, IT ALL STARTS WITH HOUSING.

WE ALREADY KNOW THAT MORE THAN 50% OF RENTERS IN AUSTIN ARE LIVING ABOVE THEIR MEANS BY PAYING MORE THAN 50% OF THEIR INCOME TO HOUSING WHEN IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE A THIRD.

WE ALREADY KNOW THIS.

THE STUDIES ARE THERE.

WE ARE SEEING AN INCREASE IN, IN, IN, IN EVICTIONS EVERY MONTH.

IT'S JUST CONTINUAL.

AND WE'RE JUST GOING TO KEEP DIGGING OURSELVES INTO A HOLE WITH THIS HOUSING CRISIS IF WE DO NOT START INVESTING IN THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE WORKING.

THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE, ARE TRYING TO ADDRESS THIS NOW.

WE NEED AN INCREDIBLE RENT RELIEF WHEN WE NEED TO TRULY INVEST IN TRUE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

'CAUSE WE HAVE PUT OUR, OUR PARTICIPANTS APPLY AND WE'LL GET YOU INFO THANK INFO BACK FROM THEM THAT THANK YOU'VE ACCEPTED FOR THIS AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNIT.

IT'S KABA WHITE ITEM SIX AND SEVEN.

TELL WHAT BEFORE WE DO THAT, BEFORE WE GO TO, UH, MS. WHITE, UM, MEMBERS, IT'S 10 32, UH, SO THAT WE CAN TAKE CARE OF A COUPLE OF OTHER ITEMS AND ALLOW STAFF TO LEAVE.

UM, LET ME ASK IF THERE'S ANY OBJECTION AND WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL RECESS THE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AT 10:32 AM WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE ARE IN RECESS.

I WILL NOW CALL

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

THERE ARE TWO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA AND I'LL TURN TO MS. DE MAYO TO TALK TO US.

THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING.

UH, MANDY DE MAYO TREASURER AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.

WE HAVE TWO ITEMS ON TODAY'S CONSENT AGENDA.

THE FIRST IS ADOPTING THE, UH, A HFC CAPITAL BUDGET, UH, FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

IT'S AN AMOUNT OF $80,066,944.

THE SECOND ITEM IS ADOPTING THE A HFC OPERATING BUDGET, UM, AND THE HOUSING ASSISTANCE FUND.

THE OPERATING BUDGET FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR IS 37,000,191 $951, AND THE HOUSING ASSISTANCE FUND BUDGET IS 3.2 MILLION.

HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS, OFFER THOSE ON, REMEMBER YOU, YOU'VE HAD, YOU'VE HAD THIS, UM, PREVIOUSLY.

IS THERE ANY, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OF, UH, MS. DE MAYO? ALRIGHT THEN, UH, THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADOPT ITEMS ONE AND TWO AS PART OF A CONSENT AGENDA.

BOARD MEMBER, UH, UH, VELA MAKES THE MOTION THAT IS SECONDED BY BOARD MEMBER CADRY.

IS THERE DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? I SHOULD HAVE CHECKED, BUT THERE'S MY MEMORY WAS THERE WAS NOBODY SIGNED UP.

THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS, MA'AM.

OKAY, AND I SHOULD NOTE THERE'S LATE BACKUP, UH, ON ITEM TWO.

EXHIBIT A HAS BEEN REVISED.

OKAY, UM, MEMBERS ARE THERE, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION? THE CONSENT AGENDA, ITEMS ONE AND TWO ARE ADOPTED.

THANK YOU, UM, MEMBERS THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL ADJOURN THAT BOARD MEETING AT 10:34 AM I'LL

[10:30 AM - Mueller Local Government Corporation Meeting]

IT IS AUGUST 14TH, 2024 AND WE ARE MEETING AT 10:34 AM WE ARE MEETING IN THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS LOCATED IN AUSTIN CITY HALL AT 3 0 1 WEST SECOND, AND WE HAVE ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD PRESENT.

UH, WE HAVE TWO ITEMS ON A POT POTENTIAL CONSENT AGENDA AND I WILL TURN TO STAFF TO MAKE A PRESENTATION.

GOOD MORNING, SOVIA HOLT RAB, SECRETARY OF THE BOARD.

I HAVE TWO ITEMS TO OFFER UP FOR CONSENT

[00:35:01]

THE FIRST ITEM IS TO APPROVE THE MILLER LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATIONS, UH, MEETING MINUTES OF AUGUST 16TH, 2023.

ITEM TWO, TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE FISCAL YEAR 24 25 LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION OPERATING BUDGET, AND THE AMOUNT OF $5,114,565.

MEMBERS YOU'VE HEARD STAFF.

DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF ON THESE TWO ITEMS? IN THAT CASE, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

COUNCIL, UH, BOARD MEMBER FUENTES MOVES APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA, ITEMS ONE AND TWO.

IT IS SECONDED BY BOARD MEMBER VELASQUEZ.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.

COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, OR BOARD MEMBER HARPER MADISON.

THERE YOU ARE, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.

ITEMS ONE AND TWO ARE ADOPTED BY ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

THANK YOU MA'AM.

UM, MEMBERS THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE MILLER LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL ADJOURN THE MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AT 10:36 AM MEMBERS, I WILL NOW CALL BACK TO ORDER THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AND WE WILL RESUME

[Public Comment ( Part 2 of 3 )]

AND MS. WHITE HAD BEEN CALLED, SO I'LL, UH, LET YOU CALL HER AGAIN, BUT, UH, THAT'S WHERE WE'LL GO.

EVA WHITE ITEM 6, 7, 6 MINUTES.

HELLO, MY NAME IS EVA WHITE.

I AM SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF PUBLIC CITIZENS TEXAS OFFICE.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

I DID WANT TO ALSO, UH, VOICE SUPPORT FOR FUNDING MORE OF THE PRIORITIES LAID OUT IN THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUS BUDGET.

UM, PUBLIC CITIZEN WAS PART OF THAT, AND YOU WILL SEE THAT THERE ARE ITEMS IN THERE THAT ARE RELATED TO IMPLEMENTING THE BOSTON CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN AND JUST WANTED TO, IN GENERAL VOICE SUPPORT FOR PUTTING MORE FUNDING TOWARDS ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE NEEDED TO, UH, AND ALL OF THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE NEEDED TO ACTUALLY MAKE THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN A REALITY.

THINK YOU'VE, UH, HAD SOME CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS TOPIC OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS, BUT THERE JUST STILL REMAINS A GAP BETWEEN THE REALITY OF WHAT'S NEEDED AND THE FUNDING THAT IS IN THE BUDGET FOR THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS.

UM, AND THERE, YOU KNOW, I SEE THAT THERE IS A, AN AMENDMENT PUT FORWARD BY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER AND SEVERAL OTHER CO-SPONSORS, UH, RELATED TO EXPANDING THE WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY AT, UH, AUSTIN ENERGY.

I DO URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THAT AS WELL AS THE AMENDMENT PUT FORWARD FOR LAND ACQUISITION FUNDING.

BOTH OF THOSE ARE VERY NEEDED, BUT THERE ARE OTHER PRIORITIES, UM, THAT STILL REMAIN UNFUNDED.

THINGS THAT, UH, ARE LAID OUT IN POLICY, BUT, UH, NEVERTHELESS ARE ARE LEFT TO KIND OF WITHER OR JUST NOT BE FUNDED AT THE LEVEL THAT THEY'RE NEEDED MOST IN.

RESOURCE RECOVERY IS ONE DEPARTMENT THAT I WOULD CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO.

THEY HAVE A MASSIVE, UH, I THINK, UH, GOAL GOALS THAT ARE, UM, UNDERFUNDED AND FRANKLY THAT THEY'RE BEHIND ON IN TERMS OF ACHIEVING ZERO WASTE.

AND WE NOW KNOW THAT THE, THE PRODUCTS THAT WE USE AND THE WASTE WE PRODUCE IS A HUGE SOURCE OF GREEN, HAS THE S AND YET THE FUNDING IS, UH, ALMOST NON-EXISTENT FOR THOSE PROGRAMS. THEY HAVE GOOD PEOPLE, THEY HAVE GOOD, UM, KIND OF STRUCTURE IN PLACE TO, TO DO SOME OF THAT WORK, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY.

THEY DON'T HAVE IT AT THE LEVEL THAT IS NEEDED.

AND THIS, THAT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE, BUT IT IS AN IMPORTANT ONE BECAUSE SEEING THAT THAT, UM, CONTINUES TO FALL BY THE WAYSIDE.

SO IN A BIG PICTURE, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO GIVE MORE ATTENTION TO THE ITEMS IN THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY, UH, BUDGET AND SPECIFICALLY ITEMS THAT WILL ADVANCE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN.

WE ARE IN A CLIMATE CRISIS AND WE REALLY NEED Y'ALL TO TAKE THAT SERIOUSLY AND, AND PUT THE MONEY THAT IS NEEDED TO .

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU.

NEXT SPEAKER.

THE NEXT TWO SPEAKERS HAVE REQUESTED SPANISH INTERPRETATION, SO I'LL MAKE SURE THE INTERPRETER IS READY.

A WROTE US ITEM SEVEN FOR SIX MINUTES.

[00:40:03]

MY NAME IS A, I'M SPEAKING ON ITEM SEVEN AND I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE BUDGET RECOMMENDATION FROM THE ORGANIZATION.

GO AUSTIN BAOS AUSTIN, ALSO KNOWN AS GAVA, TO INCREASE THE GRANT FOR THE FAMILY STABILIZATION PROGRAM.

AND THIS WAY BENEFIT NEW FAMILIES.

I AM ONE OF THE FAMILIES IDENTIFIED BY GAVA AS THE GRAND BENEFICIARY.

TO ME, THIS HAS BEEN A REAL BLESSING FOR MY FAMILY.

IN THIS DIFFICULT TIMES, THE ECONOMY IS BAD AND WE ALL KNOW THE PRICE OF FOOD HAS INCREASED A HUNDRED PERCENT.

I'M MOTHER OF FOUR BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN AND A, I'M A VERY REAL HARD WORKER.

I CLEAN HOUSES FOR A LIVING, BUT MY SALARY IS NOT ENOUGH, NOT EVEN WORKING TWO JOBS.

THAT'S WHY I CALL TO SUPPORT THE APPROVAL AND CONTINUATION OF THE FAMILY STABILIZATION GRANT FOR ANOTHER YEAR SO OTHER FAMILIES LIKE MINE CAN BENEFIT.

I THANK YOU IN ADVANCE AND WITH ALL MY HEART FOR CONSIDERING THIS BENEFIT FOR ALL THE HARDWORKING COMMUNITY IN OUR CITY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU.

MARIA OCHOA, SIX MINUTES ITEM SEVEN.

I'M HELLO.

GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS MARIA CHOA.

I'M SPEAKING ON ITEM SEVEN TODAY.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL FOR BEING PRESENT AND FOR YOUR SUPPORT TO THE FAMILIES THROUGH THE FAMILY STABILIZATION PROGRAM.

LIKE MY OWN FAMILY'S A BENEFICIARY.

THE TRUTH IS THAT THE COST OF LIVING IN AUSTIN HAS INCREASED A LOT AND I HAVE BEEN LIVING IN AUSTIN FOR 17 YEARS.

I HAVE SEEN HOW THE CITY HAS GROWN AND THE COST OF LIVING THIS GRANT HAS REALLY HELPED MY FAMILY.

SO I HOPE YOU CAN CONTINUE HELPING OTHER FAMILIES LIKE MINE NEXT YEAR.

I CONSIDER MYSELF VERY LUCKY BECAUSE AS PEOPLE SAY, THIS GRANT WAS LIKE A TRUE BLESSING.

IN JUNE, MY HUSBAND HAD A MEDICAL EMERGENCY, HE HAD A HEART ATTACK AND HE COULDN'T CONTINUE WORKING FOR TWO MONTHS.

AND THE HELP OF THIS GRANT HELP US TREMENDOUSLY BECAUSE WHAT I EARNED FROM MY WORK IS VERY LITTLE AND THIS WAS A COMPLIMENT FROM IN THIS EMERGENCY.

WE HOPE OUR SITUATION CHANGES SOON, BUT I THANK YOU IN ADVANCE TO ALL OF YOU FOR THESE GRANTS FOR THE FAMILIES, AND PLEASE CONTINUE SUPPORTING US BECAUSE YOU CANNOT IMAGINE HOW BIG THIS HELP IS FOR US.

[00:45:52]

I HAD THIS AMAZING FEELING OF HAVING FINALLY FINANCIAL STABILITY, BEING ABLE TO PAY MY RENT AND BILLS FOR A YEAR AND WHY NOT EVEN THINKING ABOUT TAKING MY CHILDREN OUT TO HAVE SOME FUN.

THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING MY COMMENTS.

I TRIED TO GET INVOLVED IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER AND IN ALL, IN ALL YOUR DIFFERENT PROJECTS BECAUSE I KNOW YOU ARE WORKING FOR THE COMMUNITY AND YOU DO A LOT FOR US.

LASTLY, I WANT TO ASK YOU TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING THE FAMILIES IN THE STABILIZATION PROGRAM BECAUSE IT IS VERY GRATIFYING TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE SUPPORTING US IN THE SAME WAY THAT WE HAVE SUPPORTED YOU IN THE PAST.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

VIVIAN DOINA, ITEM SEVEN.

UH, YES, GOOD MORNING COUNSEL.

MY NAME IS VIVIAN DOINA AND I AM A STUDENT AND RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE HERE IN AUSTIN.

I AM HERE TODAY TO URGE YOU ALL TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES LOGISTICAL SUPPORT FOR AUSTIN.

I SEEKING ABORTION BUDGET AMENDMENT, WHICH WILL ALLOCATE $500,000 TO FUND AIRFARE, GAS REIMBURSEMENT, HOTEL STAYS, RIDE SHARES, CHILDCARE STIPENDS, COMPANION TRAVEL AND FOOD FOR AUSTINITE TRAVELING TO ACCESS ABORTION CARE.

AUSTIN IS IN DESPERATE NEED OF A PRACTICAL ABORTION FUND BECAUSE OF TEXAS TOTAL ABORTION BAN, AUSTINITES AND TEXANS ARE HAVING TO TRAVEL HUNDREDS OR THOUSANDS OF MILES TO WHERE ABORTIONS ARE LEGAL.

MAGGIE UNA, ITEM SEVEN.

HELLO.

THANK YOU.

MY NAME IS MAGGIE LUNA.

I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT TEXAS HARM REDUCTION ALLIANCE.

I WANNA FIRST START BY SAYING I GREATLY APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER VASQUEZ FOR SUBMITTING THE ORIGINAL BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR THE SUBSTANCE USE CONTINUUM OF CARE FOR 316,000.

AND WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF THOSE WHO SUPPORT THIS VERY IMPORTANT WORK.

AND WE ARE ASKING THAT ALL CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND OUR MAYOR UNDERSTAND THAT CUTTING THIS BUDGET AMENDMENT WILL ALSO IMPACT THE NUMBER OF LIVES THAT ARE BEING SAVED DURING THIS OVERDOSE CRISIS THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING.

THE TEAM AT TEXAS HARM REDUCTION ALLIANCE LEAD WITH COMPASSION, HUMANITY AND LOVE.

THEY ARE ALL EXTREMELY DEDICATED TO PROVIDING LIFE-SAVING SERVICES IN THE MIDST OF THIS OVERDOSE CRISIS THAT'S IMPACTING OUR CITY.

THE NEED IS GROWING EVERY SINGLE DAY IN THE NUMBER OF DEDICATED STAFF MEMBERS HAS NOT INCREASED, WHICH CAUSES OUR STAFF TO BE OVERWHELMED.

STAFF EXPERIENCE FIRSTHAND TRAUMA AND EMOTIONAL TRAUMA BECAUSE THEY DO CARE SO MUCH AND THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE ARE VERY DEAR TO US.

EVERY OVERDOSE IS PREVENTABLE.

AND TWENTY TWENTY TWO FOUR HUNDRED AND SEVENTEEN TRAVIS COUNTY RESIDENTS DIED FROM DRUG RELATED OVERDOSES.

IT MARKED THE FIRST TIME THAT OVERDOSES WERE THE LEADING CAUSE OF ACCIDENTAL DEATHS IN THE COUNTY.

SINCE 2011, THRA RUNS ONE OF THE ONLY DROP-IN CENTERS THAT IS OPEN TO ANYONE NO MATTER WHERE THEY ARE ON THE SPECTRUM OF DRUG USE.

TWO DAYS AGO, ONE OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WAS WAITING TO ACCESS OUR DROP-IN SERVICES AND EXPERIENCED AN OVERDOSE.

OUR STAFF WENT INTO IMMEDIATE ACTION.

COMMUNITY OF PARTICIPANTS WERE ABLE TO NOTIFY US BECAUSE OF THE CULTURE THAT WE HAVE BUILT AT THIS DROP-IN CENTER.

THERE WAS NO CHAOS.

EVERYONE MOVED IN AND SAVED THIS LIFE.

OUR PARTICIPANTS KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR AND HAVE TRUST IN US TO HELP BECAUSE OF THIS AMAZING TEAM AND THE COMMUNITY, THIS PERSON WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONSCIOUSNESS AND COME INTO THE DROP-IN CENTER TO RECEIVE COLD WATER A SHOWER, AND OUR STAFF WAS ABLE TO LOVINGLY MONITOR THEM UNTIL THEY WALKED OUT ON THEIR OWN.

THIS IS ONLY ONE OF THE MANY SITUATIONS THAT HAPPENS ONSITE EVERY SINGLE DAY AND WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE SUPPORT THIS WORK AND WE NEED THE 316,000 TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STAFF

[00:50:01]

THANK YOU.

EMILY WITT, ITEM SEVEN.

GOOD MORNING.