* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:03] YOU ARE WATCHING A MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL WITH MAYOR KIRK WATSON, MAYOR PRO, TIM VANESSA FUENTES, COUNCIL MEMBERS NATASHA HARPER MADISON, JOSE VELAZQUEZ, CHEETO BAYLA, RYAN ALTER, CRYSTAL LANE, MIKE SIEGEL, PAIGE ELLIS, ZOE CADRE, MARK UCHIN, CITY ATTORNEY DEBORAH THOMAS, CITY CLERK ERICA BRADY, AND CITY MANAGER, TC BROAD IN [Call to Order] THE MORNING, AND I WILL CALL TO ORDER THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL ON MAY 22ND, 2025. WE HAVE A QUORUM OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL PRESENT. WE ARE MEETING IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT CITY HALL, WHICH IS LOCATED AT 3 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET. UH, MEMBERS, UH, WHAT I'M GONNA DO FIRST IS WALK, AS I TYPICALLY DO, I'M GONNA WALK THROUGH THE ORDER OF THE DAY SO THAT WE HAVE SOME FEEL FOR THE ORDER OF THE DAY. UH, THE FIR ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I'M GONNA DO IS READ CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS INTO THE RECORD IN JUST A MINUTE. UH, WE WILL THEN GO TO OUR, UH, 10 O'CLOCK CONSENT AGENDA. UH, I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT, UH, WE HAVE PULLED ITEMS FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA. THEY ARE ITEMS 41, 42, 43, AND 1 0 5. THOSE ARE ALL ITEMS RELATED TO, UM, UH, I 35 AND CAPPING. AND SO, WE'LL, I'LL COME BACK TO THAT IN JUST A SECOND. THOSE ARE THE O ONLY ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA. IF, UH, MEMBERS WANT TO ASK QUESTIONS OR MAKE REMARKS WITH REGARD TO THE CONSENT AGENDA, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I HAVE A FEW OF YOU THAT HAVE ALREADY SIGNED UP ON, UH, TO DO THAT. UH, AROUND 10 30, AS CLOSE AS WE CAN PULL THAT OFF, I WILL RECESS THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND CALL TO ORDER THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION. WE WILL CONDUCT THAT MEETING. ONCE THAT IS CONCLUDED, WE WILL ADJOURN IT AND WE WILL GO BACK TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING, AND IN HOPEFULLY THIS ORDER, WE WILL GO TO THE POOLED ITEMS AND TAKE THOSE UP. WE WILL THEN HAVE NON-CONSENT ITEMS, AND ACCORDING TO RULE ITEMS FROM COUNCIL COMMITTEE, UM, C COMMITTEES ARE NON-CONSENT ITEMS. AND SO ITEM NUMBER 58 WILL BE BROUGHT UP. UH, WE HAVE AN IMMINENT DOMAIN ITEM, AND THEN WE HAVE, UH, SEVERAL PUBLIC HEARINGS. ITEM 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, AND LET ME SAY THAT ITEM [67. Conduct a public hearing on an appeal of the Transportation and Public Works Department Director’s denial of an application to vacate a total of approximately 0.104 acres (4,516 square feet) of developed right-of-way to Anchor Equities Ltd., being that certain 40-foot-wide right-of-way commonly known as Sayers Street, comprised of a north segment measuring approximately 2,253 square feet and shown as a portion of a called 40-foot street in the Map of Survey recorded in Volume 3, Page 171 of the Plat Records of Travis County, Texas, and a south segment measuring approximately 2,263 square feet and shown as a 20-foot Alley in Block 10, Sayers Subdivision, a subdivision recorded in Volume 1, Page 29 of the Plat Records of Travis County. This item has no fiscal impact.] 67, ITEM 67, WHICH IS A PUBLIC HEARING, HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN. SO IF YOU'RE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 67 AS PART OF THAT PUBLIC HEARING, OR IF YOU'RE WATCHING BECAUSE YOU LOVE TO WATCH AT 10 O'CLOCK ON A THURSDAY MORNING, AND YOU'RE ANTICIPATING YOU'LL BE HERE LATER TODAY TO, UH, ENGAGE IN THAT, THAT ITEM HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN. SO THERE'S NO NEED FOR YOU, UH, WELL, YOU, YOU NOT IN A POSITION TO SPEAK BECAUSE IT'LL, IT WON'T BE HAPPENING. ITEM NUMBER [64. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance amending City Code Title 25 (Land Development) to amend the East Riverside Corridor (ERC) Regulating Plan to remove the property at 1201 Tinnin Ford Road from the ERC Regulating Plan and to change the boundary of the ERC Regulating Plan. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.] 64 HAS BEEN POSTPONED TO JUNE 5TH. SO AGAIN, IF THAT'S A PUBLIC HEARING THAT YOU INTENDED TO SPEAK ON, I WANNA LET YOU KNOW THAT THAT HAS BEEN POSTPONED TO JUNE 5TH, OR AT NOON, WHEREVER WE ARE, OR CLOSE TO NOON. WE WILL, UH, MOVE AWAY FROM WHATEVER WE'RE DOING AND GO TO OUR TIME, CERTAIN PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS. AND WE WILL PROBABLY, WE WILL PROBABLY RECESS AT 1230 TO 1235 FOR LIVE MUSIC. AT WHICH POINT WE WILL ALSO, UH, WE WILL COME BACK ABOUT ONE 10 THAT MY, MY, MY ESTIMATE IS WE'LL COME BACK ABOUT ONE 10 AT TWO O'CLOCK. WE ALSO HAVE SOME A TIME CERTAIN FOR CERTAIN TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS, ITEM 68 AND ITEM 69, THOSE WILL BE HEARD AROUND TWO O'CLOCK. AND, AND THEN OF COURSE, AS I INDICATED, WE WILL HAVE OUR TWO O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN RELATED TO ZONING MEMBERS. WITH THAT, I WILL NOW READ, UH, CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS INTO THE RECORD. UH, ONE ITEM THAT I WANT TO NOTE IS THAT COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN, UH, ASK ON THE MESSAGE BOARD TO BE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR OF ITEM NUMBER 55. WITHOUT OBJECTION, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN WILL BE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR OF ITEM NUMBER 55. UH, ITEM NUMBER 11 SHOULD READ, WITHDRAWN AND REPLACED WITH ADDENDUM ITEM NUMBER 1 0 3. ITEM NUMBER 26 SHOULD READ POSTPONED TO JUNE 5TH, 2025. ITEM NUMBER 47, WITHDRAWN AND REPLACED WITH ADDENDUM ITEM NUMBER 1 0 4, ITEM NUMBER [00:05:01] 49, POSTPONED TO JUNE 5TH, 2025. ITEM NUMBER 64, WHEN PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE TAKEN UP, THIS ITEM WILL BE POSTPONED TO JUNE 5TH, 2025. ITEM NUMBER 67, WHEN PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE TAKEN UP, THIS ITEM WILL BE WITHDRAWN MEMBERS ON BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. ACTIONS, ITEMS NUMBER 13 AND 29 SHOULD READ MAY 14TH, 2025, RECOMMENDED BY THE AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION ON A 9 0 0 2 VOTE. ITEMS 14 AND 15 SHOULD READ MAY 12TH, 2025, RECOMMENDED BY THE ELECTRIC UTILITY COMMISSION ON A NINE TO ZERO VOTE WITH COMMISSIONERS BLACKBURN AND RHODES. ABSENT ITEMS 20 21, 24, 25, AND 27 SHOULD READ RECOMMENDED BY THE WATER AND WASTEWATER COMMISSION ON MAY 21ST, 2025 ON AN EIGHT TO ZERO VOTE WITH THREE VACANCIES. ITEMS 22 AND 23 SHOULD READ, RECOMMENDED BY THE WATER AND WASTEWATER COMMISSION ON MAY 21ST, 2025 ON A SEVEN TO ZERO VOTE WITH COMMISSIONER PENN RECUSING AND THREE VACANCIES. THOSE ARE ALL OF THE CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS TO BE READ IN THE RECORD, UH, TODAY. SO WITH THAT, UM, MEMBERS, THE ONLY OTHER ITEM THAT, THAT I WANT TO JUST CALL EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION TO, 'CAUSE I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF INTEREST IN IT, AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IT RUNS IN AN ORDERLY FASHION, IS WHEN WE TAKE UP THE ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PULLED, 41, 42, 43, AND 1 0 5, WE WILL FIRST TAKE UP ITEM NUMBER 42, UH, BECAUSE ITEM NUMBER 42 INFLUENCES THE OUTCOME OF ITEM NUMBER 41. SO THE FIRST ITEM WE WILL TAKE UP IS 42. UH, I, I'LL RECOGNIZE, UH, AT THE TIME, I WILL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, UH, AS THE PERSON THAT HAS PULLED THAT ITEM. UH, WE WILL GET A MAIN MOTION OUT ON THE TABLE. UH, THE MAIN MOTION THAT I'M, I'M THINKING WE, WE DO WILL BE THE MA UH, THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION. I WILL TELL YOU, I'M ASKING STAFF TO LOOK AT, UH, WHETHER OR NOT THEY CAN OFFER A VERSION THREE OF THEIR RESOLUTION SO THAT THE FIRST MOTION IS NOT AN AMENDMENT OF A STAFF RESOLUTION. AND SO I HAVE ASKED STAFF TO LOOK AT THAT, AND I JUST DON'T WANT ANY CONFUSION. BUT, UH, IT, IT FEELS WEIRD TO HAVE THE FIRST MOTION, BE THE MAIN MOTION AND IT BE AN AMENDMENT. UM, SO YOU SEE WHAT I'M AFTER THERE, WE HAVE ONE AMENDMENT BEING OFFERED, UH, WHICH IS, IS, UH, APPEARS TO BE A PROPOSED COMPROMISE BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRY AND, AND OTHERS WITH REGARD TO THE MAIN MOTION. SO THAT'S BEEN, THAT'S THE ONE AMENDMENT BEEN OFFERED ON 42. WE WILL THEN GO TO 41. WE WILL THEN GO TO 43, AND THEN WE'LL GO TO 1 0 5. YES, CAST MORALES MAYOR, I JUST WANTED TO FLAG FOR EVERYONE'S AWARENESS. I JUST POSTED TO THE MESSAGE BOARD ANOTHER COMPROMISE, SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS, UM, TAKE A LOOK AT THAT, KNOW THAT IT'S UP THERE AND I HOPE THAT WE'RE WORKING TOWARD A PLACE WHERE WE CAN REACH MORE CONSENSUS. THAT'S GREAT. I APPRECIATE YOU LETTING LET US KNOW THAT SO THAT EVERYBODY WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO, TO LOOK AT THAT. AND I WILL ALSO LOOK AT THAT TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW BEST TO, UH, CALL UP MOTIONS AND, AND ADDRESS THINGS. SO THANK YOU FOR CALLING THAT TO OUR ATTENTION. OKAY. I THINK THAT COVERS, UM, ALL OF THE PRELIMINARIES. SO WITH THAT, WE WILL GO TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA. [Consent Agenda] AGAIN, MEMBERS REMEMBER THAT, UM, IF YOU WANT TO BE SHOWN SPEAKING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, UH, OR ASKING QUESTIONS, LET ME KNOW. UH, I CURRENTLY HAVE FOUR OF YOU THAT HAVE INDICATED YOU WANT TO DO THAT. UM, AND I'VE NOW GOT FIVE. DO I GET, DO I HEAR 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, SORRY. UM, SORRY, SORRY. UH, IT'S TOO EARLY FOR THAT KIND OF JUMP. UM, ALL RIGHT. UM, YES, COUNCILOR MCC CADRY. I THINK I'M NUMBER SIX NOW. YOU'RE NUMBER SEVEN. OH, NUMBER SEVEN, YEAH. ALL RIGHT, VERY GOOD. UM, YEAH, NO, YOU'RE NUMBER SIX. I'M TEASING YOU. UM, ALL RIGHT, WITH THAT GOING, THAT BEING SAID, I WILL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK TO ASK THAT YOU HELP US NAVIGATE THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. WE'LL START WITH ITEM NUMBER ONE. WE HAVE LEANNE THOMAS, WITH LARRY BREWER AND CARLA COURTNEY ON DECK. NEXT WE HAVE ITEM TWO, SUSANNA ALMANZA AND ALSO SUSANNA AMANZA ON ITEM NUMBER THREE, [00:10:02] WHAT NEXT SPEAKER IS ZENOBIA JOSEPH ON ITEM EIGHT? OH, APOLOGIES. GOOD MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'M SUSANNA ALMANZA WITH PODER AND I WOULD LIKE TO PO WOULD LIKE TO MOVE ALONG WITH SANAT, SOUTHEAST AUSTIN RESIDENTS AND NEIGHBORHOODS ORGANIZED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER TWO. WE JUST WISH THAT THERE HAD BEEN CONSIDERED AN OPTION BEFORE PLACING, UH, THE CURRENT TANK'S FEET WITHIN RESIDENCE. AT THIS TIME TOO, I'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO ITEM NUMBER THREE ON BEHALF OF BO AND SADA AND ALSO, UM, APPROVE THAT. BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT ANY FUTURE TANKS BE PLACED AT THE FLINT HILLS FACILITY IN BASTROP. THAT WAY YOU DON'T HAVE TO ADD ANY ADDITIONAL TANKS WITHIN FEET OF THE RESIDENCE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE IS ZIA JOSEPH ON ITEM EIGHT. IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD. NEXT WE HAVE DANIELLA SILVA. ON ITEM NINE, UH, WE HAVE ZIA JOSEPH ON ITEM NINE, BILL BUNCH ON ITEM 11. ZIA JOSEPH ON ITEM 12 AND Z, NOIA JOSEPH AND ITEM 39. OKAY, WE ARE, WE ARE ABOUT TO CALL ON 39. OKAY. WE DO NOT HAVE SPEAKERS ON 30. YES. HANG, HANG ON ONE. THANK YOU FOR REMINDING ME ON ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND READ THIS AND THEN AS PART OF THE MOTION, I WILL ALSO READ IT WHEN WE DO THE CONSENT AGENDA, BUT MEMBERS, UH, ITEM NUMBER SEVEN PERTAINS TO AN ORDINANCE SETTING THE TAX EXEMPTION FOR RESIDENCE HOME HOMESTEADS OF INDIVIDUALS 65 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER, AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AT DISABILITIES AT EQUAL TO, UH, AT AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO $154,000, WHICH IS THE CITY'S CURRENT EXEMPTION, PLUS AN INCREASE NECESSARY TO PROVIDE EQUIVALENT PROPERTY TAX RELIEF AS WHAT WAS PROVIDED BY THE EXEMPTION IN THE PRIOR YEAR AND PERMITTED BY LAW. YOU WILL REMEMBER THAT THE STAFF, UH, DELIVERED A MEMO TO THE CITY COUNCIL YESTERDAY ON THIS. THIS NECESSARY INCREASE IS $38,000 TO A TOTAL EXEMPTION LEVEL OF $192,000. THEREFORE, THIS ORDINANCE WILL BE UPDATED TO INCLUDE THIS $192,000 FIGURE. SO I'LL ALSO READ THAT AGAIN AT THE TIME I ACCEPT A MOTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, BUT I WANTED TO GET THAT INTO THE RECORD AS WE WENT THROUGH ITEM NUMBER SEVEN. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS WITH REGARD TO THAT? ALRIGHT, ON ITEM NUMBER 37, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK LEGAL TO STEP UP ON BOTH 37 AND 38 MEMBERS. BOTH 37 AND 38 ARE LEGAL MATTERS RELATED TO POTENTIAL SETTLEMENTS, AND SO I'D LIKE TO HAVE LEGAL GIVE US A BRIEFING. MORNING, MR. MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL CITY ATTORNEY. UH, I AM ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY JEREMY THOMPSON, UH, HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 37 AND 38 REGARDING 37. UM, THIS IS, UH, A RECOMMENDATION THAT YOU APPROVE A SETTLEMENT IN THE SAM KIRSCH VERSUS CITY OF AUSTIN LAWSUIT, UH, IN THE AMOUNT OF $4,500,000. THIS LAWSUIT IS RELATED TO A USE OF FORCE AT A PROTEST WHICH OCCURRED ON MAY 31ST, 2020, AND SAM KIRSCH SEEKS PAYMENT FOR HIS INJURIES STEMMING FROM THIS INCIDENT. IN EXCHANGE FOR THIS PAYMENT, MR. KIRSH WILL RELEASE THE CITY AND A PD OFFICERS FROM ANY AND ALL CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF THE MAY 31ST, 2020 INCIDENT. MR. KIRSH WILL ALSO DISMISS WITH PREJUDICE THE CLAIMS ASSERTED AGAINST THE CITY AND OFFICER ASSERTED IN THE LAWSUIT HE FILED IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS. THE LAW DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS THAT YOU APPROVE THE SETTLEMENT BASED ON THESE TERMS. THANK YOU, SIR. MEMBERS, DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF LEGAL? OKAY. PLEASE GO TO 38. ITEM 38 WOODS VERSUS CITY OF AUSTIN. WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU APPROVE A PAYMENT OF $95,000 TO SETTLE KEA WOODS VERSUS CITY OF AUSTIN. THE LAWSUIT RELATES TO A DECEMBER, 2023 CAR ACCIDENT INVOLVING AN AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT VEHICLE WHERE KEITA WOODS SEEKS PAYMENT FOR HER INJURIES. IN EXCHANGE FOR THE PAYMENT, MS. WOODS WILL RELEASE ANY AND ALL CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY FROM THE ACCIDENT AND WILL ALSO DISMISS HER LAWSUIT [00:15:01] FILED IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF TRAVIS COUNTY. THE LAW DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS THAT YOU PROVE PAYMENT BASED UPON THESE TERMS. I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS SHOULD YOU HAVE THEM. THANK YOU, SIR. ANY QUESTIONS, MEMBERS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. UH, I'LL ASK THE CITY CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 37 AND 38? YES, WE HAVE SAMUEL HIRSCH ON ITEM 37. GREAT, THANK YOU. PLEASE CALL THE NAME AGAIN. SAMUEL HIRSH ON ITEM 37. SIR, ARE YOU HERE? AND THAT IS ALL OUR SPEAKERS ON 37 AND 38. OKAY. MR. MAYOR? UM, I SEE DANIELLA SILVA, THEY CALLED HER EARLIER. I THINK SHE, WELL, WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL GET TO THAT. OKAY, WE START ON TIME. I'M SORRY, WHO ARE YOU? UM, HI, MY NAME IS CARLA COURTNEY, AND, UM, I WAS GONNA SPEAK EARLIER. I WAS IN THE RESTROOM, SO I WELL, WELL HANG ON. WE, WE'LL COME BACK TO THAT. WE, WE, WE HAVE AN ORDER THAT WE TRY TO FOLLOW AND THAT'S WHY WE, WE, WE START ON TIME AND THEN WE TRY TO FOLLOW AN ORDER. OKAY, THANK YOU. LET'S GO AHEAD TO GO TO 39 AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK TO THOSE THAT, THAT WEREN'T HERE WHEN THEIR NAMES WERE CALLED. OKAY. 39 IS I, UH, ZIA JOSEPH, AND THEN OUR NEXT ITEM THAT ISN'T PULLED WOULD BE 44, BUT I CAN GO BACK TO THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN CALLED WHAT I, I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T HEAR. WHAT'D YOU SAY ABOUT 44? UM, 39 OUR SPEAKERS AND WILL BE JOSEPH, AND THEN OUR NEXT ITEM WILL BE 44, BUT I PEOPLE HAVE WALKED IN. OKAY. PLEASE, PLEASE GO AHEAD AND DO THAT. FOLKS, WE START AT 10 O'CLOCK, MOVE TO 44. PLEASE GO AHEAD. WE HAVE ROY WHALEY WITH ENOVIA JOSEPH ON DECK FOR ITEM 44 WHEN YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, IF YOU'D PLEASE COME FORWARD SO THAT YOU'LL BE READY AND WE'LL KNOW THAT YOU'RE HERE. HOW DO Y'ALL, ROY WHALEY CONSERVATION CHAIR FOR AUSTIN REGIONAL SIERRA CLUB. UM, AND ACTUALLY, UH, SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF THIS, I HADN'T PLANNED ON SPEAKING, BUT JUST TO GIVE IT A BIG THUMBS UP AND YES, PLEASE. AND MORE BICYCLE INFRASTRUCTURE AND PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE. UH, AND TO SAY THIS ONE MORE TIME FROM DEEP IN THE PAST TO MAKE TRANSPORTATION EASIER FOR PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS, LET'S LOOK AT INVESTING IN FOUR PAY PUBLIC SHOWERS. UM, THEY, THEY, THEY EXIST. YOU USE A SWIPE CARD, CORN, WHATEVER, THEY HAVE A DRY LOCKER, THEY LOCK YOU LOOK IN BEFORE YOU GO IN. THERE'S NO ONE THERE. YOU LOCK THE DOOR BEHIND YOU. THE SAFETY IS THERE. UH, AND IT GIVES PEOPLE LIKE CYCLISTS AND PEDESTRIANS A PLACE TO CLEAN UP BEFORE THEY COME TO CITY HALL AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO WATCH EVERYONE MOVE TWO SEATS AWAY AFTER THEY SIT DOWN. I KNOW THIS FROM EXPERIENCE. THANKS VERY MUCH. WE HAVE OPIA JOSEPH ON ITEM 44. THANK YOU, MAYOR. COUNSEL, I BELIEVE THIS IS A RED LINE ITEM, $671,000. IS THAT CORRECT? ITEM NUMBER 44, CAN YOU JUST DOUBLE CHECK THE LANGUAGE PLEASE? AUTHORIZED NEGOTIATION AND EXECUTION OF AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE CAPITAL METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY FOR DESIGN OF A PEDESTRIAN AND TRAIL CROSSING AT THE INTERSECTION OF SOLARIS STREET AND REDLINE RAIL IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $671,000. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR COUNCIL. I'M ENOVIA JOSEPH. MY OPPOSITION TO THIS ITEM, AS IT ALWAYS IS, IS IN THE CONTEXT OF TITLE SIX OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964, WHICH PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE, COLOR, AND NATIONAL ORIGIN. I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE RESPECTFULLY, THE ORIGINS AND DESTINATION REPORT FROM CAPITAL METRO IN 2015 SHOW THAT 70% OF THE METRO RAIL RIDERS ARE WHITE. I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT AFRICAN-AMERICANS ARE OVER SIX TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE HOMELESS IN AUSTIN, AND YOU'VE DONE NOTHING TO CONNECT THE INDIVIDUALS WHO LIVE NORTH OF US. 180 3, SPECIFICALLY ON JUNE 3RD, 2018, CAPITAL METRO ELIMINATED NORTHEAST WEST CONNECTIVITY, YET YOU KEEP EXPANDING THE RAIL SYSTEM FOR THE BENEFIT OF WHITE CHOICE RIDER. I WANT [00:20:01] YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT ON JULY 25TH, 2016, CAPITOL METRO ACTUALLY RECEIVED A BRIEFING FROM A GENTLEMAN NAMED JARED WALKER, PHD. HE ALSO HELPED WITH SYSTEM REIMAGINING IN HOUSTON SPECIFICALLY, HE SAID, RIDERSHIP IS WHEN YOU CHOOSE THE AUDIENCE YOU WANT TO SERVE LIKE A BUSINESS. COVERAGE IS WHEN YOU PROVIDE ACCESS, LIFELINE ACCESS TO ALL RIDERS. AND SPECIFICALLY WHAT I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE IS THAT WHITE PEOPLE ARE THE ONES WHO ARE BENEFITING FROM THIS SYSTEM. I GET IT, MAYOR, RESPECTFULLY, I KNOW A LEOPARD DOESN'T CHANGE ITS SPOTS. THE CITY WAS SEGREGATED WHEN YOU WERE MAYOR THE FIRST TIME. IT IS SEGREGATED. TODAY I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT YOU RELY ON THE FEDERAL FUNDING AND I WANT YOU TO COMPLY WITH TITLE VI SPECIFICALLY. THIS PROJECT WILL NOT BENEFIT THE WHITE, THE BLACK INDIVIDUALS WHO LIVE IN NORTHEAST AUSTIN WAITING 60 MINUTES FOR THE BUS. IT WILL NOT BENEFIT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE BERG NORTH LAMAR AREA WHERE IT'S A 30 MINUTE TRANSFER AND ALL OF THE ONE SEAT RIDES HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED. AND SO FOR THAT REASON, I OPPOSE THIS, UM, ITEM. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GLADLY ANSWER THEM AT THE TIME. THANK YOU, MS. JOSEPH. THANK YOU, MS. JOSEPH. YOU'RE ALSO NEXT ON ITEM 46. I DON'T HAVE THE AGENDA IN FRONT OF ME. YOU'LL HAVE TO TELL ME THE ITEM, MA'AM. THAT'S RELATED TO THE WEST RUNDBERG LANE EXTENSION PROJECT. AND WHAT IS THE COST FUNDING THE PRO PROJECT COSTS OF $17,528,685 WITH THE CITY SHARE ESTIMATED TO BE 3.79. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I APPRECIATE THAT. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF YOU INVESTED IN AN ITEM THAT WOULD ACTUALLY ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO KNOW WHAT THESE ITEMS ARE AS YOU GO THROUGH THEM. I JUST, WELL, YOU HAVE AN AGENDA, I'M SURE BACK IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM, BUT IN, UH, FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE VIEWING ONLINE, THEY DON'T HAVE AN AGENDA. THE LEGISLATURE ACTUALLY PUTS THE BILLS ON THE SCREEN FOR EVERYONE TO SEE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. I WOULD JUST ASK YOU TO DO THE SAME RESPECTFULLY HERE AT THE COUNCIL MEETING SPECIFICALLY, MY OPPOSITION TO THIS ITEM IS THAT YOU'RE EXPANDING WEST RUNDBERG WHILE ON THE EAST SIDE OF RUNDBERG, RESPECTFULLY AT HEB RUNDBERG. I'VE ASKED CHEETO VELA TO GO TAKE A LOOK AT HIS DISTRICT. THERE ISN'T EVEN A SCREEN FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE WAITING FOR THE BUS GO TO THE GROCERY STORE. HE HAVE NO PLACE TO SIT. I WANT YOU TO KNOW RIGHT NEXT TO WALNUT CREEK ELEMENTARY ARE BETTER YET AT THE LIBRARY THERE USED TO BE FOUR SHELTERS. NOW IT'S ONE. THEREFORE, PEOPLE WHO GO TO THE GROCERY STORE, PEOPLE WHO GO TO THE LIBRARY HAVE NO PLACE TO SIT. BUT YOU ARE EXPANDING THE WEST SIDE, WHICH WILL ACTUALLY PROVIDE ACCESS TO THE SOCCER STADIUM AT THE EXPENSE OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE NORTH OF US, 180 3. MY COMMENTS AS THEY ALWAYS ARE IN THE CONTEXT OF TITLE VI OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964, WHICH PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE, COLOR, AND NATIONAL ORIGIN. I WANT TO REMIND YOU, MAYOR, THIS COUNCIL ACTUALLY APOLOGIZED TO BLACK PEOPLE MARCH 4TH, 2021, ITEM 67. YOU ACTUALLY ACKNOWLEDGE, THESE ARE YOUR WORDS, INTENTIONAL DISCRIMINATION AGAINST AFRICAN AMERICANS. I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER IN 2023 WHEN YOU DID THE AUSTIN STRATEGIC MOBILITY PLAN UPDATE, THERE IS ACTUALLY LANGUAGE IN THAT DOCUMENT ABOUT YOUR DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES. THE PROBLEM IS THAT YOU'VE NOT CHANGED YOUR WAYS. I GET IT RESPECTFULLY. A LEOPARD DOESN'T CHANGE ITS SPOTS. THE CITY WAS SEGREGATED WHEN YOU WERE MAYOR THE FIRST TIME. IT'S SEGREGATED TODAY. IT IS DEEPLY DISTURBING. MAYOR, YES, THE PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO GET TO THE SOCCER STADIUM. I GET THAT, BUT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO GET TO WORK TO SCHOOL, THERE'S NO ACCESS BETWEEN SAMSUNG AND APPLE ONE, SIX AND SEVEN, AND I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT THEY DESERVE TO HAVE TRANSPORTATION TOO. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GO GLADLY ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU MS. JOSEPH. THANK YOU MS. JOSEPH. YOU ARE ALSO NEXT FOR ITEM 47. CAN I GO GET MY NOTES? I'D LOVE FOR YOU TO, OH, CERTAINLY. NEXT, PLEASE GO TO THE NEXT SPEAKER. NEXT WE HAVE BILL BUNCH, ITEM 48, AND MS. JOSEPH, MS. ENOVIA, JOSEPH AGAIN ON ITEMS 49 AND 50. UM, MR. BUNCH AGAIN. AND ON ITEM 51 WE HAVE LYNN BOSWELL. MS. BOSWELL, ARE YOU HERE? I'M HERE. OKAY. YOU'LL FOLLOW MS. JOSEPH WHEN WE FINISH THE NUMBERS THAT SHE'S SPEAKING, MS. JOSEPH, WE'LL START WITH ITEM 47, SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL. ALL RIGHT? $661,347,000. I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE, MAYOR AND I PUT THE SLIDES BEFORE YOU NOT YOUR ORDINARY SCHOOL HAS NO ACCESS. THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN PROPERTY HAS NO SIDEWALK. AND HERE YOU ARE EXPANDING TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT THE HIGH SCHOOLS WOULD ACTUALLY WANT TO BE SAFE IN THAT RESOLUTION. IN THE [00:25:01] BACKUP MATERIAL, IT HAS WALK, BIKE, ROLL AGAIN, I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT YOUR WALK BIKE ROLL UPDATE IN 2023 SPECIFIED THAT YOU HAVE DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES. YOU ACTUALLY SPECIFY IN THAT PLAN THAT THERE'S NO SIDEWALK IN THE, WELL, AT THE TIME IT WAS DOVE SPRINGS AND NORTH LAMAR, BUT DOVE SPRINGS HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF. NORTH LAMAR IS STILL THE SAME. CHEETO VELA KNOWS BECAUSE I TOLD HIM THERE IS NO ACCESS BETWEEN CHINATOWN ALL THE WAY TO BREAKER LANE. IT'S NOT 88 COMPLIANT. THERE IS NO ACCESS ALL THE WAY FROM THE METROPOLITAN PARK. I GET MIKE SIEGEL IS LOOKING INTO THE ISSUE, BUT THIS IS A DISSERVICE. SO I WANT YOU TO KNOW, MR. SIEGEL, WAY BACK IN 2012, THERE WAS A BOND THAT PASSED, AND SPECIFICALLY IT WAS FOR BERNARD ROAD AND NORTH LAMAR, BUT SOMEHOW OR ANOTHER, NORTH LAMAR WASN'T FUNDED. IN 2020, YOU HAD A ACTUAL PUBLIC HEARING FOR NORTH LAMAR, 37,500 VEHICLES PER DAY, BUT YET IT'S NOT FUNDED. GO TO THE SIDEWALK PLAN. NORTH LAMAR IS PRIORITIZED. YOU KEEP USING BLACK PEOPLE AND MINORITIES TO GET THE FEDERAL FUNDING. AND THEN WHEN YOU GET THE FEDERAL FUNDING, THE STAFF UNILATERALLY DECIDES TO IMPROVE THE AREAS ON THE RAIL. I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THAT HIGHLAND MALL AREA, 300 ACRES WAS WHERE BLACK PEOPLE OWNED THE LAND, BUT TODAY YOU HAVE TO HAVE 80% AREA MEDIAN INCOME. DECEMBER 17TH, 2020, MIKE GERBER TOLD THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, THE PEOPLE IN THE INTEREST IN THE AREA DIDN'T WANNA SERVE THE LOW INCOME. I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT 80 TO 120% AREA MEDIAN INCOME IS WHAT YOU NEED. NOW OVER AT, OKAY, I GOT ANOTHER I. THANK YOU MS. JOSEPH. YOUR NEXT ITEM IS 49. OKAY, THANK YOU MAYOR COUNCIL. I'M ENOVIA JOSEPH. THAT'S THE COLLUSION ITEM. CENTRAL TEXAS REGIONAL MOBILITY AUTHORITY CAPITAL, METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY, CAPITAL AREA METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION, AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP, THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY WANT TO COLLUDE AND TO ACTUALLY USE OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO FOR CONNECTIVITY. WELL, MAYOR, THAT'S A LIE. IT'S A FALSEHOOD. AND YOU KNOW IT BECAUSE THEY HAD ALL THIS PLANNING IN 2009 FOR THE NORTH LAMAR CORRIDOR, AND THEY SPECIFY THAT MIDBLOCK STOPS ON PAGE 75 IS WHERE PEDESTRIANS GET KILLED, BUT YET, AND STILL, THERE'S NO CONNECTIVITY. I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER ON JULY 27TH, 2020, THAT IS WHEN COUNCIL DECIDED TO ELIMINATE THE ACCESS BETWEEN SAMSUNG AND APPLE. THE METRO WRAP IS THERE WERE THREE THAT WERE ELIMINATED DECORATIVE DOWNTOWN SAMSUNG TO APPLE AND ALL THE WAY FROM DESSA TO THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE. HIGHLAND, YOU ARE NOT TRYING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE REGION. THIS IS JUST A SMOKE SCREEN. FRAUD IS TRYING TO GET SOMETHING OF VALUE THROUGH WILLFUL MISREPRESENTATION. THAT'S THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE DEFINITION 2017, YOU ARE DEFRAUDING THE GOVERNMENT FRAUD, WASTE ABUSE. THIS ITEM NEEDS TO BE TABLED. YOU NEED TO NOT CREATE THIS SMOKESCREEN. AND I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE YOU STILL RELY ON FEDERAL FUNDING TO DO ALL OF THIS. AND SO MY COMMENTS AS THEY ALWAYS ARE IN THE CONTEXT OF TITLE VI OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT IN 1964, WHICH PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE, COLOR, AND NATIONAL ORIGIN. I GET IT. A LEOPARD DOESN'T CHANGE ITS SPOTS. THE CITY WAS SEGREGATED WHEN YOU WERE MAYOR THE FIRST TIME, AND IT'S STILL SEGREGATED TODAY. AND NOW YOU'RE GOING TO DO THE SMOKE SCREEN TO SAY IT'S A REGIONAL BOARD THAT YOU'RE CREATING. CAMPO MOVED. ITS MEETING TO SUCH AN EXTENT THAT WE CAN'T EVEN GET TO THE MEETING AND WE ONLY HAVE ONE MINUTE TO SPEAK IF YOU GET THERE. THIS IS NOT HELPING THE PEOPLE. I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THAT. AND SO MY OPPOSITION IS IN THE CONTEXT OF TITLE SIX OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GLADLY ANSWER THE AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU, MS. JOSEPH. THANK YOU ZIA. ITEM 50 FOR ZIA. JOSEPH, THIS IS TO, UH, THANK YOU MAYOR COUNCIL ON ENOVIA JOSEPH. ITEM 50, APPOINTS TAM HAWKINS TO THE URBAN RENEWAL BOARD. I WANT YOU TO ANSWER THE QUESTION, WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE URBAN RENEWAL BOARD IN THE MARCH 4TH, 2021 APOLOGY TO BLACK PEOPLE? YOU ADMITTED THAT URBAN RENEWAL IS HOW YOU ACTUALLY DISPLACED AFRICAN AMERICANS, AND THE CITY APOLOGIZED FOR IT IN ITEM 67, THEREFORE, I'M NOT SURE WHAT THEIR PURPOSE IS ANYMORE. 1959, THE URBAN RENEWAL COM WAS ACTUALLY FORMED IN STATE LAW. AND SO TODAY THEY'VE COMPLETED THEIR WORK ACCORDING TO MAYOR ADLER WHEN HE WAS ON THE DEUS. BUT TODAY YOU ARE APPOINTING TAM HAWKINS FROM THE BLACK CHAMBERS. WELL, I OPPOSE THAT BECAUSE THE BLACK CHAMBER, MOST OF THE EVENTS THAT THEY HAVE REQUIRE US TO PAY. AND SO IT'S A MEMBERSHIP ONLY, AND THEN CAPITOL METRO PAYS THEM AS WELL. SO THEY ARE BIASED. [00:30:01] THEY'RE NOT HERE FOR THE PEOPLE. SO RESPECTFULLY, I OPPOSE THAT. I ACTUALLY THINK THIS IS THE ITEM THAT HAS A VETERAN BEING APPOINTED AND THE CITY MANAGER HAS YET TO DO ANYTHING FOR THE VETERANS, EVEN THOUGH YOU HAD A RESOLUTION IN DECEMBER, 2024 FOR HIM TO RESPOND IN SIX MONTHS, IT'S BEEN SIX MONTHS. CITY MANAGER, WHEN ARE YOU GONNA RESPOND TO THE VETERANS? WE HAVE HOMELESS VETERANS THAT ARE ON THE STREET TODAY. THEY'RE OVERREPRESENTED. AUSTIN CHRONICLE 2015 ACTUALLY HAS AN ARTICLE, A BLACK AIR FORCE VETERAN ON THE COVER, AND IT SAYS THEY ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY HOMELESS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN. AND ON YOUR WATCH, YOU HAVE DONE NOTHING TO ADDRESS THE HOMELESS ISSUE REGARDING OUR VETERANS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN. IT IS A SHAME. YOU HAVE ALL THIS MONEY THAT GOES TO CARITAS. IT'S A SMOKE SCREEN. THEY GO TO TEXAS VETERANS COMMISSION. I WANNA REMIND YOU, MAYOR, YOU RELY ON HUD, YOU RELY ON VA, AND SO YOU HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO DO SOMETHING FOR US. THERE'S THE AUSTIN IT, IT'S AUGUST 13TH, FEDERAL REGISTER IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU MS. JOSEPH AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO ITEM 51. WE HAVE BILL BUNCH AND ZENOBIA JOSEPH, MS. BOSWELL, MS. BOSWELL, YOU HAD CALLED HER NAME PREVIOUSLY. YES. AND THEN NEXT WE HAVE LYNN BOSWELL WITH YEP. LYNN BOSWELL. PERFECT. THANK YOU COUNCIL. APPRECIATE AND MAYOR, UH, THANK YOU FOR THE CHANCE TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY. TESTIFYING IN SUPPORTIVE AGENDA ITEM 51. OUR COMMUNITY HAS BIG DREAMS ABOUT WHAT'S POSSIBLE AND BRING STRONG CREATIVITY AND PROBLEM SOLVING TO OUR SHARED ISSUES. AS PUBLIC ENTITIES, IT'S OUR OBLIGATION TO USE PUBLIC TAX DOLLARS WISELY AND WELL. AND IT'S ALSO OUR DUTY TO REFLECT OUR COMMUNITY'S VALUES AND OUR WORK AS WE ALL FACE TIGHTER BUDGETS, OFTEN MANDATED, MANDATED BY THE STATE. WE MUST GET MORE CREATIVE TO OFFER THE SERVICES AND SUPPORTS OUR COMMUNITY SEEKS FROM THE CITY, FROM THE COUNTY AND OUR SCHOOLS BY SEEKING POTENTIAL OPERATING EFFICIENCIES AND PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES. THIS RESOLUTION WILL HELP US DO THAT IN NEW AND BETTER WAYS. WE ALREADY HAVE A WELL-ESTABLISHED TRACK RECORD OF WORKING TOGETHER TO MEET SHARED GOALS AND NEEDS WITH CITY SUPPORT, UH, FOR PARENT PROGRAMS IN OUR SCHOOLS, LIKE OUR PARENT SUPPORT SPECIALISTS AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMMING AND ADULT EDUCATION, UH, WITH THE COUNTY'S PROP A FOR CHILDCARE THAT WILL HELP US ALL WORK TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE NEW THINGS AND SHARED GREEN SPACE BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. STRONG SCHOOLS IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD, INCLUDING OUR NEIGHBORING DISTRICTS, NOT JUST AUSTIN AND ID SUPPORT A STRONG CITY. OUR SCHOOLS ALSO HAVE AND SHARE A SPACE IN AUSTIN TO MEET MANY IMPORTANT PUBLIC NEEDS WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT. MANY CITY AND COUNTY SERVICES ARE ALSO USED BY THE FAMILIES OUR SCHOOLS SERVE AND BY THE STAFF WHO WORK IN OUR DISTRICTS. CAT METRO SERVICE FOR STUDENTS, OUR LIBRARIES, OUR PARKS AND POOLS, PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING PARTNERSHIPS WITH A CC HELP HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN OUR REGION GRADUATE WITH COLLEGE CREDIT. THIS RESOLUTION WILL BUILD ON THAT FOUNDATION BY STRENGTHENING OUR COLLABORATION AND OUR FOCUS ON DOING THE MOST WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS TOGETHER IN WAYS THAT SERVE OUR CITY, OUR COUNTY, AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO ITEM 52. WE HAVE A THANK YOU MAYOR WATSON FOR THIS TIME, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS ALTER FUENTES, VELASQUEZ VELA AND SIEGEL FOR BRINGING FORWARD THIS RESOLUTION. MY NAME'S AIA SIVALINGAM AND I WORK WITH THE TEXAS JOBS PRO CLIMATE JOBS PROJECT. WE WORK TO ADVANCE A PRO WORKER, PRO CLIMATE AGENDA ACROSS TEXAS. I'M HERE TODAY TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF THIS RESOLUTION, WHICH BEGINS THE PROCESS TO INSTALL SOLAR DISTRIBUTED ENERGY RESOURCES ACROSS CITY OWNED FACILITIES IN AUSTIN. THIS RESOLUTION COULD, SHOULD COME AS NO SURPRISE TO COUNCIL AS AUSTIN HAS INCREASINGLY FACED SEVERE CLIMATE EVENTS IN RECENT YEARS. IN 2021, WINTER STORM AL BROUGHT SIX INCHES OF SNOW AND PROLONGED FREEZING TEMPERATURES WHILE THE SUMMER OF 2023 WAS THE CITY'S HOTTEST ON RECORD WITH 45 DAYS OF TRIPLE DIGIT HEAT. THESE EVENTS LED TO BLACKOUT SOARING ENERGY COSTS AND NUMEROUS HEAT AND COLD RELATED ILLNESSES AND FATALITIES. THIS RESOLUTION MARKS A CRITICAL STEP TOWARDS PREVENTING FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL HARM, IMPROVING PUBLIC WELFARE AND ADVANCING EQUITY IN OUR COMMUNITY. AT THE TEXAS COMBAT JOBS PROJECT, WE CONDUCTED AN ANALYSIS OF 104 CITY OF AUSTIN OWNED FACILITIES THAT WE WILL BE PUBLISHING IN THE COMING MONTHS. BUT I'M EXCITED TO PREVIEW SOME OF OUR FINDINGS HERE. FOR THE FIRST TIME, USING 2023 UTILITY DATA AND PROJECTING SOLAR POTENTIAL, WE QUANTIFIED THREE PRIMARY BENEFITS, CARBON EMISSION, RED EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS, UTILITY COST SAVINGS, AND JOB CREATION. OUR RESULTS ARE AS FOLLOWS, INSTALLING SOLAR ACROSS THESE FACILITIES COULD OFFSET 4.4 MILLION KILOGRAMS OF CARBON EMISSIONS. THAT'S THE EQUIVALENT OF 2,458 HOMES USING ELECTRICITY THROUGHOUT A YEAR. FURTHER, THE CITY COULD SAVE BETWEEN 2.2 AND 4.3 MILLION IN UTILITY COSTS. TO COMPOUND THE BENEFITS OF INSTALLING SOLAR, INVESTING IN BUILDING RETROFITS COULD DECREASE ENERGY [00:35:01] CONSUMPTION FROM 20 TO 50% COMBINED WITH SOLAR PRODUCTION. THIS COULD SAVE THE CITY UP TO 4.5 MILLION ANNUALLY IN COSTS, IN UTILITY COSTS. AND TO MAKE ALL THIS HAPPEN UP TO 303 LOCAL JOBS COULD BE CREATED FOR SOLAR CONSTRUCTION ALONE. WHEN MAINTENANCE AND RETROFITS ARE INCLUDED, THIS NUMBER IS LIKELY TO INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY. I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THE LAST THANK YOU, MA'AM, BUT YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. WE APPRECIATE YOUR WORK AND APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE'RE, UM, GOING TO BE CALLING ENOVIA JOSEPH ON ITEM 51. THANK YOU MAYOR COUNCIL. I'M ENOVIA JOSEPH. ITEM 51 DIRECTS THE CITY MANAGER TO LOOK AT ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES AND TO ALSO IMPROVE HEALTH. LET'S TALK ABOUT SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH. THE ITEM THAT YOU SAW ON THE SCREEN, ACTUALLY, YOU CAN'T EVEN SEE THE BLACK MAN STANDING THERE BECAUSE THERE'S NO SHELTER, THERE'S NO LIGHTING. THIS IS ACROSS FROM COPPERFIELD ELEMENTARY. SO MY POINT IS, IF YOU CAN'T EVEN SEE TO GET FROM POINT A TO POINT B, DO YOU REALLY THINK THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO GO TO SOME PLACES TO WORK? I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT AT THE TOP IS THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN CITY MANAGER. WHAT I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE IS THAT EVEN IF STUDENTS ARE AT AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE TRYING TO GET THOSE GOOD JOBS AND TRAINING, THEY CAN'T EVEN GO OVER TO SAMSUNG AND APPLE BECAUSE IT'S ALMOST A THREE MILE WALK AND THERE'S NO TRANSPORTATION. AND THIS COUNCIL IS THE ONE THAT ACTUALLY ELIMINATED NORTHEAST WEST CONNECTIVITY. JULY 27TH, 2020, NO METRO RAPID BUS IS GOING THERE, AND EVEN THE PICKUP ONLY GOES DOWN DEC DESSAU. IT DOESN'T EVEN GO EAST WEST. IT IS A CONTAINMENT STRATEGY. YOU CAN LOOK AT ARCHER'S WORK IN THE JOURNAL, WHICH IS ACTUALLY A LAW JOURNAL FROM VANDERBILT, AND SHE ACTUALLY TALKS ABOUT THIS CONTAINMENT STRATEGY. I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE IF YOU WANNA DO SOMETHING TO GET PEOPLE MORE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES, BLACK PEOPLE IN PARTICULAR, IT WAS $4.7 MILLION ESTIMATED FOR THAT METRO RAPID. I THINK YOU'VE WASTED ENOUGH MONEY. I WANNA REMIND YOU THAT JOYCE JAMES GOT A $2.9 MILLION SOLE SOURCE, NO BID CONTRACT UNDER THE GUISE OF EQUITY TO REIMAGINE PUBLIC SAFETY, NO BID CONTRACT, BUT THE STATE LAW REQUIRES YOU TO GO OUT FOR A COMPETITIVE BID. AFTER $50,000, I THINK YOU CAN FIND $4.7 MILLION TO CONNECT THE COMMUNITIES. IF YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT HEALTH, I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT ON JUNE 3RD, 2018, CAPITAL METRO CHANGED 52 BUS ROUTES AND ELIMINATED TWO 40 RUTLAND. BUT I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT AT 1934, RUTLAND SPARROW DRIVE, THAT IS WHERE YOU PUT 101 VOUCHER HOLDERS. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GLADLY ANSWER THEM NEXT TIME. THANK YOU, MS. JOSEPH. ITEM 52, MARIAN SANCHEZ WITH CRAIG NAZER ON DECK ITEM 52. MARIAN SANCHEZ WITH CRAIG NASER ON DECK. MR. NASER, PLEASE COME FORWARD. HELLO, MY NAME IS CRAIG NAZER. I AM THE CONSERVATION CHAIR OF THE STATE CHAPTER SIERRA CLUB. ITEM 52 IS A GREAT ITEM. IT'S REALLY, I I I THINK IT'S, IT'S WONDERFUL AND YOU NEED TO WORK QUICKLY ON THIS. I'VE SPENT THE PAST COUPLE MONTHS AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND THOSE PEOPLE UP THERE, SOME OF THEM ANYWAY, ARE GONNA DO ANYTHING THEY CAN TO THROW SAND IN THE WORKS OF US GETTING SOLAR. NOW. I GOT SOLAR PANELS IN MY HOUSE. IT SAVED ME A LOT OF MONEY. IT REALLY HAS. IT'S BEEN A GREAT THING. AUSTIN ENERGY'S DOING A GREAT JOB. YOU HAD A GOOD MEETING, I GUESS ON TUESDAY, UM, ABOUT BATTERY POWER. GET THIS DONE AS QUICK AS YOU CAN AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, SIR. NEXT WE HAVE ITEMS 53, STEVE MANNING WITH DEAN CAMPBELL AND DON BAYLOR JR. ON DECK. IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM. STATE YOUR NAME. PASTOR STEVE MANNING. GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE. GOOD TO BE HERE. IN ADDITION TO GOD, I ATTRIBUTE MY PASTORATE AT SWEET HOME MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH IN LARGE PART TO DON AND BECKY BAYLOR. HE TOLD ME ONCE, LET'S HAVE LUNCH SO WE CAN WRAP. DON BAYLOR WAS A LIFELONG MEMBER OF THE CHURCH AS WERE HIS PARENTS AND SIBLINGS. IN HIS BOOK, HE SAID, AS A KID, YOU MIGHT HAVE WANTED TO DO SOMETHING ELSE ON SUNDAYS, BUT WHEN YOUR DAD'S A DEACON AND YOUR MOTHER'S THE CHURCH CLERK, THERE WAS ONLY ONE PLACE YOU COULD BE. HE FURTHER SAID, SWEET HOME INSTILLED THE BELIEF THAT HE SHOULD GIVE SOMETHING BACK, NOT ONLY TO THE CHURCH, BUT ALSO TO THE COMMUNITY. AS A TEENAGER, HE WAS SUPERINTENDENT OF THE SUNDAY SCHOOL, [00:40:01] OVERSEEING THE OTHER KIDS. HE BECAME DEACON, CHAIRMAN OF THE DEACON BOARD AND CHAIRMAN OF THE RESTORATION COMMITTEE. I'M SURE HIS BASEBALL CAREER CARRIED HIM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD. HOWEVER, HIS SUPPORT OF AND DEDICATION TO SWEET HOME AND CLARKSVILLE NEVER FLAGGED AND NEVER FAILED. DURING THE OFF SEASON, HE EVEN ATTENDED WEDNESDAY NIGHT PRAYER MEETINGS, PASTORS LIKE THAT . IN 2008, DEACON BAYLOR LED A COMMITTEE OF CHURCH MEMBERS TO THIS VERY HALL TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF GAINING LANDMARK STATUS FOR FROM THE CITY FOR SWEET HOME, A SUCCESSFUL EFFORT AMONGST THOSE WHO KNEW HIM. DEACON BAYLOR WAS AS MUCH RESPECTED FOR HIS HUMBLED SPIRIT AND GENEROUS HEART AS HE WAS FOR HIS LEGENDARY BASEBALL CAREER. IF THE CONVERSATION TURNS TO BASEBALL, I USUALLY DROP HIS NAME. I FEEL BLESSED AND FORTUNATE TO HAVE KNOWN HIM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU PASTOR. MAYOR WATSON, COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'M DEAN CAMPBELL. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF RENAMING WESTON FIELD PARK TO BAYLOR PARK. I FIRST MET DON BAYLOR IN AUGUST OF 1963 WHEN WE FIRST REPORTED FOR FOOTBALL PRACTICE AT O HENRY JUNIOR HIGH. DON WAS TO BECOME THE FIRST BLACK STUDENT AT O HENRY. THAT YEAR. INTEGRATION WAS NEW TO AUSTIN AND SOME OF OUR STUDENTS WERE NOT SURE HOW TO REACT TO IT ALL, BUT THAT DIDN'T TAKE LONG. ONCE THEY MET DON, HE SOON BECAME ONE OF THE MOST RESPECTED STUDENTS IN OUR SCHOOL. AND EVERYONE WANTED TO BE A FRIEND OF DON'S. DON HAD A CHARISMA THAT ATTRACTED PEOPLE TO HIM AND HIS PARENTS HAD TAUGHT HIM TO BE RESPECTFUL TO EVERYONE IN THE BUILDING. DON CARRIED HIMSELF WITH A LEVEL OF, OF CONFIDENCE THAT WAS SELDOM SEEN IN ANY YOUNG BLACK PERSON IN AUSTIN IN THE 1960S. DON FELT COMFORTABLE AT O HENRY BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT THE WHOLE STUDENT BODY EMBRACED HIM. SCHOOL WAS A SAFE PLACE FOR DON, BUT HE STILL FACED RACISM IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN WHEN HE WASN'T ALLOWED TO EAT IN MOST RESTAURANTS, DRINK FROM THE WHITE WATER FOUNTAINS OR PLAY IN OUR CITY PARKS. DON NEVER POUTED OR COMPLAINED ABOUT THOSE THINGS. AND AS WE MOVED ON TO AUSTIN HIGH SCHOOL, DON WAS BECOMING A LEGEND THROUGHOUT THE CITY BECAUSE OF HIS ATHLETIC ABILITY. AND BY HIS JUNIOR YEAR, YOU COULD TELL THAT HE WAS DESTINED FOR GREATNESS. HIS COMBINATION OF SIZE, SPEED, AND STRENGTH WAS GENERATIONAL. BUT HE NEVER LET HIS SUCCESS CHANGE HIS HUMBLE ATTITUDE. OUR STUDENTS, TEACHERS, COACHES, AND ADMINISTRATION LOVED HIM BECAUSE OF WHO HE WAS AS A PERSON. HE WAS KIND, GENEROUS, AND LOYAL, BUT MOST OF ALL DO, WAS A MAN OF FAITH AND HE LOVED HIS LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. DON AND HIS WIFE BECKY, HAVE BEEN SUCH GREAT ROLE MODELS FOR FAMILIES THAT LIVED IN CLARKSVILLE AND WEST AUSTIN, AND IT WOULD BE A FITTING TRIBUTE TO THEIR FAMILY TO HAVE THE BAYLOR NAME ON ONE OF OUR PARKS IN THAT COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THIS PROJECT. THANK YOU, SIR. UH, MAYOR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL, UM, DON BAYLOR JUNIOR, UM, RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE. UM, WANT TO COVER THREE BASES HERE TODAY. UH, THE FIRST BEING GRATITUDE. SORRY, DID YOU SAY BASES? I SAID BASES. OKAY. YEAH. . UM, ONE IS GRATITUDE. UH, OUR DEEPEST THINGS GO OUT TO, UH, CHIEF OF STAFF, UH, LAURA JAGER, AS WELL AS COUNCIL MEMBER MARK UCHIN, UH, FOR SPONSORING, UH, THIS RESOLUTION AND FOR LISTENING TO US AND BEING, UH, GREAT PUBLIC STEWARDS. WE ALSO THANK, UH, COACH DEAN CAMPBELL, AS WELL AS, UM, UH, PASTOR STEVE MANNING, UH, FROM SWEET HOME MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, UH, AS WELL AS SCOTTY SAYERS AND, UH, BEN CRENSHAW FROM THE MUNI CONSERVANCY, UH, AS WELL AS THE WEST AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP. UM, THE SECOND BASE I WANNA COVERS CONFLICT. UH, AS DEAN CAMPBELL MENTIONED, UM, HE GREW UP IN A SEGREGATED TOWN. UM, AND WHEN I WAS, UH, A YOUNG BOY AS, AS FAR BACK AS I CAN REMEMBER, ANYTIME WE DROVE PAST WEST INFIELD PARK, HE WOULD POINT OUT THAT THAT WAS TO HIM SEGREGATION, UH, WHITEWATER FOUNTAINS. HE WAS NOT ALLOWED TO PLAY ANY OF THE SPORTS HE LOVED TO PLAY IN THAT PARK. THIRD BASE IS HOPE. UH, INSTEAD OF THIS PARK SYMBOLIZING SEGREGATION, EXCLUSION AND IGNORANCE, THIS PARK AND HOPEFULLY THE CITY, THE [00:45:01] CITY NOW STANDS FOR INCLUSION AND OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, APPRECI. YOUR THANK YOU, SIR. APPRECIATE YOU. NEXT WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM 54, ELIZABETH JONES. NICOLE HOLT. IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME BEFORE YOU CAN BEGIN SPEAKING. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS ELIZABETH JONES. UH, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY TODAY. I REPRESENT TEXANS FOR SAFE AND DRUG-FREE YOUTH AND THE AUSTIN DRUG-FREE YOUTH COALITION. UM, RESEARCH TELLS US THAT GREATER ACCESS TO SUBSTANCES EQUALS GREATER USE OF THOSE SUBSTANCES NO MATTER WHERE YOU GO. IN AUSTIN E-CIGARETTES, ALSO KNOWN AS VAPES ARE AVAILABLE. VAPE STORES FEATURE PRODUCTS WITH BRIGHT COLORS, CARTOON CHARACTERS AND FUN FLAVORS, DELIBERATELY CRAFTED TO CATCH THE EYES OF YOUTH. AND THESE PRODUCTS ARE OFTEN ADDICTIVE AND INTOXICATING. OTHER MARKETING TACTICS LIKE USING SUPERHEROES, CELEBRITIES, AND GLAMOROUS DEPICTIONS OF USE GIVE YOUNG PEOPLE THE FALSE IMPRESSION THAT THESE PRODUCTS ARE HARMLESS. THERE ARE VERY FEW LIMITATIONS ON MARKETING AND SALES OF E-CIGARETTES COMPARED TO THE RESTRICTIONS WE HAVE ON REGULAR CIGARETTES. VAPE STORES ARE ALSO SELLING A WIDE RANGE OF HIGH RISK AND ILLEGAL PRODUCTS, INCLUDING ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN DEEMED UNSAFE BY THE FDA AND BANNED UNDER TEXAS AND FEDERAL LAW. THIS IS ALARMING BECAUSE VAPING IS OVER THREE TIMES AS COMMON AS SMOKING CIGARETTES AMONG TEXAS STUDENTS BY THEIR SENIOR YEAR, ONE IN EIGHT STUDENTS ARE VAPING AND IN HIGH, UH, HHSC, REGION SEVEN, WHICH INCLUDES AUSTIN. ONE IN THREE SENIORS HAVE TRIED E-CIGARETTES. THE AVERAGE AGE OF FIRST USE FOR E-CIGARETTES IN TEXAS IS 12.7, WHICH IS MIDDLE SCHOOL AGE. 23% OF STUDENTS IN REGION SEVEN SAID IT WOULD BE SOMEWHAT EASY OR VERY EASY TO GET TOBACCO AND 16% OF HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS IN REGION SEVEN BELIEVE E-CIGARETTES ARE NOT VERY DANGEROUS OR NOT AT ALL DANGEROUS. EARLY USE OF NICOTINE AND CANNABIS LEADS TO LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES, SUCH AS INCREASED RISKS OF ADDICTION AND HARMED BRAIN DEVELOPMENT. THOSE WHO BEGIN SUBSTANCE USE AT AN EARLY AGE ARE ALSO AT INCREASED RISK FOR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES SUCH AS DEPRESSION AND PSYCHOSIS. THIS IS A CRITICAL MOMENT TO PRIORITIZE OUR KIDS AND COMMUNITIES OVER THE INTEREST OF BUSINESSES. WHEN THE CIGARETTE INDUSTRY WAS FORCED TO STOP USING THESE SAME MARKETING AND SALES TECHNIQUES, YOUTH TOBACCO CONSUMPTION DECREASED ONLY TO GO BACK UP AND E E-CIGARETTES AND VAPE. THANK YOU MS. JONES. WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. UM, THANK YOU MAYOR WATSON AND COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY. UM, MY NAME IS NICOLE HOLT. I REPRESENT MYSELF IN DISTRICT FIVE TEXANS FOR SAFE AND DRUG-FREE YOUTH, AND I SERVE AS CO-CHAIR OF AUSTIN DRUG-FREE YOUTH COALITION. I APPLAUD THESE EFFORTS, UH, TO CREATE A SCHOOL DISTANCE, UM, FROM VAPE STORES. IT IS A MEANINGFUL AND A BEST PRACTICE. I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT. IN ADDITION TO, UM, KID-FRIENDLY PRODUCTS AND KID-FRIENDLY PACKAGING, A VAST NUMBER OF VAPE SHOPS ALSO SELL INTOXICATING AND DANGEROUS PRODUCTS. ACCORDING TO A RECENT RESEARCH FROM PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERT DR. MATT ROHEIM, I PROVIDED THE REPORT, UM, AND A FACT SHEET, UH, WHICH I HOPE IS IN YOUR PACKET. UM, I I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT SOME OF THESE PRODUCTS, UM, ARE LIKE SPONGEBOB, UM, SQUAREPANTS, UH, VAPE DEVICES. THEY ARE OFTEN, UM, PLACED NEAR SCHOOLS. WE HAVE DONE SOME PRELIMINARY LOOKING AT HOW MANY SCHOOLS ARE NEAR VAPE STORES IN AUSTIN THAT ARE LICENSED. THERE ARE AS MANY AS 47. THERE ARE MANY MORE THAT WE HAVE DETERMINED ACROSS OUR LOOKS IN TEXAS THAT ARE UNLICENSED. SO THERE COULD BE VERY MORE, UM, NEXT TO SCHOOLS. WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT KIDS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PA PASS VAPE STORES GOING TO AND FROM SCHOOLS, AND THAT WHEN YOU, UM, NORMALIZE, UH, PLAYING IN PARKS OR IF YOU NORMALIZE WALKING NEXT TO A VAPE STORE, YOU NORMALIZE THE KIND OF BEHAVIOR YOU WOULD PREFER KIDS TO SEE, RIGHT? SO WE DON'T WANT VAPE STORES NEAR SCHOOLS. UM, I WANT TO COMMEND THE COUNCIL FOR THIS EFFORT AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU, UM, AS I CAN ON THIS PROJECT. THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO ITEM 57 REMOTELY. WE HAVE ROBERT FOSTER OUT. MY NAME IS ROBERT FOSTER AND I'M A BOARD MEMBER AND SPEAKING FOR SAFE STREETS AUSTIN. I WANNA EXPRESS UNRESERVED SUPPORT OF ITEM 57, EXPANDING THE SUCCESSFUL SAFE ROUTES PROGRAMS TO HIGH SCHOOLS. I HAVE SEEN THE IMPROVEMENTS AROUND OAK SPRINGS SAVE A STUDENT TWO MONTHS AGO WHEN AN AGGRESSIVE DRIVER DROVE THROUGH A GROUP OF STUDENTS BIKING WHILE YELLING EXPLETIVES AT THE KIDS. LUCKILY, SHE WAS SLOWED DOWN BY THE NEW NECK [00:50:01] DOWN INSTALLED THERE. IT PREVENTED A VERY SCARY SITUATION FROM TURNING WORSE. IT WAS SO BAD. EVEN THE GREAT AFTER SCHOOL COORDINATOR RAN OUTSIDE TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WAS OKAY. SO LET'S EXPAND THE PROGRAM AND BENEFITS TO HIGH SCHOOLS AND BE AGGRESSIVE ABOUT SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS. I ALSO LIVE ACROSS THE STREET FROM A MIDDLE SCHOOL AND PEOPLE RUN THE STOP SIGNS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOL ALL THE TIME. I WAS GOING TO COUNT WHAT PERCENTAGE OF CARS RUN AT THIS MORNING, WHICH I THINK IS PROBABLY OVER 75%. BUT THE FIRST CAR WAS A DEPARTMENT, A PUBLIC SAFETY STAFF CAR, AND THEY DIDN'T EVEN BOTHER TO SLOW DOWN FOR THE STOP TIME. SO I WENT BACK TO THE AC BECAUSE I PROVED MY POINT TO MYSELF. UH, WE CANNOT TRUST DRIVERS TO DO, DO THE RIGHT THINGS EVEN AROUND OUR MOST VULNERABLE ROAD USERS. SO LET'S DESIGN THE STREETS TO BE SAFE REGARDLESS OF THE DRIVER AND EXPAND THIS PROGRAM. THAT'S DONE SUCH GREAT WORK SO FAR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. CONTINUE. ON ITEM 57, WE HAVE CRAIG NAZER AND ADAM GREENFIELD. HELLO, MY NAME IS CRAIG NAZER AND I'M TESTIFYING FOR MYSELF HERE. AND THIS IS A DISTRICT SEVEN ISSUE. THIS IS, THIS IS A GREAT, UH, UH, THING THAT YOU'RE DOING WITH SCHOOLS. 'CAUSE WE DO HAVE PROBLEMS IN THE CITY WITH THIS. AND WE PARTICULARLY HAVE A PROBLEM BETWEEN BREAKER LANE AND PALMER LANE ON NORTH LAMAR. AND I KNOW THAT'S A STATE ROAD, BUT WE HAVE, UH, UH, WE HAVE AT LEAST TWO SCHOOLS IN THAT AREA. WE HAVE THE LARGEST MOSQUE IN AUSTIN IN THAT AREA. WE HAVE, UH, A, A CHINESE RELIGIOUS CENTER. WE HAVE A LOT OF STUFF GOING THERE AND WE HAVE NO GOOD SIDEWALKS UP THERE. AND SO IF YOU, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS, MAYBE PUT THAT INTO WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT. I THINK THIS IS A GREAT ITEM AND WE REALLY NEED IT. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND COUNCIL. ADAM GREENFIELD HERE WITH SAFE STREETS AUSTIN, ALSO SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF AGENDA ITEM, UH, 57 REGARDING THE EXPANSION OF THE SAFE ROUTES FOR SCHOOL PROGRAM. UH, I BELIEVE SOME OF YOU WERE AT THE RECENT CRITICAL MASS BIKE RIDE IN MUELLER, AND IT WAS JUST A BEAUTIFUL AFFIRMATION OF WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO GIVE YOUNG PEOPLE, INCLUDING CHILDREN, UH, FREEDOM TO MOVE AROUND THIS CITY. IT, IT IS SUCH JUST A FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE. UH, SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL IS ONE OF OUR MOST SUCCESSFUL WAYS OF DOING THAT. IT'S AN INCREDIBLY POPULAR PROGRAM. THE VOTERS ALWAYS SUPPORT FUNDING FOR MORE SCHOOLS AND WE SUPPORT WHAT'S IN THIS RESOLUTION. WE SUPPORT EXPANDING THE PROGRAM TO HIGH SCHOOLS. WE SUPPORT MAKING SURE THAT WE REVIEW POPULATION CHANGES AROUND SCHOOLS AND NEW SCHOOLS SO THAT THERE ARE PLANS READY, UH, TO ROLL OUT THIS INCREDIBLY POPULAR INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, TO THOSE PLACES. UM, IN ADDITION, UH, WE SENT YOU A LETTER YESTERDAY RECOMMENDING THIS, BUT WE RECOMMEND THAT CHILDREN BE INCLUDED AS OFFICIAL STAKEHOLDER GROUPS IN THESE PROJECTS SO THAT THEIR COMMENTS ARE INCLUDED IN REPORTS. UM, AND FURTHERMORE, WE RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY WORK WITH A ISD AND OTHER PARTNERS TO INTRODUCE UNIVERSAL BIKE EDUCATION SO THAT EVERY AUSTIN STUDENT CAN RIDE A BICYCLE. UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH TO COUNCIL MEMBERS, ELLIS LANE, HARPER MADISON, MAYOR PRO TEM FUENTES AND CADRE FOR SPONSORING THIS ITEM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ITEM 57, ZENO JOSEPH. THANK YOU MAYOR COUNCIL, I'M ZIA JOSEPH. I WANNA THANK MR. NAZER FOR MENTIONING NORTH LAMAR. I WANNA REMIND YOU THAT ON JANUARY 30TH, 2016, MR. NORTON WAS KILLED HI IN HIS WHEELCHAIR. HIS SERVICE DOG LIVED RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM NOT YOUR ORDINARY SCHOOL YET YOU'RE WANTING TO EXPAND THIS PROGRAM. I OPPOSE THAT. YOU NEED TO LOOK AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, YOU NEED TO LOOK AT THE FATALITIES, READ THE 2009 REPORT AND DO WHAT'S RIGHT TODAY. LOOK AT WHERE THE FATALITIES ARE AND I STAND CORRECTED. IT WAS ITEM 47, THAT WAS $661,000 FOR THE ROADS. THIS ITEM IS TO EXPAND IT FOR THE HIGH SCHOOLS, BUT REALLY YOU MENTIONED BEAR CREEK ELEMENTARY, WHICH IS ESCARPMENT, AND THEN YOU MENTIONED MUELLER. THOSE KIDS ARE SAFER THAN THE STUDENTS WHO ARE WALKING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN NORTH LAMAR. YOU SAW THE PICTURE EARLIER OF COPPERFIELD ELEMENTARY. THAT'S NOT A SAFE ROUTE TO SCHOOL WHEN NATASHA HARPER MADISON TAKE HER STUDENTS, HER CHILDREN TO THAT SCHOOL IN THE DARK IN DISTRICT ONE. I DON'T THINK SO. SO WHY SHOULD IT BE GOOD ENOUGH FOR THESE OTHER PARENTS TO TAKE THEIR CHILDREN WALKING IN THE DARK? I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER, THE STUDENTS CANNOT TRAVERSE THE AREA FROM THE MID-BLOCK STOP [00:55:01] CHINATOWN TO GET TO THE BREAKER LANE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. THERE ARE THREE SCHOOLS THAT ARE ON NORTH LAMAR. I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS INEQUITABLE AND AS ALWAYS, MY COMMENTS ARE IN THE CONTEXT OF TITLE SIX OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964. IF YOU LOOK AT PAGE 2 0 4, THE RESOLUTION, THAT IS WHERE YOU WILL SEE WALK, BIKE, ROLL. AND ONCE AGAIN, I WANNA REMIND YOU THAT YOUR OWN REPORT, 2023, SPECIFIED THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE SIDEWALKS ON NORTH LAMAR. AND I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THE DANGERS BY DESIGN REPORT BY KU WHERE 75 PEOPLE WERE HIT IN A TWO MILE STRETCH, THREE MILES FROM NORTH LAMAR TRANSIT CENTER, SPECIFICALLY MR. DAVID JOHN MADANO WAS KILLED AT FAIRFIELD. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, MS. JOSEPH. NEXT WE HAVE ITEM 1 0 2, BILL BUNCH AND ITEM 1 0 3 BILL BUNCH. AND AT THIS TIME, ALL CONSENT SPEAKERS HAVE BEEN CALLED AND WE CAN MOVE ON TO THOSE WHO HAVE SHOWN UP AFTER THEY WERE CALLED. YES, YOU'D LIKE. OKAY, PLEASE DO THAT. UM, NEXT WE HAVE CARLA COURTNEY, UM, ON ITEM ONE. OKAY. HI, GOOD AFTERNOON, UH, MAYOR WATSON AND CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS CARLA COURTNEY AND I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK THE CITY OF AUSTIN, DO YOU PLEASE ADD ME AND MY FAMILY TO THE AGENDA LIST TO, AND MAKE US A PRIORITY. I NEED YOUR IMMEDIATE HELP. MY BOYFRIEND LARRY BREWER AND MY DOG PIPER. WE ARE HOMELESS AND HAVE BEEN FOR OVER TWO YEARS. WE NEED EMERGENCY, STABLE, AND PERMANENT HOUSING TODAY FOR OUR SAFETY AND WELLBEING. WE HAVE BEEN SIGNED UP WITH THE COA FOR OVER TWO YEARS AND HAVE BEEN ON A WAITING LIST AND WAITING PATIENTLY. I HAVE CANCER AND LARRY IS WAITING ON HIS SSID. HE ALSO SERVED FROM 92 TO 96 IN THE DESERT STORM. PLEASE HELP US GET HOUSING TODAY. MY PHONE NUMBER IS SEVEN THREE SEVEN THREE NINE. MA'AM, I TELL YOU WHAT, DON'T DO THAT, PLEASE. OKAY. UM, WE'VE GOT STAFF IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM THAT WILL VISIT WITH YOU AND GIVE THEM THE PHONE NUMBER. OKAY? PLEASE DON'T PUT YOUR PHONE NUMBER OUT OVER THE, UH, YES SIR. THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK AND I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU, BUT I JUST, UH, WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU DIDN'T, OKAY. THAT'S ALL. I HAVE ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS FOR YOURSELF. OKAY. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE YOUR BEING HERE AND WAITING. NEXT WE HAVE DANIELLA SILVA ON ITEM NINE. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. MY NAME IS DANIELLA SILVA. I'M HERE WITH, UH, WORKERS' DEFENSE ACTION FUND IN SUPPORT OF ITEM NINE, UM, WHICH IS, UM, THE CITY'S SUPPORT OF A RESEARCH STUDY AT UT TO STUDY FACTORS AFFECTING THE HIRING OF DAY LABORERS BY CONTRACTORS AND HOMEOWNERS, UM, WITH THE INTENT OF DIS DISRUPTING EXPLOITATION AND TRAFFICKING IN LABOR SUPPLY NETWORKS. SO I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE RESULTS OF THIS STUDY AND SEEING IF, UH, WE CAN'T UTILIZE SOME OF THIS INFORMATION AT WORKERS' DEFENSE TO, UH, ADVOCATE FOR WORKERS ACROSS ALL OF THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE SAMUEL KIRSCH ON ITEM 37. WELCOME, SIR. IT'S BEEN FIVE YEARS SINCE MY LIFE WAS IRREVERSIBLY CHANGED. WHEN A PD SHOT ME IN THE EYE WITH THE BEANBAG ROUND FIVE WEEKS AGO, MAYA HAD TO BE SURGICALLY REMOVED. I, I'LL NOW HAVE TO LIVE THE REST OF MY LIFE WITH ONLY ONE EYE AND STILL WITH CONSTANT NERVE PAIN AND BALANCE ISSUES. I WANNA THANK THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR FINALLY OFFERING ME RESTITUTION. BUT EVEN AS I MOVE ON WITH MY LIFE, YOU ALL, AS OUR ELECTED POLICY MAKERS ARE STUCK HERE WITH SOME SERIOUS QUESTIONS TO RECKON WITH AS WE ARE ONCE AGAIN UNDER TRUMP PRESIDENCY. GIVEN THE AUTHORITARIAN THREAT, WILL YOU CONTINUE TO GIVE A PD MORE THAN ITS FAIR SHARE OF OUR LIMITED RESOURCES? HOW MUCH MORE FINANCIAL PAIN DO AUSTIN TAXPAYERS NEED TO FEEL BEFORE YOU FORCE CHANGE IN A PD? YOUR CHIEF LABOR RELATIONS OFFICER IS A LAWYER WHO WORKED FOR A LAW FIRM NAMED RAM PAGE LAW WHO DEFENDS THE MOST VIOLENT COPS IN THE COUNTRY. YOUR MANAGER IS DRAGGING HIS FEET IN IMPLEMENTING THE A POA, WHICH 80% OF VOTERS SUPPORTED AND 80% REJECTED THE A P'S SPURIOUS VISION AFTER THEY SPENT $287,000 LYING TO PEOPLE JUST TO STOP, TO TRY TO STOP VERY BASIC [01:00:01] AND OBJECTIVELY REASONABLE POLICE OVERSIGHT. I REALLY WORRY ABOUT WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN THE NEXT TIME THERE'S WIDESPREAD PROTESTS AND IT COULD EASILY HAPPEN ON Y'ALL'S WATCH. WILL YOU ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN FROM A PD WHEN THEY'RE PEACEFULLY PROTESTING OR MORE PEOPLE GONNA HAVE LIFE-CHANGING INJURIES AND WILL CONTINUE TO PAY MILLIONS? THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. NEXT WE HAVE ENOVIA JOSEPH ON ITEM EIGHT. THANK YOU, MAYOR COUNSEL. I'M ENOVIA JOSEPH. ITEM EIGHT DOES NOT HAVE THE INFORMATION AND BACKUP TO TELL YOU HOW MUCH THIS GRANT IS. IT'S SPECIFICALLY HUD HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT FLOOD MITIGATION. IT TOOK ME OVER AN HOUR TO FIND THIS PARTICULAR GRANT. IT APPEARS TO BE FROM JULY 18TH, 2022, $8.8 MILLION. BUT IN BACKUP, IT JUST SAYS YOU'RE CHANGING SIGNATORIES. I'M NOT SURE WHOSE SIGNATURE IS CHANGING. I'M NOT EVEN SURE ABOUT THE $8.8 MILLION, BUT WHAT I AM SURE ABOUT IS THAT THE ASSURANCES FOR TITLE SIX WAS IN THAT ORIGINAL CONTRACT. AND 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, OR NATIONAL ORIGIN. MAYOR, WHAT ARE YOU VOTING ON TODAY IN THIS ITEM? THERE'S NOTHING IN BACKUP FOR THE PUBLIC TO EVEN KNOW WHAT IT IS THAT YOU'RE VOTING ON. I WOULD ASK YOU TO TABLE THIS ITEM AND TO AT LEAST PUT THE HYPERLINK SO THAT IF WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE VOTING ON, WE CAN SEE IT. I THINK THAT'S A REASONABLE REQUEST, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, YOU USUALLY JUST APPROVE WHATEVER STAFF GIVES YOU. BUT IT'S A DISSERVICE BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, THE CITY IS SEGREGATED. I APPRECIATE THE PREVIOUS SPEAKERS IN THEIR HOPEFULNESS, BUT HYDE PARK, WHICH IS WHERE THE LIGHT RAIL WILL TERMINATE, WAS DEVELOPED EXCLUSIVELY FOR WHITE FOR WHITE PEOPLE, 1889 TO 1924 BY COLONEL MONROE SHEE. AND THEN YOU MAINTAIN THE CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD THROUGH ZONING. SO WE DON'T HAVE BLACK PEOPLE THERE ON THIS LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM. AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WHEN YOU HAD OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THE 18 MLK BUS, YOU TERMINATED THAT BUS SO THAT IT WENT TO HEFLIN LANE INSTEAD OF GOING ACROSS US 180 3 TO FM 9 69 TO SERVE THE BLACK PEOPLE IN CRAIG WOOD. SO THEY HAVE TO WALK OVER A MILE TO GET TO WEAVERVILLE AND TANA HILL TO THE BUS WHEN OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHO ARE HOMELESS SIT WAITING FOR THE BUS IS TOO OUT. THANK YOU, MS. JOSEPH. THANK JOSEPH. ITEM NINES, NOIA JOSEPH, ITEM NINE, RESPECTFULLY. THANK YOU MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS IS A UT STUDY, WHICH SPECIFICALLY YOU WILL GET $20,000. IT SAYS THAT THEY WANT ACCESS TO YOUR LIST. I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF CONTACT INFORMATION YOU PLAN TO GIVE TO THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT MONICA GUZMAN'S EMAIL AND BACKUP FOR YOUR ZONING ITEM, YOU'LL SEE THE EMAILS REDACTED. THERE IS NOTHING IN THIS CONTRACT THAT SAYS ANYTHING ABOUT 5 5 2. THE GOVERNMENT CODE PUBLIC INFORMATION AS IT RELATES TO INFORMATION THAT IS ACCEPTED FROM PUBLIC DISCLOSURE. AND SO I WOULD ASK YOU TO TABLE THIS ITEM AS WELL. WHAT INFORMATION ARE YOU GIVEN THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN? AND THEN THEY WANT YOU TO PROMOTE IT. BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT IC TWO IS JUST COMMISSIONER IAN'S PET PROJECT. THEY HAVE NOT PRODUCED ANY MEASURABLE OUTCOMES TO TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT YET. HE GOT THEM A CONTRACT WITH CAPITAL METROPOLITAN TRAIN, CAPITAL METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY AS WELL. AND HERE THEY'RE GIVING YOU $20,000 OF OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO GET THE CONTACT INFORMATION. WHAT INFORMATION YOU'RE REDACTING THE EMAILS, OR YOU'RE JUST GIVING THEM THE NAMES OF PEOPLE WHO SIGN UP TO SPEAK THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE DISTURBED BY THIS ITEM. YOU'RE GONNA PRAY ON POOR PEOPLE BECAUSE THIS IS DAY LABOR. THEY CAN'T EVEN GET TO DAY LABOR ON SOME OF THESE BUS ROUTES NORTH OF US, 180 3. SO IT'S REALLY DISINGENUOUS BECAUSE IT'S NOT SPELLED OUT IN THE CONTRACT. THE ONLY THING IT SAYS ABOUT GOVERNMENT CODE CHAPTER 5 5 2, IT'S SPECIFICALLY THAT THE CITY CAN'T ANSWER ANY PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUEST. SO IT LACKS TRANSPARENCY AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT IT IS THAT YOU PLAN TO GIVE THEM. BUT RELEASING PEOPLE'S INFORMATION IS DISTURBING BECAUSE 5 5 2 0.023 SPECIAL RIGHT OF ACCESS MEANS THAT THERE IS SOME CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION THAT INDIVIDUALS CAN SEE FOR THEMSELVES WHEN THEIR NAME IS ON IT. BUT THE GENERAL PUBLIC CANNOT. WHAT ARE YOU GIVING TO UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN? WE HAVE NO IDEA. TABLE THIS ITEM. THANK YOU. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GOLY ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME. THANK [01:05:01] YOU, MS. JOSEPH. YOU'RE WELCOME. ANOVIA JOSEPH. ITEM 12. ITEM 12 IS RALLY AUSTIN. AUSTIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. IT'S DISTURBING MAYOR BECAUSE THERE'S $5.1 MILLION THAT WAS REQUESTED IN JULY OF 2024. AND HERE THEY'RE ASKING FOR $1.5 MILLION MORE FOR THE AREA AT YOUR HIGHLAND CAMPUS WHERE THEY ACTUALLY DO THE DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES. I'M NOT REAL SURE WHY THE $1.5 MILLION IS BEING ASKED FOR. THEY DIDN'T JUSTIFY ANY KIND OF COST OVERRUNS. I'M ALL ABOUT THE CREATIVES, ALL ABOUT THE ARTS, BUT $5.1 MILLION IN LESS THAN A YEAR, AND NOW YOU GOT $1.5 MILLION THAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR. WHY? WHAT IS THE MONEY GOING TO BE USED FOR? BECAUSE REMEMBER, THE CITY MANAGERS GONNA WANNA WANT US TO TIGHTEN THE BELL WHEN IT COMES TO THE BUDGET. YOU'RE GONNA WANNA TELL US ABOUT THESE SHORTFALLS, BUT YET YOU'RE ABOUT TO JUST GIVE $1.5 MILLION TO RALLY AUSTIN FOR THAT CREATIVE SPACE IN THE HIGHLAND MALL AREA, THE OLD HIGHLAND MALL. BUT WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY IT IS THAT THEY NEED THE MONEY. MAYOR, I MEAN, REALLY BE TRANSPARENT. IF YOU WANNA SUPPORT FROM US, YOU GOTTA BE TRANSPARENT AND TELL US WHAT A TAXPAYER DOLLARS ARE GOING. THIS IS A BOONDOGGLE. IF THEY NEEDED MORE THAN $5.1 MILLION FROM THE CULTURAL GRANTS AND THE CULTURAL INFORMATION, THE BONDS THAT THEY PASSED, THEN THEY NEED TO TELL THE PUBLIC WHAT IS CAUSING THIS OVERRUN CITY MANAGER. I WOULD HOPE YOU'LL LOOK INTO THIS BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHY IT IS THEY NEED $1.5 MILLION. THEY JUST GOT THE 5.1 AND WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANY OUTCOMES AND THERE'S NOTHING IN BACKUP TO JUSTIFY IT. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GO TO ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME. BUT PLEASE DON'T ASK US TO TIGHTEN THE BUDGET, THE BUTT, YOU KNOW, THE BELT RATHER WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR BUDGET, BECAUSE THIS IS HOW YOU WASTE TAXPAYER DOLLARS AND IT'S DISTURBING. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GLADLY ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME, BUT ASK YOU TO INVEST IN A LITTLE CLOCK SO THAT PEOPLE KNOW HOW MUCH TIME THEY HAVE LEFT. THANK YOU. THAT CON THAT CONCLUDES CONSENT SPEAKERS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MEMBERS, AS YOU'VE JUST HEARD, THAT CONCLUDES THE CONSENT SPEAKERS. UH, ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. I'LL ASK FIRST, ARE THERE ANY OTHER ITEMS THAT ANY MEMBER WISHES TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? THE ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PULLED ARE 41, 42, 43, AND 1 0 5. ALRIGHT, HEARING NONE, THE UH, THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. AND BEFORE I DO THAT, LET ME MAKE CLEAR ON ITEM NUMBER SEVEN. ON ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, UH, I'M GONNA READ THIS AGAIN JUST SO THAT WE, THERE'S CLARITY IN THE RECORD. UH, ITEM SEVEN PERTAINS TO AN ORDINANCE SETTING THE TAX EXEMPTION FOR RESIDENTS, HOMESTEADS OF INDIVIDUALS 65 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER, AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AT AN EQUAL TO $154,000, WHICH IS THE CITY'S CURRENT EXEMPTION, PLUS AN INCREASE NECESSARY TO PROVIDE EQUIVALENT PROPERTY TAX RELIEF AS WHAT WAS PROVIDED BY THE EXEMPTION IN THE PRIOR YEAR. AND PERMITTED BY LAW, THE STAFF PROVIDED US A MEMO THAT WE RECEIVED YESTERDAY, AND IT, IT INDICATES THIS NECESSARY INCREASE IS $38,000 TO A TOTAL EXEMPTION OF $192,000. THEREFORE, WHEN WE PASS, IF, IF WE PASS THE CONSENT AGENDA AND ITEM NUMBER SEVEN IS ON IT, THE ORDINANCE WILL BE UPDATED TO INCLUDE THIS $192,000 FIGURE. I JUST WANT THERE TO BE CLARITY ABOUT THAT. IN ADDITION TO THAT, COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ HAS ASKED THAT HE BE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR OF ITEM NUMBER 57. AND WITHOUT OBJECTION, HE'LL BE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR OF ITEM NUMBER 57. WITH THAT COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ MOVES ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT AGENDA IS READ. IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, I DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. COUNCIL MEMBER LANE, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL. THANK YOU. UM, SO FIRST I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO PUT MY GLASSES BACK ON 'CAUSE I'M OLDER THAN I LOOK. UM, I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM ITEM 54, THE VAPE FREE SCHOOLS RESOLUTION. THIS ITEM IS THE FIRST OFFICIAL LEGISLATION AUTHORED BY MY OFFICE. I WAS SO GRATEFUL TO WORK WITH MAYOR PRO TEM FUENTES, WHOSE LONGTIME LEADERSHIP ON PUBLIC HEALTH AND EDUCATION ISSUES MADE HER A NATURAL PART PARTNER ON THIS ITEM. I'VE WORKED WITH SCHOOLS IN THE AUSTIN AREA FOR YEARS, AND THE ISSUE OF VAPING ON CAMPUS HAS COME UP CONSISTENTLY. OUR KIDS [01:10:01] ARE IMPACTED BY THE AVAILABILITY OF E-CIGARETTES, CIGARETTES IN COUNTLESS WAYS FROM NEGATIVE HEALTH IMPACTS TO HARSH STATE MANDATED DISCIPLINARY MEASURES THAT IMPACT EDUCATIONAL TIME. THESE DISCIPLINARY DISCIPLINARY REQUIREMENTS WORRY ME THE MOST BECAUSE THEY EXPOSE CHILDREN AS WELL TO THE SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE AND CAUSE THEM TO HAVE WORSE OUTCOMES ON MANY LEVELS. THANK YOU AGAIN TO MAYOR PROM FUENTES, AS WELL AS THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION, TEXANS FOR SAFE AND DRUG FREE YOUTH. AND MY CO-SPONSORS, COUNCIL MEMBERS VELA ALTER AND ELLIS. I'M VERY PROUD THAT AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL IS LEADING THE WAY IN PROTECTING AUSTIN'S CHILDREN FROM THESE NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF HAVING VAPES ON CAMPUSES. I ALSO WANNA HIGHLIGHT, UH, ITEM 51. UH, I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD, ADDRESSING SOME OF THE COMPLEXITIES AROUND AUSTIN'S MULTIPLE OVERLAPPING GOVERNMENTAL JURISDICTIONS, CONSIDERING THE WIDE RANGING SERVICES THAT ARE OFFERED BY COUNTIES, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICTS WITHIN OUR BOUNDARIES, AS WELL AS THE COMPREHENSIVE OFFERINGS FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN. DUPLICATIVE SERVICES AND SERVICE GAPS ARE COMMON, FAR TOO COMMON. STREAMLINING THESE OFFERINGS WITH INCREASED COORDINATION ACROSS MORE OF THESE JURISDICTIONS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES IS ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO SERVE OUR CONSTITUENTS AND LOWER THEIR TAX BURDENS SIMULTANEOUSLY. MY DISTRICT, WHICH OVERLAPS SIGNIFICANTLY WITH BOTH WILLIAMSON COUNTY AND ROUND ROCK ISD, IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF THIS COMPLEX BALANCING ACT. FOR THIS REASON, I, I WOULD LOVE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR FOR ITEM 51. THAT OBJECTION. COUNCIL MEMBER WITH WITHOUT OBJECTION, COUNCIL MEMBER LANE WILL BE SHOWN AS THE CO-SPONSOR OF ITEM NUMBER 51. AND FINALLY, WITH RESPECT TO I DON'T. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, AND FINALLY, WITH RESPECT TO ITEM 57 SOUTH, SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL, I AM PROUD TO CO-SPONSOR THIS RESOLUTION. WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT CHILDREN IN EVERY AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD HAVE A SAFE, RELIABLE ROUTE TO SCHOOL. HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS HAVE EVEN MORE NEED OF INDEPENDENT WAYS TO GET TO AND FROM SCHOOL SAFELY. THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER PAIGE ELLIS FOR LEADING ON THIS EFFORT AND FOR THE STAFF AT TPW WORKING SO HARD TO KEEP US SAFE. NOW, I MUST SAY THAT THIS IS, THIS IS NOT THE END OF THE WORK, UM, TO CREATE, TO MAKE THESE SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL A REALITY. WE MUST ALL WORK TOGETHER AS LEADERS IN AUSTIN TO SECURE THE FUNDING THAT WILL BRING SIDEWALKS SHARED USE PATHS, URBAN TRAILS. AND I WILL SPECIFICALLY ADD MY VOICE TO THE CHORUS OF PUBLIC COMMONERS WHO HAVE ELEVATED THE ISSUE IN NORTH AUSTIN, NORTH OF 180 3 NORTHEAST AUSTIN PALMER DESSA, THE ENTIRE 180 3 CORRIDOR FROM THE POINT WHERE IT CROSSES LAMAR AND HEADS NORTHWARD. WE HAVE TWO STATION REDLINE STATIONS THAT ARE IN THE PROJECT CONNECT SYSTEM. LET'S GET TO WORK ON EFFECTIVE CONNECTIVITY. LET'S ALLOW OUR OLDER STUDENTS TO HAVE MORE INDEPENDENT BUS ROUTES TO GET TO AND FROM SCHOOL, AND SAFE SIDEWALKS AND PATHS FOR THEIR BIKES. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER. COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL AND COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WANNA START, UH, BY CONGRATULATING COUNCIL MEMBER LAND ON HER FIRST ITEM. UH, VERY EXCITING. YEAH, I WAS THINKING AT THE LEGISLATURE, THEY DO A LITTLE HAZING OF THE, WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR FIRST ITEM, I'M GLAD IT'S NOT A, A TRADITION. WE HAVE CARRIED OVER TO THIS BUILDING. LET, LET, LET, LET, LET US SAY IT DID OCCUR TO SOMEBODY, OH, TRY ME, BUT I DECIDED NOT TO. OH, TRY ME. DON'T, DON'T. BUT I, I JUST, THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUE AND SO I'M, I'M REALLY EXCITED THAT NOT ONLY YOU HAVING A FIRST ITEM, BUT THIS BEING IT, YOU KNOW, I I THINK IT'S JUST ABHORRENT THAT TOBACCO COMPANIES ARE TARGETING OUR CHILDREN, UH, WITH A PRODUCT THAT IS OFTEN EVEN MORE, UH, UM, WHAT'S THE, I BLANK MY WORD HERE. MORE ADDICTIVE THANK YOU, THAN CIGARETTES. I MEAN, THERE, THERE'S A REASON THESE PRODUCTS WERE FLAVORED BUBBLE GUM AND, UH, STRAWBERRY. AND, AND THEY PUT IT RIGHT AT A KID'S EYE LEVEL. UH, NOT WHERE THE ADULT WOULD SEE IT, BUT WHERE A KID WOULD BE ATTRACTED TO IT. IT, IT'S, IT'S JUST ABHORRENT. SO I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE GONNA BE DOING OUR PART TO HELP, UH, ELIMINATE THIS FROM AREAS WHERE WE KNOW KIDS FREQUENT. I ALSO WANT TO, UH, TAKE A MOMENT TO TALK ABOUT ITEM NUMBER SEVEN. IT KINDA SLIDES ON THROUGH, BUT IT'S, IT'S A BIG DEAL. THIS IS A RAISING THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FOR OUR SENIORS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH THE DISABILITY. SO IF YOU'RE 65 OR OLDER OR HAVE A DISABILITY, WE ARE RAISING THAT HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION SO THAT YOUR PROPERTY TAXES FOR THE CITY ARE NOT GONNA GO UP. WE CAN'T HAVE IMPACT EVERYBODY ELSE'S PROPERTY TAXES, BUT WE ARE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE RESIDENTS WHO ARE TRYING TO AGE IN PLACE ARE ABLE TO DO SO AT A COST, UH, THAT IS NOT GOING TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE AND BURDEN THEM. SO, UH, JUST THINK THAT'S A, A REALLY IMPORTANT THING THAT WE [01:15:01] SHOULD HIGHLIGHT HERE TODAY. AND, AND BUILDING ON THAT, UH, AN ITEM THAT I'VE BROUGHT FORWARD AS COUNCIL MEMBER ELAINE MENTIONED, LOOKS AT WORKING TOGETHER, UH, WITH OUR OTHER LOCAL TAXING JURISDICTIONS TO FIND WAYS THAT WE CAN BETTER COORDINATE AND HOPEFULLY NOT ONLY DELIVER SERVICES BETTER, BUT DO IT CHEAPER AND MORE, UH, EFFICIENTLY SO THAT WE CAN SAVE TAXPAYERS MONEY. UH, AS PRESIDENT BOSWELL OF THE A ISD SCHOOL BOARD CAME AND CHATTED WITH US TODAY, WE, I'VE ALREADY, UM, WORKED TOGETHER FOR A LONG TIME, BUT I THINK WHAT WE SEE MORE AND MORE YEAR AFTER YEAR LEGISLATURE AFTER LEGISLATURE IS THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE, WE'RE KIND OF ON OUR OWN. AND SO WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER IF WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO DELIVER FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND, AND WE SHOULD DO SO IN THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE MANNER SO THAT WE'RE CONTINUING, UH, TO KEEP COSTS DOWN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE FOR OUR LOCAL TAXPAYERS. LASTLY, UH, ON THAT ONE, I, I DO WANNA TAKE A QUICK MOMENT TO, TO THANK THE MAYOR, MAYOR PRO FUENTES, COUNCILOR VELASQUEZ, AND COUNCIL MEMBER VELA FOR CO-SPONSORING THAT ITEM. I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR WORK WITH THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL SUBCOMMITTEE WITH A ISD AND TRAVIS COUNTY, BUT WE, WE DO ALL WANNA WORK WITH ROUND ROCK, ISD WITH DEL VALLEY, ISD UH, THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT, UH, A ISD AND TRAVIS COUNTY. WE CAN ALL WORK TOGETHER, CENTRAL HEALTH, YOU KNOW, THERE THE LIST GOES ON. UM, BUT LAST BUT NOT LEAST, UH, WANNA TALK ABOUT A, AN ITEM THAT I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT AS WELL, AND, AND THAT IS GETTING SOLAR ON OUR PUBLIC FACILITIES. YOU KNOW, AUSTIN AS AN ENTITY, THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS THE SECOND LARGEST USER OF ELECTRICITY IN THE AREA. AND I WAS GOING TO SAY HERE, YOU KNOW, AS WE ENTER OUR HOT SUMMER MONTHS, WE'RE GOING TO USE A LOT MORE ENERGY. BUT APPARENTLY THE HOT SUMMER MONTHS ARE ALREADY HERE AND THEY'RE COMING EARLIER AND, AND THEY'RE GOING LATER. AND SO WE HAVE MILLIONS OF SQUARE FEET OF ROOFTOP SPACE BETWEEN OUR FACILITIES AND SCHOOL DISTRICT FACILITIES THAT ARE EMPTY AND THAT WE COULD UTILIZE TO CREATE AND GENERATE CHEAP CLEAN ELECTRICITY, WHICH NOT ONLY HELPS STABILIZE OUR GRID, BUT SAVES MONEY FOR RATE PAYERS. UH, SO I PLAN, UH, THROUGH THIS. I'M REALLY EXCITED TO, TO GET THAT MOVING, GET A, UH, AN ANALYSIS DONE OF WHAT WE CAN DO AND HOPEFULLY MEET THE NEEDS OF THE LOCAL GENERATION PLAN THAT CALLS FOR 245 MEGAWATTS OF LOCAL SOLAR. AND, AND WE CAN GET THERE THROUGH SMART INITIATIVES LIKE THIS. I APPRECIATE, UH, MAYOR PRO TEMP PUENTES, COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA, AND COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL ESPECIALLY FOR HELPING WITH SOME LANGUAGE ON THIS. UM, I, I'M REALLY, I KNOW I'VE SAID IT ALREADY, BUT I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE WHERE THIS GOES. AND I THINK IT'S GONNA BE REALLY MEANINGFUL FOR US, UH, FROM THAT FROM THAT ELECTRIC SERVICE DELIVERY PERSPECTIVE. SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, THEN COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I JUST WANNA COMMENT ON A FEW ITEMS, BUT FIRST, UH, I WANNA START WITH ITEM 1 0 3 AND WANTED TO ASK IF, UH, THE DEPUTY CFO COULD COME FORWARD. I SEE HER COMING. SHE ANTICIPATED YOU. RIGHT ON. UH, THANK YOU MS. ALVAREZ. UM, I WANTED TO ASK, ASK A QUESTION ABOUT THIS ONE, BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN A FAIR AMOUNT OF COMMUNITY SPECULATION ABOUT REALLY WHAT, WHAT THIS ITEM MEANS. PEOPLE SEE THIS, UH, VERY LARGE TICKET ITEM, YOU KNOW, $808 MILLION, AND I THINK THERE'S BEEN SPECULATION THAT THIS IS SOME SORT OF NEW EXPENDITURE. AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT'S BASICALLY, UH, RELATED TO ITEMS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN DISCUSSED IN PUBLIC AND VOTED ON. SO I WANNA ASK IF YOU COULD EXPLAIN HOW THIS ACTION RELATES TO PRIOR COUNCIL ACTIONS THAT HAVE APPROVED THE ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION, SUCH AS RECENT DECISIONS TO PURCHASE LAND FOR A PUBLIC SAFETY CAMPUS, OR TO PURCHASE A BUILDING FOR CITY OPERATIONS. YES. SO, KIMEL LAVAR, DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL SERVICES. UH, SO THIS ITEM BEFORE YOU, THIS IS AN ANNUAL ITEM THAT WE HAVE TO BRING A NOTICE OF INTENT, UH, TO ISSUE OUR CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION EACH YEAR. THERE'S STATE LAW REQUIREMENTS AROUND, UM, THE, THE POSTING COUNCIL ACTION, HAVING TO PUT ADS IN THE STATESMAN AND SO ON, BECAUSE THE CITY UTILIZES A REIMBURSEMENT PROCESS FOR OUR DEBT. UM, WE WILL ACTUALLY, WHENEVER WE COME TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL OF APPROPRIATION, UH, FOR ANY CAPITAL EXPENSE THAT INVOLVES DEBT, IT ALL IS GENERALLY ACCOMPANIED BY A REIMBURSEMENT RESOLUTION THAT ALLOWS US TO COME BACK AND ISSUE THAT DEBT AT A LATER DATE, BUT, AND MAINTAIN THE TAX EXEMPTION FOR IT. SO EACH OF THE ITEMS, UH, THAT SUPPORT THE TOTAL AMOUNT IN THIS POSTING ARE ALL FROM PRIOR COUNCIL ACTIONS. SO IN THE RCA, THEY, THE, UM, APPROVALS ACTUALLY GO BACK ALL THE WAY TO 2013, UM, BUT ARE AS RECENT AS DECEMBER OF 2024. SO THESE ARE ALL PREVIOUSLY APPROVED PROJECTS, APPROPRIATIONS EXPENDITURES, IT IS NOT ANYTHING, UM, [01:20:01] IT'S, IT'S NOT A, A, A NEW THING. UH, SO THE TIMING OF THIS, WE TYPICALLY BRING THIS TO Y'ALL IN MAY OF EACH YEAR, UH, TO, BECAUSE OF THE STATE LAW REQUIREMENTS AND WHEN WE TYPICALLY HOLD OUR GEO SALE, THIS IS THE TIME OF YEAR THAT, THAT Y'ALL HAVE TO TAKE ACTION ON IT. ALRIGHT, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR YOUR CLARIFICATION. APPRECIATE IT. UM, I WANTED ALSO, UH, COMMENT ON ITEM 37, WHICH IS OUR SETTLEMENT WITH MR. SAM HIRSCH. UH, SAM KIRSCH. UM, I REALLY WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR BEING WILLING TO APPROVE THIS SETTLEMENT. UH, I UNDERSTAND IT'S THE LAST CASE RELATING TO THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT RESPONSE TO THE BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTESTS, AND I'M THANKFUL WE CAN PROVIDE MR. KIRSCH WITH SOME MONETARY COMPENSATION, EVEN IF WHAT HE LOST WAS PRICELESS. UH, I'M ALSO COMMITTED TO WORKING TO ENSURE, AS MY COLLEAGUES ARE THAT THIS WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN, UH, THAT WE HAVE THE TRAINING AND ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM MECHANISMS IN PLACE TO PROTECT, UH, PEACEFUL PROTEST AND TO ENSURE THAT AUSTINITES CAN SAFELY DEMONSTRATE AND EXERCISE CIVIL LIBERTIES WITHOUT FEAR OF VIOLENCE BY CITY POLICE. UM, SO JUST WANNA SAY THAT, UH, VERY HEAVY ITEM. BUT, UH, THANK YOU TO MR. KSH FOR COMING TO SPEAK TO US TODAY. UM, ON ITEM 52, ON A LIGHTER NOTE, UH, TO MAYBE ATTEMPT A PUN HERE, UH, SOLAR ON CITY OWNED PROPERTY. UM, WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, UH, IT'S WONDERFUL TO BE ON THE SAME SIDE OF AN ITEM WITH YOU. UM, AND, UH, THIS REALLY IS A GREAT PROPOSAL BY THE CLIMATE OFFICE AND A KEY PART OF MEETING OUR GEN PLAN GOALS. AND ALSO, I'M REALLY HAPPY TO SEE THAT WE'RE PRIORITIZING THE WORKERS. UM, COUNCILMAN ALTER MENTIONED, WE'RE GONNA ADD 245 MEGAWATTS OF SOLAR, UH, CAPACITY OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS. THAT TRANSLATES TO LIKE 3,500 ACRES OF SOLAR PANELS. AND SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE JOBS WE'RE CREATING ARE GOOD JOBS, UH, THAT THEY'RE LIVING WAGE JOBS, AND THAT THEY HAVE SAFE WORKING CONDITIONS. SO THANK YOU, UH, FOR ADDING THAT AS WELL. UH, FINALLY I WANNA PIVOT TO BASEBALL. UH, ITEM 53, DON BAYLOR PARK. UM, UH, MOST OF YOU'LL BE UNAWARE OF THIS, BUT THIS HAS BEEN KIND OF A BASEBALL THEMED WEEK FOR COUNCIL. UH, WE PLAYED THE COUNTY IN A CHARITY BASEBALL GAME TO BENEFIT THE SOBERING CENTER. UH, THE CITY WON, BY THE WAY. UH, AND THERE'S NOT , THERE IS A PRESENTATION. THE COUNTY JUDGE IS COMING AT 1245 IF YOU WANNA JOIN US. UM, BUT I GREW UP A HUGE BASEBALL FAN. WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM AND THANK MR. BAYLOR JR. AND, AND THE COMMUNITY AND THE CHURCH FOR COMING THROUGH. UM, DON BAYLOR WAS AN AMAZING BASEBALL PLAYER. I ACTUALLY, AS A A AS A TEENAGER ONCE GOT A DON BAYLOR AWARD BECAUSE I WAS HIT BY PITCH THE MOST TIMES IN A YEAR . UM, YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY WAS HE AN AMAZING HITTER, AMAZING MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY, BUT HE WAS ALSO FEARLESS. AND HE WOULD STAND OVER THE PLATE IN A WAY WHERE PITCHERS WOULD TRY TO BRUSH HIM BACK AND HE DIDN'T CARE. UM, BUT I LIKE THAT, THAT KIND OF SPIRIT THAT, YOU KNOW, HE WAS FEARLESS AND, AND BOLD AND AND COURAGEOUS, AND SO I'M SO GLAD THAT WE GET TO HONOR HIM WITH THIS PARK. THANK YOU MAYOR DAM. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER BUR, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS. THANK YOU. I WAS EXPECTING TO HEAR THE MAYOR'S VOICE. , WE'VE GOT OUR MAYOR PRO TEM. I WANTED TO SPEAK BRIEFLY ABOUT ITEM NUMBER 57. I'M EXTREMELY PROUD TO BE PASSING THIS ITEM TODAY. UM, WE'VE HAD A COUPLE DIFFERENT CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR COMMUNITY OVER THE YEARS, YEARS ABOUT THE SAFETY OF KIDS GETTING TO AND FROM SCHOOL. AND NOT EVERY SCHOOL'S THE SAME. THERE IS A LOT OF DIFFERENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. I KNOW EVERYBODY THINKS OF A ISD, WHICH IS OUR BIGGEST ONE. UM, BUT WE HAVE, WE HAVE SCHOOL DISTRICTS ALL OVER THE CORNERS OF TOWN, AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT AS OUR CITY STAFF IS LOOKING AT THESE SITUATIONS, THEY'RE ABLE TO MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS POSSIBLE TO HELP, UH, WORK WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND TO HELP BRING THOSE SAFETY, UM, MEASURES TO OUR STUDENTS IN AUSTIN. AND I ALSO WANTED TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO KRISTA ON ITEM NUMBER 54. I, I THINK THIS IS A COMMON THEME ABOUT HOW TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR, OUR KIDS ARE GETTING TO AND FROM SCHOOL SAFELY, AND THAT THEY'RE SET UP FOR THE BEST SUCCESS MOVING FORWARD SO THAT THEY CAN FOCUS ON THEIR STUDIES AND ACHIEVE THEIR DREAMS. THANKS. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRY, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN. AND I DO HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, ALSO ON THE LIST. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, COLLEAGUES. ITEM 55. UM, IT, IT'S, UH, OUR MARKETING IFCI LIKE, EXCUSE ME. UH, THE ALLERGIES ARE KICKING MY BUTT, SO I, I WON'T BE ABLE TO SING FOR Y'ALL TODAY, BUT, UH, I LIKE TO REMIND FOLKS EVERY NOW AND THEN THAT THAT DISTRICT REPRESENTATION, IT'S STILL IN ITS INFANCY AND THAT I'M THE ONLY, I AM ONLY THE SECOND COUNCIL MEMBER TO COME OUT OF DISTRICT THREE. AND, BUT I KNOW THAT WE STILL STRUGGLE WITH SOME OF THE VESTIGES OF A TIME WHEN POWER IN THE CITY RESTED WITH THE HALS AND COMPLETELY WEST OF THE GREAT WALL OF AUSTIN. WE HAVE HUNDREDS, HUNDREDS OF GREAT COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, YET THERE ARE SO MANY FOLKS WHO I HEAR FROM ON THE DAILY THAT SAY, I DIDN'T KNOW Y'ALL OFFERED THAT. THERE ARE SO MANY CITY DEPARTMENTS DOING AMAZING WORK EVERY DAY. AND WE DO NOT AS A CITY DO A GREAT JOB OF TELLING THAT STORY AND OR TELLING IT TO THE PEOPLE. I BROUGHT THIS RESOLUTION TODAY IN AN EFFORT TO ENSURE THAT THE RESOURCES, THESE SERVICES, AND THE INFORMATION ARE RE REACHING THE RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN WHO MOST NEED THEM AND IN AN APPROPRIATE MANNER. I [01:25:01] THINK WE AS A CITY CAN DO A BETTER JOB OF MARKETING OUR PROGRAMS AND ACHIEVEMENTS TO FOLKS WHILE TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE LANGUAGE THEY SPEAK AND HOW THEY ACCESS INFORMATION. BECAUSE ALTHOUGH WE LIVE IN A VERY DIGITAL FIRST SOCIETY, WE STILL HAVE A LARGE POPULATION OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE RELIABLE INTERNET ACCESS THAT ARE NOT WATCHING A TXN RIGHT NOW AND ARE NOT SUBSCRIBED TO OUR NEWSLETTERS. THIS RESOLUTION, WHILE NOT GLAMOROUS, WILL HAVE A PROFOUND IMPACT ON OUR CITY. IT'S MEANT TO HELP US UNDERSTAND HOW WE'RE CURRENTLY REACHING OUR RESIDENTS, AND IT CREATES STANDARDS FOR HOW OUR CITY DAYLIGHTS WHAT IT OFFERS AND WHAT IT ACCOMPLISHES FOR ALL OF AUSTIN. I WANT TO THANK OUR COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE AND DEPUTY CITY MANAGER JOHN FORTUNE FOR ALL THEIR HELP ON THIS. ALSO, A HUGE THANK YOU TO MY CO-SPONSORS, MAYOR PRO TE FUENTES, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA, COUNCIL MEMBER RI AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN. AND THANK YOU TO MO COOPER WHO IS TRAVELING BACK TO AUSTIN RIGHT NOW FROM OUR OFFICE. BUT, UH, SHE IS, UH, OUR DISTRICT THREE POLICY ADVISOR FOR ALL OF HER DOGGED WORK ON THIS. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, CADRE FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, I'LL MAKE MY COMMENTS SUPER SHORT AND SWEET. I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT COUNCILMAN RYAN TER HAS BEEN DOING THIS WEEK. UM, I'M GLAD TO BE ON, ON HIS SIDE FOR, FOR EVERYTHING. UM, AND I'D LIKE TO BE AT AS A CO-SPONSOR FOR ITEMS 51 AND 52. WITHOUT OBJECTION, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE WILL BE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR OF ITEMS 51 AND 52. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER HARBOR MADISON. THANK YOU MAYOR. I HAVE A COUPLE OF ITEMS I WANNA FLAG AND SPEAK TO. THE FIRST IS ITEM SEVEN, THAT'S THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FOR SENIORS AND DISABLED. I WANNA BE INCREDIBLY CLEAR THAT I SUPPORT THIS HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FOR SENIOR AND DISABLED. HOWEVER, UH, THE ITEM I REALLY WANNA FLAG ABOUT THIS IS THAT IT'S LISTED AS HAVING NO FI UH, FISCAL IMPACT. AND I WOULD LIKE GOING FORWARD, IF POSSIBLE, FOR US TO BE A BIT MORE CLEAR ABOUT THE FUNDING MECHANISM SINCE AS WE'VE LEARNED, WE ARE PROPORTIONATELY INCREASING TAXES FOR EVERYBODY ELSE NOT IMPACTED. UH, AND THE SPECIFIC CHALLENGE HERE IS THAT WE'VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO AS YET ASCERTAIN EXACTLY HOW MUCH WE'VE CONVERSED WITH THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT. WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANALYSIS OF THE SHIFT OF THIS IMPACT. SO JUST GOING FORWARD, MY REQUEST IS TO STAFF TO HELP US PREPARE AND SHARE THAT KIND OF INFORMATION SO WE CAN MAKE FULLY INFORMED DECISIONS AND THAT CONSTITUENTS IN PARTICULAR UNDERSTAND THE FULL IMPACTS OF THESE POLICIES. UH, ON NINE TO 17, ON VOTING, NO ON, UH, THIS IS A RECURRING THEME. THIS IS ANOTHER, UH, HEAD SCRATCHING TECHNOLOGY CONTRACT WITH A VENDOR NAMED CARESOFT. CARESOFT IS ANOTHER NON AUSTIN AND NONT TEXAS VENDOR. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, UH, LESS THAN A YEAR AGO, THE FBI AND DEFENSE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION SERVICE LAUNCHED A JOINT RATE ON THE VENDOR'S REST IN VIRGINIA HEADQUARTERS. AND BEYOND THAT, WE ALSO LEARNED THAT CARAHSOFT IS FACING A FALSE CLAIMS ACT CASE INVOLVING THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT. OTHER AGENCIES THAT SEEK TO DETERMINE WHETHER THIS VENDOR HAS CONSPIRED WITH OTHER COMPANIES TO RIG BIDS, INFLATE PRICES, OVERCHARGE AND DEFRAUD THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AMONG OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES, UH, INCLUDING IN SELLING, YOU KNOW, VARIOUS SOFTWARE, CLOUD STORAGE AND OTHER HARDWARE AND SERVICES. SO I BELIEVE JUST IN GENERAL THERE HAVE GOTTA BE SOME OTHER CLOUD-BASED VENDORS WE CAN TURN TO FOR THIS KIND OF WORK. I WANT TO, UH, REITERATE WHAT WE'VE ALREADY HEARD ABOUT ITEM 55. I'M INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL TO COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ AND HIS TEAM FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS. I'M GRATEFUL TO BE INCLUDED AS A CO-SPONSOR. UH, LIKE HIM. I HEARTILY BELIEVE THAT COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING IS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY AND HOPEFULLY, UM, UH, HOPEFULLY THE REST OF MY COMMENTS ON THIS ARE ALREADY REFERENCED IN THE MESSAGE BOARD. AND FINALLY, LASTLY, I WANNA SPEAK TO ITEM 53, WHICH IS REGARDING THE RENAMING OF DISTRICT 10 WESTFIELD PARK TO THE DON BAYLOR NEIGHBORHOOD PARK. FIRST MY PROFOUND THANKS TO THE BAYLOR FAMILY, THE PASTOR, THE COACH, UH, THE COMMUNITY AND FRIENDS WHO HELPED MAKE THIS HAPPEN. WITHOUT THEM, IT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE. JUST AFTER I TOOK OFFICE BACK IN JANUARY, THE FAMILY, UH, OF THE LATE BASEBALL LEGEND AUSTIN NATIVE DON BAYLOR, REACHED OUT TO OUR OFFICE FOR SUPPORT IN RENAMING THIS PARK AND HIS HONOR. AND EVER SINCE, WE'VE VERY MUCH ENJOYED WORKING WITH, UH, DON'S WIDOW BECKY AND HIS SON DON JR. UH, AND THE WIDER COMMUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT THIS LEG, THIS LEGENDARY BASEBALL PLAYER, PHILANTHROPISTS AND CIVIL RIGHTS PIONEER. WE ARE SO PROUD TO BE ABLE TO BRING THIS ITEM TO THE COUNCIL TODAY. DON WAS BORN IN 1949. HE GREW UP IN OUR CLARKSVILLE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE HIS FAMILY REMAINS ACTIVE IN THE MINISTRY, WHICH YOU HEARD ABOUT SWEET HOME MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH. AS A YOUNG MAN, HE WAS DENIED ENTRY TO THE PARK. AND SO WE ARE RENAMING THAT. WE ARE RENAMING TODAY BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF HIS SKIN. DON WAS ONE OF THE FIRST THREE BLACK STUDENTS TO VOLUNTEER AND ATTEND ON HENRY JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, NOW KNOWN AS A HENRY MIDDLE SCHOOL, ALSO IN THE DISTRICT, UH, AND WAS INVOLVED IN INTEGRATING IT IN THE PROCESS. [01:30:01] AND A FEW YEARS LATER, HE WAS ALSO AUSTIN HIGH SCHOOL'S FIRST BLACK ATHLETE. DON WENT ON TO BASEBALL GREATNESS, PLAYING WITH SIX DIFFERENT MAJOR LEAGUE TEAMS OVER TWO DECADES. HE WON THE AMERICAN LEAGUE MVP AWARD IN 1979. HE PLAYED IN THREE CONSECUTIVE WORLD SERIES WITH THREE DIFFERENT TEAMS, INCLUDING THE 1987 CHAMPIONS, THE MINNESOTA TWINS. AND I JUST WANNA ADD, LIKE MY COLLEAGUE COUNCILMAN SIEGEL, UH, I'VE HAD A TASTE OF PLAYING BASEBALL IN THE LAST, UH, WEEK WITH THE CITY COUNTY GAME, UH, WHERE I CAN'T SAY IT WAS A VITAL PARTICIPANT IN THAT EFFORT TO WIN, UH, BUT I JUST WANNA REALLY UNDERSCORE IT'S ACTUALLY A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT THAN IT LOOKS. THESE ACHIEVEMENTS ARE NOT INSIGNIFICANT. THEY ARE ACTUALLY INCREDIBLY, INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO EARN. DON BECAME ONE OF THE FIRST LEAGUES BLACK MANAGERS SKIP BRING THE COLORADO ROCKIES IN CHICAGO CUBS AND WINNING THE NATIONAL LEAGUE MANAGER OF THE YEAR IN 1995. HE'S BEEN INDUCTED INTO THE COLORADO SPORTS HALL OF FAME, THE TEXAS SPORTS HALL OF FAME, AND THE TEXAS BASEBALL HALL OF FAME. HE ALSO HAS FOUNDED, AS FAR AS PHILANTHROPIC EFFORTS, THE ANNUAL 65 ROSES MEMORIAL CLASSIC GOLF TOURNAMENT, WHICH HAS RAISED MILLIONS OVER NEARLY FIVE DECADES FOR CYSTIC FIBROSIS RESEARCH AND TREATMENT. I THINK THIS HONOR IS RICHLY DESERVED. I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT JUST A COUPLE OF QUERY QUICK QUOTES FROM LETTERS OF SUPPORT THAT WE'VE GOTTEN FROM THE COMMUNITY, SOME OF WHICH ARE LISTED IN BACKUP FROM THE WEST AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION RENAMING WESTFIELD PARK FOR DON BAYLOR WOULD RECOGNIZE NOT ONLY HIS ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENTS, BUT ALSO HIS ROLE IN THE HISTORY OF CIVIL RIGHTS IN AUSTIN. IT WOULD CONNECT THE PARK TO THE STORY OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND OFFER A REMINDER OF HOW FAR WE AS A CITY HAVE COME WHILE STILL PROVIDING THE RECOGNITION OF THE CONTINUED NEED FOR WORK TO TOWARDS RACIAL EQUITY. AND FROM A DISTRICT 10 RESIDENT, KATHY TYLER, I WORKED IN CLARKSVILLE THROUGHOUT THE 1970S AND GOT TO KNOW MOST OF HIS RESIDENTS, INCLUDING DON BAYLOR AND HIS FAMILY. HE WAS A HERO TO ALL THE CHILDREN IN CLARKSVILLE. OLDER CLARKSVILLE RESIDENTS TOOK GREAT PRIDE IN HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND LOVED TO TALK ABOUT WATCHING HIM GROW UP. DON BAYLOR WAS NOT ALLOWED TO PLAY IN WESTFIELD PARK WHEN HE WAS GROWING UP IN CLARKSVILLE. BUT DESPITE THIS, HIS GENEROUS SPIRIT REMAINS UNHAMPERED. HE LOVED CLARKSVILLE, HE LOVED AUSTIN, ONE OF HIS FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN. HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICANS TO ATTEND O' HENRY AND AUSTIN HIGH PROVIDED INSPIRING EXAMPLE TO OTHER CHILDREN IN THE CLARKSVILLE AND THROUGHOUT AUSTIN AND WENT ON TO LIVE A LIFE OF ACHIEVEMENT AND FAME IN SPORTS AND THE PHILANTHROPIC WORLD. HIS GENEROUS SPIRIT WAS EVIDENT IN THE SCHOOL HALLS, ON THE FIELD AS A BASEBALL LEADER AND CHARITIES AS HE LED AND SUPPORTED AND IN THE SWEET HOME MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH FROM HIS EARLY YEARS TO THE VERY END OF HIS LIFE. RENAMING THE PARK IN HIS HONOR WOULD BE A TRIBUTE TO ALL OF AUSTIN FROM THE PARTS THAT ONCE EXCLUDED HIM TO THE PARTS THAT WELCOME HIM HOME AFTER A LONG CAREER. SO WE ARE JUST VERY HOPEFUL THIS ITEM HAS, WILL BE APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY ON CONSENT AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO INCLUDING EVERYBODY IN A CELEBRATION OF HIS LIFE AND LEADERSHIP A LITTLE BIT LATER. UH, TODAY WHEN WE PLAN ON UNVEILING, UH, WELL CERTAINLY LATER TODAY FOR SOME PHOTOS AND THEN LATER THIS YEAR WHEN WE PLAN ON UNVEILING THE PARKS SIGNAGE. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, UH, BEING ABLE TO PRESENT THAT. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN. COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON. THANK YOU MR. MAYOR. I APPRECIATE IT AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN, YOU SAID A LOT OF WHAT I WOULD OTHERWISE SAY AND SO WE CAN STAY ON TRACK BY ME JUST SAYING DITTO. UM, SO ITEM NUMBER SEVEN. WOO-HOO. UM, ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED US TO RECOGNIZE HERE, I THINK A LOT OF FOLKS WHO'VE NEVER OWNED A HOME, THAT THAT TAX EXEMPTION REALLY IS A BIG DEAL. WHEN YOU GET THAT TAX BILL EVERY YEAR REALLY IS A BARRIER FOR A LOT OF FOLKS. SO THIS IS A BIG DEAL. I'M REALLY HAPPY ABOUT IT. UH, DON BAYLOR PARK. UM, THANK YOU BAYLOR FAMILY. I DON'T THINK I'M GONNA BE ABLE TO BE HERE FOR THE CELEBRATION, LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, WHO IS WAY MORE OF A G THAN I AM. I'M ABOUT TO SWITCH TO VIRTUAL Y'ALL. THESE ALLERGIES ARE ABOUT TO TAKE MY WHOLE FACE AND WALK IT DOWN CESAR CHAVEZ. SO I WON'T BE HERE FOR THE CELEBRATION, BUT I JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS THAT I'M REALLY PROUD AND HAPPY TO BE A PART OF THE CELEBRATION AND THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. UM, IN OUR TOWN. I WAS STANDING OUT IN MY GARDEN THE OTHER DAY AND THERE WAS A LADY WHO WALKED PAST AND MY BACK WAS TO HER, BUT LIKE IT WAS SO OLD BLACK AUSTIN, SHE SAID, YEAH, GIRL, THAT'S WHERE IT SAT BECAUSE SHE WAS ADMIRING MY GARDEN. AND THEN SO I TURNED AROUND, I WAS LIKE, THIS IS BLACK PEOPLE STUFF. I TURNED AROUND. AND SO WE STARTED CHATTING AND SHE EXPLAINED TO ME THAT SHE WAS VISITING FROM LAS CRUCES, NEW MEXICO. UM, MS. GLOVER, HI, UM, SHE WAS VISITING FROM LAS CRUCES, NEW MEXICO AND WAS TAKING A WALKING TOUR OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD 'CAUSE SHE WANTED TO SEE ALL THE SIDEWALKS THAT HER GRANDFATHER BUILT. SO IF YOU'RE IN EAST AUSTIN AND YOU SEE THOSE SIDEWALKS THAT HAVE, IT SAYS A NAME AT THE BOTTOM, M-A-U-I-S. THAT WAS HER GRANDFATHER. SO SHE WAS GOING AROUND JUST LOOKING FOR AND TAKING PICTURES, CAPTURING IMAGES OF HER GRANDFATHER'S WORK. AND SO WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT OLD SCHOOL. I SAID, BUT YOU AIN'T REALLY FROM THE EAST SIDE IF YOU AIN'T NEVER SAID EAST SIDE. AND SO SHE SAID IT REALLY LOUDLY. SHE WAS THIS PERFECTLY LOVELY LIKE PUT TOGETHER SOPHISTICATED LADY OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET CLOWNING WITH ME ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON. IT WAS DELIGHTFUL. AND IT REMINDED ME, WE ALWAYS HAVE TO REMEMBER WHILE WE APPRECIATE [01:35:01] AND ARE ALSO PROUD, YOU KNOW, I HEARD SOMEBODY TALK, NIKKI INTERVIEWED ME THE OTHER DAY AND SHE WAS LIKE, I SAW SOMEBODY IN CHICAGO WHO WAS LIKE, EAST AUSTIN'S SO PROUD, RIGHT? WE'RE ALSO PROUD, BUT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER WHERE WE CAME FROM. IT'S CRITICAL. SO I FOUND MYSELF A LITTLE FRUSTRATED ON TUESDAY 'CAUSE WE MAKE REFERENCE TO THE 1928 MASTER PLAN FREQUENTLY. BUT WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE REAL IMPACT. WE TRADED SLAVES IN THIS CITY. THIS CITY DECISION MAKERS ACTIVELY GOT TOGETHER AND MADE A PLAN. THE BLACK PEOPLE AND THE BROWN PEOPLE HAVE TO LIVE OVER THERE IF THEY WANNA GET THEIR TRASH PICKED UP AND GET THEIR WATER HOOKED UP AND GET UTILITIES, THAT IS REAL. THAT IS AUSTIN TOO. SO DON'T KEEP IT WEIRD AND CLAIM ALL THE GOOD STUFF AND THEN DISREGARD THE BAD STUFF. CHERRY PICKING DON'T WORK WHEN IT COMES TO RECONCILIATION. SO WHEN WE'RE NOT CHERRY PICKING AND ACTIVELY ACKNOWLEDGING WHO WE ARE AS A CITY, I APPRECIATE SOME OF OUR SPEAKERS TODAY POINTING OUT WHO WE ARE AS A CITY. WE HAVE TO BE ALL OF THOSE THINGS. SO WHEN Y'ALL CALL US THE CITY COUNCIL, SOMETIMES I AGREE, SOMETIMES I WANNA GO BUY A BAG OF NOSES AND ALL OF US WEAR ONE 'CAUSE YOU NOT WRONG. SOMETIMES THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THOUGH, WHEN WE GET THE OPPORTUNITY LIKE THIS TO MAKE IT RIGHT, I APPRECIATE IT BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT MR. BAYLOR'S FAMILY, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT BLACK PEOPLE, IT'S ABOUT AUSTIN. I HAD SOMEBODY SAY TO ME ONE TIME, HOW WAS YOUR JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION? I THOUGHT IT WAS GREAT. I WENT TO LIKE NINE THINGS. WHAT'D YOU DO TODAY? SHE SAID, OH NO, THAT'S NOT MY HOLIDAY. THE WHAT I'M A BLACK AMERICAN JUNETEENTH IS CELEBRATING THE LIBERATION OF BLACK AMERICANS. IT'S JUST AS MUCH ABOUT YOU AS IT IS ABOUT ME. BLACK PEOPLE STUFF IS NOT JUST BLACK PEOPLE STUFF. IT'S AUSTIN STUFF, IT'S TEXAS STUFF. IT'S USA STUFF. BLACK PEOPLE ARE AMERICANS. THIS IS ALL OF OURS. SO WE ARE ALL CELEBRATING THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT, BUT A SPECIAL SKIN FOLK ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT WHEN OUR CITY DOES RIGHT AND ACKNOWLEDGES WHAT WE DID WRONG. I APPRECIATE IT. UM, AND SO LASTLY, SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL. I APPRECIATE THAT MS. JOSEPH ASKED THE QUESTION, WOULD I WALK MY KIDS DOWN A DARK BLOCK TO GET TO SCHOOL? NO IS THE ANSWER. UM, I WOULD FIND A SAFE WAY. AND THAT SAID, YOU ARE NOT WRONG. HERE'S MY CLOWN NOSE, YOU'RE NOT WRONG. UM, AND I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO US DOING MORE. I APPRECIATE SAFE FRAUDS AND I APPRECIATE VERY MUCH COUNCIL MEMBER LANG. UH, CONGRATULATIONS. I REMEMBER THAT FIRST ONE. IT HIT DIFFERENT. IT WAS NICE. AND SO I APPRECIATE THE CONSIDERATION AROUND ALL THE THINGS THAT OUR CHILDREN ENCOUNTER ON THEIR ROUTE TO SCHOOL. UM, AND SO I HOPE THAT AS WE CONTINUE THAT DISCUSSION AND EXPAND THAT DISCUSSION, THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF THAT A LOT OF KIDS IN NEIGHBORHOODS SEE ON THEIR WAY TO SCHOOL THAT THEY SHOULDN'T. AND, UM, I'LL LEAVE IT THERE. I JUST HOPE WE GET TO EXPAND ON THE DISCUSSION. UM, AND THEN THE LAST THING I'D LIKE TO SAY IS, UM, ALSO ONE OF OUR, UM, SPEAKERS THIS AFTERNOON MADE REFERENCE TO TAM HAWKINS BEING, UM, APPOINTED TO THE URBAN RENEWAL BOARD. FOR FOLKS WHO DON'T KNOW, THE URBAN RENEWAL AGREEMENT WAS AN AGREEMENT THAT WAS FEDERALLY MANDATED. IT WAS INTENDED TO ADDRESS SLUM AND BLIGHT. THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS, THOUGH, THAT SLUM AND BLIGHT EXISTED WHERE BLACK PEOPLE EXISTED. SO IT EQUATED TO BLACK PEOPLE BEING SYNONYMOUS WITH SLUM AND BLIGHT. SO A LOT OF BLACK FOLKS CALL URBAN RENEWAL, URBAN REMOVAL BECAUSE AS IT WAS APPLIED, THEY DEPARTED EITHER VOLUNTARILY OR BY WAY OF IMMINENT DOMAIN. LET'S KEEP IT REAL. AND SO THAT SAID, THE URBAN RENEWAL BOARD IS THE AGENCY THAT'S ASSIGNED AS THE STEWARD TO EXECUTE THE URBAN RENEWAL AGREEMENT, WHICH FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES TO MS. JOSEPH'S POINT, THEY'VE, THEY'VE EXECUTED EVERYTHING THAT THEY CAME HERE TO DO. SO, LONG STORY SHORT, THANK YOU TO TAM HAWKINS FOR BEING, UM, WILLING TO SERVE ON THIS BOARD. AND JUST FOR THE SAKE OF FULL DISCLOSURE, I I WAS ADDRESSING WHETHER OR NOT WE NEED THIS BOARD BACK IN 2019. I'M GONNA READDRESS THAT IN 2025. UM, BECAUSE FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES WHY WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS AND TIME OF THESE VOLUNTEER. AND I'M TALKING ABOUT THESE ARE LONG MEETINGS. THESE ARE NOT LIKE AN HOUR LONG. YOU DID YOUR DUTY. THESE ARE LIKE THREE, FOUR HOUR LONG MEETINGS EVERY MONTH. THESE PEOPLE ARE REALLY DEDICATING A LOT OF TIME TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT AS WE CLOSE OUT THE ASSIGNMENT THAT WAS THE URBAN RENEWAL AGREEMENT, WE ARE CLOSING IT OUT WITH THE DISPOSITION OF BLOCK 16 AND 18. THAT'S THE LAST OF IT. THAT'S THE LAST OF WHAT THEY CAME HERE TO DO. THERE'S LITERALLY NO OTHER LOTS FOR THEM TO GOVERN. UM, AND ESSENTIALLY WHAT THEY WERE HERE TO DO WAS MAKE CERTAIN THAT AS WE EXECUTE URBAN RENEWAL, WE DON'T PERPETUATE REMOVAL. AND SO I APPRECIATE THEIR EFFORTS, BUT I DO THINK IT'S TIME FOR US AS A MUNICIPALITY TO START LOOKING AT SOME OF OUR, TO THE, THE POINT THAT [01:40:01] ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES MADE EARLIER, SOME OF OUR SYSTEMS, SOME OF OUR SERVICES, SOME OF OUR STUFF, IT'S ANTIQUATED AND YOU KNOW, FRANKLY, OBSOLETE AT THIS POINT. LIKE, IF WE DON'T NEED IT ANYMORE, WE COULD TAKE THOSE RESOURCES AND ALLOCATE THEM ELSEWHERE. SO I HOPE, YOU KNOW, AS WE ARE TIGHTENING THE BUDGET, THAT WE LOOK AT ALL THE WAYS THAT WE COULD SAVE MONEY, INCLUDING, UM, EXTENDING, UH, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO BOARDS AND BODIES AND COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES THAT WE DON'T NEED ANYMORE. UM, SO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY. I REALLY APPRECIATE IF YOU KNOW, I KNOW WHY Y'ALL ARE HERE, BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE LOOKING OUT INTO THAT AUDIENCE AND SEEING BLACK PEOPLE THAT DON'T WORK FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN. SO THANK YOU'ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER MEMBERS, THOSE BEING ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WISH TO BE, UH, PART OF THE DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED. IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO ABSTAIN FROM A VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN RECUSING THEMSELVES FROM A VOTE ON ANY ITEM THAT'S ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO. COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN ITEM ITEM SET. COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN WISHES TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON ITEM 17. ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON A CONSENT AGENDA ITEM THAT BEING THE CASE, THE WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN BEING SHOWN VOTING NO ON ITEM NUMBER 17. MEMBERS WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL RECESS THE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AT 11:41 AM AND I WILL, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE ARE RECESSED AT 1141. I WILL NOW [10:30 AM - Austin Housing Finance Corporation Meeting] CALL TO ORDER THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION. UH, IT IS 1141. WE HAVE A QUORUM OF THE BOARD PRESENT MEETING IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT CITY HALL AT 3 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET. UM, Y'ALL ARE WELCOME TO STAY . GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, MANDY DE MAYO, UH, CITY OF AUSTIN HOUSING DEPARTMENT AND TREASURER OF AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION. WE JUST HAVE ONE THING ON TODAY'S AGENDA THAT I OFFER ON CONSENT AND THAT ITEM IS AUTHORIZED. THANK YOU. WHAT FOLKS? FOLKS, I KNOW WE'RE HAPPY AND IT'S GOOD, BUT UH, I NEED YOU TO LET US CONTINUE BUSINESS. WE GOT A LOT OF BUSINESS TODAY, SO PLEASE TAKE YOUR CONVERSATIONS OUTSIDE. THANK YOU. THIS ITEM ON CONSENT IS AUTHORIZING STAFF TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE FORMATION OF A HFC 5 0 1 C3 NONPROFIT CORPORATION ALLOWING US TO, UH, CREATE THE BYLAWS AND APPOINT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND FORM AFFILIATE 5 0 1 C3 ORGANIZATIONS UNDERNEATH, UH, THAT A HFC 5 0 1 C3 CORPORATION. YES, MA'AM. OFFERED ON CONSENT. HAPPY TO HAVE QUESTION. HAVE ANY QUESTIONS MR. MANUEL? I'LL TURN TO THE CITY. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL. FOLKS, I REALLY DO NEED Y'ALL TO TAKE YOUR CONVERSATIONS OUTSIDE. THANK YOU. UH, IF YOU'RE TALKING YOU PROBABLY CAN'T HEAR ME, CAN YOU? NOT GONNA DO ME ANY GOOD. GO . UH, THANK YOU. UH, DIRECTOR SLASH UH, TREASURER. I GUESS IF YOU COULD JUST EXPLAIN A LITTLE MORE, UH, WHAT YOU THINK THE BENEFIT OF THIS, UH, 5 0 3 WOULD BE. THIS IS EFFECTIVELY, AND I DO HAVE OUR LEGAL COUNSEL HERE, SHEA KACKLEY, WHO COULD PROBABLY EXPLAIN THIS MORE ELOQUENTLY, BUT THIS IS A EFFECTIVELY CREATING AN UMBRELLA NPC ORGANIZATION AND THEN OUR INDIVIDUAL NONPROFIT CORPORATIONS, UH, IN WHICH WE, UH, HAVE INDIVIDUAL PROPERTIES THAT A HFC IS THE GENERAL PARTNER. THOSE FALL UNDER THE UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION. SO IT'S CREATING AN ADDITIONAL, UM, LAYER BETWEEN A HFC, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE A HFC MPCS INDIVIDUAL MPCS. AND DOES IT MAKE IT EASIER TO RAISE MONEY, UH, FOR CERTAIN TYPES OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING? YOU KNOW WHAT, WHAT KIND OF THE BENEFIT? UH, THE BENEFIT AND HERE COMES MY ATTORNEY TO, TO TELL US THE BENEFITS. IT DOES NOT IMPACT OUR ABILITY TO RAISE FUNDS OR DEPLOY FUNDS. GOOD MORNING SHAIK ACCOLADE, DEPUTY GENERAL COUNSEL. UH, THE MAIN BENEFIT IS WE'RE GONNA GO AFTER THE SET ASIDE ALLOCATION FOR TAX CREDITS. WE NEED A 5 0 1 C3 IN ORDER TO DO THAT. SO IT'S GONNA GIVE US ANOTHER LEVER TO PULL IN ORDER TO GET FUNDS FOR, FOR HOUSING. THAT'S THE MAIN BENEFIT. BUT ALSO WE CAN CREATE SUB H UH, SUB 5 0 1 C THREES UNDER IT TO BE GENERAL CONTRACTORS. LIKE MANNY SAID, WE'RE ON ON PROPERTY. THIS GIVES US A FLEXIBILITY TO CREATE THESE ENTITIES AS SINGLE ASSET ENTITIES TO PROTECT HC AND ITS ASSETS. THANK YOU. GREAT. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS TO STAFF? UH, CITY CLERK? DO WE HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS? UH, AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS ITEM? YES. WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER, ZENOBIA JOSEPH ON A HFC ITEM ONE. MS. JOSEPH, DO YOU HAVE THE MICROPHONE? THANK YOU, MAYOR COUNCIL, I'M ZENOBIA JOSEPH. I WANNA THANK, UH, MIKE SIEGEL FOR ASKING THE QUESTION. SPECIFICALLY [01:45:01] I'M IN OPPOSITION TO THIS ITEM AND WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT ONCE AGAIN, MANDY DE MAYO SHOULD RESIGN. IF YOU LOOKING BACK UP, YOU WILL SEE THAT THIS NONPROFIT WILL HAVE NO MEMBERS. SO IT LACKS TRANSPARENCY. THE PUBLIC WON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING. I JUST WANNA REMIND YOU ABOUT THE PROPAGANDA. IT WAS MANDY DE MAYO WHO OVERSEES THE $300 MILLION THAT COUNCIL APPROVED NOVEMBER 3RD, 2020 FOR PROJECT CONNECT. THERE IS NO LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM GOING NORTH OF US. 180 3 AND NOT EVEN THE GREEN LINE HAS EVER BEEN FUNDED. IT WAS 24 TO 30 YEARS FOR THE RAIL TO EVEN GO NORTH. LAMAR TO TECH RIDGE PARK AND RIDE. MARCH 9TH, 2020, PAGE 29 OF THE DOCUMENT. I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE, THIS IS WHAT I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT ALL DAY. YOU'LL SEE THE DISCONNECT ON THE LEFT SIDE. IT'S JUST GRAY ON THE RIGHT IS WHERE THE NETWORK IS, BUT MANDY MAYO WANTS US TO BELIEVE THAT SOMEHOW OR ANOTHER THERE'S ANTI DISPLACEMENT NEEDED IN NORTHEAST AUSTIN. SENATOR JANE NELSON AT THE TIME WAS THE FINANCE CHAIR AND SHE ACTUALLY HELPED TO KILL THE DOWNTOWN TUNNEL BILL WHEN I TOLD HER ABOUT TITLE SIX OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT IN 1964, WHICH PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN, AND TOLD HER IF THEY PASSED HOUSE BILL 3 8 9 3, THEY WOULD JEOPARDIZE THE STATE'S FUNDING. THIS PARTICULAR NONPROFIT HAS TO GO TO SENATOR JANE NELSON, FORMER SENATOR NOW SECRETARY OF STATE. I'M GONNA ASK HER TO REVOKE IT. IF YOU LOOK AT THE BOTTOM, YOU'LL SEE THERE ARE FEWER THAN 10 AFFORDABLE HOMES. WERE IN DISTRICTS FIVE, SIX, AND EIGHT. NEXT SLIDE AND 10. IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, YOU'LL SEE THIS IS WHAT BLACK PEOPLE LOOK LIKE ON A DAILY BASIS. ON THE RIGHT IS WHERE YOU APOLOGIZE. NEXT SLIDE. AND THIS IS WHERE THE HYDE PARK IS STRICTLY FOR WHITE PEOPLE, BUT THIS IS WHAT MANDY TO MALE PUT BEFORE US 80 TO 120% AREA MEDIA INCOME AT CRESTVIEW STATION NOT TO SERVE THE PEOPLE, BLACK PEOPLE WHO EARN ABOUT $42,000, NOT THE HISPANICS $50,000. ACCORDING TO YOUR NOVEMBER, 2020 REPORT OF THE MINORITY CHAMBERS. SHE IS NOT HELPING US. AND LASTLY, I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GLADLY ANSWER. THANK YOU MS. JOSEPH. APPRECIATE, APPRECIATE YOU. THAT CONCLUDES A HFC SPEAKERS MEMBERS. THERE ARE NO NO OTHER SPEAKERS ON THE ONE ITEM ON CONSENT. UH, THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. UH, THE VICE CHAIR, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MOVES APPROVAL. IT'S SECONDED BY, UH, BOARD MEMBER HARPER MADISON MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO ABSTAIN FROM A VOTE ON THIS ITEM? ANYONE WISHING TO RECUSE THEMSELVES FROM A VOTE ON THIS ITEM? ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON THIS ITEM WITHOUT OBJECTION? THE CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MR. MAYO. WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL ADJOURN THE MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION. THERE BEING NO OBJECTION. WE ARE ADJOURNED AT 11:47 AM AND AT 11:47 AM I WILL CALL BACK TO ORDER THE, UH, MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AND MEMBERS. WE WILL GO TO ITEM, UH, JUST SO THAT YOU'LL KNOW, UH, UN UNTIL WE GET TO [59. Approve a resolution authorizing the filing of eminent domain proceedings and payment to acquire the property interests needed for the Williamson Creek Interceptor project for the public use of replacing and maintaining a wastewater tunnel to increase capacity for future growth in the Williamson Creek basin, requiring the acquisition of an access easement being approximately 0.22 acres (9,463 square feet) of land, situated in the Santiago Del Valle Grant, Abstract No. 24, Austin, Travis County, Texas, being a portion of Lot 1A of the Amended Plat of Lots 1 and 2, Block A, Ogden Farms Subdivision Amended, a subdivision recorded as Document Number 201600308 of the Official Public Records of Travis County, Texas, currently appraised at $386,509 subject to an increase in value based on updated appraisals, a Special Commissioner’s award, negotiated settlement, or judgment. The owner of the needed property is HAG RE CDT, LLC, a Nevada limited liability company. The property is located at 5501 South Interstate Highway 35, Austin, Texas 78744. The general route of the project is along Williamson Creek, from South 1st Street to South Pleasant Valley Road, with numerous tie-in cutovers throughout to connect local wastewater flows to the new tunnel. Funding: $386,509 is available in the Capital Budget of Austin Water.] OUR 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, I'M GONNA GO WITH ITEMS 59 66, 62 AND 63, 59, 66, 62 AND 63. ITEM NUMBER 59 IS AN IMMINENT DOMAIN ITEM. LET ME, UM, ASK IF THERE'S ANYONE THAT'S SIGNED UP ON ITEM NUMBER 59. THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON ITEM 59 MEMBERS. THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS. ON ITEM NUMBER 59, THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE HIS MOTIONS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE. IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA. IS THERE DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER 59 MEMBERS? THE MOTION THAT COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE MADE AND WAS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, VELA IS THAT THIS IS A NON-CONSENT CONDEMNATION ITEM AND THE MOTION IS TO THE EFFECT THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF AUSTIN AUTHORIZES THE USE OF THE POWER OF IMMINENT DOMAIN TO ACQUIRE THE PROPERTY THAT'S SET FORTH AND DESCRIBED IN THE AGENDA FOR THIS CURRENT MEETING AND FOR THE PUBLIC USE THAT'S DESCRIBED THEREIN. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION. ITEM NUMBER 59 AS I'VE READ, THE MOTION IS ADOPTED. THAT WILL TAKE US TO ITEM NUMBER 66 [66. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance on first reading regarding the application submitted by PHI Health LLC, d/b/a PHI Air Medical, for a non-emergency medical transfer services franchise under City Code Chapter 10-2 (Emergency Medical Services). Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.] MEMBERS. ITEM NUMBER 66 IS A PUBLIC HEARING WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 66. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK. IS THERE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 66? THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON 66 MEMBERS. THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 66. I WILL ENTERTAIN. SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 66. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO, TO ADOPT THE ORDINANCE TO SET FORTH IN ITEM NUMBER 66. IS THERE MOTION MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, IS THERE A DISCUSSION ON THE ITEM? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION. ITEM NUMBER 66 IS ADOPTED. WE WILL NOW GO TO ITEM NUMBER [62. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance granting additional floor-to-area ratio entitlements to the 701 West 6th Street project at 701 and 709 West 6th Street and 512 Rio Grande Street in accordance with the Downtown Density Bonus Program under City Code Section 25-2-586(B)(6). Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.] 62. WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 62. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK ON [01:50:01] ITEM 62. WE HAVE RICHARD SUBTLE. MR. SUBTLE, DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 62? I DON'T SEE HIM. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? THERE ARE NO OTHER SPEAKERS ON ITEM 62. THERE BEING NO OTHER SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 62 WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 62. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED AND I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER 62. MOTION MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER S ELLIS TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 62. IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ DISCUSSION ON ITEM 62. HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION. ITEM NUMBER 62 IS ADOPTED MEMBERS. WE WILL NOW [63. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance to amend City Code Title 25 (Land Development) provisions that apply to the City’s S.M.A.R.T. Housing Program to modify median family income (MFI) requirements and eligibility criteria for fee waivers; allow for income averaging; and remove provisions applicable to other density bonus programs, community land trusts, and specific areas of the city for the required affordability period. Fiscal impact: This item has no fiscal impact.] GO TO ITEM NUMBER 63. UH, IT'S ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING WITHOUT OBJECTION. I WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 63. THERE BEING NO OBJECTION WE'RE THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK. WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER, DANIELA SILVA ON ITEM 63. MS. SILVA, ARE YOU HERE? STILL? HERE, MS. SILVA. ALL RIGHT. IS ANYBODY ELSE SIGNED UP? NO MORE SPEAKERS. THERE BEING NO OTHER SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 63. WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED. COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ MOVES APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 63. IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON 63? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, COLLEAGUES, THIS IS, UH, THIS ITEM 63 IS GOD MY VOICE IS KILLING ME. ITEM 63 IS A SMART HOUSING ITEM. THIS IS PHASE TWO. THE PHASE TWO REPORT BACK OF A RESOLUTION THAT I BROUGHT LAST SUMMER, UH, UH, EXCUSE ME, IN THE SUMMER OF 2023. UH, THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS INCLUDED IN THIS THAT I'M EXTREMELY EXCITED ABOUT. ONE OF 'EM IS, UH, THE AMENDMENT THAT LOWERS THE ELIGIBLE MFI FOR RENTAL PROPERTIES FROM 80 TO 60%. UM, LIKE Y'ALL KNOW, LAND VALUES IN THE CITY ARE SKY HIGH AND SALARY AND HOUSING COSTS ARE NOT KEEPING PACE WITH THEM. UM, THE FOLKS THAT KEEP OUR CITY MOVING CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE IN THE CITY THAT THEY SERVE. I'M, UH, JUST PROUD OF THE WORK THAT THIS DIOCESE HAS DONE OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS, BUT WE HAVE A A LOT MORE TO DO. AND I FULLY SUPPORT PLANNING COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION TO BRING THE AFFORDABILITY PERIOD REQUIREMENTS IN LINE WITH OUR OTHER PROGRAMS AT 40 YEARS FOR RENTAL AND 99 FOR OWNERSHIP. FIVE YEARS JUST IS NOT ENOUGH. UH, WE NEED LONG-TERM INCOME PROTECTED PLACES FOR PEOPLE. UM, AND SO IN, IN ADDITION TO THAT, ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHEN STAFF COMES BACK AND WE GET THE THIRD ROUND OF RECOMMENDATIONS IS MEANINGFUL CAPITAL IMPACT FEE WAIVERS OR REDUCTIONS FOR FULLY AFFORDABLE LONG-TERM DEVELOPMENTS. UM, AS THEY'RE ASSESSING THE PROGRAM UPDATES, I URGE OUR HOUSING STAFF TO BRING AUSTIN ENERGY AND AUSTIN WATER F AND AUSTIN WATER FOLKS TO THE TABLE ESPECIALLY TO SEE IF WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO EASE THE BURDENS ON THESE KINDS OF PROJECTS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE THEN. UH, THE, THE MOTION IS ADOPTED MEMBERS THAT WILL NOW TAKE US, UH, THE ORDER. I'M GONNA GO IN. I'M, I'M, AS YOU CAN TELL, I'M LOOKING AT THE 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, UH, WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS GO WITH ITEM NUMBER 61 AND THEN ITEM NUMBER 60. WELL, LET ME ASK, IS ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 64? THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON ITEM 64. ALRIGHT, ITEM NUMBER 64, AS YOU RECALL, HAS BEEN POSTPONED, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THERE WERE NO SPEAKERS TO SPEAK ON THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT. SO WE'LL NOW GO TO ITEM NUMBER 61, [61. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance granting site-specific variances and amendments to City Code Title 25 (Land Development) for the construction of the Walnut Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant Enhancement and Expansion Project; waiving notice and review requirements of City Code Section 25-1-502; and waiving requirements of City Code Section 25-8-41. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.] WHICH IS ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING. WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK. FIRST SPEAKER IS BILL BUNCH. NEXT SPEAKER IS BOBBY LAVINSKY. HE HAS HIS, UM, TIME DONATED FROM MR. WHALEY WHO IS PRESENT. SO MR. LEVINSKY, WE WILL HAVE FOUR MINUTES. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNSEL. UM, ITEM 61 IS A SITE SPECIFIC ORDINANCE TO CLEAR THE WAY FOR THE BILLION DOLLAR EXPANSION OF THE WALNUT CREEK WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT. THIS ORDINANCE WAVES COMPLIANCE WITH THE SITE PLAN REGULATIONS AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL VARIANCE PROCESSES, UH, TO EXPAND THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT FROM 75 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY TO A HUNDRED MILLION GALLONS PER DAY. THIS EXPANSION WAS THE PRIMARY DRIVER FOR THE CITY'S MOST RECENT INCREASES IN THE WATER UTILITY RATES. AND IT REFLECTS ONE OF THOSE DECISIONS THAT ATTACH WEIGHTS TO DRAG DOWN THE CONSERVATION EFFORTS THAT THE CITY TRIES TO DO. AS IT REMOVES ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT BENEFITS TO CONSERVATION, AVOIDING EXPENSIVE INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE THIS. IF WE COLLECTIVELY USE LESS WATER, WE SEND LESS WATER DOWNSTREAM TO BE TREATED. THOUGH MY COMMENTS WILL BE DIRECTED MORE ON THE ORDINANCE ITSELF. WE CONTINUE TO OBJECT TO THIS PROPOSED EXPANSION TO BOTH ITS SCALE, TO ITS TIMING, AND TO ITS DISTRACTION FROM THE CONSERVATION EFFORTS THAT ARE NEEDED TO RESPOND TO CLIMATE, TO AUSTIN'S CLIMATE CRISIS. WHEN THIS ITEM WENT BEFORE THE, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION ABOUT A MONTH AGO, IT HAD ABOUT TWO HOURS OF DIALOGUE. UM, THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION REALLY CONSIDERED THE ITEM. UM, THEY MADE 14 DIFFERENT RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THEY ASKED THE WAS WATER UTILITY TO RESPOND TO. UM, AS A REMINDER, THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION IS THE BODY THAT, UH, IS RESPONSIBLE [01:55:01] FOR REVIEWING ENVIRONMENTAL VARIANCES. SO WHEN YOU'RE BYPASSING THE ENVIRONMENTAL VARIANCE PROCESS THROUGH THESE ORDINANCES THAT KIND OF PRE-AUTHORIZED THE APPROVALS, YOU'RE ACTUALLY KIND OF REMOVING THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AND PUBLIC OVERSIGHT LATER IN THE PROCESS WHERE WE'RE LOOKING AT THE ACTUAL SITE PLANS BEING BROUGHT FORWARD AND HOW IT RELATES TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL CRITERIA, THE FINDINGS OF FACT THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL VARIANCES. SO THIS IS A ONE AND DONE DECISION. LIKE THIS DECISION WILL BE WHAT IS DECIDED, WHAT'S BUILT IN THIS SITE FOR YEARS TO COME. IT'LL DECIDE THE IMPACTS TO WALNUT CREEK. IT WILL DECIDE THE IMPACTS TO THE COLORADO RIVER. SO I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS FOR, UM, ASKING IN THE Q AND A TO GET A RESPONSE TO, TO THE, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS. HOWEVER, THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE A Q AND A THAT SHOULD ALREADY BE IN THAT BACKUP MATERIAL BECAUSE THERE SHOULD BE A PROCESS WHERE THE, UM, THE PROJECT IS BEING, UM, IT'S GOING THROUGH THE ENVIRON, THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PROCESS. THERE SHOULD BE RESPONSES TO WHAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION SAYS. UM, IF YOU LOOK AT THE ACTUAL RESPONSES THAT WERE GIVEN, THEY'RE STILL PRETTY NON-RESPONSIVE. UM, I SENT A CHART YESTERDAY THAT KIND OF WALKED THROUGH EACH ONE OF THOSE 14 RECOMMENDATIONS AND HOW THEY WERE OR WERE NOT RESPONDED TO, UM, IN THE ACTION THAT'S ACTUALLY BEFORE YOU. SO I WANNA EMPHASIZE HERE IS WHETHER OR NOT WE, WE TRUST THE CURRENT STAFF COMMITMENTS TODAY, STAFF CHANGES OVER TIME. WE CHANGE OVER TIME. AND WHAT ALL WE CAN RELY ON IS WHAT'S ACTUALLY IN THE ORDINANCE ITSELF, THE LANGUAGE THAT'S ACTUALLY IN THE ORDINANCE, AND A LOT OF THE COMMITMENTS THAT WERE MADE IN RESPONSE TO THE Q AND A ARE NOT ACTUALLY REFLECTED IN THE ORDINANCE. SO I WOULD ASK YOU TO GET THOSE COMMITMENTS PUT INTO THE ORDINANCE. UM, I'M GONNA JUST GO OVER A FEW OF THEM, JUST KIND OF THE HIGH LEVEL ONES. UM, SO RECOMMENDATIONS ONE AND TWO ESSENTIALLY ARE, UH, LET'S INCREASE WATER CONSERVATION. THAT'S GETTING TO THE OVERALL POINT HERE. WE CAN AVOID THESE MASSIVE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS IF WE JUST KIND OF EXPEDITE SOME OF OUR WATER CONSERVATION METHODS. THIS COUNCIL'S DONE A GREAT JOB WITH WATER CONSERVATION, BUT EVEN WITH THE EFFORTS THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN, WE'RE STILL BEHIND AND WE'RE, WE STILL HAVE THESE PROLONGED DROUGHTS THAT ARE GONNA CONTINUE TO OCCUR. WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO GROW. MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE GONNA BE DEMANDING OUR WATER. WE'VE NOW GOT DATA CENTERS THAT ARE TRYING TO BURN, BURN UP OUR WATER. UM, AND THEN WE'VE GOT, UM, UH, RECOMMENDATION THREE. UH, THAT'S ABOUT THE NUTRIENT REMOVAL. SO AS PART OF THE CONVERSATION, IT WAS DISCLOSED THAT, UM, THE OVERALL EXPANSION WILL REDUCE THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF PHOSPHORUS AND NUTRIENT, UH, PHOSPHORUS AND NITROGEN IN THE WATER. AND THAT WOULD BE A GOOD THING, BUT THERE'S NO ACTUAL COMMITMENT FOR THAT. WE NEED THE DISCHARGE PERMIT, UH, AMENDED TO THANK YOU MR. LEVINSKY. THAT'S ALL 60 ITEM, 61 SPEAKERS MEMBERS. THAT'S ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON IN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 61. UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL QUOTE. OKAY. I'M SORRY. I WENT TOO EARLY. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. UM, HE JUST KIND OF POINTED, HE JUST KIND OF POINTED OFF IN THE DISTANCE AND I HE WAS CALLING THE SHOT. YEAH, YEAH, THE SHOT HE WAS CALLING THE SHOT. THERE YOU GO. UM, SO I THINK WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY IS, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 61, AND NOW THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED. UM, IS THERE A MOTION ON ITEM NUMBER 61? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, HE'S POINTING AT ME NOW. OH, HE IS. UM, LET'S GET, LET'S GET, THAT'S YOU MOVE APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 61. I WANT TO MOVE TO POSTPONE ITEM 61. I SEE. THAT'S RIGHT. AND I CAN SPEAK TO IT ONE SENTENCE IF YOU NEED ME TO. ALL RIGHT. THERE'S A MOTION TO POSTPONE ITEM NUMBER 61. DO YOU HAVE A DATE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO POSTPONE IT TO? TO OUR NEXT MEETING? TO THE JUNE 5TH, FIFTH MEETING? SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL. THEN I'LL RECOGNIZE THE MAKER OF THE MOTION, AND IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE GET IN THE QUEUE. THIS IS JUST, UM, NOT HAVING CAPACITY TO BE ABLE TO DIG INTO GREAT DETAIL. I KNOW THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET A PRESENTATION FROM THIS EARLIER, AND WE ASKED SOME QUESTIONS IN THE Q AND A AND WITH OTHER THINGS WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING THIS WEEK, I JUST HAVEN'T HAD CAPACITY TO DO A THOROUGH REVIEW. ANYONE ELSE WISH TO BE HEARD IN THE DIS ON THIS DISCUSSION ITEM? NO. THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER 61, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION. ITEM NUMBER 61 WILL BE POSTPONED UNTIL JUNE 5TH, 2025. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. I'M SORRY. I'M ORGANIZING MY STUFF HERE. LET ME, LET ME GET EVERYTHING ORGANIZED. I, YES. TAKE, NO, I DON'T EVEN, I AS YOUR, AS YOUR PHYSICIAN. I ADVISE YOU TO QUIT TALKING. . I'M GONNA MAKE A JOKE. SOMEBODY STAFF WAS LIKE, MAYBE SHE JUST QUIT TALKING COMPLETELY. UM, [02:00:01] FOLKS, IT'S 12 O'CLOCK, AND SO WE WILL NOW GO TO OUR 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, UM, LET ME JUST TELL THE FOLKS THAT ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO THIS, AND I APOLOGIZE, BUT THIS IS A, THIS IS THE WAY WE, WE OPERATE. WE'RE OPERATING VERY EFFICIENTLY, BUT IT, IT, IT DOESN'T ALWAYS FEEL EFFICIENT. WE ARE GOING TO DO THE 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, I ANTICIPATE THAT WE WILL RECESS AROUND 1215 TO 1220. UH, WE WILL RECESS UNTIL ONE O'CLOCK IF THEY, IF I'M RIGHT ABOUT THAT. IF WE COULD GO FURTHER THAN THAT. WE'LL RECESS A LITTLE BIT AFTER ONE O'CLOCK, UH, FOR, FOR LIVE MUSIC, AND THEN WE WILL COME BACK. I ANTICIPATE THAT THE FIRST ITEM WE WILL TAKE UP THEN WILL BE ITEM NUMBER 58, AND THEN WE WILL GO TO ITEM NUMBER 42. SO THAT'S THE, THE ORDER THAT I WOULD SUGGEST WE GO WITH THAT. I'LL TURN TO THE CITY [12:00 PM - Public Communication: General] CLERK TO GO TO OUR 12 O'CLOCK TIME, SIR. OKAY. OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS HAROLD SCH SMOKER ONE. I WANT TO ASK AGAIN WHY YOU'RE INTENTIONALLY HARMING AUSTIN RESIDENTS BY DILUTING IN INDUSTRIAL HAZARDOUS WASTE INTO THE WATER SUPPLY. I'VE ASKED THIS QUESTION IN EMAIL CORRESPONDENCE WITH AUSTIN WATER, AND THE ANSWER I GOT BACK WAS, THE CITY DOES NOT HAVE THE STAFF EXPERTISE TO UNDERSTAND THE HARM THAT'S BEING CAUSED, AND YOU RELY ON THE ADVICE OF THE STATE WHEN EMAIL THE STATE. THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF THE HARM EITHER AND REFERRED ME TO THE CDC. SO BASICALLY, YOU'RE INTENTIONALLY HARMING YOUR RESIDENTS BECAUSE YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO KNOWS SOMEONE THAT SAYS THEY BELIEVE IT'S SAFE, BUT YOU HAVE NO FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE SINCE I LAST SPOKE TO YOU IN MARCH. MUCH HAS HAPPENED. UTAH HAS BANNED FLUORIDATION AND FLORIDA QUICKLY FOLLOWED SUIT. THERE ARE AT LEAST A DOZEN STATES WORKING ON LEGISLATION, INCLUDING TEXAS SENATOR BOB HALL INTRODUCED SB 26 53 TO END FLUORIDATION IN TEXAS AND TEXAS AGRICULTURAL COMMISSIONER SID MILLER IS PUBLICLY CALLING IT FOR, FOR IT TO END. THE CURRENT DIRECTOR OF HHS STATED PUBLICLY A COUPLE WEEKS AGO THAT THERE'S OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE THAT THE FLUORIDATION CAUSES HARM, AND HE'S CALLING FOR IT TO END. THIS IS GOING TO END AS STATES ARE RUSHING TO BAN THIS, AND I BELIEVE THE URGENCY HAS TO DO WITH LIABILITY. SINCE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED TO STOP LOOKING THE OTHER WAY AND SPEAK TRUTHFULLY ABOUT THE HARM CAUSED, IF YOU CONTINUE TO HARM YOUR RESIDENTS, THIS WILL CREATE TREMENDOUS LIABILITY FOR YOU. THE TEXAS TORT CLAIMS ACT PROTECTS YOU FROM PERSONAL LIABILITY WHEN DOING YOUR DUTIES, BUT IT DOES NOT PROTECT YOU FROM DOING INTENTIONAL HARM. LET'S LOOK AT TWO AREAS OF THE DAMAGE DONE. AMERICAN UNIVERSITY STUDIES SHOWS 6 BILLION A YEAR NATIONALLY IN INCREASED CANCER TREATMENT COSTS. DUE TO THE HAZARDOUS WASTE BEING USED OVER A FOOD GRADE PRODUCT FOR AUSTIN, THAT WOULD TRANSLATE INTO ABOUT 36 MILLION A YEAR AND OVER 52 YEARS. THAT'S ABOUT $2 BILLION IN ADDITIONAL CANCER TREATMENTS COSTS. AND THAT, OF COURSE, IS JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG. SECOND IQ LOSS. AN NIH STUDY SHOWS AN AVERAGE ABOUT $12,000 OF LIFETIME EARNINGS LOST FOR EACH IQ POINT A CHILD LOSES. SO SEVEN IQ POINTS OF LOSS EQUATES TO ABOUT 84,000 IN LIFETIME EARNINGS. 52 YEARS WITH ABOUT 20,000 BIRTHS A YEAR, APPROXIMATELY A MILLION CHILDREN'S AFFECTED FOR A TOTAL ESTIMATED DAMAGES OF OVER $84 BILLION. THERE'S MORE BAD NEWS FOR YOU WHEN THE STATE LEGISLATOR SHUTS YOU DOWN. YOU'LL BE TREATED AS A HAZARDOUS WASTE GENERATOR BY THE EPA AND YOU'LL HAVE TO REGISTER WITH THE EPA AND FOLLOW THEIR STRICT RULES ON DISPOSAL FOR YOUR REMAINING HYDRO CLERIC ACID. THIS DISPOSAL COSTS AND THE REGISTRATION FEES WILL BE IN THE MILLIONS, I BELIEVE AT THIS POINT. YOU'LL FINALLY COMPREHEND THAT THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT WASTE DISPOSAL AND IT'S NEVER BEEN ABOUT CAVITIES. LIABILITY AND CLEANUP ARE TWO AREAS YOU SHOULD START PLANNING FOR. I'M HOPING YOU'LL DECIDE TO BE THE HEROES AND END THIS NOW, AND NOT WAIT FOR THE STATE LEGISLATOR TO BE THE HERO WHICH WOULD CEMENT YOUR LEGACY AS THE VILLAINS ON THIS 52 YEARS OF POISONING YOUR RESIDENTS. THANK YOU. OUR SECOND SPEAKER, LIBBY CHANEL, LET US KNOW SHE WAS WITHDRAWING FROM PUBLIC COMMUNICATION. WE WILL MOVE ON TO PAUL BERRYMAN WITH BRANDT DICKERSON ON DECK. HI. HELLO. MY NAME IS PAUL BERRYMAN. I LIVE, UH, 1003 COLONY NORTH DRIVE, ABOUT A HUNDRED YARDS FROM LOW INCOME HOUSING. UM, THE AREA, THE, THERE'S A BUS THAT DROPS OFF WHILE THE LITTLE AND LITTLE BOYS AND GIRLS AT THIS AREA. IT'S RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM A KNOWN DRUG DEALING, UH, LOCATION. IT BREAKS MY HEART TO SEE THIS. UM, I'M PROUD WE HAVE A PLACE TO SHELTER THESE CHILDREN IN LOW INCOME HOUSING. UM, I PURCHASED MY HOUSE KNOWING THE AREA AND WAS PROUD THAT I'M DOING MY PART. HOWEVER, STATISTICS SHOW THAT WHEN ENCOUNTERED WITH CRIME AND DRUGS EARLY AND EARLIER IN LIFE, YOUTH ARE MORE PRONE TO TRY THOSE DEAD DRUGS AND GET INVOLVED IN CRIME ACTIVITY EARLIER IN, EARLIER IN LIFE, [02:05:01] WHICH DOES LEAD TO MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND MORE HOMELESSNESS LEADING TO A NEED FOR MORE LOW INCOME HOUSING. AND IT SEEMS THAT THE PLAN HERE, UH, OR ONE CAVEAT IS TO OPEN IT UP TO MORE LOW INCOME HOUSING POTENTIAL. NOW, I SPOKE TO THE LADY LEADING THIS UP AND SHE SAYS, OH, THAT'S NOT ON US. THIS IS JUST, THIS IS OUR VISION. BUT IF YOU'RE REMOVING THE RED TAPE TO LET INVESTORS COME IN TO ADD MORE LOW INCOME HOUSING ON TOP OF LOW INCOME HOUSING, YOU ARE IMPLICIT. UM, IN THE PAMPHLET THAT I READ WRITTEN BY Y'ALL OR SOMEBODY, IT SAID THAT THE AREA IS ALREADY 80% MINORITY, BUT IN THE LAST 10 YEARS, IT'S CREPT UP WITH 10, UH, 7% WHITE PEOPLE. IS THE GOAL A HUNDRED PERCENT MINORITY? LIKE WHAT IS THE GOAL HERE? BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT AUSTIN AS A WHOLE, IT IS NOT 80% MINORITY. THEREFORE, YOU'RE DOING A DISSERVICE BY SHOVING MORE LOW INCOME HOUSING ON TOP OF LOW INCOME HOUSING. YOU NEED TO THINK ABOUT THE CHILDREN IN THESE SITUATIONS. UM, ON MAY 11TH, I HEARD FIVE GUNSHOTS. I REPORTED IT APRIL 12TH, I HEARD SEVEN GUNSHOTS REPORTED IT, AND A FEW MINUTES LATER, THERE ARE MORE GUNSHOTS. UM, I HAVEN'T REPORTED GUNSHOTS. I HAVE STARTED SINCE THIS, SINCE I GOT THIS INFORMATION, AND I'M GONNA START NOW. BUT IMAGINE BEING A CHILD AND HEARING GUNSHOTS MORE THAN ONCE A MONTH AND SEEING DRUG DEALS ON A DAILY BASIS, UM, BY IMPLEMENT, IMPLEMENTING A MEASURE THAT YOU KNOW WILL RESULT IN MORE LOW INCOME HOUSING, YOU ARE IMPLICIT. UM, IT'S GONNA LEAD TO SEGREGATION OR, OR CITY PLANNERS OF YESTERYEAR HAD A SEGREGATION LINE OF 35, AND IT'S BEEN A BLIGHT ON AUSTIN'S HISTORY. A VOTE FOR YES HERE WITHOUT THE ADDENDUM OF, OF NOT LETTING PEOPLE PUT INVESTORS, PUT LOW INCOME HOUSING IN THE AREA IS A VOTE FOR SEGREGATION. AND YOU'LL SEE IN FIVE TO 10 YEARS, YOU'LL SEE A PERPETUATING CYCLE. THESE, THESE LITTLE BOYS AND GIRLS ARE GOING TO START DABBLING IN THE SAME THINGS, AND IT'S GONNA LEAD TO A BREAKDOWN. AS A SOCIETY, A SOCIETY CAN EITHER BUILD YOU UP OR IT COULD CRUMBLE YOU. UM, BEING BORN INTO A GREAT SUPPORT SYSTEM OR BEING RAISED IN A SUPPORT SYSTEM CAN MAKE OR BREAK YOU AND BE THE DIFFERENCE OF BEING A CEO OR JUST IN PRISON. UM, YOU'RE NOT SO NAIVE TO NOT KNOW A PLUS B EQUALS C. IF THIS PASSES IN FIVE TO 10 YEARS, YOU'LL SEE AN INCREASE IN CRIME RATES AND DRUG USES USAGE. MORE HOMELESS PEOPLE THAT WILL NEED LOW INCOME HOUSING. UH, WE HAVE THE STATISTICS TO PROVE MORE OF OUR CHILDREN WILL SUCCUMB TO DRUG USE IN A LIFE OF CRIME PERPETUATING A CYCLE. PLEASE HAVE THE INTEGRITY TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THE FUTURE FOR THE KIDS. A VOTE YES, HERE IS A VOTE THAT WILL PERPETUATE SEGREGATION IN AUSTIN. THESE KIDS NEED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A PLAY WITH FAMILIES. THANK YOU, SIR. APPRECIATE. NEXT WE HAVE BRAND DICKERSON WITH ALAN MAR ON DECK COUNSEL. UH, MY NAME'S BRENT DICKERSON. MY WIFE AND I OWN, UH, RIVER ROCK LAWN AND LANDSCAPING. WE'RE A FAMILY BUSINESS OFF OF, UH, 2105 WEST HOWARD LANE. UM, WE RECENTLY FOUND OUT THAT WE ARE IN AN AREA CALLED A LIMITED PURPOSE JURISDICTION. UM, I'VE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THIS JURISDICTION THAT I WAS UNAWARE OF WHEN I PURCHASED THE PROPERTY. UM, THE PROPERTY'S BEEN USED FOR A LANDSCAPING COMPANY FOR ABOUT 11 YEARS. WE PURCHASED IT FIVE YEARS AGO. UM, BEEN OPERATING IT THE SAME WAY. I WAS NOTIFIED A YEAR AGO THAT WE ARE OUT OF SITE PLAN. UM, I THOUGHT WE WERE IN AN ETJ. I DIDN'T KNOW THERE WAS A LIMITED PURPOSE JURISDICTION, UH, IGNORANCE ON MY PART WHEN I PURCHASED IT. UM, WE'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH, UH, A LAW FIRM THAT BASICALLY HAS KIND OF JUST HIT A WALL. UM, THE, UH, THE NEXT CONTACT WAS I, I WAS CONTACTED AGAIN BY AN INSPECTOR, UM, AND I ASKED HIM KIND OF WHERE WE GO FROM HERE. UH, THEY SAID TO GO DOWN TO TO DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE CENTER. I WENT DOWN THERE. UM, THEY TOLD ME TO HIRE AN ENGINEER THAT THEY CAN'T HELP US. UM, I CALLED AN ENGINEER FIRM, UM, TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT $50,000. I CAN GET A SITE PLAN. UM, THERE WAS A SENATE BILL 2038 THAT WAS PASSED WHERE PROPERTIES CAN PETITION TO GET OUT OF THE ETJ, BUT THIS WASN'T THE LIMITED PURPOSE. JURISDICTION WAS NOT PART OF THAT. UM, LIMITED JURISDICTION IS VERY SIMILAR TO ETJ. I THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT WORSE. UM, I, I DON'T GET ANY CITY SERVICES EXCEPT FOR WATER. UH, I GET AUSTIN ENERGY. I STILL HAVE A SEPTIC SYSTEM, CAN'T GET SEWER. UM, BUT I'M REGULATED, LIKE I'M ACTUALLY IN THE CITY. I HAVE ZONING ALL THAT, ALL THAT STUFF. UM, WE HAVE, WE HAVE, UH, STARTED TO ASK QUESTIONS AND WE'RE FINDING OUT THAT DEVELOPERS ARE ACTUALLY TURNING IN THESE PROPERTIES IN THE LIMITED JURISDICTIONS BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT, UM, IT COULD GET REALLY EXPENSIVE FOR US TO BRING THESE UP TO SITE PLAN. UM, I'M IN A VERY SMALL SECTION. I'VE STARTED CONTACTING PEOPLE AND IT'S JUST LIKE EVERY DAY PEOPLE ARE GETTING THESE LETTERS. UM, AND WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT TO DO AT THIS POINT. UM, I'VE STARTED TO LOOK AT COST OF WHAT IT WOULD COST ME. IT'S TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT $300,000 TO PROBABLY GET MY PROPERTY TO SITE PLAN PUTS ME OUTTA BUSINESS. I'M DONE. I'VE HAD MY COMPANY 14 YEARS AND I, I I, WE DON'T HAVE THE, THE MONEY TO DO THAT. [02:10:01] UM, WHAT WE'RE ASKING IS THAT THE, THE CITY LOOKS INTO THIS. UM, I THINK IT WAS PROBABLY SOMETHING THAT WAS MISSED BY THE STATE OF TEXAS. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT OR WHAT, BUT, UM, IT, IT'S A SITUATION. UM, IF WE COULD BE GRANTED THE ABILITY TO BE RELEASED FROM THE LIMITED PURPOSE JURISDICTION, UM, IN OUR AREA, A LOT OF BUSINESSES ARE BEING AFFECTED BY IT. UM, IT WOULD OBVIOUSLY KEEP US IN BUSINESS, UM, AND, AND HELP US NOT HAVE TO GO BY CITY, UM, ZONING RULES. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. OUR LAST SPEAKER IS ALAN RODDY. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS ALAN RUDDY. IN 1963, MY PARENTS BOUGHT A LITTLE PIECE OF AN OLD COW PASTURE NEAR LAKE AUSTIN THAT NO ONE ELSE WANTED. I'VE BEEN BLESSED TO BE ON LAKE AUSTIN FOR 62 YEARS. DURING THE PAST 62 YEARS, THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS NEVER ALLOCATED THE RESOURCES OR PERSONNEL TO BE LAKE AUSTIN'S CONTROLLING AUTHORITY HERE AT CITY HALL. ON PAPER, THE CITY IS A CONTROLLING AUTHORITY, BUT OUT ON THE COLORADO RIVER, THERE IS NO LAW WEST OF TOM MILLER DAM. THE LAKE AUSTIN RIVERBED IS BEING SERIOUSLY ERODED BY THE CONSTANT ROLLING SURF BEING PRODUCED BY THE SPOILED BRAT SURFERS. YOU CAN SEE THE SHORELINE EROSION WHEN CYPRESS TREES ARE 10 TO 15 FEET OUTTA THE WATER. THEY USED TO BE ON LAND LIKE AUSTIN'S TOO SHALLOW AND TOO NARROW TO TAKE THE CONSTANT ABUSE OF YOUR SPOILED BRAT SURFERS. NOT ONLY ARE THE PRIVATE BOAT DOCKS BEING DAMAGED, BUT THE CITY'S PARKLAND WATER DEPARTMENT FACILITIES AND ALCON'S CANYONLAND PROPERTY ARE BEING DAMAGED. ONE WAY TO EXPLAIN PART OF THE PROBLEM TO NON-VOTERS AND VOTERS ALIKE IS AT THE LAKE AUSTIN TASK FORCE PUBLIC HEARING TO THE SURFERS SAID, SURFERS MAKE LAKE AUSTIN SAFER BECAUSE WE MAKE ALL THE OTHER BOATS SLOW DOWN AND STOP TOO. HA HA HA. THAT'S THE POINT. WHATEVER YOUR BOAT ACTIVITY, IF YOU'RE MAKING THE OTHER BOATS TO HAVE TO SLOW DOWN AND STOP, THAT IS COVERED IN THE TEXAS WATER SAFETY MANUAL AND IS A CONTROLLING AUTHORITY, THE CITY IS SUPPOSED TO PREVENT THAT BEHAVIOR. THE LARGE WAKES ARE BEING PRODUCED BY YOUR SPOILED BRAT. SURFERS HAVE SO MUCH ENERGY THAT WHEN THEY HIT THE SHORELINE, THEY DO NOT DISSIPATE. THEY WILL BOUNCE OFF THE SHORELINE, GO ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE LAKE, HIT THE OPPOSITE SHORELINE, AND BOUNCE BACK AND MEET IN THE MIDDLE. THAT'S JUST ONE BOAT. WHEN YOU HAVE FIVE OR SIX BOATS IN ONE AREA, THE DANGER INCREASES AND SO DOES THE EROSION. NOW, YOU MAY NOT CARE ABOUT THE RIVERBED AND THE SHORELINE EROSION, THE BOAT DOCKS OR THE OTHER BOATERS ON LAKE AUSTIN, BUT IN AUGUST OF 2023, A BOAT HIT YOUR SURFER WAKES LOST CONTROL AND CRASHED IN THE SHORELINE. A 14-YEAR-OLD BOY WAS KILLED. WHY? BECAUSE THERE IS NO LAW WEST OF TOM MILLER DAM. THANK YOU. HAVE A GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU MEMBERS. THOSE ARE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AT OUR 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN ON, UH, PUBLIC COMMUNICATION. SO, UH, WE'RE WE'RE GOING TO RECESS. WE WILL RECESS UNTIL ONE O'CLOCK. I MENTIONED THAT WE WERE GONNA TAKE UP 58 AND 42. WE ALSO STILL NEED TO HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 65. THAT OUGHT TO BE SHORT. SO WE'LL TAKE UP 65, 58, AND THEN 42 WHEN WE RETURNED WITHOUT OBJECTION. UH, THE CITY COUNCIL OF AUSTIN, TEXAS IS IN RECESS UNTIL 1:00 PM IT'S 12:13 PM WE'RE IN RECESS. AND I [Live Music] APOLOGIZE. MY VOICE IS A LITTLE THROAT BECAUSE OF ALLERGIES. UH, BUT I HAVE A, IT IS, IT IS A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. OH, I, I CAN SAY, I CAN SAY, UH, THERE ARE A LOT OF AMAZING AND A BEAU AND BEAUTIFUL SOULS DOING A LOT OF AMAZING AND BEAUTIFUL THINGS. AND I'M SO HONORED THAT I GET TO INTRODUCE MY DEAR FRIEND, DJ HELIOS FROM SOUND ENGINEER TURNED, DJ HELIOS HAS CARVED OUT A PROMINENT PRESENCE IN THE MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY FOR OVER A DECADE. FUSING BEATS FROM HER MEXICAN ROOTS WITH INFLUENCES OF HIP HOP, RETTON HOUSE, AND FUNGI EDITS. SHE CREATES AN ELECTRIC MIX THAT CELEBRATES THE, THE UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY OF MUSIC AND EXEMPLIFIES HOW PEOPLE CAN CELEBRATE COMMUNITY URA AND LIFE ON THE DANCE FLOOR WITH A VERSATILE SKILLSET. SHE'S CAPTIVATED CROWDS OF OVER 20,000 AT AUSTIN FCS, Q2 STADIUM WITH PE ENERGIZED MAJOR CORPORATE CONFERENCES IN LOS ANGELES AND LAS VEGAS, AND BROUGHT HER SOUND TO THE ICONIC NIGHTCLUBS OF MEXICO CITY. HELIOS HAS SHARED STAGES WITH LEGENDS LIKE BILLY IDOL AND CAR. LEON BROUGHT UNFORGETTABLE ENERGY TO LATIN FESTIVALS LIKE BESAM MUO, ENCANA FEST, ENCANA FEST, AND PROUDLY REPRESENTED AS AN OFFICIAL SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST ARTIST IN BOTH 2024 [02:15:01] AND 2025. DRIVEN BY RHYTHM AND ROOTED IN CULTURE. SHE'S RELENTLESS ON THE DECKS AND FEARLESS IN HER VISION AND RESHAPING THE D DJ SCENE IN EVERY CROWD SHE CONNECTS WITH. LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR DJ LIOS. UH, CHECK. CHECK. OKAY. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. I SEE SO MANY BEAUTIFUL FACES IN THE CROWD, PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN WITH ME SINCE DAY ONE. BRANDON, SHOUT OUT TO YOU PEOPLE WHO HAVE MET ME MAYBE A YEAR AGO. I APPRECIATE ALL OF Y'ALL SO MUCH. SHOUT OUT TO MY PARENTS. IF THEY, UM, HADN'T IMMIGRATED TO THE US MANY, MANY YEARS AGO, I WOULD NOT BE HERE. SO THIS IS FOR THE MEXICANAS, THIS IS FOR THE LATINAS, THIS IS FOR MY BROWN AND BLACK PEOPLE. I LOVE Y'ALL. UM, I THINK THAT'S IT. A LITTLE, A LITTLE SET. OKAY. POPPING IN FINGERS. REHAB. GOT THE WHOLE GRA JOINT. I PUT YOUR PICTURE ON MY MIRROR BLUSH. WHEN [02:20:01] SOMEBODY SAYS YOUR NAME, MY STOMACH DOESN'T A PAIN. YOU WALK IN MY DIRECTION, I GO THE OTHER WAY. I START TO STUTTER. SPEED. MY KNEES GO, WHAT'S HAPPENING TO ME IN TELL ME WHAT IT, I LET MY HEAD ON MY PILLOW STARING OUT THE WINDOW. THE REASON WHY THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH. I GO BY THE NAME DJ HELIO. THAT'S RIGHT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, SO NOW I HAVE THE DISTINCT PRIVILEGE OF READING YOUR PROCLAMATION, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS IS BLESSED WITH MANY CREATIVE MUSICIANS WHOSE TALENT EXTENDS TO VIRTUALLY EVERY MUSICAL GENRE. AND WHEREAS OUR MUSIC SCENE THRIVES BECAUSE AUSTIN AUDIENCES SUPPORT GOOD MUSIC PRODUCED BY LEGENDS, OUR LOCAL FAVORITES AND NEWCOMERS ALIKE. AND WHEREAS WE'RE PLEASED TO SHOWCASE AND SUPPORT OUR LOCAL ARTISTS. NOW, THEREFORE, I COUNCILMAN JOSE VELASQUEZ ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR AND THE ENTIRE DAIS MAYOR, UH, THE OF THE LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD, TO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 22ND, 2025 AS DJ HELIO'S DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. TAKE A PHOTO AND IF YOU WANNA TAKE, YOU WANNA SAY, YEAH, I'M LIKE, I, I FEEL LIKE I SAID EVERYTHING. I DON'T KNOW. UM, AGAIN, SHOUT OUT TO MY PARENTS. MY DAD SAID HE IS WATCHING THE, THE STREAM. UM, SO PAPA , I LOVE YOU. UM, SHOUT OUT AGAIN TO BRANDON AND MICHAEL BOND, WHO WERE THERE FROM THE VERY, VERY BEGINNING. SHOUT OUT TO OSA. SHOUT OUT TO ALL OF MY DJ HOMIES AND SO MANY OF Y'ALL THAT HAVE BEEN HERE FOR SO LONG AND SEEN THE GROWTH, THE PROGRESSION. AGAIN, I WAS A SMALL LATINA GIRL WHO HAD A LOT OF BIG DREAMS, AND I FEEL LIKE TODAY I AM FULFILLING ONE OF THEM. SO THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH. WHAT Y'ALL WANT US TO STEP, [65. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance amending City Code Title 25 (Land Development) to establish planning areas for specific geographic areas and establish regulations creating and amending these planning areas. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.] [02:25:12] NEXT ITEM THAT WE WILL TAKE UP IS ITEM NUMBER 65, WHICH IS A PUBLIC HEARING. UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 65. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN, AND I WILL TURN TO, TO THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE. FIRST SPEAKER IS ALEXANDRIA ANDERSON WITH BILL BUNCH AND JENNY GRAYSON ON DECK. PLEASE CALL THE NAMES AGAIN, ALEXANDRIA ANDERSON, BILL BUNCH, JENNY GRAYSON AND MONICA GUZMAN. ALL ON ITEM 65. ARE ANY OF THOSE FOUR PEOPLE HERE? I DON'T SEE ANYONE COMING FORWARD, AND I THINK I KNOW ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE, BUT I DON'T SEE ANY OF THEM. UM, ANYBODY ELSE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? THOSE FOUR ARE THE ONLY FOR 65 MEMBERS. THERE ARE NO OTHER SPEAKERS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 65. SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 65, AND THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CONSIDER THE ORDINANCE. IT'S MADE BY. THE APPROVAL IS MADE BY A MOTION TO APPROVE IS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY THE MAYOR PRO TIM, IS THERE DISCUSSION ON THE ITEM? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION. ITEM NUMBER 65 IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON OFF THE DAIS. WE [58. Approve a resolution regarding creating a policy setting the framework for property tax rate elections for municipal services.] WILL NOW GO TO ITEM NUMBER 58 MEMBERS. ITEM NUMBER 58 IS AN ITEM FROM A COUNCIL COMMITTEE. IT COMES FROM THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE. AND, UH, SO THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT PROCESS, UH, THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE HAS MADE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE COUNCIL, AND IN THIS MOMENT, I'LL MAKE A MOTION, UH, AS CHAIR OF THAT COMMITTEE TO ADOPT IT. THERE IS A PROPOSED AMENDMENT THAT WAS PUT ON THE MESSAGE BOARD, SO EVERYBODY'S UP TO SPEED ON WHERE WE ARE. UM, AND WE WILL HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT AND THE MOTION, UH, MOMENTARILY, BUT I WANT, I WANT TO JUST KIND OF TELL WHAT THE, THE ORDER OF THINGS WOULD BE. SO JUST SO THAT WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE, UH, AS CHAIR OF THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE, I MOVE APPROVAL OF THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION ON ITEM NUMBER 58. IT IS SECONDED BY THE VICE CHAIR COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER. UM, BEFORE WE GO TO ANY AMENDMENTS, I JUST WANNA GET THE MOTION OUT THERE. I WANT TO GO AHEAD AND GO TO THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS. OKAY. FIRST SPEAKER IS BRIGHTON SUMMERS WITH CAROL GUTHRIE AND BEN SET OF BEYOND DECK. MS. GUTHRIE, THE MICROPHONE IS YOURS. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, CAROL GUTHRIE WITH AFSCME LOCAL 1624. WE ARE SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF THE, UM, NOT THE MOTION. WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION, BUT WE ARE SUPPORTING THE OVERALL POLICY OF THE TRE. OKAY, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL THE SPEAKERS ON ITEM 58 HAVE BEEN CALLED. WOULD YOU CALL THE OTHER TWO NAMES AGAIN? YEAH, JUST MAKE SURE. YEP. BRIAN SUMMERS AND BEN SOTHEBY. OKAY. UM, IN THAT CASE, MEMBERS, YOU HAVE HEARD THE, UM, THE, WE HAVE NO OTHER SPEAKER, SO YOU'VE HEARD THE, THE MAIN MOTION I'M GONNA RECOGNIZE NOW, UM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, UH, WITH REGARD TO HIS PROPOSED MOTION TO AMEND. THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES ON THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE FOR PUTTING TOGETHER THIS THOROUGH AND COMPREHENSIVE POLICY. UM, THE VOTERS REALLY DO NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE WILL NOT ASK FOR A TAX RATE INCREASE UNLESS IT IS ESSENTIAL, AND THAT WE WILL FOLLOW A RIGOROUS PROCESS BEFORE GOING TO THE VOTERS. MY MOTION IS TO REMOVE ONE SUBSECTION, UH, WHICH IS SUBSECTION A OF POLICY NUMBER THREE, WHICH BASICALLY SAYS, A TRE SHOULD NOT BE USED TO FUND, QUOTE UNQUOTE BASE COST DRIVERS. AND I HAVE A COUPLE OF CONCERNS ABOUT THIS SUBSECTION, INCLUDING WHAT DOES BASE COST DRIVERS MEAN AND WHAT HAPPENS IF A TRE IS IN FACT NEEDED TO ADDRESS BASE COST DRIVERS? SO, AS AN EXAMPLE, UM, A NUMBER, A NUMBER OF CITY POSITIONS HAVE BEEN NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY CUTS INITIATED BY SO-CALLED DOGE, AND THE NEW FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION. UH, THESE POSITIONS ARE LARGELY IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT, ARE GRANT FUNDED AND MAY OR MAY NOT BE CONSIDERED BASE COST DRIVERS. AND YET MANY OF THE WORKERS IN THESE POSITIONS HAVE BEEN SERVING THE CITY FOR YEARS, IN SOME CASES, DECADES, AND PROVIDE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT FULFILL AUSTIN'S VALUES AND CORE POLICY OBJECTIVES. SO I DON'T WANT OUR TRE POLICY TO PENALIZE THESE WORKERS IN THE PROGRAMS THEY FULFILL, SIMPLY BECAUSE A NEW FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION DECIDED TO CUT THEIR GRANT FUNDING. ALSO, FRANKLY, IF WE DECIDE TO PUT A TRE ON THE BALLOT, I WANT [02:30:01] ALL OF US FIGHTING FOR IT TOGETHER, INCLUDING EVERYONE HERE AT THE CITY. SO I MOVE TO REMOVE SECTION THREE A OF THE PROPOSED POLICY, WHICH WOULD LEAVE THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE CITY CLEARLY IDENTIFY HOW ADDITIONAL REVENUE WOULD BE USED, AND WOULD ALSO REQUIRE THE CITY TO PROVIDE AN ACCOUNTING OF THE LEVEL OF SERVICES PROVIDED, BUT WOULDN'T CREATE A DIVIDING LINE BETWEEN WHAT CONSTITUTES BASE COSTS VERSUS OTHER COSTS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, THE MOTION TO AMEND IS TO JUST SURGICALLY TAKE OUT THAT ONE SECTION. YES, SIR. UM, I'LL ASK FOR A SEC IF THERE'S A SECOND TO THE MOTION. SECOND ABOUT COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE. WITH THAT, WE'LL GO TO DISCUSSION. MS. LANG, I'M GONNA ASK YOU A QUESTION. UH, SO IF YOU, YOU WANNA MAKE YOUR WAY UP, WHAT I WILL, I DON'T WANNA SPEAK FOR EVERY MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT I THINK WHAT THE CONSIDERATION, FIRST OF ALL, I, AS I PUT ON THE MESSAGE BOARD, UH, COUNSEL, AS I PUT ON THE MESSAGE BOARD, I THINK THERE'S MERIT TO THE DISCUSSION THAT IS BEING BROUGHT UP. AND NOT ONLY IS THERE MERIT TO IT, THERE WAS CONSIDERATION OF HOW YOU ADDRESS THIS. AND I THINK MS. LANG WILL, WILL SAY, I'M, I'M SAYING THIS THE RIGHT WAY, BUT, BUT THE CONSIDERATION, THE CONCERN WAS IT, HOW DO YOU HAVE A POLICY FOR TRES WHERE YOU ASSURE THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE DISCIPLINE WITH REGARD TO THOSE BUDGET ITEMS THAT ARE COST DRIVERS, WHERE YOU MIGHT NOT NEED A TRE IF THERE WERE, I'LL USE THE PHRASE BETTER DISCIPLINE, BUT CLEARLY A RECOGNITION BY THE COMMITTEE. AND AGAIN, I'LL LET THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS SPEAK IF THEY THINK I SAY SOMETHING WRONG TOO. BUT CLEARLY RECOGNITION BY THE COMMITTEE THAT WHAT YOU WANTED TO DO WAS MAKE SURE THAT, UH, WE TOOK CARE OF THE BUSINESS OF THE CITY, WHICH INVOLVES COST DRIVERS. AND THERE MIGHT BE TIMES WHEN YOU REALLY DO NEED TO HAVE SOME SORT OF REQUEST OF THE PUBLIC TO ALLOW FOR GREATER, GREATER FUNDING SO THAT YOU COULD MEET WHAT ARE ESSENTIALLY COST DRIVERS. SO IT WAS NOT MEANT TO CREATE, I, I'LL BE VERY CLEAR, IT WAS NOT MEANT TO CREATE A DIVISION. IT WAS MEANT TO BE A POLICY ABOUT WHAT WE WOULD PRIMARILY BE LOOKING TO GO FORWARD ON, SO THAT THERE WAS A REQUIREMENT OR A, A BUILT IN, UH, DISCIPLINE TO THINGS. SO, I, I JUST WANT EVERYBODY TO BE CLEAR THAT THAT'S, THAT'S HOW I THINK THE COMMITTEE WAS LOOKING AT THAT MS. LANG. UM, WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADDRESS THE, THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT? SURE. UM, THANK YOU CARRIE LANG BUDGET, UM, DIRECTOR OF BUDGET AND ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE. AND, UM, MAYOR, YOU ARE, YOU ARE CORRECT. WHEN THE STAFF LOOKED AT THIS RECOMMENDATION OR CREATE THIS RECOMMENDATION, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WAS A LEVEL OF ACCOUNTABILITY ON STAFF AND ON, UM, THE ORGANIZATION AS A WHOLE. AND SO THIS, THIS SUBSECTION WAS REALLY SPEAKING TO OUR DUE DILIGENCE IN MAKING SURE WE CAME WITH, WE LOOKED AT HOW WE CAN BALANCE THE BUDGET BEFORE LOOKING AT A TRE. UM, IT WAS NOT MEANT TO LOOK AT DIVIDING THOSE FUNCTIONS. WE, AS WE, THROUGH THE BUDGET EVERY YEAR, WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING OUR COMPLETE DUE DILIGENCE AND THEN LOOKING AT WHAT WE SHOULD ADD FOR, WHETHER IT'S EXPANDED SERVICES BECAUSE OF THE GROWTH OF THE CITY, OR EXPANDED SERVICES BECAUSE IT'S NEW PROGRAMMING, LOOKING AT THOSE THINGS TO ADD TO A TRE. BUT BUSINESS THAT WE'RE DOING TODAY, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE WORKED REALLY HARD TO SHOW THE COMMUNITY THAT WE WERE HOLDING OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE IN THAT WORK. OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS ANYBODY HAS OF MS. LANG? ALRIGHT. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION TO AMEND HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION. THE MOTION TO AMEND THE MAIN MOTION IS ADOPTED. UH, AND THAT WILL TAKE US BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION, WHICH IS TO ADOPT THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE WITH REGARD TO ESTABLISHING A POLICY FOR, UH, TAX RATIFICATION ELECTIONS AS AMENDED DISCUSSION. LET ME JUST SAY THAT, UM, I REALLY THINK THAT THE, THIS SHOWS THE STRENGTH OF HAVING COMMITTEE WORK, BUT I ALSO BEING IN A SITUATION TO HAVE COUNCIL WEIGH IN ON IT, UH, BECAUSE, AND, AND, AND I THINK WE'RE, FRANKLY, I, I REALLY LIKE THE WAY WE'VE GOTTEN INTO A RHYTHM, UH, FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH. I, I LIKE THE, THE RHYTHM WE'VE GOT WITH, WITH COMMITTEES BEING ABLE TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS AND, AND DEEP DIVE INTO SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT IT'S HARDER TO DO, UH, FOR THE COUNCIL AS A WHOLE. SO I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO THE COMMITTEE, THANK YOU TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL AND, AND OTHER MEMBERS FOR, FOR PAYING SUCH DEEP ATTENTION TO THIS. BECAUSE IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A TRE, WE ARE GOING TO WANT TO BE ABLE TO TELL THE PUBLIC WE HAVE FOLLOWED A PROCESS, WE'RE GOING TO WANT TO BE ABLE TO TELL THE PUBLIC THAT IT WAS A DETAILED PROCESS. FRANKLY, THE FLIP SIDE OF THAT COIN IS TRUE AS WELL. IN A CITY THAT IS GROWING THE [02:35:01] WAY WE ARE WITH AS MANY NEEDS AS WE HAVE. IF WE DECIDE WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO SUCH A THING, WE'RE GOING TO WANT TO BE ABLE TO SAY IT'S BECAUSE WE FALL A SPECIFIC PROCESS AND WE'RE PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION. SO WITHOUT ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, UH, AND WITHOUT OBJECTION, UH, ITEM NUMBER 58, THE POLICY OF THE CITY COUNCIL WITH REGARD TO TRES AS AMENDED IS ADOPTED. UH, THANK YOU ALL, UH, MEMBERS AND THANK YOU, MS. LANG. I WANNA SAY ALSO THANK YOU TO THE, THE STAFF, MS. LANG AND YOUR STAFF. YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN GREAT, UM, AND VERY, VERY HELPFUL. SO THANK YOU ON THAT. UM, MEMBERS, THAT'S GONNA TAKE US TO ITEM [42. Approve a resolution authorizing negotiation and execution of an advance funding agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation for the City’s commitment to fund up to $265,000,000 for cap and stitch roadway elements to be integrated into the IH-35 Capital Express Central Project letting package. Funding: $41,000,000 is available in the Capital Budget of the Transportation and Public Works Department from a State Infrastructure Bank financial assistance loan and up to $224,000,000 from tax-exempt Certificates of Obligation that are expected to be issued on or after August 2025. The availability of these funds is contingent upon the finalization of the loan and appropriation and issuance of Certificates of Obligation. The City will be responsible for covering any cost overruns. Related to Items #41 and #43] NUMBER 42. UM, WHAT I'M GOING TO, HERE'S MY PROPOSAL FOR HOW WE, UH, TELL YOU WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER VELA IT. IT'S, IT'S, IT'S NORMALLY WHEN I JUST LOOK DOWN AT YOU, ALL I SEE IS YOU AND YOUR HALO. NOW I SEE YOUR HALO AND A TROPHY . SO, UM, UH, STILL CELEBRATING THE BIG WIN. YES. I, I UNDERSTAND, I UNDERSTAND. UM, WITHOUT OB, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE. AND, AND, AND IF WE WANT, WE CAN PASS THIS AMONG THE COUNCILORS. YEAH, YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT. WE, WE CAN MAKE IT ONE OF THOSE, UH, LIKE STICKS WHERE YOU GET TO TALK WHEN I CALL ON YOU, YOU CAN USE A, HAVE THE TROPHY IN FRONT OF YOU, UH, MAKES FOR GOOD PICTURES. ALL RIGHT. WITH, HERE'S WHAT I'M THINKING ON ITEM NUMBER 42, UM, GO AHEAD AND GET A BASE MOTION ON ITEM NUMBER 42. AND THEN I, WE HAVE TWO POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS, AND THE FIRST AMENDMENT THAT WE HAD WAS FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE. SO I WILL CALL ON COUNCIL MEMBER CADRY AND GET THAT MOTION. THERE IS A SECOND AMENDMENT THAT IS, UH, IN CONFLICT WITH, OR DIFFERENT THAN, UH, BUT ADDRESSING MUCH OF THE SAME ISSUE AS COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE. AND I'M GOING TO, AND THAT'S FROM COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS. I'M GOING TO RECOGNIZE THAT AS A MOTION TO AMEND THE AMENDMENT. AND I'M GOING TO DO THAT RECOGNIZING THAT, UH, THAT THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING. AND UNLESS THERE'S AN OBJECTION FROM COUNSEL, I'M GOING TO ALLOW FOR A MOTION TO AMEND AN AMENDMENT. AND I, I'M ASSUMING THERE WILL BE NO OBJECTION TO THAT SO THAT WE HAVE A COMPLETE DISCUSSION WHERE EVERYBODY'S THOUGHTS AND IDEAS GET OUT AFTER THE BASE MOTION, BUT BEFORE WE TAKE UP ANY MOTIONS TO AMEND IS WHEN I WILL, WE WILL SEEK PUBLIC COMMENT UNLESS THERE'S OBJECTION IN THAT REGARD. AND WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 42. SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, I WILL RECOGNIZE YOU. HANG ON ONE SECOND. WHAT I ALSO ASK FOR IS I ASKED FOR STAFF TO PROVIDE US WITH AN UPDATED RESOLUTION BECAUSE WHAT I, WHAT I WAS TRYING TO AVOID WAS TO HAVE STAFF PUT OUT A RESOLUTION THAT HAD, THAT WAS, WELL, FRANKLY DIFFERENT THAN THE RECOMMENDATION. AND SO THAT THE FIRST MOTION, THE BASE MOTION HAD TO BE SOME SORT OF AN AMENDMENT. AS I UNDERSTAND IT, AND I HAVEN'T RECEIVED IT. WHAT I'VE RECEIVED IS, AND I THINK ALL OF US HAVE RECEIVED, IS A PARAGRAPH THAT'S LABELED AT THE TOP OF THAT PARAGRAPH 25 DASH 0 2 7 8, MAY 22ND, 2025. AND THEN IT SAYS, RESOLUTION LANGUAGE. AS I UNDERSTAND, WHAT STAFF IS TELLING ME IS THAT THE VERSION TWO OF THEIR RESOLUTION WITH THIS RED LINE CHANGE WOULD BE WHAT THE MAIN MOTION WOULD BE, AND WE WOULD HAVE THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION. WOULD YOU COME UP TO THE PODIUM AND MAKE SURE I SAID THAT RIGHT. MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THANK YOU SO MUCH. MY NAME'S BRIANNA FRY. I'M THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR OF THE CAP ANDIT PROGRAM. AND YES, MAYOR, WE ARE GOING TO READ ALOUD THE STAFF EDIT TO THE RESOLUTION LANGUAGE THAT WAS POSTED, AND THIS IS NOW GOING TO BE THE BASE MOTION. ALRIGHT, SO, SO EVERY, IS EVERYBODY CLEAR ON THAT? YES. ALL RIGHT. WELL THEN, ALL RIGHT, READ IT INTO THE RECORD AND, AND MEMBERS YOU HAVE A COPY OF THAT AND SO THAT WE'LL HAVE THE RIGHT, THE RIGHT MOTION. THANK YOU. THE CITY MANAGER OR DESIGNEE IS AUTHORIZED TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE AN ADVANCED FUNDING AGREEMENT WITH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO FUND UP TO 49 MILLION FOR CAP ANDIT ROADWAY ELEMENTS TO BE INTEGRATED INTO THE I 35 CAPITAL EXPRESS CENTRAL PROJECT, LETTING PACKAGE USING 41 MILLION IN FUNDING FROM THE CAPITAL BUDGET OF TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT FROM A STATE INFRASTRUCTURE BANK, FINANCIAL ASSISTANT LOAN, AND UP TO $8 MILLION FROM TAX EXEMPT CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION THAT ARE EXPECTED TO BE ISSUED ON OR AFTER AUGUST, 2025 [02:40:01] WITH THE CITY BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY COST OVERRUNS MEMBERS. ANY QUESTIONS? ALRIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, DO YOU, ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD BEFORE I GO TO A MOTION? ANYTHING Y'ALL WANT TO ADD STAFF? I THINK HE'S ASKING YOU. YEAH, I APOLOGIZE. THAT'S, UM, OH, WELL, UM, NOT TO THE BASE MOTION. OKAY. ALRIGHT. YEAH. WELL, AND, AND I'M, I'M, YOU ACTED LIKE MAYBE I WAS ASKING YOU TO ADD SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. YEAH, WE'RE ON ITEM 42, SO YES. YEAH. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, UH, I WILL NOW RECOGNIZE YOU FOR A MOTION ON ITEM NUMBER 42. I MOVE THAT EXACT LANGUAGE TO BE OUR BASE MOTION FROM WHICH WE WILL START THE DISCUSSION. ALRIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS HAS MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. SECONDED BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM. ALRIGHT, WITH THAT BEING SAID, AND, AND REMEMBER, I'M, I'M NOT IGNORING MOTIONS TO AMEND. MOTIONS TO AMEND WILL COME AFTER WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT, UH, UNLESS THERE'S OBJECTION. ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT, I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK AND ASK YOU TO PLEASE GET US STARTED ON PUBLIC COMMENT SPEAKING REMOTELY. ON ITEM 42, IS SUSAN MAYOR PATEL? YES, I'M, I COULDN'T GET TO MY CAMERA BUTTON IN TIME, BUT I WAS, I WAS HERE FOR THE VOTE. I DIDN'T, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU NEED TO RECALL. WELL, WE DON'T, WE DON'T, WE DON'T HAVE, WE DON'T HAVE A VOTE YET, SO YOU DIDN'T MISS ANYTHING. THANK YOU. YEAH, SURE THING. OKAY, ITEM 42, SUSAN PENTEL REMOTELY, I STRONGLY OPPOSE FUNDING THESE CAPS AND I'M QUITE UPSET ABOUT THE PROCESS THAT YOU'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH. THE AGENDA ITEMS SHOULD CLEARLY STATE THAT WHAT YOU ARE VOTING FOR TODAY IS NOT ONLY THE ROADWAY ELEMENTS, BUT ALSO THE CAPS AND THE AMENITIES ON TOP OF THE CAPS. AND THAT IS A TOTAL COST OF UP TO $1.4 BILLION. IT IS, IT IS MISLEADING AND, AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF IT'S LEGAL FOR YOU TO NOT PUT THAT INFORMATION IN THE AGENDA BECAUSE THAT IS ACTUALLY WHAT YOU'RE VOTING ON AND ALL THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT THE ROADWAY ELEMENTS AND WHERE YOU'RE GONNA GET THAT MONEY FOR THAT IS ONLY A SMALL PORTION OF, OF THE TOTAL COST OF THIS PROJECT. THE OTHER THING IS, YOU HAVE HEARD FROM LOTS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO STRONGLY OPPOSE THIS. YOU SHOULD HAVE THE OPTION OF ZERO CAPS ON, ON THE TABLE. IT IS NOT RIGHT THAT YOU ARE JUST AGREEING WITH EACH OTHER. YOU'RE WORKING WITH EACH OTHER TO COME IN WITH A COMPROMISE, AND YOU'RE NOT ADEQUATELY LISTENING TO THE PUBLIC WHO ARE STRONGLY OPPOSING. THIS COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE SENT OUT AN EMAIL SAYING THAT THERE'S MISINFORMATION IN THE PUBLIC AND THAT THIS IS NOT A TRADE OFF BETWEEN THE CAP MONEY AND OTHER NEEDS IN THE CITY. THAT IS BLATANTLY FALSE. IT IS A TRADE OFF. YOU DON'T HAVE ANY PRIVATE MONEY DEDICATED TO THIS. YOU DON'T HAVE ANY FEDERAL MONEY AT THIS POINT. ALL YOU HAVE IS A LOAN FROM THE STATE AND THAT HAS TO BE REPAID. AND THESE ALTERNATE FUNDING SOURCES ARE A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL COST THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. SO IT ABSOLUTELY IS A TRADE OFF. AND THE OTHER THING IS THAT THESE CURRENT COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE NOT GONNA BE HERE WHEN ALL THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER ON ITEM 42 IS REESE ARMSTRONG, REESE ARMSTRONG. HELLO, UH, MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS. UM, YES, HELLO. CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME? YES. UM, I'M REESE ARMSTRONG. I'M FROM DISTRICT SEVEN AND I WANT TO OPPOSE ITEM 42 AND I'D LIKE TO WITHDRAW MY REQUEST TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 41 AND 43. UM, I AM AGAINST THE CAPS BECAUSE ULTIMATELY IT'S ALWAYS A TRADE OFF BECAUSE WE HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES AND WE'RE CHOOSING TO SPEND IT ON CAPS FOR THE HIGHWAY INSTEAD OF HOUSING FOR PEOPLE'S HEADS. UM, YOU KNOW, THIS HAS BEEN TOLD TO US BY THE CONSULTANTS ON, AT THE WORK SESSION ON TUESDAY THAT IT WILL RAISE HOUSING COSTS AND WHEN PEOPLE ARE BEING PUSHED OUTTA THE CITY BECAUSE OF AFFORDABILITY CONCERNS, YOU KNOW, THAT IS JUST NOT SOMETHING WE CAN AFFORD AT THIS CURRENT MOMENT. UM, ADDITIONALLY THAT THE INFRASTRUCTURE LOAN HAS TO BE PAID OUT UNDER THE GENERAL FUND. SO WHILE I APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER ALTERS, YOU KNOW, FINDING OF ALTERNATIVE, UH, SOURCES TO TRY AND NOT RESTRICT OUR BOND CAPACITY, WE'RE STILL GONNA HAVE TO PAY OUT SOME MONEY FOR THIS FROM THE GENERAL FUND, WHICH COULD BE USED TO GO TO OTHER MORE PRESSING INFRASTRUCTURE. UH, YOU KNOW, [02:45:02] ADDITIONALLY, THE, THE CAR RENTAL TAX WAS NOT DECIDED TO BE USED FOR CAPS WHEN IT WAS PASSED BY VOTERS. IT WAS FOR THE, UH, TOWN LAKE COMMUNITY VENUE, AND WE COULD STILL INVEST IN THAT. UM, I, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE DIVERTING TAXES THAT WERE PASSED BY VOTERS TO SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT PASSED BY VOTERS. UM, AND ADDITIONALLY, I, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT THAT MAD ABOUT THE CONVENTION CENTER CAP JUST BECAUSE REALLY THERE'S NOT, UM, NOT MUCH ELSE THAT COULD GO TO AND THAT MIGHT IMPROVE THE SURROUNDINGS A LITTLE MORE THAN PUTTING IT TOWARDS THE CONVENTION CENTER WILL, BUT I WOULD ACTUALLY PREFER THAT TO BE USED FOR TRANSIT OR, OR SOMETHING ELSE. BUT I DO LIKE THE IDEA OF USING, UH, CONVENTION CENTER MONEY TO DIRECT IT TO OTHER, TO OTHER MORE PRESSING NEEDS ACROSS THE CITY. BUT I STILL DON'T THINK THESE CAPS AND CAPS AND STITCHES ARE, ARE REALLY THAT CRITICAL OF A PRIORITY FOR THE CITY. AND I WOULD LIKE TO, AS THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER HAVE THE OPTION OF ZERO CAPS ON THE TABLE. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS MIRIAM SCHOFIELD. GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS MIRIAM SCHOFIELD HERE WITH RETHINK 35. UM, I JUST WANTED TO REITERATE THAT WE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE USE OF FUNGIBLE FUNDING SOURCES FOR THE CAPS BECAUSE WE ARE NOT CONVINCED THAT THE CAPS ARE THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE AND MEANINGFUL WAY TO ADDRESS THE HARMS CAUSED BY THIS HIGHWAY. UM, WE THINK THAT ADDITIONAL CROSSINGS WOULD BE, UM, MUCH MORE BENEFICIAL WHEN IT COMES TO RECONNECTING COMMUNITIES. AND AGAIN, THAT'S BECAUSE THE CROSSINGS WOULD ADD CONNECTIONS THAT DON'T EXIST. THE CAPS CREATE PARKLAND BETWEEN CROSSINGS THAT DO EXIST, AND SO THEY'RE JUST NOT NEARLY AS IMPACTFUL FROM A CONNECTIVITY PERSPECTIVE. I ALSO DID WANNA CLARIFY THOUGH THAT AT THIS POINT OUR POSITION CONCERNS THE RELATIVE VALUE OF CROSSINGS AND CAPS. WE HAVE NOT AT THIS POINT TAKEN THE POSITION THAT AN ADDITIONAL 50 MILLION SHOULD BE SPENT ON THE CROSSINGS BEYOND WHAT COUNCIL IS ALREADY DEDICATING TO I 35. SECOND, I WANNA FLAG AN ERROR IN THE REPORT ABOUT THE AIR QUALITY ON THE CAPS, THE NUMBER AND THAT ANALYSIS SHOW CONCENTRATIONS OF PM 2.5 POLLUTION THAT EXCEED THE N STANDARD OF NINE MICROGRAMS PER CUBIC METER. THE REPORT FALSELY CLAIMS THOSE NUMBERS DON'T EXCEED THE STANDARD. I'M ASSUMING THAT REPORT IS BASED ON SOME OUTDATED EPA GUIDANCE. SO AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE THINK IT'S JUST REALLY IMPORTANT TO BE CLEAR-EYED ABOUT THE WAY HIGHWAYS IMPACT OUR AIR, ESPECIALLY WITHIN A HUNDRED METERS OF THE FACILITY. SO PLEASE DO MAKE SURE THAT GETS CORRECTED, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S GONNA INFLUENCE ANY FUTURE DESIGN DECISIONS. AND FINALLY, WE WANNA CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE COUNCIL TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO CONVINCE TECH OUT TO CHANGE THE DESIGN OF THE FRONTAGE ROADS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE UTC RECOMMENDATION. THOSE EIGHT LANES OF FRONTAGE ROADS ARE A MAJOR DRAG ON THE VALUE OF THE CAPS AND IT COULD EASILY BE FIXED. SO I KNOW A LOT'S GOING ON, BUT PLEASE DO KEEP THAT ON YOUR TO-DO LIST. IT'S ONE OF THE EASIEST AND SIMPLEST WAYS TO IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT AROUND I 35. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS JARED SCHRODE, ITEM 42. MR. DEREK SCH, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, THANK YOU FOR THE TIME. I'M HERE IN STRONG SUPPORT OF ALL THE AGENDA ITEMS FOR ONE THROUGH 43, OBVIOUSLY 42 HERE, UH, TO MOVE FORWARD ON THE CAP AND STITCH AND INVEST IN AUSTIN'S LONG TERM HEALTH EQUITY AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE. WE'RE ALREADY LIVING THE CONSEQUENCES OF INACTION OF THIS. AUSTIN'S ON TRACK FOR OVER A HUNDRED TRIPLE DIGIT DAYS IN THE YEARS TO COME. THE I 35 CORRIDOR IS ONE OF THE HOTTEST, MOST POLLUTED AND MOST PHYSICALLY DIVISIVE PARTS OF OUR CITY, BUT WE HAVE A CHOICE. CAPTAIN FISH GIVES US THE ABILITY TO CREATE 26 ACRES OF NEW GREEN SPACE RIGHT OVER THE HEAT TRAP AND DOES MORE THAN BEAUTIFY. IT LOWERS TEMPERATURES BY UP TO EIGHT DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, CAPTURES STORMWATER SHADES, PEDESTRIANS, RECONNECTS EAST AND WEST, AND PROVIDES BADLY NEEDED PUBLIC SPACE IN ONE OF THE DENSEST PARTS OF THE CITY. AND WHILE THE PRICE TAG GIVES US SOME PAUSE, LET'S REMEMBER, THIS IS WHAT IT COSTS TO ACTUALLY COOL A CITY LOS ANGELES SPENDING 1.2 BILLION TO REDUCE HEAT BY ONLY THREE DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. THAT'S $400 MILLION A DEGREE. CHICAGO'S MILLENNIUM PARK COST OVER $500 MILLION, BUT IT HELPED DRIVE 2.5 BILLION IN NEARBY DEVELOPMENT. NEW YORK HAS SPENT OVER 600 MILLION ON TREE AND ROOF PROGRAMS. I THINK A COUNCIL MEMBER EARLIER MENTIONED THAT THE CITY'S GETTING HOTTER. WE'RE PUTTING SOLAR PANELS ON ROOFS. HERE'S A NATURAL EASY WAY FOR US TO COOL OUR CITY DOWN. THE PROJECTED 1.5 OR 1.4 BILLION FOR CAP AND STITCH IS NOT OUTTA LINE IN ANY OF THAT. IN FACT, IT'S ACTUALLY COMPETITIVE WITH NATIONAL BENCHMARKS. AUSTIN HAS ONE ADVANTAGE. THIS ISN'T JUST RETROFITTING EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE. WE'RE ACTUALLY CREATING NEW LAND IN THE URBAN COURT LAND THAT WE CAN'T BUY ANYWHERE ELSE WHILE BUILDING CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND WRITING A HISTORIC WRONG. JUST ONE NOTE HERE. IF YOU LOOK AT METAGENE COLUMBIA, ONCE THE CITY DEFINED BY HEAT AND INEQUALITY, THEY CREATED GREEN CORRIDORS ALONG ROADWAYS AND DROPPED TEMPERATURES CITYWIDE BY SIX DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. CRIME DROPPED INVESTMENT ROWS COMMUNITY RETURNED. [02:50:01] THE CAP DITCH IS AWESOMES MOMENT. LET'S LEAD WITH THAT SAME BOLDNESS. ITEM 41 THROUGH 43 SMART INVESTMENT. THANK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU SPEAKER. NEXT WE'LL MOVE ON TO IN PERSON. I'M GONNA CALL A GROUP OF NAMES. IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. BARBARA MACARTHUR, LARRY AKERS, ADRIAN MACAS AND SUSANNA ALMANZA. YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED. PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE OPEN PODIUM AND STATE YOUR N HI, MY NAME IS BARBARA MACARTHUR AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT SEVEN. JUST SAY NO TO CAPPING I 35 ON 11TH AND 12TH AND FROM FOURTH TO THE RIVER. EXTRAORDINARY. THIS IS AN EXTRAORDINARILY EXPENSIVE 7.39 ACRES OF PARKS OVER FREEWAYS, PARKS FILLED WITH ULTRA FINE PARTICLES, NITROGEN OXIDES, CARBON MONOXIDE, VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS, AND BREAK TIRE AND ROADWAY WEAR PARTICLES. THAT'S ALL FROM A 2024 UC DAVIS STUDY. WHAT AN ANTI HEALTH NONSENSICAL IDEA TO PUT PARKLAND THERE. INITIATING A PRO, A PROJECT PROJECTED NOW COSTS 1.4 BILLION. THE AMOUNT OF MONEY COULD FIND INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS LIKE FLOOD PREVENTION. PARKLAND OF THE 76% OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN AUSTIN ABLE TO BE INSPECTED. A CITY REPORT SAID 12% WAS IN FAILING CONDITION. OR HOW ABOUT HOUSING? HELP MAINTAIN EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING LIKE ACACIA CLIFFS. PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING. HEAL THE WOUNDS OF I 35 APARTHEID. HOW ABOUT LITERALLY PAVING THE WAY TO EXPAND DOWNTOWN EASTWARD TO AIRPORT BOULEVARD? IF I LOOK IN MY CRYSTAL BALL, I SEE A TURS COMING TO SPEED THE REDEVELOPMENT, ESPECIALLY ON THE EASTERN WATERFRONT. THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO PUT A DOWN PAYMENT ON A PROJECT THAT THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN CANNOT AFFORD. THANK YOU. IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM. THANK YOU. MY NAME'S LARRY AKERS. THE LEGISLATURE'S POISED TO PASS A BILL FOR BIDDING A VALOREM OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE TAX REVENUES FROM REPAYING DEBT. WILL THIS HAVE A BEARING ON THE $41 MILLION STATE INFRASTRUCTURE BANK LOAN? I DON'T THINK IT MATTERS WHETHER THE CITY ALREADY HOLDS THE PROCEEDS OF THE LOAN AS THE, AS THE LEGISLATION WILL REGULATE THE TAX STREAM THAT COULD BE USED TO REPAY IT. ANOTHER QUESTION IS WHETHER THE PROPOSED CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION WOULD BE CERTIFIED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WHO MAY BE LOATHED TO DO SO. IF THERE'S NOT BEEN A PUBLIC BOND VOTE. MY STRONG IMPRESSION IS THAT IF YOU BUNDLE CAPTAIN STITCH INTO A 2026 BOND PROPOSAL, THE PROPOSAL WILL FAIL AT THE POLLS. THE LOUDEST APPLAUSE FROM THE CROWD OF 120 SENIORS A COUNCIL MEMBER, UCHIN AND PUENTE'S PUBLIC FORUM LAST WEEK CAME WHEN THE COUNCIL MEMBERS VOICED THEIR OPPOSITION TO CAPTAIN STITCH. NEXT. IF CITY COUNCIL ADOPTS THESE ITEMS AND ENTERS INTO AGREEMENTS WITH TDOT AND THE FINANCING REPAYMENT OPTIONS THEN FALL THROUGH FOR WHATEVER REASON, WILL THE CITY STILL BE OBLIGATED TO PAY TEXDOT THE PROMISED FUNDS? AND HOW WOULD THE CITY MANAGE TO DO THAT? FINALLY, IF THE CITY AND TEXDOT FORMED THIS AGREEMENT, I SEE NO MOTIVATION FOR TEXDOT TO MANAGE ITS COST PRUDENTLY AS THE CITY WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL OVERRUNS. NOTHING WOULD PREVENT THE COST FROM DOUBLING AS TEXDOT HAS ALREADY SUGGESTED IT COULD AND THE CITY WOULD HAVE NO RECOURSE OTHER THAN TO PAY. HOW DOES COUNCIL SUPPOSE WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT? I GET THE VERY STRONG IMPRESSION THAT COUNCIL IS ARGUING OVER ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT TO DO AND NOT THINKING ENOUGH ABOUT HOW YOU'RE GONNA DO IT. AND, AND, AND IGNORING THE RISK OF IT. MAYOR WATSON RECENTLY PROCLAIMED IN A SPEECH THAT HE HAS GOOD JUDGMENT. I THINK IT'S TIME FOR HIM TO SHOW IT. YOU NEED TO STOP THIS USELESS, WASTEFUL PROJECT AND ACT IN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SPEAKER. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. UH, GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M SUSAN ALMANZA WITH RA BORA OPPOSES SPENDING WASTING BILLIONS AND POSSIBLY BILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON THE CAPTAIN STITCH WHEN WE ARE NOT MEETING THE NEEDS OF AUSTIN KNIGHTS. THE CITY REPORT ON HOUSING FROM 2018 TO 2022 HAD BUILT 35,742 UNITS FOR THOSE LIVING AT 61 TO 121% MEDIUM FAMILY INCOME WHILE ONLY BUILDING 6,847 UNITS. FOR THOSE LIVING AT 30 TO 60%. [02:55:01] MFI YOU COULD USE, YOU COULD USE FUNDING PROPOSED FOR CAP, ANDIT OR CAP AND S**T TO PURCHASE 6,970 ACRES OF PARKLAND 43 LAND FOR PUBLIC FACILITIES. 13,950,000 AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS, 11 TIMES AS MUCH LAND IN CENTRAL AUSTIN. AND LET'S LOOK AT THE, THE CANOPY. IN NORTHWEST CANOPY YOU HAVE 59% CANOPY AND ONLY 19% PEOPLE OF COLOR. WHILE ON TOPES NEIGHBORHOOD YOU HAVE ONLY A CANOPY OF 26% AND YOU HAVE AN 82% PEOPLE OF COLOR. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE GREEN SPACE AND PROTECTING, WHO SHOULD YOU REALLY BE PROTECTING THE MOST VULNERABLE, THAT'S WHO YOU SHOULD BE TAKING CARE OF AND NOT THE ELITIST AND THOSE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN A BUBBLE AND DON'T REALIZE HOW OTHER PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING. AND YOU CAN JUST SEE WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT GREEN SPACE AND COVERING WHO, WHO'S REALLY FEELING THE HEAT ISLAND. THIS PICTURE TELLS IT ALL. SO I ASK YOU FOR THAT IS OPPOSED AGAIN TO HAPPEN STITCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND BY THE WAY, COUNSEL, WHEN I SAID THAT ABOUT JUDGMENT, I WAS ACTUALLY QUOTING SABRINA CARPENTER FROM THE SONG, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE . UM, SO I IT WAS NOT MADE AS A SPECIAL REFERENCE. NEXT GROUP OF SPEAKERS IS NOE ELIAS CARLOS PINON, PEDRO HERNANDEZ JR. AND VALERIE MENARD. ALL ON ITEM 42. YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED. PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. GOOD AFTERNOON COUNSEL. UH, MY NAME IS VALERIE MENARD. I LIVE IN DISTRICT ONE AND I'M THE PROJECT DIRECTOR FOR PORE COLORADO RIVER CONSERVANCY. I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK AGAINST ITEMS 41 42 AND 43 IE THE CAP ANDIT PROGRAM. THE COST IS EXCESSIVE AND ABSOLUTELY NOT JUSTIFIED CONSIDERING THAT THE CITY IS AT RISK OF LOSING TENS OF, OF LOSING MIL MILLIONS OF FEDERAL FUNDS. AND THAT SO MANY MORE PRESSING PRIORITIES COULD BE BETTER SERVED BY THE AVERAGE COST OF 43 MILLION PER ACRE OF CAP ANDIT UH, PROJECTS. OUR PRIORITY FOR THE COLORADO RIVER CONSERVANCY IS THE FUNDING NEEDED BY THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT TO INSTALL FILTRATION SYSTEM THAT WILL KEEP ARTICULATE MATTER OUT OF THE COLORADO RIVER AT THE MONTOPOLIS BRIDGE. CURRENTLY AN AREA OF THE RIVER THAT IS CONSIDERED PRISTINE, BUT WHERE TXDOT PLANS TO DUMP STORM DRAINAGE FROM THE EXPANDED IH 35 WITH ONLY, WITH ONLY A METAL MESH FILTER TO CATCH GARBAGE. ONCE AGAIN, EAST O WILL SERVE AS THE CITY DUMP SITE WORKING VALIANTLY TO FIND THE MONEY THE FUNDS IT NEEDS. THE WATERSHED DEPARTMENT RECENTLY REQUESTED SUPPORT FROM CONGRESSMAN GREG KASAR FOR FEDERAL FUNDING. BUT IN LIGHT OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION'S LUST FOR TAX BREAKS FOR THE WEALTHIEST AMERICANS AND THE NEED TO CUT SOCIAL PROGRAMS LIKE MEDICAID AND SNAP TO PAY FOR THEM, THE LIKELIHOOD OF ACQUIRING FEDERAL DOLLARS IS GRIM. TAXPAYERS ARE ALREADY STRESSED BY INCREASING COSTS FROM TARIFFS, THE LOSS OF LOW INCOME HOUSING AND RISING UTILITY RATES. ADDING A POTENTIAL 5,695 TAX BURDEN EACH ONTO TAXPAYERS IS NOT ONLY RIDICULOUS, IT'S UNCONSCIONABLE. AND FOR WHAT A BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT THAT WILL AT BEST ONLY BENEFIT THE CONTRACTORS WHO BUILD IT AND MAY COST 47 MILLION A YEAR TO MAINTAIN THIS. WHILE FUNDING FOR CURRENT PARK MAINTENANCE REMAINS STATIC. NO THANK YOU. THIS IS A BOONDOGGLE. PLEASE VOTE NO THANK YOU. CONTINUING WITH ITEM 42, WE HAVE TOM WALD, MICHAEL CURRY, JEFFREY BOWEN, AND RICH HAMAN. IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. PLEASE COME FORWARD IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED SO WE'LL KNOW YOU'RE HERE. HI. GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS. THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. UM, I FIRST WANTED TO SAY I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND TXDOT TO BE WHO HAVE WORKED TOGETHER TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION TO MITIGATE THE LOCAL AND GLOBAL IMPACTS OF THE HIGHWAY, AT LEAST IN PART BY PROVIDING CAPS AND STITCHES. UM, YOU KNOW, TEX TEXTILE HAS IS BUILDING THIS $5 BILLION PROJECT TO, TO SERVE THOSE DRIVING REALLY WELL, TO WELCOME PEOPLE TO DRIVING AND TO ACCOMMODATE PEOPLE WALKING AND BIKING THE CAPS AND STITCHES THOUGH WELCOME PEOPLE TO, TO WALK AND BIKE, ESPECIALLY CROSSING THE HIGHWAY. AND, UM, AND I THINK THAT'S A REAL, THAT'S A REAL SERVICE TO, TO PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO CAN'T AFFORD CARS. UM, I'M, I'M APPRECIATIVE THAT, UH, ONE OF THE PROPOSALS ON THE TABLE DOES INCLUDE THE BOTH CROSSINGS OF THE RED LINE PARKWAY. IT'LL BE ONE OF OUR REALLY TREASURED URBAN TRAILS IN OUR CITY. AND I THINK THAT WE'RE ALL, UH, HOPEFULLY EVERYONE IN THE ROOM IS SUPPORTIVE OF PEOPLE WALKING AND BIKING. AND THAT'S REALLY WHY WE'VE, WHY WE'VE COME HERE TO SUPPORT THOSE THINGS. UM, I BELIEVE THIS IS, UH, [03:00:01] YOU KNOW, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT CLIMATE ACTION. UM, IT ISN'T NECESSARILY THE THE FIRST CHOICE I WOULD CHOOSE IF WE HAD OUR CHOICE ON WHAT TO WHEN TO CHOOSE IT. BUT WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE. WE HAVE TO CHOOSE IT NOW. UM, AND IT WILL BE AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR CLIMATE ACTION IN THE COMING, UH, 10 TO 20 YEARS. AND SO THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO MAKE THIS DECISION TODAY TO CHOOSE THIS. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS JEFFREY BOWEN AND I'M HERE SPEAKING FOR MYSELF. UH, THE CAP AND STITCH HAS REALLY GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE UP AND UP AND ROAR AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S BEST FOR US. WE CANNOT AFFORD THIS. THERE'S NO WAY WITH OUR CURRENT BUDGET AND THE OTHER ITEMS THAT WE'VE GOT COMING ON THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE THIS CITY AFFORDABLE. WE'VE HEARD FOR YEARS AND YEARS ABOUT AFFORDABILITY. I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT, UH, COUNCILMAN ALTER HAS GONE AND TRIED TO FIND DIFFERENT WAYS TO SPEND TO FIND DIFFERENT MONIES AND THOSE THINGS. I HOPE THAT SAME AMOUNT OF AGGRESSIVE LOOKING WILL BE USED TOWARDS OUR FUTURE BUDGET THAT'S COMING UP. WE CANNOT AFFORD WHEN WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A WATER SYSTEM THAT'S BEING MAINTAINED. THAT LAST REPORT WAS 8 BILLION GALLONS LEAKING OUT A YEAR. THAT THAT LACK OF BEING ABLE TO MAINTAIN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE WILL RELATE RIGHT BACK TO WHAT WE WILL NOT BE MAINTAINING WITH FIS CAP AND STITCH. AND WHAT WILL YOU DO WHEN WE START PUTTING HIGH RISES ON THE EAST SIDE AS THEY CONTINUE TO PUSH TOWARDS THE EAST, MAKING BASICALLY THE HIGHWAY A DIVIDER OF ALL OF DOWNTOWN HIGH RISES ON THE EAST, HIGH RISES ON THE WEST. WHERE WILL THOSE INDIVIDUALS IN EAST AUSTIN GO? THEY WILL NOT BE HERE. THIS IS NOTHING BUT A BOONDOGGLE BOTTOM LINE. THE MONEY THAT'S BEING SPENT HERE WE COULD TAKE AND BE USING TO, UH, PARK OUT THE LAND THAT WE'VE CURRENTLY GOT ON HAND THAT WE'VE BOUGHT OVER TIME, UH, THAT CAN BE DONE. THAT ADDS TO THE GREEN SPACES THAT WE ARE SO FAR BEHIND ON WAS IT LIKE 30%? THE WHOLE IDEA BEHIND THIS IS THAT WE NEED A VOICE AND LISTEN TO THE REST OF THE, THE, THE PEOPLE HERE. THIS, THE ONLY EQUITY IN THIS IS EVERYBODY'S GONNA PAY FOR IT. THANK YOU, MR. BOWEN. UH, HI COUNSEL. MY NAME IS RICH HAMAN. I LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE IN THE CHERRYWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD. AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT, UH, THE NORTHERN PORTION OF THIS, UM, CONCEPT. UM, AND I WANT TO SPEAK TO THE IMPORTANCE OF SOME MEANINGFUL LAND BRIDGE ACROSS I 35. WE WERE TOLD IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS THAT I 35, THE RECONSTRUCTION WILL BE NO WIDER AND NO HIGHER, AND YET CHERRYWOOD THERE THE FREEWAY WILL BE DOUBLED IN WIDTH. SO WE ARE THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT HAS IMPACTED THE MOST OF ANY NEIGHBORHOOD IN THIS, UH, IN THE CITY. MOST THE MOST LAND IS BEING TAKEN IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. AND THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE EAST AND WEST IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, YOU, UM, ALL BACK THE, UM, THAT, UH, PROJECT TO LOOK INTO CREATING A NEW, UM, URBAN NODE IN THE AREA AROUND, UM, A POTENTIAL NEW RED LINE STATION. UM, SO A MEANINGFUL LAND BRIDGE AT THAT, UH, POINT IN, UH, AT THE FREEWAY WOULD BE SUPER IMPORTANT TO BRINGING THAT TO COMMERCIAL CENTERS IN OUR AREA AND CREATING, UM, A NEW URBAN NODE THERE. AND THAT I WANT TO EXPRESS STRONG SUPPORT FOR THAT CONCEPT. THA AND THANKS FOR ALL THE CREATIVE, UH, LOOKING FOR ALTERNATIVE FUNDS AND I ECHO THE PREVIOUS GENTLEMAN WHO'VE TALKED ABOUT. I HOPE WE CAN BRING SOME OF THAT CREATIVITY TO SOME OF THE OTHER IMPORTANT CHALLENGES THE CITY HAS AS WELL. THANKS. OUR NEXT GROUP OF SPEAKERS FOR 42 IS JIM WALKER, ROY WHALEY, CRAIG NAER, AND MEGAN MEISENBACH. IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD SO THAT YOU'LL BE READY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MR. WALKER. HELLO, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. MY NAME'S JIM WALKER. I'M WITH THE CHERRYWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. UH, ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, I JUST WANNA SPEAK TO THE OPPORTUNITY COST. YOU ALL HAVE HEARD MANY TIMES NOW HOW THIS IS, THIS IS NARROW WINDOW TO MAKE THE 75 PLUS YEAR INVESTMENT. WE WON'T GET TO TALK ABOUT THE ROADWAY ELEMENTS AGAIN IN A FEW YEARS OR IN A COUPLE BOND CYCLES. FAIR NOT THE WINDOWS RIGHT NOW FOR THIS KIND OF, THIS BIG MOMENT, UH, I APPRECIATE ALL THE CREATIVE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE AND THE BACK AND FORTH ON CREATIVE FUNDING STRATEGIES, OTHER ALTERNATIVES. I APPRECIATE THE FUNDING, THE SPREADING OUT OF THE [03:05:01] ACTUAL PAYMENT, UH, THAT TEXTILES PROVIDED. UH, AND I KNOW THE CITY'S A GROWING CITY. WE HAVE URGENT NEEDS THAT ARE UNMET. UM, WE ARE BE TALKING ABOUT THOSE EVERY YEAR, EVERY BOND CYCLE WE HAVE BEEN. WE'LL CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT THOSE AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE YES AND MOMENTS YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO ADDRESS THE URGENT NEEDS AND MEET THESE BIG MULTI-GENERATIONAL MOMENTS WHEN THEY ARISE. THEY DON'T COME VERY OFTEN. THIS IS A BIG ONE. UH, WE SUPPORT COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE'S AMENDMENT THAT HAS, UH, THE FUNDING PLAN, ESPECIALLY THE TWO STITCHES IN THE NORTHERN SECTION. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT AMENDMENT AND THANK YOU FOR THE TIME. HOWDY Y'ALL. ROY WHALEY, AUSTIN SIERRA CLUB CONSERVATION COMMITTEE CHAIR. UM, I'M GLAD TO SEE THE DISCUSSION AND I RESPECT THE HEARTS AND INTENTIONS OF EVERYBODY UP THERE, EVEN THE FOLKS I DISAGREE WITH. UM, WE DO, THE CONSERVATION COMMITTEE HAS DISCUSSED THIS, AND WE DO SUPPORT, UH, THE EXPENDITURE FOR THE, THE BASE CAPS, UH, NECESSARY. BUT THAT'S IT. PUT THE REST OF THE FUNDING ON HOLD. LET'S LET A FUTURE COUNCIL DECIDE WHAT TO DO. ONE THING THAT FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL STANDPOINT IS I KEEP HEARING ABOUT, WELL, IT WAS ASTROTURF, IT WAS GRASS, IT WAS ASTROTURF, IT'S GRASS. 41.4% OF CAPACITY OF THE LAKE TRAVIS LEVEL TODAY. AND IT HAS BEEN STEADILY FALLING. IT IS STILL STEADILY FALLING. HOW ARE WE GONNA KEEP THAT GRASS ALIVE? WE'VE GOT THE HEAT UNDERNEATH. WE'VE GOT THE HEAT ON TOP. HOW ARE WE GONNA KEEP THAT GRASS ALIVE AND KEEP WATER RATES DOWN, MAKE IT AFFORDABLE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WILL NEVER GO TO THIS PART TO BE ABLE TO PAY THEIR WATER BILLS, TO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THEIR LIMITED LANDSCAPING THEMSELVES? PARDON ME, THEMSELVES. SO THINK ABOUT THE WATER ASPECT OF IT. THIS IS A VERY REAL PROBLEM. IT'S SO REAL THAT EVEN THE GOVERNOR OF TEXAS IS CONCERNED ABOUT IT. OH MY GOSH. SO THINK ABOUT THE, THE WATER FUTURE AND THE FACT THAT WE SIMPLY CAN'T KEEP THE GRASS ALIVE. AND I WILL TALK MORE IN A LITTLE BIT. WHAT A SURPRISE. BUT THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND LET'S THANK YOU MR. NASER. HELLO, CRAIG NASER SIERRA CLUB. AND, UM, I, WE'RE NEUTRAL ON THIS MAY BE THE SUPPORTS, UM, FOR SOMETHING IN THE FUTURE, BUT THE PROBLEM IS WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS IS GONNA LOOK LIKE. AND FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA CALL OUT, UH, UH, REPRESENTATIVE SIEGEL AND VELA FOR HAVING AN INCREDIBLE DISCUSSION ON PUBLIC RADIO YESTERDAY. IT WAS REALLY GOOD. IT WAS REALLY GOOD. IT WAS VERY SUBSTANTIAL AND BROUGHT OUT SOME VERY GOOD POINTS. LIKE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THESE CAPS ARE GONNA LOOK LIKE. SOME PEOPLE ARE SAYING IT'S GONNA AFFECT CLIMATE CHANGE. I DON'T SEE HOW IT CAN AFFECT CHI CLIMATE CHANGE, AND I DON'T SEE HOW IT CAN WARM UP OR COOL DOWN THE CITY. UH, HOW MUCH DIRT ARE YOU GONNA PUT ON THERE? YOU KNOW, PLANTS TO GROW NEED A LOT OF DIRT, AND THE DIRT HAS TO DRAIN. ARE THERE GONNA BE TREES? I DOUBT IT. AND IF YOU'RE GONNA DO ASTROTURF, I'M SAYING DON'T EVEN TRY AND SELL THAT TO THE SIERRA CLUB. 'CAUSE ASTROTURF IS NOT PARKLAND. IT'S, UH, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING ELSE. UH, THE OTHER THING IS THE MONEY. WE HAVE WANTED A, A CLIMATE INVESTMENT PLAN FOR YEARS. WE HAVE WORKED HUNDREDS OF HOURS, SOME OF US TALKING ABOUT WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE WITH NATURAL SYSTEMS AND EVERYTHING, AND WE'RE TOLD WE DON'T KNOW WE CAN FUND IT. WE GET THERE, WE HAVE THESE GOOD IDEAS, AND PEOPLE IN THE COMMITTEE, UH, SAY, I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN ASK FOR THIS MUCH. I DON'T. THEY'LL APPROVE IT. AND THEN SUDDENLY WE FIND OUT THAT, THAT THERE'S APPARENTLY ALL THIS MONEY FOR THESE CAPS. UH, THIS DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. SO LET'S GO SLOWER AND GET SOMETHING THAT MAKES SENSE SO PEOPLE CAN SUPPORT IT. BUT ANYWAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CONTINUING WITH ITEM 42, WE HAVE DANIELLA SILVA, STEVEN DELINE, BRENDAN WISR, AND BILL BUNCH. IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM. IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE [03:10:01] STATE YOUR NAME BEFORE YOU BEGIN. HI, UH, STEVEN DELINE. PLEASE GO AHEAD. UM, I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF ALL THREE OF THE BILLS. UM, I THINK THAT I AGREE WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT I'VE SPOKEN THAT FINANCIALLY THIS IS NOT THE BEST IDEA. THERE ARE DEFINITELY OTHER THINGS THAT, UH, PEOPLE IN AUSTIN HAVE ISSUES WITH THAT COULD BE FIXED. BUT, UM, THERE HAVE BEEN PREVIOUS AGENDA ITEMS WITH GETTING REAL ESTATE THAT HAVE ALLOWED TO HEDGE AGAINST THAT RISK FOR THE FINANCES WITH THIS DECISION. AND I THINK OVER TIME, ALLOWING SOME WAY FOR THE CITY TO HEAL FROM EAST TO WEST, THIS IS ONE OF THE BETTER OPTIONS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A FUTURE THINKING, UH, WAY TO GARNER MORE FINANCES FOR THE CITY TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED TODAY. AND, UM, I THINK AT LEAST, JUST LIKE A SIERRA CLUB HAS MENTIONED, HAVING THE CAPS, JUST THE BASE WOULD JUST BE A START. IF IT'S STILL TOO MUCH MONEY, MAYBE NOT MORE THAN THAT, BUT AT LEAST THE BASE GET THAT DONE, BECAUSE THERE IS NOT GOING TO BE ANOTHER TIME TO DO THIS. UH, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. THANK YOU. OKAY. THE NEXT GROUP OF SPEAKERS IS JA. JAMES HOISON, BOBBY LAVINSKY, MICHAEL SUE, CHARLES DHAR COURT. IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD. YEAH, GO AHEAD. GO AHEAD. IF YOUR NAME HAS ALREADY BEEN CALLED, JUST IDENTIFY YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE. THANK YOU, COUNSEL. MY NAME IS BRENDAN WHIR. I'M THE CHAIR OF THE NORTH CENTRAL I 35 NEIGHBORHOOD COALITION, UH, UH, AND FORMER CO-CHAIR OF THE R 35, UH, COMMUNITY STEERING COMMITTEE. UM, I AM, UH, NOT, UH, REPRESENTING EITHER OF THOSE GROUPS. I'M SPEAKING IN MY OWN CAPACITY TODAY. UH, I'M ALSO RECOGNIZING THAT I'M AT THE AGE WHERE I'M NO LONGER SPEAKING, UH, UM, INVESTING IN AUSTIN FOR MYSELF. UH, THIS IS A LONG GAME CONVERSATION, AND THIS IS REALLY ABOUT THE, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GONNA FOLLOW ME. UM, SO I, I DON'T EXPECT TO EVEN SEE ALL, EVERY, ALL THE FRUITS OF, OF THE CONVERSATION WE'RE HAVING TODAY. UM, NEVERTHELESS, I'M EXCITED TO, TO SPEAK, UH, WITH YOU TODAY. IN 2023, THE NORTH CENTRAL NEIGHBORHOODS CAME TO TXDOT WITH A, A, A SIMPLE, UM, BUT EARNEST REQUEST. WE HAD SEEN A HUGE LEVEL OF INNOVATION START COMING OUT OF THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT WHERE, UM, MORE STAKEHOLDERS WERE APPLYING PRESSURE, WHERE THERE WERE GEOGRAPHIC PRESSURES THAT WERE MAKING SOME REALLY INTERESTING THINGS HAPPEN WITH THEIR PROJECT. UH, AND TO THEIR CREDIT, TEXDOT RESPONDED. UM, AND TEXDOT IS HERE TODAY. I KNOW WE DON'T ALWAYS AGREE ON EVERYTHING, UH, BUT THE FOLKS IN THE FIRST FRONT ROW OVER THERE HAVE WORKED REALLY HARD. UH, AND THEY HAVE WORKED WITH US IN GOOD FAITH AND, AND TREATED US WITH RESPECT ALL ALONG THE WAY. IF WE'RE UP TO ME, I WISH WE WERE TALKING TODAY ABOUT CAPPING EVERY INCH OF, OF HIGH 35. I UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE NOT THERE. I APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS THAT HAVE GONE INTO THE COMPROMISE, UH, ON A COMPLEX ISSUE. I DO WANNA BE VERY CLEAR THAT I SUPPORT COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE'S MOTION, UM, IN ITS ENTIRETY, UH, AS WRITTEN AND APPRECIATE HIS OFFICE PUTTING THAT FORWARD. THIS PROJECT HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT TWO THINGS, UH, SYMBOLICALLY ADDRESSING THE PAST WRONGS OF THIS CITY AND THE, THE WAY I 35 HAS REPRESENTED THOSE AND PRAGMATICALLY APPROACHING A BETTER FUTURE. I WANNA HIGHLIGHT THAT PRAGMATIC PART HERE, BECAUSE THERE ARE EXACTLY THREE PLACES IN THIS PROJECT AREA. WE'RE A PERSON IF ALL THE GO, I'M, I'M SORRY, BUT YOUR TIME'S EXPIRED. I'LL KEEP, YEAH. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. HELLO, MY NAME IS JAMES HOUSE AND I LIVE IN THE DELWOOD TWO NEIGHBORHOOD AT THE INTERSECTION OF AIRPORT BOULEVARD AND THE I 35. UH, SO I PARTICIPATED IN CONSULTATIONS WITH TDOT ABOUT THIS, UH, PROJECT, UH, WORKING WITH THE NORTH CENTRAL NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, COALITION, UH, INCLUDING CHERRYWOOD, THE CITY AND TDOT TO IMPROVE THE DESIGN FOR THE FUTURE OF THE I 35. UH, WE'RE ESPECIALLY HAPPY THAT THAT PROCESS LED TO REAL IMPROVEMENTS IN THE INTERSECTION AT AIRPORT BOULEVARD AND THANK THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE INVOLVED IN, UH, AND THEIR OFFICE WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THAT DISCUSSION. THAT SAID, THROUGHOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF THESE CAPS WAS A KEY ELEMENT IN THESE CONSULTATIONS. UH, SO I SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE'S RESOLUTION TO FUND THE NORTH CENTRAL ROADWAY ELEMENTS TO MAKE POSSIBLE CAPS THAT WILL CONNECT NEIGHBORHOODS TO GROCERY STORES AND TO THE CITY BEYOND. UH, SO RATHER THAN CREATING A CONCRETE CANYON, CONTINUING TO SPLIT THE CITY, LET'S ACT TO BUILD PUBLIC SPACE AND CONNECTION. SO PLEASE VOTE TO FUND THE ROADWAY ELEMENTS AND CAPS, INCLUDING THE NORTH CENTRAL ELEMENTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. UH, MY NAME'S BOB LAVINSKY. I'M AN ATTORNEY WITH THE SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE. UH, [03:15:01] SAVE OUR SPRINGS IS THAT ONE OF THE PLAINTIFFS TO THE, UH, LAWSUIT THAT WAS FILED IN FEDERAL COURT, UM, OVER THIS PROJECT. UM, AND WE REPRESENT, UH, A NUMBER OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND, UM, AND NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS ALONG THE CORRIDOR AS WELL. IN FACT, THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON IN THE AUDIENCE. I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THAT SUIT RIGHT NOW. MUCH OF THIS CONVERSATION IS A DISTRACTION FROM THE REAL ISSUE, WHICH IS A HIGHWAY EXPANSION PROJECT THAT WILL CAUSE MORE DEATHS, POLLUTE OUR AIR AND POLLUTE OUR WATER. IT'S DIFFICULT TO WEIGH IN ON THIS CAP CONVERSATION BECAUSE IT DOES HAVE AN ELEMENT OF HELPING RESTORE THE COMMUNITY, BUT IT ALSO IGNORES WHAT THE COMMUNITY CONCEPTS THAT WERE BEING PROPOSED, UM, THAT COULD HAVE ACTUALLY DONE THAT, UM, IN A BETTER WAY AND NOT AT SUCH AN EXPENSE TO AUSTIN TAXPAYERS. UM, I DON'T THINK THAT IT WAS WELL TOLD TO THE PUBLIC THAT THE CAPS WERE NOT ACTUALLY PART OF THE I 35 EXPANSION PROJECT WHEN THEY WERE, UH, SOLD IN THE MEDIA AT ALL. THOSE PRETTY PICTURES OF THE CAPS WERE, UM, PART OF EVERY MEDIA ARTICLE. UM, AND IT WASN'T REALLY WELL TOLD TO THE PUBLIC THAT IT WOULD COME AT THE COST OF OUR PARKS AND OUR LIBRARIES, OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND OUR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION. SO THE REAL ISSUE HERE IS THE STATE OF TEXAS REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT TRAVIS COUNTY HAS UNSAFE AIR. THEY DO THIS BY IGNORING THE AIR, THE AIR QUALITY MONITORS THAT ARE INSTALLED. THERE'S ONE IN THE NORTH SEGMENT OF I 35 THAT HAS CONSISTENTLY, UH, EXCEEDED, UH, THE AIR QUALITY STANDARDS THAT THE EPA HAS JUST DEEMED AS SAFE SINCE IT WAS PUT ONLINE. THEY TRY TO DISTRACT IT SAYING THAT IT WAS RELATED TO THE, UM, WILDFIRES, BUT THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT MONITOR. THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE WEBER REVEAL MONITOR. WHAT THEY ALSO TRIED TO EXCLUDE FROM, UH, THE NON-ATTAINMENT DESIGNATION THAT THEY WERE TRYING TO SEEK THROUGH THE TCEQ. BUT TO MAKE EVEN MATTERS WORSE, THE GOVERNOR OF THE CITY OF TEXAS DECIDED TO IGNORE EVEN THE TCEQ RECOMMENDATION AND JUST SELF-DECLARED THAT ALL COUNTIES IN TEXAS HAVE SAFE AIR. THANK YOU, MR. LAVINSKY. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. UM, I THINK NO ONE CAN ACCUSE YOU OF NOT BEING DILIGENT ON THIS. THANK YOU. UM, I'VE BEEN, UH, I'M AN, UH, SORRY, DID I SAY MY NAME? CHARLES ARDT. I'M A RESIDENT OF, UH, HANCOCK, AND I REPRESENT THE HANCOCK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. UH, WHEN I WAS HERE ON TUESDAY, I THANK THE MEMBERS WHO WERE SUPPORTING THE FULL CAPS. UH, TODAY I WANT TO SPEAK TO THOSE WHO WANT TO JUSTIFY THE, THE FUNDING OF IT TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS, WHICH MAKES A LOT OF SENSE. UH, THE KEY THING IS TO REMEMBER THAT THIS IS NOT A LUXURY ITEM. THIS IS NOT ABOUT PARKS. THIS IS ABOUT MITIGATION. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A 6 BILLION, WHICH MIGHT BE A $10 BILLION COST FOR THE FREEWAYS. AND OF THIS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ONE TO 3% TO MITIGATE IT. IF, UH, SOMEONE WERE PUTTING 20 LANES DOWN IN ANYBODY'S DISTRICT, I WOULD HOPE THAT EVERYBODY IN THE CITY WOULD, UH, SUPPORT MITIGATING THAT. NOT JUST FOR THE BENEFIT OF THOSE DISTRICTS, BUT FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CITY AS A WHOLE. I'VE BEEN IN AUSTIN FOR 20 YEARS BEFORE THAT CIRCUMSTANCES MADE ME LIVE IN DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, DIFFERENT CITIES WHERE SOME FREEWAYS WERE BROUGHT DOWN, REPLACED BY OTHER USES. OTHER CITIES WERE CAPPED OVER, OR OTHER FREEWAYS WERE CAPPED OVER IN. NOT A SINGLE ONE. HAVE I EVER HEARD ANYONE COMPLAIN ABOUT THE SHIFT IN YOU. WE CAN'T DO AS MUCH AS WE'D LIKE TO. THIS WILL STILL BE A PROBLEM FOR THE CITY, HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR 60 YEARS, BUT WE HAVE TO DO WHAT WE CAN. SO I APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORT IN DOING THIS TODAY. HAVE A GOOD DAY. THANK YOU. NEXT GROUP OF SPEAKERS ON 42 IS LIBBY CHANEL, HAYDEN WALKER, MARISSA PERES. IF YOUR NAME CALL, PLEASE COME FORWARD. AND MONICA GUZMAN. HI, I'M LIBBY CHENNEL. UM, FIRST I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO ZOE CHEETO, RYAN, UM, AND NATASHA FOR SUPPORTING EXPANDED CAP AND STITCH COMPROMISE AND WORKING SO DILIGENTLY TO COME UP WITH CREATIVE FUNDING SOLUTIONS. THANK YOU TO EACH OF YOU WHO HAVE PERSONALLY VISITED AND EXPERIENCED A CAPPED PARK, A CAPPED HIGHWAY TO INFORM YOUR VOTE. UH, WE SEE YOU AND WE APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU. UH, MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS LIKE THIS OFTEN ARE CONTROVERSIAL, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF THE PRICE TAGS THAT ARE BIGGER THAN, UM, QATARI JETS. BUT LET'S CONSIDER THIS. CENTRAL PARK HAD A COST OF $14 MILLION, WHICH, YOU KNOW, SOUNDS CHEAP, SOUNDS LIKE NOTHING. UM, BUT IN THE CONTEXT OF THE 1850S WHEN IT WAS CREATED, THE CITY BUDGET WAS $10 MILLION ANNUALLY. SO CENTRAL PARK WAS 140% OF THOSE TOTAL ANNUAL FUNDS. THERE WAS AN UPROAR, [03:20:01] UH, THAT THIS WAS AN IMPUDENT USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS AS THE INVESTMENT WAS SPENT. AS COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN SAYS, ON A PROJECT THAT FEEDS AND HOUSES, NO ONE EDUCATES NO ONE AND DOESN'T PROTECT THEM FROM CRIME OR FLOOD OR FIRE. BUT I WONDER IF THE COUNCIL MEMBER, AS SEV SEVERAL NEW YORK CITY OFFICIALS DID AT THE TIME, WOULD VIEW CENTRAL PARK, WHICH TODAY GENERATES BILLIONS IN TOURISM AND REAL ESTATE VALUE ON TOP OF IMPROVING PUBLIC HEALTH AND STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY BONDS ACROSS ALL CITY DISTRICTS AS A POOR INVESTMENT. OF COURSE, WE ARE NOT NEW YORK CITY, AND THIS IS NOT CENTRAL PARK, BUT I DRAW PARALLEL BECAUSE CENTRAL PARK WAS BUILT IN A SUBURBAN AREA, IF YOU CAN BELIEVE THAT. UM, IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA, WE ARE TALKING A LOT ABOUT THE DOWNTOWN CAPS AND WRITING OFF NORTHERN CAPS AND STITCHES DUE TO THE COMPARABLY, SPARSELY DEVELOPED CENSUS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. I ORIGINALLY HAD SOME SLIDES FOR THIS, BUT I ASKED THEM NOT TO DISPLAY IT AND PIVOT AND DO A LITTLE BIT OF SHORTER AND NOT SPEAK TWICE TO SAVE SOME TIME FOR YOU GUYS. UM, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK AND ALL THE VERY DI DIFFICULT DISCUSSIONS THAT HAVE HAPPENED ON THIS DIOCESE RECENTLY. I THINK WE'RE ALL BETTER FOR IT, UM, AND REALLY APPRECIATE, UM, ALL YOUR EFFORTS. UM, MY FATHER, SINCLAIR BLACK, UM, AND KINNEY, WHO WAS HERE EARLIER, DESIGNED A GREAT STREETS MASTER PLAN FOR AUSTIN 25 YEARS AGO. AND SECOND STREET WAS THE FIRST ITERATION OF THAT PLAN. UM, BACK THEN, SOME OF YOU MAY REMEMBER IN THE EIGHTIES, SECOND STREET WAS FOUR LANES OF HIGH SPEED, ONE WAY STREET TO GET OUT OF, OUT OF THE DOWNTOWN AS FAST AS POSSIBLE. UM, IT WAS TO DRIVE THROUGH AND NOT TO, UM, BACK THEN, I'M SURE THE MAYOR WILL REMEMBER CITY HALL WAS AN A DUSTY WAREHOUSE . UM, THINGS HAVE CHANGED A LOT SINCE THEN. UM, INVESTING IN SECOND STREET IS AN EXAMPLE OF INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE THAT BROUGHT IN ADDITIONAL REVENUE TO THE CITY. SURFACE PARKING LOTS WERE TURNED INTO THESE BIG BUILDINGS THAT YOU SEE TODAY. UM, THAT WAS OUR ORIGINAL INSPIRATION WHEN WE LOOKED AT, UM, CREATING RECONNECT AUSTIN AND LOOKING AT HOW TO REIMAGINE THIS CORRIDOR. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT THE CITY'S WEBSITE SAYS THAT THE SIX BLOCKS OF THE SECOND STREET DISTRICT, ONLY SIX BLOCKS, HAS 600 RESIDENTS, 3000 JOBS, 175,000 SQUARE FEET OF RETAIL AND RESTAURANT SPACE, AND 40% OF THE CITY TAXES BROUGHT IN BY THE DISTRICT GO DIRECTLY INTO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND. UM, SECOND STREET WAS A REALLY TOUGH VOTE MORE THAN 20 YEARS AGO. SO, UM, I THINK THESE VOTES ARE REALLY HARD. IT'S REALLY HARD TO THINK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GONNA BE DOING IN 75 YEARS. WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WILL BE ON THESE CAPS AND HOW THEY WILL BE USED OVER TIME. UM, AND THAT MAKES IT REALLY DIFFICULT. SO I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO THOUGHTFULLY CONSIDER THIS, TO HAVE ALL THE WORK SESSIONS THAT YOU'VE HAD ON THIS TO LOOK AT IT. UM, AND I WISH YOU LUCK AS YOU TAKE THIS VOTE. UM, WE DO SUPPORT COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE'S, UM, AMENDMENT, UM, AS WECONNECT AUSTIN. AND, UM, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CONTINUE. AND I AM 42. WE HAVE BEN SOTHEBY, DAVID BLOOM, SINCLAIR BLACK, LINDSEY NICHOL. IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME BEFORE YOU BEGIN. HELLO, MY NAME IS BEN SOTHEBY. I'M SPEAKING OF PERSONAL CAPACITY, NOT ON BEHALF OF MY EMPLOYER OR ON BEHALF OF THE UNION. I'M A PROUD MEMBER OF, OR ON THE BEHALF OF ANY OTHER ORGANIZATION OR CLUB THAT I'M IN. UM, I'M HERE AS A D FOUR RESIDENT. UM, PEOPLE WERE TALKING DOWN OUR TRANSIT, UH, EARLIER TODAY, AND I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT. LAST NIGHT. I WAS ABLE TO ENJOY THE TRIP TO AND BACK FROM THE STADIUM, UH, IN BEAUTIFUL D FOUR ALONG JORDAN DRIVE, BIKE LANES PROTECTED. WE DO USE THEM. THANK YOU. UM, I GET AROUND THE CITY ON, ON A BIKE. IT'S PARKED OUT IN FRONT. I GOT HERE ON THE BIKE TODAY. I USE THE BUS CARPOOL WHEN I CAN, UH, MULTIMODAL. UH, SO, UM, I'VE REALLY APPRECIATED THE WORK DONE ACROSS THE DAIS. UH, I HAVE FRIENDS ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS ISSUE. UH, INTERNALLY, I'VE BEEN FEELING THIS, THIS TENSION TOO BECAUSE, UH, YOU KNOW, AS SOMEONE WHO USES TRANSIT, I LIKE, UH, BEING AWAY FROM HIGHWAYS. UM, YOU KNOW, MY CONCEPT OF BIKING AROUND I 35 IS TO GET OVER IT, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, AND AWAY FROM IT. UM, BUT I ALSO HAVE CONCERNS, UH, ABOUT OUR DEBT CAPACITY. UH, WE'RE TRYING TO DO BIG THINGS IN OUR CITY, YOU KNOW, UH, WE'VE GOT A, YOU KNOW, TRE WE'VE GOT A 2026, UH, BOND THAT WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO DO. UM, SO I, IF THE WAY I DESCRIBED IS IF I HAD A MAGIC WAND, I'D RIP OUT I 35, RIGHT? LIKE, UH, IT WOULD BE GONE, SHOULDN'T IT HAVE EVER BEEN BUILT? UH, IF I HAD INFINITE MONEY, I WOULD DO [03:25:01] CAP, I'D CAP IT FROM PFLUGERVILLE DOWN TO KYLE, LIKE COMPLETELY, YOU KNOW, CAPPED. BUT WE DON'T HAVE INFINITE MONEY. WE HAVE, UH, LIMITED RESOURCES. SO I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE WORK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER FOR FINDING, UH, REVENUE SOURCES THAT POSSIBLY COULD BE USED ON THIS AND NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE, UH, SEE DEEP NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY. HOUSING, FOOD, HEALTHCARE. UM, BUT THE CREDIT RATING AGENCIES ARE GOING TO TAKE A, YOU KNOW, HIGHER LEVEL VIEW AND SAY, THIS IS MUCH DEBT YOU HAVE. THIS IS MUCH YOU HAVE. THANK YOU, SIR. CAN YOU CONTINUE WITH ITEM 42? WE HAVE ED LEE, GERARD KINNEY, AND ENOVIA JOSEPH, IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED FOR ITEM 42, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM. NOT SURE IF I CUT THE LINE. HI Y'ALL, I'M LINDSEY NICHOL. I LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE, AND I'M IN SUPPORT OF ALL OF THE ITEMS RELATED TO THE CAPS. UH, FIRST AND FOREMOST, THANK YOU TO EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO IS SITTING HERE TODAY WHO HAS DONE THE WORK TO UNDERSTAND THE PROS AND THE CONS OF SUCH A MASSIVE UNDERTAKING. AS THE CAPS AND STITCH PROJECT, I'VE BEEN DEEPLY HEARTENED BY ALL OF THE BACK AND FORTH THE CONVERSATIONS TO FIND A COMPROMISE. AND I'M ESPECIALLY SUPPORTIVE OF COUNCIL MEMBER QUAD'S LATEST AMENDMENT TO ITEM 42. I ALSO APPRECIATE HEARING THE PERSPECTIVES OF EVERYONE HERE. THERE ARE SOME REALLY GREAT AND VALID POINTS. CANDIDLY, I DIDN'T WANNA EXPAND I 35, BUT NOW THAT WE'RE HERE, WE CAN'T JUST LET THAT EXIST WITHOUT SOME SORT OF MITIGATION. JUST TAKE A MOMENT AND REALLY THINK ABOUT WHAT THIS COULD LOOK LIKE. YES, IT CAN BE GREEN SPACE, BUT IT'S ALSO PUBLIC TRANSPORT, CULTURAL CENTERS, BIKE ROUTES, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SHOPPING. THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE ENDLESS. AND I KNOW THERE'S MANY THOUGHTFUL PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING ON THIS. IN 50, 75 YEARS FROM NOW, NO ONE'S GONNA WALK OFF THE RED LINE INTO A BUSTLING CENTRAL HUB AND BE LIKE, YOU KNOW WHAT? I WISH THIS WAS A BUNCH OF HIGHWAYS SURROUNDED BY 10 FEET TALL SOUNDPROOFING WALLS AND VACANT PARKING LOTS. WE HAVE A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SOMETHING TRULY REMARKABLE, SOMETHING THAT OTHER CITIES HAVE DONE TO IMMEASURABLE SUCCESS. AND IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN TO BOSTON OR DALLAS AND SEEN IT IN PERSON, YOU MUST, BECAUSE IT'S AMAZING. WE HAVE ALL HEARD MANY TIMES OVER THE VALUE AND FRANKLY, MONEY THAT THESE CAPS CAN BRING. AND MANY OF THE FOLKS BEHIND ME TODAY HAVE AND WILL CONTINUE TO WAX POETICALLY ABOUT THE POTENTIAL. WE DON'T NEED TO FUND EVERYTHING TODAY, WE DON'T HAVE TO DO IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS. THIS IS ITERATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING OVER THE COURSE OF MANY, MANY YEARS. LET'S NOT TAKE A MASSIVE DECISION LIKE THIS WITH A SCARCITY MINDSET. PLEASE CONSIDER FUNDING THE ROADWAY ELEMENTS AND GIVE AUSTIN A CHANCE TO MAKE HISTORY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AT THIS TIME. OH, UH, GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS DAVID BLOOM. I'M, UH, LIVE IN DISTRICT TWO, AND I JUST, UM, AM VERY FOR THE CAPS. UH, I BIKE A LOT AND I, I BIKED HERE TODAY AND I, I LIKE THE, UH, THE PATHS AND, AND THE, UH, BIKE LANES, AND I JUST WANT TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT. AND I, I TOO KIND OF TRY AND STAY AWAY FROM THE HIGHWAY, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD BE A WAY TO MITIGATE THE, THE NOISE AND THE POLLUTION, I FEEL. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR COUNCIL, I'M ENOVIA JOSEPH. I JUST WANNA MAKE A COMMENT AS IT RELATES TO SUSAN PANTELS REMARKS. THE FIRST SPEAKER YOU HEARD, IT IS A LITTLE CONFUSING TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY VOTING ON. ITEM 41 SPECIFICALLY HAS THE $49 MILLION THAT STAFF MENTIONED TO YOU. AND PAGE ELLISON BACKUP SPECIFIES POSTPONING INDEFINITELY. SO I'M NOT REALLY SURE WHY ITEM 42 WOULD GO FIRST. I JUST WANNA REMIND YOU THAT 5 5 1 0.141 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE IS THE VOID ABILITY PROVISION. IT APPEARS TO BE AN IMPROPER POSTING, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT FIRST. AND THEN YOU MAY CONTINUE WITH 41 AFTER THE FACT. I JUST WANNA REMIND YOU THAT AS IT RELATES TO RECONNECTING COMMUNITIES, IT WAS MAY 3RD, 2022, WHEN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN RESOURCE ADVISORY COMMISSION GOT A PRESENTATION ABOUT THE I 35 EXPANSION. THEY NEEDED BLACK PEOPLE TO GET THE RECONNECTING COMMUNITIES GRANT, BUT WE'RE NOT IN EAST AUSTIN. SO YOU'RE RECONNECTING WHITE CHOICE WRITERS TO THE DOWNTOWN AREA. I WANNA REMIND YOU, MAYOR, ABOUT THE $65 MILLION DEAL THAT YOU MADE WITH THE GOVERNOR SEPTEMBER 28TH, 2023, AND THE MOBILITY COMMITTEE. THAT'S WHEN PAIGE ELLIS HEARD THE I 35 PRESENTATION BY TDOT. AND ON PAGE 20 OF THAT DOCUMENT, IT SPECIFIES THAT CAMP ESPERANZA IS GOING TO [03:30:01] BE MITIGATION FOR THE CENTRAL AUSTIN PROJECT. I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT CAMP ESPERANZA IS TUCKED AWAY IN INDUSTRIAL ZONE. SO FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WANNA TALK ABOUT THE HISTORY, I WANT CHEETO, I WANT VELAZQUEZ AND NATASHA HARPER MADISON TO RECOGNIZE WHERE YOU MAYOR AND THE GOVERNOR ARE GOING TO PUT THE BLACK PEOPLE WHO ARE OVER SIX TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE UNHOUSED IN AUSTIN, TUCKED AWAY IN SOUTHEAST AUSTIN WITH NO ACCESS TO ANY AMENITIES. IT IS DEEPLY DISTURBING, BUT I GET IT, A LEOPARD DOESN'T CHANGE. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. UH, ED LEE AND SINCLAIR BLACK'S NAMES WERE CALLED, I GUESS THEY AREN'T HERE. UH, BOTH OF THEM WERE CLOSE FRIENDS OF MINE AND SINCLAIR BLACK AND I WERE THE GREAT STREETS CONSULTANTS FOR THE CITY. I CHAIRED THE, THE MILLER COMMISSION, THAT COMMITTEE THAT DEVELOPED THE, THE WHOLE VISION FOR MILLER, WHICH IS IN A WAY, A PRECEDENT FOR THIS PROJECT. IT WAS A HUGE PROJECT, VERY CONTROVERSIAL AT THE TIME, BUT THE CITY TOOK THE STEPS NECESSARY TO EVENTUALLY CREATE MILLER. I ALSO WAS THE ARCHITECT FOR THE PFLUGER BRIDGE, ANOTHER MAJOR INVESTMENT IN, IN AUSTIN. I WAS THE FOUNDING CHAIR OF THE CHERRYWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. AND WE'VE BEEN VERY, VERY INVOLVED IN THE PLANNING OF THAT AREA. AND WE ACTUALLY CAME UP WITH THE IDEA OF CONNECTING HANCOCK CENTER WITH THE FIESTA SIDE, WITH THE, THE POSSIBILITY OF A CAT BETWEEN THEM BEING THE CATALYST THAT COULD REALLY MAKE THE WHOLE THING WORK WELL. I VERY MUCH SUPPORT THE IDEA OF DOING WHATEVER IS NECESSARY IN TERMS OF THE FOUNDATIONS FOR NOW AND LIMITING IT TO THAT, AND THEN OVER TIME, LOOKING FOR MONEY TO DEVELOP, TO DEVELOP THE CAPS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. KENNEY. AT THIS TIME, ALL SPEAKERS FOR 42 HAVE BEEN CALLED. GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UM, MEMBERS, ALL THE SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 42 HAVE BEEN CALLED AND HAD THEIR OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I THINK IF, UH, UNLESS SOMEBODY STANDS UP AND TELLS ME. OKAY, WE GOT EVERYBODY. OKAY. MEMBERS, WE HAVE A MAIN MOTION ON ITEM NUMBER 42 AND THAT MOTION, UH, AS IT WAS READ INTO THE RECORD, AND YOU HAVE A COPY IN YOUR BACK ON THAT'S LABELED ITEM 42, VERSION THREE, RED LINE FOR CLARITY PURPOSES. AND I WANT STAFF TO, UM, MAKE SURE I SAY THIS RIGHT, UH, IT WAS A, IT IS COMMITMENT TO FUND UP TO FOUR 49 MILLION FOR STAFF, STAFF RECOMMENDED CAPTAIN STITCH ROADWAY ELEMENTS, ROADWAY ELEMENTS, UH, AS OPPOSED TO THE DECKS THAT WE, UH, THEY'RE FOR THE PUBLIC PURPOSE. AND IF I SAY SOMETHING, PLEASE STAND UP AND SAY I SAID IT WRONG, BUT FOR PUBLIC PURPOSES TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS WE'RE GETTING READY TO VOTE ON, IT WOULD BE $49 MILLION FOR ROADWAY ELEMENTS, MEANING THE INFRASTRUCTURE NECESSARY TO BE BUILT AT THE TIME THE ROADS BEING PUT TOGETHER, UH, SO THAT WE WOULD AT A LATER POINT BE IN A POSITION TO PUT CAPS OR DECKS. SOMETIMES THOSE TERMS ARE USED INTERCHANGEABLY, BUT THIS IS THE ROADWAY ELEMENTS ONLY, AND THE MAIN MOTION IS AT CESAR CHAVEZ TO FOURTH STREET AND 11TH AND 12TH STREET TO BE INTEGRATED INTO THE I 35 CAPITAL EXPRESS CENTRAL PROJECT. UM, AND, AND IT GOES ON AND TALKS ABOUT THE, THE LETTING OF THAT. SO, UH, THAT'S THE MAIN MOTION. WITH THAT, I WILL NOW RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER CADRY. COUNCIL MEMBER CADRY HAS A MOTION TO AMEND. IT'S CO IT'S LABELED, UH, ITEM 42 5 22 20 25. MEETING MOTION SHEET VERSION TWO, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, AND THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE. UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, AND I WANNA START OFF BY, UH, JUST SETTING MY APPRECIATION FOR EVERYONE WHO'S COME OUT TODAY, UH, IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS AND THE PAST FEW MONTHS TO SPEAK ON THIS ISSUE. UH, AND I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S COMMENTS AT, AT WORK SESSION. UM, IT WAS REALLY SPIRITED FOR THOSE WHO DIDN'T WATCH. UM, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I, I THINK IT'S, IT'S BECAME CLEAR, UH, A BIT AFTER THAT WORK SESSION, UH, THAT THERE'S BEEN QUITE A BIT OF COALESCING, UH, AROUND STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION. UH, NOW I WASN'T THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER HERE IN 1928, UM, AND I WASN'T THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER HERE IN 1962 WHEN I 35 WAS COMPLETED. UH, BUT [03:35:01] I'M THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER HERE, HERE NOW IN DISTRICT NINE, AND THEN I WOULDN'T BE DOING MY JOB IF I DIDN'T PUSH THIS FURTHER TO REALLY CONSIDER THE ONTOP POTENTIAL, UH, BUILDING OFF OF STAFF STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION TO FUND THE ROADWAY ELEMENTS FOR CESAR CHAVEZ TO FOURTH STREET AND 11 TO 12TH STREET CAPS. UH, THE AMENDMENT THAT'S IN FRONT OF Y'ALL, UH, EXPANDS THAT INVESTMENT TO INCLUDE THE FOURTH TO SEVENTH STREET CAPS, AND INCORPORATES A PROMISING NEW COMMUNITY LED PROPOSAL IN THE CHERRYWOOD HANCOCK AREA THAT CENTERS COMMUNITY VALUES MAXIMIZE PUBLIC BENEFIT, AND PROTECTS OUR BOND CAPACITY FOR OTHER VITAL CITYWIDE NEEDS. INVESTING IN 47TH STREET WILL HONOR AND CELEBRATE OUR MEXICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE CORRIDOR, MEND THE DIVIDE CAUSED BY THE HIGHWAY, AND CREATE MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO CELEBRATE AND ENTERTAIN ALONG HISTORIC OLD SIXTH STREET, WHICH IS CURRENTLY UNDERGOING ITS OWN RENAISSANCE. THE VALUE OF THE NORTHERN CA CAPS ALSO CANNOT BE UNDERSTATED. AFTER SEVERAL, SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS THIS WEEK WITH TXDOT WITH OUR SUB QUORUM AND COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES, WE HAVE A COMMUNITY DRIVEN OPTION IDENTIFIED FROM THE 41ST STREET TO THE RED LINE TO CREATE A SPACE POTENTIALLY SMALLER THAN AN 800 FOOT CAP, BUT LARGER THAN A STITCH, UH, WITH SEVERAL KEY GOALS IN MIND. UH, COULD STAFF PUT UP THE, UH, THE LITTLE, THERE YOU GO. UM, AND, AND, AND I, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT, IT'S, IT'S ON Y'ALL'S SHEET. IT'S FOR ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES ONLY. IT'S NOT FOR ADOPTION, BUT, BUT, BUT USING IT FOR THAT, YOU KNOW, FOR THAT PURPOSE, THE, THE IMAGE THAT'S, THAT'S ON THE SCREEN AND THAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU, UH, IT SHOWS A CONCEPT FROM THE COMMUNITY, AND ESSENTIALLY IT ESSENTIALLY CREATES TWO IDEALLY CONNECTED STITCHES CONNECTING THE RED LINE PARKWAY POTENTIAL FUTURE RED LINE STATION, WHICH IS AN ORANGE, UM, AS WELL AS A 41ST STREET AND NEARBY DESTINATIONS. THE RED LINE PARKWAY STITCH CAN DRASTICALLY IMPROVE PEDESTRIAN CONNECTIVITY OVER THE FRONTAGE ROADS, NOT JUST THE HIGHWAY. TXDOT IS ALSO PURCHASING THE NATURE'S TREASURE SITE TO USE AS A STAGING AREA FOR THE I 35 CONSTRUCTION IN, IN THE AREA. AND AFTER CONSTRUCTION, THIS PARCEL CAN BE TURNED INTO ANOTHER COMMUNITY AMENITY OR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO POTENTIALLY ADD AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THE STITCH OPPORTUNITY ALONG THE 41ST STREET WOULD BE VIABLE FOR TREES AND BUILDINGS, MEANING MORE REVENUE GENERATING COMMUNITY BENEFITS COULD BE ADDED HERE, LIKE COFFEE SHOPS, FOOD TRUCKS, ART GALLERIES, PERFORMANCE VENUES, ANYTHING THAT CAN FIT IN A, IN A MORE ONE TO TWO STORY BUILDING, UH, UH, STRUCTURE. UH, THIS LOCALLY DRIVEN IDEA ACHIEVES THE GOALS, ACHIEVES, ACHIEVES THE GOAL, UH, OF A CAP AT ROUGHLY THE COST OF TWO 300 FOOT STITCHES. AND THE REVISED FUNDING IN MY AMENDMENT REFLECTS A SMALL SMART TRADE OFF AND COMMUNITY INPUT. UH, I WORKED REALLY CLOSELY WITH COUNCILMAN RIVERA IN HIS OFFICE. I'M SURE HE HAS A LOT TO ADD TO THAT. UM, AND, BUT WITH THAT, UH, I, I MOVE ADOPTION OF, I WANNA SAY IT RIGHT, MOTION SHEET VERSION TWO, UH, FROM MY OFFICE COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE MOVES APPROVAL OF CADRE AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER 42. IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ MEMBERS FOR PURPOSES OF OUR DISCUSSION. IF IT'S WITHOUT OBJECTION, WHAT I WOULD DO IS GO AHEAD AND GET COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS'S MOTION TO AMEND THE AMENDMENT OUT THERE AS WELL. THEN WE CAN HAVE A FULL AND THOROUGH DISCUSSION, ASK QUESTIONS OF, OF PROFESSIONAL STAFF, TDO, WHOEVER WE MIGHT WANT TO DO THAT. AND THEN WE WILL TAKE UP THE VOTES, THE ELLIS PROPOSED AMENDMENT, AND IF IT FAILS, THEN, UM, UH, THE CADRE AMENDMENT AND MOVE IT, MOVE IT UP THAT WAY, UM, IS THE WAY I WOULD GO. SO COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, I WILL RECOGNIZE YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE RECOGNITION, MAYOR. MY VERSION TWO MOTION IS BUILT OFF OF COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE'S MOTION TO, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT TO KEEP TRACK OF HERE, BUT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS SUPER CLEAR WHAT WAS BEING AMENDED AND THAT SOME OF HIS LANGUAGE CHANGES, UM, WE'RE STILL INCLUDED IN OURS AS WELL. IT CHANGES THE COMMITMENT TO FUND UP TO ONLY $72 MILLION, UH, FOLLOWING THE CAP ANDIT ROADWAY ELEMENTS. AND THEN THE STATE INFRASTRUCTURE BANK FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE LOAN WOULD BE UP TO $31 MILLION FROM TAX EXEMPT CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION. SO WHAT THIS PROPOSAL DOES FOR US IS BUILDS UPON THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION. THAT IS OUR BASE MOTION THAT, UM, OUR SUB QUORUM HAD PROPOSED BE OUR STARTING POINT FOR TODAY'S CONVERSATION. IT INCLUDES THE ROADWAY ELEMENTS, WHICH ARE THE SIDE SUPPORTS FOR CAESAR CHAVEZ TO FOURTH STREET. IT ADDS A FIFTH STREET CAP. INSTEAD OF DOING FULL CAPS FOR FOURTH, FIFTH, SIXTH, SEVENTH THROUGH THOSE FEW BLOCKS, THIS WOULD BE A STITCH THAT WOULD GO THROUGH THE FIFTH STREET CORRIDOR. AND 11TH AND 12TH STREET WOULD BE SIDE SUPPORTED FOR A FULL CAP IN THE FUTURE. AND THE RED LINE PARKWAY NORTH CROSSING THIS WOULD INCLUDE ONE [03:40:01] 300 FOOT STITCH. SO WE APPRECIATED THE DIALOGUE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE AS, AS A FULL DUS ON TWO. UM, IT APPEARS BOTH SUB QUORUMS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WIGGLE A LITTLE BIT AND TRY TO GET US CLOSER TO AN APPROPRIATE MIDDLE GROUND FOR SOME OF OUR DESIRES. UM, IT'S CLEAR THAT EVERYBODY WANTS TO SEE THE BEAUTIFICATION OF OUR COMMUNITY AND WANTS TO BE ABLE TO, TO INCLUDE REALLY IMPORTANT GENERATIONAL INVESTMENTS OVER I 35. UM, WE'RE JUST TRYING TO BALANCE WHAT ARE THE COMPETING NEEDS THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS, AND HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT EVERY DOLLAR STRETCHES AS FAR AS POSSIBLE. SO OUR PROPOSAL COMES IN AT $72 MILLION AND INCLUDES THE CAESAR CHAVEZ THROUGH FOURTH STREET, 11TH AND 12TH STREET, DOING THE SIDE SUPPORTS FOR BOTH OF THOSE CAPS AND THEN ADDS THE STITCHES AT FIFTH STREET AND A STITCH AT THE RED LINE PARKWAY. SO THAT IS MY MOTION. THANK YOU. IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION TO AMEND THE AMENDMENT MADE BY THE MAYOR PRO TIM? OKAY. UM, I'M GONNA ASK BOTH OF THE, I'M GONNA ASK STAFF AND BOTH OF THE MAKERS OF MOTIONS TO AMEND TO MAKE SURE, CHECK MY MATH SO THAT, BECAUSE I'M GONNA SAY TO THE PUBLIC WHAT I THINK. YEAH, YEAH. WHAT I THINK, UM, WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US. ALL RIGHT. SO THAT WE CAN, UM, MAKE SURE THAT THERE, THERE'S TRANSPARENCY ON THIS, THAT THE MAIN MOTION THAT WAS MADE BY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS IS FOR A, THE, THE TOTAL AMOUNT IS 49 MILLION FOR THE ROADWAY ELEMENTS THAT CESAR CHAVEZ TO FOURTH STREET AND 11TH TO 12TH STREET. THE MONEY, UH, THE WAY THAT'S PROPOSED IS, UH, FUNDING FROM THE CAPITAL BUDGET OF THE TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT FROM A STATE INFRASTRUCTURE BANK ASSISTANCE LOAN, AND UP TO $8 MILLION FROM TAX EXEMPT CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION THAT ARE EXPECTED TO BE ISSUED ON OR AFTER AUGUST, 2025. SO $49 MILLION TOTAL FOR ROADWAY ELEMENTS. ASSESSOR CHAVEZ TO FOURTH AND 11TH AND 12TH STREET, A SIB LOAN OF A USING 8 MILLION FROM A SIB LOAN, I'M SORRY, USING A SIB LOAN. AND THEN 8 MILLION FROM TAX EXEMPT CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION. COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE'S MOTION TO AMEND THE TOTAL NUMBER WOULD BE A COMMITMENT TO FUND $104 MILLION. AGAIN, IT WOULD BE ROADWAY ELEMENTS, AND HERE ARE THE ELEMENTS THAT HE HAS, CESAR CHAVEZ TO FOURTH, THEN FOURTH TO SEVENTH, WHICH IS AN ADDITION 11TH AND 12TH. AND THEN THE NEXT EDITION IS TWO 300 FOOT STITCHES FROM 41ST STREET TO THE RED LINE, OR A CONTIGUOUS EQUIVALENT WITHIN THE COST PARAMETER SET HERE IN AND WITH THE INTENT TO CONNECT RED LINE PARKWAY, THE EAST AVENUE TRAIL AND 41ST STREET, ENSURING VIABLE SPACE FOR FUTURE BUILDINGS AND TREES. AND SUBJECT TO FURTHER REFINEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY, THE PAYMENT WOULD BE 60 STATE INFRASTRUCTURE BANK FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE LOAN UP TO $63 MILLION. I'M SORRY, I KEEP DOING THAT, BUT I APOLOGIZE TO, TO ME, IT'S WORDED DIFFERENTLY. UM, BUT WHAT IT WOULD BE IS IT'D BE A STATE INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE LOAN AND UP TO $63 MILLION FROM TAX EXEMPT CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION. SO AGAIN, BY COMPARISON, AND I'M JUST, UH, MEMBERS, I HOPE YOU'LL INDULGE ME ON THIS, IT'S 49 MILLION TO 104 MILLION. IT ADDS ROADWAY ELEMENTS FOR FOURTH STREET TO SEVENTH STREET, AND THEN TWO 300 STITCH, 300 FOOT STITCHES ON THE NORTHERN END. IT GOES FROM, IN BOTH INSTANCES, THERE'S A STATE INFRASTRUCTURE BANK FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE LOAN, AND, AND THEN IT GOES FROM 8 MILLION IN COS CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION TO 63 MILLION. AND, AND HE HAS ADDED AS PART OF THAT OTHER OR OTHER FUNDING SOURCES AS IDENTIFIED BY THE CITY MANAGER. COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS'S MOTION TO AMEND COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE'S MOTION. I'M GONNA START WITH WHAT GETS TAKEN OUT. SO THEN WHEN THE NUMBERS MAY MAKE BETTER SENSE, WHAT SHE HAS IS SHE HAS AS, AS YOU SEE IN THE BASE MOTION, CESAR CHAVEZ TO FOURTH STREET, BY THE WAY, AGAIN, THESE ARE THE ROADWAY ELEMENTS ONLY, BUT IT CESAR CHAVEZ TO FOURTH STREET. IT'S 11TH STREET TO 12TH STREET, AS IS IN THE MAIN MOTION. THEN [03:45:01] INSTEAD OF THE ROADWAY ELEMENTS FOR A POTENTIAL CAP FROM FOURTH TO SEVENTH, AS COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE'S AMENDMENT HAS, IT MAKES IT A 300 FOOT STITCH IN THE FOURTH TO FIFTH STREET AREA. AND INSTEAD OF THE TWO STITCHES THAT HE HAS UP NEAR THE RED LINE PARKWAY NORTH CROSSING, THAT IS RE REDUCED TO ONE 300 FOOT STITCH. THE NUMBERS ARE A TOTAL COMMITMENT TO FUND UP TO 72 MILLION. THE INITIAL WAS, THE INITIAL WAS 49 MILLION. COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE'S IS 104 MILLION COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS'S AMENDMENT IS 72 MILLION, AND THEN IT WOULD BE PAID WITH A STATE INFRASTRUCTURE BANK FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE LOAN, AND UP TO 31 MILLION AS OPPOSED TO 63 MILLION IN COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE'S FROM TAX EXEMPT CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION. AND SHE ALSO INCLUDES THE LANGUAGE OR OTHER FUNDING SOURCES AS IDENTIFIED BY THE CITY MANAGER. EVERYBODY COOL WITH THE WAY I READ THAT OR CLOSE ENOUGH . ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT, I WILL OPEN THE FLOOR TO DISCUSSION AND I'LL RECOGNIZE MEMBERS WHO WISH TO TALK. COUNCIL MEMBER LANE. WELL, COUNCIL MEMBER LANE, YOU WERE THE FIRST STEP, SO GO AHEAD. THANK YOU. UM, THANK YOU. WENT TO EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM WATCHING FROM AFAR WHO'S ENGAGED IN THIS PROCESS. UM, I REALLY WANT TO REMEMBER TO THANK OUR STAFF WHO HAVE DONE SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS OF LABOR ON WORKING THROUGH THE VARIOUS SCENARIOS. YOU'RE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED, AS WELL AS SO MANY STAKEHOLDERS WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR TIME AND LABOR FREELY IN RELATION TO THIS PROJECT, AND ALSO IN RELATION TO SO MANY OTHER THINGS THAT OUR CITY SO DESPERATELY NEEDS. I, LIKE MANY OF YOU DO NOT WANT TO STAND UP HERE IN A FEW SHORT WEEKS AND MONTHS, FEEL LIKE I AM SCREAMING INTO THE VOID AS WE LOOK FOR FUNDING COLLECTIVELY FOR THE THINGS THAT OUR CITY SO DESPERATELY NEEDS. I AM PART OF THE GROUP OF COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAS SUPPORTED THE SKINNIER APPROACH TO SPENDING ON THIS. I WHOLEHEARTEDLY, I I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR THE ENERGY THAT HAS COME AND THE SPIRIT OF FINDING PRIVATE PHILANTHROPY AT LEVELS THE CITY HAS NEVER BEFORE SEEN. IN MOMENTS OF GREAT UNCERTAINTY, I ADMIRE THE ENERGY. I ALSO HAVE TO SEE A PLAN, EVEN A HIGH LEVEL PLAN THAT ASSURES ME AS SOMEONE WHO HAS WORKED IN MAJOR DONOR PHILANTHROPY BEFORE, THAT WE HAVE A CHANCE OF SUCCESS IN THE TIME WE HAVE. I DO VERY MUCH WELCOME THIS SMALLER APPROACH THAT CREATES THE RUNWAY SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD ON, ON, ON ACHIEVING THOSE GOALS AS BEST WE CAN. I ALSO VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE THOUGHTFUL APPROACH TO DOING THINGS THAT BRINGING IN OPTIONS THAT INCREASE CONNECTIVITY, THINGS LIKE THE RED LINE PARKWAY STITCH. I VALUE THAT PROJECT VERY MUCH. I VERY, I VALUE IT VERY MUCH IN THE CENTRAL PARTS OF THE CITY. I ALSO VALUE IT OUT IN DISTRICT SIX, WHERE LAKELINE STATION BEING THE ONLY PROJECT CONNECT PART OF THE PART, PART OF THE PROJECT CONNECT SYSTEM THAT IS OUT IN DISTRICT SIX HAS BEEN A TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT FOR, I DON'T KNOW, ARE WE AT A DECADE, UM, AND HAS A TIER ONE HIGHLY FEASIBLE, MUCH CHEAPER TO ACCOMPLISH SEGMENT OF THE REDLINE PARKWAY THAT HASN'T BEEN PLANNED FOR. WHEN I LISTEN TO PUBLIC COMMONERS AGAIN AND AGAIN, COME UP AND ASK, WHEN DO MY KIDS GET A SAFE WAY TO GET TO SCHOOL? MY KIDS LIVE NORTH OF 180 3 NEAR LAMAR. I FEEL THAT SAME PAIN, AND SO DO MY CONSTITUENTS. WE HAVE TOO MANY WHITE BICYCLES WHERE KIDS HAVE DIED WITHIN THE LAST DECADE. YES, ON TXDOT ROADS, BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF THEM BECAUSE WE'RE NOT IN THE CENTRAL CITY, BUT ALSO ON OTHER ROADS LIKE SLOT OUR EQUIVALENT OF SLAUGHTER LANE IN SCHOOL ZONES. BUT THEY'RE WIDE, AND WE HAVEN'T HAD THE PLANNING THAT HELPS TO ADDRESS THIS, NOR DO WE APPEAR TO HAVE THE MONEY. AND SO OUR SIDEWALKS ARE HIS, HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN FUNDED BY BONDS. OUR SIDEWALK BOND BOND MONEY IS GONE. IT'S OBLIGATED THROUGH 2027. I LIKE [03:50:01] SO MANY OF YOU, I REALLY HOPE THAT WE CAN FIND, APPLY THE SAME TENACITY TO FINDING THE MONEY TO FUND THE NEEDS OF OUR RESIDENTS WHO CANNOT AFFORD TO LIVE THIS CLOSE TO THIS CITY. IT'S IMPERATIVE. AND THERE ARE, I MEAN, WE'LL HAVE A HARDY DEBATE. WE WILL HEAR ABOUT MANY OF THE OTHER NEEDS. WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF VISION IN THE CITY. WE HAVE MADE THE MO MOST OF THE MOMENTS WHEN, WHEN WE WERE BRINGING IN FUNDING SOURCES. WE ARE AT A DIFFERENT MOMENT NOW. WE HAVE LOST A SIGNIFICANT FEDERAL GRANT. WE DO NOT SEE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY IN THE, IN THE COMING YEARS TO FIND NEW FUNDING. PERHAPS WE WILL NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT OF PRIVATE PHILANTHROPY THAT ALL OTHER CITIES HAVE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED IN THE PAST WITH OUR WORST TRACK RECORD GOING INTO IT. HAVING SAID THAT, I FULLY SUPPORT DOING WHAT WE CAN TO PROVIDE A RUNWAY FOR OTHER REVENUE SOURCES TO STEP FORWARD AND COLLABORATE WITH US, IF THAT'S THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE. ABSOLUTELY. THAT WAS A VERY IMPRESSIVE PRESENTATION. I, I APPLAUD OUR NEW, THE NEW DIRECTOR. I HOPE THAT WE WILL ALSO HAVE MONEY TO FUND COLLABORATION WITH OTHER ENTITIES. I, I'VE, I'VE REALLY ENJOYED BEGINNING TO BUILD A RELATIONSHIP WITH TXDOT, WITH WILLIAMSON COUNTY THAT HAS ITS OWN BOND PROGRAM. I HAVE A LONG STANDING RELATIONSHIP WITH ROUND ROCK ISD. 95% OF MY DISTRICT HAS SERVED BY THEM 60%, VERY LARGE NUMBERS. IF WE AS A CITY WANT PEOPLE TO BELIEVE THAT WE WANT TO COLLABORATE IN NEW WAYS, THEN WE HAVE TO LEAVE ENOUGH MONEY IN OUR BUDGET FOR US TO SEED PART OF THE SPENDING. AND THAT IS REALLY WHAT I ASK FOR. I'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT GENERATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. I HAVE BEEN ON THIS DIOCESE FOR ONLY FOUR MONTHS, AND I DON'T THINK I NEED TO HEAR THE PHRASE GENERAL OP GENERATIONAL OPPORTUNITY ANOTHER TIME , EXCEPT THAT I WILL SAY IT MYSELF. I WILL CHALLENGE US TO MAKE A GENERATIONAL INVESTMENT IN THE OUTLYING AREAS OF THIS CITY. THERE ARE TWO DISTRICTS THAT ARE ENTIRELY OUTLYING AREAS, AND IT IS NO COINCIDENCE THAT THE MAYOR PRO TEM AND I HAVE BEEN COLLABORATING BECAUSE IT IS SOUTHEAST AUSTIN AND IT IS NORTHWEST AUSTIN. BUT EVERY, ALMOST, PERHAPS I MIGHT EXCLUDE JUST ONE OF YOU ON THIS, BUT EVERY DIS VIRTUALLY EVERY DISTRICT, DISTRICT IS COMPOSED PRIMARILY OF OUTLYING AREAS. I SIT ON THE CAMPO BOARD, THAT REGIONAL AUTHORITY. I HEAR HOW MUCH FRUSTRATION, HEARTACHE, AND LACK OF OPTIONS, NOT BUS SERVICE, NOT SIDEWALKS, NOT CONNECTIVITY TO THESE AMAZING THINGS WE HAVE BROUGHT TO THIS CITY THAT IS AVAILABLE TO THESE AREAS WHERE THE CENTRAL CITY MEETS THE OUTLYING AREAS. WE DESPERATELY AS A CITY NEED TO FOCUS ON THAT. AND THAT IS MY CHALLENGE. WHATEVER SIDE OF THIS YOU ARE ON, I CHALLENGE YOU ALL AS WE MOVE FORWARD OUT OF THIS DECISION TO MAKE A GENERATIONAL INVESTMENT IN ALL OF OUR CITY BEING CONNECTED TO WHAT IT HAS TO OFFER. I MAY HAVE LOST MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT THERE, . UM, I, I WILL SAY I, I KNOW THAT THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE FIGHTING HARD. I AM AMONG THEM. I KNOW THAT WE HAVE ALL DONE WHAT WE THINK IS THE MOST WE CAN DO TO FIND THE COMMON GROUND. I KNOW THAT IN THE FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE SUB QUORUM THAT I AM A PART OF, WE HAVE DONE WHAT WE CAN TO ASK US TO DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT IS COMING FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN AT THE SAME TIME THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS, IS HOLDING ALL OF THE FINANCIAL RISK OF COST OVERRUNS WHEN WE ALL KNOW THEY ARE COMING IS WILD. IT'S WILD TO ME. I I LOOK AT A TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT THAT THAT DOESN'T HAVE DEVELOPMENT AROUND IT, THAT IS PEOPLE CENTERED. THERE IS LITERAL VACANT LAND AVAILABLE FOR HOUSING THAT WOULD BE EVEN RIPER FOR DEVELOPMENT. IF WE COULD JUST GET THAT CROSSING ACROSS THE TRAIN TRACKS. AND I KNOW LOTS OF PEOPLE WANT CROSSINGS, BUT THIS IS THE ONE THAT WAS PLANNED FOR THIS TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT. I DO NOT WANT TO HEAR AGAIN MAYBE NEXT DECADE, BECAUSE MANY OF THE THINGS I'M TALKING ABOUT IN MY DISTRICT HAVE ALREADY BEEN PART OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN FOR A DECADE, AND [03:55:01] THERE IS NO FUNDING FOR THEM. SO I, I WELCOME A HARDY DISCUSSION. I HOPE THAT WE WILL FIND THE PATH THAT IS REALISTIC IN THIS DISHEARTENING MOMENT THAT WE ALL FIND OURSELVES IN, BECAUSE IT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR PEOPLE. AND I BELIEVE THAT WE MUST BE FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE OF GOING TO DO THAT. IF WE WERE TO SPEND A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS OF CITY OF AUSTIN MONEY ON CAPS AND STITCHES WHILE UNDERINVESTING IN THE REST OF AUSTIN, THAT WOULD BE LIKE POURING ALL OF OUR MONEY INTO REMODELING OUR FRONT PORCH WHILE OUR KITCHEN AND BEDROOMS ARE FALLING APART. IT MIGHT LOOK GOOD FROM THE STREET, BUT THE PEOPLE LIVING INSIDE ARE STILL STRUGGLING TO GET BY. AND WITH THAT, I SIGNAL MY STRONG SUPPORT FOR COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS'S A AMEND AMENDED VERSION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER. I, I DIDN'T WANNA FOLLOW THAT. YOU CAN LET RYAN GO NEXT. . UH, I JUST HAVE A QUESTION OF STAFF. UM, IT WAS MENTIONED AS ONE OF THESE AMENDMENTS THAT WE HAVE. UH, WE'RE ASKING FOR A STITCH, UH, BETWEEN FOURTH AND FIFTH, AND I JUST WANTED TO KNOW WHAT THAT WOULD INVOLVE. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ. SO CAN YOU CLARIFY YOUR QUESTION? YOU ASKED ABOUT THE STITCH BETWEEN 41ST THE STITCH. THERE'S AN AMENDMENT ON THE, ON, ON THE TABLE FOR A STITCH BETWEEN FOURTH AND FIFTH. IS THAT CORRECT? COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS HAS A PROPOSED AMENDMENT THAT INSTEAD OF PUTTING IN THE ROADWAY ELEMENTS FOR A CAP OR A DECK, IT WOULD ALLOW FOR A STITCH. GREAT. YES. SO TO CLARIFY, THAT WOULD BE A 300 FOOT WIDTH OF A STITCH THAT COULD EXTEND EITHER ON THE NORTH SIDE OF FIFTH STREET OR ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF FIFTH STREET. SO WE WOULD BE PRESERVING THAT SPACE WITH TEX DOTS ENGINEERING DESIGNS TO ENABLE A CA A STITCH TO BE BUILT IN THE FUTURE. AGAIN, IT'S JUST THE ROADWAY ELEMENTS. SO IT'S THE STRUCTURAL SUPPORTS AND IT'S THE, THE GRADING OF THE ROADWAY. UM, AND, UM, I CAN ADD THAT, UM, STAFF WAS TAKING A LOOK AT THAT PROPOSAL, UM, JUST THIS MORNING, UM, WHEN IT CAME TO OUR ATTENTION. UM, AND, UM, IN SPEAKING WITH MY COLLEAGUES IN FINANCIAL SERVICES AND REAL ESTATE, UM, OUR STAFF RECOMMENDATION WE'RE, UM, FOR THAT LOCATION IS IF WE WERE GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT KIND OF A, A SMALLER, MORE DISCREET INVESTMENT THERE, UM, IT, OUR THOUGHT IS THAT IT, IT MIGHT MAKE A, A, A LITTLE BIT MORE KIND OF FINANCIAL, UM, SENSE TO LOOK AT, UM, POTENTIALLY CAPPING A, A WHOLE BLOCK, SAY BETWEEN FIFTH AND SIXTH OR BETWEEN SIXTH AND SEVENTH RATHER THAN A 300 FOOT STITCH ON EITHER SIDE. AND THE RATIONALE THERE IS JUST, UM, FOR, UM, A MODEST INCREASE IN THE COST OF THOSE, UH, FOUNDATIONAL ROADWAY ELEMENTS WOULD, UH, YIELD, UM, A SUBSTANTIALLY LARGER OPPORTUNITY FOR PROGRAMMING ON THE CAP FOR, UM, ADJACENT REDEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES, UM, PARTICULARLY ON THE EAST SIDE AND, AND NEAR KIND OF THOSE CITY PROPERTIES AT SEVENTH STREET. UM, SO THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE JUST A LITTLE BIT, A BIGGER, A FULL BLOCK, UM, JUST FOR A LITTLE MORE BANG FOR THE BUCK IN TERMS OF REAL ESTATE OPPORTUNITIES. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I HAVE A FOLLOW UP ON THE EXACT SAME SURE. CONVERSATION, THEN I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU. AND IS THAT OKAY? COUNCIL MEMBER? OKAY. COUNCIL, GO AHEAD. I DON'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT. I JUST ON THAT TOPIC, FIGURED IT WOULD BE GREAT. YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR IDEA WITH PUTTING THIS AMENDMENT FORWARD WAS TO BE ABLE TO HONOR THE MEXICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE CORRIDOR AND TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT IF FOLKS WERE REALLY WANTING TO ENGAGE IN THAT SPACE, AND WERE LOOKING FOR ALL OF THE THINGS THEY CAN INTERACT WITH ALONG THAT CORRIDOR THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO DIVERT DOWN AND GO BACK AROUND. BUT I KNOW THAT I THINK SOMEONE HAD SAID THAT TEXT DOT MAY HAVE, UM, ADDED SOME CONTEXT TO THAT. IT MIGHT NEED TO WIGGLE A LITTLE BIT. SO IF Y'ALL HAD, YOU KNOW, LIKE IS IT ON THIS SIDE OF FIFTH STREET OR THAT SIDE OF FIFTH STREET? UM, SO I'M OPEN TO THAT CONVERSATION OR IF, YOU KNOW, FOR MINIMAL ADDITIONAL COSTS, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO BEST DO THAT, TRYING TO SPLIT THAT MIDDLE GROUND, MIDDLE GROUND OF, UM, ACKNOWLEDGING THE CORRIDOR AND ALSO TRYING NOT TO NECESSARILY PUT EXTRA DOLLARS INTO PLACES OUTSIDE OF THAT CORRIDOR. SO STAFF RECOMMENDATION WITH THAT WOULD BE THAT TO MICHELLE MARX'S POINT, THE FULL ROADWAY ELEMENT COST FOR A FULL BLOCK THERE WOULD BE $10 MILLION. AND THE NUMBER THAT WE GAVE YOU FOR YOUR MOTION THAT'S ON THE TABLE RIGHT NOW TO DISCUSS THE ROADWAY ELEMENTS IS $5 MILLION. SO YOU COULD JUST TAKE THAT 5 MILLION AND ADD ANOTHER 5 MILLION TO MAKE 10 MILLION. [04:00:01] AND THAT WOULD BRING US TO A TOTAL OF 77 MILLION FOR OUR YES GROUP. OUR, OUR, UH, OUR, WHICH IS 72 MILLION PLUS AN ADDITIONAL 5 MILLION TO 77. THANK YOU. 77. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UM, YOU KNOW, I, I HEARD MY COLLEAGUE SAY, YOU KNOW, SHE'S DISHEARTENED BY THIS. I, I'M THE OPPOSITE. I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE HERE TODAY. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THROWN AROUND THAT WORD A LOT OPPORTUNITY, GENERATIONAL OPPORTUNITY, ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY. UH, BUT THIS IS A CHANCE TO ADDRESS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE BEEN CEMENTING INTO OUR SOCIETY FOR NOW, ALMOST A HUNDRED YEARS. AND SO I STRONGLY BELIEVE, AS I THINK EVERYBODY WHO'S BEEN LISTENING KNOWS THAT, THAT WE SHOULD DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN AND WE SHOULD BE AS CREATIVE AS POSSIBLE. AND SO, LOOKING AT WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE HAS PUT FORWARD, YOU KNOW, LET'S, WHAT ARE WE ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT? WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 200 OR TWO 300 FOOT STITCHES IN THE NORTH, WHICH HAVE BEEN ESTIMATED TO COST AROUND $24 MILLION STAFF THEIR OWN WORK IDENTIFIED THAT A TURS IN THIS AREA, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY ALLOWING FOR A COMMUNITY TO PAY FOR IMPROVEMENTS WITHIN ITSELF, TO USE ITS OWN VALUE GROWTH TO ENHANCE ITS AREA WITHOUT COSTING ANY OF US A DIME THAT THAT WOULD GENERATE ALMOST $40 MILLION. SO FOR JUST ABOUT HALF THE COST THAT DOESN'T HAVE ANY IMPACT ON HOMELESS SERVICES DOESN'T HAVE ANY IMPACT ON OUR ABILITY TO FUND OUR PARKS. WE CAN BUILD, UH, THOSE CONNECTIONS UP NORTH. AND THOSE ARE REALLY VITAL CONNECTIONS. I THINK THEY'RE CONNECTIONS THAT WE WILL LOOK AT DECADES FROM NOW AND SAY, THIS WAS A NO-BRAINER. I, I CAN'T IMAGINE WE EVER THOUGHT, UH, THAT THIS WOULDN'T BE HERE. AND THEN BETWEEN FOURTH AND SEVENTH STREET, I MEAN, HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE TRADED DOWN FOR THIS AREA OF EAST AUSTIN? HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE SAID, SURE, WE'LL DO SOMETHING, BUT JUST A LITTLE BIT. WE CAN INVEST TODAY TO ONCE AGAIN, HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY. AND GIVEN THE TIME THAT WE HAVE, WE CAN HAVE UNTIL THE 2030S BEFORE WE'VE EVEN EXPENDED A DIME PAST THE STATE INFRASTRUCTURE BANK LOAN. WE ARE A CREATIVE SMART CITY. WE HAVE THE TIME TO COME WITH INNOVATIVE FUNDING SOURCES AND POTENTIALLY EVEN A NEW PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION WHO'S INTERESTED IN INVESTING IN COMMUNITIES INSTEAD OF TAKING MONEY AWAY. SO I COULDN'T ONCE AGAIN, BE MORE EXCITED ABOUT WHERE WE ARE AND BE ABLE TO MOVE THIS FORWARD. AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THESE EVENTUALLY OPEN UP AND SEE WHAT THE COMMUNITY HAS NOW AT THEIR FINGERTIPS. UH, GOING FORWARD. IT'S, IT'S GONNA BE GREAT. UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR. I, I WAS REALLY STRUCK BY GERARD KENNEY'S COMMENTS, UH, AGAIN, AS SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN DOING THIS WORK OF CITY DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION FOR, FOR DECADES, AND I THINK BACK ABOUT MY OWN TIME HERE IN AUSTIN AND THE CHANGES THAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE AREA, AND IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THE SECOND STREET IMPROVEMENTS WERE CONTROVERSIAL. UH, IT'S SO OBVIOUS NOW THAT WE GO THROUGH THERE AND, AND WE SEE THE, THE ECONOMIC POTENTIAL, JUST THE, THE BEAUTY IN THE CITY, THE LIFE, UH, AROUND THIS AREA. UH, AND, UH, TO THINK THAT THAT THAT WAS CON UH, UH, CONTROVERSIAL IS, IS REALLY, UM, IT, IT, IT'S, UH, REVEALING. UH, AND, AND IT REFLECTS I THINK TODAY'S DISCUSSION, UH, VERY WELL. I THINK ABOUT THE PFLUGER BRIDGE, WHICH I, I REMEMBER ONE TIME IT, IT WAS A, A, A, I HEARD SOMEBODY SAY HOW THE PFLUGER BRIDGE WAS, UH, A WASTE OF MONEY. UH, AND I WAS JUST STUNNED BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A BEAUTIFUL BRIDGE AND THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE THERE ENJOYING IT AND KIDS, AND, BUT YOU KNOW, THERE WAS JUST THIS IDEA THAT, THAT, OH, YOU KNOW, THEY SHOULD HAVE JUST CONTINUED TO WALK ALONG THE, THE, THE TINY LITTLE SIDEWALK THERE ON, UH, LAMAR. LIKE, WHAT'S A BIG DEAL? WHY, UH, I, I THINK ABOUT THE, THE, THE WISHBONE BRIDGE THAT WE'RE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW. UH, I MEAN, WE, WE HAD KIND OF PUT TOGETHER A FUNCTIONAL BYPASS THERE ON PLEASANT VALLEY BY REDUCING IT TO ONE LANE. UH, BUT [04:05:01] I 100% SUPPORT THAT WISHBONE BRIDGE IS JUST GONNA BE SUCH A HUGE ASSET TO THE CITY. AND, AND THE IDEA THAT, THAT THESE KINDS OF ELEMENTS ARE A WASTE OF MONEY. NONE OF THOSE THINGS HOUSE ANYBODY. UH, NONE OF THOSE THINGS REALLY KIND OF HAVE THE ROI THAT, THAT, I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT GOT INCLUDED IN THE STAFF DECISION. BUT THE ROI ON ALL OF THOSE, ESSENTIALLY ZERO, WE DON'T MAKE ANY REVENUE OFF OF ANY OF THOSE. MOST RECENTLY, HONESTLY, THE ECHOES THAT I HEAR FROM THIS CONVERSATION RIGHT NOW ARE THE, UM, THE SOCCER STADIUM, VERY SIMILAR DISCUSSION ABOUT WHY ARE WE BUILDING A SOCCER STADIUM? WHY DON'T WE DO AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON THAT LAND? WHY DON'T WE TURN IT INTO A PARK? WHY DON'T WE DO ALL THESE THINGS? AND, AND THE VOTE AS MEMORIALIZED IN A, IN A SONG , WAS, UH, SEVEN TO FOUR, UH, TO, UH, TO BUILD THE, UH, THE SOCCER STADIUM. AND, AND I, I JUST, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY AT THIS POINT IN AUSTIN THINKS THAT WAS, UH, A BAD IDEA. AND, AND AGAIN, YOU HEARD A LOT OF THE SAME ARGUMENTS, UH, BENEFITS, THE BILLIONAIRES. WHY ARE WE DOING THIS? WHY ARE WE DOING THAT? I MEAN, ULTIMATELY, THAT WAS A HUGE BENEFIT FOR THE COMMUNITY. UH, IT'S SOMETHING THAT, THAT EVERYBODY LOVES NOWADAYS. IT'S REALLY REVITALIZED THE, THE RED LINE GIVEN A, A, AN ENTIRE, UH, LIFE TO THAT PART OF AUSTIN WHERE WE'RE JUST SEEING THINGS JUST BLOW UP AROUND THEIR, THE DOMAIN. WE'RE SEEING, YOU KNOW, JUST REALLY AMBITIOUS PLANS. THAT'S, UH, E EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE WITH THE AREA SURROUNDING, UH, I 35, YOU KNOW, THOSE, UM, SEVEN CONTIGUOUS BLOCKS FROM CESAR CHAVEZ TO TO SEVENTH STREET, UH, ONCE THEY ARE, UH, CAPPED. AND, UH, YOU HAVE JUST A STRETCH OF PARKLAND THAT MAY BE THE BEST PARK IN TEXAS ONCE IT'S BUILT HOSTING FESTIVALS, UH, AND EVENTS AND FAMILIES AND EVERYBODY JUST ENJOYING THAT AREA, UH, TO, TO PASS UP ON THAT OPPORTUNITY, UH, JUST SEEMS, AND, AND IT REALLY CAPTURES THE, THE, THE OLD SAYING ABOUT BEING PENNYWISE AND POUND FOOLISH. UM, FINALLY, I JUST WANNA COMMENT A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE, THE NORTHERN CAP. I, I REALLY WISH WE WOULD GO FOR THAT FULL CAP, UH, UP NORTH. UH, IT, THERE'S A LOT OF POTENTIAL VALUE THERE. THERE'S, YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY 60 ACRES, I BELIEVE, OF LAND SURROUNDING THERE. UH, I BELIEVE A FULL CAP WOULD REALLY UNLOCK THAT POTENTIAL, UH, AND, AND, AND JUST REVITALIZE WHAT HAS, UH, UH, BEEN KIND OF A VERY UNDERUSED AREA RIGHT AROUND, UH, THAT, UH, PORTION OF, UH, OF, OF I 35. BUT THE, THE PROPOSAL, AND IT IS VERY MUCH A COMMUNITY DRIVEN PROPOSAL FROM, UH, FOLKS THAT HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME, UH, THINKING ABOUT THIS, WORKING ON THIS IS, IS A VERY GOOD ONE. UH, YOU KNOW, RIGHT THERE WE HAVE, UH, THE CITY HAS SPENT A LOT OF MONEY, UH, TO BUILD A, UH, BIKE LANE, A FULLY PROTECTED BIKE LANE, ALL THE WAY FROM LAMAR DOWN AIRPORT BOULEVARD, UH, TWO I 35 RIGHT THERE. THEY'RE, THEY'RE PRETTY MUCH, UH, GETTING CLOSE TO DUNN, WHERE WE WILL HAVE A VERY NICE BIKE WAY, UH, CONNECTING, UH, A BIG CHUNK OF TOWN RIGHT THERE. YOU KNOW, AS PART OF THE I 35 PROJECT, THERE'S ALSO GOING TO BE A BIKE WAY RUNNING FROM ESSENTIALLY THE LAKE, UH, ALL THE WAY UP ON THE EAST SIDE OF I 35 TO, UH, AIRPORT BOULEVARD. UH, AND THEN YOU ALSO HAVE THE, UH, POSSIBILITY OF A, UH, RED LINE STATION. AGAIN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE FUTURE. I DON'T THINK THAT'S ANYTHING THAT WE'RE GONNA START CONSTRUCTION ON RIGHT NOW, BUT YOU REALLY HAVE THE BEGINNINGS OF A MULTIMODAL HUB RIGHT THERE WHERE YOU HAVE A, A TRANSIT STOP. YOU HAVE BICYCLE ACCESS, UH, ONCE DELWOOD AND, AND HANCOCK REDEVELOP, UH, THE FOLKS THAT ARE, THAT ARE THERE, UH, ARE, ARE GOING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF, OF THAT PART OF THAT, THAT, THAT STITCH RIGHT THERE. AGAIN, UH, THAT'S, IT'S, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY, UH, A A MOBILITY HUB THAT WE'RE CREATING. AND THEN TDOT IS, IS THAT NATURE'S TREASURE, UH, LITTLE A POCKET PARK PARKED THAT THEY'RE, WELL, THEY'RE GONNA USE IT FOR STAGING FIRST WHEN, FOR THEIR CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT, BUT EVENTUALLY THAT LAND WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR SOMETHING ELSE. AND WE'RE, WE'RE CREATING A, A, A, A BEAUTIFUL LITTLE ELEMENT RIGHT THERE THAT WILL, UH, ADD VALUE TO THE AREA THAT WILL, AGAIN, BRING JOY, UH, TO, UH, TO, TO PEOPLE'S LIVES THERE. UM, SO I, I JUST, IN, IN EVERY WAY, SHAPE AND FORM, UH, WE HAVE TO SEIZE THIS MOMENT. IF WE PASS UP, UH, THIS MOMENT, WE CANNOT GET IT BACK. AND AGAIN, WHEN I LOOK AROUND THE COUNTRY, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT, I, I'M NOT A, A A FIRST ADOPTER. I, I REALLY, I THINK THE BEST THING TO DO IS JUST COPY GOOD IDEAS FROM, YOU KNOW, SMARTER PEOPLE, UH, LOOK TO WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE DOING. AND WHEN I LOOK ACROSS THE COUNTRY, I DON'T SEE ANYBODY [04:10:01] THAT HAS REGRETTED CAPPING THEIR HIGHWAY. I SEE DALLAS, WHO BUILT ONE CAP AND THEN BUILT ANOTHER CAP AND IS NOW BUILDING A THIRD CAP AND IS PLANNING FOR A FOURTH CAP. I SEE CITIES ALL OVER TEXAS THAT ARE LOOKING AT CAPS AND SAYING, HEY, HOW DO WE CAP OUR HIGHWAYS? I MEAN, THE, THE FUTURE IS NOT ONE OF JUST THE HUGE HIGHWAYS JUST TEARING THROUGH CITIES. THE FUTURE IS ONE OF CAPPED HIGHWAYS AT, AT AT, AT WORST, AND, AND NOT THE, THE CURRENT SITUATION WHERE WE'VE BUILT HIGHWAYS THAT JUST, UH, PLOW THROUGH OUR, OUR CITIES. UM, AND I'LL END WITH JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR, FOR STAFF WITH REGARD TO THE FOURTH THROUGH, UH, SEVENTH, UH, CAPS, PLEASE. UM, THE, IN YOUR, IN TERMS OF REVENUE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL, UH, I BELIEVE THAT THE FOURTH THROUGH SEVENTH CAPS WERE THE HIGHEST SCORING OF THE CAPS THAT Y'ALL GRADED OUT. IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT. AND I ALSO BELIEVE, AGAIN, I'M, I'M WORKING FROM MEMORY HERE, BUT THAT THEY IS MORE CITY OWNED LAND SURROUNDING THAT FOURTH TO SEVENTH CAP THAN ANY OF THE OTHER CAPS. IS THAT CORRECT? YES, IT IS. I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT, BECAUSE THE POSSIBILITIES THERE ARE JUST TREMENDOUS BETWEEN FOURTH AND SEVENTH STREET, AND PARTICULAR WITH WHAT WE CAN DO WITH THE CITY LAND SURROUNDING THAT THE POLICE STATION'S ABOUT TO MOVE, THAT'LL FREE UP THAT LAND. THE MUNICIPAL COURT HAS ALREADY MOVED A LOT OF THE POLICE VEHICLE MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS THAT ARE THERE. I BELIEVE THOSE ARE SLATED TO MOVE AS WELL. WE'RE GONNA HAVE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY THERE WITH THAT CITY OWNED LAND TO ENTER INTO SOME PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS AND REALLY CREATE A LOT OF VALUE. UH, AND, AND BY, BY BUILDING THAT CAP, WE ARE JUST INVESTING IN OUR OWN LAND, INVESTING IN OURSELVES. UH, SO THAT CAP IN PARTICULAR JUST HAS SUCH SUBSTANTIAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES. UH, NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THAT'S WHERE WEST AND EAST SIXTH STREET ESSENTIALLY MEET, UH, AND THE, THE REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES TO THE CITY. AGAIN, WE TALK ABOUT PAYING FOR THESE, AND ONE OF THE CRITICAL ELEMENTS IS THE REVENUE THAT WE CAN GAIN FROM EVENTS AND SPONSORSHIPS AND ALL OF THAT. THE, THE POSSIBILITIES OF HOSTING FESTIVALS, UH, AND EVENTS AND NAMING RIGHTS, AND ALL THOSE THINGS THAT WE CAN USE TO GENERATE REVENUE ARE HIGHEST FOR THE FOURTH TO SEVENTH CAP. SO, UH, I KNOW THAT, UH, THE 11TH TO 12TH JUMPED UP, UH, UH, IN FRONT OF FOURTH TO SEVENTH IN TERMS OF THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION, BUT ULTIMATELY THAT, UH, COHESIVE AND CONTIGUOUS PARK FROM CESAR CHAVEZ ALL THE WAY TO SEVENTH STREET WOULD JUST BE TRANSFORMATIVE OF DOWNTOWN AUSTIN. AND, AND NOT TO REPEAT MYSELF, BUT I, I, I THINK IT IS THE, UH, WOULD BECOME THE BEST PARK IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER VELA, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, THEN, THEN I'M GONNA, UH, UNLESS SOMEBODY OBJECTS, I'M GONNA CALL ON COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE TO CLOSE ON HIS AMENDMENT, AND I'LL CALL ON COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS TO CLOSE ON HER AMENDMENT, AND THEN WE'LL GO TO START VOTING. COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, I WANNA REITERATE THE, THE THANKS TO STAFF FOR ALL THE TREMENDOUS WORK, BOTH IN TRANSPORTATION, PUBLIC WORKS, FINANCIAL SERVICES. THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH WORK DONE. IF ANYONE'S LOOKED AT THE Q AND A BOARD, I MEAN, HOW MANY HUNDRED SOME QUESTIONS. UM, AND I WANNA THANK MY COLLEAGUES, INCLUDING THE ONES I DISAGREE WITH. UM, THIS HAS BEEN REALLY, I WOULD SAY, THE TOUGHEST FIGHT WE'VE HAD SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL. UM, AND IT'S, UH, IT'S KIND OF FUNNY THAT, UH, I'M BEING CALLED THE FISCAL CONSERVATIVE. UM, SOME OF, YOU KNOW, WHEN I CAMPAIGNED, I WAS, YOU KNOW, CALLED A SOCIALIST, A COMMUNIST, AND NOW I'M A FISCAL CONSERVATIVE. I'M NOT SURE WHAT TO MAKE OF THAT. UM, BUT I THINK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS'S MOTION IS THE BEST OPTION WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US TO BALANCE, UH, BOTH WHAT WE CAN DO AS A CITY TO MITIGATE THE HIGHWAY EXPANSION, BUT ALSO, UH, PRESERVE SCARCE RESOURCES FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT WOULD DIRECTLY BENEFIT AUSTIN KNIGHTS RIGHT NOW. UM, AND I JUST WANNA MAKE CLEAR WITH JUST THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION FOR TWO CAPS, AUSTIN WOULD ALREADY BE THE CAP CHAMPION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, RIGHT? BECAUSE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS IS BUILDING, UH, EVEN MORE CAPS. AND THEN, SO IF WE BUILD TWO CAPS OF THE CITY AND THEN UT BUILDS THEIR CAPS, THAT'S ALREADY MORE CAPS THAN ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY. SO IF THAT'S FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE, I DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT FIGHTING AGAINST ANY CAPS WOULD BE, UM, THIS WOULD STILL BE A PROJECT THAT REQUIRES US TO FIND HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS JUST FOR TWO CAPS, JUST THE SMALL OPTION, UH, TO COMPLETE. AND, UH, IT WOULD REQUIRE US, ACCORDING TO STAFF, TO FIND ALL SORTS OF PHILANTHROPIC COMMITMENTS, UH, FAR IN EXCESS, MANY TIMES IN EXCESS [04:15:01] OF WHAT DALLAS, UH, FOUND FROM THEIR PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITY. AND WE'RE DOING ALL THIS AT A TIME OF EXTREME HARDSHIP IN OUR COMMUNITY. UM, WE'RE DOING THIS AT A TIME WHEN OUR CITY HAS OVER $10 BILLION IN UNMET CAPITAL NEEDS, UH, WHEN WE NEED ANOTHER HOUSING BOND, WHEN WE NEED TO DO FLOOD PREVENTION, WHEN WE NEED MORE PARKS AND SENIOR CENTERS AND, AND EVERYTHING ELSE. AND SO I FEEL LIKE THE COMPROMISE POSITION OFFERED BY COUNCILMAN ELLIS IS EXTREMELY FAIR. IT MEETS, UH, THE OTHER SUBC QUORUM, YOU KNOW, HALFWAY. AND, UM, IT DOES PRESERVE A LOT OF MONEY FOR OTHER IMMEDIATE NEEDS. UM, I WANNA COMMENT A LITTLE BIT ON THIS IDEA THAT HISTORY IS WATCHING, BECAUSE I TAKE THAT VERY SERIOUSLY. UM, AND, YOU KNOW, THE FOLKS WHO ARE ADVOCATING FOR MORE EXPANSIONIST CAP PROGRAM ARE SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, 20, 30, 40 YEARS FROM NOW, UH, ARE, ARE THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN GONNA LOOK BACK AND SAY, YOU KNOW, HOW COULD YOU, YOU KNOW, WHY DIDN'T YOU FUND THESE ADDITIONAL CAPS? BUT I'LL SAY, I, I TAKE THAT SERIOUSLY. I, I DO THINK HISTORY IS WATCHING, BUT I'M ACTUALLY MORE CONCERNED WITH THE NEAR FUTURE THAN THE FAR FUTURE. I'M CONCERNED THAT FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, WE WON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO FUND OUR HOUSING NEEDS, THAT WE WON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO FUND ADEQUATE PARKS TO FUND OUR PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS. I'M CONCERNED THAT IN FIVE YEARS, WE WON'T HAVE FOUND THE MONEY TO BUILD THE DECKS, MUCH LESS THE AMENITIES, MUCH LESS PAY FOR THE ANNUAL OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE. I'M CONCERNED THAT IN FIVE YEARS, THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN WILL BE VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH US, THAT WE FUNDED A PROJECT WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO COMPLETE. AND SO I THINK THERE, THERE'S A LOT, UH, OF CONCERN ON BOTH SIDES HERE, BUT I DON'T WANNA DIMINISH WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED. WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED IS A HUGE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT THAT WOULD BUILD TWO BIG CAPS, YOU KNOW, UH, THE BIGGEST ONE BEING OVER FIVE ACRES THAT WOULD BUILD TWO NEW CONNECTIONS IN THESE STITCHES, BOTH AROUND FIFTH STREET AND, AND THE NORTH. AND IT WOULD PROVIDE A LOT OF WORK FOR US, FOR EVERYONE WHO SAYS, YOU KNOW, THINK BIG, DREAM BIG, AND WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT JUST WITH THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION. THERE'S A LOT TO FIGURE OUT. AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, IF I HAD MY DRUTHERS, I WOULD, I WOULD ARGUE FOR A SMALLER NUMBER, BUT I THINK THIS IS THE NUMBER THAT HAS THE BEST CHANCE OF SUCCESS, UH, THE BEST CHANCE OF CONSENSUS HERE ON, ON THE DAIS. AND, AND THAT'S WHY I'M SUPPORTING THE MOTION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN, AND THEN WE'LL GO TO CLOSINGS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I THINK A LOT'S ALREADY BEEN SAID BY COLLEAGUES, SO I'M NOT GONNA TRY AND RETREAD GROUND JUST TO EXPRESS A LOT OF GRATITUDE TO THE FOLKS UP HERE AT THE DIA CITY STAFF, AS WELL AS EVERY CITIZEN THAT CAME IN AND TESTIFIED. WHETHER WE AGREED OR NOT, I FEEL LIKE THAT WAS A VERY VALUABLE PART OF THIS PROCESS, AND I'M INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR IT. AND I THINK AS A RESULT OF ALL THAT HARD WORK, I I REALLY DO BELIEVE IN THE FORM OF, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS'S PROPOSAL. WE'VE GOT A SOLID PLAN THAT KIND OF SITS AT THE NEXUS OF WHAT I MIGHT CALL SENSIBLE, WORKABLE FINANCIAL PLANNING, AS WELL AS WHAT I THINK IS GONNA BE A HISTORIC RECONNECTION BETWEEN EAST AUSTIN AND DOWNTOWN, UH, AND A FORWARD THINKING PUBLIC AMENITY SPACE. UH, I THINK MADE IT REALLY CLEAR ON THIS PROCESS, AND AGAIN, DON'T WANNA RETREAD MY ANYTHING POSTED ON THE MESSAGE BOARD, THAT MY PREFERENCE, BASED ON WHAT I SEE AS A VERY PRECARIOUS CITY FINANCIAL FORECAST, UH, AS WELL AS JUST THE EXTENSIVE FEEDBACK WE'VE GOTTEN FROM A LOT OF CONSTITUENTS, ESPECIALLY OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS, IS THAT THESE DOLLARS COULD BE USED FOR OTHER SERVICES AND PROJECTS THAT COULD OTHERWISE BE ESSENTIAL TO THEIR SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE. AND THE OTHER REALITY THAT'S, UH, RELATED TO THAT IS I THINK THERE'S JUST NOT, THERE'S CERTAINLY NOT SUPPORT IN THE DIES FROM I'VE SEEN AND SUPPORT IS LACKING FOR ZERO CAPS. AND SO FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, THE NEXT BEST THING WE CAN DO IS, AND, AND I THINK WE HAVE DONE SUCCESSFULLY AS A COUNCIL, IS WORK TOGETHER TO MINIMIZE THE COSTS AND MAXIMIZE THE BENEFITS. UH, AND SO I'M, I'M PLEASED THAT WE ARE ABLE TO BE AT THIS PLACE WHERE WE'VE GOT, I THINK, A LEAN COST-EFFECTIVE COMPROMISE, UH, THAT I THINK CAN SAVE AUSTINITES POTENTIALLY A BILLION DOLLARS OVER THE INITIAL PROPOSAL THAT WE HAD. I THINK IT ALSO WILL PROTECT, UH, POTENTIALLY HUNDREDS OF MILLION DOLLARS OF OUR UPCOMING BOND NEXT YEAR THAT WE COULD USE FOR PARKS AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND ALL OTHER THINGS THAT MY COLLEAGUE COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL JUST MENTIONED THAT WOULD BENEFIT ALL CITIZENS OF AUSTIN. UH, THE LAST THING I'M GONNA ADD HERE IS I, YOU KNOW, THE NEXT STAGE IS TO REALLY TURN TO, TO THE PLANNING AND FUNDING OF HOW WE'RE GONNA GET THIS DONE. I OBVIOUSLY APPRECIATE THE CREATIVITY THAT THE DIOCESE AND PARTICULARLY COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER HAS BROUGHT TO THIS. UH, I THINK WHILE FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, SOME OPTIONS HAVE PROVEN THEMSELVES TO BE INFEASIBLE. UH, YOU KNOW, I'VE THROWN OUT IDEAS INCLUDING TRYING TO LOOK AT THE AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIPS CASH OF $400 MILLION, UH, WHICH IS ALREADY INTENDED FOR TRANSIT RELATED PROJECTS. AND I THINK IT JUST GETS TO A FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION THAT WE'RE GONNA COME UP AGAIN AND AGAIN, ESPECIALLY OVER THE NEXT FOUR MONTHS, WHICH IS NOT JUST ON THIS ISSUE, BUT EVERYTHING WE TALK ABOUT, WHICH IS, WHERE DO WE GET THE MONEY AND WHO HAS THE MONEY? [04:20:01] IT'S CERTAINLY NOT THE CITY. I DON'T THINK IT'S THE COUNTY. I DON'T THINK IT'S A ISD, BUT MAYBE A TP, MAYBE CENTRAL HEALTH, MAYBE THE UT SYSTEM. WELL, I LOVE THAT WE'RE BEING CREATIVE AND RIPE BRAINED AND FARING THROUGH EVERY COUCH AND CUSHION TO FIND EVERY PRECIOUS NICKEL, UH, TO FIND THESE DOLLARS. IT DOES FEEL A BIT LIKE WE'RE ROBBING PETER TO PAY PAUL, ESPECIALLY AS MUCH AS I'D LIKE TO DON'T CONTROL A LOT OF THOSE DOLLARS, I JUST RATTLED OFF. SO THERE'S THIS ULTIMATE CONCLUSION I KEEP CIRCLING BACK TO WHERE WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY AND A GENERAL WARINESS THAT I APPROACHED THE FUNDRAISING. AND IT'S ON THAT POINT, I THINK I'LL END ON A POSITIVE NOTE. I DO THINK THERE IS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY HERE TO CREATE SOME KIND OF HISTORIC PARTNERSHIP OR BUILD A REAL PUBLIC PRIOR PARTNERSHIP ENTERPRISE HERE AT THE CITY. WE COULDN'T GET IT DONE WITH FINDING A HOME A TX, BUT I THINK THERE IS A WAY TO START TO BUILD SOMETHING HERE WHERE WE CAN BRING IN THE KIND OF PHILANTHROPIC FUNDING WE'VE SEEN IN DALLAS AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO GET THINGS DONE. AND SO I'M HOPEFUL TO BE A PART OF THAT PROCESS GOING FORWARD. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN. I'LL NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE TO CLOSE ON HIS PROPOSED AMENDMENT. AND I KNOW WE'RE DOING THIS OUT A LITTLE OUT OF THE ORDINARY, BUT IT'S JUST SO WE HAVE THE COMPLETE DISCUSSION ALL AT ONE TIME. AND THEN I'LL GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS. WE WILL THEN VOTE ON COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS'S, MOTION TO AMEND THE AMENDMENT. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. GREAT MAYOR. UM, AND I'LL TRY TO KEEP MIND AT TWO MINUTES AS WELL. UH, I DON'T OWE HIM A BEER . UM, I, I, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION, THE DIALOGUE THAT'S TAKING PLACE TODAY. UH, AND I, AND I ONCE AGAIN, REALLY WANT TO THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS AND, AND, AND HER QUORUM FOR THE PLAN THAT THEY BROUGHT FORWARD. UH, I, I, I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THAT, AND THE FOLKS ON, ON MY QUORUM APPRECIATE IT TOO. UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK FOR ME, UH, YOU KNOW, THE BIGGEST TAKEAWAY, THE BIGGEST PIECE IS THAT, THAT IT, IT DOESN'T FULLY COMPLETE THE VISION THAT, THAT I'VE HEARD FROM, FROM MY COMMUNITY. UH, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A LOT OF SPEAKERS HERE, UH, FROM, FROM DISTRICT NINE, UH, WHO, WHO, YOU KNOW, THIS, YOU KNOW, THE I 35 EXPANSION, WHICH, WHICH IS A HEADACHE FOR SO MANY FOLKS. UH, YOU KNOW, IT, IT AFFECTS THEM IN, IN REAL TIME. AND, AND, YOU KNOW, JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO MITIGATE THE HARM THAT THESE DISTRICT NINE RESIDENTS, UH, WILL, WILL GO THROUGH. YOU KNOW, THAT'S MY, THAT'S MY BIGGEST PRIORITY. AND I THINK THAT THE TWO STITCH IDEA IS A CONCEPT THAT NEEDS FURTHER REFINEMENT. AND, AND, AND IT CANNOT JUST BE THE, WITH THE RED LINE, UH, CONNECTION. UH, I THINK WE NEED, WE NEED A BUILDABLE AREA THAT HAS OPPORTUNITIES FOR TREES AT THE T AT THE 41ST STREET STITCH, UH, THAT CAN BE FURTHER REFINED WITH TXDOT TO CONNECT TO THE RED LINE PARKWAY. SO WE JUST WOULDN'T WANT A, A RED LINE, UH, PARKWAY CROSSING. SO THAT'S WHY THIS MIGHT COME AS A SHOCK TO SOME FOLKS. I'LL, I'LL BE SUPPORTING MY, UH, MOTION, BUT NOT, NOT, NOT THE OTHER ONE. , UH, THAT MIGHT, THAT MIGHT BE FRONT PAGE IN A HEADLINE SOON, . UM, BUT YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT'S CLEARED UP. UH, YEAH, I'M GLAD IT'S CLEARED UP. UM, BUT, YOU KNOW, I, I, ONCE AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE. YOU KNOW, I THINK, I THINK THIS MOMENT IS A LOT, IS ABOUT MORE THAN INFRASTRUCTURE OR FUNDING. IT'S ABOUT OUR VALUES AND VISION FOR AUSTIN. AND, AND IT'S, IT'S ABOUT HOPE. I REALLY DO THINK IT'S ABOUT HOPE. SO WITH THAT, UH, I, I MOVE PAST ADOPTION FOR GATHERING MOTION SHEET VERSION TWO. ALL RIGHT. I WOULD RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS ON TO CLOSE ON THE ELLIS MOTION TO AMEND THE AMENDMENT FOR THE RECORD. I DON'T THINK COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE NEEDED TO MOVE HIS AMENDMENT AGAIN, , HE DID NOT. I GUESS HE IS JUST VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT. UM, I ALSO HAVE GREAT APPRECIATION FOR ALL OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE BEEN OVER THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE OVER, OVER THE COUPLE OF WEEKS AND MONTHS THAT WE'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION. UM, THIS MAY FEEL LIKE AN EPISODE OF FAMILY FEUD, BUT WE'RE ALL REALLY FIGHTING FOR THE SAME GREEN FUTURE AND TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN GROW UP HERE AND, AND BUILD A LIFE HERE. SO IT, IT MAY LOOK A LITTLE MESSY SOMETIMES, BUT THAT'S JUST PART OF WHAT OPEN MEETINGS ARE ABOUT. AND I GUARANTEE WE ARE ALL, YOU KNOW, LOOKING FORWARD TO HOW TO, HOW TO CREATE A BETTER FUTURE MOVING FORWARD. UM, I WAS ALSO FORTUNATE TO WORK WITH A SUB QUORUM THAT HAD VERY DIFFERENT FEELINGS ON THESE. YOU KNOW, I WANNA RESPECT THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN ON THIS DAAS FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS. IT'S THEIR FIRST TIME GOING THROUGH SOME OF THESE HUGE CONVERSATIONS, AND WE'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT OF FINANCIAL FORECASTING THAT IS MAKING US SCARED. WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN PROVIDE FOR OUR EMPLOYEES, THAT WE CAN GIVE THEM THE RAISES THEY NEED, THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE. AND SO EVERYONE UP HERE IS TRYING TO APPROACH THIS FROM THE MOST CREATIVE WAY THEY CAN TO FULFILL THE NEEDS THAT ARE AHEAD OF US. I'M ALSO NO STRANGER TO MOBILITY PROJECTS. FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW ME, I CHAIR THE MOBILITY COMMITTEE. I SIT ON THE CAT METRO BOARD. I I DID MY TIME ON CAMPO. SO THANK YOU TO OUR DELEGATES FOR STEPPING INTO THOSE ROLES AND HELPING WITH REGIONAL MOBILITY ISSUES. I SPONSORED THE $460 MILLION BOND THAT HAS BEEN REALLY, REALLY CREATIVELY DEPLOYED IN OUR COMMUNITY. THESE DEPARTMENTS ARE STRETCHING EVERY DOLLAR THEY CAN TO BUILD PROJECTS IN COMMUNITIES ALL ACROSS AUSTIN. BUT WHAT'S DIFFERENT ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR ONE WAS [04:25:01] THAT IT WENT TO THE VOTERS, AND WE HAD A CHANCE TO SAY, DO YOU WANT US TO SPEND THIS MONEY? AND WITH THE TIMELINE THAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO US RIGHT NOW, THERE'S NOT AN OPPORTUNITY. SO WE ARE TAKING THIS INITIATIVE AND WE'RE MAKING THESE DECISIONS THAT ARE GOING TO IMPACT THE FUTURE. UM, AND I FIRMLY BELIEVE, I KNOW THERE MAY BE DISAGREEMENT ON THE DIETS, BUT I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE TODAY ARE GOING TO IMPACT OUR ABILITIES TO DO MORE IMPROVEMENTS FOR OUR VOTERS IN THE FUTURE. WHAT IS THE 2026 BOND GOING TO LOOK LIKE? UM, WHAT ARE THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE GONNA WANT TO INCLUDE? BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THE LIST THAT THE TASK FORCE HAS AHEAD OF THEM IS FAR TOO BIG. AND THAT'S JUST BECAUSE THERE IS GREAT COMMUNITY NEED, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DELIVERING FOR PEOPLE IN ALL PARTS OF TOWN AND ALL COMMUNITIES. SO MY APPROACH HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO TRY TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT ALL THE VOICES THAT I'VE BEEN FORTUNATE TO WORK WITH ON THIS CONVERSATION. UM, AND TO BUILD A PLAN WHERE I WANT TO SEE US BEING ABLE TO FUND THE CAPS. I WANT TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE ONES THAT WE COMMIT TO ACTUALLY COME TO FRUITION AND TURN INTO PARK SPACES AND RESOURCE CENTERS AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT PEOPLE WANT US TO DO. WHAT I DON'T WANT YEARS DOWN THE ROAD IS FOR PEOPLE TO BE DRIVING DOWN I 35, SEEING A WHOLE BUNCH OF SUPPORT WALLS, THAT THAT DIDN'T AMOUNT TO ANYTHING. SO THIS IS DEFINITELY A CALL TO MY APPROACH OF HOW I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE COULD ACTUALLY DELIVER THE PROJECTS WE WERE COMMITTING ON, THAT WE DIDN'T SHOW PEOPLE BEAUTIFUL SHINY PICTURES AND THEN END UP IN A POSITION WHERE, WHERE IT DIDN'T COME TO FRUITION AND NOBODY WAS ABLE TO USE THOSE SPACES. BUT THAT BEING SAID, THERE IS ABSOLUTELY A NEED FOR OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO STEP UP AND HELP US. WE CAN'T DO EVERYTHING ON OUR OWN, ESPECIALLY WITH A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT IS ACTUALLY TAKING GRANTS AND FUNDS AWAY, WHICH I HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE. AND I DON'T HAVE HOPE THAT NEW ONES ARE COMING IN THE FUTURE UNTIL WE HAVE A DIFFERENT LEVEL OF ADVOCACY AT LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL ENGAGEMENT. SO THERE'S A LOT OF WORK AHEAD OF US. UM, EITHER WAY, THESE TWO PROPOSALS ENDED UP ABOUT $32 MILLION APART. SO I THINK WE ENDED UP IN A REALLY GOOD SPOT WHERE HOPEFULLY EVERYONE WILL BE ABLE TO SEE SOME BEAUTIFUL PARK SPACES UP AND DOWN 35 IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MEMBERS, WE WILL NOW BE VOTING ON THE ELLIS AMENDMENT, PROPOSED THE ELLIS PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO AMEND THE CADRE AMENDMENT. THE WAY WE'LL DO THIS IS WE'LL VOTE ON THAT, DEPENDING UPON THE OUTCOME OF THAT VOTE. WE WILL THEN VOTE ON THE CADRE AMENDMENT. AND DEPENDING UPON THAT, WE WILL THEN GO, WELL, NOT DEPENDING ON THAT. WE'LL GO BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION, UH, UNDER ANY SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES, AND WE'LL VOTE ON THE MAIN MOTION. SO ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE ELLIS AMENDMENT TO AMEND THE CADRE AMENDMENT, UH, INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND. ALL THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO OR RAISE YOUR HAND. NO. UH, QUEZ CAN'T SAY HE CAN'T SPEAK, SO I'M GONNA MAKE SURE IT GETS THE VOTE. UM, MM-HMM . THERE BEING FIVE VOTES IN FAVOR AND SIX VOTES OPPOSED. THE MOTION TO AMEND THE ELLIS MOTION TO AMEND FAILS. THE VOTE IS IN FAVOR. LANE, THE MAYOR PRO TIM UCHIN, SIEGEL AND ELLIS, THAT WILL TAKE US NOW TO THE CADRE MOTION. CADRE MOTION TO AMEND THE MAIN MOTION. UH, THE CADRE MOTION WAS NOT AMENDED BY THE ELLIS MOTION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE CADRE, LET ME MAKE SURE IT EVERYBODY COOL. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE CADRE MOTION? RAISE YOUR HAND. ALL THOSE OPPOSED TO THE CADRE MOTION. RAISE YOUR HAND. THEY'RE BEING, BEING THREE VOTES. I'M SORRY. THERE BEING EIGHT VOTES IN FAVOR AND THREE VOTE VOTES IN OPPOSITION. THE CADRE MOTION TO AMEND PREVAILS. THE THREE VOTING, UH, IN OPPOSITION ARE COUNCIL MEMBERS, LANE UCHIN AND SIEGEL MEMBERS. THAT WILL TAKE US BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION, WHICH WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, THE MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED BY THE CADRE MOTION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED? RAISE YOUR HAND. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, RAISE YOUR HAND. ARE YOU ABSTAINING? ALL RIGHT. [04:30:07] THERE BEING EIGHT VOTES IN FAVOR OF THE MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED. TWO VOTES IN OPPOSITION. COUNCIL MEMBERS LANE AND UCHIN. AND ONE ABSTENTION. COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, THE MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED IS ADOPTED. UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS GOOD WORK. THANK YOU ALL ON THAT. WE [41. Approve a resolution authorizing negotiation and execution of an advance funding agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation for the City to contribute up to $20,000,000, for 100 percent design of cap decks and associated tunnel elements to be integrated into the IH-35 Capital Express Central Project. Funding in the amount of $20,000,000 is available from the State Infrastructure Bank Loan or Certificates of Obligation. Related to Item #42 and #43.] WILL NOW GO TO ITEM NUMBER 41 FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ON ITEM NUMBER 41. ITEM NUMBER 41 IS, UH, TO TALK ABOUT FUNDING, UH, FOR DESIGN WORK ON A ON CAP DECKS. AND IF THOSE OF Y'ALL THAT ARE JUST WAKING UP, UH, TO THIS MEETING, WE DID NOT VOTE TO FUND ANY CAP DECKS IN THAT LAST MOTION. IT WAS, IT WAS ROADWAY ELEMENTS. UH, WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS GET A MOTION OUT HERE SO THAT WE, WE GO TO SPEAKERS. SPEAKERS WILL KNOW WHAT IT IS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE SPEAKING TO. AND SO I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS FOR A MOTION ON ITEM NUMBER 41. I MOVE TO APPROVE IT, BUT I ALSO HAVE AN AMENDMENT FROM THE MESSAGE BOARD TO POSTPONE, UH, IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING. AND I'LL, I'LL TAKE WHATEVER MOTION. 41 43. BUT MY MOTION, WHAT I UNDERSTOOD YOUR MOTION WAS GOING TO BE WAS TO POSTPONE ITEM NUMBER 41 INDEFINITELY. OKAY? YES. I'M MOVING INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT OF THAT ITEM. ALRIGHT. THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE TO, IN, UH, INDEFINITELY POSTPONE ITEM NUMBER 41. IS THERE A SECOND? IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND THE MOTION. UH, COUNCILMAN WALTER? DO YOU, OKAY. UM, LET ME CALL UP, UH, MS. OLIVAR, IF YOU DON'T MIND, AND ASK YOU TO COMMENT ON THAT MOTION. AND, AND AS THE WAY I EXPLAINED IT WAS THIS DEALS WITH THE DESIGN OF CAPS, WHICH WE DON'T NEED TO DO RIGHT NOW, UH, IS MY UNDERSTANDING. SO IF YOU, YOU'D HELP US WITH THAT, THAT IS CORRECT. IF YOU, KIM LAVAR, UH, FINANCIAL SERVICES DIRECTOR, UH, IF YOU INDEFINITELY POST, YOU CAN INDEFINITELY POSTPONE ITEM 41 AT THIS POINT, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE, UM, BASED ON TEXT DOTS INSTRUCTIONS TO US THIS, UH, THAT CAME FORWARD ON MONDAY. WE DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO DELAY DECISIONS ON THE CAP STRUCTURES UNTIL NOVEMBER OF 2026. UM, BETWEEN NOW AND THEN, NOW THAT WE UNDERSTAND WHAT THE DIRECTION IS FOR ITEM 42, UM, STAFF WILL BE WORKING TO, UH, DEVELOP AN, UM, CAPITAL STACKS AND, UM, FURTHER PARTNERSHIPS WITH, UH, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, PHILANTHROPIC MEMBERS, DEVELOPERS OF THE SORT TO BE ABLE TO, UH, COME BACK TO YOU WITH OPTIONS FOR HOW WE MIGHT GO ABOUT FUNDING THE DECKS AND THEN HELP YOU IN INFORM YOUR DECISIONS ON THAT ITEM. MEMBERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, MS. ALVAREZ? ALRIGHT, THAT'LL TAKE US TO PUBLIC COMMENT. UM, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, THE MOTION HAS BEEN TO INDEFINITELY POSTPONE THIS ITEM, BUT WE, UH, WELCOME YOUR, YOUR PUBLIC TESTIMONY. AND I'LL TURN NOW TO OUR CLERK STARTING REMOTELY. ON ITEM 41 WILL BE SUSAN PANTEL. SUSAN PANTEL. WE WILL MOVE TO IN-PERSON SPEAKERS, STARTING WITH LARRY AKER. UH, I WILL CALL A GROUP OF PEOPLE. IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME BEFORE YOU BEGIN. LARRY AKER, ADRIAN MACIA, ANA ALMANZA AND NOE ELIAS. LARRY, I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT WE'RE NOT GONNA DO THAT MR. WHALEY, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW NOT TO DO THAT. I ALREADY NOT HERE. OKAY. MOVING ON TO THE NEXT GROUP FOR 41, WE HAVE CARLOS PINON, PEDRO HERNANDEZ, JR. VALERIE MENARD, TOM WALD, MICHAEL CURRY, HANS MANDEL, JEFFREY BOWEN, DAVID SULLIVAN. IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT. CONTINUE WITH 41. WE HAVE CAROLYN WILLIAMS, ALFREDO REYES, JR. MARIA EDDA, MEL LEBLANC, JJ RAMIREZ, MARIKA SMITH, BARRY JONES, RICH HAMAN, ISAIAH PEREZ. [04:35:07] GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. OH, GOOD MORNING. WHAT, THIS AFTERNOON NOW MY NAME IS CAROLYN WILLIAMS AND I'M A LEADER AT VOCAL TEXAS AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SEVEN. I'M ASKING YOU VOTE NO TO THE CAP AND STITCH PROJECT BECAUSE WE NEED CITY FUNDINGS TO PRIORITIZE BY GETTING PEOPLE HOUSED. I HAVE BEEN HOMELESS FOR ALMOST A YEAR LIVING AT THE SALVATION ARMY SHELTER. DURING THIS TIME, MY SON PASSED AWAY. I AM SO HEARTBROKEN THAT DURING THIS TIME I HAD TO PRIORITIZE GETTING HOUSED OVER GRIEVING THE DEATH OF MY SON. BEING HOMELESS MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE IN AN AND NEVER ENDING CYCLE. IT CONSUMES EVERY PART OF YOUR LIFE. AND, AND THIS CITY, TIME AND TIME AGAIN, CHOOSES TO IGNORE THE NEEDS OF HOMELESS RESIDENTS. SOMEHOW THE CITY COULD ONLY FIND ENOUGH MONEY IN SEVEN YEARS TO MAKE ONLY 246 DEEPLY, DEEPLY AFFORDING HOUSING UNITS OUT OF 20,000. YET WE CAN PULL MONEY OUT OUT OF NOWHERE FOR THESE HIGHWAY PARKS. THE CITY TIME AND TIME AGAIN TELLS US THERE'S NO MONEY FOR HOUSING AND PUBLIC HEALTH. BUT YOU'RE FINDING MONEY BILL. WELL, BILLIONS REALLY OF DOLLARS FOR THE CAP STITCH. MAKE IT MAKE SENSE. PLEASE. I UNDERSTAND TRYING TO MAKE OUR CITY LOOK BEAUTIFUL AND CREATING MORE OP UH, COMMUNITY SPACES. BUT HOW CAN WE TRY TO BUILD TO BEAUTIFY THIS CITY WHEN THERE'S OVER 6,000 PEOPLE SLEEPING ON THE STREETS AND SHELTERS, AUSTIN IS KEEPING A VERY UGLY SECRET THAT HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR DECADES. HOW CAN YOU BEAUTIFY THE CITY OF AUSTIN? AND YOU DON'T PRIORITIZE. YOU DON'T PRIORITIZE THE HOMELESS. THANK, THANK YOU, MA'AM. WE NEED MORE MONEY. BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I HOPE Y'ALL TAKE THIS VOTE AND IT'S A NOTE. APPRECIATE YOU. GOOD LUCK TO YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNSEL. MY NAME IS MARIA ZEPEDA AND I AM A LEADER OF BOCO, TEXAS. I'M ASKING YOU TO VOTE KNOW ON THE PROJECT BECAUSE WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE OR CITY DOLLARS FOR, FOR OTHER NEEDS LIKE HOUSING. I'M IN STRUGGLE FOR 20 YEARS TO FIND STABLE HOUSING. HE GOT YOU. MY HUSBAND PASSED AWAY FROM CANCER. I USED TO GET SURVIVAL BENEFITS. THEN MY SOCIAL SECURITY GOT CAUGHT BECAUSE I WAS MARRIED TO MY HUSBAND FOR NINE YEARS INSTEAD OF 10. SINCE THEN, I'VE BEEN IN UNSTABLE HOUSING. I'VE BEEN HOMELESS SEVERAL TIMES. SOMETIMES ON THE STREETS, SOMETIMES IN SHELTERS. I EVEN HAVE TO SLEEP OUTSIDE AT THE BUS STOP WITH MY SON. WITH SO LITTLE DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THIS IS VERY COMMON FOR PEOPLE IN MY SITUATION. WE NEED MONEY FOR HOUSING. POOR, POOR PEOPLE. IF THE CITY CAN NOT AFFORD TO PUT A ROOF OVER PEOPLE'S HEADS, WHY WILL WE PUT A PARK OVER A HIGHWAY RIGHT NOW? THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE STREETS WITHOUT HOUSING. WE ARE ABOUT TO SPARE EXTREMELY HOT TEMPERATURE. IT'S UNFAIR TO TALK ABOUT BUILDING A FANCY PARK FOR TOURISTS WHEN YOU WON'T TAKE CARE OF YOUR RESIDENTS. WE NEED THIS CITY, THE CITY TO PRIORITIZE US AND WE NEED IT NOW. I HOPE Y'ALL DO THE RIGHT THING. AND BOTH KNOW ON THIS PROPOSAL, SO CAN WE CAN USE THESE FUNDS FOR LIFE SAVINGS NEEDS. AND AUSTIN. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME'S ALFREDO REYES JR. I'M AN ORGANIZER FOR VOCAL TEXAS AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST THE CABIN STITCH. THE REASON WHY I'M, UM, I'M AGAINST IT IS BECAUSE PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF WHO HAVE BEEN HOMELESS AND STILL ARE, CAN'T, UH, SEE WHY WE'RE PRIORITIZING MONEY FOR A WANTS LIKE PARKS OVER A HIGHWAY. LET'S GET REAL. THE MONEY SHOULD GO TO THE NEEDS OF THE CITY, WHICH IS MAKING SURE PEOPLE GET HOUSED BY USING THIS MONEY TO MAKE TRULY AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR PEOPLE. LIKE PEOPLE THAT ARE EXITING HOMELESSNESS, PERIOD. IN REALITY, I DON'T GET WHY WE HAVE TO COME HERE TO BEG TO GET HELP. WE OFTEN HEAR THAT THERE'S NOT ENOUGH MONEY, BUT WHEN THE CITY WANTS, THERE'S ALWAYS MONEY TO BE FOUND. WE HAVE HUGE NEEDS HERE. PEOPLE SUFFERING. PEOPLE ARE DYING. AND HERE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BUILDING [04:40:01] PARKS OVER A HIGHWAY. AGAIN, A PARK OVER A HIGHWAY. HOW IS THAT PRIORITIZING HOMELESSNESS WHEN WE DON'T, WE DON'T EVEN KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO BE FINISHED. WE NEED TO FOCUS MORE ON HARM REDUCTION, MENTAL HEALTH AND HOUSING. I'M TIRED OF GOING ON OUTREACH AND SEEING PEOPLE STRUGGLING DAY TO DAY AND FINDING THE SMALLEST OF HELP AND GETTING NOWHERE. CAPPING STITCH IS GOING TO MAKE E EVEN HARDER TO PRIORITIZE HOMELESSNESS CRISIS, LIKE Y'ALL SAID. UM, LIKE Y'ALL KEEP ON SAYING THAT Y'ALL GONNA PRIORITIZE HOMELESSNESS. AND HERE WE ARE. I SAY VOTING NO FOR CAPTAIN STITCH AND MAKING SURE THAT THAT MONEY, SOME OF THAT MONEY OR ALL OF IT GOES THROUGH HOMELESSNESS. MAKING SURE PEOPLE GET OFF THE STREET, MAKING SURE PEOPLE HAVE A PLACE TO STAY AND STAY SAFE. 'CAUSE IF I SEE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SAFETY, THAT IS THE SAFETY THERE, MAKING SURE PEOPLE GET HOUSED. AND BY THE WAY, I'M FROM DISTRICT FIVE. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS JJ RAMIREZ. I'M AN ORGANIZER AT VOCAL TEXAS. THIS IS, UH, REALLY OUTTA ORDER, RIGHT? WE, WE JUST FEEL LIKE WE SKIPPED 41. WE DID 42, WE DID THE, THE FOUNDATION OF STITCHES. WE THINK THAT THEY ALL ARE REALLY NO GOOD IN A WASTE OF MONEY. NOT BECAUSE IT'S THE WISHBONE PROJECT THAT'S BEEN FUNDED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THAT'S PRETTY AND AMAZING. NOT BECAUSE THINGS ARE A WASTE OF MONEY, BECAUSE IT'S A, IT'S A MISAPPROPRIATION OF MONEY IN A TIME WHEN THE THE MONEY IS NOT SOLIDIFIED. UH, THAT'S THE PROBLEM. IT'S NOT THAT THINGS AREN'T, THAT WE DON'T NEED PRETTY THINGS. IS THAT, IS THAT SOMEBODY CAME HERE AND BEGGED YOU FOR HELP BECAUSE THERE'S A LITERAL CRISIS OUT THERE. WE SAY IT ALL THE TIME AND MAYBE YOU DON'T BELIEVE US, BUT SOMEBODY TODAY RANDOMLY CAME IN HERE AND BEGGED YOU FOR HELP. BUT WE HAD THE MONEY. WE DIDN'T HAVE IT. SO WE STRUGGLED TO FIND SOME MONEY FROM PHILANTHROPY. WE, WE CAN DO THAT. REALLY COOL FOR, FOR THINGS THAT'LL MAKE THE EAST SIDE CONNECT TO THE WEST OR, YOU KNOW, VICE VERSA, RIGHT? LIKE IT'S, IT'S, IT'S REALLY STRANGE THAT WE CAN DO THAT. IT'S LIKE THIS WEIRD PERVERSION OF LIKE, OH, WE NEED TO END THE RACISM DIVIDE BY BUILDING A CAP OVER A BRIDGE AND A PARK OVER A BRIDGE. THAT'LL BE THE BEST PARK IN TEXAS. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO COLORADO BEND? YOU THINK THAT'S GOOD? THE, THE, UH, ASTRO TURF OVER A ROOF OF A HIGHWAYS GONNA BE BETTER THAN NATURAL PLACES HERE. ANYWAY, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S JUST, IT'S WILD TO ME. IT'S REALLY WILD THAT, THAT WE'LL, THAT WE CAN STRUGGLE AND FIND MONEY FOR THESE THINGS WHEN, WHEN WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY, THAT THE BOND MONEY'S PROBABLY GONNA BE USED FOR SOME OF THIS. THAT THERE'S A, THERE'S THIS, OH, THERE'S POSSIBILITY THAT WE MIGHT HAVE TO USE CITY DOLLARS TO BUILD THIS THING BECAUSE THE FEDERAL MONEY'S GONE. UH, WE WILL, WE WILL, LET'S, LET'S DO FUND IT NOW AND HOPE THAT IN THE FUTURE, IN THIS ADMINISTRATION DOWN THE LINE, MAYBE POSSIBLY ANOTHER CITY COUNCIL DOWN THE LINE SOMEWHERE SOMEHOW. BUT RIGHT NOW PEOPLE ARE DYING RIGHT NOW. PEOPLE DON'T HAVE SHELTER RIGHT NOW. YOU CAN'T GET INTO SHELTER UNLESS YOU COME HERE AND BEG YOU DIRECTLY. AND THEN, UH, CITY OFFICIAL CAN CALL THEM AND GET YOU IN. THANK YOU, SIR. UH, AFTERNOON. THIS IS JEFF BODE AGAIN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU COUNSEL. UM, I HAVE TO KIND OF AGREE WITH THE FACT OF THE WAY THE WHOLE PROCESS HAVE THAT WE JUST WITNESSED. AND IT'S ALL ON VIDEO TO WATCH THAT WE'VE GONE FROM ONE ISSUE TO ANOTHER, WHICH WE'RE NOW GOING TO POSTPONE SOMETHING, WHICH I, I AGREE WITH 'CAUSE I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF THE SPENDING THE MONEY. UM, BUT AT WHAT POINT WILL THIS COME BACK IN ORDER TO BE MOVING MONEY AROUND FOR WHATEVER PROJECTS THAT MAY BE? UM, I ALSO AGREE THAT I THINK OUR PRIORITIES ARE REALLY KIND OF SCREWED UP IN THE WHOLE PROCESS BECAUSE ONCE AGAIN, WE TALK ABOUT AFFORDABILITY, YET I DON'T, I DON'T SEE WHERE THE AFFORDABILITY IS BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO BE DRIVING PEOPLE OUT OF THIS TOWN BY INCREASING OUR TAXES. YES, YOU INCREASED, UM, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR SENIORS AND THOSE FOR THEIR TO BE REDUCED FROM THEIR TAXES. BUT WE REALLY NEED TO GET OUR PRIORITIES STRAIGHT AND QUIT TALKING ABOUT THINGS THEN ABSOLUTELY. GOING AROUND THEM IN ORDER TO CARRY ON THESE ONCE IN A LIFETIME PROCESSES THAT YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT. I AGREE THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH THIS IN ONE CERTAIN AREA, BUT THE REST OF THE CITY AND THOSE RESIDENTS ARE GONNA PAY FOR THIS. THIS IS NOT EQUITY, WHICH MANY OF YOU TALK ABOUT. THIS IS REALLY, [04:45:01] I I REALLY, I WAS REALLY SURPRISED THAT LISTENING TO THE CONVERSATIONS YET, IT, IT, MOST OF THE CONVERSATIONS WENT NOWHERE EXCEPT TO SAY, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO. WE REALLY DON'T CARE WHAT THE PUBLIC SAYS. AND GO FROM THERE. THANK YOU, SIR. IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED JUST TO AND GOT A FREE MICROPHONE, GRAB IT. OKAY. UH, MY NAME IS BARRY JONES. I'M WITH VOCAL TEXAS. UH, I THINK THAT, UH, MAYOR WATSON AND MYSELF MAY BE THE ONLY PEOPLE UP HERE TODAY THAT REMEMBER WHAT THE US WAS LIKE IN 19 BEFORE 1980. OH, NOW YOU'VE GONE TO MIDLAND . I HOPE I'M NOT LEAVING YOU OUT, MR. BROAD NEXT. BUT, UH, I REMEMBER THE US BEFORE 1980, FOR THE PAST 50 YEARS, THIS COUNTRY HAS INVESTED, UH, RESOURCES AND MORE RESOURCES IN THE UPPER TIER ECONOMIC TIERS WITH THE IDEA THAT IT WILL EVENTUALLY TRICKLE DOWN. WELL, I'VE GOT NEWS FOR YOU, THE RICH DON'T INVEST IN BUSES FOR POOR PEOPLE. THE RICH DON'T INVEST IN HOUSING FOR POOR PEOPLE. THE RICH DON'T INVEST IN SCHOOLS FOR POOR PEOPLE. THAT'S THE JOB OF GOVERNMENT. AND IF YOU'RE NOT GONNA DO IT, IT'S NOT GONNA GET DONE. IF, IF, IF YOU'RE, YOU CAUSE TAXES TO GO UP AND THEN YOU TAKE THAT MONEY AND YOU PUT IT BACK INTO THE UPPER ECHELONS, POOR PEOPLE ARE NEVER GONNA GET BETTER. AND WE'VE BEEN SEEING THINGS GET WORSE AND WORSE FOR THE WORKING PEOPLE OF THIS CITY. PRICES GOING UP ON THEIR RENT THAT THEY CAN'T AFFORD. THEY CAN'T GET TRANSPORTATION TO WORK, THEY CAN'T GET HEALTHCARE, THEY CAN'T GET, TAKE CARE OF THEIR PARENTS. IT IS UP TO YOU TO TAKE CARE, LOOK OUT FOR THE, THE PEOPLE THAT THEY CAN'T LOOK OUT FOR THEMSELVES. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, COUNSEL. MY NAME IS MEL BLANK. I'M FROM DISTRICT ONE AND I'M HERE WITH VOCAL TEXAS. AND I AM ALSO KIND OF CONFUSED ON THE ORDER OF THINGS. SO I'LL JUST SAY, I'M ASKING YOU TO VOTE NO ON ANY ADDITIONAL MONEY THAT'S GONNA GO TOWARDS THE CAPS. UM, THE CITY HAS NOT BUILT ENOUGH HOUSING FOR, FOR POOR AUSTINITES. END OF STORY. I SAID THIS TWO DAYS AGO. WANTED TO REITERATE THAT THE HOUSING BLUEPRINT SCORECARD SHOWED THAT ONLY 426 OUT OF 20030% AND BELOW MFI UNITS HAVE BEEN BUILT. WE'RE TOLD ALL THE TIME, IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE TO BUILD THESE UNITS, YET WE JUST PASSED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THROUGH THESE CAPS. I'M NOT SURE ON HOW MANY, JUST HOW MUCH MILLIONS JUST PASSED, BUT I'VE BEEN TOLD IT'S AROUND 80,000 TO BUILD A DEEPLY AFFORDABLE UNIT WITH WHAT WAS JUST PASSED. WE COULD HAVE AT LEAST HAD A FEW MORE UNITS. I'M NOT A MATHEMATICIAN, BUT, UM, JUST WISH IT WAS BETTER PRIORITIZED. I'LL ALSO REITERATE THAT OUR CITY'S FINANCIAL SITUATION IS EXTREMELY UNCERTAIN. AGAIN, THERE'S OVER 6,000 PEOPLE SLEEPING ON THE STREETS AND EVERY DAY THERE SEEMS TO BE MORE CUTS TO HOUSING AND PUBLIC HEALTH. WE, I'VE TALKED TO ALMOST ALL OF YOUR OFFICES IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS, AND I'VE HEARD THE SAME THINGS. IT'S A TIGHT BUDGET YEAR. THERE'S NO MORE MONEY WITH THAT IN MIND. THIS IS NOT A RESPONSIBLE USE OF FUNDS SPENDING ANY MONEY TO PUT A PARK OVER A HIGHWAY WHEN WE CANNOT PRIORITIZE PUTTING A ROOF OVER UNHOUSED PEOPLE'S HEADS WOULD BE CONTINUED. POOR PRIORITIZATION. I ALSO WANNA ADD THAT WE WOULD LOVE MORE SPACES FOR PEOPLE TO BUILD COMMUNITY, BUT NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF OTHER VITAL RESOURCES. WE'RE IN A CRISIS THAT ONLY SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE. I WANT EVERYONE IN THIS DICE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT IS WANTED VERSUS WHAT IS REALLY NEEDED WITH THE FALLOUT OF FEDERAL GRANTS FOR THIS, WITH UNCERTAIN PHILANTHROPY DOLLARS. THIS IS NOT A NECESSARY BUILD FOR THIS CITY. UM, YES, JUST THANK YOU ALL AND NO MORE MONEY TOWARDS THIS. DIDN'T LIKE THAT IT EVEN HAD MONEY TO BEGIN WITH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND LET, LET ME JUST SAY AGAIN, THE, THE, THE NUMBERING. I, I DON'T DISAGREE THAT THE NUMBERING ON 41 IF YOU DON'T NEED TO COME BACK UP. I'M JUST ANSWERING YOUR QUESTION ABOUT THE CONFUSION. WHAT 42 DID IS IT GAVE THE COUNCIL THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON WHAT IT WAS WE'RE GOING TO DO. AND WE COULD, WE COULD HAVE VOTED TODAY TO GO AHEAD AND FUND CAPS AND WHAT WE DIDN'T, WE VOTED TO FUND THE ROADWAY ELEMENTS, WHICH WILL PROVIDE THE SUPPORT STRUCTURES TO BUILD CAPS AT A LATER POINT. IF WE'D DONE THAT, WE WOULD ALSO PROBABLY NEED TO DO FOR ITEM 41, WHICH IS THE ONE THAT NOW THERE'S A MOTION TO POSTPONE INDEFINITELY BECAUSE THAT DEALS ONLY WITH THE CAPS, THE DESIGN OF THE CAPS, UH, FOR WHATEVER REASON WHEN THE AGENDA WAS PUT TOGETHER INSTEAD [04:50:01] OF DOING IT IN THAT ORDER SO THAT NOW WE KNOW WHAT WE VOTED ON. AND SO THERE'S NO NEED TO DO ITEM NUMBER 41 INSTEAD OF MAKING THAT THE, THE ITEM AFTER, UH, WHATEVER REASON IT WAS DONE THAT WAY. AND I AGREE IT CAUSES CONFUSION, BUT THAT'S THE REASON THAT WE CAN POSTPONE IT INDEFINITELY, IS BECAUSE TTOS TOLD US WE DON'T NEED TO COME UP WITH THOSE DECISIONS AND WE HAVE NOT MADE THOSE DECISIONS TODAY. I HOPE THAT HELPS A LITTLE BIT. WOULD'VE HELPED JUST HAVE 41 OR 42 BE FLIP FLOPPED. WHOEVER'S NEXT, LET'S LET 'EM TALK NEXT, NEXT GROUP OF SPEAKERS ON 41. KEVIN MOORE, SAMUEL KIRSCH, JIM WALKER, ROY WHALEY. IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE OPEN PODIUM. PLEASE COME FORWARD. Y'ALL KNOW THE ROUTINE. YOU'VE DONE IT BEFORE. JIM WALKER CHERRYWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. UH, THANK YOU FOR THAT VOTE. EARLIER, AS ONE OF THE PROPONENTS OF THE CAPS IN THE, IN THE NORTHERN CAPS, UH, I WANTED TO BE SURE THAT, AND I SUPPORT THE POSTPONEMENT BECAUSE, UH, THE COMMUNITY BEARS RESPONSIBILITY ADVOCATES FOR THIS BEAR. THE RESPONSIBILITY TO STAY INVOLVED, UH, CONTINUE TO WORK AT NOT JUST THE LAND USE AND THE DESIGN STUFF, BUT ALSO THE ONGOING FUNDING QUESTIONS TO, UM, STILL LOOK AT CREATIVE WAYS TO KIND OF, TO FILL IN HERE, UH, YOU KNOW, ADDRESSING THE OTHER NEEDS THAT THE, THE CITY HAS. BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THE POINT THAT, AND WORKING WITH CAP METRO AND OTHER PARTNERS WHO ARE INVESTED IN SOME OF THESE AREAS. BUT JUST WANTED TO SAY THE COMMUNITY'S WORK IS NOT DONE AS ADVOCATES FOR THE CAPS AND STILL ARE GONNA STAY INVOLVED TO MAKE SURE THESE DO THESE, THESE ARE SOMETHING EVERYBODY IN THE CITY CAN BE, CAN BE PROUD OF GOING FORWARD. SO THANK YOU ROY WHALEY. IF, IF A POSTPONEMENT DEFINITELY MEANS POSTPONE UNTIL THE END OF TIME. HALLELUJAH. AND LET'S GET TO WORK ON BRINGING THE PARKS TO THE PEOPLE AND THAT'S WHERE WE NEED TO BE PUTTING THE MONEY. THANK YOU, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER LANE FOR YOUR COMMENTS. WE NEED TO BE TAKING THE PARKS TO THE PEOPLE NOT ASKING 'EM TO COME DOWNTOWN POSTPONED. HALLELUJAH FOR THAT. THANK YOU. ITEM 41, CONTINUING WITH CRAIG NAER, MEGAN MEISENBACH, DANIELLA SILVA, STEVEN DALENE. BRENDAN WHIR, WHICH STRUCK HELLO CRAIG NAER SIERRA CLUB. UH, WHEN IT'S GOOD TO POSTPONE THIS, BUT IT WON'T BE INDEFINITE MOST LIKELY BECAUSE AT SOME POINT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO DESIGN THESE CAPS. AND WHAT I HOPE IS THAT YOU REALLY, WE HEARD A LOT OF MISINFORMATION TODAY AND A LOT OF IT MAY BE NOT INTENTIONAL. WHAT I HOPE IS, IF YOU THINK YOU'RE GONNA BUILD A PARK, DO SOMETHING THAT ALL OUR OTHER PARKS DO, WHICH IS SEQUESTER CARBON DIOXIDE THROUGH THE PLANTS AND THE ANIMALS AND THE SOIL AND THESE PARKS. THAT'S ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IN PARKS THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T APPRECIATE. 'CAUSE THEY DON'T SEE IT, BUT WE FEEL IT WHEN IT GETS TO BE OVER A HUNDRED DEGREES IN MAY. SO WHAT WILL THAT INVOLVE? THAT'LL INVOLVE DEEP SOILS. IT'LL INVOLVE WATERING, IT'LL INVOLVE DRAINAGE. IT'LL INVOLVE THE ABILITY TO PLANT TREES. NOW IF YOU REALLY DO THAT, THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING, BUT I HAVE A FEELING THAT'S GONNA BE VERY EXPENSIVE. IN THE MEANWHILE, I'LL SEE YOU AGAIN WHEN WE ASK YOU TO FUND OUR CLIMATE PROTECTION PLAN THAT WE SO DESPERATELY NEED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL, BRENDAN WITCH STRUCK. I YIELD MY TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY, CONTINUING. I AM 41. WE HAVE BILL BUNCH, JAMES HOISON, BOBBY LAVINSKY, MICHAEL SUE, CHARLES DHAR COURT, LIBBY CHANEL, HAYDEN WALKER. IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK, MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM AND LET US KNOW YOUR NAME BEFORE YOU BEGIN. MAYOR AND COUNCIL. HAY WALKER RECONNECT. AUSTIN, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU. THAT WAS A TOUGH VOTE, TOOK A LOT OF DISCUSSION, REALLY APPRECIATE IT. MAYOR, YOU AND I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS A LONG TIME AND I APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP, BOTH WHEN YOU WERE SENATOR AND, AND NOW, UM, AS MAYOR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE YOU SAYING THAT. THANK YOU. CONTINUING WITH ITEM 41, WE HAVE MARISSA PERES, MONICA GUZMAN, BEN SOTHEBY, UH, UM, GERARD KINNEY AND OPIA JOSEPH. HI, UH, BEN SOTHEBY SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MYSELF. UM, I AGREE WITH THE MAYOR. HEY, RECORD THAT [04:55:01] ONE. I AGREE WITH THE MAYOR ON 42 GIVING US, UH, , UH, HANG ON A SECOND. LET'S MAKE SURE LIGHTNING DOESN'T, OKAY, GO AHEAD. I AGREE THAT, UH, 42, NOW WE HAVE SOME CLARITY AS TO WHAT'S HAPPENED. THAT'S WHY I'M GONNA URGE TO POSTPONE THIS ITEM. UH, IT'LL ALLOW A FEW THINGS. IT'LL ALLOW US TO GAIN MORE CLARITY IN THE GENERAL PUBLIC AS TO WHAT'S HAPPENING, RIGHT? WITH THE VOTE ON 40 42, WE KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE AND CAN AND TALK TO PEOPLE AND GET MORE FEEDBACK. UH, IF TEXT DOT DOESN'T NEED THE MONEY AND THE DESIGNS IMMEDIATELY, THAT ALLOWS US TO HAVE MORE TIME FOR PEOPLE TO PROVIDE INPUT. UH, CAN MAYBE EVEN HAVE COUNSEL FIND OUT MORE ABOUT EXACTLY HOW MUCH TIME DO WE HAVE TO DO THESE THINGS. SO, UH, YEAH, PLEASE, PLEASE DELAY ON 40 41. WHAT WAS THAT FIRST PART OF YOUR TESTIMONY? UH, POSTPONE, UH, AGREE WITH KURT WATSON. YEAH. OKAY. GERARD KENNY, AGAIN, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. UH, POSTPONING THE ITEMS ON FOR THE CAPS THEMSELVES. MAKES PERFECT SENSE. IT GIVES YOU SOME TIME TO MORE FULLY EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITIES. SO I SUPPORT THAT. I DO WANT TO SAY A COUPLE OF THINGS THOUGH, AS WE GO FORWARD. MAYOR, WE, WE HAVE YOU TO THANK AS YOUR FIRST, IN YOUR FIRST TERM AND AS SENATOR IN YOUR SECOND TERM FOR HAVING, FOR LOWERING, FOR GETTING RID OF THE OVERHEADS, WHICH I, I TRULY APPRECIATE. AND, AND IT'LL, IT'LL BE GREAT IN TERMS OF BOTH VISUAL AND ACOUSTICAL, UH, CONSIDERATIONS. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. I APPRECIATE THAT. BUT YOU SAID NO HIGHER AND NO WIDER. WELL, IT'S GONNA BE A LOT WIDER IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. AND SO TO MITIGATE THAT, I WAS HOPING WE COULD GET MORE CAPS NORTH IN MY, IN THE AREA SOUTH OF 38TH AND A HALF WHERE I LIVE. WE'RE NOT, WE WOULDN'T HAVE, WE WON'T HAVE A CAP. AND SO IT BECOMES EXTREMELY IMPORTANT HOW WE HANDLE THE FRONTAGE ROADS. THE FRONTAGE ROADS SHOULD BE TDOT, SHOULD TURN THEM BACK OVER TO THE CITY AND IT SHOULD BE A PART OF THE CITY TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM SO THAT THEY CAN BE GREAT STREETS. IT'S A PART OF THE CITY ROAD SYSTEM AND NOT HIGH SPEED FRONTAGE ROADS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR COUNSEL. I'M ENOVIA JOSEPH. LET ME TALK TO THE PEOPLE. ON APRIL 30TH, 2025, THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MET RIGHT TO CONGRESSMAN SAM GRAVES. HE'S NOT ABOUT THIS TRANSIT AND ALL OF THE PROJECTS THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN WANTS TO PUT FORTH. SO LET HIM KNOW HOW YOU FEEL AS IT RELATES TO THE ITEM BEFORE YOU ON THE SCREEN. I DO APPRECIATE THE POSTPONEMENT, BUT I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE CHEETO VELA, AND MANY OF YOU ON THE DICE HERE ENGAGED IN WILLFUL BLINDNESS. THAT'S A BLACK MAN. SEE THE ARROW? YOU CAN'T HARDLY SEE HIM. THAT'S LITTLE WALNUT CREEK LIBRARY BRANCH. AND EVEN THOUGH THEY PUT A SILVER SHELTER THERE NOW, IT'S STILL THE SAME. TAKE A LOOK, MAYOR. WHAT I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE IS DAVON BARBER, LIKE SO MANY OF THE OTHER BLACK MEN THAT SIT NEXT TO YOU AND AROUND YOU, COME TO AUSTIN LURED BY THE MONEY THEY NEED TO DO THE HISTORY AND FIND OUT THAT THEY'RE NOTHING MORE THAN A TALKING PIECE FOR THIS CITY. SO YOU WANT MORE MARKETING. YOU ALWAYS FIND A BLACK MAN TO GO FORTH INTO THE COMMUNITY AND SELL THIS SYSTEM. LOOK ON THE LEFT. THAT'S FROM 2015. THAT'S CAPITAL METRO'S OWN DATA. 70% OF THE METRO RAIL RIDERS ARE WHITE. SO WHEN YOU KEEP PROMOTING CHEETO VELA, THE RAIL SYSTEM, THE RED LINE, PLEASE UNDERSTAND YOUR OWN CONSTITUENTS, NORTH OF US, 180 3 IN THAT AREA, NORTH LAMAR RUNDBERG, THEY'RE NOT GONNA BENEFIT AT ALL. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE GETTING PAID UNDER THE TABLE OR IF THERE'S SOMETHING MORE, I SEE YOU SHAKING YOUR HEAD, MAYOR, BUT SOMETHING IS DEEPLY DISTURBING WHEN YOU SEE SOMEBODY WHO LOOKS LIKE THIS ON THE SCREEN AND THEN YOU TURN A BLIND EYE TO THE BLACK PEOPLE. THE SIDEWALK WAS JUST COMPLETED IN THE PAST WEEK, AND THERE'S NOT EVEN A LINE. THERE'S NO MULTIMODAL, THERE'S NOTHING, THERE'S NO SIGNAGE. YET AGAIN, CHEETO VELA REMAINS SILENT, SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT MORE YOU NEED, NEED EXPIRED. I APPRECIATE THAT. THAT CONCLUDES ALL SPEAKERS FOR ITEM 41. OH, MR. WAL, MY NAME IS CALLED EARLIER. UH, MY NAME IS TOM WALD, UH, AGAIN WITH THE REDLINE PARKWAY INITIATIVE. AND [05:00:01] I, I RARELY GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO THANK YOU ALL FOR SOMETHING THAT'S SUCH A PROFOUND, UM, UH, DECISION ON THE MISSION OF OUR ORGANIZATION. SO I JUST WANNA EXPRESS REALLY STRONG GRATITUDE. I DO WANNA ALSO ASK, AND I'VE HAD THIS IN THE CONVERSATION, ESPECIALLY WITH COUNCIL MEMBER LANE, BUT WITH WITH OTHERS TOO. THERE REALLY ARE SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT ALL 10 DISTRICTS FOR HOW WE CAN BRIDGE THE BARRIERS, UM, THAT OUR EXISTING HIGHWAYS DO PRESENT FOR, ESPECIALLY FOR, YOU KNOW, WALKING AND BIKING. AND I, UM, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THAT'S WITH THE EXISTING HIGHWAYS THAT ARE ALREADY BUILT OUT AND WHAT CAN BE DONE WITH THAT IN THAT PARADIGM. BUT THEN ALSO AS NEW HIGHWAY PROJECTS COME UP, I THINK WE SHOULD, I REALLY HOPE THAT THE CITY AND TEXTILE CAN DOUBLE DOWN ON OUR RELATIONSHIP TO FIND HOW TO, TO MAKE THOSE IMPROVEMENTS AS, AS THE PROJECTS MOVE FORWARD. UM, BUT YEAH, AGAIN, I JUST WANNA THANK Y'ALL FOR THE DECISION TODAY AND I, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH Y'ALL ON, ON THIS GOING FORWARD. THANKS. THANK YOU MEMBERS. THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 41. THE MOTION IN FRONT OF US IS THE MOTION THAT WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, WHICH IS TO POSTPONE ITEM NUMBER 41 FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD OF TIME. IS THERE ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION REGARDING ITEM NUMBER 41? COUNCIL MEMBER VELA MAYOR, JUST BRIEFLY. UH, I, I WANT TO JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO, TO THANK, UH, A LOT OF, UH, UH, FOLKS THAT I'M NOT GONNA TRY TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THEM, BUT I'VE, I'VE LEARNED MORE ABOUT HIGHWAYS AND ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION WORKING ON THIS ITEM, UH, OVER THE LAST, UH, THREE YEARS THAN I EVER THOUGHT I'D KNOW. UH, GOTTA THANK, UH, MY STAFF FOR TIMOTHY BRAY. UH, TOM WALD, UH, GERARD KENNY, UH, HAYDEN WALKER BLACK, UH, I, I SEE BRENDA BACK THERE. THERE'S SO MANY OTHERS TOO THAT I, I CAN'T, I, I CAN'T, UH, THANK 'EM ALL, BUT THIS HAS BEEN A COLLECTIVE EFFORT TO TALK ABOUT THIS, TO THINK IT THROUGH. UH, AND I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THIS MOMENT TO THANK THEM PUBLICLY AND FOR ALL THOSE THAT I'M, I CAN'T SEE OR I'M FORGETTING. THANK Y'ALL SO, SO MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. ANY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE? I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA COPY A LOT OF THE STUFF THAT COUNCIL MEMBER WAS SAYING. I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA TAKE THIS TIME AND JUST QUICKLY THANK, UH, A LOT OF THE FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN OUT HERE TODAY, UM, AND, AND, AND, AND HAVE ENGAGED IN THESE DISCUSSIONS, YOU KNOW, WAY PAST, UH, YOU KNOW, MY TIME ON COUNCIL. SO I, I REALLY WANNA THANK THE NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, AND, AND, AND, AND RESIDENTS OF CHERRYWOOD HYDE PARK, HANCOCK, MILLER, MUELLER, DEPENDING ON HOW YOU WANNA PRONOUNCE IT. UH, DELWOOD AND THEN COMMUNITY LEADERS LIKE JIM WALKER, HAYDEN WALKER BLACK, UH, BRENDAN WHIR, TOM WALD, SYLVIA OROZCO, PAUL SIA, GERARD, KENNY, UH, ASHIKA, GLI AND ORGANIZATIONS LIKE NSYNC, UH, NOT THE BAND. UM, AND DANA, A I A AUSTIN, DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE, WATERLOO GREENWAY, AND, AND VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE WORK OF OUR, OUR, UH, STATE DELEGATION. UH, SENATOR ECKHART AND REPRESENTATIVES BUSEY, COLE FLORES, OSA HOWARD, AND TALL RICO. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER 41 WITHOUT OBJECTION? ITEM NUMBER 41 IS ADOPTED AND COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MEDICINE. YOU'RE, SHE, SHE'S THERE, SO, ALRIGHT, VERY GOOD. SO WE, UH, 41 BEING ADOPTED WAS POSTPONED INDEFINITELY. I'VE SAID THAT 10 TIMES, IF I'LL SAY IT AGAIN. UM, WHICH MEANS IT'S BEEN POSTPONED INDEFINITELY. ALL RIGHT. WE, UNLESS SOMEBODY WANTS TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. ALL RIGHT. ALL [43. Approve an ordinance amending the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Transportation and Public Works Department Capital Budget (Ordinance No. 20240814-007) to increase appropriations by $244,000,000 for City costs related to the I-35 Cap and Stitch Program. Funding: $244,000,000 will be available from future issuance of tax-exempt general obligation bonds. Related to Items #41 and #42.] RIGHT. ITEM NUMBER 43. ALL RIGHT, ITEM FOUR, NUMBER 43 IS ONE OF THOSE ITEMS THAT WE'VE GONE, UH, WE SPENT A DAY GOING THROUGH DIFFERENT THINGS TO TRY TO DECIDE WHAT IT IS WE NEED TO DO. UH, ITEM NUMBER 43 DEALS WITH THE FUNDING, BUT BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING THAT WE VOTED ON IN ITEM NUMBER 42, WE NEED TO BE MORE SPECIFIC WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER 43 IN YOUR BACKUP, WE HAVE AN ORDINANCE. THERE'S AN ORDINANCE, AND THIS IS WHAT I WAS ATTEMPTING TO AVOID EARLIER IN THE DAY, WHICH IS TO HAVE THE MAIN MOTION BE A MOTION TO AMEND. BUT UNFORTUNATELY, UH, THE IDEA OF JUST HAVING A BLANK THAT WE COULD FILL IN APPARENTLY WAS NOT SOMETHING ANYBODY WANTED TO DO. UM, SO HERE'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO. I WILL GO AHEAD AND JUST MAKE THE MAIN MOTION SO THAT WE GET IT OUT THERE AND WE GET IT OUT THERE WHERE IT'S CLEAN. AND SO THE MAIN MOTION IS THAT WE ADOPT THE MOTION THAT'S IN OUR BACKUP, BUT WE AMEND IT BY CHANGING THE AMOUNTS IN LINES SIX AND 13 FROM 244 MILLION TO 63 MILLION. AND THEN I'M GONNA ASK, SO THAT, SO THE MOTION IS THE I ITEM 43 IN YOUR BACKUP WITH AN AMENDMENT. SO THAT ITEM NUMBER 43 CHANGES THE AMOUNTS IN LINE SIX AND 13 FROM 244 MILLION TO 63 MILLION. MS. OLIVAR, I'M GONNA ASK YOU TO COME UP AND GO, UH, LET ME GET A SECOND TO THAT MOTION IF THERE IS A SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCIL [05:05:01] MEMBER ELLIS. UM, WOULD YOU PLEASE COME FORWARD AND EXPLAIN WHAT YOU'RE RECOMMENDING IN THAT REGARD AND WHY? 63 MILLION WHEN PEOPLE HAVE HEARD TODAY, THINGS LIKE 104 MILLION KIMMEL LAVAR, DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL SERVICES. UH, SO BASED ON THE ACTION THAT YOU TOOK FOR ITEM 42 AT $104 MILLION, UH, YOU ALREADY HAVE A LOAN OR STATE INFRASTRUCTURE BANK LOAN THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY APPROPRIATED IN THE AMOUNT OF $41 MILLION. SO THE DELTA IS 63 MILLION. WE HAVE, UH, STAFF, WE HAVE HEARD IT LOUD AND CLEAR TO BE LOOKING AT ALL DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES, UM, THAT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE TO PAY FOR THIS. HOWEVER, WE DO NEED FOR COUNSEL TO AUTHORIZE THE APPROPRIATION SO THAT WE CAN, UH, ENCUMBER THE ADVANCED FUNDING AGREEMENT WITH TDOT. WE DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE CAPITAL FUNDING STACK DOWN THE ROAD, BUT WE DO NEED AUTHORIZATION AND APPROPRIATION AT THIS TIME TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE ADVANCED FUNDING AGREEMENT. AND LIKE I NOTED, UM, WITH ITEM 41, WE WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT DIFFERENT FUNDING OPTIONS, PARTNERSHIPS, AND SO ON, SO THAT, UH, WE CAN ALWAYS ISSUE LESS AND CEOS, UM, BUT IT TO RESERVE THE ABILITY FOR US TO ISSUE COS AT ALL. THAT IS WHY WE NEED THIS BUDGET AMENDMENT. IN ADDITION, NEXT WEEK ON THE JUNE 5TH AGENDA, YOU'LL SEE AN ITEM THAT, UM, WILL HAVE THE SAME 63 MILLION. IT WILL BE THE REIMBURSEMENT RESOLUTION. UM, WE, SIMILAR TO THE BUDGET PROCESS, WE GO AHEAD AND JUST DELAY THE REIMBURSEMENT RESOLUTION UNTIL THE NEXT WEEK SO THAT WE'RE NOT HAVING TO DO, UH, AMENDMENTS TO THAT ONE ON THE FLY AS WELL. SO, SO ANY QUESTIONS, MS. OLIVAREZ? ALRIGHT. UM, WE HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND. UM, I WILL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK AND WE'LL LISTEN TO THE PUBLIC. OUR, OUR FIRST SPEAKER FOR ITEM 43 WILL BE REMOTE. ADAM BAA. MR. BAA, PLEASE UNMUTE. WE WILL, UH, TRY HIM AGAIN. MOVING TO IN-PERSON BARBARA MACARTHUR. I'M GONNA ONCE AGAIN CALL SEVERAL NAMES AT ONCE. PLEASE MAKE YOUR NAME. MACARTHUR. DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK? NO. OKAY. SHE'S NOT SPEAKING. OKAY. LARRY AKER. ADRIAN MACIAS. ZA NOE, ELIAS. CARLOS PINON. PEDRO HERNANDEZ. IF THE NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT. ALL RIGHT. PLEASE GO AHEAD. UH, PEDRO HERNANDEZ JR. VALERIE MENARD, TOM WALD, MICHAEL CURRY, JEFFREY BOWEN, RICH HAMAN, JIM WALKER, ROY WHALEY, CRAIG NASER, MEGAN MEISENBACH, DANIELLA SILVA, STEVEN DELINE. BRENDAN WHIR, JAMES HOISON, BOBBY LEVINSKY. MICHAEL SUE, CHARLES DEHART, OR I'M SORRY, DE HARCOURT. CHARLES DE LIBBY CHEN. HAYDEN WALKER. CHRIS PAGE, MARISSA PERES, MONICA GUZMAN, BEN SOTHEBY, GERARD KINNEY. IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED AND YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK, JUST MAKE YOUR WAY FORWARD. PEOPLE ARE WAIVING THEIR RIGHT TO SPEAK. OKAY. WE'LL TRY IT. UH, MR. BUA AGAIN? OKAY, MR. BAA, ITEM 43. MR. BAA, PLEASE UNMUTE. UH, I, I THINK HE'S HAVING, UH, AN ISSUE ON UNMUTING FROM WHAT WE UNDERSTAND FROM HERE. HE'S A VERY CAPABLE COUNCIL MEMBER, OTHERWISE. OH, . UM, WE CAN LOOK INTO THIS BRIEFLY. THERE'S NO MORE IN PERSON. [05:10:08] OKAY. IS IN NOIA JOSEPH HERE AND WANTS TO SPEAK. OKAY. WE'LL WORK ON MR. BASEL DUA. THANK YOU MAYOR COUNCIL, I'M ENOVIA JOSEPH AS RELATES TO ITEM 43. I JUST WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP. I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER IN 2021, 3000 PEOPLE WERE GOING TO BE HOUSED IN THREE YEARS. THE COUNCIL WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THAT DISCUSSION, MAYOR. AND SO I JUST WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THAT DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE NEVER CAME THROUGH. SUBSEQUENTLY, WE GAVE THEM $79 MILLION. SO THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE SAYING AS FAR AS PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROJECT IS REALLY JUST A SMOKE SCREEN. WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING IN THE HISTORY OF DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE DOING ANYTHING BUT BEING PREDATORY TOWARDS BLACK PEOPLE. SO I PUT THE SLIDE BACK UP SO YOU COULD SEE THE DATES. IT WAS AUGUST 8TH TO OCTOBER 24TH, 2020. THEY PAID FOR A SPOTS ON KZI TWO HOURS. AND THEN THE ONLY AD, THE ONLY SPOT THAT RAN WAS PROJECT CONNECT. YET BLACK PEOPLE WERE NOT BENEFITING THEN AND THEY'RE NOT BENEFITING. NOW. JUNE 6TH, 2023 IS WHEN AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP VOTED ON THE LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM FROM THE $7.1 BILLION TO $5 BILLION OR 5.1. AND IT ONLY GOES UP TO CRESTVIEW STATION WHERE I SHOWED YOU EARLIER, 80 TO 120% AREA MEDIAN INCOME. SO I JUST WANNA CONTEXTUALIZE THE THINGS THAT I SAID BEFORE BECAUSE I DO RECOGNIZE THAT BLACK PEOPLE COULD FEEL LIKE I'M THROWING THEM UNDER THE BUS. THIS IS THE HISTORY OF THE CITY. YOU GET BLACK PEOPLE IN WHO DON'T KNOW THE HISTORY AND WHEN THEY WAKE UP, THEY LEAVE LIKE MARK OTT DID. I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE AS WELL, WHEN IT COMES TO THE BROADMOOR STATION, JUST THIS PAST MONDAY, CAPITOL METRO HAD THEIR BOARD MEETING PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP. WELL, BRANDY WINE ONLY WANTS TO COMMIT $12 MILLION. THAT WAS BEFORE INFLATION. SO WHO HAS TO EAT THE COST? THE PUBLIC SECTOR. WHY DON'T THEY FORCE THEM TO DO MORE? THEY WON'T AND THEY WON'T COME THROUGH FOR US NOW. THANK YOU SPEAKING. THANK YOU. NEXT WE'RE GONNA TRY ADAM BASEL ONE MORE TIME. YES. CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES. HELLO? YES. OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND, UH, HONORABLE COUNCIL MEMBERS. I APOLOGIZE. I SHOULD HAVE PROBABLY SPOKE ON, UH, UH, THE 42 ITEM. UH, MY NAME'S ADAM BEAN. I CURRENTLY SERVE AS DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TIM AND DISTRICT SEVEN COUNCIL MEMBER FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS YOU TODAY AND WANT TO START BY THANKING EACH OF YOU FOR YOUR TIRELESS AND OFTEN THANKLESS SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC. WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU IS AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUR CITY AS A CITY ALSO DIVIDED BY AN INTERSTATE. I UNDERSTAND HOW VITAL A PROJECT LIKE THIS CAN BE BOTH LITERALLY AND SYMBOLICALLY IN CONNECTING THE CITY OF AUSTIN. HOWEVER, I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT YOUR STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION OF MOVING FORWARD WITH THE TWO CAPS INSTEAD OF FIVE, A DECISION TO FULLY COMMIT TO ALL FIVE CAPS TODAY RISKS BINDING YOUR TAXPAYERS TO THE FULL COST OF THESE PROJECTS AND ALL FUTURE MAINTENANCE. AS YOU CONSIDER MOVING FORWARD WITH THE RECOMMENDED TWO CAPS, I IMPLORE YOU TO LEAN FURTHER INTO PHIL PHILANTHROPIC AND PRIVATE PARTNERS TO HELP MAKE THESE PARKS A SUSTAINABLE REALITY FOR AUSTIN. AFTER ALL, HOW MANY TECH BROS DOES AUSTIN HAVE NOW THIS SHOULD BE LEVERAGED AND PARTNERED WITH TO MAKE THESE PLANS MOST FEASIBLE FOR ALL AUSTINITES IN DALLAS. FOR PHASE ONE OF CLYDE WARREN PARK, THE CITY INVESTED $20 MILLION IN 2006 BOND FUNDS OUT OF A TOTAL $110 MILLION PROJECT FOR PHASE TWO, WE CONTRIBUTED $10 MILLION IN OUR 2017 BOND AND SIX AND A HALF IN THE MOST RECENT 2024 BOND IN THE SOUTHERN GATEWAY DECK PARK. $7 MILLION WAS IN THE 2017 BOND AND MORE THAN 18 MILLION IN THIS PAST BOND. WITH ALL MAINTENANCE HANDLED BY PRIVATE PARTNERS, NONE OF THESE PROJECTS USED TOUCH OUR GENERAL FUND DOLLARS. TEXDOT IS INFAMOUS FOR MAKING GRAND PLANS AND EXPECTING CITIES TO FOOT THE BILL. PLEASE DON'T FALL FOR IT. PLEASE TAKE A MORE PRUDENT AND FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE APPROACH THAT DOESN'T HINDER YOUR FUTURE ABILITIES TO CONTINUE DELIVERING INCREDIBLE SERVICES FOR ALL AUSTINITES. MAKING INTENTIONAL POLICY CHOICES TO HEAL DECISIONS OF THE PAST IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. BUT WE MUST ASK, IS THIS THE ONLY WAY TO HEAL THOSE WOUNDS? THANK YOU, COUNCIL. I HAVE LONG ADMIRED THE CITY [05:15:01] OF AUSTIN. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. ALL SPEAKERS FOR ITEM 43 HAVE BEEN CALLED AT THIS TIME. MEMBERS, THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS FOR ITEM NUMBER 43. UH, REMEMBER THE MOTION IS, UH, THE ORDINANCE IN THE BACKUP WITH CHANGING THE AMOUNTS IN LINE SIX AND 13 FROM $244 MILLION TO $63 MILLION. DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER 43, MAYOR PRO TIM, THANK YOU. UH, THIS IS A QUESTION FOR KIMBERLY OLIVAREZ. OKAY. WE, UM, WITH THE APPROVAL OF AUTHORIZING 63 MILLION, A TOTAL PACKAGE OF 104 MILLION, WHICH COLLEAGUES DO WANNA RECOGNIZE THAT WE WENT FROM A PROPOSAL OF 244 MILLION AND WE APPROVED IT AT 104 MILLION. SO HALF OF THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL, UM, THAT WAS PUT BEFORE US. WITH THAT, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE ARE REQUIRED TO PAY 15% OF THAT OF THE AMOUNT BY THE END OF NEXT YEAR. IS THAT RIGHT? CORRECT. AND SO THAT WOULD PUT US AT A $15 MILLION ISH PAYMENT? YES. OKAY. AND THEN THE REST OF THAT COMMITMENT TO CONTINUE TO FUND THE ROADWAY ELEMENTS OF THE APPROVED CAPS, THAT WOULD START IN 2029? CORRECT. AND WITH, WITH WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW, WHAT IS YOUR ASSESSMENT ON WHAT WE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZED WITH THAT ADDITIONAL 104 MILLION BUT YET ONLY 15 MILLION IS DUE BY THE END OF NEXT YEAR. HOW CAN YOU REMIND US HOW THAT AFFECTS OUR, OUR DEBT CAPACITY AND WHAT WE HAVE ON, ON THE TABLE FOR OUR BOND ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER? UH, SO THE PREVIOUS RECOMMENDATION MADE TO COUNCIL REGARDING THE MAXIMUM MATTER OF DEBT, UM, FOR ANY PARTICULAR USE, UH, WAS 750 MILLION. SO THIS WOULD REDUCE THAT SEVEN 50 DOWN IF WE WERE TO APPROVE OR, UH, ISSUE ALL 63 MILLION IN COS IT WOULD REDUCE THAT SEVEN 50 ACCORDINGLY. UM, BUT, UH, WE WILL AGAIN, LIKE I NOTED EARLIER, BE LOOKING AT ALL DIFFERENT FUNDING OPTIONS, PARTNERSHIPS AND SO ON TO BE ABLE TO MINIMIZE THE CITY'S FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN THE END. UM, AND IDEALLY MINIMIZE THAT IMPACT ON THE ON THE FUTURE BOND PROGRAM POTENTIAL. THANK YOU. UM, YOU KNOW, HAS BEEN SHARED EARLIER, COLLEAGUES FOR MES IT WAS NEVER A QUESTION OF NO CAPS OR YES CAPS. THERE WAS ALWAYS FOUR CAPS. IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF WHICH ONES AND TO WHAT EXTENT AND UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE THAT IT PLAYS IN THE TRADE-OFFS THAT WE HAVE AND FUNDING THE REAL, VERY REAL AND URGENT NEEDS THAT WE HAVE ALL THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY. AND TO THE POINTS THAT COUNCILMAN BERLIN LANE MENTIONED, WHAT I HOPE THAT OUR, OUR BODY HERE TAKES AWAY IS THAT AS WE APPROACH THIS NEXT BOND CYCLE THAT WE'RE EQUITABLE IN HOW WE INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITY. IT IS PRETTY INCREDIBLE HERE THAT SUPER MAJORITY OF OUR COUNCIL HAS DECIDED TO INVEST AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES INTO OUR DOWNTOWN CORE. I JUST ASK THAT AS WE LOOK FORWARD THAT WE UNDERSTAND AND ADDRESS THE BROADER NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY. I WILL BE DEPENDING AND COUNTING ON YOUR SUPPORT AS WE ADDRESS THOSE OTHER NEEDS. AND SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE, UH, TAKE TIME TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AS PART OF THIS CONVERSATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR FORAM. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER 43? UM, ALL RIGHT, WITHOUT OBJECTION, ITEM NUMBER 43 IS ADOPTED. THAT WILL TAKE US TO NOW, I'M SORRY. OH, OKAY. COUNCIL WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN. ITEM NUMBER 43 IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN BEING SHOWN VOTING NO. [105. Approve a resolution directing the development of a financing plan for design and construction costs of certain elements, as well as work with local labor and workforce development organizations, for the “Our Future 35: Austin’s Cap & Stitch Program.”] THAT WILL NOW TAKE US TO ITEM NUMBER 1 0 5. UM, I'M GONNA RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER ON ITEM 1 0 5. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, THIS ITEM IS A DIRECTIVE TO THE CITY MANAGER TO DO TWO THINGS. FIRST, IT IS TO LOOK AT THOSE ALTERNATIVE FUNDING SOURCES TO PAY FOR THE PROJECT THAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR WHAT FEELS LIKE EVER. UM, AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BROUGHT FORWARD A HOST OF IDEAS AND SOME OF THESE IDEAS TAKE TIME TO DEVELOP SOME OF THEM. UH, IN WORKING WITH THE FINANCIAL STAFF WITH THE LAW DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE NUANCES IN THERE THAT WE NEED TO WORK OUT TO SEE, UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN AND HOW WE DO THEM. AND, AND SO WHAT WE ARE ASKING IS FOR THE MANAGER TO RECOGNIZE THE LIMITATION ON GENERAL OBLIGATION DEBT THAT WE ALL, UH, SEEM TO HAVE AGREED UPON, WHICH IS THAT $49 MILLION NUMBER AND COME UP WITH A FUNDING PLAN FOR THE REST. AND AS AS MENTIONED, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED, UH, THAT REMAINING AMOUNT AS, AS KIND OF WHAT WE WOULD RECOMMEND, BUT ASKING THE FINANCIAL STAFF AND THE MANAGER TO MAKE THEIR OWN INDEPENDENT RECOMMENDATION BY MARCH 1ST. AND SO WITH THAT, I WOULD MOVE ADOPTION OF ITEM, OH, I, FORGIVE ME JUST HALF A SECOND. I SAID TWO THINGS. THE SECOND THING [05:20:01] WHICH HAS BEEN DISCUSSED HERE TODAY, IT ALSO LOOKS AT THOSE CROSSINGS OUTSIDE OF THE DOWNTOWN, UH, CENTRAL EXPRESS PROJECT AND HAVE THE, THE MANAGER FIGURE OUT THE VALUE OF THOSE AS WELL. SO WITH THAT, I WOULD MOVE ADOPTION MO MOTION IS MADE TO APPROVE ITEM 1 0 5 BY COUNCIL MEMBER. ALTER A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ MEMBERS. YOU HAVE A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO ITEM NUMBER 1 0 5 BY COUNCIL MEMBER LANE. UH, IT IS LABELED ITEM NUMBER 1 0 5, MAY 22ND, 2025. COUNCIL MEMBER LANE MOTION NUMBER ONE. WHAT I'M GOING TO DO, UM, IS WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND WE'LL GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT AND THEN I'LL COME BACK AND WE'LL TAKE UP THE MOTION TO AMEND AT THAT POINT IN TIME. SO I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK. FIRST PERSON IS JEFFREY MACKEY ON ITEM 1 0 5 REMOTELY. JEFFREY MACKEY. WE'LL CONTINUE WITH IN PERSON. TOM WALD, RICH HAVEN, JIM WALKER, RUSSELL NORBERG, GERARD KINNEY, BILL BUNCH, BETHANY, ANDREW, LIBBY, CHANEL, HAYDEN WALKER, CHARLES DE HARCOURT. HOLD ON. GOOD AFTERNOON. HAYDEN WALKER. SORRY, I PROMISE NOT TO SPEAK AGAIN. UM, I AM THE ONE OF THE DISTRICT NINE APPOINTEES TO THE BOND TASK FORCE. UM, I THINK THE RESOLUTION IS, UM, GREAT. I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT THE AMENDMENT. I THINK THE TASK FORCE ALREADY HAS A LOT ON ITS PLATE DEALING WITH GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT ANYONE ON THAT TASK FORCE HAS THE LEVEL OF EXPERTISE TO THROW IN REVENUE BONDS AND COS AND EVERYTHING ELSE INTO THAT MIX. SO I JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS THAT I AM IN SUPPORT OF, UM, THE ITEM. BUT, UH, THE AMENDMENT MAKES ME A LITTLE NERVOUS. IT FEELS LIKE THAT SHOULD STAY IN THE PROFESSIONAL WHEELHOUSE OF YOUR PROFESSIONAL STAFF. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I'M GONNA TRY JEFFREY MACKEY ONE MORE TIME. REMOTE. JEFFREY MACKEY 1 0 5. JEFFREY MACKEY. PLEASE UNMUTE IF YOU'RE THERE. OKAY, THAT CONCLUDES SPEAKERS ON ITEM 1 0 5 MEMBERS. THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS ON ITEM 1 0 5. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADOPT ITEM 1 0 5. I'LL NOW RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER LANE WHO HAS A MOTION, A PROPOSAL TO AMEND ITEM 1 0 5. COUNCIL MEMBER LANE. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU. UM, SO I MOVE TO AMEND VERSION TWO OF THE RESOLUTION FOR ITEM 1 0 5. UH, WHAT THIS AMENDMENT DOES IS IT PROPOSES REPLACING, UH, THE DIRECTIVE THAT BEGINS. THE CITY MANAGER IS DIRECTED TO PREPARE A PROPOSED FINANCING PLAN FOR THE IMMEDIATE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF ROADWAY ELEMENTS. ALL THE WAY TO THE FUNDING SOURCES TO BE, BE EVALUATED SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO. WE PLACE THAT WITH THE CITY MANAGER IS DIRECTED TO PRESENT FINANCING OPTIONS AND FUNDING SOURCES FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS, INCLUDING THE POTENTIAL CONSTRUCTION OF I 35 CAPS AND STITCHES TO THE BOND ELECTION TA ADVISORY TASK FORCE. THE CITY MANAGER IS DIRECTED TO ENABLE THE BOND ELECTION ADVISORY TASK FORCE TO CONSIDER ALL CAPITAL NEEDS AT THE SAME TIME THAT IT CONSIDERS WHETHER TO ADVISE DEDICATING FUNDING FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF CAPS AND STITCHES. THE POTENTIAL FUNDING SOURCES PRESENTED SHALL INCLUDE GENERAL OBLIGATION DEBT AS WELL AS OTHER POSSIBLE FINDING FINANCING OPTIONS, INCLUDING AS MAY BE APPROPRIATE. AND THEN WE GO TO THE SAME LIST THAT'S ALREADY THERE. AND THEN ALSO ADDING, UH, THE FOLLOWING AT LINE 100, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED. THE CITY MANAGER IS DIRECTED TO PRESENT THE BOND ELECTION ADVISORY TASK FORCE TASK FORCE'S RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING WHETHER AND HOW TO FINANCE CAPS AND STITCHES TO THE CITY COUNCIL BEFORE CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERS DEDICATING CITY FUNDS TO DEXTER AMENITIES FOR CAPS AND STITCHES ON I 35. THIS AMENDMENT IS BROUGHT FORWARD IN THE SPIRIT OF, UM, CENTERING THIS REPRESENTATIVE BODY'S INPUT AS ON, ON BOND, EXCUSE ME, ON BOND FINANCING WITH THE ABILITY TO LOOK HOLISTICALLY AT ALL OF THE CAPITAL NEEDS AND THE, AND THE FUNDING SOURCES POSSIBLE FOR THOSE. IN THE END, THOUGH, IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE SCOPE OF THE, UM, MANDATE OF THIS TASK FORCE BECAUSE THE FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE, UH, BASED ON BOND FINANCING. BUT I DO FEEL THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A PROCESS IN PLACE THAT ELEVATES STAKEHOLDERS TO, [05:25:01] TO SERVE ON THIS TASK FORCE. AND IT'S A REPRESENTATIVE BODY WITH REPRESENTATION FROM AROUND THE CITY. AND WE HAVE HEARD FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE, THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT WAYS OF RECEIVING INPUT. AND IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT AS A CITY WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE ABILITY TO LOOK HOLISTICALLY AT ALL CAPITAL NEEDS. THE SILOING DOESN'T SERVE US WELL AS WE TRY TO MAKE DECISIONS. AND SO THAT'S THE SPIRIT OF THIS AMENDMENT AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS DISCUSSION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION TO AMEND? SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL. UM, THE MOTION, UH, WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER LANE, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER. I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU, UM, AND IF OTHERS WANNA SPEAK ON THE AMENDMENT, PLEASE, UH, LET ME KNOW. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I UNDERSTAND THE, THE MOTIVATION BEHIND THIS AND I DO THINK WE HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS HOLISTICALLY, BUT I DO WORRY THAT THIS AMENDMENT, UH, REALLY GOES BEYOND THE ABILITY AND AUTHORITY OF THE BOND ADVISORY TASK FORCE. AND SO I WAS HOPING IF I COULD GET THE LAW DEPARTMENT TO COME DOWN AND ANSWER A COUPLE QUESTIONS FOR ME. WE'LL HAVE SEAN CREGAN COME DOWN AND SPEAK TO THIS MATTER. SEAN CREGAN FROM THE LAW DEPARTMENT. I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD FIRST TELL US WHAT FROM A REVENUE, UH, PERSPECTIVE, OR I SHOULD REALLY SAY FROM A FUNDING PERSPECTIVE, WHAT IS THE SCOPE OF THE AUTHORITY THE COUNCIL HAS GIVEN THE BOND ADVISORY TASK FORCE? THE RESOLUTION THAT CREATED THE, UH, THE BOND ELECTION ADVISORY TASK FORCE GAVE IT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PRIORITIZING, UH, BOND FUNDED PROJECTS. SO, AND WHEN WE ADDRESS SCOPE OR WHEN WE CREATE A TASK FORCE OR COMMISSION, THAT SCOPE IS ESTABLISHED BY RESOLUTION BY THE COUNCIL, CORRECT? CORRECT. DOES THE CITY MANAGER HAVE THE UNILATERAL AUTHORITY TO CHANGE THE SCOPE OF THAT, UH, ONE OF THOSE BODIES OF TASK FORCE OR A COMMISSION? NO. OKAY. SO IF IN SAYING THE CITY MANAGER IS DIRECTED TO ENABLE THE BOND ELECTION ADVISORY TASK FORCE TO DO SOMETHING ELSE, THEY THAT WOULD NOT BE PERMISSIBLE, WE WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE THAT THROUGH A RESOLUTION OR ORDINANCE, CORRECT? WELL, AS I READ THE, UH, THE AMENDMENT, IT'S ENABLING THE TASK FORCE TO REVIEW DIFFERENT SOURCES AND DIFFERENT NEEDS FROM CA FROM A CAPITAL PERSPECTIVE, WHICH THEY'RE ALREADY AUTHORIZED TO DO. SURE. OKAY. AND THEN AS IT RELATES TO WHAT RECOMMENDATIONS THEY CAN MAKE, ARE THEY AUTHORIZED TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS OUTSIDE OF BOND FUNDING? NO. OKAY. SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHETHER AND HOW TO FINANCE CAPS AND STITCHES, THE ONLY REAL RECOMMENDATION THEY COULD MAKE FOR HOW TO FINANCE CAP AND STITCHES WOULD BE THROUGH BONDS, RIGHT? THEY COULDN'T SAY YOU SHOULD FUND THESE THROUGH SOME OTHER NON BOND SOURCE, CORRECT? CORRECT. OKAY. WELL, MEMBERS, I THINK THAT THIS JUST GOES BEYOND THE SCOPE OF WHAT WE HAVE ENABLED AND ASKED THE BOND ADVISORY TASK FORCE TO DO. WE'VE HEARD ACTUALLY FROM A MEMBER HERE WHO SAID THIS IS OUTSIDE OF THE WORK THAT THE, THE ENORMITY OF THE WORK THEY ALREADY HAVE BEFORE THEM TOGETHER. SO I WOULD, UM, NOT LIKE TO CONSIDER THIS. I WILL HAVE A MOTION ON THIS, BUT I THINK THERE'S OTHERS SPEAKERS. SO, UH, YES, THERE ARE COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL AND COUNCIL MEMBER VELA. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU, UH, COUNCILMAN LANE FOR MAKING THIS MOTION. UM, I SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE IT RECENTERS THE BOND ELECTION ADVISORY TASK FORCE AS THE KIND OF CITIZEN BODY THAT'S RECOMMENDING HOW WE SPEND OUR CAPITAL DOLLARS IN THE NEXT, UH, BOND ELECTION CYCLE. I THINK WE'VE PREEMPTED THE B-E-A-T-F-A BIT BY TAKING ACTION ON SOME OF OUR CAPITAL DOLLARS, UH, THROUGH THE VOTE TODAY. AND EVEN IF THEY CAN'T TELL US HOW TO USE NON GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND DOLLARS, I THINK TO MAKE SURE THAT THE B-E-A-T-F IS GETTING THIS KIND OF BRIEFING AND THEY CAN WEIGH IN ON WHETHER AT LEAST WE SHOULD USE GENERAL OBLIGATION DOLLARS FOR CAP AND STITCH, I THINK THAT'D BE VERY VALUABLE AND IT WOULD REINFORCE THAT, THAT WE ACTUALLY ARE RESPECTING THAT TASK FORCE'S, UH, DUTIES AND OBLIGATIONS, RIGHT? THAT, THAT WE'RE NOT JUST GONNA TAKE MONEY OFF THE TABLE BEFORE THEY CAN MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER VELA. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, WE ARE THE CITIZEN BODY THAT MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT CAPITAL FUNDING AND ULTIMATELY APPROVES CAPITAL FUNDING. WE HAVE THE BENEFIT OF HAVING PROFESSIONAL STAFF THAT HELP ADVISE US AS TO, UH, THOSE CAPITAL NEEDS OF THE CITY. WE HAVE A DIRECT ACCESS TO PROFESSIONAL STAFF WITHIN MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS WHO WE CAN CALL UP AND [05:30:01] ASK QUESTIONS AND TALK ABOUT CAPITAL SPENDING. UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK VERY HIGHLY OF MY TWO APPOINTEES TO THE BOND ADVISORY TASK FORCE, ONE OF WHOM IS SITTING, UH, RIGHT THERE, UH, BEN SOY AND, AND, UH, KEN STANLEY. UH, BUT THEY HAVE FULL-TIME JOBS OUTSIDE OF THE BOND ADVISORY TASK FORCE. UH, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH STAFF TIME IS DEDICATED TOWARD THE BOND ADVISORY, UH, TASK FORCE, BUT I WOULD REALLY HESITATE, UH, AND I WOULD TAKE HAYDEN WALKER BLACK'S, UH, COMMENTS TO HEART TO EXPAND THE SCOPE AND, UH, AND, AND, AND, UH, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE GROUP GIVEN THAT THIS IS A VOLUNTEER CITIZEN TASK FORCE WITH, AGAIN, LIMITED STAFF TIME AND LIMITED ABILITY TO LOOK INTO VERY KIND OF COMPLEX AREAS IN MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE CITY. UH, SO I THINK FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, THE ADVISORY COMMISSIONS THAT WORK BEST FOR COUNCIL ARE NARROW, YOU KNOW, AND ARTS COMMISSION IS FULL OF FOLKS WHO KNOW THE ARTS A MUSIC COMMISSION IS FULL OF FOLKS THAT KNOW MUSIC, UH, TO, TO HAVE KIND OF SOME BROAD ADVISORY TASK FORCE THAT IS JUST GONNA LOOK AT ALL THE CAPITAL FUNDS AND SEE WHICH ONES I, I'M NOT SURE WHAT WE'RE GONNA GET BACK FROM THAT, UH, IN TERMS OF LIKE A REAL KIND OF A, A DEPTH OF, UH, OF ANALYSIS. SO I, I'LL BE OPPOSING THIS AMENDMENT I'M GOING TO, I'M GONNA DO SO THAT PEOPLE KNOW WHAT WHAT I'M DOING AS I'M CALLING ON THOSE WHO ARE NOT A MAKER OF A MOTION RIGHT NOW, OR A MOTION TO AMEND TO GET DISCUSSION FIRST, AND THEN I WILL AT AN APPROPRIATE TIME. COUNCIL MEMBER LANE, I'LL CALL ON YOU TO, UH, CLOSE, BUT, WE'LL, I I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE PEOPLE T TALKING FIRST THAT WILL, THAT WANT TO TALK? UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS. THANK YOU MAYOR. I, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE TASK FORCE BE ABLE TO HAVE THE FULL SCOPE OF WHAT OUR FINANCIAL REALITIES ARE. THE, THE THING I WANNA AVOID IS WE GET A FANTASTIC RECOMMENDATION FROM THE TASK FORCE AND THEN THERE'S ALL THESE OTHER THINGS GOING ON, ON OUTSIDE OF IT THAT ARE COSTING THE CITY MONEY AND ARE COSTING OUR RESIDENTS MONEY. SO I THINK IT'S, UH, A REALLY HEALTHY CONVERSATION TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE WHO'S TALKING ABOUT THIS IS SEEING ALL THE DIFFERENT ANGLES THAT WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO WORK THROUGH AS WELL. OF COURSE, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT WE PUT TO THE VOTERS IS GONNA BE UP TO THE CITY COUNCIL TO, TO SET THAT BALLOT LANGUAGE AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THOSE ULTIMATE THRESHOLDS ARE. BUT I JUST THINK, UM, IF THE TASK FORCE GOES THROUGH ALL OF THIS DETAILED WORK AND THEN THERE'S STILL ALL THESE OTHER LITTLE PIECES MOVING AROUND THAT WE COULD END UP IN A PRETTY CHAOTIC SITUATION NEXT NOVEMBER AS WE WILL HAVE TO DECIDE ON CAPS. SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THOSE CONVERSATIONS HAPPEN IN TANDEM. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. UH, SURE. COUNCIL MEMBER VALA. SO JUST AND BRIEFLY ALSO, THERE'S NO REASON TO HAVE CAPS ON THE 2026 BOND. I MEAN, JUST BASED ON EVERYTHING THAT WE JUST VOTED ON AND THE FUNDING FLOWS, UH, YOU KNOW, WE CAN PULL THE $41 MILLION FROM THE STATE INFRASTRUCTURE BANK, UH, TO, UH, COVER THAT FIRST PAYMENT AND THEN THE FUTURE PAYMENTS WOULD NOT EVEN BE DUE UNTIL THE 2029 TIMEFRAME. SO I, I JUST, I DON'T EVEN SEE WHY THE, WE WOULD REALLY KIND OF PUT BONDS INTO THE 2026 CONVERSATION. UH, BECAUSE THE TIMELINE, JUST FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, THIS IS, I, I THINK A 2028 CONVERSATION. UH, BUT I I I, I DON'T SEE THEM BEING AS PART OF THE, THE 2026 UH, BOND. YEAH, THE ONLY, ONLY THING I'D SAY IS THAT OUR POLICY IS SIX YEARS, SO IT, IT WOULD PLAY A ROLE. BUT I'M GONNA DO IS I'M GONNA RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER LANE TO MEMBER TIM FIRST AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER LANE. YEAH. THANK YOU MAYOR. MAY YOU BROUGHT UP A GOOD POINT THAT OUR BOND ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS TAKING AN ASSESSMENT OF OVERALL NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY. AND AS PART OF THAT ASSESSMENT AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF PROJECTS THAT WE SHOULD CONSIDER, WE'LL HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE NEXT SIX YEARS OF OUR CITY. THEY ABSOLUTELY SHOULD BE CONSIDERING THE CAP AND STITCHES AS PART OF THAT. I WOULD WELCOME THEIR ENGAGEMENT. I CAN'T THINK OF A REASON WHY WE WOULD WANT TO LIMIT THAT ABILITY. I UNDERSTAND THEY HAVE A LOT ON THEIR PLATE, THEY HAVE A LOT TO GET THROUGH, BUT IF THEY DECIDE TO, TO MAKE TIME FOR THIS BECAUSE WE AS A BODY JUST ELECTED TO APPROVE, UM, A COMMITMENT THAT WILL IMPACT THEIR, THEIR DEBT CAPACITY BY 63 MILLION, THEY SHOULD HAVE THIS AS PART OF THEIR CONSIDERATION. I WILL BE SUPPORTING COUNCIL MEMBER LANE'S AMENDMENT. THANK CHAIR MEMBER TIM. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER. AND THEN I'M GONNA RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER LANE TO CLOSE ON HER AMENDMENT. MAYOR, I THINK, I THINK WE BOTH PUSHED OUR BUTTONS AGAIN. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS THEN FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, I, I APPRECIATE THAT. UM, WE WILL HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT THE [05:35:01] CAPS FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO GET IT INTO THE, THE PACKAGE. IT DOESN'T MEAN WE HAVE TO DO THAT WITH GO BONDS OR PUT THAT TO THE VOTERS, BUT WE WILL NEED TO KNOW WHAT THAT MONEY IS FOR FUTURE COUNCILS AND I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE KNOWS THAT. 'CAUSE I FEEL LIKE WE'RE GETTING A BIT OF THE CARTS BEFORE THE HORSE WHERE WE'RE SAYING WHAT MONEY WE'RE GONNA SPEND WHEN WE DON'T KNOW WHERE IT'S COMING FROM YET. SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE EVERYONE KIND OF SEES WHERE THE PIECES ARE AT AND UNDERSTANDS THE TIMELINES BY WHICH WE WILL NEED TO MAKE DECISIONS. 'CAUSE I WOULD BE REALLY IRRITATED IF I GOT ONTO A COUNCIL THAT HAD ALL THESE FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS AND DIDN'T KNOW HOW THEY WERE GOING TO BE FUNDED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL. ACTUALLY I'LL PASS. THANK YOU MAYOR. I'M SORRY. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS SPOKE FOR ME. OKAY, VERY GOOD. UM, WITH THAT THEN I WILL GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER AND DEPENDING UPON WHAT'S SAID, I'LL THEN DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT WE GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER LANE TO CLOSE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO WHAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU IS A MOTION THAT IS COUNCIL MEMBER REIN ALTER AMENDMENT TO COUNCIL MEMBER LANE AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE. AND WHAT THIS DOES IS TRIES TO STRIKE THE BALANCE OF WHAT WE'VE HEARD WHILE ALSO RECOGNIZING THE BOUNDS OF THE BOND ADVISORY TASK FORCE. SO IF WE WANT TO HAVE THEM BE ABLE TO HAVE THIS INFORMATION TO BE ABLE TO CONSIDER THIS, THEN THAT HAS BEEN TOLD TO US BY LOSS THE LAW DEPARTMENT AS WITHIN THE BOUNDS. SO WHAT THIS WOULD DO IS SAY AFTER THE MANAGER HAS COME UP WITH THIS FINANCING PLAN, HE IS TO PRESENT IT TO THE BOND ADVISORY TASK FORCE. BUT IT ALSO RECOGNIZES THAT WHATEVER FUNDING WE WOULD MAKE FOR THE CAPS IS A DECISION THAT THE COUNCIL CAN MAKE. AND IF IT'S ANYTHING BEYOND GENERAL OBLIGATION DEBT, THAT IS NOT A RECOMMENDATION THAT THE BOND ADVISORY TASK FORCE CAN MAKE. AND SO WHAT THIS WOULD REQUIRE IS FOR THE MANAGER TO NOT PRESENT THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE TASK FORCE. SO ULTIMATELY THE TASK FORCE IS GOING TO MAKE A SET OF RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE TOTAL BOND PACKAGE, BUT NOT MAKE THAT RECOMMENDATION UNTIL WE HAVE THIS FINANCING PLAN FOR THE CAPS SO THAT WE THE BODY WHO MAKE THE DECISION ON HOW TO BALANCE THINGS AND ARE THE ONLY ONES WHO HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DECIDE AND RECOMMEND SOMETHING BEYOND JUST GENERAL OBLIGATION DEBT. AT THAT POINT, WHEN WE RECEIVE THE TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATION, WE WILL ALSO HAVE RECEIVED THE FINANCING PLAN. AND SO WE WILL HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION IN FRONT OF US AND WE CAN MAKE THE APPROPRIATE BALANCES AND ANY KIND OF TRADE-OFFS WE MIGHT WANNA MAKE, BUT WE'RE NOT ASKING THE BOND ADVISORY TASK FORCE TO MAKE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THEY AREN'T AUTHORIZED TO MAKE. SO WITH THAT, I WOULD MOVE, UH, ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT TO LANE AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE. IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION TO AMEND THE AMENDMENT? COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ SECOND TO THE MOTION DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION TO AMEND THE AMENDMENT. IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO BE RECOGNIZED ON THAT COUNCIL MEMBER LANE? I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU. I'M SORRY. I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA REC RECOGNIZE YOU TO SPEAK ON THE MOTION TO AMEND YOUR AMENDMENT. THANK YOU. UM, I, I HEARD OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT STATE THAT, UM, EXCUSE ME, GATHERING MYSELF THIS TASK FORCE. UM, I'LL JUST START AGAIN. THIS TASK FORCE IS AUTHORIZED ALREADY TO REVIEW CAPITAL NEEDS WHEN MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT BOND FINANCING. I HEARD OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT REPLY TO YOUR QUESTION THAT THIS WAS NOT AN EXPANSION OF THE MANDATE AS WRITTEN AS, AS MY AMENDMENT WAS PRESENTED, THAT IT STILL FELL WITHIN THE MANDATE. THERE IS A, IF WE NEED ADDITIONAL CLARIFICATION AND I CERTAINLY HEAR OUR APPOINTEE ASKING FOR THAT CLARIFICATION. THERE'S A FAR SIMPLER APPROACH THAN THIS AMENDMENT. UM, AND THAT APPROACH WOULD BE THE INSERTION OF A SINGLE ADDITIONAL WORD. AND I WILL READ HOW THAT WOULD GO. THIS IS OFF OF MY AMENDMENT. I AM, I AM I OKAY TO DO THAT? YOU NEED AN AMENDMENT HERE. PROCEDURE. WELL, I'M NOT SURE I KNOW WHAT IT IS YOU'RE GETTING READY TO DO. I'M GONNA SUGGEST THAT RATHER THAN A, THAT YOU AMEND YOUR AMENDMENT. WELL WE WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO, YOU CAN TALK ABOUT A SIMPLE WAY AS A WAY TO SAY, SURE. I DON'T WANT YOU TO VOTE FOR THE ALTAR AMENDMENT MM-HMM . BECAUSE I'VE GOT A SIMPLER WAY OF DOING IT AND THAT MIGHT GIVE A REASON FOR, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO RECOGNIZE YOU. OKAY. I'M NOT GONNA RECOGNIZE YOU NOW TO AMEND YOUR OWN AMENDMENT YET. OKAY? GOTCHA. I APPRECIATE THAT. BUT GO AHEAD AND EXPLAIN IF YOU WANT TO SURE. SO THAT PEOPLE MAY HAVE A BASIS FOR VOTING AGAINST THIS AMENDMENT. SURE. AS MY AMENDMENT IS ALREADY WRITTEN, WE HAVE HEARD FROM LEGAL THAT IT IS NOT AN EXPANSION OF THE MANDATE. I HAVE ALSO SPOKEN IN SUPPORT OF THAT AMENDMENT STATING CLEARLY TO HELP TO CLARIFY AS WELL THAT [05:40:01] THIS TASK FORCE WOULD BE MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE END ABOUT BOND FUNDING. I, IN LOOKING AT THE WORDING OF THE AMENDMENT AS WRITTEN, IF WE NEED FURTHER CLARIFICATION WITHIN THAT AMENDMENT, I SEE AN OPPORTUNITY TO INSERT THE WORD BOND IN ONE SPOT. IT'S A VERY SIMPLE ADDITIONAL WORD, WHICH IS ALSO NOT NECESSARY ACCORDING TO WHAT WE HEARD FROM LAW. AND THAT'S WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST WE DO THE SIMPLEST PATH. ALRIGHT, I'M GONNA RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER TO CLOSE ON HIS MOTION TO AMEND AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO MOVE THROUGH THIS. I'LL TRY TO BE QUICK HERE, BUT I JUST WANT TO US TO GO DOWN THE, THE, THE PRACTICALITY OF THESE TWO. 'CAUSE THERE, THERE REALLY ARE TWO VERY DIFFERENT PATHS UNDER THE ITEM AS IT IS ORIGINALLY WRITTEN. WE WOULD HAVE THE MANAGER COME UP WITH THE FINANCING PLAN, HE WOULD GIVE THAT TO US, AND WE WOULD THEN USE THAT INFORMATION UNDER THE CURRENT AMENDMENT, IF NOT AMENDED. THAT INFORMATION THAT THE MANAGER COMES UP WITH DOESN'T COME TO US. IT GOES TO THE BOND ADVISORY TASK FORCE. THEY THEN ARE APPARENTLY SUPPOSED TO CONSIDER THAT INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO FUND CAPS AND STITCHES WITHOUT BONDS, BUT WITHOUT THE AUTHORITY TO ACT ON THAT INFORMATION, IT, IT, IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE UNLESS WE ARE GIVING THEM THE INFORMATION TO THINK ABOUT. BUT WHY WOULD THAT INFORMATION NOT COME TO THE COUNCIL FOR US TO CONSIDER INSTEAD OF HAVING WHAT IS PROPOSED HERE TO SEND IT TO THE TASK FORCE. SO WITH THAT, I WOULD, UM, CLOSE AND URGE ADOPTION OF THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT. THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION. THE VOTE IS ON THE ALTER MOTION TO AMEND LANE AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? UH, RAISE YOUR HAND. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, RAISE YOUR HAND. I SHOULDN'T. COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, HOW ARE YOU VOTING ON THE ALTER MOTION TO AMEND, UH, LANE AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE IN FAVOR, MR. MAYOR? THANK YOU. THERE BEING FOUR YESES. I'M SORRY. FIVE YESES AND SIX NOS. THE FIVE YESES ARE AVE VELAZQUEZ ALTAR, UH, CADRE, AND THE, UH, HARPER MADISON. FIVE YESES AND SIX NOS. UH, THE MOTION TO AMEND FAILS. NOW WE WILL GO BACK TO THE LANE AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE. I'LL ASK IF YOU WANNA CLOSE. I'M HAPPY TO CLOSE. I THINK THAT WE SHOULD CLOSE THE CHAPTER ON THIS. UM, ACCEPT MY PROPOSED AMENDMENT ON THE STRENGTH OF THE ADVICE GIVEN BY THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AS IS. UM, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. UM, YOU'VE HEARD THE CLOSE ON THE, AND THIS, THE VOTE WILL BE ON LANE AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER 1 0 5. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, UH, INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND FAVOR, AMENDMENT IN FAVOR OF HER AMENDMENT. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, RAISE YOUR HAND. COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER. MADISON, HOW ARE YOU VOTING? I'M GONNA ABSTAIN FROM THE VOTE. MR. MAYOR, THERE BEING FIVE VOTES IN FAVOR AND FIVE VOTES OPPOSED WITH ONE ABSTENTION. THE MOTION TO AMEND FAILS. THAT WILL TAKE US BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION. UM, LEMME READ THE, THE VOTE. THE VOTES IN FAVOR ARE, UH, SO THE, FOR THE RECORD PURPOSES, LANE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, LANE MAYOR, PRO TEM COUNCIL MEMBERS UCHIN SIEGEL AND ELLIS, WE NOW GO BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION. UH, THE MAIN MOTION IS THE MOTION THAT WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER ON ITEM 1 0 5. COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, YOU WISH TO BE RECOGNIZED. THAT WAS A COUPLE MINUTES AGO. MAYOR, YOU CAN KEEP GOING. I'M SORRY. OKAY. THANK YOU. UM, [05:45:02] ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE MAIN MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MAIN MOTION? RAISE YOUR HAND. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, I'M GONNA ABSTAIN ON THIS ONE. OKAY. HANG ON A SECOND, THEN I'D LIKE TO SPEAK. OKAY. UM, I THOUGHT I'D JUST ASK FOR THAT. SO, UM, HANG ON BEFORE I COUNT VOTES, THEN IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO SPEAK ON IT. MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER CERTAINLY PUTTING TOGETHER A PLAN OF HOW WE'RE GONNA FINANCE THE, THE DECKS FOR OUR CAPS IS IMPORTANT. I JUST, ANY, THERE'S AN ATTEMPT HERE MADE TO INCLUDE COMMUNITY INPUT. I SUPPORT COMMUNITY INPUT. IT'S PART OF LOCAL GOVERNANCE AND A VALUE THAT I HAVE AS A LOCAL POLICYMAKER BECAUSE THAT AMENDMENT BY CUSTOMER LANE WAS NOT ADOPTED BY THE FULL BIAS. UNFORTUNATELY, I CANNOT SUPPORT THE ITEM OVERALL, BUT MY REASONING FOR NOT SUPPORTING IT IS BECAUSE WE MISSED AN OPPORTUNITY TO INCLUDE AN IMPORTANT ADVISORY BOARD IN THE PROCESS. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I JUST WANT TO ADD THAT, UM, ANYTHING THAT IS PRESENTED TO THE B-E-A-T-F IS A PUBLIC DOCUMENT IMMEDIATELY. THEY HAVE A WEBSITE WITH ALL THE, THE BRIEFINGS. SO, UM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM WITH PRESENTING SOMETHING TO THE B-E-A-T-F WOULD BE. YES, YOU CAN CLOSE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, HEAR THAT. AND I WOULD ASK JUST THE MANAGER IF HE WOULD, WHEN HE COMES BACK TO THE COUNCIL WITH THIS, MAYBE WE COULD HAVE IT AT A WORK SESSION SO THAT THE PUBLIC WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN AND, AND HEAR ABOUT IT. THAT WOULD BE MY ONLY REQUEST AND I MOVE ADOPTION. ALL RIGHT, THE MAIN FOLKS, WE'RE NOW VOTING ON THE MAIN MOTION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MAIN MOTION, WHICH IS, UH, TO, TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 1 0 5 WITH NO AMENDMENT. RAISE YOUR HAND. COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MEDICINE. I'M GONNA ASK YOU HOW YOU'RE VOTING. YOU'RE VOTING IN FAVOR. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, RAISE YOUR HAND. COUNCIL MEMBER ABSTAIN. COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS AND UCHIN ARE ABSTAINING. THERE BEING SIX VOTES IN FAVOR. THREE OPPOSED. AND TWO ABSTENTIONS. THE MOTION IS ADOPTED FOR THE RECORD. THOSE IN FAVOR ARE VELA VELAZQUEZ, ALTER LANE CADRE AND HARPER MADISON. ALRIGHT, THAT CONCLUDES ITEM 1 0 5. UM, MEMBERS, HANG ON A SECOND. LET ME GET BACK TO MY NOTES. MEMBERS, UH, THE ORDER WE'RE GONNA GO IN WILL BE AFTER WE TAKE UP ONE QUICK ITEM. WE'LL GO 68 69 AND THEN TO OUR ZONING MEMBERS. COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON WAS BRIEFLY OFF THE DIOCESE ON ITEM NUMBER 65 WHEN WE VOTED ON THAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO BE SHOWN VOTING IN FAVOR OF ITEM NUMBER 65. HER BEING SHOWN VOTING IN FAVOR OF ITEM 65 DOES NOT CHANGE THE OUTCOME OF THAT VOTE. UH, I WOULD MOVE THAT SHE BE SHOWN VOTING IN FAVOR. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? WITHOUT OBJECTION. COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON WILL BE SHOWN VOTING IN FAVOR OF ITEM NUMBER 65. [68. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance amending the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan to include the North Lamar Transit Center Station Area Vision Plan. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.] UH, THAT WILL NOW TAKE US TO ITEM NUMBER 68 MEMBERS. ITEM NUMBER 68 IS A PUBLIC HEARING WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 68. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN. AND I GUESS, UH, I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK. ITEM 68. UH, WE HAVE BETSY GREENBERG. PLEASE CALL SEVERAL NAMES SO IF THEY'RE HERE, THEY CAN MOVE FORWARD. WE HAVE BETSY GREENBERG FIRST, AND THEN ON DECK WE HAVE BRAD MESSING, JENNY GRAYSON AND MONICA GUZMAN, PLEASE COME FORWARD IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED. GREAT. MY NAME IS BETSY GREENBERG. I LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE AND I TOOK THE BUS TO GET HERE TODAY. OH, I'M SUPPOSED TO DO THE SLIDES. CAP METRO WAS AWARDED $3.15 MILLION FROM THE FDA TO PRODUCE AN EQUITABLE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT STUDY FOR AUSTIN. THE STUDY RESULTED IN COLORFUL DOCUMENTS AND PRETTY PICTURES. HERE IS A NICE GRAPHIC THAT ILLUSTRATES THE EOG GOALS. I ONLY HAVE TIME TO TALK ABOUT GOAL ONE AND GOAL THREE [05:50:01] TODAY. GOAL ONE IS TO ENABLE ALL RESIDENTS, UM, FROM SAFE, FOR SAFE, SUSTAINABLE, AND ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORTATION. THE NORTH LAMAR TRANSIT STATION VISION PLAN SHOWS THAT ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION REQUIRES RESIDENTS TO CROSS US 180 3 OR NORTH LAMAR. THIS DANGEROUS PLAN FAILS TO PROVIDE SAFE, SUSTAINABLE, OR ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORTATION. THE PLAN DOES NOT IMPROVE ACCESS TO NORTH LAMAR TRANSIT CENTER, FOR EXAMPLE, WITH A SEPARATE BICYCLE OR PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE. THE STATION IS ALSO NO LONGER ALIGNED WITH AUSTIN SLIGHT RAIL PLANS. GOAL THREE IS TO PRESERVE AND INCREASE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE AFFORDABLE AND ATTAINABLE. INSTEAD, THE LAND USE PLAN REPLACES INCOME RESTRICTED HOUSING WITH HIGH DENSITY MIXED USE, INCLUDING THIS CHANGE TO IMAGINE AUSTIN IS A PREREQUISITE STEP TO CHANGING THE ZONING, WHICH WILL ENCOURAGE THE LOSS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND TRANSIT DEPENDENT AUSTIN RESIDENTS WHO LIVE IN THIS AREA. EO STANDS FOR EQUITABLE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT. FAILING TO PROTECT INCOME RESTRICTED HOUSING IS NOT EQUITABLE. THE PROJECT CONNECT ALIGNMENT NO LONGER INCLUDES LIGHT RAIL FOR THIS STATION. AND THERE ARE NO TRANSIT ORIENTED IMPROVEMENTS. THE ONLY LETTER IN E TODD THAT SEEMS TO APPLY HERE IS DI CAN'T DECIDE WHETHER THE D STANDS FOR DEVELOPMENT OR DISPLACEMENT. PLEASE VOTE NO. IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM. I THINK Y'ALL CALLED MY NAME. UH, UM, BRAD MASSENGILL FROM DISTRICT THREE, UM, 68 AND 69. BOTH THESE ITEMS, UH, I I URGE Y'ALL TO POSTPONE THESE, UH, THIS AFTER, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE DISCUSSION WE HAD ABOUT THE WHOLE CAPTAIN STITCH THING. IT'S SEEMS LIKE THROWING MORE GOOD MONEY AWAY, UH, AFTER, AFTER BAD. THE, UH, JUST DRAWING A, A CIRCLE AROUND THE TRANSIT CENTER AND SAYING THAT'S 15 MINUTE WALK IS, IS NOT VERY SCIENTIFIC TO SAY THE LEAST. AND, UH, IT'S, IT'S BOTH OF THOSE LOCATIONS, THE SORT SOUTH AND THE NORTH ONE ARE SUPER DANGEROUS. I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF Y'ALL RIDE BUSES OR ARE PEDESTRIANS AT ALL. I, I KIND OF DOUBT IT, BUT, UH, YOU'RE TAKING YOUR LIFE IN YOUR OWN HANDS, UH, IN EITHER OF THOSE, EITHER OF THOSE LOCATIONS. UM, I DID A QUICK GOOGLE MAP SEARCH ON SOME OF THE ADDRESSES THAT ARE IN THE SOUTH, UH, TRANSIT, UH, PLAN. AND, UH, THEY'RE, THEY'RE NOT 15 MINUTES, THEY'RE MORE LIKE 19 MINUTES ON A, ON A GOOD WALK WITHOUT A BUNCH OF TRAFFIC. SO I, I DON'T THINK THIS IS VERY WELL CALIBRATED. THANKS. OKAY. I MISS MONICA GUZMAN HAD TIME DONATED BY ALEXANDRIA ANDERSON. ARE THEY BOTH HERE? I DON'T, I DON'T SEE MS. GUZMAN. MS. GUZMAN, ARE YOU HERE? OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER ON ITEM 68 IS NOIA JOSEPH. ALL SPEAKERS FOR ITEM 68 HAVE BEEN CALLED UP. OH MM-HMM . OKAY. THANK YOU MAYOR COUNSEL, I'M ENOVIA JOSEPH. I APPRECIATE THE PREVIOUS SPEAKERS. I JUST WANTED TO REMIND YOU OF WHAT NORTH LAMAR LOOKS LIKE. THIS IS IN THE AREA OF DISTRICT SEVEN. MIKE SIEGEL IS AWARE. I JUST WANNA REMIND YOU, AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE STAR ON THE RIGHT HAND SITE SPECIFICALLY, THERE WAS $1.3 MILLION ALLOCATED FOR CIRCLE C, BUT THEY DON'T LIKE THE TWO LANE BIKES THAT ARE THERE. SO A CAR KXAN, APRIL 18TH, 2025, YOU'RE GONNA NOW ALLOCATE $80,000 MORE TO REMOVE THOSE BIKE LANES. THAT MONEY COULD BE USED FOR SAFETY. I WANNA REMIND YOU OF THE 2016 PLAN. THAT WAS VISION ZERO. I WANNA REMIND YOU OF ROAD TO ZERO T DOT. THIS IS T DOTS RIDE AWAY AT THE BOTTOM. HOWEVER YOU'VE SEEN THIS PICTURE BEFORE. THIS IS 46TH STREET, DON'T LEAVE. NOW, [05:55:01] 46TH STREET SPECIFICALLY HAS TWO PEDESTRIAN HYBRID BEACONS. IT'S NOWHERE NEAR AS WIDE AS NORTH LAMAR. I'M NOT SURE IF THERE'S A NE NEXT SLIDE. YES, THERE IS. NEXT SLIDE. I JUST WANNA REMIND YOU, NOT YOUR ORDINARY SCHOOL IS WHERE THAT ARROW IS POINTING. THIS IS THE PATH THAT STUDENTS HAVE TO TAKE AND WALK ALONG THIS DANGEROUS ROADWAY IN 2020. IT WAS ESTIMATED TO BE ABOUT 37,000 VEHICLES PER DAY ON NORTH LAMAR. I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER AS WELL. ON MAY 7TH, 2019, STEVIE GREATHOUSE ACTUALLY BRIEFED COUNCIL. AND COUNCIL DECIDED THAT THEY WOULD ACTUALLY POSTPONE INDEFINITELY SMALL AREA PLANNING FROM NORTH LAMAR TRANSIT CENTER ALL THE WAY TO TECH RIDGE PARK AND RIDE. AND ON MAY 9TH, 2019, COUNCIL ACTUALLY VOTED. SO THEY DISCUSSED IT ON THE, DURING THE WORK SESSION AND THEN THEY VOTED. I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER WHAT BETSY GREENBERG JUST SAID. IT WAS 24 TO 30 YEARS FOR THE RAIL. AND I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER AS WELL, SPECIFICALLY MAYOR, YOU WERE A SENATOR THEN. IT TOOK ABOUT 30 YEARS TO GET A SIDEWALK FROM NORTH LAMORE TRANSIT CENTER TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ACROSS THE STREET. I CANNOT EMPHASIZE ENOUGH. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GO. THANK YOU. IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED FOR ITEM 68, MAYOR, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY FORWARD. MAYOR. YES. COUNCILMAN MORALES QUICKLY. 'CAUSE IT DOES LOOK LIKE MS. GUZMAN IS HERE. I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY. UM, THE SPEAKER TALKED ABOUT THE CIRCLE C NORTH BIKE LANES. WE HAD TRIED TO GET THE NEWS TO CHANGE THE HEADLINE. THEY'RE JUST BEING ADJUSTED. THEY'RE NOT BEING REMOVED. SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE, EVEN THOUGH WE TRIED TO CORRECT THAT, UM, THAT I CORRECTED IT NOW. THANK YOU MS. GUZMAN. OKAY, MS. MS. GUZMAN HAS TWO MINUTES DONATED BY ALEXANDRIA, AND SO SHE'LL HAVE FOUR MINUTES. OKAY, I, OOH, SORRY ABOUT THAT. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M MONICA GUZMAN, POLICY DIRECTOR AT GAVA. GO AUSTIN. VAMOS AUSTIN. SEVERAL HAVE SPOKEN ON THIS. AND ITEM 69. BOTH TRANSIT CENTERS ARE IN GAVA ZIP CODES AND BOTH WITH THOUSANDS OF LOW INCOME RESIDENTS AT RISK OF AN INCREASE OF THEIR RENT OR MORTGAGE PROPERTY TAX COST BURDEN. THIS IS DUE TO AN INCREASING LACK OF DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR HOUSING INSTABILITY LEADING TO DISPLACEMENT OR EVEN HOMELESSNESS PLANNING. STAFF HAS BEEN PROMOTING THE TRANSIT CENTER EAD STATIONARY PLANS AS COMMUNITY DRIVEN, YET NO EVIDENCE HAS BEEN PROVIDED OF DIRECTLY IMPACTED RESIDENTS RESPONDING TO SURVEYS AND OR PARTICIPATING IN THE OPEN HOUSES AND COMMUNITY MEETINGS. AS A MATTER OF FACT, AT THE APRIL 24TH, AH, PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARINGS, THE RESIDENTS SPEAKING THAT NIGHT WERE ALL OPPOSED TO THE VISION PLANS. GABA'S EASTERN CRESCENT ALLIES AND SUPPORTERS IN DISTRICT ONE WHO ARE AT LEAST TWO MILES FROM THE NORTH LAMAR TRANSIT CENTER ARE EXPRESSING THEIR CONCERNS SAYING TO THE CITY, QUOTE, YOU DO NOT HAVE A PLAN. IF YOU HAVE A PLAN, PLEASE SHARE IT. WHAT IS YOUR GOAL? THE STATIONARY VISION PLANS STATE EQUITABLE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT MAXIMIZES PUBLIC TRANSIT ACCESSIBILITY SUPPORTS TRANSIT RIDERSHIP AND ENSURES THAT THE TRANSIT SYSTEM SERVES EXISTING, EXISTING COMMUNITY MEMBERS. IN PARTICULAR, THOSE WHO ARE VULNERABLE TO DISPLACEMENT. EQUI EQUITABLE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT, EQUITABLE, IN NAME ONLY SPECULATION, HAS BEEN PERVERTING OUR MARKET FOR YEARS. THIS IS MASSIVE TRANSIT UPZONING WITH NO SPECIFIC TRANSIT IMPROVEMENTS. WE NEED TO SERVE THE PEOPLE WHO USE TRANSIT NOW ON EAD GOALS. NUMBER THREE IS TO PRESERVE AND INCREASE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE AFFORDABLE AND ATTAINABLE. USE OF A DENSITY BONUS DOES NOT ENSURE DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND WE DON'T NEED MORE EMPTY BUILDINGS THAT COST TOO MUCH. WE NEED YOUR LEADERSHIP TO PRESERVE EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT WE HAVE NOW AND CANNOT GET BACK. THERE IS A WAY TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE EXISTING AFFORDABLE PROPERTIES. AND THAT WILL HAPPEN ONLY IF YOU, THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL LEAD THE WAY. WE URGE YOU TO SLOW DOWN THE PROCESS, WORK WITH THE DIRECTLY IMPACTED COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO ENSURE THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS A PLAN INFORMED BY THE DIRECTLY IMPACTED AND INCLUDES AN EQUITY ANTI DISPLACEMENT OVERLAY. THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES ALL SPEAKERS ON ITEM 68 MEMBERS. THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 68. SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 68 AND THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED. UH, THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER 68. MOTION IS MADE [06:00:01] BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 68. IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, A DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER 68. YES, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA, APPRECIATE ALL OF THE STAFF'S, UH, HARD WORK ON THIS ITEM AND, UH, APPRECIATE THE, THE NEW VISION FOR THE NORTH LAMAR AREA. UH, PARTICULARLY THE FOCUS ON GETTING THOSE, UH, MOBILITY CONNECTIONS. UH, THERE'S TOO MANY LARGE PROPERTIES WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO CROSS THROUGH. UH, AND I THINK THIS IS A GOOD STEP FORWARD IN THE, IN THE PLANNING PROCESS. LOOK FORWARD TO IMPLEMENTING IT AS AS TIME GOES BY. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. UH, THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION. JUST BRIEFLY. I'M SORRY. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, UH, I ALSO WANNA THANK STAFF FOR THEIR WORK AND ALSO COUNCIL MEMBER VALE'S OFFICE FOR REALLY LEADING ON THIS. UH, SORRY YOU COULDN'T HEAR, SEE MY LITTLE HAND. UM, ANYWAY, UH, ALSO I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE IMPLEMENTATION PHASE IS GONNA BE KEY. THERE NEEDS TO BE A LOT OF COLLABORATION BETWEEN PLANNING, UH, TRANSPORTATION, PUBLIC WORKS, AND CAP METRO. BUT THE WAY I SEE IT, THIS IS A PROJECT THAT CAN UNITE D FOUR AND D SEVEN ALLOW FOR A LOT OF MOBILITY CONNECTIONS, UH, BETWEEN SOUTH ONE THREE AND NORTH OF 1 8 3. UH, IT WOULD CREATE NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING BUILT BY CAP METRO AND ENCOURAGE A LOT OF INVESTMENT AND IMPROVEMENTS IN, IN THIS, UH, PART OF TOWN. SO I'M ENCOURAGED ABOUT THIS ITEM. GREAT. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER. ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO BE HEARD THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER 68. WITHOUT OBJECTION, ITEM NUMBER 68 IS ADOPTED. [69. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance amending the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan to include the South Congress Transit Center Station Area Vision Plan. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.] THAT WILL TAKE US TO ITEM NUMBER 69, WHICH IS ALSO A PUBLIC HEARING WITHOUT OBJECTION. WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 69. AND THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN. I WILL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK. UM, FOR ITEM 69, WE HAVE CARMEN YEZ, BETSY GREENBERG, JULIA BROOKINS. BRAD MASSING. OKAY. MY NAME IS BETSY GREENBERG. I LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE AND A LOT OF WHAT I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE SOUTH CONGRESS TRANSIT STATION IS THE SAME AS WHAT I SAID ABOUT THE NORTH LAMAR TRANSIT STATION. SO I'LL SKIP A FEW SLIDES AND REMIND YOU THAT GOAL ONE IS TO ENABLE ALL RESIDENTS TO BENEFIT FROM SAFE, SUSTAINABLE, AND ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORTATION. UM, THE SOUTH CONGRESS TRANSIT STATION VISION PLAN SHOWS THAT ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION REQUIRES RESIDENTS TO CROSS US TWO 90 OR BEN WHITE BOULEVARD. THIS DANGEROUS PLAN FAILS TO PROVIDE SAFE, SUSTAINABLE, OR ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORTATION. DRAWING A HALF MILE CIRCLE AROUND A STATION DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE AS THE ONLY RESIDENTS WHO WILL WANNA WALK HERE ARE THOSE WHO HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE. THIS PLAN LACKS ADDITIONAL EAST, WEST AND NORTH SOUTH MULTIMODAL CONNE CONNECTIONS WITHIN THE SOUTH CONGRESS STATION AREA AND SURROUNDING AREAS LIKE THE NORTH LAMAR TRANSIT STATION PLAN. THIS LAND USE PLAN ALSO REPLACES INCOME RESTRICTED HOUSING WITH HIGH DENSITY MISUSE. THIS CHANGE TO IMAGINE AUSTIN AS A PREREQUISITE STEP FOR CHANGING THE ZONING, WHICH WILL ENCOURAGE THE LOSS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND DISPLACE AUSTIN RESIDENTS WHO NEED TRANSIT. THIS IS ANOTHER NICE GRAPHIC COMING UP. UM, IT'S MY FAVORITE REALLY, UM, WHERE IT SHOWS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRADITIONAL TODS AND EQUITABLE TODS TRADITIONAL TO D IS WELL KNOWN TO CAUSE GENTRIFICATION AND DISPLACEMENT. EQUITABLE TO D IS SUPPOSED TO AVOID THESE PROBLEMS. MY FAVORITE PART OF THE GRAPHIC IS THAT THE MIDDLE SECTION SAYS, DO NO HARM. THESE PLANS DON'T DESERVE TO BE CALLED EQUITABLE. PLEASE POSTPONE THE SOUTH CONGRESS TRANSIT CENTER STATION AREA VISION PLAN AND ASSOCIATED NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AMENDMENTS DEMAND THAT STAFF PROVIDE A PLAN CONSISTENT WITH EQUITABLE TOD GOALS. THANK YOU. IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM. HELLO, MY NAME IS JULIA BROOKINS. I'M A RESIDENT OF THE DAWSON NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE I LIVE ALONG EAST BOLDEN CREEK. UH, I'M SPEAKING TODAY FOR MYSELF AND I HAVE TWO MAIN POINTS. I DON'T HAVE A GENERAL ISSUE WITH THE VISION PLAN, BUT I DO HAVE TWO SPECIFIC THINGS I WOULD, UH, PREFER BE CHANGED. ONE IS ABOUT THE ALPINE ROAD EXTENDED DETENTION POND, AND THE OTHER IS ABOUT THE EXTENT OF THE VISION PLAN AREA CHANGES. FIRST, I ASK YOU TO LEAVE THE TWO CITY PARCELS THAT CONSTITUTE THE ALPINE ROAD RETENTION POND AS PART OF THE DAWSON NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN. THE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS SURROUNDING AND DOWNSTREAM FROM THESE PARCELS IS THE MOST APPROPRIATE CONTEXT FOR FUTURE DECISIONS ABOUT THE LAND USE. THE POND WAS CREATED IN 1995 AND OWNED BY THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT. IT HAS A CAPACITY OF 470,000 CUBIC FOOT. IT, UH, PROVIDES [06:05:01] A VITAL FUNCTION IN MAINTAINING WATER QUALITY IN EAST BOLDEN CREEK. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING SOME FLOOD CONTROL, THE POND FILTERS TO RUN OFF FROM THE HIGHWAY. I'VE COMMUNICATED WITH THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT ABOUT IT. THEY WERE VERY HELPFUL AND, UH, THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT DEMI DECOMMISSION IT WITHOUT REPLACING IT. ANYWAY, IT SEEMS THE ORIGINAL PARCEL INFORMATION USED IN DEVELOPING THE DIVISION PLAN MIGHT NOT HAVE REFLECTED THE POND'S EXISTENCE AND ITS WATER QUALITY FUNCTION. REMOVING IT FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AND PRETENDING IT HAS A FUTURE AS TOD MIXED USE WOULD BE MISLEADING AND COMPROMISES THE QUALITY OF THE OVERALL VISION PLAN. IN ADDITION, ALTHOUGH SMALL, IT IS ONE OF THE FEW REMAINING OPEN SPACES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, IT'S AT THE NORTHERN EDGE OF THE HALF MILE RADIUS. IN FACT, ONE OF THE PARCELS IS ENTIRELY OUTSIDE THE HALF MILE RADIUS. AND REMOVING IT FROM THE VISION PLAN WOULD NOT RESULT IN A SWISS CHEESE EFFECT, WHICH I GUESS IS FEARED BY PLANNING PEOPLE. UM, FOR ALL THESE REASON, I ASK COUNSEL NOT TO CHANGE THE FUTURE LAND USE DESIGNATION FOR THE TWO PARCELS THAT CONSTITUTE THE ALPINE ROAD RETENTION POND. SECOND, I FURTHER URGED COUNSEL TO HEED THE ADVICE OF CITY PLANNING STAFF AND REJECT THE PLANNING COMMISSIONS. THANK, THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON COUNSEL. WHAT AN EXCITING DAY. I'M CARMEN JANNIS. I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE. I'M ALSO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF GO AUSTIN VAMOS AUSTIN. AND THIS IS ONE OF MANY INSTANCES WHERE YOU ALL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT YOUR MUNICIPAL POWER AND ALL OF THE RESOURCES IN FRONT OF YOU AND SAY, UH, AS COUNCIL MEMBER QUADRY, PUT IT EARLIER, WHAT DO YOU WANT YOUR LEGACY TO BE? RIGHT? THIS PLAN WORKS ON A WHITEBOARD WITH NO REAL PLANNING, WITH NO CONSIDERATION OF THE PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL LIMITATIONS, WITH NO CONSIDERATION OF PRESERVING THE EXISTING ASSETS AND VALUABLE ELEMENTS THAT YOU CANNOT BUILD BACK. BUT LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRIVATE EQUITY TO MAKE PROFIT PLANNING MULTIPLE 120, 90 FOOT BUILDINGS. AND THIS TOUCHES ON NOT JUST THE EAD, BUT ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT POLICIES THAT MANY OF WHICH YOU ALL ARE TOUCHING ON. NOW, DOING THAT WITH NO COMMUNITY BENEFIT IS A SUBSIDY TO PRIVATE EQUITY AT A TIME THAT WE DESPERATELY NEED REAL TRANSIT AND REAL HOUSING. I WANNA POINT TO YOUR PREVIOUS E TODD VOTES, WHICH FOR COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, COUNCIL MEMBER LANE COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN, THIS WASN'T YOUR POLICY, IT WAS THE PREVIOUS COUNCILS. A THIRD OF THAT ACREAGE WAS APARTMENTS, MF ONE, MF TWO, MF THREE, THE MOST AFFORDABLE, DENSE, DIVERSE HOUSING WITH THE PEOPLE YOU ALL CLAIM TO CARE ABOUT IN YOUR PROGRESSIVE VALUES. YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THIS A LOT BETTER, TO DO IT RIGHT, TO PLAN, TO LEVERAGE, TO INVEST OUR DOLLARS IN WAYS THAT MAKE MONEY FOR LOTS OF PEOPLE AND ACTUALLY HOUSE AND PROVIDE THE SERVICES AND BENEFITS THAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE REPRESENTING US TO GET NOT JUST A FEW PEOPLE IN THE CASINO OF REAL ESTATE. TO QUOTE MY COLLEAGUE, MS. GUZMAN EARLIER, SHE SAID, WE NEED YOUR LEADERSHIP. AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE NEED RIGHT NOW. AS COUNCIL MEMBER CAUDRY MENTIONED, YOU'RE NOT THE COUNCIL OF 1928, YOU'RE NOT THE COUNCIL OF 1962. THE COUNCIL OF THANK. THANK YOU MS. JANNIS. WHAT WILL THANK YOU. AFTER MR. MESSING, WE WILL HAVE JENNY GRAYSON AND MONICA GUZMAN ON ITEM 69. UM, UH, I WISH, UH, MARIO KTU IS HERE TODAY. I AM SURE HE'S OFF WORKING WITH MANY PEOPLE CAN'T BE HERE. HE'S OUR SOUTH CONGRESS COMBINED AREA CONTACT TEAM LEADER. AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS, UH, PROPOSED CHANGE TO THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP. AND THERE'S SO MANY IMPLICATIONS. UM, EASILY HALF OF WHAT'S IN THE, THE PROPOSED AREA IS PERFECT FOR WHAT Y'ALL ARE TALKING ABOUT, BUT THE OTHER HALF IS TOTALLY PROBLEMATIC IN AS, IN AS MUCH AS THERE'S A LOT OF AFFORDABLE OLDER HOUSES, WILLIAMSON CREEK. AND THERE'S ALSO THE FACT THAT BETWEEN THIS, THE DB NINETIES, THE DEVELOPMENT CORRIDOR ALONG SOUTH CONGRESS AND SOUTH FIRST, THIS SOUTH, UH, CONGRESS COMBINED CONTACT AREA IS BEING CARVED UP INTO THIS LITTLE BITTY THING THAT IT'S A SHADOW OF ITS FORMER SELF. I FEEL LIKE Y'ALL ARE ROBBING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS OF THEIR VOICE AND FRANKLY COLONIZING, UH, NEIGHBORHOODS ALL OVER TOWN WITH THESE BIG PROJECTS. AND, AND I I THINK THAT Y'ALL REALLY NEED TO BACK OFF ON THIS AND NOT START SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY AND GETTING AHEAD OF YOURSELVES WITH A PROJECT. THAT'S FRANKLY WHAT MON MONICA AND, UH, CARMEN WERE SAYING THAT IT'S, IT'S A HANDOUT FOR PEOPLE WHO ALREADY [06:10:01] HAVE STUFF. YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T NEED ANY MORE HELP. THEY DON'T NEED A A A A, A LEG UP THAT THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN DO. THE POOR PEOPLE THAT LIVE AROUND, THEY'RE NOT, THEY'RE NOT JUST POOR PEOPLE. THEY'RE POOR WORKING PEOPLE. PEOPLE THAT HAVE MULTIPLE JOBS AND ARE JUST BARELY MAKING IT. AND THIS IS THE TYPE OF THING THAT JUST DISRUPTS PEOPLE'S LIVES ENTIRELY FOR NO GOOD REASON. THEY'RE ALREADY WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF THE BUS STATION. IT'S NOT GONNA BENEFIT A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE. AND TO THINK THAT YOU'RE JUST GONNA PILE A BUNCH MORE PEOPLE, IT'S, IT'S DOING NOTHING FOR URBAN SPRAWL OR JUST INVITING MORE PEOPLE INTO THE URBAN CORE. SO POSTPONED AND MONICA GUZMAN HAD TWO MINUTES DONATED BY ALEXANDRIA ANDERSON. OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE APPRECIATE THAT. THAT CONCLUDES SPEAKERS ON ITEM 69 MEMBERS. THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP AT THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM NUMBER 69. UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 69 AND THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED. THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER 69. COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ MOVES APPROVAL OF THE ORDINANCE. IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS. DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER 69. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF ITEM NUMBER 69. UH, WELL, I'LL DO IT THIS WAY WITHOUT OBJECTION. ITEM NUMBER 69 IS ADOPTED. COUNCIL MEMBER DDU WILL BE SHOWN VOTING ABSTAINING. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, SIEGEL AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER TEMPORARILY OFF. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTERS THERE. SO COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, TEMPORARILY OFF THE DAAS. ITEM NUMBER 69 IS ADOPTED. COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN, AGAIN, BEING SHOWN ABSTAINING AND COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL OFF THE DAAS. ALRIGHT, MEMBERS THAT [2:00 PM - Zoning and Neighborhood Plan Amendments (Public Hearings and Possible Action)] WILL TAKE US NOW TO OUR ZONING AND NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AMENDMENTS AND I'LL LET YOU, I I'LL LET YOU START, BUT, BUT SHE'S GONNA GIVE US THE CONSENT AGENDA. ITEM NUMBER 70, UH, IS GOING TO BE PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA. SO WE WILL TAKE UP THE CONSENT AGENDA FIRST AND THEN, AND GO TO ITEM NUMBER 70 UNLESS, UH, SOMETHING'S CHANGED, RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY, UHHUH. THAT'S CORRECT. ALRIGHT, AND IT'S ALL YOURS. OKAY. YOU HAVE THE MICROPHONE. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNSEL. I'M JOY HARDEN WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT. YOUR ZONING AGENDA BEGINS WITH ITEM NUMBER 70, C1 4 20 24 0 180 1. THIS ITEM IS OFFERED FOR DISCUSSION. ITEM 71 IS C 1 4 20 24 0 1 5 1. THIS ITEM IS OFFERED AS A NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR JUNE 5TH COUNCIL MEETING. ITEM 72 IS C 1 4 20 24 180 7. THIS ITEM'S OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS. ITEM 73 IS NPA 20 23 0 0 1 7 0.01. THIS ITEM'S OFFERED FOR CONSENT, SECOND AND THIRD READINGS. UM, THE RELATED REZONING IS ITEM 74 C 4 20 23 8. AGAIN, THIS ITEM'S OFFERED FOR CONSENT, SECOND AND THIRD READINGS. ITEM 75 IS C 4 20 25 3. THIS ITEM'S OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS. ITEM 76 IS C 4 20 24 0 7 5. THIS ITEM'S OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS. ITEM 77 IS NPA 20 25 0 0 0 2 0.01. THIS SAME'S OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS. THE RELATED REZONING IS ITEM NUMBER 78 C 1 4 20 25 0 0 1 9. AGAIN, THIS IS I AGAIN, THIS ITEM'S OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS. ITEM 79 IS C 1 4 20 24 0 1 7 4. THIS ITEM IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS. ITEM 80 IS NPA 20 24 0 0 2 3 0.01. THIS ITEM IS OFFERED FOR POSTPONEMENT BY COUNCIL MEMBER BAYLA TO YOUR JULY 24TH COUNCIL MEETING. THE RELATED REZONING IS ITEM NUMBER 81 C 1 4 20 24 0 1 8 0. AGAIN, THIS IS OFFERED AS A POSTPONEMENT REQUEST BY COUNCIL MEMBER BAYLA TO YOUR JULY 24TH COUNCIL MEETING. ITEM NUMBER 82 IS C 8 1 14 20 23 0 0 5 7. THIS ITEM OFFERED AS A STAFF POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR JUNE 5TH COUNCIL MEETING. ITEM 83 IS C 1 4 2 25 0 0 1 3. THIS ITEM IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS. ITEM 84 C 1 4 20 24 0 1 55. THE SAME IS OFFERED AS A NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR JUNE 5TH COUNCIL MEETING. ITEM 85 BEGINS THE NINE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AMENDMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE NORTH LAMAR AND SOUTH CONGRESS TRANSIT CENTER [06:15:01] STATION AREA PLANS. THESE ITEMS WERE ALSO RELATED TO ITEM 68 AND 69. SO ITEM NUMBER 85 IS NPA 20 25 0 0 0 7 0.01. THE ITEMS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS. ITEM 86 IS NM PA 20 25 0 0 1 7 0.01. THE ITEMS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS. ITEM 87 IS NPA 20 25 0 0 1 7 0.02. THE SAMES OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS. ITEM 88 IS NPA 2 25 0 0 1 8 0.01. THE SAMES OFFER FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS. ITEM NUMBER 89 IS NPA 22 5 0 0 2 6 0.01. THIS ITEMS IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS. ITEM 90 IS NPA 20 25 0 0 0 1 0.01. THIS ITEMS IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS. ITEM 91 IS NPA 20 25 0 0 2 0 0.01. THIS ITEMS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS. ITEM 92 IS NPA 20 25 0 0 2 0 0.02. THIS TIME OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS AND THE LAST NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, UM, AMENDED AMENDMENT ASSOCIATED WITH THE NORTH LAMAR SOUTH CONGRESS STATION AREA. PLANS ON THIS AGENDA IS ITEM NUMBER 93 NPA 20 25 0 0 2 2 0.01. AND THIS ITEM IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS. ITEM 94 IS C 1 4 8 4 0 2 2 RCA. THIS SAME IS OFFERED AS AN APPLICANT POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR JULY 24TH COUNCIL MEETING. ITEM 95 IS C 14 20 24 0 1 6 5. THIS TIME IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT FIRST READING ONLY, AND THIS ITEM WILL BE ON YOUR JUNE 5TH AGENDA FOR SECOND AND THIRD READING CONSIDERATION THE RELATED REZONING TO, UH, ITEM NUMBER 95. IT'S ITEM NUMBER 96, THE C 4 20 24 0 1 69. AGAIN, THIS ITEM'S OFFERED FOR CONSENT FIRST READING ONLY, AND RETURNING ON YOUR JUNE 5TH AGENDA FOR SECOND AND THIRD READING CONSIDERATION ITEM OH, THE NEXT THREE CASES ARE RELATED, AND THAT'S ITEM 97 C 1 4 20 24 0 1 1 2. THIS TIME IS OFFERED AS POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR JUNE 5TH COUNCIL MEETING, UM, BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA. ITEM 98 C 1 4 20 24 0 1 1 3. AGAIN, ITEM OFFERED AS A POSTPONEMENT REQUEST BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAB BELLA TO YOUR JUNE 5TH COUNCIL MEETING. AND ITEM 99 IS C 1 4 20 24 0 1 1 4. THIS ITEM OFFERED AS A POSTPONEMENT REQUEST BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE TO YOUR JUNE 5TH COUNCIL MEETING. ITEM 100 IS NPA 20 24 0 0 0 8 0.02. THIS ITEMS OFFERED FOR CONSENT, SECOND READING ONLY, AND WILL BE RETURNING ON YOUR JUNE 5TH COUNSEL AGENDA FOR THIRD READING CONSIDERATION. AND THE RELATED REZONING IS ITEM 1 0 1 C 1 4 20 24 0 1 0 7. AGAIN, THIS IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT. SECOND READING ONLY IN RETURNING, UM, ON JUNE 5TH, UM, FOR THIRD READING CONSIDERATION. AND THIS CONCLUDES THE READING OF THE ZONING AND NPA, UM, AMENDMENT. AND AS ALWAYS, THIS IS AT YOUR DISCRETION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MS. HARDEN MEMBERS. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF MS. HARDEN? UM, ALRIGHT THEN LET ME, UH, UH, THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE A CONSENT AGENDA AND THEN WE'LL GO TO SPEAKERS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. ITEMS. ITEM NUMBER 70 IS THE ONLY ITEM THAT'S BEEN PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA, BUT LET ME ASK IF THERE'S ANY OTHER ITEMS ANYONE WANTS TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA. ALRIGHT, LET ME READ YOU THE, AS I UNDERSTAND WHAT THE MOTION WILL BE. IT WILL BE ITEM NUMBER 71, POSTPONEMENT UNTIL JUNE 5TH, ITEM 72 ON ALL THREE READINGS, 73 AND 74 ON SECOND AND THIRD READING, 75, 76, 77, 78, AND 79. ALL THREE READINGS ON 80 AND 81 POSTPONEMENT TO 7 24 ON 82, POSTPONEMENT TO JUNE 5TH. UH, ITEM 83, ALL THREE READINGS 84 POSTPONEMENT TO JUNE 5TH, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, AND 93, ALL THREE READINGS, 94 POSTPONEMENT TO 7 24, 95 AND 96. FIRST READING ONLY 97, 98 AND 99 A POSTPONEMENT TO JUNE 5TH. ITEM ONE HUNDRED AND ONE OH ONE SECOND READ. BOTH WOULD BE ON SECOND READING ONLY. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IT WAS READ? MOTION IS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, WILL NOW TURN TO THE CLERK FOR CALLING OF SPEAKERS, UH, WITH REGARD TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. OKAY, STARTING WITH ITEM 76, CARMEN EZ. NEXT WE HAVE A, [06:20:01] ARE YOU GOING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? SHE DOESN'T WISH TO SPEAK? OKAY. NEXT WE HAVE ALEXANDRIA ANDERSON WITH TIME DONATED FROM MONICA GUZMAN. ARE THEY BOTH PRESENT STILL? YES, THEY ARE. OKAY, YOU'LL HAVE FOUR MINUTES. THANK YOU. AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ALEXANDRIA ANDERSON AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE EAST MLK CONTACT TEAM AND THE MARTIN LUTHER KING NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT OUR CONCERNS REGARDING THE PROPOSED ZONING CHANGES AIMED AT FACILITATING HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND TO ASK FOR A POST MOMENT ON THE FIRST READING WHILE THE COMMUNITY AND THE DEVELOPER HAVE TIME TO IRON OUT A WIN-WIN FOR EVERYONE. WHILE THE INTENTION TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS IS COMMENDABLE, WHAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED IS BARELY SCRAPING THE SURFACE OF WHAT IS TRULY NEEDED. HOW WE GET THERE, AND WE OPPOSE THIS, WE HAVE CRUCIAL CONCERNS AROUND ENVIRONMENTAL STABILITY, PUBLIC SAFETY, TRAFFIC AND SAFETY RISK, COMMUNITY COHESION, QUALITY OF LIFE, AND TRUE DEEPLY AFFORDABILITY. THE PROPOSED ZONING CHANGES WOULD INADVERTENTLY INCREASE DENSITY IN AREAS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED TO HANDLE A SIGNIFICANT INFLUX IN THE LAST SIX TO EIGHT MONTHS THAT HAVE BEEN SEVERAL DB 90 CASES APPROVED IN SEVERAL UPZONING PROPERTIES ALL WITHIN A ONE MILE RADIUS WITHIN THIS LOCATION. YOU WILL HEAR FROM ONE TODAY THAT IS LOCATED ON, UM, AIRPORT IN MAYNARD, WHICH ARE CASE ITEMS ONE HUNDRED AND ONE OH ONE. WHERE IS THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN THIS AREA FOR DISTRICT ONE? HOW IS THE CURRENT EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPOSED TO HANDLE THIS WITHOUT PROPER PLANNING OR INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS? THE ADDITION TO NEW UNITS COULD EXACERBATE EXISTING TRAFFIC CONDITIONS AND CREATE HAZARDOUS ENVIRONMENTS FOR PEDESTRIANS, CYCLISTS, AND DRIVERS ALIKE. ZONING CHANGES SHOULD STRIVE TO ENHANCE RATHER THAN DIMINISH THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF CURRENT RESIDENTS AND FUTURE RESIDENTS. FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL STANDPOINT, THERE ARE CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES ON THIS LAND AND A SHARED CONCERN FOR DOWNHILL AND ADJACENT FLOODING FROM THE WATERSHED DEPARTMENT WHEN WE MET WITH THEIR CONTACT TEAM. LASTLY, THE SUPPORT OF DEEPLY AFFORDABLE AND DIVERSE HOUSING OPTIONS WITHIN THIS DEBATE DEVELOPMENT. LATELY, WHEN PRESENTED WITH DB 90 CASES, THERE IS HARDLY, IF ANY, THREE BEDROOM OPTIONS WITHIN THE, WITHIN LESS THAN A MILE RADIUS. THERE ARE TWO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, WHAT FAMILY HOUSING WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN THIS DEVELOPMENT? WHILE THIS PROPOSAL FOR AFFORDABILITY AND HOUSING IS AN ESSENTIAL CONVERSATION, IT SHOULD NOT BE OVERSHADOWED BY THE CITY'S VISION IN AUSTIN TO BE A MORE LIVABLE CITY IN THE COUNTRY. AND THAT NEEDS TO BE THE CONSIDERATION FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT JUST COMING. BUT FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE NOW, THOSE THAT LIVE DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO THIS PROPERTY, WE MUST PURSUE SOLUTIONS THAT CONSIDER THE LONG-TERM HEALTH, SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL RESIDENTS IN THIS AREA. I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER OUR CONCERNS AND THOROUGHLY EVALUATE THE HOLISTIC PLAN BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH THIS PROPOSED ZONING CHAINS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. OKAY. CARMEN JANNIS DID INFORM US SHE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 76, SO WE'LL CALL HER AT THIS TIME WITH MADELINE RE AND BRAD MESSING ON DECK. THANK YOU, CARMEN. JANNIS, DISTRICT NINE. UM, I ALSO, 15, 20 YEARS AGO AS A YOUNG ORGANIZER, GOT THE PRIVILEGE OF GETTING TO ORGANIZE IN THIS AREA AT THE CORNER OF OAK SPRINGS AND AIRPORT. UH, AND IN ORDER TO ACTUALLY SAVE ONE OF THE FEW PATCHES OF GREEN SPACE THAT WE HAVE ALONG A VERY CONCRETE CORRIDOR, WHICH IS, UH, OAK SPRINGS PRESERVE, AND Y'ALL MAY, UH, RECALL SOME OF THE STUFF, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON. IT'S BEEN A JOURNEY IN THAT SPACE, BUT I'M GRATEFUL THAT, UH, WE HAD A COUNCIL THAT VALUED, UM, MASSIVE, MASSIVE HERITAGE OAK TREES AND A REGISTERED TEXAS SPRING THAT HAD BEEN NEGLECTED ON THE EAST SIDE AND REALLY NOT KNOWN ABOUT BY OUR CITY, UH, UNTIL THAT MOMENT. UM, SO I SAY THAT BECAUSE, UM, THIS CORNER, JUST LIKE MANY OF THESE LOTS THAT DB 90 IS TARGETING, THEY ALL HAVE THEIR HISTORY AND THEY HAVE SOMETIMES REALLY VALUABLE ASSETS, REALLY VALUABLE ELEMENTS, BUT THEY ALSO HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPLOITATION. AND THAT EXPLOITATION IS A DIRECT RESULT OF HISTORIC RACISM. IT'S BECAUSE BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE WERE SEGREGATED TO THESE AREAS AND THEY WERE DEVALUED BY PRIVATE AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS. AND IT'S WHY IN FEBRUARY OF 2024, MANY OF US CRIED OUT TO YOU ALL NOT TO PASS DB 90 BECAUSE WE KNEW THIS WAS GOING, WHO IT WAS GOING TO TARGET. UM, SO WE'RE GONNA SEE DB 90 CASES WE KEEP, WE'VE SEEN 50 OF THEM SINCE YOU APPROVED IT ALL OVER. THIS ONE HITS IN THAT DISTRICT ONE. IS IT DISTRICT ONE OR IS IT DISTRICT THREE? IT'S RIGHT ON THE LINE, RIGHT? DISTRICT ONE, DISTRICT ONE HAS HAD THE SECOND MOST DB 90 CASES DISTRICT THREE BY A LANDSLIDE. AND IT'S AN UNFORTUNATE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ [06:25:01] ISN'T ON THE DAIS RIGHT NOW, BUT ANYTIME DB 90 COMES UP, I'M GONNA LOOK AT HIM AS WELL. BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT THE RATIO OF THESE CASES, IF YOU LOOK AT THE ACREAGE, IF YOU LOOK AT THE LICK THAT IS BEING HIT, IT IS A MASSIVE EXPLOITATION, PLEASE. SO YET ANOTHER DB 90 CASE, UH, THIS ONE OBVIOUSLY AT AIRPORT OAK SPRING, UM, THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH. CARMEN WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT THE DB NINETIES. THERE'S A BUNCH OF DB NINETIES, UH, APPROVED THAT ARE UPSTREAM FROM THIS. UM, AND THE TANA HILL BRANCH, WHICH IS A, A FEEDER CREEK TO THAT. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 85% IMPERVIOUS COVER ON THESE PLACES. AND WE'RE SETTING UP, UH, THE EAST SIDE FOR A BIG FLOODING EVENT. IF, IF WE KEEP UP DOING THIS, Y'ALL NEED TO DO MORE CONSIDERATION FOR CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES LIKE THE SPRINGS AND EPHEMERAL WATER WASTE THAT THIS CITY DEPENDS ON TO KEEP HYDRATED. UM, THE HEAT ISLAND EFFECT IS, IS GETTING WORSE ALL THE TIME. AND ALL THIS CONCRETE THAT WE'RE PUTTING IN WITHOUT ANY CONSIDERATION FOR, UH, SPONGING AS THEY CALL IT, THE, THE, UH, THE LANDSCAPE IS, IS, IS A FORMULA FOR DISASTER, NOT TO MENTION DISPLACEMENT. HI EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. MY NAME IS MADELINE. I LIVE IN DISTRICT ONE. AND WHAT IS YOUR LAST NAME, PLEASE? MADELINE ACKERY. OKAY, THANK YOU. I STAND IN SUPPORT OF THE MARTIN LUTHER KING NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND THE EAST MLK CONTACT TEAM TO OPPOSE THIS ITEM AS IT STANDS, UM, I REQUEST A POSTPONEMENT TO CONSIDER THE COMMUNITY AND THE VISION FOR THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. UH, I LOVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. I LOVE LIVING IN DISTRICT ONE, AND I WANT THERE TO BE THOUGHTFUL, COMMUN, THOUGHTFUL, ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS, COMMUNITY ORIENTED PROJECTS THAT CONSIDER THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. BUT WHAT IS THE VISION FOR THIS NEIGHBORHOOD? WHAT DO WE WANT AIRPORT BOULEVARD TO LOOK LIKE YEARS OR DECADES FROM NOW? I'M INFORMED ABOUT THE FUTURE PLANS OF DEVELOPMENT ALONG AIRPORT WHEN I ATTEND THE MLK NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS. SO CONSIDERING OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION POINT OF VIEW HELPS EVERYONE PLEASE CONSIDER POSTPONING THIS DEVELOPMENT ON OAK SPRINGS AND AIRPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT ON ITEM 76, WE HAVE JENNY GRAYSON, CHRIS PAGE, HARRIS RESI. IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED ON ITEM 76, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY DOWN. PLEASE COME FORWARD IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED. AND LET US KNOW YOUR NAME BEFORE YOU BEGIN. HEY, Y'ALL. UH, MY NAME IS HARRIS QURESHI. I'M, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSIONER AND ON THE JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE. I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE EAST MLK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. AND, UH, I'M HERE TO, UH, URGE Y'ALL TO, UH, POSTPONE THIS AND GIVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MORE TIME TO TALK TO THE DEVELOPERS. UM, YOU KNOW, AS WE KNOW AND AS, UH, MY PREVIOUS, UH, CITIZENS AND RESIDENTS HAVE STATED, UH, FELLOW RESIDENTS HAVE STATED, UM, YOU KNOW, EAST AUSTIN IS DEFINITELY BEARING THE BRUNT OF SORT OF THE, UH, YOU KNOW, PRO DENSITY PLAN THAT, UH, THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS ENACTING. AND WHY WE, AND WHILE WE TOTALLY SUPPORT AFFORDABILITY, I THINK THERE IS DEFINITELY A QUESTION OF WHETHER THERE IS A RELATED INCREASE IN SORT OF INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT THAT WE'RE SEEING IN THIS AREA. I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT, UH, THE ENVIRONMENTAL FEASIBILITY AS IT RELATES TO FLOODING. I THINK, UH, WE ALSO SEE THAT WE NEED MORE AFFORDABILITY WITH, YOU KNOW, SUCH CULTURALLY RELEVANT STUFF AS SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES IN THIS AREA ON THIS INTERSECTION, UM, THAT WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT AROUND. I THINK THERE'S ALSO QUESTIONS ABOUT TRAFFIC AS IT AND SAFETY AS IT RELATES TO THESE SORT OF, UH, HIGH PROFILE, SORT OF FAMILY ORIENTED, UM, YOU KNOW, ASSETS THAT, UH, WE WANT PEOPLE IN THIS AREA TO HAVE. AND, UH, YEAH, YOU KNOW, I THINK WITH THE INCREASED DENSITY IN THIS AREA, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD LOOK AT VERY CAREFULLY, SO I WOULD ADVISE Y'ALL TO DO THE SAME. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. UH, CHRIS PAGE. UM, SO I LIVE WITHIN A BASEBALLS THROW THIS SITE, UM, HERE GREATLY IN SUPPORT OF THE MLK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. IF I THREW TWO MORE BASEBALLS, I WOULD HIT TWO OTHER DB NINETIES, BOTH OF WHICH HAVE PRODUCED ZERO HOUSING SINCE THEY'VE BEEN PASSED. TO MY UNDERSTANDING, THERE'S ZERO PLANS THAT HAVE BEEN EXECUTED AT ANY LEVEL. [06:30:01] UM, THIS CONFERS A HUGE AMOUNT OF VALUE TO AN APPLICANT THAT HAS PROVEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN TO BE UNPRODUCTIVE IN ANY WAY. UH, WHEN IT COMES TO HOUSING AND HOUSING AFFORDABILITY IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN FROM THE START OF DB 90, I'VE POINTED OUT HOW THE AFFORDABILITY LEVELS ARE GROSSLY MISCALIBRATED. PARTICULARLY FOR THIS, THIS AREA, THE CENSUS TRACKED MFI IS FAR OUTTA STEP WITH WHAT THE AFFORDABILITY LEVELS ARE FOR THE REQUIRED AFFORDABLE UNITS. IF I THREW MANY MORE BASEBALLS, I WOULD PRIMARILY HIT PEOPLE'S HOMES, OFTENTIMES LONG, UH, LONG STANDING HOMES THAT ARE SOME OF THE MOST DEEPLY AFFORDABLE IN THE CITY, MANY INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES AND TRAFFIC PATTERNS THAT ARE ALREADY GROSSLY DYSFUNCTIONAL. I COULD THROW ANOTHER BASEBALL AND HIT ONE OF THE SPRINGS THAT THE CITY HASN'T CARED FOR, EVEN THOUGH IT IS AS IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY AS BARTON SPRINGS IS TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN. UH, IT REPRESENTS, UH, ONE OF THE FIRST SPARKS THAT, UH, THE CITY, UH, ACTUALLY RECOGNIZED WHEN IT COMES TO INVENTORYING THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSETS THAT EXIST IN EAST AUSTIN. THEY DO EXIST. WE MIGHT BE IN THE DESIRED DEVELOPMENT ZONE, BUT WE ARE ALSO PART OF THIS BROADER, VERY FRAGILE ECOSYSTEM IN THE CITY. UM, I THINK IT'S GROSSLY AND EQUITABLE THAT WE GO SO FAR OUT OF OUR WAY TO CARE FOR SOME THINGS AND NOT OTHERS. AND IN, IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, IT SOUNDS, YOU KNOW, FROM ALL FEEDBACK I'VE HEARD FROM RESIDENTS AS THOUGH THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY MEANINGFUL CONCESSIONS TO CALIBRATE THIS, SO THAT IF IT EVER DOES GET BUILT, PRESUMABLY BY SOMEONE THAT'S NOT THE APPLICANT, BUT SOMEONE THAT THEY SELL TO, IT COULD BE FUNCTIONAL. SO PLEASE LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO ITEM 82, SPEAKING ON THE POSTPONEMENTS OF THE, OR THE MAYORS OF THE POSTPONEMENT BILL BUNCH. UM, MOVING ON TO 84, ALSO POSTPONED SPEAKING ON THE MERITS, THOSE POSTPONEMENTS, WE HAVE PAUL GOINK AND HE HAS TWO MINUTES DONATED BY MEGAN MEISENBACH. ARE YOU BOTH HERE? ABLE, ABLE, THEY ARE. OKAY. YOU'LL HAVE FOUR MINUTES ON ITEM 84. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS. UH, I AM HERE, UH, IN SUPPORT OF MY OWN MOTION. WE, WE DON'T OPPOSE THE CONTINUANCE THAT'S, BUT WE DO HAVE AN OBJECTION TO THE PROJECT, AND WE HAVE AN OBJECTION TO THE FAILURE TO FULFILL, UM, THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION GAVE TO THE APPLICANT, UH, TO PROVIDE DESIGN INFORMATION THAT WOULD ENABLE US TO UNDERSTAND WHETHER OR NOT THE CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURE, CANYON RIM ROCK, WHICH IS ON BLUFF BETWEEN THE NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSES AND THE PROPOSED PROJECT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL, WILL, UM, ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO BE PROTECTED AGAINST. UH, PLANNING COMMISSION ASKED LOTS OF QUESTIONS ABOUT, UH, THE DESIGN OF THIS, UH, PROJECT AS IT RELATED TO THE CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURE. UM, ULTIMATELY THEY DID NOT WANT THE, UM, APPLICATION TO BE SLOWED DOWN. SO THEY RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF THE ZONING, BUT, UM, GAVE AN INSTRUCTION, UH, TO THE APPLICANT TO PROVIDE THE INFORMATION, UH, THAT THEY HAD BEEN TALKING ABOUT IN PLANNING COMMISSION. AND THAT INFORMATION, UH, WAS COULD YOU DESIGN SOMETHING TO PROTECT THIS SLOPE FROM FALLING DOWN AND BEING LIKE, THE SLOPES THAT ARE FALLEN DOWN AT WOODRIDGE PARK, WOODRIDGE DRIVE, PEACE PARK, RUSSIA STREET, POPE BARDEN SPRINGS, VARIOUS PLACES WHERE THIS PARTICULAR GEOLOGY, UM, COLLAPSES WHEN YOU CUT AWAY THE TOW OF THE SLOPE. UM, THEY ASKED OUR EXPERT OF DR. ROBERT GILBERT, WHO IS THE EXPERT THAT THE CITY HIRED TO INVESTIGATE THE WOOLDRIDGE, UH, DRIVE COLLAPSE. CAN YOU POSSIBLY DESIGN SOMETHING? AND HIS ANSWER WAS, LIKE ANY GOOD ENGINEER, YOU GIVE HIM ENOUGH TIME AND ENOUGH MONEY, YEAH, HE CAN DESIGN IT. HE THINKS IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THERE CAN BE A DESIGN. WE HOPE THERE CAN BE A DESIGN BECAUSE WE DON'T OPPOSE THE CONDOS. AND IN FACT, IF IT IS WELL DESIGNED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY AND APPROVED BY OUR EXPERTS, WE'LL DROP OUR OBJECTION. BUT PLANNING COMMISSION GAVE THE APPLICANT WHO AGREED TO THIS, UH, UNTIL THIS MEETING, UH, TO PROVIDE THE INFORMATION [06:35:01] THAT THEY REQUESTED, THE DESIGN INFORMATION, UM, IT HASN'T BEEN PROVIDED YET. WE GOT A, WE GOT A PACKET OF MATERIALS, UH, THREE PLUS WEEKS INTO THE FOUR WEEK, UH, PERIOD, AND IT WAS NON-RESPONSIVE. IT PROVIDED SOME BASIC BACKGROUND INFORMATION, A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT CONCRETE SLABS, UH, BUT DIDN'T MENTION CON, UH, CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURE. DID NOT MENTION SLOPE STABILITY, DID NOT MENTION ANYTHING ABOUT PROTECTIVE DESIGN. I AM HERE TALKING ABOUT IT THIS WAY BECAUSE YOU MAY SEE ME ON JUNE 5TH MAKING THE SAME REQUEST AGAIN. WE, WE NEED TO KNOW, AND IF WE KNOW, YOU NEED TO KNOW, I, IF I'M IN YOUR SHOES, IT SEEMS TO BE THE LAST THING I WANT TO DO IS ONCE AGAIN, APPROVE A PROJECT LIKE THIS IN A LOCATION LIKE THIS, ONLY TO FIND OUT LATER THAT IT COLLAPSED. AGAIN. THIS CAN BE DEALT WITH DIFFERENTLY. THERE CAN BE A MORE STRINGENT WAY TO LOOK AT THIS. THE SAME WAY YOU LOOK AT SOME SOMETHING THAT IS GONNA BE BUILT IN A CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE OR SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA BE BUILT IN A FLOODPLAIN. YOU CAN, YOU CAN BE, YOU COULD BE MORE INVESTIGATIVE, MORE DIRECT IN YOUR NEED TO KNOW. THANK YOU, MR. SLINK. MOVING ON TO ITEM 85. WE HAVE CARMEN YANES, BRAD MASSING, JENNY GRAYSON AND MONICA GUZMAN. PLEASE CALL THOSE NAMES AGAIN. CARMEN YANES. BRAD MASSENGILL, JENNY GRAYSON. MONICA GUZMAN. DO ANY OF YOU WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? YEP. MONICA HAS TIME DONATED BY ALEXANDRIA ANDERSON. IS SHE STILL? YEP, SHE'S STILL HERE, SO SHE'LL HAVE FOUR MINUTES. WELL, I GUESS IT'S STILL AFTERNOON. UH, GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M MONICA GUZMAN, SPEAKING AS A NORTH AUSTIN CIVIC ASSOCIATION OR NACA CONTACT TEAM CHAIR AND DISTRICT FOUR RESIDENT. AS I STATED EARLIER, PLANNING STAFF HAS BEEN PROMOTING THE NORTH LAMAR UTAH STATION AREA PLAN AS COMMUNITY DRIVEN. HOWEVER, THE NACA CONTACT TEAM AND NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION ARE STILL WAITING FOR VERIFICATION OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD'S LOW INCOME WORKING CLASS AND NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING RESIDENTS RESPONDING TO SURVEYS, AS WELL AS PARTICIPATING IN THE OPEN HOUSES AND COMMUNITY MEETINGS. AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION HEARINGS LAST MONTH, THERE WERE A TOTAL OF SIX RESIDENTS SPEAKING, INCLUDING ME, NOT ONE OF US SPOKE IN FAVOR OF THE VISION PLAN. WE NEED TO SEE AND HEAR PROPOSALS ABOUT IMPROVING PEDESTRIAN AND PUBLIC SAFETY, IMPROVING ACCESS TO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, ESPECIALLY FOR TRANSIT DEPENDENT RESIDENCE, RIGHT TO STAY RIGHT TO RETURN OPTIONS AND DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT ALIGNS WITH THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY'S MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME, NOT WHAT IT SAYS ON A CHART SOMEWHERE ON THE CITY WEBSITE. WE REQUESTED LEAVING THE FOLLOWING PROPERTIES ON THE NACA NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, PLUM HAKA, THURMAN HEIGHTS, PALMS ON NORTH LAMAR APARTMENTS, AND THE NORTH LAMAR MOBILE HOME COMMUNITY. WE'RE STILL WAITING TO HEAR WHETHER OUR REQUEST WAS HONORED. BOTTOM LINE, WE CANNOT SUPPORT THE PROPOSED NORTH LAMAR TRANSIT CENTER EAD STATION AREA VISION PLAN THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE AN EQUITY ANTI DISPLACEMENT OVERLAY. IN CLOSING, AS A D FOUR RESIDENT, AND IT MAY SOUND KIND OF FUNNY, OH, ACTUALLY I FORGOT TO GIVE THIS TO Y'ALL. THERE'S A, IT SAYS LIKE COA. OKAY. OKAY. IN CLOSING, AS A D FOUR RESIDENT, I SAY THIS, IN ORDER TO LIVE UP TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S MISSION AND VISION, YOU NEED TO LOOK AT THE MISSION AND VISION AND PRIDE STATEMENTS MISSION. WE WANT AUSTIN TO BE THE MOST LIVABLE CITY IN THE COUNTRY. THAT'S A LAUDABLE MISSION. MANY ARE WAITING TO SEE BECAUSE PREVIOUS COUNCIL'S DECISIONS MADE AND THE CURRENT COUNCIL'S DECISIONS CONTINUE TO MAKE ARE MAKING AUSTIN LESS LIVABLE. [06:40:01] FOR MANY VISION TO BE THE BEST MANAGED CITY IN THE COUNTRY, THE CITY MANAGEMENT MUST ENCOURAGE AND REQUIRE AUTHENTIC LANGUAGE, ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. THAT'S PART OF THE REASON WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE VERIFICATION WE'RE LOOKING FOR. IT DOESN'T EXIST IN THE PRIDE STATEMENT. PUBLIC SERVICE AND ENGAGEMENT. WE WILL PARTNER WITH ONE ANOTHER AND WITH OUR COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE THE BEST SERVICE POSSIBLE. THE COST BURDEN AND THOSE EXPERIENCING HOUSING INSTABILITY OR HOMELESSNESS ARE WAITING TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY. WHEN WILL YOU HEAR THEM REACH OUT TO AND ENGAGE WITH THEM? OUR RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY, WE TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ACHIEVING RESULTS AND HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE FOR OUR ACTIONS. IT IS KNOWN THAT COUNCIL PAST AND PRESENT, THEY CELEBRATE MAJOR DECISIONS, WHICH IS UNDERSTANDABLE, LIKE THE HOME INITIATIVE DB 90 D AND E, TODDS I, AND AGAIN, AS A DISTRICT FOUR RESIDENT, I'M CURIOUS AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHEN, WHERE, AND HOW DO YOU HOLD YOURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE? DOES IT HAPPEN? IS IT IN YOUR OFFICES OR IN PUBLIC ON THE DAIS? I KNOW I'M ALMOST OUTTA TIME, BUT I THINK I'VE GONE FAR ENOUGH. THANK YOU. I WANNA HAVE A SUPER LOT TO ADD TO WHAT MONICA JUST SAID. UH, UM, THE NEXT FIVE ITEMS, UH, ARE ALL CARVING UP. THE, THE, UH, THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP, AND ALL THESE ARE DIFF DIFFERENT PIE SLICES OF, OF THE CIRCLE THAT'S BEEN DRAWN, UM, WITH, WITH NO CONSIDERATION FOR, UH, ANY METRICS. IT JUST SEEMS LIKE A, A RANDOM KIND OF PROCESS. SO I'M ENCOURAGING Y'ALL TO, TO POSTPONE THIS AND DO SOME ACTUAL OUTREACH AND LET THE, LET SOME OF THE PUBLIC CLOSE BY, HAVE A CHANCE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS. I CARMEN YIANNIS WITH THE GO AUSTIN VMO AUSTIN. UM, I JUST WANTED TO TOUCH BRIEFLY PICK BACK UP ON SOME PREVIOUS COMMENTS ABOUT THE PREVIOUS E TODD VOTE. UM, AND I MADE THAT COMMENT ABOUT A THIRD OF THAT, UH, AREA THAT WAS REZONED BEING EXISTING MULTIFAMILY. UM, AGAIN, THE MAJORITY OF THAT ZONING WAS MF ONE, MF TWO, MF THREE. THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE THAT DOES REPRESENT SOME OF THE MOST AFFORDABLE HOUSING STOCK THAT WE HAVE. UM, THE ACREAGE FOR THAT, THE EQUIVALENT TO THAT IS AN UPCOMING APPROXIMATELY 15,000 APARTMENTS APARTMENT UNITS. SO, UM, WHEN I HEAR, AND AND I, I WANNA COMPLIMENT COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL FOR LAST NIGHT'S DEBATE, UM, AND COUNCIL MEMBER VELA, THAT CONVERSATION WAS GREAT TO LISTEN TO AND I APPRECIATED A LOT OF THE POINTS THAT WERE MADE ABOUT WHERE WE'RE SPENDING OUR RESOURCES AND THE, THE NUMBER OF NOT JUST UNHOUSED PEOPLE IN OUR CITY, BUT HOUSING INSECURE PEOPLE IN OUR CITY AND HOW WE ARE DEALING WITH SUCH AN INTRACTABLE ISSUE. UM, AND PART OF IT IS THAT YOU CAN KEEP FROM MAKING THE SITUATION WORSE, MOVING YOUR GOALPOST FARTHER AND FARTHER OUT AS WE ARE TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO LEVERAGE YOUR LAND VALUE AND YOUR DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES. THAT MUCH ACREAGE, THAT MANY THOUSANDS OF UNITS AND PROPERTIES REPRESENTS SUCH A MASSIVE WIND WINDFALL IN ENTITLEMENT. AND YOU ALL, AS OUR COUNCIL, HAVE THE ABILITY TO ACTUALLY LEVERAGE THAT TO BE MORE OF THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT. AGAIN, THE ACTUAL TRANSIT AND THE ACTUAL EQUITY, NOT JUST REAL ESTATE EQUITY. BUT I THINK WHAT THAT E WAS SUPPOSED TO STAND FOR WAS ACTUALLY ABOUT ALL OF THE THINGS THAT MS. JOSEPH HAS BROUGHT UP. ALL OF THE DISPARITIES WE KNOW EXIST WE KEEP SEEING AND WE SAY, WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT? PART OF WHAT YOU CAN DO IS SLOW DOWN. IT'S NOT JUST OUTREACH. DO SOME REAL PLANNING. LOOK AT WHAT YOU WANNA ACTUALLY KEEP. WE'RE NOT SAYING PRESERVE IT IN AMBER. IT NEEDS TO BE RE REDEVELOPED, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE DONE WELL. THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO ITEM 86. WE HAVE CARMEN YANES, BRAD MASSING, JENNY GRAYSON, MONICA GUZMAN WITH TIME DONATED BY ALEXANDRIA ANDERSON, ZENOBIA, JOSEPH MONICA WILL HAVE FOUR MINUTES. [06:45:01] TRUST ME, IT WON'T TAKE THAT LONG. I'LL JUST FINISH WHAT I DIDN'T GET TO BEFORE ON PRIDE I, INNOVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY, WE ACTIVELY SEEK OUT GOOD IDEAS THAT HAVE A LASTING POSITIVE IMPACT ON OUR WORK, OUR COMMUNITY, AND OUR ENVIRONMENT. PERSONS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE OF FINANCIAL STRUGGLES, HOUSING INSTABILITY, AND DISPLACEMENT ARE THE BEST SOURCE FOR SOLUTIONS. WHEN WILL THEY BE SOUGHT OUT TO FIX PAST MISTAKES AND MINIMIZE OR PREVENT FUTURE ONES SUCH AS THE E TODD STATION AREA VISION PLANTS. THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO ITEM 87, WE HAVE CHIP HARRIS REMOTELY. CHIP HARRIS, ARE YOU THERE? COUNCIL MEMBERS? MY NAME IS CHIP HARRIS AND I LIVE IN THE CRESTVIEW NEIGHBORHOOD. I'M SPEAKING FOR MYSELF ON ITEM NUMBER 87, THE NORTH LAMAR TRANSIT CENTER. BY DRAWING A HALF MILE CIRCLE AROUND THE NORTH LAMAR TRANSIT CENTER, THE CITY IS COMMITTING ITSELF TO THE SAFETY AND WELFARE OF CITIZENS THAT WILL UTILIZE THE TRANSIT CENTER IN SURROUNDING DEVELOPMENTS. THE HALF MILE CIRCLE EXTENDS ACROSS TWO MAJOR AND DANGEROUS ROADWAYS, US HIGHWAY 180 3 AND NORTH LAMAR BOULEVARD. THE SAFETY RECORD OF NORTH LAMAR REFLECTS THAT IT IS ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS ROADS IN THE AUSTIN AREA. TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE, OF THE INCREASE IN PEDESTRIAN ACTIVITY, THE CITY WILL NEED TO DESIGN, FUND, AND BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO KEEP THEM SAFE. AS A REFERENCE, THE CITY'S ABOUT TO START WORKING ON THE C FOUR SEGMENT OF THE BURNER ROAD CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENTS THAT RUN FROM US 180 3 NORTH TO BRIGHT UNDERWAY AND WILL COST NEARLY 24 MILLION IN AN ATTEMPT TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF CRASHES CURRENTLY AT 60 PER MONTH PER CITY STAFF. BEFORE THIS PLAN IS APPROVED, PLEASE CONSIDER TAKING THE TIME TO INITIATE A STUDY TO DETERMINE WHAT INFRASTRUCTURE WILL BE NEEDED AND HOW, AND WHEN AND BY WHOM IT'LL BE FUNDED. ONLY THEN, AFTER YOU'VE GAINED THE TRUST OF THE COMMUNITY, SHOULD YOU MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS AMBITIOUS PLAN FOR TREMENDOUS GROWTH IN THIS AREA THAT WOULD REQUIRE PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS TO NAVIGATE TO THE MOST DANGEROUS ROADWAYS IN AUSTIN. IF ADEQUATE REVIEW AND PLANNING ISN'T DONE ON THE FRONT END, THIS, THE E TODD MAY BECOME KNOWN AS THE EMS TOP. THANK YOU. CONTINUING WITH ITEM 87, WE HAVE CARMEN YEZ, BRAD MESSING, JENNY GRAYSON, MONICA GUZMAN WITH TIME DONATED BY ALEXANDRIA ANDERSON. DO ANY OF YOU WISH TO BE HEARD ON THIS ITEM? I OKAY. NO, SHE'S RIGHT THERE. OKAY. MOVING ON TO ITEM 88. WE HAVE CARMEN YANES, BRAD MASSENGILL, JENNY GRAYSON, WITH, AND MONICA GUZMAN, WITH TIME DONATED BY ALEXANDRIA ANDERSON. ANYONE, ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK? OKAY. MOVING ON TO ITEM 89. WE HAVE CARMEN JANS, BRAD MASSING, JENNY GRAYSON, MONICA GOS, MOM WITH TIME DONATED. OKAY, MOVING ON TO ITEM 90. WE HAVE JULIA WOODS REMOTELY. UH, HELLO TO MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS JULIA WOODS AND I'M A RESIDENT OF THE DAWSON NEIGHBORHOOD AND I'M, UH, SPEAKING FOR MYSELF. UH, I, UH, WOULD LIKE TO REITERATE THE COMMENTS BY MY NEIGHBOR ABOUT THE, UM, EXCLUSION OF THE TWO RETENTION PONDS AT THE EDGE OF THE EAD AREA FROM THE EAD FUTURE LAND USE MAP. UM, 30 YEARS AGO, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD CAME TOGETHER AND CREATED THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION BECAUSE OF OUR ALARM ABOUT THE, UH, FLOODING THAT WAS COMING AFTER THE DEVELOPMENT OF BEN WHITE BOULEVARD. UM, HONESTLY, WE FEEL THAT WE ARE THE BEST STEWARDS OF THOSE PONDS AND THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD SHOULD, UM, IN PERPETUITY CONTINUE TO, UH, STAND BETWEEN THOSE PONDS AND DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE OF COURSE, THAT WOULD CAUSE, UM, DANGEROUS FLOODING, UM, WITH TOXIC WATER [06:50:02] FROM THE HIGHWAY RUNOFF. UM, PLEASE ADJUST THAT BOUNDARY, UH, IN ORDER TO KEEP MY NEIGHBORHOOD SAFE. SPEAKING OF SAFETY, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ASK, ASK IF THERE IS A PLAN IN PLACE TO IMPROVE THE SAFETY OF PEDESTRIANS TRYING TO REACH THE TRANSIT CENTER, BECAUSE OF COURSE, ONE WOULD HAVE TO CROSS IN WHITE BOULEVARD TO GET THERE. AND IF YOU WALK THAT WAY LATELY, YOU WOULD SEE THAT IT'S A SCARY AND DANGEROUS AREA TO WALK. PEDESTRIANS NEED TO BE PROTECTED BECAUSE MASS TRANSIT REQUIRES PEDESTRIAN AND SAFETY. OTHERWISE, IT JUST DOESN'T WORK. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. CONTINUE WITH ITEM 90. WE HAVE CARMEN YANAS, BRAD MASSENGILL, JENNY GRAYSON, MONICA GUZMAN. WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 90? HEY, Y'ALL. UM, AGAIN, I'M MISSING MARIO. UH, I, I WISH HE, I'M SURE HE WISHES HE WAS HERE. I, ITEM 90, IT'S, THERE'S FOUR SLICES OF, OF THIS PIE IN SOUTH SOUTH, UH, TRANSIT CENTER. UM, THE ONE, THIS NUMBER 90, IT'S THE DAWSON NEIGHBORHOOD. IF, IF YOU LOOK NORTH OF BEN WHITE, IT'S JUST AS, UH, AND WEST OF CONGRESS. UH, IT'S, IT'S DEFINITELY A SF TYPE OF NEIGHBORHOOD. UM, IT, IT WENT THROUGH A, A GENTRIFICATION PROBABLY ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO, AND IT'S PRETTY SETTLED IN NOW WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN THERE FOR A WHILE. UM, IT, IT, IT REALLY DOESN'T NEED TO BE IN THIS ETO AT ALL. UH, JUST FOR THE REASONS DESCRIBED BEFORE, THERE'S NO SAFE WAY TO GET OVER THERE. THIS IS ONE OF THE PROPERTIES THAT I DID THE GOOGLE SEARCH FOR FROM A MEDIAN ADDRESS UP IN THAT AREA. AND IT, IT'S 20 MINUTE WALK, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S WITHOUT TRAFFIC AND THERE'S LOTS OF TRAFFIC AND IT'S SUPER DANGEROUS. SO, UM, OF THE FOUR AREAS UP THERE, THIS IS ONE OF THE ONES THAT'S LEAST APPROPRIATE, UH, TO BE INCLUDED. AND I ENCOURAGE Y'ALL TO POSTPONE THIS AND GET A LOT MORE NEIGHBORHOOD INPUT ON THIS. CARMEN JANNIS, GO AUSTIN BAOS AUSTIN. UH, I SAY THAT BECAUSE THIS IS IN 7 8, 7 4 5, WHICH IS ONE OF THE FIRST NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WE, FIRST AREAS FULL OF NEIGHBORHOODS. VERY LARGE ZIP CODE, MAYBE THE MOST POPULOUS ZIP CODE IN AUSTIN, ACTUALLY, UH, WHERE GAVA STARTED OUR WORK MANY YEARS AGO. AND SO WE HAVE, UH, BEEN RIGHT THERE WITH THE NEIGHBORHOODS SINCE THEY FIRST GOT THEIR PLANNING AREAS. UM, SO THERE ARE PLANNING AREAS. THEY'RE NOT THE BEST, BUT, UH, AGAIN, THEY DESERVE TO BE INCORPORATED AND HAVE A PLANNING PROCESS ADOPTED INTO THIS BECAUSE TIME AND TIME AGAIN, THESE AREAS ARE TARGETED FOR REDEVELOPMENT BECAUSE OF THE LOW LAND VALUES. HISTORICALLY, EVEN THOUGH THERE HAS BEEN GENTRIFICATION FOR SURE, THERE HAVE BEEN CHANGES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU STILL HAVE SOME OF THE MOST AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES AND LAND, COMMERCIAL LAND AND INDUSTRIAL LAND. AND EVERY TIME THESE BIG ZONING CHANGES COME UP IN THIS AREA, THERE'S A DISCUSSION OF HOW IMPORTANT THAT COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL ZONING ACTUALLY IS. UM, HOW MUCH THESE AREAS NEED BETTER PLANNING, THE CORRIDORS, THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR GOOD DEVELOPMENT, THE AFFORDABILITY LEVELS THAT REALLY NEED TO BE CONSIDERED. IF YOU WANT COMPLETE WALKABLE COMMUNITIES WHERE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO DRIVE IN THEIR CAR ALL THE TIME. UM, SO AGAIN, THE LINES HERE, THEY WORK ON A WHITEBOARD, KIND OF LIKE PROBABLY SOME INVESTORS' IDEAS ABOUT GOING TO MARS WORK ON A WHITEBOARD, BUT IN THE REAL LIFE WITH FINITE RESOURCES, WITH CLIMATE ISSUES, WITH WALK SHEDS THAT ARE SHORTER IN TEXAS, IN CONCRETE AREAS IN THE HEAT, UH, WITH HIGHLY AFFORDABLE, DIVERSE HOUSING THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY, UM, DEVELOP IN A MORE ADVANTAGEOUS WAY. WE NEED TO PLAN. UM, AND I DO WISH MORE FOLKS FROM FOUR FIVE, WHO ARE MOST OF YOUR SERVICE INDUSTRY, YOUR PARAMEDICS, YOUR FOLKS WHO ARE MAKING THE CITY WORK CAN'T BE HERE. UM, BUT I WOULD, I THINK THEY WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO ACTUALLY SLOW DOWN AND ASK WHO ARE YOU REPRESENTING THE PUBLIC OR THE PEOPLE TRYING TO INCREASE LAND VALUES AND GET RICH WHEN WE'RE IN NEED. MOVING ON TO ITEM 91. WE HAVE CARMEN YANES, BRAD MASSING, GUD, JENNY GRAYSON, MONICA GUZMAN WITH TIME DONATED. SO ITEM 91 IS A SLICED NUMBER TWO OF THE, OF THE PIE. UM, IT'S THE [06:55:02] SOUTHWEST QUADRANT, I GUESS YOU'D SAY, UH, SOUTH OF VAN WHITE AND WEST OF CONGRESS. UM, IT'S WHERE THE OLD FURROWS USED TO BE. THAT'S PROBABLY BEFORE ALL THE ALLS TIME. IT'S A, IT'S A, A ENTERPRISE CAR PLACE NOW. UM, THOSE AREAS, NOT, NOT SUCH A, A BIG DEAL, BUT RIGHT BEHIND THERE, THERE'S A WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD, AN OLDER NEIGHBORHOOD WITH THE, UH, SOME FAMOUS ART INSTALLATIONS. A LOT OF ARTISTS AND MUSICIANS LIVE OVER THERE, AND THIS IS DIRECTLY GONNA AFFECT THEM. NOT TO MENTION THAT IT BORDERS ON WILLIAMSON CREEK, WHAT THEY CALL THE BIG BEND OVER THERE IN WILLIAMSON CREEK. UM, IT'S JUST NORTH OF THE INTERCEPTOR PROJECT THAT WATERSHED PROTECTION'S GONNA BE PUTTING IN, UH, WILLIAMSON CREEK THERE. ALL THIS IS A, ALL THAT TO SAY THAT THIS IS A QUITE SENSITIVE ENVIRONMENTAL AREA. WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT ALL THE PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING UP THERE, THE THE HILLS PROJECT, HOWEVER FAR ALONG THAT IS, I DON'T KNOW, BUT IT'S, IT PROMISES TO BE QUITE A BIG PROJECT AND IT BACKS RIGHT ONTO WILLIAMSON CREEK AND IT'S IN THIS SECTION OF THE EAD. SO AGAIN, THE NEIGHBORHOOD BEHIND HERE, I DON'T THINK THEY EVEN KNOW THIS IS GOING ON. IF THEY'VE RECEIVED ANY KIND OF, UH, NOTIFICATION, IT'S BEEN MINIMAL. AND AS FAR AS, UH, RECIPROCAL INPUT, OUTPUT THING, IT HASN'T HAPPENED AT ALL. SO, UH, PLEASE POSTPONE THIS AND, AND, UH, GET THE NEIGHBORHOODS INVOLVED. MOVING ON TO ITEM 92, WE HAVE CARMEN JANNA, BRAD MASSEN GUILD, JENNY GRAYSON, AND MONICA GUZMAN, WITH TIME DONATED. DOES ANYONE WISH TO SPEAK ON ITEM 92? UM, ITEM 92. THIS IS ACTUALLY MORE OR LESS WHAT THIS, UH, TYPE OF FLUME CHANGE SHOULD BE GEARED TOWARD. UH, THIS, UH, THIS IS THE SOUTHEAST QUADRANT OF, OF BEN WHITE AND SOUTH CONGRESS. UH, THAT PROPERTY WAS OWNED BY THIS FELLOW NAMED OTIS JUNG. HE WAS A OLD SCHOOL REAL ESTATE INVESTOR. HE BOUGHT THAT WHOLE INDUSTRIAL AREA WHEN IT GOT DE-INDUSTRIALIZED. THAT'S WHERE TESLA IS. UH, BUNCH OF LITTLE SHOPS AND STUFF, AND THERE'S A BUNCH OF TALLER PROJECTS OVER THERE. NOW, THE ST. ELMO AND WHATNOT, THAT, THAT AREA'S PRIME FOR GOING STRAIGHT UP. THERE'S NOBODY TO DISPLACE, THERE'S NOT THAT MUCH ENVIRONMENTAL THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN THERE. SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE Y'ALL TO BE MORE SPECIFIC AND DELIBERATE WHEN YOU'RE COMING UP WITH THESE THINGS INSTEAD OF JUST DRAWING A CIRCLE. 'CAUSE THERE IS A NEED FOR SOME OF THIS STUFF, AND THERE'S PLACES TO PUT IT, BUT A LOT OF IT IS NOT PROPER. SO, MOVING ON TO ITEM 93, CARMEN YANAS, BRAD MASSING, BILL BUNCH, JENNY GRAYSON, MONICA GUZMAN. AND 93 IS THE LAST, LAST PIECE OF THE PIE. UM, THIS IS PENFIELD, IF ANY OF Y'ALL KNOW THAT. UM, THERE ARE SOME APARTMENTS UP THERE, BUT THE MAIN PART OF IT IS RIGHT UP AGAINST ST. ED'S UP THERE. THERE'S A BUNCH OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AGAIN, THAT'S IN, IN THE HAIRLINE. YOU KNOW, THERE, THE CROSSHAIRS, IT'S A, IT'S A WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOOD AS IT IS, BUT JUST LIKE EVERY PLACE ELSE, UH, UP OVER THERE, I THINK WE'RE MORE IN NEED OF GROCERY STORES THAN TALL BUILDINGS. AND, UH, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S SLIGHTLY MORE, UH, APPROPRIATE THAN SOME OF THE OTHERS, AT LEAST ON THE CONGRESS FRONTAGE AND PENN FIELD. BUT THE REST OF IT SHOULD BE EXCLUDED. MOVING ON TO ITEM 95, WE HAVE BILL BUNCH, UM, ITEM 96, BILL BUNCH. AND NEXT WE HAVE ITEM 98, WHICH WAS POSTPONED. UM, BRAD INGLE CAN SPEAK ON THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT FOR ITEM 98. I GUESS I LOST THE MAYOR. UM, ITEM NUMBER 98, IT'S A DB EIGHT 90, AND THIS IS AT 7 0 4 EAST 53RD STREET AND THE TANNEHILL BRANCH WATERSHED. UM, JUST LETTING THE FOLKS AT HOME KNOW, SINCE THEY DON'T LIST THESE THINGS, WHEN WE'RE READING OFF THE, THE AGENDA. NEXT. MOVING ON TO ITEM 100, WE HAVE [07:00:01] DANIELA VALIER WITH TIME DONATED FROM MONICA GUZMAN. SHE WILL HAVE FOUR MINUTES. GOOD MORNING. WELL, NO, ALMOST GOODNIGHT. MAYOR WATSON AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS DANIELLA VAYE. I'M A DESIGNER, A HOMEOWNER, AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE AUSTIN HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. I'M HERE TODAY TO URGE YOU TO SUPPORT SECOND READING ONLY FOR THE REZONING OF 29 67 MAINOR ROAD. THIS CASE MATTERS NOT JUST BECAUSE OF WHAT'S BEEN PROPOSED, BUT BECAUSE OF WHAT'S MISSING. WE ARE BEING ASKED TO SUPPORT REMOVING THIS SITE FROM THE M-L-K-T-O-D AND FLIPPING IT TO DB 90. YET THE DB 90 AS IT STANDS, LACKS CRITICAL DESIGN STANDARDS. THIS IS THE FIRST CASE OF ITS KIND, AND IT'S AS PRESENT. WE HAVE ONE CHANCE TO GET THIS RIGHT. OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WAS LARGELY QUIET FOR YEARS, BUT WHEN THIS CASE CAME FORWARD, IT WAS A WAKE UP CALL. WE QUICKLY REALIZED THE LEVEL OF COORDINATION AND EFFORT THAT IT REQUIRED, NOT JUST TO RESPOND, BUT TO BE PROACTIVE, CONSTRUCTIVE, AND INFORMED. IN THE PAST FOUR MONTHS, WE'VE ARRIVED THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. WE ENGAGED WITH CITY STAFF, ORGANIZED ACROSS GENERATIONS OF RESIDENTS. WE'VE BEEN LEARNING FROM PEOPLE LIKE JANE RIVERA, A FOUNDING VOICE IN THE TOD, SOMEONE WHO REMINDED US WHY WE ACTUALLY BOUGHT INTO THE TOD TO BUILD DANCE MIXED USE, WALKABLE HOUSING WITH AND FOR THE COMMUNITY. WE'VE ALSO LEARNED EXPERIENCE FROM JIM WALKER. HE HELPED US NAVIGATE CITY PROCESS WITH CLARITY AND PURPOSE. HE DIDN'T OFFER EASY ANSWERS. HE REMINDED US THAT COMMUNITIES HAVE TO SHOW UP, DO THE WORK, COME PREPARED. WE'RE, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING. WE'RE DRAFTING PRIVATE RESTRICTING COVENANTS, CALLING FOR THINGS LIKE ME, MEANINGFUL MASONRY STANDARDS. UNDERGROUND POWER LINES WERE FEASIBLE. BETTER TRUE PRESERVATION COMMITMENT TO DEEPER AFFORDABILITY FAR BEYOND THE BASE LAND. WE'VE ALSO BEEN BEGUN CONVERSATION WITH TRANSPORTATION ABOUT POTENTIAL RIGHT OF WAY ACCESS THROUGH AIRPORT BOULEVARD, WHICH WOULD TAKE PRESSURE OFF DANGEROUS AND CONGESTED CORNER OF MAINOR. THIS IS NOT RESISTANT, THIS IS RESPONSIBILITY. WE'RE ASKING YOU NOT TO RUSH SOMETHING THAT HAS LASTING CONSEQUENCES. THE OWNER OF THIS LAND HAS NEVER DEVELOPED A PROJECT LIKE THIS BEFORE. THERE IS NO SIDE PLAN, NO KNOWN BUILDER, NO DESIGN TEAM. THE ONLY THING BEING PUSHED FORWARD IS THE ZONING. AS OUR NEIGHBOR, SANDY PUT IT BEST. WHEN THE M STATION APARTMENTS WERE BUILT, WE WERE ALL INVOLVED. THAT KIND OF PROCESS BROUGHT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS TIME IT FEELS LIKE THE MINIMUM HAS BEEN DONE. DOUBLE NOTICES, MYSTERY AROUND COMMERCIAL WAIVERS. WHO IS THIS REALLY FOR? THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO HELP SHAPE A BETTER PROCESS, NOT JUST FOR THIS CASE, BUT FOR FUTURE REZONINGS THAT WILL COME THROUGH AS DV 90 IS ADOPTED CITYWIDE, BECAUSE IT WILL HAPPEN. WE SIMPLY ASK THAT YOU SUPPORT SECOND READING ONLY TODAY, SO THAT WE RESIDENTS THE DEVELOPER, AND THUS CITY CAN KEEP WORKING IN GOOD FAITH AND BRING BACK A MORE COMPLETE, TRANSPARENT AND THOUGHTFUL SOLUTION. WE ARE NOT HERE TO STALL. WE'RE HERE TO, WE'RE HERE TO BUILD BETTER. AND TO MAKE NO MISTAKE, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS WILLING TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO PROTECT THE CHARACTER, THE SAFETY IN THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. CONTINUING ON ITEM 100, WE HAVE NATHAN KENNEDY, JIM WALKER, AND ALEXANDRIA ANDERSON. AND YOUR NAME'S CALLED, IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK, PLEASE COME FORWARD SO WE'LL KNOW YOU WANNA SPEAK. HI, JIM WALKER WITH A CHERRYWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. UH, THE MLK TODD ALSO OVERLAPS CHERRYWOOD. UH, SO WE'RE ADJACENT WITH AUSTIN HEIGHTS. UH, JUST REAL QUICK, I KNOW IT'S A 16-YEAR-OLD PLAN, BUT, UH, THIS IS A PRECEDENT FOR A PRIVATE, SINGLE PRIVATE PROPERTY TO BE CARVED OUT OF A TO. AND I WOULD USE THE POSTPONEMENT TIME HERE TO LOOK AT WHAT THAT KIND OF PRECEDENT MEANS FOR THE E TODDS THAT YOU, YOU ARE DISCUSSING AND PATENT LOOKING AT TONIGHT. UH, 'CAUSE A COUPLE YEARS FROM NOW WHEN THE MARKET CHANGES, THERE MIGHT BE OTHER PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS THAT SUDDENLY DON'T LIKE ONE OF THOSE TAGS AND THEY'RE GONNA TRY TO CARVE OUT. SO, UH, I THINK IT IS AN IMPORTANT PRECEDENT TO BE LOOKED AT. AND OTHER THAN THAT, WE STANDING SUPPORT, UH, WITH AUSTIN HEIGHTS. THANK YOU. CAN, CONTINUING ON ITEM 100, WE HAVE BRAD INGLE, CHRISTOPHER PAGE, JENNY GRAYSON, IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE [07:05:01] MAKE A WAY TO THE PODIUM. I I JUST REALLY WANT TO EMPHASIZE THE POINT THAT WAS JUST MADE THAT, UH, THIS 101 0 1, THIS IS JUST A, SEEMS LIKE A VERY BIZARRE THING TO EVEN BE TALKING ABOUT TODAY IN LIGHT OF ALL THE DISCUSSION WE'VE HAD TODAY, UH, TO HAVE GONE THROUGH THE TROUBLE OF CREATING A TOD AND NOW TO WANT TO CARVE OUT A PIECE OF IT. IT, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE, WHAT ARE WE DOING? YOU KNOW, IT'S PUSH PULL, YOU KNOW, IT MAKES NO SENSE. YOU KNOW, LET'S, LET'S HAVE SOME SOLID, UH, GUIDANCE AND, AND A PLAN OF WHAT'S GOING ON HERE. THIS IS, HAS A POTENTIAL OF SETTING UP A REALLY BAD PRECEDENT. UM, ALEXANDRIA ANDERSON, UH, SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE EAST MLK CONTACT TEAM AND THEN THE MARTIN LUTHER KING NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, WHICH IS ADJACENT TO WHERE THIS DEVELOPMENT IS GONNA BE. WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY OF MEETING DANIELLA AND HER COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOUR MONTHS AGO AND HELPING THEM ALONG WITH JANE BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THEIR COMMUNITY, WHAT'S, WHAT WAS HAPPENING GOING ON IN THEIR COMMUNITY. SO I'M STANDING HERE IN SUPPORT OF SECOND ONLY READING FOR THIS NEIGHBORHOOD TO ALLOW THEM TO WORK MORE ON THAT RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AND UNDERSTANDING AS BRAD JUST SHARED. UM, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA BE PRECEDENT. WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING E TODD'S ALL DAY, AND TO HAVE A CHUNK OF THIS BE PULLED OUT OF THERE, UM, FOR DEVELOPMENT, FOR WHAT REASON? UM, I THINK IT WON'T BE BENEFICIAL TO THE COMMUNITY. SO I JUST ASK YOU GUYS TO CONSIDER THAT FOR THAT SECOND READING. THANK YOU CHRIS. PAGE, DISTRICT ONE AND, UH, I'M IN THE ROSEWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD CONTACT AREA. UM, THIS, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD IS WITHIN THAT AREA AND, UH, I'LL TELL YOU THE MLK TODD IS, UH, A CASE STUDY IN MANY WAYS. NOT ONLY FOR THE GENTRIFICATION THAT IT'S CREATED AND THE LACK OF AFFORDABILITY THAT IT'S GENERATED, BUT ALSO, UH, THE CITY'S UNDER INVESTMENT AND FUNDS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE AVAILABLE FOR THE AFFORDABILITY RATES THAT WERE SET IN THE MLK TODD AND THAT ADE DOT. AND THOSE AFFORDABILITY RATES ARE 25% OF ALL UNITS AT 60% MFI. AND THAT'S BACK WHEN 60% MFI ACTUALLY MEANT SOMETHING. SO HERE WE ARE TODAY LOOKING AT SOMETHING THAT IS A PROTOTYPE FOR HOW TO CUT UP AN ENTIRE TOD. AND IN DOING SO, YOU ELIMINATE THE SPIRIT OF THE MLK TODD, WHICH WAS ANY BONUS HEIGHT REQUIRES AFFORDABILITY FOR 2020 5% OF THE UNITS AT 60% OF MFI AT THAT TIME. AND NOW THAT MFI HAS GONE UP SO MUCH BECAUSE WE'VE HAD SUCH AN INFLUX OF MILLIONAIRES, NOW THEY'RE HIGH INCOME EARNERS, BILLIONAIRES, EVEN WE KNOW THAT WE NEED DEEPER THAN 60% MFI. I'M TALKING 30 TO 50%. AND FRANKLY, IF YOU CAN GO BELOW THAT, DO IT. UM, THIS CASE IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO THESE RESIDENTS, NOT ONLY FOR THOSE REASONS, BUT ALSO IT PRESENTS A HUGE FLOOD RISK. THERE'S ACTUALLY VIDEO FOOTAGE OF THE CURRENT FLOODING THAT EXISTS IN THE INADEQUATE DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S BEEN BUILT THAT'S ACTUALLY PART OF THIS PROPERTY. UM, FRANKLY, I LOOK AT THIS AS ENTIRELY SPECULATION. AND IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE TO REWARD SPECULATORS, THEN WE'LL KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING. UH, AND IF YOU WANNA SEEK GOOD DEVELOPMENT THAT'S DRIVEN BY COMMUNITY AND DONE IN THE SPIRIT OF OUR, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD'S HISTORY, THEN PLEASE WORK WITH THESE RESIDENTS AND COME TO A MEANINGFUL RESOLUTION. THANK YOU. CONTINUING WITH ITEM 100, WE HAVE CARMEN YEZ, HARRIS RESI, AND GERARD KINNEY, CARMEN DISTRICT NINE. CAN'T SAY A WHOLE LOT THAT I HAVEN'T ALREADY SAID, UM, EXCEPT THAT THIS IS PRECEDENT AGAIN. WHEN YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO REQUIRE AFFORDABILITY, WHY ABDICATE YOUR POWER? WHY GIVE IT AWAY? THAT'S WHAT WE'RE BEGGING FOR YOU ALL NOT TO DO. UM, AGAIN, ON THESE DB 90 CASES AND MUCH LIKE E TODD, BECAUSE A LOT OF THAT WAS GOING ON AROUND THE SAME TIME AS HOME, A LOT OF WINDFALLS TO PROPERTY OWNERS, POTENTIAL WINDFALLS IF THEY HAD THE ABILITY TO DEVELOP. AND I, I REMEMBER NOW MAYOR PRO TEM, THEN COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES SAYING, WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TOOLS IN OUR TOOLBOX AND YOU'RE NOT THE FIRST ONE. MANY OF YOU ARE ARE, YOU KNOW, YOU COME WITH THE SAME [07:10:01] PROBLEM THAT'S BEEN HANDED TO YOU. UM, BUT THIS IS A TOOL YOU DO HAVE AND WE'RE JUST ASKING YOU NOT TO GIVE IT AWAY. WHY ABDICATE YOUR POWER TO REQUIRE 25% AFFORDABILITY AT THE RATES THAT MAKE MORE SENSE WHEN WE KNOW WE NEED THEM? WHO IS IT FOR? THANK YOU. HEY, Y'ALL. HARRIS QURESHI HERE. UH, I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE EAST K NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, UH, TO URGE Y'ALL TO CONSIDER SECOND READING ONLY FOR THIS ZONING CASE. BUT I'M ALSO HERE AS A LONGTIME WIZARD PARK RESIDENT WHO LIVES OFF ROCKY AND MAINOR AND, UH, HAS ROLLED MY BIKE DOWN MAYNARD ROAD, UH, TO GO TO THE HIKING BIKE TRAIL COUNTLESS TIME. SO WHEN I WAS TOLD OF, UH, YOU KNOW, SORT OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES AROUND THIS, I WAS LIKE, YEAH, THEY DEFINITELY NEED TO INVEST A LOT MORE AGAIN, IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF EAST AUSTIN, ESPECIALLY ON MAIN ROAD AIRPORT WHERE MAINOR ROAD HAS ESSENTIALLY BECOME EAST CAMPUS, RIGHT? WHERE YOU SEE A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT, A LOT OF UT STUDENTS AROUND THERE. UM, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY ALSO, UH, YOU KNOW, A PART OF SORT OF OLD EAST AUSTIN AS WELL, WHICH HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN SORT OF, UH, UNDER INVESTED IN AS FAR AS INFRASTRUCTURE. AND SO WHEN WE SEE HERE, UM, YOU KNOW, THE 20 BUS, THE 8 37 U METRO, UH, EXPO CENTER, METRO RAPID ROUTE, UH, I THINK WE SHOULD DEFINITELY TAKE A LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, SORT OF THE AMOUNT OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE, UH, WITH THIS SORT OF, YOU KNOW, CRITICAL INTERSECTION, UH, FOR, YOU KNOW, MULTIMODAL, UM, YOU KNOW, SORT OF, UH, WAY OF LIFE AROUND HERE. AND THEN ALSO JUST FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THE AREA AS WELL. UH, SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE ASKING ALL FOR TODAY. APPRECIATE IT. MOVING ON TO ITEM 1 0 1, WE HAVE CARMEN YANES, DANIELLA, VA, DANIELLE, EVA HAS TWO MINUTES DONATED FROM MONICA GUZMAN, WHO'S STILL WITH US. I JUST WANNA SAY THESE TWO ITEMS ARE RELATED. WE'RE SEEKING SECOND READING ONLY, AND WE HOPE YOU GRANTED. THANK YOU. BOTH OF 'EM ARE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR SECOND READING ONLY. CARMEN JANNIS IN SUPPORT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THANK YOU FOR ONLY LOOKING AT SECOND READING AND IF IT FEELS REPETITIVE IS BECAUSE WE'RE HAVING TO BE CALLED AGAIN TO THE SAME SIDES OF TOWN AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN TO TALK ABOUT WHY WE ARE GIVING AWAY MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF BENEFIT TO INVESTORS WITHOUT REALLY NEGOTIATING COMMUNITY BENEFIT AND ASKING FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT IN GOOD FAITH. THANK YOU. CONTINUE WITH ITEM 1 0 1. WE HAVE NATHAN KENNEDY, JIM WALKER, ALEXANDRIA ANDERSON, BRAD MEGO, CHRISTOPHER PAIGE, JENNY GRAYSON, HARRIS, KREI, GERARD KINNEY, THEY'RE ALL HERE TO TEST CHRIS PAGE. SAME AS BEFORE. UM, THE MLK TODD, UH, IS ONE OF THOSE FEW RAIL LINES. IN FACT, IT MAY BE THE ONLY, UH, RAIL RAIL LINE IN THE CITY. AND I KNOW WHEN PROJECT CONNECT WAS PASSED, THERE WAS $300 MILLION OF ANTI DISPLACE ANTI DISPLACEMENT FUNDS THAT WERE POOLED. UH, AND HERE YOU ARE WITH A SPECULATOR THAT'S TRYING TO CUT OUT A CHUNK OF THE TODD, AND IF I COULD HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE, THE 300 MILLION COULD BE USED HERE TO ACTUALLY PREVENT DISPLACEMENT SO THAT WHATEVER BONUS HEIGHT GOES INTO A POTENTIAL DB 90 IS AFFORDABLE IN THE, IN THE WAY THAT WAS PRESCRIBED BY THE MLK TODD. YOU HAVE A RAIL LINE, YOU HAVE UP ZONINGS, YOU HAVE EXPECTATIONS FOR AFFORDABILITY THAT ARE NOT BEING MET. SO WHY WOULDN'T YOU USE THAT FOR THE PEOPLE THAT NEED IT INSTEAD OF RESERVING IT FOR IMAGINARY LINES THAT MAY NEVER BE BUILT. THANK YOU. HEY Y'ALL, HERE'S QURESHI HERE, UH, SPEAKING ON ITEM 1 0 1. AS EVERYBODY ELSE MENTIONED, IT'S PRETTY MUCH RELAYED TO ITEM 100, SO WE'RE JUST ASKING FOR THE SAME STUFF, UM, YOU KNOW, SECOND RING ONLY, AND THAT WE JUST, AGAIN, LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, AS TO ECHO WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE HAS SAID. UM, YOU KNOW, NOT NECESSARILY REWARD SPEC LAYERS AND, YOU KNOW, REAL ESTATE INVESTORS THAT ARE TRYING TO CIRCUMVENT THE PROCESS AND JUST TRY TO PUMP AS MUCH MONEY OUT OF THE AREAS [07:15:01] AS POSSIBLE, BUT INSTEAD TRY TO WORK RESPONSIBLY AND CREATE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN BE PROUD OF, NOT ONLY IN JUST THAT PART OF TOWN, BUT THE CITY OF AUSTIN AS A WHOLE. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. AND MAYOR, MAYOR MADISON AND GIL, ARE YOU GONNA SAY SOMETHING, MAYOR? UM, I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK BRIEFLY TO, UH, LET ME, LEMME, WHEN WE FINISH THIS, SOMETHING GOING ON MMFI, UH, AND, AND THE, THE, THE CURRENT AFFORDABILITY THAT THE TODD AFFORDS RIGHT NOW, UH, THAT IN DURING RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THAT THERE'S 37 BILLIONAIRES IN AUSTIN. NOW THERE'S OVER 3000 MULTIMILLIONAIRES, A HUNDRED OF THOSE OR A HUNDRED MILLIONAIRE MILLIONAIRES. THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY. THE MFI IS BEING DRIVEN UP. YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO, TO EXCLUDE THESE HIGHER ECHELON EARNERS FROM THE MFI OR TO CALIBRATE THESE, UH, THESE FIGURES TO WHERE IT REFLECTS THE BROADER POPULATION AND NOT THE ELITE CLASS THAT'S TAKEN OVER THE TOWN. UM, THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT, BUT I, I DEFINITELY SUPPORT THE SECOND READING ONLY. ALL ZONING CONSENT SPEAKERS HAVE BEEN CALLED AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MEMBERS. ALL THE CONSENT ZONING SPEAKERS HAVE BEEN CALLED, UH, MOMENTARILY. WE'LL GO BACK TO THE MOTION, BUT, UM, I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER VELA WANTS TO REPRESENT, UH, WANTS TO, UH, INTRODUCE PEOPLE THAT ARE ALL SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON 1 0 2 . THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO WELCOME THE RILEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SCOUTS AND THEIR PARENTS HERE TO, UH, THIS, UH, COUNCIL MEETING. I, I HAD THE PLEASURE OF, UH, SPEAKING AT THE SCHOOL, AT THE LIBRARY, UH, A FEW, UH, WEEKS BACK. AND, UH, THEY ASKED ME QUESTIONS AND I GOTTA SAY IT WAS SOME OF THE TOUGHEST QUESTIONING I'VE HAD AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL. UH, AND IT'S A PLEASURE TO, UH, HAVE 'EM HERE AND WELCOME TO CITY HALL. I APPRECIATE Y'ALL DOING YOUR CIVIC DUTY AND HOPEFULLY EARNING YOUR CIVIC BADGES AND IRE. I LOOK FORWARD TO Y'ALL BECOMING RESPONSIBLE AND ENGAGED AND INVOLVED CITIZENS IN THE FUTURE. UH, UH, WELCOME AND, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING AND VISITING US HERE AT, AT CITY HALL. GREAT TO HAVE Y'ALL HERE. THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT. KEEP IT UP. ALRIGHT, MEMBERS, THAT'LL TAKE US BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION, WHICH IS TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IT WAS READ. UH, LET ME ASK IF THERE'S ANYONE WISHING TO PULL AN ADDITIONAL ITEM OFF THE CONSENT AGENDA. I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND ASK THE QUESTIONS THAT I TYPICALLY ASK. IS ANYONE WISHING TO ABSTAIN FROM ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ANYONE WISHING TO RECUSE THEMSELVES FROM A VOTE ON ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN I SIX COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN WILL BE SHOWN STANDING ON A 76, BUT HANG ON, WHILE I'M, I'M SO GLAD YOU MENTIONED THE NUMBER 76. UM, MS. HARDIN, WILL YOU COME UP? THERE WAS A STATEMENT MADE DURING THE, THE TESTIMONY THAT, UH, THERE WAS A, UH, A REQUEST FOR A POSTPONEMENT ON 76. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE DON'T HAVE A RECORD OF THAT POSTPONEMENT REQUEST, UH, CORRECT MAYOR. UM, I DID NOT RECEIVE ANY CORRESPONDENCE, UM, FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THAT'S WHY STAFF OFFERED THAT ES CONSENT ALL THREE INSTEAD OF A NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT REQUEST. I DID WANNA PUT THAT ON THE RECORD BECAUSE WE TYPICALLY DEFINITELY TALK TO NEIGHBORHOODS AND OFFER, UM, THEIR REQUESTS OR SPEAK TO THAT REQUEST, AND I DID NOT HAVE THAT. SO HEARING IT HERE FIRST WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT I HEARD THAT REQUEST. WHAT IS THE TYPICAL POLICY? IF YOU GET A WRITTEN NEIGHBORHOOD REQUEST? I WOULD OFFER IT AS SUCH, OR I'D BE SPEAKING WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD, SPEAKING WITH THE APPLICANT, SPEAKING WITH, WITH THE FIRST REQUEST, ALWAYS WITH THE RIGHT FIRST REQUEST. ABSOLUTELY. OKAY. UM, MEMBERS, I, I JUST WANTED TO CALL THAT OUT AND THANK YOU FOR REMINDING ME. I'VE GOT, I'VE GOT A NOTE TO ASK THAT QUESTION AND DIDN'T DO IT, SO I APOLOGIZE. UH, MEMBERS, ANYBODY YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT ITEM? IS IT POSSIBLE TO INITIATE ? WELL, THE ONLY WAY CERTAINLY, BUT WE, WE WOULD, WE'D HAVE TO DO SOMETHING WITH THE MOTION THAT WE HAVE, UM, BECAUSE WE ALREADY HAVE A MOTION TO, TO PASS THIS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. AND THE WAY IT'S TYPICALLY DONE IS IF, IF THE COUNSEL CAN, CAN OVERRIDE, IF YOU WILL, AND, AND ALLOW FOR THAT KIND OF POSTPONEMENT. BUT IN THIS CASE, WE WOULD HAVE TO, UH, AMEND THE MOTION, THE CONSENT AGENDA SO THAT WE WOULD HAVE THAT. AND, AND I, I, I'M, I'M LOOKING AROUND AND I'M NOT SURE IT'D [07:20:01] PASS. SO, BUT IF, IF THAT, I'LL OFFER WELL LET, LET, WE'LL SEE IF YOU GET A SECOND. UM, THE MO COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN IS MOVING TO AMEND THE MOTION, WHICH WOULD BE TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS READ. SO THAT AS PART OF THE CONSENT AGENDA, ITEM NUMBER 76 WOULD BE POSTPONED. DO YOU HAVE A TIME IN MIND POSTPONED TO THE JUNE 5TH MEETING? IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ. UM, THE DISCUSSION WILL BE ON THE MOTION TO AMEND THE MOTION TO AMEND WOULD BE THAT ITEM 76 WOULD BE POSTPONED FOR TWO WEEKS. UH, MAY MAYOR, YES. IF THERE IS A SPEAKER, I THINK THE APPLICANT MAY WANNA SPEAK TO THAT. THERE'S NOT A, WELL, WE TYPICALLY, I, I GUESS WE NEED TO, UH, DO THAT. THAT'S WHY WE TRY NOT TO DO THIS COUNCIL MEMBER. BUT, UM, UH, AT THE LAST MINUTE, UH, LET ME, LET ME ASK, IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO HEAR FROM ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS ON THE ITEM? THE MOTION TO AMEND? UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO AMEND, RAISE YOUR HAND. END ALL THOSE OPPOSED? RAISE YOUR HAND. WE GONNA HAVE ABSTENTIONS? NO. OKAY. ALL RIGHT THEN LET ME DO THAT AGAIN. YOU, YOU, YOU NEED TO HOLD YOUR HAND UP LONG ENOUGH FOR ME TO COUNT YOUR VOTE. UM, YEAH, YOU, YEAH, YOUR VOTE'S. YOU'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. UH, UCHIN. UM, ALRIGHT, LEMME JUST DO THIS, ALTHOUGH WE OUGHT, WELL, IT, IT, WE OUGHT TO HEAR FROM, I, I, I'VE NOW GOT ENOUGH OF A FEEL FOR THIS. WE OUGHT TO HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT BEFORE WE JUST WILLY-NILLY DO THIS. UM, HELLO MICHAEL WHALEN ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT. UH, I GUESS HERE FOR ANOTHER POSTPONEMENT REQUEST, I'M NOT GONNA DO A PRESENTATION. WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT THE POSTPONEMENT. CORRECT. THANK YOU. UM, THE, THE HISTORY OF THIS CASE IS, UH, MET WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION BACK IN FEBRUARY, HAD A MARCH, UH, MID-MARCH, MARCH 22ND, I THINK, OR OR MID-MARCH, UH, PLANNING, COMMISSION MEETING. IT WAS POSTPONED FOR 30 DAYS TILL MID-APRIL OR APRIL. IT'S IN THE PACKET APRIL 25TH, I THINK. UM, WE ANSWERED QUESTIONS. WE DID A FAQ ANSWERED THEIR QUESTIONS IN THE INTERIM, AND NOW WE'RE HERE, UH, WITH THE WIDE SUPPORT AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION. OKAY. REMEMBER THOSE IN FAVOR OF, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU. OKAY. YES, MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK YOU. SHE HAS A QUESTION. THE MAYOR PRO TEM HAS A QUESTION. YES. MR. IAN, IS THERE ANY ISSUES WITH A TWO WEEK POSTPONEMENT THAT WE SHOULD BE AWARE OF? NO, THERE'S NO ISSUES. UH, AND I THINK, UH, IF THIS IS GONNA BE CONSIDERED THE FIRST NEIGHBORHOOD REQUEST FOR A POSTPONEMENT TWO WEEKS, UH, IS FINE, I GUESS AT THIS POINT. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND THAT'S, THAT WAS YOUR INTENT. COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN WAS A NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT. THANK YOU. UH, WITH THAT TESTIMONY, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE MOTION TO AMEND IS, WOULD, WOULD BE GRANTED. UM, AND THEREFORE, ITEM NUMBER 76 AS PART OF THE CONSENT AGENDA WOULD BE POSTPONED FOR TWO WEEKS AND RECOGNIZED AS A, A NEIGHBORHOOD PO REQUEST FOR A NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT. IS THERE ANY OBJECTION, HEARING NONE? UH, THE MOTION IS ADOPTED. ALRIGHT, NOW WE GO BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION AND I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT MAY WANT TO SPEAK ON THE MAIN MOTION. ANYBODY WISH TO SPEAK ON THE MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED? COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL. THANKS, MAYOR. I KNOW WE'RE TIRED, SO I'LL JUST BE QUICK. UM, ITEM 74 IS A GREAT CASE. UH, IT'S THIS OLD MASSIVE PARKING LOT WHERE THERE'S A HOBBY LOBBY AND IT REALLY CONNECTS TO THIS VISION FOR THE NORTH LAMAR TRANSIT, UH, CENTER. UM, SO REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK OF DISTRICT FOUR AND TIMOTHY BRAY AND COUNCIL MEMBER VELA. UM, I HEARD THE CONCERNS FROM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT TRANSIT AND SAFETY ON THE ROADS. I THINK ALL OF THESE PLANNING PROJECTS, UH, A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE SAFETY, IMPROVE MOBILITY, UH, AND SO I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. ALL RIGHT. THAT TAKES US BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION, WHICH IS TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS READ AND AS AMENDED FOR ITEM NUMBER 76. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH THAT BEING THE CASE? UM, WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ADOPTED. ALL RIGHT. THAT WILL TAKE US BACK TO ITEM NUMBER 70, UH, MEMBERS. ITEM NUMBER 70. HANG ON ONE SECOND. [07:25:06] MS. HARDEN, IF YOU'D LIKE TO BEGIN. UH, YES. THANK YOU, MAYOR. ITEM 70 ON YOUR AGENDA IS CASE NUMBER C 1 4 20 24 0 1 8 1. FAR WEST MULTIFAMILY. THE PROPERTY IS A ROUGHLY 10 ACRE LOT. THEIR FRONTS ONTO HEART LANE NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF FAR WEST BOULEVARD. IT IS LOCATED IN FAR WEST CENTER AS DESIGNATED BY THE IMAGINE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. IT IS CURRENTLY ZONED MF THREE AND IS DEVELOPED WITH THREE MULTI-FAMILY BUILDINGS CONTAINING ROUGHLY 209 RESIDENTIAL UNITS. THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING GR VCO DB 90. ADDITIONALLY, THE APPLICANT HAS REQUESTED A FULL MODIFICATION OF THE DB 90 PEDESTRIAN ORIENTED COMMERCIAL SPACES REQUIREMENT STAFF, AND THE ZONING AND PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMEND GRANTING THE REZONING AND MODIFICATION. THE APPLICANT HAS INDICATED THAT THE PROJECT WOULD CONSIST OF APPROXIMATELY 650 TO 700 RESIDENTIAL UNITS, INCLUDING ROUGHLY 78 TO 84 UNITS MEETING THE DB 90 AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. ALRIGHT. UM, BEFORE WE GO TO SPEAKERS, I, I, I, I WANT TO JUST SAY ONE THING AND, AND WE'LL GO TO THE SPEAKERS, BUT, UH, ON BEHALF OF JUST, JUST MYSELF ON THIS, UH, TOMORROW I'M GOING TO HAVE A RESOLUTION THAT'S GOING TO BE JOINED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS, VELAZQUEZ AND VELA, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, CADRE AND SIEGEL RELATED TO DB 90. UM, UH, FROM MY, MY PERSONAL POINT OF VIEW, AND IT'S JUST ME TALKING, BUT I WANT OTHERS TO HEAR THIS, UH, THE REASON WE'RE DOING THAT IS, BUT THIS IS FROM MY PERSONAL POINT OF VIEW, IS THAT DB 90 HAS BEEN AN EXTREMELY UNHAPPY EXPERIENCE IN OUR EFFORTS TO DO GOOD IN THE CITY. THAT'S NOT, UH, AND I WANNA BE VERY CLEAR, THE EFFORT AND THE GOALS ARE WELL MOTIVATED IN MY VIEW, BUT IN MY VIEW, IT HAS CREATED SIGNIFICANT UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES, INCLUDING CREATING SERIOUS DIVISION IN OUR COMMUNITY AND SERIOUSLY CONTRIBUTED TO MAKING SOME PEOPLE FEEL HELPLESS BECAUSE IT IS LIKE HAVING AN AXE. AND THAT'S THE ONLY TOOL THAT WE, WE ARE, WE'RE JUST SWINGING AN AXE, UH, FOR SOME TIME SINCE ITS PASSAGE NOW, I HAVE BEEN WORKING AND CAJOLING AND HOPING AND BEGGING THAT WE FIGURE OUT A WAY THAT WE ACHIEVE OUR, OUR POSITIVE GOALS, OUR WELL-MOTIVATED GOALS FOR DB 90, UH, AND, AND MITIGATE OR ELIMINATE THE PAIN THAT DB 90 IS CAUSED. LET'S, LET'S BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT SOMETHING. AUSTIN IS NOW IN THE VANGUARD WHEN IT COMES TO HOUSING AND AFFORDABILITY IN THIS NATION. PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE LOOKING TO US AND ASKING ABOUT HOW WE'RE DOING THINGS AND, AND THAT'S, THAT IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD FEEL GOOD ABOUT IN THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE IN THE LAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS. BUT WHEN YOU DO THINGS, WHEN YOU'RE, YOU TRY TO BE CREATIVE, WHEN YOU TRY TO FIX THINGS THAT HAD BEEN BROKEN BEFORE, IT'S NOT ALWAYS GONNA WORK. IT'S NOT ALWAYS GONNA BE PERFECT. SO, UH, TOMORROW I WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW THAT, THAT WE'LL BE POSTING. IF WE NOT TONIGHT, WE'LL BE POSTING A, A RESOLUTION. AND I APPRECIATE MY CO-SPONSORS ON THAT, THAT ARE HELPING WORK ON THAT, UH, WI WITH ME, UH, BECAUSE WE NEED TO GET TO SOMETHING THAT THAT'S BETTER. MAYOR PRO TIM, THANK YOU MAYOR, AND THANK YOU FOR OPENING UP THE CONVERSATION AROUND DB 90. I AM REALLY PLEASED TO HEAR THAT YOU WILL BRING FORWARD AN ITEM TO ADDRESS OUR DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM. CERTAINLY FOR ME, HEARING THE CONCERNS FROM OUR COMMUNITY, I TOO, MM-HMM . WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE UPDATING OUR PROGRAMS, THAT WE'RE CALIBRATING IT PENDING THE FEEDBACK THAT WE'VE HEARD ABOUT THESE PROGRAMS. WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF DB 90 CASES, PARTICULARLY ON THE EAST SIDE. YEP. UH, I KNOW WE HAVE A HIGHLY CONTENT CONTENTIOUS ONE THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO CONSIDER HERE IN MOMENTARILY. UH, SO CERTAINLY WOULD LOVE TO SEE AN UPDATE TO THAT PROGRAM. AND I'M PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN LOOKING AT THE ONE FOR ONE REPLACEMENT YES. ON AFFORDABLE UNITS. YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT SITE GOT LOST IN THE, IN THE CONVERSATION, SO I JUST WANTED TO FLAG THAT I TOO, UM, WILL SUPPORT YOUR, YOUR ITEM ONCE THAT'S POSTED AND AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC CONSTRUCTION AND, AND WHAT YOU, YOU RAISED IT, YOU, YOU'VE CAUSED ME TO THINK OF A REALLY IMPORTANT POINT. ONE ONE WHEN WE'LL POST ALL THAT, IT'LL ALL BE POSTED. AND THEN I WILL UTILIZE THE MESSAGE BOARD FREQUENTLY AS AS WE GO, AS WE, AS WE THINK OF THINGS. SO THAT THAT IDEAS AND, AND ISSUES THAT, THAT OTHERS THAT MAY NOT BE PART OF THE SPONSORSHIP ON THIS COME UP WITH [07:30:01] CAN PUT THAT INTO THE MESSAGE BOARD SO THAT WE CAN HAVE, WE CAN USE THE MESSAGE BOARD IN A WAY IT WAS INTENDED AND GET THE KIND OF DISCUSSION GOING THAT, THAT WILL BE HELPFUL IN THAT REGARD. UM, I THOUGHT I SAW ANOTHER HAND GO UP. COUNCIL MEMBER LANE , I ALSO APPRECIATE YOU OPENING THIS TOPIC. UM, I DO DEFINITELY SUPPORT CHANGES, UM, IN THIS AREA. AND I HOPE THAT PART OF THAT EFFORT WILL ALSO INCLUDE, UM, WE HAVE THIS AX OF DB 90 AND WE NEED MORE TOOLS THAT CAN PROVIDE A CATALYST FOR AFFORDABILITY IN AREAS WITH LOWER PROPERTY VALUES IN OUR OUTLYING AREAS THAT AREN'T JUST HEIGHT, WHICH DRIVES EXPENSE. AND I FIND THAT LACKING IN SOME OF THESE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENTS AS WELL AS SOME OF THE ETOS. AND I APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORT TO BRING IT FORWARD. I LOOK FORWARD TO FINDING A WAY TO ADD THOSE TOOLS. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. ANYTHING ELSE BEFORE? YES, COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M CERTAINLY LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT YOU AND THE SUBOR YOU'RE IN WILL PRODUCE AND WE'LL BE TRACKING THIS VERY CLOSELY ON THE MESSAGE BOARD. I THINK ONE THING I JUST REALLY WANNA HIGHLIGHT BEFORE WE BEGIN TO, UH, ITEM 70 IS THE, WHAT I FEEL LIKE IS REALLY PROBLEMATIC, UH, RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THAT WE'RE SEEING HERE. AND I KNOW THAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SEEN IN THEIR OWN DISTRICTS OVER THE LAST EIGHT OR NINE MONTHS, HOW DB 90 IN PARTICULAR IS INTERACTING WITH NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR NOA. I THINK IT'S, FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN, IT'S DISAPPEARING FROM THE CITY AT AN ALARMING RATE. AND IT'S PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT TO FIND A DISTRICT 10. AND I THINK IT'S VERY MUCH LONG OVERDUE THAT WE START CONSIDERING NOA AS A PRECIOUS RESOURCE FOR THE CITY AND VERY MUCH NEEDS TO BE PART OF, I THINK ANY CONVERSATION THAT WE CAN HAVE AROUND HOW TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IN A LONG-TERM WAY. I THINK NOW MIGHT BE A, IF I COULD TAKE ONE MORE MINUTE, MIGHT BE A GOOD SEGUE, UH, TO JUST TALK ABOUT ONE PARTICULAR THING THAT I'M EXPLORING AND HOPING TO INTRODUCE TO THE COUNCIL SOON. UM, I WANT TO THANK THE CITY MANAGER FOR HIRING DR. JOHNSON AS AN A CM IN CHARGE OF OUR HOUSING PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, AMONG OTHER THINGS. AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, MY UNDERSTANDING IS HE IS A NOAA EXPERT AND HAS ALREADY MADE TIME TO VISIT WITH US SEVERAL TIMES SINCE HE JOINED BEGINNING OF THIS MONTH, LAST WEEK OR TWO, UH, I'VE DROPPED OFF ON EVERYBODY'S DESK, A PACKET ABOUT THE PROGRAM THAT HE HELPED START IN DALLAS. AND SIMILAR PROGRAMS HAVE, UH, BEEN INITIATED AROUND THE COUNTRY IN DIFFERENT MUNICIPALITIES. EVERYTHING FROM, UH, IN THE TENS OF MILLIONS TO HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN HOUSING DEDICATED OR OR FUNDING DEDICATED TO THE PRESERVATION OF NOAA PROPERTIES AND HIS WORK IN DALLAS. THEY STARTED WITH A NOMINAL AMOUNT, I THINK ABOUT $6 MILLION AND USE THAT TO GENERATE A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS FUND. AND IF YOU GUYS LOOK ON PAGE FOUR OF THIS PACKET I'VE LEFT, YOU CAN SEE HOW IT WORKS. THEY CARRY, THEY FIND DEBT INVESTORS, EQUITY INVESTORS, AND GRANT INVESTORS TO MAGNIFY THE POWER OF THAT FUND. UH, AND THEN IF YOU SKIP AROUND TO I BELIEVE PAGE 11, YOU CAN SEE WHAT THEY'VE DONE IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. EVERYTHING FROM A HALF BILLION DOLLAR FUND IN THE, THE BAY AREA, $50 MILLION IN DETROIT, A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS IN NEW YORK, $43 MILLION IN CHARLOTTE AND ON, UH, IN ADDITION TO THE WORK THEY DID IN DALLAS. AND THEN FINALLY, UH, 15 AND PAGES 15 AND 17 WILL GIVE YOU SOME BACKGROUND ON SPECIFICS FROM DALLAS. ESSENTIALLY THEY, IN THAT A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLAR FUND, THEY WERE ABLE TO, UH, THE, THE PLAN IS TO ACQUIRE OR BUY DOWN 5,000 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT A MINIMUM OF 15 YEARS. SO MY HOPE IS THAT THAT'S SOMETHING, AND, AND, AND I THINK THE OTHER GOOD NEWS FROM WHAT I'VE GATHERED IS IT DOESN'T TAKE THAT MUCH TIME TO IMPLEMENT THESE PLANS. THEY CAN BE DONE IN AS LITTLE AS THREE MONTHS FROM WHAT I'M TOLD. SO MY HOPE IS THAT WE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO PRIORITIZE, UH, GETTING SOMETHING LIKE THIS DONE IN AUSTIN. IT'S PROBABLY LONG OVERDUE AND I THINK IT'D BE A REALLY VALUABLE STEP FOR HOW WE TACKLE THIS PROBLEM. NOT JUST IN THIS CASE, NOT JUST IN MY DISTRICT, BUT CITYWIDE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER. ALRIGHT. WITH ALL, UNLESS THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE, UH, I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK AND WE'LL HEAR FROM PEOPLE THAT WANNA COMMENT ON ITEM NUMBER 70 SINCE THIS IS A DISCUSSION. OH YES. HANG ON. HANG ON ONE SECOND. COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, I APPRECIATE IT. I'LL BE REAL BRIEF. UM, I, I ALSO VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS FORWARD, [07:35:01] UM, IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. YOU KNOW, THE TEAM D ONE IN EVERY ITERATION THAT WE'VE HAD SINCE 19 IS, YOU KNOW, BEEN SORT OF AIMING AT OUR AFFORDABILITY PROGRAMS AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'VE BEEN, UM, SOME SUCCESSES. UM, AND THERE HAVE BEEN SOME, SOME MISSES FRANKLY. AND SO HEARING FROM BOTH OUR CONSTITUENTS AND DEVELOPERS THAT THEY HAVE ISSUES WITH DB NINETIES, UM, I, I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT WE'RE TAKING ANOTHER LOOK. AND I, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, YOU KNOW, US NOT HAVING GOTTEN A COMPREHENSIVE REWRITE OF OUR LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE MEANS THAT WE SUBSEQUENTLY HAVE BEEN REALLY PIECEMEAL IN THIS THING. AND SO TO YOUR POINT FROM EARLIER, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'RE GONNA MISS IT SOMETIMES. AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU'RE PIECEMEAL AND HAD WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY, IN MY OPINION, TO DO IT COMPREHENSIVELY, I REALLY THINK A LOT OF THESE, UM, THE THINGS THAT AREN'T QUITE RIGHT, UM, WOULD WORK BETTER IF THEY HAD, UM, COMPANION ITEMS. THAT'S IT. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT. AND UM, JUST AS A REMINDER, YOU KNOW, THAT HOUSING AND PLANNING COMMITTEE, THIS IS THE KIND OF THING THAT WE WOULD'VE, YOU KNOW, LOVED TO HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO AS THAT BODY WITH THAT STAFF AND OUR ADVISORS, UM, TAKE SOME CONSIDERATION AROUND, BUT I ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT TO SOME DEGREE, I THINK SOMETIMES VETTING THOSE KINDS OF ITEMS THROUGH THE COMMITTEES DOESN'T GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY GET IT MORE, UM, ROBUSTLY DEVELOPED PRIOR TO IT BEING, UH, AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC CONSUMPTION. BUT THAT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'D LIKE TO PUT ON AN ITEM FOR FUTURE CONSIDERATION FOR THE HOUSING AND PLANNING COMMITTEE IS TO REALLY TALK ABOUT OUR, OUR DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS. YEAH. UH, GOOD IDEA. AND AS WE GET A LITTLE FURTHER IN WHAT WE'RE ATTEMPTING TO DO, WE OUGHT TO BRING IT TO YOUR COMMITTEE. WE'LL DO THAT. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU MR. MAYOR. GOOD IDEA. ALRIGHT, LET'S, UH, HEAR FROM THE FOLKS SINCE THIS IS A DISCUSSION ITEM. WE'LL START WITH THE APPLICANT. UM, THEY'LL HAVE FIVE MINUTES ON DECK WILL BE THE OPPOSING REPRESENTATIVE, CELINE RENDON. MICHAEL WHEEN IS AT THE PODIUM. THANK YOU MICHAEL. WHEEN ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT, OBVIOUSLY I APPRECIATE THIS IS A DIFFICULT CASE AND THAT THE FOCUS APPROPRIATELY HAS BEEN ON HOUSING POLICY CHALLENGES THAT THIS CASE HAS ELEVATED. I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THREE OF THE MAJOR CHALLENGES FACING THE CITY TO MEETING HOUSING GOALS, ESPECIALLY IN THIS DISTRICT. ONE, THE LACK OF AN EXISTING HOUSING PIPELINE THAT IS THE LACK OF NEW HOUSING THAT CAN HELP MEET CURRENT DEMAND AND AGE ULTIMATELY INTO NATURAL AFFORDABILITY. TWO, THE LACK OF AREAS DESIGNATED FOR HOUSING GROWTH SUCH AS IMAGINE AUSTIN CENTERS. AND THREE, THE LACK OF PROPERTY ZONED FOR MULTIFAMILY AND AFFORDABILITY DENSITY BONUSES. JANE JACOBS IN HER OFTEN CITED BOOK, THE DEATH AND LIFE OF THE GREAT AMERICAN CITIES, WHICH HAS BEEN REFERRED TO AS A FOUNDATIONAL TEXT OF HUMANE URBAN PLANNING, DESCRIBE THE NEED FOR HOUSING PIPELINE. NOTING THAT QUOTE, SOME OF THE OLD BUILDINGS YEAR BY YEAR ARE REPLACED BY NEW ONES OR REHABILITATED TO A DEGREE EQUIVALENT TO REPLACEMENT END QUOTE. AND WITH QUOTE, WHAT WAS ONCE NEW IN THE MIXTURE OF EVENTUALLY BECOMING WHAT IS OLD IN THE HOUSING MIXTURE. THIS HELPS CREATE A CONTINUOUS PIPELINE OF HOUSING, OF DIFFERENT AGES TO MEET HOUSING DEMAND, EVEN AS SOME PROPERTIES REACH THEIR END OF LIFE. AT THE SAME TIME, THIS PROCESS CAN ALSO CREATE TENSION AS NEW UNITS WILL NECESSARILY NEED TO COVER, UH, THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION TO HELP SOLVE FOR THIS ISSUE, THE CITY HAS ESTABLISHED DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS LIKE DB 90 TO MAKE A DOWN PAYMENT ON AFFORDABILITY. IN TEXAS, PROPERTIES ALWAYS HAVE THE OPTION TO REDEVELOP UNDER THEIR BASE ENTITLEMENTS, BUT CITIES CAN ENCOURAGE AFFORDABILITY THROUGH DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS, WHICH LEVERAGE EXISTING MARKET PRESSURES TO ENSURE THAT A PORTION OF NEW UNITS ARE AFFORDABLE ON DAY ONE. FOR PROPERTIES THAT HAVE REACHED END OF LIFE, THE ALTERNATIVE IS OFTEN EITHER A FULLY MARKET RATE PROJECT OR A DENSITY BONUS PROJECT WITH AFFORDABLE UNITS ON DAY ONE. THESE DENSITY UNIT, THESE DENSITY PROGRAMS, UH, ALSO PROVIDE MEANINGFUL TENANT ASSISTANCE THAT THE CITY CANNOT OTHERWISE REQUIRE UNDER THE BASE ZONING. IN ADDITION TO THE REQUIRED TENANT ASSISTANCE, THE PROPERTY OWNER WILL HELP TENANTS IDENTIFY HOUSING ACCOMMODATIONS IN THIS CASE. WE ALSO HAVE THE ABILITY TO MITIGATE IMPACTS THROUGH THE APPROXIMATELY 2,293 COMPARABLY PRICED VACANCIES THAT EXIST IN SOME OF THE OLDER COMPLEXES IN THE AREA, WHICH COULD HELP RESIDENTS REMAIN IN THIS PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOOD. I THINK IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN MIND THAT THERE IS A NEED TO PLAN FOR GROWTH AND TO REPLENISH THE HOUSING PIPELINE IN DISTRICT 10. IN PARTICULAR, THIS MAP SHOWS APPROVED DB 90 CASES AS PURPLE PINPOINTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. TO DATE, THERE HAVE BEEN TWO DB 90 CASES IN DISTRICT 10 THAT'S SHOWN IN BLUE, THAT'S DISTRICT 10, ONE OF WHICH IS WEST OF MOPAC. THE OTHER ONE IS JUST 0.27 ACRES AND ONLY 12 UNITS ON THE EAST SIDE OF MOPAC. ONE OF THE CHALLENGES IS THAT CITY POLICIES GENERALLY DIRECT GROWTH TOWARD [07:40:01] IMAGINE AUSTIN CENTERS, YET THERE ARE A FEW SUCH AREAS DESIGNATED IN DISTRICT 10 TO DATE FOCUSING PRESSURE ON THESE MORE LIMITED LOCATIONS. THIS CASE SITS IN THE ONLY GROWTH AREA THAT IS COMPLETELY WITHIN DISTRICT 10, WHICH IS SHOWN IN THE START AREA ON THE MAP. THE OTHER KEY CHALLENGE IS THAT THERE ARE RELATIVELY FEW AREAS IN DISTRICT 10 ZONED FOR MULTIFAMILY. THIS CHART BREAKS DOWN ALL AREAS IN DISTRICT 10 ZONE FOR RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL, OR MIXED USE ZONING EXCLUDING INDUSTRIAL AGRICULTURAL SPECIAL SPECIAL DISTRICTS LIKE PUDS. AS YOU CAN SEE, MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED USE PROPERTIES HAVE THE SMALLEST SHARE 7%. THIS COMBINED WITH THE LIMITED AREAS DESIGNATED FOR GROWTH IN DISTRICT 10. PRESENT KEY CHALLENGES TO ACHIEVING HOUSING GOALS IN DISTRICT 10. SO WHAT ARE THE POLICY IMPLICATIONS FROM THIS INFORMATION? FIRST, WE BELIEVE IT IS CRITICAL TO ADD TO THE HOUSING PIPELINE AND TO DO SO IN A WAY THAT MANDATES DAY ONE, AFFORDABILITY AND TENANT PROTECTIONS, WHICH WOULD NOT OTHERWISE EXIST. THIS CASE WOULD PROVIDE BOTH WHAT WE, UH, WE ASK THAT YOU APPROVE DB 90 HERE TO ACHIEVE THOSE OUTCOMES. WE BELIEVE THIS IS A SUPERIOR, THIS IS SUPERIOR TO REDEVELOPMENT UNDER THE EXISTING ZONING, WHICH ONLY ALLOWS FOR NEW MARKET RATE HOUSING WITH NO TENANT PROTECTIONS SEPARATELY, IT MAY BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE CITY TO CONSIDER STRATEGIES FOR PRESERVING AND REHABILITATING OLDER PROPERTIES IN THE AREA TO SEE WHAT ASSISTANCE THEY MAY NEED BEFORE THEY REACH END OF LIFE AS THIS ONE HAS. FINALLY, IT MAY ALSO BE APPROPRIATE TO IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS FOR GROWTH THAT CAN HELP ACHIEVE NEW HOUSING IN DISTRICT 10 RATHER THAN FOCUSING IT NARROWLY ON CERTAIN AREAS. THANK YOU AGAIN. HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, UH, RELATED TO THIS CASE RELATED TO, UH, VERTICAL MIXED USE OR RELATED TO, UH, MF THREE, WHICH IS WHAT THE SITE IS CURRENTLY ZONED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MR. WAYLAND. WE'LL NOW HEAR IN THE, UH, SOMEONE FROM THE OPPOSITION AND YOU'LL HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE OPPOSITION AND YOU'LL HAVE FIVE MINUTES. YES, WE HAVE CELINE RONE. UM, HI Y'ALL. CELINE RONE. I LIVE IN DISTRICT EIGHT, BUT I'M SHARING RESIDENCE, UH, VIDEOS THAT COULDN'T MAKE IT HERE TODAY. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ERIC GOMEZ, RESIDENT OF VACATION CLIFFS SINCE 2016 IN MARK UCHIN, DISTRICT 10. I'VE BEEN A FEDERAL EMPLOYEE IN THE IRS FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS, AND I WAS A SCHOOL TEACHER FOR 28 YEARS. PRIOR TO THAT, I'M A GOVERNMENT WORKER ALREADY UNDER SIEGE AND I CAN'T AFFORD MORE THAN $1,000 IN RENT. IF I DO, I EAT LESS, I SAVE MUCH LESS FOR RETIREMENT. IF I GET GENTRIFIED OUT OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, I WILL HAVE TO TRY TO FIND A PLACE WHICH WILL INEVITABLY BE FURTHER AWAY FROM WORK, WHICH MEANS MORE GAS, MORE RENT, LESS TIME. EVERYONE WHO KNOWS ME CAN ATTEST THAT I LIKE EVERYONE TO GET ALONG. I'M A PEACEKEEPER. I LIKE EVERYONE TO DO THE RIGHT THING, BUT I DO NOT FEEL PEACEFUL, NOT TODAY. ALLOWING THE DEVELOPERS TO DESTROY A PATIENT LIST UNDER DB 90 IS MALFEASANCE PURE AND SIMPLE. DB 90 WAS DESIGNED TO INCREASE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN EXISTING COMMERCIAL AREAS, NOT TO DESTROY MULTI-FAMILY SPACES WHERE NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING ALREADY EXIST. IF PASSED, YOU ALLOW THE DEVELOPERS TO RE PROTEST TEST PROFITS AT THE EXPENSE OF LOW INCOME FAMILIES. OVER 200 AFFORDABLE UNITS WILL VANISH, BUT REALLY ALL 290 UNITS WILL DISAPPEAR. THE 84 UNITS THAT THE DEVELOPER IS REQUIRED TO PRESERVE WILL INEVITABLY HAVE A RENT INCREASE BEYOND WHAT WE THE RESIDENTS CAN'T AFFORD. YOU KNOW, THERE IS A DIRE SCARCITY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WHY WOULD YOU ALLOW THIS SOMETHING LOST IN TRANSLATION? WE, DID SOMEONE CONTRIBUTE TO POLITICAL CAMPAIGN? WERE YOU COERCED? LACK OF KNOWLEDGE, I DON'T KNOW. BUT WE ARE NOT GOING AWAY. WE REFUSE TO BE GENTRIFIED OUT OF OUR BELOVED NEIGHBORHOOD. WE EXPECT YOU TO BE WISE STEWARDS OF OUR GREAT CITY. I URGE CITY COUNCIL TO POSTPONING DEFINITELY THE REZONING OF A CASE ECLIPSE TO PRESERVE A CASE ECLIPSE AND AND ITS NATURALLY OCCURRING, AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND TO AMEND DB 90 TO CLOSE THE LOOPHOLES THAT DEVELOPERS EXPLOIT FOR THEIR GROTESQUE PROFITS SO THAT IN THE FUTURE LOW INCOME FAMILIES DO NOT STAND BEFORE YOU AGAIN AND BEG YOU TO SAVE THEIR HOMES. WE EXPECT YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND DEMAND THAT YOU DO THE RIGHT THING. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. IT, IT'S GONNA BE A LITTLE BIT OF A BATTLE. THEY ALREADY ARE TRYING TO FORCE US KIND OF IN A CORNER ABOUT IT. UM, IT IS JUST, I DON'T SEE IT GOING VERY WELL RIGHT NOW AS IT STANDS, BUT I DON'T THINK WE'RE GONNA GIVE UP. WE SHOULDN'T. I MEAN, THIS IS WHERE WE LIVE. WE LIVE HERE FOR A REASON AND IT'S AFFORDABLE TO US. YEAH. CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THIS AREA OF AUSTIN? IT'S CLOSER TO OUR JOBS. WE LIVE HERE BECAUSE WE'RE ALREADY GONNA BE IN THAT SITUATION WHERE WE'RE HAVING TO WATCH OUR MONEY [07:45:01] HERE. WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF RIGOR ROOM. WE CAN'T AFFORD TO GO AND DO THINGS, DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS. WE WERE ABLE TO GO TO A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT WHERE WE CAN AFFORD IT AND STILL BE ABLE TO DO THE THINGS THAT REALLY MATTER IN OUR LIVES. AND IF YOU COULD TALK TO THE MAYOR AND ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TODAY, WHAT WOULD YOU TELL THEM? GIVE US MORE TIME. IF, IF YOU CAN'T STOP IT, JUST GIVE US MORE TIME. WE GOTTA FIGURE IT OUT. WE, WE NEED MORE THAN WHAT WE'RE BEING OFFERED RIGHT NOW. SEEMS LIKE THEY DON'T CARE. I MEAN, THEY'RE AFFECTING OUR FAMILIES. I MEAN, MANY OF US HAVE CHILDREN, BIG FAMILIES HERE. UH, WE'RE BARELY MAKING IT BY. UM, THERE HAVE BEEN HUNDREDS OF RESIDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN ATTENDING ACACIA CLIFF ASSOCIATION MEETINGS IN DISTRICT 10 OVER THE PAST MONTH. THERE ARE MANY ELDERLY PEOPLE, BEDRIDDEN PEOPLE AND PEOPLE ON THE BRINK OF HOMELESSNESS THAT REALLY COULDN'T MAKE IT HERE TODAY. OBVIOUSLY WE GOT PUSHED TO THE VERY END AND THEIR SUFFERING WILL BE DEPENDENT, UM, ON YOUR CHOICE TODAY, BUT ALSO THE ACTUAL FOLLOW THROUGH, UM, AND MAKING SURE THAT THESE PROMISES GO ALL THE WAY, UM, AND MEET THE NEEDS OF THE TENANTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBERS. THE WAY WE'RE GONNA DO THIS IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR RULES IS NEXT WE WILL HEAR, UH, FROM PEOPLE THAT ARE SIGNED UP, THEY'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES A PIECE AND THEY'LL, THEY'LL TO SPEAK IN FAVOR THEN THAT WE WILL HEAR FROM THOSE WHO ARE OPPOSED. AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK FOR THE, UH, THE TWO PARTIES THAT WANT TO, UH, COMMENT ON THINGS, UH, BY WAY OF REBUTTAL. BUT BEFORE WE GO TO THE ACTUAL, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT, I WANNA RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, I BELIEVE HE HAS A QUESTION OF THE APPLICANT AND THIS WOULD BE THE APPROPRIATE TIME TO DO THAT. PERFECT. YES, PLEASE. I JUST HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS. CAN YOU JUST REMIND US HOW OLD IS THIS DEVELOPMENT? WHEN WAS IT FIRST BUILT? UM, I BELIEVE IT'S 50 YEARS OLD. UH, 50 YEARS. IT'S OVER 50 YEARS OLD AND I ASSUME IT'S BEEN REHABILITATED AT SOME POINT TO RARELY DOES SOMETHING MAKE IT 50 YEARS. HOW LONG AGO HAS, HAS THAT? I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE LAST, UH, REHABILITATION WAS. UM, MATT ENZLER WITH CROW, UH, MAY, UH, HAVE A BETTER SENSE OF WHEN THAT WAS, BUT OBVIOUSLY NO ENVIRONMENTAL, NO, UH UH AND IN TERMS OF SUSTAINABILITY, THERE'S NO STORM WATER, NO WATER QUALITY, NO ENVIRONMENTAL, UH, SUSTAINABILITY ELEMENTS. 'CAUSE IT'S NOT TO CURRENT CODE, RIGHT? IT'S, IT WAS 50 YEARS OLD AND, AND WE HAD ASKED OUR STAFF TO DO AN ANALYSIS OF WHAT IT WOULD COST TO BUY DOWN ESSENTIALLY THE EQUIVALENT NUMBER OF UNITS IN THE DB 90 SCENARIO. AND THE NUMBER WE WERE GIVEN, UH, FROM OUR HOUSING DEPARTMENT WAS $33 MILLION. JUST GONNA SEE IF, IF THAT NUMBER, IF, IF Y'ALL HAVE CRUNCHED THAT NUMBER, IF THAT'S, UH, IF YOU WOULD AGREE, DISAGREE. 33 MILLION FOR THE, TO BUY DOWN 290 UNITS DOWN TO WHAT? TO 60% MFII THINK IT WAS TO 30 TO 30% M FFI 30 OR 40 TO WHAT THE CURRENT MFI LEVEL IS? NO, IT'D BE, YEAH, IT'D BE, IT'D BE MUCH, MUCH HIGHER THAN THAT. OKAY. AND WE, WE KNOW THAT FROM YOUR, FROM THE CITY'S OWN STUDY, UH, DONE JUST DOWN THE STREET IN 2017, THAT IT'S $214,000 PER UNIT FOR A ONE BEDROOM OVER A 40 YEAR PERIOD. SO, UH, JUST DOING THE MATH BASED ON THE CITY'S OWN OUTSIDE EXPERT, UH, IN THAT CASE, IF YOU HAD 290 TIMES THE 214,000, THAT WOULD BE $62 MILLION. OKAY. FOR JUST 60% MFI AT 290. RIGHT. MR. WAYLAND, I THINK WHEN WE HAD THAT CONVERSATION, THE NUMBER THAT WE TALKED ABOUT WAS ABOUT $10 MILLION FOR EVERY 75 UNITS AT 40% MFI 'CAUSE THAT, DO YOU RECALL THAT CONVERSATION? YEAH, YOU PICKED, THAT'S TAX. YOU CAN, THAT CON MATT LER WITH, WITH TRAIL AND CROW RESIDENTIAL. UM, THAT CONVERSATION, MR. DECHEN WAS WHEN, UH, THAT WAS ASSUMING THERE WAS NO TAXES PAID, ASSUMING A PC AN HFC. SO THAT'S, THAT WAS THE ADDITIONAL SUBSIDY ON TOP OF THAT. GOT IT. THANK YOU. SO IT'S OBVIOUSLY PRETTY MEANINGFUL, THE [07:50:01] TAX PIECE OF IT. COUNCIL MEMBER, WALTER, YOU STILL HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. AND SO WHAT I'M JUST TRYING TO SUSS OUT, ESPECIALLY AS WE TALK ABOUT THE ONE FOR ONE, AND THEN THIS IS GONNA BE A CONVERSATION THAT'S GONNA GO BEYOND THIS PARTICULAR CASE, BUT, YOU KNOW, I, I LOOKED UP YOUR TAXES FROM LAST YEAR ON THIS PROPERTY, JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY FOR RELATIVITY AND THE TAXES HERE WERE $750,000. AND IF YOU COMPARE THAT TO WHETHER IT'S 33 MILLION, 60 MILLION, YOU KNOW, PICK YOUR HOWEVER MANY MILLIONS, WHAT I AM AFRAID THAT WE ARE GOING TO INADVERTENTLY MOTIVATE IF WE'RE NOT CAREFUL IS SOMEONE TO SAY, I CAN PAY TWO YEARS OF TAXES FOR A HUNT FOR 1.5 MILLION AND NOT HAVE TO REPLACE ANY OF THESE UNITS AS AFFORDABLE UNITS BECAUSE NOW NO ONE'S IN THEM, I'VE JUST MADE IT VACANT. OR I CAN GET MY NEW ZONING TODAY AND HAVE TO EAT 30 PLUS MILLION DOLLARS. AND, AND SO THIS IS JUST, I, I THINK AN OPPORTUNITY TO, TO BRING THAT TO THE FLOOR AS, AND THE MAYOR, I'M, I'M REALLY INTERESTED TO SEE, UH, THE ITEM, UH, BUT I, I JUST WANT TO KIND OF PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE AS WE KICK OFF THAT DISCUSSION BECAUSE WE DON'T WANNA ACCIDENTALLY DO SOMETHING THAT KICKS EVERYBODY OUTTA THEIR HOME AND NOW WE HAVE NOBODY THERE FOR TWO YEARS, JUST SO THAT YOU CAN ULTIMATELY FINANCE YOUR PROJECT WELL, AND THAT OBVIOUSLY THAT WAS NOT OUR GOAL HERE. I WANNA BE VERY, VERY CLEAR. WE CHECKED WITH CITY LEGAL WITH EVERYBODY TO MAKE SURE WHAT THE REQUIREMENTS WERE BASED ON THE POLICY THAT WAS PASSED IN 2024 SO THAT WE WOULD BE COMPLETELY COMPLIANT WITH TENANT PROTECTIONS WHICH DON'T OTHERWISE EXIST. AND, UH, MAKE SURE THAT WE PAID THE FOUR MONTHS RENT, ET CETERA, UH, MOVING EXPENSES, ET CETERA. AND WE MADE, AS Y'ALL KNOW, MATT ENSLER AVAILABLE. YOU'VE SPENT TIME TALKING TO HIM. COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN HAS AS WELL TO GO THROUGH, UH, THE, THE WHAT, WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE MARKETPLACE RIGHT NOW, THE CAPITAL MARKETS, THE EQUITY MARKETS, AND WHAT, UH, AND THE PAIN, UH, THAT EVEN TAX CREDITS ARE FEELING. YOU'RE NOW, APPARENTLY I TALKED TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UH, DIRECTOR, UH, THAT, UH, THE TENANTS ASSOCIATION HAD, UH, TALKED ABOUT. THEY'RE NOW, UH, BENCHMARKING 77 CENTS FOR DOLLAR OF TAX CREDIT AND THEY JUST CAN'T GET THE MONEY. YOU GET YOUR TAX CREDIT, WHICH IS A DOLLAR TAX CREDIT, YOU'RE ONLY GETTING 77 CENTS FOR IT TO HELP YOU WITH YOUR, YOUR DEAL, WHICH IS WHY AS YOU SAW, THEY CAN'T MAKE IT WORK THERE. COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN, YOU DONE? OKAY. GOOD DEAL. THANK YOU. UM, THANKS. WE NOW WILL GO TO THOSE IN FAVOR AND I'LL, UH, ASK YOU TO CALL THE NAMES OF THOSE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP IN FAVOR OF YEAH. AGAIN, MATT ENSLER, UH, YOU WANNA SAY, DID YOU SIGN UP TO SPEAK? YES. OKAY. DO WE HAVE HIM? I'LL WAIT. MM-HMM . OR IS THAT NO, IN, IN SUPPORT. MATT ENSLER, BUT NOT ON THERE. MATT ENZLER, CORRECT. OR MATTHEW MAYBE. I'M NOT SURE I PUT IN THAT MATT ENZLER YES. IN FAVOR. THAT GOOD. OKAY. PLEASE GO AHEAD. OKAY. AGAIN, MATT, MATT HESSLER, TRIMCO RESIDENTIAL, WE WOULD BE, EXCUSE ME, THE DEVELOPER OF THE PROJECT. UM, I'VE BEEN WITH, UH, TCR FOR 18 YEARS. I WAS A, I WAS A LENDER BEFORE THAT, FINANCING THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS. SO WE'VE DONE QUITE A BIT. WE UNDERWRITE, YOU KNOW, DOZENS OF PROJECTS EVERY YEAR TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WORKS. UM, AND WE'VE, YOU KNOW, WORKING WITH COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN, WE'VE LOOKED AT A TREMENDOUS VARIETY OF WAYS TO MAKE THIS WORK. UM, YOU KNOW, WE BELIEVE THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS PROPOSED ZONING IS THE RIGHT WAY TO GET THIS PROJECT REDEVELOPED WITH AFFORDABLE, UM, HOUSING INCLUDED AND TENANT ASSISTANCE. UM, THE OWNER, YOU KNOW, PRICE REALTY HAS WORKED AND OWNED THIS PROPERTY FOR 12 YEARS AND, YOU KNOW, MAINTAINED IT THE BEST THEY COULD, BUT OBVIOUSLY THE, THE, AS WE TALKED ABOUT, THE PROJECT IS 50 YEARS OLD NOW. UM, IT GETS HARDER AND HARDER TO MAINTAIN, YOU KNOW, JUST THE COST OF ONGOING MAINTENANCE. UM, YOU KNOW, THAT GOES UP MATERIALLY EACH YEAR, UM, MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO JUSTIFY ANY SORT OF CAPITAL EXPENDITURES. AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE AT THE POINT OF LIFE OF THIS PROJECT THAT IT REALLY IS THE END OF LIFE. SO WE, THE POINT IS LIKE, OR THE QUESTION IS WHAT DO WE DO NOW UNDER THE CURRENT REGULATIONS OR THE CURRENT ZONING? IT COULD BE REDEVELOPED, BUT IT DOESN'T REQUIRE ANY AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND IT DOESN'T REQUIRE ANY TENANT ASSISTANCE. WHAT WE'VE PROPOSED WOULD ACTUALLY REQUIRE BOTH OF THOSE THINGS. UM, AS, AS DISCUSSED JUST A MINUTE AGO THAT THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ALONE WOULD BE A $16 MILLION COMMITMENT FOR THE, FOR THE 80 ISH UNITS THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED. UM, AND WE CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND, WELL, IN ADDITION, WE LOOKED AT ALL KINDS OF, OF TAX ABATEMENTS. WE LOOKED AT THE PFC AND THE HFCS, WHICH ARE UNDERCURRENT LEGISLATION ON THE GOVERNOR'S DESK LIKELY TO GO AWAY. WE'VE LOOKED AT LITECH AS MR. WAYLAND JUST REFERENCED, DOESN'T, IT'S NOT FEASIBLE RIGHT NOW WITH THE, WITH THE, UH, YIELD REQUIREMENTS. AND SO WE UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THIS IS, YOU KNOW, A VERY UNIQUE AND CHALLENGING CASE, BUT [07:55:01] WITH A, WITH A PROJECT TRULY AT THE END OF LIFE, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S 255 UNITS OCCUPIED ON THE PROPERTY AND WE'RE COMMITTED TO IMPLEMENTING THE CITY'S TENANT ASSISTANCE, UM, FOR ALL THOSE AND, AND HELPING THE RESIDENTS WITH ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATIONS LOCATION ACCOMMODATIONS. UM, AGAIN, THANK YOU. YOUR TIME. YOUR, YOUR TIME'S EXPIRED. TIME EXPIRED. OKAY. ALL REMAINING SPEAKERS THAT SIGNED UP ARE OPPOSED. SO WE'LL BEGIN WITH, UH, REMOTE. OKAY, LET'S GO AHEAD AND START. ILEO MEDRANO, ITEM 70. HI, GOOD AFTERNOON OR EVENING, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ADRIANA MNO. I LIVE IN D THREE AND I'M HERE ON, UH, I'M SPEAKING FOR MYSELF. AND, UH, I'M HERE TODAY TO URGE YOU TO PROTECT OCCASION CLIFF RESIDENTS FROM DISPLACEMENT AND PROTECT A NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT IS THIS COMPLEX. PLEASE SUPPORT THE TENANT'S ASSOCIATION'S DEMANDS TO POSTPONE THIS COUNCIL HEARING INDEFINITELY. PRESERVE THE ACACIA CLIFFS AND THE MEN DB 90. I'M A SOCIAL WORKER AND I WORK AT A PUBLIC SCHOOL AND I PROVIDE WRAPAROUND SERVICES TO FAMILIES OF PARENTS IN CRISIS. AND I SEE THE DIRECT IMPACT THAT DESTROYING AFFORDABLE HOUSING HAS ON THESE FAMILIES. HOUSING AT THE AFFORDABILITY LEVELS NEEDED BY MANY OF OUR FAMILIES THAT WE WORK WITH IS ALREADY LACKING. AND THIS IS EFFECTIVELY GOING TO REMOVE 290 UNITS THAT ARE AT 30 TO 40%. MFI REPLACING IT WITH MAYBE, UM, 80, UH, 50 TO 60% MFI, UM, THAT JUST IS NOT MEETING THE GOAL OF THAT, THAT IS NOT MEETING THE MFI THAT IS NEEDED. THAT'S GONNA BE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS MORE THAN WHAT RENTERS PAYING OUT. HOW IS THIS A SOLUTION? HOW IS THIS CREATING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING? THIS WILL ACTIVELY BE DISPLACING YOUR OWN COMMUNITIES. IS THIS THE CITY COUNCIL, THE PEOPLE'S COUNCIL, OR IS THIS THE DEVELOPER'S COUNCIL? I CAN'T REALLY TELL RIGHT NOW. IT'S BEEN REALLY FRUSTRATING TO SEE, UM, ALL THIS GOING DOWN AND, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR THE RESOLUTION, BUT WHY DID IT TAKE THIS LONG? YOU KNOW, YOU'VE, YOU'VE GOTTA SEE HOW INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATING THIS IS FOR THE RESIDENTS. FOR OTHER DB 90 CASES. THERE ARE MORE THAN JUST THIS ONE. UH, THEY SHOULDN'T BE WORKING THIS HARD TO GET YOU TO STAND WITH THEM. UM, PLEASE, I, UM, JUST URGE YOU TO SUPPORT COUNCIL MEMBERS UCHS UH, PROPOSALS TO AMEND DB 90 TO PROTECT RESIDENTS ACROSS THE CITY AND FURTHER CASES TO SUPPORT AN INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT AND PRESERVE ACIA CLIFF. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS BLANCA AVA, ITEM 70 BLANCA, ARE YOU THERE? PLEASE UNMUTE. NEXT SPEAKER IS BRYCE BENJAMIN. ITEM 70. YES, OLA. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M BRYCE BENJAMIN. I LIVE IN DISTRICT FOUR AND I STAND IN SUPPORT WITH ADVOCACY ASSOCIATION TO OPPOSE. I'M NEAR 70 I, ALONG WITH OTHERS. URGE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL TO PROTECT CITY CLIFF RESIDENT FROM DISPLACEMENT AND PROTECT AFFORDABLE HOUSING SUPPORT THE CITY CLIFF 10 ASSOCIATIONS DEMAND TO POSTPONE THE COUNCIL OF HEARING, PRESERVE CITY EC CLIFFS AND AMEND DB 90. ALSO REQUEST TO AMER WATSON TO APPLY ANY FUTURE DB 90 EDITS TO ALL DB 90 CONSIDERED OR PASS TODAY AND FORWARD UNTIL PLANS ARE FINALIZED. WHEN I FIRST MOVED TO AUSTIN IN 2 22, I LOVE HOW THE CITY HAS SUCH A VARIETY OF ETHNIC COMMUNITIES THAT IMPROVE THE CITY'S CULTURE AND FOOD AND WAY OF LIFE. THAT'S WHAT A FEELING IS SOMETHING I NEVER HAD GROWING UP MY HOMETOWN OF NORTH. BUT IN RECENT YEARS, I'VE NOTICED DISCLOSURE BATTERY SHRINK DUE TO REZONING OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS, GENTRIFICATION AND RISING AFFORDABILITY COSTS THAT ARE VIOLENTLY DISPLACING NEEDS OF RESIDENTS IN AUSTIN OR FORCE THEM TO BECOME UNHOUSED. I NO LONGER WANT TO SEE THIS HAPPEN AND DEMAND THE STOPS HERE. ADVOCACY CLIFFS, ETHIOPIA, P AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMPLEX FOLKS OF ALL HIS NEEDS AND WORKING CLASS BACKGROUNDS. CURRENTLY DB 90 INCENTIVIZES THE DISPLACEMENT OF RENTERS INSTRUCTION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING BY SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASING DEVELOPER PROFITS. THIS REZONING WOULD GREATLY INCREASE THE DEVELOPERS POTENTIAL PROFIT MARGINS AS WELL AS ABILITY TO GET FINANCING, WHICH IS BASED ON POTENTIAL FUTURE PROFITS. THE THREAT TO DEMOLISH THE PROPERTY. IF THE ZONING ISN'T GRANTED, IT'S UNLIKELY BECAUSE A MASSIVE INCREASE IN PROFITS CREATED BY DV 90 IS LIKELY WHAT MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR THE DEVELOPER TO GET FINANCING FOR THE PROJECT. ADVOCACY. CLIFFS TENANT ASSOCIATION WAS TOLD BY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO FIND SOLUTIONS AND FUNDING TO PRESERVE ACTIVITY ECLIPSE US CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS SHOULD HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS. INSTEAD, TEMP STATION IS WORKING WITH AN AFFORDABLE DEVELOPER THAT'S TRYING TO MAKE AN OFFER TO THE OWNER. THEY HAVE OTHER POTENTIAL PARTNERS, INCLUDING THE STRATEGIC HOUSING FUNDS CORPORATION AND FOUNDATION COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU MR. BENJAMIN. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. WE WILL MOVE ON TO IN PERSON. I'LL CALL SEVERAL NAMES AT ONCE. JUST MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME BEFORE YOU BEGIN. BARBARA [08:00:01] MACARTHUR. DAVID WEINBERG, MAX HORTMAN HORSEMAN. ALEXIA LA CLERK. OKAY. HELLO, MY NAME IS MAX HORSEMAN. I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE. UM, TODAY I'LL BE READING TESTIMONY FROM A RESIDENT OF ACACIA CLIFFS WHO COULD NOT BE HERE TODAY. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS AMY. I'M A LONGTIME AUSTINITE, A MOTHER OF TWO SMALL CHILDREN AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT 10 AT ACACIA CLIFFS WITH MY PARTNER JOE ODIN. MY 4-YEAR-OLD IS ABOUT TO START KINDERGARTNER KINDERGARTEN. WE'VE BUILT OUR LIFE AROUND THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, THE SCHOOLS, THE SIDEWALKS, THE LITTLE JOYS OF WALKING TO THE PLAYGROUND TO THE DOCTOR, TO JOE'S JOB JUST DOWN THE STREET. WE LOST OUR CAR RECENTLY AND EVEN THEN, WE'VE MANAGED TO STAY GROUNDED BECAUSE THIS PLACE IS WALKABLE, SAFE, AND STABLE. THIS IS WHAT A LIVABLE CITY LOOKS LIKE UNTIL DB 90 THREATENS TO TEAR IT APART. IF YOU VOTE TO PASS THIS REZONING, NOW YOU ARE GREEN LIGHTING THE DESTRUCTION OF 290 DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOMES LIKE OURS, HOMES FOR FAMILIES SURVIVING ON JUST 30 TO 40% OF THE MEDIAN INCOME. IN RETURN, WE'RE TOLD WE MIGHT BE, WE MIGHT GET 80 UNITS, BUT AT HIGHER RENTS THAT WE STILL COULDN'T AFFORD. THAT IS NOT A REPLACEMENT, THAT IS NOT A SOLUTION THAT IS DISPLACEMENT. PLAIN AND SIMPLE. THIS ISN'T JUST POLICY, THIS IS PEOPLE, FAMILIES LIKE MINE BEING ASKED TO DISAPPEAR SO SOMEONE ELSE CAN PROFIT. THE ACACIA CLIFFS TENANTS ASSOCIATION IS ORGANIZING HARD. WE'RE NOT SAYING STOP EVERYTHING WE'RE SAYING, POSTPONE DB 90 INDEFINITELY. SO WE HAVE TIME TO NEGOTIATE A REAL DEAL. WE NEED SIX MONTHS OF RENT WAIVED RELOCATION SUPPORT THAT ACTUALLY HELPS FAMILIES, A ONE-TO-ONE REPLACEMENT OF EVERY AFFORDABLE UNIT AT THE SAME DEEPLY AFFORDABLE RATES WE HAVE. NOW, THAT IS THE BARE MINIMUM. YOU DO NOT GET TO SAY YOU SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING WHILE VOTING TO DESTROY IT. YOU DO NOT GET TO CHAMPION EQUITY WHILE ERASING COMMUNITIES WHO ALREADY LIVE HERE. YOU DO NOT GET TO TALK ABOUT GROWTH WHEN WHAT'S GROWING IS CORPORATE PROFIT AND WHAT'S SHRINKING IS HUMAN DIGNITY. POSTPONE DB 90, FIX DB 90, PRESERVE ACACIA CLIFFS BECAUSE IF AUSTIN CAN'T PROTECT THE FAMILIES WHO ALREADY LIVE HERE, WHO LOVE IT, WHO BUILT IT, THEN WHO IS THIS CITY REALLY FOR? THANK YOU. MY NAME'S ALEXIA AND I'LL BE RE READING A RESIDENT STATEMENT. GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS GUTIERREZ. IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR, I MOVED BACK TO AUSTIN TO ENJOY BEING A GRANDMA. I'M A RETIRED SENIOR ON A SINGLE AND FIXED INCOME. I'M A RESIDENT OF ACACIA CLIFFS. IN MY THREE MONTH SEARCH TO DECIDE WHERE TO LIVE IN AUSTIN, I FOUND THAT ACACIA CLIFFS WAS THE ONLY PLACE THAT HAD WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR. MAINLY AFFORDABILITY, SECURITY, AND A GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD. AND THE ADDED BENEFITS OF BEING WALKING DISTANCE WITHIN SERVICES LIKE HEB, THE POST OFFICE URGENT CARE DOCTOR'S OFFICES IS INCOMPARABLE. OUR COMMUNITIES AT ACACIA CLIFFS IS COMPRISED OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES FROM ALL STAGES OF LIFE, VETERANS, UNIVERSITIES, STUDENTS, SCHOOL AGE, CHILDREN'S TO NAME A FEW, AND WE LOVE TO LIVE HERE. WE AS MEMBERS OF THE ACACIA CLIFFS TENANTS ASSOCIATION HAVE BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY OVER THE PAST SIX TO SEVEN WEEKS TO COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS. WE ARE ASKING FOR A POSTPONEMENT AND URGE COUNCIL TO WORK WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS TO KEEP ALL UNITS AFFORDABLE. I WANT TO CONTINUE ENJOYING MY GRANDKIDS RETIREMENT AND LIVING IN AKEISHA CLIFFS. IT WILL TRULY BE A HARDSHIP FOR ME IF CITY COUNCIL ALLOWS A ACACIA CLIFFS TO BE REZONED. I CANNOT AFFORD TO LIVE ANYWHERE ELSE. I WOULD HAVE TO GO GO BACK TO WORKING FULL-TIME. SO ESTEEMED MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF THIS HAPPENED TO YOUR GRANDPARENTS, PARENTS AND LOVED ONE? SO WE ARE URGING FOR POSTPONEMENT, PRESERVING ACACIA CLIFFS AMENDING DB 90 AND OPPOSING ITEM 70. AND AS ALEXIA AS AN ORGANIZER, I WANNA ADD THAT IF YOU ARE NOT SUPPORTING THE TENANT'S REQUEST FOR POST MENT, YOU ARE KNOWINGLY DISPLACING 290 FAMILIES. THE RESIDENTS HAVE ALREADY SHOWN YOU HOW DB 90 IS FLAWED AND HOW WE NEED ONE-TO-ONE REPLACEMENT. SO WE CANNOT LET THIS ITEM PASS AS IT IS. IF YOU DO NOT GIVE THE REZONING TO THE DEVELOPER, THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO PROFIT AND WE CAN THEN WORK TO HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS BUY THIS PROPERTY INSTEAD. DISPLACING 290 FAMILIES IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH OF AN OUTCOME. WE HAVE TO THINK BIGGER. DREAM BIGGER. THAT IS YOUR ROLE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS. HOUSING DOES NOT HAVE TO BE FOR PROFIT. YOU CAN SUPPORT WORKING CLASS FAMILIES. THANK YOU. CONTINUE. ON ITEM 70, WE HAVE LOTTIE HIGHLAND, ADRIAN MACIAS, SUAN ALMANZA, CARLOS PINON. IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD. PEDRO HERNANDEZ JR. VALERIE MENARD. BETSY GREENBERG, PLEASE CALL A FEW OTHER NAMES. [08:05:04] OH, MY NAME IS BETSY GREENBERG. I'M ON THE ZONING AND PLANNING COMMISSION, AND I VOTED NO ON THIS CASE WHEN IT CAME TO ZAP THE SITUATION AT ACACIA CLIFFS WHERE 290 AFFORDABLE UNITS WERE ARE LIKELY TO BE DEMOLISHED. SHOULD BE NO SURPRISE. OVER THE LAST YEAR, THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL HAS DELIBERATELY PASSED DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS, KNOWING THAT THEY WOULD RESULT IN THE LOSS OF AFFORDABLE UNITS AND DISPLACEMENT OF AUSTIN RESIDENTS. POSTPONE ITEM 70. SO YOU CAN MAKE THIS RIGHT FOR THE DENSITY BONUS DB 90 PROGRAM. THE STAFF INCLUDED REQUIREMENTS THAT REMOVED INCENTIVES TO REDEVELOP PROPERTIES WITH NATURALLY AFFORDING, NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND TO REPLACE THE AFFORDABLE UNITS WHEN SUCH REDEVELOPMENT OCCURRED. THESE REQUIREMENTS WERE CONSISTENT WITH THE CITY'S DISPLACEMENT MITIGATION STRATEGY AND STRATEGIC HOUSING BLUEPRINT. HOWEVER, WHEN DB 90 WAS PASSED IN FEBRUARY, 2024, THESE REQUIREMENTS WERE REMOVED. SIX MONTHS LATER, DB 90 WAS REVISED AND TENANT BENEFITS WERE ADDED WHEN REDEVELOPMENT RESULTED IN DEMOLITION. HOWEVER, THE CITY COUNCIL VOTED AGAIN IN AUGUST TO SPECIFICALLY NOT INCLUDE REQUIREMENTS TO REPLACE EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WHEN DBE TODD PASSED IN MAY, 2024, THE REQUIREMENT TO REPLACE EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING WAS INCLUDED, BUT THE NUMBER WAS LIMITED TO AT MOST, TWICE THE MINIMUM AND A NEW PROVISION WAS ADDED ALLOWING THE CITY COUNCIL TO WAIVE THE REPLACEMENT REQUIREMENT ENTIRELY. THESE REPEATED DECISIONS OF AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DEMONSTRATE THE HYPOCRISY OF THE MAYOR AND SEVEN COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WERE ON THE COUNCIL IN 2024. YOU CREATED AFFORDABILITY BONUS PROGRAMS, BUT DESIGNED THESE PROGRAMS TO RESULT IN A NET LOSS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THANK YOU, MR. GREENBERG. PLEASE FIX IT. NEXT. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MICHAEL CURRY WITH TIME DONATED BY BRAD INGLE. IF THEY'RE BOTH STILL PRESENT, MR. CURRY WILL HAVE FOUR MINUTES. ON DECK IS RICH HAYMAN, IRENE PICKHARDT AND CHRIS PAGE. UH, THANK YOU. UH, MY NAME'S MICHAEL CURRY. UH, THE STRATEGIC HOUSING BLUEPRINT ADOPTED EIGHT YEARS AGO, PROMISED I HAVE FOUR MINUTES, BY THE WAY. CORRECT? YEAH, YOU DO. UM, UH, PROMISE TO QUOTE, PROMOTE STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS AND CREATE PROTECTIONS FOR LOW INCOME RENTERS BY DEVELOPING A STRIKE FUND TO PRESERVE MULTIFAMILY BUILDINGS TO RETAIN AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS. THE REPORT PROMISES NUMEROUS STRATEGIES TO PRESERVE NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING. HERE WE ARE EIGHT YEARS LATER WITH 290 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN A HIGH OPPORTUNITY AREA AND THE CITY DOES NOT HAVE A PLAN TO PRESERVE THEM. I WAS VERY HEARTENED TO HEAR THAT, UM, THAT THE COMMUNITY AND, UH, THE COUNCIL AGREE THAT DB 90 IS A FLAWED, UM, ORDINANCE THAT SHOULD NOT BE APPLIED, UH, TO, UH, HOUSING TODAY AND THAT YOU'RE GONNA WORK TO FIX THAT. WHAT THAT TELLS ME IS THAT WE'RE GONNA AGREE TODAY THAT YOU WON'T TRY TO APPLY IT. A FLAWED ORDINANCE THAT NEEDS REPAIR TO AN EXISTING, UM, NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT WOULD BE COMPLETELY INCONSISTENT AND VERY UNFAIR. UM, I GENUINELY KNEW. I GENUINELY APPRECIATE, AND I'M SURE EVERYONE WITH EARSHOT WITHIN EARSHOT APPRECIATES THE HARD WORK THAT HAS GONE INTO THE PRESERVATION, ACQUISITION AND PRODUCTION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS. BUT WHAT IS BEFORE US TODAY IS SIMPLY NOT ACCEPTABLE. I URGE THE COUNSEL OF POSTPONE THIS CASE INDEFINITELY. SO THE PROMISE AND THE HOUSING BLUEPRINT TO EXPLORE ALL OPTIONS TO PRESERVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CANNOT BE COMPLETED, UH, CAN BE COMPLETED. I TRUST THE OWNER OF THIS PROPERTY IS A PERSON OF GOODWILL WHO WILL ALLOW THE TIME FOR THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE STAFF TO COLLABORATE WITH OTHER GOVERNMENT GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES, CHARITABLE AND PRIVATE FUNDING SOURCES, AND EXAMINE ALL OF THE MECHANISMS, TAX, ABATEMENTS, ET CETERA, DETAILED IN THE HOUSING BLUEPRINT AND REPORT BACK IN SIX MONTHS WITH A PLAN TO PRESERVE NATURAL AFFORDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING SUCH AS THIS. WE NEED TO WORK HARDER, CAST THE NET WIDER, AND EXPECT MORE FROM THE CITY GOVERNMENT, THE DEVELOPMENT INDUSTRY, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND INVESTORS AND TAX PAYERS. ALL OF THE ABOVE BENEFIT FROM PRESERVING AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT KEEPS THE WORKFORCE WE NEED IN THE CITY. THERE IS MORE SUFFICIENT, MORE THAN SUFFICIENT WEALTH AWASH IN THIS TOWN THAT CAN BE TAPPED TO HELP FUND THIS [08:10:01] ENDEAVOR. PRESERVING AFFORDABLE HOUSING PREVENTS DISPLACEMENT IS GENERALLY MORE COST EFFICIENT THAN NEW HOUSING AND FITS WITH EXISTING LAND USE PATTERNS. I'M ASKING YOU TO WORK AS HARD ON THIS AS YOU HAVE ON NON HOUSING PROJECTS, SOME OF WHICH WERE DISCUSSED TODAY. YOU CANNOT AND THE CITY CANNOT CLAIM THE VALUE AFFORDABLE HOUSING WHILE DESTROYING IT. I'M ASKING YOU TO BE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS YOU SAY YOU ARE TO THE ARGUMENT THAT IF A DB 90 ZONING IS NOT GRANTED WELL THAT APARTMENTS CAN BE TORN DOWN ANYWAY. UH, I SAY THAT WE'LL NEVER ADDRESS AFFORDABILITY OR ANY OTHER PROBLEM BY EMBRACING THE CERTAINTY OF A BAD OUTCOME TO AVOID THE POSSIBILITY OF A WORSE ONE. GOOD GOVERNMENT IS NOT ABOUT CUTTING LOSSES BUT ABOUT ACCRUING BENEFITS. SECOND, WE HAVE TO STOP TREATING THESE THREATS OR VEILED THREATS OF WORSE OUTCOMES BY THOSE SEEKING ENTITLEMENTS AS SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR. INSTEAD, WE NEED TO CREATE A CULTURE THAT REWARDS COOPERATION AND COMMUNITY VALUES AND DISCOURAGES BRINKSMANSHIP BY PROVIDING APPLICANTS SUCH AS THESE AND PROPERTIES SUCH, UH, OWNERS SUCH AS THESE WHO ARE OF GOODWILL WITH SOME ALTERNATIVES. UH, OBVIOUSLY WE NEED TO, UH, UM, REFORM, UH, DB 90. EVERYONE'S ADMITTED THAT APPARENTLY. SO LET'S, LET'S POSTPONE THIS PROJECT AND APPLY THE REFORMED, UH, ORDINANCE AND, AND GO FORWARD FROM THERE. THANK YOU. MR. AGREE. NEXT GROUP OF SPEAKERS, SOL PRAXIES, HALIMA FOSTER, PAIGE BROWER LAWRENCE SELL. IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT. LET US KNOW YOUR NAME BEFORE WE BEGIN. HELLO. GOOD EVENING. SO PRAXIS DISTRICT THREE. I APOLOGIZE. LET ME INTERRUPT YOU. YOU HAVE TIME DONATED BY SHANE JOHNSON. YES. ARE THEY STILL PRESENT? YOU HAVE FOUR MINUTES. SOLE PRAXIS DISTRICT THREE WITH COMMUNITY POWERED A TX. UM, IF YOU ARE SILENT ABOUT YOUR PAIN, THEY'LL KILL YOU AND SAY YOU ENJOYED IT. ZORA NEAL HURSTON. I'D LIKE TO THANK THE ACACIA CLIFFS TENANT LEADERS FOR STANDING UP FOR ALL OF THE AUSTIN RENTERS WHO ARE ROUTINELY SILENCED BY CITY COUNCIL. OVER 100 RESIDENTS HAVE PARTICIPATED IN TENANT ASSOCIATION MEETINGS AND ONLY THREE WERE ABLE TO REMAIN HERE LONG ENOUGH TO SPEAK FOR TWO MINUTES TO DEFEND THEIR HOUSING. PLEASE SEE MY SLIDES THERE FOR THE HISTORY ON DB 90, WHICH DEMONSTRATES THAT COUNCIL'S IN ACTION LED US HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE, EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS ALREADY A PROCESS IN PLACE FOR DEVELOPERS TO REQUEST THE ONE-TO-ONE REPLACEMENT REQUIREMENT BE WAIVED ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS. AFTER DEVELOPERS CONTACTED CITY STAFF, THEY REMOVED THE ONE-TO-ONE REPLACEMENT REQUIREMENT. LET ME REPEAT THAT. AFTER DEVELOPERS CONTACTED CITY STAFF, THEY REMOVED THE ONE-TO-ONE REPLACEMENT REQUIREMENT. WHEN THIS OCCURRED AT THE COUNCIL WORK SESSION ON DB 90 CITY STAFF NOTED THAT THEY STILL NEEDED TO STUDY DISPLACEMENT PREVENTION AND THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD NEED TO DO ANALYSIS PROPERTY BY PROPERTY TO DETERMINE THE APPROPRIATENESS OF APPLYING DB 90. AT THIS POINT, DB 90 HAS ONLY BEEN CALIBRATED FOR DEVELOPER PROFITS NOT CALIBRATED FOR DISPLACEMENT PREVENTION. YOU NEED TO POSTPONE. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. GIVEN THIS, WHAT'S THE RUSH? THE OWNER IS OPEN TO AN OFFER TO PRESERVE THE PROPERTY. THE CITY SHOULD IDENTIFY FUNDS TO FILL ANY GAPS AFTER THE AFFORDABLE DEVELOPER HEARS BACK FROM THE OWNER ON THE OFFER MADE AND ALLOW COMMUNITY TO KEEP SEEKING PHILANTHROPIC PARTNERS AND PUBLIC HELP. WHAT'S THE RUSH? IT'S ON YOU TO PRESERVE EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING. IT'S ON YOU TO HAVE DISPLACEMENT PROTECTIONS IN PLACE RATHER THAN MAKING ALL OF OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING A JUICY MEAL FOR DEVELOPERS, YOU NEED TO POSTPONE. THE DEVELOPER SAYS THEY DON'T PLAN TO DEMOLISH FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS. WHAT'S THE RUSH? WE ARE STILL WAITING TO SEE AN EXCHANGE BETWEEN THE OWNER AND AFFORDABLE DEVELOPER AFTER AN INITIAL OFFER, AN OFFER THAT CAN BE MORE ROBUST IF PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND THE COMMUNITY CAN GET CREATIVE TO FIND ADDITIONAL PUBLIC AND PHILANTHROPIC FUNDING TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE. WHAT'S THE RUSH? THERE ARE PLANS BY COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN TO GATHER FUNDING THAT CAN BE USED FOR PRESERVATION OF ACACIA CLIFFS AND OTHER PROPERTIES DURING THIS SLOW TIME IN THE MULTIFAMILY MARKET. IT IS A PERFECT TIME TO PRESERVE AFFORDABLE MULTIFAMILY PROPERTIES. WHAT'S THE RUSH? EVERY DEVELOPER THREATENS, DEMOLITION AND BUILDING AT THE CURRENT ENTITLEMENTS. I SAW THIS FOR MY YEAR ON PLANNING COMMISSION. DEVELOPERS MAKE THE SAME THREAT TO DEMOLISH EVERY TIME THE COMMUNITY SPEAKS UP. IT'S A WELL-KNOWN BLUFF IN THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY. MICHAEL WHALEN WILL SAY WHATEVER IS NEEDED TO WIN. THAT'S WHAT DEVELOPER LAWYERS DO. WHAT'S THE RUSH? TECH COMPANIES LET GO OF UNPRECEDENTED NUMBERS OF EMPLOYEES IN AUSTIN LAST YEAR. FOR THE FIRST YEAR, MORE PEOPLE MOVED OUT OF FROM AUSTIN THAN IN INTEREST RATES ARE HIGH. DEVELOPERS ARE STRUGGLING TO PAY BACK THEIR LENDERS GIVEN THE LOWER PROFITS. THEY'RE REALIZING FINANCING FOR MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT IS SLOW AND DB 90 IS LIKELY WHAT MAKES THE FINANCING OF THIS PROJECT POSSIBLE. IT ALSO MAKES IT HARD FOR AFFORDABLE DEVELOPERS TO COMPETE WITH THE POTENTIAL PROFITS FROM DB 90. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. WHAT'S THE RUSH AT THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TOLD US THEIR STANDARDS FOR DEALS WITH DEVELOPERS IS TO DEMAND THAT 50% OF THE UNITS [08:15:01] ARE AT 60% MFI AND BELOW. AND WITH TAX CREDITS THEY GET TO 30%. THEY PUSH HARD TO GET THOSE WINS. DO YOU, WHY WOULD Y'ALL THINK IT'S A VICTORY TO DEMOLISH AFFORDABLE HOUSING? REPLACE IT WITH NO OR MINIMAL HOUSING TENANTS CAN AFFORD AND SET A PRECEDENT THAT ALL A DEVELOPER HAS TO DO TO GET WHAT THEY WANT IS THREATEN DEMOLITION. WHAT'S THE RUSH? THERE ARE MAJOR ISSUES WITH DB 90 THAT COULD BE RESOLVED THROUGH AMENDMENTS. A PROCESS THAT TAKES TIME, BUT CAN PROTECT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF AFFORDABLE UNITS ACROSS AUSTIN IN ALL OF YOUR DISTRICTS. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. WHAT'S THE RUSH? THE DEVELOPER USED A LOOPHOLE TO APPLY DB 90 TO AFFORDABLE MULTIFAMILY HOUSING. EVEN THOUGH STAFF SAID DB 90 WOULD APPLY TO COMMERCIAL AND OFFICE ZONING AND THAT ONLY 7% OF CASES WOULD INVOLVE MULTIFAMILY PROPERTIES, WHICH WOULD NEED SPECIAL PROTECTIONS AND CONSIDERATIONS THAT THEY CLAIMED WOULD HAVE TO BE STUDIED. THESE STUDIES HAVE NOT HAPPENED AND THE PROTECTIONS ARE NOT YET IN PLACE. THIS IS THE CASE STUDY DEMONSTRATING THAT DB 90 INCENTIVIZES THE DESTRUCTION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THIS IS THE TIME FOR SPECIAL CONSIDERATION STUDY. THANK YOU. WHAT'S THE RUSH? IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED AND LET US KNOW YOUR NAME. HELLO, MY NAME IS HALIMA FOSTER AND I'M GONNA BE READING A RESIDENT STATEMENT FROM LILA DIR. GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M A TEACHER LIVING AT AKASHA CLIFFS. I URGE CITY COUNCIL TO PROTECT AKASHA CLIFF'S RESIDENTS FROM DISPLACEMENT AND PROTECT OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. PLEASE KEEP SU HELP SUPPORT US BY POSTPONING THE COUNCIL HEARING PRESERVING AKASHA CLIFFS AND AMENDING DB 90. I MOVED TO AKASHA CLIFFS LAST SUMMER AFTER LOOKING ALL OVER THE CITY FOR AN AFFORDABLE PLACE TO LIVE. THIS IS THE ONLY PLACE I COULD FIND IN MY BUDGET AND STILL BE ABLE TO GET TO MY JOB EAS EASILY. IF THIS IS REZONED AND REDEVELOPED, I WOULD LOSE THE ONLY HOUSING OPTION I HAVE. THE AFFORDABLE APARTMENTS THAT WOULD BE BUILT UNDER DB 90 WOULD BE FOUR TO $500 MORE THAN I PAY RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS COMPLETELY UNAFFORDABLE FOR ME. THIS REZONING WOULD MEAN THE LOSS OF THE 290 EXISTING AFFORDABLE UNITS AT 30 TO 40% MFI. IT WOULD ALSO INCREASE THE PRESSURE TO REDEVELOP SURROUNDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS. NOT ONLY IS THE MARKET RATE, UH, APARTMENT UNAFFORDABLE FOR ME AND OTHER CURRENT TENANTS, THE 80 AFFORDABLE UNITS UNDER DB 90 WOULD BE UNAFFORDABLE AS WELL. DESTROYING DEEPLY AFFORDABLE, NATURALLY OCCURRING HOUSING, WORSENS THE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS. THE, UH, KASIA CLIFFS TENANTS ASSOCIATIONS HAS WORKED HARD WITH THESE THESE PAST FEW WEEKS TO CREATE SOLUTIONS. THIS REZONING NEEDS TO BE INDEFINITELY POSTPONED IN ORDER TO GIVE THE TENANT ASSOCIATION TIME TO CONTINUE NEGO NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE DEVELOPER. IT'S ALSO NEEDED TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THE TIME TO AMEND DB 90, RESTORE THE AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENT. THAT WAS CUT OUT. THANK YOU. ALSO, I JUST WANTED TO ADD, WE ARE ASKING FOR POSTPONEMENT TO SECURE FUNDS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE NEED TIME TO TALK TO THESE FOLKS SO THAT WE CAN COME UP WITH A SOLUTION THAT WORKS FOR EVERYBODY. SECURING FUNDING NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE AND NOT AFTER THE ZONING CASE IS VOTED ON. AND YEAH. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. UH, MY NAME IS LAUREN SILE AND, UM, I'M A RESIDENT OF, UH, ACACIA CLIFFS. AND, UH, I JUST CAME TODAY HERE TO EXPRESS MY OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSAL TO REZONE. UM, THIS FEELS LIKE I'M, YOU KNOW, BEING FORCED OUTTA MY HOUSE AND HOME AS ALONG WITH, YOU KNOW, 290 OTHER PEOPLE, OTHER FAMILIES. AND, UM, I I THOUGHT THAT WAS A KIND OF A DI DESPICABLE THING TO DO. JUST THROW PEOPLE OUTTA THEIR HOUSE AND HOME, HOUSE AND HOME. BUT, UM, IT SEEMS TO BE STANDARD PRACTICE NOW. I DON'T QUITE GET IT, BUT ANYWAY, UM, YEAH, I'M JUST FORMER FORMALLY, UH, EXPRESSING MY OPPOSITION TO THE REZONING INITIATIVE AND, UM, UH, YEAH, I WOULD DEFINITELY BE IN FAVOR OF, UH, AMENDING DB 90 AND, UH, OR POSTPONING, UH, UH, THE VOTE OR IF Y'ALL WANNA VOTE IT DOWN, I'M ALL FOR THAT TOO. SO I'M, THAT'S ALL I GOT TO SAY. THANK YOU SIR. HOWDY. UM, MY NAME IS PAIGE BROWER. UM, I AM ACTUALLY A NEIGHBOR OF ACACIA CLIFF, SO I DO, I'M NOT A RESIDENT OF THAT COMPLEX, BUT I'M RIGHT NEXT DOOR AND I DID WANT TO COME TO VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR MY NEIGHBORS, BUT ALSO I AM NOT NAIVE TO THINK THAT A SIMILAR PROJECT WILL NOT COME FROM MY HOME. NEXT. UM, I ALSO WORK IN [08:20:01] SUPPORTIVE HOUSING ACTUALLY, SO I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE CHALLENGES OF FINDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CITY FOR PEOPLE, FOR ALL TYPES OF PE OF PEOPLE. UM, ANYTHING BESIDES A ONE-TO-ONE REPLACEMENT IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE. UM, AND I KNOW THAT WE'VE, YOU KNOW, TALKED ABOUT AFFORDABLE RATES AND STUFF, BUT HOW LONG WILL THOSE RATES STAY AFFORDABLE? HOW LONG WILL THOSE RENTS BE ABLE TO BE PAID BY THE PEOPLE THAT ARE STILL, THAT ARE CURRENTLY LIVING THERE? UM, AND THE MORE WE DISPLACE AND WE ARE PRIORITIZING THESE BIG COMP, UH, COMPANIES TO BUILD THESE NICE NEW PROPERTIES, WE ARE DISPLACING THE PEOPLE THAT MADE THIS CITY AND IT'S ONLY GOING TO INCREASE THE HOUSING CRISIS. UM, SOME PERSONAL CONCERNS OF MINE AS A NEIGHBOR OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD IS, UH, THE ROADS . SO MANY OF THESE ROADS ARE ONLY TWO LANES AND WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE INCREASING HOW MANY UNITS, UM, IS IT IN ANY BUDGET ABOUT MAINTENANCE, REPAIR, WIDENING, ANY OF THESE ROADS? I MEAN, I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING OF IT. AND AS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAID, IT'S A VERY WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THAT IS ONE OF THE HUGEST SELLING POINTS. AND YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE TO STRESS YOURSELF OUT TO PAY SIMPLY PAY PAY RENT, AND YOU CAN FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE A DIGNITY IN YOUR HOME AND IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. AND THAT IS SO CRUCIAL. UM, IT DOES SEEM LIKE THE CITY CONTINUES TO CATER TO OUTSIDERS THAT WANT TO MAKE AUSTIN INDISTINGUISHABLE FROM ANY OTHER AMERICAN CITY. UM, I'M TIRED OF SEEING THESE JUST BORING SQUARE COMPLEXES INSTEAD OF THE HEART AND CULTURE THAT'S, YOU KNOW, ATTRACTED SO MANY PEOPLE TO AUSTIN. THANK YOU. I JUST, NO, NO THANKS . MR. PAGE HAS TWO MINUTES DONATED FROM NOE. ELLIOT, ARE YOU STILL HERE WITH US? OKAY. YOU'LL HAVE FOUR MINUTES, MR. PAGE. UH, I'M GONNA WAIT UNTIL MY PRESENTATION'S OUT. UM, SO DB 90 WE SEE HERE IS A DESTROYER OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND THAT'S BY DESIGN KEY TERMS THAT I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND 'CAUSE THEY SOUND TECHNICAL. UM, 4 18 32 A ONE. THAT'S THE RIGHT TO RETURN AS IT'S BEEN CALLED. IT REQUIRES THE ONE ONE REPLACEMENT. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES FOR BRINGING THAT TO THE PUBLIC'S ATTENTION. 4 18 33 IS THE WAIVER THAT FRANKLY SHOULDN'T EXIST, UM, BUT SHOULD IT EXIST, THERE SHOULD ALSO BE SOME CRITERIA DEFINING EXIGENT CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH IT SHOULD BE ALLOWED. OH, UH, SORRY. SO WE GOT DB 90 BECAUSE THERE WERE THREE ORDINANCES THAT WERE INVALIDATED. THE REASON THEY WERE INVALIDATED IS BECAUSE THE WAY THEY WERE DESIGNED WAS TO CIRCUMVENT STATE NOTIFICATION RULES. AND THAT WAS AN EXPERIMENT BY THE CITY WHEN THE CITY WAS WRONG ABOUT THAT. UH, IT KIND OF BACK BENT TO, TO CREATE SOME TOTALLY, UH, IMBALANCE ORDINANCE. UH, UPON MY REQUEST, IT WAS TOLD TO ME THAT IT'S BECAUSE THERE WAS A VERY VOCAL AND SMALL NUMBER OF APPLICANTS THAT WERE COMPLAINING ABOUT RIGHTS THAT WERE FRANKLY VOID AB INIA, WHICH MEANS YOU DON'T GET RIGHTS FROM RULES THAT ARE FUNDAMENTALLY ILLEGAL. UM, SO DB 90 WAS BUILT TO FAIL AND WERE STUCK NOW WITH THE PO. THE POISONOUS FRUIT OF THIS TREE IS, I DON'T KNOW IF THE BETTER. OKAY, SO, UH, TOTALLY UNRELATED TO THE THREE ORDINANCES THAT WERE INVALIDATED. IT'S EXEMPT FROM SCALING CONDITIONAL OVERLAYS. IT'S EXEMPT FROM COMPATIBILITY. IT'S EXEMPT FROM THE ONE ONE REPLACEMENT OR RIGHT TO RETURN UNDER 4 18 32 A ONE. IT'S UNRELATED TO TRANSIT. THERE'S A GAPING LOOPHOLE IN 25 2 6 50 2D, WHICH REQUIRES IT TO ONLY APPLY TO COMMERCIAL ZONING AS WE SEE IN THIS CASE. THEY'RE APPLYING IT LITERALLY TO ANY ZONING. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GO TO ZAP OR SOME OTHER CITY COMMISSION TO GET THE BASE ZONE CHANGED TO SOMETHING THAT IS COMMERCIAL. AND IN A ONE TWO PUNCH, EVERYTHING CAN BE DB 90. IT'S 50% MORE STRUCTURAL MASS TO INCREASE, UH, MA STRUCTURAL MASS INCREASE TO SUBSIDIZE 2% INCREASE IN AFFORDABLE UNITS. THAT'S LUNACY. YOU CAN GET SO MUCH MORE, AND WE KNOW THAT BECAUSE THE CITY'S BEEN DOING IT FOR DECADES. IT ALLOWS WAIVER OF MIXED USE REQUIREMENTS, WHICH IS NONSENSE EVEN FOR THE URBANISTS THAT THINK THAT EVERYTHING CAN AND SHOULD BE DESIGNED. AND FRANKLY, I AGREE TO THIS, THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE WALKABLE COMMUNITIES. SO WHY ARE WE WAIVING THE THING THAT MAKES SOMETHING MORE OF A WALKABLE COMMUNITY? THE COMMERCIAL REQUIREMENT, AND IT'S NOT ALWAYS, BUT IT'S UPON THE DISCRETION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE CITY COUNCIL AND IT'S HAPPENED OFTEN. UH, AND THEN OF COURSE 4 18 33, WHICH ALLOWS WAIVER OF EVERY TENANT PROTECTION. HOW DID WE GET HERE? PRIVATE PROCESS, [08:25:01] NOT PUBLIC PROCESS STAKEHOLDERS ORDERED STAFF TO ERASE THE RIGHT TO RETURN REQUIREMENT UNDER 4 18 32 A ONE DUE TO WHAT THEY CALLED INCONSISTENCY WITH INVALIDATED ORDINANCES. BUT YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THEY NEVER COMPLAINED ABOUT THE INCONSISTENCY, THE NINE THAT I JUST POINTED OUT, THAT INCREASE THEIR ENTITLEMENT DRASTICALLY. IT'S AN UNCONSCIONABLE CHANGE IN RESPONSE TO PRIVATE INTERVENTION WITH THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT CALIBRATION THAT HAS BEEN STRIPPED OUT OF WHAT BECAME LAW. IT'S AN INCONSISTENT PROTECTION. WE KNOW 4 18 32 A ONE APPLIES TO DBE. TODD, WHY WOULD YOU NOT APPLY TO DB 90? OF WHICH THERE HAVE BEEN 86 OR MORE CASES FILED IN THE CITY, MAYBE 50 CLEARED SO FAR. THAT'S 50 MISTAKES THAT SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN MADE. IT CONTRADICTS CITY CODE AND IT ALSO CONTRADICTS ALL OF OUR PLANNING COMMISSIONERS WHO'VE ADVOCATED FOR A MORE SIMPLIFIED CODE. WHY WOULD WE HAVE THAT ANOMALY? WHY WOULD WE ALLOW A PRIVATE INTERVENTION TO CREATE THAT ANOMALY? SO UNDER THE CITY'S CURRENT INTERPRETATION OF DB 90, THE WHOLE THING THAT REQUIRES IT TO APPLY TO COMMERCIAL ZONES IS MEANINGLESS. 4 18 33 IS USELESS. LITERALLY YOU'RE TIME YOUR BLESSING DISPLACEMENT. IT'S EMPTY PROMISES TIME HAS EXPIRED. NO MORE EMPTY PROMISES ACROSS THE CITY. THANK YOU MAYOR, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR, YOUR STATED INTENTIONS TO CURE THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU. EVEN IF YOU THANKING ME, TIME'S EXPIRED. CONTINUE ON. I AM 70. WE HAVE ROSA GUTIERREZ, HARRISON HALL. HARRISON, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES DONATED BY MARISSA PERALES, ARE YOU STILL HERE? OKAY, YOU'LL HAVE FOUR MINUTES TOTAL. EVENING EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS HARRISON HALL. I'M CURRENTLY A RESIDENT AT ACACIA CLIFFS APARTMENT, ONE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE TENANTS ASSOCIATION. THERE. I WANNA BEGIN BY STATING THAT I'M AGAINST ITEM 70 AND ASK THAT THE COUNCIL VOTE AGAINST IT OR POSTPONE THEIR DECISION AND COMMIT TO CONTINUING TO POSTPONE THAT DECISION UNTIL THEY CAN CORRECT THE MISUSE AND EXPLOITATION OF THE DB 90 PROGRAM. UH, IT HAS BEEN SAID A COUPLE OF TIMES ALREADY. THERE ARE ABOUT 290 UNITS AT ACACIA CLIFFS, THE VAST MAJORITY OF WHICH ARE CURRENTLY AFFORDABLE TO A HOUSEHOLD MAKING BETWEEN 30 AND 40% OF THE MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME. UH, THE DEVELOPER PLANS TO REPLACE THESE WITH AROUND 700 UNITS, SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 70 AND 80 OF THOSE UNITS WILL BE CAPPED AT 50 TO 60%. MFI MAKING THESE AFFORDABLE UNITS SIGNIFICANTLY LESS AFFORDABLE THAN THE 290 UNITS THAT ARE CURRENTLY THERE. AND THE OTHER 600 OR SO UNITS WILL BE EVEN MORE EXPENSIVE THAN THAT, WHICH MEANS THAT THE DEVELOPERS ARE USING THE DB 90 PROGRAM TO DECREASE THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHICH IS EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT THE ORDINANCE WAS DESIGNED TO DO. UH, AS AN OLIVE BRANCH, I'M WILLING TO CALL THAT AN OVERSIGHT, BUT IT IS AN OVERSIGHT COMMITTED BY THIS COUNCIL AND IT'S ONE THAT THIS COUNCIL NEEDS TO CORRECT IT IMMEDIATELY. UH, AND I'LL TELL YOU HOW STEP ONE, THIS COUNCIL COMMITS TO POSTPONING ANY REZONING REQUEST THAT CHANGES A MULTIFAMILY INTO A DB 90 APPLICABLE ZONE UNTIL IT CAN BE SHOWN THAT THAT SUCH A ZONING CHANGE WOULD NOT DECREASE THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT THAT LOCATION. IF IT IS FOUND THAT THAT ZONING WOULD RESULT IN A DECREASE OF TOTAL HOUSING AFFORDABILITY, THIS COUNCIL WILL VOTE NO TO THAT REZONING. UH, THE DEVELOPERS WILL TELL YOU THAT IF THEY DON'T GET THE REZONING, THEY'LL REBUILD BY RIGHT. AND THERE'LL BE NO AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT THE NEW DEVELOPMENT. THIS COUNCIL SHOULD BE CONFIDENT IN CALLING THAT BLUFF AS DOING THAT WOULD NOT BE PROFITABLE. AND THE DEVELOPERS HAVE CONSISTENTLY SHOWN THAT THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING THAT REDUCES THEIR PROFITS. UH, STEP TWO, THE PREREQUISITES THAT THE DEVELOPERS MUST FOLLOW IN ORDER TO UTILIZE DB 90 MUST BE AMENDED TO RECL INCLUDE THAT THE DEVELOPERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING ALL AFFORDABLE UNITS ONE-TO-ONE. IF THIS COUNCIL RESOLVE TO STOP LOOKING AT THE ISSUE IN TERMS OF WHAT DEVELOPERS WILL OR WON'T LIKE, THE SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM, IN MY VIEW, BECOMES OBVIOUS AND MOSTLY EFFORTLESS. AND I WOULD REMIND THIS COUNCIL THAT NO ONE HERE VOTED FOR YOU BECAUSE WE THOUGHT THAT THE DEVELOPERS NEEDED SOMEONE TO ADVOCATE FOR THEIR NEEDS. THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE ALICIA SANCHEZ, ANI ERIC GOMEZ, VNI KALINGA SHAY ROUNDS. IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TOWARDS [08:30:01] THE PODIUM. GOOD EVENING COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBERS. UM, I HOPE MY TIME DOESN'T START UNTIL ABOUT NOW. UH, SO MY NAME IS VNE KALINGA AND I, UH, STOOD BEFORE BE BEFORE YOU ABOUT SIX WEEKS AGO. UM, I AM ONE OF THE RESIDENTS AT ACACIA CLIFFS. I'M ALSO ONE OF THE TENANT REPS FOR, UM, THE ASSOCIATION THAT WE CREATED. AND I'M HERE, UM, STANDING BEFORE YOU, LIKE I SAID, FEELING A LITTLE, UM, ENCOURAGED BY, UH, MR. WATSON'S, UH, STATEMENT AND, UM, OUR COUNCIL MEMBER DUCHESS, UM, KNOW SPEECH ABOUT HIS SUPPORT AND, AND WILLINGNESS AND, UH, REALLY RECOGNIZING THE, UM, JUST MASS AMENDMENT THAT WE NEED TO THIS DB 90. I'M SORRY. I'M REALLY, REALLY FEELING NERVOUS AND I NEED TO PUT THIS AWAY BECAUSE I JUST WANNA SPEAK TO YOU AS PEOPLE. SO I STAND BEFORE YOU, UM, AGAIN, AS A RESIDENT, AS SOMEONE WHO I MENTIONED LAST TIME, I WORK IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING, I AM A RELOCATION SPECIALIST. OKAY? AND WHAT'S RINGING IN MY HEAD RIGHT NOW IS THE WORDS OF THE, UH, DEVELOPER AND HIS, UH, ATTORNEY AND THE AFFORDABILITY THAT THEY'RE WANTING TO PUT IN, RIGHT? AND THEY KEEP TALKING ABOUT HOW THEY'RE PUTTING THESE, THIS AFFORDABILITY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT THEY'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT HOW THE NEW INCOME LIMITS ARE GONNA COME OUT. SEVERAL PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT ALL OF THE BILLIONAIRES AND MILLIONAIRES THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, COMING IN OR LIVE IN AUSTIN. WE CANNOT BEGIN TO COMPETE WITH WHAT THE RENTS ARE GONNA BE IF YOU ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN. AS SOMEONE WHO HAS LIVED IN AUSTIN FOR ALL OF MY LIFE, I GUARANTEE THAT WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO BY ALLOWING THIS, BY NOT LOOKING AT IT, BY NOT REALLY, REALLY LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN FRONT OF YOU, YOU'RE GOING TO PAY FOR IT DIFFERENTLY. AND I JUST URGE YOU AS SOMEONE WHO WORKS WITH THE PEOPLE THAT GET DISPLACED TO PLEASE TAKE SOME MOMENT. TAKE THE TIME TO THINK ABOUT IT. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS SHAY ROUNDS AND I'M GONNA USE MY TIME TO PLAY A VIDEO FROM ONE OF THE TENANTS THAT CAN'T BE HERE TODAY. BUT I JUST WANNA SAY THAT I'M REALLY GROSSED OUT BY THE FRAMING OF THE DEVELOPER OF THE PROPERTY BEING END OF LIFE. I FEEL LIKE THAT'S AN ATTEMPT TO POISON THE WELL AND NOT AN ACCURATE REPRESENTATION. UH, WHAT IT'S LIKE LIVING HERE IN THE COMMUNITY. I MEAN, WE REALLY ENJOYED THE COMMUNITY HERE AND, UH, THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE'S COMING TOGETHER, ESPECIALLY THE FACT WITH US NOT KNOWING THIS PLACE WAS GONNA BE GETTING DEMOLISHED AND NOW IT'S, AND THE FACT THAT WE'RE ABLE TO COME TOGETHER SO QUICKLY TO BE ABLE TO TRY TO FIGHT THIS. CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHY FOR Y'ALL IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING LIKE THIS IN THIS AREA? ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS WE MOVED TO AUSTIN WAS TO BE CLOSER TO HER FAMILY DUE TO, UH, HEALTH ISSUES THAT HAVE JUST ARISEN COMING DOWN HERE TO BE CLOSER TO BETTER HOSPITALS, AS WELL AS BEING CLOSER TO HER FAMILY WITH ME WORKING ALL THE TIME AND NOT BEING ABLE TO TAKE HER TO DOCTOR VISITS ALL THE TIME, THINGS ALONG THAT NATURE. ALSO, THE FACT THAT SHE'S ALSO VISUALLY IMPAIRED. THIS IS ALSO A GOOD LOCATION WITH THE FACT THAT THERE'S A BUS STOP NEARBY AS WELL. YEAH. SO NOT ONLY HAVE I VISUALLY IMPAIRED AND SO I DON'T DRIVE, BUT I'M ALSO WHEELCHAIR BOUND WITH MY HEALTH ISSUES. I DON'T REALLY HAVE THE BEST ABILITY TO GET AROUND ON MY OWN WITH MY HEALTH ISSUES ON TOP OF EVERYTHING. UM, SO BEING ABLE TO BE IN AUSTIN NEAR MY FAMILY WHO CAN HELP ME GET TO THOSE APPOINTMENTS, IF THIS WERE TO BE DEMOLISHED AND WE'D HAVE TO MOVE, WE'D HAVE TO MOVE QUITE A BIT LIKE, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY PAST HU EVEN TO GET RELATIVELY PRICED HOUSING, YOU KNOW, SOUTH. YEAH. AND SO, YOU KNOW, GOING FROM FURTHER OUT, NOT ONLY WOULD I THEN EITHER HAVE TO SPEND A LOT MORE MONEY ON LIKE LYFT OR AN UBER TO GET BACK TO LIKE THE CITY FOR MY APPOINTMENTS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT IF MY PARENTS WERE TO COME, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A LOT OF GAS MONEY FOR THEM AS WELL AND A LOT OF THEIR TIME BEING SPENT WHEN TRYING TO HELP ME WITH THOSE APPOINTMENTS AND ALL OF THAT KIND OF STUFF. WHAT MESSAGE WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE TO YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER? THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. THANK YOU. YOUR TIME'S UP. WE NEED TO BE MORE OF A NEXT CONTINUE. ON ITEM 70, WE HAVE MEGAN MEISENBACH, TANIA GARDEN, CAMERON EDRICH, JESUS STO, BILL BUNCH. IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED AND YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK, MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM. UH, GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS TANIA, I'M WITH DISTRICT ONE. UM, I WANNA FIRST THANK Y'ALL FOR [08:35:01] FINALLY COMING TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE DB 90 PROGRAM NEEDS TO BE REEVALUATED, UH, WITH THE RESOLUTION. UM, THIS NEEDS TO INCORPORATE THE DIRECTLY IMPACTED AND BE IMPLEMENTED WITH URGENCY. UM, I WOULD LIKE THE SAME FERVENCY THAT Y'ALL HAVE FOR SOME OF THESE VERY FRIVOLOUS PROPOSALS THAT Y'ALL ARE ON YOUR INSTAGRAMS ABOUT, UM, AND APPLIED TO THIS RESOLUTION. AND ALTHOUGH THIS IS A STEP FORWARD, IT'S ONLY HAPPENING BECAUSE OF THE TENANTS RELENTLESSLY ORGANIZING AND REFUSING TO BE ERASED. LAST MONTH YOU TOLD RESIDENTS OF ACACIA CLIFF TO STRATEGIZE THAT WORD CAME UP MULTIPLE TIMES TO COME UP WITH A FEASIBLE PLAN. AND THEY DID. THEY ORGANIZED, THEY NEGOTIATED AND OFFERED RECE REASONABLE, TANGIBLE SOLUTIONS DOING THE WORK THAT MANY OF YOU AND YOUR STAFF SHOULD HAVE BEEN DOING. HONESTLY, IT FELT LIKE A SILENCING TACTIC BECAUSE WHAT THEY'RE REQUESTING ISN'T OUTRAGEOUS. AND MANY OF YOU HAVE STILL TO THIS DAY SAID, YOUR HANDS ARE TIED. I FIND THAT SO INAPPROPRIATE. . YOU ASKED EVERYDAY CITIZENS TO HALT THEIR VERY STRESSFUL LIVES AND COME UP WITH MULTIMILLION DOLLAR DEALS, UH, BEFORE YOU WOULD EVEN CONSIDER CHANGING YOUR MIND OF POSTPONING. THIS ISN'T PUBLIC SERVICE. THIS IS GASLIGHTING INSTALLING DIS DISGUISES SOLIDARITY WITH THE WORKING CLASS TODAY ACTUALLY MARKS A YEAR SINCE Y'ALL PASSED THE HOME TO ORDINANCE. AND WHAT THAT DAY REVEALED TO ME IS THAT MY COMMUNITY IS NOT SAFE. UNDER THIS LEADERSHIP, YOU MADE A CHOICE TO SACRIFICE THE WORKING CLASS COMMUNITY OF COLOR. AND THEN YOU'RE DOING AGAIN WITH THIS ZONING AN EXCEPTION WITH THE THREE OF Y'ALL. PLEASE THANK POSTPONE THIS VOTE. THANK YOU. CONTINUE. ON ITEM 70, WE HAVE JENNY GRACE, JENNY GRAYSON, MONICA GUZMAN WITH TIME DONATED BY ALEXANDRIA ANDERSON WITH OUR PRESENT. SO SHE WILL GET FOUR MINUTES ON DECK IS CARMEN JANNA, BRIDGET SHEA, BEN LUKINS, AND RAUL LONGORIA. GOOD EVENING. I'M MONICA GUZMAN, POLICY DIRECTOR AT GAVA READING A STATEMENT FROM AN ACACIA CLIFFS RESIDENT. I'VE BEEN LIVING IN ACACIA CLIFFS FOR NEARLY THREE YEARS. OVER A YEAR AGO I MOVED INTO AN A DA UNIT DUE TO MY ORTHOPEDIC DISABILITY. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE MY UNIT AND PLAN TO STAY HERE INDEFINITELY. I RENEWED MY LEASE ON JANUARY 6TH OF THIS YEAR FOR ANOTHER 12 MONTHS. WITHIN A FEW WEEKS, WE LEARNED OF THE PLAN TO REZONING AND DEMOLISH ACACIA CLIFFS IN ORDER TO BUILD YET ANOTHER VERY HIGH RENT, HIGH RISE COMPLEX THAT ARE POPPING UP ALL OVER AUSTIN. WE WOULD NEVER HAVE RESIGNED ANOTHER LEASE AT ACACIA CLIFFS KNOWING I WOULD BE DISPLACED. MOVING IS A VERY STRESSFUL AND EXPENSIVE PROCESS. MY CONCERNS ARE AS FOLLOWS, ONE. THE DB 90 CURRENT COMPENSATION MOVING PACKAGE IS GROSSLY EGREGIOUS CONSIDERING THE LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN AUSTIN. THE COST TO MOVE OUT OF TRAVIS COUNTY BECAUSE OF VERY HIGH MARKET RENTS, VERY HIGH DEPOSITS TIMEFRAME TO FIND AN ADEQUATE A DA UNIT AND THE INCREDIBLE INCONVENIENCE TO ALL TENANTS LIVING HERE CURRENTLY. ALSO, IT IS VERY UNCLEAR IN THE CURRENT DB 90 PROPOSITION ON WHEN PAYOUT WILL OCCUR, IF LEASES WILL BE RENEWED ON A MONTH TO MONTH BASIS UNTIL WE RECEIVE THE DEMOLITION. NOTICE. IF WE WILL RECEIVE COMPENSATION BETWEEN NOW AND RECEIPT OF NOTICE TO DEMOLISH OR IF IT ONLY HAPPENS AFTER NOTICE TO DEMOLISH IS RECEIVED, THE PROPOSITION NEEDS TO INCLUDE PAYOUT STARTING IMMEDIATELY FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT CHOOSE TO MOVE OUT SOONER RATHER THAN LATER KNOWING IT IS INEVITABLE THAT WE WILL HAVE TO MOVE AT SOME POINT. TWO, RESERVING 10% OF THE UNITS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS A JOKE. FIRSTLY, IT IS NOT EVEN REMOTELY AFFORDABLE AT 60% MARKET INCOME FOR SOMEONE ON A FIXED INCOME ON SOCIAL SECURITY OR ON A STUDENT WORKING PART-TIME, WHICH COMPRISES A LOT OF THE CURRENT TENANTS. I CAN ONLY SURMISE THAT LITTLE TO NO ONE CURRENTLY HERE WOULD FALL INTO THAT CATEGORY. IN THE NEW COMPLEX. MATCHING ONE TO ONE OF THE CURRENT 290 UNITS WOULD ELIMINATE THE DISPLACEMENT OF OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS AND ALLOW US TO ENJOY LIVING IN NORTHWEST HILLS. THREE. ON THE ETHICAL SIDE OF THIS, THE CURRENT OWNER AND MANAGEMENT COMPANY ARE MOVING PEOPLE IN WITHOUT TELLING THEM ABOUT THE DEMOLITION IN ORDER TO INCREASE THE BOTTOM LINE. UNTIL WE ARE ALL TOLD TO LEAVE. THE CURRENT RENTAL RATES ON THE ACACIA CLIFFS WEBSITE ARE SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN WHAT WE ARE PAYING NOW. I'M A LONG-TERM TENANT WHO HAS NEVER BEEN LATE AND PAYING SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN SOMEONE WALKING INTO THE DOOR TODAY. I CHECKED A WEEK [08:40:01] AGO AND MY TWO BEDROOM WAS GOING FOR 250 LISTS AND WHAT I'M PAYING IN ORDER TO FILL A VACANCY, I ASKED TO DELAY THE VOTE TO HIS OWN BECAUSE OF THE VERY NEGATIVE IMPACT OF THE CURRENT DB 90 PROPOSITION WE'LL HAVE ON THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE. WE JUST WANT FAIR TREATMENT AND THAT IS CLEARLY NOT WHAT PRICE REALTY AND ARM BURST AND BROWN HAVE IN MIND FOR THE CURRENT AND FUTURE ACACIA CLIFF TENANTS. THIS IS A HUMAN ISSUE AT THE VERY CORE AND THE POWERS THAT BE ARE DEFINITELY FOCUSED ON MONEY OVER PEOPLE REGARDS. LAUREN PAYNE ACACIA CLIFF'S TENANT. IN CLOSING, I SPOKE WITH TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS THIS MORNING. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON FOR SAYING YOU ARE WITH THE PEOPLE. AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER OF VELASQUEZ FOR YOUR ASSURANCE. YOU ARE WORKING WITH COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN. WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING YOU BOTH PUBLICLY SUPPORT COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN PROPOSAL FOR FURTHER POSTPONEMENT AND AMENDING THE DB 90 ORDINANCE. THANK YOU MAYOR WATSON FOR YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT FIXING DB 90, HOPEFULLY STARTING WITH THIS CASE AS WELL AS THE TRANSIT CENTER EADS. THANK YOU. OKAY. I'M CARMEN JANNIS. I'M AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVOCATE AND A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER. I WILL BE READING A STATEMENT FROM, UH, JACK WHO'S A TENANT AT ACACIA CLIFFS. MY NAME IS JACK B UH, GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I'VE LIVED IN AUSTIN FOR 25 YEARS, THE LAST TWO YEARS IN DISTRICT 10 AT ACACIA CLIFFS. I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK THE COUNCIL AND ITS MEMBERS TO SUPPORT THE TENANTS ASSOCIATION TO POSTPONE THE COUNCIL HEARING SO WE CAN WORK TO PRESERVE THE NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING HERE AT ACACIA CLIFFS. THIS PROGRAM WAS CREATED WITH THE GOALS OF PRO, UH, PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING INCENTIVE INCENTIVES, ADDING BENEFITS TO THE COMMUNITY. IN THE CASE OF DB 90, SUPPOSEDLY THAT INTENT WAS TO PROMOTE DEVELOPMENT PARTICULARLY ON COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES, WHILE THE REQUIREMENTS TO ADD AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO WHERE THERE WAS ONCE NONE IN THE CASE OF A VACANT LOT OR PROPERTY THAT WAS ZONED COMMERCIAL IS BENEFICIAL. THEY FAILED TO PROVIDE PROTECTIONS WHEN APPLIED TO RESIDENTIAL AREAS. THAT'S ALL THE EXPLANATION YOU ALL SAW. THIS IS PRECEDENT, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH NATURALLY AFFORDABLE UH, HOUSING. IN THESE INSTANCES, IT WILL EVISCERATE THOSE POCKETS OF NATURAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROVISIONS, LIKE THE RIGHT TO RETURN AND ONE-TO-ONE REPLACEMENT OF AFFORDABLE UNITS ARE ESSENTIAL TO COMBAT THAT THE COUNCIL AND ITS MEMBERS HAVE A DUTY TO THE CITY AND TO THE PEOPLE THAT REPRESENT, TO AGGRESSIVELY PROTECT THESE POCKETS OF NATURAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING. TO FIGHT FOR THE PEOPLE YOU REPRESENT AND PROTECT THEM FROM LOOPHOLES AND MISUSE OF PROGRAMS. THIS IS A PIVOTAL MOMENT AND WE ASK ALL OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS TO SUPPORT COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN PROPOSAL TO AMEND DB 90 AND INCLUDE PROTECTIONS FOR TENANTS AND RESIDENTS AS WELL AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS A WHOLE. I ONCE AGAIN ASK THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS VOTE NO ON THIS CASE. UH, VOTE TO POSTPONE ENSURE THAT INADEQUACIES OF DB 90 CAN BE ADDRESSED AND AMENDED TO PROTECT THE NEIGHBORHOODS OF DISTRICT 10 AND ALL OF AUSTIN. DO THE RIGHT THING. VOTE NO. POSTPONE THE REZONING FIX DB 90. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I WANNA CLOSE BY SAYING THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM FOR STAYING ON THE DAAS THIS WHOLE TIME AND HEARING YOUR CONSTITUENTS. I KNOW Y'ALL HAVE A LONG DAY. YOU GOTTA GET UP HERE AND THERE. THANK YOU MARK UCHIN FOR GETTING US TIME TO GET THIS RIGHT. IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED FOR ITEM 70, YOU HAVEN'T SPOKEN YET, PLEASE MAKE YOUR, IT'S GOING FORWARD. WAITING TO SEE IF BRIDGET WAS HERE. MY NAME IS BEN LUIN. I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE NORTHWEST AUSTIN CIVIC ASSOCIATION. NORTH THE WE'RE THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION THAT INCLUDES THE ACACIA CLIFFS APARTMENTS. SEVERAL MONTHS AGO WE ACTUALLY VOTED TO, UH, RECOMMEND THIS. AND SINCE THAT POINT, SINCE THAT TIME, THE, UH, THE RESIDENTS UP THERE AT ACACIA CLIFFS CONTACTED US AND, UH, AND WE RESPONDED TO THEM SINCE THEY'RE OUR IN OUR ASSOCIATION. SO LAST NIGHT WE PASSED TWO UH, RESOLUTIONS AND THE FIRST ONE, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RESCINDED ITS RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE REZONING UNTIL IT SUCH A TIME AS PRICE REALTY REACHES AN AGREEMENT WITH THE ACACIA CLIFFS TENANTS ASSOCIATION REGARDING MITIGATING THE IMPACTS OF THEIR PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT. THE OTHER, UH, RESOLUTION WAS THAT THE BOARD, UH, SUPPORTS IN DEFINITE POSTPONEMENT OF REZONING HEARING TO PROVIDE TIME FOR FURTHER NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN PRICE REALTY AND THE ACACIA CLIFF TENANT ASSOCIATION. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL. SPEAKERS THAT SIGNED UP ON ITEM SEVENTY'S NAMES HAVE BEEN CALLED AT THIS TIME. WE CAN NOW MOVE ON TO THE CLOSING REMARKS FROM THE APPLICANT. YES, MICHAEL WAYLON. THANK YOU. UH, MICHAEL [08:45:01] WAYLON ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT. UH, FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANT TO AGAIN RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS A VERY CHALLENGING CASE AND IT'S A TOUGH DECISION FOR ALL OF US. UH, THE BUILDING IS AT ITS END OF LIFE AND WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THERE IS ANY SCENARIO WHERE THE STATUS QUO QUO WILL CONTINUE. WE ARE YOU, WE ARE NOT GOING TO PRESERVE ACACIA CLIFFS OR JUST NOT. WHAT YOU CAN DO TODAY IS PRESERVE PROTECTIONS THAT ARE EMBEDDED IN THE CODE. IF SOMEBODY TAPS INTO DB 90, SPECIFICALLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ADDING TO THE PIPELINE I'VE ALREADY REFERENCED AND REQUIRING TENANT PROTECTIONS, WHICH WOULD NOT OTHERWISE BE REQUIRED, WE KNOW, UM, THAT THE TENANTS, NO ONE'S GONNA GET KICKED OUT OF THEIR HOME. WE HAVE ALERTED EVERYBODY ABOUT A TWO YEAR TIMELINE SO THAT PEOPLE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADJUST. WE'VE PROVIDED, WE'VE INDICATED WE'RE GONNA PROVIDE RELOCATION SPECIALIST ON ON SITE. WE KNOW THERE ARE 27 OVER 2,700 UNITS THAT ARE 50 PLUS YEARS OLD IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THAT AT THIS MOMENT, 290 ARE VACANT. ONE ARGUMENT IS THAT RENOVATING AND UPGRADING THESE UNITS MIGHT BE A PRE A PREFERABLE ALTERNATIVE. AND I WOULD JUST POINT OUT THAT THAT TYPE OF SCENARIO WOULD NOT ACTUALLY ADDRESS THE CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED TODAY. A RENOVATION SCENARIO WOULD STILL INVOLVE MOVING EVERYONE OUTTA THE PROPERTY DURING CONSTRUCTION, AND THEN THE RENTS AT THE NEWLY RENOVATED APARTMENTS WOULD INCREASE. WE BELIEVE OUR PROPOSAL RECOGNIZES THE DIFFICULT REALITY OF THIS PROPERTY AND SEEKS THE BEST AVAILABLE OUTCOMES FOR THE CITY. I WOULD JUST STAND BY SAYING THAT IT WOULD FIRST AND FOREMOST MAKE A DOWN PAYMENT ON AFFORDABILITY WITH 78 NEW AFFORDABLE UNITS, NONE OF WHICH WOULD OCCUR UNDER EXISTING ZONING OR UNDER A REMODEL OR REHAB IN PLACE. UH, OUR PROPOSAL WOULD ENSURE THE TENANT ASSISTANCE, AGAIN, NOT REQUIRED UNDER THE EXISTING ZONING OR IF YOU REHAB IN PLACE, WHICH BY THE WAY, WAS WHAT THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING SPECIALIST WAS RECOMMENDING, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN THAT WE TALKED ABOUT, THAT THE TENANT ASSOCIATION, UH, GAVE US. WE ARE CONFIDENT THERE WILL BE AMPLE AVAILABILITY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THERE AGAIN, UH, 255 OCCUPIED UNITS AT ACACIA CLIFFS. 290 VACANT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WITHIN A QUARTER OF A MILE. I WILL SAY, OBVIOUSLY IN TOUGH SITUATIONS LIKE THIS, THERE IS NO PERFECT DECISION, BUT CONSIDERING THE ACTUAL OPTIONS, WHAT'S IN FRONT OF US RIGHT NOW, REHAB IN PLACE, RAISE THE RENTS TO COVER THAT COST, NO TENANT PROTECTIONS, PEOPLE HAVE TO MOVE OUT OR IT IT 'CAUSE THAT IT'S 50 PLUS YEARS OLD OR RENT OR DO DB 90 TENANT PROTECTIONS HELP PEOPLE MOVE TO OTHER LOCATIONS NEARBY. WE BELIEVE THAT IS THE BETTER DECISION AND THE RIGHT WAY TO GO AND WE HOPE THAT YOU'LL SUPPORT THAT. WE'VE HAD A SIX WEEK POSTPONEMENT, WHICH HAS GOTTEN US TO THIS POINT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. NEXT WE'LL HAVE CELINE RANDON WITH CLOSING REMARKS FOR THE OPPOSING. UM, I THINK WE DID A GREAT JOB OF BRINGING FOLKS OUT. AS Y'ALL CAN SEE, WE'VE BEEN ORGANIZING WEEKS ON WEEKS ON WEEKS. WE'VE BEEN LOOKING INTO THE SOLUTIONS. WE'VE BEEN OUT HERE, WE'VE BEEN BRINGING THE VO THE VOICES TO Y'ALL. UM, AND WE'RE NOT GONNA STOP. WE'RE GONNA SEE KEEP COMING THROUGH, WE'RE GONNA MAKE SURE WE FOLLOW THROUGH. UM, I THINK WHAT MR. WHEELIN WAS MENTIONING IS EVERYTHING THAT WE JUST COUNTERED AND IT'S, IT'S NOT TRUE AND I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU'RE NOT THAT EVIL TO PROVE US RIGHT. UM, TO EVEN SAY SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT YEAH. UM, BUT I JUST WANNA GIVE IT UP FOR THE KEISHA CLIFFS TENANT ASSOCIATION AND TO THANK THEM FOR ALL OF THE AMAZING WORK THEY'VE DONE. UM, THEIR PERSEVERANCE, THEIR AMBITION, AND THEIR, UM, COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY AND NOT PROFIT INTERESTS, UM, IS WHAT'S MADE THIS A REALLY STRONG TENANT ASSOCIATION. AND WE SHOULD STILL SEE THIS MODEL OF ORGANIZING EVERYWHERE ACROSS AUSTIN, WHERE PEOPLE THAT ARE GONNA BE DIRECTLY IMPACTED, UM, HAVE A VOICE ON THE DECISIONS THAT WILL BE MADE THAT IMPACTS THEIR LIVELIHOODS AND THEIR FAMILIES. THESE ARE WORKING FAMILIES. THESE ARE LOW INCOME PEOPLE, SINGLE PEOPLE, STUDENTS, REFUGEES, IMMIGRANTS, UM, FAMILIES LIKE, AND THIS IS A COMMUNITY. SO THERE'S SO MUCH POTENTIAL HERE AND WE'RE NOT GONNA STOP, BUT THANKS. YOU OFFER LISTENING. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. THAT CONCLUDES THE, UM, PROCESS WE FOLLOW ON A CONTESTED CASE LIKE THIS. SO, UM, NOW WE WILL GO TO A MOTION. I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN. THANK YOU MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO, UH, MOVE THAT WE POSTPONE THIS FOR TWO WEEKS TO [08:50:01] JUNE THE FIFTH. AND I'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO THAT POSTPONEMENT WHEN POSSIBLE MOTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER AND, AND WE CAN HAVE MULTIPLE MOTIONS, NOT AT THE SAME TIME OBVIOUSLY, BUT WE CAN, WE CAN HAVE MULTIPLE MOTIONS IF, IF THE NIGHT GOES ON, IF, IF, UH, A MOTION DOESN'T PASS. A MOTION IS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER. UCHIN IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ. AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN. I WILL RECOGNIZE YOU TO SPEAK ON THE MOTION AND THEN WE'LL HAVE DISCUSSION, UH, ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO THE MOTION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I HAD A WHOLE LOT OF COMMENTS PREPARED. I KNOW IT'S LATE FOR EVERYBODY. UH, I THINK A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD'VE SAID HAVE BEEN IN SOME WAYS BETTER SAID BY THE TENANTS, UH, AND ADVOCATES. AND SO REALLY MY FIRST COMMENT IS JUST TO SAY I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR THOSE FOLKS FOR TURNING OUT. THEY ARE OUR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS AND PUBLIC SERVANTS AND VETERANS AND DISABLED RESIDENTS AND DISABLED VETERANS AND HARDWORKING PEOPLE THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE STRUGGLING TO GET BY IN AUSTIN. AND I FEAR ARE AT RISK OF GETTING DISPLACED. I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE QUICKLY THAT, UM, THIS IS NOT A NEW ISSUE IN THE SENSE THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH A POLICY THAT'S BEEN AROUND FOR ALMOST A YEAR NOW, AND THAT I KNOW THAT MY COLLEAGUES IN THE DIOCESE HAVE DEALT WITH THIS ISSUE IN THEIR DISTRICT. UH, AND SO I DON'T WANNA BELABOR THE CHALLENGES AROUND DB 90 'CAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE IS A BROADER RECOGNITION TONIGHT THAT WE DO NEED TO GO WORK ON IT AND DO NEED TO GO ADDRESS SOME OF, SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'VE SEEN. BUT EVERYTHING FROM, UH, WELL, AGAIN, A LOT OF FOLKS HAVE RE UH, ALREADY ADDRESSED THOSE IN, IN COMMENTS AND PRESENTATIONS AND VIDEOS TONIGHT. UH, I DO THINK THAT THAT RELU THAT THAT DB 90 WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED WITH AT LEAST SOME GOOD INTENTIONS. BUT, UH, AGAIN, I FEEL LIKE WE'VE IDENTIFIED SOME PLACES WHERE IT CERTAINLY DOES NEED WORK. UH, AND MY HOPE ANYWAY IS THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE AT LEAST ANOTHER TWO GOOD WEEKS TO TRY AND FIND SOME SOLUTIONS FOR. UH, THE TENANTS CAN WORK OUT WITH A DEVELOPER AND COME TO SOME KIND OF ARRANGEMENT THAT IS BETTER THAN WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE. NOW, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THERE'S A SILVER BULLET HERE, BUT MY HOPE IS THAT IN TWO WEEKS WE CAN GET CLOSER TO AN ARRANGEMENT THAT, UM, THAT WORKS BETTER THAN WHAT WE HAVE. AND THAT'LL ALSO GIVE US ADDITIONAL OPTIONS TO WORK WITHIN THE CITY AND OUTSIDE RESOURCES, JUST LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE WITH THE DALLAS HOUSING OPPORTUNITY FUND, TO TRY AND GET THOSE PROGRAMS STARTED AND MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE PRESERVATION OPPORTUNITIES IN AUSTIN, ESPECIALLY FOR, UH, NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING. SO WITH THAT SAID, UM, I'D LOVE TO, UH, GET ENOUGH VOTES HERE TO POSTPONE FOR AT LEAST TWO WEEKS. THANK YOU. FURTHER DISCUSSION. ALL RIGHT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO POSTPONE THIS ITEM UNTIL JUNE 5TH. PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. YES. OKAY. I KNOW I GOT HER. UM, ALL THOSE OPPOSED WHO ISN'T VOTING COUNCILOR SEAL, DID YOU VOTE? YES. OKAY. SORRY I MISSED YOU. ALL RIGHT. THERE BEING SEVEN VOTES IN FAVOR. FOUR VOTES IN OPPOSITION. THE MOTION TO POSTPONE IS GRANTED. FOR THE RECORD. FOR THE RECORD, THE YES VOTES WERE VELAZQUEZ THE MAYOR PRO TIM CADRE, HARPER, MADISON, UCHIN SIEGEL AND ELLIS. THE NOSE, VELA, ALTER LANE, AND WATSON. ALRIGHT WITH THAT, UM, THE MOTION CARRIES AND WE HAVE NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AT THIS MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL. SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE ARE ADJOURNED AT 7:29 PM. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.