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INTERIM CITY ATTORNEY DEBRA THOMAS, CITY CLERK MYRNA RIOS, AND CITY MANAGER, TC BROAD N.
[Call to Order]
CALL TO ORDER AT 10:00 AM ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 30TH.THE MEETING, UH, REGULAR MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
WE ARE MEETING AT 3 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET, WHICH IS WHERE THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS ARE LOCATED, UH, IN AUSTIN CITY HALL.
WE HAVE A QUORUM OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL PRESENT.
UM, I'M GOING TO RUN THROUGH QUICKLY THE ORDER OF BUSINESS FOR THE DAY, AND THEN WE WILL BEGIN, UH, THAT ORDER.
UH, THE FIRST THING I'M GONNA DO IS IN A MOMENT, I WILL READ CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS INTO THE RECORD, AND THEN WE WILL GO TO
[Consent Agenda (Part 1 of 2)]
OUR 10 O'CLOCK, UH, CONSENT AGENDA.WE WILL HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC, HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AT OR NEAR 10 30.
IT MAY BE A LITTLE AFTER BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
WE WILL RECESS THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING, AND I WILL CALL TO ORDER THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.
ONCE THAT BUSINESS IS COMPLETE, WE WILL COME BACK TO THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA.
WE HAVE TWO ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ITEM 72 AND ITEM 62, WE WILL TAKE THOSE ITEMS UP.
WE ALSO HAVE AS NON-CONSENT ITEMS PURSUANT TO OUR RULES.
UH, ITEMS COME FROM COUNCIL COMMITTEES.
THOSE ARE ITEMS 81, 82, 83, AND ONE 14.
WE WILL THEN HAVE PUBLIC HEARINGS.
UH, THOSE ARE ITEMS 85 THROUGH 92.
WE AT 12 O'CLOCK, WE HAVE A TIME CERTAIN, AND THAT IS PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.
WHAT I ANTICIPATE WILL HAPPEN IS WE WILL DO THE PUBLIC COMMUNICATION 12 O'CLOCK TIME, CERTAIN THAT WILL BE COMPLETED AROUND 1230 TO 1235 AT, WE WILL RECESS AT THAT POINT UNTIL WE WILL SEE HOW THINGS ARE GOING AT THAT POINT.
BUT ABOUT ONE 10, UH, WE WILL HAVE LIVE MUSIC DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME, TIME.
WE ALSO, AT TWO O'CLOCK, WILL COME BACK FOR OUR TIME, CERTAIN ON ZONING WITH THAT.
NOW LET ME READ CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS INTO THE RECORD.
ITEM NUMBER 52 IS WITHDRAWN AND REPLACED WITH ADDENDUM ITEM NUMBER ONE 12.
ITEM 68, WITHDRAWN AND REPLACED WITH ADDENDUM ITEM NUMBER ONE 13.
ITEM NUMBER 73 SHOULD RE READ, APPROVE A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SUBMITTAL OF THE BERGSTROM SPUR TRAILS TO TRANSIT PROJECT AS A CANDIDATE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025.
DELETE THE WORDS, REBUILDING AMERICAN INFRASTRUCTURE WITH SUSTAINABILITY AND EQUITY, AND ADD THE WORDS BETTER, UTILIZING INVESTMENTS TO LEVERAGE DEVELOPMENT.
PARENTHESES, BUILD DISCRETIONARY GRANT PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY THE US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
ITEM NUMBER 78 SHOULD ADD COUNCIL MEMBER PAGE ELLIS AS A SPONSOR.
ITEM NUMBER 80 SHOULD ADD COUNCIL MEMBER KRISTA LANE AND MAYOR PRO TEM VANESSA FUENTES AS SPONSORS.
ITEM NUMBER 85 SHOULD READ WHEN PUBLIC HEARINGS, HEARINGS ARE TAKEN UP.
THIS ITEM WILL BE POSTPONED TO MARCH 6TH, 2025.
ITEM NUMBER 86 SHOULD READ WHEN PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE TAKEN UP.
ITEM NUMBER 92 SHOULD READ, CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER AN APPEAL BY MARCUS SHAFTEL.
AND THEN DELETE THE, THE ADDITIONAL NAMES SO THAT IT READS AN APPEAL BY MARCUS SHAFTEL OF THE ZONING AND PLATTING COMMISSIONS, PLANNING COMMISSION'S DECISION.
AND THEN ON TO, TO THE END OF THAT, THOSE ARE THE ACTION ITEMS THAT HAVE CORRECTIONS.
AS I'VE INDICATED ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PULLED OFF.
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ARE ITEM 72 AND ITEM 62, AND WE WILL TAKE THOSE UP.AS I'VE INDICATED MEMBERS, THOSE ARE ALL THE CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS TO BE READ INTO THE RECORD.
SO THAT WILL TAKE US TO THE CONSENT SPEAKERS.
UH, BEFORE, AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, AGAIN, THE CONSENT AGENDA WILL BE THOSE ITEMS OTHER THAN 72 AND 62 THAT HAVE BEEN PULLED, THE NON-CONSENT ITEMS, 81, 82, 83, AND ONE 14, AND THE PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS THAT I HAVE MENTIONED BEFORE, WE HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT FROM THE CONSENT SPEAKERS.
WE HAVE TWO ITEMS THAT RELATE TO LEGAL SETTLEMENTS.
AND SO I WILL RECOGNIZE, UM, THE ACTING CITY ATTORNEY WITH REGARD TO THOSE TWO ITEMS TO MAKE A PRESENTATION BEFORE WE HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE HAVE ASSISTANT, EXCUSE ME,
WE HAVE ASSISTANT CITY ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY COMING TO DO THE PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. MAYOR, MAYOR, PRO TEM.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, I'M ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY JEREMY THOMPSON.
I'M HERE TODAY TO RECOMMEND, UH, TWO SETTLEMENTS.
ON TWO OF THE AGENDA ITEMS YOU HAVE, UH, ITEMS 54 AND 56, TAKING THEM IN TURN.
ITEM 54, UH, ROBINSON VERSUS CITY OF AUSTIN.
WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU APPROVE A PAYMENT OF A $100,000 TO SETTLE THE MICHAEL ROBINSON VERSUS CITY OF AUSTIN LAWSUIT.
UH, THIS SUIT RELATES TO A FEBRUARY, 2023 CAR ACCIDENT INVOLVING AN AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT VEHICLE WHERE MR. ROBINSON SEEKS PAYMENT FOR HIS INJURIES.
IN EXCHANGE FOR THE PAYMENT, PLAINTIFF, PLAINTIFF WILL, UH, RELEASE ANY AND ALL CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY FROM THE ACCIDENT, AND WILL ALSO DISMISS HIS LAWSUIT FILED IN THE DISTRICT COURT FOR TRAVIS COUNTY LAW DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS THAT YOU APPROVE PAYMENT BASED ON THESE TERMS REGARDING ITEM 56, UH, MCGINNIS VERSUS CITY OF AUSTIN, UH, WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU APPROVE A PAYMENT OF $150,000 TO SETTLE WILLIAM MCGINNIS VERSUS CITY OF AUSTIN LAWSUIT.
THIS LAWSUIT RELATES TO A FEBRUARY, 2023 RESIDENTIAL FIRE WHERE MR. ROBINSON SEEKS PAYMENT FOR DAMAGE TO HIS PROPERTY ALLEGEDLY CAUSED BY THE ACTS OF AUSTIN ENERGY.
IN EXCHANGE FOR THE PAYMENT, PLAINTIFF WILL RELEASE ANY AND ALL CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY FROM THE INCIDENT AND WILL ALSO DISMISS HIS LAWSUIT FILED IN THE DISTRICT COURT FOR TRAVIS COUNTY.
THE LAW DEPARTMENT ALSO RECOMMENDS THAT YOU APPROVE PAYMENT BASED ON THESE TERMS. ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBERS? DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF LEGAL ON THE TWO ITEMS THAT WOULD BE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, BUT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED TO US NOW? ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.
THANK YOU AND, AND APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION MEMBERS.
ONE OTHER THING ABOUT THE CONSENT AGENDA, ITEM NUMBER 53 ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
WHEN, WHEN I TAKE A, A MOTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AFTER WE'VE HEARD PUBLIC COMMENT, ITEM NUMBER 53 WILL THE, THE MOTION, THE CONSENT AGENDA MOTION WILL BE TO POSTPONE ITEM NUMBER 53.
SO I, I WANT TO CALL THAT TO EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION BEFORE WE START, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM NUMBER 53.
WITH THAT, UH, I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK.
WE WILL START HEARING FROM OUR, UH, PUBLIC WITH REGARD TO THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IT'S BEEN PRESENTED.
THE FIRST SPEAKERS ARE FOR ITEM NUMBER FOUR, ELIZABETH MCGREEVY, CRAIG NASER, AND THEN NICO WARD, WHO DOES HAVE TIME DONATION IS BOBBY LEVINSKY AND MONICA GUZMAN HERE.
UM, AND I SEE MR. LEVINSKY NOW.
SO AS COUPLE OF HOUSEKEEPING MATTERS, ONE IS, AS SHE CALLS YOUR NAMES, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT AND PICK ONE OF THESE, UH, SEATS HERE AT THE FRONT.
SO WE HAVE A NUMBER OF SPEAKERS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
WE, AND WE WANT TO BE COURTEOUS TO THOSE, UM, THAT ARE BEHIND YOU.
SO WE'LL KNOW THAT YOU'RE HERE TO SPEAK.
SO PLEASE COME FORWARD SO THAT YOU'LL BE READY TO SPEAK, UH, ONCE YOU'RE, ONCE YOU HAVE A FREE MICROPHONE.
OH, WHAT ITEMS AM I SPEAKING ON? NUMBER FOUR, ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
UH, CRAIG NASER, UH, CONSERVATION CHAIR OF THE LONE STAR CHAPTER SIERRA CLUB.
UM, DOING SOMETHING ABOUT WILDFIRES IS VERY IMPORTANT, AND I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING TO DO.
THE QUESTION IS DOING THE RIGHT THING.
I LIVED IN LOUISIANA AND THERE WAS A NATIONAL FORCE THERE, AND IT WAS AN ECOSYSTEM THAT BURNED AND THEY SUPPRESSED FIRE, AND THEY HAD HUGE PROBLEMS WITH THAT, WITH FIRE GOING THROUGH IT.
AND SO YOU HAD TO COME UP WITH A WAY TO BURN AND TO CLEAR AND TO DO THINGS THAT FIRE WOULD DO.
WHAT I AM HAVE FOUND OUT LIVING HERE AND TALKING TO A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE IS THE HILL COUNTRY WAS LARGELY FORESTED, AND IT DIDN'T BURN.
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IF IT BURNED, YOU WOULD SEE THESE DEAD BURNT TRUNKS OF BIG GIANT CEDARS EVERYWHERE BECAUSE FIRE WOULD COME THROUGH REGULARLY AND BURN IT.YOU DON'T SEE THAT IN LOUISIANA.
YOU SAW LONGLEAF PINE THAT WOULD BURN, AND IT WOULDN'T KILL THEM.
IN FACT, THEY HAD TO BURN TO RELEASE THEIR SEEDS.
WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING SIMILAR LIKE THAT IN THE HILL COUNTRY.
SO NUMBER ONE I'M CONCERNED ABOUT, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, CALLING IN A SOMEONE FROM OREGON WHO'S A DIFFERENT FOREST SYSTEM AND EVERYTHING.
WE HAVE PLENTY OF GOOD PEOPLE HERE IN TEXAS WHO ARE GETTING A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF HILL COUNTRY FORESTS, AND WE SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT WE GET GOOD PEOPLE TO LOOK AT WHAT WE DO, BECAUSE JUST GOING IN AND CLEARING AND PRESCRIBED BURNS AND ALL THAT, I DON'T THINK MAY BE THE BEST THING TO PREVENT FIRE.
SO IT REALLY HAS TO DO ABOUT SCIENCE.
WHAT'S THE BEST SCIENCE, WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO DO THIS? SO, UM, THAT'S MY OPINION ON ITEM FOUR.
UH, I AM ELIZABETH MCGREEVY, A NATURAL RESOURCES CONSULTANT AND E COLLEGES WITH MORE THAN 25 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH HILL COUNTRY LANDOWNERS.
I'M PROGRAM DIRECTOR OF THE NONPROFIT PROJECT BEDROCK OWNER OF LAND STEWARD TEXAS MANAGEMENT PLANTS, AND AUTHOR OF WANTED MOUNTAIN CEDARS DEAD AND ALIVE AGENDA FOR SUGGESTS PAIN, THE NORTHWEST PACIFIC RESEARCH STATION TO CONDUCT A WILDFIRE ASSESSMENT IN THE REGION.
WHY WOULD YOU BRING IN A GROUP FROM OREGON TO CONDUCT A WILDFIRE ASSESSMENT ON THIS LIMESTONE FLASH, FLOOD PRONE REGION OF TEXAS? THAT'S LIKE HAVING, GETTING A RABBI TO SPEAK ABOUT CATHOLICISM INSTEAD OF A PRIEST.
THE THING IS, WE ALREADY HAVE A PRIEST IS DR. JOSEPH WHITE FROM BAYLOR UNIVERSITY.
IN 2009, THE CITY OF AUSTIN PAID HIS TEAM TO DEVELOP THE AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY COMMUNITY WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN THAT THE AUSTIN WILDFIRE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN USING EVER SINCE.
IN ADDITION TO THAT STUDY, WHITE HAS CONDUCTED MORE THAN A DOZEN FIRE AND UWI RESEARCH PROJECTS ON THE EDWARDS PLATEAU.
HE IS BETTER EQUIPPED AND QUALIFIED, AND HE'S LOCATED JUST UP THE ROAD, NOT 2000 MILES AWAY, PAY HIS TEAM TO UPDATE HIS STUDY INSTEAD OF PAYING A TEAM FROM THE WEST COAST.
BUT IF YOU'RE CONVINCED YOU NEED A GOVERNMENT TEAM, THEN USE, AT LEAST USE THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN RESEARCH STATION, WHICH IS IN COLORADO, AND THEY HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH OF THE REGION.
I'M NICO HOWARD, UM, OF THE, UM, I'M NOT IN, IN, IN ANYONE'S DISTRICT, UM, BUT LIVE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
UM, AS A SCIENTIST, I'VE WORKED FOR THREE DECADES TO STUDY GROUNDWATER FLOW, RECHARGE WATER QUALITY WORK TO IDENTIFY AND ACQUIRE SITES FOR CITY PRESERVATION.
AND I'VE BEEN AMAZED AT HOW MUCH THE LAND MANAGEMENT PRACTICE IS SUPPOSED TO PRESERVE RECHARGE AT BARTON SPRINGS, PROTECT OUR WATER SUPPLY, BUT THEY, THEY DON'T.
MY BIG CONCERN WITH ITEM THREE IS THE, UM, THE PATTERN OF HIRING A CONSULTANT WHO'S VERY PRO, UM, CLEARING TREES AND PRESCRIBED BURNS, UM, INSTEAD OF GETTING THE ACTUAL SCIENCE.
NOW, UM, THE STUDY THAT OF THIS SCOPE WAS ALREADY CONDUCTED IN 2009 BY BAYLOR UNIVERSITY.
IT FOUND THAT FOREST HAD A LOW WILDFIRE RISK, WHICH CONSISTENT WITH THE HISTORICAL RECORD, UM, AND PERHAPS BECAUSE THE CITY'S INVESTED SO MUCH INTO CLEARING THAT THIS IS PROBLEMATIC, AND THAT'S WHY THEY WANTED A DIFFERENT STUDY.
UM, OTHER SCIENTIFIC STUDIES SHOW THAT TREE CLEARING AND PRESCRIBED BURNING SIMILARLY INCREASE WILDFIRE RISK IN THROUGH SOIL EROSION, THROUGH HEATING, INCREASING THE WIND SPEED DRYING, UM, JUST TO SOME OF THE RECENT HISTORIES OF CITY'S, UM, 20, UH, 2022 AUSTIN WATER, WATER QUALITY PROTECTION LAND PROPOSES CLEARING ABOUT 6,000 ACRES, BURNING 11,000 ACRES, MUCH OF WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN CLEARED IN THE LAST TWO DECADES IN THE 2023 PARKS, RECOMMENDED LAND MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES AND CLIMATE VARIABILITY ANALYSES ANALYSIS PROPOSED CLEARING AND BURNING ACROSS ABOUT 12,000 ACRES OF PARKLAND.
UM, SO I SEE THIS, UM, STUDY IS A STEP FOR THE PROPOSED AUSTIN WATER TO, UM, START INITIATING THE SAME POTENTIALLY, UM, CLEARING AND BURNING OVER 14,000 ACRES OF BALCONES CANYONLAND
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PRESERVES, UM, MUCH OF OUR PEAK SUMMER TEMPERATURES, LACK OF RAINFALL, DIMINISHING WATER RESERVOIRS, AND SPRING FLOWS, AND EXTREME WEATHER, OR FUELED BY LOCAL DEFORESTATION.UM, SO THIS, UH, MANAGEMENT PRACTICE OF CLEARING AND BURNING IS MAKING THINGS WORSE.
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME AUSTIN WATER PURCHASED PRESERVED LAND TO PROTECT OUR WATER SUPPLY? SO RATHER THAN FOCUS ON TREES AS FUEL, WHY NOT WORK TO HARDEN HOMES, REDUCE IGNITION RISKS LIKE ARSON, CAMPFIRE CIGARETTES, FIREWORKS, UTILITY LINES, WELDING, UM, CONTINUE FUNDING AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT'S RAPID RESPONSE, UM, WORK ON BUILDING THE SOILS AND PRESERVING THE FOREST TO MAINTAIN THE WATER SUPPLY.
AND IF YOU'RE GONNA DO A STUDY, WHY NOT FOCUS ON A STUDY ON AIR AND WATER QUALITY BENEFITS OF FOREST, AS WELL AS THE TOXIC WATER AND AIR QUALITY CREATED BY PRESCRIBED BURNS? UM, A 2014 STUDY THAT WASN'T REFERENCED IN ANY OF THE LAND MANAGEMENT PLANS, THE CITY DID CALCULATED THAT IN TRAVIS AND HAYES COUNTY, ABOUT TWO TO FOUR TONS PER SQUARE KILOMETER OF CONTAMINANTS WERE REMOVED BY TREES, AND THAT 96% OF POLLUTION REMOVAL FROM TREES OCCURRED ON THE RURAL LANDS.
UM, SO WHY IS AUSTIN WATER AND PARK SO INVESTED IN PRESCRIBED BURNING AND TREE CLEARING WHEN THEY KNOW THAT BURNING PRODUCES HIGHLY TOXIC AIR IN WATER QUALITY? WHY DON'T CITY MANAGEMENT PLANS REVEAL THAT MERCURY EXOR ABSORBED BY THE SOIL OR LOST BY HEATED SOIL, BURNT VEGETATION AND SMOKE EMISSIONS? IN 2001, WILDFIRES CONTRIBUTED ABOUT 800 TONS PER YEAR OF AIRBORNE MERCURY.
25% OF ALL ANTHROPOGENIC SOURCES OF MERCURY ARE FROM WILDFIRES.
SO MANY STUDIES SHOW THE LOSS OF CARBON NITROGEN PHOSPHORUS FOLLOWING SLASH AND BURN, UM, WHICH CONTRIBUTES TO TOXIC ALGAE DOWNSTREAM, AND WE HAVE RECENTLY BEEN HAVING THAT PROBLEM.
UM, BURNING DECREASES, THE RECHARGE INCREASES DOWNSTREAM FLOODING.
UM, WHY ISN'T THE THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF PRESCRIBED BURN EACH YEAR? AND TRAVIS AND HAYES COUNTY MONITOR THE STUDY.
IF IT'S THE CAUSE OF AUSTIN EXCEEDING EPAS, UH, LOWERED AIR QUALITY STANDARDS, THE EROSION THAT FOLLOWS E FOUR STATION UPSTREAM OF AUSTIN IS CAUSING ITS WATER SUPPLY RESERVOIRS TO FILL UP, WHICH IS A FACTOR FOR REDUCING WATER SUPPLY STORAGE.
AS I COMMENTED ON THE AUSTIN FORWARD PLAN, AUSTIN WATER'S FUTURE STRATEGY SEEMS TO ABANDON EARTH AND SEEMS TO DEWATER AQUIFERS FOR WATER SUPPLY, AQUIFER STORAGE AND RECOVERY.
AUSTIN WATER ALSO PROPOSED AQUIFER STORAGE AND RECOVERY IN THE NORTHERN EDWARDS AQUIFER.
FORTUNATELY, THEY ABANDONED IT WHEN THEY DISCOVERED THAT I HAD BEEN TRACING AND THAT THE, TO SHOW THAT THE WATER WOULD JUST BE STORED THERE FOR DAYS OR WEEKS.
SO, UM, YOU, THERE'S SOME ALTERNATIVES.
THEY'RE PICKING, UM, THE US FOREST SERVICE FOR CONTRACTORS.
IF YOU WANT TO DO, VISIT THE STUDY AGAIN ONCE YOU PICK DR. JOSEPH, WE, BAYLOR, WHO DID THE FIRST STUDY.
UM, THERE'S OTHER GOOD RESEARCHERS, DR.
CHAD HANSON, DR. JACK COHEN OF MONTANA.
LINDA MAYOR OF AUSTRALIA'S DONE EXCELLENT WORK AND, AND SHOWED THAT, UM, WILDFIRE RISK INCREASES WITH DEFORESTATION AND LOGGING, UM, IN SOME OF THE LARGEST LOCAL DEFORESTATION PRESCRIBED BURN EFFORTS IN THE LAST TWO DECADES AREN'T DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN AUSTIN, BUT WERE CONDUCTED BY AUSTIN WATER.
UM, PART OF THE, THE AIR QUALITY PROBLEM IS THAT, UM, THAT 40% OF THE, OF THE PARTICULATE MATTER, WHICH AUSTIN IS EXCEEDING EPA STANDARDS FOR US FROM FIRE SMOKE.
UM, THERE'S AN ANNUAL MORTALITY OF ABOUT A THOUSAND TO 28,000 PEOPLE PER YEAR IN THE UNITED STATES.
UH, DEPENDING ON WHICH STUDY YOU ARE LOOKING AT, YOU GET ASTHMA, RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS, LUNG CANCER, HEART MORBIDITY.
NEXT ITEM FOUR WILLIAM BUNCH, BRAD MASSING, ROY WHALEY, AND THEN JENNY GRAYSON.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, BILL BUNCH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE, UM, TAXPAYER RESIDENT VOTER.
UM, PLEASE LISTEN TO THE EXPERTS YOU'VE BEEN HEARING SO FAR ALREADY.
UH, ELIZABETH MCGREEVY WROTE A BOOK ON THIS TOPIC.
DR. HOWARD IS ONE OF THE SCIENTISTS THAT UNFORTUNATELY, THE CITY RAN, UH, CHASED OFF.
UM, OTHERS ARE BEING SILENCED, WHO ARE SPEAKING THE REAL SCIENCE RATHER THAN THE JUNK SCIENCE THAT LEADS TO CUTTING TREES
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AND BURNING TREES.WHEN OUR CLIMATE PROTECTION PLAN CALLS FOR YOU, US TO BE GROWING TREES REFORESTING, OUR LANDSCAPE, UM, WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING TO DO IN THIS ITEM IS GO HIRE SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE FORESTERS, WHO COME FROM FORESTRY, MEANING CUTTING TREES DOWN.
THAT IS THEIR BIAS, THAT IS THEIR AGENDA.
AND IT'S, IT SHOULD BE OBVIOUS TO YOU AND TO THE PUBLIC THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO RIDE ON THE PANIC OF THE INCREDIBLY UNFORTUNATE FIRES HAPPENING IN LA AND DEMONSTRATING THAT YOU'RE COMMITTED TO PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITY.
BUT WHAT YOU'RE, THE, THE COURSE YOU'RE EMBARKING ON HERE, AS YOU'VE JUST HEARD, WILL INCREASE FIRE RISKS, WILL HURT OUR WATERSHEDS, WILL REDUCE THE WATER THAT WE NEED TO BE INCREASING, REDUCE, RECHARGE, INCREASE SOIL EROSION.
BUT WHAT IT WILL DO IS PUT MORE MONEY IN THE POCKETS OF YOUR STAFF TO HIRE CONTRACTORS AND HIRE MORE STAFF TO CREATE AN IDEAL OF RANCH LAND THAT IS NOT GOOD FOR ENDANGERED SUPPOSED TO BE.
I'M THE CONSERVATION CHAIR FOR THE LOCAL SIERRA CLUB.
UH, WELCOME TO YOUR INAUGURAL MEETING TO THE NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, I WOULD, UH, YOU KNOW, NICO HOWARD, DR. HOWARD.
HE KNOWS SOME PRETTY GOOD STUFF.
UM, SO I'M NOT GONNA CORRECT HIM ON THE FEW THINGS HE GOT WRONG,
FOR ME, IT'S A MORE PERSONAL THING BECAUSE MY DAUGHTER LIVES IN LOS ANGELES.
SHE HAS A HARD TIME TAKING HER DOG OUT FOR A WALK BECAUSE THE AIR QUALITY IS SO BAD, AND IT'S NOT TREES NECESSARILY THAT ARE BURNING IT'S BUILDINGS.
THESE THINGS WEREN'T STARTED, AND THEY STILL DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW THESE, THESE GOT STARTED.
THESE FIRES GOT STARTED, BUT BY HUMAN ERROR, A CIGARETTE BUTT THROWN OUT THE WINDOW ARE WORSE ARSON.
AND IF IT IS ARSON, THEN THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO TO STOP A GUY WITH A GALLON OF GAS AND A BICK LIGHTER.
BUT AS MR. BUNCH JUST SAID, WE'RE BUSY PLANTING TREES, AND AS DR. HOWARD SAID, IT IMPACTS THE INFILTRATION OF OUR WATER.
AND AGAIN, IT'S 43.1% FULL IN LAKE TRAVIS TODAY.
WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT WATER IN EVERY DECISION.
SO I WOULD ASK YOU IF NOT TO SAY NO.
SO GO BACK AND BRING US MORE INFORMATION, MORE DETAILED INFORMATION, INFORMATION FROM PEOPLE WHO TRULY KNOW THE ISSUE.
LAST TWO SPEAKERS ON ITEM FOUR ARE JENNY GRAYSON AND BRAD MASSING.
OKAY, I'M MOVING ON TO ITEM NINE.
CRAIG NASER AND MR. NASER HAS TIME DONATED BY LINDA BAILEY.
LINDA, ARE YOU HERE? I SEE HER.
SO THAT'LL BE FOUR MINUTES, FOLLOWED BY WILLIAM BUNCH.
WHO HAS TIME DONATED BY BOBBY LEVINSKY AND MONICA GUZMAN.
I SEE MONICA BOBBY, ARE YOU HERE STILL? YES, THEY'RE HERE.
AND THEN BRAD MASSING, CRAIG NASER, LONE STAR CHAPTER SIERRA CLUB.
UH, I'VE LIVED IN AUSTIN QUITE A WHILE, AND I MUST SAY I RARELY GO TO EVENTS AT THE CONVENTION CENTER.
AND MORE AND MORE OFTEN IT'S BECAUSE THESE EVENTS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE.
PARKING IS EXPENSIVE, AND LIKE YOU'LL HAVE THESE EVENTS WHERE YOU HAVE TO BUY A DAY TICKET OR A WEEK TICKET TO EVEN GET IN TO SEE MAYBE A MOVIE YOU WANNA SEE.
AND YOU HAVE TO WAIT THERE BECAUSE THEY LET ALL THOSE PEOPLE IN FIRST WHO'VE PAID HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS, AND MAYBE YOU'LL GET TO SEE YOUR MOVIE OR WHATEVER.
MEANWHILE, WE HAVE, UH, A CLIMATE CHANGE PLAN THAT GOES UNFUNDED AND EVERY DAY OF EVERY SUMMER WHERE IT'S HOT AND WHERE THE RAIN STOPS.
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THAT AFFECTS ME PERSONALLY, CONSTANTLY.SO I WOULD SAY ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, WHY ARE WE SPENDING $600 MILLION TO REBUILD A FACILITY THAT'S ALREADY FUNCTIONAL, UH, WHEN WE HAVE OTHER THINGS THAT I THINK, IN MY OPINION, ARE MORE IMPORTANT TO THIS CITY AND TO THEIR SURVIVAL OF THE PLANET THAN AN EXPANDED CONVENTION CENTER.
SO I'M JUST, YOU KNOW, WE GOTTA START DOING THINGS DIFFERENT BECAUSE IF WE KEEP DOING THINGS THE SAME, WE'VE DONE ALL THE TIME, WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO GET THE SAME PROBLEMS WE HAVE.
SO I, I REALLY DON'T WANNA USE A WHOLE LOT OF TIME HERE.
I THANK YOU FOR DONATING THE TIME, BUT I JUST THINK IT'S NOT RIGHT TO SPEND THIS MUCH MONEY ON A CONVENTION CENTER WHEN WE CAN'T AFFORD OUR CLIMATE PLAN INVESTMENT PLAN.
MORNING, UH, BILL BUNCH, SPEAKING AS AN INDIVIDUAL VOTER TAXPAYER AND, UH, FORMER MULTI-YEAR MEMBER OF YOUR TOURISM COMMISSION URGING YOU TO VOTE NO ON THIS $600 MILLION OF, UH, A DOWN PAYMENT ON WHAT'S THE REPORTED TO BE A $1.6 BILLION CONVENTION CENTER PROJECT.
UM, THIS IS, UH, MOVING FORWARD ON THIS IS IRRESPONSIBLE IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.
YOU SHOULD NEVER BE VOTING ON SOMETHING THAT'S $600 MILLION ON CONSENT THAT DESERVES FURTHER ATTENTION.
UM, AND NORMALLY YOU MAKE A DOWN PAYMENT ON SOMETHING WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE GOOD INFORMATION.
AND THAT'S KINDA LIKE GETTING A LITTLE BIT PREGNANT.
UH, HERE YOU'RE GETTING A LOT PREGNANT.
UH, WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW ON THE CURRENT PLAN, WHAT YOU DO KNOW IS THAT THEY'RE TELLING US THAT RIGHT AFTER SOUTH BY, THEY'RE GONNA INITIATE THE DISH DEMOLITION OF OUR CURRENT PERFECTLY FUNCTIONAL AND DECENT, UH, CONVENTION CENTER, UM, AND THAT THEN THEY'RE GONNA BUILD, UH, A NEW ONE.
UM, BUT YOU WERE PROMISED, UM, OF A DETAILED BRIEFING BY STAFF IN DECEMBER AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
THERE'S NO, THEY PROMISED THAT THERE WERE, OR THEY SAID THERE WERE CONCEPTUAL DESIGNS FINISHED IN JULY.
NOBODY SEEN THAT HADN'T BEEN RELEASED.
THEY SAID THERE WAS GONNA BE A PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROCESS ON THE ACTUAL DESIGN THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED, AND YOU'RE GIVING THIS 1.6 BILLION FIGURE, BUT THERE'S NO FINANCIAL MODEL OF WHERE THE REVENUE'S COMING FROM AND WHAT'S THE REAL COST? WHAT IS 1.6 BILLION? DOES THAT INCLUDE THE INTEREST PAYMENTS AND DEBT FINANCING OVER 30 YEARS? ALMOST CERTAINLY NOT.
DOES IT INCLUDE, UH, YEAR AFTER YEAR OF MULTI TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN, UH, OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE COSTS? ALMOST CERTAINLY NOT.
AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THREE TO $5 BILLION HERE.
UM, AND YOU'RE COMPLETELY BLIND AND NOT YOU'RE BLIND AND THE COMMUNITY'S BLIND.
THE LAST TIME THERE WAS A STUDY DONE TO SAY WE SHOULD EXPAND IT, UM, WAS PRE COVID BEFORE, UH, VIRTUAL CONVENTIONS AND BEFORE COMPANY AFTER COMPANY HAVE SAID THEY'RE NOT GONNA COMPLETELY ABANDON CONVENTIONS, BUT THEY'RE GONNA SEND FEWER PEOPLE TO FEWER CONVENTIONS.
THIS INDUSTRY HAS BEEN IN DECLINE SINCE PRE 2008, BUST.
MEANWHILE, A CITY AFTER CITY IS EXPANDING THEIR CONVENTION CENTERS.
UM, SO THE MISMATCH BETWEEN SUPPLY AND DEMAND IS OFF THE CHARTS TO THE POINT WHERE YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO PAY PEOPLE TO COME USE YOUR FACILITY.
UM, IT'S PUTTING ALMOST NO NEW PEOPLE IN HOTEL ROOMS, AND THAT'S WHAT THE HOTEL TAX IS SUPPOSED TO DO.
MEANWHILE, YOU'RE BASICALLY STEALING THE MONEY THAT BELONGS TO LIVE MUSIC, MUSICIANS, MUSIC VENUES, ARTS PARKS, LADY BIRD LAKE, BARTON SPRINGS, THOSE THINGS THAT ACTUALLY DO BRING VISITORS HERE, UM, BUT DON'T NECESSARILY BENEFIT THE FAIRMONT AND THE ULTRA LUXURY ULTRA RICH HOTELS THAT, THAT DO CAPTURE THE LITTLE TINY BIT OF BENEFIT FROM AN EXPANDED CONVENTION CENTER.
UM, MOST OF Y'ALL DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS.
YOU AND, AND YOU HAVEN'T BEEN TOLD YOU NEED TO PUT THIS ON HOLD AND GET SOME REAL INFORMATION.
GOING BACK A LITTLE FURTHER, THE LAST TIME WE EXPANDED THE CONVENTION CENTER, MAYOR WATSON SPONSORED A BALLOT ITEM AND IT WENT TO THE VOTERS.
[00:30:01]
AND WE HAD A STUDY THAT TOLD US HOW MANY ROOM NIGHTS, HOW MUCH ATTENDANCE WE WERE GONNA GENERATE IF WE BUILT THE FACILITY.AND YOU KNOW WHAT THOSE PROJECTIONS ENDED UP TELLING US DOUBLE WHAT WE ACTUALLY GOT.
SO NOW WE'RE GONNA ADD A ZERO FROM 140 MILLION EXPANSION TO ALLEGEDLY 1.6 BILLION.
IT'S GONNA BE THREE, AT LEAST, UM, NO ELECTION.
AND THEY'RE SAYING, OH, NOW YOU'LL GET THE ROOM NIGHTS AND ATTENDANCE THAT WE TOLD YOU YOU WERE GONNA GET WITH THE LAST ROUND.
BUT THESE VERY INCESTUOUS INSIDER CONSULTANTS SAY THE SAME THING EVERY SINGLE TIME TO EVERY CITY.
AND THEIR PROJECTIONS NEVER, EVER COME TRUE.
IF YOU HADN'T READ THE BOOK YET, THE HOMOGENIZATION, THE LACK OF AFFORDABILITY AND THE PURE LIP SERVICE THAT YOU'RE PAYING TO PROTECTING BARTON SPRINGS, OUR LAKE, OUR MUSICIANS, YOU KNOW, WE SAT, Y'ALL SAT AND FIDDLED YOUR THUMBS WHILE WE LOST LUCY IN DISGUISE THE ORIGINAL THREAD, GILLS THREAD, GILLS WORLD HEADQUARTERS.
WE COULD HAVE SAVED ALL OF THOSE CULTURAL TREASURES FOR WHAT'S BASICALLY A ROUNDING ERROR ON THIS EXPANSION.
THIS IS, THIS IS A DEAD BUSINESS MODEL.
AND I KNOW YOU'RE TOLD, OH, WELL, THE CONVENTION CENTER'S A LOSS LEADER.
IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO MAKE US MONEY, BUT HOW MUCH OF A LOSS IT DOESN'T ADD UP ANYMORE.
AND IF YOU GO FORWARD WITH THIS, THIS DECISION WILL LIVE IN INFAMY AND YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RUN AWAY FROM IT.
IT'S GONNA BE THERE EVERY DAY, AND WE'RE GONNA DIG A GIANT BLACK HOLE AND BACK UP DUMP TRUCKS OF MONEY.
YOU PUT AN R IP, THANK YOU MR. BUNCH ON TOP OF IT.
LAST SPEAKERS FOR ITEM NINE, ROY WHALEY AND JENNY GRAYSON.
I'M STILL ROY WHALEY AND I'M STILL THE CONSERVATION CHAIR FOR THE LOCAL SIERRA CLUB.
UM, NOT TO BUILD TOO MUCH OFF OF WHAT MR. BUNCH SAID, BUT YEAH, I I, I SPENT A LOT OF TIME CAMPING IN MY LIFE AND BUILT A LOT OF CAMPFIRES, BUT NEVER WITH ANYTHING OTHER THAN JUST THE MATERIAL AROUND ME FOR THE FIRE, NEVER DUMPING MORE MONEY ONTO A, A MONEY FIRE.
AND AS MY FRIEND CRAIG NASER COSIER, UH, MENTIONED, THE CLIMATE, UH, PLAN IS STILL NOT FUNDED.
IT'S STILL NOT PUT INTO PLACE.
IT'S A LOT OF NICE WORDS, BUT THAT HAS A REAL IMPACT ON ALL OF AUSTIN.
I'M ALSO IN AN INDUSTRY THAT DEALS WITH THESE SORT OF ISSUES, REAL ESTATE, ET CETERA.
UM, AND THERE IS THE, THE CONVENTION CENTER IS SYSTEM IS DYING.
THERE IS A COMBINATION OF HEALTH REASONS AND MONEY.
REAL SIMPLY, THERE'S NO REASON TO TRAVEL TO HOBNOB WITH PEOPLE FROM BISMARCK, NORTH DAKOTA WHEN YOU CAN DO IT BY ZOOM.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO BE FOCUSING ON.
IT'S FUNDING THE THINGS THAT REALLY IMPACT OF ALL OF AUSTIN.
WHAT ABOUT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WITH IH 35? WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ENORMOUS CONSTRUCTION THERE AT THE SAME TIME THAT WE HAVE ENORMOUS CONSTRUCTION HERE.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE ENORMOUS CONSTRUCTION.
IT'S NOT SOME ITEM IN A VACUUM.
I HATE TO SAY POSTPONE IT, BUT I DO AGREE THERE ARE SOME NEW PEOPLE ON THE DAES AND Y'ALL NEED TIME TO, TO TRY TO ABSORB THIS AND DIGEST IT IF IT'S DIGESTIBLE.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME FOR ITEM 10, CRAIG NASER, AND HE HAS TIME DONATED BY LINDA.
LINDA, YOU STILL HERE? OKAY, FOUR MINUTES.
AND THEN WILLIAM BUNCH WITH TIME DONATED BY BOBBY LAVINSKY AND MONICA GUZMAN.
CRAIG NASER, LONE STAR CHAPTER SIERRA CLUB.
[00:35:01]
WELL, YOU'RE GONNA GET HAMMERED ABOUT THIS.I, I APOLOGIZE IN A WAY, IN A WAY.
I DON'T, UH, WHETHER YOU KNOW IT OR NOT, I'M A LIFETIME MUSICIAN AND I HAVE LIVED IN AUSTIN, AND I'VE SEEN THE MUSICIANS DRIVEN OUT OF AUSTIN.
I TAUGHT AT AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOR A YEAR, TAUGHT YOUNG MUSICIANS WHO CAME HERE, DIDN'T HAVE MUCH MONEY.
DIDN'T MAKE MUCH MONEY, BUT IT WAS A, IT WAS A GREAT JOB.
YOU WONDER WHY IS THAT HAPPENING? BIG CONVENTION CENTER, THIS, THAT, AND EVERYTHING.
WHAT'S HAPPENED IS EVERYTHING HAS GOTTEN MORE EXPENSIVE, BUT A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE WHO YOU'RE RELYING ON TO BRING PEOPLE TO AUSTIN, THEY'RE, IT NOT ALL BOATS HAVE FLOATED.
SOME PEOPLE JUST GOT SUNK AND FELL OFF THE EDGE.
YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS A KID IN OHIO, SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL, I WAS IN A REALLY GOOD ROCK BAND, OKAY? THE UNION STANDARD, AND WE WERE A UNION BAND.
WE HAD $67 AND 50 CENTS A GIG.
I COME TO AUSTIN AND I'M PLAYING, AND I HAVE A, I GOT A DOCTOR'S DEGREE.
I'M A LOT BETTER THAN I WAS THEN.
AND YOU'RE PLAYING AROUND AND YOU, THEY, THEY'LL PAY YOU $20.
I ACCOMPANIED AT UT, YOU KNOW, FOR DANCE CLASSES AND EVERYTHING WITH $7 AN HOUR.
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE IN AUSTIN ARE GETTING ROLLED OFF.
AND THIS IS WHY THIS KIND OF MONEY EXPENDITURE IS WHY, BECAUSE THEN WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR HOMELESS.
WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR A CLIMATE INVESTMENT PLAN.
WE DON'T HAVE MONEY FOR PARKS.
I LIKE GOOD PARKS, OKAY? AND WE CAN'T SPEND MONEY FOR PARKS ANYMORE.
SO WE GOT ALL THESE CONVENTION PEOPLE THAT ARE WE THE STATE, OKAY? I'LL BE UP AT THE STATE NEXT, UH, NEXT, UH, WEEK, COUPLE MONTHS WORKING WITH SIERRA CLUB TO TRY AND GET 'EM TO DO THINGS A LITTLE BETTER.
THEY COME DOWN ON US, THEY SAY, WE CAN'T SPEND MONEY.
WHAT CAN YOU DO? I I JUST QUESTION THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR THIS KIND OF THING RIGHT NOW.
AND I WILL HOPE YOU'LL THINK ABOUT THAT.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR LISTENING TO MY COMMENTS.
YOU SPEAK, YEAH, BILL BUNCH AGAIN.
UM, YEAH, $600 MILLION TO START ON THIS PROJECT WITHOUT ANY REAL DATA THAT YOU WERE PROMISED.
ALL OF YOU WERE PROMISED BY STAFF AND THE PUBLIC WAS PROMISED, UH, AGAIN, IS WOEFULLY IRRESPONSIBLE.
UH, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC DEBT, BUT IT DOESN'T SAY WHAT.
AND SO WE KNOW THE HOT TAX, THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX IS A BIG PART OF IT.
UH, BUT HOW, WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE HOT TAX IS BEING DEDICATED TO THIS PROJECT? DO Y'ALL KNOW? I'M GUESSING ALMOST NONE OF YOU KNOW, IF ANY, EVEN ONE OF YOU DOES.
UH, IT KEEPS TAKING A BIGGER BITE.
WHILE WHAT REALLY DRIVES TOURISM VISITORS HERE, WHAT BENEFITS THOSE OF US WHO LIVE HERE IS GETTING A SMALLER AND SMALLER SHARE, UM, WITH THE COLLAPSE IN DOWNTOWN REAL ESTATE, THAT'S NOT GONNA GO AWAY ANYTIME SOON.
ALMOST CERTAINLY, YOU'RE GONNA BE ASKED TO ADD IN AND DIVERT TAXES FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO FEED THIS BEAST.
UM, DO YOU KNOW, HAVE YOU ASKED THAT QUESTION? UM, WE'RE ALSO TOLD, OH, THIS IS GONNA BE CONENT CONVENTION CENTER 4.0.
IT'S NOT JUST GONNA BE THIS DEAD ZONE FOR OUTSIDERS COMING TO BIG MEETINGS.
IT'S GONNA INCORPORATE THE COMMUNITY.
WELL, WHAT DOES THAT REALLY LOOK LIKE? ARE, ARE WE ACTUALLY BUILDING MORE VENUES IN INTO THE NEW CONVENTION CENTER AND HANDING OVER THE TICKETING AND MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL AND PROFITS YET AGAIN OF A PUBLIC ASSET TO LIVE NATION? TICKETMASTER? THAT'S A REAL QUESTION.
ARE Y'ALL, IS ONE OF Y'ALL GONNA ASK THAT QUESTION BEFORE YOU COMMIT $600 MILLION TO THIS? I'M SERIOUS.
WHEN WE STARTED ON THIS PATH PRE COVID, WHAT WE WERE TOLD IS WE HAVE TO EXPAND THE CONVENTION CENTER TO THE WEST SO WE CAN ADD ON NEW STUFF SO WE CAN KEEP OPERATING THE CURRENT FACILITY.
AND THEN ONCE WE HAVE THAT NEW PIECE, WE'D HAVE A SMALL NEW ONE.
[00:40:01]
WE'D TEAR DOWN WHAT WE HAVE AND THEN ADD ON.AND THEN ULTIMATELY WE HAVE A BIG ONE.
BECAUSE IF YOU CLOSE IT FOR YEARS AND YEARS FOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECT, THAT WOULD BE A TOTAL DISASTER FOR SOUTH BY FOR DOWNTOWN.
AND THEN LO AND BEHOLD, WE COULDN'T BUY THAT LAND TO THE WEST SIDE.
AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, ALL THOSE STATEMENTS THAT WERE MADE OVER AND OVER ABOUT HOW IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE, WERE JUST SOMEHOW FORGOTTEN.
AND NOW THAT'S THE COURSE WE'RE ON.
AND YOU'VE NEVER GOTTEN AN EXPER EXPLANATION.
THE COMMUNITY'S NOT EVER GOTTEN AN EXPLANATION.
HOW WAS IT IMPOSSIBLE THEN? BUT NOW IT'S LIKE, OF COURSE THIS IS WHAT WE'RE DOING.
AND THEN WHAT WE WERE ALSO PROMISED, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA, I DON'T SEE HIM HERE, AS Y'ALL WERE TOLD A MONTH AGO, WE WERE GONNA GO VERTICAL.
WE WOULD INCORPORATE PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT, A TOWER FOR HOTELS, CONDOS, PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT THAT WOULD GENERATE TAX REVENUE, HELP PAY FOR IT, AND EVEN PUT MONEY INTO THE GENERAL FUND.
AND THEN NOW WE'RE TOLD, OH, SORRY, WE CAN'T DO THAT.
HOW MUCH OF A FINANCIAL HIT TO THIS PROJECT WAS LOSING THAT OPPORTUNITY? YOU WERE NEVER TOLD THAT Y'ALL, NOBODY EVEN ASKED THE QUESTION, HOW MUCH OF THE BUDGET FOR THIS PROJECT WAS THAT INCORPORATED PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT SUPPOSED TO PAY FOR? AND HOW ARE WE FILLING THAT BUDGET HOLE? I MEAN, THIS IS BLIND LEADING THE BLIND, AND IT'S PRETTY SICK.
WHAT IT REALLY IS, IS THE RICH FEEDING OFF OF YOU AND US, THESE ULTRA LUXURY HOTELS GETTING LITERALLY BILLIONS OF SUBSIDIES WHILE WE PAY LIP SERVICE FOR SUPPORTING THE LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD, WHILE ALL OF OUR CULTURAL FACILITIES THAT ARE SPREAD AROUND THE CITY THAT AREN'T DOWNTOWN GET CRUMBS OR THEY GET NOTHING AND THEY SHUT DOWN AND WE LOSE THEM.
WHY ZOE CADRE'S FOR THIS? IT'S HIS DISTRICT, IT'S DOWNTOWN.
BUT WHY ARE THE REST OF YOU SUPPORTING THIS? WHY ARE THE REST OF YOU NOT EVEN ASKING QUESTIONS? WHY ARE YOU THE REST OF YOU NOT SAYING, HEY, TIME OUT.
THIS IS NOT WHAT WE WERE TOLD.
WE DON'T HAVE THE INFORMATION TO PUT 600 BUCKS ON THE LINE.
CAN ANY OF Y'ALL EVEN SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THIS? HAS MAYOR WATSON INTIMIDATED ALL OF YOU TO THE POINT WHERE YOU WON'T EVEN ASK A QUESTION IN PUBLIC OR VOTE NO IN PUBLIC OR POST ASK FOR A POSTPONEMENT, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO BE A COURTESY.
IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU DON'T HAVE INFORMATION AND IT'S NOT URGENT, IS THE NEXT MEETING LIKE TOO LONG OF A WAIT? DO WE GOTTA HAVE THE 600 MILLION IN OUR POCKETS TODAY FOR SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO LIVE WITH FOR 30 YEARS OF DEBT FINANCING? AND ONCE YOU DIG THAT BIG GIANT BLACK HOLE, YOU CAN'T DIG YOUR WAY OUT OF IT, PLEASE.
BRAD MASSING, ROY WHALEY, BRIAN ROGERS, AND THEN JENNY GRAYSON, Y'ALL.
BRAD MASSENGILL, UM, SOUTH AUSTIN CREEK ALLIANCE IN THE BIRD STREETS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
UM, I, I DON'T HAVE A LOT TO ADD TO THE GREAT TESTIMONY Y'ALL BEEN HEARING ABOUT THIS.
UH, $600 MILLION IS A LOT OF MONEY.
I MEAN, THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY.
AND WITH THE TWO PROJECTS THAT ARE GONNA BE GOING ON WITH THE RAIL AND THE, UH, CAP AND STITCH GOING ON WITH THAT, MAKING A BIG H OUT OF THAT CONSTRUCTION MESS, NOBODY'S GONNA BE ABLE TO GET AROUND TOWN.
UH, YOUR AVERAGE CITIZENS, THEY ALREADY AVOID THE, THE CIVIC CENTER AREA.
AND THIS IS GONNA MAKE IT MUCH WORSE FOR YOUR AVERAGE CITIZEN.
THIS IS NOT REALLY SOMETHING ESPECIALLY YOUR NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT.
YOU NEED TO POSTPONE THIS AND PUT THIS UP FOR SOME MORE ROBUST DISCUSSION.
WHALE LEE, AUSTIN SIERRA CLUB.
UM, I'M GONNA SAVE MY VOICE AND SAVE YOUR EARS SINCE YOU'RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION ANYWAY.
[00:45:01]
JUST STAND UP HERE AND TALK, BUT MR. BUNCH BROUGHT UP AN IMPORTANT THING.ALL THE SPEAKERS HAVE BROUGHT UP AN IMPORTANT THING AND THAT Y'ALL, THERE ARE SO MANY NEW PEOPLE SITTING ON THE COUNCIL TODAY THAT NEED MORE TIME TO DIGEST THESE THINGS.
I HADN'T PLANNED ON BRINGING THOSE UP UNTIL LATER ON.
ITEM 92, YOU CAN POSTPONE THINGS.
A NEW MEMBER CAN ASK THAT THIS BE POSTPONED EXISTING MEMBERS.
RETURNING MEMBERS CAN ASK FOR IT TO BE POSTPONED, TO HAVE BETTER CONVERSATIONS.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING FOR IS THAT THIS BE POSTPONED WHEN WE GET TO ITEM, UH, 92, THAT GIFT POSTPONED SO THAT CONVERSATIONS CAN BE HAD.
I PARTICULARLY KNOW ON ITEM 92 THAT A HUGE PART OF THE, THE NEIGHBORHOOD OUT THERE IS OPPOSED TO THIS MOVING THROUGH.
NOW, I KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN A DROUGHT HERE IN, IN CENTRAL TEXAS.
I KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN A DROUGHT FOR QUITE A WHILE IN CITY COUNCIL OF HAVING DISCUSSIONS OF Y'ALL HAVING DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PUBLIC, WITH Y'ALL ASKING QUESTIONS OF THE SPEAKERS.
AND I THINK THAT'S A SHAME BECAUSE AS I SAY, THROUGH CONVERSATIONS, THAT'S HOW WE COME TO BETTER DECISIONS.
THAT'S HOW YOU HAVE A MORE ROUNDED BASIS FOR YOUR DECISIONS, AND THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING FOR ON THIS.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME.
I KNOW IT'S SO EASY TO, LET ME JUST STAND HERE AND Y'ALL DO OTHER THINGS, BUT IT'S NOT ME.
IT'S THE PEOPLE THAT AREN'T HERE THAT WANT TO SAY THIS.
WE HAVE FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER HOUSTON ON THE LINE, MAYOR MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
WE ARE ALL EXTREMELY AWARE OF THE POLITICAL SHIFTS IN WASHINGTON DC AND IN THE STATE THAT MAY SLOW OR REVERSE COURSE UPON PROGRESS TOWARD RACIAL BALANCE IN ALL ASPECTS OF AMERICAN SOCIETY, INCLUDING ART AND PUBLIC SPACES.
YANCY IS A ONE OF A KIND ARTIST WHOSE WORK ELEVATES AND CELEBRATES AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE AND PRIDE.
THAT'S WHY YEARS AGO, THE CITY COMMISSIONED RISKS AND RHYTHMS FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER AND COMMITTED TO KEEP DR.
YANCY'S MURAL AS A PERMANENT FIXTURE.
PLEASE ENSURE THAT HIS MURAL IS SAFELY REMOVED, PROPERLY STORED AND PROTECTED.
SO IT CAN BE, AGAIN, BE A PROMINENT PROMINENTLY DISPLAYED IN THE NEW CONSTRUCTION, UH, OF THE, OF THE CONVENTION CENTER.
WE ARE ON THE VERGE OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH, ALLOWING THE DESTRUCTION OF A BLACK ARTIST MURAL WOULD BE, IN MY OPINION, AND THE OPINION OF MANY OTHERS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
VERY DISRESPECTFUL AND EMBARRASSING.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, AME SANKOFA.
UH, MY NAME IS NYLA AME SANKOFA.
I'VE LIVED IN AUSTIN SINCE 1989, AND WHEN I ARRIVED HERE, I HIT THE GROUND RUNNING TO STAND BESIDE AND EVEN LEAD INITIATIVES, UH, FOR BLACK ART AND CULTURE.
AND IT'S JUST REALLY INTERESTING TO ME THAT WE ARE HERE ONCE AGAIN, UM, DEFENDING, DEMANDING, UH, EXPECTING AND IMPLORING WITH THE CITY TO DO RIGHT BY, UM, THE ARTS COMMUNITY AND THE, ESPECIALLY THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND THE BLACK ARTS COMMUNITY.
WE, UM, I AM, I'M DEFINITELY ASKING IMPLORING, INSISTING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL VOTE NO ON THE DE SESSIONING, THE ARTWORK THAT IS IN THE CONVENTION CENTER, ESPECIALLY RIFS AND RHYTHMS BY JOHN YANCY, THE PROFESSOR EMERITUS, UH, UT AND A NATIONALLY KNOWN, UH, VISUAL ARTIST, UH, MURALIST AND PAINTER AROUND THE COUNTRY.
WE, THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE TIME THE CITY IS EXPECTING THESE ARTISTS, ESPECIALLY JOHN
[00:50:01]
AND UM, JJ PRYOR FOR DAMIEN PRYOR'S WORK TO FOOT THE BILL TO REMOVE THEIR WORK.UM, THAT COULD COST IN THE TENS OF THOUSANDS, IF NOT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO, UM, REMOVE, RECLAIM, AND, UH, RE UH, PRESERVE AND REMOVE THEIR WORK.
UM, OTHER CITIES HAVE DEES PROCESSES TO, UM, PUBLIC ART AND THE ONES THAT I'VE RESEARCHED SO FAR, AND I'M TALKING ABOUT MAJOR CITIES LIKE PHILADELPHIA AND AND SO ON.
UM, THE, THE LAST THING THEY WANNA DO IS DESTROY THE WORK.
JOHN YANCY, RUDOLPH GREEN, DONNA CARTER, GERARD KINNEY.
THIS IS FOR ITEM 11, STILL NOW.
GOOD MORNING, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UH, MY NAME IS JOHN YANCY, UH, AND I AM AGAINST, UH, OBVIOUSLY
UH, I AM THE ARTIST OF RISKS AND RHYTHMS. UH, ONE OF THE WORKS BEING RECOMMENDED, UH, TODAY FOR DX SESSION AND DESTRUCTION.
UH, I MOVED TO AUSTIN IN 1993 TO ACCEPT A POSITION, UH, ON THE FACTORY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ART AND ART HISTORY AT UT, AND I SERVED ON NUMEROUS CITY PANELS AND COMMITTEES, INCLUDING SERVING AS CHAIR OF ART AND PUBLIC PLACES FROM 1996 TO 2001.
UH, SHORTLY AFTER MOVING TO AUSTIN, I WAS COMMISSIONED, UH, TO CREATE AND INSTALL THE WORK TITLED RISKS AND RHYTHMS AT, AT THE THEN NEWLY BUILT CONVENTION CENTER WITH COLOR AND VIBRANT PRESENCE.
THIS WORK CELEBRATES THE MULTICULTURAL PHENOMENON OF THE VARIOUS GENRES OF TEXAS MUSIC.
FOR 30 YEARS, IT HAS GREETED MILLIONS OF THE ATTENDEES OF SO BY SOUTHWEST COUNTLESS CONFERENCE AND CONVENTIONS AND OTHER VISITORS TO OUR CITY, UH, OVER THOSE DECADES.
I'M HERE TO ASK THE CITY COUNCIL TO DO THREE THINGS, PAUSE, ASSESS, AND PRESERVE.
I URGENTLY REQUEST THAT YOU PAUSE THE ACCESSION BECAUSE THE PO CURRENT POLICY IS OBSOLETE AND NOT APPLICABLE TO CURRENT REALITIES, IT STATES, IN THE CASE OF DEACCESSION, THE ARTIST CAN RECLAIM THE WORK AT HIS OR HER EXPENSE.
FOR THE MAJOR MONUMENTAL WORKS IN AUSTIN'S PUBLIC ART COLLECTION, THIS POLICY IS UNREALISTIC AND UNREASONABLE.
IN MOST CASES, ARTISTS CANNOT POSSIBLY AFFORD TO HIRE THE CONSERVATORS EXPERT CREWS AND HEAVY EQUIPMENT AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE TO RECLAIM THEIR WORK AS STATED IN THE OUTDATED POLICY.
HOWEVER, UH, AND MOREOVER, UH, IT IS VERY POSSIBLE, THE CURRENT DEACCESSION POLICY AND THE PROPOSED ACT OF DEACCESSION BEFORE YOU TODAY, UH, MAY BE IN VIOLATION OF THE FEDERAL VISUAL ARTIST PROTECTION ACT OF 1990, OR THE VARA ACT OF 1990.
UH, SECONDLY, I URGE THAT YOU A ASSESS, UH, BY FUNDING MORE THOROUGH ASSESSMENT OF THE DEINS INSTALLATION PROCESS.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEND MY, WE WE UNDER, BUT IY YOU, YOU HAVE GOOD, GOOD PUBLIC COMMENT AND WE UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR, WHAT YOUR POSITION IS.
MORNING MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS RUDY GREEN AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST THE RECOMMENDATION AND, UM, AGENDA ITEM, EXCUSE ME.
I'M AN ATTORNEY AND LONGTIME RESIDENT OF AUSTIN.
AND, UH, DURING MY MORE THAN 40 YEARS OF INVOLVEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY, I'VE ADVISED NUMEROUS ARTS ORGANIZATIONS AND HAVE SERVED ON THE BOARD OF A NUMBER OF ARTS MUSEUMS AND, UM, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.
YOU MAY KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT MY COMMITMENT TO PROMOTING THE VISUAL ARTS IN AUSTIN, UH, BY THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, CREATING A GALLERY IN THE NAME OF MYSELF AND MY WIFE, JOYCE CHRISTIAN, IS CALLED THE CHRISTIAN GREEN GALLERY.
FROM MY SIGNIFICANT EXPERIENCE IN THE AREA, I KNOW THAT DEACCESSION AVOIDED BY A MUSEUM OR THE ART COLLECTING INSTITUTION CAN BE QUITE CONTROVERSIAL AND OFTEN GENERATED.
IT IS OFTEN GENERATED LEGAL CHALLENGES BECAUSE THESE INSTITUTIONS RELY ON MAINTAINING THE GOODWILL OF ARTISTS AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITIES TO CARRY OUT THEIR COLLECTING MISSION.
THEY MUST ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF COLLECTION MANAGEMENT VERY CAREFULLY.
AS REGARDS THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE, I THINK THAT THE CITY HAS, UM, THE CITY'S EFFORTS HAVE BEEN SORELY DEFICIENT.
THE HALF-HEARTED EFFORT AT PRESERVING IMPORTANT CULTURAL OB OBJECTS EMBODIED BY THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THIS AGENDA HAS RIGHTFULLY CREATED CONTROVERSY AND MUST BE REJECTED.
I MEAN, THERE ARE CERTAINLY CONTROVERSY WHEN YOU DEMAND THAT AN ARTIST WHO'S WORK IS IN THE CITY'S COLLECTION BEAR THE EXPENSE ASSOCIATED WITH MANAGING THE COLLECTION.
[00:55:01]
WITH RESPECT TO PROFESSOR ANGIE'S WORK, THERE IS CONTROVERSY WHEN YOU SPEAK OF DESTROYING AN EMBLEM, UM, THAT REPRESENTS PROGRESS IN THE EYES OF HISTORICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY.THERE'S CONTROVERSY WHEN YOU SPEAK OF DESTROYING A MAJOR WORK OF ART BY A PROMINENT ARTIST, ARTS EDUCATOR AND COMMUNITY ICON AGAINST HIS WISHES, AND WITHOUT HIS CONSENT, YOU CAN QUELL THIS CONTROVERSY AND SHOW APPROPRIATE RESPECT FOR ART BY REJECTING.
GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS DONNA CARTER, AND I'M AN ARCHITECT HERE IN AUSTIN.
I WAS ON THE COMMITTEE THAT DRAFTED THE ORIGINAL A IPP ORDINANCE IN 1985.
AND AS AN ARCHITECT, I HAVE WORKED WITH A IPP SINCE ITS INCEPTION AND FAVORED ARTWORK THAT WAS A PART OF THE BUILDING.
PUBLIC ART IS MEANT TO ENDURE, TO BE AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR SHARED SPACES, NOT TO BE DISCARDED WHEN INCONVENIENT, I STRONGLY OPPOSE THE DEACCESSIONING OF ANY OF THE CONVENTION CENTER ARTWORK, BUT PARTICULARLY RIFFS AND RHYTHMS MOSAIC.
DESPITE A DECADE OF REDEVELOPMENT DISCUSSIONS AND OVER A BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET, THE FATE OF THESE PUBLIC WORKS WAS ADDRESSED LESS THAN A YEAR BEFORE SCHEDULED DEMOLITION, THE CITY IDENTIFIED FOUR PIECES.
THEY DEEMED NOT A CONSERVATOR, THEY DEEMED WERE NOT SALVAGEABLE.
THEY PROVIDED NO ASSESSMENT, COST, ESTIMATES, OR CONSERVATOR'S VIEW ON HOW THEY COULD BE SALVAGED ESSENTIAL STEPS IN ANY PRESERVATION EFFORT.
THIS LACK OF PLANNING CONTRADICTS THE VERY SPIRIT OF A PERMANENT CONNECTION.
AND THIS IS A FAILURE OF LEADERSHIP.
AS ALL OF YOU ARE LOOKING DOWN, NOT PAYING ATTENTION, A FAILURE IN LEADERSHIP, THE CITY HAS PLACED AN UNFAIR BURDEN ON ITS ARTISTS REQUIRING THEM TO RECLAIM AND REMOVE THEIR WORK AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE BY MARCH OF THIS YEAR.
IT HAS NOT, THE RIFFS AND RHYTHMS HAS NOT BEEN APPRAISED OR EVALUATED BY EXPERTS FOR CONSERVATION.
WE DO NOT KNOW HOW MUCH IT HAS APPRECIATED IN THE LAST 30 YEARS.
THIS IS A FAILURE OF STEWARDSHIP.
THE SITUATION, THE SITTING MUST HALT THIS DIS UM, CENTURY.
UH, IMMEDIATELY WE MUST ENGAGE A CONSERVATORY TO DEVELOP A REMOVAL PLAN AND INCORPORATE THAT REMOVAL INTO THE DECONSTRUCTION OF THIS CENTER.
AND THERE ARE PLACES THAT WILL TAKE THIS PIECE OF ART, INCLUDING THANK, THANK YOU GERARD KENNY, AND THEN ZENOBIA JOSEPH MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M GERARD KENNY, LIFELONG AUSTINITE ARCHITECT.
UH, I WANT TO, DONNA CARTER JUST SAID MOST OF THE THINGS I WAS PLANNING TO SAY,
AND THE INTENT WAS NEVER TO HAVE A SITUATION WHERE A PIECE OF ART THAT BECOMES THE CITY'S COLLECTION THEN COULD BE DEMOLISHED WHEN A, WHEN THE BUILDING IT'S IN GETS DEMOLISHED, IT, IT IS PRETTY OBVIOUS THAT THE ART, THAT THE, THAT THE, UH, BUDGET FOR THE DEMOLITION SHOULD INCLUDE PROTECTING AND SAVING THE, THE, UH, THE ART IN THAT PLACE.
THANK YOU, MAYOR COUNCIL, MY COMMENTS, AS THEY ALWAYS ARE, ARE IN THE CONTEXT OF TITLE VI OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964, WHICH PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE, COLOR, AND NATIONAL ORIGIN.
I JUST WANNA CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION.
MARCH 4TH, 2021, COUNSEL ACTUALLY PASSED A RESOLUTION APOLOGIZING TO BLACK AUSTINITES.
AND SO I WOULD ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THE IMAGE ON THE LEFT IS RHAPSODY.
IT'S ONE OF THE MOST PHOTOGRAPHED MURALS IN AUSTIN.
THE ONE ON THE RIGHT IS ACTUALLY WHAT YOU ARE VOTING ON TODAY.
SO I'M AGAINST THE DX SESSION.
I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE MARSHALING YARD IS THE AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER'S WAREHOUSE.
SO THIS PARTICULAR PIECE COULD ACTUALLY BE STORED THERE.
[01:00:01]
OF COURSE YOU PLAN TO LEAVE THE HOMELESS PEOPLE THERE, I WOULD ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE AS WELL, ART IN PUBLIC PLACES.YOUR ORDINANCE FROM 1985 PERMITS 2% OF THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS FOR ART AT PRESENT.
I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE APPROXIMATELY $12 MILLION ALLOCATED.
IT SHOULD BE ABOUT $16 MILLION FOR THE $1.6 BILLION PROJECT.
AND SO I WOULD ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE AS WELL, YOU SET A PRECEDENT AS IT RELATES TO THE MONIES THAT YOU GIVE TO BLACK INDIVIDUALS.
THERE WAS A $2.9 MILLION SOLE SOURCE NO BID CONTRACT GIVEN UNDER THE GUISE OF EQUITY TO JOYCE JAMES.
SO I WOULD ASK THAT IF THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS IS LESS THAN THE $2.9 MILLION THAT YOU IN FACT STORED AT THE MARSHALING YARD, I WOULD ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE AS WELL THAT THE LANGUAGE USED BY SUE LAMB, WHO IS YOUR EXPERT, WAS ARCHITECTURALLY INTEGRATED.
SO TO DATE, YOU ARE ACTUALLY PAYING 10 ARTISTS, $240,000.
THERE'S ABOUT $12 MILLION ALLOCATED.
SO MAYOR, I'M JUST ASKING YOU TO POSTPONE THIS ITEM.
AND SPECIFICALLY I WOULD ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT YOU HAVE A MEETING AFTER, UH, ON OR ABOUT MARCH 25TH, WHICH IS AFTER SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST, UM, IN THE LAST PAGE.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NEXT FOR ITEM 25, ELIZABETH MCCREEVY, KATHY MITCHELL, CRAIG NASER, IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MR. NASER, WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD AND TALK.
HELLO, CRAIG NASER, UH, UH, LONE STAR CHAPTER SIERRA CLUB.
WE HAVE, UM, WE WERE DOWN HERE, UH, A COUPLE MONTHS AGO ABOUT, UM, THE PLAN, THE PART HAD FOR VEGETATIVE MANAGEMENT, AND WE DISAGREED WITH IT AND WE CONTINUED TO DISAGREE WITH IT.
AND SO WE OPPOSE PUTTING MONEY INTO A PLAN WITH WHICH WE DISAGREE, UM, BECAUSE IT'S NOT GONNA SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
NOW, I HAVE SOME EXPERIENCE WITH THIS.
WE RESTORED A, A, A, A LITTLE CREEK UP IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, NORTH STAR GREEN BELT WITH WATERSHED PROTECTION.
AND WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WERE WONDERING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GONNA, YOU KNOW, SNAKES, MOSQUITOES, THAT, YOU KNOW, ALL THIS STUFF WHEN YOU PLANT PLANTS AND TREES.
AND WHAT WE DID IS WE PLANT A LOT MORE TREES.
AND WHAT CAME OUT OF THAT IS WILDFIRE SPREADS MORE RAPIDLY THROUGH GRASSLAND THAN IT DOES THROUGH DENSE FOREST.
UH, AND THERE ARE SOME OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT MANAGEMENT, AND I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT PART, PART MANAGEMENT AND A LOT OF ISSUES WITH WILD SPACES, BECAUSE YOU DON'T NEED WEED EATERS, YOU DON'T NEED LAWNMOWERS.
YOU DON'T NEED CHAINSAWS IF YOU'RE GOING TO MANAGE, MANAGE THE EARTH.
I MEAN, THE EARTH WAS MANAGED PRETTY WELL BEFORE WE GOT HERE, RIGHT? I MEAN, PRETTY WELL, PARTICULARLY ECOLOGICALLY.
NOW, IF WE HAD A SYSTEM LIKE CALIFORNIA WHERE FIRES WERE TRADITIONAL AND SPREAD THROUGH, TRADITIONALLY THEY BURNED EVERY COUPLE YEARS, THEN YOU'RE SITTING ON A POWDER KEG.
AND THAT'S WHAT THEY DID AND THEY IGNORED IT AND THEY BUILT, AND IT'S ACTUALLY ALL THE MONEY, YOU KNOW, AS THINGS GET MORE AND MORE EXPENSIVE, LET'S BUY MORE, LET'S DO MORE.
WHEREAS THERE'S A BETTER WAY TO LOOK AT IT.
IT'S CALLED ECOLOGY, IT'S CALLED ENVIRONMENTALISM, WHERE WE LOOK CLOSELY AT WHAT THE WORTH IS.
OKAY, SO I'M HERE BECAUSE I NOTICED SOMETHING, UH, ODD ABOUT THIS ITEM.
AND I AM AT THIS POINT EXTREMELY MINDFUL ABOUT THE FINANCIAL ISSUES THAT THE CITY WILL BE FACING IN THE COMING YEARS.
AND WHAT I NOTICED IS THAT THIS ITEM IS A CONTRACT AMOUNT OR MULTIPLE CONTRACT AMOUNTS FOR TWO YEARS NOT TO EXCEED $7,500,000.
AND ONLY 200,000 IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE IN THE PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT OPERATING BUDGET.
SO YOU WERE ABOUT TO APPROVE A PARTICULAR SET OF CONTRACTS FOR $7.5 MILLION, WHICH IN TODAY'S ENVIRONMENT IS ACTUALLY KIND OF A LOT OF MONEY.
AND YOU HAVE 200,000 IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
THIS SEEMS TO ME TO BE A STACKING
[01:05:01]
THE DECK ON PARTICULAR PROJECTS AND PARTICULAR VENDORS IN FUTURE YEARS THAT HASN'T YET BEEN DISCUSSED AS A BUDGET ITEM.I FULLY EXPECT THAT PARKS IS GOING TO BE FACING CUTS THIS COMING YEAR, AND THAT THE MONEY THAT WAS APPROPRIATED FOR PARK MAINTENANCE, THE MORE TRADITIONAL KINDS OF PARK MAINTENANCE THAT PEOPLE EXPECT, LIKE ENOUGH PEOPLE TO EMPTY THE TRASH BINS IN THE REGULARLY USED COMMUNITY PARKS, THAT THAT MONEY IS GOING TO BE CONTROVERSIAL AGAIN.
SO I WANT YOU TO BE WATCHING THESE ITEMS VERY CAREFULLY.
IF WE ARE GOING TO ADMIT, COMMIT TODAY TO CONTRACTS COSTING $7.5 MILLION THAT YOU DO NOT ACTUALLY HAVE RIGHT NOW, AND THERE ISN'T ANY PLAN YET FOR WHERE THAT MONEY IS COMING FROM, THEN MAYBE AN ITEM LIKE THIS SHOULD BE POSTPONED BECAUSE WE NEED TO HAVE A BETTER IDEA WHAT NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET IS ACTUALLY GOING TO LOOK LIKE BEFORE WE START COMMITTING THIS KIND OF MONEY.
HI, I AM ELIZABETH MCGREEVY AGAIN, AND I'M THAT, UH, DRAWING THAT WAS JUST PASSED OUT.
WHERE'S THE MAYOR? HE KEEPS LEAVING.
UH, REGARDING AGENT, UH, AGENDA 25.
I'M NOT OPPOSED TO IMPROVING HOW WE MANAGE OUR LANDS TO REDUCE FIRE RISK.
WE DO NEED TO DO SOME THINGS, HOWEVER, I DO OPPOSE FOLLOWING THE PARD PLAN.
THE PARD PLAN STATES IT WILL AGGRESSIVELY THIN THE EDGES AND CANOPIES OF FORESTS.
SUCH AN APPROACH CAN WORK FOR FORESTS WITH TALLER TREES LIKE REDWOODS, PINES, SPRUCE TREES.
THEIR CANOPIES ARE SO HIGH THAT IF A FIRE GOES UNDERNEATH, IT DOESN'T AFFECT THEM AS MUCH.
HOWEVER, SINCE MOST OF OUR TREES ARE SHORT, AND THERE'S THE PICTURE IN THAT DIAGRAM, THOSE, THAT'S THE EXAMPLE OF I SEE THE PERSON IN THE DIAGRAM.
SO SHORT TREES, UH, BEING THINNED OUT TOO MUCH UNDERNEATH WOULD INCREASE FIRE RISK.
FORESTS WITH DENSE EDGES AND CANOPIES ARE MORE HUMID.
FIRES DON'T EASILY ENTER OR AFFECT WELL SHADED, MORE HUMID CENTRAL TEXAS FOREST.
ACCORDING TO AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE AFRICAN SAVANNAH, AN OLD GROWTH FOREST IS THRIVING EVEN THOUGH IT'S SURROUNDED BY GRASSLAND WILDFIRES.
AND THE STUDY DETERMINED THAT IT WAS THE DENSE FOREST EDGE AND CONTINUOUS CANOPY THAT MAINTAINED A MORE HUMID MICROCLIMATE TO MAKE IT LESS LIKELY TO BURN.
THE FOREST OPENS, OPENS IT UP TO DRY WINDS THAT CAN NOW MOVE UNDER THE TREES AS OPPOSED TO GOING OVER THE FOREST.
AND THAT'S WHAT THE ARROWS INDICATE IN MY DIAGRAM.
THE RESULT IS A DRIER, UH, FOREST MICROCLIMATE.
WHEN THAT WIND BLOWS UNDERNEATH, MORE SUN REACH IN THE GROUND WILL ALSO ENCOURAGE MORE GRASSES TO ENCROACH AND SPREAD UNDER THE TREES.
BOTH THE DRYER CONDITIONS AND GRASS WILL MOVE THE GROUND FIRES INTO THE FOREST.
BUNCH GRASSES CAN PRODUCE FLAMES THAT ARE SIX TO 10 FEET HIGH.
SO YOU CAN SEE NOW LOOKING AT THAT DIAGRAM, THAT THAT IS GOING TO TORCH OUT OUR TREES AND INCREASE FIRE RISK ACCORDING TO.
HOWARD AND NICO HAS TIME DONATED BY BOBBY LEVINSKY.
THAT'LL BE A TOTAL OF SIX MINUTES.
AND THEN WILLIAM BUNCH AND BRAD MASINGO.
HELLO, I'M ANANA NICO HOWARD AND SPEAKING ON ITEM 25.
UM, REGARDING THE PARKS IN IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PARKS AND, UH, LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN.
UM, TOTALLY FOCUSED ON SOLVING ALL PROBLEMS USING PRESCRIBED BURN, TREE CLEARING PESTICIDES.
UM, NOT, NOT A VERY GOOD APPROACH.
UM, A WHOLE LOT OF THE BURNING UP TO NOW HAS BEEN IN ESAU, AND, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THEY APPRECIATE THAT.
IN, IN 2015 IN GEORGIA THERE WERE 145 PEOPLE WHO HAD TO GO TO ER, UM, TO, BECAUSE OF, UH, UM, PRESCRIBED BURN IMPACTS ON THEIR, ON THEIR SYSTEM.
YOU KNOW, THE, SO THESE ARE, THESE ARE CONCERNS THAT THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN 2023, UM, CITY COUNCIL AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, UH, HA UH, UH, PUT A CONDITION THAT THERE'D BE MONITORING ASSOCIATED WITH THIS BURNING.
I DON'T KNOW, I HAVEN'T HEARD THAT ANY OF THIS IS GOING ON.
UM, BUT CERTAINLY THE, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT'S ONE OF THE CONCERNS IS THE AIR QUALITY AND THE WATER QUALITY
[01:10:01]
IMPACTS THAT ARE EXPECTED TO BE, UM, POOR FROM, FROM BURNING.UM, ADDITION TO THE FACT IT'S GONNA REDUCE, RECHARGE AND INCREASE FIRE RISK.
UM, SOME OF THE OTHER PROBLEMS, UM, FOR EXAMPLE, MANY OF THE, THE PARKS ON THE PARK MANAGEMENT PLAN OR, UM, CARS PRESERVES LISTED ON THE 1996 BALCONES CANYONLAND PERMIT, BUT THEY AREN'T EVEN RECOGNIZED AS SUCH ON THE IN THE PLAN.
UM, SOME OF THE CARS PRESERVES LIKE WILLIAM RUSSELL PRESERVE, HAVE RIGHT NOW ABOUT 90% CANOPY COVER, AND THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE THIN TO ABOUT 20 TO 40%.
UM, AND WITH THIS CLEARING THERE, YOU EXPECT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE EROSION FILLING IN THE CAVES, RED AND PORTED FIRE ANTS COMING IN.
'CAUSE THEY LIKE OPEN AREAS THAT WE EAT THE CAVE LIFE.
UM, TRICOLOR BATS THAT ARE PROPOSED TO BE LISTED BY FISH AND WILDLIFE, THEY USE THE CAVES IN THE FOREST FOR, FOR, FOR NESTING.
UM, AND, BUT ALL ACROSS PART, IT'S SORT OF LIKE A TYPICAL RANCH PRACTICE OF FILLING IN THE CAVES.
SO IN SCHROEDER PARK, WE HAVE ONE OF THE CAVES, ENDANGERED SPECIES ON THE FEDERAL PERMIT FOR 30 YEARS NOW, IT'S STILL FILLED.
THERE'S ABOUT SIX OTHER CAVES ON THE SAME PARK.
UM, AND THIS IS TYPICAL THROUGHOUT, UM, PARKS.
THIS JUST SEEMS TO BE A, A RANCHING PRACTICE FILLING IN CAVES, UH, CALLING COYOTES, YOU KNOW, UM, DOING PRESCRIBED BURNS AND CLEARING TREES.
UM, ABOUT THE, THE, UM, CONCERN ABOUT JUNIPER AS BEING A FIRE ON A STICK.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE THE HISTORY.
YOU KNOW, THE BIGGEST FIRE AUSTIN EVER EXPERIENCED WAS, UH, 540 ACRES.
THE WEST BANK FIRE OF 1961, WHICH WAS AROUND CURRENT WILD BASIN ON LUKE 360.
AND THIS WAS CONDITIONED BY THE DAVENPORT RANCH THAT CLEARED THE JUNIPER TREES AND PILED THEM UP, UM, AND MADE A PERFECT ENVIRONMENT FOR A HUGE, THE HUGES WILDFIRE WE SAW.
UM, SO GRASS IS THE PRIMARY VEGETATION, ABOUT 70% OF THE FIRE INCIDENTS IN WESTERN AUSTIN.
AND IN 2011, WHEN WE HAD THE REALLY, UM, BAD FIRE INCIDENCES, WHEN THERE WERE 7,000 ACRES BURNED ACROSS TRAVIS COUNTY, ONLY 0.1 ACRES BURNED ON BCP PRESERVES.
YOU KNOW, THE FOREST DID JUNIPERS AND TWO INCIDENCES AND BEING A CAMPFIRE, AND THE OTHER BEING A SINGLE TREE THAT WAS HIT BY LIGHTNING, NOTHING ELSE BURNED.
SO IF YOU CLEAR THE TREES, YOU'LL GET GRASS, AND THEN IF YOU CLEAR ENOUGH TREES OVER AND OVER AGAIN, YOU'LL LOSE THE SOIL AND YOU'LL GRAVITATE TO A CHAPARRAL, UM, VERY DRY CHAPARRAL VEGETATION LIKE THEY HAVE IN CALIFORNIA.
SO WE WANT TO AVOID DOING THAT, BUT THE CURRENT PLAN AND FUNDING IS TO SUPPORT GOING IN THE DIRECTION OF THAT.
UM, ALSO A LOT OF FEAR INCITED BY THE, UM, US FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION THAT THEY, THEY ARE TRYING TO GET MORE FUNDING FOR, UH, US AND FIRE DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS A GOOD THING.
BUT THEY, I MORALLY AND UNSCIENTIFICALLY TRY TO RAISE PUBLIC AND CITY LEADERS FEARS OF FORCE AS FIRE RISKS.
UM, AND UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S JUST PART OF C THE, UM, CITY GENERAL FUNDING DEPARTMENTS, THEY REALIZE THAT THEY CAN GET MONEY BY SCARING PEOPLE.
AND SO PARKS SAYS THIS AS WELL, IT'S SORT OF A DISASTER MANAGEMENT.
SO I WANT YOU TO BE AWARE OF THAT WHEN YOU'RE IMPROVING, IMPROVING FUNDING FOR THESE THINGS.
SOMETIMES THE, THE FUNDING IS ACTUALLY DOING WORSE THAN BETTER.
AND IN THIS CASE, IT'S QUITE A BIT OF MONEY.
UM, IT'S BEEN DESCRIBED, UM, AND NOT HAVING A GOOD PURPOSE HERE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
UH, SAVE OUR SPRINGS AGAIN, URGING YOU TO VOTE NO ON THIS OR POSTPONE, UM, AND GET MORE INFORMATION.
UM, AS YOU HEARD, YOU ONLY HAVE $200,000 IN YOUR BUDGET, UH, AND, UM, YOU SHOULDN'T BE COMMITTING ANYTHING FURTHER OR SETTING THOSE WHEELS IN MOTION.
UM, AND THIS IS MUCH LIKE THE CONVENTION CENTER.
IT'S NOT JUST A WASTE OF MONEY, UM, BUT IT'S GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.
IT'S SPENDING MONEY THAT SHOULD GO TO THE THINGS WE NEED.
LIKE YOU HEARD FROM DR. HOWARD.
ENHANCING, RECHARGE, CLEANING OUT OUR CAVES THAT ARE ON OUR WILDLAND PRESERVES THAT ARE MANAGED BY PART, UM, PROTECTING THE SOIL, KEEPING THE SOIL FROM DRYING OUT TREES.
WE, WE WANNA THINK OF IN THIS MOMENT THAT TREES ARE FUEL AND THAT'S ALL THEY ARE.
AND WE GOT, AND THEY'RE OUR ENEMY.
WE GOTTA CUT 'EM DOWN, OR WE'RE GONNA BE INCREASING WILDFIRE RISKS.
WE'RE GONNA BE IRRESPONSIBLE, AS YOU HEARD IF YOU
[01:15:01]
LISTENED.THEY KEEP THE SOIL COOL AND MOIST.
THEY HARBOR WILDLIFE, THE WILDLIFE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE PROTECTING.
AND YET THIS APPROACH VIEWS OUR FORESTS AS THE ENEMY AS INCREASING WILDFLOWER WILDFIRE RISK THAT IS UPSIDE DOWN.
I SPOKE TO ONE OF YOUR SENIOR MANAGERS AND HE TRIED TO EXPLAIN TO ME HOW OUR FORESTS ARE OVERSTOCKED.
OKAY? THIS IS A TERM THAT YOU LEARN IN SCHOOLS THAT ARE FUNDED BY TIMBER COMPANIES AND PAPER COMPANIES THAT SOMEHOW NATURE DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO GROW A FOREST.
AND WE GOTTA GET IN THERE WITH HEAVY EQUIPMENT THAT CAN SPARK FIRES AND THIN IT OUT, SO IT'S HEALTHIER.
AFTER BRAD, WE HAVE ROY WHALEY, RICHARD MANIS MAINS, AND JENNY GRAYSON.
UH, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND FINISH UP, UH, ELIZABETH MCCREADY'S COMMENTS FOR HER SINCE SHE HAD 'EM PREPARED AND WEREN'T ABLE TO FINISH.
UM, ACCORDING TO JUSTICE JONES, FORMER AUSTIN WILDLIFE MITIGATION OFFICER, WE CAN'T TAKE A WESTERN APPROACH TO MANAGING OUR JUNIPER AND OAKLAND OAK WILDLANDS.
THE BETTER APPROACH FOR OUR REGION IS TO DENSIFY FOREST EDGES AND CANOPIES ALSO TO ADD CONTOUR BREAKS UP SLOPE AND INSIDE FOREST TO SINK MORE RAIN.
TO ENHANCE FOREST HUMIDITY OUTSIDE THE FOREST, WE SHOULD FOCUS ON HIGH FIRE RISK ISSUES, SUCH AS ISOLATED BUSHY JUNIPERS GROWING IN DENSE GRASSLANDS, FAULTY POWER LINES, PILES OF DEAD BRUSH AND HARDENED HARDENING COMMUNITIES ALONG THE URBAN WILDLAND INTERFACE.
THE ONLY AREAS THAT SHOULD BE THINNED ARE THOSE WITHIN 30 FEET OF HOMES AND OTHER STRUCTURES.
PARD RECOMMENDS USING FREQUENT PRESCRIBED BURNS TO MANAGE THEIR THIN FOREST.
THIS IS A RECIPE FOR DISASTER AND COULD MAKE THE URBAN HEAT ISLAND WORSE.
A BETTER SOLUTION IS TO RELY ON ROTATIONAL FOREST GRAZING.
CURRENTLY, THE CITY IS USING A FEW GOATS AROUND CENTRAL AUSTIN.
WE NEED TO EXPAND THIS PROGRAM TO MANAGE GROUND DEBRIS AND IMPROVE SOIL WITHIN ALL OUR FORESTS.
WE SHOULDN'T MANAGE OUR FORESTS LIKE THE TIMBER INDUSTRY.
CITIES NEED MORE TREES, NOT MORE GRASS.
UM, I HAVE TO EMPHASIZE IS OUR WORK WITH THE SOUTH AUSTIN CREEK ALLIANCE.
IT IT REALLY DOES PARALLEL ALL THIS.
THERE'S A, THE CITY THROWS AROUND THE WORD HOLISTIC A LOT IN THEIR LITERATURE LATELY, AND I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS, UM, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND ALL THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE TO DO WITH THINGS LIKE THE WOR WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE, OUR, OUR WATERSHED, AND HOW THEY ALL ARE CONNECTED AND NEED TO BE PROTECTED, NOT THINNED.
HOW DO Y'ALL ROY WHALEY CONSERVATION CHAIR, LOCAL SIERRA CLUB.
OH MY GOSH, CALIFORNIA HAD A PROBLEM.
UH, AND, AND WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING HERE.
SO LET'S SPEND, LET'S THROW SEVEN AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS AT THE PROBLEM THAT WE DON'T EVEN HAVE.
ONCE AGAIN, IT'S IT, YOU KNOW, I HAVE SAT DOWN AND LOOKED OVER THE PAST, UH, AGENDAS AND HOW MUCH MONEY COUNSEL APPROVES OWN CONSENT, AND HOW MUCH THAT ADDS UP TO IT IS A STAGGERING AMOUNT OF MONEY.
AND IT'S EASY IF YOU KEEP PRETENDING IT'S MONOPOLY MONEY, FINE, BUT IT'S NOT.
THIS GETS INTO OTHER SPENDING PROGRAMS. WE HAVE A PROBLEM.
LET'S BACK OFF AND THINK IT THROUGH.
LET'S NOT JUST THROW ANOTHER SEVEN AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS OF MONOPOLY MONEY AT THE PROBLEM, THE PARTS DEPARTMENT, AND THANK GOODNESS FOR THE PARTS DEPARTMENT.
I WANT TO THANK OUR FRIENDS IN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
I I TRULY APPRECIATE THEIR WORK, EVEN ON THE THINGS WHERE I DON'T AGREE, UH, BUT I DO APPRECIATE THEM, BUT THEY NEED A CHANCE TO HAVE SOMETHING MORE THAN AN EMPTY PROMISE OF SEVEN AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS BACK AWAY FROM IT.
DON'T THESE THINGS HAPPEN ON CONSENT CONSISTENTLY AND THEN YOU NEVER HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT AGAIN.
SEVEN AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS IS NOT SOMETHING YOU DON'T THINK ABOUT AGAIN, AND I APPRECIATE Y'ALL BEING UP THERE
[01:20:01]
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE IT WHEN PEOPLE PAY ATTENTION TO THE SPEAKERS.AND I REALLY APPRECIATE IT WHEN YOU START ASKING THE SPEAKERS QUESTIONS AND MAKE IT A DEMOCRACY LIKE IT USED TO BE, SO THAT WE COULD HAVE A DISCUSSION AND THEY'RE BREAKING THE GROUPS WITH DIFFERENT COUNCIL MEMBERS AND WORK TO FIND SOLUTIONS.
AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT ME, I COME DOWN HERE BECAUSE I'M BRAIN DAMAGE.
THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE YOU, THAT, THAT, THAT'S WHERE YOU ENDED.
GOOD MORNING, MAR AND COUNSEL, NEW COUNSEL MEMBERS.
I'M MONICA GOSMAN, POLICY DIRECTOR AT GAVA.
AUSTIN BA AUSTIN GAVA SUPPORTS ITEM 49 CREATION OF A DISTRICT FOUR POCKET PARK.
DESPITE THE DISTRICT FOUR PARKS THAT OPENED IN 2024, IT IS STILL PARK DEFICIENT.
AND AS A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF THAT AREA, I KNOW IT IS HARD.
THERE ARE A LOT OF FAMILIES AND APARTMENTS THAT THE NEAREST PARK MAY BE QUAIL CREEK ON THE OTHER SIDE OF LAMAR.
AND EVEN IF THEY COULD RIGHT NOW DUE TO DEVELOPMENT, THEY CAN'T USE IT.
SO EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A PARK GREEN SPACE, EVEN A POCKET PARK, IS NEEDED AND APPRECIATED.
ALSO FOR ITEM 51 IS JUSTIN MCKINNEY AND ALEXANDER STRINGER.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD ON ITEM NUMBER 51.
I'M SORRY, MAYOR, I WAS ACTUALLY TALKING TO YOUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER IN THE BACK.
CAN YOU JUST TELL ME WHAT ITEM 51 IS? I'LL READ IT TO YOU.
AUTHORIZED NEGOTIATION AND EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT WITH CARITAS OF AUSTIN TO PROVIDE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
AND, AND THAT, DOES THAT GIVE YOU ENOUGH TO KNOW WHAT YOU WANNA SAY? YES.
IS IT HALF A MILLION DOLLARS? YES, THAT'S THE ONE.
SO I, UH, THANK YOU MAYOR COUNCIL.
I'M ANOVIA JOSEPH, AND MY COMMENTS AS THEY ALWAYS ARE IN THE CONTEXT OF TITLE SIX OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964, WHICH PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN.
I JUST WANNA CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION, MAYOR THAT CARITAS HAS CONTINUED TO DO THE SAME THING, BUSINESS AS USUAL.
AND SO I THINK THE METHODOLOGY OF SERVING THE HOMELESS NEEDS TO CHANGE.
I JUST WANNA REMIND YOU, 1934, RUTLAND SPARROW AS A PROPERTY THAT WAS THROUGH CARITAS AND MANDY DE MAYO SAID THERE WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY 50 VOUCHERS IN THE 171 UNITS, HOWEVER, IT ENDED UP BEING 101 OF 171.
AND SO MY OPPOSITION IS THAT THEY ARE CONCENTRATING POVERTY AS OPPOSED TO ACTUALLY CONNECTING PEOPLE TO SERVICES THAT THEY NEED.
I KNOW YESTERDAY YOU WERE INTERVIEWED BY TEXAS TRIBUNE AND YOU TALKED ABOUT THE HOMELESS ISSUE.
AND SO I THINK THAT THERE'S A WAY FOR US TO DO BETTER.
I WOULD JUST ASK YOU SPECIFICALLY TO HAVE THEM BE MORE TRANSPARENT, ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO VETERANS, BECAUSE THE INFORMATION THAT'S ONLINE IS NOT CLEAR.
UM, AND SO I WOULD JUST ASK THAT AS YOU ARE WORKING IN COLLABORATION WITH THEM, BEFORE YOU SIMPLY PASS MORE FUNDING, I WOULD ASK YOU TO ACTUALLY DELINEATE WHERE THAT INFORMATION IS AND HOW VETERANS GET VOUCHERS AND SERVICES THROUGH THEM AS OPPOSED TO GOING IN AND JUST DOING THE CONTINUUM OF CARE.
AND SO I JUST WOULD ASK YOU TO KEEP THAT IN MIND AS YOU ARE DELIBERATING WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE HOMELESS ISSUE IN AUSTIN.
I THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GLADLY ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
I MAYOR AND ALL OF OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO THE NEW MEMBERS, WELCOME ABOARD.
THANK YOU FOR HELPING US BAIL OUT THIS SHIP THAT WE CALL
[01:25:01]
AUSTIN.WE HAVE A HOMELESS PEOPLE PROBLEM.
WE HAVE A HOMELESS PROBLEM, AND THAT PROBLEM IS SHARED BY ALL OF US.
I'VE LIVED IN AUSTIN FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS.
I HAVE SPENT 17 OF THOSE YEARS HOMELESS HERE ON THESE STREETS, WORKING IN YOUR SHOPS, DOING EVERYTHING I CAN TO QUOTE, PULL MYSELF UP BY THE BOOTSTRAPS AS WE ARE WANT TO SAY HERE IN TEXAS.
AND WHAT DO I HAVE TO SHOW FOR IT? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
I HAVE LOST FRIENDS ON THESE STREETS.
PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER ONCE TOUCHED A DRUG IN THEIR LIFE.
I HAVE LOST PEOPLE WHO I THOUGHT WERE MY FRIENDS, BUT IT TURNED OUT THAT THEY HAD A DIFFERENT VIEW OF HOMELESSNESS.
I'VE BEEN FIRED WRONGFULLY BECAUSE OF BEING HOMELESSNESS FOR NO OTHER REASON.
SO THEY LEAVE IT BLANK AND AT WILL FIRE YOU.
THERE ARE A SERIES OF PROBLEMS THAT HAVE BEEN ACCUMULATING FOR YEARS IN THIS CITY, IN THIS STATE, AND IN THIS COUNTRY.
AND WE ALL COLLECTIVELY BEAR SOME RESPONSIBILITY.
THERE WERE TIMES WHERE I WAS ONLY WORKING 40 HOURS INSTEAD OF MY USUAL 60 TO 80.
I JUST THINK WE NEED TO DO MORE.
THE LAST SPEAKER FOR ITEM 51 IS ALEXANDER STRINGER.
HE'S INDICATING HE'S NOT GOING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.
IF YOU'RE SIGNED UP ON 79, YOU CAN.
52 ZENOBIA JOSEPH, FOLLOWED BY ITEM 57.
MAYOR, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, I THOUGHT THAT 52 WAS REPLACED BY ONE 12.
DO YOU WANNA WAIT TILL WE CALL ONE 12? THAT'LL BE FINE.
MAKE, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY FORWARD.
UM, THIS, THIS, THIS ITEM, UH, I DON'T KNOW IF EVERYBODY READ IT IN THE, IN THE AGENDA.
UH, I, I'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE AND, AND SEEMED LIKE THE PREMEDITATION OF, UH, TURNING THE AREA WEST OF CAMPUS INTO A BIG OLD, UH, REAL ESTATE MONOPOLY BOARD.
AND THIS SEEMS LIKE A HUGE STEP IN THAT DIRECTION.
AND NOT ONLY THAT, BUT A PRECEDENT OF, OF THESE FLUES JUST BEING OUTRIGHT CHANGED WITHOUT MUCH PUBLIC INPUT.
UH, I WOULD ENCOURAGE Y'ALL TO, UH, POSTPONE THIS AND, AND DO SOME MORE OUTREACH TO, UH, THE RESIDENTS OF THIS AREA BESIDES THE STUDENTS.
AND TEMPORARY TRANSIENT YOU MIGHT CALL IT, UH, RESIDENTS OF THIS AREA DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A GOOD PRECEDENT.
COUNCIL MEMBERS SCOTT JOHNSON HERE.
WELCOME TO THE NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE.
I'M SUPPORTIVE OF ITEM 66 AND 83.
I MAY OR MAY NOT SPEAK ON ITEM 83, UNKNOWN TO THE NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS PERHAPS AND PEOPLE THAT ARE WATCHING.
THE CITY HAS THREE DONATION FUNDS ON THE UTILITY BILL.
ONE OF THEM IS THE HOMELESS STUDENT ASSISTANCE FUND, WHICH YOU CAN DONATE TO WHETHER YOU'RE A RATE PAYER OR NOT.
AND THAT FUND HELPS PAY FOR BASIC NEEDS FOR ISD STUDENTS, BOTH AT A ID AND THE ONES THAT ARE IN THE AUSTIN ENERGY SERVICE AREA.
FOR SCOTT JOHNSON, THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
IF YOU STILL GET A BILL, YOU'RE IN THE MINORITY.
IF YOU DO AND YOU WRITE A CHECK.
BUT YOU CAN GO ONLINE TO COA UTILITIES.COM AND PAY FOR IT THERE AND ADD THE TOTAL ROUNDING UP FOR ANY OF THE FUNDS.
AND ALL OF THEM ARE VERY WORTH IT, THAT THEY ALL HAVE A TIGHT EQUITY FOCUS.
[01:30:02]
THIS IS THE PAGE THAT YOU'D GO TO TO PAY ONLINE BY CHECK GOING TO A SERVICE CENTER OR OTHERWISE.AND MY INTEREST IN THIS IS PARTLY TO SAY, CAN WE COME UP WITH AN OBJECTIVE WITHIN THE HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICE WITHIN THE CITY, OR A POLICY STATEMENT THAT SAYS, HOW CAN WE END ADULT HOMELESSNESS? MOST OF THE PEOPLE ON THE COUNT THAT HAPPENS, THAT JUST HAPPENED LAST WEEKEND, THEY TELL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE DOING IT ECHO AND OTHERWISE THAT THEY'RE FROM AUSTIN OR CENTRAL TEXAS.
IF THEY ARE, THEN THEY'VE PROBABLY GONE THROUGH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TO BE ABLE TO TRY TO ADDRESS IT AS BEST WE CAN.
WORKING COLLABORATIVELY KNOWING THAT IT'S AN ASPIRATIONAL GOAL TO END ADULT HOMELESSNESS, TO END STUDENT OR YOUTH HOMELESSNESS.
BUT IT'S SIMILAR TO VISION ZERO.
AND I'M ENGAGED IN THAT OPPORTUNITY.
LET'S START, LET'S START THAT PROCESS TO TRY TO MAKE AN ASPIRATIONAL GOAL TO PREVENT ADULT HOMELESSNESS.
IF THEY COME INTO THE AREA AND THEY'RE ADULTS, THAT'S A DIFFERENT MATTER.
WE HAVEN'T TAUGHT THEM IN OUR SCHOOLS.
WE HAVEN'T TRIED TO RAISE THEM THROUGH THE COMMUNITY PROCESS.
SHE'S INDICATING SHE'S PASSING.
MR. MASSING, ARE YOU SPEAKING MR. NASER? MR. MASSING, IF YOU'RE HERE, CAN YOU LET ME KNOW WHETHER YOU'RE SPEAKING? CRAIG NASER, LONE STAR CHAPTER SIERRA CLUB.
AND I JUST WANNA SAY WE HAD A TALK WITH PARD BECAUSE THIS WASN'T WELL DOCUMENTED.
WHEN YOU'RE READING THROUGH A HUNDRED PLUS, I MEAN, YOU GUYS GOT STAFF TO DO IT.
SO READING THROUGH THIS, WONDERING WHAT THIS MEANT, WHAT WAS BEING ASKED PART HAS ASSURED US THAT THIS WOULD JUST BE FOR ZONING BACK TO PARK LAND AND THAT IT WOULD GO IN FRONT OF COUNSEL THEN.
SO FUNNY THINGS COULDN'T HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE.
MR. MASSENGILL IS WAIVING HIS RIGHTS TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.
I HAVE ROY WHALEY AND JENNY GRAYSON.
YOU KNOW, LIKE MY COMPADRE CRAIG JUST SAID SIERRA CLUB CAN SUPPORT THIS.
IF WE GO AHEAD AND INCLUDE THAT BEER AND ALCOHOL SALES ARE PROHIBITED IN ALL CITY PARKS.
OTHERWISE IT, IT SEEMS VERY FAIRLY INNOCUOUS.
BUT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT, THAT WE, WE ALREADY HAVE LAWS DEALING WITH ALCOHOL AND, AND PARKS, BUT WE HAVE TO SAY NO TO THE CITY SELLING ALCOHOL AND PARKS.
AND I'M THINKING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT KER PARK AND ALL THE PARKS.
MY CONCERN IS THAT YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF BEERS AND YOU HAVE A FRIEND GET A COUPLE OF BEERS.
'CAUSE IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE A TWO BEER LIMIT.
AND THEN YOU GO AND DIVE INTO THE SHALLOW END ON A BAD DECISION.
OTHER THAN THAT, JUST FOR THIS, SINCE IT'S GOING TO COME BACK AND YOU WILL DISCUSS IT AND WE WILL DISCUSS IT.
AND BEFORE WE DO THAT, I HOPE WE WILL ALL DISCUSS IT.
WE CAN SUPPORT THIS WITH THAT CAVEAT OF NO ALCOHOL CELLS IN CITY PARKS.
AND WATSON, I KNOW I SAID I PASSED, BUT CAN I GO AHEAD AND SPEAK AFTER ALL? PLEASE COME FORWARD.
STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.
I'M MONICA GUZMAN, POLICY DIRECTOR FOR GAVA.
UM, WE ARE IN SUPPORT OF WHAT THE LAST TWO JUST SAID.
WE URGE YOU TO POSTPONE, ALLOW FOR A THOROUGH REVIEW AND AUTHENTIC COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
PLUS THERE'S CONCERN ABOUT PARKS AND REC BEING ALLOWED TO SELF-INITIATE ZONING, UH, INITIATIVES, ZONING CHANGES.
'CAUSE THAT CUTS OUT THE PUBLIC PROCESS AND WE CANNOT LET THAT HAPPEN.
CRAIG NASER, BRAD MASSING, JENNY GRAYSON.
AND IN THIS CASE, I'M, I'M GONNA SPEAK AS A COMMISSIONER, LONGTIME
[01:35:01]
COMMISSIONER HERE IN AUSTIN.UH, THIS IS, AS YOU KNOW, A RESULT OF THE AUDIT, UH, DEPARTMENT DECISION.
AND WHILE I AGREE THAT THERE'S A LOT OF CLEANING UP THAT CAN BE DONE IN OUR COMMISSION SYSTEM, I THINK COMBINING SOME OF THESE COMMISSIONS IS A BAD IDEA, PARTICULARLY IN THIS CASE.
NOW I GO TO THESE COM, I'M A COMMISSIONER, AND I GO TO THESE COMMISSION MEETINGS.
I DO THAT SO I DON'T HAVE TO COME HERE AS MUCH.
AND I THINK THAT WOULD BENEFIT YOU.
AND IF YOU COMBINE TOO MANY COMMISSIONS TOGETHER, NUMBER ONE, YOU GET THE, THE PROBLEM WITH, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE ASKING VOLUNTEERS TO COME IN AND GIVE THEIR INPUT AND THEY'RE, IT TAKES A WHILE TO GET UP TO SPEED ON SOME OF THESE ITEMS. THEY'RE, WE DON'T HAVE A STAFF, YOU KNOW, SO WE'RE TRYING TO LOOK AT THIS INFORMATION AND UNDERSTAND IT.
AND SO THAT CAN TAKE A FEW MONTHS SITTING ON THE COMMISSION.
CAN WE, CAN WE, CAN WE, CAN WE STOP MR. NAZER? YEAH.
CLARK, THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS ITEM IS.
THIS IS A CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE AND, AND DEALING WITH CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEES AND MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN, WE HAVE THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING COMMITTEES PUT IN OUR CODE AND A APPROPRIATE DESCRIPTION OF WHAT THOSE COMMITTEES WILL DO.
OKAY, SO THIS IS NOT THE COMMISSION COMBINED.
THIS IS NOT DEALING WITH BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
NOW YOU, YOU STILL HAVE 47 SECONDS IF YOU WANNA NO.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR LETTING ME SPEAK ON THE PREVIOUS ITEM AND JUST, I UNDERSTAND IT'S NOT COMMISSIONS, IT'S COMMITTEE, BUT STILL IT'S A LOT OF TIME.
AND WHEN THE PUBLIC DOES ATTEND, THAT'S A LOT FOR THEM TO SIT THROUGH.
PEOPLE DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TIME FOR THAT.
THEY'VE GOT CHILDREN, THEY'VE GOT FAMILY.
AND, UH, LIKE I SAID, I I UNDERSTAND NEEDING TO MAKE IT MORE EFFICIENT.
BUT YOU ALSO NEED TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION HUMAN BEINGS, BOTH COMMITTEE MEMBERS, SUPPORTING STAFF AND, AND THE RESIDENTS.
THEY CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH ALL AT ONCE.
BRAD MASSENGILL OR JENNY GRAYSON? MR. MASSENGILL IS INDICATING HE'S NOT GONNA SPEAK.
MONICA GUZMAN AND ALEXANDER STRINGER.
UH, WHERE AM I? OKAY, I'M MONICA GUZMAN, STILL, POLICY DIRECTOR AT GAVA.
WE SUPPORT ITEM 79, THE CITY SUPPORT FOR THE UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS OR SDGS FOR THOSE WHO AREN'T AWARE OF THOSE SDGS.
IN SHORT, THERE ARE NO POVERTY.
ZERO HUNGER, GOOD HEALTH AND WELLBEING, EQUALITY, EDUCATION, GENDER EQUALITY, CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION, AFFORDABLE AND CLEAN ENERGY, DECENT WORK AND ECONOMIC GROWTH.
INDUSTRY INNOVATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE.
REDUCED INEQUALITIES, SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES, RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION, CLIMATE ACTION, LIFE BELOW WATER, LIFE ON LAND, PEACE, JUSTICE, AND STRONG INSTITUTIONS AND PARTNERSHIP FOR THE GOALS.
WHEN THE CITY MANAGER IS IDENTIFYING GAPS IN IMPLEMENTATION, WE REQUEST YOU ENGAGE THE EQUITY OFFICE DIVISION STAFF AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, WHICH HAVE A TRACK RECORD OF WORK IN MOST IF NOT ALL OF THOSE AREAS, ESPECIALLY FOOD ACCESS, HOME-BASED, EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT, AND RELATIVE CAREGIVERS, REDUCED INEQUALITIES, SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES, CLIMATE ACTION AND PARTNERSHIP FOR THE GOALS.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF ITEM 79 AND THE NEED TO SUPPORT AND ACCELERATE THE UNITED NATIONS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS.
RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN A CLIMATE CRISIS.
DISINFORMATION IS RUNNING RAMPANT.
OUR MIGRANT COMMUNITY IS UNDER ATTACK.
AND DONALD TRUMP, THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, PUT A SCIENCE DENYING CONSPIRACY THEORIST IN CHARGE OF PUBLIC HEALTH.
AND WE NEED TO TAKE BOLD ACTION.
WE NEED TO TELL DONALD TRUMP AND HIS MAGO GOONS THAT THERE IS NO PLACE FOR HATRED AND NO PLACE FOR SCIENCE DENIAL.
AND THAT IS WHY WE NEED TO TURN AUSTIN INTO A 15 MINUTE CITY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
BECAUSE GETTING TO NET ZERO THAT IS GOING TO REQUIRE SACRIFICES.
[01:40:01]
IN ORDER TO SAVE OUR PLANET, WE NEED CARBON CREDITS.OUR MONEY NEEDS TO BE ATTACHED TO A CENTRAL BANK DIGITAL CURRENCY.
AND YOU SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO DRIVE A CAR OR SPEND MONEY OUTSIDE OF YOUR JURISDICTION IN ORDER TO PRESERVE LIFE ON PLANET EARTH.
BECAUSE IF WE DO NOT MAKE THESE NECESSARY CHANGES, THEN WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE.
AND I, I WAS, I'M SORRY, I WAS RECENTLY FIRED, KIRK.
'CAUSE DONALD TRUMP, HE TOOK AWAY MY JOB AT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND I DID IMPORTANT WORK.
I LED STUDIES WHERE WE GAVE STEROIDS TO HAMSTERS TO SEE IF IT WOULD MAKE THEM MORE AGGRESSIVE.
AND I WAS ALSO IN CHARGE OF PROVIDING $50 MILLION WORTH OF CONDOMS TO CHILDREN IN GAZA.
SO NOW I AM HOMELESS AND MY WIFE'S BOYFRIEND, ARMANDO, IS ABOUT TO GET DEPORTED BECAUSE HE IS AN IMMIGRANT AND BECAUSE HE ROBBED A PREGNANT LADY.
AND THEN THIS IS WHY KIRK, WE HAVE TO ACCELERATE OUR SUSTAINABILITY GOALS BECAUSE WE NEED TO SAVE OUR PLANET BECAUSE NOBODY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS.
AND BECAUSE MIGRANTS LIKE ARMANDO NEED TO KNOW THAT THEY WILL ALSO.
YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED FOR ITEM 80.
THOMAS DOWNING, MICHAEL BULLOCK, KATHY MITCHELL, SUSAN PITARO, AND DAVID JOHNSON.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
UM, WE'RE GOING TO BE VERY CLOSE, I THINK IN TERMS OF TIME BEFORE THE 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, UH, IF WE ARE NOT COMPLETE AT 12 O'CLOCK, WE WILL, UH, PAUSE THE CONSENT SPEAKERS AND WE WILL GO TO THE 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
SO THOSE THAT ARE HERE FOR THAT 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, WE WILL START THAT AS CLOSE TO 12 O'CLOCK AS WE CAN.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME INTERRUPT YOU.
I'M TOM DOWNING DIS OF DISTRICT FIVE CO-CHAIR OF THE RACIAL JUSTICE MINISTRY OF UNIVERSITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, AND MEMBER OF ADVOCATES FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE REFORM.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE COUNCIL AND THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION FOR SUPPORTING ITEM 80, THE RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO PREPARE REPORT AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE REGARDING THE CITY'S RESPONSIVE TO MENTAL HEALTH RELATED INCIDENTS.
AS WE'VE SEEN MANY TIME EXPECTING POLICE TO BE THE PRIMARY RESPONDERS TO MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES FOR BOTH THOSE IN CRISES AND THE OFFICERS THEMSELVES.
SENDING SOMEONE TO INTERVENE IN A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS WHO IS NOT A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL AND IS ARMED WITH A DEADLY WEAPON, IS DANGEROUS TO ALL CONCERNED AND DEFLECTS OFFICERS FROM RESPONDING TO ACTUAL CRIMINAL INCIDENTS.
AS A CHRISTIAN, I WAS TRAINED TO ASK MYSELF, WHAT WOULD JESUS DO WHEN FACED WITH A DIFFICULT PROBLEM? BACK IN JESUS' DAY, A MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEM WAS REFERRED TO AS DEMON POSSESSION.
IN BOTH MATTHEW AND LUKE'S GOSPELS, JESUS MAKES IT A PRIORITY FOR THE DISCIPLES TO CARE FOR THOSE SO STRICKEN.
HE DOESN'T TELL 'EM TO ARM THEMSELVES IN CASE OF A VIOLENT OUTBURST.
HE TELLS 'EM, NOT EVEN TAKE A STAFF FOR PROTECTION, HE DOES SEND THEM OUT TWO BY TWO.
SO THEY MAY SUPPORT EACH OTHER DURING ANY CONFRONTATION.
NOW, YOU MAY THINK THAT USING THIS EXAMPLE OF FIRST CENTURY MENTAL HEALTH CARE AS A STRETCH, BUT IT SEEMS TO ME IT'S JESUS' ANSWER TO THE QUESTION HE ALWAYS PUTS.
HELPING PEOPLE IN DISTRESS AS A PRIORITY, NOT PUNISHING THOSE WHOSE BEHAVIOR MAKES THEM OUTCAST.
I BELIEVE THIS RESOLUTION IS A STEP IN THAT DIRECTION.
THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU FOR YOUR WORK.
MORNING MAYOR COUNCIL MICHAEL BULLOCK, PRESIDENT FOR THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION.
I, UH, FIRST WANNA START BY THANKING COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.
UH, WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF POSITIVE DISCUSSIONS, I BELIEVE, AND I AM ENCOURAGED TO SEE THIS RESOLUTION COME FORWARD AND THE A PA WE ARE SUPPORTING THIS EFFORT BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE IT IS TIME THAT WE WORK TOWARDS GETTING LAW ENFORCEMENT OUT OF MENTAL HEALTH.
WE HAVE NEVER CLAIMED TO BE THE EXPERTS, BUT YET WE HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY OF RESPONDING TO MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AND TAKING THESE POSITIVE STEPS TOWARDS IDENTIFYING BETTER WAYS TO DIVERT THESE CALLS.
TO HAVE A MORE ROBUST MENTAL HEALTH RESPONSE SYSTEM, I BELIEVE IS A POSITIVE STEP.
I CAN TELL Y'ALL, IN MY EXPERIENCE IN WORKING PATROL AND ON OTHER CALLS, THERE'S BEEN NUMEROUS INSTANCES WHERE A PD POLICY DOES ALLOW DIVERSION OF CERTAIN CRIMINAL ELEMENTS TO A MENTAL HEALTH RESPONSE.
BUT IN THE THREE SPECIFIC INSTANCES WHERE I ATTEMPTED TO DO THAT, THERE WERE A NUMBER OF BARRIERS IN THE WAY THAT PREVENTED THAT.
IN ONE INSTANCE, THERE WAS NOT ANY BED SPACE THAT WAS AVAILABLE FOR US TO DIVERT SOMEONE TO, THEREFORE THEY HAD TO BE ARRESTED.
[01:45:01]
INSTANCE WHERE WE ATTEMPTED TO DIVERT SOMEONE TO, AGAIN, A MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY TO GO SEE AN ACTUAL PHYSICIAN AND THEY MADE TOO MUCH MONEY, EVEN THOUGH THE OVERALL COMBINED INCOME FOR THAT HOUSEHOLD WAS $35,000.AND THEN THERE WAS YET ANOTHER ONE WHERE BECAUSE IT WAS INVOLVING A MINOR, WE WERE NOT GIVEN A FACILITY THAT WE COULD ACTUALLY DIVERT THEM TO.
SO A PD POLICY ALLOWS FOR THESE DIVERSIONS TO HAPPEN, BUT THE RESOURCES AND THE SYSTEM IS NOT IN PLACE THAT ACTUALLY ALLOWS THAT TO HAPPEN.
SO I BELIEVE THIS IS A POSITIVE STEP FORWARD.
I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT A PD OFFICERS ARE RESPONDING APPROPRIATELY AND THEY DO THE VERY BEST THAT THEY CAN WITHIN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT IT'S ALSO TIME THAT WE LOOK AT ALTERNATIVES THAT ACTUALLY TAKE THIS RESPONSE AWAY FROM US BECAUSE WE HAVE NEVER CLAIMED TO BE THE EXPERTS.
SO WE ARE ALL ABOUT FINDING BETTER WAYS IN MOVING FORWARD.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN, COUNCIL MEMBER FOR YOUR WORK, FOR YOUR EFFORTS, AND TO ALL OF Y'ALL WHO HAVE CO-SPONSORED AND ARE WILLING TO MOVE THIS ONE FORWARD, AS ALWAYS, WE'RE HERE IF THERE'S ANY RESOURCES WE CAN PROVIDE.
THANK YOU OFFICER MS. PITARO, SUSAN PITARO, UH, DISTRICT EIGHT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I, I KEEP COMING BACK TO, YOU KNOW, HOW I SUPPORT PUBLIC SAFETY.
IT'S ONE OF THE, THE MOST IMPORTANT FUNCTIONS AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS YOU WANNA DO.
IF PEOPLE DON'T FEEL SAFE HERE, THEY'RE NOT GONNA DO IT.
THEY'RE NOT GONNA GO TO PARK, THEY'RE NOT GONNA GO DOWNTOWN.
UM, IN MAY OF, OF 2019, MEADOWS MENTAL HEALTH POLICY IN THE INSTITUTE WAS HIRED BY THE CITY TO DO A SIMILAR STUDY.
AND IT'S VERY INTERESTING WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT 'CAUSE IT LOOKED, I THINK SOME THINGS PROBABLY HAVEN'T CHANGED AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO REINVENT THE WHEEL.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE REIMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY IS THE QUESTION OF IS IT A POLICE DUTY OR A SOCIAL WORKER DUTY, SORRY, TO, UH, DEAL WITH MENTAL HEALTH CRISES IN, IN THE FIELD.
AND THE REALITY IS, IT, IT PROBABLY WILL INVOLVE BOTH.
SOME SOCIAL WORKER FRIENDS OF MINE SAY WE NEVER CONTEMPLATE THAT WE WOULD GO IN ALONE WITHOUT A POLICE OFFICER.
SO I THINK THAT WHAT I DON'T WANT TO TO SEE IS THAT THIS IS SOME DECLARATION THAT, UM, PEOPLE CAN BE ON OUR STREETS, THEY CAN COMMIT CRIMES, THEY CAN HURT PEOPLE, AND THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND THE POLICE ARE TAKEN OUT.
ONE THING YOU COULD DO IMMEDIATELY, WHICH I THINK WOULD BE A REALLY GOOD THING TO GET SOME OF THE DATA THAT YOU WANT, IS THE CALL CENTER BE MANAGED BY A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL.
AND IF IN FACT THAT PERSON FEELS THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR A POLICE OFFICER TO BE THERE, THEY MAKE THAT REQUEST IN WRITING AND THEN YOU WOULD KNOW, YOU KNOW, WHAT KIND OF TEAM YOU NEED TO GO IN.
BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR LOOKING AT THIS.
UM, I, I DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING THAT HURTS OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
UH, WE'VE DONE A LOT OF THINGS THAT HAVE, AND IT'S VERY DIFFICULT AS YOU KNOW, TO BUILD IT UP.
I'M GRATEFUL THAT YOU SIGNED THE CONTRACT, BUT I THINK THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR TRAINING AND TO MAKE ALL OF OUR PEOPLE MORE EFFECTIVE.
MS. MITCHELL, I WANNA THANK CHEETO FOR COMING UP WITH AN ITEM THAT THESE FOUR INDIVIDUALS CAN ALL AGREE ON.
IT'S PROBABLY THE FIRST TIME SINCE YOU ALL, MOST OF YOU HAVE BEEN ON THE DAIS.
UH, I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM A PA SAID, I'M AWARE OF THOSE KIND OF CALLS AND HAVE TALKED TO THOSE OFFICERS WHO END UP STANDING HELPLESS IN A FACILITY, BASICALLY TOLD THERE'S NO BED AND THE ONLY BED IS THE JAIL.
UH, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET PAST FOR ALL THESE YEARS.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, I WAS THERE FOR THAT, UH, MEADOWS WORK BACK IN THE DAY.
AND I BELIEVE THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE HAVE TRIED TO DO IN THAT INTERVENING TIME AND IT'S PROBABLY TIME TO LOOK AT WHAT RESULTS WE'RE SEEING FROM THAT.
UH, I ALSO THINK THAT WE, UH, CAN ABSOLUTELY DO SOME WORK AT THE NINE ONE ONE CALL CENTER.
SO IN WITH REFLECTING ON MS. BETA'S COMMENTS, I THINK THAT THAT'S ALSO A THING AND I THINK WE'LL LEARN FROM THIS DATA AND THIS ANALYSIS THAT WE'RE ASKING THE CITY MANAGER TO DO, HOW TO TAKE APPROPRIATE NEXT STEPS IN THIS UPCOMING BUDGET CYCLE SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO WALK DOWN A MORE EFFECTIVE ROAD FOR THESE PEOPLE WHO NEED OUR HELP.
HAS YOUR NAME BEEN CALLED? PLEASE, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
HELLO, UH, MY NAME IS DAVID JOHNSON.
I'M THE, UH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BUILDING PROMISE USA, YOUR REENTRY HUB.
[01:50:01]
ON THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE TRAVIS COUNTY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.AND I WOULD LIKE TO READ FOR, UH, FOR YOU AN EMAIL SENT TO ALL OF YOUR OFFICES BY JUDGE KIM, KIM WILLIAMS FROM COUNTY COURT NINE, BECAUSE ON ISSUE 80, I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE AVOID THE SILOING THAT ALWAYS HAPPENS WHERE THE CITY WORKS ON A PUBLIC HEALTH OR COMMUNITY HEALTH ISSUE AND THE COUNTY WORKS AND WE DUPLICATE WORK ON IT'S ABSOLUTELY INEFFECTIVE AND INEFFICIENT.
SO THIS WAS AN INVITATION MADE FROM THE BHC TO ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF, OF, OF THE COUNCIL.
AND THIS IS FROM, UH, KIM JUDGE WILLIAMS. GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN MENTAL HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.
WE SAW YOUR RECENT RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO PREPARE A REPORT AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE REGARDING THE CITY'S POLICE AND NON-POLICE RESPONSES TO MENTAL HEALTH RELATED INCIDENTS AND TO REQUEST FOR SERVICES MADE THROUGH THE 9 1 1 AND 3 1 1 SYSTEMS. I AM THE CHAIR OF THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COMMITTEE, JUSTICE, JUSTICE ADVISORY COUNCIL, BHC, AND IT IS A COLLABORATIVE ASSOCIATION COMPRISED OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM DEFENSE ATTORNEYS, JUDGES, PROSECUTORS, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, TRAVIS COUNTY JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY, ET CETERA, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH STAKEHOLDERS LIKE INTEGRAL CARE, HSS, DELL MEDICAL SCHOOL, EMS, SOCIAL WORK WORKERS, ET CETERA, ECHO INDIVIDUALS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE, COMMUNITY GROUPS LIKE GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP, NAMI, DAA, DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE, AND MANY OTHERS.
OUR MISSION IS TO DEVELOP AND SUSTAIN A PLANNING PARTNERSHIP TO SUPPORT PERSONS WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEEDS AND TO PROMOTE JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY.
WE WANT TO INVITE YOU OR A REPRESENTATIVE TO JOIN US AS WE THINK THAT OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE DISCUSSING OUR DATA DASHBOARD, INCLUDING OBSERVATIONS ABOUT WHAT DATA WE SHOULD BE COLLECTING, HOW TO BEST UTILIZE THE DATA, ET CETERA.
WE WILL LIKELY DISCUSS THE INFORMATION YOU REQUEST IN YOUR RESOLUTION.
THERE IS NO REASON, I'M SORRY, YOUR, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
VERY CLEAR MESSAGE, NOT DUPLICATE.
MAYOR PERFU, JUST, JUST WANTED TO THANK THE SPEAKER FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND CONFIRM THAT I DID RECEIVE THAT EMAIL FROM JUDGE WILLIAMS AND HAVE CONFIRMED MY PARTICIPATION AND ATTENDANCE AT THE NEXT MEETING.
I'LL ALL MAKE MAY I JUST HAVE ONE MORE CONSENT SPEAKER ITEM ONE 12 ZENOBIA JOSEPH, MS. JOSEPH, MS. JOSEPH.
MY COMMENTS AS THEY ALWAYS ARE IN THE CONTEXT OF TITLE SIX OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964, WHICH PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE, COLOR, AND NATIONAL ORIGIN.
THIS IS THE $18.5 MILLION GRANT FROM HUD SPECIFICALLY PRO HOUSING.
I JUST WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THE SPEAKER SAID EARLIER THERE WAS A LACK OF PUBLIC INPUT.
YOU HAVE A PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PLAN WHICH MANDY DE MAYO DID NOT COMPLY WITH.
I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT ON JULY 18TH, 2024, YOU ACTUALLY PASSED A CONSOLIDATED PLAN, WHICH WAS APPROXIMATELY $70 MILLION THAT YOU'RE SEEKING FROM HUD FOR THIS PARTICULAR GRANT.
I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE FIRST PRO HOUSING GRANT APPLICATION SPECIFIED THAT THERE WERE FEWER THAN 10 AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS IN WEST AUSTIN.
SO IT IS DISINGENUOUS FOR THIS PARTICULAR ITEM TO SPECIFY EQUITABLE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT.
I'LL REMIND YOU, MAYOR, THAT ON DECEMBER 17TH, 2018, YOU MENTIONED THE F FE EFFECT FOR YOUR GRANDDAUGHTER.
AND I JUST WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THAT THE RAIL SERVES WHITE CHOICE RIDERS SOUTH OF US, 180 3 UPDATING THE STRATEGIC HOUSING BLUEPRINT.
DOES NOTHING TO IMPROVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CITY.
AND I WOULD JUST REMIND YOU THAT THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION, WHILE IT IS ON PAUSE, IS ACTUALLY LOOKING AT THE FEDERAL FUNDING THAT IS BEING DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.
AND PERHAPS THIS IS A GOOD TIME FOR THEM TO ACTUALLY LOOK AT THIS HUD GRANT BECAUSE THIS IS FRAUD WASTE AND ABUSE.
FRAUD IS TRYING TO GET SOMETHING OF VALUE THROUGH WILLFUL MISREPRESENTATION.
AND IT IS DISINGENUOUS FOR MANDY DE MAYO TO HAVE SUBMITTED THAT YOU WANT TO PUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE HIGH OPPORTUNITY AREAS.
WHEN YOU CONTINUE TO USE 80% AREA MEDIAN INCOME AS SOURCE OF INCOME DISCRIMINATION.
IT IS A PROXY FOR DISCRIMINATION.
I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT 80% AREA MEDIAN INCOME IS APPROXIMATELY $70,000 IN AFRICAN.
AFRICAN-AMERICANS EARN APPROXIMATELY $42,000, WHICH MEANS THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO LIVE IN THOSE AREAS.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL CONSENT SPEAKERS, MAYOR MEMBERS.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL CONSENT SPEAKERS.
UM, WE HAVE A 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND I KNOW THERE'S GONNA BE SOME DISCUSSION, UH, RELATED TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
UH, MY RECOMMENDATION IS THAT WHAT WE DO IS WE TAKE UP THREE
[01:55:01]
OF THE PUBLIC HEARINGS THAT I THINK WE CAN GET DONE IN THE NEXT SIX MINUTES AND THEN WE WILL, UH, GO TO THE CONSENT SPEED, THE PUBLIC COMMENT, THE 12 O'CLOCK TIME, CERTAIN PUBLIC COMMENT.UH, MY RECOMMENDATION IS GOING TO BE THAT WHEN WE COMPLETE THAT PUBLIC COMMENT AND PEOPLE ARE SETTING UP FOR THE LIVE MUSIC THAT WE RECESS UNTIL ONE O'CLOCK AND AT ONE O'CLOCK WE COME BACK AND THEN TAKE UP THE CONSENT AGENDA AND THEN WE'LL TAKE UP THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT.
SO WITH THAT, UM, I WILL, DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING? YES.
UM, WITH THAT, UM, MEMBERS, WE'LL GO TO ITEM
[88. Conduct a public hearing and consider a resolution authorizing and directing the Director of the Parks and Recreation Department to act on the City’s behalf and work with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in connection with the Boating Access Program and to apply for a Boating Access Grant of up to $250,000, to be partially matched by the City, to partially fund the renovation or replacement of the boat ramp at Walter E. Long Metropolitan Park. Funding: Funding is available in the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Capital Budget of the Parks and Recreation Department to meet the City’s matching requirement of $83,333.]
NUMBER 88, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION.WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON NIGHT ITEM NUMBER 88 AND I WILL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE TO LET US KNOW WHETHER THERE IS ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 88.
THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS FOR 88 MAYOR MEMBERS.
THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 8 88.
SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 88 AND I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH REGARD TO THE RESOLUTION RELATED.
IT'S MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ.
UH, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ITEM NUMBER 88 IS ADOPTED MEMBERS THAT
[90. Conduct a public hearing in accordance with Texas Parks and Wildlife Code Chapter 26 and consider a resolution authorizing permanent and temporary changes of use of dedicated parkland, known as the Norwood Tract at Town Lake Metropolitan Park, Edward Rendon Sr. Metropolitan Park at Festival Beach, and Waller Beach at Town Lake Metropolitan Park, for Austin Water to use approximately 17,836 square feet for permanent use and approximately 16,105 square feet for temporary use in order to construct and maintain approximately 955 linear feet of waterline and approximately 245 linear feet of wastewater line. Funding: Funding is available in the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Capital Budget of Austin Water. This item is projected to result in additional revenue of $2,739,882 in the Fiscal Year 2024‐2025 Parks and Recreation Department’s Capital Budget.]
WILL TAKE US TO ITEM NUMBER 90, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 90 AND I WILL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE, UH, TO TELL US ABOUT ITEM NUMBER 90 AND WHETHER WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS.THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS FOR ITEM 90 MEMBERS.
THERE'S NO ONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 90.
SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 90, UH, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED.
COUNCIL MEMBER VELA MAKES A MOTION TO APPROVE.
UH, ITEM NUMBER 90, THE RESOLUTION ON ITEM NUMBER 90.
IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER 90 WITHOUT OBJECTION? ITEM NUMBER 90 IS ADOPTED MEMBERS.
[91. Conduct a public hearing in accordance with Texas Parks and Wildlife Code Chapter 26 and consider a resolution authorizing permanent and temporary changes of use of dedicated parkland, known as Williamson Creek Central and East Greenbelt, for Austin Water to use approximately 407,062 square feet for permanent use and approximately 388,725 square feet for temporary use in order to construct and maintain approximately 18,800 linear feet of wastewater interceptor. Funding: Funding is available in the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Capital Budget of Austin Water. This item is projected to result in additional revenue of $2,287,068 in the Fiscal Year 2024‐2025 Parks and Recreation Department’s Capital Budget.]
ITEM NUMBER 91.UM, IF WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK.
THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS FOR ITEM 91 MEMBERS.
THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 91.
SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 91.
COUNCIL MEMBER VELA MOVES APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION.
IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.
DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER 91 WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ITEM NUMBER 91 IS ADOPTED MEMBERS.
[86. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance amending City Code Title 25 (Land Development) related to development regulations applicable to residential re-subdivisions and to multi-family residential site development of five to sixteen units.]
ITEM NUMBER 86 IS AN ITEM THAT IS BEING POSTPONED AND IT'S BEING POSTPONED TO FEBRUARY 13TH, 2025.UH, WE WILL, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE IS SOMEONE THAT WANTS TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.
WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 86 AND THE PERSON IS ALLOWED TO SPEAK WITH REGARD TO THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN.
THANK YOU MAYOR WILLIAM BUNCH.
ITEM 86, THE MERITS OF POSTPONEMENT.
MR. BUNCH, DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 86, WHICH IS BEING POSTPONED TO FEBRUARY 13TH, 2025? MR. BUNCH.
ALRIGHT, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AT THE FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 86? THAT IS ALL THE SPEAKERS FOR 86 MEMBERS.
THAT IS ALL, THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 86.
SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 86.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED AND THAT ITEM WILL BE POSTPONED TO FEBRUARY 13TH, 2025.
WE WILL NOW GO TO ITEM NUMBER 85.
[85. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance amending City Code Title 25 (Land Development) to create exceptions for providing an erosion hazard zone analysis and increasing the distance for erosion hazard zones along the Colorado River below Longhorn Dam. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.]
THAT IS ALSO A POSTPONED ITEM BE POSTPONED.IT WOULD BE POSTPONED TO MARCH 6TH, 2025.
BUT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE MAY BE SPEAKERS THAT WANT TO SPEAK TO THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT WITHOUT OBJECTION.
WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 85.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN AND I WILL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK.
TWO SPEAKERS, WILLIAM BUNCH AND BRAD MASSENGILL.
UH, MR. BUNCH, DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK ON THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER 85? MR. BUNCH? WILLIAM BUNCH.
ALL RIGHT, MR. MASSENGILL, DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK MR. MASSENGILL IS INDICATING FROM THE BACK OF THE ROOM THAT HE DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.
UM, THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP.
SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 85.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED AND THAT ITEM WILL BE POSTPONED TO MARCH 6TH, 2025 MEMBERS.
UM, I WISH I'D HAVE TALKED A LITTLE BIT SLOWER.
SO, UH, THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL WILL, UH, SIT QUIETLY FOR A, DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU WANNA SAY? NO.
OH, WELL YOUR CLOCK IS DIFFERENT THAN MY CLOCK, YOU KNOW.
[02:00:01]
YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER IS ALWAYS A STEP AHEAD.HE, UH, WE, WE, WE, WE SOMETIMES WONDER WHY THAT'S THE CASE.
UM, WELL I'LL TELL YOU WHAT MY IPHONE SAYS IT'S 12 O'CLOCK.
[12:00 PM - Public Communication: General]
WILL MOVE TO OUR TIME CERTAIN OF 12 O'CLOCK.AND I, UH, IT JUST TURNED ON MY SCREEN HERE TOO, SO.
ALL CLOCKS INDICATE IT'S NOON.
UH, WITH THAT BEING THE CASE, WE WILL GO TO OUR 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN AND I WILL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK TO ASK THE SPEAKERS COME FORWARD TO SPEAKERS, YOU KNOW, UH, THE ORDER THAT YOU ARE SIGNED UP.
SO IF YOU WOULD PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TOWARD THE FRONT SO THAT WE CAN OPERATE, UH, IN A WAY THAT IS EFFICIENT AND, AND, UH, DEAL WITH SOME OF THE BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
SO WITH AND IF, UH, YOUR NAME IS CALLED, COME ON FORWARD AND IF THE MICROPHONE IS OPEN, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE AND STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND I'LL NOW GO TO THE CITY CLERK.
MARIA BUSTAMANTE, CAN YOU PLEASE PULL UP THE PART POINT PRESENTATION AND PLEASE SET THE LUI LUI? YES, PLEASE SET THE CLOCK APPROPRIATELY FOR THE SPEAKERS.
WOULD YOU REPEAT YOUR NAME, SIR? LUI ABBO RO.
I AM A PALESTINIAN AMERICAN LIVING IN AUSTIN FOR 24 YEARS.
QUICKLY, I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, VANESSA FUENTES, JOSE VELAZQUEZ FOR VISITING OUR PLACES OF WORSHIP.
IN ADDITION TO Z KARI, YOU ALL HAVE PUT A HEARTFELT STATEMENT REGARDING THE CEASEFIRE.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK CRYSTAL LANE AND MIKE SIEGEL FOR ACKNOWLEDGING OUR SHARED HUMANITY AND FOR SOMETIMES CATCHING HEAT, FOR STANDING UP FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND JUSTICE.
AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR WINS.
I'M HERE WITH A SMALL ASK AS A PALESTINIAN AMERICAN AS FEEL OBLIGATED TO SPEAK OUT FROM MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN GAZA THAT DID NOT ENJOY BASIC HUMAN DIGNITY FOR THE PAST 15 MONTHS.
IN PARTICULAR, I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT 25-YEAR-OLD JOURNALISM AND MEDIA GRADUATE, UH, FADI.
HE CAPTIVATED THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF A LOT OF FOLLOWERS ON SOCIAL MEDIA AS, UH, HEIF PHOTOGRAPHED, REPORTED, AND WENT LIVE.
SPEAKING ABOUT THE GENOCIDE THAT GAZA HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING AT THE HANDS OF THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT FOR THE PAST 15 MONTHS, FADI WAS SHOT AS HIS TEAM AT AL JAZEERA WAS COVERING THE ISRAELI ONSLAUGHT AT THE NORTHERN GAZA NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE BOLT HIT, THE BULLET HIT A ARY IN HIS NECK, CAUSING PHYSICAL, NEUROLOGICAL, AND RESPIRATORY INJURIES.
HE HAS BEEN ON HIS BACK FOR FOUR MONTHS, FIGHTING FOR HIS LIFE AND EXPERIENCING EXCRUCIATING PAIN WHILE HEARING BOMBS EXPLODING ALL AROUND HIM.
HOW SCARED WOULD YOU BE IF GOD FORBID YOU WERE IN HIS SHOES? MULTIPLE REQUESTS FOR MEDICAL EVACUATIONS HAVE BEEN DENIED BY THE GAZA COORDINATION AND LIAISON ADMINISTRATION, ALSO KNOWN AS GAZA, CLA.
AND THIS IS WHERE YOU AND ALL PEOPLE HEARING ME COME IN.
THE GAZA CLA AND THE OCCUPATION, CIVIL ADMINISTRATION BEFORE IT SINCE 1967, HAVE BEEN KNOWN FOR DENYING MEDICAL PERMITS FOR NO REASON.
THEY ARE ALSO, UM, KNOWN TO ISSUE PERMITS WHEN THIRD PARTIES GET INVOLVED.
MORE ON THAT HISTORY IS DISCUSSED IN THIS BOOK CALLED DRINKING THE SEA AT GAZA BY AMIRA, WHO'S AN ISRAELI JOURNALIST WITH THE CEASEFIRE IN PLACE, ISRAEL IS OBLIGED TO PERMIT THE EVACUATION OF 300 PEOPLE A DAY FOR MEDICAL REASONS.
WE HAVE TO ENSURE THAT HE GETS ON THE LIST OF PERMITTED EVACUEES AND ACTUALLY GET OUT FOR THAT.
I'M SHARING, UH, THE PHONE NUMBER AND EMAIL ADDRESS OF THE GAZA CLA FROM ITS HOMEPAGE.
UH, YOUR INDIVIDUAL OR COLLECTIVE EFFORT CAN MEAN LIFE OR DEATH FOR THIS YOUNG MAN.
THANK YOU MAYOR WATSON AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL, INCLUDING OUR NEWLY ELECTED COUNCIL MEMBERS, KRISTA LANE, MIKE SIEGEL, AND MARK UCHIN FROM DISTRICT 10 WHERE I LIVE.
MY NAME IS CARLY RABINOVICH AND I AM AN AUSTIN RESIDENT HERE TODAY TO SPEAK TO ABOUT ANTISEMITISM.
[02:05:02]
EXPERTS ON THIS TOPIC TELL US THAT AN ALARMING NUMBER OF PEOPLE ACTUALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT ANTISEMITISM MEANS.AND TO BE DIRECT AND STRAIGHTFORWARD, WE SHOULD BE CLEAR IN CALLING IT WHAT IT IS.
HATRED OF PEOPLE THAT ARE JEWISH.
WE HAVE SEEN THIS HATRED AGAINST JEWISH PEOPLE EXPLODE OVER THE PAST 15 MONTHS.
AND EVEN BEFORE THIS, AFTER THE HOLOCAUST ENDED 80 YEARS AGO, THE WORLD HAD BEEN WITH US IN SAYING NEVER AGAIN.
BUT WE ARE SEEING SIMILARITIES AND PARALLELS OF WHAT HAPPENED LEADING UP TO THE HOLOCAUST, HAPPENING AGAIN RIGHT BEFORE OUR VERY EYES.
AND IN OUR OWN CITY, THERE IS A GLOBAL TREND OF FADING KNOWLEDGE ABOUT BASIC FACTS OF THE HOLOCAUST.
SHOCKINGLY, ONE IN FIVE YOUNG AMERICANS BELIEVE THE HOLOCAUST TO BE A MYTH.
AS POINTED OUT IN THE PROCLAMATION OF HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE STATE THAT WAS HELD HERE THIS MORNING.
IT HAS BEEN 80 YEARS SINCE THE LIBERATION OF AUSCHWITZ, ONE OF THE MANY CONCENTRATION CAMPS CREATED AND USED DURING THE HOLOCAUST, WHICH RESULTED IN THE EXTERMINATION, THE EXTINGUISHING OF LIFE AND ALL FUTURE POTENTIAL OF 6 MILLION JEWISH PEOPLE.
WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS WHO MANAGE TO SURVIVE THESE ATROCITIES LIVING RIGHT HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND MANY OF US ARE DESCENDANTS OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE THAT SOMEHOW MANAGE TO SURVIVE AND LIVE AFTER THESE HORRORS.
IT AFFECTS OUR COMMUNITY DEEPLY, BUT SHOULD AFFECT ALL OF US COLLECTIVELY WITH THE SHARED HUMANITY.
THERE ARE THINGS YOU CAN DO AS CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO PROTECT THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF ALL AUSTINITES.
YOU CAN ACTIVELY SEEK WAYS TO ENSURE THAT VOICES FROM THE AFFILIATED JEWISH COMMUNITY ARE SOUGHT OUT AND INCLUDED ON CIVIC COMMISSIONS AND POLICY ISSUES.
JUST AS YOU WOULD ANY OTHER MINORITY COMMUNITY.
YOU COULD CONSIDER ORDINANCES THAT WOULD PREVENT ANTISEMITIC FLYERING, WHICH HAS HAPPENED IN MY OWN NEIGHBORHOOD.
MY NEIGHBOR'S YOUNG SON WAS GREETED WITH THESE FLYERS WHEN TAKING HIS DOG OUT FOR A MORNING WALK.
YOU COULD WORK WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OTHER CITY AGENCIES TO REDUCE HATE CRIME IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.
THERE SHOULD BE ABSOLUTELY ZERO TOLERANCE FOR HATRED OF ANY GROUP, OF ANY PERSON, OF ANY FAITH, RELIGION, OR CREED IN OUR CITY.
I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT WE SHOULD UNIFY AND STAND TOGETHER AS AUSTINITES TO UPHOLD OUR BASIC VALUES AND TO ENSURE THAT NO GROUP OF PEOPLE ARE TARGETED BY HATE.
THANK YOU FOR BEING RESOLUTE IN YOUR MORAL CLARITY AND FOR EMPLOYING COMMON SENSE IN ORDER TO KEEP OUR GREAT CITY AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED AND YOU PLEASE COME FORWARD.
AFTER MARIA, WE HAVE ROBERT BODEN.
GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS MARIA ANTE AND I AM A LAUNDRY ATTENDANT AT THE HYATT PLACE HOTEL AT THE AIRPORT HERE.
LAST JULY, ALL OUR EMPLOYEES WE MET TO, TO, WE CAME TOGETHER AND VOTED 24 2 8 TO JOIN OUR UNION UNITED HERE LOCAL 23 PLACE.
SINCE THEN, THE HYATT PLACE HAS DELAYED RECOGNIZING OUR UNION FOR NEARLY SEVEN MONTHS.
AND THEY HAVE BEEN, THEY HAVE BEEN FILING MERITS OBJECTIONS TO OUR VICTORY.
AND WHEN THEY LOST THE APPEAL BY RECENTLY THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD IN LRB, THEY REJECTED THE FINAL APPEAL.
NOW WE EXPECT TO HAVE OUR UNION ELECTION CERTIFIED SHORTLY AND BEGIN THE NEGOTIATIONS.
MY COWORKERS AND I CAME TOGETHER SO WE CAN BE TREATED WITH RESPECT AND DIGNITY AND TO HAVE A VOICE AND
[02:10:01]
A VOICE TO SPEAK.AND IN OUR WORKPLACE NOW, WE ARE ASKING YOU TO STAND WITH US AND PLEASE ASK THE HIGHER PLACE TO STOP WASTING TIME AND SIT WITH US AT A TABLE TO START THE NEGOTIATIONS AND TREAT US WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT AND NEGOTIATE WITH US IN GOOD, GOOD FAITH WITH THE RESPECT AND DIGNITY THAT WE DESERVE.
MY NAME IS ROBERT BOWDEN, BUT YOU CAN CALL ME BOB.
I DON'T BELIEVE I'VE MET ANY OF YOU HERE, BUT, UH, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AND IF I RUN OUT OF TIME, I'M HAPPY TO TALK WITH ANYONE EITHER OUTSIDE IN THE LOBBY LATER OR AT ANY OTHER TIME ABOUT MY ISSUE.
A FEW WEEKS AGO I WAS AT THE RED BUD ISLE PARK, WHICH IS I THINK A GEM OF AUSTIN.
AND I WAS TALKING WITH TWO FRIENDS.
WE HAD ALL DRIVEN TH THERE WERE THREE CARS, MYSELF AND THE TWO FRIENDS ALL HAD CARS.
THEY WERE PARKED RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER.
AND ONE OF MY FRIENDS SAID, IS THAT A CAR ALARM? AND I SAID, YES, I GUESS SO.
AND I WAS KIND OF ANNOYED 'CAUSE GENERALLY CAR ALARMS ANNOY ME AND I FIND THEM SORT OF GENERALLY IRRITATING.
BUT THEN HE REALIZED IT WAS HIS CAR THAT THE ALARM WAS COMING FROM.
HE REALIZED HIS WINDOW HAD BEEN BASHED IN WITH A HAMMER.
AND AS WELL AS THE OTHER FRIEND, BOTH OF MY FRIENDS PARKED NEXT TO EACH OTHER, HAD BOTH OF THEIR WINDOWS BASHED IN.
HE HAD HIS, UH, BRIEFCASE TAKEN WITH HIS WORK LAPTOP THAT HE SAID HAD A THOUSAND HOURS OF WORK ON IT.
HE WENT RUNNING AFTER THE GETAWAY CAR TRYING TO VIDEOTAPE AND GET THE LICENSE PLATE NUMBER, BUT WASN'T ABLE TO DO THAT 'CAUSE HE WAS RUNNING AND IT WAS TOO MUCH MOTION IN THE CAMERA.
BUT WHAT WE LEARNED LATER IS THAT IT DIDN'T MATTER IF HE GOT THE LICENSE PLATE NUMBER OR NOT.
I'M NOT HERE SPEAKING BECAUSE I WITNESSED JUST 50 YARDS AWAY FROM ME OR LESS.
I'M NOT HERE BECAUSE MY FRIEND WAS VERY UPSET AND THEY SAY THEY'LL NEV NEITHER ONE WILL EVER GO BACK TO THAT PARK AGAIN.
I'M HERE BECAUSE OF WHAT I HEARD AFTERWARDS WITH MULTIPLE PEOPLE TELLING ME, DON'T BOTHER.
THEY WON'T PROSECUTE THIS CRIME IN AUSTIN.
THIS IS A PROPERTY THEFT CRIME THAT'S CONSIDERED TOO INSIGNIFICANT FOR THE PROSECUTOR TO DEAL WITH.
EITHER HE IGNORES IT COMPLETELY OR IT'S A SLAP ON THE WRIST.
SO I TALKED, I'VE TALKED TO MULTIPLE, UH, AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICERS NOW ABOUT THIS.
ONE TOLD ME THERE'S ONE PERSON WHO'S BEEN ARRESTED 11 TIMES FOR THE SAME CRIME.
AND LAUGHS ONE OF THE OCCASIONS LAUGHED AT HIM SAYING, YOU KNOW, I'LL JUST BE OUT DOING THIS AGAIN TOMORROW.
UH, ANOTHER OFFICER TOLD ME THEY HAVE A LIST OF 20 NAMES OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THESE SMASH AND GRAB CRIMES.
IT'S A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING THIS OVER AND OVER, AND WE KEEP BEING TOLD THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO.
THE REASON I'M HERE IS HOW FRUSTRATED IS, IS REALLY, UH, NOT STRONG ENOUGH A TERM, UH, INFURIATED.
I AM TO BE TOLD THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO.
NOW I KNOW NO ONE HERE ELECTED THE PROSECUTOR AND I KNOW THAT, UH, THAT THE PROSECUTOR HAS HIS OWN OFFICE AND HAS THE RIGHT TO IGNORE THESE CRIMES.
AND MAYBE IN FACT, HE IS UNAWARE THAT THIS IS HAPPENING.
AND WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD IS KIND OF A POLITICAL SPIN THAT'S MAYBE UNFAIR TO THE PROSECUTOR.
BUT ALL I WOULD SAY IS THAT IF WE HAVE A SCENARIO WITH THESE CRIMES HAPPENING REPEATEDLY, I HAVE A PICTURE ON MY PHONE FROM THIS MORNING OF NEW GLASS THAT'S ON THAT'S ON THE GROUND FROM ANOTHER SUCH CRIME TAB.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
BOBBY SUD, THEN ADAM UD AND THEN KIM POLNER.
UM, I I I WANNA SAY I LOVE BEING JEWISH.
I LOVE THE VALUES AND TRADITIONS OF MY JEWISH HERITAGE AND JEWISH COMMUNITY.
I LOVE THAT MY HEART BEATS TO THE MESSAGE TO K OLAM AND SITTING WITH MY MOM AT SERVICES IN SYNAGOGUE.
I ALSO WANNA SAY I LOVE AUSTIN AND I LOVE THE STATE OF TEXAS.
I HAVE A DEEP, IMMENSE PRIDE FROM MY TEXAS HERITAGE.
MY BLOOD RUNS BURNT ORANGE AND I LOVE SEEING THE EYES OF TEXAS WITH MY DAD AT DKR LONGHORN FOOTBALL GAMES.
I THINK THAT IF YOU WERE TO ASK THE REST OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY OF AUSTIN, YOU'D SEE THAT THEY SHARE A SIMILAR CONNECTION, A DEEP PRIDE THAT CARES FOR THE CITY.
[02:15:01]
AND WE WERE ASKING FOR THE CITY THAT WE LOVE TO PAY ATTENTION.I NEVER BEFORE HAD TO ASK MYSELF, IS IT SAFE FOR ME TODAY TO BE BOTH TEXAN AND A JEW? BUT FOR THE PAST 15 MONTHS, I HAVE HAD TO DO THAT AND IT BREAKS MY HEART.
I'M NOT ASKING, WE THE JEWISH PEOPLE OF AUSTIN ARE NOT ASKING FOR SPECIAL TREATMENT.
WE'RE ASKING TO BE CONTINUED TO BE CARED FOR BY THE CITY THAT WE LOVE.
THE CITY WE'VE BUILT LIVES IN, RAISED FAMILIES IN AND CONTRIBUTED SERVICE TO.
WE ARE ASKING FOR EXACTLY WHAT WE WOULD HOPE AUSTIN WOULD DO FOR ANY GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO CALL THE CITY HOME AND BECOME THE TARGET OF DELIBERATE INTENTIONAL HATE.
I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO, TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO SOMETHING THAT YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED WHEN YOU LISTEN TO THE, THE WORDS BEING SHOUTED AT THE JEWISH PEOPLE OF AUSTIN OVER THE PAST 15 MONTHS AS IT'S BEEN DONE WEEK AFTER WEEK.
THEY'RE NOT DIRECTED TOWARDS A GOVERNMENT OR FOREIGN CONFLICT.
THEY ARE OPENLY HATING YOUR FELLOW TEXANS BECAUSE WE ARE TEXAS JEWS.
WE'VE COME HERE TODAY TO RESPOND TO THAT HATE BY ASKING FOR YOU THE CITY OF AUSTIN, JUST TO TAKE NOTICE BECAUSE I BELIEVE AUSTIN CAN AND SHOULD BE A PLACE WHERE NO GROUP OF PEOPLE, JEWISH OR OTHERWISE SHOULD FEEL, SHOULD, SHOULD BE THE TARGET OF DELIBERATE HATE.
THE INTERESTING THING IS THAT WHAT WE WANT FOR OURSELVES, WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR FROM YOU IS EXACTLY WHAT WE WOULD ASK OPENLY AND LOUDLY FOR ANY MEMBERS OF THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY WHO HAVE BECOME TARGETS OF DELIBERATE HATE, EVEN THOSE HERE TODAY WHO MAY HATE US.
GOD BLESS, TEXAS ON ISRAEL HIGH.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
JUST STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD PLEASE.
GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, I'VE BEEN AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY FOR OVER A DECADE, AND I'M DEEPLY INVESTED IN THE WELLBEING OF OUR CITY.
UM, TODAY I WANT TO EXPRESS MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE WEBSITE AUSTIN AGAINST APARTHEID.
MENTIONING, UH, DIRECT TARGETING AND THE DANGEROUS MESSAGE IT SPREADS WHILE I RESPECT A FREE SPEECH AND ACTIVISM.
THIS WEBSITE GOES BEYOND POLITICAL CRITICISM.
IT SINGLES OUT JEWISH AND ISRAELI INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESSES IN A WAY THAT FEELS DEEPLY PERSONAL AND THREATENING.
THIS REMINDS ME OF HISTORICAL PRACTICES LIKE FLAGGING JEWISH BUSINESSES WITH YELLOW STARS AND ACT MEANT TO ISOLATE AND STIGMATIZE.
IF THIS WEBSITE WERE TRULY ABOUT OPPOSING APARTHEID, IT WOULD CALL OUT COMPANIES INVOLVED IN HUMAN RIGHT ABUSES WORLDWIDE.
FOR EXAMPLE, SEVERAL AFRICAN COUNTRIES HAVE ENGAGED IN DOCUMENTED APARTHEID PRACTICES.
YET NO AFRICAN BUSINESSES ARE LISTED ON THIS SITE.
THE SELECTIVE TARGETING OF ISRAELI BUSINESSES MAKES IT CLEAR THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS, IT'S ABOUT SINGLING OUT JEWS AND ISRAELIS.
AS AN ISRAELI LIVING IN AUSTIN, I FIND THIS RHETORIC ALARMING.
OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, ANTISEMITISM HAS BEEN ON THE RISE BOTH GLOBALLY AND HERE IN OUR CITY.
THIS TYPE OF MESSAGING CONTRIBUTES TO AN ATMOSPHERE OF HOSTILITY AND DIVISION MAKING PEOPLE LIKE ME FEEL UNSAFE IN A PLACE I CALL HOME.
I URGE THE COUNCIL TO RECOGNIZE AND TAKE ACTION TO THE DANGEROUS IMPLICATIONS OF THIS PLATFORM.
AUSTIN HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PLACE OF INCLUSION AND RESPECT, AND WE MUST ENSURE IT REMAINS THAT WAY FOR EVERYONE.
ROSEANNE USAF, JOSEPH LE AND RUBEN RIVERA CLEMENTE.
OH, COULD YOU START WITH THE VIDEO? PLEASE? GO AHEAD.
PLEASE DON'T START MY TIME TILL THE VIDEO, PLEASE.
[02:20:17]
MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.I'M A LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
I'M ALSO A PALESTINE AMERICAN MUSLIM WOMAN.
THE GENTLE SOUL YOU JUST SAW IN THE VIDEO WAS DR.
HE'S A PEDIATRICIAN AND WAS THE DIRECTOR OF RADWAN HOSPITAL IN NORTH ZA HOS IN NORTH ZA PAN OCCUPIED PALESTINE.
BEFORE ISRAELI OCCUPATION FORCES RAIDED THE HOSPITAL, ABDUCTED HIM AND OTHER HEALTHCARE WORKERS TORTURED HIM AND ARE STILL HOLDING HIM ILLEGALLY, HAVING COMMITTED NO CRIME.
BUT SUR BUT HIS COMMITTING HIS MEDICAL DUTIES TO HIS PEOPLE UNDER A THREE MONTH BRUTAL SIEGE IN WHICH ISRAEL OCCUPATION FORCES CONTINUALLY BOMBED THE VICINITY OF THE HOSPITAL AND KILLED MANY PEOPLE, INCLUDING HIS 15 MONTH, YEAR OLD SON IBRAHIM.
OVER THE COURSE OF THE 15 MONTH PALESTINIAN GENOCIDE AND HOLOCAUST, ISRAELI OCCUPATION FORCES PURPOSELY AT AND DELIBERATELY ATTACKED MEDICAL FACILITIES, KILLED THOUSANDS OF MEDICAL WORKERS IN REZA AND WISP BANK AND, AND PALESTINE, AS WELL AS IN LEBANON, COMMITTING ENDLESS WAR CRIMES AND BREAKING THE GENEVA CONVENTION RULES RELATED TO MEDICAL NEUTRALITY AND PREDICT AND PROTECTING MEDICAL PERSONNEL.
THEY ATTACKED THEM DELIBERATELY AND PUT THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS OF CIVILIANS UNDER RISK.
MANY ORGANIZATIONS AROUND THE WORLD, INCLUDING HUMAN RIGHTS, WATCH AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL PHYSICIANS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, ISRAEL BE SLIM DOCTORS AGAINST GENOCIDE, THE PASTA MENTAL HEALTH NETWORK, AND MANY, MANY OTHERS HAVE VOICED THEIR LEGITIMATE CONCERN FOR DR.
HASSAN BU SOPHIA'S LIFE, ESPECIALLY THAT HE HAS BEEN DETAINED IN IS ISRAELI MILITARY CAMPS KNOWN FOR THEIR BRUTAL TORTURE METHODS, INCLUDING SEXUAL ASSAULT, SLEEP DEPRIVATION, HUNGER, LACK OF HYGIENE, AND MANY OTHER TORTURES.
MANY ORGANIZATIONS ARE ALSO CONCERNED BECAUSE TWO OTHER DOCTORS HAVE DIED UNDER TORTURE AND RAPE, INCLUDING DR.
ADNAN BURCH, WHO WAS RAPED AND TORTURED TO DEATH, AND DR.
II, WHO WAS ALSO TORTURED TO DEATH AND ISRAEL CO CONCEALED HIS DEATH FOR SEVEN MONTHS.
CURRENTLY, THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT IS HOLDING, UH, DR.
HASSAM MOSLEY'S LEGAL COUNSEL UNTIL FEBRUARY.
I COME WITH YOU TODAY AND HAVE PROVIDED ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS WITH A LETTER SIGNED BY ME AND OTHER HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS IN AUSTIN INDICATING OUR, OUR DESIRE FOR YOU TO WORK WITH CONGRESS MEMBERS, FOR EXAMPLE, SUCH AS GREG KASSAR AND LLOYD DOCKETT, WHO HAVE VOICED THEIR SUPPORT FOR PALESTINIANS AND OTHERS TO, TO URGE THE RE THE RELEASE OF DR.
THIS IS NOT, THIS IS A INTERNATIONAL ISSUE.
MANY HEALTHCARE WORKERS HAVE VOICED THEIR SUPPORT.
JOSEPH RUBEN, JOSEPH ILEY, JOSEPH ILEY, RUBEN RIVERA, CLEMENTE, RUBEN RIVERA CLEMENTE, I ARE YOU, JOSEPH ILEY.
UH, HELLO, MY NAME'S JOSEPH ILEY.
I'M A PETTY CABER HERE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
ABOUT 10, 11 YEARS AGO, THE CITY OF AUSTIN, UH, ESTABLISHED A MORATORIUM ON PERMITS.
AND CURRENTLY, IF A PETTY CABER WANTS TO BECOME AN INDEPENDENT OPERATOR, HE HAS TO PAY SOME PETTY CAB SHOP ABOUT 4,000 PLUS DOLLARS TO GET A PERMIT THAT THEY DON'T OWN.
THIS HAPPENED WHEN I WAS A TAXI CAB DRIVER AS WELL BACK IN THE YEARS, AND THE CAB COMPANIES GOT CAUGHT SELLING PERMITS THAT THEY DIDN'T OWN.
AND ONCE AGAIN, WE'RE SEEING IT IN THE, UH, PETTY CAB INDUSTRY AS WELL.
UM, SO FOR ME TO GET A A PERMIT, I'M GONNA HAVE TO PAY SOME SHOP, A HUGE SUM OF MONEY, MONEY THAT THEY DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO PAY TO GET THEIR PERMITS.
THE PROBLEM IS, IS THE CITY, UH, FLOODED THE STREETS WITH PERMITS ABOUT 12, 13 YEARS AGO, AND NOW THEY WANNA GET A REDUCTION ON THOSE PERMITS, BUT THE ONLY WAY THEY CAN AND GET, THE PETTY CAB SHOPS ARE WILLING TO GIVE THEM UP.
AND THE ONLY WAY THEY WANNA GIVE THEM UP IS IF THEY CAN SELL 'EM, AND THEY, THEY'RE NOT THEIRS TO SELL.
AND SO I'M ASKING THE CITY TO LIFT THE MORATORIUM BECAUSE NUMBER ONE, THE CITY HAS GROWN SUBSTANTIALLY SINCE 2011.
SECONDLY, SINCE THEY ADDED ELECTRIC MOTORS TO OUR PETTY CABS, THEY HAVE LIFTED OUR AREA OF OPERATION.
[02:25:01]
IN FACT, I AM THE FIRST PETTY CABER TO ACTUALLY TAKE A FARE ALL THE WAY OUT TO THE AIRPORT, BELIEVE IT OR NOT.AND SO IF I, LIKE I SAY, IF I WANNA GET A PERMIT, I, I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY $4,000 PLUS TO GET A PERMIT.
I SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO TO THE CITY AND APPLY FOR A PERMIT JUST LIKE THEY DID WHEN THEY GOT THEIRS.
THAT'S, THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
WELL, MY NAME IS RUBEN RIVERA CLEMENTE SENIOR, AND BASICALLY, I'M HERE BECAUSE OF THE SITUATION I'M GOING THROUGH AND DIRECT TO THOSE WHO JUST GOT ELECTED, BUT MOST OF ALL, TO THE CITY MANAGER AND THE MAYOR, I'VE BEEN HARASSED FOR OVER 20 YEARS BY A CERTAIN UNIT OF AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, PHYSICALLY AND ELECTRONICALLY FROM THEM, I'VE BEEN THREATENED, I'VE BEEN ASSAULTED, ILLEGAL, AND THREE THEFT, PLUS OTHER CRIMINAL ACTS AGAINST ME AND MY PROPERTY.
I'VE COMPLAINED THIS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, CIVIL RIGHTS DIVISION.
I'VE BEEN TO THE FBI TWICE, ONE BECAUSE OF SOME CERTAIN THING THAT HAPPENED THAT MAY WATSON, UH, HAD SOMEBODY TO CONTACT ME AFTER THE LAST TIME I, AND I TOLD HIM THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO ME.
UH, THE SECOND TIME WAS BECAUSE OF THE DOJ TOLD ME, UH, CIVIL RIGHTS DIVISION TOLD ME TO GO BACK AND, YOU KNOW, TALK TO THEM.
AND, AND I EXPLAINED TO THEM, EVEN THOUGH THEY INFORMED ME THEIR FEDERAL IDENTITY AND THEY CAN'T TELL ME WHAT, UH, WHAT THE INVESTIGATION COME OUT WITH.
I COMPLAINED TO THE POLICE MONITOR FOR OVER A DECADE AND A HALF NOW CALLED OVERSIGHT.
I'VE CONFIRMED THE POLICE CHIEF, SEVERAL OF 'EM.
MAYOR WATSON WAS HERE WHEN CHACHO AND HENDERSON WAS THERE.
I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SITUATION TO THE LOCAL, NATIONWIDE AND AUSTIN AMERICAN STATEMENT NEWSPAPER ABOUT WHAT I'M GOING THROUGH.
AND I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT BEEN HARASSED BY THIS POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR OVER A DECADE.
ALL I WANT THIS THING TO STOP.
I JUST MOVED HERE NOVEMBER THE 30TH, BACK TO AUSTIN, AND I'M GOING TO THE SAME SITUATION EXCEPT FOR THE, THE THEFT.
THEY STOLE SOME ITEMS OUTTA MY APARTMENT.
I WANT THIS TO STOP AND I PLAN TO GO AHEAD AND CONFRONT CHIEF DAVIS ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON HERE, BECAUSE THIS, THIS UNIT HERE, IT EITHER ME NEED TO BE ABOLISHED OR DISMANTLED OR ANYTHING.
IT, IT JUST, IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.
I FILED COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE POLICE, AGAINST THE POLICE OFFICERS.
I RECORDED THEM ACCORDING TO WHAT MANLEY TOLD ME I CAN DO BACK THEN.
AND THE ATTORNEY TOLD ME I CAN, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
I DON'T WANNA BE HARASSED EVERY DAY.
THIS IS WHERE MY KIDS WERE BORN AT, AND I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE TRYING TO PUSH ME OUTTA THE CITY OR WHAT, BUT IT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN.
I WANT THIS CORRUPTION TO START FROM THESE CROOK COPS.
AND YES, I CALL 'EM THAT BECAUSE THEY SMASHED MY WINDSHIELD IN MY CAR.
THEY TAMPER WITH MY VEHICLE, NOT SOMETHING I, I CAN TELL YOU WHAT I SAW IS THE MECHANIC WHO WENT UP THERE AND CHECKED IT AND TOLD ME ABOUT SOMETHING.
MEMBERS, THOSE ARE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AS PART OF OUR 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN PUBLIC COMMENT.
SO WITHOUT, AS I INDICATED, WHAT I'M GOING TO, UH, WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE DO IS WE RECESS FOR THE LIVE MUSIC UNTIL 1:00 PM AT WHICH POINT WE WILL TAKE UP THE CONSENT AGENDA AND IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE CONSENT AGENDA, WE WILL TAKE UP THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
SO, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE ARE THE CITY COUNCIL OF AUSTIN, TEXAS IS IN RECESS UNTIL ONE O'CLOCK.
THANKS FOR ALL YOU BEING HERE TOO.
I'LL CALL BACK TO ORDER THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
IT IS 1:02 PM ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 30TH.
UH, MEMBERS, AS I INDICATED, WHAT WE WILL DO IS
[Consent Agenda (Part 2 of 2)]
WE WILL NOW GO BACK TO THE CONSENT AGENDA, UH, AND IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THAT, WE WILL RECESS, UH, CONVENE AS THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION AND TAKE UP THAT ITEM, AND THEN WE WILL GO TO PULLED ITEMS. UM, AND, AND THE[02:30:01]
REST OF THE AGENDA.UM, WITH REGARD TO THE CONSENT AGENDA, WE HAVE TWO ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PULLED.
LET ME ASK, ARE THERE ANY OTHER ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA THAT A MEMBER WOULD LIKE TO PULL AT THIS TIME? HEARING NONE, REMEMBER, MR. MAYOR? YES, I, I DID HAVE SOME COMMENTS ON 52.
UH, THAT'S NOT PULLED, BUT WELL, AND I'VE GOT YOU THAT, THAT, SO, UM, YES, I'VE GOT YOU AS SOMEBODY THAT WANTS TO COMMENT, AND SO WHEN WE GET TO THE DISCUSSION, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU.
UM, REMEMBER THAT ITEM NUMBER 53 IS A POST, THE CONSENT AGENDA MOTION THAT I WILL ACCEPT IN A MOMENT WILL INCLUDE THAT ON ITEM NUMBER 53.
THAT WILL BE POSTPONED UNTIL FEBRUARY 13TH, 2025.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS I WOULD LIKE TO GET A MOTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, AND THEN WE WILL GO TO DISCUSSION RELATED TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE MOVES ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT AGENDA AS READ IT IS SECONDED BY THE MAYOR PRO 10.
WITH THAT, WE HAVE DISCUSSION AND, AND I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE FOR THE BEGINNING OF DISCUSSION.
AND BY THE WAY, MEMBERS, THE DISCUSSION WAS ALL, WILL ALSO INCLUDE COMMENTS THAT YOU WANNA MAKE WITH REGARD TO ITEMS THAT ARE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
UM, AND ALSO WELCOME BACK TO CITY HALL 2025.
UM, I'M REALLY EXCITED TO BE BACK, UH, ON THE DA AND SERVING WITH, UH, UH, COLLEAGUES OF OLD AND ALSO THE NEW FOLKS ON THE DA AND ALWAYS REALLY WANNA SHOW MY APPRECIATION.
AND THANKS TO CITY STAFF THAT KEEP THE LIGHT ON, THEY KEEP US SAFE, THEY KEEP US FED, UH, AND ALSO OUR, OUR STAFFERS.
AND BY COLLEAGUES OF OLD YOU MEAN COLLEAGUES THAT WERE HERE BEFORE YOU DON'T, CORRECT? YEAH.
EVERYONE'S SUPER YOUNG ON THIS DICE.
I JUST, I I HATE TO OBJECT TO YOUR COMMENTS, BUT, UM, YEAH, YEAH.
ITEM 79 FROM, UH, COUNCIL ELLIS AND ITEM 80 FROM COUNCIL RIVERA.
I REALLY WANT TO THANK THEM AND THEIR STAFF FOR THEIR WORK ON THOSE ITEMS. UH, AND I'D LIKE TO BE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR FOR BOTH OF THOSE ITEMS. AND THEN, UM, ONE OF, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HEARD THAT, MAYOR.
UM, ITEM SEVEN, NINE FROM, UH, COUNCIL MORE ELLIS AND ITEM 80 FROM COUNCILOR RIVERA.
UH, APPRECIATE THE WORK ON THOSE ITEMS, AND I'D LIKE TO BE A CO-SPONSOR FOR BOTH.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE WILL BE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR OF THOSE TWO ITEMS. GREAT.
AND THEN ITEM 11, UM, IT'S BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION BY VARIOUS MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTING CONCERNS THEY HAVE ON THESE ICONIC PIECES THAT HAVE BEEN STABLES, UH, IN THE CITY FOR MANY YEARS.
UH, I THINK IT'S AN UNFORTUNATE SITUATION THAT UNDERSCORES THE SUPPORT, UH, OUR CREATIVE COMMUNITY, UH, DESERVES.
UH, YOU KNOW, WE OFTEN USE THE MONIKER, KEEP AUSTIN WEIRD.
IT'S OUR CREATIVES THAT KEEP THE CITY WEIRD.
UH, I WAS INITIALLY GONNA VOTE NO ON THE ITEM, BUT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING AFTER TALKING TO STAFF THAT IF THE ITEM DOESN'T PASS, THAT SOME OF THE ARTISTS WON'T BE ABLE TO RECLAIM THEIR ARTWORK.
UH, SO BECAUSE OF THAT REASON, I'LL BE VOTING YES, BUT THE, BUT IT'S STILL NOT LOST ON ME.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS ISSUE, WHY SO MANY FOLKS CAME TODAY AND, AND SPOKE.
SO, I'M COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH MY COLLEAGUES AND CITY STAFF, UH, TO EXPLORE SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES THAT HAVE RESURFACED.
AND I'M AWARE THAT FINANCIAL SUPPORT NEEDS TO BE, UH, BAKED INTO THIS PROCESS.
UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO COLLABORATING ON MEANINGFUL, MEANINGFUL STEPS TO SUPPORT AND SUSTAIN OUR CREATIVE COMMUNITY.
AND, AND IN THE UPCOMING, UH, WEEKS, MONTHS, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA PUT PEN AND PAPER AND, AND GET SOMETHING, UH, DONE.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL.
AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN.
I DIDN'T RAISE MY HAND, UM, JUST YET, BUT, UH, I MIGHT HAVE MY UNDER IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU WANTED TO SPEAK.
WAIT, NO, I, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I WASN'T, UM, UH, LEAPFROGGING ANYBODY, BUT I WILL TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
UM, THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS I'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON, UH, ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
UM, SO FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO OPERATE FUNCTIONALLY AS A BODY AND FRANKLY, AS A DIVERSE BODY, UM, THAT TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND THAT'S OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TO VOLUNTEER.
UH, ONE OF THOSE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES IS SERVING ON BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
AND THAT WAS, UM, THAT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST WAYS THAT I DISCOVERED, UM, MY ABILITY TO CONTRIBUTE AT CITY HALL.
AND I APPRECIATE THAT FOLKS TAKE THE TIME TO DO THAT.
UM, SO WE HAVE A FEW FOLKS THAT ARE BEING APPOINTED TODAY.
AND MR. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO ASK IF AT SOME POINT THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE MEETINGS MOVING FORWARD WHEN WE HAVE VACANCIES, IF WE COULD TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DAYLIGHT THAT THE, LIKE A BOARD OR COMMISSION AND WHAT IT IS THAT THEY DO, AND JUST, YOU KNOW, LET THE COMMUNITY KNOW THAT WE HAVE SOME VACANCIES.
AND SO, FOR EXAMPLE, IN MY OFFICE, WE HAVE A VACANCY ON, UM, BUILDING AND STANDARDS.
WE HAVE A VACANCY ON THE AFRICAN AMERICAN RESOURCE ADVISORY COMMISSION, AND WE HAVE A VACANCY ON THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.
[02:35:01]
CASE, UH, I'D VERY MUCH LIKE TO EXTEND THE INVITATION FOR FOLKS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN SERVING AS A DISTRICT ONE REPRESENTATIVE FOR A BOARD OR A COMMISSION TO REACH OUT TO OUR OFFICE AS DISTRICT ONE, THE NUMBER1@AUSTINTEXAS.GOV.UM, I'LL EXTEND THAT, UH, COMMENTARY TO SAY THANK YOU TO MR. HARRISON UPRIGHT, UM, ONE OF THE MOST WELL DRESSED MEN IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND ONE OF THE MOST WELL INFORMED ON HISTORIC, UM, EAST AUSTIN.
AND I APPRECIATE THAT HE'S GONNA BE SERVING ON OUR, UH, HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION.
AND THEN MS. AUDREY DIAZ IS IN THE BUILDING.
UM, HER CLAIM TO FAME IS SUPPORTING FOLKS ALL OVER THE CITY OF AUSTIN, ARTS AND ARTISTS, UM, OF ALL GENRE AND REPRESENTATION.
SHE'S GONNA BE SERVING MR. MAYOR ON THE MAYOR'S TASK FORCE FOR THE PEOPLE FOR DISABILITIES, AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE HER TIME AND HER SERVICE.
UH, I ALSO WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW ITEMS, A FEW OTHER CONSENT ITEMS. ITEM NUMBER 38.
UH, WE ARE PLEASED TO SEE FLOOD RISK REDUCTION EFFORTS COMING TO WALNUT CREEK, INCLUDING MEASURES FOR THE SPRING AND A GROW ZONE TO RESTORE NATIVE TREES AND VE VEGETATION.
ITEM NUMBER 78, REGARDING THE CREATION OF THE TWO NEW COUNCIL COMMITTEES.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE MAYOR'S LEADERSHIP AND REVIVING, UM, UH, THE COMMISSIONS THAT I THINK ARE REALLY IMPORTANT AND TIMELY.
UM, THIS PRESENTS US WITH GREATER OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE MORE AND MORE ROBUST AND CONSISTENT DISCUSSIONS AROUND, UH, VERY IMPORTANT SUBJECT AREAS THAT INCLUDES ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.
UH, I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO BEING A PART OF THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY COMMITTEE.
I HAVE THREE POLICY PRIORITIES THAT KEEPS THEM, UM, VERY SIMPLE FOR ME.
I CALL 'EM MY HYS, HEM, HOUSING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND MOBILITY.
WHERE DO PEOPLE LIVE? HOW DO THEY MAKE THEIR MONEY? AND HOW DO THEY GET AROUND? AND IF YOU KEEP THINGS THAT SIMPLE, IT REALLY IS EASY ENOUGH TO GET TO THE HEART OF THE PULSE OF THE COMMUNITY AND WHAT PEOPLE NEED.
SO I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO SERVING ON THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY COMMITTEE.
UM, LASTLY, I'M MY WANNA MAKE SURE I DON'T FORGET ANYBODY.
OH, SO LASTLY, I WANNA TOUCH ON AN ITEM THAT MY OFFICE BROUGHT FORWARD TODAY.
UM, ITEM NUMBER 78, THIS ZONING, THIS REZONING, UM, AS IT WAS ZONED IN THE, UM, SORT OF INTERIM RURAL RESIDENTIAL, IT IS, UM,
THIS ACTION WILL CHANGE IT TO CAPITAL PP AS IN PUBLIC.
UM, THIS WILL ENSURE THAT OUR PARK STAFF CAN IMPLEMENT PHASE ONE, WHICH WILL BRING MUCH NEEDED AMENITIES LIKE TRAILS AND PICNIC AREAS, RESTROOMS, AND PREPARE THE PARK TO BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
SO, FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER AND MAYOR JOHN TINO, JR.
THE FIRST MEXICAN AMERICAN COUNCIL MEMBER, WAS AN INSPIRING LEADER IN OUR CITY'S HISTORY.
AND THE PARK WE NAMED AFTER HIM SHOULD REFLECT HIS VISION AND HIS LEGACY.
AND, UM, WITH THAT, THE LAST THING THAT I HAVE IS, UH, JUST WANTED TO TALK ABOUT ART IN PUBLIC PLACES FOR A MOMENT AND ASK A QUESTION OF OUR STAFF, MR. MAYOR, IS THAT APPROPRIATE THAT YES, THIS WOULD BE THE TIME TO DO THAT.
I JUST WANTED TO ASK, UH, ABOUT, UM, ABOUT THE PROCESS, UM, FOR THE THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER.
SO I'M JUST, I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND EXACTLY HOW WE CAME TO, WELL, SO MAYBE I'LL PREFACE IT WITH THIS.
BEFORE I ACTUALLY WAS A COUNCIL MEMBER.
I WAS STILL RUNNING AT THE TIME, AND WHAT WE NOW CALL MURAL GATE HAPPENED AT THE CORNER OF 12TH AND CHICONE.
AND, UM, THERE WAS A MURAL HAD BEEN THERE A LONG TIME BY A LOCAL ARTIST, CHRIS ROGERS, BEAUTIFUL MURAL THAT EVERYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY LOVED AND HAD GROWN CONNECTED TO.
AND ONE DAY WE WOKE UP AS A COMMUNITY AND IT HAD BEEN PAINTED WHITE.
UM, AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS OF DISCUSSION AND BACK AND FORTH AND OUTREACH, ULTIMATELY WHAT WAS DECIDED WAS A LEASE ON THAT WALL WOULD BE EXTENDED FOR $1.
UM, AND MR. ROGERS WAS COMMISSIONED TO REPAINT THE MURAL AT 12TH AND CHICON.
THAT SAID, IT REALLY OPENED UP THE DIALOGUE AROUND ART AND PUBLIC PLACES AND PUBLIC ART.
UM, RECOGNIZING THAT OFTENTIMES WHAT HAPPENS WITH PUBLIC ART PIECES IS THAT THEY CHANGE COMMUNITIES, CHANGE ARTISTS CHANGE, NEW ARTISTS GET OPPORTUNITIES.
BUT THERE WASN'T A PROCESS IN PLACE WHERE FOLKS COULD COME AND TAKE PICTURES IN FRONT OF IT.
YOU KNOW, WE COULD MAKE POSTCARDS AND GIVE THEM OUT.
WE COULD, YOU KNOW, FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE A PRINT OF IT.
THERE WASN'T SOMETHING IN PLACE TO PROTECT OR PRESERVE THE PUBLIC ART.
AND THIS, FOR ME, FEELS VERY MUCH LIKE MY HEART GOES OUT TO THE ARTIST.
UM, I RECOGNIZE WHEN YOU PUT A PIECE OF YOURSELF AND, YOU KNOW, IN SUCH AN INTIMATE AND PERSONAL WAY, AND GIVE IT TO YOUR CITY TO WATCH A PROCESS THAT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SALVAGE THAT PIECE AS WE MOVE FORWARD, UM, WITH THE INTENTIONAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF OUR CITY.
AND IF THAT'S THE CASE, I I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS.
ONE, I WANNA KNOW WHAT WE LEARNED FROM THIS EXPERIENCE AND HOW MOVING FORWARD
[02:40:01]
WE CAN MAKE IT SO THAT WE DON'T FIND OURSELVES LOSING, UM, ART, UM, BECAUSE OF THE INEVITABLE GROWTH AND CHANGE OF A MAJOR METRO.UM, BUT THEN AS AN ASIDE, I'M, I'M JUST LOOKING FOR SOME ASSURANCES THAT THERE IS NO LOOKING TO ANSWER THE, THE CALL FROM THE COMMUNITY AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THE PIECE CAN BE SAVED IN A WAY THAT'S PRAGMATIC AND PRACTICAL WITH THE PLANS, UM, FOR MOVING FORWARD WITH REDEVELOPMENT OF THE CONVENTION CENTER.
COUNCIL MEMBER ANTHONY SEGER, INTERIM DIRECTOR FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
UM, TO ANSWER THEM, WE DO ARCHIVE ALL OF OUR PIECES WITHIN OUR COLLECTION FOR OUR A IPP.
SO WE DO HAVE CATALOG OF ALL THE WORKS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT WE'VE HAD OVER THE YEARS.
UH, WE DEFINITELY ARE ADVOCATES OF, OF ART OURSELVES IN TERMS OF THAT, UH, THE UNFORTUNATE SITUATION WITH THE CONVENTION CENTER SIMPLY WAS BECAUSE THE MOSAIC PIECES WERE SO LARGE THAT WE TRIED TO SEE WHAT WE COULD DO TO SALVAGE THE ARTWORK ITSELF.
WE EVEN WENT AS FAR AS HAVING COMPANIES COME IN, THREE DIFFERENT COMPANIES LOOK AT IT, AND EACH ONE OF 'EM SAID, WE CAN'T TOUCH IT.
AND IT WON'T BE THE SAME EVEN IF YOU WERE TO TRY TO SALVAGE IT.
SO WE TRY TO DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE, AND WE RECOGNIZE THAT ART IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL TO THE CITY.
AND SO I WANT TO ASSURE YOU THAT IT WAS OUR BEST INTEREST TO DO WHAT WE CAN, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S JUST TOO BIG FOR ANYBODY TO DO.
SO I GUESS THE, THEN THE QUESTION BECOMES, FOR ME, AND, AND WE CAN CERTAINLY TALK ABOUT IT IN FUTURE DISCUSSIONS, AND THE QUESTION COME, COMES FOR ME, LIKE, HOW DO WE PREEMPTIVELY, UM, MITIGATE THE LOSS OF ART? YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY A PIECE LIKE A MOSAIC, WHICH IS THOUSANDS OF LITTLE PIECES OF GLASS OR CERAMICS, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE MOVE? I WANNA MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE HAVE A PROCESS IN PLACE AND SOMETHING BY WAY OF PROTOCOL THAT MAKES IT SO THAT MOVING FORWARD WE DON'T LOSE THINGS BECAUSE WE DIDN'T PREEMPT THE POTENTIAL FOR IT NEEDING TO BE MOVED.
WE'VE BEEN IN, IN, IN COMMUNICATION WITH ALL OF THE ARTISTS THAT WERE AFFECTED BY THIS SINCE THE SUMMERTIME.
SO WE'VE HAD, UH, NUMEROUS CONVERSATIONS TO SEE WHAT WE COULD DO, UH, TO ASSIST THEM.
SO I WANT TO ASSURE YOU THAT IT WASN'T ANYTHING THAT, UH, WE DIDN'T TAKE INTO HIGH CONSIDERATION TO ALERT THEM TO SEE IF WE COULD COME UP WITH AN OPPORTUNISTIC PLAN TO REMOVE IT IF FEASIBLE.
AND SO WE HAVE DONE OUR DUE DILIGENCE IN THAT REGARDS TO ALL OF THE PIECES THAT ARE AT THE CONVENTION CENTER.
I APPRECIATE THAT CLARIFICATION.
LET'S AFFECT OUR DISCUSSIONS AND NEW PROJECTS AS WELL.
JAIME CASTILLO, PROGRAM MANAGER FOR ART IN PUBLIC PLACES.
UH, WHAT I WANTED TO CONVEY TODAY IS THAT THIS PROCESS OF DE SESSIONS WITH THESE ARTWORKS IN PARTICULAR HAVE ALREADY AFFECTED OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH NEW COMMISSIONS.
AND SO, UM, THE PLACEMENT AND THE KNOWLEDGE OF ANY SORT OF EXPANSION AT ANY OF OUR FACILITIES THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR ART IN PUBLIC PLACES, WE ARE HAVING SERIOUS CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING TO MOVE THE ARTWORK IN A FUTURE PHASE.
AND SO, YEAH, IT'S, IT IS NOW STANDARD PRACTICE FOR US TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DISCUSSING THAT POTENTIAL SCENARIO WITH OUR NEW COMMISSIONS MOVING FORWARD.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN.
AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.
AND, UH, THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES, UH, COUNCILMAN HARPER MADISON AND CADRE FOR EXPRESSING OUR COLLECTIVE CONCERN ABOUT THESE ART PIECES.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 52 ON THE AGENDA, WHICH IS, UM, YOU KNOW, OUR CITY RECEIVING $6.7 MILLION IN HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT GRANT FUNDS, UH, FOR SOME REALLY IMPORTANT PROJECTS IN OUR CITY.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE STAFF OF THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT ON A REALLY SHORT TIMELINE, TURNED AROUND THIS GRANT PROPOSAL FOR THIS REALLY LATE BREAKING OPPORTUNITY.
SO I WANT TO CONGRATULATE THEM.
UH, THIS IS A VERY EXCITING PROJECT FOR DISTRICT SEVEN.
SOME OF YOU MIGHT BE AWARE OF IT, UH, BUT BASICALLY IT'S ON AN OLD AUSTIN ENERGY YARD THAT WAS VACANT FOR MANY YEARS.
UH, THE PROPERTY NOW IS CONTROLLED BY A HFC AND IT'S NEXT TO CRESTVIEW STATION, OUR RAIL STATION.
SO WE'RE CONVERTING THIS, UH, BASICALLY INDUSTRIAL SITE TO REALLY BENEFICIAL USE.
IT'S GONNA PRODUCE 320 UNITS OF HOUSING THAT WILL BE AFFORDABLE AT LEVELS BETWEEN 50% MFI AND 120% INCLUDING 20%, UH, DEEPLY AFFORDABLE AT 50% MFI, 30% AT 80% MFI.
UH, WE'RE ALSO GETTING A PLAZA AND OTHER AMENITIES THAT WILL ENHANCE WALKABILITY AND CONNECTIVITY IN THE AREA.
AND I, I JUST WANNA EXPRESS MY HOPE THAT WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND ON THIS MODEL, UH, WHERE WE TAKE PUBLIC LAND AND FIND PARTNERS TO CREATE GOOD QUALITY, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHERE WE ENHANCE ACCESS TO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, LIKE BUS AND RAIL, AND WE CREATE OTHER PUBLIC BENEFITS.
SO, WANNA THANK, UH, INTERIM HOUSING DIRECTOR MANNY DE MAYO FOR LEADING ON THIS PROJECT, AND HOPEFULLY Y'ALL CAN FIND A FEW MORE LIKE THIS.
COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, THEN COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ.
[02:45:01]
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.UH, FIRST I JUST WANNA THANK ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES.
I'M REALLY HAPPY TO BE UP HERE ON THE DAAS AND, UH, WORK WITH ALL COLLEAGUES NEW AND NEWER, I GUESS
BUT ONE THING I WANTED TO RETURN TO WAS, UH, ITEMS FOUR AND 25 REGARDING THE SCIENCE AND THE, UH, WILDFIRE PREVENTION.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT A FORMER PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBER MENTIONED TO ME THE OTHER DAY THAT I HAD NOT YET CONSIDERED, THAT I THOUGHT MIGHT BE SOMETHING WORTH AT LEAST SPARKING A, UH, UH, PLANTING A SEED FOR IN OUR MINDS, IS USING ESSENTIALLY AREA REGULATORY PLANS.
WE'VE GOT DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE CITY WITH DIFFERENT NEEDS, DIFFERENT TOPOGRAPHY, YOU KNOW, GRASSLAND VERSUS FOREST, DIFFERENT WIND, DIFFERENT RISK FACTORS, ESSENTIALLY.
AND THIS CAN BE A TOOL THAT WE CAN USE TO HELP MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE BUILDING OUT ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING WILDFIRE PREVENTION STRATEGIES THAT ACCOMMODATE THE SIGNS THAT WE HEARD ABOUT THIS MORNING, UM, BUT CAN BE TAILORED TO DIFFERENT AREAS.
AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION ACTUALLY PASSED A RECOMMENDATION FOR A, A REGULATORY PLAN AREA REGULATORY PLAN FOR A GOOD PORTION OF WEST AUSTIN.
AND SO I'D LIKE TO AT LEAST PLANT THE SEED HERE THAT MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE COULD, A STRATEGY WE COULD ADOPT, OR AT LEAST LOOK AT THAT I COULD COLLABORATE WITH Y'ALL ON, AS WELL AS, AGAIN, THE, UH, THE ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES AND OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY TO TRY AND DEVELOP SOMETHING THAT DOES ACCOMMODATE A LOT OF NEEDS AND HELPS US PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE IN A WAY THAT'S TAILORED TO A LOT OF THE RISK FACTORS THAT WE HAVE IN WEST AUSTIN.
UM, AND HOPEFULLY MEETS MORE NEEDS, UH, ACROSS THE BOARD, THEN SOME OF THE OTHER, UH, STRATEGIES THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS MORNING.
COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, THEN THE MAYOR PRO TEM.
I'M HAPPY TO GET THIS, UH, THIS YEAR KICKED OFF WITH OUR NEW COLLEAGUES.
I THINK IT'S NICE TO BE UP HERE ON THE DAIS.
UM, ITEM NUMBER 79, I'M VERY PROUD TO HAVE BROUGHT THIS IS ABOUT THE UNITED NATIONS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS.
I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS TO GET BETTER ACQUAINTED WITH, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS, WORK WITH OUR UNESCO CREATIVE CITY.
UM, AND IN TALKING WITH SOME OF THE, THE PEOPLE WHO WORK ON STAFF IN THIS PROJECT VERY CLOSELY, AND WITH SOME OF OUR PEER CITIES ACROSS THE GLOBE THAT ARE DOING WORK IN THESE CREATIVE SPACES, I REALIZED THAT THE WAY THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS AT TIMES ENTERED INTO, OR WITHDRAWN FROM SOME OF THE DIFFERENT UNITED NATIONS PROGRAMS, HAS DETRIMENTAL OUTCOMES FOR SOME OF THE WORK THAT PEOPLE ARE DOING AT THE LOCAL OR STATE LEVELS, FOR INSTANCE.
UM, SO UNESCO IS ONE THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS WITHDRAWN FROM AND ENTERED BACK INTO AT DIFFERENT TIMES AS WELL AS THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL.
AND THAT CREATES SOME ISSUES WITH, UM, THE CONTINUATION OF SERVICES THAT FOLKS ARE DOING.
AND SO, AS I LEARNED MORE ABOUT THESE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS, I REALIZED THAT, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE GONNA SOLVE OUR CLIMATE ISSUES AND, AND ISSUES AROUND EQUITY, JUSTICE, POVERTY, UM, FOOD SCARCITY, THAT WE REALLY NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT THIS WITH A GLOBAL MINDSET.
AND SO I THOUGHT, BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY FANTASTIC PROGRAMS, SO MANY GREAT ADVOCATES AND STAFF MEMBERS DOING WORK IN THESE SPACES ALREADY, WHY DON'T WE TRY TO FRAME UP A PLAN THAT HELPS KEEP US IN LINE WITH THOSE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS, WHETHER OR NOT THE, THE US IS PARTICIPATING IN SOME OF THE OTHER PROGRAMS THAT THE UNITED NATIONS HAS.
SO I THINK WE ARE OFF TO A GREAT START.
I JUST THOUGHT A FORMALITY TO THIS, UM, PROGRAM AND A WAY TO FOLLOW THE, THE GUIDELINES AND TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ENGAGED WITH OTHER PEER COMMUNITIES WITH SOMETHING THAT WOULD BENEFIT US VERY WELL.
SO I HOPE IT'S AN AMPLIFICATION OF THE GOOD WORK THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN HAPPENING.
AND ITEM NUMBER 25, THE ONE ON WILDFIRE I WANTED TO QUICKLY ADDRESS.
UM, WE'RE ALL OBVIOUSLY DEVASTATED BY THE FIRES THAT WE HAVE SEEN PLAYING OUT IN THE LA AREA.
MANY OF US HAVE PEOPLE WE KNOW THAT ARE AFFECTED BY THESE FIRES, AND THEY'RE REMINDING US OF THE CRITICAL ROLE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT PLAYING IN TIMES OF CRISIS.
ACCORDING TO THE AUSTIN MONITOR, JUST THIS MONTH, AUSTIN IS RANKED THE FIFTH, FIFTH IN THE NATION FOR HOMES AT RISK OF BEING DESTROYED BY WILDFIRES.
AND THE TOP FOUR CITIES ABOVE US ARE ALL IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
SO THESE FIRES ARE A REMINDER THAT WE NEED TO REFLECT ON OUR OWN PREPAREDNESS HERE AT HOME, AND THAT'S WHY I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE SET TO APPROVE THIS ITEM TODAY FOR PARD STAFF TO ENGAGE IN WILDFIRE MITIGATION.
UM, THIS ITEM ONLY ALLOCATES $200,000 THAT'S AVAILABLE IN THIS CURRENT BUDGET CYCLE.
AS SOME OF THE SPEAKERS, UH, HAD MENTIONED IN THEIR COMMENTS, UM, THIS COULD TAKE UP TO $7 MILLION.
OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE NOT ALLOCATING THAT TODAY.
UM, WE WILL NOT TAKE UP BUDGETARY ALLOCATIONS UNTIL THE APPROPRIATE CYCLES TO BE ABLE TO DO FUTURE ALLOCATIONS, BUT THIS IS DEFINITELY AN ISSUE THAT COUNCIL HAS WORKED ON IN THE PAST.
WE'VE MADE GREAT STRIDES INTO MAKING OUR COMMUNITY SAFER, BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE MUCH MORE WORK AND MORE PLANNING, UM,
[02:50:01]
ALONG WITH PARD AND THE, AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO BE ABLE TO REALLY TACKLE THESE ISSUES.IN THE BACKUP, IT SAYS, ACCORDING TO THE PARD LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN, THE ECOLOGICAL CONDITION OF MOST PARRED NATURAL AREAS HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED AS MODERATE TO VERY POOR DUE TO ISSUES SUCH AS INVASIVE SPECIES, LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY, HAZARDOUS WILDFIRE, FUEL CONDITIONS, AND THESE POOR ECOLOGICAL CONDITIONS CONTRIBUTE TO ELEVATED LIKELIHOOD OF TREE MORTALITY AND INTENSE WILDFIRE.
SO I KNOW THAT THE LAND MANAGEMENT DIVISION'S CLIMATE DATA NOW SHOWS THAT BY 2040 AUSTIN'S AVERAGE TEMPERATURE COULD MATCH THE DROUGHT CONDITIONS THAT WE EXPERIENCED IN 2011 WHEN BASTROP HAD, UM, THE, THE BIG WILDFIRE THAT A LOT OF FOLKS MOST READILY REFERENCE, EXCEPT THAT, THAT WILL BE OUR NORM.
THAT WON'T BE SOMETHING THAT'S A 10 YEAR STANDARD ANYMORE.
THAT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME, EVERY SUMMER.
AND THAT'S OBVIOUSLY VERY, VERY FRIGHTENING FOR FOLKS HERE IN AUSTIN.
SO THIS INCREASES OUR RISK, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE 15,000 ACRES OF PUBLIC LAND NEEDING THIS WORK, UM, THE LONGER WE WAIT, THE FARTHER WE ARE FROM OUR GOALS.
AND SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING WHAT WE CAN EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, UM, AND WORKING WITH OUR CITY STAFF TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE, THAT WE ARE RESISTANT TO WILDFIRE, THAT WE KNOW HOW TO MAKE THINGS HARDIER, UM, AND THAT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE FOLKS WITH THE SITUATION THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN STEINER RANCH AND OAK HILL AND BASTROP, AND OBVIOUSLY LOS ANGELES RIGHT NOW.
SO, I'M GLAD WE'RE TAKING THIS STEP TODAY AND APPRECIATE STAFF'S WORK.
COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, FOLLOWED BY THE MAYOR PRO TIM, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER LANE.
FIRST, I WANTED TO WELCOME OUR NEW COLLEAGUES AND WELCOME BACK OUR VETERAN COLLEAGUES.
UH, I HOPE, AND I'M ONLY ADDRESSING THIS BECAUSE I HEARD SOMEBODY SAY SOMETHING OUT IN THE HALLWAY EARLIER.
UH, I HOPE EVERYBODY ENJOYED THE, THE PANZA, UH, BUT IT'S 'CAUSE I HEARD SOMEBODY SAY, DOES HE DO THIS EVERY COUNCIL MEETING?
SO LET, LET'S NOT GET SPOILED ON THAT.
IT'S JUST A NICE LITTLE TREE, BUT A, A WELCOMING ONE FOR THE NEW YEAR.
AND SINCE WE HAD, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, HE WILL DO IT AT EVERY MEETING, RIGHT,
UH, SINCE WE HAD SIX WEEKS, I GOT A, A FEW THINGS THAT I, THAT I WANTED TO TOUCH ON.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF EXCITING, UH, ITEMS THAT WE ARE, WE'RE GOING TO PASS HERE IN A SEC.
UM, UH, THE FIRST ONE IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE CHAMPIONED SINCE WE'VE BEEN IN THE BUILDING, AND THAT IS THE MONEY THAT IS GOING TO OUR PARENT SUPPORT SPECIALISTS.
UM, AS YOU KNOW, PARENT SUPPORT SPECIALISTS ARE ESSENTIAL TO OUR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES IN WHICH MANY OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS LEARN AND GROW.
THEY PERFORM A CRUCIAL ROLE HELPING FAMILIES NAVIGATE FOOD INSECURITY, HOUSING, HOUSING AFFORDABILITY, SCHOOL ATTENDANCE, AND SO MUCH MORE.
AND I'M SO EXCITED THAT WE'LL BE AUTHORIZING THAT PAYMENT TODAY.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD.
UM, WE SHOULD BE STRIVING FOR A WORLD WITHOUT POVERTY, WITHOUT HUNGER, WHERE PEOPLE ARE TREATED WITH FAIRNESS AND HAVE EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR EDUCATION, UH, AND MEANINGFUL WORK IN PLACES THAT ARE CLEAN, SAFE, AND JUST, AND HAVE ACCESS TO THE, UM, TO RESPONSIBLY SOURCE ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND I'D LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR ON THAT ITEM.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ WILL BE A CO-SPONSOR OF THAT ITEM AS WELL.
UH, UH, THEN IS ITEM NUMBER 80.
AND I DIDN'T, I, I ASKED, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA IF I SHOULD JUST ADDRESS HIM AS JV ONE, OR COUNCIL MEMBER VELA OR COMPADRE, BUT, UH, I, I, I REALLY WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER VELA AND HIS STAFF FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD.
LIKE MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES ON THIS DAIS, UH, MENTAL HEALTH IS AN ISSUE THAT IS DEEPLY IMPORTANT TO ME.
UM, AS MANY, AS MANY ARE AWARE MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES ACROSS THE NATION HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY CONTINUE TO GROW AT A PACE, UNFORTUNATELY, UH, CANNOT BE HANDLED ADEQUATELY THROUGH THE CURRENT SYSTEMS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE, BEYOND THE DATA THAT WILL LIKELY SPEAK FOR ITSELF.
WE HAVE A WEALTH OF INCREDIBLE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND GREAT CITY STAFF WHO BELIEVE IN MAKING SYSTEMS BETTER.
THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT STEP IN THE RIGHT, UH, DIRECTION TO ADDRESS A CRITICAL MATTER AND, UH, AND IS A SAFER, MORE EFFECTIVE AND COMPASSIONATE APPROACH.
AND I'M THANKFUL FOR THIS DAIS FOR RECOGNIZING THAT.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER MAYOR PRO TEM, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER LANE, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER.
UH, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS FOR BRINGING FORWARD ITEM 79.
IF IT'S OKAY WITH THE DIOCESE, I'D LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR.
UH, THAT'S THE ITEM REGARDING THE UNITED NATIONS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE, THE LEADERSHIP ON THAT FRONT.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE MAYOR PRO TIM WILL BE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR.
THE NEXT ITEM I JUST BRIEFLY WANTED TO TOUCH ON IS AN ITEM THAT COUNCIL MEMBER REVELLA IS BRINGING FORWARD REGARDING THE MENTAL HEALTH STUDY AND, UM, AND US TAKING A LOOK AT HOW CAN WE ENSURE THAT WE'RE RIGHT SIZING THE INTERVENTIONS? AND I THINK THAT'S GONNA BE A COMMON THEME FOR OUR ES THIS YEAR, IS ENSURING THAT WE'RE INVESTING IN THE APPROACHES WHERE IT MAKES SENSE.
AND I THINK IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE FOR OUR COUNCIL TO BE LOOKING AT HOW CAN WE ENSURE WHEN INDIVIDUALS ARE HAVING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS THAT WE ARE DEPLOYING THE APPROPRIATE RESPONSE.
SO I'M VERY EXCITED FOR THAT WORK.
I'M EXCITED TO BE A CO-SPONSOR ON THAT ITEM.
AND JUST WANTED TO, TO GIVE YOU A KUDOS FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
[02:55:01]
PRO TEM.COUNCIL MEMBER LANE, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.
UM, THANK YOU FOR THE WARM WELCOME EVERYONE.
UM, I FIRST WANTED TO COMMENT ON ITEMS FOUR AND 25.
UH, WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS IS CRUCIAL FOR AUSTIN AND FOR DISTRICT SIX, WHICH HAS LONG STRETCHES OF HOMES AND ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE WOODED AREAS.
NEXT TO THE B CANYON LANDS PRESERVE.
OUTDATED STUDIES ARE NOT A SOUND BASIS FOR ACTION, SO I DO SUPPORT THE UPDATES INCLUDED IN THESE ITEMS, BUT I ALSO NOTE THAT ALL OF THE LOCATIONS STUDIED ARE FAR FROM DISTRICT SIX, WHICH HAS SIGNIFICANT WILDFIRE RISK BECAUSE OF PROXIMITY TO THIS PRE PRESERVE.
AMONG OTHER FACTORS, I HOPE THAT MY COLLEAGUES WILL ALSO SUPPORT FUTURE ACTION TO HELP PROTECT AUSTIN'S NORTHERN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE ALSO NEAR THIS PRESERVE, INCLUDING CANYON CREEK ANDERSON MILL, THE ENTIRE SPICEWOOD AREA FROM OLD SPICEWOOD SPRINGS ROAD, QUITE A BIT FARTHER NORTHWARD.
UM, I ALSO WANTED TO COMMENT ON ITEM 23.
I PERSONALLY BELIEVE THAT THE GOVERNMENT WORKS BEST AT THE INTERSECTION OF COMPASSION AND EFFICIENCY.
I ALSO KNOW VERY WELL THAT CHILDREN WITHOUT STABLE HOUSING DO NOT THRIVE, AND THERE ARE LONG LASTING NEGATIVE IMPACTS, BOTH FOR THEM AND FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
I ALSO KNOW THAT TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE THAT HELPS FAMILIES STAY IN THEIR HOMES IS MUCH LESS EXPENSIVE THAN HELPING A FAMILY BACK INTO HOUSING AFTER IT HAS BEEN LOST.
AND FAMILY STABILIZATION GRANTS ARE AN EFFECTIVE LOW OVERHEAD METHOD TO PROVIDE DIRECT TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES STRUGGLING TO COVER BASIC EXPENSES.
SO I AM PROUD TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF FAMILY STABILIZATION GRANTS WITH RESPECT TO ITEM 63, 64 AND 67.
I ALSO APPLAUD AUSTIN'S INNOVATIVE PARTNERSHIP WITH AUSTIN ISD TO SUPPORT LOW INCOME FAMILIES THROUGH IMPORTANT PROGRAMS LIKE PARENT SUPPORT SPECIALISTS AND CHILDCARE PROGRAMS. I DO WISH THAT THESE PROGRAMS WERE AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS WHO ATTEND TITLE ONE SCHOOLS IN DISTRICT SIX NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT ALL TITLE ONE SCHOOLS SERVING DISTRICT SIX NEIGHBORHOODS ARE IN ROUND ROCK ISD.
THEREFORE, I HOPE TO FIND SUPPORT FOR FUTURE INTERLOCAL GOV AGREEMENTS WITH ROUND ROCK ISD, WHICH WOULD OPEN THE DOOR TO SUPPORTING AUSTIN FAMILIES IN OUR DISTRICT SICKNESS NEIGHBORHOODS AT A LEVEL THAT IS ALREADY AVAILABLE IN OTHER PARTS OF AUSTIN.
WITH RESPECT TO ITEM 50, I AM HAPPY TO SEE AUSTIN'S LEADERSHIP IN PREVENTING AND PROSECUTING SEXUAL ASSAULT, BUT DISAPPOINTED TO SEE THE STATE OF TEXAS FAILING TO TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY WHEN CITIES LIKE FORT WORTH FALL BEHIND IN PROSECUTING SEXUAL ASSAULTS, IN PART BECAUSE OF ARBITRARY TAX REVENUE CAPS THAT TOO OFTEN HAMSTRING TOXICITIES.
AND FINALLY, I'M VERY PROUD TO CO-SPONSOR ITEM 80, WHICH REQUESTS A REPORT ON OUR CITY'S MENTAL HEALTH EMERGENCY RESPONSE WHILE 9 1 1 RESPONSE TIMES CITYWIDE, CITYWIDE HAVE IMPROVED IN RECENT YEARS.
MY DISTRICT STILL SEES SIGNIFICANT DELAYS THAT SOMETIMES LEAD TO ESCALATION AND VIOLENCE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF CRISIS TEAMS HAD ARRIVED SOONER.
I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR THE HARD WORK THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE, BEEN DONE BY OUR MENTAL HEALTH TRIAGE AND, AND CRISIS TEAMS, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO USING THE RESULTS OF THIS REPORT TO IMPROVE THE RESPONSE TO EMERGENCIES IN DISTRICT SIX.
COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.
UH, I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER STAFF BEFORE WE VOTE ON ITEMS NINE AND 10, IF THAT WOULD BE OKAY.
THAT WOULD BE THE TIME TO DO IT.
JUST WANTED TO GET A LITTLE CLARITY ON A COUPLE THINGS THAT, UH, WERE SAID EARLIER TODAY.
SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE FUNDING FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER, WHERE DOES THAT FUNDING COME FROM? SURE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, KATIE MESNICK, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR WITH THE AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER.
UH, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
SO THE CONVENTION CENTER, UM, EXPANSION IS FUNDED THROUGH THE CONVENTION CENTER'S ALLOCATION OF HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX, THE 2% HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX THAT CITY COUNCIL PASSED IN 2019 AND THE CONVENTION CENTER'S REVENUES.
SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX, IS THAT TYPICALLY AUSTINITES PAYING THAT, OR WOULD THAT BE VISITORS STAYING IN OUR HOTELS? THAT WOULD BE VISITORS STAYING IN OUR HOTELS.
AND THERE ARE SOME COMMENTS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, UTILIZING THIS MONEY FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER INSTEAD OF, LET'S SAY, FOR PARKS OR HOMELESSNESS, WHICH I WE'RE ABOUT TO TALK ABOUT HERE.
IS THERE ANY STATE PROHIBITION ON USING HOT FUNDS FOR THINGS LIKE PARKS OR HOMELESSNESS? YES.
UM, UH, THE LAWYERS CAN PROBABLY ANSWER IN A MORE LEGAL WAY.
UM, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT IT, THERE IS A PROHIBITION ON GENERAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES, UM, IN THE EXPENDITURE OF HOT.
AND, AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT CAN EITHER BE FOR THINGS LIKE THE CONVENTION CENTER OR, UM, WE ARE ALLOWED A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE FOR ARTS AND A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE FOR, UH, HISTORIC PRESERVATION.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
UM, UP 30% OF THE HOTEL TAX THAT'S COLLECTED IS SPLIT EVENLY BETWEEN CULTURAL ARTS AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION, AND THAT'S THE MAXIMUM ALLOWED UNDER STATE LAW.
UM, AND THE FUNDING THAT IS GOING TO THE CONVENTION CENTER FOR THE EXPANSION DOES NOT, UM, TAKE ANY OF THOSE, ANY OF THOSE DOLLARS.
SO WE COULDN'T STAND HERE TODAY AND SAY WE'D RATHER THAT GO TO ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES OR, YOU KNOW, SOLVING HOMELESSNESS, THAT THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE GENERAL FUND DOLLARS OR SOMETHING ELSE.
IS THAT CORRECT? NOT UNDER STATE
[03:00:01]
LAW.JUST A COUPLE OF ITEMS. UH, THE FIRST ONE BEING ITEM, UH, 49.
IT'S, UH, A SMALL ITEM AND A SMALL PIECE OF LAND, BUT IT'S A NEW PARK ON ROMBERG THAT THE CITY WILL BE ACQUIRING THAT LAND AND USING A PORTION OF IT FOR A FLOOD CONTROL, AND THEN A PORTION OF IT AS A PUBLIC PARK.
EXCITED TO SEE ANOTHER PARK, UH, POCKET PARK APPEARING IN DISTRICT FOUR.
UH, THAT'S, UH, VERY CLOSE TO THE CORNER OF ROMBERG AND 9 35.
A LOT OF APARTMENTS, UH, A LOT OF WORKING CLASS FOLKS THAT NEED A LITTLE SPOT TO, UH, TO, TO HANG OUT, TO WALK THE DOG, TO, TO RELAX, TO ENJOY A BEAUTIFUL DAY.
SO GREAT TO SEE THAT, UH, MOVING THROUGH THE AGENDA.
AND THEN ITEM 80, UH, VERY EXCITED TO, TO BRING THIS ITEM.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S A, A VERY RARE EVENT HAPPENED IN AUSTIN.
UH, EVERYONE AGREED ON SOMETHING
UM, THE, UH, LAW ENFORCEMENT, COMMUNITY ADVOCATES, MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, CITY STAFF, EVERYONE AGREES THAT THE WAY THAT WE ARE HANDLING OUR MENTAL HEALTH RESPONSE SYSTEM RIGHT NOW IS, UH, NOT THE BEST WAY TO DO IT.
UH, I THINK, UH, UH, MR. BULLOCK, UH, FROM THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION, I THINK HIS COMMENTS WHERE THEY'RE POLICE OFFICERS, WHERE THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T WANT TO TAKE THAT PERSON TO JAIL, BUT THEY TRY TO FIND ANOTHER RESPONSE.
THEY TRY TO FIND SOME OTHER RESOURCES THAT ARE, UH, AVAILABLE AND THEY'RE JUST NOT AVAILABLE.
SO WE REALLY NEED TO, TO CHANGE THAT MODEL.
UH, AND, AND THAT'S WHAT, UH, THE CITY STAFF WILL BE LOOKING AT.
IT'S GONNA BE A, A, A PROCESS RIGHT NOW.
I BELIEVE THAT IN ABOUT A THIRD OR SO OF THE MENTAL HEALTH CALLS ARE ACTUALLY RESPONDED TO BY, UH, MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.
AGAIN, I LOOK FORWARD TO KIND OF GETTING SOME, SOME, UH, DETAIL ON, ON THOSE NUMBERS.
WE'VE GOT TO JUST STEADILY, UH, BRING THAT NUMBER UP SO THAT FOLKS IN MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, UH, ARE GIVEN THE PROPER RESOURCES THAT WE'RE NOT JUST SENDING A, AN OFFICER OR, OR, OR EMS OR THAT WE'RE SENDING A, A TRAINED COUNSELOR, UH, A PROFESSIONAL THAT CAN REALLY HELP THAT PERSON IN CRISIS AND HOPEFULLY HELP THEM GET, UH, EVEN, UH, A BETTER, UH, RESOURCES.
ALSO HAVE TO THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, UH, AND, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM, UH, FUENTES FOR THEIR SUGGESTIONS AND AMENDMENTS.
UH, AND REALLY I HAVE TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER FOR THE AMENDMENT LAST BUDGET SEASON WHERE WE WERE PUSHING THAT MONEY TO GO TO A 24 7 MENTAL HEALTH RESPONSE SYSTEM.
UH, LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO EXPAND THE SYSTEM SO THAT EVERYBODY IN MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS GETS THE APPROPRIATE HELP, UH, THAT THEY NEED.
COUNCIL, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK AGAIN, UM, BRIEFLY? YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER BELLA'S COMMENTARY AND ACTUALLY HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH YOU.
I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO, UM, AS I BROWN OUT THIS YEAR AND, AND NEXT YEAR BEING, YOU KNOW, THE LAST OF MY, MY TIME BEING ABLE TO SERVE THE CITY.
I, I HOPE VERY MUCH NO PRESSURE THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO BRING BACK SOME INITIATIVES THAT YOU WERE DISCUSSING WITH THE BRAIN HEALTH INSTITUTE.
YEAH, I THINK IN A LOT OF WAYS IT'S GONNA HELP TO ALLEVIATE AND MITIGATE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE, AND I REALLY WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO YOU, YOU BEING ABLE TO LEAD STRONG ON THAT.
SO I, I HOPE YOU'RE ABLE TO GOOD TO RESUME THOSE ACTIVITIES.
I APPRECIATE THAT AND THANK YOU.
UM, MEMBERS, THAT CONCLUDES THE DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
UH, MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED.
LET ME ASK, IS THERE ANYONE THAT WISHES TO RECUSE THEMSELVES ON AN ITEM FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? IS THERE ANYONE THAT WISHES TO ABSTAIN FROM AN ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON AN ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? YES, MAYOR PRO TIM? YES.
UH, IF YOU CAN SHOW ME VOTING NO ON ITEM NUMBER 11.
ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO.
IN THAT CASE WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ADOPTED WITH AMERIPRO 10 BEING SHOWN VOTING NO ON ITEM NUMBER 11, AND THAT WILL COMPLETE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
MEMBERS WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL RECESS THE
[10:30 AM - Austin Housing Finance Corporation Meeting]
REGULAR MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AT 1:36 PM SO THAT WE MAY, UH, GO INTO A BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'RE IN RECESS AT ONE THIRTY SIX.I WILL NOW CALL TO ORDER THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION, AND I WILL LOOK TO, UM, MS. DE MAY AND, AND BY, AND START OFF BY ECHOING WHAT, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL SAID EARLIER.
CONGRATULATIONS AND GOOD WORK ON THE GRANT.
AMAZING PUTTING THIS TOGETHER IN SHORT ORDER.
FOLKS, IF YOU'RE IN THE CHAMBERS AND, UM, YOU'RE TALKING, I WOULD PLEASE ASK THAT YOU TAKE YOUR CONVERSATION OUTSIDE SO THAT WE MAY CONDUCT, UH, THE ADDITIONAL BUSINESS.
[03:05:01]
ON, THEY'RE NOT LISTENING TO ME.IF YOU'RE TALKING AND YOU'RE NOT MS. DEO
PLEASE TAKE YOUR CONVERSATIONS OUTSIDE.
I'M THE INTERIM DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT AND THE TREASURER OF AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.
UM, AND I AM HERE TO PRESENT THE AGENDA FOR TODAY, AND I WELCOME OUR THREE NEW BOARD MEMBERS TO AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.
UM, THERE ARE FOUR ITEMS ON YOUR AGENDA TODAY.
THE FIRST TWO ITEMS ARE RELATED TO A COMMUNITY LAND TRUST, UH, DEVELOPMENT THAT WE ARE PURSUING WITH AN ORGANIZATION CALLED INDUSTRY A TX.
IT WILL RESULT IN 38 UNITS, UH, OF AFFORDABLE OWNERSHIP FOR FOLKS AT 60% AND 80% MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME.
IT IS LOCATED IN DISTRICT TWO.
THE FIRST ITEM IS AUTHORIZING US MOVING FORWARD WITH A LOAN AGREEMENT FOR APPROXIMATELY $7.7 MILLION TO MAKE THIS PROJECT A REALITY.
AND THE SECOND ITEM IS AN AMENDMENT, UM, TO THE CERTIFICATE OF FORMATION FOR THE A HFC, UH, DROWSY WILLOW NONPROFIT CORPORATION.
THE THIRD ITEM IS OFFERED MS. MAYO, YOU MIGHT MOVE THAT MICROPHONE CLOSER TO YOUR MOUTH, MOVE YOUR MOUTH CLOSER TO THE MICROPHONE.
YOUR CHOICE, OKAY, THAT'S BETTER.
THE THIRD ITEM ON THE AGENDA, UM, IS AUTHORIZING STAFF TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A LOAN AGREEMENT, UM, WITH THE AUSTIN AREA URBAN LEAGUE FOR A PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT THAT IS PROPOSED IN DISTRICT ONE.
IT WILL BE 80 UNITS OF PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING EFFICIENCY IN ONE BEDROOM UNITS.
UM, I DO WANNA NOTE THAT THIS IS A PROJECT THAT IS PART OF THE TRAVIS COUNTY COLLABORATIVE, SO IT'S ALSO SUPPORTED BY TRAVIS COUNTY, AND IT HAS 80 PROJECT BASED VOUCHERS, UH, FROM THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
THIS, UH, LOAN AGREEMENT IS FOR A LITTLE OVER, UH, $4 MILLION, BRINGING THE TOTAL CITY SUPPORT THROUGH A HFC LOAN TO A LITTLE OVER $8 MILLION.
THE FOURTH AND FINAL ITEM, UH, IS FOR A PROJECT LOCATED IN DISTRICT FOUR.
JOHN'S REDEVELOPMENT, THE FORMER HOME DEPOT SITE.
UM, THIS IS WITH GREYSTAR DEVELOPMENT AND IT'S FOR $4 MILLION FOR A LOAN AGREEMENT.
IT WILL RESULT IN 526 UNITS OF HOUSING, AND 106 OF THOSE UNITS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO HOUSEHOLDS AT OR BELOW 50% MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME.
I OFFER ALL OF THOSE ON CONSENT.
I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
MEMBERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? UH, MS. DE MAYO? YES, COUNCIL, UH, BOARD MEMBER ALTER.
I WANTED TO ASK, UM, KIND OF A, A MORE HIGH LEVEL POLICY QUESTION AS IT RELATES TO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF REQUESTS ON, UH, HFC FOR OUR HOUSING DOLLARS AND HOW YOU ARE BALANCING REQUESTS LIKE WE SEE FOR, UH, ITEM NUMBER ONE, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, OVER $7 MILLION FOR 38 OWNERSHIP UNITS.
AND OWNERSHIP IS SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OF WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THESE PROGRAMS, BUT AS DEMONSTRATED BY THIS IS INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE PER UNIT, YOU KNOW, COMPARING TO THE ST.
JOHN'S, UH, ITEM, WHICH IS $4 MILLION AND OVER 200 UNITS AT 60% OR BELOW.
AND SO I'M JUST, I WANT TO KIND OF UNDERSTAND YOUR THOUGHTS AND, AND HOW WE BALANCE THAT AND MAYBE DO WE NEED TO REEVALUATE THE OWNERSHIP QUESTION JUST GIVEN ITS EXPENSE AND THE LIMITED RESOURCE? WE ARE.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, WE ARE BALANCING A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT PRIORITIES THAT ARE ALL ARTICULATED IN THE STRATEGIC HOUSING BLUEPRINT.
THIS GOES TO THE EARLIER ITEM A HUNDRED, UH, ONE 12, WHICH IS HELP PROVIDING FUNDING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO UPDATE THE STRATEGIC HOUSING BLUEPRINT, UM, TO TACKLE SOME OF THOSE LARGER POLICY QUESTIONS, THE PUSH AND PULL OF WHERE WE INVEST OUR DOLLARS AND OUR RESOURCES.
UM, AT THIS POINT, UH, WE TRY TO BALANCE THAT WITH, UM, OUR FUNDING AVAILABILITY.
WE HAVE SOME FUNDING THAT IS AVAILABLE, AVAILABLE FOR OWNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND SOME FUNDING THAT IS STRICTLY FOR RENTAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.
SO WE TRY TO BALANCE THAT THROUGH OUR QUARTERLY APPLICATION PROCESS FOR RENTAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE AND OWNERSHIP, HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE, RHODA AND ODA.
I WILL SAY THAT WE ENGAGED A CONSULTING COMPANY, A NATIONAL CONSULTING COMPANY, UH, BACK IN JUNE.
THIS WAS A CONTRACT THAT WENT THROUGH A HFC, UM, TO LOOK AT OUR RHODA AND ODA PROCESSES, OUR PROGRAM GUIDELINES, OUR PRIORITIES, WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF THAT WORK HAS, THAT INITIAL STAGE HAS BEEN WRAPPED UP.
FEBRUARY 13TH, YOU'LL HAVE AN ITEM COMING BEFORE YOU, UM, FOR SOME IMPLEMENTATION WORK.
IT'S A, A SMALLER CONTRACT, ABOUT $200,000.
UM, AND WE ANTICIPATE THAT THESE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THIS CALENDAR YEAR, WE WILL BE WORKING TO IMPLEMENT, IMPLEMENT ALL OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS, UM, FROM GUIDEHOUSE, WHICH WILL
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INCLUDE, UH, GREATER TRANSPARENCY IN TERMS OF OUR FUNDING SOURCES, FUNDING AVAILABILITY, AND ALSO, UM, UH, KIND OF TIGHTENING UP BOTH OUR UNDERWRITING GUIDELINES AS WELL AS, UM, OUR, OUR PROCESSES FOR PUTTING OUT SOLICITATIONS AND APPLICATIONS.BOARD MEMBER MAYOR, I'M SORRY.
I JUST WANTED TO, UH, UH, THANK, UH, MS. UH, DE MAYO AND THE, THE STAFF AT AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.
JOHN PROJECT SHOULD BE THE, UH, LAST PUZZLE PIECE THAT FALLS IN PLACE TO MAKE THE PROJECT HAPPEN.
IT'S GONNA BE A GREAT PROJECT, 500 PLUS UNITS, UH, LOTS OF AFFORDABILITY IN IT.
THERE'S, UH, SOME COMMERCIAL UNITS AS WELL, A BRAND NEW PARK, UH, EXPANDING FROM ABOUT, I THINK ABOUT TWO ACRES TO ABOUT FOUR ACRES OR SO.
UH, JUST A LOT OF DIFFERENT, UH, COMMUNITY, UH, BENEFITS THAT WILL COME WITH IT.
IT'S BEEN A LONG ROAD TO GET TO WHERE WE ARE, BUT UH, AGAIN, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU.
SO EXCITED TO SEE THIS ON THE AGENDA AND REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO, UH, GROUNDBREAKING AND CONSTRUCTION.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OF STAFF COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, FORGIVE ME.
IT MAY BE IN THE BACKUP, BUT WHO IS THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CO CORPORATION? THAT'S THE STEWARD FOR THE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST FOR THE D TWO PROJECT.
SO THE D TWO PROJECT IS AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.
WE HAVE A COMMUNITY LAND TRUST AND WE WILL BE DEVELOPING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH INDUSTRY A TX, THOSE 38 UNITS, AND THOSE WILL BE PUT INTO A HFCS COMMUNITY LAND TRUST.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ABOUT 50 UNITS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY LAND TRUST, AND, UH, WE'RE SET TO MORE THAN DOUBLE THAT WITH A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT PROJECTS ON THE HORIZON, INCLUDING THIS ONE.
I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT WE HAD TO HAVE A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION IN ORDER TO EXECUTE THE TASK, UH, ASSOCIATED WITH COMMUNITY LAND TRUST AND LAND BANKING.
NO, WE DO HAVE, HFC HAS A COMMUNITY LAND TRUST.
IT'S AUSTIN CLT, UM, AND WE DO SELL, UM, HOMES TO FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS AT OR BELOW 80% MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME.
OTHER QUESTIONS OF STAFF BEFORE WE GO TO SPEAKERS? THANK YOU.
UH, WE WILL NOW GO TO SPEAKERS ON THE, ON THE PROPOSED CONSENT AGENDA.
THANK YOU, MAYOR FOR ITEM THREE, OPIA JOSEPH, MS. JOSEPH, AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING SHE IS SIGNED UP ON ANOTHER ITEM AS WELL, FOUR AS WELL.
SO, UH, YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES ON ITEM NUMBER THREE AND THEN TWO MINUTES ON ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
MY COMMENTS AS THEY ALWAYS ARE IN THE CONTEXT OF TITLE VI OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964, WHICH PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE, COLOR, AND NATIONAL ORIGIN AS IT RELATES TO ITEM THREE, THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF TRAVIS COUNTY.
I JUST WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT THAT PROPERTY ON FM 9 69 DOES NOT HAVE A SIDEWALK AND AN INDIVIDUAL WAS KILLED IN HIS WHEELCHAIR, RIGHT BY THE DOLLAR GENERAL.
AND AT REGENCY THERE'S A ROADSIDE MEMORIAL.
IT IS DISINGENUOUS TO CONTINUE TO USE INCOME AS A PROXY FOR RACE DISCRIMINATION.
THE UNITS THAT ARE NORTH OF US, 180 3 TEND TO HAVE 50 TO 60% AREA MEDIAN INCOME, AND THOSE THAT ARE WEST PREDOMINANTLY ARE 80% AREA MEDIAN INCOME.
AND ON THE RAIL LINE AS WELL AS IT RELATES TO THE ST.
JOHN'S PROJECT, I JUST WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THE BAIT AND SWITCH.
THERE'S LANGUAGE AND BACKUP THAT SPECIFIES THAT AFTER 39 YEARS, THE CITY CAN HAVE A REVERSION BACK TO MARKET RATE UNITS.
SO I WOULD ASK CHEETO VELA TO GO BACK AND TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND RECOGNIZE THIS IS THE AREA WHERE AFRICAN AMERICANS OWNED 300 ACRES OF LAND, AND AFTER PEOPLE TURN THEIR HEADS, THEY WILL NO LONGER EVEN BE ABLE TO LIVE THERE.
IT IS DEEPLY DISTURBING, MAYOR, BECAUSE THESE PROJECTS DO NOT AFFIRMATIVELY FURTHER FAIR HOUSING.
SO I THINK YOU RECOGNIZE THAT IT NOT ONLY VIOLATES TITLE VI, BUT YOU'RE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE FAIR HOUSING ACT EITHER.
AND SO I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE ONCE AGAIN THAT YOU HAVE NOT DONE RIGHT BY AFRICAN AMERICANS.
AND SO I WANT YOU TO CONSIDER VOTING AGAINST THE $4 MILLION.
IT FEELS LIKE THE $4 MILLION NEGRO DAY AT COUNCIL, $4 MILLION FOR ITEM THREE, $4 MILLION FOR ITEM FOUR.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GLADLY ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME.
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SPEAK ON ITEM FOUR OR HAVE YOU COMPLETED YOUR COMMENT? WELL, I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU WERE COMBINING THE TIME OR NOT, MAYOR.YOU GET, YOU GET TO SPEAK ON BOTH OF THEM.
THAT'S WHY I SAID YOU CAN SPEAK ON BOTH.
UH, SO LET ME JUST TALK ABOUT THE TRANSPORTATION ASPECT OF IT, MAYOR, AND IT IS GERMANE.
I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT ROUTE 3 39 IS A 60 MINUTE BLACK ROUTE THAT RUNS ON FM 9 69 AND THAT YOUR STAFF AND BACKUP ACTUALLY SPECIFIES THAT THAT IS GOOD ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION.
BUT US 180 3, THE BUSES THAT RUN THERE, 18 WAS A 15 MINUTE ROUTE TO UT IT IS NOW 30 MINUTES, BUT STILL AFRICAN AMERICANS HAVE TO WALK APPROXIMATELY TWO MILES TO GET TO THE FREQUENT BUS LINE.
I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT THAT BUS ROUTE IS INNER LINED WITH 2 37, WHICH IS COMMUNITY FIRST VILLAGE, AND THE PEOPLE OVER THERE ARE WAITING TWO HOURS IN THEIR WHEELCHAIRS WHEN THE ONE HOUR 60 MINUTE BUS IS CUT.
I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO DO BETTER BY US AS IT RELATES TO TRANSIT.
IT'S IN YOUR CITY CHARTER, AND SO YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO FUND TRANSIT AND IT SHOULD BE EQUITABLE AS YOU ARE WELL AWARE.
AND SO I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT YOU'VE NOT DONE ENOUGH AND YOU'VE TURNED A BLIND EYE.
WE ARE ACTUALLY IN THE FAR NORTHEAST CORNERS, SOUTHEAST CORNERS OF THE CITY.
AND SO AT TIMES IT FEELS LIKE IT'S LILY WHITE ON THE INSIDE AND IT'S BROWNING ON THE OUTSIDE.
I WOULD ASK YOU TO DO BETTER BIAS.
MAYOR, I KNOW YOU MENTIONED THE VALUES YESTERDAY WHEN YOU TALKED TO TEXAS TRIBUNE, AND IF THOSE VALUES INCLUDE EQUITY AND NOT JUST EQUITY ON PAPER, I WOULD ASK YOU TO DO MORE FOR US AND TO ACTUALLY VOTE AGAINST THESE PROJECTS.
YOU HAVE THE POWER AND YOU CAN DO IT.
AND SO I WOULD ASK YOU TO COMPLY WITH THE FEDERAL LAW AND TO ACTUALLY DO MORE FOR BLACK PEOPLE.
YEAH, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU HAVE SUCH AN AVERSION TO US.
AND LET ME JUST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOUR CABINET IS FILLED WITH BLACK PEOPLE MAKING LOTS OF MONEY, BUT THAT IS NOT MAKING THE CITY EQUITABLE.
YOU'LL TALK ABOUT HOMELESSNESS LATER, AND I JUST WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING THERE, AFRICAN AMERICANS ARE OVER SIX TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE HOMELESS THAN OUR WHITE COUNTERPARTS, AND THIS IS NOT GOING TO CONNECT THEM TO SERVICES.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL SPEAKERS, MAYOR MEMBERS.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL SPEAKERS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.
I'LL NOW ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH REGARD TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
MOTION IS MADE BY THE VICE PRESIDENT, SECONDED BY, UH, BOARD MEMBER ALTER.
I'LL CALL FOR ANY DISCUSSION ON THE ITEM, BUT THEN I, AT THAT POINT I'LL ASK IF THERE'S ANYONE WISHING TO RECUSE THEMSELVES.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDAS THAT'S BEEN LAID OUT? IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN RECUSING THEMSELVES FROM A VOTE ON THE BOARD OF, OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION? ANYONE WISHING TO ABSTAIN FROM VOTING ON AN ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON ONE OF THE ITEMS? SEEING NONE IN THAT CASE, THE, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION IS ADOPTED.
UM, MEMBERS WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL ADJOURN THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION AT 1:50 PM AND I WILL CALL BACK TO ORDER AT 1:50 PM THE BOARD, THE, THE, UH, COUNCIL, THE CITY, AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING, UH, FOR JANUARY 30TH.
WHAT I WOULD PROPOSE THAT WE DO IS WE WILL GO TO THOSE ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PULLED AND THEN WE WILL GO TO THE NON-CONSENT ITEMS. WE'RE COMING UP ON THE TWO O'CLOCK, UH, TIMEFRAME FOR OUR TIME.
CERTAIN, UH, WE MIGHT GO AHEAD AND TAKE THAT, UH, WHEN WE GET TO TWO O'CLOCK AND THEN COME BACK TO THOSE OTHER ITEMS. COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, DID YOU WISH TO SAY SOMETHING? I DID.
MAYOR, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA HAD PASSED OUT AN AMENDMENT ON ITEM NUMBER 72, WHICH IS, UM, STAFF'S RESPONSE TO AN ITEM THAT I HAD STARTED.
UM, I THINK WITH JUST TWO MORE WEEKS, WE COULD PROBABLY SORT THROUGH SOME OF THESE CONVERSATIONS AND SO I MOTION TO POSTPONE ITEMS. WELL, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.
LET ME CALL, I'LL GET IT CALLED UP 'CAUSE THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GONNA GO NEXT.
SO, UM, I WAS ACTUALLY GONNA GO TO 62 FIRST AND THEN GO TO 72.
UH, BUT LET'S JUST GO TO 70 ITEM NUMBER
[72. Approve an ordinance amending City Code Chapters 12-3 (Metered and Pay Station Parking) and 12-5 (Stopping, Standing, and Parking) to modify the definitions of parking meter and parking space, remove placard requirements for unloading and loading in designated zones; provide for the use of commercial hangtag for loading; restrict certain uses of transit stops; provide for and modify parking restrictions related to loading and unloading, bicycle lanes, electric vehicle charging spaces, commercial delivery zones, passenger pickup and drop-off zones, resident only zones, and parking at a public recreation area or right-of-way closure area; modify the civil fines, costs, and fees for parking violations; and containing other provisions related thereto, in support of mobility and public safety. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.]
72, UH, I CALL UP ITEM NUMBER 72.I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER VELA SINCE HE WAS THE PERSON THAT FIRST PULLED THE ITEM.
AND THEN I'LL COME BACK AND RECOGNIZE YOU FOR A MOTION.
UH, I WOULD GO AHEAD AND, UH, COUPLE OF QUICK COMMENTS.
UM, THERE IS A PROVISION IN THERE, UH, MY AMENDMENT SPEAKS TO IT WHERE, UH, THE PARKING ENFORCEMENT COULD POTENTIALLY SWITCH FROM ESSENTIALLY PERSONAL SERVICE, EITHER BY LEAVING IT, UH, UNDERNEATH A WINDSHIELD WIPER OF A PERSON'S CAR OR HANDING IT THEM TO
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IT, TO THEM DIRECTLY, UH, AND TO MAIL SERVICE WHERE THEY'RE JUST POTENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, PHOTOGRAPHING THE CAR AND THEN THE, THE TICKET WOULD, UH, EVENTUALLY MAKE IT TO THE PERSON IN THE MAIL.I, I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE MAY BE A NEED FOR AN ALTERNATE TYPE OF SERVICE WHERE SOMEONE, FOR EXAMPLE, DRIVES OFF OR SOMEONE IS BEING DISRESPECTFUL OR AGGRESSIVE WITH A PARKING ENFORCEMENT, UH, OFFICER.
BUT I'M, I'M CONCERNED WITH THE DUE PROCESS INVOLVED OF JUST MAILING SOMEBODY A PARKING TICKET.
FOLKS DO NOT UPDATE THEIR VEHICLE REGISTRATION SOMETIMES, AND IT GOES TO THE WRONG ADDRESS, AND YOU NEVER GET IT.
A LOT OF TIMES FOLKS IN APARTMENTS DON'T ALWAYS CHECK THEIR MAIL.
UH, AND, AND YOU MAY, YOU KNOW, BY THE TIME YOU GET IT, THE, THE EARLY PAYMENT MAY HAVE PASSED AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT'S AN $80 TICKET OR 120.
SO, SO I JUST HAVE SOME DUE PROCESS CONCERNS ABOUT THAT, HENCE THE AMENDMENT.
AND, UH, I WOULD LOVE, UH, JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO WORK THROUGH THOSE WITH, UH, PARKING ENFORCEMENT AND, AND WITH THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT.
I'LL NOW RECOGNIZE YOU FOR A MOTION.
I WILL MOVE TO POSTPONE ITEM NUMBER 72 UNTIL FEBRUARY 13TH.
THE MOTION IS BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS TO POSTPONE ITEM NUMBER 72 UNTIL FEBRUARY, FEBRUARY 13TH, 2025.
IT IS SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.
DISCUSSION? CAPTAIN MORALES, JUST A BRIEF COMMENT.
I KNOW STAFF HAS WORKED REALLY HARD ON THIS FOR A WHILE AND WE'VE HAD A LOT OF GOOD RECOMMENDATIONS FROM FOLKS LIKE THE URBAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION.
SO, UM, WHILE THIS IS A SHORT DELAY, UM, I THINK GOOD THINGS ARE COMING AND WE'LL JUST SORT THROUGH THIS, THIS, UH, SITUATION, BUT GET TO A GOOD PLACE, HOPEFULLY WITHOUT TOO MUCH DELAY, FURTHER DISCUSSION.
FURTHER DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ITEM NUMBER 72 IS POSTPONED UNTIL FEBRUARY 13TH, 2025.
AND FOR THE RECORD, THERE'S NO ONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, IS MY, THAT'S CORRECT, MAYOR.
UH, THAT'LL TAKE US TO ITEM NUMBER
[62. Authorize negotiation and execution of an interlocal agreement with Travis County for booking and related services at the Travis County Central Booking Facility from February 1, 2025, through September 30, 2025, for a total agreement amount not to exceed $7,191,323. Funding: $7,191,323 is available in the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Austin Police Department Operating Budget.]
62.I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, WHO PULLED THE ITEM.
UH, ITEM 62 IS OUR INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH TRAVIS COUNTY TO OPERATE, UH, THE BOOKING FACILITY.
THIS IS, UM, AN ITEM WHERE WE WOULD BASICALLY AUTHORIZE ADDITIONAL NEGOTIATION AND EXECUTION OF THE AGREEMENT.
UM, WE HAVE A AS BACKUP A DRAFT AGREEMENT.
AND SO, UM, UH, KINDA THE DIRECTION I'D LIKE TO SUGGEST IS THAT THERE MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT MORE WORK TO DO BEFORE THIS AGREEMENT'S FINALIZED.
UM, BUT I WANNA MAKE A FEW COMMENTS FIRST.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, THIS IS A REALLY COMPLICATED AND COMPLEX ISSUE THAT INVOLVES, UH, STAKEHOLDERS OF THE CITY AND THE COUNTY.
AND SO I REALLY WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE ALL THE FOLKS WHO'VE WORKED ON THIS ITEM.
'CAUSE WE'RE BALANCING COMPLEX GOALS, FOR EXAMPLE, TREATING PEOPLE FAIRLY.
UH, WE'RE ALSO INTEGRATING THIS, UH, VALUE OF PROVIDING COUNSEL AT FIRST AP APPEARANCE, YOU KNOW, REALLY IMPORTANT CONSTITUTIONAL OBJECTIVE AND ALSO SUPPORTING DIVERSION AND OTHER SOCIAL SERVICE STRATEGIES THROUGH THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT.
UH, MY OFFICE'S CONCERN WITH THE CURRENT DRAFT, UH, AND THIS IS SHARED BY OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY, IS THAT THERE MIGHT BE SOME UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES IN PARTICULAR RELATED TO DELAYS WITH, UH, FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE ARRESTED ON CLASS C CHARGES.
UH, AND IN PARTICULAR WITH THE, THE DRAFT AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH THE COUNTY, UM, IN SECTION 5 0 7 B, THERE IS NOT A PROVISION THAT ALLOWS COUNTY JUDGES TO MAGISTRATE CITY ARRESTEES.
AND, UH, WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING, AND I'M KIND OF COMING ON MIDSTREAM HERE, BUT THE COUNTY IS TAKING OVER THESE MAGISTRATE DUTIES, AND SO IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S A LITTLE BIT MORE WORK TO DO TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COUNTY JUDGES CAN ALSO MAGISTRATE PEOPLE, UH, TO AVOID DELAYS IN GETTING SOMEONE BEFORE A JUDGE AND RELEASED.
UH, THERE IS A, A, YOU KNOW, A STATE RULE THAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE MAGISTRATED WITHIN 24 HOURS WHEN YOU'RE ARRESTED ON THESE MISDEMEANOR CHARGES.
UH, SO ONE EXAMPLE OF A, OF A POTENTIAL SCENARIO UNDER THE CURRENT LANGUAGE IS IF YOU GET PICKED UP ON A CLASS C CHARGE, UH, CITY STAFF MIGHT THINK YOU WOULD BENEFIT FROM OUR DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT PROGRAMS, UH, YOU KNOW, TO GET MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES.
SO THEN YOU BECOME WHAT'S CALLED A DAC, DACC ARRESTEE.
BUT IF THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT IS NOT OPEN AT THAT TIME, YOU CAN SPEND A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME IN JAIL WAITING TO BE TRANSPORTED, UH, AND GET MAGISTRATED THERE.
AND SO WE DON'T WANT A SITUATION WHERE WE'RE PRIORITIZING DIVERSION, WHICH IS A, A, A GREAT AND NOBLE OBJECTIVE, AND WE'RE PRIORITIZING THESE SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS.
BUT THESE SAME PEOPLE ENDED UP GETTING HELD LONGER BEFORE THEY GET TO SEE A JUDGE, WHICH WOULD CREATE A SORT OF, UH, DISPARATE TREATMENT, UH, FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
SO FROM A FAIRNESS PERSPECTIVE, AND ALSO TO SAVE PUBLIC RESOURCES, WE DON'T WANNA HOLD ANYONE LONGER THAN NECESSARY.
AND SO WITH THAT KIND OF PREAMBLE, UH, MY OFFICE HAS SPOKEN WITH STAFF, AND ON THE RECORD HERE, WE'D JUST LIKE TO GIVE, UH, DIRECTION ON THE NEGOTIATION AND EXECUTION OF THIS AGREEMENT TO ENSURE THAT CLASS C ARRESTEES ARE NOT DETAINED, UH, PRIOR TO MAGISTRATION FOR LONGER PERIODS OF TIME THAN PEOPLE WHO ARE ARRESTED ON HIGHER LEVEL CHARGES.
AND SO, UH, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE CITY STAFF AND MANAGER ARE COMFORTABLE WITH THIS DIRECTION, BUT, UH, IF MANAGER BROAD DECKS, COULD YOU CONFIRM THAT? THANK YOU.
UH, WE CONCUR AND WE WILL FACILITATE
[03:25:01]
THAT THROUGH OUR DISCUSSIONS, UH, WITH THE COUNTY.I'M NOT SURE HOW TO TAKE THAT SPEECH.
UM, SO WHAT, SO WITH THAT SAID, WILL YOU MAKE A MOTION? I I WILL MOVE, UH, TO AUTHORIZE THE NEGOTIATION EXECUTION OF THEIR LOCAL AGREEMENT, UH, SUBJECT TO THIS DIRECTION.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.
I WANT TO GO TO SPEAKERS BEFORE WE GO TO DISCUSSION.
SO, UH, LET ME TURN TO THE CITY CLERK.
THANK YOU, MAYOR DANIEL WOODWARD.
NICK HUDSON, PLEASE CALL ALL, ALL OF THE SPEAKERS.
DANIEL WOODWARD AND NICK HUDSON, THE ONLY IN PERSON.
WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE JOINING REMOTELY.
PLEASE, UH, STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND, AND LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.
SO MY NAME IS DAN DANNY WOODWARD, AND I'M A POLICY ATTORNEY WITH THE TEXAS CIVIL RIGHTS PROJECT.
I FOCUS ON IMMIGRATION ISSUES AND I'M HERE TODAY, UH, TO TALK ABOUT WHY AMENDING THE AGREEMENT IS A GOOD IDEA TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE DON'T SPEND MORE TIME THAN NECESSARY IN DETENTION FOR CLASS C MISDEMEANORS RIGHT NOW, NOW IS A TIME OF GREAT FEAR FOR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES AND THE FOLKS UP AT THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARE RIGHT NOW TRYING TO FIGURE OUT MORE WAYS TO FO FORCE LOCALITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE NEW ADMINISTRATION'S MASS DEPORTATIONS THROUGH 2 87 G AGREEMENTS AND OTHER MECHANISMS. THE CITY SHOULD NOT PRE COMPLY WITH THIS BY HANDING PEOPLE OVER TO ICE UNNECESSARILY.
FOLKS HAVE RAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT ALLOWS PEOPLE ARRESTED ON CLASS C MISDEMEANORS, UH, UNDER DAC TO BE HELD FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME PRE MAGISTRATION, DEPENDING ON THE DAY OF THE WEEK THAT THEY'RE BOOKED.
THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS CONCERN FOR OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES BECAUSE EVERY MINUTE THAT A PERSON IS IN JAIL FOR A CLASS A MISDEMEANOR IS A MINUTE THAT AN ICE DETAINER CAN BE ISSUED.
IF AN ICE DETAINER IS ISSUED, THAT PERSON MUST BE HELD FOR AN ADDITIONAL 48 HOURS FOR ICE TO COME AND GET THEM.
AND I WANT TO NOTE THAT AN ICE DETAINER IS NOT PROOF THAT SOMEONE IS OUT OF STATUS OR EVEN THAT THEY'RE DEPORTABLE.
ICE HAS ISSUED DETAINERS IN THE PAST FOR US CITIZENS, AND WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS WEAKENING DUE PROCESS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE PICKED UP BY ICE.
ICE DETAINERS ARE CURRENTLY THE PRIMARY DE UH, THE PRIMARY DRIVER OF DEPORTATIONS, AND WE EXPECT THAT TO INCREASE.
SO IF THE CITY ENTERS INTO AN AGREEMENT THAT RESULTS IN SOMEONE GETTING DETAINED AND DEPORTED AFTER BEING ACCUSED OF SOMETHING THAT DOES NOT EVEN QUALIFY FOR JAIL TIME, THAT MEANS THE CITY IS WILLINGLY FUELING THE DEPORTATION MACHINE.
SO THAT'S WHY I URGE YOU TODAY TO AMEND THIS AGREEMENT AND MAKE ABSOLUTELY CLEAR THAT NO ONE WILL SPEND MORE TIME IN JAIL THAN NECESSARY FOR A CLASS C MISDEMEANOR.
PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
MY NAME IS NICK HUSON AND I'M WITH THE AMERICAN CIVIL BERTIES UNION OF TEXAS.
AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, UM, AND YOUR STAFF.
AND I'VE TALKED TO MANY OF YOUR STAFF, SO THANK AND MANY OF YOU.
SO THANK YOU FOR, UH, HEARING OUR CONCERNS ON THIS.
I ALSO WANTED TO, UH, EXPRESS GRATITUDE FOR, UH, JUDGE COFFEY TO CITY LEGAL, THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE FOR, UH, UH, MEETING EARLIER TO, UM, UH, IN THE PAST AND, AND TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
SO, UM, WE, UH, WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR PROVISION.
IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S GETTING ADDRESSED, SO I WON'T, UH, SPEAK TOO LONG.
AND I JUST WANNA SAY, UM, THANK YOU.
THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 62, UH, MEMBERS.
YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION AND THE SECOND WITHOUT OBJECTION, ITEM NUMBER 62 IS APPROVED.
COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, UH, THAT WILL TAKE US FOR STAFF PURPOSES.
I'M GOING TO, UH, MOVE THROUGH A COUPLE OF OTHER ITEMS SO THE STAFF CAN LEAVE BEFORE WE GO TO THE TWO O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, BUT I'M NOT GONNA HOLD IT UP TOO LONG.
UH, MEMBERS, UH, LET'S GO TO THE
[81. Approve amendments to the Community Technology and Telecommunications Commission bylaws to rename the commission; include additional items on which the commission shall advise council and hold public hearings; add promotion of public access to the internet to its purposes and duties; add methodologies for promoting public access to telecommunication services, community technologies, and the internet; and add duties for its current role of supporting the City’s grant for Technology Opportunities program.]
NON-CONSENT ITEMS, WHICH ARE ITEMS FROM COUNCIL COMMITTEES.ITEM NUMBER 81, UH, THAT WAS RECOMMENDED BY THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE.
ON A VOTE OF THREE TO ZERO, I WOULD MOVE THAT WE APPROVE.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER.
IS THERE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THAT ITEM? THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS.
THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS IN ANY DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION.
[82. Approve an ordinance amending City Code Section 2-1-107 (Community Technology and Telecommunications) to effectuate bylaws amendments by renaming the Commission; including additional items on which the Commission shall advise Council and hold public hearings; adding promotion of public access to the internet to its purposes and duties; adding methodologies for promoting public access to telecommunications services, community technologies, and the internet; and adding duties for its current role of supporting the City’s grant for technology opportunities program.]
82 WAS ALSO RECOMMENDED BY THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE.ON A VOTE OF THREE TO ZERO, I WOULD MOVE ADOPTION OF ITEM NUMBER 82.
IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER.
IS THERE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS.
THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 82.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION? ITEM NUMBER 82
[03:30:01]
IS ADOPTED.[114. Approve a resolution reappointing Amit Motwani and Dr. Cynthia Brinson to the Central Health Board of Managers]
CALL ON THE MAYOR PRO TIM ON ITEM NUMBER ONE 14, WHICH IS, UH, A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE AND ASK HER TO MAKE A MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER ONE 14.THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COLLEAGUES, I WOULD LIKE TO DIVIDE THE QUESTION AND TAKE UP THESE APPOINTMENTS INDIVIDUALLY.
COUNCIL, THE MAYOR PRO TEM HAS MOVED THAT ON ITEM NUMBER ONE 14, WHICH IS POSTED AS A SINGLE ITEM INVOLVING TWO INDIVIDUALS THAT WE DIVIDE THE QUESTION AND I'LL RECOGNIZE.
AND, AND THE SECOND IS BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE MOTION TO DIVIDE THE QUESTION? HEARING NONE, WE WILL NOW DIVIDE THOSE TWO APPOINTMENTS AND I'LL RECOGNIZE THE MAYOR PRO TEM ON A MOTION.
CYNTHIA BRISSON TO THE BOARD OF MANAGERS TO THE CENTRAL HEALTH BOARD OF MANAGERS MEMBERS.
YOU HAVE HEARD THE MOTION? IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE? UH, IS THERE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS.
THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM.
ANY DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION? THE MOTION IS ADOPTED.
AND I MOVE THAT WE POSTPONE THE APPOINTMENT OF ADMIT NEY TO THE FEBRUARY 13TH COUNCIL MEETING.
THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
UH, NO ONE HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION WITHOUT OBJECTION? THE THE ITEM IS THE MOTION IS ADOPTED.
UH, MEMBERS, I'M GOING TO GO TO ITEM NUMBER.
UH, I WANT TO COME BACK TO THE ITEM NUMBER 83 BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
SO WHAT I WANNA DO FIRST IS GO TO ITEM NUMBER 87.
AND AGAIN, THE REASON I'M DOING IT THIS WAY IS SO THAT STAFF THAT IS HERE ON DIFFERENT ITEMS MAY BE ABLE TO LEAVE, UM, AND WE, AND GO BACK TO OTHER WORK.
[87. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance relating to the Statement of Intent to Increase Rates filed by Atmos Energy Corporation, Mid-Tex Division for natural gas services, requiring reimbursement of municipal rate case expenses and providing notice and approving the City joining Atmos Texas Municipalities and the City’s ongoing participation in the proceedings related to this proposed rate increase at the Railroad Commission of Texas including authorization to conduct negotiations and settlement. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.]
IS A PUBLIC HEARING.UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 87.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN, AND I WILL RECOGNIZE YOU FOR A BRIEF PRESENTATION WITH REGARD TO THIS RATE CASE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M DIANA THOMAS, DEPUTY CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, AND THIS PUBLIC HEARING IS RELATED TO THE ATMOS ENERGY RATE CASE.
UM, AT THIS PUBLIC HEARING, WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT, UH, THIS ATMOS ENERGY RATE CASE THAT THEY FILED BACK ON DECEMBER 16TH WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
THEY'VE ALSO FILED SIMILAR STATEMENTS WITH AT LEAST 40 OTHER 46 OTHER MUNICIPALITIES IN THE MID TEXAS REGION ON NOVEMBER 18TH.
THAT MUSTS ALSO FILED SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME PROPOSAL WITH RAILROAD COMMISSION FOR THOSE AREAS OUTSIDE OF CITIES OUT IN THE, UH, UNINCORPORATED AREAS.
AND WITHOUT INTERVENTION AT THE RAILROAD COMMISSION, IT'LL BE DIFFICULT FOR THE CITY TO HAVE ANY SAY IN THE RATES THAT WILL ULTIMATELY BE DECIDED AT THE RAILROAD COMMISSION.
THE PROPOSED RATES, UH, WILL RAISE ABOUT $16.73 MILLION IN THE MID TEXT DIVISION, WHICH INCORPORATES MORE AREA THAN JUST THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
THE MAP HERE SHOWS YOU THE PARTS OF NORTH AUSTIN THAT ARE COVERED BY ATMOS TERRITORY.
UH, THE RATES DO NOT PROPOSE ANY INCREASES FOR COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL, OR TRANSPORTATION CUSTOMERS.
AND ALL OF THE INCREASES WOULD FALL ON RESIDENTIAL CUP CUSTOMERS, OF WHICH THERE ARE 10,700 WITHIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN LIMITS.
CAN YOU PULL THE MICROPHONE A LITTLE CLOSER? YES.
I, I I'M ABLE TO HEAR YOU, BUT THERE'S OTHERS.
I DON'T WANNA ACT LIKE I'M THE DEAF ONE.
IT'S INTERESTING HOW THEY'RE ALL TRYING TO MAKE ME LOOK OLD, BUT I WELL, I ALWAYS WORRY BECAUSE EVERYBODY SAYS TO LEAVE THE MICROPHONE ALONE.
SO COUNCIL HAS THREE OPTIONS WITH REGARD TO THE RATES THE COUNCIL CAN TAKE NO ACTION.
AND IF THEY TAKE NO ACTION TODAY, THEN THE RATES WOULD AUTOMATICALLY BECOME EFFECTIVE FOR AUSTIN CUSTOMERS.
THE CITY CAN SUSPEND THE RATES FOR 90 DAYS TO ALLOW MORE TIME TO DISCUSS, UH, THE OPTIONS.
AND THEN THE LAST OPTION IS TO DENY.
AND AS OF AS OF MONDAY, 37 OF THE 46 CITIES IN THE AT ATMOS MID TEXT DIVISION HAVE DENIED THE RATES ON THE STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS AND THE ORDINANCE ATTACHED TO THIS ITEM.
WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT COUNCIL ADOPT AN ORDINANCE TO DENY THE RATES SO THAT THE RATES CAN BE EFFICIENTLY CONSOLIDATED WITH OTHER CITIES, UH, WITHIN THE ATMOS, TEXAS MUNICIPALITIES COALITION.
UH, THIS WILL ALLOW US TO HAVE A, A BETTER SAY MORE QUICKLY IN THE RATE SETTING PROCESS.
WE'RE ALSO ASKING COUNSEL TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY TO JOIN THE ATMOS, TEXAS MUNICIPALITIES COALITION AS REPRESENTED BY HERRERA LAW AND ASSOCIATES TO REPRESENT THE CITY AND INTER, I'M SORRY, TO REP THE CITY, REPRESENT THE CITY'S INTEREST IN THESE MATTERS.
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ASKING THE COUNCIL TO APPROVE PARTICIPATION IN THE MATTER TO INCLUDE AUTHOR AUTHORIZATION TO CONDUCT NEGOTIATIONS AND SETTLEMENT AT THE ROUND ROCK, AT THE RAILROAD COMMISSION, UH, WITH THE CITY OF, UH, IN COORDINATION WITH THE CITY MANAGER.AND FINALLY, TO DIRECT ATS TO REIMBURSE ALL RATE CASE EXPENSES INCURRED BY THE CITY IN RELATION TO THE CASE.
AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
MEMBERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU FOR THAT PRESENTATION.
UH, WE'RE IN A PUBLIC HEARING, SO I WILL NOW TURN TO THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE, UH, TO PLEASE CALL THOSE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AS PART OF THE PUBLIC HEARING.
I HAVE ONE SPEAKER, PAUL ROBBINS.
MR. ROBBINS, I SAW YOU EARLIER.
ARE YOU STILL HERE? HE'S HERE.
LET'S JUST SEE HOW LONG IT TAKES MR. ROB.
UM,
YEAH, I, UH, HOW MUCH TIME DO I HAVE, MAYOR? TWO MINUTES.
I'M AN ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST CONSUMER ADVOCATE, AND I SERVE ON THE VICE CHAIR OF THE CITY'S RESOURCE MANAGEMENT DEPART, UH, COMMISSION.
UH, I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON ENERGY RELATED ISSUES SINCE THE 1970S.
UH, TO UNDERSTAND THE PROPOSED RATE INCREASE, YOU SHOULD ALSO KEEP IN MIND THE RECENT HISTORY.
IN 2018, ATMOS RESIDENTIAL RATES AMOUNTED TO ABOUT $300 A YEAR BEFORE FUEL COSTS.
IN 2024, THE RATE ROSE TO $690 A YEAR.
THE COMPANY WANTS, UH, TO FO THIS RATE INCREASE ENTIRELY ON THE RESIDENTIAL CLASS, UH, OVERLOOKING THE COMMERCIAL CLASS.
AND THE RATE STRUCTURE IS HORRIBLY REGRESSIVE, CHARGING MORE PER UNIT OF ENERGY TO PEOPLE WHO USE LESS.
THIS PUNISHES CONSERVATION AND HURTS THE POOR.
UH, THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION HAS ASKED THE CITY COUNCIL TO EXPAND ITS PURVIEW TO REVIEW POLICY AND RATES RELATED TO GAS COMPANIES THAT OPERATE IN AUSTIN.
THIS WAS APPROVED BY THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE AND WILL PROBABLY COME BEFORE COUNSEL AT YOUR FEBRUARY 13TH MEETING.
UH, I HOPE YOU CAN APPROVE THIS.
UH, OUR COMMISSION WOULD LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE TO POLICIES THAT WILL LOWER BILLS AND INCREASE CONSERVATION.
THOSE ARE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM NUMBER 87 AT THE PUBLIC HEARING.
SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 87.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED MEMBERS.
I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION, IF YOU'LL RECALL, THERE ARE THREE WAYS WE CAN ACT.
ONE IS TO ACT BY TAKING NO ACTION.
ONE IS TO SUSPEND THIS FOR 90 DAYS, AND THE THIRD IS TO DENY, UH, THE, AND AS WAS POINTED OUT, THAT IS THE RECOMMENDATION THAT WE HAVE.
COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU FOR A MOTION.
I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO ACCEPT THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION AND, UH, DENY THE RATE, INCREASE AND INTERVENE IN THE ONGOING CASE.
YOU HAVE HEARD THE MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL.
IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.
IS THERE DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION? THE MOTION IS ADOPTED AND THE COUNCIL VOTES TO DENY THE RATE INCREASE.
WHAT I THINK WE'LL DO IS WE WILL GO IN THE FOLLOWING ORDER, WE'LL TAKE UP ITEM NUMBER 89, THEN ITEM NUMBER 83, AND THEN WE WILL GO TO THE, UM, ZONING ITEMS. SO ITEM
[89. Conduct a public hearing and consider a resolution authorizing and directing the Director of the Parks and Recreation Department to act on the City’s behalf and work with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in connection with the Recreational Trails Program and to apply for a Recreational Trails Program grant of up to $300,000, to be partially matched by the City, to partially fund the construction of a trailhead in Onion Creek Metropolitan Park. Funding: Funding is available in the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Capital Budget of the Parks and Recreation Department to meet the City’s matching requirement of $75,000.]
NUMBER 89 IS A PUBLIC HEARING WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 89.THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPENED, AND I WILL TURN TO THE CLERK'S OFFICE TO CALL SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 89.
MIKEY GORA LINK, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
UM, I THINK THE CITY CLERK DID AN EXCELLENT JOB IN ALMOST PRONOUNCING MY LAST NAME.
YOU MIGHT WANNA STOP WHILE YOU'RE AHEAD.
YOU MIGHT WANNA STOP WHILE YOU'RE AHEAD.
UM, NO, I'VE BEEN HERE ALL DAY.
I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THIS ITEM.
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I'M A PLANNER AND A LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT WITH THE GREAT SPRINGS PROJECT.UM, OUR GROUP, GSP, WE'RE A NONPROFIT BASED HERE IN AUSTIN, BUT WORKING THROUGHOUT THE EDWARDS AQUIFER RECHARGE ZONE ON TWO KEY TOPICS.
UM, WE WORK TO, UH, FACILITATE CONSERVATION PROJECTS THAT ENHANCE THE HEALTH OF THE EDWARDS AQUIFER.
AND WE WORK TO ACCELERATE TRAIL PROJECTS THAT PROMOTE, UH, CONNECTIVITY, UH, BETWEEN THE FOUR GREAT SPRINGS AND ULTIMATELY A TRAIL FROM THE ALAMO TO THE CAPITOL.
UM, AND IN OUR WORK, THE RECREATIONAL TRAILS GRANT IS A HUGE RESOURCE, UH, IN EXECUTING THAT MISSION.
AND SO WE'RE DEEPLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE CITY'S PROPOSAL TO THE RTG FOR THE ONION CREEK GREENWAY.
UH, SINCE AT LEAST 2011, OUR REGION HAS IMAGINED A GREENWAY ALONG ONION CREEK CONNECTING ITS CONFLUENCE AT THE COLORADO RIVER TO DISTANT POINTS UPSTREAM.
AND THIS IS REFLECTED IN OUR ORGANIZATION'S TRAILS PLAN, WHICH IDENTIFIES THE ONION CREEK GREENWAY FROM THE CONFLUENCE THROUGH DOWNTOWN BUTA AS AN ESSENTIAL TRAIL ROUTE CONNECTING THE ALAMO TO THE CAPITAL.
SO IN ADDITION TO THIS TRAILS, AND BY THIS TRAIL, I MEAN THE TRAIL SEGMENT THAT WOULD BE FUNDED BY THIS GRANT PROPOSAL, UH, IN ADDITION TO ITS BENEFITS TO SOUTHEAST AUSTIN, THIS PROPOSAL WILL HELP IMPLEMENT THIS EXPANSIVE REGIONAL TRAIL VISION.
AND WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE CITY'S INITIATIVE IN PURSUING THIS OPPORTUNITY, AND WE'RE EXTREMELY EAGER TO OFFER WHATEVER SUPPORT WE CAN IN BOTH SECURING AND SPENDING THESE FUNDS IF AWARDED.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE, AND THANKS FOR WAITING MEMBERS.
THOSE ARE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AT THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 89.
SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON, UH, ON NUMBER 89.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED.
COUNCIL MEMBER VELA MOVES APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 89.
IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.
DISCUSSION, HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ITEM NUMBER 89 IS ADOPTED MEMBERS.
[83. Approve a resolution directing the City Manager to explore sustainable funding sources, partnerships, and opportunities to prioritize ongoing investments in the homelessness response system. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.]
WILL NOW GO TO ITEM NUMBER 83.THEN WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO ONCE WE COMPLETE 83 AS WE WILL GO TO ZONING, AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK TO ITEM NUMBER 92.
ITEM NUMBER 83 IS A RECOMMENDATION COMING FROM THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE.
AND I'LL RECOGNIZE THE CHAIR OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER 83, THE MAYOR PRO TEM.
I MOVE TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXPLORE SUSTAINABLE FUNDING SOURCES, PARTNERSHIPS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO PRIORITIZE ONGOING INVESTMENTS IN THE HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE SYSTEM.
AND IF I GET A SECOND, I'M HAPPY TO LAY IT OUT.
THERE'S A MOTION MADE BY THE MAYOR PRO TIMM.
IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, HARPER MADISON.
AND I'LL RECOGNIZE THE MAYOR PRO TEM TO SPEAK ON HER MOTION.
REAL QUICK, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE, UH, TO TESTIFY ON THIS ITEM, JUST WANNA PUT A SPOTLIGHT ON THE HARD WORK THAT OUR PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE HAS DONE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER, AND COUNCIL MEMBER ZOE CADRE AND I HAVE SERVED ON THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE, AND WE REALLY HAVE SPENT A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TAKING INVENTORY OF OUR HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE SYSTEM.
WE VISITED SEVERAL DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, PROVIDERS AND SERVICES, AND HAVE BROUGHT FORWARD THIS RECOMMENDATION.
AND I'M VERY PLEASED TO SEE, UH, THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE HAD AN ARTICLE THIS MORNING THAT HAD INTERVIEWS WITH ALL OF US ON OUR PRIORITIES FOR THE YEAR.
VERY PLEASED TO SEE THAT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US MENTIONED HOMELESSNESS AND THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
AND SO WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE ITEMS THAT WE ARE KICKING OFF THIS YEAR WITH WHAT BETTER ITEM THAN TO FOCUS ON HOMELESSNESS AS PART OF OUR PRIORITIES, NOT ONLY FOR THIS UPCOMING BUDGET CYCLE, BUT ALSO AS A PRIORITY FOR US IN HOW WE COMPREHENSIVELY AND HOLISTICALLY ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS.
SO, UM, WITH THAT, I'LL GREAT.
WE WILL NOW GO TO SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 83.
UH, ONCE WE COMPLETE THE SPEAKERS, UH, WELL, YEAH, ONCE WE COMPLETE THE SPEAKERS, THEN WE'LL HAVE DISCUSSION RELATED TO THE ITEM AND ANY AMENDMENTS THAT ANYONE, UH, WANTS TO OFFER.
WE'LL TAKE THOSE UP AT THAT POINT IN TIME.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK TO ASK THAT YOU HELP US NAVIGATE THROUGH THE SPEAKERS.
ZIA JOSEPH, MATTHEW MALIKA, KATE MOORE, KATHY MITCHELL.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME TO THE FRONT SO THAT YOU'LL BE READY TO TESTIFY.
MR. MALIKA, WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD AND TAKE THE PODIUM.
UH, MAYOR PRO TEM AND COUNCIL MEMBERS MATT MALIKA ENDING COMMUNITY HOMELESSNESS COALITION.
ANY ONE OF THE MORE THAN 600 VOLUNTEERS OR ANYONE THAT'S READ ECHOES UNHOUSED MORTALITY REPORT KNOWS THE URGENCY OF THIS RESOLUTION.
THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE LIVING AND DYING ON OUR STREETS.
THIS RESOLUTION PROVIDES THE FRAME, THE FRAMEWORK TO END THIS REALITY FOR GOOD.
THIS KIND OF LOCAL COMMITMENT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT WITH THE NEWS OUTTA WASHINGTON.
THIS WEEK, THE FEDERAL GRANT FREEZE SENT PROVIDERS ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY SCRAMBLING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO CONTINUE DOING THE CRITICAL LIFE-SAVING WORK OF HELPING PEOPLE END HOMELESSNESS.
WE CAN'T TELL AT THIS POINT IF THIS IS FEDERAL INDIFFERENCE AT BEST, OR HOSTILITY
[03:45:01]
AND CRUELTY AT ITS WORST.THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS PROVEN YEAR AFTER YEAR TO BE A DEDICATED AND COMPASSIONATE PARTNER IN THIS WORK.
WE NEED THIS KIND OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT.
NOW MORE THAN EVER, THESE REPORTS REPRESENT COUNTLESS HOURS OF COMMUNITY INPUT AND ENGAGEMENT TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF PROGRAMMING, ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND THE INTERVENTIONS NEEDED TO ADDRESS THOSE UNABLE TO ACCESS CRITICAL CARE FOR THEMSELVES.
DUE TO RESOURCE SCARCITY, WE BELIEVE IN THE INVESTMENTS LAID OUT IN THIS SYSTEM MODEL CAN EFFECTIVELY END HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY IN 10 YEARS, ENSURING EVERYONE WHO'S UNHOUSED NOW HAS A STABLE PLACE TO LIVE AND CREATING A SYSTEM THAT CAN GET SOMEONE QUICKLY BACK INTO HOUSING IF THEY LOSE IT.
WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS MODEL ITSELF WILL CHANGE AS OUR COMMUNITY MAKES THESE INVESTMENTS.
IT'S A LIVING BLUEPRINT AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING OUR COLLABORATION WITH THIS COUNCIL, THE CITY'S HOMELESSNESS STRATEGY OFFICE, AND THE SERVICE PROVIDERS THAT ARE DOING GREAT WORK IN THIS COMMUNITY DAY IN AND DAY OUT, ALONG WITH PEOPLE LIVING ON OUR STREETS SO THAT WE CAN BEST INFORM THE INVESTMENTS NEEDED TO MOVE FORWARD.
THIS GOES BEYOND JUST NUMBERS OF UNITS AND DOLLARS.
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO END TRAUMA AND SUFFERING FOR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE ON THE DIOCESE AND EVERYONE WATCHING AND LISTENING.
I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT OF HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE SYSTEM STRATEGY AT ECHO.
UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS, UM, FORWARD.
WE'RE REALLY GRATEFUL, UM, TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN, UM, FOR, FOR LEANING INTO DATA TO INFORM COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS TO HELP US END HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, WE'RE REALLY GRATEFUL TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE FOR YOUR STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE MODELING PROJECTIONS, UM, THAT WE HAVE CREATED AND TO ELEVATE TO THE COMMUNITY THE IMPORTANCE OF COORDINATION, FUNDING, AND POLICY CHANGES NEEDED TO MEET THE GOALS WE IDENTIFIED.
WE KNOW FROM OUR ANALYSIS THAT AUSTIN, DESPITE OUR RECENT INVESTMENTS IN THE HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE SYSTEM, IS STILL PLAYING CATCH UP.
WE HAVE A LONG WAYS TO GO, BUT WE NOW HAVE A BLUEPRINT OF HOW TO GET THERE.
THE MODEL THAT, AS MATT MENTIONED, THAT WE PRESENTED TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE IS A LIVING MODEL AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY PROVIDERS, PEOPLE LIVING LIVED EXPERIENCE TO KEEPING IT UPDATED AND KEEPING YOU UPDATED.
ONE LESSON THOUGH THAT HAS BEEN MADE CLEAR TO US FROM OTHER COMMUNITIES IS THAT WE CANNOT MAKE PROGRESS WITHOUT A UNIFIED STRATEGY FROM POLICY MAKERS AND FUNDERS IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND IF WE CAN AGREE ON HOW TO GROW OUR WORK TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE GREAT PROGRESS TOWARDS MEETING OUR GOALS.
OUR PROVIDERS AND OUR COMMUNITY KNOW HOW TO DO THIS HARD WORK.
THEY'RE DOING THIS HARD WORK EVERY DAY RIGHT NOW.
THEY JUST NEED OUR SUPPORT AND OUR COMMITMENT TO GROW THE FUNDING AND TO GROW THE PROGRAMS SO THAT WE CAN SERVE MORE PEOPLE.
WE BELIEVE THAT THE PROJECTIONS AND THE MODEL ARE ATTAINABLE.
WE KNOW THAT AUSTIN IS A COMMUNITY THAT WANTS TO TAKE CARE OF OUR NEIGHBORS AND DOES NOT WANT TO PEOPLE TO SUFFER THE CRUELTY OF LIVING UNSHELTERED.
THEY'RE LOOKING TO YOU, TO US, AND TO OTHER LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY TO FIND THE ANSWERS AND TO MAKE THE SOLUTIONS HAPPEN.
THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THIS RESOLUTION AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO BEING YOUR PARTNER.
AND I KNOW I SAW MS. JOSEPH WALK IN ALSO, JENNIFER LONG.
MS. JOSEPH, DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 83? I TAKE THAT AS A YES.
COUNSEL, I'M XENOBI JOSEPH SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION TO 83.
I WANT TO CONTEXTUALIZE MY COMMENTS BY SHOWING YOU IN THE REPORT THAT YOU'RE PRIVILEGING WHITE PEOPLE.
AND SO I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT WHEN I SAY MY TESTIMONY IS IN THE CONTEXT OF TITLE VI OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964, WHICH PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE, COLOR, AND NATIONAL ORIGIN.
HERE IS THE EVIDENCE BLACK PEOPLE CONTINUE TO BE DISPROPORTIONATELY REPRESENTED IN OUR HRS HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM.
IT GOES ON TO SAY, FOR THE AUSTIN PRIORITIZATION ASSESSMENT TOOL, THAT IT'S NOW MORE EQUITABLE.
AND IT ALSO SAYS THE LOCAL DATA ANALYSIS SHOWED DISPROPORTIONATELY PRIORITIZED WHITE PEOPLE FOR HOUSING OVER OTHER RACES AND ETHNICITIES.
ON PAGE 15, I BELIEVE THE MARCH 4TH, 2021 BLACK APOLOGY WAS SIMPLY A SMOKE SCREEN.
I HAVE GIVEN YOU SOME OF THE LANGUAGE SO THAT YOU CAN SEE THAT WHEN I SPEAK TO YOU.
[03:50:01]
IT SAYS, SYSTEMIC DISCRIMINATION, RACIAL DIVIDES, AND SEGREGATION.IT'S IN THE RESOLUTION THAT YOU PASSED.
YOU ARE DISINGENUOUS SITTING ON COUNCIL SAYING THAT YOU WANT BLACK PEOPLE TO LIVE ALL OVER THIS CITY.
YOUR RESOLUTION SAY YOU'RE SORRY, BUT YOU KEEP PERPETUATING RACIAL DISCRIMINATION AND YOU ACT AS THOUGH WE CAN'T SEE IT.
IT'S WILLFUL BLINDNESS ON YOUR PART, DO BETTER.
YOU ARE NOT MAKING DATA DRIVEN DECISIONS.
I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT ELSE TO TELL YOU.
JULY 27TH, 2020 COUNCIL ELIMINATED THE METRO BUS THAT WOULD'VE WENT BETWEEN SAMSUNG AND APPLE, $4 MILLION, 4.7 MILLION.
AND INSTEAD OVER IN SOUTHWEST AUSTIN, WE DECIDED WE WOULD PUT THE METRO RAPID THERE SO WHITE PEOPLE COULD GET TO SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GLADLY ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME.
THANK YOU, JENNIFER LONG, CHASE, WRIGHT, AND CHASE HAS TIME DONATED BY KERMIT HYDER AND HUBERT CLAYTON, JR.
ARE YOU BOTH HERE? SEE 1 0 2? OKAY, GREAT.
UM, I GUESS I KIND OF SKIPPED, RIGHT? ALRIGHT, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING THIS HERE.
FIRST, I WANT TO GO AHEAD AND GIVE A THANK YOU, UM, OUT TO ECHO FOR PROVIDING THE EVIDENCE-BASED STUDIES, UM, THAT IS LEADING THIS RESOLUTION RIGHT NOW.
UM, WITHOUT THIS DATA, UM, WITHOUT THESE STATS, IT'S KIND OF HARD TO SHOW OUR MEASURE, OUR MEASUREMENTS OF SUCCESS, RIGHT? UM, WE TALK ABOUT OUR WHOLE HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM.
ME, RIGHT NOW, WHERE I'M AT AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER AND AS A D ONE CONSTITUENT, I HAVE THE HARDEST TIME TO REMAIN MOTIVATED IN THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW FOR ONE HUNGRY HILL IS A HOLISTIC WORKFORCE WHERE WE PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNHOUSED MEMBERS TO BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT ON THEIR JOURNEY WHILE ACCIDENT HOMELESSNESS.
BUT OVER 80% OF OUR CONTRIBUTIONS AND OUR FUNDING SOURCES COME FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
THE CITY DOESN'T SUPPORT THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY TRYING TO EMPOWER OUR INDIVIDUALS THROUGH.
I ASK THAT WE ARE NOT FORGOTTEN IN THIS PROCESS.
THE IMPORTANCE OF EMPOWERING AN INDIVIDUAL ON THEIR WAY OUT OF HOMELESSNESS THROUGH WORK OPPORTUNITY MEANS THE WORLD, RIGHT? YOU LOOK AT THESE INDIVIDUALS, YOU ASK, HOW WILL THEY EXIT HOMELESSNESS? IT'S THROUGH THE EMPOWERMENT, RIGHT? GIVING THEM THEIR VOICE BACK, GIVING THEM THEIR IMPORTANCE BACK.
LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY'RE IMPORTANT IN THIS COMMUNITY.
OUR PARTNERS ARE ASKING THAT WE ARE NOT FORGETTING THIS IMPORTANT PIECE TO THE PUZZLE, RIGHT? WITHOUT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, HOW DO THESE INDIVIDUALS SUPPORT THEIR SELVES IN HOUSING? HOW DO WE GET THEM PREPARED TO LIVE IN HOUSING AFTER LIVING ON THE STREETS FOR FIVE YEARS, RIGHT? THESE WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES GIVE THEM INITIATIVES TO SHOW UP EVERY DAY, EVEN IF IT'S JUST TO MAKE FUNDING FOR THEIR SELF SO THEY CAN PROVIDE FOR ESSENTIALS, RIGHT? SO I'M ASKING THAT WE CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM ALONGSIDE OF THE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AND ALL THE OTHER GREAT PIECES TO THE PUZZLE.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE COMPLICITY OF A CAR OR YOU LOOK AT ALL THE MOVING PIECES TO A CAR AND WHAT MAKES A CAR MOVE, THE TIRES IS JUST IMPORTANT AS THE ENGINE, RIGHT? WITHOUT THE TIRES, IT WOULD CAUSE STRESS ON THE REST OF THE SYSTEM.
SO LET'S REMEMBER OUR BOOTS ON THE GROUNDS.
LET'S REMEMBER THE INDIVIDUALS THAT'S DELIVERING THESE RESOURCES TO THESE CLASS FRONT DOORSTEPS, RIGHT? LET'S REMEMBER THE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE PUT IN THE COUNTLESS TIME BEFORE THESE, THIS TENURE HAS STEPPED ON THE COUNCIL, RIGHT? WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON OUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SINCE 2021.
EVERY TIME WE TURN AROUND, EVERY TIME WE GET A, A CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP, ALL THE SEEDS THAT WERE PLANTED ARE PULLED BACK UP AND WE'RE STARTING ON A NEW DIRECTION.
UM, I HEARD A, A PHILANTHROPIC, UM, EXCUSE ME FOR THE NAME I HEARD A LADY SAY EARLIER THAT WE WANT TO STAY ON COURSE, RIGHT? STAYING ON COURSE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING HERE.
WE HAVE A WORKING SYSTEM AND WE HAVE THE PROOF AND WE HAVE THE DATA TO SHOW IT.
SO I ASK OUR COUNCIL TO PLEASE CONSIDER THIS RESOLUTION AND REMEMBER THE ONES THAT THIS COUNCIL THE MOST, WHICH IS OUR CLIENTS.
THANK YOU CHRIS BAKER AND SCOTT JOHNSON SAID, I LOVE THAT GUY.
UH, YOU GUYS MOSTLY KNOW ME AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS OF THE OTHER ONE'S FOUNDATION.
UH, BUT I'M TESTIFYING, UH, AS A MEMBER OF THE AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY HOMELESS SERVICE PROVIDERS CONSORTIUM THIS MORNING, WHICH IS A NEW COALITION OF PROVIDERS CURRENTLY WORKING THROUGH A GAP ANALYSIS OF OUR SYSTEM AS IT EXISTS TODAY.
UH, SOME OF THE AGENCIES THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH INCLUDE CARITAS LIFEWORK, SAFE MOBILE, LOAVES AND FISHES FOUNDATION, COMMUNITY SUNRISE NAVIGATION CENTER, THE OTHER ONE'S FOUNDATION, FAMILY ELDER CARE, TRINITY CENTER, INTEGRAL CARE, AUSTIN CLUBHOUSE, HUNGRY HILL FOUNDATION, AUSTIN AMERICAN URBAN LEAGUE, AND A WHOLE BUNCH MORE.
UH, SO LEMME JUST START BY SAYING LITTLE COUNTERPOINT, BUT I DO SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION 350 MILLION NEW DOLLARS FOR HOMELESSNESS OVER THE
[03:55:01]
NEXT 10 YEARS.UH, BUT I DO WANNA SAY THAT THE PROVIDER COMMUNITY WAS NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO BE IN A POSITION TO ENDORSE, UH, A RESOLUTION THAT'S BASED SOLELY ON ECHO'S STATE OF THE, UH, HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM REPORT.
AND SO FOR THAT REASON, I WANT TO THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, ALTAR, UH, FOR HIS AMENDMENT AND FOR, AND TO MAYOR PROTE PUENTES FOR BEING OPEN TO IT.
UM, THIS IS NOT TO SAY THAT THE PROVIDER C COMMUNITY IS IN ANY WAY OPPOSED TO THE PLAN OUTLINED IN THE REPORT.
IT'S JUST THAT WE, WHEN WE, WE WE'RE STARTING TO TALK ABOUT NEW EVE INVESTMENTS, WE REALLY WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THE GAPS ARE IN THE SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE NOW.
UH, LET'S LOOK AT, UH, EMERGENCY SHELTER.
UH, THE REPORT CALLS TO BRING ON A HUNDRED NEW SHELTER BEDS ONLINE, UH, EVERY YEAR FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
UH, WE'VE WORKED A BUNCH WITH THE MAYOR, UH, AND HIS, UH, TEAM.
THEY DID SOME HERCULEAN EFFORTS, UH, LAST YEAR TO HELP US SECURE MASS IN INVESTMENTS FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS TO GET THOSE SHELTER UNITS BUILT.
BUT I ALSO HAVE SOME NOT SO GREAT NEWS.
THE FIRST ITERATION OF OUR GAP ANALYSIS SHOWS THAT JUST IN ORDER TO OPERATE THE SHELTER BEDS WE HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY TODAY, THIS IS WITHOUT ADDING A SINGLE SHELTER BED, WE NEED SOMETHING LIKE $22 MILLION.
BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND THANKS FOR WHAT YOU DO.
ALL THE SPEAKERS FOR ITEM 83 HAVE BEEN CALLED MAYOR.
UM, MEMBERS, THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 83.
UH, UH, I DON'T WANT TO, I DON'T WANNA MOVE WITHOUT THE MAYOR PRO TEM.
WELL, I THINK THAT'S WHAT DEBORAH'S DOING, MS. THOMAS IS DOING.
UM, WHAT I'LL DO MEMBERS IS WHEN SHE RETURNS, I'M GONNA RECOGNIZE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RI, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER FIRST, WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US A PROPOSED AMENDMENT.
IT IS LABELED CM RYAN ALTER AMENDMENT ONE, VERSION TWO.
SO IF YOU WANT TO GET THAT IN FRONT OF YOU, I COULD TALK ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW.
I, I'D LIKE TO HAVE THE MAYOR PRO TIM HERE, IF YOU DON'T MIND.
JUST TRYING TO FILL THE, I I I APPRECIATE THAT.
I'M, I'M TEMPTED TO ASK BAK TO COME BACK AND YELL AT US A LITTLE BIT, UM, VERY CLOSE.
UH,
OKAY, WITH THAT BEING SAID, UH, MAYOR PRO TIM, WHAT I INDICATED IS I WAS GONNA RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, UH, ON HIS PROPOSED AMENDMENT, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE DISCUSSION RELATED TO THAT.
SO, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
UH, MEMBERS, THIS AMENDMENT, WHICH, UH, WE PUT ON THE MESSAGE BOARD YESTERDAY, UH, WAS REALLY WORKED IN, IN COORDINATION WITH THE MAYOR PRO THAS OFFICE.
GOT SOME GREAT, UH, FEEDBACK FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND IT JUST RECOGNIZES KIND OF ONE THING THAT WAS SAID HERE TODAY.
THIS IS GOING TO BE, UH, FLUID.
IT'S NOT THE EXACT NUMBERS TODAY ARE THE NUMBERS THAT ARE SET IN STONE FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS.
AND WE ARE GONNA WORK WITH THE PROVIDER COMMUNITY, UM, WITH THOSE WHO SHOWED UP TODAY AND OTHERS WHO HAVE HELPED INFORM THIS SO THAT THIS IS A LIVING DOCUMENT THAT ADDRESSES THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF NEEDS THAT WE HAVE AND ULTIMATELY MATCHES THE INTERVENTIONS THAT ARE TALKED ABOUT IN THIS WITH THE APPROPRIATE CLIENT.
INSTEAD OF JUST THE INTERVENTION THAT MIGHT BE AVAILABLE, WE WANNA SET PEOPLE UP FOR SUCCESS AND THAT'S WHAT THIS AMENDMENT FOCUSES ON.
SO WITH THAT, I WOULD MOVE ADOPTION OF CM ALTER AMENDMENT ONE.
VERSION TWO MEMBERS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER MOVES ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT ONE, VERSION TWO, WHICH YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU.
UH, IT, THE MOTION IT TO AMEND IS SECONDED BY THE, THE MAYOR PRO TEM.
UM, THE DISCUSSION WILL BE ON THE MOTION TO AMEND IF THERE IS ANY DISCUSSION.
IF THERE'S NOT, THE VOTE WILL BE ON THE MOTION TO AMEND.
AND THEN WE WILL GO BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION TO AMEND WITHOUT OBJECTION.
UH, ALTER AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE, VERSION TWO IS ADOPTED.
[04:00:01]
TAKE US BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION, WHICH AS AMENDED.THE MAIN MOTION WAS MADE BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM ON ITEM NUMBER 83, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
SO THE, UH, DISCUSSION NOW IS ON THE MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? MAYOR PRO TIM, I WILL RECOGNIZE YOU TO CLOSE ON THE, THE MOTION ON ITEM NUMBER 83 AS AMENDED.
JUST RE I WANTED TO REITERATE THIS RECOMMENDATION COMES FROM OUR PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE.
IT REALLY SETS OUT A NEXT STEP IN HOW WE APPROACH INVESTING IN OUR HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE SYSTEM.
WE'RE ACCEPTING THE ECHO DATA, AND I ALSO WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE ARE NOT ALONE IN THIS.
AND, UH, TODAY WE WERE JOINED BY PARTNERS AT TRAVIS COUNTY, INTEGRAL CARE, CENTRAL HEALTH AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE PHILANTHROPIC SECTOR AND BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
AND WE ALL ARE, HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED OUR ROLES THAT WE HAVE WITHIN WHEN IT COMES TO FUNDING OUR HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE SYSTEM.
AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING THE INFORMATION BACK SO THAT WE CAN UTILIZE INFORMATION, UH, FROM OUR CITY MANAGER AS WE HAVE BUDGET DELIBERATIONS.
BUT THIS IS REALLY JUST SETTING US OUT FOR THE YEAR, AND I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S CONSIDERATION.
THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TIM, THE, UH, THE MOTION IS THE, THE, THE VOTE WILL BE ON I, THE MOTION TO ADOPT ITEM NUMBER 83 AS AMENDED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
I'M SORRY, IF, JUST WANNA MAKE SURE, IS THERE A WAY OF, UH, IS THERE A WAY TO MAKE A STATEMENT ON THIS OR? SURE.
UH, I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES AND, AND THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE FORMER PUBLIC HEALTH, UH, COMMITTEE HAVE WORKED ON THIS.
AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE INFORMATION THAT THEY'VE SHARED WITH ME ON THIS RESO ON THIS RESOLUTION AND ALL THE WORK, UH, THAT ECHO AND OTHERS HAVE DONE HERE.
UM, I AM PLANNING ON ABSTAINING JUST BECAUSE, UH, AS COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES SAID WHEN SHE STARTED, THEY'VE DONE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF RESEARCH IN THIS SPACE BEFORE THEY GOT STARTED HERE LAST YEAR.
A LOT OF TOURS, A LOT OF FOLKS I'VE STILL YET TO VISIT WITH MANY OF THOSE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING SOME THAT SPOKE HERE TODAY.
AND AS A RESULT, DON'T FEEL LIKE I'VE GOT A GOOD, UH, SENSE OF, UM, THE WHOLE COMPLETE PICTURE AND WHERE THE MONEY WOULD BE ALL SPENT.
THE ONE CONCERN I HAVE IN THIS RESOLUTION IS JUST THE AMOUNT OF FUTURE CAPITAL AND OPERATIONAL COSTS OF FUTURE PSH COMMITMENTS.
UM, AND I'VE SHARED SOME DATA THAT WE DUG UP ON WHAT THAT LOOKED LIKE FOR FINDING HOME A TX AND, UH, OTHER PRIOR CITY REPORTS.
AND, UH, ALL I'LL HAVE TO SAY I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO, YOU KNOW, STEPPING INTO THIS AND DOING MORE RESEARCH, BUT AT THIS TIME I'M ABSTAINING THE RESOLUTION.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER JUST A, A QUICK 30 SECONDS TO COMMEND THE MAYOR PRO TEMS WORK ON THIS.
WE HAVE, UH, AS A PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE REALLY, UH, DOVE IN HEAD DEEP.
I, I ALWAYS GET THAT ONE WRONG,
UM, BUT YOU KNOW, WE, WE WENT TO DENVER.
WE HAVE TALKED WITH, UH, THOSE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE WITH PROVIDERS.
UH, THIS IS A HUGE STEP FORWARD TODAY AND WE WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY WITHOUT YOUR LEADERSHIP.
SO I JUST APPRECIATE THAT WORK AND I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO, AS SHE MENTIONED, HAVING THE BUDGET DISCUSSIONS THAT I THINK, UH, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE WITHIN THAT COMMITTEE, WITHIN THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE THAT I KNOW YOU WOULD LIKE TO, UM, ADVANCE.
SO THIS IS JUST STEP ONE OF MANY STEPS TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE ACCOMPLISH THESE GOALS.
UH, BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE THE MAYOR PRO TEMOR GETTING US HERE.
YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO, UH, ECHO WHAT, UM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER AL ALTER SAYING ABOUT, UH, THE AMER PRO TEMS LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE AND ALL THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE AS PART OF THE, THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE.
UH, WE, WE HAD SOME GOOD TRIPS OUT TO DENVER AND GOT TO SEE A LOT OF WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING AND ALSO SEE THAT WE'RE DOING A LOT OF REALLY GOOD WORK HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
UM, AND SO I'M INSPIRED BY THIS, UH, ESPECIALLY US PUTTING A, A FOCUS ON IT AND, AND MORE, MORE OF A HEAVY PREMIUM ON IT GOING FORWARD.
SO I, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU AND, AND, AND, UH, AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION IN THAT CASE? AND, UH, SINCE THERE'S NO FURTHER DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION, ITEM NUMBER 83 AS AMENDED IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN BEING SHOWN ABSTAINING FROM THE VOTE.
THAT WILL NOW TAKE US TO OUR ZONING ITEMS, ITEMS
[2:00 PM - Zoning and Neighborhood Plan Amendments (Public Hearings and Possible Action)]
93 THROUGH ONE 11.FOLLOWING, UH, THOSE WE WILL GO BACK TO ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, UH, 92.
MS. HARDEN, WE'LL RECOGNIZE YOU PLEASE.
MAYOR COUNSEL ROY HARDEN WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
YOUR ZONING AGENDA BEGINS WITH ITEM NUMBER 93 NPA 20 24 0 0 1 2 0.02.
THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
THE RELATED REZONING IS ITEM NUMBER 94 C 4 20 24 0 0 7 7.
AGAIN, THIS ITEM'S OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE RATINGS.
[04:05:01]
NUMBER 95 IS C 4 7 2 2 4 RCA SIX.THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED AS AN APPLICANT POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR FEBRUARY 13TH COUNSEL MEETING.
ITEM NUMBER 96 IS C 8 1 4 8 2 0 6 2 8 3.
THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
ITEM NUMBER 97 IS C 4 20 24 0 0 9 5.
THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
ITEM NUMBER 98 IS C 4 20 24 0 1 45.
THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
ITEM NUMBER 99 IS C 1 4 20 24 0 1 4 9.
THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
ITEM NUMBER A HUNDRED IS C 1 4 20 24 0 1 4.
THIS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
ITEM 1 0 1, ITEM 101, UM, C ONE FOUR H 20 24 0 1 5 3.
THIS WILL BE A DISCUSSION ITEM.
ITEM NUMBER 1 0 2 IS NPA 20 24 0 0 1 5 0.01.
THE IS BEING OFFERED AS A NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR FEBRUARY 13TH COUNSEL MEETING.
THE RELATED REZONING IS ITEM NUMBER 1 0 3 C 4 20 24 0 1 9.
AGAIN, THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED AS A NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR FEBRUARY 13TH COUNCIL MEETING.
ITEM 1 0 4 IS NPA 20 24 0 0 0 8 0.02.
THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED AS A STAFF POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR MARCH 6TH COUNCIL MEETING.
THE RELATED REZONING ITEM IS, UM, NUMBER 1 0 5 C 1 4 20 24 0 1 0 7 AGAINST THAT POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR MARCH 6TH COUNCIL MEETING.
ITEM NUMBER ONE IS SIX IS C 1 4 20 24 0 1 28.
THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
ITEM 1 0 7 IS C 1 4 20 24 0 1 4 1.
THIS ITEM BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
ITEM 1 0 8 IS C 1 4 20 24 0 1 48.
THIS ITEM BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
ITEM 1 0 9 IS C ONE FOUR H 20 24 0 1 23.
THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
ITEM ONE 10 IS C 1 4 20 24 0 1 4 2.
THIS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
ITEM ONE 11 IS C 1 4 84 22 RCA, THIS BEING OFFERED AS A STAFF POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR FEBRUARY 27TH COUNCIL MEETING.
AND THIS CONCLUDES THE READING OF THE ZONING AND NPA AGENDA.
AND OF COURSE, THIS IS AT YOUR DISCRETION.
UH, MEMBERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, MS. HARDEN AT THIS TIME? YOU LOOK LIKE YOU MIGHT, I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION, COMMENT ON ITEM.
WELL LET'S GET, WE'LL GET TO THE DISCUSSION.
UM, LET ME READ THE CONSENT AGENDA MEMBERS, AND THEN WHAT I'LL DO IS I'LL ASK FOR A MOTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AND A SECOND AND THEN WE WILL GO TO SPEAKERS.
THE CONSENT AGENDA WILL BE 93 AND 94, ALL THREE READINGS 95 A POSTPONEMENT TO FEBRUARY 13TH, 96.
A CONSENT ON FIRST READING ONLY 97, SECOND AND THIRD READINGS.
AND I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU FOR COMMENT ON NINE SEVEN WHEN WE, WE GET TO THAT 98 AND 99 ALL AND AND 100, ALL THREE READINGS, 1 0 2 AND IT'S RELATED 1 0 3 A POSTPONEMENT TO FEBRUARY 13TH, 1 0 4 AND IT'S RELATED 1 0 5 A POSTPONEMENT TO MARCH 6TH, 1 0 6, 1 0 7, 1 0 8, 1 0 9, AND ONE 10.
ONE 11 POSTPONEMENT TO FEBRUARY 27TH.
DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT, MS. HARDEN? I DO.
UM, WITH THAT BEING SAID, THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS READ MOTIONS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.
WITH THAT, WE WILL GO TO COMMENTS AND THEN WE WILL COME BACK TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
I WILL RECOGNIZE THE CLERK TO ASK TO HELP US WITH THESE ITEMS FOR ITEM 93, JIM WALKER AND BRAD MASSING.
SO THESE COMMENTS, WELL WAIT, WILL BE FOR BOTH.
WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL DO 93 AND THEN WE'LL DO NINE FOUR.
UH, I'M WITH THE CHERRYWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
I'M THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THAT GROUP.
UH, WITH, WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING THIS CASE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS WITH THE APPLICANT.
UH, WE HAVE A RESTRICTIVE COVENANT THAT'S BEEN SIGNED AND EXECUTED.
AND WITH THAT WE ARE HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS REZONING.
WANNA RECOGNIZE THAT HOOVER ALEXANDER, WHO IS IN THIS SPACE CURRENTLY IS A LONG AND BELOVED AND, AND, UH, RESTAURATEUR AND SUPPORTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UH, WE KNOW HE'S BEING HONORED.
SO WE'RE GONNA, I WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GO GET LUNCH AND DINNER DOWN AT HOOVER'S AS MUCH AS YOU CAN.
UM, WE APPRECIATE SOME OF THE, ONE OF THE BEST RECOMMENDATIONS YOU'VE
[04:10:01]
MADE, MR. WORK.WHAT?
UH, AND I'M GOING TO, I THINK SOMEBODY ELSE HAS SIGNED UP ON 94, IS GONNA TALK TO A VERY EXCITING INITIATIVE THAT WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT FOR THE ENTIRE MAINOR ROAD CORRIDOR, UH, THAT THIS PROJECT AND OTHERS, UH, ARE SPARKING.
SO, WITH THAT, UNLESS THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, THANK YOU, MR. WALKER.
HANG, HANG TIGHT IN CASE YOU WANNA TALK ON 94.
'CAUSE WE IS MR. MASSENGILL NUMBER, THE SECOND ONE ON 93.
MR. MASSENGILL, YOUR TIME TO SPEAK.
UM, BEFORE, BEFORE I GET STARTED, I, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANKS TO WHOEVER TRIPLED THE SIZE OF THESE PLACARDS,
I CAN ACTUALLY READ 'EM FROM THE BACK THERE.
I MEAN, IT, I IT WAS LIKE TINY WRITING BEFORE SOME I MIGHT MAKE ONE, SOME, SOME OF THE BEST WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE IN CITY HALL IN A WHILE.
I MEAN, IF I MIGHT HAVE SUGGEST SOMETHING ELSE.
Y'ALL, I KNOW Y'ALL HAVE YOUR LOTTERY EVERY TIME TO SEE WHO SITS WHERE, BUT I THINK IT'D BE MORE HELPFUL TO THE CITIZENS IF IT WENT 1, 2, 3, 4.
I MEAN, WE'LL TAKE THAT UNDER CONSIDERATION.
I I MEAN, IT WORKED ONCE, SO I SUGGESTED THIS.
SO ANYWAY, UH, I'M, I'M BASICALLY HEARING, UH, BEATING THAT SAME OLD DRUM ABOUT, UH, DB NINETIES.
I, I DON'T THINK THEY'RE, UH, CALIBRATED.
I DON'T THINK THEY'RE, UH, RIGHT.
IF, IF, IF WE CONSIDER THE NEW FEDERAL CLIMATE AND ON THESE GRANTS AND STUFF, AND THAT THE FACT THAT THESE WERE CITED ALONG THESE TRANSPORTATION CORRIDORS THAT ARE DEPENDENT ON, UH, GRANTS TO MAKE ALL THIS TRANSPORTATION HAPPEN, ARE WE, WE CHANGING THE FACE OF OUR CITY FOR SOMETHING THAT MAY NOT ACTUALLY COME TO, TO, UH, TO BE.
UM, I ALSO WANTED TO JUST READ INTO THE RECORD THAT THIS IS AT 2 0 2 MAINOR ROAD AND IT'S IN THE BOGGY CREEK WATERSHED.
FOR ITEM 94, WE HAVE JIM WALKER, JEN SPENCER, GERARD KINNEY, AND BRAD MASINGO.
UH, MR. WALKER'S INDICATING THAT HE'S NOT, UH, DOESN'T NEED TO SPEAK.
SO IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, COME AND GRAB THAT OPEN MICROPHONE.
HELLO, MY NAME IS JEN SPENCER AND I'M THE NEIGHBORHOOD LEAD FOR THE REZONING PROJECT AT 2002 MAINOR.
MY FAMILY HAS LIVED ON BRIE TERRACE FOR AT FIVE HOUSES NORTH OF HOOVERS FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS.
I'VE BEEN FAST, FAST TRACKED ON AUSTIN LAND CODE AS WELL AS CURRENT GAPS IN CITY POLICY THAT WOULD HELP SUPPORT AND CHAMPION SMALL AREA PLANNING.
I BELIEVE THESE GAPS ARE PROBABLY UNINTENDED, BUT DUE TO THE IMPACTS OF DB 90 ON THE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE BEING REZONED AND ULTIMATELY TRANSFORMED BY THIS POLICY.
UM, THIS IS SPECIFICALLY APPLICABLE WHEN REZONING IS HAPPENING WITHOUT A DEVELOPER OR SITE PLANS TO INDICATE THE INTENTION OF THE REZONING.
AND ALSO WHEN BUILDING LARGE BUSINESS DISTRICT AND STRUCTURES THAT JUT UP AGAINST ESTABLISHED SINGLE FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS.
THIS EXPERIENCE HAS REALLY HIGHLIGHTED THE OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE AS A GROWING CITY TO SUPPORT SMART DENSITY IN A WAY THAT CONSIDERS ALL STAKEHOLDERS AND THE SOULS OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, THE RESIDENTS, THE ENVIRONMENTS THEY LIVE IN, AND THE CULTURE.
OUR COMMUNITY HAS A DEEP HISTORY IN THIS CITY.
IT'S A REALLY SPECIAL PLACE AND IT DESERVES SPECIAL ATTENTION.
AND SO DO THE RESIDENTS WE'RE NOT EXPECTING OTHERS TO FIX THIS FOR US.
AND WE'RE HERE TO COLLABORATE.
WE'RE READY AND WILLING TO ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES, NEGOTIATE AND FIND MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL SOLUTIONS TO MAKE WAY FOR EXPANDING CITY NEEDS.
WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO COLLABORATE WITH BOTH D ONE AND D NINE TO CREATE A VISION THAT INCLUDES ALL STAKEHOLDERS AND GIVES MAINOR ROAD, CHERRYWOOD AND BLACKLAND A CHANCE TO MAINTAIN THEIR SPECIALNESS WITH INPUTS FROM THE RESIDENTS WORKING IN COLLABORATION WITH CURRENT BUSINESS OWNERS, LANDOWNERS, THE CITY, AND THE DEVELOPERS THAT ARE INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE ARE LOOKING FOR CITY COUNCIL SUPPORT OF SMALL AREA PLANNING, AND ESPECIALLY FOR THE TRANSIT CORRIDORS, WHICH ARE PIVOTAL TO OUR CITY'S INFRASTRUCTURE AND OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.
I BELIEVE THESE EFFORTS WILL HELP US MAINTAIN THE PERSONALITY AND CITY ENGAGEMENT THAT'S GONNA BE NEEDED TO CONTINUE TO MAKE AUSTIN SPECIAL, NOT ONLY FOR CURRENT RESIDENTS, BUT THOSE OF THE FUTURE.
OUR SWEET CITY CAN BE A GREAT EXAMPLE FOR OUR COUNTRY, AND OUR COUNTRY NEEDS A GREAT EXAMPLE RIGHT NOW.
PLEASE SUPPORT OUR EFFORTS IN SMALL AREA PLANNING.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
MAYOR, EXCUSE ME, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I WAS, I WAS ACTUALLY THE FOUNDING CHAIR OF THE SHERWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN MANY, MANY CASES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
THIS IS, THIS, THIS IS AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE THIS MAY SET THE, THE TONE FOR THE ENTIRE
[04:15:01]
MAINOR ROAD CORRIDOR, WHICH INCLUDES, OF COURSE, BLACKLAND ON THE SOUTH SIDE.IT ALSO INCLUDES AUSTIN HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD, ALL THE WAY TO, UH, AIRPORT BOULEVARD.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE VERY, VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF SETTING PRECEDENTS HERE THAT CAN BE FOLLOWED AS OTHER PROJECTS ON THAT CORRIDOR DEVELOP.
MR. MASSING, UH, THE, THE SPEAKER BEFORE, UH, MR. KENNY MA MADE THE, THE POINT ABOUT CH CHANGING THE, THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP AND DOING THESE, UH, THESE ZONING CHANGES WITHOUT NEIGHBORHOODS KNOWING WHAT, WHAT'S INTENDED.
AND THIS, THIS SEEMS TO BE NOT ONLY A, A, A PATTERN, BUT A, A TOOL TO KEEP NEIGHBORHOODS FROM PARTICIPATING OR BEING HEARD.
UH, THERE'S A DB 90 THAT WAS APPROVED NEXT TO MY PLACE THE WHOLE TIME WE WERE GOING THROUGH PLANNING COMMISSION AND COMING HERE.
I WAS TELLING Y'ALL ABOUT THE SPRING AND THE CREEK THAT RUNS THROUGH THAT PROPERTY.
THE EVERYTHING THAT I GOT TOLD WAS IT'LL GET FIXED IN SITE PLAN, REVIEW IT, GOT IT GOT APPROVED.
AT THIS POINT, THE DEVELOPER'S ON THEIR SEVENTH SITE PLAN, AND EVERY TIME THEY'RE RUNNING UP AGAINST THE SAME SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES, I WAS EXPLAINING TO Y'ALL THAT WAS GONNA KEEP THIS PROPERTY FROM BEING DEVELOPED.
AND IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE FOR Y'ALL TO APPROVE THESE THINGS WITHOUT THIS KNOWING.
THIS WHAT'S GOING ON ON THE GROUND WHEN THE DEVELOPER'S GONNA TURN AROUND AND RUN INTO THE SAME PROBLEMS. IT'S NOT GOOD FOR THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
IT'S COSTING DEVELOPERS MONEY 'CAUSE THEY'RE HAVING TO GO BACK AGAIN AND AGAIN TO THEIR ENGINEERS AND RE-ENGINEER THESE PROJECTS.
AND IT'S DRIVING THE PRICE UP.
AND ALSO THE, THE FACT THAT ONCE THEY HAVE THAT MUCH MONEY IN IT, THEY'RE NOT GONNA LET GO AND THEY'RE JUST RUN RUNNING OVER US.
SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE Y'ALL TO REALLY SEPARATE THESE FUTURE LAND USE MAP ALTERING CASES FROM THE ZONING CASES THAT THEY AFFECT.
YOU SHOULDN'T PUT 'EM TOGETHER.
UM, MR. MASSING, DON'T GO TOO FAR.
I'VE GOT YOU FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL ITEMS ON 97.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK? WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM NUMBER 97? UH, JUST, JUST TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW, IT'S ANOTHER DV 90.
UM, IT'S AT 1103 WEST 24TH STREET.
UM, THAT'S IN THE SHOAL CREEK, UH, WATERSHED.
WHAT ABOUT ITEM 98? I'M, I'M NOT SIGNED UP FOR 99 99.
I AM SIGNED UP FOR ALL, UM, ANOTHER DB 90, UM, AT FIVE 18 NORTH PLEASANT VALLEY.
AND THAT'S AT, UH, BOGGY CREEK, UH, WATERSHED AND THE LADY BIRD WATERSHED, YOU NOTICE, UH, SEVERAL OF THESE ARE, ARE, ARE PILED UP IN WATERSHEDS AND YOU START ADDING THAT MUCH IMPERVIOUS COVER.
IT'S GONNA ADD UP TO SOME IMPACTS ON OUR CREEKS AND EVENTUALLY, UH, ADD TO THE POLLUTION AND THE, THE GREEN BLOOM THAT WE HAVE GOING ON IN LADY BIRD THAT MAKES IT LADY BIRD, THAT MAKES IT POISONOUS TO EVEN TAKE YOUR DOGS DOWN THERE AND STUFF.
SPEAKING ON THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT FOR 1 0 2, I HAVE COLETTE HANKY AND ELIZABETH S OR S THESE ITEMS ARE, ARE ON THE AGENDA TO HAVE A NEIGHBORHOOD RECOMMENDED NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT UNTIL MARCH 6TH.
ARE WE SURE ABOUT THAT? FEBRUARY 13TH? THANK YOU.
I READ THE ONES JUST AFTER THAT.
UH, I AM A RESIDENT OF ABA CIRCLE.
I'M HERE REPRESENTING ALL OF MY NEIGHBORS ON AT BATE CIRCLE, GUNTHER STREET AND MUNSON STREET, AND ASKING FOR POSTPONEMENT TILL FEBRUARY 13TH.
UM, WE ARE CURRENTLY INVOLVED ACTIVELY IN CONVERSATIONS WITH THE APPLICANT AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVES.
UM, WE'VE CONTINUED TO ENGAGE WITH THEM AND WOULD LIKE THAT ADDITIONAL TIME TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF THE APPLICANT, OUR CURRENT RESIDENTS AND THE FUTURE RESIDENTS OF THE EAST AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WE SO LOVE.
WE'D LIKE TO THANK THE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE CITY THAT HAVE BEEN SO WONDERFUL IN HELPING US ENGAGE WITH THE APPLICANT AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVES IN, UH, ALL OF THE CITY REPRESENTATIVES THAT HAVE ADDED THEIR EXPERTISE TO THE CONVERSATION.
WE ARE HOPEFUL, HOPEFUL THAT WE WILL BE
[04:20:01]
ABLE TO COME TO A CONCLUSION, UH, WHERE ALL OF THE RESIDENTS FUTURE CURRENT AND THE APPLICANT, UH, HAVE COME TO A RESOLUTION THAT MEETS ALL OF OUR NEEDS.SO THAT IS, UH, WHAT WE'RE HERE ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF.
THANK YOU FOR, UH, HEARING US.
UH, MY NAME IS COLETTE HANKEY, UH, AND I LIVE AT AND HAVE OWNED MY HOME AT 1148 GUNTER STREET FOR 17 YEARS.
UH, WE ARE ASKING FOR A POSTPONEMENT WHILE WE CONTINUE TO DISCUSS, UH, THE POSSIBLE CONCESSIONS FOR THE REZONING.
UH, WE HAVE HAD EXTENSIVE NEIGHBORHOOD INVOLVEMENT IN MEANTIME TO CLARIFY ALL OPTIONS, BOTH WITH THE APPLICANT'S REPRESENTATIVE AS WELL AS ALL OF THE NEIGHBORS.
WE ARE TRYING TO WORK TO TOWARDS AN AMICABLE AGREEMENT, BUT HAVE YET TO COME, UH, TO HAVE YET TO BE ABLE TO REACH A COMPROMISE THAT IS ACCEPTED BY EVERYONE.
WE ARE ASKING FOR A POSTPONEMENT UNTIL FEBRUARY 13TH.
AS YOU CONSIDER THE POSTPONEMENT, AS WELL AS THE REZONING IN THIS AND OTHER CASES, I WOULD ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER A VERY HOLISTIC APPROACH TO THE COST OF HOUSING IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
MAY I OFFER MY OWN PERSPECTIVE? I KNOW I DON'T LOOK LIKE I AM IN THE TRADES, BUT I AM.
I'M A CERTIFIED HVAC TECHNICIAN AND GRADUATE FROM A CC WITH HEATING, AIR CONDITIONING AND REFRIGERATION TECHNOLOGIES.
I HAVE BEEN A MAINTENANCE MANAGER AT MOBILE LOAVES AND FISHES COMMUNITY FIRST VILLAGE.
PLEASE KNOW THAT THE EXPERIENCE THAT WE HAVE HAD BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION AS WELL AS ASKING FOR CONCESSIONS FROM THE APPLICANT'S REPRESENTATIVE HAS BEEN QUITE DISHEARTENING.
UH, THIS HAS MADE ME CONSIDER WHETHER OR NOT THIS CITY STILL WANTS ME HERE.
HOW MANY OTHERS IN THE TRADES HAVE FELT THIS WAY? UH, I, HOW MANY HAVE WE PUSHED OUT ALREADY? BECAUSE THEIR HOMES WITH A LARGE LOT, A DRIVEWAY AND A GARAGE IS CONSIDERED BETTER USED AS A MULTI-FAMILY PROJECT WHERE WE SUPPOSED TO GO.
AS WE GET PUSHED OUTSIDE THE BORDERS OF THE CITY, IT BECOMES EASIER TO WORK IN OTHER MUNICIPALITIES.
THIS IS ONLY FURTHER DRIVING UP THE COST OF LIVING IN AUSTIN.
IT'S NOT SOLELY ABOUT THE SUPPLY OF HOUSES OR TOWN HOMES OR APARTMENTS.
IF THE TRADES LEAVE, THE DEMAND IS THERE FOR OTHER COMPANIES TO COME IN AND CHARGE HIGHER PRICES AND HIGHER TRAVEL EXPENSES.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
ALSO, ON THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT FOR ITEM 1 0 3, I HAVE COLETTE HANKY AND ELIZABETH ES DO YOU WANNA SPEAK ON ST.
JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT, UM, MY HUSBAND HAS BEEN HERE.
HIS FAMILY'S BEEN HERE SINCE THE 1860S OR 1860.
UM, THEY WERE ALL BRICKLAYERS.
THEY WORKED ON THE CAPITOL, THEY WORKED ON THE LBJ LIBRARY.
UH, HE IS THE LAST ONE THAT IS LIVING INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS AND IT'S, IT'S DIFFICULT TO JUSTIFY STAYING ESPECIALLY TO HIM.
ON THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT FOR ITEM 1 0 4, I HAVE JIM WALKER AND BRAD MASSENGILL WHILE MR. WALKER'S COMING FORWARD, LEMME RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR PARTON THE INTERRUPTION.
COLETTE, I JUST WANTED TO, UM, TAKE A MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE AND SAY, COLETTE AND I HAD THE HONOR OF WORKING TOGETHER IN THE EARLY DAYS IN THE TRENCHES, UH, FOR THE EAST 12TH STREET MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION, BE INFORMED.
AND IT'S, UH, IT'S REFRESHING FOR ME TO SEE YOU IN INSIDE THE WALLS OF THE COPPER BUILDING AND ME ON THIS SIDE.
'CAUSE AT THE TIME, NEITHER OF US STOPPED
BUT I RECOGNIZE THAT IT WAS THROUGH, YOU KNOW, OUR SHARED COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE LANDED IN THE, IN THE RESPECTIVE POSITIONS THAT WE'RE IN.
AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I APPRECIATE WATCHING THE PROCESS OF YOU ALL NEGOTIATING IN GOOD FAITH, UH, WITH THE APPLICANT AND THE APPLICANT IN, UM, IN EXCHANGE DOING THE SAME.
THAT'S WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE.
UM, AND I KNOW THAT SOMETIMES EVERYBODY DOESN'T GET WHAT THEY WANT.
IT DOESN'T END UP BEING, YOU KNOW, WHERE EVERYBODY GOT WHAT THEY WANT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU'LL HEAR ME SAY COMPROMISE WHEN IT GOES WELL.
EVERYBODY FEELS LIKE THEY LOST SOMETHING.
AND SO MY HOPE IS THAT WE GET AS CLOSE AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE TO AN AGREEMENT.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU GUYS SHOWING UP AND, AND ADVOCATING FOR YOUR COMMUNITY.
MR. MASS, YOU COULD COME FORWARD.
HELLO, JIM WALKER, CHERRYWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE, UH, THIS CASE IS NOT IN CHERRYWOOD, BUT WE ARE IN THE, THE BOUNDARY AREA FOR THE MLK TODD, UH, WHICH THIS SITE IS WITHIN THE MLK TODD.
SO SOMETHING TO CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION.
THIS IS THE FIRST CASE OF CARVING OUT A PROPERTY FROM A TRANSIT-ORIENTED DISTRICT.
I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PRECEDENT.
I HOPE THAT WE CAN WORK WITH THE APPLICANT AND THE CITY STAFF BETWEEN NOW AND MARCH 6TH TO FIND, UH, SOME APPROACHES THERE TO HONOR THE PRINCIPLES OF THAT.
I THINK WE ALL RECOGNIZE THAT IT'S
[04:25:01]
A LOT BUILT OUT.THERE ARE TWO CAPITAL METRO BUS RAPID ROUTES CROSSING AN AIRPORT AND MAINOR ROAD.
UH, IT'S WORTHY OF SOME MORE FOCUSED ATTENTION.
THIS IS ALSO, UH, ON MAINOR ROAD.
IT KIND OF BOOKENDS THE HOOVERS REZONING THAT YOU ALL ARE GOING TO ADOPT TODAY, HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT CORRIDOR.
THERE ARE CORRIDORS ACROSS THE CITY LIKE THIS, A LOT OF NATURALLY AFFORDABILITY ON THESE CORRIDORS.
THEY NEED A PLAN, THEY NEED A, THEY NEED SOME FOCUSED EFFORT.
THERE'S NOT ENOUGH BANDWIDTH NECESSARY TO HANDLE ALL OF THE KIND OF TODD TYPE OF OF PROCESSES, BUT I WOULD PUT A PIN IN THIS ONE BECAUSE IT'S THE FIRST ONE WHERE YOU'RE CARVING SOMETHING OUT.
UM, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE APPLICANT.
ONE OTHER THING ON THIS THAT'S CAUSING SOME CONFUSION IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, WHILE A NOTICE, THE INITIAL NOTICE WENT OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF SUMMER.
THE LET THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AMENDMENT MEETING NOTICE WENT OUT ON DECEMBER 27TH, AND IT WAS A DUAL NOTICE.
SO, WHICH COMPRESSES THE HEARINGS? SO THIS WAS AT PLANNING COMMISSION TWO DAYS AGO, AND IT'S ON YOUR AGENDA TODAY.
SO I DON'T THINK THAT WAS DONE WITH ANY INTENT ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, BUT IT'S CREATED A VERY COMPRESSED TIMEFRAME, WHICH I'M GOING TO PROBABLY COME BACK AND SAY THE COMMUNITY'S MAKING EVERY EFFORT WE CAN TO WORK WITHIN THAT TIMEFRAME.
BUT TO GIVE COMMUNITY VOICES ENOUGH TIME TO LEARN AND BRAINSTORM IT NEEDS TIME.
HAVING, HAVING HEARD WHAT HE JUST SAID, WE, WE HAD A SIMILAR THING HAPPEN WITH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, LAST YEAR WHERE THE PLANNING COMMISSION PASSED SOMETHING AND IT WAS IN FRONT OF Y'ALL TWO DAYS LATER.
UM, I I, I'D ENCOURAGE Y'ALL TO POSTPONE IT FOR ANOTHER COUPLE WEEKS SO THAT THEY CAN, IT'S HARD TO GET THE NEIGHBORHOOD TOGETHER IN TWO DAYS.
UM, UH, JUST, IT'S, IT'S TOUGH.
UM, TH THIS IS ALSO A CASE OF, OF A FUTURE LAND USE MAP, ALTERATION CASE BEING SHOVED TOGETHER WITH A, A ZONING CASE AT THE SAME TIME AS WELL.
AND TH THOSE TWO THINGS REALLY DON'T BELONG TOGETHER.
UM, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THE NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS KNOW ABOUT DB NINETIES, UH, BUT THEY'RE, THEY GO STRAIGHT UP 90 FEET, 30 FEET FROM ANY PROPERTY WITHOUT ANY KIND OF COMPATIBILITY IN PLACE AT THIS POINT.
SO WITHOUT HAVING PROPER, UH, PUBLIC PARTICIPATION, IT'S REALLY FRUSTRATING FOR, FOR FOLKS TO KNOW THAT SOMETHING'S GONNA BE NEXT TO THEIR HOUSE, BLOCKING OUT THEIR GARDEN, THEIR SOLAR PANELS, THE LIFE THAT THEY'VE BEEN LIVING FOR, YOU KNOW, IN MY CASE, UH, MY RETIREMENT, YOU KNOW, UH, THESE, THESE THINGS ARE, ARE MONSTROSITIES, IF YOU ASK ME JUST B BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THEY'RE BEING INDISCRIMINATELY PLOPPED DOWN ON PLACES WITH VERY LITTLE PUBLIC INPUT.
AND THE, THE CLOSE PROXIMITY AND THE FACT THAT SO MUCH MONEY IS ON THE LINE AND THE AFFORDABILITY FACTOR, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO BE BUILT IN IS MINIMAL, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU START GETTING INTO THAT BREAKAWAY FROM 10% TO 2%.
THAT EXTRA 2% BENEFIT THEY GET IS NOT EQUAL TO THE PUBLIC BENEFIT THAT WE GET WITH THE FIRST 10% OF ALL OF THE BONUSES.
SO I WOULD REALLY ENCOURAGE Y'ALL TO KICK THIS ONE DOWN THE ROAD UNTIL AT LEAST A COUPLE MORE WEEKS PAST THE NEXT, IN FACT, IN FACT, THE REASON, THE COMPRESSED TIMELINE IS THE REASON WE ARE CONSIDERING THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION OF A POSTPONEMENT FOR OVER A MONTH.
I ALSO HAVE MR. I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THAT MOMENT.
I ALSO HAVE MR. WALKER AND MASSENGILL ON THE POSTPONEMENT FOR 1 0 5.
OKAY, THEN MAYOR, THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS FOR ZONING CONSENT.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF THE SPEAKERS.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS READ.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, CADRE, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED AND IF ANYONE WANTS TO MAKE REMARKS OR AS PART OF THE DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, UH, PLEASE HIT YOUR BUTTON.
SO I'LL KNOW THAT YOU WANT TO DO THAT.
UM, I'LL MAKE MY COMMENTS SUPER SHORT AND SWEET, BUT I WANTED TO THANK THE FOLKS FROM CHERRYWOOD FOR, FOR ALL THEIR WORK.
AND, UH, I KNOW WE AS A STAFF HAVE, UH, YOU KNOW, ENJOYED WORKING WITH Y'ALL AND, AND I'M GLAD WE GOT TO A GOOD PLACE.
UH, RELATED ITEM 97, I JUST WANTED TO SAY, UH, I'M REALLY THANKFUL FOR THE APPLICANT FOR COMMITTING FOR THE WIDER SIDEWALKS, UH, FOR THE STREETSCAPE.
AND I'M, I'M THANKFUL FOR TPW FOR, FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE, YOU KNOW, GETTING
[04:30:01]
THE, UH, YOU KNOW, THE SIDEWALKS TO, YOU KNOW, EIGHT FEET AND THE A DA COMPLIANCE AND IN THE, UH, HAVING SOME OF THAT ALIGNS WITH WHAT WAS IN OUR UNO RESOLUTION, UH, TO ME IS REALLY EXCITING.SO, UH, I'M, I'M THANKFUL WE, WE GOT IT THROUGH THE FINISH LINE.
COUNCIL MEMBER, ANYBODY, ANYBODY ELSE HAVE COMMENTS OR DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO THE CONSENT AGENDA AS READ THAT BEING THE CASE WITHOUT OBJECTION? UH, I JUST WOULD LIKE TO SAY ON ITEM NUMBER 96, THE LAKE ON THE LAKE AUSTIN COMMONS PUT, WE WILL BE RETURNING THAT ITEM BACK ON FEBRUARY 27TH, MEETING FOR SECOND AND THIRD READINGS.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT? ALL RIGHT, THEN WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE CONSENT AGENDA, UH, IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER VELA TEMPORARILY OFF THE DAAS.
THAT WILL TAKE US TO ITEM NUMBER 1 0 1.
MAYOR, DO YOU HAVE 99? I'M SORRY, THE RECUSAL ON 99 THERE? YES.
I, I, LET ME, LET ME ALL, LET ME RECALL THAT VOTE.
ON ITEM NUMBER 99, I SHOULD HAVE ASKED IF ANYONE WANTS TO RECUSE THEMSELVES.
'CAUSE COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER HAD ALREADY TOLD ME THAT HE WAS PLANNING ON RECUSING HIMSELF AND I DIDN'T DO THAT, SO I APOLOGIZE.
SO LET ME, LET ME PAUSE A SECOND.
UH, DOES ANYONE ELSE WANT TO BE RE SHOWN RECUSING ON AN ITEM, NOT RECUSING.
I WAS JUST GONNA POINT OUT THAT COUNCIL MEMBER VELA MAX, I'LL GET TO THAT JUST A SECOND.
UM, ANYBODY WISHING TO ABSTAIN? ALRIGHT.
AND THERE, IS THERE ANYBODY WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING? NO.
SO NOW THE VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA WAS ADOPTED WITHOUT OBJECTION WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER BEING SHOWN RECUSING HIMSELF ON ITEM NUMBER 99 AND WITH COUNCIL MEMBER VELA TEMPORARILY OFF THE DAES COUNCIL MEMBER VELA, UH, HAS ASKED THAT HE BE SHOWN VOTING IN FAVOR OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
UH, IT WILL NOT CHANGE THE OUTCOME OF THE VOTE.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ MOVES AND I'LL SECOND THE COUNCIL MEMBER, VELA BE SHOWN, VOTING IN FAVOR OF THE ZONING CONSENT AGENDA.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION, HEARING NONE.
COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, VELA WILL BE SHOWN VOTING, UH, IN FAVOR OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
NOW, UH, THAT WILL TAKE US BACK TO 1 0 1 AND I APOLOGIZE.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, I HAD IT IN MY NOTES.
I JUST DIDN'T, DIDN'T READ IT.
THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
CALLEN CONTRERAS, PLANNING DEPARTMENT ITEM 1 0 1, CASE NUMBER C 14 H 20 24 0 1 5 3 IS AN OWNER OPPOSED HISTORIC ZONING CASE INITIATED BY THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION AFTER THEIR REVIEW OF A DEMOLITION PERMIT FOR THE PROPERTY STAFF.
AND THE HLC RECOMMEND HISTORIC ZONING BASED ON THE FINDING OF ELIGIBILITY FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION BY THE 2016 EAST AUSTIN HISTORIC RESOURCE SURVEY.
BUT NO ACTION WAS TAKEN BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON THIS CASE.
THE SURVEY FOUND THAT THE BUILDING IS ELIGIBLE FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION BASED ON THE CO-DEFINED CRITERIA FOR ARCHITECTURE AND HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS AS AN EXEMPLAR OF THE NATIONAL FOLK ARCHITECTURAL STYLE AND OF AUSTIN AUSTIN'S RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS AND THE OVERALL DEMOGRAPHIC TRENDS IN THE WILLOW SPENCE NEIGHBORHOOD DURING THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY AS RESIDENTS SHIFTED FROM OWNING TO RENTING AND BACK AGAIN, AND FROM ANGLO TO MEXICAN AND MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL BACKGROUNDS, I'M AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS.
ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBERS? ALRIGHT, HAS ANY YES, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA? A BRIEF QUESTION.
UH, THERE WAS SOME OF THE BACKUP THAT INDICATED.
UH, DOES STAFF ANY, HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON THE CONDITION OF THE PROPERTY? THANK YOU.
UM, WE HAVE WHAT WAS IN THE BACKUP ON THE, UH, INTERIOR OF THE PROPERTY.
UM, HOWEVER, WE DO NOT EVALUATE INTERIOR WHEN, UM, DECIDING ON CRITERIA FOR DESIGNATION.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? IN THAT CASE, COUNCIL MEMBER, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU FOR A MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER 1 0 1 AND THEN WE'LL OPEN IT UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
ALTHOUGH IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THERE'S NO ONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
I WISH I COULD HAVE, BUT I MISSED THE TIMELINE.
UH, I'D LIKE TO MOTION TO PROCEED WITH THE RECOMMENDATION FROM STAFF IN OUR HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION, UH, AND HAVE THIS CASE COME BACK FOR SECOND AND THIRD READING MEMBERS.
UH, IT WILL BE ON FIRST READING ONLY TO BE BROUGHT BACK ON SECOND AND THIRD READING, BUT IS TO ADOPT THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRY.
DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THE CASE.
UM, UH, FURTHER, I, GENERALLY SPEAKING, AM OPPOSED TO HISTORIC ZONING DESIGNATIONS WHEN OWNERS ARE
[04:35:01]
OPPOSED TO THAT DESIGNATION.SO I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION.
COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, AND I'LL FOLLOW SUIT WITH THAT ONE AS WELL.
I KNOW IT'S COMING BACK TO US, SO IT'S NOT A FINAL VOTE, BUT I'LL, I'LL, ARE WE ABSTAINING OR SAYING NO FOR TODAY, WHICH WILL ALLOW THOSE THAT MAY HAVE MISSED A TIMELINE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE COMMENTS.
SO YOU'LL, YOU'LL HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER 1 0 1 WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ITEM 1 0 1 IS ADOPTED ON FIRST READING ONLY, AND WE WILL BE BRINGING THIS ITEM BACK FOR SECOND AND THIRD READING CONSIDERATIONS ON FEBRUARY 27TH.
I WANTED TO PUT THAT ON THE RECORD SO WE CAN WORK WITH THE PUBLIC ON SIGNING UP AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'LL BE ABLE TO SPEAK AND, AND, AND SHE'LL DO THAT.
AND SO, ONE, ONE OF THE THINGS SHE'LL ALSO DO IS BEFORE YOU LEAVE, YOU OUGHT TO GET WITH HER SO SHE CAN MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT THE TIME DEADLINES ARE SO THAT YOU'RE NOT, YOU DON'T LOSE OUT ON THAT OPPORTUNITY.
MR. YOU, MR. MAYOR, THE RECORD COULD REFLECT THAT I'M ABSTAINING FROM THIS VOTE.
SO THE VOTE WITHOUT OBJECTION ITEM NUMBER, THE MOTION ON ITEM NUMBER 1 0 1 ON FIRST READING IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS ELLIS, COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN AND COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON BEING SHOWN ABSTAINING ON THE VOTE.
THAT WILL NOW TAKE US TO, UM, ITEM NUMBER
[92. Conduct a public hearing and consider an appeal by Marcus Shaftel, Louise Roholt, Lakewood Club, Northwest Austin Civic Association, The Bull Creek Foundation, Lake Austin Collective, and Save Our Springs Alliance of the Zoning and Platting Commission's decision to approve a site plan for North Trails Office Park in the Loop 360 Hill Country Roadway Corridor, located at 6601 North Capital of Texas Highway (SPC-2023-0357C). Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.]
92.ITEM NUMBER 92 MEMBERS IS AN APPEAL OF A SITE PLAN AND IT WILL REQUIRE IN ORDER TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 92, IT WILL REQUIRE NINE VOTES MEMBERS.
THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND WITHOUT OBJECTION, I, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPENED ON NU NUMBER 92 BECAUSE THIS IS AN APPEAL.
THE APPELLATE BURDEN IS ON THE, UH, THE, ON THE APPELLATE APPELLANT.
AND THE WAY WE WILL CONDUCT THE PUBLIC HEARING IS WE WILL HAVE A REPORT FROM OUR CITY STAFF.
THERE WILL BE A PRESENTATION MADE BY THE APPELLANT.
WE WILL HEAR, UM, COMMENTS FROM PEOPLE SUPPORTING THE APPEAL, COMMENTS FROM PEOPLE, THEN OPPOSING THE APPEAL.
AND WE WILL HAVE A REBUTTAL, UH, BY THE APPELLANT AT THE END.
SO, UH, IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OF STAFF, WE'RE GETTING READY TO HAVE A STAFF PRESENTATION.
THE TIME ON THIS IS WE'RE GOING TO ALLOW FIVE MINUTES FOR THE PRESENTATIONS, AND THEN WE WILL HAVE, UH, TWO MINUTES FOR THE COMMENTS BY THOSE SUPPORTING AND THOSE OPPOSING, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
UH, KEITH MARS, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, THIS IS AN APPEAL OF A SITE PLAN.
THE SITE PLAN NUMBER IS SPC DASH 2023 DASH 0 0 3 5 7 C.
THE ZONING AND PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVED THIS SITE PLAN UNDER DECEMBER 17TH, 2024.
THIS IS AN APPEAL OF THAT APPROVAL.
PROJECT NAME IS THE NORTH TRAIL OFFICE PARK.
THE USE IS FOR PROFESSIONAL OFFICE BILLING AND ASSOCIATED IMPROVEMENTS.
THE ADDRESS FOR THE PROJECT IS 6 6 0 1 NORTH CAPITAL TEXAS HIGHWAY NORTHBOUND STAFF HAVE REVIEWED THE SITE PLAN AND RECOMMEND DENIAL OF THE APPEAL.
THE PLAN COMPLIES WITH THE APPLICABLE REGULATIONS AND CITY STAFF ARE HERE IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.
THE APPELLANT WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO MAKE A PRESENTATION.
MEMBERS, YOU'LL NOTICE WE'RE DOING THIS DIFFERENTLY THAN WE TYPICALLY DO.
AS, AS A GENERAL RULE, WE DO PUBLIC HEARINGS.
IT IS BECAUSE IT IS AN APPEAL OF A SITE PLAN AND WE HAVE SPECIFIC RULES IN OUR LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE FOR THAT.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE FOLLOWING.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION.
MY NAME IS MARCUS SHAFTEL, MOVED TO AUSTIN IN 1999.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 10 AND I'M HERE REPRESENTING A VARIETY OF NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS.
YOU HAVE RECEIVED A LETTER INCLUDING ALL OF THOSE.
THEY ARE BULL CREEK FOUNDATION, SAVE OUR SPRINGS, SIERRA CLUB, THE LAKE AUSTIN ALLIANCE, AS WELL AS THE BULL CREEK FOUNDATION AND THE LAKEWOOD CLUB.
I'M HERE TODAY FRUSTRATED AS A CITIZEN OF AUSTIN THAT THE CITY LEGAL DEPARTMENT HASN'T DIRECTLY ADDRESSED OUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE VESTED
[04:40:01]
RIGHTS DETERMINATION FOR THIS PROJECT.I'M ALSO FRUSTRATED THAT ZAP DIDN'T CONSIDER OUR CONCERNS ON THIS MATTER AND CHOSE TO NOT QUESTION CITY LEGAL AS IT PERTAINED TO THE SITE PLAN.
THEY WERE HANDED BY CITY STAFF.
THE NEXT LITTLE BIT HAS A BUNCH OF NUMBERS IN IT.
YOU MAY ASK ME ABOUT IT AGAIN, BUT I'M GONNA ROLL THROUGH 'EM.
THE SITE PLAN VIOLATES CODE 25 1 541 AND APPLYING THE VESTED RIGHTS WITHOUT A PROPER VESTED RIGHTS DETERMINATION.
CHARLIE INCLUDES A DOCUMENT PURPORTEDLY MAKING THE VESTED RIGHTS DETERMINATION ON THE PROJECT, BUT THAT DOCUMENT DOES NOT ACTUALLY CALL OUT ZERO THREE FIVE SEVEN CHARLIE AS THE RECIPIENT OF THE DETERMINATION, IT POINTS TO A WHOLE NOTHER SITE PLAN.
2020 2 0 0 3 5 CHARLIE, THERE'S NO AVAILABLE DOCUMENTS ON THE CITY'S A BC CONNECT WEBSITE.
KAY CASTLE'S WITH CITY STAFF DID STATE THAT OH OH THREE FIVE CHARLIE HAD EXPIRED ITS COMPLETENESS CHECK AND IT WAS NEVER SUBMITTED FOR FORMAL REVIEW.
NO OTHER DOCUMENTS WERE PROVIDED BY CITY STAFF WHEN WE REQUESTED THEM.
AND THAT EMAIL FROM KATE WAS ON DECEMBER 23RD, 2023.
KATE WENT ON TO STATE VIA EMAIL THAT 0 3 5 7 CHARLIE, THE ONE WE'RE APPEALING TODAY WAS, IS A WITHDRAWAL AND RESUBMITTAL OF OH 1 7 0 CHARLIE.
SO THERE'S NO CONNECTION BETWEEN THE DOCUMENT GIVING THE VESTED RIGHTS OH OH THREE FIVE CHARLIE WITH THIS PARTICULAR CASE.
I CONSIDER THAT DOCUMENT NULL AND VOID.
THIS LEAVES US IN A SPOT WHERE CITY STAFF MADE AN INVALID COMPLETENESS CHECK ON OH 3 5 7 CHARLIE, AND THEY SENT IT TO ZAP AND THEN ZAP DID NOT CONSIDER OUR CONCERNS ON THE MATTER FOCUSED SOLELY ON OTHER CODE VIOLATIONS, AND THEY MADE A RULING ON AN INCOMPLETE PACKAGE.
WE'VE MADE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO DETERMINE HOW THE INCLUDED VESTED RIGHTS DETERMINATION APPLIES, BUT CITY STAFF HASN'T CONNECTED THE DOTS FOR US, DESPITE OUR ASKS.
FURTHER, THE VESTED RIGHTS DOCUMENT THAT POINTS TO THE WRONG CASE DOESN'T INCLUDE CONSIDERATION OR THE FACTS ON WHICH THE DETERMINATION WAS MADE.
IT JUST HAS A COPY OF THE CHAMPION SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WITH SOME RED UNDERLINES.
THERE IS NO OTHER REASONING AND THERE'S NOTHING THAT DENOTES THIS PROJECT TIMELINE.
FACT IS THE CHAMPION SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT IS EXPIRED.
THIS PROJECT WAS STARTED, THE SUBDIVISION AND THAT AGREEMENT WAS 20 YEARS AGO.
AND ANY AGREEMENT IT STATES THAT ANY NEW PROJECT HAS TO BE INITIATED WITHIN 10 YEARS.
NOW, THE MATH IS SIMPLE AND CITY LEGAL HASN'T EXPLAINED THEIR MATH DESPITE OUR ASKS.
FURTHER ON THE SUBDIVISION, THERE'S A PLAT NOTE, PLAT NO TWO, AND THAT VIOLATES CODE 25 1 3, WHICH CLEARLY ESTABLISHES THAT THE REQUIREMENTS OF TITLE 25 ARE CUMULATIVE.
AND AS THEY'RE IMPOSED BY ORDINANCE RULES OR REGULATIONS OR BY PRIVATE EASEMENTS, COVENANTS, RESTRICTIONS OR AGREEMENTS, A SITE PLAN IS NOT PERMITTED TO TRUMP THOSE REQUIREMENTS LIKE A PLATE NOTE OF A SUBDIVISION.
THE RESPONDENT ASSERTS THAT PLAT NOTE IS NOT A REQUIREMENT, WHICH, I'M SORRY, THAT PLA NOTE, WHICH IS A REQUIREMENT TO CONNECT TO CITY WATER AND WASTEWATER WAS FULFILLED BY A WHOLE SEPARATE PROJECT TO THE SOUTH.
AND THE SITE PLAN, AS YOU'VE BEEN PRESENTED IT TODAY, ISN'T CONNECTED TO CITY WASTEWATER.
AND THAT RUNS COUNTER TO THE PLAIN READING OF 25 1 3 AND ITS CUMULATIVE REQUIREMENTS.
I'M NOT A LAWYER AND THE LANGUAGE IN 25 1 3 THOUGH IS EASY FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND THE SITE PLANS IN DIRECT CONFLICT WITH THAT PLATE NOTE, YOU MIGHT WONDER WHY THE RESPONDENT HASN'T MOVED TO UPDATE THAT SUBDIVISION AND ATTEMPT TO REMOVE THE PLATE NOTE SO THEY COULD BE IN COMPLIANCE.
IF THEY DID, IT'D BE EVEN MORE OBVIOUS THAT THIS PROJECT IS NOT COVERED BY THE CHAMPION SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT.
THEY'RE DESPERATE TO AVOID THE CITY'S ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION BECAUSE THIS PROJECT IS ROTTEN FOR BULL CREEK.
APPROVE OUR APPEAL, OVERTURN THE ZAP DECISION AND DIRECT CITY LEGAL AND STAFF TO DOCUMENT PROPER FINDINGS OF FACT FOR THE VESTED RIGHTS FOR EVERYONE'S REVIEW.
AND A VESTED RIGHTS DETERMINATION THAT'S WRITTEN FOR THIS PROJECT, NOT AN OLD ONE THAT EXPIRED AND FAILED ITS COMPLETENESS CHECK AND TO ENSURE THE DEVELOPER COMPLIES WITH ALL THE PLAT NOTES.
IF THESE REASONS AREN'T ENOUGH, SAVE OUR SPRINGS AND THE SIERRA CLUB HAVE PROVIDED SPECIFICS OF WHERE THE EXISTING SITE PLAN CONTAINS ERRONEOUS INFORMATION.
THE HAND WAVING AND LIP SERVICE PAID TO THESE ERRORS AT THE DECEMBER'S APP MEETING ARE NOT GROUNDS TO APPROVE A SITE PLAN WITH ERRORS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION.
PLEASE ENFORCE OUR CITY, I'M SORRY.
YOUR TIME IS UP, BUT YOU'LL HAVE REBUTTAL TIME.
WE WILL NOW GO TO SPEAKERS THAT ARE SUPPORTING THE APPEAL.
NARESH KUMAR, WILLIAM BUNCH, BOBBY LAVINSKY.
[04:45:02]
CRAIG NASER.NOT YOU'RE, SO MAYBE I GOT IT BACKWARDS.
MAYOR, IF THERE I'M SORRY, SAY THAT AGAIN.
THESE ARE ALL LISTED AS FOR THE ITEM.
SO AM I THINKING IT BACKWARDS THERE? THEY'RE, I I'M CALLING FOR THOSE THAT ARE IN FAVOR OF THE, THE APPEAL AT THIS POINT, THEN WE WILL GO TO THOSE WHO ARE OPPOSED TO THE APPEAL AND THEN WE WILL HAVE REBUTTAL.
COULD YOU PULL UP, I THINK THE SPEAKER, IT SOUNDS LIKE THE SPEAKERS, SOME MAY HAVE SIGNED UP BACKWARD ON IT.
YEAH, IF YOU CAN SIGN UP BACKWARD, BOBBY LAVINSKY SAY, SPRINGS ALLIANCE.
UM, PRIOR TO THIS, UH, TO THIS MEETING, WE SUBMITTED A LETTER WITH 18 CODE VIOLATIONS IDENTIFIED TO THE ZONING AND PLATTING COMMISSION.
UM, THERE WERE, UM, THE MAIN ISSUE IS THE VESTED RIGHTS ISSUES.
AND, AND THE, THE PLAT NOTE NUMBER TWO THAT RELATES TO WHETHER OR NOT YOU, WE CAN PUT A SEPTIC TANK ON THE PROPERTY.
UM, BECAUSE THIS IS AN APPEAL, AND I WANNA MAKE THIS AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE, I'M GONNA FOCUS ON THE ONE THAT I BELIEVE IS THE EASIEST ONE TO PROVE, UM, AS A CODE VIOLATION.
SO THIS SITE PLAN, IT MUST COMPLY WITH SECTION NINE TEN THREE NINETY FOUR B OF THE LAKE AUSTIN ORDINANCE.
AND IT UNDER THAT, UH, ORDINANCE, YOU CANNOT PUT ANY BUILDING ON A SLOPE GREATER THAN 35% OR MORE.
THIS TABLE IS FROM A SHEET OF THE SITE PLAN THAT SAYS THAT THERE IS, UH, 1,184 SQUARE FEET OF A BUILDING ON A SLOPE GREATER THAN 35% FOR THAT FACT ALONE.
THAT THIS SITE PLAN SHOULD, THIS APPEAL SHOULD BE GRANTED.
AND THE SITE PLAN SHOULD BE DENIED.
THE APPLICANT, UH, WILL TELL YOU THAT IT'S AN ERROR AND THAT YOU SHOULD LOOK TO ANOTHER CHART THAT'S ON THAT SAME SHEET.
THAT TABLE WILL SHOW YOU 0.0%.
BUT WHAT I'M SHOWING YOU HERE WITH THE MATH, THAT IS JUST A ROUNDING ERROR.
IF YOU DIVIDE 1184 BY THE 1.707 ACRES OF THE PROPERTY THAT HAS 35% MORE OF A, UH, 35% OR MORE SLOPES ON THE PROPERTY, YOU GET TO 0.0159%.
THAT IS A ROUNDING THAT IS ON THAT TABLE.
YOU CANNOT PUT ANY PORTION OF A BUILDING ON A SLOPE GREATER THAN 35% OR MORE FOR THIS FACT ALONE.
IT'S EITHER AN ERROR AND THE SITE PLAN NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED.
SO THEREFORE THE APPEAL SHOULD BE GRANTED AND THEN THE APPLICANT CAN COME, COME BACK AND GET HIS SITE PLAN APPROVED.
OR YOU SHOULD JUST DENY, UH, THE SITE PLAN AND ACCEPT THE APPEAL.
UM, BECAUSE YOU CAN'T PUT THIS, THIS BUILDING ON TOP OF THE SLOPE.
IT'S HELLO, CRAIG NASER, LONE STAR CHAPTER SIERRA CLUB.
UH, YOU SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN A LETTER FOR THE SIERRA CLUB'S POSITION THAT MENTIONS A LOT OF THE INFORMATION YOU ALREADY HEARD, UH, IS FROM WHAT I CAN TELL, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT I, I THINK YOU SHOULD APPROVE THE APPEAL.
I'M NOT A LAWYER, I'M NOT AN ENGINEER, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THIS, YOU PASSED A HOME TWO ORDINANCE AND THE ARGUMENT WAS THAT IT WAS GONNA PREVENT URBAN SUBURBAN SPRAWL.
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF SUBURBAN SPRAWL.
SO I THINK THAT IF THE WHOLE WAY THE CITY'S LOOKING AT THIS, YOU NEED TO OPPOSE OR REALLY LOOK INTO AT LEAST TO SEE IF YOU CAN LEGALLY OPPOSE THINGS LIKE THIS THAT ARE, IT, IT SEEMS CLEAR TO ME THAT A SEPTIC SYSTEM IN THIS LIMESTONE, A LIMESTONE IS VERY POROUS.
IT DOESN'T FILTER THINGS WELL THAT WILL POLLUTE BULL CREEK AND THEN YOU ADD THE FOUR STORY GARAGE UNDERGROUND.
SO I THINK I WOULD LIKE YOU TO BE CONSISTENT ABOUT PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT HERE AND, UH, APPROVE THIS APPEAL.
OUR, OUR APPEAL WAS WRITTEN BY, UH, DEVORA ANSEL, WHO IS A NATIONAL SIERRA CLUB LAWYER WHO LIVES OUT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO, UH, WE'RE VERY ON BOARD WITH TRYING TO MAKE SURE THIS APPEAL GOES THROUGH.
PLEASE COME FORWARD AND JUST STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I AM A RESIDENT OF LAKEWOOD VILLAGE
[04:50:01]
AND I'M ALSO A BORN MEMBER OF THE NORTHWOOD AUSTIN, UH, NORTH AUSTIN CIVIC ASSOCIATION.I HAVE A PHD IN GEOLOGY FROM COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, AND I'VE ALSO BEEN A REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL GEOLOGIST IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
OUR APPEAL IS BASED ON LOCAL GEOLOGY, DANGER TO BULL CREEK WATERSHED AND DANGER FOR MAJOR EROSION TAKING PLACE IN TIME.
AND WE HAVE SOME MAPS IN HERE, BUT I WON'T SHOW THEM HERE.
YOU PROBABLY HAVE ACCESS TO THEM, BUT THERE ARE JUST TWO THINGS.
JUST THE MAP FROM AUSTIN WATERSHED PAMPHLET SAYS THAT A LOT OF THE WATER THAT COMES OUT IS FROM LEAKS FROM THE SEWAGE, UH, SEWER PIPES.
ANOTHER MAP THAT SHOWS WHERE ALL THE AREAS WHERE SEEPS MAY TAKE PLACE.
THE BULL CREEK ITSELF IS A MEANDERING STREAM, AND LITERALLY IN OUR BACKYARD THERE IS A BOULDER THE SIZE OF A BUS THAT HAS FALLEN AT SOME POINT.
BUT THIS CREEK TURNS AROUND AND WHERE THIS PROPERTY IS GOING TO BE LOCATED IS ON THE OTHER SIDE WHERE EROSION WILL TAKE PLACE.
LASTLY, THERE WAS A MASTER'S STUDY AT UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, AND IN THE UT NEWS ITEM, IT QUOTES THAT DURING NON RAIN STORM CONDITIONS, UP TO 50% OF STREAM FLOW COULD BE FROM LEAKAGE AND IRRIGATION.
THE BULL CREEK WATERSHED, THIS PROPERTY IS LOCATED TOWARD THE SOUTHERNMOST END.
SO WE HAVE GLENROSE LIMESTONE, WHICH IS HIGHLY FRACTURED, AND THIS IS GOING EROSION.
THE LAST SPEAKER SUPPORTING THE ITEM IS WILLIAM BUNCH, MR. BUNCH, MR. BUNCH.
I SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, BUT I DID IT INCORRECTLY.
I STILL LOVE TO SAY NO, I'M SORRY.
UM,
UM, OKAY, WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE WILL NOW GO TO THOSE WHO ARE IN OPPOSITION TO THE APPEAL.
GOT MICHAEL WHALEN AND HE HAS TIME DONATED BY JEFFREY DAWKIN AND TED CARM.
ARE YOU STILL HERE? I'M JEFFREY, COACH.
UH, MICHAEL REPRESENTING, YEAH, THERE YOU, UH, YOU'RE, MICHAEL WASN'T ON IT FOR MAYOR.
MAYOR PRO TEM COUNCIL MICHAEL WHALEN REPRESENTING THE PROPERTY OWNER, THE APPELLEE IN OPPOSITION TO THE APPEAL.
THE, UH, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION BEING THROWN AT YOU TODAY AND IN YOUR BACKUP.
SO I'M GOING TO TRY AND FOCUS ON THE THREE KEY FACTS THAT NUMBER ONE, CITY CODE PROVIDES A SINGLE CRITERION FOR DETERMINING WHETHER TO APPROVE THE SITE PLAN OR NOT.
AND THAT IS WHETHER IT COMPLIES WITH CODE.
IN OTHER WORDS, IF IT COMPLIES, IT SHALL BE APPROVED.
WE'RE GONNA SEE THAT IN A MOMENT.
NUMBER TWO, THIS SITE PLAN DOES COMPLY WITH CODE.
YOU ALREADY HEARD THAT FROM CITY STAFF, AND THERE'S LOTS OF INFORMATION IN THE BACK THAT I'M GONNA REFERENCE IN A MOMENT.
AND NUMBER THREE, WE NOT ONLY COMPLY WITH CODE, BUT WE ACTUALLY PROVIDE BETTER OUTCOMES THAN ARE OTHERWISE REQUIRED BY CURRENT CODE.
I'M CAREFUL TO USE THE WORD CURRENT CODE, NOT REFERRING TO THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT, AND WE'LL GET TO THAT AS WELL IN A MOMENT.
SO FIRST, THIS IS DIRECTLY FROM THE CITY CODE, ESTABLISHING THAT SITE PLANS THAT COMPLY WITH CODE SHALL BE APPROVED.
THIS IS THE SAME STANDARD YOUR CITY LEGAL WILL CONFIRM THAT IS BEFORE YOU TODAY, EVEN THOUGH THE QUOTE IS FROM SAYS LAND USE COMMISSION, ANYTHING ELSE THROWN AT YOU IS BEYOND THE SCOPE OF THIS PROCESS.
IT TRULY IS FOCUSED ON AND ABOUT WHAT DOES THE CITY CODE SAY? AND ARE WE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE CITY CODE? AS AND AS NOTED, THE SITE PLAN DOES COMPLY AND THUS SHALL BE APPROVED.
YOUR STAFF HAS CONFIRMED THIS.
YOUR COMMISSIONERS HAVE CONFIRMED THIS.
MR. SCHELL'S APPEAL APPEALED ZAPS APPROVAL BASED ON A LIST OF 18 OBJECTIONS THAT SOS SUBMITTED.
I THINK THEY, THEY REFERENCED THAT THOSE ARE THE OBJECTIONS THAT ARE BEFORE YOU TODAY.
AND THE CRITICAL THING TO KNOW ABOUT THIS IS THAT NONE OF THOSE OBJECTIONS ARE NEW.
THOSE OBJECTIONS WERE PRESENTED IN WRITING TO ZAP, ZAP DISCUSSED THEM IN DETAIL AT THEIR PUBLIC HEARING AND QUESTIONED STAFF AND OTHERS, UH, INCLUDING SOS REPRESENTATIVES, THE, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD REPRESENTATIVES AND THE ENGINEER.
AND AFTER DISCUSSING THESE OBJECTIONS, ZAP ULTIMATELY CONCLUDED THAT THE SITE PLAN COMPLIED WITH CODE AND THUS SHALL BE APPROVED.
NOTHING HAS CHANGED SINCE THEN.
I'M HAPPY TO SPEAK TO ANY ONE OF THOSE OBJECTIONS, BUT FOR NOW,
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I WILL SIMPLY DIRECT YOU TO YOUR BACKUP WHERE WE HAVE PROVIDED A NINE PAGE POINT BY POINT RESPONSE TO EACH OF THE APPELLANT'S OBJECTIONS.THE BOTTOM LINE STILL IS THE SITE PLAN COMPLIES WITH CITY CODE.
BUT I WANT TO TURN NOW TO, UH, HOW WE'VE COMPLIED, NOT ONLY COMPLIED WITH COM, UH, CODE, BUT THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY BETTER THAN THE CODE IN A NUMBER OF AREAS.
AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, WE HAVE VERY LIMITED IMPERVIOUS COVER.
WE HAVE GREATER WATER QUALITY THAN REQUIRED A LARGER DETENTION POND.
WE'RE USING BIOFILTRATION, WHICH IS NOT OTHERWISE REQUIRED, AND WE HAVE MORE NATURAL AREA.
AND I'LL POINT OUT THAT THESE OUTCOMES ARE BETTER THAN OTHERWISE REQUIRED UNDER CURRENT CODE.
AGAIN, NOT BASING THAT ON THE, UH, UH, SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT THAT WAS REFERENCED A MOMENT AGO.
I ALSO WANNA POINT OUT THAT IN TERMS OF SITE DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS, WE ARE, THIS IS A LOW PROFILE, LOW DENSITY OFFICE USE.
AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S LESS, IT'S ONLY 15% IMPERVIOUS COVER.
IT HAS LESS THAN 9% BUILDING COVERAGE.
IT HAS 28 FEET OF HEIGHT, WHICH IS SHORTER THAN A SINGLE FAMILY HOME.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE HERE AS WELL, GREATER WATER QUALITY AND DETENTION OUTCOMES.
FINALLY, I WOULD NOTE THAT STAFF HAS ENGAGED WITH THE APPELLANT FOR MUTTS AND WALKED HIM THROUGH A NUMBER OF THE ISSUES RAISED TODAY.
YOU'LL NOTE A DOCUMENT IN YOUR BACKUP SHOWING THAT STAFF EXPLAINED THE OSSF SYSTEM TO MR. SHALE BACK IN SEPTEMBER, AND THAT STAFF NOTED THAT IT MEETS CODE REQUIREMENTS.
ALSO, WE, UH, WE CONFIRM WITH THE, WITH THE ENGINEER THAT, UH, UH, CERTIFIED THIS, THE SYSTEM THAT WE'RE USING, THAT THE DISPOSAL SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO BE TWICE AS BIG AS REQUIRED BY CURRENT CODE TWICE AS BIG IN TERMS OF THE AREA STAFF REVIEWED THE SITE PLAN AND CONCLUDED IT COMPLIES, ZAP REVIEWED THE SITE PLAN AND CONCLUDED IT COMPLIES BOTH STAFF AND ZAP HAD THE BENEFIT OF HEARING THE APPELLANT'S CONCERNS AND YET STILL DETERMINE THE SITE PLAN COMPLIANCE.
WE ASK YOU NOW TO CONFIRM THAT STAFF AND ZAP ARE IN FACT RIGHT AND DENY THIS APPEAL.
I'M ALSO HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE ON THE ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED AND HAVE PROVIDED AGAIN, A FULL RESPONSE.
IN PARTICULAR THE, UH, VESTING, THE VESTED RIGHTS QUESTION THAT WAS RAISED.
UH, YOU'LL SEE THIS IN MY RESPONSE ON PAGE FIVE.
NUMBER SEVEN, VESTING IS NOT REQUIRED HERE, NOR IS IT APPLICABLE.
AND CITY LEGAL CAN ADDRESS THAT DIRECTLY, BUT YOUR VESTING STATUTE IN THE CODE SPECIFICALLY SAYS IF YOU'RE SEEKING VESTING BASED ON CHAPTER 2 45, WHICH WE ARE NOT, WE ARE, WE HAVE A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT THAT CON, UH, CONTROLS.
AND AS I'VE INDICATED, WE'VE GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND IN MANY AREAS IN CONNECTION WITH, UH, THE SITE.
WITH THAT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
YOU'RE IN, IS THERE SOMEONE ELSE SIGNED UP IN OPPOSITION? YES.
HELLO, MAYOR WATSON PRO TIM AND COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS STEVE PURER AND I'M THE MAJORITY OWNER ON THIS PROJECT.
UH, MY TWO BUSINESS PARTNERS AND I ARE LONGTIME AUSTINITES, UH, LOCALS HERE IN TOWN AND WE'RE GOOD PEOPLE.
SITE PLAN WAS SUBMITTED RIGHT AT THREE YEARS AGO IS WHEN WE FIRST STARTED THIS.
IT'S, IT IS BEEN THROUGH EIGHT ROUNDS OF ADJUSTMENTS AND FINE TUNING ALL ALONG THE WAY.
IT HAS MET AND EXCEEDED ALL REQUIREMENTS ALONG THE WAY.
THE CITY STAFF, AS YOU KNOW, DO THIS ALL DAY EVERY DAY AND ARE SPECIALIZED IN EACH OF THEIR AREAS.
AND, UH, THEY'RE FAMILIAR WITH ALL THE CODES.
OUR SITE PLAN WAS RIGOROUSLY REG REVIEWED BY STAFF AND LEGAL
EITHER WE WERE ABLE TO SNEAK THIS SITE PLAN THROUGH RIDDLED WITH ERRORS OR THEIR LEGAL REPRESENTATION HAS MISREPRESENTED OR IGNORED CODE AND REGULATIONS TO THEIR BENEFIT.
THEY SAID THAT THEY WERE BLINDSIDED AND JUST GOT THE SITE PLAN THE DAY BEFORE.
IF YOU LOOK IN YOUR, UH, BACKUP AND EMAILS, THEY WERE BACK AND FORTH COMMUNICATING WITH THE STAFF
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FOR SEVERAL MONTHS PRIOR TO THAT.WE EVEN WALKED THE PROPERTY WITH MARCUS MORE THAN A YEAR AND A HALF AGO AND EXPLAINED THE PROJECT TO HIM AT THAT TIME.
NO ONE WAS BLINDSIDED RATHER THAN BEING CLEAR ON THEIR OBJECTIONS TO OUR PROJECT WITH POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS.
I'M SORRY SIR, BUT YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
LET I, I SURE APPRECIATE YOUR HELP, BUT GIVE, LET'S, LET'S TRY TO FOLLOW THE PROCESS HERE.
I'M WITH THOMPSON LAND ENGINEERING.
UM, I WAS THE, WE WERE THE ENGINEERS ON THE PROJECT.
UM, I'M PRACTICING ENGINEERING FOR, UH, ALMOST 40 YEARS NOW IN AUSTIN, OVER 30 YEARS.
UM, WE'VE WORKED WITH STAFF FOR A YEAR AND A HALF TO TWO YEARS, UM, UH, TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THIS THING, UH, MET CODE AND WE BELIEVE WE DID THAT.
THE ONLY THING I WILL, UM, THE, THE COMMENT ABOUT THAT, THAT ONE TABLE, UH, WE DID SAY A ZAP THAT WAS A MISTAKE.
THE TABLE RIGHT NEXT TO IT SHOWS IT CORRECTLY.
THERE WAS SOME, A LITTLE BIT OF CONFUSION, BUT ACTUALLY WHAT HAPPENED WAS, 'CAUSE STAFF BROUGHT IT UP TOO, IS WE WENT OUT AND I WALKED THE AREA WITH STAFF AND THEY AGREED THAT THERE WERE NO SLOPES OVER 35% WHERE WE WERE PUT IN THE BUILDING.
AND, UH, I'M AVAILABLE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
THE LAST SPEAKER I HAVE OF THIS ITEM IS MONICA GUZMAN.
I DON'T SEE HER, BUT WHEN I'M TALKING MS. GUZMAN, MS. GUZMAN, I DON'T BELIEVE SHE'S HERE.
EVERYONE'S BEEN CALLED FOR THIS ITEM.
UH, SIR, YOU'RE ENTITLED TO TWO MINUTES OF REBUTTAL.
DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK? OKAY, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR REBUTTAL.
YEAH, YOU HEARD THE ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST THIS, BUT AS A GEOLOGIST, AGAIN, I HAVE WALKED THE SITE.
I SEE THE WATER SEEPING THROUGH.
THERE ARE AT THE MINIMUM THE OSSF THAT THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING.
THERE ARE OTHER ALTERNATIVES AVAILABLE THAT ARE BEING APPLIED AND APPROVED IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, WHICH REQUIRE MUCH LESS SEPTIC SYSTEM OR CONNECTION TO A EXISTING SOURCE SYSTEM WITH A MUCH SMALLER PIPE.
AND I WOULD, AGAIN, APPEAL THAT THE DEVELOPER SHOULD BE ASKED TO LOOK INTO THOSE POSSIBILITIES.
IF YOU DON'T, UH, DENY THEIR SITE PLAN WITH THE EXISTING OSSF, UH, UH, WITH THIS, UH, AGAIN, BASED ON GEOLOGY, BASED ON EROSION, BASED ON HEAVY THUNDERSTORM, INCLUDING WHAT WE SAW JUST THIS MORNING, THERE WILL BE LEAKS AND THERE WILL BE OVERFLOW ON THE DETAINMENT PONDS.
MEMBERS, THAT CONCLUDES THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 92.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
WE HAVE CLOSED THE PUBLIC HEARING.
UH, THE CHAIR WILL NOW ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER 92.
COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN, I MOVE THAT WE, UH, UH, ADOPT, UH, ITEM NUMBER NINE TWO, THE APPEAL.
UH, GRANT, GRANT, THE APPEAL MEMBERS, COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN HAS, UM, MOVED TO GRANT THE APPEAL ON ITEM NUMBER 92.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO THE MOTION COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION OF STAFF.
AND IT'S MY QUESTION ABOUT THAT SHEET 29, THE 35% GRADE, LOOKING AT IT WHERE THE BUILDING IS AND THE HATCHING, IT DOESN'T APPEAR AS THOUGH ANY OF THE HATCHING IS OVER 35%.
I JUST WANNA CONFIRM, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE TABLES SAY, IS IT STAFF'S OPINION OR NOT? OPINION IS, IS IT FACT
UM, IF STAFF WOULDN'T MIND COMING BACK, I HAVE A, A FEW QUESTIONS.
UM, YOU KNOW, I READ THROUGH ALL THE BACKUP MATERIALS AND, UM,
[05:05:02]
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAME UP IS HOW, UH, CLOSE BY THE CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES ARE, INCLUDING THE BLUFFS.AND IT WAS A CONCERN THAT EXCAVATION WOULD, UM, NEGATIVELY IMPACT THIS, YOU KNOW, BEAUTIFUL FEATURE OF OUR ENVIRONMENT.
AND SO IS THAT A SUBJECT TO A CODE REQUIREMENT? DOES THE CODE IMPACT THAT ISSUE THAT WAS BROUGHT UP BY THE APPLICANT? THANK YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER, I WANNA DEFER TO MY COLLEAGUES IN THE WATERSHED PROTECTION AND MAYBE RC LAW MAY HAVE, UH, THOUGHTS ON THIS MATTER AS WELL.
JOHN CLEMENT WITH THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT, UH, THERE IS WHAT WE CLASSIFY AS A CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURE WITH THAT BLUFF, BUT THAT IS COVERED BY THE CONSENT AGREEMENT AS PROTECTED BY THE 70 FOOT BUFFER, WHICH SUPERSEDES CODE IN THIS CASE.
UM, NOT, I GUESS NOT FOR WATERSHED.
UM, SO IN TERMS OF THE, THE SEPTIC FIELD, AND I GUESS IF YOU COULD EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHY THAT'S AN APPROPRIATE, UH, SEWAGE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY, UM, GIVEN WHAT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE NATURE OF THE TERRAIN WITH THE LIMESTONE AND THE PERMEABILITY OF, OF THAT ROCK.
IT, UH, TAKES A TEAM TO REVIEW THESE PLANS.
SO THIS TIME I'M RELY ON MY COLLEAGUES FROM THE, UH, AUSTIN WATER DEPARTMENT FOR THAT.
GOOD AFTERNOON, KEVIN CRI AUSTIN WATER.
UM, AGAIN, I'LL JUST REINFORCE THAT THE THE SITE, UM, HAS BEEN REVIEWED BY OUR SANITARIANS AND THE, UH, APPLICATION THAT WAS SUBMITTED AND THE SITE DESIGN THAT IS PROVIDED DOES COMPLY WITH ALL THE CITY'S REGULATIONS RELATED TO O SSFS.
SO IT MEETS OR EXCEEDS ALL OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS.
FURTHER DISCUSSION, COUNCILMAN UCHIN.
AND LET, LET ME ASK QUICKLY, IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT HAS DISCUSSION? BECAUSE I MAY, UH, ALLOW COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN TO CLOSE AT THIS POINT IF THERE'S NO OTHER DISCUSSION.
BUT I JUST, AND I'LL COME BACK TO YOU FOR CLOSING.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE, IF THERE'S NOBODY ELSE I WAS GOING TO ALLOW YOU TO CLOSE NOW, SO GO AHEAD.
I'VE ALSO GOT ONE QUESTION FOR CITY STAFF.
I AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, AND I'VE GOT A COPY OF TABLE THREE HERE THAT'S GOT ALMOST 1200 SQUARE FEET LISTED AS A, UH, ON THE SLOPE GRADE.
THAT'S OVER 35% THAT I ASSUME IS IN THE CURRENT PLAN RIGHT NOW.
IS THAT CORRECT? COUNCIL MEMBER? YES, THAT IS CORRECT.
THE TABLE WAS IDENTIFIED WITH THOSE ERRORS AND WE HAVE INSTRUCTED THE, THE APPLICANT TO REMEDY THAT SUCH THAT THE PLANS, THE BILLING LOCATION AND THAT TABLE MATCH.
SO IF IT'S CURRENT, IF THAT'S THE CURRENT PLAN AND IT'S AN ERROR, ARE WE VOTING ON APPROVING A SITE PLAN THAT HAS AN ERROR IN IT? THAT'S AN ADMINISTRATIVE ERROR THAT CAN BE CORRECTED VERY QUICKLY? THE SUBSTANTIVE NATURE OF THE PLANS COMPLY.
COUNCIL MEMBER VELA, UH, THIS MAY BE FOR LODGE, JUST TRYING TO GET MY HEAD, UH, UH, AROUND THIS.
SO ESSENTIALLY THAT SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT, UH, FROM THAT 94 YES SIR.
UH, THAT GOVERNS THE, UH, LAND USE ESSENTIALLY IN THE, IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS AND WHATNOT OF THIS TRACK.
IS THAT THE ESSENTIAL? IS THAT ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE'RE, UH, TRYING TO KIND OF DETERMINE HERE? I PICK MY WORDS CAREFULLY AND, UH, DEFER TO MY, UH, LAW COLLEAGUE, A COUNCIL MEMBER.
THIS SETTLEMENT APPLIES TO THIS PROPERTY.
THEY ARE PROTECTED BY THE RIGHT BY THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT.
SO AS LONG AS IF THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WAS TRIGGERED, WHICH IS WHAT HAS HAPPENED HERE, THEY ARE ABLE TO FOLLOW 1993 REGULATIONS.
I WAS JUST TRYING TO KINDA GET MY HEAD AROUND THIS.
COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN IS THE MAKER OF THE MOTION.
I'LL, UH, RECOGNIZE YOU TO CLOSE ON THE MOTION AND THEN WE'LL GO TO A VOTE.
I WANT TO JUST ADDRESS A COUPLE OF THINGS TO MY COLLEAGUES HERE.
UM, ONE IS, EVEN THOUGH THERE'S OBVIOUSLY SOME DISPUTE HERE ABOUT WHETHER THE BUILDING IS IN VIOLATION OF THE GRADE OR WHETHER THE PLAN HAS A ADMINISTRATOR OR OTHER ERROR IN IT, UH, THE MAIN ISSUE FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL PERSPECTIVE IS THAT IT IS ON A SLOPE ON A BLUFF THAT SITS RIGHT ABOVE A CREEK.
AND I'VE BEEN LIKE THE OTHER FOLKS I'VE BEEN OUT THERE.
UH, AND THE REAL PROBLEM IS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A SEPTIC SYSTEM THAT CAN LEACH EFFLUENT, THAT CAN HAVE NITROGEN SEEPAGE, THAT CAN HIT THE CAR LIGHT LIMESTONE VERY, VERY QUICKLY, UH, AND TAKE US DOWN THE BLUFF WITH JUST BASIC GRAVITY INTO BULL CREEK AND THEN INTO THE COLORADO RIVER.
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SO, UH, THE CONCERN AND THE REASON THAT NAKA AND WHICH HAS 6,300 HOMEOWNERS HIMSELF AND OTHER FOLKS THAT ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS ITEM, IS THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT WATER QUALITY AND THE IMPACTS OF THIS PROJECT.AND I KNOW THAT I VISITED WITH, UM, THE DEVELOPER APPLICANT'S, UH, UM, UH, ATTORNEY AND TRYING TO FIND A SOLUTION THAT SOMEHOW CAN CONNECT US TO CITY WASTEWATER AND UTILITIES.
AND THAT HAS NOT MATERIALIZED SO FAR.
AND THAT WOULD AT LEAST I THINK, BE A SAFER SOLUTION THAT WE'VE GOT RIGHT NOW WITH SEPTIC.
SO THAT'S THE UNDERLYING ISSUE THAT, THAT FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, WE'RE REALLY VOTING ON DO WE WANT A SEPTIC SYSTEM THAT SITS ON TOP OF BLUFF THAT'S GONNA HAVE SEEPAGE INTO THE, THE, UH, THE WATER ENVIRONMENT BELOW? AND WE'RE TOLD ADMITTEDLY, THERE'S AN ADMINISTRATIVE ERROR.
WE'RE TOLD THAT, UH, THE VESTED RIGHTS DON'T APPLY.
UM, BUT THERE'S ALSO AN ENVIRONMENTAL COMPONENT THAT I THINK WE'VE GOTTA CONSIDER TOO, AS PART OF THIS, UM, AS PART OF THE DETERMINATION HERE.
SO I THINK THAT'S THE MAIN POINT I REALLY WANTED TO EMPHASIZE IN THIS.
AND, UH, MY HOPE IS THAT YOU'LL CONSIDER THE, UH, THE APPLICATION HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER MEMBERS, THE MOTION IS TO GRANT THE APPEAL.
UH, I'M GONNA ASK THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION.
UH, THE MOTION FAILS WITH COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN VOTING IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION MEMBERS.
THAT'S ALL OF THE BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AT THIS REGULAR CALL MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL ON JANUARY 30TH.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE ARE ADJOURNED AT 3:44 PM THANKS EVERYBODY.