[00:00:01]
IT'S 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING,
[Call to Order]
ACTUALLY JUST TURNED TO 10 0 1.TEN OH ONE, AND I'LL CALL TO ORDER THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR THIS REGULAR SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL ON JUNE 5TH, 2025.
UM, WHAT I WILL DO IS WALK, BY THE WAY, WE'RE MEETING IN CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, WHICH ARE LOCATED IN CITY HALL AT 3 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET, AND WE HAVE ALL THE, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WE HAVE, WE HAVE A, A QUORUM OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT.
UM, WHAT I'LL DO FIRST IS I'LL WALK THROUGH THE ORDER OF THE DAY AND THEN WE WILL, UH, GET RIGHT DOWN TO SOME OF THE BUSINESS.
UH, I'LL READ CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS INTO THE RECORD.
AND THEN WHAT WE WILL DO IS COUNSEL, WE'RE AT THAT POINT IN TIME WHERE, UH, JUST BEFORE, UH, THE SUMMER HITS, WE DRAW SEATS FOR WHERE THE COUNCIL WILL SIT.
UH, I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T HEAR YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER BAILEY, WHAT WAS IT? YOU SAID? UH, WE'RE A PACKAGE DEAL.
WELL, ACTUALLY, THE THREE OF US ARE, YOU KNOW, AT ANY, THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION AT ANY POINT IN TIME TO STOP DOING THIS IF ANYBODY WANTS TO DO THAT.
BUT WHAT WE'LL DO IS, WE'LL, UH, UH, MOST EVERYBODY KNOWS IT AND APPARENTLY SOME PEOPLE, UH, OPPOSE IT.
UH, BUT WE'RE, UH, WE'LL DRAW WHERE PEOPLE SIT WHEN WE COME BACK, AND I'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT IN A SECOND.
UH, WE WILL THEN GO TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA MEMBERS.
I WANNA MENTION A COUPLE OF THINGS WITH REGARD TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ITEM NUMBER, AND, AND THIS WILL ALSO BE IN CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS, BUT I'LL, I'LL EMPHASIZE IT.
ITEM NUMBER 23 HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN.
ITEM, UH, DID I SAY 67? I NEED TO SAY 67 HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN, AND ITEM 71 HAS BEEN BEEN WITHDRAWN.
IF ANYBODY IS GOING TO, THE WAY WE'LL DO THAT, OF COURSE, IS WE WILL HEAR FROM CONSENT SPEAKERS, UH, WE WILL THEN VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
UH, PRIOR TO THAT, WE WILL HAVE DISCUSSION FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I HAVE ONE PERSON THAT HAS TOLD ME THAT THEY WANNA SPEAK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
I KNOW THAT IS SHY, A COUPLE OF FOLKS.
UH, I ALWAYS TRY TO PUT ON THE MESSAGE BOARD THAT IF YOU WANNA DO THAT, YOU CAN LET ME KNOW IN ADVANCE.
BUT, UM, APPARENTLY NOBODY READS MY MESSAGE BOARD POST ANYMORE.
THE ONE WHO HAS NO, THE ONE I HAVE IS NOT YOU.
UM, SO, YEAH, AND, AND, AND MOST FOLKS DON'T CALL IT OUT ON THE DIOCESE THAT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN DOING THAT.
UH, WE WILL, WE WILL PAUSE AROUND 10 30 OR SO TO HAVE AN AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING ON CON NON-CONSENT ITEMS, UH, FOR THE PUBLIC PURPOSES.
SOME ITEMS ARE NOT PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THEY'RE JUST BY OUR RULES NON-CONSENT.
THOSE INCLUDE IMMINENT DOMAIN ITEMS AND PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS. THE ITEMS THAT WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON MEMBERS, ITEMS ON THE IMMINENT DOMAIN, WHICH ARE ITEMS 88 AND 89.
BOTH OF THOSE ITEMS HAVE BEEN WITHDRAWN, SO WE WILL NOT HAVE THOSE ITEMS. UH, AT NOON.
UH, WE WILL GO TO OUR TIME, CERTAIN PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS, UH, I ANTICIPATE THAT WE WILL RECESS AROUND 1230, UH, FOR LIVE MUSIC, UH, WITH US RECONVENING AT AROUND ONE 10.
AND THEN AT TWO O'CLOCK, WE HAVE OUR TWO O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN MEMBERS.
I'M GONNA NOW READ CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS INTO THE RECORD.
ITEMS 23 67, 71, 88, 89, AND ONE 18 ARE WITHDRAWN.
ITEM 55 IS POSTPONED TO JULY 24TH, 2025.
ITEM NUMBER 66, POSTPONED TO SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2025.
ITEM NUMBER 70, WITHDRAWN BY STAFF.
ITEM NUMBER 92 AND 95 SHOULD READ WHEN PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE TAKEN UP.
THESE ITEMS WILL BE POSTPONED TO JULY 24TH, 2025.
ITEM NUMBER 23, WHEN THE SHOULD READ, WHEN PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE TAKEN UP, THIS ITEM WILL BE POSTPONED TO SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2025.
[00:05:01]
ITEMS NUMBER ONE, 13 AND ONE 14 SHOULD READ JUST DISTRICT ONE, AND YOU SHOULD DELETE.AND DISTRICT NINE ON THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING ITEM 0 0 4 SHOULD READ POSTPONED UNTIL JULY 24TH, 2025 MEMBERS, WE DON'T HAVE ANY ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
NOW WITH THAT BEING SAID, AS I INDICATED, EVERY SIX MONTHS, THE COUNCIL ROTATE SEATS ON THE DAIS.
AS A REMINDER, THE MAYOR PRO TIM, HAS A PERMANENT SEAT TO THE LEFT OF THE CITY ATTORNEY.
SO WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS NOW I'LL ASK THE CLERK, UH, TO WALK THE DAIS AND ASK YOU TO PULL A NUMBERED CARD.
PLEASE READ THE NUMBER YOU SELECT INTO THE RECORD SO THAT WE CAN CAPTURE THAT INFORMATION.
THESE, UH, BY THE WAY, THESE NEW SEATS WILL GO FROM EFFECTIVE JULY, 2025 THROUGH DECEMBER, 2025, UH, IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
AND FOR THE RECORD, AND PEOPLE THAT ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO THIS IN THE CHAMBERS, SEAT NUMBER ONE IS ON THE WEST END OF THE DAIS, NEAR THE CLERK'S DESK.
AND I WILL ASK COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, WHAT SEAT DID YOU DRAW? I DREW SEAT NUMBER NINE.
I'D LIKE TO AMEND THIS WHEN WE'RE DONE.
COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL? UH, THREE.
UH, DID SOMEBODY DRAW FOR YOU? YOU DREW? TELL, TELL US WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON DREW.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON IS ONE.
HOW ABOUT YOU? COUNCIL MEMBER CADRY? I AM THREE.
YEAH, I'M STAYING NUMBER FIVE.
ALRIGHT, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER LANE.
WELL, YOU, YOU STAY IN THIS PLACE.
AND THE, THE, THE MAN WHO, WHO'S CRIED OUT WHEN I SAID WE WERE GONNA DO THIS TODAY, BUT, UH, DISTRICT FOUR IS IN SEAT FOUR.
THAT'D BE SOMETHING YOU CAN REMEMBER.
ALL RIGHT, SO LET ME JUST READ THESE OUT QUICKLY.
COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS HAS DRAWN NINE.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL HAS DRAWN THREE, I'M SORRY, DID I SAY SOMETHING WRONG? OKAY.
UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN IS EIGHT COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON WILL BE IN SEAT ONE.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER IN SEVEN.
COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ IN SIX.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER VELA IN FOUR.
ALL RIGHT, WELL DONE EVERYBODY.
WE HAVE, UH, BE COOL IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO MOVE TO ADJOURN.
WITH THAT, WE WILL GO TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[Consent Agenda (Part 1 of 2)]
UH, AS I INDICATED, NO ITEMS HAVE BEEN PULLED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.I WILL TURN TO THE CLERK'S OFFICE TO HELP US BY CALLING OUT SPEAKERS.
UH, WITH REGARD TO THE CONSENT AGENDA, FIRST SPEAKER IS REMOTE FOR ITEM ONE, JENNIFER ROBIC CHOW.
JENNIFER, ARE YOU THERE? CAN YOU PLEASE UNMUTE? GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS.
UM, GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL.
I'M NOT ATTENDING IN PERSON, BUT I'M INTERRUPTING MY VACATION TO CALL IN TODAY TO SPEAK.
I EXPECT MANY WISH THEY COULD BE HERE TOO, BUT COULDN'T BECAUSE OF THE TIMING.
I SPEAK FOR THOUSANDS OF AUSTINITE OPPOSING THE $5.8 MILLION CONTRACT.
SIAH WOOLFOLK, A NEW YORK BASED ARTIST FOR THE A DIA TUNNEL ART PROJECT.
THIS HIGH PROFILE INSTALLATION WILL GREET MILLIONS OF ANNUAL TRAVELERS REPRESENTING AUSTIN'S IDENTITY.
I URGE YOU TO REJECT THIS CONTRACT AND PRIORITIZE LOCAL ARTISTS TO REFLECT OUR CITY'S VALUES AND KEEP TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
FEEDBACK FROM COUNTLESS RESIDENTS SHOW STRONG DEMAND FOR LOCAL ARTISTS AT A BIA ALIGNING WITH THE 2018 ART IN PUBLIC PLACES, PUBLIC ARTS MASTER PLAN, WHICH CALLS FOR ART.
THAT'S UNIQUELY AUSTIN, THE SELECTION PROCESS, A LIMITED ENTRY COMPETITION.
COMPETITION INVITED 46 ARTISTS, ONLY FIVE ELIGIBLE FROM TEXAS.
YET NEITHER THE PRIMARY NOR ALTERNATE PICKS ARE TEXAN.
THIS $5.8 MILLION CONTRACT, 32% OF THE AIRPORT ART BUDGET DWARFS THE 3% ALLOCATED FOR AUSTIN ARTISTS, LOCAL ARTISTS, LIVE PAY TAXES, AND SPEND HERE STRENGTHENING THEIR ECONOMY.
SENDING FUNDS OUT OF STATE WEAKENS OUR COMMUNITY.
THE ARTS COMMISSION UNELECTED DOESN'T REPRESENT VOTERS.
AUSTIN IS THE ONLY UNESCO CITY OF MEDIA ART IN THE UNITED STATES.
SELECTING AN OUT-OF-STATE ARTIST SUGGESTS THAT OUR TALENT ISN'T WORTHY OF THIS HONOR.
THE CLOSED SELECTION PROCESS DEVIATES FROM NATIONAL OPEN CALL STANDARDS FOR PUBLIC ART, AND THE PROPOSED WORK MAY CLASH WITH GLOBAL VALUES RISKING OFFENSE TO DIVERSE TRAVELERS.
THE MILLION SPENT ON SELECTION ISN'T WASTED.
IT'S AN INVESTMENT IN THE RIGHT CHOICE, AND THIS ISN'T THE RIGHT CHOICE.
THIS PERMANENT INSTALLATION WILL SHAPE
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AUSTIN'S REPUTATION FOR DECADES.PEOPLE FLOCK HERE FOR OUR UNIQUE CULTURE, NOT TO SEE US MIMIC OTHER CITIES.
AUSTIN, PLEASE VOTE NO ON THIS CONTRACT.
SEND IT BACK TO THE ARTS COMMISSION AND DEMAND LOCAL ARTISTS FOR OUR AIRPORT TUNNEL.
PROTECT OUR IDENTITY AND KEEP OUR DOLLARS LOCAL.
OKAY, I HAVE JULIE AND REYES FOR NUMBER TWO AS WELL.
WHEN THE CLERK CALLS YOUR NAME.
IF YOU'RE HERE, PLEASE UH, MOVE FORWARD AND TAKE ONE OF THE FRONT ROW SEATS, UH, SO THAT WE'LL KNOW YOU'RE HERE.
BUT I DON'T BELIEVE, UH, JULIAN RAYS IS HERE.
I HAVE JENNIFER AU AGAIN ON ITEM TWO AS WELL.
JENNIFER, DID YOU WANNA SPEAK TO ITEM TWO, MS. ROBA? I DID.
ALRIGHT, UH, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR GIVING ME ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I URGE YOU TO VOTE NO ON THE $2.4 MILLION CONTRACT TO JIM CAMPBELL, WHO IS A SAN FRANCISCO BASED ARTIST FOR THE ART INSTALLATION AT THE TUNNEL INTERFACE AT THE AUSTIN AIRPORT.
THIS DECISION IS ABOUT PROTECTING AUSTIN'S IDENTITY AND SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.
I'VE GATHERED FEEDBACK FROM NUMEROUS COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO SUPPORT PUBLIC ART WANT LOCAL ARTISTS FEATURED AT THE AIRPORT.
THE AUSTIN AIRPORT IS AUSTIN'S FIRST IMPRESSION REFLECTING OUR CREATIVE, DIVERSE, AND FRIENDLY SPIRIT.
LOCAL ARTISTS BEST CAPTURE THIS.
YET THE ARTS COMMISSION CHOSE AN OUT-OF-STATE ARTISTS THROUGH THE LIMITED LIMITED ENTRY COMPETITION WHERE ONLY FIVE OF 22 ELIGIBLE WERE LOCAL.
THE A US ARTS PLAN EMPHASIZED KEEPING IT AUSTIN AND PROMOTING CULTURAL TOURISM.
BUT THE $2.4 MILLION CONTRACT, WHICH IS 13% OF THE AIRPORT ART BUDGET, SENDS TAXPAYER DOLLARS OUT OF STATE SAN FRANCISCO'S ART BUDGET, D DIVORCE, OURS, AND WE SHOULDN'T SUBSIDIZE THEIR ARTISTS WHEN OUR OWN ARE READY, EMBEDDED THE UNELECTED ART PERMISSION CHOICE OVERLOOKS AUSTIN'S STATUS AS THE ONLY UNESCO CITY OF MEDIA ARTS IN THE UNITED STATES.
OUR TALENT IS GLOBALLY CELEBRATED.
THE INVITATION ONLY SELECTION PROCESS ISN'T STANDARD EITHER.
OPEN CALLS ARE CUSTOMARY FOR PUBLIC PROJECTS, YET NEITHER THE PRIMARY NOR ALTERNATE ARTISTS ARE TEXAN.
THE PROPOSED ARTWORK IS PERMANENT INSTALLATION RISK CLASHING WITH TEXAS VALUES AND GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES MISREPRESENTING AUSTIN.
FOR DECADES, PEOPLE FLOCK TO AUSTIN FOR 18 MEET CULTURE NOT TO SEE US MIMIC OTHER CITIES.
THE MILLIONS SPENT ON SELECTION ISN'T WASTED.
IT'S AN INVESTMENT IN THE RIGHT CONTRACT, AND THIS ISN'T THE RIGHT CONTRACT.
YOU THE COUNCIL REPRESENT AUSTIN VOTERS AND MUST ENSURE AUSTIN'S INTEREST.
LOCAL ARTISTS WOULD REINVEST ITS MONEY BOOSTING OUR ECONOMY.
PLEASE VOTE NO, SEND THIS BACK TO THE ARTS COMMISSION AND DEMAND LOCAL TALENT FOR OUR AIRPORT.
THANK YOU MR. ROBACH, HOW YOU ALSO SIGNED UP FOR ITEM THREE.
DID YOU WANNA SPEAK TO ITEM THREE? YES, MA'AM.
SO, UH, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REPRESENT THE THOUSANDS OF AUSTINITES WHO LOVE OUR CITY AND OUR UNIQUE CULTURE.
AND I'M HERE TO URGE YOU TO VOTE NO ON THE $2.4 MILLION CONTRACT TO EVENT MAYORGA A CHICAGO BASED ARTIST FOR THE ART INSTALLATION AT THE TUNNEL INTERFACE AT THE AUSTIN AIRPORT.
SEND THIS BACK TO THE ARTS COMMISSION AND PRIORITIZE LOCAL ARTISTS.
COMMUNITY FEEDBACK IS CLEAR, MOST DISLIKED THIS ARTIST'S PORTFOLIO COMPLETELY AND INS SYSTEM ON LOCAL ARTISTS FOR OUR AIRPORT.
THE A US ARTS PROGRAM AIMS TO CELEBRATE THE SPIRIT OF AUSTIN, YET THE SELECTION OF THE YVETTE MAYORGA, WHOSE WORK EXPLICITLY FOCUSES ON THEMES LIKE FEMINIZED LABOR AND RADICALIZED OPPRESSION THROUGH PROVOCATIVE AESTHETICS FEELS DISTINCTLY AT ODDS WITH THE INCLUSIVE CELEBRATORY SPIRIT OF AUSTIN AND TEXAS.
THIS IS NOT A TEMPORARY EXHIBITION, BUT A PERMANENT INSTALLATION THAT WILL REPRESENT OUR CITY AND STATE TO MILLIONS OF TRAVELERS FOR DECADES, THE LASTING IMPACT OF THIS DECISION ON AUSTIN'S REPUTATION CANNOT BE OVERSTATED.
THIS $2.4 MILLION CONTRACT, 13% OF THE ART BUDGET WOULD SEND TAXPAYER DOLLARS OUT OF STATES.
THE TUNNEL ARC CONTRACT GOES ENTIRELY TO NON-LOCALS.
DESPITE AUSTIN ESCO CITY OF MEDIA ART STATUS SIGNALING OUR TALENT ISN'T WORTHY OF GLOBAL RECOGNITION.
THE ARTS COMMISSION'S CLOSED SELECTION PROCESS, LIMITED ENTRY COMPETITION EXCLUDED MANY LOCALS.
ONLY FIVE OF THE 22 ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS WERE FROM TEXAS.
NEITHER THE PRIMARY NOR ALTERNATE ARTISTS ARE TEXAN.
AN OPEN CALL IS THE NATIONAL NORM FOR PUBLIC PROJECTS LIKE THIS.
THE COMMISSION, THE ARTS COMMISSION IS UNELECTED AND DOESN'T REPRESENT VOTERS, BUT YOU DO.
AND MANY CITIZENS FEAR, YOU'LL RUBBER STAMP THIS ERODING OUR TRUST.
AUSTIN'S UNIQUE IDENTITY DRAWS NEWCOMERS ESCAPING OTHER CITIES.
WE DON'T NEED TO EMULATE THEM.
[00:15:01]
LOCAL TAXES FUND THIS AND LOCAL ARTISTS CAN CREATE GLOBALLY RESONANT WORK TRUE TO OUR VALUES.PLEASE VOTE NO AND SYSTEM LOCAL ARTISTS TO REFLECT AUSTIN AND TEXAS' SPIRIT.
KEEP TAX DOLLARS HERE AND ELEVATE OUR CREATIVE COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU, FREEDOM THREE, JULIAN REYES AND ALEXANDER STRINGER AFTER MR. STRINGER, JULIAN REYES AND ALEXANDER STRINGER FOR ITEM FOUR.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF ITEMS THREE THROUGH SEVEN BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL ENCOMPASSING AND REFLECT AN IMPORTANT DIRECTION THAT WE NEED TO TAKE AS A CITY.
AUSTIN WAS BUILT ON A LEGACY OF WHITE SUPREMACY, AND WE, WE NEED TO SHOW EVERYONE WHO COMES HERE THAT WE HAVE TURNED A PAGE ON OUR RACIST LEGACY, ESPECIALLY SINCE WE ELECTED A WHITE SUPREMACIST NAZI WHO WANTS TO TAKE US BACK TO THE 1930S.
THE RIGHTS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS, WOMEN UNDOCUMENTED MIGRANTS, MEMBERS OF THE L-G-B-T-Q AND MINOR ATTRACTED PERSONS ARE UNDER ATTACK EVERY SINGLE DAY THAT DONALD TRUMP IS IN OFFICE.
MY WIFE'S BOYFRIEND, ARMANDO, IS AN UNDOCUMENTED MIGRANT, AND DONALD TRUMP IS GOING TO DEPORT HIM TO EL SALVADOR BECAUSE HE ROBBED A PREGNANT WOMAN AT GUNPOINT AS AN ACT OF RESISTANCE TO COLONIALISM.
BUT AUSTIN, WE ARE SAYING NO TO THAT.
AND THAT IS WHAT THIS INCLUSIVE ARTWORK REPRESENTS.
IT REPRESENTS REJECTING WHITE SUPREMACY, SUPPORTING THE UNDOCUMENTED, GIVING A VOICE TO THE L-G-B-T-Q-I-A TO SPIRIT UKRAINE COMMUNITY, AND CELEBRATING OUR REIMAGINED POLICE FORCE AFTER THEY TOOK THREE HOURS TO SHOW UP.
WHEN THAT NAZI ALEX ROSEN CAUGHT A PEDOPHILE WITH CHILD PORNOGRAPHY ON HIS PHONE.
AND YOU CANNOT PUT A PRICE ON THIS.
AND, AND FOR THESE CONSERVATIVE MAGGOTS SAYING THAT WE NEED TO, THAT THE $17 MILLION THAT WE'RE SPENDING ON THIS INCLUSIVE ARTWORK WOULD BE BETTER SERVED, FIXING THE ROADS.
WELL, WHO IS GONNA DO THAT WHEN DONALD TRUMP DEPORTS ALL OF THE UNDOCUMENTED MIGRANTS? BECAUSE NOBODY IS GONNA BE ABLE TO PICK OUR CROPS.
NOBODY, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR AND COUNSEL.
ITEM FOUR, JULIAN REYES, ALEXANDER STRINGER, ITEM FIVE, JULIAN REYES, ALEXANDER STRINGER, ITEM SIX, JULIAN REYES, ALEXANDER STRINGER, ITEM SIX, JENNIFER ACHE, REMOTE.
UM, I'VE SPOKEN WITH MANY OFF NIGHTS ABOUT THE ART AIRPORT EXPANSION ART PROJECTS, WHILE SOME QUESTION PUBLIC ART FUNDING MOST SUPPORTED IF THE ART REFLECTS AUSTIN'S CULTURE AND IS CREATED BY TEXAS BASED ARTISTS.
THE 2018 ART IN PUBLIC PLACES, MASTER PLAN CALLED FOR AIRPORT ART TO BE BOLD, BEAUTIFUL, AND WHIMSICAL, REFLECTING AUSTIN'S PRIDE.
GIL ROCHA FROM LAREDO IS PROPOSED FOR THE $1 MILLION CONTRACT FOR DEPARTURES TICKETING.
WHILE GIL ROCHE IS A TEXAS BASED ARTIST.
A REVIEW OF HIS PORTFOLIO SUGGESTS HIS MIXED MEDIA SCULPTURES, WHICH OFTEN EVOKE A RAW, UNCONVENTIONAL AESTHETIC, DO NOT FULLY ALIGN WITH THE AUSTIN AND PUBLIC PLACES.
GOALS OF BEAUTY OR WHIMSY, OR THE PRIDE AUSTINITES TAKE OUR CITY'S INNOVATIVE SPIRIT.
AUSTIN IS A WELCOMING AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY THAT EMBRACES DIVERSE LIFESTYLES, INCLUDING THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
HOWEVER, HOMELESSNESS REMAINS A COMPLEX PUBLIC CHALLENGE, OFTEN VIEWED AS A CONCERN FOR BOTH QUALITY OF LIFE AND PUBLIC SAFETY.
PERMANENT ARTWORK THAT INADVERTENTLY EVOKES THE SYSTEMIC RISKS.
MISREPRESENTING AUSTIN'S FORWARD-LOOKING IDENTITY TO VISITORS AND RESIDENTS ALIKE.
IN CONTRAST, JOSE RAPHAEL VARGA SUAREZ RAISED IN TEXAS AND EDUCATED IN AUSTIN WITH SELECTED AS AN ALTERNATE.
AND HE CREATES BOLD, BEAUTIFUL INSTALLATIONS THAT EMBODY OUR CITY'S DYNAMIC IDENTITY.
I RESPECTFULLY URGE YOU TO VOTE NO ON ROACH'S CONTRACT.
RETURN IT TO THE ARTS COMMISSION AND RECOMMEND SARGA SUAREZ, WHOSE WORK BETTER REFLECTS AUSTIN'S VISION.
THANK YOU FOR NUMBER SEVEN, JULIAN REYES.
[00:20:03]
NUMBER EIGHT, JENNIFER AU.AS A PROUD AUSTIN, I AM HERE TO ADDRESS THE PROPOSED CONTRACT FOR ARTWORK AT THE LOWER LEVEL PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS.
AS PART OF THE A BIA EXPANSION PROJECT, AUSTIN, WHICH IS THE ONLY UNESCO CITY OF MEDIA ARTS IN THE UNITED STATES, THRIVE ON ITS CREATIVE SPIRIT.
OUR AIRPORT SHOULD SHOWCASE LOCAL ARTISTS WHO REFLECT THIS IDENTITY.
IN FACT, THE PHASE TWO CONTRACT EXPLICITLY RESTRICTS ELIGIBILITY TO TEXAS RESIDENTS.
THE COMMUNITY AGREES THIS CONTRACT MUST HONOR OUR LOCAL TALENT.
HOWEVER, THE CURRENT SELECTION OF RAUL VIRAGO FOR THIS CONTRACT RAISES SERIOUS CONCERNS.
THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT MR. PGO WAS A TEXAS RESIDENT PRIOR TO HIS SELECTION.
ON APRIL 7TH, 2025, THE ART AND PUBLIC PLACES PANEL RECOMMENDED HIM FOR THIS CONTRACT.
THE VERY NEXT DAY ON APRIL 8TH, HE REGISTERED HIS BUSINESS, WOLF COUNCIL PRODUCTIONS, LLC IN AUSTIN.
PRIOR TO THIS, HIS PROFESSIONAL PRESENCE ON LINKEDIN AND HIS PERSONAL WEBSITE, WHICH HE HAS SINCE UNPUBLISHED SINCE I LAST LOOKED AT IT, INDICATED HE WAS BASED IN BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.
THIS TIMING SUGGESTS AN ATTEMPT TO MEET THE RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS AFTER THE FACT, WHICH UNDERMINES THE CONTRACT'S INTEGRITY.
AWARDING THIS CONTRACT TO AN OUT-OF-STATE ARTIST TELLS THE WORD WORLD THAT AUSTIN LACKS WOR LACKS TALENT WORTHY OF OUR UNESCA STATUS.
OUR LOCAL ARTISTS ARE INNOVATIVE AND READY TO SHINE ON THE GLOBAL STAGE.
I URGE YOU TO VOTE NO ON THIS CONTRACT, SEND IT BACK TO THE ARTS COMMISSION TO PRIORITIZE TEXAS RESIDENTS WHO EMBODY AUSTIN'S CREATIVE SPIRIT.
LET'S ENSURE THAT OUR AIRPORT REFLECTS OUR CITY'S PRIDE.
AND REALLY, THIS GOES FOR EVERY SINGLE ARTIST ON THERE.
THE ARTS COMMISSION HAS SELECTED A LOT OF REALLY GREAT TEXAS TALENT, AND IT'S ABSOLUTELY INEXCUSABLE THAT THEY HAVE SELECTED THE HANDFUL OF OUT-OF-STATE ARTISTS THAT I'VE TALKED ABOUT.
SO PLEASE, ALL THE OUTTA STATE ARTISTS NEED TO BE REPLACED WITH SOMEBODY WHO HAS A HISTORY OF EXHIBITING AND WORKING HERE IN TEXAS.
THANK YOU FOR ITEM EIGHT, JULIAN REYES.
ITEM NINE, JULIAN REYES, ITEM 10, JULIAN REYES.
MOVING ON TO ITEM 11, LILLIAN ORTIZ.
HELLO, MY NAME IS CRAIG NASER AND I'M REPRESENTING MYSELF ON THIS ITEM.
AS YOU CAN TELL, ART CAN BE VERY CONTROVERSIAL AND I HAVE SPENT MY ENTIRE LIFE IN THE ARTS AND I'VE BEEN ON COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS TO SELECT ARTS AND SELECT ARTISTS AND ALL THAT.
AND, UH, WHAT I HAVE LEARNED IS THAT, UM, IT'S, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE FOR ANY ONE PERSON TO TELL WHAT'S GONNA BE GREAT.
SO THE BEST WAY TO DO THIS IS TO HAVE A LOT OF PUBLIC INPUT.
AND I ALSO THINK ANOTHER REALLY IMPORTANT THING IS TO SUPPORT LOCAL ARTISTS.
SO IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE HANDING THE SELECTION OF ART TO AN PRIVATE NONPROFIT, UH, AT LEAST AS THE SELECTION GOES.
SO I WOULD RECOMMEND, AS WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF VOICES ALREADY, THAT WE KIND FIND A PROCESS WHERE I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO SUPPORT LOCAL ARTISTS, EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, AND THAT WE GET A LOT OF GOOD PUBLIC INPUT.
LILLIAN ORTIZ, RICHARD SUTTLE, BILL BUNCH, BOBBY LEVINSKY, ADAM KING.
I'D LIKE TO CITE MY TIME WITH BOBBY LEVI, YOU, YOU, YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO DO THAT.
YOU HAVE TO DO THAT IN ADVANCE, THE WAY WE FOLLOW THE RULES.
I HAVE SOME DONATED TIME OVER THERE THOUGH, FROM SOMEBODY I KING I HAVE FOR 22.
SO ITEM 16 AND 17, UM, THEY ARE, UM, WATER AND WASTEWATER EXTENSIONS, A SERVICE EXTENSION REQUEST.
UM, THE THESE PROPERTIES ARE IMPORTANT BECAUSE THIS PROPERTY WAS VOLUNTARILY REMOVED FROM THE AUSTIN EX EXTRATERRITORIAL JURISDICTION JUST LAST YEAR.
AS A RESULT OF SB 2038, THERE HAVE BEEN THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF PROPERTIES HAVE BEEN RELEASED.
GUTTING AUSTIN'S ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS.
THIS CASE WILL SET A PRECEDENT AND WE ASK THAT YOU, UH, TO SUPPORT THE AUSTIN WATERSHED PROTECTION STAFF AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION IN REC IN DENYING THESE SURFACE EXTENSION REQUESTS.
IT WAS WITH A RARE SITUATION WHERE WE'VE HAD A UNANIMOUS DENIAL FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL
[00:25:01]
COMMISSION AT A VOTE OF 10 TO ZERO.UM, THE CITY, UH, STAFF DETERMINED THAT BE, UH, THAT EXTENDING THESE SERVICE, UM, EXTENSIONS TO THE SITE WOULD LIKELY RESULT IN MORE DEVELOPMENT INTENSITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HARM THAT WOULD OTHERWISE OCCUR WITH THE ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF WATER AND WASTEWATER FOR THE SITE.
THAT HAS BEEN THE LONGSTANDING POLICY OF THIS CITY TO NOT SUPPORT AN ENVIRONMENTAL HARM, UH, THROUGH ITS WATER AND WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE.
THAT IS AN, AN ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT NOW THAT WE NO LONGER HAVE THE TOOLS OF THE ETJ TO RELY ON, UH, BECAUSE THIS IS A DISCRETIONARY DECISION.
AND BASED ON THAT LONGSTANDING POLICY, WE ASK THAT YOU REJECT THESE SERVICE EXTENSION REQUESTS FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY.
UH, THE EEC AND ITS RECOMMENDATION EMPHASIZED THAT APPROVING THE SCRS WOULD ENABLE A DEVELOPMENT WITH HIGH ENVIRONMENTAL RISK.
AS IT SIGNIFICANTLY EX EXCEEDS THE CITY'S IMPERVIOUS COVER LIMITS.
59% OF THE SITE, THE LIMIT SHOULD BE 20%.
IT ALSO INCLUDES EXTENSIVE PARKING.
35% OF THE OF THE SITE IS JUST PARKING LOT.
UM, IT IS UPSTREAM OF JOLLY BALL PLATEAU SALAMANDER.
A THREATENED SPECIES, UH, URBANIZATION IN THIS AREA HAS DE HAS RESULTED IN A RAPID DECLINE IN THE POPULATIONS OF THE SALAMANDER IN THIS AREA.
UM, AND THAT'S WHY THESE, THESE PROTECTIONS ARE IMPORTANT, NOT ONLY FOR DRINKING WATER PURPOSES, THIS IS WITHIN THE DRINKING WATER PROTECTION ZONE, BUT ALSO FOR THE, THE SURVIVAL OF THESE SPECIES.
UM, I WANT TO REMIND THE COUNSEL THAT, UM, ANNEXATION IS POSSIBLE FOR THIS APPLICANT.
UM, THAT'S ALL THEY WOULD REALLY NEED TO DO IS JUST, UH, REQUEST ANNEXATION.
AND THEY DON'T WANNA DO THAT BEFORE DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE THEN THEY DON'T HAVE TO, TO COMPLY WITH AUSTIN'S ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION.
SO PLEASE HOLD THE LINE, DON'T, AND THIS IS GONNA SET A, A REALLY DANGEROUS PRECEDENT.
WE'VE GOT THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF PROPERTIES THAT ARE GONNA BE VERY SIMILAR IN NATURE TO THIS, TO THIS SITE.
UM, PLEASE HEED THE ADVICE OF YOUR WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT STAFF AND HEED THE ADVICE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AND VOTING NO ON BOTH ITEM 16 AND 17.
CRAIG NASER, ROY WHALEY, AZALEA RODRIGUEZ VF.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD, BE PREPARED.
CRAIG NASER, UH, SIERRA CLUB, AND I AGREE WITH BOBBY LEVINSKY.
I MEAN, I'VE BEEN AN ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST IN THIS TOWN FOR QUITE A WHILE, AND WHAT I SEE OVER AND OVER AGAIN, AND THE FIRST TIME I SAW IT WAS ON THE CITY ON ALL NIGHT CITY COUNCIL MEETING IN 1990, IS A DEVELOPER COMES IN AND HE SAYS, WE WANT THIS, THIS, AND THIS.
IF YOU DON'T GIVE US THIS, THIS, THIS, AND THIS, WE'LL DO THIS, WHICH IS ENVIRONMENTALLY WORSE, BUT WE WANT THIS, THIS, AND THIS.
NOW, IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING ON ON A NATIONAL SCALE, I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF BULLYING, AND I HOPE THE CITY WILL UPHOLD YOUR RULES AND HOLD YOUR LAWS.
THIS GUY, YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS, THIS THREATENS THE HABITAT FOR THE JOLLYVILLE PLATEAU SALAMANDER.
UH, 15 YEARS AGO, I SPOKE AT A NUMBER OF MEETINGS ABOUT GETTING HIT THAT S MATTER LISTED AS THREATENED.
YOU KNOW, WE FIGHT A LOT ABOUT KEEPING OUR ENVIRONMENT GOOD, AND IT KEEPS DETERIORATING.
AND ONE OF THE REASONS THIS HAPPENS IS BECAUSE THESE, THERE'S SOME DEVELOPERS WHO CLAIM THEY'RE ENVIRONMENTALISTS AND THEY'RE NOT.
I'VE SEEN IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN WHERE THEY THREATEN AND SAY, WELL, LIKE THIS DEAL.
LIKE I, I SPENT THE WHOLE COUPLE MONTHS AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND SAW THE BULLYING THERE, AND WE GOTTA STAND UP SOMEWHERE.
AND I THINK THIS IS A GOOD PLACE TO STAND UP.
IF YOU WANT A DN X, THEN YOU DON'T GET THE CITY SERVICES.
ECHO THAT ROY WHALEY CONSERVATION CHAIR FOR THE AUSTIN REGIONAL GROUP AT SIERRA CLUB.
GLAD TO SEE Y'ALL THIS MORNING.
UM, AND I AGREE IF YOU, UH, WANT THE CITY SERVICES BECOME A PART OF THE CITY AND, AND FOLLOW THE RULES, AND ALTHOUGH I DID NOT GET A CHANCE TO TALK TO HER ABOUT THIS, I WAS THINKING ABOUT WHAT JACKIE GOODMAN MIGHT SAY ABOUT THIS.
AND JACKIE LEFT US LAST TUESDAY, AND I JUST WANT TO HAVE A SECOND TO THANK JACKIE GOODMAN FOR ALL SHE DID FOR AUSTIN, NOT JUST THE ENVIRONMENT OF AUSTIN, BUT WHAT SHE HAS DONE FOR AUSTIN.
ALL OF US ON, ON THE, ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION AS A MAYOR, PRO TEM SETTING UP THERE WHERE Y'ALL ARE.
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UM, AND FOR YEARS AND YEARS, UH, THE SAVE BARTON CREEK ASSOCIATION.AND SHE ALWAYS KNEW THAT THE ENVIRONMENT WENT BEYOND BARTON CREEK, UH, AND IT WAS EVERY PART OF AUSTIN.
AND I CAN JUST IMAGINE WHAT SHE WOULD SAY, UM, TO THIS VERY QUIETLY, THE WAY SHE WAS, UH, BUT NOT, NOT COMPLETELY HORN TO THE OB IDEA OF OBSCENITY.
I WON'T REPEAT THAT PART, BUT I KNOW THAT SHE WOULD SAY NO.
AND I'M HOPING Y'ALL WILL TOO.
IF YOU WANNA BE A PART OF THE CITY, GET CITY SERVICES, BECOME A PART OF THE CITY, AND FOLLOW THE RULES.
MY NAME IS AZA RODRIGUEZ FI AND I'M THE TEXAS REPRESENTATIVE FOR DEFENDERS OF WILDLIFE.
AND I'M ALSO HERE TODAY RESPECTFULLY OPPOSING THE WA UH, WASTEWATER SERVICE EXTENSION REQUEST ON THIS TRACK ON FARM MARKET SIX 20.
APPROVING THESE REQUESTS WOULD DIRECTLY THREATEN THE FEDERALLY LISTED JOLLYVILLE PLATEAU, SALAMANDER, AND ITS SENSITIVE HABITAT.
THIS TRACK WILL DELIBERATELY, UH, HAS LEFT AUSTIN'S JURISDICTION LAST YEAR TO AVOID ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS OUR CITY HAS PUT IN PLACE TO SUPPORT RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT AND COEXISTENCE WITH WILDLIFE.
IF APPROVED, THIS ACTION WOULD SET A VERY DANGEROUS PRECEDENT, ONE THAT INVITES OTHER DEVELOPERS TO STEP ASIDE THE RULES DESIGNED TO PROTECT THE ECOLOGICAL FOUNDATION OF OUR CITY.
SO I URGE THE COUNSELOR TO UPHOLD THE DEVELOPERS ACCOUNTABILITY, UH, TO KEEP THEM ACCOUNTABLE AND TO ENSURE THAT TAXPAYER DOLLARS ARE NOT BEING USED TO SUBSIDIZE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS THAT INTENTIONALLY BYPASS, UM, OUR ENVIRONMENTAL SAFEGUARDS.
THE JOLLYVILLE PLATEAU SALAMANDER WAS LISTED UNDER THE ESA OR THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT IN 2013.
AND SINCE THEN, THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND THE US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICES HAVE WORKED TOGETHER TO STRIKE A BALANCE BETWEEN DEVELOPMENT AND PROTECTION.
THIS PROJECT UNDERMINES THAT PARTNERSHIP.
IT SEEKS CITIES, UH, UTILITIES TO SUPPORT A DEVELOPMENT THAT WOULD PAVE OVER 59% OF THE SITE, WHICH AS REPEATED EARLIER, IT'S TRIPLE AUSTIN'S 20% PERVIOUS COVER LIMIT.
AND SO, JUST TO CLARIFY, THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT AN ENDANGERED SPECIES, IT'S ALSO ABOUT PROTECTING OUR WATER QUALITY, OUR ENVIRONMENTAL INTEGRITY, AND THE VALUES THAT OUR CITY STANDS FOR AT A TIME WHEN THE PROTECTION MATTERS MORE NOW THAN EVER.
THANK YOU FOR ITEM 17, LILLIAN ORTIZ.
I HAVE BOBBY LEVINSKY AND HE HAS TIME DONATED BY BILL BUNCH AND ADAM KING.
ARE YOU BOTH HERE? OKAY, I SEE ONE HAND OUT.
SIX MINUTES FOR BOBBY AFTER MR. SETTLE.
GO AHEAD AND I WON'T TAKE NEAR THAT MUCH TIME.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE, OF THE DEVELOPER THAT WANTS TO PUT A TEXT OR A TRAVIS COUNTY WORKFORCE HOUSING PROJECT ON THIS TRACK.
AND THEY, THEY TOOK THE TRACK AS IT CAME TO THEM.
IT WAS ALREADY OUT OF THE ETJ.
THEY NEED THE WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICE TO MAKE THE WORKFORCE HOUSING WORK AT 20% IMPERVIOUS COVER IT, IT WOULD, IT WON'T WORK.
UM, WHAT THE CITY IS GETTING OUT OF THIS IS, IS THAT WE'RE DOING $2 MILLION WORTH OF WATER AND WASTEWATER IMPROVEMENTS THAT WILL SERVE OTHER AREAS IN THE CITY THAT ARE BOTH IN THE CITY AND IN THE ETJ.
UM, THE POLICY OF EXTENDING SERVICE TO PEOPLE THAT GET OUTTA THE ETJ IS WHY YOU GUYS GET PAID THE BIG BUCKS.
BUT ON THIS PARTICULAR ONE, UM, THIS ONE ONLY WORKS IF IT CAN HAVE WATER AND WASTEWATER ONLY WORKS AS AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT IF IT GETS WATER AND WASTEWATER AND REMAINS, UH, IN THE TRAVIS COUNTY JURISDICTION FULLY COMPLYING WITH THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT.
I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE ABOUT THIS.
I WON'T SPEND BOBBY LEWINSKY SILVER SPRINGS ALLIANCE.
I WON'T SPEND THE, UM, ALL SIX MINUTES.
I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT THE IMAGINE AUSTIN COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ACTUALLY CALLS ON THIS COUNCIL TO USE ITS INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS.
AND IT SAYS THAT EXTENDING, UM, EXTENDING THESE WATER UTILITY, UH, TO THESE SITES THAT ARE IN ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREAS IS NOT ADVISABLE.
THEY WANT YOU TO USE THE, THE IMAGINE AUSTIN COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, WHICH YOU'RE BOUND TO BOUND TO COMPLY WITH, UM, WANTS YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE MAKING THESE DECISIONS SO THAT WAY THESE AREAS ARE PROTECTED.
UH, APPRECIATE THE COMMENT ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
DO SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
IT'S NOT ABOUT THE USE OF THE SITE, IT'S ABOUT THE INTENSITY OF THE SITE.
SO, UM, THE 50% OF THE HOUSING THAT'S NOT
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AFFORDABLE WOULD ALSO BE CONTRIBUTING TO THE DESTRUCTION OF THIS ENVIRONMENT.UM, AND THE CONTAMINATION OF AUSTIN'S DRINKING WATER SUPPLIES AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THE HARM TO THE SPECIES THAT ARE IMMEDIATELY DOWNSTREAM.
THAT IS WHY YOUR WATERSHED PROTECTION STAFF RECOMMENDED AGAINST THIS SERVICE EXTENSION REQUEST.
PLEASE PULL THESE ITEMS AND VOTE AGAINST THEM.
ITEM 17, CRAIG NASER, ROY WHALEY, ALIA RODRIGUEZ VIA, OH, ONCE AGAIN, CRAIG NASER SIERRA CLUB.
ONCE AGAIN, UH, I JUST THINK THIS IS ABOUT BULLYING.
I THINK IT'S ABOUT THE BULLYING OF BIG MONEY AND DEVELOPMENT COMING INTO THE CITY AND DAMAGING IT.
THE AMOUNT OF ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE I'VE SEEN IN THE CITY OVER THE TIMES I'VE LIVED HERE SINCE 1987 HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS.
WE'VE LOST A LOT OF, I MEAN, I'M A BIRDER.
LOTS OF BIRDS THAT WE USED TO SEE IN THE SEA ALL THE TIME ARE GONE.
REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS ARE GONE.
AND THIS LITTLE SEMA SALAMANDER, SOMETHING VERY INTERESTING.
WHEN I WENT AND TESTIFIED 15 YEARS AGO, I JUST THOUGHT ABOUT THIS.
THERE WAS A HUGE CROWD OF ANGRY PEOPLE UP IN GEORGETOWN, MOSTLY DEVELOPERS BEING SURE THAT WE CAN STOP THIS.
'CAUSE WE GOT SCIENCE THAT SAYS THE SPECIES NOT THREATENED.
AND THEY SPOKE AND THEY, EVERYBODY HAD THREE MINUTES, EXCEPT THEY ALL WENT OVER THREE MINUTES.
AND FIRST MONEY EQUALS A REPUBLICAN.
UH, CONGRESSMAN UP THERE SPOKE FOR FOUR OR FIVE MINUTES.
SO WHEN IT CAME TO ME, I ONLY GOT TWO MINUTES.
AND IF YOU KEEP LETTING THESE PEOPLE GET THEIR WAY, WE ARE GOING TO SEE MORE ENVIRONMENTAL DESTRUCTION IN THIS CITY.
WHAT HAS ALREADY HAPPENED, WE BUILD A BIG, HUGE PIPE AND DEWATERED SOME SPRINGS UP ON THE KIN CANYON PRESERVE.
THERE WAS A HUGE, UH, UH, SEWAGE SPILL.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW THAT.
THE LIFT STATION DOWN, UH, UH, BULL CREEK THAT DUMPED THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF GALLON LAWSUIT DOWN THERE.
YOU KNOW, THAT WAS A, A FLAW OF THE CITY.
WE'VE REPAIRED THAT THE CITY CAN TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT AND DO THAT AND FIX IT.
ONCE WE DO THIS, WE, IT'S JUST DEGRADED.
THERE'S NOT MUCH ELSE WE CAN DO.
ROY WHALEY SPEAKING FOR THE AUSTIN REGIONAL GROUP OF SIERRA CLUB.
THIS IS A, UH, PROPERTY ADJACENT TO THE BALCONES CANYON LAND PRESERVED.
THERE ARE ENDANGERED SPECIES NEARBY.
I ATTENDED THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION ON THIS AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STOOD OUT ABOUT THAT, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING ASPECT, AND WE NEED MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING EVERYWHERE THAT WE CAN GET IT, IS THAT IT WAS CONVENIENT TO, UH, CAP METRO MERELY TWO AND A HALF MILES AWAY FOR THE BUS STOP.
THAT'S NOT CONVENIENT TO TRANSIT IT.
I TRY TO BE RESPECTFUL, BUT THERE WERE SOME OUTRAGEOUS THINGS SAID.
I HOPE THAT Y'ALL FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
SAY, NO, LET'S HAVE MORE HOUSING.
LET'S NOT, AGAIN, YOU WANT TO BE IN THE CITY, YOU WANT TO GET CITY SERVICES, GET ANNEXED INTO THE CITY.
I'M AZA RODRIGUEZ OF DEFENDERS OF WILDLIFE TEXAS REPRESENTATIVE, UM, SIMILAR TO THE PREVIOUS ITEM.
I'M HERE TODAY TO RESPECTFULLY OPPOSE THE WASTEWATER SERVICE EXTENSION REQUEST FOR THIS TRACK OFF FARM TO MARKET SIX 20.
I URGE YOU COUNSEL TO HOLD DEVELOPERS ACCOUNTABLE AND ENSURE THAT TAXPAYER DAUGHTERS ARE NOT USED TO SUBSIDIZE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS THAT INTENTIONALLY BYPASS OUR ENVIRONMENTAL SAFEGUARDS.
AGAIN, MY ACTIONS ARE AROUND THE JOLLYVILLE PLATEAU SALAMANDER LISTED UNDER THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT.
AND IN 2013, THE CITY AND THE US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICES HAVE WORKED TOGETHER TO STRIKE A BALANCE BETWEEN DEVELOPMENT AND PROTECTION, WHICH IS POSSIBLE.
THIS PROJECT UNDERMINES THAT PARTNERSHIP AND IT SEEKS CITY UTILITIES TO SUPPORT A DEVELOPMENT THAT WOULD PAVE OVER 59% OF THE SITE, WHICH IS TRIPLE OF THE CITY'S IMPERVIOUS COVER LIMIT.
AND AGAIN, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE SALAMANDER, BUT IT'S ABOUT PROTECTING OUR WATER QUALITY, OUR ENVIRONMENTAL INTEGRITY AND VALUES THAT OUR CITY STANDS FOR AT THIS TIME WHEN PROTECTION MATTERS THE MOST.
NOW WATER QUALITY IS ONE OF AUSTIN'S MOST VITAL RESOURCES, ESSENTIALLY, NOT ONLY FOR PUBLIC HEALTH AND WILDLIFE, BUT FOR OUR CITY'S RESILIENCE TO FACE THE GROWING DROUGHT THAT WE ARE IN.
PROTECTING OUR AQUIFER SPRINGS AND WATERSHEDS IS NOT JUST GOOD FOR,
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UH, ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY, BUT IT'S A SAFEGUARD OF OUR COMMUNITY'S FUTURE.UH, WELL THANK YOU, UH, UH, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, SPEAK BRIEFLY.
YOU PROBABLY KNOW MORE THAN I DO.
I'M IN DISTRICT SIX, BUT, UM, THAT THE CONVENTION CENTER SHE NEEDED HER TIME IS GOING TO BE TORN DOWN AND REBUILT.
AND THE ISSUE SEEMS TO BE THAT, UM, IT'S GONNA CREATE A DEBT FOR THE NEXT 30 YEARS OF, OF, UH, BILLIONS, LIKE 6 BILLION, A WHOLE BUNCH OF MONEY.
UM, I KNOW THESE, UH, HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX DOLLARS SHOULD RIGHTFULLY SUPPORT THE CULTURE AND ART INDUSTRIES AND THE, AND THE CLEAN WATER AND THE LIKE, BUT IN ACTUAL FACT, BUT THE DATA SHOWS THAT, UM, WE NEVER EVEN FILLED UP AND HAVEN'T EVEN PAID FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER.
IT'S BEING TORN DOWN AS WE SPEAK.
AND SO WHAT I'M ASKING VERY BRIEFLY IS TO PLEASE VOTE NO ON AGENDA ITEM 22.
UH, BECAUSE, UM, IT, IT'S, UH, IT, IT'S NOT WELL INFORMED BY THE, THE PUBLIC, FOR EXAMPLE, IT IT, THE ITEM, UH, ON, ON THE PDF THAT'S ATTACHED AS THAT, UM, THE, THE ITEM HAS NO PHYSICAL IMPACT, BUT THAT COULDN'T BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH BECAUSE ITEM 22 LAYS THE FOUNDATION FOR A HUGE DEBT OF, UH, BILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
UM, AND, AND SO I CAN'T REALLY, UM, BE COMFORTABLE.
MY NEIGHBORS FEEL THE SAME WAY.
WE, WE HAVE NEVER BEEN INFORMED ON, ON THIS SUBJECT.
UH, AND, AND, AND SO I'M ALSO GONNA ON ITEM TWO, MY, MY QUICK PITCH HERE IS THAT WE PLEASE HAVE MY COUNCIL, UH, PEOPLE, I'M THE DISTRICT SIX, UH, HAVE MY, UH, UH, DISTRICT SIX MEMBER GIVE US A FULL DISCLOSURE OF, UH, WHERE THIS CONVENTION CENTER IS HEADING.
AND, AND THEN LASTLY, UM, PLEASE WORK HAND IN HAND, UH, WITH ALL OF US TO ELIMINATE THIS, UH, APPARENT LACK OF TRANSPARENCY WITH THIS ISSUE BECAUSE THANK YOU.
YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED RIGHT NOW.
DANIEL HUTTON AGAIN ON ITEM 22.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, COUNCILPERSONS AND MAYOR.
UM, I UNDERSTAND, UH, THIS ITEM SPECIFICALLY FOR THE REZONING PROCESS FOR THE CHILLER STATION.
I'VE BEEN IN TECHNOLOGY FOR ABOUT 30 YEARS AND I WANNA FOCUS ON SOME BASIC BUSINESS POINTS WITH THIS CONVENTION CENTER PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT.
AND THE FIRST IS THAT, UH, WHAT'S DRIVING TOURISTS TO AUSTIN IS OUR MUSIC AND OUR CULTURE AND OUR PARKS.
IT'S NOT THE CONVENTION CENTER.
AND OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS WE'VE SEEN SOME DRASTIC CHANGES IN THE CONFERENCE BUSINESS.
ONE, OF COURSE IS COVID AND THE WAY BUSINESSES COMMUNICATE.
AND THIS HAS NEGATIVELY IMPACTED CONFERENCE ATTENDANCE.
SO WHAT USED TO COST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS THAT WOULD BE SPENT IN AUSTIN HAS BEEN REDUCED TO A ZOOM CALL AND A VIRTUAL TICKET.
AND TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH, CONFERENCES HAVE GONE THE WAY OF THE DINOSAUR.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT LESS CONFERENCE TRAFFIC IN THE FUTURE, NOT MORE.
AND WE'RE COMPETING AGAINST INDUSTRY LEADERS LIKE SAN FRANCISCO AND NEW YORK AND LAS VEGAS.
AND SO I'D RECOMMEND THAT WE FOCUS ON BRINGING THE MONEY INTO AUSTIN WHERE ITS CULTURE IS.
UH, MUSIC AND PARKS AND THE CONVENTION CENTER HAS NEVER BEEN PROFITABLE.
IT'S NEVER ACHIEVED ITS REVENUE GOALS.
AND SO IT'S A BAD BUSINESS MODEL FROM THE START.
AND HISTORICALLY IT'S A CORE BUSINESS MODEL.
AND SO NOW WE'RE DEMOLISHING THE BUILDING AND PROCEEDING WITH A MASSIVE STRUCTURE WITHOUT A DESIGN, WITHOUT A SOLID BUDGET.
AND NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT STEEL TARIFFS THAT COULD BALLOON THE COST SIGNIFICANTLY.
SO I HUMBLY ASK THAT THE CONVENTION CENTER BE PUT ON HOLD AND FULL DISCLOSURE OF THE TRUE COST BE MADE.
AND OUR GOAL SHOULD BE TO FOCUS ON A PROFITABLE INVESTMENT FOR AUSTIN CITIZENS, WHICH SHOULD START WITH THE REEVALUATION OF THE PROJECT AND THEN CONFIRMING REVENUE ASSUMPTIONS AGAINST THE BILLIONS IN DEBT.
AND THEN BALANCING THIS WITH AUSTIN'S TRUE ATTRACTION, WHICH IS ITS CULTURE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
BETSY GREENBERG STILL AT ITEM 22, FOLLOWED.
BETSY IS BILL BUNCH AND HE HAS TIME DONATED BY BARBARA MACARTHUR AND BOBBY LEVINSKY.
ARE YOU BOTH HERE? OKAY, THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS BETSY GREENBERG AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE.
I'M OPPOSED TO ITEM 22, WHICH FURTHERS THE CITY'S PLANS FOR A NEW CONVENTION CENTER.
THE CITY IS PLANNING TO DEMOLISH THE CURRENT CONVENTION CENTER, WHICH HASN'T BEEN COMPLETELY PAID FOR AND BUILD A BRAND NEW ONE.
EVEN THOUGH THE CONVENTION CENTER BUSINESS IS BOTH COMPETITIVE AND NOT PROFITABLE, THIS PROJECT WILL TIE UP MOST OF AUSTIN'S HOTEL OCCUPANCY
[00:45:01]
TAX REVENUE, WHEN THE MONEY WOULD BE BETTER SPENT ON ARTS CULTURE, LOCAL BUSINESS, LIVE MUSIC AND PARKS WHICH ATTRACT TOURISTS AND BENEFIT RES RESIDENTS.WE NEED THE TO FUND THESE REAL DRIVERS OF OUR TOURISM AND NOT A COMPETITIVE CONVENTION BUSINESS THAT BRINGS ALMOST NO TOURISM.
I KNOW THE PLAN TO DEMOLISH AND REBUILD HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED BY THIS COUNCIL, BUT WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES.
MISTAKES CAN BE CORRECTED, WHICH IS WHY PEOPLE ARE OUTSIDE COLLECTING PETITION SIGNATURES TO DO EXACTLY THAT.
PLEASE DO YOUR PART TODAY AND VOTE NO ON ITEM 22.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, BILL BUNCH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE, UH, HERE URGING YOU TO, UH, CALL TIME OUT, UM, AND TO HONOR, UH, THE LATE GREAT MOLLY IVAN'S, UH, CALL FOR RESPONSIBLE ACTION.
AND THAT IS WHEN YOU FIND YOURSELF IN A HOLE, STOP DIGGING.
THAT'S THE FIRST RULE OF HOLES.
UH, JIM HIGHTOWER REPEATED THIS CONSTANTLY AND IT STUCK IN MY BRAIN.
AND HERE IT'S NOT JUST FIGURATIVE, BUT IT'S LITERAL.
YOU'RE RUSHING FORWARD WITH WHAT YOUR OWN STAFF HAS SAID.
YOU HAVE TO SET ASIDE $5.6 BILLION OF REVENUE TO DIG A BIG, BEAUTIFUL MAGIC HOLE IN THE GROUND TO HIDE THE CONVENTION CENTER AND TO DO THE ONE GOOD THING OF THIS THING PROJECT, WHICH IS RESTORE THE DOWNTOWN STREET GRID.
UM, YOU CAN DO THAT WITHOUT BUILDING AND WASTING 5.6 BILLION.
UH, AND WE BESEECH YOU TO DO THAT.
UM, YOU KNOW THAT YOU STILL HAVE NO REAL BUDGET.
YOU HAVE THE BUMPER STICKER NUMBER OF 5.6 BILLION OF REVENUE NEEDED OVER 30 YEARS.
YOU HAVE THE BUMPER STICKER NUMBER THAT'S STILL, THAT'S GOTTA BE FALSE AT THIS POINT 'CAUSE IT'S BEEN THERE FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
1.26 BILLION ON JUST THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION.
UM, THAT MEANWHILE THE COSTS ARE GOING THROUGH THE ROOF OVER THESE LAST FEW YEARS.
YOUR WATER UTILITY HAS TOLD YOU OVER AND OVER CONSTRUCTION COSTS ARE UP A HUNDRED PERCENT.
UM, NO NUMBER FOR WHAT IS THE INTEREST PAYMENTS GONNA BE.
THAT'S A HUGE PART OF THAT GAP BETWEEN 1.2 6000000005.6 BILLION.
BUT HOW MUCH IS IT? AND WITH INTEREST RATES AT RECORD LEVELS FOR MUNICIPAL BONDS WITH STEEL TARIFFS KICKING IN WITH SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES AND WITH WHAT YOU'VE JUST HEARD AND WHAT THE FACTS ARE, AND IT'S LAID OUT VERY CAREFULLY BY PROFESSOR HAYWOOD SANDERS IN THE MAGIC HOLE DOCUMENTARY, WHICH IF YOU HAVEN'T WATCHED, PLEASE TAKE SICK 19 MINUTES AND WATCH IT.
IT'S POSTED ON YOUTUBE, AUSTIN FREE PRESS.
IT'S AUSTIN ALSO ON THE AUSTIN UNITED PAC.COM WEBSITE.
THIS INDUSTRY IS, AS YOU HEARD FROM THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER, THIS IS DINOSAUR.
THIS IS INDEFENSIBLE WHAT YOU'RE DOING, YOU KEEP DIGGING A BIGGER AND BIGGER HOLE AND THROWING MORE AND MORE MONEY AT IT.
YOU ADDED TWO NEW REVENUE STREAMS IN THE EARLY PART OF THIS YEAR AND THE END OF LAST YEAR WITH NO PUBLIC MEANINGFUL PUBLIC INPUT OR DISCUSSION ABOUT THOSE TWO NEW REVENUE STREAMS AND WHAT THEY REALLY COULD BE GOING FOR.
THE FACTS ARE THERE'S LESS THAN 1% OF OUR VISITORS ARE COMING FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER AND YOUR OWN STAFF TELLS YOU THIS WILL LOCK UP OVER 77% OF OUR PROJECTED HOTEL RELATED TAXES FOR THE NEXT 30 YEARS.
AND IF WE HIT ANY SORT OF PROBLEMS, IMAGINE THAT THAT COULDN'T HAPPEN.
UM, THEY GET THEIR MONEY FIRST AND EVERYTHING ELSE GETS CUT OFF.
YOU'RE, YOU'RE KILLING THE CITY.
WE ARE LOSING WHY WE'RE EVEN HERE.
WHY ANY OF YOU WANT TO BE HERE.
OUR PARKS, ZILKER PARK, BARTON SPRINGS LADY BIRD LAKE, LIVE MUSIC AND NOT JUST LIVE MUSIC AT THE CONVENTION CENTER OR DOWNTOWN.
WE HAVE INCREDIBLE VENUES ALL OVER THE CITY.
WE HAVE ART GALLERIES, WE HAVE ARTISTS WHO ARE BEGGING FOR SUPPORT AND Y'ALL CONSTANTLY TELL THEM THERE'S NO MONEY.
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YOU TELL US THERE'S NO MONEY FOR PARKS AND YOU'RE GONNA RUSH FORWARD WITH THIS WITH NO VOTER INPUT.THAT IS SO UNBELIEVABLY IRRESPONSIBLE AND YOU STILL HAVE NO BUDGET.
COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN BEEN TRYING TO GET A REAL BUDGET OUT OF STAFF SINCE JANUARY.
WE WERE HERE SIX WEEKS AGO ASKING FOR IT, AND YOUR STAFF SAID, WE'LL GET THAT TO YOU AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
YOU HAVE NO DESIGN, YOU STILL HAVE NO DESIGN FOR THE PROJECT.
YOU HAVE THESE CONCEPTUAL DRAWINGS.
AND YOU'RE RUSHING FORWARD BECAUSE YOU HAVE A STOCKPILE OF A FEW HUNDRED MILLION.
SO YOU HAVEN'T HAD TO GO DO A REAL BUDGET YET.
YOU HAVEN'T HAD TO GO TO THE BOND MARKET AND SPELL OUT THE DETAILS.
WHEN THAT DAY COMES, THERE'S GONNA BE A SERIOUS RECKONING, YOUR IRRESPONSIBILITY OF RUSHING FORWARD AND SPENDING TENS, EVEN HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS BECAUSE YOU'VE BANKROLLED THIS MONEY AND YOU BANKROLLED IT BECAUSE OF ARTS AND PARKS, NOT BECAUSE OF THE CONVENTION CENTER 'CAUSE IT'S BEEN A PHENOMENAL LOSER FOREVER.
PLEASE, THIS IS GONNA BE AN ANCHOR AROUND THE NECK OF THE CITY FOREVER.
IF YOU SIT ON YOUR HANDS, KEEP YOUR MOUTH SEALED AND SHUT AND NOT CALL TIME OUT.
MAYOR WATSON, I'M GONNA ASK YOU PERSONALLY, WHEN YOU WERE MAYOR THE FIRST TIME, YOU ASKED THE COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT A VOTE TO EXPAND THE CONVENTION CENTER, $110 MILLION REVENUE STREAM.
AND WE DID, THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY EMBRACED IT.
THE WHOLE COMMUNITY VOTED FOR IT, AND WE GOT US A BEAUTIFUL FACILITY, $110 MILLION AND WE VOTED ON IT.
AND NOW YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT OVER 5 BILLION AND WE GET NO VOTE.
THAT'S BEATRICE ANDERSON, JULIAN REYES, ROY WHALEY, CEDAR STEVENS, KATIE CAM.
THIS IS FOR ITEM 22 I, ROY WHALEY, AUSTIN REGIONAL GROUP OF SIERRA CLUB.
I DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH TIME TO SPEAK, SO I'LL JUST SAY DITTO.
WELL, I I AWAIT YOUR COMMENTS ON THAT, UH, WHICH I SEE FROM THIS LOOK.
ANYWAY, IT SHOULD BE PUT TO THE VOTERS.
AGAIN, THIS IS A DIFFERENT CITY.
I LIKE THE FACT THAT IT'S GOING TO BE A GRID NOW AND SEPARATE BUILDINGS SO THAT WHEN THE CONVENTION BUSINESS FAILS, WHICH ALL INDICATIONS ARE CONVENTIONS ARE FAILING, EVERY MAJOR CITY IN TEXAS IS POURING TONS OF MONEY INTO BUILDING NEW CONVENTION CENTERS.
AND NOT THAT MANY CONVENTIONS ARE GOING TO COME HERE.
UM, BUT HAVING SEPARATE BUILDINGS, WE'LL NOW HAVE A PLACE TO HOUSE THE HOMELESS IF WE CAN DO THAT.
UM, ALSO, I CAN'T HELP BUT THANK THAT THIS IS ALL TIED TO CAP AND STITCH AND THAT THE IDEA OF HAVING THIS WONDERFUL BRAND NEW CONVENTION CENTER THAT NO ONE GOES TO WILL HAVE THIS WATER WASTING CAP AND STITCH WITH REAL GRASS THAT WE CAN'T KEEP ALIVE BECAUSE EVEN WITH THE RECENT RANGE, WE'RE AT 43.3% AT LAKE TRAVIS.
UM, WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE THE WATER TO SUPPORT CAP AND STITCH.
I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE WATER THERE.
HOWEVER, IF YOU DO, I'M GOING TO PREACH ONCE AGAIN ABOUT PUBLIC SHOWERS, PLACES FOR CYCLISTS, EVERYBODY TO CLEAN UP.
THEY ARE SELF-CONTAINED, THEY ARE LOCKED.
ITEM 28, BEATRICE ANDERSON, ITEM 30, JULIAN REYES, ITEM 31, JULIAN REYES.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
[00:55:01]
I'M SO SORRY.I'M A CONCERNED CITIZEN THAT LIVES RIGHT NEXT TO THE CONVENTION CENTER AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST THE RESOLUTION TO REZO THE PROPERTIES AROUND THE CONVENTION CENTER FOR REDEVELOPMENT AND EXPANSION.
THIS VOTE MAY BE LABELED AS HAVING NO FISCAL IMPACT, BUT LET'S NOT KID OURSELVES.
IT'S THE FIRST DOMINO IN A $5 BILLION PROJECT WITH ZERO TRANSPARENCY.
THE PUBLIC HAS NOT SEEN A CLEAR BUDGET.
THERE'S NOT BEEN ME MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND YET WE'RE GREEN LIGHTING ZONING CHANGES THAT CLEAR THE PATH FOR UNCHECKED DEVELOPMENT.
WE NEED TO PAUSE THIS PROJECT UNTIL THERE'S FULL ACCOUNTABILITY, A DETAILED BUDGET AND A GENUINE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITIZENS TO WEIGH IN.
AUSTIN DOESN'T NEED MORE BACKDOOR DEALS WITH DEVELOPERS.
WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS INVEST IN OUR, THE HEART OF OUR CITY.
THAT'S THE PARKS, THE ARTS, AND OUR PEOPLE.
LET'S PUT THIS PROJECT ON HOLD AND GET BACK TO SERVING THE PUBLIC, NOT PAVING THE WAY FOR A CONCRETE EMPIRE.
HI, I'M KATIE CAM, A DISTRICT NINE RESIDENT WHO HAS LIVED IN AUSTIN SINCE 1983.
I'M SPEAKING AGAINST THE ZONING RESOLUTION BECAUSE I'M AGAINST THE CITY CONTINUING TO PURSUE THE DECONSTRUCTION OF THE AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER AND THE BUILDING OF A NEW ONE THAT WILL ULTIMATELY COST BILLIONS.
FOR BACKGROUND, I DID MY PLANNING MASTER'S THESIS IN 1999 ON THE FIRST CENTER'S EXPANSION.
FROM THAT RESEARCH, I DISCOVERED HOW INVESTING IN CONVENTION CENTERS IS NOT A WISE DECISION, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING AUSTIN'S UNIQUE REPUTATION AS LIVE MUSIC, CAPITAL WORLD AND HUB OF CREATIVITY.
I'M HELPING A CAMPAIGN CALLED SAVE THE SOUL OF AUSTIN, COLLECT SIGNATURES TO PUT ON THE BALLOT IN ORDINANCE THAT WOULD STOP THE CONVENTION CENTER PROJECT.
INSTEAD, REP REPRIORITIZE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX REVENUE FOR WHAT MAKES AUSTIN ATTRACTIVE TO TOURISTS AND WONDERFUL, UM, FOR RESIDENTS, THE LOCAL LIVE MUSIC ARTS STANCE, THEATER AND PARKS.
THROUGH A DIRECT INVESTMENT, THE STATE AND LOCAL LAWS ALLOW FOR THAT REPRIORITIZATION.
IN A FEW HOURS OF VOLUNTEER WORK, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO COLLECT HUNDREDS OF SIGNATURES AND WILL CONTINUE THOUSANDS HAVE BEEN COLLECTED.
PEOPLE FIND THE DEMOLITION OF A 25-YEAR-OLD BUILDING INCREDIBLY WASTEFUL.
THEY'RE FRUSTRATED THAT THE HOT REVENUE ISN'T GOING TO WHAT MATTERS TO AUSTIN'S TOURISTS AND RESIDENTS.
I LITERALLY HAVE HAD RESIDENTS GRAB THE CLIPBOARD FROM MY HANDS AND BEGIN SIGNING.
WHEN I COLLECT SIGNATURES FROM VOTERS, THEY RELAY TO ME HOW SAD THEY ARE TO SEE THEIR FAVORITE VENUES CLOSE DOWN, THE ONES THAT THEY WOULD TAKE THEIR VISITORS TO, OR HOW AN ARTIST, ACTOR AND MUSICIAN HAS SOLD MULTIPLE JOBS OR THEY'RE UNABLE TO COMPLETE THEIR ALBUM OR VISION DUE TO LACK OF FUNDING OR ARE UNABLE TO LIVE IN AUSTIN ANYMORE BECAUSE OF THE COST OF LIVING.
THESE LOSSES ARE LOSSES FOR AUSTIN RESIDENTS AND TOURISTS, AND THEY'RE AVOIDABLE LOSSES BY UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE HOTEL TAX REVENUE CAN AND SHOULD BE USED FOR.
THE CURRENT FUNDING FOR PROVIDING THAT SUPPORT IS LIMITED, UM, BECAUSE THE BULK OF THE HOT REVENUE IS USED FOR THE BIG BUILDING RATHER THAN FOR THE BIG DREAMS. WITH CITY BUDGET ISSUES AND CUTS IN FEDERAL ARTS FUNDING, PRIORITIZING SPENDING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER.
COUNCIL CAN STOP THIS PROJECT, EVEN THOUGH IT HAS STARTED STOPPING THE PROJECT WILL RESULT IN BETTER INVESTMENT AND OUR COMMUNITY AND TOURISM ECONOMY.
LET'S GET THAT CONVERSATION STARTED NOW TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
MOVING ON TO ITEM 32, BILL BUNCH, JULIAN REYES, MR. BUNCH.
UH, BILL BUNCH, SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE SPEAKING ON ITEM 32, WHICH IS, UH, TO PROVE ANOTHER, UH, STEP IN COMMITTING, UH, $63 MILLION TO THE I 35 CAP AND STITCH PROJECTS.
I KNOW Y'ALL MADE THIS MAIN DECISION LAST WEEK, I BELIEVE, LAST MEETING.
UH, BUT AGAIN, IT'S LIKE THE CONVENTION CENTER.
IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO STOP DIGGING YOUR HOLE.
UH, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE TELLING PEOPLE WE DON'T HAVE MONEY FOR BASIC SERVICES.
WE DON'T HAVE MONEY FOR PARKS, WE DON'T HAVE MONEY FOR, UH, WHAT PEOPLE ACTUALLY CARE FOR.
UH, WHEN THIS FIRST CAME UP, WE WERE EXCITED ABOUT THE CAP AND STITCH, BUT AS YOU REALLY LOOK AT IT, BECAUSE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY EXPANDED IS A TERRIBLE THING.
WE ARE EN ENGAGED STILL IN LITIGATION ON THE AGAINST
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TDOT FOR THE PROJECT.UM, WHILE THIS IS STILL GOING, BUT YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY AND YOU NOW KNOW THAT IT'S INSANE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO BUILD THESE THINGS AND IT'S JUST THE FIRST STEP.
AND THEN THE ANNUAL OPERATING COSTS, $47 MILLION WAS THE FULL NUMBER.
I KNOW Y'ALL SCALED IT BACK A LITTLE BIT, BUT WE'RE STILL TALKING ABOUT TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO MAINTAIN A SPACE WHERE NOBODY'S WANT TO, GONNA WANT TO GO IN THE FIRST PLACE.
UM, IT'S, IT'S TIME TO GET REAL.
AND THIS, THIS DOES TIE TO THE CONVENTION CENTER WHERE IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, HOW MANY BILLIONS OF DOLLARS ARE WE GONNA KEEP THROWING INTO DOWNTOWN? WELL, WE IGNORE THE REST OF THE CITY.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY ANYBODY SITTING ON THIS DAIS WHO'S NOT THE MAYOR AND WHO DOESN'T HAVE THE CAP AND STITCH IN THEIR DISTRICT WOULD, WOULD SUPPORT THIS.
AND SAME WITH THE CONVENTION CENTER COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE HAS A CONVENTION CENTER AND, AND THIS PROJECT, WHERE'S THE LEADERSHIP? THANK YOU MR. BUNCH.
AND HE HAS TIME DONATED BY BEATRICE ANDERSON.
BEATRICE, ARE YOU HERE? OKAY, FOUR MINUTES, MR. BUNCH, MR. BUNCH.
YOU'RE GLAD YOU'RE TAKING YOUR SUMMER BREAK.
AFTER THIS MEETING, BILL BUNCH, UH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, UH, SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE.
THIS, UH, ITEM, SINCE Y'ALL AREN'T GONNA TELL THE PUBLIC WHAT IT IS, IS, UH, ADDING ANOTHER $140,000, UH, TO A $1.2 MILLION DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURE CONTRACT FOR THE ZILKER, UH, THE BARTON SPRINGS BATHHOUSE REHABILITATION.
UH, THAT WHOLE PROJECT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE 3 MILLION, I BELIEVE WE'RE AT 25 MILLION IN COUNTING.
UM, AND THE DESIGN IS A DISASTER.
UH, THE PUBLIC INPUT WAS COMPLETELY IGNORED.
UM, AND THIS SPECIFIC MONEY IS FOR LIMBER AND GODFREY.
THIS IS AN ILLEGAL EXPENDITURE OF CITY FUNDS.
LINNBAKER AND GODFREY HAD THE CONTRACT FOR THE BARTON SPRINGS MASTER PLAN.
THAT CONTRACT PROHIBITED THEM FROM GETTING CONTRACT WORK FOR PROJECTS WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THAT PLAN.
YOU DON'T WANT TO CREATE AN INCENTIVE FOR THE PERSON DOING THE PLANNING TO PUT A BUNCH OF HIGH EXPENSIVE PROJECTS IN THERE THAT THEN THEY'RE GONNA COME BACK AND, AND CONTINUE, UH, UH, PUTTING IN THEIR POCKETS.
THAT CONTRACT PROVISION WAS VIOLATED WHEN THIS CONTRACT WAS AWARDED TO LIMB BAER GODFREY.
AND I'M GONNA ASK YOU CITY MANAGER BRAD KNACK TO INITIALLY TO IMMEDIATELY AUDIT THIS SITUATION BECAUSE THIS SHOULDN'T HAVE NEVER HAPPENED.
IT VIOLATES THE CONTRACT THAT LIN BAER AND GODFREY HAD, AND THEY SHOULD HAVE NEVER GOTTEN THIS CONTRACT UNDER PREVIOUS AGREEMENT.
UM, AND AGAIN, THERE'S, THERE'S NO FISCAL CONTROLS ANYWHERE.
EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK, A PROJECT BUDGET ENDS UP ADDING AT LEAST A HUNDRED PERCENT OR HERE LIKE SO MANY, ADDING A ZERO, A WHOLE MAGNITUDE ORDER OF INCREASE.
UM, IT'S, IT'S REALLY NOT OKAY.
AND WHEN THEY OPEN THIS THING, YOU'RE GONNA SEE SOME SERIOUS OUTREACH ABOUT WHAT THEY DID.
ITEM 46, SCOTT COBB, AND FOLLOWED BY SCOTT COBB SPEAKING ON THE MERITS OF POSTPONEMENT FOR 55.
I HAVE BILL BUNCH AND CHRIS FLORES ON DECK.
I WORK AS A LIFEGUARD FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND ITEM 46 HAS TO DO WITH DENTAL INSURANCE.
UH, HR JUST SENT OUT A MEMO SAYING WHAT THE CHANGES IN THE TEMPORARY EMPLOYEE POLICIES ARE, AND ACCORDING TO THAT MEMO, SOME LIFEGUARD'S GONNA LOSE ACCESS TO HEALTH INSURANCE AND DENTAL INSURANCE.
THOSE LIFEGUARDS WILL BE THE ONES WHO DON'T WORK MORE THAN 30 HOURS A WEEK.
CURRENTLY, IF YOU WORK 12 MONTHS, YOU QUALIFY FOR DENTAL AND HEALTH INSURANCE AT DIFFERENT RATES.
IF YOU WORK LESS THAN 20 HOURS, IF YOU WORK 20 TO 30 OR IF YOU WORK OVER 30, THE NEW POLICY GOING INTO JUNE 15TH, ONLY THE PEOPLE OVER 30 PLUS HOURS A WEEK
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IS VERY HARD TO GET 30 PLUS HOURS A WEEK AS A LIFEGUARD BECAUSE YOUR HOURS ARE CUT IN THE WINTER.BUT AFFORDABLE DENTAL INSURANCE IS VERY IMPORTANT AND IT ONLY COSTS $9 PER PAYCHECK.
IF YOU, YOU WORK 20 TO 30 HOURS A WEEK, THOSE PEOPLE WILL LOSE IT.
SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK INTO THAT.
I ALSO WANT TO ADDRESS A RELATED ISSUE.
I DON'T KNOW WHY HR IS TO BE TRUSTED.
THE CITY AUDITOR ISSUED A REPORT ABOUT HRS BEHAVIOR, NOT INTERVIEWING PEOPLE WHO FILE COMPLAINTS, LIFEGUARDS WHO FILE SEXUAL HARASSMENT COMPLAINTS OR OTHER COMPLAINTS.
CITY AUDITOR SAYS A LOT OF THOSE CASES WERE NOT INTERVIEWED.
THERE WERE NO CLOSEOUT INTERVIEWS GIVEN TO THEM.
THE CITY AUDITOR SAYS THE CITY DOES NOT MANAGE ALL DISCRIMINATION, HARASSMENT, AND RETALIATION COMPLAINTS EFFECTIVELY OR CONSISTENTLY.
AND UNTIL THESE ISSUES ARE ADDRESSED, EMPLOYEES CANNOT TRUST THAT THE CITY WILL RESOLVE THEIR CONCERNS.
IT ALSO SPECIFICALLY SAYS THAT OVER 1200 TEMPORARY LIFEGUARDS.
UH, GOOD MORNING, ELECTED PEOPLE.
MY NAME IS CHRIS FLORES AND I AM A PARK USER, A DAILY SWIMMER, AND A MEMBER OF A SMALL FRIENDS OF PARK GROUP.
I'M GRATEFUL TO YOU TODAY FOR POSTPONING ITEM NUMBER 55 A $706,000 CAPITAL EXPENSE FROM THE BELEAGUERED PARKS DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET.
UM, POSTPONING THIS ITEM UNTIL IT HAS BEEN THOROUGHLY REVIEWED BY, AT MINIMUM, THE PUBLIC, THE PARKS BOARD, AND VARIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL AND WATER COMMISSIONS WILL HELP YOU DECIDE IF THIS IS A FISCALLY WISE IDEA.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT AGAIN IN JULY, 2025, 706,000.
TO BUILD A COMMERCIAL FLOATING DOCK IN A TRANQUIL LAGOON IN A PARK WITH A LONG STANDING MASTER PLAN WITHOUT PROPER CITIZEN REVIEW WOULD BE MORALLY WRONG.
AS CITIZENS, WE ARE WARY OF COMMERCIALIZERS IN OUR PARKS.
AND YOU KNOW, THIS TIME AND TIME AGAIN, WE'VE COME TO YOU TO REIGN IN THE UNCHECKED COMMERCIAL EXPLOITATION OF OUR SACRED PARKS BY THE PARTY TOURISM BUSINESS.
I OFFER YOU AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH FROM TINY KAMAL COUNTY, UH, POPULATION 200,000.
SINCE THE LATE 1980S, KAMAL COUNTY HAS FUNDED, FUNDED WITH A FEE CHARGED ON WATERCRAFT RENTALS, PROVIDES POLICE EMS CLEANUP SERVICES OF LAND AND UNDERWATER AND CLASSY EDUCATIONAL PUBLIC SERVICE MATERIALS THAT TEACH BOATERS TO REVERE THE WATER AND THE LAND THAT THEY SO ENJOY.
WHY CAN'T AUSTIN DO THIS? I THINK WE NEED A MORATORIUM ON NEW COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY IN OUR PARKS UNTIL WE FIND A WAY AS A CITY TO CHANGE OUR CURRENT CONCESSION CONTRACTS AND MAKE THEM BE ABOUT RESPECTING OUR LAND AND OUR RESIDENTS.
UH, BILL BON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WITH SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE, UH, SPEAK TO YOU AGAIN IN FAVOR OF THE POSTPONEMENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ FOR CALLING FOR THAT.
UM, I WANNA FIRST POINT OUT THE BEST REASON, WELL, THERE'S SEVERAL REALLY GOOD REASONS FOR THIS POSTPONEMENT.
THE FIRST ONE IS THIS PUBLIC NOTICE IS DEFECTIVE, UH, AND DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT.
UM, DEVELOPMENT AT EXACTLY THIS AREA HAS BEEN HIGHLY CONTROVERSIAL AND THERE'S NOTHING IN THE POSTED PUBLIC KNOWLET NOTICE THAT TELLS US THE LOCATION OF THIS, UH, FACILITY.
UM, AND, UH, THE COMMUNITY WAS COMPLETELY UNAWARE OF IT, AND IT WOULD'VE SLIPPED THROUGH AND ALMOST DID.
UM, THIS ALSO, UH, THE POSTPONEMENT SHOULD SPECIFICALLY DIRECT AS THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER REQUESTED, THAT THIS GO BACK AND BE VETTED WITH THE PARKS BOARD AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.
UM, AND SO THAT AT LEAST SUGGESTS THAT MAYBE THE POSTING IS VAGUE INTENTIONALLY.
[01:10:02]
I HOPE THAT'S NOT THE CASE, BUT, UM, WE NEED A LOCATION SPECIFIED.WE NEED A REAL PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROCESS ON THIS OVER, UH, COMMERCIALIZATION AND PRIVATIZATION OF THE LADY BIRD LAKE WATERFRONT, UM, IS, IS A HUGE PROBLEM.
IT NEEDS, ALL OF IT NEEDS TO BE REVISITED.
UM, IT'S NOT CLEAR WHO WOULD MANAGE OR OWN A CONTROL THIS DOCK, BUT YOU HAVE AN AGREEMENT THAT WE OPPOSE WITH THE TRAIL COMMISSION SAYING THEY CAN DO THEIR OWN CONCESSIONS.
ARE THEY GONNA CONTROL THIS? IS THIS FOR PART, IS THIS FOR THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY? IS IT FOR SOME OTHER PRIVATE OPERATOR? BECAUSE IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S A HUGE DOCK THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ADDING, AND THAT'S A HUGE REVENUE GENERATOR, UM, AND TRAFFIC GENERATOR.
UH, AND THERE'S COMPETING DESIRES FOR THIS AREA TO KEEP IT.
ITEM 56, ALEXANDER STRINGER, ITEM 58, BEATRICE ANDERSON.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
ITEM 60, RICHARD SU YOU NOT SPEAKING.
OKAY, HE'S WAIVING HIS RIGHTS TO SPEAK.
THANK YOU, MAYOR COUNCIL, THAT'S IT ACTUALLY.
ITEM 74 STAFF, SO I DON'T NEED THE SLIDES.
ITEM 74 IS SPECIFICALLY FOR THE CITY TO RECEIVE $411,000 FROM DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE FOR THE HARD PROJECT, BUT IT IS PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE THERE IS A DIFFERENCE.
ON THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE PAGE, IT SPECIFIES THAT YOU ALLOCATED $920,000 OF AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDING AND $440,000 ONGOING.
BUT IN BACKUP, IT SAYS THAT THERE IS NO CITY MATCH.
SO, WHICH IS IT? IS THE CITY CONTRIBUTING $440,000 FOR THIS PROGRAM OR NOT? ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S PROBLEMATIC IS THAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO REUNIFY THE HOMELESS WITH THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, CITY MANAGER.
I WOULD ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT WHEN PEOPLE GO TO HOTELS, THERE'S A HOTEL CERTAINLY, BUT FRONT STEPS HOTEL IS ON THE 60 MINUTE BLACK ROUTE, WHICH CREATES YET ANOTHER BARRIER.
I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE AS WELL, GREG MCCORMICK'S, FRIENDS AND FAMILY OPTION, WHICH WAS NON-EXISTENT, BUT YET THIS IS WHAT THIS IS SUPPOSED TO DO.
REUNIFY THE HOMELESS WITH THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS.
I WOULD ASK YOU TO DO A PILOT WHERE YOU ACTUALLY DID SOME TYPE OF FUNDING FOR THE UTILITY BILL UP TO MAYBE A HUNDRED DOLLARS AND A THIRD OF THE FAMILY MEMBERS RENT, BECAUSE AS I UNDERSTAND IT, YOU HAVE ONE BED FOR EVERY FIVE PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS.
SO WHERE DO YOU WANT THEM TO GO? REMEMBER IT WAS DAVID GRAY THAT TOLD YOU THAT RAPID REHOUSING IS NOT A GOOD PRACTICE YET.
THIS CITY COUNCIL CONTINUES TO SPEND ABOUT $35,000 PER INDIVIDUAL ON RAPID REHOUSING.
THERE'S NOTHING RAPID ABOUT STAYING IN A HOTEL FOR TWO YEARS AND THEN ASKING COUNCIL TO EXTEND THAT STAY.
SO WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO IS TO PUT FUNDING THIS $411,000 COULD BE BETTER USED FOR A PILOT PROJECT, SOME TYPE OF GOOD SAMARITAN POLICY THAT WOULD ACTUALLY NOT PENALIZE THE FAMILY, FRIENDS OR FAMILY OR FRIENDS THAT ACTUALLY TAKE IN A HOMELESS PERSON.
BECAUSE ONCE THEY TAKE THAT PERSON AND THEN THEY BECOME AT RISK OF LOSING THEIR HOUSING.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME.
62 ALEXANDER STRINGER FOR THE MERITS, THE POSTPONEMENT FOR ITEM 66.
I HAVE A REMOTE SPEAKER, EDWIN BATISTA.
I'M AN AUSTIN RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SEVEN AND A FORMER WEST CAMPUS RESIDENT HERE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THE POSTPONEMENT OF THE UNO PLAN REVISION.
I'M FRUSTRATED AND ALARMED THAT THE CITY HAS POSTPONED THE UNO VOTE UNTIL THIS FALL JUST TO MEET PRIVATELY WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS LEADERSHIP.
IN OTHER WORDS, THE VERY PURPOSE OF THE UNO UPDATE TO CREATE MUCH NEEDED HOUSING, STUDENT HOUSING IS BEING SET ASIDE.
WE WERE TOLD THE CITY NEEDS TO QUOTE FORMERLY MEET WITH UT BEFORE PROCEEDING.
WELL, WHY SHOULD UT'S CONCERN TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER THE STUDENTS AND RESIDENTS WHO URGENTLY NEED HOUSING? NOW, THIS POSTPONEMENT HAS REAL COST.
WE MUST REMEMBER WHY WE KNOW WAS CREATED IN THE FIRST PLACE SINCE 2004.
THIS OVERLAY HAS BEEN A TOOL FOR HIGH DENSITY, PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY DEVELOPMENT NEAR CAMPUS WITH BUILT-IN AFFORDABILITY.
THE UNO UPDATE HAS BEEN VETTED PUBLICLY THROUGH MONTHS OF HEARING SURVEYS AND A CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION THAT EXPLICITLY CALLS
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FOR A QUOTE, COMMUNITY ORIENTED PLANNING PROCESS ON STUDENT HOUSING.WE'VE INVESTED A LONG MULTI-YEAR EFFORT TO UPDATE THE ZONING AND WEST CAMPUS, YET UT SAT SILENT UNTIL ONE WEEK BEFORE THE FINAL VOTE AND THEN DEMANDED THE DELAY.
THE LA THIS LAST MINUTE INTERVENTION UNDERMINES TRANSPARENCY AND TRUST.
UT SPOKESPERSON WON'T EVEN EXPLAIN THESE CONCERNS TO THE PUBLIC YET.
THE CITY CHANGED ITS COURSE IMMEDIATELY.
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS IS A HUGE INSTITUTION IN OUR CITY, BUT IT SHOULD NOT HAVE LEGAL POWER OVER LOCAL POLICY.
UT PAYS NO PROPERTY TAXES AND BENEFITS FROM THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS HOUSE NEAR CAMPUS, YET WE SEEM TO DEFER TO THEM AS IF THEIR PRE PREFERENCES OUTWEIGH THE NEEDS OF BOSTON RESIDENTS.
COUNSEL, I URGE YOU TO NOT ALLOW BACK ROOM DELAYS TO OVERRIDE TRANSPARENT AND COMMUNITY DRIVEN PROCESS.
THE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES IMPACTED BY WEST CAMPUS HOUSING SHORTAGES CAN'T AFFORD MORE BUREAUCRATIC FOOT DRAGGING.
THE WORK HAS BEEN DONE, THE COMMUNITY HAS ENGAGED.
THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW POSTPONEMENT DOESN'T SERVE EQUITY, IT DOESN'T SERVE AFFORDABILITY, AND IT CERTAINLY DOESN'T SERVE THE PUBLIC INTEREST.
IT ONLY SERVES TO REINFORCE THE UNDUE INFLUENCE OF THANK YOU, MR. BATISTA, FOR YOUR TIME HAS UP ALSO ON THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT FOR 66, I HAVE RYAN CROWLEY AND GRANT KIL KER.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT THREE AND EMPLOYEE OF COLLEGE HOUSES A, UH, NON-PROFIT, AFFORDABLE, UH, COOPERATIVE STUDENT HOUSING PROVIDER IN, UH, THE WEST CAMPUS NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND, UH, WE MOSTLY AGREE WITH THAT PREVIOUS SPEAKER.
WE, A LOT OF OUR MEMBERS, WE ARE MEMBER LED BY, UH, STUDENT UH, LEADERS.
UH, THEY'VE BEEN WORKING FOR A YEAR PLUS ENGAGING IN CITY WITH CITY STAFF THAT WE DEEPLY APPRECIATE THEIR HARD WORK.
UM, I MYSELF ALSO REPRESENT, UH, COLLEGE HOUSES ON THE, UH, UNIVERSITY AREA PARTNERS BOARD WHERE UT HAD, UH, MULTIPLE TIMES WHERE STAFF ASKED THEM TO GIVE ANY COMMENT THEY HAD AND THEY SAID IT WAS NOT THEIR, UH, BUSINESS AT THE TIME.
UM, SO WE, WE GENERALLY ARE HEAVILY SUPPORTIVE OF THESE IMPORTANT, UH, TENANT PROTECTIONS IN ITEM 66.
BELIEVE THAT, UH, A LOT OF IMPORTANT WORK HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE BY STAFF TO, UH, GET THESE SET UP AND READY FOR YOU ALL.
UM, BUT IF YOU ABSOLUTELY MUST DECIDE TO GO AHEAD AND POSTPONE, WE ARE APPRECIATIVE THAT IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE LOOKING AT SEPTEMBER WHEN THERE WILL HOPEFULLY BE A LOT MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENT VOICES TO BE HEARD ON THIS IMPORTANT MATTER IN THIS PREDOMINANTLY STUDENT NEIGHBORHOOD.
OH, IF YOU'RE, IF YOU'RE SPEAKING FOR 66 OF YOUR GRANT, COME ON DOWN.
STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD PLEASE.
I'M THE STUDENT BOARD CHAIR FOR COLLEGE HOUSE COOPERATIVES AND I'VE CONSENT FROM THE THREE LARGEST COOPERATIVE, UH, HOUSING PROVIDERS IN WEST CAMPUS AND THE THREE LARGEST COOPERATIVES IN AUSTIN TO, UH, SUPPORT BOTH THIS ATTENDANCE RIGHTS PROTECTION AS WELL AS THE HIGH DENSITY EXPANSION THAT IS LATER ON THE AGENDA TODAY THAT BOTH HAVE BEEN POSTPONED BY THE UNIVERSITY.
I'D LIKE TO APPLAUD THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, THE COMMISSION, AND AS WELL AS CITY STAFF FOR THIS EXEMPLARY DEMONSTRATION OF LIKE LEGITIMATE STAKEHOLDER, UH, AND ACCOUNTABILITY, UM, IN THIS PLAN.
AND I'M INCREDIBLY DISAPPOINTED THAT DESPITE, UH, BEING CONTACTED MANY, MANY TIMES, UNIVERSITY HAS FAILED TO REALLY COME TO THE TABLE UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE.
SO I HOPE THAT, UH, IN THE FALL WITH THIS VERY SPECIFIC DEADLINE, THAT THE CURRENT AGENDA IS JUDGED AGAINST THE NEXT, UH, THE NEXT PROPOSAL, UM, THAT, UH, THE UNIVERSITY WILL UPDATE.
UM, I COME WITH THE CONSENT OF OVER 750 STUDENTS THAT ALL RECEIVE LEGITIMATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN WEST CAMPUS, BUT SADLY, TODAY IS A FAILURE FOR US.
ITEM 74, ZIA JOSEPH, I JUST HAVE A TECHNICAL QUESTION.
IS 71 PULLED OR SOMETHING? 70 ONE'S BEEN WITHDRAWN.
IT'S BEEN WITHDRAWN, SO IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA.
COUNSEL, I'M ZIA JOSEPH AS IT RELATES TO THE SAFE ROADS AND FOR ALL ACTUALLY THIS, UH, $8 MILLION CONTRACT.
I'M IN OPPOSITION OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE YOU'RE ASKING FOR $8 MILLION ONCE AGAIN FROM US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, BUT AS MIKE SIEGEL KNOWS, AND CHEETO VLA AS WELL, I'VE SHOWN YOU THIS PICTURE SEVERAL TIMES.
DONALD NORTON IS ACTUALLY A WHITE MAN THAT WAS KILLED 65 YEARS OLD IN HIS WHEELCHAIR IN THIS AREA.
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AND WHAT I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE IS IT'S A DISPROPORTIONATE BURDEN AND YOU HAVE DISPARATE IMPACT AGAINST AFRICAN AMERICANS AND THE MINORITIES THAT LIVE IN THIS AREA.AND SO 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, OR NATIONAL ORIGIN IN ALL PROGRAMS THAT RECEIVE FEDERAL FUNDING.
I WANNA REMIND CHEETO VELA THAT IT WAS HIS PREDECESSOR WHO REMINDED HIM THAT THERE WAS A 2012 BOND.
SO I WOULD ASK YOU TO GO BACK AND RECOGNIZE THAT THE VOTERS ALREADY APPROVED IN PROVING NORTHLAND LAW WELL OVER A DECADE AGO.
ONCE AGAIN, YOU CONTINUE TO FUND THE PRIORITIES.
YOU'VE SEEN THIS SLIDE BEFORE.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE $70,000 AT MINIMUM TO LIVE IN THIS AREA.
THIS TERRACOTTA EQUATES TO RED SIDEWALKS EQUAL RED LINING.
BUT YET HERE WE ARE, APRIL 1ST, 2025.
THIS BAIT AND SWITCH NORTH LAMAR IS, IS NOT FUNDED.
THERE ARE ABOUT 20, 37,500 VEHICLES THAT TRAVERSE THIS AREA DAILY, BUT YOU'VE PRIORITIZED AIRPORT BOULEVARD ALL THE WAY UP TO 46TH STREET FOR 20,000 VEHICLES PER DAY.
THERE IS SOMETHING PROBLEMATIC, MAYOR, BUT I'VE SAID IT BEFORE, A LEOPARD DOESN'T CHANGE ITS SPOTS.
THE CITY WAS SEGREGATED WHEN YOU WERE MAYOR THE FIRST TIME.
AND I JUST WANNA REMIND YOU, DECEMBER 17TH, 2018, WHEN YOU TESTIFIED BEFORE CAPITAL METRO AND PROJECT CONNECT IS DISCRIMIN.
MS. JOSEPH, YOU ALSO SIGNED UP ON 75.
DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK TO THAT ITEM? SURE.
THAT'S THE ITEM BETWEEN CAPITAL METRO, THE CITY OF AUSTIN, AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP, CENTRAL TEXAS REGIONAL MOBILITY AUTHORITY TEX.
AND WHAT I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE IS THIS $4 MILLION COULD BE BETTER SPENT ON OUR ELDERS, BETTER SPENT ON OUR VETERANS, AND HERE YOU ARE ASKING THE TAXPAYERS TO FUND SOME TYPE OF SYSTEM THAT WOULD TELL YOU ABOUT THE TRAFFIC AND CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS.
WELL, WHY DON'T YOU TAKE A LOOK, CITY MANAGER AT THE MONEY THAT'S ALREADY ALLOCATED.
YOU HAVE $550,000 ALLOCATED FOR MOVABILITY, WHICH IS A 5 0 1 C SIX SIX C SIX ORGANIZATION, SPECIFICALLY ON PAGE 1 45 OF YOUR BUDGET.
I WOULD ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT ROB SPILLER SAID THEY WERE TAKING ELUSIVE CARS OFF THE ROAD.
YOU ARE WASTING TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
I WOULD ASK YOU TO USE THAT MONEY FOR THIS BOONDOGGLE AS OPPOSED TO $4 MILLION.
THE 300,000 PLUS IS IN YOUR CURRENT BUDGET, BUT THIS IS NOT GOING TO IMPROVE ANYTHING.
HOW ABOUT CAPCO? HOW ABOUT THESE EXISTING RELATIONSHIPS THAT YOU ALREADY HAVE THAT ARE ALREADY FUNDED? YOU'RE GONNA ASK US TO CONSIDER THAT YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FUNDING FOR THE THINGS THAT ARE ESSENTIAL, BUT I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU HAVE WASTED.
REMEMBER THE $2.9 MILLION SOLE SOURCE, NO BID CONTRACT THAT JOYCE JAMES GOT WITH NO MEASURABLE OUTCOMES.
I'M NOT THROWING BLACK PEOPLE UNDER THE BUS.
THAT'S A WASTE OF MONEY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
I WOULD ASK YOU TO GO BACK AND SCRUB THIS BUDGET AND COME BACK TO THIS COMMUNITY AND TELL US WHERE THAT $4 MILLION THAT THIS GROUP WANTS OUR TAXPAYERS TO BE USED FOR.
THERE'S NOTHING IN THE BACKUP THAT REALLY TELLS US WHAT KIND OF SYSTEM THEY'RE TRYING TO GET FOR $4 MILLION.
IT IS A WASTE OF MONEY WHEN WE HAVE BLACK PEOPLE OVER SIX TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE HOMELESS ON THE STREETS OF AUSTIN.
AND YOU DO NOT WANNA PUT THEM WEST OF MOPAC.
SO CARLOS LEONE, FIRST AND FOREMOST, GRACIAS FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TO ITEM 77, APPROVING NEW MEMBERS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, HELP THE LIBRARY COMMISSION MEET QUORUM FOR ME TO TESTIFY TO THEM.
BUT THE FINAL A PL DIRECTOR DECISION IS YOURS.
SINCE FORMER DIRECTOR WEEKS LEFT IN OCTOBER, THERE HAS BEEN NO PUBLIC SEARCH FOR A NEW DIRECTOR, ALLEGEDLY BECAUSE CITY MANAGER BROAD NEXT WANTS TO PROMOTE INTERIM DIRECTOR HANNAH TERRELL TO THAT POSITION.
HOWEVER, UNDER WEEKS IN TERRELL APLS, OVERLY RESTRICTIVE AND PUNITIVE RULE 15, DENIAL OF PHYSICAL ACCESS TO THE LIBRARY HAS NOT COMPLIED WITH CITY'S SUPERSEDING.
RULE SIX, DENIAL OF PHYSICAL ACCESS TO A CITY PROPERTY RESULTING IN WEEKS IN TERRELL ISSUING
[01:25:01]
AT LEAST 186 CRIMINAL TRESPASS NOTIFICATIONS, BANNING PATRONS, INCLUDING ME FROM ALL 20 BRANCHES FOR ONE YEAR WITHOUT AUTHORITY TO DO SO SINCE AUGUST 25TH, 2023, VIOLATING OUR FUNDAMENTAL FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO ACQUIRE INFORMATION IN PERSON AT THE LIMITED PUBLIC FORUM LIBRARY.EACH OF THOSE PROHIBITED, UM, ACTS WAS AN OFFENSE PER CITY CODE ONE DASH ONE DASH 99 DASH A ONE.
SINCE CITY CLERK HAS NOT POSTED A NOTICE, A NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE CHANGE FROM A PL TO UPDATE THE RULE 15 TO COMPLY WITH YOUR RULE SIX.
TERRELL'S ONGOING INSUBORDINATION AGAINST YOU APPEARS INTENTIONAL BECAUSE DECEMBER 31 A PL SAID IN WRITING IT'S CTN POLICY QUOTE, HAS BEEN RECENTLY REVIEWED, UPDATED, AND IS AWAITING SIGN OFF FOR FINALIZATION.
THEREFORE, PER CITY CODE TWO DASH THREE DASH FIVE DASH JI AM REQUESTING CITY AUDITOR INVESTIGATE TERRELL'S ALLEGED VIOLATIONS OF PERSONNEL POLICY AND LAW.
INSUBORDINATION DISHONESTY UNSU UNACCEPTABLE PERSONAL.
PERFORMANCE AND POLICY VIOLATION.
I'M MOVING ON TO ITEM 80 FOR THE REMOTE SPEAKERS, TY HAKI.
HI, UH, I AM, MY NAME IS TY HAKI FROM DISTRICT FIVE, AND I AM HERE TO EXPRESS STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE RESOLUTION TO EVOLVE THE DENSITY BONUS AND 90 PROGRAM.
OVER THE PAST YEAR, AUSTIN HAS LED THE NATION IN AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PRODUCTION LEADING TO DELIVERING 4,600 INCOME RESTRICTED UNITS IN 2024 ALONE WITH AN ADDITIONAL 3,452 UNITS PROJECTED IN 2025.
WHILE WE HAVE FURTHER TO GO, THE FACT THAT WE'RE BEATING OUT MUCH LARGER CITIES IS A TESTAMENT TO THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS PROGRAM.
PROGRAMS LIKE DB 90 HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN THIS SUCCESS ENABLING DEVELOPMENTS SUCH AS THE LEAF JOHNSON FOR SITE IN NORTH LOOP, WHICH HA UH, HAS RECEIVED NEIGHBORHOOD SUPPORT AND IS POISED TO BRING UP 2000 NEW HOMES IN A TRANSIT RICH AREA.
AS THE CITY LOOKS TO UPDATE THIS PROGRAM, I URGE YOU TO BUILD ON WHAT'S WORKED.
WE NEED NEW BONUS TIERS FOR BUILDING BOTH BELOW AND ABOVE 90 FEET SO THAT WE CAN CREATE HOUSING AT A RANGE OF SCALES ACROSS THE CITY, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO BUILDING ABOVE 90 FEET.
CURRENTLY, THE ONLY WAY TO DO SO IS, UH, WITH A VERY COMPLICATED PUD OR, AND ESPECIALLY SPECIAL GEOGRAPHICALLY CONSTRAINED, UH, DISTRICT LIKE DOWNTOWN UNO, ET CETERA.
UM, AT THE SAME TIME, LET'S ALSO MAKE SURE THAT THESE DEVELOPMENTS AREN'T JUST PLACES TO LIVE, BUT THAT THEY ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO VIBRANT, WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOODS WITH STRONG GROUND FLOOR ACTIVATION, PEDESTRIAN AND BI CONNECTIONS, AND THOUGHTFUL URBAN DESIGN THAT SHOULD BE BUILT, UM, WHICH ALL SHOULD BE BUILT INTO THE NEXT VERSION OF THIS PROGRAM.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE BONUSES MUST STILL BE CALIBRATED SO THAT THE DEVELOPERS ACTUALLY WANT TO USE THEM, UH, IN PRACTICE AND, UH, THAT THEY CONTINUE TO DELIVER ON INCOME RESTRICTED HOUSING.
UM, BY REFINING DB 90, I'M CONFIDENT THAT WE CAN BUILD ON ITS PROVEN SUCCESS AND CONTINUE TO ADDRESS AUSTIN'S HOUSING NEEDS EFFECTIVELY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
UH, MY NAME IS CHRIS CONNOLLY.
I'M A UT GRAD STUDENT IN DISTRICT NINE, AND I'M HERE TO URGE COUNCIL TO EITHER POSTPONE OR VOTE NO ON THE DB 90 RESOLUTION LARGELY DUE TO ITS FAILURE.
TO ADDRESS CA TENANT CONCERNS IN REGARDS TO AFFORDABILITY, RELOCATION ASSISTANCE, AND CRITICALLY INSURED, ONE-ON ONE-TO-ONE, UH, REPLACEMENT FOR AFFORDABLE UNITS FOLLOWING REDEVELOPMENT.
THE CURRENT AMENDMENT SUGGESTS BONUS SITE ENTITLEMENTS AND HINTS AT AIDS TO TENANTS, BUT THESE STEPS DON'T REALLY CONCRETELY ADDRESS THE CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED BY MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
DB 90 MUST BE CHANGED TO PROTECT TENANTS CLEARLY WITH ACTIONABLE CLEAR PROMISES, OR IT HAS TO BE DISCARDED.
OTHER DENSITY PROGRAMS REQUIRE ONE-TO-ONE REPLACEMENT, THAT THIS REQUIREMENT WAS CUT OUT OF DB 90.
UM, IT CAN'T SIMPLY BE CONSIDERED, IT NEEDS TO BE SET IN STONE.
ALSO, MOVING OUT IS A STRESSFUL, EXPENSIVE EXPERIENCE, AND DB 90 SHOULD INCREASE MOVE OUT COMPENSATION IN ONSITE RELOCATION SERVICES, INCLUDING STEPS THAT HAVE BEEN OUTLINED BY THE ACACIA CLIFFS TENANTS ASSOCIATION.
UH, SOME OF THESE INCLUDE SIX MONTH WAVE RENT AND RELOCATION ASSISTANCE.
FINALLY, COMPANIES WILL USE LOOPHOLES TO APPLY DB 90 TO MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL ZONING WITH EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
BECAUSE IT'S PROFITABLE FOR THESE COMPANIES, UM, WE HAVE TO REMOVE THIS LOOPHOLE.
UM, I'D LIKE TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER MARK UCHIN PROPOSALS TO RESTORE AFFORDABILITY TO DB 90 AND COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, FUENTES PROPOSAL THAT DB 90 MUST BE AMENDED TO REQUIRE REPLACEMENT OF AFFORDABLE UNITS AT THE SAME RENTAL RATE.
UM, THESE HAVE TO BE REFLECTED IN THE AMENDMENT TO ENSURE TENANTS ARE PROTECTED IN AUSTIN.
[01:30:03]
IS THAT ALL? THANK YOU.I'M MOVING TO IN-PERSON SPEAKERS FOR ITEM 80.
WE HAVE OVER 70 IN-PERSON SPEAKERS, SO I'M GONNA CALL NAMES SEVERAL NAMES AT A TIME.
IF YOU'RE HEARING NAME CALL, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY DOWN TO THE FRONT, APPROACH THE PODIUM WHEN AVAILABLE AND SPEAK YOUR NAME INTO THE RECORD MEMBERS.
UM, WHAT, JUST SINCE, SINCE YOU MENTIONED THE NUMBER OF SPEAKERS WE HAVE ON THIS ITEM, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UH, I WILL SUGGEST THAT WE DO IS THAT AT NOON WE WILL PAUSE ON THIS ITEM SO THAT WE CAN TAKE UP OUR, OUR 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN RITA THOMPSON, JUDY BRADFORD, MARIAN SANCHEZ, VALERIE BERNARD, SUSANNA ALMANZA.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND IF THE MICROPHONE'S OPEN, STEP UP TO THE MICROPHONE.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED IN THE FIRST FIVE NAMES THAT SHE CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
I AM AN AUSTIN RESIDENT IN, UH, DISTRICT TWO, AND I AM OPPOSED TO ITEM 80, SAY NO TO ITEM 80 SO THE PEOPLE WON'T ROAM UNHOUSED IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE SELDOM IS KNOWN AND AFFORDABLE HOME AND THE FUTURE FOR AUSTIN'S NOT GOOD.
PASS ANTI DISPLACEMENT TODAY PLEDGE TO MAKE AN EQUITY OVERLAY.
WE NEED YOU TO CARE WHAT HAPPENS HERE.
WE'RE WATCHING AND WON'T GO AWAY.
WE WANT OUR FAIR CITY TO REFLECT OUR DIVERSITY WHERE ALL CHILDREN CAN THRIVE AND CAN PLAY, AND FOLKS OF ALL INCOMES CAN'T AFFORD HOMES TO LIVE IN AND NO ONE IS DRIVEN AWAY.
PLEDGE TO MAKE AN EQUITY OVERLAY.
PLEASE SHOW THAT YOU CARE WHAT HAPPENS HERE.
WE'RE WATCHING AND WON'T GO AWAY.
WE NEED YOU TO CHOOSE SO THAT POOR FOLKS DON'T LOSE THE HOMES THEY SO DESPERATELY NEED.
DO THE RIGHT THING SO WE CAN BRING EQUITY, NOT DEVELOPER GREED.
PASS ANTI DISPLACEMENT TODAY, PLEDGE TO MAKE AN EQUITY OVERLAY.
PLEASE SHOW THAT YOU CARE WHAT HAPPENS HERE.
WE'RE WATCHING AND WON'T GO AWAY.
LET'S SEE WHO WANTS TO FOLLOW THAT.
I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA START CALLING THE NEXT BATCH OF NAMES, MONICA GUZMAN.
ALEXA, LA CLERK BETSY GREENBERG.
CAROLYN WILLIAMS. IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD, YOU'LL BE HAPPY THAT I'M NOT SINGING.
UM, MY NAME IS BETSY GREENBERG AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE.
I DID HAVE ONE SLIDE, UM, TWO WEEKS AGO.
I WAS HAPPY TO HEAR MAYOR WATSON ADMIT THAT DB 90 HAS CAUSED PAIN, SIGNIFICANT UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES AND SERIOUS DIVISION IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WHILE DB 90 HAS OTHER UNDESIRABLE CONSEQUENCES, INCLUDING DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE INCOMPATIBLE WITH THEIR NEIGHBORS, THE WORST RESULT IS WHEN IT ALSO RESULTS IN DISPLACEMENT OF RESIDENTS FROM THEIR HOMES AND A NET LOSS IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT AUSTIN SO DESPERATELY NEEDS.
UNFORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NO MENTION OF THIS IN THE FIRST DRAFT OF THE RESOLUTION.
IF YOU HONESTLY CARE ABOUT THE AFFORDABILITY FIRST AGENDA, YOU MUST AMEND THE RESOLUTION TO CLEARLY DIRECT, CLEARLY DIRECT STAFF TO PROTECT EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
FUENTE AMENDMENT DOES SAY INCLUDING CONSIDERING ONE-TO-ONE UNIT REPLACEMENT REQUIREMENTS.
THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM FOR ADDING THIS, BUT IT WOULD BE BETTER TO SAY REQUIRING INSTEAD OF CONSIDERING IF WE'RE HOPING FOR FEDERAL FUNDS TO SUPPORT PROJECT CONNECT, THIS WILL ALSO BE IMPORTANT FOR DBE TODD IN RANKING PROPOSALS.
[01:35:01]
POLICIES TO MAINTAIN OR INCREASE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CORRIDOR.A HIGH RANKING REQUIRES COMPREHENSIVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PLANS THAT INCLUDE EFFORTS TO PRESERVE EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BOTH LEGALLY BINDING AND INCOME RESTRICTED MARKET RATE.
I HOPE YOU'LL MAKE THE NEEDED CHANGE TO OUR DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM WITHOUT DELAYED IMPLEMENTATION.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
I AM MAYOR CITY CO MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M A VOCAL TEXAS ORGANIZER AND I'M JUST ACTUALLY HERE TO SPEAK IN REFERENCE TO MAKING SURE THAT, UM, THIS PROPERTY BASICALLY LIKE, LIKE, UM, GIMME ONE SECOND.
WE'RE URGING THE CITY COUNCIL TO PROTECT OUR ARCADIA CLIFFS RESIDENTS AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE NOT DISPLACED AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY DON'T END UP HOMELESS.
LIKE I WAS, I WAS HOME FOR SEVEN AND A HALF YEARS, AS I'M SURE YOU GUYS KNOW.
WANNA MAKE SURE THESE PROPERTY ARE NOT TAKEN DOWN.
'CAUSE THIS IS, THAT, THAT WILL BE ANOTHER ITEM LATER.
AND WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, SIR, IS MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF WHO WAS HOUSELY HOMELESS, THE THERE'S PROPERTY IS AVAILABLE AND TRULY AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF.
AND I KNOW THAT TAKING SOME OF THESE PROPERTIES DOWN IS ACTUALLY GONNA MAKE IT MORE IMPOSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO GET HOUSING BECAUSE WE OBVIOUSLY, AS YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO TRULY AFFORDABLE HOUSING RIGHT NOW.
SO THAT'S WHAT I'M, I'M MAKING SURE I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON.
I'LL SPEAK ON THE OTHER ONE LATER ON.
I'M GONNA CALL THE NEXT BATCH DEANNA GEL MARUKA SMITH, MICHAEL PARTITA, AMY ELLIOT, ELI CORTEZ.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
I'M AN ORGANIZER AT VOCAL TEXAS.
UM, I'M HERE SPEAKING, UM, ON ITEM 80 AND, UM, I'M ASKING HONOR, PLEASE SUPPORT COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES AMENDMENTS TO REQUIRE ONE-TO-ONE REPLACEMENT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING SUPPORTING COUNCIL MEMBER DUGAN, UM, PROPOSALS TO CREATE AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PRESERVATION FUND.
UM, I CANNOT EMPHASIZE ENOUGH.
UM, OUR, OUR CITY IS FACING A, A HOMELESSNESS CRISIS, AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS.
WE JUST LAUNCHED OUR CAMPAIGN TO ENSURE THAT AUSTIN HAS AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND CONTINUES TO CREATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UM, WE ARE ALSO, UM, ASKING Y'ALL TO VOTE NO LATER ON, ON ITEM 103.
I KNOW THAT IT'S NOT THE TIME NOW, BUT I I I'M GONNA SPEAK ON IT.
WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE, SIR, YOU SPEAK ON IT WHEN WE CALL IT OUT.
WE HAVE PEOPLE LIVING ON THE STREETS OF AUSTIN RIGHT NOW, AND IT, AND, UM, WE KNOW, I DON'T HAVE TO TELL Y'ALL THAT THERE, THERE AREN'T ENOUGH SHELTER BEDS.
THERE AREN'T ENOUGH PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO, TO LIVE IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT ACTUALLY ARE LOW RENT IN THIS CITY FOR Y'ALL TO BE CONSIDERING REMOVING AND, AND WIPING OUT 290 UNITS OF ACTUALLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING WHEN THERE'S NOWHERE FOR PEOPLE TO GO.
SIR, WOULD YOU PLEASE SPEAK ON TITLE? THERE'S NOT LOW COST.
UM, NO LOW COST, UH, UNITS IS JUST COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE.
AND, UM, WE ARE GONNA KEEP SHOWING UP AND WE'RE GONNA SPEAK ON IT AT WHENEVER WE CAN 'CAUSE IT'S, IT'S AN EMERGENCY.
THE, THE CITY OF AUSTIN JUST RECENTLY RELEASED AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING SCORECARD, UM, IN EIGHT YEARS OF THIS AFFORDABLE HOUSING PLAN TO CREATE 20,000 UNITS OF, UH, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS THAT ARE 30% MFI OR LOWER.
Y'ALL HAVE CREATED 426, LESS THAN 1% OF THE GOAL FOR DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CITY.
WE'RE SEEING DISPLACEMENT AT RATES THAT WE HAVE THAT JUST CONTINUE TO BLOW, UM, UP AND CONTINUE TO GROW.
AND THE CITY CONTINUES TO INCENTIVIZE, UM, A DEVELOPER DRIVEN MARK MARKET WHERE WE JUST SEE PEOPLE COME IN AND, AND PRIVATE DEVELOPERS COME IN, WIPE OUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WIPE OUT YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
I DON'T SEE ANYONE ELSE WAITING, SO I'M GOING TO THE NEXT BATCH.
BARBARA MACARTHUR, CHRIS PAGE, JONATHAN SCOTT, JOHN MCCONE, MCMAHON AND YVETTE CASTRO.
I'M JOHN MCMAHON AND I'M HERE TO VEHEMENTLY STAND AGAINST THIS AND ASK THAT YOU VOTE NO.
THE FACT THAT THIS IS AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA SHOWS THAT YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH DB 90, BUT THIS SIDESTEPS THE PURPOSE OF DB 90
[01:40:01]
AND SIDESTEPS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO AUSTIN AUSTINITES.WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IS YOU NEED TO COME BACK TO US WITH A BETTER, UH, ALTERNATIVE.
ONE, IT NEEDS TO PROTECT THE NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING BY MAKING SURE IT'S REPLACED AT A ONE-TO-ONE RATIO.
TWO, IT NEEDS TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE, ALL THE EXTRA HOUSES THAT ARE CREATED ARE A HIGHER PERCENTAGE THAN WHAT THEY ARE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSES ON TOP OF THE ONE-TO-ONE HOUSES THAT HAVE BEEN REPLACED.
THREE, IT NEEDS TO BETTER, IT NEEDS TO BETTER COMPENSATE THE FAMILIES OF AFFORDABLE HOUSINGS THAT ARE DISPLACED BY WHEN RECONSTRUCTION OCCURS MORE THAN WHAT THE STATE OBLIGATES YOU BY LAW.
AND FOUR, IT IT, YEAH, I I GET, SORRY.
THAT'S ALL I I HAD FOR, UH, SUGGESTIONS.
BUT THAT SAID, THIS IS MAY, THIS IS YOUR OBLIGATION TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR AUSTIN'S WORKING CLASS.
THERE'S THIS COMMUNITY IS MOSTLY WORKING CLASS, AND WE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING TO BUILD IT, WORKING TO RUN IT, AND WORKING TO PUT YOU IN FRONT OF US TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO SIT THERE AND, AND SIDESTEP YOUR RESPONSIBILITY JUST TO, JUST TO ADVANCE SOME DEVELOPERS AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN, UH, THAT THEY CAN GET TAX BREAKS AND TAKE MORE MONEY AWAY FROM US, THEN THE LEAST YOU CAN DO IS STEP DOWN.
HI, MY NAME IS BARBARA MACARTHUR AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT SEVEN.
I JUST WANNA GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT FACT CHECKS BEFORE YOU GO INTO, UM, WHAT THE PRODUCT OF THIS RESOLUTION WILL BE.
NOW, DB 90 GIVES YOU A LOT OF BIG THINGS FOR ONLY 10 TO 12% AFFORDABLE HOUSING, 75% MORE HEIGHT IN L-O-N-L-R, 50% MORE HEIGHT IN G-O-G-R-C-S AND CS WITH NO UNIT OR FAR LIMITS.
THIS IS EQUIVALENT TO THE HEIGHT GRANTED BY AFFORDABILITY AND LOCKED, WHICH REQUIRES 50% AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON MY STREET.
THE AFFORDABILITY AND LOCKED PROJECT GOT CHANGED TO DB 90 BECAUSE WHY BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING WHEN YOU GET THE SAME THING WITH DB 90? NOW LET'S JUST THINK ABOUT MONEY AND, AND WHAT PEOPLE NEED TO LIVE IN PLACES.
UM, AND THESE ARE THE REQUIREMENTS AND, AND AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED 80% MFI IN AUSTIN IS $107,000.
WE NEED TO GO LOWER TO HOUSE PEOPLE.
IT'S A JOKE WHEN YOU SAY, OH, I'M BEING BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, OR I'M SELLING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT 80%, AND YOU'RE SELLING TO PEOPLE WHO MAKE OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
HOW CAN YOU STAND UP AND SAY, I'M PROUD, I'M SUPPORTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND I'M A SCIENTIST.
SO I LOOK AT LITERATURE, THERE'S BEEN A STUDY DONE ON MIXED USE, WHICH IS WHAT DB 90 IS AND WHAT YOUR MANTRA IS.
NOW, HOUSING AND MIXED USE ZONES IS LESS AFFORDABLE THAN HOUSING AND OTHER DEVELOPMENTS.
HOUSING AND MIXED USE ZONES IS INCREASINGLY AFFORDABLE ONLY TO WORKERS ALREADY ABLE TO PAY HIGHER HOUSING COSTS.
MIXED USE DEVELOPMENTS MAY REDUCE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND CORE AREAS AND INADVERTENTLY REINFORCE THE SOCIO SPATIAL INEQUALITY RESULTING FROM OCCUPATIONAL POLARIZATION YOUR MODEL IS CAUSING UNAFFORDABILITY.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SEVEN, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL'S DISTRICT.
UM, I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM AND I RESPECT THE MAYOR'S COMMENT.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT ACACIA CLIFFS, BUT I'M HERE BECAUSE OF THAT.
THAT'S WHAT'S GOT ME EDUCATED ON THIS ISSUE.
THERE, THERE'S GONNA BE CONSIDERATION OF CHANGING DB 90, BUT FROM EVERYTHING I'VE READ AND UNDERSTAND WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED IS NOT GONNA CUT IT.
UM, IF YOU HAVE RESIDENTS WHO ARE ALREADY IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND AFTER DB 90 IS CHANGED, THEY STILL CAN'T AFFORD HOUSING, THEN YOU HAVEN'T FIXED THE ISSUE.
UM, SO I'M HERE, UM, TO EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR MEMBER FUENTES PROPOSAL, UM, TO AMEND DB 90, UM, FOR, UH, MEMBER CHEN, UM, IN HIS ATTEMPTS TO SET UP A FUND TO SUPPORT THE RESIDENTS OF, OF ACACIA CLIFFS AND OTHER, UM, DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE GONNA LOSE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UM, I APPRECIATE THAT DV NINETIES'S IDEA IS TO INCENTIVIZE DEVELOPERS TO CREATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT AS THE LAST SPEAKER SAID, YOU KNOW, THE WORD AFFORDABLE,
[01:45:01]
UH, CAN MEAN A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND IT HAS TO BE AFFORDABLE TO THE PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND THAT MEANS HAVING ONE-TO-ONE REPLACEMENT FOR THE CURRENT HOUSING.UH, THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING, UH, SUPPORTING THE RESIDENTS MEMBERS.
UM, ON THAT ITEM, YOU'LL, WE'VE POSTED ON THE MESSAGE BOARD YESTERDAY, BUT A COUPLE OF PEOPLE HAVE MENTIONED, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, THE MAYOR PRO TIMMS, UH, PROPOSAL THAT HAS BEEN INCORPORATED INTO VERSION TWO THAT IS IN THE BACKUP WAS PUT ON THE, UH, UH, MESSAGE BOARD.
AND WHEN I ACCEPT THE MOTION ON THE AGENDA ITEM, IT WILL INCLUDE VERSION TWO, WHICH WILL HAVE THE MAYOR PRO TEMS PROPOSAL.
JULES MOGIE, LELA D WORD, MICHAEL CURRY.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MR. CURRY, YOU HAVE THE MICROPHONE.
I'M HERE TO TALK ON THE DB 90 RESOLUTION.
UH, I APPRECIATE THAT THE RE RESOLUTION SEEKS TO, UH, AMONG OTHER OBJECTIVES ADDRESS AND CORRECT THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF DB 90, PARTICULARLY ITS IMPACT ON EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING LIKE WAS ILLUSTRATED WITH ACACIA CLIFFS.
UH, THE STRATEGIC HOUSING BLUEPRINT ADOPTED EIGHT YEARS AGO PROMISED, UM, STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS AND PROGRAMS FOR LOW INCOME RENTERS BY DEVELOPING A STRIKE FUND TO PRESERVE MULTIFAMILY BUILDINGS TO RETAIN AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS AND PROMISE STRATEGIES TO ACCOMPLISH THAT.
I HAD HOPED THE RESOLUTION WOULD DIRECT STAFF TO DEVELOP AND PRESENT THE TYPE OF STRIKE FUNDS AND STRATEGIES NECESSARY TO PROTECT OUR EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UM, A SUBJECT BROUGHT UP LAST AT THE LAST HEARING.
I HAVEN'T SEEN THE STATISTICS ON THIS AND I WOULD WAGER THAT YOU HAVEN'T EITHER, BUT I THINK IT'S PROBABLE THAT THERE'S MORE NATURAL, NATURALLY AFFORDABLE UNITS IN EXISTENCE TODAY THAN THE AFFORDABLE UNITS THAT HAVE BEEN CREATED IN THE LAST 10 YEARS, WHICH IS TO SAY THAT PRESERVATION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING SHOULD BE AT THE TOP OF THE LIST.
YOU HAVE FOUND, AS WE'VE SEEN FROM TESTIMONY EARLIER TODAY, UH, YOU'VE FOUND FUNDS FOR PROJECTS THAT SOME OF THE COMMUNITY BELIEVE WE DON'T NEED.
WE NEED TO RAISE FUNDS FOR SOMETHING THAT EVERYONE AGREES.
WE NEED THE RETENTION OF EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SO WE DO NOT DISPLACE RESIDENTS AS LONG AS OUR BONUS PROGRAMS ARE APPLIED TO EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE'RE NOT CREATING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNLESS THE REPLACEMENT IS MORE THAN ONE-TO-ONE.
ALMOST ALWAYS WE'RE LOSING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
ANYTHING LESS THAN ONE-TO-ONE REPLACEMENT IS POURING WATER INTO A LEAKING BUCKET.
AS I MENTIONED LAST TIME, THIS WILL REQUIRE A COMMUNITY EFFORT, BUT I BELIEVE WE'RE UP TO IT.
UH, IN DISTRICT THREE, I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 80, THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO DB 90.
SO I, I SUPPORT AMENDING DB 90, BUT NOT IN WAYS THAT FURTHER INCREASE THE PROFITS OF DEVELOPERS AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
UH, DV 90, AS IT STANDS, INCENTIVIZES THE DEMOLITION OF NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND ACCELERATES GENTRIFICATIONS IN OUR MOST VULNERABLE, VULNERABLE NEIGHBORHOODS.
IT ALSO HARMS OUR ENVIRONMENT.
IT INCREASES IMPERVIOUS COVER, CONTRIBUTES TO FLOODING, CREATES HEAT ISLANDS, AND REDUCES GREEN SPACES IN OUR COMMUNITIES THAT, THAT NEED THOSE GREEN SPACES THE MOST.
SO THESE AMENDMENTS, UH, BY THIS SUB QUORUM, UH, DO NOT RESPOND TO THESE REAL AND LIVED CONCERNS.
INSTEAD, THEY LOOK LIKE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO BOOST DEVELOPER PROFITS.
THAT'S, UH, BUSINESS AS USUAL.
WE DO COMMEND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES FOR OFFERING THE AMENDMENT THAT BEGINS TO MOVE US IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, SPECIFICALLY HER PROPOSAL FOR ONE, FOR ONE REPLACEMENT OF AFFORDABLE UNITS WHEN DB 90 LEADS TO DEMOLITION.
AND THAT'S A BASIC, AND IT'S A CRITICAL STEP FORWARD.
IF A POLICY RESULTS IN THE DISPLACEMENT OF LOW INCOME RESIDENTS, WE SHOULD AT THE VERY LEAST, ENSURE THAT THEIR HOMES ARE REPLACED.
MAYOR, YOU HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED, UH, THE PAIN AND THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF DV 90, BUT YOUR AMENDMENTS DON'T ACTUALLY ADDRESS THAT PAIN.
IF WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT FIXING THESE, UH, WE NEED TO CENTER STAKEHOLDERS WHO UNDERSTAND THE HARM WE NEED TO CENTER COMMUNITY MEMBERS, LOW INCOME
[01:50:01]
HOUSING ADVOCATES AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS, NOT JUST REAL ESTATE INTEREST AND POLITICIANS.WE URGE YOU TO CLOSE THE LOOPHOLES IN DV 90.
DON'T ALLOW THIS PROGRAM TO BE A TOOL FOR DISPLACEMENT.
LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY THAT'S BEEN RAISING THESE CONCERNS FROM THE BEGINNING.
NEXT IS ERIC GOMEZ, AND HE HAS TIME DO DONATED BY CARLOS PINOT.
ARE YOU HERE? I SEE ERIC WILL HAVE FOUR MINUTES, FOLLOWED BY ERIC IS CHRISTIAN CHOP UI MCCOY SHAY ROUNDS AND LEONARDO SKAI.
UH, THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK.
MY NAME IS ERIC GOMEZ AND I HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT AT ACACIA CLIFF SINCE 2016.
I'VE BEEN A FEDERAL EMPLOYEE FOR 10 YEARS, AND I WAS A SCHOOL TEACHER FOR 28 YEARS.
PRIOR TO THAT, MY LIFE HAS BEEN ONE OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY, GIVEN THAT MOST OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS DECLARE AFFORDABLE HOUSING A CENTRAL ISSUE FOR AUSTIN.
WHEN CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERS AMENDMENTS OF DB 90, I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THE HARMFUL DB 90 PROGRAM BE AMENDED TO REQUIRE ONE-TO-ONE REPLACEMENT OF AFFORDABLE UNITS AT THE SAME RENTAL RATE.
AND I APPRECIATE THAT, THAT, UH, MAYOR WATSON HAS ALREADY STATED THAT THAT'S PROBABLY GONNA BE ADDED BACK IN.
UH, THIS WOULD ENSURE THAT IF ANY REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT TARGETING AFFORDABLE HOUSING MOVES FORWARD, ALL RESIDENTS WOULD GET NEW AFFORDABLE OUT UNITS TO COME BACK TO.
FURTHERMORE, I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT CITY COUNCIL ADOPT COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN PROPOSAL FOR THE CREATION OF A PRESERVATION FUND FOR AFFORDABLE APARTMENTS ACROSS AUSTIN.
THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT IS NOT JUST AFFECTING ACACIA KLI THAT WE ITEM 1 0 3, BUT OBVIOUSLY WILL AFFECT AUSTIN AT LARGE.
I TAKE PRIDE IN THE FACT THAT OUR ACTIONS, THE ACTIONS OF THE TENANT ORGANIZATION AND THE ACTIONS OF OTHER INTEREST COMMUNITY GROUPS HAVE GIVEN CITY COUNCIL CAUSED TO RECOGNIZE THAT DB NINE, DB 90 IS CAUSING PAIN TO THE RESIDENTS AS MAYOR WATSON STATED IN THE MAY 22ND CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
FURTHERMORE, CITY COUNCIL RECOGNIZED THAT DB 90 SHOULD BE AMENDED TO REDUCE HARM TO THE RESIDENTS.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE CURRENT PROPOSAL OF AMENDMENTS FALLS FALL SHORT, LEAVING MOST, IF NOT ALL, THE RESIDENTS AT RISK OF BEING PERMANENTLY DISPLACED.
THE AMENDMENTS, THE DB 90 CANNOT BE JUST A MENU OF OPTIONS FOR THE REAL ESTATE DEVELOPERS.
IT MUST SET FORTH PROTECTIONS FOR THE TENANTS.
THERE MUST BE NO NET LOSS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS.
RESIDENTS WHO WISH TO RETURN TO A CASE OR CLIFF SHOULD BE ABLE TO AT THE SAME RENTAL RATE THEY ENJOYED BEFORE THE REDEVELOPMENT.
AS COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN AND COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES HAVE PROPOSED A PRESERVATION FUND AS PROPOSED BY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN WOULD HELP MITIGATE THE DAMAGE TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT REDEVELOPMENT CAN SOMETIMES ENTAIL UNDER ITS CURRENT CONFIGURATION, THE APPLICATION OF DB 90 AT THE ACACIA CLIFFS APARTMENT COMPLEX WOULD CAUSE SIGNIFICANT HARM TO MANY OF THE RESIDENTS.
AND FOR SOME FAMILIES, THE HARM WOULD BE CATASTROPHIC.
MOST, IF NOT ALL OF THE FAMILIES ARE BELOW THE MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME.
AS CURRENTLY CONFIGURED ON A DB 90, THE REZONING OF ACACIA CLIFFS WOULD ONLY OFFER 84 UNITS TO LOW INCOME FAMILIES.
THEREFORE, 206 FAMILIES WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO RETURN TO THEIR BELOVED NEIGHBORHOOD.
CONSIDERING THE POOR STATE OF OUR ECONOMY AND THE SKYROCKETING PRICES OF GROCERIES AND UTILITIES, THE REZONING AND DEMOLITION OF ACACIA CLIFF WOULD BE NOTHING SHORT OF CRUEL.
I STRONGLY URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO PLEASE CONSIDER THESE POINTS WHEN DEBATING THE AMENDMENTS TO DB 90.
I BELIEVE THAT MOST OF YOU ALREADY ARE SYMPATHETIC TO THE DESPERATE NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UM, THE FOLLOWING QUOTES ARE FROM YOUR BIOS ON ON THE AUSTIN TEXAS.GOV WEBSITE.
UH, MAYOR WATSON, CURRENT PRIORITIES, NOTABLY AFFORDABILITY.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON FERVENT ADVOCACY FOR HOUSING AFFORDABILITY.
COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES HAS FOUGHT FOR IMPROVED HEALTH AND LIVABILITY AFFORDABILITY, SPONSORING LEGISLATION, LEGISLATION ON DISPLACEMENT PREVENTION, AND SHE, OF COURSE, HAS PROPOSED THAT ONE-TO-ONE AND THE PRESERVATION FUND FOR NOAH'S FOR NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
IN ITEM 90, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER MAKING AUSTIN AN AFFORDABLE PLACE TO LIVE FOR FAMILIES, STUDENTS, RETIREES, AND WORKERS COUNCIL MEMBER LANE.
SHE UNDERSTANDS HOW REZONING CAN IMPACT THESE AREAS.
COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL CENTRAL TO HIS GOALS, AFFORDABLE HOUSING COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS CHAMPION MOBILITY, HOUSING AND AFFORDABILITY EFFORTS ADVOCATED FOR DIVERSE HOUSING OPTIONS ACROSS THE CITY THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE TO FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS OF ALL INCOME LEVELS AND STAGES OF LIFE.
COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE EAGER TO TACKLE AUSTIN'S HOUSING CRISIS COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN.
HIS BIO'S COMING SOON, BUT HE HAS ALREADY PROVEN TO BE A STRONG VALIANT CHAMPION FOR THE RESIDENTS OF ACACIA CLIFFS AND HAS MET WITH US.
I DON'T SEE ANYONE WAITING, SO I'M
[01:55:01]
GONNA MOVE TO THE NEXT BATCH.KAITLYN SLOAN, CLAUDETTE WOOD JOHNSON, TIMOTHY WOODS, KIMBERLY LEVINSON.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
I'M ON THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION BOARD AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE.
UM, I'VE COME TO SPEAK ON THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT YOU NEED TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION.
I THINK THE AMENDMENTS ARE PROBABLY A PRETTY GOOD IDEA, BUT IF YOU REALLY WANT MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, YOU'RE GONNA PROBABLY HAVE TO CONSIDER ZONING UP ON DB 90 TO GOING TOWARDS SOMETHING MORE LIKE DB ONE 20.
UH, ON TOP OF THAT, UM, HERE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, MY ASSOCIATION SUPPORTS DOING AWAY WITH DENSITY BONUSES COMPLETELY AND JUST ALLOWING UNLIMITED FAR BASICALLY.
NOW THAT'S NOT GONNA WORK ALL OVER THE CITY, BUT IT WILL WORK HERE AND YOU NEED TO CONSIDER THAT, PARTICULARLY IF YOU WANT TO CAPTURE MONEY FOR, UH, THE, UH, REAL ESTATE THAT'S GONNA GO ALONG THE CAPS.
AND FINALLY, I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING THAT YOU NEED TO CONSIDER, WHICH IS A BILL THAT WAS APPARENTLY PASSED AT THE STATE LEVEL, WHICH MAY BASICALLY DO AWAY WITH DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS BY, UM, REMOVING ANY INCENTIVE FOR DEVELOPERS TO TAKE PART IN THEM BY NOT ALLOWING CITIES TO CONSIDER THEM.
SO I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO THINK ABOUT BUILDING TALLER AND DENSER.
AND, UM, I KNOW IT'S TOUGH FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE TO SWALLOW, BUT THE STATE MAY NOT BE GIVING US A CHOICE.
SO I WANT TO JUST TO PUT THAT OUT THERE FOR YOU TO CONSIDER WHEN YOU'RE DOING THE VOTING ON THIS ISSUE.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNSEL.
I'M ACTUALLY HERE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MY MOTHER, CLAUDETTE JOHNSON, WOODS JOHNSON.
SHE'S A RESIDENT OVER IN ACACIA CLIFFS.
SHE'S, UM, UM, SHE HAS BEEN HERE FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS, SO I'M SPEAKING AS A PROXY, SO PLEASE TAKE THAT WITH A GRAIN OF SALT.
NOW WITH THAT BEING SAID, MY MOTHER, LIKE I'VE STATED BEFORE, HAS BEEN HERE FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS.
SHE'S HONESTLY ABLE TO SAY THAT DESPITE HER SHORTCOMINGS, HER HER PAST TRAUMATIC ISSUES, SHE'S HAD TO DEAL WITH LIFE SUCH AS ALCOHOLISM, PHYSICAL ABUSE OF A FAILED MARRIAGE, AND SO FORTH.
SHE HAS WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND HER CALL OF DUTY AS A PARENT.
NOW, WITH THAT BEING STATED, BACK IN SEPTEMBER, SEPTEMBER THE SEVENTH, TO BE MORE EXACT OF LAST YEAR, MY WIFE OF 10 PLUS YEARS UNFORTUNATELY PASSED.
AND IT TOOK ME INTO A VERY, VERY, VERY DARK SPOT AS ANYONE CAN POSSIBLY TRY TO IMAGINE.
I WAS AT A POINT WHERE ENOUGH WAS ENOUGH UNTIL MY MOTHER CONVINCED ME TO COME DOWN HERE TO AT LEAST GET AWAY FROM ST.
'CAUSE THAT'S ACTUALLY WHERE I LIVE.
TO HAVE A MOMENT TO EXPERIENCE SOMETHING OF DIFFERENCE OF LIFE COMPARED TO WHAT I'VE KNOWN AND HAD TO DEAL WITH TAKING CARE OF A ILL SPOUSE FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS UNTIL AGAIN SHE PASSED IN SEPTEMBER.
NOW, WITH THAT BEING SAID, I SEE THAT MY MOTHER DEFINITELY LOVES THIS CITY.
MY MOTHER DEFINITELY LOVES BEING IN TEXAS.
SHE LOVES THE COMPLEX SHE LIVES IN.
SHE LOVES THE FACT THAT SHE'S ABLE TO BE WITHIN A MIXED AREA OF INDIVIDUALS, DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE, DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES, BUT CAN BE ONE ON ONE ACCORD.
ON THAT NOTE, MY MOTHER IS ACTUALLY ASKING THAT YOU DO CONSIDER MAKING THE AMENDMENTS THAT NEED TO BE MADE TO ALLOW PEOPLE SUCH AS HERSELF TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE AN ENVIRONMENT FOR SONS SUCH AS MYSELF.
MICHELLE MANNING, SCOTT, JENNY GRAYSON, ALEXANDRIA ANDERSON, JACK BRIGHT.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR WATSON AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M A RESIDENT AT ACACIA CLIFFS OFF OF FAR WEST IN DISTRICT 10.
WHILE I APPRECIATE THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FROM YOURSELF, MAYOR WATSON AND THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL THAT DB 90 IS FLAWED, NEEDS TO BE FIXED.
I CANNOT SUPPORT THE REG RESOLUTION AS IT WAS ORIGINALLY PROPOSED BY MAYOR WATSON.
THANKFULLY, MS. ENTENTES HAS PROPOSED AN AMENDMENT THAT GETS US CLOSER TO IT.
UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT CONSIDERATION OF ADDING ONE-TO-ONE GETS US ANYWHERE CLOSE TO WHAT WE NEED.
ANYTHING LESS THAN A ONE-TO-ONE REPLACEMENT IS PEER DISPLACEMENT.
IT DOES NOT DO ANYTHING TO INCREASE OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THIS CITY.
ACACIA CLIFFS IS A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT
[02:00:01]
IS COMPRISED OF THE MEMBERS OF AUSTIN THAT MAKE THIS CITY GREAT FOLKS WHO LIVE BELOW THE STATED MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME.AND IF DEVELOPERS ARE ALLOWED TO COME IN AND THEY'RE INCENTIVIZED TO REPLACE WITH SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T DO WHAT YOU HAVE ALL STATED YOU WANNA DO FOR THE CITY, INCREASE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND PRESERVE IT, THEY WANT TO SAY THAT THIS COMPLEX IS AT ITS END OF LIFE, REGARDLESS OF IT'S AT END OF LIFE NOW OR THEN THOSE AFFORDABLE UNITS NEED TO BE PRESERVED AND PROTECTED VEHEMENTLY BY ALL OF YOU.
YOU WERE ALL VOTED FOR BY THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY THAT EXPECT YOU TO PROTECT WHAT WE FIND IMPORTANT, OUR BEST INTEREST, AND THAT'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THAT'S NOT THE INTEREST OF THESE COMPANIES THAT WANT TO COME IN HERE AND BUILD HIGHER AND, AND NOT REPLACE IT.
THIS IS WHAT YOU ARE HERE FOR, TO REPRESENT US AND OUR BEST INTERESTS.
I APPRECIATE MEMBER UCHIN FOR HIS PROPOSAL OF THE FUND FOR PRESERVATION, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT AN AMAZING TOOL THAT WE CAN USE TOWARDS THAT GOAL.
BUT ANYTHING SHORT OF REQUIRING ONE-TO-ONE IN THIS AMENDMENT FALL SHORT OF WHAT YOU ALL STATE YOU WANT TO DO FOR THIS CITY.
SADLY, SHORT OF IT, DON'T DISAPPOINT THE FOLKS WHO VOTED FOR YOU ALL TO SIT UP THERE AND REPRESENT US.
MEMBERS, WHAT, UM, THAT, THAT BRINGS US
[12:00 PM - Public Communication: General]
TO NOON.SO WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS ASK THAT WE MOVE OVER TO OUR 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, WHICH IS PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.
UM, TYPICALLY WHAT WE WILL WE DO IS BECAUSE WE HAVE MUSIC RIGHT AFTER THIS IS WHEN THIS, WHEN WE COMPLETE WITH THE 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, WE WILL RECESS UNTIL, UH, ONE OR ONE 10.
UH, WE'LL, I'LL SEE HOW WHERE WE FINISH UP, WE'LL FINISH AND IT'LL COME RIGHT BACK TO THIS ITEM.
SO WITH THAT, IF YOU'D PLEASE GO TO OUR 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN THANK YOU MAYOR CARLOS PINON, NOE, ELIAS, MARIAN SANCHEZ, PLEASE COME ON DOWN IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED AND JUST STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
WE'RE GOING TO THE 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, SO THAT MEANS IF YOU'VE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AT THE 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN YOU ALREADY KNOW, YOU'RE ON THE LIST.
SO PLEASE COME FORWARD AND OCCUPY THESE FRONT SEATS.
UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WATSON AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS CARLOS PINON AND I'M A RESIDENT IN DISTRICT FIVE, BUT WORK PRIMARILY IN DISTRICT THREE AS A PROGRAM COORDINATOR AND ORGANIZER PODA, I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON THE NEED FOR DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THE WORKING CLASS COMMUNITIES, THE WORKING CLASS COMMUNITIES OF COLOR THAT WE STRUGGLE ALONGSIDE AS AN ORGANIZATION, AS AND AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
ACCORDING TO THE 2023 STRATEGIC HOUSING BLUEPRINT SCORECARD, A MEASURE OF ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE BLUEPRINT ADOPTED BY THE CITY IN 2017, ONLY 426 UNITS OF THE 12,000 PLANNED OVER 10 YEARS OUTTA 30% OR BELOW MEDIUM FAMILY INCOME HAD BEEN PRODUCED AFTER SIX YEARS.
MEANWHILE, THE PERCENT OF SIX YEAR PRODUCTION OUT OF 15,000 UNITS MET FOR THOSE BUILT AT AN 81 TO ONE 20%.
UH, MIDDLE INCOME PER THE REPORT WAS 79%.
IN 2023, THE INCOME LIMIT RANGE FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR AT AN 81 TO ONE 28%.
MFI TRANSLATED TO A HOUSEHOLD INCOME BETWEEN A 93,100 $46,000.
THE LIMIT AT 30% MFI FOR 4% HOUSEHOLD THE SAME YEAR WAS 35,000.
DESPITE MAKING UP 17% OF ALL HOUSEHOLDS IN AUSTIN, THOSE EARNING 30% MFI OR BELOW COULD ONLY AFFORD 0.8% OF THE NEW HOUSING UNITS CONSTRUCTED FROM 2017 TO 2023, RESIDENTS EARNING ABOVE 80%.
MFI, IN CONTRAST HAD ACCESS TO HOUSING SET FOR LOWER MFI LEVELS AND THUS MORE OPTIONS.
IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, THE CITY HAS BROUGHT GREAT CHANGE TO OUR HOUSING POLICIES, AND YET THEY STILL DO NOT ACCOUNT FOR THE COST BURDEN ON LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES, SO MANY OF WHOM HAVE LIVED HERE OVER DECADES WHO COMPRISE MULTIPLE GENERATIONS.
WHO ARE, WHO ARE WE REALLY BUILDING HOUSING FOR AND WHY DO WE CONTINUE TO OPEN THE DOORS FOR DEVELOPERS WHOSE BOTTOM LINE IS PROFIT, WHO DISREGARD AND UPROOT THE WORKING CLASS AUSTINITES THAT ARE INTEGRAL TO THE FABRIC OF OUR CITY? I RAISE THESE POINTS TO YOU NOW FOR OUR SEVEN OF OUR NEXT SPEAKERS, MY COLLEAGUES, TO PULL OUT FROM DIFFERENT, MORE SPECIFIC ANGLES TO REMIND YOU THAT GROWTH DOES NOT NECESSITATE NECESSITATE DISPLACEMENT NOR ENVIRONMENTAL HARM, AND THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO SHOW UP FOR OUR PEOPLE AS LONG AS THERE'S WORK TO BE DONE.
UH, MAYOR COUNCIL, I'M NO ALIAS.
[02:05:01]
JUSTICE DIRECTOR.I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING MYTH IN AUSTIN.
UH, IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, UH, SO AUSTIN, AND WE HEARD IT HERE, UH, FROM THE CITY COUNCIL, A LOT IS, UH, PRIDE ITSELF IN BEING AT THE FOREFRONT OF ADDRESSING THE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS.
UM, THERE'S BEEN A REPORT THAT CITY HAS LED IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING CONSTRUCTION IN 2024, UH, THAT THERE WERE AT LEAST 4,600 AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS BUILT LAST YEAR.
AND EVEN THE VICE PRESIDENT JD VANCE WAS PRAISING AUSTIN FOR ADDRESSING AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR HOUSING AFFORDABILITY.
SO, UM, IS THAT TRUE? UM, I DON'T, I DON'T REALLY THINK SO.
SO THE, SO BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN AUSTIN, A LOT OF IT LOOKS LIKE KIND OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW WITH, UH, HOUSING, UH, SORRY, DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS LIKE DB 90, WHICH GIVE ENTITLEMENT, UH, TO DEVELOPERS IN ORDER TO INCENTIVIZE THE CONSTRUCTION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SO THAT'S A MARKET BASED APPROACH TO DEALING WITH THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS, WHICH IS, DOES NOT WORK FOR OUR WORKING FAMILIES, OUR LOW INCOME NEIGHBORS, UH, MOST OF THE WORKERS IN AUSTIN.
SO MOST OF THESE AFFORDABLE UNITS, UH, THAT ARE BUILT WITH THIS DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS ARE PRICED AT LIKE 50 TO 60% OF THE AUSTIN AREA, MEDIUM FAMILY INCOME, UH, FOR RENTAL UNITS AND 80% MFI FOR OWNERSHIP.
SO WHO CAN AFFORD THESE? UH, SO THESE ARE THE RENT PRICES.
JUST AN EXAMPLE OF A TWO BEDROOM, UM, UNIT AT 50% MFI, YOU WOULD PAY AROUND $1,260.
UH, AT 60% YOU WOULD PAY ABOUT 15, UH, SORRY, 1,512.
UH, AND THEN FOR OWNERSHIP, UH, HOUSE, UH, WOULD BE AT 80% OF MFI WOULD BE AROUND $216,600.
UH, ON THE OTHER SIDE, YOU CAN SEE THE AUSTIN AREA MEDIUM FAMILY INCOME, WHICH NOW IS AT $133,800.
SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR SOMEBODY MAKING, UH, 50% MFI IS THAT THEY MAKE AROUND $66,900, SOMEBODY MAKING 60%, UH, OF THE MFI WOULD BE MAKING AROUND 80,240, $40 AND MAKING 80% MFI WOULD BE $104,200.
SO YOU'RE BUILDING HOUSING FOR PEOPLE THAT MAKE MORE THAN A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
UM, IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
SO WHO CANNOT AFFORD THIS? UH, SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE SAME BREAKDOWN, IF YOU LOOK AT THE 50% MFI, I USE EXAMPLES OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS THAT IN MY COMMUNITY TO SHOW YOU WHO CANNOT AFFORD THESE AFFORDABLE UNITS THAT YOU CLAIM TO BE, UH, BUILDING IN AUSTIN.
UH, SO FOR EXAMPLE, UH, WHEN THIS EMPLOYEE CANNOT THANK MR. SHOULD BE EMPLOYED, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
TEACHER, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
MARIAN SANCHEZ, FOLLOWED BY SUSANNA ALMANZA.
MY NAME IS MARIA SANCHEZ OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ORGANIZATION.
AS EAST AUSTINS COMMUNITIES CONTINUE TO DEVELOP AT A RAPID PACE, THE INCREASING DENSITY OF BUILDINGS, ROADS, AND OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE WILL EXACERBATE A NUMBER OF ISSUES THAT THESE COMMUNITIES ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY VULNERABLE TO AIR AND WA WATER QUALITY, DEGRADATION, ENERGY BURDENS, THE URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT, AND THE INEQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION AND PRESERVATION OF TREES ARE PARTICULARLY OF NOTE.
WHILE ALL OF AUSTIN IS EXPECTED TO EXPERIENCE INCREASES IN EXTREME HEAT THROUGH REALITY IS THAT NOT NOT ALL RESIDENTS FACE THE SAME IMPACTS OUTDOOR WORKERS, INFANTS, THE ELDERLY, AND LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES WITH THE LEAST AMOUNT OF RESOURCES ARE MOST AT RISK.
THE REPLACEMENT OF NATURAL VEGETATION WITH BUILDINGS AND PAVED SURFACES INCREASES THE HEAT ISLAND EFFECT, WHICH IF IT'S AVAILABLE, CAN LEAD TO INCREASED ENERGY CONSUMPTION AND CAUSE FOR COOLING HIGHER LEVELS OF AIR POLLUTION AND THE GREATER RISK OF HEAT RELATED ILLNESSES AND MORTALITY.
THIS TREND IS DEMONSTRATED BY SATELLITE DATA IN WHICH THE MAJORITY OF AUSTIN'S EASTERN CRESCENT EXPERIENCES HIGHER TEMPERATURES, ALONG WITH INCREASED HEAT RELATED EMS INCIDENTS.
IN AN EFFORT TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARD AUSTIN'S NET ZERO GOALS, THE CITY'S ADOPTED CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN HAS ALREADY OUTLINED A NUMBER OF STRATEGIES AS THEY RELATE TO A 50% TREE CANOPY GOAL WITH A FOCUS ON EQUITABLE COVERAGE.
THIS UNDERTAKING SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE PRIORITIZED NOT ONLY AS IT RELATES TO CARBON SE SEQUESTRATION, BUT MORE PERTINENTLY TO THE DIRECT AND IMMEDIATE IMPROVEMENTS IN AIR QUALITY AND RELIEF FROM HEAT THAT TREES PROVIDE.
EAST AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOODS CHARACTERIZE BY PERSISTENT LUXURY DEVELOPMENT AND SIMULTANEOUSLY THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGES OF POVERTY AND PEOPLE OF COLOR HAD NEARLY 40% LESS TREES THAN THOSE WITH THE LOWEST PERCENTAGES OF POVERTY AND PEOPLE OF COLOR AS QUOTED BY THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN, PROTECTING AND PRESERVING OUR NATURAL SYSTEMS IS AN INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY'S HEALTH, LIVELIHOOD, AND CULTURE
[02:10:01]
END QUOTE.WE URGE YOU TO CONSIDER THIS STATEMENT WHEN OPENING DOORS TO DEVELOPERS WHO HAVE LITTLE REGARD FOR THE INVESTMENT YOU'VE COMMITTED.
AFTER SUSANNA IS ADRIAN MACIAS.
MADDIE GUTIERREZ AND CAROLINE ROSE KENNEDY, HOLD ON, DON'T START THE CLOCK YET.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M SUSAN ALMANZA PODER DIRECTOR AND I WILL TOUCH ON SOME OF THE ZONING AND POLICIES THAT HAVE BEEN ADOPTED THAT CAUSED DISPLACEMENT AND CONTINUE TO CAUSE DISPLACEMENT OF LOW INCOME AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
SINCE 1928, THE COUNCIL MASTER PLAN CREATED A FORCE RELOCATION OF AFRICAN AMERICANS AND MEXICAN AMERICANS TO EAST AUSTIN.
IN 1957, THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT ZONING CREATED CUMULATIVE ZONING.
RESIDENTIAL HOMES COULD BE BUILT ON LAND ZONE INDUSTRIAL EAST AUSTINITES WERE LIVING NEXT AND ARE ADJACENT TO HAZARDOUS FACILITIES.
IN 1998, COUNCIL APPROVED THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING PROCESS AND DIVIDED THE CITY INTO 54 NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING AREAS.
THIS WAS A GENTRIFICATION PROCESS.
THE HISTORIC ZONING WAS USED IN EAST AUSTIN TO DRIVE UP THE PRICES OF HOMES, NOT DESIGNATED HISTORIC, ANOTHER GENTRIFICATION TOOL.
EAST RIVERSIDE CORRIDOR MASTER PLAN DISPLACED OVER 1,700 LOW INCOME WORKING AND WORKING POOR RESIDENTS.
HUNDREDS OF LOWER INCOME UNITS WERE DEMOLISHED.
IN 1996, COUNCIL ADOPTED THEIR MOUTH GROWTH INITIATIVES AND DESIRED DEVELOPMENT ZONE.
EAST AUSTIN CONTINUES TO BE TARGETED FOR THE INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION BECAUSE THEY BECAME THE DESIRED DEVELOPMENT ZONE.
COUNCIL NEEDS TO IMPLEMENT THE PEOPLE'S PLAN.
WE OPPOSE CODE NEXT AND HOME AND DB 90 FOR THE FOLLOWING REASON.
IT DOESN'T ADHERE TO THE ADOPTED NEIGHBORHOOD PLANS.
IT DOESN'T PRESERVE EXISTING LOW INCOME HOUSING.
IT DOESN'T PRESERVE EXISTING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROCESSES.
DENSITY DOESN'T GIVE US LOW INCOME HOUSING OR EVEN AFFORDABILITY.
IT DOESN'T ADDRESS RACISM IN THE CITY'S POLICIES AND PROCEDURES.
IT WILL DRIVE UP PROPERTY VALUES AND TAXES.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I AM THE YOUTH COORDINATOR FOR PEREZ YOUNG SCHOLARS FOR JUSTICE.
ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23RD, 2015, CITY OFFICIALS APPROVED THE DEMOLITION RAISE OF THE LAKEVIEW APARTMENT COMPLEX LOCATED ON 24 0 1 SOUTH LAKE SHORE BOULEVARD.
NOT ONLY DID IT DISPLACE HUNDREDS OF RESIDENTS THAT THE, THE DEMOLITION OF THESE LOW INCOME, AFFORDABLE APARTMENTS WERE REPLACED WITH LUXURY CONDOS THAT ARE UNAFFORDABLE TO THE LOW INCOME WORKERS.
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE LOW INCOME AND AFFORDABLE APARTMENTS AFFECT SCHOOLING FOR THE CHILDREN.
PARENTS FROM THE DESTROY LOW INCOME, AFFORDABLE HOUSING HAD TO SCRAMBLE TO FIND NEW HOUSING WHILE KEEPING THEIR CHILDREN IN THE SAME SCHOOL.
AROUND 2016, CACTUS ROSE RESIDENCE, WHICH LIVED AT THE MOBILE HOME PARK WERE DISPLACED.
THE RESIDENTS REQUESTED THAT THREE ACRES TO BE SET ASIDE SO THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE TO LIVE AT THE SITE.
THE CACTUS ROADS RESIDENTS WERE A TIGHT KNIT COMMUNITY.
THEY WATCH OVER EACH OTHER, CHILDREN AND THE ELDERLY.
THE SITE HAD NO CRIME REPORTS WHEN THE DEVELOPER REFUSED TO SET ASIDE LAND AND THE SITE FOR THE RESIDENTS PUT THEIR WORK TO HAVE THE RESIDENTS RELOCATED AT THE COMMUNITY TO THE CITY'S LAVENDER LOOP PROPERTY.
BUT THE CITY OF AUSTIN REFUSED TO ASSIST IN THE RELOCATION.
THE RESIDENTS DID, HOWEVER, RECEIVE COMPENSATION AND PAYMENT FOR THE RELOCATION FOR THEIR MOBILE HOME.
HOUSING FOR LOW INCOME RESIDENTS CONTINUES TO BE DEMOLISHED AND NOT REPLACED.
FOR EXAMPLE, ZIP CODE 7 8 7 0 2 FROM 2015 TO 2019 HAD, HAS HAD A 35% INCREASE IN RESIDENTIAL DEMOL PERMITS.
ZIP CODE 7 8 7 2 1 HAD AN INCREASE OF 111%.
7 8 7 4 1 HAD AN INCREASE OF 17% AND 7 8 7 4 4 HAD AN INCREASE OF 154%.
DEMOLISHING DESTROYS THE LIFE OF TREES AND PLANTS THAT INCREASE IMPERVIOUS COVER.
POER RECOMMENDS CHANGING TO DEMOLISH PROCESS IN ORDER FOR RESIDENTS TO HAVE A SAY AND FOR THE EQUITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE TO BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.
THESE CHANGES INCLUDE NOTIFYING NEIGHBORS IN THE COMMUNITY UPON UPCOMING DEMOLITIONS 120 DAYS AHEAD, ALLOWING VALID PETITION TO DISPUTE.
DEMOLITIONS REQUIRE DEMOLITIONS PERMIT TO BE APPEALED.
UNDER CITY CODE, PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO APPEAL A DEMOLITION PERMIT.
HOWEVER, MOST APPLICATIONS ARE REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY CITY STAFF ON THE SAME DAY.
[02:15:01]
OFFICIAL YEAR 2016 AND 2017, THE CITY APPROVED OVER 90% OF THE 1700 APPLICATIONS ON THE SAME DAY.UM, HELLO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS MARIE GUTIERREZ AND I AM ED'S YOUNG SCHOLARS FOR JUSTICE YOUTH COORDINATOR.
TODAY I WILL BE SPEAKING ABOUT THE ENTITLEMENTS GIVEN TO DB 90 PROJECTS AND WHERE THEY'RE LOCATED.
ENTITLEMENTS OF DB 90 COMBINED WITH ZONE CASE CS ONE C-S-G-R-G-O AND LO WITH 30 FEET EXTRA HEIGHT CAPPED AT 90 FEET.
NO SITE AREA REQUIREMENTS, NO MAXIMUM FOR AREA RATIO, NO MINIMUM STREET SIDE YARD, OR INTERIOR YARD SETBACKS AND NO COMPLIANCE COMPATIBILITY.
THIS IS THE DB 90 MAP GREEN ON THE MAP REPRESENTS ANY CATEGORY OF SINGLE FAMILY.
BLUE REPRESENTS ANY CATEGORY OF MULTIFAMILY AND RED BUBBLES REPRESENT ALL DB 90 CASES FILED OF MAY 25, 20 FIFTH, 2025.
THIS CHART SHOWS THAT ALL DB 90 CASES ARE, ARE OCCURRING AS YOU CAN SEE IN DISTRICT THREE AND HAS THE MOST CASES WITH 150.913 ACRES.
AS USUAL, DISTRICT THREE IS BEING HEAVILY IMPACTED AND HEAVILY GENTRIFIED.
DB 90 IS JUST ANOTHER GENTRIFICATION TOOL.
I DON'T SEE CAROLINE ROSE HERE, BUT AFTER HER IS PEDRO HERNANDEZ, VALERIE MENARD AND CAMILLA ROMERO.
WHAT'D YOU SAY? I DON'T SEE HER HERE TODAY.
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COME FORWARD.
UH, GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS PEDRO HERNANDEZ JR.
AND I AM THE TRANSPORTATION CORY COORDINATOR WITH BORE AND A RESIDENT OF THE ISH NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH IS A NEIGHBORHOOD ALONG THE EAD, WHICH IS THE EQUITABLE TRANSIT, UM, ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT.
THE TODD OVERLAYING PROHIBITS AND MAKES CONDITIONAL THOSE LAND USES DEEMED NOT TRANSIT SUPPORTIVE.
THE DB EAD ZONING WILL ALLOW EXISTING MULTIFAMILY AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES TO INCREASE THEIR HEIGHT BY 60 FEET UP TO A LIMIT OF 120 FEET FOR A SMALL AMOUNT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
BESIDES ALLOWING THESE VERY TALL BUILDINGS DEEP WITHIN EXISTING NEIGHBORHOODS, THE CITY WILL ALSO ALLOW THOSE BUILDINGS TO BE CLOSER TO HOMES.
A MINIMUM 25 FOOT COMPATIBILITY BUFFER IS REQUIRED ALONG THE SITE'S PROPERTY LINE SHARED WITH A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE.
HOWEVER, WITHIN 50 FEET OF A RESIDENTIAL LINE, LOT, LOT LINE, A BUILDING MAY REACH 90 FEET BEYOND 50 FEET.
THERE IS NO COMPATIBILITY BUFFER.
THIS MEANS THAT UNDER THE DENSITY BONUS OVERLAY A COMMERCIAL PROPERTY THAT IS ZONED FOR GENERAL COMMERCIAL SERVICES.
CS COULD BE BUILT TO 90 FEET AT THE LOT LINE BEHIND OR NEXT TO A HOME BECAUSE IT IS NOT REQUIRED TO COMPLY WITH ESTABLISHED SETBACK REQUIREMENTS.
A HIGH RATING FROM THE FTA FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION REQUIRES COMPREHENSIVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PLANS THAT INCLUDE EFFORTS TO PRESERVE EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BOTH LEGALLY BINDING AFFORDABLE AFFORDABILITY, RESTRICTED HOUSING AND MARKET RATE AFFORD AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THE CITY IS UPZONING MANY PROPERTIES WITHIN AN EXTENDED AREA BEYOND ANY FEDERAL GUIDELINES FOR TRANSIT STATION FUNDING CONSIDERATIONS.
THE CITY CLAIMS THAT DB EAD OVERLAY IS DIFFERENT FROM THE ALREADY EXISTING EADS.
THOSE EODS HAVE DISPLACED BIPO POPULATIONS ACCORDING TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN EAD POLICY PLAN, THE DISTRICT, THE DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFTS SUCH AS UH, SOUTH SOUTH PLAZA SALTILLO, NMLK STATION ARE TODDS LOCATED WITHIN CENSUS TRACKS THAT HAVE HISTORICALLY REPRESENTED A MAJORITY, UH, POPULATION OF BLACK, INDIGENOUS, AND PEOPLE OF COLOR WHERE NEW DEVELOPMENT HAS OCCURRED.
IN THESE, IN THESE TODDS, THERE HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN WHITE HIGH INCOME POPULATIONS AND HAVE ACTIVE DECREASE OF BIPOC PRESENCE OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS.
MOST OF THE POPULATION GROWTH IN ALL CENSUS TRACTS ENCOMPASSED IN THESE
[02:20:01]
TODDS HAVE BEEN ATTRIBUTED TO GROWTH OF THE WHITE POPULATION.THIS DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFT IS ILLUSTRATES THE DISPLACEMENT OF BIPOC RESIDENTS AND ULTIMATE IN INDICATOR OF CONTINUED RACIAL DISPARITY.
THE MFI FAMILY, THE MEDIUM FAMILY INCOME HAS ALMOST DOUBLED AND IN SOME CASES TRIPLED AND HOUSEHOLDS WITHOUT CHILDREN NOW OUTWEIGH HOUSEHOLDS WITH CHILDREN THROUGHOUT THE CENSUS TRACKS.
SO THIS HAS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP SINCE 2010.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THAT VALERIE MENARD.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR COUNCIL.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT ONE AND I'M A PROJECT COORDINATOR FOR PO.
OUR DETRACTORS LIKE TO SAY THAT ALL WE DO IS COMPLAIN AND NEVER OFFER SOLUTIONS, BUT WE'VE BEEN OFFERING SOLUTIONS FOR YEARS.
LET'S START WITH THE PEOPLE'S PLAN DELIVERED TO COUNCIL IN 2018 BY THE ANTI DISPLACEMENT TASK FORCE CREATED BY COUNCIL IN 2017.
HERE ARE SIX RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE PLAN.
START A LOW INCOME HOUSING TRUST FUND AND APPROPRIATIONS MODELED ON DENVER'S PLAN.
IDENTIFY AT LEAST FOUR CITY OWNED PROPERTIES TO BE USED FOR LOW INCOME HOUSING.
EXPAND USE OF NEIGHBORHOOD CONSERVATION, COMBINING DISTRICTS AND HISTORIC DISTRICTS TO PRESERVE AUSTIN'S HISTORICALLY BLACK AND BROWN NEIGHBORHOODS.
ESTABLISH INTERIM DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS IN AREAS WITH INADEQUATE DRAINAGE IMPLEMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY REVIEW PROGRAM.
ADOPT RIGHT TO STAY AND RIGHT TO RETURN PROGRAMS IN EAST AUSTIN MODELED OFF PORTLAND'S RIGHT TO RETURN, WHICH WOULD ALLOW FAMILIES WHO WERE PRICED OUT OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS TO RETURN TO THE EAST SIDE.
ANOTHER SOLUTION, ANOTHER SOLUTION THAT WE'VE BROUGHT FORWARD IS AN EQUITY OVERLAY RECOMMENDED BY COUNCIL IN 2019, LED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DELIA PEREZ AND PRAISED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
LAST YEAR COUNCIL PICKED IT UP AGAIN ASKING FOR A STUDY WITH THE FINAL REPORT EXPECTED THIS SUMMER.
WE NEED AN EQUITY OVERLAY IN VULNERABLE NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS THE EASTERN CRESCENT TO ENSURE THAT DIRECTLY IMPACTED RESIDENTS ARE AT THE CENTER OF DECISION MAKING.
THIS WOULD PRIORITIZE THE PRESERVATION AND CREATION OF TRULY AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND PROTECT LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES FROM FURTHER HARM CAUSED BY LUXURY DEVELOPMENT.
WITHOUT EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, WITHOUT EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES UNDER THREAT OF DISPLACEMENT, THEIR REMOVAL WILL CONTINUE.
AND FINALLY, WE HAVE SUGGESTIONS FOR FEE IN LIEU CREATED TO GIVE DEVELOPERS A WAY OUT OF INCLUDING AFFORDABLE UNITS IN THEIR DEVELOPMENTS.
AN AUSTIN FREE FREE PRESS ANALYSIS OF THE DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM, WHICH GENERATED MORE DOLLARS THAN ANY OTHER FEE IN LIE PROGRAM, FINDS THAT ITS FEES HAVE FINANCED A FRACTION OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS THE DEVELOPERS WOULD'VE HAD TO BUILD ON SITE FROM 2014 THROUGH 2024.
ACCORDING TO AUSTIN FREE PRESS, THE CITY BUILT 47 APARTMENTS WITH THOSE FEES RATHER THAN 244 THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH THE 10% BONUS SQUARE FOOTAGE.
IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE AUSTIN FREE PRESSER BELIEVE YOUR OWN STAFF, THE PROGRAM MUST BE REVIEWED AND REWORKED.
THE FEES MUST BE RECALIBRATED REGULARLY.
THEY HAVE REMAINED STAGNANT AND ACCORDING TO CITY STAFF ARE TOO LOW AND NOT EQUIVALENT TO CREATING AFFORDABLE UNITS.
HELP YOU FIND THIS INFORMATION HELPFUL.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.
MY NAME'S CAMILA ROMERO AND I AM 12 YEARS OLD.
I GO TO MIDDLE SCHOOL HERE IN OUR CITY AND I'M REALLY THANKFUL TO HAVE A CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY.
AS A STUDENT, I USE THE INTERNET AND TECHNOLOGY EVERY DAY TO DO MY HOMEWORK RESEARCH AND TURN IN ASSIGNMENTS.
THESE TOOLS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT FOR LEARNING, NOT JUST FOR ME BUT FOR ALL STUDENTS, BUT I'VE NOTICED THAT NOT EVERYBODY HAS THE SAME ACCESS TO THOSE TOOLS.
SOME OF MY CLASSMATES DON'T HAVE RELIABLE INTERNET AT HOME.
SOME DON'T HAVE COMPUTERS OR TABLETS AND THAT MAKES IT HARD FOR THEM TO KEEP UP EVEN WHEN THEY'RE TRYING THEIR BEST.
I BELIEVE EVERY STUDENT DESERVES THE SAME CHANCE TO SUCCEED NO MATTER THEIR SITUATION AT HOME.
THAT'S WHY I WANT TO ASK WHAT IS THE CITY DOING TO MAKE SURE ALL STUDENTS HAVE INTERNET ACCESS AND TECH TOOLS FOR HOMEWORK AND LEARNING.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND YOUR WORK FOR TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME AND FOR CARING ABOUT STUDENTS LIKE ME.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR BEING HERE.
CHEF, MAYOR VELAZQUEZ, UH, YOU KNOW, HANG ON ONE SECOND.
MY ONE, ONE OF THE RULES OF OF PUBLIC SPEAKING IS ALWAYS, HANG ON JUST A SECOND.
'CAUSE SOMEBODY MIGHT SAY SOMETHING NICE ABOUT YOU.
UH, UH, MAYOR, THIS IS CAMILLA ROMERO.
SHE IS ONE OF THE, UH, THE MEMBERS OF THE GROUP AT LATINITAS AND SHE NOT ONLY WAS SHE HERE TO TALK ABOUT INTERNET ACCESS FOR STUDENTS, THIS IS HER FIRST TIME TESTIFYING BEFORE THIS BODY.
SHE IS 12 YEARS OLD AND SHE IS ALSO THE STAR IN HELPING US OUT WITH A VIDEO, A HOW TO VIDEO OF HOW TO COME TESTIFY
[02:25:01]
AT CITY HALL.UH, THAT'S WORKING THROUGH OUR OFFICE.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH COMING UP.
I'M SORRY, I STILL HAVE, MAY I ALSO ADDRESS HER? SURE.
UM, I WANTED TO ALSO PERSONALLY THANK YOU FOR COMING.
I HAVE BEEN HEARING ABOUT LAS
CAN CAN Y'ALL SIT DOWN JUST A SECOND? I HAVE BEEN HEARING ABOUT LAS NO, YOUR ORGANIZATION FOR AT LEAST FIVE YEARS.
YOU HAVE CHAMPIONS OUT IN THE ROUND ROCK ISD TEACHING COMMUNITY WHO'VE BEEN HOPING FOR A LONG TIME THAT WE CAN FIND A WAY TO CONNECT AROUND THINGS LIKE ROBOTICS AND OTHER STEM PROGRAMS AND BUILD A MEANINGFUL ONGOING PARTNERSHIP, YOUTH TO YOUTH.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING FOR YOUR WORK TO CREATE A HOW TO COMMENT AND FOR STICKING AROUND LONG ENOUGH FOR ME TO HAVE A CHANCE TO ADD ON AS WELL.
AND I WOULD ASK THAT ONE OF MY STAFF PLEASE CONNECT WITH HER BEFORE SHE LEAVES.
ALRIGHT, MEMBERS, THOSE ARE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AT THE 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, UH, WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE WILL RECESS UNTIL ONE O'CLOCK, UH, OR AS CLOSE TO ONE O'CLOCK AS WE CAN GET BACK, UH, FOR OUR LIVE MUSIC.
UH, SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE CITY COUNCIL IS IN RECESS UNTIL ONE O'CLOCK.
IT'S 12:26 PM I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TODAY OF
[Live Music]
INTRODUCING CAPITAL VICE, WHICH IS AN INDIE ROCK, EXCUSE ME, INDIE ALT ROCK BAND FORMED IN 2024, KNOWN FOR THEIR HIGH ENERGY PERFORMANCES AND DYNAMIC SOUND.THEIR DEBUT RELEASE CANDID FEATURES, STANDOUT TRACKS LIKE HAT MAN PRAISED FOR ITS ENGAGING STORYTELLING AND DRIVING RHYTHM WITH THEIR COMPELLING MUSIC AND CHARISMATIC STAGE PRESIDENT PRESENCE CAPITAL VICE IS QUICKLY ESTABLISHING THEMSELVES AS A NOTABLE PRESENCE IN THE DIY ALTERNATIVE ROCK SCENE.
AND SO NOW PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING CAPITAL VICE HERE AT CITY HALL.
SHALL I CALL THE DARK AND SAID LET'S HANG OUT.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY AND I WON'T BE SCARED.
LET'S MAKE NO NOISE AND PLAY UNDER THE STAIRS IF WE GET HUNGRY.
WE'VE GOT PILLS TO WE IF WE GET THIRSTY, WE'VE GOT PROMA SCENE.
COUNCIL WAS CREEPING ANY SHADOW PEOPLE NEED AFRAID.
THEY KNOW WHO I AM AND ALL THE THINGS I SAID HE SHADOW ON MY HEAD WITH THESE PEOPLE IN MY HAND IS TALKING PEOPLE.
SO HERE WE'RE ALL OVER CAN STUCK IN MY HOME ALONE WITH ALL MY FRIENDS.
LET'S THROW A PARTY AND KICK UP ANGEL DUST, SHADOW SKI.
IF YOU PROMISE TO TELL BORN FROM THE BE THE SELF MEDICATE, I'M HUNG TO THE GA.
WE, WE I DON'T WANNA FATHER COME AND VISIT ME AGAIN.
WHO ELSE ARE CREEPING? ANY SHADOW PEOPLE NEED A FRIEND.
THEY KNOW WHO I AM AND ALL THE THINGS I'VE SAID INSIDE OF MY HEAD WITH THESE BIG IN MY HEAD, IN THE INSIDE, INSIDE MY HEAD, WE ARE SHADOW.
[02:30:01]
ARE SHADOWS.IN MY ONE LAST TIME, COME VISIT ME AGAIN.
ARE CREEPING IN ANY SHADOW PEOPLE NEED.
AND ALL THINGS I SAID INSIDE OF MY HEAD WITH THESE PINK PILLS IN MY HAND IS CHUCKING WHAT THAT LAST COME AND ME AGAIN CREEP IN ANY SHADOW.
THEY KNOW WHO I'M, AND ALL THE THINGS I'VE SAID INSIDE OF MY HEAD WITH THESE PEOPLE IN MY HEAD, WOW, COME AGAIN.
WE NEED, WE NEED A HYPE MAN LIKE THAT.
I WANNA TAKE A QUICK MINUTE TO READ A PROCLAMATION HERE.
YOU CAN PROUDLY DISPLAY IT, BUT ALL RIGHT, WELL I GET TO READ THIS.
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 ARE PLEASED TO SHOWCASE AND SUPPORT OUR LOCAL ARTISTS.
SO NOW THEREFORE, I COUNCILMAN ORION ALTER ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE 5TH, 2025 AS CAPITAL VICE DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
AND WHERE CAN PEOPLE SEE YOU NEXT? WHERE CAN, UH, RED RED RIVER.
JULY 24TH AT RED RIVER, BA HOLLOW.
WE'LL BE THERE FOR HOT SUMMER NIGHTS.
LET'S GRAB A QUICK PHOTO OF YOU.
IT'S 1:01 PM ON JUNE 5TH, 2025.
AND I WILL CALL BACK TO ORDER THE, UH, REGULAR MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
UH, AGAIN, WE ARE IN CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS LOCATED AT CITY HALL AT 3 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET, AND WE HAVE A QUORUM OF THE COUNT.
UM, WE DO HAVE A QUORUM OF THE COUNCIL PRESENT.
SO WITH THAT, WE WILL GO BACK TO THE
[Consent Agenda (Part 2 of 2)]
CONSENT AGENDA AND I WOULD ASK THE CITY CLERK TO PLEASE CALL THE NAMES OF PEOPLE THAT WISH TO TALK TO US.CONTINUING ON WITH ITEM 80, RILEY PATTERSON, SOLE PRAXIS DAVID FRIEDMAN.
AND AS A REMINDER, I'M SAYING NAMES AND BATCHES, BUT IF YOU HEAR A NAME CALL, PLEASE JUST COME DOWN AND STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
HE HAD TIME DONATED, BUT I DON'T SEE HIM EITHER.
NAOMI FRIEDMAN, BILL BUNCH, CELINE RENDON, MARISSA PERES, LOUISE OLUGO, CARLA HARDON, TANIA, KAREN ANGELICA,
[02:35:01]
BENTON MOLINA, CRAIG NASER AFTER CRAIG NASER, BRIAN BEDROSIAN AND CHLOE WILKINSON.AND I'M SPEAKING FOR MYSELF HERE.
THE WHOLE, UM, AFFORDABILITY ISSUE IN AUSTIN IS A REALLY HUGE ISSUE.
AND I DON'T THINK OFTEN IT GETS TALKED ABOUT IN ITS TOTALITY HERE BECAUSE POLITICALLY IT'S HARD TO DO.
FIRST OF ALL, WE WOULD NEED A WHOLE ARMY OF BERNIE SANDERS AT THE US CAPITOL TO HELP ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM.
AND THEN WE WOULD NEED A BIG CHANGE AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE.
SO THE ONE THING WE CAN DO IS TRY NOT TO DO ANY DAMAGE.
AND THE PROBLEM IS WHEN YOU GOTTA RELY ON DEVELOPER MONEY TO DEVELOP, TO BUILD OR EITHER PAY FOR IT YOURSELF.
LAST NIGHT AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, I HEARD A DEVELOPER TALK ABOUT HOW IF YOU WANT AFFORDABILITY, IT'S, WE WILL PUT AS MUCH AFFORDABILITY AS YOU'RE WILLING TO PAY FOR.
IT'S NOT GONNA COME FROM THE DEVELOPER.
AFFORDABILITY WILL NOT COME FROM THE DEVELOPER.
OUR MOST AFFORDABLE HOUSING WE HAVE NOW IS THE HOUSING THAT'S ALREADY THERE.
AND YOU KNOW, I GO DOWNTOWN AND I SEE THESE, YOU MAY NOT KNOW THIS ABOUT ME, BUT I SPENT MY FIRST, WHEN I LEFT HOME, I SPENT SEVEN YEARS IN NEW YORK CITY AND THE FIRST YEAR OF THOSE SEVEN YEARS I LIVED, I DIDN'T HAVE TO LEGALLY PAY INCOME TAX.
AND I SAW, I SAW NEW YORK CITY GET UNAFFORDABLE AND ALL THESE NICE BIG, BEAUTIFUL BUILDINGS DOWNTOWN.
BUT I DON'T HANG OUT DOWN HERE.
I DON'T HANG OUT AROUND THOSE BUILDINGS BECAUSE I REALLY CAN'T AFFORD IT.
I DO MUCH BETTER THAN A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE CITY, BUT IF WE WANNA HELP THEM, WE CANNOT BE TEARING DOWN AS MUCH.
YOU CANNOT LEAVE IT TOTALLY IN THE HANDS OF THE DEVELOPER.
YOU CANNOT EXPECT THEM TO PAY FOR YOUR THE AFFORDABILITY.
COUNSEL, THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TODAY.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE NORTH LOOP NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND THE CHAIR OF THE NORTH LOOP NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN CONTACT TEAM.
UM, I HAVE SPOKEN TO YOU BEFORE ON DB 90 CASES AND I'M HERE IN SUPPORT, UM, OF THE MOTION OR THE MOTION FOR TODAY.
UM, I DO HAVE SYMPATHIES WITH MY CI FELLOW CITIZENS WHO HAVE BROUGHT UP CONCERNS ABOUT DISPLACEMENT, AND I APPRECIATE THE AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT FORTH.
I WILL SAY FROM THE NORTH LOOP PERSPECTIVE, AND I SPEAK AS A CITIZEN THERE IN D NINE, NOT AS THE CHAIR OR THE PRESIDENT TODAY, THAT WE HAVE SEVERAL PROPERTIES WHERE THE DB 90, UH, ZONING AS EXISTS TODAY.
WE WOULD CONSIDER THE BASE ZONING AND WE'D LIKE TO SEE MORE ENHANCEMENTS FROM THERE TO BETTER UTILIZE SOME OF THOSE SITES.
SO WE'RE EXCITED TO SEE THAT THERE MAY BE SOME CHANGES.
THERE ARE SOME OTHER SITES THAT YOU'VE HEARD ME SPEAK ABOUT, SAY ON NORTH LOOP BOULEVARD, WHERE THE EXISTING ZONING IS LESS MODULAR WITH THE EXISTING CONDITIONS OF THAT STREET.
AND I THINK THE NEW IDEAS ABOUT HAVING MORE TOOLS IN THE ARSENAL TO BETTER CRAFT THESE PROJECTS TO THEIR CONDITIONS, UH, WOULD BE WARRANTED AND WELL UTILIZED BY MY COMMUNITY.
UM, I APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE SO FAR.
I WOULD ASK YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE LETTER THAT WE HAD SIGNED WITH UNITED PROPERTIES IN OUR NEGOTIATIONS AS SOME OF THE TARGETED STREET SCALE OR STREET SCAPE AMENITIES THAT COULD BE INCLUDED, UH, IN FUTURE ZONING.
UM, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SPEAK AS A MEMBER OF THE DESIGN COMMUNITY THAT FAR IS AN AMAZING TOOL THAT ALLOWS, UM, FOR GOVERNANCE ON SITES, BUT IT GIVES FREEDOM TO THE DESIGN PROFESSIONALS AND TO THE DEVELOPERS TO BETTER CRAFT PROPERTIES THAT FIT MORE, UH, SEAMLESSLY INTO THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
MAYOR PROTI AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY.
AND FIRST, LET ME JUST SAY CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW TROPHY FROM THE BASEBALL GAME THAT Y'ALL WERE JUST A PART OF.
I, IT COULDN'T BE ME PERSONALLY, UM, BUT I'M VERY HAPPY FOR Y'ALL.
UH, BUT AS USUAL, I'M COMING TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF DENSITY, PRO DENSITY POLICIES.
UM, IT REALLY HAS WORKED OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS FOR OUR CITY.
WE'VE SEEN AN 11% DECREASE IN RENTS.
THAT'S THE LARGEST DECREASE ACROSS THIS ENTIRE STATE OVER A TWO YEAR PERIOD.
AND OUR POLICIES WERE SO SUCCESSFUL THAT THE VERY CONSERVATIVE STATE LEDGE ACTUALLY LOOKED TO US FOR ONCE AND TOOK OUR POLICIES FOR
[02:40:01]
ONCE, SOMETHING THAT THEY NEVER DO, RIGHT? SO I MEAN, CLEARLY WE HAVE BECOME SORT OF THE POSTER CHILD OF TEXAS ON HOW TO ADDRESS AFFORDABILITY.SO MUCH SO THAT EVEN PEOPLE LIKE GARY GATES WENT UP TO THE PODIUM AND WHEN HE PRESENTED HIS BILLS THAT HE PASSED THIS SESSION AND SAID, THIS IS THE MODEL IN AUSTIN.
THIS IS WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE.
AND I WANT US TO CONTINUE THE AFFORDABILITY POLICIES.
I WANT US TO CONTINUE EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING, BUT PART OF THAT HAS TO BE INCREASING DENSITY.
PART OF THAT HAS TO BE SAYING THAT THE SEGREGATIONIST ERA POLICIES THAT WE DEPLOYED UNDER, YOU KNOW, THE 1960S AND THE 1970S ARE NOT GONNA WORK ANYMORE.
UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND I HOPE Y'ALL HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY.
MOVING ON TO THE NEXT BATCH OF SPEAKERS FOR ITEM 80.
PHILLIP WILEY, IIA MEDRANO, SHANE JOHNSON, VINIA LINGA, ANTONIA ROMERO, SEBASTIAN GOMEZ.
GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR, MY NAME IS VCA LINGA.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 10.
UM, YOU MENTIONED AT, UH, MAY 22ND VOTE, MAYOR WATSON, THAT PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY, UM, ARE LOOKING TO US FOR GUIDANCE, AND THAT AS LEADERS WE SHOULD BE WILLING TO REEXAMINE EFFORTS THAT MAY BE NOT, THAT MAY NOT BE WORKING AS INTENDED.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON AND REQUEST CHANGES TO THE AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN OUTLINED BY YOU, UM, AND BY OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS ON DB 90.
UM, DB 90 IS NOT WORKING AND I THINK WE'VE ALL AGREED ON THAT.
UH, MAYOR WATSON, YOU'VE CLEARLY ANNOUNCED THE TRUTH OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, UH, THAT WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TO CHANGE ITS CURRENT, UH, OUTLINE.
SO, UM, I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE TWO MINUTES OR FOUR MINUTES.
JAMILA FOSTER, ARE YOU HERE? OKAY, JUST TWO MINUTES.
UM, SO I'M HERE TO JUST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT UM, SOME OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, LIKE MARK ENSS HAS STARTED THE ROLE BALLING, UH, ON ASKING FOR THIS AMENDMENT TO INCLUDE THE ONE FOR ONE REPLACEMENT THAT VANESSA FRESCA, UH, FUENTES HAS SO GRACIOUSLY, UH, UH, ANNOUNCED.
UM, WE ARE OF COURSE URGING FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS TO CONSIDER, UH, CHANGING THE WORDING FROM CONSIDERED TO REQUIRED.
AS AGAIN, WE'VE HEARD OVER AND OVER FROM, UH, ALL OF THE RESIDENTS HERE OR JUST PEOPLE, OUR COMMUNITY, THAT THAT IS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM FOR VERY OBVIOUS REASONS.
UM, SO AGAIN, WE ARE, WE'RE SEEING AS LEADERS, UH, IF WE PASS THESE DV 90, UH, IN ITS CURRENT STATE, EVEN UNDER, YOU KNOW, WE'RE USING THE WORDING OF RECOMMENDED, WE ARE GOING TO BE LOSING THAT ABILITY TO BE SEEN AS LEADERS IN, IN, IN THE COMMUNITY.
I URGE YOU ALL TO CHANGE THE WORDING AND TO GIVE IT ALL A SECOND THOUGHT.
I'M HERE TO REPRESENTING, UH, GEISHA'S APARTMENTS.
I WOULD LIKE TO REALLY SAY IF, IF Y'ALL COULD REALLY THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING, 'CAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THOSE APARTMENTS THAT REALLY NEED THIS AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
BESIDES, IF YOU DO TAKE AWAY THAT, YOU'LL BE ALSO PRETTY SURE SEPARATING FAMILIES, YOU KNOW, UH, HAVING DISABLED PEOPLE WORRY ABOUT WHERE THEY'RE GONNA BE OR IF THEY'RE GONNA BE HOMELESS, YOU KNOW, UH, SO YOU PLEASE THINK ABOUT IT.
TAKE, TAKE TIME AND THINK ABOUT DISPLACING ALL THESE PEOPLE.
AND IF YOU DO THINK YOU KNOW, TO MAKE NEW APARTMENTS, PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE ROOM FOR THEM TOO AND MAKE IT AFFORDABLE.
[02:45:01]
AND WE NEED MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.WE NEED ALSO TO GET THESE HOMELESS PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS.
PLEASE TAKE A BIG CONSIDERATION ON THAT.
IT LOOKS LIKE I ONLY HAVE ABOUT 10 MORE SPEAKERS TO CALL ON ITEM 80.
SO AGAIN, IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED AND THE MIC IS OPEN, PLEASE COME DOWN AND STATE YOUR NAME INTO THE RECORD.
HELLO, UH, MY NAME IS SO PRAXIS, UM, DISTRICT THREE.
MY FAMILY HAS ALWAYS RENTED IN AUSTIN AND WE'VE LIVED ALL OVER AUSTIN.
MY MOM, WHO'S A TEACHER, LIVED IN AN APARTMENT NEIGHBORING ACACIA CLIFFS FOR MANY YEARS ACTUALLY.
AND IT'S ONE OF THOSE APARTMENTS THAT IF DB 90 IS NOT FIXED AND IS PASSED FOR KEISHA CLIFFS COULD BE AT RISK.
UH, GIVEN THE CURRENT DB 90 STANDARDS THAT DON'T HAVE THE ONE-TO-ONE REPLACEMENT REQUIREMENT AS RENTERS, WE KNOW THAT WHEN YOU THREATEN ANY AFFORDABLE APARTMENT, YOU THREATEN ALL OF US BECAUSE WE MOVE AROUND WHEREVER WE NEED TO GO, GO TO FIND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
ACACIA CLIFFS IS A CASE STUDY IN HOW DB 90 IS PREVENTING AN OUTCOME ACTUALLY OF DENSE, DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING THROUGH PRESERVATION AND TRULY AFFORDABLE REDEVELOPMENT BY AN AFFORDABLE DEVELOPER.
UM, WHICH SHOULD BE THE MAIN STRATEGY USED FOR NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PRESERVING EXISTING HOUSING THROUGH COLLABORATION, UM, OR REDEVELOPING IT FOR TRULY AFFORDABLE DENSITY.
THE LANDMARK REPORT BY KAA HUTA JUST CAUSE DEVELOPMENT WITHOUT DISPLACEMENT STRESSES, THE NEED FOR NON-MARKET BASED APPROACHES TO, UH, ANTI DISPLACEMENT AND HOUSING AFFORDABILITY, NOT PRIVATE DEVELOPER DRIVEN POLICIES.
I'M GONNA QUOTE A LETTER FROM THE TENANTS ASSOCIATION.
AS A TENANTS ASSOCIATION, WE'VE HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS EXPLORING ALL ASPECTS OF OUR REZONING CASE AND THE FUTURE POSSIBILITIES FOR ACACIA CLIFFS.
BASED ON MANY CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR PREFERRED OPTION WOULD BE A NO VOTE ON THE ACACIA CLIFFS REZONING CASE.
I'M OF COURSE BRINGING THIS UP TO EXPLAIN THE FLAWS IN DB 90 TO AS A CASE STUDY.
UM, AS WE HAVE EXPLAINED TO SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS DURING THEIR STAFF MEETING OR, OR THEIR STAFF DURING MEETINGS, THIS WOULD ALLOW SINO GROUP AN AFFORDABLE DEVELOPER TO PROVIDE A COMPETITIVE OFFER TO THE CURRENT OWNER.
SINO HAS A STRONG TRACK RECORD OF WORKING SUCCESSFULLY WITH BOTH THE CITY AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.
THEIR PROPOSAL WOULD REDEVELOP THE SITE DENSELY ABOUT 750 UNITS WHILE REPLACING ALL 290 EXISTING UNITS AT THE CURRENT RENTAL RATES AND REMAINING UNITS AT 70%.
MFI NAKA OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND ACACIA CLIFFS TENANTS ASSOCIATION BOTH SUPPORT THIS OUTCOME.
AFFORDABLE DEVELOPERS LIKE ARE HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD.
UM, PLEASE INCLUDE AFFORDABLE DEVELOPERS IN THE STAKEHOLDER PROCESS.
UM, REGARDING ITEM 80 FOR CONTEXT, THE ENTIRE CITY HAS BEEN REZONED WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS, BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DB 90 AS THOUGH IT EXISTED IN A VACUUM AS THE ONE SILVER BULLET THAT CAN CONVENIENTLY PRY NEIGHBORHOODS OUT OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
UM, WE'VE HEARD ABOUT HOW AUSTIN IS AT THE VANGUARD AND WE ARE GETTING PRAISED BY JD VANCE AND ELON MUSK AND THE TEXAS STATE LEGISLATURE.
UM, I'D LIKE TO REMIND ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE PRAISING US THAT IT TAKES ABOUT THREE TO FIVE YEARS TO GENERATE ANY NEW HOUSING OUT OF NEW POLICY.
SO ALL OF OUR CURRENT POTENTIAL SURPLUS, IF YOU WANNA CHARACTERIZE IT AS THAT HAS, IT COMES FROM THE OLD CODE, NOT FROM OUR NEW CHANGES.
UH, TO FIX DB 90, YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT SECTION D ONLY APPLIES, UH, LIMITS ITS APPLICATION TO COMMERCIAL SITES SO THAT IT'S NOT DESTROYING HOUSING, ESPECIALLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM FUENTES FOR, UH, BRINGING UP 4 18 32 A ONE.
WE NEED IT BADLY 'CAUSE DB 90 IS A DEATH STAR FOR REDEVELOPMENT AND WE ARE AIMING IT AT THE WRONG THINGS.
UM, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN FOR TALKING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF NOAA, SUGGESTING THAT WE SHOULD MAP IT, THAT WE SHOULD HAVE A FUND THAT ALLOWS FOR PRESERVATION AND EVEN FURTHER POTENTIALLY A NOTIFICATION PROCESS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS.
UM, WE SHOULD LIMIT THE APPLICATION OF 4 18 33, WHICH CURRENTLY ALLOWS WITH TOTALLY UNDEFINED DISCRETION, THE CITY COUNCIL TO WAIVE THE AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENT.
UH, IF THAT IS TO CONTINUE TO EXIST IN CODE, THERE SHOULD BE DEFINED METRICS SO THAT IT CAN'T JUST BE ANY REASON TO WAIVE THAT REQUIREMENT.
THE AUSTIN STRATEGIC HOUSING BLUEPRINT IS CURRENTLY COUNTING WHAT WOULD HAPPEN AT ACACIA CLIFFS AS AN AFFORDABILITY GAIN, WHICH SHOWS THAT WE ARE DOING SOMETHING WRONG WITH OUR MATH EVERY TIME WE DEV, UH, DEMOLISH NATURALLY INCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THAT SHOULD BE A NET NEGATIVE INCLUDED IN OUR MATH MFI FOR KEISHA, CLIFF SHOWS THAT THIS CASE WOULD BE A HUNDRED PERCENT DISPLACEMENT, A HUNDRED PERCENT DISPLACEMENT.
[02:50:02]
EXCUSE ME.I'M MONICA GUZMAN, POLICY DIRECTOR AT GAVA.
TWO WEEKS AGO, MAYOR WATSON SPOKE ABOUT DB 90 BEING, QUOTE, AN UNHAPPY EXPERIENCE.
THAT QUOTE CREATED SIGNIFICANT UNINTENDED QU CONSEQUENCES AND WITH POSTER A RESOLUTION TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS. UPON READING THE POSTED DRAFT GAVA IS OPPOSED TO THE ITEM 80 DRAFT RESOLUTION.
WE ARE OPPOSED SINCE IS UNACCEPTABLE DUE TO LACK OF A PORT PORTABLE HOUSING LANGUAGE.
THERE'S NO MENTION OF ONE-TO-ONE REPLACEMENT OF AMONG AFFORDABLE UNITS, NO IMPROVEMENTS ON TENANT RELOCATION ASSISTANCE, NO PRESERVATION OF EXISTING HOUSING, NO INCREASING THE MINIMUM PERCENTAGE OF AFFORDABLE UNITS AND OTHER CRITICAL NEEDS.
WE DO THANK AND SUPPORT MAYOR PRO TEM FUENTES AMENDMENT TO ADD, INCLUDING CONSIDERING ONE-TO-ONE UNIT REPLACEMENT REQUIREMENTS.
WE AGREE WITH AND SUPPORT PREVIOUS OPPOSED SPEAKERS AND THOSE WHO WILL CERTAINLY COME AFTER ME.
THERE IS A WAY TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE EXISTING AFFORDABLE PROPERTIES.
AND ITEM 80 AS IS, IS NOT THE WAY WE URGE YOU TO POSTPONE.
ITEM 80, WORK WITH THE DIRECTLY IMPACTED COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO ENSURE THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS A TRULY EQUITABLE PLAN INFORMED BY THE DIRECTLY IMPACTED, AND ALSO INCLUDES AN EQUITY ANTI DISPLACEMENT OVERLAY.
IN CLOSING, FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT BE AWARE, EQUITABLE, DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS NOT SEGREGATIONIST DENSITY WITHOUT AFFORDABILITY IS.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
HANG ON, MR. I THINK SHE'S GOT SOME NUMBERS.
I ACTUALLY, YES, IF YOU COULD TAKE ANOTHER SPEAKER.
UM, AND I CAN COME BACK LONG AFTER THAT.
WELL, WELL, WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD, WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD.
UM, WELL THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL, UH, FOR HEARING EVERYBODY TODAY.
UM, I WANT TO JUST RECOGNIZE THAT, UH, THERE WILL PROBABLY BE A LOT MORE PUBLIC RECOGNITION, BUT ONE OF OUR GIANTS, UM, THE HONORABLE JACQUELINE MORGAN GOODMAN, JACKIE GOODMAN PASSED AWAY THIS WEEK.
AND I WANNA REMIND FOLKS THAT THERE IS A BAR OF PUBLIC SERVICE THAT IS REALLY WHERE THE BAR NEEDS TO BE.
IT WOULD SET HIGH AND IT WOULD SET TO LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY TO REALLY ENABLE TRUE NEGOTIATION AND TO USE YOUR POWER AND AUTHORITY TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD A LITTLE BIT FOR THOSE OF US WHO DON'T HAVE THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN INVESTMENT POWER AND LOBBYIST CAPACITY TO SIT AT THE TABLE.
AND I JUST WANNA HONOR HER IN ALL OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING IN SHAPING OUR CITY TO BE BETTER AND TO WHAT PEOPLE LOVE AND WHY THEY, THEY INVEST ECONOMICALLY.
I'M GRATEFUL FOR THIS CONVERSATION, BUT ONCE AGAIN, WHILE SOME OF THESE CONSEQUENCES WERE UNINTENDED BY SOME OF YOU WHO BOUGHT INTO THE IDEA OF BB 90, THESE CONSEQUENCES WERE VERY MUCH INTENDED BY THE INVESTORS WHO HAD A HAND IN CUTTING OUT THE REQUIREMENT FOR REPLACEMENT ONE-TO-ONE REPLACEMENT AND TENANT RIGHTS.
THAT SAME ARCHITECTURE IS INVOLVED IN COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER'S AMENDMENT IN MAY OF 2024 DURING THE HOME INITIATIVE, WHICH GOT OVERLOOKED BY MANY, WHICH WAS YOUR ABILITY, YOUR NEW ABILITY TO WAIVE THE REDEVELOPMENT REQUIREMENT IN OTHER TYPES OF MULTIFAMILY REDEVELOPMENT.
BUT DB 90 CASE IS DIFFERENT BECAUSE THIS WAS SOLD TO PEOPLE AS A COMMERCIAL REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT, WHICH WE ALREADY KNEW IT WAS GONNA BE DANGEROUS.
AND INSTEAD WE'RE SEEING IT USED ON RESIDENTIAL.
THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THIS IS TO REQUIRE THE ONE-TO-ONE REPLACEMENT, NOT CONSIDER IT.
SO EXCELLENT AMENDMENT IN, IN THIS DIRECTION, BUT CONSIDERING WILL NOT BE ENOUGH TO MS. GREENBERG'S EARLIER, EARLIER POINTS.
IT MUST REQUIRE ONE-TO-ONE REPLACEMENT.
IT MUST REQUIRE THE THINGS THANK WE KNOW ARE NECESSARY.
THANK YOU MR. MASSING, MR. MASS MCGILL, AND I DO BELIEVE YOU HAVE TIME DONATED BY FRAN TATTOO.
UM, I'D LIKE TO ECHO CARMEN'S SENTIMENT ABOUT JACKIE GOODMAN.
UM, SHE WAS AN EXCELLENT PUBLIC SERVANT.
ALL OF Y'ALL SHOULD ASPIRE TO BE AS A EFFECTIVE AND GOOD TOWARD YOUR CONSTITUENTS AS SHE WAS.
UM, I I, I WANNA START OUT BY, BY THE WAY, I'M BRAD MASSENGILL ON DISTRICT THREE, UH, BY, BY SAYING WE, WE NEED A MORATORIUM ON ALL THESE DB PROJECTS FOR AT LEAST SIX MONTHS WHILE WE REVISIT ALL THIS STUFF.
UM, I'VE BEEN UP HERE EVERY, ALMOST EVERY CITY COUNCIL POINTING THESE OUT AND, AND THERE'S SO MUCH WRONG WITH THEM THAT, UH, WE, WE
[02:55:01]
NEED TO, UH, BACK UP AND TOTALLY REDO THIS AND DO IT RIGHT IF IT'S GONNA BE HAPPENING AT ALL.UM, WE SHOULD ALLOW CURRENT DB PROJECTS TO, UH, DOWNGRADE IF THEY WANT TO, TO ONE OF THESE LOWER HYPE LEVELS.
YOU KNOW, UH, LINKING THE DB PROJECTS TO NONEXISTING, UH, TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS AND GRANTS IS, IS FOOLHARDY AS WELL.
SO PUTTING DENSITY AROUND PLACES WHERE WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE TRANSPORTATION IS, IS SILLY.
WE NEED A LOT MORE, UH, PUBLIC INPUT.
UM, THE, THE ORDINANCE IS TALKS ABOUT BENEFICIAL REUSE AND STUFF.
WE'VE HAD EXPERIENCE ON SOUTH CONGRESS WHERE A LARGE PROJECT WENT IN, UH, THE ST.
ELMO MARKET, THE WHOLE BOTTOM AREA, BUT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AN AMENITY TO, TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT'S MORE APARTMENTS, MORE DENSITY.
WE'RE NOT GETTING ANYTHING FOR THIS STUFF.
UM, THERE NEEDS TO BE PENALTIES FOR, FOR THESE, THESE, UH, PROJECTS WHEN THEY DON'T SUPPLY AMENITIES OR REMOVE THEM FROM THE DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS FOR FUTURE.
UM, THE THING ABOUT MFR IS REALLY TROUBLING AS WELL BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN SUCH AN INFLUX OF MILLIONAIRES AND BILLIONAIRES AND RICH PEOPLE INTO THIS TOWN.
I MEAN, MFI IS WAY HIGHER THAN IT SHOULD BE.
WE SHOULD BE EXCLUDING BILLIONAIRES AND MULTIMILLIONAIRES FROM THE MFI CALCULATIONS 'CAUSE IT'S MAKING OUR POOR PEOPLE POORER AND POORER WHEN IT COMES TO AFFORDABILITY.
UM, THE, THE MINIMAL AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS, UM, MENTIONED IT TALKS ABOUT THE COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS OF DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM.
IS THAT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NOW? HAS THAT ALREADY HAPPENED? HAVE WE SEEN THAT? YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE ANALYSIS? UM, I DON'T THINK ANY OF THE CITIZENS HAVE BEEN SPEAKING HERE TODAY, HAVE ANY CLUE AS TO WHAT THE METRICS OF ANY OF THIS STUFF REALLY IS.
UH, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BIG PROJECTS, THE, THERE'S ONE AT 5,500 CONGRESS, UH, THAT THAT'S BEEN APPROVED BY PLANNING COMMISSION BY Y'ALL.
AND THEY'RE NOT HAVING ANY LUCK GETTING THIS THING DONE.
Y'ALL ARE PASSING THESE IN PLACES WHERE CODE DOES NOT ALLOW THEM TO DO THESE THINGS, AND YOU'RE JUST CREATING PROBLEMS FOR ALL THE NEIGHBORHOODS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.
THERE'S CREEKS, THE, THE OAK SPRINGS PROJECT HERE WE TALK ABOUT LATER.
THERE'S, THERE'S BEEN A SPRING FOUND THERE THAT WAS NOT IDENTIFIED IN THE ORIGINAL PRESENTATION TO Y'ALL.
SO YOU'RE MAKING UNINFORMED DECISIONS TO CHANGE THE, THE WHOLE CHARACTER OF OUR CITY AND D DB NINETIES.
YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN UP HERE SO MANY TIMES AND IT'S, I'M, IT'S NOT JUST TO SPIN MY WHEELS, IT'S, I I HEAR A LOT FROM CITIZENS AND MY, MY, MY, MY FELLOW ACTIVISTS AND IT'S ACROSS THE BOARD THAT THIS IS JUST NOT APPROPRIATE AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE NEED TO CONTINUE DOING WITHOUT PUBLIC INPUT.
IF WE'RE GONNA, IF Y'ALL ARE GONNA PASS THIS THING TODAY, THERE NEEDS TO BE A PUBLIC INPUT.
THANK YOU MR. PORTION OF IT FOR US TO BE PART OF.
ALITO SALCITO, MELANIE WALTER MAHONEY, ROSA GUTIERREZ, AND IF ROSA IS HERE, SHE HAS TIME DONATED BY TESS ORTEGA.
ROSA, OR TESS, ARE YOU HERE? YEAH.
WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED, IF YOU'LL PLEASE LET US KNOW YOU'RE HERE AND COME FORWARD THAT WAY.
WE, WE CAN, UM, MS. GUTTIER, PLEASE MA'AM.
MS. GUTIERREZ, YOU CAN TAKE THE MICROPHONE PLEASE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WATSON AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS ROSA GUTIERREZ AND I'M A RESIDENT OF ACACIA CLIFFS.
SINCE MARCH OF THIS YEAR, I RESPECTFULLY OPPOSE MAYOR WATSON'S PROPOSAL TO AMEND DB 90.
THE MAYOR'S PROPOSAL ISN'T AN IMMEDIATE FIX, IT JUST STARTS THE PROCESS OF CITY STAFF TO LOOK INTO POSSIBLE CHANGES OF DB 90.
THE MAYOR'S PROPOSAL TO CHANGE DB 90 SO FAR ONLY IS OFFERING OPTIONS FOR DEVELOPERS SUCH AS THE OPTION TO BUILD A TALLER 120 FOOT BUILDING.
UM, MAYOR WATSON SAID HE AGREED THAT DB 90 NEEDED TO BE FIXED BECAUSE, UH, IN HIS WORDS, DB 90 HAS CREATED SIGNIFICANT UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES AND DIVISION IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO WE WERE CONFUSED WHEN MAYOR WATSON FOLLOWED THESE STATEMENTS BY VOTING AGAINST THE POSTPONEMENT OF
[03:00:01]
OUR DB 90 CASE AFFECTING ACACIA CLIFFS.AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS SAY DB 90 NEEDS TO BE FIXED.
SO IT'S IMPERATIVE THEY VOTE FOR POSTPONEMENT OF OUR DB 90 REZONING OF ACACIA CLIFFS UNTIL DB 90 IS FIXED.
THIS WILL ALLOW PUBLIC OFFICIALS, AFFORDABLE DEVELOPERS, HOUSING, NONPROFITS, AND RESIDENTS TO TAKE THE PROPER TIME OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS AND DESERVES TO STUDY IN DEPTH HOW DEVELOPER INCENTIVES LIKE DB 90 TRULY NEGATIVELY IMPACTS AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
POSTPONEMENT OF THE DB 90 REZONING OF ACACIA CLIFFS MUST CONTINUE UNTIL DB 90 IS FIXED, WHICH IS TO PROTECT TENANTS FROM DISPLACEMENT AND PRESERVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN ALL OF AUSTIN, OUR COMMUNITY IN, UM, AT ACACIA CLIFFS IS COMPRISED OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN DIFFERENT STAGES OF OUR, OF OUR LIVES.
WE HAVE RETIRED AND ACTIVE VETERANS, DISABLED BEDRIDDEN, UH, VETERANS, YOUNG FAMILIES WITH CHIL SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN, UH, SINGLE MOMS WITH CHILDREN IN LOCAL DAYCARE, SENIORS ON FIXED INCOMES, JUST TO NAME A FEW.
I COULD GO ON WITH ALL THE STATISTICS OF, OF WHAT DB 90 DOES OR DOESN'T DO, BUT THE HUMANITY PART OF THIS DB 90, IF IT IS, IF IT IS NOT FIXED, THE HUMANITY IS THAT WE, IF WE ARE DISPLACED, WE WILL.
WE ARE LIVING THERE BECAUSE WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LIVE ANYWHERE ELSE.
WE CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY ANY MORE HIGHER RENT THAN WHAT WE DO RIGHT NOW.
THERE IS A SINGLE MOM WHO, UH, HAS HER CHILD IN DAYCARE THAT HER MONTHLY CHILDCARE IS $75 LESS THAN WHAT WE PAY, WHAT SHE PAYS FOR RENT.
THERE IS NOWHERE THAT SHE, WE WOULD, WE WILL BASICALLY ALL BECOME HOMELESS.
I'M A RETIRED SENIOR CITIZEN ON SOCIAL SECURITY.
UM, AND I I'VE LOVED WORKING FIXED INCOME.
SOCIAL SECURITY DOESN'T EVEN COME CLOSE.
AS WE ALL KNOW, SOCIAL SECURITY IS A COMMENSURATE TO OUR EARNINGS.
WHAT I RECEIVE, FIXED INCOME DOESN'T EVEN COME CLOSE TO WHAT, WHAT, UM, I WISH I WOULD BE RECEIVING.
I WOULD HAVE TO GO INTO MY SAVINGS IF I MOVED FROM, IF I'M DISPLACED FROM ACACIA CLIFFS, I WOULD HAVE TO GO TO WORK FULL-TIME AND CONTINUE TO USE MY SAVINGS.
THAT, THAT I SOLD VERY, VERY HARD.
UH, IT TOOK ME TO, TO SAVE UP.
THE LAST TWO SURGERIES THAT I HAD, I PAID FOR IT.
UM, FOR ITEM 80, WE ARE URGING CITY COUNCIL TO AMEND DB 90, WHICH BY SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASING DEVELOPER PROFITS INCENTIVIZES THE MASS DISPLACEMENT OF RENTERS AND DESTRUCTION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THE FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE OF DB 90 IS THAT IT INCREASES THE INCENTIVES FOR DEVELOPERS TO DEMOLISH ANY AFFORDABLE HOUSING ACROSS AUSTIN.
DB 90 MAKES IT MUCH MORE PROFITABLE FOR THE OWNERS OF NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO SELL TO THE PRO THE PROPERTY FOR DEMOLITION AND RE LUXURY REDEVELOPMENT, DISPLACING RESIDENTS AND CAUSING A NET LOSS OF AFFORDABLE UNITS AS DEMONSTRATED BY THE LOSS OF OVER 200 UNITS IN ACACIA CLIFFS.
UM, MAYOR WATSON'S ITEM 80 PROPOSAL DIRECT CITY STAFF TO CREATE A MENU OF ADDITIONAL OPTIONS FOR DEVELOPERS UP TO 120 FEET IN HEIGHT.
AS IT STANDS, IT DOES NOTHING TO ADDRESS THE TENANT'S CONCERNS.
AS MENTIONED, UM, HELP PREVENT DISPLACEMENT OR ADDRESS THE NET LOSS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND IT WOULD ACTUALLY INCREASE THE PROFITABILITY AND INCENTIVES TO DESTROY EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE BELIEVE THAT IF Y'ALL ARE SINCERE ABOUT YOUR SENTIMENTS THAT DB 90 ISN'T WORKING AND HOW IT'S AN ACTS CAUSING SIGNIFICANT UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES AND PAIN, THEN YOU REALLY NEED TO ADDRESS THE FUNDAMENTAL ISSUES.
UM, AS IT STANDS, IT'S ALSO NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS TO ACTUALLY COMPETE WITH ANY OF THE DEALS OFFERED BY PRIVATE DEVELOPERS.
UNDER DB 90 RIGHT NOW, AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPER IS READY TO MAKE A OFFER ON ACACIA CLIFFS THAT WOULD PRESERVE THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND BUILD MORE AFFORDABLE UNITS.
WE SHOULD WANT A WIN-WIN OUTCOME OF TRULY AFFORDABLE DENSITY SUPPORTED BY THE TENANTS HERE TODAY AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, PLEASE CLOSE THE LOOPHOLE THAT ALLOWS DEVELOPERS
[03:05:01]
TO MISUSE DB 90 TO TARGET MULTIFAMILY APARTMENTS.PLEASE SUPPORT THE PROPOSALS BY COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN PRO PRESERVATION AND INCLUDE THE FUTURE CREATION OF A PRESERVATION FUND FOR NATIONALLY CO-OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UM, AND PLEASE PROACTIVELY PRESERVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING BY WORKING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS.
LUCY HAS TIME DONATED BY HALIMA FOSTER, ARE YOU HERE? HALIMA? OKAY, FOUR MINUTES.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WATSON AND COUNCIL.
I'M A RECENT HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE OF HEADWATER SCHOOL.
I'M A STUDENT ORGANIZER AND AN INCOMING FRESHMAN AT WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY STUDYING ECONOMICS.
AND I'M SOMEONE WHO SPENT 11 YEARS IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN EAST AUSTIN UNTIL I COULDN'T.
MY FAMILY WAS PUSHED OUT LIKE SO MANY OTHERS.
WE WERE PRICED OUT OF THE VERY NEIGHBORHOOD THAT RAISED US AND HAD TO MOVE OVER 30 MINUTES AWAY FROM THE CITY THAT WE STILL WORK IN, STILL ORGANIZING AND STILL BELIEVE IN WHAT HAPPENED TO ME IS HAPPENING TO THE RESIDENTS OF ACACIA CLIFFS.
UNLESS YOU ACT, IT'LL KEEP HAPPENING BECAUSE THE CITY CONTINUES TO CONFUSE DEVELOPMENT WITH EQUITY.
I'M HERE TODAY IN FULL SOLIDARITY WITH ATTENDANCE OF ACACIA CLIFFS AND I'M ASKING YOU TO POSTPONE THIS REZONING OR BETTER YET, VOTE NO UNTIL DB 90 IS AMENDED TO ACTUALLY PROTECT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN IT.
RIGHT NOW, DB 90 IS BEING USED AS A WEAPON AGAINST WORKING CLASS COMMUNITIES.
IT'S A BLUEPRINT FOR MASS DISPLACEMENT AND THIS COUNCIL KNOWS IT BECAUSE THIS ISN'T AN ISOLATED CASE, IT'S PART OF A BROADER PATTERN.
GUTTING DEEPLY AFFORDABLE COMPLEXES UNDER THE GUISE OF PROGRESS, REPLACING GENERATIONAL HOMES WITH GLASS TOWERS.
MOST AUSTINITES CAN'T AFFORD TO EVEN ENTER.
AND WHILE WE'RE HERE, I'D ACTUALLY LIKE TO MENTION A TINY ANECDOTE TO COUNCILMAN, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER COY.
WHEN I WAS A JUNIOR AT HEADWATERS, YOU CAME TO MY SCHOOL AT LUNCH, YOU SAT DOWN WITH A GROUP OF SELECT STUDENTS, MYSELF INCLUDED, AND YOU TOLD US THAT YOU WERE COMMITTED TO ENSURING WORKING CLASS AUSTINITES COULD LIVE AND THRIVE HERE.
AND THAT HOUSING JUSTICE WAS NON-NEGOTIABLE.
AND YET YOUR SILENCE ON ACACIA CLIFFS HAS BEEN A LITTLE DISTRESSING BECAUSE WITH SELF-PROCLAIMED, UH, COUNCIL, UH, COUNCIL THAT CLAIMS TO PROGRESSIVE CAN'T EVEN SPEAK UP.
WHEN 290 DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOMES ARE ABOUT TO BE WIPED OFF THE MAP, THEN WHAT DOES PROGRESS MEAN IS A PROGRESS FOR REAL ESTATE EQUITY BECAUSE IT'S NOT SOCIAL EQUITY.
THIS IS BIGGER THAN ONE BUILDING.
OUR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES ARE BEING PUSHED FARTHER NORTH AND FARTHER SOUTH UNTIL THEIR GHOSTS IN THE CITY THAT THEY BUILT.
THIS IS IN THEORY, THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO ME, AND IT'S WHAT'S ABOUT TO HAPPEN TO HUNDREDS MORE IF YOU LET DB 90 BECOME A CITY SANCTIONED EVICTION.
NOTICE IT DOESN'T HAVE TO END LIKE THIS.
THERE IS AN AFFORDABLE DEVELOPER READY TO PRESERVE AND EVEN EXPAND HOUSING.
THE TENANTS ARE ORGANIZED, NONPROFITS ARE ON BOARD, AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD SUPPORTS IT.
THE ONLY THING STANDING IN THIS WAY IS WHETHER THIS COUNCIL HAS THE BACKBONE TO PUT PEOPLE OR A PROFIT.
YOU SAY DB 90 IS FLAWED, SO THEN FIX IT BEFORE ITS USE TO DESTROY LIVES.
VOTE NO OR POSTPONE AND PROVE TO THE CITY THAT PROGRESSIVE VALUES DON'T DISAPPEAR.
THE SECOND A DEVELOPER SHOWS UP WITH A REZONING REQUESTS AND THAT THE VALUE OF A HUMAN BEING MORE MATTERS MORE THAN THE VALUE OF LAND.
HELLO, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME'S ALEXIA AND I'M A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER WITH PODA.
AND PLEASE STATE YOUR LAST NAME TOO.
UH, LULE AND I'M A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER WITH POED AND COMMUNITY POWERED A TX AND HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE ACACIA CLIFFS TENANTS ASSOCIATION FOR THE PAST SIX WEEKS.
AND I'M GONNA KEEP THIS SHORT BECAUSE I THINK A LOT OF THE POINTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE.
UM, BUT WE JUST REALLY WANNA EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF REQUIRING ONE-TO-ONE REPLACEMENT IN FIXING DB 90.
BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT IT TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR DEVELOPERS TO BUILD MORE.
WE WANT IT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT DISPLACING CITIZENS.
AND SO THAT IS REALLY NEEDS TO BE THE CORE POINT OF WHY WE'RE AMENDING DB 90 AND FIXING DB 90.
AND IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THE PROCESS FOR REVIEWING DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS ALLOW AFFORDABLE DEVELOPERS, COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND IMPACTED AT TENANTS AT NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMPLEXES TO PARTICIPATE.
WE BELIEVE THAT THE CITY SHOULD MAKE IT FOR EASIER FOR THEM TO PARTICIPATE AND FOR GROUPS LIKE THE CASINO GROUP THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH, EASIER TO MAKE THEIR JOB OF PRODUCING DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND GIVEN OUR COMMUNITY NETWORK, WHICH INCLUDES A RELOCATION SPECIALIST IN OUR TENANTS ASSOCIATION, MANY NONPROFITS AND HOUSING ORGANIZATIONS ARE WATCHING THIS OUTCOME AND ARE INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING OUR GOALS.
AND SO WITH THE INVOLVEMENT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS, NONPROFITS, THE STRATEGIC APPLICATION OF PRESERVATIONS FUNDS AND A PROCESS THAT INCLUDES IMPACTED RESIDENTS, WE BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE NO NET LOSS OF AFFORDABLE UNITS AND INSTEAD ADD AFFORDABILITY TO AUSTIN'S NEIGHBORHOOD.
I HAVE THREE MORE NAMES TO CALL ON ITEM 80.
SO IF YOUR NAME HAS ALREADY BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY DOWN AND STATE YOUR NAME INTO THE RECORD.
MAYOR, ALL THE SPEAKERS FOR ITEM 80 HAVE BEEN CALLED.
ON, ON THE OTHER SPEAKERS, ITEM 83, CHRISTINA DELGADO,
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ANITA HOLMAN, MARK SINGY, AND VA KENTE CONEY.IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED ON ITEM NUMBER 83, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WATSON, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, AFTER THE DEATH OF MY BROTHER RAJ IN NOVEMBER OF 2022, OUR FAMILY HAS BECOME CLOSELY INVOLVED WITH VIOLENCE PREVENTION ORGANIZATIONS.
WE'VE ALL HEARD THE SAYING, AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION IS WORTH A POUND OF CURE.
THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION PLAYS A PIVOTAL ROLE IN PREVENTING VIOLENCE IN MAKING ALL AUSTIN COMMUNITIES SAFER.
I'VE WITNESSED FIRSTHAND THE IMPACT OF CVI GROUPS LIKE AUSTIN PEACE IN BUILDING MEANINGFUL RE RELATIONSHIPS WITH HIGH RISK INDIVIDUALS AND SUPPORTING THEM IN JOB TRAINING, UM, JOB PLACEMENT AND INTERVENTIONS IN HIGHLY VOLATILE SITUATIONS.
COUNTLESS MURDERS AND VIOLENT ENCOUNTERS HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IN OUR CITY DUE TO THESE EFFORTS.
MY FAMILY HAS PARTNERED WITH THESE GROUPS AND WE STAND IN FULL SUPPORT OF THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND THIS RESOLUTION, ESPECIALLY THE PROVISIONS TO EXPLORE AND IMPROVE THE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE AND SECURE A DEDICATED AND RECURRING FUNDING SOURCE.
PLEASE APPROVE THIS RESOLUTION AND AFFIRM THE COMMITMENT TO PREVENT VIOLENCE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
HELLO, I'M ANITA HOLLOMAN WITH CITIES UNITED.
UM, THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE VELASQUEZ AND LIZETTE AND ALSO, UH, TRAVIS COUNTY DA, UM, JOSE GARZA AND, UM, A DA AMBER GOODWIN FOR YOUR COM UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO ADDRESSING COMMUNITY GUN VIOLENCE.
WE ARE HONORED TO BE IN AUSTIN TODAY AS, UM, THE CITY TAKES ANOTHER STEP TO SHOW ITS COMMITMENT TO CREATING A COMPREHENSIVE PUBLIC SAFETY PLAN.
UM, AND, AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THAT, THAT PLAN THAT'S FOCUSED ON IDENTIFYING, ENGAGING AND SUPPORTING THOSE MOST AT RISK OF BEING IMPACTED BY COMMUNITY GUN VIOLENCE.
FOR OVER A DECADE, COMMUNITY, UH, CITIES UNITED HAS SUPPORTED JURISDICTIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AS THEY BUILD OUT THOSE COMPREHENSIVE PUBLIC SAFETY PLANS.
AND OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS, WE'VE WATCHED YOUR COMMUNITY, UM, AND YOUR ECOSYSTEM, UH, YOUR COMMUNITY VIOLENCE ECOSYSTEM GET STRONGER UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF A TX PEACE, THEY HAVE GROWN THEIR TEAMS AND THEIR NETWORK TO BETTER PREVENT, INTERVENE, AND RESPOND TO INCIDENTS OF COMMUNITY VIOLENCE.
THE LEADERSHIP OF THE CITY AND COUNTY HAS NOT ONLY SUPPORTED ITS GROWTH, IT'S ENCOURAGED IT BY CREATING TABLES, UM, BY PROVIDING FUNDING, UM, AND, AND NAMING IT AS A PART OF THEIR PUBLIC SAFETY ECOSYSTEM.
AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY, UM, AND AUSTIN, THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY, WAS OUR FIRST STOP FOR CITIES UNITED IN OUR LEADING THE WAY TOUR, UM, IN APRIL.
AND IT'S BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE HARD WORK YOU ALL ARE DOING TO CREATE SAFE, HEALTHY, AND HOPEFUL COMMUNITIES IMPACTED BY COMMUNITY VIOLENCE.
MYSELF AND OTHER TEAM MEMBERS AT CITIES UNITED, INCLUDING OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ANTHONY SMITH, ARE ALSO FORMER OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION DIRECTORS, AND WE FULLY UNDERSTAND FIRSTHAND, UM, THE IMPORTANCE OF CREATING THESE PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEM OR CREATING THE ECOSYSTEMS, BUILDING THESE ECOSYSTEMS AND THE COMPREHENSIVE PUBLIC SAFETY PLANS, UM, TO GUIDE THIS WORK, UM, AS OUTLINED IN ITEM ONE IN THIS RESOLUTION.
SO WE ARE HERE TO FULLY SUPPORT THE ACTION IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY AND LOOK FORWARD TO OUR CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP.
I HAVE JACQUELINE ANGEL ON THE LINE.
I'M PROFESSOR OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND OLOGY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN.
I SPEAK IN FAVOR OF RESOLUTION NUMBER 84, UH, TODAY, WHICH AFFIRMS AUSTIN COMMITMENT TO BECOMING A TRULY AGE FRIENDLY CITY, ONE THAT VALUES OLDER ADULTS, NOT AS A SEPARATE GROUP, BUT AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR SHARED FUTURE.
I'VE LIVED IN AUSTIN SINCE 1991 AND I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND HOW OUR CITY HAS GROWN NOT ONLY IN SIZE, BUT IN COMPLEXITY, DIVERSITY, AND IN THE CHALLENGES WE FACE.
OFTEN AGING POPULATION IS OUTPACING THE, UH, COMMUNITY SERVICES AND SUPPORTS THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE AS OUR RESEARCH.
THAT OF OTHERS HAS SHOWN THAT SHORTAGE HAS SERIOUS HEALTH AND
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ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS, WHILE OFTEN WITH ONES RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY FOR VISIBILITY FOR OLDER ADULTS, WE'VE HAD, WE'VE FALLEN, UH, BEHIND, BUT WE WOULD HAVE THE TOOLS TO LEAD AGAIN IF WE ACT BOLDLY AND EQUITABLY.THE RESOLUTION LAYS OUT A THOUGHTFUL, MULTIFACETED PLAN FROM EXPANDING SENIOR CENTERED AND IMPROVING TRANSPORTATION TO INVESTING IN CONGREGATE MEALS, FRAUD PREVENTION, AND IN-HOME CARE AMONG OTHERS.
THESE ARE ESSENTIAL SERVICES THAT HELP PRESERVE DIGNITY AND INDEPENDENCE, ESPECIALLY FOR MARGINALIZED FOR THOSE MOST AT RISK OF BEING LEFT BEHIND.
FOR TOO LONG, CAREGIVING AND AGING HAVE BEEN VIEWED TO PRIVATE STRUGGLES, BUT WITH THE RIGHT INFRASTRUCTURE, WE COULD CHANGE THAT AS A 2 0 2 2 TO THE AUDITOR REPORT CONCLUDED ADDITIONAL RESOURCES IS LIKELY, UH, TO BE NEEDED TO EFFECTIVELY IMPLEMENT AND COORDINATE THE AGE FRIENDLY PLAN.
THIS IS, UH, CRITICAL FOR BUILDING A METROPOLITAN THAT REFLECTS OUR CITY VALUES, EQUITY, ACCESS, AND OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL AGES AND FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
DID YOU, WERE YOUR, WAS YOUR NAME CALLED? OKAY, PLEASE COME.
UH, THANK YOU ESTEEM MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M CHRISTINA DELGADO AND I'M THE NATIONAL ORGANIZING MANAGER FOR COMMUNITY JUSTICE, A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION WORKING FOR GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION THROUGH PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACHES IN OUR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.
I EXPRESS MY SINCERE GRATITUDE TO LISETTE AND COUNCILMAN VELASQUEZ, UH, AND THEIR VISIONARY LEADERSHIP IN DRAFTING THIS RESOLUTION, A CORNERSTONE OF OUR COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION ECOSYSTEM THAT CANNOT BE OVERSTATED.
THEIR TIRELESS EFFORTS HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN SUPPORTING COMMUNITY-BASED PARTNERS LIKE A TX PEACE ENABLING THEIR LIFE-SAVING WORK.
THEIR DEDICATION HAS BEEN THE BEDROCK OF SUPPORT FOR THESE PARTNERS WHO EMBODY PEACE AND INSPIRE POSITIVE CHANGE.
REFLECTING ON THE PAST FEW YEARS SINCE THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTIONS INCEPTION, AUSTIN HAS REDUCED HOMICIDES AND CULTIVATED POSITIVE TRANSFORMATION.
THIS IS DUE TO COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS OF LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS.
AUSTIN HAS ESTABLISHED A REPLICABLE MODEL FOR PEACE AND LIFE PRESERVATION THROUGH A DEDICATED PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY JUSTICE CITIES UNITED AT TX PEACE, AND THE TRAVIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
THIS MODEL FUNCTIONS AS AN ESSENTIAL LIFELINE AND INTEGRAL ASPECT OF THE COMMUNITY'S WAY OF LIFE.
THESE COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAMS AND OFFICES ARE ESSENTIAL FOR SAFEGUARDING AT RISK POPULATIONS TO AID THEIR EFFORTS IS A MORAL IMPERATIVE.
IT'S CRUCIAL TO REMEMBER THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS, NOT STATISTICS.
BUILDING STRONG COMMUNITIES REQUIRES COLLABORATION BETWEEN COMMUNITY MEMBERS, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, AND POLICY MAKERS.
THROUGH THIS RESOLUTION, AUSTIN CAN EXPAND THIS MODEL FOR PEACE DRIVING A DECLINE IN VIOLENCE, PARTICULARLY AGAINST YOUTH.
THIS RESOLUTION EMPHASIZES STRONG PARTNERSHIPS AND A COMPREHENSIVE PUBLIC HEALTH ORIENTED SAFETY PLAN, CRUCIAL FOR ACHIEVING LASTING SUCCESS AND TRANSFORMING OUR CITY AND INTO A BEACON OF SAFETY AND HOPE.
ITEM 84 IS A NOIA JOSEPH RICHARD BONDY, BONNIE HOWE, JESSICA LAYMAN, PLEASE COME FORWARD IF THE MICROPHONES AVAILABLE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WATSON, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND FELLOW AUSTINITES.
I'M CURRENTLY EMPLOYED BY MEALS ON WHEELS, CENTRAL TEXAS.
AS A DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ADVOCACY, I ALSO SERVE AS THE CHAIR OF THE COMMISSION ON AGING VICE CHAIR OF THE JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE AND CHAIR OF THE AGING SERVICES COUNCIL OF CENTRAL TEXAS.
I STAND HERE TODAY IN STRONG SUPPORT OF AGENDA ITEM 84.
AS YOU KNOW, A RESOLUTION THAT AFFIRMS THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO FURTHER ITS AGE-FRIENDLY STATUS BY DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXPAND RESOURCES AND PROGRAMMING FOR THE OLDER ADULT COMMUNITY, INCLUDING IMPLEMENTING THE 2016 FRIENDLY ACTION PLAN, DEVELOPING NEW SENIOR CENTERS IN UNDERSERVED AREAS, CREATING A SPECIFIC BUDGET FOR SENIOR SERVICES AND PROGRAMMING, WORKING WITH CAP METRO TO IMPROVE TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS AND DEVELOPING A FRAUD PREVENTION INITIATIVE FOR OLDER ADULTS.
THE CITY STARTED DOWN THIS ROAD IN 2010 WITH MAYOR LEE LEFFINGWELL TASK FORCE ON AGING, WHICH LED TO THE CREATION OF THE COMMISSION ON SENIORS.
NOW THE COMMISSION ON AGING AND AUSTIN'S DESIGNATION IN 2016 BY A ERP AS AN AGE FRIENDLY CITY, AS WELL AS SUBSEQUENT HIRING OF TWO STAFF AT AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH TO SUPPORT,
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EXCUSE ME, AUSTIN'S AGE-FRIENDLY EFFORTS.COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR THE AGE-FRIENDLY ACTION PLAN HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE 2016 AND WE'VE COME A LONG WAY, BUT THERE'S AN EVEN LONGER WAY LEFT TO GO AND THIS RESOLUTION IS A KEY STEP.
I URGE YOU TO APPROVE THIS RESOLUTION AS IT REFLECTS OUR COMMITMENT TO CREATING A MORE AGE-FRIENDLY AUSTIN FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WATSON AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS BONNIE HOWE AND I SERVE AS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AT AGE OF CENTRAL TEXAS, A LOCAL NONPROFIT THAT SUPPORTS OLDER ADULTS AND FAMILY CAREGIVERS ACROSS CENTRAL TEXAS.
I'M HERE TO EXPRESS OUR STRONG SUPPORT FOR THIS RESOLUTION AND TO HIGHLIGHT FOUR KEY PRIORITIES THAT DIRECTLY IMPACT THE PEOPLE WE SERVE EVERY DAY.
MANY OLDER ADULTS ARE HOME BOUND SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY LACK SAFE, RELIABLE WAYS TO GET TO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS OR COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. EXPANDING TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS AS LINED OUT IN THIS RESOLUTION, PARTICULARLY FOR CAT METRO ACCESS, WOULD MAKE A MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE TO THE CLIENTS THAT WE SERVE.
SECOND, THE NEED FOR MORE AGE INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY CENTERS AND PROGRAMMING.
OUR THRIVE SOCIAL AND WELLNESS CENTERS SERVE OLDER ADULTS WHO REQUIRE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT, BUT MANY, MANY AREAS IN AUSTIN LACK ACCESSIBLE PLACES FOR OLDER ADULTS TO CONNECT.
AND WE KNOW THAT SOCIAL ISOLATION ISN'T JUST ABOUT LONELINESS, IT'S LINKED TO SERIOUS HEALTH RISKS.
MORE COMMUNITY-BASED OPTIONS SUCH AS SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTERS IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES AND OLDER ADULT PROGRAMMING ARE ESSENTIAL TO OUR OLDER ADULTS.
THIRD, AFFORDABLE IN-HOME CARE FAMILY CAREGIVERS ARE STRETCHED THIN.
MANY ARE BALANCING FULL-TIME JOBS AND CAREGIVING RESPONSIBILITIES.
LATEST STATISTICS THAT WE'VE SEEN, CAREGIVERS ARE PROVIDING 22 HOURS A WEEK TO THEIR CAREGIVING RESPONSIBILITIES.
IN ADDITION TO THEIR FULL-TIME JOBS.
WE'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE WHO MUST REDUCE THEIR HOURS AT WORK OR LEAVE WORK ALTOGETHER TO CARE FOR LOVED ONES.
AND THAT TAKES A FINANCIAL TOLL AND LEADS TO CAREGIVER BURNOUT.
IT LEADS TO STRESSED FAMILIES.
SUPPORT FOR AFFORDABLE IN-HOME CARE FOR RESPITE PROGRAMS AND REIMBURSEMENT FOR CARE WOULD GO A LONG WAY.
AND FINALLY, OLDER ADULTS WANT TO KEEP CONTRIBUTING OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING FOR EMPLOYMENT AND PURPOSEFUL ENGAGEMENT ARE VITAL.
MY NAME IS JESSICA LEMON WITH, UH, SENIOR ASSOCIATE STATE DIRECTOR OF OUTREACH AND ADVOCACY FOR A A RP TEXAS.
AND WE ARE HERE IN SUPPORT OF MAYOR PRO TEMS. UM, ITEM 84.
UM, THE HAVING AN AGE, AGE-FRIENDLY PERSPECTIVE ACROSS CITY DEPARTMENTS IS CRITICAL FOR MOVING THE AGE-FRIENDLY ACTION PLAN FORWARD.
WE HAVE AN AMAZING AGE-FRIENDLY COORDINATOR WHO'S HERE TODAY, BUT SHE CAN'T DO THIS ALONE.
THIS REALLY DOES TAKE A HOLISTIC APPROACH THAT INTEGRATES AGE-FRIENDLY POLICIES ACROSS ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS AND ENSURES THAT OLDER ADULTS NEEDS ARE CONSIDERED IN EVERY ASPECT OF URBAN PLANNING AND SERVICES BY PROMOTING AGE-FRIENDLY PERSPECTIVES.
THIS FOSTERS AN INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY WHERE OLDER ADULTS FEEL VALUED, SUPPORTED AND IT ENHANCES THEIR, UM, QUALITY OF LIFE.
AND ENCOURAGING COLLABORATION BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS WILL LEAD TO MORE COMPREHENSIVE AND EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS FOR THE CHALLENGES FACED IN AUSTIN BY OLDER ADULTS.
UM, NOT ONLY DOES DOES THIS IS THIS AGE FRIENDLY PERSPECTIVE, UM, CRITICAL, BUT IT NEEDS RESOURCES BEHIND IT.
THAT INCLUDES FUNDING, IT INCLUDES TRAINING AND EDUCATION FOR CITY STAFF AND LEVERAGING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS OF WHICH WE ARE VERY LUCKY TO HAVE MANY ORGANIZATIONS THAT DO GREAT WORK IN THIS COMMUNITY.
UM, THE RESOLUTION ALSO TALKS ABOUT IN-HOME CARE, TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS AND EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES AND THE FACT IS EIGHT IN 10 PEOPLE, EIGHT IN 10 RESIDENTS WANT TO AGE IN THEIR HOME OR COMMUNITY.
THEY DON'T WANNA HAVE TO LEAVE.
THEY CERTAINLY DON'T WANNA HAVE TO GO INTO A FACILITY IF THEY CAN'T, UM, IF THEY DON'T HAVE TO AND WITHOUT IN-HOME CARE, WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO ACCESS TRANSPORTATION AND GET TO WHERE THEY NEED TO BE AND THE ABILITY TO KEEP LEARNING AND BE AN INTEGRAL PART OF SOCIETY, UM, THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
SO THIS RESOLUTION IS IN CRITICALLY IMPORTANT AND WE THANK MAYOR PRO TEM FOR, UM, BRINGING IT FORWARD AND WE HOPE YOU ALL SUPPORT IT AS WELL.
ITEM 85, JULIAN REYES, MAYOR, I'LL CONSENT SPEAKERS HAVE BEEN CALLED.
THAT CONCLUDES THE COMMENT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
UH, THE CHAIR WILL CALL TO EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION.
FIRST, UH, FIRST LET ME ASK, IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO WITHDRAW AN ITEM FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IT WAS PREVIOUSLY
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LAID OUT? ALRIGHT, REMEMBER, ITEM NUMBER 23 IS WITHDRAWN.THOSE ITEMS WILL NOT BE PART OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
AT THE VERY BEGINNING, I INDICATED THAT ITEM NUMBER 70 WAS BEING, UH, WITHDRAWN OR POSTPONED.
ITEM NUMBER 70, UH, STAFF HAS INFORMED ME THAT ITEM NUMBER 70 CAN STAY ON THE CONSENT AGENDA WITHOUT OBJECTION, I'LL PUT ITEM NUMBER 70 WILL BE PART OF THE MAIN MOTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
HEARING NONE, WE WILL DO THAT.
UM, SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, THAT WILL HAPPEN.
UH, ITEM I'M GOING TO CALL UP TWO ITEMS QUICKLY.
ITEM NUMBER 80, UH, REMEMBER THE, IT'S VERSION TWO THAT WE WILL, WHEN I ASKED FOR A MOTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, ITEM NUMBER 80, IT WILL BE THE VERSION TWO THAT I PUT, I POSTED ON THE MESS, POSTED IT ABOUT IT ON THE MESSAGE BOARD, AND IT'S IN OUR BACKUP.
UH, AND THAT'S THE ONE THAT CONTAINS THE MAYOR PRO TIM'S SPECIFIC, UH, AMENDMENT.
WITH THAT, LET ME RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS ON ITEM NUMBER 75.
SHE WANTS TO PROVIDE, UH, SOME DIRECTION.
AND SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS SO THAT WE CAN KEEP ITEM NUMBER 75 ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
HAVE HER LAY OUT THAT, UH, THAT MOTION AS A MOTION SO THAT WE WILL MAKE THAT A PART OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
AND THEN I ALSO HAVE COMMENTS ON TWO OTHER ITEMS. SHOULD I READ THEM AT THE SAME TIME, OR WAIT, WHY DON'T YOU, WHY DON'T WE GET THIS OUT THERE? AND SO WE HAVE, THEN I'LL GET THE MOTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AND THEN I'LL CALL ON EVERYBODY.
THE FOLLOWING DIRECTION SHOULD BE ADDED TO ITEM NUMBER 75, WHICH IS THE CONSTRUCTION PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM IN OUR LOCAL AGREEMENT.
AND IT READS, THE CITY MANAGER IS DIRECTED TO ENSURE THE CONSTRUCTION PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM, INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT NEGOTIATION RESULTS IN A COST SHARING FORMULA IN WHICH ALL PARTICIPATING ENTITIES ARE PROVIDING FUNDING AT THE APPROPRIATE LEVELS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE WHOLE.
NUMBER TWO IS THE CITY MANAGER IS DIRECTED TO ENSURE THE C-P-P-I-L-A SCOPE INCLUDES NOT ONLY OUTBOUND PUBLIC INFORMATION STRATEGIES, BUT ALSO CLEARLY OUTLINED ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES FOR RESPONDING TO INCOMING PUBLIC COMMUNICATION, INCLUDING HOW THE ENTITIES WILL COORDINATE TO ENSURE QUESTIONS AND FEEDBACK FROM THE PUBLIC ARE ADDRESSED BY THE APPROPRIATE PARTNER AGENCY IN A TIMELY MANNER.
AND THE LAST ONE, NUMBER THREE IS THE CITY MANAGER IS DIRECTED TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE VIA MEMO TO MAYOR AND COUNCIL ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE C-P-P-I-L-A PRIOR TO EXECUTION, ALLOWING SUFFICIENT TIME FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS TO REVIEW THE DRAFT TERMS IN THE AGREEMENT AND IF NEEDED, PROVIDE FEEDBACK TO THE MANAGER BEFORE THE AGREEMENT IS FINALIZED AND EXECUTED.
UH, THAT IS THE, WHEN I ACCEPT A MOTION TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA THAT IS READ INTO THE RECORD BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS WILL APPLY TO ITEM NUMBER 75.
BEFORE I GO TO A MOTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, INCLUDING VERSION TWO ON ITEM 80 AND WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS JUST LAID OUT ON 75, WE HAVE ONE PERSON THAT WAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 70.
AND SINCE WE'VE PUT IT BACK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT PERSON HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
IS CELINE RENDON AVAILABLE TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 70, CELINE RENDON, CELINE RENDON.
MEMBERS, I WILL NOW ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE REMOVES APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA AS READ IT IS SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ.
I'M NOW GOING TO GO TO, UH, SPEAKERS COUNCIL MEMBERS ON THOSE ITEMS. I HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER COUNT, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, THEN FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.
AND THAT I SEE IT'S LIGHTING UP.
SO
IT'S VERY, VERY, VERY PLEASED TO SEE THAT.
THANK YOU'ALL COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
I JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT TWO ITEMS BY MY NEIGHBOR TO THE LEFT HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, UH, ITEM SEVEN, IMPRESSION 78 AND 83.
UM, HE HAS THREE GREAT ITEMS, BUT THESE TWO IN PARTICULAR, THE FIRST ABOUT FAMILY JUSTICE CENTERS, WHICH REALLY ARE A PROVEN MODEL FOR RESOLVING CASES OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE, WHICH IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE TRYING TO, UH, DO MORE IN OUR COMMUNITY TO SOLVE.
UH, SO I, I WANT TO THANK THE COUNTY FOR LEADING ON THIS INITIATIVE, UH, AND FOR THE CITY NOW COMING TO WALK ALONGSIDE THEM AND SUPPORT THAT EFFORT HOWEVER WE CAN.
AND I ALSO, UH, ON A HIGHLIGHT ITEM 83, WHICH IS AN ADDITIONAL COLLABORATION WITH THE COUNTY TO CREATE A FORMAL PARTNERSHIP
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AROUND COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION.UM, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE A VICTIM OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY, YOU REALLY DO DESERVE TO HAVE THE HIGHEST STANDARD OF COMPASSIONATE CARE AND, AND RECEIVE SERVICES QUICKLY AND EFFICIENTLY.
AND SO THIS IS JUST ANOTHER AREA WHERE WE CAN WORK TOGETHER WITH ANOTHER ONE OF OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITIES TO BETTER SERVE THE PUBLIC.
UH, AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR TO ITEM 84.
COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM PUENTES IS, UH, AGE FRIENDLY COMMUNITY ITEM.
I THINK YOU AND I TALKED TO SENIORS IN THE COMMUNITY, HAVING SENIOR SPACES AND, AND OTHER WAYS THAT WE CAN RECOGNIZE AND, UH, DO MORE TO BE AN AGE FRIENDLY COMMUNITY, UH, I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
AND I SAID LAST BUT NOT LEAST, BUT I DO HAVE, UM, I WILL BE VOTING NO ON ITEM 16 AND 17.
UH, WE'VE HEARD A NUMBER OF THINGS ABOUT IT, BUT MORE, UH, ONE, ONE THING WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT IS THIS IS AN AREA THAT WAS DE ANNEXED FROM THE CITY.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT POLICY IS GOING FORWARD, BUT I DO THINK THAT WE NEED TO STOP REWARDING AREAS THAT DE ANN X FROM THE CITY.
UH, WE, WE SEE THESE COME TO US ALL THE TIME.
SOMEONE EITHER RELEASES THEMSELVES FROM THE ETJ OR D ANNEXES SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO PLAY BY OUR RULES, AND THEY COME AND ASK US FOR SOMETHING.
AND I AM GOING TO BE WORKING, UH, WITH OTHER OFFICES HERE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT, WHAT IS THAT RIGHT BALANCE? BECAUSE THERE HAS TO BE SOME NEGATIVE IMPACT, OR AT LEAST MOTIVATION FROM TRYING TO NOT PLAY BY OUR RULES, BUT THEN STILL GET THE BENEFIT OF BEING, UH, PART OF THE CITY.
SO I WOULD JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT, UH, WHY I'LL BE VOTING NO ON 16 AND 17.
FOR THE RECORD COUNCIL MEMBER, ALTER WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL BE SHOWN, UH, AS A CO-SPONSOR OF ITEM NUMBER 84.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.
I'LL JUST TRY TO KEEP MY COMMENTS, UH, PRETTY BRIEF.
UM, I ALSO WANNA BE, UH, MARKED VOTING NO ON ITEM 16 AND 17.
THE SERVICE EXTENSION REQUESTS, UH, REALLY BASED ON THE CONCERNS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AND THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT, UH, BASED ON THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS TO WATER QUALITY, AS WELL AS THE, UH, SO-CALLED JOLLYVILLE PLATEAU SALAMANDER, WHICH IS A LOCAL SPECIES IN DECLINE.
AND I LEARNED IT HAS, UH, FOUR TOES ON ITS FRONT FEET AND FIVE ON ITS BACK FEET.
VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO KNOW.
UM, UH, I WANTED TO ASK, UH, MAYOR, IF, UM, ON ITEM 46, IF A REPRESENTATIVE, UM, FROM THE HR DEPARTMENT COULD COME FORWARD FOR PLEASE, THIS WOULD BE THE TIME TO DO THAT.
UH, DIRECTOR, UH, SINS, DO YOU HAVE A BRIEF MOMENT? UM, ON ITEM 46, JUST, UH, Q AND A PLEASE.
IT SEEMS LIKE I MIGHT'VE CAUGHT HER BY SURPRISE.
WHILE SHE'S DOING THAT, DO YOU MIND IF WE GO TO ANOTHER SPEAKER? UH, WELL, NO, I HAVE A COUPLE OTHER THINGS AFTER THIS.
WELL, CAN YOU GO TO THOSE WHILE SHE'S COMING OUT HERE? HERE SHE IS.
UM, EARLIER WE HEARD, UH, A CONSTITUENT, RIGHT? UH, BASICALLY MENTIONED THAT PART-TIME WORKERS