Mar 27, 2025 City Council Meetings

FIRST SPEAKER FOR ITEM NUMBER TWO IS PAT SRES.

I SEE HER COMING.

UM, THANK YOU MAYOR AND MAYOR, PRO TEM AND COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CITY MANAGER.

UH, MY NAME IS PAT REYES AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT THREE, AND I HAVE NOT SPOKEN BEFORE CITY COUNCIL SINCE THE NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS JOINED THE DAY.

SO, WELCOME AND THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE HERE AND THAT YOU'RE LISTENING TO, UH, COMMENTS ABOUT ANIMAL SERVICES AND, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONCERN ABOUT ANIMALS IN OUR CITY.

UM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S THE VERSION TWO OF, BUT IT DOES ACTUALLY, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA, WHY DON'T YOU DESCRIBE YOUR PROPOSED AMENDMENT, UH, THAT CREATES THE VERSION TWO SO THAT THE PUBLIC WILL KNOW IT, IT DEALS WITH REPORTING BACK TO THE COUNCIL.

JUST, WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL HOLD YOUR TIME BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S A LEGITIMATE REQUEST.

COUNCIL MEMBER VELA, UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

AND IN FACT, WE'RE POSTING IT TO THE MESSAGE BOARD, TO THE, THE CITY COUNCIL MESSAGE BOARD, UH, UH, MOMENTARILY IF IT'S NOT ALREADY THERE.

UH, BUT IT, IT, UH, ESSENTIALLY, UH, ASKS FOR, UH, UH, TWO BASIC ITEMS A WAYS.

UH, THE ANIMAL SERVICE OFFICE HAS EXPANDED MARKETED RESOURCES AND EDUCATION ON RESPONSIBLE PEN OWNERSHIP, INCLUDING MICROCHIP, SPAIN, TER, AND VACCINATION.

WE'RE ASKING THEM TO REPORT BACK TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR ON, UH, A COUPLE, UH, ON THAT ITEM IN PARTICULAR, UH, THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF AVAILABLE DAYS IN SHELTER FOSTERED BY SPECIES AND SIZE OF DOGS.

WE'RE TRYING TO GET SOME MORE KIND OF GRANULAR INFORMATION.

'CAUSE IT'S REALLY NOT JUST ABOUT THE, THE, THE OVERALL AVERAGES.

IT'S, IT'S THE, THE MEDIUM AND LARGE DOGS THAT WE'RE REALLY STRUGGLING WITH.

AND, AND THAT'S KIND OF MAKING THAT DISTINCTION IS, UH, IS IMPORTANT.

UH, THE, THE FULL AMENDMENT IS ON THE MESSAGE BOARD FOR FOLKS TO LOOK AT.

AND I, I UNDERSTAND I WILL BE OFFERING, I DON'T KNOW, WE HAD DISCUSSED A VERSION TWO, BUT IF, IF WE'RE NOT READY WITH THE VERSION TWO, I'LL GO AHEAD AND OFFER THE AMENDMENT.

WE CAN PULL THE ITEM AND, AND OFFER THE AMENDMENT.

WELL, IT, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING WE HAD IT AS A VERSION TWO THAT I'LL, I'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE TESTIMONY ON IT AS PART OF THE CONSENT AGENDA AS OPPOSED TO PULLING IT SO I CAN FIGURE THAT OUT.

PRIMARILY WHAT IT DOES IS IT CREATES MORE REPORTING BACK TO THE COUNCIL, BUT THE REPORTING WILL ONLY OCCUR A YEAR FROM NOW.

WELL, THAT, THAT'S WHAT I WAS AFRAID WE WOULD BE DOING BY DOING THIS THIS LATE.

UM, MY REQUEST IS TO PULL THE ITEM.

I, I WANNA PULL ITEM NUMBER TWO AND, AND WE'LL JUST, WE'LL BRING YOU BACK SO THAT EVERYBODY CAN LOOK AT IT, IT, AND SEE WHAT EXACTLY WHAT IT DOES.

ITEM NUMBER TWO IS PULL FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.

NEXT ITEM IS ITEM NUMBER EIGHT.

WE HAVE CRAIG NASER, BILL BUNCH, ROY WHALEY, ERIC IFF, AND MONICA GUZMAN.

YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED.

PLEASE COME FORWARD, EVEN IF YOU'RE TESTIFYING ON MULTIPLE ITEMS, PLEASE COME FORWARD OUTTA RESPECT FOR THE PEOPLE FOLLOWING YOU SO THAT THEY, THEY CAN BE HEARD TODAY, UH, AS WELL.

AND IF THERE'S AN OPEN MICROPHONE, GO AHEAD AND TAKE THE MICROPHONE.

WELCOME.

WELL, THAT'S NOT MADAM CLERK.

SHE, UH, MS. GUZMAN HAS INDICATED SHE'S DONATED TIME.

MONICA GUZMAN HAS DONATED TIME TO BILL BUNCH.

ON ITEM EIGHT.

SO HE GETS FOUR MINUTES.

EIGHT, WHICH IS AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY VISIT AUSTIN, WHICH IS OUR CONVENTION OF VISITORS BUREAU AND THE NEW AUSTIN TOURISM PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT THAT Y'ALL APPROVED IN JANUARY.

COUNCIL MEMBER BILL BUNCH, RESIDENT DISTRICT FIVE, UM, AND FORMER MEMBER OF YOUR TOURISM COMMISSION FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

SPEAKING ON ITEM

[00:10:01]

UM, YOU'RE, YOU'RE AUTHORIZING HERE PROPOSING TO AUTHORIZE THE STAFF TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A CONTRACT, BUT THERE'S NOT EVEN A DRAFT HERE, AND THERE'S A VERY SKELETAL, UH, DESCRIPTION OF WHAT THAT CONTRACT, UH, MIGHT INCLUDE.

UH, THERE'S NOT A SINGLE WORD ABOUT TRANSPARENCY, DISCLOSURE, UH, MEETINGS BEING OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, ET CETERA, ON HOW THIS FUNDING STREAM, WHICH WILL BE SUBSTANTIAL, UH, YET ANOTHER 2 CENTS ASSESSMENT ON HOTEL ROOM NIGHTS.

UM, AND FOR WHICH, UH, WHAT IT ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES IS YET ANOTHER FUNDING STREAM TO FILL THE, THE MAGIC BLACK HOLE OF THE CONVENTION CENTER THAT Y'ALL SEEM COMMITTED TO RUSHING FORWARD WITH.

UH, THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME BASIC ACCOUNTABILITY HERE ON HOW THIS MONEY IS REALLY BEING SPENT AND HOW MUCH MONEY.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT YOUR STAFF HAS SOME PROJECTIONS OF REVENUE FOR THIS AND ALSO SOME PROJECTIONS OF COSTS, ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS FOR THIS.

UM, Y'ALL SHOULD HAVE THAT.

THE PUBLIC SHOULD HAVE IT, IT SHOULD BE PART OF THE BACKUP.

THERE'S NO BACKUP.

THERE'S THE ONE SHORT SUMMARY, UH, OF STAFF RECOMMENDATION, NO DRAFT AGREEMENT.

Y'ALL REALLY NEED TO STEP BACK AND DO SOME BASIC DUE DILIGENCE ON THE WHOLE CONVENTION CENTER PROJECT, BUT ESPECIALLY ON THIS NEW ANIMAL, UH, THAT WAS JUST CREATED THAT PEOPLE DON'T HAVE MUCH OF AN UNDERSTANDING OF.

AND MY GUESS IS THAT, UH, Y'ALL, TO SOME SIGNIFICANT, SIGNIFICANT DEGREE SHARE THAT LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT EXACTLY THIS MONEY'S GONNA BE USED FOR AND HOW IT'S GONNA BE DISPENSED, HOW IT'S GONNA BE MANAGED, AND WHETHER THERE'S GONNA BE ANY PUBLIC TRANSPARENCY AT ALL INVOLVED.

CONGRATULATIONS ON SURVIVING THAT.

HOW TO Y'ALL? MY NAME IS ROY WHALEY.

I'M THE CONSERVATION CHAIR FOR THE AUSTIN REGIONAL GROUP OF THE SIERRA CLUB.

AND, UM, I'M GLAD Y'ALL ARE HERE AND NOT ACTUALLY A PART OF THE DISTRICT OF TEXAS, AND YOU'RE STILL OUR CITY COUNCIL.

UM, I AGREE WITH WHAT MR. BUNCH SAID.

MY CONCERN IS, I, I THINK ABOUT THE OLD CARTOONS I USED TO WATCH WHEN I WAS A KID.

UH, ROAD RUNNER CARTOONS WERE, YOU KNOW, WILEY COYOTE WOULD STAND IN FRONT OF A BULLDOZER AND IT WOULD JUST FLATTEN HIM OUT INTO A PANCAKE.

I FEEL LIKE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THE CONVENTION CENTER HERE.

WE'RE, WE'RE STANDING IN FRONT OF THIS BULLDOZER 'CAUSE IT'S GONNA HAPPEN.

UM, AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S MUCH DOUBT ABOUT THAT, BUT WE DO NEED MORE DETAIL.

I AM GLAD FROM THE PRESENTATION I SAW EARLIER THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DIVIDE IT INTO FOUR SEPARATE BUILDINGS SO THAT THAT WAY WHEN IT FAILS, WHICH I THINK IT WILL, CONSIDERING EVERY CITY IN TEXAS IS PUTTING TONS OF MONEY AND TO GETTING CONVENTION BUSINESS WILL AT LEAST BE ABLE TO REPURPOSE THE BUILDINGS INSTEAD OF HAVING ONE JUST GIANT BUILDING.

UM, AT THAT WORK SESSION, I WAS VERY HAPPY THAT, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS AND COUNCIL MEMBER LANE TALKED ABOUT THE, UH, TRANSIT POSSIBILITIES THERE.

UM, AND I DON'T HAVE A PICTURE I'LL SHARE WITH YOU, BUT IT'S ONE OF THE FEW PUBLIC RESTROOMS IN AUSTIN IS IN THAT AREA.

AND I THINK WE NEED MORE OF THAT.

AND AGAIN, I'M GONNA GET ON THE HORSE AND TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SHOWERS.

IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS EXPENDITURE OF PUBLIC MONEY AND WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT ALTERNATIVE TRANSIT, WE NEED TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME THAT NORMALLY RIDE A BICYCLE BUT DID NOT TODAY, TO HAVE A PLACE TO CLEAN UP BEFORE I COME HERE AND SIT NEXT TO SOMEONE USUALLY IN A SUIT THAT DOESN'T LIKE THE WAY I SMELL.

CRAIG NASER ON ITEM EIGHT.

HELLO, CRAIG NASER.

UH, YOU KNOW, I'M A LONG TIME ARTIST, UH, WHO LIVES IN THE CITY FOR MANY YEARS, AND WHAT I HAVE SEEN IS A LOT OF EVENTS GET UNAFFORDABLE.

[00:15:01]

AND I THINK WHEN YOU PUT MORE, A WHOLE BUNCH OF MORE MONEY INTO A CONVENTION CENTER, UH, I THINK THAT GOES TO HELP IT IN THE LONG RUN.

UNAFFORDABLE.

WHEN I LOOK AT THE, YOU KNOW, YOUR MAP, I THINK IT'S ITEM NINE WHERE IT SHOWS THIS CIRCLE.

WHEN I WILL COME DOWN TO THE CITY AND I LOOK THERE, THAT'S LIKE THE MOST UNAFFORDABLE PLACE OF THE CITY WHERE I CAN'T AFFORD PARKING.

WHERE, YOU KNOW, NOW SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST, THE TICKETS HAVE GONE THROUGH THE ROOF.

UH, AND THAT'S A PROBLEM.

NOW, I'M NOT AGAINST A CONVENTION CENTER, CERTAINLY NOT, AND I'M NOT AGAINST THESE EVENTS, BUT THE CITY COUNCIL SPENDS A WHOLE LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT AFFORDABILITY.

AND THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS, WHEN YOU SPEND ALL THIS MONEY AND RAISE A HOTEL AND PCC TAX RATES AND ALL THAT, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT CONTRIBUTES TO AFFORDABILITY.

AND I UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS.

THE STATE ALLOWS YOU TO DO THIS, AND WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THIS MONEY? THEY'RE, YOU'RE KIND OF FORCED INTO THIS WAY OF DOING IT, BUT IT'S CHANGING AUSTIN IN A WAY THAT I DON'T THINK IS THE BEST FOR AUSTIN.

SO I JUST WANNA LEAVE YOU WITH THAT.

I KNOW YOU'LL DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO.

UH, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ITEM NUMBER NINE, CRAIG NAER, BILL BUNCH, WITH TIME DONATED FROM MONICA GUZMAN, IF WE MOVE TO THE NEXT ITEM THAT IS ITEM NUMBER NINE.

IT GETTING INCREMENTAL INCREASES FROM OUR LOCAL SHARE? BECAUSE IF IT IS, YOUR POSTING HAS BEEN FALSE AND SAYING THIS IS ADDITIONAL FUNDING 'CAUSE IT'S ACTUALLY TAKING AWAY FUNDING.

AND ERIC RAJE.

SO WE'RE, WE'RE MOVING TO THE NEXT ITEM.

SO IF YOU WANT TO TESTIFY ON THE NEXT ITEM, PLEASE, UH, I'VE SAID WHAT I CAN PLEASE.

UH, VERY GOOD.

THANK YOU MR. BUNCH.

MR. BUNCH GETS FOUR MINUTES.

THANK YOU MAYOR.

COUNCIL MEMBERS, BILL BUNCH AGAIN.

UM, THIS IS, UH, TOUCHING ON AND A LITTLE CLEANUP OF, UH, SOMETHING Y'ALL DID IN DECEMBER, WHICH IS YET ANOTHER, UH, REVENUE STREAM BEING COMMITTED TO THE, THE MAGIC HOLE OF, OF THIS CONVENTION CENTER THAT WILL SWALLOW UP, UH, WHAT YOUR STAFF IS NOW TELLING US, UH, BEHIND THE SCENES, BUT NOT PUBLICLY.

$5 BILLION, $5 BILLION OVER THE NEXT 30 YEARS.

UM, IN THIS ONE, ITS, UH, STATE LEGISLATION, AS THE BACKUP SUGGESTS, HAS AUTHORIZED YOU TO DESIGNATE THIS THREE MILE, UH, ESSENTIALLY A TAX INCREMENT ZONE, UH, FOR HOTEL RELATED TAXES, UH, ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE TAXES, ET CETERA.

UM, AND YOU CAN FUNNEL THAT INTO THE CONVENTION CENTER, UM, ALONG WITH THE TRADITIONAL REVENUE STREAM OF THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR HOTEL TAXES.

WHAT THIS MEANS IS YOU'RE EVEN FURTHER SHIFTING THE REVENUE TOWARDS, UH, A PROJECT THAT GENERATES 1% OF OUR VISITORS OR LESS.

AND THAT'S YOUR OWN NUMBERS AND AWAY FROM WHAT ACTUALLY DRAWS PEOPLE TO AUSTIN.

UH, WHAT BENEFITS THOSE OF US LUCKY ENOUGH TO LIVE HERE, UM, AND THAT WE'RE LOSING EVERY DAY.

AND THAT'S OUR CULTURE AND OUR NATURE IN THE CITY.

OUR PARKS, LADY BIRD LAKE, BARTON SPRINGS, ALL OF THESE ARE AT RISK.

WE'RE LOSING LIGHT MUSIC, WE'RE LOSING ARTS VENUES.

YOU KNOW HOW BADLY THE PERFORMING ARTS ARE STRUGGLING.

YOU'RE DOING NOTHING TO FUND THOSE.

AND INSTEAD YOU'RE JUMPING OFF A CLIFF INTO A BLACK HOLE TO FUND A, A PROJECT THAT IS KNOWN THAT IT'S GONNA FAIL AND FAIL SPECTACULARLY.

AND THIS WILL BE THE ALBATROSS YOU CARRY FOR DECADES FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.

UH, AND I'M DEDICATED TO MAKING SURE EVERYBODY KNOWS ABOUT IT AS LONG AS I'M AROUND.

UM, THE QUESTION I HAVE FOR YOU, AND I'D LOVE TO, I HOPE Y'ALL HAVE AN ANSWER 'CAUSE YOU SHOULD HAVE AN ANSWER.

WHAT'S NOT CLEAR FROM THIS LEGISLATION OR THE BACKUP IS IF YOU'RE SKIMMING OFF NOT JUST THE STATE SHARE OF THE ALCOHOL MONEY IN THIS THREE MILE ZONE AND THE STATE SHARE OF THE SALES TAX AND THIS THREE MILE ZONE AND THE STATE SHARE OF THE HOTEL TAX.

BUT IF YOU'RE ALSO DEDICATING THAT INCREMENTAL INCREASE IN THOSE THREE REVENUE STREAMS FROM OUR SHARE THE LOCAL SHARE OF THOSE, BECAUSE IF YOU ARE, UM, THAT'S TAKING MONEY OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND AND IS TAKING MONEY AWAY FROM THE ARTS, HISTORIC PRESERVATION, UM, LIVE MUSIC, SO WOULD YOU PLEASE ONE OF YOU ASK YOUR STAFF PUBLICLY TO ANSWER, IS THIS ONLY GETTING AN INCREMENT FROM THE STATE SHARE? OR IS

[00:20:01]

IF IT'S GETTING THAT INCREMENTAL INCREASE FROM OUR LOCAL SHARE OF THESE THREE HOTEL RELATED TAXES, PLEASE ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

PAUL WAGNER, DISTRICT NINE.

UM, NEXT SPEAKER FOR ITEM NUMBER 10, ENOVIA JOSEPH.

SHE REGISTERED REMOTELY, BUT WE BELIEVE SHE WAS HERE THIS MORNING.

ENOVIA JOSEPH, ITEM 16, PAUL WAGNER AND MR. WAGNER ALSO REGISTERED FOR ITEM NUMBER 17.

UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

I DO WANNA FIRST SAY THANK YOU TO DISTRICT NINE'S AIDE FOR REMOVING SOMEBODY THAT WAS LIVING IN THEIR CAR OUTSIDE MY HOUSE FOR 25 MONTHS AFTER I HAD THREATENED THE PARKING DEPARTMENT TO HAVE THEM REMOVED BY MYSELF.

THAT'S YOUR AIDE, NOT YOU, SORRY, YOU WEREN'T INVOLVED WITH THAT, BUT YOUR AIDE DID A GOOD JOB ON THAT ONE.

BUT IT DID TAKE 25 MONTHS TO REMOVE A HOMELESS PERSON LIVING IN THEIR CAR OUTSIDE MY HOUSE.

HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES.

UM, I'VE SEEN THIS GO THROUGH, UH, THE BUDGET MULTIPLE TIMES.

LARGE IT PURCHASES THAT SEEM TO NOT HAVE, UH, ANY UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THEY DO, WHERE THEY COME FROM AND THE COMPANIES BEHIND THEM.

I HAVE 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT DATA CENTER MANAGEMENT GLOBALLY, SO I HAVE AN IMMENSE EXPERTISE.

16, IT IS A VERITAS BACKUP PIECE OF SOFTWARE.

I DON'T KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE INDUSTRY STILL BUYING THIS.

SURE, THERE'S PROBABLY SOME VENDOR LOCK IN.

YOU'RE AT $2 MILLION A YEAR SPREAD ACROSS THREE YEARS ON MAY 30TH, YOU EXTENDED IT FOR ANOTHER 1.5 MILLION.

THEY'RE ASKING FOR ANOTHER 1.5 MILLION AGAIN TO PUT IT AT A TOTAL CONTRACT VALUE OF 8.5 MILLION.

THE VENDOR IS TEXAS INC.

ON THEIR GOOGLE SEARCH.

THE BUSINESS SHOWS CLOSED ON LINKEDIN.

IT SHOWS THREE EMPLOYEES.

NONE OF THEM, IN MY OPINION, ARE PROBABLY SOPHISTICATED ENOUGH TO SELL THIS DEAL.

SO I BELIEVE IT REQUIRES SOME INVESTIGATION AS TO WHY THEY'RE BEING AWARDED THIS DEAL.

I CAN SUSPECT IT IS BECAUSE THERE WERE SOME FORM OF DEI POINTS AWARDED TO IT BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE A SETASIDE CONTRACT WHERE POINTS WERE AWARDED BECAUSE THEIR WEBSITE IS LITTERED WITH THOSE TYPES OF CERTIFICATIONS.

BLOCK IT, REVIEW IT, FIGURE OUT WHY THEY'RE SPENDING AN ADDITIONAL $1.5 MILLION A YEAR ON BACKUP SOFTWARE FOR ARCHIVE DATA.

THAT IS LIKELY NOT RETRIEVED EVER.

IF I HAVE 17, I'LL TAKE THAT AS WELL.

YOU MAY NOW SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 17.

THANK YOU AGAIN.

ITEM NUMBER 17.

THIS LOOKS LIKE A TRADITIONAL CONTRACT THAT THE SIRIUS COMPUTER SOLUTIONS, WHICH WAS BOUGHT BY CDW FOR $2 BILLION.

CDW IS NOT A TEXAS COMPANY.

SIRIUS WAS, THIS IS A NEAR $50 MILLION CONTRACT THAT I CAN'T FIGURE OUT ON DATA.AUSTIN.GOV, WHICH YOU PAY $1 MILLION A YEAR TO TYLER TECHNOLOGIES FOR SOCRATIC, UH, CONNECTED GOVERNMENT CLOUD, SOME DATA ANALYTICS PIECE OF SOFTWARE THAT HAS NO SEARCH FUNCTIONALITY.

YOU HAVE TO KNOW SQL LIKE I DO.

I'M NOT IMPRESSED WITH THAT.

THAT CONTRACT SHOULD BE RENEWED.

NEVERTHELESS, THIS LOOKS LIKE A FLEECING AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS.

IT'S AN IBM RENEWAL.

50% OF IBM'S EMPLOYEES NOW RESIDE IN INDIA.

IF THEY'RE CONTROLLING THE AUSTIN ENERGY DEPARTMENT, I FEEL LIKE THAT COULD BE A MAJOR ISSUE.

NEVERTHELESS, I THINK IT NEEDS FURTHER REVIEW THAT IT LOOKS LIKE A CONTRACT THAT STARTED ON A MODERNIZATION EFFORT ON YEAR 2020.

WE'RE FIVE YEARS IN, WE'RE $47 MILLION IN.

WHY DO THEY NEED ANOTHER $27 MILLION FOR IBM SOFTWARE THAT I GET THAT NOBODY GETS FIRED FOR BUYING IBM, BUT FOR ROUGHLY $50 MILLION, YOU COULD HAVE HIRED 10 SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS TO PROBABLY DEVELOP WHAT THEY NEED AND MAKE IT OPEN SOURCE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

WE'LL NOW GO TO REMOTE.

UH, LARRY AKERS IS SPEAKING ON ITEM NUMBER EIGHT AND NUMBER NINE, AND SO HE WILL GET FOUR MINUTES.

HI THERE.

UH, LARRY AKERS, I LIVE IN DISTRICT FIVE.

UH, WANTED TO AGREE WITH BILL BUNCH ABOUT HOW THE ALLOCATION OF SOME OF THESE REVENUES FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER IS DRAWING RESOURCES AWAY FROM THE GENERAL FUND.

AND, UH, THE, THERE'S A LENGTHY STRUGGLE TO, TO TRY TO GET, UH, 30% OF THE HOT TAX, UH, ALLOCATED TO

[00:25:01]

AND I'VE NOTICED IN THE, UH, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER THAT, UH, IN FACT THAT NUMBER IS GOING TO BE REDUCED PRETTY SUBSTANTIALLY AS A RESULT OF THE DRAINING OF THE HOT TAX, UH, DOWN INTO THE, THE LOW 20%.

SO, YOU KNOW, ESSENTIALLY, AS BILL SAID, YOU'RE, YOU'RE TAKING RESOURCES FROM, UH, FROM THOSE, FROM THOSE OPPORTUNITIES IN THE CITY THAT PEOPLE COME TO SEE.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE COME TO THE CITY NOT FOR CONVENTIONS.

THEY BOOK CONVENTIONS SO PEOPLE CAN ALSO ENJOY THE CULTURAL RESOURCES OF THE CITY.

AND SO YOU'RE STARVING THOSE RESOURCES, UH, TO, TO MAKE, UH, AN INVESTMENT IN AN ACCOMMODATION THAT, UH, DOES NOT REALLY CONTRIBUTE THAT MUCH TO THE TOURISM ACTIVITY IN THE CITY.

SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

NEXT SPEAKER IS BILL BUNCH FOR ITEM NUMBER 21.

MR. BUNCH IS ALSO REGISTERED FOR ITEM NUMBER 22.

MR. BUNCH, ARE YOU GOING TO, I DON'T SEE YOU MOVING, ARE YOU? I'LL PASS ON 21.

I DON'T BELIEVE I SIGNED UP ON 22.

WELL, THEN, THEN YOU'LL PASS ON THAT TOO, RIGHT? WHAT ABOUT 28? YES, I THANK YOU.

YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.

BILL BUNCH.

DISTRICT FIVE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WILL SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE.

UH, THIS ITEM, SINCE I HAVE TO TAKE MY OWN TWO MINUTES TO TELL YOU AND THE PUBLIC WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.

UH, CALLS FOR SPENDING, UH, $1.75 MILLION FOR, UH, QUOTE BLUSH BRUSH CLEARING ON WATER QUALITY PROTECTION LANDS MANAGED BY AUSTIN WATER FOR AUSTIN WATER WITH SUMMIT FORCE, INC.

ET CETERA, PRIVATE CONTRACTOR.

UM, BRUSH CLEARING ALMOST DOES NEVER DOES ANYTHING FOR WATER QUALITY.

UM, AND IN FACT, WE'RE DOING TOO MUCH BRUSH CLEARING IN THE NAME OF, UH, FEAR OF FIRE, UH, AND IN THE NAME OF MANAGING, UH, LANDS THAT SHOULD BE MANAGED FOR ENHANCING, RECHARGE AND PROTECTING WATER QUALITY.

INSTEAD MANAGING THEM TO BE RANCH LANDS, UH, BY PEOPLE TRAINED IN RANCH MANAGEMENT.

UH, THIS IS A WASTE OF MONEY.

WE NEED TO BE SPENDING THIS MONEY TO OPEN UP AND CLEAN OUT, UH, SINK HOLES AND CAVES, UH, BERM, SOME GENTLE BERMING TO DIRECT OUR RUNOFF WHEN WE HAVE THE RARE RUNOFF EVENTS INTO OUR AQUIFERS AND REPLENISH OUR WATER SUPPLIES.

THIS IS RUSH CLEARING DESTROYS HABITAT FOR BIRDS, MAMMALS, POLLINATORS, A WHOLE RANGE.

IT DOES REAL DAMAGE.

IT REDUCES, UH, BIODIVERSITY AND DIRECT CONFLICT WITH OUR, UH, BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION GOALS.

UM, THIS IS, THIS IS TERRIBLE USE OF MONEY AND IT'S TERRIBLE LAND MANAGEMENT.

WE NEED TO GET BACK TO AND REMEMBER WHAT THESE ARE.

THEY'RE CALLED WATER QUALITY PROTECTION LANDS FOR A REASON.

VOTERS FUNDED IT FOR WATER QUALITY.

THEY DIDN'T FUND IT.

SO YOUR P YOUR STAFF CAN WASTE IT ON RANCH MANAGEMENT.

ZENOBIA JOSEPH IS HERE AND SO SHE'LL BE SPEAKING ON ITEM NUMBER 10.

THIS IS JUST ONE SLIDE, MAYOR.

THANK YOU MAYOR COUNCIL, I'M ENOVIA JOSEPH.

I JUST WANTED TO STATE THAT I DO SUPPORT THE WITHDRAWAL OF ITEM 10.

IN PART IT WAS $5.8 MILLION FOR THE ARTWORK AT THE AIRPORT, BUT I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE, UH, TO THE CITY MANAGER AND MS MEANS AS WELL THE DIRECTOR THAT YOU REALLY DO NEED TO LOOK MORE BROADLY AT ALL OF THE ARTWORK THAT IS BEING PLACED IN THE CITY.

UH, I DO WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THIS KVU, KXAN STORY YESTERDAY.

ARTIST OPPORTUNITIES DEADLINE APPROACHES AS AUSTIN SEARCHES FOR ARTISTS TO CREATE PUBLIC INSTALLATION AT A US.

YOU'LL NOTICE MR. YANCY'S RIFFS AND RHYTHMS ARTWORK THERE.

THAT IS WHAT WAS IN THE STORY.

I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS THE COMMUNITY THAT IS ACTUALLY CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT EXACTLY YOU'RE DOING WITH THE ARTWORK.

I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND AS WELL THAT THAT SAME MEMO FROM

[00:30:01]

ANGELA MEANS, WHICH WAS ON THE 6TH OF MARCH ON OR ABOUT, SHE WAS REFERRING TO THE RESOLUTION THAT YOU PASSED, BUT IT ALSO INCLUDED THE AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER DX SESSION AND ART PRESERVATION.

SO WHILE I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THAT SHE'S TRYING TO FIND A PLACE TO PUT MR. YANCY'S WORK, I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT YOU REALLY NEED TO PAUSE THAT WORK AS WELL.

WHEN YOU GET TO ITEM 40, I JUST WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAXES PROCESS IS NOT FAIR.

I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE BLACK AUSTIN BIKE TOURS, WHICH ACTUALLY IS A NONPROFIT THAT WAS ONLY AN OPERATION FOR TWO YEARS, THAT $80,000, WHEREAS THE BLACK MALE WHO DOES THE WALKING TOURS GOT $5,000.

BUT WHAT YOU ADVERTISED WAS FOR THAT NONPROFIT TO BE IN EXISTENCE FOR FIVE YEARS.

SO YOU'RE GIVING MONEY UNILATERALLY TO THOSE ORGANIZATIONS THAT YOU PREFER NOT FOLLOWING THE PROCESS THAT'S IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.

THAT'S FOR ART IN PUBLIC PLACES, THAT'S FOR THE CULTURAL TOURS, THAT'S FOR THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAXES.

AND SO I WOULD JUST ASK THE CITY MANAGER WHILE I THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER, I WOULD ASK YOU TO PAUSE ALL OF THE ARTWORK AT THIS POINT.

WHEN I SPOKE TO MS MEANS FEBRUARY 28TH, SHE SAID YOU ASKED FOR THE OPEN RECORDS.

SO I WOULD THANK IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME.

ALSO REGISTERED TO SPEAK ON ITEM 31 AND 32.

I DON'T HAVE THE ITEM IN THE, IN FRONT OF ME.

WHAT IS 31 MAYOR, YOU CAN TAKE THE SLIDE DOWN.

IT'S PROBABLY NOT THIS ITEM 30 ONE'S A CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION SERVICES FOR THE SAFE STREETS AND ROADS FOR ALL.

DO YOU WANT ME TO SPEAK TO 32 AS WELL? YOU CAN.

YOU'RE, YOU'RE ENTITLED TO SPEAK TO BOTH OF 'EM IF YOU'VE SIGNED UP FOR BOTH OF THEM.

WELL, I DID, BUT UM, THEY'RE BOTH FOR SAFE STREETS, JUST FOR DIFFERENT CONTRACTS.

SO WHAT I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE, MAYOR, AS RELATES TO SAFE STREETS FOR ALL ROADS AND STREETS FOR ALL, AS WELL AS THE, UH, SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL, YOU HAVE APPROXIMATELY $79.5 MILLION.

AND I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT IF YOU ARE NORTH OF US 180 3 AND DISTRICT FOUR CHEETO VELO, YOU NEED TO GO TO HEB RUNDBERG.

IT'S JUST A WIDE PLAIN SIDEWALK.

BUT IF YOU'RE IN SOUTHEAST AUSTIN, IF YOU'RE AT SOUTH FIRST AND STANE, YOU'LL SEE WHERE THE CONTRACTORS HAVE CREATED THESE MOCK BRICKS.

THEY HAVE, UH, MIXED USE, MULTIMODAL.

YOU SEE THE RED SIDEWALK FOR THE BIKES, THEY HAVE SIGNAGE, BUT IF YOU'RE NORTH OF US, 180 3 CHEETO VELA, THERE'S EITHER NO SIDEWALK FROM ALL THE WAY FROM CHINATOWN TO PARMER LANE.

IT'S NOT A DA COMPLIANT.

IF YOU'RE AT NORTH LAMAR AND BREAKER, YOU WILL STILL SEE THAT YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS ALL THE WAY DOWN.

WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND, MAYOR RESPECTFULLY, THAT WHILE THE CONTRACTORS SEEM INNOCUOUS, I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON WITH THE DESIGN.

WHY IS IT THAT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN NORTHEAST AUSTIN, NORTHEAST OF 180 3 HAVE NO SIGNAGE? IT'S ONE OF THE HIGHEST CRASH SITES IN THE CITY.

AND SO AS IT RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO VISION ZERO, WHICH YOU ADOPTED IN 2016, I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S REALLY JUST A FORCE.

AND SO I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND AS MY COMMENTS 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.

THE AREA NORTH OF US 180 3 IS CALLED THE IMMIGRANT GATEWAY TO THE CITY.

I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S BLACK PEOPLE, HISPANIC PEOPLE, IMMIGRANTS WHO LIVE THERE, BUT YET THEY HAVE TO TRAVERSE 37,500 VEHICLES PER DAY.

YOU CAN FIND THAT INFORMATION FROM 2020.

THE VIRTUAL PUBLIC HEARING SPECIFICALLY, I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND IT'S NOT EQUITABLE.

QUESTION.

I'LL THANK YOU MS. JOSEPH.

GOING TO ITEM 32 IS SCOTT JOHNSON AND ENOVIA JOSEPH, THIS IS ITEM 32.

MS. JOSEPH, ARE YOU GONNA SPEAK ON 32 SEPARATELY? WELL, IT'S UP TO YOU.

NOT WHETHER I WANT IT OR NOT.

WELL, THANK YOU MAYOR.

AND THEN CUT MY MIC.

IT TALKS ABOUT THE NEGRO DISTRICT AS WELL.

COUNCIL, I JUST WANTED TO CONTINUE WHAT I WAS SAYING, MAYOR, AND I ACTUALLY THOUGHT I HAD ALREADY SPOKEN ON BOTH ITEMS AT ONCE.

IF YOU HAVE, YOU DON'T NEED TO SPEAK AGAIN.

NO, I DON'T MIND.

I .

OKAY, GOOD.

I WOULD, I JUST REALLY WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE TO GO ON THE GROUND TO SEE THE HOSTILE ARCHITECTURE AND TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE AREA NORTH OF US 180 3, LET ME GIVE YOU A POINT OF REFERENCE, SPECIFICALLY THE AUSTIN STRATEGIC MOBILITY PLAN, WALK, BIKE ROLL, JANUARY, 2023.

UPDATE HAS LANGUAGE THAT SPECIFIES THE CITY'S DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES.

ON OR ABOUT PAGE 28.

I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT IT SPECIFIES DOVE SPRINGS AND NORTH LAMAR.

[00:35:01]

DOVE SPRINGS IS BENEFITING FROM THIS PROJECT CONNECT FORCE.

I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND, HOWEVER, THAT NORTH LAMAR IN 2009, THE CITY OF AUSTIN HOUSING POLICE TRANSPORTATION WITH CAPITAL METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY IN TDOT STUDIED THE NORTH LAMAR PEDESTRIAN CORRIDOR FOR 20 MONTHS.

YET, DESPITE ALL OF THE MONEY THAT YOU CONTINUE TO GET IN THIS AREA, THERE IS STILL NO A DA COMPLIANT SIDEWALK TO GET FROM CHINATOWN MIDBLOCK ALL THE WAY TO BREAKER, WHICH IS ABOUT A QUARTER MILE WALK.

I WANT YOU TO KNOW CHEETO VELA ONCE AGAIN, I HAVE ASKED YOU TO CLOSE 5 8 5 7 CHINATOWN MIDBLOCK STOP.

AND IT HAS STILL BEEN OPENED, BUT THAT REPORT FROM 2009 ON PAGE 75 TELLS YOU SPECIFICALLY THAT 70% OF PEDESTRIANS GET KILLED MIDBLOCK.

YET CAPITOL METRO KEEPS OPENING MIDBLOCK STOPS AND OVER IN DISTRICT SEVEN, I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW BY THE METROPOLITAN PARK, THERE IS NO CONTINUOUS SIDEWALK TO GET TO, NOT YOUR ORDINARY SCHOOL.

IT IS DISCRIMINATORY AND YOU NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND, MAYOR, RESPECTFULLY, THERE ARE MIDBLOCK STOPS ALL OVER THE CITY, BUT PREDOMINANTLY NORTHEAST.

THANK YOU, MS. JOSEPH.

MR. JOHNSON, GOOD MORNING MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'M SCOTT JOHNSON.

FIRST SLIDE, PLEASE.

I'M A REGULAR VOLUNTEER ON THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN.

I'M ON ONE OF THE COMMITTEES ON CONSUMPTION THE CITY AS A PRIORITY IN 2023 WITH A RESOLUTION IN 2024 PASSED TO GET A PILOT PROJECT FOR LOW EMBODIED CARBON CONCRETE.

AND THAT'S MOVING ALONG.

UH, BUT THIS IS THE LATEST UPDATE ON IT FROM THE OFFICE OF CITY ENGINEER.

THERE'S, IT'S NOT READY YET TO BE INCORPORATED IN ANY NEW CONTRACTS.

AND THERE'S ONE HERE FROM WHAT I CAN READ CALLED THE ALL CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION, DEFINITE DELIVERY AND DEFINITE QUANTITY.

ONE, IT'S FOR ONE YEAR, BUT IT HAS FOUR ONE YEAR EXTENSIONS.

WHAT I DON'T KNOW, BUT YOU COULD ASK THE QUESTION OF THE CITY ATTORNEY OR GET SOME FROM TPW TO COME UP AND CLARIFY, IS THAT ONCE THAT CONTRACT IS IN PLACE WITH THE FOUR ONE YEAR EXTENSIONS, THEN DOES THAT OBLIGATE THE CITY TO WORK WITH THEM ON WHATEVER THEY CAN COME UP WITH, WITH THEIR OWN CONCRETE FORMULATION, WHICH MAY NOT BE LOW EMBODIED CONCRETE CARBON CONCRETE FOR THIS COMING YEAR OR THE NEXT YEAR AFTER THAT.

WHAT I DO KNOW IS CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN, BUT SPECIFICALLY THE TWO PILOT PROJECTS NEED MORE UPDATES FROM STAFF.

THEY NEED MORE REVIEW, THEY NEED MORE COUNCIL COLLABORATION AND QUESTIONS ASKED.

SO WHAT I'M HOPING IS THAT BEFORE THIS PARTICULAR ITEM GETS APPROVED, WE CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

IF IT DOES LOCK THEM INTO WHATEVER FORMULATION OF CONCRETE THAT THEY HAVE AVAILABLE OR THAT THEY WANNA PROVIDE, THEN YOU'RE LOCKING YOURSELF IN TO A SITUATION WHERE THE LONE BODIED CARBON CONCRETE CAN'T BE USED IN IN FUTURE YEARS.

NOW WE'RE GOING TO ITEM NUMBER 40, LARRY ACRES.

MR. AKER.

OKAY, MR. AKER, CAN YOU HEAR US? YES, YES.

HI.

YEAH, I CAN NOW.

JIM EDWARDS, ROY WHALEY, AND ERIC RAD.

UH, LARRY AKERS, DISTRICT FIVE, AND I MADE MY POINT EARLIER, I THINK, BUT THE, THE, UH, THE PROBLEM WITH, WITH DIVERTING, UH, BOTH SALES TAX AND HOT TAX REVENUES, UH, INTO CONVENTION CENTER CONSTRUCTION IS THAT YOU ARE DEPRIVING THE, THE MAJOR ATTRACTIONS OF THE CITY, WHICH ARE OUR ENVIRONMENTAL AND RECREATIONAL, HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES, THE FUNDING THAT THEY NEED TO DRAW PEOPLE INTO THE CITY.

SO I THINK IT'S A MISAPPLICATION OF OUR, UH, TOURISM FUNDS TO POUR MONEY INTO REPLACING A CONVENTION CENTER THAT ALREADY FUNCTIONS PERFECTLY WELL, PRIMARILY SO THAT A FEW HOTELS AROUND, UH, THE IMMEDIATE PROXIMITY OF THE CONVENTION CENTER CAN REAP THE PROFITS THAT ARE FINANCED BY OUR TAXPAYERS AND, UH, AND BASICALLY TURN THEIR PROFITS OVER TO INTERNATIONAL OWNERSHIP.

SO IT'S JUST DRAINING MONEY OUT OF THE CITY.

SO, UH, AGAIN, THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 40.

WE HAVE CRAIG NAOR, BILL BUNCH, WHO HAS DONATED TIME FOR MONICA GUZMAN, LAURA TEMPLETON,

[00:40:01]

JEFF.

SO PLEASE JUST TAKE A SEAT AND THEN WHEN, WHEN THERE'S AN OPEN MICROPHONE.

UH, YES.

MY NAME IS CRAIG NASER AND, UH, CONTINUING DOWN THIS LINE OF, OF USING A LOT OF TAX MONEY TO BUILD A VERY EX EXPENSIVE CONVENTION CENTER.

I AM CONVINCED THAT THIS MAKES AUSTIN LESS AFFORDABLE, AT LEAST THE WAY YOU'RE DOING IT NOW.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE MY OBSERVATIONS, UH, I HAVE A STEPSON WHO'S A VERY GOOD YOUNG FILMMAKER WHO CAME DOWN HERE AND I USED TO GO TO THE SOUTH BUS BY SOUTHWEST FILM FESTIVAL.

'CAUSE I DIDN'T WANT, I COULDN'T SEE ALL THE MOVIES AND PAY ALL THAT MONEY FOR ONE TICKET, BUT YOU COULD GO AND STAND IN LINE AND IF THEY HAD EXTRA SEATS, YOU COULD GET IN FOR 20 BUCKS, YOU KNOW, WELL THAT WAS WORTH IT FOR, FOR SOME REAL INTERESTING CUTTING EDGE MOVIE.

BUT NOW YOU HAVE TO PAY $120 SO YOU CAN STAND IN LINE AND MAYBE SEE A MOVIE IF YOU CAN GET IN, BECAUSE ALL THE 1,300 PEOPLE ARE AHEAD OF YOU.

AND IT'S JUST, IT, AUSTIN CAN'T GO ON THIS WAY.

IT, IT'S GONNA RUIN AUSTIN.

IT ALREADY HAS.

I TAUGHT MUSIC FOR MANY YEARS AND VAST MAJORITY OF MUSICIANS I KNEW AND TAUGHT AND MADE THEIR LIVING HERE, THEY'VE ALL LEFT.

I DON'T TRY TO PLAY MUSIC ANYMORE.

UH, 'CAUSE YOU CAN'T MAKE ANY MONEY DOING IT.

AUSTIN.

I WRITE SYMPHONIES, BUT YOU GOTTA BE DEAD USUALLY TO GET YOUR SYMPHONIES PLAYED.

BUT THIS, I JUST DON'T SEE HOW THIS REALLY HELPS AUSTIN SPENDING ALL THIS MONEY ON THE CONVENTION.

MAYBE SOME OF IT MAYBE NOT QUITE SO BIG.

I DON'T KNOW.

YOU GUYS KNOW A LOT MORE ABOUT THIS THAN I DO.

'CAUSE YOU TALK TO A LOT OF PEOPLE BEHIND THE SCENES THAT I DON'T EVER GET TO TALK TO.

SO, BUT ANYWAY, JUST PLEASE LOOK AT THAT AND BE AWARE THAT SPENDING ALL THIS MONEY ON CONVENTION CENTER, I THINK IT'S HELPING MAKE AUSTIN LESS AFFORDABLE.

COUNCIL MEMBERS, LAURA TEMPLETON, FORMER DOWNTOWN COMMISSIONER.

PLEASE COME FORWARD, EITHER ONE OF YOU, ANY OF YOU.

GOOD MORNING MAYOR.

I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY IN STRONG OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED EXPANSION OF AUSTIN'S CONVENTION CENTER.

THIS PROJECT IS JUST NOT AN UNNECESSARY USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS.

IT'S A FINANCIAL MISSTEP THAT'LL BURDEN OUR CITY FOR DECADES.

THE REALITY IS THE CONVENTION CENTER INDUSTRY HAS BEEN IN DECLINE SINCE 2018, EVEN BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, FEWER EVENTS WERE BOOKED AND CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY WERE STRUGGLING TO FILL CONVENTION SPACES.

HERE IN AUSTIN, OUR CONVENTION CENTER CONTRIBUTES LESS THAN 2% OF TOURISM DOLLARS.

THAT'S A FRACTION OF OUR TOURISM ECONOMY.

YET YOU'RE ASKING TAXPAYERS TO COMMIT 30 YEARS OF HOTEL OCCUPANCY, TAX REVENUE TO PAY OFF A MASSIVE DEBT ON MASSIVE, ON A MASSIVE CONCRETE STRUCTURE THAT WILL BENEFIT PRIMARILY A FEW WHILE THE REST OF THE CITY SHOULDERS THE COST.

THESE HOT DOLLARS SHOULD RIGHTFULLY SUPPORT AUSTIN'S CULTURAL AND ARTS INDUSTRIES, THE VERY THINGS THAT MAKE OUR CITY UNIQUE AND ATTRACT VISITORS IN THE FIRST PLACE.

INSTEAD, THIS PLAN DIVERTS THOSE FUNDS INTO AN OVERSIZED PROJECT THAT DOES LITTLE TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.

LET'S BE REALISTIC.

AUSTIN HAS NEVER AND WILL NEVER COMPETE WITH THE COUNTRY'S DOMINANT CONVENTION HUBS LIKE ORLANDO, LAS VEGAS, CHICAGO, OR ATLANTA.

WE CAN'T EVEN MATCH THE SCALE OF DALLAS FORT WORTH, HOUSTON, OR SAN ANTONIO.

NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU SPEND, CONVENTION PLANNERS WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE THEIR LARGEST EVENTS ELSEWHERE.

BEYOND THE FINANCIAL RISKS, THERE ARE THE UNKNOWNS COST OVERRUNS ITEM 40, $45 MILLION DELAYS AND YEARS OF DISRUPTION.

CONSTRUCTION WILL DISPLACE BUSINESSES STRAIN INFRASTRUCTURE AND INCONVENIENCE RESIDENTS.

FOR WHAT? FOR A PROJECT THAT, A PROJECT THAT WILL EV INEVITABLY GO OVER BUDGET THANK AND FAIL TO DELIVER ON ITS PROMISES.

MONEY ON THE CONVENTION CENTER ENTIRELY.

YOU, YOUR, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.

UH, GOOD MORNING.

I'M ERIC RAJE.

I'M A RESIDENT, UH, FOR OVER 20 YEARS IN DISTRICT THREE OF AUSTIN.

I'M HERE TO OPPOSE ITEM 40, AUTHORIZING AN ADDITIONAL $45 MILLION FOR DESIGN AND ENGINEERING ON THE PROPOSED CONVENTION CENTER.

MORE BROADLY, UM, I WANT TO EXPRESS MY OPPOSITION TO THE WASTEFUL SPENDING OF AUSTIN VOTERS

[00:45:01]

WHEN NEIL ZURICH AND HIS TEAM DELIVERED A NEW CONVENTION CENTER FOR THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN IN THE 1990S, AUSTIN NEEDED A LARGE FACILITY FOR MEETINGS.

WE HAVE THAT.

UM, AND AT THAT TIME, THE NATIONAL CONVENTION BUSINESS WAS GROWING AS WAS AUSTIN, BUT THAT WAS 30 YEARS AGO.

AND TIMES HAVE CHANGED THE, IN THE LAST 30 YEARS, THE CONVENTION INDUSTRY NATIONWIDE HAS BEEN A BUSINESS MODEL IN DECLINE.

I THINK YOU'VE ALL SEEN THE STUDIES THAT REFER TO THAT, UM, AND DOES, BUT AT THE SAME TIME THAT THAT BUSINESS HAS BEEN IN DECLINE, DOZENS MORE CONVENTION CENTERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE BEEN BUILT AND EXPANDED.

UH, THE US HAS A GLUT OF CONVENTION CENTERS, AND WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING IS TO ADD MORE SUPPLY INTO WHAT IS ALREADY A SUPPLY GLUT.

UH, AUSTIN HAS A GREAT CONVENTION CENTER.

IT'S U-S-G-B-C-L-E-E-D GOLD EEB CERTIFIED.

IT STRETCHES OVER SIX CITY BLOCKS.

IT'S 881,000 GROSS SQUARE FEET.

UH, ACCORDING TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S OWN WEBSITE, UH, THE MOST RECENT EXPANSIONS IN 10 US CITIES, CHICAGO, LAS VEGAS, SEATTLE, PHILADELPHIA, HAVE ALL FAILED TO MEET THEIR REVENUE PROJECTIONS.

SO LET'S LEARN FROM THESE CITIES' MISTAKES AND SPEND OUR TAX DOLLARS AND STUFF THAT TRULY BENEFITS CITIZENS AND VISITORS.

MOREOVER, SIZE OF CONVENTION CENTERS, NOT PROPORTIONAL TO ATTRACTED BUSINESS PERFORMANCE BASED ON COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES, WHICH ARE RELATED TO SURROUNDINGS.

UM, 94% OF THE CONVENTIONS OF THE UNITED STATES ARE, UH, UNDER 500,000 SQUARE FEET FACILITIES.

AND, AND OUR FACILITIES ALMOST 900,000.

PRESERVE THE PRESERVE THE NEIL CONCERN MEMORIAL AUSTIN.

THANK YOU JIM EDWARDS AND, UM, ROY WHALEY.

BILL BUNCH HAS TIME DONATED BY MONICA GUZMAN.

SO HE GETS FOUR MINUTES.

GOOD MORNING, UH, BILL BUNCH, UH, SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE DISTRICT FIVE, SPEAKING AGAINST ITEM 40, WHICH CALLS ON YOU TODAY TO APPROVE A $45 MILLION INCREASE IN THE DESIGN AND ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT FOR THE DEMOLITION OF OUR CURRENT CONVENTION CENTER AND RE UH, BUILDING A NEW ONE.

UM, THAT'S, UH, OVER A TWO THIRDS, OVER 66% INCREASE FROM THE CURRENT COST, 65 MILLION.

SO ADDING 45 FOR A TOTAL OF $110 MILLION FOR JUST THE DESIGN AND ENGINEERING SERVICES.

NOW, YOUR BACKUP, YOUR STAFF SAYS, OH, BUT THE, THE, THE BUDGET THAT WAS APPROVED BY THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL, THE 1.26 BILLION THAT YOUR STAFF KEEPS THROWING AROUND, UH, HASN'T CHANGED.

SO THE OBVIOUS QUESTION IS, WHERE DID $45 MILLION DISAPPEAR FROM? WHERE DID, WHERE DID THAT CUT TO MAKE UP FOR THIS INCREASE, UH, COME FROM? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE THE PROJECT? UM, THE BIGGER QUESTION, A RELATED QUESTION, AND AGAIN, I HOPE YOU ASK ALL OF THESE AND ASK 'EM IN PUBLIC TODAY, IS THAT GENERALLY SPEAKING, UH, PROJECT AFTER PROJECT THAT Y'ALL APPROVE ALL THE TIME, THE DESIGN AND ENGINEERING CONTRACT IS A PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL.

SO IF WE'RE INCREASING THE DESIGN AND ENGINEERING BY 66%, THERE'S A VERY STRONG IMPLICATION THAT THE TOTAL PROJECT IS GONNA INCREASE BY THE SAME RATIO.

SO CAN WE CALL THE CITY STAFF ON THE TABLE RIGHT NOW AND ADDRESS THIS ISSUE INSTEAD OF BEING MISLED, UH, DOWN THIS PRIMROSE PATH FURTHER? UM, COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YOU'VE ASKED REPEATEDLY TO GET AN ACTUAL FINANCIAL REPORT ON THIS PROJECT THAT PROJECTS REVENUES IDENTIFIES THE REVENUES PROJECTS, ALL THE COSTS, THE MAJOR COSTS, NOT JUST THE BUMPER STICKER CONSTRUCTION COST, BUT THE INTEREST PAYMENTS OVER 30 YEARS.

FINANCING COSTS, ALL THE RELATED FINANCING COSTS, THE O AND M COSTS.

UM, YOU HAVE IN Q AND A WRITTEN ALSO TO COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN FROM YOUR STAFF SAYING THAT THE STAFF IS RESERVING $5.6 BILLION BILLION OF REVENUE OVER THE 30 YEAR FINANCING WINDOW.

DID Y'ALL KNOW THAT? WERE ANY OF YOU AWARE OF THAT? WELL, WHERE DID THAT $5.6 BILLION FIGURE COME FROM? THEY DIDN'T JUST, YOU KNOW,

[00:50:01]

PULL IT OUT OF THE AIR.

THERE'S A REPORT THAT LAYS OUT THAT PROJECTION AND THE COMPONENTS OF IT.

THAT SAME Q AND A SAYS ANNUAL OPERATING COSTS ARE GONNA BE O AND M $80 MILLION.

DID Y'ALL KNOW THAT? $80 MILLION JUST TO KEEP IT GOING YEAR AFTER YEAR.

IT, THIS IS INSANE TO BE HEADING INTO A PROJECT THAT YOU KNOW IS GONNA BE A LOSER WITHOUT DOING BASIC DUE DILIGENCE AND DEMANDING YOUR STAFF THE ANSWER TO COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN AFTER HE ASKED THREE TIMES.

WE'LL GET IT TO YOU AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

DO WE HAVE IT YET? NO.

NO.

THAT WAS THREE WEEKS AGO.

THIS IS, THIS IS UNBELIEVABLY INSANE AND STUPID AND CORRUPT.

IT'S CORRUPT.

LET'S JUST PUT THAT RIGHT THERE ON THE TABLE.

Y'ALL NEED TO TELL THE TRUTH TO THE PUBLIC AND YOU NEED TO STOP, STOP THIS INSANITY.

STOP THE INSANITY OF LOSING THE ART IN PUBLIC PLACES.

GET THAT FUNDED AND FIXED, TAKEN CARE OF.

AND THEN TELL THE TRUTH.

THANK YOU PUBLIC BEFORE YOU START AUDI, ROY WHALEY, AUSTIN SIERRA CLUB.

I WANT TO THANK ALL THE PREVIOUS SPEAKERS.

UH, THEY WERE OUTSTANDING, LOADED WITH INFORMATION.

YOU KNOW WHAT'S A DAMN SHAME ABOUT IT IS NONE OF Y'ALL ARE LISTENING.

Y'ALL ARE SETTING UP THERE DOING WHAT? SPEAKERS COME DOWN THERE AND SPEND THEIR TIME, GIVE YOU IMPORTANT INFORMATION.

AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING? WHAT ARE YOU DOING? ARE YOU GOING BACK AND PLAYING WORDS WITH FRIENDS LIKE A, A PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEMBER DID ON THE, I MEAN, I, IT IS, IT IS DISGUSTING TO ME TO KNOW THAT Y'ALL WERE ELECTED TO LISTEN TO THE CITIZENS AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER.

I WANT TO GIVE YOU CREDIT BECAUSE TYPICALLY YOU DO LISTEN TO THE SPEAKERS.

I DON'T ALWAYS AGREE WITH YOUR DECISIONS, BUT AT LEAST YOU LISTEN TO SPEAKERS AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

AND SAME THING FOR YOU, JOSE, FOR COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ.

UH, I APPRECIATE IT.

MORE TIMES THAN NOT, YOU LISTEN, MOST OF YOU IGNORE US WHEN WE COME UP HERE.

WHY THE HELL DID WE VOTE FOR YOU? WHAT ARE Y'ALL DOING UP HERE? IF YOU'RE NOT GONNA REPRESENT THE CITY, THE CITIZENS, IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS BOONDOGGLE WASTE OF MONEY INTO A, A PAPER SHREDDER AND ACTUALLY SPEND THE MONEY ON THINGS THAT DO BENEFIT THE CITY OF AUSTIN PARTICULARLY, WE'RE GOING TO BE DEALING WITH MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES SOON.

AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE JUST A FRACTION OF THE MONEY TO DO IT.

AND WE DON'T HAVE TO DO IT THAT WAY.

WE DON'T HAVE TO STRUCTURE IT THIS WAY.

IT'S ALREADY BEEN SAID.

I APPRECIATE A PREVIOUS SPEAKER TALKING ABOUT HOW EVERY MAJOR CITY IN IN TEXAS IS TRYING TO GET THIS BUSINESS THAT IS FAILING.

THAT IS FAILING.

WHY DO WE WANT TO DO THAT? BEATING THE HELL OUT.

ITEM NUMBER 41, MONICA GUZMAN.

OH 42 CATHERINE GRIFFIN.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.

THIS IS MY FIRST TIME AT GENE MEETING AND BOY IS IT EYEOPENING.

UM, THE REASON I'M HERE IS, IS BECAUSE IF YOU'D STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, I'M SORRY.

I'M CATHERINE GRIFFIN.

UM, I'M THE EXECUTOR FOR MARIA CELESTE COLEY'S ESTATE.

AND UH, BASICALLY, UM, WE WERE CONTACTED THROUGH OUR REAL ESTATE AGENT THAT THE CITY WOULD LIKE TO MAKE AN OFFER TO ACQUIRE THE PROPERTY AND INCLUDE IT INTO A PARK SYSTEM.

AND WE WERE OVERJOYED TO HEAR THAT.

AND SO I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A PROCESS FOR THE NAMING OF THE PARKS, BUT I JUST WANTED TO PUT FORTH THE FACT THAT SHE WAS VERY INVOLVED IN THE CITY, UH, HISTORY.

UM, HER FAMILY HAS BEEN HERE SINCE THE 18 HUNDREDS AND UM, SO I WILL FILL OUT THE APPROPRIATE PAPERWORK, BUT I JUST WANTED TO PUT HER NAME FORTH FOR Y'ALL'S CONSIDERATION OF NAMING THAT PART.

[00:55:01]

YES, I, IF I MAY SPEAKER MA'AM? MA'AM, MA'AM.

MS. GRIFFIN.

OH, I'M SORRY.

COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON HAS A QUESTION OR A COMMENT.

OH, COMMENT.

I JUST WANTED TO CONGRATULATE YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION.

IT CAN BE INTIMIDATING.

SO THANK YOU FOR COMING TO THE PEOPLE'S BUILDING TO PARTICIPATE TODAY.

IT IT, WHEN YOU SAID IT'S EYEOPENING, YOU PROBABLY NOTICED THAT THERE'S SOME CONSISTENCY WITH SOME OF THE SPEAKERS.

SOME OF THESE PEOPLE ARE HERE ALL THE TIME AND THEY SEEM VERY COMFORTABLE AND YOU WERE IGNORED ALL THE TIME.

AND FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, I WASN'T MR. WHALEY.

MR. WHALEY, FOR EVERY CITIZEN THAT COMES AND SPEAK TO YOU, I WASN'T COMPLAINING ABOUT THEM BEING HERE ALL THE TIME.

I WAS ACTUALLY, I WAS ACTUALLY WANTING TO SAY THANK THEM.

I ABSOLUTELY APPRECIATE THE CONSISTENCY WITH WHICH THEY ADVOCATE FOR THEIR CITY.

SO DESPITE WHAT YOU THOUGHT I WAS THANKING Y'ALL FOR ALWAYS SHOWING UP, FOR TAKING YOUR TIME AND SHOWING UP AND SHARING WITH US IN ADVOCACY, IN ADVOCACY FOR YOUR CITY.

I THINK WE ALL SHARE THAT.

AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY FOR SOMEBODY FOR WHO'S IT'S YOUR FIRST TIME, IT CAN BE INTIMIDATING, BUT THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING.

AND I PUT EMPHASIS ON THAT ALL THE TIME 'CAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE DON'T COME ALL THE TIME OR DON'T COME EVER OR NEVER GET TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THAT THERE'S AN ART GALLERY IN CITY HALL OR THE BEAUTIFUL COPPER OR I JUST, I, I REALLY PERSONALLY, VERY MUCH AS A PERSON WHO WAS NOT POLITICALLY AMBITIOUS COMING INTO THIS, SO MUCH OF IT WAS EYEOPENING AND BRAND NEW.

I REALLY APPRECIATE WHEN PEOPLE TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET OVER THE ANXIETY AND FEAR AND JUST DO IT AND THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU CAST MEMBER.

NEXT ITEM IS ITEM NUMBER 45 ENOVIA JOSEPH.

MS. JOSEPH.

THANK YOU MAYOR.

COUNSEL 1 2 2 0 1 HEATHERLY DRIVE IS THE PROPERTY BEFORE YOU HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

IT'S IN SOUTH AUSTIN, 330 UNITS.

MY OPPOSITION IS THAT IT'S TWO MILE WALK TO THE BUS STOP.

I WANNA CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION, DEBORAH ARCHER'S VANDERBILT LAW REVIEWED ARTICLE THAT TALKS ABOUT THE CONTAINMENT STRATEGY.

MAYOR, WHEN'S THE LAST TIME YOU WALKED A MILE TO THE GROCERY STORE? MAYBE TWO.

I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE AS A POINT OF REFERENCE, DECEMBER 15TH, 2020, TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT PUT THE BUS STOP DISTANCE TO THESE PROPERTIES.

IT'S A ONE TO FIVE MILE WALK.

I WANNA REMIND YOU OF YOUR SMART POLICY MIXED INCOME.

I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THAT T IS FOR TRANSIT ORIENTED AND SPECIFICALLY YOU CONTINUE TO PUT BLACK AND HISPANIC PEOPLE ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE CITY LIKE A COCONUT CITY OR MAYBE JUNIOR MINTS.

I JUST WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE RESPECTFULLY, THIS STRATEGY OF HAVING SHUTTLE SERVICE GOES AGAINST THE AUSTIN STRATEGIC MOBILITY PLAN AND ALL THE EQUITY THAT YOU TALK ABOUT IN THE CITY IN 2020, NOVEMBER, 2020, YOUR MINORITY CHAMBERS DID A STUDY AND SPECIFICALLY AFRICAN AMERICANS AT THAT TIME EARNED ABOUT $42,000 HISPANICS, $50,000.

THIS PROPERTY IS 50 TO 60% AREA MEDIAN INCOME.

IT'S ABOUT, SO DO THE MATH.

YOU ARE PUTTING HISPANICS AND AFRICAN AMERICANS OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND, AND IT'S NOT RIGHT.

YOUR STAFF SAYS THERE IS NO FISCAL IMPACT TO THE CITY.

THAT'S TRUE.

BUT AUSTIN, AFFORDABLE HOUSING CORPORATION THROUGH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, THIS PUBLIC FACILITY CORPORATION ADDS TO THE DISCRIMINATION THAT'S OCCURRING IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

IT'S NOT COMPLIANT WITH THE FAIR HOUSING ACT OF 1968.

I WOULD ASK YOU TO DO BETTER, MAYOR.

IF YOU WANT US TO BELIEVE THAT YOU'RE NOT RACIST, THEN DO SOMETHING THAT WILL SHOW US OTHERWISE, I WOULD ASK YOU TO VOTE DOWN THIS ITEM.

IT'S $71 MILLION.

IT'S $40,000 PUBLIC ACTIVITY BONDS ON THE AGENDA TODAY.

UM, MEMBERS ON THE NEXT ITEM IS ITEM NUMBER 46 AND I'M GONNA ASK LEGAL TO COME UP AND GIVE US A PRESENTATION ON ITEM NUMBER 46.

GOOD MORNING MAYOR.

MAYOR PROAM AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I'M SARAH SCHAEFER, ACTING LITIGATION DIVISION CHIEF.

I'M HERE TO TODAY TO RECOMMEND THAT YOU APPROVE, UM, SETTLEMENT PAYMENT IN THE PERSONAL INJURY LAWSUIT THAT APPEARS IN YOUR AGENDA AS ITEM 46.

THIS IS THE LOPEZ VERSUS CITY OF AUSTIN LAWSUIT.

WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT YOU APPROVE A PAYMENT OF $135,000 TO SETTLE THE ESTELLA ANGELICA LUCAS LOPEZ VERSUS CITY OF AUSTIN LAWSUIT.

THIS LAWSUIT RELATES TO A MARCH, 2022 VEHICLE COLLISION INVOLVING AN AUSTIN RESOURCE RECOVERY GARBAGE TRUCK WHERE MS. LOPEZ SEEKS PAYMENT FOR HER INJURIES IN EXCHANGE FOR THE

[01:00:01]

PAYMENT.

UM, THE PLAINTIFF WILL RELEASE ANY AND ALL CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY FROM THE ACCIDENT AND WILL ALSO DISMISS HER LAWSUIT, WHICH WAS FILED IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF TRAVIS COUNTY.

THE LAW DEPARTMENT IS RECOMMENDING THAT YOU APPROVE PAYMENT BASED ON THESE TERMS AND I'M AVAILABLE IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS.

THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION MEMBERS.

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF COUNSEL? THANK YOU.

MADAM CLERK.

NEXT SPEAKER FOR ITEM 59.

IS MARY EDMONDSON.

MARY EDMONDSON? IS SHE ON REMOTE? SHE'S REMOTE, YES.

GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME'S MARY EDMONDSON.

I AM PRESIDENT OF THE TEXAS BURGLAR AND FIRE ALARM ASSOCIATION OR T-B-F-A-A.

WE ARE A NON, UH, NOT-FOR-PROFIT STATEWIDE ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL SECURITY AND FIRE ALARM COMPANIES.

OUR MEMBER COMPANIES INSTALL, INTEGRATE, MAINTAIN, AND MONITOR INTRUSION AND FIRE DETECTION, VIDEO SURVEILLANCE, ELECTRONIC ACCESS CONTROL SYSTEM, AND OTHER ELECTRONIC AUTOMATION SYSTEM.

AS A FELLOW LONG-TERM MEMBER OF THE FALSE ALARM REDUCTION ASSOCIATION ALONG WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN, WE SUPPORT YOUR EFFORTS TO REDUCE FALSE ALARMS. WE RECOGNIZE THE URGENCY OF FREEING UP SCARCE RESOURCES TO ALLOW PUBLIC SAFETY TO CONTINUE AND TO KEEP US ALL SAFE.

UH, WE SUPPORT REQUIRING THAT ALARM COMPANIES VERIFY ALARM LEGITIMACY THROUGH REASONABLE, SENSIBLE AND EFFECTIVE METHODS OUTLINED IN YOUR DRAFT.

UH, WE'VE WORKED WITH CITIES THROUGHOUT TEXAS TO STRENGTHEN THEIR FALSE ALARM REDUCTION EFFORTS AND HAVE LEARNED A FEW THINGS ABOUT HOW TO IMPLEMENT STEPS THAT COMPLY WITH FIRE CODES AND THE TEXAS LAW.

WE FULLY SUPPORT THE OBJECTIVES LAID OUT IN THE RESOLUTION AND WE WOULD APPRECIATE AND WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH MR. BROAD MAX OR ANYONE ELSE TO REDUCE FALSE ALARMS AND IMPLEMENT VOLUNTARY A PD ACCESS TO SECURITY CAMERAS DURING EMERGENCIES.

THAT'S ALL I HAD.

NEXT SPEAKER IS MONICA GUZMAN SPEAKING ON ITEM 59.

MS. GUZMAN, YOU WISH TO SPEAK? I'M SORRY.

SECOND? NO.

OKAY, SHE'S PASSING ON ITEM 59.

THE NEXT ITEM IS ITEM NUMBER 62.

AND THAT IS CRAIG NASER, FOLLOWED BY BILL BUNCH, MEGAN MEISENBACH, ROY WHALEY AND BOBBY LEVINSKY.

HELLO, CRAIG NAER, LONE STAR CHAPTER SIERRA CLUB.

UH, ON THE ONE HAND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS ROBUST AND EXCELLENT, A WASTEWATER TREATMENT AS WE CAN GET.

AND WE ALREADY HAVE A GOOD PLAN OUT THERE.

WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IS EXPANDING THE PLAN BEFORE, UH, THAT WE NEED IT.

'CAUSE IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME.

AND WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING, AT LEAST MORE THAN WHAT I SEE US DOING IS CONSERVING WATER.

AND THE MORE WE CONSERVE WATER, THE LESS WE WILL HAVE TO TREAT.

THERE ARE THINGS LIKE PURPLE PIPE, THERE ARE THINGS LIKE RAINWATER COLLECTION.

UM, BUT WE, WE HAVE A REAL WATER PROBLEM COMING UP AND WE LOSE 15% OF OUR WATER IN LEAKY PIPES.

NOW I LOOK THIS UP AND THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MANY YEARS AND I WAS TOLD MANY YEARS AGO THAT THAT'S JUST INDUSTRY STANDARD.

WELL, RIGHT NOW I'M TESTIFYING A LOT AT, AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT WATER.

AND SOONER OR LATER THAT REQUIREMENT'S GONNA GO UP BECAUSE WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO LOSE 15% OF OUR POTABLE WATER AND LEAKY PIPES.

THAT'LL BE EXPENSIVE TO FIX.

AND WE NEED TO HAVE SOME MONEY TO FIX THAT.

WE REALLY DO.

AND IF WE SPEND TOO MUCH ON TREATMENT AHEAD OF TIME BEFORE WE NEED IT, I'M WORRIED WE WON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO GO FORWARD.

NOW, ONCE AGAIN, I HAVEN'T SEEN ALL THE DETAILS ABOUT, ABOUT EXACTLY HOW THIS WILL WORK.

SO I'M, I PUT MYSELF DOWN AS NEUTRAL 'CAUSE WE DO NEED TO TREAT OUR WATER CLEANLY.

BUT I AM VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE WE AREN'T DOING ENOUGH TO ABOUT WATER SAVING.

THE WATER WE GOT, WE HAVE TO DO THAT.

WE HAVE TO.

IT'S, IT'S GONNA COME DOWN ON US.

EITHER WE'RE GONNA DO IT AHEAD OF TIME OR SOMEONE'S GONNA MAKE US DO IT.

SO ANYWAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

BRAND NEW AND HOT OFF THE PRESENCE.

AND, AND JUST BECAUSE YOU MENTIONED LEAKY PIPES YESTERDAY IN THE AUDIT, MR. NASER YESTERDAY IN THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE, UH, WE RECEIVED A REPORT FROM OUR AUDITOR'S OFFICE WITH REGARD TO WATER MAINS AND PIPES.

AND, AND YOU MIGHT WANNA LOOK AT THAT.

IT'S

[01:05:01]

OKAY, THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCILWOMAN.

MY NAME'S BOB LAVINSKY.

I'M AN ATTORNEY WITH THE SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE.

UM, BEFORE YOU, UH, TODAY I'VE GOT A SHEET THAT I PASSED OUT.

I'M HOPING YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THAT EITHER TODAY OR IN THE FUTURE.

THIS ITEM WILL COME BACK TO YOU.

UM, ITEM 62 WOULD INITIATE CODE AMENDMENTS INCLUDING ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS TO SUPPORT THE PROPOSED BILLION DOLLAR EXPANSION OF THE WALNUT CREEK WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.

UM, IT, THE EXPANSION WOULD INCREASE THE CAPACITY OF THE PLANT FROM 75 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY TO A HUNDRED MILLION GALLONS PER DAY.

THAT THUS THEN INCREASES THE AMOUNT OF TREATED EFFLUENT THAT'S BEING DUMPED INTO WALNUT CREEK IN AN AREA THAT DOESN'T HAVE AS HIGH AS ENVIRONMENTAL INTEGRITY AS A LOT OF THE OTHER CREEKS THAT WE HAVE IN THE CITY.

UM, FROM A FINANCIAL, UH, PERSPECTIVE, THIS IS WHERE AUSTIN IS OFTEN CONSERVATION CURIOUS.

WE, UH, OFTEN ADOPT BOLD PLANS FOR CONSERVATION, BUT WE DON'T ACHIEVE THE SAVINGS FROM, UH, AVOIDING THESE LARGE SCALE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS SUCH AS THIS ONE.

UM, THAT THAT IS ONE OF THE BIG BENEFITS OF CONSERVATION, UM, IS THAT YOU CAN AVOID THIS MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE COST.

I SERVED ON THE COST OF SERVICE STUDY LAST YEAR WITH THE AUSTIN, UH, WATER UTILITY THAT RESULTED IN THE, UH, 10% INCREASE IN RESIDENTIAL RATES LAST YEAR.

UM, THAT WAS 20% FOR CAP.

SO FOR THE LOWEST INCOME, UH, FAMILIES, THAT WAS A 20% INCREASE ON THEIR WATER RATES.

WE CAN AVOID THIS, UM, BY NOT DOING PROJECTS LIKE THIS.

AND THE GOOD NEWS FOR THIS PROJECT, UM, I'VE GOT A COUPLE CHARTS HERE ON THIS SHEET THAT SHOWS THAT WE'RE NOT IN AN URGENT NEED TO EXPAND THIS FACILITY UNDER THE T CQS, UM, 75 90 RULE.

YES, THERE WAS A MOMENTARY BLIP THAT, UH, IN, UH, FOR THE 75% CAPACITY THAT THEN TRIGGERED THE NEED TO START PLANNING FOR THE EXPANSION.

BUT UNTIL THE FACILITY HITS THAT 90% FIGURE, THAT'S WHEN YOU HAVE TO START DOING THE CONSTRUCTION FOR IT.

SO IF YOU CAN DELAY THE CAPITAL COST FOR THIS, UM, YOU CAN DELAY THE COST INCREASE FOR YOUR RESIDENTS AND POTENTIALLY LOWER THE WATER RATES YOU'VE ALREADY.

THANK YOU MR. LAVINSKY.

MAYOR COUNSEL, UH, BILL BUNCH ALSO WILL SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE SPEAKING ON ITEM 62, WHICH IS HAVING YOU INITIATE CODE AMENDMENTS THAT WOULD RELAX, UH, WEAKEN WATER QUALITY PROTECTION RULES, EROSION AND CREEK PROTECTION TO BUILD THIS UH, BILLION DOLLAR OVER A BILLION DOLLAR EXPANSION TO THE WALNUT CREEK WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.

UM, IT'S RATHER VAGUE WHAT'S BEING, UH, GONNA BE DONE WITH THIS.

I, I ASSUME WE'LL LEARN ALONG THE WAY.

UH, BUT JUST TO PICK UP A LITTLE BIT ON WHAT MR. LAVINSKY WAS JUST SAYING, THIS IS ONCE AGAIN, OUR FUNDING PRIORITIES ARE UPSIDE DOWN.

UM, THERE IS NO REASON WHY THE, THE LOADING TO THE WALNUT TREE CREEK TREATMENT PLANT HAS GONE UP SO RAPIDLY.

UM, THAT'S ALMOST CERTAINLY BECAUSE OF LEAKY PIPES HAVING IN INFILTRATION AND INFLOW.

UM, AND ALSO PERHAPS FROM SOME LARGE DISCHARGES, THIS IS WHERE IF THE, IF THE WATER UTILITY WAS DOING ITS JOB, ESPECIALLY IN THE FACE OF WE ARE NOT GONNA HAVE THE WATER TO TREAT AND GENERATE SEWAGE TO EVEN NEED THIS EXPANSION, I MEAN, MAYBE AT SOME POINT WE MIGHT NEED A, A, A MARGINAL INCREASE, 10 MGD, BUT SPENDING A BILLION DOLLARS TO, UH, INCREASE CAPACITY BY MORE THAN BY ROUGHLY 30, 25 TO 30% RIGHT NOW, WHEN WE HAVEN'T DONE EVERYTHING WE CAN TO REDUCE THE INPUT THROUGH CONSERVATION INVESTMENTS.

UH, THE, THE UTILITY'S NOT GONNA DO IT UNTIL Y'ALL TELL 'EM TO.

AND THIS IS IN THE FACE OF OUR LAKES BEING ALMOST EMPTY.

AND YOU'RE PLANNING AS IF, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA JUST KEEP PUMPING MORE AND MORE WATER AND GENERATING MORE AND MORE SEWAGE THAT HAS TO BE TREATED.

AND YOU'RE NOT INCREASING THE QUALITY OF EFFLUENT EITHER, EVEN THOUGH YOUR RESOLUTION.

MEGAN MEISENBACH, MEGAN MEISENBACH, ROY WHALEY.

MR. WHALEY, HOW DO Y'ALL, ROY WHALEY? I DON'T USUALLY BLOW MY BISCUITS LIKE THAT, BUT IT IS FRUSTRATING.

UH, AND I PARTICULARLY WANT TO APOLOGIZE TO COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, WHO JUST SPOKE WITH ME.

I MEANT NO DISRESPECT AND I DIDN'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT YOU

[01:10:01]

WHEN YOU WERE SPEAKING.

I APOLOGIZE.

UM, I AGREE AGAIN WITH MY FRIEND BOBBY LEVINSKY, AND I THANK YOU MAYOR, FOR POINTING OUT THE STUDY THAT WAS JUST DONE.

YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER BACK WHEN WE WERE DOING WTP FOUR WATER TREATMENT PLANT FOUR, THAT THE NUMBERS SHOWED THAT WE'RE LOSING ENOUGH WATER, THAT WE DIDN'T NEED TO SPEND A BILLION DOLLARS FOR A WATER TREATMENT PLANT, BUT WE DID.

WE COULD HAVE REPAIRED OUR WATER LINES.

THERE IS A STREET IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD THAT EVERY SUMMER THEY REPLACE THE WATER LINES ABOUT FIVE FEET AT A TIME INSTEAD OF JUST DOING THE JOB EFFICIENTLY.

UM, WE CAN'T KEEP INVITING PEOPLE TO COME HERE AND USE OUR WATER IF WE DON'T HAVE WATER.

WE HAVE GOT TO GET REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT WATER REUSE.

IT'S NOT THAT WE DON'T HAVE WATER, WE DON'T USE IT EFFECTIVELY.

AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT, ONCE AGAIN, A A WATER TREATMENT PLANT IS, IS THE NECESSARY WAY TO GO.

OF COURSE, I MAY NOT HAVE THE INFORMATION I NEED TO MAKE A A DECISION ON THAT.

I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE MORE INFORMATION, BUT IT'S NOT ALWAYS AVAILABLE.

I JUST WANT TO, AGAIN AND AGAIN, YES, THE STATE OF TEXAS IS TALKING ABOUT, UH, WATER AS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE, BUT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT MOVING IT FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER PLACE THAT'S NOT CREATING WATER.

WE DON'T HAVE A RECIPE TO CREATE WATER.

WE HAVE WATER.

LET'S USE IT MORE EFFICIENTLY.

LET'S USE IT MORE EFFECTIVELY.

I ENJOYED READING THE ARTICLE THIS MORNING, AND I THANK YOU AGAIN.

THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF THE CONSENT SPEAKERS MEMBERS, AS YOU'VE HEARD.

THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE CONSENT SPEAKERS.

UH, AGAIN, FOR PURPOSES OF THE RECORD, UH, ITEM NUMBER 62, THE CONSENT ITEM WILL BE THE VERSION TWO THAT WAS POSTED, UH, EARLIER THIS WEEK ON THE MESSAGE BOARD.

AND THEN BACKUP PULLED ITEMS ARE ITEMS 2 58 AND 1 0 3.

THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

MOTIONS MADE BY COUNT NINE.

IT'S NOT ON CONSENT.

UM, ITEM NUMBER 79 IS A PUBLIC HEARING.

IT'S A PUBLIC HEARING, AND AS I SAID AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING, PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE NOT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

SO, UM, THE MOTION IS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL.

IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, UH, DISCUSSION ON THE ITEM.

AND I WILL RECOGNIZE FIRST COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL.

NOONE DOSES, AND THEY'RE SAVING HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE'S OF LIVES, HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE'S LIVES, ESPECIALLY AMERIPRO.

UM, THIS IS A, A PACKED CONSENT AGENDA.

SO I HAVE A FEW COMMENTS TO MAKE, BUT I FIRST WANNA ADDRESS THE KIND OF, UM, ACCUSATION THAT WE'RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION UP HERE.

UM, I, I TAKE THAT SERIOUSLY AS SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN ON THE DAES BASICALLY A LITTLE MORE THAN TWO MONTHS.

UM, Y'ALL CAN'T SEE WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE, BUT, UH, I'LL JUST SAY FOR MYSELF, WHEN A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC COMES UP AND MENTIONS SOMETHING, FOR EXAMPLE, ONE OF OUR SPEAKERS MENTIONED, UH, A CHARTER SCHOOL IN DISTRICT SEVEN, WHERE THERE'S AN UNSAFE, UH, BUS ACCESS POINT.

AND SO WHAT I WAS DOING WHILE SHE WAS SPEAKING WAS LOOKING UP THAT LOCATION AND ASKING MY STAFF TO SPEAK WITH CAP METRO ABOUT THAT.

UH, WHEN ANOTHER SPEAKER WAS, UH, REFERENCING A, A QUESTION AND ANSWER RESPONSE REGARDING THE CONVENTION CENTER, I WAS LOOKING UP THE BACKUP.

SO, JUST BECAUSE I'M NOT MAKING EYE CONTACT WITH A SPEAKER, ESPECIALLY A SPEAKER WHO'S BEEN HERE FIVE TIMES TODAY AND 20 TIMES ALREADY THIS YEAR, THAT DOESN'T MEAN I'M NOT LISTENING.

AND I, I TAKE IT SERIOUSLY WHEN THERE'S AN ALLEGATION THAT WE'RE NOT HERE TO DO OUR JOBS.

BECAUSE I KNOW FROM MY SHORT TIME ON COUNCIL THAT EVERYONE HERE TAKES THEIR JOB EXTREMELY SERIOUSLY.

AND WE FEEL THE HUNDREDS OF, UH, CONSTITUENT, UH, REQUESTS EVERY WEEK.

WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH AGENDA ITEMS THAT ARE PACKED WITH VERY DETAILED ITEMS. AND SO WE, WE WORK HARD HERE.

AND, UM, THE SPEAKER WHO MADE THAT ALLEGATION HAS ACTUALLY BEEN IN MY OFFICE TO SPEAK ABOUT VERY DETAILED ISSUES.

SO I, I DON'T THINK THAT WAS MADE IN GOOD FAITH.

UM, BUT THAT SAID, I DO WANNA THANK EVERYONE WHO COMES FORWARD TO SPEAK WITH US, UM, THAT HIGHLIGHTS DIFFERENT CONCERNS IN THE COMMUNITY 'CAUSE THAT IS OUR JOB.

UM, REGARDING THE CONSENT AGENDA, UM, I WANNA HIGHLIGHT A FEW THINGS THAT I, I REALLY WANNA LIFT UP.

UH, ITEMS 48 THROUGH 56 ARE PUBLIC HEALTH CONTRACTS.

AND THESE SUPPORT CRITICAL LIFESAVING COMMUNITY SERVICES FOR MANY VULNERABLE AUSTINITES.

AND THESE ARE VERY IMPORTANT PROGRAMS. FOR EXAMPLE, UH, MY STAFF IS MET WITH THE FOLKS FROM TEXAS HARM REDUCTION ALLIANCE ABOUT ITEM 52, WHICH FUNDS THE ORGANIZATION'S DROP IN CENTER, WHERE ABOUT 70 PEOPLE A DAY RECEIVE TREATMENT, LIFE SAVING SUPPLIES, CLOTHING, SHOWERS, HIV, AND HEPATITIS C TESTING AND MORE.

LAST YEAR, THEY, THEY DISTRIBUTED OVER 4,000 NARCAN DOSES, OVER 6,000

[01:15:01]

TEMP FUENTES COUNCIL MEMBER, VELASQUEZ COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER FOR ADVOCATING FOR RA'S ORIGINAL CONTRACT ALSO, ITEM 48, UH, IS FOR SAFE.

AND YOU KNOW, THEY PROVIDE HOUSING, EMERGENCY SHELTER CRITICAL RESOURCES FOR SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, INCLUDING MEDICAL CARE, THERAPEUTIC SERVICES, LEGAL ASSISTANCE.

AND THEY, THEY PROVIDE HOUSING AND SHELTER FOR 900 PEOPLE IN AUSTIN EVERY NIGHT, UH, OFFERING SAFETY, DIGNITY, AND HOPE TO SURVIVORS OF VIOLENCE IN THEIR FAMILIES.

AND HOUSING IS THE NUMBER ONE REQUESTED RESOURCE FOR THEIR SAFE LINE, UM, HIGHLIGHTING THE CITY'S CRITICAL NEED FOR ADDITIONAL EMERGENCY SHELTER OPTIONS.

AND SO THE COMMUNITY SHELTER THAT SAFE IS, UH, OPERATING WILL CREATE 40 NEW UNITS AND PROVIDE LIFESAVING OPPORTUNITIES TO THOUSANDS OF SURVIVORS OVER ITS LIFETIME.

UM, SO THESE PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE FUNDING THROUGH PUBLIC HEALTH ARE MORE IMPORTANT NOW THAN EVER, UH, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE WE'VE LOST SOME CRITICAL FEDERAL FUNDING UNDER THE ARPA PROGRAM.

UM, INCLUDING MOST RECENTLY, $2 MILLION THAT WAS CUT BY CONGRESS, UH, THAT WAS ALREADY EARMARKED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR SAFE.

AND SO THIS IS SOMETHING WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO PAY A LOT OF ATTENTION, ATTENTION TO IN THE, IN THE DAYS AND YEARS AHEAD, TO MAKE SURE WE CAN FUND THESE LIFE SAVING, UH, SERVICES AND PROGRAMS. UM, ON ITEM 59, I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM TO ADDRESS THE LARGE NUMBER OF REPEATED FALSE ALARMS THAT ARE PULLING AWAY SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC SAFETY RESOURCES.

UH, MY HOPE IS THAT THIS ITEM WILL ENHANCE PUBLIC SAFETY BY REDUCING THE NUMBER OF FALSE FIRE ALARMS, FALSE BURGLARY ALARMS AND MORE.

IT'S ALSO MY HOPE THAT THESE TYPES OF POLICIES WILL REDUCE THE TYPES OF CALLS THAT CURRENTLY WE HAVE TO UTILIZE SWORN OFFICERS FOR WHEN OTHER RESPONSES ARE MORE APPROPRIATE.

AND THAT WAY THIS ITEM IS, IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH OUR CITY'S EFFORTS TO REDIRECT, FOR EXAMPLE, MENTAL HEALTH CALLS TO MEDICAL AND SOCIAL WORK PROFESSIONALS INSTEAD OF POLICE TO FREE UP OFFICERS FOR, YOU KNOW, HIGHER PRIORITY, UM, PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS.

AND ALSO, I JUST WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER'S, UM, UH, WORK TO, UH, I GUESS ADDRESS CONCERNS MY OFFICE HAD ABOUT MASS SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY AND CIVIL LIBERTIES.

UM, WE'VE CLARIFIED THAT THERE'S A PROVISION IN THIS RESOLUTION TO MAKE SURE THAT PRIVATE SECURITY, SECURITY CAMERAS, UH, THEY MAY BE USED BY POLICE, BUT WE'RE NOT AUTHORIZING THAT.

AND WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S SAFEGUARDS AND GUARD RAILS FOR ANY PROGRAM THE CITY MANAGER PUTS FORWARD, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE IS ABLE TO REVIEW SUCH POLICIES BEFORE THEY'RE IMPLEMENTED.

UM, AND FINALLY, ON ITEM 62, THANK YOU MAYOR, FOR INVITING ME TO CO-SPONSOR THIS COMMON SENSE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT.

UH, THIS IS THE KIND OF INVESTMENT THAT'S ESSENTIAL.

UH, YOU KNOW, ONE OF OUR BIGGEST CONCERNS AS A COMMUNITY IS HOUSING, RIGHT? THAT CITY OF AUSTIN WORKERS CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE IN THIS CITY.

THAT OUR BLACK AND LATINO COMMUNITIES ARE BEING PUSHED OUT, THAT PEOPLE GRADUATING FROM OUR LOCAL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE.

AND SO WE NEED TO FIND ROOM FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO LIVE IN THE CITY LIMITS, AND THAT REQUIRES US TO ENHANCE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE ALONG THE WAY.

SO THIS TO ME, FITS VERY MUCH IN LINE WITH THAT.

COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL.

COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, AND COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.

I WAS WONDERING IF I COULD, UH, ASK THE CONVENTION CENTER STAFF UP TO GET A CLARIFICATION ON A COUPLE QUESTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED.

GOOD MORNING.

KATIE'S MESSING.

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR.

I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD FIRST, UH, JUST RESPOND TO THE QUESTION ABOUT THE, UH, PROJECT FINANCING ZONE, WHETHER THAT IS JUST THE STATE SHARE OF HOTEL TAX OR THE CITY SHARE AS WELL.

IT IS JUST THE STATE SHARE.

AND THAT'S HOW THE BILL SPECIFICALLY READ? THAT IS CORRECT.

SO SOMEBODY COULD READ THE BILL AND KNOW THAT THAT IS CORRECT.

AND SECONDLY, I JUST WANT THAT WE, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS LAST TIME, BUT JUST TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ALL OPERATING FROM THE SAME SET OF FACTS HERE.

WE DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO TAKE HOTEL TAXES AND SPEND IT ON A PARK ACQUISITION OR HOMELESSNESS, OR, YOU KNOW, PICK A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT AREN'T TOURISM RELATED OR DIRECTLY ALLOWED FOR BY STATE STATUTE.

IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.

SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT AFFORDABILITY, WE CAN'T TAKE THIS MONEY AND PUT IT INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING? THAT IS CORRECT.

UM, THAT'S, THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO CLARIFY THIS MORNING.

I APPRECIATE YOU COMING BACK UP.

ARE FALSE ALARMS. SO WE ARE SPENDING A TON OF TIME AND RESOURCES WHEN, YOU KNOW, IT COULD BE SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS SOMEONE ACCIDENTALLY BUMPING THE, THE SENSOR OR, OR SOMETHING ELSE.

UM, AND THEN I DO HAVE ONE COMMENT ON PLEASE, PLEASE.

THANK YOU FOR THAT.

ABSOLUTELY.

AS, AS, UH, COUNCILLOR SIEGEL MENTIONED, UH, WE'VE BEEN WORKING FOR A WHILE ON THE ISSUE OF FALSE ALARMS. AND I WAS BLOWN AWAY WHEN I LEARNED THAT 5% OF ALL OF OUR CALLS ARE FOR BURGLAR ALARMS, AND 95% OF THOSE

[01:20:01]

SO WHAT THIS ITEM IS HOPING TO ADDRESS IS HOW WE CAN MORE SMARTLY UTILIZE, UH, OUR POLICE OFFICERS WHO ARE THE ONES WHO OFTEN RESPOND TO THESE CALLS AND TAKES THEM AWAY FROM OTHER AREAS WHERE, WHERE WE WANT THEM TO BE IN, UH, IN THE PUBLIC AND IN SOCIETY.

SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS TAKING SOME VERY COMMON SENSE STEPS.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE, UH, BURGLAR ALARM COMPANIES VERIFY A THREAT, UH, IF THEY CAN BEFORE DOING DISPATCH, MAKING SURE THAT, UH, IF YOU ARE A UNPERMITTED SYSTEM, THAT WE'RE ENFORCING THE RULES, THAT YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO DO THAT.

UH, WE HAVE PERMITS FOR A REASON, AND SO WE DON'T WANT THESE UNPERMITTED SYSTEMS TO PROLIFERATE.

AND LASTLY, IF, IF JUST CONTINUES OVER AND OVER AGAIN, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE MORE SIGNIFICANT STEPS OF, YOU KNOW, MEETING WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND FIGURING OUT WHY YOU KEEP HAVING FALSE ALARMS AND TAKING VITAL PUBLIC RESOURCES FOR THAT PURPOSE.

SO I REALLY WANT TO THANK COUNCILOR VELAZQUEZ.

COUNCILOR VELA, COUNCILOR LANE, COUNCILOR SIEGEL, UH, FOR CO-SPONSORING.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SOLVING THIS VERY SOLVABLE PROBLEM SO THAT WE CAN BE SMARTER AS A CITY AS IT RELATES TO UTILIZING OUR PUBLIC SAFETY RESOURCES.

THEN COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ.

COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

AND, UH, UH, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR.

I DON'T NEED TO OFFICIALLY BE AT IT AS A CO-SPONSOR, BUT I DO APPRECIATE THAT CONSIDERATION.

UM, FOR 21 YEARS I WAS MARRIED INTO THE AUSTIN FIRE FAMILY AND JUST RECOGNIZING HOW MANY TIMES THEY WAKE UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT TO ANSWER CALLS FOR FALSE ALARMS. AND YOU KNOW, WHAT THAT DOES TO IMPACT SLEEP FOR SOME OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

SO FOR A WHOLE HOST OF REASONS, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU DIGGING INTO THIS.

I THINK SO FREQUENTLY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE, YOU KNOW, HOW FINITE OUR RESOURCES ARE, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DON'T NECESSARILY TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO IS TAKE A LOOK WITHIN AND JUST SEE HOW MUCH WE ALREADY HAVE IN OUR COUCH CUSHIONS THAT WE JUST NEED TO, UM, GIVE A LITTLE VACUUM.

SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT TO THE, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN, .

SO THANK YOU FOR DAYLIGHT IN THAT.

SO THERE ARE QUITE A FEW, UH, ITEMS ON THIS CONSENT AGENDA FOR DISTRICT ONE.

I'LL BE QUICK.

WE HAVE A LONG AGENDA.

ITEM NUMBER 36, THE CARVER MUSEUM EXPANSION.

THE CARVER IS A VITAL, UM, CULTURAL INSTITUTION ON THE EAST SIDE WITH PROGRAMMING THAT CELEBRATES AND UPLIFTS ART CULTURE, HERITAGE OF THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.

UM, AND IT WAS OUR FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY MUSEUM.

AND I'M SAD TO SAY IT, BUT, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I CONSIDERED DURING THE COURSE OF ALL THE CONSIDERATIONS ABOUT WHAT MIGHT BE DIFFERENT WITH OUR NEW FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION, UM, GIVEN THAT THREE BLACK HISTORY A MONTH EVENTS, EVENTS THAT I GO TO ANNUALLY WERE CANCELED THIS YEAR.

UM, I, I FULLY INTENDED TO JUST NOT TOUCH FEDERAL POLITICS.

'CAUSE IT AIN'T WHAT I DO.

IT'S OUTTA MY JURISDICTION.

I PLAN TO JUST GO LA LA LA LA FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.

BUT IT'S ACTUALLY TOUCHING MY DISTRICT NOW, IN WHICH CASE I, I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT WE HAVE ALREADY MADE THIS INVESTMENT AND JUST WANNA MAKE CERTAIN THAT AS A COMMUNITY, THINGS THAT ARE CALLED AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL HERITAGE, WHATEVER THE THING IS, AREN'T COMPROMISED BY WAY OF ANY RULE, UM, AT ANY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT.

UM, THESE IMPROVEMENTS WILL ENHANCE VISITOR EXPERIENCES AT THE CARVER, EXPAND PROGRAMMING OPPORTUNITIES AND ENSURE THAT THE MUSEUM REMAINS A WELCOMING, VIBRANT SPACE FOR AUSTIN VISITORS TO ENJOY.

UM, MOVING ON TO MOBILITY REGARDING ITEM NUMBER 38.

THERE ARE CRITICAL SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS COMING TO THE HEFLIN SPRINGDALE, MLK INTERSECTION.

ANYBODY WHO'S EVER GONE DOWN MLK AND TRIED TO MAKE A RIGHT ON SPRINGDALE, YOU SEE THAT THING THAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT THERE AT HEFLIN? THANK YOU, JESUS.

THEY'RE GONNA FIX THAT.

UM, THIS INTERSECTION HAS LONG BEEN A SAFETY CONCERN FOR RESIDENTS WITH HIGH, HIGH PEDESTRIAN AND VEHICLE TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENTS WILL ENHANCE ACCESSIBILITY, VISIBILITY, TRAFFIC FLOW, MAKING IT SAFE FOR EVERYONE, DRIVERS, CYCLISTS, AND PEDESTRIANS ALIKE.

WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE THAT'S ALPHA IAN FRANKLIN THAT'S THIS SAME KIND OF WACKY PACK OF A MOBILITY THING.

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

I SEE YOU SHAKING YOUR HEAD AND I HOPE WE CAN ADDRESS ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

AND I JUST WANNA BE CLEAR, YOU KNOW, TO YOUR POINT, COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, ABOUT WHEN WE ARE LISTENING, LITERALLY 95% OF THE WORK THAT WE GET DONE OUT OF THE DISTRICT ONE OFFICE COMES DIRECTLY FROM CONSTITUENTS.

WE HAD A SPEAKER EARLIER TODAY WHO SAID THEM SOME THINGS THAT REALLY TOUCHED ON, UM, SOME THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO ME AND THAT HAVE CAUSED CONCERN FOR ME TOO.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO DO IS LIKE, WHEN WE'RE NOT LOOKING, I'M TRYING TO FIND MY STAFF SO THEY CAN COME FIND YOU AND TALK TO YOU ABOUT THAT THING YOU JUST SAID.

UM, SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THE, THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO BROUGHT THESE CONCERNS AROUND TRANSIT AND MOBILITY SAFETY TO OUR ATTENTION.

AND THEN LASTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR MAYOR.

THANK YOU MR. MAYOR, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND

[01:25:01]

COLLABORATION WITH MY OFFICE ON ITEM NUMBER 62 REGARDING THE WALNUT CREEK WATERSHED, OR I'M SORRY, WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.

UM, WE HAD A COUPLE OF, UM, FOLKS WHO SPOKE, UM, TO MY HEART, FRANKLY TODAY ABOUT WATER.

BUT MR. WHALEY, AND I PROMISE YOU, THIS IS NOT ME, OLIVE BRANCH, AND WE DON'T NEED THE OLIVE BRANCH.

AND BY THE WAY, FOLKS, MR. WHALEY, MR. WHALEY SOLD ME MY FIRST HOUSE.

I KNOW THAT MAN.

AND SO I'M NOT OFFENDED BY YOU BEING PASSIONATE.

I APPRECIATE YOUR PASSION.

I JUST THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH A CONSTITUENT ONE TIME, UM, AND HE WAS LIKE FUSSING AT ME, BUT WE WERE SAYING THE SAME THING.

I WAS LIKE, WHY ARE WE YELLING ? AND SO THEN HE SAYS, YOU'RE MY REPRESENTATIVE.

IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE.

I SAID, IT ABSOLUTELY IS.

AND YOU'RE MY REPRESENTATIVE.

IT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY TO GIVE YOU A HARD TIME.

I WAS LIKE, UH, NOW THAT PART, I DUNNO.

I THINK THE WAY THE SYSTEM IS SET UP IS A SET UP FOR ALL OF US, FOR US, AND FOR Y'ALL.

THE WAY THE SYSTEM IS SET UP FOR US TO COMMUNICATE, TO DISSEMINATE INFORMATION.

TEXAS OPEN MEETING.

I HATE KEEPING SECRETS, Y'ALL.

TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACTS IN AND OF ITSELF PROHIBITS US FROM SHARING.

I HATE IT.

I HATE THE WAY WE EXCHANGE INFORMATION AND ENGAGE AND, AND PARTICIPATE WITH ONE ANOTHER BECAUSE I THINK FOLKS THINK IT HAS TO BE CONTENTIOUS.

JUST SO YOU KNOW, NOT TONE POLICE, NOT MINIMIZING YOUR ABILITY TO UTILIZE YOUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS, BUT JUST SO YOU KNOW, THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN YOU AND POLICYMAKERS BEING GOOD AND YOU GUYS BEING ABLE TO EVEN IDEOLOGICALLY BE OPPOSED, BUT STILL UNDERSTAND WHERE ONE ANOTHER IS COMING FROM AND WORK TOWARDS POSITIVE CHANGE FOR THE OVERALL GREATER GOOD OF THE GENERAL AUSTIN CITIZENRY AND THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE.

Y'ALL KNOW, WE CAN DO THAT TOGETHER WITHOUT DAMAGING ONE ANOTHER'S MENTAL HEALTH.

IT'S A POSSIBILITY.

TRY IT.

IT'S FUN.

WE GET TO JUST EXCHANGE INFORMATION.

AND EVEN IF AT THE END OF IT YOU SAY, I DON'T LIKE THAT, AND I DIDN'T LIKE THAT VOTE.

AND I SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, I'M SORRY THAT THAT WAS THE CASE, BUT I VOTED WITH MY HEART AND MY INTEGRITY.

SHAKE HANDS, SEE AT THE HEB AT MUELLER.

AND THAT'S IT.

THAT'S HOW OUR RELATIONSHIP IS SUPPOSED TO GO.

AND I HOPE THAT WE ALL CAN MAKE THE COMMITMENT TO JUST BEING GENERALLY BETTER ABOUT COMMUNICATING EFFECTIVELY AND PRODUCTIVELY YELLING AT EACH OTHER DOES NOT DO IT.

I SWEAR.

AND SO I, I JUST, I, I LIKE WHEN Y'ALL TESTIFY, I LIKE WHEN Y'ALL TELL US WHAT YOU'RE THINKING.

AND TO MY POINT, LITERALLY 95% OF WHAT WE DO COMES DIRECTLY FROM THE MOUTHS OF THE PEOPLE WHO BRING IT TO US.

'CAUSE YOU CAN'T BE EVERYWHERE ALL THE TIME.

SO THANK Y'ALL.

I APPRECIATE Y'ALL BEING A PART OF THIS EXPERIENCE FORWARD TO CONTINUE TO WORKING WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND OUR CITY STAFF, UM, TO JUST KEEP TALKING ABOUT WATER.

'CAUSE MR. WHALEY THE POINT THAT YOU MADE ABOUT US JUST NOT USING IT, RIGHT? EVERY DAY I WATCH MY NEIGHBORS PUT POTABLE WATER ON GRASS, I WANT TO CRAWL INTO THE GUTTER.

UM, IT DRIVES ME ABSOLUTELY NUTS THAT WE DON'T USE WATER LIKE A PREMIUM.

SURE, IF YOU WANT A LUSH ENGLISH GARDEN FULL OF ST.

AUGUSTINE, GO FOR IT.

BUT YOU PAY MORE IF YOU'RE NOT GROWING FOOD.

YOU DON'T GET TO USE WATER WILLY-NILLY.

UM, AND I THINK JUST FROM A CONSTRUCTION PERSPECTIVE, US LIKE WE CAN'T RETROFIT CAPTURING GRAY WATER, BUT WE CERTAINLY CAN DO IT ON THE FRONT END.

SO TO YOUR POINT, MR. WHALEY, I REALLY HOPE THAT WE JUST DO A BETTER JOB.

AND TO YOUR POINT ALSO, MR. BUNCH OF RECOGNIZING WE CAN MOVE IT, WE CAN TRY TO ADJUST THE SYSTEMS. BUT THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS, ALL OF US HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO BE EARTH WISE AND JUST CHANGE SOME THINGS.

BEHAVIORAL THINGS.

DON'T THOUGHT CHICKEN BY TURNING ON THE WATER AND LETTING IT RUN FOR AN HOUR.

YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE.

IF YOU'RE WASHING YOUR HANDS, WET LATHER, TURN IT OFF.

RINSE IF YOU'RE IN THE SHOWER, WET LATHER, TURN IT OFF.

RINSE.

THESE ARE BASIC THINGS THAT ARE JUST A PART OF OUR STEWARDSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO BE AN EARTH WISE.

'CAUSE WE CARE ABOUT EACH OTHER AND WE HAVE TO SHARE THIS PLACE.

WE DON'T WANT IT, WE NEED IT.

SO, UM, I THINK I'M DONE, MR. MAYOR, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME.

I APPRECIATE IT.

COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER LANE.

UH, AND I WANT TO TOUCH ON SOMETHING, UH, THE COUNCIL MEMBER JUST SAID, UH, THE MILLER, HEBI PROBABLY HAVE THE MOST CONSTITUENT INTERACTIONS IN THAT HEB .

UH, I CAN'T, I CAN'T GO INTO IT WITHOUT RUNNING INTO SOMEONE, WHICH IS, WHICH IS GREAT.

UM, WANNA BRIEFLY TOUCH ON ITEM 49.

IT WAS A, A BUDGET AMENDMENT THAT MY OFFICE SPONSORED BACK IN 2023.

UH, IT STEMS FROM, YOU KNOW, THE FOOD ACCESS, LACK OF FOOD ACCESS SERVICES FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS.

UH, I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE ANOTHER 12 MONTHS ADDED, UH, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CENTRAL TEXAS, UH, FOOD BANK TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING STUDENTS THAT ARE EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY.

UH, AND I REALLY WANT TO THANK THE COLLEGE STUDENT COMMISSION FOR INITIALLY RECOMMENDING THIS ITEM, UH, TO BRINGING UP THIS ISSUE.

AND I'M PROUD THAT WE'RE CONTINUING TO WORK ON A VERY IMPORTANT, UH, TOPIC.

THAT'S IT.

COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER LANE, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN.

I, I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE, IF, UH, MY WAS THROWING SHADE AT THE, AT OTHER HEBS, BUT MY HE EB IS EAST SEVENTH STREET, SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE, WE PUT UP THE FLAG

[01:30:01]

FOR HIM OVER THERE.

UM, I WANT TO ECHO SOME OF THE SENTIMENTS BY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF GREAT THINGS ON THE AUSTIN, UH, PUBLIC HEALTH FOR AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH.

ON THE AGENDA THIS WEEK, I WANNA HIGHLIGHT TWO DISTRICT THREE ORGANIZATIONS, A COUPLE OF WHICH, UH, COUNCILMAN SIEGEL TOUCHED ON.

UM, AND, UH, THESE ORGANIZATIONS ARE DOING LIFESAVING WORK HERE IN THE CITY, AND I'M EXCITED THAT WE GET TO SUPPORT THEM ON ITEM 48.

UH, THE FUNDS FOR SAFE, IT'S AN ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES SHELTER, PEER SUPPORT, LEGAL SUPPORT, HOUSING, AND SO MUCH MORE TO SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

AND AS A LOT OF THE FOLKS HERE ON THE DIOCESE KNOW, THAT IS A, A, A VERY PERSONAL ISSUE TO ME.

UM, ITEM 51 FUND FUNDS FOR THE TEXAS HARM REDUCTION ALLIANCE.

AN ORGANIZATION THAT DOES COMMUNITY DRIVEN PUBLIC HEALTH THROUGH STREET OUTREACH AND DROP-IN SERVICES.

I WAS, UH, HAVING A COFFEE WITH THE ED MAGGIE LUNA, UH, THE OTHER DAY.

AND SHE INDICATED HOW JUST A FEW DAYS BEFORE THEY HAD AN INDIVIDUAL DRIVE UP THAT WAS OVERDOSING.

THEY ADMINISTERED NARCAN AND SAVED HIS LIFE RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF THEIR SHOP ON CESAR CHAVEZ.

THEY ARE SAVING LIVES AND, AND I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THESE TWO ORGANIZATIONS AND I'M SO PROUD WE CAN GO GET THEIR BACK.

COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER LANE, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.

DISTRICT SIX DOESN'T MAKE IT DOWN HERE THAT OFTEN AS FAR THERE AREN'T VERY MANY TRANSIT SOLUTIONS TO HELP US LEAVE OUR CARS BEHIND.

UM, SO I WILL REPRESENT DISTRICT SIX, WHICH IS IN THE NORTHERN AND NORTHWESTERN SUBURBS OF AUSTIN.

I, UM, WILL NOT GO ON AS LONG AS I COULD, BUT I DO HAVE A FEW COMMENTS.

UM, SO RELATING TO NUMBER 31 AND 32, WHICH IS SAFE STREETS AND ROADS FOR ALL.

I WOULD LIKE TO PULL FORWARD SOME OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT THAT WE HEARD ABOUT THE AREA NORTH OF 180 3 AND SPECIFICALLY NORTH OF 180 3 AND LAMAR, BECAUSE 180 3 THEN CONTINUES TRAVELING NORTHWARD AND BECOMES A MAJOR CORRIDOR THAT RUNS THROUGH DISTRICT SIX.

UM, THAT AREA THAT OUR PUBLIC COMMENTER MENTIONED AS AN IMMIGRANT GATEWAY WHERE MANY BLACK AND LATINOS LIVE.

I JUST WANT TO ELEVATE THAT.

WE ALSO HAVE MANY MEMBERS OF OUR ASIAN COMMUNITY, ASIAN IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY LIVING IN THE NORTHERN SUBURBS, BOTH NORTHWEST AND NORTHEAST, AND WHO HAVE MORE LIMITED ACCESS TO OUR CITY SERVICES AND DON'T ALWAYS HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD AND ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME, UM, LACK OF TRANSIT OPTIONS THAT OUR PUBLIC COMMENTERS SPOKE ON.

SO, UM, I WILL ALSO NOTE THAT WE'VE HAD MANY, MANY APARTMENT COMPLEXES POPPING UP ALONG ALL KINDS OF ROADS THAT GOT MENTIONED IN PUBLIC AND BEYOND NORTH LAMAR PALMER, THE 180 3 CORRIDOR FROM 35 TO MOPAC AND THEN NORTHWARD THROUGH D 6 6 20.

AND WHICH THEN BECOMES 45, UM, CROSSES EAST WEST ACROSS OUR NORTHERN SUBURBS.

THE TRANSIT SOLUTIONS, UM, THE SIDEWALKS, WHICH IS ITSELF A TRANSIT SOLUTION WHEN THERE IS NOT A BUS, UM, HAVE NOT DEVELOPED ON THESE TEXTILE ROADS ALONG WITH THAT DENSITY.

AND I SHARE THE CONCERN THAT I HEARD, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH MY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ALSO REPRESENT THE NORTHERN SUBURBS TO FIND SAFE WAYS FOR PEOPLE TO WALK AND BIKE ALONG THESE VERY HEAVILY TRAFFICKED AND DANGEROUS ROADWAYS SO THEY'RE NOT DODGING DITCHES AND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS.

UM, ALONG THE WAY.

THERE ARE MULTIPLE MAJOR ROADWAYS IN MY DISTRICT THAT HAVE DIRT PATHS WORN ALL THE WAY UP AND DOWN THEM WITHOUT A BUS GOING ALONG THEM AS WELL.

UM, SO THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME A LITTLE LONGER ON THAT PARTICULAR ONE.

I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO VOICE MY STRONG SUPPORT, UM, AND HAPPY TO HEAR THE COMMENTS OF MY COLLEAGUES ABOUT NUMBER 59 RELATING TO FALSE ALARMS. BETTER TAILORING OUR 9 1 1 RESPONSE TO THE NEED IS WHAT GOOD GOVERNMENT LOOKS LIKE, CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT OF THE SYSTEMS WE HAVE SO WE CAN MORE EFFECTIVELY USE OUR FINANCIAL RESOURCES AND SAVE TAX DOLLARS BY USING THEM EFFECTIVELY, IS WHAT I'M HERE TO SUPPORT.

I WANNA THANK EVERYONE FOR THE COMMENTS THEY'VE ALREADY MADE ON THIS TOPIC.

UH, I AM ALSO WOULD LIKE TO VOICE STRONG SUPPORT FOR NUMBER 62, THE WALNUT CREEK WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLAN.

WE SORELY NEED INVESTMENT IN OUR WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE, BOTH CAPACITY BECAUSE OF THE GROWTH THAT HAS HAPPENED IN AUSTIN, AND ALSO CAPITAL INVESTMENT IN AREAS WHERE WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE IS FAILING BECAUSE OF AGE AND OTHER CONCERNS.

WE ALSO NEED CAPITAL INVESTMENT IN OUR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE WHERE IT IS AGING AND LEAKING AT EVER INCREASING RATES.

UM, IT IS NOT AN EITHER OR.

WE NEED TO DO BOTH.

WE'VE GOTTA BE ABLE TO FLUSH OUR TOILETS.

YOU NEED WATER AND WASTEWATER FOR THAT.

UM, AND THEN FINALLY, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO MAKE A VERY BRIEF COMMENT ABOUT DECORUM.

UM, FAIRLY NEW TO CITY HALL.

I'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN OTHER BOARD MEETINGS, UM, INCLUDING SCHOOL BOARD.

AND RARELY HAVE I BEEN IN A ROOM WHERE THERE WAS A DISRUPTION AS SIGNIFICANT AS THAT AND A WARNING WAS NOT ISSUED OR THAT INDIVIDUAL WAS NOT REMOVED.

NOW I KNOW SOME PEOPLE ARE HERE A LOT, THEY DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS.

[01:35:01]

AND WHEN SOMEONE WHO'S VERY FAMILIAR TO EVERYONE DISRUPTS SIGNIFICANTLY AND DOESN'T, UM, HAVE A WARNING OR, OR ANY STATEMENT AROUND DECORUM, IT CREATES AN INHOSPITABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE NEWER TO THE SPACE.

SO I'M NEW.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT OUR CITY HALL RULES ARE, BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE, UM, PLEASE DON'T YELL OUT AND DISRUPT THE FLOW OF THE MEETING.

WE'VE GOT A LOT TO GET THROUGH.

COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.

FIRST I WANT TO JUST ECHO A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL SAID REGARDING THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE UP IN THE DIOCESE.

I'M FIGURING THEM OUT AS WELL, BUT OFTEN WE'RE JUGGLING FOUR OR FIVE DIFFERENT THINGS, UH, OFTEN RELATED TO THE SAME THING THAT THE SPEAKER IS ADDRESSING.

AND I WISH I HAD EXTRA ARMS AND EXTRA EYES AND MAYBE AN EXTRA CLONE OR TWO.

BUT THE REALITY IS THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, MULTITASKING THAT HAS TO HAPPEN AS WE'RE TRYING TO INVESTIGATE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT MAY ACTUALLY BE SPOKEN ABOUT IN THE MOMENT.

UM, I WANT TO TOUCH ON REALLY THE TWO ISSUES THAT BROUGHT ABOUT SOME CONTENTION THIS MORNING, WHICH ARE ITEMS 40 AND 62.

THAT'S THE CONVENTION CENTER AT WALNUT CREEK EXPANSION.

I STRUGGLED WITH THESE ITEMS BECAUSE THEY ARE BIG TICKET BILLION DOLLAR ITEMS. YESTERDAY WE HAD AN UPDATE AT AUTUMN FINANCE THAT INDICATED THAT WITH OUR CURRENT, UH, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, WE'RE GONNA BE ASKING EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM TO BE PAYING ABOUT ANOTHER 37% OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.

AND SO THAT'S WITHOUT A NEW BOND, THAT'S WITHOUT ANY KIND OF OTHER, UH, EXPENSE.

AND, AND PART OF THOSE DRIVERS ARE GONNA BE THE CONVECTION CENTER AND THE WALNUT TREAT WALNUT CREEK EXPANSION.

UH, SO I THINK IN LIGHT OF THESE NOT BEING, YOU KNOW, UH, MILLION DOLLAR, TENS OF MILLIONS DOLLARS, BUT INSTEAD BILLION DOLLAR PROJECTS, I FEEL LIKE THEY DO WARRANT ADDITIONAL SCRUTINY.

I FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD BE, WE SHOULD ERR ON PROVIDING MORE INFORMATION WHERE POSSIBLE.

UM, I THINK IT WAS FRUSTRATING FOR MY TEAM TO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE EXPENSES, THE ADDITIONAL DESIGN COSTS WERE RELATED TO THE CONVENTION CENTER.

UM, IT REQUIRED SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH FINANCE.

UM, AND THE ITEM DESCRIPTION I FIND FRUSTRATING.

AND THEN THERE WAS THE POINT THAT THE, THAT, THAT, UM, MR. BUNCH MADE, WHICH IS WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR CERTAIN DATA FROM THE CONVENTION CENTER FOLKS FOR UPWARDS OF TWO AND A HALF MONTHS NOW.

AND I WISH THAT IT, UH, ULTIMATELY WE ARE GIVEN INFORMATION AND SOME OF THAT INFORMATION IS HELPFUL AND SOME OF IT SEEMS CONTRADICTORY, UH, BUT SOME OF IT'S ALSO INCOMPLETE.

AND SO WE HAVE TO RUN OUR OWN GAP ANALYSIS ON THAT INFORMATION TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE REQUESTED, WHAT WE'VE BEEN, WHAT WE'VE RECEIVED SUCCESSFULLY, AND WHAT WE'RE STILL MISSING.

UM, AND RIGHT NOW THAT'S A FAIRLY LENGTHY AND ONEROUS PROCESS FOR SOMETHING THAT WE WERE CRY TO TAKE VOTES ON.

SO I'M VOTING NO ON THIS ITEM, UM, PARTLY IN, IN THE, IN THE NEED OF JUST ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT WE'RE STILL REQUESTING.

AND THEN ON 62, THE WALNUT CREEK EXPANSION.

UH, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'VE HEARD CONCERNS ABOUT OVER THE LAST YEAR, UM, THAT I THINK, UH, MR. LEBINSKI RAISED SOME OF THEM THAT I'VE HEARD, I'VE HEARD OTHERS INCLUDING THAT WE'VE, UH, IN SOME CASES COMPARED SIMILAR EXPANSIONS TO OTHER CITY'S EXPANSIONS.

AND OURS TURNED OUT TO BE A LOT MORE EXPENSIVE FOR REASONS THAT I'M STILL TRYING TO UNDERSTAND.

UM, SO IN LIGHT OF THOSE CONCERNS AND THE LACK OF, UM, THE LACK OF COMPLETE INFORMATION THAT I CURRENTLY HAVE, I'M GONNA BE UPSTANDING IN THAT TOO.

THANK COUNCIL MEMBER.

COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.

THAT 'CAUSE I KNOW WE'VE DONE A NUMBER OF PILOT PROJECTS WITH USING DIFFERENT TYPES OF CONCRETE, UH, AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS, UH, CONTRACT DID NOT IN AND OF ITSELF PRECLUDE US FROM USING ANY OTHER TYPES OF CONCRETE.

I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION FOR TRANSPORTATION PUBLIC WORKS ON ITEM 32.

WELL DONE.

THAT WAS FUN.

ANNA MARTIN, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, TPW, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

UH, MS. MARTIN, UH, I JUST WANTED TO, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE ISSUING THIS, UH, CONTRACT, UH, UH, TO PROVIDE BASICALLY CONCRETE CEMENT, UH, TO THE, THE CITY.

UH, THIS, DOES THIS, WOULD THIS CONTRACT PRECLUDE THE USE OF OTHER TYPES OF CONCRETE PERMEABLE OR THE LOW CARBON EMBODIED CONTRACT? NO, IT WOULD NOT.

WE WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH A CHANGE ORDER PROCESS, BUT WE COULD, UM, USE A DIFFERENT TYPE OF CONCRETE IN THE FUTURE.

OKAY, GREAT.

I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY

[01:40:01]

THANK YOU COUNCILMAN BAILEY.

THAT BEING ALL THE DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, UM, OKAY.

I, I KNOW I ALREADY SPOKE AND I I APOLOGIZE FOR GOING, BUT I, BUT I THINK IT'S JUST REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WHEN WE ESPECIALLY HAVE THE PUBLIC HERE, WE ALL OPERATE FROM THE SAME SET OF FACTS.

FACTS ARE IMPORTANT AND THEY MAKE DECISION, THEY INFORM OUR DECISIONS HERE.

AND I RESPECT, UM, YOU KNOW, MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN HAVING A DIFFERENT, UM, CONCLUSION BASED ON THOSE FACTS.

BUT PROPERTY TAXES WILL NOT BE AFFECTED BY THE WASTEWATER.

THE WALNUT CREEK WASTEWATER PLANT PROPERTY TAXES WILL NOT BE AFFECTED BY THE CONVENTION CENTER.

THOSE ARE REVENUE BONDS SUPPORTED BY DIFFERENT FORMS OF FUNDING.

THEY COME FROM DIFFERENT EITHER TAXES OR WATER.

YOUR WATER BILL, YOUR WATER BILL WILL BE AFFECTED.

AND THAT'S, THAT IS IN THE, THE MATERIALS PROVIDED BY, UH, MR. LEVINSKY.

AND THAT'S A DISCUSSION WE SHOULD HAVE AND, AND A WEIGHING OF WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S WORTH IT.

BUT WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE DECISIONS WE'RE MAKING AND THE IMPACTS TO THE PUBLIC, IT'S IMPORTANT.

I BELIEVE THAT THE RECORD IS CLEAR THAT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE PROPERTY TAXES, THESE HAVE NO IMPACT ON THAT.

THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER.

THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

LET ME ASK, UH, OTHER THAN COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN ON ITEM NUMBER 62, IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO SHOW THEMSELVES ABSTAINING FROM A CONSENT AGENDA ITEM? ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN RECUSING THEMSELVES FROM A VOTE ON ANY OF THE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? I HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN VOTING NO ON ITEM NUMBER 40.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON ANY ITEM? THAT BEING THE CASE WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN BEING SHOWN ABSTAINING ON 62 AND VOTING NO ON ITEM NUMBER 40.

THAT COMPLETES THE CONSENT AGENDA MEMBERS.

UM, I I'M COGNIZANT OF OUR 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, SO BEAR WITH ME AS I MAY MOVE AROUND ON A COUPLE OF ITEMS SO THAT WE CAN GET BUSINESS DONE AND LET STAFF GO TO OTHER PLACES, UM, ON SOME OF THESE ITEMS. BUT THE ITEM I'M GONNA TAKE UP IS ITEM

[2. Approve a resolution adopting the Animal Services Office Strategic Plan that will provide guidance for operating the Austin Animal Center. Funding: Approval of the strategic plan has no immediate fiscal impact. The future impact will be determined as specific strategies and projects are identified and presented to City Council for implementation.]

NUMBER TWO.

I'M GONNA RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER VELA FOR A MOTION, AND THEN I'M GOING TO ASK HIM TO MOVE TO AMEND THAT WE, I I THOUGHT THERE'S, WHAT I WAS TOLD IS I WAS PREPARING FOR THIS, THAT THERE WAS GONNA BE A VERSION TWO.

THERE'S NOT A VERSION TWO.

AND FOR, FOR CLARITY PURPOSES, WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO, WE'LL DO IT THIS WAY.

WE HAVE A SPEAKER, I WILL CALL ON THE SPEAKER.

WHEN THAT SPEAKER IS COMPLETED, THEN I WILL CALL FOR A VOTE.

COUNCIL MEMBER VELA, UH, UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I WOULD, AND I'M, I'M SORRY.

UH, HE, HE, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA MOVES APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER TWO.

GOT IT.

IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ.

COUNCIL MEMBER VELA WILL NOW RECOGNIZE YOU ON A MOTION TO AMEND IT'S VELA NUMBER ONE, MOTION TO AMEND ITEM NUMBER TWO.

I'M OFFERING AN AMENDMENT TO THE, UH, STRATEGIC PLAN FOR, HANG ON ONE SECOND.

COUNCIL MEMBER, IF YOU'RE SPEAKING, IF YOU'RE IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS AND YOU'RE TALKING, YOU'RE OUT OF ORDER.

AND I WOULD PLEASE ASK YOU TO GO OUT BECAUSE WE HAVE A VERY BUSY AGENDA AND WE'RE TRYING TO GET THROUGH IT.

$5 BILLION.

I'M SORRY, SIR, YOU'RE OUT OF ORDER NOW.

HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.

THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND, AND I APPRECIATE YOU KEEPING ORDER AND, AND DISCIPLINE IN THE, IN THE ROOM.

UH, THE, UH, MY, MY, UH, AMENDMENT DOES TWO THINGS.

THE FIRST IS A, A CUSTOMER SERVICE, UH, FOCUS.

UH, THERE, UH, WE'VE GOTTEN SOME REPORTS ABOUT, UM, MISCOMMUNICATIONS, UH, BETWEEN STAFF AND, AND FOLKS THAT ARE TURNING IN AN ANIMAL OR PICKING UP AN ANIMAL.

IT'S JUST ASKING FOR A FOCUS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE LEFT HAND, THE RIGHT HAND KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON AND THAT WE'RE COMMUNICATING CLEARLY WITH THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

AND, UH, THE SECOND PART OF THE AMENDMENT, UH, WOULD FOCUS ON, UH, EXPANDING AND, AND, AND, UH, UH, RESOURCES AND GETTING GOOD DATA TO THE VARIOUS, UH, COMMITTEES BOTH TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH, UH, COMMITTEE WITH A, A MINIMUM OF ONCE A YEAR REPORTING TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE.

AND THEN OF COURSE, THE REGULAR REPORTING THAT, UH, THE ANIMAL SERVICE OFFICERS DOES TO THE, UH, ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE AS WELL.

UH, AND I'VE WORKED WITH STAFF ON THESE AND, UH, I OFFER THAT AMENDMENT COUNCIL MEMBER VELA MOVES, UM, APPROVAL OR ADOPTION OF A AMENDMENT VELA AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER TWO.

IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ.

UH, DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION TO AMEND.

VELA AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER TWO IS ADOPTED.

THAT'S GONNA TAKE US BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION ON ITEM NUMBER TWO AS AMENDED.

I'LL NOW ASK THE CITY

[01:45:01]

CLERK TO CALL FOR OUR SPEAKER.

SPEAKER PAT SRES.

WELCOME AGAIN.

THANK YOU AGAIN, MAYOR.

AND AGAIN, MY NAME IS PAT SRES AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT THREE.

UM, I SERVED ON THE STRATEGIC PLANNING WORKING GROUP FOR ANIMAL SERVICES THAT YOU ARE, UM, DISCUSSING NOW, AND I AM HERE TO SPEAK ON THAT ITEM.

UM, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER BELA, FOR YOUR MOTION.

I THINK IT'S A VERY GOOD ONE.

I THINK BOTH OF THOSE ISSUES IN THE BE IT RESOLVE SECTIONS WILL FURTHER IMPROVE THE PLAN.

UM, I ALSO WANNA THANK MAYOR PROTE FUENTES, COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE VELASQUEZ, MY COUNCIL MEMBER AND COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN FOR THE EXCELLENT QUESTIONS.

THE THREE OF YOU ASKED AT THE, UH, PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE MEETING EARLIER THIS MONTH.

UM, THOSE QUESTIONS WOULD'VE BEEN QUESTIONS I WOULD'VE RAISED TODAY HAD YOU NOT ALREADY RAISED THEM.

SO I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH.

UM, I AM HERE TO SAY THAT I SUPPORT THE PLAN.

I THINK YOU SHOULD APPROVE IT TODAY.

BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT, UM, I'D LIKE YOU TO CONSIDER, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DUCHEN, AND WHETHER DURING THE PLANNING PROCESS, THE STRATEGIC PLAN PROCESS, THERE WERE PRIORITIES DISCUSSED.

WE DID DISCUSS PRIORITIES AT MEETING NUMBER TWO, AND WE SAID OPEN INTAKE AND SPAY NEUTER WERE PRIORITIES AND WE WANTED TO KEEP DISCUSSING THEM.

WE DID KEEP DISCUSSING THEM, BUT A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE HAD OTHER PRIORITIES AND A LOT OF THE AGENDA EXPANDED AND WE WENT IN LOTS OF DIFFERENT DI DIRECTIONS.

AND NOW THE QUESTION REMAINS, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A CLOSED INTAKE SHELTER? I DON'T THINK WE CAN HANG OUR HAT ON BEING NO KILL AND SAYING, NO KILL IS A GREAT THING IF THE WAY WE ACHIEVE NO KILL IS BY CLOSING INTAKE.

WE JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENS TO THE ANIMALS THAT DON'T COME INTO THE SHELTER.

DO THEY GET KILLED ON THE STREET? DO THEY RUN LOOSE AND BITE CHILDREN? WHAT IS HAPPENING OUT THERE? AND AND COUNCIL MEMBER BELLA, YOUR MOTION HELPS TO ADDRESS THAT.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND FOR YOUR PATIENCE MEMBERS.

THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER TWO.

UM, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

AND, AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, IT IS ITEM NUMBER TWO AS AMENDED BY VELA AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE.

FIRST COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL.

AND THEN I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.

I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER CARBAJAL, WHO HAS FACILITATED THE CREATION OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN, UM, REALLY BRINGING TOGETHER A BROAD ARRAY OF STAKEHOLDERS TO GET SOME CONSENSUS ON QUALITATIVE GOALS FOR ANIMAL SERVICES.

AND I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THESE EFFORTS, UM, AND TO GET BETTER OUTCOMES FOR THE CITY IN THE DAYS AHEAD, FOR OUR DOGS AND CATS, FOR OUR STAFF, FOR OUR VOLUNTEERS.

I KNOW THIS IS NOT EASY WORK.

MY WIFE IS A VETERINARIAN, ACTUALLY HAS A CLINIC IN ALLENDALE, AND THERE ARE NOT EASY ANSWERS TO A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS, UH, AND, AND THE ISSUES THAT ARE FACING ANIMAL SERVICES.

SO I REALLY WANNA THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM, UH, FOR TAKING ON THIS NECESSARY EFFORT.

COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.

UH, I WANT TO ECHO COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL'S COMMENTS.

UH, THANK, UH, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, UH, KAHALA AND ALL THE STAFF AT THE, UH, AT THE SHELTER.

UH, THEY'VE, UH, DONE GREAT WORK ON THIS.

I ALSO WANTED TO THANK, UH, AUSTIN PETS ALIVE AND ALAN JEFFERSON.

I KNOW SHE'S HERE.

THEY'RE ALSO IN SUPPORT OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN.

SO IT'S GREAT TO GET THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY IN SUPPORT OF A, OF A STRATEGIC PLAN THAT, THAT WILL MOVE US FORWARD TO, UH, BETTER SHELTER, BETTER CARE FOR, UH, OUR, OUR, OUR PETS, OUR OUR ANIMALS IN, IN THE COMMUNITY.

GOING TO NOW TAKE US TO ITEM NUMBER 64, WHICH IS AN ITEM FROM A COUNCIL COMMITTEE.

AND, AND I, I, I ECHO THE, THE THANKS THAT, THAT'S BEEN GIVEN, UM, REALLY GOOD WORK.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.

ITEM NUMBER TWO, AS AMENDED IS ADOPTED MEMBERS, I'M

[64. Approve a resolution reappointing Amit Motwani to the Central Health Board of Managers.]

AND I'LL RECOGNIZE THE MAYOR PRO TEM FOR A MOTION ON ITEM NUMBER 64 AS THE CHAIR OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE.

THANK YOU COLLEAGUES.

I MOVE TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION REAPPOINTING EMIT WAN TO THE CENTRAL HEALTH BOARD OF MANAGERS.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE DISCUSSION ON THE ITEM.

THERE'S NO ONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.

IS FROM THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE.

COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, VERY BRIEFLY, MR. MAYOR, I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE WORKING, UM, AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER, AS A, UH, I MEET WAS RUNNING WHEN I WAS FIRST RUNNING IN 2018, BUT THEN, YOU KNOW, HE SERVED ON THE, AND I THINK MAYBE HE'S EVEN STILL SERVING URBAN RENEWAL BOARD.

AND YOU NAME THE THING, HE JUMPS AT THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.

AND HE'S A BRILLIANT MAN.

SO I THINK HE'S REALLY GONNA SERVE WELL IN THIS ROLE.

SO I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO WELCOME, WELCOME HIM ABOARD THE CENTRAL HEALTH, UM, SERVICE POSITION.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION, ITEM NUMBER 64 IS ADOPTED ON ITEM NUMBER 65.

THAT

[65. Approve a resolution appointing Ayo Akande to the Municipal Civil Service Commission. Funding: This item requests the appointment of an individual to a City commission and has no fiscal impact.]

AND I WOULD MOVE THAT WE APPROVE

[01:50:01]

RELU AS CHAIR OF THAT COMMITTEE THAT WE APPROVE RESOLUTION APPOINTING I CONDUCT TO THE MUNICIPAL CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION.

IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.

DISCUSSION.

HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION, ITEM NUMBER 65 IS ADOPTED MEMBERS.

WE WILL NOW

[Items 66, 68 - 72]

GO TO ITEMS 66, 68, 69, 70, 71, AND 72 FOR THE RECORD.

ITEM NUMBER 67 HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN.

UH, THESE ARE IMMINENT DOMAIN ITEMS. SO WITH RESPECT TO ITEMS 66, 68, 69, 70, 71, AND 72, THEY BEING NON-CONSENT CON CONDEMNATION ITEMS, I WILL ACCEPT A MOTION TO THE EFFECT THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF AUSTIN AUTHORIZES THE USE OF THE POWER OF IMMINENT DOMAIN TO ACQUIRE THE PROPERTY SET FORTH AND DESCRIBED IN THE AGENDA FOR THE CURRENT, THIS CURRENT MEETING FOR THE PUBLIC USES THAT ARE DESCRIBED THEREIN.

COUNCIL MEMBER VELA MOVES THAT MAKES THAT MOTION.

IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, FOR THE RECORD, LET ME TURN TO THE CITY CLERK AND ASK IF THERE'S ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THESE ITEMS. THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS, MAYOR MEMBERS.

THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON THOSE ITEMS. IS THERE DISCUSSION ON I THOSE ITEMS AS THEY HAVE BEEN CALLED? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.

ITEMS 66, 68, 69, 70, 71, AND 72 ARE ADOPTED CONSISTENT WITH THE MOTION THAT WAS MADE.

MEMBERS THAT WILL TAKE US PLEASE TO ITEM NUMBER 73.

[73. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance adopting Local Standards of Care for the Parks and Recreation Department's youth programs. Funding: This does not have a fiscal impact.]

UH, 73 IS ONE OF OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS THAT REQUIRES ACTION.

UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 73.

THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN AND I WILL RECOGNIZE, UH, THE MUNICIPAL CLERK.

THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS, MAYOR MEMBERS, THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 73.

SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 73 AND I WILL, UH, REQUEST A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 73.

THE MAYOR PRO TEM MAKES THAT MOTION.

IT IS SECONDED BY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL.

UM, I WAS WONDERING WHETHER HE WAS GOING TO LOOK AT, LOOK AT ME.

UH, AND NOW, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, IS THEIR DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER 73? THERE BEING NONE WITHOUT, UH, OBJECTION.

ITEM NUMBER 73 IS ADOPTED MEMBERS.

WE WILL GO BACK.

WE HAVE, UH, EIGHT MINUTES.

SO WHAT I'M GONNA, BEFORE WE GET TO OUR TIME, CERTAIN OF COURSE IF WE'RE A LITTLE LATE, UH, AS WE START THAT, I JUST WANT EVERYBODY KNOW, I'M TRYING TO BALANCE THE TIMING ON THIS.

WE WILL GO BACK TO ITEM NUMBER

[58. Approve appointments and certain related waivers to citizen boards and commissions, to Council committees and other intergovernmental bodies, and to public facility corporations; removal and replacement of members; and amendments to board and commission bylaws.]

58.

I'LL RECOGNIZE, UH, THE MAYOR PRO TIM WHO PULLED ITEM NUMBER 58.

THANK YOU, UH, COLLEAGUES ON THIS ITEM, I'D LIKE TO DIVIDE THE QUESTION AND MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENTS IN CERTAIN RELATED WAIVERS TO CITIZENS BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, UH, FOR THE NOMINEES LISTED IN WAIVER AND VERSION NUMBER THREE, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE DISTRICT 10 RECOMMENDATION FOR THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD, I'D LIKE TO POSTPONE THAT NOMINATION, UH, JUST A LITTLE BIT SO I CAN, UH, CONNECT, UM, WITH COLLEAGUES AND ADDRESS SOME CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED.

UM, THE MAYOR PRO TEM MOVES TO DIVIDE THE QUESTION ON, UH, ITEM NUMBER 58.

IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ.

IS THERE DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION TO DIVIDE THE QUESTION WITHOUT OBJECTION.

THE MOTION TO DIVIDE THE QUESTION IS ADOPTED.

WE WILL NOW GO, I'LL GO BACK TO THE MAYOR PRO TIM FOR A MO A MAIN MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER 58 WITH THE, THE DIVISION BEING THAT THE RECOMMENDATION OF A PERSON TO BE APPOINTED FROM DISTRICT 10 FOR THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD BE POSTPONED.

AND THE MOTION IS MADE BY THE MAYOR PRO TIM, IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CODRE.

IS THEIR DISCUSSION ON THAT MOTION? YES.

COUN, COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN? UH, WELL, MY CONCERN IS, AND I WANT TO CLARIFY, IS MY APPOINTEE HERE? IS TED HERE? YES.

UH, I'LL NOW RECOGNIZE THE MAYOR PRO TIM, UH, FOR A MOTION TO, UH, POSTPONE THE RECOMMENDATION FROM DISTRICT 10 TO THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD.

SO I'M, I'M WONDERING WHETHER THERE'S NOT A WAY WE CAN JUST, UH, INSTEAD OF POSTPONING ADDRESS ANY CONCERNS THAT THERE ARE ABOUT DISAPP APPOINTEE RIGHT HERE DURING THIS PROCESS.

THERE'S NOT, THERE WE OUT AND SET UP.

THERE'S NOT A, A PROCEDURE THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO FOLLOW THAT WOULD DO THAT RIGHT NOW, UNLESS ON THE MOTION TO POSTPONE.

YOU WANT TO HAVE A DEBATE FOR THAT.

UM, BUT, BUT THAT, AND THAT WOULD BE YOUR, THE NEXT MOTION WILL BE, UH, TO POSTPONE AND WHETHER OR NOT WE, WE DO THAT POSTPONE.

'CAUSE YOU HAVE A DIVISION OF THE QUESTION WHEN WE'RE ON THAT, THAT WOULD BE AN APPROPRIATE TIME, I SUPPOSE, TO DEBATE THE MERITS OF A POSTPONEMENT.

AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE, UH, THE MERITS OF WHETHER OR NOT WE GO FORWARD WITH THAT APPOINTMENT.

OKAY, THEN I'LL WAIT FOR THAT MOMENT TO HAPPEN.

ALRIGHT.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE MAIN MOTION, WHICH ARE THE APPOINTMENTS THAT ARE NOT PART OF THE DIVIDED QUESTION WITHOUT OBJECTION.

THE MAIN MOTION IS ADOPTED.

[01:55:01]

SO MOVED MOTIONS MADE BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM.

IT IS SECONDED, UH, BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.

UH, NOW WE WILL GO TO DISCUSSION ON THAT MOTION.

UM, AND I'LL RECOGNIZE THE MAYOR PRO TEM AND THEN I'LL REC RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.

THANK YOU, UH, COLLEAGUES.

I'M JUST ASKING FOR A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO ADDRESS SOME CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED AND, UH, JUST ASKING FOR A, A COUPLE WEEKS TO RAISE THOSE QUESTIONS WITH COLLEAGUES OFFLINE.

COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.

UH, THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR PERAM.

I WAS, I WAS HOPING TO SORT OF GLEAN FROM THAT I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, KNOW THIS, THIS CANDIDATE OVER THE YEARS AND IT WOULD BE MY, MY PLEASURE TO BE ABLE TO OFFER SOME SUPPORT FOR HIM TO BE ABLE TO SERVE IN THIS CAPACITY.

BUT I'M, I'M VERY CURIOUS ABOUT YOUR CONCERNS AND WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ADDRESS THEM ALL.

SO I WOULD SUPPORT, UH, POSTPONEMENT JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BEING THOROUGH.

FURTHER DISCUSSION.

COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN, UH, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO AGAIN, OFFER IF THERE'S A WAY FOR US TO, UM, GIVEN THAT MY APPOINTEE'S HERE, IF THERE'S A NOT SOME PROCESS THAT WE COULD USE TO ADDRESS ANY CONCERNS THAT WE MIGHT HAVE DURING THIS, UH, DURING THIS PARTICULAR VOTE, WE DON'T HAVE A PROCESS FOR INTERVIEWING THE CANDIDATE OR DOING THAT.

THE MO AND, AND WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THAT THE, IF, IF PEOPLE WANT TO VISIT WITH HIM, PEOPLE WANT TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES, ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES WITH YOU, THEY WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT UNDER A POSTPONEMENT.

BUT WE WE'RE NOT, WE HAVE NEVER AND ARE NOT SET UP TO INTERVIEW, UH, INDIVIDUALS AS THEY COME, AS WE COME FORWARD AT A COUNCIL MEETING.

COUNCIL MORE ELLIS.

I JUST WANTED TO ADD MY VOICE TO UNDERSTANDING THAT WHEN A COUNCIL MEMBER WANTS TO DO MORE RESEARCH, AND I THINK THERE MAY BE A FEW OF US, UM, THAT WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE UNDERSTANDING ANY, ANYTHING THAT MIGHT BE BROUGHT TO OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS' ATTENTION BY OTHER FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY.

UM, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THOSE ARE, BUT I WANNA GIVE MY COLLEAGUE THE ABILITY TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE VOTE ON THINGS THAT WE'RE WELL-INFORMED AND THAT WE FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THE VOTE.

WHETHER, UM, SOMEONE VOTES FOR OR AGAINST OR ABSTAINS ON ANY ISSUE THAT COMES BEFORE US.

FURTHER DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO THIS.

COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN.

I'LL JUST ADD THAT, UH, I UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO GET SOME CLARITY ON THOSE THINGS.

I FEEL IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT THERE'S NOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT TODAY, IT SOUNDS LIKE IN OUR PROCESS, GIVEN THAT MY APPOINTEE IS HERE, UM, AND I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I APPRECIATE, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON'S COMMENTS REGARDING MY APPOINTEE.

I'LL ECHO THEM THAT HE'S GOT TREMENDOUS EXPERIENCE IN THIS SPACE FROM WORKING ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THE PARKS CAPACITY.

UM, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE, UH, ALL I CAN ASK IS THAT YOU GUYS RESPECT THAT EXPERIENCE AND UM, AND THEN WE GO THROUGH WHATEVER PROCESS WE NEED TO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET ANSWER, SATISFIED.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? MAYOR, WE HAVE A SPEAKER.

OF CITY PROPERTIES, INVITES OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS TO DO THE SAME.

CARLOS, LEON, SOY, CARLOS LEON, FIRST AND FOREMOST S FOR LETTING ME SPEAK IN FAVOR OF ITEM 58.

APPROVING NEW BOARD AND COMMISSION MEMBERS SHOULD HELP YOUR LIBRARY COMMISSION MAKE QUORUM AGAIN TO MEET AGAIN SO I CAN AGAIN TESTIFY AND PRESENT EVIDENCE TO THEM ABOUT AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY'S OFFICIAL CTN POLICIES.

CONTINUING TO BE OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH CITY SUPERSEDING RULES IN FRONT OF YOU NOW IS APLS DECEMBER 31ST, 2024 PIR RESPONSE SAYING THEIR CTN POLICY HAS BEEN RECENTLY REVIEWED, UPDATED, AND IS AWAITING SIGN OFF FOR FINALIZATION.

HOWEVER, AS OF MARCH 25TH, 2025, CITY CLERK HAS NOT POSTED APLS PROPOSED RULE CHANGE REQUIRED BY CITY CODES ONE DASH TWO DASH TWO AND ONE DASH TWO DASH FOUR BEFORE ADOPTING A RULE.

THEREFORE, APLS INTERIM DIRECTOR HANNAH TERRELL, HAS APPARENTLY NOT YET FILED THE PROPOSED RULE CHANGE WITH CITY CLERK, THOUGH A-P-L-C-T-N POLICIES HAVE BEEN OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH YOUR RULES FOR PUBLIC USE FOR CITY PROPERTIES SINCE AUGUST 25TH, 2023, WHICH I BROUGHT TO YOUR ATTENTION WITH PUBLIC TESTIMONY AND HARD COPY EVIDENCE AT THE FEBRUARY 27TH, 2025 CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR ITEM FOUR, APPROVING AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CITY CODE CHAPTER TWO DASH ONE, ALLOWING A PL TO CONTINUE DISREGARDING CITY SUPERSEDING RULES FOR PUBLIC USE

[02:00:01]

MOCKING YOUR AUTHORITY AND OVERSIGHT POWER AND THE CITY CODE ITSELF.

FOLLOW UP ASAP WITH TERRELL.

INTERIM CITY ATTORNEY THOMAS, CITY MANAGER, BROAD NECKS AND CITY CLERK RIOS TO MAKE ROGUE A PL TOE THE LINE ON PAPER AND IN PRACTICE.

IN JESUS' NAME I PRAY.

AMEN.

WHICH TAKES US TO OUR, UH, 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, WHICH IS PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.

YES SIR.

THAT CONCLUDES THE SPEAKERS.

ALL RIGHT, UM, MEMBERS, THAT CONCLUDES THE SPEAKERS.

IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO THE MOTION MADE BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM TO POSTPONE THIS ITEM, UH, TO POSTPONE THIS ONE APPOINTMENT, UH, FOR PARKS AND RECREATION? WITHOUT OBJECTION.

UH, THE ITEM IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL TEMPORARILY OFF THE DAIS.

WITH THAT, WE ARE AT NOON,

[12:00 PM - Public Communication: General]

UH, THE CITY CLERK WILL CALL THE NAMES OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SET UP, UH, THAT ARE SIGNED UP TO BE PART OF PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.

SO, UH, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT ORDER YOU'RE SIGNED UP IN, SO I WOULD REQUEST THAT YOU PLEASE COME FORWARD SO THAT YOU'LL BE AVAILABLE, UH, IMMEDIATELY UPON YOUR NAME BEING CALLED AND YOU'LL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE YOUR TESTIMONY.

SO MADAM CLERK, I'LL, I'LL LOOK TO YOU.

ADRIAN MACIAS, FOLLOWED BY RUBEN RIVERA CLEMENTE SENIOR ALAN DEMLING, RACHEL HACKATHORN, DAVID HAAS, CASSIE CSOS, SCOTT COBB, JOE WISEMAN, LAURA GUERRERO, AND SUE FOWLER.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I AM ADRIAN MACIAS WITH PORTA JOINING.

JOIN US IN CELEBRATING THE ANNUAL CESAR CHAVEZ MARCH AND ANNUAL CESAR CHAVEZ AWARD.

DINNER.

CESAR CHAVEZ WAS BORN ON MARCH 31ST, 1927 IN YUMA, ARIZONA.

CESAR CHAVEZ WAS A LATINO FARM WORKER, LABOR LEADER, CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST, AND CRUSADED FOR SOCIAL CHANGE.

CHAVEZ WAS CO-FOUNDER OF THE UNITED FARM WORKERS, WHICH ADVOCATES FOR BETTER WAGES AND SAFER WORKING CONDITIONS ON AMERICAN FARMLANDS.

CESAR CHAVEZ IS MORE THAN A SYMBOL AND ROLE MODEL FOR THE FARM WORKERS AND THE CHICANO MEXICANO COMMUNITY.

CESAR DEMONSTRATED THE NEED FOR ALL WORKING PEOPLE TO SUPPORT THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED AND EXPLOITED, WORKING FOR DIGNITY ON THE JOB AND IN THE COMMUNITY, INCREASING DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS OF WORKING PEOPLE, CHALLENGING THE POWERFUL AND DEFENSE OF THE POWERLESS.

AUSTIN RESIDENTS HAVE CELEBRATED THE LIFE OF CESAR CHAVEZ AND THE SELFLESS DEDICATION FOR FARM WORKERS AND WORKERS' RIGHTS, ECONOMIC JUSTICE, CIVIL RIGHTS, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, PEACE, NONVIOLENCE, AND EMPOWERMENT OF THE POOR AND DISENFRANCHISED.

ON SATURDAY, MARCH 29TH AT 9:30 AM PEOPLE WERE GATHER AT UTILITY LIBRARY 1105 AT EAST CAESAR CHAVEZ AND MARCH THE AB K PAN AMERICAN CENTER, 2100 EAST THIRD STREET ON CAESAR CHAVEZ'S BIRTHDAY, MONDAY, MARCH 31ST.

PORE WILL HONOR 16 INDIVIDUALS THAT CONTINUED TO STRUGGLE FOR JUSTICE.

INDIVIDUALS THAT HELP KEEP THE SPIRIT OF CAESAR EACH CHAVEZ ALIVE.

AND I WILL NAME, NOW, NAME THOSE PEOPLE.

ALEXANDRIA ANDREW SENT AND RAISING MACINTOSH.

JAY BANNER, BILL BUNCH, CONGRESSMAN GREG CESAR, TESSA COMSTOCK, JORDAN FRENCH, VICTORIA GOMEZ, JOAQUIN HARRINGTON, GENESIS HERNANDEZ, BOBBY LAVINSKY, D-DAY MONTOYA.

SO RAZA PRAXIS, MCKAYLA RIOS, COUNCILMAN JOSE VELAZQUEZ AND AFFILIATE ZETA.

POLICE MONITOR, POLICE OVERSIGHT.

IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

MY NAME IS RUBEN VERA CLEMENTE SENIOR.

AND JUST LIKE I SAID MANY TIMES BEFORE, I HATE BEING HERE, BUT I HAVE TO GO AHEAD AND, AND BRING ATTENTION TO WHAT I'M GOING THROUGH AND ESPECIALLY TO THE CITY MANAGER 'CAUSE I'M REQUESTING A MEETING BETWEEN HIM AS WELL AS, UH, CHIEF LISA DAVIS BECAUSE THIS HAS TO END.

I WANT TO THANK, UH, CHIEF VELA FOR AT LEAST TRYING TO BRING SOME ATTENTION.

HE DID BIT MORE THAN WHAT GREG CASAR DID, BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT, YOU KNOW, I WANT THIS TO STOP AND I'VE DONE EVERYTHING POSSIBLE.

THIS IS STRICTLY RETALIATION BY THIS POLICE DEPARTMENT.

AND I HAVE CONFRONTED POLICE CHIEFS PERSONALLY, MANLY CHAON CHACON.

I GAVE HIM A LETTER ACTUALLY LAST, UH, THE THIRD

[02:05:01]

OF THIS MONTH.

UH, I WENT TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY MEETING ACROSS THE HALL AND I GAVE A LETTER TO, UH, WELL, ACTUALLY IT WAS RECEIVED BY CHIEF HENDERSON AND SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO GIVE IT TO, UH, TO THE CHIEF LISA DAVIS.

AND I'M JUST TRYING TO STOP THIS NONSENSE.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN THEFT IN DISLOCATION SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE.

JUST MOVED BACK NOVEMBER THE 30TH.

I SAW SOME DAMAGE ON MY LEFT SIDE DOOR AND I KNOW WHO THESE OFFICERS ARE, I RECORD THEM, BUT I WAS TOLD I CAN BY, AT THE TIME HE CALLED HIMSELF EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT POLICE CHIEF BRIAN MANDY, AND CONFIRMED BY ATTORNEYS, BUT FOR SOME REASON, I CAN'T GIVE WHAT I NEED TO SEEK JUSTICE, WHICH IS A NAME AND A BADGE.

AND THIS UNIT THAT I'M REFERRING TO IS CALLED THE ORGANIZED CRIME UNIT.

THE UNDERCOVER POLICE OFFICER THAT BEING UTILIZED TO HARASS THOSE CITIZENS THAT FILED A COMPLAINT AGAINST THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

AND I HAVE DONE LITERALLY EVERYTHING.

FBI, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

THIS CAN'T BE HOW THIS POLICE, THE DEPART CONDUCT ITSELF.

EVEN WHEN I LEFT HERE ON JANUARY THE 30TH, WHEN I WAS APPROACHED BY THAT, UH, ASSISTANT CHIEF, HIS NAME IS ERIC FITZGERALD, HE GAVE ME A CARD AND I TOLD HIM WHO THIS, UH, POLICE, YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY, HE WANTED TO KNOW WHO THE UNIT IS.

AND I TOLD ORGANIZED CRIME UNIT THE UNDERCOVER POLICE OFFICERS, AND HE GAVE ME A CARD.

AND I'VE BEEN CALLING HIM ABOUT MY SITUATION.

NOTHING HAS, HAS STOPPED OR SLOWED DOWN.

YOU KNOW, THESE ARE MY VEHICLES.

THEY SHOULDN'T BE OUT THERE SMASHING MY WINDSHIELD LIKE IT DONE.

THEY SHOULDN'T BE OUT THERE PUTTING DENTS IN MY VEHICLE.

IN THIS CASE, IT LOOK LIKE THEY USING A SCREWDRIVER.

THESE ARE POLICE OFFICERS.

HOW DO I GET THE NAME AND BADGE OR UNDERCOVER POLICE OFFICER? TELL ME.

AND WHY HAS IT LASTED OVER TWO DECADES, 20 PLUS YEARS? IT DON'T MAKE NO SENSE.

EVEN THAT INDIVIDUAL FROM THE POLICE OFFICER INFORMED ME THAT I'VE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS POLICE DEPARTMENT SINCE 2008 OR 2009.

VELA PROBABLY ALREADY COMMUNICATED WITH THEM, OR HOPEFULLY HE IS TRYING TO GET MORE INFORMATION.

I HATE BEING HERE.

ALAN DEMLING, FOLLOWED BY RACHEL HACKATHORN.

HELLO, MY NAME IS ALAN DEMLING.

UH, I'M A RESIDENT AND I OWN A BUSINESS IN DISTRICT THREE.

UH, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE INCREASED PARKING FINES THAT WERE IMPLEMENTED MARCH 1ST.

UH, REAL QUICK, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME.

I RAN FOR CITY COUNCIL IN 2008.

I RAN AGAINST LEE LEFFINGWELL AND I OBVIOUSLY LOST, UH, BUT HE APPOINTED ME TO THE URBAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION WHERE I SERVED FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

AND DURING THAT TIME IS WHEN WE SWITCHED FROM THE SINGLE SPACE, UH, FIXED PARKING METERS TO THE KIOSKS THAT WE HAVE NOW.

AND ALSO WHEN, UH, PAID PARKING STARTED MOVING EAST OF THE HIGHWAY, ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WAS PREVENTED PRESENTED TO THE COMMISSION BACK THEN FOR WHY EAST AUSTIN NEEDED, UH, PAID PARKING WAS TO HELP SAFETY, MOBILITY AND ACCESS.

THIS STRATEGY AIMS TO CREATE MORE PARKING SPACE TURNOVER IN HIGH DEMAND DISTRICTS WITH CONSISTENT ENFORCEMENT.

THAT'S DIRECTLY OFF THE AUSTIN, UH, WEBSITE.

SO MY FIRST ISSUE WITH THE INCREASED FINES IS THAT I ACTUALLY DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE'RE FOLLOWING, UH, THAT, UH, DESIRE FOR PAID PARKING TO INCREASE TURNOVER, BECAUSE AS I DROVE HERE DOWN EAST SIXTH STREET, THERE'S MORE OPEN PARKING SPACES THAN THERE ARE OCCUPIED PARKING SPACES.

BUT YOU STILL HAVE TO PAY.

SO MY SECOND ISSUE IS THAT WE'RE NOT, UM, WE'RE NOT GIVING REASONABLE ALTERNATIVES TO THE PEOPLE THAT THIS PARKING, UH, AFFECTS THE MOST.

SO THE PARKING IS PRICED FOR THE HIGH EARNING WAGE EARNERS IN THIS TOWN, BUT THE PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR ME AND THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE YOUR FOOD AND POUR YOUR DRINKS AND CHECK YOU OUT IN THE RETAIL STORES AND STUFF, THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY THE PARKING.

SO THE ALTERNATIVES ARE TAKE A BUS, WHICH MANY OF MY EMPLOYEES HAVE HAD TO MOVE OUT TO, LIKE PFLUGERVILLE OR WAY SOUTH AUSTIN, AND THERE'S NO BUSES THAT GO THERE AT THREE IN THE MORNING AFTER THEIR SHIFT IS OVER.

OR THEY COULD DO A RIDE SHARE, WHICH LET'S JUST SAY ON THE LOW SIDE, THAT'S, THAT COULD BE UPWARDS OF 20 TO 30% OF WHAT THEY MAKE IN A DAY.

SO WE'RE ASKING THEM TO PAY 20 TO 30% OF THEIR INCOME JUST TO GET TO WORK.

THE OTHER ALTERNATIVE IS TO PARKING A NEIGHBORHOOD AND WALK POTENTIALLY HALF A MILE TO A MILE TO GET TO WORK.

WHEN, IF SAFETY TRULY IS A CONCERN, THEN AT 3:00 AM WE DON'T, I DON'T WANT MY EMPLOYEES TO BE WALKING A MILE, UM, ANYWHERE IN TOWN AT THAT TIME OF, UH, NIGHT.

'CAUSE I WOULD HAVE ON MY CONSCIENCE IF THEY GOT INJURED, THAT WOULD BE, UH, I WOULD, I WOULD FEEL TERRIBLE ABOUT IT.

SO I WANTED TO COME WITH A FEW SOLUTIONS.

THERE ARE OFFICE BUILDINGS ON MY BLOCK THAT HAVE OFFICE WORKERS DURING THE DAY, BUT NOT AT NIGHT.

THE, THEY HAVE PARKING GARAGES UNDERNEATH THEIR BUILDINGS.

IF THE CITY COULD SOMEHOW NEGOTIATE WITH THOSE OFFICE BUILDINGS ABOUT

[02:10:01]

ALLOWING, UH, EMPLOYEES THAT WORK NIGHT SHIFTS OR WORK DURING THE NIGHT TO USE THOSE BUILDINGS, THAT WOULD BE ONE SOLUTION.

ANOTHER SOLUTION IS TO JUST HAVE SOMEBODY FROM THE CITY GO OUT TO EAST SIXTH STREET AND DECIDE IF WE REALLY DO NEED PAID PARKING IN THE MIDDLE OF DAY, LIKE AT 11:00 AM ON A THURSDAY OR A WEDNESDAY ON EAST SIXTH STREET.

I, HAVING WORKED THERE, DO NOT BELIEVE WE CAN, I CAN PARK PRETTY MUCH WHEREVER I WANT DURING THOSE HOURS.

AND THEN THE THIRD SOLUTION IS POTENTIALLY JUST OFFERING PARKING PASSES TO PEOPLE WHO CAN PROVE WITH PAYCHECKS OR PAY STUBS OR WHATEVER THAT THEY WORK ON THOSE BLOCKS.

UH, IF YOU CAN JUST HANG, HANG ON FOR JUST A SECOND.

CUSTOMER VELASQUEZ HAS A COMMENT.

UH, MR. DANNING, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

UH, SOMEBODY FROM MY TEAM IS GONNA COME DOWN AND CHAT WITH YOU SO WE CAN GET SOME, INFORM SOME MORE INFORMATION AND, AND, UH, AND GET SOME OF, UH, YOUR IDEAS.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

A LOT OF THIS IS HAPPENING IN NON-PEAK BAR HOURS.

RACHEL HACKATHORN, FOLLOWED BY DAVID HAAS AND CASSIE CAVASSO.

HELLO, UH, MY NAME'S RACHEL HACKATHORN.

I HAVE RUN A BUSINESS ON E SIX AND I'M ALSO A RESIDENT OF D THREE, UM, FOR OVER 10 YEARS NOW.

UM, I'M HERE TO MIRROR ALAN DEMING'S SENTIMENTS ON THE PARKING, UH, RAISES VIOLATIONS, UM, A LARGER COMPANY ON E SIX, BUT STILL A PRIVATELY OWNED FAMILY BUSINESS.

WE CAN ACTUALLY AFFORD PARKING FOR OUR STAFF MEMBERS, BUT WE PAY UPWARDS OF $75 PER PERSON POOR MONTH.

SO WE HAVE 35 EMPLOYEES, WHICH MEANS WE'RE PAYING $31,000 A YEAR JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STAFF HAS SOMEWHERE TO PARK SAFELY AND SECURELY EACH DAY.

NOT ONLY DO THE PARKING VIOLATIONS, UH, AFFECT, UH, MY STAFF MEMBERS WHO CAN'T MAKE IT INTO THE GARAGE, OR NEWER STAFF MEMBERS WHO HAVE YET TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE GARAGE, OR SOMETIMES THE GARAGE DOESN'T WORK, BUT IT AFFECTS OUR NEIGHBORS DIRECTLY.

EVERY BUSINESS ON THE STREET, UH, BARTENDERS, UH, COOKS.

ANYBODY WHO WORKS ON E SIX, UH, IS DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THIS, UH, BY VIOLATION RAISE.

UH, SO I'M HERE TO OFFER ALSO SOME SOLUTIONS TO THE PARKING, UM, SITUATION WE CURRENTLY FACE, LIKE US, WE DO, UH, HAVE CONTRACTED PARKING IN ONE OF THE GARAGES, BUT THAT IS FAIRLY OUT OF PRICE FOR MOST, UH, WORKERS.

US AS A BUSINESS HAVE TAKEN THAT ON, OBVIOUSLY WITH $31,000 A YEAR, BUT THAT'S A HUGE EXPENSE FOR US.

AND THAT WOULD BE A LARGE EXPENSE FOR A SINGLE BARTENDER WHO WORKS EIGHT HOURS A DAY, FIVE DAYS A WEEK, AND LIVES IN SOUTH AUSTIN.

SO I WOULD ASK THAT THE CITY CONTRACT, UH, PARKING SPOTS IN THOSE EMPTY GARAGES FOR SERVICE INDUSTRY WORKERS AND RETAIL WORKERS.

ANOTHER SOLUTION WOULD ALSO BE TO RESTRICT PARKING TIMES TWO TIMES OF HIGHER VOLUME, LIKE FRIDAY, SATURDAY EVENINGS.

AND THEN ALSO THE PARKING PASS IDEA FOR STREET PARKING, I THINK IS A GREAT SOLUTION TO PROVIDING SAFE PARKING BECAUSE THEY, WE HAVE SEVERAL EMPLOYEES, UH, UP AND DOWN THE STREET THAT ARE CONSISTENTLY, UM, AFFRONTED BY CUSTOMERS, UM, DRUNK PATRONS AT 3:00 AM AND IT'S NOT VERY SAFE FOR MOST OF OUR EMPLOYEES ON THE EAST SIXTH DISTRICT TO WORK, UH, TO GO TO AND FROM WORK AT NIGHT.

UM, I'M ALSO HERE TO SPEAK QUICKLY.

UM, I I'M VERY EXCITED TO HEAR, UH, NEXT WEEK ON THE 17TH ABOUT THE FOOD TRUCK INITIATIVE BECAUSE THAT IS ANOTHER THING THAT DIRECTLY AFFECTS OUR BUSINESS, MOST BUSINESSES ON, ON EAST SIXTH AS WELL.

UM, THAT'S ALL.

THANK YOU, UMRA.

RACHEL, UH, MY, MY TEAM IS HERE, BUT YOU HAVE MY CELL PHONE NUMBER.

IF YOU CAN GET A GROUP OF US TOGETHER, I'D BE HAPPY TO COME OVER FOR A PINT AND CHAT ABOUT THIS WITH Y'ALL.

THAT'S DAVID HAAS, CASSIE CSOS.

HELLO, FOLKS.

UH, MY NAME'S DAVID HAAS.

UH, I AM ALSO A RESIDENT AND BUSINESS OWNER OF DISTRICT THREE.

UH, I PROVIDE FABRICATION, UH, AND HANDYMAN SERVICES FOR MANY OF THE BARS AND RESTAURANTS IN THAT PART OF TOWN.

UM, I, UH, AM DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THE INCREASE IN PARKING AND THE INCREASE IN ATTENDANCE, UH, CHECKING THAT PARKING AND THE INCREASE IN UNPAID OR FREE PARKING SPOTS.

UH, A LOT OF THESE JOBS, UH, ARE VITAL FOR THESE BUSINESSES TO BE OPEN FOR THE DAY, AND I ARRIVE AND I MAY BE ON TOP OF AN ICE MAKER WITH MY ENTIRE TORSO IN A CEILING WHEN I RUN OUT OF PARKING.

UM, IT'S NOT VERY PRACTICAL FOR ME.

AND A LOT OF THE, UH, MAINTENANCE WORKERS, DELIVERY DRIVERS AND OTHER PEOPLE THAT, UM, WORK TO KEEP THESE BARS, RESTAURANTS, AND RETAILS OPEN TO MONITOR THEIR PARKING.

AND AGAIN, UH, AS ALAN AND RACHEL REFLECTED,

[02:15:01]

THIS IS HAPPENING DURING THE DAY WHERE I'M PERFORMING MOST OF THIS WORK, AND I'VE HEARD FROM DELIVERY DRIVERS, UH, THAT ARE GETTING TICKETED IN THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT TAKES THEM TO DROP OFF GOODS TO THESE BUSINESSES.

UM, IF I DO RECEIVE A FINE AT THE INCREASED RATE, UH, IT'S REALLY MAKING VERY IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO MAKE A LIVING WAGE IN THE HOUR.

IT TAKES ME TO DO SOMETHING THERE.

I MIGHT AS WELL NOT DO IT, AND THAT, UH, I'M NOT THE ONLY GAME IN TOWN, BUT THAT WILL DIRECTLY AFFECT THESE BUSINESSES.

IF PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO ARE A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER CAN'T BE THERE TO HELP THEM TO GET THEM UP AND RUNNING FOR THE DAY, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AGAIN, UH, THESE PARKING SPACES RELAX DURING THE DAY.

UH, AS FAR AS I KNOW, THERE'S ONLY ONE EAST SIDE COMMUNITY LOT.

IT'S UP ON 11TH STREET, UH, AND THAT ONE IS FULL.

IT'S BASICALLY PARKING FOR A BUSINESS UP THERE.

AND AGAIN, NOT PRACTICAL, UH, FOR ME, HE WAS WORKING ON SIXTH STREET OR CAESAR CHAVEZ TO BE LUGGING MY TOOLS DOWNTOWN, UH, OR DOWN DOWN THE STREET FOR THAT.

UH, SO AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE THE COUNCIL AND THE CITY AS A WHOLE TO, UM, REFLECT ON THE CHOICE TO MAKE THIS EXORBITANTLY EXPENSIVE FOR SOMEONE WHO, AGAIN, IS YEAH, A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER AND NOT WORKING IN THE GREATER TECH FIELD HERE AND HAS THE MONEY TO PAY FOR THIS KIND OF FINES AND, UH, GENERAL, UH, PARKING FEES.

THAT'S IT.

CASSIE CAVASSO, FOLLOWED BY SCOTT COBB.

HELLO.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

UH, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE AGENDA, I WAS HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE SAFETY OF WOMEN IN AUSTIN, BUT THERE'S SOMETHING MORE PRESSING.

UH, MY NAME'S CASEY CAVAZOS AGAIN, AND I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

AND I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE RESPONSIBILITY WE ALL SHARE, KEEPING OUR SCHOOLS SAFE, AND ENSURING EVERY STUDENT IN AUSTIN FEELS PROTECTED, SUPPORTED, AND FREE TO LEARN.

WE'VE ALL SEEN THE HEADLINES ABOUT SCHOOLS THREATS, LOCKED, DROWN, LOCKDOWNS, AND TRAGIC VIOLENCE THAT LEAVES PERMANENT SCARS.

WHILE A ISD HAS MADE PROGRESS, IT'S TIME TO GO FURTHER.

OUR KIDS DESERVE MORE THAN REACTIVE POLICIES.

THEY DESERVE BOLD, PREVENTABLE ACTION.

FIRST, I PROPOSE THAT AUSTIN LEAD A STATE, LEAD THE STATE BY CREATING A CITY SCHOOL SAFETY TASK FORCE, A PERMANENT BODY THAT INCLUDES CITY OFFICIALS, EDUCATORS, STUDENTS, MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS.

THIS GROUP WILL PROACTIVELY IDENTIFY THREATS, CLOSE POLICY GAPS, AND IMPLEMENT THE BEST BEFORE ONES OCCURRING.

AND THIS NEED BECAME PAINFULLY CLEAR, UH, AFTER THE INCIDENT AT BARNO ELEMENTARY WHERE A TEACHER WAS ARRESTED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND THE INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE AND MY CHILDREN GO THERE.

SO THIS ISN'T ABSTRACT TO ME.

IT'S VERY PERSONAL, AND I REFUSE TO BECOME ANOTHER STATISTIC.

SECOND, WE SHOULD ADOPT A MUNICIPAL LEVEL SAFE STORAGE LAW FOR FIREARMS REQUIRING GUNS AND HOMES WITH CHILDREN BE STORED SECURELY.

IT WON'T SOLVE EVERYTHING, BUT IT'S ONE OF THE MOST STRAIGHTFORWARD AND EVIDENCE-BASED WAYS TO PREVENT SCHOOL SHOOTINGS AND YOUTH TRAGEDIES.

THIRD, I FEEL LIKE WE MUST INVEST IN BEHAVIORAL THREAT ASSESSING ASSESSMENT TRAINING IN EVERY SCHOOL, NOT JUST THE STAFF, BUT FOR THE STUDENTS AS WELL.

RECOGNIZING THE SIGNS BEFORE A CRISIS CAN MAKE ALL OF THE DIFFERENCE.

AND TO MAKE THAT EFFECTIVE, WE NEED A CENTRALIZED, ANONYMOUS DIGITAL REPORTING SYSTEM THAT CONNECTS IMMEDIATELY WITH BOTH SCHOOL AND CITY CRISIS TEAMS. BUT SAFETY JUST ISN'T PHYSICAL, IT'S ALSO EMOTIONAL.

AND OUR L-G-B-T-Q STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY OUR GAY AND TRANS KIDS, ARE UNDER CONSTANT THREAT, NOT JUST FROM PEERS, BUT FROM POLICIES TRYING TO ERASE THEM.

NEARLY HALF OF L-G-B-T-Q SERIOUSLY, YOUTH, SERIOUSLY CONSIDER SUICIDE.

AND WE CANNOT SEPARATE THAT FROM SCHOOL SAFETY.

LET'S CREATE A CITYWIDE SAFETY SCHOOL PLEDGE THAT GUARANTEES PROTECTIONS FOR LGBTQ PLUS STUDENTS IN EVERY SCHOOL.

PROTECTIONS FROM BULLYING, HARASSMENT, POLITICAL TARGETING, ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW IN THE WORLD.

LET'S FUND GENDER AFFIRMING MENTAL HEALTHCARE SERVICES FOR N-A-S-I-D-A-A-I-S-D AND SAFE ZONES ON EVERY CAMPUS WITH TRAINED ALLIES AND VISIBLE SIGNAGE SO STUDENTS KNOW WHERE THEY CAN FEEL SAFE.

AUSTIN HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CITY OF PROGRESS, BUT NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT BOLDLY.

OUR KIDS ARE WATCHING US AND MY KIDS ARE WATCHING ME.

LET'S SHOW THEM THAT WE'RE LISTENING.

SCOTT COBB, FOLLOWED BY JOE WISEMAN.

SCOTT, SCOTT COBB.

FOLLOWED BY JOE WISEMAN.

DECEMBER 26 THAT CONFIRMS THERE WERE INAPPROPRIATE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN 30 PLUS YEAR OLD MANAGERS AND YOUNG LIFEGUARDS.

MARCH 25TH, YOU RECEIVED A MEMO FROM PART DIRECTOR JESUS ER, ABOUT AN EXTERNAL INVESTIGATION THAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO INTO THE AQUATICS CULTURE.

IN THE MEMO, THEY SAY ALL THE INVESTIGATIONS THEY'VE DONE SO FAR WERE FULLY IN, UH, COMPLETED AND FOUND NOTHING.

HERE'S AN EMAIL

[02:20:01]

THE EMAIL CONFIRMS THAT THE LIFEGUARD AND THE MANAGER WERE SPOKEN TO BY MANAGEMENT, AND THE WOMAN WAS PUNISHED BY BEING TRANSFERRED, ENDING HER LIFEGUARD CAREER TO SOME OTHER JOB EMPIRE.

THE MAN REMAINED MANAGER AND STILL WORKS AT BARTON SPRINGS.

THIS IS EVIDENCE THEY ARE NOT CONDUCTING FORMAL INVESTIGATIONS ADEQUATELY OR PROFESSIONALLY.

THEY ALSO LIE IN THIS EMAIL.

THEY SAY THAT THE LIFEGUARDS INVOLVED WERE HIRED BY PAR AT AGE 16.

I HAVE OLD EMAILS THAT CONTAIN SCHEDULES.

WHEN THESE TWO LIFEGUARDS WERE 16 AND 17, THEIR FIRST SUMMER PART SAYS THEY WERE HIRED AT 18.

THEY LIED.

THEY WERE HIRED AT 16 AND 17.

MAYBE THEY GOT INTO THE RELATIONSHIPS AT 18, BUT THERE WAS GROOMING GOING ON.

ANOTHER CASE THAT WENT IN UNINVESTIGATED BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T FIND THE NAMES OF THE TWO WOMEN IN THE REPORT FILED WITH THE CITY AUDITOR BECAUSE THEY WERE THEIR FIRST NAMES.

I JUST, WHEN I WAS STANDING BACK THERE, GOT AN EMAIL, A TEXT FROM ONE OF THOSE GUARDS.

SHE'S REALLY UPSET, SO PARDON HER LANGUAGE.

I TOLD HER, SHE SAID SHE WAS JUST YESTERDAY CONTACTED BY HR AND SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS ABOUT.

I TOLD HER THEY DOING AN INVESTIGATION.

SHE WRITES, THAT'S INSANE.

WHEN I WALKED OUT OF THE OFFICE THAT DAY TO MAKE THAT COMPLAINT, JODI J STOPPED ME AND BASICALLY INTIMIDATED ME AND MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT I SHOULD STOP.

SHE BASICALLY WAS TELLING ME, IF I WASN'T SO PRECOCIOUS, THESE THINGS WOULDN'T BE HAPPENING TO US.

AND WE WERE LIKE, WHAT THE F**K? THEN I GOT FIRED AND, AND THEN LATER SHE SAYS, JODI IS THE ONE I THINK SHOULD BE IN THE MOST TROUBLE.

EVERYTHING WAS BROUGHT TO HER ATTENTION.

IT WAS JUST SO RAMPANT AND CLEARLY THE ENTIRE CULTURE.

THAT WAS PROBABLY TOO MUCH WORK FOR HER TO DEAL WITH.

SHE ALSO SAYS THAT WORKING AS A AS A TEENAGER IN AQUATICS WAS F*****G TRAUMATIC.

SIR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

BUT PLEASE, YESTERDAY I GOT A CEASE AND DESIST LETTER FROM JODI J SHE TELLS ME TO SHUT UP OR SHE'S GONNA FILE CRIMINAL COMPLAINTS AGAINST ME.

THAT IS RETALIATION.

SHE SHOULD BE IMMEDIATELY SUSPENDED FROM HER JOB AS ASSISTANT PARTS DIRECTOR.

JOE WISEMAN, LAURA GUERRERO, SUE FOWLER.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

NEXT SPEAKER IS JOE WISEMAN, FOLLOWED BY LAURA GUERRERO.

YES, PLEASE COME TO THE MIC.

I HAVE A PRESENTATION I SENT Y'ALL, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL CAN FOLLOW IT OR WHATNOT.

CT AND CAN PULL UP THE PRESENTATION.

AM I SUPPOSED TO DO THIS? THANK YOU.

WHENEVER YOU'RE READY.

DO I CLICK ON THIS? YOU CAN USE THE CLICKER IF YOU NEED TO.

IS THERE ANOTHER, IT'S SUPPOSED TO OPEN THAT LINK.

YEAH, COPY PASTE IT.

I MEAN, IF NOT, I CAN SPEAK.

IF YOU CAN START YOUR TESTIMONY, YEAH, YEAH.

AND STUFF.

WE'LL OPEN THE LINK.

AND MY NAME IS LAURA ROGERS GUERRERO, AND I'M HERE TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION A SERIOUS CASE OF ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE CAUSED BY WEED CORDLEY FISH.

APPRECIATE THAT.

I WAS RAISED TO STAND UP FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND NOT WRITE POWERPOINTS APPARENTLY.

AND A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.

BECAUSE I'M A PROUD AUSTINITE, I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU A DISTURBING REALITY.

THE VIEW THAT SITS DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM MY DAUGHTER'S WINDOW OF WEED, QUARTERLY FISH.

THERE WE GO.

THE PHOTOS AND VIDEOS ARE SHOCKING, BUT NOTHING COMPARE YOU FOR THE OVERRULING ODOR THAT COMES WITH THE PLUME OF SMOKE.

WORSE, WHEN THE WIND SHIFTS, ANYONE NEARBY IS FORCED TO RUN INDOORS TO ESCAPE THE TOXIC FUMES BEYOND THE UNBEARABLE SMELL OF THIS FACILITY HAS BEEN CITED BY THE TECQ FOR VIOLATIONS, YET THE BLACK SMOKE CONTINUES.

THIS IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE

[02:25:01]

IT ALSO STRAINS OUR EMERGENCY RESOURCES NAIL ON THE COFFIN, WHICH Y'ALL WERE TALKING ABOUT TODAY.

THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN CALLED OUT REPEATEDLY DUE TO THE EXTREME SMOKE.

JUST THE OTHER NIGHT, SPARKS WERE FLYING FROM THE STACK DURING HIGH WINDS.

THE CREMATORIUM WAS BUILT IN 2022, YET IT'S LOCATED WITHIN A FEW FEET OF RESIDENCE.

BUILT IN 19 19 60.

MIND YOU, A GROCERY STORE CHURCH.

AND JUST 0.7 MILES AWAY FROM HIGHLAND PARK ELEMENTARY, THE VERY SCHOOL I ATTENDED.

HOW WAS THIS ACTIVE CREMATORIUM ALLOWED TO BE PLACED IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR COMMUNITY? THIS ISSUE IS SO SERIOUS THAT KXAN AIRED AN INVESTIGATIVE REPORT TO BRING ATTENTION TO THE PERSISTENT VIOLATION OF THE HEALTH RISKS POED BY THE CHEMICALS.

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT MY DAUGHTER, IT'S ABOUT DAILY.

I URGE YOU TO TAKE ACTION.

WE NEED THE CITY TO STEP IN AND PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY.

PLEASE DO NOT LET THIS GO UNCHECKED.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

YOU GUYS ARE SUPERHEROES.

PLEASE HELP US.

ALL.

THE SPEAKERS HAVE BEEN CALLED.

PARDON? THANK YOU.

OH, THANK YOU.

I THINK WE HAVE ONE FINAL SPEAKER.

HI, MY NAME IS SUE FOWLER AND I LIVE IN HIGHLAND PARK WEST CONDOMINIUMS, AND I'M A RETIRED TEACHER FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED.

I HAVE LIVED IN THIS LOCATION, UH, SINCE 1992, AND EVERY TIME WE HAVE A BUSINESS MOVING IN, WE GET NOTICED OF LIKE THE OIL CHANGE PLACE ACROSS THE STREET.

AND THIS TIME, THIS COMPANY, WE HAD NO IDEA WHO WAS MOVING IN WITHIN RANGE OF OUR HOMES UNTIL AFTER THE BUILDING HAD BEGUN.

AND WE WERE ABLE TO ASK THE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS WHAT THEY WERE BUILDING, AND THEY LET US KNOW THAT IT WAS A CREMATORIUM AND WE'D QUARTERLY FISH.

WELL, WE HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WERE UNTIL AFTER THEY STARTED THEIR BUSINESS.

AND THIS MEANT THAT DAILY WE SAW THIS GOING ON.

AND AT ONE POINT I WAS STANDING IN MY YARD AND THE SMOKE BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE THE AIR WAS MOVING OR NOT, UH, IT CAME DOWN AND WAS LIKE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL OF US WHO WERE TALKING JUST AT EACH OTHER.

AND SO I JUST DECIDED, WHAT THE HECK? I'M GONNA GO INSIDE OF THE WEED QUARTERLY FISH AND SAY, PEOPLE, DO YOU KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW? BECAUSE THEY'RE IN THEIR BUSINESS FACING THE OTHER DIRECTION AND WE'RE IN THE YARD OF OUR PLACE AND THIS SMOKE IS COMING.

AND SHE SAID, MA'AM, THIS IS A BUSINESS AND THIS IS WHAT THIS BUSINESS DOES.

AND I WAS LIKE, NO, THIS IS NOT, THIS CANNOT BE POSSIBLE THAT IN THIS CITY OF AUSTIN, THIS CLOSE TO SCHOOLS IN MY YARD, TO THE POINT THAT 22 YEARS OLD AND HE IS BULLETPROOF.

BUT HE CAME INTO OUR HOUSE AFTER INHALING A BUNCH OF THIS BECAUSE OF THE INVERSION OF THE WAY THE SMOKE WAS GOING.

I TRIED TO TAKE A PICTURE OF THE ASH THAT WAS ON TOP OF THE POOL, BUT THERE WAS NO WAY OF DOING IT.

THIS IS REAL.

THIS IS CONSTANT TRYING TO GET THEM TO CHANGE OR TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

WE FINALLY GOT TECQ THOSE PEOPLE IN AND THEY AGREE.

AND THE, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT YESTERDAY, I WENT TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT HOW MANY FALSE ALARMS THEY GET.

THEY GET A LOT OF FALSE ALARMS BECAUSE OF THE SMOKE.

I WAS GETTING ONTO MOPAC NOT THAT LONG AGO AND SAW THIS BILLOWING SMOKE AGAIN.

AND YOU KNOW, I KNOW IT'S PROBABLY THAT PLACE, BUT YOU'RE JUST NOT EVER SURE.

SO I TURNED AROUND, WENT BACK HOME, AND SURE ENOUGH, IT WAS THEM.

BUT WHAT I WANNA SAY IS THAT MY, ALSO MY PROPERTY VALUES HAVE CHANGED.

PEOPLE HAVE MOVED.

I HAVE THOUGHT OF MOVING BECAUSE THIS IS THE VIEW THAT WE HAVE.

BUT I LOVE WHERE I LIVE.

I DON'T WANT TO MOVE.

I WANT THEM TO MOVE.

HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THAT WITHIN BETWEEN MY HOUSE, BETWEEN THE HOUSE OF THE WOMAN AT THE BOTTOM? THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS.

THANK YOU COLLEAGUES.

THIS CONCLUDES NOON PUBLIC COMMUNICATION PORTION OF THE AGENDA.

COUNCIL WILL NOW STAND IN RECESS UNTIL 1:10 PM WE WILL STAND IN RECESS UNTIL 1:10 PM IN WHICH WE WOULD COME BACK AND I INVITE EVERYONE TO JOIN US FOR LIVE MUSIC.

THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH.

OR COUNCIL STANDS IN RECESS.

COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE VELASQUEZ

IS THAT WORKING RIGHT? I'M

[02:30:01]

[Live Music]

AND I HAVE THE HONOR OF INTRODUCING VIVA PALINA ORCHESTRA.

THE VIVA PALESTINA ORCHESTRA WAS FOUNDED IN NOVEMBER OF 2023.

HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, THEY PERFORM PALESTINIAN CULTURAL MUSIC, THE OR THE ORCHESTRA'S REPERTOIRE CENTERS AROUND PAL, UH, PALESTINIAN AND LEVINTON HERITAGE PRESERVATION, WHICH AIMS TO CELEBRATE CULTURE, POETRY, RESILIENCE THROUGH MUSIC, STORYTELLING, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

COMPRISE, UH, YEAH, COMPROMISING COMP COMPRISING MUSICIANS FROM DIVERSE CULTURAL BACKGROUNDS.

THE VPO ENSEMBLE BLENDS THEIR VOICES TO UPLIFT PALESTINIAN NARRATIVES AND LIVES.

SINCE ITS ITS INCEPTION, VPO HAS PERFORMED IN MULTIPLE VENUES ACROSS AUSTIN, INCLUDING THE MUSEUM OF HUMAN ACHIEVEMENT, EMPIRE CONTROL ROOM, RICH'S ART GALLERY, THE VORTEX HOTEL, VEGAS SPIDER SPIDER HOUSE BALLROOM, FAR OUT LOUNGE, AND KENNY DOORMAN'S BACKYARD.

THIS MULTI-GENERATIONAL COLLECTIVE SHARE THE VISION THAT MUSIC, CULTURE, STORYTELLING, AND POETRY CAN UNITE AND HEAL WHILE RAISING AWARENESS OF INJUSTICE AND RACISM.

LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR A VIVA PALINA ORCHESTRA.

[02:37:16]

HEY, I, WHEN I BACK MY BEST BACK, MY BEST BACK, MY BEST.

[02:40:09]

UM, GIVE IT UP AGAIN FOR VIVA PALINA.

SO I HAVE THE, UH, OUR OFFICE WAS HONORED TO SPONSOR THIS GROUP TO COME AND PLAY FOR US TODAY.

AND I HAVE THE DISTINCT HONOR OF READING, UH, THE PROCLAMATION FOR IT, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS OUR MUSIC SCENE THRIVES BECAUSE OF, BECAUSE AUSTIN AUDIENCE SUPPORT DIVERSE MUSIC PRODUCED BY LEGENDS, OUR LOCAL FAVORITES AND NEWCOMERS ALIKE.

AND WHEREAS THE VIVA PALESTINA ORCHESTRA IS A COLLECTIVE OF AUSTIN MUSICIANS THAT UPLIFT PALESTINIAN CULTURE AND IDENTITY THROUGH MUSIC AND STORYTELLING.

AND WHEREAS MUSIC HAS A POWERFUL WAY OF BRINGING COMMUNITIES TOGETHER, PROVIDING STRENGTH, HOPE, AND COMFORT, WHILE ALSO SERVING AS A TOOL TO INSPIRE CHANGE AND PROMOTE PEACE.

AND WHEREAS THE VIVA PALINO ORCHESTRA RAISES AWARENESS AND EDUCATES THEIR LIST, EDUCATES THEIR LISTENERS ABOUT THE HISTORY OF PALESTINE THROUGH MOVING RENDITIONS OF CULTURALLY RELEVANT SONGS THAT TELL STORIES OF RESILIENCE, LOVE, AND THE, UH, UNBREAKABLE SPIRIT OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE.

AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS BLESSED WITH MANY CREATIVE MUSICIANS WHOSE TALENTS EXPAND A VARIETY OF GENRES, AND WHEREAS WE ARE PLEASED TO SHOWCASE AND SUPPORT OUR LOCAL ARTIST NOW, THEREFORE, I, COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE VELAZQUEZ WITH THE MAYOR PRO TEM VANESSA FUENTES AND COUNCIL MEMBER CHITO VELA, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH 27TH, 2025 AS VIVA PALINA ORCHESTRA DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.

GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY.

IT'S ONE 10 ON, UH, THUR THE AFTERNOON OF THURSDAY, MARCH 27TH, AND I WILL CALL BACK TO ORDER THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AFTER A BRIEF RECESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

UH, WHAT I'M GOING TO DO, UH, JUST SO THAT WE CAN, UH, HOPEFULLY MOVE WITH SOME EFFICIENCY AND GET, UH, WE ONLY, WE ONLY HAVE, UH, 50 MINUTES BEFORE OUR TWO O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN.

UM, AND THEN OF COURSE WE HAVE EXECUTIVE SESSIONS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET TO.

I'M GOING TO CALL UP, UH, FIRST I'M GONNA GO TO THE PUBLIC HEARINGS AND I WILL CALL UP THOSE PUBLIC HEARINGS THAT HAVE THE LEAST PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK SO THAT WE, THOSE FOLKS WILL BE ABLE TO, UH, SPEAK.

AND THEN WE WILL GO TO THE, THE, THE REMAINING ITEMS. SO THE WAY I SEE THIS PLAYING OUT IS ITEM 76 84 AND ONE 13 WILL PROBABLY BE AFTER WE HAVE THE OTHER PUBLIC HEARINGS.

UH, BUT I'M, I'M JUST, I'M GOING TO P PLAY THIS UNTIL TWO O'CLOCK, SEE WHERE WE ARE.

UH, BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW, HOW I'M LOOKING AT THAT.

SO WITH THAT, UH, I WILL CALL UP, UH, ITEM NUMBER 74.

UH, REMEMBER MEMBERS THAT ITEMS 74 THROUGH 82 ARE PUBLIC HEARINGS, BUT THEY'RE NON-ACTION ITEMS BECAUSE THEY'RE TECHNICAL CODE AMENDMENTS AND THEY MUST BE HEARD TWICE.

UM, BUT AS I SAID, WHAT I WAS GONNA DO, I'M LOOKING, AND I'M NOT SURE WE HAVE THE STAFF THAT WAS GONNA TALK ABOUT THESE, DO WE? 75.

75.

I'LL CALL UP ITEM NUMBER 75.

WELL CON SINCE YOU JUST VOLUNTEERED, COME UP HERE, WE'LL, WE'LL DO 75 THANKS.

[75. Conduct a public hearing on an ordinance repealing and replacing Article 12 (Energy Code) of City Code Chapter 25-12 (Technical Codes) to adopt the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code and local amendments, including provisions allowing for readiness for electric vehicles, electric appliances, and energy storage systems; and creating offenses. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.]

[02:45:01]

UM, ITEM NUMBER 75 IS A PUBLIC HEARING WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 75, AND THIS IS A VERY BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ITEM NUMBER 75 IN CASE COUNSEL HAS ANY QUESTIONS.

THANKS.

UH, BOB CO.

GENERAL MANAGER AUSTIN ENERGY AND HEIDI CASPER, WHAT? WE'RE GOOD TO GO, HEIDI? YEP.

COME ON UP.

CAN YOU GIMME SLIDE EIGHT? UM, ONE MORE.

THANKS, HEIDI.

CASPER, I AM THE DIRECTOR FOR GREEN BUILDING AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGY AT AUSTIN ENERGY.

I'M COVERING THE ENERGY CODE TODAY.

NEXT SLIDE.

UM, IN TERMS OF THIS CODE, THIS VERSION OF THE CODE IS ANTICIPATED TO INCREASE THE EFFICIENCY OF NEW BUILDINGS BY APPROXIMATELY 13% FOR COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS AND 6% FOR RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS.

A LOT OF THE CHANGES ADD ADDITIONAL FLEXIBILITY AND CHOICES TO ALLOW DESIGNERS TO IMPLEMENT THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE APPROACH TO MEET THE EFFICIENCY STANDARD FOR THE RESIDENTIAL CODE IN PARTICULAR, ONE CHANGE I WILL HIGHLIGHT IS THE REDUCTION OF THE PRESCRIPTIVE ATTIC INSTALLATION FROM R 49 TO R 38.

OUR ANALYSIS SHOWED THAT THERE ARE DIMINISHING RETURNS FOR THAT LEVEL OF INSTALLATION, AND SO BY REDUCING IT, WE CAN ACHIEVE GREATER EFFICIENCY AT LOWER COST.

THE CODE ALSO INCLUDES REQUIREMENTS THAT ANTICIPATE THE ADOPTION OF CLEANER AND MORE EFFICIENT TECHNOLOGIES IN THE FUTURE.

ELECTRIC READINESS MEASURES WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR HOMEOWNERS TO CONVERT TO ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT AND APPLIANCES IF THEY CHOOSE.

AND ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING READINESS MEASURES ALLOW FOR FUTURE EV CHARGING.

OTHER CHANGES INCLUDE AIR LEAKAGE REDUCTION, DEMAND RESPONSE CONTROLS FOR WATER HEATER AND MOISTURE CONTROLS FOR BATHROOM EXHAUST FANS.

NEXT SLIDE.

FOR THE COMMERCIAL CODE, WE'RE ADDING AIR, AIR LEAKAGE TESTING REQUIREMENTS FOR RESIDENTIAL AND INSTITUTIONAL USES LIKE THE RESIDENTIAL CODE, ADDITIONAL FLEXIBILITY AND CHOICES HAVE BEEN PROVIDED.

NEW COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS OVER 10,000 SQUARE FEET WILL REQUIRE RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS AND ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM READINESS MEASURES TO ALLOW FOR FUTURE BATTERY INSTALLATION.

AS IN THE RESIDENTIAL CODE, ELECTRIC READY AND ELECTRIC VEHICLE READINESS MEASURES HAVE BEEN INCORPORATED.

THESE REQUIREMENTS I WILL JUST, UM, CLARIFY ADD INFRASTRUCTURE ONLY AND NOT THE ACTUAL EQUIPMENT OR THE CHARGING STATIONS MEMBERS.

YOU HAVE ANY QUE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU FOR THAT, UH, BRIEFING ON THE ITEM.

I WILL, WE'VE OPENED THE PUBLIC HEARING AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK.

FIRST SPEAKER IS CYRUS REED ON ITEM 75, AND HE IS REMOTE REED.

CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME? YES.

I CAN'T SEE YOU.

UH, UH, THANK YOU MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.

IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE WITH YOU VIRTUALLY.

AS YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

IT'S HARD FOR ME TO BE IN TWO PLACES AT ONCE, BUT JUST I KNOW THAT FEELING.

THE SIERRA CLUB FULLY SUPPORT.

IN TERMS OF, UM, ENERGY USE AND ALSO THE INCORPORATION OF THESE NEW TECHNOLOGIES.

UH, THE SIERRA CLUB FULLY SUPPORTS THE ADOPTION OF THE 2024 IECC WITH LOCAL AMENDMENTS FOR BOTH COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS.

LOWERING ENERGY USE AND INCORPORATING NEW TECHNOLOGY IS A KEY TOOL TO MEET OUR LONG-TERM ENERGY AND CLIMATE GOALS AND BUILDINGS, AS YOU KNOW, LAST SOMETIMES WELL OVER 50 YEARS.

SO MAKING SURE THESE NEW AND REFURBISHED BUILDINGS MEET THESE CODES IS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE.

AUSTIN, AS YOU KNOW, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS HAS BEEN A LEADER ON ENERGY CODES.

AND I BELIEVE WITH THIS ADOPTION, WE WOULD BE, I THINK, THE FIRST CITY IN TEXAS TO ADOPT THE 24 ENERGY CODE.

UM, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT MANY OF YOU APPROVED, UH, WELL, SOME OF YOU THAT, THAT WERE, UH, MEMBERS LAST YEAR DID APPROVE THE 2035 AUSTIN GENERATION PLAN THAT MADE MAJOR COMMITMENTS TO CONTINUE TO BELIEVE, BE A LEADER ON ENERGY CODES, ENERGY SAVINGS, UM, UH, ONSITE SOLAR ONSITE STORAGE, AND CONTINUED INCORPORATION OF EV.

UH, WE HAVE REVIEWED CAREFULLY THESE PROPOSALS AND AGREE WITH THEM.

UH, THIS CODE DID GO THROUGH R-M-C-E-U-C, UH, SUSTAINABILITY, UM, COMMITTEE, UH, AND, AND OBVIOUSLY HAD, UH, LOTS OF INPUT FROM, FROM MANY STAKEHOLDERS.

UH, WE WOULD NOTE THAT WE BELIEVE THESE IMPROVEMENTS WOULD SAVE, UM, RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION IN TERMS OF ENERGY SAVINGS AROUND 6% AND COMMERCIAL EVEN MORE AT 13% ACCORDING TO THE MODELING.

UM, IT WOULD FOR COMMERCIAL INCREASE SOME CONSTRUCTION COSTS, BUT OVER THE LONG TERM OF THE BUILDINGS WILL SAVE

[02:50:01]

SPEAKER, YOUR TIME IS RESIDENT EXPIRED.

NEXT SPEAKER CAMILLE COOK.

CAMILLE NEXT SPEAKER IS SHANE JOHNSON.

SHANE PAUL ROBBINS, COUNSEL, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES.

COUNSEL.

UM, I'M PAUL ROBBINS.

I SERVE AS VICE CHAIR OF THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION.

OUR COMMISSION VOTED TO SUPPORT THE ENERGY CODE ENTHUSIASTICALLY AND I URGE YOU TO APPROVE IT APRIL 10TH.

BUT WE ALSO VOTED TO SUPPORT AN ADDITION TO THIS, THIS, AND THAT IS THE, WE SUPPORT A REQUIREMENT FOR HEAT PUMP WATER HEATERS IN ALL ELECTRIC HOMES AND APARTMENTS.

THIS TECHNOLOGY COST EFFECTIVELY SAVES ABOUT 60% OF THE ENERGY, UH, OF A CONVENTIONAL UNIT.

IT IS NOT LOGICAL FOR ENERGY TO SUPPORT NEW POLLUTING UP GAS POWER PLANTS THAT WILL COST HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WHILE THE UTILITY CONTINUES TO ALLOW WASTEFUL APPLIANCES TO PROLIFERATE.

MY ESTIMATE IS THAT IN A 10 YEAR PERIOD BETWEEN 2013 AND 2023, THERE WERE 68,000 NEW HOMES WITH ALL ELECTRIC WATER HEATERS THAT ADDED ABOUT 24 MEGAWATTS TO THE AUSTIN ENERGY PEAK DEMAND.

UH, THIS ADDED ABOUT $14 MILLION A YEAR IN CONSUMER COSTS.

UH, THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA WITH 12% OF THE COUNTRY'S POPULATION IS DOING THIS NOW.

IT IS TOO LATE TO POSTPONE PASSAGE OF THE PROPOSED CODE.

BUT ON APRIL 10TH, I'M ASKING YOU TO ADD A SEPARATE ITEM TO INITIATE A CODE PROCESS TO REQUIRE HEAT PUMP WATER HEATERS IN NEW ALL ELECTRIC HOMES SO THAT MAYBE IN SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR WE WILL HAVE THAT AS WELL.

CAMILLE COOK.

CAMILLE, PLEASE UNMUTE.

I PLEASE GO TO THE NEXT SPEAKER.

HELLO? HELLO.

CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME? WE CAN HEAR YOU.

OH, GREAT.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WATSON AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS CAMILLE COOK AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT THREE AND I WORK AT PUBLIC CITIZEN TEXAS HERE IN AUSTIN.

I'M SPEAKING WITH Y'ALL TODAY, UH, TO DISCUSS THE BENEFITS OF ADOPTING THE 2024 INTERNATIONAL ENERGY CONSERVATION CODE FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY WHEN IMPLEMENTED IN THE CODE ENSURES THAT THE QUALITY OF LIFE BENEFITS FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND WORK IN THESE BUILDINGS IS IMPROVED.

IT SAVES TAXPAYER DOLLARS AND IT IMPROVES ENVIRONMENTAL OUTCOMES HERE IN AUSTIN.

SO ENERGY EFFICIENT NEW HOMES PROVIDE MANY QUALITY OF LIFE BENEFITS.

UH, REDUCE ENERGY USAGE IN BUILDINGS IMPROVES LONG-TERM AFFORDABILITY BECAUSE PEOPLE SPEND LESS ON THE, ON THEIR UTILITIES.

UH, THIS IMPROVES SATISFACTION AND KEEPS PEOPLE HERE IN AUSTIN.

UH, THESE CHANGES WILL REDUCE BOTH GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AND LOCAL INDOOR, LOCAL AND INDOOR AIR QUALITY OR AIR POLLUTION.

AND MORE AND MORE RESEARCH IS COMING OUT TALKING ABOUT THE DANGERS OF NATURAL GAS STOVES FOR AIR QUALITY IN THE HOME, FOR EXAMPLE.

AND THESE CODES CAN ALSO SAVE TAXPAYER DOLLARS, AS I'M SURE Y'ALL, AS I'M SURE Y'ALL KNOW, AFTER HEARING THE AE PRESENTATION ON UNDER GROUNDING WIRES, IT IS MUCH CHEAPER TO GET THESE THINGS DONE FROM THE BEGINNING THAN TRYING TO RETROFIT LATER.

THIS CODE ENSURES EV AND ELECTRIC READINESS PERVIS PROVISIONS, WHICH GIVES CURRENT AND FUTURE PROPERTY OWNERS AN AFFORDABLE PATHWAY TO CHOOSE EFFICIENT ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGIES.

THE 2024 ENERGY CONSERVATION CODE IS PROJECTED TO RESULT IN 6.1% ENERGY SAVINGS IN RESIDENTIAL AND 13.4% SAVINGS IN COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS.

LASTLY, THIS UPDATED CODE, UH, HELPS IMPROVE ENVIRONMENTAL OUTCOMES.

HERE IN AUSTIN, USING LESS ENERGY REDUCES THE AMOUNT OF NATURAL GAS AND COLD WE BURN.

AND IT MEANS THERE'S A LOWER PEAK DEMAND ON COLD WINTER MORNINGS AND HOT SUMMER DAYS.

UM, BUILDINGS BUILT TODAY CAN LAST WELL OVER 50 YEARS, MEANING THAT THESE UPGRADES OF CODE CAN BENEFIT US FOR WELL OVER HALF A CENTURY.

LET'S FUTURE PROOF AS MUCH AS WE CAN, ESPECIALLY AS THE FUTURE SEEMS MUCH MORE TENUOUS.

NEXT SPEAKER IS SHANE JOHNSON.

[02:55:02]

WE WILL GO, OH, I'M SORRY.

WE'VE GOT ONE MORE SPEAKER.

KABA WHITE.

MY NAME IS KABA WHITE.

I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF PUBLIC CITIZENS TEXAS OFFICE, AND WE ARE SUPPORTIVE OF MOVING FORWARD WITH THE ENERGY CONSERVATION CODE UPDATES OF PROPOSED.

UM, AS YOU'LL SEE IN THE BACKUP MATERIALS, THE JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE HAS, UH, REGISTERED SUPPORT FOR THIS UPDATE.

AND IN FACT, THAT COMMITTEE AND SEVERAL, SEVERAL OTHER OF YOUR, UM, ADVISORY BODIES HAVE BEEN, UH, ENCOURAGING THESE UPDATES.

AND IN PARTICULAR, THE EV READY AND ELECTRIC READY ADDITIONS TO THE CODE FOR SOME TIME.

UM, I THINK PERHAPS SOME OF YOU ARE ALREADY AWARE OF THIS, BUT, UM, THE AUSTIN CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN DOES INCLUDE, UH, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY A COMMITMENT TO MOVE TOWARD ELECTRIFICATION, NOT ONLY OF TRANSPORTATION, BUT ALSO OF THE VARIOUS APPLIANCES AND HOMES AND BUSINESSES.

AND BUILDING TO ALLOW FOR THAT, UH, ON THE FRONT END IS MUCH MORE AFFORDABLE THAN DOING IT AS A RETROFIT.

AND I JUST WANTED TO BRIEFLY SHARE THAT I HAVE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH THIS.

I HAVE A 1984 HOME AND HAVE BEEN, UH, CONVERTING, UH, IT, YOU KNOW, TO ALLOW FOR ELECTRIFICATION.

I HAVE, UH, AN ELECTRIC CAR CHARGER.

I THEN GOT AN ELECTRIC, UH, HEAT PUMP, WATER HEATER, AND UM, THEN, UH, ALSO AN INDUCTION ELECTRIC STOVE.

ALL OF THOSE, UM, REQUIRED HIRING AN ELECTRICIAN.

IT WAS VERY EXPENSIVE AND FRANKLY HAS BECOME MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE OVER TIME.

UM, YOU KNOW, THE FIRST ONE WAS SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS AND THEN I THINK THE LAST ONE WAS, YOU KNOW, WELL OVER A THOUSAND.

AND I KNOW, UM, OTHER FRIENDS WHO HAVE HAD TO, UM, DO SIMILAR WORK RECENTLY, AND IT IS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO DO WITH THEM AS RETROFITS.

SO THESE PROVISIONS ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO ALLOW, UH, RESIDENTS TO AND ACTUALLY HAVE A CHOICE FOR, UM, WHAT THEY'RE USING.

IT DOES NOT REQUIRE ANYBODY TO CHOOSE ELECTRIC IF THEY DON'T WANT TO.

UM, BUT IT DOES ALLOW FOR THANK YOU MS. WHITE REPLACEMENT OF AN APPLIANCE WITH A SIMPLE CLOTH.

SHANE JOHNSON, PLEASE UNMUTE SHANE JOHNSON, PLEASE UNMUTE YOUR PHONE.

HI, CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME? YES.

HI.

CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME NOW? YES.

HI, Y'ALL.

SHANE JOHNSON, UH, UH, HE, HIM PRONOUNS.

I'M, UH, DISTRICT SEVEN RESIDENT SPEAKING AS A CLEAN ENERGY ORGANIZER FOR THE TEXAS SIERRA CLUB.

UH, AND I WAS CO-CHAIR OF THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN IN THE PAST.

FOR THOSE YOU DON'T KNOW.

UM, SO FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE PUBLIC UPDATING BUILDING CODES MEANS BETTER ENERGY EFFICIENCY FOR NEW BUILDINGS IN THE FUTURE.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT SOLUTION TO EVERYTHING I WORK ON AT SIERRA CLUB, ADDRESSING HIGH BILLS THAT CONTINUE TO GROW, ADVANCING CLEAN ENERGY, FIGHTING CLIMATE CHANGE, HELPING MAKE OUR LOCAL GRID AND THE TEXAS GRID OVERALL MORE RELIABLE, HELPING ADDRESS ENERGY, POVERTY AND ENERGY, ENERGY JUSTICE.

UH, SO EVERYONE I'VE TALKED TO INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF WORK COMPLAINS ABOUT THEIR UTILITY BILLS BEING TOO HIGH AND GOING UP.

UM, MY PARENTS, MY BARBER, OTHER FRIENDS, UM, UH, AND MY PARENTS ARE IN D SEVEN AS WELL.

UM, AND UH, SO I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT THIS IS, YOU KNOW, CONTINUES TO BE AN ISSUE AND WE NEED TO ADDRESS THAT.

UM, AND YOU KNOW, FOR REFERENCE, MY ELECTRIC BILL EVERY MONTH HAS BEEN NEARLY DOUBLE WHAT IT WAS BEFORE THE 2022 AUSTIN ENERGY RATE HIKE.

AND SO THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A COMMON ACROSS THE BOARD AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB ABOUT ADDRESSING.

UH, AND FOR NEW BUILDINGS AND FUTURE RESIDENTS IN THOSE BUILDINGS OR, YOU KNOW, WORKERS, UH, THESE ENERGY CODE UPDATES ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, UH, TO MEETING THOSE NEEDS AND HELPING KEEP BILLS LOWER, HELPING BALANCE THE FINANCES, LOSS AND ENERGY.

UM, SO PLEASE PASS THESE ENERGY CODE, THE 2024 ENERGY CODE UPDATES.

THAT WOULD BE A BIG STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

AND OTHER TECHNICAL CODES.

NOW WE'RE GOING TO IN-PERSON SPEAKERS FOR ITEM NUMBER 75, CHRIS GANNON, CRAIG NAOR, STUART HIRSH, AND MONICA GUZMAN.

HI, UH, THIS IS CHRIS GAON.

I AM THE A I A HOUSING ADVOCACY CHAIR.

THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'RE DOING AROUND THIS

[03:00:01]

WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS WITHIN THE A I A AUSTIN'S HOUSING ADVOCACY COMMITTEE AND WE SUPPORT THE ADOPTION OF THIS CODE FULLY, BUT ASKED TO CONSIDER EXEMPTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS FROM THE EV CHARGING REQUIREMENT.

UH, WE HAVE A LIMITED AMOUNT OF PUBLIC FUNDS FOR HOUSING AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO STRETCH AS FAR AS POSSIBLE.

THANK YOU MR. HIRSCH.

MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL MAYOR.

WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS SINCE 1997.

UH, WE LOOK THE SAME THOUGH , WE LOOK THE SAME.

UH, THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE IN 1997 AND THE GOVERNOR AND EVERY SUBSEQUENT GOVERNOR SINCE 1997, HAS SUPPORTED CITIES AND TOWNS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF TEXAS OF BEING ABLE TO USE EITHER THE UNIFORM CODES OR THE INTERNATIONAL CODES.

WE IN AUSTIN HAVE BLOCKED THAT ALTERNATIVE FOR 27 YEARS AND TODAY'S PROPOSED AMENDMENTS BEFORE YOU WILL FINALLY END OUR NON-ALIGNMENT WITH STATE LAW.

AND I'M VERY HAPPY THAT THAT'S THE CASE.

I WAS PREPARED TO COME HERE TODAY AND TELL YOU THIS IS THE BOOK BY WHICH YOU BUILD A SINGLE FAMILY HOUSE, A DUPLEX OR A TOWNHOUSE IN THE WORLD, AND IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, THE 2024 INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE, BUT EXHAUSTED ENERGY AS CLEARLY ARTICULATED.

WE NEED TO GO BEYOND THAT.

THEIR CODE AMENDMENTS ARE REASONABLE.

I'M AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING GUY.

ALL MY CONSULTING WORKS SINCE 2008 HAS BEEN PRO BONO.

AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO CREATE EFFICIENCY APARTMENTS ON THE MULTIFAMILY SIDE AT $350 A MONTH RENT, AND $40 A MONTH, UH, UTILITIES FOR ELECTRICITY.

SO I SERVE THE POOR, I HELP PEOPLE SERVE THE POOREST AMONG US.

AND I ASK YOU TO SUPPORT, UH, NEXT MONTH ITEM 75 WHEN IT COMES FORWARD IN THE WAY THAT THE STAFF PRESENTED.

'CAUSE I THINK IT'S, WE FINALLY ACHIEVE ALIGNMENT AND I'LL BE MAKING SIMPLER COMMENTS AS YOU GO THROUGH THE BALANCE OF CODES TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR GOOD WORK.

THANK YOU MR. HIRSCH.

HELLO, CRAIG NASER, LONE STAR CHAPTER SIERRA CLUB.

UM, I'M IN FULL SUPPORT OF THIS.

THIS IS A GREAT, UH, THING WE'RE DOING.

AND I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE GONNA BUILD AFFORDABLE HOMES, YOU SHOULD REALLY PUT SOLAR IN AND ELECTRIC APPLIANCES BECAUSE IN THE LONG RUN THAT MAKES THEM MORE AFFORDABLE.

AND I WILL JUST TELL YOU THAT RECENTLY WE, WE HAD TO GET A NEW CAR, SO WE BOUGHT AN ALL ELECTRIC CAR AND I HAVE 10 SOLAR PANELS ON MY HOUSE AND HAVE BEEN DOING ALL THIS, YOU KNOW, UPGRADING THE WINDOWS AND EVERYTHING.

BUT A ONE 10, THEY CALL IT TRICKLE CHARGE.

IF ANY OF YOU'VE HAD THAT EXPERIENCE TAKES A LONG TIME TO CHARGE UP THAT CAR WITH JUST A ONE 10 OUTLET.

SO WE GOT A 240 OUTLET PUT IN IT.

COST NOW COSTS OVER $3,000.

AT THE SAME TIME I HAD A, TO SAVE A LITTLE MONEY, I HAD A A A, AN OUTLET DROPPED INTO MY, UH, HOT WATER HEATER, WHICH IS AN OLD GAS HEATER THAT'S ABOUT READY TO GO OUT.

HAVE YOU LOOKED AT YOUR GAS BILL RECENTLY? THEY KEEP RAISING THE RATES, RIGHT? THIS IS SUCH A GOOD IDEA.

THIS WILL SAVE PEOPLE MONEY.

THIS WILL HELP TO MAKE AUSTIN MORE AFFORDABLE.

I STRONGLY SUPPORT IT AND IT'S SO NICE TO COME UP HERE AND TELL YOU THAT HERE'S AN ITEM I REALLY SUPPORT.

THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS FOR ITEM 75.

THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 75.

AS HAS BEEN POINTED OUT, THIS IS A NON-ACTION ITEM.

UH, WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ITEM, UH, IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

SO YES, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA MAYOR, THANK YOU.

I JUST WANTED TO, UH, THANK, IN PARTICULAR CHRIS GANNON, WHO, UH, IS AN ARCHITECT.

HE SPOKE EARLIER AND, UH, HAS WORKED, VOLUNTEERED COUNTLESS HOURS ON THE SINGLE STA AMENDMENT THAT I WILL BE.

UH, JUST APPRECIATE HIM AND ALL HIS WORK AND ALL THE ADVOCATES WORK.

I DUNNO IF HE'LL BE HERE NEXT A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU.

UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER ROBERT MADISON.

VERY BRIEFLY.

I JUST WANTED TO SAY DITTO.

UM, TO MY POINT EARLIER ABOUT THE ADVOCATES HELPING US ALONG THE WAY.

A I A HAS BEEN REALLY, REALLY HELPFUL.

THANK YOU GUYS.

IS ALSO A PUBLIC HEARING WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 74.

WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 75.

ITEM NUMBER 74

[74. Conduct a public hearing on an ordinance repealing and replacing Article 9 (Property Maintenance Code) of City Code Chapter 25-12 (Technical Codes) to adopt the 2024 International Property Maintenance Code and local amendments and creating offenses. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.]

UH, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN.

TALK TO US MA, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I'M TODD WILCOX.

I'M THE CITY'S BUILDING OFFICIAL.

UH, I'LL PRESENT TO YOU THE, UH, INTERNATIONAL

[03:05:01]

PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE.

RECOMMENDED AMENDMENTS.

UH, THERE WE GO.

INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE IS A CODE THAT'S USED TO ESTABLISH, UH, MINIMUM GUIDELINES FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF EXISTING BUILDINGS TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE.

UH, IN, IN THE DEFINITIONS PORTION OF IT, WE JUST CHANGED TO ADD COOLING FACILITIES TO ALIGN WITH THE NEW AIR CONDITIONING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AMENDMENT WE'RE GONNA PROPOSE.

UH, WE ALSO ADDED TWO DEFINITIONS TO MAKE IT EASIER TO GET PERMITTING AND, AND CODE NOTICES SENT OUT SURCHARGE AND INFESTATION SURCHARGES FOR BUILDING PERMITS ON RETAINING WALLS.

UH, IN THE DEFINITION OF INFESTATION, WE JUST ADDED SCORPIONS AND BEDBUGS THAT WEREN'T ORIGINALLY IN THE DEFINITION IN THE CODE.

AND THEN, LIKE I SAID EARLIER, THE COOLING FACILITY REQUIREMENTS, THEY'LL HAVE TO INSTALL AIR CONDITIONING EQUIPMENT CAPABLE OF, UH, MAINTAINING 15 DEGREES COOLER THAN OUTSIDE, BUT NOT EXCEEDING 85 DEGREES.

UH, WE ALSO CHANGED THE SERVICE DEFINITION TO ALIGN WITH THE NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE, WHICH WAS ADOPTED IN 2023 FROM 60 AMPS TO A HUNDRED AMPS.

AND THAT'S IT FOR THE INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE.

YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT, LET'S, UH, LISTEN TO PEOPLE ON ITEM NUMBER 74.

FIRST SPEAKER IS STUART HIRSCH, FOLLOWED BY ROY WHALEY AND MONICA GUZMAN, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

STUART HARRY HIRSCH OR STU FROM DISTRICT TWO.

SOUNDS LIKE A CAMPAIGN SLOGAN.

MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU BETTER BE CAREFUL.

SHE'S TERM LIMITED.

IT'S NOT A CHALLENGE.

UH, ONE OF THE THINGS I'M CONCERNED WITH, WITH THE LOCAL AMENDMENTS PROPOSED FOR INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE IS SOME OF US GREW UP IN HOUSING THAT DIDN'T HAVE AIR CONDITIONING.

THAT'S 'CAUSE WE GREW UP IN THE NORTHEAST OR THE MIDWEST WHERE WE PUT IN BASEMENTS AND BOILERS TO KEEP PIPES FROM BURSTING, WHICH IS NOT WHAT WE DO HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.

UH, AND AS A RESULT, WE DON'T WANNA MAKE CRIMINALS OF EVERYBODY WHOSE HOUSE WAS BUILT WITH PROPER VENTILATION AND PROPER HEATING, BUT JUST LACKS AIR CONDITIONING OR HAS A WINDED UNIT THAT WON'T CONDITION ALL THAT.

I GREW UP WITH THAT MY KIDS GREW UP WITH THAT FOR A WHILE UNTIL WE COULD AFFORD TO LIVE IN HOUSING THAT DID HAVE AIR CONDITIONING.

AND I DON'T WANT TO TERM PROPERTY OWNERS THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND THE CRIMINALS BECAUSE THE NEW CODE SAYS THAT YOU HAVE TO RETROFIT IT.

SO AS LONG AS BETWEEN NOW AND APRIL WHEN YOU ADOPT YOUR LOCAL AMENDMENTS, YOU COME UP WITH A WAY TO ADMINISTER THIS WITHOUT MAKING PEOPLE CRIMINALS FOR HAVING PROPER VENTILATION.

I SUPPORT THE CODE, UH, IN THE WAY THAT THE STAFF HAS PROPOSED IT TODAY WITH THAT SMALL CHANGE.

THANK YOU SIR.

ROY WHALEY AND MONICA GUZMAN.

THAT CON ALL THE SPEAKERS HAVE BEEN CALLED MAYOR.

IS ALSO A PUBLIC HEARING.

UH, THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 74.

WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 74 AND WE WILL COME BACK FOR THE NEXT PUBLIC HEARING IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

ITEM NUMBER 77

[77. Conduct a public hearing on an ordinance repealing and replacing Article 7 (Fire Code) of City Code Chapter 25-12 (Technical Codes) to adopt the 2024 International Fire Code and local amendments; and creating offenses. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.]

WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 77.

THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN AND WE WILL GET A BRIEFING ON ITEM NUMBER 77.

GOOD AFTERNOON AGAIN.

TODD WILCOX BUILDING OFFICIAL.

ITEM 77 IS AFTER THE ENERGY CODE.

THERE WE GO.

SO THE ITEM 77 IS THE INTERNATIONAL BUILDING? NO, THAT WOULD BE, UH, IFC.

SO FIRE DEPARTMENT FIRE CODE.

SO WHAT WE NEED HERE COMES FIRE DEPARTMENT.

WHAT JUST HAPPENED? IT'S OUTTA ORDER.

7, 6 77.

I WAS TAKING UP SE 76 HAS A LOT OF FOLKS SIGNED UP.

SO I'M TRYING TO GET, I'M TRYING TO GET THROUGH 'CAUSE I'VE GOT A TWO O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN THAT I'M WORKING TOWARD.

SORRY IF I'VE CREATED CONFUSION, BUT WE'RE ON ITEM NUMBER 77.

77.

FIRE CODE.

UH, I GOT THE CLICKER.

OKAY, .

UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR COUNCIL, UH, MY NAME IS BENJAMIN FLECK.

I'M THE MANAGING ENGINEER IN THE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE.

UH, SO WE ARE PROPOSING THE 2024 INTERNATIONAL FIRE CODE AND LOCAL AMENDMENTS.

UH, IN GENERAL, THE FIRE CODE ESTABLISHES MINIMUM REGULATIONS FOR FIRE PREVENTION, PROTECTION, AIMING TO SAFEGUARD LIFE, PROPERTY AND PUBLIC WELFARE.

SO THE AMENDMENTS WE'RE PUTTING FORWARD, WE'RE ADDING DEFINITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR ANIMAL CARE FACILITIES.

UH, WE ARE REQUIRING EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON TERTIARY POWER IN FIRE COMMAND ROOMS, FIRE PUMP ROOMS AND GENERATOR ROOMS OF HIGH RISES WHERE FIRST RESPONDERS ARE GONNA SET UP OPERATIONS IN THE EVENT OF EMERGENCY.

WE ARE SPECIFYING REQUIREMENTS FOR ALTERNATIVE SURFACE FIRE LANES.

UH, WE'RE NO LONGER CARRYING FORWARD AMENDMENTS THAT WE'VE HISTORICALLY ADOPTED FOR PRESSURIZED, UH, STAIRWELLS, SPECIFICALLY IN HIGH RISES, THE VEGETABLE REQUIREMENT.

WE'RE

[03:10:01]

GETTING RID OF THAT.

GOING BACK TO THE MODEL CODE, UH, WE'RE AMENDING THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE QUANTITY OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ON ROOFTOP OCCUPANCIES, AND WE ARE CLARIFYING HOW FIRE FLOWS DETERMINE AN APPENDIX FEE.

UH, OTHER THAN THAT, WE'RE ACTIVELY WORKING ON REDUCING LOCAL AMENDMENTS.

QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT.

UH, WE'VE OPENED THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 77.

I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK STUART HIRSCH AND MONICA GUZMAN.

UH, STU FROM DISTRICT TWO IS SAYING HE'S DONE.

UM, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS.

MS. GUZMAN, ARE YOU HERE? ALL RIGHT, THE, THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKER, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.

JUST WANTED TO AGAIN, SAY THANKS TO STAFF.

GOOD TO SEE THE ANIMAL CARE FACILITY, THE FIRE AT REQUIRED FIRE PROTECTION AT ANIMAL CARE FACILITIES.

I CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER WHEN THAT PASSED, BUT IT WAS A LONG TIME AGO.

BUT IT'S GOOD TO SEE IT COMING BACK.

IT'S COMING FROM A LOT OF FOLKS WHO LOST THEIR, UH, PETS IN A FIRE AT A KENNEL THAT I BELIEVE IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY OR GEORGETOWN.

UH, AND, UH, IT'S GREAT TO IMPLEMENT THOSE TO, TO PROTECT OUR, OUR ANIMAL FRIENDS.

IS A PUBLIC HEARING WITHOUT OBJECTION.

UH, THERE BEING NO OBJECTION.

WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 77.

THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED AND WE WILL COME BACK FOR THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT ITEM AT A LATER DATE.

ITEM 78

[78. Conduct a public hearing on an ordinance repealing and replacing Article 11 (Residential Code) of City Code Chapter 25-12 (Technical Codes) to adopt the 2024 International Residential Code and local amendments; and creating offenses. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.]

PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN AND WE WILL GET A BRIEFING.

GOOD AFTERNOON, TY WILCOX BUILDING OFFICIAL, THE INTERNATIONAL, THE INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE IS A CODE THAT SETS THE MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF ONE IN TWO FAMILY DINGS AND TOWNHOUSES.

IN, IN DEFINITIONS, WE ADDED THE DEFINITION OF SURCHARGE TO BE CON CONSISTENT WITH THE PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE.

WE CHANGED SOME REQUIREMENTS FOR EGRESS DOORS THAT WILL ALLOW MORE FLEXIBILITY IN DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF SINGLE FAMILY HOUSES AND ACCESSIBILITY AND VISIBILITY CHANGES.

WE, WE ALLOWED MORE FLEXIBILITY TO AID IN THE CONSTRUCTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE HOME AMENDMENTS.

AND THEN AGAIN, WE ADDED THE REQUIRED AIR CONDITIONING TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THE INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE.

AND THAT'S, THAT'S IT FOR THE IRC MEMBERS.

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT.

WE'VE OPENED THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 78.

I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK TO CALL, UH, THE NAMES OF THOSE WHO MAY GIVE US THEIR THOUGHTS.

STU FROM DISTRICT TWO EVAN LUCAS, STOP.

UM, THEY'RE VIRTUALLY FIREPROOF.

MR. HIRSH IS WAVING HIS, HIS, UH, SPEAKING ON, ON THIS ITEM.

PLEASE CALL THE NEXT NAME.

LUCAS EVANS, HARRY SAP AND MONICA GUZMAN.

GREAT, THANK YOU.

PLEASE COME FORWARD.

STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

HOWDY.

MY NAME IS LUCAS EVANS.

I LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE.

I AM IN FULL SUPPORT OF ADOPTING THE IRC CODE AS 2024 AND SPECIFICALLY THE HEMPCRETE APPENDIX.

UM, I'M A FARMER OUTSIDE OF TOWN AND I'M ALSO AN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST AND I'M DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT OUR FUTURE AND HEMPCRETE.

IT IS A GREAT WAY TO, UM, GIVE HIGH PERFORMANCE HOUSES THAT CAN BE AFFORDABLE.

UM, AND WE'VE DONE SEVERAL IN THE AUSTIN AREA.

THE FIRST ONE ACTUALLY IS OPEN TO A PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE, I THINK APRIL 15TH.

I CAN SHARE THAT WITH Y'ALL.

UM, BUT YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO VOICE MY FULL SUPPORT FOR THAT.

AND UM, IF Y'ALL HAVE ANY INTEREST IN THAT, PLEASE REACH OUT.

MAYBE WITH THIS NEW, UM, CONVENTION CENTER, MAYBE WE COULD GET SOME HEMP CREED IN THERE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE ENERGY CODES AND EVERYTHING WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HAS TO DO WITH JUST THE ENERGY AND INPUTS AND WATER, BUT NONE OF IT REALLY HAS TO DO WITH THE ENVELOPE OF THE BUILDING.

HEMP CREED IS A WAY TO ACTUALLY EMBODY THE CARBON AND START TO BRING THAT DOWN AND IT FILTERS THE AIR THROUGHOUT, UM, THE LIFE OF THE BUILDING.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU WANTED TO SAY? YES, MR. MAYOR, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ASK THE SPEAKER TO GET WITH MY STAFF SO WE CAN TALK TO YOU.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN, UH, NEAR AND DEAR FOR A COUPLE YEARS FOR ME.

AND AS WE'RE GETTING TO THE PLACE WHERE I WAS HOLDING MY BREATH, WATCHING THE LEDGE AND SEEING WHAT THEY WERE GONNA DO AROUND HEMP AND IT, AND MY PRAYER IS THAT THEY RECOGNIZE THAT HEMP IS A, IS A MATERIAL THAT'S BENEFICIAL TO THE STATE OF TEXAS IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE.

AND THAT WE CAN KEEP MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION.

CERTAINLY I'D LOVE TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU ABOUT THE HEMP CREEK AND MAYBE EVEN SOME OTHER ALTERNATIVE BUILDING MATERIAL STUFF THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AT HOUSING AND PLANNING.

MY STAFF WILL COME DOWN AND GRAB TOTALLY.

WE'RE ACTUALLY HAVING A WORKSHOP RIGHT NOW, UH, AT THE CENTER WITH PLINY FISK.

OH, FANTASTIC.

IF Y'ALL WANT TO COME, IT'S GOING ON IN THE NEXT TWO DAYS.

I THINK, UH, EITHER JOHN OR ERIC WILL COME TALK TO YOU SOON.

APPRECIATE IT.

ONLY DOES IT HAVE SOIL REMEDIATION, THERE'S THREE MAJOR, UM, MARKETS INVOLVED.

PLEASE COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

HARRY SOAP, UH, AIR FORCE VETERAN.

AND I LIKE TO SAY CANNABIS HAS SAVED MY LIFE.

I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT INDUSTRIAL HEMP HEMPCRETE.

UM, I'M A THIRD GENERATIONAL BUILDER.

SO ONCE I LEARNED ABOUT HEMPCRETE, IT WAS A MOMENT OF TRUTH OF SAYING WHY ARE WE NOT USING THIS? NOT

[03:15:01]

GRAIN FIBER AND THE HERD, WHICH IS WHAT WE USE FOR HEMPCRETE.

SO HEMPCRETE IS A BUILD MATERIAL WALL SYSTEM THAT IS FIRE RESISTANT, MOLD RESISTANT, INSECT RESISTANT WILL LAST HUNDREDS OF YEARS IS NATURAL SO YOUR INDOOR AIR, AIR QUALITY WILL BE SUPERIOR.

UM, TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE CODES AND STUFF, THERE'S NO INSPECTIONS FOR THE AIR QUALITY INSIDE OF A HOME BECAUSE EVERY HOME WOULD FAIL.

UM, PROUDLY LIKE TO SAY HEMPCRETE HAS EXTREMELY HEALTHY AIR TO BREATHE INTO BECAUSE OF THE NATURAL PRODUCTS USED AND NATURAL FINISHES AS WELL.

AND GETTING HEMPCRETE INVOLVED IN THE BUILDING CODE IS JUST A MAJOR STEP TO THE WHOLE INDUSTRIAL HEMP PLANT AS A WHOLE.

LIKE I SAID, IT HAS A GRAIN FACTOR, A FIBER FACTOR, IT HAS ENERGY USES WITH BIO GRAPHENE MAKING HEMP BATTERIES.

UM, A STUDY IN PENNSYLVANIA JUST WAS RELEASED LAST YEAR SAYING A HEMPCRETE HOME IS 70% MORE EFFICIENT THAN CONVENTIONAL BUILDING.

AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT'S MAJOR HERE IN TEXAS.

I TRAVEL ACROSS AMERICA BUILDING WITH, UH, HEMP.

MY COMPANY'S CALLED HEMP HOMES.COM, WHICH I'M VERY PROUD TO HAVE AND VERY PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS PLANT THAT IS, IS REVOLUTIONARY TO THE WHOLE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION AS A WHOLE.

SO THANK YOU AND I LOOK FORWARD TO COMING BACK AND SPEAKING MORE ABOUT HEMP.

WE HAVE ONE REMOTE SPEAKER.

CAROLINE DUNN.

HELLO COUNSEL.

CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES.

UM, AWESOME.

MY NAME IS CAROLINE DUNN AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE.

I'M ALSO HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, ADOPTING THE IRC 2024 APPENDIX BL.

SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE ADOPTED, UM, ALONGSIDE THE CODE.

IT DOESN'T JUST AUTOMATICALLY OPT IN.

AND AS THE SPEAKERS BEFORE ME MENTIONED, HEMP STREET IS A CEMENTITIOUS INSULATION MATERIAL MADE WITH NON THC HEMP AS THE AGGREGATE.

THIS MATERIAL IS CARBON NEGATIVE AND HIGHLY FIRE RESISTANT.

IT HAS RECEIVED A PERFECT SCORE OF ZERO ON THE A-S-T-M-E ONE 19 FIRE RESISTANCE TEST APPENDIX FOR THE IRC LAYS OUT A RIGOROUS STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE FOR CONSTRUCTION ASSEMBLIES AS WELL AS MIXING AND INSTALLING THE BIO MATERIAL.

THESE PROCEDURES PROTECT THE CONSUMER OF THE BIOMATERIAL BY ENFORCING PROPER METHODS.

CURRENTLY THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS PERMITTED SEVERAL HEMPCRETE HOUSES, BUT THIS HAS BEEN DONE USING THE ALTERNATE MESSAGE PATHWAY.

IF THE IRC 2024 APPENDIX BL IS ADOPTED, THERE WILL BE A MORE CLEAR PATHWAY FOR PERMITTING.

THERE WILL ALSO BE STRICTER STANDARDS AND OVERSIGHT IN THESE TIME CREATE PROJECTS THAT WILL ELEVATE THE QUALITY AND VIABILITY OF THESE PROJECTS WITHIN CITY LIMITS.

AS AN ARCHITECT WITH THE PRACTICE FOCUSING IN BIOMATERIALS AND A CO-CHAIR OF THE AUSTIN A I A RESILIENCY COMMITTEE, I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR THIS CODE, UM, BECAUSE IT WILL ELEVATE THE EFFORTS OF OTHER PROFESSIONALS AND CONSUMERS IN THE CITY.

MY CLEAR ASK IS THAT COUNCIL IS IN FAVOR OF ADOPTING THIS SPECIFIC APPENDIX ALONGSIDE THE REST OF THE 2024 TECHNICAL CODES.

THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO TO SERVE OUR CITY.

IS ALSO A PUBLIC HEARING.

THAT CONCLUDES THE SPEAKERS MEMBERS.

THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF THE SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 78.

WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 78 AND WE WILL HAVE AN ADDITIONAL PUBLIC HEARING IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

UH, ITEM NUMBER 79

[79. Conduct a public hearing on an ordinance repealing and replacing Article 8 (Wildland-Urban Interface Code) of City Code Chapter 25-12 (Technical Codes) to adopt the 2024 International Wildland-Urban Interface Code and local amendments; and creating offenses. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.]

WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 79.

THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN.

IS THERE A BRIEFING AFTERNOON AGAIN? BENJAMIN FLICK, MANAGING ENGINEER AT THE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE.

UH, WE'RE PROPOSING, UH, ADOPTION OF THE 2024 INTERNATIONAL WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE CODE IN LOCAL AMENDMENTS.

UH, THE 2024 WHOOPEE CODE IS A CODE INTENDED TO SUPPLEMENT ADOPTED BUILDING AND FIRE CODES FOCUSING ON SAFEGUARDING LIFE AND PROPERTY FROM WILDLAND FIRE INTRUSION AND PREVENTING STRUCTURE FIRES FROM SPREADING THE WILDLAND FUELS.

UH, SO IN THE LOCAL AMENDMENTS, UH, WE ARE FORMALIZING ALLOWANCE AND INTERPRETATIONS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING THROUGH, UH, SINCE ADOPTION OF THE 2015 CODE.

UH, WE HAVE CLARIFIED WHAT AN EXTREME HAZARD CONDITION IS AND WE'VE ALSO INTRODUCED A REVISED FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY FORM, UH, WHICH WILL BE REQUIRED FOR DEVELOPMENT UNDER THE HOMES OPTIONS FOR MOBILITY AND EQUITY IN INITIATIVES, UH, AS THAT GREATLY WOULD DENSIFY CERTAIN AREAS.

UH, SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE ASSESS ALL THE RISK IN THERE OR WHERE

[03:20:01]

A FIRE APPARATUS ACCESS ROAD HAS A SINGLE INLET FOR 30 DWELLING UNITS OR MORE.

UH, UNOFFICIAL PROXIMITY CLASSES, UH, HAVE BEEN DEFINED AND RENAMED PROXIMITY ZONES.

THERE WAS CONFUSION WHEN WE CALLED THEM PROXIMITY CLASSES AND THEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT CERTAIN TYPES OF CLASS RATED FIRE MATERIAL.

UH, SO THOSE ARE PROXIMITY ZONES A, B, AND C.

WE'VE INTRODUCED A NEW EMBER IGNITION ZONE, WHICH IS A FIVE FOOT BARRIER SETBACK AROUND, UH, STRUCTURES.

UH, WE'VE REDUCED THE FULL ROOF REPLACEMENT REQUIREMENT.

UH, WE'VE DEFINED DRIVEWAYS AND ADDED REQUIREMENTS FOR THOSE, UH, PROXIMITY ZONES.

ZONE A IS WITHIN 50 FEET OF 40 ACRES OR MORE OF WILDLAND.

ZONE B IS WITHIN 150 FEET OF 40 OR MORE ACRES OF WILDLAND.

THOSE ARE UNCHANGED FROM THE CURRENT CODE.

UH, ZONE C IS WITHIN ONE AND A HALF MILES OF 750 PLUS ACRES.

THAT'S UNCHANGED.

UH, WE ARE INTRODUCING A NEW ZONE C DEFINITION, WHICH IS ONE HALF MILE OF 40 PLUS ACRES OF WILDLAND.

AS WE UNDERSTAND THAT EMBER PROTECTION WITHIN THAT CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE EM, UM, WILDLAND IS IMPORTANT.

UH, THE SCALE IS VERY SMALL, I APOLOGIZE, BUT THIS IS THE MAP ON THE LEFT IS AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY RISK MAP, WHICH WE BASED OUR MAP ON.

ON THE RIGHT IS THE PROPOSED WWE MAP.

UH, THE GREEN REPRESENTS THE ACTUAL WILDLAND AND IS VERY HARD TO SEE, BUT ALL THE PALE BLUE IS ZONE C, AND IF WE WERE TO ZOOM IN THE DARK BLUE WOULD BE ZONES A AND B.

THAT'S IT.

UH, COUNCILMAN LANE, I JUST HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS.

UM, FOR THE IGNITION ZONE, ARE THERE ANY TYPES OF VEGETATION THAT ARE MORE FIRE RESISTANT THAT, UM, COULD BE CONSIDERED BEING ALLOWED IN THAT ZONE? WE CLASSIFY ALL VEGETATION AS.

JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM.

YEP.

UM, AND CAN YOU SPELL OUT THE TREE TRIMMING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE IGNITION ZONE? SO THE TREE TRIMMING REQUIREMENTS ARE, WE HAVE IT DEFINED IN THE CODE.

UH, LEMME GRAB MY NOTES 'CAUSE I'VE GOT THAT.

OKAY, I APOLOGIZE.

SO THE TREE TRIM REQUIREMENTS SHALL FOLLOW RECOMMENDATIONS OUT OR REQUIREMENTS OUTLINED IN SECTION 6 0 4, WHICH INCLUDES FOCUS ON REMOVAL OF LIMBS LOCATED UNDER EAVES AND STRUCTURES.

BEST PRACTICES WOULD BE TO KEEP TREES AT LEAST FIVE FOOT FROM ROOF LINES FOR MAINTENANCE AND LEAF LITTER REASONS.

UM, IS GREEN ROOFING ALLOWED IN ZONE C? NO.

AND THEN WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR UPDATING THE WOOY MAP? UH, IF AS THE ENVIRONMENT AND CONDITIONS CHANGE? SO CURRENTLY THE PROCESS THAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH, UM, WOULD BE IN, IN CERTAIN AREAS THAT, UH, DEVELOPMENTS ARE COMING WHERE THEY'RE CLEARING LAND.

UH, WE ACCEPT A VICINITY MAP, SO THEY SHOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

UM, WE'RE DOCUMENTING THOSE AND AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND UPDATE THE MAP, WE WOULD ACCOUNT FOR THAT.

ALTHOUGH SOME OF THE RESOURCES THAT WE MAY BE USING AT A LARGER LEVEL AREN'T REALLY CAPTURING THAT.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT LOCALLY SO THAT WE CAN FACTOR THAT IN AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE MAP.

IS THERE A CADENCE FOR UPDATES OR, UH, WE, SO WE, WE DID GET RECOMMENDATION FROM THE BOARD TO UPDATE IT WITHIN A YEAR.

UH, I THINK MOVING FORWARD, THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE THE GOAL IS ANNUALLY TO UPDATE THE MAP.

POTENTIAL, UH, INSURANCE PREMIUM INCREASES, UM, BECAUSE NOW THEIR HOMES ARE, ARE IDENTIFIED IN THE WOO WE MAP.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALRIGHT, LET'S GO TO THE SPEAKERS, CHRIS GANNON AND TAYLOR JACKSON.

HELLO, MAYOR COUNCIL.

THIS IS CHRIS GAMON.

I'M AN ARCHITECT AND, UH, ADVOCATE AND SIT ON THE BUILDING AND FIRE CODE BOARD OF APPEALS.

UM, I'D LIKE TO ENCOURAGE PASSING THE WITH THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE BOARD, UH, TO PASS THE MAP FOR ONE YEAR ONLY AND TO STUDY EXACTLY WHAT IT IS THAT QUALIFIES AS WILDLAND, UM, WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR.

UH, THANK YOU.

HELLO, I'M TAYLOR JACKSON.

I'M THE CEO FOR THE HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF GREATER AUSTIN.

AND SPEAKING, UH, ABOUT WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE CODE, UH, WE ARE REQUESTING TO KEEP THE WWE CODE AND MAP AS IS AND DELAY ADOPTION, UH, BECAUSE THE UPDATES WOULD IMPACT MORE EXISTING HOMEOWNERS, NEW HOMEOWNERS, ESPECIALLY OUR MIDDLE INCOME EARNERS.

WE'RE LOOKING AT DECKING PROJECTS THAT GO FROM $10,000 TO $25,000

[03:25:02]

UM, THIS ALSO MEANS, UH, NO VEGETATION OR SHRUBS UP AGAINST NEW, UH, NEW HOMES.

AND THIS WILL ABSOLUTELY INCREASE THE COST OF A HOME.

AND AS A REMINDER FOR EVERY THOUSAND DOLLARS THAT OUR HOME INCREASES, IT PRICES OUT OVER A THOUSAND HOUSEHOLDS TO PURCHASE THAT HOME.

WE ALSO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE DA DATA AND METHODOLOGY USED.

UM, FOR EXAMPLE, CORELOGIC, WHICH WAS THE ORIGINAL REPORT, UM, THAT BEGAN THIS CONVERSATION HAS SINCE REPORTED AUSTIN RANKING LOWER IN WILDFIRE RISK.

UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TAKING EXTREME MEASURES, UH, TO TAKE STEPS FORWARD IN ATTAINABLE HOUSING SUCH AS THE HOME INITIATIVE.

UM, YOU KNOW, AND I JUST, WE JUST WANNA CONTINUE THAT MOMENTUM, UM, TO KEEP.

AND SO OUR, OUR REQUEST IS TO KEEP WWE CODE AS IS DELAY THE ADOPTION FOR MORE THOROUGH INVESTIGATION AND EVALUATION OF RISK AND WORK TOWARDS MORE OF AN, UM, A COMPREHENSIVE FIRE FUEL MITIGATION PLAN, GIVING, UH, MORE TOOLS AND RESOURCES TO OUR FIREFIGHTERS.

THE FOLLOWING SPEAKERS ASKED TO BE CALLED IN THE FOLLOWING ORDER.

ANDY JACKSON, CAROL PHILLIPSON, RUSSELL PAN.

BRAD KNOWLES.

PLEASE COME FORWARD IN THAT ORDER.

HI, I'M ANDY JACKSON.

UH, I LIVE IN DISTRICT SIX, UH, AND WE'RE REQUESTING AN UPDATE, AN ADDITIONAL AMENDMENT ACTUALLY TO THE WY CODE.

UNTIL RECENTLY, MOST HOMEOWNERS GAVE LITTLE THOUGHT TO THE CHANCE OF EXPERIENCING A WILDFIRE.

NOW EVERY TEXAN IS AWARE AND FRIGHTENED OF THEIR INCREASED WILDFIRE RISK.

AFTER WITNESSING THE DEVASTATING CALIFORNIA FIRES AND THE MOST RECENT FREDERICKSBURG FIRE WILDFIRE THAT CONSUME MORE THAN 9,000 ACRES.

AUSTIN HAS BEEN LUCKY SO FAR THIS YEAR WITH NO WILDFIRES CONSIDERING THERE HAVE BEEN 18 IN TEXAS SO FAR THIS YEAR.

CONCERNED RESIDENTS ARE COUNTING ON YOU ALL TO PROTECT THEIR HOMES AND FAMILIES BY MITIGATING THE CHANCE OF WILDFIRE.

RANDY ZER, FORMER A FD BATTALION CHIEF STATES, WERE SITTING ON THE EDGE OF A MAJOR CATASTROPHIC FIRE.

THIS NEW WILDFIRE RISK IS A CELL TOWER BUILT TO CLOSE TO AN ENDANGERED SPECIES HABITAT, ALREADY A HIGH RISK AREA DUE TO THE ABUNDANT FUEL SO CLOSE THAT IT FALL.

IF IT FALLS AND OR CATCHES FIRE, IT COULD START A FIRE DESTROYING THE ENDANGERED SPECIES AND THEIR HABITAT WHILE SPREADING RAPIDLY TO SURROUNDING HOMES.

MANY OF THESE PRESERVES TOPOGRAPHY HAVE STEEP CANYONS WITH LITTLE ACCESS FOR FIREFIGHTERS, THUS INCREASING THE TIME IT TAKES TO CONTROL THE WILDFIRE.

UPDATING THE WOOEY MAP IS NECESSARY, BUT UPDATING THE CODE TO MITIGATE ALL RISKS NO MATTER THE SIZE IS IMPERATIVE FOR THE SAFETY OF THE ENDANGERED SPECIES AND AUSTIN RESIDENTS.

OUI CODE MUST BE UPDATED TO INCLUDE A SAFETY DROP ZONE AS IS DONE IN VICKI GOODWIN'S HOUSE BILL 4 0 3 8, WHICH READS IN PART, A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION MAY NOT ALLOW FOR THE INSTALLATION OF A COMMUNICATION FACILITY STRUCTURE NEAR THE HABITAT OF ENDANGERED SPECIES UNLESS THE STRUCTURE WILL BE LOCATED A DISTANCE OF AT LEAST TWICE THE HEIGHT OF THE STRUCTURE FROM THE ENDANGERED SPECIES HABITAT.

VICKI GOODWIN BELIEVES THIS IS A REAL THREAT AND SO SHOULD ALL OF YOU CITY STAFF IS NOT EXEMPT FROM WILDFIRE, THIS UPDATED CODE WILL ALSO PROTECT YOU.

THANKFULLY, OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE UNDERSTANDS THE IMPORTANCE

HELLO, MY NAME IS CAROL PHILLIPSON.

I'M THE FIRE WISE CHAIRPERSON FOR MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND I'M IN DISTRICT 10 E.

EVERY TYPE OF MEDIA IS REPORTING CONCERN FOR AUSTIN'S INCREASED RISK OF WILDFIRE.

MARCH 13, KUT.

HEADLINES READ AS WILDFIRES ANXIETY GROWS, AUSTIN PLANS TO DESIGNATE HALF THE CITY AS A RISK FOR FIRE DAMAGE.

YES, A FD MADE PLANS AT A JANUARY PRESENTATION TO INCREASE THE TO INCLUDE 71% OF THE CITY'S LAND PARCELS IN A ZONE VULNERABLE TO BURNING SHOULD A WILDFIRE BREAKOUT.

HOWEVER, THIS DOES LITTLE GOOD UNLESS CODE IS UPDATED TO IN, TO MITIGATE EVERY NEW WILDFIRE RISK.

PERFECT EXAMPLE, JUST LAST MONTH, THIS 100 MONOPOLE 100 FOOT MONOPOLE WAS BUILT ONLY 19 FEET FROM AN EXTREME HIGH WILDFIRE LOCATION.

BEE'S CANYON AND PRESERVE, WHICH MERGES INTO BULL CREEK AND ST.

EDWARDS PARKS WITH NO FUEL BREAKS INCREASING WILDFIRES TO THOUSANDS OF BOARDING RESIDENT NEIGHBORHOODS BECAUSE THERE WAS NO LAND FIRED ZONING OR WWE CODE TO STOP IT.

THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.

[03:30:01]

OF UPDATING CODE TO PROTECT TEXANS.

VICKI GOODWIN IS PROACTIVE SUBMITTED HOUSE BILL 40 38, MANDATING A SAFETY FALL ZONE DISTANCE OF TWO TIMES THE HEIGHT OF THE TOWER, THAT IT MUST BE FROM AN ENDANGERED SPECIES HABITAT.

THIS SAFETY ZONE WILL NOT ONLY PROTECT THE ENDANGERED SPECIES AND THEIR HABITAT, BUT THE THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS WHOSE HOME BORDER ENDANGERED SPECIES PRESERVES THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

AND ALL OF YOUR DISTRICTS WOOEY CODE MUST BE UPDATED TO COINCIDE WITH BILL 40 38, WHICH AMENDS SECTION FIVE, CHAPTER TWO 50 OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE AND RES.

A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION MAY NOT ALLOW FOR THE INSTALLATION OF A COMMUNICATION FACILITY STRUCTURE NEAR THE HABITAT OF AN ENDANGERED SPECIES AS DETERMINED BY SECTION 68 0 0 2 PARKS AND WILDLIFE CODE, UNLESS THE STRUCTURE WILL BE LOCATED A DISTANCE TO AT LEAST TWICE THE HEIGHT OF THE STRUCTURE FROM THE ENDANGERED SPECIES HABITAT.

THANK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU WHOEVER'S, WHOEVER'S NEXT IN THE ORDER Y'ALL REQUESTED, I'M RUSSELL PANKRATZ, UH, DISTRICT FIVE.

AS YOU KNOW, THE WEATHER IS CHANGING.

AUSTIN'S RAINFALL THIS YEAR IS, UH, BEEN 3.94 INCHES WELL BELOW THE YEAR TO DATE, MARCH, 2024, RAINFALL OF 6.53 INCHES AVERAGE HIGH TEMPERATURE FOR MARCH 24 WAS 62.8 DEGREES MARCH 25TH, UH, 2025, ONLY FOUR DAYS IN THE SIXTIES AND 16 DAYS IN THE EIGHTIES AND NINETIES WITH METEOROLOGISTS PREDICTING CONTINUED HOTTER DRIER WEATHER WAY BEFORE SUMMER.

SUMMER OFFICIALLY STARTS JUNE 20TH.

THESE STATS SHOULD SPUR YOU TO TAKE ACTION TO UPDATING NOT ONLY THE WOO MAP, BUT STRONGER NEW CODES THAT WERE UNNECESSARY PREVIOUSLY TO FACE TODAY'S NEW EXTREME WEATHER CHALLENGES.

NOT ONLY HAS OUR WEATHER CHANGED, BUT OUR SKYLINES HAVE CHANGED WITH THE INCREASED NUMBER OF CELL TOWERS BEING BUILT WITHOUT CONCERN FOR THEIR POTENTIAL WILDFIRE RISK.

CELL TOWERS ARE A POTENTIAL SOURCE OF FIRE IGNITION, CELL TOWERS BURN AND DO FALL.

SO IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT A SAFE DROP ZONE DISTANCE BE ESTABLISHED OF TWO TIMES THE HEIGHT OF A CELL TOWER FROM A HIGH WILDFIRE RISK LOCATION SUCH AS AN ENDANGERED SPECIES HABITAT.

THERE ARE MANY ENDANGERED SPECIES PRESERVES WITHIN AUSTIN AND THOUSANDS OF HOMES THAT BOARDED THEM.

IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO INCREASE PROTECTION AS WILDFIRE RISK INCREASES BY UPDATING PRESENT.

PRESENT WOOEY CODE TO ENC INCLUDE AN AMENDMENT THAT COINCIDES WITH THE REPRESENTATIVE GOODWIN'S HOUSE BILL 4,038 THAT AMENDS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, UH, WHICH READS A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION MAY NOT ALLOW FOR THE INSTALLATION OF A COMMUNICATION FACILITY STRUCTURE NEAR THE HABITAT OF ENDANGERED SPECIES UNLESS THANK THE STRUCTURAL.

HELLO, MY NAME IS BRAD KNOWLES.

I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 10.

UM, CAROL PHILLIPSON AND I HAVE BEEN FIREWISE COMMITTEE MEMBERS IN GE ESTATE FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, AND WE GUIDE HOMEOWNERS ON HOW TO MITIGATE WILDFIRE RISK, EVEN THOUGH I AM MORE AWARE THAN MOST OF WILDFIRE RISK FACTORS.

UNTIL RECENTLY, I HAD NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT CELL TOWERS AS A WILDFIRE RISK.

AND, UH, WE GOT A 100 FOOT, UH, MONOPOLE CELL TOWER, UH, ERECTED JUST 19 FEET FROM THE BALCONES CANYON LAND PRESERVE, WHICH IS A HIGH, UH, RISK WILDFIRE LOCATION.

AND THE ONLY REASON GIVEN TO US WAS BECAUSE THERE IS NO CODE TO PREVENT IT.

MOST DISREGARD CELL TOWERS AS A WILDFIRE RISK BECAUSE THEY KNOW VERY LITTLE ABOUT THEM AND THE TYPES OF TOWERS AND HOW THEY WORK.

UH, YOU CAN SEE A DEMONSTRATION THERE ON THE PICTURE.

HOWEVER, CELL TOWERS ARE A FI FIRE RISK AND THEY CAN IN DO CATCH FIRE OR, AND OR FALL FROM DESIGN FLAWS, ENGINEERING DEFECT, LACK OF MAINTENANCE, WEATHER, ICE, WIND, OR LIGHTNING.

UM, EXPERTS AT THE LARGE FIRE CONFERENCE BY THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WILDLAND FIRE EXPLAIN TELECOM TELECOMMUNICATION SITES PRESENT UNIQUE RISKS PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF THE, UH, SIGNAL AND POWER SUPPLY LINES AT THE BASE OF THE TOWER.

CELL TOWER.

FIRES ARE ELECTRICAL FIRES THAT CANNOT BE FOUGHT THROUGH CONVENTIONAL METHODS UNTIL THE POWER IS CUT.

FIREFIGHTERS OR ANYONE ELSE TRYING TO PUT WATER ON AN ENERGIZED CELL TOWER FIRE WILL BE ELECTROCUTED.

UH, IT MAY TAKE AS LONG AS 60 MINUTES OR MORE TO CUT THE POWER ONCE AS CELL TOWER FIRE HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BY FIELD STAFF.

NO ONE PLANS AN ACCIDENT, HOWEVER, WE CAN PLAN TO STOP IT FROM HAPPENING.

UPDATING THE WWE MAP IS THE FIRST STEP, BUT UPDATING WWE CODE MUST BE

[03:35:01]

INCLUDED WITH AN AMENDMENT TO CREATE A SAFE PLACE FOR CELL TOWER TO FALL IF BUILT NEAR AN ENDANGERED SPECIES HABITAT.

JUSTICE JONES, FORMERLY WITH A FD WILDFIRE DIVISION AND NOW WITH THE INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL HAS FORWARDED VICKI'S AMENDMENT.

NEXT SPEAKER IS TAYLOR SMITH, FOLLOWED BY STUART HIRSCH AND MONICA GUZMAN.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

MY NAME'S TAYLOR SMITH.

I'M WITH THE AUSTIN WATER REALTORS AND I, WE REPRESENT MORE THAN 18,000 CENTRAL TEXAS MEMBERS.

UH, WE APPRECIATE YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE, UM, AND WE, WE KNOW THAT THE SITUATION YOU ARE, ARE IN RIGHT NOW ABOUT TRYING TO BALANCE WILDFIRE MITIGATION WITH ALSO ADDRESSING HOUSING AFFORDABILITY.

UM, AS YOU APPROACH THIS CONVERSATION, WE REALLY ENCOURAGE COUNSEL, UH, TO TAKE A DA DATA-DRIVEN APPROACH.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE THE MAP, UH, ONE OF OUR SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS IS, IS HOW ZONE C THE SIZE OF THAT, UM, AND HOW THAT COULD POTENTIALLY IMPACT EXISTING HOMEOWNERS AND THEIR, THEIR PROPERTY.

UH, INSURANCE.

UH, THIS TEXAS A AND M WILDFIRE SERVICE ALREADY ACTUALLY HAS A FUNCTIONAL, UH, WILDFIRE AND URBAN, UH, MAP.

AND WE WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND SEE IF THAT IS A POTENTIAL TO TIE OUR NEW WUI MAP TO THAT DATA-DRIVEN MAP.

AND THEN IT CAN ALSO BE UPDATED ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.

IT'S BASED ON RISK ANALYSIS PRODUCED BY THE TEXAS A AND M FOREST SERVICE SERVICE, UH, ADOPTING A, A WOOING MAP THAT IS BASED ON THE BEST AND AVAILABLE RISK DATA WHILE BALANCE THE NEED TO, UH, MITIGATE OUR WILDFIRE RISK WHILE ALSO MINIMIZING THE COST TO EXISTING HOMEOWNERS.

UH, WE ALSO ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE BEARING IGNITION ZONE AND SEE IF THERE'S A, A WAY TO ALLOW CERTAIN TYPES OF VEGETATION THAT COULD STILL MAINTAIN, UM, MOISTURE FOR THOSE FOUNDATION, PARTICULARLY DURING THOSE, THOSE HOT MONTHS.

AND WE ARE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU GUYS, UM, BEFORE THE APRIL 10TH HEARING.

THANK YOU MS. GUZMAN, ARE YOU GOING TO TESTIFY? OKAY.

THANK YOU STUART.

HARRY HIRSCH, UH, I SUPPORT THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION ON THIS.

WE TRY TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM IN BILL CLINTON'S LAST YEAR IN THE WHITE HOUSE IN 2000 UNDER WHAT WAS CALLED PROJECT IMPACT.

AT THAT TIME, AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY WAS THE SECOND HIGHEST RISK IN THE COUNTRY BEHIND OAKLAND, ALAMEDA COUNTY.

WE KNEW WHAT THE RISK WAS.

WE KNEW THAT THIS CO KIND OF CODE WOULD HELP US SOLVE IT.

WE DID NOT HAVE THE POLITICAL WILL AT THAT TIME, UH, TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

I'M, THAT PUTS IT ON YOUR DOORSTEP.

I KNOW YOU'LL DO THE RIGHT THING.

THERE PROBABLY ARE SOME AMENDMENTS THAT ARE PRACTICAL AND REASONABLE, BUT I URGE YOU TO DO THIS SOONER RATHER THAN LATER SO THAT WE, WE DON'T SUFFER THE WAY THAT OTHERS HAVE IN THE PANHANDLE AND IN LOS ANGELES.

MS. GUZMAN HAS INDICATED THAT SHE'S NOT GOING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 79.

NEXT WE HAVE, OH, THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS, MAYOR, WHAT I THOUGHT.

IT'S READY FOR ALL THREE READINGS, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE OFFERED AS COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN WANTS THIS OFFERED AS FIRST READING ONLY.

UM, MEMBERS, THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 79.

UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 79.

THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED, UH, WITHOUT

[2:00 PM - Zoning and Neighborhood Plan Amendments (Public Hearings and Possible Action)]

OBJECTION.

LET'S GO TO OUR TWO O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, WHICH IS ZONING AND TAKE THAT UP.

WHEN THAT CONCLUDES, WE WILL COME BACK AND WE WILL START WITH ITEM NUMBER 80.

UH, WHAT I ANTICIPATE WE WILL DO FOR THOSE THAT ARE LISTENING AND PAYING ATTENTION AND WANNA BE HERE TO, UH, BE A PART OF IT, WE WILL GO ITEM 80 81, 82, THEN WE WILL GO TO 83 AND 84.

AT THAT POINT, MY RECOMMENDATION IS WE GO BACK AND WE, WE STAY WITH THESE PUBLIC HEARINGS AND WE GO BACK TO ITEM NUMBER 76 AND TAKE IT UP.

UH, AND THEN WE WILL GO TO ITEM 1 0 3 MEMBERS.

REMEMBER, WE HAVE EXECUTIVE SESSIONS TO EVALUATE, UM, APPOINTEES OF THE COUNCIL.

MS. HARDEN, I SEE YOU PREPARED.

COUNSEL, I'M JOY HARDEN WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.

YOUR ZONING AGENDA BEGINS WITH THE ITEM NUMBER 89 C 1 14 20 24 0 1 7 7.

THIS ITEM'S OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

ITEM 90 IS C 4 20 24 0 1 8 1.

THIS ITEM'S OFFERED FOR CONSENT, ALL, ALL THREE READINGS WITH THE FOLLOWING MOTION.

AND THAT MOTION, UM, SHEET READS AS THIS AMEND PART TWO A OF THE DRAFT ORDINANCE TO REMOVE ART GALLERY AS A PROHIBITED USE.

AND WITH THAT, AGAIN, THIS ITEM IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

UM, I'M SORRY.

I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN WANTS THIS OFFERED AS FIRST READING.

[03:40:01]

OKAY, SO YOU JUST ACCEPTED HIS MOTION, HUH? .

ALRIGHT.

DO WE NEED A MOTION ON THAT FULL ITEM NUMBER 90 SO THAT WE CAN TAKE THAT UP SEPARATELY? OKAY, THANK YOU.

UM, ITEM 91 IS NPA 20 24 0 0 2 3 0.01.

THIS ITEM OFF IS OFFERED AS A POSTPONEMENT REQUEST BY COUNCIL MEMBER BELLA TO YOUR APRIL 24TH COUNCIL MEETING.

AGAIN, POSTPONEMENT REQUEST BY COUNCIL MEMBER BELLA TO YOUR APRIL 24TH COUNCIL MEETING.

ITEM 93 IS C 1 4 20 24 0 1 8 2.

THIS ITEM IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

ITEM 94 IS C 1 4 20 24 0 1 66.

THIS ITEM IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

ITEM 95 IS C 14 20 24 0 1 37.

THIS ITEM'S OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

ITEM 96 IS C 1 4 20 24 0 1 61.

THIS ITEMS IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS WITH THE FOLLOWING MOTION SHEET, WHICH READS AMEND PART TWO A TO ADD THE FOLLOWING USES AS PROHIBITED.

USES BED AND BREAKFAST GROUP ONE BED AND BREAKFAST GROUP TWO.

AND AGAIN WITH THAT, THIS IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

ITEM NUMBER 97 IS C 8 14 20 23 0 0 5 7.

THIS ITEM IS OFFERED AS A STAFF POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR APRIL 24TH COUNSEL MEETING.

AND I WILL JUST STATE, I KNOW THIS CASE WAS POSTPONED TO THIS DATE.

THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS MEETINGS, WHICH INCLUDED MYSELF, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, COUNCIL MEMBER, CADRE'S OFFICE, THE APPLICANT, THE APPLICANT'S AGENT, AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP, TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORK STAFF AND, UM, LAW.

AND SINCE THEN, THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING TO INCREASE THE HEIGHT OF APPROXIMATELY HALF THE SITE, THE WESTERN PORTION OF THE SITE FROM 500 FEET TO 600 FEET TO BETTER ACCOMMODATE TRANSIT INFRASTRUCTURE REQUESTS AND A POTENTIAL REDUCTION IN THE GROUND FLOOR, COMMERCIAL AND COMMUNITY SPACE.

WE ARE CONTINUING THESE DISCUSSIONS AND WE'LL BE BACK HOPEFULLY FOR THIRD READING CONSIDERATION AT YOUR APRIL 24TH COUNCIL MEETING.

AND SO THIS IS POSTPONED TO YOUR APRIL 24TH COUNCIL DATE.

ITEM 100 C 1 4 20 20 24 0 1 6 4.

ITEM NUMBER 96 IS MPA 20 24 0 0 0 5 0.01.

THIS ITEM IS OFFERED AS A APPLICANT POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR MAY 8TH COUNCIL MEETING.

THIS SAME IS OFFERED AS A POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR APRIL 10TH COUNCIL MEETING, UM, BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.

ITEM 1 0 1 IS C 1 4 20 24 0 1 73.

THE SIGN IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT, SECOND AND THIRD READINGS.

AND ITEM 1 0 2 IS C 1 4 20 24 0 0 8 0.

THIS ITEM IS WITHDRAWN AND NO ACTION IS REQUIRED.

THIS CONCLUDES THE READING OF THE ZONING AND NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AMENDMENT AGENDA.

AND OF COURSE, THIS IS AT YOUR DISCRETION.

THANK YOU, MS. HARDEN.

LET ME ASK A QUESTION ABOUT ITEM NUMBER 90.

IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE WAS, WELL, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT MY UNDERSTANDING WAS.

IS IT YOUR UNDERSTANDING THAT THE ITEM DOES NOT NEED TO BE PULLED FROM CONSENT EVEN THOUGH IT WOULD BE CHANGED FROM, UH, ALL THREE READINGS TO FIRST READING ONLY? IS THAT, IS THAT WHAT YOUR UNDERSTANDING IS? THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING.

BUT IS THAT, BEFORE I ASK THAT IT COME BACK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, THAT I HAVE CLARITY IN THAT REGARD.

YOU DO.

WHAT I WAS HOPING TO DO WAS JUST, UM, IN ADDITION TO SOME COMMENTS, RUN THROUGH A COUPLE OF SLIDES, WHICH I HAD UNDERSTOOD WAS ONLY POSSIBLE IF I PULL IT.

UM, OKAY.

THEN WE'LL PULL IT.

I PROMISE TO BE QUICK.

YOU'RE YOU'RE GETTING WHAT YOU WANT, BUT YOU STILL GOTTA PULL IT, HUH? .

OKAY, WE'LL, WE'LL DO THAT.

UH, WE'LL PULL ITEM NUMBER 90 90 WILL BE OFFERED AS DISCUSSION.

MEMBERS, THE, UH, CONSENT AGENDA WOULD BE ITEM NUMBER 89, ALL THREE READINGS 91 AND 92 POSTPONED WITH APRIL 24TH.

WAIT, WAIT, WAIT.

MAYOR, 90TH DISCUSSION.

I DIDN'T CALL OUT 90 OH, OKAY.

99.

I SKIPPED THAT.

THAT'S WHY I WENT FROM 80 TO NINE TO 91.

SKIPPED.

I GOT IT.

UH, 91 AND 92 WILL BE POSTPONED TO APRIL 24TH, 93, 94 AND 95.

96 WILL BE ON ALL THREE READINGS.

ITEM NUMBER 95 WILL A POSTPONEMENT TO APRIL 26TH,

[03:45:03]

24.

I DON'T, DID, DID I READ THAT WRONG? THAT'S WHY I DO THIS.

SO THAT YOU CAN CORRECT.

SO I HAVE 93 MIGHT BE CORRECTED.

I HAVE 93 CONSENT, ALL 3 94 CONSENT, ALL THREE AND 95 CONSENT.

ALL THREE.

I THOUGHT 95 WAS BEING POSTPONED.

WHICH ONE IS BEING POSTPONED TO APRIL 26TH? UH, DID I MISUNDERSTAND WHAT YOU SAID WAS GOING TO HAPPEN ON 95? YES.

BECAUSE THAT IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

WHICH ONE IS BEING POSTPONED TO APRIL 26TH? THE APRIL 24TH? IS THAT THE MIX COUNSEL? I'M SORRY, APRIL 24TH.

UH, 200 EAST RIVERSIDE.

ITEM NUMBER 97.

I MIS I MISUNDERSTOOD.

I APOLOGIZE.

NO PROBLEM.

SO, ITEM MEMBERS, I'M GONNA START OVER.

, ITEM 89 IS CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

90 IS BEING PULLED FOR DISCUSSION.

91 AND 92 IS A POSTPONEMENT TO APRIL 24TH.

MM-HMM .

93, 94, 95, AND 96 WILL BE ON ALL THREE READINGS.

97 WILL BE A POSTPONEMENT TO APRIL 24TH, 98 AND 99, POSTPONEMENTS TO MAY 8TH, 100 A POSTPONEMENT TO APRIL 10TH, 1 0 1 ON SECOND AND THIRD READING.

AND ITEM 1 0 2 IS WITHDRAWN.

I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IT WAS READ MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.

SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ.

UM, I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK AND ASK IF YOU'LL PLEASE RUN THROUGH ANY SPEAKERS.

SURE.

ON ITEM 90, WE HAVE BRAD MASSENGILL.

NOW ITEM, ITEM 90 HAS BEEN PULLED FOR DISCUSSION.

I'M SO SORRY.

ITEM 91, BRAD MASSENGILL SPEAKING ON THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT.

ITEM 92, BRAD MASSENGILL SPEAKING ON THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT.

I DON'T SEE MR. MASSENGILL, RICHARD SUTTLE FOR ITEM NUMBER 97 ON THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

MY NAME'S RICHARD SEL.

I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT AND THE CASE ON NUMBER 97.

AND, AND THE REASON I'M SPEAKING ON THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT, IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE POSTPONE THIS AND MAKE SURE THAT ADEQUATE NOTICE IS BEING MADE, THAT SOME THINGS ARE CHANGING ON THE ZONING CASE FROM ORIGINALLY DONE AT SECOND READING.

THERE HAVE BEEN SOME LAWSUITS FILED AGAINST THE CITY SAYING THAT WE DON'T NOTIFY ENOUGH ON PUD ZONINGS.

AND I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT ON THIS CASE, THAT ANYBODY THAT'S INTERESTED IN THIS CASE NEEDS TO WATCH THE BACKUP FROM PUD TO PUD BECAUSE SOME THINGS ARE CHANGING TO ACCOMMODATE THE TRANSIT STATION.

THOSE THINGS INCLUDE DIFFERENCES IN HEIGHTS, DIFFERENCES IN IN RETAIL SPACE, AND A NUMBER OF OTHER ITEMS WITHIN THE PUD MAY CHANGE TO ACCOMMODATE THE TRAIN.

SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT ANYBODY'S LISTENING, BE SURE AND LOOK AT THE BACKUP, BECAUSE THESE THINGS MAY BE CHANGING.

AND I WANT TO THANK YOUR STAFF AND EVERYBODY INVOLVED IN HELPING US GET TO THIS POINT ON THIS CASE.

THANK YOU FOR ITEM NUMBER 100 XENOBI JOSEPH SPEAKING ON THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT.

MR. MASSING, YOUR NAME WAS CALLED.

DO YOU STILL WISH TO SPEAK? WAS THAT ON THE, THE MINI PUT ITEM NUMBER 91 AND 92.

91 AND 92.

FLOOR IS RAISING EVER HIGHER FROM AFFORDABILITY.

UM, ON THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT, AND AS Y'ALL KNOW, I, I, UH, TOTALLY SUPPORT ANY POSTPONEMENTS AND PUSHING THESE DOWN THE ROAD.

UH, 91 IS OF COURSE THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP, UH, LAND, UH, AMENDMENT TO CHANGE, UH, A, A, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN TO ALLOW FOR A DB 90, UM, WHICH IS NUMBER 92.

AND THAT'S AT 1211 EAST 52ND STREET.

IT'S IN THE TANANA HILL, UH, WATERSHED.

THESE ARE PILING UP THEIR 85% IMPERVIOUS COVER, AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE PILING UP IN EAST AUSTIN PRETTY FAST IN THESE TINY LITTLE WATERSHEDS.

AND WE'RE GONNA BE OVERWHELMING NOT ONLY THE WATERSHED, BUT THE NEIGHBORS AND, AND MAKING A LOT OF FLOODING HAPPEN.

SO THESE ARE NOT CALIBRATED TO MAKE AFFORDABLE HOUSING A REALITY, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE TIED TO OUR EVER INCREASING, UH, MFI.

MORE AND MORE RICH PEOPLE MOVING HERE, THAT MEANS THAT, THAT THAT

[03:50:01]

SO THANKS FOR POSTPONING.

WAS THAT ON BOTH 91 AND 92? YES.

MS. JOSEPH, ARE YOU GOING TO TESTIFY? AND MS. JOSEPH IS REGISTERED FOR ITEM ONE HUNDRED AND ONE OH ONE ON THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT.

ITEM 100 BE ON THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT, AND 1 0 1 IS IS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR SECOND AND THIRD READING.

THANK YOU, MAYOR COUNCIL ON ANOVIA JOSEPH, 1 0 5 0 3 NORTH LAMAR.

THAT'S CLUB CORONA, THAT'S ITEM 100.

I APPRECIATE THE POSTPONEMENT AND HOPE THAT REPRESENTATIVE, UH, CHEETO VELA WILL LOOK INTO THE CONCERNS THAT I HAD RAISED IN MY MARCH 6TH, 2025 TEST TESTIMONY.

UM, SO I WON'T GO INTO DETAILS, BUT IT WAS JUST SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO THE STAFF REPORT.

PAGE FOUR, WHICH SPECIFIED PROJECT CONNECT.

ITEM 1 0 1 IS SPECIFICALLY A CITY INITIATED ITEM FOR ESAL ROAD.

AND I JUST WANNA REMIND YOU, MAYOR, SINCE WE'RE ON PROJECT CONNECT, JULY 27TH, 2020, COUNSEL ELIMINATED THE THREE NORTHEAST METRO RAPIDS THAT WOULD'VE SERVED MINORITIES, SPECIFICALLY DESSA, TO A CC HIGHLAND, WHICH WOULD'VE GONE DOWN DESSA ROAD.

THERE'S NO TRANSPORTATION THERE TODAY, AND THERE'S NONE PLANNED.

AND SO I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT IT'S DISCRIMINATORY, AS YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY MANY TIMES BEFORE.

SO, 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 WOULD ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE, MAYOR, THAT THIS IS WHERE THE MINORITIES LIVE.

DECKER TO DOWNTOWN IS WHERE THE MINORITIES LIVE.

THERE IS NO TRANSPORTATION EAST, WEST DESSA TO DOWNTOWN.

BUT THE RESOLUTION THAT'S REFERENCED IN THE BACKUP TALKS ABOUT SERVING THE CHILDREN AND LOW INCOME FAMILIES.

AND SPECIFICALLY, THAT'S DISINGENUOUS BECAUSE THERE'S NO TRANSPORTATION THAT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO EVER SERVE THAT AREA.

EVEN THE DESK DESKTOP PICKUP DOESN'T GO PAST BREAKER.

SO I'M NOT REAL SURE WHAT YOU MEAN WHEN YOU SAY THAT THIS IS AN EQUITABLE SYSTEM, BECAUSE IT'S NOT.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GLADLY ANSWER THEM.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE, MS. JOSEPH.

THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE ZONING SPEAKERS, MEMBERS.

THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS THAT SIGNED UP ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

UM, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

LET'S HAVE SOME DISCUSSION.

I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE FIRST, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.

UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

UM, I WILL MAKE JUST A QUICK COMMENT ON ITEM 97, AND THEN I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, UH, FOR, FOR MS. HARDEN, UH, RELATING TO ITEM NUMBER 95.

BUT I JUST WANTED TO THANK THE APPLICANT, UH, OUR CITY STAFF FROM PLANNING, UH, TRANSPORTATION AND LAW FOR WORKING WITH MY OFFICE AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE ON WORKING TOWARDS AN AGREEMENT.

UM, I'M, I'M VERY HOPEFUL THAT WE'RE GONNA GET THIS RIGHT AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO RETURNING ON, ON, ON APRIL 24TH, UM, FOR ITEM NUMBER 95.

UM, I JUST HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS FOR MS. HARDEN.

UM, I'LL WAIT FOR HER TO GET UP.

HEY, UM, DO YOU, UH, COULD YOU SHED SOME MORE LIGHT ON HOW STAFF EVALUATED THE REQUEST FOR A WAIVER ON GROUND FLOOR COMMERCIAL? YES.

UM, ABSOLUTELY.

SO, UM, WE DEFINITELY KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMERCIAL, UH, WALKABLE MIXED USE THESE SPACES IN WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOODS.

AND WE LOOK AT MANY ASPECTS SUCH AS, UM, PROXIMITY TO RESIDENTIAL DENSITY TO TRANSIT, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT PHYSICAL CONSTRAINTS IN THIS SPECIFIC CASE.

AND THESE ARE RARE, BUT IN THIS SPECIFIC CASE, THIS DEVELOPMENT IS IN THE FLOODPLAIN.

THEY MUST BUILD OUT OF THE FLOODPLAIN, AND SO THEREFORE, PROVIDING A WAIVER SO THEIR COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT WOULD NOT BE IN A FLOODPLAIN.

IS, IS REALLY WHAT YOU SHOULD DO IN THIS SITUATION.

AGAIN, THESE ARE RARE, WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE, BUT WE RECOMMENDED THE WAIVER BECAUSE THIS DEVELOPMENT IS IN A FLOODPLAIN, SO THEY'RE JUST GONNA HAVE THEIR PARKING THERE AND BUILD OUTSIDE OF THE FLIP PLANE.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF REASONING THAT GOES INTO YEAH, A LOT OF REASONING.

SO MANY ASPECTS.

ABSOLUTELY.

UM, YEAH, I JUST WANNA SAY I AGREE WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WE SHOULD DEFINITELY, THAT WE WOULD DEFINITELY LIKE TO SEE WALKABLE COMMERCIAL ALONG SOUTH FIRST.

ABSOLUTE.

SO WE WANT AND WANT TO MAKE THIS A HABIT OF WAVING COMMERCIAL USES.

ABSOLUTELY.

UH, BUT IN THIS CASE, IT JUST SEEMS IT'S PHYSICALLY NOT POSSIBLE.

I'D LIKE TO CALL UP THE APPLICANT ON ITEMS NUMBER 91 AND 92 ARE THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE APPLICANT.

YOU STUCK THE LANDING

[03:55:01]

I LANDED.

YES, SIR.

UH, UH, JUST THE PROPERTY, IT'S A LARGE, UH, LOT OR A SERIES OF, OF DIFFERENT PROPERTIES THAT ARE GONNA BE DEVELOPED THERE BETWEEN 51ST, 52ND CAMERON AND, UH, LANCASTER.

UH, THERE'S A NUMBER OF BUILDINGS THAT HAVE BEEN ABANDONED FOR A GOOD AMOUNT OF TIME.

THERE'S BEEN MULTIPLE FIRES, UH, A LOT OF, UH, CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, UH, IN THE ABANDONED BUILDINGS, LOTS OF SQUATTERS.

UH, I'VE BEEN COMMUNICATING, UH, WITH, UH, THE APPLICANT FOR SOME TIME ABOUT WHEN THESE BUILDINGS ARE GOING TO COME DOWN.

UH, MY CONSTITUENTS AND AND MYSELF ARE, UH, EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED WITH THE SITUATION.

I KNOW THERE'S MULTIPLE CODE VIOLATIONS AS WELL.

UH, WHAT IS GOING ON AND, AND, AND, AND WHEN ARE THESE BUILDINGS GONNA COME DOWN? THE ABANDONED BUILDINGS THAT, THAT, THAT ARE CURRENTLY ON THE PROPERTY? YES, SIR.

THE, ALL OF THE BUILDINGS THAT HAVE CODE VIOLATIONS, THE DEMOLITION PROCESS HAS STARTED.

UM, SOME OF THOSE WERE RECENTLY ACQUIRED, SO WE'RE HAVING TO GET ASBESTOS SURVEYS AND, UM, REAL SURVEYS ON THE PROPERTY.

WE HOPE TO HAVE THE APPLICATIONS TURNED IN IN THE NEXT 10 DAYS.

UH, THAT'S WHEN WE'RE ANTICIPATING THAT THE ASBESTOS WORK IS COMPLETE, UM, AND LOOK TO START THOSE DEMOLITIONS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

UM, BASED ON OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH YOUR OFFICE, WE'RE HOPING TO, UM, COME UP WITH A SOLIDIFIED PLAN TO GET THE REST OF THE BUILDINGS TAKEN CARE OF, SECURED, DEMOLISHED, UM, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

I, I, I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT.

AND I KNOW WE COMMUNICATED EARLIER ABOUT WALKING THE SITE YES.

WITH THE OWNER AND POTENTIALLY SOME FOLKS FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION OR THE CONTACT TEAM AS WELL.

AND AGAIN, I JUST WANNA STRESS THAT SUBSTANTIVELY THE PROJECT IS FINE.

UH, BUT THESE ABANDONED BUILDINGS ON THE PROPERTY ARE REALLY A THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY AT THIS POINT.

UH, THERE'S, UH, INHABITED PROPERTIES RIGHT ACROSS THE WAY.

UH, WE'VE JUST GOT TO GET THOSE DOWN.

AND I'M DISINCLINED TO ALLOW ANY REZONINGS ON THAT PROPERTY UNTIL WE'VE GOT AN ABSOLUTELY CLEAN PROPERTY.

THE GRASS IS MOWED.

I, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I, I JUST WANTED IT ALL IN SHIP SHAPE AND THEN WE ARE FINE TO GO.

BUT, UH, UH, I JUST WANTED TO CONVEY THAT I KNOW MY, MY CONSTITUENTS ARE VERY FRUSTRATED WITH IT.

I'M VERY FRUSTRATED WITH IT.

UH, AGAIN, WE SUPPORT THE PROJECT, BUT THE, THE, THE CURRENT STATE OF THE BUILDINGS AND THE, THE, THE PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES JUST DEMAND AND REQUIRING IMMEDIATE ATTENTION.

UNDERSTOOD.

AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOUR OFFICE TO GET EVERYTHING CLEANED UP.

THANK YOU, AMANDA.

THANKS.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO THE CONSENT AGENDA? DOES ANYBODY WISH TO BE SHOWN ABSTAINING ON AN ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ANYONE WISHING TO RECUSE THEMSELVES FROM A VOTE ON THE, ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ADOPTED.

THAT WILL TAKE US BACK TO ITEM NUMBER 90, AND I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN.

THANK YOU MAYOR, FOR INDULGING ME ON THIS.

I KNOW IT WAS NOT THE PLAN.

UH, SO HOPEFUL, HOPEFULLY I'M STILL WITHIN MY THREE MONTH GRACE PERIOD.

, I'M NOT GONNA CATCH GRENADE LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT THE OTHER DAY.

UM, I'VE ACTUALLY GOT, UH, I'M WONDERING IF THERE'S A WAY THAT I CAN JUST RUN THROUGH A QUICK PRESENTATION.

UH, I'VE GOT IT ON A DRIVE HERE.

IF NOT, I CAN JUST RUN THROUGH IT VERBALLY.

AND MY ONLY CONCERN WAS THAT THERE ARE SOME NUMBERS IN, HAVE YOU PROVIDED THEM WITH YOUR PRESENTATION? IT'S HERE.

THAT, UH, IS GONNA BE REPLACING 290 UNITS OF WHAT IS ESSENTIALLY, IN MANY CASES, DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH, UM, MARKET RATE HOUSING.

WHY DON'T YOU, WHY DON'T YOU PROVIDE 'EM WITH THAT? DO WE HAVE IT? I KNOW THIS IS UNUSUAL, UH, AND I'M WELL AWARE OF, UH, THE INDULGENCE HERE.

UH, BUT THIS WAS OF CONCERN TO ME.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS, TRYING TO FIND ALTERNATE SOLUTIONS.

UH, I APPRECIATE THE DEVELOPERS' SUPPORT AND EXPLORING EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THOSE SOLUTIONS.

UM, THAT SAID, UH, I THINK THE BOTTOM LINE HERE FROM TALKING TO SOME OTHER PEOPLE IN THE SPACE, ARCHITECTS, OTHER DEVELOPERS, IS, AT LEAST FOR OUR DISTRICT, SEEMS INCREDIBLY UNUSUAL TO HAVE A REDEVELOPMENT THAT REPLACES NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR NOA.

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE SOME DEVELOPMENTS HAPPENING IN THE EAST OF TOWN, DISTRICT TWO, DISTRICT THREE, DISTRICT FOUR, WHERE THIS IS HAPPENING.

AND I OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, APPRECIATE CONNECTING WITH YOU ALL AFTERWARDS TO TRY AND WORK ON THE SOLUTIONS YOU'VE COME UP WITH TO TRY AND ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.

BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IN THIS CASE IS THAT I'VE GOT A DEVELOPMENT HERE

[04:00:01]

AND THEN ABOUT 70 TO 84 UNITS OF, UH, 50 TO 60% MFI AFFORDABILITY.

AND THE CONCERN IS ALSO ATTACHED TO THAT.

WE'VE GOT A STRATEGIC HOUSING BLUEPRINT THAT CALLS FOR SOMETHING LIKE WELL OVER 4,200 AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS IN DISTRICT 10, OF WHICH I THINK WE'VE ONLY BUILT ABOUT 31.

AND SO WHEN I DO THE MATH ON THAT, IF I WERE TO TAKE MY 31 UNITS WE'VE BUILT AND I TAKE OUT 290 UNITS THAT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE OUT, UH, AND THEN I WOULD ADD BACK 70 TO 84 UNITS, I STILL WIND UP WITH A DEFICIT OF, YOU KNOW, BEING 170, 180 UNITS SHORT, UH, ON OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING BLUEPRINT.

AND OF COURSE, THERE'S AN, AN ADJACENT ASTERISK TO ALL OF THAT, WHICH IS, IS NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, RECOGNIZED AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING WHEN WE HAVE THAT STRATEGIC HOUSING BLUEPRINT CONVERSATION.

SO, UM, I THINK THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT TO TRY AND ADDRESS THIS.

AND AS I SAID, RUN THROUGH THE DEVELOPER, BEEN COOPERATIVE, CHASING DOWN A LOT OF LEADS, TRIED TO WORK WITH, UH, AND START A CONVERSATION WITH THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION TO LOOK AT HFCS AND PFCS WERE ACTUALLY, UM, THE TERRITORY THAT THEY'VE IDENTIFIED RELATED TO PROJECT CONNECT DISPLACEMENT FOR PFCS.

AND SO TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO, UH, EITHER BUILD THOSE PROPERTIES, UH, OR DEVELOPMENTS IN THE DISTRICT, OF WHICH MY UNDERSTANDING IS WE HAVE NONE RIGHT NOW IN THE ENTIRE DISTRICT, UH, IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING I HOPING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH A HFC ABOUT.

UM, BUT THEN WE'VE CHASED DOWN OTHER LEADS.

WE'VE CHASED DOWN LEADS AS FAR AS, UM, LAND SWAPS.

WE'VE LOOKED INTO, IF THERE'S A WAY TO DO A PROPERTY TAX WAIVER, WHICH IS ONE THING THE CITY CAN DO FOR GREATER AFFORDABILITY, AND SOMETHING THAT HF H-A-H-F-C DOES DO, UH, WE'VE LOOKED AT, UM, YOU KNOW, A VARIETY OF SOLUTIONS, UH, TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT WHETHER THERE'S ANY WAY TO SQUEEZE MORE AFFORDABILITY.

ONE THING WE LOOKED AT WAS JUST DB 90 ITSELF.

RIGHT NOW, ONE THING WE OBSERVED WAS THAT THE WAY THAT WE ARE ASSIGNING UNITS IS LINEARLY, RIGHT? SO IF YOU'VE GOT A NUMBER OF UNITS THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT A PROPERTY FOR, WHETHER IN THIS CASE GOING FROM, UH, ABOUT 290 UNITS IN THE PROPERTY TO 700, IT'S IN A LINEAR BASIS.

BUT THE WAY THAT WE DISCOVER WHEN VISITING WITH DEVELOPERS IS THERE ARE PLATEAUS IN THEIR DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES THAT ACCOUNT FOR GREATER PROFITABILITY FOR THOSE DEVELOPMENTS.

SO IT MIGHT BE GOING TO THREE UNITS AND HAVING, UH, DIFFERENT COMPLIANCE AND DIFFERENT STRUCTURES.

IT MIGHT BE GOING TO SEVEN STORIES AND GOING TO CONCRETE.

BUT THE POINT IS, I'M NOT SURE THE PROFITABILITY OF A COMPLEX THAT COULD THEN BE GOVERNING, UM, HOW MUCH AFFORDABILITY WE ASSIGN RELATES TO WHAT'S ACTUALLY IN DB 90.

SO AGAIN, LOOKED AT A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR HOW TO PURSUE, UH, SQUEEZING OUT MORE AFFORDABLE UNITS OUTTA THIS PROJECT.

AND I'M NOT SURE WE'VE CONCLUDED ALL OF THOSE OPTIONS.

UH, AGAIN, DO WANT TO THANK THE DEVELOPER FOR COOPERATION THERE, UM, HAS OFFERED TO AND MADE ASSURANCES TO COMPLY WITH, UH, BOTH THE NOTIFICATION FOR EXISTING RESIDENTS AS WELL AS THE BENEFITS, UM, INCLUDING FOUR MONTHS OF RENT AND MOVING THAT ARE REQUIRED BY THE DB 90 CODE.

UH, BUT THAT SAID, UM, THIS IS AN INCOMPLETE CONVERSATION.

AND THE OTHER PLACE, AGAIN, TO GO BACK TO NOAH, IN FACT, UM, FROM VISITING WITH, UH, MY COLLEAGUE COUNCILMAN SIEGEL, THERE ARE PLACES THAT WE CAN ALSO RECOGNIZE NOAH.

IT COULD BE RECOGNIZED NOT JUST IN THE BLUEPRINT, BUT ALSO COULD BE RECOGNIZED IN THE WAY THAT WE DO THE IMAGINE AUSTIN WORKING ON, UM, ANALYSIS FOR HOW WE RATE AFFORDABLE PROJECTS.

UH, AND I THINK THERE'S ALSO JUST A MISSING PIECE IN MY MIND, WHICH IS JUST UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE SCOPE OF NOAA IS ACROSS THE CITY.

UH, AND I WONDER IF THERE'S A WAY TO GET SNAPSHOTS OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AS WE REDEVELOP AND FACTOR IN THE OTHER OPTIONS, WHETHER THEY COULD BE CONVERSIONS TO CONDOS, WHETHER THEY COULD BE, UM, THOSE PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT, OR LAND TRUSTS OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT'S IN OUR TOOLBOX TO TRY AND SQUEEZE OUT MORE AFFORDABLE UNITS.

SO THAT WAS THE DIRECTION OF WHERE I WAS TRYING TO TAKE THE PRESENTATION.

I'VE PROBABLY ACTUALLY VERBALLY GONE THROUGH MOST OF IT.

I'M BE DELIGHTED TO ACTUALLY SEND YOU GUYS IT, AND IF THERE'S A CHANCE TO, UM, STEP THROUGH IT, THAT'D BE GREAT IF, IF YOU WANT TO PUT THAT ON THE MESSAGE BOARD, BECAUSE OTHERWISE YOU MIGHT BE VIOLATING THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT.

SOLUTIONS THAT ACKNOWLEDGE NOAH IN OUR HOUSING STOCK, FIND WAYS TO POTENTIALLY EITHER EXTEND THEIR LIFE, EVEN FIND THE MATH FOR HOW WE DO THAT, WHICH TO SAY WHAT IS THE COST OF EXTENDING A UNIT FOR A YEAR, UH, RELATIVE TO THE COST OF REDEVELOPING AND THEN GOING THROUGH THAT DEVELOPMENT CYCLE EVERY 50 YEARS.

I WILL PUT THAT ON THE MESSAGE BOARD.

I APPRECIATE YOUR SUGGESTION, MAYOR.

UM, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS, I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH MY COLLEAGUES HERE TO FIND

[04:05:01]

IS THERE A WAY TO TAKE THAT AND EXTEND THAT CYCLE TO 70 YEARS? WHAT IS THE MATH IN THERE? WHAT'S THE BREAK EVEN FOR DOING THAT THAT MAKES IT ECONOMICAL TO EXTEND THE LIFE? AND I CAN SAY THAT PERSONALLY, AGE OF THIS PROPERTY, THE AK TO CLIFF PROPERTY, WHERE WE'RE HAVING TO MAKE SOME HARD DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT THINGS COST AND HAVING TO CONSIDER, UM, WHAT, WHAT THE FUTURE LOOKS LIKE.

AND RIGHT NOW WE'VE GOT A POLICY, THANKFULLY, THAT WE STARTED TWO DECADES AGO WHERE WE GO AND REPAIR BUILDING TO BUILDING, BUT THAT MAY NOT BE WHAT SOME COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNERS ARE DOING AND WHAT APARTMENT OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT COMPANIES ARE DOING.

UM, SO FINDING WAYS TO WORK WITH THEM TO EITHER EXTEND THEIR LIFE OR DEVELOP PLANS SO THAT WE'RE NOT ALL OF A SUDDEN REDEVELOPING AN ENTIRE SWATH OF, UH, THE CITY THAT MIGHT HAVE BE AGING OUT WHAT THEY CALL FUNCTIONAL OBSOLESCENCE AT A CERTAIN TIME.

AND THAT'S THE CHALLENGE RIGHT NOW IS WE'VE GOT A WHOLE LOT OF PROPERTIES, PARTICULARLY IN MY DISTRICT, UM, THAT WERE BUILT IN THE SEVENTIES AND EIGHTIES THAT ARE REACHING WHAT COULD BE ARGUED AS FUNCTIONAL OBSOLESCENCE.

SO IF THIS TRIGGERS A WAVE OF, UH, REDEVELOPMENT, THEN WE WILL BE IN TROUBLE.

BECAUSE ONE THING THAT AGAIN, UH, THE DEVELOPER WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR US WAS, SAY THERE IS A, THERE IS VACANCY AVAILABILITY IN NEARBY UNITS TO ACCOMMODATE A LITTLE OVER WHAT THE CAPACITY OF THE CURRENT ACACIA CLIFFS, UH, UNITS ARE, WHICH IS ABOUT, AGAIN, 290 UNITS.

SO, AND TODAY WE COULD MOVE THOSE PEOPLE TO NEIGHBORING UNITS, HOPEFULLY, AND PROJECTS THAT WERE BUILT AT SIMILAR TIMES THAT HAVE COMPARABLE RENT.

BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THAT HAPPENS AGAIN AND AGAIN, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE ISN'T THAT AVAILABILITY TO ABSORB, UH, THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE KIND OF AT THE, THEY'RE THE WORKING FAMILIES OF THE IMMIGRANTS.

THEY'RE THE STUDENTS.

THE PEOPLE CAN LEAST AFFORD TO TRY AND FIND A NEW PLACE, NOT ONLY IN THE DISTRICT, BUT IN THE CITY.

AND SO THAT'S WHERE, UH, MY DEEP CONCERN FROM THIS STEMS FROM.

AND I'D LOVE TO BE ABLE TO CREATE SOME ADDITIONAL PATHWAYS FOR THOSE PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO STAY IN AUSTIN AND GO TO SCHOOL AND SERVE THEIR COMMUNITIES, ET CETERA.

SO I'LL HAVE TO SAY, UH, AGAIN, WOULD LIKE TO JUST WORK WITH MY COLLEAGUES HERE, PARTICULARLY THE ONES THAT HAVE ALREADY GONE THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND THEIR DISTRICTS, AND FIND WAYS TO ACKNOWLEDGE NOAH IN OUR, IN OUR CODE, IN OUR PLANNING, AND THEN ALSO FIND ALTERNATE STRATEGIES, UM, BEYOND, UM, BEYOND REDEVELOPMENT, WHICH I KNOW NEEDS TO HAPPEN IN, IN CASES LIKE THIS.

UH, BUT THAT ALSO ARE BEING ABLE TO CREATE THE AFFORDABLE AND IN SOME CASES, DEEPLY AFFORDABLE UNITS.

BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE REPLACING HERE IS ESSENTIALLY, FROM WHAT I CAN TELL, UM, LESS THAN THE BOTTOM 4% OF MARKET RATE UNITS THAT ARE IN THE CITY.

UH, SO, YOU KNOW, IF A MARKET RATE UNIT, FROM WHAT I CAN TELL, UH, ON AVERAGE IS ABOUT $1,400, THESE ARE 800 TO EIGHT 50, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT ABOVE IN SOME CASES.

AND SO, UH, IT'S IMPORTANT I THINK, TO FIND DIFFERENT STRATEGIES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT DISPLACING PEOPLE IN MASS.

UH, AND I THINK THE LAST THING I'LL JUST ADD IS IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE WE'VE GOT A GOOD PROCESS FOR NOTIFYING PEOPLE.

I THINK THERE'S BEEN, UM, THERE'S BEEN SOME CONCERNS THAT ARE DEEPLY FOUNDED AND SOME THAT ARE LESS SO.

AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A PROCESS GOING FORWARD TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE ARE NOTIFIED WELL IN ADVANCE, THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHEN THESE KIND OF UNITS MIGHT FACE, UH, REDEVELOPMENT OR DEMOLITION, WHAT THEIR TIMELINE ARE, SO THAT THERE'S NOT ANY KIND OF UNFOUNDED HYSTERIA AROUND, UH, THE REDEVELOPMENT PROCESS.

THEN WE CAN MAKE ARRANGEMENTS.

WE'VE GOT A WINDOW OF TIME TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO FIND THEM NEW HOMES IN THE CITY.

SO I APPRECIATE, AGAIN, THE INDULGENCE ON MY COLLEAGUES' PART AND, UH, UH, ALSO APPRECIATE BEING ABLE TO GIVE US A BIT MORE TIME BY PASSING JUST FIRST READING TODAY.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN, UM, MOVES THAT WE APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 90 ON FIRST READING ONLY.

UH, IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY COUNCILMAN VELA, MAYOR PRO TIM, THANK YOU.

AND THANK YOU COUNCILOR DUCHEN FOR MAKING THE MOTION TO APPROVE THIS ON FIRST READING ONLY.

I HAVE EXTREME HAVE GRAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE LOSS OF OVERALL AFFORDABLE UNITS WITH THIS REDEVELOPMENT.

AND AS YOU MENTIONED THAT WE ALREADY STRUGGLE WITH NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE UNITS.

AND KNOWING THAT WITH THIS REDEVELOPMENT, WE WOULD LOSE AFFORDABLE UNITS.

I WOULD ASK, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE APPLICANT REPRESENTATIVE, UM, TO PROVIDE SOME CONTEXT AND INFORMATION AS TO THAT LOSS AND WHAT CONSIDERATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE, UM, FOR THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS AVAILABLE ON SITE.

SURE.

MICHAEL WHALEN ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT, UH, AS WAS ACCURATELY PORTRAYED, THERE'S ABOUT 290,

[04:10:01]

UH, UNITS ON SITE.

THE OVERALL AVERAGE, UH, UH, RENT IS ABOUT $1,100 AND IS NOTED, THERE'S ABOUT 2000 UNITS IN THE AREA, UH, WITH ABOUT 90% OCCUPANCY.

SO THERE'S, UH, CERTAINLY ABSORPTION AVAILABLE NEARBY.

WE'VE ALSO NOTIFIED, WE NOTIFIED PEOPLE BACK IN JANUARY OF, UH, THE HEARINGS THAT WERE COMING UP AND THAT THERE WOULD BE TWO YEARS, UH, BEFORE ANY REDEVELOPMENT OCCURRED.

AND THEN WE'VE SENT OUT ANOTHER NOTICE TO ALL, UH, TO EVERYBODY EARLIER THIS WEEK AS WELL, TO CORRECT, UH, AN, UH, A FALSE NOTICE THAT SOMEBODY, UH, PUT ON PEOPLE'S DOORS, WHICH INDICATED THAT IT WAS GONNA BE DEMOLISHED AND REDEVELOPED IMMEDIATELY, WHICH IS UNTRUE.

UH, THERE'LL BE A TWO YEAR TIMELINE AS YOU WELL KNOW FROM ZONING SITE PLAN, BUILDING PERMIT, UH, BEFORE THERE'LL BE ANY REDEVELOPMENT AT THE SITE.

AND CAN YOU ALSO PROVIDE INFORMATION AS TO THE RELOCATION? YEAH, SO WE, WE ARE GONNA BE DOING A DB 90 BUILDING.

WE WILL BE REQUIRED TO DO ALL THE TENANT PROTECTIONS THAT, UH, ARE LISTED IN FOUR DASH 18 DASH 32, A TWO THROUGH FIVE, INCLUDING, UH, UH, FOUR MONTHS RENT, MOVING EXPENSES, UH, UH, EARLY TERMINATION OF YOUR LEASE, AND, UH, RETURN OF ALL OF YOUR SECURITY DEPOSIT.

AND I, AND I THINK THE COMMITMENT TO DO A DB 90 BUILDING IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT HAS ALL THOSE PROTECTIONS, UH, WHICH IS WHY IT'S READY FOR ALL THREE READINGS.

AND, UH, WE WOULD HOPE THAT WE COULD BE DONE AND, AND START GREENLIGHT THE ENGINEER TO START WORKING ON THIS, ON THE, UH, SITE PLAN SO WE CAN GET SOME NEW HOUSING INTO THE SYSTEM, INTO THE PIPELINE, SO THAT AFTER A FEW YEARS, THIS TOO WILL SLOWLY BECOME NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

UH, BUT IF IT ALL JUST STANDS THERE, UH, AFTER 70 OR 80 YEARS, YOU CAN IMAGINE, UM, UH, IT'LL BE VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO, UH, TURN AROUND AND DO SOMETHING THERE.

AND, AND AS IS ACCURATE, IT IS MF THREE.

SO WE COULD JUST BUILD BRAND NEW WITHOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

THAT IS NOT THE GOAL.

THE GOAL HERE IS TO PROVIDE ONSITE AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH NEW STRUCTURES.

AND LAST QUESTION ON MY PART, CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE LOSS OF ABOUT 180 AFFORDABLE UNITS WITH THE REDEVELOPMENT, THE, UH, THE, THE HOUSING, I'M, I'M NOT SURE THERE'S 290 UNITS THERE.

UH, THE, THE, THE LOSS OF, I GUESS YOU'RE DOING TWO 90 MINUS 78, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE I OR WHATEVER THAT'S RIGHT.

WITH THE PROPOSED ALLOCATION.

YEAH, YEAH, I UNDERSTAND.

I UNDERSTAND.

SO I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S OVER 50 YEARS OLD.

IT'S AT THE END OF ITS LIFE AND, UH, FUNCTIONALITY IS BEGINNING TO WANE.

UH, I I THINK WE'VE ANSWERED A LOT OF QUESTIONS, UH, FOR COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN, INCLUDING HOW MUCH LONGER COULD THIS HOBBLE ALONG AND YEAH.

COULD HOBBLE ALONG FROM, I THINK, UH, TRAMMELL CROW INDICATED THREE TO SIX YEARS, UH, POSSIBLY.

UM, WE'VE GOT TWO MORE YEARS BEFORE WE EVEN LOOK TO REDEVELOP.

SO, UM, IT'S JUST A VERY OLD STRUCTURE SURFACE PARK, NO WATER QUALITY, NO STORM WATER DETENTION, UM, TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT.

SO IT'S, IT'S REALLY, UH, THE TIME HAS COME NOW FOR DISTRICT 10 TO ADD, TO DOUBLE DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF INCOME, UH, RESTRICTED, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, NEW HOUSING THAT IS THERE AT, UH, IN DISTRICT 10.

IS THERE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? YES.

MAYOR BRAD MASSENGILL, VALERIE MAYNARD, NOAH ELIAS, AND ALEXIA LER.

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

HEY, Y'ALL.

UM, I'M, I'M BRAD MASSEN.

I'M, I'M READING A RESIDENT STATEMENT FROM SOMEONE OVER IN THE, THE NEIGHBORHOOD OVER THERE IN THE ACACIA CLIFF, UH, AS TENANTS OF NORTHWEST HILLS AUSTIN ACACIA CLIFFS, WE STRONGLY OPPOSE A PROPOSED DEMOLITION OF OUR APARTMENT BUILDINGS AND ADVOCATE FOR THEIR PRESERVATION AND CONTINUED USE AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

UP THERE IS, HAS BEEN HOME TO, UH, UT GRADUATE STUDENTS FROM OUTTA THE COUNTRY, FOREIGN STUDENTS, UH, UH, PROFESSORS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

NO WONDER IT'S SO HARD TO READ.

UM, THESE APARTMENTS ARE A VITAL PART OF OUR COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE A GOOD LOCATION FOR SCHOOLS, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, ALL AROUND GOOD NEIGHBORHOODS FOR OUR KIDS TO GROW.

WE URGE THE DEVELOPERS AND CITY OFFICIALS TO EXPLORE ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS SUCH AS RENOVATIONS, UPGRADES, AND REPURPOSING THAT WOULD ALLOW THE BUILDING TO CONTINUE SERVING THE COMMUNITY'S HOUSING NEEDS.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN AND ESTEEMED COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR MAKING THIS A FIRST READING ONLY.

I'D LIKE TO ADD TO THAT THE, UH, THAT APARTMENT BUILDING

[04:15:01]

AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S GONE, BEEN CYCLED THROUGH FOR A LONG TIME, AND LOSING THIS, UH, LOCATION IS GOING TO AFFECT PEOPLE MOVING HERE TO WORK AT UT BECAUSE THESE, THIS SITE IS NOT GONNA BE THERE EVEN REPLACING IT WITH OTHER, UH, LOCATIONS CLOSE BY.

IT'S NOT GONNA BE THE SAME THING.

SO THIS HAS BEEN A VERY, UH, USED RESOURCE FOR THE UNIVERSITY AND THE INTERNATIONAL STAFF THAT COMES HERE TO STUDY AND TO TEACH THERE.

SO I HAVE Y'ALL TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AS WELL.

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

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

GOOD AFTERNOON COUNSEL.

HI, I'M VALERIE MENARD.

UM, I'M PRESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE AND I JUST WANTED TO, UM, TO KIND OF ECHO WHAT EVERYONE IS SAYING THAT I THINK PEOPLE, THERE'S A BAD HABIT OF DESTROYING EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO BUILD NEW, OSTENSIBLY CLAIMING THAT NEWER IS BETTER.

AND YEAH, WE'LL SET ASIDE A FEW AFFORDABLE WHEN WE KNOW THERE'S NOT, IT'S WE'RE LOSING IN THE END, AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND NOT ADDRESSING THE AFFORDABLE ISSUE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES FOR PUT DOING THE MATH AND ALSO FOR COUNCIL MEMBER FOR UCHIN FOR CALLING, YOU KNOW, LETTING US STOP AND, AND LOOK AT THIS AGAIN, OR RECONSIDER THIS IS A PATTERN THAT WE DO.

WE DESTROY EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

JUST 'CAUSE Y'ALL DON'T LIVE THERE DOESN'T MEAN IT'S NOT GOOD HOUSING AND, AND VIABLE HOUSING.

IT'S OLD, DOESN'T MEAN IT'S BAD.

IT COULD BE UPGRADED, IT COULD BE FIXED.

WE NEED TO FIND PLACES AND, AND TO PRESERVE PLACES WHERE PEOPLE ARE LIVING COMFORTABLY AND AFFORDABLY AND LOOK AT OTHER SOLUTIONS FOR CREATING MORE HOUSING, UM, TO BRING DOWN THE COST OSTENSIBLY TO AFFORDABLE.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MAYOR.

UM, I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO SUPPORT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN.

UH, ASK, UH, FOR FIRST READING ONLY FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT.

UH, BECAUSE THIS DEVELOPMENT, LIKE, UM, EVERYBODY HAS SAID WILL DEMOLISH AFFORDABLE HOUSING, HOUSING THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO, UH, WORKING FAMILIES.

AND AS WE'VE ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT, WE NEED DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CITY.

WE NEED DEEPLY AFFORD AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THIS DISTRICT.

UM, AND ALSO I ASK YOU TO ALSO THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE, NOT JUST THE UNITS.

UH, UH, WE TALK ABOUT HOW OLD THE COMPLEX IS, UM, AND IF WE THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE, UH, WE NEED TO HAVE A PLAN.

WE NEED TO HAVE A PLAN FOR, UH, IF WE DO HAVE TO REDEVELOP COMPLEXES LIKE THIS, HOW DO WE HELP THEM, UH, MOVE AND HOW DO WE HELP 'EM RETURN? BECAUSE SOME OF THEM WANT TO RETURN, UH, TO THAT COMMUNITY WHERE, WHERE THEY CURRENTLY LIVE.

SO THE CURRENT APARTMENT COMPLEX HAS ABOUT 290 APARTMENTS, AND THE RENTS ARE EXTREMELY LOW COMPARED TO THE AVERAGE RENT IN AUSTIN.

SO, UH, WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE IMMIGRANTS, WE HAVE STUDENTS, WE HAVE, UH, ALL KINDS OF RESIDENTS THAT, THAT LIVE THERE, THAT THAT'S WHAT THEY CAN AFFORD.

UH, AND THIS, IT IS A GOOD AREA THAT THEY LIKE.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD LIKE THEM TO STAY IN THIS AREA.

UM, AND AS A DV 90 CASE, THIS NEW DEVELOPMENT WILL NOT REPLACE THOSE 290 APARTMENTS, DEFINITELY WOULD NOT REPLACE THEM AT THAT SAME AFFORDABILITY RATE.

UM, BACK IN DECEMBER, WE WORKED ON A SIMILAR CASE, UH, AT THE ARROW APARTMENTS ON RIVERSIDE, WHERE THAT WAS GONNA BE THE CASE, A DEMOLITION OF THE APARTMENTS THAT WERE NATURALLY AFFORDABLE.

WE WERE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE DEVELOPER, UH, TO STRENGTHEN THE, THE RELOCATION SERVICES AND ALSO TO REPLACE THE AFFORDABLE APARTMENTS ONE FOR ONE.

SO THAT'S KI THAT'S WHAT I'M HOPING THAT HAPPENS HERE.

BUT OF COURSE, UH, YOU, UH, NEED TO VOTE, UH, TO GIVE US, GIVE THE PEOPLE MORE TIME SO THEY CAN WORK ON THIS.

SO I ASK YOU TO, UH, VOTE.

AND HELLO EVERYONE.

MY NAME'S ALEX, AND I'M AN ORGANIZER WITH BODER.

I'M ALSO ASKING ALL OF Y'ALL TO APPROVE THE FIRST READING, ONLY TO GIVE COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS MORE TIME TO WORK WITH TENANTS TO NEGOTIATE A BETTER DEAL.

A LOT OF Y'ALL HERE ARE PRO-HOUSING.

AND SO MY QUESTION IS HOUSING FOR WHOM? HOUSING FOR RICH PEOPLE OR LOW INCOME FOLKS, BECAUSE DESTROYING 290 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS NOT PRO HOUSING FOR THE POOR.

THE DB 90 REQUIREMENTS ONLY ASK FOR 12 OR 10% OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT 60 OR 50% FFI.

SO IF THIS WAS TO PASS, THERE WOULD BE A NET LOSS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

LIKE MY COLLEAGUE NOE MENTIONED LAST YEAR, WE WORKED TO REPLACE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT THE ARROW APARTMENTS, ANOTHER DB 90 CASE.

AND SO WE KNOW IT'S POSSIBLE TO DO MORE TO WORK WITH DEVELOPERS AND TO

[04:20:01]

DO WORK WITH COMMUNITIES TO COME UP WITH A BETTER DEAL.

SO WE NEED TO DO MORE FOR LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES, FOR STUDENTS AND FOR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES.

PLEASE HELP SUPPORT UCHIN, UM, ASK FOR TO VOTE TO ONLY, UM, VOTE FOR THE FIRST PASS.

THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS, MAYOR MEMBERS.

THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS, UM, ON ITEM NUMBER 90.

IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION? ITEM NUMBER 90 IS ADOPTED ON FIRST READING ONLY.

THAT'LL TAKE US.

NOW BACK TO ITEM NUMBER 80.

THE ORDER I THINK WE'LL GO IN IS 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 76, AND THEN 1 0 3.

UH, SO WE'LL GO TO ITEM NUMBER

[80. Conduct a public hearing on an ordinance repealing and replacing Article 6 (Plumbing Code) of City Code Chapter 25-12 (Technical Codes) to adopt the 2024 Uniform Plumbing Code and local amendments; and creating offenses. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.]

80.

THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING.

THIS IS NOT AN ACTION ITEM.

WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER HEARING ON THIS.

UH, ON APRIL 10TH, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 80.

THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN.

TODD WILCOX, BUILDING OFFICIAL, UH, PRESENTATION WILL BE ON THE UNIFORM PLUMBING CODE.

THE UNIFORM PLUMBING CODE IS ESTABLISHED BY ATMO INSTEAD OF INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL.

HISTORICALLY, THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS ADOPTED THE UNIFORM, PLUMBING AND MECHANICAL CODES.

IT GOVERNS THE INSTALLATION INSPECTION OF PLUMBING SYSTEMS. UH, WE ADDED A DEFINITION FOR LAUNDRY TO LANDSCAPE AND ADDED SECTION 6 14 15 0 3 AND OTHER SECTIONS IN ILLUSTRATIONS TO HELP FACILITATE THE LAUNDRY TO THE LANDSCAPE.

UH, RULES FOR AUSTIN WATER.

WE CHANGED ELEVATOR SUMP PUMP LANGUAGE, UH, BECAUSE, AND IT WAS DELETED BECAUSE OF THE TEXAS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE.

AND WE DELETED SECTIONS 4 11, 4 12 AND FOUR 20 TO ALIGN WITH AUSTIN WATERS CONSERVATION REQUIREMENTS.

UH, WE ADDED SECTIONS TO ALLOW FOR THE USE OF TRAP GUARDS, WHICH HAVEN'T BEEN PREVIOUSLY ALLOWED IN THE UNIFORM CODES.

AND THEN IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE RE I INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE, WE CREATED AN EXCEPTION TO PREVENT OVER BORING AND NOTCHING IN THE INSTALLATION SYSTEMS THAT WOULD ALLOW PLUMBING SYSTEMS IN TINY HOMES.

AND THAT'S IT FOR THE INTERNET, UH, MEMBERS, YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT, I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK.

FIRST SPEAKER IS JOHN MATA, FOLLOWED BY ROBERT THORNTON.

STEWART HIRSCH AND MONICA GUZMAN.

ALRIGHT, MS. GUZMAN'S INDICATING SHE WILL NOT SPEAK, BUT, UH, WE WILL HEAR FROM THE OTHER FOLKS.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WATSON AND HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS JOHN MATA AND I AM THE SENIOR DIRECTOR OF FIELD SERVICES FOR THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PLUMBING AND MECHANICAL OFFICIALS, COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS I AMO AS A LICENSED PLUMBER FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS.

AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF I AMO.

I'M HERE TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF I 80, WHICH WOULD ADOPT THE 2024 UNIFORM PLUMBING CODE, THE UPC AND ITEM 82, WHICH WOULD ADOPT THE 2024 EDITION OF THE UNIFORM MECHANICAL CODE, THE UMCI UTMOST UNIFORM CODES ARE DEVELOPED THROUGH AN INCLUSIVE PROCESS THAT ADHERES TO RIGOROUS STANDARDS SET BY THE AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARDS INSTITUTE.

THIS ENSURES THAT INDUSTRY EXPERTISE, NOT THE INFLUENCE OF SPECIAL INTERESTS, GUIDES THEIR DEVELOPMENT.

THE 2024 ADDITIONS OF THE UNIFORM CODES INCLUDE ENHANCED EFFICIENCY PROVISIONS, TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS, AND MODERNIZED METHODS THAT CAN PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT BENEFITS TO AUSTIN.

SINCE 1970, THE UNIFORM COAST HAS SERVED THE CITY'S RESIDENTS DELIVERING THE HIGHEST STANDARDS FOR HEALTH, SAFETY AND QUALITY.

THEIR CONTINUED ADOPTION WILL UPHOLD THESE PROTECTIONS FOR EVERY AUSTIN ITEM.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRY TESTIMONY.

I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.

MEMBERS.

ANY QUESTIONS? APPRECIATE YOUR BEING HERE.

CHALLENGING THE PROCESS CAN BE MITIGATING THROUGH ALL THE INTERESTED STAKEHOLDERS WHILE MAINTAINING THE CORE VALUES OF SAFETY AND THOUGHTS OF ECONOMIC IMPACT.

APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO.

YES, SIR.

MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

AND MY NAME IS CHAP THORNTON, AND I'M A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FIVE IN SOUTH AUSTIN, AND A THIRD GENERATION LICENSED MASTER PLUMBER IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

I'M THE CURRENT CHAIR OF THE CITY MECHANICAL AND PLUMBING BOARD, AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF BOTH ITEMS 80 AND 82, RELATING TO THE ADOPTION OF NEW PLUMBING AND MECHANICAL CODES FOR IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

BEING SOMEONE, HE, MYSELF, BEING SOMEONE HEAVILY INVOLVED IN THE PLUMBING AND MECHANICAL INDUSTRY IN OUR CITY, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE ON THE MECHANICAL PLUMBING BOARD, AND I ALSO APPRECIATE ALL THE HARD WORK THAT CITY STAFF HAS PUT INTO THIS ROUND OF CODE ADOPTION.

KEEPING OUR CODES UPDATED TO THE LATEST INDUSTRY STANDARDS ENSURES THAT WE KEEP OUR CITIZENS SAFE, AND THAT OUR HOMES AND BUSINESSES ARE BUILT TO A STANDARD THAT ENSURES OUR INVESTMENT IN THEM GIVES US EQUALLY SAFE AND VALUABLE RETURN.

MYSELF BEING A FORMER CITY EMPLOYEE THAT HAS GONE THROUGH A A FEW CODED ADOPTION PROCESSES, KNOWS HOW

[04:25:01]

I ONCE AGAIN APPLAUD CITY STAFF FOR THEIR HARD WORK, AND I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE INVOLVED IN THE CODE ADOPTION PROCESS FOR AN INDUSTRY THAT I'VE WORKED MY ENTIRE CAREER.

AND I'M ALWAYS AVAILABLE AS A RESOURCE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

MR. HIRSH STUART HARRY HIRSCH.

AGAIN, I RECOMMEND THAT YOU ADD ONE AMENDMENT TO THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION, AND THAT IS UNDER THE ALTERNATE, UH, METHODS OF, UH, COMPLIANCE PROVISIONS OF THE PROPOSED UNIFORM PLUMBING CODE THAT YOU ADD, OR INTERNATIONAL PLUMBING CODE.

THIS CREATES THE FLEXIBILITY THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS GIVEN US.

I'LL MAKE THE SAME REMARKS WHEN WE GET TO THE MECHANICAL CODE, BUT SINCE 1931, WE'VE BEEN ADOPTING BUILDING CODES WITH ALTERNATE METHODS OF COMPLIANCE.

AND FOR SOME REASON THAT I CAN'T EXPLAIN, WE'VE BEEN UNWILLING TO DO THAT WITH THE PLUMBING AND MECHANICAL CODES.

AND THIS IS THE YEAR WHERE WE SHOULD FINALLY, AFTER 27 YEARS OF PUBLICATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL CODES, ALLOW IT TO BE USED INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS OF AUSTIN, ESPECIALLY FOR APARTMENTS WHERE AFFORDABILITY IS GENERALLY WHERE HOUSING REALLY OCCURS.

SO I ASK YOU JUST HAD AN AMENDMENT.

THE REST OF THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TOTALLY ACCEPTABLE AND REASONABLE.

THAT AMENDMENT WILL MAKE IT JUST A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS MEMBERS.

THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 80.

UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 80.

THIS WILL BE HEARD AGAIN IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

UH, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED ON ITEM NUMBER 80.

WE'LL NOW GO TO ITEM

[81. Conduct a public hearing on an ordinance repealing and replacing Article 14 (Swimming Pool and Spa Code) of City Code Chapter 25-12 (Technical Codes) to adopt the 2024 International Swimming Pool & Spa Code and local amendments; and creating offenses. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.]

NUMBER 81.

UH, THIS IS ALSO A PUBLIC HEARING.

WITHOUT ACTION, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL OPEN THE, THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 81.

THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN AND WE WILL ASK STAFF FOR A BRIEFING.

TODD WILCOX, BUILDING OFFICIAL, THE INTERNATIONAL SWIMMING POOL AND, UH, SPA CODE WAS DEVELOPED, UH, TO SET MINIMUM REGULATIONS FOR PUBLIC AND RESIDENTIAL POOLS, SPAS, HOT TUBS USING PRESCRIPTIVE AND PERFORMANCE RELATED PROVISIONS.

IN CHAPTER ONE, WE MADE REFERENCE TO CHAPTER 7 57 AND 3 41 OF THE STATE, UH, HEALTH AND SAFETY CODES AND THE TEXAS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE TITLE 25 SUB CHAPTER L AND K.

UM, IT REQUIRES US TO SET THE AUTHORITY TO WHERE THE HEALTH AUTHORITY ADMINISTERS PUBLIC POOLS AND THE BUILDING OFFICIAL ADMINISTERS RESIDENTIAL SWIMMING POOLS.

UH, AN ADDITION THAT WE HAVE MADE IS TO ALLOW CHAIN LINK FENCE, BUT WE SET STRICTER DIMENSIONS AND STRENGTH REGULATIONS.

AND THESE, THESE CAN ONLY BE USED WHERE THEY'RE LIFE GUARDED POOLS.

SO IT'S VERY, IT'S VERY RESTRICTIVE.

THAT'S IT FOR THE SWIMMING POOL SPA CODE MEMBERS.

ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, SIR.

YES, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.

I APPRECIATE IT.

AND WE PROBABLY HAVE ALREADY DONE THIS GIVEN, UM, THE SCOPE OF WHAT OUR, UM, OUR STAFF HAS TO GO THROUGH.

JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE HAVE TWO OR THREE POOLS THAT ARE CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION OR ARE, UH, BEING REDEVELOPED AND ALL THAT JAZZ.

JUST CURIOUS IF THAT LAST ONE HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE, WITH THE GIVENS ROSEWOOD AND I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT THE, WHAT THE THIRD USED TO ALLOW.

PARTICULARLY, UH, CITY ON SWIMMING POOLS AND PUBLIC SWIMMING POOLS.

APPRECIATE IT.

SO THEY CAN KEEP THE CHAIN LINK.

WHICH IS A PUBLIC HEARING.

MM-HMM .

I WILL TURN TO CITY CLERK STUART HIRSCH AND MONICA GUZMAN.

STUART HARRY HIRSCH.

WANT TO CLARIFY THAT THIS IS NOT INTENDED TO BE A RETROACTIVE CODE.

I'VE ALREADY, SOME PEOPLE I KNOW WHO HAVE APARTMENT COMPLEXES AND HAVE SWIMMING POOLS THINK THAT THE ADOPTION OF THESE NEW CODE STANDARDS WILL CAUSE THEM TO CHANGE THEIR COMPLYING ENCLOSURES.

AND I JUST, I'M NOT SUGGESTING ANY AMENDMENTS, BUT I'M JUST HOPING THAT, UH, THEIR FEAR THAT THIS MIGHT BE APPLIED RETROACTIVELY TO EXISTING PROPERTIES WHEN IT'S INTENDED FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION.

UH, THAT THAT DOESN'T OCCUR.

IT SHOULD BE, AND WE'LL, WE'LL CONFIRM IT.

MS. GUZMAN, ARE YOU STILL HERE? I DON'T SEE HER.

THAT CON UM, THAT IN CON THAT ALL THE PEOPLE THAT SIGNED UP, YES, THOSE ARE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 81.

SO MEMBERS WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 81.

THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED, AND WE'LL HAVE THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ITEM IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

WE'LL NOW GO TO ITEM NUMBER 82,

[82. Conduct a public hearing on an ordinance repealing and replacing Article 5 (Mechanical Code) of City Code Chapter 25-12 (Technical Codes) to adopt the 2024 Uniform Mechanical Code and local amendments; and creating offenses. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.]

WITHOUT ACTION, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 82.

THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN AND WE WILL TURN TO STAFF FOR A BRIEFING.

AFTERNOON.

TODD WILCOX, BUILDING OFFICIAL, AGAIN, THE MECHANICAL CODE

[04:30:01]

ESTABLISHES AND GOVERNS INSTALLATION, INSPECTION, AND MAINTENANCE OF HVA SYSTEMS REFRIGERATION WITH THE GOAL OF PROMOTING PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY.

WE'VE DELETED SOME SECTIONS TO ACCOMMODATE ALTERNATE, UH, IN THE DEFINITIONS FOR ALTERNATE WATER SOURCE TREATMENT SYSTEMS AND AIR CONDITIONER CONDENSATE RECOVERY.

UH, PER THE REQUEST OF AUSTIN WATER DEPARTMENT, WE'VE ADDED COOLING SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THE INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE AND INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE.

WE'VE CHANGED THE RESIDENTIAL KITCHEN EXHAUST REQUIREMENTS THAT WOULD ALLOW CON UH, CONSTRUCTION TO GO WITH TWO BY FOUR FRAMING INSTEAD OF THE TWO BY SIX FRAMING THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED UNDER THE NEW CODE.

AND THEN WE'VE, UH, INSERTED IMC SECTIONS THAT WOULD ALLOW HAZARDOUS EXHAUST SYSTEMS TO BE UPGRADED AND USE THE IMC UH, IN MANICURE AND PEDICURE STATIONS.

WE'VE DONE THE SAME.

WE'VE INSERTED SECTIONS OF THE IMC, UH, TO SPEC, UH, EFFECTIVELY TO ENSURE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF, OF EXHAUST SYSTEMS BY SPECIFICALLY REQUIRING MAKEUP, AIR, AND THEN SMOKE DETECTION CONTROL SYSTEMS. WE ALSO INSERTED SECTIONS OF THE IC IMC, SO THE, THE DUCT DETECTORS CAN BE BEFORE OR AFTER THE AIR HANDLING EQUIPMENT.

AND THAT'S THE END OF THAT PRESENTATION.

ANYBODY GOT QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT.

UH, I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK.

FIRST SPEAKER IS JOHN MATA, FOLLOWED BY STUART HIRSCH AND MONICA GUZMAN.

THANK YOU MAYOR JOHN MATA, 1 6 3 0 3.

AMBER BROWN DRIVE, HOCKLEY, TEXAS.

UH, WANT TO, UH, JUST SAY THAT THE UNIFORM CODES CONTAIN ALTERNATIVE METHODS IN PROVI IN THEIR PROVISIONS TO ALLOW FOR THE USE WITH OTHER CODES THAT ARE OTHER MODEL CODES THAT ARE DEVELOPED TODAY.

AND AS YOU SAW THERE ON THE MECHANICAL, WE DID UTILIZE, THEY DID UTILIZE IN THEIR MEMBER AMENDMENT.

SO, UH, SPEAKING TO THE PREVIOUS, WHAT THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER SAID ON HAD ANOTHER AMENDMENT, IT WOULD NOT BE NEEDED WITH THE UNIFORM CODES BECAUSE THEY DO ALLOW THAT IN THEIR PROVISIONS.

AND ALSO, I WILL SAY THAT THE UNIFORM CODES HAVE BEEN AROUND, UH, FOR 99 YEARS, SINCE 1926, SO WE'LL BE A HUNDRED YEARS NEXT YEAR, AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK HERE.

THANK YOU, STUART HARRY HIRSCH, UH, SAME COMMENTS AS I DID ON PLUMBING, ON MECHANICAL OR INTERNATIONAL MECHANICAL CODE.

GOT IT.

WHICH IS A, AN ACTION ITEM.

MS. GUZMAN, ARE YOU HERE? ALRIGHT, MEMBERS, THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE PEOPLE THAT SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 82.

SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 82 AND THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD ON APRIL 10TH.

THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 82 IS NOW CLOSED MEMBERS.

WE'LL NOW GO TO ITEM NUMBER 83,

[83. Conduct a public hearing and consider approval of a site plan that establishes site development regulations or waives site development regulations (if necessary) for the Austin Convention Center, 500 E Cesar Chavez Street, Austin, Texas 78701. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.]

UH, AND IT'S A, WE'LL START WITH THE PUBLIC HEARING WITHOUT OBJECTION.

WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 83.

THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN AND I'LL LOOK TO STAFF IF IT WANTS TO GIVE US A BRIEFING AND STAFF.

LOOKS LIKE IT WANTS TO GIVE US A BRIEFING HEARING.

COUNCIL KEITH MORRIS, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.

I WILL BE BRIEF.

THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE REQUIRES CITY COUNCIL APPROVE A SITE PLAN WHEN A CONVENTION CENTER USE IS PROPOSED.

THIS IS CALLED THE C ONE SITE PLAN.

IT'S IN FULL COMPLIANCE WITH CITY REGULATIONS.

THIS SITE PLAN IS LIMITED TO DEMOLITION, EXCAVATION, AND CONSTRUCTION OF A WALL.

THE PHASE TWO SITE PLAN WILL BE COMING BACK THIS SUMMER OR IN MAY, UH, WITH THE REMAINING SITE PLAN ELEMENTS.

STAFF ARE HERE IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.

ANY QUESTIONS, MEMBERS? ALRIGHT.

THE PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN ON ITEM NUMBER 83, AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK.

FIRST SPEAKER IS CRAIG NASER, FOLLOWED BY BILL BUNCH, WHO HAS TIME DONATED BY MONICA GUZMAN, WHO I DO NOT SEE.

SO HE GETS TWO MINUTES.

I DON'T SEE MR. BUNCH EITHER.

MR. BUNCH, MR. NASER, MR. BUNCH, MR. NASER, ROY WHALEY.

HE'S USUALLY WITH HIM, RIGHT? AND ERIC RAJE.

THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS, UH, MEMBERS.

THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 83.

SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 83, AND THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADOPT.

ITEM NUMBER 83 MOTIONS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.

SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON IS THEIR DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION.

THE MOTION IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS CADRE AND RYAN ALTER OFF.

UH, TEMPORARY OFF THE OFF, TEMPORARILY OFF THE DAAS.

ITEM NUMBER 84,

[84. 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 anticipated impact to the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Operating Budget of the Watershed Protection Department.]

WHICH IS ALSO AN ACTION ITEM, IS A PUBLIC HEARING.

WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 84.

THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN AND I'LL TURN TO STAFF FOR A BRIEFING.

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHECK, UH, CITY CODE TITLE 25, WHICH IS THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE TO CREATE EXCEPTIONS FOR PROVIDING AN EROSION HAZARD ZONE ANALYSIS AND INCREASING THE DISTANCE FOR EROSION HAZARD ZONES ALONG THE COLORADO RIVER BELOW.

UH, MY NAME IS JGE MORALES, DIRECTOR OF THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT.

THIS ITEM'S

[04:35:01]

LONGHORN DAM.

AND I DON'T HAVE A BRIEFING, BUT WE'VE PRESENTED TO THE VARIOUS BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AND THE COUNCIL COMMITTEE AND STEPS HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

MEMBERS YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

WITH THAT BEING THE CASE, WE'LL GO TO THE, UH, LISTENING TO TESTIMONY, AND WE WILL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK FOR NAVIGATION.

FELIX DEPORT TWO, MARIAN SANCHEZ, ADRIAN MACIA, SUSANNA ALMANZA, PEDRO HERNANDEZ, ALEXIA LAUR.

IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND TAKE ONE OF THE SEATS UP FRONT SO THAT YOU'LL BE PREPARED TO TESTIFY, UH, AS SOON AS YOU CAN.

HELLO, MY NAME IS MARIA SANCHEZ AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF BORE AN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ORGANIZATION BASED IN EAST AUSTIN.

I'M HERE TO STATE OUR SUPPORT FOR THE COLORADO RIVER PROTECTIONS ORDINANCE.

IT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, AND MORE SPECIFICALLY FOR THE COMMUNITIES THAT COULD BE DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY THE HIGHLY AERO ALLUVIAL SOIL BORDERING THE COLORADO RIVER.

CURRENT CODE REQUIREMENTS HAVE PROVEN INEFFECTIVE NECESSITATING THE EXPANSION OF THE EROSION HA EROSION HAZARD ZONE TO 200 FEET.

THE PROTECTIONS OUTLINED BY THE ORDINANCE WILL NOT ONLY KEEP CURRENT AND FUTURE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES SAFE AND PREVENT ANY FURTHER PROPERTY LOSS, BUT ADDITIONALLY, SAVE THE CITY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN EROSION REPAIRS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

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

HI EVERYONE, MY NAME'S ALEXA CLE, AND I'M AN ORGANIZER WITH BODA SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF ITEM 90 84, THIS ORDINANCE TO PROTECT THE COLORADO RIVER ON THE EAST SIDE.

AS MANY OF Y'ALL KNOW, THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS A DEEP HISTORY OF SYSTEMIC RACISM, AND IN THE NINETIES, A LOT OF ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS WERE PUT ON THE WEST SIDE.

AND SO WE ARE NOW ASKING FOR ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS AROUND THE RIVER TO BE ALSO PUT ON THE EAST SIDE.

UM, WE'RE SPECIFICALLY ASKING FOR THE EROSION HAZARD ZONE TO BE CHANGED FROM A HUNDRED TO 200 FEET.

THIS WOULD PREVENT FURTHER EROSION, ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY, REDUCE THE COST OF RESTORATION AS THERE'S ALREADY BAD EROSION AND PROTECT THE RIVER ECOSYSTEM.

UM, EACH ONE OF Y'ALL HAVE INDIC INDICATED THAT ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION IS SOMETHING THAT YOU CARE ABOUT IN THE PAST.

AND SO HOPEFULLY THIS IS AN EASY DECISION TO SUPPORT THIS ORDINANCE.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

UH, MY NAME WASN'T CALLED YET, BUT I'M SWITCHING PLACES WITH SUSANS, IF THAT'S OKAY.

WE JUST, IF THERE'S AN OPEN MICROPHONE, YOU'RE WILLING TO WILLING TO TALK, WE'LL TAKE YOUR TESTIMONY.

OKAY, GREAT.

GOOD.

UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, MAYOR, PRO TEM AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I'M VALERIE MENARD.

I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE, AND I'M THE PROJECT DIRECTOR FOR THAT IS COLORADO RIVER CONSERVANCY.

I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU TO SUPPORT ITEM 84, AN AMENDMENT TO THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE BY THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT IN THE FORM OF THE COLORADO RIVER PROTECTIONS ORDINANCE BO THAT HAS WORKED FOR YEARS TO ACHIEVE EQUITABLE PROTECTIONS FOR THE LOWER COLORADO RIVER, FOLLOWING INTO EAST AUSTIN THAT WE'RE FORWARDED UP RIVER TO WEST AUSTIN.

FOR ME, THIS EFFORT BEGAN.

THIS EFFORT BEGAN MORE THAN TWO YEARS AGO.

SHORTLY AFTER JOINING POED IN AUGUST OF 2022, WHEN WE MET WITH DIRECTOR JORGE MORALE IN THE FALL OF THAT YEAR TO DISCUSS THE COLORADO RIVER WATERSHED EAST OF LONGHORN DAM AND WHAT WOULD BE DONE TO PROTECT IT.

SHORTLY AFTER THAT, WE MET WITH FORMER ASSISTANT DIRECTOR KATIE COY, WHO WAS TREMENDOUSLY COOPERATIVE AND HELPFUL.

SHE EVENTUALLY INTRODUCED US TO WATERSHED DIVISION MANAGER MATT HOLLAND, WHO'S WORKED DILIGENTLY TO EXPLAIN THE PARAMETERS OF THIS ORDINANCE AND TO KEEP US INFORMED OF ITS PROGRESS.

SO AFTER YEARS OF A COMBINED EFFORT, WE ARE HAPPY TO HAVE CHANGES TO THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE COME BEFORE YOU, THAT WE SUPPORT IT'S FOCUS ON EXPANDING THE EROSION HAZARD ZONE.

FROM TWO 100 TO 200 FEET IS SPECIFIC, BUT ALSO ESSENTIAL TO PROTECTING THE COLORADO RIVER WATERSHED.

EROSION IS A REAL CONCERN FOR EAST AUSTIN.

THE LAND IS SANDY AND PRONE TO EROSION.

UNLIKE THE ROCKY TOPOGRAPHY OF WEST AUSTIN, DAMAGE FROM UNHINDERED EROSION HAS ALREADY COST THE CITY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO RIP AIR, EXPANDING THE EROSION HAZARD ZONE TO 200 FEET AS AN IMPORTANT PREEMPTIVE STEP TO PROTECT AGAINST MORE COSTLY EROSION DAMAGE.

WE KNOW OF AT LEAST TWO UH, DEVELOPMENTS COMING OUR WAY, UH, NEAR MONTOPOLIS BRIDGE.

ONE HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED BY COUNCIL, AND ANOTHER IS, IS, UH, SEEKING APPROVAL.

BUT IT DOES NOT, WHILE IT DOES NOT ACHIEVE PARITY WITH THE PROTECTIONS PROVIDED BY THE SOS ORDINANCE, IT IS A POSITIVE STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

UH, WE'D LIKE TO ALSO THANK, AGAIN, THANK THE WATERSHED, UH, DEPARTMENT, UH, PROTECTION STAFF.

ROY WHALEY, BOB LEVINSKY, AND MONICA GUZMAN.

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

NOAH ELIAS.

CARLOS PINON.

AUBREY LANGSTON, CRAIG NAZER, BILL BUNCH,

[04:40:01]

GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MAYOR.

UM, I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO SUPPORT THE COLORADO RIVER PROTECTION ORDINANCE.

UH, I WANNA ASK YOU, WHY IS IT THAT WE PROTECT THE COLORADO RIVER UPSTREAM FROM THE LONGHORN DAM? AND WE DO NOT HAVE THE SAME PROTECTIONS DOWNSTREAM FROM THE LONGHORN DAM.

AND LIKE MY COLLEAGUE ALEXIS SAID, THAT'S, YOU KNOW, ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM.

THAT IS PART OF THE HISTORY OF AUSTIN, UH, THAT THIS AREA, EAST AUSTIN WAS DEEMED, UH, YOU KNOW, DESIRABLE DEVELOPMENT AREA.

UM, AND WHAT HAS THAT, THAT HAS BROUGHT IS, UM, A LOT OF EROSION, A LOT OF, UH, DAMAGE TO OUR RIVER.

SO WE NEED THESE PROTECTIONS.

UM, BECAUSE THE COLORADO RIVER IS A CRUCIAL RESOURCE, UH, AND IT'S FACING SIGNIFICANT EROSION IN THIS AREAS, UH, WE UNDERSTAND THAT WATER IS LIFE AND THAT WE NEED TO PROTECT THE RIVER.

WE NEED TO PROTECT, UM, OTHER WATERWAYS, ESPECIALLY AS WE FACE MORE EXTREME WEATHER, UH, DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

AND ONE WAY TO PROTECT IT, OF COURSE, IS TO TAKE THESE MEASURES TO REDUCE EXTREME EROSION IN THIS RIVER, UH, THAT IS HIGHLY EROSIVE.

AND WE'VE SEEN IT, UH, THROUGH, THROUGH, UH, THE PAST YEARS WITH INCREASED DEVELOPMENT AS, UH, THEY DAMAGE OUR RIVER, UH, IN OUR AREA OF TOWN.

SO THIS PROTECTION IS NOT ONLY FOR THE RIVER, BUT IT'S ALSO, UH, SAVES THE CITY AND SAVES AUSTINITES A LOT OF MONEY BECAUSE WE OFTEN HAVE TO, UH, FIX THE DAMAGE FROM, FROM THIS EROSION, UH, DAMAGE TO BRIDGES, TO ROADS, SIDEWALKS TO TRAILS.

UM, AND THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY THAT THE CITY SPENDS ON THAT.

SO I'M ASKING YOU TO SUPPORT THIS, UH, COLORADO RIVER PROTECTION ORDINANCE AND TO INCREASE THE BUFFER, UH, FROM 100 FEET TO 200 FEET.

GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS CARLOS PINON AND I'M THE RESILIENCE PROGRAM COORDINATOR.

ED, I'D LIKE TO ECHO MY COLLEAGUES' REMARKS AND ASK YOU TO SUPPORT THE COLORADO RIVER PROTECTIONS ORDINANCE AS PRESENTED TO YOU BY THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT.

RO THE COLORADO RIVER DOWNSTREAM FROM LONGHORN DAM HAS ALREADY CAUSED THE CITY TO INCUR TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF PUBLIC MONEY FOR ITS REMEDIATION.

THE ALLUVIAL SOIL BORDERING THE COLORADO RIVER IS HIGHLY EROSIVE IN THE CURRENT EROSION HARD ZONE.

CODE REQUIREMENTS HAVE PROVEN TO BE INEFFECTIVE.

TO ADDRESS THIS, WE MUST OFFER GREATER PROTECTION TO THE RIVER AND EXPAND THE EHC REQUIREMENTS FROM 100 TO 200 FEET.

FOR INCOMING DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, THE MEASURE WILL NOT ONLY PROTECT OUR RIVER BANKS, BUT IN THE END, KEEP PEOPLE SAFE FROM NATURAL DISASTERS.

CONCURRENTLY, WE MUST UPDATE THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM.

OUR EXISTING STRUCTURES ARE NOT ABLE TO WITHSTAND THE PROPERTY DAMAGE THAT'S CAUSING THE CITY TO INVEST SO MUCH MONEY IN REPAIRS.

ARM AND STORM WATER DISCHARGE INFRASTRUCTURE CAN, HOWEVER, HELP DISSIPATE EROSIVE ENERGY BY STORMWATER FLOWS FROM DEVELOPED AREAS, AND THUS REDUCE EROSION, SUSTAINING THE INTEGRITY OF THE RIVER BANKS IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

ED HAS WORKED WITH THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT FOR YEARS TO DEVELOP AN ORDINANCE THAT WOULD PROVIDE THE SAME PROTECTIONS TO LONGHORN DAM OH TO THE RIVER AND THE RESIDENTS EAST OF LONGHORN DAM, AS THE PROTECTIONS AFFORDED TO THOSE WEST OF THE DAM FROM THE SOS ORDINANCE.

WHILE THERE'S MORE PROGRESS TO BE MADE IN EQUITABLE, EQUITABLE PROTECTION ON BOTH SIDES OF THE RIVER, THIS ORDINANCE PROVIDES IMPORTANT RECOGNITION OF THE THREAT OF EROSION COMPOUNDED BY DEVELOPMENT ON THE SANDY SOIL THAT DISTINGUISHES THE EAST SIDE.

WE'D LIKE TO THANK THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT STAFF FOR THEIR DILIGENT WORK AND COOPERATION WITH EAST SIDE COMMUNITIES ON THIS ORDINANCE.

EXPANDING THE EHC AND IMPROVING DRAIN DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE ARE IMPORTANT FOR STEPS TOWARD OFFERING GREATER PROTECTION TO THE RIVER.

AND THE CITY MUST GET AHEAD OF FUTURE EROSION TO AVOID ADDITIONAL COSTS.

AS NEW DEVELOPMENTS COME IN, PLEASE JOIN US IN OUR SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM.

WHEN WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY IS GREATLY APPRECIATED.

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

MY NAME IS PEDRO HERNANDEZ AND I'M THE FAIR, FAIR CAMPAIGN COORDINATOR FOR PODER AND ALSO A RESIDENT OF THE METROPOLIS NEIGHBORHOOD.

POED HAS WORKED WITH THE WATERSHED DEPARTMENT FOR YEARS TO DEVELOP A WATERSHED ORDINANCE THAT WILL PROVIDE THE SAME PROTECTIONS TO THE COLORADO RIVER AND THE COMMUNITIES THAT RESIDE NEAR IT EAST OF LONGHORN DAM, AS THE PROTECTIONS AFFORDED TO RESIDENTS AND THE RIVER WEST OF THE, THE, THE DAM FROM THE SOS ORDINANCE.

WHILE THERE IS STILL MORE PROGRESS TO BE MADE REGARDING EQUITABLE PROTECTION, EAST AND WEST OF THE RIVER, THE COLORADO RIVER PROTECTIONS ORDINANCE PROVIDES IMPORTANT RECOGNITION OF THE THREAT OF EROSION COMPOUNDED BY DEVELOPMENT ON THE SANDY SOIL THAT DISTINGUISHES THE EAST SIDE OF TOWN.

THE CITY HAS ALREADY SPENT TENS OF MILLIONS, UH, ON EROSION REPAIRS.

SO WE MUST GET AHEAD OF THE FUTURE THREATS TO AVOID ADDITIONAL COSTS.

WE UP THAT FUEL THAT.

EXPANDING THE EROSION HAZARD ZONE FROM 100 TO 200 FEET IS AN IMPORTANT FIRST STEP TOWARDS OFFERING GREATER PROTECTION TO THE COLORADO RIVER WATERSHED.

AND ASK THAT YOU VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDMENT AND THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE PRESENTED BY THE WATERSHED DEPARTMENT.

WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK, WE, WE SHOULD, WE WOULD LIKE TO SHARE OUR APPRECIATION FOR THE WATERSHED DEPARTMENT STAFF, THEIR DILIGENT WORK TO PROTECT THE WATERSHED AND CONSISTENT WILLINGNESS AND SPIRIT OF COOPERATION

[04:45:01]

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR PRO TIM.

UH, BEFORE I GET STARTED, UH, I'M SUSAN ALMANZA AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL AND THANK THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY FOR THEIR HEALING PRAYERS AND THOUGHTS AND FOR THEIR SUPPORT.

UH, DURING MY TIME, YOU KNOW, I HAD HAD AN, A TEAR ACCIDENT AND I'M NOW, UH, WITH, UH, JESSICA KANE IN WALKING.

SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE AND THANK THE COMMUNITY FOR ALL THEIR SUPPORT.

IT'S REALLY GOOD TO SEE YOU BACK UP IN HERE.

AND SO I DO WANT TO ALSO SHARE, JOE KENDALL ASKED ME, UH, TO LET Y'ALL KNOW THAT THE TEXAS RIVER SCHOOL SUPPORTS THIS PARTICULAR ORDINANCE, AND HE'S WILLING TO GIVE YOU ALL A TOUR DOWN THE COLORADO RIVER.

JUST GIVE HIM A CALL.

HE'S OPEN TO TAKING YOU ALL FOR FREE.

UH, ALSO TOO, I WANNA THANK, UH, MATT HOLLAND, UM, KATIE COHEN AND JUGE MORALES FOR ALL WORKING WITH US, UH, TO EXPAND THE HAZARDOUS, UM, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL ZONE, UH, AROUND THE COLORADO RIVER.

THIS IS A REAL IMPORTANT ORDINANCE.

WE WISH THAT WE COULD PROTECT IT EVEN FURTHER, UH, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT ANYBODY BEING HARMED BY FALLING INTO THE RIVER, UH, BEING DEVELOPING SO CLOSE TO IT.

UM, BUT THIS IS A BEGINNING AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE WATERSHED DEPARTMENT AND YOU ALL IN THE FUTURE AND FURTHER PROTECTION OF THE COLORADO RIVER, OUR SACRED WATERS.

COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ.

ALL THE SPEAKERS HAVE BEEN CALLED MEMBERS.

THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS FOR ITEM NUMBER 84.

UH, SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

ON ITEM NUMBER 84, COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ MOVES ADOPTION OF ITEM NUMBER 84, AND IT'S SECONDED BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM.

UH, YEAH, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

UM, I'M, I'M GLAD AND EXCITED TO SEE THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS AFFORDED TO COMMUNITIES WEST OF 35 BEING EXTENDED TO BENEFIT THE FOLKS EAST OF 35.

UM, AN AREA THAT WE ALL KNOW VERY WELL, UH, AS HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED AND UNDERLOOKED AND OVERLOOKED.

EXCUSE ME, UH, ON THIS ITEM, I WANT TO THANK CITY STAFF, ESPECIALLY DIRECTOR MORALES, MATT HOLLAND, LIZ JOHNSON FOR AND FROM THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR DILIGENT WORK ON THIS ITEM.

I ALSO WANT TO EXTEND MY THANKS, UH, TO THE GENERATIONS OF ADVOCACY BY OUR FRIENDS AT PODER AND THEIR CONTINUED HARD WORK ON BEHALF OF, UH, THE EAST SIDE AND OUR NEIGHBORS.

GRACIAS.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.

FURTHER DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION.

ITEM NUMBER 84 IS ADOPTED.

UH, THAT WILL TAKE US BACK TO ITEM NUMBER 76.

[76. Conduct a public hearing on an ordinance repealing and replacing Division 1 of Article 1 (Building Code) of City Code Chapter 25-12 (Technical Codes) to adopt the 2024 International Building Code and local amendments; and creating offenses; and repealing and replacing Article 10 (Existing Building Code) of City Code Chapter 25-12 (Technical Codes) to adopt the 2024 International Existing Building Code and local amendments; and creating offenses. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.]

AND, UH, THAT'S A PUBLIC HEARING.

THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING THAT WILL NOT HAVE ACTION.

WE WILL HAVE A SECOND HEARING ON THIS ITEM ON APRIL 10TH.

UH, BUT WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 76.

THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN, AND I FORGET YOUR NAME.

UH, TODD WILCOX, I BELIEVE, SIR.

OH YEAH.

SO , THIS PRESENTATION WILL BE ABOUT THE 2024 INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE.

IT'S THE MODEL CODE DEVELOPED BY ICC THAT SETSS MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR BUILDING SYSTEMS AIMING TO PREDICT PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELFARE.

I SAW YOU WALKING.

SO ON WORK EXEMPT, WE REMOVED SOME DEF EXEMPT WORK TO REFLECT THE 2023 NEC AND, AND STAY CONSISTENT WITH THAT.

WE REMOVED A BUNCH OF SECTIONS IN SECTION 3 0 5 TO ALIGN WITH THE FAIR HOUSING LICENSING LAWS.

WE'RE, WE'RE RECOMMENDING CARRYING FORWARD AN AMENDMENT FROM THE 2021 CODE THAT ALLOWED THAT YOU HAD TO HAVE NATURAL LIGHT AND, AND HABITABLE SPACES.

AND THEN WE'RE ADDING FIRETRUCK AND EMERGENCY VEHICLE LIVE LOAD REQUIREMENTS TO BE SP UH, TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THE IFC.

IN CHAPTER 29, WE'RE DELETING PREVIOUS LOCAL AMENDMENTS.

SO THE MODEL CODE IS NOW THE SINGLE SOURCE FOR TOILET AND BATHING ROOM DESIGN REQUIREMENTS.

AND, AND THE EGRESS CHAPTER, CHAPTER 10 STAFF IS NOT RECOMMENDING ANY AMENDMENT FOR A SINGLE STAIR ABOVE THREE STORIES.

AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION FOR THE IBC MEMBERS.

ANY QUESTIONS? WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE'VE ALREADY OPENED THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 76.

SO I WILL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE, AND I MIGHT JUST SAY TO THOSE THAT ARE SIGNED UP ON ITEM NUMBER 76, NOT THAT YOU NEED THE CARE, BUT WE HAVE A NUMBER OF OTHER ITEMS THAT WE'RE GONNA BE TAKING UP TODAY.

AND IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR OF THIS AND YOU'RE REPEATING WHAT SOMEBODY HAS ALREADY SAID, I'M SORRY, WHAT'S UP? SORRY, SIR.

THERE WAS ACTUALLY TWO CODES IN THIS, ON THIS AGENDA ITEM.

THE IEBC WAS ANOTHER CODE THAT'S A SUPPLEMENT OF THE IBC.

I DIDN'T GIVE YOU THAT PRESENTATION, BUT IT'S ONLY ONE SLIDE.

TALK TO US.

CODE TO THE BUILDING CODES FIRE CODE AND THE RESIDENTIAL CODE.

UH, EBC TELL ME YOUR NAME AGAIN.

UH, IT'S, I CAN'T REMEMBER.

IT'S BEEN SO MANY TIMES A DAY.

SO THE IEBC IS, IS A SUPPLEMENTAL

[04:50:01]

IT, IT ALLOWS THE USE OF EXISTING BUILDINGS ENCOURAGES EXISTING BUILDINGS TO BE RETROFITTED.

THE ONLY CHANGE WE'RE RECOMMENDING IS THE DATE FROM 21 TO 24.

I'M SURE WE'RE GONNA HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.

, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

APPRECIATE YOU COMING BACK.

ALRIGHT.

WHAT I WAS SAYING IS IF YOU'RE REPEATING WHAT SOMEBODY ELSE HAS SAID, WE WOULD APPRECIATE YOU JUST LETTING US KNOW YOU'RE FORWARD OR AGAINST IT.

THERE WILL ALSO BE ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ITEM ON APRIL 10TH.

SO IF THE CITY CLERK WOULD NOW PLEASE START CALLING, UH, THOSE WHO ARE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.

SURE.

WE'LL BEGIN WITH REMOTE SPEAKERS.

MARK VELOS.

AWESOME.

CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME? YES.

MY NAME IS MARK VELOS.

I'M A MEMBER OF CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT FOUR, AND I'M HERE IN FAVOR OF INCLUDING THE SIX STORY SINGLE STAIR CODE PROVISION IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S LOCAL AMENDMENTS TO THE 2024 IBC.

I SUPPORT THIS BILL BECAUSE I REALLY THINK IT'LL HELP US CREATE THIS TYPE OF HOUSING STOCK THAT'S CURRENTLY MISSING IN AMERICA, BUT ALSO IN AUSTIN.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, FOR MANY OF US, OUR OPTIONS ARE EITHER LIVING IN A LARGE APARTMENT COMPLEX, WHICH, WHICH I LIVE IN OR A SINGLE FAMILY HOME.

BUT I THINK THE BEAUTY OF THIS BILL IS THAT IT WOULD ALLOW AN ALTERNATIVE OPTION THAT'S SORT OF MISSING FOR FOLKS.

UM, I THINK IT WOULD, YEAH, ALLOW THIS ALTERNATIVE OPTION TO LIVE IN LIKE MORE HUMAN SCALE BUILDINGS.

AND I THINK LEGALIZING SINGLE STAIR HOUSING TAKES US A STEP CLOSER TOWARDS PROMOTING ALL SORTS OF HOUSING TYPES.

UM, 'CAUSE I THINK NOT EVERYONE WANTS TO LIVE IN A BIG HOUSE WITH A BIG YARD AND A PLACE WHERE YOU HAVE TO DRIVE TO DO JUST ABOUT ANYTHING.

BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, NOT EVERYONE ALSO WANTS TO LIVE IN LIKE A HIGH RISE CONCRETE BOX IN THE SKY.

SO I THINK IF AUSTIN REALLY WANTS TO SUCCEED, WE NEED TO TAKE THIS FIRST STEP IN BRINGING BACK THIS TYPE OF MISSING HOUSING STOCK.

AND I THINK IT'LL ALLOW US TO BRING BACK MORE ENJOYABLE WALK WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOODS INTO THE CITY.

AND, YOU KNOW, I ALSO THINK IT'S A PLUS THAT SINGLE STAIR BUILDINGS ARE FOUND IN CITIES ALL OVER THE WORLD AND HAVE A PROVEN SAFETY RECORD.

UM, AND I THINK BY ALLOWING SINGLE STAIR BUILDINGS, WE CAN JOIN, YOU KNOW, A TON OF OTHER AMERICAN CITIES FROM SEATTLE TO KNOXVILLE AND ALLOWING THESE TYPES OF STRUCTURES.

SO OVERALL, JUST URGE YOU TO ADOPT THE SINGLE STA AMENDMENT TO THE BUILDING AND FIRE CODE BOARD OF APPEALS.

IAN WILSON.

HELLO.

LET ME GET MYSELF OFF THE HEAD.

HELLO.

UH, I'M CALLING IT SUPPORT OF SINGLE STAIR, UH, AMENDMENT.

UH, THE, THE AFFORDABILITY CRISIS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE FACING IN AUSTIN NOW WILL BE AIDED BY THE THIS EDITION.

UM, AND I KNOW THAT THERE HAS BEEN LOTS OF CHAT ABOUT MAINTAINING THE CHARACTERS OF OUR OLDER NEIGHBORHOODS.

BIG MONOLITHIC BUILDINGS DON'T DO A GREAT JOB OF THAT.

SMALLER, MORE IN TUNE, UH, STRUCTURES SHOULD BE FAR BETTER AND FAR MORE ACCEPTABLE TO A LOT OF PEOPLE.

SO I THINK THIS IS A GREAT THING AND SHOULD BE SUPPORTED.

THE NEXT SPEAKER IS RICK BLUNTER.

WE'RE GOING TO IN PERSON.

IF HE IS NOT HERE.

MY NAME IS DAVID FOU.

I LIVE IN DISTRICT TWO, WHICH I HAVE THE HONOR OF REPRESENTING ON THE ZONING AND PLANNING COMMISSION.

FIRSTLY, I JUST WANNA THANK ALL OF YOU FOR ACTUALLY KEEPING YOUR PROMISE TO TACKLE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY WITH A LOT OF BOLD REFORMS JUST RECENTLY.

AND I'M DELIGHTED THAT WE'RE CONTINUING TO GO.

WE'VE HIT A LOT OF BIG AMAZING MILESTONES AND MAKING HOUSING AFFORDABILITY, AND I LOVE THAT WE'RE CONTINUING TO DO THAT, DIGGING INTO MORE TECHNICAL THINGS.

UM, SO I'M, I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE OPENED WITH THIS, BUT I AM SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE SINGLE STAIR OR ALLOWING SINGLE STAIR BUILDINGS UP TO SIX STORIES.

UM, I'VE LIVED IN MANY OF THESE ABROAD.

I SPENT TIME IN GERMANY AND MANY YEARS IN CHINA WHERE I'VE LIVED IN THESE BUILDINGS.

AND THEY WERE BETWEEN FIVE AND AS HIGH AS 13 STORIES.

THERE WAS A LOT OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF UNITS.

THEY WERE GREAT FOR SINGLES AND FAMILIES, AND THE FLEXIBILITY AND THE AFFORDABILITY THAT THEY ALLOW AS JUST GREAT FOR PEOPLE OF ALL WALKS OF LIFE.

UM, AND THESE BUILDINGS MAY SEEM UNFAMILIAR TO US HERE IN THE US BUT THE REALITY IS, IS THERE'S A NORM ALL AROUND THE WORLD WHERE THEY PROVIDE AFFORDABLE AND SAFE HOMES, UH, OF ALL DIFFERENT VARIETIES.

UH, SO I URGE YOU TO PASS THIS.

AND AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE GREAT WORK YOU'VE BEEN DOING FOR HOUSING AFFORDABILITY

[04:55:01]

IN THE CITY.

THANK YOU ALL BACK TO IN PERSON.

UM, CHRIS GANNON HAS TIME DONATED BY ZACHARY BILLINGS.

IS ZACHARY HERE? THANK YOU.

HE, CHRIS GETS FOUR MINUTES, FOLLOWED BY PARKER WELCH AND FELIX DEPORT MAYOR BEFORE THIS MAYOR PROTON.

CAN I ASK A QUESTION? YEAH.

I, I WAS JUST CURIOUS IF THE CLERK, I, I SAW THAT WE HAVE EDGAR HANDEL AND NO, I KNOW THEY HAVE A VERY YOUNG CHILDREN AND HAVE BEEN TO MEETINGS LIKE THIS.

IF THEY COULD GO NEXT, I THINK IT WOULD BENEFIT EVERYBODY.

YOU PROMISED US FUN, AND THEN WE, WE LOSE IT.

SHOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM.

IF THEY CAN COME, LET US KNOW WHO THEY ARE.

UM, I'M AN ARCHITECT AND AN ADVOCATE, AND I SIT ON THE BUILDING AND FIRE CODE BOARD OF APPEALS.

TODAY, I AM ALSO SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF ALLOWING SINGLE SHARE BUILDINGS.

UH, SO WHAT ARE THESE BUILDINGS? ESSENTIALLY, THEY'RE APARTMENT BUILDINGS THAT RELY ON A SMALLER SIZE, NOT A REDUNDANT STAIRWAY FOR FIRE SAFETY.

THEY'RE COMPACT, FIT WELL WITHIN EXISTING NEIGHBORHOODS, PROVIDE MUCH BETTER UNITS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, ARE SAFE.

WHAT THEY ARE NOT IS A LARGE DOUBLE-EDGED CORRIDOR BUILDING, WHICH IS WHAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF MULTI-FAMILY GETTING BUILT TODAY IS.

AND IT'S DEFINITELY NOT ONE OF THESE MINUS ONE STAIRWAY.

THE REQUIRED CORRIDOR BETWEEN THE TWO MANDATED STAIRWAYS HAS THE EFFECT OF CREATING A WALL RUNNING THE LENGTH OF THE BUILDING.

THIS LEADS TO HUGE BUILDINGS WITH SMALL UNITS WITH ONLY ONE SIDE HAVING ACCESS TO WINDOW.

IN COMPARISON, A SINGLE STAIR BUILDING IS MUCH SMALLER AND MORE EFFICIENT WITH UNITS THAT CAN STRETCH FROM THE FRONT TO THE BACK.

HERE WE HAVE TWO OF THEM SIDE BY SIDE.

YOU CAN SEE THE UNITS ARE LARGER, MORE FAMILY FRIENDLY, AND HAVE WINDOWS FOR LIGHT AND VENTILATION ON MULTIPLE SIDES AND ARE MORE EFFICIENT WITHOUT THE CENTRAL CORRIDOR.

I ALSO WANNA POINT OUT THAT THERE ARE IN FACT, MORE STAIRS PER UNIT IN THIS ARRANGEMENT THAN WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN THE DOUBLE LOADED CORRIDOR.

THESE BUILDINGS ARE RELATIVELY SMALL, SO THEY FIT WELL WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD CONTEXT ON EXISTING LOTS, NO LAND ASSEMBLAGE NEEDED.

THIS LEADS TO A FINER GRAINED URBANISM.

COMPARE THAT TO WHAT WE'RE BUILDING NOW, WHICH IS THE TEXAS DONUT.

THESE SMALL APARTMENT BUILDINGS ARE THE BUILDING BLOCK OF MOST URBAN AREAS THROUGHOUT THE GLOBE.

THE US AND CANADA ARE THE MOST PROMINENT OUTLIERS.

THERE'S A GROWING MOVEMENT ACROSS THE NATION TO LEGALIZE THESE BUILDINGS IN BOTH CITIES AND STATES.

THIS IS, UH, DEFINITELY THE FUTURE OF SMART URBAN GROWTH, AND I BELIEVE THAT WE'RE AT THE VERY PRECIPICE OF A NEW ERA IN AMERICAN HOUSING.

SO WHAT MAKES 'EM SAFE? FIRST, A LIMITED NUMBER OF UNITS PER FLOOR.

IN THIS CONFIGURATION, YOU'LL KNOW ALL YOUR NEIGHBORS.

THERE'S HEIGHT LIMITS.

THESE ARE NOT HIGH RISES.

THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.

FIVE STORIES GETS THE JOB DONE IN MOST CASES, BUT SIX IS THE NATIONAL TREND I WOULD SUPPORT STUDYING HOW WE COULD GO EVEN HIGHER FOR LATER CODED OPTIONS.

UM, REDUCED EGRESS DISTANCE KEEPS THE DOORS OF THE UNITS VERY CLOSE TO THE EXIT.

THERE'S NO LONG SMOKE-FILLED CORRIDORS.

THIS IS AN ESSENTIAL SAFETY PIECE.

AND THEN COMPARTMENTALIZATION MEANS THAT IF THERE IS A FIRE, IT'S CONTAINED FOR LONG ENOUGH FOR EVERYONE TO GET OUT.

THE, UH, THE PEW CHARITABLE TRUST JUST RELEASED THE FIRST EVER STUDY ON THE SAFETY OF SINGLE STAIR BUILDINGS IN COMPARISON TO THE DOUBLE LOAD CORRIDOR BUILDINGS, AND IT FOUND NO INCREASE IN FIRE RISK.

UH, PEW IS VERY CLEAR THAT THESE ARE SAFE BUILDINGS.

UH, THE NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION AGENCY HAS RESEARCH THAT SHOWS SPRINKLERS CONTAIN FIRES.

IN 92% OF CASES, THESE BUILDINGS WILL ALL BE SPRINKLED.

IN THE RARE CASE THAT SPRINKLERS DO NOT WORK, THE SMOKE-FILLED CORRIDORS IS THE NEXT GREATEST FIRE RISK.

SINGLE STARE BUILDINGS AVOID THE CORRIDOR ENTIRELY.

THEY'VE ALSO FOUND THAT IN SMALL APARTMENT BUILDINGS, THEY STUDIED ONE IN JERSEY CITY, THE SECOND STAIR IN THE ASSOCIATED FLOOR AREA ACCOUNT FOR BETWEEN NINE AND 13% OF BUILDING COSTS.

THIS IS A NON INSIGNIFICANT SHARE.

UM, IT'LL HELP MAKE MORE OF THESE BUILDINGS PENCILS, UH, WHICH IS IMPORTANT IN THE CURRENT LENDING ENVIRONMENT.

CITY STAFF HAS PROVIDED AN EXCELLENT AMENDMENT THAT REACHES FIVE STORIES WITH MODERN FIRE SAFETY PROVISIONS.

PLEASE BRING THIS AMENDMENT FORWARD FOR, FOR ADOPTION IN THE 2024 IBC AND CONSIDER THE AMENDMENT'S VOTE ON BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION IN PARTICULAR, RAISING THE NET FLOOR AREA LIMIT.

UH, SO I WANT TO END ON SOME FUN IMAGES OF THE FIRST EVER SINGLE STAIR COMPETITION.

THIS IS OUT OF DENVER AND HOSTED BY SEAN NIK, WHO IS A TEXAS GRAD.

HOOK THEM.

UM, SORRY, BUT YOUR TIME'S UP.

THERE YOU GO.

WE APPRECIATE AND, AND

[05:00:01]

SO APPRECIATE YOUR BEING HERE.

THANKS FOR YOUR WORK.

IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME INTO THE RECORD FOR THAT.

PLEASE COME DOWN IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED.

HI, MY NAME IS, UH, ANNU TRAIAN AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT THREE.

UH, FIRST I WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO APPRECIATE THE BEAUTIFUL HALF SCENE THAT WAS AT DISPLAY AT CITY HALL.

AND MY GRATITUDE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE NOTARIES WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

UM, I WON'T REPEAT EVERYTHING EVERYONE SAID.

UM, I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF, UH, SINGLE STAIRS, UM, AND I AM ALSO, UM, IN SUPPORT OF THE UNIVERSITY TENANT UNION'S EFFORT TO MAKE SURE STUDENTS GET NATURAL LIGHT IN THEIR VETERANS.

HI, EDGAR HANDEL, DISTRICT THREE.

UM, I APPRECIATE THE, UH, THE LINE.

UM, SHE IS THIS CLOSE TO A MELTDOWN, SO WELL, SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN YOUR BIG, ALWAYS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST FAN.

UH, GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.

, WE'VE SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE.

YEAH, FOR SURE.

WELCOME BACK.

UM, YEAH.

UH, I THINK YOU'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT SINGLE STAIR.

I TRY NOT TO REPEAT TOO MUCH.

I MEAN, I THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT OF, UM, EVIDENCE TO SHOW THAT THEY'RE SAFE.

THERE'S A LOT OF, UM, IT SEEMS SELF-EVIDENT HOW MUCH BETTER THEY CAN BE.

I THINK IF YOU'VE LIVED IN AN APARTMENT ANYTIME IN RECENT HISTORY, YOU'LL KNOW THAT MOST OF 'EM DON'T HAVE A TON OF LIGHT.

THEY HAVE ONE EXTERIOR WALL LONG KIND OF SOULLESS HALLWAYS.

UM, , IT'S FUNNY TO THINK ABOUT STAIRWAYS BECAUSE YOU JUST DON'T, MOST OF THE TIME.

I, YOU KNOW, I THINK IN MOST OF THE APARTMENTS I'VE LIVED IN, I PROBABLY COULD BE HARD PRESSED TO NAME WHERE THE FIRST STAIRCASE TO MY APARTMENT WAS, LET ALONE THE SECOND .

SO IT'S JUST KIND OF FUNNY IN THAT WAY.

BUT I THINK THIS IS REALLY HUGE.

IT'S, UM, IT'S SIMULTANEOUSLY A VERY WONKY THING, BUT ALSO SOMETHING THAT I THINK COULD HAVE A, UM, VERY NICE IMPACT ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE GOING FORWARD IN AUSTIN AND HELPING US WITH AFFORDABILITY, MANAGING, UM, HOW WE CAN BUILD UP INSTEAD OF USING MORE, UM, PREVIOUS COVER, HOW WE CAN PREVENT SPRAWL AND BUILDING INTO WILDFIRE AREAS.

I MEAN, THERE'S JUST SO MUCH THAT THIS WILL HELP WITH THAT.

I THINK THAT IT'S JUST SUCH A GREAT STEP.

SO THANK YOU.

AND NOW I HAVE TO GO PICK UP MY SON FROM PRESCHOOL.

YEAH, THERE YOU GO.

, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED.

PLEASE COME FORWARD TO THE MICROPHONE.

UH, MY NAME IS FELIX TU, DISTRICT FOUR.

I'M HERE TO, UH, VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR ITEM 76, SPECIFICALLY THE ADOPTION OF THE SINGLE STAIR AMENDMENT TO THE INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE.

AND IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I'M GONNA KEEP MY REMARKS BRIEF AND TRY NOT TO REPEAT A LOT OF WHAT'S BEEN SAID.

I GREW UP IN A FOUR STORY, UH, SINGLE STAIR BUILDING WITH EIGHT UNITS.

AND THAT BUILDING WAS ON A FOOTPRINT THAT WAS LESS THAN HALF THE SIZE OF A SINGLE FAMILY LOT HERE IN AUSTIN.

UM, I SHARE THIS ONLY TO UNDERSCORE THAT SINGLE STAIR BUILDINGS ARE THE NORM IN MUCH OF THE WORLD AND ONLY IN THE UNITED STATES DO WE CONTINUE TO UPHOLD THESE OUTDATED RESTRICTIONS THAT LIMIT THIS KIND OF HOUSING.

FAMILIES IN AUSTIN DESERVE MORE HOUSING CHOICES, HOMES THAT FOSTER HUMAN CONNECTION AND A SHARED SENSE OF BELONGING.

SO LET'S JOIN THE REST OF THE WORLD IN EMBRACING HUMAN-CENTERED DESIGN.

UH, WE, WE, WE TOOK YOUR COMPLIMENT, WELL, SORRY, , UH, PARKER WELCH, UH, DISTRICT 10.

I SENT ALL OF YOUR OFFICES A JOINT LETTER FROM A BUNCH OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS YESTERDAY, AND THAT LETTER SAID EVERYTHING THAT I WOULD SAY UP HERE.

UH, SO I'LL JUST USE THIS TIME TO QUICKLY NOTE THAT I FORGOT ONE OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.

UM, THE CONGRESS FOR NEW URBANISM, UH, WANTED ME TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THEY ALSO SIGNED ON, BUT THEY GOT CAUGHT IN MY SPAM FILTER IN GMAIL, SO THEY DIDN'T MAKE IT ONTO THE DOCUMENT ITSELF.

BUT THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO SAY.

I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR WORK.

THANK YOU, TY HAKI.

VINCENT MCKIBBON, WILL DAVIS, FOLLOWED BY JACOB FOSTER.

HI, I AM TY HOKI FROM DISTRICT FIVE SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE SINGLE STAIR AMENDMENT, AS WELL AS THE AMENDMENT TO, UM, ADD MORE NATURAL LIGHTING FOR THE, UH, THE HOUSING IN U AROUND, UH, THE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS.

UM, ONE, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY'S MENTIONED FIRE.

THAT'S THE, THE BIG THING THAT WE'RE AFRAID OF.

AND IT WAS FOUND IN A STUDY FROM IN NEW YORK CITY FROM 2012 TO 2024 THAT THE RATE OF FIRE DEATHS IN SINGLE STAIR APARTMENTS DID, BASICALLY, THERE WAS NO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THAT AND STAIRS WITH

[05:05:01]

LIKE MULTIPLE STAIRS, UH, SORRY, IN APARTMENTS WITH MULTIPLE STAIRS.

UM, LIKEWISE, LIKE IN BRITISH COLUMBIA, THEY REC THEY RECOGNIZE THAT, UH, THE MAIN DETERMINANT IS GONNA BE FIRE PREVENTION METHODS.

SO LIKE HAVING SPRINKLERS, HAVING YOUR, UM, LIKE LESS FLAMMABLE MATERIALS AROUND THE, THE MAIN CORRIDOR.

UM, AND I JUST WANNA MAKE A POINT, LIKE RIGHT HERE, UH, IF I HAVE TO RUN DOWN A DOUBLE LOADED CORRIDOR WITH THIS LEG AS IT IS, UH, I WOULD NOT REALLY FEEL THAT MUCH SAFER, UH, HAVING TO SPRINT, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO HOBBLE ACTUALLY, UH, 50 FEET OR A HUNDRED FEET, UH, WHEREAS A SINGLE STAIR, HAVING THAT RIGHT OUTSIDE MY DOOR WOULD BE A LOT SAFER.

UM, AND THEN ALSO THE SINGLE STAIR BUILDINGS ARE GONNA BE MORE, UM, BUILT TO A HIGHER STANDARD OF FIRE SAFETY THAN POTENTIALLY THE EXISTING BUILDINGS THAT THEY'LL BE REPLACING.

OR THEN, UM, SINGLE FAMILY HOMES WHICH AREN'T GONNA BE HELD TO THAT, THAT SAME STANDARD, RIGHT? LIKE HOW MANY SINGLE FAMILY HOMES HAVE SPRINKLER SYSTEMS, UH, AND WHATNOT.

UM, AND CLOSER TO THE CENTER OF AUSTIN MEANS LESS PEOPLE LIVING CLOSE TO THE WWE, UM, THEREFORE EXPOSING LESS PEOPLE TO THE RISK OF FIRE, UM, ALONG THE, UH, THE EXCERPTS, RIGHT? UM, AND SO THIS GIVES US SO MANY MORE OPTIONS, UM, FOR FAMILIES OR PEOPLE THAT JUST NEED MORE SPACE BEYOND WHAT LOOKS LIKE BASICALLY A HOTEL ROOM TYPE SETUP THAT WE FIND IN MOST APARTMENT COMPLEXES.

UH, THANK YOU.

IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

HI, COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I'M VINCENT MCKIBBIN WITH, UH, DISTRICT SEVEN, AND, UH, I'LL KEEP IT BRIEF.

UM, YEAH, I'M SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF SINGLE HOUSING, UH, SINGLE STAIR HOUSING, AND, UH, PRETTY MUCH IT'S JUST AS VERY SIMPLE TO ME IS, UH, I'VE BEEN IN AUSTIN FOR A VERY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME, AND THE PEOPLE HERE HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLE, AND I'D LIKE THOSE PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO LIVE HERE.

IT'S REALLY THAT SIMPLE.

I WANT AN AUSTIN IN WHICH PEOPLE CAN LIVE, WORK AND BUILD A FAMILY, AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO LIKE, FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE TO MOVE BECAUSE THE AFFORDABILITY IS TOO HARD.

AND I THINK SINGLE STAIR IS A WAY TO DO THAT, AND I'LL LET OTHER PEOPLE GET INTO THOSE TECHNICAL DETAILS.

BUT YEAH.

MORE CONTEMPORARY SEATTLE.

WILL DAVIS, JACOB FOSTER, ADAM GREENFIELD HAS TIME DONATED BY ERIC KYLEBERG.

IS ERIC HERE? THANK YOU.

ADAM GETS FOUR MINUTES, FOLLOWED BY MEGAN BEDO.

UH, GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS, MAYOR ADAM GREENFIELD HERE WITH SAFE STREETS AUSTIN.

UM, ALSO SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF AGENDA ITEM 76, IN PARTICULAR, LEGALIZING SINGLE STAIR BUILDINGS TO UP TO SIX STORIES OR ACTUALLY MORE.

UM, SO A QUESTION FOR YOU.

UH, WHICH CITIES IN THE WORLD, APART FROM AUSTIN, DO YOU MOST LOVE? WHICH ONES DO YOU MOST ENJOY VISITING? PERHAPS YOU LIKE BARCELONA, PERHAPS AMSTERDAM, MEXICO CITY, NEW YORK CITY, RIGHT HERE.

UH, THESE PLACES ALL HAVE, UH, THINGS IN COMMON.

THEY ARE WALKABLE, BUT THEY ARE ALSO FULL OF SINGLE STAIR BUILDINGS, UH, AROUND THE WORLD.

FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS, WE'VE HAD A LONG TIME TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS THE OPTIMUM WAY TO COME TOGETHER AND LIVE TOGETHER IN CITIES.

AND WE HAVE LARGELY DECIDED THAT IT IS SINGLE STAIR BUILDINGS.

UH, THIS IS THE WORLD'S MOST ABUNDANT FORM OF URBAN LIVING.

IN FACT, PEOPLE IN CITIES AROUND THE WORLD DON'T CALL THESE SINGLE STAIR BUILDINGS.

THEY SIMPLY CALL THEM BUILDINGS.

THESE ARE SO COMMON THAT PEOPLE DON'T EVEN NOTICE THEM.

THEY ARE JUST THE DEFAULT FABRIC OF, OF OUR URBAN LIVING.

UH, THE REASON I THINK WHY SO MANY PEOPLE ARE EXCITED ABOUT BRINGING SINGLE STAIR BUILDINGS TO AUSTIN IS BECAUSE THEY REPRESENT A HUMAN SCALED INCREMENTAL DEVELOPMENT THAT IS SO ESSENTIAL FOR CREATING WALKABLE, VIBRANT, INVITING STREETS.

AND THAT'S WHY I SAY SHEET SAUCE IS SO EXCITED ABOUT THESE, THESE, THIS IS SUCH A HEALTHY WAY TO DEVELOP CITIES IN AN INCREMENTAL WAY THAT FILLS IN GAPS, THAT ADDS TO EXISTING CHARACTER OF NEIGHBORHOODS, AND BRINGS COMMUNITY AND BRINGS BEAUTY BY STITCHING THAT URBAN FABRIC TOGETHER.

AS YOU CAN SEE IN THESE PHOTOS HERE, UH, THIS IS OLD.

THESE ARE SIX, THESE ARE SINGLE STAIR BUILDINGS FROM THE 16 HUNDREDS IN YEMEN.

THEY CALLED THEM MEDIEVAL SKYSCRAPERS.

THEY STILL ARE AROUND MORE THAN 400 YEARS LATER.

UM, THIS IS PHILADELPHIA, BOSTON, SAN FRANCISCO.

ALL OF THESE PHOTOS THAT I SHOWED, YOU HAVE SINGLE STAIR BUILDINGS IN THE BACKGROUND ON THESE STREET SCAPES,

[05:10:01]

CHRIS SHOWED YOU SOME PHOTOS.

SEE THE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE STREET HERE.

SO AS YOU ARE WALKING BY DAY OR NIGHT, PEOPLE LOOKING OUT OF THE WINDOWS, MAKING THE SIDEWALK FEEL SAFER, ENCOURAGING YOU TO BIKE AND WALK THESE BEAUTIFUL LIT BUILDINGS HERE, LOOK AT THOSE LOVELY VIEWS CHRIS SHOWED YOU.

AGAIN, IF YOU ARE WALKING BY, YOU'VE GOT THOSE WINDOWS LOOKING OUT FOR YOU THERE.

JUST A MUCH MORE INVITING ENVIRONMENT TO WALK THROUGH.

UM, AND THEN JUST, JUST LASTLY, YOU KNOW, WE, WE HA WE TALK ABOUT BIG THINGS.

WE TALK ABOUT NUMBER OF UNITS, BUT ALSO THIS KIND OF HOUSING IS ALSO ABOUT THE SMALL MOMENTS, THE SMALL MO MOMENTS WHEN YOUR KID IS ABLE TO WALK TO DOWNTOWN AND BACK WITHOUT AN ADULT BECAUSE OF AN INFILL OPPORTUNITY THAT THESE BUILDINGS MADE POSSIBLE.

OR PERHAPS YOU WAKE UP IN THE MORNING AND YOUR APARTMENT IS WELL LIT AND YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE LIVING, UH, THE GOOD LIFE, UH, OR, OR MAYBE YOU BUMP INTO A NEIGHBOR ON A STREET THAT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE VIBRANT BECAUSE NOW YOUR SMALLER OF LAND HAS EIGHT HOUSEHOLDS ON IT.

UH, I THINK THIS IS WHY WE'RE ALL SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS, BECAUSE THIS IS FINALLY UNLOCKING THE INCREMENTAL FORM OF DEVELOPMENT THAT I THINK IS GONNA BE REALLY GOOD FOR AUSTIN.

SO, UH, SAFE STREETS AUSTIN IS, IS VERY EXCITED TO SUPPORT, UM, UH, ITEM 76.

AND, UH, WE, WE THINK IT IS JUST GONNA BE VERY IMPORTANT TO CREATING A MORE WALKABLE CITY.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NEGAN BETO, BRIAN PKI, ALEX CHOI, SKYLAR COSTELLO, CHRISTIAN CHU, LUIS OTA, LUGO, HOWDY CHRISTIAN.

SHAY, I LIVE IN DISTRICT 10.

UH, TODAY I WANTED TO SPEAK ON ITEM 76, UH, BOTH FOR AND AGAINST, UH, SOME ELEMENTS, UH, FOR SINGLE STAIR AGAINST, UH, WINDOWLESS BEDROOMS. WE REALLY NEED, UH, TO CLOSE THE WINDOWLESS BEDROOM LOOPHOLE, UH, FOR STUDENTS.

IMAGINE LIVING IN, UH, ESSENTIALLY THESE LARGE TEXAS DONUTS, AND YOU DON'T HAVE A SENSE OF WHAT TIME OF DAY IT'S, SO, YEAH, I, I THINK IT'S REALLY URGENT THAT WE PA PASS SOMETHING THAT, UH, FIXES THE WINDOWLESS BEDROOM, UH, LOOPHOLE THAT, UH, HAS PROPAGATED THOUSANDS OF WINDOWLESS BEDROOMS IN WEST CAMPUS OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST FEW YEARS, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THAT WE ARE PLANNING ON EXPANDING UNO, UH, OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

SO I DON'T WANT TO SEE A SURGE IN THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF UNITS AND HALF OF THOSE BEDROOMS ARE WINDOWLESS.

SO THIS IS A, A REALLY AN URGENT, UH, PRIORITY.

UM, THIS NEEDS TO COME BEFORE THE UNO EXPANSION.

UH, AND YEAH, SINGLE STAIR.

UH, ONE THING I JUST WANTED TO, UH, TALK ABOUT IS SIX STORIES IS THE MOST, UH, IS THE MOST AFFORDABLE, UH, OPTION THERE.

SO IF WE'RE GOING TO PASS SOME FORM OF SINGLE STAIR, WE NEED TO MAKE IT, UH, SIX STORIES.

I'VE RAN, UH, THE NUMBERS, UH, FORMAL PROFORMAS AND, UH, BREAK EVEN RENT IS, UH, REDUCED BY BETWEEN 10 AND 20% ON A SMALL LOT FOR, UH, YEAH, 10, 10 AND 20%.

SO IF, IF, IF ANY OF Y'ALL WANT THAT, UH, THOSE NUMBERS, I'M HAPPY TO GIVE THEM.

I'M, UH, LUIS OLUGO, UH, DISTRICT EIGHT RESIDENT.

UM, I'LL SPARE Y'ALL A WHOLE SPIEL.

JUST SAYING GOOD CHANGES, GOOD REFORMS. UM, I THINK THE OTHER THING THEY SHOULD BE, SHOULD CONSIDER ON TOP OF, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE SAFE, THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL, THEY'RE WONDERFUL.

THAT'S GREAT.

THAT'S AWESOME.

I THINK OTHER THING WE SHOULD CONSIDER IS LIKE, HOW DO YOU RECREATE A NICE TWO TO 300 K TWO TO THREE BEDROOM STORE HOME IN CENTRAL AUSTIN? AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, POINT X BLOCK SINGLE SHARE APARTMENTS, UM, CAN BE THAT NEW CHARTER HOME HERE IN AUSTIN.

AND SO I HOPE YOU ALL CONSIDER THAT IN THE CALCULATION AS WE DECIDE WHAT THE RIGHT PACKAGE LOOKS LIKE.

HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY.

HAS ANYONE'S NAME BEEN CALLED THAT HADN'T COME FORWARD AND TESTIFIED THAT WANTS TO? OKAY.

TOMMY VINEYARD,

[05:15:01]

AMY DE LUNA, CHLOE WILKINSON, BEN BENJAMIN WOOSLEY, SEAN ATKINS.

IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, COME FORWARD.

CAMERON MAZZONE.

UH, HELLO.

UH, MY NAME IS AMY DELUNA.

UM, I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE, AND I LIVE IN AN APARTMENT COMPLEX, APARTMENT COMPLEX.

IT IS FOUR STORIES TALL WITH 15 TO 30 UNITS PER FLOOR, AND IT HAS SIX STAIRWELLS.

THE BUILDING LAYOUT IS A BIT CONFUSING AND FEELS LIKE AN EFFICIENT USE OF SPACE.

ONE DAY I HOPE TO MOVE INTO MY DREAM HOME, AND MY DREAM HOME IS A UNIT IN A SINGLE STAIR BUILDING.

UM, YOU'LL HEAR FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE ABOUT WHY SINGLE STAIR BUILDINGS ARE GREAT, SO I'LL LEAVE IT TO THEM.

UM, ONE MORE THING IS PLEASE LISTEN TO THOSE WHO HAVE COME TODAY WITH THE UNIVERSITY TENANTS UNION UNION.

WHILE I WANT MORE HOUSING TO BE BUILT IN AUSTIN, I THINK WE ALSO NEED TO CONSIDER THE NEGATIVE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH IMPACTS OF BEDROOMS WITHOUT ACCESS TO DIRECT NATURAL LIGHT.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, CAN I ASK A QUESTION REAL QUICK? YES.

COUNCILOR HARPER THAT WE FIXED WINDOWLESS BEDROOMS FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION.

I, I DID TOO, BUT, OKAY, SO WE'RE GONNA ASK A QUESTION ABOUT THAT LATER.

HELLO, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

UH, I'M BEN W I'M A RENTER IN DISTRICT NINE.

I'M ALSO LEAD THE LOCAL CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN CONSERVATION COALITION, WHICH IS THE PRO PEOPLE PROPLAN ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION.

UH, AS OTHERS HAVE NOTED EXPERIENCES AROUND THE WORLD OVER MANY DECADES SHOW THAT SINGLE STAIR BUILDINGS HAVE PROVEN AS SAFE OR MORE SAFE THAN THE ALTERNATIVE.

BUT SUPPORTERS OF THIS PROPOSAL AREN'T HERE SIMPLY BECAUSE SINGLE STAIR IS SAFE.

WE'RE HERE BECAUSE SINGLE STAIR IS COMPELLING.

TO ILLUSTRATE, LET'S WALK THROUGH A DAY IN A SINGLE STAIR LIFE.

FIRST YOU WAKE UP AND THANKS TO THIS POLICY, YOU HAVE A LARGER APARTMENT OR ONE AT LOWER COST BECAUSE THE SPACE THAT WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN ADVOCATED ALLOCATED TO A LONG CENTRAL HALL HALLWAY BETWEEN STAIRCASES HAS BEEN REALLOCATED TOWARDS LIVING IN FOR THE SAME REASON.

YOU'RE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO HAVE A CORNER UNIT, SO YOUR APARTMENT OR CONDO NATURALLY IS LIT ON TWO SIDES.

THIS MAY SEEM A MINOR POINT, BUT IT HAS PROFOUND IMPACT ON QUALITY OF LIFE.

AS CHRISTOPHER ALEXANDER NOTES IN HIS BOOK, A PATTERN LANGUAGE, WHEN THEY HAVE A CHOICE, PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS GRAVITATE TO THOSE ROOMS WHICH HAVE LIGHT ON TWO SIDES AND LEAVE THE ROOMS WHICH ARE LIT ON ONLY ONE SIDE.

UNUSED AND EMPTY.

THIS PATTERN, PERHAPS MORE THAN ANY OTHER SINGLE PATTERN, DETERMINES THE SUCCESS OR FAILURE OF A ROOM.

ROOMS LIT ON TWO SIDES WITH NATURAL LIGHT, CREATE LESS GLARE AROUND PEOPLE AND OBJECTS JUST LET US SEE THINGS MORE INTRICATELY.

IT ALLOWS US TO READ IN DETAIL THE MINUTE EXPRESSIONS THAT FLASH ACROSS PEOPLE'S FACES, THE MOTION OF THEIR HANDS, AND THEREBY UNDERSTAND MORE CLEARLY THE MEANING THAT THEY'RE AFTER.

THE LIGHT ON TWO SIDES ALLOWS PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER.

END QUOTE.

NEXT, YOU SET OUT FOR YOUR DAY AND YOUR FRONT DOOR OPENS TO A PROMINENT STAIRCASE AND LANDING AREA.

BECAUSE OF THIS LAYOUT AND STAIRS PLACED PROMINENTLY RATHER THAN HIDDEN AWAY, YOU'RE MORE LIKELY TO TAKE THEM TO AND FROM YOUR PLACE.

IN DOING SO, YOU'LL LIVE LONGER AND YOU'LL LOOK BETTER DOING IT.

A RECENT ANA META-ANALYSIS FROM THE EUROPEAN SOCIETY OF CARDIOLOGY FOUND A 24% REDUCTION IN ALL COST MORTALITY AMONG THOSE WHO CLIMB STAIRS AS A REGULAR PRACTICE.

IN MY MIND, THIS FACT ALONE FAR OVERWHELMS THE POSSIBLE RISK OF FIRE DANGER AS IT'S A BENEFIT THAT MATERIALLY IMPROVES EVERY RESIDENT'S LIFE AND L LONGEVITY.

NEXT, ON YOUR WAY DOWN THE STAIRS, YOU ENCOUNTER A NEIGHBOR WHO IS TAKING THE VIEWS AND THE MORNING COFFEE FROM A BENT ON THE LANDING, AND YOU SAY HELLO.

AS HAPPY CITIES NOTES IN THEIR BUILDING, SOCIAL CONNECTIONS TOOLKIT, CIRCULATION SPACES HAVE SIGNIFICANT AND OFTEN UNMET SOCIAL POTENTIAL.

EXCUSE ME.

UM, GOOD EVENING, COUNSEL.

MY NAME'S CHLOE WILKINSON.

I LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE.

IT'S A PLEASURE TO SEE YOU ALL TODAY.

UM, FIRST LET ME JUST SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO.

UM, SPENDING A LOT OF TIME IN THE CAPITOL RIGHT NOW, AND I CAN TELL YOU, UM, IT'S A MUCH MORE PLEASANT EXPERIENCE HERE.

UM, BUT I, I RUSHED OVER HERE FROM THE CAPITOL IN THE POURING RAIN.

UH, 'CAUSE I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE DEVELOPMENTS, UM, BUILDING MORE HOUSING.

AND, UH, AS IT RELATES, I BELIEVE SINGLE STAIRS WILL HELP US BUILD MORE HOUSING.

UM, I DO WANT TO NOTE, UH, THE UNIVERSITY TENANTS UNIONS, A FEW OF THEM ARE HERE TODAY.

THEY'RE SPEAKING AGAINST, NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE OPPOSED TO THE, UM, PROPOSAL AS IT STANDS, BUT THAT THEY HAVE A FEW MINOR PROBLEMS IN TERMS OF WINDOWS IN BEDROOMS, UH, MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE GUARANTEED IN NEW CONSTRUCTIONS OF OVER TWO BEDROOMS, I BELIEVE IS THE, UM, EXACT WORDING.

SO, UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS BILL.

I THINK IT IS A GREAT BILL AND I WOULD BE HAPPY IF YOU VOTED YES ON IT HERE, BUT IT WOULD BE EVEN BETTER IF YOU ADDED, UM, THE PROVISIONS THAT THEY ARE ASKING FOR.

UH, HOWDY MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

ZACH FADI, JUSTIN LANIER, NAMRADA KUDA, CHARLES BRADBURY,

[05:20:07]

MY NAME IS ZACH FADI.

I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE AND PRESIDENT OF LAURA.

UH, I SIGNED UP TODAY PRIMARILY TO SPEAK ON THE NEED TO LEGALIZE SINGLE STAIR BUILDINGS TO AT LEAST SIX STORIES, BUT IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS SOMETHING A LOT OF PEOPLE CARE ABOUT.

AND, UH, EVERYONE'S ALREADY TAKEN MY LINES, SO AND SO.

I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT WINDOWLESS BEDROOMS. UH, I'D LIKE TO STAND WITH THE STUDENT ORGANIZERS AND SAYING THAT EVERYONE DESERVES ACCESS TO NATURAL LIGHT WITHIN THEIR PRIVATE QUARTERS.

QUARTERS.

AS WE START TO DISMANTLE THE WALL OF RULES WE'VE ERECTED, WHOSE PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO SEPARATE THE KINDS OF HOUSING WE ALLOW IN THE CITY, AND TO SPARE SINGLE FAMILY OWNERS THE INDIGNITY OF LIVING NEAR APARTMENTS, WE HAVE WHAT I LIKE TO THINK OF AS REGULATORY BREATHING ROOM.

UM, SOME OF THAT SHOULD BE SPENT TO ENSURE THAT THE RENTER MAJORITY OF THIS CITY ARE PROTECTED FROM THE MOST EGREGIOUS ABUSES OF LANDLORDS AND THE MAIN PAIN POINTS OF RENTERS THAT REDUCE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE.

ENSURING DIRECT ACCESS TO SUNLIGHT WITHIN A PRIVATE SPACE FALLS SQUARELY IN THAT CATEGORY.

I DON'T THINK BEDROOMS ALWAYS NEED TO HAVE SUNLIGHT.

IF YOU HAVE A SINGLE BED APARTMENT, I'M COMFORTABLE SAYING YOU DON'T HAVE A ROOMMATE AND YOU CAN ACCESS YOUR MORNING SUN BY OPENING THE DOOR INTO THE LIVING ROOM.

BUT ONCE YOU HAVE TWO BEDROOMS, WE CAN ASSUME IT WILL AT SOME POINT, BEATED BY MULTIPLE ADULTS THAT ARE NOT INTIMATES.

AND THOSE ADULTS WILL WANT TO ACCESS, WILL WANT ACCESS THE SUNLIGHT WITHOUT HAVING TO MAKE THEMSELVES DECENT FOR THEIR ROOMMATES.

UH, MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE'RE BUILDING DEEPLY AFFORDABLE, FULLY SUBSIDIZED HOUSING.

I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO ADHERE TO AT LEAST HALF OF THE BUILDING REGULATIONS ON OUR BOOKS.

IT MAKES NO SENSE TO SAY THAT A BEDROOM IS UNSAFE OR MUST HAVE SUNLIGHT, OR THAT A UNIT MUST HAVE A PRIVATE BATH OR KITCHEN.

WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE VERY POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE THAT THE SAME PERSON WHO'D LIVE IN THAT HOME WILL INSTEAD BE ENTIRELY WITHOUT SHELTER, UNDER A BRIDGE OR IN THE WOODS.

BUT FOR THE MAJORITY OF HOMES THAT WE BUILD IN AUSTIN, ENSURING ACCESS TO SUNLIGHT IS A, A REASONABLE AND ACHIEVABLE GOAL, AND I HOPE YOU'LL LOOK INTO MAKING IT A REALITY.

THANK Y'ALL.

HELLO, MAYOR WATSON, COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I'M JUSTIN LANIER.

I'M A D NINE RESIDENT GRADUATE STUDENT AT THE LBJ SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND THE POLICY DIRECTOR FOR THE UNIVERSITY TENANTS UNION.

I URGE YOU TO PLEASE AMEND THE PROPOSED BUILDING CODE UPDATE TO ELIMINATE THE ABILITY FOR WINDOWLESS BEDROOMS TO BORROW LIGHT, EXCEPT IN THE CASE OF ONE BEDROOMS, AND TO EXPLAIN WHY I'M GONNA DO SOMETHING THAT WILL THRILL MY PARENTS.

I'M GOING TO MAKE USE OF MY WAY TO EXPENSIVE BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS STUDYING PHOTOGRAPHY.

I LEARNED ABOUT THE INVERSE SQUARE LAW.

OKAY, BEAR WITH ME FOR A SECOND.

UH, IN SHORT, THIS MEANS AS ONE GETS FURTHER FROM A BEDROOM, THE, UH, FROM A, FROM A LIGHT SOURCE, I'M SORRY.

THE INTENSITY OF LIGHT DECREASES EXPONENTIALLY.

SO IF YOUR ROOM IS 30 FEET FROM A WINDOW, YOU'VE GOT ONE 900TH THE LIGHT AS IF YOU WERE STANDING RIGHT NEXT TO IT.

AND WHEN WE ALLOW BORROWING LIGHT, WE'RE TAKING THAT ALREADY MEAGER AMOUNT OF LIGHT, AND WE ARE FILTERING IT THROUGH A FROSTED WINDOW INTO YOUR BEDROOM, FURTHER REDUCING THAT LIGHT.

THIS IS AN INADEQUATE AMOUNT OF LIGHT FOR A HUMAN TO LIVE A HEALTHY LIFE, LET ALONE A HOUSE PLANT.

IN 20 23, 800 PLUS UT COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAME TOGETHER AND UNAMBIGUOUSLY SAID THEY DID NOT WANT ANY MORE WINDOWLESS BEDROOMS. THE BORROWED LIGHT EXCEPTION IS NOT WHAT STUDENTS WANTED.

STUDENT TENANTS DISPROPORTIONATELY EXPERIENCED WINDOWLESS AND BORROWED LATE BEDROOMS. A RECENT ANALYSIS BY THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT SHOWS THAT 32 BUILDINGS IN WEST CAMPUS HAVE WINDOWLESS BEDROOMS, AND SEVERAL HAVE MORE THAN 50% WITHOUT WINDOWS.

BUT AUSTIN RENTER CITYWIDE DEAL WITH IT TOO.

PROFESSOR KOHLER AT UT SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE CONSERVATIVELY ESTIMATES THE NUMBER OF BUILDINGS CITYWIDE WITH WINDOW LISTS OR BAR LIGHT BEDROOMS AT 391.

I'VE HEARD IT EXPRESSED THAT GETTING RID OF BORROWED LIGHT WILL MAKE BUILDING HOUSING MORE EXPENSIVE, BUT WINDOWS ARE NOT A COMPROMISE WORTH MAKING FOR AFFORDABILITY.

ADEQUATE LIGHT IS CRITICAL FOR HEALTH AND WELLBEING.

PLEASE END THE PRACTICE OF BORROWED LIGHT FOR WINDOWLESS BEDROOMS CITYWIDE NOW.

LASTLY, PLEASE SUPPORT SINGLE STARE.

STUDENTS, FACULTY, ALUMNI, AND EVEN UT PARENTS, OBVIOUSLY WE NEVER INTENDED FOR BORROWED LIGHT TO BE THE LOOPHOLE WE HAVE HEARD FROM STUDENTS AND PROFESSIONALS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY AND WORLDWIDE COME TO THE CITY FOR WORLD RENOWNED EDUCATION, FOR WORLD RENOWNED JOBS.

THANK YOU, .

HARD TO FOLLOW JUSTIN.

UM, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WATSON, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CITY STAFF.

MY TEAM AND I ARE SPEAKING TODAY AGAINST THE BORROWED LIGHT CODE LOOPHOLE AND IN FAVOR OF SINGLE STAIR REFORM.

MY NAME IS NIRO.

I'M AN ARCHITECTURE STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN, AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE.

I'M ALSO THE COALITION BUILDING DIRECTOR OF THE UNIVERSITY TENANTS UNION, AN ORGANIZATION THAT WAS FOUNDED IN ORDER TO BAN WINDOWLESS HOUSING ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO.

I'M HERE TODAY TO URGE THE CITY TO CLOSE THE BORROWED LIGHT LOOPHOLE IN BUILDING CODE FOR GOOD CITYWIDE, ESPECIALLY AS UNO UPDATES ARE ABOUT TO BE PASSED, COUNCIL MUST ACT NOW IN ORDER TO PREVENT A NEW WAVE OF WINDOWLESS DEVELOPMENTS IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

OUR ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN FIGHTING AGAINST WINDOWLESS BEDROOMS FOR THE BETTER PART OF THE PAST TWO YEARS.

AND WE BELIEVE THIS POLICY LOOPHOLE HAS NOT BEEN DONE IN GOOD FAITH.

WHEN WE RALLIED A COALITION OF OVER 800

[05:25:01]

THEY DO NOT COME HERE TO SUFFER THROUGH ARCHAIC LIVING SITUATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN OUTLAWED IN ALMOST ALL MAJOR CITIES AROUND THE WORLD.

FOR ALMOST A CENTURY, THE BUILDING COMMITTEE IS DEDICATED TO ENSURING THE SAFETY AND HEALTH OF AUSTIN RESIDENTS.

HOWEVER, BY DSDS OWN SUMMARY OF THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, 96% OF THOSE ENGAGED WERE DEVELOPERS.

WHEN AUSTIN CONTINUES TO ALLOW WINDOWLESS AND BORROWED LIGHT BEDROOMS, THE CITY IS TELLING TENANTS, SPECIFICALLY STUDENTS LOW INCOME AND INTERNATIONAL TENANTS, THAT THEIR MENTAL HEALTH IS WORTH LESS THAN OTHERS.

THIS IS SIMPLY UNACCEPTABLE, AND WE MUST DO BETTER AS A CITY.

WE MUST VALUE THE MENTAL HEALTH OF TENANTS OVER THE PROFITS OF DEVELOPERS.

IN FACT, THE DEVELOPERS THAT DO THIS IN AUSTIN USE FLOOR PLANS IN OTHER CITIES IN WHICH EVERY BEDROOM HAS EXTERNAL FACING WINDOWS.

THIS IS CLEARLY NOT ABOUT PROFIT MARGINS.

IN ORDER TO PRESERVE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF AUSTIN RESIDENTS, WE MUST DISALLOW WINDOWLESS BEDROOMS AND BORROWED LIGHT BEDROOMS IN ALL CONDITIONS.

ACCEPTING ONE BEDROOM FLOOR PLANS.

ULTIMATELY, THE BORROWED LIGHT LOOPHOLE WOULD BE A HUGE FAILURE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST WENDELL LIST BEDROOMS, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR WATSON, YOU MUST ACT NOW TO PROTECT YOUR TENANTS.

AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WATSON, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CITY STAFF.

TODAY MY TEAM AND I ARE SPEAKING AGAINST THE BORROWED LIGHT LOOP POLE AND FOR THE SINGLE STAIR REFORM.

MY NAME IS KAYLA TON AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE.

I'M A GRADUATING ARCHITECTURE MAJOR AT UT AUSTIN, A RISING ARCHITECT OF THE CITY AND CHAIR OF THE UNIVERSITY TENNIS UNION.

AND I'M ALSO THE AUTHOR OF THE WENDELL, THIS BEDROOM LETTER THAT FIRST BROUGHT THIS CITY, THIS ISSUE TO THE CITY'S ATTENTION OVER A YEAR AGO THAT GAINED OVER 800 SIGNATURES IN JUST THREE DAYS.

THE DIVERSE CITYWIDE COALITION THAT FORMED LED TO US FOUNDING THE UNIVERSITY TENANTS UNION, WHERE WE HAVE SINCE WORKED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER QUADRY, CITY STAFF, CITY PLANNERS, AND MORE ON COUNTLESS HOUSING POLICY INITIATIVES FOR OUR CITY.

TODAY WE ARE SPEAKING NOT JUST FOR OURSELVES, BUT FOR THE HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS, FACULTY, ALUMNI, PROFESSIONALS, AND EVEN PARENTS OF THESE STUDENTS WHO ORIGINALLY SIGNED THIS PETITION AND WHOSE VOICES WERE NOT ENGAGED IN THIS LATEST CODE REVISION PROCESS.

TODAY, WE DEMAND THE IMMEDIATE CLOSURE OF THE BORROWED LIGHT LOOPHOLE IN AUSTIN'S BUILDING CODE FOR GOOD.

THIS IS NOT JUST A STUDENT ISSUE, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.

THE WINDOWLESS BEDROOM CODE LOOPHOLE HAS GAINED ATTENTION NATIONWIDE IS BACKED BY EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ARCHITECTURAL EXPERTS IN A I A AND COUNTLESS TOWN HALL TESTIMONIES.

THE RESEARCH IS CLEAR.

WINDOWLESS BEDROOMS VOID OF AN EXTERNAL FACING NATURAL DAYLIGHT END DANGER, BOTH OUR MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH.

THE MONETIZATION OF THIS BASIC HUMAN RIGHT CONTINUES TO DISRUPT THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS CAUSING SLEEP DISORDERS, DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, AND MORE.

AUSTIN'S CURRENT CODE ENABLES DEVELOPERS TO PROFIT AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR HEALTH AND SAFETY NEEDS, RENTING OUT WINDOWLESS BEDROOMS, A PRACTICE ILLEGAL IN EVEN DENSER CITIES THAN AUSTIN, SUCH AS NEW YORK AND MADRID.

STUDENTS ESPECIALLY LOW INCOME AND INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS, SIGN LEASES UNAWARE THAT WHAT SPAN IN THEIR HOME COUNTRIES IS CONSIDERED LEGAL IN AUSTIN COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU HAVE THE POWER TO END THIS NOW AND PROVE TO US THAT AUSTIN VALLEYS HUMAN DIGNITY OVER PROFIT, CLOSE THE BORROWED LIGHT LOOPHOLE FOR GOOD BEFORE GEN.

MORE GENERATIONS OF OUR STUDENTS SUFFER.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED.

PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

CYRUS ANI, MIRIAM SCHOFIELD, ALAN ANI T MICHAEL RHODES, PETER BRETTON, STEWART HIRSCH, JOAN SALDANA, JEFFREY SHAPIRO, AND MONICA GUZMAN.

HELLO, UH, COUNSEL, MR. MAYOR, CITY MANAGER.

UM, GOOD AFTERNOON.

UM, DIS I'M, MY NAME IS ALAN ANI.

I'M AN AURA BOARD MEMBER, UH, DISTRICT NINE RESIDENT.

UM, AND THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK HERE TODAY.

I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

UM, I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF SINGLE STAIRCASE AND I WANT TO THANK YOUR COUN, THE COUNCIL FOR ITS LEADERSHIP.

UM, I THINK OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, THE ENTIRE NATION HAS LOOKED TO THIS COUNCIL AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR ITS LEADERSHIP ON AFFORDABILITY.

AND I THINK THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT.

AND SO AGAIN, I'M REALLY URGE YOU TO SUPPORT SINGLE STAIRCASE AND ABOVE THAT I, YOU KNOW, APPLAUD YOUR LEADERSHIP AND I THINK THIS MOVE WILL ALSO BE RECOGNIZED AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL.

OF ITEM 76 FOR A SINGLE STAIR, UH, I BELIEVE MULTIFAMILY HOUSING, UP TO SIX STORIES SHOULD HAVE, UH, A SINGLE STAIRCASE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO OPEN UP SMALLER LOTS TO CREATE MORE HOUSING, MAKING IT MORE FINANCIALLY FEASIBLE TO CREATE MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING.

UH, HELLO.

MY NAME IS, UH, NICO TDA.

I REPRESENT DISTRICT TWO AND I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT

[05:30:01]

SINCE MORE SPACES CAN BE ALLOCATED TO LIVING SPACE INSTEAD OF A HALLWAY.

WITH THE CURRENT RULES REQUIRING TWO STAIRWAYS IN A HALLWAY OR EVERY ROOM, UH, THIS ENDS UP CREATING A LOT OF ONE BEDROOM APARTMENTS.

WITH SINGLE STAIR, WE OPEN UP THE POTENTIAL FOR MORE THREE AND FOUR BEDROOM MORE SUITABLE FOR FAMILIES DOING A QUICK ZILLOW SEARCH.

BEFORE SPEAKING TODAY, I FOUND THAT THERE ARE 10,001 BEDROOM APARTMENTS IN AUSTIN AVAILABLE FOR RENT TODAY, BUT FOR THREE BEDROOM OR MORE, THAT NUMBER IS ONLY 1000.

UM, CLEARLY DEMONSTRATING THAT THE CURRENT RULES ARE LIMITING THE POTENTIAL TO CREATE HOUSING FOR FAM THE HOUSING THAT FAMILIES WOULD WANT.

UM, ADDITIONALLY, HAVING, UH, WITH THIS SINGLE STAIR HOUSING HAS THE POTENTIAL TO HAVE WINDOWS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE UNIT CREATING BETTER AIRFLOW FOR ITS RESIDENTS.

UH, AND FINALLY, MY LAST REASON FOR SUPPORTING SINGLE STAIRS.

THE, UH, BUILDING AESTHETIC.

I THINK, UH, BUILDINGS IN NEW YORK, AMSTERDAM, OR JAPAN ARE MORE VISUALLY APPEALING THAN THE NORTH AMERICAN COUNTERPART, WHICH IS LARGE AND MONOTONOUS.

REMOVING THIS TWO STAIRCASE RULE WILL GIVE ARCHITECTS MORE FLEXIBILITY TO CREATE BEAUTIFUL AND UNIQUE HOUSING.

I DO THINK THAT WE SHOULD TAKE THE RISK OF FIRE VERY SERIOUSLY, BUT WE CAN ACHIEVE SIMILAR LEVELS OF SAFETY USING LESS FIRE PRONE MATERIALS IN THE BUILDING, MORE PREVENTATIVE MEASURES SUCH AS FIRE RESISTANT DRYWALL SPRINKLERS, AND REQUIRING FIRE DOORS.

UH, CITY COUNCIL, IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM.

STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.

MY NAME IS MICHAEL RHODES.

I'M IN DISTRICT FIVE.

UM, I'D JUST LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE ON THE COUNCIL WHO'S BEEN WORKING ON THESE ISSUES, KRISTA AND MIKE, IT WAS NICE BEING OUT IN NOVEMBER, CAMPAIGNING WITH YOU GUYS AND SUPPORTING, YOU KNOW, WORKING ON THE ELECTION.

RYAN, MY REPRESENTATIVE, UM, THANK YOU FOR TAKING THESE ISSUES SERIOUS AND WORKING ON THEM AND LISTENING TO ALL OUR CONCERNS.

UH, THANK YOU CHEETO FOR LEADING THIS EFFORT AND ALL THE HARD WORK AND EVERYONE ELSE ON THE COUNCIL.

I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL OF YOU, UM, FOR KEEPING AUSTIN MOVING FORWARD ON THESE SERIOUS ISSUES MAKING THE CITY A LEADER IN THIS COUNTRY.

AND I HOPE YOU WILL CONTINUE PUSH THIS SINGLE STAIR AND ALL OTHER HOUSING ISSUES FORWARD AND KEEP WORKING AFTER THAT.

SO, THANK YOU ALL AGAIN.

UH, IT'S BEEN A LOT OF HARD WORK, BUT I THINK IT'LL BE NICE TO FINALLY SEE THIS FINISHED.

ACCESSIBLE NATURE CORNER STORES, DUPLEXES, APARTMENT BUILDINGS.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, MAYOR PROTE PUENTES, AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I HAD A WHOLE THING LINED UP ABOUT HOW MUCH I LOVE LIVING IN SPY GLASS.

UH, I DON'T WANNA WASTE YOUR TIME, ALTHOUGH I DON'T THINK ANY TIME IS WASTED SAYING HOW MUCH I LOVE SPY GLASS.

UM, GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD.

I THINK IT'S AN EXAMPLE, A SHINING EXAMPLE OF WHAT OUR CITY SHOULD BE LIKE.

I WON'T TALK MORE ABOUT SINGLE STAIR BUILDINGS OTHER THAN I WOULD LIKE EVENTUALLY WHEN THE AGING APARTMENT THAT I LIVE IN WILL EVENTUALLY BE REDEVELOPED FOR IT TO BE SINGLE STAIR BUILDINGS, NOT IMPACTING THE IMPERVIOUS COVER OF A VERY IMPORTANT AREA AND STILL HAVING MORE DENSITY TO SUPPORT A BETTER BUS SERVICE.

ALSO, THE UNIVERSITY TENANTS UNION DOES A GREAT JOB OF GETTING STUDENTS TOGETHER.

WE SHOULD BE HONORING THAT WORK THAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING, WINDOWLESS BEDROOMS. WE SHOULD NOT HAVE THOSE.

HAVE A WONDERFUL REST OF YOUR DAY.

AND YOUR ABILITY TO GET OUT OF THAT BUILDING STANDING AT A WINDOW WITHOUT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT BEING ABLE TO GET A LADDER TO YOU, EVEN WITH AN ESCAPE OPENING, THAT'S A REAL PROBLEM.

I'M JEFF SHAPIRO.

I'M A LICENSED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER, FIRE PROTECTION ENGINEER IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 10 SINCE THE NINETIES.

UH, I DO NOT HAVE A FREQUENT FLYER CARD FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN COUNCIL MEETINGS.

UH, MS. FUENTES, YOU MIGHT REMEMBER I MET YOU WHEN WE WERE HERE FOR THE CWPP MANY YEARS AGO.

THAT'S MY FIRST AND ONLY APPEARANCE BEFORE TODAY.

MOST OF MY PRACTICE IS NATIONAL AND IN THAT REGARD, I WILL SAY THAT I'VE BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN THE SINGLE STAIR DISCUSSION NATIONALLY, INCLUDING ATTENDING THE NATIONAL SYMPOSIUM.

AND I'M THE AUTHOR OF A SET OF RECOMMENDED PROVISIONS, WHICH ARE RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL IN THE 2027 ADDITION OF THE INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE TO ALLOW AN INCREASE IN SINGLE STAIR BUILDING HEIGHT.

TO BE CLEAR, YOU CAN DO A SINGLE STAIR BUILDING TODAY, UP TO THREE STORIES.

THE QUESTION IS, CAN YOU DO IT ABOVE THREE STORIES AND AS YOU GO UP, HOW SAFE IS IT? AND ENVISION YOURSELF STANDING AT THE FOURTH OR FIFTH OR SIXTH LEVEL OF A BUILDING WITH A SINGLE LEG GETS ITS OBSTRUCTED

[05:35:01]

I HAVE A BACKGROUND AS A FIREFIGHTER.

I HAVE FIRE PROTECTION ENGINEERING.

I'VE WORKED FOR FIRE DEPARTMENTS, I'VE WORKED FOR THE HOUSING INDUSTRY.

I'VE SEEN THIS FROM ALL SIDES.

AND AS A RESULT OF THAT, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY AT THE ICC MEETING WHERE THE IBC IS DEVELOPED TO WORK WITH THE PROPONENTS OF SINGLE STAIR BUILDINGS AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL.

STEPHEN SMITH AND THE FIRE SERVICE AND THE PROVISIONS THAT I DRAFTED FOR THE NEW ADDITION OF THE INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE HAD THE ENDORSEMENT OF BOTH THE FIRE SERVICE AND THE PROPONENT TO ALLOW SINGLE STORY BUILD SINGLE STAIR BUILDINGS UP TO FOUR STORIES.

I THINK THAT'S THE SAFE THRESHOLD THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAN LIVE WITH.

I BELIEVE IN BEING THE VOICE OF COMPROMISE ON ISSUES LIKE THIS, UH, AS WELL AS TRYING TO BRING ALL PARTIES TOGETHER SO THAT EVERYBODY GETS SOMETHING, BUT WE DON'T NEGLECT SAFETY.

AND I WILL SAY THAT AS WE GO ABOVE FOUR STORIES, SAFETY IS A CONCERN.

THEY DIDN'T CLAP FOR YOU.

OH, COME ON.

GIMME A ROUND OF APPLAUSE EVERYBODY.

HI, Y'ALL.

UH, GOOD AFTERNOON.

I'M JOHN SEL WITH A UNI WITH A UNIVERSITY DEMOCRATS URBANISM CAUCUS.

AND I'M HERE SUPPORTING SINGLE STA REFORM FOR MY FELLOW STUDENTS AND FOR MYSELF.

SINGLE SERVER REFORM WILL ALLOW US STUDENTS TO HAVE ACCESS TO MORE AND TO BETTER HOUSING CHOICES.

CURRENTLY WITH DOABLE LOADING CORRIDORS, UH, DEVELOPERS HAVE TO MAKE THESE REALLY BIG BUILDINGS THAT HAVE A LOT OF EXPENSES, A LOT OF COSTS, AND Y'ALL WANNA KNOW WHAT THEY DO WITH THAT.

THEY INCLUDE GOLF SIMULATORS.

EVERY APARTMENT HAS POOLS.

WHY DOES EVERY APARTMENT NEED POOLS? THERE IS AN APARTMENT ON RIO GRANDE THAT HAS A TUBE SLIDE IN THE LOBBY.

THAT IS NOT WHAT WE NEED.

WHAT WE NEED IS GOOD, SOLID, AND ESPECIALLY CHEAP HOUSING.

I BELIEVE THAT WITH SINGLE TERRAFORM, WE WILL, WE WILL GET, UH, APARTMENTS THAT HAVE MEDIAN AND STUDENTS WILL CHOOSE THESE CHEAP HOUSING OPTIONS IF THEY ARE AVAILABLE.

UH, ASIDE FROM THAT, IT WILL ALLOW US TO HAVE APARTMENTS THAT HAVE MORE FLEXIBILITY WITH CONNECTING NEIGHBORHOODS.

I UNDERSTAND THERE'S SOME SURROUNDING PLACES AROUND THE UNIVERSITY THAT MIGHT NOT BE WANTING THESE REALLY BIG, YOU KNOW, TYPICAL WEST CAMPUS MID RISES, THEY WOULD ACCEPT SINGLE STAIRS, SIX STORY, YOU KNOW, SMALL APARTMENTS WITH, AS EVERYBODY HAS SAID, UP TO FOUR UNITS PER STORY.

I THINK THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD COMPROMISE.

UM, ASIDE FROM THAT, THESE LOWER CONSTRUCTION COSTS WILL ALLOW US TO HAVE MORE DEVELOPERS JOIN IN THE ACTION INCREASING COMPETITION WITHIN THE STUDENT HOUSING MARKET.

AND THE LA UH, ONE OF THE LAST FEW THINGS I WANNA SAY IS I WANT TO THANK NOOM AND KAYLA AND JUSTIN FURTHER WORK WITH ATTENDANCE UNION.

THEY'RE AMAZING FRIENDS OF MINE, AND I'M REALLY HAPPY TO SEE THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE OVER THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF WITH THE WINDOWLESS BEDROOM SITUATION.

I REALLY HOPE THAT YOU GUYS CAN FINALLY FIX THAT FOR GOOD AND JUST LEAVE IT AS WE ALL ALL HAVE SAID FOR JUST ONE BEDROOM.

I WANT TO LEAVE YOU GUYS WITH THIS, THIS TUESDAY.

I WENT WITH A BUDDY OF MINE TO WHATABURGER.

THERE WAS, UH, THEY'RE BUILDING A MID RISE BEHIND.

SORRY SIR.

HAVE A GREAT REST OF YOUR DAY.

HAVE MORE.

ALL THE NAMES HAVE BEEN CALLED MAYOR.

UH, FOLKS, THOSE ARE ALL THE NAMES THAT HAVE BEEN CALLED ON ITEM NUMBER 76.

SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 76.

THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED.

I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.

UH, I'M GONNA BE MY COMMENTS SUPER QUICK.

UH, I THINK SINGLE STAR IS AWESOME.

SO REALLY EXCITED ABOUT ALL THE SPEAKERS WHO CAME OUT IN FAVOR OF IT.

UH, BUT I WANTED TO JUST QUICKLY TOUCH ON SOME OF THE, THE UNIVERSITY TENANTS UNION OUR OFFICE HAS WORKED ON, UH, QUITE A BIT.

UM, REALLY APPRECIATE THEM BEING DOWN HERE.

YOU KNOW, WE, WE, WHILE WE WORKED ON ELIMINATING PARKING, SORRY, NOT PARKING, WE DID WORK ON ELIMINATING PARKING.

YEAH, WE DID THAT TOO.

NATURAL LIGHT AND VENTILATION, ALL WHILE MAINTAINING STRONG FIRE SAFETY STANDARDS.

UH, WHILE WE WORKED ON ELIMINATING WINDOWLESS BEDROOMS IN THE BUILDING CODE LAST YEAR, WE'RE AWARE THAT THERE'S STILL BORROWED LIGHT FOR BEDROOMS. SO WE'RE GONNA WORK ON, UH, YOU KNOW, ALONGSIDE THE UNIVERSITY TENANTS UNION ON ELIMINATING BORROWED LIGHT FOR MULTI BEDROOM APARTMENTS, UH, THAT ARE IN THE BUILDING CODE.

WE'RE GONNA BE WORKING WITH STAFF AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA BE COMING UP, UH, YOU KNOW, ON THE D IN IN THE UPCOMING FEW WEEKS.

UH, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN AND REMAINS A GOAL OF OURS TO ENSURE BORROWED LIGHT IS NOT AN OPTION IN UNO AND OUR DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO MAKING THAT RE REALITY LATER THIS YEAR.

SO ONCE AGAIN, I APPRECIATE, UH, THE TENANTS UNION FOR BEING OUT TODAY.

UH, I WANTED TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES AND ALL THE ADVOCATES WHO'VE WORKED TIRELESSLY TO ADVANCE THIS IMPORTANT HOUSING AMENDMENT.

I'LL LET YOU KNOW THAT I DO FULLY SUPPORT ALLOWING SINGLE STAIR BUILDINGS UP TO FIVE STORIES.

THIS CHANGE WILL CREATE MORE AFFORDABLE FAMILY FRIENDLY HOUSING, WHICH WE NEED MAXIMIZE SPACE EFFICIENCY AND IMPROVE

[05:40:01]

BUT LOOKING AHEAD, AS WE CONTINUE TO TACKLE AUSTIN'S HOUSING CHALLENGES, I'M ALSO EXPLORING LANGUAGE FOR AN AMENDMENT THAT WOULD INITIATE A STUDY TO FOLLOW THE 2027 INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE UPDATE TO EVALUATE THE FEASIBILITY OF ALLOWING SIX STORY SINGLE STAIR BUILDINGS.

AS PART OF OUR ONGOING EFFORTS TO IMPROVE AFFORDABILITY, I ALSO DO WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THE CONCERNS RAISED AROUND BORROWED LIGHT AND APPRECIATE THE STUDENTS WHO TOOK THE TIME TO SHARE THEIR PERSPECTIVES.

ACCESS TO NATURAL LIGHT IS ESSENTIAL, AND I DO LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH MY COLLEAGUES TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES IN A WAY THAT MEETS OUR RESIDENT'S NEEDS.

1 0 3, WHICH WAS PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION BEFORE WE MOVE ON? ALRIGHT.

THE PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN CLOSED ON ITEM NUMBER 76.

THERE WILL BE A SECOND PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 76 ON APRIL 10TH, AND AT THAT POINT, WE WILL TAKE ACTION MEMBERS.

THAT'LL TAKE US BACK TO ITEM NUMBER

[103. Approve a resolution amending Resolution No. 20230608-085 to extend the timeline of the Automated License Plate Reader pilot program that implements safeguards, policies and procedures related to the Austin Police Department’s use of the technology designed to read and collect data from a vehicle’s license plate. Funding: No Fiscal Implication. The pilot program must be continued by Council to satisfy contract provisions related to the use of license plate reader equipment.]

UH, I WILL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL AS THE COUNCIL MEMBER THAT PULLED ITEM NUMBER 1 0 3.

WE DO HAVE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, UH, SO AT AN APPROPRIATE TIME.

BUT I'M GONNA RECOGNIZE YOU FIRST AND THEN WE'LL GO TO THE SPEAKERS.

UM, SO WE'RE NOW TALKING ABOUT AUTOMATIC LICENSE PLATE READERS, ITEM 1 0 3, AND I JUST WANNA START BY RECOGNIZING THE HARD WORK AND CAREFUL WORK OF MY COLLEAGUES, UH, BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO BE ON THE DIOCESE HERE, AND ALSO CITY STAFF WHO HAVE BUILT THIS PILOT PROGRAM AND REALLY, UM, CREATED A LOT OF PROTECTIONS TO PROTECT AGAINST MISUSE OF THIS TECHNOLOGY.

AND THAT HARD WORK WENT INTO THE RESOLUTION, THE GENERAL ORDER THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS BOUND BY.

UH, WE HAVE AN NDA OR NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT, AND ALL OF THIS IS WHAT THE GOAL OF, OF SAFEGUARDING PERSONAL DATA FROM BEING USED TO HURT VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES.

UM, SO I, I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT EVERYONE ON THIS DIOCESE REALLY WANTS TO PROTECT OUR FELLOW AUSTINITES, AND THAT'S WHY THE COUNCIL VOTED FOR THIS PILOT PROGRAM AND THE AUDIT PROCESS THAT'S GONNA CULMINATE, I BELIEVE IN MAY.

UM, BUT WITH THAT SAID, UM, THE REASON I PULLED THIS ITEM IS I DO BELIEVE THE LANDSCAPE HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY SINCE THE LAST TIME APRS WERE IN FRONT OF THIS BODY.

AND THIS IS BASED ON THE COMPLETE DISREGARD FOR CIVIL RIGHTS AND THE RULE OF LAW BY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ARRESTING AND ATTEMPTING TO DEPORT A LEGAL RESIDENT BECAUSE HE SPEAKS IN FAVOR OF PALESTINE, UH, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SAYING IT WILL LABEL TESLA PROTESTORS AS DOMESTIC TERRORISTS IGNORING COURT ORDERS TO STOP THE VIOLATION, VIOLATION OF CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF IMMIGRANTS AND THE STATE OF TEXAS, UH, BEGINNING TO PROSECUTE PEOPLE FOR REPRODUCTIVE CRIMES AND, UH, OTHER BILLS TARGETING VULNERABLE RESIDENTS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

AND SO I'M CONCERNED THAT CONTINUING THE A LPR PROGRAM WILL PUT OUR RESIDENTS AT RISK.

UM, AND LAST NIGHT, UM, AFTER WE HAD WORK SESSION, UH, THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, UH, STAFF CONFIRMED TO MY STAFF, UH, SOME THINGS THAT WERE NOT QUITE CLEARED UP AT THE TUESDAY HEARING.

AND IN PARTICULAR, THEY CONFIRMED THAT IF AN OUTSIDE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY SUBPOENAS A LPR DATA, UH, SO IT ON TUESDAY, I ASKED IF, IF THERE WAS A REQUEST MADE, FOR EXAMPLE, REGARDING SOMEONE WHO WAS ACCUSED OF A FELONY ABORTION OFFENSE OR SOMEONE WHO'S ACCUSED OF, YOU KNOW, IMPROPERLY SEEKING GENDER AFFIRMING CARE.

UH, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TOLD US THAT THEY WOULD NOT COMPLY IN THOSE SITUATIONS, BUT THE CLARIFICATION THEY GAVE MY STAFF LAST NIGHT IS THAT IF A SUBPOENA IS ISSUED FOR SUCH DATA, HOW THIS PROGRAM THAT WE'RE USING FOR INTERNAL PURPOSES, FOR EXAMPLE, TO TRACK DOWN, UH, STOLEN VEHICLES, CAN BE ABUSED AND, AND TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF BY THE STATE AND FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES WHO ARE CURRENTLY ATTACKING OUR COMMUNITIES.

UM, WE ALSO KNOW, AND I THINK THIS IS CLEAR TO EVERYONE, THAT, UH, IF ICE OR IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES REQUEST THIS DATA, EVEN INFORMALLY, WE MUST TURN IT OVER.

AND SO IS FOR THOSE REASONS THAT I'M GONNA BE VOTING NO ON THIS ITEM.

A PD WILL BE REQUIRED TO TURN OVER ALL REQUESTED DATA TO, AGAIN, UNDOCUMENTED FOLKS, PEOPLE SEEKING LIFESAVING REPRODUCTIVE INSURANCE, HEALTHCARE, AND THAT THEY CAN NO LONGER ACCESS IN TEXAS AND PROTEST RELATED INVESTIGATIONS THAT ARE DEEMED QUOTE UNQUOTE CRIMINAL.

THANK, COUNCIL MEMBER.

UM, I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK FOR, UH, CALLING ON PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.

OKAY, WE'RE GONNA BEGIN WITH REMOTE SPEAKERS.

MEL LEBLANC.

GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNSEL.

I'M MEL BLANK WITH VOCAL TEXAS, AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE.

I'M CALLING TO ASK THAT YOU VOTE NO ON ITEM 1 0 3.

AT VOCAL TEXAS, WE WORK TO END HOMELESSNESS, METH INCARCERATION, THE DRUG WAR HIV, AND AIDS SURVEILLANCE TOOLS LIKE THE AUTOMATIC LICENSE PLATE READER PROGRAM OVER CRIMINALIZED VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES, OUR COMMUNITIES, AND THEY CREATE PATHWAYS FOR GREATER INJUSTICE.

FURTHERMORE, SINCE THE PILOT WAS INTRODUCED, MANY CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE CHANGED.

FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS HAVE PROVEN THAT THEY WILL USE MASS SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY TO PROSECUTE UNDOCUMENTED COMMUNITIES, PEOPLE SEEKING ABORTIONS OR OTHER REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE MEMBERS OF THE L-G-B-T-Q-I-A COMMUNITY THAT ARE SEEKING GENDER AFFIRMING CARE AND PROSECUTORS EXERCISING THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.

TO BE CLEAR, UNDER CURRENT POLICIES,

[05:45:01]

SO LET'S NOT FORGET THAT NOW FACE MASKS CAN BE BANNED AND ARE CRIMINALIZED IN A PROTEST SETTING.

AND ALTHOUGH, UM, THERE HAVE NOT BEEN OUTSIDE REQUESTS FOR THESE DATA DURING, FOR THIS DATA DURING THE COURSE OF THE PILOT PROGRAM, ONCE THOSE REQUESTS ARE MADE, THERE WILL BE NO WAY TO PREVENT TECHNOLOGY FROM BEING USED AGAINST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES.

AND AS, UM, COUNCILOR SIEGEL JUST SAID, A PD HAS ALREADY STATED THAT THEY WILL BE REQUIRED TO TURN OVER THAT DATA.

CONTINUED USE OF AAL OR ALPS THREATENS TO TEAR COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES APART.

THE, THE RISK IS TOO GREAT AND THE TRADE OFFS ARE NOT WORTH, UH, THE SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITIES.

SO I'M ASKING AGAIN THAT YOU VOTE NO ON 1 0 3.

NEXT SPEAKER IS KIRA HILL.

UM, HELLO, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES.

UM, JUST ONE MOMENT.

THIRD, UNDERCURRENT POLICIES OF A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY REQUEST DATA RELATED TO PROTEST RELATED INVESTIGATIONS THAT ARE FRAMED AS CRIMINAL A PD WILL, IN ALL CASES, TURN OVER THAT DATA LOOK ONLY TO THE STUDENT.

UM, ACTUALLY TERRIBLY I HAD EVERYTHING WRITTEN OUT AND, OH, HERE IT IS.

UH, HI Y'ALL.

I'M KYRA HILL, A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FOUR, AND I'M SPEAKING AGAINST THE FLOCK SAFETY AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READER PILOT PROGRAM.

UM, JUST IN 2022, THE A CLU PUBLISHED A RESEARCH ANALYSIS DETAILING FLOCK SAFETY'S CLOUD-BASED SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM, WHICH IS ACCESSIBLE AT THAT TIME TO MORE THAN 500 US POLICE DEPARTMENTS, UM, AND SPEAKS ON THE RISK OF GOVERNMENT ABUSE.

IT DETAILED HOW FLOCK SAFETY HAS PARTNERED WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, ITS TOP REVENUE GENERATOR TO CREATE POSITIVE MEDIA COVERAGE TO IMPROVE THEIR PR GOING AS FAR AS WRITING PRESS RELEASES FOR POLICE TO PAINT APRS IN A POSITIVE LIGHT.

AS A RESULT, POLICE ARE NOT GOING TO DISPARAGE BLACK SAFETY, BE BECAUSE THEY'RE IN A MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL RELATIONSHIP IN WHICH THE SURVEILLED COMMUNITY WILL ALWAYS COME OUT.

ON THE BOTTOM OF THIS POWER AND GREED DRIVEN ECONOMY OF STATE SURVEILLANCE, THIS PROGRAM WILL AID IN ICE AND APDS ROLE IN OBSTRUCTING CIVIL LIBERTIES BY SERVING AS AN ADDITIONAL MEANS OF COLLECTING DATA ON IN SURVEILLANCE THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN.

MOST RECENTLY, WE'VE SEEN THIS TECHNOLOGY DEPLOYED TO TARGET ACTIVISTS SPEAKING OUT AGAINST THE GENOCIDE IN PALESTINE, AND WE'LL SEE EXPAND TO THE HARASSMENT OF BOTH UNDOCUMENTED AND DOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

IN ADDITION, JUST AS PAST ELECTION CYCLE IN AMARILLO, WE SAW THE INTRODUCTION OF AN ABORTION TRAVEL BANS HE CAN TO CRIMINALLY CHARGE THOSE USING PUBLIC ROADWAYS TO SEEK OUT STATE ABORTION.

MANY PEOPLE WONDERED HOW THIS WOULD BE ABLE, HOW, UM, LOCAL POLICE WOULD BE ABLE TO ENFORCE THIS.

THE ANSWER WITH THE USE OF SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY SOLD BY SO FLOCK SAFETY TO LAW ENFORCEMENT LIKE A LPRS.

I WANNA CAUTION THE CITY COUNCIL AND MY FELLOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO TRULY UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF EMBEDDING THIS TYPE OF SURVEILLANCE INFRASTRUCTURE INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE UPCOMING TEXAS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

BILLS ON THE TABLE WITH EMPHASIS ON COUNTLESS THANK YOUR TIME EXPIRED.

NOW WE'RE MOVING ON TO IN-PERSON SPEAKERS, JAY POPHAM, ASHLEY COPELAND, GRACE ENTERS, TREY LINAS, CORBY GASTRO, BEN EBBY, NOAH ELIAS, MONICA GUZMAN, AND LIANA HERNANDEZ.

YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED.

PLEASE COME FORWARD.

THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS JAY POPHAM AND I'M SPEAKING TODAY AS A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT TWO.

UH, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AGAINST THE PROPOSED EXTENSION OF THE AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READER PROGRAM.

UH, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S WAR ON IMMIGRANTS IS ESCALATED TO BLATANT ATTACKS ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIONS, ACTIONS THAT ONCE SEEMED UNTHINKABLE.

PEOPLE ARE BEING DETAINED AND DEPORTED FOR THEIR POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS BELIEFS, OR FOR ARBITRARY REASONS, STOKING, PANIC AND TERROR IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

THEY DEMAND NOTHING LESS THAN BOLD, ORGANIZED RESISTANCE AT EVERY LEVEL OF SOCIETY.

LET'S ACKNOWLEDGE A FEW TRUTHS THAT COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL LAID OUT AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS DISCUSSION.

ONE, UNDER THE DEPARTMENT'S CURRENT POLICIES, IF A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY REQUESTS DATA RELATED TO ABORTION RELATED OFFENSES, A PD WILL IN ALL CASES, TURN OVER THAT DATA.

MAYOR PROTE FUENTES AS ONE OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

I HAVE TO ASK, WILL WE COME TO SEE A PD POSTED OUTSIDE OF THE DOVE SPRINGS HEALTH FACILITY, WHICH PRESUMABLY INCLUDES MAKING REFERENCES TO FAMILY HEALTH AND PLANNING SERVICES UNDER CURRENT POLICIES, IF A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY REQUESTS DATA RELATED TO IMMIGRATION, TURN OVER THAT DATA, MAYOR PRO TEM FUENTES, HOW MANY OF THESE UNITS WILL BE DRIVING AROUND OUR DISTRICT LAYING A DIGITAL TRAIL FOR ANY NUMBER OF MALICIOUS ACTORS TO EXPLOIT AT THE PUSH OF A BUTTON?

[05:50:02]

SO STUDENTS OF CONSCIENCE WHO WERE ARRESTED FOR PROTESTING THEIR UNIVERSITY'S COMPLICITY IN THE ONGOING GENOCIDE AND GAZA AND THE CHILLING EFFECT THAT LAST YEAR'S CAMPUS ARRESTS HAVE ALREADY HAD ON FREE SPEECH.

THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN PERSECUTED FOR EXERCISING THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS, FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY, FREEDOM OF SPEECH, AND FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE.

IT IS NOT HARD TO IMAGINE THOSE BASELESS ARRESTS BECOMING BASELESS DEPORTATIONS BECAUSE OF THIS PROGRAM, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

I'M GETTING OLD AND I'VE COME TO REALIZE THERE ARE CERTAIN TRUTHS WE CAN ONLY KNOW IN THE FULLNESS OF TIME.

YOU JUST GOTTA ASK BILL BUNCH.

AND THERE ARE ALSO MOMENTS WHERE EVEN WITHIN PERFECT UNDERSTANDING, YOU CAN ACT TO AVOID WHOLLY FORESEEABLE OUTCOMES.

I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER THIS TO BE ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS, VOTE AGAINST THE EXTENSION OF THE BIBLE PROGRAM.

GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.

UH, MY NAME IS ASHLEY COPELAND AND I'M THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER AT CENTRAL TEXAS PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION.

THANK Y'ALL FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

AS ONE OF THE LAST MEN STANDING HERE, I'VE REALLY ENJOYED SPENDING MY DAY WITH YOU GUYS, SO THANK YOU FOR SHARING WITH ME.

IT'S BEEN ENLIGHTENING THAT CHALLENGE IS YOUR CREDIBILITY, BUT THAT'S OKAY.

, UH, TODAY I STAND HERE ON BEHALF OF THE COMMISSION TO STRONGLY URGE YOU GUYS TO SUPPORT, UM, 1 0 3.

WE BELIEVE THAT THE LICENSE PLATE READERS ARE A PROVEN TOOL TO HELP LAW ENFORCEMENT SOLVE CRIMES FASTER, RECOVER STOLEN VEHICLES, AND ULTIMATELY KEEP AUSTIN SAFE.

THE PILOT PROGRAM IS A CRITICAL STEP TOWARDS A SAFER, MORE SECURE AUSTIN, WHERE CRIMINALS ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND THE COMMUNITY FEELS PROTECTED.

AN AUDIT WILL PROVIDE VALUABLE DATA TO ASSESS ITS EFFECTIVENESS AND GUIDE FUTURE DECISIONS.

YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE MATTERS, AND I WANNA URGE YOU TO VOTE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

HELLO, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

MY NAME'S BEN SOTHEBY, RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FOUR.

I'M HERE TO LET YOU KNOW WHAT I'VE BEEN HEARING FROM MANY PEOPLE, MANY OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

UM, THERE'S GRAVE CONCERNS SURROUNDING THIS PILOT PROGRAM.

WE'VE HEARD THE ARGUMENTS WHEN IT WAS FIRST BROUGHT UP.

I THINK THE NINE MONTHS, THAT 10 MONTHS THAT THEY'VE HAD THE SUFFICIENT DATA TO, TO STOP.

NOW, THIS EXTENSION IS NOT NEEDED.

WE CAN LOOK AT WHAT HAS BEEN COLLECTED SO FAR, BUT WHAT'S IMPERATIVE RIGHT NOW IS THAT WE DON'T BUILD SYSTEMS THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN FORCE YOUR HAND OR USE AS A PRESSURING TOOL AGAINST, YOU KNOW, BUDGET FEDERAL MONEY, TRY AND LEVERAGE AGAINST YOU TO MAKE Y'ALL HAND OVER DATA OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

UH, THE TIME, YOU KNOW, THE SAFEGUARDS THAT ARE THERE I DON'T THINK ARE SUFFICIENT.

UH, THE ARGUMENT THAT I'M MAKING IS NOT THAT, YOU KNOW, A PD WILL VIOLATE THE LAW OR VIOLATE YOUR DIRECTIONS.

IT'S THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL FORCE YOUR HAND TO GIVE THEM SOMETHING AND YOU WON'T HAVE A LEGAL MECHANISM TO SAY NO.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE.

I'VE HEARD FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE TRANS, PEOPLE WHO WORK IN GETTING HEALTHCARE FOR PREGNANT PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, FROM IMMIGRANTS, FROM LABOR ORGANIZERS.

THEY'RE ALREADY ARRESTING FARM WORKER ORGANIZERS.

WE'VE SEEN IT IN WASHINGTON STATE.

UH, I DON'T THINK THAT THESE THINGS ARE THAT FAR FROM OUR OWN DOORSTEP.

SO I'M ASKING YOU TO MAKE A CHOICE OF CONSCIENCE.

NOW WE'VE HAD ENOUGH TIME WITH THIS PROGRAM, THIS PILOT, STOP IT.

NOW WE CAN LOOK AT THIS DATA, BUT I THINK THAT RIGHT NOW WE NEED TO BE MAKING SURE WE'RE NOT BUILDING THE TOOLS THAT WILL BE USED TO HARM OUR COMMUNITIES.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE, WE'RE PROTECTING OUR CONSTITUENTS.

UH, YOU KNOW, IT, I UNDERSTAND FIRE, BUT SOMETIMES YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, DO A LITTLE BIT MORE LEATHER SHOE, WALK THE STREETS, UH, AND, AND, AND IN THAT WAY MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT COMPILING THIS DATA THAT'S GONNA BE USED TO HARM US.

IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM.

ALL THE NAMES HAVE BEEN CALLED MAYOR.

UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, WHAT? I'M COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.

I KNOW YOU WANNA SPEAK.

WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS GET A MOTION ON THE TABLE AND THEN, UH, WE'LL DO THAT AS PART OF DISCUSSION, IF THAT'S OKAY WITH YOU.

UH, BEFORE WE DO THAT THOUGH, I, UM, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, COULD YOU COME UP? I WANT TO ASK A QUESTION ABOUT THIS ITEM.

FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO ASK YOU, I I GOT, UM, BASICALLY I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS.

ONE IS ABOUT THE PURPOSE OF, UH, THE ITEM ITSELF AND THE EXTENSION, IF YOU WILL.

AND THE SECOND IS, AND, AND I WANT ASK SPECIFICALLY WHAT YOU SEE THE PURPOSE OF IT IS.

AND THEN THE SECOND, UH, QUESTION I'VE GOT IS RELATED TO THE,

[05:55:01]

UH, ANY PROTECTIONS.

UH, I MEAN, YOU HEAR YOU'RE HEARING CONCERNS AND YOU'RE HEARING CONCERNS FROM THE PUBLIC, BUT ADDRESS ANY, UH, ANY PROTECTIONS THAT YOU THINK MIGHT BE THE KIND OF THING WE COULD DO WITH REGARD TO THAT PURPOSE.

THANK YOU MAYOR.

UH, EDDIE GARCIA, ASSISTANT MANAGER OVER PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, UH, CHIEF ROGERS HERE AS WELL, THAT WILL COVER, THAT CAN HELP COVER THAT SECOND QUESTION.

BUT WITH REGARDS TO WHY WE'RE HERE, OBVIOUSLY WITH REGARDS TO THE PILOT PROGRAM, WE'RE WAITING ON THE AUDITOR'S REPORT SO THAT YOU WOULD BE VE BETTER WELL VERSED AS TO HOW THE PILOT WENT FOR A PD.

I HAVE SPOKEN PERSONALLY, UH, WITH THE AUDITOR, AND AGAIN, I LOOK FORWARD TO THOSE, TO THE AUDITOR'S REPORT COMING OUT.

UM, AS IT PERTAINS TO THIS, WE NEED AN EXTENSION, UH, BECAUSE THIS, THE PURPOSE FOR THE EXTENSION, WE WERE PREPARED TO GIVE A PRESENTATION TO SHOW THE BENEFITS OF THE A LPR SYSTEM THAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

THE FACT THAT ALTHOUGH ALL THE CONCERNS THAT ARE BEING RAISED OR RAISED IN EVERY OTHER MAJOR CITY IN THIS COUNTRY THAT USES A LPR SUCCESSFULLY, AND THAT HAS THE SAME CONCERNS, THAT HAS THE SAME CIVIL RIGHTS CONCERNS.

AND SO WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO PRESENT AT THE END, WHEN YOU HAVE, WHEN WE HEAR A LOT OF ISSUES THAT HAVE NOT OCCURRED, UH, IN THE USE OF THIS PROGRAM, TO HAVE A PRESENTATION FROM THE AUDITOR AND FROM A PD TO SHOW YOU THE BENEFITS, TO SHOW YOU THE AMOUNT OF INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN OFF THE STREETS THAT HAVE BEEN PREYING ON OUR COMMUNITY, THAT WE'VE BEEN BROUGHT PEOPLE JUSTICE.

AND NOT ONLY THAT, BUT VICTIMS THAT NEVER EVEN REALIZED THAT THEY WERE GONNA BE VICTIMS BECAUSE THE ARRESTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE, UH, AND SHOW THE BENEFITS OF IT, TO SHOW THE FACT THAT A LPR AND THE MANNER IN WHICH IS USED AND THE PARAMETERS OF COUNCIL HAS PUT ON A PD IN ITS USE MAKES THE CITY OF AUSTIN SAFER.

UM, AND SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE WANTED AN EXTENSION TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT ONCE COUNCIL ALSO HAS THE AUDITOR'S REPORT, AND THAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF THIS.

UM, HAVING SAID THAT, WITH SOME OTHER SAFEGUARDS, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO CHIEF ROGERS.

I THINK THE QUESTION WAS ABOUT SAFEGUARDS AND THERE'S NOT ANOTHER DEPARTMENT THAT HAS THE LEVEL OF TRAINING, THE LEVEL OF RESTRICTIONS, THE GUARDRAILS, AND THE LIMITATIONS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE FOR THIS EXCEPTIONALLY VALUABLE TOOL.

THERE'S NOT ANOTHER CITY THAT HAS SET IT UP IN THIS WAY.

THERE'S NOT ANOTHER DEPARTMENT THAT HAS THOSE RESTRICTIONS TO DATE, WE HAVE NOT HAD AN OUTSIDE REQUEST FROM ANOTHER ENTITY TO PROVIDE ANY OF OUR DATA.

WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT, WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT.

WE DON'T WANT TO STOP THE GREAT WORK THAT WE'RE DOING.

WE HAVEN'T HAD A SINGLE SECTION OF VIOLENT CRIME, HOMICIDE, ROBBERY, AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, SEXUAL ASSAULT THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN.

A POSITIVE SUCCESS STORY OR THE USE OF A LPR WAS CRITICAL IN PROTECTING THE COMMUNITY, MAKING IT SAFER, AND GETTING A VIOLENT OFFENDER OFF THE STREET.

ALL OF THAT BEING DONE WITH THE SAFEGUARDS THAT WERE PUT IN PLACE BY THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL.

UH, THANK YOU, UH, MEMBERS, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU BOTH.

COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN, JUST ONE QUICK QUESTION.

UM, CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO ME THE DIFFERENCE IN FUNCTIONALITY AS WELL AS DATA ACCESS BETWEEN THE LPR SYSTEM AND THE HALO SYSTEM? UH, THE HALO SYSTEM IS ACTUALLY MONITORED, AND THE, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE CAMERAS ARE WITHIN THE DOWNTOWN ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT.

SO THEY ARE ACTUALLY MONITORED BY A LIVE PERSON, AND THAT IS ACTUALLY SITTING THERE WATCHING THAT.

THE A LPR IS AUTOMATED.

IT'S, IT'S RUNNING WITHOUT ANYBODY MONITORING THAT SYSTEM.

AND SOMEONE NEEDS TO GO BACK AND TO LOOK INTO THAT SYSTEM OR GET AN ALERT FROM THAT SYSTEM IF IT'S A PATROL OFFICER THAT'S DRIVING IN THE AREA AND THAT, THAT GETS AN ALERT FOR THAT AND, UH, BE ABLE TO LOOK UP THAT INFORMATION.

SO THE HALO, I UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE AUTOMATED CAPACITY OF THE, OF THE A LPR SYSTEM, BUT, UH, CAN SOMEBODY, CAN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TAKE OUR HALO DATA? ALSO, IF SOMEONE PROVIDED US A SUBPOENA OR A COURT ORDER, THE DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO SUPPLY, GOING TO COMPLY WITH WHATEVER ORDERS, UH, FROM A COURT OR WITHIN A SUBPOENA.

MEMBERS, UH, THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER 1 0 3.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 1 0 3? CAN WE DO THAT AFTER WE HAVE A MOTION AND THEN WE'LL DO THAT AS PART OF DISCUSSION.

IS THAT OKAY WITH YOU? YES, SIR.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER MOVES APPROVAL OF ITEM 1 0 3.

IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ.

DISCUSSION.

COUNCIL MEMBER CADRY.

THOSE INVOLVING IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT, AS WELL AS GROWING THREATS TO ACCESS TO ABORTION AND GENDER AFFIRMING CARE NATIONWIDE, I BELIEVE THOSE CONCERNS ARE NOT ONLY RELEVANT, BUT HAVE BECOME EVEN MORE URGENT AND HEIGHTENED BEHIND, UH, IN, IN LIGHT OF WHAT WE'VE SEEN.

I'VE BEEN HERE FOR OVER TWO YEARS AND I STILL GET CONFUSED IN MY, IT'S ALL RIGHT.

MY APOLOGIES.

UM, UH, I APPRECIATE IT, MAYOR.

I APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL'S INITIAL COMMENTS.

UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE, WHEN THE A LPR ITEM FIRST CAME UP, UH, BEFORE COUNCIL IN 2023, I VOTED NO OUT OF SERIOUS CONCERN FOR HOW THIS TECHNOLOGY COULD IMPACT VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES IN THE CITY.

AND GIVEN RECENT ACTIONS BY FEDERAL AGENCIES, UH, PARTICULARLY

[06:00:01]

WHILE I APPRECIATE THE INTENT OF THE PROGRAM, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT A P D'S BEEN ABLE TO DO IN TERMS OF THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS, I DO REMAIN CONSISTENT WITH MY ORIGINAL POSITION AND WILL BE VOTING NO AGAINST ITEM 1 1 0 3.

UH, THAT SAID, I DO LOOK FORWARD TO THE REVIEWING THE OUTCOMES OF THE PILOT PROGRAM WHEN THEY'RE PRESENTED TO THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE.

I REMAIN COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT ANY TECHNOLOGY WE IMPLEMENT IN AUSTIN PRIORITIZES CIVIL LIBERTIES, EQUITY, AND COMMUNITY SAFETY.

COUNCIL MEMBER FURTHER DISCUSSION.

COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.

UH, THANK YOU MAYOR AND I, UH, VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS AND, AND THE CONCERNS AROUND THE A LPR SYSTEM.

UH, WHEN I CAME ON TO COUNCIL, THIS WAS ONE OF THE FIRST AREAS THAT I WAS KIND OF POKING AROUND AT, UH, AND I WAS TRYING TO, UH, GET THE RETENTION DATA TIME DOWN TO, UH, I BELIEVE THREE MINUTES WAS WHAT IT WAS, WHICH, UH, BASICALLY IF, UH, A LPR DOESN'T HIT, THE DATA IS ESSENTIALLY NOT RECORDED.

SO THE ONLY INFORMATION THAT IS RETAINED WOULD BE FOR DATA THAT TRIGGERS THE APDS, UH, UH, PARAMETERS.

AND JUST TO REMIND FOLKS THOUGH, THE PARAMETERS THAT WE SET WERE CLASS A MISDEMEANOR AND HIGHER, AND THEN CLASS B AND C MISDEMEANORS THAT INVOLVE, UH, HATE CRIME OR ANY TYPE OF SEX CRIME, UH, THOSE ARE PRETTY LIMITED PARAMETERS.

UH, AND THAT'S GOING, THAT PROVIDES, UH, IT'S A VERY NARROW TARGETING THAT THE A LPR CAMERAS.

AND THEN WHAT WE EVENTUALLY SETTLED ON AFTER, AGAIN, MULTIPLE, UH, UH, VERY, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, PASSIONATE AND GOOD ARGUMENTS ON BOTH SIDES, DEBATES WITH A SEVEN DAY, UH, RETENTION PERIOD, WHICH IS WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, THANKS TO COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, ACTUALLY, HE CAME IN AND, AND, UH, UH, REALLY APPRECIATE HIS THOUGHTS AND, AND WORK ON THIS ISSUE AS WELL.

UM, IT'S, UH, WE STILL HAVEN'T GOTTEN THE, THE REPORT, UH, AT THIS POINT FROM THE AUDITOR.

I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DATA WOULD SHOW.

UH, I, I SHARE THE CONCERNS ABOUT EVEN THAT SEVEN DAY PERIOD.

UH, WE'RE STILL RETAINING CERTAIN AMOUNT OF DATA, UH, AND, AND, UH, I, I SHARE CONCERNS ABOUT ANY TYPE OF DATA RETENTION, WHICH IS WHY WHEN I FIRST WAS DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE, I WANTED TO KEEP IT AT SUCH A NARROW, IF WE'RE GOING TO USE APRS, I DON'T MIND USING THEM TO TRIGGER ESPECIALLY SERIOUS, UH, CRIMINAL WARRANTS THAT ARE OUT THERE.

BUT THE, THE PRES PRESERVATION OF, OF DATA, OF RANDOM DATA ABOUT CITIZENS, I, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN UNCOMFORTABLE WITH, I CONTINUE TO, TO, TO BE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH, YOU KNOW, THAT SAID, I DO THINK WE SHOULD FINISH OUT THIS CONTRACT AND, AND, AND GET THE REPORT AND MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION WHEN WE HAVE THAT ANALYSIS.

I'M ALSO VERY COMFORTABLE THAT THE CITY AUDITOR WILL BE LOOKING KIND OF, YOU KNOW, BEHIND THE, THE, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND LOOKING AT AND PARTICULAR, NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, THE COLLECTION OF THE DATA AND THE TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, BUT MAKING SURE THAT IT'S ONLY ACCESSED AND USED FOR, FOR WHAT IT SHOULD BE, UH, ACCESSED AND, AND USED FOR.

UM, IN THE PAST, THESE TYPES OF DATA GATHER, GATHERING OPERATIONS HAVE TURNED INTO KIND OF, YOU KNOW, INDIVIDUAL KIND OF, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE TRACKING THEIR GIRLFRIEND OR LIKE, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S REALLY POWERFUL DATA.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU HAVE THIS KIND OF LOCATION DATA, IT'S REALLY VERY POWERFUL DATA.

IT TELLS YOU A LOT ABOUT AN INDIVIDUAL, IT TELLS YOU A LOT ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE, AND WE JUST HAVE TO BE VERY, VERY CAREFUL ABOUT HOW WE PROTECT IT, HOW WE RESTRICT ACCESS TO IT.

UH, LOOKING FORWARD TO, TO THE PRESENTATION OF THE DEBATE.

I WILL BE VOTING, UH, IN SUPPORT OF, UH, OF THE EXTENSION RIGHT NOW.

AND THEN, AND THEN LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE DISCUSSION AS TO WHAT WE WANNA DO WITH THIS, UH, A LPO PROGRAM ONCE WE HAVE THE, THE REPORT AND THE DATA.

COUNCILMAN HARPER MADISON.

FURTHER DISCUSSION.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

I APPRECIATE IT AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE COMMENTARY SO FAR.

UM, THIS IS MUCH LIKE, I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL SAID, YOU KNOW, I'M STILL RELATIVELY NEW.

SOME OF THIS STUFF IS, I WAS LIKE, LIKE SOME OF THESE ARE HARD.

THEY'RE ALL HARD.

NONE OF THEM ARE NOT HARD, WHICH IS WHY THEY GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME BEFORE US.

I HAVE A LOT.

UM, AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TIMES WHERE IT'S LIKE YOU REALLY HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT IT IS THAT YOUR CONSTITUENTS WANT AND WHAT IT IS THAT YOU WANT.

AND NOBODY, UM, CAME OUT TO THE CARVER LIBRARY AND ELECTED ME TO DO WHAT I WANT.

UM, IF WE WERE DOING WHAT I WANTED, I WATCH MURDER SHOWS, I WANT CAMERAS EVERYWHERE.

I WANT 'EM IN MY MAILBOX UNDER MY PORCH.

I WANT YOU TO CCTV ME ALL DAY LONG.

IT'S THE TRUMAN SHOW UP IN HERE.

BUT I FULLY RECOGNIZE THAT MY CONSTITUENTS DON'T NECESSARILY FEEL LIKE THAT.

AND I ALSO HAVE SOME CONCERNS JUST SORT OF FROM A, UM,

[06:05:01]

SYSTEMICALLY I HAVE CONCERNS.

AND SO I, I APPRECIATED SOME OF THE FOLKS WHO WERE TALKING TODAY ABOUT CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM, UM, IN GENERAL.

AND I KNOW THAT SEEMS BROAD TO EVEN GO IN THAT DIRECTION WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ONE SPECIFIC VARIABLE, THIS LICENSE PLATE READER.

BUT I CANNOT HELP BUT FEEL UNTIL WE GET POLICING, RIGHT? AND FOR AS MANY POLICE OFFICERS AS THERE ARE IN MY LIFE, THAT I LOVE, CARE ABOUT RESPECT AND CAN'T BELIEVE THEY DO THAT JOB, I FULLY RECOGNIZE THAT THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE LAST VESTIGES OF SLAVE PATROLS ARE MODERN DAY POLICING.

NOBODY CAN LET THAT NOT BE TRUE 'CAUSE IT IS.

BUT THE EVOLUTION OF HUMAN MAN AND PRACTICE AND ALL OF THE ABOVE MEANS THAT WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ARRIVE WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

SO I'M NOT IMPLYING THAT MODERN DAY POLICE OFFICERS ARE ENGAGED IN SLAVE PATROL ACTIVITY.

WHAT I'M IMPLYING IS THAT POLICING HAS NOT CHANGED ENOUGH SINCE THEY WERE SLAVE PATROLS.

AND MAYBE MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE DON'T DO INCARCERATION, CRIMINAL JUSTICE, AND UH, REFORM, RIGHT? WE JUST DO PUNISHMENT.

WE'RE NOT DOING ANTI RECIDIVISM.

WE'RE NOT GETTING PEOPLE WELL FROM A MENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVE.

UM, FROM A HEALTH PERSPECTIVE, WE WE'RE NOT DOING IT RIGHT.

WE'RE NOT REFORMING PEOPLE.

WE'RE BREAKING PEOPLE AND SENDING THEM BACK OUT INTO THE WORLD WITH NO CAMERAS.

AWESOME.

UM, SO I JUST GENERALLY SPEAKING THAT WHOLE ECOSYSTEM, THE WAR ON DRUGS, I STILL SOMETIMES WHEN I'M WATCHING JAIL SHOWS AND I REALIZE SOMEBODY'S BEEN IN THERE FOR 30 YEARS OVER DRUGS, THAT'S WILD.

BUT THAT'S THE COUNTRY WE LIVE IN.

WE DON'T GET IT RIGHT.

THERE AREN'T UNILATERAL APPLICATIONS OF OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE, GOOD STUFF.

UM, AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES ME WORRIED.

AND SO, UNTIL WE GET TO A PLACE WHERE I JUST FEEL MORE CONFIDENCE IN OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN GENERAL, UM, I DON'T KNOW THAT I AM ABLE TO PUT MYSELF IN A POSITION TO POTENTIALLY HAVE SOMEBODY BE, UM, SUBJECTED TO A CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT I DON'T THINK IS FAIR OR JUST, OR CONSISTENT OR PER OR APPROPRIATELY CALIBRATED.

UM, AND THEN THERE ARE THE CONCERNS ABOUT OUR CURRENT ADMINISTRATION AND THINGS THAT I THOUGHT I'D NEVER SEE HAPPEN IN MY LIFETIME, IN WHICH CASE, THE LEVEL OF UNCERTAINTY AND THE AMOUNT OF, OR THE LACK OF CONFIDENCE THAT I HAVE WITH OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, UM, HAS PUT ME IN A POSITION TO WHERE I'M EITHER GONNA VOTE NO OR ABSTAIN, IN WHICH CASE THIS IS THE PART WHERE I MAKE THE DECISION ON BEHALF OF MY CONSTITUENTS AND FROM, UM, THEIR PERSPECTIVE, THEY WANT ME TO VOTE NO TODAY.

AND SO I WILL THANK COUNCIL COUNCILMAN LANE.

YOU ARE SO RIGHT.

THE, THE, THESE ARE TOUGH DECISIONS AND THAT'S WHY THEY'RE HERE FOR US.

UM, I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

HEARING COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL'S COMMENTS, WE ARE LIVING IN DIFFERENT TIMES.

UH, SOME OF YOU IN THIS AUDIENCE, INCLUDING OUR A CM.

NO, I REALLY VALUE DATA.

I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO MAKE DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS.

I ALSO THINK THAT IT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO MAKE, TO USE OUR DATA, TO TRACK OUR PROGRESS TOWARDS OUR GOALS AS A CITY.

UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAVE SEEN MAKE OUR CITY LESS SAFE IS THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT TAKES TO GET A RESPONSE TO 9 1 1 CALLS THAT'S SUITABLE TO WHAT THE NEED IS.

I KNOW YOU VALUE AND I ALSO VALUE SEEING DATA BECOME INCREASINGLY USED TO SET GOALS AND TRACK OUR PROGRESS.

THIS IS A TOUGH ONE FOR ME BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO DENY, UH, THAT ABUSES ARE GOING ON.

I'M WATCHING LEGAL RESIDENTS, UH, BE ARRESTED FROM MY IVY LEGAL AL MATER.

I'M WATCHING WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE IN THE STATE.

IT'S HARD TO DENY THAT I'M NEW ON THIS STATUS.

I'M NOT AS DEEP INTO WHAT WE KNEW ABOUT LICENSE PLATE READERS WHEN WE MADE THIS DECISION.

BUT, AND SO, YOU KNOW, I MAY JUST STAND BACK FROM THIS, BUT I, I DO WANNA SAY VERY CLEARLY WHEN WE GET THREE MONTHS FROM NOW AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, WE KEPT SPENDING MONEY ON THIS BECAUSE WE NEEDED TO WAIT LONGER FOR DATA, I HOPE THAT I AM ALSO SEEING MORE DATA THAT IS TRACKING PROGRESS TOWARDS THE GOALS THAT WE AS A CITY HAVE EMBRACED.

COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN.

THIS IS A SPACE THAT I WORKED IN PREVIOUSLY AND SO I WANT TO SPEAK TO IT VERY QUICKLY JUST FROM A DATA PERSPECTIVE AS WELL AS FROM A, A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE, UH, ACKNOWLEDGING ISSUES AT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND ALL KINDS OF OTHER ISSUES THAT WE'RE SEEING IN TECHNOLOGY

[06:10:01]

AS WELL AS DATA.

UM, I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT WE'D BE, THAT WE WOULDN'T BE BETTER SERVED HAVING A RICHER DATA SET TO WORK OFF OF.

AND THE PRELIMINARY DATA THAT I THINK HAS BEEN SHARED SEEMS TO BE, FROM WHAT I CAN TELL, ENCOURAGING, UM, AND WILL HELP WITH US BETTER MAKING A SMARTER DECISION IN THREE MONTHS.

UH, THE OTHER THING THAT I WORRY ABOUT IS THAT THIS IS, OUR ATTITUDE IS SOMEWHAT OF A SLIPPERY SLOPE HERE.

OBVIOUSLY, IF WE'RE ALREADY USING DIFFERENT SYSTEMS TO RECORD PEOPLE, ARE WE GOING TO TURN TO THOSE AND START TO QUESTION WHETHER THOSE ARE VALUABLE TOO, WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE AUTOMATED OR PERSON MONITORED? UM, WHEN IT'S CLEAR FOR ME AND AT LEAST LOOKING THE DATA THAT I'VE SEEN, THOSE ALSO CREATE SOME VALUE FOR US TOO.

UH, I WORRY THAT THERE'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF PSYCHOGRAPHIC DATA THAT'S OUT THERE THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH POLICING, BUT IT'S BEEN IN THE MARKETPLACE FOR 10 YEARS.

UH, ARE WE GONNA START TO LEGISLATE THAT TOO? AND MAYBE THERE'S MORE VALUE IN DOING THAT, FRANKLY, THAN, THAN SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE PURSUING IN THE DATA RELATED SPACE.

UH, SO I'LL HAVE TO SAY, I JUST WORRY THAT THIS IS, UH, YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHACK-A-MOLE AND WE COULD BE LOOKING FOR ALL KINDS OF DATA THAT WE COLLECT THAT COULD BE SUBPOENAED APPARENTLY, UH, IN DIFFERENT CAPACITIES.

UM, AND YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T BE LUDDITES.

THERE'S GOTTA BE A WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN PUT GUARDRAILS ON THIS TO MAKE THIS SUCCESSFUL.

SO THANK YOU.