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YOU ARE WATCHING A MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL WITH MAYOR KIRK WATSON, MAYOR PRO TIMM LESLIE POOLE, COUNCIL MEMBERS NATASHA HARPER MADISON, VANESSA FUENTES, JOSE VELAZQUEZ, CHEETO VELA, RYAN ALTER, MACKENZIE, KELLY, PAIGE ELLIS, ZOE CADRE, ALISON ALTER, INTERIM CITY ATTORNEY DEBORAH THOMAS, CITY CLERK MYRNA RIOS, AND CITY MANAGER TC BROAD, WEST SECOND
[Call to Order]
STREET.UM, FOR THIS MEETING, UM, MEMBERS, THE ORDER THAT WE WILL GO IN TODAY IS IN JUST A SECOND.
I'LL READ CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS INTO THE RECORD, AND THEN, UH, WE WILL GO TO ITEM NUMBER 33, UH, WHICH IS AN ITEM THAT, UH, THAT HAS BEEN PULLED FOR US TO DISCUSS.
WE WILL THEN GO TO THE CONSENT AGENDA, FIRST HEARING FROM CONSENT SPEAKERS.
AND THEN, UH, THE OTHER ITEM THAT HAS BEEN PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ITEM NUMBER 16, AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE CONSENT AGENDA, UH, THE CONSENT SPEAKERS, WE WILL HAVE, UH, A MOTION AND A SECOND AND THEN DISCUSSION, UH, BRIEF COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS ON THE DIS THE CONSENT AGENDA, AND WE WILL VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
WE WILL THEN GO TO, UH, THE ITEMS THAT WAS PULLED AT THAT POINT, IT WILL BE ITEM 16, UNLESS SOMEBODY PULLS ADDITIONAL ITEMS. WE'LL GO TO THE NON-CONSENT ITEMS. WE HAVE THREE CATEGORIES OF NON-CONSENT ITEMS, ITEMS FROM COUNCIL COMMITTEES, IMMINENT DOMAIN ITEMS, AND PUBLIC HEARINGS.
UH, AT NOON, WE WILL, UH, HAVE OUR 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE WILL RECESS AT THE END OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR LIVE MUSIC.
AND, AND MY GUESS IS THAT WE WILL RECONVENE, UH, AT LIKE ONE 10, AND THEN OF COURSE, AT TWO O'CLOCK, WE WILL HAVE OUR TIME, CERTAIN OF ZONING ITEMS. WITH THAT, I WILL READ CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS INTO THE RECORD.
ITEM NUMBER 31 IS POSTPONED TO DECEMBER 12TH, 2024.
UH, WE WOULD ADD COUNCIL MEMBER AN ALTAR TO THAT ITEM AS A SPONSOR.
AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ZOE CADRE, UH, ALSO WISHES TO BE PUT THERE.
UM, IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE, LET, LET ME ASK THIS QUESTION ON ITEM NUMBER 33.
UH, IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, WE WILL ADD ALL MEMBERS OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AS SPONSORS TO ITEM NUMBER 33.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, UH, THAT WILL BE DONE ON ITEM NUMBER 34.
UH, PLEASE ADD COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE CHETO VELA TO THAT AS A SPONSOR.
ON ITEM NUMBER 36, RAY ANN ALONG HAS REMOVED HERSELF FROM CONSIDERATION.
IT SHOULD READ RAY ANN ALONG, HAS REMOVED HERSELF FROM CONSIDERATION.
UH, WHEN WE BRING UP ITEM NUMBER 36, THAT IS ONE OF THE, UH, NON-CONSENT ITEMS BECAUSE IT'S AN ITEM FROM A COUNCIL COMMITTEE AS CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE THAT THAT COMES FROM.
I'LL BE THE ONE MAKING THE MOTION, AND I'LL ASSURE THAT, UH, RAY AND ALONG WILL NOT BE PART OF THAT MOTION.
ON ITEMS 40 42 AND 43, IT SHOULD READ WHEN PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE TAKEN UP.
THESE ITEMS WILL BE POSTPONED TO NOVEMBER 21ST, 2024.
AGAIN, ITEMS 40, 42 AND 43 WILL BE POSTPONED UNTIL NOVEMBER 21ST, 2024 MEMBERS, UH, THOSE ARE THE CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS THAT NEEDED TO BE READ INTO THE RECORD.
[33. Approve a resolution naming the staff bullpen and first-floor kitchen of Austin City Hall in honor of and tribute to Kay and Joe Guedea.]
TO ITEM NUMBER 33, UH, MEMBERS.ITEM NUMBER 33, AS YOU KNOW, IS AN OPPORTUNITY, UH, FOR US.
AND, AND OF COURSE, ALL OF THE COUNCIL JUST AGREED TO BE CO-SPONSOR.
SO IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE IT HAS A GOOD CHANCE OF PASSING, UM, FOR THOSE THAT ARE SITTING ON PINS AND NEEDLES.
UM, BUT ITEM NUMBER 33, IF I MIGHT, I'LL JUST, I'LL JUST MENTION A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THAT'S ABOUT.
UH, THAT IS A MOTION THAT WE WILL TAKE UP TO NAME THE STAFF BULLPEN, WHICH IS BEHIND COUNCIL CHAMBERS HERE TO NAME THAT, THE KAY GIA STAFF BULLPEN, AND TO NAME THE CITY HALL
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FIRST FLOOR KITCHEN, UH, WHICH IS ALSO BACK BEHIND US HERE AS THE JOE GIA KITCHEN FOR THE PUBLIC.UM, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY THINKS THE THEATER GOES ON HERE, UH, IN THIS ROOM, AND I GUESS IT DOES.
BUT, BUT IN ORDER, LIKE A THEATER, IN ORDER FOR EVERYTHING TO WORK THE WAY WE WANT IT TO WORK, UH, THERE'S A LOT OF ACTIVITY THAT GOES ON BEHIND HERE.
UH, IT'S LIKE A BACKSTAGE, UH, IN, IN AN ACTUAL THEATER.
AND KAY GIA, UH, WHO SHE IS KIND OF THE, THE PERSON THAT IS THE, THE STAGE MANAGER, IF YOU WILL, SHE MAKES SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS DONE THE RIGHT WAY.
SHE, UH, HAS BEEN, UH, MAKING SURE THAT, THAT EVERYBODY'S FED, EVERYBODY'S TAKEN CARE OF FOR A LONG TIME.
IN FACT, SHE CAME IN 1998 TO AUSTIN CITY GOVERNMENT.
I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT THAT WAS WHEN I FIRST GOT TO MEET HER, BECAUSE, UH, I WAS SERVING AS MAYOR BACK THEN.
AND I QUICKLY FIGURED OUT THAT KAY, UH, MS. KAY, AS SHE IS REFERRED TO BY SO MANY PEOPLE, WAS ONE OF THE NEATEST PEOPLE I EVER HAD THE CHANCE OF KNOWING.
UH, AS I HAVE SAID, UH, ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION, SHE'S THE GLUE THAT HOLD, HOLDS THINGS TOGETHER.
SHE'S THE TIE THAT BINDS CITY HALL.
SHE'S THE PERSON THAT CAN GET ANYTHING DONE, WHETHER IT'S BIG, SMALL, OR MUNDANE.
UH, SHE'S A ROCK WHO EVERYONE CAN COUNT ON.
BUT MORE THAN ALL THAT, SHE IS SOMEONE WHO SPREADS LOVE.
UH, THAT'S THE ONLY WAY TO DESCRIBE HER.
UH, SHE IS, SHE IS SOMEONE THAT SPREADS LOVE AND WE ALL FEEL LOVED BY HER.
SHE LOVES HER JOB, THAT'S FOR CERTAIN.
BUT SHE LOVES HER JOB BECAUSE SHE LOVES ALL OF US.
AND SO, UH, THIS RESOLUTION WILL BE ONE THAT ALLOWS US TO TELL HER THAT WE LOVE HER AS WELL, AND THAT WE WANT PEOPLE IN PERPETUITY AT AUSTIN CITY HALL TO KNOW, UH, OF HER LOVE.
SO, WITH THAT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION, AND THEN WE WILL HAVE SPEAKERS ON THE ITEM MAYOR PRO TEM MOVES.
IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE THAT WE ADOPT ITEM NUMBER 33, AND I WILL NOW TURN TO THE CITY CLERK TO CALL ON PEOPLE THAT, UH, WANT TO SPEAK HERE.
AND OF COURSE, A SPECIAL GOOD MORNING TO OUR GUESTS OF HONOR TODAY.
UM, I MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY BEFORE, UH, UH, THIS DIOCESE THAT I, UH, WAS BREAKING THE TABOO ON COUNCIL STAFFER, SPEAKING OF ONE TIME, BUT IT TURNS OUT I WAS A LIAR.
AND, UH, WE'RE HERE ON A SECOND OCCASION.
UM, WHEN I FIRST STARTED WORKING HERE A COUPLE YEARS AGO, UH, UH, MY BOSS, UH, SOBI, UH, MADE SURE THAT THE VERY FIRST PEOPLE THAT I MET ON MY FIRST DAY OF WORK WERE MS. KAY AND MR. JOE.
UH, SHE TOLD ME HOW IMPORTANT THEY WERE TO THE OPERATIONS OF THE CITY, HOW MUCH THEY WERE THE LIFEBLOOD OF THE CITY COUNCIL, AND ALL OF US WHO WORK HERE AT THE CITY, STAFF, COUNCIL AIDS, EVERYBODY INCLUDED.
AND IT DIDN'T TAKE VERY LONG FOR ME TO REALIZE THAT THIS WAS SOMEBODY THAT, UH, CLEARLY, UH, TRULY CARED FOR, UH, EVERYONE HERE.
UH, I COULD FEEL HER IMMEDIATE WARMTH AS SOON AS I MET HER.
YOU KNOW, SHE WAS QUICK WITH A HUG.
UM, YOU KNOW, SHE LEARNED THAT I HAD, UH, YOU KNOW, WE WERE RECENTLY, UH, AT THAT POINT EXPECTING A BABY.
UH, AND OF COURSE, AND SHE WAS VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW WHAT WAS GOING, GOING ON.
SINCE WE'VE HAD THE BABY, SHE NEVER STOPS ASKING ABOUT HIM.
UH, AND IT'S JUST BEEN A DELIGHT.
AND, UH, HAVING NOT BEEN ABLE TO SEE HER AND MR. JOE RECENTLY AS MUCH HAS BEEN PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING PARTS OF
UH, AND THAT'S REALLY NO EXAGGERATION.
UM, NOT ONLY WAS MS. CAGE SO INCREDIBLY WARM AND GENUINE AND CARING, YOU KNOW, SHE ALWAYS SEEMED, WITH ALL OF THE PEOPLE HERE TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT, WHAT IS THAT PERSON LIKE? WHAT IS THAT PERSON NOT LIKE? WHAT DOES THAT PERSON NEED WHEN THEY'RE NOT FEELING GREAT? UH, AND OF COURSE, MR. JOE, UH, WHO WOULD PROBABLY BE THE MORE, UH, SILENT, UH, OF THE PARTNERS, ALSO MANAGED TO HAVE THE INCREDIBLE ABILITY TO EXUDE, UTTER AUTHORITY BY SIMPLY SITTING QUIETLY IN THE KITCHEN.
THERE WAS NEVER A TIME THAT I WALKED IN THERE AND I DIDN'T THINK, OKAY, WHAT DO I NEED TO MAKE SURE TO FOLLOW MR. JOE'S RULES AND MAKE SURE THAT THE EXPECTATIONS ARE MET
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YOU DON'T NORMALLY EVER THINK ABOUT MUCH, UH, WHEN YOU GO WORK FOR ANYBODY.UH, IT'S TRULY BEEN ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS, ONE OF THE CORE PARTS OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE AS AN EMPLOYEE, OF LIVING HERE.
AND, YOU KNOW, UH, WHATEVER THE FUTURE HOLDS, UH, UH, FOR BOTH OF THEM, UH, I CAN'T WISH THEM ANYTHING ELSE BUT THE ABSOLUTE, ABSOLUTE BEST.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
THIS IS MY FIRST TIME TESTIFYING HERE, SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
UH, MY NAME IS SODA GOMEZ CHO, AND I'VE HAD THE HONOR OF SERVING DISTRICT FOUR OVER THE LAST FIVE PLUS YEARS.
UM, AND, UH, AS EY MENTIONED, UH, WHEN I WAS FIRST ONBOARDED HERE, UM, THE ONBOARDING CHECKLIST WAS, MEET, MEET MS. KAY AND MR. JOE.
AND I CONTINUE THAT TRADITION OF, YOU KNOW, ALL OF OUR INTERNS AND ANYBODY WHO STARTS, UH, IN OUR OFFICE, NO MATTER HOW SHORT OR LONG THEY'RE HERE TO MAKE A BIG DEAL OF MEETING, UH, MS. KAY AND MR. JOE.
AND, UH, WHEN I MET MS. KAY, IT WAS, UH, LOVE OF FIRST SIGHT.
AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS THAT SHE HAS, UM, OFFERED, UH, SOME, SOME OF THE MOST GENUINE LOVING KINDNESS THAT I HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED IN MY LIFE.
I'M SORRY, BUT YOU'RE ALL, I I, I MISSED NOT SEEING YOU HERE.
AND I GO ON FACEBOOK TO CHECK IF YOU'RE POSTING
AND SO I SEE YOUR POST AND I'M LIKE, ALL RIGHT.
'CAUSE I THINK THAT LOVING AND KINDNESS, YOU OFFER IT TO EVERY PERSON THAT STEPS, YOU KNOW, BEHIND THE DIET, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THEY BELIEVE OR, OR WHAT THEY DO.
AND IT HAS BEEN HARD TO NOT HAVE YOU HERE, BECAUSE EVERY OTHER THURSDAY MORNING, I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING A BIG CAR FOR YOU, AND I GOT IT TODAY.
UM, AND MR. JOE, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE WATCHING, BUT I'M NOT FORGETTING YOU.
I GOTTA ADMIT I WAS SCARED OF YOU
UH, BUT, BUT I THINK I'VE GROWN ON YOU.
UH, UH, I THINK, I THINK WE GET ALONG WELL.
UH, I, LIKE, I AGREE WITH WHAT RAM SAID, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE, YOU'RE PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST, UH, POWERFUL PEOPLE, UH, IN THIS BUILDING.
UH, I THINK WE'VE BECOME GOOD FRIENDS, EVEN THOUGH YOU DON'T, YOU MAY NOT KNOW THAT.
UH, IT'S NO WONDER MISS KAY HAS KEPT YOU AROUND ALL THIS TIME.
UM, SO, UH, I'M, I'M SO HAPPY THAT WE'RE HERE THIS MORNING.
I KNOW IT'S A TOUGH MOMENT FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, BUT THIS HAS BROUGHT SO MUCH JOY.
WHEN COLLEEN CONFIRMED THAT YOU WERE GONNA BE HERE, I WAS SO EXCITED.
I TOLD MY HUSBAND, I'M LIKE, LET'S GET FLOWERS.
UH, I'M SO GLAD THAT WE'RE TAKING THE TIME THIS MORNING TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND HONOR YOU AND MR. JOE.
WE ARE TRULY LUCKY TO HAVE YOU.
THAT'S ALL SPEAKERS, MAYOR, GREAT MEMBERS, UH, THOSE ARE THE SPEAKERS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.
UM, UH, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
I WILL NOW RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR DISCUSSION.
COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.
GOD, HOW DO I GO AFTER? UH, YEAH, I DON'T KNOW, AFTER RAMEY.
AND SO THAT'S WHY, THAT'S WHY I TALKED UP FRONT
SO I WAS HOPING SOMEONE ELSE HAD, HAD DONE IT, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, I'LL, I'LL MAKE IT PRETTY SHORT AND SWEET.
I, I WALKED DOWN TODAY, UH, MY WIFE WOULD PROBABLY BE UPSET TO KNOW THAT THE FIRST THING I HAD THIS MORNING WAS A DR.
UH, BUT, UH, AS I WENT TO GET THAT DR.
AND, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, STRESS AND ANXIETY FOR A LOT OF FOLKS NOWADAYS.
BUT THAT WHICH, WHICH I'VE BEEN CARRYING TO A DEGREE, BUT THAT ALL WENT AWAY WHEN I SAW MISS KAY.
UM, YOU KNOW, I, I WISH THERE WAS MORE PEOPLE LIKE MISS KAY IN THIS WORLD, UH, IN, IN THIS CITY, IN THIS COUNTRY, UH, JUST BECAUSE I THINK WE'D BE, WE'D BE IN A MUCH, MUCH BETTER PLACE.
SO I, I'M, I'M GLAD SHE'S HERE.
I, I'M SO THANKFUL, UH, FOR HER.
UH, AND, AND, AND JUST MY LITTLE, UM, STORY ABOUT, UH, ABOUT, YOU KNOW, MISS KAY'S, UH, BETTER HALF OR OTHER HALF, UM, I'M STILL TERRIFIED TO TRY TO GET A, A COKE OR, OR, OR A BAG OF COOKIES ANYTIME THE, THE ROOM WAS EMPTY.
I'M LIKE, I'M GONNA GET AS MUCH STUFF AS I CAN
UH, AND ANYTIME I SAW JOE, I'D BE LIKE, WELL, I'LL COME BACK LATER,
UH, SO, UH, I APPRECIATE YOU BOTH.
COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, THEN COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MATTIS.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU.
AND, UH, I REMEMBER THE FIRST DAY WE MET, ALMOST GRABBED ME BY THE HAND TO SHOW ME WHERE EVERYTHING WAS AT.
UM, AND, AND IT HAS BEEN SUCH A BLESSING TO SERVE ALONGSIDE YOU.
I CAN SAY THAT YESTERDAY, UH, THE ENERGY IN THIS BUILDING WASN'T SO GREAT.
AND TODAY, KNOWING THAT YOU WERE HERE, PEOPLE'S
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SPIRITS ARE SO MUCH BETTER.UM, I REMEMBER A QUOTE BY, BY DR. KING, AND HE SAID, HE TALKS ABOUT A NIGHT DEVOID OF STARS.
AND YOU ARE THE LIGHT THAT THE WORLD NEEDS MORE OF.
AND THAT LOVE THAT YOU SHINE ON PEOPLE, AND THE GRACE THAT YOU BRING, AND THE HAPPINESS AND JOY AND HEART, WE NEED SO MUCH MORE OF THAT RIGHT NOW.
AND I WAS SO, I WAS SO EXCITED TO KNOW YOU WERE BACK IN THE BUILDING, BECAUSE I NEEDED ONE OF THOSE.
AND I LOVE YOU, YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, FOLLOWED BY HARPER, MADISON ELLIS, AND THEN ALLISON ALTER.
MS. KAY, THANK YOU, MAYOR, MS. KAY.
UM, WE CERTAINLY HAVE ALL MISSED YOUR WARMTH AND FRIENDSHIP HERE AT CITY HALL.
I'M SO PROUD TO HAVE GOTTEN TO KNOW YOU.
YOU MADE MY EXPERIENCE HERE AS A BRAND NEW COUNCIL MEMBER, SO WONDERFUL.
AND I KNOW THAT YOU'VE DONE THAT FOR SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE AS WELL.
AND SO, UM, YOU DO GIVE THE BEST HUGS.
AND I'M JUST SO PROUD TO BE HERE TODAY FOR THIS.
ONLY MS. KAY COULD VIOLATE THE RULES THIS WAY,
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE NO ONE ELSE DOES THAT.
I DON'T WANNA INTERRUPT THE HUG TRAIN, LORD, THANK YOU.
I'M GONNA LET SOME MORE PEOPLE TALK.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON AND THE COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.
SEE, THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE VIOLATE THE RULES.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, THEN COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON
SO, UH, SO EVERYBODY OBSERVING, UH, THE HUG TRAIN ACTION WE JUST EXPERIENCED, I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT, UM, FOR AS MUCH POLITICAL THEATER THAT HAPPENS IN THIS BUILDING, THAT'S NOT A SHOW.
UM, AND THIS MORNING, I NEARLY LEAPT OUTTA MY NOT SO SENSIBLE SHOES WHEN I SAW HER FACE, BECAUSE THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT WHEN YOU GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE MISS KAY.
IT'S A BIG HUG AND AN I LOVE YOU.
AND WHEN THINGS AREN'T GOING SO GREAT, IT'S A BIG HUG.
I LOVE YOU, AND I'M PRAYING FOR YOU.
AND IT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE AROUND SOMEBODY WITH THAT BEING THEIR CHARACTER.
UM, I CAN'T, UH, DISAGREE WITH ANYTHING THAT'S BEEN SAID SO FAR.
UM, AND I AM VERY, VERY GRATEFUL TO HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO START MY DAY OFF BY SEEING THAT FACE AND GETTING THAT HUG, AND HAVING HAD THE OPPORTUNITY OVER THE ALMOST SIX YEARS NOW, UM, IN THE BUILDING, BEING ABLE TO, TO BE AROUND THAT WONDERFUL, JOYFUL ANGEL.
UM, SO I LOVE YOU MS. KAY, AND I'M HAPPY TO SEE YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS FALL BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER, PILING ON ALL THE LOVE WE POSSIBLY CAN THIS MORNING, I THINK IS A GOOD WAY TO START THE DAY.
AND WE, WE LOVE SEEING YOU, AND I JUST, I KNOW WHEN A CHEETOS TEAM HAS PUT TOGETHER SOME OF YOUR BIRTHDAY PARTIES, AND WE ACTUALLY GET CAKE SOMETIMES ON COUNCIL MEETING DAYS, UM, WE CRY IN THAT ROOM TOO, AND IT'S LIKE, WE CAN'T EVEN SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY WITHOUT EVERYONE JUST GETTING A HUG AND FEELING THAT, THAT WARMTH.
AND SO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LEADING WITH JOY AND REMINDING US, YOU KNOW, EVEN THOUGH THE STUFF WE DO IN THIS BUILDING IS VERY DIFFICULT, UM, THAT WE CAN LEAD WITH LOVE AND WE WILL FOLLOW YOUR EXAMPLE.
WELL SAID, CAST MEMBER ALLISON ALTER.
I CAN'T REALLY SEE YOU, BUT
UM, EVERYONE'S SHARED A LOT OF THE WAY THAT WE FEEL.
UM, SO WELCOME BACK AND JUST THANK YOU FOR BEING YOU.
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YOUR BEAUTIFUL FACE.AND, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING JOE WHEN I, WHEN I GO BACK THERE AS WELL.
I'M GONNA LET KAY HAVE THE LAST WORD ON THAT.
UM, MEMBERS, THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED, THAT WE NAMED THE STAFF BULLPEN, UH, AFTER KAY GIA.
AND WE NAMED THE FIRST FLOOR KITCHEN IN THE AUSTIN CITY HALL IN HONOR OF JOE GIA.
UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE RISE IN HONOR OF THESE TWO PEOPLE.
I LOVE YOU EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
I ACTUALLY WAS BLESSED TO BECOME A CITY OF AUSTIN EMPLOYEE IN 1975, AUGUST OF 1975.
I'VE TRIED SO HARD TO FIND WORDS.
THEY WERE ADEQUATE TO EXPRESS MY LOVE AND GRATITUDE TO YOU FOR CHOOSING TO NAME OUR KITCHEN IN STEP BOOK AND FOR JOY ME.
WORDS DO NOT EXIST IN ANY LANGUAGE THAT ARE CAPABLE OF EXPRESSING THAT LOVE AND GRATITUDE.
WE ARE SO HUMBLED BY THIS PRICELESS HONOR.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO SUPPORT YOU AND YOUR STAFF AS YOU WORK TIRELESSLY TO MAKE OUR AUSTIN A BETTER AUSTIN FOR EVERYBODY.
WE ARE TRULY GRATEFUL AND BLESSED TO SHARE THIS JOURNEY WITH YOU.
WE MAY NOT REMEMBER NAMES, BUT MAY WE ALWAYS REMEMBER THE LOVE, LOVE FOR WHAT WE DO, LOVE FOR THOSE WE DO IT WITH.
AND LOVE FOR THOSE, WE DO IT FOR THE CITIZENS OF THIS GREAT CITY.
AND FOREVER, ALWAYS AND FOREVER.
MEMBERS, UM, ON THIS SPECIAL OCCASION, UM, UNLESS THERE'S OBJECTION, I THINK WE OUGHT TO GO DOWN FRONT AND HAVE OUR PICTURES MADE WITH MS. KAY.
UM, THAT'S AN UNUSUAL THING, BUT SHE'S AN UNUSUAL PERSON.
AND THIS IS, UH, THIS IS AN UNUSUAL OCCASION.
SO IF WE, LET'S DO THAT, PLEASE.
I WAS LOOKING, SEE WHAT'S DOWN BELOW MORE SQUEEZE.
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THAT MAY BE THE BEST START WE'VE HAD OF ANY COUNCIL MEETING SO FAR.SO THAT'S JUST WONDERFUL MEMBERS.
[Consent Agenda]
TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.UM, AND ITEM NUMBER 16, OTHER THAN ITEM NUMBER 33 WAS, WAS PULLED, ITEM NUMBER 16 HAS BEEN PULLED.
SO WE WILL NOW GO TO THE CONSENT AGENDA, UNLESS THERE'S ANOTHER ITEM ANYBODY WANTS PULLED.
WITH THAT, I WILL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK AND ASK THAT WE BEGIN, UH, WITH THE SPEAKERS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
JOSEPH HAS SIGNED UP FOR A FEW ITEMS, BUT SHE HAS NOT YET CALLED IN.
SO I WILL GO TO THE FIRST ITEM, NUMBER FIVE, ALEXANDER STRINGER, FOLLOWED BY BILL BUNCH.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF ITEMS FIVE AND 27, BECAUSE WE NEED TO EXPAND BLACK VOICES.
THE VOICES OF OUR AFRICAN AMERICAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS NEEDS TO BE HEARD, ESPECIALLY AFTER AMERICA CHOSE TO ELECT A WHITE SUPREMACIST, AN EDUCATED RAPIST OVER THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN FEMALE IN UNITED STATES HISTORY.
AND THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT NOW, MORE THAN EVER, TO BE AN ALLY TO THE BLACK COMMUNITY.
I'M IN A NON-TRADITIONAL RELATIONSHIP, AND THE LOVER THAT MY WIFE TOOK IS AN AFRICAN AMERICAN WITH PUERTO RICAN ANCESTRY.
AND I SEE FIRSTHAND THE STRUGGLE THAT PEOPLE OF COLOR GO THROUGH ON A DAILY BASIS.
THANKS TO MY WIFE'S BOYFRIEND, ARMANDO, OUR COUNTRY WAS BUILT ON A LEGACY OF WHITE SUPREMACY.
AND WE NEED TO FOSTER A CULTURE OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION HERE IN AUSTIN, ESPECIALLY SINCE WE ELECTED A LITERAL NANCY TO BE PRESIDENT.
AND MY, MY WIFE, SHE'S PUT ME ON A SEX STRIKE BECAUSE SHE IS NO LONGER ABLE TO SEEK REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE.
AND BEFORE THE ELECTION, I HAD MY VERY OWN CHAIR RIGHT BY THE BEDROOM.
AND NOW I HAVE TO WATCH MY WIFE AND ARMANDO MAKE LOVE FROM THE CLOSET.
SO PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, FOR THE LOVE OF SCIENCE, FOR THE LOVE OF HEALTHCARE PASS ITEM 27, BECAUSE ABORTION IS HEALTHCARE AND I'M AN ALLY TO WOMEN.
YOU'RE REALLY GONNA CLAP AT THAT.
I THOUGHT THAT WHAT I SAID WAS INSPIRING AND TOUCHING, AND I WANNA SAVE DEMOCRACY.
UH, BILL BUNCH, SPEAKING BOTH FOR MYSELF AND SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE AGAINST ITEM 24, WHERE YOU'RE PROPOSING TO ERECT BARRIERS AND DELAYS AND OBFUSCATION TO THE POWERS RESERVED TO THE PEOPLE BY THE CHARTER FOR INITIATIVE REFERENDUM AND RECALL, UM, YOUR PROPOSAL VIOLATES THE CITY CHARTER ITSELF AND IS THEREFORE COMPLETELY ILLEGAL UNDER STATE LAW.
THE CHARTER SAYS THAT THIS POWER IS RESERVED TO THE PEOPLE FOR DIRECT LEGISLATION RESERVED TO THE PEOPLE FOR RECALL.
THE CHARTER FURTHER SAYS SPECIFICALLY THAT IT'S SUBJECT TO THE REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES OF STATE LAW AND THE CHARTER, NO REFERENCE TO, TO ORDINANCES.
UM, AND, UH, YOU'RE ESSENTIALLY TRYING TO AMEND THE CHARTER BY ORDINANCE.
YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO DO THAT.
UM, THE NOTICE THAT, SO IT VIOLATES STATE LAW AND THE CHARTER, IT VIOLATES THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT.
THE NOTICE YOU'RE ACTING UNDER TODAY SAYS NOTHING ABOUT THE WORDS RECALL AND INITIATIVE ARE NOT IN THAT NOTICE.
YOU HAVE TO GO RESEARCH THE SECTION THAT STARTED IN THE CHARTER.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO RESEARCH UNDER A NOTICE.
YOU'RE VIOLATING LAW IF YOU GO FORWARD.
ALSO, THERE'S A VIOLATION IN HERE WHERE YOU'RE REQUIRING THIS, UH, INITIAL NOTICE TO BE NOTARIZED.
STATE LAW'S VERY CLEAR THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO DO SWORN AFFIDAVITS BY NOTARY ANYMORE.
UM, SO I CALL ON ALL OF YOU, BUT ESPECIALLY, UH, ATTORNEY RYAN ALTER HARVARD ATTORNEY RYAN ALTER,
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ATTORNEY VELA ATTORNEY WATSON, TO FOLLOW THE LAW, FOLLOW ALL OF THESE LAWS, FOLLOW THE CHARTER STOP TRYING TO SHUT DOWN TRANSPARENCY AND DIRECT DEMOCRACY IN VIOLATION OF THE CHARTER, IN VIOLATION OF OUR STATE OPEN MEETINGS LAWS.IF YOU DO THIS, YOU WILL BE SUED AND YOU WILL LOSE AGAIN, AND YOU WILL PILE ON THE SHAME OF THIS COUNSEL OF YOU AS LAWYERS CONSISTENTLY, REPEATEDLY VIOLATING STATE GOVERNMENT LAWS AND OUR CHARTER THAT RESERVES THESE POWERS AND HOW YOU EXERCISE THOSE POWERS TO THE PEOPLE NOT TO YOU.
SO CONFIRM, CONFORM TO YOUR OATH OF OFFICE.
CONFIRM TO THE CHARTER AND PULL THIS DOWN.
UH, BOBBY LAVINSKY, ATTORNEY WITH SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE.
UM, LET ME START BY SAYING, UH, THANK YOU MS. KAY, AND THANK YOU, JOE.
UM, YOU DO LEAVE WITH LOVE AND YOU ARE MISS.
UM, I, I, I MISSED TIME THAT WE GOT TO SPEND TOGETHER WHILE I WAS THERE AS WELL.
UM, DIDN'T KNOW THAT WAS GOING ON.
UM, BACK TO BUSINESS, UM, AS BILL MENTIONED, SOS IS A, IS OPPOSED TO ITEM 24.
UM, AND I WAS TOLD THAT I COULD SHARE THAT GOD WAS OPPOSED TO IT AS WELL.
UM, ITEM 24 IS, AS BILL MENTIONED, IS AN ORDINANCE THAT PERTAINS TO RESIDENT INITIATIVE, BALLOT PROPOSITIONS, UM, THE POWER OF INITIATIVE, THE POWER OF REFERENDUM, AND THE POWER OF RECALL.
ALL OF THESE ARE RESERVED POWERS BY THE RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN.
UM, THE CITY COUNCIL SHOULD BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT ADDING BARRIERS TO BALLOT ACCESS GENERALLY.
UM, I WANNA HIGHLIGHT THE CONFLICTS THAT BILL WAS, WAS MENTIONING.
ONE OF THEM THAT IS KIND OF OBVIOUS, AND I I THINK THAT IT'S A, IT'S A CLEAR CONFLICT BETWEEN THE ORDINANCE AND THE CHARTER.
UM, IT REQUIRES YOU TO GET YOUR SIGNATURES BEFORE, UM, THE ORDINANCE GOES INTO EFFECT.
FOR MOST ORDINANCES, THAT IS A 10 DAY PERIOD.
IF YOU WERE TO HAVE TO COMPLY WITH THE NOTICE PERIOD UNDER THIS ORDINANCE, UH, FOR THE NOTICE OF INTENT, UM, THE CLERK HAS 10 DAYS TO RESPOND.
YOUR ENTIRE PERIOD TO COLLECT SIGNATURES IS THEREFORE ERODED DURING THAT TIME PERIOD.
THAT'S A CLEAR CONFLICT BETWEEN THE ORDINANCE AND WOULD OVERRIDE THE INTENT OF THE CHARTER, WHICH IS TO ALLOW FOR THE RESIDENTS TO HAVE A PERIOD WHERE THEY COULD, UM, PETITION TO OVERTURN ORDINANCE THAT WAS ADOPTED BEFORE IT BECAME INTO, UH, INTO EFFECT.
UM, AND THEN JUST MORE BROADLY, UM, I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE, UH, MORE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT PETITIONS ARISE WHEN THERE ARE SOURCES OF CONFLICT WITH POWER.
UM, AND NOVEMBER 5TH IS A REMINDER THAT THERE WILL BE TIMES, UH, WHEN THOSE IN POWER MAY NOT ALWAYS SERVE THE COLLECTIVE GOOD.
THAT'S NOT A STATEMENT ON THE CURRENT COUNCIL.
IT'S A STATEMENT JUST GENERALLY.
UM, WE DON'T ALWAYS CONTROL THE POLITICAL WINS.
UM, AND WE NEED TO BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT MAINTAINING BALANCES AND CHECKS OF POWER.
UM, THAT'S PART OF THE SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT THAT WE HAVE.
DIRECT DEMOCRACY IS A CHECK ON THE, UM, REPRESENTATIVE FORM OF DEMOCRACY.
ALEXANDER STRINGER, ITEM 27 RESOURCES.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, JUST FEEL FREE TO COME FORWARD.
HAS YOUR NAME BEEN CALLED, SIR? YES, SIR.
THEN FEEL, FEEL FREE TO COME FORWARD.
JUST IDENTIFY YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD.
I'M A MEMBER OF THE BUILDING AND STANDARDS COMMISSION.
I CAME BEFORE YOU TWO MONTHS AGO AND I SHARED OUR DILEMMA OF IT'S AN 11 POSITION COMMISSION.
WE WERE DOWN TO SEVEN, WE'RE NOW DOWN TO SIX.
WE'VE CANCELED TWO MEETINGS 'CAUSE WE COULDN'T FORM EVEN SIX.
QUORUM IS DIFFICULT, RIGHT? TO BUILD CONSENSUS.
SO THE FEAR NOW IS IF WE LOSE ANOTHER COMMISSIONER, WE'RE NOT DOING THE CITY'S BIDDING BUSINESS AND TAKING CARE OF OUR, OUR CITIZEN.
IT'S ALSO VERY DIFFICULT FOR CODE ENFORCEMENT AND ALL THE STAFF AROUND BUILDING AND STANDARDS LEGAL TO PREP UP STAFF UP FOR THOSE MEETINGS.
AND THAT'S OUR FEAR GOING FORWARD, THAT, UH, SINCE WE'VE NOT SEEN ANY OTHER, UH, COMMISSIONERS, IF WE LOSE SOMEBODY ELSE OR SOMEBODY'S SICK, WE HAVE MORE MEETINGS POSTPONED AND CANCELED THIS YEAR.
NOW WE ARE SCHEDULING ANOTHER ONE.
WE'VE GOT A SPECIAL CALL MEETING TONIGHT.
WE'RE ABLE TO GET ENOUGH FOLKS TOGETHER.
HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE TWO MEETINGS THIS MONTH.
WE CAN GET CAUGHT UP, BUT WE'RE GETTING A BACKLOG.
AND THOSE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAVE
[00:35:01]
THOSE POSITIONS THAT ARE OPEN, I PLEAD WITH YOU TO PLEASE, UH, TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO GET THOSE POSITIONS FILLED SO WE CAN, UH, ESPECIALLY AS VOLUNTEERS.LIKE I KNOW THAT SOME HAVE CALLED IN WHEN THEY'VE NOT FELT WELL, JUST SO THAT WE CAN HAVE QUORUM AND KEEP MOVING FORWARD, WHICH I APPRECIATE.
BUT IT, IT'S KIND OF JAMMING US UP GUYS, SO IF YOU COULD HELP US OUT, WE SURE WOULD APPRECIATE IT.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER, UM, I JUST WANTED TO ASK IF THE CLERK CAN SEND AROUND ANOTHER ROUND OF EMAILS TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAVE OPENINGS ON THAT BOARD.
COUNCIL MEMBER, MEMBER MADISON, AS AN EXTENSION OF THAT REQUEST, I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR US TO, FOR US TO GET AN EMAIL REMINDER FOR ALL OPEN POSITIONS FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AND I'M FAMILIAR WITH MINE, BUT I, I, I THINK A, A REMINDER EMAIL WILL BE HELPFUL.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE CONSENT SPEAKERS.
UM, MEMBERS ON ITEM NUMBER 24, UH, IN SPEAKING WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY, THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY ATTORNEY IS THAT WE, UH, WITHDRAW THIS ITEM AND BRING IT BACK AT ANOTHER POINT IN TIME SO THAT, THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE CAN LOOK AT TO A QUESTION THAT'S BEEN RAISED.
UM, WITHOUT OBJECTION, THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD DO.
AND I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY'S IS AWARE OF THAT COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER.
YEAH, I WOULD JUST ASK WHEN THAT HAPPENS, IF WE COULD GET AN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
YEAH, WELL THAT'S WHAT WE'LL DO.
UM, WITH THAT BEING SAID, ITEM NUMBER 24 WILL WITH BE WITHDRAWN AND BROUGHT BACK AT A LATER DATE.
AND THE POSTING WILL, UH, INCLUDE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION POSTING SO THAT WE CAN TAKE THAT UP, UM, IN A, IN A CLOSED SESSION AND GET ADVICE FROM LEGAL COUNSEL.
SO THANK YOU FOR, UH, BRINGING THAT ITEM UP.
SO THE MOTION I WILL ACCEPT FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA WILL NOT INCLUDE ITEM NUMBER 24.
UH, AND ITEM NUMBER 16 HAS BEEN PULLED.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER ITEMS THAT ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? THAT BEING THE CASE, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
IT'S MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.
UM, DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
GOT, I KEEP GETTING THE FIRST PERSON TO SPEAK.
UM, I'M JUST GONNA SPEAK REALLY QUICKLY ON ITEM NUMBER EIGHT ON THE RED RIVER, UH, MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION.
UH, REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS ITEM COMING THROUGH, UH, A VIBRANT DOWNTOWN WITH LIVE MUSIC AND CULTURAL SPACES IS VITAL FOR A THRIVING AUSTIN.
I'M REALLY HAPPY WE'RE ABLE TO CREATE A SUSTAINABLE FUNDING STREAM FOR THE RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT.
UH, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO FIND WAYS TO SUPPORT OUR ARTS AND CULTURE OF COMMUNITY.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARBOR MADISON, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.
I EXPECTED COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE TO SPEAK LONGER, OTHERWISE, I WOULDN'T HAVE TAKEN BITE.
COUNCILOR MEMBER, UH, FUENTES.
THEN WE'LL GO TO COUNCILOR BARBARA MADISON.
AND JUST WANTED TO ECHO COUNCILOR MARK CADRE'S SUPPORT FOR THE FUNDING FOR THE RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT.
I'M VERY PLEASED TO SEE THAT MOVE FORWARD AND WANNA ENSURE THAT THE CITY'S DOING WHAT WE CAN TO SUPPORT OUR LIVE MUSIC VENUES.
CERTAINLY, IT'S A HUGE PART OF OUR CITY'S FABRIC AND THEY NEED MORE SUPPORT.
SO HAPPY TO SEE THAT ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
UH, COLLEAGUES WANNA ALSO SHARE MY GRATITUDE FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF ESTABLISHING A COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUND.
UH, THIS DISTRICT SERVICE FUND, I BELIEVE IS A GREAT WAY FOR OUR OFFICES TO SHOW TANGIBLE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WE SERVE.
I ALSO SEE IT AS A GREAT WAY FOR US TO BUILD ON THE TEN ONE SYSTEM, ESPECIALLY AS WE APPROACH THE 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF HAVING DISTRICT REPRESENTATION ALL THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
BY ESTABLISHING THIS FUND AND TAKING THE NEXT STEP IN SETTING OUT TO DETAIL WHAT THAT FUND LOOKS LIKE FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.
I SEE IT AS AN, AN, UH, AN IMPORTANT AND A POWERFUL WAY TO EMPOWER OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO GET INVOLVED, TO HAVE A SAY IN HOW WE BRING ABOUT CHANGE IN, IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE ELECTED US TO REPRESENT THEM.
AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE THAT WORK MOVE FORWARD.
AND, UM, JUST ALSO WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON IT.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER.
UM, I'D LIKE TO EXPRESS MY, MY EXCITEMENT FOR SOME OF THE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
UM, THERE ARE SEVERAL AGREEMENTS ON OUR AGENDA AS IT PERTAINS TO OUR LOCAL CHAMBERS AND CUTTING OUR, UH, INCLUDING OUR L-G-B-T-Q CHAMBER, THE BLACK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THE ASIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, UM, GREATER AUSTIN ASIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AND THE HISPANIC CHAMBERS.
I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH THESE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HELP US TO COLLABORATE IN A WAY THAT IS, UM, DIVERSE, COLLABORATIVE, UM, AND WITHIN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITIES.
UH, REGARDING ITEM NUMBER 23, I'M PLEASED
[00:40:01]
TO SEE AUSTIN FIRE, UH, WORKING TOWARDS AND WITH, UM, AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO PROVIDE DUAL ENROLLMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR AUSTIN FIRE EMPLOYEES.THIS AGREEMENT ASSIST A FD WITH DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A TRAINING PROGRAM THAT, UH, PROVIDES FIRE CADETS WITH THE OPPORTUNITIES TO PURSUE HIGHER EDUCATION, WHICH IS AMAZING.
UM, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW, BUT, UH, EMPLOYMENT WITH THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT IS HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER.
THERE WAS ONE YEAR WHERE WE HAD A RECRUITMENT CLASS OF OVER 5,000 TO FILL 200 POSITIONS.
PEOPLE WERE FLYING IN FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY TO FILL THESE ROLES.
AND SO, UM, HAVING THEM HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TOWARDS HIGHER EDUCATION, IN MY MIND'S EYE, IS A, IS AN ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS OPPORTUNITY.
UM, LASTLY, UH, ITEM NUMBER 30, REGARDING FEDERAL GRANT MONEY FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, GOING TOWARDS A DA ACCESSIBILITY FOR OUR URBAN TRAILS AND PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS.
I, UM, I HOPE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO APPROVE OUR MOBILITY INFRASTRUCTURE AND MAKING IT MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERYONE TO USE.
AND WHEN I SAY EVERYONE, I MEAN EVERYONE IN THE SENSE THAT I THINK SOME FOLKS THINK THAT SOME PARTS OF THE CITY, SOME ASSETS WE HAVE AS A CITY AREN'T FOR THEM.
UM, WE HAVE TO MAKE A CONCERTED EFFORT TO LET FOLKS KNOW THAT THE WHOLE CITY IS ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE.
UM, I KNOW THERE ARE SOME FOLKS WHO ARE EVEN HESITANT TO WALK INTO THIS BUILDING.
THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE A PLACE HERE AND DON'T BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE ANYTHING TO CONTRIBUTE.
UM, BUT I WOULD COUNTER THAT ARGUMENT.
UM, FERVENTLY, UH, EVERYBODY BELONGS IN THIS BUILDING.
THIS IS THE PEOPLE'S BUILDING.
UM, THIS CITY IS THE PEOPLE'S CITY, AND I WANNA SEE EVERYBODY ACCESS EVERY SINGLE PART OF IT.
UM, AND TO YOUR POINT, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE INITIATIVE THAT YOU'RE BRINGING FORWARD.
IF I MAY, RESPECTFULLY THE ONLY OPPOSITION I WOULD EXPRESS, AND NOT EVEN OPPOSITION SO MUCH AS CONCERN.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT WHERE THE BUNNY'S GONNA COME FROM.
UM, AND SO I, ALONG THOSE LINES, I, I THINK MOVING FORWARD, SOMETHING I'D LIKE TO EXPRESS TO MY COLLEAGUES IS, I, I WOULD, I WANT TO ENCOURAGE THE MANAGER MOVING FORWARD TO GO THROUGH AND PROBABLY BY WAY OF AN IFC TO GO THROUGH IFCS AND RESOLUTIONS THAT ARE ALREADY ON THE BOOKS THAT HAVE BEEN SITTING THERE ALREADY ON THE BOOKS.
AND LET'S CLEAR THOSE OUT BEFORE WE BRING ANY MORE MONEY ASK.
UM, I THINK IT'S DIFFICULT FOR STAFF TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE OUR REQUEST WHEN THERE'S ALREADY A BACKLOG.
AND SO I'D LIKE TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE AND, AND NOT BRING ANY IFCS THAT ARE ASKING FOR MONEY UNTIL WE GET TO A PLACE WHERE I FEEL LIKE WE'VE ALREADY RESOLVED THE ITEMS THAT ARE ALREADY ON THE BOOKS.
UM, I, I THINK, UH, A LOT OF THE ITEMS THAT ARE LANGUISHING, UM, WERE IMPORTANT AT THE TIME AND REMAIN IMPORTANT.
AND WHEN WE BRING ITEMS THAT ARE TAPPING INTO OUR HOUR ALREADY LIMITED AND FINITE RESOURCES, UM, THEN SOME THINGS GET OVERLOOKED.
AND I, I'D LIKE VERY MUCH FOR US TO FEEL LIKE WE'RE STARTING ON GOOD FOOTING AS WE MOVE INTO THE NEW YEAR FROM A FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVE.
UM, SO, UM, THAT'S JUST SOMETHING YOU GUYS CAN LOOK FORWARD TO FOR ME.
COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER.
I JUST WANTED TO, UH, DISCUSS, OR, OR THANK COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES FOR THE, THE ITEM THAT COUNCILOR HARPER MA WAS TALKING ABOUT.
UM, AS IT RELATES TO A DISTRICT SERVICE FUND.
I, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT AND HAS COME TO OUR OFFICE.
YOU KNOW, HOW MANY OF US HAVE NOT HEARD SOMEONE SAY, WE REALLY NEED A SPEED BUMP HERE, A SIDEWALK HERE, AND WE CALL TRANSPORTATION PUBLIC WORKS.
AND THIS IS NO ASPERSION ON THEM, BUT IT'S NUMBER 500 IN LINE, RIGHT? AND, AND WE HAVE THAT SYSTEM IN PLACE.
BUT THERE ARE INSTANCES WHERE, UM, THERE ARE O THERE ARE PRIORITIZATION THAT NEED TO BE MADE.
UH, WHETHER I, WE'RE GONNA HEAR LATER TODAY, A, A ZONING CASE IN DISTRICT FIVE THAT IS GONNA HAVE, UH, AN IMPACT ON A PARTICULAR STREET.
AND IF WE CAN DO SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS PUT A MIRROR OR A FLASHING SIGN UP, UH, THAT IS LOW COST, BUT WILL HELP THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBER REPRESENTING THE AREA CAN BRING FORWARD AND BE ABLE TO PRIORITIZE AND MAKE SURE THAT THERE, THERE IS, UH, THERE ARE ALTERNATIVE CONSIDERATIONS MADE FOR WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO GET THIS INFRASTRUCTURE PUT IN PLACE FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS WHO, UH, IN, IN OUR OPINION, AS, AS THEIR REPRESENTATIVE, SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WAIT A LONG TIME.
AND TO ADDRESS, YOU KNOW, THE COMMENT ABOUT THE FUNDING ELEMENT.
WE DO HAVE FUNDS FOR SIDEWALKS AND SIGNALS AND SPEED BUMPS AND ALL THESE THINGS.
IT IS ALWAYS THEN A QUESTION OF PRIORITIZATION.
AND THAT'S TO SOME DEGREE A POLICY DISCUSSION.
SO I THINK AS THIS ITEM MOVES FORWARD, WE NEED TO TAKE SOME OF THE FUNDING THAT IS ALLOCATED FOR THE MASTER LIST AND RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE PRIORITIES OUTSIDE
[00:45:01]
OF THAT SYSTEMATIC FRAMEWORK THAT SHOULD BE ADVANCED BECAUSE OF OTHER CONSIDERATIONS THAT A, AN AREA NEEDS.AND SO, UH, A CM GOOD, I THINK AS, AS YOU WORK ON THIS, THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO UTILIZE FUNDING AND JUST HAVE THE PRIORITIZATION FROM THE COMMUNITY AND THE COMMUNITY'S REPRESENTATIVE, UH, FOR THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS.
SO I, I JUST WANNA COMMEND IT AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING, UH, IT COME BACK IN MARCH.
COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, ALISON ULTRA FULL BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ.
I WANNA ALSO SPEAK TO ITEMS THREE THROUGH SIX, WHICH AUTHORIZED NEW CONTRACTS WITH EACH OF THE FOUR CHAMBERS THAT MAKE UP OUR DIVERSITY AND ETHNIC CHAMBER ALLIANCE.
A FEW YEARS AGO, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AND THE LEADERS OF THE L-G-B-T-Q, BLACK, HISPANIC, AND ASIAN CHAMBERS TO REIMAGINE HOW THE CITY SUPPORTED THEIR WORK TO HELP ADVANCE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL.
TODAY WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH CONTRACTS THAT SUPPORT THIS NEW APPROACH, WHICH INCENTIVIZES COLLABORATION ACROSS THE CHAMBERS AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FORTHCOMING REGIONAL ECONOMIC EQUITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN.
I HAVE THE HONOR OF SERVING ON THIS ADVISORY BOARD, UM, AND WE ARE ABOUT TO RELEASE THE PLAN IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, OR AT LEAST IN THE NEXT MONTH.
UM, WE ALREADY HAVE SECURED SOME FUNDING FOR PORTIONS OF THAT PLAN, AND THERE'LL BE AN OPPORTUNITY BOTH FOR THE CITY AND THE COUNTY, UM, TO CONTRIBUTE WITH THAT MOVING FORWARD.
AND THERE ARE FOLKS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY WHO ARE LOOKING TO THIS COLLABORATION AS A NEW MODEL.
UM, SO I WANT TO COMPLIMENT EVERYONE WHO'S BEEN INVOLVED ON WHAT HAS, UM, SHAPED UP TO BE A VERY, UM, IMPORTANT PARTNERSHIP.
UM, IT'S GONNA WORK IN TANDEM ALSO, YOU KNOW, WITH MANY OF THE INVESTMENTS THAT THE CITY IS MAKING, UM, INTO OUR COMMUNITY WITH MOBILITY, ET CETERA, TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO THOSE PROCUREMENTS, MAKING SURE FOLKS HAVE ACCESS TO CAPITAL.
SO I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT WORK.
I KNOW THAT THEY'VE BEEN MEETING, UM, WITH COUNCIL OFFICES TO SHARE THAT WORK.
AND, AND I HOPE FOLKS WILL, UM, ENGAGE WITH THAT AS IT MOVES FORWARD AND LEAN IN TO HELP, UM, WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION.
I ALSO WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO COMMENT ON ITEM 17, WHICH IS A CONTRACT AMENDMENT TO CONTINUE PROJECT MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR THE COLLECTIVE SEX CRIMES RESPONSE MODEL, KNOWN AS C-S-C-R-M.
AND IT ONLY TOOK ME, I THINK, TWO YEARS TO GET THE ACRONYM RIGHT.
BUT, UM, I, FIRST I WANT TO THANK HANNAH SANKO, UM, FOR HER TIRELESS WORK ON THIS IMPORTANT EFFORT.
UM, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, HANNAH HAS BEEN LEADING THIS PROJECT BRINGING REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT SKILLS, EXPERTISE, AND KNOWLEDGE.
UM, TO BEAR ON THIS, HANNAH ALSO IS ONE OF THE, UM, PLAINTIFFS IN THE LAWSUIT, UM, WHICH LED TO MUCH OF THE WORK, UM, THAT WE ARE TRYING TO, UM, ADDRESS HERE WITH THIS PROJECT.
UM, AND I'M REALLY PROUD OF WHERE THIS PROJECT IS HEADING.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, THE C-S-C-R-M IS COMPRISED OF A MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM, NOT JUST FROM A PD, BUT INCLUSIVE OF PARTNER AGENCIES, SURVIVORS, AND SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS IS STRIVING TO IMPROVE POLICY TRAINING, DATA METRICS, AND OUTREACH EFFORTS ASSOCIATED WITH SEX CRIMES CASES REPORTED TO A PD.
I'M REALLY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE, AND I WANNA CONGRATULATE HANNAH, AND I'M REALLY HAPPY TO SEE, UM, THIS CONTRACT MOVE FORWARD.
COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ? UH, YES, SIR, MR. MAYOR, I JUST WANTED TO BE ADDED AS A, A CO-SPONSOR ON 34 AND THANK COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, WE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR OF ITEM NUMBER 34.
UH, THERE'S NO OBJECTION MEMBERS.
ALRIGHT, THOSE ARE ALL, UH, THE COMMENTS, UH, IN DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
LET ME ASK, IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN ABSTAINING FROM VOTING ON AN ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN RECUSING THEMSELVES FROM VOTING ON A SPECIFIC ITEM ON THE AGENDA? ON ITEM, UH, WITH NO VOTES? COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY WILL BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON ITEMS 15, 24, 27, 29, 44, AND 45.
AND THANK YOU FOR WITHDRAWING.
24 24 WAS WITHDRAWN, CORRECT? YEAH, I'M SORRY.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CORRECTION.
ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON AN ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY SHOWING BEING SHOWN VOTING NO ON THE ITEMS THAT I READ INTO THE RECORD MEMBERS.
THAT WILL TAKE US TO ITEM NUMBER 16, WHICH WAS PULLED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.
I WILL RECOGNIZE YOU FOR COMMENTS AND A MOTION.
THANK YOU, MAYOR, THIS IS AN ITEM, UH, IT'S A CONTRACT FOR THE CITY'S, UH, WEBSITE.
UH, I DON'T HAVE ANY PARTICULAR ISSUE WITH IT,
[00:50:01]
BUT WE HAVE IN THE PAST TRIED TO, UH, REVAMP THE WEBSITE AND BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL.SO I WAS HOPING BEFORE WE VOTE ON IT, WE COULD JUST GET A PRESENTATION, UH, NOT TODAY, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO POSTPONE IT TO THE, UH, NEXT MEETING AND HOPEFULLY GET A PRESENTATION AT THE, UH, NEXT WORK SESSION.
UH, THE MOTION MADE BY COUNCILLOR VELA IS TO WITHDRAW ITEM NUMBER 16 AND POSTPONE IT UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING SO THAT THERE CAN BE A PRESENTATION MADE IN ADVANCE.
IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.
MADISON, DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? I WAS ATTEMPTING TO, UH, SECOND THE ITEM.
BUT IT, IT LOOKED BUT BASED TO ME, IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS PRETTY WELL SECONDED BY THE COUNCIL.
SO, UM, YEAH, SO, SO THANK YOU.
BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, I, I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THAT.
UM, AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, BELA, BECAUSE I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW FREQUENTLY THE COMPLAINT THAT I RECEIVE FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS IS THAT OUR WEBSITE IS NOT USER FRIENDLY.
UM, THE PROBLEM IS, UH, WHOEVER IT IS THAT'S COMPILING THE DATA AND COLLATERAL IS DOING A PHENOMENAL JOB.
EVERYTHING THAT YOU COULD POSSIBLY WANT FROM THE WEBSITE IN TERMS OF THE INFORMATION, THE CONTENT IS THERE, BUT ACCESSIBILITY IS, IS A CHALLENGE FOR, TO OUR CONSTITUENTS.
AND I'LL BE HONEST, I, I HAVE PERSONALLY HAD SOME CHALLENGES WITH ACCESSING INFORMATION THAT I'M LOOKING FOR ON OUR OWN WEBSITE.
AND SO I, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SLOW DOWN AND REALLY HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE PRESENTATION FOR WHAT THIS MIGHT LOOK LIKE MOVING FORWARD.
I THINK DURING THE COURSE OF THAT, UM, WAIT, WHAT I COULD DO AND MAYBE WHAT WE COULD ALL DO IS ELICIT COMMENTARY FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS BY WAY OF OUR SOCIALS, A COLLECTIVE, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES YOU EXPERIENCE WITH ACCESSING THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S WEBSITE? 'CAUSE THE CONTENT IS THERE.
IT'S THERE AND, AND I TELL PEOPLE ALL THE TIME, IT'S A FANTASTIC RESOURCE.
THE INFORMATION IS THERE, BUT YOU REALLY GOTTA DIG TO FIND IT IN A WAY THAT I DON'T THINK IS, UM, COMPREHENSIVE AND EASILY ACCESSIBLE.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER VELA FOR BRINGING THAT POINT.
COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, ELLIS FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ.
I'M GLAD WE'RE GETTING A LITTLE EXTRA TIME TO TALK ABOUT THIS.
UM, I KNOW THE LAST TIME THE WEBSITE WAS REVAMPED, UM, IT SEEMS TO BE MORE, UM, COSMETIC.
IT WAS KIND OF, HEY, LET'S CHANGE IT.
BUT ALL THE, ALL THE LINKS AND WHERE THEY DIRECTED TO WERE EXACTLY THE SAME AS THEY HAD BEEN IN THE PAST.
UM, AND I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE, THE WEBSITE WORKS GREAT IF YOU KNOW HOW THE CITY IS ORGANIZED, IF YOU KNOW WHAT, WHAT PROGRAMS ARE UNDER WHAT DEPARTMENTS AND WHAT THE KEYWORDS ARE THAT YOU NEED FOR THAT PROGRAM.
BUT IF YOU'RE SOMEONE JUST COMING IN TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, CERTAIN INFORMATION, WHEN YOU GOOGLE IT, IT DOESN'T ALWAYS SHOW UP EXACTLY THE WAY THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO.
SO I, I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, EXACTLY WHAT IS THE, THE SCOPE OF THIS REVAMP AND, UM, WHAT WE CAN DO.
I LOVE THE IDEA OF SOLICITING FEEDBACK FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS ABOUT HOW THEY WANT THE WEBSITE TO BE ABLE TO WORK.
UM, AND I THINK EACH COUNCIL OFFICE PROBABLY ALREADY HAS A LIST OF THINGS THAT, THAT THEY KNOW COULD MAYBE, UM, WORK A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY.
COUNCIL MEMBER COUNCILMAN VELAZQUEZ? YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO ECHO THE CONCERNS OF, UH, MY COLLEAGUE FROM DISTRICT ONE AND THANK, UH, THE COUNCIL MEMBER FOR PULLING THAT ITEM.
IT, ONE OF THE THINGS TO GOD ALREADY TWO YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL WAS FIX THE WEBSITE.
TON OF AMAZING INFORMATION ON THERE.
JUST VERY DIFFICULT TO NAVIGATE.
IT DOESN'T SEEM, SEEM EQUITABLE OR ACCESSIBLE, AND I'M REALLY GLAD WE'RE TAKING A LITTLE MORE TIME TO LOOK AT THIS.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ITEM NUMBER 16 IS POSTPONED UNTIL THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.
AND IN ANTICIPATION OF US ALSO BEING ABLE TO GET A BRIEFING, UH, SPECIFICALLY ON THE ITEM, UH, AND THAT THAT MOTION PASSES MEMBERS, I MADE A MISTAKE, UH, ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AND, UH, READ THAT COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY WAS VOTING NO ON ITEMS 44 AND 45.
SHE WAS JUST LETTING ME KNOW THAT SHE WAS GOING TO ABOUT WHAT HER VOTES ARE ANTICIPATED ON THOSE, THOSE ARE NOT, WERE NOT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
YEAH, 44 IS A PUBLIC HEARING AT 45 AS A ZONING ITEM.
SO I APOLOGIZE TO HER FOR, FOR DOING THAT.
NOW LET'S GO TO NON-CONSENT ITEMS.
[35. Approve the proposed Audit and Finance Committee draft audit plan for calendar year 2025.]
THE FIRST ITEM IS ITEM NUMBER 35, WHICH IS AN ITEM THAT COMES FROM A COUNCIL COMMITTEE, THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE.UH, AND I WILL RECOGNIZE THE CHAIR OF THAT COMMITTEE.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER FOR A MOTION.
I'LL MOVE APPROVAL OF THE, UH, AUDIT PLAN, UH, MEMBERS, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER HAS MOVED APPROVAL OF THE AUDIT, DRAFT AUDIT PLAN ON ITEM 35.
IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON IS OUR, I'LL TURN TO THE CLERK TO SEE IF THERE ARE PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER YOU RECOGNIZE FOR DISCUSSION? THANK YOU.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO CALL MY COLLEAGUE'S ATTENTION TO THE Q AND A, UM, FOR THIS ITEM.
SO ONE OF THE ITEMS WE WERE DISCUSSING AS A POTENTIAL, UM, AUDIT ITEM WAS OUR CAPACITY TO SECURE GRANTS.
UM, AND THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE IS MOVING FORWARD, UM, WITH A NUMBER OF STEPS TO IMPROVE OUR GRANT CAPACITY.
[00:55:01]
AND THERE'S SOME INFORMATION, UM, WHAT THEY'RE DOING, UM, IN THE Q AND A BACKUP.SO I JUST WANNA CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO THAT.
UM, THAT'S WHY IT'S NOT ON THE AUDIT PLAN BECAUSE WE DON'T NEED TO DO AN AUDIT OF IT.
I THINK WE RECOGNIZE THAT THERE'S CHALLENGES AND THAT WE'RE TAKING THE STEPS TO MOVE THAT FORWARD.
UM, I ALSO WANT TO, UM, THANK THE AUDITOR STAFF FOR THEIR GREAT WORK.
UM, THERE WILL BE SEVERAL ITEMS THAT ARE COMING BACK, UM, IN THE NEW FU NEAR FUTURE THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT.
UM, SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE KNOWS THAT.
UM, AND THEN FINALLY, I WANNA INVITE MY COLLEAGUES TO OUR AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING ON TUESDAY.
I'LL PUT A POST ON THE MESSAGE BOARD.
WE WILL BE HAVING SOME EXECUTIVE SESSIONS AS PART OF THAT, UM, RELATED TO CYBERSECURITY.
UM, AND I WOULD INVITE YOU ALL TO JOIN US PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE SECTIONS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION, ITEM NUMBER 35 IS ADOPTED.
[36. Approve an ordinance amending Ordinance No. 20211209-067 to appoint Brian Guerra as an Associate Judge and Rae-Ann Allong, Susana Meringola, and Randy Ortega as Substitute Judges to the City of Austin Municipal Court for the term beginning January 1, 2022, and ending December 31, 2025.]
NUMBER 36.ANOTHER ITEM FROM A COUNCIL COMMITTEE.
IT COMES FROM THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, UH, BECAUSE THERE WAS A, UH, CHANGE THAT I READ INTO THE CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS ON ITEM NUMBER 36.
I WANT TO MAKE THE MOTION, UH, SPECIFICALLY SO THAT WE HAVE THE, THE NAMES MEMBERS.
THIS IS THE APPOINTMENT OF MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGES AND THE MOTION WOULD BE TO APPOINT BRIAN GARRA AS AN ASSOCIATE JUDGE AND SUSANNA MAROLA AND RANDY ORTEGA AS SUBSTITUTE JUDGES TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN MUNICIPAL COURT FOR THE TERM BEGINNING JANUARY 1ST, 2022 AND ENDING DECEMBER 31ST, 2025.
IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION? MOTION IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.
IS THERE ANY DIS IS THERE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? NO, MA'AM.
THERE IS NO ONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THE ITEM WITH THAT BEING THE CASE WITHOUT OBJECTION? ITEM NUMBER 36 AS THE MOTION WAS MADE IS ADOPTED.
MEMBERS THAT WILL TAKE US TO ITEMS
[Items 37 - 39]
NUMBER 37 38 AND 39.LET ME ASK, IS THERE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THESE ITEMS? NO, MA'AM.
UH, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON ITEMS 37 38 AND 39, BUT WITH RESPECT TO ITEMS 37, 38 AND 39, THOSE ARE NON-CONSENT CONDEMNATION ITEMS. SO THE MOTION WILL BE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF AUSTIN 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.
IS THERE A MOTION TO, TO ADOPT ITEMS 37, 38 AND 39 CONSISTENT WITH THE MOTION THAT I JUST INDICATED, I WOULD ACCEPT MOTIONS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEMS 37 38 AND 39? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ITEMS 37, 38 AND 39 ARE ADOPTED.
THAT WILL TAKE US TO PUBLIC HEARINGS MEMBERS.
[Items 40,42, & 43]
40 42 AND 43 ARE POSTPONED UNTIL NOVEMBER 21ST.SO WE WILL GO TO ITEM NUMBER 41.
[41. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance to amend Ordinance No 20240829-154 to update the local incentives the City may provide under the Texas Enterprise Zone Program, Texas Government Code Chapter 2303.]
WITHOUT OBJECTION, A PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE OPENED ON ITEM NUMBER 41.ITEM NUMBER 41 IS OPEN FOR A PUBLIC HEARING AND I WILL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK.
THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS FOR ITEM 41 MEMBERS.
THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 41.
SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 41.
I'LL NOW ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH REGARD TO THE CONSIDERATION OF THE ORDINANCE.
IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT ITEM NUMBER 41? MOTION MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.
[44. 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.]
ITEM NUMBER 44.WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 44.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN AND I WILL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK.
THANK YOU, MAYOR BILL BICKFORD.
TANYA CARNEY, ROBERT VILLARIO.
MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK REGARDING WHEAT SOIL'S ON-PREMISE WAIVER REQUEST.
UH, I FIRST BEGAN WORKING AT THE CO-OP IN 1999 DURING YOUR FIRST IN AS MAYOR, UH, AND TODAY I SERVE AS ITS GENERAL MANAGER.
MY HOPE TODAY IS TO CONVINCE YOU THAT OUR REQUEST SUBSTANTIVELY DIFFERS FROM OTHERS THAT HAVE COME BEFORE YOU, AND THAT WE PRESENT NO THREAT TO THE STUDENTS AT ANN RICHARDS.
I BELIEVE THIS IS TRUE FOR A FEW REASONS.
FIRST, IF GRANTED, THIS PERMIT WOULD SIMPLY BE AN EXPANSION OF WHAT WE ARE ALREADY DOING.
COUNCIL SAW FIT TO UNANIMOUSLY GRANT WHEATSVILLE A WAIVER IN 2013 FOR OFF-PREMISE CONSUMPTION.
AND WE'VE OPERATED UNDER THAT PERMIT FOR THE PAST 11 YEARS WITHOUT EVER HAVING AN ISSUE RELATED TO THE SALE OF ALCOHOL GRANTING.
THIS ADDITIONAL WAIVER WOULD NOT CHANGE HOW ALCOHOL IS PURCHASED AT WHEATSVILLE.
INDIVIDUAL DRINKS WOULD GO THROUGH CHECKOUT, JUST LIKE ANY OTHER GROCERY PURCHASE WHERE THE SHOPPER IS CARDED BY A-T-A-B-C CERTIFIED CASHIER.
IF THEY WANT A SECOND SERVING, THEY WOULD GO THROUGH THAT SAME PROCESS AGAIN.
THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THAT THEY
[01:00:01]
WOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO OPEN THAT DRINK IN OUR DINING AREA, SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN ALREADY DO AT WHOLE FOODS AND CENTRAL MARKET.SECOND, THE LIKELIHOOD OF AN INCIDENT RELATED TO THE SALE OF ALCOHOL TO ANN RICHARD STUDENTS IS INFINITESIMALLY SMALL.
WE HIGHLY VALUE THE ANN RICHARD SCHOOL AS NEIGHBORS, AND I BELIEVE THAT OUR PRESENCE HAS MADE THAT AREA SAFER FOR THOSE STUDENTS, NOT LESS SO.
THIS BELIEF IS SEEMINGLY SHARED BY THE NUMEROUS PARENTS WHO USE OUR STORE AS A PICKUP POINT FOR THEIR STUDENTS WHO ARE HIGHLY RECOGNIZABLE DUE TO THEIR SCHOOL UNIFORMS. THIS ALLOWS US TO PLACE INCREASED EMPHASIS ON THEIR SAFETY AND COMFORT, WHILE ALSO MAKING IT ESSENTIALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR THEM TO PURCHASE ALCOHOL WITHOUT IT BEING IMMEDIATELY OBVIOUS TO OUR STAFF.
AND WHILE IT IS TRUE THAT THE BACK CORNER OF OUR STORE IS WITHIN 300 FEET OF THEIR PROPERTY, IT DOES NOT FEEL NEARLY THAT CLOSE FROM DOOR TO DOOR.
IT IS NEARLY A HALF MILE WALK.
FINALLY, WHEATVILLE AND CITY COUNCIL SHARE SOMETHING IN COMMON.
WE ARE BOTH DIRECTLY ACCOUNTABLE TO THIS COMMUNITY.
AS A CONSUMER CO-OP WHEATSVILLE IS OWNED BY 29,000 AUSTINITES.
THEY ELECT THE BOARD THAT I REPORT TO, AND I AM DUTY BOUND TO SERVE THEIR INTERESTS AS BEST I CAN.
WHEREAS OTHER BUSINESSES SERVE THEIR CUSTOMERS AS A MEANS TO MAKE A PROFIT, WE SEEK ONLY TO BE FINANCIALLY STRONG ENOUGH TO BEST SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.
WE SEEK THIS WAIVER IN ORDER TO BETTER FUNCTION AS A COMMUNITY HUB, A CULTURAL GATHERING POINT WHERE FOLKS CAN CONNECT WITH THEIR NEIGHBORS IN SOLIDARITY STRENGTHENING THE SOCIAL FABRIC OF OUR CITY.
ONE OF THE COOPERATIVE PRINCIPLES WE OPERATE UNDER IS CONCERN FOR COMMUNITY.
AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATED OVER THE YEARS THAT WE TAKE THAT RESPONSIBILITY VERY SERIOUSLY, CONTRIBUTING OVER $2 MILLION TO LOCAL NONPROFITS THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM, SUPPORTING A MULTITUDE OF LOCAL FARMERS AND PRODUCERS, INCREASING FOOD ACCESS THROUGH OUR DOUBLE UP BUCKS PROGRAM, AND MOST RECENTLY SERVING AS A POLLING LOCATION IN THIS YEAR'S GENERAL ELECTION, ONE OF CITY COUNCIL'S ROLES IS TO OPERATE AS SHEPHERDS OF AUSTIN'S CULTURE AS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL STANDARD BEARERS OF THE MOVEMENT TO KEEP AUSTIN WEIRD.
AND AS A RESPONSIBLE MEMBER OF THE AUSTIN BUSINESS COMMUNITY FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS, WE ASK THAT YOU GRANT US THIS WAIVER SO THAT WE MAY HELP TO STRENGTHEN THAT CULTURE FOR DECADES TO COME.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD IF, AND JUST IDENTIFY YOURSELF THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS TANYA KARNEY AND I'M THE STORE DIRECTOR AT WHEATSVILLE FOOD CO-OP ON SOUTH LAMAR.
WE ARE ALL HERE TODAY WITH THE INTENTION AND RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS FOR OUR AUSTIN COMMUNITY.
WHEATSVILLE IS THE ONLY GROCERY FOOD CO-OP IN ALL OF TEXAS AND A TRUE AUSTIN INSTITUTION.
IT WAS FOUNDED BY THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN IN 1976 AND HAS CONTINUED TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY FOR THE PAST 48 YEARS.
WHEATSVILLE EXISTS TO BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF A TRANSFORMED SOCIETY, CENTERED ON HOSPITALITY, KINDNESS, AND GENEROSITY.
IT IS A COMMUNITY ASSET AND A PLACE WHERE PE, WHERE EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO GATHER AND SHARE VALUES.
AS A COOPERATIVE, WE OPERATE WITH SEVEN CORE PRINCIPLES.
TWO OF THESE PRINCIPLES SPEAK TO WHEATSVILLE, COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION AND CONCERN FOR THE COMMUNITY.
THE PURPOSE OF EDUCATION ALIGNS WITH WHEATSVILLE DEDICATION TO INFORMING THE PUBLIC, INCLUDING YOUNG PEOPLE AND OPINION LEADERS ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF COOPERATION.
UNDER THE GUIDING PRINCIPLE OF CONCERN FOR THE COMMUNITY, WHEATSVILLE PROACTIVELY CONTRIBUTES TO THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF AUSTIN.
WE DO THIS WORK EVERY DAY BY PARTNERING WITH SCHOOLS, INCLUDING ANN RICHARDS AND THE TEXAS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED.
WE ALSO CREATE DONATION AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STAFF AND CUSTOMERS THROUGH CONNECTIONS WITH DOZENS OF LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.
I SAY THIS ALL TO MAKE THE POINT.
WHEATSVILLE IS NOT JUST ANOTHER GROCERY STORE.
THIS IS NOT JUST A A REQUEST, UH, AND AN ATTEMPT TO SELL MORE ALCOHOL AND MAKE IT EVEN MORE AVAILABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
INSTEAD, THIS REQUEST IS AN IMPORTANT STRATEGY TO HELP US BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER THROUGH GATHERINGS AND EVENTS.
ALLOWING US TO DO SO WILL HELP US FURTHER BUILD OUR COMMUNITY WITH MORE OPPORTUNITIES THAT HAPPEN TO INCLUDE RESPONSIBLE ON-PREMISE CONSUMPTION.
ANNE RICHARDS SCHOOL FOR YOUNG WOMEN LEADERS IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY TOO.
ANNE SHARES A SET OF VALUES THAT CLOSELY ALIGN WITH WHEATSVILLE LIKE ANNE RICHARDS.
WHEATVILLE EMBODIES THE VALUE AND POWER OF EDUCATION, CREATING OPPORTUNITY AND EQUALITY AND FOOD CO.
IN FACT, WOMEN HAVE ALWAYS BEEN EMPOWERED TO PARTICIPATE DEMOCRATICALLY AND ECONOMICALLY IN FOOD CO-OPS SINCE 1844, BOTH ANN RICHARDS SCHOOL AND WHEATVILLE CO-OP SHARE A STRONG SENSE OF STEWARDSHIP AND RESPONSIBILITY TO OUR COMMUNITY.
THE CO-OP'S COMMITMENT TO S SERVING THE COMMUNITY CLEARLY DEMONSTRATES HOW IT WILL OVERSEE THE ALLOWANCE OF AN ON-PREMISE PERMIT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ALLOWING ME TO SHARE THE COOP'S HISTORY AND VALUES WITH YOU TODAY.
I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE VOTE IN FAVOR TO HELP US CONTINUE TO BUILD OUR ORGANIZATION THAT EMBODIES COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY, EMPOWERMENT, AND EDUCATION.
IN CLOSING, A VOTE IN FAVOR FURTHERS THIS COUNCIL'S DESIRE TO FOSTER MORE COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT IN AUSTIN.
THIS WAS EXPRESSED IN THE NATIONAL CO-OP MONTH PROCLAMATION MADE LAST MONTH BY COUNCILMAN COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES AND THE SUPPORTING COOPERATIVELY
[01:05:01]
OWNED BUSINESS REPORT PRESENTED TO THE COUNCIL IN 2016.GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU FOR THE TIME YOU'VE ALLOWED ME TODAY TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF WHEATSVILLE FOOD CO-OP AND OUR ENDEAVOR TO OBTAIN AN ON-PREMISE PERMIT.
MY NAME IS ROBERT VIAL AND I'M THE FRONT END MANAGER OF THE SOUTH AND MAR LOCATION AND WORK WITH OUR STORE DIRECTOR AS WELL AS MY TEAM OF THREE MANAGERS WHO HELP OVERSEE OPERATIONS AT OUR LOCATION.
I'M ALSO AN OWNER OF THE CO-OP AND A FATHER OF THREE CHILDREN.
AND AS SUCH, UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF SAFETY FOR ALL WHO COME INTO THE CO-OP, ESPECIALLY THE STUDENTS OF ANN RICHARDS.
AS A FATHER, MY CHILDREN HAVE VISITED ME NUMEROUS TIMES AT MY JOB AND IT IS A SOURCE OF PRIDE FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO SHOW MY JOY OF BEING A PART OF THE CO-OP AND ITS MEANING TO THE COMMUNITY.
WHEATVILLE HAS SEVEN PRINCIPLES WHICH DRIVE ITS MODEL, BUT THE ONE THAT WILL ALWAYS SPEAK TO ME IS PRINCIPAL NUMBER SEVEN.
IT'S KEPT ME AT THE CO-OP FOR ALMOST 12 YEARS, AND THIS PRINCIPAL, UH, DRIVES THE WAY I MANAGE MY STORE, NOT JUST FOR MY SHOPPERS, BUT ALSO FOR THE STUDENTS AND, AND RICHARDS.
I SEE THESE STUDENTS EVERY DAY RIGHT BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS, DURING THEIR LUNCH BREAK AND WHEN THEY GET OUT.
THESE STUDENTS ARE A BIG PART OF OUR COMMUNITY AND AS SUCH, I MAKE SURE MY TEAMS KEEP THE STORE AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE FOR THEM.
WE ARE ALL AWARE OF THE WHO THE STUDENTS ARE AND IF WE SEE ANY POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUES, WE ADDRESS THEM AS SWIFTLY AS POSSIBLE.
WE HAVE STUDENTS THAT WILL WAIT IN OUR LOUNGE OR ON OUR PATIO TO GET PICKED UP AFTER SCHOOL, AND WE MAKE IT A PRIORITY TO LOOK OUT FOR ANY ISSUES THAT WILL IMPACT THEIR SAFETY.
I HAVE PERSONALLY HAD PARENTS CALL ME DIRECTLY TO KEEP AN EYE ON THEIR KIDS FROM ANN RICHARDS WHEN THEY MIGHT BE LATER THAN NORMAL FOR THEIR PICKUP.
MY EXPERIENCE AS A FATHER MAKES ME HAPPY TO KNOW THAT THEY TRUST US ENOUGH TO ASK MY TEAM AND I TAKE THEIR SAFETY TO HEART AS THEY'RE PART OF OUR CO-OP COMMUNITY AND WE ARE TRAINED TO KNOW HOW TO RESPOND TO ALL PROBLEMATIC SITUATIONS.
WE ARE TABC CERTIFIED AND WE KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR REGARDING BOTH ALCOHOL PURCHASES AND INTOXICATION.
AS THE FRONT END MANAGER AND A FATHER OF THREE FUTURE CO-OP SHOPPERS, I CAN PROMISE THAT MY TEAM IS COMMITTED TO A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL OF OUR SHOPPERS, BUT ESPECIALLY ANY STUDENTS FROM ANN RICHARDS.
AND THAT ALLOWING US TO OBTAIN AN ON-PREMISE PERMIT WILL NOT IN ANY WAY ADD ANY RISK TO OUR COMMUNITY, BUT WILL INSTEAD ALLOW US TO SHOW Y'ALL HOW COMMITTED WE ARE AT THE CO-OP TO SERVING OUR COMMUNITY FROM THE OWNERS TO THE CO-OP TO THEIR CHILDREN AND MINE.
PLEASE CONSIDER ALLOWING US THE ABILITY TO OBTAIN AN ON-PREMISE PERMIT, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME THE TIME TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE CO-OP OF WHICH I'M TRULY HONORED TO BE A PART OF.
THANK YOU ARIEL, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
I'M A NATIVE AUSTINITE AND CURRENT EMPLOYEE OF THE WHEATSVILLE FOOD CO-OP.
I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID SO FAR, BUT I'D LIKE TO TAKE SOME TIME TO SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS CONCERNS THAT SOME HAVE EXPRESSED AROUND UNDERAGE DRINKING.
TO BE FRANK, I FIND THE CONCERN THE PASSAGE OF THIS WAIVER WILL INCREASE OR ENCOURAGE UNDERAGE DRINKING A LITTLE BIT PERPLEXING FIRST, BECAUSE THE PROPOSED LANGUAGE AND EFFECT OF THE WAIVER HAS NO, AND I DO MEAN NO EFFECT ON THE PURCHASE OF ALCOHOL.
AT THE CO-OP WHEATVILLE HAS BEEN AN AUSTIN INSTITUTION SINCE 1976 AND IN THE FOLLOWING 48 YEARS, WE HAVE HAD ZERO, AND I DO MEAN ZERO CITATIONS, REPRIMANDS, WARNINGS, OR ANY SUGGESTION THAT WOULD, UH, INDICATE THAT OUR ID AND VERIFICATION PROCESS HAS BEEN ANYTHING OTHER THAN EXEMPLARY.
WHEN WE OPENED THE SOUTH MAR LOCATION IN 2013, WE SOUGHT A WAIVER JUST TO SELL ALCOHOL.
GIVEN OUR PROXIMITY TO THE ANN RICHARDS SCHOOL, AND SINCE WE MADE THAT PROMISE TO THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN THAT WE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE STEWARDS OF OUR COMMUNITY, WE NOW HAVE 11 YEARS WORTH OF EVIDENCE THAT WE'VE HELD THAT COMMITMENT.
I SYMPATHIZE WITH THE CONCERNS AROUND ISSUING THESE WAIVERS AND I'M THANKFUL FOR THOSE WHO VOICE THEIR CONCERNS.
HOWEVER, THOSE SAME PEOPLE HAVE A VERY HIGH BURDEN OF PROOF TO EXPLAIN IN PROCEDURAL TERMS HOW THIS WAIVER WILL ENCOURAGE UNDERAGE DRINKING, GIVEN THAT IT IN NO WAY ALTERS OUR SALES PROCEDURE, OUR POINT OF SALE IS AN EFFECTIVE AND PROVEN BOTTLENECK, PARDON THE PUN, AND IF IT ISN'T, THEN WHY IN THE PAST 11 YEARS AT LAMAR HAVE THERE BEEN NO COMPLAINTS, CONCERNS, OR INCIDENTS ABOUT OUR PROCEDURES? PUT SIMPLY, IF THIS WAS A PROBLEM, THEN YOU WOULD ALREADY SEE SOME EVIDENCE OF IT.
IT SEEMS TO ME OBVIOUS THAT NEARLY HALF A CENTURY OF EVIDENCE IS SUFFICIENT TO RE REASON TO BELIEVE THAT ALLOWING ON-PREMISE CONSUMPTION WILL HAVE NO IMPACT ON OUR COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP.
HOWEVER, ANOTHER QUESTION YOU SHOULD ASK IS HOW WOULD VETOING THIS WAIVER PREVENT UNDERAGE DRINKING? UNDERAGE DRINKING IS ALREADY A CRIME.
IF SOMEONE IS WILLING TO BREAK THE LAW BY TRYING TO TEST OUR SALES PROCEDURE, HOW WOULD THE PROXIMITY TO OUR, TO THE SCHOOL CHANGE THEIR MINDS? TO GO ONE STEP FURTHER, IF WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT ANN RICHARDS STUDENTS IN PARTICULAR, WHY WOULD THEY TRY TO PURCHASE OR DRINK ALCOHOL PUBLICLY AND STORE HEAVILY TRAFFICKED BY THEIR TEACHERS, PEERS AND PARENTS AND PARENTS OF THEIR PEERS? THAT'S TO SAY NOTHING OF OUR TRAINED TEAM OF FLOOR MANAGERS WHO KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON THE STORE AND WHO CAN RECOGNIZE ANNE RICHARDS STUDENTS BY THEIR CLEARLY MARKED UNIFORMS? I'M NOT TOO PROUD TO ADMIT THAT I DRANK BEFORE I TURNED 21, AND I MADE EVERY EFFORT BOTH IN OBTAINING AND CONSUMING TO AVOID PLACES WITH HIGH TRAFFIC AND VISIBILITY LIKE OUR STORE, ESPECIALLY THAT IF THEY INVOLVED PEOPLE WHO I PERSONALLY KNEW.
JUST BECAUSE MINORS MAKE INCREDIBLY IRRESPONSIBLE DECISIONS DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY'RE STUPID.
OUR POINT OF SALE HAS PROVEN AT EVERY AVAILABLE OPPORTUNITY THAT IT PREVENTS UNDERAGE SALE.
THIS WAIVER WILL HAVE NO EFFECT ON THAT PROVEN EFFICIENCY, WHICH ALL AVAILABLE
[01:10:01]
EVIDENCE INDICATES HAS NOT ENDANGERED THE STUDENTS OF ANN RICHARDS.FURTHERMORE, THOSE INTERESTED IN UNDERAGE DRINKING HAVE EVERY REASON TO AVOID OUR STORE LIKE THE PLAGUE.
GIVEN THAT PURCHASING OR CONSUMING ALCOHOL ON OUR PREMISES EXPONENTIALLY INCREASES THEIR CHANCES OF ACTUALLY GETTING CAUGHT.
GIVEN THIS IN THE COMMENTS OF MY COLLEAGUES, I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE YES ON OUR APPLICATION.
IF YOUR NAME'S THEN CALLED, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COME DOWN FRONT AND THEN TAKE THE MICROPHONE.
JUST IDENTIFY YOURSELF PLEASE.
HELLO, MY NAME IS JASON EWING AND I HAVE BEEN THE STORE DIRECTOR AT OUR GUADALUPE LOCATION, UH, LOCATED IN DISTRICT NINE SINCE NOVEMBER OF 2021.
AND I HAVE BEEN WITH WHEATVILLE TOTAL SINCE 2012.
UH, WE GOT OUR ON PREMISE LICENSE AT GUADALUPE BACK IN 2016, AND I WANTED TO SPEAK ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE WITH IT.
SINCE I'VE BEEN MANAGING THE GUADALUPE LOCATION, WE'VE HAD OVER 24 EVENTS WHERE WE'VE HAD LIVE MUSIC WITH BEER AND FOOD.
MOST PATRONS WHEN GETTING THE MEAL DEAL WOULD COME, UH, WHICH COMES WITH EITHER A BEER OR NON-ALCOHOLIC OPTION.
WOULD HAVE ONE BEER THAT'S PROVIDED WITH THE MEAL, WATCH THE LIVE MUSIC, AND BE ON THEIR WAY.
OTHER THAN THE EVENTS, WE HAVE SEVERAL CUSTOMERS WHO LIKE TO ENJOY OUR PATIO AFTER WORK, UM, WITH BEER, WINE WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
THERE HAVE BEEN VERY FEW EXAMPLES OF US HAVING TO CUT SOMEONE OFF OR OVER CONSUMPTION.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE ONLY TIMES THAT WE HAVE THAT I CAN REMEMBER IN HISTORY OF ME MANAGING THE LOCATION WERE PEOPLE THAT SHOWED UP IN THAT STATE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
UH, THESE INDIVIDUALS WERE OF COURSE NOT SERVED, UH, AND WE ALSO OFFERED THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET A LYFT OR AN UBER.
UM, OTHER THAN OTHER THAN WE ARE LIVING PROOF THAT THIS CAN BE DONE RESPONSIBLY AND SUCCESSFULLY, UH, WE TAKE RESPONSIBLE ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION VERY SERIOUSLY.
OUR STAFF UNDERGO TRAINING TO ENSURE THAT COMPLIANCE WITH ALL LEGAL REQUIREMENTS WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED STRICT I ID CHECKS, UH, AND WE MONITOR AND LIMIT ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION.
OUR COMMITMENT TO SAFETY AND RESPONSIBILITY HAS BEEN KEY SUCCESS TO HELP US MAINTAIN A POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR COMMUNITY.
HI, MY NAME IS RITA DALEY AND I AM HERE TODAY IN FULL SUPPORT OF THIS WAIVER BEING GRANTED.
I COME TO YOU AS A 34-YEAR-OLD, BORN AND RAISED AUSTINITE WHO GREW UP GOING TO WHEATSVILLE.
I HAVE MANY MEMORIES THERE AND IT TRULY HOLDS A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART.
GROWING UP HERE, I'VE SEEN A LOT OF CHANGE.
A LOT OF LOCAL BUSINESSES LIKE DART BOWL AND SHADY GROVE AND HUTS HAMBURGERS CLOSED DOWN, AND WHILE THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THOSE CLOSURES MAY VARY, I BELIEVE ONE THING REMAINS THE SAME.
THESE BUSINESSES WERE UNABLE TO KEEP UP.
THEY WERE UNABLE TO STAY RELEVANT AND COMPETITIVE IN AN ECONOMY WHERE BIG NAMES COME IN AND TAKE OVER.
IN A CITY LIKE AUSTIN THAT GROWS AND MORPHS THE WAY THAT IT DOES.
IT IS MY BELIEF THAT IF THIS WAIVER IS DENIED, WHEATVILLE IS DENIED.
THE OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH DENIED THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAY COMPETITIVE WITH BUSINESSES LIKE WHOLE FOODS AND CENTRAL MARKET WHO ALREADY POSSESS THE ABILITY TO OFFER ON-PREMISE CONSUMPTION.
I ACTUALLY WORKED AT CENTRAL MARKET FOR 10 YEARS AND I NEVER ONCE WITNESSED AN ON-PREMISE ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION RELATED INCIDENT.
I DID HOWEVER, WITNESS HAPPY FAMILIES AND KIDS PLAYING ON THE PLAYGROUND WHILE THEIR PARENTS ENJOYED A GLASS OF WINE AND THE OCCASIONAL CHEERS TO A GOOD DAY SPENT IN GREAT COMPANY.
AND LET'S BE ABUNDANTLY CLEAR.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT TURNING WHEATSVILLE INTO A BAR.
IT IS SIMPLY A WAY TO MAKE WEEKEND AND EVENING EVENTS A LITTLE MORE APPEALING TO OUR CROWD.
EVENTS LIKE TRIVIA AND LIVE MUSIC, WHICH I THINK MANY OF US CAN AGREE, GO PRETTY WELL WITH A GLASS OF WINE OR BEER.
UM, THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS, IF WE DENY WHEATS FILL THIS WAIVER, THIS OPPORTUNITY TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE, THEY MAY BE THE NEXT LOCAL BUSINESS TO DISAPPEAR.
AND I BELIEVE THAT THAT WOULD BE A LOSS THAT WOULD RIPPLE THROUGH THIS COMMUNITY.
I REALLY HOPE YOU'LL CONSIDER GRANTING THIS WAIVER.
GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS DAN JUNK AND I SERVE AS THE PRODUCE MANAGER AT WHEATSVILLE FOOD CO-OPS SOUTH LAMAR LOCATION WHERE I HAVE WORKED FOR SIX YEARS AS A THIRD GENERATION AUSTINITE.
MY GRANDFATHER ALSO DAN JUNK, OPENED DAN'S HAMBURGERS OVER 50 YEARS AGO, ANOTHER LOCAL INSTITUTION THAT'S BECOME PART OF OUR CITY'S FABRIC.
GROWING UP, I WITNESSED HOW LOCAL BUSINESSES LIKE MY GRANDFATHER'S CONTRIBUTED TO AUSTIN'S UNIQUE CULTURE AND COMMUNITY.
I'VE CARRIED THIS THROUGH WITH ME TO WHEATSVILLE.
SINCE 1976, WHEATSVILLE HAS SUPPORTED LOCAL FARMERS, PRODUCERS AND OUR COMMUNITY.
WE'RE MORE THAN A GROCERY STORE.
WE'RE A GATHERING PLACE WHERE RELATIONSHIPS ARE BUILT.
[01:15:01]
TODAY WE ARE REQUESTING A WAIVER TO OBTAIN A PERMIT FOR ON-PREMISE CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL AT WHEATSVILLE.THIS WILL ALLOW US TO ENHANCE THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE BY OFFERING LOCAL CRAFT BEERS FURTHER SUPPORTING AUSTIN'S THRIVING BREWERIES.
OUR MAIN COMPETITORS CENTRAL MARKET AND WHOLE FOODS ALREADY HOLD THIS LICENSE AND OFFER ON-PREMISE ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION.
AS A SMALL COMMUNITY OWNED COOPERATIVE, WE AIM TO PROVIDE SIMILAR AMENITIES TO BETTER SERVE OUR PATRONS AND REMAIN COMPETITIVE AGAINST THESE LARGER CORPORATIONS.
GRANTING US THIS PERMIT WILL HELP LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD.
WE AIM TO OFFER A SAFE, RESPONSIBLE ENVIRONMENT WHERE COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN COME TOGETHER.
OUR STAFF IS THOROUGHLY TRAINED.
WE IMPLEMENT STRICT ID CHECKS AND WE'VE NEVER HAD A SINGLE TABC INFRACTION.
WE'RE COMMITTED TO CONTINUING TO COMPLY WITH ALL REGULATIONS REGARDING ALCOHOL SERVICE.
GRANTING THIS WAIVER WILL ENABLE WHEATSVILLE TO CONTINUE ENRICHING OUR COMMUNITY MUCH LIKE MY GRANDFATHER DID WITH DAN'S HAMBURGERS OVER 50 YEARS AGO.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING AUSTIN IN THIS NEW CAPACITY.
MR. JUNG, I JUST WANTED TO NOTE YOUR GRANDFATHER WAS DAN'S HAMBURGERS.
I DIDN'T THINK I WOULD EVER MEET SOMEBODY WHO WAS ATTACHED, YOU KNOW, IN PERSON TO DAN'S HAMBURGERS.
AND TWO THUMBS UP, YOU HAMBURGERS.
PART OF MY EARLY DAYS IN AUSTIN FOR SURE.
UH, MY NAME IS KODI ATKINS AND I AM ON THE, UH, WHEATSVILLE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
UH, MR. MAYOR, IT'S A PLEASURE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
UH, THE LAST TIME WE CROSSED PATHS WAS AT THE, UH, CORNER OF SIXTH IN CONGRESS AROUND MIDNIGHT ON, UH, DECEMBER 31ST, 1999.
IT WAS DURING THE A 2K CELEBRATION YOU HAD PLANNED FOR THE CITY, AND THAT WAS ABOUT 10 FEET BACK FROM THE STAGE, UH, AS YOU RANG IN THE NEW YEAR WITH MYSELF AND THOUSANDS OF OTHERS.
UH, THAT SAID, I'VE BEEN IN AUSTIN FOR QUITE A WHILE AS A, UH, NATIVE AUSTINITE.
A LOT HAS CHANGED IN MY 43 YEARS HERE.
SOME CHANGES ARE SIMPLY SIGNS OF PROGRESS, WHILE OTHERS HAVE MEANT THE LOSS OF BELOVED AUSTIN BUSINESSES AND INSTITUTIONS.
UH, HOWEVER, A SURVIVING MEMBER OF, UH, OLD AUSTIN IS WHEATSVILLE, WHICH STILL AS ALWAYS REPRESENTS THE VALUES THAT DRAW SO MANY TO OUR BELOVED CITY.
FOR HALF MY LIFE, I'VE BEEN CONNECTED TO WHEATSVILLE IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
FIRST AS A SHOPPER, THEN AS AN OWNER, LATER AS AN EMPLOYEE, AND NOW AS A BOARD MEMBER.
ALONG THAT JOURNEY, IT WAS THE KOMBUCHA AISLE WHERE I MET MY WIFE WITH WHOM I HAVE TWO AMAZING KIDS AND FUTURE CO-OPS.
MY HISTORY WITH A CO-OP IS LONG AND MEANINGFUL.
WHEN PEOPLE ASK ME WHAT WHEATVILLE IS ALL ABOUT OR WHAT IT MEANS TO ME PERSONALLY, I DESCRIBE IT AS A PLACE WHERE AUSTIN'S FAVORITE LOCAL FOOD AND BEVERAGE BRANDS CAN GET THEIR START AND FIND A HOME.
IT'S A UNIQUE SPACE THAT HAS SUPPORTED THESE LOCAL PRODUCERS, OFFERING 'EM A PLATFORM TO GROW AND REFINE THEIR BUSINESS WITHOUT THE BARRIERS TYPICALLY IMPOSED BY LARGER RETAILERS.
UNLIKE MAJOR CHANGE THAT CHARGE EXORBITANT FEES SOMEWHERE, SOMETIMES UPWARDS OF A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS PER PRODUCT, UH, JUST TO GET ON SHELF, WHEATVILLE PROVIDES AN INCLUSIVE, ACCESSIBLE ENVIRONMENT WHERE THESE BRANDS CAN THRIVE WITHOUT HAVING TO PAVE TO PLAY.
WHEATVILLE ISN'T JUST A GROCERY STORE, IT'S A CORNERSTONE, A CORNERSTONE OF AUSTIN'S LOCAL ECONOMY, SERVING AS AN INCUBATOR FOR LOCAL FARMERS, ARTISANS, AND FOOD PRODUCERS.
MANY OF THESE BRANDS WHICH ONCE STARTED SMALL, HAVE GONE ON TO ACHIEVE TREMENDOUS SUCCESS.
A NOTABLE EXAMPLE IS STE, WHICH INITIALLY STARTED UNDER A DIFFERENT NAME CALLED MUST BE NUTTY, SELLING THEIR ALMOND FLOUR TORTILLAS FOR ABOUT $12 FOR A 10 PACK.
WHEATVILLE WAS THE ONLY PLACE IN TOWN WHERE YOU COULD FIND THESE ITEMS. AND NOW STE HAS GROWN THEIR PORTFOLIO IN DISTRIBUTION NETWORK TO A POINT WHERE THEY RECENTLY SOLD THE PEPSICO FOR $1.2 BILLION.
WHILE ATE IS PERHAPS THE HIGHEST PROFILE SUCCESS, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF OTHER BRANDS THAT HAVE ALSO BENEFITED FROM WHEAT WHEATS SPILL'S COMMITMENT TO LOCAL BUSINESS BRANDS THAT ARE NOW AVAILABLE NATIONALLY THAT CAN REFLECT THE VALUES THAT AUSTIN REPRESENTS.
BRANDS LIKE GOOD POP YELLOWBIRD AND RAMBLING SPARKLING WATER, JUST TO NAME A FEW.
I KNOW THAT EACH DAY, UH, PEOPLE COME BEFORE YOU TO SEEK SOMETHING FOR THEMSELVES.
TODAY, WE'RE HERE ON BEHALF OF OUR COMMUNITY.
GRANTING THIS PERMIT WILL ALLOW US TO STRENGTHEN OUR PRESENCE, NOT ONLY IN A HIGHLY COMPETITIVE MARKET WHERE OTHER GROCERS MAY NOT PRIORITIZE SMALL LOCAL STARTUPS, BUT ALSO WITHIN THE COMMUNITY WE SERVE, CREATING A PLATFORM WHERE LOCAL BUSINESSES CAN CONTINUE TO THRIVE AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE RICHNESS OF OUR CITY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
I'M GLAD YOU CAN REMEMBER THAT NIGHT,
I'M THE CEO OF TEXANS FOR SAFE AND DRUG FREE YOUTH.
UM, I AM HERE, UM, ASKING THAT YOU STAND WITH A ISD AND UM, WITH SOUND PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY AND VOTE NO ON THIS WAIVER.
I HAVE WORKED AS A PREVENTION PROFESSIONAL FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS, AND MY PARTICULAR AREA OF EXPERTISE IS DATA-DRIVEN PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY THAT PREVENTS UNDERAGE ALCOHOL USE AND MY ORGANIZATION'S NATIONALLY
[01:20:01]
REGARDED ON THIS ISSUE.SO I COME TO YOU TODAY ASKING THAT YOU FOLLOW THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND, UM, AND BEST PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY AS IT RELATES TO YOUNG PEOPLE AND UNDERAGE DRINKING.
UM, IT'S A PRACTICE THAT PUTS THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF OUR KIDS BEFORE BUSINESS INTEREST.
AND THIS 300 FOOT WAIVER IS A CRITICAL PIECE AROUND HOW YOUNG PEOPLE EXPERIENCE AND OBTAIN ALCOHOL.
IT IS NOT ABOUT THE BUSINESS ITSELF, IT IS ABOUT, UM, IT'S NOT ABOUT WHEATSVILLE.
IT'S ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE AS A COMMUNITY ARE GONNA HAVE A CONSISTENTLY HELD POLICY THAT SAYS THAT WE WILL HAVE ALCOHOL AND DRUG FREE ZONES FOR OUR KIDS.
ONE IN THREE OF US HAVE EXPERIENCED OR ARE EXPERIENCING NE NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF ALCOHOL IN OUR HOME AND OUR FAMILY.
SO WE LOOK AT THAT AS IT RELATES TO ANN RICHARDS SCHOOLS.
THAT'S 300 STUDENTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY HAVING SOME NEGATIVE, UM, RELATIONSHIP WITH ALCOHOL.
THESE YOUNG PEOPLE IN PARTICULAR NEED ALCOHOL FREE SPACES IN THEIR COMMUNITY THAT MODEL PEOPLE HAVING FUN AND EXPERIENCING LIFE WITH THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL.
THESE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE PARTICULARLY AT RISK AS ARE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE, UM, NOT RISK AVERSE, WHO WILL EVENTUALLY BECOME FIREFIGHTERS AND, UM, EMTS.
THEY WILL DO RISKY THINGS, INCLUDING WHAT WE CALL A HEY MISTER, WHICH IS TAP SOMEONE ON THE SHOULDER AND ASK THEM TO GO IN AND BUY ALCOHOL FOR THEM, A-T-A-B-C.
UM, THEY, THEY DO NOT GO OUT AND DO COMPLIANCE CHECKS ON THE REGULAR EXCEPT FOR IN VERY SPECIFIC PLACES.
SO THE LACK OF VIOLATIONS IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF THE BUSINESS ITSELF, BUT THE LACK OF LAW ENFORCEMENT BEING ABLE TO GO OUT AND DO ACTIVE COMPLIANCE CHECKS.
AGAIN, THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE BUSINESS ITSELF, BUT IT'S ABOUT THE NATURE OF HOW WE WANT OUR COMMUNITIES TO BE AS IT RELATES TO PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY, SOUND, PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY, AND WHAT THE BEST PRACTICES IS FOR OUR KIDS.
AND SO WITH THIS, I SAY, YOU KNOW, I HOPE THAT YOU WILL STAND WITH A ISD, THAT YOU'LL STAND WITH PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICE AND INCREASINGLY GIVE THESE BUFFER ZONES THAT PROHIBIT ALCOHOL AROUND SCHOOLS.
THEY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OUR KIDS.
ALCOHOL'S ALREADY THE PROBLEM, THE SUBSTANCE THEY SAY THEY USE THE MOST.
IT IS THE SUBSTANCE THAT THEY SAY IS EASY TO GET, AND IT'S THE SUBSTANCE THAT WE AS ADULTS ARE MOST PERMISSIVE AROUND AS IT RELATES TO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.
SO WHEN WE SEE THE WORLD ONE WAY, OUR YOUNG PEOPLE SEE IT IN A DIFFERENT WAY AND THEY USE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN AND WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TELL THEM THAT WE THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE ALCOHOL FREE AND ZONES.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, MAYOR.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS FOR 44.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS ON THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 44.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 44.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED.
IS THERE A MOTION TO GRANT THE WAIVER OF THE DISTANCE REQUIREMENT ON ITEM NUMBER 44? COUNCIL MEMBER VELA MOVES TO GRANT THE, UH, THE WAIVER.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
COUNCIL MEMBER VALA, UH, VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION BY WHEATSVILLE.
UH, MUCH BETTER THAN THE TORCHY'S PRESENTATION FROM, UH, UH, AND I, I LOVE WHEATSVILLE.
LOVE THE POPCORN TOFU, UH, AND, AND JUST REALLY THE VIBE OF THE STORE.
I DON'T KNOW IF I'VE EVER BEEN TO THE SOUTH LOCATION ACTUALLY, BUT, UH, YEAH, UH, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN TO CENTRAL MARKET, UH, MANY TIMES WITH MY KIDDOS.
I I JUST DON'T SEE KIND OF THIS HARD LINE BETWEEN A FAMILY EVENT THAT HAS ALCOHOL.
UH, I COMPLETELY TRUST THAT WE FEEL WILL BE A RESPONSIBLE STEWARD OF, UH, THIS, UH, A WAIVER.
UH, AND AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT DOES HELP THEM, UH, MAINTAIN THEIR ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS, UH, YOU KNOW, HOST EVENTS AND, AND, AND JUST CONTINUE TO, TO EXIST AND, AND BE AN ASSET TO THE COMMUNITY.
SO I, I, I REALLY, UH, APPRECIATE IT.
ALSO, UH, JUST TO THE, I LOOKED AT THE MAP TOO ON THE BACKUP.
I MEAN, Y'ALL ARE BACKWARDS CATTYCORNER TO ANNE RICHARDS.
I MEAN, YOU'RE, YOU'RE REALLY KIND OF QUITE A FAR AWAY.
SO, UH, I, I HAVE NO, UH, PROBLEMS WITH THE WAIVER AND, AND, AND, UH, HAPPY TO TO SUPPORT IT FURTHER DISCUSSION.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
UM, I I WANTED TO, UM, SPEAK TO THE, THE LAST SPEAKER AT THE PODIUM'S POINT.
UM, I'M ABSOLUTELY IN SUPPORT OF THE WAIVER.
I THINK, UH, BEING ABLE TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE IS CRITICAL, ESPECIALLY FOR COOPERATIVE OPERATIONS.
UM, BUT I DO WANNA TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXTEND THE CONCERN AROUND UNDERAGE ALCOHOL USE.
UM, I MENTIONED EARLIER ON IN THE YEAR, MY INTEREST IN US AS A COMMUNITY INVESTING IN, UM, WHAT THEY
[01:25:01]
CALL SOBER HIGH SCHOOLS, WHERE EVERY ADMINISTER, EVERY TEACHER, EVERY STAFF MEMBER OF THE SCHOOL IS A PERSON IN RECOVERY.UM, AND I THINK, UM, TO THE CONVERSATION, EXCUSE ME, THAT INITIATED THAT DISCUSSION, IT WAS AROUND PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCE CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER.
UM, THERE'S A CONCEPT, IT'S CALLED ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT.
SO ESSENTIALLY WHAT HAPPENS IS YOU GET STUCK WHERE YOU START USING.
SO CHRONOLOGICALLY, YOU'RE 65, BUT IF YOU STARTED USING WHEN YOU WERE 11, UM, PHYSIOLOGICALLY YOU'RE 65, BUT YOUR BRAIN'S NOT 65, YOU'RE STUCK AT 11, 12, 14, 16.
I'D LIKE FOR US AS A COMMUNITY TO REALLY DOUBLE DOWN ON INVESTMENTS IN CATCHING KIDS WHILE THEY'RE YOUNG.
UM, YOU'RE ALWAYS GONNA BE EXPOSED TO ALCOHOL.
IT'S THE MOST CONSUMED SUBSTANCE IN OUR COUNTRY.
UM, AND THERE ARE SOME PROBLEMATIC ELEMENTS WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER, MOST ESPECIALLY AS IT PERTAINS, PERTAINS TO ALCOHOL, THE EASIEST SUBSTANCE TO ACQUIRE.
I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO MAKE SOME SERIOUS INVESTMENTS IN CATCHING KIDS WHILE THEY'RE YOUNG.
UM, AND NOT NECESSARILY DEMONIZING THE SUBSTANCE, BUT CERTAINLY ALLOWING KIDS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN HOW TO INTERACT WITH IT RESPONSIBLY AND AVOID SOME OF THE POTENTIAL CHALLENGES THAT THEY FACE MOVING FORWARD WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER.
SO I'D LIKE VERY MUCH TO INVITE THE LAST SPEAKER AT THE PODIUM, UM, TO CONNECT WITH MY OFFICE.
I'LL SEND SOMEBODY OVER TO COME AND HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOU.
I'D LIKE VERY MUCH TO GET TO KNOW YOUR ORGANIZATION AND THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO, AND, UM, SEEK YOUR SUPPORT AND MOVING FORWARD WITH LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY LIKE AT THE PRECIPICE OF THEIR EXPERIENCE WITH A LIFELONG SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER, UM, CHALLENGE AND, UM, CATCH KIDS NOW.
UM, AND THE OPPORTUNITIES AROUND RECOVERY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE SUBSTANTIALLY HIGHER, UH, THAN ADULTS WHO'VE BEEN USING FOR A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF YEARS.
AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING I'D LIKE TO BRING FORWARD, UM, AS AN OFFICE, AS A BODY, AND AS A COMMUNITY.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO EXTENDING THE CONVERSATION AROUND CONCERNS WITH, UM, OUR YOUTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER AND ALCOHOLISM.
THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO GRANT THE WAIVER, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THERE BEING SIX VOTES IN FAVOR AND FIVE VOTES IN OPPOSITION, THOSE BEING COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, KELLY AND THE MAYOR.
THE MOTION TO GRANT THE WAIVER IS GRANT IS IS ADOPTED THAT I, I WANNA MAKE SURE BEFORE WE MOVE FROM THIS ITEM, DID I GET, I WANNA MAKE SURE I GOT THE NAMES RIGHT ON THE, ANYBODY ELSE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING? NO.
ALRIGHT, SO THE SIX IN FAVOR, UH, FIVE IN OPPOSITION AND I'VE CALLED OUT THE FIVE THANK Y'ALL AND THANK, THANKS EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE.
NOT AN EASY ONE, AND WE APPRECIATE EVERYBODY TAKING THE TIME TO BE HERE.
UH, MEMBERS THAT CLOSES OUT ITEM NUMBER 44 ON ITEMS 40, 42 AND 43.
THOSE ITEMS WERE POSTPONED TO NOVEMBER 21ST, BUT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT, UH, WE HAD SOMEBODY SIGNED UP.
UH, WE DON'T SEE HIM IN THE AUDIENCE, BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE BRAD MASSENGILL, UH, BRAD MASSENGILL ON ITEMS 40 42 AND 43 IS BRAD MASSENGILL IN THE, WITHIN THE SOUND OF MY VOICE.
AND I DON'T INCLUDE BEING ON TV OR ONLINE, UM, IF YOU'RE IN THE BUILDING.
ALRIGHT, UH, THEN WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON FROM OUR PUBLIC HEARING.
THO THOSE, THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF OUR PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS. MEMBERS.
UM, WE'RE AT THAT POINT WHERE, UH, THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS FOR OUR 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, AND THAT IS PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.
SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL RECESS THE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL ON NOVEMBER 7TH, 2024 UNTIL 12 O'CLOCK.
NOON PROMPTLY AT 12 O'CLOCK NOON.
WE ARE IN RECESS UNTIL 12 O'CLOCK NOON.
COUNSEL, IT IS 12:01 PM ON NOVEMBER 7TH, 2024.
UH, WE ARE BACK IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT, UH, ON 3 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET.
[01:30:12]
WE[12:00 PM - Public Communication: General]
WILL GO TO OUR 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN IS 1202, UH, WHICH IS PUBLIC GENERAL PUBLIC COMMUNICATION, AND I'LL HAVE THE CLERK CALL THE ROLE, BUT I WOULD ASK IF, UM, YOU'RE HERE.IF YOU HEAR YOUR NAME, COME ON DOWN FRONT, YOU KNOW THE ORDER THAT YOU ARE ON THE AGENDA.
AND THEN, UH, PLEASE JUST STEP TO THE MICROPHONE, IDENTIFY YOURSELF AND WE'LL BE HAPPY TO HEAR FROM YOU.
WE HAVE ONE REMOTE SPEAKER, ROBIN LAND.
MY NAME IS ROBIN LAND AND I'M A PROUD CHRISTIAN ZIONIST.
I WANNA CONGRATULATE EVERYONE HERE ON THE ELECTION OF PRESIDENT TRUMP, A TRUE FRIEND OF ISRAEL.
MAYOR WATSON, THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS ATTENDING OUR EVENTS ONLY, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING A BIG SUPPORTER OF THE ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE, THE ISRAELI AMERICAN COUNCIL AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE WORKING TO DEFEND ISRAEL NO MATTER WHAT IT TAKES, THE A DL ARE NOT AFRAID TO REPORT TEACHERS AND STUDENTS OR TO ASK UT TO SEND DPS ON THESE ENTITLED COLLEGE STUDENTS WHO THINK THE FIRST AMENDMENT IS AS IMPORTANT AS THE SECOND AMENDMENT.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE CAN DO IS TO STOP FOCUSING ON THE ISRAELI BOMBS AND ALL THE DEAD CHILDREN AND FOCUS ON THE BEAUTIFUL IDEA OF ISRAEL.
WE SHOULD NEVER CONDEMN ISRAEL EVEN WHEN THINGS GET BAD, BECAUSE THEN OUR ENEMIES WILL LAND.
AND THEN WHAT IF ISRAEL HAS TO BECOME A DEMOCRACY WHERE THE ARABS HAVE EQUAL RIGHTS? I MEAN, JUST IMAGINE IF THEY WERE ABLE TO VOTE.
I'M SO GLAD THAT OUR SIDE IS FINALLY GETTING ORGANIZED HERE IN AUSTIN AND WE HAVE STARTED USING AN AI SOFTWARE TO SIGN PEOPLE UP BECAUSE NOW WE WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE ALL THE SPOTS GOING FORWARD.
YES, THE SO-CALLED ANTI GENOCIDE CROWD BEEN ABLE TO BE ORGANIZED AND HOG MOST OF THE GENERAL COMMUNICATION SLOTS, BUT THANK GOD FOR TECHNOLOGY.
I DIDN'T HAVE TO LIFT A FINGER THIS TIME AND THEY SIGNED ME AND EVERYONE ELSE UP IN FIVE SECONDS FLAT AT AN INHUMAN SPEED.
I'M A HUGE SUPPORTER OF ISRAEL BECAUSE THE BIBLE TELLS ME IT'S IMPORTANT.
PROPHECY TELLS US THAT WHEN THE RAPTURE IS COMING AND ONLY WHEN OUR ALLIES, THE JEWS ARE GATHERED ON THE HOLY LAND, CAN JESUS COME BACK? IT'S BIBLICAL REPLACEMENT THEORY AND A NECESSARY SACRIFICE.
LET'S SEE WHAT ELSE I WAS GONNA SAY.
MAKE SURE YOU SHARE YOUR STORY SO IT LOOKS LIKE YOU BELONG HERE AND THEY DON'T.
I DON'T WORRY ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OTHER COUNTRIES BECAUSE HONESTLY THOSE PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS DYING.
WHY IS EVERYONE ACTING? LIKE, JUST BECAUSE AMERICAN BOMBS ARE DROPPED ON GAZA THAT IT SOMEHOW MAKES IT OUR FAULT? I'M SO SICK AND TIRED OF BEING HATED FOR MY FREEDOM IN MY COACH BAG.
THEIR GROUP IS LOUD AND ANGRY AND OURS IS ALWAYS WELL BEHAVED AND I THINK THAT SHOULD COUNT FOR SOMETHING.
MARTIN LUTHER KING NEVER BROKE THE RULES.
SONYA HAMSTRA, MALKA DUBROSKI.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MAYOR WATSON, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
UH, BEFORE I GET INTO THE FOCUS OF MY COMMENTS, I'D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR WONDERFUL CITY.
MY NAME IS MALKA DUBROSKI AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT SIX.
I'M HERE TODAY TO COMMENT ON THE IMPACT OF DISCUSSION IN CITY COUNCIL, CHAMBERS OF THE PROPOSED CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION AND ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO KEEP THE RESOLUTION OFF THE AGENDA.
AUSTIN IS A FAST GROWING AND VIBRANT CITY.
BLESSED WITH MANY RESIDENTS ON A DAILY BASIS.
I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE 1984, THAT'S 40 YEARS.
I CAME HERE TO STUDY AT UT AND FELL IN LOVE WITH THIS PLACE AND I'VE LIVED THE ENTIRETY OF MY ADULT LIFE HERE AND I'M HAPPY TO HAVE DONE SO IN THOSE DAYS.
AUSTIN WAS A SMALL TOWN, A COHESIVE COMMUNITY.
WHEN MY ELDEST DAUGHTER, NOW A GROWN WOMAN LIVING IN HAWAII, SERVING OUR COUNTRY AS THE FIRST LIEUTENANT IN THE US NAVY, WAS ABOUT SEVEN OR EIGHT.
SHE SANG WITH OUR SYNAGOGUE'S CHILDREN'S CHOIR AS THEY PERFORMED ON THE STEPS OF THE CAPITOL.
YOU, MAYOR WATSON, WERE SERVING YOUR FIRST TERM AS OUR MAYOR AND ATTENDED THIS EVENT.
AFTER THE CHILDREN PERFORMED, YOU SHOOK EACH CHILD'S HAND AND INTRODUCED
[01:35:01]
YOURSELF.YOU SAID CORNY IS A SOUND THAT MADE AN IMPRESSION ON MY DAUGHTER AND REMAINS A SIGNIFICANT MEMORY FOR HER.
I THOUGHT GESTURES LIKE THAT WAS WHAT MADE AUSTIN A UNIQUE COMMUNITY, A CULTURE HERE INTENT ON REACHING OUT TO OTHERS AND STRIVING TO COME TOGETHER.
I WELCOME OUR GROWTH AND THE NEW FOLKS WHO HAVE JOINED US.
I FEEL THIS WAY BECAUSE THAT CULTURE, THAT SENSE OF COMMUNITY HAS ONLY GROWN OVER THE PAST DECADES, AND THOSE NEW HERE HAVE BEEN ENFOLDED INTO IT.
THIS WONDERFUL COMMUNITY INCLUDES 40,000 JEWS LIVING IN GREATER AUSTIN, DOUBLE THAT OF 20 YEARS AGO.
POLLING IS CLEAR THAT UPWARDS OF 90% OF AMERICAN JEWS IDENTIFY AS ZIONISTS, MEANING THEY BELIEVE IN THE RIGHT OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE TO SELF-DETERMINATION IN THEIR ANCESTRAL HOMELAND.
THE JEWISH COMMUNITY HERE AND ACROSS THE WORLD HAS BEEN REELING FROM THE BARBARIC HAMAS ATTACKS ON OCTOBER 7TH.
AND, AND THE SUBSEQUENT CONFLICT, WE HAVE BEEN OVERWHELMED WITH THE FEROCITY, WITH WHICH ANTISEMITISM HAS RESURFACED AND FOR MANY OF US HAVE TURNED TO THE COMMUNITIES WE HAVE HERE IN OUR HOMETOWN FOR STRENGTH.
I THINK YOUR ROLE AS STEWARDS OF OUR CITY, AS OF OUR CITY, AS PROTECTORS OF OUR AUSTIN COMMUNITY, IS TO ENCOURAGE THAT UNITY, THAT FEELING THAT WE HAVE EACH OTHER'S BACKS.
THIS POTENTIAL RESOLUTION WILL DO THE EXACT OPPOSITE.
IT WON'T AFFECT NATIONAL OR GLOBAL CHANGE, BUT IT WOULD CREATE RANKER AND DIVISION HERE IN OUR BELOVED AUSTIN.
AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
IS MELANIE ESWINE OR SONYA HAMSTRA? HERE.
THANK YOU MAYOR WATSON AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
MY NAME IS EDWARD SELIG AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT 10.
I'M HERE TODAY TO DISCUSS THE IMPACT OF THE DISCUSSION IN CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF THE PROPOSED CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION AND ENCOURAGE YOU TO KEEP SUCH A RES RESOLUTION OFF THE AGENDA.
OVER THE PAST YEAR, I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF ATTENDING YOUR COUNCIL MEETINGS, AND I WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION FOR THE COMPLEX AND MULTIFACETED WORK YOU UNDERTAKE.
THE CHALLENGES YOU FACE ARE OFTEN INTRICATE, REQUIRING NOT ONLY A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF THE ISSUES AT HAND, BUT ALSO COLLABORATION, CREATIVITY, AND A STRONG COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY'S NEEDS.
IT'S BEEN ENLIGHTENING TO WITNESS THE RIGOROUS DISCUSSIONS AND THE THOUGHTFUL DELIBERATIONS THAT GO INTO EACH DECISION.
YOUR ABILITY TO NAVIGATE DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES AND FIND COMMON GROUND IS TRULY COMMENDABLE.
THE WAY YOU BALANCE VARIOUS INTERESTS OF OUR RESIDENTS WHILE KEEPING A GREATER GOOD IN MIND DEMONSTRATES YOUR DEDICATION AND LEADERSHIP.
I'VE GAINED A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF THE COMPLEXITIES INVOLVED IN GOVERNANCE AND THE SIGNIFICANT IMPACT OF YOUR DECISIONS THAT IT HAS ON OUR COMMUNITY.
AT THE SAME TIME, DURING THE PAST YEAR, CALLS FOR A CITY COUNCIL TO PASS A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF A CEASEFIRE, HAVE SERVED AS A DISTRACTION TO THE COUNCIL.
FROM THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT YOU DO CONSIDERING A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING A CEASEFIRE IS COMPLETELY OUTSIDE YOUR JURISDICTION.
FURTHERMORE, THE SESSIONS HELD WITHIN THIS CHAMBER HAVE LEFT US WITH A DEEPLY TROUBLING TAKEAWAY, A PERVASIVE AND PROFOUND DEHUMANIZATION OF ISRAEL AS A COUNTRY, AS WELL AS THE ISRAELI AND JEWISH COMMUNITIES HERE IN AUSTIN.
THIS IS NOT A MERE OVERSIGHT OR MISUNDERSTANDING, IT'S A SYSTEMATIC PATTERN THAT HAS MANIFESTED IN VARIOUS WAYS SUCH AS INFLAMMATORY RHETORIC, BIAS PRESENTATIONS, AND EXCLUSIONARY POLICIES.
OUR, OUR PAIN IS NOT ONLY INVALIDATED BUT MOCKED WITH DEROGATORY COMMENTS AND JOKES MADE IT OUR EXPENSE.
INSTANCES OF OUR FEARS BEING RIDICULED INCLUDE DISMISSIVE GESTURES, OUTRIGHT LAUGHTER.
WHEN WE EXPRESS CONCERNS ABOUT ANTI-SEMITIC INCIDENTS OR THE SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY, OUR VIEWPOINTS ARE DISMISSED OR ERASED.
IN CLOSING, I WANT TO REITERATE MY GRATITUDE FOR THE INVALUABLE WORK THAT YOU DO.
YOUR DEDICATION TO NAVIGATING THE COMPLEXITIES OF OUR COMMUNITY'S NEEDS IS INSPIRING AND IT'S EVIDENT THAT YOU'RE COMMITTED TO MAKING THOUGHTFUL AND INFORMED DECISIONS.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR, FOR THE SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP.
[01:40:01]
CITY COUNCIL IN MAYOR WATSON.UM, I'M LIVING, I LIVED IN AUSTIN FOR THE PAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS.
MY FAMILY AND I MOVED HERE FROM NEW YORK, AND BEFORE THAT WE LIVED IN TEL AVIV.
WE HAVE A CHILD IN AUSTIN PUBLIC SCHOOL AND HIS YOUNGER BROTHER WILL JOIN HIM NEXT YEAR.
WE'RE GRATEFUL TO CALL AUSTIN OUR HOME.
AS A FIRST TIME VOTER, I'M HONORED TO STAND HERE TODAY.
THIS PAST YEAR HAS BEEN ONE OF THE HOTTEST FOR ISRAELIS AND JEWS OF MY GENERATION.
MY ENTIRE FAMILY LIVES IN ISRAEL, AND WHILE THEY'RE THANKFULLY UNHARMED IN THE OCTOBER SEVEN MASSACRE, THEY ENDURED RELENTLESS ROCKET ATTACKS SINCE THEN, AND I WORRY FOR THEM CONSTANTLY.
WELL, I TRUST THE IDF TO PROTECT ISRAEL.
I'M DISMAYED BY THE RISE OF ANTISEMITISM WORLDWIDE.
ON SOME COLLEGE CAMPUSES, THE ARAB ISRAELI CONFLICT IS SEIZED AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPREAD HATRED AGAINST ISRAEL AND BY EXTENSION AMERICA WITH MINIMAL CONDEMNATION FROM THE EDUCATIONAL LEADERS, THE SAME LEADERS WHO DEMAND KINDNESS AND EMPATHY, EVEN FOR EXTREMISTS, YET SHOW VERY LITTLE FOR THEIR HARASSED JEWISH STUDENTS.
WHEN THE FAR RIGHT AND THE FAR LEFT AGREED THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE JEWS OR THE ZIONISTS FOR THAT MATTER.
MY SKIN PRICKLES AS THE MEMORY OF MY ANCESTORS, HARDSHIP, PROSECUTION, AND TRAUMA ACROSS THE CENTURIES IS IN MY MIND.
I'M ISRAELI BORN, SO ARE MY PARENTS, BUT MY GRANDPARENTS WERE NOT.
THEY FLED TO ISRAEL A FEW YEARS AFTER ITS ESTABLISHMENT ESCAPING PROSECUTION IN MOROCCO AND IRAQ.
THERE ARE ALMOST NO JEWISH COMMUNITIES LEFT IN ARAB COUNTRIES, YET THIS WILL NOT MAKE THE PAPERS NOR BECOME A VIRAL, UH, VIDEO IN SOCIAL MEDIA.
I'M ESPECIALLY TROUBLED BY HOW TIKTOK AND OTHER SOCIAL PLATFORMS AMPLIFY MODERN BLOOD LABELS, BLUNT ANTISEMITISM AND EMOTIONAL MANIPULATION AGAINST ISRAEL AND AMERICA, ESPECIALLY AS MY 10-YEAR-OLD SON PEERS ARE GOING TO BE EXPOSED TO THESE PROPAGANDA IN THE COMING YEARS.
MY REQUEST TO YOU COUNCIL IS THIS.
DON'T LET THESE DIVISIVE VOICES PENETRATE MORE AREAS OF OUR LIVES.
KEEP ANTI-ISRAEL AND ANTI-AMERICAN PROPAGANDA OUT OF OUR LIBRARIES, SCHOOLS, AND INSTITUTIONS, INCLUDING RESOLUTIONS OF THIS.
FREE SPEECH IS RIGHT, BUT NO ONE IS ENTITLED FOR A FREE REACH.
AS WE WRAP UP THIS ELECTION SEASON, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND DEDICATION, FOCUSING ON WHAT MATTERS, KEEPING AUSTIN DYNAMICS SAFE AND WELCOMING TO ALL.
IF THERE IS ANY SILVER LINING OF THIS PAST YEAR'S, MY DEEP APPRECIATION FOR THOSE WHO STEP UP TO SERVE AND REPRESENT THE PEOPLE AND THE TRUTH.
RUTH LIVINGSTON, YAHIR GOVIN, JENNY TOWAR, OZZY ED.
HAS YOUR NAME BEEN CALLED? IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, RAISE YOUR HAND, JUST SO WE'LL KNOW YOU'RE HERE.
PLEASE IDENTIFY YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD.
UH, MY NAME IS YAHIR AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK HERE TODAY.
I COME BEFORE YOU AS ONE OF MANY ISRAELIS HERE IN THE VIBRANT, THRIVING, INDEPENDENT MINDED CITY OF AUSTIN.
IN MANY WAYS, I'M JUST AN AVERAGE JOE OR AN AVERAGE MOSER, IF YOU WILL.
BUT, UH, I COME HERE WITH REAL KNOWLEDGE ON THE FACT ON THE GROUND IN ISRAEL AND MORE, AND EVEN MORE SO, A SENSE OF THE DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS THAT ADOPTING OR EVEN DISCUSSING THIS RESOLUTION WOULD HAVE ON THIS GREAT CITY.
IN AUGUST THIS YEAR, MY WIFE AND I MOVED TO AUSTIN WITH OUR TWO CHILDREN TO HELP SET UP A NEW JEWISH DAY SCHOOL.
PREVIOUSLY WE LIVED IN ISRAEL, WHERE ON OCTOBER 7TH I WAS CALLED UP TO SERVE AS A RESERVIST IN GAZA.
MY WIFE WAS LEFT HOME TO LOOK AFTER OUR, OUR TODDLER, AND NOW THEN SIX WEEK OLD BABY.
DURING MY SERVICE, I SAW FIRSTHAND THE HATE, THE WEAPONS, AND THE LIES THAT ARE NOW SO SYMPTOMATIC TO THE DISEASE OF HAMA TERRORISM.
UNLIKE MANY PEOPLE SPEAKING ABOUT THIS MATTER, I I HAVE FIRSTHAND, FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE SITUATION IN ISRAEL.
I NOT ONLY SAW THE RELENTLESS HATE AND CRUELTY IN GAZA, BUT ALSO AT HOME, MY FAMILY AND MANY OTHER FAMILIES ARE CONSTANTLY UNDER THREAT AND UNDER, UH, MISSILE ATTACKS AND OTHER THREATS OF THIS WAR, WHICH ARE SO CONVENIENTLY GO UNREPORTED.
TODAY, YOU ARE BEING ASKED TO DISCUSS AND PROPOSE A CEASE FIRE RESOLUTION, UH, IN A REGION WHICH IS 7,000 MILES AWAY WITH EXTREMELY COMPLEX HISTORY.
YOU HAVE TO ASK YOURSELVES, WHAT IS THE MOTIVATION BEHIND SUCH A SIMPLISTIC ILL-FOUNDED RESOLUTION? BECAUSE IT IS SIMPLISTIC, THERE IS NO ADDITIONAL CALL FOR RETURN
[01:45:01]
OF HOSTAGES.NO CALL TO END OF VIOLENT PROTESTS, NOT EVEN CALL FOR TWO STATE SOLUTIONS.
THOSE PROPOSING THIS RESOLUTION ARE SIMPLY GIVEN IN TO THE LATEST FAD SIGNAL SUPPORT FOR SOMETHING THEY HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT, SIMPLY BECAUSE AT BEST IT'S FASHIONABLE OR WORSE, IT'S MOTIVATED BY MALIGNANT FOREIGN INTERFERENCE.
NOW WE CAME TO AUSTIN BECAUSE IT'S A CITY OF HOPE, OF LIGHT, OF INDEPENDENCE, OF THOUGHT, AND WE KNOW WE ARE NOT THE ONLY FAMILY HERE BECAUSE OF THIS, AUSTIN IS DRAWING THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST TO ITS BEACON, A BEACON OF TRUTH THAT IS OFFERING AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE CULTURE OF DARKNESS EATING AWAY AT THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.
SO TODAY I ASK YOU IN THE NAME OF ALL THOSE THAT WANT TO KEEP AUSTIN BRIGHT, TO KEEP AUSTIN DIFFERENT AND TO KEEP AUSTIN WEIRD IN THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY TO REJECT THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION AND NOT TO DISCUSS IT IN THE AGENDA AND TO OFFER HOPE TO ALL THOSE WHO STILL BELIEVE IN THE TRUTH.
JUST IDENTIFY YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.
MAYOR WATSON, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS AADE ED.
I MOVE TO AUSTIN FROM ISRAEL 13 YEARS AGO TO BUILD MY FAMILY'S FUTURE AND MY BUSINESS.
TODAY WE OPERATE FROM A 10,000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY EMPLOYING 20 PEOPLE FROM AUSTIN AND NEARBY AREAS.
AUSTIN'S VIBRANT CULTURE, ART, AND COMMUNITY SPIRIT CAPTURED MY HEART AND WE FOUND A TRUE HOME HERE.
JOINING THE ARTIST COMMUNITY IN THE HISTORIC ARMADILLO CHRISTMAS BAZAAR AND PARTNERING WITH BELOVED AUSTIN CHAIN AND LOCAL STORES.
I'M ALSO A PART OF AUSTIN'S JEWISH AND ISRAELI COMMUNITY, A SUPPORTIVE, COMPASSIONATE GROUP.
BUT ON OCTOBER 7TH OF LAST YEAR, WE FACED UNIMAGINABLE HEARTACHE AND HEARTBREAK.
MY COUSIN WAS MURDERED AT THE NOVA FESTIVAL AND MY BROTHER'S FAMILY ENDURED HOURS OF TERROR IN THEIR KIBBUTZ HOME.
THROUGH THE SHOCK AND GRIEF, WE FOUND STRENGTH IN OUR COMMUNITY.
YET EVEN IN AUSTIN, WE FEEL THE ECHOES OF THAT TRAUMA.
WATCHING AS DIVISIVE VOICES CALL ON OUR CITY COUNCILS TO TO PASS A ONE-SIDED CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION.
THESE RESOLUTIONS DO NOTHING TO HALT VIOLENCE ABROAD.
INSTEAD, THEY BRING HATRED TO OUR DOORSTEP.
PUTTING AUSTIN'S JEWISH COMMUNITY AT RISK, OUR CITY SHOULD BE A SANCTUARY WHERE DIVERSITY THRIVES PEOPLE ARE VALUED EQUALLY AND FREEDOM AND OPPORTUNITY REMAIN PARAMOUNT.
I ENCOURAGE THIS COUNCIL TO FOCUS ON WHAT MAKES AUSTIN REMARKABLE.
FOSTERING COMMUNITY, IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE, AND CELEBRATING OUR CITY'S UNIQUE CULTURE.
WE ARE PRIVILEGED TO LIVE IN A CITY THAT PROMISES SAFETY, ACCEPTANCE AND RESPECT FOR ALL.
NOW, AS A BUSINESS OWNER, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT AN ISSUE IMPACTING AUSTIN AUSTIN'S SMALL BUSINESSES.
COMMERCIAL SPACES HERE HAVE INCREASINGLY, UH, SHIFTED OWNERSHIP BY NON TO KNOWN LOCAL ENTITIES, OFTEN FOREIGN INVESTORS, MAKING IT HARDER FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO FIND STABLE, AFFORDABLE LOCATIONS.
I'VE SEEN BUSINESSES AROUND ME DOWNSCALE OR CLOSE BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD A PLACE TO RENT.
BUILDINGS OFTEN STAND EMPTY AS INVESTORS, KEEP THEM VACANT RATHER THAN LOWER THE RENTS.
MANY BELOVED BUSINESSES THAT SURVIVED RECENT HARDSHIPS IN THE LAST YEARS ARE NOW CLOSING DUE TO SKY ROCKETING COSTS.
THIS TREND THREATENS WHAT MAKES AUSTIN'S ECONOMY AND CULTURE UNIQUE, AND I'D BE GLAD TO HELP EXPLORE WAYS TO PRESERVE THE DISTINCTIVE CHARACTER OF THIS TOWN ROOTED IN ITS LOCAL BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SHARE MY THOUGHTS.
I LOVE THIS CITY DEEPLY AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE CHANCE TO CONTRIBUTE TO ITS FUTURE.
HAS ANYONE SIGNED UP FOR THE 12 O'CLOCK TIME? CERTAIN GENERAL CITIZEN COMMUNICA, GENERAL COMMUNICATION, PUBLIC COMMUNICATION THAT HASN'T SPOKEN? THAT'S HERE.
MELANIE SUS WEE, SONYA HAMSTRA, RUTH LIVINGSTON, JENNY TOWAR, OR ANY OF YOU HERE? ALRIGHT, MEMBERS, I THINK THAT'S ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AT OUR 12 O'CLOCK PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.
UH, IN, IN A MOMENT WE WILL RECESS UNTIL TWO O'CLOCK, WHICH IS THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
OUR TIME, CERTAIN OF 12 OF TWO O'CLOCK.
HOWEVER, WE WILL, UH, ONCE WE RECESS, WE WILL SET UP FOR LIVE MUSIC AND HAVE LIVE MUSIC.
[01:50:01]
WITH THAT, UH, AND WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL IS IN RECESS UNTIL, UH, TWO O'CLOCK TIME AND WE WILL TAKE UP OUR TWO O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN IT IS 12:21 PM WE ARE IN RECESS.[Live Music]
SPIRIT OF AUSTIN'S MUSIC SCENE, BUT WHO IS ALSO A CLOSE FRIEND AND SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN ON THIS JOURNEY WITH ME SINCE I WAS ELECTED.UM, HE'S ALWAYS BEEN THERE TO CHEER ME ON AND I'VE HAD THE JOY OF, SORRY.
I'VE HAD THE JOY OF CHEERING HIM ON FROM THE SIDELINES AS WELL.
BECAUSE OF THESE REASONS, MAYOR WATSON HAS ALLOWED ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE TODAY'S GUEST, AND IT IS QUITE AN HONOR FOR ME TO INTRODUCE TODAY MY FRIEND BRENT ALLEN.
LIKE ME, BRENT IS A PROUD WESTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE.
OUR SHARED ROOTS IN THIS CITY AND IN THAT SCHOOL.
REMIND ME DAILY OF WHY I AM HONORED TO SERVE ON THIS AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
BRENT'S JOURNEY INTO MUSIC BEGAN AT THE AGE OF THREE IN A FAMILY WITH DEEP TIES TO MUSIC.
HIS PARENTS AND HIS SISTER ARE HERE TODAY WITH US, AND HE'S GROWN INTO A FIXTURE OF THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY.
HE'S A TRUE NATIVE AUSTINITE, A UNICORN, AS THEY SAY.
HIS MUSIC HAS BEEN INFLUENCED BY GREATS LIKE CLINT BLACK, ALAN JACKSON, VINCE GILL, AND AUSTIN'S OWN WILLIE NELSON.
BRENT FELL IN LOVE WITH THE STORYTELLING OF COUNTRY MUSIC AND HE BEGAN WRITING HIS OWN SONGS.
BRENT'S CAREER HAS TAKEN HIM FROM AUSTIN AND NASHVILLE, FROM TEXAS TO THE UK, PERFORMING IN NEARLY 200 SHOWS A YEAR.
AT ONE POINT, HE'S BEEN A BOARD MEMBER OF THE AUSTIN SONGWRITERS GROUP, SUPPORTING THE CREATIVITY AND ARTISTRY OF COUNTLESS MUSICIANS.
AND MAYBE LATER TODAY YOU'D FIND HIM SOMEWHERE LIKE THE HISTORIC BROKEN SPOKE OR SAXON PUB WHERE HE'S A FAMILIAR FACE AND AN UNWAVERING SUPPORTER OF AUSTIN'S MUSICAL HEART.
BRENT ISN'T JUST A MUSICIAN, HE'S A FRIEND WHO REMINDS ME WHY OUR JOURNEYS BOTH PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL MATTER.
MY WORK ON THIS COUNCIL IS ALL THE RICHER BECAUSE OF PEOPLE LIKE BRENT WHO LIVE IN THIS CITY WHOSE PASSION AND LOYALTY TO THE CITY REMIND US OF WHAT MAKES AUSTIN TRULY SPECIAL AND IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO INTRODUCE HIM TODAY.
THANK YOU BRENT, FOR ALL I LET YOU DO FOR AUSTIN AND FOR BEING A LOYAL FRIEND, FRIENDS, AND AUSTINITES.
OKAY, SO BEFORE WE GET THIS STARTED, THIS IS A SONG THAT I WROTE WITH MY FRIEND STEVEN DOSTER, AND I WAS JUST TELLING THE GUYS BACKSTAGE IS THAT I HAD SLEEP AT THE WHEEL ON MY LAST ALBUM.
SO LET'S JUST WRITE A SWING TUNE.
SO IT'S GONNA BE A TALK BACK, TALK BACK.
SONGS ARE LIKE WHEN I SAY SOMETHING, YOU REPEAT IT BACK.
THERE'S, THERE'S PLENTY OF PEOPLE IN HERE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT SCREAMING AND SHOUTING, BUT WHEN I SAY THE WORDS, JUST GET BACK.
YOU WANNA TRY IT NOW? ALL RIGHT, JUST GET BACK.
WE'LL HAVE TO DO IT LOUDER DURING THE SONG.
HOW WOULD IT WORK?
SINCE THAT GIRL LEFT TOWN, I'VE BEEN FEELING DOWN OPEN AROUND LIKE A CLOWN FOR ALL THE WORLD TO SEE, BUT NOW I CAN'T STAY FEELING THIS WAY.
COME ON NOW IF I CAN JUST GET BACK AND JUST SWING AT THINGS AGAIN.
MY BRAIN THERE ON A SUNDAY SOON MY HEARTS GOING TO SING.
IF I CAN JUST GET BACK, SING IT, GET A SWING AT THINGS AGAIN, GET FREE.
I WAS I TO KNOW WHEN SHE WAS MINE.
I REALLY HAD IT MADE, BUT NOW SHE'S LONG GONE.
THE BETTER SIGHT AND BRIGHTER DAY IS YEAH, I CAN JUST GET BACK SINGING INTO THE SWING OF THINGS AGAIN.
AIN'T NO TELL WHAT TOMORROW ROLLED MY BRAIN.
WELL, I KNOW THAT SOMEDAY SOON MY HEART'S GOING TO SINK.
WELL IF I CAN JUST GET BACK HERE, HERE WE GO.
WE DO THE SWING AT THINGS AGAIN.
[01:55:20]
WELL, IF I CAN JUST GET BACK A SWING.AIN'T NO SUNDAY SOON MYS GOING.
GO BACK AND JUST BACK SINGING.
CHRIS REEVES AND TRAVIS WOODARD OVER THERE BEHIND ME.
ALL THAT WAS, THAT WAS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
AND BRENT, IF YOU COULD COME OVER HERE FOR A SECOND.
I, UH, I'D LIKE TO PRESENT YOU WITH A PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF, UH, MAYOR KIRK WATSON AND THE REST OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW, PROCLAMATIONS ARE ONE OF THE HIGHEST HONORS SOMEONE IN THE CITY CAN GET.
AND UM, BRENT CERTAINLY HAS MET THOSE.
UM, IT'S, HE SAID 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 WHEREAS WE ARE PLEASED TO SHOWCASE AND SUPPORT OUR LOCAL ARTISTS NOW, THEREFORE, I AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBER MACKENZIE KELLY ON BEHALF OF MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES AND THE MAYOR KIRK WATSON OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND THE LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD DO HEREBY PROCLAIM NOVEMBER 7TH, 2020 FIFTH, 2024 AS BRENT ALLEN DAY IN AUSTIN.
LET'S GIVE BRENT ALLEN AROUND A APPLAUSE.
JIM, DO YOU WANNA TELL PEOPLE WHERE TO FIND YOU? NOPE.
SO I'LL JUST SAY THANKS AGAIN BECAUSE THIS IS TRULY HONOR.
I'M NOT GONNA CRY, BUT I'M AN EMOTION GUY.
2024 AND I WILL CALL BACK TO ORDER THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
[2:00 PM - Zoning and Neighborhood Plan Amendments (Public Hearings and Possible Action)]
ARE SET FOR TWO O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, UH, ZONING AND NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING AND SO THAT'S WHAT I'LL CALL UP AND I WILL TURN TO MS. HARDIN.UH, AND MS. HARDIN, I I WOULD ASK THAT YOU MAKE A PRESENTATION OF A REPORT BY CITY STAFF REGARDING EACH ITEM THAT'S BEING CONSIDERED
JUST GIVE YOUR A REPORT THE WAY YOU NORMALLY DO, OKAY? OKAY.
I'M JOY HARDEN WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
YOUR ZONING AGENDA BEGINS WITH ITEM NUMBER 45 C 1 4 20 24 0 0 0 7.
THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT FIRST READING ONLY.
AND I DO HAVE A MOTION SHEET TO READ INTO THE RECORD.
UM, SO THE MOTION SHEET READS NUMBER ONE, AMEND PART FOUR A OF THE DRAFT ORDINANCE TO REMOVE THE FOLLOWING, ADDITIONAL PERMITTED USES BED AND BREAKFAST, GROUP ONE AND TWO, CLUB OR LODGE, PUBLIC PRIMARY, ADDITIONAL EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES, TRANSPORTATION TERMINAL NUMBER TWO, AMEND PART FOUR, THE DRAFT ORDINANCE TO ADD A NEW SUBSECTION.
B AS FOLLOWS, RENUMBERING THE REMAINING SUBSECTIONS ACCORDINGLY.
B, THE FOLLOWING USES OF PROHIBITED USES OF THE PROPERTY, ADULT ORIENTED BUSINESSES, AUTOMOTIVE RENTALS, AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SERVICES, AUTOMOTIVE SALES, AUTOMOTIVE WASHING OF ANY TYPE BASIC INDUSTRY, DROP OFF RECYCLING, COLLECTION FACILITY, EXTERMINATING SERVICES, GENERAL WAREHOUSING AND DISTRIBUTION KENNELS, OUTDOOR ENTERTAINMENT, OUTDOOR SPORTS AND RECREATION, RECYCLING, CENTER RESOURCE EXTRACTION, SCRAP AND SALVAGE VEHICLE STORAGE.
NUMBER THREE, AMEND PART FOUR D ONE OF THE DRAFT ORDINANCE AS FOLLOWS.
THE MAXIMUM HEIGHT OF THE BUILDING OR STRUCTURE ON THE PROPERTY SHALL NOT EXCEED A 120 FEET FOR RESIDENTIAL USES AND B 90 FEET FOR COMMERCIAL USES AND C ONE 20 FEET FOR A MIX OF RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL USES.
IF 70% OF THE BUILDING IS DESIGNED FOR RESIDENTIAL USE, A HOTEL MOTEL USE MAY SATISFY UP
[02:00:01]
TO 50% OF THE RESIDENTIAL USE REQUIREMENT.AGAIN, THIS ITEM IS OFFERED FOR FIRST READING.
UM, AND WE WILL BE BRINGING THIS ITEM BACK, UH, AT YOUR NOVEMBER 21ST MEETING FOR SECOND AND THIRD READING CONSIDERATION.
ITEM 46 IS C 8 1 4 8 2 0 0 6 0.0283.
THIS ITEM IS OFFERED AS A STAFF POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR NOVEMBER 21ST COUNCIL MEETING.
ITEM NUMBER 47 IS MPA 20 23 0 0 0 2 0.02.
THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED AS A NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR NOVEMBER 21ST COUNCIL MEETING.
THE RELATED REZONING IS ITEM 48 C 1 4 20 23 0 1 53.
AGAIN, NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR NOVEMBER 21ST COUNCIL MEETING.
ITEM 49 IS C 1 4 8 5 1 4 9 0.7 0.02.
THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED AS AN APPLICANT POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR NOVEMBER 21ST COUNCIL MEETING.
THIS ITEM HAS A POSTPONEMENT REQUEST FROM MAYOR PRO TEM POOL TO YOUR NOVEMBER 21ST COUNCIL MEETING AND THE RELATED REZONING IS ITEM 51 C 1 4 2 2 2 0 0 3 5.
AGAIN POSTPONEMENT REQUEST BY MAYOR PRO TEMP POOL TO YOUR NOVEMBER 21ST COUNCIL MEETING.
ITEM 52 IS C 1 4 20 24 0 0 9 5.
THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT FIRST READING ONLY, AND THE ITEM WILL RETURN ON YOUR NOVEMBER 21ST AGENDA FOR SECOND AND THIRD READING CONSIDERATION.
ITEM 53 IS NPA 20 22 0 0 2 0 0.01.
THIS ITEM, UM, IS BEING REQUESTED.
OH HAS A REQUESTED POSTPONEMENT BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ TO YOUR NOVEMBER 21ST COUNCIL MEETING.
THE RELATED REZONING IS 54 C 1 4 2 2 2 0 0 6 2.
AGAIN POSTPONEMENT REQUEST BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ TO YOUR NOVEMBER 21ST COUNCIL MEETING.
AND ON 55 IS C 1 4 20 24 0 0 9 7.
THIS SIGN IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
ITEM 56 IS NPA 20 23 0 0 1 8 0.06.
THIS ITEMS BEING OFFERED AS A STAFF POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR NOVEMBER 21ST COUNCIL MEETING, THE RELATED RES ITEM 57 C 1 4 20 24 0 0 1 0 1 3 2 AGAIN, THIS ITEM HAS A STAFF POST ONE REQUEST TO YOUR NOVEMBER 21ST COUNCIL MEETING.
ITEM 58 IS C 8 14 20 23 0 0 5 7.
THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED AS A STAFF POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR NOVEMBER 21ST COUNCIL MEETING.
ITEM 59 IS C 1 4 20 24 0 0 7 1.
THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
SECOND AND THIRD READING AND JUST PLEASE NOTE WE DID HAVE THIS AS A DISCUSSION ITEM.
IT WAS DISCUSSED AT FIRST READING AND WHAT IS MOVING FORWARD FOR SECOND AND THIRD READING CONSIDERATION TODAY IS MF SIX CO WITH THE CONDITIONAL OVERLAY LIMITING THE HEIGHT TO 60 FEET.
UM, MOVING ON TO THE ADDENDUM ITEMS. ITEM 61 IS C 1 4 20 24 0 0 7 9.
THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT, SECOND READING ONLY.
AND UM, WE'LL BE BRINGING THIS ITEM BACK FOR THIRD READING CONSIDERATION AT YOUR NOVEMBER 21ST COUNCIL MEETING.
ITEM 62 IS MPA 20 24 0 0 2 6 0.01.
THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED AS A POSTPONEMENT REQUEST BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA TO YOUR NOVEMBER 21ST, UH, COUNCIL MEETING.
THE RELATED REZONING IS ITEM 63 C 1 4 2 2 4 0 0 0 8.
AGAIN, POSTPONEMENT REQUEST BY COUNCIL MEMBER TY ON NOVEMBER 21ST, COUNCIL MEETING AND ITEM 64, UM, IS C 8 14, 20 23 0 0 2 7.
THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT, SECOND AND THIRD READINGS, AND THIS CONCLUDES THE READING OF THE AGENDA, AND OF COURSE, THIS IS AT YOUR DISCRETION.
UM, MEMBERS, LET ME ASK IF THERE'S ANYBODY THAT, UM, HAS A REQUEST FOR MORE PRESENTATION ON ANY ONE OF THOSE ITEMS. COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, UM, I DON'T HAVE A REQUEST FOR ANOTHER PRESENTATION, BUT I WANTED TO CONFIRM FOR 64 THAT IT WAS CONSENT ON SECOND READING ONLY 64.
SECOND AND THIRD IS WHAT? UH, NO, 64 IS.
UH, CAN, UH, SECOND AND THIRD READINGS.
I THOUGHT THAT WE HAD WORKED OUT THAT WE WERE DOING SECOND READING TODAY.
THAT'S THE OTHER, IT'S NOT SHEET.
I THINK, UM, YOU ARE SPEAKING TO 61 MAYBE? YES, I AM SPEAKING SECOND ONE.
I HAD THE, I HAVE THE NUMBERS.
UM, SECOND READING ONLY, AND IT WILL BE BACK FOR THIRD READING CONSIDERATION AT, AT YOUR NOVEMBER 21ST.
SO MEMBERS, UH, WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS ASK FOR A MOTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AND A SECOND, AND THEN WE WILL GO TO, UM, PEOPLE THAT WANT TO SPEAK.
ITEM NUMBER FOUR, THE, THE CONSENT AGENDA WOULD BE ITEM NUMBER 45, FIRST READING, CONSISTENT WITH THE MOTION SHEET THAT WAS READ BY MS. HARDIN.
[02:05:01]
46, 47, 48, 49, 50 AND 51.BE POSTPONED TO NOVEMBER 21ST, 52.
FIRST READING ONLY 53 54 POSTPONEMENT TO NOVEMBER 21ST, 55, ALL THREE READINGS, 56, 57, 58, POSTPONEMENT TO NOVEMBER 21ST, 59, SECOND AND THIRD READING, 61, SECOND READING ONLY THIRD READING WOULD COME BACK ON NOVEMBER 21ST, 62 AND 63, A POSTPONEMENT TO NOVEMBER 21ST, 64, CONSENT ON SECOND AND THIRD READINGS.
WITH THAT, UH, I'LL ENTER MOTIONS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.
WE WILL NOW GO TO COMMENT, UH, AND I WOULD ASK THAT, UH, THE CLERK AS YOU GET TO A NUMBER, TELL ME WHICH NUMBER HAS SOMEBODY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, BECAUSE I MAY WANT TO DO SOMETHING IN ADDITION.
LET ME ASK BEFORE WE START, IS THERE A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE APPLICANT THAT WISHES TO SAY ANYTHING ON THIS ITEM? YOU'LL HAVE FIVE MINUTES.
I, I'LL MAKE MYSELF AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, BUT I DON'T NEED TO TAKE TIME.
THAT'S, THAT'S THE BEST TYPE OF PRESENTATION,
NOW LET'S GO TO, UH, SOME, THE, THE, SOMEONE, IS THERE SOMEONE THAT REPRESENTS THE, UH, OPPOSITION THAT WISHES TO SPEAK? UH, SHEILA LYON, I BELIEVE.
I AM SHEILA LYON, AND I AM HERE AS THE OLD WEST AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION ZONING COMMITTEE CHAIR TO SHARE OUR OPPOSITION TO THE 1209 WEST FIFTH STREET.
AWANA HAS WORKED SUCCESSFULLY WITH SEVERAL LARGE DEVELOPERS OVER THE YEARS, AGREEING TO NUMEROUS ZONING CHANGES TO INCREASE BOTH HOUSING OPTIONS AND RETAIL SPACE THAT COMPLEMENT OUR HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE RECENTLY SUPPORTED A PDA REZONING WITH ENDEAVOR AT FOUR 10 PRESLER FOR 120 FEET IN HEIGHT, AND MANY COMMUNITY BENEFITS APPROVED BY COUNCIL.
SOON AFTER THIS, THE AGENTS FOR 1209 WEST FIFTH REACHED OUT TO ASK FOR THE SAME HEIGHT AND ZONING CHANGE AT THE TIME THEY CONTACT US.
THERE WAS NO PLAN AND NO PROPOSAL FOR CONDITIONS OF A PDA.
WE DIRECTED THEM TO LOOK AT THE AGREEMENT WITH FOUR TIME PRESLER, AS WELL AS OTHER OANA PDA AGREEMENTS NEARBY.
WE MET WITH THEM AGAIN IN MARCH, AND THEY PROVIDED A CONCEPT SKETCH FOR A RESIDENTIAL TOWER.
AFTER REVIEWING THE PLAN AND ELEVATIONS, THE ZONING COMMITTEE WAS CONCERNED THAT THIS PROPOSAL AND ZONING CHANGE WERE SQUEEZING WAY TOO MUCH ON A 0.45 ACRE LOT.
WE SUGGESTED THEY PROVIDE CONDITIONS SIMILAR TO THE PRESSER PROJECT, INCLUDING A DESIGN STEPBACK IN MASSING TO AVOID THE CON CANYON EFFECT ALONG WEST FIFTH STREET, AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITMENTS, PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY SETBACKS AND USES AND HOURS THAT WOULD COME, THAT WOULD COMPLIMENT THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE CITY'S IDEA BEHIND INCENTIVIZING EXTRA HEIGHT IS TO GAIN MORE HOUSING DENSITY THAT CONTRIBUTES TO AFFORDABILITY AND FEATURES, UH, THAT CONTRIBUTE TO A PEDESTRIAN ORIENTED WALKABLE ENVIRONMENT.
IT TOOK FROM FEBRUARY UNTIL AFTER THE PLANNING COMMISSION HEARING IN JULY FOR THE APPLICANT TO SHIP TO THE DB 90 REQUIREMENT OF 75% PEDESTRIAN ORIENTED USES FROM THEIR ORIGINAL PROPOSAL OF 50%, AND THEN TOOK UNTIL SEPTEMBER TO COMMIT TO 70% RESIDENTIAL USE AS AN INCENTIVE FOR EXTRA HEIGHT.
BEFORE SEPTEMBER, THE OWNER WAS UNABLE TO COMMIT TO A 70% RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, EVEN THOUGH THEIR PDA APPLICATION STATES IT IS INTENDED FOR MULTIFAMILY USE BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T KNOW THEIR, THEY DIDN'T KNOW THEIR FUTURE PLANS.
BASED ON THAT, THE SMALL LOT SIZE AND THE LACK OF CONCESSIONS ENFORCEABLE BY THE CITY, ANA'S COMPROMISE IS TO SUPPORT A PDA WITH A HEIGHT OF 90 FEET, INCLUDING A 70% COMMITMENT TO RESIDENTIAL USE OR A PDA WITH A HEIGHT OF 75 FEET FOR NON-RESIDENTIAL USE.
THE OWNERS ARE NOT AGREEING TO THAT.
IT WOULD BE ARBITRARY AND POSSIBLY ILLEGAL TO GRANT SUCH PERMISSIVE ENTITLEMENTS TO SUCH A SMALL TRACT ZONING IS PREFERENTIAL WHEN IT IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH NEIGHBORING PROPERTIES IN HEIGHT AND USE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE PERMITTED USES ARE SO BROAD AS TO BE ESSENTIALLY UNDEFINED.
THE ONLY BENEFICIARY OF THIS REZONING WOULD BE THE OWNER WHO WOULD BE IN A POSITION TO FLIP THIS LOT TO AN UNKNOWN DEVELOPER TO THE DETRIMENT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND SURROUNDING PROPERTIES TO GRANT EXTRA HEIGHT BUILDING ENTITLEMENTS FOR THIS SMALL LOT, THERE SHOULD BE REQUIRED RESIDENTIAL USE WITH AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITMENT SCALE AND MASSING DESIGN ELEMENTS, PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY USES WITH DESIGN IMPROVEMENTS AT THE STREET, YET LEVEL, NO SHORT TERM RENTALS AND OTHER BENEFITS TO THE COMMUNITY.
[02:10:01]
AUSTIN'S AEROSPACE IS TOO VALUABLE AN ASSET TO BE GIVING AWAY WITHOUT MUCH IN RETURN.EVEN E TODD LIMITS EXTRA HEIGHT TO 90 FEET FROM A QUARTER TO ONE HALF MILE FROM THE DOWNTOWN STATION.
WE WERE HOPEFUL TO REACH AN AGREEMENT WITH THE OWNERS, BUT UNTIL THAT HAPPENS, WE WOULD URGE YOU TO VOTE AGAINST THE, THE ZONING.
A PDA IS A PLAN DEVELOPMENT AREA AGREEMENT.
THERE IS NO REAL PLAN AND NOT MUCH OF ANYTHING OFFERED TO AGREE TO IN THIS REZONING CASE.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR, YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY.
AND I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
NEXT, PLEASE CALL THOSE THAT ARE IN FAVOR.
WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP IN FAVOR.
THEN WE WILL GO TO THOSE THAT ARE OPPOSED.
OKAY, NEXT IS MIGUEL RIVERA, AND MIGUEL HAS TIME DONATED BY MICHAEL BANGERT, RIGHT HERE.
SO SIX MINUTES AND THEN FOLLOWING.
I ALSO LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND WORK IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE'VE BEEN, UH, VERY INVOLVED WITH MANY ZONING CHANGES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ALSO WITH, UH, SO HELPING, UH, US WITH ALL THESE NEGOTIATIONS.
UM, THIS IS PRETTY MUCH, UH, COMMON SENSE.
THEY'RE ALLOWED TO DO 60 FOOT, THEY WANT TO GO THROUGH 120 WITHOUT ANY DRAWINGS, WITHOUT ANY COMMITMENTS.
UH, WE DON'T THINK THEY CAN FIT THE PARKING THAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR THE UNIT.
UH, THEY HAVE, UH, ZERO SETBACKS.
SOMETIMES THEY MOVE IT TO FIVE FOOT, WHERE YOU HAVE BALCONIES RIGHT AT THE PROPERTY LINES, WHICH IS NOT FEASIBLE TO HAVE APARTMENTS OR UNITS, UH, OF THAT KIND, YOU KNOW, RIGHT AT THE PROPERTY LINE.
AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THAT DRAWING.
UH, THE BUILDING IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BLOCK, SO THEY'RE GONNA HAVE NEIGHBORS TO THE BACK TO THE SITE, AND SO THEY HAVEN'T REALLY PROVIDED, YOU KNOW, DRAWINGS OR DOCUMENTS THAT SHOW THAT IT'S GONNA BE A REASONABLE AMOUNT.
UM, I KNOW THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION SHOWS THAT THEY, UH, IN FAVOR OF THE SONY, BUT I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THERE WAS A LEASE IN THAT ROOM OVER THERE, OVER ONE HOUR DISCUSSIONS, AND THERE WAS NO REAL, UH, UH, CONSENSUS TO, TO APPROVE THIS ZONING.
UM, AND, UM, WHAT WE ARE LOOKING IS THAT IF THEY'RE REALLY LOOKING, UH, FOR HOUSING TO COMMIT TO THE HOUSING, AND IF THEY'RE NOT, UH, THEN, YOU KNOW, TO GO TO MAXIMUM, UH, UM, YOU KNOW, 75 FOOT, UH, UH, OFFICE SPACE, UH, WE ARE NOT LOOKING TO HAVE A TOWER OF 120 FEET OF OFFICE SPACE.
UM, ALSO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS TO PROXIMITY OF DOWNTOWN, BUT IT'S NOT DOWNTOWN.
AND, UH, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, I MEAN, ANOTHER MEMBER FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION WE'RE CALLING REALLY DOWNTOWN, WE ARE TO THE PROXIMITY.
IT'S A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.
THERE'S PLENTY OF SPACES TO GET THIS OFFICE TOWERS, SO WE WELCOME DEVELOPERS TO WORK WITH US AND, AND MAKE THE DIFFERENCE.
BUT, UM, IT NEEDS TO BE A SMART GROWTH, UH, FOR, FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I THINK THAT'S, YOU KNOW, ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
DONNA OSBORNE, AND THEN JAMES KUSAR.
I'M DONNA OSBORNE, AN ARCHITECT AND MEMBER OF THE ANA ZONING COMMITTEE.
I'M HERE TO EXPRESS OPPOSITION.
UM, THE APPLICATION THAT WAS POSTED FOR THIS REZONING SUBMISSION STATES SPECIFICALLY THE PURPOSE OF THIS REZONING REQUEST IS TO ESTABLISH A PDA COMBINING DISTRICT FOR MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT AT A HEIGHT OF 120 FEET WITH REDUCED SETBACKS.
THE REQUEST IS CONSISTENT WITH ADJACENT NEARBY PROPERTIES, END QUOTE.
AND I'D LIKE TO OFFER THAT THE REQUEST IS NOT TOTALLY CONSISTENT WITH NEARBY PROPERTIES.
THERE ARE NO PROPERTIES NEARBY THAT ARE OVER 75 FEET.
UM, WE HAVE WORKED, UH, WITH, UH, SEVERAL DEVELOPERS.
UM, THERE'S A LACK OF COMMUNITY BENEFITS AND A FOCUS ON HOW THE BUILDING WILL BE EXPERIENCED AT THE GROUND FLOOR AND THE LEVELS ABOVE.
UM, THE NEIGHBORS DO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS SOMETHING OFF WITH THE REZONING REQUEST, AND WE HAVE 31 LETTERS OF OPPOSITION IN FILE ON THE BACKUP.
UM, WE'VE SUCCESSFULLY WORKED WITH OTHER DEVELOPERS SEEKING MORE HEIGHT.
THE CLARK, WHICH IS JUST TO THE SOUTH, UH, OR TO THE WEST, I'M SORRY, OF, OF THIS LOT, IS A MAXIMUM OF 75 FEET GENEROUS SETBACKS ON THREE SIDES.
UM, STREET STREETSIDE HAS A SETBACK SIMILAR TO THE GREAT STREETS PLAN, WITH THE GOAL OF CREATING WALKABILITY AND HUMAN EXPERIENCE ON MAJOR TRANSIT CORRIDORS.
THE BUILDING ALSO HAS STEP BACK, SO IT'S NOT JUST TOTALLY UP.
UM, AND THEN ACROSS THE STREET AT FIFTH AND WALSH
[02:15:01]
DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET, WE'VE, UH, SUPPORTED A PDA REZONING OF 75 FEET THAT WAS APPROVED BY COUNCIL IN 2021.THE DEVELOPERS WILL PROVIDE STREET SCAPES WITH PEDESTRIAN USAGE OF 50% ON BOTH SIDES.
THERE'LL BE 15 FOOT STREET SCAPE ZONES ON WALSH AND FIFTH.
THEY'RE PROVIDING AN ABUNDANCE OF UNDERGROUND PARKING, LOCAL ART TO BE SOURCED IN THE MAIN LOBBY.
AND THE MOST RECENT PDA, WHICH SHEILA MENTIONED, WAS 120 FEET, BUT IT WAS FURTHER DOWN THE BLOCK, AND THEY'RE GIVING SO MUCH MORE AND A COMMITMENT TO RESIDENTIAL, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO, UH, GET FROM THIS OWNER.
WE'VE BEEN UNABLE TO REACH A MUTUAL AGREEMENT WITH REASONABLE COMMITMENTS THAT ANA IS ASKING FOR, OR COMMUNITY BENEFITS ANY LANDOWNER WOULD BE WILLING TO ACCEPT FOR EXPECTING THE DOUBLING OF THE ALLOWABLE HEIGHT ON THIS SITE.
WE URGE YOU TO DENY THIS OWNING REQUEST.
THE CITY HAS ESTABLISHED AN INCREASED HEIGHT IS AVAILABLE UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS WHEN PROVIDING RESIDENTIAL USE WITH AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMPONENT.
IT SHOULD BE PART OF THIS DEAL, ALONG WITH CLEAR COMMUNITY BENEFITS AND DESIGN IMPROVEMENTS.
THE ONLY BENEFICIARY OF THIS REZONING REQUEST WOULD BE THE OWNER.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY.
UH, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS JAMES COWER.
UH, I'M A 45 YEAR RESIDENT OF THE OLD WEST AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD.
I'M, I'M NOT ON THE ZONING COMMITTEE, BUT, UH, I, I DID SERVE A TERM ON THE CITY OF AUSTIN PLANNING COMMISSION.
I'VE BEEN VERY INVOLVED IN DEVELOPMENT ISSUES DURING THOSE FOUR DECADES.
UM, IN MY PROFESSIONAL LIFE, I'M AN ATTORNEY AND A LOT OF MY WORK IN THE LAST 40 YEARS HAS INVOLVED REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT WHEN I'M NOT DOING CAMPAIGN FINANCE WORK.
AND I, I MENTIONED THIS BECAUSE I REPRESENT A LOT OF COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNERS AND I REPRESENT A LOT OF, UH, LENDERS TO COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNERS.
UH, OF INTEREST TO THIS BODY IS, UH, MY FIRM AND I REPRESENTED THE CITY ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FOUR BLOCK AREA THAT INCLUDES THE CITY HALL AND THE HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL MILLER AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT.
SO I, I JUST WANT YOU TO BE AWARE OF THOSE CREDENTIALS BECAUSE I, I'M NOT COMING TO YOU WITH UNINFORMED OPINIONS.
AND I WANT TO MENTION FIRST, 20 YEARS AGO, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD OLD WEST AUSTIN, UH, WORKED WITH COMMERCIAL AND OTHER PROPERTY OWNERS, AND WE CAME UP WITH A NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, WHICH HAS SERVED US WELL FOR 20 YEARS.
AND I KNOW THAT NEIGHBORHOOD PLANS ARE NOT BROADLY BEING HONORED ANYMORE, BUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT ABOUT THIS NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN IS IT SET A HARD 60 FOOT CAP ON NEW DEVELOPMENT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND WITHIN A BLOCK OR TWO BLOCKS OF THIS PROPERTY, TWO HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL DEVELOPMENTS HAVE OBSERVED AND RESPECTED THAT 60 FOOT CAP.
THERE'S THE, THE SCHLOSSER DEVELOPMENT WHO TOOK SEVERAL ACRES OF THE OLD A ISD CAMPUS, AND THEY KEPT IT, MADE A VERY ATTRACTIVE, SUCCESSFUL DEVELOPMENT WITH 60 FOOT CAP, UH, EVEN CLOSER TO WHERE I LIVE.
THE, UH, SIXTH AND BLANCO DEVELOPMENT, IT'S BUILT ON A SLOPE, UH, IS IS RECENTLY BROKEN GROUND, AND IT'S GONNA BROADLY OBSERVE A 60 FOOT CAP.
AND THAT BRINGS ME TO 1205, UH, WEST FIFTH, OR 1209 WEST FIFTH.
I LIVE IN THE 1100 BLOCK OF WEST SIXTH.
THAT'S, THAT'S BASICALLY TWO BLOCKS UP AND ONE BLOCK OVER.
IF OUR, IF I WERE A BETTER GOLFER, I COULD HIT THIS PROPERTY WITH A WELL HIT GOLF BALL.
SO IT DOES AFFECT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, MY LOT AND THE LOT NEXT TO MINE ARE BIGGER THAN THIS LOT.
THIS LOT IS JUST TOO SMALL TO SUPPORT 120 FOOT TALL BUILDING.
UH, IT IS LESS THAN HALF AN ACRE.
UM, IT'S NOT DOWNTOWN, UH, IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE SHOULD NOT BE BUILDING 120 FOOT TALL BUILDINGS ON LESS THAN HALF A LOT.
THE OTHER PROBLEM WITH THIS PROJECT IS IT'S SPECULATIVE.
THEY'RE NOT BRINGING YOU A PLAN AND A DESIGN AND A DEVELOPER.
THEY'RE ASKING FOR A GREAT BIG ZONING ENVELOPE.
YOUR TIME, YOUR TIME IS, WE REQUEST THAT IT BE DENIED.
THOSE WERE ALL THE SPEAKERS FOR 45.
UM, LET ME ASK IF THE APPLICANT WISHES TO SAY ANYTHING IN REBUTTAL.
HELLO, MAYOR AND COUNSEL, THIS IS LEAH BOJO.
I'M LEAH BOJO ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT.
UM, I WILL JUST RUN THROUGH A COUPLE OF LITTLE THINGS.
I'M NOT GONNA TAKE UP A LOT OF YOUR TIME, UM, BUT I DID JUST WANT TO TELL THE STORY A LITTLE BIT.
SO WE DID, OF COURSE, WE HAVE MET WITH THE NEIGHBORS MANY TIMES.
WE REALIZED, UM, A COUPLE MONTHS AGO
[02:20:01]
THAT WE WERE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT ON THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT THAT WE, WE'VE BEEN WORKING TOWARDS.SO WE HAVE IN PLACE INSTEAD TWO OTHER RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS, PRIVATE SIGNED, READY TO GO, UM, ONE TO IMPLEMENT E TODD LEVEL AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UM, WE HAVE THAT SIGNED AND, AND AND READY TO RECORD.
AND WE ALSO HAVE ONE WITH SAFE STREETS AUSTIN, TO DO THE, UM, ALL THE STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS.
THE WALKABLE, UM, THE SIDEWALK WITH WE'RE ACTUALLY IMPROVING UPON.
WE HAVE BIGGER TREES AND CLOSER TOGETHER TREES THAN WOULD BE OTHERWISE REQUIRED.
UM, WE HAVE A REQUIREMENT FOR PEDESTRIAN ORIENTED USE, SO WE DID EVERYTHING WE COULD TO SORT OF MIMIC WHAT, UM, THE EAD PROGRAM WOULD PROVIDE IF WE WERE WITHIN THE, THE BOUNDARY.
UM, WE ARE JUST A COUPLE OF BLOCKS FROM SIX IN THE MAR.
IT IS AN EXCELLENT LOCATION FOR TRANSIT WALKABILITY.
THIS IS A VERY DESIRABLE, UM, LOCATION OBVIOUSLY.
SO I HOPE TO HAVE YOUR SUPPORT HERE.
UM, THERE ARE SOME OTHER THINGS IN THERE, SOME OTHER QUESTIONS THAT, UM, WOULD BE ANSWERED AT THE SITE PLAN STAGE, LIKE ABOUT WHERE BALCONIES GO AND HOW CLOSE THEY CAN MEET OTHER PROPERTIES.
UM, WE ARE NOT IN SITE PLAN REVIEW RIGHT NOW.
UM, SO I JUST WANTED TO, TO KIND OF LET YOU KNOW WHERE WE ARE AND AGAIN, I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.
NEXT ITEM ITEM IS THE MERITS, THE POSTPONEMENT FOR 47 BRAD MASSING, ALSO POSTPONEMENT OF 48 ROD MASSENGILL.
PLEASE GO AHEAD, MR. MASSENGILL, IF YOU WANT TO TALK ON THESE, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
BOTH OF THOSE ARE, UM, BEING OFFERED FOR POSTPONEMENT TO NOVEMBER 21ST.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO, TO POINT OUT TO EVERYBODY AT HOME, UM, THAT THESE ARE, UH, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A DB 90 AND IT'S OVER AT FOURTH IN NAVASOTA.
UM, THOSE THINGS AREN'T REALLY ANNOUNCED, UH, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THINGS UP FRONT AND, UH, Y'ALL KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT DV NINETIES.
I THINK THEY'RE, THEY'RE NOT REALLY APPROPRIATE OR WELL CALIBRATED OR BELONG HERE.
SO I APPRECIATE Y'ALL, UH, POSTPONING THIS AND, UH, IF, IF IT HADN'T OCCURRED TO Y'ALL, THE, THE RECENT NATIONAL ELECTION HAS LEFT US, UH, WONDERING WHERE THE FUNDS FOR ALL THESE PROJECTS, LIKE THE, UH, THE TRAIN AND ALL THAT, IF THAT'S EVEN GONNA HAPPEN NOW.
SO PUTTING ALL THIS STUFF ALONG TRANSPORTATION CORRIDORS MAY BE A MOOT POINT.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS CHANGING OUR CITY FOR SOMETHING THAT MAY NOT EVEN HAPPEN.
UM, YEAH, THIS IS A, A, A DB 90 IN THIS SAME NEIGHBORHOOD AT 1103 WEST 24TH STREET.
SO JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT.
IT'S ANOTHER DB 90 AND UH, I DON'T REALLY APPROVE OF THAT.
UH, 52 IS NOT A POSTPONEMENT, NOT, WELL BE FIRST READING ONLY.
SPEAKING ON THE MERITS OF POSTPONEMENT FOR 53, I HAVE MARIO CANTU, JEAN ADAMS, AND BRAD MASSING.
I AM JEAN ADAMS WITH THE SOUTH CONGRESS COMBINED NEIGHBORHOOD CONTACT TEAM, NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, CONTACT TEAM.
JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE, UH, POSTPONEMENT ON ITEMS 53 AND 54.
UH, HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET FURTHER ALONG WITH, UH, WORKING THIS OUT FOR THE NOVEMBER 21ST MEETING.
MARIO CANTU IS NOW GONNA BE ABLE TO MAKE IT TODAY, AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I AM, I'M JUST HERE IN SUPPORT OF MARIO AND JEAN AND THE CONTACT TEAM AND, AND HOPEFULLY THE NEGOTIATIONS WILL HAVE SOME, SOME KIND OF PROGRESS IN THE NEXT LITTLE BIT.
I ALSO HAVE THE SAME THREE LISTED FOR 54.
IF YOU WANTED TO SPEAK ON THE POSTPONEMENTS OF THAT.
MARIO CANTU, JEAN ADAMS, BRAD MASSING, THEY'RE WAIVING THEIR, UH, RIGHT TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 54.
OKAY, SPEAKING ON THE MERITS OF POSTPONEMENT FOR 58, I HAVE BOBBY LEVINSKY REMOTE.
UM, IT'S BOB LAVINSKY SPRINGS ALLIANCE.
I DO WANNA SPEAK ON THE MERITS POSTPONEMENT.
UM, WE'RE SUPPORTIVE OF THE POSTPONEMENT OF THIS ITEM.
I WANNA HIGHLIGHT THAT THIS COULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESOLVE SOME OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ISSUES ON THIS, UH, PROPOSED PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT AT 200 EAST RIVERSIDE, WHICH IS LESS, UH, 3.95 ACRES.
SO IT'S, UH, HARD TO IMAGINE HOW THIS COMPLIES WITH COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING,
[02:25:01]
BUT I RAISED THAT BECAUSE AGAIN, THETHIS PUD HAS NO AFFORDABILITY COMPONENT SUCH, UH, THERE'S AN ERROR IN THE BACKUP, WHICH INDICATES THAT THE DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM DOESN'T APPLY.
THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM DOESN'T APPLY WHEN THERE'S NON-RESIDENTIAL, UM, USES.
UH, SECTION 2.5 0.2 B TO CLEARLY DELINEATE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR AFFORDABILITY WHEN THERE ARE NON-RESIDENTIAL USES.
UM, AND THEN BEYOND THAT, THERE'S A QUESTION OF WHY WOULD YOU BE APPROVING A PUD THAT DOESN'T HAVE HOUSING IN THIS LOCATION? UM, THAT DOESN'T SEEM SUPERIOR.
UH, PLEASE RESOLVE THAT BEFORE THE NEXT MEETING.
AND THEN ALSO THE MERITS POSTPONEMENT FOR 58.
BRAD MASSING AND BILL BUNCH, MR. MASSENGALE, MR. BUNCH, ARE YOU GOING TO SPEAK MR. BUNCH? IS WAIV HIS RIGHT TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 58? MR. MASSENGILL? UH, THIS ANOTHER GOOD ONE TO POSTPONE.
IT NEEDS A LOT MORE PUBLIC INPUT.
I DON'T THINK PEOPLE REALIZE THAT THIS IS, UH, BEING PLOPPED DOWN RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF EVERYTHING.
UM, THIS COULD SEVERELY, UH, ALTER DOWNTOWN AND ON, ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF, OF THE RIVER.
SO, UH, GET MORE PEOPLE INVOLVED.
FOR ITEM 59, I HAVE JAMON JOYCE ON REMOTE.
BEFORE WE DO THAT, LET ME ASK IF, HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE SIGNED UP ON THIS ITEM? I THINK ABOUT 10.
SO LET ME ASK IF THE APPLICANT WISHES TO MAKE A PRESENTATION.
UM, BEFORE WE GO TO THAT ITEM, MICHAEL WHALEN ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT, WILL PASS ON HER OPENING AND RESERVE FOR REBUTTAL.
ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THEN LET ME ASK IF THERE'S ANYONE THAT IS GOING TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE OPPONENTS TO ITEM NUMBER 59 THAT IS DESIGNATED AS A SPOKESPERSON FOR THAT OPPOSITION.
THE PERSON ON THE PHONE, I BELIEVE DANA.
OKAY, THEN IF YOU'D COME FORWARD.
HELLO, I AM DANA LASTMAN AND I WANT TO FIRST THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU TO COUNCILMAN RYAN ALTER, WHO HAS SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND HAS REALLY WALKED US THROUGH SOME OF THE PROCESSES, ASKED US A LOT OF QUESTIONS, CONFIRMED A LOT OF OUR QUESTIONS, AND ALSO HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL LIAISON WITH THE, UM, AGENTS APPLICANT IN GETTING US ANSWERS.
I AM THE PRESIDENT OF OUR HOA COMMUNITY.
WE ARE A 22 UNIT OWNED, UH, PROPERTY ON CARRIAGE, UH, CALLED CARRIAGE PARK ON THORNTON.
I ALSO REPRESENT A LOT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHO ARE HERE WEARING RED, JUST TO SHOW YOU THAT WE'RE HERE.
WE DO OPPOSE, UM, THE LEVEL OF THIS ZONING AND WANTED TO TALK THROUGH A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHY AND WHAT WE'VE LEARNED AND SOME OF OUR CONCERNS.
SO FIRST, UM, THIS IS A MAP WE ON THORNTON AND ULT.
TORF HAVE A LOT OF TRAFFIC ISSUES ON A REGULAR DAY, REGULAR STRESSORS.
THIS LEFT HAND TURN FROM THORNTON ONTO ULT.
TORF IS REALLY CHALLENGING BECAUSE OF THE TRAFFIC FLOW.
ALSO TURNING ONTO THORNTON IS A DISASTER AND CAN BE REALLY DIFFICULT.
IT COMPOUNDS WHEN THERE'S A TRAIN.
THE TRAIN IS JUST ABOUT 200 FEET FROM THERE.
WHEN THERE IS A TRAIN, WE GET BACKED UP ALL THE WAY DOWN OR ALL TOF ALL THE WAY AROUND SOUTH LAMAR.
AND THEN ALSO ALONG OUR LITTLE STREET THORNTON, WE HAVE HEARD THAT THE APPLICANT HAS COMMITTED TO POTENTIALLY PUTTING A LIGHT IN WHICH WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR.
AND THANK YOU AGAIN, RYAN, FOR FACILITATING THAT WE REALLY APPRECIATE, UM, THAT OPPORTUNITY TO COLLABORATE.
WE'VE ALSO LEARNED THOUGH THAT BECAUSE IT'S BY A TRAIN, THERE MIGHT BE SOME COMPLICATIONS.
SO IT'S THERE AND, AND THEY'VE OFFERED TO PUT THE MONEY UP.
WE DON'T KNOW A HUNDRED PERCENT IF THAT'S CONFIRMED, BUT WE APPRECIATE THAT COLLABORATIVE EFFORT EVEN WITH A LIGHT THERE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO HERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WITH THORNTON AND THE ROADS THAT LEAD TO SOUTH LAMAR, THEY'RE REALLY NARROW STREETS.
THEY'RE ALSO REALLY WINDY STREETS.
THEY TEND TO HAVE CARS PARKED ON BOTH SIDES AND ESPECIALLY DURING GARBAGE DAYS, THERE'S ALSO GARBAGE.
SO YOU HAVE TO WEAVE IN AND OUT AND IT REALLY BECOMES A ONE LANE ROAD.
THERE ARE SPORADIC SIDEWALKS ON THORNTON AND WE HAVE LIMITED ACCESS TO GET OUT.
[02:30:01]
SO I JUST WENT OVER SOME OF THE ISSUES ON ULT WHARF TO GET ONTO THAT MAIN ROAD.BUT THE OTHER ISSUE IS THAT SOUTH LAMAR, IN ORDER TO GET THERE, YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO I WANTED TO JUST BLOW THIS UP A LITTLE BIT SO YOU CAN SEE ONE NEIGHBORHOOD WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ALL THE SAME THINGS I JUST TALKED ABOUT.
THE NARROW STREETS WINDY, BUT WE DO GO IN AND OUT OF THOSE STREETS IN ORDER TO GET TO THAT SOUTH LAMAR AND TO NOT HAVE TO WAIT TO TURN LEFT ONTO, UH, TWAR.
WHEN WE DO THAT, WHEN WE'RE LOOKING RIGHT NOW AT THIS PROPOSED BUILDING, IT'S A HUGE ADDED 250 TO 350 UNIT HOME OR HOMES ADD SO MUCH EXTRA FOOT TRAFFIC, BUT ALSO VEHICLE TRAFFIC THAT IS ALSO GONNA HAVE TO GO THROUGH THESE LITTLE NEIGHBORHOOD AREAS.
AND THORNTON ROAD, RIGHT NOW, IF YOU LOOK AT THE PARCELS ON THORNTON, WE'RE LOOKING AT A CURRENT DENSITY OF 10.7 WITH THIS PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT THAT GOES UP TO 81.5.
IF YOU LOOK, WHAT WE DID WAS WE PUT TOGETHER A LITTLE MAP THAT SHOWS YOU HOW MANY PEOPLE LIVE IN THE HOMES ON THAT AREA.
THERE'S NOT A LOT ON THORNTON ROAD.
THORNTON FLATS IS THE 104 UNIT.
THAT'S THE BIGGEST ONE ON THORNTON ROAD.
AND IF WE LOOK AT WHO FEEDS INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, WE JUST HAVE TWO PRETTY BIG DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE IN PLACE RIGHT NOW.
ONE AT SOUTH LAMAR AND BLUE BONNET AND THE OTHER AT DEL CURTO, 182 UNIT AND 107, THEY'RE BEING BUILT RIGHT NOW.
THEY'RE ALSO GONNA BE TRICKLING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO GET IN AND OUT.
AND I'M JUST WONDERING HOW WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS FROM A BROADER PERSPECTIVE.
IT SEEMS LIKE THESE ARE SILOED A LITTLE BIT AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT EACH INDIVIDUAL PROJECT, HOW THEY'RE COMING TOGETHER.
THESE TWO NEW BUILDS HAVEN'T EVEN BEEN BUILT YET, SO THE TRAFFIC IS GONNA INCREASE DRAMATICALLY ONCE THEY'RE BUILT.
AND NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS POTENTIAL 350, MAYBE 250.
THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GIVE US A CONFIRMED NUMBER OF UNITS THAT ARE GONNA COME THROUGH AND STRESS THE STREET AND THE LITTLE NEIGHBORHOOD EVEN MORE WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
EVEN NOW AS IS, WE DO NEED SOME IMPROVEMENTS.
AND AGAIN, THANK YOU TO COUNCILMAN ALTER BECAUSE HE HAS TALKED ABOUT, REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS, GETTING TOGETHER SOME TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENTS LIKE MIRRORS.
OH, I THOUGHT I HAD NINE MINUTES.
UM, OH, I WAS TOLD I HAD NINE.
UM, OKAY, WHO TOLD YOU THAT THAT WAS, IF THERE WAS DONATED TIME, BUT IF YOU'RE THE REPRESENTATIVE, YOU GET FIVE, YOU HAVE DONA.
YEAH, BUT WE SAID IF I GOT THE NINE I I HAVE TWO, TWO PEOPLE DONATED TO ME.
CAN I CONTINUE OR, WELL, I DON'T, MAN, WE GOTTA DO THIS BETTER THAN THIS.
UM, I WAS TOLD THAT IF WE WERE JUST DOING SOMETHING FLAT, I'D ONLY HAVE FIVE MINUTES, BUT IF NOT, I'D GET THE NINE AND I DO HAVE TWO PEOPLE WHO DONATED ON THE FORM.
WELL THEN WHAT I'M GONNA DO, WHO ARE THE PEOPLE THAT THE HAVE PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO DONATE? THERE WERE TWO PEOPLE THAT DONATED.
THEN LET'S GIVE HER NINE MINUTES AND, AND UNLESS THERE'S OBJECTION FROM THE COUNCIL, NORMALLY THE WAY THIS WOULD GO, SHE WOULD GET FIVE MINUTES AND, AND THAT WOULD BE IT.
BUT WHAT I'LL DO IS WE RECOGNIZE HER FOR HER THREE MINUTES AND GET HER THE DONATED TIME SO THAT SHE CAN DO IT THAT WAY UNLESS COUNSEL OBJECTS IN SOME WAY.
ALRIGHT, SO WE'RE GONNA DO THIS DIFFERENTLY THAN WHAT WE WOULD TYPICALLY DO IT.
UM, SO WE NEED SOME IMPROVEMENTS OF MIRRORS, OF FLASHING LIGHTS.
THIS PARTICULAR AREA, KENNY OAKS, IS VERY NARROW.
WHEN YOU GO DOWN, YOU CAN'T SEE THE CARS COMING OR GOING.
HERE'S A PICTURE OF US ON A WALK AND HERE'S A VIDEO OF A CAR.
OH, YOU CAN'T, I CAN'T DO THE VIDEO.
BUT BASICALLY YOU CAN'T SEE THE CARS COMING OR GOING.
AND THERE WAS A TRAFFIC ANALYSIS THAT WAS DONE, UM, FOR THIS PROJECT.
AND IT DID SHOW THAT WITH AN INCREASE WE WOULD BE HAVING A INCREASE OF 57.51% TRAFFIC INCREASE.
WE DID NOT GET ANOTHER TRAFFIC ANALYSIS.
SO JUST LOOKING AT AN EXTRA 350 UNIT BUILDING, THIS IS WHAT WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT.
IT SAID A HUNDRED PERCENT OF ALL TRIPS WILL ACCESS THORNTON ROAD.
AND IT SPECIFICALLY SAID THAT ACCORDING TO SECTION 2 5 6 1 1 6 OF THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE, STREETS THAT HAVE A PAVEMENT WIDTH OF 30 FEET, WHICH IS THORNTON, ARE DEFINED TO BE OPERATING AT A DESIRABLE TRAFFIC LEVEL.
IF THE AVERAGE DAILY TRAFFIC VOLUME FOR SUCH ROADWAY DOES NOT EXCEED 1,200 VEHICLES A DAY, THORNTON ROAD IS CURRENTLY OPERATING AT AN UNDESIRABLE LEVEL OF THE STREET AND WITH THE PROPOSED VALUES WILL CONTINUE.
SO WE'RE ALREADY AT AN UNDESIRABLE LEVEL.
WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES LIKE THE SAFETY ISSUE WE JUST TALKED ABOUT.
[02:35:01]
INCREASE THIS.SO KNOWING WE ALREADY HAVE AN UNDESIRABLE RATE, IT'S REALLY HARD TO UNDERSTAND WHY WE WANNA BUILD SO MUCH ON THIS LITTLE STREET.
AND AS A COMMUNITY, WE JUST HAVEN'T HEARD ANY ANSWERS THAT MAKE SENSE.
THIS IS WHAT THE, THE STREET LOOKS LIKE.
THIS IS CURRENT DAY CARS ARE PARKED ON BOTH SIDES.
THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT IS RIGHT THERE ON THE LEFT.
BASICALLY THIS ISN'T NEW CONCERNS.
THIS IS THE SAME CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN HAPPENING THAT PEOPLE HAVE BROUGHT IN FRONT OF YOU ABOUT THORNTON ROAD AND THE NARROW STREETS AND THE LIMITED CONNECTIVITY.
AND HERE IN 2016 IS THE EXACT SAME PICTURES, ALTHOUGH MINE WAS 2014, THIS IS 2016.
THEY TALKED ABOUT THE SAME ISSUES WITH LITTLE NEIGHBORHOOD AND ACCESS.
AGAIN, HERE'S WHAT OUR PARCELS TO PEOPLE LOOK LIKE.
PUTTING IN THIS ADDITIONAL HUMONGOUS BUILDING IS GONNA STRESS AN ALREADY UNDESIRABLE, UH, STREET.
THIS RIGHT HERE IS THE LUVANA IN SOUTH LAMAR BUILDING.
THIS IS ONLY 182, WE'RE LOOKING AT TWO 50 TO THREE 50.
YOU SEE THAT LITTLE CAR OVER THERE, THAT LITTLE HOUSE JUST TO SEE THE PERSPECTIVE OF HOW LARGE THIS IS AND THIS WILL ALL TRICKLE DOWN THROUGH THE COMMUNITY.
SO AGAIN, JUST A REMINDER THAT ALL OF THESE NEW BUILDS ARE GONNA COME THROUGH THE COMMUNITY.
THE STREETS ARE, ARE VERY NARROW AND WINDY.
THIS APPLICANT'S, UH, AGENT IS AN EXPERT AT ZONING AND HE HAS TRIED THIS BEFORE AND HE KNOWS ZONING INSIDE OUT AND BACKWARDS.
I DO MEDICARE, I KNOW MEDICARE INSIDE OUT AND BACKWARDS.
BUT WE HAVE LEARNED AND WE DO FEEL THAT THIS IS JUST TOO LARGE OF A ZONING REQUEST FOR THIS LITTLE LEVEL ONE STREET.
WE ARE VERY OPEN TO DIALOGUE, TO CONTINUING COMMUNICATION TO CONVERSATIONS.
UM, RYAN, WITH YOU WITH THE APPLICANT'S AGENT, WE JUST FEEL LIKE WE ALREADY ARE ON AN UNDESIRABLE LEVEL.
THIS IS FACTS THAT WERE FOUND.
WHY ARE WE GONNA COMPOUND THAT? WE DEFINITELY ARE OPEN AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE DISCUSSIONS OF GETTING, UH, THOSE, YOU KNOW, MIRRORS AND LIGHTS IN THE PLACES THAT ARE CURRENTLY PRETTY, UM, PRETTY DANGEROUS.
AND, UH, WE ARE OPENING OPEN TO WORKING WITH EVERYONE AT LARGE.
YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY IS IMPORTANT.
WE DO ASK THAT YOU POSTPONE THIS OR VOTE NO, SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO POTENTIALLY GET A ZONING THAT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE APPROPRIATE.
LIKE I SAID, WE ARE OPEN TO M TWO, TO M FOUR, MF TWO TO M FOUR.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
I THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO CONTINUE TO SPEAK AND, UH, YEAH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
JOYCE? HELLO? I'M ON THE LINE.
YOU ARE? UH, YEAH, CAN I GO AHEAD.
MY NAME'S JAMESON JOYCE, PLEASE.
UM, I THINK I'LL, I'LL PICK UP WHERE THE LAST SPEAKER LEFT OFF AND, AND OPENLY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I DO NOT HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF, OF KNOWLEDGE, UH, ON, UH, ZONING, UH, OR ON MANY OF THE TOPICS HERE.
I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK UP IN OPPOSITION OF THIS PROPOSITION.
I BOUGHT A UNIT AT BRIDGEWAY VILLAS, WHICH IS JUST SOUTH THE ROAD ON THORNTON, UH, FROM THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT.
UM, I AM A, UH, ATTORNEY FOR THE STATE AND, UH, THIS IS NOT THE TYPE OF LAW I WORK IN, BUT, UH, I NOTE, UH, BOTH MY IGNORANCE OF THIS TOPIC AS WELL AS THE FACT THAT I BOUGHT A LITTLE WHILE AGO, JUST SO YOU KNOW WHERE I'M COMING FROM.
UH, GIVEN THE WAY PROPERTY HAS CHANGED IN THIS CITY FROM JUST A FEW YEARS AGO.
UH, I SAY THIS TO TO NOTE THAT I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
SO ANY DECISION ON THIS IS ON THIS LARGE DEVELOPMENT IS SOMETHING THAT I'M GOING TO HAVE TO LIVE WITH.
UM, A A TERM THAT I THINK MANY HERE MIGHT BE AWARE OF IS THE TERM NIMBY.
I SUPPORT CITY GROWTH AND I SUPPORT DENSITY, BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT I'VE HEARD ABOUT THIS DEVELOPMENT IN THIS LOCATION.
AND MY MAIN CONCERN IS THAT OF TRAFFIC AND OF PARKING.
AGAIN, I DON'T WANNA SOUND LIKE A BROKEN RECORD FROM YOU HEARD SO FAR, BUT, UH, THORNTON ROAD IS, IS INDEED ESSENTIALLY A ONE-WAY ROAD MUCH OF THE TIME BECAUSE OF THE PARKING ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ROAD.
UM, I CAN ATTEST TO THE FACT THAT ON MANY DAYS IT BECOMES A GAME OF CHICKEN, UH, WHERE BOTH CARS, UH, ON BOTH SIDES OF THE, THE ROAD, UH, HAVE TO PAUSE TO ALLOW EACH OTHER TO COME THROUGH TO PASS.
AND SO I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THE SAFETY WILL BE FOR DRIVERS AND OF PEDESTRIANS ALIKE BECAUSE THAT'S A VERY COMMON PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY.
[02:40:01]
UH, A, A SIDEWALK ON ONE SIDE OF THE ROAD MUCH AT A TIME.SO, UM, I I DON'T THINK IT'S FEASIBLE TO EXPAND THE ROAD.
UH, AN ADDITIONAL SIDEWALK I'M SURE WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR PEDESTRIANS, BUT THAT DOESN'T REALLY HELP WITH THE ROAD TRAFFIC A WHOLE LOT.
SO, UM, AND YOU KNOW, AS YOU, AS I'VE HEARD ABOUT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT, I, I THINK THAT'S GOOD IN, IN THEORY.
BUT AGAIN, GIVEN THE BACKUPS FROM THE TRAIN AND THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC ON OLTORF, UH, I'M NOT SURE THAT WOULD NECESSARILY SOLVE THE ISSUE EITHER.
SO I SAY ALL THIS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF, I DON'T KNOW A GREAT DEAL ABOUT, ABOUT ZONING AND AND CONSTRUCTION, BUT I AM JUST HIGHLIGHTING THE FACT THAT I, I SEE SOME PROBLEMS WITH THIS PROPOSITION WHERE IF HUNDREDS OF RESIDENTS ARE ADDED, I JUST DON'T SEE HOW IT'S GONNA WORK.
AND SO, UM, WITH THAT BEING SAID, I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THIS FACT AND REALLY HOPING THAT OUR, OUR MAIN THOROUGHFARE OF, OF GETTING TO OLTORF, ONE OF BASICALLY TWO MAIN WAYS WE GET IN AND OUT OF THE SUBDIVISION.
I, I'M REALLY HOPING THAT, THANK YOU, THAT DOESN'T GET CUT OFF, BUT IF THIS CONSTRUCTION THANK YOU FORWARD, I'M WORRIED YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
NEXT UP WE HAVE JIM PORTER, KIM VIRE, LAURA JOHNSON.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I OWN A RESIDENCE ON THORNTON ROAD ABOUT TWO BLOCKS NORTH OF THE PRO PROPOSED REZONING SITE.
FIRST, I'D LIKE TO, UH, ALSO THANK OUR COUNCILPERSON RYAN ALTER FOR HIS ENGAGEMENT WITH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND FOR THE WORK HE HAS DONE ON OUR BEHALF IN GETTING THE ZONING REQUEST CHANGED FROM THE ORIGINAL DB 90 TO THE MF, UH, SIX CO THAT'S CURRENT.
AND ALSO A THANKS TO THE APPLICANT FOR AGREEING TO FUND A TRAFFIC SIG SIGNAL IF IT TURNS OUT TO BE WARRANTED AT THE INTERSECTION OF THORNTON ROAD AND ALTAR, IF WE APPRECIATE THOSE EFFORTS.
THAT BEING SAID, THE CURRENT MF SIX CO ZONING REQUEST IS STILL TOO LARGE AND TOO DENSE FOR THORNTON ROAD.
WE ARE NOT AGAINST ANY DEVELOPMENT.
WE, WE UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN AUSTIN.
WE SIMPLY ASK FOR REASONABLE AND APPROPRIATE DEVELOPMENT GIVEN THAT THORNTON ROAD IS A LEVEL ONE STREET.
I WILL REITERATE THE ONE STATISTIC FOR YOU.
THE CURRENT LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE INDICATES THAT A LEVEL ONE STREET SHOULD NOT EXCEED 1200 VEHICLE TRIPS PER DAY.
THORNTON ROAD IS CURRENTLY AT TWENTY FOUR HUNDRED AND FORTY FIVE VEHICLE TRIPS A DAY.
IT'S ALREADY DOUBLE ITS CAPACITY.
THIS DEVELOPMENT, EVEN AT THE REDUCED MF SIX ZONING, WILL ADD ANOTHER THOUSAND VEHICLE TRIPS PER DAY, WHICH WILL TRIPLE THE ROADS CAPACITY.
SO I ASK JUST WHETHER YOU WOULD WANT YOURSELF OR YOUR CHILDREN OR YOUR PARENTS TO LIVE OR DRIVE OR WALK ON SUCH A SMALL ROAD OPERATING AT TRIPLE ITS VEHICLE CAPACITY.
I BEG THE COUNSEL TO DENY OR AT LEAST POSTPONE THE CASE SO THAT WE CAN ALL CONTINUE TO WORK TOWARD DEVELOPMENT THAT IS, AGAIN, REASONABLE AND APPROPRIATE FOR THE STREET AND FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THANK YOU DAVID ANSEL AND DAVID HAS TIME DONATED BY MAJO PATEL AND BRAD MASSING.
ARE THEY BOTH HERE? OKAY, THANK YOU.
I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER SPOKEN FOR NINE MINUTES STRAIGHT IN MY LIFE, BUT, UH, HERE GOES AGAIN REITERATING.
REALLY DEEP THANKS TO COUNCILMAN ALTER.
UH, THIS HAS BEEN A GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR US TO HAVE SO MUCH SUPPORT.
UM, THEY WENT DEFINITELY HAVE BENT OVER BACKWARDS TO BRING US TO A BETTER LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING OF ALL THE ISSUES.
AS YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT PLEASED WITH THE ULTIMATE RESULT.
YOU KNOW, THE CURRENT RESULT OF THE NEGOTIATION, UH, AND BELIEVE THAT THE STARTING NEGOTIATION POSITION WAS STARTED AT AN UNREASONABLE POSITION IN ORDER TO GET US TO THIS UNREASONABLE MIDDLE THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY OPERATING AT.
UM, I DON'T HAVE THE MAP, BUT YOU YOU'VE SEEN PREVIOUSLY, RIGHT NEXT DOOR IS A PROPERTY BUILT BY THE ORIGINAL SAME ORIGINAL LANDOWNER CALLED THORNTON FLATS.
IT'S AN MF TWO, IT HAS A HUNDRED SOME UNITS, IT HAS SOME, UH, AFFORDABLE ELEMENT TO IT.
IT'S BEEN A GREAT ADDITION TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND I AM, AS FAR AS I UNDERSTAND, THE DEVELOPERS MADE
[02:45:01]
PLENTY OF MONEY.IT WAS A SUCCESSFUL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT.
UM, AND THAT IS SORT OF, YOU KNOW, IT IS ALREADY OUTTA SCALE WITH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED FOR THIS NEIGHBORING PROPERTY IS, WOULD MAKE THAT LOOK LIKE PEANUTS BASICALLY.
UM, AT MF TWO, THIS IS ALSO A SIMILAR SIZE PROPERTY.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT OVER THREE TIMES THE DENSITY ON THE SAME SIZE PROPERTY.
UM, EVEN AT MF TWO, WE BELIEVE THAT THIS CURRENT PROPERTY WOULD BRING A LOT OF ADDITIONAL HOUSING STOCK AND SOME ADDITIONAL AFFORDABLE STOCK INTO THIS CENTRAL DESIRABLE PART OF THE CITY.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, SORT OF THE QUIZZICAL NATURE THAT WE'RE, WE'RE ALL FEELING ABOUT WHY, I JUST KIND OF WANNA REITERATE LIKE THIS SENSE OF CONFUSION THAT WE'RE ALL HAVING AS TO WHY WE'RE TO AWARD LIKE A FAR OFF VC FIRM THAT HAS RE RECEIVED THIS PROPERTY AT THE EXPENSE OF THE NEIGHBORS.
UH, IT SEEMS LIKE THEY'VE NEVER DEMONSTRATED ANY KIND OF, UH, QUANTITATIVE SUPPORT OF WHAT LEVEL OF ZONING IS REQUIRED TO MAKE THIS A VIABLE PROJECT.
UM, AND SO WE'RE KIND OF LIKE PLAYING CARDS.
WE HAVE AN OPEN HAND, WE DON'T FEEL LIKE WE'RE PLAYING WITH SOMEONE WHO HAS AN OPEN HAND.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY NEED TO MAKE THIS VIABLE.
SO THEY'RE ASKING FOR THE MOON.
AND IT SEEMS UNFAIR TO BE KIND OF PLAYING THAT KIND OF CARD GAME.
UM, I DON'T HAVEN'T REALLY DISCUSSED THIS WITH EVERYONE, BUT I THINK THE SENSE IS THAT WE'RE HONESTLY WILLING TO TAKE OUR CHANCES WITH THE CURRENT ZONING BECAUSE, UH, EVEN THOUGH THAT'S CONSIDERED MORE MAXIMAL, IF YOU LOOK AT THE STRAIGHT NUMBERS OF THE ZONING, THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE ALONG OUR STREET.
WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT MIXED USE SORT OF WAREHOUSE, CREATIVE OFFICE TYPE STUFF GOING ON IN THE STREET.
AND THAT HAS YIELDED LIKE, IN A KIND OF REASONABLE USE FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND REASONABLE TRAFFIC.
AND, UM, WE'RE KIND OF, YOU KNOW, IF YEAH, WE'RE WILLING TO STICK WITH THAT AS WELL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION.
MM-HMM,
BETH, YOU OKAY? SO SIX MINUTES RA SIX MINUTES.
I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE TIME.
UM, MUCH HAS BEEN SAID THAT I, WITH MY PRESENTATION IN THE, THE VIDEO PRESENTATION.
AND, UM, BUT I DO WANT TO ADD SOME THINGS.
I'M A 31 YEAR CONTRACTOR IN THE CITY.
I MOVED HERE IN 1986, FELL IN LOVE WITH AUSTIN.
I'VE SEEN A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT OVER THE YEARS.
I'VE SEEN A LOT OF CARE AND COMPASSION, ESPECIALLY IN THE EARLIER DAYS WHERE PEOPLE WERE REALLY TAKING A, A SERIOUS CONCERN ABOUT NEIGHBORHOODS.
I I'LL TELL YOU, READING JUST THE REVIEW SHEET, I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY WE'RE EVEN AT THIS POINT BECAUSE OF THE, WHAT THE CASE LAW.
I MEAN ALL THE, THE REZONING OR THE UH, THE PROPERTY HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP MULTIPLE TIMES ON ZONING ISSUES.
AND HERE WE ARE TRYING TO PUT THIS GIGANTIC MONSTER IN THE MIDDLE OF A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT HAS LEVEL ONE STREET.
I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING AS A BUILDER AND THE ALL THE TIMES I'VE DEALT WITH THE THE BILLING INSPECTION DEPARTMENT, DEPARTMENT, I'M JUST NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY WE'RE EVEN HERE.
WHY WASN'T THIS LIKE NI NIPPED IN THE BUD? BEFORE I WENT OUT YESTERDAY AND I TOOK MEASUREMENTS OF THE STREET WITH MY WHEEL, I WENT FROM THE CURB TO THE RAILROAD TRACKS WE'RE 160 SOMETHING ODD FEET TO THE TRACKS.
I'VE BEEN A, A 21 YEAR RESIDENT OF THE THORNTON ROAD BUSINESS PARK ARTIST AND MY CONTRACTING BUSINESS.
I HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE ZONING CHANGE NOTICES COMING IN THE MAIL.
AND I FEEL WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT NEIGHBORHOOD IS NOW IT'S AN IMBALANCE.
[02:50:02]
THE THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD WAS ZONED, EXCUSE ME, ZONED HOW MANY YEARS AGO.AND THEN THEY'RE ADDING LARGER PROPERTIES FOR THE REZONING.
AND NOW THE STREET IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD JUST CAN'T HANDLE IT.
YOU KNOW, IF, IF YOU STUDIED THE HISTORY OF AUSTIN AND HOW IT WAS ORIGINALLY LAID OUT IN THE 18 HUNDREDS, IT WAS DESIGNED TO NOT BE A BIG CITY.
HERE WE ARE EXPANDING, GROWING ALL THE NEW CODES AND STUFF.
IF YOU LOOK AT AN AERIAL SHOT OF THE CITY, YOU'LL SEE ALL THE GRIDS LAID OUT, ALL THE WAY UP TO HYDE PARK EAST, DOWNTOWN, ALL THAT THORNTON ROAD IS NOT A GRID.
YEAH, THERE'S THREE EXITS, BUT THE PRIMARY EXIT IS THORNTON ROAD ONTO OLTORF.
THE REST IS GOING THROUGH BRIDGEWAY, THEN OUT TO WATERLOO AND CINNAMON PATH, WHICH IS KIND OF TAKES YOU OUT OF THE WAY BACK TO DEL CURTO.
ADDING ALL THESE CARS AND TENANTS ONTO THIS STREET IS CRAZY.
AND THEN WIDENING, WIDENING THE ROAD.
WHERE ARE YOU GONNA WIDEN IT TO? YOU GONNA WIDEN IT AT THORNTON ROAD AND OLD TORF AND THEN BOTTLENECK IT IN? PEOPLE ARE ALREADY WEAVING IN AND OUT OF THAT STREET.
YESTERDAY WHEN I WENT AND I TALKED TO THE OWNER AT 2103, I THINK IT IS THE FIRST TWO HOMES, HE'S WITNESSING ACCIDENTS ALL THE TIME.
RIGHT THERE AT OLD TORF AND THORNTON.
HE'S SEEN ANIMALS GET KILLED THERE.
PEOPLE ARE RACING UP AND DOWN THE STREET.
AND THE TIMES WHEN I'VE COME OUT OF THERE, I'VE BEEN BACKED UP 12 VEHICLES TRYING TO GET OUT OF THE INTERSECTION.
NOW YOU'RE GONNA ADD ALL THESE CARS.
SO YEAH, I'M AGAINST THIS PROPERTY BEING DEVELOPED, BUT I'M TAKING IT A STEP FURTHER AND THAT'S JUST MY POSITION.
AND THAT IS, I FEEL THE CITY NEEDS TO POSTPONE THIS PROJECT.
I KNOW THE, THE, UH, APPLICANT IS GONNA BE UPSET, BUT I THINK THE CITY NEEDS TO TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY, GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD, LOOK AT THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AND REZONE THE BASE ZONING BECAUSE I THINK YOU'LL FIND WITH ALL THE PEOPLE THERE, I MEAN WE'RE ALREADY AT WHAT, 104% INCREASE OF TRAFFIC BASED ON THE STREET.
YOU ADD THIS WHERE WE'RE GONNA BE LIKE 220 SOMETHING PERCENT INCREASE, IT CAN'T HANDLE IT.
AND YOU CAN'T ASK THESE PEOPLE TO GO THROUGH BRIDGEWAY.
I MEAN, I CALL IT THE MOVIE SET.
IT ALMOST LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING OUTTA DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T EVEN GET THROUGH THERE.
I MEAN, IT'S WINDY AND THEN YOU COME OUT ON KENNY AND IT'S PEOPLE PUSHING STROLLERS AND DOGS AND STUFF.
YOU CAN'T PUSH THAT THROUGH THE CITY.
THIS IS, IT'S LIKE THERE'S A LACK OF COMMON SENSE GOING ON HERE.
I MEAN, AS A BUILDER, I'M ACTUALLY DISAPPOINTED THAT EVEN THE DEVELOPERS EVEN SAYING, OH, LET'S PUT THIS THING HERE.
'CAUSE I KNOW IT'S MUDDY, I GET IT, BUT IT'S JUST RIDICULOUS THAT THIS IS GOING ON.
I'M JUST, I'M ACTUALLY SHOCKED.
AND THEN I WAS DOING ALL THIS RESEARCH AND I REALIZED ALL I NEEDED WAS THE ZONING SHEET THAT THE CITY DRAFTED.
AND IT'S LIKE THE TREES ARE RIGHT THERE IN THE FOREST, BUT IT'S LIKE IT'S BEING OVERLOOKED FOR WHAT PURPOSE.
I REALLY ASK THAT YOU POSTPONE THIS.
HECK, I'LL EVEN DONATE MY TIME TO HELP THE CITY PULL OUT THE DATA.
I LOVE RESEARCH, I CAN DO IT, BUT POSTPONE THIS PROJECT AND LET'S DO IT THE RIGHT WAY.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL SPEAKERS FOR 59.
ALRIGHT, MR. WAYLON, YOU'RE ENTITLED TO THREE MINUTES FOR REBUTTAL.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS MICHAEL WA ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT.
A FEW POINTS, OBVIOUSLY THE LOCATION.
AS YOU'VE HEARD, THE BACKSIDE OF THE PROPERTY HAS A RAILROAD, UH, RUNNING ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE RAILROAD TRACKS, BACKSIDE OF IT FOR 75 YEARS.
THIS PROPERTY HAS BEEN A COMMERCIAL SITE WITH CS ZONING AND 60 FEET ALLOW ALLOWABLE HEIGHT.
FACT, THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION WAS C-S-V-M-U.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED DB 90 AND AS YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD, A COMPROMISE, UM, WAS FACILITATED, UH, THROUGH COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER.
SO BY WRIGHT, WE HAVE 60 FEET TODAY AND 95% IMPERVIOUS COVER.
THE COMPROMISE WILL, REDU WILL KEEP THE 60 FEET, BUT REDUCE THE INTENSITY DOWN TO 80% IMPERVIOUS COVER AND 70% BUILDING COVERAGE.
THAT'S A 20% REDUCTION IN TERMS OF THE BUILDING, UH, COVERAGE.
THE CURRENT ZONING HAS A VARIETY OF COMMERCIAL USES INCLUDING CAR REPAIR.
AND THE ONE THING THOUGH THAT IS NOT ALLOWED AND THAT WE NEED IN THE CITY IS RESIDENTIAL.
THIS SITE IS A 10 MINUTE WALK FROM FOUR BUS STOPS.
THERE IS A SIDEWALK, A COMPLETE SIDEWALK FROM THIS SITE ALL THE WAY TO THOSE FOUR BUS STOPS.
THERE'S A NIGHT OWL BUS, ONE OF ONLY FIVE NIGHT OWL BUSES AND A HIGH FREQUENCY BUS ROUTE NUMBER 300.
AS I SAID, THE PC RECOMMENDATION WAS DB 90.
CONCERNS WERE RAISED AT THAT TIME BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD
[02:55:01]
AND A COMPROMISE WAS FORGED.UM, RETAINING THE CURRENT HEIGHT BUT REDUCING THE IMPERVIOUS COVER IN THE BUILDING HEIGHT.
UM, WE HAVE, AND I'LL STATE IT PUBLICLY, WE HAVE, UM, AND WE ARE GOING TO, WE'VE TALKED TO TRANSPORTATION AND WE HAVE AGREED TO A COMMITMENT OF $500,000, WHICH IS A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS MORE THAN THEY ANTICIPATED A LIGHT WOULD COST.
SO THAT THERE WOULD BE CONTINGENCY BUILT INTO THAT.
AND THAT WILL BE REPRESENTED IN A RESTRICTIVE COVENANT THAT WE'RE IMPOSING ON THE PROPERTY AND THAT WE'LL RUN WITH THE PROPERTY REGARDLESS OF WHO OWNS THE PROPERTY.
ULTIMATELY, WE KNOW THIS IS A CLOSE IN SIGHT.
THAT'S WHY MULTIFAMILY IS DESIRED HERE AND WHY THERE'S, UH, A DEMAND FOR THAT.
SO WITH THAT, IF THERE'S QUESTIONS, OBVIOUSLY WE'RE HERE, UH, TO ANSWER THEM.
THE NEXT ITEM I HAVE A SPEAKER ON IS ITEM 64, BILL BUNCH.
GOOD AFTERNOON, BILL BUNCH, UH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE SINCE Y'ALL AREN'T REALLY INTERESTED IN EVEN LETTING PEOPLE KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT OR CONSIDERING.
UH, THIS IS SECOND AND THIRD READING ON, UH, THREE 11 SOUTH CONGRESS WHERE THE FIRESTONE SHOP IS, UH, JUST SOUTH OF LADY BIRD LAKE.
UM, AND YOU'RE PROPOSING TO APPROVE A PUD ON 0.8 ACRES, WHICH IS LESS THAN AN ORDER OF MAGNITUDES SMALLER THAN THE 10 ACRE PUD MINIMUM.
UM, YOU'RE CALLING IT SUPERIOR, UH, WHEN YOU'RE MORE THAN DOUBLING THE HEIGHT THAT IS UNDER THE CURRENT AREA PLAN, WHICH HAPPENS TO STILL BE THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT VISION PLAN OF 2016.
UM, 480 FEET, 95% IMPERVIOUS COVER.
SO BASICALLY THE ENTIRE THING BEING PAVED.
UM, ESSENTIALLY NO PARK LAND AT ALL.
UM, AND ZERO YOU'RE REDUCING IT.
JUST WRITE IN YOUR REPORT, REDUCING IT ZERO SETBACK FROM CONGRESS AVENUE.
UH, SO YOU'RE GONNA HAVE THIS GIANT, UH, SKYSCRAPER ON 0.8 ACRES VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU WERE HEARING EARLIER.
YOU'RE LIKE GOING UP 120 FEET ON, YOU KNOW, 0.4 ACRES.
UM, THIS IS GONNA BE A REALLY UGLY SORE THUMB ON THE SOUTH SHORE IF YOU APPROVE THIS.
UH, I DON'T KNOW HOW ANYBODY CAN THINK OF IT AS SUPERIOR IN ANY WAY.
THERE'S DEFINITELY SOME DESIGN FRIENDLY THINGS OF SOLAR PANELS ON THE ROOF AND THAT SORT OF THING.
BUT THE BASIC SCALING, UM, UH, PAVEMENT, UH, IS URBAN HEAT ISLAND MESS.
UH, THERE'S NOTHING GREEN ABOUT IT.
UM, YOU'RE NOT, UH, DOING ANYTHING TO PROTECT LADY BIRD LAKE, UH, OR THIS PART OF, UH, DOWNTOWN IN THE HEART OF OUR CITY.
UM, AND I HO URGE YOU TO VOTE NO ON IT AND ACTUALLY, UH, COMPLY WITH YOUR OWN PUTT ORDINANCE FOR A CHANGE.
UM, AND NOT USE THAT MISNOMER.
'CAUSE THERE'S PUTT IS PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT.
THERE'S NOTHING PLANNED ABOUT THIS.
THIS IS YET ANOTHER SPECIAL DEAL.
ONE OFF, UM, TO, UH, BUILD DOWNTOWN ON THE SOUTH SHORE.
UM, AND, UH, Y'ALL HAVEN'T DECIDED THAT YET, BUT, UH, IN ANY SORT OF PLANNED WAY, UH, YOU KEEP PUNTING ON THAT, UM, TILL NEXT YEAR.
BUT MEANWHILE, YOU'RE JUST DOING IT PIECEMEAL.
THAT'S ALL THE REGISTERED SPEAKERS FOR ZONING.
UM, MEMBERS, THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS WHO SIGNED UP ON THE ZONING ITEMS. UH, WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST WE DO IS WE GET A MOTION TO TAKE THESE ITEMS UP AS A CONSENT AGENDA AND A SECOND.
AND THEN, UM, I WILL ASK FOR DISCUSSION ON THE ITEMS. IS THERE A MOTION MOTIONS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER CODRE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IT WAS PREVIOUSLY READ? UH, NOW LET ME SEE.
COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE YOU HAD INDICATED YOU WANTED TO SPEAK TO.
UH, I JUST WANTED TO QUICKLY SPEAK ON ITEM 45.
I WANTED TO THANK ALL THE SPEAKERS,
[03:00:01]
UH, FOR COMING OUT.SORRY FOR COMING OUT AND ADVOCATING, UH, FOR A COMMUNITY THAT THEY, THEY TRULY LOVE.
AND I ALSO WANTED TO THANK THE APPLICANT FOR WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY AND INCORPORATING AS MANY OF THEIR REQUESTS AS POSSIBLE.
I KNOW A LOT OF WORK HAS BEEN PUT INTO THE CASE.
UH, I I BELIEVE WE'VE LANDED IN A PLACE THAT, THAT SATISFIES THE MAIN CONCERNS REGARDING AFFORDABILITY AND THE PEDESTRIAN ENVIRONMENT.
UM, I ALIGN WITH STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION, UH, GIVEN THIS PROJECT IS ON A TRANSIT CORRIDOR WITH A HIGH FREQUENCY BUS ROUTE, UH, WHICH WARRANTS THE HEIGHT PROPOSED ALONG WITH A STREET ENVIRONMENT MIMICKING WHAT WE'VE, UH, WHAT WE'D GET UNDER DB E TODD.
UH, WE HAVE TO GET A BAL WE HAVE TO BALANCE COMMUNITY BENEFITS, UH, AGAINST WHAT PENCILS OUT TO KEEP GENERATING NEED DEVELOPMENT.
SO I, YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE, UH, THIS ALIGNS WITH OUR CITY VALUES OF AFFORDABILITY AND, AND MOBILITY IN AN AREA WE'D WANT, UH, TO SEE THIS TYPE OF GROWTH.
UH, AND I BELIEVE WE'VE STRUCK A GOOD BALANCE.
AND JUST FOR, FOR THOSE WATCHING, JUST WANNA REMIND EVERYONE, IT'S, THIS IS FIRST READING, UH, FOR ITEM 45.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER COUNCILMAN RYAN ALTER.
UH, FIRST AND FOREMOST, JUST WANNA THANK THE NEIGHBORS FOR COMING OUT AGAIN.
AND, AND THIS ONE, THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE TOUGHER ZONING CASES THAT I HAVE DEALT WITH, UH, IN DISTRICT FIVE.
YOU REALLY TRYING TO BALANCE THE, WHAT THEY CAN ALREADY DO THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HEARD FROM THE APPLICANT, A A COULD BE A VERY INTENSIVE COMMERCIAL SITE AND, AND RECOGNIZING THE, THE ECONOMICS OF SOMEBODY BEING MOTIVATED TO DO THAT IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD VERSUS TRYING TO GET RESIDENTIAL, CONSIDERING EVEN, YOU KNOW, THE PROGRAM THAT, UH, COUNCILOR ALISON ANDAL ALTER PUT FORWARD BEFORE I WAS HERE, THE RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL, WHICH WOULD'VE ALLOWED THIS EXACT TYPE OF PROJECT WHERE YOU ALREADY HAVE THE COMMERCIAL ZONING TO GO UP TO THIS HEIGHT.
UM, BECAUSE WE DO WANT TO PROMOTE MORE HOUSING THAT MORE PEOPLE CAN AFFORD THROUGHOUT THE CITY IN AN AREA THAT IS WELL CONNECTED, UH, WHETHER IT'S BUS, BIKE, AND, AND THOSE IMPROVEMENTS ARE GONNA BE MADE.
BUT IT IS, YOU KNOW, I TOTALLY HEAR THE NEIGHBOR'S CONCERNS.
IT, IT, THERE ARE, THERE ARE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE.
AND, AND HEARKENING BACK TO THE DISCUSSION WE HAD THIS MORNING ABOUT THE NEED FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS TO BE ABLE TO PRIORITIZE VERY SPECIFIC IMPROVEMENTS TO AN AREA.
WHETHER IT'S JUST THE MIRROR, THE FLASHING LIGHTS, THE SPEED BUMPS, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE GOTTA FIGURE OUT IF WE NEED TO BAN PARKING ON ONE SIDE OF THE ROAD OR, OR HOW WE CAN BETTER GET FLOWS THROUGH.
BUT ULTIMATELY TRYING TO STRIKE A BALANCE AND A COMPROMISE.
AND IN THIS CASE, I KNOW, UH, Y'ALL WISH IT WAS DIFFERENT AND I KNOW THE APPLICANT WISHES IT WAS DIFFERENT AND, AND SO, UH, WHEN EVERYONE'S UNHAPPY IT, IT DOES SAY WE DID A LITTLE BIT, RIGHT? I, I KNOW NO ONE FEELS GREAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, BUT I THINK THIS IS THE RIGHT BALANCE FOR THIS AREA AND IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO ALLOW FOR HOPEFULLY MORE FAMILIES TO COME AND LIVE IN WHAT IS A GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND SO, UM, IF, IF ALL THE, THE INTERACTIONS WITH FUTURE NEIGHBORHOODS WERE AS GREAT AS I'VE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE WITH Y'ALL, UH, IT WOULD BE A REAL PRIVILEGE.
IT'S NOT ALWAYS AS, UH, CORDIAL AND ENJOYABLE.
SO I JUST WANNA THANK Y'ALL THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS.
IT REALLY HAS, UM, BEEN ENJOYABLE EVEN THOUGH WE, WE HAVEN'T ALWAYS, UH, ARRIVED AT THE SAME SPOT.
SO, UH, I I WILL BE SUPPORTING THE, THE MOTION TODAY, BUT JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT THOSE POINTS.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER MEMBERS, THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED.
LET ME ASK IF THERE'S ANYONE WISHES TO ABSTAIN.
I HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY ABSTAINING ON ITEMS 52 AND 59.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO BE SHOWN ABSTAINING ON AN ITEM? YES.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER I WOULD LIKE TO ABSTAIN ON 64 AND I WOULD LIKE TO, TO VOTE NO ON 45 AND 59.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER WILL BE SHOWN ABSTAINING ON ITEMS NUMBER SI ON ITEM NUMBER 64.
AND I'VE ALSO RECORDED, I'LL COME BACK TO IT WHEN WE GET TO THE NO VOTES, BUT ON 45 AND 59, IS THAT CORRECT? IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO ABSTAIN FROM AN ITEM? ANYONE ELSE WISH ANYONE WISHING TO RECUSE THEMSELVES FROM VOTING ON AN ITEM? ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING? NO.
I HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY BEING SHOWN VOTING NO ON 45.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER VOTING NO ON 45 AND 59 AND I'LL BE VOTING NO ON ITEM NUMBER 45.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON AN ITEM IN THAT CASE WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY BEING SHOWN VOTING NO ON ITEM 45 AND ABSTAINING ON ITEMS 52 AND 59.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER BEING SHOWN VOTING NO ON 45 AND 59 AND ABSTAINING ON ITEM 64
[03:05:01]
AND THE MAYOR BEING SHOWN VOTING NO ON ITEM NUMBER 45 MEMBERS.THAT COMPLETES ALL OF THE BUSINESS FOR THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AT THIS REGULAR SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE ADJOURNED AT 3:07 PM WE ARE ADJOURNED.