[00:00:07]
[Call to Order]
IT'S 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING ON JULY 24TH, 2025, AND I WILL CALL TO ORDER THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL, UH, SCHEDULED FOR TODAY'S DATE.WE HAVE ALL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT, AND WE ARE MEETING IN CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT CITY HALL, LOCATED AT 3 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, UH, MEMBERS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
THE ORDER THAT WE'RE GONNA GO IN TODAY, UH, IN A GENERAL FASHION IS IN JUST A MINUTE.
I WILL READ CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS INTO THE RECORD.
UH, WE WILL THEN GO TO OUR, UH, SPEAKERS FOR WHAT IS THE CONSENT AGENDA.
NO ITEMS HAVE BEEN PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA, AND SO WE WILL, UH, HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC ON THOSE ITEMS. WE WILL THEN HAVE, UH, DISCUSSION REMARKS FROM COUNSEL.
IF YOU WANT TO BE HEARD ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, PLEASE LET, UH, ME KNOW THAT I'VE HEARD FROM ONE OF YOU THAT WANTS TO BE, AND I KNOW THAT IS NOT ENOUGH.
UM, THAT'S WHY I PUT OUT THE MESSAGE BOARD POSTS, SO WE HAVE A DAY TO DO THAT.
UM, ANYWAY, IF YOU WANT TO DO THAT.
THOSE OF YOU'ALL CAN'T SEE THAT.
UM, UH, THE, THE PLUG SPARKED REALLY BADLY.
HOPEFULLY THAT IS NOT A SIGN OF THE DAY.
UM, WE WILL THEN, UH, AT AROUND 10 30, OR AS CLOSE TO, IT WILL NOT BE AT 10 30 JUST BECAUSE THE NUMBER OF SPEAKERS WE HAVE SIGNED UP ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
BUT AS NEARLY AS WE CAN, I WILL RECESS THE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AND WE WILL GO INTO A MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.
UH, WE WILL THEN GO TO ITEMS THAT ARE NON-CONSENT ITEMS, AND THAT INCLUDES IMMINENT DOMAIN ITEMS, UH, A VARIETY OF PUBLIC HEARINGS THAT WE HAVE, SOME OF WHICH ARE RELATED TO SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEMS. UH, WE WILL, AT, AT NOON, WE WILL, UH, HAVE PAUSE WHEREVER WE ARE.
AND AT NOON, WE WILL HAVE THE 12 O'CLOCK TIME, CERTAIN, WHICH WILL BE GENERAL PUBLIC COMMUNICATION AND MUSIC, UH, MEMBERS.
THE WAY WE WILL DO THAT IS THAT, UH, AT NOON, WE WILL HEAR FROM, UH, THE PUB, THE PUBLIC ON PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE WILL RECESS AT AROUND 1230 OR 1235.
THAT USUALLY LASTS UNTIL 1230 OR 1235.
WE WILL RECESS UNTIL PROBABLY AROUND ONE 10, AND THAT WAY WE WILL ALSO HAVE LIVE MUSIC.
UH, WE WILL COME BACK FOR, UH, ZONING ITEMS AT TWO O'CLOCK, WHICH IS ALSO A TIME CERTAIN WITH THAT.
AND UNLESS THERE ARE QUESTIONS, I WILL GO TO, UH, THE CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS AND READ THOSE INTO THE RECORD.
ON ITEM NUMBER 20, IT SHOULD READ COUNCIL DISTRICTS FIVE, EIGHT, AND 10 ON ITEMS 42, 72, 1 13, AND 1 21.
IT SHOULD BE, THOSE ITEMS SHOULD BE WITHDRAWN, 42, 72, 1 13, AND 1 21.
SO IF YOU'RE HERE, BY THE WAY, TO SPEAK ON THOSE ITEMS, OR YOU'RE LISTENING IN AND YOU'RE GONNA, UH, PARTICIPATE REMOTELY.
42 72 1 13 AND 1 21 HAVE BEEN WITHDRAWN.
ITEMS 49 AND 1 0 8 ARE POSTPONED TO AUGUST 28TH, 2025.
COUNCIL MEETING, ITEM 1 99, I'M NOT GONNA READ THE WHOLE ITEM, BUT IT, THE FUNDING ASPECT OF IT SHOULD READ FUNDING $100,000 IS AVAILABLE IN THE, DELETE THE WORDS OPERATING BUDGET AND REPLACE IT WITH SOCIAL SERVICES BUDGET SO THAT IT READS, FUNDING $100,000 IS AVAILABLE IN THE SOCIAL SERVICES BUDGET OF THE HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICE.
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ONE 17 THROUGH ONE 19 ARE WITHDRAWN AND REPLACED WITH ITEMS 1 77 THROUGH 1 79 ON THE ADDENDUM.ITEM NUMBER 1 22 SHOULD ADD AS CO-SPONSORS, COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN, COUNCIL MEMBER KRISTEN LANE, COUNCIL MEMBER PAGE, ELLIS COUNCIL MEMBER, JOSE CHITO, VELA COUNCIL MEMBER, MIKE SIEGEL, MEMBERS, THOSE ARE ALL THE CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS TO BE READ INTO THE RECORD.
SO WITH THAT, WE WILL NOW GO TO THE CONSENT AGENDA AND, UH, THE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, AND WE WILL HEAR FROM SPEAKERS, UH, BEFORE I CALL ON THE CITY CLERK TO START DOING THAT.
IF YOU'RE HERE IN PERSON AND WISHING TO GIVE, UH, INPUT TO THE COUNCIL ON ANY OF THESE ITEMS, WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS THE CLERK'S OFFICE IS GOING TO CALL SEVERAL NAMES IN A ROW, ROW, THREE TO FIVE NAMES, UH, AT ONE TIME.
WE HAVEN'T, WE'VE, UH, CHANGED THE FORMAT A LITTLE BIT TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR Y'ALL AND TO, TO, UH, MAKE IT EASIER FOR, UH, PEOPLE TO, TO BE PREPARED FOR THEIR, THEIR TESTIMONY.
AND, AND THE WAY WE CAN DO THAT IS PLEASE COME UP AND IF THERE'S AN EMPTY SEAT IN FRONT OF A MICROPHONE, TAKE IT.
AND, UH, WHEN SOMEBODY, IF THE MICROPHONE'S AVAILABLE, GO AHEAD AND BEGIN.
WHEN YOU FINISH YOUR TESTIMONY OR FINISH YOUR COMMENTS, YOU DON'T NEED TO STAY SEATED THERE.
YOU CAN GET UP AND LEAVE, AND IF SOMEBODY ELSE'S NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
BUT WE'RE ASKING PEOPLE TO DO IT, UH, IN, IN PART OUT OF RESPECT FOR PEOPLE THAT MIGHT BE SPEAKING AFTER YOU.
UH, BECAUSE YOU, YOU GIVE YOUR TESTIMONY AND YOU MAY GO HOME OR GO BACK TO DOING WHAT YOU, YOU, YOU WOULD OTHERWISE BE DOING.
AND THIS, UH, ALLOWS FOR SOME GREATER EFFICIENCY AND IS HELPFUL TO THE PEOPLE THAT FOLLOW YOU AS WELL.
[Consent Agenda]
TO THE CITY CLERK AND ASK THAT YOU HELP US NAVIGATE THIS PROCESS.FIRST ITEM IS NUMBER TWO, RACHEL ROBERTS, FOLLOWED BY ITEM THREE, ZENOBIA JOSEPH, MS. JOSEPH IS YOUR, IF YOU'RE HERE, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY FORWARD.
UM, HONORABLE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY.
UH, MY NAME IS RACHEL ROBERTS.
I AM A RESIDENT OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND I AM THE OWNER OF FLOURISH PLANT SHOP AND WINE BAR.
WE ARE HERE TODAY, UM, TO DISCUSS, UH, GETTING A WAIVER FOR AN ALCOHOLIC PERMIT FOR OUR NEW PLANT SHOP AND WINE BAR LOCATED ON 5,003 AIRPORT BOULEVARD HERE IN AUSTIN.
UM, AND WE ARE ALSO SPEAKING LATER AT THE ZONING PART OF THE MEETING.
THIS IS A NEW LOCATION THAT WE HAVE ALREADY TAKEN OVER, AND, UH, THE ISSUE WITH THE ALCOHOL LICENSE IS RELATED TO THE PROXIMITY.
WE HAVE TWO RIDGE SHOP ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND WE WILL BE GETTING ALL THE SUPPORT FROM OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH WE'VE SUBMITTED LETTERS FROM THE SCHOOL AS WELL AS THE NORTH LOOP NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
AND, UM, WE ARE IN PROXIMITY ON AIRPORT BOULEVARD OF SEVERAL OTHER ESTABLISHMENTS THAT ARE DIRECTLY NEXT DOOR TO US THAT CURRENTLY ARE RESTAURANTS THAT SERVE ALCOHOL.
SO WE ARE JUST TRYING TO FIT IN WITH THAT, THAT'S ALREADY BEEN ZONED.
AND, UM, WE HOPE THAT YOU GUYS CAN CONSIDER OUR WAIVER, AND AGAIN, WE WILL BE PART OF THE ZONING SECTION LATER.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, DO YOU YOU MIND IF I ASK A QUICK QUESTION OF THE OWNER? SURE.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, THE WAIVER THAT YOU SEEK, YOU SAID ALCOHOL LICENSE IS, IS IT? WOULD THE SECOND LOCATION FOR FLOURISH CONTINUE TO JUST BE WINE OR WINE AND LIQUOR? IT IS, NO, NOT, NOT LIQUOR, JUST WINE.
AND THEN THERE'S FOOD AND THERE'S A RETAIL SHOP.
SO 51% OF THE BUSINESS IS FOOD.
NEXT ITEM NUMBER 18, WILLIAM BUNCH.
OKAY, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS ADAM KING AND I'M A LAW CLERK THIS SUMMER AT SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE.
I'M SPEAKING TO TODAY TO SUPPORT ITEM 18, BECAUSE COMMUNICATION AND TRANSPARENCY ARE NEVER BAD THINGS, AND IN FURTHERANCE OF THE GOALS OF COMMUNICATION AND TRANSPARENCY,
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WE ALSO ASK THAT THE COUNCIL CONSIDER MAKING THESE PERMIT APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.IF THESE DOCUMENTS ARE AVAILABLE TO CITY STAFF, THEY SHOULD BE PUBLIC RECORD IN A WAY THAT'S EASY TO TRACK AND ACCESSIBLE.
INDIVIDUALIZED PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUESTS WON'T WORK IF THE PROJECT IS HIDDEN FROM PUBLIC VIEW IN THE FIRST PLACE.
THIS ITEM ENVISIONS EFFICIENCY AND COOPERATION FOR THESE PERMIT APPLICATIONS.
AND THE COUNCIL SHOULD BE PROACTIVE IN MAKING PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT EFFICIENT AS WELL.
PLEASE CONSIDER MAKING THESE PER PERMIT APPLICATIONS TRACKABLE AND AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.
YES, BILL BUNCH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE.
JUST WANNA SUPPORT WHAT MR. KING JUST SAID.
UH, THIS PERMITTING PROCESS FOR THE BALCONES CANYON LANDS PLAN WHERE DEVELOPERS PAY INTO A FUND, UH, TO HELP US ACQUIRE THE PRESERVED LANDS THAT WE STILL NEED TO COMPLETE THE PLAN.
UM, THIS IS COOPERATIVELY MANAGED BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY.
UM, ABSOLUTELY Y'ALL SHOULD BE SHARING THIS INFORMATION EFFICIENTLY BETWEEN THE TWO GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES, BUT THIS SHOULD BE A PUBLIC DATABASE SO THAT EVERYBODY CAN SEE IT, AND THAT SHOULD BE A VERY SIMPLE THING FOR YOU TO DO.
SO AGAIN, JUST URGING YOU TO, UH, ADD THAT, UH, TRANSPARENCY COMPONENT TO THIS ITEM.
BOBBY LAVINSKY, ATTORNEY FOR SAVE SPRINGS.
UM, ITEM 19 IS A $59 MILLION LOAN FOR THE WALNUT CREEK WATER, UH, WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT EXPANSION.
PART OF A LARGER PROJECT EXPECTED TO REACH A BILLION DOLLARS.
THERE'S AT LEAST $75 MILLION ALLOCATED FOR THIS PROJECT IN THIS YEAR'S PROPOSED BUDGET.
THE DEBT FINANCING OF THIS EXPANSION HAS ALREADY LED TO SIGNIFICANT WATER RATE INCREASES FOR CUSTOMERS TO COVER THESE CAPITAL COSTS.
IN FACT, IT WAS THE PRIMARY DRIVER OF THE RECENT WATER INCREASES IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET.
ALTHOUGH SOME STATE REQUIREMENTS HAVE TRIGGERED THE NEED FOR EXPANSION PLANNING, THERE IS NO MANDATE FOR AN EXPANSION OF THE SCALE NOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PROJECT TO PROCEED IMMEDIATELY BY PURPORT, BY PRIORITIZING WATER CONSERVATION INITIATIVES.
THE VOLUME OF WASTEWATER, UH, REQUIRED, SORRY, BY PUR, SORRY, BY PRIOR PRIORITIZING WATER CONSERVATION INITIATIVES, THE VOLUME OF WASTEWATER REQUIR TREATMENT CAN BE REDUCED, POTENTIALLY DELAYING OR EVEN AVOIDING THE NEED FOR AN EXPANSION OF THIS MAGNITUDE.
SO IF THE CITY COUNCIL IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE BURDEN THAT YOU'RE PUTTING ON TAXPAYERS FOR THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, INCLUDING A POTENTIAL TRE, UM, ONE OF THE WAYS YOU COULD AVOID THE, THAT THOSE COSTS ON THE RESIDENTS IMMEDIATELY WOULD BE TO DELAY THIS PROJECT AND PUSH IT BACK FURTHER IN THE TIMELINE.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, BILL BUNCH ALSO WILL SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE.
JUST TO ADD A LITTLE BIT ON HERE, THIS IS A $1.1 BILLION PROJECT OVERALL, UH, TO EXPAND THE WALNUT CREEK WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.
UM, THAT IS NOT AN URGENT PROJECT.
AND GIVEN THE BUDGET, UH, REALITIES YOU'RE FACING, UM, IT REALLY SHOULD BE POSTPONED, UM, WITH PERHAPS ONE EXCEPTION.
ONE COMPONENT OF THE PROJECT IS TO ADD SOME FLOOD PROTECTION FOR THE SEWER PLANT.
UM, OBVIOUSLY THAT'S IMPORTANT.
WE DON'T WANT FLOOD DAMAGE, UH, TO THE FACILITY.
UM, AND, UM, THE DETAILS ON THAT SHOULD BE PAID ATTENTION TO, BUT WE ARE NEVER GONNA NEED AN EXPANSION OF THIS SCALE BECAUSE THERE'S SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH WATER OUT THERE FOR OUR FUTURE OF THE CITY TO, TO CONVERT INTO 25 MILLION GALLONS A DAY, MORE OF SEWAGE TO GO INTO THIS PLANT.
AND THAT'S WHAT Y'ALL HAVE ALREADY APPROVED MOVING FORWARD ON, BUT IT'S EARLY IN THE PROCESS.
YOU NEED TO CALL TIME OUT, UM, AND REDIRECT THIS MONEY, LOWER THE RATES, UH, AND FIX OUR LEAKY PIPES.
ITEM NUMBER 20, WILLIAM BUNCH, BOBBY LAVINSKY.
THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
THIS IS BOBBY LAVINSKY WITH SAVE SPRINGS ALLIANCE.
UM, ITEM ONE 20 IS A TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF THE PROPOSED WATER AND WASTEWATER RATE INCREASES BY AQUATEX FOR THE CUSTOMERS THAT ARE SERVED WITHIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S JURISDICTION.
YOU HAVE A LETTER, UM, IN YOUR EMAIL BOXES, PENNED PRIMARILY BY OUR NEWEST, UM, ONE OF OUR NEWEST ATTORNEYS TO BE, UH, BEATRICE ANDERSON.
SHE IS STUDYING FOR THE BAR RIGHT NOW, SO SHE CAN BE HERE.
UM, BUT I, WE WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM FOR YOU BECAUSE AQUATEX HAS A LONG HISTORY OF VIOLATING GROUNDWATER, PERMITS WASTE, UH,
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WASTING WATER THROUGH LEAKY INFRASTRUCTURE, AND FAILING TO COMPLY WITH BOTH LATE, UH, LOCAL AND STATE REGULATIONS.OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, THEY HAVE PUMPED NEARLY DOUBLE THEIR PERMITTED GROUNDWATER ALLOTMENTS IN THE WIMBERLEY AREA AND WASTED THROUGH UNREPAIRED LEAKS, A VOLUME OF WATER THAT IS EQUIVALENT TO WHAT IS NEEDED TO KEEP JACOB'S WELL FLOWING.
UM, IT HAS DRIVE FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
INSTEAD OF FIXING THEIR SYSTEMS, THEY HAVE FOUGHT ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS AND REFUSE TO PAY OVER $500,000 IN FINES.
WORSE ENVIRONMENTAL VIOLATIONS HAVE LED TO RAW SEWAGE SPILLS AND PERMIT VIOLATIONS ACROSS CENTRAL TEXAS, ALL WHILE CUSTOMERS CONTINUE TO SUFFER FROM HIGH BILLS AND UNRELIABLE SERVICE RATE HIKES HAVE NOT RESULTED IN BETTER INFRASTRUCTURE OR SERVICE FROM AQUATEX.
ON A SYSTEM-WIDE BASIS, AUSTIN'S RESIDENTS DESERVE BETTER, AND WE URGE YOU TO SUSPEND THESE RATES AND FOR YOU TO, UM, AS LOCAL LEADERS SPEAK OUT AND JOIN THE REGIONAL CONVERSATION AND CONSIDERING WHETHER THIS IS AN ENTITY THAT SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE PROVIDING SERVICE IN THE AUSTIN AREA.
YES, THANK YOU MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, WE APPRECIATE THAT THIS IS ON THE AGENDA.
WE SUPPORT IT, UM, SUSPENDING THE RATE INCREASE FOR THIS AQUATEX, UH, RATE, UH, WATER AND SEWER RATES, AND A SMALL AREA THAT'S WITHIN YOUR JURISDICTION.
UM, JUST TO, UH, UNDERSCORE, UH, WHAT YOU HEARD FROM, UH, MR. LAVINSKY ALCA, TEXAS IS A $17 BILLION FOR-PROFIT WATER COMPANY.
THEY'RE DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR JACOB'S WELL GOING DRY FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME BECAUSE OF THEIR EXCESSIVE AND ILLEGAL PUMPING, UM, IN THE WIMBERLEY AREA.
UM, THEY HAVE BEEN EXCEEDING THEIR PER PERMITS FROM PUMPING, UH, THE PERMITS, UH, ISSUED BY THE BARTON SPRINGS EDWARDS AQUIFER CONSERVATION DISTRICT DOING DIRECT HARM TO, TO BARTON SPRINGS AND, AND OTHER WELLS, UH, PEOPLE DEPENDING ON THAT WATER SOURCE.
UM, AND WE ABSOLUTELY APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE CALLING TIME OUT ON THIS AND LOOKING TO, TO OPPOSE THIS RATE INCREASE, IT SHOULD BE ACTIVELY OPPOSED.
AND PLEASE DO COOPERATE WITH HAYES COUNTY, CITY OF WIMBERLEY AND OTHERS IN THE REGION WHO ARE SUFFERING, UH, THIS SAME, UH, GAME OF AQUATEX AND WANTING EVERMORE, UH, RATE INCREASES WHILE DELIVERING INCREDIBLY POOR SERVICE AND VIOLATING PERMITS.
UH, UH, MANY OF THOSE PERMITS.
ITEM NUMBER 27, PAUL ROBBINS ON DECK IS ITEM 29, WILLIAM BUNCH AND ITEM 31, WILLIAM BUNCH, MR. BUNCH.
IF YOU'RE GONNA SPEAK ON THOSE ITEMS, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MR. ROBBINS FLOOR IS YOURS, COUNSEL.
I SERVE AS VICE CHAIR OF THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION.
THIS WILL BE THE THIRD RATE INCREASE PROPOSAL FROM TEXAS GAS SERVICE IN ABOUT A YEAR'S TIME.
IF THEY RECEIVE THIS, RATES WILL HAVE GONE UP 132% IN A 10 YEAR PERIOD.
IT IS MY OPINION THAT THE COMPANY IS ASKING FOR THIS RATE INCREASE NOW TO PREEMPT IT AS AN ISSUE IN THE UPCOMING FRANCHISE RENEWAL NEXT YEAR.
AT OUR LAST MEETING, MEMBERS OF OUR COMMISSION INDIVIDUALLY COMMENTED ON AND MADE SEVEN RECOMMENDATIONS RELATED TO THE RATE CASE GIVEN TIME.
I WILL REPORT ON FIVE OF THEM.
A QUORUM OF OUR COMMISSION RECOMMENDS THE FOLLOWING.
WE AGREE WITH CITY STAFF TO OPPOSE THE CONSOLIDATION OF THE SERVICE AREA FOR PURPOSES OF A STATEWIDE RATE THAT WILL RAISE AUSTIN GAS PRICES ONCE AGAIN.
SECOND, WE AGREE THAT WITH CITY STAFF TO OPPOSE THE OUTRAGEOUS, UH, REGRESSIVE RATE STRUCTURE, UH, THAT'S BEING PROPOSED, WHERE THE MORE YOU USE, THE LESS YOU PAY PER UNIT, UH, THIS DISCOURAGES CONSERVATION AND HURTS THE POOR.
THREE, WE ARE SKEPTICAL OF THE INCREASE IN CHARITY PAYMENTS TO PEOPLE WHO CANNOT PAY THEIR BILLS, AT LEAST THE WAY IT IS PROPOSED.
WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE A DOLLAR PER DOLLAR MATCH FROM COMPANY SHAREHOLDERS TO TRANSPARENCY FOR PROGRAM FUNDING DEVELOPMENT OF AN OUTREACH PROGRAM, AND ASSURANCE THAT THE FUNDS COLLECTED FROM AUSTIN WOULD BE SPENT IN AUSTIN.
UH, FOURTH, WE SUPPORT FULL CAPITAL RECOVERY FEES FOR LINE EXTENSIONS AND HOOKUPS.
I OFFER MY OWN OPINION THAT AUSTIN WATER COLLECTS CAPITAL
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RECOVERY FEES FOR TREATMENT PLANTS, AS WELL AS APPROACH MAINS.UM, BILL BUNCH, UH, SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE DISTRICT FIVE.
UM, THIS ITEM NUMBER 29 IS TO ISSUE $291 MILLION IN CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION DEBT.
UH, YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF OTHER LARGE DEBT ITEMS FOLLOWING THIS ON ALL OF THESE.
UH, WE SIMPLY ASK THAT YOU POSTPONE ACTION ON THIS AND INCORPORATE IT INTO THE BUDGET.
'CAUSE IT SHOULD BE THIS SORT OF HUGE DEBT OBLIGATIONS, ESPECIALLY SINCE THEY'RE NOT VOTER APPROVED.
THERE ARE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION.
THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT IN THE CONTEXT OF THE BUDGET.
UH, AND AS WITH THE, UH, WALNUT CREEK WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, $1 BILLION PROJECT, UH, PROJECTS THAT ARE IN THESE BASKETS OF, OF DEBT OBLIGATIONS THAT ARE NOT URGENT OR NOT PRIORITY, UH, SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR POSTPONEMENT.
THIS IS ALSO IMPORTANT BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, AS YOU KNOW, MUNICIPAL BORROWING RATES ARE RIGHT AT RECORD HIGH.
UH, Y'ALL SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT THAT AND SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING IT.
AND THEN WE HAVE PHENOMENAL, UM, UNCERTAINTY AROUND WHAT ARE THESE THINGS, THESE BIG PROJECTS REALLY GONNA COST WITH TARIFFS, WITH SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES, WITH WORKFORCE, ISSUES WITH CLIMATE CHANGE, WEATHER DISASTERS, HEAT WAVES, FLOODING, UH, IN PARTICULAR, UM, ALL OF THESE BIG TICKET SPENDING ITEMS THAT COMMIT OUR CITY FOR YEARS, DECADES.
AND IN, IN ESSENCE, OUR PERMANENT DECISIONS REALLY NEED SOME SCRUTINY FROM Y'ALL.
YOU CAN'T JUST SIT THERE AND JUST RUBBER STAMP THIS STUFF.
UH, AS MUCH AS YOU'D LIKE TO DO THAT, PLEASE SHOW SOME LEADERSHIP, SOME COMMON SENSE, AND SOME RESPONSIVENESS TO THE FACT THAT WE'RE IN A DIFFERENT WORLD THAN WE WERE IN JUST A FEW YEARS AGO.
THANK YOU, MR. BUNCH, AS YOU WANNA SPEAK ON 31.
ITEM NUMBER 37, WILLIAM BUNCH.
BUT DEREK, PLEASE SAY 41 AGAIN.
WHEN I INDICATED A MINUTE AGO THAT NO ITEMS HAVE BEEN PULLED, COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN HAS PULLED ITEM NUMBER 35.
SO IF YOU'RE, UH, AND THAT WE DO HAVE A SPEAKER ON 35, WE'LL TAKE IT UP LATER ON, ON ITEM 37, WHICH IS A $706,000 EXPENDITURE FOR A FLOATING DOCK, UH, ON THE, UH, NORTH SHORE OF LADY BIRD LAKE, UH, NEAR CAMACHO RECREATION CENTER.
UM, WE'RE NOT NECESSARILY AGAINST THIS, UM, BUT IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THIS DOCK GOT A WHOLE LOT BIGGER THAN WHAT'S ACTUALLY IN THE PARK MASTER PLAN.
UM, THERE WASN'T CLOSE SCRUTINY OF THIS ITEM BY THE PARKS BOARD.
UM, AND FOR THIS AND ALL OF OUR OTHER BIG TICKET ITEMS, THERE REALLY SHOULD BE SOME COMPETITIVE BIDDING AND SOME TRANSPARENCY AND SOME INFORMATION IN YOUR BACKUP ABOUT HOW DO WE GET TO THIS PARTICULAR RECOMMENDATION? WAS THERE ACTUALLY COMPETITIVE BIDDING? IF THERE WAS, WHAT WERE THOSE OTHER BIDS? AND WHY IS THIS ONE BEING, UH, SINGLED OUT, UH, FOR, UH, FOR Y'ALL TO APPROVE LARGE SPENDING ITEMS? THIS ONE'S NOT ENORMOUS, BUT $706,000 FOR A DOCK, UM, IS, IS REAL MONEY, UH, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO OUR PARTS BUDGET.
SO PLEASE LOOK AT IT CAREFULLY.
I HAVE MONICA GUZMAN ON THE LINE FOR ITEM 43.
I'M, I'M PASSING ON COMMENTING.
I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU SAID.
SHE SAID SHE IS PASSING ON COMMENTING.
I'M GONNA MOVE ON TO ITEM 54, DANIELLA SILVA, AND THEN ITEM 58, WILLIAM BUNCH ON 58.
MR. BUNCH IS INDICATING HE'S GONNA PASS ON 58.
MS. SILVA, GIVEN FOUR ITEM 60 ONES AND NOIA, JOSEPH,
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GOOD MORNING, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT THREE.
UM, AND I'M JUST HERE TO TALK ABOUT, UM, THE, UM, DRONE DOGS THAT ARE BEING CONSIDERED.
UH, JUST WOULD LIKE TO READ OUT LOUD THEIR DESCRIPTION FROM SAFE WAR INC'S WEBSITE, WHICH IS A SYSTEM TO HELP SECURITY PRACTITIONERS CREATE SAFER FACILITIES WITH LIVE VIDEO TO MONITORING REMOTE TELE OPERATIONS, DAYTIME, NIGHTTIME CAMERAS, AUTOMATED CHARGING AND MORE.
UM, IT'S USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND IMMEDIATE SOFTWARE UPGRADES, UM, TO DO THESE TYPES OF SURVEILLANCE.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT RIGHT NOW THAT IS NOT THE INTENTION OF COUNSEL, BUT, UM, THERE IS A LOT OF CONCERN AROUND WHAT KIND OF, UH, SERVICES THIS TECHNOLOGY COULD BE USED FOR IN THE FUTURE IF IT IS ADOPTED.
UM, SO I'M ASKING THAT COUNSEL, POSTPONE THIS, UM, ITEM TO ADD LANGUAGE THAT IF THIS TECHNOLOGY IS TO BE ADOPTED, IT WILL NEVER BE USED FOR, UM, DOING ANY KIND OF SURVEILLANCE OR IN LIEU OF COMMUNITY POLICING.
UM, THAT IT WILL NOT INCORPORATE ANY KIND OF, UM, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, UH, VIDEO MONITORING.
UM, NOR WILL IT EVER BE EQUIPPED WITH, UM, ANY KIND OF ITEM THAT COULD POTENTIALLY HARM, UH, A PERSON.
UM, THERE ARE SEVERAL CONCERNS THAT FOLKS FROM THE NO ALPS COALITION HAVE EXPRESSED, UM, MOSTLY IN THAT IT COULD POTENTIALLY HARM PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY IF IT IS NOT BEING, UH, CONTROLLED BY A PERSON ON THE BACKEND, AS THESE CAN BE SET TO OPERATE, AUTOMATE IN AN AUTOMATED FILE OR IN AN AUTOMATED WAY.
AND, UM, FINALLY, ANOTHER CONCERN THAT, UH, A MEMBER HAD WAS THAT, UM, THEY NOTICED THAT Y'ALL ARE POTENTIALLY REDUCING FIRE CREWS FROM FOUR TO THREE, WHICH WOUND UP GETTING PEOPLE KILLED IN HOUSTON AND VIOLATES OSHA AND ASKING, DO THESE DOGS MAKE US SAFER THAN FIREFIGHTERS? WE THINK THEY DON'T.
COUNCIL, I'M XENOBI JOSEPH, AS IT RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO ITEM 61, THAT'S $23.7 MILLION FOR THE AIRPORT CORRIDOR.
AND I JUST WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THAT CHEETO VELA COUNCIL MEMBER ACTUALLY ACKNOWLEDGED SIDEWALKS.
AND THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF WASTED FUNDING.
I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE IN THE DISTRICT FOUR AT GUS GARCIA, EVERY SATURDAY MORNING, INDIVIDUALS ARE SITTING ON THE FLOOR, SITTING ON THE GROUND BECAUSE THE BUS STOP SHELTER WAS NOT EVEN REPLACED THERE.
SO I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE AS WELL, IN DISTRICT SEVEN, AND YOU'VE SEEN THE VIDEOS, THE IMAGES BEFORE, I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS NO SIDEWALK THERE.
SO TO THE MEMBER IN DISTRICT SEVEN, MIKE SIEGEL, I WOULD ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS AN ITEM THAT NEEDS TO BE TABLED AND THAT YOU NEED TO LOOK AT THE PRIORITIZATION OF ALL OF THE CORRIDOR PROGRAMS BECAUSE RESPECTFULLY, THIS DISCRIMINATES AGAINST THE PEOPLE WHO ARE NORTH OF US, 180 3.
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, AND NATIONAL ORIGIN, IT IS DEEPLY DISTURBING TO ME BECAUSE COUNCIL MEMBER CHEETO VELA, AS YOU KNOW, IS AN IMMIGRATION LAWYER.
AND I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE AREA NORTH OF US, 180 3 NORTH LAMAR TRANSIT CENTER, RUNDBERG NORTH LAMAR, IS THE IMMIGRANT GATEWAY TO THE CITY.
AND SO WHAT I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE IS THAT THIS IS AN EQUITABLE AS IT RELATES TO THESE TERRACOTTA SIDEWALKS.
RED SIDEWALKS, WE'LL JUST SAY COLLOQUIALLY IS BASICALLY RED.
SIDEWALKS EQUATE TO RED LINING.
AND I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT ALL THE WAY DOWN AIRPORT BOULEVARD, THERE'S RED SIDEWALK PAINTED ALL THE WAY NEXT TO THE RAILROAD TRACK BY INN OUT BURGER, WHERE YOU CAN'T EVEN BUILD ANYTHING, AND THERE IS A SHELTER THERE.
SO CHEETO VELA, I WOULD INVITE YOU TO COME TO GOVS GARCIA THIS SATURDAY SO THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE FOR YOURSELF PREGNANT WOMEN, IMMIGRANTS, AFRICAN AMERICANS GETTING FOOD FROM THE FOOD PANTRY SITTING ON THE GROUND.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GO AHEAD, ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME.
AND MIKE SIEGEL, I WOULD ASK YOU TO FOLLOW UP TOO.
ITEM 87, BEN LIVINGSTON, TAMARA SCOTT, LAURA TEMPLETON, RITA THOMPSON.
IF, IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND FIND A CHAIR.
ANY ONE OF YOU CAN BEGIN
COUNCIL MEMBERS LAURA TEMPLETON, FORMER DOWNTOWN COMMISSIONER.
[00:30:02]
I URGE YOU ALL TO RECONSIDER THE MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR EXPANSION OF THE CONVENTION CENTER.FOR YEARS, THIS FACILITY HAS OPERATED AT A FINANCIAL LOSS EVEN BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.
FROM 2015 TO 2019, THE CONVENTION CENTER RAN ANNUAL OPERATING DEFICITS, AVERAGING NEARLY $12 MILLION A YEAR.
IN 2021 ALONE, IT BROUGHT IN JUST 6 MILLION IN REVENUE WHILE SPENDING 62 MILLION.
THESE ARE NOT JUST SHORT TERM PANDEMIC ANOMALIES.
THE TRUTH IS THE CENTER HAS NEVER TURNED A PROFIT.
WHEN YOU INCLUDE CONSTRUCTION DEBT AND FULL OPERATIONAL COSTS, YOU ARE NOW PROPOSING TO DOUBLE DOWN, LITERALLY WITH A MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR REBUILD, HOPING THAT BIGGER WILL FIX A FUNDAMENTALLY BROKEN BUSINESS MODEL.
BUT PROJECTIONS SHOW THE EXPANDED CENTER MAY NOT BREAK EVEN UNTIL 2033 OR LATER.
OVER 70% OF HOT FUNDS WILL BE TIED UP FOR NEARLY 30 YEARS FOR TO PAY OFF THE CENTER'S DEBT.
THE MONEY SHOULD RIGHTFULLY SUPPORT THE TRUE TOURISM ENGINES OF AUSTIN.
OUR ARTS, OUR MUSIC, LOCAL BUSINESSES, PARKS IN OUR PEOPLE.
LET'S BE CLEAR, THIS EXPANSION ISN'T ABOUT PROFITABILITY OR WHAT'S BEST FOR AUSTIN'S ECONOMY AND HER PEOPLE.
IT'S ABOUT SUBSIDIZING A LOSS MAKING LOSER OPERATION THAT BENEFITS A NARROW SLICE OF THE ECONOMY AND A HANDFUL OF SPECIAL INTERESTS.
WE NEED TRANSPARENCY, AND WE NEED A SERIOUS PUBLIC CONVERSATION ABOUT WHETHER THIS IS THE WISEST USE OF TAXPAYER BACKED FUNDS IN A TIME OF ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY.
MY NAME IS BEN LIVINGSTON, DISTRICT FIVE.
I SPEAK WITH DISRE DEEP RES, DEEP RESPECT FOR THIS FORUM AND DEEP RESPECT AND, AND DEEP CONCERN FOR HOW AND WHERE YOU'RE STEERING OUR CITY, POURING OVER $5 BILLION OF OUR HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX MONEY INTO A CONVENTION CENTER WHILE AUSTIN'S REAL TOURIST DRAW IT'S MUSIC, ARTS, AND PARKS IS LEFT WITH CRUMBS.
THAT'S NOT VISION, THAT'S SELLING OUT THE VERY PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR YOU TO SERVE, TO GREEDY CORPORATE LOBBYISTS AT A COST OF $130 MILLION A YEAR FOR THE NEXT 30 YEARS.
I THOUGHT I'D, I NEVER THOUGHT I'D SEE AN AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL FOLLOWING SUCH ANTI DEMOCRATIC PLAYBOOK.
PLAYBOOK OF SHUTTING OUT THE PUBLIC, BYPASSING OVERSIGHT, AND FUNNELING PUBLIC FUNDS TO PRIVATE DEALS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.
YOU'RE TEARING DOWN NOT JUST BUILDINGS, BUT TRUST PROCESS AND THE SOUL OF THIS CITY.
REAL LEADERS DON'T DODGE ACCOUNTABILITY BEHIND LEGAL LOOPHOLES.
I JUST REMOVED A SCULPTURE THAT I CREATED FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER THAT YOU'RE TEARING DOWN RIGHT NOW.
A BUILDING THAT SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST, YOUR BIGGEST CUSTOMER SAID WAS PERFECTLY ADEQUATE.
MEANWHILE, SAN DIEGO JUST OPENED A HOTEL AND CONVENTION CENTER ON THE OCEAN FOR $1.3 BILLION.
ONE FIFTH OF WHAT YOU PLAN TO BURY IN A HOLE DOWNTOWN FOR A TANKING INDUSTRY.
MORE THAN 18,000, SOON TO BE MORE THAN 20,000 OF US ARTISTS, MUSICIANS, AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, LIFELONG NEIGHBORS.
ALL AUSTIN VOTERS HAVE SIGNED A PETITION FOR ONE SIMPLE THING, A PUBLIC VOTE ON THIS.
PLEASE STOP SPENDING THE PEOPLE'S MONEY THAT'S NOT YOURS TO SPEND.
HALT THIS PROJECT AND LET THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN VOTE ON IT.
LISTEN TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS FOR A CHANGE BEFORE OUR PETITION.
TAMARA SCOTT, ALSO, DISTRICT FIVE.
UM, I'M REALLY JUST HOPING THAT YOU GUYS WILL CONSIDER PUTTING THIS TO A VOTE.
UM, A CONVENTION CENTER IS NOT FUTURE, IT'S NOT LOOKING FORWARD.
IT'S A BUSINESS MODEL THAT IS OLD, IT'S TIRED, AND I THINK THAT THE PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO VOTE ON THIS.
THIS IS A HUGE COMMITMENT UNTIL 20 20, 20 55, AND YOU GUYS JUST TORE DOWN A CONVENTION CENTER THAT WAS PERFECTLY USABLE, THAT ALSO WASN'T EVEN PAID FOR YET.
SO WHY WOULD YOU COMMIT US TO DOUBLE DOWN LIKE LAUREN SAID TO SOMETHING THAT JUST DOESN'T WORK.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I HOPE THAT YOU MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION AND LET US VOTE ON THIS.
WE, WE NEED TO GO ON THE STICKERS.
CONTINUING ON WITH 87 WILLIAM BUNCH,
[00:35:01]
AND HE HAS TIME DONATED BY GEORGE GODWIN.ARE YOU HERE? OKAY, FOUR MINUTES AFTER MR. BUNCH IS VICTORIA RO AND THEY HAVE TIME DONATED BY LEE ZIEGLER.
IT LEE, ARE YOU HERE? THANK YOU.
ALSO, FOUR MINUTES AND THEN AFTER WILL BE FABIAN RAY.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, BILL BUNCH WITH SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE DISTRICT FIVE.
UH, ALSO ASKING YOU TO PUT A HALT TO SPENDING YET MORE MONEY THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO WASTE ON A CONVENTION CENTER THAT SO FAR YOU'RE REFUSING TO LET VOTERS HAVE A SAY ON.
UM, THIS SPECIFIC ITEM IS ANOTHER $25 MILLION INCREASE, UH, ON A PROJECT MANAGEMENT CONTRACT FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER.
AND IF YOU READ THE BACKUP, IT SAYS TO DO AN ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENT.
SERIOUSLY, WE'RE DOING ENVIRONMENTAL SITE OF ASSESSMENT AT THIS STAGE WHEN YOU'VE ALREADY BEEN DEMOLISHING WHAT WE HAVE AND SPENDING MONEY TO BUILD A GIANT NEW ONE.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS YOU DO AT THE BEGINNING TO HELP YOU FIGURE OUT IF THE PROJECT EVEN MAKES SENSE ENVIRONMENTALLY, SOCIALLY, AND FINANCIALLY TO HELP YOU MAKE BETTER DECISIONS ENVIRONMENTALLY, SOCIALLY, AND FINANCIALLY TO LOOK AT OPTIONS.
AND WE'RE DOING ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENT NOW WITH THIS $25 MILLION INCREASE.
THIS SHOWS HOW UTTERLY AND COMPLETELY IRRESPONSIBLE YOUR BEING WITH OUR MONEY.
THIS STARTED UNDER THE PREVIOUS MAYOR.
THERE WAS SOME VAGUE CA BUSINESS CASE TO BE MADE FOR IT AT THAT TIME, BUT THE WHOLE WORLD HAS CHANGED OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS AND IT'S NOW ON YOUR PLATE.
AND YOU CAN'T JUST SHRUG THIS OFF.
THE VOTERS ARE GONNA HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS.
AND YOU HAVE THE OBVIOUS COURSE OF ACTION.
WHEN WE EXPANDED THIS CONVENTION CENTER IN 1998, MAYOR WATSON PUT IT ON THE BALLOT AND WE VOTED FOR IT BASED ON THE INFORMATION THEN THAT IT WAS A GOOD BET.
IT NEVER MET EVEN HALF OF ITS PROJECTIONS.
THE WHOLE INDUSTRY IS BUSTED AND THIS IS NOW A $5 BILLION WASTE OF MONEY.
AND YOU'RE REFUSING SO FAR TO LET US EVEN HAVE A VOTE.
WE HAVE A PETITION IN THE FIELD.
IT'S GONNA BE FINISHED, IT'S GONNA FORCE IT ONTO THE BALLOT.
UM, PROBABLY WON'T BE ON THE BALLOT UNTIL MAY, BUT Y'ALL NEED TO DO THE RIGHT THING NOW.
I MEAN, THIS IS AS ANTI-DEMOCRATIC AS IT COMES.
20 YEARS AGO, YOU WOULD'VE NEVER IMAGINED COMMITTING $5 BILLION OF OUR PUBLIC REVENUES WITHOUT HAVING THE VOTERS HAVE A SAY ON IT.
DID DEMOCRACY SOMEHOW CHANGE SINCE THEN? IT'S CHANGED HORRIBLY IN OTHER ARENAS, BUT IT'S CHANGED RIGHT HERE.
Y'ALL'S SILENCE YOUR REFUSAL TO EVEN ASK QUESTIONS, HAVE A PUBLIC DIALOGUE, ENGAGE AND LISTEN TO YOUR SPEAKERS AND ASK QUESTIONS.
YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.
YOU CARE ABOUT THE MONEYED INTERESTS, THE INSIDER LOBBYISTS, THE CONSTRUCTION FIRMS, THE ENGINEERING FIRMS, THE ARCHITECTURE FIRMS THAT WILL PUT THE $2 BILLION UP FRONT IN THEIR POCKETS.
THE WALL STREET STREET BOND TRADERS THAT WILL TAKE THEIR CHUNK AND THE LUXURY HOTELS DOWNTOWN THAT WILL CAPTURE THE TINY LITTLE BIT OF PUBLIC BENEFIT THAT WOULD COME FROM THIS.
IT'S TIME TO SAY NO, SAY NO TO THIS $25 MILLION TODAY AND PUT THIS ON THE BALLOT WITH US AND CALL TIME OUT UNTIL THE VOTERS HAVE A SAY.
OUR NEW SUPERINTENDENT AT PFLUGERVILLE ISD PROMOTED STUDENT LEADERSHIP, EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION SKILLS.
I BROUGHT THIS VISION INTO CONNOLLY HIGH SCHOOL'S ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE CLASS.
WE REALIZED WHEN IT CAME TO BALANCING ENVIRONMENTAL INTERESTS WITH GOVERNMENT AUTHORITY, WE HAD TO ADDRESS RESISTANCE, RESILIENCE, AND ROLE MODELS ALONG WITH THE MADNESS AT A NATIONAL LEVEL.
MY STUDENTS BEGAN TO EVALUATE THE CITY OF AUSTIN COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THEIR HANDLING OF THE CONVENTION CENTER.
[00:40:01]
STUDENTS RESPONDED TO AN ARTISTIC EXPRESSION OF WHETHER OR NOT THEY APPROVED OF THE ALMOST PAID FOR CONVENTION CENTER BEING TORN DOWN AND REBUILT.ONLY THREE RESPONDED IN FAVOR OF SPENDING $3 BILLION FOR THE UNCONVENTION CENTER.
ONE OF MY STUDENTS OPPOSED TO THE DEMOLISH DREW A TREE WITH A BANNER STATING, DON'T LEAVE US OUT OF THE SPEECHES.
WITH THE CONVENTION CENTER IN THE BACKGROUND, THE STUDENT'S MESSAGE CONVEYED THAT NATURE AND CULTURAL TOURISM ARE AS JUST IMPORTANT TO THE AUSTIN ECONOMY.
ANOTHER CLASS FOCUSED ON THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A BLACK HOLE OF WASTED MONEY VERSUS A MAGIC HOLE WHERE A BUILDING ESTIMATES DIDN'T CHANGE WITH TIME.
THAT MAGIC HOLE HAS PROVEN TO BE TRUE.
AS THE ESTIMATES FOR THE NEXT CONVENTION CENTER NOW STANDS AT $5 BILLION FOR THE NEXT YEAR, STUDENTS WILL EVALUATE THE TERM A MOCK, A MOCKERY OF DEMOCRACY, AND DETERMINE WHICH LAW MAKERS ARE RULE MODELS FOR HEARING THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE CONDUCTING ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES BEFORE MAKING PLANS OF DESTRUCTIONS AND RECONSTRUCTION AND MAKING AN EFFORT TO BALANCE THE NEGATIVE COST OF OPPOSING SIDES.
THE MORE REASONABLE PRICE TAG OF A CONVENTION CENTER LOCATED IN THE CIRCUIT OF AMERICA'S AREA IS A WAY TO PUT A POSITIVE SPIN ON OUR CONCEPTS OF DEMOCRACY, A COLLABORATION OF BOTH ECONOMIES AND ENVIRONMENT.
WE URGE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO DENY 80 ITEM 87 REQUEST OF FUNDS FOR PROJECT MANAGEMENT UNTIL AN ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY FIRST OCCURS.
WE ALSO URGE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO PUT A HOLD ON THE REBUILDING OF THE CONVENTION CENTER UNTIL ITEM 9 86 IS PRESENTED TO THE PUBLIC FOR VOTER APPROVAL.
THANK YOU FOR HEARING OUR VOICES.
I'VE BEEN LIVING IN AUSTIN FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS.
I'M HERE TO ASK YOU GUYS TO LET US VOTE FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER.
UH, I THINK WE COULD COME UP WITH SO MANY GREAT IDEAS FOR THOSE SIX BLOCKS.
HONESTLY, WE SHOULD HAVE LIKE A CONVERSATION ABOUT IT.
I I HAVE A STUDIO ON THE EAST SIDE.
IT'S CALLED SOMETHING COOL STUDIO.
WE'VE BEEN THERE FOR EIGHT YEARS.
YOU KNOW, BEING AN ARTIST HERE IS NOT AN EASY TASK.
UM, I'M, I'M TRULY ASKING YOU GUYS TO LET US VOTE ON, ON THE CONVENTION CENTER AND, AND LET US HELP YOU GUYS DO SOMETHING COOL WITH IT.
MAYBE A VERY COOL ART DISTRICT COULD BE, UH, BORN IN THIS PLACE INSTEAD OF, UH, WASTING SO MUCH MONEY ON IT.
I WANTED TO SAY, UM, HI TO ALL OF YOU.
AND, AND JOSE, WHICH BOTH OF THEM HAVE BEEN IN MY STUDIO AND I AM HERE 'CAUSE I LOVE THIS CITY.
I FEEL THAT WE ARE ALWAYS, UH, TRYING TO COME HERE AND FIGHT FOR WHAT WE NEED INSTEAD OF YOU GUYS COME TO OUR SPOT AND LISTEN TO OUR, WHAT WE NEED.
SO WE NEED YOU GUYS TO LET US VOTE.
WE NEED YOU GUYS TO BE MORE AUSTINITES THAN EVER AND TO LOOK AT US AS A, AS A AN ALLY, NOT A PERSON THAT HAS TO COME HERE AND ASK FOR YOU, YOU GUYS, TO LET US VOTE ON WHAT WE OWE YOU, OWE US THIS.
YOU NEED US TO, TO LET US VOTE ON THIS ISSUE.
PEOPLE COME TO THIS CITY BECAUSE OF ART AND MUSIC AND I'M HERE TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW THAT I LOVE DOING IT AND I WANNA KEEP DOING IT.
BUT YOU GUYS NEED TO HELP US OUT.
MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER 96 WILLIAM BUNCH.
AND MR. BUNCH HAS TIME DONATED BY GEORGE GODWIN AND LEE ZIEGLER.
LEE, ARE YOU HERE? OKAY, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE.
SIX MINUTES FOR MR. BUNGE AND THEN BETSY GREENBERG AND MICHAEL WHALEN.
THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, BILL BUNCH WITH SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE.
UM, THIS IS A CONVENTION CENTER THAT I SPEAKING PERSONALLY SUPPORT, UM, AND WE URGE YOU TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS.
UM, SPECIFICALLY IT'S CALLING YOU TO DO SOME LEGAL GYMNASTICS TO HELP THE, UH, CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS FOLKS BUILD A CONVENTION CENTER OUT AT THE RACETRACK WHERE THERE'S ALSO AN AMPHITHEATER AND AN ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT, AND NOW THEY'RE GONNA BUILD A GIANT RESORT HOTEL.
[00:45:01]
UM, THIS IS THE MODEL FOR CONVENTION CENTERS.AND THIS IS NOT A SMALL CONVENTION CENTER, 460,000 SQUARE FEET IS WHAT YOUR BACKUP SAYS.
UM, THE GAYLORD, UH, PRIVATE, UH, CONVENTION CENTER RESORT COMPANY JUST OPENED A NEW ONE IN SAN DIEGO, 10 MILES OUTSIDE OF DOWNTOWN.
SO NOT DOWNTOWN, THE WHOLE PROJECT, 1.35 BILLION FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER.
FIVE, 480,000 SQUARE FEET, 1600 ROOM RESORT HOTEL.
THE PUBLIC PUT IN 275 MILLION OUT OF THE 1.4 BILLION.
SO COMPARE THAT TO WHAT Y'ALL ARE RUSHING INTO.
OVER $5 BILLION OF PUBLIC MONEY.
THERE'S NO PRIVATE BUY-IN, IF'S A FAIR AMOUNT.
AND, UH, JW MARRIOTT REALLY WANT IT THIS BAD.
SHOULDN'T THEY PAY FOR IT LIKE THEY'RE PAYING FOR THE BULK OF IT? OTHER PLACES, OTHER PLACES WHICH ARE GONNA OUTCOMPETE YOU IN THIS SHRINKING INDUSTRY.
I MEAN, SERIOUSLY, DO YOU WANT TO GO TO A CONVENTION ON THE BEACH IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA OR IN A GIANT HOLE UNDERGROUND IN DOWNTOWN AUSTIN? TOUGH CHOICE, HUH? I MEAN, SERIOUSLY, YOU CAN'T DEFEND THIS.
SO LET'S, LET'S HAVE A CONVENTION CENTER OUT AT CODA WHERE IT MAKES SENSE, WHERE IT CAN BE BUILT FOR A FRACTION OF THE MONEY AND BUILT MOSTLY BY PRIVATE INVESTMENT DOLLARS.
UM, LIKE WE'RE SEEING ELSEWHERE.
AND THERE'S A GAYLORD, AS Y'ALL WELL KNOW, OUTSIDE OF DALLAS IN GRAPEVINE, TEXAS THAT'S BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL ALSO.
NOW YOU HAVE ONE SENTENCE IN THIS BACKUP MEMO FROM YOUR STAFF SAYING THAT, UH, CONVENTION CENTER OUT AT THE RACETRACK WILL NOT COMPETE WITH YOUR DOWNTOWN CONVENTION CENTER, OURS, THAT YOU'RE FOISTING UPON US SO FAR AND NOT GIVING US ANY VOICE IN, UM, BECAUSE THEY TARGET DIFFERENT MARKETS.
THERE'S ONE CONVENTION CENTER INDUSTRY, IT'S SHRINKING AND IT'S GONNA COMPETE JUST LIKE THE EXPANDED OFFICE CENTER OFFICES IN THE FAIRMONT ARE ALREADY COMPETING AND TAKING SMALLER EVENTS AWAY LEFT AND RIGHT.
THE MOODY CENTER AT UT, IT'S A CONVENTION CENTER ALSO.
Y'ALL ARE SLEEPWALKING THROUGH THIS.
THE WHOLE INDUSTRY IS CHANGING.
IT'S, IT'S AN ANCHOR AROUND THE NECK OF THIS COMMUNITY.
IT'S A BETRAYAL OF THE ARTS AND PARKS, TRANSPORTATION, ALL OF OUR OTHER NEEDS THAT COULD BE FUNDED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY THROUGH THE HOT TAX.
NOW Y'ALL WANNA FALL BACK AND ARGUE THAT, OH, THE WE'RE BOXED IN.
IT HAS TO BE USED FOR A CONVENTION CENTER.
AND YOU'RE ALREADY DOING GYMNASTICS WITH SOME OF THIS MONEY TO HELP FUND HOMELESSNESS.
HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH TOURISM, TO USE WHAT'S DESIGNATED UNDER THE STATUTE AS CONVENTION CENTER MONEY TO SUPPORT THE LIVE MUSIC FUND.
BUT IT DEMONSTRATES THAT YOU CAN BE CREATIVE WITH THIS MONEY AND FIT UNDER THE LAW.
IF YOU CAN CALL CONVENTION CENTER MONEY, LIVE MUSIC FUND MONEY.
YOUR STONE FACE NESS, YOUR REFUSAL TO EVEN TALK ABOUT THIS, TO EVEN THINK ABOUT IT.
YOUR REFUSAL TO GIVE THE VOTE VOTERS A RIGHT TO VOTE ON IT LIKE YOU DIRECTLY AND FREELY DID IN 1998.
MAYOR WATSON, YOU CAN HIDE BEHIND A STATE LAW THAT SAYS YOU DON'T HAVE TO LET US VOTE ON IT.
BUT IS THAT WHAT GOOD DEMOCRATS DO? IS THAT WHAT PROGRESSIVES DO? IS THAT WHAT PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT DEMOCRACY, WHO CARE ABOUT HAVING BE RESPECTING YOUR CONSTITUENTS? OR DO YOU ONLY RESPECT THE LOBBYISTS? YOU ONLY RESPECT THE PEOPLE WHO WRITE THE MAXIMUM $450 CHECK TO YOUR CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS, WHO WRITE EVEN BIGGER CHECKS TO INDEPENDENT PACS AND BANKROLL YOU OR GIVE YOU SECOND JOBS? THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY TO EXPLAIN THIS AND IT'S CORRUPTION AND PEOPLE ARE GONNA FIGURE IT OUT.
[00:50:01]
THIS IS GONNA BE ON THE BALLOT.IT'S BETTER THAT Y'ALL PUT IT ON THE BALLOT AND STOP STONEWALLING AND STOP WASTING OUR MONEY.
THIS DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A CONVENTION CENTER, IT COULD BE A GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM, IT COULD BE SOMETHING TRULY INSPIRING LIKE OTHER CITIES ARE DOING ALL OVER THE WORLD.
MICHAEL WHALEN ON BEHALF OF, UH, RITA, SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF ITEM 96.
I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SPEAK TO THE MECHANICS OF THIS ITEM.
THE CITY'S FORMAL INVOLVEMENT IN THIS DEVELOPMENT IS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW, BUT IT IS SIMPLY PRACTICAL INVOLVEMENT AND IT IS NOMINAL.
IT'S MORE OF A PROCEDURAL TECH TECHNICALITY.
WHAT THE STATUTE REQUIRES FROM THE CITY IS THREEFOLD.
ONE, A TECHNICAL DESIGNATION AS A QUOTE QUALIFIED PROJECT, WHICH YOU APPROVE BACK IN MARCH TWO, THE DEDICATION OF A NOMINAL AMOUNT OF HOT FUNDS THAT WOULD ONLY BE GENERATED BY THIS QUALIFIED PROJECT, ALSO APPROVED IN MARCH AND THREE FOR THE CITY TO HOLD THE MUNICIPALITY.
THAT'S WHAT THE STATUTE SAYS, TO HOLD THE TITLE TO THE LAND UNDER THE HOTEL AND THE CONFERENCE CENTER STRUCTURE ITSELF FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS.
THE LATTER ITEM IS WHAT YOU'RE VOTING ON TODAY.
THE CITY'S OWNERSHIP OF THE HOTEL LAND AND CONFERENCE CENTER IMPROVEMENTS IS THE FINAL CONDITION FOR RITA TO BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE A TEMPORARY REBATE ON STATE TAXES.
NO MONEY IS BEING SPENT TO PURCHASE THE PROPERTY.
IT IS SIMPLY A TRANSFER OF TITLE TO COMPLY WITH THE STATE STATUTE REQUIREMENTS.
RITA WILL CONSTRUCT AND MANAGE THE QUALIFIED PROJECT AND AT THE END OF THE ENTITLEMENT PERIOD, OWNERSHIP WILL REVERT BACK TO RITA AND THE STATE REBATES WILL TERMINATE.
THE CITY IS NOT GIVING TAX INCENTIVES TO RITA.
IT IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF THE FACILITIES.
THE DEVELOPMENT WILL PAY PROPERTY TAXES TO LOCAL JURISDICTIONS JUST LIKE ANYONE ELSE.
THE SITE PLANS WILL GO THROUGH STAFF, ENVIRONMENTAL, UTILITY, TRAFFIC, AND SAFETY REVIEWS JUST LIKE ANYONE ELSE.
I ALSO WANT TO NOTE THAT THE CONFERENCE CENTER IS NOT A COMPETITOR TO THE DOWNTOWN CONVENTION CENTER.
THE MEETING SPACE AT THE RITA CONFERENCE CENTER CONVENTION CENTER WILL BE THREE AND A HALF TIMES SMALLER THAN THE DOWNTOWN CONVENTION CENTER.
THE ACTUAL USABLE SPACE WILL BE BETWEEN 170 AND 180,000 SQUARE FEET.
IT'S TARGET DEMOGRAPHIC ARE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE MUCH, MUCH SMALLER AND IT'LL BE MOSTLY OUT THERE, OBVIOUSLY, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, WERE AVAILABLE.
MAYOR, BEFORE I CONTINUE WITH THE NEXT ITEM, I UNDERSTAND THERE MIGHT BE A PRESENTATION ON ITEM 1 0 2 ON ITEM NUMBER 1 0 2, UH, MEMBERS.
ITEM NUMBER 1 0 2 UH, REGARDS A POTENTIAL LEGAL SETTLEMENT.
SO WE WILL ASK, UM, FOR A UH, PRESENTATION FROM OUR LEGAL COUNSEL.
I'M ACTING LITIGATION DIVISION CHIEF SARAH SCHAEFER.
I'M HERE TODAY TO RECOMMEND THAT YOU APPROVE A SETTLEMENT IN A PERSONAL INJURY LAWSUIT THAT APPEARS ON YOUR AGENDA AS ITEM NUMBER 1 0 2.
WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT YOU APPROVE A PAYMENT OF $100,000 TO SETTLE THE DALLAS SPENCER VERSUS CITY OF AUSTIN LAWSUIT.
THIS LAWSUIT RELATES TO AN OCTOBER TWO, UH, 2023 CAR ACCIDENT INVOLVING AN AUSTIN WATER DEPARTMENT VEHICLE WHERE PLAINTIFF MR. SPENCER SEEKS PAYMENT FOR HIS INJURIES.
IN EXCHANGE FOR THE PAYMENT, MR. SPENCER WILL RELEASE ANY AND ALL CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY FROM THE ACCIDENT AND WILL ALSO DISMISS HIS LAWSUIT, WHICH IS FILED IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF TRAVIS COUNTY.
THE LAW DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS THAT YOU APPROVE PAYMENT BASED ON THESE TERMS AND I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF THERE ARE ANY.
YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF COUNSEL? THANK YOU.
MOVING ON TO ITEM 1 0 5, ROY WHALEY, ENOVIA, JOSEPH BILL BUNCH.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND THANK A CHAIR.
HOW TO Y'ALL? MY NAME'S ROY WHALEY.
IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU BACK ON THE DIOCESE.
I HOPE YOU ENJOYED YOUR BREAK AND READY TO GET BACK TO WORK.
UH, BEFORE I GET STARTED ON 1 0 5, I'D JUST LIKE TO MENTION, UM, THE NEED TO SHOW APPRECIATION FOR, FOR OUR FRIEND, UH, THAT JUST PASSED AWAY RECENTLY, DR.
SPELMAN AND I HOPE THERE WILL BE A CEREMONY BY SOMEONE HERE AT THE CITY AND THAT YOU WILL ALSO INCLUDE JACKIE GOODMAN.
UM, I THINK THESE ARE TWO GIANTS HERE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, AND I WOULD LIKE FOR Y'ALL TO SHOW YOUR APPRECIATION FOR THEM.
[00:55:02]
UH, WHICH IS THE MAIN THING I'M WANTING TO TALK ABOUT BEING AS HOW I VIOLATED THE QUORUM IN THE PAST, AND I DID APOLOGIZE FOR THAT AT THAT MEETING.AND THEN LATER IN WRITING TO EVERYONE, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A DEFINITION AND OF DECORUM WHAT YOU WILL CONSIDER THE DECORUM, NOT THE STATE OF TEXAS, BUT WHAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN WILL CONSIDER, UH, A VIOLATION OF DECORUM AND THE FOLLOW-UP ACTION.
IF THERE IS A VIOLATION OF DECORUM, WILL THAT SPEAKER BE REQUIRED TO LEAVE THAT MEETING? WILL THEY BE BANNED FROM FUTURE MEETINGS AND COMMISSION MEETINGS? AND I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS DONE THIS, BUT, BUT ANYWAY, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A BETTER DEFINITION OF THAT.
AND I ALSO WANT TO TAKE A CHANCE ON VIOLATING AND DECORUM BY COMPLIMENTING THIS SIDE OF THE DAIS WHO TYPICALLY LISTEN TO SPEAKERS OR AT LEAST VISIBLY LISTEN AS OPPOSED TO THE OTHER SIDE THAT RARELY MAKES EYE CONTACT.
THANK YOU MR. WILLIAMS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH MS. JOSEPH.
THANK YOU MAYOR COUNCIL, I'M ENOVIA JOSEPH, AS IT RELATES TO ITEM 1 0 5, YOUR RULES CHANGES.
I WOULD JUST ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE, I DO APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE COMPLYING WITH STATE LAW TO CHANGE YOUR POLICY, BUT I WOULD ASK YOU TO TABLE THE REST AS IT RELATES TO THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION THAT YOU ALLOW US OR REQUIRE US TO SUBMIT OUR PRESENTATIONS IN ADVANCE.
MAYOR, I WOULD ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE RACHEL AND I THIS MORNING HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT JUST GIVING THE FLASH DRIVE TO STAFF BEFORE WE ENTER.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO PUT US ON A STRICT DIET, SO TO SAY, I WOULD ASK THAT COUNCIL NOT POST LATE BACKUP BECAUSE THE CUTOFF FOR SPEAKERS THAT ARE REMOTE IS AT NOON, WHICH MEANS ANY LATE BACKUP DISENFRANCHISES THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE SPEAKING REMOTELY OR WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON WHAT YOU HAVE POSTED LATE.
SO I WOULD ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THE NEED TO HAVE SOME PARODY AS IT RELATES TO THE ACTIONS THAT YOU TAKE AND WHAT YOU'RE REQUIRING OF THE PUBLIC.
I WOULD ALSO ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THE NEED TO ALLOW SPEAKERS WHO ARE REMOTE TO ACTUALLY DONATE TIME.
YOU HAVE A VENDOR, THE VENDOR CAN DISCONNECT US.
SO THEY CERTAINLY CAN ASK THE PERSON IF BOTH OF THEM ARE ON THE LINE SO THAT YOU CAN HAVE SOME PARITY AS IT RELATES TO THE SITTING HERE IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
I WOULD ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT YOU TOOK DOWN THE RULES AND WE ARE NOT EVEN ABLE TO SIT ON THE FLOOR IN THE BACK, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE NOT IMPEDING THE EXIT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
I WOULD ASK YOU TO PUT IT IN WRITING SO THAT WE CAN SIT AND SQUAT JUST LIKE WE DO AT THE CAPITOL BECAUSE WE'RE NOT IMPEDING THE PROCESS.
AND I WOULD THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THE TIMER IN FRONT OF US.
IT SHOWS THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY ACT EXPEDITIOUSLY WHEN YOU CHOOSE TO DO SO.
AND SO THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS AND I WOULD ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT NOT EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO A PHONE.
AND WHEN YOU REQUIRE THE PERSON TO GIVE THE DIGITS, THEY COULD BE AT THE LIBRARY, THEY COULD BE AT GOODWILL NORWOOD AND UNHOUSED.
PEOPLE DON'T HAVE PHONES SOMETIMES TOO, AND OUR SENIOR CITIZENS DON'T.
SO PLEASE ADDRESS THESE AND TABLE THE REST OF THE ITEMS EXCEPT FOR WHAT'S LEGISLATIVELY REQUIRED.
UM, THANK YOU MAYOR COUNCIL BILL BUNCH SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE, UH, ON, UH, ITEM 1 0 5, WHICH IS AMENDING YOUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING RULES OF PROCEDURE, UH, PRIMARILY TO COMPLY WITH, UH, NEW STATE LAW THAT REQUIRES ADDITIONAL, MORE ADVANCED NOTICE.
UM, THIS IS A GREAT PUBLIC IN THE GOVERNMENT, IN THE SUNSHINE STATUTE PASSED BY OUR REPUBLICAN DOMINATED STATE LEGISLATURE.
UM, AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR GOODWILL IN MOVING EXPEDITIOUSLY TO COME INTO COMPLIANCE WITH THIS EARLIER NOTICE REQUIREMENTS.
UM, SO THE BULK OF IT IS GOOD.
MS. JOSEPH SAID MORE THAN I WAS GONNA SAY, SHE PAID CLOSE ATTENTION TO THIS.
UM, THE ADDITIONAL BURDEN THAT YOU'RE PUTTING ON THE COMMUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IS COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY AND IS YET ANOTHER INDICATION OF YOUR HOSTILITY TO HAVING THE PUBLIC PARTICIPATE IN YOUR DECISION MAKING.
THAT MESSAGE IS LOUD AND CLEAR OVER AND OVER.
IT'S, IT'S CLEAR PARTLY WITH WHAT YOU'RE DOING RIGHT HERE, MAKING US SIT DOWN NOW OR LOWER DOWN.
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THAT YOU'RE STARING AT YOUR PHONE INSTEAD OF PAYING ATTENTION.THERE'S ONE OF US, WE'RE CLOSER TO YOU.
WE'RE ON YOUR LEVEL LOOKING AT YOU EYE TO EYE.
THIS IS, THIS IS GOING BACKWARDS.
YOU DO POSITIVE THINGS, THE TIMER'S GREAT AND YOU DO HORRIBLE THINGS.
NONE OF THESE AREN'T BY ACCIDENT.
YOU'RE MAKING CHOICES MAKE, PLEASE MAKE BETTER CHOICES.
NEXT UP IS 1 0 6 ZENOBIA JOSEPH.
GOOD MORNING, MARY AND COUNSEL.
I'M MONICA GUZMAN, POLICY DIRECTOR AT GABA.
WE SUPPORT ITEM 1 0 5, VERSION TWO.
WE WANNA SPEAK TO THE PART SUBMISSION OF ELECTRONIC PRESENTATIONS 5:00 PM THE DAY PRIOR TO THE COUNCIL MEETING.
WE APPRECIATE THE NEED FOR PROCEDURAL UPDATES TO STREAMLINE PROCESSES.
THOUGH THE AVERAGE RESIDENT MAY NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO SO.
COUNSEL HAS BEEN FLEXIBLE IN ALLOWING THE COMMUNITY TO SHARE THE ELECTRONIC PRESENTATIONS THE DAY OF THE MEETING UPON COUNCIL APPROVAL, WE REQUEST YOU CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THAT FLEXIBILITY.
THIS IS THE L-G-B-T-Q-I-A ITEM.
IT SPECIFICALLY SPECIFIES 2025 WORLD CONFERENCE FOR L-G-B-T-Q-I-A AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROFESSIONALS AND YOU'RE ALLOCATING $300,000.
I JUST WANNA CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION THE LETTER FROM SECRETARY DUFFY, SPECIFICALLY APRIL 24TH, 2025.
MY OPPOSITION IS NOT TO INDIVIDUALS, IT IS TO THE PROCESS AND THE POLICY SET BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
HE SPECIFIES WHETHER OR NOT DESCRIBED IN NEUTRAL TERMS ANY POLICY, PROGRAM OR ACTIVITY THAT IS PREMISED ON A PROHIBITED CLASSIFICATION, INCLUDING DISCRIMINATORY POLICIES OR PRACTICES DESIGNED TO ACHIEVE SO-CALLED DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION.
IN QUOTES ARE DEI AND QUOTE, GOALS.
PRESUMPTIVELY VIOLATES FEDERAL LAW.
YET YOU, THIS ENTIRE COUNCIL HAVE IGNORED THE LANGUAGE IN THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION'S LETTER.
I WOULD ASK YOU MAYOR TO RECOGNIZE IT AS WELL.
AFRICAN AMERICANS ARE SIX TIMES MORE LIKELY THAN OUR WHITE COUNTERPARTS TO BE HOMELESS.
AND I WOULD ASK YOU TO DISCLOSE WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE PROVIDED THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR A CONFERENCE FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS.
I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL HERITAGE DISTRICT.
THAT'S APPROXIMATELY A AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT YOU'VE GIVEN THEM BEFORE A CONFERENCE.
THIS IS DISCRIMINATORY BECAUSE YOU'RE CHERRY PICKING WHICH ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP.
I WOULD ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE AS WELL, ONCE AGAIN, AS MY COMMENTS ALWAYS ARE, ARE IN THE CONTEXT OF TITLE VI OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964, WHICH PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE, COLOR, OR NATIONAL ORIGIN.
AND I WOULD ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT SECRETARY DUFFY'S LETTER ALSO INCLUDES TITLE SIX.
AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD DO, A CITY MANAGER IS TO SCRUB ALL OF THE POLICIES AND RECOGNIZE WHERE YOU ARE VIOLATING TITLE SIX AND SPECIFICALLY DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME.
SPEAKING ON THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT FOR ITEM 1 0 8, WILLIAM BUNCH, PHILLIP WILEY AND OPIA JOSEPH, PLEASE GO AHEAD MS. JOSEPH.
THANK YOU MAYOR COUNSEL, THIS IS THE IMAGINE AUSTIN $3 MILLION ITEM.
I WOULD JUST ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS CERTAINLY, UH, A GOOD IDEA TO POSTPONE THIS ITEM.
AND I WOULD ASK THE CITY MANAGER TO ACTUALLY TELL US, OR ASK THE AUDIT DEPARTMENT TO GIVE THAT INFORMATION TO THE CITY MANAGER AS TO HOW MANY OF THESE PLANS WE HAVE ACTUALLY FUNDED IN THE LAST DECADE OR OVER THE LAST TWO DECADES.
BECAUSE THAT INFORMATION WILL INFORM THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.
I WOULD ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE AS WELL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO ASK US TO RECOGNIZE THE SHORTFALL, THE $33 MILLION.
BUT THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHERE PERHAPS WE COULD SAVE SOME MONEY AND USE THAT TOWARDS SOME SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAMS THAT ARE BEING CUT.
WE DON'T NEED ANOTHER STUDY MAYOR.
AND EVERY DEPARTMENT THAT HAS BRIEFED THE 2026 BOND ADVISORY TASK FORCE HAS STATED THAT YOU ARE LEADING WITH RACIAL EQUITY, YET YOUR 2023 AUSTIN STRATEGIC MOBILITY PLAN, WALK, BIKE, ROLL AMENDMENT ON PAGE 37 SPECIFIES AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES.
AND ON MARCH 4TH, 2021, I WILL JUST REMIND YOU THAT YOU APOLOGIZE TO
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AFRICAN AMERICANS FOR INTENTIONAL DISCRIMINATION.SO WE DON'T NEED ANOTHER PLAN FOR YOU TO TELL US WHAT YOU ALREADY KNOW.
YOU ARE NOT LEADING BIRACIAL EQUITY AND IF THIS IS WHAT'S CALLED THE EFFY EFFECT, THEN IT IS DISTURBING MAYOR, BECAUSE WHAT YOU'RE LEAVING FOR YOUR GRANDDAUGHTER IS A SEGREGATED CITY.
EPPER DOESN'T CHANGE ITS SPOTS.
THE CITY WAS SEGREGATED WHEN YOU WERE MAYOR THE FIRST TIME AND IT'S STILL SEGREGATED TODAY.
I WOULD ASK YOU TO POSTPONE THIS ITEM AND TO ACTUALLY SAVE THE $3 MILLION AND USE IT FOR THE SERVICES THAT ARE NEEDED.
I SEE YOU LOOKING AT THE CLOCK, HAVE SE 17 SECONDS, BUT I'M FINISHED.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GLADLY ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME.
UH, BILL BUNCH AGAIN, SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE, UH, DISTRICT FIVE ALSO URGING YOU TO, UH, NICKS THIS $3 MILLION EXPENDITURE TO UPDATE THE IMAGINE AUSTIN COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
UM, CERTAINLY THAT'S, UH, A WORTHY THING TO DO.
BUT BEFORE YOU RAISE TAXES, UH, BEFORE YOU SHORT CHANGE, UH, URGENT NEEDS, UH, IN LIGHT OF, YOU KNOW, FEDERAL FUNDING CUTS TO THE ARTS, TO PARKS AND CONSERVATION, TO A WHOLE RANGE OF THINGS, UH, NOT JUST, UH, CUTS AND FUNDING DIRECTLY TO THE CITY, BUT TO OTHER ENTITIES THAT PROVIDE IMPORTANT SERVICES.
UM, THIS IS NOT A PRIORITY IN THIS BUDGET MATTER.
UM, YEAH, WE'D LOVE TO UPDATE THINGS THAT GET STALE, BUT IF YOU WANT TO DO THAT, WHAT'S REALLY STALE IS THE DECISION BY THE MAYOR ADLER COUNCIL TO COMMIT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO A NEW CONVENTION CENTER THAT WAS MADE PRE COVID.
AND THE WHOLE WORLD HAS CHANGED.
UM, THE CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE CHANGED.
THE PRICE TAG HAS ADDED A FEW BILLION SINCE THEN.
UM, IF YOU'RE GONNA REVISIT A PLAN, THAT'S THE PLAN TO REVISIT.
UH, PLEASE SAVE THIS $3 MILLION.
ITEM ONE 12, THE NOIA JOSEPH, AND THEN ITEM ONE 14, CARLOS LEON, SHE, IF YOU PLEASE COME FORWARD, PLEASE BEGIN.
THIS ITEM IS SPECIFICALLY THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION.
$10 MILLION FOR SAFE STREETS AND ROADS FOR ALL.
I CANNOT EMPHASIZE ENOUGH THE DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES AND HOW YOU ARE BAKING DISCRIMINATION INTO THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE CITY.
CHEETO VELA SAID AT THE WORK SESSION THAT MAYBE WE SHOULD BE WAITING UNTIL THE 2026 BOND ELECTION.
I WOULD SUBMIT TO YOU THAT YOU NEED TO LOOK AT THE MONIES THAT YOU'VE ALREADY RECEIVED FROM THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION, THE APPROXIMATE $300 MILLION THAT YOU'VE RECEIVED THROUGH PASS THROUGH FUNDS FROM TDOT.
AND RECOGNIZE ONCE AGAIN THAT YOU WILL NOT SEE MULTIMODAL MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA THAT IS NORTHEAST NORTH OF US, 180 3.
AND SPECIFICALLY AS IT RELATES TO THE SIDEWALKS.
YOU'LL SEE A PLAIN GRAY SIDEWALK AT HARRIS ELEMENTARY WHERE I WENT LAST NIGHT, THE DEVE, THE CONSTRUCTION WAS DONE WITH THE OLD GREEN BUS STOP SHELTER, RUSTY AS IT IS IN PLACE.
THEY JUST POURED THE CONCRETE SLAB AROUND IT.
BUT ONCE AGAIN, REMEMBER CIRCLE C, IT WAS 1.8 MILLION OR SO THAT WAS BEING SPENT FOR THE TWO-WAY BIKE LANES.
YOU HAVE MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT.
I WOULD SUBMIT TO YOU THAT THE 50 50 MODE SHARE IS SIMPLY A PROXY FOR RACE DISCRIMINATION BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT BUILDING MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT.
YOU'RE NOT BUILDING SAFE ROADS AND STREETS IN THE AREA NORTH OF US, 180 3.
SO ONCE AGAIN, AND I APPRECIATE MIKE SIEGEL'S STAFFER COMING TO ME, BUT I WOULD ASK MIKE ROGERS AND THE STAFF TO JUST GO WALK.
LET'S JUST GO WALK SO YOU CAN SEE FOR YOURSELF.
I DON'T THINK YOU WOULD TAKE YOUR CHILD TO SCHOOL AS NATASHA HARPER MADISON ACKNOWLEDGED WHEN I SHOWED YOU THE DARK AREA OF COPPERFIELD ELEMENTARY WHERE THERE IS NOT A SAFE ROUTE TO SCHOOL.
IT IS NOT SAFE ROADS FOR ALL IT IS DISCRIMINATORY.
SO CARLOS LEONE, FIRST AND FOREMOST, COULD I ASK US HOW THE OATH FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TO ITEM ONE 14? DO NOT NEGOTIATE WITH KAT METRO'S, VICE PRESIDENT OF BUS OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE MILES TURIN JUNE 5TH.
I WAS ON MY WAY HERE TO TESTIFY BEFORE YOU
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WHEN TURIN TARGETED ME IN PERSON AT A RAPID BUS STOP PHYSICALLY AND ILLEGALLY OBSTRUCTING ME FROM BOARDING TO PREVENT ME FROM GETTING HERE.HE SAID I WAS BANNED FROM CITY COUNCIL FALSELY SPEAKING FOR YOU TO GASLIGHT ME.
HE TOLD ME I WOULD NO LONGER BE WRITING CAP METRO WITHOUT CAUSE TO BAN ME.
FIVE DAYS LATER, HE ALLEGEDLY EMAILED SUBORDINATES A PICTURE OF ME AND WROTE CARLOS DELEON IS NOT ALLOWED TO BOARD WITH HIS LUGGAGE BLATANTLY DISREGARDING TEXAS TRANSPORTATION CODE 4 51 0.001 PART FOUR, DEFINING MASS TRANSIT AS THE TRANSPORTATION OF PASSENGERS AND HAND CARRIED PACKAGES OR BAGGAGE OF A PASSENGER.
HE REFERS TO ME CARLOS LEONE AS CARLOS DELEON TO ILLEGALLY DISCRIMINATE AGAINST ME IN PRACTICE, BUT AGAINST DELEON ON RECORD AFTER I BLEW THE WHISTLE, THE CAP METROS BOARD TURIN ALLEGEDLY USED SUBORDINATES TO TRY LIMITING ME TO TWO ONBOARD BAGS.
ANOTHER LIE, BECAUSE NEITHER CAP METRO'S CODE OF CONDUCT NOR TEXAS TRANSPORTATION CODE CHAPTER 4 51 MANDATES A TWO BAG LIMIT BECAUSE CAP METRO IS A PUBLIC COMMON CARRIER BY STATUTE AND LAW.
TURIN'S WORDS AND ACTIONS ABOVE THE RULES AND LAW ECHO A PL INTERIM DIRECTOR HANNAH TERRELL, STILL NOT FOLLOWING YOUR SUPERSEDING RULES FOR PUBLIC USE OF CITY PROPERTIES RULE SIX H, WHICH I REMINDED YOU OF JUNE 5TH.
SO AT CARLOS LEON, FIRST AND FOREMOST,
THANKS TO YOUR APPOINTMENTS, YOUR LIBRARY COMMISSION IS MEETING MONTHLY.
I HAVE REPEATEDLY TESTIFIED IN PERSON TO THEM AND A PL INTERIM DIRECTOR HANNAH TERRELL, HOW YOUR SUPERSEDING RULES FOR PUBLIC USE OF CITY PROPERTIES RULE SIX H LIMITS DENYING PHYSICAL ACCESS ONLY TO THE LIBRARY BRANCH WHERE AN ALLEGED QUALIFYING VIOLATION OCCURRED.
NONETHELESS, TERRELL CONTINUES ISSUING CTN BANNING PATRONS FOR ONE YEAR FROM ALL 20 A PL LOCATIONS WITHOUT AUTHORITY TO DO SO.
YOU COUNSEL HER INSUBORDINATION GOES BEYOND CITY LIMITS BECAUSE RECEIVING INFORMATION IN PERSON AT THE LIMITED PUBLIC FORUM LIBRARY IS A FUNDAMENTAL FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT PER FIFTH AND 14TH.
AMENDMENTS AND CONSTITUTIONAL CASE LAW, SUBSTANTIVE DUE PROCESS FORBIDS TERRELL FROM DENYING THAT FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT UNLESS THE INFRINGEMENT IS NARROWLY TAILORED TO SERVE A COMPELLING STATE INTEREST.
THOUGH KEEPING LIBRARIES PEACEFUL IS A COMPELLING STATE INTEREST.
BANNING SOMEONE FROM ALL A PL BRANCHES IS NOT LEAST RESTRICTIVE, MEANING TERRELL CNS FAILED A STRICT SCRUTINY TEST.
IN CONTRAST, YOUR RULES DENYING PHYSICAL ACCESS ONLY TO THE LIBRARY BRANCH WHERE AN ALLEGED QUALIFYING VIOLATION OCCURRED IS LEAST RESTRICTIVE.
PASSING THE STRICT SCRUTINY TEST, THEREFORE PER CITY CODE 2 3 5 J, I AM REQUESTING THE CITY AUDITOR INVESTIGATE TERRELL'S ALLEGED VIOLATIONS OF PERSONNEL POLICY AND LAW, INCLUDING INSUBORDINATION DISHONESTY, UNACCEPTABLE PERSONAL CONDUCT, UNACCEPTABLE JOB PERFORMANCE AND POLICY VIOLATION DEFINED BY MCS RULES.
PUNISH TURIN AND TERRELL WITH A NEW A PL DIRECTOR ASAP.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M MONICA GUZMAN, POLICY DIRECTOR AT GAVA.
WE APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER CORY'S OFFICE REACHING OUT TO GAVA ABOUT SUPPORT FOR THIS RESOLUTION.
YOU KNOW THAT OUR COMMUNITIES INCLUDE MANY ON THE MARGIN, INCLUDE MANY WHO ARE IN THE CROSSHAIRS OF RACISM, XENOPHOBIA, BIGOTRY, AND NOW IMPENDING AUTHORITARIANISM.
WE'RE IN THIS FIGHT WITH DIVERSE COMMUNITIES IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES EVERY DAY.
WHAT WE NEED NOW MORE THAN THIS RESOLUTION IS FOR YOU TO FULLY FUND THE OFFICE OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION, ESPECIALLY THE UNDOING RACISM WORKSHOPS.
WE WANT UNDOING RACISM FULLY FUNDED BECAUSE THESE ACTIVITIES REGULARLY BRING DIRECTED, DIRECTLY IMPACTED COMMUNITIES IN THE CONVERSATION WITH CITY REPRESENTATIVES IN A SAFE AND LIBERATED SPACE.
AND WITH CONTEXT CITY LEADERS, INCLUDING DEPARTMENTAL LEADERSHIP BEING A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW RACISM, XENOPHOBIA, AND THEIR INTERSECTION WITH CLASS AND GENDER ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTING AUSTINITES SAFETY AND WELLBEING.
[01:15:01]
THAT INTERACTION AND NETWORKING CATALYZES REAL ACTION AND OUTCOMES, REDUCING HARM TO THESE COMMUNITIES AND BUILDING A BROADER BASE OF SUPPORTIVE ALLIES, INCLUDING THOSE WITH INSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY TO CHANGE HOW WE PREPARE AND RESPOND TO OPPRESSIVE FORCES AND INDIVIDUAL HATE.THAT IS HOW YOU PREVENT AND REDUCE HATE CRIMES WITH BROADER UNDERSTANDING, STRATEGIC RELATIONSHIPS AND COLLABORATION.
RESTORE FUNDING TO THESE WORKSHOPS TODAY, THE ANTIDOTE TO HATE IS CRITICAL.
HI, UM, MY NAME IS TABITHA FAR.
UM, I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE CIVIL ENGINEER FOR THIS PROJECT, KATE DAWSON, ENGINEERS, UM, AND WE ARE IN SUPPORT OF ITEM NUMBER 1 23 ON GRANTING THE WAIVER FOR THIS PROJECT, THAT PIECE LUTHER
UM, WE BELIEVE THIS DEVELOPMENT WILL BE INCREDIBLY BENEFICIAL TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND THE PRESIDENT AND A TEAM OF HARDWORKING INDIVIDUALS HERE TODAY NEED YOUR HELP TO MAKE IT A REALITY.
I AM ALSO SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE CIVIL ENGINEER FOR THIS PROJECT WITH KATE DAWSON, ENGINEERS IN SUPPORT OF ITEM NUMBER 1 23 ON GRANTING A WAIVER FOR THE PROJECT.
THIS IS A GREAT PROJECT AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING OUT WITH THE CHURCH ON OUR SIDE FOR NEARLY TWO YEARS NOW.
UM, AS TABBY MENTIONED, WE FEEL LIKE THIS PROJECT WILL BE INCREDIBLY BENEFICIAL TO THE CITY AND ITS RESIDENTS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I'LL DONATE THE REST BACK TO COUNCIL.
MOVING TO IN-PERSON SPEAKERS FOR ITEM 1 23.
I ALSO JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT ITEM 1 21 WAS WITHDRAWN LYNN WILLIAMS. ITEM 1 23, JASON HASKINS, ITEM 1 23, CAROLYN ALBERT DONOVAN, AND JENNIFER COX.
HI, MY NAME IS LYNN WILLIAMS AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HOME AID AUSTIN AND ON BEHALF OF HOME AID AUSTIN, I RESPECTFULLY SUBMIT THIS COMMENT IN SUPPORT OF ITEM NUMBER 1 23, WHICH WOULD APPROVE A WAIVER FOR THE PAYMENT INTO THE WATER MITIGATION FUND REQUIRED UNDER 25,827 REDEVELOPMENT EXCEPTION IN THE WATER SUPPLY RULE, WATER SUPPLY AND WATER SUPPLY SUBURBAN WATERSHEDS FOR OUR PEACE LUTHERAN HOUSING PROJECT.
THIS PROJECT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH WAVE EVERYBODY AND FOUNDATION FOR THE HOMELESS WILL PROVIDE ONLY TEMPORARY, THE ONLY TEMPORARY HOUSING SHELTER FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THESE UNITS ARE DESIGNED NOT ONLY TO PROVIDE SAFE, STABLE HOMES, BUT ALSO TO OFFER ACCESS TO SERVICES THAT HELP FAMILIES REBUILD AND THRIVE UNDER 25,827.
THE OPTION FOR EXEMPTION WILL, IF WE MEET ALL SEVEN REQUIREMENTS, IS TO PAY INTO THE WATER MITIGATION FUND, WHICH STARTED IN 2008 AT A $15,000 PER ACRE REDEVELOPMENT COST WITH 7% ANNUAL INTEREST BEING ADDED EVERY YEAR OVER THE LAST 17 YEARS.
THE FEE IN 2024 UNTIL OCTOBER 1ST, 2025 IS NOW $47,382 AN ACRE.
WHILE OUR PROJECT IS ONLY OCCUPYING 3,500 SQUARE FEET OF THE 5.8 ACRE PROPERTY, WE ARE REQUIRED TO INCLUDE ALL OF THOSE 5.8 ACRES INTO OUR CALCULATIONS, WHICH RESULTS IN A $274,816 92 CENTS WATER MITIGATION FEE.
OUR TOTAL PROJECT FOR THIS, OUR TOTAL BUDGET FOR THIS PROJECT IS 1.2 MILLION.
SO AS A NONPROFIT BUILDER, EVERY DOLLAR SAVED ON REDEVELOPMENT COSTS ALLOWS US TO PUT MORE FUNDING TOWARD COMMUNITY HOUSING AND LONG-TERM RESIDENTIAL SUPPORT.
WE REQUEST THIS WAIVER B WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE COST AND HELP BRING THIS HIGH IMPACT COMMUNITY BASED PROJECT TO LIFE MORE EFFICIENTLY AND AFFORDABLY.
WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO SUSTAINABLE RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES AND HAVE DESIGNED THIS PROJECT WITH WATER QUALITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP IN MIND.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED LEADERSHIP.
I WENT OVER YOU GO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MR. MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
MY NAME IS CAROLYN ALBERT DONOVAN.
I'M THE PASTOR OF PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH IN DISTRICT SIX SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 1 23 AS WELL, PERTAINING TO THE REDEVELOPMENT OF A SMALL PORTION OF OUR PROPERTY TO BUILD THOSE FOUR UNITS OF TRANSITIONAL HOUSING ON OUR CHURCH CAMPUS THAT LYNN SPOKE ABOUT.
THIS PROJECT IS THE PRODUCT OF YEARS OF DELIBERATION AND WORK AND DISCERNMENT.
THE GENEROSITY AND PARTNERSHIP OF
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MANY WITHIN AND BEYOND OUR FAITH COMMUNITY HAS HELPED US BE BRAVE ENOUGH TO UNDERTAKE A PRETTY AMBITIOUS BUILDING PROJECT FOR A SMALL CONGREGATION.AND THIS IS A FULL CIRCLE MOMENT TODAY TOO, IN SOME WAYS.
A CONVERSATION WITH THEN COUNCIL MEMBER JIMMY FLANAGAN YEARS AGO HELPED US CLARIFY THIS CURRENT VISION IN PARTNERING WITH FOUNDATION FOR THE HOMELESS TO HELP OUR NEIGHBORS FACING HOUSING INSECURITY.
WE HAD WORKED WITH THE FOUNDATION FOR YEARS BEFORE AND HAVE A LONGSTANDING DEDICATION TO HOUSING WORK, BUT IT HAS TAKEN A NEW SHAPE IN THESE YEARS AS WE DEDICATE RESOURCES TO BUILDING A PERMANENT LOCATION FOR FAMILIES IN TRANSITION WITH THE ADDED PARTNERSHIP OF HOMEMADE, UH, WHO LYNN SPOKE ON BEHALF OF.
WHILE OUR SMALL SCALE CONTRIBUTION IS NOT THE MOST COMMON OR FLASHY HOUSING SOLUTION, WE DO BELIEVE IT IS A CRUCIAL PART OF THE PUZZLE IN CREATING A WIDE NETWORK OF HOUSING SUPPORT ACROSS OUR CITY.
AND IF YOU CAN BE OUR PARTNER IN MAKING THIS PROJECT POSSIBLE BY PASSING THIS AGENDA ITEM, WE THINK IT MAY HELP OTHER FAITH COMMUNITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS SEE SIMILAR, SMALL BUT VERY IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO BE PART OF THIS WORK TOO.
WE'VE ALREADY HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHERS WHO WANNA TRY SOMETHING LIKE WHAT WE'RE DOING.
LIKE MANY OTHERS HERE TODAY, OUR COMMITMENT IS NOT JUST TO OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS, BUT TO OUR WHOLE NATURAL WORLD.
WE ARE UNDERTAKING THIS PROJECT IN SUCH A WAY AS TO ENSURE THAT ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS ON AND AROUND OUR CAMPUS WILL BE IMPROVED BY THIS REDEVELOPMENT.
PASSING THIS AGENDA ITEM IS REST ASSURED, NOT AN ESCAPE FROM ACCOUNTABILITY OF THAT WORK, BUT WILL ACTUALLY FACILITATE IT.
THERE ARE A BUNCH OF US HERE TODAY.
WE GOT TO KIND OF WAVE BEFORE, UH, WE DIDN'T WANT TO FILL UP THE COMMENT PERIOD WITH LOTS OF REPETITION.
SO, UH, WE JUST WANNA WAVE AND SAY HELLO AND THANK YOU FOR BEING SO COMMITTED TO THIS WORK.
GOOD MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE FOR OUR PROJECT OF BUILDING TRANSITIONAL FAMILY HOUSING.
I AM THE CONGREGATION PRESIDENT OF PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH IN DISTRICT SIX.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEM 1 23.
OUR PROPERTY OF FIVE PLUS ACRES CURRENTLY IS HOME TO THREE BUILDINGS AND 150 OAK TREES.
OUR DESIGN PROCESS MADE SURE THAT ALL THE TREES WILL REMAIN WHILE WE REMOVE ONE BUILDING AND USE THAT SAME FOOTAGE TO REPLACE IT WITH AN ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE HOME FOR FAMILIES IN TRANSITION.
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT OF OUR PROJECT HAS BEEN RECEIVING FROM THE COMMUNITY.
DONORS HAVE COME FROM ALL AREAS, AMPLIFY AUSTIN CAMPAIGN, CORPORATIONS, OTHER CHURCHES, AND MANY INDIVIDUALS.
NOW WE ARE ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT TO APPROVE ITEM 1 23 ON YOUR AGENDA.
YOUR APPROVAL TO DO SO WILL REDUCE THE FINANCIAL BARRIERS TO GET US TO THE COMPLETION OF THIS PROJECT.
YOUR SUPPORT WILL ALIGN WITH THE CITY'S STRATEGIC PRIORITIES AND CONSERVATION RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IN MAKING THIS EFFORT BECOME A REALITY.
I'M THE ARCHITECT FOR THE PROJECT AND AN EXPERT ON OUR LOCAL CODES AND PROCESSES.
UH, THIS WAIVER IS NECESSARY BECAUSE OF A ACCIDENT OF UNUSUAL CONDITIONS.
UM, THIS PROJECT IS IN THE ETJ AND THIS WAIVER WOULD BE ADMINISTRATIVE IF WE WERE IN THE FULL JURISDICTION.
IT'S THE ONLY CASE I KNOW WHERE THE ETJ IS MORE RESTRICTIVE THAN, UM, THE FULL JURISDICTION.
ALSO, IF WE WERE BUILDING A HOUSE, A SINGLE FAMILY HOUSE OF THE SAME SIZE, WE WOULD NOT BE HERE.
THE WAIVER WOULD NOT BE REQUIRED.
WE COULD REDEVELOP, UM, AS NORMAL.
SO THIS IS YET ANOTHER CASE WHERE MISSING MIDDLE AND UM, LOWER INCOME HOUSING IS DISCRIMINATED AGAINST COMPARED TO LUXURY SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING THAT IS NEXT DOOR.
THIS IS, UM, AS, AS BEEN MENTIONED, WE ARE RETURN, WE ARE NOT ONLY, UM, REDEVELOPING THE SAME SQUARE, UH, IMPERVIOUS COVER SQUARE FOOTAGE, WE ARE ADDING, UH, WATER QUALITY, UH, AND RAINWATER, UM, RETENTION TO THE SITE, UH, TO IMPROVE THE, UH, THE CONDITION OF THE WATERSHED, UH, EVEN AS, EVEN WITH THE WAIVER IN PLACE AS IS REQUIRED BY THE CRITERIA FOR THE, FOR THE WAIVER, WHICH ARE ALL MET.
SO I THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND LET'S CONTINUE TO WORK TO MAKE OUR SYSTEMS EQUITABLE FOR, UM, PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT IN SINGLE FAMILY LUXURY HOUSING.
MS. JOSEPH REQUESTED TO SPEAK ON ITEM THREE.
SHE WAS NOT HERE EARLIER WHEN CALLED.
SO WELL, SHE'S MAKING WAY DOWN.
LET ME SAY, UH, TO THE ITEM WE JUST HEARD ABOUT.
I, WELL, I DON'T WANT TO JUMP TO A CONCLUSION ABOUT WHAT MIGHT THE VOTE BE.
WE'RE ALSO SAYING THANK YOU FOR YOUR USE OF YOUR PROPERTY, YOUR USE OF YOUR PASSION, YOUR USE OF YOUR MONEY, UH, TO HELP OUT ON SOMETHING THAT'S SO IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US.
SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH, MS. JOSEPH, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
THANK YOU MAYOR COUNCIL, I'M ENOVIA JOSEPH.
[01:25:01]
I WANTED TO SPEAK ON ITEM THREE.THAT IS SPECIFICALLY THE $2.9 MILLION IN TOTAL THAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY PASSING TODAY AS IT RELATES TO THE AUSTIN STROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
I WOULD ASK THE CITY CLERK TO CHANGE MY POSITION FROM NEUTRAL TO AGAINST.
IT TOOK ME HOURS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY VOTING ON, WHICH IS WHY YOU DON'T HAVE ANY TRANSPORTATION SLIDES TODAY.
I WANT YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT ITEM THREE SPECIFICALLY.
I WAS JUST GONNA MAKE A COMMENT AND APPRECIATE THAT AFRICAN-AMERICAN, BRIAN JOSEPH WAS ACTUALLY BEING AWARDED THESE FUNDS.
BUT WHEN I WENT CLOSER INTO THE DETAILS, THE JUNE 16TH, 2025, UH, PRESENTATION TO THE ARTS COMMISSION, ACTUALLY, EXCUSE ME, ASKED ONE QUESTION.
THE $80,000, IS THAT ONE TIME FUNDING OR IS THAT PER YEAR? SO THE, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTUALLY DOING THE ART FOR THE NINE RESTROOMS ARE A BURDEN TO ACTUALLY GO OUT AND GET COMMUNITY INPUT.
THEY GET THE ONE AND DONE, BUT I, IT IS UNCLEAR WHY YOU ARE ACTUALLY CONTINUING $546,000 TO FOUR ARTISTS FOR THESE, UH, THE AREA FOR THE CHILDREN AND TWO LOUNGES.
I JUST WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE MORE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
HOW MUCH WERE THE PANELISTS PAID? DO YOU PAY THE VOTING AND NON-VOTING PANELISTS WHO DETERMINED UP TO $500? AND DOES THE CITY OF AUSTIN PAY ANY OTHER PANELISTS? IT IS UNCLEAR.
THAT IS THE INFORMATION I FOUND IN THE ARTS COMMISSION, UH, WEBSITE.
SPECIFICALLY AS IT RELATES TO MR. JOSEPH, I APPRECIATE HIS WORK.
HOWEVER, HIS WORK APPEARS TO MIRROR MORE OF THE VIBRANCY FOR THE CHILDREN.
IT SAYS RIGHT HERE, THIS IS MISLEADING MOBILITY LOUNGE.
IT IS NOT FRAMED THAT WAY IN THE OTHER MATERIALS.
IT IS FOR THE ACCESSIBILITY PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
AND IT SAYS THAT HIS WORK MAY HAVE POTENTIAL, IT MAY POTENTIALLY EMPOWER PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
SO I WOULD ASK YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS PROCESS.
I APPRECIATE, UH, DIRECTOR MEANS, BUT IT IS OPAQUE.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL SPEAKERS FOR CONSENT.
UH, MEMBERS, THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF THE SPEAKERS THAT ARE SPEAKING ON CONSENT.
I WANT FOR THE RECORD, I WANT TO POINT OUT AGAIN THAT ITEM NUMBER 35 HAS BEEN PULLED.
OKAY, SO ITEM NUMBER 35 HAS NOT BEEN PULLED.
DID WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS ON ITEM 35? MAYOR, WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE FOR ME TO SPEAK BEFORE THEY DEPART SO THEY CAN HEAR MY STATEMENT ON THIS AS WELL? I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S POSSIBLE.
I, I'M NOT SURE WHAT YOU JUST ASKED ME.
PEACE LUTHERAN FOLKS, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO STAY UNTIL I SPEAK SO I CAN ALSO THANK YOU.
OR IF I COULD GO NOW? NO, NO, WHATEVER YOU PREFER.
WE, WE GOTTA GET A MOTION IN A SECOND.
AND, AND, UM, IS ANYBODY SIGNED UP ON 35? YES.
OKAY, THEN, THEN LET, WE NEED TO, WE'RE GONNA PUT ITEM 35 BACK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
AND WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THAT SPEAKER? YES.
WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE WILL, UM, HAVE SPEAKERS AND IF YOU WISH TO BE HEARD ON THE CONSENT AGENDA TO PLEASE, UH, HIT YOUR LIGHT.
SO I'LL, I'LL KNOW THAT AND BE ABLE TO GO IN SOME FORM OR FA OF ORDER.
UH, WE WILL TAKE THAT TAKE UP COMMENT.
WE'LL GET A MOTION AND A SECOND AFTER MS. JOSEPH SPEAKS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
AND THEN WE WILL TAKE COMMENTS AND COMMISSIONER, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER LANE, YOU'LL BE THE FIRST ONE I'LL CALL 'CAUSE YOU LET ME KNOW BEFOREHAND.
I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING ME OUTTA ORDER.
AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'M ZIA JOSEPH, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT SPECIFICALLY AS IT RELATES TO THE TEXAS ONE CENTER.
IT SAYS THAT IT'S POTENTIAL REDEVELOPMENT, BUT YOU PROVIDE EMERGENCY SERVICES FOR THE UNHOUSED AND YOU'RE MOVING THIS FACILITY TO, UM, NORTH LAMAR, WELL, ACTUALLY TO 3,300 NORTH IH 35.
I JUST WANT TO THANK KIMBERLY RIS WHO ACTUALLY GAVE ME INFORMATION, WHICH IS FAR MORE THOROUGH THAN WHAT YOU'RE VOTING ON.
AND SHE ACTUALLY SAYS THAT YOU HAVE THREE COMPONENTS THAT YOU'RE WORKING ON THAT'S NOT TRANSPARENT FOR THE THE PUBLIC.
IT SAYS THAT, UH, YOU'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO USE THE SPACE NOT FOR EMERGENCY HOUSING, BUT THEN IT ALSO SAYS IN BACKUP THAT IT'S FOR SERVICES.
SO WHICH IS IT? SHE ALSO MENTIONS THAT IT'S A REAL ESTATE, UM, ASSET AND YOU'RE DOING SOME, UH, PLANNING ANALYSIS.
THAT PART I GET AND THIS PRE-DEVELOPMENT WORK, IT DOES SEEM, UH, TO ME, MAYOR, THAT YOU ARE SIMPLY GOING TO VACATE THIS SPACE SO THAT YOU CAN REDEVELOP IT.
I WOULD JUST REMIND YOU THAT THE DEVELOPERS PAY A FEE IN LIEU OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING DOWNTOWN DECEMBER 17TH OR SO, FEBRUARY, EXCUSE ME, 2020.
[01:30:01]
ACTUALLY BEFORE SHE RETIRED FROM KU, DID AN INVESTIGATIVE STORY.THE DOMAIN, THE DOWNTOWN AREA, THESE DENSITY BONUSES, THEY'RE REALLY JUST A PROXY FOR RACE DISCRIMINATION BECAUSE YOU DO NOT ALLOW LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS TO LIVE IN THESE F IN THESE FACILITIES.
SO I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS, UH, IT'S DISTURBING TO THINK THAT YOU'RE GONNA VACATE THE TEXAS ONE CENTER AND MOVE IT TO I 35.
IS THERE A BUS LINE THERE? I'M NOT REALLY SURE.
IT DOESN'T SAY, AND SO IT'S REALLY UNCLEAR.
I WOULD ASK YOU TO CLARIFY AND JUST TO TABLE THE ITEM AS OPPOSED TO VOTING IT OUT BECAUSE THE INFORMATION IS NOT IN BACKUP.
UM, AND SO I THANK YOU FOR THAT, BUT I'M NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED TO ITEM 42.
ALRIGHT, MEMBERS, UM, IS THERE THE CONSENT AGENDA? WE'VE HEARD FROM ALL THE SPEAKERS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADOPT A CONSENT AGENDA.
IT'S MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRY.
UM, NOW WE WILL GO TO DISCUSSION AND PUBLIC COMMENT.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER LANE, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRY.
THANK YOU MAYOR, AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
EVERYONE WHO'S COME FROM PEACE LUTHERAN, IT IS SO WONDERFUL TO SEE YOU HERE IN CITY HALL AFTER WE FIRST MET WITH A FEW OF YOU, UM, ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO.
SO GREAT TO SEE THIS COMING FORWARD.
UM, I'LL GO AHEAD AND GIVE MY FULL COMMENTS NOW.
UM, I REALLY DO WANT TO ALSO EXPRESS MY HEARTFELT THANKS TO HOMEMADE, THE NONPROFIT THAT BEGAN SUPPORTING PEACE LUTHERAN ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, UM, IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PEACE FAMILY HOUSING PROJECT, WHICH AS YOU HAVE HEARD, IS A VITAL TRANSITIONAL HOUSING INITIATIVE ON SIX 20 ADJACENT TO DISTRICT SIX IN THE ETJ WHERE ALL THE SURROUNDING HOMES, MANY OF THE SURROUNDING HOMES ARE.
DISTRICT SIX, THE CHURCH INITIATED THIS PROJECT IN RESPONSE TO ISSUES WITH HOMELESSNESS BACK IN 2021.
I'M THE THIRD COUNCIL MEMBER WHO HAS REPRESENTED THIS DISTRICT SINCE THEY BEGAN THESE EFFORTS.
I'M SO THANKFUL TO HOMEMADE TO JOINING THE EFFORT TWO YEARS AGO, LONG BEFORE I WAS IN OFFICE.
AND I'M PROUD THAT THREE, THREE TO SIX MONTHS SINCE WE FIRST MET, WE ARE HERE ON CONSENT AGENDA WITH STRONG SUPPORT FROM THE MAYOR AND I ANTICIPATE FROM THE COUNCIL.
SO VERY PLEASED TO HELP WITH THAT.
AND WE'LL ALSO BE TAKING THESE LESSONS FORWARD ON A POLICY LEVEL TO HOPEFULLY HELP OTHERS.
UM, THAT WAS, THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS ON ITEM 1 23.
I HAVE A COUPLE OTHER THAT I WANT TO MAKE AS WELL.
UM, ON ONE 20, WHICH RELATES TO THE FAA AND AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS IN AUSTIN, WHICH WAS SPONSORED BY OUR MAYOR PRO TEM.
I JUST THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM FUENTES FOR LEADING THIS EFFORT THAT URGES THE FAA TO COMPREHENSIVELY ADDRESS AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER STAFFING AND OPERATIONS AT AUSTIN'S AIRPORT.
I'M VERY HAPPY TO CO-SPONSOR THIS INITIATIVE AND WORK WITH YOUR TEAM SO THAT AS OUR AIRPORT CONTINUES TO GROW, WE MOVE TOWARDS BEING A MODEL OF EFFICIENT AND SAFE TRAVEL FOR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ALIKE.
IT'S A BIG EFFORT, BUT IT'S VERY NEEDED.
UM, ITEM 1 22 RELATES TO WE ALL BELONG.
I ALSO ABSOLUTELY WANT TO VOICE BOTH MY CO-SPONSORSHIP AND THANKS TO COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE FOR THIS RESOLUTION THAT RESTRUCTURES THE HATE CRIMES TASK FORCE FROM AN EXTERNAL PARTNERSHIP TO A CITY LED MODEL UNDER THE EQUITY AND INCLUSION OFFICE, WITH ALL OF THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT REPORTING AND TRANSPARENCY THAT ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE SUCCESS OF THE EFFORT.
AS RECENTLY AS THE LAST FEW MONTHS, I HAVE HEARD FROM MULTIPLE DISTRICT SIX FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN, ALL MEMBERS OF THE SAME COMMUNITY WITHIN OUR LARGER COMMUNITY OF AUSTIN.
UM, AND I'M NOT REFERRING TO NEIGHBORHOODS, ALTHOUGH THEY ARE IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, WHO HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING A PATTERN OF HARASSMENT OVER MANY MONTHS WHILE WALKING AND BIKING ON AUSTIN STREETS AND SIDEWALKS IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD.
I'VE SEEN SIMILAR TROUBLING INCIDENTS IN AND AROUND DISTRICT SIX EVERY YEAR THAT I'VE LIVED IN MY CURRENT HOME, WHICH IS WELL OVER A DECADE, UM, IN, IN AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY.
AND EACH CLUSTER OF INCIDENTS IMPACT HAS IMPACTED DIFFERENT SPECIFIC COMMUNITIES, UM, WITH QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW BEST TO HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE SITUATION.
SO TAKING ACTION IN THIS AREA HAS BEEN ON MY MIND FOR A LONG TIME, AND I SO WELCOMED AND APPRECIATED.
COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE'S RESOLUTION AS AN IMPORTANT STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR OUR CITY THAT DEMONSTRATES OUR COLLECTIVE COMMITMENT TO MAKING A LIFE FREE FROM HARASSMENT AND VIOLENCE, A REALITY FOR MORE OF US HERE IN AUSTIN.
COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN AND COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ.
UM, BEFORE I GET INTO MY, UM, COMMENTS ON ITEM 1 22, I, I ALSO WANTED TO, UH, YOU KNOW, ADDRESS SOMETHING THAT HAD BEEN MENTIONED BY ONE OF THE SPEAKERS, UH, JUST REMEMBERING ALL THE GOOD THAT FORMER COUNCIL MEMBERS BEFORE US HAVE DONE IN THE CITY.
UH, THOSE THAT ARE, UH, YOU KNOW, NO LONGER WITH US, US.
AND, AND THEN WE LOST COUNCIL MEMBER REILLY A FEW MONTHS BACK.
WE LOST COUNCIL MEMBER GOODMAN A FEW
[01:35:01]
MONTHS BACK AND THEN, AND THEN LOSING COUNCIL MEMBER SPELMAN.SO, YOU KNOW, MUCH LOVE TO ALL OF THEIR FAMILIES AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'RE, WE'RE HERE WHERE WE ARE AS A DIOCESE BECAUSE OF ALL, ALL THEIR, ALL THEIR WORK.
UM, I WAS REALLY, UM, EXCITED AND, AND LOOKING FORWARD TO BRINGING FORWARD ITEM 1 22, UH, WHICH IS, WHICH IS BEFORE EVERYONE, UH, ON THIS, ON THIS CONSENT AGENDA, UH, TO KIND OF RESTRUCTURE THE HATE CRIMES, UH, TASK FORCE.
UH, AND, AND A LITTLE BIT OF A HISTORY LOSS IN THE HATE CRIMES TASK FORCE WAS FIRST ESTABLISHED, UH, IN 2010 AFTER A SERIES OF HATE CRIMES AGAINST OUR LGBTQIA PLUS COMMUNITY.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE DID A LOT OF REALLY GOOD WORK WITH IT.
UM, BUT I, BUT I, BUT I, BUT I SAW GAPS, UM, ESPECIALLY IN THE POLITICAL CLIMATE THAT WE, WE CURRENTLY LIVE IN, UH, WHERE SO MANY FOLKS ARE, ARE AFRAID AND, AND FEEL UNWELCOMED, UH, WHETHER IT BE OUR, OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES WHO, UH, WHO, YOU KNOW, WHO ARE, WHO ARE GENERALLY SCARED AND, AND ARE GENERALLY, UH, YOU KNOW, THREATENED.
UH, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT BE OUR, OUR COMMUNITIES OF FAITH, UH, YOU KNOW, WHETHER YOU BE MUSLIM OR OR JEWISH, UH, YOU KNOW, REPRESENTING UT HEARING FROM, UH, YOU KNOW, STUDENTS, UH, OF BOTH FAITHS.
UM, AND IT, IT FEELS LIKE WHETHER I'M, UH, IN ONE PART OF WEST WEST CAMPUS OR ANOTHER, YOU KNOW, HEARING FROM STUDENTS WHO, WHETHER THEY'RE AFRAID TO WEAR, YOU KNOW, A A HEAD GARMENT BECAUSE OF, OF, OF, OF HATE SPEECH THAT THEY'VE DEALT WITH, OR THEY'RE AFRAID TO WEAR, YOU KNOW, A NECKLACE WITH A RELIGIOUS SYMBOL, UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE CAN AND, AND WE SHOULD DO BETTER.
UH, AND, YOU KNOW, THE HIGHEST AMOUNT OF, UH, OF HATE CRIMES, UH, IN TERMS OF LIKE WHAT COMMUNITY IT'S AFFECTING IN THE CITY ARE, ARE BLACK AUSTINITES.
UH, AND, AND, AND I, AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT BE OUR BLACK, UH, COMMUNITY, OUR, OUR RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES, OUR QUEER COMMUNITIES, OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES, UH, I, I, I DO THINK IT'S A CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY, UH, TO, TO STEP UP.
UH, BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE A STATE GOVERNMENT THAT HASN'T STEPPED UP, UH, IN DECADES AND, AND CONTINUES, YOU KNOW, AFTER WINTER STORMS AND, UH, AFTER NATURAL DISASTERS RATHER THAN, YOU KNOW, DO THE WORK.
UH, THEY ATTACK AND VILIFY, UH, YOU KNOW, ALREADY COMMUNITIES THAT ARE, THAT ARE AFRAID.
UH, AND THEN WE HAVE A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT GOD KNOWS WHAT THEY DO HALF THE TIME.
UH, SO I, I DO THINK IT, IT'S A RESPONSIBILITY AND IT'S AN ONUS ON US, UH, TO DO MORE, UH, BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE, UH, THAT WE ARE A CITY THAT IS DEEPLY CARING, UH, THAT IS DEEPLY LOVING, UH, THAT IS THERE FOR ONE ANOTHER.
AND, AND REGARDLESS OF WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU BELIEVE OR WHO YOU LOVE, OR WHERE YOU CAME FROM, UH, THIS, THIS CITY SHOULD BE SAFE AND YOU SHOULD FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE SOMEWHERE WHERE, WHERE SOMEWHERE TO GO.
UH, SO I APPRECIATE THE CITY MANAGER FOR DEDICATING FUNDING, UH, DURING A A, A TOUGH BUDGET CYCLE.
UM, AND, AND JUST TO KIND OF GIVE A RECAP OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO WITH THIS ITEM, UH, WITH THE RE REVAMPING THE HATE CRIMES TASK FORCE, WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING AT, UH, CREATING AN INTER GOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE ON HATE CRIMES.
WE'RE LOOKING AT A, GETTING A HATE CRIMES WEB PORTAL, A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT NOTIFICATION PROGRAM, UH, TRAINING AND PROTOCOLS AND HAVING BETTER DATA AND TRANSPARENCY.
UH, AND YOU KNOW, I, I DO BELIEVE, UH, THAT, THAT WE ALL BELONG HERE IN THE CITY.
I DO, I DO BELIEVE AUSTIN IS, IS, IS NO PLACE FOR HATE.
UH, AND I THINK THIS ITEM, YOU KNOW, DOES A GOOD JOB IN, IN, IN ACCOMPANYING ALL OF THAT.
SO, UH, I WANT TO THANK, UH, COUNCIL CHEN WHO HAD BROUGHT FORWARD AN AMENDMENT THAT WE INCORPORATED INVERSION TO APPRECI WORKING WITH HIS OFFICE ON THAT.
UM, I APPRECIATE, UH, SARAH BARGE FROM MY OFFICE WHO WORKED LIKE NIGHT AND DAY AND NIGHT AND DAY.
AND WHEN I SAY NIGHT AND DAY, UH, I WAS GETTING TEXTS FROM SARAH AROUND MIDNIGHT AND AFTER I DON'T SLEEP.
SO FOR ME, IT WASN'T, YOU KNOW, WAS, WAS NOT AN ISSUE.
UH, AND, AND I, AND I SO DO APPRECIATE, UM, ALL MY COLLEAGUES FOR, FOR, FOR CO-SPONSORING IT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, LANE SIEGEL, UH, VELA, UM, UM, THE MAYOR PRO TEM FUENTES, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, THE JOSE VELASQUEZ, UH, UH, RYAN AL, UH, COUNCIL ALTER COUNCILOR CHEN, COUNCIL MEMBER PAIGE.
UH, THERE, THERE, THERE ARE, THERE'S TWO MORE SPOTS IF ANYONE WANTS TO, UH, TO CO-SPONSOR
UH, BUT, UH, BUT I, BUT I SO APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT AND, AND I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS, UH, THIS NEW REVAMPED HATE CRIMES TASK FORCE DOING A LOT OF GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY FOR, FOR, FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
COUNCIL MEMBER, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THAT.
COUNCIL MEMBER DUCHEN AND COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER.
FIRST, I WANT TO JUST LIKE MY OTHER COLLEAGUES BRIEFLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE SERVICE OF OUR FORMER COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, SPELMAN AND GOODMAN.
I FEEL LIKE WE'RE ALWAYS BUILDING AND WORKING OFF OF THEIR EFFORTS.
I WANT TO CALL ATTENTION TO A COUPLE OF ITEMS QUICKLY.
UM, BUT FIRST I WANTED TO SEE, I'D ORIGINALLY PULLED ITEM 35.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S, WE FOUND THE DESCRIPTION A LITTLE BIT CONFUSING RELATIVE TO THE Q AND A RESPONSE.
I WANTED TO SEE IF WE CAN BRIEFLY CALL MS. OLIVERAS UP TO, UH, SORT OUT THAT BRIEF CONFUSION.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET TO THE 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, UM, AND, AND I THINK SHE CAN CLEAR IT UP IN LIKE A MINUTE.
WELL, LET'S HOPE, UM, I'LL BE VERY QUICK.
[01:40:01]
KIM LAVAR IS DIRECT FINANCIAL SERVICES.UH, SO IT APPEARS THAT WITH THE, BELOW THE LINE DETAIL ON FIVE, WE'VE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE SURE, MAYBE CLEAR THAT THREE PROJECTS ARE SEPARATE AND UNRELATED, BUT IT APPEARS THAT, UM, WE WERE UNSUCCESSFUL WITH THAT.
UM, THE, THERE IS A FEASIBILITY, UM, WORK TO HELP US MAKE LONGER TERM PLANS RELATED NURSING HOUSING.
THERE'S ANOTHER PROJECT, UH, RELATED TO DOWNTOWN PROPERTY ANALYSIS.
AND THEN THERE'S ANOTHER PROJECT WITH ALL OF OUR FACILITIES SPACE PLANNING FOR THE FACILITY, OR THE, THE, UM, BUILDING THAT WE NOW OWN AT 3,300 NORTH IH 35.
UM, SO THEY'RE ALL WHOLLY SEPARATE, UNRELATED.
AND ALSO WHEN IT COMES TO THE COMMUNITY COURT FUNCTIONS AT ONE TEXAS CENTER, WE HAVE NOT IDENTIFIED A NEW HOME FOR THEM WHATSOEVER.
THAT IS A DEFINITELY GONNA BE A MUCH MORE, UM, UH, IN-DEPTH PROCESS.
UM, BUT THE OTHER OFFICE FUNCTIONS AT ONE CENTER ARE ELIGIBLE TO, TO MOVE TO 3,300 NORTH IH 35, HOPEFULLY.
UH, SO VERY BRIEFLY, UH, A COUPLE ITEMS. ONE, I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER RE FOR ITEM NUMBER 1 22, LIKE HIM.
I, IF THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO DO HERE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF HATE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, MY CONCERN IS THAT THE DATA IS CLEARLY TRENDING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.
UH, AND I GET A LOT OF ANECDOTAL REQUESTS TO OUR OFFICE ABOUT DIFFERENT INCIDENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING, WHETHER IT'S, UH, BULLYING AT SCHOOL, WHETHER IT'S GRAFFITI, EVERYTHING THAT YOU CAN IMAGINE.
UH, SO I FEEL LIKE WE'VE GOTTA DO A BETTER JOB HERE USING THE TALENT OF RESOURCES AND THE HATE CRIMES TASK FORCE, WHICH I'M OPTIMISTIC THAT THIS ITEM WILL HELP US DO.
UM, AND JUST IN GENERAL, GET BETTER DATA TO THE PUBLIC.
THE ORIGINAL INTENT, I BELIEVE, BETWEEN THE WE ALL BELONG PROGRAM WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD, UH, GOOD COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WITH COMMUNITY GROUPS ACROSS THE CITY.
I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A SOLID PLACE IN PLAN GOING FORWARD TO DO THAT, I WANNA TOUCH ON ITEM 27, WHICH REGARDS THE TEXAS GAS.
AND REALLY THIS IS JUST FLAGGING FOR US THAT, UM, THAT THIS IS AN ITEM THAT IS A DEFACTO LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE, WE'RE, WE'RE TOUCHING ON THE BUDGET OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.
THIS IS A DEFACTO FEE THAT PEOPLE ARE PAYING THAT OVER 200,000 AUSTIN FAMILIES PAY THAT.
WE'VE GOT A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY NEXT YEAR TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN HAVE A REALLY THOROUGH DISCUSSION ABOUT EXPLORING ALL OPTIONS AND VENDORS AS WE REVISIT, UH, THAT PROCESS, UM, AND THAT CONTRACT, WHICH HAPPENS ONCE IN A GENERATION.
AND THEN THE OTHER LAST THING I'LL TOUCH ON IS JUST, UM, THANKING STAFF FOR THEIR EFFORTS.
I THINK THERE'S AT LEAST SEVEN ITEMS ON OUR CURRENT AGENDA WHERE WE ARE USING GRANT DOLLARS FROM A VARIETY OF NON-PROFIT STATE AND FEDERAL GROUPS.
UH, SO I FEEL LIKE WE ARE BEING INCREASINGLY INDUSTRIOUS WHEN MAKING USE OF OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
AND THIS IS, UH, INCREDIBLY APPRECIATIVE, AT LEAST ON MY END, GIVEN THE CONSTRAINT, THE FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS THAT THE CITY'S CURRENTLY FACING.
COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, UH, MAYOR.
DOES THAT MEAN I DON'T GET THE REST OF THE 18 MINUTES TILL THE 12 O'CLOCK? DID I CALL OUT? NO, I WAS JUST JOKING.
UH, UH, COLLEAGUES, I WANTED TO, UH, TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF ITEMS. ITEM 1 0 3, I'M EXCITED TO SEE GRANT FUNDS FOR OUR CITY'S LIBRARIES ON THE AGENDA THIS WEEK.
UM, THE, THIS, UH, TEXAS STATE LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES COMMISSION SPECIAL GRANT.
SPECIAL PROJECTS GRANT IS GOING TO SUPPORT NATURE BASED PROGRAMMING AT LIBRARIES ACROSS AUSTIN.
UH, NEW STORY WALK INSTALLATIONS WILL BE INTRODUCED AT REESE AND ELA LIBRARIES IN DISTRICT THREE, AND THAT WILL BRIDGE GAPS IN ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING AND OUTDOOR ENGAGEMENT.
UH, I'M SO PROUD OF THE WORK OUR LIBRARIES AND LIBRARIANS DO, UH, THE SERVICES THEY, UH, PROVIDE.
AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE THESE INSTALLATIONS IN DISTRICT THREE.
THIS ITEM I ALLOCATES FUNDING, UH, TO THE ORGANIZATION, JAIL TO JOBS AGREEMENTS LIKE THESE AFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION AND YOUTH PROGRAMS THAT TRANSFORM LIVES AND HELP US REENVISION HOW WE APPROACH SOCIAL JUSTICE.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, AND COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.
I JUST WANNA TAKE A QUICK MOMENT TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 16.
THIS IS THE BATTERY STORAGE ITEM.
WANT TO THANK AUSTIN ENERGY FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS ITEM.
YOU KNOW, THIS WAS ONE PIECE OF A VERY LARGE CONVERSATION WE HAD AROUND THE RESOURCE AND GENERATION PLAN.
AND IF WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A HUNDRED PERCENT, UH, RENEWABLE CARBON FREE GENERATION HERE BY 2035, THIS IS A BIG STEP TOWARDS THAT.
THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR MOVING THIS FORWARD AND, AND I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE WHERE THIS GOES.
COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.
AND I WANT TO ECHO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER'S COMMENTS ABOUT
[01:45:01]
THE BATTERY RFP.THIS IS VERY EXCITING, ADDING A HUNDRED MEGAWATTS OF, UH, UTILITY SCALE BATTERY STORAGE.
UH, WE ALSO HAVE NEWS THAT THERE MIGHT BE A SECOND APPLICANT THAT CAN ADD, UM, MAYBE 40 MEGAWATTS MORE.
AND THIS IS A HUGE STEP TOWARDS RESILIENCE AS A COMMUNITY.
UM, IT KEEPS US ON TRACK FOR OUR CLIMATE GOALS AND REALLY SHOWS HOW AS A CITY, UM, WE CAN TAKE STRONG ACTION ON CLIMATE, EVEN THOUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS ATTACKING CLIMATE PROGRAMS. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK OF OUR UTILITY.
UM, I WANNA, UM, REALLY CONGRATULATE, UH, PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH FOR ITEM 1 23.
THIS SEEMS LIKE A GREAT, UH, PROJECT FOR TRANSITIONAL HOUSING.
AND, UH, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER LANE.
I WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR.
UM, UH, MAYOR, I'D LIKE YOU TO, UH, MARK ME AS VOTING NO ON ITEM 54, UH, WHICH IS THE, UH, DRONE DOG ITEM.
AND THEN FINALLY, A COUPLE FEE WAIVERS.
UH, THAT'S THE TEXAS EIGHT EMPLOYEES UNION LOBBY DAY.
I'D LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR AND CONTRIBUTE $240 TO THE FEE WAIVER.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE FOR SUPPORTING THIS ITEM.
AND ALSO, UH, ITEM 1 78, THE BANGLADESHI EID CELEBRATION.
UH, I'D LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR AND CONTRIBUTE FOUR $65 TOWARDS THE FEE WAIVER.
COUNCIL MEMBER CADRY, WITHOUT OBJECTION, COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL BE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR OF THE THREE ITEMS THAT HE MENTIONED.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER IFF, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
UH, AGAIN, JUST TO ECHO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL'S COMMENTS ABOUT THE A HUNDRED MEGAWATT, UH, CONTRACT.
IT'S VERY EXCITING TO SEE AUSTIN ENERGY MOVE TOWARD, UH, BATTERY STORAGE.
UH, AND THEY'VE DONE IT, I THINK, IN A VERY THOUGHTFUL AND DELIBERATIVE MANNER, AND I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY THERE AND ALL THE, THE WORK THAT THEY DO.
I ALSO JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF OTHER ITEMS. UH, ITEM 60, UH, ARE GONNA BE, UH, SIDEWALKS ALONG BURNETT, UH, ESSENTIALLY ON THE D FOUR D SEVEN BORDER, PUSHING INTO D 10, I BELIEVE.
UH, AND, AND, AND A GOOD CHUNK OF, UH, BURNETT IS GONNA GET SOME, UH, VERY IMPORTANT, UH, SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS ALL THE WAY UP TO, UH, UH, 180 3, I BELIEVE.
UH, AND THEN I ALSO WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT, UH, ITEM 100, WHICH IS, UH, THE CITY, UH, SUPPORTING A, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN DISTRICT FOUR.
UH, IT'S ON, UH, CLAYTON LANE.
UH, THIS WAS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE FIRST ITEMS THAT I DEALT WITH WHEN I CAME ONTO COUNCIL.
UH, THERE WAS AT A OLD APARTMENT COMPLEX THERE CALLED THE OLD HOMESTEAD.
UH, AND THE, UH, FAMILY HAD OWNED IT FOR A LONG TIME, AND THEY WERE READY TO SELL.
AND WE WERE DEALING WITH, UH, THE POTENTIAL DISPLACEMENT OF ABOUT 25 OR SO PEOPLE, UH, TOUGH CASE, ESPECIALLY TO WALK IN ON THE, THE MIDDLE OF.
BUT WE WERE ABLE TO GET ALL THE TENANTS THERE ASSISTANCE, UH, AND GET THEM, UH, RELOCATED.
AND NOW THAT PROPERTY, UH, ALMOST THREE YEARS LATER IS ON THE VERGE OF TURNING INTO 227, UH, AFFORDABLE UNITS AT DIFFERENT, UH, LEVELS OF AFFORDABILITY.
BUT IT'S A REALLY BIG ACCOMPLISHMENT.
IT'S RIGHT NEXT TO A REALLY GOOD BUS LINE.
THERE'S A GROCERY STORES IN THE AREA.
THEY GOT SOME TAX CREDITS AND, AND THE AUSTIN, UH, FINANCE, UH, HOUSING, UH, AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION ALSO, UH, PITCHED IN SOME MONEY.
SO I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT.
I THINK SOMETIMES THESE GOOD WORKS JUST KIND OF SNEAK BY ON THE AGENDA, BUT THIS IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE CITY CONTINUING TO, UH, BUILD ITS STOCK OF, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I ALSO WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA THAT, UH, DIRECTLY BENEFIT THE 46 SQUARE MILES AND OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND PEOPLE IN DISTRICT ONE THAT I GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO REPRESENT UP HERE.
UM, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS IS WHISPER VALLEY, A PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT PROJECT.
THAT LONG-TERM INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCING IS FOR 7,500 HOMES IN FAR EAST AUSTIN.
UM, IT'S A COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT WITH NO COST TO TAXPAYERS.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, WHISPER VALLEY'S A REALLY INTERESTING DEVELOPMENT.
THEY'RE APPROACHING OUR ETJ AND THE LIMITED, UM, PURPOSE JURISDICTION.
THEY'RE A COMPLETELY SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY AND, UM, USE GEOTHERMAL FOR ENERGY PRODUCTION FOR, UH, A LOT OF THEIR PROJECTS, A LOT OF OTHER SUSTAINABILITY MEASURES.
UM, GREAT WATER CAPTURE AND SOLAR AND, UM, IN THE DEVELOP WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT, YOU KNOW, YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD ME TALK ABOUT AGRI HOODS AND TALK ABOUT AGRICULTURALLY CENTERED, UM, HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, AND THEY'RE WORKING TOWARDS THAT GOAL.
SO I REALLY AM PROUD OF HAVING WHISPER, UH, VALLEY BE A PART OF OUR, UM, CONSIDERATIONS.
WE ALSO HAVE THE INDIAN HILLS PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, A-K-A-A-P.
UH, THAT ANNUAL UPDATE KEEPS BOND PAYMENTS ON TRACK, BASICALLY FOR MAJOR EAST AUSTIN DEVELOPMENTS, WHICH REALLY ENSURES THAT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IS DELIVERED PRIVATELY, UM, AND NOT PUBLIC FUNDED, NOT PUBLICLY FUNDED.
ITEM NUMBER 61, OUR AIRPORT CORRIDOR SIDEWALK.
UM, I REALLY APPRECIATED THE COMMENTS THAT YOU HAD ABOUT SIDEWALKS.
COUNCILOR MEMBER VELA HAS THOSE
[01:50:01]
PROJECTS.YOU KNOW, IT MEANS SO MUCH TO, WE TALK ABOUT MOBILITY FROM THE PERSPECTIVE, I THINK SOMETIMES OF FOLKS WHO HAVE EASY ACCESS TO CARS, UM, OR WANT TO RIDE IN A CAR AS OPPOSED TO BE A MULTIMODAL HUMAN IN A MAJOR METROPOLITAN IN CITY, AND HAVE, UM, MULTIPLE OPTIONS.
AND SIDEWALK INFRASTRUCTURE IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT'S, YOU KNOW, UNDERVALUED, BUT DEFINITELY NEEDED.
SO OUR AIRPORT CORRIDOR, SIDEWALK AND BIKEWAY CONTRACT, THIS ACCELERATES LONG OVERDUE MOBILITY AND SAFETY UPGRADES ALONG AIRPORT BOULEVARD, ESPECIALLY IN THE UNDERSERVED AREAS WITH MBE AND WBE GOALS.
MET ITEM NUMBER 88, LAND ACQUISITION ON JOHNNY MOORE THAT SECURES THE LAND THAT WE NEED TO BUILD SAFER STREETS AND TRAILS IN EAST AUSTIN THROUGH A FAIR AND APPRAISED VALUE ACQUISITION.
UM, LASTLY, OR, UM, THE LAST TWO, UH, ITEM NUMBER 100 CAMERON HIGHLINE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING BONDS.
THIS WILL DELIVER 227 DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOMES WITH NO CITY LIABILITY AND PRIORITIZES FAMILIES MOST AT RISK OF DISPLACEMENT.
ITEM NUMBER 1 0 1 HUD ACTION PLAN SUBMISSION.
THIS UNLOCKS $14 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING HOMELESSNESS SERVICES, HIV AND AID SUPPORT THROUGH PUBLIC DRIVEN PLANS.
AND LASTLY, ITEM NUMBER 1 0 5, COUNCIL RULES UPDATES.
UH, I APPRECIATE THAT WE'RE TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY TO MODERNIZE SOME OF OUR PROCEDURES THAT REFLECT, REFLECT STATE LAW, AND THAT IT ALSO GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE, I THINK ONE OF OUR SPEAKERS SAID EARLIER, YOU KNOW, IT'S A DIFFERENT AUSTIN, IT'S A DIFFERENT MUNICIPALITY.
SO RECOGNIZING THAT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE CONTINUE TO DO, 'CAUSE WE'VE ALWAYS DONE 'EM, AREN'T WHAT WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO DO.
SO I APPRECIATE THAT WE'RE GONNA, THAT WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO TAKE A LOOK AT AND HAVE OUR PROCEDURES BE, UH, LIVING PROTOCOL, SO THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR ADJUSTMENTS.
AND THEN, OH, I LIED TO Y'ALL.
UM, THE LAST, LAST ONE, ITEM NUMBER 1 0 8, IMAGINE AUSTIN.
UM, THIS UPDATE LAUNCHES THE FIRST FULL UPDATE IN OVER A DECADE TO BUILD AN EQUITY CENTERED CLIMATE, SMART VISION FOR THE CITY'S FUTURE.
ONE OF THE THINGS I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THIS BOARDOM, WAS GIVE A PROCLAMATION FOR BLACK EARTH WISE LEADERS.
UM, THERE AREN'T A LOT OF FOLKS WHO LOOK LIKE ME IN THIS ROOM, BUT FOR THE FOLKS WHO LOOK LIKE ME IN THIS ROOM, IF AND WHEN YOU GO TO EVENTS OR GO TO DO ADVOCACY AROUND SUSTAINABILITY, ENVIRONMENTALISM CON CONSERVATION, YOU'RE PROBABLY THE ONLY ONE IN THE ROOM WHO LOOKS LIKE YOU.
UM, IT TENDS TO BE A VERY, VERY NOT DIVERSE SPACE.
AND SO HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THOSE LEADERS WHO DO LOOK LIKE ME AND HAVE THE SAME PRINCIPLES AROUND EARTH WISE STEWARDSHIP, UH, WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT WE'RE MOVING HEAD FIRST INTO OUR CLIMATE SMART VISION PLANNING.
UM, OUR, UH, MOST RECENT, UM, INCLEMENT WEATHER RELATED TRAGEDIES, YOU KNOW, TO THE, OUR NEIGHBORS, UM, IN THE HILL COUNTRY.
UH, THAT'S JUST ONE MORE REMIND REMINDER OF HOW WE HAVE TO ADVANCE OUR CLIMATE REALITY, UM, PLANS, UM, PLANNING, PROTOCOL RESILIENCE.
UM, IT'S JUST ANOTHER REMINDER WE'RE NOT READY.
UM, AND SO, UH, MY HEART GOES OUT TO THOSE FOLKS.
BY THE WAY, ITEM NUMBER ONE 17, THIS FEE WAIVER, UM, IT REIMBURSES A PD $850 IN FEES FOR TEXAS STATE EMPLOYEES UNION'S LOBBY DAY ON APRIL 9TH, UH, 2025, THEY SERVED US.
AND SO I'LL LEAVE WITH THAT AND, UH, HOPE THAT WE HAVE ONE MORE OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, ONE MORE OPPORTUNITY TODAY, UH, DURING THE COURSE OF OUR PROCEEDINGS TO ANSWER THE QUESTION, UH, THAT MR. BUNCH POSED, WHICH IS, WHAT DOES DECORUM LOOK LIKE? UM, WHY DON'T WE JUST BE THE EXAMPLE OF IT.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARBOR MADISON MEMBERS, UM, THOSE ARE ALL THE PEOPLE WE HAVE ASKING TO BE HEARD.
THEY'RE BEING FOR NO FURTHER DISCUSSION.
LET ME ASK IF ANYONE, COUNCIL, I HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN BEING SHOWN AS ABSTAINING ON ITEM NUMBER 37.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT WISHES TO BE SHOWN ABSTAINING ON ANOTHER ITEM? ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN RECUSING THEMSELVES FROM A VOTE ON ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? I HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL VOTING NO ON ITEM NUMBER 54 AND COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN VOTING NO ON 87.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA? THAT BEING THE CASE AND THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN BEING SHOWN ABSTAINING ON 37.
COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL VOTING NO ON ITEM 54 AND COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN BEING SHOWN, VOTING NO ON ITEM NUMBER 87 MEMBERS.
BEFORE WE GO TO THE 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, UH, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF ITEMS THAT WE CAN TAKE CARE OF, I THINK IN, IN PRETTY, UH, RAPID FASHION.
[124. Approve a resolution authorizing the filing of eminent domain proceedings and payment to acquire the property interests needed for the Texas Department of Transportation Interstate Highway 35 Central Water/Wastewater Relocation Project for the public use of water and wastewater line relocation, requiring the acquisition of a wastewater easement, in two parts, consisting of 0.228 acre (9,921 square feet) of one acre of land, more or less, out of and a part of the Santiago Del Valle Survey, Abstract No. 24 in Travis County, Texas, being a portion of Tract A, Teague Buda Subdivision No. One recorded in Volume 75, Page 375, Plat Records of Travis County, Texas, said tract conveyed to Aberfeldy Properties, Inc., by deed filed for record on January 16, 2015, in Document No. 2015007175 of the Official Public Records of Travis County, Texas, said 0.228 acre (9,921 square feet) of one acre of land being more particularly described in two (2) parts, and the acquisition of a temporary working space easement consisting of 0.2719 of one acre (11,842 square feet) of land, more or less, comprised of 0.1517 of one acre, being temporary workspace easements (TWSE) described in four (4) parts, and 0.1202 of one acre, being a temporary access easement (TAE), out of and a part of the Santiago Del Valle Survey, Abstract No. 24, in Travis County Texas, being a portion of the tract conveyed to Aberfeldy Properties, Inc., by deed filed for record on January 16, 2015, recorded in Document No. 2015007175 of the Official Public Records of Travis County, Texas and described as Tract A, Teague Buda Subdivision No. One, of record in Volume 75, Page 375, of the Plat Records of Travis County, Texas, currently appraised at $553,208 and subject to an increase in value based on updated appraisals, a Special Commissioner’s award, negotiated settlement, or judgment. The owner of the needed property is Aberfeldy Properties, Inc. The property is located at 1524 South Interstate Highway 35, Austin, Texas 78704. The general route of the project is Interstate Highway 35 Frontage Road from Holly Street to Texas State Highway 71/Ben White Boulevard. Funding: $553,208 is available in the Capital Budget of Austin Water.]
NUMBER 1 24.ITEM NUMBER 1 24 IS AN IMMINENT DOMAIN ITEM.
LET ME ASK IF THERE'S ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM 1 24.
THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS MEMBERS.
THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 1 24.
SO THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH RESPECT TO ITEM NUMBER 1 24.
WHY ARE YOU RAISING YOUR HANDS?
[01:55:01]
OH, OKAY.THE MOTION WILL, THE MOTION WILL BE, UH, ON ITEM 1 24.
CAN THIS BEING A NON-CONSENT CONDEMNATION ITEM THAT IT BE TO THE EFFECT THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF AUSTIN AUTHORIZES THE USE OF THE POWER OF EMINENT DOMAIN TO ACQUIRE THE PROPERTY SET FORTH AND DESCRIBED IN THE AGENDA FOR THE CURRENT MEETING, UH, FOR THE PUBLIC USE THAT IS DESCRIBED THEREIN? COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE MOVES, UH, ADOPTION IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.
IS THEIR DISCUSSION, HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ITEM NUMBER 1 24 IS ADOPTED MEMBERS.
WHAT WE WILL THEN, WHAT WE WILL DO
[127. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance amending City Code Title 25 (Land Development) to amend the East Riverside Corridor (ERC) Regulating Plan to remove the property at 1201 Tinnin Ford Road from the ERC Regulating Plan and to change the boundary of the ERC Regulating Plan. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.]
NEXT IS WE WILL GO TO ITEM NUMBER 1, 27 MEMBERS.ITEM NUMBER 1 27 IS A PUBLIC HEARING WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 1 27.
IS THERE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS.
THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON ITEM 1 27.
SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 1 27.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED AND THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADOPT THE ORDINANCE.
IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION IS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER LANE.
SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
IS THERE DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION? HEARING NONE, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION.
[128. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance setting the assessment rate and approving the 2026 assessment roll for the South Congress Preservation and Improvement District. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact. Related to Item #140.]
ITEM NUMBER 1 28, WHICH IS ALSO A PUBLIC HEARING.I WILL, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 1 28.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN.
THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 1 28.
UH, WITH THAT WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ON ITEM 1 28, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED AND THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN AN OA MOTION WITH REGARD TO THE CONSIDERATION OF THE ORDINANCE, THE MAYOR PRO TEM MOVES APPROVAL.
IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.
IS THEIR DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ITEM NUMBER 1 28 IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER LANE BEING TEMPORARILY OFF THE DAAS.
[140. Approve an ordinance adopting the South Congress Preservation and Improvement District Service and Assessment Plan and Budget update for 2026. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact. Related to Item #128.]
A RELATED ITEM TO 1 28.UH, ITEM NUMBER ONE 40 IS NOT A PUBLIC HEARING, BUT IT IS AN ORDINANCE, UH, APPROVE.
UH, THE MOTION IS TO, WOULD BE TO APPROVE AN ORDINANCE, UH, UNDER ONE 40.
IS THERE A, UM, ANYBODY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ONE 40? THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS FOR ONE 40.
SO I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH REGARD TO MAYOR PRO.
TEM MOVES APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER ONE 40.
IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.
IS THEIR DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, UM, WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ITEM NUMBER ONE 40 IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER LANE TEMPORARILY OFF THE DAIS MEMBERS.
[138. Approve an ordinance approving the Austin Downtown Public Improvement District Service and Assessment Plan and Budget update for 2026 and declaring an emergency. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact on the City. Related Item #133.]
NUMBER 1 38.NUMBER 1 38, UH, IS ALSO RELATED TO AN ORDINANCE.
IS THERE, UH, ANY, IS THERE ANYONE SIGNED UP ON ITEM NUMBER 1 38? THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS FOR 1 38.
THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 1 38.
SO THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
THE MAYOR PRO TIM MOVES APPROVAL.
IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION THERE BEING NO DISCUSSION? UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ITEM NUMBER 1 38 IS ADOPTED, UH, WITH COUNCIL MEMBER LANE TEMPORARILY OFF THE DAAS MEMBERS.
[133. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance setting the assessment rate and approving the 2026 assessment roll for the Austin Downtown Public Improvement District. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact of the City. Related to Item #138.]
NOW GO BACK TO ITEM NUMBER 1 33, WHICH IS A RELATED ITEM TO ITEM NUMBER 1 38.IT IS A PUBLIC HEARING WITHOUT OBJECTION.
WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 1 33.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK.
WE HAVE TWO SPEAKERS, PHILIP WILEY AND KIMBERLY LEVINSON.
KIMBERLY LEVINSON REPRESENTING THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
I WON'T TAKE UP MUCH OF YOUR TIME, I JUST WANNA SAY I SUPPORT THIS AND I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE DAA FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THEY DO FOR DOWNTOWN.
WHO WAS THE OTHER SPEAKER? PHILIP WILEY.
AND, AND HE'S AND HE, HE, HE'S GONNA DO EVEN BETTER
HE'S, HE, HE, HE WON UP YOU ON THAT? UH, OKAY.
UH, HE'S WAVING HIS TIME ON THAT.
UH, ARE THERE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 1 33? THAT'S ALL.
SPEAKERS MEMBERS? THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 1 33.
SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON 1 33.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED AND THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION MOTIONS MADE BY THE MAYOR PRO TIM.
SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE FOR APPROVAL OF THE ORDINANCE.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION.
[139. Approve an ordinance approving the East Sixth Street Public Improvement District Service and Assessment Plan and Budget for 2026 and declaring an emergency. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact. Related to Item #134.]
WILL TAKE US TO ITEM NUMBER 1 39.UH, AND I'LL, WE WILL CALL UP ITEM NUMBER ONE THIRTY NINE AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK.
THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 1 39.
SO I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER 1 39.
UM, MAYOR PRO TIM MOVES APPROVAL.
IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.
IS THERE DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ITEM 1 39 IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER LANE TEMPORARILY OFF THE DAAS
[02:00:01]
MEMBERS WILL[137. Conduct a public hearing and consider a resolution authorizing and directing the Director of the Parks and Recreation Department to act on the City’s behalf and work with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) in connection with the Local Park Grant Program and to apply for a Local Park Grant of up to $1,500,000, to be partially matched by the City, to fund the construction of amenities in Palm Park. Funding: Funding of up to $1,500,000 is available from the TPWD’s Local Park Grant Program. A City funding match of $1,500,000 is required and is available through the Waller Creek Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone.]
GO TO ITEM NUMBER 1 37.AND THAT IS A PUBLIC HEARING WITHOUT OBJECTION.
WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 1 37.
THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 1 37.
SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 1 37.
COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE MOVES APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION.
IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.
DISCUSSION, HEARING NONE, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ITEM NUMBER 1 37 IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER LA TEMPORARILY OFF THE DIAZ MEMBERS.
[12:00 PM - Public Communication: General]
US TO 12 O'CLOCK, WHICH IS OUR TIME.CERTAIN, UH, FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT, UH, WHAT WE WILL DO IS WE WILL TAKE UP OUR TIME, CERTAIN GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT, AND AT, AT THE END OF THAT, UH, WE WILL RECESS UNTIL ONE O'CLOCK.
UH, WE DO NOT HAVE, UH, MUSIC THIS WEEK.
UH, UH, I'M, I'M INFORMED, UH, THERE WON'T BE MUSIC, BUT WE WILL STILL RECESS AT THE END OF PUBLIC COMMENT UNTIL ONE O'CLOCK AND WE'LL COME BACK PROMPTLY AT ONE O'CLOCK.
UH, SO I'LL TURN TO THE CLERK.
GEORGE RAINA, RENA, RUBEN RIVERA CLEMENTE, SENIOR SILVER, WHITE MOUNTAIN.
CAN YOU PLEASE CALL THE NAMES ONE MORE TIME? YES.
GEORGE RENA, RUBEN RIVERA CLEMENTE SR.
SILVER, WHITE MOUNTAIN, TASHA BILLET.
IF, IF FOLKS CAN REMAIN QUIET AS YOU EXIT, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
UM, THIS FIRST TIME I'M DOING THIS, HELLO, I'M GEORGE REYNA.
UM, SAY HELLO TO THE CITY MANAGER, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
UM, I'M HERE TO POINT OUT JUST A CONCERN FOR THE CROSSWALK, PEDESTRIAN SAFETY BECAUSE, UH, MY EXPERIENCE, THE SQUEAKY WHEEL GETS THE GREASE, THE LOUDEST VOICE GETS HEARD, AND IT'S BETTER TO HAVE A MICROPHONE THAN A LOUD VOICE.
UM, AND WE NEED PEOPLE TO BE USING WHEN THEY USE THE CROSSWALK TO BE SAFE, OF COURSE.
UM, SO I HAVE THE PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE AND THE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF A 40-YEAR-OLD, UH, PEDESTRIAN THAT MAINLY CROSSES THE STREETS AT INTERSECTIONS, AT THE CROSSWALK.
UM, I LOOKED INTO IT, THE RIGHT TURN ON RED WENT INTO EFFECT IN THE 1970S, I BELIEVE.
SO WHAT I'VE SEEN IS, UM, WHEN IT WAS A RULE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WOULD STOP AT THE RED LIGHT OR A STOP SIGN, LOOK BOTH WAYS, AND THEN CROSS, I MEAN, NOT CROSS, BUT, UM, DRIVE.
YOU KNOW, LIKE IT'S IN, UH, IT'S IN LIKE AN IDEA LIKE, HEY, YOU SHOULD STOP AT THE STOP SIGN OR STOP RED LIGHT.
AND THEN NOW IT'S BECOME OPTIONAL.
WELL, WE CAN CHOOSE TO STOP AT THE RED LIGHT OR THE STOP SIGN.
AND THEN NOW IT'S BECOME A PREFERENCE.
I DON'T LIKE STOPPING AT THE RED LIGHT, YOU KNOW? AND THEN, UM, SO I JUST THINK IT'S MORE LIKE, I DON'T KNOW, WE SHOULD PROBABLY, UM, BRING MORE ATTENTION TO LIKE, HEY PEOPLE, YOU NEED TO STOP AT THE RED LIGHT.
LOOK LEFT AND RIGHT, NOT JUST LEFT BECAUSE SOMEBODY COULD BE CROSSING FROM THE RIGHT, BECAUSE I'VE HAD SOME CLOSE CALLS WHERE SOME PEOPLE ARE JUST LOOKING ON THE LEFT, IT'S CLEAR, AND THEN I'M CROSSING ON THEIR RIGHT, BUT THEY DON'T LOOK ON THE RIGHT.
BUT, UM, ME BEING HERE TOO, IT'LL GET INTO PEOPLE'S MINDS THAT YOU NEED TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT, STOP SIGN.
RESPECT IT, BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S NOT JUST A LAW FOR, THERE'S MANY REASONS, YOU KNOW, IT'S SAFETY AND SOME PEOPLE FORGET 'CAUSE WE GOT NEW DRIVERS AND THEY NEED TO BE REMINDED WHY WE HAVE CERTAIN LAWS AND RULES.
DO YOU KNOW, DID YOU MENTION WHICH DISTRICT YOU LIVE IN? TWO.
WELL THEN I WILL HAVE, UH, SOMEONE FROM MY, IF YOU CAN HANG OUT FOR A LITTLE BIT, I'LL HAVE SOMEONE FROM MY TEAM COME DOWN TO, TO CHAT WITH YOU IF THAT'S OKAY.
SILVER WHITE MOUNTAIN HERE AGAIN.
I'M HERE TO PUT MY FINGERS, UH, IN
[02:05:01]
EVERYONE'S PIE.SINCE I'M KNOWLEDGEABLE, I'VE GOT A WIDE RANGE OF INTERESTS AND SKILLS.
UM, I COULDN'T BRING A REAL PIE IN HERE, SO JUST IMAGINE I'M HOLDING A FEW PIES IN HERE AND I'M GONNA PUT MY FINGERS ALL OVER IT.
AND THIS IS A NICE CHERRY PIE AND I'M PUTTING ALL MY FINGERS IN IT.
PREVIOUSLY, I'VE REQUESTED FOR SOMETHING TO BE DONE ABOUT RED LIGHT RUNNERS.
THE CITY AND A PD HAVE LOST CONTROL AND IT IS ALMOST OPTIONAL NOW.
SO NOW I'M GONNA HAVE TO KEEP COMING BACK HERE EVERY TIME I GET AN OPPORTUNITY, JUST LIKE ANDY DEFRA STARRING TIM ROBBINS IN THE MOVIE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION.
HE HAD TO SEND A LETTER TO THE STATE SENATE EVERY WEEK FOR SIX YEARS UNTIL THEY GOT TIRED AND THEY DECIDED TO SEND HIM SOME FUNDS FOR BOOKS.
THEN HE DECIDED TO SEND TWO LETTERS A WEEK.
THEN HE GOT MORE FUNDS, THEN HE RECEIVED MONEY FOR A LIBRARY TO BUILD IN PRISON.
I'M GOING TO KEEP COMING HERE.
I'M GONNA SEND LETTERS, CALLS, TEXTS, AND MAYBE SOME SMOKE SIGNALS TO GET THIS ONE DONE UNTIL Y'ALL GET TIRED OF ME AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
IT'S CALLED THE NIBBLING AWAY TACTIC.
WHERE'S THE MAYOR? THANK YOU MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FOR NOT ABANDONING YOUR POSITIONS WITH ALL WE DISH OUT AT Y'ALL.
MOST OF Y'ALL REMAIN PATIENT NEUTRAL AND DON'T SHOW YOUR REAL TEMPERAMENT OR YOUR REAL FEELINGS OR JUST LOOK DOWN.
SOME OF Y'ALL, I SEE SOME TWO OF Y'ALL ARE REALLY PAYING ATTENTION OR I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE OTHERS ARE LOOKING AT, Y'ALL, SPONGEBOB OR SOMETHING.
WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, Y'ALL GET GOING.
UNLIKE SOME PEOPLE WHO GET PAID WHEN THE JOB IS EASY, IF Y'ALL SEEN OVER THERE IN THE MEDIA AND THEN SOMETHING DRASTIC HAPPENS AND THEY ARE FORCED TO RESIGN BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THE BIG PROBLEM OR WERE NOT PROPERLY TRAINED.
AND TO MR. SIEGEL, I DON'T APPRECIATE YOU BEST IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
I AM A RESIDENT IN DISTRICT ONE.
UM, AND I'M ACTUALLY HERE TO TALK ABOUT A TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE, UH, THAT I BELIEVE EXPOSED SOME SERIOUS GAPS IN OUR CITY'S, UH, ANIMAL PROTECTION RESPONSE.
UH, AND TO URGE URGENT REFORM.
UH, TO KEEP RESIDENTS AND PETS SAFE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, ON JUNE 26TH AT 4:30 PM I WAS TAKING MY BLACK LA FOR A WALK AROUND OUR BLOCK AND A NEIGHBOR'S DOG ESCAPED THEIR FENCE AND IMMEDIATELY LUNGED AT US TO PROTECT MY DOG.
I STEPPED IN BETWEEN HER AND THE ATTACKING DOGS, UH, WITH ONE LATCH ONTO MY RIGHT ARM, THE OTHER ONTO MY LEFT, AND I BEGAN SCREAMING FOR HELP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET.
UH, EVENTUALLY THE OWNER CAME OUT OF THEIR BACK DOOR AND ASKED WHAT THE DOG, WHAT MY DOG DID TO PROVOKE THIS ATTACK.
WHEN I TOLD HER I'D BE CALLING 9 1 1 AND FILLING OUT A POLICE REPORT, SHE SHRUGGED AND SAID, GO AHEAD.
UM, WHILE HER DAUGHTER PROCEEDED TO SHOVE THEIR DOGS BACK INTO THE HOLE IN THE FENCE THAT THEY CAME FROM, UM, AT THE TIME, I DIDN'T HAVE MY CELL PHONE ON ME.
UH, SO I RAN BACK TO MY HOUSE, WHICH WAS LESS THAN A BLOCK AWAY, UH, FOR MY HUSBAND TO CALL 9 1 1 DESPERATE FOR HELP, AND ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT UNLESS THE SITUATION WAS LIFE THREATENING OR STILL IN PROGRESS, THAT NO ONE WOULD BE DISPATCHED AND THAT WE NEEDED TO CALL 3 1 1.
AS A RESULT, NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NOTHING ELSE WAS DONE.
WE CONTACTED 3 1 1 AND REPORTED AND FILED A REPORT WITH ANIMAL PROTECTION, CHOOSING TO PURSUE A DANGEROUS DOG DESIGNATION.
UH, WHAT FOLLOWED WAS AN UNBELIEVABLE MAZE OF MISSED CALLS, UNCLEAR PROCEDURES, AND A LOT OF FINGER POINTING.
WE LATER DISCOVERED THAT THIS WASN'T THE FIRST ATTACK.
UH, ANOTHER WOMAN AND HER DOG WERE ATTACKED.
TWO, JUST TWO HOURS AFTER ME, UH, AND THEN CONNECTED, UH, ME WITH A THIRD WOMAN WHO HAD FILED THREE PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME DOGS, NONE OF WHICH WERE ACTED UPON.
AND THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED SINCE APRIL OF 2024.
AFTER REPEATED OUTREACH, WE FINALLY SPOKE WITH AN OFFICER WHO SAID THAT THE DOGS NEEDED TO BE QUARANTINED DUE TO TEXAS LAW FOR 240 HOURS, BUT SHE CONTINUED TO CONFIRM THAT ANIMAL PROTECTION WAS NOT ALLOWED NOR CAPABLE OF PICKING UP THESE DOGS.
THE DOGS REMAINED AT HOME, UN QUARANTINE, UNMONITORED, AND UNTREATED, UH, WITH AN ADDITIONAL ANIMAL ABUSE COMPLAINT, ABUSE COMPLAINT AGAINST THEM.
UM, NO ONE COULD CONFIRM WHETHER THE DOGS WERE VACCINATED, IF THE FENCE WOULD BE PREPARED, OR IF ANY ADDITIONAL STEPS WOULD BE TAKEN.
WE WERE ONLY TOLD THAT WE WOULD EXPECT CONTACT ON JULY 7TH, UH, WITH THE QUARANTINE RESULTS.
AFTER AN OFFICER FINALLY CALLED ME BACK, UM, HE TOLD US THAT THE DOG IN QUARANTINE WAS HEALTHY.
HOWEVER, WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE SECOND DOG THAT HAD ATTACKED ME,
[02:10:01]
UH, HE ASSESSED THE HEALTH CON.THE HEALTH CONCERN WAS MADE THROUGH A VIDEO CALL.
SO THIS OFFICER DETERMINED THROUGH A VIDEO CALL WITH THE OWNER THAT THE DOG WAS HEALTHY, UH, WITH NO QUALIFICATIONS AND NO ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK.
UH, WE WERE TOLD THAT THERE APOLOGIES.
UM, WE WERE TOLD THANK YOU, MS. BILLETT.
IF, UM, A CM CARBER HALL, IF YOU'RE ABLE TO CONNECT WITH HER, OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER WILL BE ABLE TO CONNECT WITH YOU OFFLINE HERE SHORTLY.
Y'ALL JUST GETTING BETTER AND BETTER.
OUR, OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS REMOTE MARIA UNDA, SUND SEGUNDO.
MARIA DELMAN UNDA, AND I'M HERE TO RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOUR SUPPORT FOR $106,000 BUDGET, LOCATION, AND FUNDING FOR A FULLTIME PROGRAM SUPERVISOR FOR ADE MEANS NWA, WHICH IS AN INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE EAGLE ACADEMY.
IT IS A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED COMMUNITY ROOTED LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL REVITALIZATION PROGRAM SERVING, SERVING THIRD TO FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS IN THE AUSTIN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
SINCE 2014, WE HAVE OFFERED FREE SATURDAY CLASSES IN THE MEXICAN AMERICAN AND HANNO STUDIES TAUGHT BY SPANISH AND MASTER DUAL LANGUAGE TEACHERS.
OUR MISSION IS TO HONOR COMMUNITY, CULTURAL HERITAGE, FOSTER SOCIAL JUSTICE, AND BECAME OUR COLLECTIVE IDENTITIES AND PURSUIT OF EDUCATIONAL FREEDOM.
I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING WITH ACADEMIC LY, UH, FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS.
FIRST AS A VOLUNTEER, THEN I WAS A PROGRAM COORDINATOR DURING MY DOCTORAL STUDIES, AND NOW I'M A VOL VOLUNTEER RESEARCHER AGAIN.
AND I HAVE BEEN AT, WITH ACADEMIC LY SINCE 2017.
UH, DURING THIS TIME, WE'VE GROWN OUR PROGRAM FROM 35 STUDENTS TO OVER 300.
UM, I CO-DEVELOPED OUR SUMMER INDIGENOUS STEM PROGRAM, UH, LEAD OUTREACH EFFORTS THAT REACHED OVER 400 FAMILIES ANNUALLY AND CO-AUTHORED FIVE PEER REVIEWED RESEARCH ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTING THE PROGRAMS IMPACT.
THIS FUNDING WILL ALLOW US TO SUSTAIN AND GROW OUR OFFERINGS, INCLUDING OUR SATURDAY
UM, OUR RESEARCH TEAM OF 11 SCHOLARS, UM, AND TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, PARENT WORKSHOPS AND LEADERSHIP PATHWAYS FOR BILINGUAL TEACHERS.
GOING BACK TO IN PERSON, WE HAVE ANGELA VALENZUELA, EMILIO ZAMORA, AND MIHI BAILEY.
EMILIO WON'T MAKE IT TODAY, UNFORTUNATELY, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH.
UM, UH, JUST SO HAPPY TO TALK ALWAYS ABOUT, UH, ACADEMIA.
WE'VE SPOKEN WITH A NUMBER OF, UH, YOUR OFFICES ALREADY.
YOU SHOULD HAVE SOMETHING IN YOUR INBOX, AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE 106 K BUDGET THAT IS PART OF THE MAC BUDGET.
'CAUSE WE ARE PARTNERED WITH THE MAC.
WE'RE MOVING INTO OUR NEW SPACE IN, UH, AT THE MAC.
NOW THAT PHASE B WILL BE COMPLETED HOPEFULLY BY DAY OF THE DEAD WHEN THE, UH, BIG, UH, CELEBRATION IS HAPPENING THERE.
UM, WE, UH, AGAIN, ARE A, A, A LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL REVITALATION REVITALIZATION PROJECT, AND WE'VE SERVED, UH, UH, QUITE A NUMBER OF SCHOOLS OVER, UH, 11 YEARS NOW THAT WE'VE BEEN IN EXISTENCE.
WE ARE, UH, GREATLY IN NEED OF FUNDING NOW THAT WE'RE MOVING INTO OUR NEW SPACE.
IN PARTICULAR, WE ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE, UH, CULTURE, FULL-TIME CULTURAL ARTS, EDUCATION SUPERVISOR POSITION.
THAT POSITION WILL OFFER PROGRAM OVERSIGHT, UH, OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT FOR THE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS.
WE HAVE A, UH, BILINGUAL, UH, DUAL LANGUAGE TEACHER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM ITSELF CALLED LA
AND AS MENTIONED A SUMMER PROGRAM, WE'VE OFFERED CODING.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE TEACHING, UM, THE MAYAN ABACUS, UM, THAT RIGHT NOW
UH, AS, AS OUR, OUR OUR FIRST, UH, YOU KNOW, LIKE APPROACH TO, TO OFFERING THAT A RESEARCH AND EVALUATION, OUTREACH, COMPLIANCE AND REPORTING.
WE HAVE BIG DREAMS. WE WANT TO CREATE A BILINGUAL, DUAL LANGUAGE LABORATORY FOR CENTRAL TEXAS TEACHERS.
WE'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED THIS WITH THE DISTRICT.
UM, I MEAN, MAYBE AT SOME POINT BECOME AN ALTERNATIVE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM.
WE HA WE ARE IN DESPERATE NEED FOR OUR BILINGUAL, DUAL LANGUAGE, UH, TEACHERS.
AND WHAT WE FIND IS THAT, UH, WE, WE HAVE REAL HOLDING POWER.
ONCE WE, UM, WE BRING THESE TEACHERS INTO OUR SPHERE, THEY, THEY REMAIN NOT ONLY WITH US, BUT IN THE DISTRICT.
IT COSTS OVER 30, YOU KNOW, AROUND $30,000 TO REPLACE ONE TEACHER.
WHY NOT? LET'S JUST TRY AND WORK TOGETHER TO RETAIN THEM TO BEGIN WITH.
UH, IF I HAVE ANY MORE TIME, DR.
UH, ANTHONY MARTINEZ'S RESEARCH SHOWS THAT, UH, CHILDREN COMPARED TO, UM, UH, OTHERS IN THEIR SAME CLASSROOMS WHO HAD ACADEMIA QUALITY AS AN INTERVENTION HAVE HIGHER ACHIEVEMENT AND, AND HIGHER ATTENDANCE.
[02:15:01]
IT'S STUNNING THE RESEARCH, BUT I MEAN, UH, UH, WE, WE KNOW, WE KNOW THE DIFFERENCE THAT WE MAKE, BUT IT'S KIND OF COOL TO HAVE QUANTITATIVE DATA THAT NOW, UM, YOU KNOW, CAN SPEAK TO BROADER AUDIENCES WHO ARE WONDERING ABOUT WHAT VALUE WE MIGHT ADD.EVEN THOUGH WE ARE CONFIDENT IN THE VALUE THAT WE ADD.
WE'VE ALSO BECOME A PATHWAY INTO, UH, PHDS AND MASTER'S DEGREES, UH, WITHIN THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS.
SOME ARE NOW TEACHING IN UNIVERSITIES.
UM, AND SO WE, WE JUST ADD SO MUCH VALUE, UM, AND WE'RE GLAD TO BE PART OF THE MAG, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE SEMI-AUTONOMOUS.
WE'RE, WE'RE, WE COME FROM THE GRASSROOTS.
UM, SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
UM, GRA YES, YES, PLEASE PROCEED.
UM, HI, I AM MIHI, UH, BAILEY, I'M HERE TODAY.
I WAS GONNA DISCUSS, UH, THE MISUSE OF HOME, THE LOCAL HOMELAND SECURITY RESOURCES AND A LOT OF MISUSE OF, UM, UH, FUNDING.
I THINK, I DON'T WORK FOR THE CITY, BUT I'M, I'M A PERSON THAT'S HAVING TO LIVE OUT HERE AND I'M SEEING HOW THINGS ARE BEING STRUCTURED AND ORGANIZED, AND YOU CAN, YOU CAN TELL THAT THERE'S SOME TYPE OF MISUSE OR SOME TYPE OF SOMETHING GOING ON.
THERE'S A LOT OF SPYWARE, SPYWARE, MALWARE BEING USED, NOT JUST WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN, BUT MANY OTHER ENTITIES OUTSIDE OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN WHERE I'VE, WHAT I'VE NOTICED WHEN I USE THE CITY COMPUTERS, I NOTICED THAT MY INFORMATION IS BEING AT, AT COMPROMISED, AND I PAID ATTENTION TO CERTAIN, UM, CERTAIN PATTERNS THAT'S LEADING ME TO SPEAK THE WAY I'M SPEAKING IN REFERENCE TO CITY, WITHIN THE CITY, SOME CITY MANAGEMENT.
UM, AND ALSO I WANT TO BRING UP, UH, ISSUES IN REFERENCE TO, UM, LIKE THE HOMELESSNESS SITUATIONS.
UM, DOES THE CITY EVEN TAKE ANY TYPE OF ACCOUNTABILITY FOR SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT'S BEING FORCED TO BE HOMELESS VERSUS THE PEOPLE THAT ARE THE REASONS FOR THEIR HOMELESSNESS? LIKE WHAT I'M SAYING, THERE'S A LOT OF TARGETING, A LOT OF BLACK BALLING GOING ON, AND NO ONE'S, NO ONE'S ADDRESSING IT.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT ALSO WHEN Y'ALL HAVE THESE MEETINGS FOR THIS HERE TYPE OF MEETING.
Y'ALL SHOULDN'T WAIT UNTIL 12 O'CLOCK WHILE EVERYBODY'S GONE WHERE THEY CAN'T HEAR WHAT, WHAT NEEDS TO BE SAID, BECAUSE SOME THINGS NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.
I ALSO FEEL LIKE THE CITY OF AUSTIN, NOT JUST THE CITY OF AUSTIN, NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED, FEDERALLY INVESTIGATED, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF GOING, A LOT OF UNDER HANDLING GOING ON.
AND ANOTHER THING THAT WAS SOME MONEY THAT WAS, UM, FUNDED INTO THE OLD SALVATION ARMY BUILDING THAT THEY KNEW SHOULDN'T HAVE EVEN BEEN OPEN, THAT COMPROMISES PEOPLE'S SAFETY, THEIR HEALTH, AND Y'ALL ARE RUNNING OPERATIONS THAT'S NOT EVEN ABLE TO SU SUPPLY THE NEEDS OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT LIVES AT THAT SHELTER.
AND IT NEEDS TO BE TOTALLY INVESTIGATED.
NOW, WHEN I TRY TO CONTACT THE PROPER AUTHORITIES TO INVESTIGATE THE CITY OF AUSTIN, I NEED THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO QUIT, QUIT, QUIT LITERALLY LIKE MONITORING WHAT I'M DOING AND INTERCEPTING ANY EMAILS THAT I NEED TO BE SENT TO FEDERAL SO THE PROPER INVESTIGATION CAN GO ON.
SINCE IT'S NOT BEING HANDLED APPROPRIATELY WITHIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, I HAVE BEEN TARGETED AND I'M BEING BLACKBALLED AND LITERALLY BEING FORCED TO BE SILENCED.
I'M HAVING TO COME UP HERE AND I WISH THE MAYOR WAS HERE SO I CAN ASK HIM SOME QUESTIONS AND EVENTUALLY I'LL BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO HIM SINCE NONE OF THESE PEOPLE HAVE MANAGED TO SCHEDULE FOR ME TO SPEAK WITH HIM BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT.
I NEED TO KNOW IF HE HAS ANYTHING TO DO, WHAT IS WHAT HAPPENED TO ME.
NOW, I DON'T, I CAN'T SPEAK FOR EVERYBODY ELSE, BUT I KNOW I'VE BEEN FORCED TO LIVE A CERTAIN WAY AND I DON'T APPRECIATE IT.
AND NONE OF Y'ALL KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE IN A SITUATION I'M I'M IN OR ANYBODY ELSE THAT'S GOING THROUGH WHAT I'M GOING THROUGH.
Y'ALL SIT HERE AND Y'ALL JUST LIT LOOK, BUT Y'ALL DON'T KNOW, SO IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
ALL THE NOON SPEAKERS HAVE BEEN CALLED THANK YOU COLLEAGUES.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR PUBLIC COMMUNICATION MAYOR PRO TEM.
OH, YES, THERE'S ONE GENTLEMAN, I THINK HIS NAME WAS CALLED EARLIER.
IS IT ALAN AND DEMLING? NO, I THINK IT'S MR. RIVERA.
WELL, EVERYBODY KNOW WHO I AM AND I'M TIRED OF COMING HERE AND I WANNA APPRECIATE, UH, CHEETO VELA FOR NOT WALKING OUT ON ME, AND EVENTUALLY THE MAYOR DID IT LAST TIME.
I'M TIRED OF, OF BEING TERRORIZED BY UNION OF THIS POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT I HAVE COMPLAINED OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
AND BEFORE I FORGET, I GOT ANOTHER LETTER FOR CHIEF LISA DAVIS, WHICH I'M GONNA LEAVE IT HERE TO WHOEVER SEES
[02:20:01]
HER FIRST.I'VE BEEN TO THREE PUBLIC SAFETY MEETINGS.
THE LAST TWO WAS TO TELL THESE OFFICERS, STOP TERRORIZING ME.
YOU KNOW, AND ACTUALLY, I, I INCLUDED THE DETAILS ON THAT SO CHIEF CAN EITHER DO IT OR DO LIKE SHE'S BEEN DOING.
I'VE BEEN CONFRONTED FIVE POLICE CHIEFS, SIX, IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE ONE THAT SHOWED UP OVER THERE ACROSS THE HALL, AND I'M TIRED OF COMPLAINING, THIS DOESN'T MAKE SENSE AT ALL.
HOW THIS POLICE DEPARTMENT CAN, CAN JUST, I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT IT IS TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.
MAYOR WATSON IS A WITNESS THAT I CONFRONTED TWO POLICE CHIEFS HERE IN THIS AUDITORIUM.
I HAVE COMMU I'VE, I'VE BEEN COMPLAINING SO LONG AND I'M TIRED, YOU KNOW, AND THE THING ABOUT IT, THEY'RE LYING ABOUT ME, AND I GOT A, A NAME FOR THEM AND I'M JUST GONNA FLAT OUT SAY IT THIS, THIS IS THE ORGANIZED CRIME UNIT, BUT I RENAMED THEM AFTER 20 PLUS YEARS OF BEING TERRORIZED.
I'M CALLING THEM THE ISIS AND TALIBAN UNIT OF AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND THOSE OFFICERS THAT'S CONDUCTED IN A MANNER UNBECOMING, I'M CALLING THEM THE OSAMA BIN LADEN WALL STREET POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND CHIEF HENDERSON KNOWS, SHE KNOWS WHO I AM.
DO YOU THINK I REALLY LIKE BEING HERE? I DON'T, BUT I WANT THE SAME THING YOU GUYS ARE HAVING WHERE YOU CAN GO HOME AND RELAX AND TAKE IT EASY.
I'M GETTING BANG IN THE WALL BEHIND ME AND THE PERSON BELOW ME, EVEN THOUGH THEY SHOW ME THE MULTIPLE INDIVIDUALS AND I RECORD THEM LIKE I'M SUPPOSED TO, JUST LIKE THE ATTORNEYS TOLD ME.
AND JUST LIKE THAT ONE PERSON, EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT POLICE CHIEF MANLEY TOLD ME, AND THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING.
BUT WHAT HE DIDN'T WANT ME IS THE RETALIATION.
WHAT HE DIDN'T WARN ME WAS HOW VINDICTIVE THIS POLICE DEPARTMENT IS, AND MOST OF ALL, HOW THEY COVERED FROM THE LEADERSHIP OF HIS P POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE, TO THE COMMANDER WHO MY UNDERSTANDING, HE RETIRED ALREADY.
TWO OF THE THREE LIEUTENANTS, ONE OF 'EM RETIRED WHEN I STARTED COMPLAINING ABOUT IT, WHEN I GOT THE INFORMATION, I HAVE A LONG LIST OF, OF CONTACT THAT BASICALLY ALL POLICE OFFICERS MORE THAN ANYTHING, AND I DON'T WANNA BE GOING THROUGH THIS.
THE ONLY REASON WHY I'M HERE, JUST LIKE THE LAST TWO VISITS TO THE, I HOPE I DON'T HAVE TO COME BACK.
WHO WOULD MAY APPROACH ON THAT AS ALL THAT IS IT? OKAY.
ALL RIGHT, COLLEAGUES, THAT CONCLUDES OUR PUBLIC COMMUNICATION AS WAS MENTIONED EARLIER.
WE WILL STAND IN RECESS UNTIL 1:00 PM AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL WILL STAND IN RECESS UNTIL 1:00 PM THANK YOU.
IT'S ONE O'CLOCK ON JULY 24TH, 2025, AND I WILL CALL BACK TO ORDER THE CITY COUNCIL OF AUSTIN, TEXAS FOR THIS REGULAR MEETING MEMBERS.
UH, THE, THE FIRST THING I WANT TO TAKE UP IS COUNCIL MEMBER LANE, UH, HAD TO BE TEMPORARILY OFF THE DAAS AS WE TOOK UP ITEMS 1 24, 1 27, 1 28, 1 40, 1 33, 1 38, 1 39, AND 1 37.
SHE WOULD LIKE TO BE SHOWN VOTING IN FAVOR OF EACH OF THOSE ITEMS. IT WILL NOT CHANGE THE OUTCOME OF THE VOTE THAT WAS TAKEN BY THE COUNCIL.
AND SO WITHOUT, UH, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION MOTION'S MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER SECOND BY THE MAYOR PRO TIM.
UH, THERE BEING, UH, NO DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION.
SHE'LL BE SHOWN VOTING IN FAVOR OF EACH OF THOSE ITEMS WITH COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, CADRE AND COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, UH, OFF THE DAAS MEMBERS, THE, MY PLAN WOULD BE TO GO TO, UM, ONE ITEM THAT WAS RELATED TO SOMETHING WE'VE ALREADY PASSED, BUT IT HAD A SPEAKER AND THAT'S WHY I DIDN'T TAKE IT UP AS WE WERE TRYING TO, UH, MANAGE THE, THE TIME.
AND THEN GO TO THE NEXT THING.
WE, ONCE WE TAKE THAT UP, WE WILL THEN GO TO A HFC.
[134. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance setting the assessment rate and approving the 2026 assessment roll for the East Sixth Street Public Improvement District. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact on the City. Related to Item #139.]
BUT THE ITEM WE, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE UP NOW IS ITEM NUMBER 1 34.UM, AND I WILL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK FOR SPEAKERS.
LET'S SEE IF YOU'RE ON A ROLL.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT AS, UH, THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT, WE STRONGLY SUPPORT AND WE ARE STRONGLY IN FAVOR OF STREAM REALTY'S, UH, WORK ALSO.
THERE ARE NO OTHER PEOP PARTIES THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 1 34.
UM, MAYOR PRO TIMM MOVES APPROVAL.
IT IS SECONDED BY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.
IS THERE DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION? ITEM NUMBER 1 34 IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL
[02:25:01]
AND COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, UH, TEMPORARILY OFF THE DAIS.NOW MEMBERS, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL RECESS THE MEETING OF THE OFFICE CITY COUNCIL, UH, THE IN ORDER TO TAKE UP THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE ARE IN RECESS AT 1:02 PM
[10:30 AM - Austin Housing Finance Corporation Meeting]
AND I NOW CALL TO ORDER THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION FOR JULY 24TH, 2025 AT 1:02 PM WE HAVE A QUORUM OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESENT.WE ARE MEETING AT CITY HALL IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT 3 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
AND I WILL ASK MS, DO I GIVE US A PRESENTATION? THANK YOU.
MANDY DE MAYO, UM, AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.
UH, YOU HAVE FOUR ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
I'LL GO OVER THEM BRIEFLY AND THEN OFFER THEM ON CONSENT.
UH, THE FIRST IS AUTHORIZING STAFF TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE FORMATION OF A NONPROFIT CORPORATION, A HFC, SUNSET RIDGE NONPROFIT CORPORATION, UM, AND TO, UM, UH, AUTHORIZE ALL OF THE ASSOCIATED, UH, LEGAL DOCUMENTS, UH, INCLUDING THE, UM, UH,
I WILL REMIND YOU THAT A HFC AUTHORIZED IN FEBRUARY OF 2024 AUTHORIZED AN $8.85 MILLION LOAN THROUGH THE RENTAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE, UH, PROGRAM.
THE ITEM NUMBER TWO IS AUTHORIZING THE CREATION OF A HFC, A GENERAL CONTRACTOR NONPROFIT CORPORATION.
UH, ITEM NUMBER THREE IS APPROVING A RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE AFCS OWNERSHIP IN THE SUNSET RIDGE, UH, DEVELOPMENT, WHICH AGAIN IS A 404 APPROXIMATE 444 UNIT DEVELOPMENT IN D EIGHT ON SOUTHWEST PARKWAY.
I WILL NOTE THAT THIS WAS ORIGINALLY ON YOUR JUNE 5TH, A HFC AGENDA.
IT WAS POSTPONED IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT WE COMPLIED 100% WITH NEWLY PASSED STATE LEGISLATION, HB UH, 21, WHICH YOU'LL FIND IN THE BACKUP.
UH, FOR THIS ITEM, YOU WILL FIND THE, UH, REQUIRED, UH, DOCUMENTATION IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH HB 21.
ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS, UH, AUTHORIZING US TO PROCEED WITH A NEW POLICY FOR THE CREATION OF NONPROFIT CORPORATIONS, WHEREBY THE NONPROFIT BOARD OF DIRECTORS WILL NOT BE, UH, NAMED BY NAME RATHER NAMED BY TITLE.
SO THOSE ARE THE FOUR ITEMS. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AND I OFFER ALL FOUR OF THOSE ON CONSENT.
BOARD MEMBERS THAT YOU HAVE, YES, MEMBER ALTER.
THE ITEM THAT YOU WERE HAVING TO MAKE COMPLIANT WITH HP 21 WAS THAT AROUND THE BEDROOM MIX.
SO HB 21 IS NEW LEGISLATION THAT GOVERNS HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATIONS, AND IT DID, UH, A COUPLE OF, UH, UH, THINGS.
ONE WAS, UM, IT, UH, OUTLAWED THE USE OF TRAVELING HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATIONS.
SO, UM, SO OUT OF JURISDICTION, HOUSING, FINANCE CORPORATIONS.
THE OTHER THING IS THAT IT REQUIRED, UH, THAT PRIOR TO APPROVAL OF, UM, HFCS ENTERING INTO DEVELOPMENT GENERAL PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENTS THAT WE PRESENT TO THE PUBLIC, UM, AND DEMONSTRATE THE PUBLIC BENEFIT THAT, UH, IS, UM, DEMONSTRATED BY THIS DEVELOPMENT.
AND IN THIS CASE, THE REQUIREMENT, THE LEG LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENT IS THAT AT LEAST 50% OF THE BENEFIT, UH, THE TAX ABATEMENT, AT LEAST 50% OF THAT GOES TOWARD RENTAL REDUCTIONS.
SO THE AFFORDABLE RENT WILL ACHIEVE AT LEAST, UM, 50% OF THE TAX ABATEMENT THAT IS BEING SOUGHT IN THIS CASE.
AND YOU'LL SEE IN THE BACKUP THAT OUR DEVELOPMENT, THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT IS ESTIMATED BY THE THIRD PARTY THAT THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT WILL ACHIEVE, UM, MUCH MORE THAN THAT.
72%, UM, UH, OF THE RENT REDUCTION WILL, UH, GO TOWARD RENT RELIEF FOR OUR, UH, LOW INCOME TENANTS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, MEMBERS? ALRIGHT, I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK, UH, FOR SPEAKERS ON A-V-H-A-H-F-C CONSENT AGENDA FOR ITEM ONE, ENOVIA JOSEPH.
COUNSEL, THERE'S ACTUALLY A SLIDE NUMBER THREE IS, UM, SO THE THIRD SLIDE ACTUALLY SHOWS YOU THE FORMATION, AND THAT WAS
[02:30:01]
JUST MY OPPOSITION.ONCE AGAIN, THESE ALL I, UM, GO TOGETHER ONE, THREE, AND FOUR, BUT I'LL JUST PREFACE BY SAYING THIS IS THE AREA THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
AND WHILE MANDY DE MAIL JUST MENTIONED THE REDUCTION FOR LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS, THIS IS FOR PEOPLE WHO EARN A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS OUT OF TOUCH WITH REALITY, YOUR OWN DATA FROM 2020 WHEN YOU ACTUALLY SURVEY THE MINORITY CHAMBERS SPECIFY THAT AMERICANS EARN APPROXIMATELY $42,000.
HISPANICS EARN APPROXIMATELY $50,000.
YOU MAY HAVE UPDATED YOUR DATA SINCE THEN, BUT THEY'RE CERTAINLY NOT MAKING $100,000 FOR 120% AREA MEDIAN INCOME.
SO IT IS CERTAINLY DISINGENUOUS AND I HAVE ASKED HER TO RESIGN BEFORE.
I WANT YOU TO LOOK AT THE AREA SPECIFICALLY ON THE RIGHT HERE, AND YOU'LL SEE THIS IS THE SOUTHWEST AUSTIN AREA THAT I CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT IN, UH, PAGE ELLIS'S DISTRICT WHERE THE BUS RUNS EMPTY FOR 2.9 BOARDINGS AN HOUR.
IF YOU'LL JUST GO TO THE THIRD SLIDE, I'LL JUST SHOW THAT I ACTUALLY, IT'S THE FORMATION THAT I'M IN OPPOSITION TO BECAUSE ONCE AGAIN, I REALIZE THIS IS ACTUALLY A FINANCING MECHANISM, BUT IT LACKS TRANSPARENCY.
THERE'S NOTHING POSTED ONLINE, SO THE PUBLIC HAS NO WAY OF KNOWING EXACTLY WHAT TOOLS ARE BEING USED AND HOW THIS IS BENEFICIAL TO US.
I WOULD ASK THAT YOU ACTUALLY ADOPT SOME TYPE OF PROCESS OR POLICY TO ENSURE THAT THESE NONPROFITS THAT YOU CONTINUE TO CREATE ACTUALLY HAVE TO POST SOMETHING ONLINE SO THAT WE KNOW WHEN THEY MEET AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GO GLADLY ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME.
SHE'S ALSO SIGNED UP ON ITEMS THREE AND FOUR, IS THAT CORRECT? CORRECT.
MAYOR, YOU, YOU'RE WELCOME TO SPEAK ON THOSE ITEMS. IF YOU WOULD ALSO LIKE SURE IF THE CLERK WILL JUST GO TO THE SECOND SLIDE IT, I'VE SAID MANY TIMES TODAY, AND THANK YOU MAYOR, UH, DIRECTORS, I'M ENOVIA JOSEPH, ONCE AGAIN, I JUST WANTED YOU TO SEE THE STARK CONTRAST IN THE INSET.
YOU'LL SEE DOBY MIDDLE SCHOOL, THIS IS NOT WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IN SOUTHWEST AUSTIN.
I WANT YOU TO SEE THIS IS AIRPORT BOULEVARD.
THIS IS WHAT YOU MAY SEE THERE.
I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE AS WELL AS IT RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO SOUTHWEST AUSTIN.
THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN ALSO HAS PROPERTY IN THIS AREA FOR 80% AREA MEDIAN INCOME.
ONCE AGAIN, THAT IS ABOVE THE THRESHOLD.
SO IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR MANDY DE MAYO TO CLARIFY FOR THE PUBLIC WHEN IT SAYS 80% OR 120% AREA MEDIAN INCOME, IF A PERSON HAS TO ACTUALLY EARN THAT AMOUNT OR IF IT'S UP TO THAT AMOUNT.
BECAUSE AS IT STANDS, UH, THE 30% AREA MEDIAN INCOME INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE CHRONICALLY HOMELESS, THOSE PROPERTIES IN SOUTHWEST AUSTIN DO NOT CURRENTLY HOUSE THOSE INDIVIDUALS.
THIS PROPERTY SPECIFICALLY IN COMPARISON ALL ON THE RAIL LINE.
MAYOR, I WILL JUST REMIND YOU HERE AT HIGHLAND VILLAGE, WHICH WAS A PROPERTY FROM THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, IT'S 80% AREA MEDIAN INCOME ON DECEMBER 17TH, 2020, MIKE GERBER, WHO IS THE SECRETARY FOR THE BOARD, AUSTIN PATHWAYS NONPROFIT, HE ACTUALLY SAID THE REASON THAT THERE'S NOT LOWER INCOME IS BECAUSE THE INTEREST IN THE AREA DIDN'T WANNA SERVE LOWER INCOME PEOPLE.
SO IF YOU GO BACK TO THE FIRST SLIDE, ONCE AGAIN, YOU WILL SEE THE BUS RUNS EMPTY FOR 2.9 BOARDINGS AN HOUR TO CONVICT HILL.
BLACK PEOPLE WAIT 60 MINUTES FOR THE BUS, 10 TIMES LONGER THAN SOUTHWEST CENTRAL AUSTIN.
AND THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
THE SUBSIDY IS OVER $20 FOR THE WHITE PEOPLE, IT'S $2 AND 50 CENTS TO RIDE THE BUS ROUND TRIP, BUT YET PAIGE ELLIS REMAINED SILENT AND ENGAGED IN VIEWPOINT DISCRIMINATION.
YOU'RE ENTITLED TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
SO NUMBER FOUR, SPECIFICALLY MAYOR AND THANK YOU DIRECTORS, UH, IS TO REMOVE THE NAMES OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ON THESE BOARDS AND REPLACE IT WITH THE TITLES.
EARLIER YOU HAD COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE MENTIONED TRANSPARENCY WHEN YOU STARTED THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE.
HEARING MAYOR, YOU MENTIONED TRANSPARENCY.
UM, UNLESS I'M MISSING SOMETHING, I'M NOT SURE WHY THE NAMES WOULD BE REMOVED.
YOU HAVE NAMES FOR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THAT ARE TRANSPARENT AND THIS IS A NONPROFIT.
THEY'RE ALREADY NOT HAVING THE MEETINGS, THEY DON'T HAVE ANY MEMBERS, SO IT SEEMS TO BE, UH, A BAD PRECEDENT AS IT RELATES TO SIMPLY HAVING THEM REMOVE THEIR NAMES.
I DON'T KNOW HOW THE PUBLIC WOULD EVEN KNOW WHO'S ON THE BOARD AND WHAT IT IS THAT THEY'RE DOING.
OFTENTIMES PEOPLE DO CHANGE POSITIONS INTERNALLY AND THE PUBLIC WOULD HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING
[02:35:01]
THAT.I WOULD ASK YOU IN THE BACKUP, HOWEVER, IF THERE IS SOMETHING TRANSPARENTLY POSTED ONLINE THAT YOU ACTUALLY INCLUDE THAT, UM, IT IS DISTURBING.
THE ITEMS ALL PRETTY MUCH RUN TOGETHER, BUT WHEN I TELL YOU THAT AFRICAN AMERICANS ARE THE ONES THAT ARE DISSERVICED AND OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHO ARE AT COMMUNITY FIRST VILLAGE WAITING TWO HOURS IN THEIR WHEELCHAIRS, IT IS BECAUSE THE INVESTMENT CONTINUES TO GO IN THE AREAS WHERE WHITE CHOICE RIDER LIVE.
AND THIS IS A CLEAR EXAMPLE OF WHITE PRIVILEGE.
SO I WILL CLOSE WITH MY COMMENTS IN THE CONTEXT OF TITLE VI OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964, WHICH PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN.
AND JUST REMEMBER, MAYOR, THIS DOES NOT AFFIRMATIVELY FURTHER FAIR HOUSING.
SO IT IS IN VIOLATION OF THE FAIR HOUSING ACT OF 1968 AS WELL BECAUSE YOU CONTINUE TO CONCENTRATE POVERTY AS OPPOSED TO COMPLYING WITH YOUR SMART POLICY, WHICH IS MIXED INCOME.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GLADLY ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL SPEAKERS MEMBERS.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF THE SPEAKERS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING.
UH, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH REGARD TO THE CONSENT AGENDA COUNCIL, UH, BOARD MEMBER ELLIS MOVES APPROVAL.
IT IS SECONDED BY THE MAYOR PRO TIM MEMBERS.
IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO ABSTAIN FROM ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS? ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN RECUSING THEMSELVES FROM A VOTE ON THE A HFC BOARD? IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON ANY OF THE ITEMS? ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THE A HFC BOARD, UH, UH, BOARD AGENDA IS ADOPTED AS A CONSENT AGENDA.
MEMBERS, THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF THE BUSINESS OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION FOR THIS MEETING ON JULY 24TH, 2025.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE ARE ADJOURNED AT 1:14 PM THANK YOU.
I WILL NOW CALL BACK TO ORDER THE, UH, COUNCIL MEETING FOR THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
MEMBERS, COUNCIL MEMBERS SIEGEL AND CADRE MISSED A VOTE ON THE MOTION TO SHOW COUNCIL MEMBER LANE VOTING YES ON A NUMBER OF ITEMS AND ON ITEM NUMBER 1 34, THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE SHOWN VOTING IN FAVOR.
I WOULD MOVE THAT THEY BE SHOWN VOTING IN FAVOR OF THOSE TWO ITEMS. IT IS SECONDED BY THE MAYOR PRO TIM, IS THERE ANY OBJECTION? WITHOUT OBJECTION? THE, UH, MOTION IS ADOPTED
[135. Conduct a public hearing and consider a request by Escuela, located at 6240 West US Highway 290 Westbound, for a waiver of the distance requirement of City Code Section 4-9-4(A) which requires a minimum 300-foot separation distance between a business selling alcoholic beverages and a school. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.]
MEMBERS.WE WILL NOW GO TO ITEM NUMBER 1 35, ITEM NUMBER 1 35.
THAT IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND I WILL, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK.
THANK YOU MAYOR RICHARD SUTTLE, WHO SIGNED UP FOR ITEM 1 35.
UM, MR. SETTLE MAYOR MEMBERS THE COUNCIL ON HERE ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT ON THIS.
FIRST OF ALL, HAPPY TEQUILA DAY.
IT'S HAPPY NATIONAL TEQUILA AND INTERNATIONAL TEQUILA DAY MEETS THE CRITERIA FOR A WAIVER AND HAS SUPPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY AND WE HOPE YOU'LL APPROVE IT.
ANYBODY HAVE QUESTIONS THAT THEY CAN ASK OF HIM? UH, OKAY.
UM, THE ANYBODY ELSE SIGNED UP? THAT'S ALL THE SPEAKERS FOR 1 3 5 MEMBERS.
THOSE ARE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 1 35.
UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED.
COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS MOVES, UH, APPROVAL OF THE REQUEST FOR THE WAIVER.
IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE IS THEIR DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION.
[136. Conduct a public hearing and consider a request by Flourish Plant Shop & Wine Bar, located at 5003 Airport Boulevard, for a waiver of the distance requirement of City Code Section 4-9-4(A) which requires a minimum 300-foot separation distance between a business selling alcoholic beverages and a school. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.]
WE WILL NOW GO TO ITEM NUMBER 1 36 AND I, IT'S A PUBLIC HEARING WITHOUT OBJECTION.WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK.
I HAVE EILEEN MCGINNIS AND RACHEL ROBERTS.
IF YOU'RE HERE, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
UM, THANK YOU COUNSEL AND MAYOR FOR HEARING, UH, ME SPEAK TODAY.
I AM THE OWNER OF FLOURISH PLANT SHOP AND WINE BAR, AND WE ARE AGAIN SEEKING AN ALCOHOL WAIVER FROM THE CITY.
UM, OUR BUSINESS IS ON, UH, AIRPORT BOULEVARD AND, UM, IT IS A BEAUTIFUL RETAIL SHOP WITH A VERY LOW KEY LOUNGE THAT WILL BE SERVING WINE, BEER, AND FOOD.
UM, WE ARE TRYING TO CREATE A POSITIVE ADDITION TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WILL SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
THIS WILL BE AN IMPROVEMENT TO THE CURRENT STATE OF THE BUILDING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA.
[02:40:01]
HAVE THE SUPPORT, UM, FULL SUPPORT OF RIDGE TOP ELEMENTARY, WHICH IS THE SCHOOL THAT IS IN PROXIMITY.UM, RIDGE TOP IS WITHIN SIGHT OF OUR ESTABLISHMENT, BUT NOT APPROXIMATE BY WALKING DISTANCE AS YOU WOULD NEED TO CROSS AIRPORT BOULEVARD, THE RED LINE TRACKS AND CLARKSON IN ORDER TO GET TO THE SCHOOL.
SO WE WERE PRETTY FAR REMOVED.
UM, OUR NEXT DOOR NEIGHBORS, UM, TO THIS LOCATION OPERATE AS A RESTAURANT AND THEY SERVE ALCOHOL.
THEY ALSO SHARE A PATIO WITH US.
UM, THIS STRETCH OF AIRPORT BOULEVARD HAS OTHER FOOD AND BEVERAGE LOCATIONS WITH THE SAME ALCOHOL LICENSES.
UM, WE HAVE, UH, LETTERS FROM RIDGE TOP ELEMENTARY AND THE FULL SUPPORT, UM, WITH LETTERS OF FROM THE NORTH LOOP NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND OTHER BUSINESS OWNERS IN THIS STRETCH OF AIRPORT BOULEVARD.
UM, WE ARE EXPANDING FROM OUR CURRENT JUST PLANT SHOP TO OFFER THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE AS WELL AS THE RETAIL.
UM, WE WERE NOT AWARE THAT THIS ALCOHOL LICENSE WOULD BE AN ISSUE AND WE WERE ASSURED OUR ZONING WAS ADEQUATE.
WE SIGNED A LEASE AND WE WERE READY TO GO.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
THOSE WERE THE ONLY SPEAKERS FOR 1 3 6.
I BELIEVE HAD OKAY, THANK YOU.
UM, MEMBERS, THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 1 36.
SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 1 36.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED AND THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER 1 36.
COUNCIL MEMBER BAYLA HAS A QUESTION.
LET'S DO THAT BEFORE WE GET A MOTION.
JUST A VERY QUICK QUESTION FOR THE SPEAKER.
IS THIS THE OLD TAMALA HOUSE LOCATION ON AIRPORT BOULEVARD? YES.
ALRIGHT, THAT WAS MY ONLY QUESTION.
THAT PLACE HAS BEEN EMPTY FOR WAY TOO LONG AND I'M, I'M, I'M REALLY GLAD TO SEE LIFE COMING BACK TO THAT SPOT.
THAT SOUNDED LIKE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER VALA TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 1 36.
SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.
IS THERE DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO ITEM 1 36? WITHOUT OBJECTION.
[126. 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.]
ITEM NUMBER 1 26 IS A PUBLIC HEARING WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 1 26.THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK.
YOU HAVE TIME DONATED BY DIANA BALL AND FRANK GORDON.
ARE BOTH OF YOU HERE? GORDON'S HERE.
FOUR MINUTES THEN FOUR MINUTES.
SOMEBODY HAS LEFT TO DONATED TIME.
THERE'S ANOTHER VOLUNTEER TO DONATE TIME.
THAT'S, WELL, THAT'S NOT THE WAY WE DO THAT, BUT, UM, WHAT WE'LL DO IS YOU'RE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
IF YOU'LL GO OVER AND GET THAT TAKEN CARE OF WITH THE CLERK, THEN WE'LL, WE'LL MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
SO MR. HILS, HE'LL HAVE SIX MINUTES.
UH, MAYOR WATSON, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, APPEAR TODAY AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR, UH, COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE AND PASSION FOR BETTER AUSTIN.
I'M A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE CAMBRIDGE TOWER, UH, COUNCIL OF OWNERS.
UH, CAMBRIDGE TOWER IS A RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL, UH, BUILDING LOCATED AT 1801 LAVACCA STREET.
UH, WE'VE BEEN A PART OF THAT NEIGHBORHOOD FOR 60 YEARS.
UH, I'VE NOT BEEN A PART OF IT FOR THAT LONG
UH, OUR CONCERNS THAT I WILL EXPRESS AND THE, AND SOME OF THE OTHER OWNERS WHO ARE HERE ARE REALLY BASED ON OUR LIVED EXPERIENCE IN THAT, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE ARE OPPOSED TO THE REQUEST BY THE APPLICANT TO INCREASE THE FLOOR TO AIR, UH, FLOOR TO AREA RATIO ENTITLEMENTS, UH, THAT HAVE BEEN REQUESTED UNDER THE DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM.
WE'RE OPPOSED BECAUSE THE ADDED DENSITY, UH, WE'LL EXACERBATE EXISTING PROBLEMS AND CREATE WHOLE NEW PROBLEMS, UH, IN TRAFFIC CONGESTION, UH, PEDESTRIAN CYCLIST SAFETY, UH, IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
OUR CONCERNS AS OWNERS EXTEND BEYOND WHAT WE WILL FOCUS ON TODAY, BUT I DO WANT TO FOCUS EXCLUSIVELY ON THOSE MATTERS AFFECTED BY THE INCREASED DENSITY THAT IS A PART OF THIS PROPOSAL.
WE'RE OPPOSED, UH, TO APPROVING THIS INCREASED
[02:45:01]
DENSITY UNTIL THE FOLLOWING CAN BE ACHIEVED.A THOROUGH TRAFFIC ANALYSIS AND IMPACT REPORT ALONG WITH A FEASIBLE MOBILITY PLAN THAT CAN BE PREPARED AND REVIEWED.
SECONDLY, A PROPOSAL HIGHLIGHTING THE ROUTING FOR VALET PARKING TO AND FROM THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT HOTEL.
SECOND, A THIRD, A PROPOSAL INCLUDING A TIMETABLE AND RESPONSIBLE PARTIES FOR COST TO ADAPT THE EXISTING ALLEYWAY FOR USE AS THE SOLE POINT OF EGRESS FOR HOTEL GUEST VISITORS, VALET ATTENDANTS, SHUTTLES, RIDE SHARES, TAXI AND DELIVERY TRUCKS.
AND FINALLY, AN ANALYSIS OF THE PROPOSED PEDESTRIAN CHANGES FOR ACCOMMODATING FUTURE GROWTH.
THE PARTICULAR BLOCK IN QUESTION ON WEST MLK BETWEEN LAVACCA AND GUADALUPE HAS BEEN A TROUBLED, UH, BLOCK, UH, IN TERMS OF MOBILITY, UH, AND SAFETY FOR ALL THE YEARS THAT I HAVE LIVED AT THAT LOCATION.
UH, BECAUSE OF THE ODD CONFIGURATION AS WE HAVE GROWN AS A COMMUNITY, THE TRAFFIC HAS INCREASED.
UM, AND WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF MORE CHANGE AND EVOLVING CHANGE, WHICH WITHOUT THIS PROPOSAL, MOST CERTAINLY WILL INCREASE VEHICULAR CYCLISTS AND PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE ARE NOT A GROUP OF RESIDENTS AND OWNERS WHO ARE OPPOSED TO ALL CHANGE.
UM, WE HAVE EMBRACED A LOT OF CHANGE AND WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF CHANGE, UH, IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
BUT WHEN WE SEE A PROPOSAL THAT IS, UH, THAT PROVIDES PERFECTLY FORESEEABLE PROBLEMS BEFORE THE EXISTING PROBLEMS ARE ADDRESSED, WE WANT TO RISE AND OBJECT AND ASK THIS COUNCIL TO REQUIRE THE KIND OF ANALYSIS AND PROPOSALS WHICH WILL PREVENT THOSE THINGS FROM HAPPENING.
THE PROPOSAL, UH, PROJECTS THAT THERE'LL BE ONE POINT OF INGRESS OFF OF WEST MLK BETWEEN LAVACCA AND GUADALUPE OCCUPYING A PART OF WHAT IS NOW A DEDICATED LEFT TURN LANE FROM WEST MLK SOUTH ONTO GUADALUPE.
AND THE EGRESS WILL BE INTO AN ALLEYWAY BEHIND AT THE, UH, SOUTH END OF THIS PROPERTY ONTO EITHER LAVACCA, WHICH IS WHERE CAMBRIDGE TOWER EXISTS, AND WHERE THE ALLEYWAY IS BARELY MORE THAN 10 FEET WIDE, CERTAINLY NOT WIDE ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE TWO-WAY TRAFFIC AND PROBLEMATIC EVEN FOR TRUCKS THAT WILL TRY TO UTILIZE THAT, UH, LOCATION OR THE EXIT AT THE GUADALUPE END WOULD REQUIRE TRAFFIC TO CROSS A DEDICATED SIDEWALK, CYCLIST LANE, UH, BUS LANE FOR CAP METRO, AND THEN MAKING A TURN, A LEFT TURN ON WHAT IS ALREADY A CURVE IN GUADALUPE.
WE KNOW FROM OUR LIVED EXPERIENCE THAT NOT JUST AT RUSH HOURS OR WHEN THERE ARE EVENTS, UH, THAT ARE OCCURRING, THE HEAVILY TRAFFICKED AREA, WHEN DRIVERS GET STUCK, THEY GET AGITATED.
AND WHEN THEY DO THAT, THEY ACT OUT.
THEY ACT OUT IN RECKLESS BEHAVIOR THAT CAN ENDANGER, UH, PEDESTRIANS, OTHER DRIVERS, CYCLISTS.
AND I WILL ADMIT THEY LAY ON THEIR HORNS
WE KNOW THIS BECAUSE FOR MANY YEARS THERE, I'M SORRY, BUT YOUR SIX MINUTES HAS EXPIRED.
OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH MR. HILDRETH.
JUDY GORDON, MARGARET ANDERSON, MICHAEL ANDERSON, PHILLIP WILEY, AND KIMBERLY LEVINSON.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GO AHEAD AND TAKE A SEAT AND THAT WAY WE'LL KNOW YOU'RE HERE.
BUT, BUT YOU, YOU CAN FEEL FREE TO GO AHEAD.
UH, MR. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, I AM, UH, HONORED TO BE HERE AND I WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
[02:50:01]
JOHN HILDRETH JUST TOLD YOU.MY HUSBAND AND I LIVE IN CAMBRIDGE TOWERS.
WE'VE BEEN THERE FOR CAMBRIDGE TOWER, NO S WE'VE BEEN THERE FOR ALMOST THREE YEARS.
WE LIVE ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE BUILDING, KIND OF IN THE MIDDLE, AND WE OVERLOOK THAT ALLEY.
AND MAYBE I SHOULD SEND YOU ALL PICTURES OF CARS THAT TRY AND GET THROUGH THERE AND CAN'T.
BUT THAT IS JUST NEVER GONNA WORK.
THIS, THIS TRAFFIC IS GONNA BE HORRENDOUS.
COULD I JUST ASK, HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN TO CAMBRIDGE TOWERS BESIDES COUNCILMAN QUADRI WHO CAME TO SPEAK TO US AND THE MAYOR? ANYBODY EVER BEEN THERE? HAS ANY, OKAY.
MR. BEA, UH, HAS ANYBODY BEEN TO THAT CORNER OF UH, EVERY DAY? HUH? EVERY DAY.
SO, SO YOU CAN SEE HOW CONGESTED IT CAN GET.
THEY'VE GOTTA COME UP WITH ANOTHER PLAN 'CAUSE THIS ONE ISN'T GONNA WORK.
COULD YOU STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD? JUDY GORDON.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS VICTORIA HASI WITH THROWER DESIGN ON BEHALF OF THE LANDOWNER AND THE DEVELOPER.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT WE ARE HERE ASKING FOR THREE TO ONE FAR.
THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN REVIEWED THROUGH THE SITE PLAN PROCESS ACHIEVING UP TO EIGHT TO ONE FAR.
SO WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR FROM YOU IS THIS ADDITIONAL THREE TO ONE FAR THAT WILL ALLOW A 13 STORY HOTEL TO COME FORWARD.
UM, THIS PROJECT IS GOING TO BRING SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT TO THE PEDESTRIAN ENVIRONMENT, UH, COMPARED TO WHAT EXISTS TODAY.
TODAY, AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE IMAGE BEFORE YOU, IS A NEARLY 70 FOOT DRIVEWAY.
IT HAS ZERO, UH, ZERO AMENITIES FOR ANY PEDESTRIAN WALKING BY AND IT'S VERY AUTOCENTRIC.
SO THIS DEVELOPMENT IS GOING TO BRING SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT TO THAT.
UM, THE PROJECT HAS BEEN FOUND TO BE SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLIANT WITH THE URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES AND IT WILL ENCOURAGE TRANSIT USE AS THIS PROPERTY OR THIS PROJECT WILL NOT INCLUDE ANY PARKING AS PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT.
UM, SO I'M AVAILABLE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
WE DO HOPE WE HAVE YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS ADDITIONAL FARI HAVE HEARD, UM, FROM MANY SOURCES THAT UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD OVERLAY ALL, ALL OF THIS OR THE UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD COULD USE SOME ADDITIONAL HOTELS IN THE AREA.
SO I'M HERE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
KIMBERLY LEVINSON REPRESENTING THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
UH, WE BELIEVE THAT IT, IT FITS IN VERY WELL WITH, UH, THE AMENITIES THAT WE NEED, THAT WE SUPPORT A DANA OF GOING TO FOUR TIMES TODAY'S CURRENT DOWNTOWN, UH, SIZE FOR RESIDENTS.
AND THESE TYPES OF DEVELOPMENTS HELP TO ENABLE THAT, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THIS DOES NOT HAVE PARKING.
YOU'RE ACTUALLY GONNA HAVE A LESS TRAFFIC INTENSIVE USE HERE BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL EITHER SIMPLY BE DROPPED OFF OR THEY'LL TAKE A BUS OVER.
UH, WE THINK THAT IT WILL SUBSTANTIALLY IMPROVE THE PEDESTRIAN ENVIRONMENT.
AND WE ALSO THINK THAT IT FITS IN WELL WITH THE CITY'S PLANS TO GO TO, UM, 50 50 MODE SHARE, RIDE MODE SHARE BY 2039.
WE THINK PROJECTS LIKE THIS WITHOUT PARKING THAT ARE NEAR TRANSIT ON CORRIDORS ARE A HUGE HELP TO THAT.
SO WE WOULD HOPE THAT YOU WILL SUPPORT THIS PROJECT.
I'VE LIVED DOWNTOWN FOR 33 YEARS, BUT I WON'T PULL RANK.
UM, I'VE ALSO LIVED WITHIN A BLOCK OF MLK AND I CONSIDER THIS AREA TO BE PART OF MY, UH, IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO SAY I SUPPORT IMAGINE AUSTIN, PARTLY BECAUSE OF THE KIND OF DISCUSSION WE'RE HAVING HERE RIGHT NOW.
THERE'S A LOT OF EDUCATION THAT NEEDS TO TAKE PLACE IN THE COMMUNITY AS FAR AS WHY WE NEED TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
UM, I'D ALSO LIKE TO GIVE KUDOS TO WHOEVER WAS INVOLVED WITH PULLING THE CITY CENTER PLAN CONCEPT TOGETHER.
EXCITED TO SEE, UH, SEE IT PLAY OUT.
THIS SITE IS ESSENTIALLY IN THE CITY CENTER, THE, THE CENTER OF THE CITY CENTER, UM, OR WITHIN A COUPLE BLOCKS OF IT.
UM, I BROUGHT THIS TO YOU, UM, NOT TO GET KUDOS FOR TAKING A BUS, BUT BECAUSE I DON'T USUALLY TAKE A BUS AND I TOOK ONE DOWN HERE TODAY, MY PREFERRED MODE IS WALKING.
I CAME DOWN HERE, UM, AND KNEW THAT BETWEEN GUADALUPE AND LAVACCA, WHICH IS WHERE THIS IS,
[02:55:01]
IS THE SPINE OF THE TRANSIT SYSTEM FOR THE METRO.AND I WALKED DOWN AND I COULD SEE A BUS, A BLOCK FROM ME JUST PULLING OUT AND ANOTHER BUS PULLED OUT AND I DIDN'T PANIC BECAUSE THERE WILL BE ANOTHER BUS RIGHT AWAY.
WITHIN TWO MINUTES I WAS ON ANOTHER BUS.
I DON'T KNOW IF, IF PEOPLE APPRECIATE HOW RICH THE TRANSIT IS IN THIS AREA, BUT, UM, IN MY PROFESSIONAL PLANNING OPINION, THERE SHOULD BE NO HEIGHT LIMIT HERE.
WE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO PUT A THOUSAND FOOT TOWER UP.
WE SHOULD APPLAUD TO ANYBODY WHO HAS THE, THE VISION AND THE FUNDING TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE AND WELCOME BACK.
ALL SPEAKERS FREEDOM 1 26 HAVE BEEN CALLED MEMBERS.
UH, THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 1 26.
SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 1 26 AND THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED.
UM, BEFORE I CALL FOR A MOTION, LET ME ASK IF ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF OR, UH, ANYONE ON THIS ITEM.
ALRIGHT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER 1 26.
COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE MOVES APPROVAL OF ITEM 1 26.
IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.
UH, IS THERE DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO ITEM ONE? THE MOTION WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ITEM NUMBER 1 26 IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER AND COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ TEMPORARILY OFF THE DAAS, YOU VOTE.
UH, WITH COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER WILL BE SHOWN VOTING AYE.
ON ITEM 1 26 AND COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ IS TEMPORARILY OFF THE DAES.
[129. Conduct a public hearing and consider approval of a site plan that establishes site development regulations or waives site development regulations (if necessary) for the Austin Convention Center, 500 East Cesar Chavez Street, Austin, Texas 78701. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.]
MEMBERS.THAT WILL TAKE US TO ITEM NUMBER 1 29.
ITEM 1 29 IS A PUBLIC HEARING WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 1 29.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK.
ITEM 1 29, RITA THOMPSON, WILLIAM BUNCH.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
AND IS ROY WHALEY? HERE HE IS.
HE DONATED TIME TO MR. LAVINSKY.
SO FOUR MINUTES, MR. LAVINSKY, WHY DON'T YOU BEGIN FOR MR. BUNCH? OKAY.
BOB LAVINSKY, SAVE SPRINGS ALLIANCE.
ITEM 1 29 IS THE COUNCIL APPROVAL OF A SITE PLAN FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER, WHICH IS ADMITTEDLY A BIT OF AN ODD PROVISION CONSIDERING THE HYPER-TECHNICAL REVIEW THAT'S REQUIRED FOR SITE PLANS.
BUT I SUSPECT THIS PROVISION WAS PUT IN THE CODE BECAUSE OF THE DAMAGE THAT THE OLD CONVENTION CENTER DID TO THE URBAN FORM OF DOWNTOWN DAMAGE THAT THIS NEW FACILITY DOESN'T FIX.
FROM THE HIGHER LEVEL POLICY PERSPECTIVE, THERE ARE SEVERAL REASONS WHY THIS PROPOSED SITE PLAN IS BAD.
IT FAILS TO ADEQUATELY RESTORE THE DOWNTOWN GRID.
IT CREATES ADDITIONAL DEAD SPACE WITHOUT ACTIVE PEDESTRIAN USES ALONG THE, ON THE DOWNTOWN STREETS THAT WE NEED ACTIVE.
AND THIS LAND WOULD BE MORE IDEALLY USED FOR HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES AND TO EXPAND THE TAX BASE, UM, IN ADDITION TO THE WASTE OF MONEY OF IT.
UM, HOWEVER, THE SITE PLAN APPROVAL IS ALSO OUT OF SEQUENCE HERE BECAUSE THERE ARE UNCLEARED REVIEWER COMMENTS.
MANY OF THE DRAINAGE AND FLOODPLAIN COMMENTS IN THE STAFF REPORT REMAIN UNRESOLVED, ESPECIALLY REGARDING WALLER CREEK.
AND THE WATERLOO GREENWAY STAFF REVIEW SHOWS THAT THE PLAN STILL LACKS A COMPLETE EROSION HAZARD ANALYSIS AND THE RISK OF CH, OF CHANNEL EROSION FROM THE PROPOSED OUTFALL IS NOT FULLY ADDRESSED THE WAY THAT THIS ITEM IS POSTED, IT'S UNCLEAR WHAT WAIVERS TO THE CODE ARE BEING REQUESTED AND APPROVED.
THERE IS A KIND OF VAGUE C BELOW REFERENCE, UM, IN THE, IN THE STAFF REPORT.
AND THEN THERE'S A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT ATTACHMENTS THAT TO DISCUSS A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT POTENTIAL WAIVERS THAT ON DIFFERENT TOPICS.
UH, FOR EXAMPLE, IT'S NOT CLEAR WHETHER THIS ITEM INCLUDES A WAIVER TO THE CITY'S DRAINAGE AND UTILITY CRITERIA APPROVING THIS PLAN.
NOW, UH, BEFORE THESE ANALYSES ARE DONE AND THE STAFF COMMENTS ARE CLEARED IS PREMATURE AND WE WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO, UH, NOT VOTE FOR ITS APPROVAL MR. BUNCH BEFORE MR. BUNCH GOES IT.
HE HAS TIME DONATED BY TAMARA SCOTT.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, BILL BUNCH WILL SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE.
UH, SPEAKING AGAINST THIS PROPOSED APPROVAL OF A CONVENTION CENTER SITE PLAN FOR THE NEW PROJECT, UM, YOU DON'T REALLY EVEN HAVE A, A SITE PLAN IN FRONT OF YOU TO
[03:00:01]
APPROVE.UM, YOU HAVE SOME LENGTHY BACKUP, BUT AS MR. LAVINSKY, UH, REFERENCE, IT'S ASKING FOR WAIVERS, BUT THOSE AREN'T DESCRIBED WHATSOEVER.
UM, YOU HAVE 40 PLUS PAGES OF SOME STAFF COMMENTS, UM, THAT REFER TO DOCUMENTS THAT AREN'T IN THE BACKUP AND ARE NOT LINKED IN THE BACKUP.
UM, SO I'M GUESSING NOT A SINGLE ONE OF YOU HAS ACTUALLY LOOKED AT, UM, ANY SORT OF DRAWINGS THAT GIVE YOU ANY SENSE WHATSOEVER OF WHAT THE SITE PLAN WOULD BE.
I THINK FOR THAT REASON, UM, THE, THE NOTICE IS IMPROPER AND YOUR ACTIONS WOULD BE IMPROPER.
UM, IF YOU DO ACTUALLY LOOK AT THAT, UH, THROUGH THAT 40 PAGES OF BACKUP AND STAFF COMMENTS, UM, REPEATEDLY THE HEADLINE LITTLE COMMENT SAYS, CLEARED LIKE THE PROBLEM THAT HAD BEEN IDENTIFIED IN A PREVIOUS SET OF STAFF COMMENTS HAD BEEN ADDRESSED AND TAKEN CARE OF, BUT THEN YOU ACTUALLY READ THE TEXT UNDER THOSE COMMENTS AT ONE AFTER ANOTHER, AFTER ANOTHER.
AND IT MAKES IT CLEAR THAT THERE, IT'S NOT CLEARED.
IT SAYS THIS HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED.
UH, AND THIS IS REPEATEDLY, AND WE AREN'T TALKING ABOUT LITTLE, YOU KNOW, THE COLOR OF THE PAINTS WRONG.
UH, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FLOODPLAIN ANALYSIS, STORMWATER MANAGEMENT REPEATED PROBLEMS OVER AND OVER.
UM, THIS IS WAY PREMATURE AS IS THE ENTIRE PROJECT.
UH, ONCE AGAIN, YOU HAVE NO BUSINESS GOING FORWARD ON THIS.
IT'S THE WHOLE THING IS, IS A FARCE.
UM, THIS IS SIX BLOCKS NOW SINCE YOU DID LET GO FORWARD WITH THE, UH, WITH THE DI DEMOLITION OF THE CONVENTION CENTER.
WE HAVE THAT SHOULD, LET'S FIND THAT SILVER LINING.
WE NOW HAVE SIX BLOCKS OF LAND WE OWN PUBLICLY OWNED, AND THERE'S NO LAW OR LOGIC THAT SAYS IT HAS TO BE A CONVENTION CENTER THAT WE DON'T NEED AND THAT WILL JUST HEMORRHAGE MONEY FOR DECADES.
LET'S DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND INSPIRING.
LET'S HAVE A PUBLIC DISCUSSION ABOUT THE BEST USE OR USES.
UM, THE ONE GOOD THING ABOUT THE CONVENTION CENTER PROJECT IS RESTORING THE HISTORIC WALLER STREET GRID, UH, AND, UM, CREATING AN, A VIBRANT URBAN AREA POTENTIALLY.
YOU DON'T DO THAT WITH A CONVENTION CENTER.
YOU DO THAT WITH A MIXED SET OF USES.
AND THAT'S WHAT THE UT PLAN CALLED FOR PRE COVID AND WHAT GOT SCRAPPED.
THIS IS A, A SINGLE USE PROJECT.
YOU HAVE NOW A GIANT CONVENTION CENTER STILL.
YES, YOU'RE HIDING IT IN A GIANT HOLE THAT PROBABLY HAS ENORMOUS, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL AND FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS THAT YOU DON'T KNOW.
UH, BUT LET'S STEP BACK AND THINK ABOUT THIS.
I MEAN, THE, THE LANDMARK IDEA OUT THERE THAT PEOPLE, EVERYBODY KNOW ABOUT THE GUGGENHEIM IN BIBA, SPAIN, IT PUT THE CITY ON THE MAP.
IT'S, UH, ENORMOUS, UH, UM, TOURIST DRIVER AND IT'S LOVED BY THE COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU MR. AND YOU HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY HERE.
BETSY GREENBERG, FABIAN RAY, YOU WAIVING YOUR TIME, MS. GREENBERG'S WAVING YOUR TIME.
I GOT, ACTUALLY, I'M, I'M AN ARTIST FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND I'M HERE TO SAY TO PLEASE GIVE US THE CHANCE TO VOTE FOR THIS CONVENTION CENTER AGAIN.
UM, THE ONLY, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER THAT HAS BEEN IN MY STUDIO IN THE EAST SIDE IS JOSE.
HE'S A GREAT GUY AND I LOVE HIM AND I INVITE ALL OF YOU TO, TO COME TO MY STUDIO, LOOK AT IT, UM, SEE WHAT WE BUILD WITHOUT A MORE ASCENT FROM THE CITY.
THAT'S WHAT BILL IS TALKING ABOUT.
LET'S BUILD SOMETHING THAT WE ARE PROUD OF WITH THESE SIX BLOCKS, UH, IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR CITY.
I DON'T THINK WE NEED A HUGE, ANOTHER HUGE BUILDING
[03:05:01]
THAT IS USED FIVE TIMES A YEAR.LET'S DO SOMETHING THAT WE ARE PROUD OF THAT MAKES US, UH, BE MORE INSPIRED IN THIS CITY THAT BRINGS PEOPLE, EH, THAT GETS PEOPLE HOOKED WITH THIS CITY THAT BRINGS ART AND LOVE AND, AND THINGS THAT WE REALLY NEED.
I DON'T THINK WE NEED ANOTHER CONSTRUCTION.
I DON'T THINK WE NEED ANOTHER MONSTER OF, OF, OF CONCRETE.
I THINK WE NEED LIKE, UH, I THINK WE NEED STUFF THAT INSPIRE PEOPLE SO PEOPLE COME TO AUSTIN AND BE INSPIRED, LIKE HAS BEEN DOING IT FOR YEARS.
I'VE BEEN HERE FOR 10 YEARS AND I HAVE A, A PAINTING IN THIS BUILDING AND I'M SUPER PROUD OF IT.
SO I WANT TO STILL BE PROUD OF MY CITY.
AND I BEG YOU GUYS TO HELP US AND TO LET US VOTE.
THAT'S ALL THE SPEAKERS FOR 1 29 MEMBERS.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS IN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 1 29.
SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED.
THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER 1 29.
IS THERE A MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER 1 29? COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS MOVES APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 1 29.
IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.
DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO ITEM 1 29 WITHOUT OBJECTION.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ, UH, HAD TO BE TEMPORARILY OFF THE DI WHEN WE VOTED, UH, IN FAVOR OF ITEM NUMBER 1 26.
HE, UH, WOULD LIKE TO BE SHOWN VOTING IN FAVOR OF ITEM NUMBER 1 26 AND HIS VOTE BEING ADDED WILL NOT CHANGE THE OUTCOME OF THE THE, UH, VOTE.
I WOULD MOVE THAT WE SHOW COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ VOTING IN FAVOR OF ITEM 1 26.
IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, ELLIS IS THERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ WILL BE SHOWN VOTING IN FAVOR OF ITEM NUMBER 1 26.
[130. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance amending Ordinance No. 20240718-109 extending the expiration date to July 29, 2027, for floodplain variances granted for construction of a residential building at 506 West Avenue that is within the 25-year and 100-year floodplains of Shoal Creek. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.]
WE'LL NOW GO TO ITEM NUMBER ONE 30, WHICH IS ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER ONE 30.THE I THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN AND I WILL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK.
CONNIE, ARE YOU HERE? SHE HAS TIME DONATED BY MARILYN SMITH.
FOLLOWED BY PAUL ROBBINS AND RICHARD SETTLE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WATSON AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS CONNIE TEMPLE DISTRICT NINE, AND I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF THE AUSTIN CITY LOFTS OWNERS ASSOCIATION, OR AS WE CALL IT ACL.
THIS FIRST PHOTO, WHERE DID IT GO?
IN THIS FIRST PHOTO, ACL IS THE BUILDING ON THE LEFT, JUST EAST OF THE WEST FIFTH STREET BRIDGE OVER SHO CREEK.
5 0 6 WEST AVENUE IS ADJACENT TO OUR PROPERTY ON THE NORTH SIDE.
DURING THE MEMORIAL DAY FLOOD OF 2015, THE WATER WAS SO HIGH THAT THE SIDEWALK GUARDRAILS ON THE BRIDGE WERE COMPLETELY COVERED BY WATER.
THE PROPOSED APARTMENT TOWER WOULD BE 49 STORIES WITH OVER 350 RESIDENTIAL UNITS SITUATED ON THE BANKS OF SHOAL CREEK, LOCATED MIDBLOCK WITH ACCESS ONLY ONTO WEST AVENUE.
IN CONTRAST, ACL'S BUILDING HAS 14 STORIES AND 82 RESIDENTIAL UNITS LOCATED ON THE CORNER OF WEST FIFTH STREET AND WEST AVENUE.
WITH ACCESS TO BOTH STREETS IS THE SIDES NOT THE SIDESHOWS NOT GOING.
WE JUST LITTLE STUCK ON THE FIRST ONE.
TO BE CLEAR, ACL DOES NOT OPPOSED TO DEVELOPMENT OF 5 0 6 AND 5 0 8 WEST AVENUE IN A MANNER THAT IS APPROPRIATE FOR LAND THAT IS LOCATED WHOLLY WITHIN AUSTIN'S REGULATORY 25 YEAR AND 100 YEAR FLOODPLAIN.
HOWEVER, THIS HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AS PROPOSED CREATES A THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY, NOT ONLY FOR OCCUPANTS, BUT NOTABLY FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROVIDERS.
AS THE NEAREST SAFE AREA IS APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET FROM THE PARKING GARAGE ENTRANCE.
AS HUMANS, WE ARE ALL FALLIBLE.
WE DON'T ALWAYS MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS IN AN EMOTIONALLY CHARGED SITUATION.
IN THIS SLIDE, YOU CAN SEE THAT 5 0 6 AND 5 0 8 WEST AVENUE ARE ON AUSTIN'S FLOODPLAIN MAP.
THE 25 YEAR PLANE AREAS, FLOODPLAIN AREAS ARE DARK BLUE AND THE A HUNDRED YEAR FLOODPLAIN AREAS ARE LIGHT BLUE.
DURING A FLOOD EVENT, PEOPLE MAY ATTEMPT TO EXIT THE BUILDING TO PICK UP CHILDREN, FAMILY MEMBERS, OR ENTER THE BUILDING, SEEKING A SAFE HOME.
[03:10:01]
THE SAFETY OF HOME, WHILE THE TOWER'S FIRST FINISHED FLOOR WOULD BE THREE FEET ABOVE A HUNDRED YEAR FLOODPLAIN WATERSHED'S SUMMARY OF FINDINGS IN 2024 NOTED THAT THE DEPTH OF THE A HUNDRED YEAR FLOODPLAIN AT THE TOWER'S GARAGE STREET ENTRANCE IS NEARLY NINE FEET WITH THE VELOCITY OF THREE FEET PER SECOND.IN FULL DISCLOSURE, ACL'S BUILDING WAS THE RECIPIENT OF A FLOODPLAIN VARIANCE OVER 20 YEARS AGO.
WE NOW KNOW THAT CLIMATE CHANGE IS INCREASING FLOOD RISKS IN TEXAS, BRINGING WARMER TEMPERATURES THAT CAUSE MORE WATER TO EVAPORATE FROM THE LAND AND OCEANS LEADING TO HEAVIER RAINFALL.
IT IS FAIR TO SAY THAT WE NOW KNOW MUCH MORE ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE AND FLOOD RISK THAN WE DID OVER 20 YEARS AGO, GIVEN THE RECENT TRAGIC FLOOD EVENTS.
SO THE NOAA ATLAS 14 RAINFALL STUDY SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGED THE UNDERSTANDING OF FLOOD RISK IN THE AUSTIN AREA PUBLISHED IN 2018.
THIS STUDY SHOWS SOUTH SHOWS CENTRAL TEXAS, ALSO KNOWN AS SPLASHED ALLEY, IS MORE LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE LARGER STORMS WITH MORE INTENSE RAINFALL THAN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT.
THE RECENT FLOOD EVENTS IN CENTRAL TEXAS HAVE PROVEN THIS FORECAST FROM 2018 TO BE FRIGHTENINGLY ACCURATE.
A CO RESPECTFULLY REQUESTS THAT YOU DENY THE EXTENSION OF THESE FLOODPLAIN VARIANCES.
FURTHER, WE HOPE THAT COUNCIL WILL PLACE A MORATORIUM ON BUILDING IN THE 25 YEAR FLOODPLAIN UNTIL THE DATA BEING GATHERED IN WATERSHED'S FLOODPLAIN STUDY UPDATE IS COMPLETED AND PUBLISHED.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION TO THIS IMPORTANT MATTER.
RITA THOMPSON, BOBBY LAVINSKY, AND ROY WHALEY, YOU'RE STILL HERE? YES.
FOUR MINUTES FOR MR. LAVINSKY AND THEN BETSY GREENBERG, YOU'VE ALREADY CALLED.
BOBBY LAVINSKY SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE.
WHAT MS. CONNIE SAID WAS AMAZING.
UM, EVERYTHING THAT SHE SAID IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE FOR THIS.
I'LL BE REALLY SHORT AND JUST ADD THAT PART OF ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE IS ACCEPTING THE REALITY THAT EVERY LOT IS NOT WELL SUITED FOR DEVELOPMENT.
AND FLOOD PLAINS ESPECIALLY, ARE NOT WELL SUITED FOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.
UH, WHEN THIS SITE EXPERIENCE IS FLOODING, AGAIN, THE RESIDENTS WILL BE STUCK IN, UH, STUCK IN PLACE AND EMERGENCY VEHICLES WILL NOT BE ABLE TO REACH THEM.
IT'S A SCENARIO THAT CAN BE EASILY AVOIDED BY JUST SAYING NO TO THIS ITEM.
A YEAR AGO, I WATCHED THE HEARING FOR THIS FLOODPLAIN VARIANCE IN REAL HORROR, REALLY TO THINK THAT YOU WOULD GIVE A FLOODPLAIN VARIANCE IN A LOCATION THAT'S SO WELL KNOWN FOR FLOODING.
UM, BUT A YEAR LATER YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE THIS RIGHT, AND HOPEFULLY THE LESSONS LEARNED FROM RECENT TRAGIC FLOODS WOULD HELP YOU REALIZE THAT FLOODPLAIN VARIANCES ARE NOT A GOOD IDEA.
THANK YOU, BILL BUNCH, AND HE HAS TIME DONATED BY TAMARA SCOTT TOMORROW.
SCOTT, SHE'S NOT HERE ANYMORE.
UH, BILL BUNCH, SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE DISTRICT FIVE.
UM, I WON'T REPEAT TOO MUCH OF WHAT YOU ALREADY HEARD.
THIS, THIS SITE IS JUST EXTREMELY WELL KNOWN FOR INCREDIBLY HIGH FLOOD RISK, UM, THAT'S REPORTED SHOWN TO YOU VERY, UH, CLEARLY BY THE NEIGHBORS.
UM, IN, IN, IN THIS DAY AND AGE, ESPECIALLY AFTER WHAT HAPPENED 4TH OF JULY.
UH, I WOULD HOPE THAT, THAT Y'ALL WOULD THINK ABOUT THIS AGAIN.
UM, I KNOW THAT SOME OF YOU HAVE NEVER, EVER VOTED AGAINST AN ARMED BREWTON BROWN LOBBIED PROJECT.
UM, AND MAYBE THIS MIGHT BE THE FIRST ONE.
UM, THESE, THESE CASES PRESENT A CLEAR ISSUE.
ARE Y'ALL CLIMATE CHANGE DENIERS OR NOT? OR DO YOU PUT GREED AHEAD OF BASIC PUBLIC SAFETY AND COMMON SENSE AND COMPASSION FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WILL LIVE IN THE CITY IN THE FUTURE? SO, UM, PLEASE, PLEASE THINK ABOUT AT LEAST ONE OF THESE AGENDA ITEMS TODAY.
[03:15:01]
THAT'S ALL.YOU HAVE SOMEBODY'S STANDING UP.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT TODAY.
TODAY, THE QUESTION BEFORE YOU IS, IS NOT THE GRANTING OF THE VARIANCE THAT WAS ALREADY, UH, LIBERATED ON AND, AND GRANTED A YEAR AGO, IT HAD A DEADLINE ON IT TO GET A BUILDING PERMIT WITHIN A YEAR.
AND AS MOST OF US KNOW YOU, YOU CAN'T EVEN GET A SITE PLAN DONE IN A YEAR.
AND WE, WE'VE BEEN DILIGENTLY PURSUING THE SITE PLAN AND WE'RE DOWN TO LEGAL DOCUMENTS AND THEN GET THE BUILDING PERMIT.
AND WHAT'S BEFORE YOU TODAY IS JUST AN EXTENSION OF TIME TO ALLOW THIS APPLICANT TO FINISH OUT THE WORK THAT HE STARTED WHEN THE VARIANCE WAS FIRST GRANTED A YEAR AGO.
SO, WE'LL HOPE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROCESS, LET ME KNOW, BUT WE'RE HOPING THAT YOU CAN, UH, LET THE PROCESS PLAY OUT NOW.
BUT HE'S SPENT A TON OF MONEY ON PERMITTING AND ENGINEERS AND SITE PLANNING, AND THERE IS NO ADVERSE IMPACT ON THE, ON THE FLOODPLAIN.
AND WE JUST NEED A LITTLE MORE TIME TO PROSECUTE THE PERMITS.
I BELIEVE THAT IS EVERY, ALL RIGHT.
THERE BEING NO OTHER PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AT THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER ONE 30.
WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER ONE 30, AND THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED.
UH, THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER ONE 30.
IS THERE A MOTION? UH, MOTION IS TO APPROVE.
ITEM ONE 30, MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.
MAYOR, IS IT POSSIBLE TO ASK A QUESTION OF WATERSHED ON THE SHOW? SURE.
COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
MY QUESTION IS, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT HAS RECOMMENDED APPROVED MELISSA AMENDMENT.
CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND THE LOGIC BEHIND THAT IN RELATION TO SOME OF THE TESTIMONY THAT WE HEARD TODAY? YES.
FOR THE ORIGINAL FLOODPLAIN BEARING REQUEST A YEAR AGO, STAFF RECOMMENDED A DENIAL, AND THAT RECOMMENDATION WAS DUE TO THE FACT THAT WE DIDN'T THINK IT WAS APPROPRIATE TO PUT THAT LEVEL OF DENSITY IN THE FLOODPLAIN.
THE VARIANCE WAS APPROVED BY COUNSEL, AND SEVERAL CONDITIONS WERE PLACED ON THAT VARIANCE.
ONE OF THEM BEING IT, THE, THE, THE, THE ORIGINAL DESIGN WAS TWO FEET ABOVE THE A HUNDRED YEAR FLOODPLAIN.
NOW, THIS ONE OF THE CONDITIONS TO MAKE IT THREE FEET ABOVE THE FLOODPLAIN, THAT IN AND OF ITSELF REDUCES FLOOD RISK ON THE MERITS OF THE EXTENSION ONLY.
WE'RE RECOMMENDING APPROVAL BECAUSE THE FLOOD RISK INFORMATION THAT'S USED TO, TO DESIGN THIS DEVELOPMENT IS GOING TO REMAIN UNCHANGED UNTIL MID 2027.
SO IF, IF THE FLOOD PLAIN INFORMATION, IF THE FLOODPLAIN RISK DATA WERE CHANGING NEXT MONTH, WE WOULD NOT BE RECOMMENDING APPROVAL.
BUT IT'S GONNA BE AT LEAST TWO YEARS UNTIL THAT DATA IS AVAILABLE AND WE CAN USE IT TO START REGULATING DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE FLOOD PLAIN AGAIN.
COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN MEMBERS, THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED.
WITHOUT FURTHER DISCUSSION AND WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE ITEM NUMBER ONE 30 IS APPROVED.
MEMBERS THAT WILL TAKE US TO ITEM NUMBER 1 31.
UH, I WOULD LIKE TO BE MARKED ABSTAINING ON THE LAST ITEM.
I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T HAVE THAT LISTED.
UM, SO ON ITEM NUMBER ONE 30, THE, THE MOTION WAS MADE AND SECONDED.
UH, ITEM NUMBER ONE 30 IS APPROVED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL BEING SHOWN ABSTAINING ON ITEM NUMBER ONE 30.
[131. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance regarding floodplain variances for a permit for the conversion of a garage into an occupied building at 209 Nelray Boulevard that is within the 25-year and 100-year floodplains of Waller Creek. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.]
ALRIGHT, WE'LL NOW GO TO ITEM NUMBER 1 31, UH, WHICH IS ALSO A PUBLIC HEARING.WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM ITEM NUMBER 1 31.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN AND I WILL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK, PAUL ROBBINS, RITA THOMPSON, DOUGLAS HURLING, ROY WHALEY.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND COME TO THE PODIUM.
IF, WHEN, WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND PICK A CHAIR.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO SPEAK, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
HI, UH, MY NAME'S DOUG HURLING AND I'M THE HOMEOWNER OF, UH, 2 0 9 RE BOULEVARD IN DISTRICT NINE.
UH, AND ME AND MY WIFE ARE HERE TODAY TO RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOUR APPROVAL OF PERMIT 20 24 0 4 81 36 PR AND THE ASSOCIATED VARIANCE.
WHEN WE PURCHASED THIS PROPERTY IN 2017 AS FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS, THE, UH, DETACHED AND PARTIALLY CONVERTED GARAGE WAS ALREADY PRESENT.
WE HAVE DOCUMENTATION IN FRONT OF YOU, SHOWN IN THE GARAGE, IS ORIGINAL TO THE HOUSE, AND WAS CONVERTED BEFORE WE MOVED IN.
SINCE ACQUIRING THE HOME, WE'VE MADE NO STRUCTURAL CHANGES TO THE GARAGE AND HAS NOT BEEN CONVERTED INTO AN OCCUPIED RESIDENTIAL BUILDING.
IT'S BEEN USED PRIMARILY AS A HOME OFFICE AND FOR STORAGE.
UH, THE CITY APPROVED OUR, UH, REMODELING PERMIT FOR THE MAIN HOUSE, AND WE INVESTED SIGNIFICANTLY TO COMPLETE THE WORK IN GOOD FAITH AND
[03:20:01]
THE, AND THE RENOVATION WAS ENTIRELY INTERIOR AND FOCUSED ON MAKING THE STRUCTURE SAFE AND SOUND.NOW AT THE FINAL STAGE, OUR OCCUPANCY AUTHORIZATION IS BEING HELD UP DUE TO THIS ACCESSORY STRUCTURE, WHICH WAS NEVER PART OF THE INITIAL SCOPE OF OUR, UH, PERMIT.
UH, THIS IS CAUSING AN UNDUE HARDSHIP.
THE, DESPITE OUR EFFORTS TO COMPLY WITH ALL CITY REQUIREMENTS, UH, WE'VE, WE WOULD'VE NEVER UNDERTAKEN THIS RENOVATION, BUT IT MEANT THAT WE'D BE PENALIZED FOR A STRUCTURE THAT'S BEEN HERE FOR, UH, SEVEN DECADES AND THAT WE CURRENTLY USE RESPONSIBLY.
UM, THE NORTH LOOP NEIGHBORHOOD IS UNDERGOING RAPID CHANGE.
WE'RE NEAR AND SUPPORT, UH, NEW DEVELOPMENTS ALONG LAMAR KA NAKED AIRPORT, ORDINARY FOCUSED ON, ON DENSITY AND GROWTH.
WE'RE DOING NOTHING HERE THAT'LL EXACERBATE ANY PROBLEMS IN THE FLOODPLAIN, BUT WE ARE SURROUNDED BY DEVELOPMENT THAT HAS AND WILL CONTRIBUTE TO INCREASED RUNOFF AND REDUCE, UH, WATER QUALITY.
UH, OUR PROPERTY WAS BARELY IN THE FLOODPLAIN, UH, WHEN WE CLOSED ON IT IN 2017, AND THE FLOODPLAIN DIDN'T EXIST FORMALLY WHEN THE HOUSE OR GARAGE WERE BUILT.
WE ARE CREATING SOME NEW ISSUE FOR AUSTIN TO DEAL WITH, BUT WE DO RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT THE COUNCIL RECOGNIZE THAT THIS GARAGE IS, UH, IS A PREEXISTING NON-CONFORMING STRUCTURE UNDER CITY CODE AND TO APPROVE OUR PERMIT SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR HOUSE LIVE.
OUR LIVES CONTINUE GROWING WITH AUSTIN.
UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR CONSIDERATION.
UM, I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK ABOUT JULY 4TH.
I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK THAT SO MANY OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE NO LONGER WITH US, UH, THAT WERE IMPACTED ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, WE'RE NOT IN THE FLOODPLAIN AT THAT TIME.
THIS IS A, A, AN AREA I'M, I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH.
I I RIDE THROUGH THERE QUITE A BIT.
I'M NOT ABLE TO RIDE THROUGH THERE WHEN WE'RE AT A HIGH FLOOD STAGE THOUGH, BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN THE ROADS COVERED WITH WATER THERE.
UM, I CERTAINLY FEEL FOR THE INDIVIDUAL THAT IS WANTING TO, TO, UH, IMPROVE HIS PROPERTY, MY CONCERN WOULD BE WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE.
I HOPE THE CITY WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS INSURANCE ON THIS, BUT I WOULD EXPECT THAT IF THERE IS FLOODING, THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO JUST IMPACT HIM.
AND I WOULD JUST, I I, I'M GETTING A PICTURE IN MY MIND OF WHEN I HAVE SEEN THIS FLOODED BEFORE.
AND SO IT JUST BRINGS ME BACK TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE FACT THAT YOU REALLY NEED TO START THINKING ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE.
YOU KNOW, TYPICALLY I COME IN HERE AND TALK ABOUT THE LAKE LEVEL AT, UH, LAKE TRAVIS.
WELL, WE DON'T REALLY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF CLIMATE CHANGE, BECAUSE OF THE FLOODS, BECAUSE OF THE PEOPLE THAT WERE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED.
SO I DID NOT SPEAK ABOUT THE ISSUE WHERE I DONATED MY TIME TO MR. LAVINSKY.
THAT, THAT IS A NO BRAINER TO ME.
BUT I WILL GIVE UP THE REST OF MY TIME.
I'LL ACTUALLY WISH THE, UH, THE GENTLEMAN WELL WITH HIS PROJECT AND I HOPE IT WORKS OUT FOR HIM.
BOBBY LAVINSKY, BETSY GREENBERG AND BILL BUNCH IS, DID TAMARA SCOTT RETURN? OKAY, MR. BUNCH.
WE'LL JUST HAVE TWO MINUTES THEN.
BOBBY LAVINSKY SAVER SPRINGS ALLIANCE.
UM, ITEM 1 31 IS A CONSIDERATION OF ANOTHER FLOODPLAIN VARIANCE TO CONVERT A GARAGE INTO LIVABLE SPACE.
UM, THIS LIVING SPACE WOULD BE LOCATED ENTIRELY WITHIN THE 25 YEAR FLOODPLAIN, UM, OF WALLER CREEK.
I REMEMBER BACK WHEN THE CITY OF AUSTIN WAS GIVING OUT, UH, FLOODPLAIN VARIANCES FAIRLY REGULARLY.
AND I REMEMBER, UH, GETTING THE NO-NO LETTER FROM FEMA CAUTIONING AGAINST THAT.
IT COULD AFFECT AUSTIN'S FLOODPLAIN RATES.
SO THE, I THINK IT WAS THEN MAYOR LEE LEFFINGWELL AND COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ LED ON, UM, PUTTING AN END TO THAT PRACTICE.
UM, AND SO YOU STOPPED SEEING THEM COME UP AS AS MUCH? UM, I DON'T REALLY WANNA LEAN TOO HARD INTO WHAT HAPPENED RECENTLY WITH THE, WITH WHAT HAPPENED ON JULY 4TH.
'CAUSE IT, THERE ARE DIFFERENCES THERE.
UM, BUT I THINK THE COMMONALITY IS THAT YOU SHOULDN'T BE PUTTING BED PILLOWS IN FLOODPLAINS.
IT'S A DANGEROUS, UH, PROPOSITION AND IT'S EASILY AVOIDED BY JUST, UM, NOT USING THAT SPACE AS RESIDENTIAL.
MR. BUNCH, ARE YOU GOING TO SPEAK? I'LL PASS.
CAN I SAY I DON'T LIKE THE REMODEL? NO.
[03:25:01]
IS BETSY GREENBERG.I LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE, AND I'M OPPOSED TO THE FLOODPLAIN VARIANCE, PARTICULARLY IN THE 25 YEAR FLOODPLAIN.
IT DOESN'T MEAN IT ONLY FLOODS EVERY 25 YEARS, WHICH IS FAIRLY OFTEN.
IT'S MUCH MORE OFTEN THAN THAT.
AND WE ALL KNOW IT'S MUCH MORE OFTEN THAN THAT.
AND THIS COUNCIL REALLY SHOULDN'T BE APPROVING FLOODPLAIN VARIANCES LIKE THE LEVIT MILL COUNCIL.
THAT'S ALL SPEAKERS FOR ITEM 1 31, MAYOR MEMBERS.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS ON I IN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 31.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 1 31.
UH, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED.
THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEM 1 31.
IS THERE A MOTION COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN MOVES APPROVAL OF ITEM 1 31.
IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.
IS THERE A DISCUSSION? YES, MAYOR PRO.
IF WE COULD HAVE SOMEONE FROM WATERSHED CHAIR WITH US.
'CAUSE I SEE HERE IN THE BACKUP THERE IS A DENIAL OF THIS VARIATION REQUEST.
AND IF THEY COULD SPEAK TO THAT DENIAL.
MAYOR PROTO AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
KEVIN SCHUNK, AUSTIN WATERSHED PROTECTION.
OUR RECOMMENDATION FOR THIS VARIANCE IS DENIAL.
AND I WILL, I'LL BREAK IT DOWN INTO THE THREE MAJOR VARIANCE REQUESTS THAT THEY'RE MAKING.
ONE IS TO THE FREEBOARD REQUIREMENT.
HOW HIGH THE BUILDING IS ABOVE THE FLOODPLAIN IN AUSTIN.
THAT'S, THEY'RE REQUIRED TO BE TWO FEET ABOVE THE FLOODPLAIN.
ACCORDING TO FEMA'S MINIMUM RULES, THEY HAVE TO BE AT THE ELEVATION OF THE HUNDRED FLOODPLAIN.
THIS BUILDING IS ONE AND A HALF FEET BELOW THE A HUNDRED YEAR FLOOD PLAN.
A FREE BOARD VARIANCE IS SIGNIFICANT.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE'VE DONE IN THE 20 YEARS I'VE BEEN DOING THIS.
THE VARIANCE TO THE, TO THE VARIANCE, TO THE FREE BOARD REQUIREMENTS WOULD BE SIGNIFICANT TO FEMA WHEN THEY COME FOR OUR NEXT VISIT, WHICH HAPPENS EVERY THREE TO FIVE YEARS.
SO I, I I, I JUST, I'M VERY MUCH STRESSING THE FACT THAT THE, THE FREE WORLD VARIANCE IS IMPORTANT.
AND THEN THE, ANOTHER ONE THAT I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT IS THE STRUCTURAL CERTIFICATION.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT THE BUILDING IS BUILT, DESIGNED, AND IT'S GOING TO BE IN TOUCH WITH FLOOD WATERS.
AND A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER ANALYZES IT TO SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? THAT BUILDING'S NOT GONNA GO ANYWHERE WHEN THE FLOOD WATERS COME.
WHAT WE DON'T WANT TO HAPPEN IS FOR DEBRIS, HOUSES, SHEDS, ET CETERA, TO BE WHISKED AWAY IN THE FLOOD PLAIN AND CAUSE DAMAGE DOWNSTREAM.
SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, AND AGAIN, IT'S A FEMA MINIMUM REQUIREMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT A HOME, THE BUILDING STRUCTURE HAS STRUCTURAL CERTIFICATION BEFORE IT IS APPROVED IN THE FLOOD PLAIN.
THE LAST VARIANCE IS THE SAFE ACCESS VARIANCE.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, THERE'S NO WAY THAT PROP THIS PROPERTY CAN MEET THAT REQUIREMENT.
'CAUSE THEY'RE COMPLETELY IN THE FLOOD PLAIN IN ADDITION TO THE ROAD OUTSIDE OF THEIR HOUSE.
SO THERE'S, IN THE BACKUP, I TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE, THE HARDSHIP CONDITIONS, AND THERE IS A HARDSHIP CONDITION ONLY FOR THE SAFE ACCESS VARIANCE, BUT NOT FOR THE FREE BOARD OR THE STRUCTURAL CERTIFICATION VARIANCE.
SO THE DENIAL IS OVERALL, BUT IT, IT COMES IN THOSE PIECES AS I, AS I SEPARATE AS I TALKED ABOUT.
AND MR. CHEN, CAN YOU REMIND US THAT WE JUST IMPROVED OUR CRS RATING? IS THAT RIGHT? WE APPROVED OUR CRS RATING SIX TO 12 MONTHS AGO.
I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHEN IT WAS, BUT YES, WE WE'RE NOW CLASS FIVE AND AS SUCH, WE WERE ABLE TO GIVE EVEN DEEPER DISCOUNTS TO, UH, TO AUSTINITE ON THEIR FLOOD INSURANCE.
SO IF WE WERE DOWNGRADED IN OUR RATING, THAT WOULD HAVE AN ADVERSE IMPACT ON FLOOD INSURANCE POLICY HOLDERS? THAT'S CORRECT.
UH, AND THEN THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE, AND I'M NOT SURE IF YOU COULD SPEAK TO THIS OR SOMEONE FROM LAW, UM, BUT MY OFFICE ALSO INQUIRED ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE HAVE, IF THE CITY HAS ANY ABILITY TO REQUIRE DISCLOSURES FOR UNITS THAT ARE BEING RENTED SO THAT, SO THAT RENTERS ARE AWARE IF THEY WOULD BE LIVING IN A UNIT OR A HOUSING RENTAL THAT WOULD BE LOCATED IN A FOOT PLAIN.
CAN WE REGULATE OR ADD MANDATE DISCLOSURES? GOOD AFTERNOON.
UH, ERICA LOPEZ, ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY.
UM, SO ONE OF THE CONDITIONS, UH, CITY CODE REQUIRES THAT, UM, AS PART OF THE BUILDING PERMIT, THE PROPERTY OWNER RECORDS A DRAINAGE EASEMENT.
UM, THE DRAINAGE EASEMENT WILL EXCLUDE THE FOOTPRINT OF THE HOUSE AND THE GARAGE, BUT THE DRAINAGE EASEMENT WILL SERVE, UH, BE RECORDED IN THE REAL PROPERTY RECORDS AND SERVE AS A NOTICE TO THE BUYER THAT THERE IS FLOODPLAIN IN THE AREA.
SO IT'S NOT THE, WE'RE NOT REGULATING THE PRIVATE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE BUYER AND THE SELLER, BUT IT, WE ARE REGULATING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE BUILDING.
SO THAT DOES PUT THE ONUS ON THE BUYER TO INVESTIGATE TO ON THE BUYER TO INVESTIGATE.
[03:30:01]
ALL RIGHT.UH, NO FURTHER QUESTIONS ON MY END.
I'VE GOT A QUESTION FOR, OR TWO QUESTIONS FOR WATERSHED.
ONE IS, UH, NOTICE THAT, UH, MOST OF THE CONDITIONS WERE EITHER PARTIALLY MET OR NOT MET.
HOW COMMON IS IT FOR US TO APPROVE THESE KIND OF VARIANCES UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES? DO YOU HAVE A SENSE OF THAT? WELL, WHEN, WHEN WE CREATE THE RESPONSES TO THE CONDITIONS, WHETHER THEY'RE APPROVED, UH, APPROVED, PARTIALLY APPROVED, OR MET, I SHOULD SAY, AND THEN NOT MET, UM, THAT'S BASED ON OUR TECHNICAL ANALYSIS OF THE REQUEST ITSELF.
AND IF IT'S THE SITUATION OF A REQUEST THAT WE FEEL THIS SHOULD BE APPROVED UNDER, BUT UNDER THE RULES IT CAN'T BE ADMINISTRATIVELY, THEN WE MIGHT SEE THOSE CONDITIONS BEING MET, WHICH WOULD SUPPORT A, OUR OPINION OF THAT IT MIGHT, THAT IT SHOULD BE APPROVED.
OUR RECOMMENDATION IN THAT CASE MIGHT BE APPROVED.
IF IT'S A SITUATION WHERE THERE ARE SOME ISSUES, I'LL JUST SAY, AND WE DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE APPROVED, THEN THOSE REMARKS, THE REMARKS TO THOSE CONDITIONS ARE GONNA BE, UM, UM, SUGGESTING THAT STAFF DOESN'T APPROVE THAT PARTICULAR ITEM OF THAT REQUEST, AND IT STATES THE REASON WHY.
AND THAT'S PER THAT INFORMATION PROVIDED FOR YOU IN MAKING THE FINAL DECISION FOR THE VARIANCE REQUEST.
SECOND QUESTION IS, YOU MAKE MENTION OF THE FREEBOARD REQUIREMENTS SEVERAL TIMES IN THE BACKUP IN THE DOCUMENT YOU PROVIDED AS PART OF BACKUP.
UH, CAN YOU EXPAND ON WHAT THAT IS? SO FREEBOARD IS AN AN AMOUNT ABOVE THE A HUNDRED YEAR FLOODPLAIN THAT A BUILDING HAS TO BE BUILT.
FEMA'S MINIMUM STANDARDS ARE THAT BUILDINGS HAVE TO BE BUILT AT THE FLOODPLAIN ELEVATION, ZERO FEET ABOVE THE FLOODPLAIN.
THE CITY OF BOSTON STANDARDS GO ABOVE AND BEYOND TO PROVIDE ADDED PROTECTION, AND OUR REGULATIONS REQUIRE THAT A BUILDING BE BUILT TWO FEET ABOVE A HUNDRED YEAR FLOOD PLAN.
AS I SAID EARLIER, THE CURRENT GARAGE CONVERSION ON THIS PROPERTY IS ONE AND A HALF FEET BELOW THE A HUNDRED YEAR FLOOD PLAN.
UH, I, I JUST WANNA BE CLEAR, UH, BOTH THE HOME AND THE GARAGE, UH, ARE PREEXISTING, SIR, MR. MR. SHUNG, COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS.
I JUST WANNA BE CLEAR TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE SITUATION IS HERE.
THE, BOTH THE MAIN HOUSE AND THE, THE GARAGE ARE PREEXISTING, AND BOTH OF THEM ARE COMPLETELY WITHIN THE FLOODPLAIN, THE 25 YEAR FLOOD PLAIN.
I DON'T THINK THEY'RE BOTH ENTIRELY IN THE 25 YEAR FLOODPLAIN, BUT THEY'RE ENTIRELY IN THE A HUNDRED YEAR FLOODPLAIN FOR SURE.
AND THE HOUSE AND THE GARAGE? MM-HMM.
WELL, LET ME SAY THE GARAGE, THE PREVIOUS OWNERS STARTED TO CONVERT THE GARAGE TO A, A HABITABLE, HABITABLE SPACE.
THE CURRENT OWNERS HAVE FINISHED THAT PROCESS, AND NOW WE HAVE THE FINISHED STRUCTURE MM-HMM
AND, BUT THIS ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD IS ESSENTIALLY WITHIN THE A HUNDRED YEAR FLOOD PLAN.
I MEAN, THE, THE WALLER CREEK IS, IS, IS RIGHT THERE.
I LOOK ON THE MAP OF 2 0 9 RE AND I MEAN, BASICALLY THE ENTIRE NORTH LOOP NEIGHBORHOOD, OR AT LEAST BIG CHUNKS OF IT ARE WITHIN THE A HUNDRED YEAR FLOOD PLANE.
IT'S A, IT'S A SIGNIFICANT FLOODPLAIN.
UH, AND THEY'RE NOT, SO THE ONLY WAY TO BECOME COMPLIANT WOULD BE ESSENTIALLY TO DESTROY THE HOUSE AND ELEVATE IT, UH, ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, UH, TO THE THREE FEET ABOVE THE A HUNDRED YEAR FLOODPLAIN THAT AUSTIN REQUIRES.
IS, IS THAT CORRECT? IS THAT, CAN YOU SAY THAT AGAIN? THE ONLY WAY FOR THAT PROPERTY TO BE COMPLIANT, LET'S PUT THE GRANDFATHERING ASIDE FOR A SECOND AND JUST SAY, IF WE DID WANT TO GET A COMPLIANT STRUCTURE ON THERE, THEY WOULD HAVE TO REBUILD A HOUSE AND THEN, UH, ELEVATE IT, FOR EXAMPLE, ON A P AND BEAM OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT WOULD BE, UH, THREE FEET ABOVE.
IN OTHER, IN OTHER WORDS, THERE'S NO WAY FOR THE CURRENT PROPERTY TO BECOME COMPLIANT, YOU WOULD HAVE TO ESSENTIALLY DESTROY AND REBUILD A HOUSE.
SO THE BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATION IN THIS VARIANCE REQUEST ARE ONLY HAVE TO DO WITH THE GARAGE CONVERSION, NOT THE MAIN HOUSE AT ALL.
SO THE GARAGE THOUGH, IS IT, IS IT ANY LARGER THAN IT WAS BEFORE? IT, IT TO OUR, WHEN OUR ANALYSIS, IT DOES NOT APPEAR THAT IT'S ANY LARGER THAN IT ORIGINALLY WAS.
SO THEY'RE TAKING A GARAGE ON THE BACK CORNER OF THE PROPERTY AND TURNING IT BASICALLY FROM A GARAGE INTO SOME KIND OF LIKE FINISHING IT OUT DRYWALL, YOU KNOW, WHATNOT TO USE AS AN OFFICE OR A STUDY OR WHATEVER THE CASE IS.
AND IN PRACTICAL TERMS, AGAIN, I'M GETTING AWAY FROM THE TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE, BUT, BUT THAT'S ESSENTIALLY WHAT THEY'RE DOING, RIGHT? RIGHT.
THEY'RE NOT ADDING ANY IMPERVIOUS, UH, COVER TO THE PROPERTY.
[03:35:01]
MEMBERS, UM, THE MOTION IS TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 1 31.UH, WHAT I'LL DO IS, UH, ASK THOSE THAT ARE IN FAVOR OF ITEM NUMBER 1 31.
IF YOU'LL RAISE YOUR HAND, IF YOU RAISE YOUR HAND, THOSE OPPOSED, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
MEMBERS THERE BEING FOUR IN FAVOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, HARBOR MEDICINE, LANE VELA AND CADRE, THERE BEING SIX IN OPPOSITION, THOSE BEING COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, THE MAYOR, PRO TEM COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN AND THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL ABSTAINING.
SO THE, THE, SO THE VARIANCE IS THE IS NOT APPROVED, THE ORDINANCE IS NOT APPROVED.
[132. Conduct a public hearing related to the proposed fiscal year 2025-2026 assessment for the Austin Tourism Public Improvement District and consider an ordinance approving the fiscal year 2025-2026 service plan for the Austin Tourism Public Improvement District, composed of hotels with one hundred or more rooms, levying the fiscal year 2025-2026 special assessment on the properties in the district, establishing the method of assessment to enhance services and undertake improvements, including activities related to marketing, business recruitment, and promotion for the district, and amending the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Tourism Public Improvement District Fund Operating Budget (Ordinance No. 20240814-007) to appropriate $7,764,175 in funds from Austin Tourism Public Improvement District assessments collected in fiscal year 2024-2025 to transfer to the Austin Tourism Public Improvement District Corporation for Austin Tourism Public Improvement District expenditures. Funding: For Fiscal Year 2024-2025 $7,764,175 is projected to be available in the Austin Tourism Public Improvement Fund from district assessments to transfer to the Austin Tourism Public Improvement District Corporation for district expenditures. For Fiscal Year 2025-26, the Austin Tourism Public Improvement District is projected to allocate $5.6 million in revenue the City would be eligible to receive under the Austin Tourism Public Improvement District Service Plan in exchange for providing benefits to the district. Actual revenue is dependent on the eligible activities that will occur under the service plan. Revenue is expected to increase in future years.]
WILL NOW TAKE US TO ITEM NUMBER 1 32.UH, ITEM NUMBER 1 32 MEMBERS IS ALSO A PUBLIC HEARING AND THEREFORE, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 1 32.
UH, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN AND I WILL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK, RITA THOMPSON, WILLIAM BUNCH, ROY WHALEY, BETSY GREENBERG.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED AND YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
UH, MR. BUNCH HAS TIME DONATED BY TAMARA SCOTT, DID SHE RETURN? NO, GEORGE.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, BILL BUNCH WITH SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE, UH, HERE ALSO SPEAKING AGAINST THIS AUSTIN TOURISM PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT OR HOTEL PIT, UH, FUNDING PLAN FOR THIS NEXT YEAR.
UM, THIS, UH, IS ANOTHER REVENUE STREAM THAT'S PRIMARILY DESIGNED TO, TO FLOW AGAIN INTO THE, UH, CONVENTION CENTER AND IT'S EXPLODING BUDGET, UM, THAT'S LESS OBVIOUS IN THIS PARTICULAR YEAR SINCE WE DON'T HAVE A CONVENTION CENTER.
AND SO, UH, MORE OF THOSE FUNDS COULD BE, UH, DIRECTED TO MARKETING, UH, ATTRACTIONS AND SUPPORTING HOTELS THAT ARE NOT DOWNTOWN, UH, AND ADJACENT TO OR VERY CLOSE TO THE CONVENTION CENTER.
UM, I WOULD HOPE THAT THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NOT DISTRICT NINE, UH, OR THE MAYOR WOULD ENGAGE THIS PROCESS A LITTLE MORE, UH, CONSTRUCTIVELY, UM, AND PROACTIVELY TO SUPPORT CULTURE, ARTS AND PARKS, FUNDING AND SUPPORT YOUR HOTELS, THE SMALLER ONES, THE RANK AND FILE ONES THAT AREN'T THE BIG GIANT LUXURY HOTELS DOWNTOWN.
THE ONES WHO CONTROL THE HOTEL LOBBY, UM, AND SUPPORT, UH, TOURISM, UH, AND YOUR COMMUNITY IN YOUR DISTRICTS.
WE'RE LOSING THEM, THEY'RE STRUGGLING.
UM, THIS REVENUE STREAM, IF THE CITY REALLY DID PARTNER WITH THE, UH, GOVERNING BOARD OF THE HOTELS THAT YOU'RE, UH, WORKING WITH ON THIS, UH, REVENUE STREAM, UM, THAT'S WHERE THE MONEY REALLY SHOULD GO.
IT SHOULD NOT BE FLOWING INTO THE BLACK HOLE OF DOWNTOWN.
UM, I'M FORT TOUR TOURISM IN AUSTIN.
UH, BUT LET'S, LET'S LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE'LL DRAW TOURS TO AUSTIN.
AND I AGREE, IF YOU WATCH THE MOVIE, AND I HOPE YOU DO THE MAGIC HOLE AS WE BUILD THE CONVENTION CENTER, THAT'S NOT TOURISM.
YES, IT BRINGS PEOPLE, BUT IN MY BUSINESS, I'M AWARE AND THE OTHER PEOPLE IN MY BUSINESS ARE AWARE THAT CONVENTIONS ARE DYING.
SO YES TO TOURIST DOLLARS, GOING TO ALL OF AUSTIN, ALL THE
[03:40:01]
AREAS OF AUSTIN AND PROTECTING WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE.AND I'M JUST GOING TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT REAL QUICK TO ROY GUERRERO PARK WITHOUT BARTON SPRINGS, IT'S STILL, IF IT HAD BARTON SPRINGS, IT'D BE HANDS DOWN THE BEST PARK IN AUSTIN.
BUT, UH, THOSE COOL WATERS MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE, BUT WE NEED TO BE PUTTING MORE MONEY INTO REAL IMPROVEMENTS ON, ON PLACES LIKE ROY GUERRERO WITHOUT CHANGING IT SUBSTANTIALLY.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE AND I'D LIKE TO SEE MONEY FOR TOURISM TO BE USED FOR THINGS OTHER THAN JUST THE CONVENTION CENTER, WHICH REALLY DOESN'T BENEFIT THE CITY.
THAT'S ALL SPEAKERS FOR 1 32 MEMBERS.
THAT CONCLUDES THE SPEAKERS FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 1 32.
SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 1 32 AND THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED.
THAT BEING SAID, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER 1 32.
MOTION HAS BEEN MADE BY THE MAYOR PRO TIM.
IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ITEM NUMBER 1 32 IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS TEMPORARILY OFF THE DAIS MEMBERS.
[2:00 PM - Zoning and Neighborhood Plan Amendments (Public Hearings and Possible Action)]
NOW GO TO ITEMS, UH, RELATED TO ZONING AND I WILL ASK MS. HARDEN TO COME FORWARD AND OR WHOEVER'S GOING TO DO THAT AND MAKE A PRESENTATION TO US THIS.UH, MAYOR AND COUNSEL, I'M JOY HARDEN WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
YOUR ZONING AGENDA BEGINS WITH THE ITEM NUMBER 1 41 C 1 4 20 25 0 0 2 4.
THIS ITEM WAS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS AND I WILL NOTE THAT WE DO HAVE SOME OPPOSITIONAL SPEAKERS THAT LIVE IN THIS DEVELOPMENT THAT WILL BE SPEAKING TO THIS REQUEST.
ITEM 1 42, IT'S NPA 20 24 0 0 2 3 0.01.
THIS ITEM'S OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
THE RELATED REZONING IS ITEM NUMBER 1 43 C 1 4 20 24 8.
AGAIN, THIS ITEM'S OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
THIS ITEM'S OFFERED AS AN APPLICANT POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR SEPTEMBER 11TH COUNSEL MEETING.
ITEM 1 45 IS NPA 20 24 0 2 0 0.01.
THIS ITEMS IS OFFERED FOR, UM, OFFERED AS A POSTPONEMENT REQUEST BY MAYOR PRO FUENTES TO YOUR AUGUST 28TH COUNCIL MEETING.
THE RELATED REZO IS ITEM NUMBER 1 46 C 1 4 20 24 0 1 6 8.
AGAIN, THIS IS OFFERED AS A POSTPONEMENT REQUEST BY MAYOR PRO FUENTES TO YOUR AUGUST 28TH COUNCIL MEETING.
ITEM 1 47 C 8 1 4 0 6 0 1 0 9 0.03.
THIS ITEM IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
ITEM 1 48 IS C 1 4 20 24 0 1 5 1.
THIS IS BEING OFFERED AS A POSTPONEMENT REQUEST BY COUNCIL MEMBER LANE TO YOUR AUGUST 28TH COUNCIL MEETING.
ITEM 1 49 IS C 1 4 20 24 0 1 1 2.
THERE IS A NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT REQUEST AND IT IS THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S FIRST REQUEST.
HOWEVER, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA HAS REQUESTED A POSTPONEMENT NUMEROUS TIMES OF THIS ITEM TO ALLOW FOR ADDITIONAL TIME FOR HIM, HIS STAFF, NEIGHBORHOOD, AND APPLICANT TO HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSIONS.
SO THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED, UH, FOR CONSENT FOR SECOND AND THIRD READINGS.
ITEM ONE 50 C 1 4 20 24 0 1 1 3.
AGAIN, THERE'S A NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT REQUEST, BUT THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
ITEM 1 51 IS C 1 4 2 2 4 0 1 1 4.
THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED AS AN APPLICANT INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT.
ITEM 1 52 IS NPA 20 24 0 0 0 8 0.02.
THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
THE RELATED REZONING IS ITEM NUMBER 1 53 C 4 20 24 0 1 0 7.
AGAIN, THIS IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
THIRD READING WITH THE FOLLOWING MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
AND THAT MOTION READS, AMEND THE ORDINANCE 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
[03:45:01]
ORDINANCE IS SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS.THE FOLLOWING USES ARE PROHIBITED USES ON THE PROPERTY, AGRICULTURAL SALES AND SERVICES, AUTOMOTIVE RENTAL, AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SERVICES, AUTOMOTIVE SALES, AUTOMOTIVE WASHING OF ANY TYPE, BELL BOND SERVICES, BUILDING MAINTENANCE SERVICES, CAMPGROUND, COMMERCIAL OFF STREET PARKING, CONSTRUCTION, SALES AND SERVICES, CONVENIENCE STORAGE, DROP OFF RECYCLING COLLECTION FACILITY, ELECTRONIC PROTOTYPE ASSEMBLY, ELECTRONIC TESTING, EQUIPMENT REPAIR SERVICES, EQUIPMENT SALES, EXTERMINATING SERVICES, FUNERAL SERVICES, MONUMENT, RETAIL SALES, OUTDOOR ENTERTAINMENT, PAWN SHOP SERVICES.
AND WITH THAT, AGAIN, THIS ITEM IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
THIRD READING ITEM 1 54 NPA 20 25 0 0 2 5 0.01.
THE SAMS OFFERED FOR CONSENT AT ALL THREE READINGS.
THE RELATED REZONING IS ITEM NUMBER 1 55 C 14 20 25 0 0 3 8.
AGAIN, THIS ITEM IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
ITEM 1 56 IS NM PA 20 24 0 0 1 8 0.02.
THIS ITEM IS OFFERED FOR POSTPONEMENT BY CAL COUNCIL MEMBER VELA TO YOUR AUGUST 28TH COUNCIL MEETING.
THE RELATED RE IS ITEM NUMBER 1 57 C 1 4 20 24 0 1 5 2.
AGAIN, POSTPONEMENT REQUEST BY COUNCIL MEMBER BRAA TO YOUR AUGUST 28TH COUNCIL MEETING.
ITEM 1 58 IS NPA 20 25 0 0 2 7 0.01.
THIS ITEMS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
THE RELATED REZONING IS ITEM NUMBER 1 59 C 4 2 25 26.
THIS ITEM IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
ITEM ONE 60 IS C EIGHT 14 2008, 1 65 0.01.
THIS ITEM'S OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
ITEM 1 61 IS C 14 2 25 0 0 4 2.
THIS AMS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS AND I JUST WANNA CLARIFY THAT THIS CASE WAS HEARD BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION RATHER THAN THE ZONING AND PLANNING COMMISSION AS IDENTIFIED ON YOUR AGENDA.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS WITH A PLANNING COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION WHICH MOVES FORWARD.
ITEM NUMBER 1 62 A C 1 4 20 24 0 1 5 9.
THIS ITEMS IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
ITEM 1 63 A C 1 4 20 24 0 1 70.
THIS ITEM IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS WITH THE FOLLOWING MOTION, WHICH READS AMEND PART FOUR D OF THE DRAFT ORDINANCE TO REMOVE TOWNHOUSE RESIDENTIAL FROM THE LIST OF USES TO WHICH THE 75 FOOT WIDE BUILDING SETBACK SHALL APPLY, INCLUDING TOWN INCLUDING TOWNHOUSE RESIDENTIAL.
IN THE LIST OF THE FOLLOWING USES WAS, UH, AN ERROR.
AND AGAIN, UH, THIS IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
ITEM ONE 60 OR IS C 14 20 25 0 0 4 1.
THIS ITEM'S OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS WITH THE FOLLOWING MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER LANE, WHICH READS, APPROVE THIS ITEM FOR MULTIFAMILY RESIDENCE LIMITED DENSITY MF ONE DISTRICT ZONING ON ALL THREE READINGS.
THIS WILL REMOVE THE CONDITIONAL OVERLAY.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
ITEM 1 65 IS C 1 14 20 25 C 0 0 2.
THIS ITEM IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
THIS ITEMS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
THIS ITEM IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE RATINGS.
ITEM ONE 60 IS C 1 4 20 25 0 0 3 5.
THE ITEMS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE RATINGS.
ITEM 1 69 IS C 4 20 25 0 0 1 1.
THE ITEMS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE RATINGS.
ITEM ONE 70 IS C 1 4 20 25, 2 5.
THIS ITEM IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
ITEM 1 71, THE C 1, 4, 20 25, 4 3.
THIS ITEM IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS WITH THE FOLLOWING MOTION, WHICH READS, AMEND PART TWO OF THE DRAFT ORDINANCE TO INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING, ADDITIONAL PROHIBITED USES, CLUB OR LODGE, CLUB OR LODGE, COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY FACILITIES, COMMUNICATION SERVICES, COMMUNICATION SERVICE FACILITIES, COMMUNITY EVENTS, COMMUNITY GARDEN COMMUNITY RECREATION, PRIVATE COMMUNITY RECREATION, PUBLIC HOSPITAL SERVICES, LIMITED PET SERVICES, PLANT NURSERY PRINTING AND PUBLISHING, PRIVATE PRIMARY EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES, PRIVATE SECONDARY EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES, SAFETY SERVICES, THEATER, URBAN FARM.
AND WITH THAT, AGAIN, THIS, UM, ITEM IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
ITEM 1 72 C 1 4 20 25 0 0 5 0.
THIS ITEM IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
ITEM 1 73 A C 1 4, 20 25 0 0 0 3.
THIS ITEM IS OFFERED FOR DISCUSSION AND IT IS READY FOR ALL THREE READINGS.
STAFF IS OPPOSED TO THE APPLICANT'S AMENDED REQUEST OF INDUSTRIAL ZONING.
THE PLAINTIFF COMMISSION DID RECOMMEND THE REQUEST.
UM, ITEM 1 74 C 1 4 20 25 0 0 3 9.
[03:50:02]
THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED AS AN APPLICANT INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT.AND LASTLY, ITEM 1 75 C 1 4 20 25 0 0 6 3.
THIS ITEM IS OFFERED AS A NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR AUGUST 28TH COUNCIL MEETING.
THIS CONCLUDES THE READING OF THE ZONING AND NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN.
AMENDMENT AGENDA IS ALWAYS, THIS IS AT YOUR DISCRETION.
UH, MEMBERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF MS. HARDEN AT THIS TIME?
I NEED TO LEARN HOW TO GET OFF THE MIC.
HIT THAT, HIT THAT MUTE BUTTON.
MEMBERS, I'M GONNA, I'M GOING TO QUICKLY READ THE CONSENT AGENDA AND THEN WE'LL GO TO SPEAKERS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
UH, ITEMS 1 41, 1 42, AND 1 43 ARE ON ALL THREE READINGS.
1 44 AT 1 45 AND 1 46 ARE POSTPONEMENTS.
1 44 WOULD BE TO SEPTEMBER 11TH, 1 45 AND 1 46 TO AUGUST 28TH, 1 47 ON ALL THREE READINGS.
1 48 POSTPONEMENT TO AUGUST 28TH, 1 49 AND ONE 52ND AND THIRD READINGS 1 51 AND INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT.
ON THIRD WOULD BE ON THIRD READING, 1 53 WITH THE MOTION SHEET READ BY MS. HARDEN.
WOULD BE ON THIRD READING, 1 54 AND 1 55.
ALL THREE READINGS, 1 56 AND 1 57 POSTPONEMENTS TO AUGUST 28TH, 1 58, 1 59, 1 60, ALL THREE READINGS, 1 61 WILL ALSO BE ON ALL THREE READINGS.
MS. HARDIN HAS NOTED A POSTING ERROR AND SHE READ THAT INTO THE RECORD.
1 63, ALL THREE READINGS WITH THE MOTION SHEET READ BY MS. HARDIN.
ALL THREE READINGS WITH THE MOTION SHEET THAT WAS READ BY MS. HARDEN, 1 65, 1 66, 1 67, 1 68, 1 69, AND ONE 70.
ALL THREE READINGS, 1 71, ALL THREE READINGS WITH THE MOTION SHEET THAT WAS READ INTO THE RECORD.
1 72, ALL THREE READINGS, 1 74 INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT, AND 1 75 POSTPONEMENT UNTIL AUGUST 28TH.
MOTION IS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER VALA.
SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
I'LL NOW TURN TO THE CLERK FOR COMMENT, PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AS READ.
WE'LL START WITH REMOTE SPEAKERS FOR ITEM 1 41.
MR. MASSING, ARE YOU THERE? HE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE IN PERSON FOR ITEM 1 41.
I HAVE JED TAYLOR, JENNIFER, DEREK, SOPHIA, ELLA, QUENTIN, ELLA, KIMBERLY BACON, AND JUDY PITTSBURGH.
WE'LL START HERE AND WE'LL JUST GO THAT DIRECTION IF THAT'S OKAY.
I'M IN STRONG SUPPORT OF MY WIFE KIM BACON AND HER BUSINESS, LITTLE LION SALON.
KIM HAS WORKED AS A HAIRSTYLIST FOR 20 YEARS IN AUSTIN.
UM, SHE'S BUILT A TRUSTED LOW PACK, LOW IMPACT BUSINESS AND BRINGS PEACE AND PROFESSIONALISM TO THE NEW SOUTH AUSTIN, SOUTH LAMAR LOCATION WHERE SHE'S AT.
LITTLE LION IS A CALM APPOINTMENT ONLY STUDIO WITH NO WALK-IN TRAFFIC, NO NOISE, AND NO DISRUPTION TO THE SURROUNDING AREA.
KIM TYPICALLY WORKS ALONE, SEEING JUST A HANDFUL OF CLIENTS PER DAY, FOUR DAYS A WEEK.
THE SALON'S WATER USAGE IS MINIMAL, LAUNDRY IS DONE COMPLETELY OFF SITE.
THE SHOWER'S COMPLETELY UNUSED.
IT'S A LOW IMPACT SPACE, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE.
AND TO ILLUSTRATE THIS, WE'VE DOCUMENTED SEVERAL DAYS THIS SUMMER WITH PHOTOS SHOWING A CONSISTENTLY QUIET PARKING LOT AND PLENTY OF AVAILABLE SPACES.
I DON'T KNOW IF THOSE SLIDES ARE UP, BUT WE DO HAVE THREE OR FOUR SLIDES FOR 'EM.
UH, UNFORTUNATELY GETTING TO THIS POINT HAS COME AT A SIGNIFICANT COST.
WE WERE INITIALLY ADVISED BY CITY STAFF TO WITHDRAW OUR CUP APPLICATION AND PURSUE A REZONING INSTEAD.
THAT DECISION HAS COST US OVER $25,000 IN APPLICATION FEES, LEGAL SUPPORT AND SITE PLAN REVISIONS, NONE OF WHICH WERE REFUNDED OR CREDITED TOWARDS A NEW REZONE PROCESS.
WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO FOLLOW THE RULES AT EVERY STEP IN THIS PROCESS WITH THE CITY, BUT THE SHIFTING GUIDANCE HAS LEFT US IN A DEEP FINANCIAL STRAIN JUST FOR THE CHANCE TO BRING KIM'S BUSINESS INTO FULL COMPLIANCE.
KIM CHOSE THIS SPACE FOR SIMPLICITY, PRIVACY, AND CONNECTION TO HER LONGTIME CLIENTS.
WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR A BIG CHANGE.
WE'RE SIMPLY ASKING FOR THE CITY TO RECOGNIZE A RESPECTFUL WOMAN-OWNED BUSINESS THAT ALREADY BELONGS HERE.
UM, THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
[03:55:01]
OF LITTLE LINE SALON, AND I'VE PROUDLY WORKED IN AUSTIN, TEXAS AS A HAIRDRESSER FOR OVER 20 YEARS.I BEGAN MY CAREER IN A BUSY LIVE WORK STUDIO DOWNTOWN WHERE I OPERATED A HIGH TRAFFIC SALON FOR 17 YEARS.
EVENTUALLY, I MADE A VERY CONSCIOUS CHOICE, UH, TO TRANSITION TO A QUIETER, MORE INTIMATE SETTING, BOTH FOR MY CLIENTS AND FOR MYSELF, WHICH BROUGHT ME TO SOUTH LAMAR.
LITTLE LION HAIR SALON IS A PRIVATE APPOINTMENT ONLY STUDIO.
WE DON'T ACCEPT WALK-INS OR GENERATE FOOT TRAFFIC.
I SEE A MAXIMUM OF FIVE CLIENTS PER DAY, AND I WORK ALONE.
ONE ADDITIONAL STYLIST WORKS PART-TIME ON ALTERNATE DAYS, AND THE SALON IS CLOSED THREE DAYS OUT OF EVERY WEEK.
PARKING HAS NEVER BEEN AN ISSUE.
I HAVE ONE RESERVED PARKING SPACE THAT WAS INCLUDED WITH MY LEASE, AND I SHARE 14 ADDITIONAL OVERP OVERFLOW SPACES WITH THE OTHER BUSINESSES AT 25 25 SOUTH LAMAR BOULEVARD.
MY CLIENTS ARE ALL GIVEN CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS ABOUT WHERE TO PARK, AND MANY OF THEM USE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION OR RIDE SHARE DUE TO OUR CONVENIENT LOCATION ON THE MAJOR BUS ROUTE, NO CLIENT HAS EVER BEEN TOWED, AND PHOTOS CLEARLY SHOW THAT PARKING REMAINS READILY AVAILABLE, ESPECIALLY ON WEEKENDS WHEN WE DO THE BULK OF OUR BUSINESS.
AND WHEN MOST OTHER BUSINESSES ARE CLOSED.
I CURRENTLY HOLD A FIVE-YEAR LEASE AND INTEND TO RENEW IT WHEN THE TIME COMES.
LITTLE LION IS ALSO A CLEAN BEAUTY SALON, WHICH MEANS WE USE ONLY NON-TOXIC, ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIENTIOUS PRODUCTS.
WE DON'T OFFER SERVICES LIKE ARTIFICIAL NAILS OR PERMS OR ANY TREATMENTS THAT CREATE FUMES.
THERE IS NO ADDED STRAIN ON THE UTILITIES BECAUSE WE DON'T LIVE IN THE BUILDING.
WE DON'T USE SHOWERS, LAUNDRY MACHINES, DISHWASHERS, OR COOKING APPLIANCES.
ALL OF OUR LAUNDRY IS DONE OFFSITE.
I CHOSE THIS SPACE TO PROVIDE A, I'M SORRY, MR. THAT'S OKAY.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO NEXT, PLEASE? YES.
JUST STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD PLEASE.
I, I PUT MY MAIDEN NAME IN THERE JUST IN CASE Y'ALL KNEW SOME OF MY ANCESTORS, BUT DON'T HOLD THAT AGAINST ME.
I AM AN AUSTINITE AUSTINITE, BORN AND RAISED.
UH, UNFORTUNATELY AT MY AGE THEY HAVE TORN DOWN THE HOSPITAL AND MANY OTHER BUILDINGS.
HOWEVER, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR, UH, YOUR SERVICE.
I WORKED AT IBM AND RETIRED FROM IBM, AND THEN I SERVED AT A STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AS A TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR.
SO I ABSOLUTELY RESPECT THE JOB YOU DO.
I USED TO HAVE TO GO IN FRONT OF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND IT IS A VERY DIFFICULT JOB TO, UH OH, THAT'S EASY.
I DO KNOW THE CITY HAS A LOT MORE TO DO THAN THIS COUNTY, BUT IT, IT ABSOLUTELY WAS FUN.
BUT ANYWAY, MOVING ON TO SWEET KIM.
UH, WHAT I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK, TALK ABOUT IS TO SUPPORT FAIRNESS AND TO SUPPORT THE PROGRESSIVE, UH, WAY IN WHICH YOU ARE HANDLING MY CITY.
I GO BACK TO WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER AND HAD TO STOP AT 70 MILES AN HOUR.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY IN HERE DID THAT ON I 35.
WE APPRECIATE, WE OWE AUSTINITES APPRECIATE YOU TAKING CARE OF OUR CITY.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S BEEN A BENEFIT TO ME AS WELL AS SMALL BUSINESSES, AND IT BROUGHT SMALL, MORE SMALL BUSINESSES, IS THE PROGRESSION YOU DID WHEN YOU USED GROUND FLOORS FOR SERVICES.
I DON'T ALWAYS SUPPORT CHANGE.
MY HUSBAND WANTS ME TO MOVE TO MASON, TEXAS WHERE THERE'S A LITTLE RANCH AND ONLY 3000 PEOPLE, AND THAT AIN'T GONNA HAPPEN BECAUSE I GOTTA TALK TO A FEW MORE PEOPLE.
SO I SUPPORT KIM'S SHOP AND THE OBVIOUS REASON IS THAT AT 80 YEARS OLD, WITH WHAT I'M WORKING WITH, SHE ALLOWS ME TO GET OUT AND NOT SCARE ANYBODY.
SO TO SPEAK TO THE PARKING, I HAVE NEVER, AND I GO FREQUENTLY BECAUSE AT 80 YEARS OLD, GUESS WHAT? YOU'RE GONNA GO FREQUENTLY TOO.
UH, MA'AM, I, I, I APOLOGIZE, BUT YOU'RE
YEAH, WELL YOU, YOU, YOU DID, YOU DID FINE.
ANYWAY, I ASK YOU TO SUPPORT HER.
UM, HI, MY NAME IS JENNIFER DEREK.
I'M NOT SURE I CAN TALK JUDY, BUT YEAH, I'M NOT SURE I'D GO AFTER THAT, BUT THAT'S ALRIGHT.
SO I'VE KNOWN KIM FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS, AND THIS IS NOT THE FIRST SALON THAT I VISITED WITH THAT I VISITED KIM.
AND, UM, THE PREVIOUS ONE WAS ALSO IN A MIXED USE BUILDING, MEANING COMMERCIAL DOWNSTAIRS AND RESIDENTIAL UPSTAIRS.
SO SHE'S FAMILIAR WITH THIS SETUP AND SHE'S FAMILIAR WITH SHOWING,
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TELLING PEOPLE AND SHOWING PEOPLE WHERE TO PARK.AND SHE HAS ALWAYS BEEN VERY CLEAR ABOUT WHERE WE ARE TO PARK SO THAT WE'RE NOT IN SOMEONE ELSE'S PARKING SPACE.
UM, HER SALON IS ALSO ON A BUS ROUTE, SO IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO USE THAT, IT WOULD BE VERY EASY.
IT DOES NOT SMELL LIKE A SALON.
WHENEVER I VISIT KIM, I'M THERE FOR ABOUT TWO AND A HALF TO THREE HOURS, AND I'M THE PERSON SITTING IN THE CHAIR WITH THE STUFF ON MY HEAD AND UNDER THE HEATER AND WHATNOT, AND I NEVER SMELL ANYTHING.
UM, IF I CAN SIT THERE FOR TWO AND A HALF HOURS, THAT MEANS THAT THERE'S NOT A BAD ODOR.
THERE ARE OTHER BUILDING, I'M SORRY, OTHER BUSINESSES IN THE BUILDINGS OF THIS, UH, RESIDENT, I MEAN OF THIS ADDRESS.
I KNOW THERE WAS PREVIOUSLY AN ART STUDIO, UM, A PHOTOGRAPHER, MAYBE A DECORATOR, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO THERE ARE PEOPLE COMING AND GOING BESIDES JUST FROM THE SALON, WHICH HER SALON IS A, YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN APPOINTMENT.
SHE HAS PLANS TO STAY IN THAT SPACE AS LONG AS POSSIBLE, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE STRESSFUL AND EXPENSIVE REZONING PROCESS.
AND THE LAST THING I WANNA SAY IS THAT THE PROPERTY IS BETWEEN THE BEAUTIFUL BUT VERY BUSY MATSA RANCHO PARKING LOT, UM, SOME THREE STORY TOWN HOMES.
AND TO GET TO IT, YOU DRIVE THROUGH THE WALGREENS PARKING LOT AND PAST HATTIE B'S I, I ONLY BRING THIS UP TO POINT OUT THAT SHE'S SURROUNDED BY BUSINESSES AND MULTIFAMILY.
WERE YOU TWO WANTING TO SPEAK? YES.
I WAS GONNA, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, IF, IF, IF YOU DON'T MIND, IF YOU'LL SPRAY UP THE CHAIRS, WE'LL HAVE OTHERS GET THERE TOO.
BUT THE OTHER TWO THAT WANNA SPEAK, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND TAKE A SEAT.
I'M HERE ALSO TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF, UM, KIM.
ACTUALLY, MOST OF MY POINTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO REITERATE THAT IT'S A BOUTIQUE STYLE, QUIET, CLASSY ZONING.
I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S VERY INVITING.
UM, THE CURRENT ZONING WOULD ACTUALLY ALLOW FOR MEDICAL OFFICES OR ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES OR CERTAIN PROFESSIONAL OFFICES, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE PROBABLY, I'M SURE MORE EMPLOYEES AND MORE PEOPLE COMING AND GOING.
SO ACTUALLY WHAT SHE'S GOT IS A PRETTY QUIET, UH, LOCATION.
SHE WAS VERY CAREFUL TO LET US KNOW WHERE WE CAN PARK AND WHERE WE CANNOT PARK.
UM, AND I, I SOME OF THE, I I HEARD A, A COMPLAINT, THE POSSIBILITY OF AS MANY AS 32 PEOPLE.
I'M GONNA TELL YOU, IT TAKES A LOT LONGER THAN 15 MINUTES TO GET THIS BEAUTIFUL.
AND I CAN PROMISE YOU THERE IS NO WAY SHE COULD DO THAT MANY PEOPLE IN A DAY,
SO I WOULD LIKE TO SAY KIM IS A RULE FOLLOWER AND SHE IS VERY CLASSY AND IT IS A REALLY NICE, UH, ESTABLISHMENT.
WHOEVER WANTS TO GO NEXT, WOULD Y'ALL MIND IF I STAND? NO, PLEASE DO WHATEVER YOU WANT.
THE STAFF HERE BEHIND THE SCENES STAFF.
I'VE, THIS IS AN UNFORTUNATE SITUATION FOR THIS APPLICANT.
UM, THIS PROPERTY DOES HAVE A RESTRICTED COVENANT ON IT.
UM, THERE IS NO MEDICAL ALLOWED, IF Y'ALL LOOK IT UP, THERE IS RESTRICTIVE COVENANT.
I BELIEVE THAT WAS DONE BACK IN BEFORE THE PROPERTY WAS BUILT, AND THAT WAS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE SOUTH LAMAR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
UM, ALL THIS TENANT HAS TO DO IS FULFILL THE CERTIFICATE OF USE PERMIT, AND THEY COULD BE IN THIS SPACE BY CHANGING THE ZONING.
WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN IS IT'S GONNA CREATE SPOT ZONING.
THEY LET Y'ALL KNOW THERE'S 14 PARKING SPACES EXTRA THAT'S FOR 50 PEOPLE.
THAT INCLUDES 15 BUSINESSES, 35 RESIDENTS.
AND SO I'M THE DIRECT NEIGHBOR NEXT DOOR, AND WE NEVER HAVE PARKING.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S GONNA BE ALLOWED AND IT'S PERMITTED IF THEY DO THEIR DUE DILIGENCE AND GET THE CERTIFICATE OF USE PERMIT.
AND I'D ASK THAT Y'ALL POSTPONE THIS, GET LEGAL TO LOOK AT IT, CHAT WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, UH, PLANNING COMMISSION.
THEY SAID THAT THEY REACHED OUT TO NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, THEY'RE BEHIND HIM.
I REACHED OUT TO BARTON HILLS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, HAD NEVER HEARD OF IT, AND NOR DID THEY NEVER HEARD OF IT.
THEY WEREN'T GONNA GET INVOLVED.
SOUTH LAMAR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION HADN'T HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
THEY HAVEN'T REACHED OUT TO ANY OF THE NEIGHBORS.
I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THEM DOING THEIR DUE DILIGENCE, DOING A CERTIFICATE OF USE PERMIT AND BEING THERE, BUT THEY'RE VIOLATING CITY CODE.
THEY DIDN'T DO THEIR DUE DILIGENCE.
ALL THEY WOULD'VE HAD TO DONE IS REACH OUT TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO
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INQUIRE ABOUT A, A, A CERTIFICATE OF USE IN ORDER TO FIND OUT IF THEY COULD EVEN BE IN THAT SPACE.AND THEY WOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO SPEND $25,000 HOWEVER MUCH, UM, IF THEY WOULD'VE JUST DONE THEIR DUE DILIGENCE AND CHECKED WITH THE CITY.
BUT AGAIN, THIS IS PURELY JUST AN OVERSIGHT.
CERTIFICATE OF USE PERMIT IS ALL THAT'S NEEDED FOR THEM.
SIR, CAN YOU STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE? OH, YES.
I, MY WIFE AND I OWN THE SPACE DIRECTLY NEXT DOOR TO THIS UNIT.
HI, MY NAME IS SOPHIA ELLA AND I HAVE KNOWN THIS SPACE FOR OVER 18 YEARS, THE 25 25 SOUTH MAR SPACE, AND KIND OF JUST REH HATCHING WHAT WAS PREVIOUSLY SAID.
ALL THAT WAS NEEDED WAS A CERTIFICATE USE OF PERMIT.
AND THERE'S ULTIMATELY GOING TO BE HAVING THIS IDEA OF REZONING THE WHOLE ENTIRE AREA IN WHICH YOU ONLY NEEDED ONE EXCLUSIVE PERMIT TO EVEN BE NEEDED.
WE SEE THAT THIS CREATES A PLETHORA OF OTHER PROBLEMS AND LEGALITIES THAT THIS WOULD ULTIMATELY LEAD TO.
WE SAID PREVIOUSLY SPOT ZONING, WHICH WOULD ULTIMATELY GET OTHER NEIGHBORS INVOLVED.
I KNOW WE HAVE BEEN IN THIS SPACE FOR 18 YEARS, AND THIS ONE CHERRY PICKED IMAGE OF AN EMPTY PARKING LOT IS NOT THE CASE ALL OF THE TIME.
WE OFTEN SEE DURING SPECIAL EVENTS SUCH AS SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST OR ACL AND ALL OF THE OTHER TIMES IN WHICH AUSTIN IS SO BUSY, ESPECIALLY ON SOUTH LAMAR, WE SEE CONTINUOUS VIOLATION OF PEOPLE PARKING WHERE THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO.
AND AS SAID PREVIOUSLY, WE MAY, THEY MAY HAVE CONVEYED THIS STORY THAT THERE IS A LOT OF PARKING SPACES, BUT YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER HOW MANY RESIDENTS ARE ACTUALLY, OR BUSINESSES ARE ACTUALLY HERE USING THESE SPACES.
THIS CREATES A LARGE AMOUNT OF DISPLACEMENT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTUALLY LIVING HERE AND BUSINESSES.
AND THAT ACTUALLY COMPLIED WITH THIS CERTIFICATE USE OF PERMIT.
AS SAID PREVIOUSLY, ALL YOU ACTUALLY NEED IS THIS PERMIT.
AND CREATING THIS ZONING CREATES A LARGE AMOUNT OF OTHER LEGAL ISSUES.
WE'RE GONNA TRY MR. MASSENGILL AGAIN.
HELLO? YEAH, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE CAN.
I, I, I, I ACCIDENTALLY SIGNED UP FOR 1 41, SO I HAVE NO OPINION OR THE OTHER APOLOGIZE.
MR. MASSING, I HAVE YOU FOR, I HAVE YOU FOR 1 42.
DO YOU WANNA SPEAK ON ITEM 1 42? I DO WANNA SPEAK ON 1 42.
UH, AS EVERYONE, SORRY, SORRY, I'M NOT THERE.
BUT, UH, HERE, I NOW THE DISEMBODIED VOICE, UH, SPEAKING AGAIN ABOUT DB NINES.
UH, ITEMS 1 41 AND 1 43 ARE RELATED.
1 42 IS OF COURSE THE ALTERATION OF THE FEATURE LAND USE MAP TO ALLOW FOR 1 43 TO CHANGE THE ZONING OF THE LOT TO A DB 90.
AND THIS IS LOCATED AT, UM, 1211 EAST 52ND STREET.
UM, AND IT'S IN THE, AGAIN, ANOTHER ONE IN THE TAN HILL BRANCH WATERSHED.
WE'RE STARTING TO LITTLE TIE THESE UP OVER THERE.
AND THAT'S IN, UH, DISTRICT FOUR.
THAT'S ALL WE REALLY HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT.
MOVING ON TO ITEM 1 47, BOBBY LAVINSKY, AND THEN STEVEN WISE AND BRIAN BEDROSIAN FOR ITEM 1 49.
BOBBY LAVINSKY, XAVIER SPRINGS ALLIANCE.
UM, ITEM 1 47 IS AN AMENDMENT TO THE LAKE SHORE PUD.
UM, THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT ONE TO SPEAK TO BECAUSE THERE ARE NO AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROVISIONS, UM, IN THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT.
UM, AND PART OF THAT IS THE HISTORY WITH THE LAKE SHORE PUD ITSELF.
SO BACK IN 2007, UM, WHEN THIS WAS APPROVED, UM, IT PREDATED THE PUD UH, ORDINANCE THAT YOU KNOW TODAY.
SO IT DIDN'T HA THAT PUD ORDINANCE DIDN'T HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROVISIONS.
IF YOU LOOK BACK ON THE FIRST READING, UH, OF THAT LAKESHORE PUD, IT ACTUALLY WOULD'VE REQUIRED THAT 10% OF 80% OF MOST OF THE HOUSING WOULD'VE BEEN, UH, AFFORDABLE.
UM, THAT PROVISION WAS REMOVED, UM, PARTIALLY BY, UH, CONCERNS FROM THE LAW DEPARTMENT, UM, PREDATING THE, THE PUD ORDINANCE.
UM, AND THERE WAS A VAGUE COMMITMENT
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TO RECORD A RESTRICTIVE COVENANT ON THE SITE TO ENFORCE THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROVISIONS.I'M NOT SURE IF THAT WAS DONE OR NOT.
UM, AND, UH, IT WOULD NOT AFFECT THIS PROPERTY, WHICH IS BEING ADDED TO THE PUD SO THAT, THAT, UH, WHICH THE COVENANT VOLUNTARILY COMMITMENT SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO ANY ADDITION TO THE PUD ITSELF.
UM, I REALLY WANNA HIGHLIGHT THAT THIS WAS A PROPERTY THAT HAD 750 UNITS FOR MOSTLY FAMILIES.
UM, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE CENSUS TRACKS THAT ACTUALLY LOST POPULATION IN 2010 BECAUSE THOSE, UH, FAMILIES WERE DISPLACED.
AND TO DATE, I THINK WE ONLY HAVE 632, UH, NEW UNITS ON THE SITE.
SO WE'RE STILL AT A NET DEFICIT FOR HOUSING ON THIS SITE.
AND THERE IS NO STRICT REQUIREMENT FOR INCOME RESTRICTED HOUSING.
YOU HAVE THE TOOLS NOW WITH THE CURRENT PUD ORDINANCE TO REQUIRE THAT ANY DENSITY BONUS PROVISIONS ARE ATTACHED TO, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THAT'S SECTION 2.5 OF THE PUD CODE.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO ATTACH IT WITH THIS AMENDMENT AND REVISIT THE LAKESHORE PUD AND HAVE THEM DO COME BACK WITH A DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM THAT REQUIRES ONSITE INCOME RESTRICTED HOUSING.
WHOEVER WANTS TO GO NEXT, JUST IDENTIFY YOURSELF.
UH, HELLO, MY NAME IS BRIAN BEDROSIAN.
UM, I CURRENTLY SERVE AS THE CHAIR OF THE NORTH LOOP NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN CONTACT TEAM.
UH, MR. MAYOR COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TODAY.
UM, WE HAD ASKED, UH, REQUESTED A RE POSTPONEMENT AT THE PREVIOUS MEETING, WHICH WAS, UH, INITIATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BELLA.
UM, TO PRO PERMIT US TIME TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE, WITH THE, UH, APPLICANT ON THIS PROCESS, THAT NEGOTIATION AND THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS WERE DRAWN UP.
UM, AND THOSE WERE PRESENTED TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION A WEEK AGO.
UM, THE TIGHT TIMELINE ON THIS RESULTED IN A PRETTY MESSY VOTING SEQUENCE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, AS A RESULT OF OUR, UH, THE LIMITATIONS IN OUR BYLAWS.
BUT WE DID HOLD A VOTE AND THE MOTION DID PASS TO SUPPORT THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS ON THE FIRST TWO PROPERTIES, WHICH WOULD BE CASE 0 1 1 2 AND 0 1 1 3.
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT WE AS A NEIGHBORHOOD FEEL THAT HARD WORK, UH, LEADING WITH KINDNESS AND SEEKING REASONABLE COMPROMISE HAS BEEN THE METHODOLOGY THAT WE'VE USED TO HELP SHEPHERD DEVELOPMENT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
UH, SENATE BILL EIGHT 40 HAS OBVIOUSLY UNDERMINED THE ABILITY FOR NEIGHBORHOODS TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH OWNERS AND DEVELOPERS.
AND AS A RESULT, ONE OF THE CASES, UM, ON THIS, UH, THAT WAS INCLUDED ORIGINALLY, AND THIS WAS PULLED BY THE APPLICANT, UH, WE STILL SUPPORT THE APPLICANT'S ZONING ON THESE PROPERTIES AND, AND, UH, DO WANT THESE TO MOVE FORWARD.
BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT HAVING A SAY ON ALL THESE PROPERTIES IS CRITICAL TO THE SUCCESS OF US BEING ABLE TO HELP SHEPHERD OUR NEIGHBORHOOD INTO THE FUTURE.
I'M MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M THE DEPUTY CHAIR OF THE NORTH LOOP NEIGHBORHOOD PLAIN C**K TECH TEAM.
I'M SPEAKING TODAY IN MY PERSONAL CAPACITY.
I PARTICIPATED IN THE NEGOTIATIONS CONCERNING THE ZONING REQUEST FOR THIS JIM DISCOUNT AUTO, UM, PROPOSALS.
I FULLY SUPPORT, UH, CHAIR BRIAN IAN'S STATEMENT OF SUPPORT.
AND MY COMMENTS APPLY TO BOTH ITEMS 1 49 AND ONE 50.
APPROVING THE ZONING REQUEST WOULD PROVIDE SEVERAL BENEFITS, INCLUDING FULFILLING THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S DECADES LONG MIXED USE ASPIRATION FOR THESE SITES, INCENTIVIZING THE RELOCATION OF THE AUTO, AUTO SALVAGE OPERATION AND INDUSTRIAL USE NO LONGER BEST FOR THIS LOCATION, AND MOST FUNDAMENTALLY SUPPORTING THE CITY'S STRATEGIC GOALS OF ENSURING ABUNDANT HOUSING, IMPROVED STREET SCAPES AND NEIGHBORHOOD RETAIL NEGOTIATIONS.
WERE NOT WITHOUT CHALLENGES AND DISAPPOINTMENTS, ESPECIALLY SENATE BILL EIGHT 40 AND ITS IMPACT ON ITEM 1 59.
NONETHELESS, IN MY OPINION, APPROVING ZONING, A REQUEST IN CONCERT FOR ONE, UH, IN CONCERT WITH THE TEAM'S RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS, PROVIDES THE BEST OUTCOME FOR 1 59 AND ONE 50 AND WILL BENEFIT THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE CITY.
AND IN CLOSING, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE AND VA'S, UM, EXTENSIVE USE OF, OF THEIR STAFF TO HELP US IN TECHNICAL MATTERS.
I GOT A COUPLE OF, UH, UH, QUICK, UH, UH, QUESTIONS, UH, FOR Y'ALL.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE TIME AND EFFORT.
I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN A VERY DELICATE AND TRICKY NEGOTIATION.
AND THEN WE HAVE THAT SB EIGHT 40 KIND OF, YOU KNOW, CHANGE THINGS.
AND AS A RESULT, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE PROPERTIES, THEY DON'T NEED TO REZONE ANYMORE.
THE OTHER TWO, WE ARE STILL MOVING, UH, FORWARD WITH DB 90, BUT, UH, THEY'RE, I UNDERSTAND THERE'S A RESTRICTIVE COVENANT THAT HAS A BUNCH OF VERY KIND OF NEIGHBORHOOD FRIENDLY, UH, AMENDMENTS.
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THAT THE, THE, THE SITUATION BASICALLY? THAT'S ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.UM, WE'VE NEGOTIATED A NUMBER OF, UH, ELEMENTS IN THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS THAT SEEK TO ENHANCE, UH, THE QUALITY OF STREETSCAPE ALONG OUR NAMESAKE BOULEVARD TO ENSURE WE'RE GONNA STILL GET SOME AFFORDABLE HOUSING OUTTA THE PROJECTS TO FOCUS ON FAMILY ORIENTED HOUSING, UH, SEVERAL, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL RELATED THINGS.
WELL, I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE, I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE BOTH OF YOUR HARD WORK AND, UH, BRIAN TIMOTHY TOLD ME THAT, THAT YOU EVEN DELAYED A VACATION TO COME IN, AND I VERY MUCH, I MEAN, THAT'S REALLY GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND, BUT I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE THAT ALL THE TIME.
AND LEO BOGGIO ALSO WORKING ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT.
I JUST WANT TO KNOW, AND WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS BEFORE, THAT IN THE PAST WHEN THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS KIND OF WALKED AWAY FROM A GOOD DEAL, UH, THEY GOT A, A SUBPAR, UH, DEVELOPMENT, UH, THAT I THINK FOLKS REGRET TO THIS DAY.
SO I, I, I THINK IT'S VERY MUCH A ONCE BITTEN, TWICE SHY BETTER TO NEGOTIATE SOME VERY POSITIVE CHANGES TO THE PROPERTY THAT WILL PROTECT KIND OF PEACE AND QUIET AND, AND, AND THE GENERAL VIBE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAN TO JUST GO NAKED AND, AND LET THEM DO WHATEVER THEY NEED TO ON THESE PROPERTIES.
SO, UH, AGAIN, I I JUST WANTED TO, TO SAY THANK YOU.
UH, I'M SUPPORTING THESE, UH, AND, UH, IT'S BEEN, UH, THIS, I THINK THIS IS THE SEVENTH OR EIGHTH TIME THIS HAS BEEN ON THE AGENDA.
UH, I APPRECIATE THE NEIGHBORS THAT ARE SAYING LIKE, YOU KNOW, ONE MORE TIME, BUT I MEAN, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS AND MONTHS, AND I THINK WE'RE, THIS IS THE BEST WE'RE GONNA DO AND I'M NOT GONNA LET THE, THE PERFECT BE THE ENEMY OF THE GOOD.
SO AGAIN, THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH.
WELL, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER VELA AND, AND FOR YOUR, YOU AND COUNCIL MEMBER COUNTRY STAFF'S INVOLVEMENT, BUT, AND I'VE SAID IT I THINK PRETTY MUCH EVERY TIME YOU'VE BEEN HERE, BUT WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE LEVEL OF WORK Y'ALL PUT TRYING TO FIND A, A GOOD RESULT.
I HAVE ONLINE BRAD MASSING AND THEN STEVEN WISE AND BRIAN BED ROSEN, IF YOU'RE GOING TO, IF WE HAVE SOMEBODY ON THE LINE.
Y'ALL DONE HELLO? AWARE OF THAT.
OKAY, MR. MASSENGILL, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
UM, AND I, I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT BRIAN DOES OVER THERE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
UH, THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE FEW AREAS WHERE DB 90 DOES MAKE A LOT OF SENSE, UH, SINCE THERE WAS SO MUCH PARKING LOTS AND WHATNOT UP IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD TO BEGIN WITH.
BUT I, I STILL WOULD LIKE, UH, FOLKS AT HOME TO KNOW WHERE THESE ARE AT, YOU KNOW, UH, OR, OR WHERE THERE ON, UH, 7 0 4 50 THIRD, BUT BASICALLY THE CAN HILL BRANCH WATERSHED.
I KNOW, I KNOW I'VE TALKED A BIT TO BRIAN AND TO, UH, COUNCILMAN VELA ABOUT PROTECTING THAT.
SO I'M, I'M HOPING THAT Y'ALL ARE GONNA GO OVER THE TOP WITH TRYING TO, TO, UH, FIGURE OUT A WAY TO NATURALIZE THAT CREEK THERE AND TURN IT INTO SOMETHING THAT'S NOT GONNA BE A THREAT TO EAST AUSTIN WHEN ALL THAT VERTICAL MIXED USE IS IN PLACE.
SO THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S MY 2 CENTS.
FOR 1 51, IT'S BEEN POSTPONED.
WOULD STEVEN WISE AND BRIAN BEDROSIAN LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE POSTPONEMENT? THEY'RE NOT SPEAKING TO THAT.
UH, 1 52 BRAD MASSING A AGAIN, UM, ANO, THIS IS ONE, THIS ONE'S AT 29 67 MANOR ROAD, AND, UH, I, WE WE'RE OVER THERE IN THE, UH, IN THE, WE'RE TWO WATERSHEDS.
I MEAN, CAN HILL RANCH WATERSHED DRAINS INTO THE BOGGY CREEK WATERSHED? SO THIS, THIS JUST KEEPS COMING UP.
TAN HILL BRANCH, TAN HILL BRANCH.
SO I, I WANT Y'ALL TO HAVE THAT IN YOUR MIND OF WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE, UH, IN, IN THE FUTURE, IF WE HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THAT, WE'RE GONNA KNOW THE, THE ROOF OF THIS PROBLEM.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR.
MY NAME IS DANIELLA VA AND I AM HERE REPRESENTING THE AUSTIN HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
FIRST, THANK YOU ALL FOR GIVING US JUST ENOUGH TIME TO CREATE TOP FOOT GUARD GUARD RAILS FOR THE FIRST DV 90 EVER CASE IN A TOD ZONE, RIGHT IN AT THE INTERSECTION OF MAYNARD AND AIRPORT.
OVER THE PAST NINE MONTHS, WE'VE REVIVED A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION ORGANIZED FROM THE GROUND UP AND GATHERED THE VALLEY PETITION.
ONE, WE CHOSE NOT TO FILE AS A SHOW OF GOOD FAITH AND PROOF OF WHAT OUR COMMUNITY STANDS FOR, SAFETY, DEEPER AFFORDABILITY, STREET VIBRANCY, AND A LOT OF CARE FOR OUR CREEK.
WE PUSH HARD FOR DEEPER AFFORDABILITY, AFFORDABILITY, WHILE THERE'S MORE WORK TO BE DONE, WE UNDERSTAND THE BROADER HOUSING NEEDS.
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I RECOGNIZE A PRIVILEGE OF LIVING IN A TOD.I ACTUALLY DON'T OWN A CAR, AND I VALUE THE LIFE THAT THIS KIND OF URBAN PLANNING AFFORDS.
SO I'LL LEAVE YOU ALL WITH THIS QUESTION.
WHO WAS A TOD DESIGNED FOR AND DO WE THINK THE PEOPLE IT WAS DESIGNED FOR CAN ACTUALLY LIVE HERE AND BENEFIT FROM IT? AND, HEY, DON'T LET MY YOUNG LOOKS FOOL YOU.
I'VE WORKED IN HOUSING FOR NEARLY 10 YEARS THROUGH AN ARCHITECTURE FIRM THAT DESIGNS BOTH AWARD-WINNING, AFFORDABLE AND MARKET RATE COMMUNITIES.
SO PLEASE TAKE ME AS YOUR ALLY IN THIS NEXT CHAPTER, ONE THAT PRIORITIZES THOUGHTFUL, INCLUSIVE GROWTH FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, OUR DISTRICT AND OUR CITY.
DANIELLA, HAVE YOU SIGNED UP FOR 1 53 AS WELL? YEAH.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK ON THAT? YEAH, SO EVERY COIN HAS TWO SIDES, AND IF THE INTENTION OF THIS PROCESS WAS TO WEAR A COMMUNITY DOWN, ONE THAT HAS CONSISTENTLY SHOWN UP IN GOOD FAITH WORKING TO BETTER OR SHARED ENVIRONMENT, I'LL SAY THIS PLAINLY, YOU GUYS HAVE SUCCEEDED.
FOR FIVE MONTHS, WE'VE WORKED TIRE TIRELESSLY ON THIS RESTRICTED COVENANT, WHICH HAVE WE HAVE ACTUALLY AGREED TO, BUT LET ME REMIND YOU, I HAVE TWO JOBS, AND THIS ONE HAS ACTUALLY BECOME A THIRD.
JUST LAST WEEK WE RECEIVED A CONFIRMATION FROM THE LOBBYIST THROUGH OUR DESIGN VIA TEXT THAT HER CLIENT WAS WILLING TO AGREE TO OUR MOST CRITICAL ITEM, A TRAFFIC SAFETY MURAL FACING AIRPORT BOULEVARD, A MINI, A MEANINGFUL, SYMBOLIC AND PRACTICAL GESTURE FOR ONE OF OUR AUSTIN'S MOST DANGEROUS INTERSECTIONS.
WHEN WE ASKED FOR THE LEGAL LANGUAGE TO FINALIZE THIS AGREEMENT, THE DRAFT ARRIVED JUST THREE DAYS BEFORE TODAY'S MEETING.
THEN LAST NIGHT, I RECEIVED A CALL SAYING THAT DEVELOPER HAD SUDDENLY DECIDED TO REMOVE THE MURAL ALTOGETHER.
SHE SAID, JUST NOT THAT ONE THING THAT YOU GUYS REALLY ASKED FOR.
AND WHEN WE REVIEWED THE RC LEGAL LANGUAGE, WE SAW HOW CAREFULLY THE LANGUAGE HAD BEEN WATERED DOWN FULL OF LOOPHOLE THAT WE CAN, THE VERY PROTECTION WE FOUGHT FOR, FOR FIVE MONTHS.
AND THROWER'S IDEA OF GOOD FAITH HAS TURNED INTO EMPTY GESTURES MADE ONLY AFTER BECOMING CONFIDENT THAT THIS COUNCIL WOULD PROBABLY VOTE YES REGARDLESS.
AND THE MURAL WAS EVENTUALLY REINSERTED, YES, JUST HOURS BEFORE THIS MEETING, BUT BY THEN THE MESSAGE WAS CLEAR, DELAY ERODE EXHAUST, THEN CLOSE THE DOOR ON NEGOTIATION.
THE SAME TACTIC WAS USED ON JUNE 3RD.
LET'S ALSO REMEMBER WHO BOUGHT THIS LAND AND THAT THEIR, THE WAY THEIR TEAM HAS CHOSEN TO ENGAGE IN THIS PROCESS IS QUESTIONABLE.
AUSTIN DESERVES BETTER THAN THIS KIND OF ENGAGEMENT WITH ITS COMMUNITIES AND TO ANY NEW NEIGHBORHOODS OUT THERE.
GOOD LUCK, BRAD MASSENGILL, ITEM 1 53.
I, I TOTALLY CONCUR WITH EVERYTHING I JUST HEARD.
UH, THESE ARE, UH, I, I HAD THE SIMILAR EXPERIENCE WITH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND I KNOW OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS HAS AS WELL, THAT OUR REQUESTS WERE ASSISTANCE ARE MET, BUT ONLY AT THE 11TH HOUR WITH NO REAL WAY FOR US TO ENGAGE OUR CONSTITUENCIES ON THE CHANGES, LET ALONE THE SINCERITY OF THE OFFERS WERE BEING EXTENDED TO US BY THE APPLICANTS.
AND, UH, AGAIN, FOGGIE CREEK AND HILL BRANCH CREEK
I ALSO HAVE YOU SIGNED UP FOR ITEM 1 54? DO YOU WANNA SPEAK ON THAT ITEM? UM, SURE.
UM, THIS IS, THIS IS THE 1 54 IS THE, THE PLUM ALTERATION PORTION OF THE SHOW WHERE THEY'LL CHANGE THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP TO ALLOW FOR ITEM 1 55 WHERE YOU CHANGE THE ZONING TO DB 90, WHICH WOULD BE, AS FAR AS I KNOW, THE FIRST DV 90 OVER THERE IN, UH, ABOVE THE CREEK WATERSHED.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE AT HOME TO THINK ABOUT.
LEE ZIEGLER, 1 54 LEE ZIEGLER.
UM, THIS IS LEE ZIEGLER, UH, CHAIR OF THE OAK HILL PLANNING NEIGHBORHOOD
[04:25:01]
PLANNING CONTACT TEAM REGARDING ITEMS 1 54 AND 1 55.WE CAN SEE THERE'S A SLIDE UP.
UH, WE SUPPORT RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT AT THIS SITE, PREFERABLY AS RECOMMENDED BY STAFF WITH A FEW CTS KEEPING AND ENFORCING THE EXISTING CONDITIONAL OVERLAY FOR NO AUTOMOBILE SERVICES.
SEEMS QUITE APPROPRIATE IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT MY SLIDE.
WALKING TO SERVICES AS WELL AS ENHANCED BUS TRANSIT SCHEDULES THAT WOULD BENEFIT AND ENABLE OCCUPANTS REMAINS A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM DESPITE A NEARBY BUS STOP.
MOST CONCERNING WITH DEVELOPMENT IS EXACERBATION OF AREA FLOODING WITH POTENTIAL CREEK CONTAMINATION ARISING FROM RELAXED STANDARDS.
SLIDE FOUR, OVER HALF OF THE PROPERTY LIES IN THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE, ALSO IN THE DRINKING WATER PROTECTION ZONE.
PLEASE, PLEASE CONFIRM NO VARIANCES OR EXCEPTIONS TO THE SOS ORDINANCE AND PARTICULARLY NO FEE IN LIEBE FOR WATER QUALITY MEASURES WITHIN DEVELOPMENT, AS WELL AS ADHERENCE TO 15% IMPERVIOUS COVER.
THE LAND IS FLAT AND THE CREEK IS NOT DEEP.
RAINFALL FLASH FLOOD EFFECTS SHOULD BE DETERMINED AT LEAST BY LIGHT.
UH, SLIDE SIX SAID, I BELIEVE THIS IS NUMBERED AS SECOND.
THIS SITE AND PERHAPS OTHERS DOWNSTREAM RETAIN ONSITE SEWAGE FACILITIES OR SEPTIC TANKS.
ADDITIONAL PROP BACKING UP TO THIS SITE FROM ALONG SOUTHWEST PARKWAY ALREADY HAVE GRANDFATHERED EXEMPTIONS FROM WATER QUALITY TREATMENT AND SOME DRAINAGE TO GAINES CREEK.
THIS LOW AREA OF THE HILL COUNTRY HAS A RECENT HISTORY OF RESIDENTIAL FLOODING WITH DEVELOPERS.
BOBBY LAVINSKY SAY, OUR SPRINGS WILL BE REALLY SHORT HERE.
AGREE WITH WHAT LEE ZIEGLER WAS SAYING.
UM, THE MAIN HERE WE'RE NEUTRAL ON THIS ZONING ORDINANCE.
WHAT REALLY I WANNA PUT ON RECORD IS THAT WE WOULDN'T BE SUPPORTIVE OF A REDEVELOPMENT EXCEPTION ON THIS PROPERTY.
WE NEED TO GET COMPLIANCE WITH THE SOS ORDINANCE.
IF YOU'RE GONNA GO UP, YOU CAN GO IN.
ALSO ON, HE'S WAIV, HE'S WAIVING ON 1 55 FOR THE RECORD.
YEAH, I'M UPSET WHAT I HAD TO SAY.
WHAT DID HE SAY? LEE ZIEGLER 1 55.
AND, UM, WITH MY SLIDES, IF, WELL, THE SLIDE NUMBER SEVEN, IF YOU CAN PULL IT UP, IT'S UP DETENTION RETENTION REQUIREMENTS.
IT IS, I WAS JUST TELLING YOU, IT'S UP.
DETENTION RETENTION RE I'M SORRY, JUST KEEP TALKING, UH, ARE NECESSARY WITH NO WATER QUALITY EXEMPTIONS AND INCLUDING SAFEGUARDS AGAINST SEPTIC AREAS EXISTING BURIED HAZARDOUS WASTE.
FINALLY, DESPITE NUMEROUS APPLICATIONS AND ALLOCATIONS FOR NEARBY INCREASED HOUSING, EXISTING COMMERCIAL HEIGHT ON WEST HIGHWAY TWO 90 IS RARELY ABOVE FOUR STORIES.
HENCE, A NEED FOR LIMITATIONS ON MECHANICAL NOISE AND LIGHTING AT HIGHER ELEVATIONS TO REDUCE IMPACT TO NEIGHBORS IS REQUESTED, PARTICULARLY AS A TRADE-OFF FOR REQUESTED REDUCED COMMERCIAL ON THE FIRST FLOOR.
IF THAT IS DEEMED APPROPRIATE BY COUNSEL, I'D LIKE TO MENTION WE DO HAVE SEVERAL CASES THAT HAVE DB 90 AND WE HAVE A BUILDING NEARBY, OR ONE THAT WILL BE BUILT UP TO A HUNDRED FEET AS A CHANGE IN CODES AND ORDINANCES.
UM, I DO WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND CONSIDERATION.
ITEM 1 56, BRAD MASSING FOR THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT.
YEAH, THAT, HELLO? I I WAS JUST WANTING PEOPLE AT HOME TO, TO KNOW WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.
UH, IT'S APPARENTLY CHANGING THE ZONING UP THERE FROM 60 FEET TO 160 FEET UP IN THE, UH, THIS IS ON THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT, SIR.
THIS IS ON THE SPEAK ON THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT.
PLEASE, PLEASE, YOU FORWARD HER AGAINST IT.
[04:30:01]
I, I'M, I'M FOR THE POSTPONEMENT.SAME FOR ONE 50 MAYOR, THE POSTPONEMENT FOR ITEM 1 56 SOIA JOSEPH.
THANK YOU MAYOR COUNCIL, I'M ENOVIA JOSEPH SPEAKING ON THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT OF ITEM 1 56.
I SUPPORT THE POSTPONEMENT AND JUST WANT TO ASK STAFF TO BRING FORTH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
SO THAT IS WHAT THE SLIDE DECK IS FOR.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE SLIDE, YOU'LL SEE THIS IS THE AREA THAT'S BEING CONSIDERED, BUT I WON'T SPEAK TO THE AREA.
I WOULD JUST ASK THAT THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, MIKE ROGERS, GET THE STAFF TO GIVE HIM AN UPDATE ON THE CORRIDOR IN ITS ENTIRETY, AND THEN HE CAN UNDERSTAND THE SIDEWALKS IN THAT AREA.
AND SPECIFICALLY, I WROTE DOWN THE NAME FROM URBAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION, ERIC BAILEY.
I JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE THE CONTEXT AND ASK ONCE AGAIN, AS I'VE ASKED IN THE PAST FOR AN OVERLAY.
SO I WOULD ASK, UH, CHEETO VELA COUNCIL MEMBERS, SINCE THIS IS HIS ITEM, TO ACTUALLY GET AN OVERLAY THAT SHOWS ALL OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME ON THE CORRIDORS THAT WILL SERVE THE LIGHT RAIL, INCLUDING THIS CORRIDOR.
AND JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE YOU THE SLIDE THAT SHOWS EXACTLY WHAT THE 80% AREA MEDIAN INCOME IS, AS WELL AS 120% AREA MEDIAN INCOME AND THE INCOME FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS AT $42,000.
I JUST WANNA REMIND YOU, MAYOR, DECEMBER 17TH, 2018 IS WHEN YOU TESTIFIED BEFORE CAPITAL METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY.
THE RAIL SYSTEM DOES START SOUTH OF US.
NORTH OF USS 180 3 IS WHERE YOUR E TODD EQUITABLE TRANSIT ARE.
UNIT DEVELOPMENT THEN INCLUDED NORTH LAMAR TRANSIT CENTER, WHICH I BELIEVE IS FRAUGHT TRYING TO GET SOMETHING OF VALUE THROUGH WILLFUL MISREPRESENTATION.
I JUST WANTED TO REMIND YOU, THIS IS THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION'S CRITERIA FOR THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT GRANTS AND DENSITY IS ONE OF THE CRITERIA BASED OF OUR CARE CRITERIA ON LAND USE.
BUT I JUST WANT YOU TO SEE, AND I HOPE TO WALK THE CORRIDOR WITH THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER AND MIKE SIEGEL, STAFFER COUNCIL MEMBER.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GLADLY ANSWER THEM FOR THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT ON ONE 50 SEVENS AND NOIA JOSEPH? THANK YOU, MAYOR.
COUNSEL, I'M ZIA JOSEPH, YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
I JUST WANNA PROVIDE A LITTLE CONTEXT, MAYOR, JUST SO YOU UNDERSTAND, I DO SUPPORT THE POSTPONEMENT, BUT AGAIN, I JUST WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE WHERE THE INVESTMENT HAS BEEN AND I THINK PICTURES, UH, EXPRESS EXACTLY WHAT I SEE, BUT YOU MAY NOT, IT'S ACTUALLY IN THE AREA.
HERE IS A UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN STUDENT HOUSING, BEFORE THE HOUSING WAS EVER BUILT, SPECIFICALLY, YOU SEE THAT THE SHELTER WAS IN PLACE.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE BOTTOM, THAT IS THE DARK AREA.
I MENTIONED EARLIER ON ROUTE 3 92, NORTH OF US, 180 3, THAT'S THE BREAKER BUS.
BUT YOU HAVE PLACED OVER 400 UNITS OR SO ON BREAKER, AND OUR SENIOR CITIZENS IN COLLINWOOD HAVE LOST THEIR TRANSPORTATION.
SO THE SYSTEM IS IN EQUITABLE AND IT VIOLATES TITLE SIX ON THE RIGHT.
I JUST WANT YOU TO SEE EAST RIVERSIDE, EVEN THOUGH THAT'S ACTUALLY ON THE CORRIDOR, I JUST WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE DOING TO, UH, INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE UNHOUSED.
THIS IS HOSTILE ARCHITECTURE AND RESPECTFULLY, I GET THAT YOU DON'T WANT PEOPLE SLEEPING AT THE BUS STOPS, BUT PUTTING THESE LITTLE SLATES THERE, UH, THAT'S NOT A EQUITABLE SOLUTION.
SO I JUST WANTED THE COUNCIL TO SEE WHAT I SEE.
I THINK THAT'S THE END OF THE SLIDES THAT YOU CAN PUSH THE BUTTON JUST TO SEE.
UM, AND YOU CAN JUST GO BACK TO THE FIRST SLIDE AND SO THEY KNOW THE AREA THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
UM, IT'S A PRETTY DISTURBING MAYOR.
I KNOW YOU OFTEN HEAR ME TALK ABOUT TITLE VI OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964, WHICH PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE, COLOR, AND NATIONAL ORIGIN.
THEREFORE, I WOULD ASK YOU TO GET THE DATA SO THAT YOU CAN SEE WHAT I SEE.
AND MAYBE YOU WOULD UNDERSTAND, UH, THE RAIL SYSTEM WILL TERMINATE AT HYDE PARK, WHICH WAS DEVELOPED EXCLUSIVELY FOR WHITE PEOPLE, 1889 AND 1924, AND I WILL BRING FORTH THE SLIDE THAT SHOWS THAT THERE IS NOT NOW AND NEVER WILL BE NEGROES FOR NEIGHBORS IN HYDE PARK.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GO AHEAD AND ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME.
BRAD MASSENGILL, MAYOR'S A POSTPONEMENT ON 1 57.
I'VE ALREADY SAID WHAT I HAVE TO SAY.
I I I TOTALLY CONCUR WITH MS. JOSEPH.
[04:35:01]
OKAY, THANK YOU.ITEM ONE 60, BILL BUNCH AND BOBBY LAVINSKY.
BOBBY LAVINSKY SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE.
THIS IS ANOTHER PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT DISTRICT.
UM, WE ARE AGAINST THE CONTINUED USE OF THE PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE IN THIS AREA.
UM, I DO WANNA NOTE THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW PUDS THAT HAVE COME FORWARD THAT ACTUALLY USE THE PUD AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROVISION.
UM, UH, SOME CON UH, KUDOS TO STAFF ON THAT.
UM, THAT I WILL SAY THOUGH, THOUGH, YOU ARE, UH, REDUCING THE SETBACK AND SO YOU'RE GIVING AWAY FREE SPACE THERE.
UM, AND SO YOU SHOULD PROBABLY ATTACH THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROVISIONS TO THAT FREE SPACE AS WELL.
UM, BUT THE OTHER, UH, UH, ELEMENT I JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT WITH PUDS IS, UM, WHEN WE HAD THE CURE ORDINANCE DOWNTOWN, IT WAS A FREE ALTERNATIVE.
IT WAS A FREE GET OUT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING FREE PROVISION, AND IT WAS USED CONTINUOUSLY.
IT TOOK COUNSEL STOPPING THE CURE ORDINANCE TO GET SOME INCOME OF RESTRICTED HOUSING GENERATED THROUGH THE DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM THAT'S HAPPENING HERE AGAIN WITH PUTT ORDINANCE.
WE NEED COUNSEL TO, TO ACT ON IT.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE ONLY COMPARABLE AREA WHERE YOU'VE SET A FIRM AFFORDABLE HOUSING GOAL, SO 20% IS WHAT'S SET FOR SOUTH CENTER'S WATERFRONT.
MILLER HAPPENED BECAUSE THERE WAS A STRONG REGULATING PLAN AND IT WAS REQUIRED.
IF YOU CONTINUE TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO GET OUT OF IT, IT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN.
AND THIS IS GONNA BE BECOME AN AREA WHERE ONLY THE WEALTHY CAN AFFORD TO LIVE.
THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY WITH THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT TO REQUIRE INCOME RESTRICTED HOUSING DENSITY BONUSES ARE THE ONLY TOOL REALLY THAT YOU HAVE UNDER STATE LAW.
OKAY, THEN FOR ITEM 1 66, I HAVE BRAD MASSING.
MA'AM, HAS YOUR NAME BEEN CALLED? NO, WE ARE ON 1 61.
MS. GUZMAN IS HERE AND SHE INDICATES SHE SIGNED UP ON ONE SECOND.
I DID NOT REALIZE SHE WAS HERE IN PERSON.
UH, BRAD, ARE YOU STILL THERE? DID YOU WANNA SPEAK ON ITEM 1 66? MONICA, PLEASE COME ON DOWN FOR 1 61.
YES, IS DO, IS IT DUE BY CARRO AS WELL? YES.
YEAH, THEY, YOU SIGNED UP REMOTELY, SO THEY THOUGHT YOU WERE REMOTE AND THEN WHEN YOU WEREN'T THERE AND WE CHECKED IN CHANGE IN CHECKED.
UM, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I LIVE IN NORTH CENTRAL AUSTIN, UH, IN DISTRICT FOUR, AND I HAVE BEEN A MEMBER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION OF THAT AREA SINCE THE 1980S.
UM, I'VE ALSO BEEN A MEMBER OF THE NCA CONTACT TEAM FOR AT LEAST 10 OR 15 YEARS.
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, BUT IT DOES HAVE SOME PROBLEMS. UM, WE HAVE MET WITH JIM TIFF, THE AGENT FOR THE OWNER APPLICANT, MR. ABDUL PATEL AT THE PROPERTY IN QUESTION.
SINCE THE PROPERTY IS IN A KNOWN HOTSPOT FOR CRIME, WE MADE IT CLEAR THAT WE DIDN'T WANT A RETAIL OR CONVENIENCE STORE MAKING POSSIBLE THE SALE OF CARRY OUT ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES.
WE WERE ASSURED THAT THIS WAS FOR A RESTAURANT WITH PATIO SEATING.
UH, AT THE MAY 27 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING CONTACT TEAM MEMBER MELINDA SHERA, ONE OF MY NEIGHBORS AND CHAIR MONICA GUZMAN, SHARED CONCERNS BASED ON COMMUNICATION WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS IN OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE MR. PATEL OWNS OR HELPS WITH CONVENIENCE STORES.
IN THE END, THE PLANNING COMMISSION MADE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION ENSURING THAT THERE WOULD BE NO CARRYOUT ALCOHOL SALES AND THAT ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION IS RESTRICTED TO ONSITE AT THE RESTAURANT WITH INDOOR AND PATIO SEATING.
WE RECEIVE CONFIRMATION THAT THE DEVELOPER DOES NOT PLAN TO OPPOSE THIS, UH, RECOMMENDATION, UH, SHOULD THE DEVELOPER CHANGE HIS MIND.
HOWEVER, AT ANY TIME WE REQUEST NOTIFICATION IN WRITING AND GIVE US TIME TO NOTIFY OUR NACA COMMUNITY, WE APPRECIATE HAVING THE TIME TO MEET WITH MR. WHIT AND COMMUNICATE WITH THE DEVELOPER.
WE WANT TO UNDERSCORE THE IMPORTANCE OF ZONING NOTIFICATIONS AND ALLOWING TIME FOR COMMITTEES TO WORK WITH THE DEVELOPERS TO INITIATE, UH, NEGOTIATE A WIN-WIN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNSEL.
I'M MONICA GUZMAN, CHAIR OF THE NACA NORTH AUSTIN CIVIC ASSOCIATION CONTACT TEAM.
I'VE LIVED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND OTHER PARTS OF THE BERG AREA FOR 11 YEARS AND HAVE TIES TO
[04:40:01]
NACA GOING BACK MORE THAN 40 YEARS.WE'VE BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE AGENT DEVELOPER.
THEY HEARD OUR CONCERNS REGARDING THE CARRY OUT ALCOHOL SALES, AND AS MS. DEIS SAID, WE SUPPORT THE PLANNING COMMISSION SUBSTITUTE MOTION FOR COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL CONDITIONAL OVERLAY NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN ZONING, AND THE ADDITION OF GENERAL RETAIL SALES CONVENIENCE AS A PROHIBITED USE AND FOOD SALES AS A CONDITIONAL USE SINCE IT ENSURES THE NO CARRYOUT ALCOHOL SALES AND RESTRICTED CONSUMPTION ON SITE.
NOW, THE DEVELOPER CONFIRMED THAT HE DOESN'T PLAN TO OPPOSE THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND SHOULD THEY CHANGE THEIR MIND, WE ARE ASKING FOR AND EXPECT APPROPRIATE NOTIFICATION IN WRITING IN SUFFICIENT TIME TO NOTIFY AND DISCUSS WITH THE NAKA COMMUNITY AND WHEN WE SAY CHANGE HIS MIND AT ANY TIME UP TO AND INCLUDING IN CASE THEY APPEAL WHATEVER DECISION YOU MAY MAKE HERE THAT RUNS CONTRARY TO WHERE WE STAND.
I ALSO SUPPORT WHAT CAROL SAID.
NAKA IS A BEAUTIFUL, DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOOD AND LIKE ALL NEIGHBORHOODS, IT'S NOT WITHOUT CHALLENGES.
WE WELCOME AND SUPPORT BUSINESSES TO OUR COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT ARE ACTIVE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO PARTICIPATE IN FESTIVITIES AS WELL AS WORK WITH NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS ON IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL WHO LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY THERE.
WE APPRECIATE HAVING TIME TO MEET WITH THE AGENT AND COMMUNICATE WITH THE DEVELOPER.
AND JUST AS YOU HEARD MS. DUBOIS SAY, MS. VA, SAY, MR. UH, SORRY, I CAN'T REMEMBER BRIAN'S LAST NAME NOW.
WE WANT TO UNDERSCORE THE IMPORTANCE OF NOTIFICATIONS AND TIME FOR THE COMMUNITIES TO WORK WITH THE DEVELOPERS TO NEGOTIATE A WIN-WIN.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK, UH, PLANNING STAFF SHERRY TI FOR THE ASSISTANCE SHE HAS PROVIDED ALONG THE WAY, AS WELL AS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER OF ELLA'S POLICY ADVISOR TIMOTHY BRAY.
HE WAS OF ASSISTANCE AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING AS WELL.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS FOR THE CONSENT ZONING AGENDA.
UH, MEMBERS, AS YOU HEARD THAT, UH, CONCLUDES THE SPEAKERS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
LET ME ASK IF THERE'S ANYONE THAT WISHES TO BE SHOWN ABSTAINING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN? YES.
UH, I WISH TO BE SHOWN ABSTAINING ON 1 41.
I'M SORRY, I COULDN'T HEAR YOU.
DID YOU HAVE THE MIC ON FOR THAT? I'M SURE THE SPEAKERS ARE, ARE APPRECIATIVE.
MR. MASSING, DID YOU HEAR THAT?
COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, I JUST HAD TWO QUICK CLARIFYING QUESTIONS FOR STAFF.
I JUST, WE CAN DO THAT AN HOUR LATER.
I'LL COME BACK TO YOU IF YOU DON'T MIND.
ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO BE SHOWN ABSTAINING? ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN RECUSING THEMSELVES? OKAY.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU.
I JUST WANTED TO DOUBLE CHECK.
I BELIEVE THIS IS FOR ITEM 1 54.
UM, MS. ZIEGLER THAT SPOKE TO US WAS TALKING A BIT ABOUT THE WATER QUALITY AND DRAINAGE.
SO I JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM THAT BY APPROVING THIS TODAY, WE'RE NOT GIVING ANY VARIANCES TO SOS REGULATIONS OR DRAINAGE REGULATIONS.
IT WILL ALL BE IN FULL COMPLIANCE WITH OUR CURRENT ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS.
UM, IF THEY, YOU'RE NOT APPROVING IT NOW, NOW, ONCE THEY GET THROUGH SITE PLAN AND IF THEY COME BACK, BUT YOU'D HAVE TO APPROVE IT.
BUT THIS REZONING IS NOT APPROVING ANY VARIANCES.
ANY SOS MINIMIZATION IS NOTHING OF THE SORT.
THAT WOULD BE A VERY DIFFERENT CONVERSATION.
UH, JUST A BRIEF COMMENT IN FAVOR OF ITEM 1 72, UH, WHICH IS, UH, INS BASICALLY AN ITEM FROM OUR LOCAL RESTAURANT FUND OF SAN MIGUEL, UM, TO ADD A BRUNCH FACILITY.
AND, UH, WE HAVE STAFF SUPPORT ON THIS ITEM.
I WANNA THANK THE APPLICANT FOR WORKING WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND ALSO WANNA HIGHLIGHT THAT FONDAS AND MIGUEL HAS GOTTEN EIGHT, UH, BEST OF AUSTIN AWARDS BY THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE, INCLUDING BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANT AND BEST PLACE TO TAKE YOUR PARENTS.
UM, OF COURSE, DON'T WANT TO CAUSE ANY FIGHTS WITH OTHER, UH, DISTRICTS WITH GREAT MEXICAN RESTAURANTS.
BUT I DID WANNA INVITE FOLKS TO CHECK IT OUT IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN THERE YET.
IS ANYBODY WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN, UH, 1 47.
COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN, YOU'LL BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON 1 47.
ANYONE ELSE? IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AS READ? YES.
COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN, WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE, UH, IN RELATION TO 1 52, 1 53 TO, UH, TALK TO THE DEVELOPERS OR THE APPLICANT'S, UH, REPRESENTATIVE? SURE.
UH, JUST I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION REGARDING THE TESTIMONY THAT WE HEARD.
[04:45:01]
WE HAVE THE APPLICANT'S REPRESENTATIVE FOR ITEMS 1 52 AND 1 53? VICTORIA HASI WITH THROWER DESIGN ON BEHALF OF THE LANDOWNER COUNCIL MEMBER? UCHIN HAS A QUESTION FOR YOU.UH, VERY QUICKLY, WE HEARD TESTIMONY THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH HAPPENING IN THE LAST PROBABLY COUPLE OF DAYS LEADING UP TO THIS.
THERE WERE A LOT OF REVERSALS AFTER MONTHS OF NEGOTIATION.
CAN YOU SPEAK TO ANY OF THAT PROCESS? I CAN, YES.
A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH THAT HAS SPANNED OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST SIX MONTHS.
AND, UH, EVEN MOST RECENTLY DOWN TO THIS MORNING, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH.
UM, I THINK THERE WERE SOME MAYBE MISCOMMUNICATIONS OR MISUNDERSTANDINGS IN TERMS OF SPECIFIC DETAILS OF LANGUAGE.
IN THE PRIVATE AGREEMENT THERE WAS GENERAL, UH, SUPPORT FOR THE MURAL, BUT WHEN IT CAME DOWN TO LOOKING AT THE SPECIFIC DETAILS OF THAT, THAT IS WHEN, UM, THE LANDOWNER DEVELOPER HAD SOME HESITATION AND WAS THE REASON FOR THE LAST MINUTE CHANGES IN THAT.
UM, BUT I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT WE ULTIMATELY DID GET THERE.
UM, BUT THAT WAS THE REASON FOR THE LAST MINUTE CHANGES.
SO YOU EVENTUALLY ARRIVED AT IT, IT JUST WAS, IT WENT FROM NO TO YES TO NO TO BACK TO, YES.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO THE CONSENT AGENDA? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE CONSENT AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN BEING SHOWN ABSTAINING ON ITEMS 1 41, 1 52 AND 1 53 AND BEING, AND COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN BEING SHOWN VOTING NO ON ITEM NUMBER 1 47.
[173. C14-2025-0003 - 6th and Walsh - Conduct a public hearing and approve an ordinance amending City Code Title 25 by rezoning property locally known as 1135, 1137, 1139, 1141, and 1143 West 6th Street and 503, 505, 507, 509, and 511 Walsh Street (Lady Bird Lake Watershed). Applicant Request: To rezone from commercial services-mixed use-conditional overlay-neighborhood plan (CS-MU-CO-NP) combining district zoning and commercial services-mixed use-vertical mixed use building-conditional overlay-neighborhood plan (CS-MU-V-CO-NP) combining district zoning to limited industrial service-planned development area-neighborhood plan (LI-PDA-NP) combining district zoning. Staff Recommendation: To deny limited industrial service-planned development area-neighborhood plan (LI-PDA-NP) combining district zoning. Planning Commission Recommendation: To grant limited industrial service-planned development area-neighborhood plan (LI-PDA-NP) combining district zoning, as amended. Owner/Applicant: Walsh Street Ventures, LLC; Walsh Street Ventures 2, LLC; and Cohn Ventures, LLC. Agent: Manifold Development, LLC (Mila Santana). City Staff: Cynthia Hadri, Planning Department, 512-974-7620.]
WILL NOW TAKE US TO ITEM NUMBER 1 73.MS. HARDEN, WOULD YOU COME FORWARD? UM, THIS IS, THIS IS A DISCUSSION ITEM.
WOULD YOU PLEASE LAY OUT THE DISCUSSION ITEM? AND, AND MY SPECIFIC QUESTION TO YOU IS GOING TO BE, UM, IS THIS A DISCUSSION ITEM REQUIRING THAT WE HAVE, UH, A PRESENTATION AND HAVE THE FIVE MINUTES AND, AND, AND HAVE IT BACK AND FORTH? NO.
OR IS IT, OR IS IT ONE THAT WE CAN DISCUSS IT, GET A MOTION, AND THEN MOVE FORWARD? UH, THE LATTER.
MAYOR, THAT, THAT, THEN, THEN YOU DON'T NEED TO SAY ANYTHING MORE.
UM, I'D LIKE TO LAY IT OUT JUST TO SPEAK TO OUR, THE STAFF'S OPPOSITION.
THAT'S VERY, THAT'S VERY GOOD.
UM, SO THIS IS ITEM 1 73 ON YOUR AGENDA, UM, WHICH IS CASE NUMBER C 1 4 20 25 0 0 0 3, LOCATED AT 11 35, 11 37, 11 39, 11 41, 11 43 WEST SIXTH STREET AND 5 0 3 5 0 5 5 0 7 5 0 9, AND FIVE 11 WALL STREET.
THE PROPERTY IS ROUGHLY 1.19 ACRES.
THE REQUEST IS FROM C-S-M-U-C-O-P, AND C-S-M-U-V-C-O-M-P TO I-P-D-A-M-P.
THE SITE IS CURRENTLY DEVELOPED WITH MULTIPLE OFFICE BUILDINGS AND HAS ACCESS TO BOTH WEST SIXTH STREET TO BOTH WEST SIXTH STREET.
THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING L-I-P-D-A-N-P TO DEVELOP APPROXIMATELY 297 RESIDENTIAL UNITS WITH APPROXIMATELY 20,968 SQUARE FEET OF RETAIL SPACE.
THE PLAN COMMISSION RECOMMENDED THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST OF LIPD MP AND ADDED COMMUNITY RECREATION, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AS, UM, AND ADDED COMMUNITY RECREATION, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE.
AS CONDITIONAL USES, STAFF RECOMMENDED THE APPLICANT'S ORIGINAL REQUEST OF C-S-M-U-V DB 90 MP, WHICH WOULD HAVE PERMITTED A MAXIMUM 90 FEET ACROSS THE SITE.
IN EXCHANGE FOR A PROVISION OF CITY MONITORED AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THE APPLICANT'S AMEND A REQUEST OF L-I-P-D-A-M-P WOULD PERMIT A MAXIMUM OF 120 FEET WITH NO DENSITY BONUS STAFF IS FUNDAMENTALLY OPPOSED TO THE EXPANSION OF LIMITED INDUSTRIAL SERVICE ORI ZONING AT THIS LOCATION.
THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT WOULD CONSIST OF A MIX OF RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL USES, AND IT IS NOT INDUSTRIAL IN NATURE.
THERE IS NO INDUSTRIAL ZONING ALONG WEST SIXTH STREET AND APPROVING THIS REQUEST COULD SET A PRECEDENT OF ALLOWING INDU INDUSTRIAL BASE ZONING TO PROLIFERATE NOT ONLY THIS AREA, WHICH IS APPROXIMATE TO DOWNTOWN AND A RESIDENTIAL HISTORIC DISTRICT, BUT THROUGHOUT THE CITY, EXISTING L-I-P-D-A ZONE PROPERTIES IN THIS AREA ARE CONCENTRATED ALONG THE SOUTH OF WEST FIFTH STREET.
THESE PROPERTIES WERE ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY ZONED LI BEFORE RECEIVING
[04:50:01]
THE PDA COMBINING DISTRICT.AND AS SUCH, THE RESPECTIVE REZONINGS REPRESENTED A POSITIVE CHANGE IN THE ZONING.
A FEW ISOLATED CS TO L-I-P-D-A REQUESTS HAVE OCCURRED ALONG WEST FISH STREET QUARTER.
THE THESE REQUESTS WERE FAR LOWER HEIGHTS, WHICH TODAY COULD BE PERMITTED USING THE DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS COMBINED WITH COMMERCIAL, NOT INDUSTRIAL BASED ZONING DISTRICTS.
THESE FEW CASES RECEIVED STAFF SUPPORT AS THEY WERE SUBMITTED PRIOR TO THE CREATION OF OUR CURRENT DENSITY BONUS OPTIONS.
APPROVAL OF THIS REZONING REQUEST WOULD PERMIT AN ADDITIONAL 60 FEET OF HEIGHT WITHOUT THE PROVISION OF ANY COMMITTED BENEFITS SUCH AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT COULD BE REQUIRED BY ZONING ORDINANCE OR MONITORED IN ANY WAY BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
IF I MIGHT ASK A QUESTION ABOUT THAT MM-HMM
MEMBERS, UM, I THINK WHAT YOU JUST DESCRIBED, AND, AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE, UM, UH, WHAT I THINK YOU JUST DESCRIBED IS ONE OF THE DIFFICULTIES THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE WITH OUR DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM, AND THAT IS THAT IT'S, IT, IT LACKS, I WAS GONNA SAY THE FLEXIBILITY NECESSARY TO HAVE SOME SORT OF AGREEMENTS MADE WHERE A NEIGHBORHOOD MIGHT SUPPORT SOMETHING THAT ALLOWS FOR MUCH GREATER DENSITY THAN WHAT IS CURRENTLY THERE.
UM, MAYBE EVEN A SURPRISING AMOUNT OF DENSITY, BUT YOU CAN'T DO IT BECAUSE IT DOESN'T FIT INTO OUR DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM, WHICH HAS BEEN DETERMINED, I THINK BY, BY THE COUNCIL, UH, TO BE PRETTY RIGID.
AND, AND SO WHAT'S LEFT IN THIS CASE IS WE COULD, THE, THE, THE GROUP, THE NEIGHBORHOOD CAN REACH AN AGREEMENT WITH THE DEVELOPER, BUT IT INVOLVES A TYPE OF ZONING THAT STAFF JUST DOESN'T WANNA PUT IN A CERTAIN PART, CERTAIN AREA.
AND THAT IN THIS CASE IS INDUSTRIAL.
BUT IT ALL COMES BACK TO THE FACT THAT RIGHT NOW OUR DENSITY PROGRAM, IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO WORK, IS PROBABLY GONNA REQUIRE SOME GREATER FLEXIBILITY.
IT JUST DOESN'T CURRENTLY HAVE.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WHEN THE CA THAT THE COUNCIL WAS LOOKING FOR WHEN IT ASKED FOR THERE TO BE AN EVALUATION OF DB 90, UH, AND LOOKING AT HOW WE MIGHT APPROACH THAT.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT, MAYOR, YES.
SO IN ESSENCE, PART OF THE DISAGREEMENT HERE IS THAT, THAT THERE, THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN STAFF AND, AND OTHERS THAT WE SURE WISH WE HAD SOME WAY TO REACH A GOOD COMPROMISE THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE DEVELOPER WOULD GO ALONG WITH, BUT IT JUST DOESN'T FIT IN OUR RIGID SYSTEM.
AND SO WE DON'T WANT YOU USING WHAT WOULD FIT BECAUSE IT HAS THE WORD INDUSTRIAL INVOLVED.
AND THIS IS NOT INDUSTRIAL ZONING, CORRECT? THAT'S RIGHT.
GOD, YOU, YOU SAID YOU SAID IT BETTER THAN I EVER COULD.
UH, A THERE'S NEVER A DULL MOMENT IN DISTRICT NINE, SO, UH, YEAH,
UH, I UNDERSTAND THEIR OPPOSITION TO IT, UH, BUT AS THE MAYOR HAS ALREADY KIND OF LET OUT, UH, HAS ALREADY, UH, LAID OUT THERE, THERE'S NO REAL ALTERNATIVES IN THIS CASE THAT ALL PARTIES AGREE ON.
UH, YOU KNOW, MY OFFICE ISN'T THOROUGH ABOUT THE ZONING.
IT'S A SYMPTOM OF A LARGER ISSUE OF A BROKEN CODE.
UH, BUT OUR OFFICE AND MYSELF IS COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH EVERYONE TO GET BETTER TOOLS IN PLACE.
UH, WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE BETWEEN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE APPLICANT TO GET A GREAT PROJECT THAT PROVIDES MORE HOUSING AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO THIS AREA.
SO THE MOTION SHEET THAT I PASSED IS TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE FOR THE CASE TO ALIGN WITH THE APPLICANT'S AGREEMENT WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO IT'S, IT'S, IT'S ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THEY'RE ON THE SAME PAGE WITH THIS.
UH, SO I'D LIKE TO MOVE, UM, CORY MOTION SHEET NUMBER ONE.
MEMBERS YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU, UM, THE MOTION SHEET THAT COUNCIL MEMBER CODRE, UH, PUT OUT IT, THE MOTION IS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER CORY TO ADOPT THAT MOTION.
AND IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ.
I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK AND ASK IF WE HAVE ANYBODY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER, PHILLIP WILEY.
AND I WANT, AND I WANNA BE CLEAR WITH, WITH, WITH MY QUESTIONS TO MS. HARDEN.
I, I, I ALSO APPRECIATE THE, THE LEVEL OF THOUGHT AND, AND, AND DETAIL AND, AND EFFORT THAT'S GOING IN TO TRY TO WORK WITHIN THIS RIGID SYSTEM.
UH, I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO TAKE THAT.
I, I WAS NEGATIVE IN ANY WAY IN THAT REGARD.
IT'S JUST WE HAVE, WE, WE HAVE SOMETHING WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING ON, AND IT'S A WORK IN PROGRESS.
UM, AND I, AND I UNDERSTAND THE POSITION OF STAFF AND WE ASK YOU TO BE CLEAR WITH US ON, ON THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO I WANNA BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT.
UM, MEMBERS ARE, IS THERE ANY FURTHER
[04:55:01]
DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER 1 73? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.UH, COUPLE OF THINGS BEFORE WE, THAT, THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF THE, UH, AGENDA FOR THIS REGULAR MEETING.
BUT BECAUSE I WANNA MAKE SURE PEOPLE KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH REGARD TO THE BUDGET AND, UH, I CAN'T IMAGINE US HAVING A MEETING WHERE WE DON'T SAY THE WORD BUDGET.
UM, I WANT TO AGAIN, QUICKLY RUN THROUGH WHAT'S GET WHAT'S GETTING READY TO HAPPEN.
UH, NEXT TUESDAY, JULY 29TH, THERE WILL BE A BUDGET WORK SESSION.
UH, AND THAT BEGINS AT NINE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING ON THURSDAY, JULY 31ST.
THERE WILL ALSO BE A BUDGET WORK SESSION.
UH, WE WILL HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BUDGET AT 3:00 PM AND ALSO ON THE 31ST, WE WILL SET THE MAXIMUM TAX RATE ON MONDAY, AUGUST 4TH.
THAT IS WHEN PROPOSED BUDGET AMENDMENTS AND BUDGET F IFCS ARE REQUESTED BY 6:00 PM ON THAT DATE.
AUGUST 5TH IS CURRENTLY SET ASIDE AS A DATE FOR US TO HAVE A BUDGET WORK SESSION.
AND THEN AUGUST 7TH AT NINE, AND BY THE WAY, AUGUST 5TH IS AT NINE O'CLOCK, AND AUGUST 7TH IS ALSO AT NINE O'CLOCK.
AND THAT WILL BE A ANOTHER BUDGET BUDGET WORK SESSION.
UM, THAT, THAT WE'LL HAVE THAT DAY IS THE DAY WE, WE GO OVER PROPOSED BUDGET AMENDMENTS AND PROPOSED BUDGET IFCS.
AND THEN WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13TH THROUGH FRIDAY, AUGUST 15TH, IS CURRENTLY POSTED AND SET ASIDE SO THAT WE CAN TAKE UP THE BUDGET AND ADOPT A BUDGET, UH, AT THAT TIME IF WE NEED ALL THREE DAYS MEMBERS.
UM, WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE HAVE NO OTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AT THIS REGULAR MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCILS ON JULY 24TH, 25, UH, 2025.
UH, SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, UH, I WOULD ASK THAT THE COUNCIL ADJOURN TODAY IN HONOR OF FORMER AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBER BILL SPELLMAN, WHO I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO SERVE WITH BACK, UH, IN, IN A PREVIOUS LIFE IN 1997 TO 2001.
UM, AND, OR AT LEAST DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME.
AND THEN OF COURSE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SPELMAN AFTER HAVING SERVED THAT A TERM DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME, WHICH BACK THEN IT WAS THREE YEAR TERMS, HE CAME BACK AND HE SERVED ANOTHER TERM ON THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
UH, HE WAS, UH, AS I HAVE BEEN QUOTED SAYING HERE RECENTLY, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I, I REALLY ENJOYED ABOUT BILL IS, UH, BILL NEVER WAS, HE NEVER GOT HOT.
AND HE ALWAYS CAME AT IT LIKE THE PROFESSOR THAT HE WAS AT THE LBJ SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS.
HE TOUCHED A WHOLE LOT OF LIVES AND HE'S, HE PASSED.
UH, A COUPLE OF YOU HAVE SAID TODAY THAT WE ALL KINDA STAND ON OTHER PEOPLE'S SHOULDERS, BILL'S SHOULDERS WERE WAY UP IN THE AIR.
WE ALL HAVE STOOD ON HIS SHOULDERS AS WELL.
AND SO I WOULD ASK THAT WHEN WE ADJOURN TODAY, WHEN ADJOURN IN HONOR OF FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER BILL SPELMAN, AND WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE ARE ADJOURNED AT 3:35 PM THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.