Sep 12, 2024 City Council Meetings

WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR COUNCIL'S SUPPORT IN, UH, PASSING THE REZONING SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD OUR RESOURCE CENTERS, UH, EQUIP FAMILIES WITH ESSENTIAL ITEMS, CONNECT THEM WITH ONGOING THERAPEUTIC SUPPORT SERVICES, AND PROVIDE A PLACE OF RESPITE.

GOOD MORNING.

I'M CRYSTAL SMITH WITH FOSTER VILLAGE.

UH, OUR, OUR ORGANIZATION WAS FOUNDED BY FOSTER PARENTS WHO SAW A NEED AND OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO GET INVOLVED.

AND WE'VE DONE THIS THROUGH RESOURCE CENTERS IN AUSTIN, AND THESE RESOURCE CENTERS SERVE AS A HUB OF SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN INTERSECTING WITH THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM.

WE ARE NEEDING TO EXPAND, AND WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT ON DESAL ROAD.

AND, UH, THE PROPERTY THAT IS BEING OFFERED TO US WILL ALLOW US TO, UH, GROW OUR SERVICES AND REACH MORE CHILDREN.

WE HAVE THE SUPPORT OF JUDGE MARTINEZ JONES, UH, DFPS, AND, UH, SEVERAL OTHER STAKEHOLDERS WHO KNOW THE VALUE OF THIS.

AND SO

[00:10:01]

AND, UH, WE INTEND TO PRESERVE THE NATURE AND ALL OF THE, UH, BEAUTIFUL FEATURES THAT ARE ALREADY THERE.

AND SO WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS.

THANK YOU, MR. WELL, YOUR NAME'S BEEN INVOLVED IF YOU'D LIKE TO.

I'M SORRY, WHAT ITEM? UH, NUMBER WAS, UH, THE PRIOR ITEM? 43? NO, HANG ON.

HANG.

OH, I'M SORRY, MA'AM.

I, WE, WE ONLY HAVE ONE PERSON AT THE PODIUM AT THE DAY, AT A TIME.

G GREET, UH, MAYOR WATSON, UH, AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.

I'M MICHAEL LOFTON, UH, WITH THE AFRICAN AMERICAN YOUTH HARVEST FOUNDATION AND THE TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTER.

UH, OF COURSE, I'LL START OUT BY SAYING I'M HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 43.

DEFINITELY WOULD LOVE FOR YOU ALL TO SUPPORT THAT ITEM.

BUT BEFORE I SPEAK TO A COUPLE OF THINGS, I WANT TO TAKE MY HAT OFF TO SISTER FUENTES, UH, SISTER, UH, ALLISON AL ALTER.

I SAY THAT BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSE TOGETHER, BROTHER CHEETO.

UH, AND BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN THERE, YOU KNOW, A FEW YEARS AGO, UH, CITY OF AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY, THEY HAVE TAKEN ON, UH, THE CHALLENGE OF MENTAL HEALTH.

UH, AND THEY, UH, WE WERE AWARDED A TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTER GRANT, UH, IN RECEIVING THAT GRANT, IT WAS A PILOT.

UH, WE WERE VERY HAPPY TO RECEIVE THAT.

AND I WANNA SAY TO THE CITY COUNCIL, THE FUNDING THAT WAS MADE AVAILABLE FOR THAT PILOT THAT WAS PARTIALLY NEGOTIATED WITH THE NATIONAL TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTER OUT OF, UH, SAN FRANCISCO.

AND SO WHEN THEY CAME UP WITH THE GOAL, THEN THAT GOAL WAS 120.

AND SO THERE WAS A PILOT, UH, WITH THE FUNDS THAT WERE ALLOCATED WHERE I'M HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO SAY TO YOU ALL, AND ALSO I WANT TO THANK, UH, AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH AS WELL, BECAUSE WE MEET WITH THEM ON A MONTHLY BASIS TO TALK ABOUT WHERE WE AT AND THE NUMBERS AND THE CLIENTS THAT WE SERVE.

WE HAVE SERVED, UH, PRETTY CLOSE TO 450 CLIENTS, WHEREAS, AND WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER 300 THAT IS ALSO OVER AND ABOVE.

WE ARE ALMOST AT 800 CLIENTS ON OUR BUDGET AND A GOAL OF 120.

SO WE ARE ABOUT 500% OVER.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH A PH, AND SO WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE TO REPORT THESE NUMBERS.

BUT IN ADDITION, UH, TO THAT, I ALSO WANT TO ADD, UH, AND SHARE THAT IN RECENT, UH, WEEKS I'VE MET WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PHILES, BUT ALSO NEW INFORMATION TO SHARE IS THAT WE'VE ALSO MET WITH CENTRAL HEALTH.

WE'VE MET WITH, UH, JONATHAN MORGAN.

WE'VE MET WITH PATRICK LEE, AND THEY HAVE DECIDED TO ALLOCATE FUNDING TO US AS WELL.

WE WILL BE MEETING WITH, UH, UH, VANESSA FUENTES AND AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

RIGHT NOW, THAT NUMBER IS 800,000 BECAUSE THEY RECOGNIZE THE COST, UH, OF WHAT IT TAKES TO DO THIS HERE.

UH, RECENTLY, OUR CONTRACT, UH, WE WENT FROM, WE STARTED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2023.

THE, UH, CENTER OPENED NOVEMBER 1ST.

UH, WE WERE THINKING THAT THE CONTRACT WAS GOING TO END AROUND, UH, AUGUST, BUT IT'S BEEN EXTENDED A MONTH, WHICH HAS, YOU KNOW, PUT US IN A FINANCIAL STRAIN.

UH, MS. FUENTES HAS, UH, THOSE CHALLENGES THERE THAT WE'RE FACING, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THAT STRAIN IS NOT COMING FROM LACK OF MANAGEMENT.

IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE 500% OVER.

AND SO WE CAN'T TURN AWAY KIDS, WE CAN'T TURN AWAY FAMILIES, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE NOTES THAT I'VE SHARED, YOU KNOW, UH, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF KIDS AND A NUMBER OF FAMILIES THAT COME AND THINK SUICIDE IS THE ANSWER.

AND SO, WHICH IS NOT, I NEED TO EXTEND AND INVITE, AND I'M SORRY, I'M GONNA END THIS HERE.

OKAY? UH, UH, I NEED TO EXTEND AND INVITE TO CITY COUNCIL TO COME OUT.

I WANT Y'ALL TO KNOW THAT THE DOJ IS COMING DOWN TO VISIT US.

AND SO I'LL FOLLOW UP, BUT I'D LIKE FOR Y'ALL TO COME OUT.

PLEASE DO FOLLOW UP WITH US, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR GOOD WORK IN THE COMMUNITY.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU, MR. YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

ALRIGHT, DR.

CALVIN KELLY, YOU KNOW WHAT? CAN I, AND ENOVIA JOSEPH IS ON DECK.

WHAT CAN, WHAT CAN I SAY TO FOLLOW UP WITH WHAT MICHAEL HAS ALREADY SAID? UH, AGAIN, THANKING ALL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANKING A PH AND FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT.

UH, WE ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE WORK THAT WE'RE PROVIDING HERE IN THE COMMUNITY.

UH, AND WITHOUT THE SUPPORT FROM YOU ALL, WE RECOGNIZE THAT THIS WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE.

SO THANK YOU.

MS. JOSEPH, ARE YOU PRESENT? MS. JOSEPH?

WE APPRECIATE YOUR WORK.

[00:15:01]

MS. JOSEPH? ALRIGHT, ONE SECOND.

ITEM NUMBER 38.

BRAD MASSING.

MR. MASSING? MR. MASSING? BRAD MASSING.

WILLIAM BUNCH.

ROY WHALEY.

MR. BUNCH OR MR. WHALEY? MR. BUNCH.

OR MR. WHALEY? THREE.

THREE.

WILLIAM BUNCH OR ROY WHALEY? ALL RIGHT.

SORRY, MAYOR.

ONE SECOND.

CRYSTAL SMITH ALREADY SPOKE.

UM, I BELIEVE THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA.

I'LL ASK, IS THERE ANY, ARE THERE ANY OTHER ITEMS THAT ANY MEMBER WOULD LIKE TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IT WAS READ? REMEMBER, THE ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA ARE 6, 7, 8, AND 26.

UH, MEMBERS, THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA.

UH, AT THIS POINT,

[Consent Agenda]

ALL RIGHT, THEN I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.

UH, THAT'LL TAKE US TO DISCUSSION AND I'LL, UH, RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, THEN COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.

THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES.

I JUST WANTED TO, UM, PUT A SPOTLIGHT IN SOME OF THE REMARKS WE HEAR FROM OUR COMMUNITY ON THE NEED FOR INVESTMENT IN THE AUSTIN TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTER.

THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE RESOURCE THAT WE HAVE IN OUR CITY.

IT'S THE FIRST IN OUR STATE WHERE WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE A ONE STOP, UH, SHOP OF SERVICES AND SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIME.

UH, THE TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTER ALSO SERVED AS A REGIONAL RESOURCE, UM, FOR THE VICTIMS AND FAMILIES OF THE VICTIMS FROM THE MOST RECENT, UH, ROUND ROCK JUNETEENTH GUN SHOOTING THAT OUR COMMUNITY EXPERIENCED.

AND SO, WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT THIS TYPE OF SERVICE IS DESPERATELY NEEDED.

UH, THE HARVEST TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTER HAS, HAS HELPED MORE THAN, UM, MORE INDIVIDUALS THAN THEY WERE CONTRACTED FOR.

AND SO THAT IS ANOTHER TESTAMENT AS TO THE LEVEL OF NEED THAT WE DO.

AND SO I WANT TO THANK THE HARVEST TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTER FOR ALL THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING, AND I'M PLEASED TO BE PART OF A COUNCIL THAT CONTINUES TO SUPPORT THIS INVESTMENT.

COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.

TODAY WE TAKE UP AN IMPORTANT ITEM I AUTHOR THAT'S INTENDED TO FURTHER PROTECT THE LONG-TERM QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR FIREFIGHTERS.

AND I THINK IT'S ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT AS WE REMEMBER THE BRAVE FIREFIGHTERS WHO WE LOST ON SEPTEMBER 11TH BY HONORING THEIR SACRIFICE AND ENSURING THAT OUR CURRENT AND FUTURE HEROES ARE SAFE.

WITH ITEM 57, WE ARE DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO INVENTORY AND CREATE A PLAN TO PHASE OUT EQUIPMENT CONTAINING THE CANCER CAUSING AGENTS KNOWN AS PER AND POLYFLOR OL KILL SUBSTANCES OR PFAS.

THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS HAVE BOTH REMARKED THAT THESE MATERIALS ARE DANGEROUS, AND EVEN THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIREFIGHTERS HAVE CALLED FOR THE MATERIALS TO BE BANNED.

I WANNA TAKE A QUICK MOMENT TO THANK OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT LEADERSHIP, INCLUDING CHIEF BAKER AND ASSISTANT CHIEF FIRES, WHO'S HERE IN THE ROOM TONIGHT.

UM, FOR THE WORK THAT THEY HAVE DONE ALREADY ON IDENTIFYING WAYS TO ELIMINATE PFAS FROM THE FIRE EQUIPMENT, MY HOPE IS THAT WITH THIS RESOLUTION, WE CAN FURTHER EMPOWER THEIR WORK AND PROTECT OUR CITY EMPLOYEES, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO RUN INTO DANGER WHEN OTHERS RUN OUT.

UM, THE AUSTIN FIRE ASSOCIATION DID EMAIL YOU ALL COLLEAGUES EARLIER THIS MORNING IN SUPPORT OF THE ITEM.

AND FINALLY, I'D LIKE TO THANK MY CO-SPONSORS, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER, RYAN ALTER, AND NATASHA HARPER.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? COUNCIL MEMBER VELA MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, BE ADDED TO, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY'S ITEM 57.

IF WITHOUT OBJECTION, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA WILL BE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR.

IS THAT WHAT Y'ALL WOULD LIKE TO, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION.

YOU WERE ALREADY, YOU WANNA SPEAK? OKAY.

COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ WILL ALSO BE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR OF THAT ITEM.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER.

TO THE TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTER BRIEFLY.

UM, SO THIS IS ANOTHER LONG AGENDA, AND THERE ARE MANY, MANY ITEMS ON HERE THAT WE COULD FLAG.

I WANNA JUST HIGHLIGHT, UM, THAT THERE ARE, UM, ARE SEVERAL PUBLIC HEALTH ITEMS RELATED TO MATERNAL HEALTH RELATED TO SERVING THE ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY FOR HIV.

UM, THERE'S ITEMS FOR CHILDCARE, UM, ON HERE.

THERE'S WORK, UM, HAVING TO DO WITH CYBERSECURITY.

UM, BUT I ALSO WANT TO, TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY FOR HER LEADERSHIP ON ITEM 57 WITH RESPECT TO THE PAS AND OTHER CHEMICALS, UM, WITHIN THE EQUIPMENT THAT OUR FIREFIGHTERS ARE, ARE DEPLOYING.

AND THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING ME AS A, A CO-SPONSOR IN THAT EFFORT.

UM, AND THEN I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK

[00:20:01]

UM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS INITIATIVE THAT BUILT OFF THE WORK THAT WE DID IN LAUNCHING THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND SAYING THAT WE AS A CITY WERE COMMITTED TO TAKING A PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH, UM, TO GUN VIOLENCE.

UM, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES LED ON, ON MOVING THIS FORWARD, AND, AND I'VE BEEN PROUD TO, TO SUPPORT THAT EFFORT.

UM, THE TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTER IS THE FIRST IN TEXAS.

UM, IT'S ALSO UNIQUE IN THAT IT IS A ONE-STOP SHOP.

SO WE HAVE PUT MANY, MANY DIFFERENT NONPROFITS TOGETHER IN THE SIMILAR SPACE, UM, WHICH ADDS AND MULTIPLIES, UM, THE VALUE OF THE INVESTMENTS THAT WE MAKE IN THE TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTER.

I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT THERE'S SOME MOVEMENT ON SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDING FROM OTHER PARTNERS, UM, IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO, TO LEARNING MORE IF YOU HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO VISIT THE CENTER OR, OR CHECK IT OUT OR SEE THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING.

UM, PLEASE TAKE MR. LOFTON UP ON THE INNOVATION, THE INVITATION.

UM, I SUSPECT WE'LL HAVE A, A ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION.

UM, THIS IS ALSO A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THE CITY COUNTY, UM, COLLABORATION.

AND I THINK IT'S MOVING FORWARD IN, YOU KNOW, COLLABORATION WITH THE DIVERSION CENTER, ET CETERA.

UM, AND SO I JUST WANNA, YOU KNOW, APPLAUD AGAIN, OUR ABILITY, UM, TO MOVE THINGS NOW, UM, THAT ARE IN COLLABORATION WITH THE COUNTY AS WE TRY TO SOLVE PROBLEMS THAT WE SHARE, UM, AND, AND LEVERAGE OUR RESOURCES TO THE BEST IN EFFECT.

SO, THANK YOU.

ITEM NUMBER SIX, AND MY APOLOGIES THAT THE, THAT IT'S OUT OF ORDER, BUT WE'RE GONNA START WITH PLAY SPACE ENHANCEMENT.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA MEMBERS? THE CONSENT AGENDA? UM, THE MOTION WAS MADE AND SECONDED.

I WANT IT FOR CLARITY PURPOSES AND FOR THE RECORD, THE MOTION INCLUDES MY READING INTO THE RECORD ON ITEMS 50 THAT I, BEFORE WE BEGIN, ON ITEMS 58, 59 AND 60 RELATED TO THE SALARIES OF THE CITY AUDITOR, THE CITY CLERK, AND THE MUNICIPAL COURT CLERK, IS THERE ANYONE THAT WISHES TO BE SHOWN ABSTAINING FROM A VOTE ON ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN RECUSING THEMSELVES FROM A VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN RECORDING A NO VOTE ON ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ADOPTED.

MEMBERS THAT WILL TAKE US TO ITEMS THAT WERE PULLED.

WE WILL FIRST CALL UP ITEMS SIX, SEVEN, AND EIGHT, UH, THOSE, AND WE HAVE CITY STAFF COMING FORWARD TO MAKE A PRESENTATION ON ITEMS SIX, SEVEN, AND EIGHT.

UM, IT'S OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, AND THEY WILL MAKE A PRESENT A JOINT PRESENTATION WITH REGARD TO THOSE ITEMS. GOOD MORNING COUNSEL.

ANOVIA HORA, DIRECTOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.

WE ARE HERE TODAY TO GIVE YOU A SHORT BRIEFING ON THREE ITEMS, SIX, SEVEN, AND EIGHT AROUND OUR BUSINESS EXPANSION PROGRAM PLACE-BASED ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM AND ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL DISTRICT FRAMEWORK.

SO WE WILL START WITH

[Items 6, 7, & 8]

SO AS PART OF THE 2018, UH, UPDATE OF OUR CHAPTER THREE 80 POLICY CONCERNS FROM, WE HEARD CONCERNS FROM THE COMMUNITY AROUND AFFORDABILITY FOR THE CREATIVE SECTOR AND SMALL BUSINESS PARTICIPANT.

BECAUSE OF THAT FEEDBACK, WE HAVE PROPOSED A PROGRAM CALLED PLAY SPACE ENHANCEMENT.

AND I'M GONNA ASK OUR SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT, DONALD, TO WALK YOU THROUGH THE PROPOSED PROGRAM AND EXAMPLE.

GOOD MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS.

UH, YES, AS OUR DIRECTOR SAID, UH, DURING OUR REVIEW OF OUR INCENTIVE PROGRAMS IN 2018, UH, THE AFFORDABILITY FOR CREATIVE SPACES AND SMALL BUSINESSES WAS HU WAS DAYLIGHTED AS A MAJOR CONCERN.

AND SO WE WERE DIRECTED BY CITY COUNCIL TO BEGIN EXPLORING A PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY TO START ADDRESSING THAT, AS WELL AS AFFORDABILITY NEEDS FOR, UH, PROGRAMS THAT OFFERED HIGH VALUE COMMUNITY SERVICES IN UNDERSERVED AREAS.

SO, TAKING UP THAT, UH, DIRECTION, UH, WE WENT THROUGH A PROCESS TO DEVELOP A PROGRAM AND DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS AROUND THAT.

UH, WE TOOK ON A CONSULTANT, RICK CUNNINGHAM, WHO DEVELOPED A REPORT THAT INCLUDES, UH, MARKET RESEARCH, UH, BEST PRACTICES COMPARISON TO OTHER PROGRAMS, UH, THAT ALSO INCLUDED FOCUS GROUPS FROM A VARIETY OF INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS.

AND THEN AS WE DEVELOPED OUR RECOMMENDATIONS, UH, AND PROGRAM, UH, PLAN, WE ALSO DID PRESENTATIONS TO A VARIETY OF COMMISSIONS AND STAKEHOLDER GROUPS TO GET THEIR FEEDBACK AND SUPPORT

[00:25:03]

THE PROGRAM WE'RE PROPOSING, UH, WE'RE CALLING THE PLACE-BASED ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM.

UH, IT'S FOCUSED AROUND, UH, ENCOURAGING AFFORDABLE COMMERCIAL SPACE FOR THE CREATIVE SECTOR FOR LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES, UH, FOR COMMUNITY SERVING PROJECTS AND FOR NEEDED INFRASTRUCTURE IN, UH, UNDERSERVED AREAS.

THE INCENTIVE ITSELF IS, IT'S PRIMARILY A REAL ESTATE BASED INCENTIVE, SO IT'S BASED ON, I, UH, MOST OF THE CATEGORIES IN THE INCENTIVE WOULD BE BASED ON, UH, NEW INVESTMENT AND CONSTRUCTION AND REAL ESTATE THAT PROVIDE, UH, MAJOR COMMUNITY SERVICES, THE PRIMARY COMMUNITY SERVICE BEING AFFORDABLE SPACE FOR THESE TARGET GROUPS, UH, OR IN SOME CASES, PRESERVATION OF EXISTING MUSIC VENUES, CREATIVE SPACES OR LEGACY BUSINESSES, UH, DEFINED VERY STRICTLY, UM, THAT ARE BEING THREATENED BY HIGH REAL ESTATE COSTS.

THE PROGRAM WOULD HAVE FOUR CATEGORIES AS WE'RE PROPOSING IT.

THE FIRST CATEGORY IS ESSENTIALLY, UH, AN INCENTIVE TO DEVELOPERS OR PROPERTY OWNERS OF COMMERCIAL OR MIXED USE PROPERTY THAT WOULD, UH, BASICALLY, UH, PROVIDE AN INCENTIVE FOR THEM TO PROVIDE BELOW MARKET RENT TO, UH, THOSE, THOSE GROUPS WE'RE TRYING TO SUPPORT.

UH, CATEGORY TWO, UH, WHICH WE'RE CALLING COMMUNITY IMPACT WOULD SUPPORT, UH, MORE OWNER OPERATOR PROGRAMS, ESPECIALLY FOR, UH, FILLING NEEDED, UH, COMMUNITY SERVICES AND INFRASTRUCTURE GAPS LIKE CHILDCARE CENTERS OR GROCERY STORES AND FOOD DESERTS.

UH, CULTURE, UH, CATEGORY THREE, UH, WE'RE CALLING CULTURAL PRESERVATION.

THAT'S THE ONLY CATEGORY THAT WOULD BE, UH, ELIGIBLE FOR EXISTING SPACES.

AND REALLY IT'S JUST SORT OF A, A TAX REIMBURSEMENT TO HELP MITIGATE ANY SORT OF DISPLACEMENT PRESSURE ON, UH, CREATIVE SPACES, MUSIC VENUES, AND LEGACY BUSINESSES THAT WE ARE DEFINING AS LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT ARE PUBLIC FACING 20 YEARS OR OLDER.

UH, CATEGORY FOUR, IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

THIS IS WHEN WE WORKED A LOT WITH OUR PARTNERS IN THE, UH, FINANCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT ABOUT, UH, THIS IS ONE WHERE, UH, THAT HAS A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY FOR PROVIDING TRANSFORMATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, AS PART OF CITY LED PROJECTS SPECIFICALLY.

SO THINKING ABOUT, UH, SOME OF THE CURRENT PROJECTS THAT ARE IN DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING COLONY PARK OR SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT, THAT'S TOOL WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR, FOR THAT.

BUT THOSE ARE, THAT WOULD ONLY BE APPLICABLE, UH, FOR PROJECTS THAT HAVE A HIGH LEVEL OF CITY ENGAGEMENT AND OVERSIGHT.

AS I SAID, OUR COMMUNITY BENEFIT TARGETS, THE PRIMARY ONES WE'RE LOOKING AT ARE MUSIC VENUES AND CREATIVE SPACES, LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES, NONPROFITS AND CO-OPS, AND THEN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.

UH, SPECIFIC HIGH IMPACT PROJECTS THAT CAN, UH, BENEFIT UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY OR FILL A GAP.

THINGS LIKE, UH, CHILDCARE CENTERS OR, UH, GROCERY STORES AND FOOD DESERTS, UH, FOOD HUBS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

UM, AS A REAL ESTATE PROGRAM, OH, IF YOU GO BACK, UH, AS A REAL ESTATE PROGRAM, UH, WE HAD SORT OF TARGET AREAS WHERE THESE WOULD BE, UH, INTENDED FOR, UH, PRIMARY DEPLOYMENT.

THAT WOULD BE OUR ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL DISTRICTS THAT, THAT ARE DESIGNATED.

UH, THIS CAN ALSO BE USED FOR THE EQUITABLE, UH, THE ETOD AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN RECENTLY PASSED TO SUPPORT AFFORDABLE, UH, COMMERCIAL SPACE FOR THOSE, THOSE USERS IN THOSE, IN THOSE AREAS.

UH, AND AGAIN, CITY LED REDEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES AND, UH, PRIORITY EQUITY AREAS WHERE, UH, WE CAN, UH, USE THE TOOL TO HELP ENHANCE, UH, ANTI DISPLACEMENT AND PRESERVATION EFFORTS, UH, FOR, TO FURTHER NEIGHBORHOOD BASED EQUITY.

UH, WE HAVE AN EXAMPLE, AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT AFFORDABILITY AND AFFORDABLE COMMERCIAL SPACE, THERE ISN'T REALLY A FEDERAL STANDARD FOR AFFORDABILITY LIKE THERE IS FOR HOUSING WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT COMMERCIAL SPACE OR CREATIVE SPACES.

UH, FOR, FOR OUR PROGRAM, WE'RE PROPOSING TO USE BASICALLY 50% OF THE MARKET RATE FOR THE RELEVANT, UH, COMMERCIAL CATEGORY, UH, OR USING A, UH, RENT TO REVENUE RATIO BASED ON SALES, WHICH IS KIND OF A STANDARD THING FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF COMMERCIAL PROJECTS WITH A, A, A ESCALATION CAP, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT YOU ALSO SEE PRETTY COMMONLY IN MULTI, UH, MULTI-YEAR COMMERCIAL, UH, REAL ESTATE CONTRACTS.

UH, THE WAY WE'D BE SORT OF, UH, SIZING THIS INCENTIVE WOULD BE, UH, MOST OF, YOU KNOW, GENERALLY SPEAKING PROJECTS WOULD HAVE TO BE FISCALLY UH, NEUTRAL OR POSITIVE FOR THE CITY.

BUT WITHIN THAT, UH, THE, UH, WITHIN THAT CONSTRAINT, WE'D BE SIZING THE INCENTIVE TO BASICALLY FILL THE GAP CREATED BY PROVIDING A COMMUNITY SERVICE.

SO, UH, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, IN THE EXAMPLE I HAVE HERE, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE BE THINKING ABOUT A, AN EXAMPLE FROM THE NEW ETOD ORDINANCE THAT WAS PASSED.

UH, SOMEONE BUILDING A 12 STORY BUILDING AND THEN PROVIDING AFFORDABLE SPACE FOR A THEATER AND THE GROUND FLOOR.

UH, THEY'D BE DOING IT BELOW MARKET A 50% MARKET BY OFFERING THAT REDUCED RENT.

THAT CREATES SOMETHING OF A GAP IN THEIR OPERATING PRO FORMA.

AND SO WE'D SIZE THE INCENTIVE TO HELP TRY AND MEET THAT GAP, UH, BECAUSE THEY'D BE PROVIDING THE PRIMARY COMMUNITY SERVICES.

WE'RE LOOKING AT, UH, SUPPORTING AN ARTS VENUE, GIVING THEM A LONG-TERM LEASE, GIVING THEM BELOW MARKET, UH, LEASES.

AND THAT WOULD, UH, THAT WOULD HELP KIND OF MAKE THE DEVELOPMENT

[00:30:01]

WHOLE TO SUPPORT BOTH THE THEATER AND THE PROJECT.

THAT CONCLUDES OUR PLACE-BASED ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? YES.

AND I DO WANNA SAY IT IS, UM, WHEN I PUT THE SCREEN ON TO SEE WHAT THE POWERPOINT PRESENTATION HERE, IT'S DIFFICULT TO FOLLOW ALONG ON THE PRESENTATION BECAUSE THE TRANSCRIPT IS ON THE BOTTOM.

SO THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE SLIDE IS COVERED UP.

I DO LOOK AT THIS SCREEN, BUT IF THERE'S A WAY WE CAN GET EMAILS TO THE PRESENTATION IN ADVANCE, UM, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.

'CAUSE IT'S DIFFICULT TO FOLLOW ALONG DURING THE, THE BRIEFING.

UM, THE FIRST QUESTION I HAVE IS, YOU KNOW, PART OF MY CONCERN, SORRY, I GOT LOGGED OUTTA MY COMPUTER HERE, UM, IS, YOU KNOW, THE TIME OUR COMMUNITY HAS HAD TO, UH, CONSIDER THIS NEW, UH, INVESTMENT PACKAGE.

I MEAN, IT'S EXCITING NEW INVESTMENT AREA FOR US TO PROVIDE INCENTIVES FOR AREAS WHERE WE DESPERATELY NEED THESE TYPE OF RETAIL SPACES TO COME INTO OUR COMMUNITIES.

BUT I KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, THE EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL JUST CONSIDERED IT LAST NIGHT, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING.

IS THAT RIGHT? UH, I, I BELIEVE THAT WOULD BE, THAT WAS A DIFFERENT PROGRAM THAT, UH, MIGHT BE SPOKEN ON IN A FEW MINUTES.

THIS PRO, UH, IF YOU LOOK AT THE, THE BACKUP, WE ACTUALLY, UH, PRESENTED TO THE EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL ON THIS INCENTIVE PROGRAM SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, AND THEY, THEY VOTED TO SUPPORT IT.

SO THAT, THAT WOULD BE PROVIDE SEVEN? YES.

OKAY, GOTCHA.

THEN NOW I, I WILL HOLD MY QUESTIONS FOR THE, IS THERE ANOTHER BRIEFING THEN COMING? YES.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER VELA, THE, THE NATURE OF THE INCENTIVES.

HOW ARE THE INCENTIVES OF BEING PROVIDED TO THE, THE BUSINESSES IN QUESTION? IS THIS AS PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS OR IS THIS, UH, AS PART OF, YOU KNOW, THE, FOR EXAMPLE, PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENTS? WHAT'S THE, THE NATURE OF THE, THE INCENTIVES? THANKS VERY MUCH.

AND THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

UH, GENERALLY SPEAKING, WE DON'T DO ABATEMENTS THROUGH OUR THREE 80 POLICIES OF THE CITY.

WE DO REIMBURSEMENTS, THAT'S, THAT ALLOWS US TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, THE SORT OF COMMUNITY BENEFIT REQUIREMENTS ARE BEING MET WITHOUT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT ANY KIND OF CLAWBACK PROCEDURES.

UH, THE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES WILL WORK A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY.

THE FIR UH, THE, THE FIRST CATEGORY IS PROBABLY THE ONE WHERE THAT'S GONNA BE MOST RELEVANT, WHERE WE'D BE PROVIDING INCENTIVES TO DEVELOPERS TO PROVIDE, UH, AFFORDABLE LEASES TO THEIR, TO THEIR TENANTS.

SO, UH, THIS DOES NOT REQUIRE ANY PART, YOU KNOW, THIS CAN BE LAYERED ON TOP OF ZONING AND, UH, ZONING ENTITLEMENTS THROUGH THE REZONING PROCESS, BUT IT DOESN'T REQUIRE THAT THIS IS SORT OF AN INDEPENDENT VARIABLE OF THAT.

AND SINCE WE DO REIMBURSEMENT BASED, UH, BASICALLY ONCE THE PROJECT HAPPENS, UH, AND IS AGREED UPON, WE WOULD VERIFY THAT THE, UH, THE PROPERTY OWNER PROVIDED THOSE, UH, THE RENTS AT THE RATES THAT THEY AGREED TO.

AND THEN ONCE THAT'S VERIFIED, THEY'D BE REIMBURSED THE, UM, THE AGREED UPON TAX, UH, INCREMENTS, UH, ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.

AND IN THE, UH, BACKUP, I SEE THAT THIS IS ESSENTIALLY CREATING THE, UH, PROGRAM, BUT I WOULD IMAGINE THAT THERE'S ANOTHER WHOLE SET OF GUIDELINES AND IT ADMINISTRATIVE, UH, ELEMENTS TO IT THAT, UH, THEY'RE NOT IN THE BACKUP RIGHT NOW.

ARE THESE TWO BE DEVELOPED? THAT'S CORRECT.

THE GUIDELINES ARE SORT OF THE BASIC OVERSIGHT AND, AND, AND, AND FRAMEWORK FOR IT, THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES.

ONCE, ONCE THIS PASSES, WE'LL BE DEVELOPING THAT OVER THE FALL WITH THE INTENDED ROLLOUT OF THIS PROGRAM IN THE SPRING.

WELL, JUST GREAT PROGRAM.

UH, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I HEAR CONSTANTLY FROM, UH, CONSTITUENTS FROM EVEN BEYOND MY DISTRICT.

I MEAN, PEOPLE ALL OVER AUSTIN TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS.

MANY TIMES THAT'S WHY PEOPLE MOVE TO AUSTIN IS BECAUSE OF, UH, THE RICH CULTURE THAT WE HAVE.

UH, AND, AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S GREAT DESIRE TO PRESERVE IT.

UH, VERY GLAD TO SEE US, UH, STARTING, UH, THIS, UH, INCENTIVE PROGRAM.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

BUILDING NEW OR IF YOU ALREADY HAVE EXISTING, HOW WOULD IS, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

UM, I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY, AND I KNOW THERE'S MULTIPLE PROGRAMS, SO FORGIVE ME IF I GET CONFUSED ACROSS THE THREE OF THEM, BUT WITH THE, THE PLACE BASED ONE, UM, THIS OPENS UP AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO PROVIDE PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENTS FOR CHILDCARE, UM, CENTERS THAT MAY NOT FULFILL ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS THAT THERE WERE UNDER PROP TWO.

SO YOU'LL RECALL COLLEAGUES THAT, UM, IN JANUARY WE ADOPTED THE, UM, THE ABILITY, UM, FOR CHILDCARE CENTERS TO APPLY FOR PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT, BUT THERE ARE STRICT STATE RULES THAT GOVERN THAT, THAT DON'T ALLOW EVERY CHILDCARE CENTER TO DO THIS.

NOW I THINK THERE'S STILL SOME QUALITY AND, AND, UM, AND SERVING OF SUBSIDIZED KIDS REQUIREMENTS, BUT IT'S SLIGHTLY LESS ONEROUS.

IS THAT, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S DEFINITELY CORRECT.

SINCE THIS WOULD BE A CITY LEVEL ONE, WE CAN, WE CAN HAVE MORE FLEXIBILITY WITH THAT UNDER GUIDANCE FROM OUR, UH, OUR, OUR STAFF COLLEAGUES.

UM, SO IS THIS ONLY IF YOU'RE

[00:35:01]

UM, SO CA SO MOST OF THIS IS GONNA BE RE REQUIRING, UH, NEW CONSTRUCTION OR, UM, UH, TENANT NEW INVESTMENT AND TENANT IMPROVEMENTS BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S RE IT'S A REIMBURSEMENT BASED ON THE INCREMENT OF NEW CONSTRUCTION.

UH, CATEGORY THREE IS THE CATEGORY WHERE, AND, AND WE'RE KIND OF KEEPING THAT VERY, UH, CLOSELY CONTROLLED, UH, BECAUSE THAT'S ONE WHERE WE, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO OFFER, UM, UH, REIMBURSEMENTS OF PROPERTY TAXES TO EXISTING, UH, EXISTING ORGANIZATIONS.

THAT'S ONE WHERE WE HAVE TO BE A LITTLE, YOU KNOW, BE CAREFUL WITH IT JUST BECAUSE THAT IS, THAT WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, PULLING FROM GENERAL FUND BUDGET.

SO WE'RE REALLY LIMITING IT TO, UH, CREATIVE SPACES, MUSIC VENUES, LEGACY, UH, LEGACY SMALL BUSINESSES, UM, AND, AND THAT KIND OF THING.

BUT THAT, BUT THAT'S CERTAINLY AN OPTION, UH, IN TERMS OF, BUT, BUT FOR THAT CATEGORY ONE, THE NEW CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENT, THAT CAN ALSO MEAN, YOU KNOW, A NEW, A NEW PROJECT IS DEVELOPED THAT PROVIDES AFFORDABLE SPACE TO AN EXISTING CHILDCARE PROVIDER BUSINESS.

SO CATEGORY ONE CAN BE USED FOR AN EXISTING, IT CAN BENEFIT THOSE EXISTING, UH, UH, UH, TYPES OF FACILITIES, BUT THEY WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, BY GIVING THEM, UH, AFFORDABLE SPACE IN THE NEW PROJECT.

SO THEY'D BE ABLE TO GET AFFORDABLE SPACE IN THE NEW PROJECT? THAT'S CORRECT.

, UM, YOU KNOW, I DO, OBVIOUSLY THERE'S ANOTHER STEP HERE FOR THIS PROCESS OF WRITING UP THE PROTOCOLS, ET CETERA.

UM, I DO FEEL LIKE IT'S STILL FAIRLY OPAQUE TO UNDERSTAND IT.

IF YOU WERE A BUSINESS THAT WAS TRYING QUICKLY TO ASSESS WHETHER THE CITY HAD A PROGRAM, UM, TO ASSIST YOU.

UM, I WAS JUST TALKING TO A BUSINESS LAST NIGHT, NOT RELATED, YOU KNOW, NOT NECESSARILY FOR THIS PROGRAM, BUT FOR, YOU KNOW, THE LOCAL EXPANSION AND, AND IT WAS, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT ALL THAT EASY, UM, TO EXPLAIN HOW YOU ACCESS THESE OR, OR WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

SO, SO I'D LIKE TO SEE AS WE MOVE FORWARD, UM, THAT WE'RE MAKING IT AS EASY AS POSSIBLE AND, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE HAVE SOME DECISION TREES THAT SAY, ARE YOU IN THIS BOAT? SO THEN YOU GO HERE OR THERE AND, AND JUST MAKE THAT FLOW, UM, REALLY EASY BECAUSE I THINK THERE IS A, A NEED FOR IT.

I THINK THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ESTABLISH THAT THE CITY IS PROVIDING, UM, USEFUL BENEFITS THAT WILL HELP MOVE THESE, THESE COMMUNITY, UM, PROCESSES ALONG.

UM, SO JUST, UM, FOR THE SAKE OF TRANSPARENCY, UM, AND CLARITY CAN, AMONG THE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES, WHAT ARE THE FUNDING SOURCES OR JUST KIND OF GOING THROUGH AGAIN, WHAT WE CAN EXPECT, UM, MIGHT, UM, EITHER THE SOURCES OF FUNDING OR THE MECHANISMS SURE THING.

AND, AND, AND, AND RIGHT NOW, THE WAY THE PROGRAM IS BEING PROPOSED IN A WAY THAT, THAT SORT OF MINIMIZES IMPACT TO EXISTING GENERAL FUND REVENUES, BUT WHICH, WHICH DOES CREATE CERTAIN CONSTRAINTS.

SO FOR CATEGORIES ONE, TWO, AND FOUR, IT WOULD REALLY JUST BE, UH, POTENTIAL, UH, REIMBURSEMENT OF, UH, PROPERTY TAXES AND IN SOME CASES SALES TAXES ON NEW, UH, NEW PROJECTS ON THE INCREMENTS FROM NEW DEVELOPMENT.

SO IT WOULDN'T BE PULLING FROM ANY SORT OF EXISTING, UM, REVENUE GOING INTO THE GENERAL FUND.

IT WOULD BE FOR PROJECTS THAT WOULD BE HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE.

UH, AND EACH PROJECT, LIKE WITH ANY OF OUR THREE 80 PROJECTS WOULD HAVE TO PASS A BUT FOUR TEST THAT WHETHER, YOU KNOW, THE PROJECT COULD NOT HAPPEN, UH, WITH THE, WITH THE TYPES OF COMMUNITY BENEFITS AND THE LEVEL OF COMMUNITY BENEFITS WE'RE, WE'RE REQUIRING WITHOUT SOME, SOME SORT OF SUPPORT.

UM, CATEGORY THREE IS A LITTLE MORE FLEXIBLE, UH, TO SUPPORT EXISTING, UM, EXISTING VENUES OR EXISTING CREATIVE SPACES, EXISTING LEGACY SMALL BUSINESSES THAT CAN, UH, THAT CAN DO, UH, REIMBURSEMENT DIRECTLY.

THAT WOULD JUST BE COMING FROM GENERAL FUND BUDGET.

UH, WE HAVE SOME BUDGET FOR THAT NOW, BUT, UM, IT, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT IS, THAT IS THE CONSTRAINT.

SO BECAUSE, UH, YOU KNOW THAT, THAT THAT'S A LIMITED POOL, UH, THAT'S WHY WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT ONE'S KIND OF STRICTLY DEFINED, UH, AND WILL BE ABLE TO BE USED IN CASES WHERE ONE OF THOSE TARGET BENEFICIARIES THAT, YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITY IS REALLY, UH, INVESTED IN TRYING TO SUPPORT, UM, CAN ACCESS THAT IF THEY'RE BEING THREATENED WITH DISPLACEMENT.

SO IT'S BASICALLY LIMITED TO KIND OF AN ANTI-DISPLACEMENT OR, UH, EITHER SHORT-TERM DISPLACEMENT OR NEEDS FOR INVESTMENT FOR LONG-TERM RESILIENCE.

BUT THAT IS ONLY FOR CULTURAL PRESERVATION, OR IS IT FOR OTHER CATEGOR THE WAY WE'VE WRITTEN IT NOW? IT HAS, UH, IT'S FOR, UM, UH, CREATIVE SPACES, UH, MUSIC VENUES AND LEGACY SMALL BUSINESSES THAT ARE, UH, 20 YEARS OLDER, OLDER, UM, PUBLIC FACING.

UH, AND YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY IT'D BE NICER IF WE COULD HAVE A MORE FRAMING FOR THAT, BUT BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S COMING FROM, THERE'S NO OTHER ADDITIONAL SOURCE OF FUNDING FOR THAT AT THIS POINT.

WE HAVE TO KIND OF KEEP IT CONSTRAINED SO IT DOESN'T HAVE A MAJOR BUDGETARY IMPACT.

[00:40:02]

I, I APPRECIATE THAT.

, UM, WITH RESPECT TO CHILDCARE, I WOULD JUST INVITE YOU TO PLEASE EXPLORE, UM, WITH THE COUNTY OF PROPOSITION A PASSES MM-HMM.

, UM, IF THERE ARE SOME MECHANISMS TO BE HELPING, UM, AND COORDINATE WITH THAT CAPACITY BUILD OUT.

SURE.

UM, WHERE PERHAPS IT'S, UH, UM, YOU KNOW, A CRITERIA IF YOU ARE TAKING A CERTAIN NUMBER OF THESE, UM, SLOTS OR SOMETHING THAT THERE'S A MECHANISM TO MORE EASILY ALLOW ACCESS.

UM, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THAT HAPPENS THROUGH PROP TWO, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, SOME ADDITIONAL ATTENTION TO HELPING THOSE BUSINESSES TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT AS THEY, AS THEY GO THROUGH THAT, UM, PROCESS, UM, I THINK COULD HELP, UM, LEVERAGE THE FUNDS THAT WOULD COME FROM PROPOSITION A MM-HMM.

, UM, YOU KNOW, TO GO FURTHER AND ALLOW THE CITY, UM, TO HELP, YOU KNOW, SUPPORT THE CAPACITY GROWTH IN THOSE SMALL BUSINESSES.

SO, UM, I THINK THIS IS VERY EXCITING AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO, TO SEEING IT IMPLEMENTED.

AND, AND THANK YOU COUNCIL ER, FOR YOUR QUESTIONS THAT, UM, UM, PROMPTED A QUESTION ON MY END.

'CAUSE I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS REALLY, THIS, UH, PLACE-BASED INCENTIVE ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM IS FOR, PRIMARILY FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION.

AND PART OF WHAT I'M SEEING IN MY DISTRICT IS THAT WE'VE HAD A LOT OF NEW CONSTRUCTION, A LOT OF NEW, UM, MASTER SUBDIVISION DEVELOPMENTS HAPPENING IN SOUTHEAST, UH, WHERE THERE IS COMMERCIAL RETAIL SPACE AVAILABLE.

BUT THE CHALLENGE IS FINDING TENANTS TO LEASE THE SPACES THAT HAVE BEEN BUILT.

UM, SO ANY CONSIDERATION ON HOW WE CAN INCENTIVIZE BUSINESSES TO GO INTO ALREADY BUILT STRUCTURES WHERE THERE IS A NEED WHERE WE HAVE CHILDCARE DESERTS, OR WE HAVE HEALTHCARE DESERTS AND FOOD DESERTS.

UM, IS THERE A WAY THAT WE CAN LEVERAGE THIS PLACE BASED ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM TO ADDRESS THAT GAP? THANKS.

THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

UM, I THINK BASED ON KIND OF THE, THE, THE FUNDING CONSTRAINTS AND THE REIMBURSEMENT CONSTRAINTS, THERE ARE DEFINITELY SOME WAYS WE CAN DO THAT.

I MEAN, ANYTIME, SO TENANT IMPROVEMENTS, FOR EXAMPLE, UH, WOULD BE ELIGIBLE IN THESE, IN THESE PROGRAMS FOR REIMBURSEMENTS.

UM, AND, AND I THINK FOR THAT CATEGORY THREE, UH, OVER TIME, IF WE CAN IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL FUNDING SOURCES FOR SOME OF THAT, OR WORK, OR WORK TO LEVERAGE THOSE, AS THE COUNCIL MEMBER WAS SAYING, WE COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE MORE AVAILABILITY FOR THAT, FOR THAT CATEGORY.

UM, REALLY THE CON, I MEAN, REALLY THE CONSTRAINT IS JUST BECAUSE IT'S THE ONLY WAY TO KIND OF DO THIS WITHOUT HAVING A MAJOR HIT TO THE, TO THE BUDGET IS TO FOCUS ON THAT SORT OF NEW INCREMENT OF CONSTRUCTION.

, UM, FOR A LOT OF US.

SO I, I THINK IT'D BE, WE CAN DEFINITELY EXPLORE WAYS TO KIND OF HELP FILL IN EXISTING NEEDS FOR ALREADY BUILT SPACES.

UH, THAT CATEGORY THREE IS DEFINITELY A WAY WE CAN, WE CAN DO THAT FOR A LOT OF TYPES OF USES.

UM, AND, AND THAT'S, THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING WE CAN LOOK INTO EXPANDING TO MAKE SURE SOME OF THE OTHER NEEDS ARE INCLUDED.

I APPRECIATE IT.

AND THE OTHER AREA THAT, WHERE I SEE SOME INTERSECTION HERE ON CATEGORY THREE WITH THE INCENTIVE FOR CO-OPS, UM, IS KNOWING THE WORK THAT THE CITY HAS INVESTED IN AND THE GROCERY STORE CO-OP, WE KNOW A, THE COMMUNITY HAS SAID THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED DELL VALLEY AS THE PRIMARY LOCATION FOR THIS FOOD CO-OP.

UM, SO TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN LEVERAGE, UM, THIS PLACE-BASED ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM TO HELP SUPPLEMENT THAT WORK, I WOULD BE SUPER SUPPORTIVE OF, I WOULD DEFINITELY, AND THAT'S, AND THAT'S CALLED OUT AS ELIGIBLE FOR THAT ACTUALLY COULD BENEFIT IN ANY OF THESE CATEGORIES.

SO IF THEY, UH, IT COULD BENEFIT FOR NEW PROJECTS WHERE THEY, FOR AN AFFORDABLE LEASE AND A NEW PROJECT THAT THEY WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR, UM, FOR CATEGORY TWO, IF THEY'RE BUILDING OUT A SITE OR DOING TENANT IMPROVEMENTS, ALL OF THAT COULD, COULD CA COULD, COULD BE UTILIZED THROUGH AN INCENTIVE, UH, OR FOR CATEGORY THREE.

THANK YOU MAYOR TIM.

AND, AND, AND MEMBERS.

LET ME CLARIFY SOME, I'M SORRY, CALLED ON YOU AND THEN INTERRUPTED YOU.

UM, I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.

YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION ON, ON SEVEN AND EIGHT AS WELL.

SO MEMBERS, WHAT I THINK WE'LL DO IS MOVE AFTER THE MEMBER PRO 10, MOVE TO SEVEN, THE PRESENTATION ON SEVEN, AND THEN ON EIGHT HAVE DISCUSSION, AND THEN ON EIGHT, AND THEN I'LL CALL THE CLERK TO CALL ANY SPEAKERS THAT WE HAVE ON SIX, SEVEN, AND EIGHT.

AND THEN I'LL CALL FOR A MOTION AT THAT POINT, JUST FOR CLARITY PURPOSES.

MAYOR, DEFENSE, SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU.

UM, NO WORRIES AT ALL.

AND JUST WANTED TO THANK STAFF FOR THE WORK.

THIS IS GREAT WORK, AND LOOK FORWARD TO VOTING FOR THIS.

UM, UPDATED POLICY AND PROGRAM.

WITH THAT, LET'S, UH, MOVE TO YOUR PRESENTATION ON ITEM SEVEN.

THANK YOU AGAIN.

NOW WE WILL HAVE, UM, AN OVERVIEW OF OUR BUSINESS EXPANSION PROGRAM, AGAIN, AS PART OF OUR, UH, CHAPTER THREE 80, LOOK BACK, UH, FROM THE 2018,

[00:45:02]

SO I'LL NOW TURN IT OVER TO ARNIE JACOB, OUR SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL NIE JACOB WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT HERE TO PRESENT THE UPDATES, UH, TO THE BUSINESS EXPANSION PROGRAM THAT'S AUTHORIZED UNDER CHAPTER THREE 80 OF THE STATE LOCAL CODE.

UM, INITIALLY THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROGRAM STAFF TOOK EXTENSIVE, UH, OUTREACH INTO THE COMMUNITY AND TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, UH, TO DEVELOP A PROGRAM.

THE ADOPTIVE PROGRAM IN 2018 IS BASED ON GRANTS FOR GROWING BUSINESSES AND TARGET INDUSTRIES, UH, AS AN INDUCEMENT TO LOCATE AND EXPAND OR EXPAND IN AUSTIN WITH AN OVERARCHING GOAL OF SUPPORTING ECONOMIC GROWTH THROUGH THE CREATION OF QUALITY EMPLOYMENT.

COUPLED WITH STRONG COMMITMENTS TO COMMUNITY BENEFITS, UH, THE CITY'S POLICY REQUIRES A PROGRAM BE UPDATED EVERY FIVE YEARS.

AND STAFF TOOK THE APPROACH OF BUILDING ON THE FOUNDATION THAT WAS DEVELOPED IN 2018.

STAFF'S OBJECTIVES WERE TO UPDATE THE OBJECTIVE, I'M SORRY, TO DEVELOP MORE OBJECTIVE COMPLIANCE METRICS, IMPROVE PROJECT SCORING GUIDANCE, AND STRENGTHEN THE APPLICATION, AS WELL AS UPDATE THE PROGRAM TO ADDRESS MERITS TO SMALL BUSINESS, EXPAND TARGET HIRING UTILIZATION, AND TIGHTEN LARGE BUSINESS ELIGIBILITY OR CRITERIA.

AS A PART OF THE PROCESS, WE ENGAGED A CON, UH, INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT.

AND THEIR FINDINGS, UH, WERE THAT THE PROGRAM LACKS STRATEGIC DIRECTION, UH, IS OVER OVERLY COMPLEX, AND THE INCENTIVES WERE NOT IMPACTFUL IN COMPARISON TO OTHER COMMUNITIES.

ACROSS THE, THE, THE STATE AND THE COUNTRY.

STAFFS ALSO GATHERED INPUT THROUGH PRESENTATIONS TO BOARDS OF COMMISSIONS, UM, IN ADDITION TO NUMEROUS FOCUS GROUPS THAT ENGAGED COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND THE LOCAL BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

WE COMBINED THOSE EXTERNAL INPUTS WITH OUR EXPERIENCE ADMINISTERING THE PROGRAM AND CAME UP WITH, WITH RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE THE PROGRAM.

IN TERMS OF GENERAL ELIGIBILITY, UH, RIGHT NOW, THE, THE PROGRAM REQUIRES, REQUIRES OR PROVIDES A GRANT, UH, A BONUS FOR, UH, ONSITE CHILDCARE SERVICES.

UH, IN TERMS OF ONSITE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE TYPICALLY, UH, INCOMPATIBLE ADJACENT USES OR DENSITY REQUIREMENTS THAT CREATE SOME HEALTH SAFETY CONCERNS FOR HAVING CHILD ONSITE CHILDCARE.

SO WE'RE RECOMMENDING REPLACING THAT WITH A BONUS TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL, TO PROVIDE CHILDCARE SERVICES REGARDLESS OF, UH, A BONUS FOR CHILDCARE SERVICES, REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY'RE LOCATED.

UH, IN ADDITION, THE CURRENT LIVING WAGE POLICY FOR, UH, THE CITY DOES NOT ALLOW FOR ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF CONVERSATION, UH, COMPENSATION, RECOGNIZING THAT ATTENDED FORMS COMPENSATION MAKE THE PROGRAM MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR SMALL BUSINESS AND MANUFACTURERS STAFF RECOMMENDS TIPS, COMMISSIONS, BONUSES, OR SHIFT DIFFERENTIAL ARE COUNTED, UH, AS OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET THE LIVING WAGE FOR, FOR BUSINESSES, FOR THE PROGRAMS OF THIS PURPOSES.

ALSO STAFFED TO LOOK AT OPPORTUNITIES TO SIMPLIFY THE PROGRAM AND ADD CLARITY.

CURRENTLY, THERE IS, THERE ARE NO TIMELINES REGARDS TO PROCESSING AND APPLICATIONS.

SO WE INCLUDED ESTIMATED TIMELINE TO ADD, UH, SOME TRANSPARENCY AND A MEASURE OF ACCOUNTABILITY FOR STAFF.

IN TERMS OF CATEGORY ONE, UH, CURRENTLY THE PROGRAM IS, IT COMBINES LOCAL, SMALL AND LARGE BUSINESSES, UH, IN THIS CATEGORY.

AND STAFF RECOMMENDS THE CREATION OF A DISTINCT SMALL BUSINESS CATEGORY, UH, THAT IS MORE CONDUCIVE TO THE, TO THE DYNAMICS OF SMALL BUSINESS, UH, EXPANSIONS.

IN ADDITION, WE, YOU KNOW, WE LOOKING FORWARD NOW HAVE TO DEFINE SMALL BUSINESSES.

UH, EARLIER THIS YEAR, COUNCIL DIRECTED STAFF TO DEFINE SMALL ES AS A HUNDRED FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES OR LESS.

THE PROPOSED GUIDELINES CONFORM TO THOSE, UH, BY, BY DEFINING AS PER COUNCIL'S DIRECTION, UH, AGAIN, FROM A JOB CREATION CRITERIA, THE CURRENT GUIDELINES CREATE A MINIMUM OF, REQUIRE A MINIMUM OF FIVE, AND WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY, UH, AND BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVES FELT THAT SMALL BUSINESSES, MICRO BUSINESSES, MAY HAVE DIFFICULTY CREATING THOSE FIVE JOBS AND RECOMMENDED, UH, THE, WE CREATED A MINIMUM OF ONE, UH, AND SCALED WITH THE GROWTH OF THE CO THE SIZE OF THE COMPANY TO WHERE 10% OF THE EXISTING EMPLOYEES, SO IT WOULD BE THE LESSER, I'M SORRY, THE GREATER OF THE CREATION OF ONE JOB OR 10% GROWTH OF THEIR EXISTING, UH, WORKFORCE.

SO IN, FOR INSTANCE, COMPANY WITH 90 EMPLOYEES WOULD NEED TO CREATE AT LEAST NINE JOBS TO BE ELIGIBLE.

CURRENTLY, CATEGORY TWO ADDRESSES TARGETED HIRING THROUGH APPRENTICESHIPS, INTERNSHIPS, AND TARGET AND TARGET HIRES.

UH, APPRENTICESHIPS ARE

[00:50:01]

A KEY PATHWAY TO, TO MID-LEVEL SKILLED OP JOB OPPORTUNITIES.

BUT INTERNSHIPS ARE REALLY TRADITIONALLY MORE SHORT TERM AND, AND AREN'T TIED TO LONG TERM.

UH, EMPLOYMENT STAFF RECOMMENDS THE STANDALONE TARGETED, TARGETED APPRENTICESHIP CATEGORY THAT UTILIZES A BROADER, MORE IMPACTFUL NETWORK OF WORKFORCE PROVIDERS AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT NETWORK, UM, WHICH WOULD BE COORDINATED THROUGH THE NEWLY DEVELOPED WORKFORCE DIVISION, UH, WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.

AND THEN WE WOULD ELIMINATE INTERNSHIPS AS AN ELIGIBLE CATEGORY.

WE WOULD ALSO RECOMMEND MOVING TARGETED HIRES, UH, TO A BONUS AS OPPOSED TO, UH, A, A PART OF THIS CATEGORY.

UH, CURRENTLY, WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS IS REQUIRED AT THE VET EMPLOYEES FOR THE COMPANY, AND USING, UH, WORK IN TEXAS AS A PLATFORM FOR APPLICATION.

TH THIS IS SOMEWHAT COMPLEX FOR, FOR COMPANIES, AND THEY, THEY HAVE DIFFICULTY USING THAT.

SO WE'RE NOT HAVING MUCH, UH, OPPORTUNITY TO, TO UTILIZE THE, THE TARGETED WORKFORCE HIRING.

SO WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT THIS BE MOVED OUT OF CATEGORY TWO OR OUT OF THE CATEGORY, AND INTO A BONUS FOR, UH, SMALL AND LOCAL, SMALL AND LARGE BUSINESS, UH, HIRINGS THAT COMPANIES THEMSELVES WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR, FOR VETTING THEIR EMPLOYEES.

UH, AND THEY WOULD RECOMMEND, AGAIN, A ENCOURAGE, I'M SORRY, UTILIZE THEIR OWN PROCESS, UH, PROVIDED THEY CAN DEMONSTRATE TO A COMPLIANCE THAT THEY, THAT THEY DO MEET THE, THE REQUIREMENTS AND POST THESE POSITIONS ON, UH, THE WORKFORCE PROVIDER NETWORK.

ALSO, HOUSING STIPEND IS INCLUDED, UH, IN THIS CATEGORY OF, OF $1,000 PER JOB.

UH, IT'S REALLY NOT IMPACTFUL.

SO WE'RE RECOMMENDING REMOVING THAT AND MOVING IT TO A BONUS.

AGAIN, THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR COMPANIES TO PROVIDE, GET, GET CREDIT FOR PROVIDING A, A BONUS.

IN TERMS OF CATEGORY THREE, UH, LOOKING EXTERNAL RELOCATIONS, OF COURSE, WE'RE NOW ADDING A LOCAL CORPORATE, A LOCAL LARGE BUSINESS TO THIS CATEGORY.

A BIT OF HOUSEKEEPING, WE'D HAVE TO DEFINE THAT AS COMPANIES THAT ARE, THAT ARE A HUNDRED EMPLOYEES OR GREATER.

AND, AND AGAIN, WE'RE SCALING THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENT TO BE THE LESSER OF 10% OF THEIR WORKFORCE, EXISTING WORKFORCE, OR 75 JOBS.

SO COMPANIES THAT ARE CREATING, UH, 150 JOBS WOULD NEED TO CREATE 15 JOBS TO BE ELIGIBLE.

AND ANY COMPANY THAT 750, UH, JOBS IN THEIR WORKFORCE OR GREATER, WOULD HAVE TO PRE-CREATE THE FULL 75 JOBS.

UH, THE PROGRAMS REQUIRES, UH, NET FISCAL BENEFIT TO THE CITY.

SO THERE'S A DEFACTO REQUIREMENT FOR SOME LEVEL OF CAPITAL INVESTMENT.

WE CURRENTLY DON'T HAVE TO ESTABLISH RECOMMENDING A MINIMUM CAPITAL INVESTMENT REQUIREMENT OF $2 MILLION.

IN TERMS OF THE CURRENT AWARDS, UH, RIGHT NOW, CATEGORIES ONE AND TWO ONLY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR FIVE YEARS.

UH, AND CATEGORY THREE IS, UH, ELIGIBLE FOR 10 YEARS.

SO STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT ALL CATEGORIES BE EXPANDED TO, TO 10 YEARS, UH, TO ALLOW FOR THESE SMALL BUSINESSES TO, TO RAMP UP AND CREATE THESE, THESE BUS, UH, THE JOBS THAT THEY'RE, THEY'VE COMMITTED TO.

ALSO IN THIS CATE, UH, IN THIS, UH, UNDER THE AWARDS, COMPANIES ARE CURRENTLY ELIGIBLE FOR $1,800 PER JOB OVER THE TERM, IN TOTAL OR 50% PROPERTY TAX REIMBURSEMENT.

UH, STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT TO ACCOUNT FOR INFLATION AND TO BE COMPETITIVE, UH, WITH OTHER PROGRAMS ACROSS THE STATE IN THE COUNTRY, THAT THE AWARD BE INCREASED TO $3,000 PER JOB IN TOTAL, AND THAT THE REIMBURSEMENT, UH, CURRENTLY AT 50% BE INCREASED TO 75% OF ELIGIBLE PER ELIGIBLE PROPERTY TAXES.

KEEPING IN MIND THAT ELIGIBLE PROPERTY TAXES ARE M AND O ONLY, UH, NET OF THE TRANSFER TO AUSTIN TRA AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIPS.

UM, AND THAT THE COMPANIES ALSO HAVE TO REMAIN, HAVE TO PRESENT A FISCAL NEUTRALLY OR FISCAL POSITIVE.

UM, IMPACT TO THE CITY STAFF IS ALSO RECOMMENDING, UH, NEW CHILDCARE IN, UH, ASSISTANCE RESERVE THAT 10% OF THE NEW OF THE EVALUATION ON NEW INVESTMENT BE DEDICATED TO, TO CHILDCARE, UH, ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, SPECIFICALLY TO, UH, CHILDCARE FOR HOME-BASED PROVIDERS.

AND THEN FINALLY, THERE'S NOT CURRENTLY AN APPLICATION FEE, BUT THERE ARE AS, AS, AS HIGH AS $5,000, UM, FEES ACROSS, ACROSS THE STATE.

UH, STAFF IS RECOMMENDING A $3,000 FEE FOR COMPANIES THAT ACCEPT A,

[00:55:01]

A CITY LETTER OF AWARD ELIGIBILITY AND REQUEST AN APPLICATION BE PRESENTED TO CITY COUNCIL FOR, FOR APPROVAL AND CONSIDER CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.

SMALLER BUSINESSES THAT ARE, THAT ARE BELOW, UH, ARE WITHIN THE CITY MANAGER'S AUTHORITY WOULD NOT BE ASSESSED THIS FEE 'CAUSE THEY WOULD NOT BE BROUGHT TO COUNCIL.

AND THEN FINALLY, STAFF RECOMMENDS, UH, A COMPLIANCE DEFERMENT PERIOD FOR SMALL BUSINESSES THAT SMALL THAT MIGHT FALL OUT OF, UH, COMPLIANCE DURING THE TERM OF THE AWARD.

AND THAT, UH, WOULD GIVE THEM A YEAR TO, TO TAKE SOME TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE COURSES PROVIDED BY, YOU KNOW, THROUGH THE, THROUGH THE CITIES, UM, SMALL BUSINESS DIVISION THAT ARE LOWER NO COST, UH, AND THAT, AND ALLOWS THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE THEIR PRODUCTIVITY WITH A GOAL OF IMPROVING THEIR OPPORTUNITIES TO ACHIEVE COMPLIANCE.

AND OF COURSE, NO PAYMENT WOULD BE WOULD'VE MADE, UH, DURING THE PERIOD OF NON-COMPLIANCE.

THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS QUESTIONS ON THIS, UH, BRIEFING? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ULTRA, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.

UM, YES, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADIS.

I SEE.

I, I'LL GET, I THANK YOU.

USED AND HOW IT CAN BE USED.

UM, I JUST WANT TO, UM, ACKNOWLEDGE AND APPRECIATE, UM, THE APPLICATION OF THE RESERVE TO ADDRESS THE HOME-BASED CARE PROVIDERS.

UM, THAT WAS PART OF DIRECTION THAT WE PROVIDED.

UM, WHEN WE, UM, MOVE FORWARD WITH PROP TWO, UM, TAX, UM, ABATEMENTS AND HOMEBASED PROVIDERS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE, BUT HERE IN AUSTIN, THEY MAKE A BIG, UH, MAKE UP A BIG PORTION OF OUR, OUR CHILDCARE PROVIDER.

SO, SO I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THAT, UM, THE, THE CHART THAT YOU PROVIDED IN THE MEMO AS WELL AS, WHICH IS THE SAME AS IN THE PRESENTATION, UM, WAS REALLY HELPFUL TO UNDERSTAND SORT OF THE, THE VARIATIONS.

UM, IN LOOKING THOUGH AT THE, UM, OTHER DOCUMENT ABOUT THE REPORT, ABOUT THE REVIEW OF HOW WELL OUR PROGRAMS HAD DONE, UM, CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE BIT TO THAT? BECAUSE WE HAD, YOU KNOW, THREE BUSINESSES USE IT.

UM, AND WE GOT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OF LEGACY, UM, THREE 80 BUSINESSES, THERE WAS, YOU KNOW, OVER 3000 JOBS AND IT WAS RELATIVE TO OTHER CITIES, IT LOOKED LIKE, WELL, WE WERE DOING IT MORE COST-EFFECTIVELY PER JOB.

UM, BUT YET WE DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF BUSINESSES TAKE IT UP.

AND SO I'D LIKE TO HEAR A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW TO THINK ABOUT THAT.

UM, 'CAUSE I'M STRUGGLING A LITTLE BIT WITH, YOU KNOW, ON ONE HAND WE HAVE A LOT OF LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES THAT ARE STRUGGLING THAT WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO TAKE UP THESE BUS, THESE INCENTIVES.

UM, AND ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU KNOW, WE, WE WANNA REALLY BE DOING THAT, THAT, BUT FOR, UM, SO CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE BIT TO HOW TO THINK ABOUT THAT AND THEN ALSO WHAT YOUR EXPECTATIONS ARE ABOUT THE KEY CHANGES THAT ARE GONNA MATTER, PARTICULARLY FOR SMALL LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT WOULD NOW MAYBE BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE? THERE WERE A COUPLE OF ISSUES WITH THE PROGRAM.

FIRST, IT WAS LAUNCHED IN 2018, AND RIGHT AFTERWARDS, COVID HIT, SO THERE WAS A SHARP DECLINE IN ACTIVITY.

UH, AND THEN POST COVID COVID, WE HAD THIS TREMENDOUS, UH, GROWTH.

SO WE DIDN'T REALLY, WEREN'T REALLY AGGRESSIVE WITH THE PROGRAM BECAUSE WE DIDN'T NEED TO BE.

COMPANIES WERE COMING REGARDLESS OF, OF INCENTIVES.

UH, AND THEN AGAIN, WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO UNWIND THAT CATEGORY ONE THAT LUMPED LARGE BUSINESSES IN.

SO A LOT OF THE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS IN TERMS OF COMPLIANCE WE'RE VERY ONEROUS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, BUT, BUT MADE SENSE FOR LARGE BUSINESSES.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW.

WE'RE HOPE, WE'RE UNWINDING, HOPING THAT THERE'S MORE OPPORTUNITY.

WE'RE CREATING, UH, THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE ALTERNATIVE WAY, UH, WHICH WILL HELP SMALL BUSINESSES ALL ALTERNATIVE, UH, COMPENSATION.

UH, AND AGAIN, JUST, JUST CHANGING A DIFFERENT THRESHOLD WHERE THE, THE CRITERIA FOR COMPLIANCE IS DIFFERENT, UH, AND, AND MORE EASIER AND EASIER FOR, FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO ADHERE TO.

SO WE HAVE TO MAKE CHOICES ABOUT HOW WE, UM, PUT THIS PROGRAM OUT THERE IN THE WORLD.

UM, I'D JUST LIKE TO EXPRESS MY PREFERENCE THAT I REALLY WOULD LOVE TO SEE US USE THIS TO KEEP OUR HOMEGROWN BUSINESSES AND ALLOWING THEM TO GROW AND MAYBE FOCUSING FIRST ON CLARIFYING THE PROGRAM FOR THEM.

I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY THERE'S STUFF FOR THE PLACE-BASED AS WELL, THAT THAT FITS WITH THAT.

BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, RATHER THAN, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE BIGGER COMPANIES HAVE THE ABILITY TO READ THE MATERIAL AND FIGURE IT OUT AND, AND ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO, UM, HAVE THE STAFF WHO CAN HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WHERE A SMALLER BUSINESS THAT'S STRUGGLING JUST MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT IT.

UM, AND THEN THE OTHER THING WOULD BE, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING THIS REGIONAL ECONOMIC EQUITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN.

UM, AND THERE'LL BE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ENGAGING SORT OF IN THAT PROCESS, UM, AND MAYBE USING THAT, UM, FORUM AND THOSE PARTNERS, YOU KNOW, TO HELP GET THE WORD OUT.

AND I THINK HAVING SOME OF THOSE EXAMPLES OF HOW IT'S

[01:00:01]

I KNOW THAT LOCO DORO WENT THROUGH THE, THE PRIOR PROCESS, AND I THINK WE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT WHAT WORKED AND WHAT, WHAT DIDN'T WORK.

UM, BUT I THINK MANY OF THESE BUSINESS PEOPLE DON'T LOOK TO THE CITY AS THE, THE PLACE THAT'S GOING TO HELP THEM, BUT YET, IF THIS IS STRUCTURED PROPERLY ON THE MARGINS, IT REALLY COULD, UM, SET THEM UP FOR SUCCESS OVER TIME IF IT WORKS WELL.

SO, BUT, BUT I DON'T THINK THEY UNDERSTAND THE PROGRAM BECAUSE TRADITIONALLY THESE ARE NOT FOCUSED ON, UM, SMALL LOCAL EXPANSIONS.

SO THANK YOU.

YES, WE WILL, FOR ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS, WE WILL DEFINITELY HAVE A ROBUST MARKETING, BUT ALSO TOUCH POINTS FROM OUR STAFF TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ACTUALLY VISITING SMALL BUSINESSES, EXPLAINING OUR PURPOSE AND WHAT WE HAVE, AND DEFINITELY WORKING WITH OUR, UH, LOCAL CHAMBERS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE, UH, MEMBERSHIPS UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON.

BUT YET WE RECOGNIZE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, THANK YOU.

AND THEN FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.

I, I THINK, UM, COLLEAGUES, THE QUESTIONS WE HAD, STAFF HAS PROVIDED ANSWERS IN THE Q AND A, SO THAT'S BEEN HELPFUL.

I KNOW THAT, THAT THE, UM, COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY THE EARLY CHILDHOOD SECTOR, UM, WE'D LIKE MORE TIME WITH THIS BUSINESS EXPANSION PROGRAM PROPOSAL, AND THERE WERE SOME CONCERNS THAT WERE LAID OUT, BUT I THINK A GOOD MAJORITY OF THEM HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED.

AND FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, THE COUNCIL HAS RECOMMENDED THIS AND I KNOW WE HAVE A LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM EARLY, UH, EARLY MATTERS GREATER AUSTIN.

SO REALLY MY ONLY COMMENT IS, YOU KNOW, SINCE, UH, MORE SO TO THE CITY MANAGER SINCE WE MOVED OUR CHILDCARE INVESTMENTS AND, UM, PROGRAMS INTO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, I THINK THAT PART OF THAT TRANSITION WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT THE STAKEHOLDERS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE BROUGHT ALONG, THAT THEY'RE RECEIVING THE TIMELY UPDATES AS WELL.

UM, I'M EXCITED FOR THE COMMITMENT THAT OUR CITY HAS MADE IN CHILDCARE AND WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE.

SO IT'S A REALLY TRANSFORMATIVE TIME FOR, FOR AUSTIN.

AND SO IT, IT JUST MAKES SENSE TO HAVE THOSE ROBUST COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS.

COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.

I THANK YOU MR. MAYOR.

GOOD MORNING COLLEAGUES.

UM, I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS.

ONE OF THEM, UM, PERTAIN TO THE $3,000 FEE ASSESSMENT.

UM, I WONDER IF, UM, WE FIND OURSELVES IN A POSITION TO WHERE IT BECOMES A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP IF WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO WHAT WE DID WITH THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS, FOR EXAMPLE, WHERE OUR HARDWORKING COMMISSIONERS THERE WERE ABLE TO HELP OUR OFFICE COME UP WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE A SUBSIDY OF SORTS FOR VOTES WHO NEEDED TO GET UH, SERVICES THROUGH OUR BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS.

I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHETHER OR NOT WE CONSIDERED WHAT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR THAT $3,000 FEE MAY LOOK LIKE.

I'M SORRY, I'M NOT UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION.

SO THE $3,000 FEE ONLY IS NOT ASSESSED TO SMALL BUSINESS, BUT TO THE LARGE, UH, CORPORATIONS THAT MAY COME IN FOR AN INCENTIVE AND ONLY ONCE THE INCENTIVE IS, UM, SUBMITTED TO COUNSEL WILL THEY SUBMIT THE FEE.

IT'S NOT FOR SMALL BANK.

I UNDERSTAND.

UM, WHEN A BUSINESS FACES CHALLENGES AND THEY COME IN AND EITHER WE CAN ADVISE THEM OR WE PROVIDE THEM WITH A COACH, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.

UH, THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.

THAT'S HELPFUL.

UM, SO AS AN EXTENSION OF THAT QUESTION, I THINK I HEARD YOU SAY THAT THE $3,000 FEE ASSESSMENT IS BASED ON THE CITY MANAGER'S DISCRETION.

AND I'M JUST CURIOUS WHAT THAT PROCESS LOOKS LIKE, HOW WE PRESENT THAT.

HOW DOES THAT INFORMATION MAKE IT TO THE MANAGER'S STEPS? NO, IT'S ALL THAT'S SAYING THAT IS THAT THREE SET, $3,000 FEE WOULD BE ASSESSED FOR COMPANIES THAT WISH TO COME TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.

SINCE THOSE SMALLER ASSESSMENTS FOR SMALLER AWARDS FOR LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES WON'T COME TO COUNCIL, THEN IT WON'T BE ASSESSED THE FEE 'CAUSE THEY'RE WITHIN THE CITY MANAGER'S AUTHORITY.

SO IT WON'T BE PRESENTED TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.

RIGHT.

THAT'S MY QUESTION.

I'M NOT SURE IF I ARTICULATED IT WELL ENOUGH.

HOW DOES IT MAKE IT TO THE MANAGER'S DESK? YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M SURE PROCEDURALLY I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND STEPS 1, 2, 3.

SO WE'LL GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF, OF ANALYZING THE APPLICATION, AS WE ALWAYS DO, UH, DO THE FISCAL IMPACT ANALYSIS AND PERFORM A PROJECT SUMMARY FOR, FOR DEPARTMENT LEADERSHIP.

AND THEY'LL PRESENT THE, THEIR RECOMMENDATION ON EACH INDIVIDUAL PROCESS PRO PROJECT ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS.

IF IT FALLS BELOW OR WITHIN THE CITY MANAGER'S AUTHORITY, THEN THAT WILL PRESENT THE CITY MANAGER FOR HI FOR HIS APPROVAL.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

YOU ANSWERED MY QUESTION WHEN YOU SAID CASE BY CASE BASIS.

I THINK ULTIMATELY THAT'S WHAT I WAS ATTEMPTING TO ARTICULATE.

UM, THEN MY SECOND QUESTION IS, UM, YOU SAID THAT THE SMALL BUSINESS DIVISION HAS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO HELP FOLKS MAINTAIN COMPLIANCE.

I'M JUST CURIOUS WHO RUNS THAT OPERATION? LIKE WHO, WHO ARE THE PEOPLE, UH, PROVIDING THE EDUCATIONAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE? SO WITHIN, WITHIN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, THE SMALL BUSINESS DIVISION, WE HAVE COACHES AND WE ALSO HAVE A THIRD PARTY, UH, CONTRACT THAT PROVIDES CLASSES.

UM, AND OUR STAFF DOES AN EVALUATION,

[01:05:01]

IT DOES.

I GUESS THE, THE, UH, FOLLOW UP TO THAT QUESTION WOULD BE WHO IS THE THIRD PARTY CONTRACT RIGHT.

AWARDED TO AND UM, DID WE VOTE ON THAT OR IS THAT YES.

DISCRETION? NO.

IT WAS, UH, AND WHO WAS THAT THIRD PARTY? CURRENTLY IT IS DLN, BUT WE ARE ALSO IN THE PROCESS OF, UH, PROCURING A NEW, UH, CONTRACTOR.

BUT IT WAS, UH, SOLICITED ACCORDING TO STATE RULES THROUGH OUR CENTRAL PURCHASING OFFICE.

AND THE, UM, THE DLM IS CURRENT, BUT YOU IN PROCUREMENT PROCESS, WHAT DOES THE TIMELINE LOOK LIKE FOR THE PROCUREMENT? UM, OF A ANOTHER THIRD PARTY? YES.

HOPEFULLY WE'LL SECURE THE NEW CONTRACT BY THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2025, BUT IT WILL COME BEFORE COUNSEL.

AND THEN MY LAST QUESTION, IT HAS TO DO WITH, UM, MICRO STOREFRONTS.

SO THINK SUPER SMALL, THINK STARBUCKS INSIDE TARGET, MCDONALD'S INSIDE WALMART, BUT SMALLER.

IF WE WERE TO ENGAGE IN THAT SORT OF PARTNERSHIP OF SORTS, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE FOR THE CITY? THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

WELL, AGAIN, WE, THERE THEY WOULD BE ELIGIBLE AS, AS LONG AS THEY COMMIT, UH, PROVIDED, UH, CREATED ONE NEW POSITION.

SO THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE SOME LEVEL OF JOB CREATION INVOLVED.

UH, AND THEN AGAIN, WE'D LOOK AT 'EM ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS LOOKING AT, UH, ARE YOU SERVING AN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY? UM, WHAT ARE THE SPECIFICS OF EACH INDIVIDUAL PROJECT? UH, AND AGAIN, MOVE THOSE FORWARD THROUGH LEADERSHIP FOR, FOR FINAL APPROVAL.

I GUESS ULTIMATELY THE QUESTION THOUGH THAT I'M ASKING THERE IS WHAT DO PARTNERSHIPS WITH INDEPENDENT ORGANIZATIONS LIKE A WALMART OR A TARGET OR AN HEV IF A SMALL LOCAL MICRO BUSINESS THAT'S ELIGIBLE AND COMPLIANT BY WAY OF ALL OF THE TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS? WHAT DOES OUR, THE CITY OF AUSTIN, WHAT DOES OUR RELATION LOOK RELATIONSHIP LOOK LIKE WHEN WE'RE WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS, IF YOU KNOW, A SMALL MICRO RETAIL, I THINK IT'S SPECIFICALLY CALLED SMALL FORMAT RETAIL, WERE TO BE EMBEDDED IN A PRIVATELY OWNED BUSINESS.

AND THAT'S A QUESTION YOU CAN ANSWER LATER IF IT'S MORE DETAILED.

LET US, WE HAVE WORK PRESENTLY.

I'M JUST, I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT OUR PARTNERSHIPS WOULD LOOK LIKE AND THAT SUBSEQUENTLY TELLS ME, YOU KNOW, WHETHER OR NOT WE NEED TO INDEPENDENTLY BE TAKEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE THOSE PARTNERSHIPS.

I, I'M JUST CURIOUS WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

SO WE WILL GO BACK, BUT IT WOULD STILL BE A CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIP ACCORDING TO THE GUIDELINES.

SO IF THEY COME, AGAIN, EACH APPLICATION IS GONNA BE UNIQUE AND WE WOULD EVALUATE IT.

UM, BUT IF YOU'RE, IF I'M FOLLOWING, YOU'RE THINKING OF LIKE SMALL RETAILS THAT ARE WITHIN LIKE SIMILAR LIKE HAIR SALONS I'VE SEEN, THINGS LIKE THAT.

EXACTLY.

SO IF IT'S A SMALL, UM, SMALL FORMAT RETAIL ESTABLISHMENT EMBEDDED IN ANOTHER ESTABLISHMENT, UH, I'M NOT ASKING ABOUT, UM, ELIGIBILITY FOR THE SMALL FORMAT RETAIL.

I'M ASKING ABOUT, UM, THE PROTOCOL AROUND ENGAGING WITH A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION WHERE THAT ABOVE SAID BUSINESS IS EMBEDDED.

SO YOU SAID CONTRACTUAL, BUT I, I'M JUST TRYING TO GET MY HEAD AROUND HOW I THINK, I THINK THE CONTRACTUAL, I THINK THE CON CONTRACT WITH A BIG BOX STORE WHERE AN ELIGIBLE SMALL FORMAT RETAIL IS EMBEDDED, LET US GO BACK AND DO SOME RESEARCH ON THAT AND WE'LL, UM, ISSUE A MEMO ON THAT.

YES, I'D APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH.

LIKE ULTIMATELY WHAT WE WERE TALK, TALKING ABOUT WITH MICRO BUSINESSES EARLIER IS THE BUSINESS IN AND OF ITSELF, BUT NOT BRICK AND MORTAR NECESSARILY, WHEREAS THE SMALL FORMAT RETAIL SPECIFICALLY NEEDS BRICK AND MORTAR.

AND, AND BACK TO THAT, YOU KNOW, SMALL FORMAT RETAIL FOR EXAMPLE.

UM, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I'M THINKING THERE, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE THEY WOULD BE ELIGIBLE BY WAY OF THEM BEING ABLE TO HAVE TO CREATE THE ONE EMPLOYEE.

AND THEN I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT YOU GUYS, UM, SAID THE MINIMUM OF ONE EMPLOYEE WITH SCALE ACCORDING TO GROWTH.

I THINK THAT'S SUPER APPROPRIATE.

UM, BUT I GUESS THE OTHER QUESTION THAT I WOULD HAVE, UM, AROUND THAT, YOU KNOW, SMALL FORMAT RETAIL BUSINESS, UM, I JUST WANNA MAKE CERTAIN THAT THEY ARE A PART OF THE EQUATION BECAUSE IT SOUNDS

[01:10:01]

SO THAT'S SOMETHING I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO DELINEATE THEM FROM OTHER MICRO BUSINESSES THAT DON'T REQUIRE BRICK AND MORTAR.

SO, UM, THE TEAM IS TAKING NOTES AND WE WILL DEFINITELY GET BACK ON THAT, THE SMALL FORMAT.

WE'LL, WE'LL GET SOME INFORMATION OUT.

I APPRECIATE IT.

I CAN'T, UH, IT'S DIFFICULT TO HIDE MY EXCITEMENT ABOUT THE LEVEL OF, YOU KNOW, COMMITMENT AND EMPHASIS THAT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, PLACING ON SMALL AND MICRO BUSINESSES.

I THINK IT'S CRITICAL AND I ABSOLUTELY LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THEM, UH, FLOURISH AND THRIVE AND, AND BE VIABLE LONG TERM.

UM, I THINK THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THE, I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE'RE TRENDING AND I THINK IT IS A RETURN TO OUR COMMITMENT AS A CITY TO, TO KEEP IT LOCAL WHAT WE CAN.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I APPRECIATE Y'ALL'S HARD WORK AND APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENTATION.

THANK, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, UM, AND FOR YOUR COMMENTS TOO.

UM, ALRIGHT, LET'S GO TO ITEM NUMBER EIGHT.

ALL RIGHT, OUR LAST ITEM AND WE KNOW WE NEED TO MOVE QUICKLY.

UHHUH .

I'LL YES MA'AM.

I KNOW.

WELL, I'M SORRY, DID THAT COME OUT? SO I'M GOING TO JUMP RIGHT IN AND TURN IT OVER TO SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT.

I'M NOT EVEN GONNA INTRODUCE .

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS OF MATTHEW SCHMIDT.

I SERVE AS OUR BUSINESS INCENTIVES AND ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL DISTRICT'S LEAD, UH, WITHIN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT'S GLOBAL EXPANSION DIVISION.

OUR DEPARTMENT IS PROPOSING AN ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL DISTRICT FRAMEWORK POLICY WITH AN AIM TO SUPPORT THE UNIFIED AND COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES TO BOOST ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, PROMOTE AUSTIN'S RICH CULTURAL HERITAGE, AND ADDRESS EQUITABLE INVESTMENT IN OUR CITY'S ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL DISTRICTS.

THROUGH THIS POLICY, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT INTENDS TO DEFINE ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL DISTRICTS AS MICRO GEOGRAPHIC AREAS THAT CONTAIN A CONCENTRATION OF ASSETS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE DISTRICT'S UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS, ALLOWING PARTNERS TO CLEARLY IDENTIFY ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES IN THESE AREAS AND SPACES.

AND THIS POLICY WILL FURTHER THE CITY'S COMMITMENT IN DELIVERING STRATEGIC PRIORITIES IDENTIFIED THROUGH VARIOUS CITYWIDE POLICIES, SUCH AS IMAGINE AUSTIN'S CALL FOR COMPLETE COMMUNITIES, THE CULTURAL TOURISM PLAN, SEEKING TO FOSTER NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER AND IDENTITY AND DEVELOPMENT OF MERCHANTS ASSOCIATIONS, AS WELL AS THE STRATEGIC PLAN SUPPORTING OUR ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL COMMUNITIES.

UH, SINCE 2007, BEGINNING WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S FIRST CULTURAL DISTRICT DESIGNATION OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL HERITAGE DISTRICT, THE CITY HAS SUPPORTED THE PRESERVATION, ADVANCEMENT, AND DEVELOPMENT OF ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL DISTRICTS IN A VARIETY OF METHODS, PROGRAMMING AND SERVICES LACKING A COHESIVE APPROACH.

THE GOAL FOR THIS POLICY IS TO PROVIDE CLARITY FOR COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS AND POLICY MAKERS AND SPECIFIC APPROACH TO ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

CREATING A MORE ORGANIZED APPROACH TO THE RECOGNITION AND RESOURCING INCREASES THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THESE SPACES AND THE INSTITUTIONS AND COMMUNITIES THAT THEY REPRESENT.

THROUGH BEST PRACTICE RESEARCH, STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT, PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANT RECOMMENDATIONS, AND PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE, STAFF HAVE IDENTIFIED THE FOLLOWING VALUES AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR THIS POLICY.

UH, THESE VALUES AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES REPRESENT THE GOALS AND APPROACHES THAT PROMOTE THE SUCCESS OF OUR DISTRICTS AND RECOGNIZE THE ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL CONTRIBUTIONS THAT ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND VISITORS ALIKE.

NEXT SLIDE, OR, UH, SO THIS SLIDE, UH, DEF DEFINES THE RECOGNITION PROCESS SPECIFIC FOR OUR CO ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL DISTRICTS, UH, TO HELP, UH, BETTER ALIGN HOW WE APPROACH, UH, BRINGING IN NEW DISTRICTS.

UH, WHAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED IS A PROCESS THAT WILL IDENTIFY A LETTER OF INTENT FROM THE DISTRICT STAKEHOLDERS, LETTERS OF SUPPORT DEMONSTRATING SUPPORT FROM, UH, THE, UH, THE MAJORITY OF RELEVANT STAKEHOLDERS WITHIN THE DISTRICT, AND DEMONSTRATING SOME TYPE OF ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY, AS WELL AS OTHER ELEMENTS THAT ARE, UH, SPECIFIC TO THE TEXAS CULTURAL DISTRICT DESIGNATION OR OUR OWN ECONOMIC DISTRICT DESIGNATIONS.

UH, THIS PROCESS WILL BE, WILL HAVE TOOLS ASSOCIATED WITH IT AND EMBEDDED IT WITH COMMUNITY THAT MAY NEED SOME SUPPORT SPECIFIC TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION, UH, DISTRICT ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT OR PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION.

DISTRICT BRANDING THROUGH OUR AVAILABLE DISTRICT IDENTITY PROGRAMS SUCH AS BANNERS OR STREET SIGNS, EQUITABLE FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CULTURAL DISTRICT ORGANIZATIONS BASED ON THEIR ECONOMIC IMPACT AND OTHER DISTRICT CHARACTERISTICS SUCH AS GEOGRAPHIC SIZE, AREA, AND INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS.

SO, ENHANCING OUR POLICY STAFF HAVE CATALOGED THE AVAILABLE CITY SUPPORT TO TOOLS AND RESOURCES RELATED TO DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, ALLOWING STAFF TO EASILY EVALUATE APPLICABLE SERVICES TO MATCH DISTRICT VISION AND NEEDS.

UH, SPECIFIC EFFORTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO ENSURE TOOLS WERE DEVELOPED TO ASSIST DISTRICTS THROUGH SELF-ORGANIZATION, THROUGH OUR DISTRICT MANAGEMENT ENTITY TOOLKIT, UH,

[01:15:01]

EVALUATION OF APPLICABILITY TO VALUE RECAPTURE TOOLS SUCH AS PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS DEVELOPING STEADY STREAMS OF REVENUE TO ACHIEVE DISTRICT GOALS.

WERE ESTABLISHING UNIQUE SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS THAT CAN RECAPTURE PARKING REVENUES THAT ARE SIGNIFICANTLY SUPPORTED BY DISTRICT BUSINESSES AND, UH, CULTURAL VENUES AS STAFF IS COMMITTED TO THE CONSTANT EVALUATION OF THESE PROGRAMS AND TOOLS TO ENSURE WE EVOLVE WITH DISTRICT NEEDS OVER THE YEARS.

AND THIS INCLUDES EVALUATING WAYS TO ACCOMPLISH COUNCIL ACTIONS SUCH AS THE RECENT BUDGET IFC REGARDING MICROGRANTS FOR THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS IN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL HERITAGE DISTRICT.

WITH CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF THIS POLICY, THIS WILL FORMALIZE OUR ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL DISTRICTS IN A POLICY THAT ENHANCES OUR SUPPORT AND SERVICES AND CONTINUES OUR CITY'S COMMITMENT TO FOSTERING VIBRANT AND UNIQUE AREAS OF CULTURAL RELEVANCE OR ECONOMIC COMMERCE THAT MAKES UP THE FABRIC OF THIS COMMUNITY.

COUNCIL MEMBER HARBOR MADISON.

AND WHILE CHALLENGES WILL STILL EXIST TO GRANDFATHERING IN OUR EXISTING, UH, CULTURAL DISTRICTS AND ECONOMIC DISTRICTS ADAPTATION AND NEW POLICIES AND ALLOCATION OF FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO DEPLOY THESE POLICIES, UH, THIS FOUND, UH, THIS WILL PROVIDE A STRONG FOUNDATION IN THE EQUITABLE INVESTMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF OUR ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL DISTRICTS.

UH, THANK YOU FOR THE RECOGNITION, MR. MAYOR.

UM, I HAVE QUESTIONS AND I, I HAVE SOME COMMENTARY.

UM, THIS IS A TOUGH ONE FOR ME, FOR NO OTHER REASON.

YOU KNOW, I, I CAN'T HELP BUT REFER BACK TO 2016 WHEN I WAS SERVING VERY PROUDLY AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE EAST 12TH STREET MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION.

YOU KNOW, MY FIRST INTERACTIONS WITH DIRECTOR, UM, UH, HOLT REV AND, UM, THE DEDICATED EMPLOYEES THAT WERE RUNNING SOLELY AUSTIN AT THE TIME.

YOU KNOW, I'VE SPENT MORE TIME WITH NICOLE BLO AND HER TEAM, AND CRAYOLA SHAW BURNS, DON KING, NEFERTITI JACKMAN BEFORE SHE'S IN HER CURRENT ROLE, UM, ERIC WHITMAN, UH, MS. PEARL.

WE, AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOUGHT HARD TO GET.

I MEAN, WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT THE FORMATION OF THESE MERCHANTS ASSOCIATIONS, I REALLY WANNA GIVE PEOPLE FOR CONTEXT, IT'S NOT, WE JUST GET THE TITLE AND THEN NOW WE'RE MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION.

THIS IS A DEEP COMMITMENT, HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS OF COMMITMENT BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS, UM, AND MERCHANTS WHO INSTEAD OF RUNNING THEIR OPERATIONS, THEY'RE TAKING THESE HOURS LONG CLASSES.

THERE'S THE LEGAL COMPONENT, THERE'S, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO FORM THE BOARD, FOLLOW YOUR BYLAWS, CREATE YOUR, I MEAN, IT REALLY IS A VERY INVOLVED PROCESS TO GET A MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION STARTED, AND MAYBE MORE IMPORTANTLY, TO KEEP A MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION GOING BECAUSE OF THE LEVEL OF COMMITMENT.

AND IF I'M SPEAKING CANDIDLY, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU GET IN EXCHANGE FOR THAT LEVEL OF COMMITMENT SOMETIMES FEELS NOT WORTH ALL THE EFFORT, BUT THAT'S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO GET A THING STARTED.

IT'S JUST SO DIFFICULT TO GET THAT LEVEL OF TIME COMMITMENT, VOLUNTEER TIME COMMITMENT TO GET IT STARTED.

SO SHOUT OUT TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT FOR TRYING OVER AND OVER AGAIN THE SPIRIT OF EAST AUSTIN, SO AUSTIN.

AND SO AUSTIN EXTENDS OBVIOUSLY BEYOND EAST AUSTIN.

IT WAS MERCHANTS ASSOCIATIONS BEING FORMED ALL OVER, BUT EAST 12TH STREET WAS A HALT.

AND THAT, SO AUSTIN TEAM THAT WORKED SO HARD AND SO DEDICATEDLY ON THE EAST 12TH STREET, ONE REALLY OPENED MY EYES TO THE SURROUNDING NEED.

AND, AND THUS WHEN I REALLY STARTED GETTING DEEPLY EMBEDDED IN THESE CONVERSATIONS AROUND THE CULTURAL HERITAGE DISTRICT.

AND SO I, I APPRECIATE, UM, THE CONVERSATION AND I REALLY JUST CONTEXTUALLY WANNA MAKE CERTAIN THAT MY COLLEAGUES UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS DEEPLY INVOLVED WORK, AND THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF COMMUNITY FOLKS WHO ARE, YOU KNOW, REALLY ROLLING UP THEIR SLEEVES ALONGSIDE OUR STAFF.

YOU KNOW, I'M EXCITED TO SEE THAT WE'RE FINALLY, UM, GETTING THE FRAMEWORK THAT GETS TO COME BEFORE COUNCIL.

MY OFFICE HAS BEEN IN CONVERSATIONS WITH EDD STAFF AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR YEARS.

I MEAN, PRECO FOR YEARS AND YEARS AT THIS POINT.

I'VE BEEN, UM, HONORABLY SERVING ON THIS COUNCIL FOR SIX YEARS, AND WE'RE TALKING PRE THAT.

UM, I'M ALSO PROUD TO NOTE THAT THE BUDGET IC THAT I BROUGHT FORWARD TO SUPPORT THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL HERITAGE DISTRICT PASSED UNANIMOUSLY, UM, LAST MONTH.

UH, WHICH, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT HELP SET THE FOUNDATIONS FOR MORE IMMEDIATE INVESTMENTS WITHIN OUR CULTURAL DISTRICTS.

UM, AND AS A REMINDER FOR MY COLLEAGUES, THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL HERITAGE DISTRICT IS IN EAST AUSTIN AND IS LACKED IMMEDIATE AND COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT FOR FAR TOO LONG.

I MEAN, IT'S ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF

[01:20:01]

MEMBERS OF THE EAST AUSTIN COMMUNITY SAYING THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS ALL TAUGHT WHEN IT COMES TO EAST AUSTIN.

UM, AND I WANT US TO WRITE THIS HISTORIC WRONG.

I WANT US TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY SUPPORT FOR ALL THE DISTRICTS.

UM, BUT YOU KNOW, IN MY CAPACITY AS THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR DISTRICT ONE, I'M SPEAKING EXCLUSIVELY AT THIS MOMENT FOR DISTRICT ONE AND THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL HERITAGE DISTRICT.

IT IS MY PRIORITY WITHIN THIS CONVERSATION.

UM, UM, I THINK OUR PARTNERS WITHIN THESE DISTRICTS, ALL OF THEM, THEY DESERVE THE ASSISTANCE THAT THEY'VE BEEN ASKING FOR.

AND I'LL JUST REFLECT BACK TO PEOPLE HAVING SAID THAT AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL HERITAGE DISTRICT WAS ESTABLISHED DECADES AGO, BUT NOTHING EVER HAPPENED, UM, FOR, YOU KNOW, UH, ANOTHER POINT OF REFERENCE.

I REALLY JUST WANNA MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT, UM, THERE'S A, A POSTPONEMENT BEING, UH, PRESENTED FOR THIS ITEM.

AND WHILE I CAN, SHE, I'M WANTING US TO ALWAYS TAKE OUR TIME AND, AND, UH, MAKE CERTAIN THAT WHAT WE'RE BRINGING FORWARD IS ACTUALLY A FUNCTIONAL PIECE OF POLICY.

I WILL SAY THAT I KNOW THAT THERE ARE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO WILL BE DISAPPOINTED TO SEE THE ITEM POSTPONED AND THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO GET BACK UP AND RUNNING, MY HOPE IS THAT WE DO IT COMPREHENSIVELY AND QUICKLY.

AND I'D LIKE TO EXPRESS, YOU KNOW, MY APOLOGIES TO FOLKS WHO REALLY WANTED TO SEE US TAKE SOME ACTION TODAY.

UM, EVEN IF IT WASN'T PERFECT, THEY WANTED TO SEE SOME ACTION TODAY.

AND I, YOU KNOW, CAN OFFER YOU MY ASSURANCES AND MY COMMITMENT TO MAKING CERTAIN THAT MOVING FORWARD IF AND WHEN, AND ITEM LIKE THIS COMES BEFORE US, WE DON'T HAVE TO TAKE THIS STUTTER STEP WITH A POSTPONEMENT.

EVERYBODY WILL HAVE BEEN PREPARED AND FULLY INFORMED FOR US TO TAKE ACTION WHEN THE ITEM IS PLACED ON THE AGENDA.

AND SO, I, I OFFER MY PERSONAL APOLOGIES FOR THE POSTPONEMENT ON THIS ITEM.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK AND ASK HER TO CALL SPEAKERS ON ITEM SIX, SEVEN, AND EIGHT.

BILL BUNCH.

SPEAKING ON ITEM SIX AND SEVEN, MR. BUNCH AND EIGHT, SORRY MR. BUNCH.

BILL BUNCH.

ALL RIGHT, BARBARA GRANT BONEA, PLEASE COME FORWARD ON ITEM SEVEN, GET THREE MINUTES.

GOOD MORNING.

I AM BARBARA GRANTA.

I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY SUCCESS BY SIX COALITION.

AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF SUCCESS BY SIX TO JUST REALLY THANK YOU ALL FOR CONTINUING YOUR SUPPORT AND CHAMPIONING CREATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR CHILDCARE PROVIDERS, FOR FAMILIES, FOR CHILDREN, FOR CENTER-BASED, FOR HOME-BASED PROVIDERS IN ALL OF AUSTIN.

WE RECOGNIZE THAT A THRIVING CHILDCARE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD SYSTEM IS NOT ONLY A CRITICAL SOCIAL ISSUE, BUT ALSO AN ECONOMIC ONE.

SO THIS IS WHY WE'RE INCREDIBLY EXCITED TO SEE SOME OF THIS NEW WORK INCLUDE CHILDCARE, ENSURING THAT FAMILIES CAN GO TO WORK WITH THE CONFIDENCE THAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE SAFE AND WELL TAKEN CARE OF IS ESSENTIAL TO THE LONG TERM ECONOMIC SUCCESS FOR OUR REGION.

BY WORKING TOGETHER GOVERNMENT, BUSINESS, AND IMPORTANTLY, EARLY CHILDHOOD PROFESSIONALS, WE CAN CONTINUE TO BUILD AN EQUITABLE ACCESSIBLE AND HIGH QUALITY CHILDCARE SYSTEM IN AUSTIN.

WE SUPPORT THIS ITEM, AND ESPECIALLY ARE ENCOURAGED BY THE CITY'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENTS, CHAPTER THREE 80 BUSINESS EXPANSION GUIDELINES, WHICH ESTABLISH A CHILDCARE ASSISTANT RESERVE.

WE KNOW THAT THIS RESERVE IS GOING TO FUND THE CITY'S CHILDCARE ASSISTANCE HELP FUND THESE PROGRAMS, PARTIC, PARTICULARLY FAMILY BASED CHILDCARE.

WE KNOW THAT THEY PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN PROVIDING CULTURALLY AFFIRMING CARE AND PROVIDING NON-TRADITIONAL HOURS, AND ARE REALLY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THEM BEING INCLUDED IN THIS.

WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE THE CITY TO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS, INCLUDING SUCCESS BY SIX IN OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.

WHEN CREATING ITEMS SUCH AS THIS ONE, IT'S CRUCIAL TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY PEOPLE LIKE PARENTS, FAMILIES, CHILDCARE PROVIDERS, WHEN CREATING THESE RECOMMENDATIONS IN EVERY STEP OF THE CREATION AND IDEATION.

WE CONSISTENTLY WORK TOGETHER WITH THESE PROVIDERS AND WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME FEEDBACK THROUGH OUR FAMILY-BASED CHILDCARE WORK GROUP FOR THIS ITEM.

SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND CREATIVITY AND PARTNERSHIP IN SUPPORTING AUSTIN'S YOUNG CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES.

AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO REALLY CONTINUING THIS COLLABORATION IN THE FUTURE.

AND THANKS FOR WHAT YOU DO.

MONICA GUZMAN.

[01:25:18]

HOPEFULLY THEY'LL HAVE THE PICTURE UP IN A SECOND.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNSEL.

I'M MONICA GUZMAN, POLICY DIRECTOR FOR GAVA GO.

AUSTIN S. AUSTIN.

WE SUPPORT ITEM SEVEN AWARDS PROVIDED UNDER THE BUSINESS EXPANSION PROGRAM.

BEP, WHO CONTAINS A PROVISION TO SUPPORT A CHILDCARE ASSISTANCE RESERVE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO CITY CHILDCARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. WE SUPPORT STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ALL BEP AWARDS TO DEDICATE 10% OF NEW ELIGIBLE PROPERTY TAXES TO THIS RESERVE RESERVE FUNDING WITH SUSTAINABLY SUPPORT, UH, THE HOME BASE CHILDCARE GRANT, AND PROVIDE IMPLEMENTATION FUNDS FOR THE CITY'S PROGRAM TO DEVELOP COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT NETWORK FOR HOME-BASED CHILDCARE PROVIDERS.

LORETTA JOHNSON, THE WOMAN IN THE PURPLE SHIRT ON THE IN THE PHOTO DISTRICT TWO RESIDENT AND HOME-BASED CHILDCARE PROVIDER, HAS DESCRIBED HOME-BASED PROVIDERS AS THE WORKFORCE BEHIND THE WORKFORCE.

THEY PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SUPPORT TO WORKING FAMILIES, SEEKING QUALITY CARE AND EARLY EDUCATION IN A TRUSTED CULTURALLY RELEVANT SETTING WITH FLEXIBLE HOURS.

MANY OF THESE LOCAL PROVIDERS HAVE BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS, PROVIDING THEIR DEDICATION TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN AUSTIN COMMUNITIES.

TEXAS PROPOSITION TWO, LEFT HOME-BASED CHILDCARE PROVIDERS OUT.

HISTORICALLY, HOME-BASED CHILDCARE HAS OFTEN BEEN EXCLUDED FROM RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES.

WE, EXCUSE ME, APPLAUD OUR CITY COUNCIL WHO NOTICE THAT AND ACTIVELY MOVE TO IDENTIFY A WAY TO EXTEND FINANCIAL RELIEF TO HOME-BASED PROVIDERS.

ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL SURVEY OF EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION PROJECT TEAM, NEARLY 6.4 MILLION CHILDREN, AGE ZERO TO FIVE RECEIVE CARE IN A HOME-BASED CHILDCARE SETTING.

THE AVERAGE ANNUAL CHILDCARE INCOME FOR A LICENSED PROVIDER IS 29,377 FROM PUBLIC AND PRIVATE RE SOURCES.

THESE CARE PROVIDERS PROVIDE AN AVERAGE OF 56.5 HOURS OF CARE PER WEEK, OR 10 TO 12 HOURS A DAY HOME-BASED CARE IS OFTEN THE BEST OR ONLY OPTION AVAILABLE FOR FAMILIES NEEDING CARE DURING NON-TRADITIONAL HOURS LIKE EVENINGS, NIGHTS, AND WEEKENDS.

FOR WORKING FAMILIES TO DO THEIR BEST JOB, THEY NEED TO KNOW THEIR CHILD IS IN A SAFE, LOVING, QUALITY SETTING.

HOME-BASED CHILDCARE PROVIDERS AREN'T WATCHING CHILDREN FOR A FEW HOURS A WEEK.

THEY'RE EDUCATING, PLAYING, AND SHARING MEALS WITH CHILDREN FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME WHEN THE CARE IS DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE.

CHILDREN REALIZE SIGNIFICANT LIFETIME GAINS THROUGH BETTER OUTCOMES IN EDUCATION, HEALTH, SOCIAL BEHAVIORS, AND EMPLOYMENT.

STABILIZING THE ECONOMIC WELLBEING OF CAREGIVERS IS IMPERATIVE TO BUILDING STRONG SYSTEMS THAT BENEFIT CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AND THE LOCAL ECONOMY OVERALL.

THANK YOU FOR APPROVING ITEM SEVEN.

THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS FOR ITEM SIX, SEVEN, AND EIGHT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UH, MEMBERS, THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS FOR THOSE THREE ITEMS. WE'LL, I'LL CALL FOR A MOTION ON EACH OF THE ITEMS SEPARATELY.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.

UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

UH, I JUST WANNA THANK STAFF ON ALL THEIR HARD WORK ON THIS.

I BELIEVE THAT, UH, SORRY.

SO STARTING WITH ITEM THIS, NOT ITEM SIX.

ITEM SIX, YEAH.

MAKING SURE, UH, ONE OF THANK STAFF FOR ALL THEIR HARD WORK ON, ON ITEM SIX.

I BELIEVE IT'S A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, UH, BUT I FEEL LIKE IT WOULD, I, I FEEL LIKE FOR MYSELF AND FOR MY COLLEAGUES, UH, IF WE COULD JUST BE GIVEN SOME EXTRA TIME TO SIT WITH THE POLICY AFTER RECEIVING THE BRIEFING TODAY.

UH, I KNOW IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ALL WANT TO GET RIGHT.

UH, SO, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO PASSING THE ITEM IN THE FUTURE, BUT IF WE COULD POSTPONE IT, UH, ITEM NUMBER NUMBER SIX TO THE SEP SEPTEMBER 26TH MEETING.

IT'S JUST ONE COUNCIL MEETING, JUST SO WE HAVE ENOUGH TIME, UH, TO MAKE SURE WE, WE GET IT RIGHT.

COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE MOVES ON ITEM NUMBER SIX, THAT IT'D BE POSTPONED UNTIL SEPTEMBER 26TH.

IS THERE, IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.

DISCUSSION ON THE ITEM WITHOUT OBJECTION.

ITEM NUMBER SIX IS POSTPONED TO SEPTEMBER 26TH WITH COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON OFF THE DAIS.

THAT'LL TAKE US TO ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.

YEAH, I'LL BE DOING A LOT OF THIS FOR THE NEXT, UH, OKAY, TWO ITEMS. UH, SIMILAR SENTIMENT TO ITEM NUMBER SIX.

I, I REALLY WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR, FOR THEIR PRESENTATION.

UH, I DO BELIEVE IT'S A GREAT STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

UH, AND THIS ITEM IS THE ONE I WANNA MAKE SURE WE GET IT RIGHT, UH, TO MAXIMIZE THE HELP AND BENEFITS THAT IT COULD PROVIDE.

SO I LOOK FORWARD TO PASSING THIS ON SEPTEMBER 26TH, BUT I'D LIKE TO POSTPONE, I'D LIKE TO MOTION TO POSTPONE ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, UH, TO SEPTEMBER 26TH.

MEMBERS, COUNCIL MEMBER CODRE MOVES THAT ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, BE POSTPONED TO SEPTEMBER 26TH.

IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.

IS THERE DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION.

ITEM NUMBER SEVEN IS POSTPONED TO SEPTEMBER 26TH WITH COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON BEING OFF THE DIETS.

THAT'LL TAKE US TO ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, AND I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER CADRY.

YEAH, MY LAST POSTPONEMENT OF THE DAY, HOPEFULLY.

UM, I'M GLAD TO SEE THIS ITEM,

[01:30:01]

UH, COME BEFORE COUNCIL.

WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR THEIR PRESENTATION ON THIS AS WELL.

UH, I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF HARD WORK, UH, AND IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING.

I, I, I BELIEVE THAT THIS ITEM COULD PROVIDE GREAT RESOURCES AND TOOLS FOR OUR CULTURAL DISTRICTS.

I, I SO APPRECIATE THE WORDS, UH, FROM FROM COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, AND I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO PASSING THIS ITEM IN THE NEAR, NEAR FUTURE.

UH, WE HAVE SOME CULTURAL DISTRICTS AND, AND DISTRICT NINE AS WELL.

UH, AND SINCE THIS IS A CITYWIDE ISSUE, UH, I, I'D LIKE TO POSTPONE THIS ITEM JUST FOR ONE MEETING SO WE COULD HAVE FURTHER CONVERSATIONS, UH, WITH STAFF, WITH STAKEHOLDERS, UH, TO, TO GET ANY POTENTIAL REVISION.

SO WITH THAT, I MOTION TO POSTPONE ITEM NUMBER EIGHT TO THE 26TH, UH, OF SEPTEMBER.

COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE MOVES MEMBERS THAT ITEM NUMBER EIGHT BE POSTPONED UNTIL SEPTEMBER 26TH.

IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER.

UM, MR. CADRE, I APPRECIATE THE REQUEST FOR POSTPONEMENT, AND I'M FINE WITH POSTPONING IN GENERALLY, IF A COLLEAGUE NEEDS AN EXTRA MEETING.

I, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.

UM, I THINK THAT AT SOME POINT WE NEED TO HAVE A, A FURTHER CONVERSATION AS A, AS A DIOCESE ABOUT UNDER THE NEW REGIME, HOW WE WANT TO APPROACH THINGS LIKE THIS.

I THINK THAT THIS IS A CASE WHERE IT WOULD'VE BEEN VERY VALUABLE TO HAVE A BRIEFING TO THE FULL COUNCIL AND THEN HAD A COUPLE WEEKS TO PROCESS IT AND THEN VOTE ON IT.

UM, AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW, LIKE, YOU DID A GREAT JOB TODAY.

WE HAPPEN TO HAVE TIME TODAY.

IT DOESN'T ALWAYS FIT WELL INTO THE COUNCIL MEETING.

I'M A BIG FAN OF WORK SESSIONS.

I KNOW THERE'S SOME SHIFTS IN RULES, BUT, BUT I THINK THEY ARE VALUABLE.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT NOT JUST FOR US, BUT FOR THE COMMUNITY AND FOR FOLKS TO BE ABLE, UM, TO WEIGH IN AND UNDERSTAND, PARTICULARLY WHEN THERE ARE BIG DECISIONS.

UM, THESE ARE IMPORTANT PROGRAMS. WE'VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE A, YOU KNOW, ROBUST ECONOMY.

UM, AND WE MAY BE MISSING SOMETHING IMPORTANT.

AND SO THERE'S VALUE IN THAT EXTRA TIME.

OUR STAFF HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK CLEARLY.

UM, BUT I, BUT I JUST WANTED TO REALLY UNDERSCORE THAT.

I THINK WE NEED TO THINK CAREFULLY ABOUT CHOICES THAT WE MAKE ABOUT THESE SHIFTS BECAUSE THERE IS REAL, REAL VALUE IN MY VIEW, IN THOSE WORK SESSIONS AND REAL VALUE IN THOSE OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO COLLECTIVELY HEAR ABOUT, UM, BIG INITIATIVES.

UM, WE'VE DONE SOME OF THAT RECENTLY WHERE IT'S BEEN, YOU KNOW, ONE-ON-ONES.

AND WHILE THOSE ONE-ON-ONE SESSIONS ARE VALUABLE, AND AT CERTAIN POINTS IN TIME, THEY MAKE SENSE.

UM, BUT I KNOW THAT I LEARN A LOT FROM THE QUESTIONS AND THE COMMENTS OF MY COLLEAGUES AND, AND, AND DO THINK THAT THE COMMUNITY ALSO NEEDS TO HEAR ABOUT SOME OF THESE PROJECTS AS PART OF OUR ENGAGEMENT.

COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.

I TOO WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUE FOR, UM, HIS MOTION TO POSTPONE IN GENERAL.

I AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER ABOUT POSTPONING SO THAT WE CAN HAVE MORE, UM, FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY AND LOOK INTO THIS MORE GREAT PRESENTATIONS TODAY.

BUT IT WAS A LOT TO TAKE IN, AND I THINK THAT BY WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY AND GETTING THEIR FEEDBACK WILL PUT US IN A BETTER PLACE WHEN THIS COMES BACK BEFORE COUNCIL, THE ONLY THING THAT I WOULD ASK, I KNOW ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES EARLIER ASKED FOR THE PRESENTATIONS TO BE EMAILED.

I WOULD JUST RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT THEY ALSO GO INTO BACKUPS SO THAT THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE CAN ALSO LOOK AT THEM IF THEY AREN'T ALREADY THERE.

AND THEY MAY BE THERE.

I JUST HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK.

SO THANK YOU.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? JUST, JUST A QUICK COMMENT, COUNCILMAN, GO.

AND, AND, AND I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT I, I SO APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT STAFF HAS DONE ON THIS, AND, AND I REALLY ENJOYED THE QUESTIONS IN THE, AND THE CONVERSATIONS THAT HAPPENED ON THE DAIS.

UH, SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK INSTEAD OF AN ABUNDANCE OF MAKING SURE WE DO THIS RIGHT, THAT'S THE ONLY REASON I, UH, HAD THESE THREE ITEMS ASKED TO BE POSTPONED.

BUT I, I, I JUST WANNA, I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING, UH, FROM, FROM Y'ALL AS A STAFF AND FROM MS. DIOCESE.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, DO YOU WISH TO DISCUSS ITEM NUMBER EIGHT? UH, YEAH, MR. MAYOR.

LARGER CONVERSATION ABOUT BENIGN NEGLECT TO A CERTAIN PART OF OUR CITY.

AND AT THE RISK OF, YOU KNOW, OF REALLY SORT OF BEATING A DEAD HORSE, SO TO SPEAK, I JUST, I REALLY, UM, I APPRECIATE THE REQUEST FOR THE POSTPONEMENT, BUT I ALSO APPRECIATE THE FRUSTRATION FROM MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT I REPRESENT.

UM, IT, IT FEELS TO SOME FOLKS LIKE WE'RE WAITING ON THE WEST SIDE AGAIN.

UM, AND SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE TO PUT THAT OUT THERE FOR MY COLLEAGUES TO RECOGNIZE THAT WHILE I APPRECIATE THE DESIRE TO BE THOROUGH AND TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE PRODUCE SOMETHING THAT ACTUALLY BENEFITS THE COMMUNITY, THAT ACTUALLY DOES SOMETHING, I REALLY WISH THAT WE COULD HAVE DONE THIS IN THE WAY OF AN AMENDMENT, YOU KNOW, AN AMENDMENT THAT WOULD'VE SAID, UM, HAVE STAFF COME BACK WITH A FUNDING MODEL FOR ALL DISTRICTS, UM, REQUIRE THAT THE CITY PROVIDE EQUITABLE AND CONSISTENT FUNDING TO DISTRICTS UNDER THIS POLICY.

I THINK WE COULD HAVE ACCOMPLISHED THIS WITHOUT A POSTPONEMENT.

AND I JUST WANNA MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE ALL UNDERSTAND HOW IT FEELS TO THE EAST SIDE COMMUNITY THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS ITEM IS A PART OF A

[01:35:01]

AND THIS JUST FEELS LIKE A CONTINUATION OF NEGLECT AND NOT MOVING FORWARD.

SO I, I DO ABSOLUTELY APPRECIATE THE DESIRE FOR POSTPONEMENT IN FULL UNDERSTANDING, BUT I ALSO WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T POINT OUT THAT THIS IS NOT NEW LEGISLATION OR NEW POLICY.

IT'S BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR MONTHS, AND IF WE WEREN'T READY, THAT'S ON US AND NOT ON THE COMMUNITY.

UM, SO I, I DO WANNA MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY THERE.

AND AGAIN, APPRECIATE THE COMMUNITY FOR THEIR PATIENCE.

AND I WISH WE COULD HAVE DONE THIS WITH AN AMENDMENT, BUT WE'LL RELUCTANTLY MOVE FORWARD WITH ACCEPTING A POSTPONEMENT REQUEST.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? THANK YOU.

HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.

ITEM NUMBER EIGHT IS POSTPONED TO SEPTEMBER 26TH.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR PRESENTATIONS MEMBERS.

THAT WILL TAKE US TO ITEM

[26. Authorize negotiation and execution of a contract for workers compensation sworn support with Ready Rebound, Inc., for up to 3 years for a total contract amount not to exceed $4,450,000.]

NUMBER 26.

ITEM NUMBER 26 WAS PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.

AND COUNCIL MEMBER PUENTES, I WANNA RECOGNIZE YOU ON ITEM NUMBER 26.

THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES.

WE, I THINK WE ALL HAVE RECEIVED A COPY OF, UH, LETTER FROM OUR THREE PUBLIC SAFETY UNIONS THAT HAVE A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS OUTLINED AS IT RELATES TO THIS ITEM.

SO I KNOW WE HAVE OUR DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES.

WE WERE, WE MADE SURE TO SHARE THE QUESTIONS WITH YOU IN ADVANCE THAT YOU'D BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO THOSE QUESTIONS.

SO IF YOU COULD HELP ADDRESS SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED BY PERSONNEL.

THEY'RE READILY AVAILABLE.

COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES AND THE FLOOR IS YOURS.

GOOD MORNING MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, CITY MANAGER STAFF, SUSAN SINS, HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

UM, I DID SEE THOSE QUESTIONS THIS MORNING AND I, I WANTED TO REALLY STRESS TO COUNCIL THAT WE'RE WORKING VERY HARD TO IMPROVE THE INJURED WORKER EXPERIENCE.

IT'S A MULTIFACETED APPROACH THAT WE'RE WORKING TO IMPLEMENT.

READY REBOUND IS ONE ASPECT OF THAT MULTIFACETED APPROACH.

IT'S A PILOT PROGRAM, AND IT'S ONE THAT WE REALLY FEEL IS GOING TO PROVIDE SOME, UM, NAVIGATION THROUGH THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION SYSTEM THAT WE DON'T HAVE RIGHT NOW.

WHEN A WORKER GETS INJURED, IT, IT, IT CAN BE DIFFICULT.

YOU KNOW, YOU GOTTA NAVIGATE THROUGH A NEW PROCESS.

YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE BENEFITS ARE WITH REGARDS TO WORKERS' COMP.

YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT MEDICAL PROVIDERS WILL ASSIST AND BE THERE FOR YOU IN YOUR REGIMEN OF CARE.

THE REGIMENS OF CARE ARE DIFFERENT FOR EVERY SINGLE EMPLOYEE.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S AN INJURY AND THEN THERE ARE ALTERNATIVE, UM, CONDITIONS THAT MIGHT COME UP AND THEY NEED TO GET DIFFERENT MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS INVOLVED.

SO IT'S QUITE A NAVIGATION OF THE PROCESS.

AND FINALLY, THERE'S PAY INVOLVED, THERE'S PAY FOR THE WORKER, THERE'S PAY FOR THE MEDICAL PROVIDER, AND ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT ASPECTS ARE ADDRESSED THROUGH, WE'VE GOT OUR TPA, OUR THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR THAT HELPS US.

WE'RE SELF-INSURED, THAT IS SEDGWICK, AND THEY ARE THERE TO ABSOLUTELY STATUTORILY FOLLOW HOW WE, UM, WORK BENEFITS AND CLAIMS AND HOW WE PAY CLAIMS. HUMAN RESOURCES IS THERE.

ABSOLUTELY.

THERE'S THREE IN HUMAN RESOURCES, PRIMARILY TWO IN FIRE, UH, THREE IN POLICE, AND ONE IN EMS THAT TRY TO NAVIGATE PEOPLE THROUGH.

WE HAVE ABOUT 800, UM, IN FY 24 CLAIMS THAT ARE MEDICAL ONLY OR, UM, LOST TIME INJURY CLAIMS. SO WHAT READY REBOUND IS THERE TO DO, AND AGAIN, IT'S ONE PART OF A MULTIFACETED SOLUTION WE'RE LOOKING AT TO HELP THAT INJURED WORKER FROM SQUARE ONE BE ABLE TO NAVIGATE AND PARTNER, UM, WITH THE CITY, WITH SEDGWICK TO IDENTIFY CARE PROVIDERS THAT THEY WON'T BE, UM, WITHOUT THE PROPER GUIDANCE AND UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE THEY CAN GET CARE.

QUESTIONS ARE ANSWERED ALONG THE WAY.

THERE ARE PEOPLE THERE THAT WILL BE THERE TO REALLY CONCIERGE THEIR WORKERS' COMP EXPERIENCE.

UM, AGAIN, THE PROGRAM IS, IS, UH, WE WANNA, WE WANNA SHORE UP, WE WANNA MAKE IT MORE MEANINGFUL.

WE WANNA MAKE IT A BETTER EXPERIENCE FOR OUR INJURED WORKER.

AND, UM, WITH THE SERVICES THAT READY REBOUND PROVIDES, WE FEEL THAT IT WOULD BE A GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY, WITH SEDGWICK TO, UM, GIVE THEM THAT EXPERIENCE THAT WE REALLY LONG TO SEE HAPPEN FOR THEM.

AGAIN, IT'S A PILOT PROGRAM AND IF WE DON'T LIKE IT, WE ABSOLUTELY ARE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THAT.

SO THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY AND I, I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THAT THIS IS A PILOT PROGRAM EFFORT, BUT IT'S ONE THAT IS $4.4 MILLION EFFORT.

AND SO I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW, WHY WE NEED THIS OTHER VENDOR TO HELP US WITH OUR THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR WITH THIS, NOT JUST ADD ANOTHER LAYER OF BUREAUCRACY.

WHY IS, WHY DO WE NEED A NAVIGATOR SYSTEM TO NAVIGATE OUR THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR TO THESE WING? OKAY, THAT'S

[01:40:01]

A GREAT QUESTION.

AND I'D LIKE TO, TO SEPARATE OUT A COUPLE OF THOSE CONCEPTS.

, UM, THE THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR IS ADMINISTERING CLAIMS AND PAYING CLAIMS. ABSOLUTELY.

BUT THERE'S ADDITIONAL NAVIGATION THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN THROUGH THE SYSTEM.

THE FIRST YEAR IS 1.2 MILLION.

AND WHAT READY REBOUNDS THERE TO DO IS PREVENT THOSE GAPS IN CARE.

FOR EXAMPLE, UM, IF SOMEBODY IS, AND THIS HAS HAPPENED, HAD, UH, AN APPOINTMENT AND THEY DON'T BRING THE RIGHT THINGS TO THE APPOINTMENT, OR THEY MISSED THE APPOINTMENT, OR THEY THOUGHT THE APPOINTMENT WAS ONE DAY AND IT WASN'T THAT DAY, IT WAS A DIFFERENT DAY, THEN IT TAKES 30 MORE DAYS TO GET THAT APPOINTMENT BACK ON.

THE BOOKS ARE 45 DAYS.

SO THERE ARE CERTAIN, WE'VE GOT 800 OF THESE CLAIMS. UH, NOT ALL ARE LOST TIME CLAIMS, BUT CLAIMS THAT NEED ADMINISTRATION AND GUIDANCE AND ASSISTANCE.

SO THEY WOULD REALLY PARTNER WITH THE EMPLOYEE IN NAVIGATING THROUGH MAKING SURE THOSE APPOINTMENTS ARE UNDERSTOOD, THAT WE UNDERSTAND IN CURRENTLY WE HAVE ANY WILLING PROVIDER.

AND SO WITH ANY WILLING PROVIDER, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT PARTICULAR PROVIDER TAKES WORKERS' COMP AND THAT IT'S THE PROPER, UM, PROVIDER FOR THAT PARTICULAR INJURED WORKER'S NEEDS.

YOU KNOW, WE, WE DON'T WANT SOMEONE, UM, SEEING A MEDICAL PROVIDER THAT ISN'T NECESSARILY ADDRESSING THEIR PRIMARY CONDITION.

AND THERE ARE CERTAIN REGIMENS OF CARE THAT THROUGH READY REBOUND ARE ABLE, THEIR PT PROFESSIONALS, THEY ARE IN THAT FIELD SO THEY CAN UNDERSTAND THE MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS AND THEN HELP THEM NAVIGATE THROUGH GETTING, MAKING SURE THOSE PROVIDERS ARE GOING TO ANSWER THEIR PARTICULAR PHYSICAL NEED AND THEN GET THEM THROUGH THE SYSTEM MORE EXPEDIENTLY.

BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD GAPS OF CARE WHERE PEOPLE AREN'T UNDERSTANDING HOW TO NAVIGATE THROUGH OR MISS APPOINTMENTS OR THERE ISN'T THE RIGHT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A CONDITION NOW THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL CONDITION AND THEY NOW NEED TO NAVIGATE THROUGH.

AND THAT APPOINTMENT, YOU KNOW, ISN'T YET AVAILABLE.

THEY CAN REALLY HELP IN THAT NAVIGATION OF THE, UM, EXPERIENCE OF THE INJURED WORKER.

SO THERE ISN'T FRUSTRATION.

AND SO THERE'S A DIRECT CUSTOMER SERVICE ASPECT THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH THAT PARTICULAR INJURED WORKER.

AND YEAH, SO IT'S NOT NECESSARILY DOING WICK'S JOB, IT'S MORE PARTNERING WITH THE CITY.

WE, WE HAVE ABOUT NINE STAFF CITYWIDE THAT WE CAN HELP AND WE CAN GUIDE, BUT CAN WE HELP THEM AT EVERY ASPECT OF CARE WITH THE ACTUAL MEDICAL REASONING AND NECESSITY THAT THEY NEED.

WE CAN'T, 'CAUSE WE'RE NOT MEDICAL PEOPLE READY, REBOUND KIND OF FILLS THAT GAP OR AT LEAST WE'RE TRYING IT AND WE'RE THINKING THAT IT WOULD BE A PRETTY STRONG PARTNERSHIP THAT WAY.

I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE, THE INTENT TO HELP OUR WORKERS RECEIVE MORE TO, TO RECEIVE BETTER CARE AND MORE TIMELY AND MORE EFFICIENT CARE.

I JUST WOULDN'T WANT TO BRING WORKERS BACK INTO THE WORKPLACE BEFORE THE RECOVERY.

AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT THAT PART EXPEDITED.

WE WANT THEM TRULY TO GET ACCESS TO THE BEST CARE POSSIBLE.

THERE'S CONCERN FROM EMPLOYEES THAT THEY WOULD HAVE, THEY WOULD BE FORCED TO CHOOSE A PHYSICIAN OR A DOCTOR THROUGH THIS PROGRAM.

IS ARE THEY ABLE TO KEEP THEIR PREFERRED DOCTOR? THEY ARE.

THEY ARE.

THEY ARE, THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY ABLE, IF THEY HAVE THAT PHYSICIAN THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO GO TO, THEY CAN.

THANK YOU COUNCILOR COUNCILMAN KELLEY? YEAH.

UM, I TOO HAVE HEARD SOME CONCERNS SPECIFICALLY FROM THE POLICE ASSOCIATION.

I SEE THAT MIKE BULLOCK IS IN THE ROOM AND I WOULD LIKE FOR HIM TO COME UP AND DAYLIGHT THOSE CONCERNS FOR US, MAYOR, IF THAT WOULD BE OKAY.

I'M SORRY, SAY THAT AGAIN PLEASE.

I HAVE HEARD CONCERNS FROM THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION RELATED TO THIS AND I'D LIKE THEM TO BE DAYLIGHTED.

I SEE THAT MICHAEL BULLOCK IS IN THE ROOM AND I WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE FOR HIM TO COME UP AND JUST LET US KNOW WHAT THOSE ARE SO THAT WE CAN CONSIDER THEM MOVING INTO THIS DECISION.

MR. BULLOCK, DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK SINCE COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY'S VOLUNTEERED? YOU? UM, ALRIGHT.

WHY DON'T YOU COME FORWARD? OKAY.

SPEAKER SIGN, MAYOR.

AND, UH, DO WE HAVE SPEAKERS SIGNED UP ON THIS ITEM? NO, THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLER AND MAYOR.

THE INSTANCES, INSTANCES THAT WE HAVE HAD IS WHERE WE'VE HAD OFFICERS THAT HAVE BEEN HIT BY DRUNK DRIVERS THAT ARE INJURED AND ON LONG-TERM, UH, LEAVE AS A RESULT OF THOSE INJURIES AND UNABLE TO GET THE CARE THAT THEY TRULY NEED BECAUSE OF ISSUES WITH DENIALS, WHETHER THEY BE PARTIAL OR FULL DENIALS OF CERTAIN TREATMENT THAT THEY NEED.

UH, MICHAEL BULLOCK, PRESIDENT OF THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION.

UH, AS YOU BROUGHT UP ALL THREE OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY ASSOCIATIONS, WE HAVE EXPRESSED OUR CONCERNS WITH HOW WORKERS' COMP IS CURRENTLY BEING HANDLED.

AND A LOT OF IT COMES DOWN TO THE PROCEDURAL PROBLEMS THAT EMPLOYEES ARE ENCOUNTERING.

UH, AND A LOT OF THEM TEND TO INVOLVE COMPLEX INJURIES.

THEY TEND TO INVOLVE, UH, NOT THE SIMPLEST OF CASES, BUT THEY'RE EXTREMELY DETRIMENTAL TO EMPLOYEE WELLNESS AND THEM GETTING BACK TO WORK IN A TIMELY FASHION.

AND ONCE THEY ACTUALLY DO RECEIVE THE PROPER CARE, UH, SOME OF

[01:45:01]

WE'VE HAD OFFICERS THAT HAVE BEEN SHOT IN A LINE OF DUTY THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED DELAYS.

I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN FIREFIGHTERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED SERIOUS INJURIES ON FIRE SCENES RELATED TO BACK INJURIES.

AND SO I OVERALL, WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT'S NEEDED AS MORE OF A HOLISTIC CHANGE.

WE HAVE BEEN ENGAGED, UH, AND VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE EFFORT FROM, UH, HR IN TRYING TO IDENTIFY WHAT THE OVERALL SOLUTIONS ARE FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE.

SOME OF THE CONCERNS, ALL OF YOU DID RECEIVE AN EMAIL THIS MORNING, UH, FROM THE A PA THAT WAS ON BEHALF OF ALL THE ASSOCIATIONS IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU MEN MENTIONED.

OH, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES IS THE ADDITIONAL LAYERS THAT WE MAY BE ADDING TO THIS.

WITH OUR GOAL OF SIMPLIFYING THIS SYSTEM AND TRYING TO FIND A MORE EFFICIENT WAY OF OFFICERS, FIREFIGHTERS, AND MEDICS GETTING THE CARE THAT THEY NEED AND GETTING BACK TO WORK IN A TIMELY FASHION SO THAT WAY THEY CAN FULFILL THEIR FUNCTIONS AND OVERALL REDUCE SOME OF THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THE CITY BY HAVING TO FILL THOSE VACANT ROLES EFFECTIVELY.

WE NEED TO FIND BETTER WAYS OF SPEEDING THIS PROCESS ALONG AND NOT ADDING LAYERS OF COMPLEXITY TO IT.

SO THAT IS, THAT IS PART OF OUR, OUR CONCERN.

WE APPRECIATE THE EFFORT AND KIND OF OVERALL, WHAT I, I THINK WE ARE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH THIS OBVIOUSLY, AND OUR OPINION IS NOT THE END ALL, BE ALL SOLUTION.

THIS IS JUST BUT ONE COMPONENT OF WHAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT.

BUT EACH AGENCY, WE ALSO HAVE DIVISIONS THAT ARE DEDICATED TO MANAGING WORKERS' COMP TYPE CLAIMS. SO IT WOULD SEEM LIKE US INVESTING TIME AND EFFORT IN CHANGING THOSE PROCESSES AND SYSTEMS AND EMPOWERING OUR OWN CITY EMPLOYEES WHO MANAGE ALL OF THESE TO ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE CASES AND HELP THE EMPLOYEES THROUGH THE PROCESS.

LIKE RISK MANAGEMENT WOULD BE MORE OF A BENEFIT.

UH, WE'RE NOT NECESSARILY OPPOSED TO TRYING THIS.

WE JUST OBVIOUSLY HAVE SOME OF THE SIMILAR CONCERNS THAT Y'ALL HAVE EXPRESSED ON HOW, HOW THE BEST WAY TO MOVE FORWARD AND ADDRESSING ALL OF THESE ISSUES SO THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY TAKING CARE OF THE EMPLOYEES, UH, THAT ARE SERVING THE CITY.

SO THOSE ARE SOME OF OUR CONCERNS.

UH, IT'S OBVIOUSLY A VERY HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF, OF WHAT WE KIND OF, WHERE WE'RE AT AND SOME OF THE DISCUSSIONS WE'VE HAD.

BUT THAT'S, THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE ARE AT.

, UM, MAYOR COUNCILOR KELLY.

I KNOW THAT THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION HAD HAD A BRIEFING ON WORKERS' COMP AND I HAD THOUGHT THAT WE AS A WHOLE COUNCIL WOULD HAVE SOME SORT OF BRIEFING ON THAT I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST AT OUR NEXT PUBLIC SAFETY MEETING THAT WE GET SOMETHING ON THE BOOKS SO THAT AT LEAST THE, THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEMBERS SURE CAN UNDERSTAND AND FULLY ABSORB WHAT THE, THE PROBLEMS ARE AND HOW THEY'RE BEING ADDRESSED.

I DO BELIEVE THAT, UM, THIS ITEM TODAY WILL, HAS THE POTENTIAL TO HELP ADDRESS THE ISSUE, BUT I STILL WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT MISSING A COMPONENT.

GOOD.

TAKE A LOT OF THE DENIALS AWAY.

IT TO THE, UH, FEEDBACK THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE A PA PRESIDENT.

MR. BULLOCK, CAN YOU SPEAK TO WHAT OTHER EFFORTS THE CITY IS DOING, OUR HR DIVISION IS DOING TO, UH, TO IMPROVE WITH THE OVERALL PROCESS? YES.

UM, WE ARE IMPLEMENTING WAGE CONTINUATION, WHICH IS GONNA BE WONDERFUL BECAUSE CURRENTLY WHEN SOMEONE GETS INJURED, THEY ARE PUT INTO THAT STATUTORY BENEFIT AND TRUED UP TO THEIR CITY'S SALARY, TAKES 'EM OFF THE PAYROLL.

SO INHERENTLY WE GET OVERPAYMENTS AND, AND THINGS THAT ARE JUST KIND OF PROBLEMATIC IN THE PROCESS.

SO WITH WAGE CONTINUATION, THEY JUST STAY IN THAT CURRENT WAGE, UM, CATEGORY UNINTERRUPTED FOR 12 MONTHS FOR SWORN, SIX MONTHS FOR NON-SWORN.

AND THAT'S GONNA BE A HUGE HELP FOR PEOPLE.

'CAUSE THERE WAS A LOT OF FRUSTRATION THAT OVERPAYMENTS THAT WAS A BIG, BIG, UH, CONTENTION AND, AND A RESOLUTION THAT WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF PUTTING IN PLACE.

UM, WE LOOK FOR READY REBOUND TO HELP CONCIERGE THE PROCESS.

AND THE THIRD THING WE'RE REALLY WORKING ON CURRENTLY IN TEXAS WORKERS' COMP LAW, IF THERE'S ANY WILLING PROVIDER, THAT'S WHAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN DOES.

WE CAN SWITCH TO A PANEL PROCESS UNDER TEXAS WORKERS' COMP LAW.

IT'S A SPECIAL THING THAT CAN, THAT MUNICIPALITIES CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF.

AND WHAT IT IS, IT ALLOWS US TO PRESCRIBE CARE MORE.

AND I'LL GIVE AN EXAMPLE.

CURRENTLY, IF YOU HAVE A KNEE REPLACEMENT, A KNEE SURGERY, YOU HAVE TO REQUEST OR ASK FOR PT.

IT'S KIND OF A NO BRAINER.

YOU NEED PT AFTER YOU GET A NEW KNEE, RIGHT? MM-HMM .

BUT OUR ANY WILLING PROVIDER PROCESS REQUIRES THAT IT SAYS YOU ASK FOR THE SURGERY, YOU ASK FOR THE, THE PHYSICAL THERAPY THAT GOES ALONG.

WELL, IF SOMEONE'S NOT THERE TO APPROVE YOUR PHYSICAL THERAPY IN 72 HOURS BECAUSE IT'S BEEN OUT THERE FOR 72 HOURS, IT GETS REFUSED AGAIN FOR ALL THESE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF WORKERS' COMP LAW.

WHAT WE CAN DO WITH A PROVIDER PROCESS IS PRESCRIBE CARE MORE AND WE CAN SAY PT COMES WITH A NEW KNEE, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO REQUEST PT WITH A NEW KNEE.

AND IT'S ALL THESE TYPES OF POINTS THAT WE CAN PRESCRIBE CARE THAT WILL

[01:50:01]

I'D LIKE TO REALLY SUPPORT WHAT MR. BULLOCK WAS SAYING IN SOME OF THESE DIFFICULT CASES.

ANOTHER THING WE'RE DOING IS WORKING A HAND IN GLOVE WITH THEM.

UM, YOU KNOW, I CAME MAY 20TH, SO, UM, IT WAS INTERESTING TO HEAR ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES IN WORKERS' COMP AND ALSO THE ABILITY WE HAVE TO PARTNER TOGETHER MORE CLOSELY TO ADDRESS AND, AND, AND REALLY GET THESE NEEDS TAKEN CARE OF AND GET THESE DIFFICULT CASES ADDRESSED.

WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT WITH THE FIRE UNION.

WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO, TO DO THAT WITH POLICE UNION AND, AND, AND EMS AS WELL.

SO IT'S THAT CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP TO ADDRESS THOSE DIFFICULT CASES.

AND I SAID WE ALWAYS HAVE TO BE IN PARTNERSHIP THAT WAY.

, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DON'T KNOW.

SO WE NEED TO DEFINITELY COLLABORATE SO WE CAN ADDRESS THOSE NEEDS AND MOVE THEM ALONG.

AND WE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN DOING THAT AT LEAST SINCE, UM, IN THANK YOU, IN MY EXPERIENCE.

TWO MORE QUESTIONS ON MY END.

IS THIS CONTRACT FOR THE FULL AMOUNT OR IS IT FOR SERVICES AS NEEDED? UM, THIS CONTRACT, IT'S 1.2 IN THE FIRST YEAR.

IT'S CHARGED WITH THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES WE HAVE IN PD EMS AND IN FIRE.

AND IT'S PAID ON A QUARTERLY BASIS AND IT'S ONLY FOR ONE YEAR.

IF WE ARE NOT SATISFIED WITH IT, UM, WE ABSOLUTELY CAN GET OUTTA THE CONTRACT ALSO WITH THE $20 MILLION OF OVERTIME JUST WITH FIRE.

UM, IF WE, AND I WANNA MAKE SURE PEOPLE DON'T THINK THAT THIS IS GETTING PEOPLE BACK QUICKLY BEFORE THEY'RE READY.

THAT IS ABSOLUTELY NOT THE CASE.

THEY NEED TO BE READY.

THEY NEED TO BE AT MMI, WHICH IS MAXIMUM MEDICAL IMPROVEMENT CONSISTENT WITH WORKERS' COMP LAW.

WE'RE THERE TO HELP THEM GET BACK TO THEIR PRE-INJURY CONDITION.

SO THAT IS ABSOLUTELY NOT PART OF THE PROCESS.

BUT WITHOUT THOSE DELAYS, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW.

IF YOU'RE FIRST INJURED AND YOU NEVER BEEN THROUGH COMP BEFORE, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW.

SO WE'VE GOT THAT CONCIERGE, THAT ABILITY WITH MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE THAT CAN HOPEFULLY GET RID OF THOSE DELAYS.

, THANK YOU.

AND PERHAPS, UM, AFTER THE FIRST YEAR, WE CAN GET AN UPDATE TO OUR, CAN ABSOLUTELY.

GET OUTTA IT.

IF I MIGHT INTERRUPT, I WOULD THINK THAT IF WE'RE MAKING QUARTERLY PAYMENTS, IT WOULD ALSO BE BENEFICIAL TO THE COUNCIL TO RECEIVE QUARTERLY REPORTS YEP.

ON HOW THIS IS WORKING SO THAT WE'RE NOT WAITING UNTIL THE END OF THE CONTRACT AND THEN LOOKING AT, UH, HOW IT'S WORKING AND INCLUDE THE UNIONS IN THAT SO THAT THEY CAN ALSO TELL US HOW THEY THINK IT'S WORKING ON A QUARTERLY BASIS.

THAT IS POSSIBLE.

THEY HAVE A WHOLE DASHBOARD OF HOW THEIR SERVICES ARE IMPACTING OUR INJURED WORKERS CARE.

THEY HAVE A, A WHOLE DASHBOARD AND IT WILL BE A PARTNERSHIP.

I'M A COMMUNICATOR.

AND ONE LAST QUESTION, ONE LAST QUESTION ON MY END.

AS FAR AS OUR CURRENT CONTRACT WITH SEDGWICK AND THEIR HELP AND ASSISTANCE AS A THIRD PARTY CLAIM ADMINISTRATOR.

UM, HOW ANY NEW IMPROVEMENTS, ENHANCEMENT CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM ON IMPROVING THEIR SUPPORT ON THIS? YES.

TWOFOLD ANSWER.

WE DO HAVE AN AUDIT.

WE AUDIT THEIR SERVICES.

SO THE, I THINK THE RFP COMES IN TODAY.

SO WE WILL AUDIT SEDGWICK SERVICES PER THE CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION, BUT WE'RE ALSO GOING TO RECALIBRATE THAT WHOLE CONTRACT AND GO OUT TO RFP AGAIN.

UM, AND WE'LL SEE WHO WE GET.

UM, AND WE DEFINITELY NEED TO HAVE A DIFFERENT, THAT, THAT PANEL PROCESS WHERE WE CAN MAKE SOME DIFFERENT DECISIONS WITH REGARDS TO WHAT CARE GOES WITH WHAT PROCEDURE, AND WE CAN HAVE A BETTER, YOU KNOW, FOUNDATION THAT PEOPLE CAN WORK FROM.

COUNCIL MEMBER MAYOR PROTO FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER.

I JUST WANTED TO DRAW, UM, THE DIOCESE'S ATTENTION TO THE EMAIL.

I THINK WE ALL GOT IT.

I KNOW I GOT IT THIS MORNING FROM BOB NICKS WITH THE FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION SAYS A FA IS NEUTRAL ON ITEM 26, THE READY REBOUND CONTRACT TO HELP WITH WORKERS' COMP ISSUES.

I WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT FOR EVERYONE.

THANKS.

MUCH OF THE CARE AS THEY CAN BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE A TPA, A THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR, BUT IT'S REALLY ADMINISTRATOR OF CLAIMS. SO THERE IS A BIT OF A GAP IN THAT ACTUAL EXPERIENTIAL ELEMENT, WHICH I DESCRIBED EARLIER.

UM, SO THE, YOU KNOW, THE WORKERS' COMPS ISSUE HAS COME UP A NUMBER OF TIMES AND WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT OVERTIME FOR FIRE FOR POLICE EMS. UM, AND YOU KNOW, WE, I JUST WANNA REMIND FOLKS THAT WE DID DO A BUDGET, UM, RIDER THAT, YOU KNOW, REQUIRES THE CITY MANAGER TO BE, YOU KNOW, PURSUING, CONTINUING TO PURSUE THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION, UM, IMPROVEMENTS.

WE HAD CONVERSATIONS THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS, UM, IN DETAIL ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR CONTRACT AND, AND THE, AND THE PIECES.

UM, I DO HAVE A QUESTION THOUGH.

I JUST WANTED TO ASK YOU TO CLARIFY AGAIN, WHAT IS SEDGWICK'S ROLE? WHAT'S CEDRIC'S ROLE IN THE CURRENT WORKERS' COMP PROCESS? IS CLAIMS MANAGEMENT.

THEY NEED TO PAY THE CLAIMS. THEY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW, THAT THE PROVIDERS ARE COMPLIANT WITH THE CARE.

THERE'S CERTAIN FORMS AND PROTOCOL THAT TEXAS WORKERS' COMP LAW REQUIRES WITH REGARDS TO CLAIMS MANAGEMENT.

SO THEY KEEP US COMPLIANT WITH OUR PAYMENT OF CLAIMS, UM, WITH AS

[01:55:01]

SO THEY'RE VERY HEAVY INTO PAYING CLAIMS AND MAKING SURE THAT ALL OF THOSE, UM, BOXES ARE CHECKED AND, AND, AND THINGS THAT WERE COMPLIANT WITH OUR WORKERS' COMP STATUTE AND WE GET OUR TEMPORARY TEMPORARY WAGE STATEMENTS AND THAT WE GET PEOPLE PAID CONSISTENT.

AND YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALL THOSE TYPES OF THINGS THAT GO ALONG WITH COMP.

SO THEY'RE, THEY'RE HEAVY INTO THAT.

SO THE, THE, THE OTHER ENTITY IS MORE ON THE HEALTHCARE SIDE OF IT.

UM, I'M PICTURING IT MORE AS A CONCIERGE SERVICE.

EXACTLY.

UM, AS OPPOSED TO SOMEBODY WHO'S STANDING IN YOUR WAY AS SOMEBODY WHO'S HOLDING YOUR HAND AND HELPING YOU IDENTIFY THE APPROPRIATE MEDICAL PROVIDERS AND, AND SHORTENING THE TIME FOR YOU TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS BECAUSE THEY KNOW ALL THE RULES AND PROCEDURES, WHICH AS YOU MENTIONED, SOMEONE WHO'S ENTERING THAT PROCESS DOESN'T ALREADY HAVE UNDER, UNDER THEIR YOU ARE EXACTLY RIGHT.

THAT IS IT.

UM, I WOULD ASK THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE ALREADY ENGAGED, UM, SOME WITH THE UNIONS, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, MAYBE BEFORE YOU SIGN IT, IF YOU CAN JUST MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE ANOTHER SET OF CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM SO THAT THEY CAN, UM, GET THEIR QUESTIONS ANSWERED ABOUT WHY THIS ISN'T JUST ADDING ANOTHER MIDDLEMAN AND MAKING IT, YOU KNOW, MORE CHALLENGING.

UM, THOSE MAY HAVE BEEN HAD WITH SOME MORE THAN OTHERS OR THE, THE CONCERNS MAY BE DIFFERENT ACROSS THE UNIONS, BUT IF YOU COULD MAKE SURE, WHICHEVER ONE OF THOSE UNIONS WANTS TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION THAT YOU HAVE THAT BEFORE YOU FINALIZE THE CONTRACT.

SO IF SOMETHING DOES COME FROM THOSE CONVERSATIONS, YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, UM, TO PIVOT IF NECESSARY.

I WILL.

THE PAYMENTS STATUTORY BENEFIT.

COUNCILMAN RO, ALTER COUNCILMAN VELA.

JUST A FEW QUESTIONS AND, UH, I SHOULD SAY MY, MY WIFE IS A WORKER'S COMP ATTORNEY FOR LEGAL AID, SO I KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS, UH, UH, TOPIC THAN I, I I REALLY SHOULD.

UH, THE, SO THE CURRENT PROCESS WITH THE, I GUESS THE TEMPORARY INCOME BENEFITS, RIGHT? FOR THE, FOR THE, UH YEP.

UH, THOSE WE'RE REPLACING THE, THOSE BENEFITS WITH WAGE CONTINUATION.

WAGE CONTINUATION FOR THE FIRST 12 MONTHS.

FOR THE FIRST 12.

BUT AFTER THAT IT WOULD GO INTO THAT STATUTORY BENEFIT.

IF THEY CAN CONTINUE ON COMP, HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THEM RESOLVED IN 12 MONTHS.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE HOPE ALWAYS.

UM, OKAY.

AND THE ONLY, AGAIN, JUST THINKING FROM THE EMPLOYEE'S PERSPECTIVE, UH, TEMPORARY INCOME BENEFITS ARE NOT TAXABLE, I BELIEVE.

AND SO, UH, WOULD WAGE CONTINUATION BE TAXABLE? WAGE CONTINUATION IS TAXABLE, BUT IT'S A HUNDRED PERCENT.

AND THAT'S 70.

THE, THE TIB OR 70.

SO IT'S KIND OF, USUALLY THEY'RE BETTER THAN UHHUH, I THINK IN SO THEN THE NET MOST OF THE CASES, YEAH.

YEAH, BECAUSE THEY'RE A HUNDRED PERCENT THEY'RE NOT INTERRUPTED.

GOT IT.

SO THE NET BENEFIT WOULD BE BETTER TO JUST GO ON WAGE CONTINUATION AS OPPOSED TO THE TEMPORARY BENEFITS USUALLY IT, IT, THAT'S IN THE BLACK.

AND THEN, UM, WITH REGARD TO, BECAUSE AGAIN, THIS IS ANECDOTALLY AND, AND, AND TO, TO PUT THIS IN CONTEXT, TEXAS IS THE ONLY, IF, IF NOT ONE OF THE ONLY STATES THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE WORKERS' COMP UNIVERSALLY.

UH, SO THE, THE TEXAS WORKERS' COMP SYSTEM IS REALLY, UH, INADEQUATE.

UH, AND ONE OF THE KIND OF RESULTS OF THAT IS THE, THE, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF DOCTORS THAT THAT WILL TAKE A WORKERS' COMP.

AND I KNOW THAT'S A REAL STRUGGLE FOR, UH, INJURED WORKERS IS THAT THERE'S A VERY LIMITED NUMBER OF, UH, PROVIDERS THAT WILL ACCEPT, UH, ARE WE IN THAT SAME SITUATION? I MEAN, SEDGWICK AND I KNOW 'CAUSE THE CITY IS IS IS SELF-INSURED, BUT ARE WE IN THAT SAME SITUATION? UM, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, I AM CERTAIN THAT I THINK PUBLIC SECTOR DOES HAVE TO OFFER WORKERS' COMPENSATION BENEFITS TO THEIR EMPLOYEES.

PUBLIC SECTOR.

UM, WITH THAT SAID, UM, YES, IT'S ALWAYS A BIT OF A STRUGGLE 'CAUSE THEY'RE ON A, A SCALE, A SLIDING SCALE MM-HMM.

TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES.

SO SOME OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AREN'T NECESSARILY, YOU KNOW, SUPER EAGER.

AND IT DOES COME WITH LITIGATION SOMETIMES.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT DEPENDS ON HOW, YOU KNOW, POSITION THEY ARE AND INTERESTED THEY ARE TO, YOU KNOW, GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS.

BUT, BUT WE'RE WORKING ON A MEANINGFUL, MEANINGFUL PROVIDERS AND, AND ALL THAT.

WE TRY VERY HARD TO NAVIGATE THEM THROUGH AS WELL AS WE CAN.

AND, AND THEN MY OTHER KIND OF CONCERN, AND I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW, THE CITY IS NOT KIND OF FALLING INTO WHAT I SEE, A COMMON TRAP, UH, UH, AS A COMMON TRAP IS THAT THE, IN SEDGWICK ADMINISTERS PLANS FOR ALL TYPES OF, UH, OF DIFFERENT, UH,

[02:00:01]

PROVIDERS.

, I MEAN, ALL TYPES OF DIFFERENT COMPANIES, BOTH PRIVATE AND, AND PUBLIC.

UH, IS THAT CORRECT? CORRECT.

UH, SO A LOT OF TIMES THE PRIVATE COMPANIES ARE REALLY TRYING TO SAVE MONEY, YOU KNOW, AND, AND SO THERE IS THIS REAL KIND OF DENY, DENY, DENY, AND YOU CAN GET INTO THIS LOOP, WHICH I, I THINK THE PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, UH, EMPLOYEES HAVE WHERE, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE OUT OF WORK FOR SO LONG, IF THEY WOULD'VE JUST GIVEN YOU THE TREATMENT YOU NEEDED UPFRONT, I WOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO MISS TWO MONTHS.

BUT BECAUSE IT TOOK ME TWO MONTHS TO GET THIS KNEE TREATMENT THAT I NEEDED, I WAS OUT FOR THAT LONG.

SO I, AND I, I, THAT'S WHERE I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S WHERE, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO AVOID, UH, RIGHT.

THROUGH ALL OF THESE, UH, UH, UH, PROGRAMS. UM, AND THEN THE LAST KIND OF THOUGHT OR COMMENT WOULD BE, UM, THIS IS JUST, THIS CONTRACT WOULD BE JUST FOR OUR SWORN EMPLOYEES, RIGHT? THIS PILOT PROGRAM.

AND IT'S A PILOT PROGRAM.

SO OUR PILOT PROGRAM IS ONLY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY DURING THIS FIRST YEAR TO SEE HOW IT WORKS.

UH, AND, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

I, I DO WANT TO, UH, EXTEND THIS TO ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES.

'CAUSE AGAIN, I KNOW THAT, THAT PUBLIC SAFETY IS A BIG CHUNK OF OUR EMPLOYEES, BUT, YOU KNOW, FOLKS IN TRANSPORTATION, PUBLIC WORKS, FOLKS IN, YOU KNOW, PARKS AND REC, THEY, THEY GET INJURED AND THEY HAVE THESE SAME STRUGGLES.

AND I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, UH, THAT ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES, WHATEVER THEIR KIND OF SITUATION ARE, BEING, UH, GETTING THE HEALTHCARE THAT THEY NEED, BEING TREATED APPROPRIATELY BY, YOU KNOW, THE CITY AND IT'S, UH, UH, CONTRACTORS.

UH, BUT, UH, I'M VERY, UH, UH, UH, UH, SUPPORTIVE AND, AND I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE DOING SOMETHING.

UH, I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN KIND OF DISCUSSED FOR A WHILE, AND, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, YOU COMING INTO THE ROLE AND, AND IMMEDIATELY, UH, TRYING TO, TO GET SOMETHING DONE TO IMPROVE THE, THE LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT WE PROVIDE.

COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, MEMBERS, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER 26.

MOTION IS TO ADOPT ITEM NUMBER 26, MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.

IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ.

DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER 26, WITHOUT OBJECTION.

ITEM NUMBER 26 IS ADOPTED.

PERIOD, AND I WILL, UH, ASK, UH, THE CLERK TO BEGIN CALLING THE NAMES.

COUNCIL MEMBERS, MEMBERS, UH, BEFORE WE GO TO OUR NEXT ITEM, WHICH WILL BE OUR PUBLIC COMMENT, UH, I WANT TO WALK YOU THROUGH, UH, A, A FLOW OF THE MEETING, UH, IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS.

WE WILL NOW BEGIN WITH PUBLIC COMMENT.

UH, AND AT THAT POINT, AT THE END OF PUBLIC COMMENT, WE WILL RECESS THE REGULAR CALL MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY IN UNTIL 1:30 PM.

HOWEVER, WE WILL THEN HAVE LIVE MUSIC, AND AT ONE O'CLOCK, THE COUNCIL WILL RECONVENE ON THE DAIS FOR A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.

I WILL CALL THE SPECIAL CALLED MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER AT ONE O'CLOCK OR AS CLOSE TO ONE O'CLOCK AS POSSIBLE, DEPENDING UPON THE MUSIC AND, AND THAT SORT OF THING.

AND THEN WE WILL GO INTO A CLOSED SESSION TO TAKE UP ONE ITEM.

REMEMBER I JUST SAID WE'RE GONNA RECESS THIS AFTER THE PUBLIC COMMENT UNTIL ONE 30.

THE IDEA BEING THAT, UH, WE WILL FINISH THE EXECUTIVE SESSION IN ROUGHLY 30 MINUTES.

COME BACK IN, ADJOURN THE SPECIAL CALLED MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL, AND THEN WE WILL RECONVENE, RECONVENE THIS REGULAR MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL, AT WHICH POINT WE WILL BEGIN WITH OUR IMMINENT DOMAIN ITEMS, ITEM 61 THROUGH 66.

SO, UH, WITH THAT BEING SAID, I JUST WANT THE PUBLIC AND THE COUNCIL TO BE AWARE WHERE WE ARE.

WE WILL BE BEGIN OUR PUBLIC COMMENT

[12:00 PM - Public Communication: General]

FOLKS, IF YOU HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AT, UH, DURING THIS ITEM, UH, YOU HAVE THE AGENDA AND YOU KNOW WHERE YOU ARE IN THE ORDER, I WOULD ASK YOU TO BE PREPARED TO COME FORWARD.

UH, IF YOU'RE ON DECK OR READY TO, UH, BE CALLED, THE CLERK WILL CALL THE CALL NAMES IN THREES, UH, AT LEAST.

AND WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME FORWARD SO THAT YOU'LL BE READY, UH, TO PROVIDE YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.

AND I'LL, I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK.

WE HAVE TWO REMOTE SPEAKERS WHO HAVE YET TO CALL IN.

SO I'LL BEGIN WITH THE SECOND SPEAKER.

CRYSTAL SILVA MCCORMICK.

ROSEANNE, YUSUF, AND CLIFF.

CLIFF, CLIVE.

IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD SO THAT YOU'LL BE READY.

CHRISTIAN ZIONISM, WHICH SUPPORTS WHITE SUPREMACY AND SETTLER COLONIALISM.

PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, AND PLEASE IDENTIFY YOURSELF AND WE'LL HEAR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.

CAN I START? YES, PLEASE.

HI, MY NAME IS CRYSTAL AND I'M WITH AUSTIN FOR PALESTINE COALITION AND CHRISTIANS FOR A FREE PALESTINE.

WE OPPOSE IMPERIALISM COLONIALISM, AND WE FIGHT

[02:05:01]

I KNOW YOU'RE PROBABLY TIRED OF US COMING ALL THE TIME, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I WISH IS THAT YOU WERE MORE TIRED OF SEEING CHILDREN'S BODIES OBLITERATED.

I WISH YOU WERE MORE TIRED OF SEEING BODY PARTS IN BAGS.

I WISH THAT YOU WERE MORE TIRED OF THE US, WHICH YOUR TAX DOLLARS AND MY TAX DOLLARS PAY DROPPING 2000 BOMBS ON CIVILIANS.

I WISH THAT YOU HAD THE MORAL COURAGE TO SAY SOMETHING.

YOU DO NOT SEE THE IRONY THAT YOU HAD A CEREMONY, A THANKFUL CEREMONY FOR THE AWA TRIBE, WHICH THIS COUNTRY PUT IN, UH, CONCENTRATION CAMPS, BASICALLY IN OKLAHOMA.

AND YOU'RE THANKING THEM TODAY, JUST LIKE THE US WILL DO IN A HUNDRED YEARS.

THEY'LL MAKE A MUSEUM AND THEY'LL SAY, WE ALL BELONG.

AND WE'RE SORRY PALESTINE, THAT WE COMMITTED THIS GENOCIDE.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S MORAL APATHY OR POLITICAL EXPEDIENCE THAT NONE OF YOU WILL SAY ONE WORD ABOUT YOUR PALESTINIAN CONSTITUENTS THAT ARE SUFFERING AND SUFFERING AND SUFFERING, AND THOSE THAT STAND WITH THEM, YOU WON'T SAY ONE WORD, YOU WILL LIKE KAMALA HARRIS FEED LIES AND SAY THE START OF OCTOBER 7TH, WHEN IT STARTED LONG BEFORE WITH THE THEFT OF LAND, WITH THE NAKBA, WITH CHILDREN BEING DETAINED, ONE OF THE ONLY COUNTRIES THAT PUTS CHILDREN IN JAIL.

DO YOU KNOW THAT PALESTINIANS ARE BEING DETAINED UNJUSTLY AND SODOMIZED BY SOLDIERS? DO YOU CARE? NO.

BUT IF IT WAS SOMEBODY ELSE, YOU'D BE RIGHT UP THERE SAYING, STOP THIS.

WHERE IS YOUR MORAL OUTRAGE? WHERE IS YOUR MORAL OUTRAGE? AND I DON'T WANNA HEAR THIS START OCTOBER 7TH, AND I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO SAY AGAIN THAT THIS IS NOT A LOCAL ISSUE.

WE ARE HERE, PALESTINIANS ARE HERE, AND OUR UNIVERSITY SYSTEM INVESTS, DOESN'T IT? IN BAY SYSTEMS IN LOCKHEED MARTIN, THE VERY PEOPLE, THE VERY COMPANIES THAT ARE DROPPING BOMBS AND OBLITERATING CHILDREN AND LEAVING THEM WITH NO LIMBS, WE SHOULD ALL BE ASHAMED BECAUSE WE ARE ALL RESPONSIBLE, MYSELF INCLUDED, FOR THIS GENOCIDE, BECAUSE MY TAX DOLLARS PAY YOUR CEREMONY REMINDS ME OF THE, THE VERSE FROM AMOS THAT SAYS, AWAY I AM REPULSED BY YOUR CEREMONIES, BY YOUR SONGS, INSTEAD MADE JUSTICE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS FLOW.

I HOPE YOU KEEP THAT IN MIND.

ROSEANNE, FREE PALESTINE, IN THE NAME OF ALL THAT IS HOLY AND JU ROSEANNE, YUSEF CLIFF, CLIVE CAROL ROSE KENNEDY, KELLY HIBBS IS THERE MEDIA ? IT'S ALRIGHT, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.

DO I START? YES, PLEASE BEGIN.

YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

WELCOME.

AS THE SCHOOL YEAR COMMENCES AROUND THE GLOBE, PALESTINIANS ARE DENIED THEIR JOY AND RIGHT TO EDUCATION.

A FRIEND OF MINE SHARED A MESSAGE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ON THE MEDIA THAT DOESN'T SHOW.

IT WAS A 22-YEAR-OLD TEACHER, SHE KNOWS ZA, WHO WITNESSED THE MOI MASSACRE A FEW DAYS AGO.

WHERE IS ISRAELI TERRORISTS DROPPED, DROPPED 2000 POUND US MANUFACTURED BOMBS ON THE TENTHS OF DISPLACED PALESTINIANS.

PART OF THE ISRAELI SELLER, COLONIAL APARTHEID GENIST STYLE STATE'S MISSION TO DESTROY PALESTINE IS THEIR SYSTEMATIC DESTRUCTION OF PALESTINE'S EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS, BETTER KNOWN AS SCHOLASTIC.

IN ZA, OVER 600,000 STUDENTS AND OVER 88,000 UNIVERSITY AGE STUDENTS HAVE NO ACCESS TO EDUCATION.

OVER 80% OF SCHOOLS AND OLD 12 UNIVERSITIES HAVE BEEN DELIBERATELY DAMAGED.

OVER 10,000 STUDENTS HAVE BEEN KILLED, AND HUNDREDS OF EDUCATORS AND UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS MURDERED.

JUST YESTERDAY, 11 PALESTINIAN SCHOOL TEACHERS WERE KILLED IN AN ISRAELI TERROR ATTACK ON AN ON OUR SCHOOL.

IN RAZA, ISRAELI TERRORISTS HAVE TURNED EDUCATIONAL BUILDINGS INTO MILITARY COMMAND CENTERS AND FILL THEMSELVES DESTROYING LIBRARIES AND CULTURAL CENTERS.

NOT TO MENTION THEY HAVE LOOTED SIGNIFICANT HISTORICAL ARTIFACTS FROM RAZA.

IT'S KNOWN THEFT IS NOT NEW TO THEM, AND THE WIS BANK IS REALLY FORCES AND ILLEGAL SETTLERS HAVE KILLED 116 CHILDREN SINCE LAST OCTOBER.

DELIBERATELY TARGETING THEM, TARGETING THEM IN AREAS OF THEIR BODY THAT ARE TENDED TO KILL, THAT IS ABSOLUTE PURE EVIL.

MEANWHILE, HERE IN TEXAS, WE'RE ALMOST $300 MILLION IN TAX AND MONEY FROM THE STATE, AND 14 MILLION FROM TAXPAYER MONEY IN AUSTIN GOES TOWARDS FUNDING THE ISRAELI STATE'S OCCUPATION, TERROR AND GENOCIDE.

SCHOOLS ARE SUFFERING.

LAWMAKERS CONTINUE TO FAIL.

INCREASING FUNDING TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND SCHOOLS CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE AS INFLATION INCREASES.

IN AUSTIN, THE A ISD IS FACING A $52 MILLION DEFICIT.

THE SCHOOL YEAR HAS BARELY BEGUN AND UNDERPAID, UNDERFUNDED EDUCATORS ARE ONCE AGAIN UNDER THE DISTRESS OF HAVING TO WEAR MULTIPLE HATS IN THEIR CLASSROOM TO SUPPORT THEIR

[02:10:01]

STUDENTS.

AND IN OUR HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTES, AS MY FRIEND JUST MENTIONED, INCLUDING HERE IN AUSTIN, STUDENTS ARE SEVERELY REPRESSED BY THEIR UNIVERSITIES SOLELY FOR DEMANDING THAT THEY COMPLY BY INTERNATIONAL LAW AND DIVEST FROM ARMS MANUFACTURERS THAT SUPPORT ISRAEL'S GENOCIDE AND TERROR.

I HAD INCLUDED A PICTURE IN MY MEDIA.

IT SHOWED PALESTINIAN HOW IMPORTANT EDUCATION IS TO PALESTINIANS IN THE FACE OF AN ONGOING GENOCIDE.

THEY CONTINUE TO EDUCATE CHILDREN, WHETHER THAT'S IN MAKESHIFT TENTS, IN REFUGEE CAMPS, OR ON THE REBEL OF DESTROYED HOUSES.

BEFORE THIS GENOCIDE, REZA HAD A LITERACY RATE OF 98% IN THE WORDS OF PALESTINIAN POET POETS .

WE PALESTINIANS WAKE UP EVERY MORNING TO TEACH THE REST OF THE LIFE, UH, THE REST OF THE WORLD LIFE.

MAYBE TEXAS SHOULD LEARN FROM PALESTINIANS AND START FUNDING EDUCATION INSTEAD OF GENOCIDE FREE PALESTINE.

IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM.

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

AND JUST IDENTIFY YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD.

UH, YEAH.

CLIFF CLIVE, DISTRICT EIGHT.

I'D LIKE TO BEGIN BY ACKNOWLEDGING THAT WE ARE GATHERED IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF A CITY NAMED FOR TEXAS'S OWN ARCHITECT OF ETHNIC CLEANSING.

I'VE BEEN LABELED A SINGLE ISSUE VOTER.

THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE CALLED IN 2024.

WHEN YOU DON'T SUPPORT POLITICIANS WHO WON'T VOCALLY OPPOSE AS COMPLICITY IN AN ONGOING GENOCIDE.

BUT THIS IS NOT A SINGLE ISSUE.

GENOCIDE DIDN'T JUST FALL OUT OF A COCONUT TREE.

OUR COMPLICITY LIES ON AN ENTIRE INFRASTRUCTURE OF SYSTEMIC FAILURES RATHER THAN A SINGLE ISSUE.

THIS IS ABOUT FIRST PRINCIPLES.

I BELIEVE THAT A FREE AND SAFE SOCIETY MUST RESPECT UNIVERSAL HUMAN RIGHTS.

THE UNITED STATES CLAIMS TO BE FOUNDED ON THE IDEA THAT ALL MEN, MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL, AS WRITTEN BY THE PEN OF AN ENSLAVE IN THIS COUNTRY, WE CHAMPION HUMAN RIGHTS WHILE POLITICIZING WHO COUNTS AS HUMAN.

AND AFTER NEARLY 250 YEARS OF FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE, WE'VE GROWN FROM A COUNTRY BUILT ON GENOCIDE AND SLAVERY TO ONE THAT CRIMINALIZES HOMELESSNESS AND RENTS OUT PRISONERS AS SLAVE LABOR.

SO OF COURSE, OUR POLITICIANS AND MEDIA PROMOTE THE GREAT MYTH ABOUT THE GENOCIDE IN PALESTINE, WHICH IS THAT THIS IS A WAR THAT BEGAN ON OCTOBER 7TH TO BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS PEACE UNTIL OCTOBER 7TH.

YOU HAVE TO BE COMFORTABLE WITH THE PRECEDING 75 YEARS OF ETHNIC CLEANSING, OCCUPATION, AND APARTHEID.

THE REST OF THE WORLD SEES THESE ABUSES AS CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY.

AMERICA SEES THEM AS GROWING PAINS.

SO PLEASE KNOW THAT WHEN I'M OUTSIDE AGITATING FOR PALESTINIAN FREEDOM, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ISRAELI'S JEWISHNESS.

THIS IS ABOUT ISRAEL FOLLOWING OUR PLAYBOOK, SPENDING OUR MONEY TO COMMIT CRIMES THAT WE PRETEND ARE BEHIND US.

WE PROTEST THIS GENOCIDE MORE LOUDLY THAN OTHERS HAPPENING TODAY BECAUSE THIS ONE HOLDS UP THE CLEAREST REFLECTION OF THE BROKEN FOUNDATIONS OF OUR OWN HOME.

IN MAY OF THIS YEAR, A UT AUSTIN STUDENT FALSELY ACCUSED A PROFESSOR OF ANTISEMITISM BEFORE A TEXAS SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE BECAUSE THE PROFESSOR TOLD THE TEXAS TRIBUNE HE'D NOT HEARD THE PRO-PALESTINE PROTESTORS SAY ANYTHING ANTISEMITIC.

YOU KNOW THIS PROFESSOR? HE'S ALLISON ALTER'S HUSBAND, JEREMY SURY, A JEWISH LIBERAL ZIONIST.

HE'S NOT AN ANTISEMITE, HE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH OF AN EXTREMIST TO SATISFY SOME MEMBERS OF THE PRO-ISRAEL COMMUNITY.

SO I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK CITY COUNCIL TO RELEASE A STATEMENT THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN RECOGNIZES THAT CRITICISM OF THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT IS NOT ANTISEMITIC.

WE NEED TO HAVE MORE THOUGHTFUL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND I AM ASKING YOU TO SET THE TONE.

I THINK IT'S PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME INTO THE RECORD.

CALLIE HIBBS.

OKAY, GOOD.

PLEASE BEGIN.

THE CLIP NEEDS TO SHOW FIRST.

I WOULD, IF YOU GAVE ME A BUTTON TO JUST ERASE GAZA, EVERY SINGLE LIVING BEING IN GAZA WOULD NO LONGER BE LIVING TOMORROW.

I WOULD PRESS IT IN THE SECOND.

I THINK MEAN, I THINK MOST ISRAELIS, THAT'S THE CHOICE.

MM-HMM? .

NO.

EVEN IF IT'S NOT LIKE RIGHT NOW.

YEAH, I WOULD PRESS IT RIGHT NOW.

MM-HMM? .

THE SAME WITH THE TERRITORIES.

I WOULD PRESS IT RIGHT NOW.

NO CHOICE.

NO.

YOU KNOW, SHOW ON SAFE AT HOME.

I WILLING SPOKEN AN HOUR.

UH, I WOULD SAY FOR THE CHANCE.

I WOULD PRESS IT RIGHT NOW.

GIVE THAT BUTTON.

I PRESS IT RIGHT NOW.

YOU AND I THINK MOST ISRAELIS WOULD.

YEP.

MOST JEWISH ADDRESS.

THEY WOULD POST, THEY WOULD TALK ABOUT LIKE GUY MM-HMM.

THEY WOULD POST, THEY WOULDN'T SAY I PRESSED IT.

BUT THEY DON'T HAVE BOWLS OF STEEL LIKE YOU .

BUT THEY WOULD PRESS IT, RIGHT? LIKE IF THEY WERE IN CLOSET ALONE, THEY WOULDN'T EVEN HESITATE.

A WHITE EUROPEAN AMERICAN MAN FROM THE STATE OF ALABAMA CURRENTLY LIVING AS A SETTLER AND OCCUPIED PALESTINE? TALK IN THAT FILTH.

, SOMEONE CAME TO THAT PIAR SAID, NO ONE WILL KNOW YOU.

PRESS THIS, ALL PALESTINIANS ARE GONE.

HE'D BE LIKE, F**K IT.

IS THERE ANOTHER ONE THAT IS

[02:15:01]

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT AMERICANS SPEAK ABOUT THIS ISSUE HERE AT HOME.

MY NAME IS CALLIE HIBBS.

I'M A MULTI-GENERATIONAL TEXAN AUSTINITE IN A FOURTH GENERATION LONGHORN.

AND I'VE COME HERE TODAY TO IMPLORE THIS COUNCIL TO SEPARATE MY CITY FROM THIS SUPREMACIST SICKNESS.

IT IS AS CLEAR AS THE SUMMER DAY IS LONG THAT FOR THE ZIONIST BE THEM JEW OR GENTILE, PALESTINIAN SUFFERING IS NOT HUMAN SUFFERING.

AND HERE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, WE WOULD NEVER PASSIVELY ALLOW SUCH WHO TO BEFALL UPON OUR CHILDREN AND OUR COMMUNITIES.

WE WOULD NEVER ALLOW ANY ENTITY, FOREIGN OR DOMESTIC OCCUPY US MILITARILY DESTROY OUR SCHOOLS AND HOSPITALS RIP UP OUR ROADS, BURN OUR FARMLAND, DROP WHITE PHOSPHORUS ONTO INTO OUR CREEKS AND RIVERS LITERALLY KICK US OUT OF OUR HOMES ALL WHILE RAPING, TORTURING AND MURDERING US.

AND WHY? 'CAUSE ABRAHAM SAID SO.

ABSOLUTELY NOT.

WE WOULD RUN TO OUR GUNS SO FAST, IT WOULD MAKE YOUR HEAD SPIN.

TEXANS WOULD FIGHT BACK TOOTH AND NAIL AGAINST SUCH INHUMANE OPPRESSION.

AND TO HAVE TO HEAR THESE EUROPEAN WHITES COMPLAIN ABOUT ANTIFA AND REVOLUTION.

WELL, LET ME TELL THEM THIS.

I WOULDN'T BE NEIGHBORLY WITH YOU EITHER, AND I CERTAINLY WOULDN'T LOOK UPON YOU AS SOMEONE CHOSEN BY GOD TO HAVE DOMAIN OVER ME AND MINE.

WHAT AN OBNOXIOUS AND HORRIFYING CROCK OF IT.

THE PASSIVITY, SUBJUGATION AND, AND HUMILIATION THAT THE AMERICAN MILITARY EMPIRE AND ITS COLONY ISRAEL DE DEMANDS OF THE PEOPLE OF PALESTINE IS NEVER SOMETHING WE WOULD DEMAND OF OURSELVES.

A FEW WEEKS AGO, 10 ISRAELI TERRORISTS, ALL ACTIVE MEMBERS OF THE IOF WERE ARRESTED FOR SODOMIZING, A PALESTINIAN HOSTAGE SO BAD HE HAD TO BE HOSPITALIZED.

FOOTAGE OF THIS WAS LEAKED AND SHOWN ON THE ISRAELI NEWS STATION, CHANNEL 12 IN SO-CALLED ISRAEL, THERE WERE RIOTS IN THE STREETS.

THE CITIZENRY, THE ISRAELI CITIZENRY FURIOUS THAT THE RAPISTS WERE BEING HELD TO ACCOUNT.

CAN YOU IMAGINE TC BROAD ACTS BEING SODOMIZED BY 10 DIFFERENT WHITE EUROPEAN MEN THAT WERE SO CONFIDENT TO DO SO? IT'S CLEARLY A SOCIAL AND CULTURAL NORM OVER THERE THAT WE'RE JUST ABLE TO GET AWAY WITH.

IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE RACIAL EQUITY TO ME.

THE CITY OF AUSTIN NEEDS TO COMPLETELY SEPARATE OURSELVES FROM THIS DEVIANCY IMMEDIATELY.

FREE PALESTINE.

GO.

GO AHEAD.

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME ON DECK IS CIE GRACIE PINKEL, HAYDEN RI PAUL ROBBINS.

WHILE SHE'S COMING FORWARD, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE OTHER THAN THE NAMES YOU'VE CALLED TO BE CALLED, UH, AS SPEAKERS? UM, ONE REMOTE SPEAKER.

HAYAT MALI, BUT THEY HAVE NOT CALLED IT.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

YOU REGISTERED AS REMOTE, BUT GO AHEAD WHENEVER YOU'RE READY.

GOOD DEAL.

WHO THEY WERE BEFORE THEY WERE DENIED MEDICAL CARE, STARVED, TORTURED, AND KEPT IN INHUMANE CONDITIONS.

PLEASE BEGIN.

IF YOU STUDY HISTORY AND POLITICAL SCIENCE, YOU WOULD KNOW WHAT A POWERFUL TOOL PROPAGANDA IS.

AMERICA HAS LONG USED IT TO PEDAL CONSENT FOR WAR AFTER NINE 11.

THE IRAQ WAR WAS PROPAGANDIZED TO US.

ULTIMATELY, THE AMERICAN INVASION WAS THE ONLY WEAPON OF MASS DESTRUCTION IN IRAQ.

BUT WE HAVE SHORT MEMORIES, DON'T WE? POLITICIANS LIED TO US, EASILY BOUGHT OUT BY POWERFUL CORPORATIONS.

WAR PROFITEERS LIKE LOCKHEED MARTIN, GENERAL DYNAMICS, OUR LOCAL BAE SYSTEMS AND OTHERS.

THEY EVEN TRY TO SELL US THE IMAGE.

DOES THIS WORK SELL US THE IMAGE OF ISRAEL AS AN ETHICAL DEMOCRACY WHILE THE UN AND EVERY OTHER HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION HAS CONDEMNED ISRAEL'S GENOCIDE AND GAZA AND ITS APARTHEID SYSTEM IN THE WEST BANK.

BUT WHO ARE YOU GONNA BELIEVE YOUR LYING EYES THIS YEAR? THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE HAS TWO MAJOR INVESTIGATIONS AGAINST ISRAEL.

THE FIRST FOR GENOCIDE IS ONGOING.

THE SECOND HAS CONCLUDED AND FOUND THAT ISRAEL IS INDEED AN APARTHEID REGIME BASED ON SEGREGATION AND ITS SETTLEMENTS VIOLATE INTERNATIONAL LAW.

THE ICJ DECLARED THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS AN OBLIGATION TO LEGALLY SANCTION ISRAEL OR BE ASSOCIATED WITH ILLEGAL ACTS AND WAR CRIMES.

THAT INCLUDES US.

LET'S TALK ABOUT HOSTAGES.

THE 9,900 PALESTINIAN HOSTAGES HELD IN ISRAELI PRISONS GRABBED OFTEN OVERNIGHT FROM THEIR BEDS OR OFF THE STREET WITHOUT CHARGES OR WARRANTS FOR CRIMES, INCLUDING FACEBOOK POSTS AND POLITICAL OPINIONS.

THEY WILL LANGUISH IN ISRAELI PRISONS AND IF THEY'RE LUCKY, GET A TRIAL IN ONLY MILITARY COURT.

IOF SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN CAUGHT SODOMIZING PRISONERS.

THEN THOSE RELEASED FROM ISRAELI PRISONS COME OUT A SHELL OF

[02:20:01]

ISRAEL HAS A DISTINCTION OF BEING THE ONLY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD THAT PROSECUTES CHILDREN IN MILITARY COURTS THAT LACK FAIR TRIALS AND PROTECTIONS.

ISRAEL PROSECUTES OVER 500 PALESTINIAN CHILDREN AND MILITARY COURTS EACH YEAR.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THE AROUND 200 ISRAELI HOSTAGES THAT WERE IN GAZA, HALF OF WHICH HAVE BEEN RELEASED, HAVE BEEN HELD BY HAMAS MILITANTS IN HOMES, FED PROPER FOOD EVEN DURING A FAMINE IN GAZA, BEEN GIVEN MEDICAL CARE AND RETURNED IN GOOD CONDITION.

WE WANNA SEE ALL HOSTAGES RELEASED AND BACK HOME WITH THEIR FAMILIES, BOTH ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN.

ISRAELI PROPAGANDA IS FALLING APART IN THE AGE OF SOCIAL MEDIA WHERE THE WORLD SEES THE LIVESTREAM GENOCIDE.

HERE ARE SOME SHOCKING THOUGHTS, SO BEAR WITH ME.

WHAT IF ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS BOTH MATTER? WHAT IF PALESTINIANS ARE JUST TRYING TO SURVIVE, HOLD ONTO THEIR LAND AND DIGNITY AND OBTAIN EQUAL RIGHTS? WHAT IF THEY'RE NOT DARK, BARBARIAN, SAVAGES AND EVIL CREATURES? WHAT IF DESPERATE PEOPLE DO DESPERATE THINGS? AND WHAT IF THE MEDIA LIED TO US? WHAT IF PALESTINIANS DESERVE TO LIVE AND UNDER AN ILLEGAL OCCUPATION? WHAT IF THEY ARE ALLOWED TO RESIST FREE PALESTINE? IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM.

PLEASE COME FORWARD.

IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, WANNA GO FORWARD? YES, PLEASE FEEL FREE.

JUST IDENTIFY YOURSELF FOR OUR RECORD, PLEASE.

MY NAME IS HAYAT.

I'M AN ARAB MUSLIM WOMAN AND I HAVE BEEN LIVING IN TEXAS FOR THE PAST DECADE.

I FEEL ASHAMED TO CALL TEXAS HOME AND OF CARRYING THE PASSPORT OF THIS COUNTRY FOR 342 DAYS.

I HAVE BEEN BEARING WITNESS TO WORLD WAR II LEVEL OF DESTRUCTION AND THE ETHNIC CLEANSING OF PALESTINIANS IN THE GAZA STRIP AND THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES OF PALESTINE BY THE ROGUE CRIMINAL ZIONIST OCCUPATION THAT IS CALLED ISRAEL.

I HAVE BEEN WATCHING THIS COUNCIL SHOW INDIFFERENCE AND DISREGARD TO PLEASE MADE BY YOUR COMMUNITY, BY A COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE WHO ARE FEELING THE PAIN OF THOSE CRIMES FOR YOU TO, TO DO THE BARE MINIMUM AND SPEAK UP TO SHOW THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THE GRAVITY OF WHAT PALESTINIANS ARE GOING THROUGH, WHAT THEY ARE BEING SUBJECTED TO.

BUT IT SEEMS THAT THE PROGRESSIVE VALUES YOU CLAIM TO STRIVE FOR ARE SIMPLY RESERVED FOR THOSE THAT YOU DEEM AS WORTHY.

SO INSTEAD OF ATTEMPTING TO PERSUADE YOU TO FIND YOUR CONSCIOUSNESS AND TO CHANGE YOUR OLD DUSTY GENOCIDE SUPPORTING MINDS, I WILL READ AN EXCERPT FROM, UH, REPORT NSM 20, NATIONAL SECURITY MEMORANDUM FOR SAFEGUARDS AND ACCOUNTABILITY, WHERE WITH RESPECT TO TRANSFER DEFENSE ARTICLES AND DEFENSE SERVICES, THE REPORT, UH, CREATED AND, UH, RELEASED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT AND THE DOD IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR, QUOTE, OUR AGGREGATE ANALYSIS OF CREDIBLE REPORTS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THOSE INVOLVING THE USE OF US PROVIDED WEAPONS BY ISRAELI FORCES INDICATE A CONTEXT OF SYSTEMATIC DISREGARD OF INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAWS WITH RECURRENT ATTACKS LAUNCHED DESPITE FORESEEABLE DISPROPORTIONATE HARM TO CIVILIANS AND CIVILIAN OBJECTS, WHITE AREA ATTACKS WITHOUT PRIOR WARNINGS IN SOME OF THE MOST DENSELY POPULATED RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE WORLD, DIRECT ATTACKS ON CIVILIANS OR OTHERWISE PROTECTED PERSONS AND ATTACKS AGAINST CIVILIAN OBJECTS.

THE UNITED STATES HAS APPROVED OVER 100 FOREIGN MILITARY SALES ARMS TRANSFER TO ISRAEL SINCE OCTOBER 7TH, TWO OF THEM USING AN EMERGENCY AUTHOR AUTHORITY TO OVERCOME THE REGULAR CONGRESSIONAL PRO UH, PRO PROCESS, AND NONE OF THEM ACCOMPANIED BY ANY CONDITIONS OR RED LINES OF USAGE TRANSLATION ISRAEL BOMBS, USA PAYS.

LASTLY, I WILL SHARE SOME STATISTICS ABOUT THE LATEST ISRAELI MASSACRE AND CRIME COMMITTED THIS WEEK ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10TH, 2024, THE UNI MASSACRE RIGHT BEFORE DAWN ISRAEL DROPPED THREE US, MADE MK 84 BOMBS ON A DISPLACED CIVILIAN CAMP IN THE EVER SHRINKING DENSELY POPULATED AREA THAT THE OCCUPATION DESIGNATED AS SAFE ZONE.

THE BOMBS LEFT THREE CRA AND SWALLOWED 20 FULL 2010S FULL OF CIVILIAN DISPLACED FAMILIES.

I DID A QUICK SEARCH ON THOSE BOMBS AND FOUND OUT THAT THE MK 84 BOMB IS A FULL, A FREE FALL NON GUIDED GPS 2000 POUND BOMB WITH WHERE MAXIMUM BLAST AND EXPLOSION RE UH, EFFECTS ARE DESIRED TRANSLATION US APPROVED GENOCIDE.

I LOVE THIS CITY EXCEPT SOMETIMES I GET ALLERGIES, SO EXCUSE THE STUFF HE KNOWS.

HI, I'M HAM RI.

I'M A PALESTINIAN AMERICAN AUSTINITE FOR 16 YEARS.

[02:25:01]

UM, I'M GOING TO KEEP MY COMMENTS SHORT, PARTLY BECAUSE WE'VE, WE'VE BEEN HERE TIME AND TIME AGAIN AND IT SEEMS TO FALL ON DEAF EARS.

SO IT, IT JUST, IT FEELS TO ME LIKE YOU'RE NOT HEARING US AT ALL.

YOU'VE BEEN PROVIDED WITH A LOT OF FACTS AND FIGURES.

SO I'M JUST GOING TO SPEAK FROM THE HEART.

AS A PALESTINIAN, I'M REALLY TIRED OF THIS.

I'M TIRED OF 11 MONTHS OF GENOCIDE.

I'M TIRED OF 11 MONTHS OF INNOCENT HUMAN BEINGS BEING BLOWN APART INTO PIECES.

I'M TIRED OF 11 MONTHS OF US COMING HERE ASKING YOU TO PLEASE SPEAK UP FOR THE OPPRESSED.

PLEASE JUST SAY SOMETHING AND OF YOU CON CONSTANTLY REFUSING TO, I ACKNOWLEDGE THE THREE OF YOU WHO HAVE, WHO HAVE STEPPED UP, BUT EIGHT OF YOU HAVE ENORMOUSLY FAILED US.

YOU HAVE FAILED TO REPRESENT THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT A MAJORITY OF AUSTINITES, ONE PIECE, A MAJORITY OF AUSTINITES WANT CEASE FIRE.

A MAJORITY OF AUSTINITES ARE AGAINST GENOCIDE.

JUST TAKE A LOOK AT THIS ROOM.

MOST OF THE PEOPLE HERE WANT TO CEASEFIRE AND THEN ENTER THE GENOCIDE ONLY LIKE HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE AGAINST A CEASEFIRE? RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU'RE AGAINST A CEASE FIRE.

OKAY? JUST NOBODY, NOBODY'S AGAINST A CEASEFIRE.

UM, SO MY MESSAGE, MY MESSAGE IS, IS NOT TO YOU ANYMORE.

REALLY, IT'S TO MY COMMUNITY, MY AUSTIN COMMUNITY.

I SAY THAT WE HAVE A REP RESPONSIBILITY TO USE OUR VOTES AND NEXT TIME AROUND, I URGE EVERYONE TO REMEMBER THIS AND TO VOTE FOR BETTER REPRESENTATION THAT REFLECTS THE COMPASSIONATE NATURE OF MY FELLOW AUSTINITES.

ALSO, AS WE SPEAK, I WANT TO MENTION THAT THERE IS A SHIP RIGHT NOW DOCKING IN CORPUS CHRISTI.

THE SHIP IS HERE TO LOAD 300,000 BARRELS OF JET FUEL THAT IS BEING SENT TO ISRAEL TO FUEL THOSE JET FIGHTERS.

THOSE AMERICAN MADE UNSU SUPPLIED JET FIGHTERS THAT ARE BOMBING GAZA INTO SMITHEREENS.

THIS IS HAPPENING.

I KNOW THIS IS NOT AN AUSTIN ISSUE, BUT THIS IS STILL A TEXAS ISSUE AND IT'S HAPPENING IN OUR BACKYARD AND IT'S A SAN ANTONIO BASED COMPANY.

AND I HOPE THE CITY OF AUSTIN DOES NOT HAVE ANY CONTRACTS WITH VALERO BECAUSE IF IT DOES, IT'LL BE LIABLE FOR BEING COMPLICIT IN GENOCIDE FREE PALESTINE FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA.

HELLO? UH, MY NAME'S GRACIE PINKEL.

UM, I REALLY TRIED TO BUILD AN ARGUMENT AND WRITE SOMETHING THAT WOULD CONVINCE YOU, BUT AFTER, WE'RE ALMOST AT A YEAR NOW AND I FEEL LIKE I JUST HAVE TO RISK LOOKING A FOOL AND STUMBLING OVER MY WORDS.

'CAUSE I HAVE TO TAKE THIS MOMENT TO LOOK YOU IN YOUR EYES.

'CAUSE JUST BASELINE.

I DO NOT BELIEVE IN DEHUMANIZING OTHER PEOPLE.

AND Y'ALL ARE ALL HUMANS.

AND I DON'T, I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND.

AND I NEED TO UNDERSTAND LIKE, WHAT IS STOPPING YOU FROM DOING SOMETHING? LIKE I KNOW THAT LOTS OF YOU THERE MAYBE NOT.

LOTS OF YOU, I DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND.

SOME OF Y'ALL MUST SUPPORT US DOING SOMETHING.

OTHER CITY COUNCILS IN OUR STATES HAVE PASSED DIVESTMENT RESOLUTIONS.

THERE'S ABSOLUTELY COMPANIES THAT WE ARE INVESTED IN THAT WE CAN PULL OUT.

AND THAT DOES NOT HURT AUSTINITES.

I I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS IS NOT A LOCAL ISSUE.

WE SEE HOW, HOW, SORRY.

WE SEE HOW, I'M SORRY.

WE SEE HOW KIDS IN OUR PRISONS HERE IN TEXAS, DOJ JUST RELEASED LIKE THIS SUMMER THAT KIDS ARE BEING ISOLATED, SEXUALLY ABUSED.

AND THEN WE SEE THAT HAPPENING IN PALESTINE AS WELL.

HOW IS THAT NOT CONNECTED WITH THE PALESTINE IS THE CANARY IN THE COAL MINE.

WE ARE PRACTICING ON THE PALESTINIANS WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO US HERE.

WE HAVE SEEN HOW THE COPS HAVE GONE AND RAIDED LULAC MEMBERS' HOMES, MAKING WOMEN WAIT OUTSIDE IN THEIR NIGHTGOWNS WHILE THEY RAGE THROUGH THEIR THINGS.

HOW IS THAT NOT CONNECTED TO THE, WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO WOMEN IN THE WEST BANK? WE'VE SEEN THEM TEAR UP THEIR COUCHES, THROW THEIR DISHES JUST TO TERRORIZE THEM.

LIKE, HELP ME UNDERSTAND, LIKE, THIS IS THE TIME THAT WE HAVE TO GET CREATIVE.

THERE IS SOMETHING WE CAN DO.

I KNOW THAT NONE OF Y'ALL ARE BIDEN OR BLINKEN.

YOU CAN'T JUST CALL AND MAKE, MAKE THIS END LIKE THAT.

BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO BE COMPLICIT IN IT.

THIS IS THE TIME TO BREAK NORMS. WHY, WHY DON'T WE JUST REFUSE TO SEND OUR TAX DOLLARS? THERE'S, WE CAN DO SOMETHING LIKE THERE'S SOMETHING, AND I'M, I DON'T HAVE A DEGREE.

I'M NOT A DOCTOR.

I'M NOT A LAWYER.

IF, IF WHAT'S STOPPING Y'ALL IS THAT, THAT PARALYZATION

[02:30:01]

OF DESPAIR.

BELIEVE ME WHEN I SAY I FEEL YOU AND I WILL COME AND I WILL LISTEN AND I WILL CONNECT YOU WITH PEOPLE WHO COULD HELP BUILD POLICY WITH YOU TO HELP FIGURE OUT WHAT THE WHAT, SORRY, I HAVE TO CURSE WHAT WE CAN DO AS A CITY.

'CAUSE THERE IS SOMETHING WE CAN DO AS A CITY.

I REFUSE TO BELIEVE THAT THESE HUMAN BEINGS, HUMAN BEINGS SITTING HERE CAN SEE THOSE IMAGES OF HUMAN BEINGS LAID OUT ON THE FLOOR BY HANDS TIED BEHIND THEIR BACKS.

THESE ARE CONCENTRATION CAMPS.

HOW ARE WE OKAY WITH THIS? I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

AND I'M, I'M NOT EVEN TRYING TO CONVINCE Y'ALL.

I'M JUST BEGGING Y'ALL.

I'M BEGGING Y'ALL.

AND I PROMISE IF YOU THINK THAT IT'S, THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE CITY DOESN'T SUPPORT THIS.

IF THIS CITY WAS AFFORDABLE ENOUGH FOR PEOPLE TO LEAVE THEIR JOBS AND KNOW THAT A MISSED SHIFT TO COME TO A CITY COUNCIL MEETING WOULDN'T MEAN THAT THEY COULDN'T MAKE THEIR RENT.

THIS PLACE WOULD BE FILLED EVERY DAY.

SO PLEASE, PLEASE PLEA.

YES, PAUL ROBBINS.

COUNSEL, AS MR. ROBBINS COMES FORWARD, LET ME, UH, REMIND THE PUBLIC AND REMIND US, UH, WHEN MR. ROBBINS FINISHES, PLEASE COME FORWARD MR. ROBBINS, UM, WHEN, WHEN HE, WHEN HE FINISHES WITH HIS PUBLIC COMMENT.

UH, WE WILL RECESS THIS REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING UNTIL ONE 30, BUT THE CA YOU, YOU CAN COME FORWARD.

UM, BUT THE COUNCIL WILL COME BACK AT ONE O'CLOCK FOR A SPECIAL CALL MEETING.

COUNSEL.

UM, THIS WILL BE ON A DIFFERENT TOPIC THAN THE OTHER PEOPLE SPEAKING TODAY.

IN LATE AUGUST, A PUBLIC HEARING TOOK PLACE ON THE OUTRAGEOUS RATE INCREASE REQUESTED BY AUSTIN'S MAIN NATURAL GAS UTILITY TEXAS GAS SERVICE.

THE RATE PROPOSED WILL BE JUST THE LATEST IN A SERIES THAT WILL CULMINATE IN A 105% INCREASE IN ONLY SIX YEARS, ADDING OVER $300 TO AN AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL HOME, ADDING ABOUT $67 MILLION A YEAR TO RESIDENTIAL THE RESIDENTIAL RATE CLASS IN AUSTIN ALONE.

UH, THERE ARE SOME SHORT TERM THINGS THAT CAN REDUCE OR ELIMINATE THIS.

AT THE PUBLIC HEARING, YOU HEARD THE GAS COMPANY SAY THAT THEY WILL REPAID ALL THE MONEY THAT IT TOOK TO HOOK UP NEW BILLINGS.

YOU HEARD THE COMPANY TELL YOU IN, IN PERSON THAT THEY WERE RECEIVING AND I QUOTE FULL FREIGHT UNQUOTE, AND WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BELIEVE THEM 'CAUSE THEY TOLD US.

SO IN 2020, THE COMPANY RECEIVED ONLY ABOUT 10% OF WHAT IT COST TO HOOK UP NEW CUSTOMERS.

AND UNTIL THE COMPANY PROVES OTHERWISE, I BELIEVE INCREASING THE CAPITAL RECOVERY FEE IS A CA A VIABLE WAY, UH, TO LOWER RATES.

WHEN AUSTIN ENERGY AND AUSTIN WATER WENT TO FULL CAPITAL RECOVERY, THERE WERE RATE DECREASES.

ANOTHER THING YOU CAN DO IS CREATE A CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR POOR CUSTOMERS.

AT THE PUBLIC HEARING, YOU HEARD THE COMPANY TELL YOU WITH A STRAIGHT FACE THAT IT'S A LAUGHABLY FUNDED PROGRAM FOR EMERGENCY BILL ASSISTANCE IS NOT EVEN SPENDING ALL OF ITS ALLOTTED MONEY.

WHAT THEY DIDN'T TELL YOU IS THAT THEY HAVE NO PROGRAM TO ACTUALLY REDUCE RATES LIKE AUSTIN DOES.

STILL.

ANOTHER THING YOU CAN DO IS ALLOW PUBLIC COMMENT.

WHEN COUNCIL MEETS AGAIN ON THIS ISSUE ON OCTOBER 10TH, PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ISSUE AT THE CITY HAS BEEN EXTREMELY LIMITED.

BUT DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING, THERE WAS ALSO BRIEF DISCUSSION OF MUNICIPALIZATION.

TO MY KNOWLEDGE, AUSTIN DOES NOT NEED TO WAIT UNTIL ITS FRANCHISE IS OVER IN 2026 TO EITHER OFFER A BID TO PURCHASE THE COMPANY OR START IMMINENT DOMAIN PROCEEDINGS.

SAN ANTONIO, ONLY 70 MILES TO OUR SOUTH PURCHASED THE CITY'S GAS UTILITY IN 1942.

TODAY IT HAS RATES HALF OF WHAT TEXAS GAS SERVICE RATES IN AUSTIN ARE, AND ITS GAS UTILITY IS SELF-GOVERNED, NOT REGULATED BY THE RAILROAD COMMISSION.

WHILE THIS IS NOT A DECISION TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY, FORMATIVE STEPS TO GATHER INFORMATION COULD BE STARTED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION.

THANK YOU MR. ROBBINS MEMBERS.

THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF THE PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR THE TIME.

CERTAIN PUBLIC COMMENT.

UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE COUNCIL, THE WE WILL RECESS THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL UNTIL ONE 30.

PLEASE HANG ON FOR, UH, LIVE MUSIC.

AND WE, WE ARE NOW IN RECESS AT 1234.

UH, PLEASE, UH, HANG ON FOR LIVE MUSIC AND WE WILL RETURN AT ONE O'CLOCK FOR A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING THE CITY COUNCIL.

[Live Music Vintage Jay]

[02:35:08]

YEAH, YOU'RE RIGHT.

EVERYBODY APPLAUD FOR THAT.

WELL DONE VINTAGE JAY HALES FROM RUNDBERG LANE.

UH, JUST OFF RUNDBERG LANE IN AUSTIN'S GRITTY, VERY CULTURALLY DIVERSE NORTH SIDE, THE MEXICAN BORN NOW AUSTIN BASED RAPPER HAS RISEN UP TO SPEAK FOR A SECTION OF AUSTIN THAT HAS RARELY HAD A VOICE BLENDING TALES FROM THE STREETS WITH VERY POIGNANT BARS OF CONSCIOUSNESS AND SOCIAL REFORM.

JAY HAS BECOME A MIX OF CECIL CHAVEZ AND MONTOYA SANTANA OF THE MOVIE AMERICAN ME.

HIS DEDICATION AND AMBITIOUS STORYTELLING HAS EMBARKED VINTAGE JAY AS ONE OF THE TOP PROLIFIC INDEPENDENT ARTISTS IN THE CITY.

A KID FROM RUNDBERG, WHICH WAS RELEASED IN 2019.

YEAH, THE MELANCHOLY STREET ALBUM THAT INTRODUCES VENICE J TO US ALL AND BEGOTTEN SON.

IN 2020, THE SOPHOMORE RELEASED THAT SHOWED THAT JAY HAS NO WAS IS NO FLUKE.

IT WAS NO FLUKE AND IS NO FLUKE AT RAPPING AND GIVES A MORE INTROSPECTIVE LOOK INTO WHO JAY IS AS A PERSON FROM THE STREETS, PERSONAL LIFE AND SPEAKING FOR HIS PEOPLE AND COMMUNITY.

IN 2021, JAY WAS FEATURED ON KUTX 98.9, THE BREAKS ANNUAL SUMMER JAM.

AND AS WELL AS BEING FEATURED ON STAGE PRESENTED BY THE AUSTIN MUSIC NONPROFIT BLACK FRET FROM, UH, FROM THROWING LOCAL SHOWS AT MOLLY VITA TO CURATING AND DIRECTING, UH, THE LATINO ART WEEKEND MUSIC.

JAY HAS BECOME AN INDIVIDUAL OF MANY TRAITS.

HIS LATEST ALBUM, STILL I RISE IN 2023, SPEAKS OF A NEW AGE OF CREATIVITY AND MUSICAL MUSICAL EXPRESSION.

HIS GROWTH IN HIS MUSIC IS SOMETHING THAT APPEARS IN EVERY ALBUM.

AND ONE THING THAT NEVER CHANGES IS THAT HE STAYS TRUE TO HIMSELF.

AND THE CRAFT JAY'S DEDICATION TO HIS COMMUNITY HAS BEEN A TRUE INSPIRATION TO MANY, MANY PEOPLE.

FROM GIVING RESOURCES TO THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZING PROTESTS, TURKEY DRIVES TOY DRIVES TO FINDING FUNDING FOR ATHLETIC PROGRAMS AND AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS AND MANY MORE VINTAGE J HAS ESTABLISHED HIMSELF AS A TRUE STAPLE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, VINTAGE J THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE'RE GONNA PERFORM THIS SONG FOR Y'ALL.

THIS SONG IS CALLED JUST ANOTHER FREESTYLE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH THAT YOU'RE HERE.

LIKE I SAID, THIS IS A WIN, NOT JUST ME FOR EVERYBODY YOU KNOW THAT HAS BEEN IN THIS JOURNEY WITH ME.

I LOVE EVERY SINGLE, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF Y'ALL THAT ARE HERE.

LET'S GO.

EVERYBODY WAS REALLY WONDERFUL.

WHOA.

I'M ON A DIFFERENT ZONE.

THIS AIN'T NO HOT POTATO.

THIS IS THE ONLY WINNER SEMICIRCLE SCORING HIGH PERCENTAGE.

IT'S WORTH LIKE SECOND NATURE.

MY HUSTLE COMING FIRST CANNOT DEFEAT MY PURPOSE.

KNOW FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, AIN'T NO MONEY FLASHING.

WE ATTACK IT TOO.

WE DIE.

YOUR GIRL IS DANCING.

MY HOMIE TIPPED HER EYE.

NO, I REALLY DO THIS FOR A LOT OF IMPORTANT REASONS.

HUH? YOU SAW THE SOUND DECREASING.

I RISK MY CHANCES 'CAUSE COMING UP WE AIN'T HAVE A LOT.

I DON'T NEED NO STYLIST.

I DON'T NEED NOBODY TO PUT ME ON.

'CAUSE THE PAINT OF SOME MADE I THINK YOU FORWARD.

GOD, I'M JUST A VESSEL OF THE PRESENCE THAT YOU CRUCIFIED.

SHAKING UP THE FORMULA, TAKING CARE OF HIGHER PLACES STOOD TO THE GAME.

I STUDIED WHY THEY CELEBRATED THE HIGH POWERS NO ILLUSION.

WHEN IT'S IN YOUR SPIRIT, THE ONLY PERSON YOU SHOULD WORRY ABOUT WAS IN THE MIRROR.

LAST TIME I WAS ON THE PHONE, LIKE, DAMN GIRL, WHY YOU COMING FOR ME TRYING TO FIND GIRL THINGS I DON'T NEED? LAST TIME I WAS ON, GIRL, YOU COMING FOR ME TRYING TO FIND I YEAH.

COME AND FIND ME.

[02:40:02]

YOU WILL LOVE.

AND YEAH, LAST TIME I WAS ON THE PHONE, LIKE, DAMN GIRL, WHY YOU COMING FOR ME TRYING TO FIND A GIRL FROM WRONG TO LET GO FROM THE THINGS I DON'T NEED.

NOW LET ME HEAR YOU SAY LAST TIME I WAS ON THE PHONE LIKE, DAMN GIRL, WHY YOU COMING FOR ME TRYING TO FIND A GIRL WRONG AND LET GO FROM THE THINGS I DON'T NEED? HEY, WHOA.

HEY, NOW LET HEAR YOU SAY WHOA, WHOA.

HEY, TIME I WAS ON TO, I WAS.

WHY YOU COMING ME GIRL? THE THINGS I DON'T NEED.

COME OVER HERE REAL QUICK.

I'M JOINED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA AND VELASQUEZ.

UM, UH, THE RUNDBERG AREA IS IN IN COUNCIL MEMBER VELAS DISTRICT.

UH, AND YEAH, YEAH.

AND I'M VERY HAPPY THEY'RE JOINING ME.

'CAUSE WHAT I WANNA DO IS I WANNA PROCLAIM SOMETHING HERE TODAY.

I WANT YOU TO HOLD THAT IF YOU DON'T MIND.

BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS BLESSED WITH MANY CREATIVE MUSICIANS WHOSE TALENT EXTENDS TO VIRTUALLY EVERY MUSICAL GENRE.

AND WHEREAS OUR MUSIC SCENE THRIVES BECAUSE AUSTIN AUDIENCES SUPPORT GOOD MUSIC PRODUCED BY LEGENDS, OUR LOCAL FAVORITES AND NEWCOMERS ALIKE.

AND WHERE, WHEREAS WE ARE PLEASED TO SHOWCASE AND SUPPORT OUR LOCAL ARTISTS.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD, THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TOGETHER WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TODAY DO HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 12TH, 2024 AS VINTAGE J DAY.

THAT THAT WAS TREMENDOUS.

THAT WAS GREAT.

TELL US HOW WE CAN HEAR YOU, UH, OTHER THAN BUYING THE ALBUMS, UH, I GUESS WE DON'T CALL 'EM THAT ANYMORE, DO WE? ? DID, DID I JUST SHOW HOW OLD I AM? UH, APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.

BUT UM, TELL US HOW WE CAN FOLLOW YOU.

WHERE YOU PLAYING, WHERE, WHERE CAN WE COME SEE YOU AND HOW DO WE FOLLOW YOU ON SOCIAL MEDIA? FIRST OF ALL, THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

I APPRECIATE Y'ALL SO MUCH FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.

UM, YOU CAN FIND ME, SPOTIFY, APPLE MUSIC, UM, INSTAGRAM, TWITTER AT VINTAGE J UM, ALL MY, UH, CATALOG IS THERE.

UM, NEW ALBUM IS STILL OUR RIGHT.

IT'S COMING OUT.

HAVE A NEW PROJECT WITH BLACK CHILD COMING OUT AT THE END OF THE MONTH.

IT'S GONNA BE CRAZY.

UH, BIG SHOUT OUT TO KUTX FOR, UH, GIVING ME THE ARTISTS OF THE MONTH, UM, TOMORROW HAVE A GREAT PERFORMANCE WITH THEM AT THEIR STUDIO AND IT SHOULD BE, UH, AIRED, UH, TOMORROW AS WELL.

SO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THAT.

UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I FEEL VERY HONORED AND BLESSED, UH, TO BE RECOGNIZED IN A BEAUTIFUL CITY LIKE THIS THAT I CALL MY HOME.

UM, AND THANK YOU AGAIN, CHITO VELA, JOSE VELAZQUEZ, AND THE MAYOR KIRK WATSON FOR GIVING ME THIS PROCLAMATION AND BE BY MEXICO PM I WILL NOW CALL BACK TO ORDER THE

[02:45:01]

REGULAR MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AT 1:57 PM MEMBERS.

UH, THE ORDER THAT I THINK WE OUGHT TO GO IN

[Items 61, 63 - 66]

IS GO TO THE NON-CONSENT ITEMS, IMMINENT DOMAIN ITEMS. THOSE ARE ITEMS 61 THROUGH 66.

AND WHAT I WOULD ASK IS THAT THE CITY CLERK LET ME KNOW, UH, NOW WHETHER THERE'S ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ANY OF THOSE ITEMS. THERE ARE NOT ANY SPEAKERS, MAYOR.

ALRIGHT, MEMBERS, UM, WITH REGARDS TO ITEM 61 THROUGH 66, ALL OF THOSE ARE NON-CONSENT CONDEMNATION ITEMS. IS THERE A MOTION TO THE EFFECT THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF AUSTIN TEXAS AUTHORIZES THE USE OF THE POWER OF IMMINENT DOMAIN TO ACQUIRE THE PROPERTY SET FORTH AND DESCRIBED IN THE AGENDA FOR THIS CURRENT MEETING FOR THE PUBLIC USES THAT ARE DESCRIBED THEREIN? COUNCIL MEMBER VELA MOVES ADOPTION OF ITEM 61 THROUGH 66 BASED UPON, UH, THE LANGUAGE THAT I'VE JUST CITED.

IT'S SECONDED BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM.

IS THERE DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION? ITEMS 61 THROUGH 66 ARE ADOPTED, UM, MEMBERS, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA MOVES AND IT'S SECONDED BY THE MAYOR PRO TIM THAT WE RECONSIDER THE VOTE BY WHICH ITEM 62 WAS ADOPTED.

UM, IS THERE OBJECTION THERE BEING NONE.

ITEM 62, UH, WILL BE RECONSIDERED.

[62. Approve a resolution authorizing the filing of eminent domain proceedings and payment to acquire the property interests needed for the East Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard/ FM 969 Corridor Improvement Project for the public use of street right-of-way and construction, a shared-use-path route, and landscaping within the project area that will address congestion and enhance safety for pedestrians and cyclists, requiring the acquisition of 0.3496 of one acre (15,228 square foot) parcel of street right-of-way, being out of and a portion of the James Burleson Survey No. 19, Abstract No. 4, and the J.C. Tannehill Survey No. 29, Abstract No. 22, in the City of Austin, Travis County, Texas, being out of the remainder of that Tract described as 143.144 acres conveyed to Karlin Tracor Lane, LLC by Special Warranty Deed as recorded in Document No. 2020139775, Official Public Records, Travis County, Texas, currently appraised at $448,373 subject to an increase in value based on updated appraisals or a Special Commissioner’s award. The owner of the needed property is Karlin Tracor Lane, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company. The property is located at 00 Farm to Market Road 969 (FM 969), Austin, Texas, 78725 (the south side of FM 969 at the intersection of FM 969 and McBee Drive). The general route of the project is along FM 969 between United States Route 183 and Decker Lane.]

ITEM NUMBER 62.

THE MOTION NEEDS TO BE THAT IT WAS, IS POSTPONED UNTIL OCTOBER 24TH AND NOT PASSED.

UH, I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA MOVES THAT ITEM 62 BE POSTPONED OCTOBER 24TH AND THE MAYOR PRO TIM SECONDS THAT MOTION.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION ITEM, UH, NUMBER 62 IS POSTPONED OCTOBER 24TH WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER OFF THE DAIS.

AND, AND FOR THE RECORD, UH, THE VOTES ON 61 63 6 4 65 AND 66 COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, ALLISON ALTER WAS OFF THE DAAS MEMBERS THAT WILL TAKE US TO OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS.

IF YOU'LL RECALL IN THE CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS TO THE AGENDA, ITEM NUMBER 60, ITEM NUMBER 67 WAS WITHDRAWN AND IS HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH ITEM NUMBER 70, ITEM NUMBER 68, UH, MEMBERS, THE MOTION ON ITEM NUMBER 68 OR THE, THE, THE, THE WAY IT'S BEEN POSTED IS TO HAVE IT POSTPONED TO SEPTEMBER 26TH.

UH, AND, AND WHAT, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY BEFORE WE TAKE UP THIS ITEM, AND WE DO HAVE, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, SOME PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 68 FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING.

SO BEFORE I OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS, LET ME JUST SAY THAT, UH, THE, THE, THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT AREA IS, IS VERY CRUCIAL.

WE ALL KNOW HOW CRUCIAL IT IS TO OUR DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AND THE DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS IN THIS AREA NEED TO HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE CITY, THE COMMUNITY, AND THE PROPERTY OWNERS.

UH, POSTPONING THE ITEM TODAY PROVIDES ADDITIONAL TIME FOR COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY TO ALIGN THE VISIONS AND ENSURE WE GET THE MOST OUT OF THIS PLAN.

HOWEVER, I DON'T THINK, UH, POSTPONING IT JUST FOR UNTIL SEPTEMBER 26TH GETS US WHERE WE NEED TO GET IN THAT REGARD.

SO THE MOTION THAT, THAT I WILL MAKE, UH, OR IF SOMEBODY ELSE WANTS TO MAKE IT, UH, AT THE, AT THE END OF THE PUBLIC TESTIMONY WOULD BE FOR AN INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE IN, WE'RE NEVER GONNA BRING IT UP.

WHAT IT DOES MEAN IS THAT WE WILL TAKE THE TIME WE NEED TO TAKE BEFORE IT COMES BACK.

BECAUSE WHAT I DON'T WANT TO SEE US DO IS BRING IT UP TODAY AND THEN TWO WEEKS LATER NOT BE READY AND POSTPONE IT AGAIN.

LET'S GET THE WORK DONE BEFORE WE BRING IT BACK.

UM, AND, AND I WANNA BE CLEAR THAT I WANT TO SAY A THANKS TO OUR CITY STAFF FOR WORKING ON THIS PLAN.

UH, THIS, THIS IS, THIS IS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THE COUNCIL HAS THE TIME TO GET IT RIGHT AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE NEED TO HAVE.

BUT THAT IS, THAT IS THE MOTION THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US, UH, TAKE AND I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION, UH, AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME.

THAT BEING THE CASE WITHOUT

[68. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance amending City Code Title 25 to establish boundaries for new zoning districts located in the vicinity commonly known as the South Central Waterfront; creating a new zoning district and modifying related site development regulations and compatibility standards; creating a new zoning district for density bonus that includes granting additional floor-to-area ratio in exchange for providing community benefits; and initiating zoning and rezoning and necessary neighborhood plan amendments for eligible properties located within the boundaries of the new zoning districts.]

OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 68 AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK.

FIRST SPEAKER IS WILLIAM BUNCH.

MR. BUNCH, IF YOU, OH WOW.

UM, GET, GET OUT THE ICE CASE BECAUSE I THINK IT JUST FROZE OVER.

ALRIGHT, UM, NEXT, ANYBODY ELSE? NEXT? YES, NEXT SPEAKER IS ENOVIA JOSEPH.

MS. JOSEPH, ARE YOU HERE, MS. JOSEPH? THOSE ARE ALL JOSEPH.

THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS.

THOSE ARE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 68.

UH, MEMBERS,

[02:50:01]

UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 68 AND I WILL MOVE THAT ITEM NUMBER 6 68, BE POSTPONED INDEFINITELY IN A SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER IS THEIR DISCUSSION.

COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER, UH, I APPRECIATE, UH, THE DISCUSSION AND, AND HAVING MORE TIME TO DO THIS AND IN THAT I AM WOULD HOPE THAT, YOU KNOW, EARLY NEXT YEAR WOULD BE ENOUGH TIME FOR THEM TO DO THAT.

I THINK THAT, UH, GIVES A REASONABLE RUNWAY AND LIKELY ALLOWS SOME, THE, THE NEW D TO BE ABLE TO DIGEST WHATEVER COMES FORWARD.

UM, BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE WANNA TAKE THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF TIME TO GET IT RIGHT, BUT HAVE AT LEAST THAT TARGET IN MIND OF, UH, FIRST QUARTER OF NEXT YEAR.

OTHER DISCUSSION, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.

UH, THANK YOU MAYOR.

UH, WANNA SOME OF THIS COMMENTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE BY YOURSELF AND COUNCILMAN RYAN ALTER, UH, I REALLY DO APPRECIATE STAFF'S WORK ON ALL OF THIS AND THEIR COMMITMENT ON GETTING ON TRYING TO GET THIS RIGHT AND I THINK THAT'S A COMMITMENT OF THIS DAIS.

SO I I DO BELIEVE WHAT WE'RE GONNA GET THIS RIGHT.

UM, AND YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN GET IT DONE SOMETIME EARLY NEXT YEAR, UH, YOU KNOW, WITH THE NEW DAIS, UH, NO ONE ELSE WOULD BE HAPPIER THAN ME, SO, UH, LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH STAFF AND STAKEHOLDERS.

TAKE US TO ITEM NUMBER 69 WITHOUT OBJECTION.

CAN I, IS THERE STAFF AVAILABLE TO SPEAK TO THIS REQUEST TO POSTPONE UNTIL EARLY NEXT YEAR? AS I UNDERSTAND IT? WELL, IT'S, IT PON INDEFINITELY, BUT YEAH, THAT'S, I THINK THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE ARE THINKING.

COUNCIL MEMBER VERONICA IGNIO, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.

WE HAVE NO CONCERNS WITH THE POSTPONEMENT AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY.

FURTHER DISCUSSION IN THAT CASE WITHOUT OBJECTION.

UH, ITEM NUMBER 68 IS POSTPONED INDEFINITELY.

THAT'LL

[69. Conduct a public hearing and consider a resolution related to an application by Belmont Apartments Ltd., or an affiliated entity, for housing tax credits for the construction of a multi-family development to be financed through the private activity bond program and to be known as Belmont Apartments, located within the City’s extraterritorial jurisdiction at or near 4401 East Slaughter Lane, Austin, Texas 78747.]

WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 69 AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK.

THERE ARE NOT ANY SPEAKERS, MAYOR MEMBERS, THERE'S NO ONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 69.

SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 69.

THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED AND THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER 69, MAYOR PRO TEM MOVES ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION.

IS THERE A SECOND? IS THERE A SECOND ON ITEM NUMBER 69? IS THERE A SECOND? COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES MOVES OR SECOND THE MOTION ON ITEM NUMBER 69.

IS THERE DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER 69? WITHOUT OBJECTION, ITEM NUMBER 69 IS ADOPTED

[70. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance amending City Code Title 25 (Land Development) related to development regulations applicable to residential re-subdivisions and to multi-family residential site development of five to sixteen units.]

MEMBERS.

ITEM NUMBER 70.

UH, THE MO, THE, THE, THE ITEM I READ INTO THE AGENDA FIRST THING THIS MORNING WOULD BE THAT THAT WOULD BE A POSTPONEMENT OF ITEM NUMBER 70 UNTIL NOVEMBER 7TH.

WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR PEOPLE TO TE TESTIFY WITH REGARD TO THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT.

NO THERE BEING NO OBJECTION.

THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK.

WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER, WILLIAM BUNCH.

MR. BUNCH, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT OF ITEM NUMBER 70 UNTIL NOVEMBER 7TH? ALL RIGHT.

MR. BUNCH HAS WAIVED HIS RIGHT TO SPEAK.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE SIGNED UP? THERE IS NOT THAT BEING THE CASE WITHOUT OBJECTION.

WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 70.

UH, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.

IS THERE A MOTION TO POSTPONE ITEM NUMBER 70 UNTIL NUMBER SEVEN, NOVEMBER 7TH, THE MAYOR PRO TEM MOVES ITS POSTPONEMENT AND IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION WITHOUT OBJECTION? ITEM NUMBER 70 IS POSTPONED.

NOVEMBER 7TH.

[71. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance adopting the Second Amendment to the Agreement Concerning Creation and Operation of Sunfield Municipal Utility District Nos.1, 2, 3 and 4. This amendment impacts Sunfield Municipal Utility District No. 2, which is located in Austin’s Limited Purpose jurisdiction and includes approximately 575 acres located east of IH 35 along the Travis and Hays County line, south of Turnersville Road on both sides of the proposed extension of Loop 4 in Council District 5. Case number: C12M-2024-0015.]

THAT WILL TAKE US TO ITEM NUMBER 71.

UH, THE RECOMMENDATION IS POSTPONEMENT TO SEPTEMBER 26TH.

WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 71 FOR PEOPLE THAT WISH TO SPEAK TO THE, UH, THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION.

ITEM NUMBER 71 THE PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK.

THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS MEMBERS.

THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 71.

SO WITHOUT OBJECTION WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 71.

UH, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.

IS THERE A MOTION TO POSTPONE 71 TO SEPTEMBER 26TH? COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER MOVES POSTPONEMENT TO SEPTEMBER 26TH.

IS THERE A SECOND? A SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.

IS THERE DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION? ITEM NUMBER 71 IS POSTPONED TO SEPTEMBER 26TH.

ITEM NUMBER

[72. Conduct a public hearing and consider a request by Success Foods Management Group, LLC d/b/as Torchy’s Tacos, located at 1822 S. Congress Avenue, for a waiver of the distance requirement of City Code Section 4-9-4(A) which requires a minimum 300-foot separation distance between a business selling alcoholic beverages and a school.]

72, THE RECOMMENDATION IS POSTPONEMENT TO OCTOBER 10TH.

WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 72.

THERE BEING NO OBJECTION.

ITEM NUMBER 72, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS OPENED AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK FOR ANY SPEAKERS.

ON ITEM 72 WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER, EDIE CLARK, EDIE CLARK, EDIE CLARK ON ITEM NUMBER 72 EDIE CLARK.

IF THAT'S THE ONLY SPEAKER WITHOUT OBJECTION, UH, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 72, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO POSTPONE 72 UNTIL OCTOBER 10TH.

IT'S MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.

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

[02:55:01]

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION? ITEM NUMBER 72 IS POSTPONED TO OCTOBER 10TH.

ITEM NUMBER 73.

[73. Conduct a public hearing and consider a request by Wheatsville Food Co-op, located at 4001 S. Lamar Blvd. Unit E, for a waiver of the distance requirement of City Code Section 4-9-4(A) which requires a minimum 300-foot separation distance between a business selling alcoholic beverages and a school.]

THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO POSTPONEMENT TO OCTOBER 10TH.

WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 73.

THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN.

UH, THERE BEING NO OBJECTION AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK.

THERE ARE NOT ANY SPEAKERS MEMBERS.

THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 73.

SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 73.

THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED.

I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION MOTIONS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY TO POSTPONE.

ITEM 73 TO OCTOBER 10TH IS THE SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION? ITEM NUMBER 73 IS POSTPONED.

OCTOBER 10TH.

[74. Conduct a public hearing and approve a resolution re-authorizing the East Sixth Street Public Improvement District.]

THAT'LL TAKE US TO ITEM NUMBER 74.

WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 74.

PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN AND I WILL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK.

NO SPEAKERS.

MAYOR MEMBERS THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 74.

SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 74 AND THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.

I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION.

IS THERE A MOTION MOTIONS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER SECONDED BY THE MAYOR PRO TIMM.

IS THERE DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER 74? THE RESOLUTION HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.

ITEM NUMBER 74 IS ADOPTED.

MEMBERS

[2:00 PM - Zoning and Neighborhood Plan Amendments (Public Hearings and Possible Action)]

THAT WILL TAKE US TO OUR ZONING ITEMS AND I'LL RECOGNIZE MS. HARDEN.

THANK YOU MAYOR COUNSEL, I'M JOY HARDEN WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.

YOUR ZONING AGENDA BEGINS WITH ITEM NUMBER 78 NP 20 23 0 0 1 3 0.01.

THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED AS AN APPLICANT POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR SEPTEMBER 26TH COUNCIL MEETING.

AGAIN APPLICANT POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR SEPTEMBER 26 COUNCIL MEETING.

ITEM 80 IS NPA 20 22 0 0 1 7 POINT.

THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED AS A POSTPONEMENT REQUEST BY MAYOR PROM POOL TO YOUR OCTOBER 10TH COUNCIL MEETING.

AGAIN POSTPONEMENT REQUEST BY MAYOR PROM POOL TO YOUR OCTOBER 10TH COUNCIL MEETING.

ITEM 82.

ITEM 82 IS C 1 4 20 23 0 1 46 THIS WILL BE A DISCUSSION ITEM.

IT IS READY FOR ALL THREE READINGS BUT THIS WILL BE PULLED FOR DISCUSSION.

ITEM 83 IS C 1 4 20 24 0 0 6 4.

THIS ITEMS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

ITEM 84 C 1 4 2 2 4 0 0 6 5.

THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

ITEM 85 IS NPA 20 24 0 0 2 5 POINT.

THIS IS BEING OFFERED AS A NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR SEPTEMBER 26TH COUNCIL MEETING.

AGAIN NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR SEPTEMBER 26 MEETING AND ON 87 IS C 4 20 24.

THIS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

ITEM 88 IS C 14 20 24 5 8.

THIS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT FIRST READING ONLY, AND RETURNING FOR SECOND AND THIRD READING CONSIDERATIONS AT YOUR SEPTEMBER 26 COUNSEL MEETING.

ITEM 89 IS C 1 4 20 24 0 0 4 7.

THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

ITEM NINE IS C 1 4 20 23 1 4 0.

THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

ITEM 91 IS C 1 4 20 24 0 0 5 7.

THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

ITEM 92 A C 1 4 20 24 0 0 5 4.

THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

ITEM 93 A C 1 4 20 24 0 0 8 7.

THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

ITEM 94 C 1 4 20 24 0 0 6 2.

THIS ITEM BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

ITEM 95 IS C 1 4 20 24 0 0 7 2.

THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

ITEM 96 IS NPA 20 23 0 0 1.

0.02 THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT FIRST READING ONLY AND TO RETURN FOR SECOND AND THIRD READING CONSIDERATION AT YOUR OCTOBER 10TH COUNCIL MEETING.

AGAIN, THIS IS BEING OFFERED FOR, UM, FIRST READING AND UM, AGAIN WOULD COME BACK UM, FOR SECOND AND THIRD READINGS OCTOBER 10TH.

I JUST WANNA NOTE THAT, UM, THIS WAS REC THE REZONING WAS RECOMMENDED BY STAFF.

HOWEVER, STAFF DID NOT RECOMMEND THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST FOR THE PARTIAL MODIFICATION

[03:00:01]

TO REDUCE THE GROUND FLOOR REQUIREMENT.

PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED BOTH THE APPLICANT'S REZONING REQUESTS AND THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST FOR THE PARTIAL MODIFICATION TO REDUCE THE GROUND FLOOR COMMERCIAL REQUIREMENT.

AND THAT'S WHAT'S MOVING FORWARD IN THE DRAFT ORDINANCE BEFORE YOU.

SO AGAIN, THIS IS OFFERED FOR FIRST READING THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION AND COMING BACK ON OCTOBER 10 10TH FOR CONSIDERATION.

UM, FOR SECOND AND THIRD READINGS.

ITEM 98 TO C 1 4 20 23 0 1 3 5.

THIS IS BEING OFFERED AS A NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR OCTOBER 10TH COUNCIL MEETING.

UM, ITEM 99 IS C 8 1 4 20 24 0 0 8 3 0.01.

THIS IS BEING OFFERED AS A STAFF POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR SEPTEMBER 26 COUNCIL MEETING.

ITEM 100 IS C 8 1 4 20 20 23 0.

LEMME SAY THAT AGAIN.

ITEM 100 IS C 8 1 14 20 23 0 0 2 7.

THIS IS BEING OFFERED AS A STAFF POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR SEPTEMBER 26TH COUNCIL MEETING.

ITEM 1 0 1 IS C 1 4 20 24 0 0 84.

THIS IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

ITEM 1 0 2 IS NPA 20 23 0 0 0 5 0.01.

THIS IS BEING OFFERED AS A NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR OCTOBER 24TH COUNCIL MEETING.

AGAIN, THIS IS BEING OFFERED AS A NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR OCTOBER 24TH COUNCIL MEETING.

ITEM 1 0 4 NPA 20 24 0 0 2 4 0.01.

THIS IS OFFERED AS CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

ITEM 1 0 6 IS NP 8 20 24 0 0 2, 6 0.02 S EIGHT.

THIS IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

ITEM 1 0 8 IS C 1 4 20 24 0 0 7 5.

THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT.

FIRST READING ONLY.

ITEM 1 0 9 IS C 1 4 20 24 0 0 6 1.

THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

ITEM ONE 10 IS C 1 4 20 24 0 5 9.

THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

THIS ITEM ITEM HAS A VALID PETITION, SO IT'LL REQUIRE A MINIMUM OF NON VOTES FOR APPROVAL ON ALL THREE READINGS.

ITEM ONE 11 IS NPA 20 22 0 0 2 0 0.01.

THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED UM, FOR CONSENT FIRST READING.

HOWEVER, I DO WANNA STATE THAT THERE IS A REQUESTED AND DEFINITE POSTPONEMENT OF THIS CASE, BOTH THE NPA AND THE REZONING BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

THE APPLICANT IS RESPONSIBLE TO PAY EXPENSES RELATED TO NOTICE IF COUNSEL CONSIDERS POSTPONING THIS CASE.

STAFF RECOMMENDS POSTPONING THIS CASE TO A DATE CERTAIN WITHIN THE NEXT 60 DAYS.

SO THE APPLICANT DOES NOT HAVE TO PAY TO SEND NOTICE.

THIS IS ALSO THE NEIGHBORHOOD SECOND POSTPONEMENT REQUEST.

SO YOU DO HAVE AN INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, ON THE TABLE, BUT IT IS READY FOR CONSENT FIRST READING AND OF COURSE, THAT'S AT YOUR DISCRETION.

AGAIN, THE UM, NEIGHBOR HAS REQUESTED AN INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT, BUT THIS, UM, ITEM IS READY FOR CONSENT FIRST READING ONLY.

AND THIS, UH, THESE CASES CAN BE BROUGHT BACK FOR SECOND AND THIRD READING CONSIDERATION AT YOUR SEPTEMBER 26TH COUNCIL MEETING.

ITEM ONE 13 C 14 20 24 0 0 7 0 THIS WILL BE A DISCUSSION ITEM, UM, AND IT IS OFFERED FOR DISCUSSION FIRST READING ONLY.

UM, IF COUNSEL APPROVES THIS ITEM ON FIRST READING TODAY, IT WILL BE BROUGHT BACK FOR SECOND AND THIRD READINGS AFTER SEPTEMBER 26TH.

UM, BUT RIGHT NOW IT'S, UM, OFFERED FOR DISCUSSION.

FIRST READING.

MOVING ON ITEM ONE 14 IS NPA 20 24 0 0 2 6 0.01.

THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED AS AN APPLICANT POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR SEPTEMBER 26 COUNSEL MEETING, AND THE RELATED REONE IS, UM, ITEM ONE 15 C 1 4 22 4 0 0 0 8.

AGAIN, APPLICANT POSTPONEMENT, UM, REQUEST TO YOUR SEPTEMBER 26TH COUNCIL MEETING.

PLEASE.

ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? MS. HARDEN? COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER, JUST TO CLARIFY, FOR 82, DID YOU SAY CONSENT OR DISCUSSION? IT'S BEEN PULLED FOR DISCUSSION.

BUT IT'S BEING OFFERED FOR ALL THREE READING? YES.

ACCOUNT? UM, I DON'T BELIEVE IT DID.

UM, ANY OTHER QUE? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER VELA, UH, UH, MS. HARDEN, UH, JUST A QUICK CLARIFICATIONS ON ITEM 1 0 8.

UH, I WAS JUST LOOKING AT THE BACKUP.

THE, DOES THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION CONTAIN A, A WAIVER OF THE COMMERCIAL REQUIREMENT OR IS THAT NOT PART OF THE, THE FINAL RECOMMENDATION TO

[03:05:01]

UM, FOR 1 0 8, I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAD A WAIVER THEY WOULD HAVE TO COMPLY WITH CONTAINING THE COMMERCIAL SPACE AND, UM OKAY.

THAT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE, OR DESIGN TO IF, EXCUSE ME, NOT CONTAINING DESIGN TO THIS IS A DB 90.

UH, AND SO THEY WOULD HAVE TO DESIGN MM-HMM.

TO THE COMMERCIAL REQUIREMENT AND THAT WOULD BE, THEY WOULD DESIGN TO, UH, THE FIRST FLOOR, WHAT, 75% I THINK? YEAH.

OF THE PRINCIPAL, THE PORTION THAT ABUTS THE, THE MAIN, UH, UH, DOORWAY.

NOW, OF COURSE I KNOW THAT THE, THE EAD, UH, LANGUAGE IS STRONGER.

CORRECT.

UH, AND THE EAD, IF YOU'RE BUILDING AN EOD, IT MUST CONTAIN NOT JUST DESIGN.

IS THAT CORRECT? THAT THAT IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.

UM, BECAUSE THE EOD OR CORRIDORS, WE WANT A PROJECT CONNECT TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

SO AS THE COUNCIL, UM, GAVE THE POLICY DIRECTION TO MAKE SURE WE HAD ACTIVE COMMERCIAL SPACE, AND THAT IS WHY THE EOD LANGUAGE IS STRONGER THAN BECAUSE WE WANT THAT ACTIVE COMMERCIAL SPACE.

DB 90 IS ALLOWED ALL OVER THE CITY AND SOMETIMES THE MARKET MAY NOT, UM, HAVE ENOUGH, UM, ACTIVITY TO MAKE THE COMMERCIAL SPACE SUSTAINABLE.

SO DESIGNED TO IS THE LANGUAGE FOR THEM.

AND THAT, SO THE DESIGN TO BASICALLY IT'S GONNA BE BUILT OUT AND READY TO BE USED, USED AS A COMMERCIAL SPACE WITH THE IDEA THAT EVENTUALLY WE WILL HAVE THE KIND OF COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY AND, AND RESIDENTIAL DENSITY THAT, THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR SUCCESSFUL? THAT IS ABSOLUTELY THE INTENT.

ABSOLUTELY.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE, 'CAUSE I, I, THERE MAY BE A CASE OR TWO WHERE I WOULD TOTALLY WAIVE THE COMMERCIAL REQUIREMENT, BUT AS A GENERAL MATTER, I, I LIKE THE, THE CONTAIN MM-HMM.

LANGUAGE JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PRESERVING, UH, THAT OPTION.

FOR A COMMERCIAL ON, ON THE GROUND FLOOR.

I JUST WANTED, WITH THAT CLARIFICATION, UH, NO, UH, UH, I WOULD MOTION FOR TO.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

UM, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OF MS. HARDIN? OKAY.

UH, I'M GONNA LET THEM MR. COOL.

UM, YES, UM, I THINK THERE IS A REQUEST FOR THE MODIFICATION OF THAT, BUT I THINK THEY, THEY HAVE, UM, TO YOUR QUESTION, I DO THINK THEY DO HAVE A MODIFICATION REQUEST.

AND DO WE KNOW THE DETAILS OF THAT MODIFICATION? I THINK, I THINK I DO.

I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE IS HE IS THE APPLICANT YET? OKAY.

DO YOU KNOW? MM-HMM, .

I'LL HAVE TO FIGURE THAT.

I'LL, I'LL FIND THAT OUT AND LET YOU KNOW.

UH, OKAY.

ALRIGHT, MEMBERS, UM, LET ME ASK BEFORE WE GO TO SPEAKERS, I, I'M, I'M, THE MOTION THAT I WILL ACCEPT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA WILL BE THE MOTION TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS READ BY MS. HARDEN.

UH, BEFORE WE DO THAT THOUGH, I WANT TO ASK, IS THERE ANYBODY THAT WISHES TO PULL SOMETHING FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? MAYOR, LEMME GO AHEAD AND PULL ONE AWAY JUST FOR A MINUTE.

BUT I'M NOT GONNA, I, I'LL, I'LL, WE'LL DO THAT AND I'LL WAIT TO TAKE A MOTION SO THAT WE CAN DETERMINE WHAT, WHAT WE ARE ON THAT.

WITH THAT BEING THE CASE, UM, I'M GOING TO TURN TO THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE FOR HER TO START CALLING SPEAKERS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

MEMBERS FOR THOSE, UH, KEEPING A SCORECARD, 82, CURRENTLY 1 0 8 AND 1 1 3 ARE BEING, UH, ARE, ARE PULLED FOR DISCUSSION AND I'M ASSUMING THAT ONE 11 AND ONE 12 DON'T HAVE A SEPARATE MOTION, UH, BASED UPON THE MOTION WITH THE READING, WHICH WAS FOR, FOR IT TO BE ON CONSENT ON FIRST READING ONLY.

BOTH OF THOSE WOULD BE CONSENT ON FIRST READING PASSAGE ON FIRST READING, AND COME BACK ON 9 26 FOR THE OTHERS.

APPARENTLY I'VE CONFUSED SOMEBODY.

MADAM CLERK, WHAT WERE, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

HANG ON.

THERE'S CONFU.

WHAT'S THE CONFUSION? NO, WE'RE FINE.

LISTEN TO US POUR OUR HEARTS OUT ABOUT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND YOU PASS STUFF THAT'S MAKING THINGS WORSE, NOT BETTER.

FIRST SPEAKERS, CAIA PRINCE, UH, SPEAKING ON THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT FOR ITEMS 1 0 2 AND 1 0 3, AND SPEAKING ON ITEMS 1 0 9, 1 11 AND ONE 12 FOR A TOTAL OF 15 MINUTES.

HELLO? YES, GOOD MORNING.

UH, MY NAME IS KEISHA PRINCE.

I AM, UH, IN DISTRICT NUMBER ONE AND I WANT TO SAY THAT I OPPOSE THE DB 90, UM, UH, ZONING.

I'M OPPOSED TO DB NINE CASES, UH, 1 0 2, 1 0 3, 1 0 9, 1 11, 1 12, AND ONE 13, WHICH ARE IN DISTRICT THREE.

AND THEN DISTRICT ONE.

UM, I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW WE HAVE TO KEEP COMING HERE AND TALKING TO YOU ALL ABOUT THESE THINGS AND YOU

[03:10:01]

SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT, UM, WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO KEEP COMING HERE ASKING AND BEGGING YOU GUYS TO LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY.

THE COMMUNITY IS SPEAKING AND NO ONE IS LISTENING.

AND WE VOTED YOU GUYS IN TO LISTEN TO US, AND I WANT YOU TO PUT YOU ON NOTICE THAT WE'RE WORKING TO GET YOU GUYS OUT THAT'S NOT LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY AND THAT'S MAKING THINGS WORSE.

THANK YOU AND HAVE A GOOD DAY.

BY RENTAL INVESTMENT PROPERTIES.

WE'RE GONNA SWITCH TO IN-PERSON SPEAKERS, AND WE'VE GOT THE FIRST SPEAKER IS WILLIAM BUNCH SPEAKING ON THE MERIT TO THE POSTPONEMENT FOR ITEMS 85, 86 AND 100.

I DIDN'T CATCH THE POSTPONEMENT ON 100.

THAT'S STILL PENDING.

SEPTEMBER 26TH, MR. BUNCH IS WAIVED RIGHT TO SPEAK ON THOSE ITEMS. NEXT SPEAKER IS BRAD MASSING SPEAKING ON ITEMS 88 89, 92, 97, 1 0 9, 1 10, 1 11, 1 12, AND SPEAKING ON THE MERIT OF THE POSTPONEMENT FOR ITEMS 1 0 2 AND 1 0 3 FOR A TOTAL OF 33 MINUTES.

HEY, Y'ALL.

HOWDY.

I'M BRAD MASSENGILL.

I'M FROM DISTRICT THREE.

UH, I'M, UH, REPRESENTING THE BIRD STREETS NEIGHBORHOOD AND, UH, I'M, I'M, I'M HERE BASICALLY TO, TO ASK FOR A POSTPONEMENT ON ALL THE DB NINETIES IN TOWN OR MORATORIUM.

UM, I, I THINK WE'RE GETTING WAY AHEAD OF OURSELVES WITH THIS.

UM, IT'S NO ACCIDENT THAT ISSUE ORIENTED GROUPS AROUND TOWN ARE GOING OFF MESSAGE TO TAKE THE CITY COUNCIL AND ITS CURRENT PUBLIC NOTIFICATION PROCESS AND OPEN MEETING HABITS TO TASK IF CITIZENS AND THEIR ADVOCATES HAVE NO TIMELY AND MEANINGFUL ACCESS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

THE CAUSES WE WORK SO HARD FOR ARE ALMOST SECONDARY TO REGAINING ACCESS TO OUR GOVERNMENT.

IT'S WORTH REMINDING Y'ALL OUR VARYING CAUSES AND THE INTER RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT IS PROTECTED BY STATE AND FEDERAL LAW AS ARE OUR INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS OF PROTEST.

IT'S OBVIOUS TO MANY OF US THAT WE ARE BEING EXCLUDED BY OMISSION FROM PARTICIPATING IN OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT GROUPS NOT ALIGNED WITH THE CURRENT CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ARE MARGINALIZED.

WHILE GROUPS TO TOWING THE LINE ARE NOT ONLY GAINING DIRECT ACCESS TO SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS, BUT PRACTICALLY GHOST RIDING PUBLIC POLICY.

OUR CITY'S NON-GOVERNMENTAL SAFETY NET AND CITIZEN LED ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES ARE SUFFERING BECAUSE WE'RE BATTLING OUR OWN CITY OVER THINGS.

YOUR AVERAGE LONG TIME AUSTINITE THOUGHT WAS PART OF THE FABRIC OF THE BIGGEST LITTLE TOWN IN TEXAS.

WE WOULD RATHER BE PURSUING OUR MISSIONS BY MAYOR.

UM, IT FEELS LIKE WE ARE BEING ROBBED OF OUR SELF-IMAGE AS A CITY THAT CARES, A CITY OF COMPASSION AND EXEMPLAR OF THE RIGHT WAY TO TACKLE SOCIAL ISSUES AND CLIMATE ISSUES.

IT'S TIME FOR NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES IN THE SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMUNITY TO FOCUS ON REASSERTING OUR COLLECTIVE RIGHTS OF PROTEST AND DEMAND PROPER MODERN NOTIFICATIONS SO WE CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS OF RE-IMAGINING OUR CITY.

THIS CITY SEEMS TO HAVE A SINGLE-MINDED OBSESSION WITH DENSITY GROWTH AND THE FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION GRANT, A GRANT WE MAY OR MAY NOT GET.

I'M LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE A HOMEOWNER NOW, BUT FOR DECADES I'VE LIVED AND BEEN CHASED ALL OVER THIS TOWN AS THE INVESTMENT DEVELOPMENT CYCLE HAS GONE ON FOR AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN HERE ABOUT 50 YEARS.

THAT'S HARSH BUT NORMAL.

WHAT'S GOING ON NOW IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

THIS ISN'T MOM AND POP INVESTORS IN JERSEY.

THIS ISN'T A BANK OR AN SNL CRISIS.

THIS ISN'T ENRON.

THIS IS EVEN NECESSARILY THE BILLIONAIRES STOMPING ON AUSTIN LIKE GODZILLA.

IT'S OUR OWN CITY COUNCIL SELLING US OUT.

Y'ALL ARE BEING LED DOWN THE PRIMROSE PATH BY ANOTHER BUNCH OF GET RICH QUICK FOLKS TELLING PEOPLE FRESH OUTTA SCHOOL THAT IT'S THEIR GOD-GIVEN RIGHT TO OWN A HOUSE RIGHT OUT OF THE RIGHT AFTER GRADUATING.

I'M WELL INTO MY SIXTIES AND KNOW VERY FEW PEOPLE THAT THAT WAS TRUE FOR MOST FOLKS MY AGE DIDN'T EVEN GET CLOSE TO HOME OWNERSHIP UNTIL THEIR MID THIRTIES.

WHY ARE YOU GETTING THESE FOLKS ALL RILED UP ABOUT THIS? AND THE 1970S CAMPUS WAS SURROUNDED

[03:15:01]

RENTING A SMALL ONE BEDROOM FOR 85 BUCKS WASN'T UNCOMMON.

OF COURSE, THE RENTERS, PRIMARILY SEASONAL COLLEGE STUDENTS WERE IN EFFECT PLACE MARKERS FOR THE PROPERTIES THAT OUT OF TOWN OWNER INVESTORS DIDN'T WANT TO FALL INTO DISREPAIR.

IT WAS CHEAPER THEM FOR THEM TO RENT THEM OUT FOR NEXT TO NOTHING THAN TO LEAVE THEM ABANDONED.

AND TOTALLY A TOTAL LIABILITY, A POTENTIAL LIABILITY, SORRY.

IT WAS REALLY JUST A WAITING GAME TYPE OF INVESTMENT UTILIZING BASIC MARKET FORCES TO TURN A PROFIT.

OVER TIME AS DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS BECAME MORE DESIRABLE, THE CHEAP RENT HOUSES GOT SOLD TO DEVELOPERS TO BE REPLACED BY MORE EXPENSIVE HOUSING.

THIS IS THE CYCLE.

MANY MUSICIANS AND ARTISTS IN TOWN HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT TO AFFORD TO STAY HERE IN AUSTIN.

WITHOUT THIS DYNAMIC, THE ARTS COMMUNITY AND PEOPLE WHO JUST, WHO JUST LIKE TO BE AROUND IT ARE FINDING THEMSELVES PRICED OUT OF EXISTENCE.

SAY BYE-BYE TO OUR MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD TITLE.

WE'RE GOING TO BE JUST ANOTHER BIG CITY WITH AN ENTERTAINMENT SCENE, NOT A VIBRANT MUSIC SCENE.

AND THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE.

AFFORDABLE AUSTIN MADE.

AUSTIN.

MOST OF THE PLACES I'VE LIVED IN AUSTIN HAVE GONE THROUGH THE CYCLE.

BACK IN THE SEVENTIES, I LIVED IN VARIOUS LITTLE MOTELS UP AND DOWN SOUTH LAMAR IN SOUTH CONGRESS.

PLACES LIKE THE BLUEBONNET, THE CACTUS COURT, AND THE TWIN OAKS.

NOW THEY'RE LONG GONE, BUT AS MU AS MUSICIAN TYPES, WE COULD ACTUALLY AFFORD TO STAY THERE AND WORK ON OUR MUSIC AND GROW THE SCENE ORGANICALLY BECAUSE WE HAD A PLACE WE COULD AFFORD AND A PLACE WE COULD FLOURISH.

IN THE EIGHTIES, I HAD A FARM OUT ON BRODY LANE.

IT GOT CAUGHT UP IN THE SAVINGS AND LOAN SCANDAL.

I MOVED FROM THERE OVER TO KENNY LANE, TWO DOORS DOWN FROM SOUTH LAMAR, AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON THERE NOW.

THAT'S HARDLY AFFORDABLE.

IN THE NINETIES, I HAD A COMMUNITY CENTER DOWNTOWN CALLED THE GREEN ROUND ON FIFTH STREET.

I WAS ABLE TO SUPPLY VERY AFFORDABLE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR POOR ASPIRING MUSICIANS, INCLUDING A FUTURE MEMBER OF THE BLACK PUMAS AMONG OTHERS.

IT WAS, IT'S WHERE THE WEST END IS NOW.

ALL THESE PLACES WERE AT ONE TIME AFFORDABLE AND NOT PARTICULARLY DESIRABLE.

WE MADE THEM DESIRABLE AND KEPT THEM FROM BEING RUN DOWN.

NOW IT SEEMS WE'RE UNDESIRABLE IN GETTING RUN OFF JUST AND ASK ANY OLDER MUSICIAN IN TOWN, THEY'RE GONNA TELL YOU STORIES ABOUT BEING ROOMMATES, SHARING A TWO OR THREE BEDROOM HOUSE WITH THE WHOLE BAND.

THIS IS OUR DEFINITION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

AND NOW WE'RE JUST GONNA TEAR ALL THIS STUFF DOWN AND PUT UP THESE LITTLE CUBICLES FOR TEMPORARY HOUSING AND FIRST TIME HOMEOWNER, HOMEOWNERS THAT WILL FLIP THEM WHEN THEY HAVE, WHEN THEIR FIRST KID COMES ALONG.

WE'RE EXCLUDING AN IMPORTANT AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING TYPE.

SUBURBAN HOME SHARING.

THIS IS THE ACTUAL KIND OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING MANY PEOPLE STRAIGHT OUT OF SCHOOL CAN AFFORD.

IT'S ACTUALLY CHEAPER FOR FOUR PEOPLE TO SPLIT A FOUR BEDROOM HOUSE THAN FOR FOUR PEOPLE TO RENT INDIVIDUAL EFFICIENCIES.

IT'S JUST MATH.

IT, IT'S JUST THE WAY THAT IT IS, THAT IT IS.

EACH OF THESE EFFICIENCIES WOULD HAVE ITS OWN SEWER, ITS OWN ELECTRIC HOOKUPS, ITS OWN METER, ITS OWN BILLING.

ALL THAT STUFF CONTRIBUTES TO THE PRICE PER UNIT COST FOR ACTUAL RENTERS.

I CAN'T HELP BUT BILL THAT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS IS A HUGE DRIVER IN THIS LATER PUSH FOR DENSITY.

A LARGE PORTION OF THE TARGETED AREA FOR THESE PROJECTS IS NORTHWEST OF UT.

UT STUDENT BODY HAS GROWN LARGER AND LARGER EVERY YEAR AND MORE PEOPLE ARE STICKING AROUND DURING THE SUMMERTIME.

IN ADDITION, AT LEAST 30,000 UNITS OF HOUSING IN AUSTIN ARE TAKEN OUT OF THE RENTAL MARKET DUE TO SHORT TERM RENTALS.

COUPLED THAT WITH THE HUGE ANNUAL DEMAND FOR STUDENT HOUSING EVERY FALL.

AND IT'S EASY TO SEE WHERE OUR, OUR HOMES AND OUR WAY OF LIFE ARE BEING THRUST ON THE DEVELOPMENT CHOPPING BLOCK.

UT THE INFILL BOOSTERS AND NEO URBANIST GROUPS HAVE BEEN PUSHING TO CHANGE THE CITY'S DEVELOPMENT CODE TO MAKE IT EASIER TO DISSECT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND TURN THEM INTO STUDENT HOUSING.

MEANWHILE, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS WITH ITS HUGE CAMPUS AND PUBLIC HOLDINGS KEEPS PUTTING MORE AND MORE ATHLETIC FIELDS ALL OVER THE PLACE, ALL THE WHILE ASKING THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN TO SUBSIDIZE THEIR HOUSING DILEMMA BY ASKING FOR MORE AND MORE CONCESSIONS FROM THE CITY.

IT'D BE MY CONTENTION, CONTENTION THAT UT NEEDS TO BE APPLYING FOR SOME OF THESE FEDERAL GRANTS AND MAKE SERIOUS EFFORT PUTTING UP SOME ON-CAMPUS AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THEIR STUDENT BODY INSTEAD OF PUSHING IT OFF ON THE TAXPAYERS OF AUSTIN AND THE HOMEOWNERS THAT LIVE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO UT, MANY OF WHICH ARE FORMER UNT UT EMPLOYEES.

THEY'RE FINDING THEMSELVES BEING

[03:20:01]

PUSHED OUTTA TOWN AND SURROUNDED BY SHORT-TERM RENTALS, ALL NIGHT PARTYING AND NO PLACE TO PARK.

TENURED RETIRED PROFESSORS ARE FACING THE PROSPECT OF 90 TO 120 FOOT TOWERS NECK TO THEIR FOREVER HOMES.

THIS WHOLE THING SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING HATCHED BY THE MCCOMB SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND THE URBAN DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AT UT.

THEY JUST WANT TO USE AUSTIN AS A BIG SOCIAL EXPERIMENT.

AUSTIN MIGHT AS WELL BE A SIMS GAME OR A MONOPOLY BOARD TO THEIR DEVELOPER INVESTMENT COMMUNITY RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN AND THE ENVIRONMENT, OR NOTHING MORE THAN AN ABSTRACTION AT BEST, BUT IT FEELS LIKE WE'RE REALLY MORE OF A NUISANCE TO THEM.

LOOKING AT THE LIST OF DB NINETIES BEING PROPOSED, IT SEEMS LIKE AN ERASER IS BEING TAKE TAKEN TO THE PICTURE OF THE AUSTIN ARTS AND MUSIC SCENE.

OUR URBAN FOREST IS BEING PHOTOSHOPPED TO HIDE THE FACT THAT THE OLD GROWTH TREES ARE IN PROGRESS' WAY AND THE FUNKINESS THAT WE CHERISH IS BEING UPGRADED TO SOME SHINY SEMBLANCE OF SOMEONE ELSE'S VISION OF LIVABILITY.

WE LIKE OLD STUFF, WE LIKE WOOD FRAME HOUSES THEY FEEL LIVED IN THE AUSTIN YOU'RE TRYING TO WALLPAPER OVER IS THAT AUSTIN.

THE AREA BETWEEN SOUTH FIRST LAMAR AND LAMAR FROM ANNIE UP TO ALTOR, FOR INSTANCE, HAS BEEN THE HOME TO HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF MUSICIANS.

SO MANY OF CLASSIC SONGS PEOPLE LOVE AND CHERISH WERE IMAGINED IN THESE HOUSES BECAUSE MUSICIANS, IE POOR PEOPLE COULD AFFORD TO LIVE THERE.

THE QUEST FOR DENSITY BUILDING IN THE CITY'S INNER CORE IS GOING TO GUT THE SOUL OF OUR TOWN.

I KNOW FORKS ALL OVER THE CITY FROM ANDERSON MILL OUT BY THE Y MCNEIL ROAD, 9 69 ONION CREEK, NORTHEAST, SOUTHWEST, THE EASTERN CRESCENT, ALL THE OUTLYING AREAS OF GREATER AUSTIN AND PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE SUBURBS OUT THERE ARE FRUSTRATED WITH TRAFFIC AND THE CONGESTION AND THE FACT THAT THERE IS NO TRANSPORTATION THAT MOVES PEOPLE INTERNALLY IN OUR SUBURBS, THEY COMPLAIN ABOUT THE LACK OF MEANINGFUL TRANSIT LINES THAT GET THEM IN AND OUT OF TOWN.

IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO HAVE BIG PARKING LOTS OUT THERE.

PEOPLE STILL HAVE TO DRIVE TO GET TO THE SINGLE TRAIN LINE OR THE COMMUTER BUSES.

THERE HAS TO BE A VIABLE TRANSPORTATION IN THE SUBURB SUBURBS, CRISSCROSSING EAST TO WEST BUSES RUNNING REGULARLY AND CONSISTENTLY SO PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY USE THEM.

I'VE GOT NEWS FOR Y'ALL.

PEOPLE AREN'T GONNA LEAVE THE SUBURBS TO MOVE INTO LITTLE TINY CUBICLES IN TOWN.

EVEN IF THEY DO, THE HOUSES THAT THEY'RE LEAVING ARE STILL GONNA BE THERE WITH OCCUPANTS, WITH, WITH CARS THAT STILL NEED TO GET INTO TOWN.

IS THAT IT? NO.

18 MINUTES.

AND I I ALSO WANT TO, UH, FEEL IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE ON THE RECORD HERE TO LET THE GENERAL PUBLIC KNOW THAT OUR CITY COUNCIL, OUR CLIMATE CHANGE DENIERS.

I THOUGHT, THOUGHT I WAS TALKING SLOW.

BUT, UM, DENSITY IS A FAULT SOLUTION.

IF CONGESTION IS THE PROBLEM.

WE SHOULD REALLY BE WORKING ON GETTING ORDINANCES DESIGNED TO MAKE, MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO TURN THEIR SUBURBAN HOUSES INTO DUPLEX, TRIPLEX, AND FOURPLEX UNITS.

WE NEED TO REPURPOSE ALL THOSE LARGER BEDROOM COUNT HOUSES.

WE SHOULD BE SUBDIVIDING EXISTING MULTIFAMILY HOMES, NOT OUR URBAN FOREST.

MAKING BIG HOUSES INTO MANY APARTMENT BUILDINGS WOULD ACTUALLY BE SOMETHING THAT ALIGNS WITH THE CURRENT POPULATION TRENDS.

OUR AGING POPULATIONS NEED STAY IN PLACE OPTIONS NOT WAREHOUSING.

AS A CITY, WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT INCENTIVIZING SMALL GROCERY STORES, BODEGAS AND LIMITED DELIVERY SERVICES FOR ALL NEIGHBORHOODS.

WE NEED NEIGHBORHOOD DISTRI DISTRIBUTION HUBS, BRINGING GOODS AND SERVICES WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF EVERY AUSTINITE SHOULD BE A GOAL.

IT WOULD MAKE MUCH MORE SENSE THAN TRYING TO GET EVERYBODY TO MOVE DOWNTOWN, JUST TO BE STACKED ON TOP OF ONE ANOTHER, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE TRAIN DOESN'T ACTUALLY EXIST YET AND MAY NEVER EXIST.

THE RUSH TO GET ALL THIS DONE IN A HURRY IS UNDERCUTTING OUR STANDING IN THE FEDERAL GRANT PROCESS.

IT IS ALSO LEFT EVERYTHING Y'ALL ARE DOING OPEN TO CRITICISM BY FOLKS CONDUCTING THE REVIEW FOR THE GRANT.

WE'RE SO DESPERATELY PURSUING, IGNORING OPEN MEETINGS RULES, ISSUING PUBLIC NOTIFICATIONS WITH MINIMAL INFORMATION AND SUPER ABBREVIATED TIME SCHEDULES, LEAVING THE PUBLIC WITH NO TRUE PARTICIPATION.

IGNORING CITIZENS' RIGHTS TO PROTEST AND TRYING TO MAKE PETITIONS HARDER TO GET.

IT ALL ADDS UP TO A BAD SCORE ON PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SECTION OF THE FEDERAL GRANT APPLICATION.

IF AFFORDABILITY, A SOLUTION TO CONGESTION AND ACCOMMODATING NEW RESIDENTS IS A PURPOSE OF THE FTA GRANT, THIS T AIN'T GONNA CUT IT.

GOING AROUND THE CITIZENRY IS A VERY BAD LOOK.

THERE HAVE GOT TO BE OTHER MORE APPROPRIATE GRANTS OUT THERE.

[03:25:04]

THE MOST RECENT BATCH OF CHANGES TO CODE HAVE BEEN DONE WITH A BLINDERS ON THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY IS FAIRLY UNANIMOUS ON THE ISSUE OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

ALL THESE CODE CHANGES ARE BEING DONE THROUGH THE LENS OF 20TH CENTURY SCIENTIFIC DATA.

UPON QUESTIONING SUPERVISORS AT WATERSHED PROTECTION, THERE IS NO DIRECTIVE BEING RECEIVED FROM THIS CITY COUNCIL TO INCLUDE ANY PROJECTIVE CLIMATE CHANGE DATA IN THEIR PROPOSALS.

THEY ONLY USE HISTORICAL FLOODING DATA.

I WANNA EMPHASIZE THAT THAT'S SUPER IMPORTANT.

THEY'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING TO PROJECT FIVE YEAR, 10 YEAR, 15 YEAR INCREASES OF FLOODING AND WE'RE DECREASING PROTECTIONS FOR FLOODING.

EXCLUDING FUTURE FORECAST DATA WILL SIMULTANEOUSLY ISSUE WELL SIMULTANEOUSLY ISSUING BLANKET EXEMPTIONS FOR DRAINAGE REVIEW AND ALLOWING MORE THAN 45% IMPERVIOUS COVER ON THESE DB NINETIES IS IGNORING THE FACT THAT WE LIVE IN FLASH FLOOD ALLEY AND WE'RE GOING TO BE EXPERIENCING, I INCREASED QUANTITIES OF RAINFALL AND CORRESPONDING RUNOFF PASSING THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORHOODS GREEN BELTS AND WATERSHEDS.

WE HAVE A FAIRLY SEVERE LOT TO LOT FLOODING ISSUE AS IT EXISTS NOW.

THE WATERSHED IS SUFFERING.

THE WATER TABLE'S DOWN THE LAKES ARE DOWN.

I FIND IT DISHEARTENING THAT OUR LEAD, THE LEADERS OF OUR CITY DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH FORESIGHT AND SPIRITUAL FORTITUDE TO LOOK INTO THE FUTURE AND PROTECT OUR CITY AND CITIZENS AND ENVIRONMENT.

UPCOMING CHANGES TO OUR CLIMATE WILL ENSURE MUCH MORE WATER WILL BE PASSING THROUGH OUR CITY.

AGAIN.

AUSTIN WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT DOES NOT INCLUDE FUTURE FLOODING FORECASTING IN THEIR MODEL.

THIS IS WILL BE DEVASTATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND MANY PEOPLE'S PROPERTY.

WE KNOW THIS IS A FACT.

SCIENTISTS ARE TELLING US RIGHT NOW.

IN ADDITION, TEXAS STATE, TEXAS LAW STATES IT'S AGAINST THE LAW TO FLOOD SOMEONE BY CHANGE OF THE COURSE OR BY IGNORING DRAINAGE REQUIREMENTS AND IMPERVIOUS COVER RULES.

CAN I, CAN I INTERRUPT AND ASK, ARE YOU, IS THERE A SPECIFIC ITEM YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW? ALL THESE DB NINETIES.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ALL THE DB 90.

ALL THE DB 90.

GETTING 'CAUSE NO ONE'S EVEN LOOKED INTO IT.

AND I THINK THAT'S FAIR.

WHETHER IT IS OR NOT, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO IT.

WELL, I I I THINK IT'S THIS, THIS ALL HAS TO DO WITH IMPERVIOUS COVER.

I I, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I I CAN GO OFF SCRIPT FOR A MINUTE.

I'D LOVE TO TALK TO YOU IF YOU WANT TO ASK MORE QUESTIONS.

I'M HERE SO WELL, UH, SURE.

UH, UH, ALRIGHT.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THERE WASN'T SOME SPECIFIC ITEM I NEEDED TO PAY ATTENTION TO.

WELL, IT SPECIFICALLY, I I MEAN, AT THE BEGINNING I DID MENTION THE FACT THAT I THINK THERE SHOULD BE, UH, POSTPONEMENT AND MORATORIUM ON THE DB NINETIES.

SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU.

GO AHEAD.

UM, I'M, I'M PRACTICALLY FINISHED.

UH, SO, UM, ANYWAY, TO, I'M GONNA BACK UP JUST A SECOND HERE BECAUSE, UH, THIS IS IMPORTANT.

UH, TEXAS LAW STATES IT'S AGAINST THE LAW TO FLOOD SOMEONE BY CHANGING THE COURSE OF WATER BY IGNORING DRAINAGE REQUIREMENTS AND IMPERVIOUS COVER RULES.

SOON THE CITY OF AUSTIN WILL BE ACTIVELY ENGAGING IN FLOODING OUR NEIGHBORS NEIGHBORS, WHICH HAVE NO OTHER RECOURSE THAN TO SUE THE CITY FOR PASSING THE CURRENT BUNCH OF BLOOD MAKING ORDINANCES.

THE CITY IS TAKING ON THIS LIABILITY JUST THE SAME AS IF WE ARE CRIMINALLY BLOCKING, OBSTRUCTING, OR RECHANNELING WATERING WATER ONTO OUR FELLOW CITIZENS' PROPERTY.

WE'VE BEEN WARNED, UH, WE DON'T FLOOD PEOPLE.

AND, AND WHAT, WHAT ALL THIS HAS TO DO WITH ALL THESE DIFFERENT DB NINETIES IS THEY'RE, THEY'RE BEING PLACED ON, ON THE WATERSHED MAP WITHOUT PROPER GUIDANCE.

I'VE TALKED TO THE WATERSHED GUYS AND THEY HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION FROM Y'ALL WHEN THEY'RE PASSING THESE ORDINANCES ONTO YOU TO BE PASSED.

THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH FUTURE FLOODING ON THESE LOCATIONS.

AND I I, I'VE HEARD TIME AND TIME AGAIN PEOPLE HERE AND IN PLANNING COMMISSION TO REFERENCE, UH, WATERSHED AS A SOURCE OF, UH, APPROVING THESE THINGS.

AND WE LIVE IN A WATER PRONE FLASH FLOOD AREA.

WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A RIVER VALLEY AND YOU KNOW, THE PASSING THESE DB NINETIES, THEY, THEY ARE WAY OVER THE, THE PRE THE IMPERVIOUS COVER LIMITS THAT WE HAVE ALREADY.

SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INCREASING THE FLOODING ALREADY, PLUS WHATEVER WE DON'T KNOW, IT'S A MYSTERY HOW MUCH MORE WATER WE COULD POSSIBLY BE

[03:30:01]

SO, UM, THANKS FOR LISTENING TO ME.

I'LL LET Y'ALL HAVE YOUR LAST EIGHT MINUTES.

YOU'LL HAVE A GREAT DAY.

NEXT SPEAKER IS CHRIS.

PAGE IS MR. PAGE HERE, FOLLOWED BY JENNY GRAYSON AND GENE ADAMS. CHRIS PAGE.

CHRIS PAGE.

ARE YOU GONNA SPEAK? UH, MR. PAGE IS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 88 89 92, 97, 1 0 3, 1 0 9, 1 10, 1 11, 1 12.

AND ON THE MERIT TO THE POSTPONEMENT FOR ITEM 1 0 2, FOR ITEM 1 0 9, HE HAS DONATED TIME FROM MONICA GUZMAN IS MS. GUZMAN HERE.

SO HE HAS A TOTAL OF 33 MINUTES.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND UH, FOR LISTENING.

UM, AND I'M SPEAKING GENERALLY RIGHT NOW ON ALL THESE CASES.

I'VE GOT TWO DB NINETIES IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD WITHIN A HUNDRED YARDS OF EACH OTHER.

UM, IF YOU ACTUALLY, IF ANYONE ACTUALLY LOOKED AT VM U2, YOU KNOW THAT THERE WAS A PART FIVE OF THAT ORDINANCE THAT DID NOT MAKE ITS WAY INTO DB 90.

PART FIVE OF VM U2 EXPLICITLY ADVISED AGAINST THE APPLICATION OF DB 90 IN LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES WHERE 60% CITYWIDE AVERAGE MFI EXCEEDS 100% CENSUS TRACKED MFI I'M IN CENSUS TRACTED 8.02 AND THAT'S THE CASE.

BUT THERE'S NOTHING IN DB 90 THAT ACCOUNTS FOR THIS.

AND EVERY TIME I'VE ASKED QUESTIONS OF STAFF, INCLUDING PEOPLE WHO SHOULD HAVE GREAT INSIGHT ONTO THIS, UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT BECAME OF THE DIRECTION OF THE PRIOR CITY MANAGER, NO ONE HAS AN ANSWER.

I THINK IT'S A SHAME THAT IN A CITY WHERE WE TALK ABOUT EQUITY, WE TALK ABOUT PLACEMAKING FOR THE RESIDENTS THAT'S, THAT ARE SUFFERING SEVERE STRESS ON THEIR LIMITED CAPACITY TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES.

WE DON'T HAVE ANSWERS.

UM, I THINK IT'S ALSO KIND OF PECULIAR THAT WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU WANT TO CALL IT AN EXTENSION OF VM U2.

OKAY, BUT VM U2, AGAIN, UTTERLY DIFFERENT IN A NUMBER OF WAYS THAT I HAVEN'T GONE INTO YET.

VM U2 WAS CREATED AS AN EMERGENCY PROVISION TO TRY TO ALLEVIATE A HOUSING CRISIS IN OUR CITY, WHICH WAS LARGELY CREATED FROM CIRCUMSTANCES THAT ARE COMPLEX AND FAR BEYOND THE SCOPE OF WHAT CAN BE SOLVED IN MIRROR ENTITLING.

UM, WE'RE STILL USING THAT EMERGENCY THING.

IT'S LIKE A SLEDGEHAMMER IN BRAIN SURGERY.

I DON'T KNOW WHY WE CAN'T PAUSE AFTER WHAT WE DID IN MAY OF THIS YEAR, WHICH FLOODED OUR CITY WITH TONS OF ENTITLEMENTS.

ALL OF WHICH WE'RE TRYING TO SORT OUT WHAT, YOU KNOW, ARE THEY BEING IMPLEMENTED? ARE THEY BEING EXPLOITED? ARE THEY CREATING HOUSING? IS IT AFFORDABLE? WE DON'T KNOW.

BUT THERE IS A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF NEW ENTITLEMENTS THAT HAVE GONE INTO THE CITY AND WE'RE STILL USING THAT SLEDGEHAMMER FOR BRAIN SURGERY.

UM, I WISH THAT THE CITY COULD TAKE THE TIME THAT IT NEEDS TO TO GET THESE THINGS RIGHT.

'CAUSE I KNOW NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE PAST HAVE VOLUNTEERED LITERALLY YEARS OF EFFORT MEETING WITH THE CITY AND MY PARTICULAR COMMUNITY, THE ROSEWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD.

UH, THERE WAS A ROSEWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD CONTACT TEAM THAT MET BIMONTHLY ON A MINIMUM BASIS WITH EVERYONE IN THE CITY WHO WOULD MEET WITH THEM.

AND THEY GAVE THE MOST GENEROUS ENTITLEMENTS THAT THAT PART OF THE CITY CAN ABSORB.

IT LOOKED AT ROADS, IT LOOKED AT THE NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

IT LOOKED AT THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND THE COMMUNITY THAT INTENDED TO STAY.

SINCE THEN, WE'VE INCREASED ENTITLEMENTS ON OUR OWN.

WE OPTED INTO, UH, VERTICAL MIXED USE, BUT WE DID THAT IN A THOUGHTFUL WAY THAT HAD A CONDITIONAL OVERLAY.

ANOTHER THING THAT'S EXTREMELY DISTINCT IN DB 90 VERSUS VM U2 CONDITIONAL OVERLAYS REPRESENT SMALL AREA PLANNING AND CAREFUL COMMUNITY CONSIDERATION FOR HOW IMPACT INVESTMENT, UH, CHANGE REDEVELOPMENT, HOW ALL OF THAT ACTUALLY AFFECTS THE RESIDENTS THAT WE HAVE.

SO WHY THIS SUDDEN INTERPRETATION OF DB 90 THAT COS AS IT RELATES TO USE CAN EXIST, BUT AS IT RELATES TO HEIGHT CANNOT EXIST, IS PERPLEXING.

IT'S A LOSS OF CAREFUL CALIBRATION.

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT SOME PEOPLE FEEL THAT REGULATIONS ARE CALCIFYING GROWTH, THAT THEY'RE LIMITING OUR CAPACITY

[03:35:01]

TO ADDRESS OUR PROBLEMS. BUT OTHER REGULATIONS ARE NOT CALCIFYING.

THEY ARE IN FACT LIFE SAVING OR LIFE CREATING OR SUSTAINING.

I MEAN, YOU WOULDN'T LOOK AT THINGS LIKE EXXON VALDEZ OIL SPILL AND SAY THAT, OH, THERE WAS, UH, JUST, YOU KNOW, IT WAS A PROBLEM OF REGULATION.

THERE'S HUGE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR CITY THAT ARE BEING FELT EVERY DAY BY THE WORKING CLASS THAT WE PRETEND TO LOVE AND CARE ABOUT.

AND WE ARE NOT MEETING THEIR NEEDS, CUTTING DOWN REGULATIONS IN AN UNCAREFUL WAY, IN A WAY THAT PUTS IN HOUSING THAT'S NOT ACTUALLY AFFORDABLE TO THE CENSUS TRACT IN A WAY THAT WIPES OUT THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACHIEVEMENTS THAT WERE ONLY ACHIEVED BY SHEER BLOOD AND SWEAT AND EFFORT OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO MET AND BECAME EXPERTS ON ISSUES THAT THEY HAD NO ACADEMIC BACKGROUND IN, NO PROFESSIONAL TRAINING IN, BUT THEY LOVED AND CARED SO MUCH ABOUT THEIR COMMUNITY THAT THEY WENT OUT AND DID WHAT THEY HAD TO TO TRY TO HELP EACH OTHER.

AND TO MAKE AUSTIN.

AUSTIN, I'VE BEEN, YOU KNOW, FRIED THIS WEEK TRYING TO PREPARE FOR TWO DB 90 CASES IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH WOULD SET A PRECEDENT THAT WOULD EXPLODE MY WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE ARE RINGED IN CS ZONING THAT HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH THE CITY'S RACIST HISTORY OF LAND USE THAT INTENTIONALLY PLACED SOME OF THE MOST INTENSE BASE ZONINGS INTO RESIDENTIAL AREAS, PURELY RESIDENTIAL AREAS WITH THE INTENT TO FRACTURE THOSE COMMUNITIES.

WE HAD INCINERATOR, POWER PLANTS, GAS TANK, GAS TANK STORAGE FARMS, AND SO MANY OTHER THINGS THAT WERE LITERALLY KILLING PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR HOMES.

NOW I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT NINE STORY BUILDINGS ARE DOING THE SAME THING, BUT THEY'RE CERTAINLY NOT BEING EVENLY SPREAD ACROSS THE CITY OR EVEN IN A THOUGHTFUL WAY AS IT RELATES TO BUILT INFRASTRUCTURE OR THE NEEDS THAT THEY WILL CREATE FOR CHANGED INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH FRANKLY WE DON'T HAVE.

NOR CAN WE GET UNLESS YOU START BUYING OUT PROPERTIES JUST LIKE WE'RE DOING FOR I 35 OR THE STATE'S DOING.

SO, I WOULD HOPE THAT FOR EVERY ONE OF THESE CASES WE DON'T TREAT IT OR CONTINUE TO TREAT IT LIKE IT'S A, IT'S AN ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVAL WHICH VIOLATED STATE LAW OR THAT THERE WAS SOMEHOW ACTUALLY A VMU TWO, RIGHT? WHEN IN FACT, UH, IT WAS VOID AB INIA, WHICH MEANS YOU DON'T GET RIGHTS FROM SOMETHING THAT'S AN ILLEGAL ORDINANCE AND YOU PARTICULARLY DON'T GET THOSE RIGHTS WHEN THE CITY WAS RECENTLY INFORMED BY A COURT HOW THOSE RIGHTS ARE INTENDED TO BE ADMINISTERED.

NOW THIS IS NOT OBSTRUCTION, THIS IS NOT ABOUT RIVALRY, THIS IS NOT ABOUT GRUDGES.

THIS IS ABOUT WHAT WORKS IN THE CITY AND THOUGHTFUL, CAREFUL PLANNING.

AND FRANKLY I DON'T SEE IT.

IF YOU CONTINUE TO RUBBER STAMP THESE CASES, IF YOU CONTINUE TO DRAFT POLICIES THAT DON'T WORK OR CUT OUT ALL THE CAREFUL CONSIDERATIONS THAT BUSINESSES AND INVESTORS DON'T WANT, BUT THAT COMMUNITIES NEED, THEN YOU ARE ONLY BUILDING MORE PROBLEMS FOR YOURSELF.

YOU'LL GET INCREASINGLY HOSTILE RESIDENTS.

YOU'LL GET INCREASING DISPLACEMENT, YOU'LL GET INCREASING EXPLOITATION.

IT TURNS INTO MOBY DICK.

I MEAN LITERALLY I HAVE MILLIONAIRES HARPOONING MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND ABOUT 20% OF THE LAND, AND YOU'LL SEE IT IN SOME OF MY PRESENTATIONS, IS OWNED BY CORPORATIONS WHICH ARE ALL HELD BY ONE COMPANY AND ALMOST ALL OF THEM ARE VACANT.

THEY'VE BUILT NOTHING BECAUSE AS LONG AS THE GRAVY TRAIN OF ENTITLEMENTS KEEPS POURING INTO THEIR POCKETS, THEY HAVE NO NEED TO BUILD.

THEY'RE ALREADY PROFITING SO MUCH FROM THE WINDFALLS THAT THEY CAN BE IDLE, HOLD ON LONGER.

JUST KEEP LIMITING THE LIMITED SUPPLY THAT WE HAVE.

AND THAT IS ONE OF THE GREATEST PROBLEMS THAT I'VE SEEN IN ALL OF MY TIME IN EAST AUSTIN.

WHETHER IT'S RESIDENTS WHO WERE BORN IN THEIR HOMES OR RESIDENTS WHO MOVED IN LAST WEEK, THEY'RE ALL SUFFERING FROM THIS AND WE'RE NOT CREATING A REAL SOLUTION.

SO LET'S NOT PRETEND THAT VM U2 IS DB 90, COMPATIBILITY'S GONE, COS ARE GONE.

THE CAREFUL APPLICATION OF AFFORDABILITY IS GONE.

THIS IS AN EMERGENCY TOOL BEING USED AFTER THE CITY HAS TAKEN DRASTIC ACTION TO CHANGE OUR LAND USE POLICIES.

SO PLEASE, WITH SOBER MINDS AND OPEN HEARTS, LISTEN TO YOUR COMMUNITIES BECAUSE THEY ARE SUFFERING FROM A LACK OF CARE.

AND ALSO, I'LL CUT MYSELF HERE.

UH, PLEASE FORGIVE ANY KIND OF HAYWIRED

[03:40:01]

GLITCHES IN MY PRESENTATION.

I'M A VOLUNTEER.

I DON'T DO THIS ON A PAID BASIS FOR ANYONE.

I'VE NEVER TAKEN A DOLLAR FROM THIS CITY OR FROM ANYTHING THAT EXPLOITS MY COMMUNITY AND I NEVER WILL.

AND I'LL TELL YOU, IT IS DAMN HARD TO TRY TO PREPARE AGAINST TWO DIFFERENT LOBBYING FIRMS HIRED BY SOME GUY WHO GOT $280 MILLION A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

SO HAVE SOME PATIENCE, GET THINGS RIGHT AND PLEASE HAVE SOBER MINDS AND OPEN HEARTS.

NEXT SPEAKER'S, JENNY GRAYSON, FOLLOWED BY JEAN ADAMS AND SANDY BOONE.

MS. GRAYSON IS SIGNED UP FOR ITEMS 88 89, 92, 97, 1 0 3, 1 0 9, AND ONE 10 FOR A TOTAL OF 21 MINUTES.

OKAY, UM, JENNY GRAYSON SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MCKINLEY HEIGHTS AND OPPOSITION TO ITEM 1 0 9.

I WILL REMIND YOU THAT THE PURPOSE OF DB 90 IS TO PROVIDE MODIFICATIONS AND BUILDING REQUIREMENTS AND GRANT ADDITIONAL, HANG ON ONE SECOND.

CAN YOU STOP HER THE CLOCK? I DON'T WANT TO CUT INTO HER TIME.

ARE YOU JUST SPEAKING ON 1 0 9 RIGHT NOW? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WELL, I'M GONNA TALK ON 1 0 9 AND THEN MAYBE I'LL TALK TO THE OTHERS.

OKAY, BUT YOU'RE PLANNING ON TALKING TO THE OTHERS 'CAUSE I WANNA SET THE CLOCK THE RIGHT WAY.

BUT IF YOU JUST TALK OH SURE.

IF YOU'RE JUST ON 1 0 9, THERE'S ONLY THREE MINUTES.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I SEE.

YES, I WILL TALK TO THE OTHERS.

UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR SENIORS WHERE 56 UNITS ARE RENTED AT 50%.

SO I'LL REMIND YOU THAT THE PURPOSE OF DB 90 IS TO PROVIDE MODIFICATIONS AND BUILDING REQUIREMENTS AND GRANT ADDITIONAL HEIGHT AND EXCHANGE FOR COMMUNITY BENEFITS AND INCOME RESTRICTED HOUSING.

WE'VE HEARD FROM OUR DISTRICT OFFICE THAT THIS CASE HAS ALREADY BEEN HEARD AND THAT D ONE WANTS TO GRANT THE APPLICANT THE ENTITLEMENTS THEY HAD LAST YEAR, WHAT THEY HAD LAST YEAR WAS C-S-M-U-V-N-P.

YOU CAN'T HAVE WHAT YOU NEVER EXISTED.

SO THE APPLICANT NEVER HAD THE RIGHTS TO VM U2.

OH OH MAN.

COULD YOU PRESS PLAY? SO I'M JUST CURIOUS WHAT HAS CHANGED BETWEEN THOSE DON DECISIONS AND THIS ZONING REVIEW? THE FACT THAT VM U2 DOES NOT EXIST ANYMORE.

OKAY, SO WHAT DO THEY GET WITH V AND CAN YOU PRESS PLAY AGAIN? JOY HARDEN ZONING OFFICER, UH, I THINK YOU SAID THE CURRENT ZONING IS CSV.

SO THAT WOULD BE ALLOWED TO HAVE THE 60 FEET HEIGHT? YES.

AND THAT WOULD BE, THAT WOULD, THAT ALLOWS FOR A MIX OF COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL USAGE, A MIX OF COMMERCIAL.

AND IF YOU DEVELOP TO THE B STANDARDS, YOU WOULD HAVE TO PROVIDE AFFORDABILITY.

SO WHEN YOU COMPARE WHAT THEY PURCHASED TO WHAT THEY CAN BUILD TODAY WITH VMU AND NO COMPATIBILITY, LET'S CALL IT DB 60 FOR EASE, THEY GET AN EXTRA 10% OF BUILDING CAPACITY AUTOMATICALLY WITHOUT HAVING TO APPLY FOR ANY NEW ZONING.

AND THEN WHEN COMPARING DB 90 OR DB 60 TO DB 90, THE DEVELOPER GETS AN EXTRA 50% IN BUILDABLE VOLUME WHILE THE COMMUNITY ONLY GETS AN INCREASE OF 2% IN AFFORDABLE UNITS AT 60% MFI.

SO I'M ASKING WHERE ARE THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS LOPSIDED TRADE OFF AND WHAT LIMITATIONS DOES STAFF CONSIDER WHEN EVALUATING DB NINETIES? I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IF THERE'S ANY LIMITATIONS THAT STAFF IS APPLYING TO RECOMMENDING CS DB 90 ZONING CASES.

'CAUSE EVERY SINGLE CASE THAT'S BEEN BEFORE US WITH CS DB 90, EVEN THOUGH THEY'VE BEEN SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE OF SINGLE FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS AMONGST VERY LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL, I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE LIMITATIONS OF CS DB 90 IS.

MARCEL BOJO DEPARTMENT STAFF AGAIN.

UM, I'M NOT SURE I'M GONNA BE ABLE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION HOLISTICALLY.

SO DOES STAFF CONSIDER THE ACTUAL USE OF THE SURROUNDING PROPERTIES? YOU'LL SEE IT'S SURROUNDED BY SMALLER HOMES AND TWO STORY APARTMENTS.

DOES STAFF CONSIDER THIS PROPERTY IS ON A PART OF EAST AUSTIN WITH THE LARGEST TOPOGRAPHICAL CHANGES AND UNDOCUMENTED SPRINGS? DOES STAFF CONSIDER THE CURRENT EROSION EROSION HAPPENING AT HIGHER ELEVATIONS DUE TO DEVELOPMENT AT THE LOWER ELEVATIONS? THIS OWNER HAS LOST 10 FEET OF HER PROPERTY LINE DUE TO SOIL EROSION IN RECENT YEARS.

AND HERE YOU CAN SEE THE VAST CHANGE IN ELEVATION FROM OAK SPRINGS TO CREST AVENUE DIRECTLY BEHIND IT.

THIS BUTTS UP TO 2,900 OAK SPRINGS AND IS WHERE THE EROSION IS CURRENTLY TAKING PLACE.

2,900 OAK SPRINGS IS SURROUNDED BY SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.

IT'S A ONE LANE IN EACH DIRECTION, TWO LANE STREET, SO A LEVEL TWO A SMP STREET, WHICH THE CITY SAYS IS MEANT TO CONNECT NEIGHBORHOODS, HOODS, AND IT'S,

[03:45:01]

MFI ALSO SURROUNDS THIS PROPERTY.

YOU'VE TOLD US THAT YOU'VE BEEN PUTTING AFFORDABILITY FIRST MR. WATSON, AND THAT'S SIMPLY A LIE.

DB 90 CONTAINS NO DEEPER PROVISIONS FOR AFFORDABILITY THAN WHAT'S CURRENTLY REGULATED BY OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN.

YOU TELL US THE EQUATION HAS CHANGED AND IT HAS THE EQUATION SKEWS HEAVILY TOWARDS THE DEVELOPERS AND THEIR ENTITLEMENTS AS PICTURED HERE ON THIS SITE.

THE OWNER WILL RECEIVE A 50% INCREASE IN BUILDABLE CAPACITY WHILE THE COMMUNITY RECEIVES AN INCREASE OF ONLY 2% AFFORDABLE UNITS LOPSIDED TRADE OFF.

SO YOU WANT US TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS ABOUT AFFORDABILITY, BUT WE KNOW IT'S NOT.

UM, IT'S ABOUT DENSITY AND GRANTS DOING DB 90.

THE FOCUS NOW, OF COURSE, AS YOU KNOW FROM UH, COUNCIL, IS BEING SURE THAT THERE'S, UH, ENOUGH DENSITY MM-HMM TO ENSURE FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION ADMINISTRATION GRANTS AND FUNDING.

SO IF IT WAS ABOUT AFFORDABILITY, YOU WOULD KNOW THAT IN OUR CENSUS TRACT OF 8.02, 45% OF INDIVIDUALS MAKE LESS THAN $50,000 A YEAR AND 40% OF FAMILIES ARE LIVING IN POVERTY.

YOU WOULD ALSO KNOW THAT AN INCREASE OF 2% IN AFFORDABLE UNITS WON'T MAKE A DENT IN WHAT OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS.

AND IF YOU REALLY DID YOUR HOMEWORK, YOU WOULD KNOW THAT TEACHERS AND FIREFIGHTERS, THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE TO USE AS HALLMARK BENEFICIARIES OF DB 90, MAKE MORE THAN 60% MFI AND WON'T QUALIFY FOR THESE AFFORDABLE UNITS.

YOU'RE ESSENTIALLY FORCING THEM INTO UNAFFORDABLE MARKET RATE HOUSING.

SO WHY CAN'T PEOPLE LIVE AFFORD TO LIVE HERE? IT'S BECAUSE DEVELOPERS HAVE BEEN BUYING AND HOLDING FOR YEARS.

ALL THESE LAND, THIS LAND IS VACANT ON THE EAST SIDE.

PLENTY OF PROPERTIES SITTING VACANT WITH DEVELOPERS WAITING FOR ENTITLEMENT CHANGES.

AND WHILE THEY COULD BE BUILDING HOUSING AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THEY'RE CHOOSING TO SIT AND WAIT FOR THE DB 90 PAYDAY.

SO WHILE SPECULATORS GET AN INCREASE IN 50% BUILDABLE VOLUME AND THEREFORE AN INCREASE IN 50% ON THE VALUE OF THEIR LAND WHEN THEY SELL IT, WE EVEN INCREASE OF 2% AFFORDABLE UNITS AND NO PROMISE TO DEVELOP.

SO WHERE ARE OUR COMMUNITY BENEFITS? HOW DO WE GET OUR HANDS ON SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO RAISE UP THIS COMMUNITY? WE'VE ASKED FOR DEEPER AFFORDABILITY, A HEIGHT CONDITIONAL OVERLAY, TRAFFIC MITIGATIONS FOR A TRAFFIC IMPACT ANALYSIS, A LIMIT TO SHORT-TERM RENTALS AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS LOPSIDED TRADE OFF.

AND I'LL SAY THAT AN APPLICATION FOR DB 90 DOES NOT INHERENTLY GRANT THE RIGHTS TO DB 90.

PUT IT ON DISCUSSION AND ACTUALLY HAVE SOME THOUGHTFUL DISCUSSIONS AROUND THIS.

THIS IS HOW IT'S BEING TREATED BY OUR MAYOR AND D ONE AND I'M ASSUMING THE REST OF Y'ALL, UM, WE ALL APPLY FOR THINGS WE MIGHT NOT GET JOBS, CREDIT CARDS, UNIVERSITIES, LOANS.

JUST BECAUSE YOU APPLY TO SOMETHING DOESN'T MAKE IT REAL AND IT'S NOT THE COMMUNITY'S RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE ON THE RISK THAT THIS DEVELOPER ACCEPTED WHEN THEY PURCHASED THIS PARCEL.

THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO SUPPORT US HERE TODAY.

SPEAKING AGAINST THIS CASE, THERE WERE 44 OF US SIGNED UP IN OPPOSITION FOR 1 0 9.

I'M ASKING FOR ONE OF YOU TO PLEASE RAISE A MOTION TO DISMISS, DISMISS THIS CASE AND VOTE AGAINST ITEM 1 0 9.

AND I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH THESE WORDS TO THE POINT THAT COMMISSIONER AZAR WAS MAKING THAT WE'VE TRIED THIS WAY, WE'VE TRIED THAT WAY, THAT HASN'T WORKED.

I WOULD LOVE TO TAKE THIS NEGATIVE OPPORTUNITY TO RESTATE, UM, NEIGHBORHOOD AREA PLANNING.

THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THESE MBAS.

THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THESE THINGS.

OKAY, I'M OFF MY SOAPBOX.

THANK YOU TO THE POINT THAT, OH, WRONG ONE, SORRY.

UM, SO TO THE REST OF THE CASES, I WOULD SAY THIS APPLIES TO ALL DB 90 CASES.

UM, A LOT OF THEM ARE FOCUSED ON THE EAST SIDE.

AGAIN, 45% OF RESIDENTS, SINGLE INDIVIDUALS MAKE LESS THAN 45,000, I'M SORRY, $50,000 A YEAR.

AND 45% OF RESIDENTS IN OUR CENSUS TRACKED 8.02 LIVE BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL.

AN INCREASE OF 2% IN AFFORDABLE UNITS IS NOT A BALANCED TRADE OFF FOR WHAT THE DEVELOPERS ARE GETTING, WHICH IS IF YOU TAKE VMU ONE WITH NO COMPATIBILITY TODAY, THEY CAN BUILD UP TO 60 FEET AND THEY'RE GETTING A 50% INCREASE ON THOSE NUMBERS.

IF YOU ZONE IT TO DB 90, WE'RE ONLY GETTING A 2% INCREASE OF AFFORDABLE UNITS.

SO EVERYONE WHO'S LIVING IN POVERTY AND MAKING LESS THAN $52,000 A YEAR IS GOING TO BE FIGHTING FOR AN ADDITIONAL EIGHT UNITS.

IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

IT'S NOT FAIR.

WE ALSO HEARD FROM ALEXIS GARCIA THIS WEEK THAT THERE'S INITIATIVE THIS FALL, WHICH IS BASICALLY NOW, UM, TO BRING FORTH DB SIXTIES INITIATIVE, A LOWER DENSITY INITIATIVE FOR PLACE FOR SITES THAT MIGHT NOT BE APPLICABLE TO DB 90.

SO IF Y'ALL ARE BRINGING A LESS DENSE OPTION SOON, THEN WHY PASS DB 90 TODAY? IT, IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

THESE ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES IN EAST AUSTIN AND THEY MOST CERTAINLY WILL DE BE DISPLACED IF THERE'S A 90 FOOT BUILDING BY THEIR HOME.

SO I'M ASKING FOR ONE OF Y'ALL TO BE BRAVE.

JUST SPEAK UP, PULL 1 0 9 FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA,

[03:50:01]

IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE PASSED TODAY FOR ANY REASON.

THANKS.

NEXT SPEAKER IS JEAN ADAMS, FOLLOWED BY SANDY BOONE AND NO, MR. ADAMS IS SIGNED UP ON TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 88 1 11 AND ONE 12 FOR A TOTAL OF NINE MINUTES.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

I'M GOING TO DEFER MY TIME ON ITEM 88 IF I CAN TO 11, UH, ONE 11 AND ONE 12.

THERE'S BEEN GOOD DISCUSSION ALREADY ON DB NINETIES AND UH, I'LL PUT THAT TIME TO ONE 11 AND ONE 12 IF POSSIBLE, IF THAT'S A GREAT NO, YOU HAVE SIX MINUTES.

IF YOU'RE JUST GOING TO BE ON THOSE TWO, WE'LL DO ONE 11 AND ONE 12 THEN UM, YOU SAY THIS CLARK FOR SIX MINUTES, TAT TA TAKING A LOOK AT THIS, THIS PROJECT, IT'S CORNER OF TERRIO AND INDUSTRIAL AND, UH, THE ST.

ELMO AREA.

UM, THE APPLICANT HAS ASKED FOR A CHANGE FROM LIGHT INDUSTRIAL NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN LINP TO LIGHT INDUSTRIAL, UH, DBA OR UH, PDA NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN.

THE APPLICANT HAS REACHED OUT TO SPEAK WITH THE CONTACT TEAM, HOWEVER, UH, HAS NOT BEEN WILLING TO ENTER INTO ANY, UH, CONCRETE, UH, DETAILS WITH THE CONTACT TEAM.

UM, WE'VE RECEIVED WHAT THEY ARE REFERRING TO AS A RESTRICTIVE COVENANT, BUT IT'S BASICALLY NO MORE THAN AN AGREEMENT FOR, UH, CAPITAL A HOUSING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR AFFORDABILITY COMPONENT OF WHICH THEY SAY IS 12% AT 60%.

MFI UH, ORIGINALLY THEY HAD REQUESTED 10% AT 60% MFI.

UH, THE CONTACT TEAM WOULD LIKE TO SEE AS WHAT HAS JUST RECENTLY BEEN SUGGESTED, A GREATER, UH, PROPONENT OR GREATER FOCUS ON THE AFFORDABILITY AT THAT SAID, UM, THE, WHAT THEY ARE REFERRING TO AS A RESTRICTIVE COVENANT IS, UM, BETWEEN THEM AND CAPITAL A HOUSING DOES NOT INCLUDE ANYTHING AS A SIGNATORY FOR THE THE CONTACT TEAM.

THERE IS NO NOTIFICATION OF SUBSIDIARY OR ANY, UH, FUTURE, UH, AFFORDABILITY ADMINISTRATORS TO TAKE OVER SHOULD SOMETHING OCCUR OR HAPPEN TO CAPITAL A.

SHOULD THEY GO OUTTA BUSINESS, SHOULD THEY BE DECLARED DEFUNCT OR WHATEVER.

UM, THE APPLICANT HAS BASICALLY MADE, UH, SAID, UH, NO OTHER CHANGES WILL BE MADE.

THEY ADOPTED EIGHT OUT OF 12 SUGGESTIONS THAT WE PUT FORTH.

UM, THEY SAID THAT THERE WOULD BE NO OTHER CHANGES TO A RESTRICTIVE COVENANT, UM, THAT WE HAVE THE ENTIRE DOCUMENT IN FRONT OF US.

WELL THE ENTIRE DOCUMENT THAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US WAS SUBMITTED TO US 30 HOURS BEFORE LAST ZONING COMMISSION.

THERE'S BEEN NOTHING ELSE BUT IN OUR HANDS SINCE THAT TIME.

UM, A COUPLE OF THE ITEMS THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR, UM, IN ADDITION TO EXPANDING ON THE AFFORDABILITY, UH, AND I'M GONNA TOUCH ON THE ONES THAT THEY SAID THAT THEY COULDN'T DO, DO, DO.

NOW, MIND YOU, THIS IS A 5.79 ACRE PROJECT, OVER 252,000 SQUARE FEET.

WE'RE ASKING FOR A MINIMUM 600 SQUARE FOOT, UH, PET EXERCISE AREA, ONSITE PET EXERCISE AREA, ROUGHLY THE EQUIVALENT OF THREE PARKING SPACES.

THEY COULD NOT COMMIT TO THAT.

UM, WE'VE ASKED FOR, UM, ONSITE EV CHARGING STATIONS, EFFECTIVELY 5% ON A 400, UH, SPACE PARKING SPACE, UNIT 20 PARKING SPACES, 10 DOUBLE CABLE CHARGING STATIONS.

THEY CANNOT COMMIT TO THAT.

THEY SAID THAT, UH, THERE IS, THERE ARE CHARGING STATIONS IN THE YARD, WHICH IS A NEIGHBORING PROPERTY, PROBABLY ANYWHERE FROM 600 TO 1200 FEET AWAY FROM WHERE PEOPLE WHO WOULD POSSIBLY MOVE INTO THIS FACILITY WOULD PARK, UH, THINK ABOUT PARKING YOUR OWN CAR 600, 1200 FEET AWAY ON A RAINY NIGHT WITH GROCERIES IN HAND AFTER YOU GET OFF WORK AT TWO O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.

I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S A REAL COMFORTABLE OUTCOME.

UM, THEY'RE ALSO SAYING THAT, UH,

[03:55:03]

IN TERMS OF SPEAKING OF SAFETY UP FRONT FROM WHERE YOU WOULD PARK YOUR CAR, UM, THERE'S ONE OF THE LARGE ISSUES THAT WE'RE TAKING, UH, AN ISSUE WITH IS THEY'RE PUTTING IN THEIR RESTRICTIVE COVENANT ONLY A 2020 YEAR AGREEMENT WITH THE AFFORDABLE AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS.

EVERYTHING ELSE, INCLUDING DB 90, WHICH YOU'VE PROFFERED, REQUIRES A 40 YEAR COMMITMENT TO AFFORDABILITY.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS APPLICANT GETS SPECIAL TREATMENT OVER NEIGHBORING, UH, DEVELOPERS THAT HAVE ENTERED INTO RESTRICTIVE GOVERNANCE WITH THE CONTACT TEAM.

UM, THESE ARE WHY WE ARE REQUESTING A INDEFINITE, UH, POSTPONEMENT ON THE CASE.

IT'S NOT THAT WE DON'T SEE THAT THERE'S ANY, ANYTHING ON THE HORIZON OR ANYTHING THAT CAN BE ACHI THAT THAT CANNOT BE ACHIEVED.

BUT IN THE SAME TOKEN, THE APPLICANT IS PUTTING FORTH NOTHING THAT WE SEE WILL BE RESOLVED WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS TO THE NEXT FOUR WEEKS UNTIL WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SIT DOWN AND GO OVER SOME LINE ITEM ISSUES AND, UH, DISCUSS THE 40 YEAR VERSUS 20 YEAR.

DISCUSS SETTING UP AN, UH, A RESTRICTIVE COVENANT SPECIFIC TO THE, TO THE S-C-C-N-P-T.

THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT.

THANK YOU SIR.

NEXT SPEAKER IS NOAH ELIAS, FOLLOWED BY FRANCE, UH, K KIN.

NEXT SPEAKER, SANDY BOONE.

MS. BOONE RE IS REGISTERED ON TO SPEAK ON ITEM 97 FOR THREE MINUTES.

AND FOLLOWING MS. BOONE IS NO ELIAS.

HI, UH, MY NAME IS SANDY BOONE, BUT I'M SPEAKING TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE HOLLY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.

AND UM, I'D LIKE TO TAKE ONE QUICK MINUTE WITH APOLOGIES TO COMMISSIONER VELAZQUEZ WHO KNOWS US.

THIS IS, WE'RE PROBABLY THE NEWEST NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.

WE ARE JUST CELEBRATING OUR FIRST YEAR.

UM, WE ARE REPRESENTING ONE OF THE OLDEST NEIGHBORHOODS IN AUSTIN.

AS YOU ALL KNOW, HOLLY IS ONE SQUARE MILE, UM, ENCOMPASSING WHAT WE'RE, WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE TODAY, WE ALL PROBABLY KNOW IS THE ONE 1,000,001 IN A MILLION BLOCK ON CAESAR CHAVEZ.

VERY OLD NEIGHBORHOOD.

UM, WE'RE VERY PROUD THAT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR HAS GOTTEN OVER 90 PAYING MEMBERS.

WE WERE CREATED, UM, TO BRING OLD AND NEW TOGETHER.

OUR PRIMARY MISSION IS TO CREATE COMMUNITY.

WE'VE BEEN PUTTING MOST OF OUR EFFORTS INTO EVENTS, UM, PARTIES, HAPPY HOURS.

WE'VE HAD CONCERTS, WE'VE WORKED WITH THE TRAIL COMMISSION, THE TEJANO, UM, TRAIL ALLIANCE.

UM, BUT WHEN THIS ITEM, ITEM 97, THE THE REZONING OF THE ONE ON BUILDING BLOCK CAME UP, WE HEARD SO MANY CONCERNS AND QUESTIONS FROM OUR NEIGHBORS THAT I FELT I NEEDED AT LEAST GIVE THEM MORE TIME TO GET ANSWERS.

UM, AND PART OF THIS IS, THIS PARTICULAR BLOCK IS OBVIOUSLY UNIQUE.

THE PLOTS THAT YOU'RE, THAT ARE ON THIS UM, APPLICATION AREN'T, HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN ANY VERTICAL MIXED USE AT THIS POINT.

THEY'RE LOW OFFICE, SEVERAL OF THEM ARE SINGLE FAMILY ZONE, SINGLE, SINGLE FAMILY LOTS.

THEY CONTAIN HOMES THAT WERE BUILT IN THE 1940S BY THE 1940S, AS DOES MOST OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

UM, AND I THINK THE CONCERN WE, THE APPLICATION WAS ORIGINALLY FILED IN MARCH, UM, TO TAKE THIS TO, UH, REGULAR 60 FOOT MIXED USE COMMERCIAL.

AND THAT'S THE NOTICE THAT WENT OUT TO ALL OF THE NEIGHBORS.

THE REAL CONCERN CAME WHEN WE HEARD A FEW WEEKS AGO THAT DB 90 WAS GOING TO BE APPLIED HERE AND THIS WE GOT THE NOTICE AND THEN THE CITY COUNCILS CONTINUED TO CHANGE SOME OF THE REGULATIONS THAT WOULD'VE APPLY TO DB 90 AS WE'RE ALL SCRAMBLING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT WOULD MEAN.

THIS HAD GREATLY CHANGED THE CONDITIONS IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.

THIS BLOCK OF CAESAR CHAVEZ IS UNIQUE.

WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS THE AREA BETWEEN I 35 AND PLEASANT VALLEY, HALF OF WHICH IS HOLLY.

THAT ROAD IS TWO LANES NOW.

IT'S SLATED TO REMAIN TWO LANES, ONE LANE IN EACH DIRECTION.

IT'S SURROUNDED BY HISTORIC HOMES AND THERE'S SEVERAL HISTORIC, UM, DISTRICTS IN THERE.

I THINK MOST PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD UNDERSTAND THAT MOST OF THOSE HOMES ARE GOING TO TURN OVER.

BUT THERE'S A DI BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A 60 FOOT MIXED USE BUILDING THAT HAS AN ENTIRE FLOOR FULL OF RETAIL SHOPS THAT THE NEIGHBORS MIGHT USE.

AND A 90 FOOT BUILDING, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE COUNCIL HAS JUST CHANGED THAT TO LOWER THE AMOUNT OF RETAIL THAT'S GONNA GO IN AND MADE CLEAR AS ALL.

WE WERE ALL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THAT THERE ARE BASICALLY NO COMPATIBILITY REQUIREMENTS OTHER THAN SOME RE AND SHRUBS SHRUBS TO MASK A A 90 FOOT BUILDING.

UM, WE HAVE RECENTLY REACHED OUT TO THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE APPLICANT'S AND THANK YOU AND THEY HAVE AGREED TO AT LEAST HOLD OFF THE SECOND AND THIRD READING OF THIS AND THANK YOU.

[04:00:01]

NEXT SPEAKER AFTER FRANCIS IS COLIN MCNAMARA.

I DON'T SEE ANY SPEAKERS COMING UP, SO I'LL KEEP GOING.

MICHAEL CURRY.

HE WAS HERE.

MARIO CANTU AND MONICA GUZMAN AS GUZMAN.

IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM.

I SEE MS. GUZMAN.

SO MS. GUZMAN IS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 88 89 92 97, 1 0 2, 1 10, 1 11, 1 12 AND SPEAKING ON THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT FOR ITEMS 81 AND 1 0 3 FOR A TOTAL OF 30 MINUTES.

GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNSEL.

I'M MONICA UZMA AND POLICY DIRECTOR OF GAVA GO AUSTIN BA AUSTIN.

UH, BASICALLY, UH, AS FAR AS THE POSTPONEMENT, REGARDLESS WHO REQUESTED IT, I'M GLAD IT'S BEING POSTPONED.

THOSE CASES ARE, AS FOR THE REST OF THEM, WHETHER THEY'RE BEING DISCUSSED OR ALL THREE READINGS, GAVA SUPPORTS THE COMMUNITIES WHO ARE, UH, SPEAKING ON OR HAVE JUST INDICATED THEIR OPPOSITION, ESPECIALLY THE DB 90 CASES.

NOW IS NOT THE TIME.

THERE'S MORE TIME NEEDED IF THERE'S GOING TO BE A DB 90 BUILD, THERE NEEDS TO BE GREATER NUMBER OF UNITS THAT ARE AFFORDABLE AT A DEEPER AFFORDABILITY THAT ARE FAMILY FRIENDLY.

THEY NEED TO BE ON MAJOR CORRIDORS, NOT CUL-DE-SACS OR SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS THAT CAN'T SUPPORT THE ANTICIPATED INCREASE IN TRAFFIC.

I'M NOT GOING TO LAUNDRY LIST THE ORGANIZATIONS.

THEY KNOW WHO THEY ARE.

THEY'RE THE SAME ONES I LISTED LAST TIME I STOOD HERE ON THIS.

SO AGAIN, YOU ALL ARE ELECTED, YOU'RE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE COMMUNITY AND WE DESERVE TO BE HEARD.

THANK YOU SIR, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

MY NAME'S MICHAEL CURRY.

UH, HOW LONG DO I HAVE MR. CURRY? YOU'RE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM ONE 10 FOR A TOTAL OF THREE MINUTES.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

WELL, MY NAME IS MICHAEL CURRY.

I AM JUST HERE TO SPEAK UP ON, UH, ITEM ONE 10.

ON BEHALF OF THE BRIER WOODS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, UM, YOU KNOW, I COME WITH A MODEST REQUEST FROM THE NEIGHBORS TO INCLUDE THE HEIGHT SET AND SETBACK, UH, STANDARDS CONTAINED IN AN AGREED RESTRICTIVE COVENANT IN THE CONDITIONAL OVERLAY.

UH, UH, AS WELL, IT IT'S BEEN COMPLICATED BY A GOOD FAITH BUT INCORRECT READING OF THE DB 90 ORDINANCE BY STAFF.

SO HERE'S THE BACKGROUND.

THIS CASE INVOLVES A REQUEST BY AN APPLICANT WHO RECEIVED LOMU ZONING APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS AGO, AS PARDON AN AGREEMENT WITH THE ADJOINING NEIGHBORS.

THIS AGREEMENT WAS SECURED BY A RESTRICTIVE COVENANT CONTAINING HEIGHT AND REAR SETBACK STANDARDS CONSISTENT WITH THE APPLICANT'S PROJECT.

WITH THE REPEAL OF THE RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL ORDINANCE, THE APPLICANT APPLIED FOR DB 90 AS A WORKAROUND, UH, TO GET SIMILAR DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS FOR HIS PROJECT.

WE DO NOT OBJECT TO THE PROJECT.

HOWEVER, WITH THE ADDITION OF THE DB 90 COMBINING DISTRICT, THE NEIGHBORS REQUEST THAT THE HEIGHT AND REAR SETBACK PROVISIONS CONTAINED IN THE DEED RESTRICTIONS BE INCLUDED IN THE CONDITIONAL OVERLAY.

THE STAFF HAS BLOCKED THAT REQUEST.

CONTENDING THAT IN PASSING DB 90, THE COUNCIL FORFEITED ITS AUTHORITY TO ADOPT DD DB 90 IN, UH, TO ADAPT DB 90.

IN INDIVIDUAL CASES, SPECIFICALLY, STAFF CONTENDS THAT COUNSEL CANNOT, UH, ADOPT A CO THAT CONFLICTS WITH DB 90.

THAT READING MISAPPLY THE STANDARD LANGUAGE IN DB 90 THAT YOU FIND IN MULTIPLE ORDINANCE AND STATUTES THAT SAYS THAT DB 90 CONTROLS IN THE EVENT OF CONFLICT WITH OTHER CODES AND ORDINANCES, BUT IT DOES NOT HAND HAND HANDCUFF THIS COUNSEL.

WE ARE CON CONFIDENT THAT STAFF'S INTERPRETATION IS INCORRECT AND BELIEVE YOU'LL AGREE IF WE CAN HAVE THAT DISCUSSION.

THE COUNSEL DOES, UH, DID NOT CURTAIL ITS DISCRETION TO FURTHER THE PUBLIC INTEREST BY MODIFYING WHERE APPROPRIATE ELEMENTS OF THE DB 90 COMBINING DISTRICT.

OUR PROPOSED CO ALLOWS THE COUNSEL TO MATCH WHAT THE APPLICANT WANTS WHILE GIVING BETTER NOTICE, AND THEREFORE MORE PROTECTION TO ALL CONCERNED IF THE PROPERTY CHANGES ITS HANDS AND ANOTHER PROPERTY OWNER WANTS TO GO IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.

SO WE'RE HAVE A SIMPLE REQUEST THAT ANY, UH, DB 90 ZONING IN THIS CASE INCLUDE A CONDITIONAL OVERLAY THAT CONTAINS THE

[04:05:01]

SAME HEIGHT AND REAR SETBACK STANDARDS FOUND IN THE APPLICANT'S RESTRICTIVE COVENANT.

WE'VE WORKED THROUGH THE GOOD OFFICES OF COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER TO CLARIFY THE MATTER, BUT IF STAFF STILL CONTENDS THAT THE COUNCILS HAS LOST THIS DISCRETION, I ASK THAT THIS, THIS ITEM BE PULLED FOR DISCUSSION.

LET'S HAVE THAT DISCUSSION BECAUSE THAT IS AN INCORRECT LEGAL INTERPRETATION.

THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE ZONING, UH, CONSENT SPEAKERS.

OKAY, MEMBERS, UM, THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS THAT ARE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IT WAS READ IS THE BY, UM, MS. HARDEN.

THE ITEMS ON YOUR OVERALL AGENDA THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED ON THAT ARE 82 1 13.

ITEM ONE 10 HAS A VALID PETITION.

AND ON ITEM 1 0 8, THE MOTION THAT WOULD BE WOULD BE MADE, UH, WOULD BE THAT IT BE CONSENT ON, ON FIRST READING ONLY AND COME BACK ON SECOND AND THIRD READINGS.

UH, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH REGARD TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.

COUNCIL MEMBER VELA MOVES APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.

UH, IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.

ARE THERE ANY, UH, UH, ITEMS THAT A MEMBER WOULD LIKE TO BE SHOWN AS ABSTAINING FROM THEIR VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ANY ITEMS WHERE ANYONE WISHES TO BE SHOWN RECUSING THEMSELVES FROM A VOTE? ANY MEMBERS WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON ONE OF THE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER, I'D LIKE TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON 1 0 9.

1 0 9.

COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER WILL BE SHOWN.

VOTING NO ON ITEM 1 0 9.

DISCUSSION.

COUNCIL MEMBER VELA? UH, THANK YOU MAYOR.

I JUST WANTED TO, UH, CLARIFY ON, ON, ON 1 0 8 JUST FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

UH, THIS IS A STRANGE SHAPED LOT.

IT'S A FLAG LOT WITH A TINY LITTLE PIECE TOUCHING A BURN BURNETT AND THE MAIN FRONTAGE, UH, WHICH WOULD AREA THAT WOULD NORMALLY THE COMMERCIAL PART WOULD BE REQUIRED TO GO ON IS ACTUALLY RESEARCH BOULEVARD AND 180 3.

AND I THINK WE ALL AGREE THAT THAT'S NOT WHERE WE WANNA PUT OUR KIND OF COMMERCIAL STREET FRONTAGE.

UH, WE ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND PASS IT ON FIRST READING AND THEN JUST TALK ABOUT WHERE WE DO WANNA PUT, UH, THE, UH, THE, THE COMMERCIAL PORTION OF THE PROJECT, UH, THAT THERE'S A WAIVER IN THERE, BUT, BUT EVERYBODY AGREES THAT THEY DON'T, WE'RE NOT GONNA WAIVE IT.

WE JUST HAVE TO WORK OUT SOME OF THE DETAILS.

SO WE'RE GONNA PASS IT ON FIRST READING AND KICK IT TO THE 26TH TO FINALIZE IT.

UH, CAN I JUST ASK, UM, INSTEAD OF THE 26TH I'VE BEEN SPEAKING WITH THE APPLICANT, UM, IF WE COULD BRING THAT BACK ON THE 10TH.

THAT'S NO PROBLEM.

WE HAVE SOME OTHER SURVEY WORK IN THERE.

WELL, SINCE WE MADE A MOTION ON IT.

UM, OH, SORRY.

WE, I'M SORRY.

UM, I AMEND THE MOTION.

MAYOR, WE'RE GONNA DO THAT.

WE'LL, WE'LL, COUNCIL MEMBER VALA MOVES THAT WE AMEND THE MOTION TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA SO THAT I, ITEM 1 0 8 IS ON THE 10TH YES.

OF OCTOBER FOR SECOND AND THIRD READING THE 10TH OF OCTOBER AND FIRST READING TODAY.

FIRST READING TODAY, UHHUH SECOND AND THIRD READING ON THE 10TH OF OCTOBER.

MM-HMM, , UH, THE MOTION TO AMEND THE SECOND BY THE MAYOR PRO TIM.

UM, IS THERE OBJECTION TO THE MOTION TO AMEND WITHOUT OBJECTION? UH, THE MAIN MOTION IS AMENDED AND THAT WILL TAKE US BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION, WHICH IS TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS AMENDED.

COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, UH, JUST WANTED TO MAKE A QUICK COMMENT ON ONE 11 AND ONE 12.

UH, I BELIEVE WE'RE GOING, UH, CONSENT FIRST READING ONLY, AND THEN SECOND AND THIRD IN TWO WEEKS.

IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S SEPTEMBER 26TH.

UH, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I, I WANTED TO THANK THE, UH, THE COMMUNITY FOR, UH, CONTINUING TO WORK WITH THE DEVELOPER AND THE DEVELOPER CONTINUED TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY AND I BELIEVE WE'LL BE BRINGING THEM BOTH BACK TO THE TABLE TO WORK SOMETHING OUT.

I WANNA SPEAK TO TWO ITEMS. SO ITEM 92, WHICH IS 8200 8300 NORTH MOPAC.

UM, I JUST WANNA, YOU KNOW, APPRECIATE, UM, THE DEVELOPERS WORKING WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND COMING TO SOME AGREEMENTS.

UM, I DID WANNA PUT IN THE RECORD, I CAN'T PUT THIS INTO ZONING 'CAUSE IT'S A SITE PLAN ISSUE.

UM, AS THIS CASE DOES MOVE TO SITE PLAN, WE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT ANY FUTURE PARKLAND ON THAT SITE HAS ADEQUATE STREET FRONTAGE OR A WAY TO BE ACCESSIBLE TO SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS.

THIS IS A PROPERTY THAT GOES UP AGAINST THE, THE MOPAC FRONTAGE ROAD, AND THAT'S NOT REALLY ACCESSIBLE, UM, TO NEIGHBORHOODS IF YOU PUT THE PARK OVER THERE.

AND SO WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT EVERY EFFORT'S GONNA BE MADE, UM, TO MAKE THAT PARKLAND, UM, OR WHETHER IT'S DEDICATED OR NOT, UM, OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

UM, AND THEN FOR ITEM ONE 10, UM, THIS IS 1809 WEST 35TH

[04:10:01]

STREET.

AND, AND I DO WANNA TALK ABOUT THIS AND, AND I APPRECIATE, UM, THE CONVERSATIONS WE'VE BEEN ABLE, ABLE TO HAVE WITH THE DEVELOPER AS WELL AS THE NEIGHBORS.

UM, THIS IS A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT CASE THAN SOME OF THE OTHER DB 90 CASES.

UM, THIS WAS A CASE THAT WAS USING RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL AND AFTER THAT WAS UNAVAILABLE AS, AS HAS BEEN STATED.

AND I THINK EVERYONE INVOLVED WOULD ADMIT THEY'VE BEEN TRYING TO STICK THIS CASE INSIDE OF THE DB 90, UM, WORK.

UM, IN THE CASE OF THIS SITUATION, THEY NEED THE SITE AREA REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE RELAXED IN DB 90.

THAT'S WHAT ENABLES THEM.

THEY HAVE A RESTRICTIVE COVENANT THAT KEEPS IT AT, UM, 40 FEET.

UM, THERE CANNOT BE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN TOLD OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT THERE CANNOT BE COS UM, TO LIMIT THE HEIGHT.

AND I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE DONE AS MUCH AS WE CAN ON THAT PIECE AT THIS POINT.

UM, BUT, BUT I THINK THE POINT THAT'S BEING MADE BY THESE NEIGHBORS, UM, FOR FUTURE CASES IS REALLY, REALLY A VERY IMPORTANT ONE.

UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN I PUT FORWARD RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL, WE HAD DATA THAT SAID THAT, UM, WHAT WE WERE DOING WOULD BE THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT WE COULD DO TO UNLEASH CAPACITY IN OUR COMMUNITY.

UM, DB 90 WENT MUCH FURTHER AND ADDED THE ADDITIONAL 30 FEET.

UM, AND IT IS CLEARLY MAKING THE PROCESS MORE CHALLENGING BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A WAY TO WORK OUT WITH THE COMMUNITY.

AND DB 90 IS CLEARLY INAPPROPRIATE IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, NOT NECESSARILY IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES.

UM, SO I WOULD JUST SUGGEST THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD, THAT WE DO SERIOUSLY THINK ABOUT, UM, A ZONING CATEGORY THAT IS MORE LIKE RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL THAT DOESN'T HAVE THE ADDITIONAL HEIGHT OR PROVIDES A MECHANISM, UM, FOR THAT HEIGHT, UM, ISSUE TO BE, UM, ADDRESSED IN AN ALTERNATIVE MECHANISM OR WE'RE GONNA JUST CONTINUALLY HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS AND CLEARLY, UM, SOMETHING'S NOT RIGHT WITH THE WAY THIS IS APPROACHED.

THAT'S WHY I DIDN'T VOTE FOR DB 90 IN THE FIRST PLACE.

UM, I AM GOING TO SUPPORT THIS CASE TODAY BECAUSE IT IS THE SAME PROJECT THAT I HAVE SUPPORTED IN THE PAST.

UM, AND THERE IS AGREEMENT ON WHAT THE ACTUAL PROJECT IS AND I'M GOING TO NEED TO TRUST THE DEVELOPER THAT THEY'RE GOING TO FOLLOW THEIR, THEIR PLANS, UM, AS DISCUSSED WITH THE NEIGHBORS, UM, MOVING FORWARD.

UM, THAT IS NOT TO SAY THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE COMING UP WITH AN ALTERNATIVE BECAUSE THERE'S REALLY, UM, EVEN IN A CASE WHERE WE HAVE TOTAL AGREEMENT, IT IS REALLY DIFFICULT, UM, TO, TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION THAT MAKES EVERYONE COMFORTABLE WITH THE AGREEMENT, UM, MOVING FORWARD.

THIS IS A SMALL, SMALL LOT, UM, OF WHAT WE'RE, WHAT THEY'RE PROPOSING.

MAKES SENSE.

UM, BUT THE POLICY AND THE PROCESS THAT WE HAVE DOES NOT.

COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.

THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

THANK YOU MR. MAYOR.

AND I WANNA SAY THAT I APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, ALTER'S CONTRIBUTION THERE.

AND, AND I WOULD ECHO THAT BY SAYING, YOU KNOW, WHILE WE'RE TAKING THAT TIME TO TAKE THOSE CONSIDERATIONS, WE REALLY HAVE TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THAT APPROPRIATE FOR NEIGHBORHOODS IS ABSOLUTELY RELATIVE.

UH, WHAT I DEEM APPROPRIATE MAY NOT BE WHAT THE COUNCIL MEMBER DEEMS APPROPRIATE, WHAT SOME OF MY CONSTITUENTS DEEM APPROPRIATE FOR THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS ARE CLEARLY, YOU KNOW, IN OPPOSITION TO WHAT SOME OF THE FOLKS WHO TOOK THE TIME TO COME AND SPEAK TO US TODAY DEEM APPROPRIATE.

SO I, I THINK IT'S GONNA CONTINUALLY BE A DIFFICULT DISCUSSION TO GET ANY, YOU KNOW, REAL CONSENSUS JUST 'CAUSE IT'S WHAT'S APPROPRIATE FOR NEIGHBORHOODS RELATIVE.

THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER.

THERE BEING ALL OF THE DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO THE CONSENT AGENDAS AS IT WAS READ.

UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER BEING SHOWN VOTING NO ON ITEM 1 0 9 MEMBERS.

[ 82. C14-2023-0146 - 2130 Goodrich - Conduct a public hearing and approve an ordinance amending City Code Title 25 by rezoning property locally known as 2130 Goodrich Avenue (West Bouldin Creek Watershed). Applicant Request: To rezone from general commercial services-mixed use-conditional overlay (CS-MU-CO) combining district zoning to general commercial services-mixed use-vertical mixed use building-conditional overlay-density bonus 90 (CS-MU-V-CO-DB90) combining district zoning. Staff Recommendation and Planning Commission Recommendation: To grant general commercial services-mixed use-vertical mixed use building-conditional overlay-density bonus 90 (CS-MU-V-CO-DB90) combining district zoning. Owner/Applicant: Heartwood Real Estate Company (2130 Goodrich Ave Partners LP). Agent: Drenner Group, PC (Leah Bojo). City Staff: Cynthia Hadri, Planning Department, 512-974-7620.]

THAT WILL NOW TAKE US TO ITEM NUMBER 82.

UH, THIS ITEM WAS PULLED FOR DISCUSSION AND IT IS UP FOR ALL THREE READINGS.

MS. HARDIN, UM, I'LL CALL ON YOU.

YES, I'LL JUST LAY THIS CASE OUT.

JOY HARDIN.

PLANNING DEPARTMENT ITEM 82 IS ON YOUR AGENDA IS CASE NUMBER C 1 4 20 23 0 1 46 LOCATED AT 2130 GOODRIDGE AVENUE.

THE PARCEL IS APPRO APPROXIMATELY 0.42 ACRES.

THE REQUEST IS FROM C-S-M-U-C-O TO C-S-M-U-V-C-O DB 90.

STAFF RECOMMENDS GRANTING C-S-M-U-V-C-O DB 90 ZONING.

THE CASE WAS SUBMITTED BEFORE THE VM U2 ORDINANCE WAS INVALIDATED LATE LAST YEAR.

THE REQUEST WAS AMENDED EARLIER THIS YEAR TO INCLUDE DB 90.

THE SITE IS CURRENTLY DEVELOPED WITH ONE OFFICE BUILDING SOUTH LAMAR BOULEVARD, WHICH IS A LEVEL THREE A SMP ROADWAY.

AND AN IMAGINE AUSTIN ACTIVITY CORRIDOR IS APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET TO THE SOUTH AND THERE ARE MULTIPLE CAPITAL ME METRO BUS STOPS

[04:15:01]

NEARBY.

THE APPLICANT HAS INDICATED AN INTENT TO DEVELOP A MIXED USE BUILDING WITH APPROXIMATELY 55 MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL DWELLING UNITS AND IS NOT SEEKING A MODIFICATION TO THE PEDESTRIAN ORIENTED COMMERCIAL USE REQUIREMENT.

THIS CASE WAS RECOMMENDED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND, AND STAFF SUPPORTS THE CITY COUNCIL.

UM, AS CITY COUNCIL HAS PROVIDED PO POLICY AND DIRECTING FOR HAVING MORE RESIDENTIAL DENSITY AND INCREASED AFFORDABILITY, AS WELL AS INCENTIVIZING VERTICAL MIXED USE BUILDINGS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

PARTICIPATION IN VOL, UM, IN THE VOLUNTARY DB 90 DISNEY BS PROGRAM ALLOWS A MIX OF USES AND MODIFICATIONS TO COMPATIBILITY AND SITE DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS IN EXCHANGE FOR PROVISION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

AND I'M AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU MEMBERS.

UM, THIS IS A DISCUSSION ITEM.

SO THE WAY WE'LL APPROACH THIS IS THE APPLICANT WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES.

UM, THEN A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE THOSE IN OPPOSITION WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES AND THEN WE WILL HEAR FROM THOSE IN FAVOR AND THOSE OPPOSED, AND THERE'LL BE REBUTTAL TIME.

HELLO, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

UH, TAMARIA DAVIS HERE FOR LEAH BOJO.

UH, STAFF COVERED THE SITE PRETTY WELL, BUT I'M AVAILABLE IF THERE'S QUESTIONS MEMBERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT? ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

UH, THE PARTY IN PARTIES IN OPPOSITION.

DO WE HAVE SOMEONE REPRESENTING THE PARTIES IN OPPOSITION? DO WE HAVE PEOPLE SIGNED UP IN OPPOSITION? YES, MAYOR, WE HAVE SEVERAL.

BUT BEFORE WE DO THAT, WE'LL CALL OUT THEIR NAMES TO SEE IF THEY'RE HERE.

SURE.

JENNY GRAYSON, BRAD MASSING, CHRIS PAGE, WILLIAM BUNCH.

AND DREW S SUDEKI.

IS ANYONE HERE OTHER THAN MR. BUNCH OF THE NAMES THAT WERE JUST CALLED? YES.

YOU'RE, YOU'RE ENTITLED.

THE THOSE IN OPPOSITION ARE ENTITLED TO, TO START THIS WITH A FIVE MINUTE PRESENTATION IN OPPOSITION.

AND THEN WE WILL HEAR FROM THOSE IN FAVOR AND THOSE IN OPPOSITION FOR THREE MINUTES A PIECE.

AND THEN THERE'LL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR REBUTTAL IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DESIGNATE SOMEBODY TO BE THE PERSON.

MR. BUNCH, YOU'VE GOT FIVE MINUTES.

IT LOOKS LIKE THEY JUST VOLUNTEERED YOU.

UH, SO WE START WITH A 30 FEET ORDINANCE, A 30 FOOT PAVEMENT, UM, WITH NO REAL OPPORTUNITY TO DO MUCH MORE THAN THAT.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, BILL BLANC.

I'M, UH, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF ZILKER NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.

UH, THIS PROJECT IS IN THE ZILKER NEIGHBORHOOD.

UH, IT'S ALSO IN RYAN ALTER'S, UH, DISTRICT FIVE.

UH, WE'VE OPPOSED THIS PROJECT IN ITS VARIOUS FORMS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS AS BEING, UH, COMPLETELY INAPPROPRIATE TO THIS PART OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

UH, AND ON THIS PARTICULAR LOCATION, UH, AS YOU HEARD, THIS PROJECT IS CLOSE TO LAMAR, BUT IT'S NOT ON LAMAR.

IT, THE SOLE ACCESS IS ON GOODRICH, WHICH IF YOU GO DOWN A FEW BLOCKS, TURNS INTO GARNER AND, UM, IS A, A STREET THROUGH THE HEART OF ZILKER.

UM, AT THIS LOCATION, THE PAVEMENT IS 30 FEET WIDE.

UM, THE TRANSPORTATION PLAN CALLS FOR IT TO BE EXPANDED TO 58 FEET, BUT THAT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN.

UH, I I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT IT WOULD HAPPEN 'CAUSE YOU HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF, UH, BOTH MULTIFAMILY PROPERTIES AND SINGLE FAMILY PROPERTIES ALONG THIS STRETCH OF GOODRICH THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE CONDEMNED TO MAKE THAT POSSIBLE.

UH, I DON'T SEE THE CITY DOING THAT.

UM, THE 90 FEET, EVERYTHING IN THIS AREA IS 30 FEET OR LESS.

UM, AND THE MOST IMPORTANT NEIGHBOR IS THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

PATHWAYS OF GOODRICH, UH, LOW INCOME HOUSING PROJECT.

THIS WAS RECENTLY EXPANDED, UH, FABULOUS PROJECT, FULLY EMBRACED AND, AND WITH EXCITEMENT BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.

UM, THE MANAGER THERE, MR. GERBER WAS OPPOSING, UH, JUST A COUPLE YEARS AGO WHEN YOU WERE GOING UP TO 60 FEET, BUT EXTREMELY INAPPROPRIATELY.

MR. RYAN ALTER WENT AND INTIMIDATED HIM INTO WITHDRAWING THE OPPOSITION FROM THE PATHWAYS OF GOODRICH.

UM, THAT'S ENTIRELY INAPPROPRIATE, MR. ALTER.

UM, IN ADDITION TO THIS ZONING, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CONVERTING A DRIVEWAY THAT GOES PATH THROUGH PATHWAYS INTO A PUBLIC STREET.

UM, THE, THE TRANSPORTATION IMPACTS HERE ARE OFF THE CHARTS.

[04:20:01]

UM, CUT HAVING A CUT THROUGH DRIVEWAY PAST PATHWAYS TO ACCOMMODATE THIS.

UM, AND YOU HAVE NO ZONING TRANSPORTATION ANALYSIS, WHICH, UH, YOUR STAFF TOLD YOU YOU NEEDED TO START DOING THAT AND REQUIRING IT AT THE, THAT'S WHY IT'S CALLED ZTA ZONING TRANSPORTATION ANALYSIS.

YOU HAVE THAT.

THE ONLY MEMO YOU HAVE IN YOUR BACKUP THAT'S PART OF YOUR STAFF REPORT IS FROM 2015 FOR A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT CASE THAT WAS LESS THAN 50, 50% SMALLER THAN THIS ONE.

SO THE, THE 60 FEET OR 50 FEET, I BELIEVE IT WAS, UM, WHAT THAT MEMO TALKS TO AND VERY MISLEADINGLY, BECAUSE IT'S NOT THIS CASE, IS THAT THIS 1.4 ACRE PROPERTY ON THIS STREET WOULD INCREASE THE TOTAL TRIP COUNTS ON GOODRICH, THIS NEIGHBORHOOD STREET BY 50% FROM 1600 TRIPS PER DAY TO, UH, 2,400 TRIPS PER DAY.

ONE SINGLE 0.4 ACRE PROJECT THAT WAS 50% SMALLER THAN THIS ONE.

UM, YOU NEED TO HAVE A TRANSPORTATION ANALYSIS FIRST.

UH, THERE NEEDS TO BE DIALOGUE WITH THE NEIGHBORS.

THE NEIGHBORS TRIED TO MEET WITH MR. ALTER.

HE WAS COMPLETELY, UH, NOT INTERESTED IN IN HAVING THAT.

AND I'M TALKING ABOUT THE IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORS, UH, NOT JUST NOT THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION REPS.

UM, I WASN'T THERE, BUT THAT'S FROM LORRAINE ATHERTON WHO WAS, UH, DEEPLY INVESTED IN TRYING TO MANAGE THIS AND ENGAGE CONSTRUCTIVELY.

SO PLEASE SEND THIS BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND, AND REQUIRE SOME ACTIVE APPROPRIATE ENGAGEMENT AND SCALE THIS BACK.

'CAUSE NINE DB 90 IS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR THIS.

THE WHOLE THING, AS YOU HEARD EARLIER, YOU KNOW, GIVING THE DEVELOPERS WITH DB 90, 50% MORE DENSITY WITH ONLY 2% MORE, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UM, YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT AFFORDABLE.

THANK YOU, MR. CONTEXT.

APPRECI.

UM, THANK YOU.

I THINK THAT IT, YOU HAVE SOME MORE SPEAKERS? YES.

OKAY, GREAT.

THANK NEXT, I'LL CALL THOSE THAT ARE, UM, IN FAVOR.

FELICITY MAXWELL, ARE YOU HERE? AND THESE ARE THE THREE MINUTE SPEAKING YES.

PLOTS.

IS THAT CORRECT? MS. MAXWELL? WELCOME.

YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

AND THEN WHAT NAME DO WE HAVE AFTER MS. MAXWELL AND THEN WE HAVE THOSE OPPOSED JENNY GRAYSON, BRAD MASSING, CHRIS PAGE AND DREW ZECK.

ALRIGHT.

AND THOSE FOUR FOLKS, OR WHOMEVER OF THOSE FOUR ARE HERE.

WILL EACH HAVE THREE MINUTES? MS. MAXWELL, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I'M HERE AT FELICITY MAXWELL DE FIVE RESIDENT HAPPY TO SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THIS CASE.

IT HAS UNDERGONE SOME REVISIONS, WHICH YOU MAY HAVE UNDERSTOOD.

I DO WANNA SAY THAT WE FEEL THAT THIS IS APPROPRIATE FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE HAVE SEEN SUPPORT FOR DB 90 CASES ALONG SOUTH LAMAR, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE THIS ONE COMING TO, UH, IN ADDITION TO THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL, WHICH WAS ALL COMMERCIAL.

THIS ONE POTENTIALLY WOULD INCLUDE HOUSING, INCLUDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHICH OF COURSE IS A BOON IN SOUTH AUSTIN.

WE ARE DELIGHTED THAT THE, UM, APPLICANT HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND IS TRYING TO RESOLVE SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED.

AND I WILL SAY THAT WHEN WE REVIEWED THIS, WE FELT IT WAS APPROPRIATE AS A VMU TWO CASE.

WE FELT IT WAS APPROPRIATE AS A DB 90 CASE AND WE'RE HAPPY TO SEE THE SUPPORT FOR IT TODAY AT THE COUNCIL.

THIS PROJECT AS BEING INAPPROPRIATE, UM, FOR THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD SIZE AND LOCATION.

IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM.

JENNY GRAYSON, BRAD MASSING.

CHRIS PAGE.

DREW ECKY.

ARE WE, I'M SORRY I STEPPED OUT.

THESE ARE THE OPPONENTS NOW.

OKAY, WE'RE ABOUT, WE'RE ON THOSE THAT ARE IN OPPOSITION.

EACH ONE HAS THREE MINUTES.

HI Y'ALL.

UM, BRAD MASSENGILL HERE.

UM, I'M A BOARD MEMBER OF THE SOUTH AUSTIN CREEK ALLIANCE AND IN, IN OUR RECENT MEETINGS AND, AND THE OUTINGS, WE'VE HAD QUITE A BIT OF PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THIS ONE PARTICULAR PROJECT.

AND IT'S FREAKING OUT A LOT OF OLD SCHOOL AUSTIN HEIGHTS.

THIS IS RIGHT IN THE HEART OF, UH, A VERY VIBRANT OLDER NEIGHBORHOOD THAT'S GONE THROUGH QUITE A BIT OF CHANGE ALREADY.

AND I JUST WANNA SUPPORT THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND, UH, PUSH FOR POSTPONEMENT ON THIS.

UH, JENNY GRAYSON SPEAKING FOR MYSELF AGAINST ITEM 82.

SO FIRST I'M GONNA ECHO WHAT MR. BUNCH SAID.

UH, THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD OPPOSES

[04:25:01]

THE PROPERTY IS NOT ON LAMAR, AS YOU HEARD HIM SAY.

THE ACCESS PROPERTY IS LIMITED AND THE INGRESS AND EGRESS GO TO GOODRICH, WHICH IS A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD AND STREET.

I ASSUME IT'S ONE LANE IN EACH DIRECTION, JUST LIKE EAST 12TH STREET.

SO 90 FEET SEEMS TO BE INCOMPATIBLE WITH INTERIOR NEIGHBORHOOD PARCELS.

LDC ARTICLE 2.1 0.1 REQUIRES BUILDINGS TO RELATE APPROPRIATELY TO SURROUNDING STREETS, BUT THIS ONE WILL NOT.

THERE'S NO ZONING TRANSPORTATION ANALYSIS FOR THE SITE.

AND THEN BACK TO LDC, ARTICLE 2.1, 0.1, WHICH MANDATES BUILDINGS APPROPRIATENESS TO SURROUNDING DEVELOPMENTS.

SINGLE FAMILY HOMES LESS THAN 30 FEET IN HEIGHT.

THIS ONE DOES NOT.

FOR 50% SMALLER VOLUME BUILDING ON THIS 1.4 ACRES, IT WOULD'VE INCREASED THE TRIP COUNT BY, ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD STREET BY 2,400 TRIPS PER DAY, OR 2 20, 2400 TRIPS PER DAY.

EXCUSE ME.

SO THIS BUILDING BEING 50% LARGER WILL SURELY INCREASE THE TRIP COUNT IN EXCESS OF 3000 TRIPS PER DAY ONTO A RESIDENTIAL STREET.

WE'VE HEARD THAT STAFF ISN'T REALLY CONSIDERING ANY LIMITATIONS TO DB 90, SO IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

AND JUST PLEASE LISTEN TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS.

WE HAVE NEIGHBORHOOD PLANS FOR A REASON AND, UM, I'M ASKING FOR YOUR OPPOSITION ON ITEM 2082.

CHRIS PAGE OR DREW ZECK MAYOR.

THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS.

MR. PAGE IS HERE.

YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES IF YOU'LL MAKE YOUR WAY DOWN FRONT.

YEP.

SO, UM, I KNOW THAT THIS PARTICULAR CASE IS IN AN ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREA, UH, DUE TO SOME PROCEDURAL HICCUPS, I WASN'T AWARE THAT MY ITEM 1 0 9 TESTIMONY WAS, UH, PREVIOUSLY TIMED.

SO I THINK THIS IS ILLUSTRATIVE POTENTIALLY OF THIS CASE TOO.

INVESTOR AND MUNICIPAL LIABILITY.

AND, AND HOW DOES THIS, DOES YOUR CLIENT LOOK TO ADDRESS MATRICE? 'CAUSE THERE'S TOPOGRAPHY THERE.

AND THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

UM, I, YOU KNOW, OUR ASSUMPTION IS THAT'S BEING ADDRESSED THROUGH THE SITE PLANNING PROCESS, BUT I, I ACTUALLY HAVEN'T LOOKED AT THAT ASPECT OF IT.

IT'S NOT, ENGINEERS HAVE IDENTIFIED THAT THERE'S ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREAS THAT ARE PRONE TO COLLAPSE IF THERE'S INAPPROPRIATE SKILLED, UH, CONSTRUCTION.

THIS IS, UH, AN 80-YEAR-OLD RESIDENT WHO LIVED THROUGH SEGREGATION, SUFFRAGE, UH, ALL KINDS OF DISCRIMINATION IN HER HOME SINCE THE SIXTIES.

SHE LOST 10 FEET OF PROPERTY THE LAST TIME SOMEBODY EXCAVATED THE BASE FOR HILL UN PERMITTED.

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED ON SHELL CREEK.

I'M SURE YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH IT AND HOW MUCH IT COSTS THE CITY.

THIS IS, UH, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE CITY KNOWINGLY IGNORES THESE KINDS OF PROBLEMS. IT'S GONNA COST YOU A LOT.

AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH ALL I GOT FOR YOU.

SO 2,900 OAK SPRINGS IS UP AGAINST THE STEEPEST ELEVATION CHANGE IN EAST AUSTIN.

ANY KIND OF DISTURBANCE AT THE BASE OF THAT HILL IS GONNA CONTINUE TO COLLAPSE YOUR PROPERTY.

THERE'S NO ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION AROUND IT.

I ALREADY SPOKE TO THE D ONE OFFICE.

I ALREADY SPOKE TO THE WATERSHED DEPARTMENT.

WATERSHED DEPARTMENT SAID THEY TRIED TO PASS SOMETHING IN 2022, BUT THE CITY COUNCIL WOULDN'T PICK IT UP.

IT HAD TO DO WITH EROSION HAZARDS IN EAST AUSTIN.

AND THE MOST, THIS IS ABOUT THIS CASE, THE MOST BASIC PRINCIPLE IN ZONING AND THE MOST LIBERTARIAN INTERPRETATION OF IT IS THAT IT SHOULD PROTECT HEALTH AND SAFETY.

AND IF YOU'RE GOING AGAINST THAT AND YOU'RE DOING SO KNOWINGLY AS YOU ARE NOW, NOW THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF THESE PROBLEMS, YOU WILL BE SUBJECT TO LITIGATION.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE SIGNED UP ON ITEM NUMBER 82? NO MA'AM.

[04:30:01]

THE APPLICANT IS ENTITLED TO A REBUTTAL.

I'D LIKE FOR HER TO SAY IT ON THE RECORD.

NO REBUTTAL.

UH, MEMBERS, THOSE ARE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AND WE FOLLOWED THE PROCESS OF A CONTESTED CASE.

I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER 82.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION? COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER MOVES, UH, ADOPTION OF ITEM NUMBER 82 ON ALL THREE READINGS.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA SECONDS.

THE MOTION IS THERE.

DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER 82.

COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER.

OKAY, FURTHER DISCUSSION.

AND I WAS GOING TO LET THE FIRST LIE PASS, BUT THEN WE HAD A SECOND AND A THIRD AND I FEEL LIKE THE RECORD HAS TO BE ACCURATE AND CORRECTED.

NUMBER ONE, I NEVER TALKED WITH, UM, HAKA OR MIKE GERBER AND PRESSURED HIM TO MAKE A CHANGE IN HIS RECOMMENDATION.

THAT'S JUST WHOLLY INACCURATE AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THAT IS CLEAR ON THE RECORD.

NUMBER TWO, WE DID MEET WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND SO TO SAY THAT WE ARE NOT IS JUST ONCE AGAIN NOT TRUE.

AND I'M JUST GONNA LEAVE IT AT THAT.

HEARING NONE, UM, THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED TO ADOPT ITEM NUMBER 82, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, ITEM NUMBER 82 IS ADOPTED.

MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO ABSTAIN AND WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER BEING SHOWN ABSTAINING.

AND ITEM NUMBER 82 IS ADOPTED ON ALL THREE READINGS.

[113. C14-2024-0070 - 3117 & 3121 E. 12th Street - Conduct a public hearing and approve an ordinance amending City Code Title 25 by rezoning property locally known as 3117 and 3121 East 12th Street (Boggy Creek Watershed). Applicant Request: To rezone from general commercial services-mixed use-vertical mixed use building-conditional overlay-neighborhood plan (CS-MU-V-CO-NP) combining district zoning to general commercial services-mixed use-vertical mixed use building-conditional overlay-density bonus 90-neighborhood plan (CS-MU-V-CO-DB90-NP) combining district zoning. Staff Recommendation: To grant general commercial services-mixed use-vertical mixed use building-conditional overlay-density bonus 90-neighborhood plan (CS-MU-V-CO-DB90-NP) combining district zoning. Planning Commission Recommendation: To forward to Council without a recommendation due to lack of an affirmative vote. Owner/Applicant: 3121 E. 12th Horizontal Investors, LP (Michael Bernstein). Agent: Armbrust & Brown (Michael J. Whellan). City Staff: Marcelle Boudreaux, 512-974-8094.]

MEMBERS THAT WILL TAKE US TO ITEM NUMBER ONE 13 MS. HARDEN, I'LL ASK YOU TO COME FORWARD AND MAKE A PRESENTATION.

MAYOR AND COUNSEL.

JOY HARDIN AGAIN WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.

THIS IS ITEM ONE 13 ON YOUR AGENDA AND IT'S CASE NUMBER C 14 2 2 4 0 0 7 0 LOCATED AT 3 1 1 7 AND 3 1 2 1 EAST 12TH STREET.

THE PARCEL IS APPROXIMATELY ONE ACRE.

THE REQUEST IS FROM C-S-M-U-V-C-N-P TO CSMU VCO DB 90 NMP.

STAFF RECOMMENDS GRANTING THE C-S-M-U-V-C-O DB 90 NP ZONING.

THE APPLICANT HAS INDICATED AN INTENT TO DEVELOP A MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT WITH APPROXIMATELY 90 MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DWELLING UNITS.

AS YOU MAY RECALL, THE SITE WAS REZONED TO INCLUDE THE VERTICAL MIXED USE COMBINING DISTRICT LATE LAST YEAR.

THE VM U2 ORDINANCE WAS INVALIDATED AFTER THE APPROVAL OF THE PREVIOUS REZONING REQUEST.

SO THE APPLICANT IS NOW REQUESTING DB 90 AND WHAT WE'D CONSIDER A REDO OF THE CASE.

THE SITE IS LOCATED NEAR CAPITAL METRO RAIL STATION AND HAS MULTIPLE BUS STOPS.

IT'S LOCATED ALONG A LEVEL TWO A SMP ROADWAY AND IS APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET FROM AIRPORT BOULEVARD, WHICH IS AN IMAGINE AUSTIN ACTIVITY CORRIDOR.

THIS CASE DID NOT RECEIVE A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION, BUT WAS SUPPORTED BY STAFF BECAUSE THE REZONING WOULD ALLOW FOR MIX OF USE OF, FOR MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES NEAR PUBLIC TRANSIT AND TRANSPORTATION QUARTERS.

AND I'M AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS MEMBERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF MS. HARDEN? ALL RIGHT.

UM, DO WE HAVE PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? ALL RIGHT, SO WHAT WE'LL DO, AGAIN, BECAUSE THIS IS A DISCUSSION ITEM, THE APPLICANT WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A FIVE MINUTE PRESENTATION.

A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THOSE IN OPPOSITION WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A FIVE MINUTE PRESENTATION.

THEN WE WILL HEAR FROM THOSE IN FAVOR, THOSE THEN OPPOSED.

AND THEN THERE WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR REBUTTAL.

SO I WILL CALL, UH, ON THE APPLICANT TO PLEASE COME FORWARD.

DO WE HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE APPLICANT? YES.

THE APPLICANT IS ON THE PHONE AND, AND HAS A PRESENTATION.

WE'RE GEARING THAT UP.

MAYOR AND COUNSEL.

MR. WHALEN, IF YOU COULD PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.

HE'S IN ITALY.

COULD YOU LET ME KNOW WHEN THE UH, PRESENTATION

[04:35:01]

IS UP, PLEASE? YES, SIR.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MICHAEL WHALEN ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT.

AS YOU MAY RECALL FROM OUR VM U2 REZONING THAT YOU APPROVED THIS LAST TIME, UH, LAST YEAR AT THIS TIME, THE PROPERTY WE'RE DISCUSSING IS ON EAST 12TH STREET AS, UH, JOY HARDIN JUST SAID, LESS THAN 400 FEET FROM AIRPORT BOULEVARD, WHICH IS AN A SMP TRANSIT PRIORITY NETWORK.

OUR REQUEST TODAY IS TO ADD THE DB 90 OVERLAY TO THE SITE FOLLOWING THE INVALIDATION OF THE VM U2 PROGRAM BY THE COURTS.

THIS PROPERTY WAS UNANIMOUSLY REZONED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2023 WITH THE INTENTION OF UTILIZING THE VM U2 DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM TO BUILD HOUSING.

IN THAT ITERATION OF REZONING, WE RECEIVED UNANIMOUS SUPPORT FROM BOTH CLEANING COMMISSION AND THE CITY COUNCIL.

THOUGH THE ZONING TOOL HAS NOW CHANGED, THE TENANTS OF OUR CASE REMAIN THE SAME.

FIRST, THE ENVISION PROJECT ADDS A NEW HOUSING, INCLUDING 12% OF UNITS MADE AFFORDABLE AT 60% MFI, ALONG AND NEAR VARIOUS TRANSIT OPTIONS INCLUDING THE MLK JUNIOR RAIL STATION.

SECOND, GIVEN THE SITE'S PROXIMITY AND ACCESS TO BUS AND RAIL OPTIONS EFFICIENTLY DEVELOPING THE PROPERTY, ADVANCES THE CITY'S GOAL OF PROMOTING TRANSIT SUPPORTIVE DENSITIES.

AND THIRD, PREVIOUSLY AGREED UPON CONDITIONS NEGOTIATED WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD WILL REMAIN IN PLACE VIA CON, VIA A CONDITIONAL OVERLAY AND A PRIVATE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT, WHICH I'LL DISCUSS ON THE NEXT SLIDE.

IF WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

IN THE 2023 VM U2 REZONING, THE APPLICANT AND NEIGHBORHOOD NEGOTIATED A CONDITIONAL OVERLAY THAT LIMITED IMPERVIOUS COVER TO 90%, WHICH IS DOWN FROM 95% AND RESTRICTED BUILDING HEIGHTS TO 80 FEET DOWN FROM THE 90 FEET ALLOWED BY VM U2.

WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO THOSE CONDITIONS.

THE IMPERVIOUS COVER LIMITATION WILL REMAIN IN THE FORM OF A CONDITIONAL OVERLAY.

HOWEVER, THE CITY'S LEGAL TEAM, AS WAS JUST NOTED, I BELIEVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, HAS DETERMINED THAT THE DV 90 CASES ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS USING THE SAME MECHANISM AS A RESULT.

AND IN AN EFFORT TO ASSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE A D FEET HEIGHT CAP, WE HAVE ENTERED INTO A PRIVATE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT WITH HOME BASE, WHICH IS A NONPROFIT UNDER AUSTIN HABITAT FOR HUMANITY AND IS VIEWED AS A TRUSTED COMMUNITY PARTNER.

IN OTHER WORDS, THE CONDITIONS INCLUDED IN THE APPROVED VMU TWO ORDINANCE WILL NOT CHANGE.

IN ADDITION TO THESE SITE DEVELOPMENT RESTRICTIONS, I WANNA SUMMARIZE ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY COMMUNITY BENEFITS ASSOCIATED ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROJECT.

12% OF THE UNITS WILL BE AFFORDABLE AT 60%.

MFI.

APPROXIMATELY A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS WILL BE PAID IN STREET IMPACT FEES.

THE SITE WILL COMPLY WITH CODE REQUIREMENTS FOR WATER QUALITY AND DRAINAGE, AND CURRENTLY ENVISIONS AN ONSITE RAIN GARDEN ALONG THE SOUTHERN EDGE OF THE LOTS.

THE PROJECT WILL FEATURE PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY FACILITIES INCLUDING 12 FEET OF SIDEWALKS AND GROUND FLOOR COMMERCIAL DESIGN.

AND OF COURSE, THE PROJECT WILL LEAD TO INCREASED HOUSING STOCK, NEAR RAIL, AND OTHER FORMS OF TRANSIT.

SO TO RECAP, RECENTLY ZONED, UH, UH, UNANIMOUSLY BMU TWO PREVIOUSLY AGREED UPON CONDITIONS WILL REMAIN INTACT AND IT ADVANCES COUNCIL AND CITY PLANNING GOALS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, AND I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

MR. WAYLAND, I I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU A QUESTION.

CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, SIR.

A THIRD PARTY RESTRICTED COVENANT, UH, WITH HOME BASE FOR THAT.

UH, MY QUESTION IS, YOU, YOU SAY THAT THE CONDITIONS CONTINUE TO APPLY AND, AND IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE YOU'RE INDICATING THE CONDITIONS CONTINUE TO APPLY THROUGH A CONDITIONAL OVERLAY, BUT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT LEGAL HAS INDICATED THAT WE, THE CITY CAN'T DO A CONDITIONAL OVERLAY.

SO HOW IS IT THAT YOU'RE, MAYBE I JUST DIDN'T HEAR YOU, BUT HOW IS IT THAT YOU SAY THE CONDITIONS CAN CONTINUE TO APPLY THROUGH A CONDITIONAL OVERLAY THAT CAN'T BE ALLOWED? THE CONDITIONAL, BECAUSE THERE'S BASE ZONING HERE, AND I'LL LET CI CITY LEGAL CONFIRM.

WE'RE ABLE TO, INSTEAD OF 95 IMPERVIOUS COVER, WHICH IS A CONDITION OF THE BASE ZONING, AND THERE ARE ALSO SOME USES THAT ARE PART OF THE BASE ZONING.

WE, THE CONDITIONAL OVERLAY IS ASSOCIATED WITH AND IS RESTRICTING THAT BASE ENTITLEMENT.

THE ONE THAT WE CANNOT DO, I SEE BY CONDITIONAL OVERLAY IS THE HEIGHT AND THEREFORE WE ENTERED INTO

[04:40:01]

ALL RIGHT, SO TO, TO MEET THAT SAME OBLIGATION.

SO LET ME MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND, AND I, AND I'M GONNA PROBABLY JUST BE REPEATING YOU, BUT I, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT.

UM, THAT'S THE FIRST TIME THAT'S HAPPENED, BUT I'M GONNA TALK RIGHT THROUGH IT.

UH, SO, UH, I'M GONNA SEE, I I'M GONNA SAY THAT WAS JUST A SUGGESTION FROM Y'ALL.

UM, HERE, HERE, UH, MR. WAYLON, WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS YOU ARE NOT APPLYING A CONDITIONAL OVERLAY TO THE DB 90.

YOU'RE PROVIDING A CONDITIONAL, YOU'RE, YOU'RE USING A CONDITIONAL OVERLAY ON THE BASE ZONING THAT GIVES THE BASE ENTITLEMENTS AND FOR THE IMPERVIOUS COVER LIMITATIONS, RIGHT? THAT IS CORRECT.

UNABLE TO DO THAT.

UNABLE TO DO THAT ON JUST ON THE BASE ZONING WITH REGARD TO THE HEIGHT, BECAUSE THAT'S DB 90.

WHAT YOU'RE DOING THERE IS INSTEAD OF A CONDITIONAL OVERLAY, YOU'RE ENTERING INTO A RESTRICTIVE COVENANT SO THAT YOU WILL LIMIT THE PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THAT RESTRICTIVE COVENANT IN PERPETUITY.

NOT IN PERPETUITY.

UH, MAYOR, WE'RE DOING IT FOR 10 YEARS.

ZONING, AS YOU KNOW, CAN BE CHANGED EVEN WHEN YOU USE THE ZONING CASE WITHIN 18 MONTHS.

WE'VE EXTENDED THAT MORE THAN 18 MONTHS TO 10 YEARS.

SO, SO YOU'RE DOING IT FOR A 10 YEAR PERIOD, UH, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THINGS CHANGE.

YEAH, I, I UNDERSTAND.

WE'RE HAMSTRUNG BY SPECULATION.

THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME ASK THOSE QUESTIONS.

UM, THE PARTY IN OPPOSITION NOW IS ENTITLED TO FIVE MINUTES.

WE ARE GONNA START AT THE FRONT OF THIS ONE.

UM, OR ARBITRARY CAPRICIOUS, YOU CAN DESCRIBE IT EITHER WAY.

IT IS A THRESHOLD MATTER.

APPLICANT NEVER HAD VM E TWO R RIGHTS, IT WAS VOID.

ABIO VM E TWO ORDINANCE ADVISES AGAINST APPLICATION HERE THROUGH PART FIVE OF THAT ORDINANCE.

APPLICANT APPLICANT HAS NOT CREDIBLY DEMONSTRATED THE NEED OR, UH, COGENT PLANNING PRINCIPLES THAT WOULD UNDERLIE THIS CHANGE.

AND THEY'VE SHOWN A BRAZEN DISREGARD FOR THE AUTHORITY OF THIS CITY.

THE APPLICANT ARREST LAST REZONED THESE PARCELS ON SEPTEMBER 21ST, 2023 AFTER REVIEW BY THE HOMEWOOD HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, MCKINLEY HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, GLEN OAKS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, ROSEWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD CONTACT TEAM.

MAUREEN MEREDITH OF DSD, UH, JOY HARDEN, UH, JOHN LAWLER, SHARON MAY'S PLANNING COMMISSION, AND OUR CURRENT CITY COUNCIL.

UM, WHAT MR. WHEELIN WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT THROUGH RESTRICTIVE COVENANT IS DEFINITELY A, A DOWNGRADE FROM WHAT ZONING DOES.

IT MAKES THE MARKET MORE OPAQUE, VARIES POLICY AND LAND USE REGULATION AND PRIVATE CONTRACTS.

AND UM, WHAT YOU SEE ON THE SLIDE RIGHT NOW IS VMU TWO PART FIVE.

UH, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCORPORATED INTO DB 90.

IT HASN'T.

THIS IS WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR.

IT'S 90 FEET IN THE MIDDLE OF A NEIGHBORHOOD.

FOR CONTEXT, THIS IS THE ZONING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

CAN ANYONE LOOK AT THAT AND TELL ME THAT THIS IS NOT TRANSIT SUPPORTIVE? THERE'S C-S-M-E-V ALL OVER THE PLACE.

THERE'S A CO THAT APPLIES TO 12TH STREET ON THE NORTH SIDE THERE.

UH, THERE'S NO CO ON THE SOUTH SIDE THAT IS THE MOST TRANSIT SUPPORTIVE DENSITY YOU'LL SEE IN JUST ABOUT ANY NEIGHBORHOOD THAT TODAY ONLY HAS ONE AND TWO STORY BUILDINGS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ONE A NEW, A NEW PSH FACILITY THAT'S ON THE SOUTHEAST CORNER NEAR AIRPORT IN OAK SPRINGS.

THIS IS WHAT'S ACTUALLY GOING ON IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT IN RED RIGHT THERE IS OWNED BY ONE COMPANY.

THAT'S WHAT'S VACANT IN PINK.

AND YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT ENTITLEMENTS ARE GONNA SOLVE OUR CITY'S HOUSING CRISIS.

[04:45:01]

WHAT YOU SEE THERE IN PURPLE IS THE DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT WAS ACTUALLY INCENTIVIZED BY OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, WHICH NOT ONLY ALLOWED FOR ALL THAT DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PSH AND SENIOR LIVING, BUT IT ALSO SET THE AFFORDABILITY THRESHOLD THAT 60% MFI DON'T TELL ME THE ROSEWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN IS IN THE WAY OF HOUSING OR AFFORDABILITY.

THIS IS OUR NEIGHBORHOOD RAMPANT SPECULATION ALL OVER THE PLACE.

SINCE THIS REZONING, WE'VE SEEN ACTIVE GENTRIFICATION.

OPPORTUNISTS HAVE LOOKED AT THIS AS A, AS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT THEY MIGHT GET.

AND NOW THEY'RE TRYING TO SELL AT A KILLING, INCLUDING NATURALLY OCCURRING UNSUBSIDIZED AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

THIS IS OUR CENSUS TRACK DEMOGRAPHICS.

I'VE GOT LIMITED TIMES, I'M GONNA PUNCH THROUGH THIS QUICK.

CITYWIDE AVERAGE MFI DOESN'T HELP US ANYMORE.

CERTAINLY NOT WITH THE AFFORDABILITY THRESHOLD SET BY DB 90.

OPPORTUNITY ZONE IS TRUMP AIR TAX CREDIT FOR CAPITAL GAINS ON NOT THAT RELEVANT HERE.

HERE'S SOME OF THE PROCEDURAL HISTORY.

WE HAD A 40 FOOT CO LAST YEAR.

THEY DOUBLED IT UP TO AN 80 FOOT CO AND THAT WAS NOT WITH COMMUNITY SUPPORT.

THAT WAS WITH ONE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER SUPPORT.

AND THEN IN 2024 WE HAD EXTENSIVE DEREGULATION, WHICH HAS FLOODED OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WITH ADDITIONAL ENTITLEMENTS INCLUDING STRIPPING EXISTING SINGLE FAMILY HOME OWNERS THAT HAVE A MISMATCHED BASE ZONING FROM THEIR COMPATIBILITY.

AND FINALLY, WE'VE AGREED TO REDUCE THE MAXIMUM BUILDING HEIGHT TO 80 FEET.

AGAIN, CODIFIED IN THE CONDITIONAL OVERLAY.

CEO OF GUYS AGREE WHO RUN WITH THE LAND, UH, AND WILL BE A HIGH, HE'S TELLING SEPTEMBER, 2021 WITH CHANGING OF LAST YEAR THAT THEY HAD EVERYTHING THEY NEEDED WITH LOWER ENTITLEMENTS AND COMPATIBILITY APPLYING TO THEIR PROPERTY.

THIS IS THE LETTER THAT OF ASSURANCES, NONE OF WHICH ARE BINDING.

WE'RE TRYING TO GET SOME OF THOSE IN THE CO.

THIS IS HOW THEY'VE USED THE PROPERTY SINCE THEIR REZONING.

THEY COULD HAVE BUILT A 60 FOOT MULTIFAMILY BUILDING THERE.

THEY DIDN'T, 216 DAY DAYS LATER THEY APPLIED FOR REZONING.

AND HERE WE ARE WITH THIS.

ORIGINALLY MICHAEL LEWIN SUPPLIES US WITH A LETTER SAYING THEY WANT TO INCLUDE THE HEIGHT LIMITING CO THEN THEY SWITCH IT THE DAY BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION HEARING RON THROWER, WHO'S REPRESENTING THEIR O THE SAME OWNER'S PROPERTY, BUT DOWN ON OAK SPRINGS, SAYS THAT THIS AREA IS NOT ACTUALLY APPROPRIATE.

IT MIGHT NOT BE SUCCESSFUL.

SO WHAT'S THE RATIONALE HERE? WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GETTING, UH, 2% ADDITIONAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT THE SAME AFFORDABILITY THRESHOLD THAT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SET.

WE'RE NOT GETTING A 20% KNOCKDOWN IN AFFORDABILITY.

AND THAT IS APPARENTLY WHAT WAS CONTEMPLATED IN DV 90, NOT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

YOU GET 50% MORE BUILDABLE VOLUME WITH ONLY 2% MORE UNITS AFFORDABLE, NONE OF WHICH ARE AFFORDABLE IN OUR CENSUS.

DON'T MAKE US LOOK LIKE FOOLS.

NOW I'M GONNA CALL, I DO NOT HAVE ANY SPEAK.

WE DO NOT HAVE ANY SPEAKERS THAT ARE IN SUPPORT.

SO I'LL CALL SPEAKERS THAT ARE OPPOSED.

JENNY GRAYSON HAS DONATED TIME FROM BRAD, UH, BRAD MASSING.

AND SO SHE'S HAS SIX MINUTES, FOLLOWED BY FRANCIS CHENKO AND COLIN MCNAMARA AND THEN NOAH ELIAS.

THIS IS BROKEN AND I DIDN'T DO IT.

SO, UH, JENNY GRAYSON ON BEHALF OF MCKINLEY HEIGHTS IN OPPOSITION OF ITEM ONE 13.

WE'VE HEARD FROM OUR DISTRICT OFFICE THAT THIS CASE HAS ALREADY BEEN HEARD AND THAT D ONE WANTS TO GRANT THE APPLICANT THE ENTITLEMENTS THEY HAD LAST YEAR, WHAT THEY HAD LAST YEAR.

IT'S NOT GOING, HANG ON.

CAN WE PAUSE MY TIME PLEASE? PAUSE THEIR TIME.

CAN WE, SORRY, CAN I START OVER PLEASE? SURE.

THAT WAS ONLY TWO SLIDES IN.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

OKAY, SO JENNY GRAYSON ON BEHALF OF MCKINLEY HEIGHTS IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM ONE 13.

WE'VE HEARD FROM OUR DISTRICT OFFICE THAT THIS CASE HAS ALREADY BEEN HEARD AND THAT D ONE WANTS TO GRANT THE APPLICANT THE ENTITLEMENTS THEY HAD LAST YEAR.

WHAT THEY HAD LAST YEAR IS CS M-U-V-C-P.

YOU CAN'T HAVE WHAT NEVER EXISTED.

SO THE APPLICANT NEVER HAD THE RIGHTS TO VM U2.

I'M JUST CURIOUS WHAT HAS CHANGED BETWEEN THOSE ZONING DECISIONS AND THIS ZONING REVIEW? THE FACT THAT VM U2 DOES NOT EXIST ANYMORE.

OKAY, SO WHAT DID THEY GET WITH V JOY HARDEN ZONING OFFICER? UH, I THINK YOU SAID THE CURRENT ZONING IS CSV.

SO THAT WOULD BE ALLOWED TO HAVE THE 60 FEET HEIGHT.

TO VMU TWO WITH TODAY'S COMPATIBILITY, THEY GET AN EXTRA 32% OF BUILDING CAPACITY AUTOMATICALLY WITHOUT ANY REZONING.

AND THAT WOULD BE, THAT WOULD, THAT ALLOWS FOR A MIX OF COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL USE, A MIX OF COMMERCIAL.

AND IF YOU DEVELOP TO THE V STANDARDS, YOU WOULD HAVE TO PROVIDE AFFORDABILITY.

SO WHEN YOU COMPARE THE BUILDABLE VOLUME OF WHAT THEY PURCHASED

[04:50:01]

WHEN YOU COMPARE THE BUILDABLE VOLUME OF WHAT THEY PURCHASED TO DB 90, THEY GET AN EXTRA 97% OF BUILDING CAPACITY AT THE PERCENTAGE OF AFFORDABLE UNITS ONLY INCREASES BY 2%.

I'LL REMIND YOU THAT THE PURPOSE OF DB 90 IS TO PROVIDE MODIFICATIONS AND BUILDING REQUIREMENTS AND GRANT ADDITIONAL HEIGHT IN EXCHANGE FOR COMMUNITY BENEFITS AND INCOME RESTRICTED HOUSING.

WHERE ARE OUR COMMUNITY BENEFITS IN THIS EQUATION? THIS PARCELS IN A NEIGHBORHOOD, IT'S ONLY INGRESS AND EGRESS WILL CONNECT TO A STREET THAT IS ONE LANE IN EACH DIRECTION AND WAS BUILT TO CONNECT NEIGHBORHOODS.

IT ONLY TAKES ONE CAR TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN INTO THE GARAGE AND SIX CARS BEHIND IT TO BLOCK THE INTERSECTION.

AT AIRPORT BOULEVARD.

TRAFFIC REGULARLY BACKS UP A THIRD OF A MILE ON 12TH STREET FROM AIRPORT BOULEVARD.

LDC ARTICLE 2.1 0.1 REQUIRES BUILDINGS TO RELATE APPROPRIATELY TO SURROUNDING STREETS, BUT THIS ONE WILL NOT.

THE FALSE GOAL OF MAKING THIS A WALKABLE COMMUNITY WILL VOID WILL BE VOID BY ADDING HUNDREDS OF CARS TO AN ALREADY UNSAFE AND OVERUSED STREET.

THE PARCELS SURROUNDED BY SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AND ONE DUPLEX NATURALLY OCCURRING, UNSUBSIDIZED, AFFORDABLE, LONG-TERM RENTALS AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR SENIORS.

LDC ARTICLE 2.1 0.1 MANDATES BUILDINGS APPROPRIATENESS TO SURROUNDING DEVELOPMENTS.

THIS ONE IS NOT.

ALL THE FAMILIES LIVING AROUND THIS RED BOX WILL MOST CERTAINLY BE DIS DISPLACED.

IF THIS PARCEL IS ZONE DB 90, THEY ALREADY HAVE 32% MORE BUILDABLE VOLUME.

SO WHAT'S THE REASON TO GIVE THEM MORE? YOU WANT US TO BELIEVE THIS IS ABOUT AFFORDABILITY, BUT WE KNOW IT'S NOT.

IF IT WAS, YOU WOULD KNOW THAT 45% OF INDIVIDUALS IN THIS CENSUS TRACKED 8.02, MAKE LESS THAN $50,000 A YEAR AND 40,000 PER, SORRY 40% OF FAMILIES LIVE IN POVERTY.

YOU WOULD KNOW THAT AN INCREASE OF 2% IN AFFORDABLE UNITS WON'T MAKE A DENT IN WHAT OUR COMMUNITY ACTUALLY NEEDS.

AND IF YOU REALLY DID YOUR HOMEWORK, YOU WOULD KNOW THAT TEACHERS AND FIREFIGHTERS, THE BENEFICIARIES OF THIS MAGNIFICENT DB 90 MAKE MORE THAN THE 60% MFI AND WON'T QUALIFY FOR THESE AFFORDABLE UNITS.

APPLICATION FOR DB 90 DOES NOT INHERENTLY GRANT THE RIGHTS TO DB 90 YET THIS IS HOW IT'S BEING TREATED.

WE ALL APPLY FOR THINGS WE MIGHT NOT GET JOBS, CREDIT CARDS, UNIVERSITIES, LOANS.

JUST BECAUSE YOU APPLY DOESN'T MAKE IT REAL.

AND IT'S NOT THE COMMUNITY'S RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE ON THE RISK FOR THE DEVELOPER.

IS IT FAIR OR JUST OR INTENDED TO OFFER US LESS THAN 10 AFFORDABLE UNITS IN A BUILDING THAT WILL MOST CERTAINLY DISPLACE MORE THAN A HUNDRED RESIDENTS.

LOPSIDED TRADE OFF.

LAST YEAR WE WERE HANDED A CONDITIONAL OVERLAY, WHICH KEPT HEIGHT AT 80 FEET.

WE DIDN'T AGREE TO IT, WE DIDN'T WANT IT AND IT WAS ARRANGED.

MARRIAGE 80 FEET WAS A FALSE CONCESSION BECAUSE THEY NEVER COULD BUILD THIS HIGH.

GIVEN THE STAIRWELL ISSUE AND THE LOT DEPTH THEY WERE PLACATING AS A COMMUNITY.

WE ASKED FOR REAL BENEFITS SUCH AS DEEPER AFFORDABILITY, A CONDITIONAL HEIGHT CONDITIONAL OVERLAY TO REMAIN IN PLACE, ADEQUATE PARKING TRAFFIC IMPACT ANALYSIS LIMITS ON SHORT TERM RENTALS AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS.

BUT WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST IS DB 90 WHERE THEY GET AN INCREASE OF 97% BUILDING CAPACITY FOR ONE MORE AFFORDABLE UNIT.

THEY RECENTLY PRESENTED US WITH A RESTRICTIVE COVENANT THAT'S EQUALLY AS APPALLING AS THE CONDITIONAL OVERLAY.

AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO ONCE AGAIN BE FORCED INTO AN ARRANGED MARRIAGE WITH A PARTNER WHO ONLY TAKES FROM US IN A MARRIAGE, WHICH WE WEREN'T HAP WE WERE HAPPY TO HAVE A NOLL.

WE ASKED AGAIN FOR REAL COMMUNITY BENEFITS AND THE APPLICANT HAS MET US WITH SILENCE.

THE BENEFITS HE PRESENTED JUST NOW HAVE NOT BEEN PRESENTED TO US OTHER THAN THE 80 FOOT HEIGHT LIMIT.

SO THAT'S AGAIN, WHAT I CALL PLACATING.

THE ZONING CASE ISN'T RECOMMENDED BY PLANNING COMMISSION.

THE VERY PEOPLE YOU APPOINTED AS YOUR ADVOCATES COULDN'T GARNER ENOUGH VOTES TO RECOMMEND TO THIS CASE.

ARTICLE 10 REQUIRES PLANNING COMMISSIONERS TO OVERSEE THE APPROPRIATE USE OF LAND THAT ALIGNS WITH PUBLIC INTEREST AND IMPROVE SAFETY.

THEY'RE REQUIRED TO ALIGN ZONING AND HOW WITH HOW NEIGHBORHOODS WANT THEMSELVES TO GROW, IMPROVE GENERAL WELFARE AND PREVENT OVERCROWDING BASED ON THESE CONDITIONS THEY DIDN'T AND CAN'T RECOMMEND TO THIS CASE.

I'LL JUST OFFER A SIMPLE OPPOSITION THAT I DON'T, I MEAN WHETHER 90 FEET WAS ALLOWED BEFORE OR NOW OR IN THE FUTURE OR BEFORE TIME.

I JUST DON'T THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE THE SITE.

THAT'S WHY I'M OPPOSED TO IT.

SO THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO SUPPORT THE COMMISSIONERS YOU APPOINTED AND THE 44 OF US WHO SIGNED UP IN OPPOSITION TODAY.

I'M ASKING ONE OF YOU TO PLEASE RAISE A MOTION TO DISMISS THIS CASE AND VOTE AGAINST ITEM ONE 13, TALK ABOUT NEIGHBORHOOD PLANS.

AND I'M GONNA SHOW A LITTLE BIT OF OUR VOTE AT PLANNING COMMISSION 'CAUSE I'M SURE THERE'S SOME ETHICS VIOLATIONS IN HERE.

OKAY, LET'S VOTE.

UH, COMMISSIONER SKIDMORE, IF YOU'D LIKE TO VOTE, PLEASE TURN YOUR CAMERA ON, UH, FOLKS OR AGAINST OKAY.

ON THE SCREEN, IF YOU WOULD, RAISE YOUR HAND UP HIGH WITH YELLOW, GREEN, OR RED.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S SEE.

I DO BELIEVE, LET'S SEE, COMMISSIONER.

OKAY, BROTHERS, , THAT ITEM FAILS WITH COMMISSIONER COX.

[04:55:03]

AND MAXWELL, I DO BELIEVE THAT'S GREEN, CORRECT? COMMISSIONER MAXWELL? YEAH.

ONE, TWO.

CAN I HAVE 30 MORE SECONDS TO FINISH IT? OKAY.

WELL, THEY BASICALLY CALLED TO VOTE AND THEN THEY TRIED TO DELAY THE VOTE UNTIL THE NEXT PLANNING COMMISSION, WHICH WAS OUT OF ORDER, YOUR TIME'S EXPIRED.

AND WE LET YOU START OVER.

SO FRANCIS KIN THANK YOU MS. CHIKIN.

S OKAY, THAT'S ALL THE SPEAKERS FOR ONE 13 MAYOR.

THE APPLICANT IS ENTITLED TO A THREE MINUTE REBUTTAL.

MR. WAYLAN, ARE YOU STILL YEAH.

UH, MICHAEL WAY? YEAH, I'M HERE.

YOU'RE ENTITLED TO THREE MINUTE REBUTTAL.

CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES.

UH, THE ONLY THING I WANTED TO ADD IS, UH, GOING FROM 60 FEET TO 80 FEET ADDS ONE FLOOR ON AN EXTREMELY SKINNY LOT, WHICH IS 20 UNITS APPROXIMATELY.

AND INSTEAD OF BEING AT 10% MF 10% OF THE UNITS, WHICH IS VMU, WE NOW GET A BUMP UP TO 12% OF THE UNITS, UH, HAVE TO BE ON SITE AFFORDABLE.

WITH THAT, I'LL PASS.

UM, MEMBERS, THOSE ARE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP AND WE HAVE FOLLOWED THE PROCESS FOR A CONTESTED HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER ONE 13.

UH, THE MOTION THAT THE CHAIR WOULD ENTERTAIN WOULD BE THAT ITEM ONE 13 BE APPROVED ON FIRST READING ONLY, AND IT WILL BE BROUGHT BACK FOR POTENTIAL SECOND AND THIRD READINGS ON SEPTEMBER 26TH.

IS THERE A MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER ONE 13? IS THERE A MOTION MAYOR PRO TEM MOVES ADOPTION AS, AS I INDICATED, IS THERE A SECOND? IT IS SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.

IS THERE DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO THE MOTION COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER? I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, BE SEEN AS ABSTAINING.

IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER ONE 13? THAT BEING THE CASE WITHOUT OBJECTION.

ITEM NUMBER ONE 13 IS APPROVED ON FIRST READING ONLY, AND WE'LL COME BACK, UH, ON FOR POTENTIAL SECOND AND THIRD READING ON SEPTEMBER 26TH WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER BEING SHOWN ABSTAINING ON ITEM NUMBER ONE 13 MEMBERS.

UM, BEFORE WE ADJOURN, UH, I I THOUGHT WE MIGHT DO SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT WITH OUR ADJOURNING TODAY BECAUSE RECENTLY WE HAD, UH, THE, UH, A TRAGIC PASSING OF SOMEBODY THAT HAS BEEN, UH, MANY OF A FRIEND TO MANY OF US AND THAT WE'VE KNOWN.

AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, UH, ON A MOTION TO ADJOURN IN HONOR OF A, OF A PERSON.