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[CALL TO ORDER]
IT IS TUESDAY, JULY 1ST, 2025, AND THE TIME IS 5:06 PM I'M CALLING TO ORDER THE REGULARLY, UH, REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN URBAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION.WE'RE HERE IN THE PERMITTING AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER, ROOM 1405, LOCATED AT 6 3 1 0.
WE WILHELMINA DELCO DRIVE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
UM, I WILL BEGIN BY TAKING, UM, ATTENDANCE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS AND COMMISSIONERS.
UH, WITH THIS, I'LL ALSO ISSUE A REMINDER TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS ON THE COMMISSION WHO ARE ATTENDING VIRTUALLY, IN ORDER FOR YOUR ATTENDANCE TO BE COUNTED AND YOUR VOTES TO BE COUNTED, AND FOR US TO HAVE QUORUM AND HASHTAG ALL THE THINGS.
UM, YOU SHOULD EMAIL OUR STAFF LIAISON, NATALIE LEON, WITHIN THE FIRST FIVE MINUTES OF THIS MEETING, AKA, RIGHT NOW, IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY.
SO PLEASE EMAIL HER AND LET HER KNOW THAT YOU ARE LOGGED IN AND ATTENTION VIRTUALLY.
SHE HAS TO HAVE THAT WRITTEN CONFIRMATION VIA EMAIL TO COUNT YOUR ATTENDANCE.
I'LL GO AHEAD NOW AND CALL, UH, ATTENDANCE.
UH, COMMISSIONER BUFFO NOT PRESENT.
COMMISSIONER PRASAD, CAN WE, CAN WE, WE CANNOT HEAR YOU.
COMMISSIONER JACOBSON PRESENT.
COMMISSIONER SCHUMACHER, VICE CHAIR OF SCHUMACHER.
HERE, UH, COMMISSIONER SORIN IS HERE.
AND SOME, SOME MAY JOIN US LATER.
UM, SO THAT DOES GIVE US QUORUM WITH SEVEN PRESENT.
UM, SO WITH THAT, THE FIRST ITEM ON
[PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL]
OUR AGENDA IS ALWAYS, IS GENERAL PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.THIS IS NOT ON A POSTED AGENDA ITEM.
AND I WILL CALL UP, UH, WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER AND I WILL CALL THEM UP TO SPEAK.
CARLOS SOTO, YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES.
AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN YOU AND SPEAK ABOUT COMMUNITY ADVANCEMENT NETWORK.
I'M CARLOS SOTO, AND I'M RESEARCH PLANNING AND EVALUATION COORDINATOR FOR THE ORGANIZATION.
UH, AND KEN IS A PARTNERSHIP OF GOVERNMENT, NONPROFIT, PRIVATE, AND FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS THAT LEVERAGE MUTUAL RESOURCES TO COLLECTIVELY IMPROVE SOCIAL HEALTH, EDUCATIONAL AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
OUR PARTNERS CONSIST OF A VARIETY OF ORGANIZATIONS, UH, IN DIFFERENT AREAS AND IMPORTANT PARTNERS ARE CAP METRO AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UH, THE CITY OF AUSTIN REPRESENTED THROUGH VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING COUNCIL MEMBER, HARPER, MADISON, FUENTES, AND VELASQUEZ, WHO HAVE SERVED OR SERVE ON THE COMMUNITY ADVANCEMENT NETWORK BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
TOGETHER, WE PROMOTE AND SUPPORT COLLABORATION AMONGST ALL OUR PARTNERS, UH, IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES TO COORDINATE AND ALIGN SERVICES, SUPPORT EFFORTS TO ADDRESS COMMUNITY CHALLENGES THROUGH COLLECTIVE ACTION, CREATE CIVIC INFRASTRUCTURE, ENSURE THAT THE RIGHT STAKEHOLDERS ARE PRESENT AND PART OF ASSESSING AND ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGES THAT OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS, AND INCREASING UNDERSTANDING OF EMERGING ISSUES AND TRENDS.
UH, WE DO THAT THROUGH SEVERAL WAYS.
AND I'M BASICALLY, UH, SPEAKING OFF THE FLYER THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE AT THIS POINT.
AND I'M ON THE SIDE THAT HAS, UH, THE GRID ON IT WITH, UH, THAT'S VERTICALLY ORIENTED.
AND ONE OF THE TOOLS THAT WE DEVELOP, UH, TO ENGAGE OUR COMMUNITY THAT I WANTED TO BRING ATTENTION TO IS THE WECAN A TX WEBSITE.
SPECIFICALLY SOME OF THE MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES AVAILABLE IN FOR OUR COMMUNITY, UH, OR PATHWAYS TO MENTAL HEALING, WHICH IS THE OTHER FLYER YOU HAVE.
UH, THERE'S RESOURCES THERE FOR THE GENERAL COMMUNITY, UH, THAT, UH, CAN BE USED, UH, TO IDENTIFY AND SUPPORT FAMILY MEMBERS OR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
UH, WE KNOW THAT, UH, IT'S A CHALLENGE IN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY.
UM, AND ANOTHER IMPORTANT TOOL THAT WE, UH, SUPPORT,
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AND IT'S, UH, I USED TO BE RESEARCH ANALYST AND THAT'S WHYAND WE HAVE A TRANSPORTATION INDICATOR THERE THAT USED TO BE VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED, BUT IS NOW PERCENT WHO DRIVE ALONE TO WORK BECAUSE THE DASHBOARD STEERING COMMITTEE, WHICH INCLUDES REPRESENTATION OR INCLUDED FROM CAP METRO, UH, AND OTHER TRANSPORTATION ORGANIZATIONS, THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD HELP ENCOURAGE INCREASING THE PERCENTAGE THAT RODE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION BECAUSE IT'S ONE OF THOSE GOALS THAT WE WANT TO BRING DOWN.
WELL, THREE MINUTES ARE UP, SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO LEARN MORE, PLEASE REACH OUT.
I LEFT TWO CARDS WITH MY EMAIL, AND I'D LIKE TO MAYBE SHOW UP ANOTHER TIME AND SHARE MORE.
SO THAT WILL MOVE US INTO OUR, THE
[1. Approve the minutes of the Urban Transportation Commission REGULAR MEETING on June 3, 2025.]
FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA ITEM ONE, WHICH IS APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE URBAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING FROM JUNE 3RD, 2025.THE MINUTES WERE, UH, PRECIATE IN THE BACKUP.
IF YOU'RE HERE IN PERSON, YOU SHOULD HAVE THEM ON PAPER, OTHERWISE THEY'RE IN, UM, THE BACKUP, UH, THAT WAS EMAILED OUT AND ON THE WEB.
SO, UM, A MOMENT TO REVIEW THE MINUTES, IF YOU HAVEN'T, AND THEN I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
I WILL MOVE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
UM, ANY DISCUSSION OR AMENDMENTS? MOTIONS.
I WILL CALL FOR A VOTE ON THE MINUTES.
I WILL NOTE THAT NOW, UM, COMMISSIONER KAMAN HAS JOINED US AS WELL AS COMMISSIONER BUFFET ONLINE.
A REMINDER, COMMISSIONER BUFFET, NOW THAT BECAUSE YOU'RE ATTENDING VIRTUALLY, PLEASE DO EMAIL NATALIE TO LET HER KNOW YOU ARE ATTENDING VIRTUALLY.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE MINUTES AS CIRCULATE IT.
THAT IS UNANIMOUS OF THOSE PRESENT.
[2. Discussion on the state legislative update and implications for the City's transportation and mobility programs.]
INTO ITEM TWO, WHICH IS A DISCUSSION ITEM.UH, THIS IS A PRESENTATION DISCUSSION ON THE LEG STATE LEGISLATIVE UPDATE AND IMPLICATIONS FOR THE CITY'S TRANSPORTATION AND MOBILITY PROGRAMS. THIS WILL BE PRESENTED BY KERRY ROGERS, WHO IS THE CITY OF AUSTIN GOVERNMENT RELATIONS OFFICER.
I AM THE LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN, AND THANK YOU CHAIRWOMAN, UM, AND COMMISSION FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE TODAY.
UM, I STARTED WITH THE CITY ONE WEEK AFTER BILL FILING STARTED.
UM, FORTUNATELY I CAME FROM ANOTHER CITY AND WHERE THERE ARE A LOT OF SIMILAR ISSUES, AND I, UM, ACTUALLY HAD GOTTEN MY START IN GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS WORKING ON TRANSPORTATION AND WATER INFRASTRUCTURE 25 YEARS AGO.
AND SO IT IS AN ISSUE THAT IS, UM, VERY CLOSE TO MY HEART, IF YOU CAN BELIEVE THAT.
IT'S NOT A SEXY ISSUE, BUT CERTAINLY ONE THAT AFFECTS EVERYONE.
UM, HOPEFULLY YOU ALL HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU A, UH, THE MEMO THAT I HAD SHARED WITH CITY COUNCIL, OH, I SEE IT UP THERE ON THE SCREEN.
SO WE HAD, UM, SENT OUT A MEMO TO THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL JUNE 24TH AFTER THE CLOSE OF THE GOVERNOR'S VETO DEADLINE, UM, WITH A SUMMARY OF, UM, HIGH LEVEL TOPICS, IF YOU WILL, AND ISSUES THAT PASSED OR WERE CONSIDERED, UM, BY THE LEGISLATURE THAT WOULD BE IMPACTING THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND SO, JUST AS A GENERAL RULE, I'LL SAY IT NOW AND THEN SAY IT AT THE END.
UM, OUR, OUR LAW DEPARTMENT IN OUR, UM, UH, VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS THROUGHOUT THE ORGANIZATION ARE REVIEWING THESE BILLS THAT, THAT, UM, ARE, UM, EXPECTED TO BE SIGNED INTO LAW OR SIGNED, UM, AND WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE LATER THIS YEAR.
THE DEPARTMENTS ARE REVIEWING THOSE FOR ANY POLICIES, ORDINANCES, UM, AND PRACTICES THAT WILL NEED TO BE CHANGED AS A RESULT OF LEGISLATION.
UM, WE ARE GOING TO BE, UH, PRESENTING TO THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL ON JULY 22ND, SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU'RE HEARING TODAY.
SO Y'ALL ARE GETTING, UM, A PRIMER.
UM, BUT JUST KNOW THAT THAT WORK IS GOING ON WITH OUR DEPARTMENTS, WITH OUR STAFF, AND WITH THE LAW DEPARTMENT TO REVIEW EVERYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED TO GET READY TO OPERATIONALIZE THOSE NEW LAWS SEPTEMBER ONE, OR WHEREVER THE EFFECTIVE DATE MAY BE.
UM, SO I'M LOOKING AT THE MEMO.
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WILL TELL YOU, UM, IN GENERAL, WHEN WE STARTED OUR WORK, THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AS I SAID, I STARTED IN NOVEMBER.UM, THERE WAS A LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM THAT WAS IN DEVELOPMENT THAT HAD NOT YET, UH, COME BEFORE CITY COUNCIL.
UH, IT WAS A VERY VOLUMINOUS DOCUMENT.
UM, MOST LOCAL GOVERNMENTS SORT OF PUT TOGETHER THEIR LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM THROUGH A DIFFERENT PRACTICE, THROUGH DIFFERENT PRACTICES.
UM, FOR ME, I AM VERY BIG ON DOING A CALL FOR PRIORITIES FROM OUR STAFF, FROM OUR LEGISLATORS, OF COURSE, UM, FROM OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, AND THOSE WHO ARE THE PRACTITIONERS IN THIS SPACE.
UM, BUT HAVING STARTED NOVEMBER 18TH, UM, WE, WE STARTED IN A DIFFERENT SPACE.
UM, BUT THE BOARD ADOPTED, UH, OR THE COUNCIL ADOPTED THEIR PROGRAM, UH, IN EARLY DECEMBER.
AND THE PROGRAM, NO, YOU KNOW, NO SURPRISE.
IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENT, UH, LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES.
THERE'S A LOT OF FOCUS ON INFRASTRUCTURE, UM, PUBLIC SAFETY, HOUSING, HOMELESSNESS.
THOSE ARE VERY SIMILAR, UH, THEMES THAT THREAD THROUGH, UM, ALL OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
THERE WERE, UM, A COUPLE OF ISSUES THAT WERE, I WOULD SAY, SPECIFIC TO TRANSPORTATION THAT OF COURSE HAVE A, UH, AN, UH, INTEGRATION COMPONENT, IF YOU WILL, WITH THE CITIES, UM, THE AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE LEGISLATION, UH, AND REGULATION REGARDING THAT.
AND WE'RE ACTUALLY WORKING WITH DMV, I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN A MINUTE.
UM, AND, UM, UM, UH, JUST A WHOLE HOST OF THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON IN VARIOUS PORTFOLIOS, BUT ALSO, OF COURSE, SPECIFICALLY TRANSPORTATION.
SO, CHAIRWOMAN, YOU JUST REIGN ME IN AS NEEDED.
I'M GONNA GO THROUGH, UM, THIS MEMO VERY HIGH LEVEL.
IF Y'ALL HAVE HARD QUESTIONS, I'M GONNA CALL UP SPENCER.
UH, I, I SAW SPENCER WAS ON THIS COMMISSION.
I DID NOT, DID NOT KNOW WHY Y'ALL ASKED ME.
'CAUSE SPENCER ABSOLUTELY COULD GIVE THIS PRESENTATION, BUT HE'S OPTING HIMSELF OUT OVER THERE.
UM, SO LOOKING THROUGH THE MEMO, UM, LOCAL GOVERNMENT SAW A LOT OF FOCUS ON HOW WE FINANCE PROJECTS.
THERE WAS A BIG PUSH TO REIGN IN, IF YOU WILL.
UM, THE, UH, DEBT TOOLS THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT, CITIES AND COUNTIES AND OTHERS WERE ABLE TO FINANCE PROJECTS.
UM, AND AS ALWAYS, WITH ANY LEGISLATION, THERE'S SOME STORY, THERE'S SOME ANECDOTE THAT LED A LEGISLATOR TO FILE A BILL.
IN THIS CASE, SOME CITY USED CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION TO BUILD A WATERPARK.
UH, AND THEREFORE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION ARE BAD AND NO CITY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO USE THEM WITHOUT GUARDRAILS.
UM, ULTIMATELY, UH, THE PRIMARY BILL THAT WOULD HAVE CARRIED, UH, THOSE DEBT RESTRICTION LED UH, PROVISIONS DID NOT PASS.
THE CITY'S REALLY UNITED TOGETHER TO, UH, MAKE THEIR CASE ON HOW, UH, THESE DEBT TOOLS WERE BEING USED RESPONSIBLY.
AND SO, UM, SO ULTIMATELY I THINK LOCAL GOVERNMENT PREVAILED THERE, BUT I WOULD EXPECT THAT SOMETHING WILL BE BACK AGAIN.
UM, WHAT I'LL TELL YOU ABOUT THOSE BILLS RELATED TO DEBT RESTRICTION AND WHY WE CARE AND TRANSPORTATION IS LARGELY CEOS ARE, ARE MEANT TO BE USED SORT OF AS A STOP GAP.
UM, I, I DON'T KNOW HOW, HOW FAMILIAR YOU ARE WITH, UM, BOND FINANCING, BUT SORT OF LIKE COMMERCIAL PAPER.
IT'S, UM, LIKE THINGS THAT YOU ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO GET DONE.
UM, AND, UH, I USE FOR EXAMPLE, AND, AND JIM PROBABLY CAN SPEAK TO THIS, UM, BUT WHEN WE HAD, UH, THE FLOODS HERE A FEW YEARS AGO AND WE HAD TO REBUILD A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WAS IMPACTED BY ALL THE WATER BRIDGES, ET CETERA, I THINK WE DID SOME CO WORK TO HELP OUT TXDOT TO CASH FLOW SOME PROJECTS.
BUT IT WAS IN RESPONSE TO, UH, MOTHER NATURE'S IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY.
UM, AND SO THAT'S WHAT THEY WANNA SEE IS THAT WE'RE USING THEM LIKE IT'S THE EMERGENCY CREDIT CARD IN THE BACK OF OUR CLOSET.
UM, AND NOT USING IT FOR PRIMARY EXPENSES.
THAT SHOULD BE ALREADY PART OF A, A LOCAL GOVERNMENT'S BUDGET.
UM, UH, LET ME SEE, FILM INCENTIVES.
UM, THE CITY SPENT A LOT OF TIME, UM, WORKING ON THE FIREFIGHTERS RETIREMENT PENSION FUND, AND YOU ALL CARE BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT GOOD STEWARDSHIP AND ANY, UM, ADDITIONAL FUNDS THAT THE CITY WOULD PAY INTO SOMETHING LIKE A RETIREMENT FUND, UM, CERTAINLY PULLS AWAY FROM OTHER CRITICAL NEEDS LIKE PARKS AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND ROADS AND, AND LIBRARIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
ONE IS NOT MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE OTHER, BUT OF COURSE, THE CITY HAS MANY RESPONSIBILITIES.
UM, AND SO, UH, THE FOCUS OF MAYOR WATSON, WHO REALLY LED THIS EFFORT AND THE CAPITAL, UM, AND OF OUR LEGISLATIVE TEAM, WAS TO KEEP THE FUND, UH, FISCALLY SOUND.
SO TO NOT, UM, UM, YOU KNOW, SPEND MONEY THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE.
AND THE RETIREMENT FUND NEEDED TO BE PUT BACK ON A BETTER PATH, UM, BEFORE ANY ADDITIONAL BENEFITS WERE PROVIDED TO THE RETIREES.
UM, AND SO ULTIMATELY, UH, LEGISLATION
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PASSED, AND OF COURSE, UH, WE, I THINK GOT, GOT A GOOD BILL IN PLACE IF SPENCER'S BACK THERE GOT A GOOD, UH, BILL IN PLACE, UM, THAT HELPS ENSURE THE FISCAL SOUNDNESS OF, UH, THE FIREFIGHTER'S RETIREMENT FUND.WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME THIS SESSION WORKING ON LAND USE AND BY LAND USE, IT COULD BE ANYTHING FROM PERMITTING, UM, TO THE GROUND WE'RE STANDING ON TODAY.
IT IS JUST, UM, IT, UH, I WOULDN'T SAY IT'S A SURPRISE ISSUE BECAUSE PERMITTING HAS BEEN, UH, SORT OF A FREQUENT FLYER IN THE LEGISLATURE THE LAST FEW YEARS.
UM, YOU KNOW, WHETHER COVID IMPACTED OR NOT, OR TRANSITIONING TO NEW TECHNOLOGIES, PERMITTING HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE.
UM, I KNOW AT LEAST, UM, ACROSS TEXAS.
UM, AND SO LOOKING AT THAT AND LAYERING IT ON TOP OF, UH, AN EXPLODING COMMUNITY LIKE THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND PEOPLE WANTING TO BE HERE AND NEEDING TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO LIVE HERE, UM, THERE WAS A LOT OF FOCUS ON HOW CAN WE SORT OF FREE SOME MOVE AROUND SOME OF THESE BARRIERS AND OBSTACLES TO GETTING, UM, GETTING HOMES AND HOUSING BUILT QUICKLY.
AND SO THERE WAS A SUITE OF MATERIAL OF BILLS THAT WERE FILED, UH, THAT, UH, MORE OR LESS TOOK THE CITY OUT OF THE PROCESS.
SO, UH, THE CITY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE PERMITTING PROCESS, THE INSPECTION PROCESS.
UM, IF YOU OWNED A COMMERCIAL PROPERTY AND YOU DECIDED YOU WANTED TO MAKE THAT COMMERCIAL PROPERTY A RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY, YOU COULD DO THAT BY, RIGHT? UM, WITHOUT HAVING TO COME BACK TO THE CITY, UM, THE CITY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CHARGE ANY FEES FOR ANY WORK THAT THEY DID RELATED TO THAT PARTICULAR, UM, PROJECT.
AND SO THERE WERE MAYBE, I DON'T KNOW, BETWEEN 5, 10, 12, MAYBE 15 BILLS, UM, THAT WERE CONSIDERED AFFORDABLE HOUSING BILLS.
AND, UM, WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME WORKING WITH THE MEMBERS AND TRYING TO MAKE THE CASE THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS DOING IT RIGHT.
I'M SURE MANY OF YOU KNOW, THE CITY IS LEADING THE NATION IN, UM, PUTTING NEW HOUSING ON THE GROUND, WHETHER OR NOT IT'S AFFORDABLE IS UP, UP FOR DEBATE.
AND I THINK THAT WAS PART OF THE LEGISLATIVE DISCUSSION IN, UH, IN THE CAPITOL, IS WE'RE CLEARING ALL THESE BARRIERS TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S HOUSING, BUT WHAT IN THE LEGISLATION ENSURES THAT IT'S AFFORDABLE? AND I THINK THAT WILL BE THE NEXT STEP THAT WE'LL HEAR, UM, THAT WE'LL BE WORKING ON NEXT SESSION.
UM, BUT THE CITY WAS REALLY, I THINK, UH, LEADING A LOT OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS, UM, TO ENSURE THAT THE THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING HERE WERE NOT NEGATIVELY IMPACTED.
I THINK, UH, MOST EVERYBODY CAME OUT A LITTLE BIT UNHAPPY.
UM, AND SO THAT JUST MEANS THAT WE HAVE MORE WORK TO DO AND HOPEFULLY SOME GOOD THINGS WERE ACCOMPLISHED THERE.
BUT IF THAT'S AN, UH, AN ISSUE OF INTEREST TO YOU, UH, PLEASE DO LET US KNOW.
'CAUSE THERE'LL BE A LOT GOING ON THERE IN THE INTERIM.
E TJS, UM, AND UTILITIES HOMELESSNESS.
UM, THESE ARE ALL PROVIDED IN THE MEMO.
WHAT I WANNA SKIP TO IS TO TALK HIT JUST VERY HIGH LEVEL, UM, SOME OF THE TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE RELATED LEGISLATION.
UM, IF THERE ARE ANY REALLY HARD QUESTIONS OR MY BRAIN ISN'T WORKING, I'M HAPPY TO DO SOME FOLLOW UP LATER.
UM, UH, WITH THE COMMISSION, UM, YOU ALL KNOW SENATE BILL ONE, IT'S THE BUDGET BILL, IT'S GOTTA PASS AND IT'S GOT EVERYTHING IN IT.
UM, THIS YEAR'S APPROPRIATIONS BILL THAT WAS SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR MAINTAINS TS, UH, TDOT AND TRANSPORTATION FUNDING PROGRAM UP 40 BILLION STATEWIDE.
IS THAT RIGHT, SPENCER? ARE YOU HIDING BACK THERE? UM, STATEWIDE.
IT DOES CONTINUE PATHWAYS FOR CERTAIN LOCAL GRANTS, INCLUDING RAIL SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS.
I WILL PAUSE THERE AND MENTION GRANTS BECAUSE, UM, JUST THE DAY BEFORE I STARTED THE CITY MANAGER CENTRALIZED GRANTS IN MY OFFICE, UM, FOR THE CITY, UM, I HAD GRANTS UNDER ME, UM, IN MY LAST ORGANIZATION.
AND SO, UM, RIGHT WHEN THE SESSION WAS STARTING WAS WHEN THE NEW PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION WAS COMING IN.
UM, AND YOU ALL KNOW, I MEAN, IF YOU WERE READING THE NEWS, AND I ASSUME YOU WERE, UH, THERE WAS AN EXTRAORDINARY AMOUNT OF ATTENTION ON, UH, CUTTING GRANTS, PAUSING GRANTS, UH, RESCINDING FUNDS THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN AWARDED, BUT PERHAPS NOT OBLIGATED.
UM, AND SO JUST AS WE WERE ACROSS THE STREET AT THE CAPITOL IN AUSTIN, WE WERE ALSO WORKING THROUGH THE NIGHT AND RESPONDING TO A LOT OF CONCERNS OUT OF WASHINGTON ON FEDERAL GRANTS, SPECIFICALLY TRANSPORTATION RELATED, AND AUSTIN, UH, PUBLIC HEALTH.
A LOT OF OUR PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY WHAT'S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON.
UM, I MENTIONED THIS TO SAY THAT THE CITY GETS, UM, UM, A GOOD CHUNK OF FUNDING
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THROUGH THE STATE APPROPRIATIONS BUDGET AS A PASS THROUGH.SO WE DON'T GET A TON OF DIRECT FUNDING FROM THE STATE, BUT WE DO GET, I DON'T KNOW, LAST YEAR, MAYBE $300 MILLION IN PASS THROUGH FUNDING.
AND A LOT OF THAT IS TRANSPORTATION, UH, FEMA RELATED IN RESPONSE TO EMERGENCIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
I TOUCHED ON THIS A MOMENT AGO.
THIS WAS REALLY A PART TO, TO A BILL THAT WAS FILED AND PASSED IN THE 2015 SESSION WHEN AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES WERE FIRST STARTING TO APPEAR.
AND, UH, QUICKLY THE LEGISLATURE REALIZED, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING WHILE WE'RE, UH, CONSIDERING AND, AND PILOTING THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY.
AND SO, UM, THEY PUT TOGETHER SOME REGULATIONS AT THAT TIME BASED ON THE INFORMATION THEY HAD AT THAT TIME.
AND NOW THAT AVS HAVE BEEN, UM, IN CIRCULATION FOR SOME TIME.
UM, SENATE BILL 28, WELL, ACTUALLY SENATE BILL 24 25 WAS FILED AND IT ENDED UP GETTING AMENDED ONTO SENATE BILL 28 0 7.
UM, BUT PUTS IN PLACE, UM, ADDITIONAL, UH, GUARDRAILS RELATED TO AVS.
UM, THOSE, UH, REGULATIONS WILL COME THROUGH DMV.
AND SO, LIKE ANY STATE REGULATION, THEY HAVE TO ADOPT NEW RULEMAKING.
UH, IT DOES NOT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.
AND SO, UM, ON JULY 10TH, I BELIEVE, UM, THE DMV BOARD IS GOING TO, IS EXPECTED TO CONSIDER AN ITEM WHERE THEY WILL AUTHORIZE STAFF TO PUBLISH DRAFT RULEMAKING RELATED TO AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES.
AND, UM, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH DMV ACTUALLY OVER THE LAST WEEK, AND OUR TRANSPORTATION STAFF HERE AND AUSTIN, UH, UH, POLICE DEPARTMENT AS WELL, TO PROVIDE COMMENTS BACK ON EVEN THE DRAFT RULES.
SO WE GOT AN ADVANCE COPY OF THE DRAFT RULES, UM, BEFORE THEY GET PUBLISHED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
UH, BUT WHAT I WILL TELL YOU IS WE WILL ALSO SUBMIT FORMAL PUBLIC COMMENTS.
UM, AND SO IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, UH, THE UTC IS INTERESTED IN DOING, OF COURSE, WORK WITH YOUR, UM, TRANSPORTATION LEADERSHIP, BUT WE'LL SUBMIT SOMETHING ON BEHALF OF THE CITY AS THOSE FORMAL COMMENTS.
THE AV RULES ARE EXPECTED TO BE ADOPTED BY DECEMBER ONE.
I THINK THE LEGISLATION CALLS FOR A DECEMBER ONE ADOPTION DATE, AND THEY'LL TAKE EFFECT OR ARE ANTICIPATED.
THEY ARE ANTICIPATED TO TAKE EFFECT 90 DAYS AFTER THAT, SO SOMETIME IN MARCH.
UM, FOR ANYONE WHO MAY HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT, UM, THE LACK OF REGULATION FOR AVS, UH, WHILE THE RULEMAKING IS IN PROCESS, REMEMBER WE HAVE THE BILL FROM 2015 THAT DOES HAVE SOME GUARDRAILS FOR THEM.
AND THEN OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, MOVING VIOLATIONS FOR ANY VEHICLES ARE STILL, STILL SUBJECT TO ENFORCEMENT BY, UH, UM, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE POLICE AND DPS AS WELL, OF COURSE.
UM, STATE AI REGULATIONS, SENATE BILL 1964, WHICH ESTABLISHES A, A STATE LOCAL AI GOVERNANCE FRAMEWORK REGARDING INVENTORIES, UM, ALIGNED STANDARDS, UM, AND HOW LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CAN USE AI.
UM, THERE WAS A BILL THAT WAS, UM, UM, THERE WAS A, A WORKING GROUP THAT MET IN THE INTERIM, AND IT WAS CHAIRED BY REPRESENTATIVE CAPONE OUT OF NORTH TEXAS, AND SENATOR TAN PARKER PARKER, ALSO OUT OF NORTH TEXAS, UM, WHERE THEY BROUGHT IN SEVERAL CITIES, INCLUDING THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TO HEAR ABOUT HOW WE'RE USING AI BECAUSE WE ARE, OF COURSE, UM, UM, A HIGHLY SOPHISTICATED CITY IN HOW WE USE TECHNOLOGY.
UM, AND SO WE HAD BEEN INVITED TO COME WAY IN THERE.
AND, UH, I ACTUALLY WAS JUST EMAILING WITH STAFF TODAY ABOUT THE NEXT STEPS IN TERMS OF OPERATIONAL OPERATIONALIZING THAT NEW LEGISLATION, RAIL SAFETY, UM, SENATE BILL 1555 AND SENATE BILL 2129 CREATES A T GRANT PROGRAM FOR, UH, RAILROAD GRADES SEPARATIONS.
WE LOVE RAILROAD GRADES, SEPARATIONS, UH, FOR MOBILITY AND SAFETY PURPOSES.
AND SO, UM, AS THIS GRANT PROGRAM GETS STOOD UP, AND THERE ARE PROJECTS THAT ARE IDENTIFIED BY OUR, UM, UH, TRANSPORTATION PUBLIC WORKS TEAM WILL WORK COLLECTIVELY, UH, TO PURSUE THOSE FUNDS.
IT ALSO INCREASES PENALTIES FOR IGNORING RAILROAD CROSSING SIGNALS.
UM, THERE WAS A, UH, NEA TERMINATION, UM, THE FEDERAL GRANT FUNDING CUTS, UH, DID IMPACT THE, OUR FUTURE 35 ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM.
THERE WAS A $75,000 CUT TO THAT GRANT PROGRAM.
UM, SO WATCH FOR THAT AND POTENTIAL, UM, CONTINUED IMPACTS.
UM, I WILL TELL YOU, JUST AS A GENERAL NOTE, OVERALL, THE GOVERNOR SIGNED ABOUT 1200 BILLS.
AND THIS IS, UM, ABOUT THE AVERAGE NUMBER THAT IS SIGNED EVERY SESSION GOING BACK 40 OR 50 YEARS.
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AND ALL THAT TELLS YOU IS THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO HANDLE WHAT IT CAN HANDLE SO THEY CAN FILE 15,000 BILLS.THANK GOD THEY DID NOT, IT WAS 9,000 BILLS THIS SESSION.
UH, BUT, BUT THEY COULD, BUT THEY COULD FILE 15,000 BILLS, BUT JUST, NO, PROBABLY ONLY GONNA GET AROUND TO ABOUT 1200 BILLS.
IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT 1200 BILLS, UH, WAY BACK TO BEFORE I WAS BORN.
UH, OKAY, WE TALKED ABOUT PENSION FORM, LAND USE WATER.
LET ME JUST MAKE SURE I'M COVERING.
UM, I THINK THE CITY WAS TRACKING ABOUT 14 OR 1500 BILLS SPECIFICALLY.
UM, AND ULTIMATELY ABOUT 330 SOME ODD, ODD BILLS THAT IMPACT THE CITY, UH, WERE PASSED.
UM, AND SO BACK TO WHAT I SAID AT THE BEGINNING, WHERE WORKING WITH OUR DEPARTMENTS, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE NEXT STEPS ARE AND WHAT THEY NEED TO BE DOING IN TERMS OF INCORPORATING SOME OF THESE CHANGES, WHETHER IT'S JUST AN INTERNAL PRACTICE OR POLICY, OR IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO COME FORWARD FOR CITY COUNCIL.
I DO KNOW THAT THE LAW DEPARTMENT INDICATED, UM, FOR THOSE ITEMS THAT WILL COME FORWARD TO CITY COUNCIL, IT WILL BE NOTED AS SUCH.
SO IN THE REMARKS, IT WILL SAY, PURSUANT TO SENATE BILL 1555, UH, YOU KNOW, THE FOLLOWING ACTION IS BEING BROUGHT FORWARD TO CITY COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION.
SO THAT WAY IT WILL BE EVIDENT THAT IT'S SOMETHING, UM, AS A RESULT OF, UH, THE 89TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
UM, I DO WANNA, OF COURSE NOT JUST 'CAUSE SPENCER'S SITTING HERE.
UM, WE HAVE A FANTASTIC LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION AND THEY REALLY, UM, STOOD OUT AND FOUGHT HARD FOR THE CITY THIS YEAR.
I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO SAY IT WAS BECAUSE THEY WERE WELL EQUIPPED WITH INFORMATION, UM, BY A VERY CAPABLE TEAM, NOT JUST OUR IGR TEAM, BUT WE RELY ON OUR DEPARTMENTS.
UM, I SAY THIS ALL THE TIME TO OUR, OUR PEER DEPARTMENTS.
WE DON'T CREATE ANYTHING ORIGINAL IN IGR.
EVERYTHING THAT WE DO IS FOR OUR DEPARTMENTS, PERIOD, THE END.
AND SO ANYTHING THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET DONE IS REALLY A REFLECTION OF THE SUPPORT THAT THEY HAD FOR THAT EFFORT.
AND SO WE REALLY ENCOURAGE OUR DEPARTMENTS TO, UM, SPEAK UP AND IF THEY HEAR ABOUT A BILL, NOT TO ASSUME THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HEARD IT ALL.
'CAUSE REMEMBER THERE WERE 9,000 BILLS, UM, TO LET US KNOW IF WE GLOSSED OVER SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, TO, TO SPEAK UP AND SAY, HEY, HAVE YOU HEARD THAT THIS IS WHAT'S GOING ON? AND WE, YOU KNOW, OFFER THE SAME, UH, TO OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AS WELL.
SO WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN THIS ISSUE, AND I THANK YOU AGAIN FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY, AND I'M PLEASED TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE INFORMATIVE PRESENTATION.
I'LL LOOK AROUND TO OUR COMMISSIONERS AND SEE IF ANYONE HAS A QUESTION FOR MS. ROGERS.
YEAH, COMMISSIONER ALVAREZ, I JUST HAD, I JUST HAD ONE QUESTION IN REGARDS TO THE AV AND WHEN DMV COMES OUT, WHAT IS THE DATE? CAN YOU REMIND ME KIND OF THAT TIMEFRAME IF WE WANT IT AS A GROUP TO SUBMIT YES.
SO THE DMV BOARD WILL MEET JULY 10TH, JULY 10TH AT 9:00 AM IN THE MORNING.
AND WHAT THE BOARD WILL DO, THIS IS, I'M JUST, YOU KNOW, BASED ON PRIOR EXPERIENCE AND CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM, THE BOARD, LIKE ANY OTHER BILL, THEY HAVE TO AUTHORIZE STAFF TO GO PUBLISH THE RULE MAKING.
SO THE, THE RULE MAKING WILL BE POSTED IN THE REGISTER, YOU KNOW, WITHIN TWO DAYS OR SO, YOU KNOW, GIVE 'EM A WEEK AT WORST CASE, UM, AFTER THAT PARTICULAR BOARD MEETING, THE RULES WILL BE POSTED FOR PROBABLY, UM, 30, 60, 90 DAYS.
THEY'LL, THEY'LL, UH, NOTICE THAT, UH, WHEN THE DMV BOARD AGENDA IS PO, I MEAN, IT'LL PROBABLY BE POSTED BY THE, IT'LL HAVE TO BE POSTED BY THE END OF THIS WEEK.
UM, AND WE WILL SEE WHATEVER THE MATERIALS SAY, WHAT THE POSTING PERIOD IS, IT CAN BE AS SHORT AS 30 DAYS.
UM, BUT THE LEGISLATION SAYS THAT THEY HAVE TO, UM, ADOPT THE NEW RULEMAKING NO LATER THAN DECEMBER ONE.
NOW, THAT AIN'T THE EFFECTIVE DATE, THAT'S THE DATE THEY WILL ADOPT IT.
AND SO THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THOSE NEW, NEW RULES, I UNDERSTAND, ARE PROPOSED TO BE 90 DAYS AFTER THAT ADOPTION DATE.
SO I WOULD SAY BETWEEN JULY 10TH, UM, AND THEN SOMEWHERE 30 TO 60 DAYS AFTER THAT IS WHEN YOU WOULD SUBMIT COMMENTS.
UM, SO AS I UNDERSTAND FOR APPROPRIATING MONEY FOR TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS AROUND THE STATE, THAT IS, I MIGHT BETRAY SOME IGNORANCE HERE, BUT IT'S A BIG BLOCK OF MONEY.
AT WHAT POINT THE UNIFIED TRANSPORTATION PLAN FROM THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT WILL DIVVY IT UP.
LIKE IT'S, WE'RE NOT GETTING, UM, WE'RE NOT GETTING A DETAILED BUDGET OUT OF THE TRANSPORTATION FUNDING THAT WAS ALLOCATED IN THIS SESSION, ARE WE? UM, THERE WILL NOT BE A DETAILED BUDGET.
UM, THERE'LL BE SOME LEVEL OF DETAIL, AND
[00:30:01]
FEEL FREE TO CORRECT ME, SPENCER, BUT YOU'RE REALLY TALKING MY LANGUAGE.SO, SO YOU ALL, I ASSUME KNOW, AND IF YOU HAVE, IF YOU HAVEN'T, PLEASE TELL ME.
UM, BUT ANY REGION HAS TO PUT TOGETHER THEIR OWN, UH, TRANSPORTATION, UH, AND, UH, IMPROVEMENT PLAN, THEIR TIP, AND IT ALL FEEDS UP INTO THE STIP.
UM, AND THEN THE STIP IS BROUGHT FOR, I KNOW, IN THAT ONE.
UM, AND SO THE, THE STIP IS WHERE ALL THE GRANULAR INFORMATION IS BROUGHT FORWARD TO CITY COUNCIL.
I MEAN, TO, EXCUSE ME, THE TEXAS TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION, UM, IN APPROPRIATIONS WITHIN TRANSPORTATION ITSELF, THERE ARE 12 DIFFERENT CATEGORIES.
SOME IS FORMULA FUNDING, SOME IS GRANT-BASED, SOME IS, UH, UM, UH, DISCRETIONARY.
AND THAT'S WHERE, UM, IF THERE, IF THEY STILL DO THAT, UM, IF THERE'S ANY ROOM TO LOBBY SOMETHING OUTSIDE, WHAT IS FORMULA FUNDING? IT'S REALLY THROUGH THOSE CATEGORY 12 FUNDS.
UM, BUT THE COMMISSION REALLY HAS ITS OWN DISCRETION IN HOW MUCH THEY PUT INTO CATEGORY 12.
UM, BUT UM, FOR ANYTHING TO GET FUNDED, IT HAS TO BE, UM, ON THE STEP AND TO BE ON THE STEP, IT HAS TO BE FUNDED, IT HAS TO BE FISCALLY CONSTRAINED AS THEY SAY.
UM, AND SO, AND JIM, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANNA CLEAN THIS UP, BUT, UM, BUT I WOULD HAVE, YOU KNOW, MY FIRST LOOK WOULD BE AT THE STATEWIDE TRANSPORTATION, UM, IMPROVEMENT PLAN, THE STEP FOR THOSE, THOSE DETAILS.
AND THEY DO 'EM EVERY, I MEAN, THEY'RE UPDATED, BUT THEY DO 'EM LIKE AT FIVE YEAR INCREMENTS.
SO FOR PLANNING PURPOSES, ET CETERA.
WE ALSO ARE ABLE TO AMEND OUR LOCAL TIP AND HAVE THAT FEED INTO THE, THE STEP DURING THE RENEWAL CYCLES AS WELL.
BUT YOU YEAH, IT'S NOT LOCKED IN.
UM, BUT IF THERE'S SOME BIG WINDFALL, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE OBAMA INFRASTRUCTURE MONEY THAT CAME IN, UH, 2009, WHERE IT WAS ALL ABOUT SHOVEL READY, YOU KNOW, IF SOMETHING CAME FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY, UM, AND A PROJECT WAS READY, I WOULD IMAGINE THAT TXDOT AND THE PARTNERS WOULD BE WILLING TO AMEND.
IT DOESN'T HAPPEN OFTEN, THOUGH.
BECAUSE WE'VE ALWAYS JUST GONE TO THE COMMISSION FOR HOW THEY ALLOCATE THAT MONEY AND NOT TO THE LEGISLATURE.
I THINK THERE WAS A QUESTION ONLINE.
ANY QUESTIONS FROM THOSE ONLINE? YES.
LOOKS LIKE COMMISSIONER BUFFO.
OH, IS SHE ON MUTE? WE CANNOT HEAR YOU.
VERN, CAN YOU HEAR HER? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO TELL US? YOU CAN HEAR HER.
WHAT'S THE AUDIO SOURCE SET? TWO.
CAN YOU CHANGE THE AUDIO SOURCE, THE, THOSE ONLINE? JUST PATIENCE WITH US.
IF THERE'S A QUESTION, WE'LL COME BACK TO COMMISSIONER BUFFO FOR SURE.
WHEN WE HAVE AUDIO, IS THERE ANY OTHER ONE, ANYONE IN THE ROOM WHO HAS A QUESTION THAT WE COULD ADDRESS? UM, ONE MORE QUESTION.
I KNOW, UH, MAYBE I SHOULD JUST ASK SPENCER AFTER, BUT I HAVE YOU HERE IN FRONT OF US.
UM, ANYTHING ON HANDS FREE, ANYTHING ON SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS, ANY DESIGN ELEMENT REGULATIONS OF OUR ROADS OR SPEEDS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, THAT MANAGED TO GET THROUGH THIS SESSION? UM, WELL, THOSE, UH, WOULD ALL BE LOCAL, UM, DECISIONS.
RE ARE YOU TALKING REGARDING OUR OWN ROADS? UM, BUT HANDS FREE.
WELL, WE'RE, WE'RE CONSTRAINED ON THAT.
WHAT? WE'RE CONSTRAINED ON HOW MUCH WE CAN REGULATE HANDS FREE HERE.
I, UM, I DON'T THINK THAT THERE WAS A BILL FILED THIS SESSION UNLESS IT, UH, WENT PAST ME, BUT THERE WAS ONE FILED, UM, IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY SESSION, THE 10 SESSIONS PRIOR.
UM, BUT IF THERE WAS ONE OUT THERE, IT, IT WASN'T ONE THAT WE WERE WORKING.
I'LL LOOK AND, AND CIRCLE BACK.
IT'S NOT TO SAY WE DON'T MISS STUFF, YOU KNOW, I AM JUST GONNA
[00:35:01]
CHECK WITH OUR STAFF IF YOU HAVE AN UPDATE ON THE, SO THEY CAN HEAR ONE ANOTHER.FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND ON THE COMPUTERS, IT'S HERE THAT WE'RE HAVING ISSUES WITH THEM COMING INTO US.
I GUESS WHILE, WE'LL WAIT, I'LL JUST, I'LL JUST MAKE UP A QUESTION HERE.
IT IS KIND OF A QUESTION, MAYBE IT'S A COMMENT.
I WOULD SAY WITH THE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S INTERESTING IS THAT, OH, HEY, MAYBE WE'RE, WE'RE HERE.
COMMISSIONER BUFFO, CAN YOU SAY SOMETHING? NO.
WITH THE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A CRUCIAL INTERLOCK BETWEEN TR HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION.
SO IF WE WANNA MEET OUR TRANSPORTATION GOALS IN TERMS OF, UM, HIGH RIDERSHIP AND REDUCING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE DRIVING ALONE TO, UH, TO WORK, WE HAD A PUBLIC COMMENTER THAT, UH, MENTIONED THAT TODAY, UM, WHICH IS A GOAL IN THE AUSTIN STRATEGIC MOBILITY PLAN.
UM, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ALLOW A LOT OF DENSE HOUSING AROUND TRANSIT MM-HMM
SO, I MEAN, SOME OF THE BILLS DO DIFFERENT THINGS, LIKE SOME OF THEM, LIKE SB 15 FOR EXAMPLE, IS REALLY LIKE GREENFIELD DEVELOPMENT, LIKE UNPLANNED LAND, AND LIKE HOW DO WE DO THOSE THINGS? BUT I THINK THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT ARE INTERESTING THERE, LIKE THE, THE RESIDENTIAL BUY RIGHT? AND NON-RESIDENTIAL BASE ZONES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT
BUT SOME OF THE THINGS IN MY VIEW ULTIMATELY DO SORT OF HELP OUR GOALS OF INCREASING DENSITY AROUND TRANSPORTATION OR UNLOCKING, UM, MORE DENSE HOUSING OPTIONS.
SO IT'S, IT'S KIND OF TRICKY, LIKE SOMETIMES THESE ISSUES, I THINK, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT CITY PRIORITY MAY BE ONE WAY, BUT, BUT LIKE, THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF COMPLEXITY THERE IN HOW, IN TERMS OF HOW PEOPLE THINK ABOUT IT, WHO MAY BE ON THE SAME SIDE POLITICALLY ON OTHER ISSUES.
SO, UM, IT'S REAL TRICKY, I THINK.
BUT, UM, I DO THINK THAT, UM, I KNOW THAT, UM, THINGS LIKE DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS AND, AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE ARE DEFINITELY THINGS THAT ARE LOOKED AT LEGISLATIVELY.
I WONDERED IF, COULD YOU COMMENT? I, I THOUGHT I UNDERSTOOD THAT, LIKE PRO DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS, UM, WHICH RELATE TO A LOT OF THINGS IN AUSTIN ON OUR TRANSIT CORRIDORS DOWNTOWN AND VARIOUS OTHER, UH, SPECIAL DISTRICTS THAT WE HAVE, SOME OF WHICH ARE ALSO MORE TRANSIT ACCESSIBLE DISTRICTS.
UM, CAN YOU COMMENT ON LIKE WHAT HAPPENED TO DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS MAYBE? YEAH.
SO, UM, THE LEGISLATION THAT WE, UM, I THINK FIRST ENCOUNTERED AND SPENT A LOT OF TIME WORKING ON WAS SENATE BILL EIGHT 40 BY SENATOR HUGHES.
AND THIS IS A BILL THAT, UM, PER THE AUTHOR, UM, AND THOSE WHO WILL SAY BEHIND THE BILL, UM, WERE INTENDING TO DO, WAS TO ALLOW CONVERSION OF COMMERCIAL OR OFFICE PROPERTY TO RESIDENTIAL BUY, RIGHT? THERE'S ACTUALLY NOT A TON OF PROPERTY THAT, UH, WOULD BE SUBJECT TO THAT.
UM, THERE IS ONE SUCCESS, THIS IS AS WAS TOLD TODAY, COMMISSIONER IS ONLINE, CAN HEAR US.
UM, BUT THERE IS ONE SUCCESSFUL, UM, OFFICE TO RESIDENTIAL CONVERSION IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT IT IS? WHENEVER YOU'ALL? IT'S THE BROWN BUILDING DOWNTOWN.
IF YOU COULD TRY TO, IF ANYONE COULD TRY TO TEST THEIR MIC SEVEN AT SEVENTH AND COLORADO.
I DON'T THINK WE FIXED THE ISSUE.
JUST WANNA MAKE SURE DURING SESSION.
UM, SO THAT BILL WAS EXCLUSIVELY INTENDED, AND WE HAVE A LETTER FROM THE SENATOR THAT IT WAS INTENDED FOR COMMERCIAL PROPERTY, UM, TO CONVERT TO RESIDENTIAL.
UM, THERE WERE SOME THINGS THAT WE ENDED UP GETTING WORKED INTO THERE.
ONE, TO PUT AN INDUSTRIAL BUFFER ZONE.
SO IF YOU HAD SOME COOL WAREHOUSE ON THE EDGE OF TOWN THAT YOU WANTED TO TURN INTO LOFTS, UH, IF IT'S ACROSS THE STREET FROM A CEMENT KILN, UM, PROBABLY NOT A GOOD IDEA.
UM, BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS, EVEN THOUGH THE DEVELOPER WHOMEVER WOULD DO THAT CONVERSION, IT'S ULTIMATELY THE CITY WHO GETS THE PHONE CALLS FOR, UM, FOR WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THAT PROPERTY.
AND SO WE ENDED UP GETTING THAT IN THERE.
UM, UM, AFTER A LONG HARD, UH, BATTLE, WE ENDED UP GETTING THEM TO REMOVE ALL THE NO FEES LANGUAGE.
UM, BUT PARTICULARLY TO DENSITY BONUS, THIS WAS A CONCERN OF EVERYONE THAT WE SPOKE TO WAS LOSING THAT DENSITY BONUS TOOL.
UM, AND SO THE AUTHOR AGREED TO PUT SOMETHING EXPLICITLY IN THERE THAT THIS DID NOT IMPACT, UM, LOCAL GOVERNMENT'S DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS, UM, SENATE BILL EIGHT 40, ALONG WITH ANOTHER BILL.
UM, THE, AND THIS JUST HAPPENED, THIS TRULY IS JUST, SOMETIMES IT IS JUST HOW THINGS HAPPEN DEPENDING ON WHO'S WRITING THE BILL AND WHATEVER.
UH, BUT THERE WERE SOME DRAFTING ISSUES RELATED TO THE BILL AND HOW THE APPLICABILITY LANGUAGE WAS INCLUDED.
AND SO WE'RE WORKING THROUGH SOME CH WE WERE ABLE TO FIX IT ON SENATE BILL 15,
[00:40:01]
UM, UH, BUT SENATE BILL EIGHT 40, WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH HOW WE'RE GONNA OPERATIONALIZE THAT BECAUSE THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF AMBIGUITY ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT IT IS APPLICABLE ONLY TO COMMERCIAL.WE KNOW WHAT THE AUTHOR SAID WE HAVE IN WRITING WHAT THE AUTHOR INTENDED FOR IT TO BE.
UM, BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT THE LANGUAGE THAT ENDED UP IN THE FINAL BILL REFLECTS WHAT THE AUTHOR INTENDED.
AND SO THERE WILL BE OPPORTUNITIES AS THERE ARE WITH ALL BILLS, UM, TO GO BACK AND DO CLEANUP, UM, WITH THAT.
BUT I AGREE, AND I ALWAYS SAY I, LIKE I SAID, I'VE BEEN WORKING TRANSPORTATION FOR 25 YEARS.
UM, IT IS AN ISSUE THAT AFFECTS ABSOLUTELY EVERYONE.
AND YOU SPEAK TO SENATE BILL 15 THAT, UM, AS ORIGINALLY FILED, WOULD'VE ALLOWED, UM, UM, ALL PROPERTIES IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO BE, UM, NO BIGGER THAN 3000 SQUARE FEET.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE CAUGHT IT AND WERE ABLE TO FIX IT BECAUSE THEIR INTENT, UM, AS THEY INDICATED TO US, WAS FOR IT TO APPLY TO GREENFIELD, UM, ON UN PLATTED LAND.
SO NOT IN THE MIDDLE OF TOWN, BUT MAYBE OUT, UM, UM, IN SOME OF THAT GREENFIELD AREA.
HOWEVER, HOW ARE THEY GETTING THERE? WHAT IS THE TRANSPORTATION, THE, THE MODE OF MOBILITY TO GET TO THOSE, UM, UM, TO THOSE HOUSING UNITS THAT WILL ULTIMATELY BE BUILT? AND YEAH.
IS IT, IS IT THE CASE THEN THAT THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE IN CENTRAL AUSTIN IS NOW LARGER THAN THAT, THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED ON UNPLED LAND NEW? THAT IS NEW BEING NEWLY PLATTED? NO, WE'RE DOWN TO 1800 FROM HOME TWO.
I DON'T, I'M LIKE BEHIND ON THIS, ON, UH, SF ONE THROUGH THREE.
UM, I'M PRETTY SURE, UH, EIGHT 40 ONLY.
I DON'T, UH, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, I THINK IT'S A 45 FOOT HEIGHT LIMIT, THOUGH.
SO IF I, WE HAVE A DENSITY BONUS THAT'S AT 90 FEET WHEN WATCH FOR THE BRIEFING COMMISSIONER
BUT YES, I THINK THERE ARE SOME, UM, ELEMENTS OF OUR, UM, ORDINANCES THAT WE WERE ABLE TO MAINTAIN.
AGAIN, WE JUST CAMPED OUT IN THE AUTHOR'S OFFICE FOR ALL 140 DAYS DURING THE SESSION.
UM, BUT AGAIN, I THINK THERE'S SOME THAT JUST HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE, UM, YOU KNOW, MORE THAN A DOZEN SETS OF HANDS IN A BILL AND THEY HAD, UM, A DOZEN BILLS FILE THAT ALL DID SOME VARIATION OF THIS EXACT SAME THING.
AND SO JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THOSE MATCH BY THE END.
AND I THINK THIS IS ONE WHERE SOME CLEANUP WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED.
AND THE, I, THE, THE ISSUES ARE DOWNTOWN DENSITY IS THAT WE HAVE, WE'RE SORT OF ROBBED OF THE TOOL OF FAR, UH, TO USE AS A NEGOTIATING TACTIC, WHICH ENDED UP BEING LIKE, NOT AS IMPORTANT OUTSIDE OF THE CBD DISTRICT.
BUT NOW FOR OUR DOWNTOWN DENSITY, WE DON'T HAVE THE FAR TO OFFER THEM OR NOT, SO.
I'D LIKE TO CHECK, ARE ARE ONLINE PEOPLE ABLE TO SAY ANYTHING YET? IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH THAT ISSUE.
HEY, I'M ALREADY HERE PEOPLE, NOW I CAN HEAR YOU.
COMMISSIONER BUFFET, PLEASE ASK YOUR QUESTION.
UM, UM, I'M AFRAID THERE, IT'S NOT GONNA LIVE UP TO THE SEGMENT OF THE MOMENT.
UM, ARE THE TIP AND THE STIP RELATED TO THE RTP? SO THAT'S THE, THE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN FROM CAMPO THAT'S UPDATED EVERY FIVE YEARS? YEAH, THAT'S UNRELATED TO THE TIP AND THE STIP THAT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER.
UM, YEAH, I MEAN, I WOULD SAY IT'S ANOTHER LAYER OF IT, AND IT DEPENDS ON THE REGION, BUT YES, A REGION PUTS ALL REGIONS PUT TOGETHER THEIR OWN MOBILITY PLAN.
UM, AND SO THERE'S PROBABLY SOME OVERLAP.
IT WOULD SURPRISE ME IF YOU SAW SOMETHING IN ONE THAT WASN'T IN THE OTHER.
'CAUSE USUALLY US TRANSPORTATION NERDS RUN TOGETHER AND WE'RE, WE ALL SERVE IN THE SAME GROUP AND ARE IN THE SAME MEETINGS.
BUT YES, I WOULD ASSUME THAT IT'S THE SAME.
SO THE, THE STIP AND THE TIP TIP IS THE STATE FEED INTO THE STATE, AND THEN THE R THE CAMPO RTP FEEDS MORE INTO FEDERAL FUNDING.
BUT PRESUMABLY SOME PROJECTS COULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR BOTH, BOTH FUNDING SOURCES.
AM I UNDERSTANDING THAT CORRECTLY? YEAH, EVERYTHING GOES BACK TO FEDERAL FUNDING.
AND SO, UM, SO YES, EVERYTHING FEEDS UP AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL, WHATEVER YOU WANNA CALL IT.
IT ALL HAS TO COME TO THE STATE.
THE STATE SUBMITS THAT TO U-S-D-O-T, UM, AND USD DOES SOME MATH TO CALCULATE, UM, FORMULA FUNDING, ET CETERA, THAT COMES BACK TO EACH STATE.
UM, I THINK WE'RE STILL A DONOR STATE, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY.
[00:45:01]
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN, A DONOR STATE? UM, WE PAY MORE INTO THE GOVERNMENT THAN WHAT WE GET BACK.UM, THEY HAVE NOT, UM, RAISED THE, THE GAS TAX, UM, SINCE 1991, I THINK.
AND SO AT THE STATE LEVEL IT'S 20 CENTS.
UM, AND AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL IT IS 18 AND A HALF CENTS.
AND AGAIN, THIS WAS LAST CHANGED IN THE EARLY NINETIES.
SO YOU THINK, UH, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO WERE ALIVE IN THE EARLY NINETIES, IF YOU HAD TO LIVE OFF YOUR 1991 PAYCHECK TODAY, UH, PROBABLY WOULDN'T GO VERY FAR.
AND THEN MY OTHER QUESTION WAS, YOU SAID THAT THERE WERE 9,000 BILLS FILED AND 1200 WERE SIGNED.
HOW MANY BILLS WERE, UM, PASSED THAT ARE GOING ALONG WITHOUT THE GOVERNOR'S SIGNATURE? OH, WE DO HAVE THAT NUMBER.
WHERE IS THAT? UM, I HAVE THAT NUMBER SOMEWHERE.
UM, CAN I GET THAT TO YOU? UM, YEAH, BECAUSE I KNOW WE DO HAVE IT.
I'M SOMEWHERE IT'S GLOBAL IF YOU OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD.
IF MY STAFF IS ONLINE LISTENING, PLEASE CHIME IN.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I SEE NONE.
WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING OUT TONIGHT.
[3. Discussion on and adoption of the Urban Transportation Commission Annual Report. Facilitator: Susan Somers]
COMMISSIONERS, THAT TAKES THIS INTO OUR DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS, BEGINNING WITH ITEM NUMBER THREE, WHICH IS DISCUSSION ON AN ADOPTION OF THE URBAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION ANNUAL REPORT.AND I'LL FACILITATE THIS ITEM.
SO I, UH, WE DID DISCUSS THIS AT OUR LAST MEETING, MAINLY AROUND WHAT WE WANTED TO LIST FOR OUR GOALS FOR THE NEXT YEAR.
SO HOPEFULLY I ACCURATELY CAPTURED THAT.
LET ME JUST GUIDE YOU THROUGH, UM, UH, I GUESS, UH, I'LL GUIDE YOU THROUGH THIS DOCUMENT, THEN I'LL, UM, MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE IT AND THEN, UM, WE CAN DISCUSS, UH, DISCUSS IT, ANY EDITS THAT ARE NEEDED.
SO, UM, THIS REPORT IS REQUIRED BY CITY STATUTE, UH, THAT WE DO AS A CITY OF AUSTIN BOARD COMMISSION, THAT WE DO SUBMIT A REPORT.
THE COMMISSION COVERS THE PERIOD FROM JULY 1ST, 2024 TO, UH, JUNE 30TH, 2025.
AND THAT'S, UH, DEFINED IN THE LAW.
UM, SO THE FIRST PORTION OF THE, UH, REPORT IS, IS FOR IT TO, UH, LIST OUR MISSION STATEMENT AND SORT OF, UH, OUR INFORMATION FROM THE CITY CHARTER.
SO THAT IS JUST CAPTURED THERE.
THAT'S REALLY JUST A COPY PASTE.
UM, SO YOU'RE WELCOME TO CHECK THAT OUT.
THE SUBSTANTIVE ITEMS INCLUDE THE, UH, BOARD'S ACTIONS, UM, WHICH INCLUDE THE BOARD'S, UH, THINGS THAT WE HEARD, UM, FROM THE PRESENTATIONS AND OUR RECOMMENDATIONS.
SO YOU COULD SEE, UH, I WENT BACK THROUGH ALL OF OUR MEETINGS AND THERE'S LISTED AS, UM, OUR PRESENTATIONS ARE LISTED AND OUR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE LISTED THERE AS WELL.
UM, AND THEN, UM, WE ALSO HAVE SOME OTHER ACTIONS TAKEN.
THOSE TYPES OF OTHER ACTIONS ARE THINGS LIKE ADOPTING OUR MEETING CALENDAR, OUR OFFICER ELECTIONS, APPOINTMENTS FROM THIS BODY TO OTHER GOVERNMENTAL BODIES, UM, SUCH AS THE JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
UM, ARE, UM, VACATIONS OF RIGHT AWAY, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
SO YOU CAN CHECK THROUGH THAT.
UM, AND THEN, UH, I'M ASKED TO DETERMINE IF THE BOARD'S ACTIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR COMPLY WITH THE MISSION STATEMENT.
AND I, YOU'LL BE HAPPY TO KNOW THAT I HAVE DECIDED THAT WE DID COMPLY WITH OUR MISSION STATEMENT.
SO, UM, AND THEN, UH, I LIST OUR GOALS FOR THE NEXT YEAR.
AND SO I'LL JUST READ THIS PART.
I THINK IN SOME SENSE THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART.
CERTAINLY IF YOU NOTICE LIKE AN ERROR IN FELICITY IN THE PRIOR PROCEEDING TEXT, THAT'S IMPORTANT TO FIX TOO.
BUT, UM, LET ME JUST READ THIS PART OUT.
SO IT SAYS, A COMMISSION HAS A STRONG INTEREST IN A HIGH CAPACITY TRANSIT NETWORK, ROBUST ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION, ABUNDANT FUNDING FOR PROPER, PROPER MAINTENANCE OF TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES, AND GENERALLY IN PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES TO REDUCE SINGLE OCCUPANCY VEHICLE DEPENDENCY.
AND THE COMING YEAR, THE COMMISSION HAS SET SEVERAL GOALS AND WILL WEIGH IN ON ALL TRANSPORTATION PLANS, POLICIES AND PROGRAMS IMPACTING THE CITY OF AUSTIN, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING PROJECT CONNECT, INCLUDING THE ONGOING AUSTIN LIGHT RAIL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY I 35 CAPITAL EXPRESS PROJECTS, THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE COMMISSION AND THE CITY'S BICYCLE ADVISORY COUNCIL AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COUNCIL, UPDATING THE COMMISSION BYLAWS, POSSIBLE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE UPDATES, AND THEIR EFFECT ON MOBILITY CITYWIDE.
THIS PROBABLY NEEDS TO EDIT, RE REVIEW PROPOSALS, I THINK NOT REVIEW AND PROPOSED REVIEW PROPOSALS
[00:50:01]
TO THE TRANSPORTATION CRITERIA MANUAL, ESPECIALLY IN REGARD.I MIGHT NEED TO JUST RE WORKSHOP THAT BULLET POINT, ESPECIALLY IN REGARD TO SIDEWALKS AND URBAN TRAILS.
UM, URBAN TRAILS AND ADVANCING THE CONCEPT OF TRAIL ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT, THE 2026 BOND COMPREHEN COMPREHENSIVE BOND PROGRAM, INCLUDING POLICY REGARDING A POSSIBLE TAX RATE ELECTION AND THE TRANSPORTATION USER FEE, OPERATIONAL MAINTENANCE OF CITY TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES AND FUNDING THEREOF, OVERSIGHT OF PRIOR BOND INVESTMENTS AND CONSTRUCTION CAMPO GOVERNANCE PLANNING AND DECISION MAKING AND FREEWAY EXPANSION PROJECTS IN THE AUSTIN REGION.
SO THAT I, I'LL GO AHEAD AND LET Y'ALL SIT WITH THAT, BUT I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ANNUAL REPORT AND THEN WE CAN DISCUSS AND AMEND FROM THERE IF WE, THE MOTION GOES FORWARD.
SECOND FROM VICE CHAIR SCHUMACHER.
I HAVE ALREADY INDICATED WE NEED TO FIX ONE OF MY BULLET POINTS, SO THAT'S FINE.
UM, ANY OTHER, UH, THINGS PEOPLE NOTICE WOULD LIKE TO REVISE, ADD DISCUSSION? UM, I'D LIKE TO PROPOSE AN AMENDMENT HERE.
SO I'LL MOVE TO AMEND OUR LIST AT THE VERY END AND JUST ADD A BULLET POINT OF STAYING UP TO DATE AND REVIEWING PLANS AND CHANGES TO TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES IN SERVICE BY CAPITAL METRO TRANSIT AUTHORITY.
LET ME, STAYING UP TO DATE AND REVIEWING, CAN YOU HELP ME STAYING UP TO DATE AND REVIEWING, UM, INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICE CHANGES BY THE CAPITAL METRO TRANSIT AUTHORITY, INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICE AND SERVICE CHANGES.
TWO OR BY, BY BY THE CAPITAL METRO TRANSIT AUTHORITY.
I JUST NOTICED THAT WE LIKE TO STAY UP WITH CAP METRO AND WE DIDN'T HAVE A BULLET POINT IN THERE.
I'M ACTUALLY HAPPY TO SECOND THAT MOTION.
ANY DISCUSSION? I'LL READ THAT MOTION AGAIN FOR THE RECORD.
STAYING UP TO DATE AND REVIEWING.
SO IT'S TO ADD A BULLET POINT TO THE GOALS LIST, STAYING UP TO DATE AND REVIEWING INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICE CHANGES BY THE CAPITAL METRO TRANSIT AUTHORITY.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THAT AMENDMENT, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY OF THOSE PRESENT.
I'D LIKE TO FIX MY WORDS ABOUT THE TRANSPORTATION CRITERIA MANUAL.
I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT I WAS TRYING TO WRITE THERE.
UM, I THINK WHAT I WAS TRYING TO SAY IS REVIEW AND PROPOSE CHANGES.
SO I THINK WE JUST CHANGE PROPOSED TO PROPOSE AND INSERT THE WORD CHANGES, AND I DON'T THINK WE NEED AN AMENDMENT FOR THAT.
THAT'S JUST A TEXT CHANGE OF AN ERROR.
SO UNLESS ANYONE OBJECTS TO THAT, WE'LL MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT TEXT CHANGE.
UM,
UM, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND.
UM, JUST TO ADD A BULLET POINT AT THE VERY END OF, UH, THE LIST UNDER THREE STATING, UH, VISION ZERO AND REDUCING TRAFFIC FATALITIES, I THINK SAFETY UNDERPINS EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING IN THOSE OTHER CATEGORIES, BUT I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT WE HAVE ONE BULLET POINT SPECIFICALLY DEDICATED TO REDUCING TRAFFIC FATALITIES.
SO THAT'S A, UH, MOTION BY CHAIR, VICE CHAIR SCHUMACHER, AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BUFFO TO ADD A BULLET POINT INTO THE FINAL GOALS LIST TO, UM, UH, JUST VISION ZERO AND REDUCING TRAFFIC FATALITIES DISCUSSION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF ADDING THAT BULLET POINT, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND OR THAT IS CLEARLY UNANIMOUS OF THOSE PRESENT.
FURTHER DISCUSSION AMENDMENTS.
THANK YOU CHAIR FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.
[00:55:01]
PLEASURE.DO WE, UM, DO WE TRACK THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE WENT UP TO CITY COUNCIL AND WHAT WAS KIND OF TAKEN ON FROM CITY COUNCIL FROM BASED OFF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS, DIDN'T KNOW IF WE WANTED TO INCLUDE THAT IN THE REPORT? WE GENERALLY HAVE NOT DONE SO, UH, WHETHER IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO DO SO WOULD PROBABLY BE A GOOD IDEA TO DO SO.
UM, IT'S, UM, IT'S SOMETIME HARD TO KEEP TRACK OF.
I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE COULD CONSIDER AS A FUTURE AGENDA ITEM TO LIKE LOOK THROUGH OUR RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE LAST TWO YEARS AND ANALYZE WHAT WAS DONE WITH THEM, IF ANYTHING.
AND THAT MIGHT TAKE SOME YEAH.
DIGGING AND THINKING ACTUALLY TO UNCOVER THAT IN SOME CASES.
MAYBE NOT THE LAST TWO, MAYBE JUST LAST TWO, MAYBE JUST THE LAST YEAR, BUT YEAH.
I THINK IT WOULD BE A FRUITFUL YEAH.
SO, UM, SOMETIMES THERE ARE SOME, IN MY EXPERIENCE, THERE'S SOME RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE SORT OF SLAP THE BOW OF THE SHIP, YOU KNOW, TO SORT OF MAKE A BIG SOUND, BUT THEY DON'T DO MUCH.
OTHER TIMES WE PROVIDE SOME REALLY CRUCIAL RECOMMENDATIONS THAT REALLY DO CHANGE SOME POLICY.
SO IT CAN KIND OF GO EITHER WAY IN MY EXPERIENCE, BUT HAVING, UM, SORT OF A POSTMORTEM ON SOME OF THAT COULD BE QUITE USEFUL TO US, I THINK.
SO, UM, UH, AND HONESTLY TOO, ONE THING WE COULD CONSIDER, AND THIS REQUIRES CAPACITY ON OUR PART, IS THAT THE COMMISSIONER COULD COMMISSION, MEMBERS COULD GO ADVOCATE WITH COUNCIL OFFICES ONCE WE HAVE THESE RECOMMENDATIONS.
IT MAY NOT BE ENOUGH SOMETIMES TO REALLY AFFECT THAT COUNCIL PROCESS WITHOUT SOME NUDGES OR CALLS LIKE TO, ESPECIALLY TO YOUR APPOINTING OFFICE.
LIKE, YOU CAN CALL AND SAY, HEY, WE PASSED THIS RECOMMENDATION, I FEEL REALLY STRONGLY ABOUT IT.
DID YOU TAKE IT? GET A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THAT.
HERE'S WHY I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT DEPENDING ON YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR APPOINTING COUNSEL OFFICE THAT YOU SHOULD COULD AND SHOULD CONSIDER DOING AS A COMMISSION MEMBER FOR SURE.
SO, UM, JUST SOME THOUGHTS, BUT, UM, UH, LET'S RETURN TO THAT IN FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS AS A POSSIBLE DISCUSSION.
THEY ALSO SOMETIMES SHRED OUR, UH, RECOMMENDATIONS APART NOW, I MEAN, THAT'S A BAD WORD.
THEY ALSO BREAK IT APART INTO LIKE THE BIG MATRIX OF WHICH THEY'LL ACCEPT ONE PART OF ONE PIECE OF OUR SOMETHING.
AND SO DO WE COUNT IT OR NOT? CAN BE, YEAH.
IT'D BE KIND OF HARD TO TRACK, BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE REALLY COOL JUST TO KIND OF SHOWCASE, RIGHT? TO KIND OF SAY, YEAH, LIKE AS, AS A BODY, HERE'S WHAT WE'RE PUTTING FORWARD AND REALLY LOOK AT WHAT, HOW OUR CITY COUNCIL'S IMPACTING THAT COMMISSION.
UM, SO JUST SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.
ONE THING THAT WE DID, I MEAN, I REALLY THINK THAT WE ACTUALLY DID, UM, AND THIS STARTED EVEN WHEN MARIO, UH, MY PREDECESSOR AS CHAIR WAS ON THE COMMISSION WAS THE PARKING AND BIKE LANES.
UM, THAT WAS REALLY ACTUALLY AN ITEM THAT ORIGINATED FROM A RECOMMENDATION THAT WE MADE IN THIS ROOM.
AND, UH, WE WEREN'T REALLY SURE, NO ANYONE WOULD DO ANYTHING WITH IT.
IT WAS JUST SORT OF LIKE MAYBE SOMETHING WE EVEN THOUGHT WAS KIND OF EXTREME AT THE TIME, LIKE THAT NO ONE WOULD LISTEN TO.
BUT THEN WE GOT A LOT OF, UH, THEY DID A STUDY AND LIKE WE GOT, UH, SOMETHING PASSED WITH THAT.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE MOMENTS WHERE WE DO HAVE A LOT OF INFLUENCE.
SOMETIMES IT'S HARD TO PREDICT WHICH ONES THOSE WILL BE.
I'LL JUST SAY I THINK THAT'S ALSO A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THAT ALSO ONLY HAPPENED BECAUSE SO MANY OF US WERE ALSO FOLLOWING UP WITH COUNCIL AND YES.
AND THERE'S A, A GREAT EFFORT TO GET THAT DONE.
AND ANOTHER THING, ANOTHER STRATEGY THAT WE PROBABLY COULD DO MORE OF IS SOME OF THESE THINGS WE CAN ACTUALLY GO TO OTHER COMMISSIONS THAT MAY, YOU KNOW, DEPENDING ON THE, THE ACT, THE POLICY AREA, LIKE MAYBE THIS RELATES TO PARKS OR MAYBE THIS RELATES TO, YOU KNOW, THE AIRPORT COMMISSION OR SOMETHING.
AND, AND WE CAN COORDINATE WITH ANOTHER COMMISSION TO ALSO SIGN ON TO OUR RECOMMENDATION.
WE'VE DONE THIS QUITE A BIT WITH BAC AND PAC, I THINK THOSE ARE THE MOST INTUITIVE FOR US TO WORK WITH, BUT THERE CAN BE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL.
UM, ON AUSTIN CORE TRANSPORTATION PLAN PLANNING COMMISSION ACTUALLY WHOLESALE PUT ALL OF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS IN THEIRS AND SO DID THE JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION SO THAT THERE WAS THREE IN A ROW THAT SAID ALL THE SAME THINGS AS US, WHICH I THINK IS GREAT.
COMMISSIONER ALVAREZ, I WOULD BE UP FOR, UH, DIGGING INTO THAT WITH YOU IF YOU WANT, LIKE BEFORE THE NEXT MEETING WE COULD SEE HOW MANY WE COULD FIND INFORMATION ABOUT I, YOU DON'T HAVE TO AGREE TO THIS IN FRONT OF BY, BY THE NEXT MEETING, BUT, UM, YEAH,
SO YEAH, DEFINITELY GREAT TO, TO PARTNER WITH YOU ON THAT.
UM, IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION QUESTIONS? IF NOT, I'M GONNA CALL FOR
[01:00:01]
A VOTE ON THIS, UH, THE, UH, THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE ANNUAL REPORT AS NOW AMEND IT.UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND OR SAY, AYE.
THAT DOES PASS UNANIMOUSLY OF THOSE PRESENT.
[4. Discussion and approval of a recommendation regarding National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) lane widths.]
ITEM FOUR, THAT BEING DISCUSSION AND APPROVAL OF A RECOMMENDATION REGARDING THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CITY TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS OR NDO LANE WIDTHS.I'M GONNA TURN THIS OVER TO, UH, VICE CHAIR SCHUMACHER TO FACILITATE THE DISCUSSION.
THANK YOU, CHAIR SUMMERS, AND, UH, I'LL GO AHEAD AND START BY MAKING A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RECOMMENDATION.
UM, SO THIS IS ONE, I THINK I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT BRINGING THIS ONE FOR LIKE SIX MONTHS NOW.
UM, AND I THINK THERE ISN'T NECESSARILY AN URGENCY TO IT, BUT ALSO I THINK THIS IS THE RIGHT TIME.
WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT PROJECTS GOING AROUND THAT ARE GOING TO FUNDAMENTALLY TRANSFORM OUR CITY STREETS, UH, PROJECT CONNECT THE, THE CORE TRANSPORTATION PLAN AND, AND CITY LEAP.
SO I THINK NOW IS THE TIME TO REVISIT THE DISCUSSION WE HAD BACK IN 2019 WHEN THE, UH, UH, THIS VERSION OF THE, UH, TRANSPORTATION CRITERIA MANUAL IS FIRST ADOPTED.
UM, AND THIS RESOLUTION SPECIFICALLY, OR RECOMMENDATION SPECIFICALLY FOCUSES ON LEVEL THREE AND LEVEL FOUR STREETS, AND I'LL KIND OF GET TO WHY THAT IS A LITTLE BIT LATER.
UM, BUT THESE ARE ARE MULTI-LANE STREETS THAT HAVE SOME ARTERIAL FUNCTION.
SO, YOU KNOW, A GOOD EXAMPLE OF A LEVEL THREE STREET WOULD BE OUT HERE ON AIRPORT.
A GOOD EXAMPLE OF A LEVEL FOUR STREET WOULD BE BREAKER LANE OR CAMERON ROAD.
UM, UH, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT MORE THROUGHPUT, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT FASTER SPEEDS OR MORE LANES.
UM, RIGHT NOW OUR TRANSPORTATION CRITERIA MANUAL RECOMMENDS, UH, THAT THE STREET WITH EITHER START AT 11 FEET OR 12.5 FEET, DEPENDING ON THE URBAN CONTEXT.
AND THAT IF THE STREET IS CONSTRAINED AND WE NEED TO SAVE SPACE, IT GOES DOWN TO 10 OR 11.5 FEET.
UM, THE NATO, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CITY TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS, UH, THEY HAVE BEEN RECOMMENDING 10 FEET AS A BASELINE FOR A LONG TIME.
UM, AND THERE ARE A COUPLE OF REASONS TO SUGGEST WHY WE SHOULD DO THAT.
THE FIRST IS, IF YOU GUYS FOLLOW THAT LINK TO NATO, THEY HAVE A REALLY GREAT GRAPH ON THERE THAT, UH, UH, ACTUALLY SHOWS, UM, THIS IS BACKED BY PRETTY EXTENSIVE RESEARCH.
FOR EACH ADDITIONAL FOOT OF LANE WIDTH.
THE ESTIMATED SPEED ON EACH ROAD GOES UP 2.9 MILES PER HOUR.
UM, SO THAT ELEVATES THE CRASH SEVERITY WHEN THEY HAPPEN.
THERE'S ALSO GOOD RESEARCH THAT SUGGEST THAT HIGHER SPEEDS LEAD TO MORE CRASHES, UH, ESPECIALLY, UH, NON INTERSECTION CRASHES ON MAJOR ARTERIAL ROADWAY.
SO AGAIN, THESE LEVEL THREE AND LEVEL FOUR ONES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UH, NECTAR REALLY ENCOURAGES CONTEXT SENSITIVE ONES.
LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, IS THERE A REASON WE NEED A A WIDER WIDTH? SO WOULD THEY KIND OF SUGGEST IS THAT YOU START LOW AND MAKE YOUR WAY UP HIGHER, RIGHT? YOU START WITH A 10 FOOT OR EVEN A NINE OR 9.5 FOOT, RIGHT? AND THEN IF THERE'S A REASON, LIKE THERE'S HEAVY TRUCK TRAFFIC, THERE ARE A LOT OF DELIVERIES IN THAT AREA, THERE'S A FIRE CODE REASON WHY YOU MAY NEED A 12 FOOT OR LARGER ONE, THEN YOU GO THERE RATHER THAN STARTING THERE.
UM, AND THEN THERE'S BEEN REALLY GREAT RESEARCH.
I WOULD HIGHLY ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO READ FROM JOHN HOPKINS UNIVERSITY.
I WOULD SAY THIS IS THE, THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE RESEARCH WE HAVE ON LANE WIDTHS.
AND WHAT THEY FOUND ACROSS MANY US CITIES IS THAT THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT NARROWING LANES TO NINE FEET OR 10 FEET ARE ASSOCIATED WITH HIGHER CRASH RATES.
WHAT THEY ALSO FOUND IS THAT THERE'S NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NINE FEET AND 10 FEET AND 11 FEET AND 13 FEET.
THE ONE DIFFERENCE THEY FOUND ACTUALLY IS WHERE YOU ARE AT 12 FOOT LANES.
THEY FOUND THAT IN 12 FOOT LANES, UH, BETWEEN 30 AND 35 MILES PER HOUR, YOU ACTUALLY HAD A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF NON INTERSECTION CRASHES.
AND WHAT THEY ATTRIBUTED THAT TO IS 12 FEET IS WIDE ENOUGH THAT YOU START HAVING VERY HIGH SPEEDS, BUT IT'S NOT QUITE WIDE ENOUGH THAT YOU WOULD HAVE WHAT WE WOULD CALL FORGIVING INFRASTRUCTURE, RIGHT? THAT IF YOU MAKE A MISTAKE, YOU'RE NOT LIKELY TO GET INTO A CRASH.
UM, SO THEY ACTUALLY FOUND THAT 12 FOOT LANES WERE THE, UH, MOST DANGEROUS STREETS, PARTICULARLY WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THESE ARTERIALS, THE LEVEL THREE AND LEVEL FOUR STREETS THAT WE WOULD CALL THEM IN THE TRANSPORTATION CRITERIA MANUAL.
SO WITH THIS RECOMMENDATION, KIND OF ASK FOR IS TO ALIGN OURSELVES MORE TO N THOSE STANDARDS AND START WITH A LOWER WIDTH AND WORK OUR WAY UP.
SO, UH, THE FIRST PART SUGGESTS THAT, UH, WE START WITH A RECOMMENDED LANE WIDTH OF 10 FEET AND A CONSTRAINED WIDTH OF NINE FEET FOR GENERAL TRAVEL LANES THAT ARE NOT DESIGNATED FOR TRUCK OR TRANSIT USE.
AND THEN A RECOMMENDED WIDTH OF 11 FEET OR CONSTRAINED OF 10 FEET.
FOR GENERAL TRAVEL LANES WHERE FREIGHT OR DELIVERY TRAFFIC IS EXPECTED TO BE 10% OF TOTAL TRAFFIC OR WHERE WE WOULD EXPECT THERE TO BE A, A TRANSIT ROUTE.
UM, SO THAT WOULD MOST LIKELY BE THAT THAT OUTER LANE IN A, A MULTI-LANE ROAD.
AND THEN THE INCLUSION OF WHAT
[01:05:01]
CONTEXTUAL FACTORS MIGHT LEAD A TRAFFIC ENGINEER TO SAY, ACTUALLY WE NEED TO GO BEYOND THE RECOMMENDED 10 FEET OR BEYOND THE RECOMMENDED 11 FEET UP TO 12 FEET OR EVEN HIGHER IF NEEDED.UM, I THINK THIS IS, THERE ARE A COUPLE BENEFITS TO THIS.
FIRST, THERE IS GOOD EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST THAT THIS WILL LEAD TO SAFER AND SLOWER ROADWAYS ON OUR ARTERIALS, BUT WE'RE ALSO CONSTANTLY FIGHTING FOR SPACE.
UH, WHEN WE'RE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT REDESIGNING OUR STREETS.
UM, I KNOW SOME OF US HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN, IN, IN, UH, TALKING ABOUT WHAT TO DO ON SOUTH CONGRESS AND THERE ARE SO MANY PLACES WHERE IF YOU HAD AN EXTRA FOOT, YOU COULD PUT IT IN A STREET TREE.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAD AN EXTRA FOOT, YOU COULD SEPARATE OUT THE BIKE LANE AND THE PEDESTRIAN SPACE.
SO THAT EXTRA FOOT, ESPECIALLY ACROSS MULTIPLE LANES, UH, CAN MAKE A REALLY BIG DIFFERENCE IN MULTIMODAL INVESTMENTS.
SO I THINK IT'S GOOD FOR SAFETY, BUT IT'S ALSO GOOD FOR OUR ABILITY TO CREATE THE, THE SAFE AND COMPLETE STREETS WE WANT.
UH, THE NEXT ONE RECOMMENDS THAT TPW CONSIDER AS CURRENT RESOURCES ALLOW CONDUCTING A LANE WIDTH AUDIT ON OUR LEVEL THREE AND LEVEL FOUR STREETS TO IDENTIFY ROADWAYS WHERE EXCESSIVE LANE WIDTHS MAY CREATE A SAFETY ISSUE AND PRIORITIZE THOSE STREETS FOR RES STRIPING, RESURFACING OR OTHER, UH, IMPROVEMENTS.
UM, I THINK THIS AS CURRENT RESOURCES THING THAT I PUT IN THERE OR SOMETHING I MIGHT PUT IN THERE MORE.
'CAUSE I THINK WE'RE TRYING TO BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT OUR, OUR USE OF STAFF RESOURCES AND STAFF TIME.
SO I READ THIS AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT COULD EASILY BE ADAPTED, UH, UH, INTO THE PROCESSES THAT TPW HAS ALREADY, BUT JUST IN CASE I'M SAYING, YOU KNOW, DON'T NECESSARILY GO OUT AND GET A WHOLE NOTHER FTE FOR THIS, BUT LET'S SEE IF WE CAN WORK THIS INTO WHAT WE'RE DOING.
UH, AND FINALLY, A RECOMMENDATION FOR COUNCIL, UH, THAT WE RECOMMEND THAT CITY COUNCIL AMEND THE AUSTIN STRATEGIC MOBILITY PLAN TO INCLUDE TARGET INDICATORS FOR LANE WIDTH REDUCTION.
UNDER CHAPTER ONE, DESIGNING FOR SAFETY.
I WAS ACTUALLY READING THE, UH, THE AUSTIN STRATEGIC MOBILITY PLAN.
'CAUSE I ALWAYS LIKE TO DRAW FROM THAT IN OUR RECOMMENDATIONS.
THAT'S REALLY OUR GUIDING FORCE.
AND I SAW THERE ACTUALLY WAS NOTHING ON LANE WIDTHS.
AND, AND REALLY THE, THE A-S-M-P-P AND THE TCM ARE SUPPOSED TO BE TALKING TO EACH OTHER.
UM, SO I ACTUALLY THINK IT IS A GOOD IDEA IF WE GO BACK AND ADD SOMETHING, UH, ABOUT HOW WE DO WANT NARROW LANES ON OUR ROADWAYS AND THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR DESIGNING SAFE, UH, ROADWAYS AND STREETS.
SO THERE'S THE RECOMMENDATION.
ALSO HAPPY IF STAFF WANTS TO ADD ANY CONTEXT.
'CAUSE I KNOW WE'RE GETTING PRETTY NITTY GRITTY INTO THE ENGINEERING HERE.
SO I'M GONNA CALL ON COMMISSIONER CHEN.
AS WE MAKE THESE RECOMMENDATIONS, IS THERE ANY PARTICULAR REASON WE RECOMMEND, SAY FOR EXAMPLE, 10 FEET WITH A CONSTRICTED WIDTH OF NINE AS OPPOSED TO RECOMMENDING NINE WITH AN EXPANDED WIDTH OF 10? WHEN I THINK ABOUT GENERALLY THE WAY THINGS ARE DESIGNED, THE DEFAULTS TEND TO BE WHAT WE GO WITH.
IF WE'RE CONSIDERING THE CASE THAT NARROWER IS BETTER, BOTH FOR SAFETY AND ALLOWING MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION, IT SEEMS TO ME WE WANT TO MAKE THE NARROWER WITH THE DEFAULT AND THE EXPANDED ONE OPTION.
SO, UM, I WAS READING, UH, UH, THIS REALLY CAME ACTUALLY FROM THAT JOHN HOPKINS STUDY AS PART OF WHAT THEY UH, UH, DID, THEY HAD GREAT RESEARCH, BUT THEY ALSO DID INTERVIEWS WITH A LOT OF TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERS AND TALKED ABOUT WHY IS IT DIFFICULT TO SOMETIMES ACHIEVE THIS.
UM, AND WHAT THEY ACTUALLY SAID IS THAT THAT, UM, THERE ARE VERY FEW CONTEXTUAL CASES WHERE A NINE FOOT ONE CAN WORK BECAUSE YOU START TO GET INTO SOME FIRE CODE ISSUES.
UM, USUALLY YOU WANT TO LEAVE SOME SPACE FOR DELIVERY OR LARGER TRUCKS.
UM, THE OTHER THING IS MAINLY JUST ABOUT HOW THE TCM IS CURRENTLY STRUCTURED IN THAT, UM, UM, IN THAT TABLE.
UH, AND I GUESS WE COULD ASK FOR A TOTAL REDOING OF HOW IT'S STRUCTURED, BUT I I, WE HAVE A RECOMMENDED WIDTH AND THEN A CONSTRAINED WIDTH.
UM, THERE IS GOOD EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST THAT NINE FEET IS SAFE.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY EVIDENCE ABOUT WHETHER GOING LOWER THAN NINE FEET IS SAFE.
SO I THINK IT MAKES SENSE TO ADD THAT AS THE FLOOR.
UM, I ALSO DO GENERALLY THINK THAT, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF WE'VE HAD A NINE FOOT WIDTH ANYWHERE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, SO AT LEAST 10 FEET PEOPLE ARE FAMILIAR WITH.
SO THAT WAS MY JUSTIFICATION FOR STARTING US AT AT 10, RECOMMENDED AND CONSTRAINED AT NINE.
COMMISSIONER KAMAN, I KNOW YOU HAD A QUESTION.
UM, PART OF ME WANTS TO JUST STRIKE THIS WHOLE, BE IT FOR THE RESOLVED, BUT A STUDY OR WHATEVER, JUST CHANGE THE TCM AND MAKE THEM DO IT ON EVERY NEW ROAD.
LIKE NO MORE STUDIES LIKE THE, DO WE NEED ANOTHER STUDY? WE HAVE THE HIGH INJURY NETWORK.
AND BEFORE I MOVE TO AMEND THAT, I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE FEELING ON LIKE YEAH.
IT IS JUST MAYBE JUST, I WOULD, I'D, I'D FEEL BETTER, BUT I I, I KIND OF WANT TO PUT A BE IT FOR THE RESOLVED AND SAY ON EVERY NEW STREET REBUILD AND EVERY NEW GREENFIELD STREET DO TEN NINE AND 1110 AND LIKE, WHY DO WE, LIKE, WE HAVE THE, WE HAVE THE HIN LIKE THEY, THEY KNOW WHERE THE PROBLEM IS.
IF THAT'S THE WILL OF THE COMMISSION, I'M TOTALLY FINE WITH THAT.
UM, I, I THINK MY, MY DESIRE THERE WAS UH, UH, I, I THINK THE
[01:10:01]
CITY OF AUSTIN IS GENERALLY STRATEGIC ABOUT RE RESURFACING AND RETRIP, SO MAYBE NOT WANTING TO, I GUESS, I GUESS I, I DON'T FEEL THAT STRONGLY ABOUT IT, BUT LIKE EVERY TIME I SEE A NEW STUDY OR WHATEVER, I'M LIKE, OH MY GOD, WE KNOW IT'S AIRPORT.WE KNOW IT'S NORTH OF MAR YEAH, WE KNOW IT'S, UH, SOUTH LAMAR, SOUTH OF THE, UH, SOUTH OF THE RIVER.
AND THIS IS KIND OF MY THING IS LIKE WHEN I WAS TRYING TO, TO LOOK AT THAT THERE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A GREAT, WE DID A SPEED AUDIT AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS GREAT, RIGHT? BECAUSE WE, WE, UM, THERE WERE SOME STREETS THAT, YOU KNOW, IF I JUST SAW IT WITH MY EYES HAVING BIKED OR, OR DRIVEN AROUND THERE, I WOULDN'T HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THEM AS BEING HIGH.
BUT THE DATA SHOWED THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, I, WHAT I WAS TRYING TO DO, LIKE LEADING UP TO THIS IS, YOU KNOW, LIKE LOOK AND TRY TO MEASURE ON GOOGLE MAPS WHAT THE LANE WIDTH WERE AND RIGHT.
SO I DO THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE THAT OUT THERE.
AND I ALSO THINK THE, THE SUCCESS OF THE SPEED AUDIT KIND OF SHOWS THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, IF IF WE DO KIND OF GATHER THEM ALL TOGETHER, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO, UH, OBSERVE TRENDS IN A DIFFERENT WAY.
UM, BUT I AGAIN, OKAY, YEAH, LET'S THEN LET'S KEEP IT, I I KNOW WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM.
I JUST, NO, SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT ADDITIONAL STUDIES AND AUDITS
AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR MAYBE PRIORITIZATION I THINK WOULD BE HELPFUL.
ANOTHER THING I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS, IS SORT OF WHEN IT COMES AWAY WITH A LITTLE BIT OF THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND HOW THEY HAVE GENERALLY FELT ABOUT VERY NARROW STREETS.
AND I KNOW THAT IN MUELLER, AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT IN COLONY PARK, THEY DON'T LIKE THOSE TIGHT RADIUSES, THEY DON'T LIKE THE SUPER NARROW STREETS THAT LIKE WE ALL REALLY LIKE 'CAUSE THEY HAVE EXTRAORDINARILY OVERSIZED TRUCKS THAT THEY FEEL THE NEED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT WITH.
WHAT DO YOU THINK, LIKE, HOW DO YOU THINK THAT WE SHOULD GET AROUND THAT ISSUE? THAT'S WHY I SUGGESTED LEVEL THREE AND LEVEL FOUR STREETS, BECAUSE THOSE ARE STREETS WHERE WE HAVE GENERALLY MORE THAN ONE LANE.
SO, YOU KNOW, UM, I, I BELIEVE THEIR BIGGEST PROBLEM HAS BEEN THEY WANT 25 FEET CLEAR.
SO IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MULTI-LANE ARTERIALS, THAT'S A LOT EASIER TO ACHIEVE.
VERSUS IF, IF WE ALSO INCLUDED LEVEL TWO STREETS, WHICH A LOT OF TIMES ARE TWO LANES OR MAYBE TWO LANES WITH A TURN LANE, UM, THEN IT WOULD BE MORE DIFFICULT FOR US TO ACHIEVE THAT.
SO THAT'S WHY I THOUGHT IT MADE SENSE.
ONE, I THINK IT, I THINK IT MAKES SENSE TO TALK ABOUT LEVEL THREE AND LEVEL FOUR BECAUSE THERE'S GOOD SAFETY DATA WE HAVE WITH THOSE SPEEDS.
UH, BUT I ALSO THINK IT MAKES SENSE IN THAT I DIDN'T MENTION IT, BUT YEAH, I WAS CERTAINLY THINKING THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WOULD BE MORE ON BOARD FOR LOOKING AT THOSE STREETS THAN LEVEL TWO AND LEVEL ONE STREETS.
AND, YOU KNOW, IF IT, IF WE CAN PROVE THAT THOSE LOWER WS WORK ON LEVEL THREE AND LEVEL FOUR STREETS, THEN UH, HOPEFULLY GIVES US A BETTER ARGUMENT TO TALK ABOUT LEVEL TWO STREETS.
AND SO LANE WIDTH PART TWO, WE CAN
I, I JUST WOULD LIKE TO SAY REGARDING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE, THE SIZE OF FIRE RESPONSE VEHICLES, IT'S NOT JUST A CITY OF AUSTIN PROBLEM, IT'S A, UM, REALLY A NORTH AMERICA PROBLEM.
UM, AND THERE ARE DEFINITELY MODELS IN OTHER DEVELOPED NATIONS OF WHERE THEY HAVE SMALLER FIRE VEHICLES THAT ARE ABLE TO ADEQUATELY ADDRESS ISSUES.
UM, IF YOU ACTUALLY LOOK AT THE RESPONSES OF FIRE DEPARTMENTS, THEY'RE MOSTLY NOT RESPONDING TO STRUCTURAL FIRES, RIGHT.
UM, THAT CALL FOR HOOK AND LADDER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I MEAN TRULY, I REALLY MEAN THIS FIRE DEPARTMENT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE CITY DEPARTMENTS.
IT'S LIKE RIGHT UP THERE WITH TPWI MEAN, Y'ALL ARE FIRST IN MY HEART ALWAYS JIM, BUT, YOU KNOW, I
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, WE, I THINK THAT LONG TERM FOR SOME OF THESE ISSUES, WE NEED TO BRING THEM INTO PARTNERSHIP AND CONVERSATION FOR SURE.
BUT I, YOU KNOW, AND MAYBE I, I, THAT WAS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I WAS GONNA ASK IS WHY LEVEL THREE AND FOUR AND NOT ONE AND TWO, AND I THINK WE KIND OF, I KNOW THAT NOW, SO THAT'S, UH, BEEN ANSWERED FOR ME.
UM, LOOKING AROUND FOR MORE QUESTIONS, INCLUDING DEFINITELY LOOKING ONLINE AS WELL, IF ANYONE HAS QUESTIONS.
SO THAT MIGHT CONCLUDE OUR DISCUSSION THERE.
UM, AND SO WE HAVE NO AMENDMENTS ON THAT.
SO UNLESS, UH, THERE'S A FINAL CALL THERE, I'M GONNA CALL FOR A VOTE ON THIS, UH, MOTION TO CIRCULATE IT.
DID CITY STAFF WANNA MENTION ANYTHING ABOUT THIS AND THE RECOMMENDATION? JUST OUTTA CURIOSITY? I ALWAYS WANT TO, SINCE YOU'RE IN THE ROOM, GIVE YOU THAT SPACE TO SHARE.
WELL APPRECIATE THAT AND DON'T LIKE GETTING IN THE WAY OF Y'ALL'S PROCE THE GOVERNMENT IN ACTION IS ALWAYS WHAT I THINK OF AS WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE.
AND IF WE'RE ASKED A QUESTION, WE'LL DEFINITELY DO OUR BEST TO ANSWER
[01:15:01]
IT.BUT IN REGARDS TO THIS, UM, WE WERE, I SHARED THIS WITH OUR STAFF EARLIER, UM, SO THAT THEY'RE AWARE OF IT AND WE'RE GONNA TAKE A LOOK AT IT REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT GOES TO COUNCIL OR NOT.
WE GET A LOT OF GOOD IDEAS THAT COME FROM DIFFERENT PLACES.
BUT WE'RE GONNA TAKE A LOOK AND SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING IN HERE THAT WE SHOULD GO AHEAD AND START WORKING ON, EVEN BEFORE COUNCIL WOULD DIRECT US.
UM, IS ONE THING, AND I WOULD SAY WITH A LOT OF IT, IT COMES DOWN TO CONTEXT OF THE ROADWAY, WHAT WE'RE TRYING, WHO WE'RE TRYING TO SERVE, WHAT ARE THE USERS OF THAT ROADWAY, ALL USERS, UM, INCLUDING THE, THE LARGER TRUCKS.
AND WE GOTTA MAKE SURE THAT THOSE TRUCKS THAT ARE MOVING PEOPLE INTO AUSTIN CAN, CAN GET DOWN THE ROADS TO GET TO THE HOUSES THAT, WHERE FOLKS ARE MOVING INTO.
AND THEN TRANSIT'S ANOTHER ONE.
WE WORK WITH CAPITAL METRO QUITE OFTEN ON, UM, PLACES WHERE THEY HAVE THEIR MIRRORS HIT MORE REGULARLY TO SEE IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO WITH LANE WIDTHS AND AGAIN, SOME OF THOSE ROADS THAT WERE MENTIONED OR OUTSIDE, OR TDOT ROADWAYS.
SO YEAH, WE, WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITH THOSE, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF ROADS WITHIN THE CITY THAT WE, WE COULD LOOK AT.
AND JUST MY LAST POINT, UM, I WANTED TO MENTION THAT AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT'S BEEN A GREAT PARTNER.
THEY WEIGHED IN ON THE TCM, THE LATEST REVISIONS AND WE WORKED REALLY CLOSELY.
EVEN ONE OF OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTORS, ANNA MARTIN, GOT UP IN THE FIRETRUCK WITH THEM AND, AND DROVE, UM, AROUND TO SEE, ALRIGHT, YEAH, THEY CAN WORK WITH THE RADII THAT WE PROPOSED FOR SOME OF THE ROADWAYS.
SO THEY'VE BEEN A REALLY GOOD PARTNER.
UM, I NEED TO CHECK TO SEE WHAT OUR LAST DISCUSSIONS WERE ON SMALLER VEHICLES.
I THOUGHT THAT, UM, UM, I JUST NEED TO CHECK TO SEE, UM, WHERE THAT WAS AT.
BUT APPRECIATE, APPRECIATE YOU LETTING ME WEIGH IN AND IT'S, AND WE'RE STILL GOING TO, WITH ANY RECOMMENDATIONS COMING THROUGH, WE ARE ALWAYS GONNA TAKE A LOOK AND SEE IF THERE'S A, UH, SOME NUGGETS IN THERE, THE WHOLE THING OR PARTS OF IT THAT WE CAN START WORKING ON.
AND, AND ALSO TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT, WHEN, WHEN THE A-S-M-P-I WAS ON THE, AT THAT TIME IT WAS CALLED THE MULTIMODAL COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
SO IT WAS ACTUALLY A SINGULAR COMMITTEE THAT WAS ADVISING BOTH THE, UH, THIS WAS BEFORE I WAS ON UTC THAT WAS ADVISING THE, UM, INPUT FOR THE AUSTIN STRATEGIC MOBILITY PLAN.
AND THEN WHAT ENDED UP BECOMING THE PROJECT CONNECT 2020 VOTE.
SO WE WERE ADVISING ON BOTH OF THOSE PIECES.
AND I WOULD SAY WHEN WE WERE DOING THE STRATEGIC MOBILITY PLAN, THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF HESITATION TO GET INTO SOME OF THE NITTY GRITTY DETAILS ON THE LANE WIDTHS BECAUSE IT WAS SAID, WE'LL FIX IT IN THE TCM OR WE'LL DO IT IN THE TCM.
AND WHAT I'VE, I KIND OF THOUGHT THEN, BUT I THINK MY THOUGHTS ARE SORT OF CONFIRMED NOW AS WELL, IS THAT THE A SMP IS VERY VISIBLE.
PEOPLE READ IT, IT'S GOT A FORMAT THAT'S YOU CAN, YOU CAN DOWNLOAD AND UNDERSTAND WHEN YOU GET INTO THE TRANSPORTATION CRITERIA MANUAL IF YOU'RE NOT A ENGINEER.
YEAH, YOU CAN, YOU KNOW, I, I MEAN I CAN KIND OF, KIND OF DO OKAY WITH IT, BUT IT'S NOT AS VISIBLE.
SOME OF THE PROCESSES ARE NOT AS DAYLIGHT AT.
SO I KIND OF FEEL LIKE FOR SOMETHING THAT'S, WE DO FEEL IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT TO TAKE THAT INTO THE, TO AMEND THE A S AND P AND, AND GET SPEC SPECIFICITY ON THAT, I THINK CAN BE IMPORTANT.
SO I THINK, UM, I KIND OF THOUGHT IT THEN LIKE BACK IN, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW, 2017 OR SOMETHING, BUT I KIND OF MORE SO EVEN THINK IT NOW, LIKE IF FOR THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS WE CAN KIND OF POINT TO SOME OF THOSE SPECIFICS SO THAT WE CAN GET OUR TCM IN ORDER.
BECAUSE SOMETIMES A TCM IS A LITTLE EVEN FOR ME, AND I KNOW A LOT, IT'S A LITTLE BIT HARD TO FIGURE OUT HOW EXACTLY TO INFLUENCE OR AMEND, YOU KNOW.
SO I THINK, UM, UH, I JUST A COMMENT THERE.
I THINK, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE? ALL RIGHT.
I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR A VOTE ON THIS, UH, MOTION TO CIRCULATE IT.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND OR SAY, AYE.
THAT IS UNANIMOUS OF THOSE PRESENT.
ALL RIGHT, THOUGH, EVERYONE THAT TAKES US THROUGH OUR DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS. AND WE'RE NOW INTO OUR,
[5. Update from Commissioner Kavelman from the Pedestrian Advisory Council regarding actions taken at the June 2, 2025, meeting.]
UM, COMMITTEE UPDATES.SO THIS IS, UM, FIRST ITEM FIVE, WHICH IS AN UPDATE FROM COMMISSIONER KAMAN FROM THE PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COUNCIL REGARDING ACTIONS TAKEN AT THE JUNE 2ND, 2025 MEETING.
UM, SO THE PAC MET ON JUNE 2ND AND THEY GOT A VISION ZERO UPDATE, SO KIND OF ON THE SAME PAGE AS US, AND THEN HEARD A PRESENTATION ABOUT PEDESTRIAN DETECTION USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TECHNOLOGY.
I DID REACH OUT TO ONE OF THE, UH, MEMBERS AND NO ITEMS PASSED.
[6. Update from Commissioner Buffo from the Bicycle Advisory Council regarding actions taken at the June 17, 2025, meeting.]
ITEM NUMBER SIX, UPDATE FROM COMMISSIONER BFO REGARDING THE BICYCLE ADVISORY COUNCIL.[01:20:01]
REGARDING ACTIONS TAKEN AT THE JUNE 17TH, 2025 MEETING.UH, WE ALSO RECEIVED A VISION ZERO UPDATE AND AN ACT ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS UPDATE, BUT NO ACTIONS WERE TAKEN.
[7. Update from Chair Somers from the Community Advisory Committee for Austin Transit Partnership Board regarding actions taken at the June 12, 2025, meeting.]
NUMBER SEVEN, ITEM SEVEN, WHICH IS UPDATE FOR ME REGARDING THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP BOARD REGARDING ACTIONS TAKEN AT THE JUNE 12TH, 2025 MEETING.AND I CHAIRED THIS MEETING, SO I
UM, BUT UM, AND MY PHONE IS LIKE ABSOLUTELY JUST NOT WORKING WITH ME.
SO I KNOW WE, WE APPOINTED A NEW, UM, MADE A RECOMMENDATION ABOUT A NEW MEMBER OF CAC.
UM, WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE BUDGET PROCESSES.
SO WE TALKED ABOUT, UM, THE BUDGET FOR, UM, THE TRI PARTIES.
SO THAT'S GOING TO BE, UM, AND SORT OF JUST BROADLY THE BUDGET TIMELINES AND OUR POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR, UM, THE, UH, AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP CITY OF AUSTIN, WHICH IS VERY LATE, AND, UM, CAP METRO.
SO THOSE WERE OUR MAIN ITEMS. I I DON'T KNOW WHY THEIR WEBSITE IS NOT, I'M OUR, OUR WEBSITE I SHOULD SAY.
'CAUSE I'M PART OF THIS FOR THE CACI CANNOT FIND, I THINK IT'S PARTLY MY PHONE IS NOT WORKING WITH ME.
I THINK THERE WAS ONE OTHER ITEM AND I, I CHAIRED THE MEETING AND I'M JUST COMPLETELY BLANKING.
SO I'M JUST GONNA GIVE UP ON THAT AND I'M SORRY GUYS.
SO IT LIKE, LITERALLY I SEE THE JULY MEETING AND THEN I SEE 2024 AND I DON'T SEE 2025 AND I THINK IT'S LIKE IN A TABLE AND I CAN'T GET TO IT.
SO I'M JUST NOT GONNA WORRY ABOUT IT.
UM, SO THAT TAKES US TO FUTURE AGENDA
[FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS]
ITEMS. I'D LIKE TO QUICKLY, AND STAFF MAY WANNA CHIME IN, BUT I'D LIKE TO QUICKLY WALK US THROUGH.UM, SO THIS AGENDA FOR THIS MEETING WAS QUITE A BIT LIGHTER THAN I ANY OF US ATTENDED.
UM, WE HAD SORT OF SOME LAST MINUTE CHANGES, BUT RIGHT NOW, UM, OUR TWO PRIORITIES FOR SURE FOR OUR UM, AUGUST MEETING ARE THE, UH, 2035, UH, TRANSIT PLAN FROM CAP METRO STAFF WAS LIAISING WITH THEM ABOUT IF THEY COULD COME OUT THEN, UM, AND I DON'T THINK WE HAVE THAT CONFIRMED YET.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE THE, UH, CITY, UH, STAFF UPDATE ON CITY LEAP, WHICH I'LL REMEMBER WE HAD A RECOMMENDATION ABOUT CITY LEAP THAT WE RECOMMENDED CITY COUNCIL SHOULD CONSIDER THE CITY LEAP PLAN OR CONCEPT, UM, WHICH IS TO, UH, REALLOCATE LANES FOR PURPOSES OTHER THAN, UM, SINGLE OCCUPANCY VEHICLES.
UM, CITY COUNCIL RECOMMENDED STAFF STUDY THAT STAFF IS WORKING ON THAT.
UM, SO THOSE ARE TWO, I THINK AS FAR AS I KNOW, THE CITY LEAP IS PRETTY CONFIRMED.
THE CAP METRO, I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S CONFIRMED, BUT WE HAD HAD, THEY HAD TO VERBALLY TOLD US THEY DIDN'T WANNA COME TO THIS MEETING, BUT, BUT POTENTIALLY AUGUST.
SO I'M HOPING THAT THAT IS THERE.
WE HAVE ALSO, UM, UPCOMING, UM, PERHAPS AN UPDATE FROM SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOLS AND LIVING STREETS.
UM, AND UH, SO WE HAVE UM, AND WE HAVE ALSO, UM, THE, UH, COUPLE HIGHWAY THINGS.
SO I'M KIND OF FIGURING OUT WHEN, UM, WE CAN TAKE THOSE.
BUT WE HAVE TWO C TMR, C-T-R-M-A, WHICH IS THE MOPAC SOUTH PLANNING, WHICH I TOLD THE STAFF WOULD I THINK WOULD BE AS FAR AS WHAT C-T-R-M-A WOULD COME OUT WOULD BE FIRST PRIORITY, ALSO 180 3 NORTH.
UM, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO PRIORITIZE HEARING AS WELL FROM TEXT DOT ON I 35 CONSTRUCTION.
AND THAT REALLY IS WHAT I, I'M MOST INTERESTED IN HEARING ABOUT IS SAFETY THROUGH THE I 35 CONSTRUCTION PROCESS.
AND IT'S VERY COMPLEX, RIGHT? THERE'S CAPITAL EXPRESS, NORTH, SOUTH, AND CENTRAL ALL AT VARIOUS STAGES OF PREPARATION.
AND CENTRAL IS, I MEAN THEY'RE DIGGING RIGHT NOW, SO THEY'RE, THEY'RE CONSTRUCTING.
SO, UM, SAFETY ON THOSE PROJECTS.
AND THEN ALSO, UH, ON 180 3 EXPANSION.
AND TO BE CLEAR, THIS IS THE TXDOT PROJECT THAT WOULD BE BETWEEN STATE HIGHWAY ONE 30 AND STATE HIGHWAY 71, THAT SECTION OF 180 3.
UM, AND THAT IS IN THE PLANNING STAGES.
SO THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT I PRIORITIZE.
SOME OTHER THINGS THAT ARE IN HERE.
WE HAVE TRANSPORTATION CRITERIA MANUAL THAT'S BEEN ON HERE A WHILE.
I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO COMMIT, I'VE HAD THIS IDEA FOR SAFE ROUTES TO PARKS FOR A WHILE.
THIS IS SIMILAR TO THE, THE NTO ITEM THAT WE HAD TODAY.
IT'S COMPLETELY A UTC INITIATED CONCEPT.
I ACT, WELL ACTUALLY I HAVE A PARTNER WHO SITS ON THE PARKS BOARD THAT MAY BE INTERESTED IN PARTNERING WITH US TO LIKE SECOND, UM, SOME, UH, IF WE PASSED A RECOMMENDATION TO, TO COLLABORATE ON THAT.
[01:25:01]
UM, I'D LIKE TO BRING THAT AT SOME POINT IN THE FALL.FINALLY, UM, I WILL SAY ALSO THE LIVING STREETS PROGRAM UPDATE IS BEING UM, UH, THEY'RE IN A PHASE OF STUDY.
THEY'RE KIND OF LOOKING AT WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND WHAT THEY WANNA DO GOING FORWARD.
AND SO, UM, I'VE SHARED TO STAFF THAT I THINK THAT, UM, I THINK FROM MY KNOWLEDGE THIS COMMISSION FEELS REALLY STRONGLY ABOUT THE LIVING STREETS PROGRAM AND SHARED STREETS AND ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS. AND SO THAT WE, UH, WOULD DEFINITELY WANNA, IF THERE'S A, A POSSIBILITY OR A WINDOW THAT BECOMES UH, APPROPRIATE TO GIVE INPUT ON THE LIVING STREETS PROGRAM IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING I THINK WE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN HEARING ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE STUDYING AND LEARNING AND PROPOSING.
SO, UM, AND I ALSO HAVE ON HERE AS WELL, I WANNA DEFINITELY LOOK AT COMMISSIONER ALVAREZ AS WELL.
'CAUSE YOU ASKED SOME REALLY GREAT QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS WHEN WE HEARD THE LEGISLATIVE UPDATE.
I ACTUALLY ADD IT DOWN HERE IN, IN MY SCROLLED WRITING ON THE AV RULES PROCESS WITH THE STATE DMV.
UM, AND I, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW, IT DEPENDS IF IT'S POSTED FOR 30, 60 OR 90 DAYS
IF IT'S 30 DAYS, WE MIGHT HAVE TO ADD THAT TO THE AUGUST AGENDA.
I DON'T KNOW, LIKE WE'LL SEE, WE'LL SEE WHAT THAT IS LIKE.
BUT IF IT'S 90, 60 OR 90, WHICH WOULD BE MORE IDEAL FROM MY PERSPECTIVE THEN WE COULD TAKE THAT UP LATER.
BUT I THINK THAT THAT'S ANOTHER ONE THAT WE MAY WANNA PARTICIPATE IN.
UM, SO I GUIDED YOU THROUGH SOME OF THAT, PROBABLY HALTINGLY, BUT OTHERS THAT FOLKS WANNA BRING.
UM, SOMETHING TO LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.
UM, DENSITY BONUS REWRITE IS COMING, UH, AND IT'S DB 90 HAS RIGHT NOW BEEN OUR ONLY TOOL.
WE MIGHT SEE A DB 75, A DB 60, A DB ONE 20.
WHO KNOWS A LOT OF THESE PROGRAMS GIVE US FRONTAGES AND ACCESS AND LIKE FIRST LIKE A LOT OF FIRST FLOOR TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT WALKING INFRASTRUCTURE.
NOT AN ITEM, BUT MAYBE JUST A PEN THAT MAYBE IF THEY CHANGE ANYTHING ON FRONTAGES THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT.
YEAH, I THINK THAT'S, DID THEY TALK WITH YOUR DEPARTMENT ON THAT AT ALL? DEPUTY DIRECTOR ON HOW THEY CHANGE ANY OF THOSE FRONTAGES OR STREET SCAPE ISSUES IN THEIR SORT OF DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS AND HOW THAT WORKS WITH THE SIDEWALK AND ALL THAT? YEAH, I'LL, I'LL NEED TO CHECK WITH OUR PLANNING GROUP JUST TO SEE WHAT CONVERSATIONS HAVE HAPPENED.
I THINK SOMETIMES, UM, PEOPLE MORE ON THE PLANNING SIDE OF THINGS, IT DEPENDS ON THE SPECIFIC TEAM, BUT I THINK SOMETIMES THEY DON'T NECESSARILY CONSIDER THAT WE WOULD BE INTERESTED.
BUT JUST TO GIVE ONE EXAMPLE THAT I HAVE A PRETTY GOOD KNOWLEDGE BASE IN, FOR EXAMPLE WITH THE ETOD TEAM.
LIKE WHEN THEY WERE LOOKING AT THE POSSIBLE UM, UH, INCENTIVES.
SO THERE WAS LIKE DIFFERENT AMENITIES THAT COULD BE PROVIDED BY A DEVELOPER THAT WOULD MEET REQUIREMENTS OR WOULD BE INCENTIVIZED.
AND LIKE ONE OF THEM THAT WE KIND OF KICKED AROUND WAS, WELL IF YOU'RE GONNA BUILD A TON OF PARKING FOR YOUR NEW DEVELOPMENT, EVEN IF WE WISH YOU WOULDN'T, UM, COULD YOU ALLOCATE SOME OF THE PARKING IF YOU'RE NEAR A TRANSIT STOP ON A HIGH CAPACITY TRANSIT ROUTE AS A LIKE SMALL PARK AND RIDE? COULD THAT BE AN INCENTIVE THING IF YOU'RE GONNA DO THE PARKING ANYWAY, WE DON'T WANT YOU TO BUILD EXTRA NECESSARILY, BUT LIKE IF YOU WERE GONNA DO IT ANYWAY AND IT'S UNDERUTILIZED OR SOMETHING, COULD SOME SPACES BE USED FOR TRANSIT RIDERS THAT WANNA PARK AND RIDE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO LIKE I THINK THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES WHEN YOU'RE DESIGNING BONUS OR INCENTIVE PROGRAMS, UM, THAT THAT OCCUR WITH TRANSPORTATION THAT YOU MAY NOT THINK.
AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT IN SOME OF THESE, PARTICULARLY WITH VMU, I KNOW THAT THERE WAS SOME CONSIDERATION THAT THERE WAS RETAIL REQUIRED ON THE GROUND FLOOR AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN A WORLD NOW WHERE, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE'RE NOT ALL STROLLING DOWN THE STREET.
I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS WE COULD DO TO GET MORE PEOPLE STROLLING DOWN THE STREET AND SHOPPING.
AND MAKE IT MAKE WALKING MORE PLEASANT AND VIABLE FOR EVERYBODY.
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF RETAIL ONLINE AND SO LIKE THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT LIKE WHAT SHOULD WE MANDATE ON GROUND FLOORS AND WHAT KIND OF, HOW DOES THAT AFFECT THE CITY AND PEOPLE'S WILLINGNESS TO WALK, BIKE ROLL, SO ON AND HOW LITTLE WE, HOW SMALL WE CAN GET THAT SET BACK TO, TO GET PEOPLE OUT ON THAT SIDEWALK.
YEAH, I, I'M, I'M COMFORTABLE ASKING FOR WHENEVER THAT IS HAPPENING.
UM, IT'D BE GREAT TO HEAR FROM THE TRANSPORT LIKE THE PEOPLE INVOLVED THAT ARE FROM TPW THAT ARE HELPING THEM DO THOSE OR IF IT'S THE PLANNING TEAM THAT DOES ANY SORT OF STUFF LIKE THAT TO HAVE THEM COME IN AND ANYTHING THAT WE WOULD CARE ABOUT ON THAT.
I DON'T CARE HOW TALL SOMETIMES I REALLY THINK OF THIS.
LIKE WE GOT LIKE THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT, BUT THEN SOMETIMES I THINK IT JUST DEPENDS ON THE SPECIFIC TEAM.
WHETHER THEY THINK, OH, WE SHOULD START BY UTC, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO BE IN THE MIX THERE FOR SURE.
[01:30:02]
IF, JUST IN RELATION TO ONE OF THE ITEMS, I THINK WE'VE HAD THE TRANSPORTATION CRITERIA MANUAL ONE ON THERE FOR LIKE A A YEAR OR TWO.I, I'VE HEARD THAT THERE MAY BE AN UPDATE AND IT MAY BE COMING.
I WAS WONDERING IF STAFF CAN MAYBE TOUCH ON, IS THERE ANYTHING IN THE PROCESS OR IS THAT SOMETHING MAYBE WE CAN PUT OFF TO THE SIDE FOR A BIT? WE, WE UPDATED IT NOT TOO LONG AGO, BUT THERE HAS BEEN NEED FOR SOME ADDITIONAL CHANGES TO THE TCM THAT WE'RE, THAT WE'RE SEEING.
BUT I JUST NEED TO SEE WHERE OUR TEAM IS AT IN MAKING THOSE CHANGES.
IT HASN'T RISEN UP TO ME YET IN, IN LIKE A SCHEDULE TO MOVE THAT FORWARD, BUT COULD BE ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT UM, I JUST NEED TO, NEED TO CHECK WITH OUR TEAM TO SEE WHERE WE'RE AT.
WE HAVE A LOT GOING ON RIGHT NOW.
AND MAYBE IT'S SOMETHING WE JUST KEEP ON THERE TO FLAG THAT WHEN THAT COMES WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT.
WE, I WOULD SAY WE DEFINITELY WANNA BE INCLUDED IF THERE'S ANY UPDATES THAT STAFF ARE INITIATING, BUT ALSO IF WE READ, IF YOU'RE LIKE ME AND SOMETIMES JUST SIT AROUND AND, I DON'T KNOW, READ DOCUMENTS FOR FUN 'CAUSE YOU'RE REALLY, WHATEVER IS GOING ON IN YOUR LIFE, UM, YOU KNOW, WE CAN ALSO SUGGEST THINGS JUST AS WE DID WITH THE NTO TODAY.
SO LIKE IF THERE'S THINGS THAT YOU'RE READING THE TRANSPORTATION CRITERIA MANUAL AND YOU THINK, OH, THIS IS NOT IN LINE WITH NTO GUIDANCE OR, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER, THEN UM, IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN ALWAYS INITIATE ON OUR OWN.
UM, IS THERE A, LIKE A REGULAR EVERY SEPTEMBER EVERY YEAR OR IS IT JUST KIND OF AS NEEDED? I'M JUST TRYING TO WONDER.
LIKE THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE.
SO MAKING SURE THAT IF IT'S, IF IT'S A YEARLY ANNUAL KIND OF UPDATE THAT THAT'S PRODUCED IN SEPTEMBER OF EVERY YEAR, THEN WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER RECOMMENDATIONS OR SUGGESTIONS ARE GIVEN TO STAFF TO BE PUT IN THE DRAFT RECOMMENDATIONS BEFORE APPROVAL.
'CAUSE I, I WORRY THAT IF WE GET IT TO THE POINT WHERE IT'S LIKE, OKAY, IT'S BEEN, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN UPDATED, BUT THEN WE'RE LIKE, WELL ACTUALLY WE MISSED SOME PARTS, RIGHT? AND THEN IT'S LIKE, OH, THAT'LL BE ON THE NEXT ONE.
SO I'M JUST TRYING TO GET AHEAD OF, AHEAD OF THAT.
WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT THE, ANY UPDATES TO THE TCM COME TO THE URBAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION BEFORE THEY'RE FINALIZED SO Y'ALL CAN WEIGH IN.
I ALSO NOTICED I HAVE, OH SORRY, GO AHEAD.
UM, A QUESTION FOR THE GROUP ON THE NOTE OF FOLLOWING UP ON PAST RECOMMENDATIONS WE'VE MADE MM-HMM.
UM, IT'S LAST SUMMER WE PASSED THE RECOMMENDATION FOR THE GREAT SPRINGS PROJECT TO RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY MAKE SOME EFFORT TO WORK WITH THEM TO, UM, SUPPORT BUILDING OF SOME TRAILS IN TRAVIS COUNTY.
UM, AND IN LIGHT OF VARIOUS FUNDING CHANGES FEDERALLY AND OTHERWISE.
UM, I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE GOOD TO HEAR IF THAT WAS HELPFUL AT ALL.
IS THAT SOMETHING ONE THAT PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN HEARING AN UPDATE ABOUT AND TWO, IF SO, SHOULD THAT BE A PRESENTATION LIKE WE INVITE MIKEY TO COME BACK OR LIKE I, SHOULD I GO FETCH AN UPDATE AND REPORT BACK? CURIOUS IF ANYONE'S INTERESTED IN THAT? DEFINITELY INTERESTED.
I THINK IT'S JUST MANAGING OUR OVERALL AGENDA LOAD, YOU KNOW, UM, I, I WOULD SAY I, I WILL PUT THAT ON HERE.
UM, GREAT SPRINGS, UH, PROJECT UPDATE AND UH, IF YOU COULD CONFER WITH MIKEY, UM, MAYBE ABOUT IF HE HAS ANYTHING ACTIONABLE OR, UM, WHEN HE WOULD BE AVAILABLE.
AND THEN IT'S KIND OF MIXING WHEN HE WAS AVAILABLE AGAINST WHEN OUR AGENDA HAS SOME SPACE, YOU KNOW, SO, BUT YEAH, I THINK THAT COULD BE FRUITFUL.
I ALSO REMEMBER THERE WAS A PROJECT THAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO GET UPDATED ON LIKE LAST FALL.
IT WAS AN ITEM FROM COMMISSIONER MILLER.
IT WAS GREEN STREET'S PROJECT.
IT, I THINK COUNCIL ALREADY DID COUNCIL DO SOMETHING WITH IT.
THEY, THEY PASSED IT, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO RETURN WITH A MEMO.
I THINK IT'S, I THINK THEY JUST PASSED IT AND THERE, WELL THE, THE ISSUES THAT THEY WANTED TO WORK WITH AS A LICENSE AGREEMENT AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT, I THINK THAT'S MORE IN THE PLANNING OR A DSD DEPARTMENT RATHER THAN TPW, BUT IT'S LIKE A REALLY NITTY GRITTY CONTRACT ISSUE WHERE THEY IS LIKE, WHO TAKES CARE OF THE TREES TYPE THINGS? WHO TAKES CARE OF THE TREES IF IT'S EASIER TO GET OUT OF A, TAKING CARE OF IT.
LIKE IT'S ABOUT OH ONE M OF THE IT'S YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
DO YOU KNOW BETTER PEOPLE, PEOPLE TAKING IT UPON THEMSELVES TO CUT DOWN TREES IS ON THIS I, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER IN PEOPLE'S BACKYARDS, WHATEVER.
BUT LIKE ON THE STREET IS LIKE WHERE I GET REALLY LIKE, INTERESTED.
SO LIKE I'VE HAD THIS IDEA OF LIKE STREET TREES.
I DON'T KNOW, THERE'S SOME, THERE'S DEFINITELY EXAMPLES IN THE CITY WHERE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN THROUGH A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT REQUIRED TO PLANT STREET TREES THAT HAVE SEVERAL YEARS LATER BEEN CUT DOWN EN MASS PROBABLY BY
[01:35:01]
THE DEVELOPER.SO CRESTVIEW CRESTVIEW IS ONE.
YEAH, THERE ARE OTHERS THAT'S, I FEEL LIKE THAT'S THE BIG UGLY OBVIOUS ONE YES.
AND SO LIKE THEY SHOULD BE, ONE WOULD THINK REPLAY.
ANOTHER ONE IS, UH, KRAMER LANE, UH, RED, RED LINE STOP.
THEY ACTUALLY WEREN'T CUT DOWN.
THEY WERE TRIMMED TO STUMPS AND THEN DIED.
SO IT'S KIND OF THE SAME DIFFERENCE, BUT MAYBE THERE'S A DISTINCTION THERE.
GREEN GREEN STREET'S PROJECT UP, UP.
MAYBE JUST AN UPDATE FROM WHOEVER'S WORKING ON THAT SPACE.
UM, I WOULD, UM, I I THINK THIS IS A GOOD SUMMER THING TOO.
UM, WE TALKED DURING THE LAST BUDGET CYCLE ABOUT THE TRANSPORTATION USER FEE AND TRYING TO MAKE SURE THERE'S SOME DEDICATED MONEY FOR, UH, MAINTENANCE OF, UH, ACTIVE MOBILITY FACILITIES.
I THINK IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL FOR THE COMMISSION JUST TO GET A PRESENTATION ON HOW THE TRANSPORTATION USER FEE WORKS.
LIKE WHAT'S CURRENTLY DEDICATED, HOW MUCH IS IT, WHAT'S THE PROCESS FOR RAISING AND LOWERING IT, JUST SO WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE'LL WANNA WORK ON AS THE CITY STARTS CONSIDERING A TRE.
'CAUSE YOU KNOW, WE'RE, THERE'S GONNA BE A FIGHT FOR O AND M FOR EVERYTHING.
WE'RE GONNA WANT TRANSPORTATION OUTTA OUR SHARE.
BUT THAT MAY BE ALSO WHERE WE SAY, YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE PARKS IS KIND OF, YOU KNOW, THERE'S AN EFFORT TO GET A A, A PARKS USER FEE.
MAYBE WE SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, THE BETTER WAY TO TACKLE THIS IS A USER FEE AND, AND HERE'S OUR PROPOSAL.
SPEAKING SIMILARLY, I I'VE REQUESTED A PRESENTATION AND THIS COULD BE IN AUGUST OR IT COULD BE IN SEPTEMBER.
UH, IT'S LIKE A ROE VACATION 1 0 1.
I KNOW WE'VE HAD SOME INTERESTING ROE VACATIONS AND WE HAVE NEW PEOPLE TO THE COMMISSION AND UTC HAS A SPECIAL ROLE BY CITY STATUTE IN THE ROE VACATIONS.
AND SO I THINK IT'S, UM, HELPFUL FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THE WHY, HOW, AND WHAT FOR OF THAT PROCESS.
SO I HAVE REQUESTED THAT WHENEVER STAFF IS ABLE TO COME OUT, ANY OTHERS, THAT WAS A, A LOT.
UM, SO WE'LL SORT THROUGH THOSE.
UM, SO THAT TAKES US TO THE END OF OUR AGENDA.
SO, UM, THEREFORE IF, SEE NO OBJECTION, I WILL ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 6:43 PM.