Aug 14, 2024 Austin City Council Budget Adoption

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.

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.

MOTION HAS BEEN AMENDED BY THE MAYOR PRO TEMS AMENDMENT.

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

[00:10:01]

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.

WILL NOW TAKE US TO ITEM NUMBER 13.

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 )]

WE DO IS WE TURN TO THE CLERK'S OFFICE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON, UH, THE VER ALL OF THE ITEMS THAT ARE LEFT ON THE COUNCIL OTHER THAN A HFC AND THE MILLER DEVELOPMENT AND, UH, BEGIN THAT PROCESS.

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.

FIRST SPEAKER IS REMOTE.

FELICIA CABRERA.

UH, YEAH.

HELLO? CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES.

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

[00:15:01]

FOR PSH AND SHELTERS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY TODAY.

THESE SITUATIONS SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING.

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.

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 KAREN FERNANDEZ.

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.

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.

UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, REGARDING THE CITY BUDGET AND THE CITY TAX RATE.

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]

ONE ISSUED A CONTRACT OF $250,000 OR MORE FOR ARTWORK, $750,000 FOR ARTWORK IS HARDLY A PRIORITY IN MY VIEW.

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.

LAW, RIGHT? THEY'RE NOT ABOVE THE LAW.

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]

TO ORDER THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION, AUGUST 14TH, 2024 AT, UH, AT 10:32 AM WE ARE MEETING AT AUSTIN CITY HALL IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS 3 0 1 WEST SECOND, AND WE HAVE ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD PRESENT MEMBERS.

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

NOW CALL TO ORDER THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE MILLER LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION.

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]

TODAY.

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 )]

PUBLIC COMMENT ON ALL ITEMS RELATED TO THE BUDGET.

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 .

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.

THINKING ABOUT FINANCIAL STABILITY IS NOW LESS THAN A WORRY IS NOT LIKE SO STRESSFUL BECAUSE WE CAN CONTINUE SUPPORTING OUR HOUSEHOLDS WHEN THEY CALL ME FROM THE ORGANIZATION GOES IN AUSTIN, VAMOS AUSTIN OR GAVA TO LET ME KNOW THAT I WAS ON THE WAITING LIST.

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.

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.

EVERY OVERDOSE IS PREVENTABLE.

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.

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]

ARE ABLE TO REACH MORE AND GIVE MORE ACCESS TO THE CITY.

EMILY WITT, ITEM SEVEN.

CAN EVERYONE HEAR ME? YES.

GREAT.

I'M JUST GONNA GREAT.

MY NAME IS EMILY WITT AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM SEVEN AND EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR LOGISTICAL ABORTION FUND AND THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET.

TEXAS HAS ONE OF THE MOST EXTREME BANS ABORTION BANS IN THE NATION.

AND OUR ACCESS TO ABORTION WAS STOLEN LONG BEFORE THE FALL OF ROE.

WITHOUT THE RIGHT TO ABORTION, WE DO NOT HAVE FREEDOM OF OUR OWN BODIES.

THE FREEDOM TO BUILD OUR OWN FUTURES OR THE FREEDOM TO MAKE THE BEST HEALTHCARE DECISIONS FOR OURSELVES AND OUR FAMILIES.

EVERYONE, NO MATTER THE ZIP CODE THEY LIVE IN, THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN OR IMMIGRATION STATUS DESERVES ACCESS TO THE FULL SPECTRUM OF REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE, INCLUDING ABORTION.

AUSTIN I WHO NEED ABORTION CARE AND NOW HAVE TO TRAVEL THOUSANDS OF MILES TO ACCESS IT, STAY MULTIPLE DAYS IN ANOTHER STATE AND PAY FOR THESE COSTS OUT OF POCKET.

THESE BARRIERS ARE NEARLY INSURMOUNTABLE IF YOU ALREADY HAVE CHILDREN AT HOME OR LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK AND CANNOT AFFORD TIME OFF OF WORK.

WHILE EXTREMIST LAWMAKERS HAVE SOLD OUR FREEDOMS TO VOTES, THE CITY COUNCIL HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIND INNOVATIVE AND EQUITABLE WAYS TO EASE THE BURDEN OUR COMMUNITY FACES IN SEEKING ABORTION CARE.

IN 2019, AUSTIN MADE HISTORY OF THE FIRST CITY IN THE SOUTH TO APPROPRIATE CITY FUNDS TO SUPPORT THOSE ACCESSING ABORTION CARE.

AS A VOTER IN DISTRICT FOUR, I URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO RECOMMIT TO THOSE VALUES AND REESTABLISH THE SUPPORT FOR AUSTIN TO NAVIGATING TEXAN'S ABORTION BAN THE MAJORITY OF TEXANS SUPPORT ACCESS TO ABORTION BY ALLOCATING FUNDS FOR TRAVEL, CHILDCARE, AND OTHER LOGISTICAL COMPONENTS YOU CAN HELP US ACCESS FREEDOM OVER OUR LIVES AND FEATURES.

QUINCY DUNLAP, ITEM SEVEN I QUINCY PLEASE UNMUTE.

STRATEGIC RESULTS, UH, WE ARE ALSO IN SUPPORT OF, UH, NOTICE, UH, RECOGNIZING IN THE COMMUNITY.

YES, GOOD MORNING.

UM, ACKNOWLEDGING, UH, MAYOR KURT WATSON AND OUR SEEING ESTEEM CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, TO LEAD WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HARPER MADISON, WHOSE DISTRICT WE ARE IN.

UM, I WANTED TO SPEAK SPECIFICALLY TO SOME BUDGET AMENDMENT ITEMS. UM, THE URBAN LEAGUE IS, UM, NOT IN FAVOR OF EXPANDING, UH, A PD POLICE FUNDING, BUT WE UNDERSTAND THAT THAT THERE IS A GAP IN THE HIRING, BUT THERE HAS BEEN PREVIOUS, UH, EXPANSIONS TO THE BUDGET THAT THE, UH, COMMUNITY CANNOT HOLISTICALLY ACKNOWLEDGE NOR DEFINE THE IMPACT OF THAT INCREASED FUNDING OVER THE PAST YEAR OR TWO.

SO WE WOULD PREFER THAT, UM, WE ACKNOWLEDGE AND LEAN MORE HEAVILY TOWARDS FOCUSING THAT $18 MILLION ON THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET, WHICH WOULD IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR BROTHERS AND SISTERS ACROSS THE CITY, UH, PARTICULARLY WITH INVESTMENTS INTO, UM, THE HOUSING RESPONSE SYSTEM THAT IS END TO END SOLUTIONING TO INCLUDE RAPID REHOUSING, PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, EMERGENCY SHELTER, INCLEMENT WEATHER SHELTER, AND THE SHELTER RESPONSE SYSTEM.

IN GENERAL, THAT $18 MILLION COULD GO TOWARDS SUPPORTING, UH, MULTIPLE COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO FUNCTION AS A COMMUNITY HOMELESSNESS SYSTEM RESPONSE MECHANISM BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF SMALLER ORGANIZATIONS DOING GREAT WORK AND WE WOULD LOVE TO COALESCE, COLLABORATE, AND ACTUALLY FUND SOME OF THAT GREAT RESPONSE AND WORK THAT IS HAPPENING WITH ORGANIZATIONS OF ALL SIDES AND THAT SERVE DIFFERENT ETHNICITIES AND RACES ACROSS THE CITY.

I VALUE PROPOSITION IS TO DEVELOP AN EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM THAT DEALS WITH, UH, AFFORDABILITY, EMERGENCY HOUSING AND SHELTER.

SO AGAIN, UM, THE URBAN LEAGUE SUPPORTS THE CIB AND WE WOULD ALSO WANT TO FOCUS ON EXPANDING AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH'S BUDGET TO FOCUS MORE ON FOOD INSECURITY, UH, OFFSET.

UH, I THINK AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH HAS THE CHOPS TO DO IT.

UM, SO I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GREAT CITY INVESTMENT TO EXPAND A P H'S BUDGET.

I KNOW THEY DIDN'T ASK FOR A BUDGET EXPANSION, BUT I'M TELLING YOU THEY HAVE THE CAPACITY AND THE KNOWHOW IN AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE LEADERSHIP TO SERVE THE CITY WELL.

UH, WHERE IT CONCERNS ITS MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.

THEY'VE BEEN DOING A GREAT JOB AND I THINK IN EXPANSION OF RESOURCES INTO THAT DEPARTMENT WITH YIELD

[00:55:01]

GWEN MORDA, ITEM SEVEN.

HI, GOOD MORNING.

UH, MARIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS GWEN MARADA.

I LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE AND I'M CURRENTLY A STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SCHOOL OF LAW.

UM, I'M CALLING IN TODAY TO URGE YOU TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES LOGISTICAL SUPPORT FOR AUSTINITE SEEKING ABORTION BUDGET AMENDMENT AND THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET IN GENERAL.

UM, THIS AMENDMENT WILL ALLOCATE $500,000 TO FUND TRAVEL AND OTHER LOGISTICAL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH AUSTINITES SEEKING ABORTION CARE OUT OF STATE.

IN 2023, MORE THAN 35,000 TEX OR MORE THAN 35,000 TEXANS TRAVELED OUT OF STATE TO SEEK ABORTION CARE AS A RESULT OF THE COMPLETE ABORTION BAN IN OUR STATE.

UM, I HAVE FAMILY OUT OF STATE AND KNOW THAT IF I NEEDED TO, I COULD LEAVE TEXAS TO SEEK ABORTION CARE.

HOWEVER, I ALSO KNOW THAT IT'S NOT THE CASE FOR MANY AUSTINITES WHO EITHER DON'T HAVE FAMILY OR FRIENDS OUT OF STATE OR CAN'T AFFORD TO LEAVE AND TRAVEL THE INCREASING DISTANCES REQUIRED TO SEEK CARE.

UM, THESE COSTS ARE COMPOUNDED FOR PATIENTS THAT ALREADY HAVE CHILDREN, WHICH A MAJORITY OF PEOPLE SEEKING ABORTION CARE DUE, UM, IF THEY NEED TO ALSO PAY FOR CHILDCARE IF THEY HAVE TO TRAVEL.

THE STATE'S ABORTION BAN, UM, HAS HAD DEVASTATING EFFECTS ON TEXANS, AND IT'S FOR THIS REASON THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO YOU, OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO PROTECT AND ENSURE THAT AUSTINITES HAVE ACCESS TO A FULL RANGE OF REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH OPTIONS, INCLUDING ACCESS TO ABORTION CARE OUT OF STATE WHERE IT'S LEGAL.

UM, I URGE YOU TO PRIORITIZE THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS OF AUSTINITES BY VOTING IN FAVOR OF THE LOGISTICAL SUPPORT FOR AUSTINITES SEEKING ABORTION BUDGET AMENDMENT.

UM, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO URGE COUNCIL MEMBERS NOT TO INCREASE APDS BUDGET AND TO INSTEAD SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET.

DOROTHY MCCLAIN, ITEM SEVEN.

DOROTHY, PLEASE UNMUTE.

UH, DOTTIE MCCLAIN, ARE YOU CALLING DOTTIE MCCLAIN? YES, THIS IS DOTTIE MCCLAIN.

GOOD.

UH, THANK YOU COUNSEL AND UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UH, MAYOR FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO COME TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY.

I HAVE BEEN A LONG TIME RESIDENT IN AUSTIN, SPECIFICALLY 49 YEARS, AND I'VE SEEN TREMENDOUS GROWTH IN OUR AREA.

I'M CALLING IN SUPPORT OF THE BUDGET FOR THE POLICE.

I'M ASKING THAT, UM, YOU WOULD THINK ABOUT THE PROTECTION THAT WE ALL NEED WHETHER WE LIVE IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE CITY, THE EAST, THE WEST, THE CENTRAL NORTHWEST, SOUTHEAST, ET CETERA.

THERE'S BEEN AN TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF CRIME THAT WE'VE SEEN INCREASE OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.

AND NOT ONLY THE RESIDENTS, BUT ALSO THE BUSINESSES ARE IN NEED OF ADDITIONAL PROTECTION TOO.

EACH AND EVERY CITIZEN HERE DESERVES TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO FEEL LIKE THAT THEY CAN WALK AROUND IN THEIR RESIDENCE, AR RESIDENTIAL AREAS AND BE SAFE AND ALSO, UH, IN THE SHOPPING CENTERS AND MALLS, ET CETERA.

AND IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE BUDGET FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS THE ONE THAT, UH, PEOPLE SEEM TO WANT TO CUT.

BUT THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT PROTECT US AND HELP US WHEN WE ARE IN TROUBLE.

SO I'M ASKING THAT YOU WOULD PLEASE TAKE A REALLY GOOD LOOK AT THIS AND NOT REDUCE OR CUT THE MONEY THAT'S BEEN, UM, ALLOCATED FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO, UH, HAVE YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES WOULD BE IF WE DIDN'T HAVE OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT TO PROTECT ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND OUR BUSINESSES.

AND I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE, TO GIVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO COME AND SPEAK AND ALSO APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU'RE THERE FOR US.

AND AGAIN, I THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.

I THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THIS, UM, REQUEST TO ALLOW THE BUDGET TO CONTINUE FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND HAVE A GREAT DAY.

APPRECIATE YOU.

[01:00:01]

LAUREN ORTEL, ITEM SEVEN.

HELLO.

I LIVE IN DISTRICT ONE AND I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON FOR THE BUDGET AMENDMENT, CALLING FOR MORE HOUSING FOCUSED SERVICES AND WRAPAROUND SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE THROUGH THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY MOBILE COURT PROGRAM.

THIS AND THE OTHER PROPOSED AMENDMENTS CONNECTED TO THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET ARE WHAT WE NEED TO SEE MORE OF.

THANK YOU ALL.

FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN, UM, SUBMITTING THOSE, WE DO STILL NEED A FEW THINGS THOUGH, THE SEVERE WEATHER AND COMMUNITY CRISIS RESPONSE FUNDING, RESILIENCE HUBS, AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FUNDING.

I ALSO WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE WORK OF TEXAS HARM REDUCTION ALLIANCE.

THEY ARE SAVING LIVES IN OUR CITY.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, I URGE ALL OF YOU TO REVERSE THE INCREASE IN THE AUSTIN POLICE BUDGET.

WE NEED THE MONEY FOR THINGS THAT SUPPORT AUSTINITES, NOT MORE MONEY FOR POLICE.

THERE WAS A COMMENT EARLIER ABOUT NOT FUNDING THINGS JUST BECAUSE WE ALWAYS HAVE BEFORE THE POLICE BUDGET IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THAT.

THERE ARE BETTER OPTIONS THAN THIS, THAN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ESPECIALLY A PD AND I BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION FOR THIS.

PARTICIPANTS ARE INCREASING THE HOUSING STABILITY.

THANK YOU MEN.

KEY ITEM SEVEN.

HELLO? UM, CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME? YES.

HELLO? YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU.

OH, HI.

HELLO, MY NAME IS MUNG.

GREAT.

HELLO, MY NAME IS MUNG T AND I'M A PARTNERSHIP MANAGER AT UPTOGETHER.

I AM HERE TO REQUEST THAT YOU SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET AND CONTINUE FUNDING THE FAMILY STABILIZATION GRANT FUND AT 1.3 MILLION AS YOU HAVE DONE FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.

I ALSO WANNA EXTEND A HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAVE ALREADY SUPPORTED THIS IMPORTANT INITIATIVE UP TOGETHER AS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT FOR OVER TWO DECADES IS PARTNERED WITH GOVERNMENT, PHILANTHROPY AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS DISTRIBUTE CASH DIRECTLY TO FAMILIES WHILE LEARNING HOW THEY WORK TOGETHER IN COMMUNITIES TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS AND ACHIEVE FINANCIAL SECURITY.

SINCE 2018, UPTOGETHER HAS INVESTED OVER $19 MILLION IN MORE THAN 8,000 HOUSEHOLDS IN AUSTIN.

IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR, WE SELECTED 168 HOUSEHOLDS FOR THE FAMILY STABILIZATION GRANT FUND FROM WHICH 96 OF THEM ARE BEING FUNDED BY THE CITY.

SOME OF THE BASELINE DATA THAT WE HAVE COLLECTED SHOW THAT MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY STABILIZATION GRANT PROGRAM ARE DIVERSE IN RACE, ETHNICITY, GENDER, AND HOUSEHOLD STRUCTURE.

THE GRANTS ARE PRIMARILY SERVING FAMILIES LIVING BELOW 60% OF THE COUNTY AREA, MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME, STRUGGLING WITH HOUSING HARDSHIP.

ABOUT 75% OF THOSE ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM MAKE LESS THAN 30,000 A YEAR.

WE ARE LEARNING HOW THE GRANTS ARE HELPING SUPPORT FAMILIES IN GETTING NEW JOBS, STARTING NEW BUSINESSES, AND PURSUING EDUCATION.

CONTINUING THE FUNDING WOULD ALLOW US TO SUPPORT A NEW COHORT OF 96 HOUSEHOLDS WHO ARE DEALING WITH SIMILAR HOUSING AND ECONOMIC HARDSHIP.

WE KNOW THAT MANY MORE FAMILIES CAN IMPROVE THEIR LIVES IF YOU MAKE THE RIGHT INVESTMENTS.

HERE ARE SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED FROM THE DIFFERENT INVESTMENTS WE HAVE MADE IN THE CITY.

ALL PARTICIPANTS ARE USING THE MONEY FOR BASIC NEEDS SUCH AS FOOD, HOUSING, MEDICAL BILLS, AND OTHERS.

WE ARE SEEING IMPROVEMENTS IN PARTICIPANTS', HEALTH, WELLBEING, AND FOOD SECURITY.

INCOME INCREASES, DEBT DECREASES, AND IN SOME INSTANCES, HOME OWNERSHIP INCREASES AS WELL.

AND PARTICIPANTS ARE WORKING TOWARD LONGER TERM GOALS, SUCH AS GOING BACK TO SCHOOL, MOVING TO BETTER PAYING JOBS, AND INCREASING SAVINGS.

FOR THIS 2024 TO 25 BUDGET CYCLE, I URGE YOU TO ONCE AGAIN ALLOCATE $1.3 MILLION TO CONTINUE THE FAMILY STABILIZATION GRANT AND ENSURE THIS RELEASE COMMITMENT TO THE PROSPERITY OF OUR FAMILIES.

CHRISTOPHER BRADFORD, ITEM SEVEN.

HI.

GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL MAYOR.

UH, MY NAME IS CHRIS BRADFORD.

I AM A, UH, 25 YEAR RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FIVE AND, UH, HAVE WORKED IN DOWNTOWN AUSTIN FOR, UH, FOR MANY YEARS.

I AM SPEAKING TO REGISTER MY SUPPORT FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUDGET.

I AM A BIG SUPPORTER OF THIS COUNCIL'S EMBRACE OF INFILL DEVELOPMENT AND DENSITY.

UH, YOU HAVE MADE DEEP AND FAR REACHING CHANGES AND I THINK THEY ARE WONDERFUL, BUT IT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO MAINTAIN HIGH STANDARDS OF PUBLIC SAFETY IN ORDER, IN ORDER TO PROMOTE AND SUSTAIN THAT DEVELOPMENT.

NOTHING WILL ERODE A CITY'S URBAN CORE LIKE VIOLENT CRIME AND EVEN OTHER LESSER BUT VISIBLE PETTY AND PROPERTY CRIMES.

CITIES THAT HAVE GIVEN THE SHORT SHRIFT HAVE COME TO REGRET IT.

DOWNTOWN SAN FRANCISCO IS HALF VACANT IN LARGE PART DUE TO AN INCREASE IN CRIME.

[01:05:01]

THE NEW YORK TIMES HAD AN ARTICLE YESTERDAY ON HOW THE NEW YORK CITY SUBWAY RIDERSHIP HAS PLUMMETED DUE TO CRIME.

PEOPLE IN THE LONG RUN JUST WON'T STAND FOR IT.

UH, BOTH ARE NOW HAVING TO RESPOND BY INCREASING POLICING, BUT IT'S REAL HARD TO PUT THAT GENIE IN THE BOTTLE.

SO, UH, IN CONCLUSION, UH, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUDGET.

CATHERINE CHAMBLEE, ITEM SEVEN.

HELLO, MY NAME IS CAPTAIN CHAMBLEE.

I'M A MEMBER OR, OR A REPRESENT OR A, UM, CITIZEN OF DISTRICT SEVEN, UH, HERE IN AUSTIN.

I'M ALSO A, UM, ANIMAL SHELTER VOLUNTEER AND I'M HERE TODAY TO, UH, ASK YOU ALL TO SUPPORT ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE AUSTIN ANIMAL SHELTER.

UM, I'M ASKING SPECIFICALLY FOR YOU ALL TO, UH, SUPPORT ADDITIONAL STAFF IN THE FORM OF FOSTER CARE, UM, COORDINATORS IN THE FORM OF ADOPTION COUNSELORS, IN THE FORM OF MARKETING STAFF, UH, TO PROP TO PROPERLY, UM, PROVIDE THE RESOURCES FOR OUR ONE AND ONLY ANIMAL SHELTER, THE AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER.

WE DO NOT NEED TO BE FUNDING BOARDING.

WE NEED TO BE EQUIPPING OUR SHELTER WITH THE RESOURCES TO DO WHAT ANIMAL SHELTERS TRADITIONALLY DO TO GET OUR ANIMALS INTO PERMANENT HOMES.

PLEASE STOP THE BOARDING, STOP THE HOARDING FULLY FUND OUR AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER, OUR ONLY ANIMAL SHELTER FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY.

BRIDGET TOBIN, ITEM SEVEN.

HELLO, UH, MY NAME IS BRIDGET TOBIN.

I'M AN AUSTIN NATIVE AND I'M A SOCIAL WORKER AND I GRADUATED THE UT SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK.

UM, I WISH I COULD BE THERE IN PERSON, BUT I'M AT HOME WITH MY CHILD AS THE PRIMARY, UH, CHILDCARE PROVIDER IN 2022.

I'VE BEEN INTERNING WITH UNITED WAY.

I HELPED OUR TEAM WITH PROJECTS RELATED TO PREPARING CHILDREN FOR KINDERGARTEN, INCREASING PAY FOR CHILDCARE WORKERS FUNDING, HIGH QUALITY CHILDCARE, UM, AND SOLVING INTERGENERATIONAL POVERTY HEAD ON.

UH, THE PROPOSED BUDGET THIS YEAR WOULD PROVIDE 18 MILLION IN NEW FUNDS TO THE A PD.

THIS NUMBER IS FAR TOO HIGH GIVEN THE GLARING NEEDS ACROSS SO MANY OF OUR OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS.

AND GIVEN THE LACK OF EVIDENCE FROM A PD THAT THEIR DEPARTMENT WILL EFFECTIVELY PROMOTE PUBLIC SAFETY WITH ANOTHER MASSIVE INCREASE IN FUNDS.

WE HAD LARGELY THE SAME CONVERSATION ALMOST THREE YEARS AGO IN 2021.

AND THE POPULATION VOTED BY 68% NO ON PROPOSITION A.

NOW WE ARE BEING ASKED TO APPROVE A PROPOSED BUDGET THAT IS 35% FOR THE POLICE AND 4.4% FOR SOCIAL SERVICES AND CONTRACTS.

WHY AREN'T WE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING MORE COMMUNITY WORKERS AND SOCIAL WORKERS IN HIGH VISIBILITY NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS, ESPECIALLY CASE MANAGERS FOR SELF-SUFFICIENCY PROGRAMS? WHY AREN'T WE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING SOCIAL WORKERS IN OUR LIBRARIES? WHY ARE WE EXPECTING, WHO ARE WE EXPECTING TO SOLVE OUR MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, OUR SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND OVERDOSE CRISIS, OUR HOUSING CRISIS? THE POLICE, I ASK YOU, THE LEADERS OF OUR COMMUNITY TO LISTEN.

I WISH, I WISH JUST FUNDING THE POLICE AND CALLING THE POLICE COULD SOLVE ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT MY BELOVED COMMUNITY FACES.

THAT IT COULD SOLVE 35% OF THOSE PROBLEMS EVEN, BUT IT WILL NOT.

POVERTY IS THE HIGHEST PREDICTOR OF CRIME.

HOW DO YOU EXPECT THE POLICE TO SOLVE POVERTY? HOW DO YOU EXPECT THEM TO SOLVE IT BETTER THAN A SOCIAL WORKER OR BETTER THAN OUR NUMEROUS SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES ACROSS THE CITY? IT DOESN'T EVEN HAVE TO BE A QUESTION OF GOOD INTENTION.

THE POLICE ARE NOT IN A POSITION TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS. I NEED TO ADDRESS THESE PROBLEMS URGENT, URGENTLY, URGENTLY WITH SOLUTIONS THAT REALLY WORK.

I HEARD MEMBERS OF THIS BODY JUST YESTERDAY SAYING IN A PRESS CONFERENCE THAT WE KNOW WHEN KIDS HAVE ACCESS TO AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS, THEY STAY OUT OF TROUBLE AND THEY HAVE IMPROVED EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES.

WE CANNOT JUST PUSH THIS AS A TAX BURDEN FOR TAXPAYERS ACROSS TRAVIS COUNTY TO PAY FOR CHILDCARE.

CHILDCARE IS IN CRISIS.

WE HAVE FUNDING IN THE CITY.

WE CAN PUT THAT FUNDING TO THIS CRISIS.

UM, WE HAVE A TOTAL ABORTION BAN, MEANING MORE CHILDREN ARE GETTING BORN ACROSS THE STATE THAN IN YEARS PAST THAN EVER BEFORE.

WE MUST CONTINUE TO STAND UP FOR OUR YOUNG FAMILIES WHEN WE KNOW THE STATE WILL NOT.

WE MUST PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR YOUNG MOTHERS AND PROMOTE THE BEST POSSIBLE HEALTH, HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR THEM, THEIR BABY, AND THEIR FAMILIES.

HAS IT OCCURRED TO ANYONE THAT THE VACANCIES WITH NAPD ARE NOT SIMPLY A RESULT OF EMPLOYEES WANTING HIGHER PAY, BUT THAT THEY THEMSELVES ARE DISSATISFIED WITH THE JOB? PERHAPS DURING THE ACADEMY AND UPON STARTING THE JOB, EMPLOYEES ARE FEELING OVERWHELMED BY THEIR INABILITY TO MEET THE MASSIVE PROBLEMS THEY'RE BEING CALLED OUT TO SOLVE.

FIRE AND EMS. THANK YOU.

YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.

ITEM ONE, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

DOUG GRECO,

[01:10:01]

I'M DOUG GRECO, CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR IN THIS FALL'S ELECTION.

OVER THREE WEEKS AGO, I PROPOSED THE CITY SPEND 40 MILLION NEW DOLLARS ON EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE INITIATIVES AND FOLLOWED UP BY PROPOSING WE PAY FOR THIS AND OTHER SOCIAL SERVICE PRIORITIES LIKE THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET THROUGH THE EXISTING BUDGET RESERVES, ELIMINATING SWEETHEART UTILITY RATES FOR LARGE INDUSTRIAL CUSTOMERS, AND IF NECESSARY, AT LEAST DISCUSS A TRE.

I ALSO POINTED OUT THAT BY SLOW WALKING OUR 1.8 BILLION AND UNSPENT BOND MONEY, WE HAVE DENIED OURSELVES AN ECONOMIC STIMULUS THAT COULD HAVE HELPED PAY FOR THESE PRIORITIES.

TODAY THE CONVERSATION WILL ESSENTIALLY BE ABOUT HOW TO ALLOCATE JUST 11 MILLION AROUND BADLY NEEDED PROGRAMS, WHICH WARRANT FIVE TIMES AS MUCH FUNDING.

AND LET ME BE CLEAR, THESE ITEMS ARE IMPORTANT PRIORITIES AND SHOULD BE FUNDED, AND I COMMEND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO BROUGHT THEM FORWARD.

BUT EVEN THE AVAILABILITY OF THAT 11 MILLION HAS BEEN CALLED INTO QUESTION IN THE PAST FEW DAYS BY A LACK OF CLARITY IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET.

MAYOR, THIS IS THE RESULT OF SHORT TERM THINKING AND PLAYING SMALL BALL WITH OUR CITY'S FUTURE.

SPECIFICALLY THREE THINGS.

NUMBER ONE, WE FAILED TO PRIORITIZE INVESTMENTS IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, LIKE EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE INITIATIVES THAT PROVIDE US WITH THE BEST RETURN ON OUR INVESTMENT IN THE LONG RUN.

NUMBER TWO, WE FAILED TO PRIORITIZE SPENDING DOWN THE NEARLY 2 BILLION IN VOTER APPROVED BOND FUNDING IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PARKS, LIBRARIES, AND OTHER PRIORITIES THAT COULD BE IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR CITY NOW AND COULD HAVE BEEN PROVIDING AN ECONOMIC STIMULUS TO OUR TAX REVENUE.

AND NUMBER THREE, WHILE TRAVIS COUNTY AND A IST GOT OUT EARLY AND PROPOSED BOLD INITIATIVES TO INCREASE FUNDING IN EDUCATION, WORKFORCE AND CHILDCARE, WE WERE REACTIVE AND EARLY ON SHUT DOWN DISCUSSIONS ON THINGS LIKE A CLIMATE BOND THIS YEAR, OR A TRE.

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO FUND AS MANY OF THE PRIORITIES TODAY IN COUNCIL MEMBERS AMENDMENTS, BUT LET'S MAKE NO MISTAKE.

THIS IS AN AUSTERITY BUDGET ASKING TAXPAYERS AND RATE PAYERS TO PAY MORE IN UTILITIES AND FEES.

WHILE THERE ARE VOTER APPROVED PRIORITIES LIKE BONDS AND POLICE OVERSIGHT CONTINUE TO BE SLOW WALKED.

MAYOR, WE NEED TO BE BOLDER, INVEST IN OUR FUTURE, AND FOLLOW THE WILL OF THE VOTERS.

AND AT THE VERY LEAST, I CALL ON EVERYONE IN OFFICE AND RUNNING FOR OFFICE THIS FALL TO ENDORSE THE PROPOSED MEASURES BY A ISD AND TRAVIS COUNTY TO FUND EDUCATION AND CHILDCARE.

THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE REMOTE SPEAKERS WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.

SO I'LL TRANSITION TO IN PERSON.

FIRST UP, BETSY GREENBERG, ITEM ONE AND TWO, SHARON BLYTHE, ELI CORTEZ, BARRY JONES.

IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME DOWN AND SIT TOWARDS THE FRONT.

AND IF THE PODIUM'S OPEN, PLEASE GO AHEAD AND STATE YOUR NAME.

BETSY.

UH, BETSY.

SHARON W SPEAKING ON 1 2 7 24 AND 29 FOR A TOTAL OF 15 MINUTES.

MY NAME IS BETSY GREENBERG AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE.

I'M SPEAKING TODAY IN FAVOR OF COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY'S BUDGET PLAN THAT DOES NOT INCREASE TAXES BY NOT RAISING TAXES.

YOU CAN SHOW THAT YOU CARE ABOUT AFFORDABILITY FOR THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN UNLESS YOU HAVE UNLIMITED RESOURCES.

WE ALL HAVE TO DEAL WITH BUDGETS.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF HOUSING, FOOD, AND OTHER ESSENTIALS LIKE CHILDCARE, TAX, AND INSURANCE BEFORE WE CAN SPEND MONEY ON A WISHLIST.

IT IS THE SAME FOR THE CITY.

YOU HAVE TO PRIORITIZE ESSENTIAL SERVICES, PUBLIC SAFETY, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT.

THE MANY AMENDMENTS PROPOSED BY THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE A WONDERFUL WISHLIST OF THINGS WE'D LIKE, BUT UNLESS CUTS ARE MADE IN THE BUDGET AS COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY PROPOSES, YOU SIMPLY CAN'T HAVE EVERYTHING YOU WANT TO SHOW THAT YOU'RE SERIOUS ABOUT AFFORDABILITY FOR THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN, NOBODY ON THE DAES SHOULD TAKE A RAISE.

THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS RECEIVED A 40% RAISE TWO YEARS AGO.

YOU SHOULD BE EMBARRASSED TO VOTE FOR ANOTHER RAISE THIS YEAR.

THE MANAGER ONLY STARTED IN MAY, SO I HOPE YOU WON'T RAISE HIS SALARY SO SOON.

COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY HAS MADE MANY REASONABLE PROPOSALS FOR CUTS THAT SHOULD BE SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED.

I AM A MEMBER OF THE ZONING AND PLANNING COMMISSION, AND WE HAVE YEAR AFTER YEAR PROPOSED IN OUR BUDGET RECOMMENDATION THAT SOFTWARE COULD BE BETTER USED TO CHECK APPLICATIONS FOR PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENTS TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY, ACCURACY, PROCESSING SPEED, AND REQUIRE FEWER EMPLOYEES.

PLEASE LOOK AT WHERE CUTS BOND SPENDING AND IMPROVED EFFICIENCIES ARE POSSIBLE BEFORE PASSING THE BUDGET.

THANK YOU,

[01:15:03]

MY NAME IS SHARON BLYTHE.

I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SIX.

I'M ALSO A LONG-TERM CEMETERY ADVOCATE.

BEFORE YOU TODAY, YOU'RE GONNA VOTE ON A CEMETERY AMENDMENT THAT WILL SAVE THE CITY LITERALLY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN FUTURE YEARS FOR A LITTLE BIT OF INVESTMENT IN 25.

IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE THIS WILL BENEFIT THE WHOLE CITY, ALL THE CEMETERIES, ALL THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN, AND ALL THE FAMILIES THAT NEED THOSE SERVICES.

I WOULD HATE TO THINK THAT THERE WOULD BE A DELIGHT IN THOSE SERVICES BECAUSE CERTAIN RELIGIONS REQUIRE IMMEDIATE BURIAL OF THEIR DEAD.

AND IF YOU DON'T FUND THESE POSITIONS, THAT MAY NOT HAPPEN, AND THERE WILL BE A BIG PUBLIC OUTCRY FOR NOT FUNDING THEM.

SO I ASK THE CITY MANAGER, UH, MAYOR WATSON, THE CITY COUNCIL, PLEASE VOTE FOR THIS AMENDMENT BECAUSE IT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR THIS CITY TO SAVE IT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

BETTER WAYS TO SPEND THAT MONEY.

IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED AND THE PODIUM'S EMPTY, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO BEGIN SPEAKING.

JUST IDENTIFY YOURSELF.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS ELI CORTEZ AND I'M AN ORGANIZER WITH VOCAL TEXAS.

I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE.

UM, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE COUNCIL AND UM, STAFF FOR THE WORK THAT THEY'VE PUT IN IT.

UM, WE'VE BEEN HERE FOR SEVERAL SESSIONS NOW, COMING BACK AND REALLY UPLIFTING THE URGENCY BEHIND RAPID REHOUSING AND THE NEED FOR CONTINUED INVESTMENT.

FOR THAT, I'D LIKE TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES SPECIFICALLY FOR HER HARD WORK ON ENSURING THAT, UM, THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY ARE REALLY UPLIFTED AND AND HEARD AND AND UPHELD IN THIS, UM, CITY BUDGET THIS YEAR.

UM, I REALLY JUST WANNA EMPHASIZE TODAY THAT THE, THESE DOLLARS ARE GONNA MAKE A VERY BIG DIFFERENCE IN, IN THE PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO SEEK HOUSING AND SUPPORT AND SERVICES, UM, IN OUR CITY.

UM, I CONTINUE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH FOLKS THAT ARE RUNNING TOWARDS THE END OF OUR, OF OUR PRO OF THEIR RAPID REHOUSING ENROLLMENT, UM, AND REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GONNA COME UP NEXT FOR THEM, WHAT WILL, UM, WHERE TO GO, UM, WHO TO CALL EVEN.

AND SO WE ARE REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT, UM, AND THE CHANGE TO THE BASELINE BUDGET.

UM, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO UPLIFT COUNCIL MEMBER AL RYAN ALTER'S AMENDMENT TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR HARM REDUCTION IN THE UPCOMING IN, IN THE BUDGET.

UM, I PREVIOUSLY WORKED AT TEXAS HARM REDUCTION ALLIANCE AT VOCAL.

WE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH TEXAS HARM REDUCTION ALLIANCE AND CONTINUE TO, UM, AND I, I REALLY CAN'T SPEAK BECAUSE TO, TO THE VALUE AND THE WORK THAT TEXAS HARM REDUCTION ALLIANCE DOES BECAUSE IT'S TRULY ONE OF A KIND.

UM, RIGHT NOW IN THIS CITY, WE'RE SEEING AN OVERDOSE CRISIS.

UM, WE'RE SEEING IT ACROSS THE COUNTRY ACTUALLY IN AN UNPRECEDENTED NUMBERS AND FIGURES.

AND WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE TOOLS AND THE THINGS TO ADDRESS THE CRISIS, THE THINGS THAT WILL SAVE LIVES.

WE KNOW NARCAN, UM, REDUCES THE NUMBER OF OVERDOSES AND HELPS, SAVES LIVES.

WE KNOW THAT THERE'S MANY PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT HAVE NEED FOR IT, THAT DON'T HAVE THE TRAINING OR EVEN UNDERSTAND HOW TO USE IT.

UM, THE DROP-IN CENTER CREATES A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR PEOPLE TO COME AND ACCESS RESOURCES, RESOURCES EVEN GET LINKAGE TO CARE.

UM, AND SO THERE'S REALLY NO ONE ELSE IN THIS CITY THAT'S DOING TRANSFORMATIVE WORK LIKE THAT AROUND SUBSTANCE USE.

UM, AND IT'S DISCOURAGING TO SEE THAT A PD IS CONTINUING WITH THEIR $18 MILLION INCREASE IN ALLOTMENT.

I THINK WITH A POLICE FORCE THAT HAS ABOUT, WITH THIS ALLOT INCREASED ALLOTMENT, ALMOST $500 MILLION IN ITS FORCE, 10 MILLIONS OF WHICH IS TIED UP IN VACANCIES THERE, IT'S UNFATHOMABLE, UNFATHOMABLE FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND THAT THAT ISN'T ENOUGH MONEY ALREADY TO SUPPORT THEIR NEEDS.

THERE HAS TO BE UN UNUSED FUNDS, IRRESPONSIBLY USED FUNDS THAT NEED TO BE LOOKED AT CLOSELY.

UM, THEY ALREADY HAVE 35% OF OUR GENERAL FUND, AND I, I HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT THAT IS ENOUGH MONEY WHEN WE ARE CALLING FOR DIFFERENT INVESTMENTS, COMMUNITY SERVICES, SOCIAL SERVICES, COMMUNITY BASED INTERVENTIONS THAT, UM, WE KNOW WORK AND THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE CRISES THAT OUR COMMUNITY ARE FACING, INCLUDING, UM, MANY OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET.

SO I REALLY IMPLORE THAT Y'ALL RECONSIDER THOSE ADDITIONAL AND INCREASED FUNDS, UM, AND LOOK FOR

[01:20:01]

EVEN THE HARM REDUCTION ASK IS, IS A MILLION DOLLARS FULLY FUNDED.

UM, SO I JUST REALLY IMPLORE Y'ALL TO RECONSIDER THAT.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

UM, AND YEAH, THANK YOU.

AFTER BARRY, DO BARRY JONES, WE HAVE ANNA DUNCAN, ALFREDO REYES JR.

LAURA ANN MARTINEZ.

YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED.

PLEASE COME FORWARD.

UH, MY NAME IS BARRY JONES.

I'M A LEADER WITH VOCAL TEXAS.

UH, I WANTED TO THANK EVERYONE TODAY FOR THEIR WORK ON THE, OUR FUNDING, OUR AMENDMENT, OUR, OUR RESOLUTION ON RAPID REHOUSING AND, UH, PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.

I WANTED TO GO OVER THOSE POINTS JUST A BIT TODAY.

UM, AS FAR AS RAPID REHOUSING, UH, I THINK THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT, STILL A REALLY IMPORTANT PROGRAM.

THIS PROGRAM SHOULDN'T BE ABANDONED OR UNDERFUNDED.

UH, WE CURRENTLY HAVE ABOUT 300 FOLKS AT THE, AT THE MARSHALING YARD.

THAT PROGRAM IS DUE TO RUN OUT IN MARCH.

UM, AS IS, FROM WHAT I KNOW, THERE'S NO DEFINITE PLAN IN PLACE OF WHAT TO DO WITH MOST OF THOSE FOLKS.

UH, MANY OF THEM WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAM, UH, PUTTING THEM INTO OTHER SHELTERS.

AS WE FOUND OUT, SHELTERS ARE KIND OF A HALF A LOAF, UH, SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM.

UH, THE REAL SOLUTION IS GETTING 'EM INTO THE RAPID REHOUSING, PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, AND, UH, WE NEED TO KEEP FUNDING THE, THE RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAM.

IN ADDITION, THE, UH, FUND THE, UH, SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.

UM, I'M GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS OF, OF GETTING INTO PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING NOW, AND I CAN TELL YOU IT'S TOUGH.

IT'S TOUGH WHEN YOU'VE BEEN LIVING OUTSIDE FOR A LONG TIME.

YOU NEED HELP.

AND THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.

THAT'S WHAT THE SERVICES FOR PSH ARE ABOUT.

THAT'S ALSO AN IMPORTANT PROGRAM.

LASTLY, I WANTED TO MENTION, UH, THE FUNDING FOR THE, UH, HARM REDUCTION PROGRAMS. UH, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE CURRENT BUDGET, UH, ALLOCATES 140,000 FOR THAT.

UM, THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT PROGRAM.

THE, THE PROPOSED AMOUNT IS REALLY NOT EVEN A DROP IN THE BUCKET.

UH, I'VE LIVED OUTSIDE ENOUGH.

I'VE BEEN AROUND PEOPLE THAT USE DRUGS.

I KNOW HOW MUCH LIVING OUTSIDE MAXIMIZES PEOPLE'S DRUG USE AND HOW, HOW THAT CHANGES WHEN THEY GET INTO IT TO PERMANENT HOUSING.

UM, HARM REDUCTION KEEPS PEOPLE ALIVE LONG ENOUGH FOR THEM TO GET INTO RAPID REHOUSING OR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.

KEEP THAT IN MIND.

UH, I'M SURE YOU'RE AWARE THAT ANDY BROWN COMMENDED THRA, UH, ON DURING THE RECENT SPIKE OF O OVERDOSES ON HELPING TO PREPARE AUSTIN FOR THAT CRISIS.

AND I THINK THAT THAT, UH, AN INCREASE AT LEAST DOUBLING OF THE, THE FUNDS TO HARM REDUCTION IS YOUR BEST USE OF PUBLIC SAFETY DOLLARS.

TO, SO I WON'T OVERDOSED ALONE.

IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND IF THE MICROPHONE'S OPEN, UH, DO WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE AND COME FORWARD.

IDENTIFY YOURSELF PLEASE AND, AND PLEASE GIVE US YOUR COMMENTS.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS ANNA DUNCAN.

I'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE.

I AM A LEADER OF TEXAS FOCO, EXCUSE ME.

NO PROBLEM.

UM, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY TODAY.

I AM HERE TO URGE YOU FOR THE SUPPORTS OF HARM REDUCTION, RAPID REHOUSING, SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND SHELTERS.

DO NOT PUT ALL THESE THINGS AGAINST EACH OTHER.

WE ALL NEED THEM.

THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE, I SHARED THAT I WAS IN RECOVERY FOR 11 YEARS.

I WAS EXPOSED TO DRUGS FROM A VERY YOUNG AGE.

A CHILD SHOULD NOT BE USING DRUGS IN THE FIRST PLACE.

AS I TOLD YOU ABOUT THE TIME THAT I OVERDOSED, I REMEMBER IT WAS ONE OF THE SCARIEST DAYS OF MY LIFE.

I TRIED FENTANYL AND I WAS ALONE.

AND NOW I'M LUCKY TO FIND THAT MY PROPERTY MANAGER AT THAT TIME SAVED MY LIFE.

AND WHEN I LOOK BACK ON THE DAY, I, I THINK ABOUT HOW HARM REDUCTION WOULD HAVE HELPED ME IF I KNEW ABOUT IT AND COULD GO THERE.

I DID NOT HAVE THE EDUCATION ON WHAT FENTANYL WAS OR HOW TO USE IT SAFELY.

I DIDN'T HAVE THE COMMUNITY NOR THE SUPPORT

[01:25:01]

I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT A NARCAN WAS OR HOW TO USE IT SAFELY.

WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO FUND THESE PLACES THAT SUPPORTS PEOPLE WHO ARE USING DRUGS BECAUSE PEOPLE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO DIE.

ALSO, I'M HERE TO SHARE THAT I AM FROM OHIO.

I HAD RAPID REHOUSING FOR SIX MONTHS WHILE I WAS IN OHIO.

I WAS ABLE TO TAKE OVER THE RENT FOR A YEAR AND A HALF BECAUSE I HAD A JOB.

AND AT THE TIME, THE RENT WAS, UH, HORRIBLE.

UM, BUT I ENDED UP LOSING MY PLACE, UM, DUE TO COVID AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

THE MAIN REASON WHY I CAME TO AUSTIN IS TO REALLY START MY LIFE OVER WHEN I, SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, I'VE BEEN SLEEPING OUTSIDE.

NOW I'M AT THE MARSHING YARD.

I AM AFRAID THAT I WON'T BE ABLE TO FIND HOUSING BY THE TIME IT'S CLOSED.

BUT I AM COMMITTED TO KEEP TRYING TO GET HOUSED.

I AM A SECURITY GUARD, PART-TIME, AND I HAVE BEEN INTERVIEWING FOR ANOTHER JOB.

I WANT MY OWN APARTMENT, SO I'LL BE ABLE TO WATCH MOVIES AND BAKE.

AND ONE OF THESE DAYS I WILL BE OWNING A BAKERY HERE.

UM, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE DREAMS HERE IN AUSTIN, BUT THEY CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT HOUSING OR SUPPORT.

THIS CITY REALLY NEEDS TO INVEST ALL THE TOOLS TO HELP US.

WE NEED HARM REDUCTIONS, RAPID REHOUSING, SHELTERS, AND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR WATSON FROM MAYOR PRO TEMP POOL.

IS THERE A BUTTON THAT YOU CAN PUSH THERE? SORRY.

THAT'S GOOD.

THAT VOCAL TEXAS HAS BEEN SUPPORTING.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR WATSON.

MAYOR PROAM POOL, ESTEEMED COUNCIL MEMBERS IN AUSTIN, RESIDENTS.

MY NAME IS LAURA ANN MARTINEZ, AND I'M A MEMBER OF IN LEADERSHIP IN VOCAL TEXAS.

I HAVE BEEN COMING HERE FOR WEEKS SPEAKING TO YOU ABOUT THE RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAM EXPANSION, WHICH YOU PASSED IN MAY.

I FIRST WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES FOR WORKING ON SO HARD TO SUPPORT OUR FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM.

WE'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK MAYOR WATSON AND THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE WORKING FOR FUNDING OF THE OTHER INTERVENTIONS THAT ARE NEEDED ALONGSIDE RAPID REHOUSING.

I WON'T RESHARE ALL OF THE SAME DETAILS THAT I HAVE SHARED IN THE PAST, BUT I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT OUT FIVE OUT OF THE PAST SIX YEARS, I WAS EITHER BARELY HOUSED OR UNHOUSED.

I WAS IN A PROGRAM THAT WAS NOT STABLE, LIVING IN A SHED WITH NO RUNNING WATER OR ELECTRICITY, LIVING IN SHELTERS, UM, AND EVEN LIVING ON THE STREETS, SLEEPING UNDER MY WHEELCHAIR.

EVENTUALLY, I GOT RAPID REHOUSING IN AN APARTMENT, WHICH I, UM, LOST BECAUSE I WAS KICKED OUTTA THE PROGRAM BECAUSE I DID NOT SAVE OVER HALF OF MY SOCIAL SECURITY INCOME AS I WAS INSTRUCTED TO DO.

SO I LOST MY HOUSING, PUT MY STUFF IN STORAGE, AND EVENTUALLY ENDED UP ON THE STREETS AGAIN UNDER MY WHEELCHAIR.

THIS HAPPENED IN FEBRUARY WHEN THE GROUND WAS VERY COLD.

NO MATTER HOW MANY BLANKETS YOU PUT UNDERNEATH, OBVIOUSLY I'M IN A WHEELCHAIR AND I'M DISABLED.

I SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN IN RAPID REHOUSING.

I SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING OR IN HAKA LIKE I AM NOW.

I DON'T HAVE ALL THE COORDINATED SERVICES, WHICH I WISH I HAD, BUT AT LEAST I HAVE A ROOF OVER MY HEAD AND I'M FEELING, AND I FEEL LIKE THE FOUR YEARS THAT I SPENT ON THE HAKA WAIT LIST IS WAY TOO LONG AS IT REQUIRES ONE TO BE HOMELESS FOR FOUR YEARS.

ALL OF US ARE IN NEED OF DIFFERENT SUPPORT.

WE NEED THIS COUNCIL TO STAND UP FOR THE DIVERSE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

I NEEDED SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, BUT SOMEONE ELSE MIGHT NEED RAPID REHOUSING.

WE NEED TO GET THIS THING RIGHT AND HELP THE PEOPLE GET ACCESS TO THE TOOLS THAT WILL REALLY HELP THEM.

AND ABOVE ALL, THE REASON WHY I CAME BACK TO SPEAK TODAY IS BECAUSE WE ARE SO DIVERSE IN OUR NEEDS.

WE NEED FUNDING FOR ALL OF IT.

WE NEED A PLAN OF ALL.

WE, WE NEED TO PLAN FOR ALL OF IT.

RIGHT NOW, WE DON'T HAVE ONE.

AS I TOLD THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT YESTERDAY, WE NEED TO FUND PROGRAMS TO HELP PEOPLE NOT GET THEM ARRESTED.

IT COSTS LESS TO HELP THE PEOPLE THAN DISCIPLE PEOPLE THROUGH THE POLICE, SHERIFF'S, COURTS, AND JAIL.

WE NEED TO KEEP THE DOORS OPEN FOR RAPID REHOUSING, TEMPORARY SHELTER, SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, AND WE ALSO NEED TO FUND THOSE SERVICES THAT COMPLIMENT THESE SERVICES IN ALL AREAS OF THEIR LIVES.

WE NEED TO FUND HOUSING SERVICES AND WORK TO IMPROVE THEM SO THAT PEOPLE'S NEEDS ARE TRULY MET.

PLEASE FUND THE BUDGET NEEDS

[01:30:01]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

ALFREDO REYES, JR.

SUSIE BEESON, PAULETTE ANI, CARLOS PINON.

IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COME DOWN AND THEN, UH, YOU'LL BE CALLED UPON TO SPEAK.

WELCOME, AND PLEASE TELL US WHO YOU ARE.

SUSIE, YOU'RE NOT HERE.

UM, GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME'S PAUL SULTANI.

I AM THE CO-DIRECTOR OF VOCAL TEXAS.

UH, WE'RE A GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION HERE IN AUSTIN.

I WANTED TO START BY THANKING COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, UM, ALTER VELAZQUEZ CADRE, MAYOR WATSON, AND ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN SUPPORTING THE ASKS THAT VOCAL TEXAS HAS BEEN MAKING OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS AND MONTHS.

UM, WE SEE YOUR EFFORTS AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE BUDGET HAS BEEN VERY BRUTAL, VERY TIGHT THIS YEAR.

BUT SOMETHING THAT IT'S REALLY EXPOSED FOR US, UH, AT VOCAL TEXAS IS JUST HOW BIG OF GAPS WE HAVE IN THE NEEDS ACROSS THE HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM.

IT'S ALSO UNEARTHED A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT ARE GOING UNANSWERED.

QUESTIONS ABOUT DATA THAT WE REQUESTED MONTHS AGO THAT COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES REQUESTED THAT WE STILL DON'T HAVE FULL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS LIKE, WHERE ARE PEOPLE GONNA END UP AFTER THE MARSHALING YARD CLOSES? HOW WILL THE BRIDGE SHELTERS WORK WITHOUT A PLAN FOR RAPID REHOUSING? WHAT IS OUR PLAN TO REPLACE REPLACE ARPA FUNDS OR ARPA FUNDED PROGRAMS? WHAT IS THE CITY'S PLAN TO END HOMELESSNESS? WHAT IS OUR BLUEPRINT? HOW WILL WE REDUCE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE LIVING ON OUR STREETS AND IN OUR SHELTERS? , WE HAVE A REAL COMBO THAT WE NEED TO HAVE IN THE NEXT, IN THE NEXT YEAR.

WE'RE, WE'RE PROUD TO SEE, AND WE'RE GLAD TO SEE SOME OF THE FUNDING THAT'S IN THE BUDGET.

SOME OF THIS FUNDING IS ONGOING FOR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND SHELTERS.

SOME OF IT IS ONE-TIME FUNDS FOR RAPID REHOUSING, AND WE REALLY WANT TO SEE THAT ONGOING.

WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THE HOMELESS RE THE HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICE BUDGET BEING 0.2% AND HAVE A REAL CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT IT'S GONNA TAKE TO INCREASE OUR, OUR CITY'S AGENCIES TO BE ABLE TO REALLY UNDERTAKE WHAT'S NEEDED IN, IN THIS CITY.

AND WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT HOW OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS ARE GONNA BE PARTNERS IN TRYING TO HOUSE PEOPLE IN OUR CITY THAT IS SO UNAFFORDABLE.

LASTLY, I WANNA HIGHLIGHT THE GAPS IN THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET.

I, UM, FORMALLY WORKED AT THE TEXAS HARM REDUCTION ALLIANCE.

FOCAL TEXAS GREW OUT OF THE TEXAS HARM REDUCTION ALLIANCE.

UH, WE HAD ASKED FOR, AND COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ HAD PUT IN AN AMENDMENT FOR $316 OR 16,000.

UM, TODAY WE SEE THAT THAT AMENDMENT HAS BEEN CUT IN HALF TO ONE 40.

AND, UH, MAGGIE SPOKE TO THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO HIRE MORE STAFF.

THEY'RE THE ONES, THEY'RE THE FRONTLINE STAFF THAT ARE ON THE GROUND EVERY DAY TRYING TO SAVE LIVES.

AND MEANWHILE, WE HAVE 18 MILLION GOING TO A PD AND THEY CAN'T EVEN FILL THEIR POSITIONS.

HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THAT WE ARE GONNA PUT IN CRUMBS INTO HARM REDUCTION WHEN WE'RE BEING, WE SEE THAT THEIR STAFF IS COMING HERE ASKING FOR, FOR HELP TO ACTUALLY HIRE AND GROW THEIR TEAM? UM, SOMEONE BEFORE ME TALKED ABOUT HOW JUDGE BROWN HAD TALKED, HAD, HAD THANKED THRA IN THIS, THE SPIKE IN OVERDOSES THAT HAPPENED.

I JUST WANNA REMIND EVERYBODY THAT A FEW MONTHS AGO, THERE WERE 90 OVERDOSES THAT HAPPENED IN OUR COMMUNITY AND NINE PEOPLE DIED.

I THINK WE ALL REMEMBER THAT MOMENT.

AND I THINK THAT THAT ALONE, AND ALL OF THE OTHER DEATHS THAT HAVE HAPPENED ACROSS AUSTIN ARE REASON ENOUGH FOR US TO FIGHT FOR MORE FUNDING FOR HARM REDUCTION.

SO THE LAST THING I'LL SAY IS THAT I, I WANNA ASK ALL OF YOU TO INCREASE THE, THE MONEY THAT'S CURRENTLY ALLOCATED IN THE BUDGET FOR HARM REDUCTION.

WE NEED THAT MONEY TO BE UP TO 360 LIKE IT WAS ORIGINALLY PROPOSED.

THANK YOU ALL.

CARLOS PINON, JONATHAN TAN, SUSAN SPATARO, JEFF DICKERSON.

IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME ON DOWN.

SUSAN HAS SIGNED UP FOR ONE SEVEN AND 26 FOR A TOTAL OF NINE MINUTES.

THAT ARE PAYING AND THEY ARE STRUGGLING TO GET ALONG.

UH, I'M SUSAN SPIT FROM DISTRICT EIGHT, AND I'M NOT GONNA REPEAT THINGS THAT OTHERS HAVE SAID, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS, ITEM ONE, OF COURSE, IS THE TAX RATE.

AND THE TRUTH IS, A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING MONEY WANT MORE, BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE

[01:35:01]

AUSTIN IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE UNAFFORDABLE.

AND THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS, SOME OF THESE PEOPLE ARE BECOMING HOMELESS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T STAY IN THEIR HOME ANYMORE, OR PEOPLE WHO CAN'T AFFORD IT, BUT SIMPLY DON'T THINK THEY'RE GETTING THE KIND OF SERVICES MOVE ELSEWHERE.

SO IT'S AN IMPORTANT ISSUE.

AND WHEN WE LOOK AT THE TAX RATE, AND I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO, TO KNOW THIS, AND IT IS SOMEWHAT COMPLEX, BUT YOU KNOW, THE, THE LAW REQUIRES YOU TO DISCLOSE WHAT HAPPENS TO THE AVERAGE HOMEOWNER.

AND YOU DO THAT, AND WE'RE SAYING IT'S ONLY GOING UP X PERCENT, BUT THE AVERAGE HOMEOWNER IS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE.

, THERE'S A WHOLE LOT UNDER THAT AND OVER THAT.

AND THEN THERE ARE THE RENTERS.

FIRST, THERE'S THE RESIDENTIAL RENTERS, AND I, I HEAR ALL THE TIME, RENTERS THINK THEY DON'T PAY PROPERTY TAXES.

THEY DO BECAUSE THEIR LANDLORD NORMALLY PASSES THAT ON.

AND SO FOR RENTERS TO SAY, YOU KNOW, JUST VOTE FOR ANYTHING BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR IT, IS IN FACT A MISNOMER.

I WENT TO A, A WATCH PARTY AT AN ELECTION A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, AND I ALWAYS REMEMBER THIS.

A LADY CAME IN AND, AND THE CITY HAD A BIG BOND ISSUE THAT PASSED, AND SHE SAID, I'M SO HAPPY BECAUSE WE NEED TO PASS THESE THINGS.

'CAUSE WE POOR PEOPLE GET ALL THE BENEFIT AND WE DON'T HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING.

THE RICH PEOPLE PAY IT OFF.

THAT IS SO UNINFORMED.

EVERYONE PAYS IT OFF BECAUSE WHEREVER YOU LIVE, IT'S PROPERTY TAX AND THAT IS SPREAD OUT.

THE OTHER THING THAT'S REALLY NOT, UM, ANALYZED, IT'S TOUGH TO DO BECAUSE THEY'RE SO DIVERSE, BUT THAT IS THE COMMERCIAL.

AND THAT IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THESE BUSINESSES WHO EITHER OWN THEIR BUILDING PAY TAXES, IF THEY RENT IT OUT, THEY PASS THOSE TAXES ONTO THEIR TENANTS.

MANY BUSINESSES HAVE TRIPLE NET LEASES, WHICH MEANS IT AUTOMATICALLY GOES TO THEM.

SO WHAT HAPPENS WHEN COMMERCIAL GOES UP? PEOPLE THINK, WELL, I MEAN, IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER, BUT YES, IT DOES, BECAUSE IF MANY OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES HERE HAVE LEFT BECAUSE THEY CAN'T STAY IN AUSTIN AND THEY CAN'T PAY THE TAX, AND YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY TAXING ENTITY, BUT YOU CAN'T.

AND SO WHEN A TAX, UH, INCREASE, LET'S SAY, GOES TO A RESTAURANT, THE FIRST THING THE RESTAURANT OWNER HAS TO DO IS HE EITHER HAS TO CUT TAXES SOMEPLACE, CUT COST SOMEPLACE ELSE, OR HE HAS TO RAISE FEES, OR HE HAS TO LAY PEOPLE OFF, AND HE CAN'T DO THAT, THEN HIS BUSINESS CLOSES DOWN.

SO IT MATTERS TO COMMERCIAL AND DOWNTOWN.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE KIND OF BEEN IN A HAPPY SEASON HERE IN AUSTIN FOR A WHILE, BUT YOU KNOW, 20% OF THE, UH, COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS ARE VACANT.

THAT'S NOT AN INSIGNIFICANT.

UH, THE OTHER THING IS, UM, PEOPLE TALK ABOUT WHO PAYS TAXES.

I HAVE A LADY FRIEND THAT LIVES IN A CONDO DOWNTOWN, AND WE WERE HAVING COFFEE ONE DAY, IT'S NOT REALLY FUNNY.

UM, AND SHE SAID HER PROPERTY TAXES THAT YEAR WERE A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, 25,000 OF THAT WAS FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

YOU KNOW, THEY DESERVE SOME SERVICES FOR THAT.

SHE SAID SHE'S AFRAID TO GO OUT AFTER DARK, UM, IN, IN DOWNTOWN AUSTIN.

THEY, THEY'RE AFRAID TO GO TO THE PARAMOUNT OR TO MUSIC OVER HERE.

THAT'S NOT RIGHT.

THEY NEED SERVICES AND THEY DESERVE A CLEAN, SAFE TOWN, AND THAT'S NOT HAPPENING.

THE OTHER THING I WANNA POINT OUT WITH REGARD TO, UM, ITEM ONE IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S THE SECOND PART OF THE TAX RATE.

WE KEEP TALKING M AND O, BUT THERE'S THE DEATH SERVICE PART.

AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BORROWING MONEY, IT HAS TO BE PAID BACK.

IT'S LIKE YOUR MORTGAGE.

UM, AND OF COURSE THERE'S INTEREST ON THAT.

SO THERE'S MORE.

IT'S MORE EXPENSIVE, BUT IT IS SPREAD OUT AND KIND OF A STAGGERING, UH, NUMBER OF COURSE, I'M A, YOU KNOW, NUMBERS PERSON IS THE OUTSTANDING GENERAL OBLIGATION DEBT.

THAT MEANS THAT IT'S BEEN AUTHORIZED AND ISSUED, AND NOW WE'RE PAYING IT BACK AS $1.5 BILLION, CITY OF AUSTIN.

THEN THERE'S THE BONDS THAT ARE AUTHORIZED BUT NOT ISSUED, WHICH MEANS THEY'VE BEEN APPROVED ON A BALLOT AND WE HAVEN'T ISSUED 'EM YET.

SO YOU'RE NOT PAYING THOSE BACK.

OKAY, THAT'S 1.6 BILLION TOTAL.

$3.2 BILLION OF DEBT IS SITTING OUT THERE THAT'S GONNA GO THROUGH THAT DEBT SERVICE RATE, AND IT'S GOT TO BE PAID BACK.

THAT IS SIGNIFICANT.

SOME OF THE, UH, AMENDMENTS, OR AT LEAST ONE HERE WANT TO MOVE THINGS OFF THE GENERAL FUND ONTO THE DEBT SERVICE RATE.

THAT IS NOT FREE.

THAT IS NOT A SAVINGS.

AND THAT'S GONNA PILE UP ON TOP OF THIS.

AND, YOU KNOW, FOR 24 YEARS, I WAS THE AUDITOR AND I WENT TO THE BOND RATING AGENCIES EVERY YEAR, AND THEY LOOK AT OVERLAPPING DEBT BECAUSE THEY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE CAN PAY THAT BACK DEBT.

THERE'S A, A WHOLE LOT WITH PROJECT CONNECT SITTING OUT THERE.

UM, A-I-S-D-I THINK IT WAS THREE YEARS AGO, HAD A BOND ELECTION FOR TH $2.2 BILLION.

ALL OF THAT IS LOOKED AT BY THE BOND RATING AGENCY.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO LOOK THAT, I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU WOULD TRY

[01:40:01]

TO HOLD THE TAX RATE.

I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT.

IT'S TOO HIGH AND IT'S A, A CIRCULAR INFLATION OF EVERYTHING.

TAXES GO UP, FEES GO UP, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN PEOPLE CAN'T LIVE HERE.

UM, I ALSO, LET ME SEE, I TOOK SOME NOTES HERE.

UM, A LOT OF THE, THE CONVERSATION HAS BEEN FOR SPENDING ON THE HOMELESS, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT.

AND THE POLICE, THE POLICE BUDGET, IF YOU DIVIDE THAT BY POPULATION, IS BASICALLY $516 PER PERSON.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE HOMELESS ALLOCATIONS IN DIFFERENT FUNDS, UM, FOR THE NUMBER OF HOMELESS, AND I'M TAKING THE 6,000 FIGURE HERE, UM, IT'S ABOUT $15,000 A YEAR.

SO ARE WE SPENDING ENOUGH? YEAH, WE ARE BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE PAYING FOR PUBLIC SERVICE THAT THEY ARE NOT GETTING.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT, AND I HOPE YOU LOOK AT IT, IS PEOPLE TALK ABOUT WHETHER YOU NEED POLICE.

I BELIEVE YOU DO.

UM, WHEN SOMEONE CALLS 9 1 1, THEY'RE, THEY'RE ASKING THEIR GOVERNMENT FOR HELP.

THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

THEY'RE JUST NOT DOING THAT FOR FUN.

AND THEY EXPECT THAT THE POLICE WILL COME OUT AND THEY WILL COME OUT QUICKLY.

AND THAT IS NOT BEING DONE WHEN PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE POLICE BUDGET, BECAUSE WE ARE GROSSLY UNDERSTAFFED.

AND IT IS NOT THE FAULT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT GROSSLY UNDERSTAFFED.

THEY'RE HAVING TO WORK OVERTIME AND IT, IT ISN'T EFFICIENT PAYING TIME AND A HALF ISN'T AS EFFICIENT AS PAYING STRAIGHT TIME.

BUT UNTIL YOU GET THAT STAFFED UP, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO SPEND ON OVERTIME.

A COUPLE OF, SOME OF THE POLICE PROBABLY DON'T MIND GETTING A LITTLE OVERTIME MONEY, BUT MANY OF THEM ARE EXHAUSTED AND THEY DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO DO THAT.

THE OTHER THING THAT KIND OF STRIKES ME WHEN I HEAR THESE CONVERSATIONS AND THE BUDGET IS THAT WE TALK ABOUT EQUITY IN THIS COMMUNITY A WHOLE LOT.

I DON'T SEE A LOT OF EQUITY FOR THE POLICE.

I REALLY DON'T.

WE EXPECT THEM TO PUT THEIR LIFE ON THE LINE, JUST LIKE JORGE PEOR DID.

HE DIED PROTECTING CITIZENS.

AND I ASK YOU, WHAT WOULD IT TAKE FOR YOU TO PUT YOUR LIFE ON THE LINE FOR PEOPLE YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW? AND YOU KNOW, I WENT TO HIS FUNERAL AND IT WAS A VERY SAD EVENT, BUT ONE OF THE DETECTIVES SAID, SUSAN, PEOPLE ARE PUTTING THEIR, OUR PEOPLE ARE PUTTING THEIR LIFE ON THE LINE EVERY DAY.

FORTUNATELY, THEY'RE ALL NOT ALWAYS KILLED.

SO THAT WASN'T THE ONLY INCIDENT.

THERE'S SOMETHING TO BE SAID FOR THAT.

THEN THE NEXT THING IS, OF COURSE, A WHOLE LOT OF, UH, EMPLOYEES CAN, UM, WORK FROM HOME, TELL COMMUTE, AND IT SAVES MONEY.

THE POLICE CAN'T DO THAT.

THEY DON'T HAVE THAT LUXURY.

THEY HAVE TO COME TO WORK.

WHEN COVID WAS OUT THERE AND PEOPLE COULD STAY HOME AND NOT BE INFECTED, THE POLICE HAD TO COME OUT TO WORK.

IS THAT EQUITABLE? THE OTHER THING IS WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT WHEN PEOPLE SAY, YOU KNOW, WHY SHOULD THEIR BUDGET INCREASE? WELL, THERE'S A, YOU KNOW, PART OF YOUR BUDGET IS A 4% INCREASE ACROSS THE BOARD FOR ALL CITY EMPLOYEES.

SO ARE WE THE KIND OF PEOPLE THAT SAY, AH, EXCEPT FOR THE POLICE, WE DON'T GIVE THEM ANYTHING.

AND IF SOMEONE WORKS FOR THEM, WE DON'T WANT TO GIVE THEM ANYTHING.

UM, PART OF WHAT HAS TO BE INCREASED IN THE POLICE BUDGET, AND YOU DID THAT IS THE CONTRIBUTION TO THE PENSION FUND.

THEY WERE, THAT'S PART OF THEIR COMPENSATION JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE THAT WORKS AT THE CITY AND THE CONTRIBUTION WAS NOT ENOUGH.

HOW DO WE KNOW THAT? WHEN THE CITY WENT TO THE BOND RATING AGENCIES, THEY POINTED THAT OUT AND THEY SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU NEED TO PUT MORE MONEY IN THERE TO FIND TO, TO FUND THAT PENSION PLAN.

AND YOU DID.

THAT NEED TO BE UPGRADED TO LED.

BOB NICKS, IRBY FOSTER, JONATHAN TAN, JEFF DICKERSON, HONORABLE MAYOR, COUNCILORS, UH, COUNCILOR OF VELASQUEZ, MR. BRONA IRBY FOSTER DISTRICT THREE ON INSTAGRAM AT TEXAS HIGHWAY ADVOCATE.

I'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON BUDGET ITEM, UH, SEVERAL BUDGET, I THINK IT WAS MULTIPLE BUDGET ITEMS AND FOLLOW UP MY PREVIOUS COMMENTS.

I CONTINUE ASK FOR COUNCIL ACTION TO IMPROVE FREEWAY LIGHTING AND ASK FOR BETTER OVERSIGHT OF AUSTIN ENERGY AND ASK YOU TO CHANGE HOW AUSTIN ENERGY HANDLES THE 3 1 1 COMPLAINTS.

SPECIFICALLY, WE NEED TO IDENTIFY MORE MONEY FOR FREEWAY STREET LIGHTING REPAIRS.

HIRE AND EMBED A NEW STREETLIGHT MANAGER AT TRANSPORTATION PUBLIC WORKS AND NOT AT AUSTIN.

ENERGY COUNCIL NEEDS TO HOLD AUSTIN ENERGY MORE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR POOR TRACK RECORD IN HANDLING FREEWAY STREET LIGHTING OUTAGES.

AND FINALLY ASK YOU TO CHANGE HOW AUSTIN ENERGY HANDLES THE 3 1 1 SERVICE REQUESTS OF AUSTIN, OF OUT OUTAGES.

EXCUSE ME, IT'S NOT AN EXAGGERATION TO SAY THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF FREEWAY STREET LIGHTS, UNDERPASS LIGHTS, AND SAFETY LIGHTS OUT IN THE CITY.

THERE ARE HUNDREDS MORE OLD FREEWAY FIXTURES

[01:45:01]

POOR LIGHTING IS AFFECTING OUR QUALITY OF LIFE AND OUR SAFETY.

MANY FREEWAYS HAVE DARK MAIN LANES AND DARK CROSS STREET UNDERPASSES.

SUBSEQUENTLY, FREEWAY ACCIDENT RATES ARE UP 15% IN TRAVIS COUNTY AND 35% IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY.

FAT FATALITIES ARE NOW THREE A WEEK ACCORDING TO TEXT DOT WHAT DARK CROSS STREETS UNDERPASSES HAVE ALSO BECOME MAGNETS FOR HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS OF THE NINE MAJOR FREEWAYS IN THE CITY, MOST OF THE STREETLIGHTS ARE MAINTAINED BY AUSTIN ENERGY THROUGH AGREEMENTS WITH TXDOT.

UH, TPW DOES COORDINATE SOME REPAIRS DIRECTLY WITH TXDOT.

HOWEVER, IT'S EVIDENCE THAT AUSTIN ENERGY DOES NOT HAVE A GOOD TRACK RECORD AT PRIORITIZING THE PROGRESS OF FREEWAY STREET LIGHTING OUTAGES ITSELF.

AND THE DEPARTMENT HAS NOT BUDGETED ENOUGH FOR FREEWAY RE REPAIRS OR CONVERSIONS TO LED LIGHTS.

I CAN SEE THIS BECAUSE LAST NIGHT THERE WERE STILL HUNDREDS OF STREET LIGHTS OUT ON THE MAIN LANES OF OUR FREEWAYS.

THOUSANDS MORE OF FIXTURES NEED TO BE UPGRADED TO LED.

I ADMIT AUSTIN ENERGY HAS ACTED ON THE HUNDREDS OF STREETLIGHT OUTAGES, BUT ONLY AFTER I'VE COMPLAINED TO SEVERAL CITY COUNSELORS AND THE CITY MANAGER.

CLEARLY AUSTIN ENERGY IS REACTIVE AND NOT PROACTIVE.

COUNSELOR ALLISON ALTER AND VELASQUEZ, THANK YOU BOTH.

UH, I ASKED YOU TO HELP TO CONTINUE TO VOICE THE NEED TO MAKE THESE DEPARTMENTS ACCOUNTABLE AND DEMAND THOROUGH REPAIRS.

THE CURRENT STREETLIGHT MANAGER SITS AT AUSTIN ENERGY WHERE THEY LACK ALIGNMENT WITH COUNCIL MANAGER PRIORITIES.

FURTHER, UH, AUSTIN ENERGY CONTINUES TO CLOSE MY 3 1 1, UH, REQUESTS FOR REPAIRS.

WHY? IT'S, HOW DO I FEEL THAT? I FEEL THAT THEY'RE MISHANDLING THAT PORTION? AND WHY DO I FEEL THIS WAY? BECAUSE THE 3 1 1 REQUESTS ARE ROUTINELY, UH, CLOSED AFTER SUBMITTAL WITH THE RESPONSE.

WE WILL SCHEDULE REPAIRS LATER.

AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE SCREEN.

I'VE DEMONSTRATED THIS SEVERAL WEEKS AGO AS WELL, WHEN I REPORTED 20 MAJOR MAIN LANE FREEWAY OUTAGES ON JULY 26TH.

AND THEN ON JULY 27TH, AUSTIN ENERGY CLOSED THEM ALL.

SOME COMMENTS WERE, CUSTOMER JUST WANTS MORE STREET LIGHTS.

YOU SEE THIS IN ONE OF THEM.

THAT'S FALSE.

THE CUSTOMER AND THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN WANT IS AUSTIN ENERGY AND THEIR CONTRACTORS TO ENSURE COMPLETE AND THOROUGH STREET LIGHTING REPAIRS.

THAT'S NOT HAPPENING.

THE PROBLEM WITH CLOSING THESE 3 1 1 REQUESTS RIGHT AWAY IS AS, AS CITIZEN, I DON'T HAVE ANY FURTHER 3 1 1 VISIBILITY OR FEEDBACK INTO SUBSEQUENT REPAIRS.

NO FURTHER EMAILS, TRANSPARENCY OR UPDATES FROM 3 1 1.

THE COMPLAINT IS CLOSED.

THIS SO THEREFORE CAN BE SAID FOR TRANSPORTATION PUBLIC WORKS AS WELL.

IF AUSTIN ENERGY IS CLOSING THE 3 1 1 COMPLAINT, THEN TRANSPORTATION PUBLIC WORKS HAS NO VISIBILITY INTO THE QUALITY OF AUSTIN ENERGY'S REPAIRS FOR FREEWAY LIGHTING.

HOWEVER, CLOSING THE 3 1 1 REPORT IMMEDIATELY DOES BENEFIT AUSTIN ENERGY.

IT CREATES THIS ILLUSION TO TRANSPORTATION IN PUBLIC WORKS AND CITY STAFF THAT STREETLIGHTS ARE BEING REPAIRED IMMEDIATELY.

HOWEVER, NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.

REPAIRS ARE TAKING MULTIPLE MONTHS, IF NOT YEARS.

I ASK COUNSEL TO USE THE BUDGET PROCESS TO HALT THE INAPPROPRIATE CLOSING.

A 3 1 1 REQUEST 3 1 1 REQUESTS SHOULD NOT BE CLOSED PRIOR TO THE WORK BEING COMPLETED WITHOUT A CHANGE IN THE PROCESS.

THERE WILL CONTINUE TO BE NO VISIBILITY OR TRANSPARENCY INTO THE QUALITY OF REPAIRS BY AUSTIN ENERGY.

I MENTIONED SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE.

FATALITIES ARE UP.

ACCIDENTS ARE UP.

T FIGURES TELL US BETWEEN 2020 AND 23, TRAVIS COUNTY FATALITIES INCREASED 15%.

AND IN 2023, THE AVERAGE IS 3.7 FATALITIES A WEEK.

TXDOT TELLS US THAT 50% OF THE FATALITIES IN OUR FREEWAYS ARE AT NIGHT.

AND AS I MENTIONED, WE HAVE MANY UNDERPASSES THAT ARE DARK AND HAVE BECOME AND HAVE BEGUN TO ATTRACT MORE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE BEST PLACE FOR OUR HOMELESS.

CURRENT LEVELS OF SPENDING AND FREEWAY LIGHTING REPAIRS ARE NOT ENOUGH.

AND THIS BUDGET, I ASK AUSTIN ENERGY.

I ASK US TO REQUIRE AUSTIN ENERGY TO DESIGNATE A STREETLIGHT MANAGER TO SIT AT TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS WHERE THEY HAVE BETTER OVERSIGHT FOR AUSTIN ENERGY AND TPW FURTHER COUNCIL COULD CODIFY A MINIMUM QUALITY STANDARD WITH AUSTIN ENERGY'S FUNDING.

WHAT ABOUT A RESOLUTION THAT SAYS WE WANT 95% OF THE STREETLIGHTS TO WORK EVERY DAY? THEY'D HAVE A BETTER BUDGET PROPOSAL FOR YOU.

THEN I ASK COUNCIL TO ADD FUNDS FOR FREEWAY LIGHTING REPAIRS TO THIS BUDGET AND LOOK AT BOND MONEY, MAYBE TAPPING THAT FOR MORE OF A QUICKER RESPONSE.

ADD A STREETLIGHT MANAGER, FIX THE 3 1 1 REPORTING SYSTEM AND HOLD AUSTIN ENERGY MORE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE POOR TRACK RECORD ON MAINTENANCE.

ALL THESE INITIATIVES WILL IMPROVE ROADWAY SAFETY BY SAVING LIVES, AS I MENTIONED, TEXT THAT SAYS ABOUT 3.7 PEOPLE A WEEK ARE DYING ON OUR FREEWAYS SAFER.

WELL-LIGHTED FREEWAYS AND UNDERPASSES WILL IMPROVE ROADWAY SAFETY, SAVE OUR LIVES, AND REDUCE CRIME IN OUR CITY.

MR. MAYOR, THANK YOU.

AND I GIVE YOU A COUPLE MINUTES BACK.

WE APPRECIATE THAT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

MR. NICKS, IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME FORWARD.

[01:50:04]

THANK YOU MR. MAYOR.

MY BOB NICKS, I'M PRESIDENT OF THE AUSTIN FIREFIGHTER ASSOCIATION.

THANK YOU MARY FOR YOUR SERVICE, MAYOR AND COUNCIL FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.

AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

I'M HERE TO SPEAK, UH, IN FAVOR A COUPLE OF AMENDMENTS AND BUDGET RIDER.

ONE IS, UH, AL, UH, RYAN ALTER'S AMENDMENT FOR THE THIRD CADET CLASS.

AND I UNDERSTAND HE HAS PRETTY GOOD SUPPORT.

WE APPRECIATE THAT.

UH, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF GOOD PRESS OR PRESS ABOUT, UH, FIREFIGHTER MENTAL HEALTH RECENTLY.

A LOT OF INTEREST AND WE JUST REALLY STARTED THIS CONVERSATION WITH THE COMMUNITY.

BUT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR A WHILE.

A WORKWEEK REDUCTION.

THEY'LL ACTUALLY LOWER THE WORKLOAD OF FIREFIGHTERS.

AND I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE BRUCE MILLS WHO HELPED ME QUITE A BIT ON, ON THAT WHEN WE WERE WORKING ON THAT DURING THE BARGAINING SESSION.

AND UH, I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE LEAVING SOON, BRUCE, IS THAT CORRECT? WELL, THANK YOU BRUCE IS REALLY A PARAGON AND INTEGRITY AND HONESTY AND I ALWAYS APPRECIATED WORKING WITH YOU OVER THE YEARS AND I HOPE YOU SUCCEED IN RETIREMENT THIS TIME, .

BUT, UH, HE DID STRETCH TO GET THIS IN.

IT'S A BIG ASK.

IT'S A REAL RESTRUCTURE OF OUR DEPARTMENT, BUT IT'S SORELY NEEDED AND I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL'S WORK ON THAT AND ALL SUPPORT WE HAVE FROM COUNCIL.

UM, LIKE I TALKED ABOUT A COUPLE WEEKS AGO IN FRONT OF COUNCIL, DURING THE GENERAL FUND MEETING, A WORKWEEK REDUCTION RELEASE, TWO COMPONENTS, A SCHEDULE CHANGE.

BUT IF ALL YOU DO IS CHANGE THE SCHEDULE, YOU HAVE THE SAME NUMBER OF PEOPLE DO THE SAME AMOUNT OF WORK, MAKING MORE MONEY IN ORDER TO REALLY GET THE THE BENEFIT OF A WORKWEEK REDUCTION, YOU ALSO HAVE A WORKLOAD REDUCTION.

AND THAT'S WHERE THIS THIRD CADET CLASS IS ABOUT, IS REDUCING WORKLOAD IN A REAL WAY WHERE FIREFIGHTERS CAN GET SOME RELIEF.

AND THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF, UH, A BIGGER PLAN THAT WE NEED TO WORK ON.

BUT, UH, IT'S AN IMPORTANT BEGINNING AND UH, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO GET THE WORKLOAD REDUCTION THAT THIS AMENDMENT COMES WITH 30 ADDITIONAL FTES.

OTHERWISE WE'RE JUST GIVING FIREFIGHTERS MORE MONEY.

WE'RE NOT REALLY GETTING THE WORKLOAD WE NEED.

WORKLOAD REDUCTION WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

SO THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

THE INCREASED, UH, FTES PROVIDE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT THE PERMISSION TO HIRE THE ADDITIONAL STAFF NECESSARY TO REDUCE WORKLOAD, UH, AND THE IN, UH, INCREASED FTS, ENSURE THE WORKLOAD WILL BE REDUCED, NOT JUST CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE, WHERE FIREFIGHTERS GET ANYMORE OVERTIME.

THAT'S NOT THE GOAL, THAT'S NOT WHAT WE WANT.

AND ESPECIALLY WE'RE TRYING TO REDUCE, UM, UH, ELIMINATE MANDATORY OVERTIME OR FIREFIGHTERS ACTUALLY ORDERED TO COME TO WORK.

THEY'RE ALREADY PROBABLY VOLUNTEERING OTHER SHIFTS AND THERE'S SHSU.

THERE'S ORDER TO FILL ALL THE SEATS, WHICH WE'RE SUPPORTIVE OF BECAUSE WE NEED TO FILL ALL OF OUR SEATS IN EVERY FIRETRUCK, EVERY SHIFT, EVERY STATION.

BUT WE NEED MORE FIREFIGHTERS SO WE CAN GET A BREAK.

SO I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S SUPPORT ON THAT.

I ALSO SUPPORT ALLISON ALTER'S AMENDMENT, UM, TO FUND, UH, FIREFIGHTER MATERNITY LEAVE FOR FY 25 AND HER BUDGET RIDER.

UH, WELL THERE YOU ARE FOR TO TO SEE IF WE CAN FUND THAT GOING FORWARD.

UM, THAT MANY, MANY COUNCIL MEMBERS NOW OF THE COMMUNITY MAY NOT KNOW, BUT THE A FD HIRING PROCESS IS VERY FAVORABLE TOWARDS, UH, FEMALE CANDIDATES.

IN FACT, THEY'RE THE MOST SUCCESSFUL GROUP.

NO MATTER HOW YOU BREAK IT DOWN.

FEMALES DO BETTER THAN ANY OTHER GROUP ON GETTING IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, WHICH WE'RE VERY PROUD OF.

BUT WE ONLY HAVE 8% FIRE, UH, FEMALES.

AND, YOU KNOW, NATIONAL STUDIES WOULD SHOW IN THIS TYPE OF JOB YOU COULD HAVE AS MANY AS 16 TO 20%.

SO IT REALLY BECOMES A RECRUITING IMPERATIVE.

AND ONE THING OUR FEMALE FIGHTER FIGHTERS LIKE TO SAY IS YOU'RE WELL SUPPORTED IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND I THINK MANAGEMENT DOES A GREAT JOB OF DOING THAT.

BUT THESE SORT OF POLICIES WILL MAKE IT WHERE WE CAN REALLY ENSURE THEM THAT DURING THOSE CHILDBEARING YEARS WHEN YOU'RE YOUNG, THAT YOU'RE GONNA GET SUPPORT.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE FEMALE FIREFIGHTERS HAD TO LEAVE, GET LEAVE WITHOUT PAY TO FINISH RECOVERING FROM, FROM, UH, CHILDBIRTH.

SO REALLY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT.

ALLISON TER, THE SUPPORT WE HAVE ON THE DAIS.

I ALSO SUPPORT A BUDGET WRITER.

I BELIEVE ALLISON TER PUT IN TO STUDY WHETHER WE CAN CONVERT, UH, OVERTIME DOLLARS TO FTES.

SO THIS WOULD BE OUTSIDE THE WORKWEEK REDUCTION.

EVEN WITHOUT THE WORKWEEK CHANGE.

WE ARE MANDATORY FIREFIGHTERS TO WORK AND SO WE THAT WE SIMPLY NEED MORE FIREFIGHTERS EVEN OUTSIDE THE WORKWEEK REDUCTION.

THIS HAS THE PROMISE OF POSSIBLY HAVING A WAY TO OFFSET MUCH OF THE FUNDING, IF NOT ALL THE FUNDING.

AND IT NEEDS TO BE STUDIED CAREFULLY.

'CAUSE WE DON'T WANNA PUT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IN A POSITION WHERE WE'RE TAKING BUDGET AWAY FROM THEM AND THEY CAN'T MEET THEIR NEEDS.

SO I THINK IT, I THINK THIS, THE IDEA OF STUDYING THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.

I THINK THERE'S PRETTY GOOD SUPPORT ON THAT ITEM TOO.

AND I APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR WORK ON THAT ALLISON ALTER.

UM, UH, THAT'S IT.

I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND THANKS FOR EVERYTHING YOU ALL DO.

THANK YOU, SIR.

APPRECIATE YOU.

PLEASE COME FORWARD IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

MY NAME IS JONATHAN TAN FROM BURMESE REFUGEE COMMUNITY IN AUSTIN.

I ARRIVED AUSTIN IN 2016 AS REFUGEE STATUS FROM UH,

[01:55:01]

MALAYSIA REFUGEE CAMP.

I HAVE FOUR CHILDREN LIVING WITH MY FAMILY IN SOUTH AUSTIN APARTMENT.

UH, THE ME REFUGEE THE FIRST ARRIVED AUSTIN IN 2006.

CURRENTLY, UH, THEY ARE ABOUT UNDER A THOUSAND FAMILY IN AUSTIN AREA.

REFUGEE, MAINLY LIVING IN SOUTH AUSTIN, EAST RIVERSIDE, APARTMENT DEL VALLEY.

AFFORDABLE HOME.

AS YOU KNOW, THE COUNTRY IS RULED BY UNDER MILITARY DETECTED OVER 70 YEARS.

MOST OF BURMESE REFUGEE ROHINGYA COMMUNITY IS FROM AN DEVELOPMENT, UH, AREA.

UNEDUCATED, UH, WE DON'T SPEAK ENGLISH.

VERY DIFFICULT TO GET A JOB BECAUSE OF LANGUAGE BARRIERS DURING THE PANDEMIC, MANY OF THE COMMUNITY, FAMILY, THEY LOST A JOB, VERY HARD TO FIND A JOB BECAUSE OF NOT AFFORD TO BUY A CAR.

LEG OF TRANSPORTATION, REFUGEE, UH, SCARED, VERY LOW INCOME, PAID LOW WAGE.

UH, ONLY ONE PERSON WORKING IN A HOUSEHOLD.

MOST OF MEN ARE, ARE RAISING, TAKING CARE OF THE CH MOM ARE RAISING UP AND TAKING CARE OF THE CHILDREN.

THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO DRIVE NO CAR.

THEY USE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION CITY BUS TO GO TO THEIR APPOINTMENT.

SOMETIMES WE FEEL LIKE AUSTIN IS NOT A PLAY FOR REFUGEE TO LEAVE BECAUSE AUSTIN IS TOO EXPENSIVE.

PRICE ARE INCREASED, MAKE MONEY, INCOME EXPENSES ARE TOO DIFFERENT.

UH, INCOME AND INSPECTION IS LIKE VERY DIFFERENT.

SO, UH, EVEN WE WORK TWO JOBS STILL NOT ENOUGH.

THE FAMILY INCOME TO EXPENSES, LOOKING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, A PERMIT, BUT NOT SAFETY ENVIRONMENTS FOR COMMUNITY TOO.

SO, UH, THEY WILL, THEY WORRY ABOUT HOW WE CONTINUE TO LIVE IN FUTURE IN INCREASE MORE THE PRICE, UH, THE COMMUNITY, A LOT OF EXPERIENCE AND THE FAMILY CANNOT PAY THE RENT.

COMMUNITY FACING, THEY WERE EVICTED FROM THE LEASING OFFICE.

UH, THEY CANNOT PAY THE RENT.

UH, WITH TWO FAMILIES LIVE TOGETHER, SHARING A ROOM IN ONE SMALL APARTMENT.

SO LASTLY, UH, ONE ON BEHALF OF BURMESE REFUGEE COMMUNITY IN AUSTIN, HOW CAN THE CITY CAN SUPPORT REFUGEE IN LOCAL AREA, PROVIDE SERVICE TO A ROOF TO STAY SHELTER, CRISIS OF FINANCIAL HARDSHIP, RECUSE AND PROVIDE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM NEED HELP FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY RENT AND AFFORD TO BUY NEW AFFORDABLE HOMES.

MORE SAFETY AREA FACING FINANCIAL HARDSHIP.

WE BELONG TO A BETTER LIFE IN AUSTIN.

I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR AMERICAN PEOPLE.

LOCAL AUSTIN, YOUR COMMITMENT TO WELCOMING REFUGEE FROM REFUGEE, FEELING PERSECUTION AND CONFLICT ON THE MILITARY DETECTOR.

NOW WE HAVE A BETTER LIFE, PEACE AND HAPPINESS LIFE BECAUSE OF, UH, ALL OF YOU.

I'M NOT ALONE.

YOU ARE HERE WITH REFUGEE COMMUNITY.

REFUGEE IS NOT NO MORE MY NAME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU MEMBERS.

UM, IT'S 1158 AND AS I INDICATED WE PROBABLY WOULD DO VERY NEAR NOON.

UH, IS WE WOULD, UH, GO INTO AN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO TAKE UP SOME ITEMS. I APOLOGIZE, BUT WE NEED TO DO THIS.

UM, WE WILL, OUR GOAL IS TO BE BACK OUT BY 1245.

UH, SO WE, WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO BE BACK ABOUT 1245.

[Executive Session]

SO THE CITY COUNCIL WILL NOW GO INTO A CLOSED SESSION TO TAKE UP TWO ITEMS PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 5 1 0 7, 1 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE.

THE CITY COUNCIL WILL DISCUSS LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO ITEM SIX, WHICH IS CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING AND APPROVE AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING FEES, FINES, AND OTHER CHARGES TO BE SET OR CHARGED BY THE CITY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024 TO 2025, BEGINNING ON OCTOBER 1ST, 2024, AND ENDING ON SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025.

AND WAIVING FEES AND OTHER CHARGES.

AND ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, APPROVING AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING.

IF I COULD GET EVERYBODY TO HANG ON.

WE'RE NOT, WE'RE STILL MEETING CHIEF.

WHERE'S THE FIRE MAN? WHERE'S THE FIRE? ALRIGHT, UM, THANK YOU.

LET, LET ME FINISH THIS AND THEN Y'ALL CAN SCREAM AND YELL AND DO WHATEVER IT IS YOU FIREFIGHTERS DO.

UM, ALRIGHT, ITEM NUMBER SEVEN IS APPROVING AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 20 24, 20 25, BEGINNING ON OCTOBER 1ST, 2024 AND ENDING ON SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE CITY COUNCIL GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THE ITEMS ANNOUNCED? HEARING

[02:00:01]

NONE, THE COUNCIL WILL NOW GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AND AS I INDICATED, WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO BE OUT BY 1245, BUT I DON'T PROMISE THAT SEE YOU THEN.

WE ARE OUT OF CLOSED SESSION.

IN CLOSED SESSION, WE DISCUSS LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO ITEM SIX AND SEVEN AND I WILL CALL BACK TO ORDER THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

IT IS 12:52 PM MADAM CLERK,

[Public Comment ( Part 3 of 3 )]

IF YOU'LL BEGIN, UH, WITH PUBLIC COMMENTS.

UH, BILL BUNCH, BOBBY LEVINSKY, MARK WHEELER, KATHY MITCHELL.

IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME ON DOWN AND THEN JUST STATE YOUR NAME TO THE RECORD.

UH, BOBBY LAVINSKY.

JUST TO CLARIFY, I HAD DONATED ON TITLE SEVEN TO KATHY MITCHELL, SO THREE MINUTES SHOULD BE DEDUCTED FROM THAT TIME, CORRECT? I HAVE, I HAVE YOU FOR SIX MINUTES FOR ITEM FOUR AND SIX.

UM, I WANNA ALSO RAISE, UM, SOME ADDITIONAL POLICY DIRECTION THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR WITH REGARD TO STRENGTHENING THE CITY'S WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAM.

THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS BOBBY LEVINSKY.

I'M WITH THE SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE.

UM, I'M, UH, MAINLY, WELL FIRST I WANNA THANK YOU FOR, UM, ROLLING BACK THE, THE POOL FEES THAT'S, UH, GREATLY APPRECIATED AND YOUR OFFICES WERE VERY RESPONSIVE TO THAT.

UM, WE APPRECIATE THAT, UH, AMENDMENT AND HOPE THAT YOU DO PASS IT.

WITH REGARD TO THE, UM, THE RATES FOR THE WATER UTILITY.

UM, EARLIER THIS WEEK YOU RECEIVED A LETTER FROM TTA COOPER AND I, WE BOTH SERVED ON THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THE COST OF SERVICE STUDY.

UM, THAT LETTER DETAILED A LOT OF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS, UM, THAT WE WOULD, UH, ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER AS PART OF THIS COST OF SERVICE STUDY.

AND THERE'S SOME ADDITIONAL, UM, POLICY DIRECTION THAT WE THINK WOULD BE HELPFUL AND MOVING FORWARD.

UH, ONE OF THE MAIN TAKEAWAYS FROM THAT COST OF SERVICE STUDY IS THAT THERE IS A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY IN THE CITY, UH, IN THE WATER UTILITIES, UM, FINANCIAL POLICIES THAT IS NOT BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF, OF, UH, PARTICULARLY WITH REGARD TO LARGE CAPITAL DEBT.

UM, AS YOU WILL SEE WITH WALNUT CREEK, UM, THAT FACILITY, THEY'VE RE UH, REDUCED THE CASH RESERVE REQUIREMENT, UH, FROM 50% TO 25% OR 20%.

WE WERE, WE'RE ASKING THAT, UM, FOR OTHER MAJOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT, UM, PROJECTS THAT HAVE A LIFESPAN OF LARGER THAN 10 YEARS THAT YOU DO THE SAME.

IF YOU REDUCE THAT TO, UM, 25% I BELIEVE IS WHAT THE RECOMMENDATION IS, UH, BASED OFF OF LE LEONARD COOPER'S, UM, RECOMMENDATIONS, UH, THAT COULD POTENTIALLY SAVE A LOT OF, UH, MONEY FROM THE CITY IN TERMS OF ITS, UH, REQUIREMENTS THAT THEY NEEDS TO HOLD FOR THOSE LARGE CAPITAL PROJECTS.

DEFERRING SOME OF THE FUTURE COSTS, UM, ONTO FUTURE YEARS.

WITH REGARD TO WALNUT CREEK.

ONE, UM, KEY COMPONENT OF THAT IS THAT WHILE IT HAS HIT THE 75% RULE UNDER THE TCEQ REQUIREMENTS, IT HAS NOT RE UH, HIT THE 90% RULE.

SO THE 75% RULE IS WHEN YOU HAVE TO START WITH YOUR PLANNING.

UM, FOR AN EXPANSION, 90% IS WHEN IT'S REQUIRED FOR CONSTRUCTION.

SO IT, WE ARE NOT IN A SITUATION WHERE WE'RE HITTING THAT 90% THRESHOLD.

WE HAVEN'T HIT THAT AND THE DATA DOESN'T SHOW THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY ON A TRAJECTORY TO HIT IT EITHER.

SO THERE COULD BE FLEXIBILITY IN DELAYING THAT CONSTRUCTION OF THAT MAJOR PROJECT, WHICH IS, IS REALLY ONE OF THE CATALYSTS FOR THE, UM, THE MAJOR INCREASES IN THE WATER RATES THIS YEAR.

UM, IF YOU DELAY THAT TO A FUTURE YEAR, YOU COULD POTENTIALLY, UH, SAVE SOME, UM, SOME TIME AND SOME ABILITY TO, TO BUILD UP YOUR RESERVE FUNDS AND, AND REDUCE SOME OF THOSE ADDITIONAL COSTS.

UM, WITH REGARD TO THE, UM, RE UM, SORRY, THE, UH, THE CAPITAL RESERVE REQUIREMENT, UM, ALSO, UM, I BELIEVE THAT THE UTILITIES RECOMMENDING, UM, 175% AS, UM, ITS, ITS CURRENT THRESHOLD.

WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT YOU REDUCE THAT TO 150%, WHICH IS STILL WELL ABOVE THE REQUIRED 125%.

THAT'S A $16 MILLION, UM, SAVINGS IN REVENUE THAT CAN BE, UM, SHIFTED TO, UM, REDUCING YOUR RATES AS WELL.

SO THAT'S ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY THAT IF YOU LOOK INTO THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE, YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO SAVE SOME DOLLARS THERE.

UM, AND, AND SOME THE, UH, SOME OF THE INCREASES AND ESPECIALLY PARTICULARLY ON YOUR LOWER INCOME, UM, RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS.

UM, I JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT THAT TTA COOPER HAS HAD A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS.

UM, SHE'S, UH, BEEN AN INSTRUMENTAL FIGURE IN A LOT OF THE PREVIOUS, UM, AUSTIN ENERGY RATE CASES.

SHE'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THE CAP PROGRAM, THE, UH, CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, UH, IS SO STRONG.

SO I WOULD REALLY GIVE A LOT OF WEIGHT TO THE RECOMMENDATION THAT SHE'S, UM, SHE'S BEEN MAKING AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO MEET WITH HER.

SHE, SHE AND I WERE PRESENT AT EACH ONE OF THE MEETINGS FOR THE COST OF SERVICE STUDY.

SO, UM, WE WENT REALLY INTO THE, TO THE WEEDS ON IT.

UM, AND I THINK THAT SHE'S PROBABLY THE BEST EXPERT FOR YOU TO TALK TO.

[02:05:01]

ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT WE WERE NOT ABLE TO ADDRESS IN THE COST OF SERVICE STUDY, BUT THERE WAS A WILLINGNESS BY UTILITY STAFF TO CONSIDER IT AND THEY ACTUALLY EVEN OFFERED SOME IDEAS WE JUST WEREN'T ABLE TO GET TO A FINAL SOLUTION WAS, UM, REGARD TO COMMERCIAL IRRIGATION RATES.

THERE'S SOME LEGAL COMPLICATIONS THERE, BUT I THINK THERE WITH SOME POLICY DIRECTION AND SOME, UM, FLEXIBILITY FOR STAFF TO COME UP WITH SOME ALTERNATIVES.

THERE COULD BE A LOT OF, UH, POSSIBILITIES WITH, UM, DISCOURAGING LARGE CUSTOMER, UH, COMMERCIAL USERS FROM, UM, OVER WATERING, UM, GRASS AT THEIR FACILITIES WHILE STILL TAKING INTO, INTO ACCOUNT THE IMPACT THAT IT HAS ON ITS TENANTS.

THE TRICKY PART IS THAT A LOT OF THE TENANTS ARE NOT IN CONTROL OF HOW MUCH WATER'S BEING USED TO THOSE COMMERCIAL FACILITIES.

SO WE NEED A POLICY SOLUTION THAT CAN ADDRESS THAT.

SO PLEASE, AS PART OF THE ADOPTION OF THE RATES FOR THE WATER UTILITY RATES, GIVE SOME ADDITIONAL DIRECTION TO STAFF TO LOOK AT IDEAS SUCH AS, UM, A COMMERCIAL IRRIGATION RATE OR WATER BENCHMARKING, UM, EQUIVALENTS THAT COULD, UM, COULD ADDRESS THE SAME ISSUES.

UM, I THINK THAT'S GONNA BE MOSTLY COVERING IT.

I AM SUPPORTIVE OF THE CIB, SO I'M DONATING MY TIME TO KATHY MITCHELL AND I'LL LET HER SPEAK ON THAT.

IN C3 TO FUNCTION EFFECTIVELY AND MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY, WE MUST ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.

HELLO, UM, UH, MAYOR WATSON AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL, UH, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.

MY NAME IS AOKI AND I'M A SOCIAL WORKER AT INTEGRAL CARE AND I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY STRONG SUPPORT, STRONG SUPPORT FOR ALL ITEMS INCLUDED IN THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET, INCLUDING RAPID REHOUSING AND HARM REDUCTION SUPPLIES, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF FUNDING THESE ITEMS OVER GIVING MORE MONEY TO AUSTIN POLICE WHO ALREADY HAVE BENEFIT FROM LOTS OF CITY RESOURCES AND ARE NOT IN NEED OF ANY MORE FUNDING.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK RYAN ALTER FOR PROPOSING THE AMENDMENT FOR THE INTEGRAL CARE CRISIS TEAMS AND VANESSA FUENTES FOR HER SUPPORT.

SO TODAY I WANTED TO SPEAK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE PROPOSAL TO MAKE THE INTEGRAL CARE CRISIS TEAM'S, EM CO AND C3 OPERATIONAL 24 7 AND THE NECESSARY WAGE INCREASES TO MAKE THAT POSSIBLE AND EFFECTIVE, WE'RE ASKING FOR $15,000 YEARLY RAISES FOR DIRECT SERVICE STAFF, WHICH WOULD ADD A MILLION TO THE ORIGINAL 2.4 MILLION AMENDMENT FOR IT TO BE FUNDED ALL YEAR, WHICH WOULD TOTAL 3.4 MILLION TO MAKE THESE CRISIS TEAMS 24 7.

THESE TEAMS PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND COULD SERVE OUR COMMUNITY EVEN BETTER.

THE EXPANDED MOBILE CRISIS OUTREACH TEAM, EM COT PROVIDES IMMEDIATE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS INTERVENTION, OFTEN WORKING ALONGSIDE OTHER, UH, OTHER FIRST RESPONDERS TO OFFER ONSITE ASSESSMENT, CRISIS COUNSELING AND CONNECTIONS TO ONGOING SUPPORT.

THE GOAL OF THESE TEAMS IS TO ENSURE INDIVIDUALS IN CRISIS RECEIVE APPROPRIATE CARE.

HOWEVER, THESE TEAMS ARE NOT ALWAYS ABLE TO RESPOND EVEN WITH THEIR, WHEN THEIR SERVICES ARE THE MOST APPROPRIATE.

SOME OF THIS IS DUE TO THE HOURS OF OPERATION NOT BEING 24 7, BUT MUCH OF IT IS DUE TO UNDER STAFFING.

OVER HALF THE POSITIONS ON THE C3 TEAM REMAIN UNFILLED.

AN EM CUT HAS ONLY BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE A CLINICIAN TO THE EMS COMMUNITY HEALTH PARAMEDICS ONE SHIFT OUT OF THE CONTRACTED TWO SHIFTS PER DAY.

SO HALF OF THE TIME, THE PRIMARY REASON FOR THIS UNDERSTAFFING IS THE LOW WAGES OFFERED TO THESE CRUCIAL TEAM MEMBERS.

SO DUE TO THIS, MANY MENTAL HEALTH CALLS ARE STILL BEING RESPONDED TO BY LAW LAW ENFORCEMENT, WHICH CAN BE UNHELPFUL AND EXTREMELY UNSAFE.

THE PRESENCE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR MANY INDIVIDUALS CAN ES ESCALATE SITUATIONS WITHOUT EVEN ANY WORDS BEING EXCHANGED DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE TRAUMA PEOPLE HAVE WITH POLICE, POLICE OFFICERS ARE ALSO NOT WELL TRAINED IN DEESCALATION AND CAN OFTEN MAKE SITUATIONS MORE STRESSFUL FOR INDI INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH CRISES, WHICH CAN THEN BECOME VERY DANGEROUS.

SUCH AS THE CASE FOR THE PERSON WHO LIVED AT COMMUNITY FIRST VILLAGE HERE IN AUSTIN, WHO HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH MENTAL HEALTH.

SOMEONE WHO KNEW THIS PERSON AND KNEW THEY WERE STRUGGLING, CALLED 9 1 1 OUT OF CONCERN TO REQUEST A WELFARE CHECK.

A POLICE OFFICER RESPONDED TO THE WELFARE CHECK, AND DUE TO WHAT THE OFFICER DEEMED ERRATIC BEHAVIOR, THE POLICE OFFICER SHOT AND KILLED HIM.

THIS PERSON TO BE DESERVED, TO BE HELPED WITH COMPASSION, EMPATHY, AND RESOURCES.

INSTEAD, THEY LOST THEIR LIFE.

I FEEL THAT THE OUTCOME COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH DIFFERENT IF AN EM COP, PEER OR SOCIAL WORKER HAD RESPONDED TO THE SITUATION.

THESE PROVIDERS ARE TRAINED IN DEESCALATION, CAN RECOGNIZE ERRATIC BEHAVIOR AS PART OF A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AND EX, AND HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND HOW TO TREAT SYMPTOMS. ALSO, VERY IMPORTANT IS THEIR LACK OF ACCESS OR PROPENSITY TO USE A WEAPON THAT COULD SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILL SOMEBODY.

IF WE WANT EM CAUGHT

[02:10:01]

HEAD ON.

THE CITY WANTS TO INCREASE THE HOURS OF FUNCTIONALITY FOR THESE TEAMS WITH THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF PROVIDING 24 7 MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE, WHICH IS A GREAT STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

BUT WAGE INCREASES NEED TO BE INCLUDED IN THIS EXPANSION.

OTHERWISE, WE'RE EXPECTING AN ALREADY UNDERSTAFFED OVEREXTENDED TEAMS TO EXTEND THEMSELVES EVEN MORE.

THE MAJORITY OF DIRECT SERVICE STAFF ON THESE TEAMS ARE PEER SUPPORT SPECIALISTS AND BACHELOR LEVEL AND MASTER LEVEL QUALIFIED MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.

BACHELOR'S AND MASTER'S LEVEL CLINICIANS ARE MAKING BETWEEN 45,000 AND 50,000, $55,000 A YEAR.

AND PEER SUPPORT SPECIALISTS WHO PLAY A VITAL ROLE AT INTEGRAL CARE AS A WHOLE AND ON THESE CRISIS TEAMS MAKE $40,000 A YEAR WITH HOW LOW THE WAGES ARE.

WE'RE NOT EVEN ASKING FOR COMPETITIVE WAGE TO FILL THESE POSITIONS, BUT MERELY A LIVING WAGE.

THE COST OF LIVING IN THIS CITY CONTINUES TO RISE, AND THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT CARING FOR THEIR COMMUNITY CANNOT AFFORD TO GET THEIR OWN BASIC NEEDS MET AND CONTINUE DOING THEIR JOB.

THESE LOW WAGES LEAD TO CHRONIC UNDERSTAFFING AND THE TEAM MEMBERS LEFT ARE OVERBURDENED AND MORE LIKELY TO BURN OUT.

THESE VITAL FIRST RESPONDERS DESERVE TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES AND OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES.

ASK A ACCESS TO THESE RESPONDERS.

I URGE YOU TO PRIORITIZE THE PROPOSED WAGE INCREASES WITH THE EXPANSION OF EM, COT AND C3 TEAMS TO 24 7.

THIS INVESTMENT IS NOT JUST ABOUT FAIR COMPENSATION, IT IS ABOUT ENSURING THAT OUR COMMUNITY HAS THE SUPPORT AND NEEDS TO THRIVE.

THANK YOU, BILL BUNCH, MARK WHEELER, KATHY MITCHELL, COLE WEAVER, CHRIS HARRIS, MICHELLE EIGHTS, PATRICK WHITE, ZENOBIA, JOSEPH, SCOTT COBB, KAYLA REESE, TREY SALINAS.

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

SO THAT GIVES US SOME INDICATION THAT YOU'RE HERE.

AND THEN IF THERE'S AN EMPTY MICROPHONE, FEEL FREE TO TAKE, TAKE CHARGE.

UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND UH, AFTERNOON MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

MY NAME IS TRACE LINAS AND I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF THE AUSTIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AS THE VICE CHAIR FOR LOCAL ADVOCACY.

UH, WE'RE HERE TODAY TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE AUSTIN BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS ENCOURAGING YOU TO SUPPORT THE FULL FUNDING TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS AND THE CITY MANAGERS PROPOSED 20 24 20 25 BUDGET.

WE APPRECIATE THE WORK THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE HAS DONE TO SUPPORT OUR PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS, AND WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO, TO DO THE SAME BY SUPPORTING, UH, THE RECOMMENDATIONS OUR POLICE, FIRE AND EMS EMPLOYEES NEED TO BE SUPPORTED AND ADEQUATELY FUNDED TO SERVE AUSTIN AND OUR COMMUNITY.

WE ESPECIALLY, ESPECIALLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET TO ENSURE OUR POLICE OFFICERS ARE SUPPORTED AND HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO KEEP AUSTIN SAFE.

OUR NEW POLICE CHIEF NEEDS THE RESOURCES TO SUCCEED IN HER NEW ROLE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT AND YOUR SUPPORT FOR OUR PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS.

THANK YOU MR. SALINAS.

MS. MITCHELL, KATHY MITCHELL DOES HAVE TIME DONATED BY BOBBY LEVINSKY.

ARE YOU STILL HERE? YEAH.

OH, UH, TOTAL NINE MINUTES.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND THANK YOU ESPECIALLY FOR YOUR EFFORTS IN THE LAST FEW DAYS TO FUND MORE IN THIS BUDGET THAN WAS FUNDED IN THE ORIGINAL DRAFT.

AND I RECOGNIZE ALL OF OUR MEMBERS WHO HAVE TAKEN PART IN IDENTIFYING AND GETTING BACK INTO THIS BUDGET, THE THINGS THAT ARE NOW IN HERE FROM THE CIB.

AND I WILL SAY I'VE BEEN SCRAMBLING A LITTLE BIT WITH THE DRAFT FROM LAST NIGHT AND THEN THE DRAFT FROM THIS MORNING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THOSE THINGS ARE.

UH, BUT I DO SEE THAT YOU GUYS ARE HARD AT WORK TRYING TO COVER THE PRIORITIES THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS BROUGHT YOU.

SO I WANNA START BY SAYING THAT, THEN I WANNA PIVOT A LITTLE TO THE FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT LIST OF UNFUNDED CIB PRIORITIES.

UM, AND I SAY FAIRLY, IT'S A SIGNIFICANT LIST.

UM, ITEMS THAT NEED TO BE FUNDED AT A HIGHER LEVEL ARE FUNDED AT A LOWER LEVEL, AND A LOT OF ITEMS ARE UNFUNDED.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, UH, MANY OF OUR MEMBERS WE'RE INTERESTED IN SEEING NOT JUST A CONTINUATION OF EMERGENCY WEATHER FUNDING, BUT UH, WAYS TO ADDRESS THE HOLES IN WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE HAVE AN WEATHER EMERGENCY IN THIS TOWN.

AND A LOT OF THE WORK THAT IS DONE IS DONE BY COMMUNITY-BASED

[02:15:01]

ORGANIZATIONS THAT DON'T GET FUNDING AT ALL.

PEOPLE ARE BUYING THINGS OUT OF THEIR OWN POCKET.

SO, UM, YOU'VE HAD SOME PROPOSALS TO ADD TO ADD MONEY FOR THOSE ITEMS, UM, AND YOU'VE HAD PROPOSALS TO INCREASE WHAT IS NOW ON THE TABLE.

SO I'M GONNA GO WHERE I KNOW YOU ALL PREDICTABLY EXPECT ME TO BECAUSE I THINK, UM, THERE IS A LOT OF, FRANKLY, I THINK MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE A PD BUDGET, WHERE IT IS AND WHAT IT IS THAT THE CITY MANAGER HAS PUT IN IT.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, UM, WE HAVE COME TO YOU AND SAID A LOT OF THESE THINGS CAN BE PAID FOR WITH ASSET FORFEITURE DOLLARS.

NOW, I UNDERSTAND THE CITY MANAGER IS SAYING THAT WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO READ SPREADSHEETS, BUT THERE IS AN EXPENDITURE SPREADSHEET THAT TELLS US HOW MUCH MONEY HAS BEEN SPENT THIS YEAR FROM THE ASSET FORFEITURE DOLLARS.

THERE ARE FOUR SEPARATE ASSET FORFEITURE FUNDS, AND I DO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE SOME LEGAL RESTRICTIONS.

THEY CANNOT BE SPENT ON STAFF.

THAT'S FINE.

THERE ARE MANY ITEMS ON THIS LIST THAT ARE UNRELATED TO STAFF AND CAN BE LEGALLY PAID FOR FROM ASSET FORFEITURE DOLLARS.

UM, THAT'S AN EXAMPLE.

UH, A NUMBER OF, UH, MANY MILLIONS IN HERE ARE TRANSFER DOLLARS THAT ARE BEING GIVEN AND THEN WILL BE TRANSFERRED OUT AGAIN TO PAY STAFF IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS.

AND YES, ARE THEY SUPPORTING A PD TOO? SURE THEY ARE.

BUT CURRENTLY, AND PREDICTING FORWARD THAT LINE IS UNDERSPENT AT A PD.

SO WE HAVE A PARTICULAR ACCOUNTING PROBLEM WITH THE A PD BUDGET.

IT IS THE ONLY BUDGET THAT CANNOT BE REASSESSED AT ANY FUTURE POINT.

IF WE ARE NOT ACTUALLY SPENDING ALL THE MONEY THAT'S IN A PARTICULAR LINE, WE CAN'T GET THAT MONEY BACK.

NOW, THEY COULD REARRANGE IT WITHIN THE A PD BUDGET.

THAT'S REASONABLE.

AND ACTUALLY THAT'S THE OTHER THING THAT WE'VE BEEN ASKING YOU TO DO.

A PD ALREADY MOVED ROUGHLY 20 STAFF PEOPLE FROM ONE STRATEGY TO A DIFFERENT STRATEGY.

THEY DID THAT AS STAFF BEFORE WE EVEN CAME HERE TODAY.

THERE ARE NEW STAFF POSITIONS THAT COULD BE FUNDED USING THE EXISTING VACANCIES ON THE CIVILIAN OR THE SWORN SIDE AS APPROPRIATE IN ORDER TO FILL THOSE THINGS THAT ARE NOW KIND OF NEWLY URGENT.

AND I WILL GO DIRECTLY TO THE ONE THAT I KNOW THE MOST ABOUT, UH, THE FUNDING FOR KROLL POSITIONS.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THAT.

WE HAVE BEEN FIVE YEARS WAITING FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO REFORM ITS CURRICULUM.

WE HAVE BEEN REALLY PUTTING RESOURCES INTO THAT.

AND THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A REQUIREMENT BY THE CITY FOR NEW MONEY FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT IT BE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE CHANGE THAT THIS CITY HAS BEEN TRYING TO MAKE THERE.

AND I WANNA POINT OUT, IRONICALLY, AS WE ARE STANDING HERE, AS I AM STANDING BEFORE YOU RIGHT NOW, THERE IS A HEARING AT THE COURTHOUSE OVER THE QUESTION, HAS A PD BEEN WITHHOLDING EVIDENCE IN CRIMINAL CASES FROM THE DA AND DEFENSE ATTORNEYS SINCE 2020? I AM GETTING MINUTE TO MINUTE UPDATES FROM THAT HEARING BECAUSE THIS IS HUGE.

NOW, MAYBE IT'S NOT AS HUGE AS IT SOUNDED FROM THE HEADLINES.

I DON'T KNOW.

WE HAVE A LOT STILL TO LEARN.

BUT WHAT IT SHOWS US IS THAT A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY, A LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY, AND A SHROUD OF SECRECY AROUND THE, THE DOCUMENTS THAT A PD COLLECTS HAS NOT GOTTEN US ANY BETTER.

WE DON'T APPEAR TO BE BETTER.

WE ARE GIVING THEM MORE.

AND GOING BACK TO KIND OF WHERE ALL THIS STARTED, THIS WAS NOT ABOUT CUTTING AND IS NOT NOW ABOUT CUTTING SWORN POSITIONS.

EVEN BACK IN THE DAY WHEN YOU ALL VERY BRAVELY DECIDED TO PUT A HALT TO A CADET CLASS, YOU DID THAT BECAUSE AFTER TWO YEARS OF TRYING AND DIRECTIVES AND BEING VERY SPECIFIC AND TRYING TO GET A PD TO CHANGE ITS CURRICULUM, THEY SIMPLY HADN'T.

THE CHIEF THEN HAD DUG HIS HEELS IN THERE HAD BEEN

[02:20:01]

NOTHING DONE.

AND SO YOU SAID, OKAY, WELL THE ONLY THING YOU CARE ABOUT IS THIS CADET CLASS, SO WE'RE GONNA SEE IF THIS WILL GET IT DONE.

AND BY GOD, BEFORE YOU EVEN VOTED, A PROCESS WAS PUT IN PLACE TO START CHANGING THE CURRICULUM.

AND THEN OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND, IT DIDN'T REALLY GET CHANGED.

SO WE HAVE A DEPARTMENT THAT HAS SOME INTRACTABLE CULTURE PROBLEMS. IT HAS SUCH DEEP CULTURE PROBLEMS THAT WE AREN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO SOLVE THE STAFFING PROBLEM.

TWO DAYS AGO I RECEIVED DETAILED STAFFING INFORMATION FROM A PD EVERY SEPARATION AND EVERY VACANCY.

I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO DO THE FULL ANALYSIS THAT I WILL DO AND BRING TO YOU, I PROMISE.

BUT TOP LINE, IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WE HAVE IS ATTRITION FROM THE POLICE ACADEMY AND FOLLOWED BY ATTRITION FROM THOSE FIRST YEARS.

IF YOU INCLUDE THE ATTRITION FROM OFFICERS WHO GRADUATE SUCCESSFULLY FROM OUR POLICE ACADEMY AND DON'T MAKE IT THROUGH THEIR FIRST YEAR BEFORE THEY QUIT, THE ATTRITION IS INSUPPORTABLE.

THAT WAS WHY WE NEEDED TO FIX THE POLICE ACADEMY BACK THEN.

IT WAS ALWAYS ABOUT THE ATTRITION.

SO ALL THESE FOLKS WHO ARE HERE TO SUPPORT THE POLICE, THAT'S FINE, BUT THEY'RE NOT GONNA GET ONE MORE BOOT ON THE GROUND AND THINGS ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SLIDE IF WE DON'T ACTUALLY HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR THAT CURRICULUM REFORM.

AND FRANKLY, FOR FIXING OTHER ASPECTS OF THE A PD CULTURAL PROBLEM, LIKE HIDING EVIDENCE IN CRIMINAL TRIALS WHERE A PERSON'S LIFE IS AT STAKE.

WE HAVE DEEP PROBLEMS IN THIS DEPARTMENT.

I LOOKED AT THE CIVILIAN STAFFING.

WE HAVE 150 SEPARATIONS IN THE PAST TWO, TWO YEARS FROM THE CIVILIAN SIDE.

AND OF THOSE AN INCREDIBLE 60 WERE FROM PEOPLE WHO TOOK A JOB AT A PD AND LEFT ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.

TWO MONTHS SERVICE, FOUR MONTHS SERVICE, FIVE MONTHS SERVICE.

THIS IS PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING TO A PD, THEY'RE HITTING A WALLACE TO THE CULTURE, AND THEY'RE LEAVING AGAIN.

THANK YOU MS. MITCHELL.

PLEASE USE THE MONEY WHERE IT WILL BE MORE EFFECTIVE.

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

COME AHEAD.

IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, FEEL I'M, I'M INVITING YOU UP AND PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME, STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.

MY NAME IS COLE WEAVER.

I'M A NON-RESIDENT, BUT I'M ALSO AN EMPLOYEE ATLE CARE, AND I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET.

UM, I WANT TO PIGGYBACK ON WHAT MY COWORKER LOKI WAS SAYING ABOUT, UM, OUR CRISIS SERVICES AND EXPANDING THAT, THE WAGES FOR THOSE SERVICES.

UM, I ALSO WANNA PIGGYBACK ON EVERYTHING THAT VOCAL TEXAS HAS SAID ABOUT HOUSING AND, UH, SOCIAL SERVICES.

UM, I'M IN SUPPORT OF ALL OF THAT.

UM, WHAT I WANNA SPEAK FOR MYSELF IS FROM A PERSPECTIVE, I'M A, I'M A PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST AND I WANNA SPEAK AS ALSO AS AN AUTISTIC PERSON WHO HAS EXPERIENCE WITH BEING IN CRISIS AND HAVING POLICE RESPOND.

AND I'D SAY THERE, HONESTLY, I'VE BEEN SPARED A A LOT BY, AT LEAST IN WHERE I LIVE IN CEDAR PARK, WHERE SOME OF THE POLICE WERE AT LEAST, I GUESS KIND ENOUGH TO NOT LIKE, USE LETHAL FORCE WHEN I WAS IN WHAT, I GUESS WHAT THE AUTISTIC COMMUNITY REFERS TO AS MELTDOWNS.

UM, WHICH IS A ALSO A FORM OF ERRATIC BEHAVIOR.

UM, BUT THERE, I HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED INSTITU INSTITU INSTITUTIONALIZATION BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT POLICING WAS, WAS THE POLICE SHERIFF AT LEAST HANDLED THE, UM, THE CRISIS EPISODE THAT I HAD BACK IN THE DAY.

AND

[02:25:01]

I KNOW THAT FOR PEOPLE IN AUSTIN AND ELSEWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES AND FOR PEOPLE, FOR AUTISTIC PEOPLE THAT ARE, HAVE MUCH HIGHER NEEDS THAN I DO, THAT THEY'RE NOT ALWAYS MET WITH THAT MERCY OR EVEN THE FORTUNE TO GET HELP OR TO GET HELP FROM A CRISIS TEAM LIKE WITH SOCIAL WORKERS OR EVEN A PEER.

UM, A LOT OF THEM, LIKE THERE'S MANY STORIES WHERE THEY'RE EITHER ACTUALLY KILLED OR THEY'RE CHARGED WITH, UH, LEGAL OFFENSES AND THEY ARE, THEY HAD TO BE PUT IN JAIL OR ON EXTENSIVE PROBATION BECAUSE THEY WERE SIMPLY MISUNDERSTOOD AND OR MAYBE THE, THERE WERE SITUATIONS WHERE THEY WERE RESPONDED BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, MOST PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND AUTISM OR AUTISTIC PEOPLE AND HOW CERTAIN THINGS CAN SET THEM OFF SENSORY WISE OR EMOTIONAL WISE.

AND THAT'S WHY I'M IN SUPPORT OF SPECIFICALLY, AGAIN, WITH THE EXPENDING OF EMCO MCO AND MAKING SURE THAT THERE IS THAT ALTERNATIVE FIRST RESPONSE INSTEAD OF BEING MET WITH A PD.

AND I, I WOULD HOPE THAT LONG TERM WISE, THAT THERE ARE MORE ALTERNATIVE RESPONSES, ESPECIALLY PURE RUN AND NOT JUST IN AUSTIN, BUT YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

AND THEN EVENTUALLY, HOPEFULLY THE REST OF THE UNITED STATES WILL ADOPT ALTERNATIVE FIRST RESPONSE.

UM, THANK YOU.

HELLO, MY NAME'S SCOTT COBB AND, UH, TON SPRINGS LIFEGUARDS HAVE A GROUP CHAT.

AND LAST WEEK WE WERE VERY RILED UP BECAUSE WE SAW THE ENTRY FEES WERE GOING TO BE RAISED BECAUSE EVERY DAY WE SEE PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE COME TO THE POOL.

SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE WOULD'VE SEEN THEIR, UH, COSTS DOUBLED.

A FAMILY OF WITH TWO KIDS WOULD'VE GONE 14 TO 28.

SO I POSTED LAST WEEK ON TWITTER THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN TAKE SOME MONEY FROM THE GOLF FUND AND USE IT TO ELIMINATE THESE FEES.

SO I'M GLAD THAT'S HOPEFULLY GONNA PASS TODAY.

UM, I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO AGREED TO SPEAK FROM THE LIFEGUARDS BECAUSE WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT IT, THEY SAID, I'M NOT GONNA SPEAK BECAUSE I'D SEE WHAT HAPPENED WHEN PEOPLE LIFEGUARDS SPEAK TO THE CITY COUNCIL, THEY GET RETALIATED AGAINST.

I KNOW ABOUT EIGHT OF THEM WHO'VE SPOKEN HERE, AND ABOUT FIVE OF THEM HAVE BEEN FIRED OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

SO THERE ARE TWO THINGS I WANNA SUGGEST.

NUMBER ONE, CREATE A SYSTEM WHERE TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES HAVE ACCESS TO AN APPEALS PROCESS SO THAT THEY CANNOT BE FIRED AT WILL.

YOU MAY OR MAY NOT AGREE WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS POLICY ALLOWING PEOPLE TO BE FIRED AT WILL.

CITY OF AUSTIN DOES NOT AGREE WITH THAT.

THAT'S WHY THEY HAVE A MUNICIPAL CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, BUT WE ARE NOT ALLOWED ACCESS TO THAT, SO WE GET FIRED.

CALLED INTO THE OFFICE.

THIS YOUR LAST DAY.

BYE-BYE.

NO APPEAL.

NOW THERE ARE TWO, THERE'S ONE WAY YOU COULD DO THIS.

TWO YEARS AGO I SPOKE ABOUT THE NEED FOR DENTAL INSURANCE AT THE LAST DAY OF THE BUDGET HEARING.

AND BY THE END OF THAT MEETING THERE WAS A, SOME TWO OF Y'ALL HAD WRITTEN A WRITER THAT SAID, DIRECTED THE CITY MANAGER TO IMPLEMENT A PLAN FOR DENTAL INSURANCE.

YOU CAN DO THAT VERY SAME THING TONIGHT.

YOU CAN WRITE A WRITER THAT SAYS, DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO FIND A WAY TO, UH, IMPLEMENT A PLAN FOR TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES TO HAVE ACCESS TO, UH, A SYSTEM WHERE THEY HAVE AN APPEALS PROCESS.

THE OTHER THING YOU CAN DO IS ASK PASS A WRITER THAT SAYS, THE CITY MANAGER SHOULD LOOK INTO WHAT WOULD BE THE COST OF ADOPTING A POLICY, PROVIDING TRAINING EACH YEAR THAT PROTECTS LIFEGUARDS FROM SEXUAL EXPLOITATION BY MANAGERS AND SUPERVISORS, INCLUDING ADOPTING A POLICY THAT DEFINES CONSENT.

YOU SHOULD SAY THE CITY OF AUSTINS SHOULD CHANGE ITS POLICY AND INCLUDE THE CONCEPT OF CONSENT IN THE PERSONNEL MANUAL.

IT SHOULD ALSO SPECIFICALLY INCLUDE A POLICY THAT INCLUDES A DEFINED SEXUAL EXPLOITATION, PARTICULARLY AS IT RELATES TO MANAGERS AND SUPERVISORS AND TEENAGE LIFEGUARDS.

YOU CAN DO THAT TONIGHT.

YOU CAN DRAFT A, A WRITER DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER.

HE CAN IMPLEMENT THAT WITHIN MONTHS.

NEXT SUMMARY.

YOU SEE THOSE 15, 16 YEAR OLDS THERE COME TO BE A LIFEGUARD.

YOU NEED TO PROTECT THEM.

IDEA THAT THIS 18.2 OR WHATEVER IT IS, MINUS THOSE FOUR AIRPORT POSITIONS, THAT MONEY CAN NEVER BE SPENT ON ANYTHING ELSE UNTIL, OR UNLESS THAT BUILDING DOWN THE STREET CHANGES VERY SIGNIFICANTLY EVER AGAIN.

CHRIS HARRIS HAS TIME DONATED BY KATE MCCARDLE.

ARE YOU HERE? KATE MCCARDLE.

KATE MCCARDLE.

[02:30:02]

OKAY THEN SIX MINUTES.

ALRIGHT, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, CITY MANAGER, COUNSEL.

UH, MY NAME IS CHRIS HARRIS.

I'M HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF EQUITY ACTION.

UM, I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE.

UM, FIRSTLY I WANNA START OFF BY, UH, THANKING, UM, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, UH, PARTICULARLY, UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS, FUENTES VELAZQUEZ, CADRE VELA AND ALTER, UH, FOR YOUR WORK IN, UH, PUSHING FORWARD AS MANY COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET PRIORITIES AS YOU HAVE.

UM, AND WE, WE SEE, UH, HOW MANY OF THESE HAVE BEEN ADDED TO, UH, THE BUDGET, PARTICULARLY SINCE THE INITIAL BASELINE.

UH, AND WE VERY, VERY MUCH, UM, UH, APPRECIATE THAT AND, UM, IN ALL OF YOUR EFFORTS TO SAVE THEM, UH, AS CITY STAFF, BUDGET STAFF HAS, UH, PICKED COMBED THROUGH, UH, YOUR AMENDMENTS AND TOLD YOU WHICH ONES YOU CAN DO.

UH, UM, I, I WANT TO SAY NEXT THAT WE, WE REJECT THAT, UH, AND YOU SHOULD TOO.

UH, CITY BUDGET STAFF HAVE NO CONSTITUENCY.

WE HAVE, THEY HAVE AN AGENDA, BUT WE HAVE NO IDEA WHO THEY ANSWER TO AND FOR WHAT REASON.

AND THE AMENDMENTS THEY'VE PICKED AND CHOSEN FOR YOU, UH, TO BE YOUR FINAL BASELINE.

UH, WE, WE REJECT AND I KNOW IT'S THE EASY PATH TO WORK FROM THAT, UH, TO USE THAT AS THE, AS THE STARTING POINT FOR TODAY'S CONVERSATIONS AND FOR THE CONVERSATIONS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT OCCUR OVER THE NEXT TWO DAYS.

UH, BUT, BUT IF YOU ALLOW THEM TO PICK AND CHOOSE, UM, THEN ULTIMATELY WHILE, YOU KNOW, WE SEE THEIR AGENDA, WE SEE WHAT THEY PICK AND CHOOSE, UH, AND, AND WE UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT TRANSLATES TO, ULTIMATELY IT COMES BACK TO YOU FOR HAVING ALLOWED THEM TO DO IT, FOR HAVING A, UH, ALLOWED THEM TO CREATE THE STARTING POINT FOR YOU.

AND, UM, ULTIMATELY, YOU, YOU ARE THE ONES WHO FACE ELECTION.

YOU'RE THE ONES WITH CONSTITUENCIES AND THE, AND THE PEOPLE, UH, WHO ARE COMING FORWARD AND CALLING ARE THE PEOPLE THAT YOU HAVE TO ANSWER TO, NOT TO THE BUDGET STAFF.

AND WE REALLY, REALLY WANNA REITERATE THAT BECAUSE THEY DO NOT REPRESENT COMMUNITY.

THEY DO NOT REPRESENT ANY CONSTITUENCY IN THIS COMMUNITY.

NEXT THING I WANNA SAY IS, UM, WE, AGAIN, WHILE WE ARE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGETS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE, WE SEE THE, THE VAST PROGRESS.

UM, AND I PARTICULARLY WANT TO, UM, UH, RELAY OUR GRATITUDE AS IT RELATES TO EXPANSION TO OF THE, UH, MENTAL HEALTH FIRST RESPONSE SYSTEM.

UH, THANK YOU, UH, COUNCILMAN ALTER FOR, UH, FOR, FOR THAT WORK, UH, AS WELL AS OTHER COUNCILMAN ALTER FOR ALL OF YOUR EFFORTS OVER THE YEARS IN PROMOTING THAT ALTERNATIVE OPTION.

UM, WE ALSO, UH, UH, SEE THAT THIS IS A HALF A YEAR WORTH OF ONE-TIME FUNDS NOW, UH, BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE CHOICES THAT CITY STAFF HAS MADE AND, AND THAT YOU ALL ARE CHOOSING TO, TO USE AS YOUR STARTING POINT FOR TODAY.

UM, THIS IS INSUFFICIENT.

UH, HOW DO PEOPLE, HOW, HOW DOES AN ORGANIZATION HIRE PEOPLE IN NUMBERS TO PROVIDE A SERVICE 24 7, UM, WHEN YOU ARE ONLY GIVING THEM FUNDS FOR A SINGLE YEAR? AND TO BE, TO BE FRANK, INTEGRAL CARE HAS HAD ISSUE FULFILLING THE DUTIES THAT THEY ALREADY HAVE UNDERNEATH YOUR EXISTING ARRANGEMENT WITH THEM, UH, ASKING THEM TO USE ONE TIME FUNDS TO HIRE A LOT MORE PEOPLE, UM, WHICH THEY'LL NEED TO DO TO PROVIDE THIS SERVICE 24 7 SO THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN FULFILLS ITS PROMISE TO PROVIDE A MENTAL HEALTH OPTION AT 9 1 1, WHICH IT IS CURRENTLY NOT DOING FOR A MULTITUDE OF HOURS EVERY SINGLE DAY, UM, IS GONNA BE VERY DIFFICULT.

I LASTLY WANNA SAY OBVIOUSLY THAT WE ARE, WE, WE SEE THAT ALL OF THESE INITIATIVES, ALL OF THE ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS, THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN CUT, THINGS HAVE BEEN CONVERTED FROM, FROM ONGOING FUNDS TO ONE TIME COULD EASILY BE FUNDED OUT OF THE INCREASE TO THE POLICE BUDGET.

UH, WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR YOU TO NOT FUND ANY OF THE THINGS REQUESTED IN IN THIS INCREASE.

WE'RE ASKING YOU TO FIND THE MONEY IN THE BUDGET THAT ALREADY EXISTS.

A BUDGET THAT WE KNOW IS BLOATED, WHICH WE KNOW THEY'RE NOT EVEN SPENDING ALL OF, UH, AS OF THE BUDGET DOCUMENTS, THEY'RE, THEY'VE PUT OUT ONLINE, UM, WE KNOW THAT YOU ALL HAVE COMMITTED TO, TO PAYMENTS FOR THINGS LIKE REACHING AGREEMENT IN JULY.

THAT AGREEMENT WAS NOT REACHED.

WHERE ARE THOSE DOLLARS? UM, THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY THE CIVIL ASSET FORFEITURE FUND.

THERE ARE 371 EMPTY CHAIRS, CHAIRS WHICH CONTINUE TO CARRY OVER AND OVER.

UM, AND, AND SO IT'S, UM, EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTING TO NOT SEE WORK REALLY BEING MADE OUTSIDE OF THE FOUR AIRPORT POSITIONS, UH, TO, TO FUND COMMUNITY INITIATIVES AND, AND NOT JUST BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO SEE THE POLICE BUDGET FUNDED AGAIN, WE'RE NOT OPPOSING ANY OF THE PARTICULAR THINGS THAT ARE IN THIS INCREASE OR OPPOSING IS THE

[02:35:01]

AND WHAT WE SEE IS, IS NOT ONLY THE LOSS, THE OPPORTUNITY COST OF THAT, BUT ALSO THIS CITY, THIS COUNCIL FALLING INTO THE TRAP THAT STATE LEADERS SET FOR YOU THREE AND A HALF PERCENT CAPS ON REVENUE AND A POLICE BUDGET THAT CAN NEVER COME DOWN.

AND YET YOU CONTINUE TO RATCHET UP.

AND SO YOU FIND YOURSELF FALLING INTO THIS TRAP.

AND WHAT IS THE TRAP FOR? IT'S SO THAT THIS CITY AND THE OTHER CITIES IN THIS, IN THIS STATE CANNOT PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT YOUR CONSTITUENTS EXPECT AND SO THAT THEY LOSE FAITH IN YOU AND THE VALUES THAT YOU REPRESENT BECAUSE THEY SEE A CITY NOT MEETING THE NEEDS OF ITS PEOPLE ONLY ANSWERING EVERYTHING WITH MORE AND MORE POLICE.

AND OBVIOUSLY WE'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THIS MEANS FOR THE MUCH BIGGER FIGHT THAT THAT IS COMING RIGHT TO THIS, TO THIS, TO THIS CHAMBER, UH, HERE VERY SOON.

THANK YOU MR. HARRIS.

HELLO MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

UM, I'M KAYLA REESE.

I'M THE ADVOCACY MANAGER WITH AUSTIN PARK FOUNDATION AND I AM JUST HERE TO, UM, URGE YOU TO SUPPORT A COUPLE BUDGET AMENDMENTS, UM, TO IMPROVE THE PARKS AND RECREATION FUNDING, UM, CRUCIAL FUNDING THAT'S NEEDED.

I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS AND ALLISON ALTER AND RYAN ALTER FOR ALL THAT Y'ALL HAVE DONE FOR THE BUDGET AMENDMENTS TO SUPPORT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET.

UM, I WOULD ASK THAT YOU SUPPORT, UM, ALLISON ALTER AND ELLIS ONE BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR THE 16 PARK POSITIONS.

THIS IS NOT, THIS IS TO GET US WHERE WE ARE.

THIS IS NOT AN IMPROVEMENT IN SERVICE.

THIS IS TO KEEP THE SERVICE THAT'S EXPECTED AND TO PREVENT SEEING DECREASING QUALITY IN OUR PARKS.

UM, IF WE DON'T GET A HANDLE ON THE HISTORIC UNDERFUNDING OF THE PARKS DEPARTMENT'S MAINTENANCE, WE'LL BE IN THE WORST POSITION IN THE FUTURE.

SO NOW'S THE TIME TO REALLY START THIS.

ADDITIONALLY, WE ASK THAT YOU SUPPORT, UH, RYAN ALTERS NUMBER FOUR FOR HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT RESPONSE TEAM AND RYAN ALTERS AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO FOR PARK AND NATURAL AREAS LAND ACQUISITION.

THE DEMAND FOR PARK MAINTENANCE HAS INCREASED DUE TO THE GROWING POPULATION AND IN THE INCREASE IN THE USE OF PARK FACILITIES, NECESSITATING ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ACROSS THE CITY TO ENSURE THOSE SPACES ARE SAFE, CLEAN, AND ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL RESIDENTS.

PLEASE SUPPORT THESE CRUCIAL AMENDMENTS TO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET.

AND OUR YOUNG PERSONS THAT HAVE BEEN TOUTED TO NO END FOR THE PAST 13 YEARS OF THEIR SCHOOLING, FOR THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN SPORTS HERE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN IN OUR SCHOOLS.

BILL BRYCE, RUDY GARZA.

PAMELA MADERE.

IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, FEEL FREE TO COME TO THE MICROPHONE.

JUST STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

HELLO MAYOR WATSON AND DISTINGUISHED COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS MICHELLE EIGHTS.

I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE AS WELL AS AN EMS PROFESSIONAL HERE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

I CAME TODAY TO TALK TO YOU VERY BRIEFLY ABOUT A PROGRAM THAT I STARTED.

TWA CARES.

THE T THE W AND THE A IS VERY INDIGENOUS TO AUSTIN.

THOSE ARE THE INITIALS OF MY FATHER THOMAS WEBSTER EIGHTS.

HE WAS HAND SELECTED BY OLD ANDERSON TO SUCCESSFULLY INTEGRATE AUSTIN HIGH THAT HE DID.

BUT IN DOING SO, IT WAS IN RESPONSE TO A SOCIAL PROBLEM.

THAT SOCIAL PROBLEM THAT HAD BEEN IDENTIFIED WAS THAT WOULD IT WORK AND WHAT RESOURCES WERE NEEDED TO MAKE SURE THAT HE AS WELL AS THE OTHERS HAND SELECTED WERE SUCCESSFUL.

DURING HIS TIME THERE, HE WASN'T AN ATHLETE, HE WAS A BRAINIAC AND HE WAS A DARN GOOD DEBATER AND THEY SUPPORTED HIM TO NO END.

THIS CITY SUPPORTED HIM TO NO END, SUCH THAT OUR SCHOOLS NOW ARE INTEGRATED.

OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO HAVE SOME SUCCESS.

OUR YOUNG MEN ARE ABLE TO HAVE SUCCESS REGARDLESS OF COLOR.

HOWEVER, TODAY WE DO HAVE A NEW SOCIAL PROBLEM HERE IN AUSTIN.

THAT SOCIAL PROBLEM EXISTS SURROUNDING THOSE STUDENTS THAT FALL BETWEEN THE AGES OF 17 TO 22 WITH THOSE YOUNG STUDENTS, MEN AND YOUNG WOMEN.

WE HAVE FOUND, AND THE STATISTICS ARE OUT THERE, THAT SINCE 2017 THERE HAS BEEN A DOWNWARD TREND IN THEIR SUCCESS PAST THE FIRST YEAR OF COLLEGE.

SPECIFICALLY YOUNG PEOPLE OF COLOR

[02:40:01]

THOSE STUDENTS THAT WEREN'T SELECTED TO PLAY, SOME OF THOSE STUDENTS THAT DIDN'T HAVE SUPPORT AND ARE NOW EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WITH THEIR FAMILIES.

TWA CARES SUPPORTS.

WE DON'T HAVE GRANT FUNDING.

IT'S MYSELF AND MY SALARY AND A COUPLE OF OTHERS.

WE FUND THEM OUT OF OUR POCKETS.

WE'VE DONE SO FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS.

I HAVE ONE STUDENT DOESN'T PLAY A DIME OF SPORTS AND PROBABLY IS TWO LEFT FEET AND THAT'S QUITE ALL RIGHT.

BUT HE IS THE MOST LOVING PERSON I KNOW LOOKED UP.

HE WAS AT ONE OF OUR FOUR YEAR INSTITUTIONS.

HIS MOM WAS HOMELESS, HE WAS IN A DORM.

HE DIDN'T HAVE THE WRAPAROUND RESOURCES THAT A YOUNG MAN WHOSE FAMILY'S EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS NEEDS.

HE WAS TOLD HE WAS AN ADULT.

ALL OF US KNOW FROM WHEN WE WERE IN THAT AGE GROUP, ALL OF US KNOW THAT HAVE CHILDREN IN THAT AGE GROUP.

THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE STILL KIDS, THEIR YOUTH.

THEY'RE JUST OLD ENOUGH TO GO TO AN ADULT JAIL WHEN THEY MESS UP AND TOO YOUNG TO GET A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER THINGS.

BUT THEY CAN VOTE.

THEY NEED OUR SUPPORT.

TWA CARES AIMS TO SUPPORT THEM.

WE SUPPORTED THAT YOUNG MAN TO WHERE HE IS NOW HOUSED.

WE GOT HIM AND HIS FAMILY RECONNECTED WITH THEIR FAMILY SUCH THAT HE'S NOW HOUSED AND HE'S MADE IT NOW PAST HIS SECOND YEAR OF COLLEGE AND HAS HIS ASSOCIATE DEGREE AND IS HOPING TO GO FOR HIS BACHELOR'S.

I'VE GOT FOLKS YES THAT PLAY SPORTS.

I'VE GOT ONE YOUNG MAN AND THE ONLY WAY YOU COULD GET HIM TO GO TO SCHOOL, HE WANTED HIS DEGREE, BUT HE DIDN'T HAVE MUCH FAMILY AT HOME.

SO THE ONLY WAY HE WOULD GO TO SCHOOL IS 'CAUSE HE COULD PLAY SPORTS.

SO YOU KNOW WHAT WE DID? WE STUPID.

WE FORMED A SPORTS TEAM AROUND THEM.

I GOT NEWS FOR YOU.

THEY PLAYED A WHOLE YEAR LAST YEAR OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL.

THE TWA BATTLECAT.

I PAID FOR EVERY DOWN TO TRAVEL, EVERY UNIFORM, EVERY HELMET, EVERY SHOULDER PAD.

WE'VE SUPPORTED OVER 200 YOUNG PEOPLE.

WE PUT UP A FLASH MOB AT A CC EASTVIEW LAST YEAR AND JUST SHOWED UP WITH 40 PEOPLE IN THE LOBBY.

CAN YOU REGISTER 'EM FOR SCHOOL? THEY WANNA GO TO SCHOOL.

I HAVE STUDENTS THAT GO TO HOUSTON TILLISON.

I'VE GOT A YOUNG MAN THAT GOES TO CONCORDIA AND ONE THAT GOES TO UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, BUT THEY WANNA BE SUCCESSFUL PAST THEIR FIRST YEAR AND THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S CERTAIN SUPPORTS THEY NEED SUCH AS TUTORING.

SOME OF THEM NEED FOOD, SOME CAN'T AFFORD TO STAY IN THE DORM 'CAUSE MOM MAKES TOO MUCH, BUT STILL A LITTLE BIT TOO LITTLE.

AND THAT'S WHERE WE COME IN BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN THE VILLAGE.

THAT'S WHAT I GREW UP WITH, THE VILLAGE.

I'M ASKING THE VILLAGE TO SUPPORT TWA CARES IN THE AMOUNT OF $30,000.

THANK YOU MA'AM, TO BE ADDED TO THE BUDGET.

THANK YOU MAYOR WATSON FOR YOUR TIME.

AREA TO A 12 HOUR A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK PROGRAM FOR THE ENTIRE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

I'M BILL BRYCE, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT WITH DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE.

I'M HERE TO REQUEST YOUR SUPPORT TO FUND CRITICAL SYSTEMS NEEDED TO MORE EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS AND PUBLIC SAFETY.

AN EFFECTIVE HOMELESS SYSTEM MUST CON INCLUDE A CONTINUUM OF OUTREACH, INTERVENTION SERVICES AND HOUSING.

BUT WITH AN ESTIMATED 5,000 PEOPLE LIVING UNSHELTERED IN AUSTIN, THERE'S ONLY $500,000 IN THE CITY BUDGET FOR CITYWIDE OUTREACH.

A JULY COUNT OF UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS IN THE DOWNTOWN PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, A ROUGHLY 1.1 SQUARE MILE WITHIN THE LARGER CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT SHOWED AN ESTIMATED 400 PEOPLE LIVING UNSHELTERED.

THIS REPORT WAS SENT TO COUNCIL OFFICES EARLIER THIS WEEK AND SHOWED THAT NUMBER HAS INCREASED 18% FROM JANUARY.

WE SUPPORT THE CADRE AMENDMENT TO EXPAND THE SUCCESSFUL HEART OUTREACH PILOT FROM AN EIGHT HOUR A DAY, FIVE DAY A WEEK PROGRAM COVERING A SMALL DOWNTOWN GEOGRAPHIC

[02:45:01]

THIS AREA HAS THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATION OF SHELTER AND SERVICES AND PEOPLE LIVING UNSHELTERED.

EFFECTIVE OUTREACH GETS PEOPLE ON A FASTER TRACK TO RESOLVING THEIR HOMELESSNESS, PREVENTING MONEY FROM BECOMING CHRONICALLY HOMELESS.

A POINT AT WHICH PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, OUR MOST COSTLY INTERVENTION IS NEEDED.

WE SUPPORT THE MAYOR'S AMENDMENT TO INCREASE SHELTER FUNDING.

THIS IS A CRITICAL NEED WITH THE CLOSING OF THE MARSHALING YARD NEXT MARCH, AND TO ENABLE EARLY AND SAFE ACCESS TO HOUSING AND RESOURCES.

AND WE SUPPORT THE MAYOR'S AMENDMENT TO FUND PSH SERVICES TO SERVE THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND MOVE PEOPLE THROUGH THE SYSTEM.

IMPROVING.

IMPROVING PUBLIC SAFETY REQUIRES AN EFFECTIVE SYSTEM THAT INCLUDES MORE THAN POLICE SERVICES.

IN ADDITION TO SUPPORTING THE PROPOSED BUDGET INCREASE FOR A PD, WE SUPPORT COUNCIL MEMBER OF A'S AMENDMENT TO SUSTAIN THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO FUND THE SOBERING CENTER OPERATIONS.

THE SOBERING CENTER HAS PROVEN TO BE A BETTER PLACE THAN JAIL FOR PEOPLE TO SOBER UP AND SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES THE AMOUNT OF TIME POLICE WOULD SPEND BOOKING INTOXICANTS INTO JAIL OR TAKING THEM TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM.

WE SUPPORT THE MAYOR'S MOBILE EMS AMENDMENT TO HAVE RESOURCES AT THE READY IN OUR BUSY ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT.

THIS WILL ENABLE EMTS TO QUICKLY ADDRESS MEDICAL EMERGENCIES IN THE CROWDED NIGHTLIFE DISTRICT THAT CURRENTLY RESULT IN 9 1 1 CALLS AND POLICE FIRE AND EMS RESPONSE WHEN EMERGENCY RESPONDERS OUR BUSIEST.

AND FINALLY, WE ASK THAT YOU SUSTAIN THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT THE MENTAL HEALTH DIVERSION PILOT.

THIS WILL PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE RESOURCES TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES, OPTIONS WE DON'T HAVE TODAY TO REDUCE REPEAT OFFENDING BEHAVIOR AND IMPROVE CLIENT OUTCOMES.

WE APPRECIATE THE TIME AND THOUGHT THAT ALL OF YOU HAVE PUT INTO THIS BUDGET PROCESS AND WE ASK THAT YOU SUPPORT THESE IMPORTANT AMENDMENTS TO IMPROVE OUR HOMELESSNESS AND PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEMS. THANK YOU.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR COUNCIL.

I'M RUDY GARZA, THE CHAIR FOR THE GREATER AUSTIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AND I'M HERE SPEAKING ON THEIR BEHALF.

THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE REPRESENTS A LITTLE OVER 1800 MEMBERS, UH, MADE UP OF APPROXIMATELY 3,500 TO 4,000 EMPLOYEES THAT LIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY.

UH, WE SENT YOU EARLIER THIS YEAR OUR PRIORITIES AND OUR KEY INTERESTS FOR THIS BUDGET.

WE ALSO PROVIDED YOU OUR PUBLIC SAFETY RESOLUTION.

UM, ONE OF THE KEY ISSUES FOR US WAS A RESPONSIBLE BUDGET, AND WE APPRECIATE THE CITY MANAGER'S APPROACH TO THIS BUDGET.

WE KNOW IT'S DIFFICULT AND LIMITED RESOURCES.

WE DO BELIEVE THE CITY MANAGER'S PROPOSED BUDGET MEETS THOSE NEEDS AND WE FULLY SUPPORT IT.

AND WE ASK YOU TO ALSO SUPPORT THE CITY MANAGER'S BUDGET, UH, RELATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

AS WE SAID IN OUR POLICY STATEMENT THAT WE UH, WE DO LIKE TO SEE, WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE, UH, UH, FUNDING FOR FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.

WE RECOGNIZE THAT IN THE POLICE BUDGET THERE IS NO NEW, NO NEW POSITIONS, NO NEW PROGRAMS, NO EXPANDED PROGRAMS, UM, BUT WE UNDERSTAND WHERE WE'RE AT.

SO WE DO SUPPORT THE POLICE BUDGET, UH, AND WE ASK YOU TO ALSO SUPPORT, UH, WHAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED BY THE CITY MANAGER.

AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

PAM MADE I'VE LIVED ALL OVER AUSTIN OVER THE LAST 50 YEARS.

UM, IT IS THE DUTY OF A CITY TO PROVIDE PUBLIC SAFETY TO ITS RESIDENTS AND I APPRECIATE THE WELL-ROUNDED PUBLIC SAFETY BUDGET ITEM THAT, UM, HAS BEEN BROUGHT FORWARD FOR THE COMMUNITY.

I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT IT INCLUDES, UM, IT IS SO BROAD.

IT INCLUDES DIFFERENT TYPES OF ITEMS SUCH AS $3.8 MILLION FOR AN INCREASE IN SWORN IN CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES AND HEALTH INSURANCE.

$1.7 MILLION FOR A 4% PAY RAISE FOR CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES AND $350,000 FOR ADDITIONAL FEES RELATED TO THE TRAINING ACADEMY.

I REQUEST THAT, UH, THIS COUNCIL CONSIDER LEAVING THE BUDGET AS IS AND NOT REDUCE THAT BUDGET.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

FIRST RESPONDERS ARE ADEQUATELY FUNDED AND HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO KEEP AUSTIN SAFE AND CON AND CONTINUE TO DO THE JOB THAT THEY DO.

CORBY JASTROW, ROBERT CLARK, MANDY ZAPATA, AND MEL LEBLANC.

UH, AFTERNOON MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

UH, MY NAME IS CORBY JASTROW, UH, LIFELONG RESIDENT OF AUSTIN AND A, UH, RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 10.

I WANNA START BY THANKING EACH OF YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SERVICE TO OUR GREAT CITY.

I'M HERE TODAY TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE FULL FUNDING OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS AND THE CITY MANAGERS 20 24, 20 25 PROPOSED BUDGET.

OUR PUBLIC SAFETY EMPLOYEES NEED TO BE SUPPORTED AND ADEQUATELY FUNDED TO SERVE OUR AUSTIN RESIDENTS.

THERE ARE STILL TOO MANY VACANCIES IN OUR PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS FOR OUR GROWING CITY TO SUSTAIN THE NEEDED LEVELS OF SERVICE.

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUDGET TO ENSURE OUR

[02:50:01]

OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN PUBLIC SAFETY SUIT UP AND SHOW UP EACH AND EVERY DAY FOR OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE ALL NEED TO SUPPORT THEM WITH THIS BUDGET INCREASE.

CITY MANAGER, I APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE TO SUPPORT OUR ESSENTIAL DEPARTMENTS IN THIS TOUGH BUDGET YEAR.

WE THANK YOU FOR THIS AND WE THANK YOU FOR THE INCREASE, UH, IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUDGET, A MUCH NEEDED, UH, ITEM FOR OUR CITY.

AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT AND YOUR SUPPORT FOR OUR PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, MAYOR, PRO TEM, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER AND CITY COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS ROBERT CLARK.

I STAND BEFORE YOU THIS AFTERNOON AS ONE WHO IS NOT NATIVE TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN, AS I JUST RECENTLY RELOCATED HERE TO SERVE AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTRAL TEXAS PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION.

FURTHERMORE, WHILE I'M NEW TO AUSTIN, I AM NOT NEW TO THE SOCIETAL CHALLENGES THAT CONTINUE TO PLAGUE PUBLIC SAFETY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

YOU SEE, I GREW UP IN THE INNER CITY OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO WAS A PUBLIC HOUSING RESIDENT AS WELL AS A FOSTER CHILD FOR EIGHT YEARS.

AND TRAGICALLY, I'M THE SON OF A MURDERED FATHER AT THE AGE OF 13.

FROM THOSE BEGINNINGS, I'VE WORKED HARD TO SERVE FOR NEARLY 39 YEARS IN PUBLIC SAFETY, BOTH ON THE LOCAL LEVEL, FEDERAL LEVEL, AND INTERNATIONALLY.

AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE A FULL PUBLIC SAFETY ENGAGEMENT.

I HAVE SEEN THE IMPACT OF CRIME AND VIOLENCE AROUND THE GLOBE, AND I FULLY UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO BE ADEQUATELY STAFFED, RESOURCED, COLLABORATIVE, AND IMPACTFUL ON NOT JUST CRIME AND VIOLENCE, BUT ALSO ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES.

TO ACCOMPLISH THESE GOALS AND MEET THE OBJECTIVES AND CHALLENGES THAT ARE SET FORTH BEFORE US AND ENHANCE SOCIETAL ORDER AND PUBLIC SAFETY IN AUSTIN, I STRONGLY SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE YOU TO APPROVE THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUDGET ENHANCEMENTS FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN WITH THE PENDING ARRIVAL OF THE NEW CHIEF AND FOR THE CURRENT PUBLIC SAFETY LEADERSHIP IN AUSTIN.

THOSE ENHANCED RESOURCES SUPPORT COLLABORATION WILL HAVE POSITIVE IMPACT ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND WILL BE PARAMOUNT TO THE OVERALL SAFETY OF OUR CITY.

I THANK YOU FOR YOUR COURAGE AND FOR YOUR WORK TO PARTNER WITH US TO MAKE AUSTIN SAFER FOR ALL OF US.

C-P-R-C-T-C-R-P VALUES PUBLIC SAFETY.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

HI, MY NAME IS MANDY SAHA.

I'M A PEER POLICY FELLOW WITH THE TEXAS CIVIL RIGHTS PROJECT, AND WE URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET AND TO REJECT THE $18 MILLION PROPOSED PERMANENT INCREASE IN THE POLICE BUDGET, ESPECIALLY AS THE POLICE CONTINUE TO BARGAIN FOR EVEN MORE MONEY IN CURRENT CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS.

THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAVE PUT FORTH AMENDMENTS TO FULFILL PORTIONS OF THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET.

WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF THEM FOR, BUT WANT TO SPECIFICALLY NAME THE EXPANDED MOC FUNDING AND EXPANDED OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION FUNDING.

THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER FOR THOSE INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH MENTAL HEALTH, SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND OTHER MEASURES THAT WILL HELP HEAL OUR COMMUNITY INSTEAD OF JUST CONTINUING TO CRIMINALIZE AUSTINITES.

IT'S WHAT GUIDES OUR PARTICIPATION IN THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET.

BUDGET, BUDGET, SORRY, CORRELATION, BUT PUBLIC SAFETY IS NOT POLICE AND WE FEAR THERE WILL BE NOTHING LEFT FOR TRUE PUBLIC SAFETY INVESTMENT.

IF WE CONTINUE POURING THE LION'S SHARE OF OUR RESOURCES TOWARDS POLICE, PUBLIC SAFETY IS ENSURING EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY HAS WHAT THEY NEED TO LEAD HEALTHY, STABLE, FULFILLED LIVES.

ADDITIONALLY, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE POLICE ACADEMY CONTINUES TO STRUGGLE TO RETAIN CADETS DUE TO THE LONGSTANDING TOXIC CULTURE.

THE COMMUNITY SHOULDN'T HAVE TO SUFFER WHILE THE THEIR FAILED AGENCY CONTINUES TO BE REWARDED.

INSTEAD, PLEASE SUPPORT THE CIV ITEMS LIKE FORENSIC NURSING AT THE AUSTIN HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

REENTRY NAVIGATORS FOR JOBS, HOUSING, FORMERLY INCARCERATED AUSTINITES, IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES, COMMUNITY CRISIS

[02:55:01]

RESPONSE, STREET OUTREACH SERVICES, CASE MANAGERS AND PEER SUPPORT SPECIALISTS, TENANT EDUCATIONS AND STABILIZATION SUPPORT, DISPLACEMENT PROVI PREVENTION NAVIGATORS, AND ALL THE REMAINING UNFUNDED ITEMS FROM THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET.

SERIOUSLY, THAT'S GENUINE.

GOOD MORNING, COUNSEL.

MY NAME IS MELO BLINK AND I'M A CONSTITUENT OF DISTRICT ONE AND I WILL BE REPRESENTING MYSELF AS WELL AS TEXAS RISING TODAY.

UM, I CAME HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET AND TO SPEAK SPECIFICALLY ON THE LOGISTICAL SUPPORT FUND FOR AUSTINITES SEEKING ABORTION AMENDMENT THAT WOULD ALLOW AUSTINITES A MORE ACCESSIBLE OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE AN ABORTION CARE IN A STATE WHERE IT IS LEGAL.

UM, WHEN I WAS 19, I HAD AN ABORTION.

AT THE TIME, ABORTION WAS LEGAL IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AND I WAS ABLE TO ACCESS A SAFE, A SAFE AND LEGAL PROCEDURE.

I'M GRATEFUL EVERY DAY THAT I HAD ACCESS TO THAT CARE.

AND SINCE THEN, I'VE GONE ON TO GRADUATE COLLEGE, BUY A HOUSE IN WHICH I PAY A LOT OF TAXES TO THE CITY.

UM, AND I WOULD, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET MARRIED AND NOW I'M PLANNING TO HAVE A FAMILY ON MY OWN TERMS AND EVERYONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.

IF I DO NOT HAVE THAT CHOICE, I GUARANTEE YOU ALL THAT I WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY TESTIFYING AND ADVOCATING FOR OTHERS.

I WOULD NOT BE A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER OF SIX YEARS AND I I WOULD NOT BE FULFILLED WITH MY LIFE THE SAME WAY THAT I AM TODAY IN 2018.

IT COST ME ABOUT $400 TO RECEIVE MY ABORTION TODAY WITH TRAVEL LO LODGING LOST WAGES AND OTHER FACTORS, IT WOULD COST ABOUT $2,000.

IF I WAS STRUGGLING TO PAY $400, THEN YOU CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW MUCH ABORTION SEEKERS ARE SUFFERING NOW.

UM, FORCING SOMEONE TO CARRY AN UNWANTED PREGNANCY TO TERM IS NOT ONLY CRUEL, BUT IT LEADS TO MANY PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DETRIMENTS AS WE ARE CURRENTLY SEEING WITH THE ALL OUT ABORTION BANS IN TEXAS.

AND WHILE WE DON'T HAVE THE OPTION ANYMORE TO PROVIDE, UM, SAFE ABORTIONS IN TEXAS, WE DO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE ARE STILL ABLE TO ACCESS THIS VITAL CARE THROUGH PROVIDING FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO OVERCOME SOME OF THOSE BARRIERS.

UM, A COMMON QUESTION I'VE HEARD THIS BUDGET CYCLE AND HAVE LIKE, UM, HAVE HEARD IN SOME MEETINGS WITH YOU ALL IS WHERE IS THIS MONEY COMING FROM? AND TO THAT, I SAY WE NEED TO RESTRUCTURE WHAT SAFETY LOOKS LIKE FROM NOT INCREASING THE RESERVE FUNDS, UM, TO ALLOW ROOM FROM OUR SOCIAL PROGRAMS TO THE UNAVOIDABLE PROPOSED ADDITION OF $18 MILLION FOR A PD REGARDLESS OF THEIR DEPARTMENTS, TENS OF MILLIONS OF UN AND UNUSED FUNDS ALLOCATED TO OPEN POSITIONS THAT THEY CAN NEVER SEEM TO FILL.

UM, FOR MOST OF US HERE TODAY, SAFETY LOOKS LIKE FUNDING PERMANENT HOUSING, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, SOCIAL PROGRAMS, AND PRACTICAL ABORTION SUPPORT.

NOT ANOTHER $18 MILLION TO A FAILING AND BROKEN SYSTEM THAT IS REPEATEDLY DRAINING RESOURCES FROM THE BUDGET.

TO REITERATE, I WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT THE LOGISTICAL ABORTION FUND, UM, FOR AUSTINITES BEING ADOPTED INTO THE CITY BUDGET.

AND I ALSO WANTED TO GIVE A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBERS FUENTES, QUEZ, VELA ZOE, AND ALTER FOR SPONSORING THIS.

UM, AND THANK YOU ALL FOR LISTENING TO ME TODAY.

WE LOVE ABORTIONS AND WE WANT TO MAKE THEM ACCESSIBLE.

THANK YOU, MAGGIE DEANNA, LAUREN HARTNETT, SHELLY LIBO, JANICE BOOKOUT, ANDREW HAIRSTON.

UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, JANICE BOOKOUT, UH, COMMUNITY RESILIENCE TRUST AND EARTH DAY AUSTIN, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU COUNCIL FOR TAKING COMMUNITY WISDOM.

UM, BOTH HEALTH AUTHORITIES SAID THAT THOSE COVID OUTCOMES HAD EVERYTHING TO DO WITH COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND FOR OUR PARTNERSHIP DURING THAT TIME.

UM, WHO ARE THESE ADVOCATES? WHO COMES TO SPEAK? IN MY YEARS OF SPEAKING BEFORE COUNCIL, THERE ARE TWO GROUPS THAT I REPEATEDLY SEE HERE, PEOPLE WHO HAVE A FINANCIAL INTEREST IN THE POLICIES AT ISSUE AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND ADVOCATES WHO DO IT BECAUSE WE LOVE PEOPLE AND, AND WE REPRESENT AND CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT WE'RE HERE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF.

WE ARE NOT A MONOLITH.

WE OFTEN DISAGREE WITH EACH OTHER.

WHAT WE ARE, HOWEVER, IS CONNECTED TO VAST NETWORKS OF PEOPLE, DIFFERENT AND SOMETIMES OVERLAPPING GROUPS REPRESENTING A COLLECTIVE TENS TO HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHOSE INCOMES ARE WELL BEHI BELOW THE MEDIAN INCOME OF THE CITY.

UM, PEOPLE HISTORICALLY IMPACTED BY SYSTEMIC INEQUITIES.

WE ARE THESE PEOPLE AND WE LISTEN TO THESE PEOPLE AND WE SET ASIDE TIME TO COME HERE, BUT WE DON'T SPEAK IN ISOLATION.

LISTENING TO COMMUNITY ADVOCATES WORKS, UM, DID YOU KNOW THAT OUR, OUR COVID DEATHS FOR A CITY OF OUR SIZE WERE SEVENTH LOWEST IN THE COUNTRY, UM, AND LOWEST IN THE STATE OF TEXAS IN A STATE THAT RANKED FIFTH HIGHEST FOR COVID DEATHS, ANY SIGNIFICANT AND SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN AVERAGE ACROSS ALL DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPS.

[03:00:01]

UM, SO TWO SPECIFIC ASPECTS OF THE BUDGET FUND, THE RESILIENCE OFFICE RESILIENCE IS UNIQUE FROM HS O.

IT'S UNIQUE FROM SUSTAINABILITY.

UM, IN OTHER CITIES, RESILIENCE IS THE ROLE THAT HELPS COMMUNITIES SURVIVE AND RECOVER WHEN CITY RESOURCES ARE NOT ENOUGH.

AND OURS OFFICE DID THAT WHEN IT WAS ACTIVE.

UM, RESILIENCE IS ALSO THE ROLE THAT SUPPORTS BUILDING COMMUNITY STRENGTH OVER TIME.

IT IS VITAL, A VITAL RESOURCE, AND WE ARE BEHIND POLICE BUDGET INCREASE.

SO LOOKING AT THE LINE ITEMS USE OF THE LAST YEARS, YOU CAN SEE AN AWFUL LOT OF SHUFFLING LINE ITEMS TOWARDS OTHER PRIORITIES THAN WHAT WAS PLANNED.

IF YOU ANALYZE THE USE OF OF FUNDS, AT LEAST 8.5 MILLION AND IN MANY CATEGORIES WITH $0 BUDGET LINE ITEMS, I ECHO ANY INCREASE IN BUDGET CANNOT BE REVOKED.

I'M AWARE OF FINANCIAL CHALLENGES THE CITY FACE, THE CITY FACES NOW AND IN THE FUTURE WE HAVE A BRAND NEW CHIEF AND A BRAND NEW CITY MANAGER.

LET'S LET THE DUST SETTLE AND EVALUATE ACTUAL SPENDING BEFORE WE LOCK OURSELVES INTO SOMETHING WE CANNOT UNDO.

UM, PLEASE KEEP DOING THE HARD WORK.

Y'ALL KEEP LISTENING AND PLEASE TAKE IT FURTHER.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR AND, UH, COUNCIL, UH, LAUREN HARTNETT.

AND I BELIEVE I NEED TO, UH, DISCLOSE THAT I WAS A MEMBER OF COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON STAFF THROUGH MARCH, 2023.

UH, MANUAL'S A LITTLE UNCLEAR, BUT I THINK I NEED TO DO THAT.

UH, AS WE ALL KNOW, THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING BUDGET BUDGET CYCLES, UH, WE FACED IN RECENT MEMORY.

UH, AND I THOROUGHLY APPRECIATE THE DIFFICULT DECISIONS THAT YOU ALL HAVE HAD TO MAKE.

AND, UH, I AM OF THE OPINION THAT IN TIMES OF TIGHT BUDGETS, IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE ENSURE THAT OUR LIMITED FUNDS ARE UTILIZED IN A WAY THAT BENEFITS THE MOST PEOPLE AND MAXIMIZES THE POSITIVE IMPACT THAT WE CAN ACHIEVE WITH THOSE LIMITED FUNDS.

IN ADDITION TO THE FUNDING INCLUDED FOR RAPID REHOUSING AND, UH, PSH, I'M HERE TODAY EXPRESS MY STRONG SUPPORT FOR INCLUDING FUNDING FOR THE OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE OF OUR EMERGENCY SHELTER PARTNERS.

UH, IN THE FY 25 BUDGET, THESE ORGANIZATIONS ARE ON THE FRONT LINES PROVIDING ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

THROUGH MY ROLE IN COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER OR MADISON'S OFFICE AND IN MY CURRENT ROLE WITH PLUGIN HOUSE, I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WITNESSING TRANSFORMATIVE WORK THAT THE OTHER ONE'S FOUNDATION HAS DONE FIRSTHAND.

IN JUST THREE YEARS, TUF HAS TRANSFORMED, WHICH WAS ONCE ESSENTIALLY THE THUNDERDOME ON A VACANT LOT, UH, INTO A VIBRANT, BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY.

THIS COMMUNITY NOW INCLUDES A HUNDRED HOUSING UNITS, COMMUNITY SPACES, OFFICE, AND BY THE END OF THE YEAR, A SKILL CENTER THAT WILL PROVIDE TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION IN TRADES LIKE WELDING AND HVAC.

AND TUFE HAS DONE ALL OF THIS AT ROUGHLY A COST OF $15,000 PER CLIENT PER YEAR.

THAT IS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE COST EFFECTIVE, UH, THAN, UH, YOU KNOW, SOME OF OUR OTHER PROGRAMS THAT WE RELY ON TO PROVIDE HOUSING TO THOSE IN NEED WHO NEED COMPREHENSIVE WRAPAROUND SERVICES.

AND ON TOP OF THAT, THEY HAVE A PROVEN TRACK RECORD.

LAST YEAR ALONE, 288 OF THEIR CLIENTS WERE MOVED INTO STABLE HOUSING.

UH, I'M NOT ADVOCATING FOR ONE METHOD OR ANOTHER, I'M JUST SAYING THAT WE WE SHOULD FUND OUR COST EFFECTIVE AND, AND EFFECTIVE, UH, SERVICES, UH, EM EMERGENCY SHELTER SERVICES LIKE THE OTHER ONES FOUNDATION.

AGAIN, I FULLY RECOGNIZE HOW TIGHT THIS YEAR'S BUDGET IS.

SO MY ASK TODAY IS FOR COUNCIL TO AT LEAST INCLUDE BUDGET DIRECTION THAT DIRECTS THE CITY MANAGER TO CONTINUE EXPLORING AND IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL FUNDING OPTIONS SUCH AS REMAINING UNCOMMITTED ARPA DOLLARS, UM, THAT WERE IDENTIFIED IN BUDGET Q AND A, UH, TO SUPPORT THE OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE OF OUR EMERGENCY SHELTER, UH, OPERATORS.

THIS COULD ALSO INCLUDE IDENTIFYING GRANTS AND PROVIDING GRANT WRITING SUPPORT.

UH, SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CAN COMMIT A COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY.

SERVICES OFFICE CURRENTLY IS IN THE WORKS.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS SHELLY LEBA.

I LIVE IN DISTRICT FOUR.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY.

DURING YOUR FIRST BUDGET WORK SESSION, I ASKED YOU TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR THE AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER, OUR CITY SHELTER, TO PROVIDE ENOUGH STAFF TO FULFILL ITS MISSION HUMANELY.

I HAVE VOLUNTEERED AT A C SINCE 2019 AND I SEE FIRSTHAND HOW A SHORTAGE IN STAFF ADVERSELY AFFECTS NOT ONLY THE ANIMALS, BUT CURRENT STAFF, VOLUNTEERS, AND THE PUBLIC.

I WANNA THANK MAYOR WATSON FOR HIS AMENDMENT TO ADD TWO AND A HALF FTE COORDINATORS TO OUR FOSTER TEAM.

AND WHILE I WAS HOPING FOR EVEN MORE IN VET SERVICES ANIMAL CARE, I THINK THE MAYOR'S AMENDMENT IS A SMALL STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND I HOPE CITY COUNCIL AND THE REST OF YOU GUYS WILL SUPPORT THE CITY SHELTER BY SUPPORTING HIS AMENDMENT.

I ALSO HOPE THAT WE WILL CONTINUE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION WITH THE STRATEGIC PLAN.

THE ANIMAL

[03:05:01]

I SUSPECT MANY ELEMENTS OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN WILL REQUIRE ADDITIONAL STAFF.

AND UNLESS THIS COUNCIL IS WILLING TO FUND THE ANIMAL SERVICES OFFICE AND AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER APPROPRIATELY, MY FEAR IS THE STRATEGIC PLAN WILL BE A WASTED EXERCISE.

BUT MY HOPE IS THE OPPOSITE, THAT WE WILL COME UP WITH A PLAN THAT WILL HAVE THE FUNDING IT NEEDS TO MAKE THE ANIMAL SERVICES OFFICE AND AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER SUCCESSFUL AND ALLOW IT TO FULFILL ITS MISSION HUMANELY.

THIS IS MY FIRST TIME TO BE INVOLVED IN THE BUDGET PROCESS.

I LEARNED AT THE BUDGET TOWN HALL FOR COUNCILS, UH, FOR DISTRICTS ONE AND FOUR LAST MONTH, THAT THE BUDGET PROCESS STARTS MUCH EARLIER AND I'M A LITTLE BIT LATE TO THE GAME.

SO EXPECT TO SEE ME MORE EARLIER IN NEXT YEAR AS YOU START THE BUDGET PROCESS AGAIN.

WHILE I'LL BE ASKING FOR MORE STAFF FOR AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER, OUR CITY SHELTER, WE'VE KNOWN SINCE AT LEAST 20 FIFTEENS AUDIT OF AUSTIN AMAL CENTER.

IT HAS BEEN WOEFULLY UNDERSTAFFED AND IT'S TIME TO CHANGE THAT.

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR CITY SHELTER AND AUSTIN'S PETS.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS ANDREW TON.

I'M A DISTRICT ONE RESIDENT.

I'M A CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY AND A PROUD MEMBER OF THE AUSTIN DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS OF AMERICA.

I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM SEVEN AND IN FAVOR OF THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET.

UH, I THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR WORK SO FAR, ESPECIALLY OVER THE PAST WEEK IN THE VARIOUS AMENDMENTS TO MOVE FORWARD THE PIECES OF THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET AND MAKE SURE THAT VITAL SOCIAL SERVICES ARE PRESERVED.

HOWEVER, MANY PIECES OF THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET REMAIN UNFUNDED, SUCH AS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES.

THEY'RE DESIGNED TO SUPPORT OTHER BLACK FOLKS IN MY COMMUNITY OF CENTRAL EAST AUSTIN.

ABOVE ALL, I URGE YOU TO REJECT THE PROPOSED $18 MILLION INCREASE TO THE BUDGET OF THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.

I'M CURRENTLY ENGAGED IN SIMILAR ADVOCACY IN MY DAY JOB TO PUSH AUSTIN ISD TO RECONSIDER ITS POLICE BUDGET, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE PANDEMIC AND ALL OF ITS HARMFUL EFFECTS ON YOUNG PEOPLE.

UH, AS YOUNG PEOPLE RETURNED TO SCHOOL THIS WEEK ACROSS THE REGION ACROSS CENTRAL TEXAS, THEY REMEMBER SONIA MASSEY AND COUNTLESS OTHER BLACK PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES EXTRA JUDICIALLY AT THE HANDS OF THE STATE THROUGH THE POLICE.

REGARDLESS OF IF POLICE ARE IN THEIR SCHOOLS OR COMMUNITIES.

YOUNG PEOPLE KNOW INTRINSICALLY THAT THE POLICE ARE THERE TO REINFORCE SOCIAL INEQUALITY.

I URGE YOU TO STOP INCREASING THE POLICE BUDGET FROM YOUR YEAR, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT CAN'T BE DIMINISHED ONCE IT IS AND FULLY INVEST IN YOUNG PEOPLE SO THAT THEY CAN FLOURISH IN THE FUTURE.

DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES.

HELLO, COUNSEL.

MY NAME IS MAGGIE DEZA AND I'M A UT STUDENT, A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE, AND THE CENTRAL TEXAS ADVOCACY AND FIELD ORGANIZER FOR TEXAS RISING ACTION.

UM, AND I'M HERE TODAY TO EXPRESS MY UNWAVERING SUPPORT FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET.

UM, AND MORE SPECIFICALLY TO SPEAK ON, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES LOGISTICAL SUPPORT FUND FOR AUSTINITES SEEKING ABORTION.

UM, AND IN COMPLETE SUPPORT OF IT, THIS BUDGET AMENDMENT, IF APPROVED, UH, WILL EXPAND THE CURRENT REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH GRANT BY $500,000, UM, TO COVER AIRFARE, GAS REIMBURSEMENTS, RIDE SHARES, HOTEL STAYS, CHILDCARE STIPENDS, AND COMPANION TRAVEL FOR AUSTIN KNIGHT'S, UM, CROSSING STATE LINES TO ACCESS ABORTION CARE.

IN 2019, AUSTIN MADE HISTORY AS THE SECOND CITY IN THE US TO USE CITY FUNDS TO SUPPORT PEOPLE ACCESSING ABORTION CARE.

AND THIS WAS SUCH A HUGE AND VITAL STEP, UM, ENSURING THAT ALL AUSTINITES ARE ACTUALLY SAFE AND SUPPORTED IN THEIR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE DECISIONS.

UM, AND AFTER TWO BUDGET CYCLES OF SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTING THESE FUNDS, UM, IN 2022, THE CITY LIMITED THEM, UH, TO INCLUDE EDUCATION AND OUTREACH FOR CONTRACEPTION ACCESS AND EARLY PREGNANCY NAVIGATION.

AND WHILE I'M IN FULL SUPPORT OF ALL OF THESE SERVICES AND HAVE PERSONALLY REAPED THE BENEFITS OF THEM, UM, AUSTINITES DESERVE ACCESS TO THE FULL SPECTRUM OF REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE, INCLUDING ABORTION.

IT'S WELL SUPPORTED THAT FOLKS WHO ARE DENIED ABORTIONS ARE MORE LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE COMPLICATIONS AT THE END OF THEIR PREGNANCIES, STAY TETHERED TO ABUSIVE PARTNERS, EXPERIENCE POOR PHYSICAL HEALTH AND LIVE BELOW THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL.

AND AFTER THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SENATE BILL EIGHT AND THE OVERTURNING OF ROE V WADE, TEXAS HAS BECOME ONE OF THE MOST HOSTILE STATES IN THE NATION FOR BOTH ABORTION SEEKERS AND ABORTION PROVIDERS.

MEANING THAT AUSTINITES ARE HAVING TO TRAVEL HUNDREDS OF MILES JUST TO GET AN ABORTION.

AND BECAUSE OF ABORTION COVERAGE BANS AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL, TEXANS ALREADY HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THE PROCEDURE ITSELF.

FOR LOW INCOME TEXANS, THIS SOMETIMES MEANS CHOOSING BETWEEN HEALTHCARE AND OTHER NECESSITIES LIKE RENT OR FOOD.

FOR AS LONG AS PREGNANCY EXISTS, ABORTION WILL EXIST AND IT'S UP TO US TO SUPPORT ALL ABORTION SEEKERS UNCONDITIONALLY.

FUNDING PRACTICAL SUPPORT IS A COMMITMENT TO ECONOMIC, RACIAL, AND GENDER JUSTICE BY REMOVING THE BARRIERS THAT

[03:10:01]

INSTEAD OF WASTING VALUABLE CITY RESOURCES FUNDING AN ALREADY BALLOONING POLICE BUDGET, IT'S HIGH TIME WE INVEST IN THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN AND PRIORITIZE SERVICES THAT ACTUALLY KEEP US SAFE.

WHEN EXTREMIST LAWMAKERS AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL TURN THEIR BACKS ON US, IT'S THE DUTY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO FIND CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO FIT THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITIES, NOT COWER AND SHY AWAY FROM WHAT WE KNOW IS RIGHT.

I URGE YOU TO BE BRAVE AND PRIORITIZE THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS OF AUSTINITES BY VOTING IN FAVOR OF THE LOGISTICAL SUPPORT FUND AND THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET.

AN INVESTMENT IN YOUR CONSTITUENTS IS AN INVESTMENT IN YOUR CITY.

NICK MACHADO, MICHELLE MEJIA, JANNI FLORES, GRACIE KEL, CHRIS BAKER.

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

SORRY.

GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNSEL.

MY NAME IS NICK MACHADO, I USE THEY THEM PRONOUNS.

AND I'M A SECOND YEAR SOCIAL WORK AND PRE-LAW STUDENT AT STATE EDWARDS UNIVERSITY.

CURRENTLY RESIDING IN DISTRICT NINE, I STAND BEHIND THE ENTIRETY OF THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET, BUT TODAY I'M TESTIFYING BEFORE YOU TO URGE YOU TO ALL VOTE.

IN FAVOR OF COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES LOGISTICAL SUPPORT FOR AUSTINITES SEEKING ABORTION BUDGET AMENDMENT, WHICH WILL ALLOCATE $500,000 TO SUPPORT AIRFARE, GAS REIMBURSEMENTS, HOTEL STAYS, RIDE SHARE, CHILDCARE STIPENDS, COMPANION TRAVEL, AND FOOD FOR AUSTINITES TRAVELING TO ACCESS ABORTION CARE.

POST ROE RESEARCH INDICATES THAT ABORTION DOES NOT LEAD TO LONG TERM OR SHORT TERM NEGATIVE MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES.

BUT BEING DENIED ABORTION CARE IS, ABORTION IS COMPLEX AND EVERYONE WILL EXPERIENCE IT DIFFERENTLY.

YET ABORTION SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE, AFFORDABLE, AND AVAILABLE WITHOUT SHAME OR PRESSURE TO DEPRIVE.

OUR COMMUNITY OF ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE ABORTION CARE IS TO CONTRIBUTE TO A LACK OF CHOICE AND BODILY AUTONOMY FOR ALL CURRENT AND FUTURE PREGNANT PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

IN 2019, THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE TRAVIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE REPORTED A COMBINED TOTAL OF OVER 9,000 FAMILY VIOLENCE CASES.

AND INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE IS A LEADING CAUSE FOR PREGNANT PEOPLE TO SEEK AN ABORTION.

AS SOMEONE WHO HAS WITNESSED, LOVED ONES BECOME VICTIMS OF IPVA PREGNANCY MAKES ESCAPING FROM A VIOLENT SITUATION JUST THAT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT.

THE FINANCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL STRAIN OF CARRYING AN UNWANTED PREGNANCY WEIGHS HEAVILY ON THE MENTAL HEALTH OF PEOPLE WHO ARE UNABLE TO ACCESS ABORTIONS.

I URGE YOU ALL TO PRIORITIZE THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS OF AUSTIN KNIGHTS BY VOTING IN FAVOR OF COUNCILMAN FUENTES.

SO LOGISTICAL SUPPORT FOR AUSTINITES SEEKING ABORTION BUDGET, AMENDMENT AND ENTIRETY, AND THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET AND INVESTMENT IN YOUR CONSTITUENTS IS AN INVESTMENT IN YOUR CITY.

TO HELP FOLKS GET THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO ECONOMICALLY THRIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

HELLO, UH, I'M CHRIS BAKER.

I'M THE, UH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE OTHER ONES FOUNDATION.

AND I THINK THAT YOU GUYS PROBABLY ALL KNOW I AM HERE, BUT I WILL, UH, TRY TO GO EASY ON YOU.

I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE MANY HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE THAT THE OTHER ONES FOUNDATION SERVES AND I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT I'M DOING.

SO LIKE WHATEVER LAUREN HARTNETT JUST SAID, LIKE DO THAT.

UM, THE HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM IS A BIG AND COMPLICATED MACHINE.

IT NEEDS TENDING TO ACROSS THE ENTIRE CONTINUUM.

AND WHILE THE CITY, Y'ALL HAVE A BIG ROLE IN SUPPORTING THE PROVIDERS, US, THE PROVIDERS OWE IT TO THE PEOPLE WE SERVE THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN AND Y'ALL TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MACHINE IS NOT JUST RUNNING SMOOTHLY, BUT IS ALSO RUNNING EFFICIENTLY.

I DON'T THINK I'M TELLING YOU ANYTHING THAT YOU DON'T ALREADY KNOW.

OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS I'VE TRIED AND I FEEL I HAVE FAILED TO CONVINCE MANY OF YOU OF THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF EMERGENCY HOUSING IN OUR SYSTEM.

BUT YOU GUYS ALREADY KNOW THAT THE ESPERANZA COMMUNITY IS A NON CONGREGATE EMERGENCY HOUSING COMPLEX WHERE WE SUPPORT PEOPLE THROUGH THEIR JOURNEY OUT OF HOMELESSNESS AND INTO A FULFILLED, HOUSED, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, INDEPENDENT LIFE.

THAT THING WENT FROM BEING THIS GOD AWFUL, S****Y MESS OF AN ENCAMPMENT TO A VIBRANT FUNCTIONING FACILITY WHERE PEOPLE FIND DIGNITY, A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY AND WARM BEDS TO STAY OFF THE STREET.

THAT'S A HUNDRED BEDS NOW, 200, 200 BEDS BY YEAR'S END.

WE'RE ALSO BRINGING WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS AND A CCC ON SITE

[03:15:01]

BUT YOU ALL ALREADY KNOW THAT.

YOU KNOW THAT BECAUSE MOST OF YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN THERE.

YOU'VE BEEN THERE TO SUPPORT AND CHEERLEAD THE WORK THAT WE DO.

YOU'VE SUPPORTED BUILDING IT, YOU HAVE SUPPORTED GROWING IT, EXPANDING IT, BUT NOW IT IS TIME TO RUN IT, AND IT IS CONSPICUOUSLY MISSING FROM THIS BUDGET, BUT IT IS MISSING.

AND I GET IT, THE CITY'S BROKE.

BUT IS IT, OR IS IT JUST THAT HOMELESS RESPONSE HAS TO FIGHT FOR THE SCRAPS? I THINK IT, IT COULD JUST BE THAT I WORK IN THIS SPACE, BUT IT CERTAINLY FEELS LIKE WE SPEND LIKE 80% OF OUR TIME TALKING ABOUT HOMELESSNESS, BUT IT RE REPRESENTS LESS THAN ONE HALF OF 1% OF THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET.

AND I COULD LOB CRITICISMS AT YOU GUYS FOR DOING THAT, BUT IT WOULD BE DISINGENUOUS TO DO IT WITHOUT ALSO ACKNOWLEDGING THAT WE HAVE WORK TO DO TO MAKE THE SYSTEM MORE COORDINATED AND MORE EFFICIENT.

SO EVEN THOUGH IT'S LOOKING LIKE, I DON'T KNOW, UNLESS YOU DID ALL THAT STUFF THAT LAUREN SAID, THAT YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO GIVE ESPANZA ANY MONEY THIS YEAR, I DO ASK YOU TO GIVE US THE TIME AND EFFORT IT'S GONNA TAKE TO WORK TO PERMANENTLY FIX OUR COMMUNITY'S MASSIVE FUNDING GAPS.

ENDING HOMELESSNESS IS A TALL ORDER.

HOW ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO END SOMETHING THAT'S LIKE A STATE OF BEING? TRYING TO END HOMELESSNESS IN THAT WAY IS LIKE TRYING TO END SADNESS.

IT'S A CONDITION THAT PEOPLE ARE GONNA FALL INTO AND WE NEED EMERGENCY HOUSING THERE TO SUPPORT THEIR BASIC NEEDS WHEN IT HAP WHEN IT HAPPENS.

AND LASTLY, I JUST WANNA SAY IT'S KIND OF CRINGEY HOW PEOPLE ARE HERE TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY AS SEPARATE FROM HOMELESS SERVICES.

YO HOMELESS SERVICES ARE PUBLIC SAFETY.

UM, MY NAME IS MICHELLE MAHAN.

I'M THE EARLY CHILDHOOD ORGANIZER WITH GO AUSTIN BAOS AUSTIN.

UM, FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE AND FOR ALL THE TIME INVESTED TO SUPPORT CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN OUR CITIES.

WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBERS AL ALTER VANESSA FUENTES FOR BEING CHILDCARE CHAMPION SUPERHEROES FOR OUR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, AS WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE YEARS, YOUR SUPPORT FOR OUR EARLY CHILDHOOD COMMUNITIES CONSISTENTLY, ESPECIALLY AROUND THE FAMILY STABILIZATION GRANT AND SPEARHEADING THE EARLY CHILDHOOD CONVERSATION.

TODAY I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET AND TO UPLIFT THE EARLY CHILDHOOD CITY BUDGET RECOMMENDATION FROM GAVA, WHICH INCLUDE ONE POINT, ONLY, 1.575 MILLION INVESTMENT IN OUR KIDS' FUTURE.

WE'D ESPECIALLY LIKE TO SEE YOUR INVESTMENT IN OUR FRIEND, FAMILY AND NEIGHBOR PROVIDERS CAREGIVERS.

FFN CARE IS THE MOST COMMON TYPE OF CAREGIVING FOR CHILDREN ZERO TO THREE.

MOST OF THE TIME THEY TAKE CARE OF CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITIES FOR POVERTY, WAGES, AND SOMETIMES WITHOUT PAY.

THEY TAKE CARE OF SICK CHILDREN SO PARENTS CAN GO TO WORK AND WITHOUT CLEAR ACCESS TO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES, FAMILY, FRIEND, AND NEIGHBOR CARE THAT IS CHILDCARE PROVIDED BY RELATIVES, FRIENDS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS IS THE MOST COMMON FORM OF CHILDCARE IN THE US ACCORDING TO THE MIGRATION POLICY INSTITUTE, WE ARE CURRENTLY COLLABORATING WITH EC RAPID OUTTA STANFORD UNIVERSITY TO COLLECT LOCAL DATA ON THE REALITIES OF OUR LOCAL FRIEND, FAMILY NEIGHBOR COMMUNITY.

I WILL SEND THIS INFORMATION TO YOU ONCE WE HAVE IT.

TODAY IS A SPECIAL DAY AS WE ARE LAUNCHING OUR CHILDREN'S COLORING BOOK, WHICH YOU ALL SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN A COPY OF.

UM, AND IT'S CALLED CARLO THE SUPERHERO SPY.

YOU SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN A COPY.

OH, I ALREADY SAID THAT.

SORRY.

AND WE HOPE YOU READ IT AND COLOR IT WITH A SPECIAL KIDDO IN YOUR LIFE.

THE MESSAGE IS CLEAR.

LET'S CARE FOR OUR CAREGIVERS.

THEY NEED AFFORDABILITY TOO.

THEY DESERVE TO STAY IN OUR CITIES, AND THEY ARE FOUNDATION WHICH ALLOWS OUR WORKING CLASS COMMUNITIES AND ALL COMMUNITIES TO CONTINUE TO WORK.

ALL OF THEM, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHOM ARE OFTEN LEFT OUT OF THE CONVERSATION.

SO WE URGE YOU TO TAKE ACTION AS THIS IS KEY TO AFFORDABILITY IN THE CITY.

SUPPORT, TRAVEL, LODGING, FOOD, CHILDCARE, AND OTHER NECESSARY EXPENSES TO HELP TEXANS, ESPECIALLY AUSTINITES, OVERCOME BARRIERS TO ACCESSING CARE.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

MY NAME IS NETTE FORRES AND I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF ANNA ANI, DIRECTOR OF EXEC OF FUND, TEXAS CHOICE, A STATEWIDE PRACTICAL SUPPORT ABORTION FUND BASED IN AUSTIN, TEXAS FUND.

TEXAS CHOICE WAS FUNDED IN 2013 IN RESPONSE TO HOUSE BILL TWO, WHICH CLOSED 75% OF TEXAS CLINICS AND FORCED TEXANS TO TRAVEL EXTENSIVELY FOR ABORTION CARE.

WE PROVIDE ESSENTIAL

[03:20:01]

OUR STATE HAS WONDERFUL AND RESILIENT PEOPLE WHO KEEP FIGHTING FOR ABORTION ACCESS, AND WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR THE CITY COUNCIL FOR PUTTING AUSTINITES AND TEXANS FIRST BY NOT ONLY CREATING THE PRACTICAL SUPPORT FUND IT DID IN 2019, BUT WILLING AND ABLE TO PUSH FORWARD AGAIN IN THE FACE OF THESE BANS AND HOPING TO INCREASE THESE FUNDS.

THE NEED FOR LEADERSHIP AND CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE, INCLUDING ABORTION, REMAINS CRITICAL.

TODAY WE ARE ADVOCATING FOR THE PROPOSED FUNDING FOR PRACTICAL ABORTION SUPPORT IN AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY, INCLUDING COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES PROPOSAL FOR FUNDING TOWARDS PRACTICAL SUPPORT AND COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS AND POOL'S.

UM, SUGGESTION TO HAVE FURTHER INVESTMENT IN THE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE GRANT THAT PROVIDES OTHER SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE INITIATIVES TO AUSTINITES.

THIS PAST FEW YEARS HAVE BEEN DEVASTATING FOR ABORTION ACCESS IN TEXAS FROM THE SIX WEEK ABORTION BAN THAT IS SB EIGHT TO THE US SUPREME COURT OVERTURNING OF ROE V.

WADE, THE REVIVAL OF PRE-CIVIL WAR ABORTION BANS AND THE CURRENT, UM, CRIMINALIZATION OF TEXANS LEAVING OUR STATE RIGHT.

WE HAVE TO, UM, DISCUSS THE WAY IN WHICH MEAN VARIOUS MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES ARE THREATENING OR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO TRAVEL AT A STATE AND ATTEMPTING TO IMPLEMENT ABORTION, UM, TRAVEL BANS.

AS A FORMER SUBGRANTEE OF AUSTIN'S PRACTICAL SUPPORT FUNDING, FTC HAS WITNESSED THE PROFOUND OF THESE FUNDS.

THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH ABORTION EXTEND FAR BEYOND THE PROCEDURE ITSELF BECOMING AMENABLE FOR MANY BEYOND THE HIGH COST OF ABORTION.

WE ALSO SEE THE IMPACT OF THE HYDE AMENDMENT AND TEXAS LAWS PROVIDING PROHIBITING INSURANCE COVERAGE.

THIS JOURNEY INCURS SIGNIFICANT EXPENSES INCLUDING TRANSPORTATION, CHILDCARE, LOST WAGES, AND LODGING.

TEXANS MUST TRAVEL OVER 1500 MILES ROUND TRIP TO ACCESS CARE AND WE SPEND AN AVERAGE OF $1,200 ON CLIENTS FOR THIS TYPE OF CARE.

SOMETIMES IT IS MUCH MORE DEPENDING ON THAT PARTICULAR CLIENT AND THEIR NEEDS.

THESE PRACTICAL SUPPORT SERVICES ARE VITAL FOR COMMUNITIES MARGINALIZED BY SYSTEMIC OPPRESSION AND HINDERED BY THE BARRIERS IMPOSED BY STATE LEADERS OVER THE PAST DECADE.

WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF ABORTION ACCESS AND YOUR RECOGNITION THAT THIS IS BOTH A RACIAL AND GENDER JUSTICE ISSUE.

OUR CLIENTS OFTEN GO UNSEEN IN MUNICIPAL EQUITY AND WE SHOULD APPRECIATE YOU CONSIDERING THEM.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MARION COUNSEL.

MONICA UZON AND SHE HAS TIME DONATED BY ROY WHALEY.

ROY WHALEY, ARE YOU HERE? YEAH, I'M HERE.

SIX MINUTES FROM MONICA, FOLLOWED BY YAME, YASMINE SMITH, ROBERT LILY, LIZ COLLINS.

CHANTEL PRI.

I'M MONICA GOSMAN, POLICY DIRECTOR AT GAVA GO AUSTIN, VAMO AUSTIN.

WE WANNA START BY THANKING ALL 11 OFFICES, MAYOR AND COUNCIL AND YOUR STAFF FOR TAKING THE TIME TO MEET WITH GAVA STAFF AND RESIDENT LEADERS ABOUT OUR BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS.

WE WANT TO ADD ADDITIONAL POINTS TO CONSIDER WHILE YOU DELIBERATE ON WHAT TO FUND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT.

WE HEARD AND WATCHED EC EDUCATORS, GAVA RESIDENT LEADERS SPEAK AT THE TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND ARE PLEASED.

THE BALLOT LANGUAGE FOR AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE NOW WAS APPROVED.

UM, IN OUR MEETINGS WITH YOUR STAFF, WE HEARD CONFIDENCE VOTERS WILL APPROVE IT AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WILL COME THROUGH FOR EC PROVIDERS.

HOWEVER, UM, HOME-BASED FFN FAMILY FRIEND NETWORK PROVIDERS WILL NOT BENEFIT.

MAYOR WATSON, YOUR OFFICE REACHED OUT TO US LAST YEAR FOR INPUT ABOUT YOUR CHILDCARE PRIORITY.

SPECIFICALLY HOME-BASED CHILDCARE PROVIDERS.

WE URGE YOU AND OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS TO FUND THE WORKFORCE.

YOU GOT THE PICTURE? IS THAT IT? YES.

THE WORKFORCE BEHIND THE WORKFORCE.

UM, THE SUPERHEROES, HENCE THE CAPES.

WITHOUT THEM MANY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BE AT WORK OR TAKE ADVANTAGE OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES SUCH AS ANOTHER ONE OF YOUR PRIORITIES.

THE INFRASTRUCTURE ACADEMY, OH, SHOOT, MY THING JUMPED.

I'M LOSING TIME.

UH, AUSTIN COMMUNITY OWNED FOOD RETAIL INITIATIVE.

WE UNDERSTAND THE

[03:25:01]

FISCAL 25 BUDGET IS LIEN WITH MANAGER BROAD ACCESS PRACTICE OF PROJECTING EXPENDITURES FOR TWO YEARS.

WE RECOMMEND A $500,000 ALLOCATION FOR FISCAL 26 REMAINING.

ARPA FUNDS WILL COVER REMAINING PLANNING COSTS AND A SEED FUND FOR CAPITAL INVESTMENT.

BUT THE PILOT LAUNCH OF THE GROCERY STORE WILL REQUIRE ADDITIONAL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE DOLLARS TO ENSURE THAT PREVIOUS INVESTMENTS ARE CARRIED TO FRUITION AND THAT THIS PILOT ACHIEVES THE OUTCOMES IN WHICH THIS COUNCIL HAS ALREADY INVESTED.

FOR EVERY DOLLAR THE CITY INVESTS, THE COOPERATIVE STEERING COMMITTEE IS LEVERAGING VOLUNTEER HOURS, PHILANTHROPIC DOLLARS, AND NON-PROFIT TIME QUADRUPLING QUADRUPLING THE CITY'S INVESTMENT TO BETTER SERVE AUSTIN'S EASTERN CRESCENT.

TENANT RELOCATION ASSISTANCE.

COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES AND CO-SPONSORING COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR SUPPORTING EXPANSION OF THE FAMILY STABILIZATION GRANT FOR ANOTHER YEAR.

WE URGE MORE OF YOU TO SUPPORT THIS EFFORT IN SOME OF THE MEETINGS WITH YOUR OFFICES.

AND EARLIER TODAY, YOU HEARD GAVA RESIDENT LEADERS SHARE ABOUT THE INCREDIBLE QUALITY OF LIFE IMPROVEMENTS IT HAS MADE FOR THEM.

HEAT MITIGATION.

AUSTIN EXPERIENCED RECENT HEAT, UH, ADVISORIES, THOUGH NOT ENOUGH TO ACTIVATE THE COOLING SHELTERS.

I KNOW FOLKS WHO ARE OUT THIS PAST SUNDAY EVENING FOR OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, BUT UNABLE TO STAY OUT EVEN ONE HOUR DUE TO A HEAT INDEX OF 107 DEGREES.

WE URGE COUNCIL TO INCREASE FUNDING TO PARKS AND REC STAFFING NEEDS ASSOCIATED WITH POOLS AND SPLASH PADS, AND THE INCREASING MAINTENANCE OF THE FACILITIES AND AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY STAFFING NEEDS ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASING USE AS COOLING SHELTERS AND OTHER HEAT MITIGATION MEASURE MEASURES IN OUR DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY IN THE RUNDBERG COMMUNITY IN THE ST.

JOHN'S NEIGHBORHOOD RESILIENCE HUBS, WE URGE DISCRETIONARY FUNDING THAT CAN BE MOVED THROUGH A FISCAL AGENT TO COMMUNITY GROUPS FOR EACH OF THE ORIGINAL SIX RESILIENCE HUBS IN AUSTIN'S EASTERN CRESCENT TO ADDRESS UNMET NEEDS OF RESIDENTS SEEKING SHELTER DURING A CLIMATE STRESSOR.

DISCRETIONARY FUNDING CAN COVER THE COST OF BASIC NEEDS, INCLUDING FOOD AND WATER, AS WELL AS PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS AND OTHER CRITICAL NEEDS.

ACCORDING TO THE BREAKDOWN, THERE IS A MILLION DOLLARS IN FUNDING AVAILABLE IN THE HOUSING TRUST FUND TO SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THIS APPROVED AND USED FOR TENANT RELOCATION, ASSISTANCE FOR RESIDENTS WHO ARE UPROOTED FROM THEIR HOMES, THEIR COMMUNITIES DUE TO RAPID REDEVELOPMENT, LACKING PROTECTIVE MEASURES.

I'M ALSO READING A GAVA RESIDENT STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF EXPANSION OF THE FAMILY STABILIZATION GRANT.

MY NAME IS FLORENCE T I'M FROM THE BURMESE COMMU REFUGEE COMMUNITY.

I ARRIVED IN AUSTIN IN 2013 WITH REFUGEE STATUS.

I HAVE THREE CHILDREN AND LIVE WITH MY FAMILY IN SOUTH AUSTIN.

I HAVE BEEN SICK WITH A CHRONIC ILLNESS.

I AM SUFFERING SICKNESS AND IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO STR TO ST SURVIVE A STRUGGLING LIFE.

I FEEL LIKE I CAN'T WORK ANYMORE.

I'M VERY WORRIED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF MY FAMILY.

CURRENTLY, I AM GETTING TREATMENT, A KIDNEY DIALYSIS AT A CLINIC THREE TIMES A WEEK.

I DON'T HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE, NO FOOD BENEFITS.

THE FAMILY'S FACING MANY FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS.

THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE IN THE BURMESE COMMUNITY WHO SUFFER FROM CHRONIC DISEASES LIKE ME.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A SPECIAL NEEDS HELP AND REQUEST THAT IF WE CAN GET A BUDGET TO HELP THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING FROM CHRONIC DISEASES, IT WILL SAVE MANY LIVES OF THE WEAK AND ILL PEOPLE AND MAKE A HAPPY LIFE FOR THEIR FAMILY.

AND IN CLOSING, AS A DISTRICT FOUR RESIDENT WITH NO REFLECTION ON GAVA OR ANY OTHER GROUP I WORK WITH OR REPRESENT NOW AND IN THE PAST, PROJECT CONNECT IS NOT WITH THE VOTERS APPROVED.

IT IS NOT SET TO GET FOLKS TO THE AIRPORT, BE BUILT AS FAR NORTH AS CRESTVIEW.

AND IT'S IRRESPONSIBLE, DISMISSIVE, AND DISRESPECTFUL TO PLAN A COMBINED MAINTENANCE FACILITY IN THE LOW INCOME WORKING CLASS ON TOPLESS COMMUNITY.

IN ADDITION, E TODD'S WILL DISPLACE MANY CURRENTLY LIVING IN NATURALLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

PLUS A LAWSUIT HAS BEEN FILED AGAINST THE CITY ABOUT THIS.

CLEARLY, THE NEEDS AND POTENTIAL AND ACTUAL NEGATIVE IMPACT ON VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.

THE PROPOSED MILLIONS IN FUNDING CAN BE BETTER INVESTED IN LONG EXISTING NEEDS, INCLUDING DISTRICT FOREIGN NEIGHBORHOOD CIRCULATORS FOR VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES IN AUSTIN'S EASTERN CRESCENT AND AUSTIN AS A WHOLE.

THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET NEEDS TO REMAIN FLAT.

THEY CONTINUE TO HAVE THE LION'S SHARE OF A VERY INEQUITABLE BUDGET.

RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION IS NOT A FUNDING ISSUE, IT'S AN HR ISSUE.

WE NEED AN EQUITABLE BUDGET.

FUNDING CRITICALLY NEEDED SERVICES AND PROGRAMS, BASIC NEEDS.

THANK YOU MR 9 1 1 ALTERNATIVES FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND MORE.

GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS.

YASMINE SMITH, ROBERT LILY, LIZ COLLINS, CHANTELLE PRI, BRANDON BOONE.

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

[03:30:04]

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR.

GOOD AFTERNOON, PUBLIC.

MY NAME IS ROBERT LILY.

I'M A NON-RESIDENT OF AUSTIN, BUT I WORK IN THE 7 5 6 7 8 7 5 2 ZIP CODE WITH GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP.

I'M A CRIMINAL JUSTICE PARTICIPATORY DEFENSE ORGANIZER, AND I'M JUSTICE IMPACTED AS WELL AS A PERSON WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE.

TODAY I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET AND I AM IN OPPOSITION TO THE INCREASE IN POLICE FUNDING.

AND I'LL TELL YOU WHY.

I'M GONNA BE VERY SUCCINCT IN MY COMMENTS BECAUSE AT THE, AT THE END OF THE DAY, I DON'T PURPORT TO UNDERSTAND ALL OF THE NUANCES OF THIS PARTICULAR DE DEBATE, RIGHT? ALL OF THE INTRICACIES THAT YOU HAVE TO TACKLE AND WRESTLE WITH.

ALL I HAVE IS MY STORY AND MY LIVED EXPERIENCE.

I CAME TO AUSTIN, TEXAS IN 2018.

I WAS DISCHARGED FROM A PROGRAM IN SAN ANGELO, TEXAS, WHERE I HAD BEEN RESIDING FOR EIGHT MONTHS ON MY WAY TO COURT FOR ANOTHER FELONY INFRACTION.

I HAD BEEN WRESTLING WITH SUBSTANCE USE SINCE I WAS 14 YEARS OF AGE, AND I WAS TRYING TO GAIN STABILITY IN MY RECOVERY.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE PROGRAM THAT I WAS ENTERED INTO WAS A FAITH-BASED PROGRAM THAT DIDN'T AFFORD ME COUNSELING SERVICES.

AND AFTER REQUESTING COUNSELING SERVICES AND BEING DENIED BASED ON THEIR PROGRAMS STRICTURES, I, I RELAPSED.

I HAD A FRIEND WHO WAS A RESIDENT OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND SHE ENCOURAGED ME COME TO AUSTIN BECAUSE THERE ARE RESOURCES IN AUSTIN OTHER THAN HER.

I HAD NO CONTACT WITH AUSTIN OTHER THAN AN EXCURSION FROM TIME TO TIME TO COME TO LISTEN TO A SPEAKER OR A MUSIC FESTIVAL OF SOME SORT.

WHEN I GOT HERE TO AUSTIN, MY SPIRITS WERE DOWNCAST.

I DIDN'T KNOW IF I COULD FIND THE WHEREWITHAL TO PICK MYSELF UP AFTER STABILIZING FOR EIGHT MONTHS AND THEN RETURNING TO MY, MY, MY POOR DECISION MAKING.

BUT I FOUND THE COURAGE TO PICK UP THE TELEPHONE AND I CALLED TWO ONE ONE AFTER I CALLED.

I ASKED THEM FOR ANY OUTPATIENT SUPPORTS THAT THEY COULD PROVIDE ME.

I WAS GIVEN ACCESS TO THE PHOENIX HOUSE.

I WENT TO THE PHOENIX HOUSE, AND I WAS ABLE TO REESTABLISH MY COMMITMENT TO SOBRIETY AND BEGIN A, A JOURNEY ANEW.

BUT I WAS TERRIFIED BECAUSE I WAS STILL FACING A FELONY CONVICTION.

I HAD 25 YEARS TO LIFE THAT I WAS BEING SCRUTINIZED AND POTENTIALLY SUBJECT TO.

IT TOOK EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO STABILIZE, LEADING UP TO MY COURT DATE.

AGAIN, I WOULD FIND MYSELF RELAPSING BECAUSE THE NERVES, THE, THE, THE, THE SOCIAL PRESSURE WAS, WAS EXTREMELY PROFOUND.

ANYTIME THE COURT WAS MENTIONED, ANYTIME DEALING WITH THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF, UH, ACCOUNTABILITY FOR MY PAST AND THE, AND THE INSTABILITY OF MY PRESENT.

UH, IT JUST IS THAT MY TIME? I'M SORRY.

THAT'S YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, THOUGH.

CLASSIFICATIONS POSITIONS IN THE CLASSIFIED SERVICE OF THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND CREATING CERTAIN PO POSITIONS AND REPEALING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2 0 2 3 0 8 16 RELATING TO POLICE DEPARTMENT CLASSIFICATIONS AND POSITIONS.

WE APPRECIATE YOU, APPRECIATE YOUR TESTIMONY.

MAYOR.

ALL SPEAKERS HAVE BEEN CALLED THANK YOU.

MEMBERS, UH, ALL SPEAKERS HAVE BEEN CALLED.

I NEED A, I HAVE A QUESTION OF STAFF, UM, WITH REGARD, WELL, ALL SPEAKERS HAVE BEEN CALLED.

SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEMS ONE THROUGH SIX.

THERE BEING NO OBJECTION.

THE PUBLIC HEARINGS ON ITEMS ONE THROUGH SIX ARE NOW CLOSED.

I HAVE A QUESTION WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER SIX, WHICH IS THE, THE ITEM MEMBERS YOU'LL RECALL IS AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING FEES, FINES, AND OTHER CHARGES TO BE SET OR CHARGED BY THE CITY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR THAT'S UPCOMING, UH, BECAUSE OF THE CHANGE IN PARKLAND DEDICATION FEES.

IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING AND MAYBE I, I GOT BAD INFORMATION OR I JUST DIDN'T UNDERSTAND, UH, APPROPRIATELY THAT WE WOULD HAVE A NEW SHEET THAT WOULD SHOW THE APPROPRIATE FEES.

IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.

WHEN WILL THAT BE HERE? WE ARE FINALIZING THAT NOW.

IT SHOULD BE ANY MINUTE NOW THAT WE'LL HAVE THAT UPLOADED.

ALL RIGHT.

AND TO THE DS IN THAT CASE MEMBERS, I'M GONNA TAKE UP A COUPLE OF THESE ITEMS UNLESS STAFF OBJECTS AND TELLS ME THAT I'M TAKING SOMETHING OUT OF ORDER THAT I, I CAN'T, BUT I THINK I'M, I'M FINE IN DOING THIS.

BUT WE WILL TAKE

[8. Approve an ordinance establishing classifications and positions in the classified service of the Austin Police Department; creating certain positions; and repealing Ordinance No. 20230816-010 relating to Police Department classifications and positions.]

UP ITEM NUMBER EIGHT.

ITEM NUMBER EIGHT IS AN, OR IS THE, THE MOTION THAT THE, THAT I'LL ENTERTAIN IS THE APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING

[03:35:01]

THE MAYOR PRO TEM MOVES APPROVAL.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.

UH, DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER EIGHT.

ANY DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION? ITEM NUMBER EIGHT IS ADOPTED.

AND COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, I DO, UH, REGISTER YOU AS BEING ONE OF THE VOTES IN FAVOR.

THAT WILL TAKE US TO ITEM NUMBER NINE.

MAYOR.

ITEM NUMBER NINE AND 10.

UM, I THINK, I KNOW FOR EMS, I STILL HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER WE HAVE, WE NEED TO HAVE FTES ASSIGNED, FOR INSTANCE, FOR THE DOWNTOWN COMMAND FOR YOUR AMENDMENT.

UM, THAT I HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANSWERED YET.

UM, AND THERE MAY BE A SIMILAR ISSUE.

I'M NOT SURE WITH RESPECT TO A CADET CLASS FOR A FD IF THERE NEEDS TO BE FTES ATTACHED AND THAT WOULD CHANGE THE CLASS PIECE.

WELL, HOPEFULLY PEOPLE ARE.

YEAH, I, I HEAR YOU.

UH, HOPEFULLY PEOPLE ARE MOVING RAPIDLY TO SEE IF WE CAN GET ANSWERS FOR YOU ON THAT.

UM, SO I APPRECIATE YOU CALLING THAT TO MY ATTENTION MEMBERS.

UM, I BELIEVE YES.

I WAS JUST GONNA SAY, I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT ITEM NUMBER TWO.

THE A RR RATE INCREASES.

IF I COULD ASK STAFF WHEN WE HAVE TIME OR IT'S APPROPRIATE.

ITEM NUMBER TWO DOESN'T HAVE A VOTE.

I STILL HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT IT.

UM, THE COUNCIL MEMBER HAS A QUESTION ON ITEM NUMBER TWO.

WELL THEN STAFF,

[2. Conduct a public hearing and consider public comment on the proposed rate and fee changes for Austin Resource Recovery as part of the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 proposed budget.]

ON NUMBER TWO, THE A RR RATE INCREASES.

I WAS JUST CURIOUS TO KNOW IF YOU HAD FOUND OUT IF, UH, ANDERSON MILL LIMITED DISTRICT HAD BEEN CONTACTED REGARDING THOSE RATE INCREASES OR NOT YET.

AND WHAT THE OUTCOME OF THAT WAS.

YOUR MICROPHONE'S NOT ON, UH, RICHARD MCHALE, DIRECTOR FOR AUSTIN RESOURCE RECOVERY, UH, WE HAD A MEETING PLANNED WITH THE LIMITED DISTRICT THERE.

AND, UH, THAT MEETING WAS CANCELED AND WE HAD NOT HAD ANY FOLLOW UP FROM THAT.

SO DOES THE FEE INCREASE STILL EXIST IN THIS PROPOSAL FOR ANDERSON LIMITED DISTRICT? YES, IT DOES, MA'AM.

IS THERE ANY WAY THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO PUT A PAUSE ON THAT UNTIL WE'RE ABLE TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE ANDERSON MAL DISTRICT TO UNDERSTAND WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE GOING TO BE DOUBLE CHARGED SINCE THEY ALREADY GET TRASH SERVICE WITH LARGE BRUSH PICKUP? UH, I'M NOT, I DON'T KNOW THAT I KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT.

I WOULD HAVE TO FOLLOW UP ON THE PROCESS AND, AND HOW THAT WORKS.

UH, I, I WANNA MAKE SURE STAFF HAS HEARD THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER HAS QUESTIONS WITH REGARD TO ITEMS 10 AND 11.

I'M

[Items 9 & 10]

SORRY, NINE AND 10.

SO I'M HOPING SOMEBODY IS GOING TO BE PREPARED TO GIVE HER ANSWERS.

DO WE HAVE ANSWERS FOR THOSE NOW? CAN WE ANSWER HER QUESTIONS NOW OR NOT? I BELIEVE WE'LL BE PREPARED FOR THE ANSWERS.

CAN, CAN YOU RESTATE YOUR QUESTIONS, COUNCIL MEMBER? SURE.

SO I AM CONCERNED THAT AT THIS POINT FOR ALL OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSAL, UM, THAT STAFF COMPILED FOR US, UM, THAT THE ONES FOR EMS DO NOT INCLUDE ANY FTES.

SO EVERYTHING IS BEING DONE WITH RESPECT TO OVERTIME.

UM, AND IT SEEMS LIKE MAYBE THE DOWNTOWN COMMAND AND SOME OF THOSE MIGHT REQUIRE SOME FTES, IF NOT, YOU KNOW, FTES FOR THE WHOLE THING.

UM, BUT THEY'RE CURRENTLY ZERO FTES ASSIGNED, SO I'M SURE THE CHIEF IS COMING IN.

UM, BUT IN HIS INITIAL, UM, REQUEST FOR THOSE POSITIONS, HE INDICATED THAT THOSE, UM, SHIFTS ARE, BECAUSE THEY'RE WEEKEND SHIFTS PRIMARILY, THAT THEY WILL BE BETTER SERVED WITH OVERTIME VERSUS, UM, VERSUS FULL POSITIONS.

COME ON DOWN, CHIEF, COME TALK TO US CHIEF.

[03:40:06]

IN THE, IN THE DETA THERE, THERE'S A FEW DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT OVER THE COURSE OF, UH, THIS AND THE DTAC PROGRAM, THOSE EVENING SHIFTS.

UM, THE OVERTIME PIECE IS WHAT WOULD BE MOST EFFECTIVE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO MANAGE, UH, THE STAFF FOR THOSE OCCURRING.

I THINK, UM, THE ORIGINAL UNMET NEED THAT WE SUBMITTED DID LOOK AT HAVING THREE FTES ASSOCIATED WITH DTAC.

UM, BUT AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE, THE VACANT POSITIONS THAT WE HAVE NOW, UH, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE COULD EXPLORE MOVING FORWARD.

BUT I, I'LL DEFER TO BUDGET ON THAT.

SO THE UNMET NEED HAS A REQUEST FOR THREE POSITIONS, BUT THEY'RE NOT IN THE PROPOSAL AS THAT'S CORRECT, BUT THE DOLLAR AMOUNT IS THE SAME.

AND SO I THINK THAT MOVING FORWARD WE COULD PARTNER WITH BUDGET OFFICE TO FIND THE RIGHT TIME TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THOSE ADJUSTMENTS.

AND SO AT THIS POINT THEY'RE VACANCIES, SO YOU DON'T YES, THEY ARE.

THAT'S CORRECT.

AND THEN, UM, IF WE, THERE'S ANOTHER AMENDMENT THAT IS PART OF THE SECOND DRAFT OF AMENDMENTS FROM COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ THAT WOULD HAVE THE COMMUNICATORS.

AND I BELIEVE THAT ONE REQUIRES RECLASSIFICATIONS, UM, TO MAKE WORK.

AND THAT, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT THE CHIEF CAN JUST DO ON HIS OWN OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO BE TAKING CARE OF WHEN WE ADOPT THESE ITEMS? I'M SORRY, COUNCIL MEMBER.

SAY THAT ONE MORE TIME.

SO, SO I MAY BE MISREADING, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ'S AMENDMENT, BUT THERE WAS ONE VERSION FOR THE COMMUNICATORS WHERE THERE WAS REQUEST FOR SIX NEW COMMUNICATORS AND A REQUEST FOR SIX, UM, RECLASSIFICATIONS.

AND THE SIX RECLASSIFICATIONS IS ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT IS IN MR. VELAZQUEZ'S AMENDMENT.

IF WE WERE TO ADOPT THE SECOND ITEM, WHICH WE DON'T KNOW WHETHER WE'RE GONNA ADOPT AT THIS POINT, UM, WOULD THAT REQUIRE US TO PUT THOSE RECLASSIFICATIONS IN THE BUDGET? OR IS THAT A PROCESS THAT THE CHIEF CAN TAKE CARE OF AT A LATER DATE? I THINK THE RECLASSIFICATIONS WOULD, UM, REQUIRE ADDITIONAL FUNDING AT THIS MOMENT.

UM, IT IS ONGOING FUNDING, UM, TO RECLASSIFY THOSE POSITIONS.

UM, AND THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD, THAT WOULD BE NEEDED AS AN ONGOING, I THINK THE AMENDMENT IS LOOK, LOOKING AT IT AS A ONE-TIME AMENDMENT WITH THE POTENTIAL OF, UM, LOOKING IN FUTURE YEARS TO MAKE IT AN ONGOING, UM, COST.

IS THAT CORRECT? OKAY.

THE RE THE RECLASSIFICATIONS WOULD NEED TO BE REFLECTED IN THE RE OR THE, UM, CLASSIFICATION ORDINANCE.

LET'S GO TO ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, WHICH IS THE BUDGET ITSELF.

BUT THAT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE AT A LATER DATE IF NECESSARY, OR, I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IF, IF WE DO ADOPT THIS LATER, I IT WOULD BE, WE DO WOULD BE BEST TO, WOULD THE TITLE AS THE CHIEF WOULD RECLASSIFY THEM TO AND ACTUALLY UPDATE THE CLASSIFICATION ORDINANCE.

UM, IF YOU TAKE ACTION ON THE BUDGET TO ADOPT THAT ITEM, WHEN WE GET TO THE CLASSIFICATION ORDINANCE, WE WOULD, BUT THE MAYOR HAS CALLED UP THE CLASSIFICATION ORDINANCE, WHICH IS WHY I WAS ASKING, RIGHT.

WHETHER WE NEED, SO YOU CAN DO IT ONE OF TWO WAYS.

YOU CAN ADOPT IT AS IS, AND THEN IF THAT ITEM PASSES IN THE BUDGET, COME BACK AND AMEND WHAT YOU PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED OR, OR YOU CAN MAKE THE AMEND AMENDMENT NOW ANTICIPATING THAT IT'LL PASS IN THE BUDGET.

UM, MAYBE WE JUST TAKE IT UP AFTER WE VOTE ON THE BUDGET.

I'M SORRY, SAY THAT AGAIN.

IT, IT MIGHT MAKE SENSE TO WAIT UNTIL WE DO THE BUDGET VOTE TO DO THE RECLASSIFICATION, SO WE HAVE THE RIGHT POSITION FOR THOSE.

I AGREE.

I'M JUST TRYING BECAUSE I, THEY HAD NOT GOTTEN AND STILL HADN'T, UH, I I WAS TRYING TO WORK IN SOME SORT OF ORDER.

SO, UM, LET'S GO TO ITEM NUMBER SEVEN AND, UM, I'M JUST GONNA TRY TO GO THROUGH DO SIX FIRST, BUT

[7. Approve an ordinance adopting the City of Austin Budget for Fiscal Year 2024-2025, beginning on October 1, 2024, and ending on September 30, 2025.]

UH, THE MAYOR PRO TIM MOVES ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE CITY OF AUSTIN BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 20 24, 20 25, BEGINNING ON OCTOBER 1ST, 2024, AND ENDING ON SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025.

AND THE MOTION IS TO ADOPT THE MANAGER'S BASE BUDGET.

I'M GONNA COME BACK FOR AMENDMENTS IN JUST A SECOND, BUT I WANT TO GET THE MOTION OUT THERE WITH A SECOND.

SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRY.

NOW MEMBERS, UM, THERE ARE TWO, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS ON ITEM NUMBER SEVEN.

ONE IS A PROPOSED STAFF AMENDMENT THAT CAME TO US, UH, AS A PROPOSED STAFF AMENDMENT.

AND THEN LATE LAST NIGHT AT, UH, AFTER 10 30, THERE WAS A POST BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER OF WHAT HE HAS LABELED A SUBSTITUTE MOTION.

UH,

[03:45:02]

WE CAN DO IT THAT WAY, WHICH IS, WE CAN TAKE THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION OF A PROPOSED AMENDMENT, GET THAT AMENDMENT OUT AS A, AS A PROPOSED AMENDMENT, AND THEN ALLOW FOR THE OFFERING OF A SUBSTITUTE MOTION.

BUT IF THERE'S NOT OBJECTION OR IF THERE'S DESIRE TO JUST GO TO THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION, THEN THERE'S NO NEED TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS.

I'M HAPPY TO DO IT EITHER WAY.

I JUST WANT TO GET A FEEL.

UM, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER, JUST SO I HAVE CLARITY HERE, THE, THE, THE STAFF AMENDMENT, WHEREVER IT COMES IN THE ORDER, LET'S SAY, LET'S SAY WE DO THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION AND THEN THE STAFF AMENDMENT.

THAT STAFF AMENDMENT IS ONLY SUPPLEMENTARY TO AND NOT TAKING US BACK TO THE ORIGINAL BASE MOTION.

IS THAT CORRECT? OR CAN CITY ATTORNEY TELL ME THAT? SAY THAT AGAIN.

SO THE STAFF AMENDMENT, I JUST WANNA BE SURE THAT IT IS ONLY AN ADDITIVE AMENDMENT, AND IF WHAT I'M MORE CONCERNED ABOUT IS IF WE DO THE BASE MOTION, HAVE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION, AND THEN ADOPT THE STAFF AMENDMENT THAT NULLIFIES WHAT WAS DONE IN THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION? LEMME TELL YOU WHAT I WAS SUGGESTING.

YES, I, YEAH.

UM, AND, BUT STAFF COUNSEL MAKE SURE THAT, THAT I'M NOT SAYING SOMETHING THAT CAUSES ANYBODY HEARTBURN.

WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE BUDGET WITHOUT AMENDMENT THERE.

AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THERE ARE TWO POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS.

UM, WHAT I'LL CALL AMENDMENT ONE, JUST FOR PURPOSES OF THIS DISCUSSION, IS THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION.

THAT INCLUDES A NUMBER OF ITEMS, UH, THAT IN WORKING WITH INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, AND, AND PERHAPS THE SUB QUORUM HAS CONCLUDED, THESE ARE THINGS THAT COULD BE FUNDED, RIGHT? IF WE TAKE UP THAT AMENDMENT AND PASS THAT AMENDMENT, THEN NONE.

OKAY? THEN IT WOULD AMEND THE MAIN MOTION.

AND AS I UNDERSTOOD, WHAT YOU WERE ATTEMPTING TO DO IS YOU WERE ATTEMPTING TO OFFER A SUBSTITUTE MOTION AS AN AMENDMENT, AND IT WOULD BE A SUBSTITUTE TO WHAT STAFF HAD RECOMMENDED.

THAT'S CORRECT.

AND WHAT YOURS OSTENSIBLY WOULD DO WOULD BE TO INCLUDE ALL THAT THE, THE STAFF'S AMENDMENT HAD, PLUS A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS, INCLUDING CHANGING THE, UM, RESERVE AMOUNT AND ADDING A NUMBER OF ITEMS TO BE FUNDED OUT OF THAT ADDITIONAL FUNDING.

IF WE DO THAT, IF WE FOLLOW THAT PROCESS, THE WAY I WOULD DO THAT IS I WOULD ACCEPT A MOTION TO AMEND AND TAKE THE STAFF'S AMENDMENT AS THE, THE MOTION TO AMEND.

GET A SECOND ON THAT, ASK FOR ANY AMENDMENTS TO THAT, TO PERFECT THAT AS AN AMENDMENT.

THEN I WOULD RECOGNIZE YOU FOR A SUBSTITUTE MOTION.

AND THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION WOULD BE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO AMEND THAT WOULD CHANGE.

IT WAS A SUBSTITUTE MOTION, UH, UNDER THE RULES OF ORDER, OR IS, IS, IS ESSENTIALLY A MOTION TO AMEND, RIGHT? AND SO IT'S ESSENTIALLY A MOTION TO AMEND THE AMENDMENT.

I WOULD THEN ASK FOR A SECOND ON THAT, AND I WOULD ASK FOR ANY AMENDMENTS TO THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION AND PERFECT THAT AS AMENDMENT.

I WOULD THEN ASK FOR A VOTE ON JUST A STRAIGHT UP SIX VOTES.

DOES IT, UM, VOTE ON WHETHER WE SHOULD MAKE THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION THE MAIN MOTION, WHICH WOULD BE THE MAIN AMENDMENT.

WHAT I WAS SUGGESTING WHEN I STARTED ALL THIS WAS, DO WE NEED TO DO ALL THAT? OR IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD JUST GO TO THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION THAT YOU WERE GOING TO OFFER AND THAT BE THE ONLY MOTION TO AMEND.

AMEN.

WE DON'T TREAT IT AS A SUBSTITUTE MOTION, WE JUST TREAT IT AS A MOTION TO AMEND.

AND, AND I WAS TRYING TO GET A SENSE OF THE COUNCIL WITHOUT CALLING FOR A VOTE AND RUN IT THROUGH THAT WHOLE RIGMAROLE, BUT I THINK MAYBE I JUST RAN THROUGH THE WHOLE RIG MY PO I THOUGHT THERE WAS A, AN ADDITIONAL STAFF AMENDMENT ON TOP OF WHAT THEY HAD.

AND THAT'S WHY I GOT CONFUSED THERE.

SO I, I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD LIKE TO, UM, HAVE WHAT HAS BEEN OFFERED AT EVENTUALLY BE THE ULTIMATE BASE MOTION

[03:50:01]

THAT WILL BE VOTED ON.

WE CAN DO IT HOWEVER, SIX, ONE HALF 30.

LEMME ASK, IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO, TO GOING FROM AND COUNCIL MEMBERS LET ME KNOW? WE'LL, WE'LL FOLLOW THE WHOLE, YOU GOT SOMETHING? HI, THIS IS IAN HOWE, CITY OF AUSTIN ATTORNEY, UH, SORRY, UH, ASSISTANT CITY LAW, .

I DUNNO FOR HOW, I DON'T KNOW FOR HOW LONG, BUT, SORRY.

BUT, UH, WE'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE TIME.

I WORK HERE.

UM, UH, SO I THINK JERMAINE'S DISCUSSION IS, UM, THERE'S BEEN SEVERAL VERSIONS.

SO, UH, THE QUESTION IS IF THE COUNCIL MEMBER, WHICH VERSION OF HIS MOTION HE INTENDS TO OFFER, BECAUSE THEN THAT'LL CHANGE THE PROCESS IN, IN WHICH, HOW YOU WOULD GO ABOUT IT.

SO I CAN, WHAT IS IN FRONT OF YOU? THIS IS LANGUAGE WE JUST GOT FROM ED LIKE 10 MINUTES AGO, AS HE'S MAGICALLY SAT DOWN.

UM, YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU, THIS IS OUR ALTAR SUBSTITUTE MOTION, ONE VERSION THREE, WHICH STATES I MOVE TO AMEND THE BUDGET TO MAINTAIN THE CITY'S RESERVES AT THE CURRENT LEVEL OF 16.7% TO FREE UP 4.3 MILLION OF ONE-TIME FUNDS.

AND TO ALLOCATE THOSE FUNDS TO THE FOLLOWING INITIATIVES WITH THE LIST THERE INCLUDED.

AND THEN THE PACKET THAT WAS, UM, GIVEN AS THE SUPPLEMENTAL, UH, WHICH IS THE SAME FORM AS THE STAFF MOTION, BUT HAS MOVED THOSE ITEMS LISTED IN THE MOTION FROM OTHER PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO COUNCIL AMENDMENTS FOR CONSIDERATION, SO THAT ONCE WE VOTE, IT WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE GROUP OF AMENDMENTS FOR CONSIDERATION.

AND THAT WAS THE CHART THAT YOU HAD SENT ME, HOWEVER, RECENTLY.

SO I, I HAVE FROM MOTION THREE, I HAVE, I HAVE ONE SHEET.

IS THERE A CHART THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE ATTACHED TO IT RIGHT HERE? YES.

WE, AND WE PRINTED AND HANDED IT OUT.

IT'S THE CHART THAT EVERYONE HAS.

UM, MEMBERS WITHOUT OBJECTION.

WELL, NO, I THINK YOU'RE ASKING A GOOD QUESTION AND WE OUGHT TO MAKE SURE WE'VE GOT IT IN, IN, UM, IN THE RIGHT VERSION.

I APOLOGIZE ON ALL THE CONFUSION.

WE, WE LITERALLY GOT THESE IN THE LAST 20 TO 30 MINUTES AND OKAY.

AND SERIOUSLY PRINTING THEM.

UM, THEN IN THAT CASE, YOU COULD DO IT IN EITHER WAY.

YOU COULD DO IT AS A SUBSTITUTE MOTION.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE, WELL, I, I, I'M PLEASED YOU CAME UP AND, AND IT'S BEEN GOOD WORKING WITH YOU, APPARENTLY , UH, I, I WANT, BUT I WANNA ALSO MAKE SURE WE HAVE CLARITY FROM, UM, BECAUSE I'M NOT, UH, MR. VINO, UM, MS. LANG, YOU AGREE THAT R ALTER WHAT, WHAT'S LABELED R ALTER SUBSTITUTE MOTION ONE, VERSION TWO.

THE CHART THAT IS THERE INCLUDES ALL OF THOSE AMENDMENTS YOU WERE GOING TO OFFER AS THE AMENDMENT TO THE BUDGET.

UH, WE, WE HAVE NOT, I, I, I THINK IT DOES, BUT WE HAVEN'T VERIFIED ALL OF THAT.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHY WE OFFERED THE MOTION, WE WEIGH THE WAY WE DID TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SPREADSHEET THAT'S POSTED TO BACK UP FOR ITEM SEVEN THAT SAYS, THESE ARE ALL THE STAFF AMENDMENTS, AND THESE ARE ALL THE, UH, THE KIND OF THE CURATED LIST OF COUNCIL AMENDMENTS, AND THEN WE VIEWING IT AS THESE ITEMS THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBER JUST ADDED WOULD BE ADDED TO WHAT STAFF HAD PROPOSED IN THE ATTACHMENT TO ITEM SEVEN ON THE AGENDA SYSTEM.

THOUGHT THAT WAS CLEARER THAN COMING UP WITH A NEW, WHOLE NEW SPREADSHEET? NO, I'M, I'M, TRUST ME, I'M, I'M MORE FRUSTRATED THAN I'M LETTING ON, UM, JOIN THE CLUB.

THIS IS NOT THE BEST WAY TO DO THIS.

UM, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE IN RECESS UNTIL THREE 15.

THERE'S NO OBJECTION.

THE CITY COUNCIL IS IN RECESS UNTIL THREE 15 AND IT'S 2 46.

ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY, I'LL CALL US BACK TO ORDER AT 3:15 PM AFTER A BRIEF RECESS.

LET ME TRY TO RECAP WHERE WE ARE.

AND MR. VINO, UM, YOU HAVE PERMISSION IF I SAY SOMETHING WRONG, TO STAND UP AND RUN FROM THE ROOM.

UM, MEMBERS, WE HAVE ON THE FLOOR A MOTION TO ADOPT ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, WHICH IS THE CITY OF AUSTIN BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 20 24, 20 25, BEGINNING ON OCTOBER 1ST, 2024, AND ENDING

[03:55:01]

ON SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025.

WHAT WE HAVE DISCOVERED DURING THE RECESS IS THAT THE BETTER VERSION OF A SPREADSHEET OR FLOW CHART FOR US TO OPERATE UNDER IS THE ONE THAT IS, WAS PROVIDED TO US BY OUR STAFF, UH, AS PART OF WHAT WAS INITIALLY COMPLICATED, UH, CONTEMPLATED AS GOING TO BE A MOTION TO AMEND THE BUDGET.

THERE IS ONE NUMBER, UH, DURING THIS, UH, BRIEF BREAK, WE DID FIND THAT THERE WAS ONE NUMBER THAT NEEDS TO BE, UH, FIXED.

AND BEFORE I ACCEPT ANYTHING ON THAT AND WE VOTE ON ANYTHING, WE'LL SAY THAT OUT LOUD AND MAKE THAT AS A, AS A, A CHANGE TO THAT FLOW CHART THAT YOU HAVE OR SPREADSHEET THAT YOU HAVE.

THE ONE PAGE ITEM THAT YOU SAW FROM COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER THAT INDICATED TWO THINGS IN IT.

ONE WAS A CHANGE IN THE RESERVE THAT WAS IN THE MAIN MOTION, UH, DROPPING IT FROM 17% TO 16.7% AND ADDING, I THINK IT WAS SEVEN ITEMS THAT WAS, UH, THAT, THAT IS PROBABLY BETTER UTILIZED AS A STANDALONE MOTION TO AMEND THE AMENDMENT AS OPPOSED TO A SUBSTITUTE.

I HAD ASKED THE QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER WE SUBSTITUTE WE, HOW WE WANTED TO DO THIS, AND I THINK WE HAVE GREATER CLARITY AS A RESULT OF THAT AS WELL.

SO HERE'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.

WE HAVE THE MAIN MOTION, WHICH IS TO ADOPT THE BUDGET.

I'M GOING TO CALL UPON MR. VAN ENO, UH, TO TELL US WHAT NUMBER NEEDS TO BE CHANGED IN THE SPREADSHEET.

AND THEN I'M GOING TO ACCEPT A MOTION TO AMEND THE MAIN MOTION.

AND THE MOTION TO AMEND IS TO, THE MOTION TO AMEND IS ACCEPTING THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION, THE STAFF PROPOSED AMENDMENT.

AT THAT POINT IN TIME, I WILL SEEK ANYONE THAT WANTS TO HAVE AN AMENDMENT TO THAT AMENDMENT, AND WE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT AMENDMENT.

WE WILL NOT HAVE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION, AND I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER ON THAT, AND WE'LL GO BACK TO, UH, TO, UM, GET BACK INTO THE, THE FLOW OF THINGS.

SO WITH THAT, MR. VINO, WOULD YOU TELL US WHAT THE CHA, FIRST OF ALL, I, I DIDN'T SEE YOU RUN FROM THE ROOM, SO, NO, SIR.

DID I GET CLOSE? YOU NAILED IT.

GOOD.

UM, SO TO MAKE SURE VERY, VERY SURE THAT EVERYBODY IS CLEAR ON WHAT WE'RE WORKING FROM, I ASK THIS GENTLEMAN TO PUT IT ON THE SCREEN.

THIS IS THE SHEET WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

THAT IS THE BACKUP ITEM FOR ITEM NUMBER SEVEN.

IT'S AVAILABLE ON THE CITY'S AGENDA SYSTEM UNDER ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, LABELED AGENDA, LATE BACKUP ATTACHMENT A.

SO THAT'S WHAT'S ON THE RECORD FOR ITEM NUMBER SEVEN IS ATTACHMENT A.

THAT ITEM INCLUDES AT THE TOP ALL OF THE AMENDMENTS FROM STAFF THAT WERE CHANGES IN CORRECTIONS FROM THE TIME WE PROPOSED THE BUDGET TO YOU.

BELOW THAT, ARE ALL OF THE VARIOUS COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WERE OFFERED AND THAT ARE ON THE TABLE AS PART OF THE MOTION TO APPROVE THIS TO BE ADDED TO THE BUDGET AS WELL.

BUT THE MOTION TO AMEND DOESN'T INCLUDE BELOW THAT LINE, CORRECT.

THE MOTION TO AMEND IS THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION.

THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE MAIN MOTION.

UH, THE ONE NUMBER ON THE STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS THAT, UH, WE WOULD OFFER TO CHANGE IS THE LINE FOR SUPPORT SERVICES FUND MAYOR AND COUNCIL STAFF AMENDMENT.

I KNOW IT'S HARD TO SEE ON THE SCREEN, BUT IT'S THE NUMBER THAT SAYS 934,500 THAT WAS INADVERTENTLY DIVIDED BY TWO.

IT NEEDS TO READ 1,869,000.

IT WAS A FORMULAIC ERROR.

IT DOES NOT ALTER IN ANY WAY.

THE AMOUNT, THE AVAILABLE FUNDING, THE RESERVE LEVELS, OR ANY OF THAT IS SIMPLY AN ERROR ON THIS, UH, SPREADSHEET.

SO, UM, WITH THAT SUGGESTED CHANGE FROM 9 3 4 500 TO 1 8 6 9 $1,869,000, THAT IS THE ONE CHANGE.

I WILL ACCEPT A MOTION TO AMEND THE MAIN MOTION BY ADOPTING

[04:00:01]

THE MAYOR PRO TEM MAKES THAT MOTION.

IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.

NOW WE ARE DISCUSSING THE MAIN, THE MOTION TO AMEND AND I RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER ON THE MOTION TO AMEND.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR.

I BRING A MOTION TO AMEND THE CURRENT MOTION BEFORE US THAT WOULD SET THE RESERVE LEVEL AT, KEEP IT AT THE CURRENT 16.7%, AND, UH, USE THOSE ADDITIONAL DOLLARS, UH, TO FUND SEVEN PROGRAMS LISTED.

THOSE ARE, UH, THESE ARE ALL ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED, UH, PUT OUT TO THE PUBLIC.

IT IS COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES FIVE, EARLY CHILDHOOD SOCIAL SERVICE CONTRACT ADJUSTMENTS.

UH, COUNCILMAN RYAN ALTER SEVEN TO INCREASE THE HOMELESS PREVENTION FROM 1 MILLION TO 2,000,012.

COUNCILMAN RYAN ALTER EIGHT SERVICE FOR FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, TWO, SUBSTANCE USE CONTINUUM OF CARE.

COUNCILMAN RYAN ALTER FIVE THEMA EXPANDED MOBILE CRISIS OUTREACH TEAM OTT, UH, TO 24 7.

COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ THREE, THE EMS COMMUNICATIONS POSITION AND COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER 10, THE ADDITIONAL FIRE DEPARTMENT CADET CLASS.

AND I MOVE COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER MOVES FOR THE PURPOSES OF OUR RECORD AND US KEEPING UP, WE HAVE AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE, WHICH IS THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION.

I'M GOING TO REFER TO THAT AS AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO THE BUDGET.

RYAN ALTER MOVES.

YOU'VE HEARD HIS MOTION.

YOU HAVE A COPY OF IT MOVES TO AMEND AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE.

IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ.

IS THAT YEAH, VESQUEZ.

I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I GOT IT RIGHT.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ, UM, MAYOR PRO, TIM.

THANKS, MAYOR.

I MOVE TO AMEND THE AMENDMENT TO HAVE THE CITY'S RESERVES, UH, SET AT THE LEVEL OF 17% TO TRACK OUR FISCAL POLICIES.

MAYOR, I WOULD, UH, RAISE A POINT OF ORDER THAT A THIRD DEGREE AMENDMENT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE UNDER ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER.

I'M NOT SURE I AGREE WITH YOU, BUT, BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE, I WANNA GIVE YOU THE PROPER OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE IT'S A MOTION TO AMEND YOUR AMENDMENT AND, AND TYPICALLY A MOTION TO AMEND THE, THE, THE BELONGS TO THE, THE AMENDMENT.

ONCE IT HAS A SECOND BELONGS TO THE ENTIRE COUNCIL, AND THE COUNCIL WILL BE IN A POSITION TO AMEND THAT.

SO WE HAVE THE MOTION TO AMEND, WHICH IS STAFF AMENDMENT HAS LABELED AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE.

I BROUGHT AN AMENDMENT TO AMEND THAT AMENDMENT.

THAT'S A SECOND DEGREE AMENDMENT THAT HAS BEEN SECONDED.

AND NOW A, WE ARE HAVING A THIRD DEGREE AMENDMENT OFFERED BY, BY MAYOR PRO TEMPLE.

RIGHT, WHICH IS OUT OF ORDER UNDER ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER.

UH, I'M GONNA RULE IT, UH, UH, THAT I'LL TAKE UP YOUR POINT OF ORDER AS BEING A FAVORABLE, UH, STATEMENT AND, UM, RULE THAT WE WILL NOT TAKE A MOTION TO AMEND THE ALTER AMENDMENT.

UM, ALRIGHT, THAT TAKES US TO THE ALTER AMENDMENT.

AS OPPOSED TO THE 17% THAT IS IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET.

I'D MOVE TO DIVIDE THE QUESTION SO THAT WE CAN VOTE ON THE RESERVE LEVEL, UM, FIRST, AND THEN, UM, DEPENDING ON HOW THAT VOTE GOES, WE CAN TAKE UP THE SECOND VOTE.

A MOTION, A DIVISION, UH, A MOTION TO DIVIDE, UM, IS A RECOGNIZED MOTION UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, BECAUSE THOSE ARE TWO SEPARATE ISSUES.

AND IF IS THERE A SECOND ON THE MOTION? THE MAYOR PRO TEM, UH, MOVES TO SECOND IT MEMBERS.

WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO NOW IS HAVE DISCUSSION AND A VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT IN TWO SEPARATE WAYS.

ALTHOUGH DEPENDING UPON WHAT HAPPENS ON THE FIRST, IT WILL, IT WILL DETERMINE THE SECOND.

WELL, AND IF I MAY MAYOR, PLEASE, A MOTION TO DIVIDE, CANNOT CONTINGENTLY SET THE SECOND PORTION, OTHERWISE THAT'S AMENDMENT.

BUT, BUT THE PROBLEM IS WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE THE MONEY IS, IS WHAT I'M, WHAT I'M TRYING TO POINT OUT AS PART OF THE DISCUSSION.

SO WHILE TECHNICALLY YOU MIGHT BE CORRECT, IT, IT PRACTICALLY CREATES THAT ISSUE.

SO THE, THE, THE DIVISION, THE FIRST VOTE WILL BE ON THE PORTION OF COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER'S MOTION TO AMEND AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE THAT SAYS THAT WE WOULD LEAVE THE RESERVE LEVEL AT 16.7%, WHICH IS WHAT IT CURRENTLY IS SET AT,

[04:05:01]

SO, DISCUSSION? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, DO, DO WE NEED A VOTE ON WHETHER OR NOT WE HAVE SUPPORT TO DIVIDE THE MOTION? YEAH, WE SH OF COURSE WE DO.

THAT'S A GOOD, THAT HAS A HECK OF A POINT OF ORDER.

UM, YES.

UM, SO THE MOTION IS TO DIVIDE THE QUESTION.

IT'S BEEN SECONDED.

UH, SO YOU'RE, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

WE NEED TO HAVE A VOTE ON THAT.

AND I APOLOGIZE, I MOVED STRAIGHT TO THE, THE EXPLANATION.

UM, WITH THAT BEING SAID, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO DIVIDE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND, I AND IS NATASHA AROUND.

COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, ARE YOU AVAILABLE TO VOTE? MAYOR, CAN WE SPEAK TO THE MOTION TO DIVIDE BEFORE? SURE.

BEFORE THAT, MAYOR, A MOTION TO DIVIDE IS NOT, UH, IT, IT'S NOT A DEBATABLE MOTION.

YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.

IT'S NOT A DEBATABLE MOTION.

HANG ON ONE SECOND.

COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MEDICINE IS OFF THE DAES AND, AND NOT PRESENT.

UH, ALL THOSE OPPOSED TO THE MOTION TO DIVIDE, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

THERE BEING FOUR VOTES IN FAVOR.

SIX OPPOSED.

THE MOTION TO DIVIDE FAILS.

AND COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON IS OFF THE DAS FOR THE RECORD, THOSE WHO VOTED, UH, IN IN FAVOR WERE THE MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER.

THAT NOW TAKES US BACK TO COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER'S MOTION TO AMEND AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE.

I'LL CALL FOR DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION TO AMEND AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTAR, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.

SO I WANNA JUST BE REALLY CLEAR THAT WE DON'T HAVE A CURRENT LEVEL OF 16.7% FOR OUR RESERVES.

OUR POLICY SAYS IT'S 17%.

UM, SO WHEN YOU SET IT AT 16.7 FOR TODAY, YOU ARE, YOU ARE SETTING THAT IT, WE SHOULD BE VIOLATING OUR POLICY.

UM, AND YOU KNOW, I I I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THE THINGS THAT FOLKS WANT TO INVEST IN HERE.

UM, THESE ARE ALL WORTHY PROGRAMS. UM, I AM CONCERNED THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS AHEAD OF US, SOME OF WHICH WILL HAPPEN AFTER I'M GONE.

UM, BUT WE HAVE AN ARPA CLIFF.

SO WE HAVE ALL SORTS OF THINGS THAT WE HAVE FUNDED THAT ARE VALUABLE PROGRAMS THAT ARE GOING TO NO LONGER HAVE FUNDING.

AND EVERY ONE OF THOSE PROGRAMS IS GONNA COME TO US AND ASK US FOR MONEY.

UM, I'M ALSO CONCERNED WE HAVE A NEW CITY MANAGER WHO MAY HAVE SOME THINGS THAT HE WANTS TO INVEST IN THAT WOULD BE ALIGNED WITH COUNCIL PRIORITIES, AND THAT WILL BE MORE CHALLENGING.

AND PARTICULARLY OF IMPORT TO ME IS THAT WE HAVE, UM, SALES TAXES THAT ARE CONTINUING TO BE MUCH, MUCH LOWER THAN ANTICIPATED.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, IT, IT APPEARS THAT THE WAY THAT THIS HAS BEEN STRUCTURED, WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO VOTE ON WHETHER WE WANT TO, YOU KNOW, KEEP THAT LEVEL AND THEN HAVE A DEBATE OVER HOW WE, HOW WE ADDRESS THE FUNDING PROCESSES.

AGAIN, I WANNA BE CLEAR, THESE ARE ALL WORTHY, WORTHY, UM, ELEMENTS.

UM, BUT IT IS A SLIPPERY SLOPE HERE, AND, AND WE DO HAVE TO BE, BE MINDFUL OF THAT.

COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, I AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ELLISON ALTER ON THIS.

I KNOW I'VE SPOKEN ABOUT IT PUBLICLY BEFORE, BUT I, I THINK IT BEARS REPEATING.

YOU KNOW, THESE RESERVES ARE DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE TO TAP INTO.

THEY'RE ALMOST LIKE A RAINY DAY FUND.

UM, WE HAVE WILDFIRE RISK, WE HAVE FLOODING RISK.

WE, A NUMBER OF US HAVE WORKED ON THESE ISSUES TOGETHER.

WE HAVE ISSUES OF NATURAL DISASTER THAT ARE HAPPENING MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY, AND WE DON'T KNOW THAT FEMA IS GOING TO REIMBURSE US FOR ALL OF, ALL OF THE ACTIVITIES AND ALL OF THE EXTRA ASSISTANCE THAT WE NEED.

WHEN THESE MOMENTS HIT, UM, THE ICE STORM OF 2023 WHEN WE HAD TO RECRUIT WORKERS FROM OUTSIDE OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER TEXAS COMING TO HELP MAKE SURE WE COULD REPAIR OUR LINES.

THOSE BILLS HAVE TO GET PAID.

THEY DESERVE TO GET PAID IN A TIMELY FASHION, BUT WE FOOT THE BILL AND WE KNOW THAT FEMA, AS MUCH AS THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE THERE TO HELP US AND WANNA BE THERE TO HELP US, THEY ARE GONNA GO THROUGH AND THEY'RE GONNA REJECT THINGS IF THEY CAN.

AND WE'RE GONNA BE FOOTING THE BILL FOR THAT.

SO I AGREE THAT THESE, THESE PROGRAMS ARE GOOD, BUT WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO WORK WITHIN THE SYSTEMS THAT WE SET UP TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR GENERAL FUND AND OUR SALES TAX DOLLARS AND ENTERPRISE FUNDS ARE FUNDING THE PROGRAMS THAT WE, THAT WE DESPERATELY NEED.

AND I'M WORRIED THAT IF WE KEEP USING THIS AS OUR WAY OF TRYING TO GET MORE AND MORE DONE, THAT WE'RE GONNA FIND OURSELVES IN A SITUATION WHERE SOMETHING CAN'T BE ACHIEVED OR SOMETHING GETS OUT OF BALANCE AND WE'RE NOT WITH OUR FISCAL POLICIES, AND THAT AFFECTS OUR ABILITY TO GO BOND AND TO ISSUE DEBT.

UM, THESE ARE MAJOR,

[04:10:01]

MAJOR CONCERNS.

AND SO I ALSO WANT TO BE ABLE TO FUND EVERYTHING.

WE JUST HAVE TO BE MINDFUL ABOUT HOW WE PUT PARAMETERS AROUND HOW MANY DOLLARS ARE AVAILABLE.

MAYOR PRO TEM, THANKS, MAYOR.

I, I TOO AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHERE WE'RE HEADING WITH OUR, OUR FISCAL HOUSE AND KEEPING IT IN ORDER, ESPECIALLY AFTER THIS YEAR, THAT 3.5% REVENUE CAP WILL BE EVEN MORE DIFFICULT FOR US TO OPERATE WITHIN IF WE CONTINUE GROWING OUR PROGRAMS AT THE PACE WE ARE.

I'M, I'M FASCINATED BY CALLS TO CUT OUR BUDGET AND THEN, UH, BUT IT'S OKAY TO REDUCE OUR RESERVES.

I, I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT.

UM, AND, UH, MAYBE THAT WILL BECOME CLEAR TO ME IN THE FUTURE.

WE DO HAVE PROGRAMS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND THEY WANT TO SEE THEM EXPANDED AND MORE MONEY'S INVESTED IN THEM.

THERE WILL BE A TIME WHEN THIS DIOCESE WILL HAVE TO HAVE A REALLY HARD RECKONING.

AND LIKE MY COLLEAGUE OFF TO MY RIGHT HERE, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER, I WON'T BE ON THE DIOCESE, BUT I DID WANT TO TRY TO HOLD THE LINE WITH SOME FISCAL AND FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY HERE WITH THIS BUDGET.

AS DIFFICULT AS THIS ONE HAS BEEN THIS YEAR, AND I'VE SEEN THIS IS MY 10TH BUDGET ON THIS D I'VE SEEN SOME TOUGH BUDGETS, BUT THIS ONE WAS, IS THE HARDEST THAT I'VE SEEN.

AND I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT WE ARE PLOWING FORWARD WITH AMENDMENTS THAT TELL THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY ARE GOING TO SEE CERTAIN THINGS.

UM, BUT WE MAY IN FACT, IN THE END, A YEAR FROM NOW FIND THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE THEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE OVERESTIMATED OUR ABILITY FINANCIALLY TO MEET, TO MEET THEM.

UH, AND SO MAYOR I I, I PRAY THAT WE GET BACK TO RESPECTING OUR FISCAL POLICIES, AND IN THIS INSTANCE, IT'S $4 MILLION THAT'S BEING USED FOR ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS. AND I, I, I WILL HAVE TO VOTE AGAINST THEM, AND I REALLY WOULD RATHER NOT BE IN THAT POSITION, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE THE MONEY FOR IT.

UM, AND I ALSO THINK THAT WE SHOULD RESPECT THE FISCAL POLICIES THAT WE HAVE CRAFTED OVER THE YEARS AND HOLD FAST TO THEM.

AT SOME POINT, WE WILL, WE WILL NEED THESE MONIES AS A RAINY DAY FUND, AND THIS IS NOT THE YEAR FOR THAT.

THANK YOU MEMBER TIM.

COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.

THANK YOU COLLEAGUES.

I DO WANNA REMIND EVERYONE HERE THAT IT WAS JUST OVER A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO WHERE WE HAD A 14% RESERVE POLICY.

SO IN OVER A YEAR, WE'VE DONE GOOD PROGRESS IN INCREASING OUR RESERVES BY 2.7%.

THIS COUNCIL HAS EXERCISED OUR FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY IN INCREASING OUR RESERVES TO THE HIGHEST ETHNICITY HAS EVER SEEN.

AND WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW IS $4 MILLION OUT OF A $5.9 BILLION BUDGET THAT WE OVERSEE WITH OUR ENTERPRISE FUNDS AND WITH OUR GENERAL FUNDS.

SO I JUST WANNA BE SUPER CLEAR THAT THESE 4 MILLION THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INVESTING IN IS A COST OF LIVING INCREASE FOR PREDOMINANTLY WOMEN AND WOMEN OF COLOR WHO ARE WORKING IN THE EARLY CHILDHOOD SECTOR.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INCREASING OUR INVESTMENTS IN HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FUNDING, UH, FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FUNDING HARM REDUCTION, AND WE'RE ALSO INVESTING IN OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT AND OUR EMS DEPARTMENT.

THESE ARE ALL WORTHWHILE INVESTMENTS THAT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT AS THE COUNCIL THROUGHOUT NUMEROUS WORK SESSIONS.

THEY MERIT OUR VOTE AND OUR CONSIDERATION AND OUR ADVANCEMENT OF IT MOVING FORWARD.

THIS IS NOT CHANGING OUR 17% FISCAL POLICY.

THIS IS JUST ADOPTING A BUDGET THAT INCLUDES THESE INVESTMENTS.

AS WE CONTINUE TO RAISE REVENUE, OF COURSE, WE WILL HIT THAT 17% JUST AS WE DID THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

AT ONE POINT, THIS LAST FISCAL YEAR, WE WERE ABOVE OUR 17% RESERVE POLICY.

WITH THAT, I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS AMENDMENT AND I ASK, UH, FOR THIS COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION OF ALSO SUPPORTING THESE WORTHWHILE INVESTMENTS.

COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALT ALTER, THEN COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.

BUT I DO THINK THAT, THAT WE SHOULD BE MINDFUL THAT THESE ARE ALL ONE TIME FUNDS.

UM, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.

I, I I THINK THAT WAS VERY ELOQUENTLY PUT.

I DO WANNA JUST, AGAIN, REITERATE SOME OTHER CONCERNS THOUGH THAT I DO HAVE THAT I THINK WE JUST NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S PRETTY CLEAR THAT THIS AMENDMENT WILL LIKELY PASS, BUT,

[04:15:01]

SO THIS IS $4 MILLION WORTH OF FUNDING THAT NEXT YEAR, EVERY ONE OF THESE GROUPS IS GONNA BE COMING TO US AND ASKING US TO CONTINUE THAT FUNDING.

NONE OF THESE IS TRULY A ONE TIME, YOU KNOW, EXPENSE.

THERE'S SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO KEEP GOING.

I'VE SEEN THIS IN, IN BUDGET AFTER BUDGET, WHERE THAT CREATES CHALLENGES.

UM, IT CREATES DISAPPOINTMENT.

IT MEANS THAT WE ARE NOT ABLE TO MEET THE NEEDS.

UM, AND SO THERE, THERE'S SOME PROCESS THINGS HERE.

UM, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE, YOU'RE GONNA ASK MOT TO STAFF UP AS SOMEBODY SAID, UM, YOU KNOW, TO BE 24 7, BUT THEY HAVE ONE TIME MONEY.

YOU HAVE, UM, YOU KNOW, EMS COMMUNICATIONS, YOU'RE GIVING THEM, YOU KNOW, ONE TIME MONEY, THE CADET CLASS, WE DON'T HAVE FTES PUT AWAY, UM, FOR THE NEXT YEAR.

AND SO THEY'RE JUST, THEY'RE, THEY'RE, YOU'RE BUILDING SOME CHALLENGES IN FOR YOUR NEXT BUDGET.

UM, AND I THINK WE JUST NEED TO BE OPEN-EYED ABOUT WHAT THAT, WHAT THAT IS.

THESE ARE ALL, AS COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES SAID, WORTHWHILE, UM, INVESTMENTS.

BUT HOW THIS IS STRUCTURED DOES NOT SIT, DOES NOT SET THEM UP FOR SUCCESS IN MY VIEW.

COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

UM, YOU KNOW, REPRESENTING DISTRICT NINE LIVING IN, IN DOWNTOWN AT A POINT.

THE ONE THING THAT I, I ALWAYS NOTICED AS I WOULD WALK TO WORK, UH, WAS OUR UNHOUSED UN UNHOUSED POPULATION.

UH, YOU KNOW, EVERY DAY, YOU KNOW, WORKING IN DOWNTOWN, YOU CAN, BUT HELP SEE THE UNHOUSED COMMUNITY, UH, WORKING WITH, YOU KNOW, PROVIDERS IN THE AREA.

UH, YOU KNOW, HEARING FROM CONSTITUENTS WHO ARE SUFFERING FROM HOMELESSNESS, UH, IT, IT'S AN EVERYDAY OCCURRENCE.

UM, IT, IT'S, IT'S THE FIRST THING I NOTICED WHEN I MOVED TO AUSTIN 15 YEARS AGO.

UH, AND I THINK HEARING FROM FOLKS DURING THIS WHOLE BUDGET PROCESS, HEARING FROM FOLKS TODAY, UH, ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS IN THE CITY, UH, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE NOT ONLY PREVENTING, UH, YOU KNOW, HOME, YOU KNOW, HOMELESSNESS, BUT WE'RE ALSO MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE HELPING FOLKS THAT ARE EXPERIENCING IT.

UH, I, I, I THINK THAT'S WHAT THIS MOTION DOES, AND, UH, THAT'S WHY I'M SUPPORTIVE OF IT.

AND I REALLY DO APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES, UH, WHO ARE BRINGING FORWARD ALL THE DIFFERENT, UH, UH, I GUESS AMENDMENTS WITHIN THE MOTION.

UH, AND, AND I DO APPRECIATE THE CONCERNS THAT MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE HAVE, UH, ON THIS MOTION.

BUT, UH, I'LL BE SUPPORTING IT.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ.

UH, THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

I JUST WANT TO REITERATE WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES SAID, SAID THAT THIS IS 4 MILLION OUT OF A $5.9 BILLION BUDGET.

AND AS SOMEBODY THAT HAS GROWN UP IN AUSTIN, TEXAS AND KNOWS THAT A LOT OF THESE SERVICES ARE ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL, THAT IT MAY BE A, IT MAY JUST BE A YEAR'S WORTH OF FUNDING, WE'RE SAVING LIVES WITH SOME OF THESE THINGS AND WE'RE HELPING PEOPLE ALONG WITH SOME OF THESE THINGS.

AND WHILE IT MAY RAIN FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD, IT'S RAINING RIGHT NOW ON THE HAVE NOTS OF THIS CITY.

AND SO I AM PROUD TO STAND WITH OUR SUB QUORUM AND THE FOLKS THAT BRI, THAT ARE BRINGING THESE ITEMS FORWARD.

THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TIM.

SO I HAVE A, UH, JUST A, A PROCESS QUESTION, MAYOR.

UM, EARLIER IT, YOU RULED THAT WE COULD NOT AMEND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER'S AMENDMENT.

DOES THAT MEAN THAT ITS STANDS IN ITS ENTIRETY? THERE IS NOTHING ELSE THAT CAN BE DONE WITH HIS MOTION.

HE HAS A MOTION TO AMEND.

I'M NOT ACCEPTING A MOTION TO AMEND HIS AMENDMENT.

SO EVERYTHING THAT'S IN HERE THEN IS WHAT WE ARE VOTING ON? WELL, IN HIS MOTION.

SEVERAL CATEGORIES, THE CATEGORIES THAT NEED TO BE PART OF THIS, OF THIS OVERALL AMENDMENT IS A CATEGORY CALLED STAFF AMENDMENTS AND THE CATEGORY CALLED COUNCIL AMENDMENT FOR CONSIDERATION.

RIGHT.

IF HIS MO YES, EVERYTHING THAT'S IN HIS, AND I DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME RIGHT NOW, BUT THE ONE PAGE THAT HAS THE SEVEN ITEMS, CHA THE CHA, THERE WAS NOT A, THERE WAS NOT A MOTION TO DIVIDE THAT PASSED.

SO THE, THE CHANGE FROM THE MAIN MOTION OR THE MAIN AMENDMENT, AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE FROM 17%, WHICH WAS IN AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO 16.7% FOR THE, UM, RESERVES.

AND THEN THE SEVEN ITEMS THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY LISTED WOULD BE ADDED AS POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS, UH, POTENTIAL ITEMS. UH, AND THAT WOULD AMEND AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE.

UM, DOES THAT INCLUDE THE CHART THAT WAS ATTACHED? HE, HE IS NOT ATTACHING A CHART, THE CHART THAT WE'RE VOTING ON, BUT MR. VINO, YOU KNOW, I, I, I, I KEEP THINKING I'VE GOT THIS CLEAR, BUT THE CHART THAT WE'RE VOTING ON IS THE CHART THAT IS THE BASIS OF YOUR MOTION OR, OR THE, YOUR PROPOSED AMENDMENT THAT THAT IS CORRECT.

AND, AND JUST I'LL TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CLARIFY THAT ON THAT CHART.

THERE'S

[04:20:01]

ALL OF THOSE NEED TO BE INTO THE MOTION TO ACHIEVE WHAT, UM, WE HAVE DISCUSSED.

AND THEN, AND I THOUGHT THAT'S WHAT WE HAD DONE.

I THOUGHT THAT'S WHAT WE HAD DONE.

AND THEN I'M JUST BEING CLEAR, WITH THAT ONE AMENDMENT OF, OF THE NUMBER.

AND THEN NOW WHAT WE HAVE IS AN, A MOTION TO AMEND THE AMENDMENT THAT WOULD ADD SEVEN ITEMS AND WOULD CHANGE THE RECOMMENDATION OF STAFF IN AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE FROM 17 TO 16.7%.

THAT IS CORRECT.

THEY'RE JUST FORMATTED DIFFERENTLY.

IS EVERYBODY CLEAR ON THAT? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER ROSE.

I, I AM CLEAR.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THE CONFUSION IS COMING FROM, I BELIEVE THERE'S A VERSION TWO THAT IS A PACKET AND A VERSION THREE THAT IS A LIST OF COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER'S AMENDMENT.

SO THEY ACHIEVE THE SAME GOAL.

BUT WE DON'T NEED TO LOOK AT THE PACKET.

YOU DON'T NEED TO LOOK AT THE PACKET.

IN FACT, THAT'S WHY I TOOK UP THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION BECAUSE WE, WE DETERMINED THAT THE BETTER SPREADSHEET TO UTILIZE WAS THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION WITH THAT ONE CORRECTION.

BUT IT INCLUDES, IT INCLUDES THE STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS AND THE ITEMS TO BE CONSIDERED FROM COUNSEL.

AND, AND WE HAVE THAT AMENDMENT IS, IS, IS PRO, UH, PROPOSED THE AMENDMENT, THE RYAN ALTER AMENDMENT TO AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE WOULD CHANGE THE RESERVE OF THE RECOMMENDATION THAT'S IN THE, THE AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE AND WOULD ADD SEVEN ADDITIONAL ITEMS. HANG ON.

COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.

YOU AGREE WITH THAT? UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER.

SO I JUST WANTED TO ADD COUNCIL, MAYOR PRO POOL, IF YOU, ONCE THIS RYAN'S AMENDMENT IS PASSED AND AMENDMENT ONE DOESN'T, OR, AND AMENDMENT ONE AND RYAN'S ARE TOGETHER AS, AS THE MOTION THAT WE HAVE TO THEN VOTE ON AT THAT POINT, YOU COULD AMEND THAT COMBINED MOTION.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT TO CALL IT.

UM, IF THERE WAS SOMETHING ELSE YOU WANTED TO DO TO IT, FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE RYAN ALTER MOTION TO AMEND AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY, UH, RAISE YOUR HAND.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED, RAISE YOUR HAND.

I DIDN'T COUNT.

I DON'T, I HAVEN'T COUNTED ENOUGH PEOPLE.

? UH, YEAH, I, I GOT HER.

YOU VOTED.

AYE, IS THAT CORRECT? COUNCIL MEMBER HARBOR MADISON.

OH, I GOT IT.

I JUST DID BAD MATH.

WE WE'RE ONLY WORKING ON THE BUDGET.

UM, SO, UH, THERE BEING SEVEN AYES AND FOUR NAYS.

THE ALTER MOTION TO AMEND AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE IS ADOPTED.

THE FOUR FOR THE RECORD, THE FOUR NOS OR THE MAYOR? THE MAYOR PRO TEM.

COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER MEMBERS.

ANOTHER MOTION TO A, I'M SORRY.

THANK YOU MS, FOR THE RECOGNITION.

JUST TO BE CLEAR, THIS IS NOT MY FAVORITE ITEM THAT I'M VOTING FOR, BUT I TRUST COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, AND I THINK THAT HE HAS GOOD INTENTIONS HERE AND IT MIGHT DO SOMETHING POSITIVE FOR THE COMMUNITY, BUT TO BE CLEAR IS ONE OF THE ONES THAT I DON'T LOVE, BUT I'M OKAY WITH THAT.

SO YES, I'M AN I.

ALRIGHT, VERY GOOD.

UM, THANK YOU MEMBERS.

YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU WATSON MOTION TO AMEND AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE.

IT IS TO ADD THREE FTES TO THE DOWNTOWN AREA COMMAND PROGRAM.

THIS WOULD NOT HAVE A FISCAL IMPACT.

IT WOULD SIMPLY MAKE SURE THAT IN THE BUDGET WE ARE ADDING THE THREE FTES AND I MOVE APPROVAL.

SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER.

IS THERE A DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? WITHOUT OBJECTION, WATSON.

MOTION TO AMEND AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE IS ADOPTED MEMBERS THAT WILL TAKE US BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION, WHICH IS AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE AS AMENDED BY TWO AMENDMENTS.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE ITEM? I'M GONNA CALL IT WITHOUT OBJECTION, BUT WITHOUT OBJECTION.

AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE AS AMENDED IS ADOPTED.

[04:25:02]

COUNCIL, I JUST WANNA CLARIFY, SO ITEM SEVEN, WHICH IS ON THE OVERALL BUDGET, YOU'RE CALLING IT AMENDMENT ONE AND YOU SAID IT WAS APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.

YOU VOTED FOR TWO AMENDMENTS TO IT.

CORRECT.

AND I'M VOTING AGAINST IT.

I'M SORRY.

2025, BEGINNING ON OCTOBER 1ST, 2024, AND ENDING ON SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025.

NO, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WAS THE CORRECT ORDER.

I APPRECIATE IT.

SO YOU VOTED FOR TWO AMENDMENTS TO IT? EXACTLY.

AND YOU'RE VOTING AGAINST THE MAIN AMENDMENT? YES, I AM.

OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR.

I'LL MAKE SURE THAT'S CLEAR.

UM, OKAY, SO THERE BEING ONE NO.

AND, AND THAT'S COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.

ALRIGHT.

IT PASSES ON A VOTE OF 10 TO ONE MEMBERS.

THAT TAKES US BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION, WHICH IS TO APPROVE AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024.

AS AMENDED.

FURTHER DISCUSSION.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

OH NO, WE HAVE TO TAKE, DO A ROLL CALL.

COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.

AN AFFIRMATIVE.

COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER VELA? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY? NO.

COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE? YES.

AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALICE AND ALTER, YES.

THERE BEING 10 AYES AND ONE NO.

UH, REGISTERED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.

UH, ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, AS AMENDED IS ADOPTED.

THAT WILL NOW TAKE US.

I'M GONNA GO BACK TO ITEM NUMBER

[6. Conduct a public hearing and approve an ordinance authorizing fees, fines, and other charges to be set or charged by the City for Fiscal Year 2024-2025, beginning on October 1, 2024, and ending on September 30, 2025, and waiving fees and other charges.]

SIX.

EVERYBODY, UM, MEMBERS, THE REASON WE HAD SKIPPED OVER ITEM NUMBER SIX WAS BECAUSE WE WERE WAITING ON, UH, INFORMATION REGARDING, UH, THE FEES AND OTHER CHARGES.

AND, AND SO THE CHAIR, YOU NOW HAVE THAT IN FRONT OF YOU.

IT'S LISTED AS VERSION TWO, ITEM NUMBER SIX, VERSION TWO.

AND THIS, THE MOTION THAT THE CHAIR WILL ACCEPT IS TO APPROVE AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING FEES, FINES, AND OTHER CHARGES TO BE SET OR CHARGED BY THE CITY FOR FISCAL YEAR 20 24, 20 25, BEGINNING ON OCTOBER 1ST, 2024, AND ENDING ON SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025.

AND WAIVING FEES AND OTHER CHARGES.

BE, UH, LET ME GET A MOTION AND A SECOND.

UM, IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT ITEM NUMBER SIX, MADE BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM? IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.

COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, DO YOU KNOW WHETHER YOUR PROPOSED AMENDMENT IS A PART OF THIS? IT IS NOT.

OKAY, THEN YOU'RE RECOGNIZED ON A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO ITEM NUMBER SIX, VERSION TWO.

SO MEMBERS, THIS IS THE MOTION THAT WAS, UH, SENT OUT AND ALSO PASSED OUT.

YOU REMEMBER WE HAD THE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE SPECIAL EVENTS FEES.

UH, THIS WAS AN I, UH, AN ISSUE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON BROUGHT UP LAST YEAR AS IT RELATED TO BLUES ON THE GREEN, MAKING SURE THAT THESE FREE, UH, PUBLIC EVENTS ARE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE IN THE FACE OF RISING COSTS.

THERE IS, UH, IN THE FEE SCHEDULE, A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE AS IT RELATES TO THESE SPECIAL EVENTS.

AND SO WE'VE WORKED WITH, UH, MR. VAN NINO AND WHAT THE STAFF IS GONNA DO.

THIS AMENDMENT TAKES THOSE SPECIAL EVENT FEES, KEEPS THEM AT THE CURRENT AMOUNT THAT, UH, IS IN THE CURRENT BUDGET, AND THEY'RE GONNA RETURN WITH SOME RECOMMENDATIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE EVENTS THAT THE PUBLIC SO ENJOYS, UH, ARE NOT GONNA FACE SUCH A DRAMATIC FEE INCREASE.

AND SO THEY'RE GONNA RECOMMEND TO US, UH, HOW WE MIGHT DO THAT.

UH, COMING ON SEPTEMBER 26TH, 2024 MEMBERS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER MOVES AN AMENDMENT TO, UH, ITEM NUMBER SIX.

YOU'VE HEARD THE DESCRIPTION.

IS IT SECONDED? SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER DISCUSSION ON THE ITEM.

THERE BEING NO DISCUSSION.

UM, WE'RE VOTING ON THE MOTION TO AMEND WITHOUT OBJECTION.

UH, THE RYAN AL YOU WANNA SAY SOMETHING? I WANTED TO SPEAK TO THE MAIN MOTION.

UM, THE, THE MO THE VOTE IS ON THE MOTION TO AMEND WITHOUT OBJECTION.

THE MOTION TO AMEND BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER FOR ITEM NUMBER SIX IS ADOPTED.

THAT TAKES US BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED.

IT'S ITEM NUMBER SIX AS AMENDED.

THE POOL FEE, UM, IN SUCH A WAY THAT WE CAN KEEP THOSE FEES, UM, STEADY THIS YEAR.

UM, I JUST WANTED TO THANK STAFF FOR VERY QUICKLY ADDRESSING

[04:30:01]

UM, EARLIER THIS YEAR, UM, THIS COUNCIL ADOPTED A RESOLUTION I PUT FORWARD TO HELP US TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO OUR POOLS IN LIGHT OF THE HEAT.

UM, AND I KNOW SEVERAL OF US, COUNCIL MEMBER BAYLA, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, AND PROBABLY OTHERS, UH, WERE CONCERNED WHEN WE, WE SAW, YOU KNOW, WHAT A FAMILY WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO BE ABLE TO GO TO THE POOL, UM, TOGETHER TO ONE OF OUR LARGER POOLS.

AND SO I APPRECIATE, UM, STAFF RECOGNIZING THAT.

AND I APPRECIATE THAT THE UNDERLYING BUDGET CONTINUES OUR EFFORTS TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF POOLS WHERE YOU DO HAVE TO PAY.

UM, THAT ACCESS IS EVER MORE IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW, UM, GIVEN THE HEAT THAT WE'RE FACING.

SO, THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? THE VOTE WILL BE ON ITEM NUMBER SIX AS AMENDED WITHOUT OBJECTION.

ITEM NUMBER SIX AS AMENDED.

I'M OBJECTING.

I, I, I, I'LL GET YOU.

THANKS.

I, I'M, I'M ASSUMING, WELL, YOU REALLY DON'T HAVE TO CALL IT OUT EVERY TIME.

UM, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY IS SHOWN VOTING NO IS ADOPTED WITH A VOTE OF 10 TO ONE.

OH, I'M SORRY.

WE NEED A ROLL CALL.

VOTE.

SO YOU'LL GET TO SAY IT AGAIN.

PRESENT.

COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER VELA? YES.

WE WILL NOW GO TO ITEM NUMBER NINE.

COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY NAY.

COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS AND ALTER, YES.

THERE BEING 10 AYES AND ONE NAY.

COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY VOTING? NO.

THE ITEM IS APPROVED.

MEMBERS.

[9. Approve an ordinance establishing classifications and positions in the classified service of the Austin Fire Department; creating certain positions; and repealing Ordinance No. 20230816-009 relating to Fire Department classifications and positions]

THE CHAIR WILL RECOG, UH, ACCEPT A MOTION TO APPROVE AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING CLASSIFICATIONS AND POSITIONS IN THE CLASSIFIED SERVICE OF THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT, CREATING CERTAIN POSITIONS.

AND REPEALING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2 0 2 3 8 16 9 RELATING TO FIRE DEPARTMENT CLASSIFICATIONS AND POSITIONS.

I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

MAYOR PRO TIM MOVES APPROVAL.

IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRY.

DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM.

I WAS JUST WONDERING WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE CADET CLASS AND THIS, ARE THEY NOT INCLUDED ON THIS SHEET? AND THEN THAT'S JUST SOMETHING YOU'RE DEALING WITH NEXT YEAR? THE CADET CLASS IS NOT INCLUDED ON THE SHEET.

OKAY, SO IT'S NOT PART OF THE CLASSIFICATION PROCESS? NO.

AND SO FOR ANY IN, IN ANY, FOR ANY PURPOSE THEN FOR THIS COMING YEAR, THEY WOULDN'T NEED TO BE IN THESE CLASSIFICATIONS BECAUSE THEY WOULD STILL BE CADETS.

THE CADETS ARE STILL RIGHT.

IT'S NOT SWORN.

SO IT WOULDN'T BE INCLUDED ON THE CLASSIFICATION ORDINANCE.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS? THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER NINE.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY? UH, AFFIRMATIVE.

ITEM NUMBER 10, WHICH IS TO, THE MOTION I'LL ACCEPT IS TO APPROVE AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING CLASSIFICATIONS POSITIONS AND THE CLASSIFIED SERVICE OF THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, CREATING CERTAIN POSITIONS.

SO, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, ITEM NUMBER NINE IS ADOPTED.

UH, WE'LL GO TO

[10. Approve an ordinance establishing classifications and positions in the classified service of the Emergency Medical Services Department; creating certain positions; and repealing Ordinance No. 20240718-069 relating to the Emergency Medical Services Department classifications and positions. ( Part 1 of 2 )]

AND REPEALING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2 0 2 4 0 7 8 0 6 9 RELATING TO THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

CLASSIFICATIONS AND POSITIONS.

COUNCIL MEMBER? MAYOR.

MAYOR? YES.

CAN WE GO TO THE NEXT ONE? BECAUSE WITH THE AMENDMENT THAT YOU MADE EARLIER, WE NEED TO GET THAT ORDINANCE UPDATED.

SURE.

I AND I, UH, WE DIDN'T GET A SECOND, SO WE'LL JUST CALL IT.

WE'LL MOVE, MOVE ON.

MEMBERS, THIS IS TO RATIFY THE PROPERTY TAX INCREASE REFLECTED IN THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024.

ITEM NUMBER 11.

[11. Ratify the property tax increase reflected in the Budget for Fiscal Year 2024-2025.]

2025.

UH, THE CHAIR WILL RECOGNIZE THE MAYOR PRO TIM MOVES APPROVAL.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER.

IS THERE DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO THIS ITEM TO READ IT LIKE THIS? THE MOTION? LET ME MAKE SURE WE'RE CLEAR.

MAYOR PRO TEM, THE MOTION IS TO RATIFY THE PROPERTY TAX INCREASE REFLECTED IN THE FISCAL YEAR 20 24, 20 25 BUDGET THAT WAS ADOPTED BY THE COUNSEL TODAY.

CORRECT.

THAT IS YOUR MOTION.

AND COUNCILMAN RYAN ALTER THAT IS YOUR SECOND.

IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.

VERY GOOD.

[04:35:06]

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION, UH, THE COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY WILL BE SHOWN, VOTED NO.

IS THERE ANY, ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING? NO.

IS THIS ONE WE HAVE TO DO A VOICE VOTE OR YOU DON'T? NO.

WE'LL, WE'LL TAKE UP ITEM NUMBER ONE TO APPROVE AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING AND LEVYING A PROPERTY, A VALOREM TAX RATE FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024.

UM, ALL THOSE, SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, ITEM NUMBER.

THE ITEM NUMBER 11 IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY BEING SHOWN VOTING NO.

THAT'LL TAKE US TO ITEM NUMBER 12.

WE DID 12 THIS MORNING.

I'M SORRY.

YEAH, WE DID.

ITEM NUMBER ONE NEEDED TO BE TAKEN UP AFTER WE HAD VOTED ON SOME OTHER ITEMS. SO LET'S GO BACK TO ITEM NUMBER ONE.

[1. Conduct a public hearing and approve an ordinance adopting and levying a property (ad valorem) tax rate for Fiscal Year 2024-2025.]

2025.

WE ALREADY CONDUCTED THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS ITEM EARLIER TODAY.

UH, STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT THIS BA ROLL CALL VOTE AND REQUIRES THE MOTION, UH, TO BE MADE AS FOLLOWS.

SO, I WILL ACCEPT THE FOLLOWING MOTION.

I MOVE THAT THE, THE MOTION IS THAT THE PROPERTY TAX RATE BE INCREASED BY THE ADOPTION OF A TAX RATE OF 47.76 CENTS PER A HUNDRED DOLLARS VALUATION, WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY A 5.9% INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE.

MAYOR PRO TEM MOVES APPROVAL, AS I HAVE STATED, THE, THE MOTION I WOULD ACCEPT IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.

IS THERE DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM OTHER THAN COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY? IS THERE ANYONE? WELL, WE HAVE TO TAKE A ROLL CALL VOTE.

LET'S TAKE A ROLL CALL VOTE.

MAYOR WATSON.

COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ? YES.

MAYOR PRO TEMP POOL? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER VELA? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY? NO.

COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER CADRY? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER S AND ALTER, YES.

THERE BEING 10 YESES AND ONE NO.

COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY VOTING, NO.

ITEM NUMBER ONE PASSES.

ITEM NUMBER 10 IS TO APPROVE AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING CLASSIFICATIONS POSITIONS AND THE CLASSIFIED SERVICE OF THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, CREATING CERTAIN POSITIONS.

COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES AN APPROPRIATE TIME.

I REALIZE THAT WITH ALL OF THE DISCUSSION ON COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER'S AMENDMENT, WE DIDN'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THE OVERALL BUDGET THAT WE PASSED.

SO WHENEVER IT'S APPROPRIATE, I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE SOME OVERALL COMMENTS.

WELL, LEMME ASK, DO WE KNOW WHEN WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE HANDING THEM OUT RIGHT NOW? IT'LL BE JUST A SECOND.

I'M SORRY.

MAYOR.

WHAT WAS THAT? WELL, SHE, THEY, PEOPLE ARE POINTING AT YOU.

UM, , I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, UNTIL WE HAVE, WHY DON'T WE GO AHEAD AND BEGIN, FOLKS.

WE'VE GOT ONE MORE ITEM TO VOTE ON AND THAT IS RELATED TO EMS. SHE GOT IT.

WE COULD DO COMMENTS AFTER THE WRITERS TOO.

MEMBERS YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU THE LATEST VERSION THAT INCLUDES, UH, THE BUDGET AMENDMENT THAT WAS MADE BY ME TO ADD THE THREE FTES SO THAT THIS IS A COMPLETE ORDINANCE.

UH,

[04:40:01]

AND REPEALING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2 0 2 4 0 7 1 8 DASH 0 6 9 RELATING TO THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, CLASSIFICATIONS POSITIONS.

COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER WAS WILLING TO MOVE ADOPTION OF THAT EARLIER.

I WONDER IF WE STILL YEP.

UH, IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND ABOUT COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES? IS THERE A DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO THIS ITEM BEING NO DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION.

ITEM NUMBER 10 IS ADOPTED AND APPROVED MEMBERS.

[Items 14 - 29]

WE WILL NOW GO TO ITEMS 14 THROUGH 30.

THOSE ARE ITEMS FROM COUNSEL RELATED TO THE BUDGET.

AND I'LL POINT OUT THAT I THINK THIS PROCESS HAS WORKED PRETTY WELL.

THIS IS TWO, TWO YEARS IN A ROW OF DOING IT, UH, THE WAY WE DID WITH AMENDMENTS AND ITEMS FROM COUNSEL MEMBERS.

WE CAN TAKE UP THESE ITEMS FROM COUNSEL AS A CONSENT AGENDA.

HOWEVER, I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS AWARE.

WE DID HAVE ONE VERSION TWO AND FOR SOME REASON I CAN'T PUT MY HANDS ON IT.

AND IT WAS A VERSION.

YEAH, GREAT.

IT WAS A VERSION FROM IT IS A VERSION THAT COMBINED.

ITEM NUMBER 29 MEMBERS.

ITEM NUMBER 29.

IT IS A VERSION THAT STARTED AS A RYAN ALTER ITEM FROM COUNCIL AND THEN BE AND COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, ELLIS HAD AN AMENDMENT TO THAT.

COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER HAS INCORPORATED THE AMENDMENT INTO HIS PROPOSED IFC.

AND THAT IS THE VERSION TWO THAT YOU'VE BEEN GIVEN ON ITEM 29.

BECAUSE WE HAVE THAT AS A VERSION TWO, IT CAN STILL BE CONSIDERED PART OF THE CONSENT AGENDA AND DOESN'T NEED TO BE PULLED, UH, AND, AND TAKEN UP SEPARATELY.

WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS I'M GONNA GET A MOTION ON, UH, FIRST LET ME ASK, IS THERE ANYBODY THAT WISHES TO PULL ONE OF THESE IFCS OFF OF THE CONSENT AGENDA OF IFCS? ALRIGHT, THAT BEING THE CASE.

I'M THEN GOING TO GET A MOTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AND A SECOND, AND THEN WE'LL GO TO DISCUSSION AND PEOPLE CAN COMMENT, UM, ON THEIR IFCS AS WELL, THE SAME WAY WE DO TYPICALLY ON A CONSENT AGENDA, UNLESS YOU WANNA SAY SOMETHING SPECIAL.

SORRY.

THERE'S TWO THINGS I WANNA SAY.

SO I HOPE I'M, UM, GETTING THEM IN THE RIGHT ORDER.

I DID WANNA PULL 30 FROM CONSENT AGENDA.

I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT AND SOME OF THE PROPOSALS THAT HAVE COME THROUGH OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS.

UH, 30 WILL BE PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA, AND THEN I ALSO HAVE A COMMENT ON 29 AT THE APPROPRIATE.

LET ME GET A MOTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AND THEN I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU FIRST ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AND YOU CAN TALK ABOUT 29.

MOTION IS MADE BY THE MAYOR PRO TIM.

IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

AND MEMBERS, THE CONSENT AGENDA ARE ITEMS 14 THROUGH 29, BUT DOES NOT INCLUDE ITEM NUMBER 30.

WITH THAT BEING SAID, I NOW TURN, UH, TO COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS TO, UH, AS PART OF THE DISCUSSION TO SPEAK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

THANK YOU FOR THE RECOGNITION, MAYOR.

I JUST WANTED TO BRING, UM, TWO FOLKS ATTENTION.

I APPRECIATE THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR, UH, RYAN ALTER, BRINGING MY LANGUAGE INTO HIS VERSION TO, UM, AND INCREASING SOME USES FOR THIS FUND.

UM, I DID WANNA CALL ATTENTION TO IN THIS SECTION, UM, IT SAYS GUERRERO PARK, ZILKER PARK.

THERE'S A SENTENCE AT THE END OF THE ZILKER PARK SECTION THAT TALKS ABOUT CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS.

AND IN MY ORIGINAL AMENDMENT, IT WAS LANGUAGE THAT WAS NOT JUST SPECIFIC TO ONE PARK.

SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT WAS CLEAR THAT THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO APPLY TO THE TWO SUGGESTIONS I HAD FOR PARKS.

UM, AND IT MIGHT APPLY TO OTHERS IF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE ADDED TO THAT.

SO I JUST WANTED TO CALL ATTENTION TO A SLIGHT FORMATTING THING THAT DIDN'T GET LOST IN THE SHUFFLE.

GREAT.

FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE IFCS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER, JUST WANNA THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER S FOR HER WORK ON THIS.

I THINK IT'S GONNA BE REALLY IMPACTFUL.

SO THANK YOU.

FURTHER DISCUSSION.

COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER, IS THIS WHERE WE'RE SPEAKING TO THE ITEMS? YES.

THE FIRST ONE, UM, DEALS WITH CYBERSECURITY AND CHARTS A PATH FOR US TO MAKE THE INVESTMENTS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE, UM, TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE OUR SECURITY, WE HAVE OUR INFORMATION PROTECTED, WE HAVE DATA PRIVACY, UM, AND THAT WE ARE PROTECTING OURSELVES JUST GENERALLY FROM BEING COMPROMISED BY A CYBER ATTACK.

JUST WANTED TO CHECK.

SO I HAVE FIVE WRITERS, SO BEAR WITH ME FOR, FOR A MOMENT.

UM, AND I THINK MANY OF THESE SPEAK TO, TO THINGS THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR MANY YEARS.

[04:45:01]

UM, WHAT THIS ITEM DOES IS A CALLS FOR OUR PROCESS TO LOOK AND EXAMINE THE VARIOUS, UM, TECHNOLOGY CONTRACTS WE HAVE, PARTICULARLY THE ONES THAT DEAL WITH SECURITY.

UM, AND TO LOOK TO CONSOLIDATE, UM, AND ELIMINATE DUPLICATION AND TO REINVEST THE SAVINGS INTO THE INVESTMENTS THAT WE'VE OUTLINED FOR OUR INFORMATION ROADMAP.

I THINK THIS IS REALLY, REALLY, UM, CRITICAL, UM, AS WE MOVE FORWARD AS A CITY IN THIS DAY AND AGE.

THE SECOND ITEM IS RELATES TO THE EMS DEPARTMENT AND THEIR BILLING PROCESS AND REVENUE PROCESS.

SOMETHING I'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR MANY YEARS, UM, AS WELL AS, UM, AS MAKING IMPROVEMENTS, UM, THAT ALLOW US TO ADDRESS LOW ACUITY CALLS.

SO WHAT I DO IN THIS RIDER IS I CALL FOR VARIOUS STEPS THAT WE CAN TAKE TO IMPROVE OUR BILLING AND REVENUE SYSTEMS, INCLUDING SOME THINGS THAT WE CAN DO AT THE LEGISLATURE, BUT OTHER THINGS AS WELL.

UM, THAT WILL ALLOW US TO COLLECT THE FEES THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO COLLECT FOR THE KINDS AND THE HIGH QUALITY OF SERVICE THAT OUR EMS DEPARTMENT IS DELIVERING.

UM, AND THEN THOSE FUNDS WOULD EITHER BE, UM, REDIRECTED INTO THE PARAMEDIC PRACTITIONERS PROGRAM, UM, ONCE THAT'S FUNDED INTO ADDITIONAL EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS.

UM, STAFFING.

UM, LAST YEAR WE DID THIS WITH RESPECT TO THE C FOUR PROGRAM, THE COLLABORATIVE, UM, CARE CENTER.

AND THAT ONE WAS FUNDED BY CENTRAL HEALTH, SO WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE THAT 24 7.

UM, AND SOMETHING SIMILAR IS ALSO ONE OF THE PATHWAYS THAT I HAVE IN HERE.

THE, AND I AND I DO HAVE, UM, CO-SPONSORS FOR, FOR ALL OF THESE.

THE FIRST ONE I FORGOT TO MENTION WERE FOR CYBERSECURITY WE'RE FELLOW MEMBERS OF THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE.

COUNCIL MEMBERS, RYAN TER, VANESSA FUENTES, AND COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, UM, FOR EMS COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN TER, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, KELLY AND VELA ARE CO-SPONSORS.

THE THIRD ITEM ADDRESSES A NEED TO RETAIN OUR AVIATION AND WATER, UM, UTILITY EMPLOYEES.

THEY HAD BEEN GIVEN A RETENTION STIPEND.

THERE HAD BEEN A MARKET STUDY TO TRY TO ADJUST THAT.

WHAT THIS RIDER DOES THAT SEEKS TO REINSTATE THE RETENTION BONUSES FOR AVIATION AND AUSTIN WATER UTILITY EMPLOYEES WHO DID NOT ACHIEVE A 10% BASE WAGE INCREASE IN THE RECENT MARKET STUDIES AND ARE HAVING THEIR 10% REDEMPTION BONUSES TAKEN AWAY AS OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET.

UM, I'VE WORKED THIS OUT, UM, WITH YOUR STAFF, UM, MR. BROAD, AND THEY WERE VERY HELPFUL IN, IN ADDRESSING THIS AND SUPPORTIVE OF MAKING SURE THAT WE KEEP EVERYONE WHOLE.

UM, FOR THAT ONE I HAVE CA UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS RYAN ALTAR FUENTES AND MAYOR PRO TEM POOL ESCA SPONSORS.

THE FOURTH ONE IS ITEM 19, WHICH IS APPROVING A RESOLUTION RELATED TO MATERNITY LEAVE BENEFITS FOR SWORN FIREFIGHTERS.

THIS BUILDS OFF THE RIDER THAT WE JUST, THE AMENDMENT THAT WE JUST APPROVED, UM, FOR A PILOT FOR, UH, MATERNITY LEAVE FOR FEMALE FIREFIGHTERS WHO GIVE BIRTH.

UM, THIS IS BASICALLY A PATH FORWARD THAT SAYS THAT THIS SHOULD BE PART OF OUR POLICY MOVING FORWARD AND GIVES THE CITY MANAGER DIRECTION TO FIGURE OUT THE APPROPRIATE PATH FOR THAT.

AND THEN FINALLY, ITEM 20, UM, IS A RESOLUTION RELATED TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S OVERTIME COSTS.

UM, WE HAVE HIGH OVERTIME COSTS IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

SOME OF THAT MAY BE DUE TO SOME CHALLENGES WE'RE EXPERIENCING WITH WORKERS' COMPENSATION, BUT SOME OF IT MAY BE DUE THAT WE NEED MORE FIREFIGHTERS, UM, IN LAUNCHING THE CADET CLASS, UM, WHEN WE ADOPTED THE BUDGET.

WE'RE GETTING PARTWAY THROUGH.

UM, BUT I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF PLANNING AND, AND OTHER STEPS THAT STILL NEED TO TAKE PLACE JUST GENERALLY TO ADDRESS THE OVERTIME, UM, PERIOD.

AND THAT, UM, IS, IS AS APPROPRIATE AND STILL APPLIES I THINK, MOVING FORWARD.

UM, THAT ONE IS CO-SPONSORED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE AND COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ AND THE MATERNITY LEAVE IS COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, FUENTES, HARPER, MADISON, AND KELLY.

THANK YOU ALL, UM, FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THESE ITEMS. I THINK THEY'RE, THEY'RE REALLY, UM, GONNA BE IMPORTANT, UH, MOVING FORWARD.

UM, AND I THINK THEY WILL HELP OUR FUTURE BUDGETS IN VARIOUS WAYS BY FINDING SOME REVENUE.

COUNCIL MEMBER FURTHER DISCUSSION.

COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.

SURE THAT WE'RE SERVING OUR LOCAL VETERANS.

I'M STILL GETTING USED TO USING THE BUTTONS UP HERE.

UM, I WANTED TO CALL OUT SOME OF THE IFCS THAT I THINK ARE REALLY GREAT THAT ARE COMING HERE THAT I WAS EITHER LEAD SPONSOR OR CO-SPONSOR TO.

I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER HAS DONE ON THE MATERNITY LEAVE FOR FIREFIGHTERS.

I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE STEPPING UP AND WE'RE, UM, SOLVING THAT ISSUE FOR FOLKS WHO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.

I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE CREATION OF A VETERAN AFFAIRS ACTION PLAN.

I KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE STATE DOES A LITTLE BIT OF WORK IN, BUT SOMETIMES WE JUST NEED THAT EXTRA OOMPH TO GET IT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE HERE LOCALLY AND TO MAKE

[04:50:01]

UM, THIS IS A REALLY EXCITING OPPORTUNITY TO START PUTTING MORE STRUCTURE AROUND HOW, HOW WE SERVE FOLKS THAT HAVE SERVED THE COMMUNITY.

UM, WE NOW HAVE A VETERAN AFFAIRS OFFICER, WHICH IS REALLY, REALLY EXCITING.

BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A GROWTH PLAN FOR MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE, UM, ALLOWING FOR BETTER EDUCATION AND MORE ENGAGEMENT FOR FOLKS THAT NEED DIFFERENT JOB SKILLS TRAINING, UM, HOUSING COORDINATION, OR OTHER DIFFERENT SOCIAL SERVICES.

SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS ONE TO BE MOVING FORWARD AND APPRECIATE THE WORK FROM OUR COMMISSION ON VETERAN AFFAIRS THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

AND I ALSO WANNA GIVE A QUICK SHOUT OUT TO, UM, THANK YOU NATASHA HARPER MADISON, FOR LETTING ME CO-SPONSOR YOUR ITEMS. UM, THE CITY IS STEPPING UP ITS SUPPORT OF JUNETEENTH AND TO BE ABLE TO DO MORE WORK TO SUPPORT THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL HERITAGE DISTRICT IS SOMETHING I'M REALLY GLAD THAT WE GOT TO WORK ON TOGETHER.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO THE CONSENT AGENDA ON THE IFCS.

UH, ITEMS 14 THROUGH 29 IS ANY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER AMERIPRO TAM POOL WISHES TO BE SHOWN ABSTAINING ON ITEM NUMBER 24.

IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN ABSTAINING ON ANY OF THE CONSENT ITEMS ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN AS RECUSING THEMSELVES ON ANY OF THE ITEMS ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON ANY OF THE IFCS ITEMS? 14 THROUGH 29 ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

COUNCIL MEMBER POOLE WILL BE SHOWN VOTING, UH, ABSTAINING ON ITEM NUMBER 24 WITH THAT ONE.

UH, CAVEAT WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE, THE CONSENT AGENDA OF IFCS ITEMS 14 THROUGH 29 ARE ADOPTED.

[30. Approve a resolution directing the acquisition and development of additional Downtown Austin Community Court facilities to provide criminal justice diversion and navigation services.]

THAT WILL TAKE US TO ITEM NUMBER 30.

ITEM NUMBER 30 IS A RESOLUTION, UM, RELATED TO THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT FACILITIES.

I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER AS THE, UM, MAIN SPONSOR OF THE ITEM.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR.

UH, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS AND, AND WHAT THIS ITEM DOES IS IT, IT STARTS THE PROCESS.

THIS IS NOT THE LAST TIME, UH, WE ARE GOING TO BE DISCUSSING THIS, BUT WHAT IT WILL DO IS ALLOW FOR US TO MAKE GOOD ON WHAT WE DID THIS PAST YEAR IN EXPANDING THE JURISDICTION OF THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT TO BE CITYWIDE.

AND ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS THAT THE DAC DOES IS PROVIDE, UH, NOT ONLY, UH, THOSE SERVICES FOR THOSE WHO ARE CRIMINALLY, UH, INVOLVED TO, UM, CLEAR THAT RECORD OR RESOLVE THAT RECORD, BUT THEY ALSO PROVIDE OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES THAT ARE SO CRUCIAL, UH, TO THIS COMMUNITY AND, AND HELP INDIVIDUALS GO FROM THE STREETS INTO HOUSING.

AND THEY HAVE INCREDIBLE SUCCESS.

AND SO THIS IS, THESE TYPES OF SERVICES ARE JUST NOT, UH, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OF THEM.

UH, THOSE PROVIDERS AND THOSE LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

DISTRICT FIVE, UH, HAS THE ONLY NON D WALKUP, UH, NAVIGATION CENTER IN THE ENTIRE CITY.

AND IT IS REALLY, UH, PUT FRANKLY, QUITE BURDENSOME ON THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.

IT'S ACROSS THE STREET FROM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND THE PARK, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF CHALLENGES WITH THAT PARTICULAR SITE.

AND SO WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE TODAY IS SAYING, LET'S RECOGNIZE THE GOOD WORK THAT ALL THESE ORGANIZATIONS ARE TO, ARE DOING AND BRING THE SERVICES NORTH, BRING A ADDITIONAL FACILITY SOUTH SO THAT WE CAN, UH, HAVE NO LONGER HAVE THAT BURDEN ON THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AND MEET PEOPLE NOT ONLY WHERE THEY ARE, BUT BRING THE SERVICES THEY NEED.

AND I AM SO PLEASED THAT WE EARLIER PASSED COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON'S EXPANSION OF THE MOBILE COURT PROGRAM BECAUSE THAT PIECE IS CRUCIAL AS WELL.

AND THESE FIT, LIKE I SAID THE OTHER DAY, HAND AND GLOVE.

BECAUSE WHAT YOU CAN DO IS HAVE THESE SITES, WHETHER THEY ARE THE LAUNCHING POINT, THE OFFICES FOR THE MOBILE COURT PROGRAM, SO THEY CAN BE REGIONALLY DIVIDED AND BE ABLE TO GET OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY, UH, BETTER.

BUT THEY CAN ALSO HAVE THE ABILITY TO PAIR WITH, UH, SERVICE PROVIDERS AND PROVIDE THAT TYPE OF MOBILE COURT, UM, UH, CONNECTION TO WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE DOWNTOWN LOCATION.

SO THERE ARE, THE HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICE HAS IDENTIFIED, UH, NAVIGATION RELATED SERVICES AS A HUGE GAP THAT WE HAVE IN OUR SYSTEM.

AND THIS HELPS ADDRESS THAT GAP AND REALLY BRINGS, UH, SOME, BRINGS THOSE SERVICES TO THE CITY.

SO I AM HAPPY TO EITHER ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR I KNOW OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.

I GUESS I NEED MOVE'S APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 30.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ.

IS THERE A DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM?

[04:55:02]

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.

I I HAD PULLED THIS ITEM.

UM, THE, I KNOW THERE'S BEEN CONVERSATION IN THE COMMUNITY JUST ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE FUTURE NEEDS OF THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT.

UM, I'M ALSO EXCITED THAT WE WERE ABLE TO PASS, UM, EXPANDING THE MOBILE COURT OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE.

'CAUSE I THINK THAT ONE'S BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL, UM, AND IS VERY COST EFFECTIVE AT PROVIDING THE SERVICES THAT PEOPLE NEED.

UM, I'M LESS FAMILIAR WITH, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO CREATE MORE SATELLITE LOCATIONS AND HOW THAT SUCCESS IS GOING TO PLAY OUT OVER, OVER THE YEARS.

UM, SO I MAY JUST ABSTAIN ON THIS ONE BECAUSE I NEED TO UNDERSTAND A LITTLE MORE OF THOSE DETAILS.

BUT APPRECIATE THAT, UM, MY COLLEAGUES, LOTS OF MY COLLEAGUES ARE TRYING TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE, UM, FROM VARIOUS DIFFERENT ANGLES.

I'M JUST NOT FAMILIAR IF THAT'S, IF I CAN GET BEHIND THAT, THAT IS EXACTLY THE RIGHT WAY FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD.

UM, BUT I MAY BE THE ONLY ONE THAT FEELS THAT WAY AND I'M TOTALLY RESPECTFUL OF THAT.

UH, MAYOR PRO TIM.

THANKS.

UM, I AM SUPPORTIVE OF THE MOBILE COURT FUNDING AND I THINK, I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON FOR BRINGING THAT CONCEPT BACK TO, UM, BACK TO US TO EXPAND THAT PROGRAM.

I WOULD RATHER SEE, WE FOCUS ON THOSE EFFORTS THAT MOVE AROUND THE COMMUNITY WITH WHERE THE NEED IS GREATEST SO THAT IT CAN FLEX AND MOVE WITH THE NEED AS OPPOSED TO TRYING TO CONVINCE A NEIGHBORHOOD TO ADD ANOTHER FACILITY, UH, IN A NEIGHBORHOOD OR ADJACENT TO A NEIGHBORHOOD WHICH COULD REPLICATE THE CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, UM, IN DISTRICT FIVE.

SO, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE FUNDS EXPANDED FOR THE MOBILE COURT PROGRAM, INCLUDING MAYBE SOME OF THE, THE MONIES THAT ARE CONTEMPLATED FOR THE BRICK AND MORTAR.

UM, SO MAYOR, I, I'LL EITHER VOTE NO ON THIS ONE OR ABSTAIN.

I'M THINKING ABOUT IT.

YEAH, LET ME KNOW.

WILL DO , UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER.

UM, I JUST WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.

I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE TO THE POPULATION THAT IS SERVICED BY THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT ARE ABLE TO MEET WHERE THE SERVICES ARE NEEDED.

AND SO EXPANDING THAT TO ENSURE THAT THERE ARE OTHER LOCATIONS IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME.

UM, I'VE ALWAYS SAID THAT IT, IT IS DIFFICULT FOR SOMEBODY WITH MULTIPLE COMPLEXITIES TO BE ABLE TO NAVIGATE TO GET TO ONE LOCATION.

AND I SEE THIS EXPANSION, UM, AS A WAY TO POTENTIALLY MEET ADDITIONAL INDIVIDUALS THAT, THAT NEED THOSE SERVICES.

SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT FORWARD.

I JUST DO NOT HAVE DATA THAT, THAT, UH, CAN SPEAK SPECIFICALLY TO THAT BECAUSE THAT'S NOT ANYTHING THAT WE'VE BEEN ENGAGED, UH, WITH UNTIL RECENTLY WHEN THIS ITEM WAS, WAS BEING PULLED UP AS FAR AS BRICK AND MORTAR SITE EXPANSION.

UM, THANK YOU.

I WAS JUST WONDERING IF THE, THE DAC STAFF WANNA SPEAK TO THIS.

I'M, I'M KIND OF AWARE COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS IS IN THAT I'M NOT REALLY SURE THAT BRICK AND MORTAR IS THE DIRECTION THAT IT'S CALLED FOR.

IF WE'VE GOTTEN TO THAT POINT AFTER SIMPLY HAVING ONE YEAR OF A PILOT OF THE MOBILE DECK, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

ROBERT KINGHAM, UH, COURT ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT.

SO, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION SPECIFICALLY, WE HAVE SPENT, UM, ALMOST THE LAST YEAR COLLECTING A LOT OF MEANINGFUL DATA THAT SUPPORTS THE MOBILE COURT OPERATIONS AND WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO THERE.

UM, WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING AND ENGAGING WITH THE HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICE AND, UH, OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO DETERMINE AND LOOK AT, UH, POTENTIAL EXPANSION OPPORTUNITIES AND WHAT THAT MAY LOOK LIKE.

UH, BUT CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE, UM, THE SPECIFIC DATA LIKE WE DO FOR MOBILE COURT REGARDING THAT.

WHAT I CAN SAY IS, UM, BEFORE COVID, WE WERE SEEING ABOUT 20 INDIVIDUALS A DAY FOR OUR WALK-IN NAVIGATION SERVICES.

AND CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW WE'RE SEEING UPWARDS OF 75 INDIVIDUALS A DAY.

SO THE DEMAND AND SERVICES HAS INCREASED OVER THREEFOLD, UM, IN THE LAST THREE AND A HALF, FOUR YEARS.

UM, SO FROM THAT STANDPOINT, UM, UH, OUR DATA DOES ALIGN WITH WHAT WE HEAR AND WHAT WE SEE IN THE COMMUNITY FOR NEED FOR NAVIGATION SERVICES.

YEAH, AND I, I DON'T, I MEAN, I, I DON'T THINK ANY OF US WHO, WHO ARE, WHO ARE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THIS ITEM ARE QUESTIONING WHETHER WE NEED THE NAVIGATION SERVICES.

I THINK THIS IS AN INVESTMENT IN BRICK AND MORTAR, UM, FOR, FOR A POPULATION THAT MOVES AROUND.

AND IT'S NOT TOTALLY OBVIOUS TO ME THAT BRICK AND MORTAR IS THE ANSWER.

I'M NOT HEARING.

I MEAN, I'M HEARING YOU, YOU THINK WE NEED MORE SERVICES AND THE MOBILE IS WORKING RIGHT NOW AND YOU'LL EXPLORE THIS.

BUT I'M NOT HEARING YOU SAY THIS IS LIKE ABSOLUTELY THE WAY WE SHOULD BE MOVING FORWARD.

SURE.

IT, IT, IT'S, UH,

[05:00:01]

SO, UM, THANK YOU.

UM, SO CITY MANAGER, I WOULD, YOU KNOW, I'M ASSUMING THAT IF THERE'S THIS KIND OF DIRECTION, IF YOU'RE GOING AND EXPLORING THIS AND IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE THAT YOU'RE GONNA COME BACK AND TELL US THAT IT, THAT IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE AND COUNCIL MEMBER AL ALTER, IS THAT ALSO AB ABSOLUTELY.

LIKE I SAID, THIS STARTS THE PROCESS, RIGHT? THEY'RE GONNA GO AND HAVE, UH, NOT ONLY THE LO I TRY TO IDENTIFY WHERE THIS IS BEST FIT AS AMERIPRO TEM MENTIONED, RIGHT? CITING THIS LOCATION IS GOING TO BE AN OPEN QUESTION AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO FIND AN AREA, UH, AS, AS COUNCILMAN R KELLY I KNOW HAS, UH, SIMILAR SERVICE IN HER DISTRICT THAT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU, YOU, THERE ARE AREAS THAT YOU CAN PUT IT THAT ARE, UH, DON'T HAVE THE IMPACT ON A NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT THIS IS JUST STARTING THAT PROCESS.

ONCE WE HAVE THAT, THAT WILL STILL COME BEFORE US AND WE WILL STILL HAVE TO VOTE ON THAT.

AND THE MANAGER CAN TELL US ALONG THE WAY, UH, IF THIS IS NOT, UM, YOU KNOW, IF THAT THERE ARE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE ADJUSTED, BUT THIS JUST KICKSTARTS THAT PROCESS SO THAT IT WILL EVENTUALLY COME BACK TO US FOR FUTURE CONSIDERATION WHERE WE CAN, UH, DISCUSS MANY OF THESE CONCERNS.

IT'S JUST A MATTER OF STARTING, STARTING THIS, BECAUSE WHEN WE TRIED TO DO THIS BEFORE, THE QUESTION, UH, FROM THE REAL ESTATE OFFICE WAS, WELL EITHER WHERE'S THE MONEY OR WHERE'S THE INSTRUCTION TO DO SO AND SO WITHOUT THIS? IS, THIS IS THAT GAP IN MAKING THIS PROCESS MOVE FORWARD.

BUT I'M CONFIDENT THAT PEOPLE WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS, AS HAS IN BEEN INDICATED EARLIER BY COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.

UM, WITH THE BUDGET, I HAVEN'T HAD THE TIME TO REVIEW THIS IN THE WAY THAT I WOULD FEEL MOST COMFORTABLE, SO I'M GONNA ABSTAIN.

UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE LANGUAGE IS A LITTLE BIT MORE PRESCRIPTIVE THAN WHAT WE JUST DISCUSSED, BUT I'M GONNA ASSUME IT'S THE WAY THAT WE DISCUSSED.

UM, BUT, BUT FOR NOW, I'M GONNA ABSTAIN.

I APPRECIATE THE NEED AND, AND THE, THE, UM, IMPETUS FOR THIS.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION.

ALRIGHT.

UM, THEN WE'RE GOING TO, THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE, UM, AND SECONDED.

YEAH, I LET HIM WRITE IT DOWN.

I USUALLY DO SO, HUH? YES.

IT WAS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ.

I USUALLY WRITE THAT DOWN.

UM, SO THE MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 30.

I'M GOING TO SHOW COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS AND THE MAYOR PRO TIM ABSTAINING ON ITEM NUMBER 30 WITH THOSE, WITH THOSE CAVEATS WITHOUT OBJECTION.

ITEM NUMBER 30 IS ADOPTED MEMBERS.

THAT CONCLUDES VOTING ON ALL ITEMS. UM,

[Additional Item]

SO, COUNCIL MEMBER, I'M GONNA RECOGNIZE YOU FIRST.

UM, THANK YOU TO OUR CITY STAFF, MS. CARRIE LANG, ED VINO, ERIC NELSON, AND EVERYONE WHO HELPED TO PUT TOGETHER THIS BUDGET.

THANK YOU MANAGER.

BROAD NEXT FOR, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

UM, WHAT WE APPROVE TODAY, IT HAS SOME REALLY INCREDIBLE INVESTMENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

I'M ESPECIALLY PROUD OF THE ALLOCATION TO HELP US LOOK AT HOW WE MIGHT HELP FAMILIES WITH AFFORDING THEIR FLOOD INSURANCE.

ALSO, I'M REALLY PROUD OF THE INVESTMENTS THAT WE'VE MADE AROUND HOMELESSNESS.

SEVERAL OF US BROUGHT FORWARD ITEMS RELATED TO HOMELESSNESS, IN PARTICULAR, THE INVESTMENT IN RAPID REHOUSING.

UM, ALSO I'M THRILLED TO SEE THAT WE HAVE THE SUPPORT TO CONTINUE THE FAMILY STABILIZATION GRANT AND WITH THE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH FUND.

UM, ALL OF THOSE ARE ITEMS THAT WE HEARD FROM OUR COMMUNITY WHO CAME TO OUR TOWN HALLS, WHO CAME TO OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS.

AND SO JUST WANNA, UM, THANK EVERYONE INVOLVED AND, AND ESPECIALLY WANNA THANK MY TEAM, UH, IN THE, IN THE DISTRICT TWO OFFICE FOR ALL OF THEIR HARD WORK.

COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.

UH, YEAH, I, I JUST WANTED TO ECHO A LOT OF THE, A LOT OF THE SENTIMENT THAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES HAD.

UH, ALSO THANKING, UH, CARRIE AND ERIC AND ED, AND, UH, ESPECIALLY CARRIE FOR PUTTING UP WITH MY, MY HORRIBLE JOKES AT, UH, WHENEVER SHE WOULD CALL AND, AND LET ME KNOW THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY MONEY AT ALL, UH, TO BE SPENDING.

I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT PRESSED US TO FIND MORE MONEY TO TRY AND FIND MORE MONEY TO CONTINUE TO WORK, AND THAT THIS BUDGET REFLECTS OUR, OUR, OUR, OUR IDEALS AND HOW WE SEE OURSELVES AS A CITY.

UM, I WANNA THANK THE CITY MANAGER.

I WANT TO THANK OUR AMAZING SUB QUORUM THAT HAS WORKED TIRE TIRELESSLY FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS.

AND ALL, ALL OF OUR STAFFS, I DON'T THINK THEY GET ENOUGH CREDIT FOR ALL THE WORK THAT THEY DO, UH, AND THAT THEY PUT IN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE, UH, UP HERE AND ABLE TO PERFORM AND GET SOME STUFF DONE FOR OUR CITY.

[05:05:01]

COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.

UH, GOT IT GOING.

THIRD, AFTER ALL THE THANKS, I'M GONNA BE REPEATING A LOT OF THE THANK YOUS, BUT I WANTED TO THANK, UH, CITY STAFF.

UH, I WANTED TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES.

I WANTED TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES AND HER AND HER STAFF ON KEEPING ALL THE SUBOR MEETINGS, UH, GOING NICELY AND, AND THANK ALL THE OFFICES FOR BRINGING FOOD AND BREAKFAST TACOS AND, AND ALL THAT.

UH, I, I ALSO WANT TO THANK, UH, MY OFFICE FOR ALL THEIR HARD WORK ON A LOT OF THESE, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, BUDGET AMENDMENTS, UH, YOU KNOW, TO CRAFT A BUDGET THAT LIVES UP TO OUR VALUES.

UH, I'M ALSO THANKFUL TO EVERYONE WHO TESTIFIED TODAY, UH, AND THAT WAS ACTIVE INVOLVED THROUGHOUT THE, THE ENTIRE PROCESS, WHETHER BY ATTENDING A BUDGET, OPEN HOUSE, MEETING WITH OUR OFFICE, OR WRITING IN, UH, THEIR PRIORITIES THAT THEY BROUGHT UP TO HELP GUIDE US AS WE MADE DETERMINATIONS AROUND THIS BUDGET.

UH, I WANT TO THANK, UH, CARRIE FROM THE BUDGET OFFICE FOR MY LAME JOKES AS WELL.

UH, GOD KNOWS I HAD MY FIRST SHARE.

UH, AND I WANT TO THANK, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN KER FOR BRINGING A LITTLE BIT OF SPICE TO THE BUDGET.

UM, THIS, THIS, THIS AFTERNOON.

UM, I'M STRONGLY COMMITTED TO WORKING TOWARDS A MORE SUSTAINABLE, EQUITABLE, EQUITABLE AND AFFORDABLE AUSTIN.

AND I BELIEVE THIS BUDGET KEEPS US MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION.

OUR BUDGET IS NOT JUST A SPREADSHEET WITH LINE ITEMS, IT'S A MORAL DOCUMENT.

WORKING TO SHAPE THE BUDGET TO BETTER REFLECT OUR IDEALS, SPEAKS HIGHLY OF VALUES THAT WE HOLD DEAR HERE IN AUSTIN THAT WE MUST REPRESENT HERE ON THE DIOCESE.

UH, AND WHILE THERE WERE MANY ITEMS THAT ARE WORTHY OF HIGHLIGHTING, UH, FROM THE BASE BUDGET, I JUST, I, I REALLY WANTED TO FOCUS AND, AND, AND CALL OUT ON THE SUPPORT THAT WE SAW AROUND THE MENTAL HEALTH DIVERSION PILOT PROGRAM.

RAISING AUSTIN'S LIVING WAGE AND PROVIDING 4% ACROSS THE BOARD RAISE TO CITY EMPLOYEES PERMANENT FUNDING FOR THE, I BELONG IN AUSTIN, TENANT STABILIZATION AND RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, AND FUNDING THE COLLECTIVE SEX CRIMES RESPONSE MODEL.

UM, AND I, I'M ALSO VERY APPRECIATIVE OF MY COLLEAGUES FOR SUPPORTING, UH, MY OTHER THREE BUDGET AMENDMENTS OUTSIDE OF THE DIVERSION PILOT, UH, AROUND CAST ME AROUND THE HOMELESSNESS ENGAGEMENT ASSISTANCE RESPONSE PROGRAM AND ON THE COMMUNITY HEALTH NAVIGATOR PROGRAM.

I APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT, UH, OF EVERYONE WHO MADE, UH, TODAY POSSIBLE.

YOU KNOW, THE FOCUS VERY MUCH WAS ON HOMELESSNESS, PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY, A LOT OF ISSUES THAT WE ALL CARE ABOUT.

UH, AND I'M, I'M, I'M HAPPY THAT, UH, THAT IT'S COMING TO AN END.

COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER.

I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE WORK THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO TOGETHER ON THIS BUDGET.

I'M EXCITED THAT WE GOT THE PARKS MAINTENANCE CREW BEEFED UP.

WE'VE GOT 16 MORE FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES COMING INTO OUR PARK SYSTEM.

AND THANK YOU TO ALISON TER FOR WORKING SO CLOSELY WITH US ON THAT.

WE CO-LED ON THAT EFFORT.

TRANSPORTATION IS GETTING MORE FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES TO HELP IMPROVE OUR ROADS AND SIGNALS.

AND, AND LANE STRIPING, DISTRICT EIGHT IS GONNA GET A DOG PARK PILOT.

SO I THINK THAT'S VERY EXCITING.

UM, GUN LOCKS AND SAFE STORAGE EDUCATION CAMPAIGN AND A FIREARMS EXAMINER THAT HELPS WITH BALLISTICS TESTING.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA BE REALLY IMPORTANT IN THE COMMUNITY TO HELP PROTECT SAFETY.

UM, A VETERAN AFFAIRS ACTION PLAN AND MORE SHADE TREES FOR OUR PARKS.

UM, BUT SOMETIMES THERE'S THINGS THAT GET BAKED IN OR JUST GET HANDLED, UM, THAT ARE ALREADY IN THE BUDGET, AND WE DON'T NECESSARILY NEED TO DISCUSS THEM UP HERE TODAY.

SO, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF FOCUS ON THE BITS AND PIECES THAT CAME INTO THIS FINAL ADOPTION, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT GOES IN ON THE BACKEND WITH US AND WITH CITY STAFF TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE ARE ADDRESSED.

SO, SOME OF THE THINGS WE KNOW THAT WERE ALREADY INCLUDED, WERE CLEAN AIR WORK THAT WE DO WITH OUR REGIONAL PARTNERS, OUR GUN SURRENDER PROGRAM, ADDITIONAL REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND SERVICE, NA NAVIGATION.

UM, WE HAVE MORE BICYCLE TICKETING FOR PEOPLE PARKING IN BIKE LANES TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CYCLISTS THAT ARE OPERATING DON'T NEED TO SWERVE INTO LANES OF TRAFFIC, WHICH IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FOR EVERYBODY.

UM, AND THE LIVING STREETS PROGRAM IS, IS GETTING THE ENHANCEMENTS THAT IT NEEDS.

SO YOU'RE GONNA SEE SOME MORE DEVELOPMENTS ALONG THE WAY THAT HELP IDENTIFY WHERE A HEALTHY STREET IS AND HOW TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE OPERATING SAFELY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS AND MAKING SURE THAT THE, THE NEIGHBORS CAN USE IT EFFECTIVELY AND THAT KIDS CAN LEARN HOW TO RIDE BIKES IN A SAFE MANNER.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD WORK IN HERE TODAY, AND I'M JUST REALLY PROUD TO GET TO THE END OF BUDGET.

I THINK WE ALL LIKE BEING ABLE TO BE DONE WITH THIS CHAPTER AND TO MOVE FORWARD INTO THE NEXT YEAR TO BEST UTILIZE THESE DOLLARS.

COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER.

AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTAR.

PUT THAT INTO THE CITY BUDGET ON A PERMANENT BASIS, ON AN ONGOING BASIS.

I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ONE ITEM THAT WE REALLY HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT, UH, BECAUSE THE CITY MANAGER INCLUDED IN THE BASE BUDGET.

UH, AND THAT'S THE, UH, $3.6 MILLION IN, UH, TENANT ASSISTANCE.

I KNOW THAT HAS BEEN A BIG TOPIC OF DISCUSSION, UH, SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE DIOCESE EVEN BEFORE.

THAT WAS A CRITICAL ELEMENT OF THE PANDEMIC RELIEF.

UH, AND BECAUSE OF THE COMMITMENT OF ADVOCATES AND OF THE COMMITMENT OF THIS COUNCIL, WE HAVE

[05:10:01]

AND IT JUST SIGNALS OUR COMMITMENT TO, UH, EQUITY, TO AFFORDABILITY, TO HELPING PEOPLE OUT.

UH, WE'VE GOT A, A CONTRACT WITH, UH, ELZA MARANO THAT'S, UH, RUNNING IT, AND THEY ARE DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB LEVERAGING THOSE FUNDS.

WHEN FOLKS GO AND ASK FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE, THEY'VE GOT A A FOOD PANTRY, THEY'VE TRIED TO CONNECT THEM WITH OTHER RESOURCES, UH, AND I THINK WE'VE GOT A VERY GOOD MODEL WORKING.

AND I'M EXCITED THAT INSTEAD OF DEBATING IT YEAR AFTER YEAR, WE HAVE PUT THAT INTO THE, THE BASE BUDGET AND, AND JUST LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THAT CONTINUE AS PART OF THE BASE BUDGET.

AND THEN AGAIN, I'VE GOT TO, UH, CONGRATULATE HONESTLY, AND THE FOLKS THAT I GOTTA CONGRATULATE ARE THE, UH, GUS GARCIA SENIOR CENTER PROGRAM PEOPLE.

'CAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES THAT SAID, YOU NEED TO GET OVER HERE AND, AND SEE WHAT WE'RE DOING AT GUS GARCIA REC CENTER.

UH, THEY'RE THE ONES THAT HIGHLIGHTED THE NEED FOR MORE SPACE.

AND, UH, I'M PROUD TO, UH, DELIVER, UH, SOME MORE CAPACITY THERE FOR THEM.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE SENIORS AND MANY OF THEM THAT TESTIFIED AND THAT, THAT VOLUNTEER AND THAT HELP, UH, UH, HONESTLY, THEY, THEY INSPIRE ME AND I JUST HAVE TO TAKE MY HAT OFF TO THEM.

VERY GOOD.

COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR.

I, TOO WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T FIRST MENTION THOSE THREE PEOPLE SITTING RIGHT IN FRONT OF US, ED, CARRIE, AND ERIC.

UH, I KNOW THE MANY HOURS THAT NOT ONLY WENT INTO PUTTING THIS BUDGET TOGETHER FOR US TO CONSIDER, BUT FROM THAT MOMENT, ANSWERING WHO KNOWS HOW MANY HUNDREDS OF QUESTIONS, UH, AND DEALING WITH ALL, UH, OUR BACK AND FORTH.

AND SO, UH, I JUST, FIRST AND FOREMOST, SINCERELY THANK Y'ALL FOR ALL THE HARD WORK.

I I, IT GOES, IT DOESN'T GO UNNOTICED, BUT IT, IT'S VERY APPRECIATED.

UM, I ALSO JUST WANNA TAKE A REAL BRIEF MOMENT TO ECHO THE COMMENTS, UH, OF MY COLLEAGUES.

THIS IN BUDGET REALLY DOES INVEST IN PEOPLE, RIGHT? IT MAKES OUR COMMUNITY SAFER, WHETHER THAT IS THE DOWNTOWN COMMAND CENTER, UH, OR, UH, THE, EVEN THE, THE PILOT THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE UP AT THE DOMAIN, WHICH IS GONNA BE A GREAT ADDITION TO THAT COMMUNITY.

UH, IT MAKES OUR CITY MORE RESILIENT.

UH, WE ARE INVESTING IN OUR LAND, IN OUR TREES, WHICH IS THAT GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS SO CRITICAL.

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT MAKES REAL MEANINGFUL INVESTMENTS IN ADDRESSING THE UNHOUSED HERE IN AUSTIN.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE INVESTMENTS IN HERE ALL THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM, WHETHER THAT'S PREVENTING PEOPLE FROM BECOMING HOMELESS, MAKING SURE THAT ONCE, UH, IF, IF SOMEONE DOES FALL INTO HOMELESSNESS, THEY HAVE A SHELTER BED.

UH, AND THEN GETTING THEM INTO, UH, WHETHER THAT'S RAPID REHOUSING OR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, BUT PUTTING THE INTERVENTIONS IN PLACE SO THAT WE CAN MEET THE NEED THAT IS IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND SO I AM INCREDIBLY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WE HAVE DONE ON THAT FRONT.

AND, AND CERTAINLY, UH, WANT TO THANK EVERYONE HERE FOR, FOR THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE SHOWN AND THE DEDICATION TO THAT.

UM, IT, IT TRULY IS GOING TO BE VERY IMPACTFUL FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND, UH, NOW I LOOK FORWARD TO IMPLEMENTATION.

COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTAR, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.

THAN YOUR LAST RETIREMENT.

I'M GONNA JOIN IN THE CHORUS OF THANK YOUS TO, TO OUR BUDGET AND FINANCE FOLKS.

UM, YOU HAD A PARTICULARLY CHALLENGING YEAR WITH A NEW CITY MANAGER COMING IN.

UM, SO THANK YOU ERIC AND CARRIE AND ED AND ALL OF YOUR OTHER STAFF WHO HAD TO ANSWER THE MANY QUESTIONS THAT WE, WE ASKED.

UM, THANK YOU TO THE CITY MANAGER AND DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, AND ALL OF ALL OF THE STAFF.

UM, YOU KNOW THAT I LIKE TO ASK QUESTIONS AND YOU'VE ALL BEEN VERY, VERY PATIENT WITH ME.

UM, I APPRECIATE IT.

IT'S THE LAST TIME YOU HAVE TO DO THAT FOR BUDGET.

SO, UM, I DID WANT TO, BEFORE I MOVE ON, TO THANK SOME OTHER PEOPLE, WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, UM, THIS IS, UH, BRUCE MILLS LAST MEETING.

UM, AND HE'S ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT I HAVE WORKED REALLY CLOSELY WITH ON A NUMBER OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY INITIATIVES.

SO THANK YOU BRUCE, UM, FOR YOUR SERVICE AND FOR STEPPING IN, UM, TO HELP US OUT IN THE TRANSITION.

WE APPRECIATE IT AND WISH YOU WELL IN YOUR, UM, AND WHAT'LL BE A HOPEFULLY MORE SUCCESSFUL RETIREMENT

[05:15:01]

I MEAN, UM, I WANT TO EXTEND MY THANKS TO ALL OF MY DISTRICT 10 CONSTITUENTS WHO SPOKE UP AND SHARED WITH ME THEIR IDEAS AND PRIORITIES.

UH, WANT TO THANK MY AMAZING STAFF, MY BUDGET, UH, DIRECTOR ASHLEY RICHARDSON, MELISSA MARKMAN, ASHLEY FISHER, MINA CHACHI, CARRIE SMITH, AND SOPHIA MITO FOR ALL OF YOUR PASSION AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO BETTERING OUR COMMUNITY AND MAKING SURE THAT, THAT EVERYTHING, UM, WAS MOVING SMOOTHLY AND, AND AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR WORK.

UM, LASTLY, I DO WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION FOR MY COLLEAGUES ON THE DAIS.

UM, THIS IS MY LAST BUDGET AND THAT I WILL VOTE FOR AS AN AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBER.

AND OVER THE YEARS TOGETHER, WE'VE WORKED ON MANY, MANY ISSUES.

AND IN THE BUDGET, WE'VE INVESTED IN SOME CRITICAL THINGS.

AND, AND PART OF WHAT I HAVE LOVED ABOUT THIS BUDGET IS SEVERAL OF YOU STEPPING UP TO FURTHER SOME OF THOSE PIECES.

UM, SO WE'VE WORKED TO SUPPORT SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

WE'VE WORKED TO MITIGATE OUR WILDFIRE RISK, EXPAND OUR ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE, IMPROVE OUR ACCESS, UM, TO HEALTHCARE BY ADDRESSING CARE, LOW ACUITY SITUATIONS MORE CREATIVELY.

WE'VE WORKED TO IMPROVE OUR RESPONSE TO HATE.

WE CREATED THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION.

WE PREPARED FOR AND RESPONDED TO DISEASE OUTBREAKS.

WE'VE DONE WORK TO BEAUTIFY OUR PARKS.

UM, WE'VE DEVELOPED THE AUSTIN CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS, AND THAT'S JUST TO NAME A FEW OF THE THINGS.

UM, THIS BUDGET TOO IS A, IS A REALLY GOOD BUDGET.

AND AS COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS MENTIONED, WE SPENT A LOT OF OUR TIME TODAY TALKING ABOUT THE LAST $20 MILLION OF THE 5.9 BILLION.

UM, AND I DO WANNA UNDERSCORE FOR ANYONE WHO'S, WHOSE, UM, BUDGET WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT TODAY, THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY A BAD THING THAT WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT IT.

UM, WE DO APPRECIATE IT.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S A TESTAMENT TO HOW WELL THE BUDGET IS PUT TOGETHER THAT WE, WE ARE, UM, WORKING, YOU KNOW, TO MEET SOME LAST PRIORITIES.

AND I THINK WE WERE VERY SUCCESSFUL, UM, THIS YEAR IN ADDRESSING MANY.

BUT I DO WANNA JUST SPEAK TO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE BAKED INTO THE PROPOSED BUDGET.

UM, 'CAUSE SOMETIMES THEY GET LOST IN THIS SORT OF AMENDMENT FLURRY AT THE END.

UM, FIRST OF ALL, I THINK WE DID A REALLY GOOD JOB THIS YEAR OF TAKING CARE OF OUR EMPLOYEES.

UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE EXTENDED THE, THE PATERNITY LEAVE TO 12 WEEKS FOR OUR NON-SWORN EMPLOYEES.

WE HAVE A RAISE OF 4%.

UM, WE'RE TAKING CARE OF SOME IMPORTANT INVESTMENTS FOR OUR PENSIONS.

WE HAVE MADE INVESTMENTS OVER THE PAST YEAR PLUS TO MOVE PEOPLE INTO BETTER SPACES BY, YOU KNOW, REALLY MOVING INTO OUR OWN SPACES.

UM, WE ARE GONNA BE OPENING A NEW FIRE STATION IN DISTRICT 10 IN JANUARY.

UM, WE HAVE, UM, FUNDED THE COLLABORATIVE CARE CENTER ONE OF THESE DAYS, I'M GONNA GET IT RIGHT, UM, THE C FOUR CALL CENTER OUT OF EMS, UM, TO 24 7.

AND WE GOT CENTRAL HEALTH TO PARTNER WITH US.

AND WE'RE TALKING WITH OTHER, UM, EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS, ET CETERA ON THAT.

UM, WE FUNDED THE OSTEN CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS FOR SEVERAL MORE YEARS.

UM, AND WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, MADE THE, THE BIG INVESTMENT IN THE COLLECTIVE SEX CRIMES RESPONSE MODEL AND BEGIN A PROCESS OF, OF LEADING FORWARD TO DO A SIMILAR PROCESS FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF, A LOT OF THINGS HERE WE CAN BE PROUD OF.

AND FROM, FROM MY OFFICE, WE SET OUT THIS YEAR TO SAY WE WANNA LAND THE PLANES, UM, THAT WE'VE SORT OF LAUNCHED UP INTO THE AIR AND CATCH THOSE BALLS.

AND I THINK WE REALLY, WE REALLY HAVE DONE THAT WITH THIS BUDGET AND I APPRECIATE, UM, MY COLLEAGUES HELPING AND ASSISTING ME TO DO THAT.

COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.

AND, UM, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS BUDGET.

I'VE BEEN THROUGH MANY, WELL A COUPLE YEARS NOW AND YOU RUN THE BEST BUDGET MEETINGS.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

APPRECIATE THAT FOR THAT YOU'VE RUN A TIGHT SHIP AND I, IT'S LESS PAINFUL THAN IT'S BEEN IN YEARS PAST AND I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT.

I KNOW THAT STAFF DOES AS WELL.

I WANNA ALSO THANK OUR BUDGET STAFF.

UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DID TO GET US TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

UM, THAT WORK IS INCREDIBLE.

BRUCE MILLS, UM, IT IS YOUR LAST MEETING AND I JUST WANNA SAY I OBJECT TO YOUR RETIREMENT.

UM, YEAH, I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT GIGGLE.

YEAH, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, UM, AND TO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY OVER THE CEMETERIES.

I'M VERY GLAD THAT THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET.

AND, UM, LAST WEEK, MANY OF YOU KNOW, I EXPERIENCED A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

I WANNA THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING DURING THAT TIME.

BUT I ALSO WANNA THANK THE FIRST RESPONDERS WHO CAME HERE TO CITY HALL TO TAKE CARE OF ME.

UM, AND EVERYONE WHO WAS INVOLVED IN THAT, IT MEANT A LOT.

AND I'M MUCH BETTER NOW.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND, AND ALL THE WORK THEY DO.

UH, I'M GONNA PASS IT HERE IN JUST A SECOND TO THE, UH, CITY MANAGER 'CAUSE I WANT HIM TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY A FEW THINGS.

BUT I WANT SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE STAFF.

UH, AND, AND I, I DON'T SAY THANK YOU TO MY STAFF ENOUGH FOR HELPING ME THROUGH ALL THESE PROCESSES

[05:20:01]

AND I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO THEM ALSO, UH, MILLS, I, I, I'VE GOTTA RECOGNIZE YOU.

YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T EXPECT WHEN I CAME BACK AS MAYOR THAT I'D GET TO WORK WITH MILLS.

IN FACT, THEY, THEY TOLD ME I WOULDN'T HAVE TO.

UM, UH, YEAH, YEAH.

UM, UH, NO.

UH, BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE ONE OF MY, IF YOU ASK ME ABOUT SOME OF MY FAVORITE TIMES AS MAYOR OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, ONE OF THE TOP TIMES WAS BACK WHEN I WAS MAYOR THE FIRST TIME, AND OO MILLS WAS, UH, ACTING.

YEAH, YEAH.

YOU GOT IT RIGHT.

UM, HE, HE WAS THE ACTING CHIEF AND WE DID NATIONAL NIGHT OUT AND I GOT TO RUN AROUND WITH CHIEF MILLS AND ONE OF THE PLACES WE GOT TO GO WAS UP IN ALLENDALE, WHICH IS WHERE HE GREW UP.

AND IT WAS ONE OF THE HAPPIEST NIGHTS I'VE EVER PARTICIPATED IN, IN PUBLIC SERVICE BECAUSE HE IS SUCH A HAPPY PERSON.

HE BRINGS JOY PRETTY MUCH WHEREVER HE GOES.

UM, THERE CAN BE A SHOOTOUT AND HE'S GOT PEOPLE LAUGHING, .

UM, AND, AND THE PEOPLE WERE SO PROUD OF HIM.

SO, UH, CHIEF, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'VE MEANT TO ALL OF US AND THE ROLE YOU'VE PLAYED.

UM, UH, WE'RE GOING WE'RE MORE MINUTES.

NO, YOU'RE DONE, .

UM, IF YOU WANNA SAY FEW WORDS, THEN I'M GONNA TURN IT TO THE MAN.

WHAT? YOU'VE GOT A GREAT MEMORY AND I FORGOT ABOUT THAT.

YEAH, I THINK THE, I THINK WE'RE THE DOGGY WASN'T YOU WERE , YOU WERE YOUNG.

IT, LOOK, KIT HAS BEEN AN HONOR TO WORK WITH EACH OF YOU.

I, I, I THINK ABOUT THAT.

I'M SITTING HERE WORKING WITH YOU AND MOST OF YOU AND YOUR STAFF WHO I DON'T SEE HERE TODAY, BUT THEY'VE BEEN REALLY, REALLY SO OPEN TO ME TO LET US SIT IN EVERY ONE OF YOUR OFFICES, DEBATE, OFFER DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND COME TO AGREEMENT THAT'S I EVERY ONE OF, YOU'RE IN MY CELL PHONE AND I HOPE I'M IN YOURS.

AND WE, WE STAY FRIENDS.

I, I BLOCKED YOU TODAY, , AND, AND I'VE GOT .

AND I HAVE TO SAY, I KNEW THE MAYOR LOVED ME BECAUSE I HAD TO CALL HIM MONDAY, I THINK IT WAS.

AND WHEN I CALLED THE MAYOR ANSWERED THE PHONE, I LOVE YOU.

AND, AND HE SAID, THEN HE WAS TALKING TO, TO LIZ.

I WAS TALKING TO MY SON WHO WAS LEAVING THE HOUSE.

BUT ANYWAY, I THOUGHT HE WAS TALKING TO ME.

I FELT LOVE.

ANYWAY, YEAH.

SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

I DAMN NEAR COULDN'T GET HIM OFF THE PHONE.

UM, I'M GOING, YEAH, I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA TURN IT TO OUR RELATIVELY NEW CITY MANAGER AND AS I DO IT, I MEAN, HE'S ALREADY HEARD IT.

EVERYBODY'S HEARD FROM A NUMBER OF MEMBERS, BUT, UM, WE'RE REAL GLAD YOU'RE HERE AND IT'S BEEN PROVED TO US AGAIN.

UH, I WAS, I HAD A COMMENT, I WAS TALKING, UH, AT A DEAL THE OTHER DAY WHERE SOMEBODY ASKED ME ABOUT, UH, HOW THIS BUDGET PROCESS HAS GONE AND YOUR FIRST, UH, BUDGET WITH THIS COUNCIL AND HOW WE WERE DOING, HOW YOU WERE DOING.

AND, UH, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU, UH, AS, AS I GIVE YOU PRETTY MUCH THE LAST WORD, UH, ON, ON THIS BUDGET PROCESS.

SO THANK YOU, MANAGER.

BROAD NEXT.

AND UNDERSTANDING THAT WE DO HAVE, UH, SOME CHALLENGES AHEAD OF US.

UH, AND THANK THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, FOR ONE, RECEIVING, UH, OUR BUDGET, UH, THE WAY YOU DID, UH, IN EARLY, UH, JULY.

UH, AS WELL AS ALL THE INTERACTION AND, UH, THE IDEAS AND THOUGHTS AND SUGGESTIONS THAT YOU MADE THAT ULTIMATELY GOT US.

UH, TWO TODAY.

I WANNA ALSO THANK, UH, THE COMMUNITY.

I THINK AS THIS IS MY FIRST BUDGET, UH, I LEARNED A LOT JUST LISTENING TO, UH, THE COMMUNITY, TALKING ABOUT, UH, THE NEEDS AND IN SOME CASES THE PENT UP NEEDS AND FRUSTRATION.

NO DIFFERENT, I THINK, THAN OUR COUNCIL, UH, AND STAFF CONVERSATIONS AROUND THE TYPES OF THINGS YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SEEN AUGMENTED IN THE BUDGET AND THAT YOU FULFILL TODAY.

UH, I'M EXCITED ABOUT, UH, THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.

THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS, AS YOU MENTIONED IN THE BUDGET FOR THE COMMUNITY, UH, AS WELL AS FOR OUR STAFF AND TEAM THAT DO THE WORK.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD, ODDLY, TO NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.

UH, I KNOW, UH, BUT I, I THINK THERE ARE SOME TOO SOON, TOO SOON, TOO SOON, .

UH, BUT WORKING AGAIN THROUGHOUT THIS YEAR TO BEGIN TO CRAFT THAT

[05:25:01]

BUT AGAIN, AS I'VE SEEN, UH, WHETHER THROUGH MY STAFF OR WITH WORKING WITH THIS COUNCIL, THERE IS ALWAYS A WAY THROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES.

AND I THINK THE CIVILITY AND THE APPROACH THAT I'VE SEEN ACROSS THIS DAIS, UH, WORKING WITH OUR STAFF AS WELL AS LISTENING TO THE PUBLIC AND THEN WORKING WITH EACH OTHER, I, I THINK IS ONLY MORE EXCITING FOR ME TO BE WILLING AND DESIROUS TO ROLL UP MY SLEEVES AND GET AFTER THIS NEXT YEAR.

SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU, THANK YOU TO MY TEAM, THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNITY.

I LOOK FORWARD, UH, TO MANY MORE YEARS OF DEVELOPING BUDGETS AND WORKING TO TRY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THIS COMMUNITY.

AND AGAIN, THANK YOU TO MY TEAM AND TO BRUCE, I'M GONNA MISS YOU.

I APPRECIATE YOU AND EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE.

UH, AND YOU CAN JUST COME IN MY OFFICE AND SIT IF YOU WANT .

UH, 'CAUSE I'VE ENJOYED YOUR COMPANY.

SO THANK YOU MAYOR, AND I APPRECIATE TODAY.

THANK YOU MANAGER.

UM, WELL, AS WE, AS WE CLOSE THIS BUDGET, UH, A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANNA SAY.

ONE IS FOR THOSE, UH, WATCHING, FOR THOSE THAT ARE WATCHING, WE ARE POSTED FOR MEETINGS FOR TOMORROW AND FRIDAY.

THOSE MEETINGS WERE POSTED IN CASE THEY WERE NEEDED.

SO, UH, NOBODY NEEDS TO SHOW UP TOMORROW OR FRIDAY BECAUSE WE HAVE COMPLETED THE WORK OF THIS BUDGET CYCLE.

UM, AND AS I SAY THAT, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE MEMBERS AND EACH OF THE MEMBERS OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK.

UM, WE, WE DO A GOOD JOB AS A TEAM, AND THAT IS A MEANINGFUL THING.

UM, I THINK A LOT OF THE SUCCESS THAT WE HAVE HAD IN THE PAST, I GUESS 19 MONTHS NOW, HAS BEEN, UM, BECAUSE OF COURTESY AND THE WAY WE APPROACH EACH OTHER, UH, INDIVIDUALLY.

SO CONGRATULATIONS TO EACH AND ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AS WE PASS THIS BUDGET WITH THAT MEMBERS.

AND WITHOUT OBJECTION.

UH, THE CITY COUNCIL OF AUSTIN, TEXAS.

UM, CHIEF, CAN YOU COME DOWN HERE? WE GOT A DOG PROBLEM.

UM, WITHOUT OBJECTION.

THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL I THINK IS ADJOURNED.

IT'S 4:48 PM THANKS EVERYBODY.