* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:01] YOU ARE WATCHING A MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL WITH MAYOR KIRK WATSON, MAYOR PRO, TIM VANESSA FUENTES, COUNCIL MEMBERS NATASHA HARPER MADISON, JOSE VELAZQUEZ, CHE BAYLA, RYAN ALTER, CRYSTAL LANE, MIKE SIEGEL, PAIGE ELLIS, ZOE CADRE, MARK UCHIN, CITY ATTORNEY DEBORAH THOMAS, CITY CLERK ERICA BRADY, AND CITY MANAGER TC BROAD. WELL, GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. IT'S 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, [Call to Order] ACTUALLY JUST TURNED TO 10 0 1. UH, SO WE'LL BE PRECISE. 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. YEAH. 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 ITEM NUMBER 23 HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN.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 55 HAS BEEN POSTPONED. ITEM 66 HAS BEEN POSTPONED. ITEM 70 HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN.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 I NEED TO SAY 67 HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN, AND ITEM 71 HAS BEEN BEEN WITHDRAWN.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, SO PLEASE LET ME KNOW. 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. SO, UM, THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER LANE. 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. NINE. I'M ALREADY GONE. YOU ALREADY GONE, MAYOR. I'M ALREADY GONE. I'D LIKE TO AMEND THIS WHEN WE'RE DONE. . WELL, WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT. COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL? UH, THREE. THREE. COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN. EIGHT. EIGHT. UH, DID SOMEBODY DRAW FOR YOU? YOU DREW? TELL, TELL US WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON DREW. COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON IS ONE. OKAY. HOW ABOUT YOU? COUNCIL MEMBER CADRY? I AM THREE. I'M STAYING WHERE I AM. UH, NUMBER FIVE. YEAH, I'M STAYING NUMBER FIVE. ALRIGHT, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER LANE. TWO, TWO. COUNCIL MEMBER WALTER. SEVEN. WELL, YOU, YOU STAY IN THIS PLACE. YEAH. SIX SIX. 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. OH, THAT WORKS OUT WELL. THAT'D BE SOMETHING YOU CAN REMEMBER. GOOD DEAL. ALL RIGHT, SO LET ME JUST READ THESE OUT QUICKLY. SEAT ONE, UH, HAS DRAWN NINE. COUNCIL MEMBER. 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 CADRE IN FIVE. COUNCIL MEMBER LANE IN TWO. 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. . YEAH, THERE YOU GO. ALL RIGHT. 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. YES, I AM SORRY. THANK YOU. UM, GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. I APOLOGIZE. 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. HERE. 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. YOU DO. 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 [00:10:01] AUSTIN'S REPUTATION FOR DECADES. PEOPLE FLOCK HERE FOR OUR UNIQUE CULTURE, NOT TO SEE US MIMIC OTHER CITIES. AUSTIN MUST STAY. 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. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. JULIAN REYES, ITEM ONE. NO ONE'S MOVING. 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. OKAY. I HAVE JENNIFER AU AGAIN ON ITEM TWO AS WELL. JENNIFER, DID YOU WANNA SPEAK TO ITEM TWO, MS. ROBA? I DID. UM, YES. ONE SECOND PLEASE. 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. THIS IS MISGUIDED. 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. 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. WE NEED TO BE AUSTIN [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. THANK YOU, SIR. PROMISE. THANK YOU. NOBODY, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. 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. HELLO, JEN. 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. ALEXANDER STRINGER, [00:20:03] NUMBER EIGHT, JENNIFER AU. HELLO AGAIN. 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. AND WE KNOW THAT'S NOT TRUE. 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. CRAIG NASER. JULIAN REYES. LILLIAN, OH, SORRY. JULIAN REYES. 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. IT'S JUST NOT POSSIBLE. 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. SO THAT'S MY OPINION. THANK YOU FOR ITEM 16. 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. MR. LEVINSKY, YOU MAY BEGIN. I THINK I DO ACTUALLY. I HAVE SOME DONATED TIME OVER THERE THOUGH, FROM SOMEBODY I KING I HAVE FOR 22. OKAY, THAT'S FINE. 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. THANK YOU. CRAIG NASER, ROY WHALEY, AZALEA RODRIGUEZ VF. THAT'S FOR ITEM 16. YOUR NAME. 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. IT'S BULLYING. 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. JUST SAY NO. IF YOU WANT A DN X, THEN YOU DON'T GET THE CITY SERVICES. THAT'S MY OPINION. AND THAT'S 16 AND 17. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 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. [00:30:01] 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. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD MORNING COUNSEL. 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. RICHARD SUTTLE. 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. THANK YOU. SIX MINUTES FOR BOBBY AFTER MR. SETTLE. GO AHEAD AND I WON'T TAKE NEAR THAT MUCH TIME. MAYOR MEMBERS COUNCIL. 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. THANKS. 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 [00:35:01] 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. THANK YOU. 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. THIS IS BULLYING. THIS IS JUST BULLYING. 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. HOLD THE GROUND PLEASE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 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. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SORRY, I STEPPED OUT. SO I ASSUME I'M UP NEXT. 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, [00:40:01] UH, ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY, BUT IT'S A SAFEGUARD OF OUR COMMUNITY'S FUTURE. THANK YOU. ITEM 22, JOHN MURRAY REMOTE. UH, WELL THANK YOU, UH, UH, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, SPEAK BRIEFLY. UM, SOME TIME. 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. OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 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. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. 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 IT'S GETS FIRST DIBS. 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. [00:50:01] 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. THAT'S IT. 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. THIS IS THE TIME TO DO IT. 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. THANK YOU MR. MUNCH. 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. AND I, I'VE GONE BACK AND LOOKED AT IT AND I REMEMBER MAYOR WATSON, WHEN YOU WERE THE PREVIOUS MAYOR WATSON, YOU SAID, THIS SHOULD BE LEFT UP TO THE VOTERS. AND WE DID PASS THAT. WELL, I I AWAIT YOUR COMMENTS ON THAT, UH, WHICH I SEE FROM THIS LOOK. LITTLE SMILE OF YOURS. THEY ARE COMING. YOUR MEMORY MAY HAVE FADED . ANYWAY, IT SHOULD BE PUT TO THE VOTERS. AGAIN, THIS IS A DIFFERENT CITY. IT'S A DIFFERENT EXPENSE. LIKE I'VE SAID BEFORE. 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'RE AVAILABLE. THEY ARE SELF-CONTAINED, THEY ARE LOCKED. YOU LOOK IN, YOU'RE SAFE. THANK YOU MR. WHALEY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ITEM 28, BEATRICE ANDERSON, ITEM 30, JULIAN REYES, ITEM 31, JULIAN REYES. IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD. OH, [00:55:01] I'M SO SORRY. YOU'RE RIGHT. NICHOLAS THATCHER, ITEM 22. GOOD MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS. 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. THANK YOU KATIE. CAM, ITEM 22. 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. THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO ITEM 32, BILL BUNCH, JULIAN REYES, MR. BUNCH. GOOD MORNING. 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 [01:00:01] 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. ITEM 45, BILL BUNCH. AND HE HAS TIME DONATED BY BEATRICE ANDERSON. BEATRICE, ARE YOU HERE? OKAY, FOUR MINUTES, MR. BUNCH, MR. BUNCH. SURE. 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. UH, AND THIS IS ROUTINE. 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. THANK YOU. 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. MY NAME IS SCOTT COBB. 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 [01:05:01] 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. CURRENTLY. 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. THANK YOU SIR . THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. ON THE POSTPONEMENT FOR 55. BILL BUNCH. CHRIS FLORES. 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. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. UH, BILL BON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WITH SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE, UH, SPEAK TO YOU AGAIN IN FAVOR OF THE POSTPONEMENT. THANK YOU. 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. UH, THERE WAS NONE OF THAT. THIS CAME OUT OF NOWHERE. 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. THIS IS ON THE TRAIL. 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. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. BUNCH. LOCAL PARK FOR THE COMMUNITY. 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. ITEM 60 TWOS. ZIA JOSEPH? YES, MA'AM. JULIAN REYES. 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. THANK YOU. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. 62 ALEXANDER STRINGER FOR THE MERITS, THE POSTPONEMENT FOR ITEM 66. I HAVE A REMOTE SPEAKER, EDWIN BATISTA. HELLO. CAN, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES. THANK YOU. MY NAME'S ADAM . 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 [01:15:01] 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. THAT'S NOT OPEN GOVERNANCE. IT'S BACKROOM INFLUENCE. 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. HELLO, COUNSEL. MY NAME IS RYAN CROWLEY. 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. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU MR. CROWLEY. ITEM 68, JULIAN REYES. OH, IF YOU'RE, IF YOU'RE SPEAKING FOR 66 OF YOUR GRANT, COME ON DOWN. STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD PLEASE. THANK Y'ALL. I'M GRANT GILKER. 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. THANK YOU. 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. OKAY, THANK YOU MAYOR. 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. [01:20:01] 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. NEXT SLIDE. 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. NEXT SLIDE. ONCE AGAIN, YOU CONTINUE TO FUND THE PRIORITIES. THIS IS HIGHLAND. YOU'VE SEEN THIS SLIDE BEFORE. 80% AREA MEDIAN INCOME. YOU HAVE TO HAVE $70,000 AT MINIMUM TO LIVE IN THIS AREA. THIS TERRACOTTA EQUATES TO RED SIDEWALKS EQUAL RED LINING. NEXT SLIDE. 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. IT'S SUPER SEGREGATED NOW. AND I JUST WANNA REMIND YOU, DECEMBER 17TH, 2018, WHEN YOU TESTIFIED BEFORE CAPITAL METRO AND PROJECT CONNECT IS DISCRIMIN. THANK YOU MS. JOSEPH. YOU ARE WELCOME. MS. JOSEPH, YOU ALSO SIGNED UP ON 75. DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK TO THAT ITEM? SURE. UH, 75 IS A COLLUSION ITEM. 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. I GET. 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. THANK YOU MS. JOSEPH. YES, QUESTION. THANK YOU. ITEM 77, CARLOS LEON. 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. THANK YOU, MR. LEON. UNACCEPTABLE. THANK YOU SIR. PERFORMANCE AND POLICY VIOLATION. THANK YOU. 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. YEP. KRISTEN CONNOLLY. HI, GOOD MORNING. 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. THANK YOU. [01:30:03] IS THAT ALL? THANK YOU. YES. OH, OKAY. 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. MY NAME IS JUDY BRADFORD. 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. 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. 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. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. 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. ALFREDO REYES JR. 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. THE FDA CONSIDERS PLANS AND [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. THANK YOU. IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD. I AM MAYOR CITY CO MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ALFREDO RES. 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. I'M SORRY. 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. THIS IS ITEM NUMBER 80. CORRECT. 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. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. 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. HELLO. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. UH, MY NAME IS ELLAR CORTEZ. 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. UM, NO SIR. 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. UM, RIGHT. 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. MS. MACARTHUR, GOOD MORNING. 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. THANK YOU. 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. 60% IS 80050% IS $66,000. 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. THANK YOU, MS. MACARTHUR. UH, GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS JONATHAN SCOTT. 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. UM, APPRECIATE THAT. 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. NO, ELIAS ERIC PAULIS. IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD. MR. CURRY, YOU HAVE THE MICROPHONE. THANK YOU. UH, MY NAME'S MICHAEL CURRY. 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. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. CURRY. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. UH, CITY COUNCIL. I'M NO ELIAS. I'M FROM MONTOPOLIS. 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 NOT REFORMED. 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. THANK YOU. 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. SO THANK YOU. 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 KIMBERLY LEVINSON. 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. THANK YOU. PLEASE COME FORWARD. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNSEL. MY NAME IS TIMOTHY WOODS. 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. LOUIS, MISSOURI. '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. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MICHELLE MANNING, SCOTT, JENNY GRAYSON, ALEXANDRIA ANDERSON, JACK BRIGHT. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR WATSON AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS JACK BRIGHT. 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. IT GUTS IT PLAIN AND SIMPLE. 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. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 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. THAT'S 4% OF THE GOAL. MEANWHILE, THE PERCENT OF SIX YEAR PRODUCTION OUT OF 15,000 UNITS MET FOR THOSE BUILT AT AN 81 TO ONE 20%. MFI. 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. THIS, TO ME IS DISHONORABLE. 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. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I HAVE A PRESENTATION. ALL RIGHT. UH, GOOD, GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, MAYOR COUNCIL, I'M NO ALIAS. I'M WITH PODER HOUSING [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, UM, NEXT SLIDE. 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. NEXT SLIDE. 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. THANK YOU. MARIAN SANCHEZ. MARIAN SANCHEZ, FOLLOWED BY SUSANNA ALMANZA. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS MARIA SANCHEZ OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ORGANIZATION. PODER. 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. TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. 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. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ADRIAN MACIAS. 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. FOR EXAMPLE, IN [02:15:01] OFFICIAL YEAR 2016 AND 2017, THE CITY APPROVED OVER 90% OF THE 1700 APPLICATIONS ON THE SAME DAY. THANK YOU. 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. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. 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. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. 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. THANK YOU. 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. I DIDN'T EITHER. MR. HERNANDEZ, PLEASE GO. 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. I HAVE A POWERPOINT. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR COUNCIL. MY NAME IS VALERIE MENARD. 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. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. 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. THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE YOUR BEING HERE. CHEF, MAYOR VELAZQUEZ, UH, YOU KNOW, HANG ON ONE SECOND. HANG ON. SOMEBODY. 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. . YES. MEMBER QUEZ. 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 DID GREAT. 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. YOU, YOU DID GREAT. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH COMING UP. THANKS FOR BEING HERE. I'M SORRY, I STILL HAVE, MAY I ALSO ADDRESS HER? SURE. THANK YOU . I APPRECIATE THAT. MM-HMM . 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. THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER. 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. CHEF LOKA READY TO SLEEP IN. 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. SO SHAKE OFF THE LAPS. COME ON AND SHOW ME A SMILE. YOU TEAR. FIRE ME. PUT YOU DO WE WHISPER OUT. WE WE. YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. MAN, COME AND VISIT ME AGAIN. 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. WHAT'S IN LAST? WOW. SO HERE WE'RE ALL OVER CAN STUCK IN MY HOME ALONE WITH ALL MY FRIENDS. CHA STUDY, BUT RUSH. LET'S THROW A PARTY AND KICK UP ANGEL DUST, SHADOW SKI. WELL I SHALL RECEIVE. GREAT. IF YOU PROMISE TO TELL BORN FROM THE BE THE SELF MEDICATE, I'M HUNG TO THE GA. 'CAUSE YOU SHOW ME WAY. WE, WE I DON'T WANNA FATHER COME AND VISIT ME AGAIN. COPS. 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. PLAY WITH ME. OH, WE [02:30:01] ARE SHADOWS. IN MY ONE LAST TIME, COME VISIT ME AGAIN. ARE CREEPING IN ANY SHADOW PEOPLE NEED. A FRIEND AIN'T KNOW WHO I AM. 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. PEOPLE NEED A FRIEND. 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. THEY KNOW. WOW. THANK Y'ALL SO VERY MUCH. YOU'VE BEEN CAPITAL VICE. THANK Y'ALL FOR HAVING US. DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS. WOO. I AM EXHAUSTED JUST WATCHING. WE NEED, WE NEED A HYPE MAN LIKE THAT. WELL, THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH. THAT WAS INCREDIBLE. I WANNA TAKE A QUICK MINUTE TO READ A PROCLAMATION HERE. I'M GONNA HAND THIS TO YOU. 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. RED RIVER. JULY 20. JULY 24TH AT RED RIVER, BA HOLLOW. WE'LL BE THERE FOR HOT SUMMER NIGHTS. ALRIGHT, COME THROUGH. WELL, THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH. THAT WAS INCREDIBLE. THANK YOU. LET'S GRAB A QUICK PHOTO OF YOU. THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WAS TERRIFIED. YOUR GLASSES WERE. 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. WELL, WE DID HAVE A QUORUM. THEY'RE RIGHT HERE. WHERE ARE THEY? AH, OKAY. . 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. THANK YOU, MAYOR. 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. I DON'T SEE ANYBODY MOVING. ME NEITHER. MAYOR, UH, BRAD MASSING. 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. HELLO, CRAIG NASER. 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. BUT WE DON'T HAVE THAT. 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. THAT'S HOW POOR I WAS. AND I SAW, I SAW NEW YORK CITY GET UNAFFORDABLE AND ALL THESE NICE BIG, BEAUTIFUL BUILDINGS DOWNTOWN. THEY LOOK GREAT. I LOVE THEM. THEY'RE WONDERFUL. BUT I DON'T HANG OUT DOWN HERE. I DON'T HANG OUT AROUND THOSE BUILDINGS BECAUSE I REALLY CAN'T AFFORD IT. OKAY? BUT I DO OKAY. 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. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. COUNSEL, THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TODAY. MY NAME IS BRIAN BEDROSIAN. 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. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. HELLO, MAYOR. 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. THIS IS WHAT WORKS. 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. THANK YOU. 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. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. 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. I ONLY HAVE TWO. OKAY, I'LL SPEED IT UP THEN. , UM, MA'AM, DO THERE IS SOMEONE THAT DONATED TIME TO YOU IS, LET ME JUST CHECK AND MAKE SURE SHE'S HERE. YEAH. JAMILA FOSTER, ARE YOU HERE? OKAY, JUST TWO MINUTES. JUST TWO MINUTES. OKAY. 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. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS ANTONIO ROMERO. 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. WE REALLY DO. PLEASE TAKE A BIG CONSIDERATION ON THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. 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. CASIA PRINCE ANNA ROMERO. JOSE MORENO. 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. THANK YOU. UH, CHRIS PAGE. 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. FIX THIS ORDINANCE. THANK YOU. [02:50:02] EXCUSE ME. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M MONICA GUZMAN, POLICY DIRECTOR AT GAVA. GO AUSTIN. VAMOS AUSTIN. 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. THANK YOU. IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD. I HAVE A REMOTE SPEAKER. CARMEN EZ. HANG ON, MR. I THINK SHE'S GOT SOME NUMBERS. BEEN MAYOR. 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. OKAY. 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. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MR. MASSING, MR. MASS MCGILL, AND I DO BELIEVE YOU HAVE TIME DONATED BY FRAN TATTOO. ARE YOU HERE? I'M HERE. PERFECT. FOUR MINUTES FOR MR. MAGO. 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 NOTHING. IT'S IT'S APARTMENTS. 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. IT'S NOT RIGHT. 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. THANK YOU. JESUS. 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. OKAY. ALRIGHT. 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. MS. GUTIERREZ, YOU CAN TAKE THE MICROPHONE PLEASE. AND SHE HAS FOUR MINUTES. THANK YOU. 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. TO US, THIS IS VERY SIMPLE. 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. THE HARDSHIP IS INCREDIBLE. THE, THE MY COMMUNITY. 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. I HAVE SOME SAVINGS. I HAVE WORKED 40 YEARS PLUS. 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. I HAD NO HEALTH INSURANCE. THE LAST TWO SURGERIES THAT I HAD, I PAID FOR IT. THANK YOU, MS. THANK YOU. HELLO, CELINE REON. I LIVE IN DISTRICT EIGHT. 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. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. LUCY MCCOY. LUCY HAS TIME DONATED BY HALIMA FOSTER, ARE YOU HERE? HALIMA? OKAY, FOUR MINUTES. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WATSON AND COUNCIL. MY NAME IS UI MCCOY. 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. ACACIA CLIFFS. 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. THANK YOU. 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. THANK YOU. 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. EMMA WALSH. RAY FINA. YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED. PLEASE COME FORWARD. MAYOR, ALL THE SPEAKERS FOR ITEM 80 HAVE BEEN CALLED. OKAY. PLEASE GO FORWARD. ON, ON THE OTHER SPEAKERS, ITEM 83, CHRISTINA DELGADO, [03:10:01] ANITA HOLMAN, MARK SINGY, AND VA KENTE CONEY. IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED ON ITEM NUMBER 83, PLEASE COME FORWARD. ALRIGHT. HELLO. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WATSON, COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS MARK OZINGA. 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. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. 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. UM, CITIES UNITED. 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. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR ITEM 84. I HAVE JACQUELINE ANGEL ON THE LINE. THREE I I'M SORRY. YES. GOOD AFTERNOON. CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JACQUELINE FEL. 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 [03:15:01] 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. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M STRANGE. THANK YOU. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. DID YOU, WERE YOUR, WAS YOUR NAME CALLED? OKAY, PLEASE COME. CHRISTINA DELGADO. IS THAT CORRECT? YES. ITEM 83. GOOD DEAL. THANK YOU. YES, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. 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. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 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. MY NAME IS RICHARD BONDY. MY PRONOUNS ARE HE, HIM. 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, [03:20:02] 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. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANKS FOR WHAT YOU DO. 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. FIRST OF ALL, TRANSPORTATION. 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. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU COUNCIL. 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. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ITEM 85, JULIAN REYES, MAYOR, I'LL CONSENT SPEAKERS HAVE BEEN CALLED. THANK YOU. UM, MEMBERS. THAT CONCLUDES THE COMMENT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. UH, THE CHAIR WILL CALL TO EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION. A COUPLE THINGS. FIRST, UH, FIRST LET ME ASK, IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO WITHDRAW AN ITEM FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IT WAS PREVIOUSLY [03:25:01] LAID OUT? ALRIGHT, REMEMBER, ITEM NUMBER 23 IS WITHDRAWN. 55 AND 66 ARE POSTPONED. 67 AND 71 ARE BOTH WITHDRAWN. THOSE ITEMS WILL NOT BE PART OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. MEMBERS. 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. SO THAT'S VERSION NUMBER TWO. 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. THANK YOU, MAYOR. 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. OKAY. PERFECT. 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. THANK YOU MEMBERS. 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. OKAY. 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 LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE. YES. IT'S VERY, VERY, VERY PLEASED TO SEE THAT. THANK YOU'ALL COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 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 [03:30:01] 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. THEN COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. 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. SO, UH, FUN FACT. 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. THANK YOU, MA'AM. IT SEEMS LIKE I MIGHT'VE CAUGHT HER BY SURPRISE. SEEMS YOU HAVE. 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. OKAY. WELL, CAN YOU GO TO THOSE WHILE SHE'S COMING OUT HERE? HERE SHE IS. SHE'S ON HER WAY. UM, THANK YOU, DIRECTOR. UM, APPRECIATE YOU COMING UP. UM, EARLIER WE HEARD, UH, A CONSTITUENT, RIGHT? UH, BASICALLY MENTIONED THAT PART-TIME WORKERS ARE EXPERIENCING A REDUCTION IN DENTAL BENEFITS. AND MY QUESTION IS, IS, UH, THIS AGENDA ITEM RELATED TO THAT BENEFIT CHANGE? THIS IS TO, UM, RENEW COVERAGE AND GET AN ADDITIONAL YEAR OF COVERAGE WITH THE PROVIDER. UM, SO I WILL LOOK INTO THAT AND ENSURE THAT WE REPORT BACK TO ALLOW YOU TO KNOW WHAT TYPE OF BENEFITS AND, AND COVERAGE THAT EACH OF THE GROUPS ARE GETTING. OKAY. WONDERFUL. AND THEN I, WHILE YOU'RE HERE, I WANNA COMPLIMENT YOU ON ITEM 53, IF I MAY. UM, THIS IS THE HEALTHCARE NETWORK FOR CITY EMPLOYEES. AND JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU AND THE DEPARTMENT, UH, FOR MAKING SURE WORKERS IN THE UNIONS THAT THEY REPRESENT HAVE BEEN HEARD ON THIS. I'VE BEEN REALLY HAPPY TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC SAFETY UNIONS AS WELL AS AFSCME THE CITY WORKERS UNION, THAT YOU'VE EXPRESSED A COMMITMENT TO ENGAGE WITH THEM AND COLLABORATE WITH THEM AS THE NETWORK IS BUILT. SO, WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND THAT'S IT FOR YOU, UH, DIRECTOR. UM, AND THEN FINALLY, UM, JUST A FEW, UH, FEE WAIVER ITEMS. UH, 81, 86 AND 87. ALL MY FEE WAIVERS ARE COMING AT ONCE HERE. UH, SO I WANT TO THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UCHIN LANE AND VELASQUEZ FOR CHIPPING IN FOR THE VIOLET CROWN FESTIVAL, A GREAT LOCAL EVENT, UH, IN BRENTWOOD. UH, SO FAR WE'VE RAISED, UH, $800 IN WAIVERS OUT OF 1750. UH, I WANTED TO THANK MAYOR PRO TE FUENTES ST. COUNCIL MEMBERS ALTER ELLIS FOR CHIPPING IN FOR EARTH DAY A TX 2025, UH, A FESTIVAL AT HOUSTON TILLSON. UH, SO FAR WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO WAIVE $950 OUT OF 2254. AND FINALLY, THANKS TO COUNCIL MEMBERS, UCHIN, LANE, CADRE AND VELA FOR CHIPPING IN FOR AUSTIN FASHION WEEK. WE'VE WAIVED $900, $900 IN, IN FEES, AND WE HAVE 29 26 OUTSTANDING. SO IF ANY OF YOU DOES HAVE A FEW DOLLARS, UH, LEFT OVER IN YOUR FEE WAIVER FUNDS FOR ANY OF THESE THREE GRADE EVENTS, UH, THAT WOULD BE MOST APPRECIATED. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS FOLLOWED BY CADRE AND VELAZQUEZ. THANK YOU. I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM NUMBER 15. GO PURPLE IS AN [03:35:01] IMPORTANT PROGRAM TO REUSE WATER FOR NON-DRINKING PURPOSES, LIKE IRRIGATION AND TOILET FLUSHING. PURPLE PIPE HELPS AUSTIN ACHIEVE OUR CRITICAL GOAL OF USING LESS WATER IN THIS TIME THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING DROUGHTS, THE GO PURPLE REGULATIONS REQUIRE NEW, LARGE, COMMERCIAL MIXED USE AND MULTIFAMILY CONSTRUCTION TO BUILD THAT ONSITE WATER REUSE, SIMILAR INTO THE SYSTEM OR TO TAP INTO IT. AND EVERY NEW PARTICIPATING DEVELOPMENT HELPS EXPAND THE VOLUME OF WATER REUSE AND HELP ENCOURAGE THE ADJOINING PROPERTIES, UH, THAT THEIR NEIGHBORS MAY EVENTUALLY BUILD TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE SYSTEMS AS WELL. YEARS AGO DURING OUR CONVERSATIONS AROUND THE ADOPTION OF WATER FORWARD, WE HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE IMPACTS TO AFFORDABILITY. AND ULTIMATELY, WE EXEMPTED AFFORDABLE HOUSING FROM THE PURPLE PIPE REQUIREMENTS. THIS ITEM BEFORE US TODAY TRIPLING THE INCENTIVES FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PURPLE PIPE PROGRAM IS THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO ENSURING HOUSING CAN BE MORE AFFORDABLE, BOTH IN TERMS OF THE UPFRONT COST AND, UM, SAVING DOLLARS FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PAYING THE BILLS FOR THEIR WATER USE LATER ON DOWN THE LINE. AND THEN ITEM NUMBER 85. I'M HAPPY THAT THIS ITEM IS BEING PASSED TODAY. UM, IT IS BEGINNING A PROCESS TO RENAME PLANTATION ROAD, WHICH ACTUALLY AFFECTS DISTRICT EIGHT AND DISTRICT FIVE TO, TO OUR IMMEDIATE EAST IN SOUTHWEST AUSTIN. WE HAD PREVIOUSLY PICKED UP THIS CONVERSATION WHEN COUNCIL MEMBER ANN KITCHEN WAS ON THE DAIS, AND MANY MAY NOT BE AWARE THAT PLANTATION ROAD IS LOCATED IN AN AREA KNOWN AS KITCHEN KITCHEN VILLE, A FREED MEN'S COMMUNITY ESTABLISHED BY FORMER ENSLAVED PEOPLE FOLLOWING THE CIVIL WAR IN RESPONSE TO PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION. PLANTATION ROAD IS LISTED BY STAFF AS A LEADING CANDIDATE FOR STREET RENAMING. SO I APPRECIATE MY CO-SPONSORS, COUNCIL MEMBER, ALTER COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, AND MAYOR PROTE FUENTES, AND THE AUSTIN HISTORY CENTER FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE IN RESEARCHING THE HISTORY OF VILLE. THERE ARE ACTUALLY OTHER STREET NAMES IN THIS SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD THAT ALREADY REFLECT THE NAMES OF CHURCH LEADERS. SO OVER THE SUMMER, I LOOK FORWARD TO PARTNERING WITH THE OFFICE OF COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER CITY STAFF IN WORKING WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO CHOOSE A NEW NAME THAT APPROPRIATELY HONORS THE UNIQUE HERITAGE OF THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. RIGHT, RIGHT. THANK YOU. UM, COUNCILMAN MORALES, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE. COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, THEN MAYOR PRO 10. GREAT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, BEFORE I GET INTO MY COMMENTS, I JUST WANNA THANK, UH, AUSTIN ENERGY FOR ALL THEIR HARD WORK DURING THE, UH, THE CRAZY STORM THAT WE HAD LAST WEEK. UH, I KNOW MYSELF AND MANY FOLKS ON THE D WERE, UH, ON CALLS WITH AMY AND, AND STEWART AND OTHERS, UH, FOR PROBABLY MORE HOURS THEY WOULD CARE TO TALK TO US. UH, BUT, BUT, BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE THEIR SERVICE AND ALL THE FOLKS THAT WERE ON THE GROUND. THEY ALWAYS SEEMED HAPPY WHEN WE WERE TALKING TO 'EM. YEAH. UH, BUT, BUT ALSO ALL THE FOLKS WHO WERE ON THE GROUND, THE CREWS THAT WERE WORKING TIRELESSLY TO MAKE SURE FOLKS HAD HAD THEIR POWER BACK. SO I WANTED TO THANK THEM FOR THAT. UH, I ALSO WANT TO ONCE AGAIN SAID IT DURING WORK SESSION, BUT ALSO WANTED SAY, DURING THIS COUNCIL MEETING, JUST WANTED TO WISH EVERYONE A A HAPPY PRIDE MONTH. UH, AND ALSO FOR THOSE CELEBRATING, UH, I WISH EVERYONE A HAPPY EID MA BARRICK. UH, IT'S A, IT'S A RELIGIOUS HOLIDAY, UH, TOMORROW. UH, AND THEN BEFORE I GET TO MY COMMENTS, TWO MORE THINGS. UM, I, I DON'T KNOW IF HE HAS ANY, UM, MONEY LEFT FOR THE, FOR THE FASHION WEEK, BUT I, I, I NOMINATE JOSE TO WALK FASHION WEEK NEXT WEEK, UH, NE NEXT YEAR, I'M SORRY. UH, BUT ALSO I, I APPLAUD HIM FOR, UH, ITEM 83 AND I, I'D LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A, AS A CO-SPONSOR FOR ITEM 83. WELL, WITHOUT OBJECTION, COUNCIL MEMBER CODRE BE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR OF ITEM NUMBER 83. DON'T LET HIM BAIT YOU, MAN. WELL, ALSO, MAYOR, JUST TO, TO TOUCH ON THAT, I AM ACTUALLY A PROFESSIONAL MODEL BECAUSE OF LATINAS. NOW I'VE ACTUALLY WALKED THE RUNWAY, SO I, MAYBE I'LL TAKE YOU UP ON THAT. YEAH, YEAH. UM, I'M SORRY. I RECOGNIZE YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER RECOVERY. . YEAH, . AND THEN, UM, I, I'D ALSO LIKE TO BE SHOWN AS VOTING NOW ON ITEM 16 AND 17 AS WELL. UH, AND THEN, AND THEN, UH, JUST QUICK BRIEF REMARKS ON, ON ITEM 80. UH, YOU KNOW, OUR OFFICE HAS WORKED WITH CITY STAFF, WITH BASTA, WITH RICA, WITH HOUSING WORKS AND OTHERS TO CREATE THE FOUR 18 LANGUAGE ON REPLACEMENT UNITS FOR EXISTING MULTIFAMILY. UH, AND IT WAS A VERY COLLABORATIVE EFFORT. UH, THE GOAL WAS TRY TO MITIGATE ANY NET LOSS OF, OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. SO, MOVING FORWARD, UH, YOU KNOW, MY HOPE, I THINK OUR HOPE AS, AS A DIOCESE TO CONTINUE THE DIALOGUE WITH ALL THESE STAKEHOLDERS AND, AND BETTER REFINE AND BUILD ON THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE SO FAR. UH, I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE INPUT AND, AND THE COMMENTS THAT WE'VE HEARD FROM FOLKS AROUND, AROUND ITEM 80. I'M, I'M THANKFUL FOR THE MAYOR'S LEADERSHIP ON THE ITEM. I'M SO APPRECIATIVE OF MAYOR PRO TEMS, UH, AMENDMENT THAT IS NOW PART OF, OF V TWO. UH, AND, YOU KNOW, BUT, BUT SAYING ALL THAT AND, AND, AND, AND HEARING FROM FOLKS, WE ALWAYS KNOW THAT THERE'S ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT. UH, DENSITY BONUSES ARE A CENTRAL CONCEPT IN OUR LAND USE PROCESS HERE IN AUSTIN, DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE, UH, DEVELOPMENTS TO MEET OUR CITY'S VALUES AND GOALS. UH, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN AN INTER PROCESS BASED ON FEEDBACK PRIORITIES AND THE EVER-CHANGING LEGAL LANDSCAPE. SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT PHASE, NOT ONLY TO REFINE, UH, DB 90, BUT ALSO TO [03:40:01] CONTINUE OUR CITY'S, UH, GOALS, UH, ON MANY MORE TRANSIT CORRIDORS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, FOLLOWED BY MAYOR PRO TIM, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER DUCHEN. UH, MAYOR, I WANNA FOLLOW SUIT OF, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER GOD, AND MAKE COMMENTS BEFORE MY COMMENTS. AND SO THESE ARE MY PRE COMMENTS. UH, I'M A, I'M A HORRIBLE, UH, EXAMPLE BECAUSE, UM, SOMEWHERE I LOST CONTROL. YEAH, I KNOW. I'M NOT SURE SURE HOW, OR IT'S A LITTLE TOO LATE IN THE DAY ALREADY. COUNCIL MEMBER LOST ON ITEMS ONE THROUGH 10, UH, ART IN PUBLIC PLACES. I WANT TO THANK, UH, A CME FOR TAKING COUNCIL MEMBER ARI'S RESOLUTION FROM EARLIER THIS YEAR REGARDING ART IN PUBLIC PLACES, INTO CONSIDERATION ON, UH, OF THE CONTRACTS FOR 4 2 10, 4 THROUGH 10. IT IS GREAT TO SEE THAT SO MANY OF OUR LOCAL ARTISTS HAVE A ROUTE TO ENTER THESE, UH, COMPETITION AMONGST PEERS, AND IN THIS CASE, DISPLAY THEIR ART AT AN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE ARTISTS. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOUR ARTWORK UP AT THE AIRPORT. UM, AND I HAVE QUITE A FEW THINGS. SO Y'ALL LOCK IN, UM, UH, ON ITEM NUMBER 25. UH, FIRST I, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE ALL THE ARTISTS, STUDENTS AND RESIDENTS IN THE GO VALLEY DISTRICT WHO HAVE MADE THIS AREA SO ICONIC AND SPECIAL. I'M PROUD TO BE, UH, ON THE DAIS AS THIS COME BECOMES AN OFFICIAL CULTURAL DISTRICT. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE BUSINESS OWNERS, ARTISTS, TEACHERS, UH, WHO HAVE PUT IN WORK INTO THE APPLICATION TO MAKE THIS OFFICIAL, INCLUDING ZACH TRAEGER AT THE MUSEUM OF HUMAN ACHIEVEMENT. UM, ITEM NUMBER 70, UH, IT IS TACO TRUCK THURSDAY AT CITY HALL. UM, WHILE ITEM 70 MAY LOOK LIKE A INNOCUOUS ITEM ON PERMIT FEES FOR FOOD VENDORS, IT REPRESENTS THE CULMINATION OF ALMOST TWO YEARS OF WORK FROM OUR OFFICE, TRYING TO MAKE LIFE EASIER FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AND OPERATORS OF AUSTIN'S FOOD, TRUCK FOOD TRUCKS. UM, AND THIS WILL HELP LAUNCH OUR MFU ITEM. IT REPRESENTS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND HOURS OF TIME SAVED FOR FOLKS WHO MAKE THE AUSTIN FOOD SCENE UNIQUE AND HELP OUR LOCAL ECONOMY THRIVE. UM, ONE CONVERSATION THAT THE MAR MARINE I HAD BEFORE WE WERE ELECTED TO THIS DIOCESE, OR BEFORE I WAS ELECTED, ONE TIME THE MAYOR WAS ELECTED, THE SECOND TIME TO THIS DIOCESE, WAS, UH, TO THAT WE NEEDED TO TALK ABOUT NOT JUST AFFORDABILITY, BUT HOW WE PUT MORE MONEY BACK IN PEOPLE'S POCKETS. AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE WAYS. UM, I'M, I'M INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL TO THE AMAZING GROUP OF SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, MOSTLY PEOPLE OF COLOR WHO VOLUNTEERED THEIR TIME, THEIR EXPERIENCE, AND THEIR WISDOM TO HELP GET, HELP US GET THIS RIGHT. AND TO OUR CITY MANAGER AND A CM HAYDEN HOWARD FOR THEIR COLLABORATION AND LEADERSHIP AND PUTTING UP WITH ME AND MY OFFICE FOR MANY, MANY, MANY HOURS. UM, AND THANK YOU TO THE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT HELP, UH, HELPED WITH OUR WORKING GROUP, ADA SIDE-EYE, PI KG BARBECUE, DES NOODLE, SPICY BOYS CHICKEN AND TACOS, RAMSEYS, UM, ON ITEM NUMBER 80, OUR DENSITY BONUSES. I'M THANKFUL TO, UH, TO THE MAYOR AND THE OTHER CO-SPONSORS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COLLABORATE AND EXPLORE MEANINGFUL WAYS THAT WE, THAT WILL ALLOW US TO INCREASE DENSITY, BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY, AND IMPROVE AFFORDABILITY. AND I KNOW THAT THIS IS, UH, THIS IS AN INITIATING RESOLUTION AND THAT WE WILL COME BACK AND RETOOL THIS MORE. AND, AND I THINK THAT CAN BE EMPHASIZED ENOUGH. THIS IS TO GET THE PROCESS STARTED FOR US. UM, AS AND, AND AS WE'RE WORKING ON EVALUATING AND AMENDING OUR POLICY AROUND DENSITY BONUSES, I WANT TO IMPRESS UPON STAFF THE IMPORTANCE OF UNDERTAKING A ROBUST COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS. AS WE'VE HEARD FROM A LOT OF OUR SPEAKERS HERE TODAY, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNITY'S PRIORITIES AND GAIN INSIGHT INTO HOW WE CAN POTENTIALLY FUND THESE THINGS, FUNDS OF THINGS THAT ARE NEEDED, AND, UH, IF WE WANT THIS TO WORK FOR ALL PARTS OF AUSTIN. UM, AND NOW TO THE THREE THINGS THAT I BROUGHT. SO THAT WAS MY PRE-TALK. THIS IS MY, THIS IS MY TALK. UM, I KNOW OUR CITY MANAGER IS A LITTLE BIT ANTI IFC BECAUSE HE AND HIS TEAM, BECAUSE HE AND HIS TEAM DO AN AMAZING JOB, A MARVELOUS JOB OF TAKING THINGS OFF OUR PLATE AND JUST GETTING THEM DONE. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT CITY MANAGER, UH, TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM AND THEIR LEADERSHIP AND SWIFTNESS ON GETTING THOSE THINGS DONE. BUT AS MY DEAR FRIEND, UH, AND DIRECTOR OF HSO, UH, DAVID GRAY, AND I LIKE TO SAY SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO POP UP AND SHOW PEOPLE, COLLEAGUES. TODAY I AM PROUD TO BE BRINGING THREE ITEMS THAT COLLECTIVELY AIM TO STRENGTHEN OUR CRITICAL SUPPORT SYSTEMS FOR FAMILIES, SURVIVORS OF VIOLENCE, AND IMPROVE HOUSING STABILITY, AND ENHANCE OUR APPROACH TO VIOLENCE PREVENTION. AS WE KNOW, FEDERAL AND ACTION HAS CREATED REAL CONSEQUENCES AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. POVERTY IS EXPECTED TO RISE. AND WITH IT THE ECONOMIC STRESS THAT OFTEN FUELS CYCLES OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND IN OUR HOMES, THE NEW REALITY DEMANDS THAT THIS COUNCIL WILL TAKE PROACTIVE APPROACHES TO BUILD RESILIENCE SYSTEMS OF CARE. EVERY TIME I BRING SOMETHING TO THIS DIOCESE, IT IS INFORMED BY LIVED EXPERIENCE AND CENTERED WITH THE HAVE NOTS AND CITIZENS THAT FEEL THAT THEY'RE FORGOTTEN. AND I COULDN'T BE MORE PROUD OF THIS PAGE, EXCUSE ME, OF THIS PACKAGE OF ITEMS THAT WE'RE BRINGING FORWARD. NUMBER 78 PROPOSES A FORMAL COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE CITY, UH, AND TRAVIS COUNTY TO ESTABLISH A FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER, A MODEL THAT REMOVES [03:45:01] BARRIERS FOR SURVIVORS TO ACCESS SURVIVOR-CENTERED AND TRAUMA-INFORMED SERVICES BY LOCATING SERVICES ALL UNDER ONE ROOF. UM, THANK YOU TO TRAVIS COUNTY AND MY ANA MENTOR AND BIG SISTER, COUNTY ATTORNEY, UH, GARZA, UM, THAT HAVE ALREADY COMMITTED A FACILITY FOR THIS FOR, FOR OUR FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER. AND WE ARE SO THANKFUL FOR HER VISION, COLLABORATION, AND TRUSTING OUR OFFICE AS A PARTNER IN BRINGING AN FJC TO AUSTIN. THIS RESOLUTION ENSURES THAT WE MATCH THAT COMMITMENT WITH A, WITH STRATEGIC PLANNING AND SUSTAINED SUPPORT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FJCA, UM, THE FJC MAKE SURE THAT THE FJC HAS LONG-TERM SUCCESS FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND MAKES AUSTIN A SAFE, SAFER PLACE FOR ALL. ITEM NUMBER 82 MAKES SURE THAT OUR HOME REPAIR PROGRAM WORKS FOR MORE THAN, JUST WORKS FOR MORE OF THE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT, GIVING US THE TOOLS TO PROTECT AFFORDABLE, SAFE HOUSING FOR SENIORS, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS. RENTERS MAKE UP OVER 72% OF DISTRICT THREE AND ARE SO OFTEN LEFT OUT OF THIS CONVERSATION. THIS RE RESOLUTION WILL IDENTIFY GAPS TO OUR CURRENT PROGRAMS AND EXPLORE NEW PARTNERSHIPS TO PROTECT STABILITY, PRESERVE AFFORDABILITY, AND ENSURE THAT PEOPLE CAN STAY IN THEIR COMMUNITY, THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY HAVE HELPED BUILD. AND ITEM NUMBER 83, MY FINAL ITEM, UM, ITEM 83 FOCUSES ON STRENGTHENING THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION. UM, I COULDN'T TALK ABOUT THIS ITEM WITHOUT FIRST THANKING THE, THE FIRST COUNCIL OR THE COUNCIL THAT INITIATED THE CREATION OF THE OVP FIVE YEARS AGO. UH, THE WORK DONE SO FAR, INCLUDING, UM, FIREARM SURRENDER PROTOCOLS AND SUPPORTING LOCAL COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAMS HAS BEEN CRITICAL TO THE HEALTH OF OUR CITY. THESE PROGRAMS GET TO THE ROOT OF VIOLENCE AND GIVE ALTERNATIVE PATHWAYS TO, TO THRIVE. UM, WE KNOW THIS WORKS. UM, AND, AND SINCE WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO ASK WHY ARE WE NOT DOING MORE? THIS RESOLUTION STARTS TO EXPLORE THAT QUESTION AND TAKE THIS AND, AND TAKE THE NEXT STEPS. IT WILL BRING TOGETHER THOSE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE, PROVEN STRATEGIES, AND DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT OUR COMMUNITIES NEED SO THAT WE CAN CREATE A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AS WE MOVE FORWARD. THANK YOU TO MY FRIENDS, DEAR, DEAR FRIENDS, AT, AT X PEACE LIFE ANEW, COMMUNITY JUSTICE, AND CITIES UNITED FOR BEING OUR BOOTS ON THE GROUND. THANK YOU TO DA GODDESS AND AMBER GOODWIN FOR YOUR HELP AND COLLABORATION. CVI SAVES LIVES, UM, COLLEGE, WE HAVE A DIFFICULT JOB, BUT I'M CONTINUALLY INSPIRED, UH, BY THE PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT I MEET IN THIS ROLE. PEOPLE WHO WORK EVERY DAY TO UPLIFT OTHERS. WE ARE FORTUNATE TO LIVE IN A CITY FILLED WITH THEM, AND I KNOW THAT WE CAN MEET THE DEMANDS OF OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT HELPED SHAPE THESE IDEAS. CITY STAFF, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, SURVIVOR ADVOCATES, AND OUR PARTNERS AT TRAVIS COUNTY, AND OF COURSE MY COLLEAGUES AND CO-SPONSORS ON ALL THREE OF THESE ITEMS. I JUST RUN THROUGH EVERYBODY SO I DON'T HAVE TO BREAK 'EM OFF. UM, MAYOR WATSON, MAYOR PRO, TEM FUENTES, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER. COUNCIL MEMBER CHIEF VELA, COUNCIL MEMBER MARK UCHIN. COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HARPER. MADISON CO COUNCIL MEMBER MIKE SIEGEL. AND COUNCIL MEMBER KRISTA LANE. AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ARI WAS AT AS A, AS A SPONSOR ALSO. UM, I ALSO WANT TO GIVE, UH, THANK YOU TO THE AMAZING DISTRICT THREE TEAM. UH, THE CHIEF OF THE DISTRICT THREE OFFICE, AND THE PERSON THAT BOSSES ME AROUND LIZETTE MELENDEZ, AND, UH, OUR SENIOR POLICY ADVISOR, VICTORIA HALL, FOR ALL OF THEIR TIRELESS WORK AND FOR SUFFERING MY CRAZY IDEAS TO SAVE THE WORLD. AND WITH THAT MAYOR, I YIELD MY TIME. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, MAYOR PRO TIM, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN AND LANE. WOW. OKAY, SO I HAVE THE HONOR TO FOLLOW THAT. CONGRATULATIONS, COUNCIL MEMBER VELASCO. THAT'S AN INCREDIBLE, YOU'VE GOTTA GO 20 MINUTES NOW, MAN. , UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AT SOME REALLY INCREDIBLE POLICIES THAT YOU'VE INITIATED. I'M REALLY PROUD TO SERVE ON THE DICE WITH YOU, UM, COLLEAGUES. FIRST AND FOREMOST, I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE THE PASSING OF AN AUSTIN LEGACY LEADER JACKIE GOODMAN. SHE WAS A DISTRICT TWO CONSTITUENT FORMER MAYOR PRO TEM, SERVED THE CITY FOR 12 YEARS, AND AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL. JUST ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE ENVIRONMENTALIST AND A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR THE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES AND, UH, JUST A RELENTLESS LEADER. AND SO HER PASSING, UM, IS, IS VERY SAD AND SHE'LL BE GREATLY MISSED, AND WE HOPE TO HONOR HER LEGACY. SPEAKING OF DISTRICT TWO CONSTITUENTS, I DID ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE OUR TRAVIS COUNTY ATTORNEY, DELIA GARZA. THERE'S AN ITEM ON THIS AGENDA THAT COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ HAS REGARDING THE FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER, THE CREATION OF THE FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER, LED BY, UH, COUNTY ATTORNEY DELIA GARZA IS ONE THAT HAS BEEN LONG TIME COMING AND SOMETHING THAT SHE'S BEEN PASSIONATE ABOUT FOR, FOR A COUPLE YEARS NOW. SO I'M REALLY PLEASED TO SEE THIS ON THE AGENDA. AND THIS IS A TESTAMENT TO OUR CITY'S COLLABORATION WITH TRAVIS COUNTY. I THINK THIS IS NOW THE THIRD OR FOURTH INITIATIVE THAT WE HAVE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TRAVIS COUNTY. THAT INCLUDES THE TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTER, THE MENTAL HEALTH DIVERSION CENTER COUNCIL AT FIRST APPEARANCE, UH, AND NOW THIS FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER. AND IT REALLY SPEAK SPEAKS TO THE COLLABORATIVE NATURE OF OUR COMMUNITY. [03:50:01] SO I'M THRILLED TO SEE THIS MOVE FORWARD AND, AND JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ALL THE WAYS IN WHICH WE WORK WITH OUR COUNTY LEADERS. LASTLY, I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE ITEM 84 ON, ON THE AGENDA REGARDING OUR OLDER ADULTS COMMUNITY. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS, THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR A WHILE, AND SOMETHING THAT I HAVE, UM, THOUGHT A LOT ABOUT. YOU KNOW, MY FIRST TERM ON COUNCIL, I'VE DONE A NUMBER OF POLICIES RELATED TO OUR LITTLEST AUSTINITES AND EXPANDING CHILDCARE IN PARTICULAR, AND PRE-K, UH, AS WELL AS FOR OUR WORKING FAMILIES WITH WAGES AND EXPANDING PAID PARENTAL LEAVE. AND SO I'VE BEEN THINKING, YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN WE DO FOR OUR OLDER ADULTS? AND ESPECIALLY RECOGNIZING HOW HARD HIT OUR SENIORS HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE PANDEMIC AND COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC, A LOT OF THE FEEDBACK I WAS HEARING FROM AUSTINITES IS ABOUT HOW HARD IT IS TO AGE IN OUR CITY. AND SO I'M REALLY PLEASED TO BRING FORWARD THIS ITEM THAT TAKES A LOOK AT THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OLDER ADULTS. WE KNOW THEY HAVE SUCH A SPECIAL PART IN OUR COMMUNITY, SUCH AN INCREDIBLE ROLE. NOT EVEN, I MEAN, NOT ONLY, UH, RECOGNIZING THE ROLE THAT THEY HAVE IN, UH, RAISING OUR LITTLEST AUSTINITES, UH, BUT ALSO SERVING AS LEADERS OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND CREATING BUSINESSES THAT THRIVE IN OUR CITY. AND SO I REALLY THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE PUT A SPECIAL ATTENTION ON OLDER ADULTS. AND I KNOW THAT THIS ITEM WAS ONE THAT I WAS ABLE TO WORK WITH COUNCIL UCHIN IN HOSTING A TOWN HALL FOR OLDER ADULTS AND REALLY CAPTURING THAT FEEDBACK. AND I WANNA GIVE A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE COMMISSION ON AGING, THE AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH. NICOLE HOWE, OUR AUSTIN AGE FRIENDLY COORDINATOR, A A RP AGE OF CENTRAL TEXAS HELPER BEES AGING IS COOL, MEALS ON WHEELS, AND ALL THE OTHER, UH, COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS THAT HAVE PROVIDED THOUGHTFUL FEEDBACK TO SHAPE THIS POLICY. UH, SPECIAL THANK YOU TO MY CO-SPONSORS, COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN SIEGEL VELA VELASQUEZ, AN ALTER AND A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO SOPHIA MORALES WITH MY TEAM AND FOR HER CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS ITEM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TIM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER LANE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WILL TRY AND KEEP THIS THE SHORTEST COMMENTS I'VE EVER MADE. UH, FIRST I WANT TO THANK MAYOR PUENTES AND HER ITEM 84 TO ADDRESS THE OPTIONS AND OUTCOMES FOR OLDER ADULTS. UH, I REALLY ALSO APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS THAT SHE AND HER TEAM MADE TO MAKE OUR TOWN HALL SUCCESSFUL, LIKE SHE MENTIONED. AND MY TAKEAWAY FROM ALL OF THAT WAS JUST, THERE'S AN ENORMOUS APPETITE THERE FOR, UH, OLDER ADULTS TO BE HEARD AND PART OF THE SOLUTIONS THAT WE'VE GOT FOR THE CITY. I'M ALSO REQUESTING MY NAME BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR. ITEM 86, REGARDING EARTH DAY, A TX. WITHOUT OBJECTION, COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN WILL BE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR OF ITEM NUMBER 86. THANK YOU. AND I ALSO WANT TO BRIEFLY HIGHLIGHT, UH, THE FOLLOWING FOR ITEMS AND THANK STAFF FOR THEIR EFFORTS ON THEM. ITEM 61, 62, 69, 76 I RAISED. I WANNA HIGHLIGHT THESE ITEMS BECAUSE, UH, I SENSE THAT WE'VE GOT A LOT OF FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS ON THE HORIZON, AND I'D LIKE TO SEE US CONTINUE TO TRY AND FIND AND SUPPORT OUR PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS WITH, UH, TO PUT IT BLUNTLY OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY, WHICH I THINK MIGHT BE THE BEST KIND OF MONEY. UH, AND THEN FINALLY, I'D LIKE TO BE RECORDED VOTING NO ON 1617 FOR REASONS MY COLLEAGUES HAVE DESCRIBED AS WELL AS 22, 32 AND 72. THANK YOU. I'M SORRY, SAY THE LAST TWO AGAIN. UH, 22, 32, AND 72. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER LANE. THANK YOU, UH, APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS, UH, SO MUCH OF THE COMMUNITY AND MY PEERS ON THE DAAS. UM, I'M GONNA LEAVE OUT A FEW THINGS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN SPOKEN SINCE I, SINCE I'M COMING AT THE END HERE, BUT I DO ABSOLUTELY NOT WANT TO LEAVE OUT, UH, ACKNOWLEDGING THAT WE ARE BEGINNING PRIDE MONTH. UM, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO WISH EVERYONE A HAPPY PRIDE THAT LGBT COMMUNITY AND DISTRICT SIX, I SUPPORT THEM, THEY SUPPORT ME, WE ALL SUPPORT EACH OTHER AND, UM, AND WE'RE READY TO CELEBRATE, UM, THAT ALLYSHIP. SO I WILL ALSO JUST REITERATE THAT I DO FEEL VERY FIRMLY, WE ALL BELONG IN AUSTIN, AND I'M SO HAPPY TO BE UP HERE ON THIS DAAS, UH, CREATING THAT REALITY TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY. UM, I'D LIKE TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS RELATING TO AGENDA ITEMS 13 AND 14, WHICH ARE A COST PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND A MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPER. SPECIFICALLY AUSTIN WILL BE CONTRIBUTING FUNDING TO UPSIZE A WATER WASTEWATER LINE EXTENSION THAT'S ALREADY BEEN APPROVED ADMINISTRATIVELY ON EMANUEL ROAD IN AN AREA WHERE THIS ROAD IS ITSELF THE BOUNDARY BETWEEN AUSTIN ETJ AND PFLUGERVILLE ETJ, BECAUSE THIS, SO IT IS NOT IN FULL SERVICE AUSTIN AREA, AND NOR IS IT ON A BOUNDARY WITH FULL SERVICE AUSTIN AREA. BECAUSE THIS PROPERTY IS IN THE DESIRED DEVELOPMENT ZONE, THE WASTEWATER, THE WATER WASTEWATER LINE EXTENSIONS DO NOT REQUIRE A COUNCIL VOTE. INSTEAD, THIS ITEM IS ON OUR AGENDA FOR A VOTE ON [03:55:01] COST SHARING. IN OTHER WORDS, INVESTMENT OF FUNDS BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN INTO AN UPSIZING OF THIS WATER AND WASTEWATER LINE. IN ORDER TO SUPPORT BOTH THIS HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND FUTURE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, I DO SUPPORT BOTH THIS WATER AND WASTE, BOTH THE SERVICE EXTENSION AND THE RELATED COST COLLABORATION. BUT I MUST ALSO HIGHLIGHT NOT LEAST OF WHICH, BECAUSE OF SO MANY OF THE COMMENTS THAT I HAVE HEARD TODAY, THAT WE NEED MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH RELIABLE UTILITY SERVICE IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD OF AUSTIN, ALL ACROSS THE NORTHERN SUBURBS OF AUSTIN, NOT JUST IN NORTHEAST AUSTIN. UM, I HAVE WITNESSED IN THE AREAS THAT ALONG THE ROADS AND THE VARIOUS CORRIDORS THAT MY OWN DISTRICT'S RESIDENTS AND WORKERS TRAVERSE VERY REGULARLY A GREAT NEED FOR MORE PREDICTABLE APPROVABLE OF WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICE EXTENSIONS INVESTMENT IN THAT INFRASTRUCTURE BEFORE IT FAILS, PARTICULARLY IN AN ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE ZONE. UM, AND ALSO A GREAT NEED FOR THE FORGING OF NEW PARTNERSHIPS TO DELIVER THESE BENEFITS AT THE LOWEST POSSIBLE COST TO AUSTIN TAXPAYERS. I SAY THAT I HAVE SEEN THIS ACROSS ALL OF THE NORTHERN SUBURBS AND I'LL AND BEYOND. AS WE GO DOWN THE SIX 20 CORRIDOR INTO AREAS OF THE ETJ THAT ARE ADJACENT TO DISTRICT 10, WE CONTINUE TO FIND AREAS OF THE AUSTIN ETJ THAT DO NOT BENEFIT FROM COUNCIL REPRESENTATION, UM, NOR, BUT THEY, THEY ARE SUBJECT TO AUSTIN'S ENVIRONMENTAL RESTRICTIONS WITHOUT GAINING THE BENEFITS OF COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIP AND COST SHARING AND PREDICTABLE EXTENSION OF SERVICE. I CAN SAY THAT I HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND BEFORE I RAN FOR OFFICE AND SINCE I HAVE TAKEN OFFICE, THE GREAT NEED FOR NEW PARTNERSHIPS AROUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN THESE AREAS WITH COUNTIES AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT SERVES SO MANY AUSTIN ADDRESSES IN THESE AREAS. AND I SPEAK OF WILLIAMSON COUNTY THAT IS 60% OF DISTRICT SIX EVEN MORE WHERE WE TO LOOK AT THE AREAS OF AUSTIN ETJ THAT ARE IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY, UM, ROUND ROCK ISD, WHICH SERVES MORE THAN 90% OF DISTRICT SIX, EVEN MORE IF WE CONSIDERED, UH, THE AUSTIN ETJ PARTS OF ROUND ROCK ISD. UM, AND I LAY ALL THIS OUT, NOT BECAUSE I DO NOT SUPPORT THESE, THIS ITEM BEING ON CONSENT, I DO SUPPORT IT. HOWEVER, I MUST NOW TURN TO ITEM 16 AND 17, WHICH ARE MUCH CLOSER TO HOME FOR ME, WHERE I'VE ALREADY HEARD A NUMBER OF COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, VOICE THAT THEY DO NOT SUPPORT A WASTEWATER SERVICE EXTENSION THAT HAS BEEN REQUESTED SIMILARLY BY A MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPER. THIS PARTICULAR MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT WILL INCLUDE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AS WE HAVE SEEN THE PRESENTATIONS IN THE SLIDES, BOTH TODAY AND ON OTHER DAYS, WE CAN SEE VERY CLEARLY THAT NO DB 90 DEVELOPMENT HAS OCCURRED IN DISTRICT SIX. THERE WAS A PUBLIC COMMENTER WHO SHOWED THAT IN A SLIDE. WE HAVE SEEN THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN, UM, WHERE DISTRICT SIX ISN'T, HAS 0% PARTICIPATION IN MANY CITY PROGRAMS. UM, I, AS SOMEONE WHO REPRESENTS NEIGHBORHOODS THAT TRAVEL THE STRETCH OF, OF SIX 20, WHERE THIS REQUEST FOR WASTEWATER SERVICE EXTENSION IS BEING MADE, CAN SAY WHOLEHEARTEDLY THAT WE NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN DISTRICT SIX. WE NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON THE SIX 20 CORRIDOR. WE ALSO NEED TRANSIT TO SERVE THESE AREAS WHERE SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY BEEN DISPLACED FROM CENTRAL AUSTIN OUT TO THESE OUTLYING AREAS WITHOUT SIDEWALKS, WITHOUT BUS SERVICE, AND THEY ARE TRAVELING OFTEN BY FOOT OR BIKE IN VERY DANGEROUS CONDITIONS TO RE THE REACH THE NEAREST TRANSIT OR TO REACH THEIR EMPLOYERS WHO ARE ALONG THESE VERY CORRIDORS. AND SO I, IN CONTRAST TO THOSE WHO HAVE WEIGHED IN SPECIFICALLY ON ITEM 16 AND 17, I FULLY SUPPORT THE EXTENSION OF WASTEWATER SERVICE TO THIS AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT THAT'S PROPOSED. YES, THEY'RE IN THE ETJ. YES, THE LEGISLATURE HAS GRANTED PEOPLE IN THE AUSTIN ETJ AND ALL EJS THE ABILITY TO DNX IF WE WANT TO WORK IN THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY POSSIBLE, USING OUR RESOURCES AS EFFECTIVELY AS POSSIBLE TO MEET THE NEEDS FOR SAFETY, SECURITY, TRANSIT, AND HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE CAN'T KEEP DOING THINGS THE WAY THAT WE ALWAYS HAVE. WE'VE GOTTA MAKE NEW PARTNERSHIPS. WE'VE GOT TO WORK TOGETHER. WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPER TRYING TO BRING THIS DEVELOPMENT TO THIS AREA WITH WATER AND WASTE WATER SERVICE THAT WILL SERVE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT, MAKE IT LESS EXPENSIVE TO PUT IN FUTURE DEVELOPMENT WITH ZERO COST SHARING FROM OUR CITY. AND [04:00:01] MOST OF THE COUNCIL WHO HAS COMMENTED AT LEAST OPPOSED TO GRANTING THIS WASTEWATER EXTENSION, AS WE HEAR, AS I HAVE LISTENED TO ALL OF THESE COMMENTERS, AND SO MANY HAVE COMMENTED ON THE DISCREPANCIES, THE EQUITY IMPLICATIONS BETWEEN WHICH PARTS OF AUSTIN ARE IN THE DE DESIRED DEVELOPMENT ZONE, AND WHICH PARTS OF AUSTIN HAVE GOTTEN EXTRA SPECIAL CONSIDERATION AROUND WHETHER WE REALLY WANT TO ALLOW THIS LEVEL OF DEVELOPMENT. THE BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT THAT IS REQUESTING WASTEWATER SERVICE EXTENSION ON SIX 20 ON THE WEST SIDE OF TOWN VERSUS THE DEVELOPMENT THAT HAD AN ADMINISTRATIVELY APPROVED WASTEWATER EXTENSION AND THE CITY IS CONTRIBUTING DOLLARS TO UPGRADE THAT SERVICE EXTENSION TO SUPPORT FUTURE HOUSING. THE DIFFERENCE IS THAT THAT AREA ON THE EAST SIDE IS IN THE DESIRED DEVELOPMENT ZONE. AND ON THE WEST SIDE, YES, THERE ARE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS, BUT IF WE DON'T FIND A WAY AS A CITY TO USE OUR DOLLARS TO CREATE NEW PARTNERSHIPS AND TO CREATE INVESTMENT IN OUR WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE ON THE WEST SIDE OF TOWN, WE'RE GONNA KEEP HAVING SEWAGE SPILLS OF A HUNDRED THOUSAND GALLONS DIRECTLY ABOVE BULL CREEK. THAT WAS A MAJOR PART OF THE REASON THAT I RAN FOR OFFICE, AND IT IS WHY I SUPPORT EXTENDING THIS WASTEWATER LINE IN 16 AND AND RELATING TO AGENDA ITEM 16 AND 17. AND I WILL CONTINUE TO BE A VOICE FOR BRINGING THIS TYPE OF SUPPORT FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSIT AND SIDEWALKS TO SIX 20. UM, WITH THAT, I'LL GO AHEAD AND COMMENT BRIEFLY ON ITEM 80, DB 90, ALTHOUGH I ARRIVED TODAY PLANNING TO VOTE IN SUPPORT OF THIS, HAVING LISTENED AND THOUGHT ABOUT THE COMMENTARY THAT I'VE SEEN TODAY AND HOW IT RELATES TO WHAT I'VE SEEN PLAY OUT ACROSS MY, THE PARTS OF THE CITY THAT I KNOW BEST, I WOULD LIKE TO BE NOTED THAT NOTED AS ABSTAINING FROM ITEM 80. UM, AS FAR AS ITEM 75, WHICH RELATES TO THE CENTRAL TEXAS CONSTRUCTION PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM, I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, CAN I ASK FOR A POINT OF CLARIFICATION FROM LEGAL? SURE. SO ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I SUBMITTED REGARDING THIS ITEM READ, ALTHOUGH WILLIAMSON COUNTY AND OTHER NEIGHBORING COUNTIES ARE NOT EXPLICITLY INCLUDED IN THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT, WILL THEY BE ENGAGED OR COMMUNICATED WITH AS PART OF THE CENTRAL TEXAS CONSTRUCTION PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM, PARTICULARLY IN AREAS WHERE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS OVERLAP OR IMPACT THE AUSTIN METRO REGION? THE ANSWER THAT I GOT WAS YES, THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN ENVISIONED AS A REGIONAL PROGRAM FROM THE START COVERING CENTRAL TEXAS, INCLUDING COORDINATION WITH NEIGHBORING COUNTIES. EXISTING COORDINATION IS FOCUSED ON THE INITIAL PARTNERS WHO HAVE OR MAY HAVE PROJECTS NEAR ONE ANOTHER IN THE CORE OF CENTRAL TEXAS. SO MY POINT OF CLARIFICATION RELATES TO THE SCOPE OF THIS GRANT, UM, AND THIS PROJECT, UM, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO EVERYONE WHO'S ALL THE STAFF, SO MANY STAFF HAVE ANSWERED QUESTIONS FROM MY OFFICE RELATING TO THIS PARTICULAR GRANT, TO THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT. UM, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, I BELIEVE MY DISTRICT TO BE CENTRAL TO THE CENTRAL TEXAS REGION, I BELIEVE 60% OF MY DISTRICT IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY IS A CENTRAL PART OF THIS PROJECT. AND I HAVE THIS ANSWER RIGHT BEFORE ME NOW SAYING THAT THIS PROGRAM HAS ALWAYS BEEN ENVISIONED AS A REGIONAL PROGRAM THAT COVERS CENTRAL TEXAS AND IS IN THE CORE OF CENTRAL TEXAS. UM, SO MY, MY QUESTION FOR LEGAL, AND I'M COMPLETELY WILL ACCEPT WHATEVER ADVICE YOU GIVE ME HERE AND NOW IN THE SERVICE OF MOVING FORWARD IN A WAY THAT CAN BE MOST PRODUCTIVE, UM, IS WILLIAMSON COUNTY, UM, PART AND CONSTRUCTION ZONES THAT ARE IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY WITH AUSTIN ADDRESSES PART OF THE SCOPE OF THIS PART PROJECT TO ADDRESS CONSTRUCTION ZONES, UM, AND PROMOTE ADOPTION OF MULTIMODAL TRANSIT SOLUTIONS WHERE WE HAVE CONSTRUCTION ZONES RELATING TO ALL THESE BIG PROJECTS. IS WILLIAMSON COUNTY INSIDE OR OUT OF THE SCOPE OF WHAT WE HAVE ON THE CON CONSENT AGENDA TODAY, AND COUNCIL MEMBER CINDY CROSBY WITH THE LAW DEPARTMENT CURRENTLY AS POSTED WILLIAMSON COUNTY IS NOT NECESSARILY A PROPOSED PARTY TO THE INTERLOCAL MM-HMM . BUT DEFINITELY AS, UH, SHOWN IN STAFF'S ANSWER, THEY CAN BE PART OF THE DISCUSSION AND COORDINATION WITH STAFF GENERALLY, BUT THEY'RE NOT PART OF THE INTERLOCAL ITSELF. OKAY. UM, SO MANY OF YOU HAVE HEARD ME HOLD FORTH FROM HERE BEFORE ALSO IN MEETINGS ABOUT HOW VITALLY IMPORTANT I FIND IT TO FORGE PARTNERSHIPS THAT INCLUDE ALL OF OUR AUSTIN [04:05:01] ADDRESSES THAT DO NOT LEAVE OUT THE 60% OF MY DISTRICT. THAT'S WILLIAMSON COUNTY THAT HAS HAD SIGNIFICANT GROWTH, VERY LITTLE TRANSIT INVESTMENT OR PLANNING IN THE LAST DECADE. AND I HAVE ASKED SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR, UM, GRANT IN THE PAST. AND WHAT I WOULD ASK NOW IS WHILE I WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT THE DIRECTION THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS HAS BROUGHT FORWARD, AND I WANNA MAKE THAT QUITE CLEAR, AND I WILL VOTE YES ON THIS ITEM. I ALSO ASK FOR ASSISTANCE FROM AUSTIN STAFF, FROM LEGAL TO TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS TO ANY OTHER RELATED DEPARTMENTS, AND ALSO FROM MY COLLEAGUES ON THIS. DA, PLEASE HELP BRING NEW PARTNERSHIPS TO DISTRICT SIX AROUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AROUND MULTIMODAL TRANS TRANSIT, AROUND ALL OF THESE INVESTMENTS WHERE WE COULD FORGE PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER COST PARTNERS. AND I WOULD ASK ALSO MORE BROADLY, I'VE ASKED IT BEFORE, I'LL ASK IT NOW, I WOULD ASK THAT WHEN WE AS A COUNCIL CONSIDER FEDERAL GRANTS ON THINGS LIKE CONSTRUCTION ZONES, CAN WE PLEASE, UM, DO STRIVE TO INCLUDE MORE OF OUR CITY'S CONSTRUCTION ZONES AND AREAS IN THESE GRANT REQUESTS SO THAT WE ARE NOT AFTER THE FACT TRYING TO INCORPORATE THEM IN? BUT I APPRECIATE THAT I COME, UH, IN THE MIDDLE OF SOMETHING THAT BEGAN LONG BEFORE I ARRIVED. I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS, UM, THIS ITEM AND I WILL BE LOOKING FORWARD GRATEFULLY TO Y'ALL OF YOUR ASSISTANCE IN BRINGING MORE OF MY DISTRICT INTO THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS. UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, FOR THAT. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON NUMBER 62, THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE PROGRAM. I WANT TO EXTEND MY GRATITUDE TO THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE FOR THEIR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY ON ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS ISSUES WHERE THEY ARE THE MOST CONCENTRATED. THE HEART PROGRAM IS A WAY TO COMPASSIONATELY RESPOND TO INDIVIDUALS IN CRISIS. AND I'M HAPPY TO SEE OUR LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS SUPPORTING THESE EFFORTS. I WANT NOTHING MORE TO SEE THAN TO SEE THESE TYPES OF CO COLLABORATIVE COOPERATION EXTENDED TO THE MANY AREAS OF THE CITY THAT STILL STRUGGLE AS MOST DO WITH HOMELESSNESS. UM, AS FAR AS NUMBER 70, I'M SO EXCITED TO HAVE JOINED THE PARTY LATE ON THIS MOBILE FOOD VENDORS. UM, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ AND ALL WHO DID WORK ON THIS BEFORE I CAME TO SPEAK ON IT. UM, MOBILE FOOD, FOOD TRUCKS, I'M JUST GONNA CALL THEM. FOOD TRUCKS ARE SO VITAL TO THE CULINARY DIVERSITY OF OUR CITY, TO OUR SMALL, LOCALLY OWNED BUSINESSES. THEY ARE A HUGE PART OF OUR COMMUNITY BUILDING AND LIFE OUT IN MY PART OF THE SUBURBAN WORLD. AND THEY ARE EVERYWHERE IN THE CITY. AND I AM SO GRATEFUL THAT IT WILL BE EASIER FOR OUR LOCALLY OWNED BUSINESS AND FOOD TRUCK OWNERS TO DO THINGS LIKE GET INSPECTIONS WHEN THEIR FOOD TRUCKS ARE FAR FROM THE CENTRAL AREAS. SO, SO APPRECIATED. UM, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT I GET INQUIRIES ABOUT IN MY OFFICE REGULARLY. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, UH, NUMBER 84. UH, THIS IS THE AGE FRIENDLY COMMUNITY IFC. I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR PRO TEM FOR AFFIRMING OUR CITY'S COMMITMENT TO ENSURING AN AGE FRIENDLY COMMUNITY AND EXPLORING EXPANDED RESOURCES. THIS IS IMPORTANT WORK FOR THE CITY AND I WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WITHOUT OBJECTION. YOU'LL BE SHOWN AS A, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER. LANE WILL BE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR OF ITEM NUMBER 84. UH, THAT'S ALL THE PEOPLE I'VE SAID THAT I HAVE INDICATED THEY WISH TO SPEAK. UH, BUT COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IF YOU WANNA SPEAK THAT I'VE RECOGNIZED YOU AND DIDN'T MISS YOU IN SOME WAY. ALRIGHT THEN, MEMBERS, THE MOTION IS TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS READ. UM, YES, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I APPRECIATE YOU ACKNOWLEDGING ME. I DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD THAT WAS A QUESTION SO MUCH AS I REALLY APPRECIATE. UM, I JUST WANTED TO OFFER YOU SOMETHING IN THE WAY OF, YOU SAID SOMETHING EARLIER. UH, IF YOU LISTEN LONG ENOUGH, SOMEBODY'S GONNA OFFER YOU A COMPLIMENT. I WANTED TO OFFER YOU A COMPLIMENT. UM, I APPRECIATE YOU CONDUCTING THE MEETING IN THE MANNER THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF ITEMS THAT WE HAVE TO CONSIDER. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, FOR KEEPING THE MAYOR OR KEEPING THE MEETING ON TRACK AND MOVING IT IN A DIRECTION WHERE, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONSIDER AS OF LATE AS I'M MOVING INTO MY EXIT, HOW MUCH TIME WE WASTED IN MEETINGS. AND THE FACT THAT YOU DON'T DO THAT, I REALLY, I DON'T KNOW THAT ANYBODY HAS OFFERED YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE, I THINK THERE'S PROBABLY AN AUDIT THAT'S IN ORDER FOR HOW MUCH TIME WE WASTED IN MEETINGS THAT YOU DON'T DO. AND I, I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, SIR. I'LL GIVE YOU ADDITIONAL TIME IF YOU'D LIKE. NO, I'M NOT KIDDING, KIDDING. ? OH, NO. YEAH, I, I'M TEASING. I'M TEASING. I'M TEASING. NO, THAT WAS AWESOME. I'M TEASING THAT WOULD BE A WASTE OF TIME. SO, UH, [04:10:01] THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE THE NICE COMMENTS, UH, MEMBERS, IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN ABSTAINING FROM A VOTE ON ANY ITEM ON THE CITY? ON THE THE CONSENT AGENDA, I HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER LANE ABSTAINING ON ITEM NUMBER 80. ANY OTHER ABSTENTIONS? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL WILL BE SHOWN ABSTAINING ON ITEM NUMBER 32. IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN RECUSING THEMSELVES FROM A VOTE ON ANY OF THE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? I SEE NONE THOSE VOTING. NO. I HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER SIEGEL CADRE AND UCHIN VOTING NO. ON ITEMS 16 AND 17, I HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN BEING SHOWN VOTING NO ON ITEMS 2332 AND 72. I'M, I GET IT. I'LL GET IT. UH, COUNCIL PERDUE, CAN YOU MAKE SURE I HAVE 22, 32 AND 72? I JUST WROTE 'EM DOWN WRONG. OKAY. ANYBODY ELSE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA WITHOUT OBJECTION. THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER LANE BEING ABSTAINING ON ITEM 80. COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL ABSTAINING ON 32 COUNCIL MEMBERS ALTER SEGAL, CADRE AND UCHIN VOTING NO ON 16 AND 17. AND COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN VOTING NO ON 23, NO, 22, 32 AND 72 FOR THE RECORD. 22, 32 AND 72. DON'T LET ME BE, MAKE A JOKE AND SCREW IT UP. ALL RIGHT, THE THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ADOPTED MEMBERS. HERE'S THE ORDER. I'M GONNA GO, I'M GONNA GO TO A HFC, THEN WE WILL GO TO PUBLIC HEARINGS AND THEN WE WILL GO TO, UH, THE ZONING ITEMS, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION. THE CITY COUNCIL OF AUSTIN, TEXAS IS IN RECESS AT 2:39 PM AND I'LL NOW CALL [10:30 AM - Austin Housing Finance Corporation Meeting] THE ORDER AT 2:39 PM THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION. WE ARE MEETING IN CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS AND CITY HALL AT, UH, UH, 3 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. AND WE HAVE, UH, ALL OF THE BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT STAFF. GOOD MORNING, MR. PRESIDENT MADAM VICE PRESIDENT BOARD OF DIRECTORS. MY NAME IS JAMES MAY. I AM THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OFFICER WITH THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT. I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT YOUR, HANG ON A SECOND, MR. MAY IF YOU'RE TALK, IF YOU'RE, IF YOU ARE SPEAKING, IF YOU ARE SPEAKING AND YOU'RE IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS AND YOU'RE NOT THIS GUY, YOU SHOULDN'T BE TALKING. GO AHEAD. THANK YOU, SIR. UM, I'D LIKE TO PRESENT YOUR AGENDA FOR TODAY. UH, YOU HAVE THREE, THREE ITEMS ON YOUR AGENDA. FOUR ARE LISTED. THE LAST ITEM HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN TO ENSURE WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH NEWLY, UH, PASSED STATE LAW. UH, THE FIRST ITEM IS THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE APRIL 10TH BOARD MEETING. THE SECOND ITEM IS TO APPROVE PAYMENT, UH, FOR THE GROVE PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT. THIS IS 32 AFFORDABLE RENTAL UNITS, UH, FOR OUR HOUSEHOLD. WHO IN WHOSE INCOMES ARE AT OR BELOW 60% OF THE MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME? UH, THIS IS AN AGREEMENT THAT WAS SIGNED. UH, WE HAVE THE CASH READY TO PAY. UH, WE JUST NEED APPROVAL FROM YOU. AND FINALLY, THIS, WE'D LIKE TO APPROVE A CONSTRUCT FOR CONSTRUCTION SERVICES FOR THE DORIS HATHAWAY AFFORDABLE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT LOCATED AT 8 4 0 4 HATHAWAY DRIVE. UH, THIS WOULD BE WITH CONSTRUCT PLE IN THE AMOUNT OF $747,000, UH, FOR THE TOTAL, UH, CONTRACT AWARD OF $822,000, UH, TO BUILD THE UNITS, UH, THAT WILL BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST ON THAT PROPERTY. I'D OFFER ALL THREE OF THESE ON CONSENT BOARD MEMBER, BOARD MEMBER SAYS, IS THERE ANYONE THAT HAS A QUESTION OF STAFF ON THESE ITEMS? ALRIGHT, UM, LET'S TURN TO THE CITY CLERK AND SEE IF ANYBODY HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THESE, ON THE THREE ITEMS. NUMBER FOUR WAS WITHDRAWN. YES. NOIA JOSEPH. ITEM NUMBER TWO. MS. JOSEPH, YOU'LL COME FORWARD ON ITEM NUMBER TWO. MS. JOSEPH'S GONNA TALK TO US ON, IT'LL COME ON. THANK YOU MAYOR. COUNSEL, GLAD TO TALK TO YOU. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE COMMENT AS IT RELATED TO THE GROVE, I WANNA CALL IT TO YOUR ATTENTION. IN 2016 WHEN CAPITOL METRO CREATED THE 52 BUS ROUTE CHANGES, RUSH CHISHOLM, WHO WAS THE CONSULTANT, DID NOT RECOMMEND ROUTE 3 45. UNLESS THE GROVE WAS EXTENDED TODAY, THAT ROUTE ACTUALLY WAS IMPROVED. IT RUNS EVERY 30 MINUTES. BUT I WANNA REMIND YOU THAT OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS AT COMMUNITY FIRST VILLAGE WAIT 60 MINUTES IN THEIR WHEELCHAIRS. AND SO WHILE I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO PUT SOME LOW INCOME HOUSING IN THAT AREA, I WOULD ASK YOU TO GET THE STAFF TO PROVIDE A MAP OVERLAY WHEN YOU SEE THESE PROJECTS SO THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND WHERE THE 30% AREA MEDIAN INCOME UNITS ARE. I DON'T THINK YOU ARE PUTTING VERY MANY, IF ANY, WEST AUSTIN. I DO WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT, UH, [04:15:01] RE AS FARROW RUTLAND 1934 RUTLAND DRIVE, THAT IS WHERE YOU HAVE 101 OUTTA 171 UNITS FOR 30% AREA MEDIAN INCOME. 100 OF THOSE ARE VOUCHER HOLDERS. MANDY DE MAYO TOLD US IT WOULD BE ABOUT 50 KXAN REPORTED THE 50, AND THEN THERE WAS A BAIT AND SWITCH AND WE ENDED UP WITH 101 BECAUSE HAKA GAVE SOME VOUCHERS IN THE CITY, GAVE SOME. SO IT IS DEEPLY DISTURBING THAT THE BUSES ARE RUNNING EMPTY IN THAT AREA, WHEREAS BLACK PEOPLE ARE WAITING 60 MINUTES FOR THE BUS, 10 TIMES LONGER THAN WHITE PEOPLE IN NORTHEAST AUSTIN COLONY PARK. I SEE YOU LOOKING DOWN THERE. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF YOU JUST POST, UH, CLOCKS SO THAT WE KNOW HOW MUCH TIME WE HAVE LEFT, JUST LIKE AT THE LEGISLATURE, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GO AHEAD AND ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME. BUT I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS SYSTEM IS DISCRIMINATORY AND MY COMMENTS, AS THEY ALWAYS ARE, ARE IN THE CONTEXT OF TITLE VI OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964, WHICH PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION AGAINST RACE, COLOR, OR NATIONAL ORIGIN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. JOSEPH. THAT WAS ALL SPEAKERS FOR CONSENT. THOSE ARE ALL TWO. THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS THAT SIGNED UP ON THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING. UH, THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA, WHICH IS ITEMS ONE, TWO, AND THREE. AND ITEM FOUR HAS BEEN READ INTO THE RECORD AS BEING WITHDRAWN. IS THERE A MOTION, MOTION MADE BY BOARD MEMBER, UH, VELA SECONDED BY BOARD MEMBER ALTER? IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION MR. PRESIDENT? YEAH. CAN UH, ONE CORRECTION, THAT ITEM WAS NOT WITHDRAWN. IT IS POSTPONED UNTIL JULY OR UNTIL A FUTURE DATE. FAIR ENOUGH. WE'RE NOT GONNA VOTE ON IT. THERE YOU GO. IS THAT THAT? ALL RIGHT. UH, WITH THAT BEING SAID, MAYOR, WE DO HAVE SOMEONE THAT SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THAT IF IT IS POSTPONED. OKAY. SO NOIA, DID YOU WANNA SPEAK TO THE MAYOR TO THE POSTPONEMENT FOR ITEM FOUR? I THANK YOU MAYOR, COUNSEL AND ENOVIA. JOSEPH, UH, I JUST WANNA CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION, MAYOR, RESPECTFULLY. EARLIER YOU VOTED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AND THEN YOU, ONCE AGAIN, IT WAS VIEWPOINT DISCRIMINATION BECAUSE I HAD SIGNED UP FOR I 84, BUT FOR NOW, I'LL GO AHEAD AND JUST SPEAK ON FOUR. THAT'S THE NONPROFIT FORMATION. IT'S IN SOUTHWEST PARKWAY AREA. I JUST WANT YOU TO ASK THE STAFF WHEN THEY BRING THIS BACK BEFORE YOU FOR MANDY DE MAYO TO BE TRANSPARENT, TO EXPLAIN WHEN THESE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS ARE CREATED WITH NO MEMBERS AND WHAT THE PURPOSE OF IT IS, IT APPEARS TO JUST BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR HER TO CONTINUE THESE UNILATERAL DECISIONS WITHOUT PUBLIC INPUT. IT'S OPAQUE. AND SO I WOULD ASK YOU TO BE FAR MORE TRANSPARENT. I WON'T SPEAK TO THE ITEM ITSELF, BUT I ACTUALLY OPPOSE YOU BRINGING THIS BACK, BUT I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IT AGAIN. SO I WOULD JUST ASK YOU TO DO THAT. AND TO ALSO HAVE A MAP OVERLAY. I'M SURE SHE KNOWS EXACTLY WHERE THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS IN THE CITY, BUT AN OVERLAY WITH THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME, THE TOTAL UNITS WOULD BE HELPFUL. AND ALSO THAT EXPLANATION AS IT RELATES TO THE 5 0 1 C3 CREATION. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GO GLADLY ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU, MS. JOSEPH. YOU'RE WELCOME. ALRIGHT. ALL RIGHT, MEMBERS. UH, THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF THE SPEAKERS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. THE CONSENT AGENDA HAS BEEN, UH, THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED. DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO CONSENT AGENDA BOARD MEMBER VELA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM THREE ON THE AGENDA, WHICH IS GONNA BE SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T SEE A LOT OF, BUT, UH, AFFORDABLE OWNERSHIP UNITS. UH, WE ARE BUILDING ABOUT, UH, I THINK 25 UNITS AT 60 TO 80%, UH, MFI FOR OWNERSHIP. THIS IS LAND THAT'S RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM, UH, BURNETT, UH, MIDDLE, UH, AND I'M HOPING THAT THE STAFF AND, AND TEACHERS FROM, UH, BERNARD OR A ISD, UH, I BELIEVE WE BOUGHT THE PROPERTY ORIGINALLY FROM A ISD, WILL BE ABLE TO, UH, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS, UH, O AFFORDABLE HOUSING OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITY. UH, AND JUST HAPPY TO SEE IT GO THROUGH. AND I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO STAFF FOR, FOR MOVING IT FORWARD. THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBER. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? UH, IS ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN ABSTAINING FROM VOTING ON AN ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IT'S BEEN PRESENTED? ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN RECUSING THEMSELVES FROM A VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? THAT BEING THE CASE? UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON TEMPORARILY OFF THE DAES, UH, MEMBERS, WITH THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION WITHOUT OBJECTION. AT 2:47 PM WE ADJOURN THE MEETING OF THE [04:20:01] AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS. I'LL CALL BACK TO ORDER AT 2:47 PM UH, THE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS YOU'LL RECALL THAT THE TWO IMMINENT DOMAIN ITEMS, ITEMS 88 AND 89 HAVE BEEN WITHDRAWN. THAT WILL TAKE US TO ITEM [91. Conduct a public hearing and receive input concerning the City's Draft Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Action Plan, which serves as the City’s application for federal funding as required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and Texas Local Government Code Chapter 373. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.] 91. ITEM NUMBER ONE IS A PUBLIC HEARING, AND WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 91. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPENED AND I WILL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK. SO NOIA JOSEPH 91. I AM ENOVIA JOSEPH. THIS IS, UH, SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO THE HUD ACTION PLAN 20 25, 20 26. WHAT I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE IS THAT THE COMMISSION ON AGING IS ACTUALLY ON PAGE 34. THE DOCUMENT 99 TO 100 TELLS YOU ABOUT THE BARRIERS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT WHILE THE ITEM THAT YOU ACTUALLY HEARD AS IT RELATES TO OUR SENIORS MAY FEEL GOOD, IT ACTUALLY IS DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO LOOK AT TRANSPORTATION FOR THE SENIORS IN SERVICE PLAN 20 20, 20 35, 20 25. SERVICE PLAN IS WHAT'S BEFORE YOU. I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THIS IS AN ELDER WHO SPOKE RUBY TYRONE, AND SHE BASICALLY SAID, METRO DON'T CARE ABOUT US. AND SPECIFICALLY, SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE ROUTE 300 ROCKY AND MAINOR, WHERE CAPITAL METRO ELIMINATED THAT UNILATERALLY. I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND SPECIFICALLY ON THE SCREEN, CAITLIN DALTON, WHO IS NOW YOUR TRANSIT ENHANCEMENT MANAGER IN A TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT, UNILATERALLY ELIMINATED TWO 40 RUTLAND, AND THE INFORMATION IS BEFORE YOU. SHE ELIMINATED SERVICE TO ST. DAVID'S AND THERE WAS NO INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC. I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT SHE VIOLATED FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION CIRCULAR 4 7 0 2 0.1 B FOUR DASH 16, SPECIFIED THAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO FIND THE LEAST DISCRIMINATORY ALTERNATIVE I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND AS WELL IN THE RIGHT UPPER CORNER, YOU'LL SEE IN 2017, OUR SENIOR Z GO BEFORE CAPITAL METRO. AS A MATTER OF FACT, ON NOVEMBER 1ST, 2017, THEY HELD TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS. THE CAPITOL METRO ACTUALLY COLLECTED SURVEYS ABOUT 5,000 FROM WHITE CHOICE RIDERS, AGE 25 TO 35. THEY MADE A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS. THEY ACTUALLY HAD ACCESS TO TWO VEHICLES, AND THEN THE SERVICE CHANGED FOR THEM. SO IT IS DEEPLY DISTURBING AND DISINGENUOUS FOR YOU TO NOW CONSIDER THE MINORITIES AND OUR SENIORS. IT IS A HALF MILE WALK FROM COLLIN WOOD TODAY. OUR SENIOR CITIZENS PAY $7 FOR UBER TO GET FROM BREAKER IN NORTH LAMAR. PLEASE DO BETTER, MAYOR. THANK YOU MS. JOSEPH. THAT'S ALL THE SPEAKERS FOR MEMBERS. THOSE ARE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 91. ITEM NUMBER 91 IS TO CONDUCT A HEARING AND RECEIVE INPUT. THERE IS NOT ACTION SCHEDULED FOR ITEM NUMBER 91. SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 91. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED. ITEM NUMBER 92 [92. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance granting additional floor-to-area ratio entitlements to the 305 W. MLK project at 305, 307, and 309 West Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in accordance with the Downtown Density Bonus Program under City Code Section 25-2-586(B)(6). Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.] HAS BEEN POSTPONED. UH, LET ME ASK IF THERE'S ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 92. YES, MAYOR, I HAVE TWO SPEAKERS TO SPEAK ON THE POSTPONEMENT. JOHN HILDRETH AND PHILIP WILEY. MR. HILDRETH, MR. WILEY, MR. HILDRETH, MR. WILEY, I DON'T BELIEVE THEY'RE HERE. ITEM NUMBER 92 MEMBERS WAS POSTPONED. ITEM NUMBER 93 IS ALSO [93. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance amending City Code Title 25 (Land Development) to repeal University Neighborhood Overlay District requirements and regulations and to create a new zoning district for a density bonus program that grants additional building height and modifies uses and site development regulations, including compatibility standards, in exchange for affordable housing and other community benefits, for properties that are located west of the University of Texas, east of Lamar Boulevard, south of 29th Street and north of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.] A POSTPONEMENT. UH, LET ME ASK IF ANYBODY HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE POSTPONEMENT. YES, I HAVE SEVERAL SPEAKERS FOR 93 IN THIS POSTPONEMENT. STUART HIRSCH, RYAN CROWLEY, GRANT GILKER, CHRISTIAN SCHO. IF YOU'VE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS, PLEASE COME FORWARD. WE'RE ONLY TAKING TESTIMONY ON THE MERITS OF WHETHER WE OUGHT TO BE POSTPONING THIS AND NOT ON THE MERITS OF THE MATTER ITSELF, AND IT'S BEING POSTPONED. THANK YOU, COUNSEL. UM, I MOSTLY JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT THAT, UH, AS I MENTIONED IN MY PREVIOUS TESTIMONY IN THE PREVIOUS ITEM IN THE CONSENT AGENDA, THAT THIS IS RELATED TO AN AREA WHERE A LOT OF STUDENTS ARE GONNA BE IMPACTED. AND, UH, I WANNA NOTE THAT, UH, THIS WAS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED BEFORE MULTIPLE OTHER POSTPONEMENTS THAT THIS MEETING WOULD'VE BEEN HAPPENING, UH, DURING THE END OF FINALS TIME FOR STUDENTS. UH, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT YOUR INTENTION IS TO POSTPONE IT TILL, UH, SEPTEMBER 25TH AND JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT THAT. UH, IF IT WAS AT THIS EXACT SAME TIME ON THAT DATE, IT WOULD BE VERY LIKELY THAT MANY STUDENTS WOULD BE IN CLASSES AND UNABLE TO PARTICIPATE. AND SO I'D JUST LIKE YOU ALL TO, WHEN YOU'RE, UH, SETTING THAT AGENDA, CONSIDER THAT AND TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS ITEM COMES UP AT A TIME WHERE THE MANY STUDENTS THAT BE IMPACTED BY THIS, UH, UH, UNO UPDATE, UH, CAN BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. CAN YOU JUST STATE YOUR NAME REAL QUICK? OH, YES, I APOLOGIZE. MY NAME IS RYAN CROWLEY. I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT THREE AND I WORK FOR COLLEGE HOUSES A, UH, PROVIDER IN, UH, THE UNO AREA. [04:25:01] THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME. LUIS OLUGO, CHLOE WILKINSON, PHILLIP WILEY. IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED ON THAT ITEM 9 93 AND YOU WISH TO SPEAK ON THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT? HI, UH, PHIL WILEY, DOWNTOWN RESIDENT. UM, I UNDERSTAND THINGS HAPPEN AND WE HAVE A NEW GUY IN TOWN AND THEY NEED TIME AND, UH, IT'S, THERE'S A LOT OF IMPORTANT STUFF GOING ON HERE. I WOULD ENCOURAGE THAT WE HAVE SOME TRANSPARENCY THOUGH. UM, THIS IS NOT A NORMAL THING TO HAPPEN. IT ISN'T WHAT AUSTIN EXPECTS TO HAPPEN. AND SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE UT TO BE OPEN ABOUT WHAT THEIR CONCERNS ARE AND ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO SHARE AND KNOWING WHAT THAT IS AND WHAT THEY THINK NEEDS TO BE DONE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, SIR. ALL SPEAKERS FOR 93 HAVE BEEN CALLED THANK YOU MEMBERS. ITEM NUMBER 93 IS BEING POSTPONED. ITEM NUMBER 94, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM [94. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance granting site-specific variances and amendments to City Code Title 25 (Land Development) for the construction of the Walnut Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant Enhancement and Expansion Project; waiving notice and review requirements of City Code Section 25-1-502; and waiving requirements of City Code Section 25-8-41. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.] NUMBER 94. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN AND I'LL ALTERNA TO THE CITY CLERK. I HAVE THREE SPEAKERS, LILY, AN ORTIZ, BILL BUNCH, BOBBY LAVINSKY. ARE ANY OF THOSE PEOPLE PRESENT? PLEASE CALL THEIR NAMES AGAIN, LILY AN ORTIZ. BILL BUNCH. BOBBY LAVINSKY, I DON'T SEE THEM MEMBERS. THOSE ARE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AT THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 94. SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 94. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED AND THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. UH, WITH REGARD TO THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE. COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE FO UH, AND COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS SECONDS MOVES TO ADOPT THE ORDINANCE AS THEIR DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION. THE ITEM NUMBER 94 IS APPROVED WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS VELA AND HARPER MADISON TEMPORARILY OFF THE DATA. ITEM NUMBER 95 IS, UH, ALSO AN ITEM THAT HAS BEEN POSTPONED, BUT LET ME ASK IF ANYONE HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON, ON THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT. THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS. ALRIGHT, AND THEN ITEM NUMBER ONE 18, UH, IS, WAS AN ITEM FOR A PUBLIC HEARING AND THAT ITEM HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN. MEMBERS, I, ACCORDING TO MY NOTES, THAT WILL NOW TAKE US TO OUR ZONING ITEMS [2:00 PM - Zoning and Neighborhood Plan Amendments (Public Hearings and Possible Action)] AND I'LL RECOGNIZE MS. HARDEN, MAYOR AND COUNSEL, I'M JOY HARDEN WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT. YOUR ZONING AGENDA BEGINS WITH ITEM NUMBER 96 NPA 20 24 0 0 2 0 0.01. THIS ITEM'S OFFERED AS A STAFF POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR JULY 24TH COUNCIL MEETING. THE RELATED REZONING IS ITEM NUMBER 97 C 1 4 20 24 0 1 6 8. AGAIN, THIS ITEM IS OFFERED AS A STAFF POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR JULY 24TH COUNCIL MEETING. ITEM 98 IS NPA 20 25 0 0 1, 9 0.01 S EIGHT. THIS ITEM IS OFFERED AS A DISCUSSION POSTPONEMENT. THE RELATED REZONING IS ITEM 99 C 1 4 20 25 0 0 3 4 S EIGHT. AGAIN, THIS ITEM IS OFFERED AS A DISCUSSION POSTPONEMENT FOR THESE ITEMS. THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS REQUESTING A POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR JULY 24TH COUNSEL MEETING, AND THIS IS THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S FIRST POSTPONEMENT REQUEST. HOWEVER, THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT IS A 9% LOW INCOME TAX CREDIT WITH EXTREMELY STRICT DEADLINES, SO THE APPLICANT IS OPPOSED TO THE POSTPONEMENT REQUEST. UM, PLEASE ALSO NOTE THAT THESE ITEMS WERE RECOMMENDED BY STAFF IN THE PLANNING COMMISSION, AND AGAIN, THIS IS MOVING FORWARD AS A DISCUSSION. POSTPONEMENT ITEM 100 IS C 1 4 20 25 0 0 2 0. THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS. ITEM 1 0 1 IS C 8 14 0 6 0 1 0 9 0.03. THIS ITEM'S OFFERED AS A STAFF POST MOMENT REQUEST TO YOUR JULY 24TH COUNCIL MEETING. ITEM 1 0 2 IS C 1 4 2 2 4 0 1 7 8. THIS ITEM IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS. ITEM 1 0 3 IS C 1 4 20 24 0 1 8 1. THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT. SECOND AND THIRD READINGS FOR THIS ITEM, FIRST READING WAS APPROVED AT YOUR MARCH 27TH COUNCIL MEETING. THIS ITEM WAS POSTPONED AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S REQUEST FROM YOUR APRIL 10TH MEETING TO YOUR MAY 22ND COUNCIL MEETING. AND ON MAY 22ND, THIS ITEM WAS DISCUSSED AND THEN OFFERED FOR POSTPONEMENT TO TODAY. AGAIN, THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT. SECOND AND THIRD READINGS. ITEM 1 0 4 C 1 4 20 24 0 1 5 1. THIS ITEM IS OFFERED AS A POSTPONEMENT [04:30:01] REQUEST TO YOUR JULY 24TH COUNCIL MEETING BY COUNCIL MEMBER LANE. ITEM 1 0 5 IS C 4 20 24 75. THIS ITEM IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS. ITEM 1 0 6 IS C 8 1 4 20 23 0 5 7. THIS ITEM IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT. THIRD READING WITH THE FOLLOWING MOTION. AND THAT MOTION READS AMEND PART 16 SUBSECTION A FIVE. TO CHANGE THE ALLOWABLE MAXIMUM HEIGHT, ALLOWABLE MAXIMAL BUILDING HEIGHT FROM 500 FEET TO 600 FEET. AND WITH THAT, THIS ITEM AGAIN IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT. THIRD READING. ITEM 1 0 7 IS C 1 4 20 24 0 1 55. THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR DISCUSSION. THIS ITEM DOES HAVE A BALLOT PETITION, SO A MINIMUM NON VOTES IS REQUIRED FOR APPROVAL. ITEM 1 0 8. UM, WELL, THE NEXT THREE ITEMS, UM, THE NEXT THREE CASES ARE RELATED. SO ITEM 1 0 8 C 1 4 20 24 0 1 1 2. THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR POSTPONEMENT REQUEST BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA TO YOUR JULY 24TH COUNCIL MEETING. ITEM 1 0 9 IS C 1 4 20 24 0 1 1 3. THIS ITEM'S OFFERED AS A POSTPONEMENT REQUEST BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA TO YOUR JULY 24TH COUNCIL MEETING. AND ITEM ONE 10 C 1 4 20 24 0 1 1 4. THIS ITEM'S OFFERED AS A POSTPONEMENT REQUEST BY COUNCIL MEMBER RIDGE FOR YOUR JULY 24TH COUNCIL MEETING. ITEM ONE 11 C 1 4 20 24 0 1 6 5. THIS ITEM'S OFFERED FOR CONSENT. SECOND, THIRD READINGS OR RELATED CASE TO ITEM ONE 11 AS ITEM ONE 12 C 1 4 20 24 0 1 69. AND AGAIN, THIS ITEM IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT, SECOND AND THIRD READINGS, ITEM ONE 13 AS NPA 20 24 0 0 0 8 0.02. THIS ITEM IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT. THIRD READING, THE RELATED REZONING IS ITEM ONE 14 C 1 4, 20 24 0 1, 0 7. THIS ITEMS OFFERED FOR CONSENT. THIRD READING. PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE ITEMS, UM, SPEAKING TO ONE 13 AND ONE 14 RECEIVED A NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT AT YOUR APRIL 10TH COUNCIL MEETING TO YOUR MAY 8TH COUNCIL MEETING ON MAY 8TH. THESE ITEMS WERE OFFERED FOR FIRST READING AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S REQUEST ON MAY 22ND. THESE ITEMS WERE OFFERED FOR A SECOND READING AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S REQUEST, AND NOW THE STAFF IS OFFERING THESE I THESE ITEMS FOR CONSENT. THIRD READING, BUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS REQUESTING A SECOND POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR JULY 24 COUNCIL MEETING. A PETITION WAS FILED BUT WAS NOT VALID. IT STANDS AT APPROXIMATELY 70 17%. AGAIN, THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT. THIRD READING. AND I DID WANT TO READ IN A MOTION SHEET THAT, UH, UH, WAS REQUESTED BY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON. AND THIS MOTION SHEET READS AMEND TO INCLUDE A CONDITIONAL OVERLAY ON THE PROPERTY WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS. THE PROPERTY WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE CONDITIONAL OVERLAY COMBINING DISTRICT ESTABLISHED BY THIS ORDINANCE IS SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS. THE FOLLOWING USES ARE PROHIBITED USES ON THE PROPERTY, AGRICULTURAL SALES AND SERVICE, AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SERVICE, AUTOMOTIVE RENTAL, AUTOMOTIVE SALES, AUTOMOTIVE, WASHING OF ANY TYPE BAIL BOND SERVICES, BUILDING, MAINTENANCE SERVICES, CAMPGROUND, COMMERCIAL, OFF STREET PARKING, CONSTRUCTION, SALES AND SERVICE, CONVENIENCE STORAGE, DROP OFF RECYCLING COLLECTION FACILITY, ELECTRONIC PROTOTYPE ASSEMBLY, ELECTRONIC TESTING, A LOT EQUIPMENT REPAIR SERVICES, EQUIPMENT SALES, EXTERMINATING SERVICES, FUNERAL SERVICES, MONUMENT, RETAIL SALES, OUTDOOR ENTERTAINMENT, PAWN SHOP SERVICES. AND AGAIN, WITH THAT, THIS ITEM OR THESE TWO ITEMS ARE OFFERED FOR CONSENT. THIRD, READING ITEM ONE 15 C 8 1 4 8 6 0 2 3 0.03. THIS ITEM'S OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS. ITEM ONE 16 IS NPA 20 25 0 0 1 9 0.02. THIS ITEM'S OFFERED AS STAFF POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR SEPTEMBER 25TH COUNCIL MEETING. ITEM ONE 17 C 20 20 24 0 10. THIS ITEM IS OFFERED FOR A STAFF POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR SEPTEMBER 25TH COUNCIL MEETING. THIS CONCLUDES THE READING OF THE ZONING AND NPA AGENDA. AND AS ALWAYS, THIS IS AT YOUR DISCRETION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. HARDEN. UH, COUNCIL COUNCILOR MCC RY. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MOVE ITEMS 98 AND 99 TO THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH STAFF RECOMMENDED ZONING ON ALL THREE READINGS. AND THEN I'D ALSO HANG, HANG, HANG ON, HANG ON. YES, SIR. SO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS INSTEAD OF THE POSTPONEMENT, YOU'RE, YOU'RE ASKING THAT THEY BE PUT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA ON ALL THREE READINGS? YES, SIR. UH, YES. OKAY. WITH THE, WITH THE STAFF RECOMMENDED ZONING. HANG ON ONE SECOND. I'M GONNA FIGURE OUT HOW BEST TO DO THAT. I HAVE AION FOR STAFF. YEAH. I'LL TELL YOU WHAT I'M, I'M GOING TO, BASED UPON THAT AND THAT BEING A DIFFERENCE, SUCH A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE DISCUSSION ITEM FOR POSTPONEMENT AND, AND PUTTING IT ON FOR ALL THREE [04:35:01] READINGS. WHAT I'M, WHAT I'M GONNA ASK THAT YOU DO IS LET'S JUST PULL THOSE TWO ITEMS. THEY WON'T BE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, BUT THE MOTION, UH, I'LL RECOGNIZE A MOTION TO APPROVE THEM ON ALL THREE READINGS AND THAT ALLOW FOR A DISCUSSION WITH THE MAYOR, TIM, AND OTHERS. GREAT. AND THEN COULD I BRING UP ANOTHER ITEM? SURE. GREAT. UH, I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE LOOKING AT ME. I WASN'T SURE. UM, SO I, ITEM 1 0 7, UH, I MOVE TO MOVE ITEM 1 0 7 TO, TO THE CON CONSENT AGENDA WITH A PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION ON ALL THREE READINGS. WELL, AGAIN, WHAT I'LL DO, YEAH, YOU'LL PULL THAT IS I'LL PULL THAT AND, AND, AND RECOGNIZE YOU FOR A SPECIFIC MOTION ON THAT. OKAY, GREAT. UH, SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT MEMBERS, WHAT I WAS THINKING WE WOULD ALSO DO IS ON ITEM 1 0 3, SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 1 0 3, THAT WHILE IT, IT, I'M NOT SAYING IT'S A DISCUSSION ITEM IN THE SENSE THAT WE TREAT DISCUSSION ITEMS DIFFERENTLY, PULL THAT OFF SO THAT WE CAN COVER THE OTHER ITEMS THAT HAVE FEWER PEOPLE HERE TO TALK SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE THEM HAVE TO SIT THROUGH ALL OF 1 0 3. THEY CAN LEAVE IF, IF, IF THE MATTER IS TAKEN UP MORE RAPIDLY, UNLESS THERE'S OBJECTION. THAT'S WHAT I WOULD RECOGNIZE. REC RECOMMEND A 1 0 3. UH, MY ONLY WHAT WOULD BE THE ORDER THEN? WOULD IT BE 98, 99? YEAH, I JUST GO IN THE NUMBERS. YEAH. YEAH, I JUST, I JUST FOLLOW THE NUMBERS, UH, AT THAT POINT, UM, PARTICULARLY SINCE 98, 99, I'LL LOOK AT 1 0 7 HERE IN JUST A SECOND TO SEE HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THAT. 'CAUSE THAT I MAY HAVE THE SAME LOGIC IF, IF THAT'S THE CASE. OKAY. SO HERE'S, HERE'S THE PROPOSED CONSENT AGENDA, UH, 96 AND 97, POSTPONEMENT TO 7 24, 100, ALL THREE READINGS, 1 0 1 POSTPONEMENT TO 7 24 1 0 2. CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS, 1 0 4, POSTPONEMENT TO 7 24, 1 0 5, ALL THREE READINGS. 1 0 6 ON THIRD READING AS MS. HARDEN WITH THE ADDITIONAL MOTION THAT, UH, MS. HARDEN HAS READ INTO THE RECORD. 1 0 7 WILL BE PULLED, UH, 1 0 8, 1 0 9, AND ONE 10 A POSTPONEMENT TO JULY 24, 1 0 11 AND ONE 12 SECOND AND THIRD READING ONE 13 AND ONE 14, I'M SORRY, ONE 13 THIRD READING ONE 14 ON THIRD READING WITH THE, THE ADDITIONAL MOTION THAT MS. HARDIN READ INTO THE RECORD. ONE 15, ALL THREE READINGS. ONE 16 AND ONE 17 TO SEPTEMBER 25TH. THAT WILL BE THE CONSENT AGENDA. WE WILL HAVE PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON THAT. UM, LET ME GO AHEAD AND, AND TURN TO THE, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD, MS. ARDEN? I DO NOT. OKAY. AND I READ THAT RIGHT. ALRIGHT. VERY GOOD. AND THAT WAS THE RIGHT ANSWER TOO, SO. ALL RIGHT, WELL, WITH THAT, WE'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK FOR THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT. SORRY, HE'S REMOTE. AND I DON'T HAVE ANYONE REMOTE. I'M GONNA GO STRAIGHT TO, I'LL BE RIGHT BACK. ITEM 1 0 5, CHRIS PAGE, HALIMA FOSTER, JENNY GRAYSON. IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME TO THE FRONT IN ON 1 0 5. I ALSO HAVE ALEXANDRIA ANDERSON, SOLE PRAXIS, BRAD MASSING, ITEM 1 0 6, BILL BUNCH ON THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT FOR 1 0 8. BRIAN BEDROSIAN AS HE'S COMING DOWN ON DECK, I HAVE 1 0 9 IN THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT. BRAD MAKI AND BRIAN BED BEDROSIAN AS WELL. UM, IF IT'S OKAY, I'LL SPEAK. I'M SIGNED UP FOR THE NEXT THREE ITEMS. I'LL SPEAK NOW FOR ALL THREE. UM, THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK AGAIN. UH, BRIAN BEDROSIAN, UH, CHAIR OF THE NORTH LOOP NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN CONTACT TEAM. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBERS, CADRE AND VELA FOR AGREEING TO THE POSTPONEMENT. WE ARE STILL IN FRIENDLY NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE DEVELOPER ON THIS PROJECT. UH, IT IS GOING WELL. WE JUST NEEDED A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME, SO I APPRECIATE, UH, THE POSTPONEMENT. THANK YOU. JUST ONE 13, BRAD MASKING GILL 1 0 9. WHILE HE'S WALKING IN, I HAVE ONE 11 BILL BUNCH, [04:40:03] ONE 12 BILL BUNCH. MR. MASSING, ARE YOU COMING DOWN TO SPEAK? UM, BRAD MASSING AGAIN, UH, JUST AF AFTER, UH, ITEM 80 AND THIS BEING ANOTHER DB 90 CASE, UM, I'D ENCOURAGE Y'ALL TO POSTPONE THIS. I MEAN, I KNOW IT'S NOT, I MEAN, THIS, THIS IS WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING AND, UH, POSTPONE IT FOR A LOT LONGER UNTIL, UH, THE, UH, THE DELIBERATIONS ON THE, ON ITEM 80, UH, I THINK ALL THESE, UH, DB NINETIES NEED TO WAIT, SO, AND ANYWAY, THIS ONE'S AT 7 0 4 EAST 53RD STREET, UH, THE TAN HILL BRANCH WATERSHED IN DISTRICT FOUR. OKAY, FOR ITEM ONE 13, I HAVE A REMOTE SPEAKER, GUS NIELSEN. HI FOLKS. UH, MY NAME IS GU NIELSEN. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE JJC BROOK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, WHICH IS DIRECTLY EAST OF THE AUSTIN HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD, WHO IS IN THE, THE GROUP SPEAKING ABOUT THIS, UM, THIS ZONING CASE A LOT. UM, I'M ALSO HERE TO SUPPORT THEM IN OPPOSITION OF THE APPROVAL OF THE THIRD READING TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL TIME FOR THEM TO NEGOTIATE THEIR RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS. UM, WHILE MANY WERE INITIALLY REJECTED BY THE OWNER, UM, I THINK THEY'RE STILL WORTHWHILE TO TRY AND NEGOTIATE MORE. THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS MADE CLEAR THAT THEY'RE NOT ANTI HOUSING, BUT WANT IT DONE IN A RESPONSIBLE WAY. UM, AND AGAIN, TO ECHO THE EARLIER SPEAKER, I THINK POSTPONING MORE OF THE DB 90 ITEMS UNTIL WE HAVE A BETTER IDEA OF WHAT OTHER OPTIONS MAKE SENSE WOULD MAKE A LOT OF SENSE. UM, ON BEHALF OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD, I ALSO WANT TO ADD THAT WE'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE TRAFFIC IMPACT TO THE AIRPORT IN MAINOR INTERSECTION. UM, NO MATTER HOW, NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE RIGHT OF WAY THERE OR THE DRIVEWAY PLACEMENT, THAT IS GONNA CREATE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AT AN ALREADY TREACHEROUS INTERSECTION, UM, ESPECIALLY IF WE APPROVE EXTRA DENSITY. SO, THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL OF MY TIME. ONE 13 VINCENT CALZONE. CHRIS PAGE. JENNY GRAYSON, JUST A REMINDER, IF I HAVE SAID YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME DOWN TO THE PODIUM, AND WHEN IT'S FREE, PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME INTO THE RECORD. GO AHEAD. HI, I'M VINCENT CALON. UM, I THINK I HAVE A PRESENTATION SOMEWHERE. UH, TODAY I WANNA TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE CLIENT BEHIND THE ZONING APPLICANT. AUSTIN GROWTH VENTURES LISTS 29 67 MAINOR ROAD ON THEIR WEBSITE, ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHER PROPERTIES IN THEIR PORTFOLIO. EACH OF THESE PROPERTIES INCLUDES AN IMAGE OF A RENDERING. THERE ARE NO IMAGES OF COMPLETED PROJECTS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THE CEO OF AUSTIN GROWTH VENTURES IS STEVEN GIBSON. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. MR. GIBSON ALSO HAPPENS TO BE THE VICE PRESIDENT OF REAL ESTATE EQUITY AND DEBT AT EUREKA HOLDINGS. NEXT SLIDE. SOME OF YOU MIGHT BE FAMILIAR WITH EUREKA HOLDINGS, THE FIRM THAT BOUGHT UP OVER 70 PROPERTIES ON EAST 12TH STREET. MANY OF THESE PROPERTIES SIT VACANT AND UNDEVELOPED. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. BACK A SLIDE, PLEASE. UM, SORRY. NEXT SLIDE. UH, TODAY I WANT TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON SAID OF THE SALES, IT WOULD SEEM APPROPRIATE TO ME THAT THERE WOULD BE SOME MECHANISM THAT WAS TRIGGERED AN ALARM WHEN A SENSITIVE VULNERABLE AREA WAS HAVING LOTS OF SALES. THE AREA DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THIS PROPOSED CHANGE IS ONE OF THOSE SENSITIVE VULNERABLE AREAS. I BRING ALL OF THIS UP BECAUSE I AM PRO DEVELOPMENT AND I DON'T BELIEVE ANYTHING WILL BE DEVELOPED AT 29 67 MAINOR ROAD. I WOULD LOVE NOTHING MORE THAN FOR THE INTERSECTION AT MAINOR ROAD AND AIRPORT BOULEVARD TO BE SO DEVELOPED THAT CARS HAVE TO DRIVE 20 MILES PER HOUR THROUGH THE INTERSECTION SO I CAN WALK MY SIX MONTH OLD CHILD AND MY DOG SAFELY ACROSS THE ROAD. I'M EXTREMELY SKEPTICAL OF AUSTIN GROWTH VENTURES IS GOING TO DEVELOP. I'M EXTREMELY SKEPTICAL THAT AUSTIN GROWTH VENTURES IS GOING TO DEVELOP MUCH OF ANYTHING. I'M EXTREMELY WARY OF THEIR ASSOCIATION WITH EUREKA HOLDINGS [04:45:01] AND THEIR HISTORICAL LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AROUND THE DEVELOPMENT OF EAST 12TH STREET. AND I THINK IT'S THIS COUN CITY COUNCIL'S RESPONSIBILITY TO REMAIN VIGILANT ON REAL ESTATE SPECULATION AND DESI DENY THIS ZONING CHANGE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'VE HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE APPROACH US ABOUT ITEM ONE OH FIVE, SO I'M GONNA CALL THOSE NAMES AGAIN. AND IF YOU'RE HERE, PLEASE COME ON DOWN. WE, WE HAVE SOMEBODY AT THE PODIUM, WHICH I BELIEVE THAT'S WHICH ALEX, ANDREA ANDERSON. WHICH ONE ARE YOU WANTING TO SPEAK ON? 1 0 5. OKAY, HANG ON. UM, PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK THAT. OKAY. DID AND YOU CALLED THE NAMES? CORRECT. ALRIGHT, WELL LET'S, LET'S DO THAT AGAIN. ALRIGHT. SO ALEXANDRIA, YOU DO HAVE TIME DONATED, SO I WANNA MAKE SURE SOLE PRAXIS IS HERE. YEAH. AND HALIMA FOSTER HALIMA. I DON'T SEE HALIMA FOSTER. OKAY. THAT IS HER IN THE CLASSROOM. I'M ALSO, OKAY. DON'T SEE IF I NEED IT ALL TOO. I'M SORRY. WE'LL SEE IF I NEED IT OFF. OKAY. UM, AFTERNOONS, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR. MY NAME IS ALEXANDRIA ANDERSON AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON THE BEHALF OF THE EAST MLK CONTACT TEAM AND THE MLK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT OUR CONCERNS REGARDING THE PROPOSED ZONING CHANGES TO AIRPORT AND OAK SPRINGS. WITH THE POSTPONEMENT, IT WAS OUR HOPE THAT WE WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DIVE DEEPER, FIND CREATIVE WAYS TO COLLABORATE AND COME TO A WIN-WIN FOR EVERYONE. WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THE DEVELOPER'S REPRESENTATIVE, AND THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY CHANGES SINCE THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING. WE ARE HERE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION OF THIS DEVELOPMENT AND OTHERS LIKE IT THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO DELIVER DEEP AFFORDABILITY BUT ARE MISSING THE BALL. WE STILL HAVE CRUCIAL, UH, CONCERNS AROUND ENVIRONMENTAL STABILITY, UPDATED INFRASTRUCTURE, PUBLIC SAFETY, DISPLACEMENT, QUALITY OF LIFE, AND TRUE AFFORDABILITY. AS WE KNOW, NOTHING HAPPENS IN ISOLATION. DISPLACEMENT IS CONTINUING TO HAPPEN UNDER THIS CURRENT COUNCIL, JUST LIKE THE LAST TWO COUNCIL CYCLES SINCE 2018, BASED ON THE UT UPROOTED STUDY AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN DISPLACEMENT DASHBOARD, OUR AREA HAS BEEN AN ACTIVE DISPLACEMENT RISK AND VULNERABLE DISPLACEMENT RISK. BECAUSE OF THESE POLICIES, IT HAS NOT CHANGED AND IT'S ONLY BEING AMPLIFIED. THESE SPECIFIC AREAS WHERE THIS DEVELOPMENT IS LOCATED IS CURRENTLY LABELED AS AN ACTIVE DEVELOPMENT DISPLACEMENT RISK. AND AS WE CONTINUE TO BUILD THE NUMBERS OF AREAS THAT INCREASE AND CONTINUE TO MOVE FURTHER EAST, EVEN WITH LOWER RENTAL RATES, THERE ARE STILL CURRENTLY RENTAL VACANCIES HAVE INCREASED. OUR COMMUNITY IS OVER GETTING THE SHORT END OF THE STICK AND HAVING TO MAKE DEALS FOR CRUMBS. SINCE WE HAVE AGREED THAT AMENDING DB 90 IS NEEDED, ALL DB 90 CASES SHOULD BE POSTPONED INTO THESE REGULATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS ARE IRONED OUT. RESILIENCE MEANS MORE THAN JUST ECONOMIC PLIABILITY. AND AS WE KNOW, AUSTIN HAS SO MUCH TO OFFER AND WE WANT THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY TO NOT BE DISPLACED. THERE ARE PLENTY, PLENTY OF SECTION EIGHT HOUSING IN THIS AREA. AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT HAVE HOMES. AND FURTHER AND FURTHER, THESE PEOPLE ARE BEING PUSHED OUT. IF YOU HAVE NOT GONE TO THIS AREA, IF YOU NOT HAVE NOT BEEN TO THIS AREA, PLEASE, PLEASE GO AND CHECK IT OUT AND REACH OUT TO THE INDIVIDUALS THAT LIVE IN THIS AREA TO FIND OUT MORE. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CHRIS PAGE, UH, PRESIDENT OF THE HOMEWOOD HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, WHICH IS DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO WHERE THIS DB 90 IS. UM, IT'S A SMP LEVEL TWO ROAD. UH, THE SITE IS DIRECTLY SOUTH OF THE STEEPEST ELEVATION CHANGE IN EAST AUSTIN, WHICH IS AN UNREGISTERED CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURE. UM, I THINK THE FACT THAT IT'S NOT REGISTERED AS WELL AS MANY OF THE SPRINGS THAT ALSO EXIST ALONG THAT ROAD SPEAKS TO OUR CITY'S HISTORY OF DISINVESTMENT OR WILLFUL IGNORANCE FOR WHAT EXISTS IN EAST AUSTIN. UM, DB 90 GENERATES, UH, YOU KNOW, AFFORDABILITY LEVELS THAT WE KNOW ARE INADEQUATE FOR THIS PARTICULAR CENSUS TRACT. UH, IF YOU COMPARE WHAT THE CENSUS TRACT MFI IS TO WHAT OUR MFIS THAT WE WOULD GENERATE FOR, YOU KNOW, THE FRACTION OF UNITS, UH, THAT WOULD BE INCOME RESTRICTED IN A DB 90. THERE'S A GROSS DISPARITY. UH, ESSENTIALLY WE WOULD BE PLACEMAKING FOR NO ONE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN AN AREA THAT THE CITY IS ACTIVELY MAPPED AS GENTRIFYING IN THE UT UPROOTED STUDY. AND MANY OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT, UH, OCCURRED ON THIS DIOCESE BEFORE SOME OF YOU WERE ELECTED. UM, SO PLEASE, OUT OF RESPECT FOR THE HISTORY OF EAST AUSTIN, THE, UH, INJUSTICES [04:50:01] THAT HAVE BEEN DONE THROUGH, UH, BAD LAND POLICY, UM, PLEASE LISTEN TO THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. UM, TRY TO CALIBRATE IT AND DON'T TREAT US AS THE NEXT TREE THAT YOU NEED TO CHOP DOWN OR DONE WITH THE AX. YOU'VE CALLED IT AN AX. YOU KNOW, IT'S AN AX. WE DON'T NEED FOUR AXES. WE NEED SOMETHING THAT WORKS. WE NEED A SCALPEL. THANK YOU. MR. PAGE, DID YOU WANNA SPEAK ON ITEM ONE 13? IF YOU COULD REMIND ME WHICH ITEM THAT IS, 2 9 6 7 MANOR ROAD REVISION. SURE. UM, SO THE MLK TODD, UH, WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED WITH THE INTENT OF ANY NEW HEIGHT, ANY NEW ENTITLEMENT THAT GOES TO, UH, THE DEVELOPMENT IN THAT AREA. IT WOULD BE REQUIRED AT 60% MFI FOR 25% OF THE UNITS. UH, THAT'S THE SPIRIT OF THE MLK TODD. WE KNOW THAT THE MLK TODD HAS NOT WORKED OUT BEAUTIFULLY. IN FACT, IT'S WORKED OUT TRAGICALLY. MOST OF THE WORKING CLASS THAT WOULD ORDINARILY BE RIDING THE RAIL. THE ONLY RAIL THAT WE HAVE IN OUR CITY HAVE BEEN DISPLACED ALREADY. AND IN FACT, WHAT WE HAVE SEEN GO INTO NEW DEVELOPMENT IN THE MLK TODD AREA IS OFTEN, UH, HIGH INCOME EARNERS, UH, TYPICALLY WHITE THAT OFTEN HAVE ONE TO TWO VEHICLES, DON'T USE THE TRAIN THAT THEIR NEW HOUSING WAS BUILT AROUND. UM, I THINK IT'S CRUCIAL THAT THE SPIRIT OF THE MLK TODD BE PRESERVED. UH, THAT NEW HEIGHT, NEW ENTITLEMENT THAT IS GENERATED IN THAT AREA RECEIVES THE PUBLIC FUNDING THAT IT SHOULD TO SUBSIDIZE, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT IS TRULY AFFORDABLE TO PEOPLE THAT, UH, ARE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO USE TRANSIT, WHICH IS PEOPLE THAT ARE THE WORKING CLASS PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE TONS OF MONEY FOR EXTRA CARS. UM, AND I THINK THAT, UH, THIS PARTICULAR SITE, UH, IS CERTAINLY OPEN FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT, BUT THE DEVELOPMENT THAT WOULD BE DELIVERED BY DB 90 IS GROSSLY OUT OF WHACK AND IT DOES NOT, UH, HONOR THE SPIRIT OF THE MLK TODD. IT DISHONORS AT GREATLY. THANK YOU FOR ITEM ONE 13. DANIELLA VALIER, ARE YOU HERE? OKAY. SHE HAS TIME DONATED BY ALEXANDRIA ANDERSON. ARE YOU STILL HERE? I SEE IN THE BACK FOUR MINUTES AFTER DANIELLA. WE HAVE MARK HILTON, BRIAN BEDROSIAN. HOW ABOUT PRESENTATION MAYOR WATSON AND COUNCIL MEMBERS? MY NAME IS DANIELLA VAYE AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE AUSTIN HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. FIRST THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, WE RECOGNIZE INITIATIVE OF THOUGHTFUL D 90 AMENDMENTS. WE ALSO WANNA THANK VANESSA FUENTES. WE, WE ADVOCATING FOR A ONE TO ONE-TO-ONE AFFORDABLE HOUSING RATIO. CHEETO VILLA FOR EMPHASIZING THAT THIS CONVERSATION IS NOT ABOUT HEIGHT, IT'S WHAT BRINGS BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. RYAN TER, WE KNOW YOU WERE AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD SOMETIME, SO YOU KNOW THE INFRASTRUCTURE. YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE ISSUES. WE'RE STILL ADVOCATING FOR THOSE COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ AND LER, THANK YOU FOR STEPPING INTO THE DB 90 DIALOGUE WITH PURPOSE CHEN, WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMITMENT TO BRINGING AFFORDABILITY INTO NEW AREAS OF OUR CITY, BUT TODAY WE'RE LOOKING AT A SITE THAT WOULD BE REDUCED FROM 25% AFFORDABILITY TO JUST 10% UNDER D 90 COUNCIL MEMBER. SO YOUR OFFICE HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY ENGAGED WITH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE'RE SO GRATEFUL TO BE PART OF D NINE TWO. COUNCIL MEMBER LANE AND ELLIS. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, WE HURT YOU ON JUNE 3RD. YOU RECENTLY SAID YOU WILL STAND BEHIND YOUR D ONE CONSTITUENTS AND WE'RE PROUD OF THAT. WE'RE ASKING YOU TO REFLECT THAT COMMITMENT TODAY AS WELL. WE WANT TO WORK WITH YOU. WE WANT TO SHINE WITH YOU. OUR NEIGHBORHOOD HAS DONE THE HARD WORK. WE'VE KNOCKED ON MORE THAN 200 DOORS, BUILT AN ACTIVE NETWORKER NETWORK AROUND US, BUT NOT ONLY AROUND US, THE WHOLE TOD. AND WE SHOWED UP WITH NEW IDEAS AND WITH INTENT. JUST LAST WEEK, A NEIGHBOR ON RANDOLPH ASKED, WHERE EXACTLY ARE DV 90 ALLOWED? I HAD TO TELL HER THERE IS ACTUALLY NO CLEAR PLAN. AND THAT'S EXACTLY THE PROBLEM, BUT WE'RE HOPING TO WORK ON IT. CAN YOU KEEP CHANGING THE SLIDES? IT'S, THANK YOU. WE NEVER MET THE PROPERTY OWNER YET. WE SUBMITTED DETAIL, RESTRICTIVE COVENANT PROPOSALS, IDEAS THAT WERE ROOTED IN SUSTAINABILITY, [04:55:01] SAFETY, AND AFFORDABILITY. AND JUST OUT OF THE BLUE THAT DEVELOPERS SAID, NO MORE NEGOTIATIONS. SO WE'RE HERE WITH 150 PETITION SIGNATURES AND YET CITY STAFF DISQUALIFIED ONLY 16 THAT WERE DIGITAL. WE'VE PROVIDED PROOF THAT OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS DIGITAL SIGNATURES WERE ACCEPTED IN PREVIOUS CASES BEFORE. AND AGAIN, WE HAVE A NO. LET ME BE CLEAR RIGHT NOW. DENYING OUR PETITION TODAY IS SAYING NO TO THOSE 150 NEIGHBORS WHO CARE DEEPLY ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR FUTURE. TOD. MANY ARE EXCITED TO PARTICIPATE, BUT MANY LONG-TERM RESIDENTS, INCLUDING THOSE WHO'VE BEEN HERE SINCE 1950, HAVE TOLD US THEY FEEL THIS ME DISMISSED AND HOPELESS MAINOR ROAD AND AIRPORT BOULEVARD IS NOT JUST A CORNER, US NEIGHBORS, WE LIKE TO CALL IT THE PORTAL TO THE EAST SIDE. WE DESERVE DEVELOPMENT THAT IS TRANSPARENT, COLLABORATIVE, AND THOUGHTFUL. MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE'RE ASKING YOU TO RESPECT YOUR PETITION AND ALLOW US THE TIME TO SHAPE THIS PROJECT THE RIGHT WAY. THIS IS THE FIRST TOD REMOVAL AND WE'LL GO INTO DV 90. WE'VE ADMITTED IT'S NOT RIGHT. LET'S DO IT RIGHT. LET'S SET POSITIVE, PRESENT, AND PROTECT THE VALUES THAT MAKE EAST AUSTIN SO SPECIAL. AND WE'RE A NEW NEIGHBORHOOD. YOU HAVEN'T SEEN ME AROUND. I'M WEARING THIS BLAZER TODAY. I BARELY KNOW WHAT I'M DOING. BUT WE ARE ASKING THAT WHATEVER HAPPENS TODAY, IF YOU DON'T WANNA GRANT US THAT POSTPONEMENT, WE REALLY WANNA KEEP WORKING ON THOSE RESTRICTED COVENANTS. EVEN THOUGH THEY SAID NO, WE'RE ASKING FOR BARE MINIMUM. WE'RE ASKING FOR BIRD LINES. WE'RE ASKING FOR BETTER LANDSCAPE. WE'RE ASKING TO TAKE CARE OF OUR CREEK THAT IS BEHIND THAT PROPERTY. WE'RE ASKING FOR BARE MINIMUM. CAN WE DO BETTER THAN BARE MINIMUM? CAN WE GIVE DEEPER AFFORDABILITY? MR. MAYOR, COUNSEL, UH, BRIAN BEDROSIAN. UH, RIGHT NOW I'M JUST SPEAKING AS A, UH, AS A CITIZEN IN D NINE. I THINK THE AMOUNT OF TIMES THAT I HAVE SHOWN UP HERE TO TALK TO Y'ALL, YOU REALIZE HOW MUCH I BELIEVE IN CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT. DANIELLA AND HER NEIGHBORS, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THEY'VE EVER DONE THIS. THEY'VE FORMED A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION OUT OF NOTHING. AND ADMITTEDLY, THEY'RE NOT GOOD AT IT, YET, THEY'RE STILL WORKING ON IT. THE, THE DELAYS THAT HAVE COME FROM THIS PROCESS ARE A RESULT OF THE FACT THAT THEY ARE NEW TO THIS PROCESS. AND I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SPACE WHERE POSSIBLE TO ENCOURAGE MORE NEIGHBORHOODS TO DO THIS. I'M ASKING YOU TODAY TO PLEASE SUPPORT THEIR BID FOR POSTPONEMENT. THEY'RE NOT ASKING FOR A LOT FROM THIS DEVELOPER. THEY'RE JUST TRYING TO MAKE THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD BETTER. THEY'RE NOT FIGHTING THE DEVELOPER. THEY'RE NOT FIGHTING THE PROJECT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. JIM WALKER AND MISAEL RAMOS. IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED LONG TIME LISTENER, FIRST TIME SPEAKER , I COULD TALK ABOUT THE ABSURDITY OF THE LOCATION AND EVERY RED FLAG FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THIS SCALE, STARTING AT IT'S WEDGED BETWEEN A TOW TRUCK CENTER AND A BE GREAT GAS STATION. NEXT SLIDE. I COULD TALK ABOUT WHO IT IS. YOU ALL ARE ENTRUSTING TO BUILD THIS UNPRECEDENTED DEVELOPMENT AND THEIR INSULTING WEBSITE THAT HAS THE SAME 3D RENDERING FOR MULTIPLE PROJECTS AND A LATIN PLACEHOLDER TEXT. NEXT SLIDE. ONE OF THESE DEVS RUNS A TAX PROTEST COMPANY AND THE OTHER IS QUIETLY HELPING EUREKA EMPTY OUT 12TH STREET OF ITS RESIDENCE AND HISTORY. NEXT SLIDE. I COULD EVEN TALK ABOUT THE TRAFFIC DISASTER THAT WILL BE CREATED WITH ITS SINGLE ENTRY AND EXIT LOCATED DIRECTLY OPPOSITE THE NEW PREMIUM BUS STOP AND 20 FEET FROM ONE OF AUSTIN'S MOST COMPLEX AND DANGEROUS INTERSECTIONS. NEXT SLIDE. OR ABOUT HOW YOU, YOUR OWN TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT WILL HAVE TO OPERATE AS A RIDE IN RIDE OUT ACCESS, THUS CREATING OUR ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD AS A TRAFFIC CUT THROUGH. I COULD TALK ABOUT ALL THESE, UM, THE ABSO I, SORRY. I COULD TALK ABOUT THE ABSOLUTE IMPENETRABLE ROADBLOCKS THE CITY PUTS UP AGAINST THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE JUST DOING THIS FOR FREE BECAUSE THEY CARE ABOUT OUR HOMES AND COMMUNITIES FUNCTIONS LIKE THE 20% SIGNATURES FROM THE TOD THAT WE HAD TO GET COMPARED TO THE SMOOTH RIDE, GIVEN TO EMPLOYED LOBBYISTS LIKE THROWER AND DEVELOPERS WHO DON'T NEED TO ENGAGE WITH US. THEY DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE TO SPEAK TO US. RECENTLY, WE EVEN HAD TO LISTEN TO SOMEONE FROM D ONE TELL US THAT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SHOULD BE EVEN [05:00:01] GRATEFUL FOR THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT. BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT I WANNA SAY. WHAT I WANNA SAY IS WE CARE DEEPLY ABOUT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE ARE THE NEXT GENERATION OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. US THREE MONTHS AGO, WHAT A TOD WAS. I WOULD'VE SAID IT LIVES IN A CREEK. WE ARE TRYING AS HARD AND AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AS A COMMUNITY TO NAVIGATE THESE INTRICACY. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. SORRY. HEY, UH, MY NAME IS, UH, MESSIAH RAMOS. I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE ROGERS, WASHINGTON HOLY CROSS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. AND I WANNA START MY TESTIMONY OUT BY ONE SHOUTING OUT THE AUSTIN HEIGHTS NEIGHBORS FOR ACTUALLY ORGANIZING AND BRINGING OUT ALL THE NEIGHBORS IN EAST AUSTIN AND D ONE. THEY HAVE WORKED TIRELESSLY AND KNOCKED ON DOORS TO GET THIS PETITION. AND JUST TO GET BASIC ASK. I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL HAVE BEEN ON MAINOR ROAD AND AIRPORT, BUT OFF THAT INTERSECTION. IT'S INSANELY DANGEROUS. WE HAD A COUPLE OF DEATHS THERE A FEW MONTHS AGO. NOT TO MENTION ON MAINOR ROAD, THAT AREA FLOODS BECAUSE OF THE UPPER BOGGY CREEK. THE STORM THAT JUST HAPPENED FLOODED A LOT OF CARS AND IT ALSO FLOODS A LOT OF HOUSES IN THAT, IN THAT AREA, IN THE AUSTIN HEIGHTS NE NEIGHBORHOOD. THESE NEIGHBORS JUST WANT THESE TYPE OF PROTECTIONS, THESE TYPE OF ANALYSIS DONE THAT WILL ACTUALLY GIVE THEM A HOSPITABLE PLACE TO LIVE AND THRIVE AND GROW THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. AND SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE ASKING FOR THIS POSTPONEMENT TO HAPPEN TODAY. WE THANKED EVERYBODY WHO'S BEEN ON THEIR SIDE. THANK YOU, ZOE. UM, THANK YOU NATASHA FOR ALSO STANDING WITH THE PEOPLE ON THIS ONE VOTE TO POSTPONE. THANK YOU. JIM WALKER, PRESIDENT OF THE CHERRYWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. WE'RE ALSO ADJACENT. UH, I UNDERSTAND IT'S ON THIRD CONSENT THROUGH READING CONSENT, BUT I WOULD ALSO ENCOURAGE YOU TO POSTPONE, PULL IT OFF. UH, THERE WAS ACTUALLY A LOT OF PROGRESS MADE BETWEEN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE DEVELOPER OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS THAT THAT SEEMED TO KIND OF HAVE BEEN PULLED BACK OR DIAL BACK QUITE A BIT. UM, I THINK THAT NEEDS NOW MORE TIME TO KIND OF RE COME BACK INTO AND BE REWARDED FOR THE NEGOTIATION. UH, I'LL PILE ON AS WELL WITH, UH, BRIAN AND CIO O ABOUT, UM, RECOGNIZING AUSTIN HEIGHTS ORGANIZING. AND JUST AS THAT, THAT YOUNG SPEAKER THIS MORNING, YOU KNOW, KIND OF ACKNOWLEDGING, YOU KNOW, COMING INTO PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, COMING INTO PUBLIC SPEAKING. THIS IS ANOTHER NEIGHBORHOOD THAT'S NOW ORGANIZED AROUND A CONTROVERSIAL PROJECT TO DO THAT. AND THAT NEEDS SOME RECOGNITION. AND THEN THE, THE THING THAT WE'VE, THE CHERRYWOOD HAS STOOD ON, UH, BEFORE WITH THIS PARTICULAR PARCEL, YOU'RE CARVING A PARCEL OUT OF A TODD. IT'S AN OLD TODD, BUT THAT MAINOR ROAD AIRPORT INTERSECTION WHERE YOU HAVE THE 8 37, AND I'M GONNA FORGET THE OTHER ONE, BUT TWO METRO RAPID BUS WINES THERE THAT NEEDS SMALL AREA PLANNING. THERE WAS A HUGE TRIANGLE OF PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY IN FRONT OF THIS PARCEL THAT RESTRICTS HOW MUCH IT CAN BE DEVELOPED. THAT ALONE SHOULD TRIGGER SMALL AREA PLANNING, KIND OF, KIND OF EFFORT AND TIME. UM, SO FOR THOSE REASONS, UM, AND ALL THE OTHER REASONS THAT, THAT JOE AND OTHERS, UH, HIGHLIGHTED ABOUT THE TRANSIT, THE TRAFFIC IMPACT, THE, UH, AFFORDABILITY GOALS THAT WERE INTENDED FOR THIS AREA, UH, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO POSTPONE. THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO ITEM ONE 14, VINCENT CALZONE. CHRIS PAGE. JENNY GRAYSON. HI, VINCENT CALZONE AGAIN. UM, SIR, LET ME JUST DOUBLE CHECK 'CAUSE YOU HAVE SOMEONE WHO DONATED TIME TO YOU. MISAEL, ARE YOU STILL HERE? OH, MISEL RAMOS. FOUR MINUTES. OKAY. THANK YOU. EARLIER I SPOKE ABOUT OUR SKEPTICISM OF AUSTIN GROWTH VENTURES AND THEIR ABILITY TO DEVELOP THE LOT AT 29 67 MAINOR ROAD. I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS THE SKEPTICISM. YOU'VE HEARD FROM MANY PEOPLE TODAY THAT SHARE MY CONCERNS. AND ON TUESDAY AFTERNOON, WE SUBMITTED A PETITION WITH 147 SIGNATURES OF OUR NEIGHBORS. THERE WERE MANY ROADBLOCKS TO COLLECTING THESE SIGNATURES. THE CITY'S INTERPRETATION OF THE AFFECTED AREA INCLUDED THE ENTIRE TOD OVER 400 PROPERTIES. THE TYPICALLY THESE PETITIONS CONCERN ONLY PROPERTIES WITHIN 200 FEET OF THE ZONING CHANGE. NEVERTHELESS, WE KNOCKED ON AT LEAST 200 DOORS WITH THE HELP OF OUR NEIGHBORS OVER AND OVER AGAIN. WE HEARD CONCERNS FROM OUR NEIGHBORS ABOUT THE INTERSECTION AT MANNAR AND AIRPORT. SPECIFICALLY THE LACK OF PLANNING AROUND NEW DEVELOPMENTS. A ROADBLOCK WE DID NOT ENCOUNTER WAS RELUCTANCE TO SIGN OUR PETITION [05:05:01] OF THE FEW WHO WERE INITIALLY RELUCTANT. WE JUST SHOWED THEM AUSTIN GROWTH VENTURES WEBSITE, AUSTIN GROWTH VENTURES OWN WEBSITE, EASILY CONVINCED OUR NEIGHBORS THAT THIS IS NOT A SERIOUS PROJECT. OUR NEXT ROAD DOCK WAS THAT MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS ARE RENTERS, ABOUT 40%. MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS ARE ELDER ELDERLY AND HAVE LIVING TRUSTS. MANY LOTS HAVE MULTIPLE CONDO UNITS. EACH OF THESE REQUIRES ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION TO SIGN THE PETITION. WHEN WE FINALLY TRIED TO SUBMIT THE PETITION, WE WENT TO MULTIPLE CITY OFFICES AND RECEIVED VARYING INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO PROPERLY SUBMIT. AS FOR OUR LAST ROADBLOCK, WE WERE TOLD THAT ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES DON'T COUNT DESPITE BEING ACCEPTED IN PREVIOUS ZONING CASES. FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, THE DENIAL OF ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES SEEMS LEGALLY AND PROCEDURALLY DUBIOUS. WE ASK THAT CITY COUNCIL STEPS IN TO SEND A STRONG MESSAGE OF SUPPORT TO OUR 147 NEIGHBORS AND DENY THIS ZONING CHANGE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALEXANDRIA ANDERSON, BRAD MASSENGILL. DANIELLE, YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED AND YOU WANT TO SPEAK. PLEASE COME FORWARD. HEY, Y'ALL. UH, I'M, I'M HERE TO SUPPORT DANIELLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. UH, THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD ON THIS. I'VE BEEN HERE EVERY TIME THEY'VE BEEN HERE AND PLEADING WITH Y'ALL TO, UH, TO LISTEN TO 'EM. THIS, THIS, UH, THIS DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE POSTPONEMENT UNDER THE WHOLE, UH, DB 90 REWORKING THING. UH, IT'S WORTH POINTING OUT THAT THIS IS IN THET HILL BRANCH AND, UH, BOGGY CREEK, UH, WATERSHEDS THAT TANA HILL BRANCHES HAS PICKED UP. I'M, I'M ESTIMATING 10 DB NINETIES AT THIS POINT OF 85% IMPERVIOUS COVER. UM, I THINK WE'RE FLIRTING WITH THE BIG FLOODING EVENT IF Y'ALL KEEP APPROVING THESE WITHOUT DUE CONSIDERATION. UM, AND THIS IS IN DISTRICT ONE AND DISTRICT NINE. HELLO. UM, I'LL BE BRIEF, AS EVERYONE HAS ALREADY SHARED THEIR CONCERNS, I APPRECIATE THE WORK OF DANIELLA AND MEETING THE NEIGHBORS MONTHS AND MONTHS AGO. UM, THEY'RE NOT ASKING FOR MUCH. I THINK WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. AND SO BEING ABLE TO CONSIDER IT AND BEING MINDFUL OF THAT, UM, AND DEFINITELY PLEASE LOOK AT CONSIDERING THEIR, UM, ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES. THESE PEOPLE LIVE IN BERLIN AND OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, BUT THEY'RE STILL ACTIVE AND AWARE, AND THESE, THESE NEIGHBORS TOOK A LOT OF TIME TO GET THE SIGNATURES FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS. SO JUST SUPPORT THEM. Y'ALL. CHRIS PAGE, UM, DISTRICT ONE PRESIDENT OF HOMEWOOD HEIGHTS. UM, YEAH, I, I DON'T WANNA WASTE YOUR TIME. I THINK EVERYONE HAS GIVEN A PRETTY GOOD SUMMARY OF THE ISSUES IN THIS CASE, BUT SOME THAT HAVE BEEN MAYBE UNDER DISCUSSED OR THE AMOUNT OF FLOODING THAT THE SITE, UH, CURRENTLY HAS WITH THE UNDERBUILT INFRASTRUCTURE. I THINK THERE'S A 30 FOOT DRAINAGE EASEMENT ON THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE LOT, WHICH BACKS UP DIRECTLY TO A BUNCH OF HOMES. AND CURRENTLY, I'M SURE WITHIN THIS LAST, UH, COUPLE STORM CYCLES, THERE IS WATER JUST GUSHING, UH, ALL OVER THEIR PROPERTIES, SOMETIMES INTO THEIR HOUSE. UM, IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT RADICALLY INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF IMPERVIOUS COVER ON THE SITE, UM, THEN YOU ARE KNOWINGLY SANCTIONING OR AUTHORIZING THE PROPERTY DAMAGE TO ADJACENT HOMES. SO THAT'S SOMETHING YOU SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT BECAUSE HEALTH AND HUMAN SAFETY, UH, ARE ONE OF THE TOP PRIORITIES FOR ALL ZONING. IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT ZONING LAW EXISTS. UM, THE AFFORDABILITY IN THIS AREA, UH, NEEDS DEEPER AFFORDABILITY THAN WHAT DB 90 OFFERS. UM, THE STREET CONFIGURATION DEFINITELY NEEDS A LOT OF WORK, AND THERE'S A LOT OF RIGHT AWAY. BUT, UH, MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE SHOULD NOT BE SETTING A PRECEDENT THAT CUTS UP A TODD, BECAUSE THAT WILL ALSO CUT UP YOUR DBE TODDS AND YOUR E TODDS AND EVERYTHING ELSE. SO IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERN ABOUT ALL THE POLICY THAT YOU CREATED IN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS, YOU SHOULD THINK SERIOUSLY ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT SOMEONE CAN CUT OUT A TRANSIT ORIENTED PLAN, A TRULY TRANSIT ORIENTED PLAN. UM, SO PLEASE LISTEN TO THE NEIGHBORS, DON'T USE THE AX. THANK YOU. DANIELLA VA, MARK HILTON, BRIAN BEDROSIAN. SO I JUST WANT EVERYONE WHO'S STANDING WITH, UH, [05:10:01] AUSTIN HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD TO JUST RAISE THEIR HAND OR STAND UP. THIS IS THE POWER OF PEOPLE AND WE'RE SUPER PROUD OF IT. AND I, I DO WANNA CLARIFY, THIS IS NOT OUR SECOND POSTPONEMENT. THIS IS OUR FIRST POSTPONEMENT, AND WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO POSTPONE SOMEHOW SOMEONE PULLED OUT OF THEIR POCKET THAT IT WAS OUR SECOND 15 MINUTES BEFORE THIS MEETING STARTED. I WANNA HIGHLIGHT THAT THIS IS OUR FIRST RIGHT TO POSTPONE AND WE DESERVE TO BE GRANTED FOR IT. AND YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE WE ACTUALLY WANNA MAKE THIS PROJECT BETTER. I WANT THIS DEVELOPMENT TO THRIVE AND TO BE THE TEMPLATE FOR ANY OTHER THINGS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE PREPARED IN YOUR TOOLBOX. I WANT THIS TO BE SAFE FOR FLOODING. I WANT THIS TO BE SAFE FOR CHILDREN AND PARENTS THAT WANNA CROSS THAT STREET. WE CAME UP WITH SOLUTIONS THAT COULD POTENTIALLY MAKE THIS PROGRAM AND SITE BETTER. AND THE DEVELOPER SAID, NO MORE NEGOTIATIONS. LET'S GO TO THIS MEETING. I THINK THAT'S PRETTY UNFAIR. LET'S JUST WORK WITH THE NEIGHBORS, WORK WITH, UH, 200 PEOPLE THAT YOU GUYS ARE HEARING ABOUT AND LET'S MAKE SOMETHING AMAZING. MOVING ON TO ITEM ONE 15, ROY WHALEY. LINDA BAILEY, MARISSA LIPER. IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD. I CAN PASS ALL. OKAY, FOR THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT FOR ITEM ITEM ONE 16, BETSY GREENBERG, KAREN POPE. GREG ANDERSON, BARBARA MACARTHUR. I BELIEVE MY TIME WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DONATED BY BARBARA MACARTHUR. IT'S BARBARA HERE. YEP. OKAY, FOUR. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS BETSY GREENBERG AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE, LESS THAN TWO BLOCKS NORTH OF THE UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD OVERLAY. I'M IN FAVOR OF THIS POSTPONEMENT. IN 2004, AFTER TWO YEARS OF HARD WORK AND BIWEEKLY MEETINGS WITH RENTERS, HOMEOWNERS, BUSINESS OWNERS, DEVELOPERS, FRATERNITIES, SORORITIES, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AND THE CITY STAFF, A PLAN WAS DEVELOPED TO CREATE DENSE HOUSING FOR STUDENTS NEAR THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AND MAINTAIN A HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE ITS SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS. THE RESULT OF THIS COLLABORATIVE PROCESS INVOLVING VARIED INTERESTS WAS THE UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD OVERLAY KNOWN AS UNO. UNO HAS BEEN EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL, RESULTING IN 28,000 NEW RESIDENTS WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS IN AN AREA THAT WAS DESIGNED TO BE CONVENIENT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY AND SAFE, WHILE STILL RESPECTING THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS. RECENTLY, THE CITY COUNCIL PASSED A RESOLUTION DIRECTING STAFF TO MAKE QUALITY OF LIFE IMPROVEMENTS TO UNO AND TO EXPAND THE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES INSTEAD OF BRINGING STAKEHOLDERS TOGETHER. THAT WAS DONE 20 YEARS EARLIER. THE STAFF HAS ATTEMPTED TO FOLLOW COUNCIL DIRECTION AND CAME UP WITH A PLAN AS A MEMBER OF PAC, THE CONTACT TEAM. FOR THIS PLAN, I ATTENDED STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS. AT THE FIRST ONE, THERE WAS A PRESENTATION BY STAFF ON THE RESOLUTION, AND THEN MONTHS LATER, A PRESENTATION ON THE STAFF PROPOSAL. QUESTIONS WERE ASKED AND FEEDBACK WAS GIVEN, BUT AT LEAST FOR OUR GROUP, IT SEEMED TO FALL ON DEAF EARS. INSTEAD OF HAVING A PLAN WITH BROAD SUPPORT, EVERYONE HAD COMPLAINTS. DEVELOPERS COMPLAINED ABOUT TOWER SPACING. RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS COMPLAINED ABOUT LIMITATIONS ON PARKING GARAGES. THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AND MANY OTHERS DIDN'T LIKE 600 FEET HEIGHT ON THE DRAG. THE UNIVERSITY TENANTS UNION WAS CONCERNED ABOUT TENANT PROTECTIONS THAT WEREN'T INITIALLY INCLUDED. SAFE HORNS COMPLAINED ABOUT THE LACK OF SAFETY PROTECTIONS AND SURROUNDING NEIGHBORS DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY UNO WAS BEING EXPANDED SO THAT THE ZONING ON PROPERTIES WOULD INCLUDE BOTH DB UNO AND DBE TODD. FINALLY, THE PLANNING COMMISSION TOOK A STAB AT THE PROPOSAL WITH NO DISCUSSION AT ALL. THEY DECIDED TO DELETE QUALITY OF LIFE IMPROVEMENTS LIKE TOWER SPACING AND GATEKEEPER REQUIREMENTS. IT TOOK REPEATED MOTIONS TO GET SEVEN VOTES, BUT THEY RECOMMENDED A NEW SUBDISTRICT IN HEIGHT MAP. THEY ALSO DECIDED TO VOTE TO VOTE TO EXPAND THE UNO BOUNDARY INTO SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS SAYING IT WOULD GIVE WARNING TO PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE ABOUT WHERE THE GROWTH WILL BE. IN OTHER WORDS, THEY'RE TELLING US, WE'RE COMING FOR YOUR HOME. NEXT, THE UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD OVERLAY REVISION NEEDS TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD. I'M RELIEVED TO SEE THAT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS ASKED FOR A POSTPONEMENT, AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT THE NEXT ROUND OF POSSIBLE CHANGES WILL INVOLVE MORE THAN [05:15:01] JUST THE LARGEST STAKEHOLDER AND WILL BE A TRUE COLLABORATIVE PROCESS. THANK YOU. OKAY, MOVING ON TO ITEM ONE 17. BETSY GREENBERG. SHE'S WAIVING. OKAY. UM, BARBARA MACARTHUR, YOU DONATED TIME. DO YOU WAIVE THAT AS WELL? OKAY. KAREN POPE GREG ANDERSON. AND THIS IS ON THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT. OKAY, MAYOR, ALL OF THE CONSENT SPEAKERS HAVE BEEN CALLED FOR ZONING. ALRIGHT, MEMBERS, UH, YOU'LL RECALL THAT THE CONSENT AGENDA IS 96 97, 101 0 1, 1 0 2, 1 0 4, 1 0 5, 1 0 6, 1 0 8, 1 0 9, 1 10, 1 11, 1 12, 1 13, 1 14, 1 15, 1 16, AND ONE 17. AND I CAN GO THROUGH THOSE AGAIN. I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT FOR CLARITY PURPOSES, EVERYBODY REALIZES WE'RE PULLING OFF 98 AND 99. WE'LL TAKE THAT UP SEPARATELY. 1 0 3 WILL BE TAKEN UP SEPARATELY, AND THEN 1 0 7 WILL BE TAKEN UP SEPARATELY. THAT BEING SAID, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS READ? MOTION IS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA. UM, MEMBERS, I'LL ASK IF THERE'S ANY DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL AYE. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO, UM, POSTPONE UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING. ITEMS ONE 13 AND ONE 14, COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL HAS MOVED TO AMEND THE MOTION, WHICH WAS TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS READ, UH, HIS MOTION TO AMEND AND, AND, UM, WE DON'T HAVE IT IN WRITING, BUT I, BUT EVERYBODY WILL UNDERSTAND AND I'M GONNA TRY TO BE, UH, UH, MAKE IT WHERE IT'S, WHERE IT'S CLEAR. THE MOTION TO AMEND BY COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, IS TO AMEND THE, THE, THE CONSENT AGENDA TO REMOVE ITEMS ONE 13 AND ONE 14 FROM PASSAGE TODAY AND POSTPONE THEM UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING WHERE WE WILL BE TAKING UP SUBSTANTIVE MATTERS, NON BUDGETARY, UH, SUBSTANTIVE MATTERS. COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, IS THAT OKAY? THE WAY I SAID THAT? IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER ON, UH, THE MOTION TO AMEND. IS THERE DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO THE MOTION TO AMEND? YES. MAYOR PRO. TIM, THANK YOU. I, WE GET CLARIFICATION FROM STAFF ON WHETHER OR NOT THIS, SO THERE WAS SOME COMMENTARY ON WHETHER THIS WAS A, THE FIRST REQUEST FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD ON POSTPONEMENT ON ITEM NUMBER ONE 13. THIS IS THE ASPEN ITEM. UH, YES. I WILL SAY THAT I WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT THE COUNCIL MINUTES AND THE MINUTES, SAY I DON'T HAVE THE LETTER WITH ME FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD FROM APRIL 10TH, BUT THE MINUTES SAY NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT FROM APRIL 10TH TO MAY. SO I DON'T HAVE THEIR OFFICIAL LETTER, BUT IT WAS PRESENTED TO Y'ALL AS A NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT AND Y'ALL SUPPORTED THAT NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT? YES. OKAY. SO COUNCIL DID SUPPORT A NEIGHBORHOOD MENT? YES. UHHUH . UHHUH ? YES. OKAY. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, I WANNA MAKE SURE I RECOGNIZE YOU. THERE YOU ARE. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I, I THINK, UH, UH, UH, I THINK, UH, MS. HARDEN JUST OFFERED THE CLARIFICATION THAT I WAS LOOKING FOR, BUT I ALSO JUST WANTED TO JUST CLARIFY THAT I'M HERE. I'M, I'VE BEEN HAVING TECH ISSUES AND SO MY, MY TEAM HAS BEEN LIKE MY WORK PHONE, MY CELL PHONE, MY ALL THE PHONES. AND SO JUST IF, IF I KNOW I MISSED A COUPLE VOTES AND SO I DON'T THINK THERE ARE ANY VOTES THAT I MISSED THAT WE COULD GO BACK ON WHERE I'LL CHANGE THE OUTCOME OF THE VOTE. UM, HERE, I, I THINK MY, MY RECORD INDICATES, AND I MAY HAVE SOMETHING WRONG, BUT MY RECORD INDICATES THAT THE ONLY VOTE THAT YOU MISSED THAT, UM, WE COULD TAKE BACK UP. THE ONLY VOTE THAT YOU'VE MISSED THAT, UH, WAS THE ONE OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION. AND WE WOULD HAVE YES, SIR. WE WOULD HAVE TO RECESS, GO BACK AND DO THAT. SO IF YOU DON'T MIND, WE'LL LEAVE THAT ONE ALONE. WE KNOW HAVE TO DO THAT, SIR. THAT'S WHAT I WAS SAYING. I I KNOW THAT I MISSED IT. I JUST WANTED TO OPTICALLY PRESENT THAT I RECOGNIZED THAT I MISSED YOU. GOT IT. WE DON'T HAVE TO GO BACK AND DO THAT. VERY GOOD. THAT'S THE ONLY, THAT'S THE ONLY ONE THAT I HAVE THAT YOU ACTUALLY MISSED. SO, UH, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I'LL, I'LL DOUBLE CHECK THAT BEFORE WE END THE MEETING. LET, LET ME FOR CLARITY PURPOSES ON THE MOTION TO AMEND. I THINK IT WOULD BE BETTER IF WE HAVE [05:20:01] A SPECIFIC DATE. AND SO, MS. HARDEN, WHY DON'T YOU, INSTEAD OF YES. THE, THE POSTPONEMENT DATE, I BELIEVE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL WAS STATING WOULD BE THAT YOUR NEXT FULL MEETING, WHICH WOULD BE JULY 24TH. JULY 24TH. SO MEMBERS, THE, THE MOTION TO AMEND THAT COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL HAS MADE, UH, I, I SAID THAT TO, I DESCRIBED WHAT THE NEXT MEETING WOULD BE, BUT THAT, THAT IT WOULD BE JULY 24TH. UM, HAS ANYBODY GOT A PROBLEM WITH HEARTBURN? WITH, WITH, WITH ME CLARIFYING THAT? OKAY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? THE VOTE WILL BE ON THE MOTION TO AMEND, WHICH WOULD BE TO POSTPONE, WE WOULD AMEND THE CONSENT AGENDA SO THAT ITEMS ONE 13 AND ONE 14 WOULD BE POSTPONED UNTIL JULY 24TH. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, MR. MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY, IF YOU DON'T MIND, TO TAKE A MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE AND JUST SAY, YOU SOUND LIKE I FEEL, UM, I JUST WANNA REMIND OUR AUDIENCE, OUR CONSTITUENTS, THAT WE DO THIS JOB NO MATTER WHAT. WE DO THIS JOB, NO MATTER WHAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING, WE DO THIS JOB NO MATTER HOW WE FEEL. I CAME HOME BECAUSE I HAD A FEVER. I REALIZED DURING THE COURSE OF US PRESENTING PROCLAMATIONS, WHICH BY THE WAY, IF I PRESENTED A PROCLAMATION TO YOU THIS MORNING AND I HUGGED YOU, I TOOK THE COVID TEST. I'M NEGATIVE, BUT I STILL HAVE A FEVER. IN WHICH CASE MY INCLINATION WAS, GO HOME. IF YOU HAVE A FEVER, YOU'RE CONTAGIOUS, YOU GO HOME. BUT I THINK THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING AT MY EMPTY SEAT AND MAYBE WONDERING WHERE COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON IS. AND I JUST WANNA TAKE THIS MOMENT, MR. MAYOR AND CHAIR, I CAN HEAR YOU AND OUR CONSTITUENTS CAN HEAR YOU. YOU DON'T SOUND YOUR BEST. YOU DON'T SOUND YOUR MOST LIKE KIRK WATSON RIGHT NOW, AND YOU SHOWED UP ANYWAY. AND I JUST WANNA TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR SHOWING UP ANYWAY, BUT ALSO RECOGNIZE Y'ALL, WE SHOW UP ANYWAY WHEN WE HAVE TO. 'CAUSE WE HAVE TO, AND WE ARE HUMAN BEINGS WHO GET SICK AND HAVE FEVERS AND DON'T WANNA GET PEOPLE SICK. AND SO I JUST, I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR SHOWING UP. APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU'VE BEEN TALKING VERY PRETTY TODAY, SO, UM, UH, I APPRECIATE IT. ALL RIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I WANTED TO ACTUALLY ADDRESS MY COMMENTS TO, UH, MY COLLEAGUE, UH, COUNCILMAN HARPER MADISON. UM, IF YOU HAD BEEN HERE, I PROBABLY WOULD'VE TAPPED YOU ON THE SHOULDER BEFORE MAKING THE MOTION TO POSTPONE. UH, BUT I JUST WANNA SEE IF, IF YOU WOULD BE OKAY WITH US WORKING ON THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE BEFORE IT COMES BACK. UM, IT'S INTERESTING THAT YOU SHOULD ASK ME THIS FROM THIS PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE NOW YOU KNOW YOU DIDN'T INTEND TO, BUT YOU PUT ME ON THE SPOT. UM, I, I LIKE VERY MUCH TOOK CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION AND IF POSTPONEMENT IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH ALL PARTIES, THEN YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ANY OBJECTION FROM ME IF ALL PARTIES ARE IN ALIGNMENT WITH POSTPONEMENT. THANK YOU FOR ASKING. THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MEMBERS, UM, THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION. THE MO VOTE IS ON THE MOTION TO AMEND, WHICH WOULD TAKE ITEMS ONE 13 AND ONE 14. THEY'D BE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, BUT THEY'D BE POSTPONED UNTIL JULY 24TH. COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE. OH, ALRIGHT. THE MOTION'S BEEN MADE AND SECONDED IF THE DISCUSSION IS COMPLETE, ALL THOSE WITH WELL WITHOUT OBJECTION, UH, ITEM, THE, THE MOTION TO AMEND WILL BE ADOPTED WITHOUT OBJECTION. THE MOTION TO AMEND IS ADOPTED. THAT WILL TAKE US BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION AND THE MAIN MOTION, WHICH WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBERS ELLIS AND SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA. UH, AS AMENDED WOULD BE TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE MAIN MOTION COUNCIL MEMBER CODRE? YEAH, I JUST WANNA MAKE, UH, QUICK COMMENTS ON ITEM 1 0 6, PLEASE. GREAT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, SO I'M REALLY APPRECIATIVE FOR THE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION, UH, OF EVERYONE INVOLVED IN GETTING THIS PUT TO THIRD READING TODAY. UH, AS THE APPLICANT AND MY STAFF KNOW, THIS WAS A, A VERY LONG PROCESS. UH, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, I, I JUST, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF WORK DONE BY THE PLANNING STAFF, BY TRANSPORTATION, BY OUR LAW DEPARTMENT, UH, BY A TP AND THEIR TIME AND EXPERTISE TO GET THIS RIGHT. AND, AND I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE APPLICANT WITH STICKING WITH US THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE PROCESS. AND, AND I VERY MUCH, UH, YOU KNOW, WANT TO GIVE FLOWERS TO, TO MY STAFF, UH, SPECIFICALLY MELISSA LER FOR ALSO, YOU KNOW, STICKING WITH, WITH, WITH ME AND, AND US THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS. UH, THE PUTT IS SPECIAL IN THAT IT'S OUR FIRST NAVIGATE GETTING REAL COMMITMENTS ON UNNECESSARY TRANSIT INFRASTRUCTURE AS A COMMUNITY BENEFIT. WE'RE ALSO BALANCING OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND ENVIRONMENTAL PRIORITIES AS A CITY. SO AGAIN, I'M REALLY GRATEFUL ON THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE TO REACH THIS MILESTONE. AND I LOOK FORWARD, UH, TO, TO THIS, TO THIS CASE, SERVING AS A TEMPLATE, UH, TO HOPEFULLY GETTING THIS DONE NEXT TIME, UH, A LITTLE BIT MORE EASILY. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? UH, WITH THAT BEING SAID, WITHOUT OBJECTION, [05:25:01] THE CONSENT AGENDA AS AMENDED IS ADOPTED. THANKS, EVERYBODY. ALL RIGHT. THAT WILL TAKE US NOW, AND THE ORDER WILL GO IN IS 98 99, UH, 1 0 3 AND 1 0 7. SO, MEMBERS, THE WAY I'M GOING TO DO THIS, UH, BECAUSE COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, UH, HAD A SPECIFIC MOTION WITH REGARD TO 98 AND 99, UH, UNLESS THERE'S AN OBJECTION, WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS I'M GONNA RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE TO MAKE A MOTION SO THAT WE WILL HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE, AND THEN I WILL TURN TO THE CLERK'S OFFICE FOR COMMENT AND THAT, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE A MOTION ON WHICH TO VOTE. SO, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, COULD, COULD I JUST ASK A QUESTION? SURE. SINCE ITEMS 98 99 AND 1 0 7 DON'T HAVE AS MANY SPEAKERS AS 1 0 3, COULD WE GO 98, 99, 1 0 7, AND 1 0 3? WELL, SURE. I'M, I'M HAPPY TO DO THAT IF THAT'S WHAT WE WANNA DO. LET'S, LET'S GO WITH 98 99 FIRST. YES, SIR. UH, YEAH, I, I, I'D LIKE TO MOVE ITEMS, UH, 98 99, UM, UH, TO PASS ITEMS AT 98 99, ALL THREE READINGS, UH, WITH THE, WITH THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IN MIND MEMBERS, THE MOTION THAT WE WILL CONSIDER IS, UH, MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, AND THAT IS TO APPROVE THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION ON ALL THREE READINGS FOR ITEMS 98 AND 99. UM, IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, AND I'LL NOW TURN TO THE CLERK'S OFFICE TO START CALLING SPEAKERS ON ITEMS 98 AND 99 FOR ITEM 98. BETSY GREENBERG, PAM BELL, KAREN MCGRAW. I CAN DONATE TIME. WELL, NO, NO, THE WAY WE DO THAT IN ADVANCE. AND, AND WE DO THAT FOR A REASON. SO IF YOU'LL PLEASE COME FORWARD. OKAY. THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS ASKED FOR A POSTPONEMENT. THIS IS THE FIRST REQUEST FOR A POSTPONEMENT, AND I DON'T SEE WHY YOU WOULD PASS THIS ON ALL THREE READINGS. PLEASE VOTE FOR A POSTPONEMENT. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A PRESENTATION. YOUR NAME, UH, IT'S KAREN MCGRAW TURNED IT IN. WE'RE SHARING IT. AND STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE. I'M PAMELA BELL, AND I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE NORTH UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. WE'VE BEEN WORKING HARD TO CHANGE THE ZONING FROM MF FOUR TO SOMETHING THAT'S MORE REASONABLE. NEXT SLIDE. THE PROPERTY IS THE AUSTIN GROUPS FOR THE ELDERLY BLOCK. THAT'S WHAT WE CALL IT. AND IT HAS A, UM, A STATE LANDMARK ON IT. AND, UM, YOU CAN SEE THE PICTURES TAKEN OF THE LANDMARK. NEXT SLIDE. AND YOU CAN ALSO SEE SOME OF THE LITTLE HOMES THAT ARE AROUND. UM, THIS, THIS BLOCK. NEXT SLIDE. WE SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT WE WANT THE PROJECT TO FIT WITH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. WE WANT TO ALLOW THE PROJECT AND PROTECT THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THAT IS WHY WE HAVE REQUESTED A POSTPONEMENT. NEXT SLIDE. THIS SLIDE SHOWS 52 AND A HALF FEET. THE LARGE BUNKER BUILDING IS THE BLOCK WHERE THERE WOULD BE, UM, WHERE THE, THE DEVELOPMENT IS PROPOSED, AND YOU CAN SEE ALL THE SMALL BUILDINGS AROUND. THOSE ARE OUR HOMES. AND NOW TURN IT OVER TO KAREN MCGRAW. HAS HER NAME BEEN CALLED KAREN MCGRAW. OKAY. MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE NEIGHBORHOOD SUPPORTS AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HAS SUPPORTED THIS PROJECT, AND THERE ARE NOT REALLY ANY CONTROVERSIES BETWEEN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE APPLICANT. THE PROBLEM IS THE APPLICANT ASKED FOR MF FOUR SOLELY TO GET IMPERVIOUS COVER OVER, AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS BEEN SAYING, WE HAVE A-N-C-C-D. WE CAN CRAFT A DIFFERENT SOLUTION THAT GIVES THEM WHAT THEY NEED AND PROTECTS THE NEIGHBORHOOD. AND THE STAFF HAS BEEN SAYING, NO, WE DON'T WANT TO DO IT. NO PLANNING COMMISSION. NO, EVERYBODY'S, NO. EVERYBODY WANTS MF FOUR. WELL, I'M GONNA SHOW YOU WHAT MF FOUR ALLOWS ON THE SITE. IT DIDN'T GET IN THE PRESENTATION, SO I'LL JUST HAVE TO, UH, NO, IT DIDN'T. THAT'S 52 FEET. THIS IS 90 FEET. I SEE. THIS IS DIFFERENT. THIS IS ALLOWING THE POTENTIAL FOR 90 FEET OF HEIGHT DROPPED INTO THIS NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE EVERYBODY THINKS THEY HAVE TO DO MF FOUR. THEY DO NOT. YOU CAN MAINTAIN THE S OF THREE [05:30:03] AND YOU CAN DO THE THINGS, UH, THAT ARE NEEDED. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY STAFF, YOU CANNOT REQUIRE PARKING. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN WITH PARKING, BUT THEY SAY YOU CANNOT REQUIRE IT. UM, YOU CANNOT PARK NEAR THE SITE AT ALL. NO PLACE TO PARK. THIS IS WHAT THE DEVELOPERS WANT TO DO, NOT THE BEST FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT ALL THEY WANT TO DO IS GET THEIR 70% IMPERVIOUS COVER. THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS A RESOLUTION. YOU KEEP SF THREE. YOU ALLOW MULTIFAMILY USE, MAINTAIN THE H STATUS, ALLOW 70% IMPERVIOUS COVER. DO NOT APPLY ANY MINIMUM SIDE AREA REQUIREMENTS, AND DO NOT APPLY ANY LIMIT OF DWELLING UNIT. THANK YOU FOR ITEM 99, KAREN MCGRAW, PAM BELL, AND BETSY GREENBERG. OKAY, WELL, LET ME CONTINUE A LITTLE BIT. UM, THIS IS TOTALLY WORKABLE, BUT THE NEIGHBORS HAVE JUST BEEN TOLD NO, NO, NO, BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE, WE DIDN'T NOTICE FOR THIS. WE WOULD HAVE TO RE NOTIFY. SO NOBODY WANTS TO DO THIS. THE STAFF DOESN'T WANT IT. PLANNING COMMISSION DOESN'T WANT IT. BUT SOMETHING CAN BE CRAFTED IN THE NCCD TO ALLOW THE PROJECT AND TO PROTECT THE NEIGHBORHOOD FROM HAVING 90 FEET OF HEIGHT DROPPED INTO THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. THAT'S ALL WE'RE ASKING IS THE TIME TO WORK THIS OUT AND RE-NOTICE IT. THE APPLICANTS KEEP SAYING THEY HAVE TO HAVE THE ZONING RIGHT NOW, BUT IN THE LAST HEARING, THEY SAID BY THE END OF JULY, SO JULY 24TH WOULD WORK IF WE COULD JUST GET A CHANCE TO WORK WITH THE CITY AND GET THIS DONE SO THAT IT FACILITATES EVERYBODY. BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP. SOMEBODY HAS TO SAY, DO THIS, ENTERTAIN THIS RE NOTIFY, GET THIS DONE. BUT WE CAN'T SEEM TO GET ANY KIND OF HELP. THIS IS A GREAT WIN-WIN FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE APPLICANT IF WE CAN JUST GET IT DONE. AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT PEOPLE HAVE JUST BEEN SHUT DOWN THE WHOLE TIME. HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. I BROUGHT YOU ALL COPIES OF THE 90 FEET OF HEIGHT IF YOU WANTED THAT FOR YOUR WALL OR SOMETHING, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT IN AUSTIN'S NEIGHBORHOODS. THANK YOU. CONTRARY TO WHAT SOME PEOPLE THINK, WE DON'T JUST SIT AROUND AND THINK ABOUT 90 ALL THE TIME. WHAT IT'S, I I IT'S A JOKE. DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. IS THAT A QUESTION? NO, NO, NO. SORRY. THANK YOU. UM, WE GOT IT. AND, AND, AND FRANKLY, IT PROBABLY SHOWS IT MORE GRAPHICALLY BECAUSE WE THOUGHT WE HAD HAD IT UP THERE BEFORE. UM, ALL RIGHT. GO TO THE NEXT SPEAKERS. I'VE CALLED ALL SPEAKERS FOR 99. ALL RIGHT. UM, YES MA'AM. I'M SORRY, MAYOR, MY NAME IS ABBY TAKO. I'M WITH OSTA INDUSTRIES, THE APPLICANT. AND I JUST WANTED Y'ALL TO KNOW WE'RE AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS. ALRIGHT, FAIR ENOUGH. MEMBERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? YES, COUNCILOR, MEMBER CADRY? UH, UH, COULD I GET THE, COULD I GET ABBY TO COME BACK TO THE MIC? YEAH. UM, WHAT, UM, AND, AND I THINK ONE THING THAT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IS, IS THAT THIS PROJECT, AND, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, IT'S, IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO, TO THE, TO, TO THE KATIE LTS PROJECT, UH, THAT ALSO HAPPENED IN DISTRICT NINE. A LOT OF US WERE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL. THERE WERE SOME FOLKS ON ONE SIDE REALLY PUSHING BACK AGAINST IT. BUT NOW SEEING IT COME TO LIFE, YOU KNOW, WE SEE THE, THE, THE, THE NET POSITIVE IT IS FOR THE FOLKS THAT IT'S BENEFITING, BUT ALSO THE COMMUNITY, UH, ANDINO IS SOMETHING THAT I ALSO WANNA HIGHLIGHT, IS THAT WE DON'T GET THESE 9% TAX CREDIT PROJECTS VERY OFTEN. UH, AND IT, SO IT'S, IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO ME. IT'S IMPORTANT TO THE DISTRICT AND I THINK POSTPONING IT. UM, WELL, LET, LET ME ASK YOU THAT. UM, WHAT IS THE RISK TO, UH, TO POSTPONE THIS ITEM, UH, IF WE DON'T DO TODAY? YES, THANKS FOR THE QUESTION. UM, SO, UM, LIKE SAID, THIS IS A 9% TAX CREDIT PROJECT, WHICH MEANS, UM, IT'S, IT'S A VERY COMPETITIVE PROGRAM. AND, AND THE DEADLINES ARE VERY STRICT WITH THIS PROGRAM. SO JULY 24TH IS THE T-D-H-C-A BOARD MEETING AT WHICH THEY WILL PROVIDE THESE AWARDS. UM, AND PER THAT PROGRAM, YOU'RE REQUIRED TO HAVE YOUR ZONING, UM, IN ORDER TO PROCEED WITH THE AWARD. GOT IT. UM, AND AS, AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, UH, WE'RE NOT FULLY OBSESSED WITH, WITH 90 FEET, BUT, UH, ON THIS DIOCESE. BUT WHAT IS THE HEIGHT EXPECTED, UH, FOR THIS PROJECT? SO THE AT, AT THIS TIME, THE CURRENT PROPOSAL IS 45 FEET. UM, AND THERE, THERE ARE MANY LAYERS TO THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT THAT DO MAKE IT SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT THAN KATIE LOFTS, IN THAT OUR PLAN PROPOSES A HISTORIC PRESERVATION OF THE HISTORIC BUILDINGS THAT ARE ON THE SITE, WHICH MEANS THAT WE'LL ALSO BE GOING SIMULTANEOUSLY THROUGH THE HISTORIC DESIGNATION [05:35:01] PROCESS. SO, UM, THAT ADDS ANOTHER LAYER OF COMPLEXITY TO BOTH THE FINANCING AND THE DESIGN OF THE PROJECT. SO OUR CURRENT PROPOSAL IS 45 FEET. GREAT. THANK YOU. THANKS. QUESTION, QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR, MAYOR, TIM AND COUNCILOR. THANK YOU. UH, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE FOR THOSE QUESTIONS. UH, NORMALLY I TEND TO SUPPORT A NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT REQUEST WHEN IT COMES THROUGH, ESPECIALLY THE FIRST ONE. BUT GIVEN THE SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES WITH THIS, HAVING A LOW INCOME TAX CREDIT APPLICATION AND UNDERSTANDING THE IMPORTANCE OF MEETING THAT DEADLINE SO THAT WE CAN ENSURE AFFORDABILITY FOR THIS PROJECT, SHOULD THAT GET APPROVED, UM, I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS MOTION TO APPROVE IT ON SECOND AND THIRD READING. COUNCILOR VELA, JUST A, A QUICK QUESTION FOR THE, THE APPLICANT. UH, WHAT ARE THE LEVEL, I KNOW IT'S, IT'S A HUNDRED PERCENT AFFORDABLE PROJECT, IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY. WHAT ARE THE LEVELS OF AFFORDABILITY? YES, IT'S A HUNDRED PERCENT INCOME RESTRICTED, AFFORDABLE, AND IT'LL BE AT 30%, 50, 60, AND A FEW UNITS AT 80% MFI. GREAT. AND, UH, AND AGAIN, PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT I BELIEVE THAT THE LIGHT RAIL IS GONNA TERMINATE, YOU KNOW, A SKIP HOP AND A JUMP FROM HERE. YES. IT'S ABOUT A THOUSAND FEET FROM THE PROPOSED STOP AT 38TH AND QUAD. AND THE HISTORIC PROPERTY THAT IS, UH, THE HISTORIC, I'M SORRY, BUILDING THAT'S ON THE PROPERTY. WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN WITH THAT? UM, SO THERE'S A FEW DIFFERENT BUILDINGS ON THE SITE, UM, BUT THE ONLY BUILDINGS ON THE SITE THAT ARE 50 YEARS AND OLDER WILL BE PRESERVED. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? MEMBERS? THE MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE IS THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION ON ALL THREE READINGS FOR ITEMS 98 AND 99. UH, IT'S ALREADY BEEN SECONDED, SO, UH, WITHOUT OBJECT. WHAT I'LL DO IS I'LL CALL FOR A, A SHOW OF HANDS. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? UH, IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION. RAISE YOUR HAND. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, UH, THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY SO IT PASSES ON ALL THREE READINGS. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. UH, THAT WILL, WHAT I'LL DO NOW IS WE'LL GO TO ITEM NUMBER 1 0 7 AND WE'LL TAKE UP 1 0 3 AFTER WE TAKE UP ITEM NUMBER 1 0 7. UM, MEMBERS ON ITEM NUMBER 1 0 7, UH, THE, THERE IS A VALID PETITION THAT HAS BEEN VALIDATED, UH, I WANT TO NOTE THAT AS WELL. AND THE CHAIR, IN ORDER FOR US TO HAVE SOMETHING THAT WE, UH, WHEN WE CALL ON SPEAKERS, UH, I SEE SOMEBODY OUT THERE JUST GRIMACING AT ME. UH, THAT'S NOT UNCOMMON, BUT, UH, NORMALLY HE HAS A SMILE ON HIS FACE. UM, UH, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER 1 0 7, SO THAT WE'LL BE SPEAKING SPECIFICALLY FROM A MOTION. AND THE MOTION THAT I I'LL ENTERTAIN IS ADOPTION ON ALL THREE READINGS. IS THERE A MOTION MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ IS AND SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS. ALRIGHT, WITH THAT THEN I WILL TURN TO THE CLERK'S OFFICE FOR SPEAKERS. YES. YEAH, I WAS GONNA MAKE A COMMENT AND IT, IT MIGHT HAVE ALREADY BEEN SAID, BUT JUST WANT TO CONFIRM IT'S ALL THREE READINGS ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION. YEAH, I'M SORRY, THAT'S, I SHOULD HAVE SAID THAT AND I WAS NOT CLEAR ABOUT THAT, BUT I'M, I'M, I'M GLAD YOU SAID THAT AND I HAVE IT WRITTEN DOWN HERE. JUST DIDN'T READ IT. GREAT. GREAT. THANK YOU. IT'S THE PLA THE, THE MOTION THAT I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ WAS MAKING, UM, AND IT WAS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, WAS THAT IT BE THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION. WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'LL TURN TO THE CLERK'S OFFICE. JIM MONTGOMERY, ARE YOU HERE? WE HAVE A LOT OF DONATIONS, SO I'M TRYING TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE'S HERE. OKAY. JIM MONTGOMERY HAS TIME DONATED BY JEFF HARPER AND MICHAEL CURRY. UH, MICHAEL AND JOSH. OKAY. THANK YOU. IS MR. HARPER HERE? YEAH, THEY'RE OKAY. VERY GOOD. I GOT IT. YEAH. ALL. SO SIX MINUTES FOR MR. MONTGOMERY. UP NEXT WILL BE PAUL GOINK. WELL, HE'S ALREADY TAKEN OVER THE PODIUM. UH, MAYOR, THAT'S THE, THAT'S WHO I WAS SAYING WAS GRIMACING AT ME A MINUTE AGO. SO NOW, RIGHT. UH, MR. SLINK, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT ARE WE DOING? I'M NOT, I AM NOT JIM MONTGOMERY. UH, I KNOW. OUR KEY WITNESS IS PROFESSOR GILBERT. HE HAS BEEN THE, THE PIVOT POINT OF ALL THE NEGOTIATIONS. HE IS ON HIS WAY. OKAY. HOPEFULLY HE'LL BE HERE BY THE TIME WE CALL HIM. I WONDERED IF YOU COULD TAKE 1 0 3 UP. WELL, WE'VE ALREADY CALLED UP 1 0 7. I HOPE HE GETS HERE TOO. ME TOO. I, HELLO. YOU'VE ALREADY CALLED JIM MONTGOMERY TOO. YES. MULTIPLE TIMES. NO, . GO FOR IT. I'M JIM MONTGOMERY. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE, UH, THE, UH, JUDGES HILL [05:40:01] NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON THE BEHALF OF THAT ORGANIZATION. I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT WE ARE NOT OPPOSED TO CONDOS OR APARTMENTS BEING BUILT ON THIS SITE, BUT FROM THE BEGINNING, WE HAVE BEEN OPPOSED TO PROCEEDING WITH THIS PROJECT WITHOUT OURSELVES BEING CONVINCED THAT THAT SAFETY CONCERNS HAVE BEEN, HAVE BEEN TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT. THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE, UH, PROBLEMS WITH, WITH SLOPE COLLAPSE, BOTH NORTH AND SOUTH OF THIS SITE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY AND ON BOTH SIDES OF SHOAL CREEK. AND WE BELIEVE THAT WITHOUT, AND, AND IT'S THE SAME GEOLOGICAL, UH, ARRANGEMENT AS WHERE THOSE THOSE COLLAPSES HAVE HAPPENED, BUTYL LIMESTONE OVER DEL RIO CLAY, IT'S, IT'S PROBLEMATIC. IT HAS BEEN ALL OVER THE CITY. AND WE BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO PROTECT AGAINST SLOPE COLLAPSE THROUGH GEOLOGICAL STUDY, GEOTECHNICAL DESIGN OF A RETAINING STRUCTURE AND MONITORING OF SLOPE MOVEMENT DURING CONSTRUCTION. SLOPE FAILURE IS A COMPLEX TOPIC. MANY OF YOU OR YOUR STAFF MEMBERS HA HAVE, AND THE, THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION HAVE BEEN PATIENT ENOUGH TO ENGAGE WITH US AND TRY TO DIG INTO THIS COMPLEX TOPIC AND UNDERSTAND IT. AND I WANT TO EXPRESS MY THANKS TO THOSE FOLKS. WE HAVE MADE SOME RECENT PROGRESS ON THIS PROJECT. VERY RECENT, AS OF YESTERDAY, WE HAVE, WE HAVE WORKED TOWARDS A SOLUTION DRIVEN BY, UH, MELISSA BEELER FROM, FROM, UH, COUNCILMAN QUAD'S OFFICE. SHE HAS, UH, DRIVEN THE TWO PART TWO SIDES TOGETHER TO AGREE TO DEVELOP A, UH, MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT ON HOW TO PROCEED THAT WOULD CONTINUE TO INVOLVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE EXPERTS THAT WE'VE ENGAGED IN THIS PROJECT, UH, AS THE DESIGN PROGRESSES. SO THAT WE'RE CON WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS DONE CORRECTLY. I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. UH, JUST A REMINDER OF WHERE THIS IS. IT'S THE, IT'S ON SHOAL CREEK BOULEVARD JUST NORTH OF, OF, UH, 15TH STREET AND JUST SOUTH OF MLK. NEXT SLIDE. AND HERE IS THE, THE, UH, CONCEPTUAL PLAN FOR THE PROJECT. AND, AND YOU'LL SEE THAT IT DIGS INTO THE TOE OF THIS SLOPE. AND IT'S THAT DIGGING INTO THE TOE THAT AFRAID WILL CAUSE INSTABILITY ON THIS SLOPE AS IT HAS IN MANY OTHER LOCATIONS. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. WE HAVE A VALID PETITION THAT HAS BEEN SIGNED BY ALL OF THE, UH, INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY OWNERS, UH, THAT ARE, THAT ARE ADJACENT TO THIS PROJECT. THE REST OF THE, OF THE LAND IS ACTUALLY OWNED BY THE CITY. SO THE 40% THAT YOU SEE ON THE, ON THE PETITION IS ACTUALLY 100% OF ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO COULD SIGN THE PETITION. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. NOW, I HAVE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT GEOLOGY AND GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS AND DIGGING INTO THIS PROJECT. MOSTLY I'VE LEARNED IT FROM THE, THE FOLLOWING. TWO, THE SPEAKERS WHO WILL FOLLOW ME, PHIL BULLOCK IS A PROFESSIONAL GEOLOGIST AND A SENIOR CONSULTING GEOLOGIST. AND DR. BOB GILBERT IS THE CHAIR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING AT UT WITH A [05:45:01] SPECIALTY IN GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING. HE'S ALSO ACTED AS A CONSULTANT FOR THE CITY ON SLOPE COLLAPSES AND INSTABILITY IN THE PAST. THESE TWO FOLKS HAVE WALKED THIS SLOPE, WHICH IS NOT AN EASY THING TO DO, BY THE WAY, BECAUSE IT IS A DEEP SLOPE RIGHT BELOW THAT, THAT, UH, BUTYL LIMESTONE. I, I CHOSE TO SEE AT THE TOP AND JUST WATCH 'EM DO IT. 'CAUSE THEY HAVE ACTUALLY WALKED THE SITE. THEY'VE LOCATED THE CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURE AND, UH, THEIR EXPLANATION IN THE FOLLOWING TALKS WILL TELL YOU WHY WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT SLOPE INSTABILITY ON THIS SITE. YOUR SIX MINUTES HAS EXPIRED. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU PHILLIP BULLOCK AND PHILLIP HAS TIME DONATED BY JOHN SPONG. MEGAN, ME BACK. JOHN. OKAY. SIX MINUTES PLEASE. IS IS, IS JOHN SPONG HERE? YES. I GOT CONFIRMATION. JOHN. HI, PHIL BULLOCK. UM, AND, UH, AS JIM INDICATED, I'M A PROFESSIONAL GEOLOGIST, UH, WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS. UM, THIS SLIDE HERE IS INTENDED TO SHOWS A CROSS, UH, SECTIONAL REPRESENTATION OF THE GEOLOGY THAT WE HAVE AT THE SUBJECT SITE. UH, AT THE TOP YOU HAVE THE BUTYL FORMATION, WHICH IS A VERY DENSE, MASSIVE AND HIGHLY BROKEN LIMESTONE AND OUTCROP ALONG INIZED VALLEYS LIKE WE HAVE ALONG, UH, LAMAR BOULEVARD, THE BUTTA FORMATION FORM STEEP CLIFFS AND BLUFFS. FROM A REGULATORY STANDPOINT, THIS FEATURE IS, UH, IDENTIFIED AS A CANYON RIM ROCK AND CLASSIFIED AS A CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURE, OR CEF DIRECTLY UNDER THE BUTTA FORMATION, WE HAVE THE DEL RIO FORMATION. THE DEL RIO FORMATION IS A CLAY, AND RELATIVE TO THE BUTTA FORMATION IS VERY SOFT AND OUTCROP. THE DEL RIO CLAY WEATHERS TO FORM SHALLOW TO FAIRLY STEEP AND TYPICALLY HIGHLY VEGETATED SLOPES. AND, UH, PROFESSOR GILBERT WILL BE COMING BACK TO THIS SLIDE, UH, IN JUST A BIT. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO THIS IS A PHOTOGRAPH, UM, TAKEN JUST UP SLOPE OF THE DEVELOPMENT TRACT. YOU CAN SEE THE BUTTA LIMESTONE, THE RIM ROCK WITH THE UNDERLYING RELATIVELY STEEP SLOPE OF THE DEL RIO. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE NOTICED, UH, IS THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL TREES LEANING DOWN SLOPE. AND WE TAKE THIS TO BE A SIGN THAT EVEN IN ITS NATURAL STATE, THE SLOPE IS NOT A HUNDRED PERCENT STABLE. TO THE EXTENT THAT IT IS STABLE, THE TOE OF THE SLOPE CAN BE CONSIDERED THE LINE OF NATURAL STABILITY. THE TOE OF THE SLOPE IS BASICALLY WHERE THE NATURAL WEATHERING AND EROSIONAL FORCES HAVE COME TO REST. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE LOCATION OF THE CANYON RIM ROCK AS THE HEAVY BLACK LINE WITH THE BLUE LINE BEING THE DEVELOPMENT PROPERTY BOUNDARY. I MENTIONED EARLIER THAT THE CITY CONSIDERS THIS TO BE A CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURE, AND ALONG WITH THAT COMES 150 FOOT BUFFER. THE BUFFER DISTANCE IS SHOWN BY THE RED LINES EXTENDING OUT FROM THE CEF. AS YOU CAN SEE, PORTIONS OF THE DEVELOPMENT, AT LEAST IN THIS CONCEPTUAL DESIGN, ARE LOCATED WITHIN THE 150 FOOT BUFFER ZONE. AND I WANT TO NOTE HERE THAT THIS 150 FOOT DISTANCE APPEARS TO BE AN ARBITRARY NUMBER. AS I MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, NATURAL STABILITY IN THIS GEOLOGIC SETTING OCCURS AT THE TOE OF THE SLOPE. NO MATTER WHAT DISTANCE THAT MIGHT BE AT ANY GIVEN LOCATION, ANY DISTURBANCE TO THE SLOPE, EVEN JUST DE VEGETATION CAN DISRUPT THE NATURAL STABILITY EVEN IF IT'S OUTSIDE THE 150 FOOT BUFFER. UH, NEXT SLIDE. AND THIS, I JUST WANTED TO PRESENT THIS TO CLARIFY THAT THIS IS A SLIDE THAT WAS PRESENTED BY THE DEVELOPER AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING SEVERAL WEEKS BACK. AND AT THE TIME THERE WAS SOME CON CONFUSION ON OUR PART BECAUSE IT, IT DOESN'T ACCURATELY REPRESENT THE ACTUAL LOCATION OF THE CEF. THE DEVELOPER HAS SUBSEQUENTLY CLARIFIED THAT THIS FIGURE WAS JUST MEANT TO ASSURE EVERYONE THEY'RE AWARE OF THE CEF AND WE'LL BE ADDRESSING IT AS PART OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE INVENTORY DURING INSIGHT PLANNING. SO I JUST WANTED TO PUT THIS [05:50:01] UP THERE REAL QUICK, JUST TO CLOSE THAT LOOP. AND, UH, WITH THAT, I WILL LET PROFESSOR GILBERT GILBERT TALK TO YOU ABOUT WHAT DISRUPTION TO THE NATURAL STABILITY CAN LOOK LIKE. THANK YOU. BOB GILBERT HAS TIME DONATED BY BARBARA MACARTHUR AND CHRIS PAGE. OKAY. SIX MINUTES. HI, MY NAME IS BOB GILBERT. I'M A PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN, AND I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT THE STABILITY OF THIS SLOPE. THIS FIGURE FROM A 1970 TEXTBOOK FROM ANOTHER PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AND PETER FLAW, WHO MANY PEOPLE KNOW, SHOWS THAT GEOLOGY AND WHAT IT'S SHOWING US IS THAT IT'S NATURALLY UNSTABLE. THE REASON THAT THAT VALLEY EXISTS IS BECAUSE THE GEOLOGY IS NOT STABLE AND THE SHOAL CREEK HAS CUT ITS WAY DOWN THROUGH THAT SLOPE BY CUTTING INTO THE DEL RIO CLAY, WHICH UNDERMINES THE BUTYL LIMESTONE. AND THEN THE BUTYL LIMESTONE FAILS. SOMETIMES WE SPEED UP THIS NATURAL PROCESS. SO THESE SLOPES ARE ALL JUST AT THEIR VERGE OF BEING STABLE. PHIL SHOWED YOU THOSE TREES THAT ARE LEANING, INDICATING THAT THE SLOPE RIGHT ABOVE THIS PROPOSED PROJECT IS RIGHT AT THE MARGIN OF BEING STABLE. THIS IS A SLOPE ALONG BARTON SPRINGS ROAD SOUTH OF THE SITE THAT FAILED IN 1972. IT WAS AN APARTMENT COMPLEX. THEY MADE A VERY SHALLOW CUT THREE FEET DEEP AT THE TOE OF THE SLOPE IN ORDER TO LEVEL THE SITE. AND THAT SLOPE FAILURE OCCURRED. I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THAT SLOPE FAILURE BECAUSE WE'VE USED IT IN OUR SLOPE STABILITY CLASS AS A HOMEWORK PROBLEM FOR THE LAST 32 YEARS. THIS IS ANOTHER SLOPE THAT YOU ALL ARE PROBABLY VERY FAMILIAR WITH. THIS IS CASTLE HILL. THIS WAS WHERE THE GRAFFITI WALL WAS. THAT GRAFFITI WALL WAS THERE BECAUSE IN THE 1990S THEY TRIED TO DEVELOP THIS SITE BY MAKING A FAIRLY SHALLOW CUT AT THE TOE OF THE DEL RIO CLAY. THEY TRIED TO HOLD IT BACK WITH THE RETAINING WALL. THE SLOPE KEPT MOVING. THEY ABANDONED THE PROJECT, THOSE ABANDONED RETAINING WALLS THEN TURNED INTO THE GRAFFITI WALL. THIS IS ABOUT THREE BLOCKS SOUTH OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT. IN 1998, THE CITY OF AUSTIN, AUSTIN WATER WAS CUTTING A SHALLOW TRENCH FOR A WASTEWATER LINE AT THE TOE OF THE DEL RIO CLAY JUST NORTH OF 24TH STREET. AND THAT CUT CAUSED A SLOPE FAILURE IN 2018. THERE WAS A SLOPE FAILURE AT THAT SAME LOCATION, JUST NORTH OF 24TH STREET AT WOOLRIDGE DRIVE. IT'S A SLOPE FAILURE THAT I WAS RETAINED BY THE CITY TO HELP IN A LAWSUIT. THAT LAWSUIT HAS SUBSEQUENTLY BEEN SETTLED ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET. WHILE WE WERE WORKING ON THAT LAWSUIT JUST LAST YEAR, ANOTHER SLOPE FAILURE HAPPENED IN THAT SAME GEOLOGIC SETTING. THIS IS ABOUT 10 BLOCKS NORTH OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT SITE. THE SIGNIFICANCE HERE IS THAT THAT DEVELOPMENT WAS ALLOWED TO PROGRESS BECAUSE A VARIANCE WAS GIVEN TO THEM BECAUSE THEY WERE WITHIN 150 FEET OF THAT CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURE. I WANNA LOOK AT THE SLOPE FAILURE THAT HAPPENED AT WILDRIDGE DRIVE BECAUSE IT WAS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE HAVE SEEN BEFORE. AND IT WAS SOBERING. THE SLOPE FAILURE AT WOODRIDGE DRIVE WAS LIKE 10 TIMES THE AMOUNT OF MATERIAL THAT ANY OF THOSE OTHER SLOPE FAILURES THAT I SHOWED YOU INVOLVED. THE SLIP SURFACE WENT DOWN MORE THAN 30 FEET BELOW THE GROUND. SO IT WASN'T FOUR FEET BELOW THE GROUND LIKE WHAT I SHOWED YOU IN 1972 OR LIKE WHAT WAS HAPPENING AT CASTLE HILL. IT CUT BACK INTO THE BUTTA LIMESTONE ABOUT 35 FEET BACK INTO THE BACKYARDS OF PROPERTY, WELL ABOVE THE TOE OF THE SLOPE, MORE THAN 150 FEET AWAY FROM THE TOE OF THE SLOPE. THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT THAT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD SHOWS A CUT THAT GOES DOWN 30 FEET IN ORDER TO PROVIDE FOR A PARKING GARAGE THAT'S A LOT DEEPER THAN THE FOUR FOOT CUT THAT LED TO THE SLOPE FAILURE IN 1972. AND IT'S A LOT DEEPER THAN THE SHALLOW CUT THAT LED TO THE SLOPE FAILURE IN 1998. AND IT'S A LOT DEEPER THAN THE CUT AT CASTLE HILL. SO THAT'S CONCERNING. AND IF YOU PUT THAT CUT ON THAT SLOPE AT WOOLRIDGE DRIVE AND YOU LOOK AT THE AMOUNT OF MATERIAL THAT YOU NEED TO SHOW UP, THAT YOU NEED TO HOLD UP IN ORDER TO KEEP THAT SLOPE STABLE, THAT GOES WELL BEYOND THE PROPERTY LINE. THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT ENGINEERING CHALLENGE. AND SO AT WOODRIDGE DRIVE, AS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW SIGNIFICANT OF AN ENGINEERING CHALLENGE IT IS, THERE WAS A PLAN THAT WAS PUT TOGETHER BY HAYWARD BAKER TO STABILIZE THAT SLOPE, NOT CUT INTO THE SLOPE, JUST STABILIZE WHAT WAS ALREADY THERE. THAT COST BETWEEN 15 TO $20 MILLION. SO THIS, YES, [05:55:01] YOU CAN STABILIZE THIS SLOPE, BUT IT REQUIRES SIGNIFICANT EFFORT AND IT REQUIRES A LOT OF MONEY. AND WHAT THIS NEIGHBORHOOD WANTS IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS DEVELOPER IS AWARE OF WHAT IS NEEDED IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT SLOPE IS STABLE. THANK YOU. PAUL GOSLING. PAUL HAS TIME DONATED BY JOE SUE HOWARD. I SEE YOU AND MARK SEGER. I SEE YOU SIX MINUTES. THANK YOU. UH, GOOD AFTERNOON. PAUL GOLINK. FOR THE RECORD. I'M THE, UH, VICE PRESIDENT AT JUDGES HILL, AND I LIVE AT 9 0 3 WEST 16TH STREET, WHICH IS ONE OF THE HOUSES THAT'S HERE, TOP THE BLUFF. THAT PROPOSED PROJECT IS BENEATH AND IN BETWEEN US IS THE CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURE ON THE GEOLOGICALLY UNSTABLE SLOPE. WHAT, WHY I'M HERE AND WHY I THINK MY NEIGHBORS ARE HERE. WE'RE AFRAID THAT THIS IS GONNA HAPPEN TO US. UH, AND THE LAST THING WE WOULD WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IS OUR HOUSE FALL DOWN THE HILL, BUT WE DON'T EVEN WANT TO HAVE PART OF THE PROPERTY GO OR HAVE OUR PROPERTY BE UNMARKETABLE BECAUSE WHO WANTS TO BUY A HOUSE THAT'S SITTING ON TOP OF A BLUFF THAT'S UNSTABLE AND STARTED THE FALL? UM, NOW I'M GONNA, I WANTED TO SET THE STAGE FOR WHY WE'RE HERE. UH, BUT I ALSO WANTED TO SAY THAT, UH, I, I GAVE YOU A HANDOUT OR A HANDOUT WAS PROVIDED, WHICH I WROTE BEFORE. UH, THE NEXT STEP IN THE PROCESS, MELISSA BILLER, AGAIN, GETTING CREDIT FOR PULLING THE, THE DEVELOPER AND THE NEIGHBORS TOGETHER GOT US TO AGREE, UH, TO, UH, ENTER INTO AN MOU. UH, AND WE WROTE, I WROTE A DOCUMENT TO YOU THAT'S EXPLAINED, HEY, WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS. AND MOU SOUNDS LIKE WHAT WE, THE BEST THING WE CAN DO BECAUSE, UM, THERE IS AN ESTABLISHED PATTERN. IT'S LIKE A RELIGIOUS BELIEF THAT YOU GO THROUGH ZONING AND YOU GET THAT DONE AND THEN YOU GO TO SITE PLAN. WELL, THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ZONING AND SITE PLAN. ONE IS I GET TO TALK TO YOU IN ZONING. THE OTHER IS, YOU ONLY GET TO DO THIS PRIVATELY. AND IN FACT, MOST OF THE TIME YOU GET TO DEAL WITH THE STAFF AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING BACK AND FORTH WITH THE DEVELOPER AND THEY COME UP WITH A JOINT IDEA ABOUT WHAT IT SHOULD LOOK LIKE. WE'D LIKE TO HAVE INPUT AT THE FRONT END. AND THAT WAS AGREED TO. UH, AND JUST TO SORT OF INTERPLAY BOB GILBERT'S COMMENTARY, UH, SEVERAL, MANY, SEVERAL OF THOSE COLLAPSES THAT YOU SAW WENT THROUGH SITE PLAN. UH, YOU DON'T HAVE A GEOTECHNIC ENGINEER TO EVALUATE IT, SO BAD THINGS CAN HAPPEN. SO, UH, WE MOVED TO THIS NEXT PHASE OF, UM, LET'S ACTUALLY WRITE AN MOU. BUT IT WAS YESTERDAY WHEN THIS CAME UP, NOT ENOUGH TIME, BUT LEAH BOJO ON BEHALF OF THE, UH, APPLICANT, OR, UH, CREATED SORT OF AN INTRODUCTORY DOCUMENT THAT SAID, HEY, THIS IS WHAT I THINK WE AGREED TO. UH, I TOOK A LOOK AT THAT AND IT IS WHAT WE AGREED TO, BUT NOT ALL THAT WE AGREED TO. AND WHAT, WHAT OUR GOAL IS, IS TO CLEARLY BE ABLE TO HAVE, UM, BOB GILBERT AND ANYONE ELSE, UH, GET INVOLVED AT THE FRONT END OF THE DESIGN PROCESS OF THE GEOTECH DESIGN PROCESS. UH, THE APPLICANT'S RESPONSE TO US REFERS TO STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS. YEAH, THEY'RE GOOD, BUT THEY COME AFTER THE GEOTECH ENGINEER REFERS TO WORKING, DEVELOPING THIS, THIS, UH, PLAN AS YOU WORK, WORK TOWARD CONSTRUCTION. WELL, YEAH, YOU DO WORK TOWARD CONSTRUCTION, BUT FIRST YOU WORK TO DESIGN. IF WE CAN GET THE DESIGN RIGHT SO THAT WE'RE COMFORTABLE, IT IS NOT GONNA FALL DOWN. ALL THE REST OF IT'S NOT GONNA BE A PROBLEM. BUT WE NEED TO, UM, BE ABLE TO WORK OUT THIS MOU AND I'M BRINGING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION BECAUSE IT'S HAPPENED SORT OF VERY QUICKLY. UH, I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S ANY ADDITIONAL RELIEF THAT COULD COME FROM YOU IF ANYTHING GOES WRONG. BUT ONE POSSIBLE REFEREE OF THIS IS, UH, THE CITY COULD HIRE A GEOTECH ENGINEER ON CONTRACT OR TO HIRE SO THAT WHEN THE APPLICANT'S ENGINEER SAYS, UM, A A IS THE RIGHT WAY AND [06:00:01] OUR GUY SAYS, NO A ISN'T THE RIGHT WAY, THAT'S GONNA BE A PROBLEM. AND WE'RE PRETTY COMFORTABLE THAT OUR GUY, WHO WAS YOUR GUY, HE NEEDS TO BE LISTENED TO, BUT NOT BY THE STAFF THAT EXISTS. NOW YOU NEED TO HAVE SOMEBODY QUALIFIED. OKAY? AND SO I'M, I'M URGING YOU JUST TO AT LEAST DO THAT AS YOU LISTEN TO ME. OKAY. ALBERT MEISENBACH AND PHILLIP WILEY, THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS FOR 1 0 7. MAYOR. OH, WELL, HE, HE DECIDED TO TALK . WELL, THIS IS, THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS. UM, I WOULD LIKE EVERYBODY TO BE HAPPY HERE WHEN, WHEN WE END THIS THING UP. UM, AND I CERTAINLY DON'T WANT THE SLOPE TO FAIL AND FOR THERE TO BE DAMAGED TO ANYONE'S PROPERTY. THIS SITE IS SO INCREDIBLE. UM, RIGHT ACROSS FROM THERE IS KINGSBURY COMMONS AND THERE'S ONE BRIDGE THAT YOU CAN USE BETWEEN 15TH AND 24TH STREET TO CROSS INTO THE OTHER, THE WEST SIDE OF THE PARK. AND IT'S RIGHT ACROSS FROM FROM HERE. THIS IS ABOUT THE SAME DISTANCE FROM PEASE PARK AS THE TALLEST BUILDING, RESIDENTIAL BUILDING IN THE WORLD IS FROM CENTRAL PARK. IT'S ABOUT THE SAME DISTANCE AS THE SECOND TALLEST RESIDENTIAL BUILDING IN THE WORLD, WHICH IS ACROSS FROM CENTRAL PARK. PEOPLE WANNA LIVE IN PARKS. WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING TO GET PEOPLE ACCESS OR AN OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE IN DIFFERENT PLACES BESIDES THE SIDE OF I 35 OR RAINY. UM, ALL OF DOWNTOWN IS VERY DIVERSE IN WHAT IT OFFERS PEOPLE. THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, FRANKLY, I'VE LIVED THERE 33 YEARS. UH, I LOVE TALL BUILDINGS. THEY KNOW THAT, UM, WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING TO GET MORE PEOPLE THERE. WE HAVE LOST RESIDENTS IN THE 33 YEARS THAT I'VE LIVED THERE. AND THAT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. AND WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO DIFFERENT GOING FORWARD. UH, AND GOOD LUCK TO YOU ON THIS. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR. ALL SPEAKERS HAVE BEEN CALLED FOR 1 0 7. ALRIGHT, UH, MEMBERS, THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS THAT HAVE BEEN CALLED, UH, THAT ARE SIGNED UP ON ITEM NUMBER 1 0 7. WE HAVE A MOTION OF A SECOND. I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE. YEAH, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT, PLEASE. IS HERE. HELLO MAYOR AND COUNSEL? I'M LEAH BOJO WITH YOUR HONOR GROUP ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT OR ON BEHALF OF THE PROPERTY OWNER. GREAT. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. UM, SO MY OFFICE HAS WORK CLOSELY WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND YOURSELF TO GET MORE CLARITY ON THE SLOPE STABILITY ISSUED NEAR THE SITE, WHICH IS TYPICALLY MORE OF A SITE PLAN ISSUE AND, AND NOT A, NOT A ZONING ISSUE, WHICH I THINK HAS BEEN HIGHLIGHTED BY SOME OF THE SPEAKERS. UH, BUT I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO WALK THROUGH WITH THE COUNCIL WHAT WE'VE LEARNED SO FAR ABOUT THE, ABOUT THE SLOPE STABILITY, UH, AND WHAT YOU'RE COMMITTING TO WORKING WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND GEOTECHNICAL EXPERTS ON FOR FURTHER DESIGN AT THE SITE. ABSOLUTELY. AND IF I COULD, UM, JUST MAKE IT CLEAR THAT, UM, WE ACTUALLY HAVE DB 90 ZONING RIGHT NOW. ALL THAT WE'RE REQUESTING IS TO ADD A V I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY. THANK YOU. EAD. I APOLOGIZE. WE HAVE EAD DB EAD ZONING. RIGHT NOW WE ARE ONLY REQUESTING A RETAIL WAIVER ON THE SHOAL SIDE. WE WERE REQUESTING TO ADD A V AND WE WERE REQUESTING TO ADD AN MU ONLY ON THE TAIL. SO I JUST WANNA MAKE IT CLEAR THAT, THAT THE BUILDING ISN'T CHANGING DRAMATICALLY. WE'RE JUST TRYING TO KIND OF MAKE IT FIT IN THIS CONTEXT, WHICH IS WHAT STAFF HAS RECOMMENDED AND WHAT PLANNING COMMISSION HAS RECOMMENDED. UM, THROUGH THIS PROCESS, WE HAVE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THE SLOPE AND THE SLOPE CONCERNS FROM THE NEIGHBORS. UM, WE DID HAVE A, A GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING REPORT, UM, COMPLETED, WHICH I HAVE COPIES OF IF ANYONE LIKE TO SEE THEM, UM, PER PLANNING COMMISSION'S REQUEST. UM, WE ALSO HAD A SLOPE STUDY DONE. UM, JUST IN THE LAST COUPLE DAYS. I WAS OUT ON SITE WITH THE GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERS LOOKING AT THE SLOPE WITH THEM. UM, WE LOOKED A LOT AT, UM, THE PROPERTY TO THE NORTH, WHICH HAS A RETAINING WALL. UM, AND THEY BELIEVE, AND THIS LETTER OUTLINES THAT THEY BELIEVE A SIMILAR UM, SOLUTION COULD BE APPLIED TO THIS SITE. THIS, THE, THE GEOTECH REVEALED THAT THE SLOPE IS THE SAME AND THE, UM, GEOTECHNICAL IS THE SAME. UM, AND IN, AND IN ADDITION TO THOSE STUDIES IN ADVANCE, WE ALSO, UM, THE LETTER THAT MR. GOSLIN, UH, REFERRED TO, UM, DESCRIBES THE ADDITIONAL GEOTECHNICAL STRUCTURAL AND STRUCTURAL AND SLOPE STUDIES THAT WE WOULD BE DOING, AS WELL AS MEETING WITH THE NEIGHBORS TO REPORT, UM, [06:05:01] OUR FINDINGS AND OUR DESIGN AND, AND, AND HEAR THEIR FEEDBACK. AND ALSO, UM, TO HEAR FEEDBACK AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH DESIGN, UM, ON THE GEOTECHNICAL AND SLOPE CONCERNS AND, AND WORK. GREAT, THANK YOU. AND THEN, AND IN ADDITION TO THE LETTER YOU PROVIDED TO THE, TO OUR OFFICE ON FURTHER COMMITMENTS, YOU'RE COMMITTING TO WORK WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD ON AN MLU, IS THAT CORRECT? YES, SIR. GREAT, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WHILE, WHILE YOU'RE THERE, DO YOU MIND YOU HAVE MORE OTHER QUESTIONS? I WAS GONNA ASK REMARKS, BUT IF YOU QUESTIONS, DO YOU MIND IF I ASK A QUESTION TWO? YES, SIR. UM, MR. KOSLIN INDICATED THAT THE LETTER HAD, IN FACT, IT HAD THINGS THAT Y'ALL AGREED TO, BUT THERE WERE OTHER THINGS THAT NEEDED TO, THAT YOU DID ALSO AGREE TO. THAT'S NOT INCORPORATED IN THE LETTER. I, I GUESS I, I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE STATUS OF THAT IS AND WHAT THE STATUS OF GETTING TO THE MOU WOULD BE. SO I THINK MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THIS LETTER, WHICH I BELIEVE Y'ALL HAVE IN AS IN BACKUP YEAH. IS SORT OF THE CONCEPT THAT THERE MAY BE SOME FINE TUNING, UM, OF, OF HOW, WHAT THAT COMMUNICATION WOULD LOOK LIKE. I KNOW, UM, MR. GOSLIN WANTS TO HAVE HIS, HIS NEIGHBORS AND HIS TEAM, UM, SORT OF HAVE OVERSIGHT OVER OUR, OVER OUR STUDIES. WE, OF COURSE WILL ALREADY HAVE AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO HAVE LICENSED ENGINEERS DOING THE WORK. SO, YOU KNOW, TO BE CLEAR, WE ARE, WE ARE HIRING LICENSED ENGINEERS. THESE LETTERS ARE BOTH SEALED. WE EXPECT THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT SEAL TO CONTINUE. SO, UM, I'M HOPING THAT ALL OF THESE PROFESSIONALS, UM, CREDENTIALED PROFESSIONALS CAN WORK TOGETHER AND AGREE ON A, ON AN APPROPRIATE OUTCOME. WHAT'S THE STEP, HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO GET TO THE MOU DONE? UM, I DON'T, I HOPE IT DOESN'T TAKE VERY LONG. . I MEAN, I THINK WE'VE GOT THE, WHAT I'M IMAGINING IS WE SORT OF TURN THIS LETTER INTO AN MOU SO THAT BOTH PARTIES CAN SIGN IT. THIS ONE'S JUST SIGNED BY ME AND IT'S ADDRESSED TO COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE'S OFFICE. UM, AND MAYBE A LITTLE BIT MORE NUANCE TO IT. GO AHEAD. WE DID RECEIVE MR. GOSLING'S EMAIL FROM EARLIER THIS MORNING. MY CLIENT AND I DISCUSSED IT, AND SO WE UNDERSTAND WHAT HIS REQUESTS ARE. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER. GREAT. UM, I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. SO YOU, YOU, YOU CAN SIT DOWN IF YOU WANT. UM, WELL, I, I, LIKE I SAID, I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND APPLICANT'S WILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH US. UH, I REALLY APPRECIATE, ONCE AGAIN, I'M GONNA GIVE MELISSA FLOWERS 'CAUSE I FEEL LIKE EVERYONE ELSE IS, UM, ON, ON HER WORK ON THIS. UH, AND YOU KNOW, AS YOU CAN SEE TODAY, UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE HAVE THE POSSIBILITY TO PASS THIS WITH A REAL PATH FORWARD TO FURTHER ANALYZING THE SLOPE, SLOPE STABILITY IN THIS AREA, AND ENSURING TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN THAT PROCESS FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD. UH, THE CASE HAS REALLY TAUGHT US A LOT ABOUT OUR DEVELOPMENT AS IT RELATES TO THESE AREAS AROUND CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FUTURES. AND I'M COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH MY COLLEAGUES HERE WHO MAY HAVE RIM ROCK OR OTHER SLOPES IN THEIR DISTRICTS TO FURTHER EXPLORE WITH STAFF HOW WE CAN BEST ANALYZE AND MITIGATE DEVELOPMENT IN THESE POTENTIALLY UNSTABLE AREAS. UH, AND I WANT TO THANK THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR THEIR ADVOCACY AND LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE, AND I REALLY DO LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THEM AND CITY STAFF ON NEXT STEPS. AND, AND YOU KNOW, I THINK THE ONE THING THAT I, THAT I REALLY WANT TO MAKE CLEAR, THAT WE TAKE ALL THE FEEDBACK THAT WE'VE HEARD, YOU KNOW, WE TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY. WE'VE WORKED TO MAKE SURE THERE'S A REAL PATH FORWARD, LIKE, LIKE I'VE HIGHLIGHTED WHERE WE WANT TO, YOU KNOW, HOLD THE, THE APPLICANT'S, UH, FEET TO THE FIRE AND REALLY HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE. SO WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO MAKE SURE THAT A LOT OF THESE CONCERNS THAT FOLKS HAVE ARE, ARE MITIGATED AND, AND, AND DON'T BECOME A REALITY FURTHER DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO, UM, THE MOTION. ALL RIGHT. UM, I I WILL SAY THIS, WE ARE THIS, IT STRIKES ME AS ONE OF THOSE ODD SITUATIONS WE FIND OURSELVES IN UNFORTUNATELY ODD SITUATIONS WE FIND OURSELVES IN WHERE THIS IS A ZONING MATTER WHERE AS I UNDERSTAND IT'S EVEN A, A DOWN ZONING. UH, UH, AND, AND YET, UM, I'M GETTING A LOT OF FEEDBACK TODAY. IT'S, IT IS VERY INTERESTING. UM, UH, BUT, BUT MY POINT BEING, IT'S A ZONING ITEM AS OPPOSED TO WHERE YOU NORMALLY WOULD BE TAKING UP ALL OF THESE THINGS. AND I GET WHY THE, THE NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD WANT TO DO THAT AT THIS TIME. AND I WILL ASSUME FOR THE PURPOSES OF ARGUMENT THAT IT'S NOT DOING IT JUST 'CAUSE THIS IS THE BEST TIME TO KILL SOMETHING, JUST TO KILL IT. THAT IT'S INSTEAD THE LEGITIMATE CONCERNS ABOUT THESE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN, HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP. SO HAVING SAID THAT, IF WE VOTE TO DO THIS, TO MAKE THE CHANGE IN ZONING, UH, BECAUSE THEY CAN DO SOMETHING RIGHT NOW, UH, THEY COULD DO PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING THEY WANT TO DO RIGHT NOW IF IT'S A PROBLEM. THE MESSAGE THAT I HOPE THAT, UH, AT LEAST FROM JUST THIS, THIS VOTE WANTS TO CONVEY [06:10:01] TO THE STAFF IS WE NEED TO PUT THIS THROUGH THE PACES. THIS NEED THE, THE SYSTEM HAS TO WORK SO THAT WE DON'T END UP HAVING THE COUNCIL PUT IN THE POSITION OF HAVING TO VOTE ON A ZONING MATTER IN THIS WAY, EVEN WHEN THEY CAN GO FORWARD TOMORROW AND DO WHAT IS BEING CON WHAT HAS CREATED THE CONCERN. IT JUST WON'T HAVE CERTAIN TYPES OF USES THAT WE, WE ARE TOTALLY RELIANT UPON STAFF TO MAKE SURE THAT IT, THAT IT, IT WALKS, DOES THIS THE RIGHT WAY. AND SO, AND I, AND I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE STAFF AND I SAY THAT OUT LOUD, BUT I JUST, BECAUSE I, I THINK IT'S GONNA BE IMPORTANT SINCE WE'RE VOTING ON THE ZONING MATTER. ANYWAY, THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S ALL I'LL SAY ABOUT THAT. THAT BEING SAID. UM, IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN. THANK YOU. MAYOR. IS IT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO ASK PLANNING A QUESTION ALONG THE LINES OF THE COMMENTS THAT YOU JUST MADE A MOMENT AGO? I'M SORRY, SAY THAT AGAIN? IS IT POSSIBLE TO ASK PLANNING A QUESTION YES. OR STAFF REQUEST FROM REGARD ALONG THE LINES OF YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT SURE. IF THERE'S SOMEBODY HERE, THIS IS PROBABLY A DSD QUESTION, BUT I'M HERE . THANK YOU. JOY. I, MY QUESTION IS ACTUALLY REALLY SIMPLE, JUST BASED ON THE MAYOR'S COMMENTS. WHAT SYSTEM DO WE HAVE IN PLACE WHEN WE NEED TO HIRE AN EXPERT IN A PARTICULAR FIELD TO WORK US THROUGH A COMPLEX PROBLEM LIKE WE'VE SEEN WITH THIS CASE? WELL, WHETHER IT'S GEOLOGY, BIOLOGY, ARCHEOLOGY, WHATEVER THE SPECIALIST IS, DO WE HIRE AN OUTSIDE CONSULTANT IN INSIDE PLAN? HOW DOES THAT WE HAVE WATERSHED PROTECTION HERE. THEY CAN ASSIST. OKAY. HI, GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M AN INTERIM ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER, LIZ JOHNSTON. UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE HAVE QUITE A LOT OF, UH, PROFESSIONALS ON STAFF ALREADY THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THESE SORTS OF THINGS. UM, I THINK THE ISSUE IS, YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S GAPS IN THE CODE THAT MAY OR MAY NOT ALLOW US TO, UH, REQUIRE CERTAIN THINGS. UM, BUT IF THERE'S, UM, YOU KNOW, AN MOU BETWEEN THE NEIGHBORS AND, UM, AND YOU KNOW, THE, THE APPLICANT, THEN WE CAN LOOK AT THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT IT'S BEEN, UM, APPROPRIATELY REVIEWED. UM, AND, YOU KNOW, BY, BY EITHER GEOLOGISTS AND WATERSHED OR STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS AND BUILDING PERMIT REVIEWS DURING, UH, THAT PROCESS. OKAY. THANK YOU. THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO CONFIRM. OKAY, THANK YOU. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES THEN, UH, COUNCILS MEMBER HARBOR MADISON. THANKS. I WANTED MAKE SURE YOU SAW HER HAND AS WELL. I JUST WANT TO COMMUNICATE WHERE I'M AT ON THIS. SO I'VE DEALT WITH A LOT OF ISSUES WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO DEAL WITH TRAFFIC PATTERNS AND WATERSHED, YOU KNOW, FLOODING AND STORM WATER DRAINAGE, UM, ISSUES. I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER HAD ONE THAT CAME UP TO LIKE A GEOLOGIC ISSUE. AND SO I THINK I'M GONNA ABSTAIN ON THIS ONE, BUT I APPRECIATE THAT THE D NINE TEAM HAS PROBABLY WORKED EVERY SINGLE ANGLE ON THIS TO UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE REPERCUSSIONS ARE AND WHAT THE APPROPRIATE PATHWAY FORWARD IS. UM, BUT I'M JUST HESITANT, YOU KNOW, SEEING SOME OF THE OTHER ISSUES THAT WE'VE SEEN ALONG SHOAL CREEK OVER THE YEARS, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT I'VE DONE MY DUE DILIGENCE AS WELL BEFORE SUPPORTING IT FULLY. BUT I'LL ABSTAIN TODAY AND IF OTHERS ARE SUPPORTIVE, THEN I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, DID YOU WANNA SPEAK? THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I APPRECIATE YOU RECOGNIZING ME. I THINK ALL THE THINGS THAT I WOULD'VE OTHERWISE ADDRESSED HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED, UM, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF I REALLY WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY AS WE'VE HEARD THE, YOU KNOW, CONTRIBUTIONS FROM OUR COMMUNITY. AND FRANKLY, LET'S JUST GO AHEAD AND KEEP IT REAL. OUR COMMUNITY INCLUDES GOOD DEVELOPERS. THAT'S A THING. IT'S A REAL THING. SO AS WE TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THESE DISCUSSIONS THAT HAVE HAPPENED BETWEEN COMMUNITIES AND DEVELOPERS AND PEOPLE TRYING TO REACH AGREEMENTS THAT BY WAY OF, SO BY THE WAY, FOR EXAMPLE, MR. MAYOR, YOU KNOW, I THINK A LOT OF OUR CONSTITUENTS DON'T KNOW THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY INFLUENCE OVER THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS. LIKE THAT'S NOT A THING THAT WE HAVE ANY INFLUENCE OVER. AND OR SAYING SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF, WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE CONTRIBUTION OF NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, CONTACT TEAMS, ET CETERA, ET CETERA. BUT US AS A CITY, WE FRANKLY DON'T HAVE ANY RULES IN PLACE THAT DICTATES HOW NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AND CONTACT TEAMS WORK. SO FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, YOU KNOW, I'M FORTUNATE YOU GUYS HAVE SEEN MY GUARD. I TALKED TO ALL MY NEIGHBORS. SO I RECRUITED 19 NEW DAVIS THOMPSON NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEMBERS BY WAY OF JUST STANDING OUTSIDE AND TALKING TO MY NEIGHBORS. BUT THEY DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WE HAD A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. SO [06:15:01] HAVING NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AND NEIGHBORHOOD CONTACT TEAMS AND GROUPS, WHILE I CAN APPRECIATE THAT, WE SHOULD DEFER TO THOSE PLANS, THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS WHO'S SPEAKING FOR WHOM? IF YOU GOT 12 PEOPLE TALKING FOR 13,000 PEOPLE, THAT AIN'T RIGHT. AND THAT IS NOT EQUITY. AND SO WHILE I CAN APPRECIATE THAT SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT CAME FORWARD TODAY TO SPEAK CANDIDLY ABOUT WHO'S WHO AND WHAT'S WHAT I WANT THEM TO RECOGNIZE, Y'ALL, YOU SEVEN PEOPLE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD OF 74,000 PEOPLE, HOW CAN YOU POSSIBLY BE THE SINGULAR VOICE? THAT IS AN UNFORTUNATE ASSUMPTION ON YOUR PART, BUT GUESS WHAT THE BEAUTY OF IT IS? WE CAN FIX THAT. LET'S GO BACK AND FIX HOW WE DO NEIGHBORHOOD INVOLVEMENT. IF ALL YOUR NEIGHBORS DON'T KNOW THAT YOU HAVE A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, THEN YOU'RE NOT DOING THIS RIGHT. AND WHEN YOU SPEAK ON THEIR BEHALF AT CITY COUNCIL, THERE ARE SOME NAMES I CAN NAME WHEN YOU COME TO THE CHAMBERS AND STAND AT THAT PODIUM AND SAY, I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF, IF MOST OF THE PEOPLE YOU SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF DON'T KNOW YOU'RE DOING. SO, UH, LET'S JUST CALL IT DISINGENUOUS AT BEST. AND I'M OFFERING YOU SOME GRACE WHEN I DO THAT. SO, MR. MAYOR, WHAT I WANTED TO SAY WAS, AS WE'RE HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS, MOST ESPECIALLY ABOUT THESE ZONING CASES, I WANT US TO, AS A BODY, CAN WE EVENTUALLY HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AND CONTACT TEAMS AND, AND, AND WE EXPECT SO MUCH FROM OUR STAFFERS AND OUR CREWS FOR THEIR LEVEL OF EXPERTISE, ET CETERA, ET CETERA. BUT WE LET LAY PEOPLE WEIGH IN ON ZONING CASES. I APPRECIATE THAT. NEIGHBORHOODS SURE. ALWAYS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN. HOWEVER, IF WE HAVE SPECIFIC AND EXPLICIT REQUIREMENTS, LIKE EVEN THE FACT THAT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS DON'T HAVE TO MEET REQUIREMENTS ABOUT HOW THEY RECRUIT THEIR LEADERSHIP, WE AS A CITY DON'T HAVE ANY REQUIREMENTS FOR THEM TO CHECK IN AND SAY, HEY, WE SELECTED BY WAY OF OUR BYLAWS. WE DON'T HAVE ANY. SO WHEN WE DO THIS THING THAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW AND WE SAY YES, APPROACH THE PODIUM. YES. TELL US HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THE THING. WHEN PEOPLE DO THE THING FROM WHAT THEY ARE BASICALLY CALLING A PER A PERSPECTIVE, THAT IS PROFESSIONAL NEIGHBORHOOD CONTACT TEAM. ALRIGHT, WELL THEN YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW THE SAME GUIDELINES AS ANYBODY ELSE. YOU HAVE TO HAVE THIS LEVEL OF CONSIDERATION FOR YOUR EXPERTISE, THIS LEVEL OF CONSIDERATION BY WAY OF, AND S LEVEL OF CONSIDERATION. 'CAUSE WHEN WE DO IT SLOPPY WILLY-NILLY, WHICH IS FRANKLY MR. MAYOR, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, WE DO IT SLOPPY WILLY NILLY. WE JUST LET ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO WEIGH IN, IN FACT, WE LET PEOPLE OBSTRUCTIONISTS COME FROM OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS INTO OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS AND INTRODUCE THINGS. AND THE FACT THAT WE HAVE TO COMBAT THAT, I'LL LEAVE IT WITH THIS MR. MAYOR, I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE CONVERSATION AS A BODY ABOUT NEIGHBORHOOD CONTACT TEAMS, NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AND, AND, AND, AND ALL THE THINGS THAT MEANS THEY GET TO WEIGH IN ON WHAT SPURTS DO SPUR. I WANNA PUT EMPHASIS ON THE FACT THAT THESE PEOPLE GOT LIKE 8, 9, 10, 12 YEARS WORTH OF EXPERTISE. WE ALLOW LAY PEOPLE TO DICTATE WHAT THEY DO. THAT'S SO MY MY HOPE IS THAT MOVING FORWARD, THAT WE AS A BODY, A GROUP OF PRAGMATIC INDIVIDUALS, RECOGNIZE THAT THERE SHOULD BE A SYSTEM FOR ALLOWING FOR COMMUNITY INPUT. BECAUSE SOME OF IT, FRANKLY, IF YOU LOOK AT THE ZONING CASE THAT WENT EXTRAORDINARILY WELL AND THE ONE THAT DIDN'T, AND THEN LIKE WHAT THE NEIGHBORS ASKED FOR, SOME OF IT IS WILD, MR. MAYOR, I MEAN, DOWN TO [06:20:02] CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, BEING ABLE TO DICTATE WHAT ORGANIZATIONS ARE ALLOWED TO IMPLANT BY WAY OF SOME OF THIS STUFF IS NOT FOR US TO DETERMINE. AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO US HAVING A MORE COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM FOR HAVING THESE DISCUSSIONS THAT DOESN'T INVOLVE TAKING THIS MUCH COUNCIL TIME. THANK, THANK, IN MY MIND'S EYE, THIS IS NOT US TO DECIDE ON. I THINK THERE'S A SEPARATE BODY THAT DOES ALL THAT WORK AND THEN THEY BRING US A VOTE. THANK YOU FOR MY TIME. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRY. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, WANT TO GET ONE POINT OF CLARIFICATION FROM YOU IF THAT'S OKAY. THEN I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION FOR SURE FOR LEAH IF SHE'S, SHE'S STILL HERE. YEAH. UM, I JUST WANT TO GET CONFIRMATION. THIS IS, THERE'S A, THERE'S A VALID PETITION THERE IS THIS CASE? CORRECT. OKAY, GREAT. UH, AND THEN LEAH, I GOT A GOT A QUICK QUESTION FOR YOU IF YOU DON'T MIND. OH YEAH. IF YOU COULD COME UP, COME FORWARD. UM, YEAH. OKAY. UH, JUST, JUST WANTED TO JUST GET CONFIRMATION FROM YOU THAT IF THE, IF THE WAIVER AND ZONING CHANGE ISN'T APPROVED TODAY, WHAT, WHAT HAPPENS? UM, SO WE ARE, WE ARE READY TO GO THROUGH DESIGN. UM, THERE IS TALK OF JUST BUILDING THE PROJECT UNDER THE CURRENT ENTITLEMENTS, UM, BUILDING RETAIL AND NOT, I'M NOT SURE IF WE'D BE ABLE TO FILL IT OR HOW SUCCESSFUL OR WHAT WOULD BE IN THERE, WHATEVER. BUT WE ARE AT A POINT RIGHT NOW WHERE WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT. AND SO I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE TIME TO WAIT FOR ANOTHER POSTPONEMENT. UM, WE AGREED TO A SUBSTANTIAL POSTPONEMENT FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD AT PLANNING COMMISSION WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT WE WOULD DO EVERYTHING WE COULD TO GET THIS DONE BEFORE THE SUMMER BREAK. OF COURSE, HERE WE ARE. UM, WE AGREED TO A POSTPONEMENT ALSO AT THE LAST MEETING. UM, I WAS JUST TALKING WITH MR. GOSLING AND I, I REALLY DO THINK WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE AS FAR AS GET IN. I COULDN'T ASK HIM OF COURSE. BUT, UM, ABOUT GETTING THIS, UM, APPROVED TODAY AND CONTINUING TO WORK TOGETHER. UM, I THINK THAT CERTAINLY THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN HIGHLIGHTED TO ALL STAFF THAT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REVIEW ALL COUNCIL, EVERYONE. UM, AND, AND TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, THE VALID PETITION, UM, IT DOESN'T STOP THE PROJECT FROM HAPPENING. IT ONLY STOPS THE TRANSITION AREA AND THE RETAIL WAIVER. SO IT ACTUALLY MAKES A MORE INTENSIVE PROJECT. SO I DON'T THINK ANYONE WINS FROM THAT. GREAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR MORALES. I'VE GOT A FOLLOW UP. DON'T, DON'T GO TOO FAR. SO WE JUST HEARD FROM A COUPLE OF THE, THE NEIGHBORS AND SOME OF THEM HAVE PROVIDED LETTERS AND THE STAFF REPORT THAT WE'VE SEEN. IS IT YOUR UNDERSTANDING THAT THE NEIGHBORS ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THE REZONING TODAY? KNOWING THAT THE MOU STILL NEEDS TO BE DISCUSSED? IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY'RE LOOK AMENABLE TO LETTING THE ZONING GO FORWARD KNOWING THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TOWARD AN MOU THAT COVERS THESE ITEMS AND SOME OTHER SORT OF COMMUNICATION AND INPUT, UM, UH, UH, COMMITMENTS. OKAY. IS THAT TRUE? WELL, LET, LET'S HAVE THE PRESIDENT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. YES. HE, HE'S NODDING YES, BUT WHY DON'T YOU COME UP AND SAY THAT. WANNA MAKE SURE I'M ASKING THE RIGHT PEOPLE, THE RIGHT QUESTIONS. USUALLY WHEN I SEE, BUT GOSPEL LINK'S GONNA TALK YOU OUT OF IT. USUALLY WHEN I SEE, YOU KNOW, GEOLOGISTS COME UP AND SAY THERE'S, YOU KNOW, SOME THINGS THAT NEED TO BE LOOKED AT. YEAH, THAT DOES NOT SOUND LIKE A GREEN LIGHT TO ME. AND TELL ME YOUR INTERPRETATION. OKAY. UH, LOOKING AT HOW THE GAME IS PLAYED, UH, REALIZING THAT, AND DON'T, DON'T PUT IT IN THAT CONTEXT LINK. I'M SORRY. YOU MAKE IT SOUND LIKE EVERYTHING. I'M SORRY. I'M, I'M AN OLD, IT'S NOT NEGATIVE. WE'RE TRYING, WE'RE TRYING VERY HARD. I'M AN OLD TO GET TO AN APPROPRIATE RESPONSE HERE. I'M AN OLD JOCK AND I THINK THAT WAY. I'M SORRY. UH, OLD ATHLETE, I MEAN GO AHEAD. FORMER ATHLETE, WHATEVER. RIGHT. UH, WE MADE A DECISION. I WE HAD A VALID PETITION. UH, OUR FIRST CHOICE WOULD BE PLEASE APPROVE OUR VALID PETITION. WE CHANGED OUR POSITION. WE, WE WORKED WITH THE, UH, WITH THE DEVELOPER WITH LEAH TO, UH, TO AGREE THAT AN MOU UH, WOULD SATISFY US SO LONG AS WE COULD, UH, BE SURE THAT OUR, UH, EXPERTS GOT A CHANCE TO WORK ON THE DESIGN FROM THE BEGINNING. OKAY. NOW THE QUESTION THAT YOU ASKED WAS, UH, ARE WE GOOD WITH THE, WITH THE ZONING CHANGE? AND THEN WE'LL WORK ON THE MOU. I'D RATHER WORK ON THE MOU THAN SAY, HEY, OKAY, WE NOW AGREE THE WAY WE THOUGHT WE HAD AGREED. RIGHT NOW THE LANGUAGES ARE DIFFERENT. WHAT LEO WROTE, WHICH WAS JUST A FIRST DRAFT, WHAT I WROTE, WHICH WAS FROM MY POINT OF VIEW, I DON'T THINK THEY'RE THAT FAR APART, BUT THEY ARE SOME DISTANCE. AND I WOULD PREFER THAT WE HAD THAT DOCUMENT DONE, BUT WE DIDN'T START IT UNTIL YESTERDAY AND WE DIDN'T GET IT DONE. UM, SO THAT'S THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION. I'D RATHER YOU, I'D RATHER GO IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, BUT WE'RE AIMING TOWARD [06:25:01] THE GOAL OF SAYING, OKAY, SONY CONDOS GOOD. IS THAT GOOD ENOUGH? IT, IT IS. I APPRECIATE THAT CLARIFICATION. UM, I THINK IT'S JUST DIFFERENT 'CAUSE WE HEAR A LOT OF NEIGHBORHOODS THAT, YOU KNOW, WANT TO COME AND MAKE SURE THAT THE DOCUMENTS ARE AGREED UPON AND SIGNED IN WHATEVER CAPACITY HAPPENS BETWEEN NEIGHBORHOODS AND, AND, AND THE APPLICANTS, SINCE COUNSEL ARE NOT INVOLVED IN THOSE AND DON'T REGULATE THOSE. UM, SO I'M, I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF MY VOTE MATTERS, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE THE VALID PETITION IS, IS THAT STILL ON FILE? IT'S STILL A VALID PETITION. NINE VOTES ARE NEEDED. YOU HAD DEPEND WANNA DO THAT, THAT'S FINE. BUT I'M NOT HERE. I DIDN'T PUSH THE VALID PETITION. UH, I, I PUSHED MAKING SURE THAT MY HOUSE IS SAFE AND MY NEIGHBOR'S HOUSES ARE SAFE AND THE HILLSIDE DOESN'T COLLAPSE, WHICH WILL MAKE THEM SAFE. UH, THAT'S WHAT I THINK THINKING ABOUT WHAT THIS BODY'S PRIMARY DUTY IS. IT'S, IT'S TO PROTECT PUBLIC SAFETY. UH, AND YOU HAD A CHANCE TO DO THAT BY MAKING SURE THAT THIS PROJECT IS DONE, UH, IN A SAFE WAY. AND I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD HAVE SOME INPUT INTO WHETHER IT'S SAFE. UM, AND, UH, IF THE BATTING ORDER, I UNDERSTAND LEAH DOESN'T WANNA WAIT SIX WEEKS, UM, BUT IF THERE'S ANY WAY TO SAY, HEY, UM, GET THIS FIGURED OUT AND UH, YOU'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL SEND IT TO THE MOU AND THEN YOU COULD PASS THE ZONING. I, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A SEQUENCE THAT'S AVAILABLE TO YOU. OKAY. I'M AFRAID THERE'S NOT. BUT I APPRECIATE THAT. THAT'S A REAL ONE. AND MS. GUS LINK, AS I'VE SAID NOW, THIS WILL BE THE THIRD TIME I'VE SAID IT. PART OF THE PROBLEM HERE IS WE'RE DEALING WITH THE ZONING. AND I KNOW YOU SET UP IN YOUR INITIAL COMMENTS THAT YOU DON'T LIKE THAT, BUT THAT'S THE WAY THAT, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY VOTING ON. AND A VALID PETITION, EVEN IF WE WENT WITH A VALID PETITION, THEY STILL COULD GO BUILD WHAT IT IS YOU DON'T WANT THEM TO BUILD. IT'S JUST THE USE THAT WOULD BE DIFFERENT PRIMARILY. SO I, I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR. I'M JUST NOT SURE THAT WE'RE IN A POSITION, EVEN THOUGH YOU JUST SAID YOU, I MEAN YOU GRANTED US THAT POWER, BUT I DON'T THINK YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT THAT. SO. RIGHT. I I I DIDN'T KNOW HOW MUCH PLENARY POWER YOU HAD. UH, IF I, I'M, I'M ON THE SAME PAGE WITH YOU MAYOR IN THE SENSE THAT, UH, I'VE BROUGHT THIS ISSUE UP AND PEOPLE ARE NOT CONSCIOUS OF IT. AND I THINK THAT'S A GOOD THING. UH, I THINK, I THINK IT CAN BE HANDLED THE SAME WAY YOU HANDLE FLOODPLAINS THE SAME WAY YOU HANDLE CRITICAL WATER, QUALITY, QUALITY ZONES. THIS NEEDS TO BE TREATED AS SORT OF A SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCE. 'CAUSE THE DAMAGE CAN BE SEVERE AND YOU KNOW THAT IN ADVANCE, YOU'VE WATCHED THEM FALL DOWN ALL OVER THE PLACE. SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN APPROVED AND THEN THEY FELL DOWN. SO IT'S, IT'S A SERIOUS ISSUE. COUNCILOR ELLIS, I INTERRUPTED YOU AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING MORE? I DON'T, BUT I SEE THE APPLICANT HALF STAND UP AGAIN. DID, WAS THERE A FINAL COMMENT THAT MS. BOJO WANTED TO MAKE? AND THEN I'M GONNA RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER MCC CADRE UNLESS SOMEBODY HAS A BURNING DESIRE. SO WE, WE HAVE ANOTHER VERY LARGE CASE. I WOULD JUST SAY THAT WE ARE COMMITTED, WE UNDERSTAND, UM, THE, THE NEIGHBOR'S CONCERNS. WE UNDERSTAND MR. GOSLING'S CONCERNS. WE HAVE A GEOTECH ALREADY ON, ON BOARD WITH THE PROJECT EARLIER THAN WOULD NORMALLY HAPPEN. AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH HIM THROUGH THE DESIGN PROCESS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT, UM, WHAT ELSE WE CAN DO OTHER THAN MAKE THAT COMMITMENT TO YOU ON THE RECORD HERE, THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH HIM AS WE MOVE THROUGH DESIGN AND CONTINUED STUDIES OF THE AREA. THANK YOU. THAT'S WHERE WE'RE COVERED. YEAH, I GOT ONE LAST QUESTION FOR THE APPLICANT. I SAW JOSE SHAKE, LIKE NODDING HIS HEAD, BUT HOPEFULLY HE DOESN'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OTHER, OTHERWISE HE'S NOT GONNA BE ALLOWED TO DO THE, THE FASHION SHOW NEXT YEAR. I WAS GONNA READ THROUGH MY SCRIPT AGAIN. GOT IT EARLIER. DON'T, DON'T LET HIM BAIT IT. YEAH. SO, UH, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY JUST A, YOU KNOW, YES OR NO QUESTION, BUT FROM WHAT, FROM WHAT I'M GETTING, THE ZONING ADDRESSES THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S CONCERNS, RIGHT? THE, THE, THE RETAIL BRINGS MORE, MORE TRAFFIC AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD DOESN'T WANT THAT. CORRECT. AND THAT THE MOU GIVES US TOWNHOUSES AND THAT'S WHAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD DOES WANT. YES. SO IS IT FAIR TO SAY THAT THE ZONING ADDRESSES THE NEIGHBORHOOD? YES. NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS. GREAT, THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, WITH THAT BEING SAID, UH, THAT'LL BE THE CLOSE ON THIS, UH, THE VOTE IS ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE ON ALL THREE. UM, TO APPROVE ON ALL THREE READINGS. THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE MOTION IS ADOPTED. IS THERE ANY, ANYBODY WANTS TO SHOW AN OBJECTION? ALL RIGHT, I WOULD LIKE TO ABSTAIN IF THERE'S OKAY. THEN COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS. SO THE MOTION IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL ON A VOTE OF 10. ARE YOU, DOES THAT MEAN YOU'RE YES OR NO? COUNCIL MEMBER? HARVARD MADISON. MR. MAYOR, [06:30:01] I WAS JUST WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT I WAS, BECAUSE I'M VIRTUAL YOU. I GOTCHA. MR. YEAH, IT'S 10. THE VOTE IS 10 TO ZERO TO ONE IN FAVOR OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS WILL BE SHOWN ABSTAINING. THANK YOU. I'M NOT AN ABSTENTION VOTE. THANK YOU, MS. MAYOR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE AND THANKS FOR THE, THE DISCUSSION THAT WILL TAKE US TO ITEM NUMBER 1 0 3 SO THAT WE HAVE A MOTION OUT ON THE TABLE THE WAY WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS TODAY, SO THAT WE'LL HAVE SOMETHING FOR PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY RESPOND TO. UM, I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION ON SECOND AND THIRD READING WITH REGARD TO ITEM 1 0 3. IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA. UM, SO NOW WE HAVE A MOTION AND I'LL TURN TO THE CLERK FOR DISCUSSION. I MEAN FOR, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. WE HAD SOME PEOPLE REGISTER FOR REMOTE, BUT THEY HAVE NOT JOINED YET, SO I'M GONNA GO STRAIGHT TO IN PERSON. I AM GONNA CALL SEVERAL PEOPLE AT ONCE. WE HAVE A LOT OF SPEAKERS ON THE ITEM. IF YOU HEAR YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME DOWN AND WHEN THE PODIUM IS AVAILABLE, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME INTO THE RECORD. RITA THOMPSON. JUDY BRADFORD, MARIAN SANCHEZ, VALERIE MENARD, SUSANNA ALMANZA, ADRIAN MACIAS, MONICA GUZMAN. AND FOR THE, SO THAT THE RADIO KNOW WHEN SHE CALLS YOUR NAME, IT I, I'LL JUST TELL YOU, IT MAY NOT FEEL LIKE IT TO Y'ALL, BUT IT'S HELPFUL TO US FOR YOU TO MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT BECAUSE THEN WE KNOW WE HAVE SPEAKERS THAT ARE READY TO GO. SO IF SHE CALLS YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME DOWN TO THE FRONT, UH, SO THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO WORK EFFICIENTLY FOR YOU. THANK YOU, MA'AM. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. UH, THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR COUNSEL. MY NAME'S RITA THOMPSON. UM, I'VE BEEN A SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDER IN AUSTIN SINCE 1980, AND THAT HAS AFFORDED ME THE PRIVILEGE TO WORK WITH VARIOUS COMMUNITIES WITH DIFFERENT NEEDS. UM, WE NOW KNOW FOR CERTAIN THAT DENSITY DOES NOT EQUATE WITH AFFORDABILITY. I HAVE ATTENDED AND WATCHED THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE CITY COUNCIL WHERE URBANISTS HAVE CLAIMED THAT THEY KNOW THE BEST PRACTICES AND HAVE DISMISSED THE CONCERNS OF NEIGHBORS AND THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. THIS MADE ME PAUSE. MY PROFESSION HAS A CODE OF ETHICS AND BEST PRACTICES, AND I DECIDED TO GO AHEAD AND DO A CURSORY CHECK, AND I FOUND THAT THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF CERTIFIED PLANNERS HAS ALSO A CORE PRINCIPLES AND URBAN ETHICS. AND LET ME JUST MENTION TWO OF THEM. EQUITY AND JUSTICE. THIS PRINCIPLE MANDATES THAT PLANNING DECISION SHOULD BE FAIR AND JUST ENSURING EQUAL ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES FOR ALL RESIDENTS REGARDLESS OF THEIR BACKGROUND OR SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS. IT REQUIRES ADDRESSING HISTORICAL INJUSTICES AND PREVENTING THE CREATION OF NEW DISPARITIES THROUGH PLANNING POLICIES. AND THAT'S THE KEY NEW DISPARITIES, AND I THINK THAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH DB 90. THE OTHER ONE IS ETHICAL URBAN PLANNING MUST CONSIDER THE LONG-TERM ENVIRONMENT, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF DEVELOPMENT. SUSTAINABILITY DEMANDS THAT WE PLAN CITIES IN A WAY THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF THE PRESENT WITHOUT COMPROMISING FUTURE GENERATION AND RECOGNIZES AND WORKS TO MITIGATE THE IMPACTS OF EXISTING PLANS AND PROCEDURES THAT RESULT IN PATTERNS OF DISCRIMINATION AND SPECIFICALLY AT STATES DISPLACEMENT. SO, UH, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY REAL QUICKLY, WHEN YOU DISRUPT LIKE THIS, YOUR TIME IS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M MONICA GUZMAN, DISTRICT FOUR RESIDENT AND HOUSING AFFORDABILITY ADVOCATE READING ATTENDANCE STATEMENT. I'VE LIVED AT ACACIA CLIFFS APARTMENTS FOR A YEAR AND A AND I HAVE A ONE YEAR RENEWAL ON MY LEASE. THIS IS BY FAR THE ONLY PLACE I COULD AFFORD TO LIVE IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. I USED TO LIVE TWO HOURS AWAY BY BUS. BEING IN THIS LOCATION ALLOWS ME TO PARTICIPATE FULLY IN LIFE AT MY SYNAGOGUE, WHICH IS ON THE JCC CAMPUS. I ALSO TAKE PART IN ACTIVITIES FOR OLDER ADULTS AT SHALOM AUSTIN. MY LIFE HAS COMPLETELY CHANGED FOR THE BETTER SINCE MOVING TO ACACIA CLIFFS. AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I WOULD DO OR WHERE I WOULD GO IF I HAVE TO LEAVE HERE IN A YEAR AS ROBIN BAROT. HOPEFULLY I'M SAYING IT RIGHT FROM ACACIA CLIFFS COUNCIL [06:35:01] MEMBERS, THE REST IS ME. COUNCIL MEMBERS. YOU ALL TOLD US YOU AGREE THAT DB 90 IS NOT APPROPRIATE. IN ALL CASES, THE ACACIA CLIFFS TENANTS ASSOCIATION HAS WORKED HARD TO CREATE SOLUTIONS. IF THERE ARE ENOUGH COUNCIL MEMBERS WILLING TO SUPPORT THE TENANTS ASSOCIATION, COUNCIL SHOULD VOTE NO ON THIS DB 90 REZONING IMPACTING THE ACACIA CLIFF TENANTS. THIS WILL ALLOW THE AFFORDABLE DEVELOPER TO MAKE A COMPETITIVE OFFER THAT WOULD PRESERVE AND EVEN ADD TO THE AFFORDABILITY AT ACACIA CLIFFS. THE TENANTS ASSOCIATION NONPROFITS COMMUNITY SUPPORTERS, AND NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION WOULD ALL WORK TOGETHER TO ENSURE TRULY AFFORDABLE DENSE REDEVELOPMENT AT ACACIA CLIFFS WITH HIGH STANDARDS FOR DISPLACEMENT MITIGATION, I URGE YOU TO POSTPONE THIS REZONING VOTE UNTIL THE DENSITY BONUS 90 AMENDMENT PROCESS IS COMPLETED SO THAT TENANTS CAN BENEFIT FROM BENEFICIAL CHANGES INCLUDING REQUIRED ONE-TO-ONE REPLACEMENT, AFFORDABLE UNITS, ROBUST IMPROVEMENTS AND TENANT RELOCATION, PRESERVATION OF NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND AN INCREASED MINIMUM PERCENTAGE OF AFFORDABLE UNITS. I URGE YOU TO WORK DIRECTLY WITH THE IMPACTED COMMUNITIES, COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO ENSURE AUSTIN HAS A TRULY EQUITABLE PLAN INFORMED BY THE DIRECTLY IMPACTED AND INCLUDES AN EQUITY ANTI GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, THIS IS JUDY BRADFORD. UM, GREETINGS COUNCIL AND MAYOR, WHEREVER YOU ARE. UM, THIS IS A REPRISE OF MY TESTIMONY EARLIER, BUT THIS IS IN REGARDS TO ITEM 1 0 3. SAY NO TO REZONE SO THE PEOPLE WON'T ROAM, UNHOUSED IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE SELDOM IS KNOWN, AN 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 AFFORD HOMES TO LIVE IN AND NO ONE IS DRIVEN AWAY. 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 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, WHERE WE'RE WATCHING AND WON'T GO AWAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CARLOS PINON. ALEXIA LECLAIRE, PEDRO HERNANDEZ, BETSY GREENBERG, ALFREDO REYES JR. CAROLYN WILLIAMS, DEANNA, AN ANGEL. MY NAME IS BETSY GREENBERG. AS A MEMBER OF THE ZONING AND PLANNING COMMISSION, I VOTED AGAINST DEMOLISHING 290 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT ACACIA CLIFFS, AND I HOPE YOU'LL DO THE SAME. THE APPLICANT HAS PRESENTED THIS AS A LOSE LOSE PROPOSITION. EITHER YOU APPROVE THE ZONING AND LOSE OVER 200 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, OR YOU DENY THE ZONING AND THEY'LL REBUILD WITH NO AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THIS IS A FALSE CHOICE. THE FOUNTAIN TERRACE APARTMENTS BEHIND MY HOUSE ARE 59 YEARS OLD. SIX YEARS AGO, THE PROPERTY CHANGED HANDS INSTEAD OF REZONING AND REBUILDING. THE NEW OWNERS HAVE ONE BY ONE REMODELED THE APARTMENTS. WHEN PEOPLE MOVED OUT, NOBODY WAS DISPLACED. SURE THEY RAISED THE RENTS, BUT THEY'RE STILL BELOW 60%. MFI. AS A RETIRED UT STATISTICS PROFESSOR, MY APPROACH IS TO LOOK AT THE DATA. SO I DOWNLOADED ALL THE DEMOLITION PERMITS TO SEE HOW OFTEN MULTI-FAMILY PROPERTIES ARE DEMOLISHED AND REBUILT. WITHOUT [06:40:01] AN UP ZONING, THE DATA IS POORLY ORGANIZED, SO I CAN'T GIVE YOU ACCURATE TABLES OR GRAPHS. I CAN ONLY TELL YOU THAT I FOUND MANY DEMOLITIONS IN NEW APARTMENTS WERE BUILT IN AREAS LIKE UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD OVERLAY AND EAST RIVERSIDE CORRIDOR THAT RECEIVED BROAD ZONING INCREASES. I SAW DEMOLITIONS IN PROPERTIES WHERE MF THREE WAS CHANGED TO SOMETHING LIKE MF SIX OR DB 90, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A FEW REBUILDS AFTER FIRES. I DID NOT FIND DEMOLITIONS WITHOUT AN UPZONING. AND WHY WOULD I? DEVELOPERS WHO REQUEST ZONING CHANGES UNIFORMLY GET WHATEVER THEY ASK FOR. IT'S LIKE CHRISTMAS HERE EVERY THURSDAY. YOU NEED TO LEARN TO SAY NO TO INAPPROPRIATE REQUESTS. PLEASE STOP THE DEMOLITION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND VOTE NO ON THIS ITEM. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON Y'ALL. GIVE ME ONE SECOND. HI EVERYONE. MY NAME'S ALEXIA. I'M AN ORGANIZER WITH BOLDED AND COMMUNITY POWERED, AND TODAY I'M READING A STATEMENT FROM A RESIDENT. THE STATEMENT GOES, MY NAME IS ALEXA YOUNG. I'M A YOUNG ADULT LIVING IN MY OWN AT 7 2 0 1 HEART LANE, THE APARTMENT COMPLEX THAT IS BEING PLANNED FOR DEMOLITION AND REPLACEMENT. I'M WRITING YOU TO YOU TODAY TO ASK THAT YOU AMEND DB 90 TO PROTECT A HARDWORKING AUSTINITES LIKE MYSELF, NOT WEALTHY DEVELOPERS. I GREW UP IN AUSTIN AND THIS IS MY HOME. I PICKED THIS APARTMENT EXPLICITLY BECAUSE IT WAS AFFORDABLE TO LIVE HERE, AND I DO NOT THINK THAT I'LL BE ABLE TO FIND ANOTHER APARTMENT AT THIS PRICE POINT. MY COMPLEX IS FULL OF WORKING CLASS FAMILIES WHO KEEP AUSTIN RUNNING. IF IT IS SOMEONE'S DESIRE TO MOVE INTO A $2,000 A MONTH LUXURY APARTMENT IN AUSTIN, THEY HAVE ENDLESS OPTIONS TO CHOOSE FROM. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT I WILL BE ABLE TO FIND ANOTHER PLACE IN AUSTIN WHERE I CAN AFFORD MY RENT, EASILY ACCESS PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND BE NEARBY TO LOCAL SHOPS AND NECESSITIES. PLEASE DO YOUR PART AND REMEMBER THAT IT IS US WHO ELECTED Y'ALL TO PROTECT AND ADVOCATE FOR AUSTINITES AND NOT THE INTEREST OF DEVELOPERS. I WILL ALSO ADD THAT EARLIER TODAY Y'ALL HAVE ALL AGREED THAT WE NEED CHANGES TO DB 90. SO IT IS ONLY LOGICAL THAT WE DO NOT APPROVE THE ACACIA CLIFFS DB 90 REZONING AND DISPLACED 200 PLUS WORKING CLASS FAMILIES. LASTLY, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE GROUP, AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPER OVER THE PAST MONTHS, AND THEY HAVE JUST SENT IN THE STATEMENT THAT WE WILL LATER SHARE WITH Y'ALL THAT THEY'RE WILLING TO MAKE ANOTHER OFFER TO BUY OUT ACACIA CLIFFS, BUT THEIR OFFER WILL ONLY BE COMPETITIVE IF THIS REZONING IS NOT PASSED BECAUSE THIS REZONING IS TO BENEFIT THE DEVELOPERS AND FOR THEM TO PROFIT. SO DO THE RIGHT THING, PROTECT THE RESIDENTS, PRIORITIZE DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND VOTE NO ON ACACIA CLIFFS. THANK YOU. OKAY, MOVING ON. URA SMITH, MICHAEL PARTITA, AMY ELLIOT, ELI CORTEZ, CHRIS PAGE WHO HAS TIME DONATED, BUT I DON'T SEE HIM. JONATHAN SCOTT, JOHN MCMAIN. ENO. I'M JOHN MCMAHON AND I'M HERE TO ASK THAT YOU VOTE NO ON THE RE REZONING OF THE ACACIA CLIFFS AREA. THE REASON THIS IS IMPORTANT, EVEN THOUGH I ONLY HAVE TWO MINUTES, AND IT TAKES YOU GUYS LIKE SEEMINGLY INSTANT TO TO VOTE, IS THAT THIS COULD HAVE CATASTROPHIC, UH, CONSEQUENCES TO THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE THAT COULD HAUNT THEM FOR THEIR ENTIRE LIVES. DISPLACEMENT IS A GROSSLY D DISRUPTIVE PROCESS TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, NOT JUST TO ACACIA CLIFFS, BUT ALL OF AUSTIN. AND IT SETS A TERRIBLE EXAMPLE TO WHAT DEVELOPERS CAN GET AWAY WITH, WITH THE AUSTIN CITY AT LARGE. SO I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE STOP THIS. THE WHEN, UH, DB 90 WAS FIRST PROPOSED, IT, IT WAS LOOKED AT AS A WAY TO REDEVELOP SOME OF THE ABANDONED BUSINESSES. AND THERE'S PLENTY OF THOSE AROUND HERE THAT, THAT DEVELOPERS COULD BE LOOKING AT, BUT INSTEAD THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE ALREADY EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT WE HAVE IN ORDER TO TEAR THAT DOWN AND DISPLACE THE DISPLACE THE FOLKS WHO ARE LIVING THERE. AND I KNOW THAT YOU VOTED FOR A ONE-TO-ONE, BUT THAT BARELY HELPS. THESE PEOPLE ARE STILL BEING DE DISPLACED AND THERE ARE VERY FEW, UH, SAFEGUARDS TO PROTECT THEM IN THAT ENTIRE PROCESS. IT, UH, THE [06:45:01] REBUILDING DOES NOT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT. AND EVEN IF THEY, EVEN IF THEY ARE STILL ABLE TO MOVE BACK IN, THERE'S NO GUARANTEE THAT THEY WILL BE GUARANTEED A SPOT TO LIVE IN IN THAT NEW FACILITY. SO I'M ASKING YOU, PLEASE VOTE NO OR AT LEAST DELAY THIS UNTIL YOU CAN GET THIS DB 90 SORTED OUT AND MAKE SURE THAT IT WORKS FOR AUSTINITES AND NOT FOR THESE WEALTHY DEVELOPERS. THANK YOU. YVETTE CASTRO. YANI CARMEL MINGA. JULES BOOGIE. LILA DEWE DO. OKAY. IS IT V MS. AMI? YES. YOU HAVE TIME NOTED BY ALEXANDRIA ANDERSON. IS SHE STILL HERE? SHE'S OKAY. FOUR MINUTES. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON AGAIN. COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR. UM, MY NAME IS VCA MORINGA. I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 10 AT ACACIA CLIFFS APARTMENTS. UM, I AM HERE TO VOTE NO ON ITEM 1 0 3 TO REZONE ACACIA CLIFFS USING DB 90, UM, OR INDEFINITELY. POSTPONE THIS VOTE UNTIL DB 90 IS AMENDED TO INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING ITEMS. UH, THE REQUIREMENT OF, OF COURSE, THE ONE FOR ONE REPLACEMENT. THE WRITTEN GUARANTEE THAT THE RIGHT STAKEHOLDERS ARE GIVEN A, UH, SEAT AT THE TABLE. UM, WHEN THESE DISCUSSIONS ARE BEING, UH, YOU KNOW, BROUGHT UP AND, AND SORTED THROUGH, UH, PEOPLE LIKE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS AND RESIDENTS ARE THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT ONES THAT I AM THINKING OF. THANK YOU. OVER THE PAST TWO MONTHS, ACACIA CLIFF RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN BUSY, TO SAY THE LEAST. WE'VE BEEN MEETING WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS AND INTERESTED AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS LIKE WHAT YOU JUST HEARD, SINO WHO COME TO THE TABLE AND OFFER OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYONE IN AUSTIN TO HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE THAT'S AFFORDABLE WITHOUT AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPER. WHAT YOU HAVE IS DEVELOPERS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN REBUILDING LUXURY APARTMENTS THAT THE CITY DOES NOT NEED. WE HAVE AN AMPLE OF THOSE. VOTING NO WOULD ENSURE THAT AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPER, LIKE YOU'VE HEARD, UM, WOULD HAVE AN, A COMPETITIVE BID TO COME TO THE TABLE WITH, IN OTHER WORDS, THE LOOPHOLE THAT YOU'RE GIVING THE DEVELOPERS LIKE TRAMMELL CROW. USING DB NINE LEE ONLY IS GOING TO ADD TO THE INABILITY OF THIS CITY'S GOAL TO REACH 12,000, UM, 30% UNITS BY 2028. UNFORTUNATELY, FOR ACACIA CLIFF RESIDENTS WHO ARE HARD AT WORK, PROVIDING FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND OTHER RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT AUSTIN, WHO WILL BE AFFECTED BY TODAY'S VOTE, WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT, THEY WILL LOSE THEIR OPPORTUNITY FOR EQUALITY. TODAY. MR. WHELAN HAS STATED TIME AND TIME AGAIN THAT THERE ARE SO MANY OPTIONS FOR ACACIA CLIFF RESIDENTS TO CHOOSE FROM IN THE SURROUNDING AREA, AND YET ONE CALL AFTER ANOTHER THIS MORNING, WHAT I HEARD IS THAT WE HAVE ONE BEDROOM UNITS, UH, CURRENTLY AVAILABLE, VERY SCARCE AND RANGING BETWEEN A THOUSAND TO 1400 FOR A ONE BEDROOM UNIT FOR A TWO BEDROOM UNIT. WE'RE LOOKING AT PRICES AGAIN, SCARED UNITS, SCARCE UNITS, EXCUSE ME, A 1450 TO 15, UH, 99. THAT'S ALMOST $1,600. THERE'S NOT AN AMPLE, UH, CHOICE FOR US. PLEASE KNOW THAT BUILDING MORE DENSITY ISN'T WHAT WE'RE FIGHTING TODAY. WHAT WE'RE URGING TO YOU TO CONSIDER IS HOW WE AS A CITY CAN BUILD MORE DENSELY AT A MORE DI, DEEPLY AFFORDABLE AFFORDABILITY THAN WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE AND WHAT WE WE ARE CURRENTLY BEING OFFERED WITH THIS DB 90. JUST YESTERDAY IN OUR MOST RECENT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, MEETING WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS HARPER'S STAFF, I LEARNED THAT A RELOCATION PROJECT THAT I'M PROUDLY A PART OF HERE IN AUSTIN AND IN HER DISTRICT ROSEWOOD COURTS, IS ONE THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO MODEL AFTER WHEN IT COMES TO RELOCATING PEOPLE, CONSIDERING A RESPECTFUL AND DIGNIFYING WAY TO RELOCATE AND PROTECT PEOPLE. BEING DISPLACED IS WHAT I'M HERE FOR. IT IS WHAT I DO FOR MY DAY JOB AND IT'S WHAT I WANT FOR ACACIA CLIFF RESIDENTS. YOU HAVE THE POWER TO DO SOMETHING. WE'VE VOTED FOR YOU. PLEASE COME TO THE TABLE WITH US, MAKE THIS HAPPEN. MAKE THE CHANGES THAT ARE NEEDED. THIS BRINGS ME TO MY FINAL POINT. THE LACK OF BUILDING MORE DENSELY AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS IN AUSTIN AND NORTHWEST AUSTIN SPECIFICALLY IS A CONTINUATION OF SEGREGATION. IF YOU REMOVE THE CURRENT AFFORDABILITY OF ACACIA CLIFFS WITHOUT REPLACING EACH CURRENT UNIT AND TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY [06:50:01] TO ADD ADDITIONAL ONES BY ALLOWING DB 90 TO GO THROUGH, YOU ARE REINSTATING SEGREGATION BY DESIGN. MICHAEL CURRY, IS THAT YOU OKAY? YES. OKAY. YOU HAVE TIME DONATED BY BARBARA MACARTHUR. OKAY. FOUR MINUTES AFTER MICHAEL IS NO S THANK YOU. UM, MY NAME'S MICHAEL CURRY. DB 90 BY ITS TERMS IS NOT INTENDED FOR EXISTING RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES, CERTAINLY NOT FOR NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE PROPERTIES. ITS APPLICATION TO ACACIA CLIFFS IS INAPPROPRIATE, CONTRARY TO ITS TERMS AND FLAWED, BUT I THINK WE AGREE ON THAT, AT LEAST I HOPE WE DO. THIS ZONING APPLICATION SHOULD BE POSTPONED WHILE STAFF WORKS UP AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH AS PART OF ITS REVIEW OF METHODS TO PRESERVE EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND KEEP FROM DISPLACING ITS TENANTS. I HOPE THE APPLICANT WILL BE CIVIC-MINDED ENOUGH TO DO THIS. IT IS ALREADY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT IT IS NO INTENTION TO DEMOLISH THE PART, THE APARTMENTS UNTIL 2027, SO IT WON'T BE HARMED BY A, UM, POSTPONEMENT. WE'RE TOLD THAT THE APARTMENTS ARE 50 YEARS OLD AND THEREFORE AT THE END OF THEIR LIFE. I ASKED TWO ARCHITECTS ABOUT THIS AND THEY BOTH SMILED. I SMILED TOO BECAUSE I WAS AT THE APARTMENTS AND I TALKED TO THE TENANTS. I SMILED ALSO BECAUSE MY HOUSE IS 35 YEARS OLDER THAN THE APARTMENTS. IN FACT, PROBABLY 70% OF THE HOUSES IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD ARE 20 TO 35 YEARS OLDER THAN THE APARTMENTS. THE SAME CAN BE SAID ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD NORTH OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD NORTH OF THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD NORTH OF THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD NORTH OF THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD WEST OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD SOUTH OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND SOUTH OF THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. I THINK YOU GET THE POINT. TE AD DOESN'T THINK THESE HOUSES ARE AT THE END OF THEIR LIFE. WE'RE TOLD THAT THE LANDLORD CAN ONLY PROVIDE BENEFITS TO TENANTS IF THEY OBTAIN THE DB 90 ZONING. THERE'S NOTHING PREVENTING THE LANDLORD FROM EXTENDING MOVING BENEFITS TO TENANTS UNDER ANY ZONING. THAT'S THEIR CHOICE. I WAS RECENTLY TOLD THAT SB EIGHT 40 MIGHT BE AN ISSUE. IT THAT'S A BILL THAT PASSED THAT WOULD ALLOW THE APPLICANT TO DEVELOP THE PROPERTY WITHOUT DB 90 ZONING AT A HIGHER DENSITY THAN THEIR CURRENT ZONING OR SO IT SAID, I READ THE BILL, I'D FOLLOWED IT DURING THE LEGISLATURE. THE BILL APPLIES TO COMMERCIALLY ZONED PROPERTY. THE AUTHOR OF THE BILL SAID SO AND HE IS ON FILM. ANY REASONABLE CONSTRUCTION SAYS. SO, CONSTRUCTION OF THE ORDINANCE, THAT IS IN A LEGAL SENSE. SO DOES YOUR INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS OFFICER WHO DESCRIBED SB EIGHT 40 AS FOLLOWS. THE BILL ALLOWS RESIDENTIAL BY RIGHT IN NON-RESIDENTIAL BASED ZONES. SO UNLESS YOU REZONE THIS PROPERTY TO COMMERCIAL ZONING, THE BILL DOES NOT APPLY. THERE ARE A LOT OF GAMES IN BRINKMANSHIP DURING ZONING CASES. SOMETIMES AS IN THIS CASE THERE'S A LOT ON THE LINE. THERE'S PLENTY OF RISK TO GO AROUND. THERE'S MONEY TO BE MADE AND LIVES TO BE DISRUPTED. THE ZONING COULD BE GRANTED AND IT'S POSSIBLE THERE COULD BE 80 AFFORDABLE UNITS OR DESPITE THE REZONING, IT COULD BE REDEVELOPED IN A DIFFERENT WAY AND THERE COULD BE FEWER OR NO AFFORDABLE UNITS. MAYBE A HOSPITAL, SINCE THAT'S CONSIDERED A CIVIC USE, THE ZONING COULD BE DENIED. AND IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THAT COULD RESULT IN NO AFFORDABLE UNITS OR IN THE, OR IN THE CONTINUED EXISTENCE OF 290 AFFORDABLE UNITS. SOMETIMES IT'S BEST JUST TO DO THE RIGHT THING TO NOT MISAPPLY AN ORDINANCE WRITTEN FOR COMMERCIAL ZONING, TO NOT INCENTIVIZE THE LOSS OF 210 TO 200 AFFORDABLE 290 AFFORDABLE UNITS TO NOT GET INTO THREATS, TO NOT LISTEN TO THOSE WHO HAVE THE MOST TO, TO, TO LISTEN TO THOSE WHO HAVE THE MOST TO LOSE, TO WORK HARDER, TO BE MORE CREATIVE, TO DENY COMMERCIAL ZONING AND DB 90 ON THIS RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY. WORK FOR THE GOOD, DON'T JUST RUN FROM THE BAD. BE A NOE IS ERIC POLLIS AND THEN ERIC GOMEZ. GOOD AFTERNOON, UH, MAYOR COUNCIL. I'M NO ELIA. I'M FROM DISTRICT THREE FROM LES. UH, I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM AND I WANT, UM, TO ASK COUNCIL MEMBERS. UM, WELL, I WANNA NOTE THAT COUNCIL [06:55:01] MEMBERS HAVE TOLD US THAT THEY AGREE THAT DB 90 IS NOT APPROPRIATE IN ALL CASES. UH, THROUGH THE ACACIA CLIFFS TENANTS ASSOCIATION, RESIDENTS HAVE WORKED HARD TO CREATE SOLUTIONS. UH, SO ONE THING THAT WE ARE ASKING IS THAT THE COUNCIL SHOULD VOTE NO ON THIS DV 90 REZONING CASE THAT'S GOING TO GREATLY IMPACT ACAIA CLIFFS. UH, IF YOU VOTE NO, THIS WILL ALLOW, UH, AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPER TO MAKE A COMPETITOR OFFER TO PRESERVE THESE APARTMENTS AND EVEN TO ADD AFFORDABILITY AT ACACIA CLIFFS. UH, SO THE TENNIS ASSOCIATION, NONPROFITS, COMMUNITY SUPPORTERS, NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, UH, CANNOT WORK TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE TRULY AFFORDABLE DENSE DEVELOPMENT IN THIS AREA WHERE ACACIA CLIFFS IS. UM, AND I WANNA READ, UH, FROM AN EMAIL FROM THE CASINO GROUP. UH, SO THEY SAY, UH, PLEASE ACCEPT THIS EMAIL AS CONFIRMATION THAT UNDER THE CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES, THE CASINO GROUP WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE A COMPETITIVE, COMPETITIVE OFFER TO PRICE REALTY TO REDEVELOP ACACIA CLIFFS COMMUNITY. SO THIS IS UNDER DB 90 BECAUSE THEY'RE FOCUSING ON, ON THE, THE PROFIT. BUT HE ADDS, IF THE PROPERTY EVER BECAME AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE, THERE COULD BE A SCENARIO THAT THE GROUP COULD MAKE A COMPETITIVE OFFER. AGAIN, UNDER THE CURRENT FEED DEVELOPER STRUCTURE, THE OWNER IS CONSIDERING CASINO WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE A COMPETITIVE OFFER, ESPECIALLY IF WE ARE GOING TO LIMIT THE UNITS TO 30%, 50%, AND 60% MFI. SO WE'RE ASKING YOU TO VOTE NO TO GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO WORK WITH THIS, UH, DEVELOPER, THIS AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPER TO PRESERVE THEIR HOUSING IN ACACIA CLIFFS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK. MY NAME IS ERIC GOMEZ AND I'VE BEEN A FEDERAL EMPLOYEE FOR 10 YEARS AND A SCHOOL TEACHER FOR 28 YEARS. MY LIFE HAS BEEN ONE OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY, HELPING STUDENTS OF ALL AGES ACHIEVE THEIR EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES AND HELPING TAXPAYERS MEET THEIR TAX OBLIGATIONS AND FIGURING OUT A PLAN OF ACTION WHEN THINGS GO WRONG AND THINGS DO GO WRONG. I NEVER EXPECTED TO BE RICH, BUT I DO EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO LIVE IN THE CITY WHERE I WORK. SINCE 2016, I HAVE BEEN A MOSTLY HAPPY RESIDENT. ACACIA CLIFFS APARTMENT COMPLEX IN THE FAR WEST AREA OF AUSTIN. NO PLACE IS PERFECT. THE COVID YEARS WERE TOUGH, NO DOUBT. BUT OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY HAS PUT MORE EFFORT INTO MAKING ACACIA CLIFFS ONE OF THE BEST KEPT SECRETS OF DEEPLY AFFORDABLE LIVING FOR WORKING CLASS FAMILIES. THEY BUILT A NEAT LITTLE DOG PARK AND RENOVATED THE BASKETBALL COURT THAT WAS BADLY IN NEED OF REPAIR. MY REALLY LOUD NEIGHBORS MOVED OUT FINALLY, AND THINGS HAVE BEEN QUIET AND PEACEFUL IN OUR GREEN, HILLY NEIGHBORHOOD. THEN A GRENADE WAS LOBBED. IN THE MIDST OF THIS SPECIFIC BUCOLIC SCENE, WE LEARNED THAT THE COMPLEX WOULD BE RAISED TO THE GROUND AND WE WOULD BE GIVEN THE HEVE HO. FOR THE PAST TWO MONTHS, WE, THE RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN FIGHTING HERE AT CITY HALL TO PRESERVE OUR HOMES AT ACACIA CLIFFS. I'VE SPOKEN BEFORE ABOUT THE APPLICATION OF DB 90 TO ACACIA CLIFFS AS A MISUSE OF THAT POLICY THAT REZONING ACACIA CLIFFS FROM MF THREE TO G THREE AND THEN ALLOWING TRAMMELL CROW TO USE DB 90 TO MAKE MASSIVE PROFITS WHILE DISPLACING LOW INCOME RESIDENTS IS WELL, IT'S IMMORAL. IT'S THEY EXPLOITED A LOOPHOLE AND GUTTED THE TENANT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROTECTIONS. I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH PEOPLE MAKING AN HONEST PROFIT, BUT THIS ISN'T THAT. I THOUGHT I HAD FOUR MINUTES. OH, YOU HAVE TWO. UNLESS SOMEBODY DONATED YOUR TIME, YOU CAN'T, YOU CAN'T DO IT THAT WAY. THAT'S NOT THE WAY WE DO IT. I'M SORRY, I THOUGHT I HAD FOUR. DID SOMEBODY ELSE SIGN? NOPE, WE DIDN'T HAVE DONATED TIME, SIR. I'M SORRY YOU DIDN'T HAVE DONATED TIME. OH, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. THANK YOU. NEXT GROUP OF SPEAKERS, ROBIN SCHNEIDER, UZI MCCOY, LEONARDO SCALZI, KAITLYN SLOAN, CLAUDETTE WOODS JOHNSON, TIMOTHY WOODS. IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD EVEN IF SOMEONE ELSE IS AT THE PODIUM. HELLO, MY NAME IS ROBIN SCHNEIDER. I LIVE IN, UH, DISTRICT, [07:00:01] UH, THREE. UM, AND, UH, I AM NOT A HOUSING EXPERT, ALTHOUGH I DID SERVE ON THE PREVIOUS MAYOR ADLER'S HOUSING TASK FORCE FOR A WHILE. UM, I THINK IT'S JUST PLAIN COMMON SENSE THAT YOU DO NOT ALLOW DEVELOPERS TO USE A PROGRAM THAT IS SUPPOSED TO, UH, INCREASE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO LET THEM, UH, DEVELOPER USE IT TO DECREASE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. TO ME, THAT'S JUST COMMON SENSE. UM, AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND, UH, ESPECIALLY WITH THE GREAT JOB THAT THESE RESIDENTS AND OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE DONE TO EXPOSE THIS PROBLEM AND THIS LOOPHOLE. WHY YOU WOULD EVEN CONSIDER MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS, UH, ESPECIALLY IN WEST AUSTIN, WHICH HAS SO LITTLE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HAS BEEN, YOU KNOW, THE BENEFICIARY OF SO MUCH FOR SO LONG. UM, I LIVE NEAR SOUTH CONGRESS IN ULT WHARF. WE HAD A NICE APARTMENT COMPLEX LEAFY TWO STORY AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND I'M SO SORRY THAT THAT WENT AWAY. UM, NOW WE HAVE THIS HUMONGOUS, YOU KNOW, UH, BIG, HUGE PARKING LOT AND BUILDING, AND I WISH WE HAD DONE MORE TO SAVE THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WHY AREN'T WE THINKING MORE OUT OF THE BOX? CAN WE USE EMINENT DOMAIN TO SAVE BUILDINGS LIKE THIS THAT SERVE A PUBLIC PURPOSE OF HOUSING PEOPLE WHO OTHERWISE ARE GONNA BE PUSHED OUT OF OUR COMMUNITY? LET'S HAVE THE LAWYERS LOOK AT THAT. UM, I JUST THINK IT'S, IT'S TIME WE ARE IN AN EMERGENCY, UM, UH, IN TERMS OF NOT HAVING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND YOU FOLKS ARE OUR LEADERS. WE NEED YOU TO ACT LIKE THEM. TIMOTHY WOODS AGAIN. UM, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT MY NAME WAS ADDED BACK. AS YOU WAS ABLE TO HEAR THAT MY MOTHER'S NAME WAS ADDED BEFORE, THAT'S WHO CLAUDETTE WOODS JOHNSON WAS. SHE WAS ON HER WAY FROM WORK, BUT UNFORTUNATELY SHE'S RUNNING LATE. SO FOR THE SAKE OF TIME, I DON'T WANNA WASTE NO ONE'S TIME, BUT I DON'T WANNA WASTE THIS TIME AS WELL. SO I WOULD JUST TAKE THIS MOMENT TO JUST SAY GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYONE. HELLO, MR. MAYOR MADAM PRO TEM, THE COUNCIL TO THE COUNCILMAN OF THE 10TH DISTRICT. I DO NOT WANNA TRY TO BUTCH YOUR NAME, SO I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY HELLO TO YOU SINCE YOU'RE IN THE DISTRICT THAT MY MOTHER LIVES IN. AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO TELL EVERYONE THAT THIS HAS BEEN A VERY EDUCATIONAL DAY FOR ME. I PROMISE YOU IF I, IF THIS WAS A FIELD TRIP FOR ME, I'VE LEARNED A WHOLE HECK OF A LOT. OH, AND ALSO FOR THE RECORD, MY MOTHER DID STATE THAT SHE WOULD'VE BEEN SPEAKING TO OPPOSE IT, BUT THANKS AGAIN. HAVE A GREAT DAY EVERYONE. THANK YOU. LAUREN SEALE, GRAHAM RIS, ROBIN RATHER. MICHELLE MANNING. SCOTT. YEAH, I'M LARRY SLE AND I, UH, LIVE IN DISTRICT 10. I'M A TENANT AT THE ACACIA CLIFFS AND, UM, SO I'M DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY, UH, THIS PROPOSAL REZONING. AND, UM, YEAH, I, I WAS HERE A COUPLE WEEKS AGO. I EXPRESSED MY OPPOSITION THEN, AND ALL I CAN DO IS, UH, DO THAT AGAIN. UM, I, I DON'T HAVE ANY, UH, UH, GRAPHS OR STATS TO ADD TO WHATEVER ELSE EVERYBODY ELSE HAS SAID. I, I CONCUR, UH, WHOLEHEARTEDLY. UH, SOUNDS LIKE, UH, DB 90 IS KIND OF A, BEEN EITHER BEEN, UH, MISINTERPRETED OR, UH, MIS WRITTEN. APPARENTLY IT NEEDS WORK AND I'M ALL FOR, UH, YOU KNOW, PRO POSTPONING EITHER THE VOTE TODAY OR UNTIL YOU FIX DB 90, UH, WITH THE APPROPRIATE PROVISIONS FOR, UH, YOU KNOW, HELP HELPING THE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY LIVE IN THESE AREAS AND, UM, OR EITHER VOTE DOWN THE PROPOSAL TO REZONE. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNSEL. MY NAME'S MICHELLE MANNING SCOTT, AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SEVEN, AND I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE TENANTS AT ACAIA CLIFFS. AND I'LL [07:05:01] BE READING A STATEMENT FROM ONE OF THEM WHO IS UNABLE TO BE HERE TODAY. HELLO. I WISH TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS, BUT I DO LIVE IN ACAIA CLIFFS. I'M A WORKING ADULT WITH 16 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN MY FIELD AND NO COLLEGE DEGREE OR CAR. I AM NOW AT THE TOP OF MY CAREER GROWTH UNLESS I GO BACK TO SCHOOL FOR MY BACHELOR'S AND MASTER'S DEGREES. I WOULD ABSOLUTELY LOVE TO CONTINUE GROWING AND GO BACK TO SCHOOL AS A WORKING ADULT AND SUPPORT MY COMMUNITY OF AUSTIN WHERE I'VE LIVED HALF OF MY LIFE. HOWEVER, WITH INCREASING RENT PRICES AND LACK OF ACCESSIBLE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS OR SAVED BIKE ROUTE EXCEPT FOR DIRECTLY WITHIN CENTRAL AUSTIN, I HAD A REALLY DIFFICULT TIME FINDING, TRYING TO FIND SOMEWHERE TO LIVE WITHIN MY BUDGET, NOT EVEN CONSIDERING SAVING UP FOR COLLEGE AS AN OPTION RIGHT NOW AS I STRUGGLE TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE. I STARTED MY APARTMENT SEARCH IN FEBRUARY OF 2025 AND ATTEMPTED TO MOVE INTO MORE THAN 10 DIFFERENT LOCATIONS IN CENTRAL AUSTIN. ALL OF THEM TINY STUDIOS, AND ALL OF THEM FELL THROUGH. THE APARTMENTS WERE EITHER IN HORRIBLE CONDITIONS OR THE PROPERTY MANAGERS NEVER GOT BACK TO ME. FINALLY, IN APRIL, I FOUND ACACIA CLIFFS AND WAS ABLE TO MOVE INTO A BEAUTIFUL, SPACIOUS, ONE BEDROOM APARTMENT WITHIN A COUPLE WEEKS. HOWEVER, KNOWING THIS COMPLEX WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE TO LIVE IN WITHIN A FEW YEARS SINCE IT IS BEING TORN DOWN RATHER THAN SAVING FOR COLLEGE, I, I HAVE TO FOCUS ALL OF MY EFFORTS ON SAVING UP TO BE ABLE TO MOVE OUT OF AUSTIN. I CANNOT AFFORD TO LIVE IN THIS CITY ANYMORE UNLESS I GO BACK TO SCHOOL. BUT I CANNOT DO THAT IF I CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE CLOSE ENOUGH TO COMMUTE TO WORK AS WELL. THIS APARTMENT COMPLEX COULD HAVE GIVEN ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO RETURN TO SCHOOL AND CONTINUE TO GROW IN MY CAREER IN THIS CITY I HAVE KNOWN AS HOME FOR MANY YEARS. INSTEAD, I'M HAVING TO LEAVE THAT CITY ALTOGETHER. PLEASE CONSIDER POSTPONING THE A KC CLIFFS UNTIL DB 90 IS AMENDED TO PROTECT TENANTS. AND GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I'M ROBIN RATHER. TONIGHT I'M REPRESENTING THE ZILKER NEIGHBORHOOD EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. HOPEFULLY YOU GOT OUR LETTER, UM, ASKING YOU TO OPPOSE, UM, APPROVAL OF THIS TONIGHT. UH, WHY, WHY WOULD ZILKER NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, STAY HERE ALL DAY AND TRY TO TALK TO YOU TONIGHT? AND THERE'S A, IT'S A REALLY SIMPLE REASON. WE JUST CARE ABOUT THE TENANTS. D FIVE AND D NINE, WHERE ZILKER IS, HAS PLENTY OF OUR OWN AFFORDABLE, UH, PEOPLE WHO NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THESE TENANTS NEED US TO STAND UP FOR THEM IN AUSTIN. ONE OF THE THINGS I LOVE ABOUT AUSTIN IS IT'S COOL TO CARE. IT'S REALLY COOL TO CARE AND WE JUST CARE. UM, MAYOR WATSON, YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I RESPECT AND APPRECIATE YOU. I RESPECT AND LOVE EVERYONE UP THERE AND EVERYONE BEHIND ME. BUT WHEN YOU WERE CAMPAIGNING, I BELIEVE THAT YOU HAD DOOR HANGERS THAT SAID AFFORDABILITY FIRST. I BELIEVE IN YOUR CAMPAIGN SPEECHES, YOU WERE OFTEN SAYING AFFORDABILITY FIRST. THAT WAS YOUR MANTRA. THIS IS WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD. MICHAEL WHEELAN IS A REAL NICE GUY. HE DOESN'T NEED YOU TONIGHT. ARM BREWTON BROWN. THEY DON'T NEED YOU, THE DEVELOPER, THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T NEED YOU. THESE TENANTS NEED YOU. WE NEED REAL AFFORDABILITY. AND AND I'M ASKING YOU ON BEHALF OF EVERY NEIGHBOR IN THIS CITY, AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL, BRECKER WOODS ZILKER, ALL OF US UNDERSTAND WHAT'S ON THE TABLE TONIGHT. MARK UCHIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRODIGIOUS WORK TO BRING THIS FORWARD AND TO DO ALL THE RESEARCH YOU'VE DONE ON THE NOAHA FUND. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU. THE REST OF YOU. I KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR HEARTS. I KNOW WHAT YOUR INTENTION IS. I BELIEVE IN YOU. AND TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT WHERE YOU SHOW US AND WE WORK TOGETHER TO ACTUALLY PUT AFFORDABILITY FIRST. TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WOO. JACK BRIGHT. MR. BRIGHT, ARE YOU HERE? YES, I HAVE DONATED TIME FROM TESS ORTEGA. OKAY, FOUR MINUTES AFTER THAT IS FRAN TATTOO AND ON DECK IS SOLE PRAXIS. GOOD AFTERNOON AGAIN. MAYOR WATSON. COUNSEL, MY NAME IS JACK BRIGHT. I LIVE IN DISTRICT 10 EDUCATION CLIFFS. I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF AUSTIN FOR 25 YEARS. THE NEIGHBORHOOD I LIVE IN IS AMAZING. IT'S A WALKABLE DISTRICT THAT HAS ALL THE ESSENTIALS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, NEIGHBORHOOD NEEDS AND WANTS. THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT I'VE HEARD YOU GUYS SPEAK ABOUT, WANTING TO DEVELOP AND ENCOURAGE GROWTH IN. I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU OUR ESTEEM REPRESENTATIVES TO POSTPONE THE REZONING OF ACACIA CLIFFS AND OTHER SIMILAR CASES SUCH AS OURS UNTIL THE TIME THAT DDB 90 CAN BE AMENDED TO ONCE AGAIN INCLUDE THE ONE TO ONE UNIT REPLACEMENTS THAT [07:10:01] WAS REMOVED FROM ITS REQUIREMENTS AT THE REQUEST OF DEVELOPERS IN BIG BUSINESS. THE PROTECTIONS AGAINST THE NET LOSS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE WE HAVE HERE NEAR ACACIA CLIFFS IS ESSENTIAL. IF THIS REZONING IS ALLOWED TO GO THROUGH PRIOR TO REAL TANGIBLE PROTECTIONS BEING ADDED TO DB 90, THEN KEISHA CLIFFS AND OTHER AFFORDABLE MULTI-FAMILY PROPERTIES LIKE OURS WILL BE DESTROYED. IF THEY'RE LOOKING, IF THEY AREN'T LOOKING TO DEMOLISH TILL 2027, THEN WHAT IS THE RUSH TO PUSH THIS THROUGH NOW OTHER THAN TO MAXIMIZE HOW MUCH MONEY THEY CAN MAKE OFF OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH THE DISPLACEMENT OF THE RESIDENTS WHO RESIDE IN THIS WONDERFUL, AFFORDABLE AND WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOOD. THEY SPEAK ABOUT ACACIA CLIFFS BEING AT THE END OF ITS LIFE. I AM ONE OF THOSE LAY FOLKS OF, OF AUSTIN. I HAVEN'T BEEN IN THIS SCENE FOR DECADES, BUT I'VE SPOKEN TO FOLKS ON THE MATTER WHO ARE MUCH MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE THAN I AND THEY INSIST IT'S NOT, AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE. IT'S A CHOICE. REGARDLESS OF WHETHER A PROPERTY LIKE ACACIA CLIFFS IS AT THE END OF ITS LIFE NOW OR IN FIVE, 10 OR 15 YEARS, THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE MUST BE PROTECTED AND PRESERVED IN THESE COMMUNITIES. THOSE SAME COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE DISPLACED SHOULD ALSO HAVE THE RIGHTS TO RETURN TO THE SAME PROPERTIES THEY'RE DISPLACED FROM. ONCE THE NEW UNITS ARE THERE ANYTHING SHY OF THE ONE-TO-ONE REPLACEMENT, ESPECIALLY ON PROPERTIES THAT OF ANY FORM OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING CURRENTLY EXISTING IS DISPLAY IS DISPLACEMENT. PLAIN AND SIMPLE, IT'S OUR CITY PRIORITIZING THE PRI THE PROFITS OF THESE DEVELOPERS OVER THE MEMBERS OF THIS COMMUNITY THAT YOU ARE ALL ELECTED TO SERVE THE BEST INTERESTS OF MAYOR WATSON, I APPRECIATE THAT YOU HAVE ADOPTED THE AMENDMENT THAT MAYOR PRO TEM FUENTES HAS PUT FORWARD, BUT I FEEL THAT THE LANGUAGE IN IT IS STILL SOFT AS A CONSIDERATION OF ONE-TO-ONE THAT DOES NOT DO ENOUGH. IT NEEDS TO BE A REQUIREMENT, OTHERWISE IT YIELDS A NET LOSS, NOT THE INCREASE OF HORRIBLE HOUSING THAT YOU HAVE STATED YOU WANT IN AUSTIN. PLAIN AND SIMPLE, VOTE NO TO THE REZONING OR AT THE BARE MINIMUM TO POSTPONE THE REZONING OF THIS UNTIL, AS YOU SAID, WE RESOLVE DB NINETY'S LOOPHOLES THAT ARE IN THERE AND BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF. I AGAIN, ASK THIS COUNCIL TO AT LEAST VOTE TO POSTPONE TO HELP PRESERVE THE 291 UNITS THAT CURRENTLY EXIST AT ACACIA CLIFFS. POSTPONE TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE STOOD HERE AND VOTED FOR YOU TO HELP REPRESENT THEM. PLEASE DON'T DISAPPOINT US. STEP FORWARD. USE YOUR VOICE TO HELP PROTECT THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CITY THAT IS SO NEEDED. THE MFI HAS BEEN SKEWED SO MUCH WITH THE INFLUX OF HIGH EARNERS THAT FOLKS THAT ACTUALLY LIVE AT A REALISTIC MFI DOWN IN THE 30 TO 50 RANGE HAVE VERY LITTLE OPPORTUNITIES AT A PLACE THAT THEY CAN TRULY AFFORD AND ACTUALLY THRIVE AND GROW. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CHRIS PAGE, YOU HAVE TIME DONATED BY MEGAN MEISEN BACH. MEGAN, ARE YOU STILL HERE? OKAY. FOUR MINUTES. OKAY. UM, SO DB 90 DESTROYER OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS WE KNOW HERE, UM, KEY TERMS, UH, RIGHT TO RETURN AND THE WAIVER OF THE RIGHT TO RETURN POISONOUS TREE AND SOME OF THIS PRESENTATION YOU'VE SEEN BEFORE. SO I'M GONNA CUT THROUGH THE, THE FIRST PART OF IT. YOU ALREADY KNOW ABOUT THE THREE ORDINANCES THAT WERE INVALIDATED AND HOW DB 90 HAS LITERALLY ALMOST NOTHING TO DO WITH THEM. UH, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH, UH, TRANSIT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH REAL AFFORDABILITY AS WE SEE HERE. AND, UH, YOU KNOW, AS WE'RE SEEING IT APPLIED TO EXISTING RESIDENTIAL, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL. IT WAS BUILT TO FAIL IT'S POISONOUS FRUIT. UM, SO HERE'S ALL THE, UH, DISASSOCIATIONS. IT'S EXEMPT FROM SCALING CONDITIONAL OVERLAYS, EXEMPT FROM COMPATIBILITY EXEMPT FROM 4 18 32 A ONE. BUT THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR PROTE FUENTES FOR, UH, TAKING THE FIRST STEP AND PUTTING THAT BACK. IT'S UNRELATED TO TRANSIT. AS HE JUST SAID. THERE'S A GAPING LOOPHOLE ON HOW IT'S BEING APPLIED. 50% OF STRUCTURAL MASS IS SUBSIDIZED. 2% MORE AFFORDABLE UNITS THAT ARE NOT IN FACT AFFORDABLE FEE WAIVERS, WAIVER OF MIXED USE REQUIREMENTS, WAIVER OF ALL TENANT PROTECTIONS, UH, VIA 4 18 33. UH, THIS WAS A PRIVATE PROCESS THAT INTERVENED IN A PUBLIC PROCESS. 4 18 32 A ONE WAS CUT OUT AT THE BEHEST OF STAKEHOLDERS. AND AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, IT COULD HAVE BEEN NO MORE THAN POTENTIALLY FIVE APPLICANTS. UM, IT'S AN UNCONSCIONABLE CHANGE IN RESPONSE TO THAT PRIVATE INTERVENTION, THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT CALIBRATION WAS STRIPPED OUT OF WHAT BECAME LAW. IT TURNED ALL AFFORDABLE HOUSING INTO THE NEW DESIRED DEVELOPMENT ZONE. IT'S INCONSISTENT WITH DBE TODD, WHICH HAS RECENTLY PASSED THERE. IT MAKES MEANINGLESS, YOUR CURRENT USE OF IT MAKES MEANINGLESS, [07:15:01] UH, MULTIPLE STATUTORY PROVISIONS LISTED ON THE SCREEN. I WON'T BELABOR THEM. WHAT YOU'RE DOING HERE IS YOU'RE BLESSING DISPLACEMENT. THE APPROVAL OF DB 90 GUARANTEES DISPLACEMENT OF EVERY SINGLE TENANT AT ACACIA CLIFFS. IT PRIORITIZES IMAGINARY PEOPLE FROM AN UNDEFINED FUTURE THAT ARE, THAT ARE WEALTHIER THAN THE LIVING BREATHING. WE'RE WORKING VOTING CONSTITUENTS FACING IMMINENT DISPLACEMENT RIGHT NOW ON BEHALF OF EAST AUSTIN, WHICH HAS SEEN LOTS OF DB 90. PLEASE DON'T DO THIS. SO THE STARTING POINT, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM FUENTES ALREADY DID. UM, YOU GOTTA FIX THE MATH ON HOW YOU'RE CALCULATING STRATEGIC HOUSING BLUEPRINTS PRODUCTIVITY. YOU'RE ONLY ADDING, YOU'RE NOT SUBTRACTING. SO WHEN YOU'RE DESTROYING AFFORDABLE UNITS, YOU SHOULD BE CALCULATING THAT MFI, UH, NEEDS TO BE RECALIBRATED. AS WE KNOW, THE RISING TIDE OF MFI HAS NOT LIFTED ALL BOATS. 212 WASHED AFFORDABLE UNITS. THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE VOTING FOR TODAY. IF YOU VOTE FOR IT, WE NEED NOAH'S MAP. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN FOR RECOMMENDING THAT WE ALSO NEED NOAH'S FUND TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE PRESERVING OUR EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING. UM, YOU ALSO NEED TO CUT THE WAIVER OF THAT'S ALLOWED UNDER 4 18 33, WHICH COULD MAKE ALL OF YOUR ACTIONS TODAY ALL THE THIS RHETORIC ABOUT AFFORDABILITY AND PUTTING BACK THE, UH, RIGHT TO RETURN. IT COULD MAKE THAT MEANINGLESS UNLESS YOU'RE ACTUALLY SEVERING OR LIMITING THE USE OF 4 18 33. YES, WE HAVE A COMPETITIVE AFFORDABLE BID ON THE TABLE. PLEASE LISTEN TO IT. YOU SHOULD CONSIDER POTENTIALLY CONDITIONAL OVERLAYS, WHICH ALLOWS COMMUNITIES TO MA TO DEMAND GREATER AFFORDABILITY WHEN THE MAJORITY OF THE CITY COUNCIL WILL NOT CLOSE THE LOOPHOLE TO ENSURE THAT IT HAS THE APPLICATION THAT IS ACTUALLY PRESCRIBED BY STATUTE. THIS IS A GROSS MISUSE AND YOU ALL KNOW IT. IT'S TIME FOR REDEMPTION. STOP SOCIALIZING THE COST AND PRIVATIZING THE PROFITS. WHAT HAPPENS HERE DEFINES THANK YOU MR. WHAT YOU CARE ABOUT. THANK YOU. SOLE HAS TIME DONATED BY SHEA ROUNDS. OKAY. AND TANIA. KAREN, HI. GOOD EVENING. Y'ALL TAKE FOUR MINUTES. SORRY. GO AHEAD, . OKAY. UM, SO PRAXIS FROM DISTRICT THREE WITH COMMUNITY PART A TX, UM, NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS A PRECIOUS RESOURCE. WITHOUT THIS HOUSING, WE EITHER AREN'T HERE IN AUSTIN AT ALL, OR WE'RE ON THE STREETS. WE KNOW PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN BUILDINGS THAT WERE REZONED BY THIS COUNCIL DEMOLISHED AND ARE NOW LIVING ON THE STREETS. PEOPLE THAT I'VE WORKED WITH IN TENANTS ASSOCIATIONS AND WERE PUSHED TO THE STREETS, MANY PEOPLE ON THE STREETS WERE DISPLACED FROM EAST AUSTIN. MANY ACACIA CLIFFS RESIDENTS ARE ACTUALLY EAST AUSTIN NATIVES WHO SAY THAT IS THE LAST PLACE THEY CAN AFFORD TO STAY IN AUSTIN. SO MANY PEOPLE AT THIS PROPERTY ARE SENIORS, ARE DISABLED, ARE IMMIGRANTS, AND THEY'RE CONSTANTLY THANKING US FOR OUR WORK, ASKING FOR UPDATES. UM, THEY SAID THAT THEY KNOW THAT THESE CASES ARE SCHEDULED DURING THEIR WORKDAY AND ARE DONE IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT'S VERY HARD FOR THEM TO PARTICIPATE AND BE AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON. UM, AND THEY WANT TO SEE THE ONE-TO-ONE REPLACEMENT REQUIREMENT THAT WE TOLD THEM. UH, THAT COUNCIL OR, UH, MAYOR PRO TEMP FUENTES PROPOSED. THEY WANT TO SEE THAT APPLIED TO THEM. THEY THANKED HER FOR THAT. THEY THANKED US FOR, UH, PUSHING TO TRY TO GET THAT, UM, FIX INTO DB 90. WE NEED TO APPROACH NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMPLETELY DIFFERENTLY WITH STRATEGIC PRESERVATION AND TRULY AFFORDABLE REDEVELOPMENT. BRING AFFORDABLE DEVELOPERS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO THE TABLE. WE CAN ACHIEVE THIS. DON'T MAKE IT EASIER FOR PRIVATE DEVELOPERS TO DESTROY AFFORDABLE HOUSING. MAKE IT EASIER FOR AFFORDABLE DEVELOPERS TO REDEVELOP DENSELY AND AFFORDABLY. DB 90 ACTUALLY PREVENTS THAT OUTCOME OF DEEPLY AFFORDABLE DENSE DEVELOPMENT. YESTERDAY WE TALKED ABOUT THAT WE HAD A VERY PRODUCTIVE MEETING WITH STAFF FROM AN EASTERN CRESCENT COUNCIL MEMBER'S OFFICE WHO WE HADN'T SPOKEN WITH BEFORE, AND THEY SAID THEY KNOW DB 90 IS NOT APPROPRIATE EVERYWHERE. THEY SAID WEST AUSTIN NEEDS DENSITY. AND ACACIA CLIFFS IS A UNIQUE CASE GIVEN THAT BOTH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE TENANTS SUPPORT TRULY AFFORDABLE DENSITY DEVELOPMENT AND HAVE AN AFFORDABLE DEVELOPER AND AN NETWORK OF NONPROFITS THAT WOULD BE ON BOARD AND SUPPORTIVE. A NO VOTE IS A VOTE TO SUPPORT AN OUTCOME OF DENTS AND TRULY AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN WEST AUSTIN. PLEASE TALK AMONGST EACH OTHER AND IF THERE ARE ENOUGH VOTES TO VOTE THIS DOWN, PLEASE DO SO. THAT IS THE TENANT ASSOCIATION'S TOP REQUEST. SINO GROUP WILL MAKE A BID IF DB 90 IS VOTED DOWN, SINCE [07:20:01] THAT WOULD MAKE THEIR OFFER ACTUALLY BE COMPETITIVE. AND DB 90 IS PREVENTING THAT POSSIBILITY AS IT STANDS. GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE THAT GOOD OUTCOME. IF YOU VOTE NO ON THIS, AS THE TENANTS ASSOCIATION IS ASKING, WE WILL NOT STOP UNTIL THE AFFORDABLE DEVELOPER NON-PROFITS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS COME TOGETHER FOR TRULY AFFORDABLE DENSE DEVELOPMENT. WE ALSO TALKED TO VOCAL TEXAS ABOUT THIS THIS MORNING, AND THEY'RE INTERESTED IN GETTING TOGETHER, UH, WITH HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION FOLKS AND APPLYING THOSE FUNDS AS WELL. UM, WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT DISPLACEMENT IMPACTS OF DEVELOPMENT AT THIS, UH, COUNCIL, WE USUALLY TALK ABOUT SPENDING MONEY AFTER THE FACT TO TRY TO MITIGATE THE HARMS, UM, AND PREVENT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS. WHEN I GO TO HEARINGS ABOUT HOMELESSNESS, THEY ALWAYS SAY THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE WAY TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS IS PREVENTION AND PREVENTING THE LOSS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND INVESTING IN TRULY AFFORDABLE HOUSING. A NO VOTE ON THIS. DB 90 IS HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION. MANY OF THE RESIDENTS AT ACACIA CLIFF SAID, THIS IS THE LAST PLACE THEY CAN AFFORD. UM, MANY HAVE PHYSICAL DISABILITIES. PLEASE DON'T DO THIS. PLEASE DON'T PASS THIS CASE. DON'T TAKE AWAY PEOPLE'S DIGNITY IN ORDER TO MAKE A DEAL WORK OUT FOR A DEVELOPER. YOU ALWAYS TALK ABOUT HOW HOMEOWNERS ARE AGAINST AFFORDABLE DEVELOPMENT, BUT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A SUCCESS WHERE BOTH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND TENANTS SUPPORT AFFORDABLE DENSITY. DO Y'ALL REALLY WANT TO SEE US COME BACK AGAIN AND AGAIN ON THIS? IF YOU VOTE TO PASS THIS, WE WILL. WE WILL KEEP ORGANIZING. UNTIL ALL OF AUSTIN KNOWS THAT THIS COUNCIL IS WORKING HARD TO DESTROY ANY EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE WILL MAKE SURE AUSTIN KNOWS THE NAMES OF EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER WHO DESTROYED ACACIA CLIFFS AND DISPLACED THE PEOPLE THERE. THE GOVERNMENT WORKERS. VETERANS. THANK YOU. DAVID FRIEDMAN, BRAD MASSING, AND MR. MASSING OF TIME DOTED BY ILEANA MENNO. I OKAY. FOUR MINUTES FOR MR. MASSING. AFTER THAT IS NAOMI FRIEDMAN AND CELINE REDA. IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD. UM, I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF VIDEOS TO SHOW FROM ACACIA CLIFF DWELLERS. YEAH. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS LILA. I'M A TEACHER LIVING AT ACACIA CLIFFS. I'M HERE TO URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO PROTECT ACACIA CLIFFS RESIDENCE FROM DISPLACEMENT AND PROTECT OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. PLEASE HELP US, SUPPORT US BY POSTPONING THE COUNCIL HEARING UNTIL DB 90 IS AMENDED TO PROTECT THE TENANTS. I MOVED TO ACACIA CLIFFS LAST SUMMER AFTER LOOKING ALL OVER THE CITY FOR AN AFFORDABLE PLACE TO LIVE. THIS IS THE ONLY PLACE I COULD FIND IN MY BUDGET AND STILL BE ABLE TO GET TO MY JOB EASILY. ACACIA CLIFFS IS REZONED AND REDEVELOPED. I WOULD LOSE THE ONLY HOUSING OPTION I HAVE. THIS REZONING WOULD MEAN THE LOSS OF THE 290 NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS. THE PROPOSED AFFORDABLE UNITS THAT WOULD BE BUILT WOULD BE UNAFFORDABLE TO MANY OF THE CURRENT TENANTS, INCLUDING MYSELF. THAT WOULD BE A MAJOR DISPLACEMENT TO ALL THE FAMILIES LIVING HERE AND A MAJOR LOSS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS DURING A HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS. MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE SAID THAT DB 90 ISN'T WORKING AND IS CAUSING SIGNIFICANT UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. UNTIL DB 90 IS AMENDED TO PROTECT TENANTS, THE ACACIA CLIFFS REZONING AND OTHER DB 90 CASES NEED TO BE POSTPONED. THANK YOU. I AM A 75-YEAR-OLD VIETNAM WAR ERA VETERAN. I SERVED IN THE WOMEN'S ARMY CORPS AND I LIVE HERE IN THIS WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL APARTMENT COMMUNITY WITH SO MANY BEAUTIFUL LITTLE CHILDREN. AND WE HAVE A WONDERFULLY DIVERSE GROUP OF RESIDENTS. THEY CHECK ON ME, THEY MAKE SURE I'M OKAY, AND I LOVE IT. YEAH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO AND I'M BEGGING WITH AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE DON'T GIVE 'EM THAT, THAT DENSITY, BONUS REASONING, UH, DEMOL BECAUSE THESE CHILDREN WOULD'VE NO PLACE TO GO EITHER. NONE OF US WOULD. I KNOW EVERYBODY. THEY KNOW ME. THEY TAKE CARE OF ME. I LOVE MY HOME. I SERVE MY COUNTRY. I WANNA SERVE THE KIDS HERE [07:25:01] AND MAKE THEM A BETTER FUTURE WITH THEIR CHILDREN. YEAH, THEY'RE SO BEAUTIFUL AND THEY'RE SO WONDERFUL. THAT'S THE ONLY HOME I HAVE. I HAVE NO FAMILY. I HAVE NOBODY, NOBODY BUT MY NEIGHBORS AND THEY TAKE PRETTY GOOD CARE OF ME. PLEASE DON'T TAKE ME FROM MY COMMUNITY. I DON'T KNOW WHERE I WOULD GO. I, AS YOU CAN SEE THIS, THIS, UH, THIS APARTMENT BUILDING MEANS MORE THAN JUST A PLACE TO LIVE FOR THESE PEOPLE. IT'S COMMUNITY. I'VE BEEN UP THERE AND EVERY AFTERNOON, SIX 30, THEY HAVE A, A PLAYTIME IN ONE OF THE COURTYARDS UP THERE WHERE EVERY MOM CAN BRING THEIR KIDS UP THERE AND HANG OUT IN A SAFE PLACE WITH NO TRAFFIC, NO THREATS. IT'S, IT'S A REALLY NICE PLACE. IT IT, IF YOU'VE BEEN UP THERE, I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF Y'ALL HAVE BEEN UP THERE EXCEPT FOR MARK. UM, IT'S ON A HILLSIDE. IT'S GRANTED IT'S PRIME REAL ESTATE. YOU CAN SEE ALL THE WAY TO EAST AUSTIN FROM UP THERE. YOU CAN SEE WHAT'S LEFT OF THE CAPITOL FROM UP THERE. IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S WHAT SOMEBODY'S DREAMING TO BUILD SOMETHING HUGE UP THERE. BUT AT THE COST OF, OF PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY LIVE THERE, I MEAN, IT'S, THE PARKING LOT IS EMPTY. THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE THERE, THEY TAKE THE BUS. THERE'S, THERE'S ROOM TO BUILD A BUNCH MORE AFFORDABLE APARTMENTS THERE. HELLO, CELINE GRON WITH DISTRICT EIGHT. I'M FINISHING READING ERIC GOMEZ'S STATEMENT, WHO IS ACACIA CLIFFS TENANT. THIS IS MAKING WHAT SEEMS TO ME A DISHONEST PROFIT AT MY EXPENSE AND AT THE EXPENSE OF ALL THE OTHER HARDWORKING FAMILIES. LIVING AT ACACIA CLIFFS IS UNACCEPTABLE. WE'RE NOT ASKING TO LIVE AT KINGS AND QUEENS. WE JUST WANT TO PAY A FAIR RENT TO LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WE LOVE. THAT'S WHY ALLOWING TRAMMELL CROW TO ONLY RESERVE 84 OUT OF 290 UNITS FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES IS UNACCEPTABLE. ALLOWING THEM TO REMOVE THE ONE-TO-ONE REPLACEMENT CLAUSE OUTTA THE AGREEMENT IS UNACCEPTABLE. THAT'S UNFAIR TO THE FAMILIES AND REVEALS THE UNABASHED READ OF THE DEVELOPER. I KNOW YOU UNDERSTAND THE VARIOUS ARGUMENTS. WHAT WORRIES ME IS WHAT YOU'LL DO NEXT. I'M WORRIED THAT THIS IS ALL A SHADOW PLAY AND ULTIMATELY FOREGONE CONCLUSION. BIG BUSINESS WILL WIN. LOW INCOME FAMILIES WILL LOSE. THIS IS IN YOUR HANDS THOUGH. YOU HAVE THE POWER TO SEE THAT REDEVELOPMENT PROCEEDS FAIRLY. YOU'VE GOT THE BRAINS, THE STAFF, THE KNOWLEDGE, THE GOOD LOOKS TO MAKE THIS WORK FOR EVERYONE. I KNOW IT'S A BIG ASK. WE ASK YOU TO PLEASE VOTE NO ON ITEM 1 0 3. VOTE NO WOULD ALLOW THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPER CASINO GROUP TO MAKE A BID TO THE OWNER OF ACACIA CLIFFS. VOTING NO WOULD MAKE SURE THAT TENANTS AND AFFORDABLE DEVELOPERS BECOME PART OF THE REDEVELOPMENT PROCESS, AND IN ESSENCE, BECOME NATURAL STAKEHOLDERS COMMITTED TO INCREASING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, NOT JUST PRESERVE THE, UH, ORIGINAL AFFORDABLE UNITS. AT MINIMUM, PLEASE POSTPONE THE VOTE UNTIL THE AMENDMENTS ON DB 90 ARE PASSED THAT PROTECT THE ONE-TO-ONE REPLACEMENT OF ALL AFFORDABLE UNITS THAT RE RESIDENTS CAN RETURN AT AFFORDABLE RATE. PLEASE ADOPT COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN AND FUENTES PROPOSAL TO CREATE PRESERVATION FUND TO PROTECT AND ASSIST AFFORDABLE HOUSING ALL ACROSS AUSTIN. I HEARD TODAY VARIOUS COMMUNITY GROUPS EXPRESS THE CONCERN OF THE USE OF THE DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS THAT RESULT IN DISPLACEMENT, HOMELESSNESS, AND SEGREGATION OF THE POPULATION. THE NUMEROUS REASONS THAT HAVE BEEN ARTICULATED WITH SUCH GREAT AND CONVICT CONVICTION. MUST GIVE YOU PAUSE. I HOPE YOU WILL PAUSE. WE HAVE TRIED OVER THE PAST TWO MONTHS TO EXPLAIN HOW DEVASTATING THE DEMOLITION WOULD BE TO RESIDENTS. I BEG YOU TO PLEASE LISTEN TO OUR PLEAS AND ACT ACCORDINGLY. ALL WE DEMAND IS EQUITABLE TREATMENT. WE LOVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND WANT TO STAY HERE PLEASE. WE WANT A FAIR AND REASONABLE RATE GAUGE ON OUR INCOME LEVELS. AS A REMINDER, IF YOUR NAME HAS ALREADY BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY DOWN AND WHEN THE PODIUM IS FREE, JUST STATE YOUR NAME INTO THE RECORD. I'M GONNA CALL ANOTHER BATCH OF SPEAKERS. MARISSA PERALES. CARLA HARDEN. YOUR NAME BEEN CALLED ANGELICA BENTON. MOLINA, GO AHEAD. GO AHEAD. YES, THAT'S WHAT WE MEAN. LET'S COME FORWARD. THANK YOU AGAIN. MY NAME IS UZI MCCOY. I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FIVE. AND I'M SURE YOU'VE HEARD A LOT OF TESTIMONIES TODAY AND I IMAGINE YOU'RE FEELING THE WEIGHT OF THIS DECISION. BUT TRUTHFULLY, THERE AREN'T ENOUGH WORDS TO FULLY EXPRESS HOW VITAL IT IS THAT THIS COUNCIL VOTE NO ON THIS REZONING. AND TAKE A STAND WITH ATTENDANCES OF ACACIA CLIFFS. AND AGAIN, WE CAN TALK ALL DAY ABOUT POLICY, WE CAN TALK ABOUT NUMBERS, BUT AT THE HEART OF THIS IS REALLY SOMETHING QUITE SIMPLE. ARE YOU GONNA STAND WITH WORKING FAMILIES OR YOU STAND WITH DEVELOPERS? BECAUSE IF THIS REZONING PASSES UNDER A BROKEN DB 90 POLICY THAT INCENTIVIZES DISPLACEMENT AND REWARDS DEMOLITION, LET'S BE HONEST, YOU'RE NOT SUPPORTING DENSITY, YOU'RE SUPPORTING GENTRIFICATION. YOU SAY YOU WANT AFFORDABILITY, BUT WHAT'S AFFORDABLE TO DEVELOPERS IS NOT AFFORDABLE TO THE PEOPLE ACTUALLY LIVING IN THESE HOMES. IF YOU WANT TRUE AFFORDABILITY, THEN COMMUNITY HAS TO BE AT THE TABLE, NOT JUST DEVELOPERS WHO MADE IT ABUNDANT, ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THAT LAND VALUE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN HUMAN VALUE. AND IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME, JUST LOOK AT HOW MANY RESIDENTS AND ORGANIZERS ARE HERE TODAY PLEADING FOR A SOLUTION AND NOT A HANDOUT. AND I'LL SAY [07:30:01] THIS PRETTY PLAINLY. IF AN 18, IF AN 18-YEAR-OLD WITH NO ELECTORAL POWER IS DOING MORE TO PROTECT FAMILIES IN THIS CITY THAN AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, ALL THE TOOLS AND VOTES INTERVENE. THAT'S NOT REALLY ONLY JUST DISAPPOINTING. THAT'S KIND OF EMBARRASSING. AND AGAIN, SOME OF YOU SAID THAT DB 90 NEEDS FIXING. SO FIX IT, DON'T WEAPONIZE IT. IN THIS MEANTIME, VOTE NO. ADOPT THE DUTCH AND AND FUENTES AMENDMENTS. SHOW US THAT YOU WON'T HAND OUR NEIGHBORHOODS OVER TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER AND SHOW US AS THE CITY STILL KNOWS HOW TO PUT PEOPLE OVER PROFIT, SAY ACACIA CLIFFS. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. I'M MARI PERALES. I'M FROM DISTRICT THREE AND I'LL BE READING A STATEMENT FROM A RESIDENT OF ACACIA CLIFFS. MY NAME IS LINDA REESE. I AM AGAINST ITEM 80 AND THE REZONING OF ACACIA CLIFFS. I HAVE LIVED AT ACACIA CLIFFS FOR TWO YEARS. I'M A SINGLE GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE, BARELY MAKING A LIVING WAGE IN AUSTIN. SO FINDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS DIFFICULT. SINCE I'M IN THE MIDDLE TO LOW INCOME GROUP AND DO NOT QUALIFY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THE CITY, THE CITY COUNCIL SHOULD TRY TO WORK WITH THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS, NOT PRIVATE DEVELOPERS LOOKING TO MAKE BIG BUCKS FOR THEMSELVES AND INVESTORS. THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S GOVERNMENT IS NOT WORKING TO SERVE ITS RESIDENTS, BUT RATHER IT'S HELPING BIG COMPANIES MAKE MORE PROFIT. AND IN THE END, DISPLACING FAMILIES, VETERANS, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AND SENIOR CITIZENS. I SUPPORT COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN AND MAYOR PRO TEIS PROPOSALS TO RESTORE AFFORDABILITY AND DB 90 INCREASE COMPENSATION TO PREVENT DISPLACEMENT CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. PLEASE MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION AND CHANGE DB 90 TO HELP KEEP RESIDENTS IN THEIR COMMUNITY INSTEAD OF SENDING THEM AWAY FROM AUSTIN. AND I TOO, JOIN IN MS. REESE'S REQUEST AND URGE YOU TO VOTE NO ON THIS ITEM. THANKS. CONTINUING ON WITH THE NEXT GROUP, MISAEL RAMOS. SORRY. MISAEL RAMOS, CARMEN GIANNIS, AND CARMEN HAS TIME DONATED BY JENNY GRAYSON. OKAY, FOUR MINUTES. GOOD EVENING. CARMEN JANNIS. I'M A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER. UM, BEFORE I GET STARTED, I JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT ON A TXN WHEN WE'RE WATCHING REMOTELY, WE USED TO SEE THE SCREEN THAT PEOPLE WOULD PRESENT. AND THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN ANYMORE. I'M NOT SURE WHY THAT IS, BUT ALL OF THESE REALLY AMAZING SLIDES THAT PEOPLE PUT TOGETHER FOR YOU THAT HAD POLICY AND ALL OF THAT, THE POWERFUL VIDEO THAT WE JUST SAW, UM, YOUR REMOTE VIEWERS CAN'T SEE ANY OF THAT. AND SO I'D LOVE FOR FOLKS TO LOOK INTO THAT BECAUSE IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT PART OF HOW WE SHARE THIS CONVERSATION. YOU ALL RECOGNIZED, UH, ON MAY 22ND WHEN YOU VOTED TO PUT AN ITEM, ITEM 80 TO AMEND DB 90, THAT THIS ZONING DESIGNATION IS A PROBLEM. YOU ALL, YOU ADMITTED THAT WITH YOUR VOTES, IT HAS INCENTIVIZED THE DEMOLITION OF EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING WHEN IT WASN'T EVEN INTENDED FOR RESIDENTIAL ZONING. RIGHT? IT WAS A COMMERCIAL REDEVELOPMENT ZONING. AND YET HERE WE ARE. AND I HAVE TO SAY, MAYOR, THAT MOVING TO PUT THIS ON SECOND AND THIRD READING, AS THE CASE IS HEARD BEFORE YOU EVEN BEGIN TO DISCUSS IT, AND AFTER VOTING AGAINST THE POSTPONEMENTS OF EARLIER IN THE DAY ON DB NINETIES, THAT'S A PROBLEM. YOU'RE ALREADY BASICALLY SAYING IT'S A DONE DEAL AND YOU MADE A BIG SHOW MAY 22ND TO SHOW THAT YOU ARE RESPONDING TO THE WAY THE WIND IS BLOWING, WHICH IS THAT ALL OF THESE MYTHS HAVE BEEN SLICED APART. THE IDEA THAT THEY JUST ARE GONNA DEMOLISH IT UNDER MF THREE. WHY ARE THEY SPENDING ALL THIS TIME AND MONEY TRYING TO GET YOU TO GIVE, GIVE THEM A ZONING DESIGNATION THAT WOULD QUADRUPLE REVENUE ON THIS SITE. THAT'S WHAT'S MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO PRESERVE. THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED TO FIX. SO ANYBODY WATCHING KNOWS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TODAY. YOU GOT YOURSELF OUT OF THE HOT SEAT ON THE 22ND BY VOTING TO POSTPONE ACACIA CLIFFS AND FIX THIS. YOU PUT ITEM 80 ON CONSENT TODAY WITH AN INTENTION TO EXPLORE THINGS. BUT YOU HAVE NOT FIXED DB 90. THERE'S NOT A REQUIREMENT. THE PROCESS HASN'T EVEN BEGUN. IT'S NOT EFFECTIVE TODAY. AND YOU'RE DECIDING THE FATE OF THIS CASE TODAY. TODAY, THE CLEAR VOTE IS NO. IF ANY OF YOU IS WORTH YOUR WEIGHT AND SALT, IF ANY OF YOUR WORDS ABOUT AFFORDABILITY MEAN ANYTHING, THE VOTE HERE TODAY IS NO. FOR ALL OF YOU. IF YOU BELIEVE IN SUPPLY AND DEMAND AND HOUSING, YOU MUST VOTE NO BECAUSE AS YOU HEARD FROM ELI THIS MORNING AT VOCAL, YOU ALL HAVE CREATED FEWER THAN 500 OF THE 22,000 UNITS YOU NEED TO AT THIS INCOME LEVEL AND YOU WOULD SET US BACK 290. IF YOU APPROVE THIS TODAY, YOU WOULD SEND THAT MESSAGE ALSO TO INVESTORS AND THEIR LOBBYISTS, THAT THE STRATEGIC HOUSING BLUEPRINT MEANS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING FOR ANYONE UNDER THE MEDIAN AND FAMILY INCOME IN THE CITY. IT'S AN IMP INAPPROPRIATE USE OF DB 90 TO BEGIN WITH. YOU CAN BE THOSE TODAY WHO STOP AND CRAFT BETTER POLICY THAT'S NEEDED BEFORE [07:35:01] YOU APPROVE THIS CASE OR ANY OTHERS THAT YOU HEARD TODAY THAT ARE POSTPONED. THIS IS A MISTAKE. DB 90 WAS A MISTAKE. IT GIVES AWAY EVERYTHING THAT GREG KASSAR'S, BELOVED AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED PROMISED IN EXCHANGE FOR ONSITE UNITS. AND IT HAS BASICALLY MADE IT SO THAT, UH, THEY DON'T HAVE TO COM, UH, THAT AFFORDABLE DEVELOPERS CANNOT COMPETE BECAUSE OF THIS PERVERSE INCENTIVE. SO, UH, I JUST WANNA SAY ALSO THAT REALLY QUICK, ACACIA CLIFFS IS NAMED ACACIA CLIFFS BECAUSE IT'S ON AN INCREDIBLY STEEP SLOPE, AND NO ONE HAS ACTUALLY LOOKED AT, IF IT'S STRUCTURALLY SOUND TO ALLOW SEVEN TO 900 UNITS ON THIS SITE. WHICH ACTUALLY, IF YOU LOOK AT THE WORDING, THEY COULD BUILD AS MANY AS 900 SINCE I WAS ON THE THE PLANNING COMMISSION. THESE STRUCTURAL QUESTIONS GET KICKED TO SITE PLAN MORE AND MORE. HONORABLE JACKIE GOODMAN ENTE ALSO SHOWED ME HOW THAT'S HAPPENING MORE AND MORE. YOU DON'T LOOK AT ENGINEERING AT SITE PLAN, YOU LOOK AT CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES, BUT THERE IS NOT ENGINEERING. SO THIS IS ACTUALLY VERY IRRESPONSIBLE. WE NEED, WE NEED AN ADJUSTMENT. AND BEFORE I RUN OUTTA TIME, I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON FOR BRINGING UP REP REPRESENTATION IN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AND CONTACT TEAMS. I'M GLAD YOU HAVE AN ANALYSIS THERE. I THINK IT'S WHY IT'S EVEN MORE IMPORTANT FOR YOU ALL TO LISTEN TO THESE GROUPS SO YOU CAN DISCERN HOW REPRESENTATIVE THEY ARE. IT'S NOT GOOD OR BAD DEVELOPERS. IT'S GOOD OR BAD PROCESS BOUNDARIES AND VOTE GOVERNMENT. THANK, THANK YOU. VOTE NO. HEY, Y'ALL. MY NAME IS MESSIAH RAMOS, AND I WANNA START BY SHOUTING OUT THE TENANTS AT ACACIA CLIFFS FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND TENACITY DURING THIS PROCESS, THEIR CONCERN FOR THEIR COMMUNITY SHOWS AS THEY'VE ORGANIZED NEIGHBORS TAUGHT THEMSELVES ABOUT ZONING, HAVE SHOWN UP TIME AFTER TIME TO MEET WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS AND ALSO SPEAK AT COUNCIL. SHOUT OUT TO ALL OF Y'ALL. THIS REZONING DOES THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVOCATES WANT. THAT'S TO INCREASE THE STOCK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THE DB 90 WOULD ONLY MAKE 12% OF THE UNITS DEEMED AFFORDABLE, WHICH WOULD ONLY EQUATE TO APPROXIMATELY 80 UNITS. ACACIA CURRENTLY IS 290 DEEPLY AFFORDABLE UNITS. THIS DEMO WOULD RESULT IN A NET NEGATIVE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE'RE ALL ALIGNED FROM THE PEOPLE TENANTS COUNCIL, AND EVEN THE MAYOR. THAT DB 90 ISN'T A GREAT TOOL AND SHOULD BE AMENDED. IF WE ALL KNOW THIS, THEN WE SHOULD POSTPONE DB 90 CASES UNTIL THERE'S SOMETHING BETTER. AND THE DISTRICT ONE THAT I LIVE IN, D ONE, WE'RE SEEING THESE CASES POP UP ALL OVER THE PLACE, AND IN MOST CASES, THE AFFORDABILITY DOES NOT MATCH WHAT'S NEEDED IN THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS. WE DO HAVE NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN D ONE. SO DOES THAT MEAN THOSE PLACES ARE NEXT? THESE DB 90 CASES ARE A FIGHT THAT STRETCHES ACROSS THE CITY AND INTO ALL DISTRICTS. SAVING ACACIA CLIFFS NOT ONLY SAVES AFFORDABILITY, BUT SUPPORTS ALL COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY. SAVING ACACIA CLIFFS SHOWS WORKING CLASS NIGHTS THAT THIS CITY IS FOR THEM TO DON'T. REZONE POSTPONE. THANK YOU. SHANE JOHNSON, ANTONIA ROMERO, SEBASTIAN GOMEZ, KEISHA PRINCE, ANNA ROMERO, JOSE MORENO, JESUS SALCITO, MELANIE WALTER MAHONEY. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. I'M HERE FROM DISTRICT ONE AND I'M JUST WONDERING HOW MANY TIMES DO WE HAVE TO COME DOWN HERE, POUR OUR HEARTS OUT, CRY AND BEG AND PLEAD FOR Y'ALL TO DO THE RIGHT THING? YOU KNOW, DB 90 IS NOT CORRECT, BUT YET YOU REFUSE TO DO BETTER. YOU LISTEN TO US, BUT YOU DON'T LISTEN TO US. YOU SIT HERE WITH BLANK LOOKS ON YOUR FACES, AND THEN YOU VOTE FOR THE STUFF THAT DESTROYS US, THAT DESTROYS NEIGHBORHOODS AND DESTROYS AFFORDABILITY. WHAT KIND OF DEMOCRACY IS THAT? WHAT ABOUT YOUR PROMISES WHEN YOU RAN FOR OFFICE? WHAT ABOUT IT? WHAT ABOUT US? WHEN ARE Y'ALL GONNA THINK ABOUT US? THE POOR PEOPLE, THE HOMELESS PEOPLE, THE DISPLACED PEOPLE? WHEN ARE YOU GONNA DO IT? WE COME HERE MONTH AFTER MONTH, CASE AFTER CASE, CASE AFTER CASE. [07:40:01] YOU'RE NOT LISTENING, AND IT SEEMS LIKE A WASTE OF TIME. BUT WE'RE NOT GOING AWAY. WE ARE NOT GOING AWAY. WE WON'T BE DISCOURAGED BY YOU VOTING FOR STUFF THAT SHOULDN'T BE VOTED FOR. WE WON'T. WE WILL STAND UP. WE WILL COME TOGETHER AND WE WILL FIGHT THIS FIGHT, AND WE WILL VOTE YOU OUT WHEN YOU COME UP FOR REELECTION. THANK YOU, MA'AM. CAN YOU STATE YOUR NAME REALLY QUICK? CAN YOU STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD? MY NAME'S KEISHA PRINCE. THANK YOU. ROSA GUTIERREZ. ROSA GUTIERREZ. ARE YOU HERE? OKAY. ROSA HAS TIME, DATE DONATED BY HALIMA FOSTER. HALIMA, ARE YOU HERE? HERE? OKAY. FOUR MINUTES AFTER. MS. GUTIERREZ, EMMA WALSH, MATA, REYES MATA, AND F FAINA. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ROSA GUTIERREZ. I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF ACACIA CLIFFS SINCE MARCH OF THIS YEAR. WHEN I MOVED BACK TO AUSTIN TO BE CLOSE TO MY DAUGHTER AND MY GRANDKIDS. I'VE WORKED ALL MY LIFE, INCLUDING YEARS OF SERVICE IN TRAVIS COUNTY IN MY THREE MONTH SEARCH TO DECIDE WHERE TO LIVE IN AUSTIN. MOVING FROM ARIZONA, I FOUND THAT ACACIA CLIFFS WAS THE ONLY APARTMENT COMMUNITY THAT HAD THE THREE PRIORITIES I WAS LOOKING FOR. AFFORDABILITY, GATED PROPERTY, AND A GREAT AND SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE ADDED BENEFIT OF BEING WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF EVERYDAY SERVICES AND BASICS LIKE HEB, THE POST OFFICE AND CLINICS AND CHURCHES IS, IS UNEQUAL. OUR COMMUNITY IN ACACIA CLIFFS IS COMPRISED OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN DIFFERENT STAGES OF OUR LIVES. VETERANS, UNIVERSITY STUDENTS, INDIVIDUALS WITH YOUNG FAMILIES AND SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN, SINGLE MOTHERS WITH CHILDREN IN THE LOCAL DAYCARES, SENIORS AND FIXED INCOME TO NAME A FEW. THERE, THERE ARE RESIDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN LIVING HERE FOR THREE, FIVE, AND EVEN 10 YEARS. WE LOVE WHERE WE LIVE. IT'S DIVERSE AND EVERYBODY LOVES THE NEIGHBORHOOD. WE ARE FAMILIES WHO LOVE BEING HERE BECAUSE ALL THE THINGS WE NEED ARE ALREADY HERE. HOWEVER, NOW DUE TO DB 90, OUR HOUSING IS AT RISK AND MANY OF US DON'T KNOW WHERE WE'LL GO. AND THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE TRUE FACT. DB 90 MAKES IT VERY PROFITABLE FOR THE OWNER OF APARTMENTS LIKE OURS TO SELL TO A DEVELOPER WHO CAN DEMOLISH AND BUILD A LUXURY 90 FOOT TOWER. DB 90 MAKES THIS SO, UM, SO THIS COULD HAPPEN TO ANY DIVERSE, AFFORDABLE APARTMENT COMMUNITY LIKE ACACIA CLIFFS. THERE ARE NEGATIVE RIPPLE EFFECTS OF DISPLACEMENT THAT WILL IMPACT ANYONE LIVING IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN AUSTIN. IF DB 90 IS NOT CORRECTED IN MY ACACIA CLIFFS COMMUNITY, THE, THE PEOPLE THAT I MENTIONED, UH, THAT COMPRISED THE, THE, MY COMMUNITY, THE, UH, VIDEO THAT WE SAW OF, UM, MY NEIGHBOR HELENE, THE, UM, VETERAN THAT'S, UM, DISABLED VETERAN. SHE'S JUST CATTYCORNER FOR ME. THAT IS, THAT IS THE, UM, SHE IS SUFFERING RIGHT NOW HAS BEEN THE DISPLACEMENT OR THE, WE DON'T NEED TO WAIT UNTIL 2027 FOR THESE APARTMENTS TO BE DEMOLISHED. FOR HER TO FEEL THE, THE, THE, THE HORRIFIC DISPLACEMENT AND CRISIS THAT WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH APPARENTLY IN A COUPLE OF YEARS. THESE ARE LIVING CRISIS RIGHT NOW. AFFORDABILITY. UM, THE SINGLE MOM THAT, THAT, UM, HAS HER CHILD IN DAYCARE, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER TODAY, HER DAYCARE COST IS $75 LESS THAN HER MONTHLY RENT PAYMENT. SHE'S SUFFERING THE CRISIS RIGHT NOW WITHOUT THE DEMOL OF, OF THE BUILDING. I'M A SENIOR CITIZEN ON A FIXED INCOME. MY CRISIS DOES NOT COMPARE TO THE HORRIBLE CRISIS THAT THE MY NEIGHBORS ARE SUFFERING THROUGH RIGHT NOW. UM, AND I'M SORRY, MY VO I GET VERY EMOTIONAL AND MY VOICE GETS INTO KNOTS AND, AND EVERYTHING. BUT, UM, AND I, I DON'T HAVE THE STATISTICS. I'M JUST TRYING TO PUT FACES AND PEOPLE TO THE STATISTICS THAT MY, MY, UM, PRE THE PREVIOUS SPEAKERS CAME UP AND, AND, UM, AND TOLD YOU, UM, IT WOULD BE. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME. THANK [07:45:01] YOU. THE LAST SPEAKER I HAVE IS MICHAEL WAYLON. MICHAEL WAYLON. I'M BE ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS HAS BEEN A DIFFICULT CASE FOR COUNCIL AND FOR THE COMMUNITY. MOST OF THE DENSITY BONUS CASES THAT COME BEFORE COUNCIL GENERALLY INVOLVE EITHER VACANT PROPERTY, COMMERCIAL PROPERTY, OR LIKELY DEVELOPED PROPERTY. CASES LIKE THIS INVOLVING MULTI EXISTING MULTIFAMILY ARE A VERY SMALL SUBSET OF THE OVERALL DENSITY BONUS CASES FOR MANY OLDER APARTMENT BUILDINGS. REDEVELOPMENT SIMPLY DOES NOT MAKE SENSE, BUT THERE ARE SOME SPECIFIC SITUATIONS IN WHICH THE STATUS QUO HAS BECOME UNTENABLE IN WHICH A PROPERTY'S CONDITION MAKES SOME SORT OF CHANGE UNAVOIDABLE. IN FACT, YOUR OWN STUDY THAT WAS PUBLISHED JANUARY 2ND, 2025 ON DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS INDICATED THAT IT ISN'T THE DENSITY, PRO DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS THAT IN INCENTIVIZE REDEVELOPMENT. IT'S THE EXISTING LEVERAGE, THE EXISTING PRESSURE THAT DOES THAT. AND WHAT THE DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS DO IS GET YOU BETTER OUTCOMES. AND THAT'S THE CASE HERE. THE OWNER IS GOING TO NEED TO CHANGE THE ACACIA CLIFFS PROPERTY IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER TO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES FACING, FACING THESE STRUCTURES. THE ONLY QUESTION IS HOW STATUS QUO IS NOT AN OPTION. WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT EVEN THOUGH THOSE SORTS OF ZONING CASES ARE A SMALL SUBSET OF THE REQUEST, COUNSEL SEES, THEY RIGHTLY COMMAND YOUR CARE AND ATTENTION. THAT'S NOT LOST ON US. IT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TRIED TO BE MINDFUL OF SINCE WE FILED THIS LOSS, THIS, EXCUSE ME, THIS ZONING CASE. THAT IS WHY WE PROVIDED NOTICE TO ACACIA CLIFFS RESIDENCE ABOUT THIS CASE IN JANUARY WHEN WE FILED THE CASE AND HAVE TRIED TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION THROUGHOUT, INCLUDING A COMMITMENT THAT NO REDEVELOPMENT IS HAPPENING UNTIL 2027 BECAUSE OF THE SITE PLAN. BECAUSE, UH, PROVIDING A RELOCATION SPECIALIST ON SITE TO HELP WITH THE 2,700 COMPARABLY COMPARABLY PRICED UNITS WITHIN HALF A MILE. THAT'S WHY WE'VE ALSO TALKED TO THE SAME AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UH, UH, PERSON AT WHO SENT AN EMAIL TO THEM AT 5:04 PM THAT I'M HAPPY TO READ LATER. WE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH, WHICH IS WHY WE'VE, UH, RECORDED A RESTRICTIVE COVENANT TO MEMORIALIZE THE TENANT PROTECTIONS REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS AT THIS SITE. THAT HAS BEEN RECORDED. THANK YOU MAYOR. ALL SPEAKERS FOR THIS ITEM HAVE BEEN CALLED. COULD YOU STATE YOUR NAME? YEAH, SHANE. SHANE JOHNSON. PLEASE GO AHEAD. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNSEL, UH, SHANE. HE, HIM PRONOUNS, UH, D SEVEN ASKING YOU TO VOTE NO ON UPZONING ACACIA CLIFFS, OR THE BARE MINIMUM TO POSTPONE THE VOTE. UM, WHILE I DO SUPPORT THIS COUNCIL'S DECISION TO PIVOT SLIGHTLY THIS MORNING BY LOOKING INTO AMENDING DB 90 AND LOOKING INTO, LOOKING INTO REQUIRING ONE-TO-ONE REPLACEMENT, IT WOULD BE THE HEIGHT OF HYPOCRISY AND AGAINST EVERYTHING THIS COUNCIL STATES TO BELIEVE IN, TO VOTE TO REZONE ACACIA CLIFFS TODAY, WHILE STATING OUT LOUD THAT DB 90 IS FLAWED, I'D ALSO LIKE TO REEMPHASIZE, UM, I'D ALSO LIKE TO REEMPHASIZE SOME LESSONS FROM SPEAKERS THIS MORNING, UM, WHILE, UH, SO ONE IS THAT LEADING WITH AN APPROACH OF PALTRY DENSITY BONUSES TO SOLVE OUR HOUSING CRISIS IS COMPLETELY WRONG AND IS IN FACT MAKING THINGS WORSE. UM, CAUSING SIGNIFICANT HARM WITH LITTLE TO NO AFFORDABILITY AND THE LOOPHOLE OF FEE IN LIEU, UH, THE DB 90 PROGRAM AS WELL, UH, AS OTHER GIVEAWAYS TO DEVELOPERS LIKE THIS MINI OF OPTIONS THAT THE, THE MAYOR PROPOSED, UM, UNDERMINE GOOD PROGRAMS LIKE AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED AND THE GOOD ACTORS LIKE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS WHO CAN WORK WITH AND MEET THE COMMUNITY'S NEEDS. UM, I'LL ALSO REMIND AND STAY ON THE RECORD THAT THIS CONSIDERATION TO ADD ONE-TO-ONE REPLACEMENT TO DV 90 IS NOT YET CONFIRMED OR BINDING. UH, AND MAYOR WATSON DESCRIBED DB 90 AS AN AX THAT, UH, IS CAUSING SIGNIFICANT UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. SO WHY ON EARTH WOULD WE VOTE TODAY TO TAKE THIS AX AND HACK DOWN THE ACACIA CLIFFS APARTMENTS? WE NEED, UH, AND THIS DEAL TO CREATE A MENU OF DIFFERENT SIZES FOR DB 90 IS SIMPLY CREATING A MANY OF DIFFERENT SIZED AES TO POTENTIALLY HACK DOWN AFFORDABLE HOUSING ACROSS AUSTIN. WHY WOULD WE VOTE ON THAT TODAY? PLEASE VOTE NO. AND LET THE COMMITTEE KNOW YOU'RE WITH THEM. VOTE YES, AND WE KNOW WE'RE YOUR TRUE, UH, VALUES LIE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. ALL SPEAKERS HAVE BEEN CALLED MEMBERS. ALL THE SPEAKERS HAVE BEEN CALLED ON ITEM 1 0 3. THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND ON ITEM 1 0 3. DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO THE ITEM. MAYOR, CAN I MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION AT THIS TIME? I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU FOR A SUBSTITUTE MOTION. [07:50:01] UM, MEMBERS, THE WAY WE WILL, IF A SUBSTITUTE MOTION WOULD WORK, IS IF HE GETS A SECOND, THEN WE WILL DIS I'LL ASK IF THERE ARE ANY AMENDMENTS TO BE OFFERED ON THE MAIN MOTION SO THAT WE HAVE A COMPLETE MAIN MOTION. THEN, UH, IF THERE ARE ANY, IF HE GETS A SECOND, THEN THERE WOULD BE ANY, UH, PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION. WE WOULD THEN TAKE UP A, A QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT TO SUBSTITUTE THE MAIN MOTION AND WE'LL VOTE ON THAT. UH, THAT WOULD BE VOTED ON FIRST. SO I'LL, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU IF YOU WISH TO MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO POSTPONE THE CASE FOR THREE MONTHS TO SEPTEMBER. UM, JUST FOR PURPOSES OF CLARITY, I'M, I'M ASSUMING YOU WANNA DO THAT TILL SET? YOUR MOTION WOULD BE JUST SEPTEMBER 25TH, JUST SO WE HAVE A SPECIFIC DATE? YES. ALRIGHT. AND MAKE MAKE SURE I SAID THE, SOMEBODY LOOK AT A CALENDAR TO MAKE SURE I DIDN'T YES, THAT'S CORRECT. PICK UP WEDNESDAY OR SOMETHING. NO, IT'S CORRECT. OKAY. GOOD. UM, MEMBERS, UH, THERE IS A PROPOSAL FOR A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO POSTPONE ITEM 1 0 3 FOR THREE MONTHS UNTIL SEPTEMBER 25TH. IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT MOTION? IS THERE A SECOND? A SECOND. THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION FAILS FOR LACK OF A SECOND. UM, MEMBERS, THAT TAKES US BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION. IS THERE A DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO THE MAIN MOTION? YES, MAYOR TIM. THANK YOU. UM, I'D LIKE TO SEE IF THERE'S STAFF AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS REGARDING A STATE LEGISLATION THAT WAS PASSED THAT COULD POTENTIALLY IMPACT A REZONING CASE LIKE THIS. OH, RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NEXT TO ME. YEAH. UM, THANK YOU. SO COLLEAGUES, I THINK WE'VE ALL BEEN MADE AWARE OF SENATE BILL EIGHT 20 AND ITS IMPACT AND HOW IT COULD AFFECT OUR ABILITY REGARDING OUR DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS AND REZONING. SO IF STAFF COULD GIVE A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF THAT STATE LEGISLATION AND WHAT ITS POTENTIAL IMPACT COULD BE. UM, TRISH LINK WITH THE LAW DEPARTMENT. UH, THE BILL'S PRIMARY, UM, THERE'S TWO PIECES TO THE BILL. ONE IS CONVERTING EXISTING MULTI, UH, OFFICE, UH, RETAIL INTO, UH, MULTIFAMILY. THE SECOND PIECE IS TO ALLOW MULTIFAMILY TO REQUIRE CITIES TO ALLOW MULTIFAMILY AND COMMERCIAL BASE ZONES. UM, WE'RE STILL EXAMINING THE BILL. UM, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THAT IS THE, UH, UH, BILL AUTHOR'S INTENT. UM, I KNOW THERE'S OTHER DIS CONVERSATIONS HAPPENING ABOUT, TO THE EXTENT THAT THIS BILL MAY OR MAY NOT APPLY TO A MULTIFAMILY SITE, BUT WE ARE STILL WORKING THROUGH ALL OF THAT. UM, BUT WE UNDERSTAND THE INTENT OF THE BILL IS TO ALLOW MULTIFAMILY AND COMMERCIAL BASE ZONES, WHICH IS WHAT OUR DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS BY AND LARGE DO. SO IN OTHER WORDS, WE WOULD LOSE THIS AS A TOOL TO HAVE THE GUARANTEED TENANT PROTECTIONS WITH OUR DB 90 PROGRAM, WITH THIS POTENTIAL STATE LEGISLATION. I WOULD NOT SAY THAT WE LOSE IT AS A TOOL. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SIT DOWN AND EXAMINE. IT DOESN'T ADDRESS EVERY ISSUE THAT OUR DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS ADDRESS, UM, IN THE BILL. SO FOR EXAMPLE, IN DB 90, YOU CAN GO UP 30 FEET ABOVE YOUR BASE HEIGHT AND THAT MAY STILL BE, OR LET'S EVEN TALK ABOUT UNO OR SOME OF OUR HIGHER DENT, UM, HIGHER HEIGHTS. UM, THEY MAY STILL WANT THOSE, THE BILL DOESN'T ADDRESS THAT NECESSARILY. SO IT'S FOCUSED ON IF THAT BUILDING, IF THAT SITE HAD A RETAIL OR AN OFFICE, UM, WHAT IS THE HEIGHT FOR THAT OR THE 45 FEET, WHICHEVER IS GREATER. SO FOR US IN LIKE SAY CS, WE ALLOW 60 UNDER DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM. TYPICALLY WE ALLOW THEM TO GO 90 OR IN D-B-E-T-O-D, THEY GET UP TO 120. UM, AND SO IT, THE BILL DOES NOT NECESSARILY ADDRESS THAT. THE BILL ACTUALLY SPECIFICALLY PRESERVES OUR ABILITY TO DO DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS. SO IT MAY LOOK DIFFERENT AND WE MAY HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THINGS A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY, BUT WE WILL STILL BE ABLE TO DO A DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM AND WE'LL JUST HAVE TO, UM, THAT'S THE OTHER NICE THING I WOULD SAY ABOUT THE ITEM 80 TODAY IS IT DOES ALLOW US TO REALLY SIT DOWN AND LOOK AT THE BILL ITSELF AND SAY, HOW DO WE KIND OF ADJUST FOR THAT KIND OF, BASICALLY NEW REALITY FOR US. OKAY. AND WHEN WILL STAFF HAVE A FORMAL ANALYSIS ON THIS LEGISLATION? UM, WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR GOVERNMENT RELATIONS OFFICE AND WE WILL HAVE THAT TO THE COUNCIL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. OKAY. UM, AND THEN IF I CAN HAVE THE APPLICANT REPRESENTATIVE, [07:55:02] UH, AVAILABLE, THERE WAS A MENTION HERE OF SINO GROUP AND WHETHER OR NOT THEY, THEIR COMMITMENT LEVEL ON BEING ABLE TO DEVELOP, REDEVELOP THE SITE WITH AFFORDABLE UNITS. CAN YOU TOUCH ON CONVERSATIONS YOU'VE HAD? YEAH, SO I'M MICHAEL WHALEN ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT. I HAD SPOKEN TO, UH, VAL DEION EARLIER TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY HAD BEEN PROPOSING. 'CAUSE I GOT AN EMAIL FROM THE TENANTS ASSOCIATION. SO I OBVIOUSLY WANTED TO FOLLOW UP. AND THEN WHEN I HEARD WHAT THEY SAID TODAY, I, THAT'S WHY I STEPPED OUT, CALLED THEM. I SAID, WHAT DID YOU SEND THEM? AND HE DID SEND AN EMAIL AT 5:04 PM UH, APOLOGIZING TO NO A FOR THE DELAY AND SAYING, PLEASE ACCEPT THIS EMAIL AS CONFIRMATION THAT UNDER THE CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES, THE CINO GROUP WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE A COMPETITIVE OFFER, COMPETITIVE OFFER TO PRICE REALTY TO REDEVELOP THE ACACIA HILL CLIFFS COMMUNITY. BUT THAT'S ALL THAT HE READ. NO, A READ THE REST SAYS, IT WAS MY INITIAL UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PROPERTY WAS FOR SALE. BUT I LEARNED AFTER SPEAKING TO, WITH THE PRICE REALTY REPRESENTATIVE, THAT THE CURRENT OWNER INTENDS TO RETAIN OWNERSHIP AND IS UNDER CONTRACT WITH TRAMELL CROW TO REDEVELOP THE SITE. UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, SINO WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE A COMPETITIVE OFFER TO THE OWNER BECAUSE WE WOULD ALSO HAVE, WE WOULD ALSO HAVE TO SCRAPE THE EXISTING HOUSING AND REDEVELOP HUNDREDS OF MORE UNITS. ADDITIONALLY, IN ORDER FOR CASINO TO COME CLOSE TO, TO A COMPETITIVE OFFER, WHICH WOULD BE HARD TO DO, WE WOULD ALSO HAVE TO BRING A LAND USE RESTRICTION TO THE PROPERTY OWNER'S REDEVELOPMENT, WHICH THEY ARE NOT INTERESTED IN DOING. IF THE PROPERTY EVER BECAME AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE, THERE COULD BE A SCENARIO WHERE THAT SINO COULD MAKE A COMPETITIVE OFFER. BUT AGAIN, UNDER THE CO CURRENT FEE DEVELOPER STRUCTURE, THE OWNER IS CONSIDERING SINO WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE A COMPETITIVE OFFER, ESPECIALLY IF WE WERE GOING TO LIMIT THE UNITS TO 30%, 50% AND 60% A MI. THEY CAN'T DO IT AT THAT LOW EITHER. IF YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO DISCUSS RESPECTFULLY, VAL, SO THAT HE'S SAYING THE SAME THING THAT HE TOLD US THAT I THINK, UH, AND I'D FORWARDED THAT EMAIL ORIGINALLY TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN, THE ORIGINAL ONE FROM, UH, VAL A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. IT WAS ON MAY 22ND, I BELIEVE, IMMEDIATELY AFTER, UH, I RECEIVED THE EMAIL FROM, UH, OF THE TENANTS ASSOCIATION. SO THEY DO PFC DEALS FOR, YOU KNOW, SO THAT'S WHY THEY DON'T DO, UH, THEY, THEY DON'T THAT THIS ISN'T A POSSIBILITY. AND MR. WAYLON, YOU ALSO MENTIONED A RESTRICTIVE COVENANT THAT HAS BEEN SIGNED. IS THAT RIGHT? UM, I DID. IT'S, UH, BEEN SIGNED AND RECORDED WITH HOME BASE AND, UH, BECAUSE OF THE SENATE BILL THAT YOU MENTIONED, SENATE BILL EIGHT 40, IT DOES NOT PROVIDE TENANT PROTECTIONS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE CONVERTING, UH, UNDER THE RESIDENTIAL. UM, AND ALSO IT WAS POINTED OUT TO ME BY COUNCIL MEMBER'S OFFICE THAT UNDER VMU, UH, THERE'S NO TENANT PROTECTION. AND I JUST WANTED TO CLOSE THAT GAP. SO WE HAVE A, UH, REPORT, WE RECORDED A RESTRICTIVE COVENANT THAT BINDS, AND IT'S WITH HOME BASE THAT, UH, WHICH BINDS THE PROPERTY TO THE SAME TENANT PROTECTIONS THAT ARE PROVIDED UNDER, UH, DB 90. SO THERE'D BE NO DOUBT ABOUT IT THAT IT'S RECORDED AND OF RECORD. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER VELA, ASK Y'ALL ASK QUESTION. NO. IN THESE MEETINGS, AS ALL WE'RE NOT GONNA DO, WE'RE NOT GONNA DO THAT. YOU'RE OUT OF ORDER AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT. WE'VE, WE'VE HEARD FROM THE PUBLIC COMMENT, NO, NO. WE'RE THE MAYOR PRO TEM HAD A QUESTION AND IS ALLOWED. THE MAYOR PRO TEM IS ALLOWED TO ASK QUESTIONS. ANY MEMBER OF THIS COUNCIL CAN ASK QUESTIONS. SO, BUT WE'RE NOT, YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE OUT OF ORDER AND YOU'RE NOT GONNA CRY OUT IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM. COUNCIL MEMBER VELA, UH, MR. WALA, WHAT ARE THE CURRENT TENANT PROTECTIONS? UH, IF THE, THE PROPERTY IS, IS, UH, UH, BUILT UNDER DB 90, UH, THE CURRENT TENANT PROTECTIONS UNDER DB 90, UH, ARE AS FOLLOWS, YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE, AS I'M QUOTING, PROVIDE CURRENT TENANTS WITH NOTICE AND INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT ON A FORM APPROVED BY THE HOUSING DIRECTOR. AND THAT COMES FROM 25 1 7 12 7 12 OR 7 21 I, I APOLOGIZE. AND B, RELOCATION BENEFITS THAT EQUAL ROMAN AT ONE EQUAL FOUR MONTHS OF RENT AND FEES. AND ROMAN TWO, A FIXED PAYMENT FOR MOVING EXPENSES THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH FEDERAL UNIFORM RELOCATION ASSISTANCE AND REAL PROPERTY ACQUISITION POLICIES ACT OF 19 70 42 USC FOUR SIX 4,601 EC AND THREE GRANT CURRENT TENANTS THE OPTION TO LEASE FOR A MINIMUM OF 12 MONTHS, A UNIT OF COMPARABLE NUMBER OF BEDROOMS AND SIZE FOLLOWING COMPLETION OF REDEVELOPMENT. AND FOUR, ALLOW A CURRENT TENANT TO TERMINATE A LEASE WITHOUT ANY PENALTY, IS AFTER THEY GET THE NOTICE. AND FIVE RETURN SECURITY DEPOSITS TO CURRENT TENANTS WITHOUT RETAINING ANY AMOUNT FROM THE, UH, SECURITY POTS THAT'S REPEATED VERBATIM IN THE RECORDED RESTRICTIVE COVENANT. AND, AND THE RELOCATION, UH, BENEFITS, UH, I KNOW THAT WAS, THAT'S KIND OF A MOUTHFUL, BUT WHAT, WHAT WOULD THAT WORK OUT TO IN TERMS OF ACTUAL DOLLARS? WHAT, WHAT WOULD YOUR ESTIMATE BE OF THE, I I, I DON'T KNOW. I, I DON'T HAVE AN [08:00:01] AMOUNT. UM, WE ADDED THAT, I DIDN'T PUT IT IN THE RECORDED RESTRICTIVE COVENANT BECAUSE IT, UH, IS A MORE SUBJECTIVE STANDARD. BUT WE HAVE COMMITTED IN WRITING WITH OUR FLYER THAT WE WILL HAVE A RELOCATION SPECIALIST ON SITE TO HELP WITH THE, UH, COMPARABLY, THE 2,700 PLUS COMPARABLY PRICED UNITS THAT ARE NEARBY, OF WHICH 290 ARE VACANT AS OF MARCH. BUT IN TERMS OF, UH, UH, OF THE, UH, OF THE, THE FINANCIAL, KIND OF THE, THE, UH, MOVE MOVING ASSISTANCE PAYMENT UNDER THAT, THAT FEDERAL OH, I UNDERSTAND. WHERE WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT MIRRORING THE FEDERAL, UH, PROCESS 'CAUSE IT'S TOO, YOU KNOW, KIND OF BULKY AND, AND COMPLICATED. BUT WE WANTED TO USE THEIR KIND OF STANDARDS AS A GUIDELINE. DO, DO, DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT AMOUNT WOULD BE IN TERMS OF THE CHECK THAT THAT ATTENDANCE WOULD RECEIVE? NO. SO I, I HAVE SINCE LEARNED FROM VNA AND OTHERS THAT, UH, THEY DO IT BY BEDROOM COUNT AND IT'LL EITHER BE, UH, UH, FOR, FOR THE, FOR THE TWO BEDROOMS, IT'LL BE UP TO $1,200. AND WE'VE COMMITTED IN WRITING ALSO THAT WE'LL PAY THE $1,200 JUST TO EVERYBODY. 'CAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO HAVE THERE BE ANY SORT OF DISPUTE ABOUT THE AMOUNT. SO IT'D BE $1,200 PLUS, UH, WITH AN AVERAGE RENT, UH, ACROSS THE ENTIRE SPECTRUM. I KNOW SOME PEOPLE HAVE LOWER RENTS, BUT THE AVERAGE RENT IS $1,100. UH, SOME ARE HIGHER, SOME ARE LOWER, I GET IT. BUT THE TOTAL AMOUNT COMES TO ABOUT $1.4 MILLION UNDER DB. THAT'S THE DB 90, UH, UH, REQUIREMENTS. 'CAUSE EVERYBODY WILL GET THE $5,400, THE $1,200 PLUS FOUR MONTHS RENT. UH, GOT IT. SO WE'RE ABOUT $5,000 A LITTLE, UH, NORTH OF $5,000 IN IN ECONOMIC BENEFITS. IN IN. CORRECT. THAT'S A CHECK THAT'S PAID. I MEAN, THAT'S MONEY THAT'S PAID. YEAH. AND THAT, BUT THAT'S REQUIRED AND WE HAVE COMMITTED TO THAT REGARDLESS OF WHAT SB EIGHT 40 DOES, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER WE USE VMU, REGARDLESS OF WHAT ZONING CATEGORY IS. AND THAT WAS MY MY NEXT QUESTION, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, JUST BECAUSE WE ADD THE DB 90 ON THERE DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU HAVE TO DEVELOP IT UNDER THE DB 90 ZONING. YOU COULD MOVE FORWARD UNDER YOUR CURRENT ZONING, YOU COULD MOVE FORWARD UNDER VMU, YOU COULD MOVE FORWARD UNDER THE ENTITLEMENTS OF THE STATE, UH, JUST, UH, GAVE YOU. UH, BUT WHAT, AGAIN, JUST TO CLARIFY, WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS THAT REGARDLESS OF HOW YOU MOVE FORWARD ON THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THIS PROPERTY, YOU WILL HAVE THE, UH, FOUR MONTHS OF FREE RENT AND THE, UH, TENANT, UH, LOCATION ASSISTANCE AND THE MOVING EXPENSES. YES, ABSOLUTELY. AND I APPRECIATE THAT YOU POINTED THAT OUT, THAT THAT GAP EXISTED. THAT WAS NEVER OUR INTENT. WE WERE, WE WERE ALWAYS INTENDED TO DO THAT. WE PUT IT IN WRITING AND I'M GLAD THAT WE NOW HAVE A RECORDED DOCUMENT, UH, UH, TO, TO MAKE THAT CLEAR. YEAH, I, I APPRECIATE THAT. AND, AND, AND COLLEAGUES, I JUST WANNA POINT OUT THAT, THAT IT'S UN IF WE VOTE THIS DOWN, UH, IT'S UNCLEAR, UH, WHAT HAPPENS NEXT AND WE'RE TAKING, YOU KNOW, $5,000 OUT OF THE POCKETS OF, UH, THE FOLKS THAT LIVE THERE, AND I'M JUST NOT GONNA DO THAT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE THEN COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL. YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO GET, I GUESS, CLARIFICATION ON A QUESTION THAT, UH, THE MAYOR PRO TE HAD ASKED, UH, FROM, FROM THE, FROM, FROM FROM MICHAEL, UM, MR. FROM THE, FROM THE APPLICANT COUNCIL MEMBER HAS A QUESTION FOR YOU. UM, YEAH, I, I I HAD A QUESTION, UM, FROM, FROM SOME OF THE TESTIMONY WE HEARD TODAY, WE HAD HEARD THAT THE SINA GROUP, I THINK I'M PRONOUNCING IT RIGHT, HAD SAID THAT THEY WOULD COME IN AND THAT THEY WOULD, THEY WOULD, THEY WOULD MAKE AN OFFER. BUT YOU HAD SAID THAT THEY HAD EMAILED SOMEONE SAYING THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE AN OFFER. IS THAT CORRECT? WELL, I, I READ THE EMAIL, UH, THAT'S THE EMAIL THAT I READ. IT WAS DIRECTLY FROM VAL AT THE CASINO GROUP. GREAT. AND, AND IT WAS, IT WAS, IT WAS, WHO WAS IT SENT TO? UH, IT WAS SENT TO NOE AT 5:04 PM TODAY. OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, THEN COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR. I JUST WANNA ASK ONE MORE QUESTION OF OUR, UM, CITY LAWYER, UH, MS LINK IF THAT'S OKAY. UH, SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TEXAS SENATE BILL EIGHT 40, WHICH IS PASSED THE LEGISLATURE'S SITTING ON THE GOVERNOR'S DESK. AND MY UNDERSTANDING IT WAS IT WOULD ALLOW AN APPLICANT IN A CASE LIKE THIS TO REZONE ADMINISTRATIVELY WITHOUT COMING TO NOW WHAT YOU GUYS WERE DOING IN THE BACK PLAN AND ALL THIS STUFF TO COME BACK. YOU'RE OUT OF ORDER, DON'T DO THAT. SO THIS IS, YOU'D BE ASKED TO LEAVE, THIS IS MY CONCERN, RIGHT? THAT THE APPLICANT WOULD BE, BE ALLOWED TO REZONE WITHOUT COMING TO COUNCIL ADMINISTRATIVELY AND STILL GET A LOT OF THE HEIGHT, IF NOT ALL THE HEIGHT THEY WANT. NO, NO. WITHOUT PARTICIPATING IN A DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM. UM, IS THAT YOUR UNDERSTANDING? WHAT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE UNDER SB EIGHT 40? UNDER SB EIGHT 40, IF A PROPERTY IS ZONED COMMERCIAL, IT ALLOWS RESIDENTIAL ESSENTIALLY BY, RIGHT. AND THERE'S A SET OF PARAMETERS IN THE STATUTE THAT GUIDE HOW WE CAN REGULATE THOSE HEIGHTS, THE DENSITY AND SUCH. UM, BECAUSE THE BILL REALLY REGULATES US AND IT TELLS US WHAT WE CAN AND CANNOT DO. AND SO IT SAYS TO US, YOU HAVE TO ALLOW RESIDENTIAL IN A, IN A COMMERCIAL BASE ZONE. UM, AND IN THAT REQUIREMENT, IT DOESN'T ALLOW FOR US TO, [08:05:01] UM, PUT CONDITIONS. UM, LIKE WE CAN'T REQUIRE SOMEONE TO GET A VARIANCE TO DO ANY OF THIS. SO THEY CAN SAY, I HAVE A CS ZONED PROPERTY TODAY. I WANNA HAVE MULTIFAMILY. AND IN OUR CURRENT WORLD, YOU MOST LIKELY HAVE TO COME AND GET A DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM, OR YOU MAY BE ABLE TO VOTE, UH, SORRY, REZO TO MAYBE C WHICH IS ALLOWS RESIDENTIAL AS WELL. UM, BUT YOU HAVE TO COME REZONE TO US TODAY UNDER THE BILL. THEY CAN WALK INTO DSD AND SAY, I HAVE A SITE PLAN FOR RESIDENTIAL. I AM ZONED FOR CS REVIEW MY SITE PLAN. AND SO IF YOU COULD JUST TRY TO CLOSE THE LOOP FOR ME. UM, ARE WE SURE THAT APPLIES TO THIS PROPERTY? NOPE. NO, IT'S TODAY THIS PROPERTY IS OWNED MF THREE UNDER THE BILL. IT IS SPECIFIC TO COMMERCIAL SITES. THERE IS A CON, THERE IS, IT'S BEEN EXPLAINED TO US THAT THERE ARE SOME INTERPRETATIONS THAT IT MAY APPLY TO A MULTI-FAMILY SITE. THAT IS SOMETHING WE ARE STILL LOOKING AT. BUT WE DO KNOW THAT THE BILL AUTHOR'S INTENT AND OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE BILL IS THAT THIS IS TO ALLOW RESIDENTIAL ON COMMERCIAL BASE ZONES. IS THAT, I'LL PASS IT BACK TO YOU, MA'AM. GREAT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL. COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN. THANK YOU. UH, I WANNA FIRST START WITH ONE MORE FOLLOW-UP QUESTION, IF YOU DON'T MIND. MS. UH, MS. LAKE. I AM CURIOUS, WHEN WOULD YOU GET CLARITY ON THAT ALTERNATE, UH, INTERPRETATION? IT IS SOMETHING WE'RE WORKING THROUGH. UM, IT IS A MULTI-PAGE BILL AND, UM, THERE ARE ALL OF OTHER BILLS PENDING AS WELL. SO UNTIL WE HAVE A, EITHER THE GOVERNOR VETOES IT OR HE SIGNS IT, OR TIME EXPIRES, UM, YOU KNOW, WE WILL, WE WILL WANNA WAIT UNTIL THAT HAPPENS TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THE COUNCIL A FINAL, UM, ANSWER ON WHAT WE BELIEVE THE BILL DOES. BUT WE ARE REVIEWING IT, UM, RIGHT NOW. OKAY. THANK YOU. UH, CAN I MAKE A FEW COMMENTS, MAYOR? YES. NOW IT'LL BE THE TIME. NOW IT'LL BE THE TIME. UM, WELL FIRST I, I WANNA THANK EVERYBODY'S EFFORTS ON THIS ITEM, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO'VE BEEN HERE FOR MANY, MANY HOURS THROUGHOUT THE DAY. AND I ALSO WANNA THANK MY COLLEAGUES, UM, IN PARTICULAR FOR, UH, EVEN ENTERTAINING MY GO BIGGER GO HOME, UH, POSTPONEMENT MOTION. I REALIZED THAT EVEN WHILE MAKING IT AND CONTEMPLATING IT, LIKE EVERY OTHER ASPECT OF THIS CASE, IT CARRIES RISK. WHETHER WE DO SOMETHING AND TAKE ACTION TODAY AND VOTE THIS THROUGH, CARRIES A CERTAIN RISK OF, LIKE, COUNCIL MEMBER OF ELLA SAID, WHETHER PEOPLE GET EVEN SOME BENEFITS VERSUS NO BENEFITS, UH, VERSUS THE RISK OF A SIX MONTH POSTPONEMENT WHERE THEN SBA 40, UNDER A CERTAIN INTERPRETATION MAY CREATE A SEPARATE SET OF RISKS. UH, THAT SAID, UM, I THINK IN THE BIG PICTURE FROM WHERE I'M SITTING, UH, AND THIS IS THE REASON WHY I THOUGHT THE PRESERVATION, UH, FUND WAS AT LEAST ONE STEP THAT WE COULD TAKE. WE'VE WE'RE IN A PLACE WHERE I THINK DB 90, SB EIGHT 40, UH, WE'VE HEARD ALSO THERE'S AN ANTICIPATED LOSS IN FEDERAL HOUSING DOLLARS, HUD DOLLARS. UM, ALL OF THOSE ARE GONNA CREATE A, I THINK, HIGHLIGHT A DIFFICULTY IN TRYING TO BALANCE THE GROWTH THAT WE'VE GOT IN THE CITY WITH, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THESE COMPETING NEEDS, AFFORDABILITY, PROTECTION, UM, HELPING PEOPLE NOT GET DISPLACED. AND I THINK THAT THE DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS, AND I'VE SAID THIS FROM THE BEGINNING, YOU KNOW, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THEY CREATE A LOT OF VALUE FOR THE CITY. AND THAT'S PART OF THE REASON I VOTED FOR THE MAYOR'S, UH, AND THE, HIS SUBOR PROPOSAL TODAY, ITEM 80, BECAUSE I WANNA SEE WHAT IT COMES BACK WITH, UM, AND ESPECIALLY WITH, UH, MAYOR PROM'S AMENDMENT TO IT. AND SO I DON'T THINK THIS CONVERSATION IS CLOSED. I KNOW THAT I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH LEGAL AS RECENTLY AS YESTERDAY ABOUT HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO MAKE AMENDMENTS TO THIS PROCESS. ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES WITH THIS CASE, AND FROM WHAT I UNDERSTOOD FROM LEGAL YESTERDAY, IT'S THE FIRST TIME THAT WE'VE TRIED TO CONVERT A MULTI-FAMILY PROPERTY TO A COMMERCIAL PROPERTY AND A FIX A DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM TO IT. AND THAT IN ITSELF IS TRICKY BECAUSE IF I GO AHEAD AND SAY, WELL, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE, THAT I RUN INTO A SITUATION WHERE I'M RUN INTO SOME PROPERTIES THAT ARE SIMPLY OBSOLETE, AND THEN I PROHIBIT US FROM GETTING ANY BENEFIT FROM THOSE PROPERTIES. SO, UM, THAT'S WHY ULTIMATELY CONCLUDED THAT THE VERY FIRST STEP I COULD TAKE THAT WAS MEANINGFUL WAS TO LOOK ABROAD INTO OTHER CITIES AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY'VE DONE TO TRY AND PRESERVE THE EXISTING NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING. IT'S IN THOSE CITIES. AND I THINK THAT'S ONE TOOL THAT WE CAN ADD TO OUR TOOLBOX, UH, FROM WHAT I'VE TALKED WITH, WITH OUR NEW A CM THAT CAN BE DONE MAYBE IN AS LITTLE AS THREE MONTHS. [08:10:01] UH, AND THEN THAT WOULD GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO IDENTIFY AND PROTECT THOSE PROPERTIES BEFORE THEY COME TO ZONING, RIGHT? WE'D HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO, UH, ENGAGE WITH STAKEHOLDERS. WE'D BE ABLE TO HAVE A MAP THAT IDENTIFIES WHO'S VULNERABLE AND WHO'S AT A RISK WHERE THEY'RE, UM, WHERE THE COST OF, UH, POTENTIALLY REDEVELOPING MAKES SENSE VERSUS ONES THAT DON'T. AND THAT'S ALSO GONNA HAVE SOME VARIABILITY AND SOME NUANCE TO IT. UM, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS I THINK WE'VE GOTTA TRY EVERYTHING WE CAN TO RESOLVE THESE CASES, AND IN PARTICULAR, IF WE CAN RESOLVE BEFORE THEY COME TO ZONING, I THINK WE'VE SEEN HOW MUCH TIME IT'S TAKEN TO ARRIVE, UH, HERE AND WE'RE NOT EVEN DONE WITH THE VOTE THIS EVENING. UM, BUT I THINK THE BEST CASE SCENARIO IS RATHER THAN SORT OF SCRAMBLING TO TRYING TO AVOID A SITUATION WHERE WE'RE SCRAMBLING TO PICK THE LEAST BAD OPTION, AND RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF SOME ASPECTS OF DB 90, THAT'S WE FIND OURSELVES, UH, SO I'M GONNA TRY, MY GOAL IS TO TRY AND MAKE SURE WE'VE GOT MORE GOOD OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO US. I THINK THAT FUND'S THE START. I THINK LOOKING AT WAYS TO AMEND THIS PROCESS, INCLUDING THE MAYOR PRO THAMES AMENDMENT. AS A START, I WANNA SEE WHAT THE MAYORS, UH, AND THE CITY MANAGER COMES BACK WITH, WITH THAT DIRECTION. AND I THINK THAT'S GONNA GIVE US ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO FIGURE OUT IF WE CAN AMEND THIS PROCESS AND FIND WAYS TO ENSURE THAT GOING FORWARD, THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN TO COMMUNITIES AND EVEN IN THIS COMMUNITY, THAT WE'VE GOT SOME OPTIONS POTENTIALLY TO BUY DOWN THE AFFORDABILITY, UH, OR TO INVEST IN SOME WAY AND WORK WITH THE DEVELOPERS SO THAT WE'VE GOT A BETTER OUTCOME WE'VE GOT TODAY. SO THAT'S WHAT MY MISSION IS GONNA BE. UH, I'M GRATEFUL FOR MY COLLEAGUE SUPPORT ON THE FUND. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING THAT DISCUSSION IN JULY. AND, UM, AND OBVIOUSLY I JUST WANNA SAY I'M, I'M SORT OF GRATEFUL FOR EVERYBODY INVOLVED FOR GETTING THIS FAR. UH, I THINK WITHOUT THE ADVOCACY, WE WOULDN'T FRANKLY HAVE THIS, THE, THIS WOULD NOT BE ON THE, ON THE MAP FOR ANYBODY. AND INSTEAD WE'VE GOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO AMEND THIS PROCESS AND WE'VE GOT A FUND THAT WE CAN VOTE ON IN, IN JULY, I HOPE. AND SO I FEEL LIKE, UH, THE PROGRESS MAY NOT BE AS FAST AS WE HOPE, BUT MY COMMITMENT IS TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON IT WITH YOU ALL SO THAT WE CAN GET TO HOPEFULLY WHERE WE, WHERE WE OUGHT TO BE AS A CITY FOR OUR SIZE AND OUR STATURE AND THE AMOUNT OF TALENT THAT WE'VE GOT HERE AND CITY STAFF AND THE COMMUNITY AND AFFORDING HOUSING, AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS, UM, THAT WE CAN ULTIMATELY ARRIVE AT WITH MORE TOOLS AROUND TWO BLOCKS AND, AND BETTER OUTCOMES GOING FORWARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN. COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, DID YOU WANT TO SPEAK AGAIN? YES. UH, MAYOR, I JUST WANNA TRY AGAIN 'CAUSE I DID, UM, MY TEAM'S BEEN SPEAKING WITH STAFF AND I, I GOT A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT ANSWER. SO I WANNA ASK IF MS. HARDEN'S AVAILABLE, IS SHE STILL AROUND? UH, THANK YOU, MS. HARDEN. UM, BECAUSE I, I REALLY WANNA KNOW WHAT'S AT STAKE WITH THIS DECISION IN TERMS OF THE RISK, UM, IF WE DON'T GUARANTEE RELOCATION BENEFITS. SO, UM, IN THE CASE OF THE STATUTE IS APPLIED SB EIGHT 40 AND THE DEVELOPER DECIDED TO COME BACK AND REZONE FROM RESIDENTIAL TO COMMERCIAL, COULD THAT BE APPROVED ADMINISTRATIVELY? NO, NOT AT ALL. SO EVEN, WELL, I THINK THE PRELIMINARY LOOK AT THE BILL DOES NOT ALLOW, I MEAN, WE, WE HAVEN'T LOOKED AT THE BILL. I THINK TRISH WAS QUITE CLEAR THAT WE HAVEN'T DONE ALL THE ASSESSMENT OF THE BILL. BUT MY THINKING OF THE BILL IS THAT AN APPLICANT WOULD HAVE TO REZONE THROUGH THIS PROCESS, THROUGH THE REZONING PROCESS FROM THE MF THREE TO A COMMERCIAL ZONE DISTRICT. AND THEN ONCE THEY WOULD GET THE COMMERCIALLY ZONE DISTRICT, MAYBE THEY COULD DO RESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATIVELY, BUT THEY WOULD STILL HAVE TO GO FROM MULTI-FAMILY TO A COMMERCIAL BASED ZONING DISTRICT. THAT IS MY PRELIMINARY UNDERSTANDING OF THE BILL. AGAIN, I AM NOT THE EXPERT ON THE BILL AT ALL FROM JUST AN UNDERSTANDING MULTIFAMILY TO GR OR CS OR WHATEVER, COMMERCIAL LO WHATEVER, COMMERCIAL BASED ZONING DISTRICT. UM, AND THAT WOULD BE THE REZONING PROCESS, NOTIFICATION HEARINGS, ET CETERA. AND THEN ADMINISTRATIVELY TO WHAT ATTORNEY WAS SAYING, IF THEY HAD GR TODAY, TYPICALLY THEY WOULD NEED TO REZONE TO GR MU OR GR DB 90, BUT THIS BILL WOULD NOT ALLOW THAT MU THEY COULD DO THAT ADMINISTRATIVELY, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THE COMMERCIAL BASED ZONING DISTRICT AT THIS TIME. OKAY. IS THAT HELPFUL? YES. THANK, I'M, I'M STILL LEARNING, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH. OKAY. ALRIGHT. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU, MAYOR, BACK TO YOU. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER. ALRIGHT, MEMBERS, THAT BEING ALL OF THE DISCUSSION, UM, I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE ON COUNCIL MEMBER THERE. GOOD. UM, ON, ON [08:15:01] ITEM 1 0 3, THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED. UH, THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, RAISE YOUR HAND. THOSE OPPOSED, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARBOR MADISON, I APOLOGIZE. I DIDN'T LOOK UP FAST ENOUGH. YOU'RE, YOU'RE TOO QUICK FOR ME. DID YOU VOTE ON THAT ONE? REALLY? UH, YEAH. I, I CAN'T HEAR YOU ALL ALL. DID YOU VOTE YES OR NO? I DIDN'T. ONE WAY OR THE OTHER? MR. MAYOR. OKAY. FAIR. GOOD. I WAS TRYING TO OFFER YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THAT I'M HERE. GOOD. GOOD DEAL. ALL RIGHT. SO, UM, ALL THOSE OPPOSED, RAISE YOUR HAND. ALL THOSE ABSTAINING. OKAY. ALL THOSE OPPOSED. RAISE YOUR HAND. ALL THOSE ABSTAINING. RAISE YOUR HAND. ALRIGHT, I HAVE THAT AS A UNANIMOUS VOTE. UH, TO APPROVE THE ZONING. THANK Y'ALL. YOU DO DESERVE VACATION MEMBERS. THERE'S BEING NO OTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL. WE ARE WITHOUT OBJECTION ADJOURNED AT 6:43 PM THANKS EVERYBODY. LEAVE YOU ALONE. I, I HATE TO MY HEART. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.