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IT'S 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING ON WEDNESDAY,
[Call to Order]
AUGUST 13TH, 2025, AND I WILL CALL TO ORDER THE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.THIS IS A COUNCIL BUDGET MEETING.
WE HAVE A QUORUM OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL PRESENT.
WE ARE MEETING IN CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS LOCATED IN, UH, CITY HALL AT 3 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
THE, UH, THE ORDER OF THE DAY, AND I'LL LAY THIS OUT AND I LAID IT OUT IN THE MESSAGE BOARD POST, UH, LAST NIGHT, BUT I WANNA KIND OF LAY IT OUT FOR EVERYBODY.
AND, AND THE COUNCIL IS, UH, WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'RE GONNA START WITH PUBLIC HEARINGS, AND LEMME JUST TELL EVERYBODY, WE HAVE 423 PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
SO, UH, WE'LL BE DONE BY LIKE 10 30 OR 11 TODAY.
UM, UH, AND I MEAN, THIS MORNING,
SO, UH, NO, OBVIOUSLY WITH 4 23 PEOPLE, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO WORK THIS IN A VERY ORGANIZED WAY, AND, UH, I TEASE ABOUT THAT, BUT WE'RE GLAD THAT EVERYBODY IS INTERESTED IN THIS.
THE WAY WE'RE GONNA DO THIS IS WE'RE GONNA GO FIRST TO OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS.
THERE ARE SIX ITEMS THAT ARE SCHEDULED THAT ARE, UH, ON THE AGENDA AS PUBLIC HEARINGS.
WE WILL TAKE THOSE UP WHERE WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING, WE WILL HEAR PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP IN THAT PUBLIC HEARING, AND THEN WE WILL, UH, CLOSE THAT PUBLIC HEARING.
WE WILL NOT VOTE ON THE RELATED ITEM.
HOWEVER, UNTIL WE'VE HEARD ALL PUBLIC COMMENT, WE WILL GO THROUGH THOSE SIX ITEMS THAT ARE PUBLIC HEARINGS.
AFTER THAT, WE WILL GO TO SPEAKERS THAT ARE SET UP ON ALL OF THE OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
UH, FOR THOSE THAT ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE WAY WE RUN, UH, COUNCIL MEETINGS GENERALLY, UH, THE WAY WE'LL DO THAT IS KIND OF HOW WE DO ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ON A TYPICAL THURSDAY, WE WILL HEAR, WE'LL HAVE THE CLERK'S OFFICE CALL ON THIS AGENDA ITEM.
WE WILL HEAR SPEAKERS ON THAT AGENDA ITEM.
THEN WE'LL GO TO THE NEXT ITEM AND WE'LL GO, WE'LL DO THAT UNTIL WE'RE COMPLETED IN THAT.
ONCE WE DO THAT, WE WILL THEN GO TO, UH, UH, THE ITEMS THAT WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON, AND WE WILL START WITH ITEM NUMBER FIVE, WHICH IS IN FACT THE BUDGET, UH, ADOPTION ORDINANCE.
WE WILL FOLLOW THAT WITH THE FEE AND FINE ORDINANCE, AND THEN WE'LL GO THROUGH THE, THE VARIOUS OTHER ORDINANCES.
BUT, UH, THE WAY I ANTICIPATE THE DAY GOING AND MEMBERS, UH, THE PROFESSIONAL FINANCE STAFF IS GOING TO BRING FORWARD A PROPOSAL, UH, THAT IS KIND OF A COMBINATION OF ALL THE DIFFERENT PROPOSALS THAT WILL END UP BEING, UH, PART OF THE PRIMARY MOTION ON THE BUDGET.
AS I EXPLAINED ON THE MESSAGE BOARD LAST NIGHT, I ANTICIPATE THAT THEY WILL BE COMPLETED TO HAVE THAT COMPLETED AND BE READY TO BRING THAT FORWARD TO US IN AN HOUR, HOUR AND A HALF.
AND WHAT WE'LL DO AT THAT POINT IN TIME MEMBERS IS, UH, ONCE WE, I KNOW ABOUT THAT, AND IT'S, IT'S, IT'LL BE PUT IN BACKUP TOO, BY THE WAY, FOR EVERYBODY THAT'S INTERESTED, UH, IN THE PUBLIC, IT'LL BE PUT UP, PUT IN THE BACKUP SO THAT YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE THAT.
BUT WHAT I'LL PROBABLY DO AT THAT POINT IS PAUSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT, HAVE THEM LAY THAT OUT FOR US, THE PROFESSIONAL STAFF, LAY THAT OUT FOR US.
AND, AND WE'VE ASKED SO MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ALL THIS.
IT'S NOT GONNA REQUIRE THAT, BUT JUST GET IT LAID OUT FOR US SO THAT THEN OUR STAFFS CAN WORK ON ANY PROPOSED AMENDMENTS THAT WE MAY WANT TO BE OFFERING.
WHEN WE ACTUALLY GET TO THAT ITEM.
UM, I HAVE PUT ON THE MESSAGE BOARD, UH, A PROPOSAL FOR HOW YOUR STAFF SHOULD WORD THE AMENDMENTS.
WE NEED THESE AMENDMENTS TO BE IN WRITING.
I'M ANTICIPATING WE HAVE MORE THAN A FEW, UM, HOWEVER THAT MIGHT GET DEFINED TODAY.
AND SO, IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE APPROPRIATE RECORD AND WE HAVE CLARITY ABOUT WHAT IT IS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, WE NEED, I NEED TO ASK YOU TO PLEASE PUT YOUR AMENDMENTS IN WRITING AND,
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AND UTILIZE, UH, THE LANGUAGE I PUT IN THE MESSAGE BOARD.HAVE YOUR STAFF UTILIZE THAT LANGUAGE SO THAT WE HAVE CLARITY ABOUT WHAT THE, WHAT THE AMENDMENT IS.
THE OTHER THING THAT I'LL POINT OUT IS THAT IF WE ARE LISTENING TO PUBLIC COMMENT, UH, OUR, UH, THE PROCEDURES OF THE COUNCIL SAY THAT IT, WE, WE ARE NOT TO GO PAST 10 O'CLOCK UNLESS THERE'S A MOTION TO EXTEND THE MEETING PAST 10 O'CLOCK.
UH, WHAT I HAVE RECOMMENDED IS THAT IF WE ARE LISTENING TO SPEAKERS, UH, PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN HERE ALL DAY UNDER THE, THOSE CIRCUMSTANCE, AND BY THE WAY, I'M NOW TALKING ABOUT 10:00 PM FOR THOSE THAT ARE KEEPING SCORE, UH, AT 10:00 PM WHAT I ANTICIPATE IF WE'RE LISTENING TO SPEAKERS, THAT WHAT WE WILL DO IS WE WILL CONTINUE TO LISTEN TO SPEAKERS UNTIL ALL OF THE SPEAKERS HAVE BEEN HEARD.
HOWEVER, IF WE'RE AT A POINT WHERE WE'RE IN DISCUSSION OR VOTING, WE WILL RECESS THE MEETING AND COME BACK TOMORROW AT NINE O'CLOCK.
UH, IT, THIS, THIS COUNCIL AND, AND IN THE PAST WE'VE TAKEN THE POSITION THAT, UH, IT BIG IMPORTANT MATTERS LIKE THE BUDGET, FOR EXAMPLE, WE SHOULD NOT BE VOTING ON, UH, LATE AT NIGHT BECAUSE PEOPLE AREN'T PAYING ABLE TO PAY AS MUCH OF ATTENTION TO IT.
AND, UM, SOME PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THAT, THAT'S TRYING TO RAM SOMETHING THROUGH WHEN, UH, YOU OUGHT TO BE DOING IT IN THE DAYLIGHT.
SO, WE'LL, WE'LL COME BACK, UH, AT NINE O'CLOCK, UH, TOMORROW MORNING IF THAT'S WHERE WE ARE.
I THINK I'VE COVERED EVERYTHING.
UM, I'LL JUST ASK IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS.
MAYOR IS THE 9:00 AM FOR 'CAUSE WE'D BE IN RECESS.
YOU KNOW, I WOULD JUST ASK THAT AND WE CAN DECIDE LATER AS WE MOVE ON TOWARDS THE DAY.
BUT ANY CONSIDERATION FOR A 10:00 AM START TIME JUST GIVING US THAT EXTRA HOUR, DEPENDING ON THE AMENDMENTS THAT FILED THROUGH, THAT'S NOT A BAD IDEA.
THE REASON I SAID NINE WAS TO GIVE US EXTRA TIME IN CASE WE NEEDED IT DURING THE DAY.
UM, BUT, BUT LET'S, LET'S SEE WHERE WE ARE.
AND, AND WHAT I WOULD ALSO ASK, THAT'S THE VERY GOOD POINT, CAUSES ME TO THINK OF AS YOU'RE READY MEMBERS TO SHOW YOUR PROPOSED AMENDMENTS MM-HMM
UM, LET'S GO AHEAD AND START GETTING THOSE IN THE BLOODSTREAM, RIGHT, SO THAT, WE'LL, WE'LL HAVE A BETTER FEEL AS WE GET LATER IN THE DAY ABOUT WHERE WE ARE ON THOSE.
SO, YEAH, LET, I SAID NINE O'CLOCK.
LET'S WAIT UNTIL LATER IN THE DAY AND MAKE THAT DECISION WHEN, UH, MAYBE WE'LL ALL BE WE'LL BE DONE AND WE WON'T HAVE TO COME BACK AT ALL.
UM, ALL RIGHT, WITH THAT BEING SAID, UM, ANY, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY.
UM, THEN WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS, UH,
[1. Conduct a public hearing and approve an ordinance adopting and levying a property (ad valorem) tax rate for Fiscal Year 2025-2026. (Part 1 of 2)]
WE WILL GO TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE AND THAT IS A PUBLIC HEARING ON AGENDA.ITEM NUMBER ONE IS RELATED TO THE PRO PROPOSED PROPERTY OR A VALOREM TAX RATE OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
WITH THAT, UNLESS THERE'S OBJECTION WITH NO OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE, THE PROPOSED PROPERTY AD VALOREM TAX RATE OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN AND I WILL TURN TO OUR CITY CLERK TO BEGIN CALLING NAMES.
LEMME JUST SAY ALSO BEFORE SHE STARTS CALLING NAMES, SHE'S GONNA CALL 2, 3, 4 NAMES IN A ROW, MAYBE FIVE, I DON'T KNOW.
AND, UM, IF SHE DOES THAT, IF YOUR NAME IS CALLED, PLEASE COME DOWN AND PICK ONE OF THESE SEATS AND, AND YOU DON'T NEED TO, IF YOU'VE GOT AN OPEN MICROPHONE, UH, NOBODY ELSE IS TALKING.
GO AHEAD AND AND BEGIN YOUR TESTIMONY BY STATING YOUR NAME FIRST FOR THE RECORD, AND THEN GO AHEAD AND BEGIN THAT WAY.
UH, PART OF THE REASON WE WANNA BE EFFICIENT IS WITH YOUR TIME, BUT ALSO FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP AFTER YOU ON SOME OTHER ITEM THAT ARE GOING TO BE HERE WAITING ALL DAY.
THE MORE EFFICIENT WE ARE IN TERMS OF, OF HEARING TESTIMONY, THE BETTER IT IS FOR THEM AS WELL.
YOUR, YOUR COS SPEAKERS IF YOU WILL.
SO WITH THAT, I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE.
WE DO HAVE A FEW REMOTE SPEAKERS, SO I'LL START WITH REMOTE PLEASE.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS KAYLA REESE AND I AM THE ADVOCACY MANAGER AT AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION.
UM, I AM JUST CALLING TO SPEAK TO THE NEEDS OF THE PARK DEPART PARKS DEPARTMENT, UM, AND TO EXPRESS THAT WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A GAP IN WHAT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IS CURRENTLY ABLE TO PROVIDE AND WHAT PEOPLE EXPECT, LET ALONE BEST PRACTICE.
AND THE ONLY WAY TO FILL THAT GAP IS MORE FUNDING FOR THE DEPARTMENT.
THE NEEDS FOR PARKS MAINTENANCE AND FOR FUNDING LAND LAND MANAGEMENT ARE CRUCIAL TO PROVIDING QUALITY OF LIFE FOR AUSTINITE, AND WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE VOTE FOR PARKS.
SO IF ANY TRE IS GOING TO BE SOLD AS A PARKS WIN, THEN IT ACTUALLY NEEDS TO BE SUBSTANTIALLY ABOUT PARKS AND PROVIDE SUBSTANTIAL FUNDING FOR THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
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SIGNIFICANT PART OF WHAT IS BEING VOTED ON.UM, I JUST WANTED TO SHARE OUR THOUGHTS ON THE NEED FOR THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND EXPRESS THANKS FOR ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, AND MAYOR FOR THINKING ABOUT THE PRACTICE DEPARTMENT, INCLUDING THOSE NEEDS.
OH, UM, HELLO, THIS IS MEGAN MEISENBACH, AND I WANTED TO SAY THAT I FEEL THAT THE BUDGET IS OVERBLOWN IN CERTAIN AREAS AND WHERE, WHERE IT'S REALLY, OOPS, HELLO.
WHERE IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO, OKAY, GREAT.
UH, WHERE IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE, UM, FOR THE MONEY AND WE DON'T HAVE IT THERE.
UH, I THINK THE BUDGET NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT VERY CAREFULLY.
THERE'S SO MANY AMENDMENTS, IT'S RATHER CONFUSING TO I THINK EVERYBODY, SO I'D LIKE YOU TO DELAY THE BUDGET AND, UH, HONE IT DOWN SOME MORE BEFORE IT'S OVERBLOWN WITH SILLY THINGS.
UH, MY NAME IS JOHN TOKI AND, UH, MAYOR AND CONS, THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
UH, JUST HAVE A STRONG CONCERN OVER THE INCREASE IN TAXES, ESPECIALLY AS WE START TO SEE, UM, A NUMBER OF SIGNIFICANT LAYOFFS AND, UH, AS WELL AS, UH, HOUSING AVAILABILITY IF YOU LOOK AT THE, UH, SUPPLY, UH, NUMBERS THAT ARE THERE.
SO I'M ALL FOR IMPROVING OUR CITY.
I THINK THAT DOING A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE WILL, UH, LIMIT AS WELL AS, UH, FURTHER PUSH, UH, AFFORDABILITY OUTSIDE OF THE CITY.
SO RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT IT, WE LOOK AT, UH, NOT INCREASING THE PROPERTY TAXES.
NANCY, ARE YOU THERE? BEVERLY LUNA, MY NAME IS BEVERLY LUNA.
AUSTIN FOUND PETS AND I WOULD CERTAINLY SUPPORT ANY INCREASE IN TAXES THAT WOULD INCREASE THE BUDGET OF THE AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER, AND I WOULD NOTE THAT I'M OPPOSED.
THE AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES CUTS FOR EMERGENCY AND VETERINARY SERVICES IN THE PROPOSED BUDGETS BUDGET.
THESE ARE ESSENTIAL SERVICES YOUR CONSTITUENTS HAVE RELIED ON FOR YEARS.
AAC STAFF STATED IN A RESPONSE TO COUNCIL MEMBER VEA THAT THEY CHOSE TO CUT THOSE SERVICES BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT REQUIRED BY LAW THAT IS MISLEADING.
THE LAWS REQUIRE THE CHIEF ANIMAL SERVICES OFFICER TO PICK UP ALL STRAYS RUNNING AT LARGE WITHIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND WITHIN TRAVIS COUNTY.
THIS PRACTICE ABUSING THE EMERGENCY VET BEGIN YEARS AGO WHEN IT WAS APPARENT THAT THERE NEEDED TO BE A SOLUTION FOR SICKER INJURED DOGS AND CATS THAT WERE FOUND OUTSIDE SHELTER HOURS THAT NEEDED IMMEDIATE VET CARE.
THREE PROBLEMS WERE DEALT WITH BY THIS, YOU DID NOT ALLOW THE ANIMAL.
OFTEN SOMEONE'S ESCAPE, PET SUFFER NEEDLESSLY.
THE PROCESS ALLOWED ANIMAL SERVICES TO COMPLY WITH THE LAW WHILE MAXIMIZING THEIR LIVE OUTCOME RATE.
AND YOU DON'T SHIFT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ANIMAL SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC AND TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.
ARE YOU INCREASING THE BUDGET OF THE POLICE TO ADDRESS THE ADDITIONAL CALLS THEY WILL GET FOR THESE SUFFERING ANIMALS? HAVE YOU TOLD THE COUNTY THAT THEY WILL NEED TO INCREASE THE BUDGET OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO DEAL WITH THIS? AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES DOES NOT HAVE VETS ON STAFF AFTER HOURS.
THEY LEAVE AT 4:30 PM AND GENERALLY ONLY WORK MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.
IF THREE ONE ONE GETS A CALL AT 8:00 PM THAT THERE'S AN INTER GERMAN SHEPHERD BLOCKING A LAND ON SOUTH LAMAR, WHAT IS AN A CO OR THEIR POLICE GOING TO DO? THERE WILL BE NO VET STAFF AT THE SHELTER AND NO PLACE FOR THEM TO TAKE THE DOG VET SERVICES OR THE SOLUTION TO GET OUT OF THE SITUATION THE ANIMAL SERVICES IS IN.
YOU SHOULD BE INCREASING, NOT DECREASING THAT BUDGET, AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT A HUGE PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION IN AUSTIN WOULD SUPPORT EVEN INCREASE TAXES TO INCREASE THE BUDGET OF AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES.
AND WE CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO TAKE AWAY FROM THE BUDGET OF VET SERVICES TO ADD MORE ADMINISTRATORS.
THAT'S THE LAST THING THEY NEED.
KATHY COCO? KATHY, ARE YOU THERE? ALAN VAUGHN? GOOD MORNING MR. ESTEEM COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS ALAN VAUGHN AND I'M HERE TODAY AS A MULTIFAMILY PROPERTY OWNER, A MEMBER OF THE AUSTIN DEPARTMENT ASSOCIATION AND SERVING AS VICE PRESIDENT OF NORTH AUSTIN CIVIC ASSOCIATION, RESPONSIBLE FOR THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF 120 FAMILIES AND REPRESENTING THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY WITHIN DISTRICT FOUR, WE STRONGLY OPPOSE THE PROPOSED TAX RATE HIKE
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AND TRE AS IT WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT THE FINANCIAL VIABILITY OF THE MULTIFAMILY PROPERTIES WITHIN NACA AND THE AUSTIN AREA.OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WE FACED A CHALLENGING RENTAL MARKET WITH DECLINING RENTS, INCREASED DELINQUENCIES, AND HIGHER TURNOVER.
DESPITE THESE HEADWINDS, WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND WORKED TIRELESSLY TO MAINTAIN OCCUPANCY AND MANAGE EXPENSES.
AND INCREASE OF THIS MAGNITUDE IN PROPERTY TAXES WOULD BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO ABSORB.
THESE RISING COSTS ULTIMATELY TRICKLE DOWN AND AFFECT OUR RESIDENTS WHO ARE LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK, SOMETHING WE WORK HARD TO AVOID.
IN ADDITION, THE CHALLENGES WE FACE WITH EVER-GROWING HOMELESS POPULATION AND CRIME RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT COST TO OVERCOME PROPERTY DAMAGE, THEFT, ENCAMPMENT, AND DEBRIS THAT WE MUST ENDURE DAILY.
GIVEN THE FACT THAT 48% OF AUSTIN RESIDENTS ARE RENTERS AND 68% OF NACA RESIDENTS LIVE IN MULTIFAMILY PROPERTIES, I AM SURPRISED IN IT'S HARDENED THAT MAYOR WATSON'S OFFICE WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT REACHED OUT TO THE APARTMENT ASSOCIATION PRIOR TO THIS AND ASKED WHAT THE IMPACT OF SUCH A RATE HIKE WOULD HAVE ON OUR RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITY.
WE ASK THAT YOU RECONSIDER AND LOOK FOR WAYS IN WHICH THE CITY CAN BE MORE DISCIPLINED AND STAY WITHIN BUDGET.
THE PROPOSED RATE INCREASES WILL DO HARM TO THE VERY PEOPLE TO COUNCIL PROFESSES.
THEY WANT TO HELP FOCUS ON THE FUNDAMENTALS AND SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE DISCRETIONARY SPENDING THAT PRODUCE LITTLE TO NO RESULTS.
RICHARD, ARE YOU THERE? LARRY AKERS.
UH, COUNSEL, YOU'RE ASKING VOTERS FOR THEIR BUDGET PRIORITIES AND PLANNING TO ASK US TO PAY FOR THEM ACCORDINGLY.
THE PROBLEM IS THAT YOU'VE ALREADY DETERMINED THESE PRIORITIES AND THEY'RE REQUIRING US TO PAY FOR THEM WITHOUT A VOTE.
YOUR CORNERSTONE MANEUVER WAS MID 22ND WHEN YOU OVERTURNED YOUR OWN POLICY AND ALLOWED BASE COSTS MEMBERS TO APPEAR IN A TRE.
THIS ALLOWS YOU TO SHIFT YOUR DISCRETIONARY PRIORITIES INTO THE BASE BUDGET OUT OF THE REACH OF VOTERS AND TO A TRE OF ESSENTIAL ITEMS THAT VOTERS WOULD SUPPORT BECAUSE WE MUST DO THAT TO HAVE A LIVABLE CITY.
THEN MINUTES LATER, KNOWING THE CITY FACED THE LONG TERM STRUCTURAL DEFICIT, THE AUTHORIZED IH 35 CABIN STITCH, WHICH WOULD AGGRAVATE THAT DEFICIT TO THE 10 OF A BILLION DOLLARS OR SO TO BUILD AND FOREVER AFTER REQUIRE $47 MILLION A YEAR TO MAINTAIN.
YOU GAVE US NO OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON THAT BURDEN OR ITS WORTHINESS.
YOU TORE DOWN A PERFECTLY VIABLE CONVENTION SCHEME AND INTENDED TO BUILD A MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR NEW ONE AGAIN WITHOUT APPROVAL FROM THE VOTERS.
IT HAD BEEN SOUGHT AND GIVEN FOR THE ORIGINAL CENTER AND ITS EXPANSION, YOU'VE GIVEN VOTERS NO OPPORTUNITY TO ACCEPT OR REJECT.
THE SCALED DOWN PROJECT CONNECT RAIL PROJECT HAD NO REDUCTION IN PRICE AND IN FACT, NO LONGER 7.1 BILLION, BUT 8.234 BILLION.
THE FACT IT WAS DISCREETLY REPORTED TO THE FEDS BUT SO FAR HAS BEEN WITHHELD FROM ANY PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT.
WE'RE PAYING FOR ALL OF THIS AT A NON-SUSTAINABLE LEVEL.
YOU'D BEST MOVE ALL THE ESSENTIAL BUDGET ITEMS INTO THE BASE BUDGET EARNING ANY DISCRETIONARY ITEMS TO DO THAT AND MAKE DO WITH THE VOTER ALLOWED TAX RATE UNTIL YOU DO THIS AND ALSO PUT, HAPPEN AND STITCH THE CONVENTION CENTER AND THE REDUCED RAIL PROJECT EACH ON BALLOTS FOR UP AND DOWN.
SAVE YOU THE TIME HAS EXPIRED.
KATHY COCO, KATHY, ARE YOU THERE? NANCY JETTER.
I AM ACTUALLY COMING TO YOU WITH THE PERSPECTIVE OF A RESIDENT AND HOMEOWNER, UM, IN THE NORTHWEST HILLS AREA OF AUSTIN, TEXAS.
I PURCHASED MY HOME OUTRIGHT WITH CASH IN 2020 AND, UM, WHAT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO VOICE MY CONCERN ABOUT AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SORT OF, UM, SAY IS THAT, UM, I HAVE PAID WELL OVER PROBABLY $60,000 IN PROPERTY TAXES SINCE PURCHASING MY HOME IN 2020 FOR 775,000 BUCKS.
WE CANNOT, I OWN THE HOUSE OUTRIGHT, BUT YET IT'S LIKE I'M
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LEASING MY OWN HOME.WE ABSOLUTELY CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER TAX HIKE, A PROPERTY TAX HIKE ON THESE ALREADY OVERPRICED PROPERTY TAXES AS THEY ARE.
UH, OUR, OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE IN THE TEXAS HOUSE MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS $126 BILLION SURPLUS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS PER PROPERTY TAXES FUNDS.
AND THE GOVERNOR HAS ACTUALLY PUT TOGETHER A MORATORIUM IN, IN BELIEVE IT WAS THE, THE YEAR BEFORE LAST THAT VOTERS GOT TO VOTE ON SO THAT THEY COULD ACTUALLY GET SOME OF THAT MONEY RETURNED TO THEM.
THE GOVERNOR IS HAVING A SPECIAL SESSION NOW IN ORDER TO TRY TO REDUCE PROPERTY TEXAS AND THEN IN THE STATE OF TEXAS BECAUSE THEY'RE ALREADY OVER PILL.
HOW CAN I OWN MY HOME IF I'M SIMPLY LEASING IT AT A RATE? I'VE ALREADY SPENT 10% OF ADDITIONAL MONIES TO OWN A HOME I ALREADY OWN.
UM, THIS DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.
AND THE MORE THAT YOU DO THAT, THE LESS AFFORDABLE THIS PLACE IS TO LIVE IN THE CURRENT MARKET.
THIS IS A PROBLEM EVERY TIME YOU MAKE HOMES LESS AFFORDABLE BY RAISING PROPERTY TAXES.
RICHARD, ARE YOU THERE? COLE WEAVER? GOOD MORNING.
I AM WITH UNITED WORKERS OF INTE CARE.
UM, I, THE FIRST POINT I WANNA MAKE IS THAT, UM, THE, IN TERMS OF LIKE THE TAX RATE ELECTION, THE LOWEST, LIKE THE LOWER TAX RATE, I FEEL WOULD PUT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE, THAT ARE IN HOUSE THAT ARE HOUSED AT RIF PEOPLE, PEOPLE THAT HAVE HOUSING VOUCHERS.
SO, UM, AND THERE'S A LOT OF, AND I WORK IN INTERNAL CARE, SO THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT I WORK WITH THAT ARE STRUGGLING WITH CHRONIC DIS DISABILITIES AND UNTREATED ILLNESSES.
UH, ONE OF THEM EVEN HAS CANCER AND THERE ARE OTHERS THAT ARE ALREADY CHRONICALLY STRUGGL, UH, ON HOW AND ARE JUST FIGHTING TO SURVIVE AND GET HOUSING.
I AM HONESTLY TIRED OF BEING UN UNABLE TO HELP PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY BLACK PEOPLE, RECOVER WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH BECAUSE THEY'RE REGULARLY TRAUMATIZED BY BEING IN THE STREETS AND WITH THROUGH VIOLENCE AND CHAOS.
I WOULD SAY CONTINUE TO INVEST IN EM.
COT MEANS WILL MEAN PROTECTING BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND POLICE BRUTALITY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE INVOLVEMENT.
UM, AND HONESTLY, UM, IF YOU WANT, YOU KNOW, CONSIDERING THAT THERE IS LIKE CONCERNS ABOUT, UH, CRIM HOMELESS PEOPLE BEING, UH, CRIMINALIZED BY THE
THIS IS BRUCE GRINER, UH, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
MY WIFE AND I NEED AND WANT A NEW CAR, BUT IT JEFF DOESN'T FIT WITHIN OUR BUDGET.
THESE ARE THE SAME CONSTRAINTS FELT BY COUNTLESS TAXPAYERS ACROSS THE CITY, WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND THINKS IT'S OKAY FOR COUNCIL TO RAISE TAXES BY 19% WHEN EVERYONE ELSE MUST LIVE WITHIN A FAMILY BUDGET.
THE ANSWER IS TO PRIORITIZE FUNDING ON CORE MUNICIPAL SERVICES AS AUTHORIZED UNDER TEXAS STATE CODE POLICE, FIRE, AMBULANCE, WILDFIRE ABATEMENT, CITY UTILITIES, ROADS, PARKS AND LIBRARIES.
IT'S NOT THE ROLE OF CITY GOVERNMENT TO FUND SERVICES THAT PREVIOUSLY HAVE BEEN FUNDED BY STATE OR FEDERAL TAX DOLLARS.
LIKE COVID FUNDING, THE CITY SHOULD FOCUS ON THESE ESSENTIAL SERVICES THAT SUPPORT ALL RESIDENTS, NOT PROGRAMS THAT ARE NICE TO HAVE OR BENEFIT ONLY A FEW.
IT'S UNCONSCIONABLE THAT THE CITY HAS HAD A LADDER TRUCK MOTHBALL FOR OVER TWO YEARS BECAUSE NO FUNDING WAS ALLOCATED TO STAFF IT ALL AT A TIME WHEN THE CITY IS ADDING NUMEROUS MULTIPLE COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL TOWERS.
THE COUNCIL IS ALSO CONSIDERING ADDING YET ANOTHER FEE TO OUR UTILITY BILL TO FUND PARKS.
THIS IS JUST ANOTHER HIDDEN TAX INCREASE.
UTILITY BILLS SHOULD BE BASED ON ACTUAL USAGE.
THE COUNCIL SHOULD LOOK FOR WAYS TO PRIORITIZE SPENDING WITHOUT ANY INCREASE IN
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TAX RATES.WE'RE ALREADY BEING HIT WITH INCREASES FROM ALL THE OTHER TAXING JURISDICTIONS AND IT'S UNREALISTIC TO ASK CITY OF AUSTIN RESIDENTS TO PAY EVEN MORE IN TAXES AS WELL AS, UH, RENTERS WHO WILL SEE IT MORE, UH, INCREASES, CORRESPONDING INCREASES IN THEIR RENTAL PAYMENTS.
SIMPLY ENOUGH, IT'S UNREALISTIC TO EXPECT TAXPAYERS TO PICK UP THE DIFFERENCE WHEN OTHER FUNDING IS REDUCED.
AUSTIN LEADERS MUST LEARN TO PRIORITIZE SPENDING BASED ON A COST BENEFIT BASIS.
COUNCIL NEEDS TO MANAGE MONEY LIKE WE MANAGE OUR HOUSEHOLD BUDGET.
ALLOCATE DOLLARS FOR I, ME, JENNIFER ROBACH.
I WANNA START BY ACKNOWLEDGING THE HARD WORK INVESTED IN THESE BUDGET DISCUSSIONS.
I KNOW YOU AND YOUR STAFF DEDICATE MONTHS TO THIS PROCESS.
IT IS IMPRACTICAL FOR THE AVERAGE RESIDENT TO GRASP THE FULL SCOPE OF THE CITY'S REVENUE AND SPENDING.
YET THIS YEAR I'VE SEEN AUSTINITES BECOME INTENSELY ENGAGED WITH THE BUDGET PROCESS IMPROVED.
BUDGET TRANSPARENCY HAS GIVEN US A CHANCE TO VOICE OUR CONCERNS AND I SEE A GLIMMER THAT THE MANY AUSTINITES DEMANDING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP ARE BEING HEARD.
MAYOR WATSON, YOU'VE TEMPERED THE ENTHUSIASM OF YOUR MORE PROGRESSIVE COLLEAGUES.
COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN HAS ENGAGED DISTRICT 10 AND THE CITY AT LARGE USING DATA TO PRIORITIZE ESSENTIAL SERVICES.
I APPRECIATE HIS FOCUS ON FUNDING WHAT'S CRITICAL, HOWEVER, THESE ESSENTIAL SERVICES SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE FIRST LINE ITEMS IN THE BASELINE BUDGET, ALLOWING OVER SEVEN AND A HALF CENTS WIGGLE ROOM TO RAISE.
PROPERTY TAXES SUGGEST GREATER CONCERN FOR FITTING YOUR PROJECTS INTO THE BUDGET THAN FOR THE CITY'S FINANCIAL HEALTH.
IT SIGNALS TO TAXPAYERS THAT OUR MONEY IS YOURS FOR THE TAKING.
WE ARE TIRED OF CONSTANT TAX INCREASES, WHICH COMPOUND YEAR OVER YEAR WITH NO CLEAR IMPROVEMENT IN OUR LIVES OR CITY SERVICES.
GENEROUS PROGRAMS OFTEN BENEFIT A LEFT VIEW, WHILE ESSENTIAL SERVICES VITAL TO ALL AUSTINITE REMAIN UNDERFUNDED, USED AS LEVERAGE TO EXTRACT MORE TAX DOLLARS TO MOVE FORWARD, WE MUST RELY LESS FROM POLICY TAXES AND FEES AND MORE ON SALES TAX REVENUE AND HELPING BUSINESSES THRIVE.
I URGE YOU TO PRIORITIZE FINANCIAL RESTRAINT, FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, FUND ESSENTIAL SERVICES FIRST, AND RESPECT THE FINANCIAL BURDENS OF AUSTIN RESIDENTS.
THAT'S ALL THE REMOTE SPEAKERS WE HAVE AT THIS TIME.
SO I WILL BE SWITCHING TO IN PERSON AND AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, I'M GONNA CALL SEVERAL NAMES AT A TIME.
PLEASE COME UP TO THE PODIUM WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR NAME AND DON'T FORGET TO SPEAK YOUR NAME INTO THE RECORD BEFORE YOU START.
AKI SHAW BRIDE AND SUMMERS ROBIN RATHER.
YOU HAVE TIME DONATED BY SUSAN PITARO.
SUSAN, ARE YOU HERE? THANK YOU.
FOUR MINUTES WHEN YOU'RE READY.
HELLO, MY NAME IS AOKI SHAW AND I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED WORKERS OF INTEGRAL CARE.
WE ARE HERE TODAY IN A MOMENT THAT WILL DEFINE WHETHER AUSTIN CONTINUES TO BE THE CITY WE CLAIM TO BE.
A PLACE THAT TAKES CARE OF ITS PEOPLE, LEADS ON PROGRESSIVE POLICY AND ENSURES THAT EVERY RESIDENT CAN LIVE SAFELY AND FREELY.
A TAX RATE ELECTION IS NOT JUST AN OPTION THIS YEAR, IT'S A NECESSITY.
SETTING THE RATE BETWEEN FIVE AND 7 CENTS IS THE ONLY WAY TO ENSURE THAT VITAL CITY SERVICES ARE NOT CUT AND THAT OUR MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS DO NOT FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS.
AS AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVELS, WE'RE SEEING AN ALARMING RETREAT FROM RESPONSIBILITY.
RIGHTS ARE BEING STRIPPED AWAY, SAFETY NETS ARE BEING DISMANTLED, AND WE ARE WATCHING THE PLAYBOOK OF AUTHORITARIANISM UNFOLD.
AUSTIN MUST STAND STRONG AGAINST THAT TIDE.
OUR SERVICES AT INTEGRAL CARE AND ACROSS THE SOCIAL SERVICE CONTINUUM ARE IN JEOPARDY AND ARE AT RISK FOR CLOSURE.
WE MUST PROVE THAT AUSTIN LIVES UP TO ITS VALUES AND PUT A STRONG TRE ON THE BALLOT, ONE THAT ACTS AS A REAL SAFETY NET AND PROVES THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL AUSTINITES.
THIS IS HOW WE KEEP SHELTER BEDS OPEN, EXPAND HOUSING, MAINTAIN MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE, PROTECT OUR PARKS AND STRENGTHEN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.
IT'S HOW WE SHOW THE COUNTRY A REAL EXAMPLE OF COMMUNITY IN AUSTIN.
OUR UNION WILL DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO EDUCATE AUSTINITES ABOUT WHAT'S AT STAKE AND TO CAMPAIGN FOR THIS INCREASE.
WE KNOW OUR NEIGHBORS WANT TO PROTECT THEIR COMMUNITY AND THEY JUST NEED THE CHANCE TO VOTE FOR IT.
I'M SPEAKING AS A TAXPAYER TODAY AND NOT ON BEHALF OF ANY GROUP.
THE ACTIONS TODAY THAT Y'ALL TAKE WILL DIRECTLY AFFECT THE LIVES OF REAL PEOPLE ALL OVER THE CITY, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH THE LEAST RESOURCES.
AND I PRAY THAT EVERY SINGLE MOVE YOU MAKE TODAY LIFTS UP THOSE THAT NEED IT MOST.
[00:30:01]
I'M SPEAKING TODAY TO ASK YOU TO TAKE THE TIME TO MAKE SURE YOU'VE CUT EVERY SINGLE THING THAT IS NOT DIRECT DIRECTLY AFFECTING OUR MOST URGENT ISSUES.I'M ASKING YOU TO INVEST IN PEOPLE AND IN NATURE, NOT IN CONCRETE.
INCREASING TAXES HAS ALREADY MADE AUSTIN RIDICULOUSLY UNAFFORDABLE.
INCREASING THEM AGAIN LIKE YOU'RE CONSIDERING TODAY, JUST PUTS A MOUNTAIN OF SALT ON THE WOUNDS.
COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN HAS IT RIGHT AND HE'S HAD THE GUTS TO CALL IT LIKE IT IS.
A TAX INCREASE RIGHT NOW ISN'T NECESSARY AND VERY LIKELY WON'T PASS.
PEOPLE HERE ARE GETTING HIT FROM ALL SIDES A MAJOR TAX INCREASE NOW WITHOUT CUTTING MORE INTO WHAT WE DON'T NEED AT ALL ISN'T RIGHT AND WON'T WORK.
Y'ALL WANNA BREAK? Y'ALL WANNA BLAME TRUMP AND ABBOTT FOR THE NEED FOR THIS TAX INCREASE AND WHAT THEY'VE DONE IS CRUEL AND EVIL.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I'M WORRIED THAT VOTERS ARE GONNA BLAME YOU JUST AS MUCH IF NOT MORE IF YOU DON'T CUT THE WASTEFUL CONCRETE PROJECTS YOU'VE APPROVED BUT CAN AND SHOULD GO ON AND ROLL BACK.
THIS COUNCIL IS NOT KNOWN FOR ITS FRUGALITY.
Y'ALL, Y'ALL ARE MORE OF A BUILD BABY BUILD, UH, KIND OF GROUP.
BUT YOU CAN CHANGE THAT TODAY.
AND I'M TALKING ABOUT THE CONVENTION CENTER.
PUT IT ON THE BALLOT AND LET PEOPLE VOTE ON WHETHER WE WANNA SPEND BILLIONS ON REPLACING IT AND USING UP ALL OUR VALUABLE HOT TAXES ON A DYING INDUSTRY.
I'M TALKING ABOUT CAP AND STITCH.
I'M TALKING ABOUT THE SHRUNKEN PROJECT CONNECT.
I'M TALKING ABOUT WATERLOO PARK.
I'M TALKING ABOUT LIVE NATION'S ABSURD DEAL WITH THE CITY WHERE THEY GET BILLIONS OFF ZILKER PARK AND GIVE US VERY LITTLE BACK IN SPENDABLE DOLLARS.
THANK YOU FOR NOT MOVING FORWARD ON THE $200 MILLION ZILKER VISION PLAN.
THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THAT ON PAUSE.
THANK YOU FOR WALKING THAT BACK.
I KNOW IT'S HARD TO PULL THE PLUG ON PROJECTS YOU WERE EXCITED ABOUT, BUT, BUT YOU CAN AND DO AND SHOULD DO IT.
THESE MASSIVE BILLION DOLLAR PROJECTS WERE CONTROVERSIAL AND WASTEFUL WHEN WE WERE FLUSH AND NOW THEY'RE TOTALLY UNSUSTAINABLE, INEXCUSABLE AND ALMOST EMBARRASSING.
YOU'VE MADE IT FAR EASIER TO PUT, UH, BLOCK AFTER BLOCK OF LUXURY CONDOS IN THE MIDDLE OF QUIET NEIGHBORHOODS.
THIS HAS RESULTED IN ALMOST ZERO AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND FURTHER GENTRIFICATION AND DISPLACEMENT.
YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT CLIMATE, BUT INVESTED VERY LITTLE.
WE'VE SPENT GAM MILLIONS ON HOMELESS AND WE DIDN'T HAVE THE COOL PLAN THAT WE HAVE NOW.
WE NEED TO INVEST IN THAT PLAN, BUT WE GOTTA CUT AND, AND MAKE UP AND ACKNOWLEDGE FOR THINGS THAT WE WANTED TO DO, BUT NOW CAN'T.
PLEASE UNDERSTAND, I APPRECIATE HOW MUCH FUNDING YOU'VE PUT IN FOR PARK MAINTENANCE, BUT WHERE'S THE TRANSPARENCY? WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND HOW DID WE GET SO FAR BEHIND IN THE FIRST PLACE? WHY ARE YOU LETTING NONPROFITS LIKE A-P-F-T-T-C AND WATERLOO FLEECE YOU? WHY HAVEN'T WE AUDITED THEM AND UNDERSTOOD WHY CAN'T WE DIRECT THE FUNDS THEY HAVE TO THE PRIORITIES WE NEED INSTEAD OF STICKING IT TO THE TAX PAYERS? I'LL JUST CLOSE BY SAYING THE CONCRETE PROJECTS ARE A SEA OF HEAT ISLAND EFFECT, AND THEY'RE GONNA BURN US UP BOTH FINANCIALLY AND PHYSICALLY.
ALL THESE CHAMELEON DOLLAR PROJECTS ARE SYMBOLS OF WASTED MONEY, WASTED TRUST, AND WASTED CHANCES TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
THANK YOU AND GET ON WITH THE CIB.
UH, GOOD MORNING ELECTED PEOPLE.
I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 10.
UH, MY ASK TODAY, AS YOU CONSIDER NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET IS THAT YOU LIMIT THE PROPERTY TAX INCREASE TO THE AMOUNT OF THE STATE'S CAP PLUS A COUPLE OF CENTS NEEDED TO KEEP THE SAME BUDGET AS THIS YEAR, BUT ADJUSTED UPWARD FOR INFLATION.
PLEASE DO NOT REDUCE OVERTIME FOR POLICE BECAUSE OUR CITY IS 400 POLICEMEN SHORT.
LIKEWISE, PLEASE DO NOT REDUCE THE NUMBER OF FIREFIGHTERS ON A TRUCK BECAUSE IT RISKS THEIR LIVES.
MOST FRUGALLY KNOWING A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE WILL RAISE RENTS FOR THE WORKING CLASSES AND DRIVE US TO LEAVE AUSTIN FOR THE SUBURBS.
I ASK YOU TO CURTAIL FUTURE SPENDING ON OFFICE BUILDINGS.
WE DON'T NEED TRAIL HEADS AND BOARD WALKS.
WE DON'T NEED, PLEASE STOP SPENDING TO MATCH FEDERAL AND STATE GIFTS.
COULD YOU PLEASE FIND A WAY TO UNDO OR RESCIND SOME OF YOUR BIG SPENDS THIS YEAR, LIKE CAP AND STITCH ON I 35?
[00:35:01]
I CLOSE WITH THIS REMINDER.OUR BUDGET IS A MORAL DOCUMENT.
I HOPE YOU CONSIDER HOW YOUR DECISIONS IMPACT THE LIVES OF THE WORKERS, THE POOR AND YOUR PUBLIC SERVANTS.
FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN DO NOT HAVE A HOME AND ONLY A FRACTION OF THEM ARE IN SHELTERS.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THIS TIME TO SPEAK ABOUT OUR HOMELESS NEIGHBORS AND THE NEED FOR FAMILY SHELTERS IN IN AUSTIN, WHICH WOULD GREATLY BENEFIT FROM THE PROPOSED TRE.
AGAIN, I'M KIM AND I WORK WITH HOMEMADE AUSTIN, THE OUTREACH AND DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, AS WELL AS REPRESENTING HAP OUR HOMELESS ADVOCACY PROJECT.
THIS STATISTIC IS BACK FROM OCTOBER OF 2024.
IF THERE'S ANYWHERE WE SHOULD START, IT SHOULD BE WITH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.
SINCE THE SHELTERS ARE FULL, THE WAITING LIST GOES ON FOREVER.
CURRENTLY THERE'S $2 MILLION IN THE BUDGET FOR COMMUNITY-BASED SHELTERS.
IF WE COULD PLEASE ALLOCATE SOME OF THAT TO FAMILY SHELTERS, WE COULD MAYBE GET 50 FAMILIES OFF THE STREET.
A SINGLE MOTHER WITH A 4-YEAR-OLD CHILD IS CURRENTLY UNHOUSED AND THEY HAVE ASSISTANCE FOR A HOTEL FOR TWO DAYS, THEN THEY'RE BACK ON THE STREET.
ANOTHER FAMILY WHERE A MOTHER MISSED WORK SO MUCH, SHE WAS TERMINATED, HER SON HAD A PLACE TO GO UNTIL HE GOT KICKED OUT.
THEY'RE NOW BOTH ON THE STREET OR A YOUNG MOTHER BECAME HOMELESS AND STAYING IN HER CAR WITH A ONE MONTH OLD CHILD.
AT MINIMUM, OUR CHILDREN SHOULD COME FIRST.
PLEASE MAKE THEM TOP PRIORITY AND WE APPRECIATE YOU LISTENING AND FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
MONICA, ARE YOU HERE? YES, I SEE YOU.
AND DORIS ADAMS. DORIS, ARE YOU HERE? OKAY, I JUST SEE FOUR MINUTES FOR MONICA THEN.
HI, MY NAME IS STEVE GERSON, DISTRICT SEVEN AND I HAVE AN IDEA HOW TO FULLY FUND THE BUDGET WITHOUT ANY TAX INCREASE.
IN 2020, VOTERS FINALLY APPROVED A LIGHT RAIL PLAN THAT HAD REAL MERIT, 5.8 BILLION, SPECIFICALLY FOR 27 MILES OF RAIL TO ALL PARTS OF THE CITY UNDERGROUND TRAINS DOWNTOWN.
BUT TWO YEARS LATER, A TP ANNOUNCED THAT THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY WILL ONLY ALLOW FOR 10 MILES OF RAIL.
THERE'S TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS AVAILABLE TODAY.
I'M TALKING ABOUT ON DEMAND MICRO TRANSIT THAT WERE JUST NOT AVAILABLE IN 2020.
WHEN PROJECT CONNECT WAS LAID OUT, WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH CAP METRO.
THE CITY ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD AND PARKS COMMISSION HAVE BOTH VOTED IN FAVOR OF THIS.
THE PHASE A RAIL SYSTEM THAT GOES FROM 38TH STREET TO
THE ONLY THING YOU CAN SAY IN ITS DEFENSE IS, HEY, WE GOTTA START SOMEWHERE.
BUT RIGHT NOW THE CONSTRUCTION COST FOR PHASE A IS $8.2 BILLION WAY UP FROM THE ORIGINAL 5.8 BILLION ESTIMATED IN 2020 FOR THE COMPLETE 27 MILE SYSTEM.
IT FEELS LIKE YOU'RE TRYING TO MANIPULATE US BY BUILDING THIS STARTER SYSTEM AND THEN COMING BACK TO US LATER AND SAYING, HEY, WE'VE INVESTED ALL THIS MONEY INTO IT.
THAT'S WRONG AT THIS RATE, THE TOTAL COST FOR THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL COULD EASILY TOP $20 BILLION.
I MEAN, THE CITY BUDGET THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING HERE IS $6.3 BILLION FOR THE YEAR.
INSTEAD OF BUILDING PROJECT CONNECT RAIL WITH 20 BILLION, WE COULD TOTALLY FUND THREE YEARS OF EXPENDITURES WITH THE BONUS THAT ON DEMAND TRANSIT GIVES US A BETTER PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM COMPARED TO RAIL.
EVEN IF THE FEDS WERE SUPPOSED TO SUPPLY HALF OF THAT, WHICH IS UNLIKELY, 10 BILLION SAY FROM CANCELING THE RAIL PROJECT WOULD GO A LONG WAY TO FUNDING THE CITY WITH NO MORE TAX INCREASES.
PLEASE PUT THIS ISSUE IN FRONT OF VOTERS AGAIN.
TELL US HOW MUCH THE COMPLETE RAIL SYSTEM WILL COST AND CONVINCE US THAT THIS PROJECT IS STILL WORTHWHILE.
THANK GOOD MORNING, UH, MAYOR WATSON, MAYOR PRO TE FUENTES, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M MONICA GUZMAN, DISTRICT FOUR RESIDENT AND CO VICE PRESIDENT OF NACA NORTH AUSTIN CIVIC ASSOCIATION.
YOU HEARD FROM THE OTHER VP REMOTELY.
UM, AND BASICALLY A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE DISTRICT, IN THE CITY AS A WHOLE ARE STRUGGLING.
YOU'VE HEARD THAT YOU'RE GONNA KEEP HEARING THAT ALL DAY LONG AND AND THROUGH THIS WHOLE PROCESS.
[00:40:02]
WHILE I PERSONALLY AM NOT HURTING, I DO KNOW WHAT IT IS.AS YOU HEARD ALAN SAY, PEOPLE ARE DELINQUENT WHILE RENTS MAY BE GOING DOWN.
IT'S NOT GOING DOWN FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE AT THE LOWER END OF THE SOCIOECONOMIC, UH, STRATTON AND THEY'RE HAVING TO DECIDE WHAT BILL TO PAY OR HOW LATE CAN THEY PAY THEIR RENT.
I HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS THAT ARE STRUGGLING WITH THAT RIGHT NOW.
PEOPLE ARE STILL BEING EVICTED AND WHILE THE CITY IS FACING A HUMONGOUS DEFICIT, YOU KNOW THAT, THAT'S UNFORTUNATE.
I UNDERSTAND THE REALITY OF HAVING TO DO A TAX RATE ELECTION AND REALLY HOPE THAT COUNCIL'S ABLE TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN WITHOUT HAVING TO GET TO THAT POINT.
HOWEVER, IF THERE IS AN ELECTION IN NOVEMBER, THEN WE WANT ASSURANCES THAT THE BALLOT LANGUAGE WILL CLEARLY STATE THAT THE PRIORITIES WILL BE BASIC NEEDS CRITICAL SERVICES AND PROGRAMS AS WAS DEFERRED BY OR REFERRED BY MAYOR WATSON ON THE COUNCIL MESSAGE BOARD.
EVEN I WAS STRUGGLING KEEPING UP WITH ALL THAT LAST NIGHT.
BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MONEY IS THERE, PREFERABLY FROM THE BUDGET, NOT DISCRETIONARY FUNDING FOR CAP AND STITCH AND THE CONVENTION CENTER, THOSE ARE ITEMS THAT NEED TO BE IN THE HANDS OF THE VOTERS.
IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY AS ELECTED OFFICIALS AND ACCOUNTABLE TO THE ENTIRE CITY, NOT JUST THE DISTRICT YOU REPRESENT.
YOU ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR MAKING SURE, TAKING CARE OF THE CITY, OF THE CONSTITUENCY AND NOT JUST THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE, BUT THEY COME INTO TOWN.
THEY HAD TO MOVE OUT BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T AFFORD IT.
EVERY DAY, MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE MOVING OUT.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE TRULY THINKING OF THE LEAST OF US.
'CAUSE WHEN YOU TAKE CARE OF THE LEAST OF US, EVERYBODY BENEFITS.
AND WHILE I TRULY SUPPORT OUR UNIFORMED OFFICERS, ESPECIALLY THE EMS COMMUNITY HEALTH PARAMEDICS, OUR FIREFIGHTERS, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS THEIR MONEY.
THEY CAN, THEY CAN MOVE THINGS AROUND INSTEAD, INVEST IN PROGRAMS THAT THE POLICE OFFICERS ARE NOT TRAINED OR EQUIPPED TO HANDLE FOR THE HOMELESS.
UH, RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND OTHER KINDS OF PROGRAMS. A FAMILY STABILIZATION GRANT.
NOW IN, IN THE LAST OF MY COMMENTS AS POLICY DIRECTOR OF GAVA GO AUSTIN, VAMOS AUSTIN.
AGAIN, WE'RE NOT GONNA JUST SAY, YES, WE SUPPORTED TRE OR NO, WE DON'T.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT UH, EARLY CHILDHOOD PROVIDERS, HOME-BASED FAMILY NETWORK, THOSE THAT PARTNER WITH A ISD, THAT THEY ARE ADDRESSED BECAUSE THEY DON'T GET ENOUGH MONEY.
THEY ARE THE WORKFORCE BEHIND THE WORKFORCE.
THEY TAKE CARE OF THE CHILDREN OF CITY STAFF, INCLUDING FIRST RESPONDERS.
SO IF YOU WANNA MAKE SURE STAFF IS TAKEN CARE OF, TAKE CARE OF THE PEOPLE WHO TAKE CARE OF THEIR CHILDREN.
WE ALSO NEED, UM, SORRY I'M HAVING TO WING IT THIS MORNING, BUT I THINK THAT PRETTY MUCH WRAPS IT UP.
JUST PRIORITIZE THE LEAST OF US IN EVERY WAY.
DARLENE LEWIS, CHRIS GANNON, JORDAN MOORHEAD, ADRIAN MACIAS, PEDRO HERNANDEZ JR.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY DOWN.
I DON'T, I'M NOT SEEING ANY MOVEMENTS.
ELIAS, SHARON BLYTHE, LISA BARDEN, ERIC STANLEY, JOE CATHERINE QUINN, PAUL DIETZ, JAY KENNEDY.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD, MS. BLYTHE, WE'LL START WITH YOU AND WE'LL WORK OUR WAY DOWN THE LIST.
SHARON BLYTHE, I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SIX.
WE HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THE BUDGET DISCUSSION AND THE NOTICES ON THE, UH, MESSAGE BOARDS.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, NO ONE IN THIS CITY UNDERSTANDS EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
I DON'T THINK YOU ALL EVEN UNDERSTAND.
YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING.
THIS HAS BEEN A ZOO SINCE YOU STARTED IT.
AND I THINK YOU NEED TO GET YOUR ACT STRAIGHT, FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU'RE REALLY DOING, AND NOT PUT ALL THAT GARBAGE OUT ON THEIR WEBSITE, ESPECIALLY YOUR AGENDA TODAY.
IT WAS COMPLETELY CONFUSING TO EVERYONE,
[00:45:01]
AND YOU ALL SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES FOR DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING NOW.THERE IS NO REASON WHY YOU CAN'T LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE OF THIS CITY, NOT JUST THE ADVOCATES OF THE HOMELESS, BUT ACTUALLY THE HOMEOWNERS IN THIS CITY THAT ARE GONNA BE RUN OUT OF THIS CITY BECAUSE OF YOUR TAX INCREASES.
PLEASE LISTEN TO THESE PEOPLE AND THAT YOU'RE PROBABLY NEVER BEEN HEARING FROM BEFORE, THAT WE DO NOT NEED A TAX INCREASE AND GET WITHIN YOUR BUDGET AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT RUN OUTTA THIS CITY.
I'M JOE CATHERINE QUINN, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF CARITAS OF AUSTIN.
UH, MAYOR, UH, WATSON MAYOR PRO TEM FUENTES AND COUNCIL.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
OUR POSITION HAS BEEN AND CONTINUES TO BE THAT WE SUPPORT A FULLY FUNDED HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICE PLAN, EVEN IF IT REQUIRES A TAX RATE ELECTION.
AND THE HIGHER THE RATE, THE HIGHER THE RISK.
AS YOU'VE BEEN HEARING FROM MANY SPEAKERS TODAY, THE HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM ALREADY FACES A NUMBER OF RISKS FINANCIALLY.
THE PROGRESS WE'VE MADE AS A CITY USING ONE-TIME COVID ERA FUND FEDERAL FUNDS IS AT RISK.
EITHER WE FUND THE HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICE PLAN OR WE SCALE BACK TO PRE ARPA LEVELS.
THERE ARE RISKS OF BOTH STATE AND FEDERAL INTERVENTION.
THIS COULD COME IN THE FORM OF PREEMPTING THE ENTIRE TRE MANDATES AND ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR BUDGET OR DAMAGE TO US AS SERVICE PROVIDERS.
FEDERALLY, WE FACE FUNDING, FREEZES, CHANGING REGULATIONS, NEW CONTRACT TERMS AND EXECUTIVE ORDERS.
WE ARE LOOKING VERY CLOSELY TO WHAT IS HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON DC THIS WEEK.
WE HAVE REVIEWED EVERY PUBLICLY AVAILABLE PLAN FOR A TRE.
WE URGE YOU TO ADOPT A PLAN THAT FULLY FUNDS THE HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICE AND STAYS BELOW 5 CENTS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU TO END HOMELESSNESS IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
MAYOR COUNCIL, THANKS FOR, UH, HAVING ME.
THIS IS MY FIRST TIME SPEAKING TO CITY COUNCIL.
UM, AND I DON'T HAVE ENTRENCHED VIEWS ON THE TAX SYSTEM.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT THREE TAXPAYER.
UM, WHAT I'VE NOTICED LIVING IN DIFFERENT CITIES IN AMERICA IS, UH, IN AUSTIN HERE.
WE HAVE A VERY SPECIAL COMMUNITY THAT I THINK THAT'S WHAT HAS MADE AUSTIN WHAT IT IS.
AND WHAT I'VE NOTICED IN THE LAST YEAR IS A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESSES, SERVICES AND RESIDENTS CANNOT AFFORD TO LIVE HERE.
IT'S THE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT MADE AUSTIN WHAT IT IS AND A DESTINATION CITY FOR OTHERS.
THEY CAN'T COME HERE, THEY CAN'T STAY ALIVE.
AND WHAT WE GET IS, UH, CONCENTRATIONS OF CAPITAL, NATIONALIZED CHAINS AND ULTRA RICH PEOPLE THAT JUST DON'T CARE ABOUT TAXES.
AND I THINK IT'S FORMING A NEW CASTE SYSTEM HERE AND IT'S CROWDING OUT THE SOUL OF WHAT MADE AUSTIN, AUSTIN.
SO JUST AS A PERSON WHO'S LIVED HERE FOR A YEAR, THAT'S WHAT I SEE.
SO I JUST, UH, ASK THAT YOU GUYS PRIORITIZE YOUR BUDGET.
I THINK OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAVE VOICED THAT, UM, AND BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT KEEPING THE SOUL OF AUSTIN.
WOULD YOU MIND JUST STATING YOUR NAME REALLY QUICKLY? MY NAME IS PAUL DIETZ.
THANK YOU, PLEASE, MAYOR COUNCIL.
MY NAME'S DARLENE LEWIS AND I REPRESENT THE WILLIAMSON COUNTY CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER.
WE'VE BEEN SERVING THE WILLIAMSON COUNTY PORTION OF AUSTIN FOR OVER 28 YEARS IN THE INTERRUPTION OF CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AND ALSO PART OF THE INVESTIGATION.
WE WORK DIRECTLY WITH OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS, DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES, AS WELL AS OUR PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE IN PROVIDING FORENSIC INTERVIEWS FOR CHILDREN WHO HAVE UNDERGONE BOTH PHYSICAL AND SEXUAL ABUSE AS WELL AS WITNESS VIOLENT CRIMES SUCH AS HOMICIDES AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
PART OF OUR PLATFORM IS WE PROVIDE HOLISTIC SERVICES TO FAMILIES AND CHILDREN WITHIN THE AUSTIN WILLIAMSON COUNTY AREA.
AND WE'RE SEEKING SUPPORT FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR THAT PORTION OF THE INVESTIGATION SO THAT WE CAN INTERRUPT CHILD ABUSE WITHIN THAT AREA.
ALSO, THROUGHOUT OUR PROTECT OUR HOLISTIC SERVICES, WE ALSO PROVIDE MEDICAL EXAMS ON SITE.
WE ARE A 24 HOUR FACILITY PROVIDING EMERGENCY CASES FOR OUR PARTNERS IN THE INVESTIGATION OF CHILD ABUSE.
WE APPRECIATE ANY SUPPORT THAT WE COULD, THAT YOU COULD PROVIDE FOR US.
[00:50:01]
HI, I'M LISA BARTON AND I'M HERE TODAY AS THE EXECUTIVE CHAIR OF ONE VOICE CENTRAL TEXAS, A COALITION OF OVER 80 LOCAL NONPROFITS THAT FORM THE BACKBONE OF AUSTIN'S HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES NETWORK.EVERY DAY OUR ORGANIZATIONS KEEP FAMILIES FED, HOUSED, HEALTHY AND SAFE, AND WE DO IT WITH LIMITED RESOURCES.
WE APPRECIATE THAT THE CITY MANAGER'S PROPOSED BUDGET MAINTAINS SOCIAL SERVICE FUNDING FOR NEXT YEAR.
HOWEVER, WE ARE DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT THE PLAN 2027 BUDGET INCLUDES A 22.5% CUT TO AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH SOCIAL SERVICE CONTRACTS, A LOSS OF $6.2 MILLION.
THIS REDUCTION WOULD DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACT A SECTOR THAT IS ALREADY UNDER SIGNIFICANT STRAIN AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
THE NONPROFIT SECTOR IS FACING BOTH GROWING SKEPTICISM ABOUT ITS VALUE AND ONGOING CUTS AND INSTABILITY IN FUNDING.
BECAUSE OF THE UNCERTAINTY IN THE ECONOMY, NONPROFITS ARE SEEING REDUCTIONS IN CORPORATE AND INDIVIDUAL GIVING AS WELL.
THESE CITY CONTRACTS FUND ESSENTIAL SERVICES SUCH AS SCHOOL-BASED MENTORING, MENTAL HEALTH CARE, FOOD ACCESS, EARLY CHILDHOOD, AND OLDER ADULT PROGRAMS, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION, PRENATAL CARE, IMMIGRANT SERVICES, H-I-V-S-T-I, TREATMENT ARTS AND MORE.
A 22.5% CUT TO SOCIAL SERVICE CONTRACTS IS MORE THAN JUST NUMBERS.
ITS MEALS LOST, SHELTERS CLOSED AND CARE DENIED.
AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH AND NONPROFITS ARE THE CITY'S SAFETY NET DELIVERING HIGH IMPACT PROGRAMS WITH RIGOROUS ACCOUNTABILITY.
CUTTING THIS FUNDING WILL LEAVE HOLES IN PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION SERVICES THAT THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS RELY ON EVERY DAY.
WE NEED YOU TO COMMIT TO SUSTAINED OR INCREASED FUNDING.
ANY TAX RATE INCREASE MUST PROTECT THESE SOCIAL SERVICE CONTRACTS BECAUSE WHEN THE SAFETY NET UNRAVELS, IT'S OUR NEIGHBORS WHO FALL TOGETHER.
WE HAVE THE POWER TO PREVENT THAT.
JULIAN KABA WHITE, ELAINE LOFTON, MADHU PERRY, SAMMY, WE'LL START WITH YOU PLEASE.
SAY YOUR NAME PLEASE FOR THE RECORD.
GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M A FORMER REGISTERED NURSE WHO SPENT THE LAST 16 YEARS IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM.
I DIDN'T LEAVE BECAUSE I STOPPED CARING.
I LEFT BECAUSE I REALIZED HEALING DOESN'T START IN THE ER, IT STARTS IN THE COMMUNITY.
I JOINED THE HARVEST TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTER AND AFRICAN AMERICAN YOUTH HARVEST, AND I ASKED FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORTIVE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THESE WITH OR WITHOUT THE TRE BECAUSE EVERY VICTIM OF VIOLENCE, EVERY ATTEMPTED SUICIDE, EVERY CHILD THAT IS SAFE, SURRENDERED.
THEY WERE ONCE JUST A NEIGHBOR IN NEED IN THE ER.
WE HAD A SAYING STREET AND TREAT 'EM AND TREAT 'EM BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE WEREN'T THERE FOR A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.
THEY JUST NEEDED A BLANKET, A SANDWICH, OR SOMEONE TO LISTEN AND SEE THEM FOR WHO THEY ARE.
PEOPLE I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND THAT WE WERE IN A PANDEMIC LONG BEFORE COVID.
THE REAL CRISIS BEGAN WHEN WE STOPPED FUNDING THE SERVICES THAT KEEP PEOPLE FROM FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS.
I'M ASKING YOU TO ADD THE HARVEST TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTER AS A DEDICATED LINE ITEM IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
THIS ISN'T JUST FUNDING A PROGRAM, IT'S FUNDING PREVENTION, DIGNITY AND LIFESAVING INTERVENTION.
BEFORE SOMEONE'S ONLY OPTION IS A STRETCHER RIDE TO THE ER.
WE CAN'T KEEP WAITING UNTIL THE AMBULANCE ARRIVES WITH ANOTHER PREVENTABLE TRAGEDY.
LET'S INVEST NOW WHERE IT MAKES THE GREATEST DIFFERENCE ON THE GROUND IN THE COMMUNITY BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.
WE ALL LOVE OUR PETS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, BUT WHAT MATTERS IS THE PEOPLE WE MAKE UP THIS CITY.
GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS MAITA PERMI AND I'M A DATA COORDINATOR OF THE HARVEST TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTER.
UH, A BRANCH OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN YOUTH HARVEST FOUNDATION.
BEFORE GETTING CAUGHT UP IN A TRADITIONAL CORPORATE PATH, I MADE A PROMISE TO MYSELF TO CONTRIBUTE TO AN ORGANIZATION WHOSE MISSION IS ROOTED IN INTEGRITY AND COMPASSION.
I FOUND THAT IN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN YOUTH HARVEST FOUNDATION AND THE HARVEST TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTER, THIS ORGANIZATION IS NOT JUST AN EXAMPLE OF COMMUNITY SERVICE.
IT'S AN EXAMPLE OF HUMAN SERVICE.
HERE, PEOPLE ARE TREATED WITH DIGNITY WITHOUT JUDGMENT AND ARE PROVIDED CRITICAL RESOURCES DURING SOME OF THE MOST DIFFICULT MOMENTS OF THEIR LIVES.
I COME FROM A BACKGROUND OF STABILITY RAISED IN A TWO-PARENT HOUSEHOLD WITH ALL MY BASIC NEEDS MET, BUT AS I STEPPED INTO ADULTHOOD AND THE WIDER WORLD, IT BECAME STARKLY CLEAR TO ME JUST HOW MANY INDIVIDUALS DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO EVEN A FRACTION OF THE SUPPORT I ONCE THOUGHT WAS STANDARD.
IT'S AN EYE-OPENING AND HEARTBREAKING TRUTH.
WORKING WITH A-A-Y-H-F AND HDRC HAS CHANGED ME.
IT HAS SHOWN ME THE DEPTH OF NEED
[00:55:01]
IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND THE IMMENSE HEALING THAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN PEOPLE ARE MET WITH EMPATHY, NOT BUREAUCRACY, AND WHEN THEY'RE HEARD, NOT OVERLOOKED.I RESPECTFULLY URGE YOU TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING AND FUNDING A A Y JEFF AND HDRC.
THE WORK DONE HERE CREATES REAL MEASURABLE IMPACT AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT GIVES PEOPLE HOPE.
ELAINE LOFTON WITH AFRICAN AMERICAN YOUTH HARVEST FOUNDATION, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND FELLOW AUSTIN COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
IMAGINE WAKING UP EACH DAY RELIVING THE TRAUMA OF VIOLENCE, LOSS AND FEAR WITHOUT A SAFE SPACE OR GUIDANCE TO HELP YOU HEAL.
THIS IS THE REALITY FOR MANY SURVIVORS IN OUR CITY.
I ASK YOU TO STAND WITH THEM BY FUNDING THE HARVEST TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTER BECAUSE HEALING STRENGTHENS OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
HCRC OFFERS A LIFELINE NO POLICE REPORT REQUIRED CONNECTING SURVIVORS TO COUNSELING, CASE MANAGEMENT, HOUSING SUPPORT, MEDICAL CARE, FOOD, AND MORE NATIONALLY.
TRCS HELP REDUCE PTSD SYMPTOMS BY UP TO 38% IN DEPRESSION.
BY MORE THAN HALF CLIENTS ARE MORE LIKELY TO RETURN TO WORK, COOPERATE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND REBUILD THEIR LIVES.
HERE IN TEXAS, ONE IN 10 VICTIMS NEVER RECEIVE SUPPORT AND NEARLY 40% HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF CRIME IN THE PAST DECADE.
WITHOUT INTERVENTION VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIME OF FOUR TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE VICTIMIZED AGAIN.
HTRC BREAKS THIS CYCLE WITH OR WITHOUT A TAX INCREASE.
I'M REQUESTING A-A-Y-H-F PROGRAMS BECOME A LINE ITEM IN THE BUDGET.
YOUR SUPPORT MEANS SAFETY, BELONGING, AND HOPE.
IT MEANS AUSTIN BECOMES A CITY THAT HEALS LIFTING SURVIVORS INTO RESTORATION AND RESILIENCE.
LET'S INVEST IN THIS PROVEN COST EFFECTIVE LIFE CHANGING WORK AND BUILD A STRONGER, MORE COMPASSIONATE.
GOOD MORNING, KABA WHITE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF PUBLIC CITIZENS TEXAS OFFICE.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR WORK ON THE BUDGET.
I'M HERE TO SUPPORT A ROBUST TAX RATE ELECTION.
IT IS A DIFFICULT DECISION TO ASK AUSTINITES TO PAY MORE IN TAXES.
HOWEVER, WE ARE GOING TO GET WHAT WE PAY FOR AND WE'VE SEEN FROM THE VARIOUS LISTS THAT YOU ALL HAVE PUT TOGETHER FOR PROPOSED SPENDING THAT THE ITEMS THAT WILL BE POTENTIALLY LEFT OUT ARE ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL FOR THE HEALTH SURVIVAL AND VITALITY OF OUR CITY.
IF WE CHOOSE TO KEEP HOUSEHOLD BUDGETS, QUOTE AFFORDABLE AT THE COST OF PROVIDING NEEDED SERVICES AT THE COST OF ACTUALLY ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE, WE ARE NOT ACTUALLY KEEPING THEM AFFORDABLE.
WE ARE ONLY KEEPING A TAX RATE LOW.
AND WE HEARD JUST NOW THAT SENDING THE AMBULANCE IS NOT THE RIGHT FIRST APPROACH.
THE SAME IS TRUE WHEN IT COMES TO CLIMATE CHANGE.
WE MUST TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR REDUCING OUR EMISSIONS TO MITIGATE THE HARM AND ALSO FUNDING ADEQUATE RESILIENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE SEEN THE HARM THAT IS CAUSED BY CLIMATE CHANGE, THE DEATHS, THE PROPERTY DAMAGE, THE VERY REAL PAIN AND EXPENSE.
THERE IS NO AVOIDING IT, BUT THERE IS A PATH TO MITIGATING IT AND THAT DOES REQUIRE SPENDING.
AND I APPRECIATE THAT SOME OF YOU HAVE ALREADY TAKEN STEPS TO PROPOSE SOME ADDITIONAL SPENDING TO UPHOLD THE COMMITMENTS OF THE ALSTON CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN.
AND I HOPE THAT ALL OF YOU WILL JOIN IN SUPPORTING, UM, THOSE BY SUPPORTING A TAX RATE ELECTION THAT IS MORE IN THE SEVEN TO 8 CENT RANGE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT IS DIFFICULT, BUT I DO THINK THAT WE WILL GET WHAT WE PAY FOR.
I'M THE CEO OF THE WILLIAMSON COUNTY CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER.
UM, I APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU.
I APPRECIATE ALL OF THAT OUR CITY LEADERS DO AND SPECIFICALLY WE REALLY APPRECIATE OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
UH, THE ADVOCACY ADVOCACY CENTER SERVES CHILDREN ZERO TO 18 ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES AND ALL OF THEIR FAMILIES.
WE SERVE THEM WITH ALL OF OUR COMPLETE, OH, HANG ON, STOP THE CLOCK PLEASE.
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UM, WE, WE SERVE, UH, ALL THESE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WITH ALL OF OUR COMPLETELY FREE WRAPAROUND SERVICES.THE PART OF AUSTIN THAT IS IN WILL WILLIAMSON COUNTY ACCOUNTS FOR APPROXIMATELY 10% OF OUR CLIENTS COMING IN.
THAT IS NEARLY AS, AS MANY CLIENTS COMING IN FROM OTHER, OTHER BIG CITIES IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY.
I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO SUPPORT THE ADVOCACY CENTER.
UM, WITH AND WITH THAT, ALL THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES THAT WE INCLUDE.
WE, IT IS EVERYTHING FROM MEDICAL FORENSIC INTERVIEWS, LONG-TERM CASE MANAGEMENT THERAPY, K THROUGH 12 EDUCATION, UM, AND, AND ALL THE SUPPORT STAFF TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
AND AGAIN, ALL OF THOSE SERVICES ARE FREE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, WE ARE A PUBLIC, PRIVATE NONPROFIT WRITTEN INTO THE FAMILY CODE.
WE HAVE MOUS WITH DFPS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.
AND AGAIN, THIS INCLUDES A PD.
THE CHILDREN WE SERVE HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ABUSE, PHYSICAL ABUSE, EXPLOITATION, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND OTHER VIOLENT CRIMES.
OUR STAFF WORK 24 7 ON THESE CASES AND THE VAST MAJORITY ARE SEXUAL ABUSE CASES OR SOME FORM OF EXPLOITATION.
I WOULD REMIND YOU THAT WE PROVIDE VITAL SERVICES THAT THE POLICE AND FAMILIES COUNT ON.
WE PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL STAFF AND SERVICES AND WE SIMPLY CANNOT MEET THE GROWING NEED WITHOUT SUPPORT FROM THE CITY.
FEDERAL AND STATE GRANTS MAKE UP LESS THAN 30% OF OUR BUDGET.
WE'VE GOTTA RAISE ALL OF THE REST FOR THESE VITAL SERVICES THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPENDS ON DAILY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PRIORITIZING THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN AND DOING ALL THAT YOU CAN FOR THEM.
I'M GONNA CALL THE NEXT GROUP, TERRANCE HOPKINS.
HOW'S IT GOING GUYS? UH, MY NAME IS, UH, TERRENCE WINSTON HOPKINS AND I STAND ON BEHALF OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN YOUTH HARVEST FOUNDATION, HARVEST, UH, RECOVERY CENTER.
WHEN WE STARTED OFF AT NOVEMBER 1ST, 2023, THERE WAS A NEED, UH, ACQUIRED BY THE STATE FOR US TO MEET 120 CLIENTS.
WE RECEIVED THAT NEED BY 896 CLIENTS TO SHOW THAT THERE IS A NEED WITHIN FOR OUR SERVICES.
AND I, AND THERE'S A SAYING THAT SAYS, WHAT'S THE TESTIMONY WITHOUT A TRIAL OR HOW TRIAL TRIBULATIONS THAT WE GO THROUGH AND WE EXPERIENCE IN LIFE.
AND MOST OF OUR CLIENTS, WE HAVE DIFFERENT TRIALS THAT THEY EXPERIENCED, BUT THE TESTIMONIES THAT THEY TELL FROM THE HARVEST TRAUMA TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTER HAS BEEN FINANCIALLY
I DO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR YOUR, YOUR CONTINUOUS EFFORTS THAT YOU DO WITH US, AND WE DO ASK THAT YOU GUYS CONTINUE TO FUND OUR SERVICES, THE AFRICAN AMERICAN FARMER FOUNDATION, SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE.
AND, UM, THANK YOU SO GUYS, SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
HOW'S IT GOING? I'M DEANDRE WHEELER AND THANK THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THIS TIME.
UM, I COME AS A MENTOR AND ALSO AS A MENTEE OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN YOUTH HARVEST FOUNDATION.
UM, BEING RAISED HERE IN GREW UP HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS AND JUST SEEING THE IMPACT THAT THE AFRICAN AMERICAN YOUTH HARVEST FOUNDATION HAD, NOT ONLY ON THE COMMUNITY BUT ON ME AS A INDIVIDUAL.
AND IT KIND OF MADE ME POUR BACK INTO GOLD AND TO SEE HOW I CAN DO BETTER INSIDE MY COMMUNITY.
AND IF WE LOOK INTO TO THE TIME THAT WE IN NOW AND THE WAY WE'RE GOING WITH OUR YOUTH IS WHERE WE'RE GONNA BE WITH OUR ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THIS OR WHERE WE'RE GONNA BE WITHOUT A BUILDING TO WHERE NOT ONLY ARE WE SERVING THE KIDS, BUT WE'RE ALSO SERVING THE HOLISTIC FAMILY.
SO WE JUST ASK THAT YOU SUPPORT US IN ANY WAY THAT YOU CAN AND ADDING US IN A ALIGNED BUDGET TO WHERE THESE THINGS CAN BE SUSTAINED IN THE LONGEVITY SUPPORT TO NOT ONLY YOUTH, BUT TO OUR COMMUNITY.
MY NAME IS ANI LEWIS AND I'M A CASE MANAGER WITH THE AFRICAN AMERICAN YOUTH HARVEST FOUNDATION.
WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HTRC.
EVERY DAY I CONNECT INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WITH CRITICAL RESOURCES, HOUSING SUPPORT, JOB OPPORTUNITIES, FOOD ASSISTANCE AND MENTORSHIP.
I'M OFTEN THE PERSON THEY COME TO WHEN THEY FEEL THEY HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO TURN.
I'VE HAD CLIENTS WALK IN MY OFFICE BELIEVING WE ARE THEIR LAST CHANCE.
THEY'RE WORKING HARD TO BE BETTER AND DO BETTER, TO KEEP A ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD, TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR CHILDREN TO REBUILD THEIR LIVES.
BUT IT'S NOT EASY NAVIGATING A SYSTEM THAT OFTEN FEELS LIKE IT'S BUILT AGAINST THEM.
WHEN WE HAVE THE RESOURCES, I GET TO WITNESS LIFE-CHANGING MOMENTS.
A PARENT MOVING INTO A STABLE HOUSE, A TEEN DISCOVERING THEIR POTENTIAL, A FAMILY FINALLY ABLE TO TAKE A BREATH.
BUT WHEN WE DON'T, I'M FORCED TO TELL THEM THERE'S NOTHING ELSE THAT WE CAN DO TODAY.
AND I CAN SEE THE LIGHT GO OUT OF THEIR EYES AS IF IT'S THEIR LAST HOPE'S BEEN TAKEN AWAY FROM THEM.
[01:05:01]
JUST ABOUT BUDGETS.IT'S ABOUT WHETHER I CAN KEEP SAYING, YES, WE CAN HELP, INSTEAD OF, I'M SORRY, THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO.
IT'S ABOUT GIVING PEOPLE IN AUSTIN A FAIR CHANCE TO OVERCOME CHALLENGES THEY DID NOT CREATE.
I'M ASKING FOR YOU TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE TAX RATE INCREASE, NOT JUST FOR ORGANIZATIONS LIKE OURS, BUT FOR PEOPLE HOLDING ON TO HOPE WITH EVERYTHING THEY HAVE.
UH, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
MY NAME IS TYRONE JONES, AND I'M HERE TO URGE CONTINUED FUNDING SUPPORT FOR THE HARVEST TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTER.
UM, EVERY DAY WE SERVE YOUTH AND FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE STRUGGLING WITH THE EFFECTS OF VIOLENCE, POVERTY, AND GENERATIONAL TRAUMA.
OUR TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTER PROVIDES TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE THAT'S NOT ONLY HELPFUL, BUT IT IS VERY ESSENTIAL FOR LONG-TERM HEALING AND BREAKING CYCLES OF HARM.
UM, SINCE LAUNCHING OUR TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTER, WE HAVE HELPED HUNDREDS OF INDIVIDUALS ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, CASE MANAGEMENT, AND CRISIS INTERVENTION.
UM, MANY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS WOULD'VE JUST FALLEN THROUGH THE CRACKS IF IT WASN'T FOR THE HELP OF OUR TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTER.
UM, SO YOU SEE, COUNCIL, WE DON'T JUST TREAT TRAUMA, BUT WE RESTORE HOPE.
WE REBUILD LIVES AND WE, UH, STRENGTHEN ENTIRE COMMUNITIES.
UM, AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE WORK THAT WE DO ACTUALLY REDUCES THE BURDENS OF, UH, OTHER EMERGENCY SERVICE AND THE JUSTICE SYSTEM BY INTERVENING EARLY AND ADDRESSING ROOT CAUSES OF TRAUMA.
SO CONTINUED FUNDING ENSURES THAT WE CAN KEEP SHOWING UP FOR FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITIES THAT NEED US THE MOST.
TWA SIMMONS, KELLY HOPKINS, MICHAEL LOFTON, YVONNE WILLIAMS, NIKKI CARRINGTON, CALVIN KELLY.
WHY DON'T WE START HERE AND WE'LL WORK OUR WAY DOWN THE ROAD.
MY NAME IS TUSKE SIMMONS AND I'M WITH THE TRAUMA COACHING AND TRAINING CENTER.
I'M ACTUALLY A WRAPAROUND, ONE OF THE, UH, 30 PLUS, UH, NON-PROFITS IN, UH, AFRICAN AMERICAN YOUTH HARVEST FOUNDATION'S BUILDING.
UM, JOHN MAXWELL TALKS ABOUT THE LAW OF THE BUY-IN.
THE REASON I AM HERE IS TO GET YOUR BUY-IN TO FUND OR MAKE US A LINE ITEM WITH THE SERVICES THAT WE OFFER TO THE TYPE OF CLIENTS THAT WE ARE SERVING.
WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS THREE THINGS REAL QUICKLY WITHIN MY TIME LIMIT, I'M GOING DE I'M GOING TO DESCRIBE WHAT IS MENTAL HEALTH.
I'M GONNA TELL YOU THE ROOT CAUSE AND THE PRIMARY PREDICTOR TO MENTAL HEALTH, AND THEN I'M GONNA TELL YOU WHAT THE PRIMARY AND NUMBER ONE TOOL IS TO ASSISTING PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH.
REAL QUICK, I WANT EVERYBODY TO THINK OF THE WORD MENTAL HEALTH.
IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'M GONNA HAVE TO STAND UP.
THIS IS WHAT MENTAL HEALTH IS.
EITHER YOU ARE MENTALLY HEALTHY, YOU HAVE MENTAL CHALLENGES, OR YOU HAVE A MENTAL ILLNESS.
THESE ARE THE CLIENTS THAT EVERYBODY'S BEEN TALKING, THAT THESE ARE CLIENTS WE SERVE.
NUMBER TWO, I'M GOING TO, UH, TELL YOU THE ROOT, I'M SORRY.
BEFORE OUR RECORD, WE REALLY NEED TO TALK THROUGH MICRO.
NUMBER TWO, I'M GONNA TELL YOU THE ROOT CAUSE TO MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.
IT'S WHAT HAPPENS TO A CHILD BETWEEN THE AGES OF ZERO IN THREE.
IF THAT BRAIN DOESN'T DEVELOP, IT'S GONNA DETERMINE HOW THAT CHILD GROWS UP TO BE EITHER MENTALLY HEALTHY, HOW THAT CHILD WAS RAISED, ZERO TO THREE IF THEY HAD A LOT OF NEGLECT OR TRAUMA'S.
GONNA DETERMINE IF THEY BECOME, HAVE MENTAL CHALLENGES, AND ONCE AGAIN, HOW THAT CHILD WAS RAISED BETWEEN THE AGES OF ZERO.
AND THREE WILL DETERMINE IF THAT CHILD HAS A MENTAL ILLNESS.
NUMBER THREE, THE SOLUTION IS TRAINING AND COACHING.
MY TIME IS UP, BUT I WANNA BE REPETITIVE, IS TRAINING AND COACHING BY GIVING THEM THE KNOWLEDGE, THE SKILLS, AND ABILITY TO ADDRESS THEIR ISSUES AT THE LOWEST LEVEL.
MY NAME IS KELY HOPKINS AND I WORK FOR THE AFRICAN AMERICAN YOUTH HARVEST FOUNDATION.
AS A DATA COORDINATOR AND EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ABOUT THE HARVEST TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTER.
TODAY, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF THE HARVEST TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTER, A PLACE WHERE HEALING BEGINS FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING SOME OF LIFE'S MOST DIFFICULT MOMENTS.
WORKING HERE AT THE FOUNDATION HAS OPENED MY EYES TO A BROADER PERSPECTIVE ON LIFE.
I'VE WITNESSED JUST HOW MANY INDIVIDUALS ARE SILENTLY NAVIGATING SOME FORM OF TRAUMA.
EVERYONE DESERVES A VOICE AND SOMEONE THEY CAN TRUST TO TALK TO.
PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE SILENTLY CARRYING THE WEIGHT OF THEIR TRAUMA, WHETHER FROM GUN VIOLENCE, ABUSE,
[01:10:01]
LOSS, OR OTHER PAINFUL EXPERIENCES.THESE INDIVIDUALS OFTEN FEEL INVISIBLE, UNSUPPORTED, AND UNSURE OF WHERE TO TURN TO.
THAT'S WHERE OUR CENTER STEPS IN THE HARVEST.
TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTER OFFERS MORE THAN JUST A SAFE SPACE.
WE PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING, CASE MANAGEMENT, CRISIS INTERVENTION, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, HOPE.
WE DON'T JUST TREAT SYMPTOMS, WE SUPPORT THE WHOLE PERSON.
WHETHER SOMEONE IS NAVIGATING THE AFTERMATH OF TRAUMA OR STILL LIVING THROUGH IT, THEY ARE MET WITH COMPASSION, DIGNITY AND CARE.
THIS WORK IS DEEPLY PERSONAL AND URGENTLY NEEDED.
WITH PROPER FUNDING, WE CAN EXPAND OUR SERVICES, REACH MORE INDIVIDUALS IN CRISIS, AND ENSURE NO ONE WALKS THEIR HEALING JOURNEY ALONE.
INVESTING IN THE HARVEST TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTER IS INVESTING IN THE HEART OF OUR COMMUNITY.
MY NAME IS NIKKI CARRINGTON AND I AM A CLINICIAN AT THE HARVEST TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTER.
AND I JUST WANNA FIRST SAY THAT, UM, I'VE BEEN AT THE TRAUMA CENTER SINCE IT FIRST OPENED ON NOVEMBER, UH, FIRST 2023.
AND IN MY TIME THERE, I HAVE GROWN AS A PERSON AND AS A CLINICIAN.
AND THE REASON WHY THAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME, BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY CLINICIANS THAT DO NOT LOOK LIKE ME.
AND SO WITH THE, THE CLIENTELE THAT WE SERVE, THE COMMUNITY THAT WE SERVE, UM, THERE ARE CLINICIANS THAT DON'T LOOK LIKE OUR, OUR, UH, CLIENTS.
SO THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE, CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO DEVELOP C CLINICIANS WHO DO LOOK LIKE OUR CLIENTELE, WHO DO LOOK LIKE OUR COMMUNITY.
AND, UM, I BELIEVE, I FEEL LIKE YOU GUYS SHOULD REALLY CONTINUE TO FUND THE HARVEST TRAUMA COMMUNITY CENTER BECAUSE WE, OUR STAFF DOES SERVE PEOPLE WHO LOOK JUST LIKE US.
UM, GREETINGS, MAYOR WATSON CITY COUNCIL, UH, COUNCIL PRO TEM, UH, FUENTES.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANNA SAY THAT I AM VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY.
I REALLY WANT TO TAKE MY HAT OFF TO SOME OF MY STAFF THAT SPOKE, BECAUSE YOU CAN TELL IT'S COMING FROM THEIR HEART.
IT'S NOT JUST FROM A PAYCHECK.
WHEN I LOOK ACROSS THE ES, WE ARE SERVING INDIVIDUALS IN EACH ONE OF YOUR DISTRICTS.
UH, WE ARE SERVING INDIVIDUALS OF ALL ETHNICITIES, ALL GENDERS.
AND I SAY THIS TO SAY, WE'RE ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT, WHETHER WE HAVE THE TAX INCREASE OR NOT.
WE REALLY WANT TO BE CONSIDERED AS A LINE ITEM IN THE BUDGET.
WE ALSO WANT THE, THE HARVEST FOUNDATION RESOURCE CENTER TO BE A LINE ITEM IN THE BUDGET.
THE REASON BEING IS BECAUSE WE HAVE 32 OTHER NONPROFITS IN OUR BUILDING, WE REALIZED WE COULD NOT DO IT ALL, AND THERE WAS NO NEED FOR US TO TRY AND DUPLICATE THE SERVICES.
SO WE BROUGHT IN OTHER NONPROFITS THAT CAN HELP MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE OVER A THOUSAND PLUS FOLKS A MONTH COMING INSIDE OUR FACILITY FOR SOME TYPE OF SERVICES, WHETHER THEY'RE COMING INTO THE TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTER, WHERE THEY'RE COMING INTO COMMUNITY CARE CLINIC, WHETHER THEY'RE COMING INTO THE BLACK MAN'S HEALTH CLINIC, WHETHER THEY'RE COMING INTO FOR STEM TECHNOLOGY, ALL OF THOSE GREAT THINGS.
YOU KNOW, I KNOW IT'S HARD FOR US REALLY TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL, YOU KNOW, IN TWO MINUTES WHAT WE'RE DOING.
I WOULD LIKE FOR EACH ONE OF YOU TO COME OUT AND TAKE A TOUR AND SEE WHAT WE'RE DOING.
I WOULD ALSO ASK THAT YOU ALL CONSIDER IDENTIFYING EXTERNAL PARTNERS TO HELP US BUY THE BUILDING WHERE WE ARE IN.
WE'VE BEEN A COMMUNITY BASED NON PROFIT FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS, AND WE'VE BEEN OPERATING FROM GRANT TO GRANT TO GRANT.
I AM ASKING FOR Y'ALL TO HELP US SECURE THIS HERE, LANDMARK, THIS RESOURCE CENTER, SO WE CAN BE HERE LONG AFTER THE BUDGET.
WE NEED TO BE A HUB IN THE COMMUNITY.
ALSO, WE'RE HAVING AN EVENT THIS COMING SATURDAY.
WE'RE HAVING OVER A THOUSAND TO 1500 FOLKS TO BE THERE, COME OUT AND WALK AROUND.
SIR, SIR, CAN YOU JUST STATE MR. MR. LOFTON, SHE'S GONNA ASK, THAT'S WHAT I JUST NEED TO KNOW YOUR NAME.
WOULD YOU JUST STATE WHO YOUR NAME IS FOR THE RECORD? I'M SORRY.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE HARVEST FOUNDATION.
CONTINUING ON, BRAD MASSENGILL A FOLDER.
TAKE IT OVER THERE AND THE CLERK'S OFFICE WILL GET IT TO YOU.
ROBIN SCHNEIDER, MICHELLE WILSON, JESSICA WALBRIDGE, CAROL GUTHRIE, AND TAYLOR TERRY, MR. MAYOR? YES.
UH, WHILE WE QUEUE UP THAT NEXT, UH, ROUND OF SPEAKERS, I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE AND JUST ACKNOWLEDGE MR. LOFTON AND ALL THE FOLKS THAT CAME TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE HARVEST, UM, FOUNDATION.
I JUST WANTED TO, YOU KNOW, I, I OFTEN POINT OUT HOW LONELY IT IS IN THAT ROOM FOR A PERSON WHO LOOKS LIKE ME, IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.
OFTENTIMES, 95% OF THE FOLKS IN THAT ROOM WHO LOOK LIKE ME WORK FOR THE CITY.
SO, UM, I WANNA TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY WHEN GIVEN IT TO ACKNOWLEDGE
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THE FOLKS IN THE ROOM WHO LOOK LIKE ME.IT'S NICE TO SEE Y'ALL AT CITY HALL AND IN CHAMBERS.
THANK Y'ALL FOR BEING THERE TODAY.
I'M A MOTHER AND ALSO I'M A PATIENT OF THE HARVEST TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTER.
WHEN I CAME HERE IN 2023, I WAS LOST.
I WENT TO THE HARVEST RECOVERY CENTER AND I'VE BEEN GOING THERE EVER SINCE.
UM, I, I GO THERE FOR COUNSELING.
MY SON WAS IN THERE, BUT UNFORTUNATELY MY SON WAS MURDERED THIS YEAR, JANUARY THE 18TH.
IT'S BEEN HARD, BUT I, I STILL GO TO THE HARVEST TRAUMA TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTER.
I DON'T CARE WHAT TIME OF THE DAY IT IS, I CAN PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL.
UM, I HAVE NO FAMILY HERE, SO THEY'RE MY FAMILY.
BUT WITH THEM, I'M STILL STANDING.
UM, MY SON HAD A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE.
HE WAS MURDERED DOWNTOWN AUSTIN.
SO THE HARVEST, TRAVEL AND RECOVERY CENTER, THEY'RE HELPING ME.
UM, THEY'RE SUPPORTIVE OF ME BECAUSE IT'S JUST ME NOW.
NO FAMILY HERE, BUT WE NEED THE FUNDS SO I CAN CONTINUE GOING THROUGH THEM FOR MY TREATMENT.
'CAUSE I GO AT LEAST TWICE A WEEK.
UH, MY NAME IS ROBIN SCHNEIDER.
I'M A RESIDENT OF, UH, DISTRICT THREE.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, SITTING THROUGH, UH, ALL THE TESTIMONY, UM, I'M JUST STRUCK BY THE AMAZING WORK BEING DONE BY COMMUNITY GROUPS IN THE CITY AND BY INTEGRAL CARE AND, AND SO MANY OTHER, UH, AGENCIES THAT MAKE UP A FABRIC OF CARE THAT, UM, IS MEETING SOME NEEDS.
BUT OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A LONG WAY TO GO, AND I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO PRIORITIZE, UM, THE, THE FUNDING THAT IS GOING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT THE MOST.
UM, AND, AND OUR LONG-TERM FUTURE.
UM, AS KIBA WHITE SAID, AND I THINK ROBIN RATHER SAID, UH, CLIMATE CHANGE IS IMPACTING ALL US ALL, BUT IT IMPACTS THOSE WITH THE LEAST THE MOST.
UM, WE NEED TO MAINTAIN THE FAMILY STABILIZATION FUNDS.
WE NEED TO MAINTAIN THE, THE HARVEST YOUTH FOUNDATION AND THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING.
WE NEED TO HAVE, IM LEGAL SERVICES FOR MY IMMIGRANT FRIENDS, DEAR FRIENDS OF MINE.
UM, AND SO MANY PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY WHO MAKE THIS CITY RUN WHO ARE IN FEAR EVERY DAY NOW, UH, THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE, UH, CAPTURED OR NEED LEGAL HELP THAT THEY CANNOT AFFORD, THAT IS CRITICAL.
UM, I JUST THINK WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE THESE THINGS.
GET RID OF THE THINGS THAT ARE NOT ESSENTIAL FOR PEOPLE'S DAILY LIVES, UH, AND REALLY FOCUS ON THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO HOPEFULLY HELP PEOPLE LIKE MY COLLEAGUE HERE WHO SPOKE AND WHO CAN SAVE PEOPLE FROM THE TRAGEDIES THAT BEFALL HER SON.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, REPRESENTATIVE AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I AM A YOUTH DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR AND MENTOR AT AFRICAN AMERICAN YOUTH HARVEST FOUNDATION.
AND I'M HERE TODAY BEFORE YOU, NOT JUST AS A LEAD MENTOR OF QUEENS TO BE A MOTHER, BUT AS SOMEONE WHO HAS SEEN WHAT HAS HAPPENED WHEN HOPE IS FED AND WHEN IT IS STARVED.
THEY ARE RESILIENT, BUT DREAMS DON'T GROW ON EMPTY STOMACHS.
HUNGER CHANGES YOUR BRAIN, IT ALTERS YOUR BODY.
WHEN YOU'RE HUNGRY, YOU CAN'T PLAN FOR THE FUTURE.
YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO SURVIVE THAT MOMENT.
THAT'S WHY QUEENS TO BE IS MORE THAN MENTORING.
WE FEED FAMILIES, WE PROVIDE CLOTHES, HYGIENE PRODUCTS IN EVERY SURVIVAL NEED.
I TELL MY GIRLS, WHEN YOU LOOK GOOD, YOU FEEL GOOD.
AND WHEN YOU FEEL GOOD, YOU SHOW UP DIFFERENT.
[01:20:01]
WE ARE FORCED TO LIVE IN SURVIVAL MODE.WE DON'T HAVE LIFE AT THE PALM OF OUR HANDS.
WE DON'T GET TO LIVE WITH BREEZE AND GLEE, AND WE DON'T WALK A RED CARPET PRIVILEGES OTHERS ARE BORN INTO.
WE HAVE TO FIGHT, FIGHT EVERY SINGLE DAY FOR EVERY SINGLE ONE.
IT'S SAYING, YES, THESE YOUNG QUEENS DESERVE THE SAME ACCESS, THE SAME CHANCES, AND THE SAME DIGNITY AS ANYONE ELSE.
SO I'M ASKING YOU, YOU, YOU AND YOU ALL TO HEAR OUR CRY, BUT DON'T JUST KEEP IT ALIVE.
GIVE US WHAT WE NEED TO THRIVE.
GIVE THEM WHAT THEY NEED TO STRIVE.
BECAUSE WHEN A GIRL REALIZES SHE MATTERS, SHE CARRIES HERSELF DIFFERENTLY, SHE DREAMS BIGGER, AND THAT SPARK, THAT PRICELESS SPARK IS WORTH EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR YOU INVEST.
JUST A REMINDER, IF YOUR NAME HAS ALREADY BEEN CALLED, YOU CAN PLEASE GO AHEAD AND MAKE YOUR WAY DOWN TO THE PODIUM AND JUST QUEUE UP.
I'M GONNA CALL THE NEXT GROUP.
BEN EBBY AND BEN, I SEE YOU, YOU HAVE TIME DONATED BY NATHAN FOR OKAY, NATHAN IS HERE.
SO FOUR MINUTES FOR BEN, SONYA BURNS, CHRIS PAGE, FRANCISCO LAO, AND JEFFREY BOWEN.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
ALL CITY OF AUSTIN, RESIDENTS WILL FEEL THE IMPACT OF INCREASED TAXES, ELECTRIC RATES, WATER RATES, BUT THE POOR AND THE POOR WORKING POOR WOULD DOUBLY FEEL THE INCREASE OF THESE RATES, WHETHER THEY'RE HOMEOWNERS OR RENTERS, IT'S A COUNCIL'S PAST.
DECISIONS THAT HAVE CAUSED A BUDGET CRISIS.
FOR INSTANCE, $1.45 BILLION FOR A NEW CONVENTION CENTER THAT IS NOT NEEDED AND A $47 MILLION CAP AND STITCH, WHICH IS NOT NEEDED.
RESCINDING THESE FUNDS WOULD SOLVE THE BUDGET CRISIS FOR THAT OPPOSES A TRE.
IT'S A SCAM TO TELL AUSTIN RESIDENTS, IF THEY WANT BASIC SOCIAL AND OR ESSENTIAL SERVICES, THEY NEED TO VOTE FOR HIGHER TAX RATES.
THIS SCAN REMINDS ME OF A SAYING THAT STATES THE FOREST WAS SHRINKING BY THE TREES, BUT THE TREES KEPT VOTING FOR THE AX.
FOR THE AX WAS A CLEVER AND, AND CONVINCED THE TREES THAT BECAUSE HIS HANDLE WAS MADE OF WOOD, HE WAS ONE OF THEM.
UM, MY NAME IS VALERIE BERNARD AND I'M IN DISTRICT ONE.
UM, AND I WAS HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 1, 2, 3, 5, 9, AND 10, BUT I'M JUST GONNA USE MY TIME FOR ONE, AND THEN THAT'LL BE THE, THE LAST TIME YOU SEE ME.
BUT I'M HERE, UH, ALSO TO ECHO SUSANNA'S SENTIMENTS TO, UH, OPPOSE, UM, THESE ITEMS. UM, AND TO, UM, REMIND YOU, AS SHE SAID, THAT YOU'VE GOT FUNDING FROM THAT CAP AND STITCH.
YOU'RE FACING A BIG BOONDOGGLE OF 1.4 BILLION FOR THAT PLUS 50 MILLION A YEAR IN MAINTENANCE.
AND THAT'S THE KICKER BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT INCREASED FUNDING FOR OUR PARKS FOR MAINTENANCE, BUT YET YOU'RE GONNA DEDICATE 50 MILLION EVEN THOUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS GIVEN YOU A WAY OUT AND SAID, WE'RE NOT GONNA HELP WITH THIS.
WHY WOULD YOU STICK WITH THIS WHEN YOU KNOW THAT WE NEED FUNDING? AND YOU HAVE ALL THESE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE THAT JUST SPOKE TO YOU TODAY BEGGING FOR MONEY.
THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN PUT IN A POSITION TO COME AND BEG FOR MONEY.
UM, THE, I ALSO WANTED TO ASK YOU, DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE WORLD WE'RE LIVING IN TODAY, THAT WE HAVE A FELON IN THE WHITE HOUSE WHO IS A PROFESSIONAL GRIFTER, WHO IS USING TARIFFS TO STRONG ARM, OTHER COUNTRIES CLAIMING AND LYING THAT THOSE FUNDS ARE COMING TO THIS COUNTRY.
IT'S AMERICAN BUSINESSES AND AMERICAN, UH, CONSUMERS THAT PAY FOR THOSE.
SO WE HAVE THIS, THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH THIS PROSPECT OF INCREASING, UH, COST OF EVERYTHING FROM, FROM GROCERIES TO CARS.
AND THEN YOU WANNA, YOU ASK TO VOTE TO GIVE OURSELVES A TAX INCREASE WHEN YOU'VE GOT FUNDING THAT YOU CAN, YOU CAN USE TO CONTINUE JUST TO, UM, FUND THESE PROGRAMS. DON'T USE THE, UM, PEOPLE'S PLAN.
DON'T, DON'T HOLD THE PEOPLE'S PLAN HOSTAGE WHEN YOU HAVE OTHER WAYS.
WHAT HAPPENED TO MAKING THINGS BETTER IN AUSTIN? YOU WERE ALL RAN ON SAYING YOU WERE GONNA MAKE THE QUALITY OF LIFE BETTER IN THIS TOWN.
YOU'RE ADDING MORE BURDENS TO US.
HOW CAN YOU DO THAT DURING THESE TIMES
[01:25:01]
OF FEAR? THAT IS THAT WE'RE SURROUNDED WITH.I'M A PROUD MEMBER OF AFSCME 1624, A UNION THAT REPRESENTS WORKERS WHO HAVE DEDICATED THEIR LIVES TO PUBLIC SERVICE, BOTH HERE AT THE CITY AND AT TRAVIS COUNTY.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN STRONG SUPPORT OF A TRE THAT REFLECTS AUSTIN.
I MEAN THAT IN THE SENSE THAT THROUGH MY WORK AND THROUGH MY ACTIVITY IN MY UNION, I SEE THE HARD AND DEDICATED WORK THAT THE FOLKS AT HERE AT CITY OF AUSTIN DO.
I DON'T WORK FOR YOU, BUT I URGE YOU TO TAKE CARE OF THESE ESSENTIAL WORKERS, THESE PEOPLE WHOSE, WHOSE WORK, MAKE SURE THAT OUR CITY RUNS AND CONTINUES TO BE THE VIBRANT, BEAUTIFUL CITY THAT PEOPLE LOVE.
AND, AND PEOPLE HAVE MENTIONED TODAY, THEY'VE MOVED HERE BECAUSE THEY LOVE AUSTIN.
I'M ALSO HERE TO MENTION AND GIVE SOME CONTEXT ON WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
I WANT EVERYONE, WHETHER YOU'RE FOR IT OR AGAINST IT, TO REMEMBER THAT WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT IS A SMALL SLIVER OF A SMALL WEDGE OF YOUR PROPERTY TAX BILL.
I LOOKED AT MY BILL FROM LAST YEAR.
THE, THE RATE PASSED BY ALL, UH, WAS ONLY, ONLY ONE LESS THAN ONE, UH, QUARTER OF MY BILL LAST YEAR, 24.1%.
SO THAT'S THE SMALL PIE WEDGE.
AND THE DIFFERENCE OF A FEW CENTS WAS A TINY INCREASE ON THAT.
UH, TWO WEEKS AGO, I CONTEXTUALIZED THAT WITH A P TERRY'S RECEIPT THAT I GOT A LOT OF LAUGHS ON THAT.
NO RECEIPT TODAY, BUT RERUNNING THE NUMBERS, IT'S ALL AROUND THAT SAME, SAME RATE, YOU KNOW, GOING AT WHAT I WAS ADVOCATING, YOU KNOW, A FULL, YOU KNOW, 7 CENTS, 7, 1 5 MAYBE, MAYBE ON THE MORE LOWER SIDE, 6.75.
IT WORKED OUT TO THE COST OF ABOUT 30 BUCKS, 35 BUCKS.
UH, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT ONCE A MONTH I COULD FOREGO TO MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE STAFFING ESSENTIAL SERVICES, MAKING SURE THAT OUR, OUR CITY REMAINS HEALTHY, OUR LIBRARIES ARE STAFFED.
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO CAN BE LIFEGUARDS AND, AND, AND LITERALLY SAVE LIVES AND AFFORD TO LIVE IN THIS CITY.
I ALSO REALIZE THE CONTEXT THAT AS SOMEONE WHO OWNS A HOME AND PAYS MY PROPERTY TAXES THROUGH MY MONTHLY MORTGAGE ESCROW, RIGHT, THAT I AM DOING BETTER THAN MOST OF MY NEIGHBORS HERE IN AUSTIN.
AND WE HAVE TO STARE AT IT RIGHT IN THE FACE AND SAY, AM I WILLING TO VOTE AND PASS SOMETHING THAT'S PENNIES ON THE A HUNDRED DOLLARS OF VALUE TO MAKE SURE THAT MY NEIGHBORS WHO ARE, WHO ARE DOING WORSE THAN I AM CAN RECEIVE SERVICES? PEOPLE WHOSE LIVES DEPEND ON IT.
THE FOLKS WHO WORK HERE FOR YOU AT THE CITY OF AUSTIN DO IMPORTANT WORK.
WE THINK ABOUT THE VITAL PROGRAMS THAT THEY SUSTAIN, THINGS THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, HELP CLOSE GAPS IN PUBLIC HEALTH, UH, POSITIONS THAT HELP SERVE VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, STABILIZE FAMILIES, TREAT MENTAL HEALTH, ALL KINDS OF ROUTINE CARE FOR PEOPLE WHO, WHO OTHERWISE WOULD NOT BE GETTING IT.
SO I ASK YOU AS A COUNSEL TO DON'T GO, DON'T BUY INTO THE FALSE AUSTERITY.
UH, IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAVE PUT US AS MU LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN INTO THESE POSITIONS, RIGHT? CUTTING FUNDING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, FALSE AUSTERITY WITH REVENUE CAPS.
YOU KNOW, HAD THOSE CAPS NOT BEEN THERE, Y'ALL WOULD'VE HAD THE AUTHORITY TO PUT THESE THINGS.
NOW THAT THEY'VE PUT THAT IN PLACE, NOW YOU, WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL THIS AND PUT IT BEFORE THE VOTERS, BUT I KNOW THAT MY FELLOW UNION SIBLINGS AND WE'VE HEARD FROM OTHER UNIONS AND OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS WILL GO OUT AND TALK TO OUR NEIGHBORS.
WE WILL LET THEM KNOW THE ESSENTIAL THINGS THAT THIS WILL GO FOR.
YOU'VE DONE EXCELLENT WORK IN MAKING SURE THERE IS NO FAT TO TRIM IN THIS.
I'VE LOOKED OVER THE MESSAGE BOARD, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH.
I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON THIS.
UM, SEEMS TO BE PART OF THE TOPIC THIS MORNING IS ABOUT STRUGGLE.
WELL, YEAH, STRUGGLE APPEARS TO BE THE MAIN POINT.
UH, JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, I GOT AN EMAIL FROM A NEIGHBORHOOD FRIEND THAT WAS TALKING ABOUT, SHE WAS GETTING PREPARED FOR, UH, HER TAX APPOINTMENT WITH TRAVIS COUNTY, AND SHE WAS LISTENING TO ONE OF THE, THE CONVERSATIONS SHE SAID, AND SHE SENT THIS TO ME, SAID AN OLD MAN WHOSE HOUSE WAS VALUED PRETTY HIGH, WAS TRYING TO GET A REDUCTION.
HE SAID HE DIDN'T HAVE A JOB AND RELIED ON SEVEN TO $800 A MONTH IN SOCIAL SECURITY AND HE COULDN'T AFFORD THE NEEDED REPAIRS.
HE WANTED TO STAY IN THE HOUSE WITH HIS WIFE AND
[01:30:01]
NOT HAVE TO LIVE ON THE STREET.THAT'S JUST A SAMPLE OF WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IF WE START LOOKING AT THIS, IF WE DON'T START LOOKING AT OUR SPENDING HABITS AND TRYING TO BE RESPONSIBLE, THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE IMPACTED BY THE DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE OR NOT MADE IN THIS CASE.
UH, THE FACT THAT WE STILL WANT TO CONTINUE TO BLAME OTHER ENTITIES FOR YOUR SPENDING HABITS THAT REALLY NEEDS TO START BEING BACK ON THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT YOU WITHHOLD.
UM, AS FOR JUST RECENTLY, I JUST, WE JUST HEARD IT WAS A TINY INCREASE, A TINY INCREASE FOR SOME IS A MAJOR INCREASE FOR OTHERS.
WHERE IS THAT DEF THAT LINE DEFINED? I SUGGEST THAT IF THERE, IF PEOPLE ARE CAPABLE OF WANTING TO HAVE THAT TAX INCREASE, THEN WRITE AN EXTRA CHECK.
MAKE IT OUT TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND WHATEVER PROGRAM YOU WANT TO, I WOULD IMAGINE Y'ALL WOULD, WOULD BE GLADLY TO ACCEPT THAT CHECK.
SO DON'T ASSUME THAT EVERYBODY IS IN THE SAME FINANCIAL POSITION THAT SOME OF THE REST OF YOU ARE, THAT ARE DEMANDING A HIGHER TAXES.
JUST BE AWARE THAT THIS IS A CITY OF MANY WITH AND MANY WITHOUT.
THAT IS A FACT THAT NEEDS TO BE WEIGHED AND LISTENING IS NOT BEING ACCOMPLISHED.
WHEN YOU SAY THAT YOU'RE CONSTITUENTS, I'M READY TO HEAR FROM THEM AND NOT TAKING YOUR COMMENTS.
DID YOU SAY, DID YOU SAY YOUR NAME? I DID.
OKAY, I KNOW IT, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE.
UH, CONTINUING ON JOEL MANSO, SEAN OLIVER, KAYLIN FRANK, ZACH FADI, AMY DE LUNA, JESSICA BUNTING, AND JOSH HOUSTON.
I WORK FOR LIFE ANEW AND I'M HAPPY TO APPEAR BEFORE THE COUNCIL AND THANK YOU FOR THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE DONE AND THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO.
WE CAN EITHER ACCEPT A REDUCTION IN ESSENTIAL SERVICES THAT KEEP AUSTIN SAFE, HEALTHY, AND THRIVING.
WE CAN MAKE A SMALL SHARED INVESTMENT AND MAINTAIN THE QUALITY OF LIFE WE ALL VALUE.
A MODEST PROPERTY TAX ADJUSTMENT ISN'T ABOUT POLITICS.
IT'S ABOUT PRESERVING THE THINGS THAT MAKE OUR CITY STRONG AND RELIABLE.
OUR INFRASTRUCTURE HAS BEEN PROVEN TO WORK THROUGH COMMUNITY VIOLENCE PREVENTION SERVICES SUCH AS A TX PEACE THAT PREVENT VIOLENCE, REDUCE EMERGENCY SERVICE COSTS, AND SAVE LIVES.
BY SUSTAINING THESE AND OTHER COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, WE CAN KEEP COSTS LOWER OVER THE LONG RUN AND AVOID THE MUCH HIGHER FINANCIAL AND SOCIAL PRICE OF PREVENTABLE CRISIS.
IN CONCLUSION, BY ACTING NOW, WE CLOSE THE GAP LEFT BY FEDERAL CUTS AND PROTECT THE INITIATIVES THAT WORK.
I SUPPORT THIS MEASURE BECAUSE IT'S NOT ONLY RESPONSIBLE, BUT A GOOD CHOICE FOR AUSTIN AND OUR FUTURE.
I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU HAVE BEEN PUT IN A POSITION TO MAKE A PERFECT DECISION, BUT I BELIEVE BASED UPON INTEGRITY AND MY INVOLVEMENT WITH YOU ALL, THAT YOU WILL MAKE THE BEST DECISION.
AND I WANT TO ALLEVIATE ANY PRESSURE OR TENSION YOU MAY FEEL AS AN INDIVIDUAL HUMAN.
ON OUR BEST DAYS, WE STILL WILL MAKE MISTAKES, BUT THE BEST WE CAN DO IS OFFER OUR BEST.
AND YOU WERE PUT IN A POSITION TO DO THAT.
WHY, WHY DON'T WE GO DOWN TO THE START WITH YOU AND THEN WE'LL GO THIS DIRECTION.
I'M A BORN AND RAISED AUSTINITE.
I'M ALSO A PROUD LANDSCAPE TECHNICIAN FOR THE AUSTIN WATERSHED PROTECTION AND A PROUD EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER FOR AFSCME 1624.
MY CREW AS A LANDSCAPE TECHNICIAN PROTECTS OUR COMMUNITY, PROTECTS OUR FLOOD ZONES, PREVENTS MORE FLOODING, PROTECTS OUR ROADWAYS.
I'M SUPPORT AND I HOPE YOU SUPPORT THE TRE MOVING FORWARD TO PROTECT AND FUND ESSENTIAL EMPLOYEES.
I FULLY URGE YOU TO WORK TO, TO FUND OUR WORK PROJECTS, RESTORE SERVICES, AND
[01:35:01]
PROVIDE ESSENTIAL PAY FOR ESSENTIAL WORK.AUSTIN WORKS SHOW, UH, WORKERS SHOW UP WHEN IT MATTERS MOST AND NOW IT'S TIME FOR THE BUDGET TO SHOW UP FOR THEM.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK SPECIFICALLY IN SUPPORT OF CM ELLIS'S BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR SIDEWALK MAINTENANCE AND CM LANE'S BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR NEW SIDEWALKS.
PEDESTRIANS ARE SOME OF THE MOST VULNER VULNERABLE ROAD USERS IN THE CITY BASED ON DATA FROM THE CITY'S VISION ZERO DASHBOARD.
AS OF THE END OF JULY, PEDESTRIAN FATALITIES MAKE UP MORE THAN ONE THIRD OF ALL TRAFFIC FATALITIES IN AUSTIN.
WHILE THERE ARE SEVERAL FACTORS BEHIND THAT STATISTIC, THERE IS NO DENYING THAT BUILDING AND MAINTAINING SIDEWALKS ARE IMPORTANT TO PEDESTRIAN SAFETY.
SIDEWALKS ARE NECESSARY FOR AUSTIN TO MEET ITS SUSTAINABILITY GOALS, VISION ZERO GOALS, AND FOR ACCESSIBILITY.
MY NAME IS KAYLIN FRANK AND I'M A TRUSTED MESSENGER AT LIFE ANEW.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO START BY THANKING YOU GUYS FOR NOT ONLY YOUR COLLABORATION BUT YOUR COALITION BECAUSE IT IS BECAUSE OF YOUR INVESTMENT AND YOUR TIME AND YOUR ENERGY THAT I'M SITTING HERE TODAY.
UM, OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, I WAS HOMELESS.
UM, I HAD LOST MY BABY MOTHER.
I WAS A SINGLE FATHER, NO FRIENDS, NO FAMILY, AND IT WAS HARD FOR ME.
THAT WAS UNTIL I WAS PRESENTED WITH OPPORTUNITIES AND A NEW WAY OF THINKING AND A NEW WAY OF LIFE PRESENTED TO ME BY A LIFE ANEW.
UM, NOT ONLY LIFE ANEW THROUGH THE TRAUMA CENTER, I GO THERE OFTEN TO TO FEED MYSELF AND MY FAMILY, UM, THROUGH LIFE WORKS.
I'VE BEEN THROUGH THERE TO GET MY HOUSING.
SO IT'S THROUGH YOUR GUYS' COLLABORATION THAT I'M SITTING HERE TODAY AND I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU AND WITHOUT YOU GUYS, NOT ONLY WOULD I NOT KNOW WHERE TO GO TOMORROW, BUT I PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY.
MY NAME IS JESSICA BUNTING AND MY HUSBAND IS A FIREFIGHTER WITH AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THE PROPOSED BUDGET CALLS FOR AN $8.3 MILLION DECREASE IN FUNDING TO A FD THROUGH A REDUCTION OF FIREFIGHTER STAFFING.
UNDER THE PROPOSAL, IF 25% OF THE DEPARTMENT WERE ABSENT, ENGINE STAFFING WOULD BE PERMITTED TO DROP FROM FUR PERSON CREWS TO THREE PERSON.
A THREE PERSON CREW COULD RISK LIVES OF FIREFIGHTERS AND THE CITIZENS THEY HAVE SWORN TO PROTECT.
WITH THE STRUCTURE FIRE, THERE IS AN OSHA SAFETY POLICY CALLED TWO IN 2 8 2 OUT, WHICH STATES AT LEAST TWO FIREFIGHTERS MUST BE OUTSIDE FOR EVERY TWO FIREFIGHTERS INSIDE.
THAT MEANS THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN WOULD HAVE TO WAIT FOR TWO CREWS TO ARRIVE BEFORE ANY FIREFIGHTERS WOULD ENTER FOLLOWING OSHA REGULATIONS.
ALL A FD POLICIES REQUIRE A FOUR PERSON CREW.
ALL STAFF ARE TRAINED FOR FOUR PERSON SCENARIOS.
THIS PROPOSAL WOULD PUT OUR FIREFIGHTERS INTO SITUATIONS THEY HAVE NOT TRAINED FOR.
SOME HAVE POINTED OUT THE A FD ABSENTEE RATE FROM LAST YEAR, BUT WHAT THEY FAILED TO MENTION IS THAT INCLUDES PREVIOUSLY APPROVED AND EARNED PAID TIME OFF.
WHAT THAT SAYS TO ME IS ADEQUATE STAFFING IS THE ISSUE.
HOWEVER, WHEN YOUR FIREFIGHTERS HAVE TO GO INTO ARBITRATION TO FIGHT FOR RAISES WHILE NEIGHBORING CITIES HAVE STARTING RAISES OF UP TO $5,000 HIGHER, SUCH AS SAN MARCO FIRE DEPARTMENT, IT'S NO WONDER A FD IS UNDERSTAFFED.
FURTHERMORE, THE CITY SEEMS TO HAVE PLENTY OF FUNDING FOR THINGS LIKE BUILDING A $1.6 BILLION CONVENTION CENTER AND INSTALLING FOUR CAPS OVER I 35 AT A WHOPPING COST OF $104 MILLION.
THE BUDGET YOU ALL ARE CONSIDERING IS A SIMPLE DECISION, IN MY OPINION.
YOUR VOTERS, YOUR VOTES WILL LET YOUR CONS KNOW WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT TO YOU.
CITY PROJECTS ARE SAVING LIVES.
ALL SPEAKERS FOR ITEM ONE HAVE BEEN CALLED.
MEMBERS, AS YOU'VE JUST HEARD ALL SPEAKERS ON THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE, WHICH IS THE PROPOSED PROPERTY OR A VALOREM TAX RATE, UH, OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS BEEN CALLED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER ONE.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED,
[2. Conduct a public hearing and consider proposed rate and fee changes for Austin Water as part of the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 proposed budget.]
UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION.WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO, WHICH IS THE PROPOSED RATE AND FEE CHANGES FOR AUSTIN WATER.
UH, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN AND I WILL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK.
THANK YOU FOR ITEM NUMBER TWO REMOTELY.
[01:40:05]
GOOD MORNING CITY COUNCIL.THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ABOUT THE PROPOSED RATE AND FEE CHANGES FOR AUSTIN WATER.
FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN IN THE BUDGET DETAILS, THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET CALLS FOR A TOTAL REVENUE BUMP, WHICH TRANSLATES TO 9.6% INCREASE IN THE TYPICAL RESIDENTIAL MONTHLY BILL.
THAT MEANS ALMOST 10 EXTRA DOLLARS A MONTH FOR MOST OF US.
MY MAIN CONCERN IS HOW THE COSTS FEEL HIDDEN AND ARE OFTEN UNRELATED TO WATER SERVICE.
FOR EXAMPLE, OUR CURRENT BILLS ALREADY INCLUDE SMALLER SURCHARGES LIKE THE 5%, SO 5 CENT PER THOUSAND GALLONS RESERVE FUNDS, OR 30 CENT AND 15 CENT COMMUNITY BENEFIT CHARGES PER THOUSAND GALLONS.
FOR PROGRAMS LIKE CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE AND WATER CONSERVATION INITIATIVES, THESE ADD UP OVER TIME AND QUIETLY INCREASE THE OVERALL BURDEN ON RESIDENTS.
INSTEAD, I'D LIKE TO SUGGEST A DIFFERENT APPROACH.
THESE IN OUR WATER BILLS SHOULD DIRECTLY RELATE TO AUSTIN WATER OPERATIONS LIKE WATER TREATMENTS, INFRASTRUCTURE, MAINTENANCE, AND CUSTOMER SERVICE PROGRAMS LIKE COMMUNITY BENEFITS, WHICH AREN'T CORE WATER SERVICES SHOULD BE FUNDED THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND DRAWING FROM A BROADER TAX BASE RATHER THAN TACKING THEM ONTO UTILITY BILLS.
THIS KEEPS WATER RATE STRAIGHTFORWARD AND FAIR, ENSURING THAT WE'RE ONLY PAYING FOR OUR WATER SERVICE AND WHAT WE ACTUALLY NEED.
THAT'S THE ONLY WROTE SPEAKER I HAVE FOR ITEM TWO.
SO I'M GONNA SWITCH TO IN PERSON WALTER MORROW, SOPHIA BARATO, CARTO, ADRIAN MACIAS, VALERIE MENARD.
I DON'T SEE ANY MOVEMENT, SO I'M GONNA KEEP GOING.
NOE ALIAS, SHARON BLYTHE, EVA WHITE, IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MS. BLYTHE, ARE YOU GOING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? OKAY, MAYOR, THAT'S ALL THE SPEAKERS FOR ITEM TWO.
UM, MEMBERS, YOU'VE HEARD THAT THERE ARE NO MORE SPEAKERS FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO, WHICH IS THE PROPOSED RATE AND FEE CHANGES FOR AUSTIN WATER.
SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED FOR AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO AND
[3. Conduct a public hearing and consider proposed rate and fee changes for Austin Energy as part of the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 proposed budget.]
WE WILL NOW, UH, OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING UNLESS THERE'S OBJECTION FOR AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE, THE PROPOSED RATE AND FEE CHANGES FOR AUSTIN ENERGY.WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN.
WE HAVE NOW OPENED THE PUBLIC HEARING ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE.
MS. ROB, GOOD MORNING CITY COUNCIL.
THIS IS JENNIFER ROB AGAIN AND I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE PROPOSED RATE AND FEE CHANGES FOR AUSTIN ENERGY.
WHILE THE AVERAGE AUSTIN ENERGY BILL IS PROJECTED TO DECREASE SLIGHTLY SEVERAL FEE INCREASES, COULD DISPROPORTIONATELY INCREASE THE TAX BURDEN ON COST AND ENERGY CONSCIENCE.
AUSTIN RESIDENTS, THE BASE CUSTOMER CHARGE FOR RESIDENTIAL SERVICES GOING UP $1 PER MONTH, WHICH IS AN EXTRA $12 A YEAR FOR EVERY HOUSEHOLD JUST TO STAY CONNECTED.
THE TIERED ENERGY CHARGES ARE CREEPING UP TO TIER ONE IS TWO OR INCREASES A TYPICAL THOUSAND KILOWATT HOURS.
HOUSEHOLD WILL PAY NEARLY $10 MORE A YEAR FOR LOW ENERGY CONSUMPTION.
IN ADDITION, THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT CHARGE IS DOUBLING IN ORDER TO SUPPORT CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM SUPPORT.
THAT THOUSAND KILOWATT HOUR HOUSEHOLD, THAT'S NEARLY $40 EXTRA A YEAR.
OTHER FEES AND TARIFFS ARE ALSO RISING.
ADDING TO THE CUMULATIVE EFFECT, THESE BASE FEES RATE INCREASES IN UNRELATED FEES CHARGED BY THE KILOWATT HOUR DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT HOUSEHOLDS WHICH DRIVE TO KEEP COSTS LOW THROUGH ENERGY CONSCIOUS BEHAVIORS.
INSTEAD, I'D LIKE TO PROPOSE A DIFFERENT APPROACH FOR AUSTIN.
ENERGY FEES ON OUR ELECTRIC BILL SHOULD BE DIRECTLY TIED TO AUSTIN ENERGY'S OPERATION.
THINGS LIKE POWER GENERATION, ROAD GRID MAINTENANCE AND CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAMS LIKE COMMUNITY BENEFIT, WHICH AREN'T CORE ELECTRIC SERVICES TO BE FUNDED THROUGH THE GENERAL FUNDS PULLING FROM A WIDER TRACK BASE INSTEAD OF ADDING THEM TO UTILITY BILLS.
THIS KEEPS ATE CLEAR AND FAIR, ENSURING WE ONLY PAY FOR WHAT OUR ENERGY SERVICE TRULY REQUIRES.
AS THE ONLY REMOTE SPEAKER I HAVE AT THE MOMENT, SO I AM GOING TO RETURN TO IN PERSON WALTER MURROW, SOPHIA BARTO, ADRIAN MACIAS, VALERIE MENARD, PEDRO HERNANDEZ, JR.
[01:45:01]
BLYTHE, AND KIBA WHITE.IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MS. BLYTHE, ARE YOU GONNA SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SHE'S INDICATING SHE WON'T.
MS. WHITE, PLEASE COME FORWARD IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK.
IF THERE'S ANYBODY ELSE WHOSE NAME HAS BEEN CALLED ON THIS ITEM, THIS PUBLIC HEARING, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
KABA WHITE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF PUBLIC CITIZENS TEXAS OFFICE.
UM, I'M COMING TO SPEAK TO YOU ON THIS ITEM PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF A CONCERN ABOUT THE INCREASE IN THE FIXED CUSTOMER CHARGE FOR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS.
UH, SOME OF YOU WILL RECALL FROM THE AUSTIN ENERGY RATE CASE THAT CONCLUDED IN 2022 THAT THE INCREASE IN THE FIXED CUSTOMER CHARGE WAS A VERY HOTLY CONTESTED ITEM.
IT WAS ONE THAT THE INDEPENDENT CONSUMER ADVOCATE THAT THE CITY HIRED TO REPRESENT RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS, INCLUDING LOW INCOME CUSTOMERS, UM, OPPOSED, AND THAT ALMOST ALL OF THE OTHER PARTIES TO THE RATE CASE ALSO OPPOSED.
AT THAT TIME, AUSTIN ENERGY WAS PROPOSING AN INCREASE FROM 10 TO $25 A MONTH AND THEY HAD THEIR, THEIR JUSTIFICATIONS FOR IT IN TERMS OF RATE, UH, OR IN TERMS OF REVENUE STABILITY.
AND THEY POINTED OUT THAT CAP CUSTOMERS DON'T PAY THAT FEE.
HOWEVER, THERE WERE A LOT OF OTHER COMPELLING ARGUMENTS ON THE OTHER SIDE AGAINST INCREASING THAT FEE, AND THAT INCLUDES A DISCOURAGEMENT OF ENERGY CONSERVATION BECAUSE THE MORE OF YOUR BILL THAT IS BAKED INTO A FIXED FEE, THE LESS FINANCIAL BENEFIT YOU GET FROM CONSERVING ENERGY.
ALSO, YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER ALL OF THE LOWER INCOME CUSTOMERS WHO ARE NOT GETTING CAP DISCOUNTS BECAUSE THEY ARE PERHAPS JUST ONE LITTLE STEP ABOVE THE ELIGIBILITY.
SO WHEN YOU LOOKED AT ALL THE DATA, THERE WAS ACTUALLY STILL, UH, AN INEQUITABLE IMPACT IN INCREASING THAT FEE.
SO A COMPROMISE WAS REACHED THE, THE COUNCIL ADOPTED OF INCREASING IT TO $15 OVER THE COURSE OF THREE YEARS.
NOW, AUSTIN ENERGY IS ASKING YOU THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS, WHICH HAS FAR LESS OPPORTUNITY FOR REALLY DIGGING INTO THE DETAILS TO ESSENTIALLY GET IT TO THAT $25 OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT FIVE TO SIX YEARS.
I'M ASKING YOU TO REJECT THAT AND TAKE THIS UP IN A FULL RATE CASE WHERE ALL OF THE PERTINENT INFORMATION CAN BE DISCUSSED.
ALL SPEAKERS FOR ITEM THREE HAVE BEEN CALLED MEMBERS.
YOU JUST HEARD THAT ALL OF THE, UH, SPEAKERS THAT SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AT THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE HAVE BEEN CALLED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER THREE.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED
[4. Conduct a public hearing and approve an ordinance authorizing fees, fines, and other charges to be set or charged by the City for Fiscal Year 2025-2026, beginning on October 1, 2025, and ending on September 30, 2026, and waiving fees and other charges.(Part 1 of 2)]
WITHOUT OBJECTION.WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR, WHICH IS THE PROPOSED FEE, FINES, AND OTHER CHARGES FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
UH, HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS OPEN REMOTE.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK HERE.
I'D LIKE TO SHARE SOME THOUGHTS ON THE PROPOSED FEE WAIVERS FOR SMART HOUSING AND CHILDCARE FACILITIES.
I APPRECIATE THE INTENT BEHIND THESE INITIATIVES.
THE SMART HOUSING PROGRAM AIMS TO BOOST AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR LOW AND MODERATE INCOME RESIDENTS AND FEE WAIVERS FOR CHILDCARE FACILITIES.
HELP CAREGIVERS KEEP COSTS LOW.
I GET WHY THIS MIGHT SEEM LIKE THE SOLUTION, BUT I'M CONCERNED THAT THESE WAIVERS BENEFIT ONLY A SMALL FRACTION OF RESIDENTS.
WHILE THE COSTS DON'T JUST VANISH, THE WAIVED FEES WILL BE PASSED ON TO ALL OF US THROUGH OTHER TAXES OR FEES AS RESIDENTS AND TAXPAYERS WE'RE ALREADY BURDENED WITH HIGH FEES AND I'D LIKE TO ARGUE THAT IT'S MORE EQUITABLE TO CREATE A FEE SYSTEM THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE AND NOT JUST TARGETED GROUPS.
LET'S CONSIDER THE BIGGER PICTURE HERE.
IF HOUSING FEES ARE TWO FEES, THAT'S A CHALLENGE WE ALL SHARE HOMEOWNERS, DEVELOPERS, CHILD CARE CENTERS, AND RENTERS ALIKE.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE CITY COUNCIL EXPLORE A BALANCED APPROACH, ONE THAT KEEPS COSTS MANAGEABLE ACROSS THE BOARD RATHER THAN INSULATING SPECIFIC PROGRAM.
OKAY, THIS IS LEAH MARIE, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK, UM, FOR THE CITY OF O LIFEGUARD.
UH, THE PROSPECT OF CHARGING FOR THE CERTIFICATION, UM, AND NOT, NOT NOT GIVING, UM, HIRING STIPENDS FOR NEW LIFEGUARDS IS A SIGN SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL BURDEN ON, UH, PEOPLE BECOMING A LIFEGUARD
[01:50:01]
BECAUSE, UH, A LOT OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE BECOMING LIFEGUARDS OR, YOU KNOW, IT'S THEIR FIRST JOB OR THEY'RE NOT DOING WELL ENOUGH IN THEIR FULL-TIME JOB TO AFFORD, UH, THE COST OF LIVING.SO I THINK THAT, UH, CHARGING FEE FOR THIS WOULD BE BETTER.
IT WOULD BE BETTER NOT TO CHARGE FEES FOR THIS IN ORDER TO, UH, ENCOURAGE MORE LIFEGUARDS TO SIGN UP AND MAKE IT EASIER TO BECOME CERTIFIED.
THAT'S ALL THE REMOTE SPEAKERS I HAVE.
SO I AM GOING TO MOVE OVER TO IN PERSON FOR ITEM FOUR, SCOTT COBB, WALTER MORROW, SOPHIA BARATO, ADRIANA GARITA CALVO, CHRIS GANNON, SHARON BLYTHE, NICOLE HOWE, GLENN COLEMAN, ZACH FADI, AMY DELUNA.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MS. BLA, ARE YOU GONNA SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SHE INDICATES SHE'S NOT GOING TO.
THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I'LL BE VERY BRIEF.
UH, THANK COUNCIL MEMBER CHEETO AND UH, LANE FOR, UH, SUPPORTING US ON ITEM FOUR.
I'M WITH THE AUSTIN AND PHIL COALITION.
I'M JUST GONNA SIT DOWN REAL LEAFLY TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR LOOKING AT SOME OF THESE FEES, ALLOWING US TO FORM A STAKEHOLDER GROUP, HITTING THE PAUSE BUTTON ON SOME OF THE FEES WE'VE BEEN RECOMMENDED TO YOU AND EXPLORING SOME NEW WAYS THAT WE LOOK AT, UM, AT, UH, ENCOURAGING RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT INSTEAD OF, UH, PROHIBITING IT.
UH, WISH YOU, UH, THE BEST OF LUCK WITH THIS SESSION AND, UM, AGAIN, ON BEHALF OF THE AUSTIN AND PHIL COALITION, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND SUPPORT ON THIS ITEM.
HELLO, MY NAME IS SCOTT COBB AND I WANNA THANK MY PREVIOUS SPEAKER.
I THINK THERE ARE SOME FEES THAT NEED TO BE REMOVED.
THERE'S A FEE, $45 TO TAKE A SWIM TRAINING CLASS IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO TEACH KIDS TO SWIM.
I DON'T THINK THE CITY SHOULD BE CHARGING ITS OWN EMPLOYEES A FEE FOR A CLASS TAUGHT BY OTHER EMPLOYEES IN ORDER TO DO A SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC.
SO THAT NEEDS TO BE CUT, CUT OUT.
THE LIFEGUARD TRAINING FEE OF A HUNDRED DOLLARS NEEDS TO BE CUT OUT.
IT GOES TO TRAINING PEOPLE TO TRAIN NEW GUARDS.
ALSO, THERE WAS A, AN AMENDMENT EARLIER THAT HAS NOW BEEN REMOVED, I THINK TO REPLACE CONTINUE THE $400, UH, STIPEND FOR PEOPLE WHO COMPLETE THE LIFEGUARD COURSE AND WORK 80 HOURS.
THAT IS TO PAY FOR THE 40 HOURS OF LABOR THAT YOU TAKE TO TAKE THAT COURSE.
SO IF YOU, THEY CAN, IF, I DON'T KNOW WHO, IF THEY'RE PLANNING TO THINK IT OUT OR NOT, BUT IT NEEDS TO STAY IN THERE AT $400.
OTHERWISE, IT IS FREE LABOR THAT YOU'RE ASKING PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY TO, TO DO FOR 40 HOURS WITHOUT PAY THE $400 STIPEND AFTER THEY WORK 80 HOURS MAKES IT PARTIALLY PAID.
IN 2023, VANESSA FUENTES SUBMITTED A, UH, QUESTION AND CAN WE MAKE PAID TRAINING? AND THE ANSWER WAS, YES, WE CAN, WE CAN PUT PEOPLE ON PAYROLL, BUT THEY DID NOT DO THAT AS PART WHY THEY DID NOT DO THAT.
BUT WHAT THEY DID DO WAS OFFER $400.
IF YOU FINISH, IF YOU WORK EIGHT 80 HOURS, THAT $400 DOES NOT COVER THE ENTIRE 40 HOURS.
IF YOU PUT PEOPLE ON PAYROLL WHEN THEY'RE ACTUALLY WORKING, THAT WOULD BE $800.
I WAS IN THE ARMY, I WENT TO BASIC TRAINING, THEY PAID ME FOR THAT TRAINING.
EVERY JOB YOU WORK, YOU TRAINED, YOU SHOULD BE PAID.
ALL SPEAKERS FOR ITEM FOUR HAVE BEEN CALLED.
AS YOU'VE HEARD MEMBERS, UH, EVERYONE THAT HAS SIGNED THAT SIGNED UP FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR, THE PROPOSED FEE, FINES AND OTHER CHARGES FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAVE BEEN CALLED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED ON ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
[30. Conduct a public hearing and consider proposed rate and fee changes for Austin Resource Recovery as part of the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 proposed budget.]
WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 30, THE PROPOSED RATE AND FEE CHANGES FOR AUSTIN RESOURCE RECOVERY.THE UH, PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 30 IS NOW OPENED.
I HAVE WALTER MORROW, SOPHIA BARATO, SHARON BLYTHE, AND KIBA WHITE.
[01:55:01]
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED AND YOU WANT TO SPEAK, PLEASE COME FORWARD, MS. WHITE, MS. BLYTHE, I'M ASSUMING YOU DON'T WANT TO.HELLO, EVA WHITE ON BEHALF OF PUBLIC CITIZENS TEXAS OFFICE.
UM, I'M SPEAKING ON THIS ITEM BECAUSE I NOTICED A PROPOSED REDUCTION IN THE CLEAN COMMUNITY FEE FOR COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS.
AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU NOT TO REDUCE THAT FEE.
THERE IS AN IN FACT, IN FACT A NEED FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING FROM THAT FEE.
UM, THERE ARE MULTIPLE, UH, PROGRAMS THAT RELY ON THAT FUNDING, BUT AMONG THEM IS LIT ABATEMENT.
AND WHILE HERE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, THERE IS ROBUST LITTER ABATEMENT, UM, THERE IS VERY WEAK LITTER ABATEMENT IN OTHER PARTS OF OUR CITY AND IT IS VERY NEEDED.
I LIVE ON THE EAST SIDE AND UM, I WOULD SAY THAT THAT IS AN AREA ESPECIALLY ALONG EAST RIVERSIDE THAT IS IN DIRE NEED OF ADDITIONAL ATTENTION.
AND I'LL REMIND ALL OF YOU THAT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LITTER, WE ARE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT BEAUTIFYING OUR CITY, ALTHOUGH CERTAINLY, UH, LITTER ABATEMENT DOES THAT.
WE ARE ALSO TALKING ABOUT PROTECTING OUR HEALTH NOW AND IN THE FUTURE.
WE NOW HAVE PLASTIC IN OUR FOOD, IN OUR WATER, IN OUR AIR.
THEY ARE NOW BEING FOUND IN EVERY ORGAN IN THE BODY.
AND THEY ARE PROVEN NOW TO AFFECT OUR HEALTH TO CAUSE CARDIAC EVENTS, TO CAUSE OTHER SERIOUS HEALTH PROBLEMS, LIKELY INCLUDING THINGS LIKE FERTILITY ISSUES.
SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO HERE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL TO GET WHAT IS FRANKLY A GLOBAL PROBLEM, UH, BETTER UNDER CONTROL AND IT REALLY NEEDS TO START, START AT THE SOURCE.
OBVIOUSLY, REDUCING OUR USE OF SINGLE USE PLASTICS WOULD BE IDEAL, BUT AT THE VERY LEAST, WE NEED TO GET THEM OUT OF OUR ENVIRONMENT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
AND THIS CLEAN COMMUNITY FEE GOES DIRECTLY TO FUNDING THE CREWS THAT DO THAT WORK.
AND I'LL NOTE THAT THERE ARE SOME ORGANIZATIONS IN TOWN LIKE HUNGARY HILL THAT ARE PUTTING PEOPLE WHO ARE IN NEED OF EMPLOYMENT AND REINTEGRATION INTO THE WORKFORCE, UH, DOING JUST THAT WORK.
SO PLEASE DO NOT REDUCE THAT FEE.
ALL SPEAKERS FOR ITEM 30 HAVE BEEN CALLED MEMBERS ALL SPEAKERS FOR ITEM NUMBER 30 FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ON ITEM NUMBER 30, WHICH IS THE PROPOSED RATE AND FEE CHANGES FOR AUSTIN RESOURCE RECOVERY HAVE BEEN CALLED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 30.
UH, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED ON ITEM NUMBER 30 THAT WILL TAKE
[31. Conduct a public hearing and consider a proposed drainage charge rate change for the Watershed Protection Department as part of the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 proposed budget.]
US TO ITEM NUMBER 31 AND WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 31, WHICH IS THE PROPOSED DRAINAGE CHARGE RATE CHANGE FOR THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT.THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN FOR ITEM 31.
I HAVE WALTER MOREAU, SOPHIA BARATO, ROY WHALEY, SHARON BLYTHE.
MR. WHALEY IS, UH, WAVING AT ME AND IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU.
UH, MR. WHALEYS WA WAIVING HIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK HERE.
MS. BLYTHE, I ASSUME YOU DON'T WANNA SPEAK.
IS THERE ANYONE WHOSE NAME WAS CALLED THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, WHICH IS ITEM NUMBER 31 RELATED TO DRAINAGE CHARGE RATE CHANGES? I DON'T SEE ANYONE MEMBERS.
THAT MEANS EVERYONE THAT'S BEEN THAT SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 31, WHICH IS THE PUBLIC HEARING.
AS I INDICATED ON THE DRAINAGE CHARGE RATE CHANGE FOR THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN CALLED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 31, UH, THE PUBLIC HEARING WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED.
[Items 5 - 27]
WE WILL NOW BEGIN TAKING PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR ALL OTHER ITEMS ON THE COUNCIL AGENDA, UH, THAT WERE THOSE ITEMS THAT WERE NOT INCLUDED IN DESIGNATED PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS. THESE REMAINING ITEMS ARE ITEMS FIVE THROUGH 27, AND WE WILL TREAT THOSE AS I INDICATED EARLIER, THE WAY WE TYPICALLY DO, UH, A CONSENT AGENDA.WE WILL START WITH ITEM NUMBER FIVE AND START MAKING OUR WAY THROUGH EACH ITEM, UH, FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP.
SO ITEM NUMBER FIVE IS WHERE WE'LL START AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER REMOTELY HAS REQUESTED SPANISH INTERPRETATION, SO THEY WILL RECEIVE FOUR MINUTES.
MY NAME IS ROS, I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE FAMILY STABILIZATION PROGRAM.
THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN A BLESSING FOR MANY FAMILIES, INCLUDING MY OWN.
[02:00:26]
WE ARE LIVING IN VERY DIFFICULT TIMES.THE ECONOMIES ARE A CRITICAL POINT, AND WE ALL KNOW HOW MUCH THE PRICES OF BASIC FOOD ITEMS HAVE INCREASED ALMOST A HUNDRED PERCENT.
I'M THE MOM OF THE FOUR BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN.
MY OCCUPATION IS CLEANING HOUSES.
AND EVEN WITH TWO JOBS, MY SALARY IS NOT ENOUGH TO COVER ALL MY EXPENSES.
THIS IS WHY I WOULD LIKE YOU TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE IT'S AN ICON OF HOPE AND GRATITUDE FOR MANY PEOPLE.
I HAVE ONE OTHER SPEAKER THAT'S REQUESTED TRANSLATION SERVICES S GOOD MORNING.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS SPACE AND FOR THE OPPORTUNITY, THIS WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO UP TOGETHER.
THIS IS A WONDERFUL HELP FOR ME AND FOR MY TWO CHILDREN BECAUSE IT HELPS ME TO COVER MY RENT AND ALSO TO COVER OTHER BILL PAYMENTS.
OKAY, SO YOU KNOW, I AM A SINGLE MOTHER AND I HAVE TO WORK PART-TIME SO I CAN TAKE CARE OF MY CHILDREN AT HOME.
THIS IS WHY THIS HELP MAKES ME FEEL SAFE.
I'M NOT AFRAID OF BEING EVICTED OR HAVING TO PAY FINES FOR PAYING, UH, RENT LATE SINCE I HAD TO SUPPORT, MY MENTAL STRESS HAS BEEN REDUCED AND I DON'T FEEL SO EXHAUSTED MENTALLY.
AND WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE BETTER TIMES WITH MY CHILDREN AND FAMILY WITHOUT HAVING SO MANY FINANCIAL WORRIES.
AND ALL OF THIS IS THANK YOUS TO UP TOGETHER.
MARIE ANIAK LI ANNMARIE, ARE YOU THERE? JENNIFER ROBO.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY ABOUT THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET.
I APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK THAT GOES INTO THIS, THIS, AND I KNOW WE ALL WANT WHAT'S BEST FOR AUSTIN.
LOOKING AT THE BUDGET, I THINK MOST AUSTIN RESIDENTS CAN AGREE THAT ESSENTIAL SERVICES LIKE FIRST RESPONDERS AND UTILITIES SHOULD BE OUR TOP PRIORITY, FULLY FUNDED THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND.
AFTER THAT, THE CITY SHOULD ENSURE THAT FREE PUBLIC SERVICES LIKE STREETS, LIBRARIES, AND PARKS ARE FUNDED.
THEN WE CAN AFFORD TO FUND SOCIAL SERVICES LIKE PUBLIC HEALTH
[02:05:01]
CLINICS AND FEE-BASED PROGRAMS. AND ONLY AFTER THAT SHOULD THE CITY CONSIDER ANY OTHER ITEMS. I ALSO THINK MANY RESIDENTS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW MUCH THE CITY SPENDS ON CONSULTANTS AND NONPROFITS.INSTEAD, WE SHOULD PRIORITIZE ASSIGNING CITY OF AUSTIN EMPLOYEES TO PROJECTS AND COMMUNITY ROLES.
THIS ALLOWS FOR GREATER TRANSPARENCY AND KEEPS OUR MONEY LOCAL.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS ESSENTIAL PUBLIC PROGRAMS, THOSE PROVIDING HOUSING, HEALTHCARE, FIRE PROTECTION, USE PROGRAMS, AND ANIMAL CARE, THESE SHOULD BE PART OF THE BASELINE OF OUR BUDGET.
PUSHING A TAX RATE ELECTION THIS YEAR FEELS UNRESPONSIVE TO THE COMMUNITY'S CONCERNS WHEN WE COULD REVISE THIS BUDGET TO REFLECT THESE PRIORITIES.
FIRST, I'VE HEARD FROM MANY RESIDENTS WHO FEEL THE SAME.
WE WANT A BUDGET THAT PUTS THE RESIDENTS WHO LIVE AND WORK HERE FIRST, NOT ONES THAT STRAINS OUR OWN BUDGETS WITH A TAX INCREASE.
YOU ALL HAVE THE CHANCE TO SHOW YOUR COMMITMENT TO KEEPING AUSTIN AFFORDABLE BY VOTING NO ON THIS BUDGET AND RETHINKING OUR CITY'S CORE PRIORITIES.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS BARBARA GRANT BONTA AND I SERVE AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY SUCCESS BY SIX COALITION.
OUR COALITION REPRESENTS OVER 140 ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TOGETHER TO ENSURE EVERY CHILD IN OUR COMMUNITY ENTERS KINDERGARTEN, HEALTHY, SUPPORTED, AND READY TO SUCCEED AND THRIVE.
FIRST, WE WANT TO THANK THE CITY FOR YOUR STRONG AND SUSTAINED INVESTMENTS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD, INCLUDING THE SOCIAL SERVICE CONTRACTS THAT STRENGTHEN FAMILY STABILITY, PROVIDING FEE WAIVERS AROUND LICENSING REQUIREMENTS FOR CHILDCARE PROGRAMS, SUPPORTING FAMILY BASED CHILDCARE AND GROWING THEIR QUALITY AND CAPACITY AND SO MUCH MORE.
THESE INVESTMENTS HAVE REALLY MADE MEASURABLE IMPACTS ON CHILDREN'S HEALTH, SCHOOL READINESS AND LONG-TERM SUCCESS.
TODAY WE ASK YOU TO PROTE PRIORITIZE A FEW THINGS.
FIRST, WE'RE ASKING TO PRIORITIZE FUNDING FOR PRE-K STARTUP CLASSROOMS, SPECIFICALLY TO EXPAND ACCESS BY PROVIDING AN ADDITIONAL $42,266 TO MAINTAIN THE NUMBER OF EIGHT PRE-K CLASSROOMS THAT ARE ABLE TO OPEN ANNUALLY.
HIGH QUALITY PRE-K IS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE TOOLS WE HAVE TO CLOSE OPPORTUNITY GAPS BEFORE THEY START.
STARTUP FUNDING ALLOWS DISTRICTS AND CHILDCARE PROVIDERS TO OPEN NEW CLASSROOMS QUICKLY AND COVER THE COST OF MATERIALS SO CHILDREN CAN BEGIN BENEFITING IMMEDIATELY.
WE ALSO URGE YOU TO SUSTAIN SUPPORT FOR FAMILY CONNECT, WHICH PROVIDES EVERY FAMILY OF A NEWBORN WITH A FREE HOME VISIT OR FROM A REGISTERED NURSE AND JUST A FEW VISITS FAMILY RE RECEIVE HEALTH CHECKS FOR BOTH BABY AND PARENT CONNECTIONS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND EARLY IDENTIFICATION OF ANY CHALLENGES, REDUCING EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS, IMPROVING HEALTH OUTCOMES, AND HELPING PARENTS FEEL MORE CONFIDENT IN THEIR ROLE.
FINALLY, WE SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION AND THAT ENSURES THE CHILDCARE FEE WAIVER PROGRAM IS OPEN TO NEW CHILDCARE CENTERS, NOT JUST THOSE THAT ARE EXPANDING TO ENSURE WE ARE REMOVING BARRIERS FOR CHILDCARE CENTERS THAT OPEN IN CHILDCARE DESERTS BY MAKING THESE TARGETED.
LEAH MARIE, ARE YOU THERE? TANIKA BREWSTER? GOOD MORNING OR GOOD AFTERNOON RATHER.
UH, MY NAME IS TANIKA AND CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME? WE CAN HEAR YOU, YES.
GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M WITH DISTRICT ONE AND I JUST WANNA SPEAK IN, IN FAVOR OF THE, UM, MAKING SURE THAT THE FAMILY STABILIZATION GRANT IS PUT INTO BUDGET.
UM, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT IT MAY COST SOME TO SOME, SOME PEOPLE, BUT THE IT, IT HELPS FAMILIES A LOT.
IT HELPS MY FAMILY, IT HELPS FAMILIES THAT PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM.
NOT ONLY DOES IT HELP STABILIZE FAMILIES AND HELPS FAMILIES TO BE SUSTAINED, BUT IT ACT ACTUALLY HELPS THEM TO BECOME MORE SELF-SUFFICIENT AND THAT'S THE LESS BURDEN ON THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, THE CITY AS A WHOLE.
SO IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE LOOK AT THIS AND MAKE SURE THAT THAT, AND WHEN WE LOOK AT THE BUDGET, WE MAKE SURE THAT THE FAMILY STABILIZATION GRANT IS PLACED IN THERE AND UNDERSTAND HOW IT REALLY DOES HELP.
THERE'S A SOCIAL PROGRAM THAT ARE NEEDED FOR OUR CITY TO CONTINUE.
IT'S NOT AFFORDABLE RIGHT NOW.
SOME FAMILIES WERE BARELY GETTING BY BEFORE HAVING THE ASSISTANCE THAT THEY HAD.
[02:10:01]
HELP MORE FAMILIES, BUT IF IT CAN ONLY HELP THOSE THAT, THAT ARE HAVE BEEN HELPED IN THE PAST, HOW IS THAT SHOWING A MORE PROGRESSIVE AUSTIN? THANK YOU.BRITTANY, ARE YOU THERE? BARBARA MACARTHUR.
HI, MY NAME IS BARBARA MACARTHUR AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT SEVEN.
I SPENT A LOT OF TIME STUDYING THE BUDGET, BUT I REALLY DIDN'T HAVE TIME AND THE 1300 PAGES CONFOUNDED ME.
WHAT I DO SEE IS WE'RE SPENDING MUCH MORE PER CAPITA THAN WE WERE EVEN A FEW YEARS AGO.
WHILE OUR POPULATION IS NOT GROWING, WHAT I DO SAY IS WE'RE SPENDING PER CAPITA ALMOST TWO TO THREE TIMES AS MUCH AS SAN ANTONIO WHO ALSO OWN THEIR UTILITIES.
AND WHAT I DO SEE IS YOU'RE PUTTING, YOU'RE LETTING PEOPLE KNOW THAT TO GET BASIC SERVICES, SOCIAL SERVICES, TO GET ENOUGH FIREMEN ON A FIRE TRUCK THAT THEY HAVE TO SUPPORT A TRE RATHER THAN SAYING, ASKING PEOPLE THE QUESTION LIKE, WOULD YOU RATHER PUT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO KAPLAN STITCH IN A CONVENTION CENTER? OR WOULD YOU RATHER PUT IT ON THOSE SERVICES? LASTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO BEG FOR SUPPORT FOR RECYCLED READS.
EVEN IF YOU WANT TO MOVE IT TO ANOTHER PART OF TOWN, IT IS A GREAT RESOURCE FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PURCHASE BOOKS FOR THEIR CHILDREN AND TEACHERS WHO NEED BOOKS FOR THEIR CLASSROOMS. EVERY TIME I'VE BEEN THERE, IT IS CROWDED AND FULL.
WHEN I SERVED ON THE LIBRARY COMMITTEES MANY YEARS AGO, WHAT YOU DID WITH BOOKS IS YOU PUT 'EM IN A DUMPSTER WHEN THEY WENT OUT OF CIRCULATION.
HAVING ONE PLACE TO DISTRIBUTE THE BOOKS IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.
AND I BEG YOU TO LOOK AT RENTING ANOTHER FACILITY SOMEPLACE ELSE.
IT'S A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS AND A UNIFORM FACILITY IS A LOT MORE BETTER THAN A DISPERSED.
SO, UH, JUST A COUPLE OF COMMENTS.
UH, THANK YOU OH, LINCOLN, TO THE DISTRICT REPORT, YOU KNOW, AS AN ORGANIZATION AT THE BOARD, WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO, UM, TO HELP, UH, YOU KNOW, MEET, UH,
WOULD YOU MIND CALLING ALICIA PEREZ HODGE ONE MORE TIME? I DON'T THINK SHE HEARD HER NAME.
YES, WE WILL PUT HER THROUGH, BUT I DID UNMUTE HER LINE SO THAT YEAH, WE'LL CALL HER AGAIN THOUGH A LOKI SHAW BRIDE AND SUMMERS, SCOTT COBB, JOCELYN MAXWELL, RAYMOND MONTEZ.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED AND THERE'S AN EMPTY CHAIR, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
HELLO, MY NAME IS AOKI SHAW AND I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED WORKERS OF INTEGRAL CARE.
I WOULD FIRST LIKE TO SPEAK ON TWO SPECIFIC AMENDMENTS BEFORE YOU THAT REFLECT EXACTLY THE KIND OF COMPASSIONATE AND PRACTICAL INVESTMENTS THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN SHOULD MAKE.
FIRST MAYOR PRO TEMS FUENTES AMENDMENT TO ENSURE FUNDING FOR LOCAL TENANT-BASED VOUCHERS FOR ALL 140 RESIDENTS WHO ARE LOSING THEIR EMERGENCY HOUSING VOUCHERS DUE TO THEIR PREMATURE SUNSET IN 2026.
THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN STABLY HOUSED FOR TWO TO FOUR YEARS.
THEY'VE DONE EVERYTHING RIGHT, BUILT STABILITY, MAINTAINED HOUSING, AND NOW THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN, THEY FACE LOSING EVERYTHING.
HOUSING VOUCHERS WERE CREATED FOR EXACTLY THIS REASON, TO PROTECT THOSE WHO SIMPLY CANNOT EARN ENOUGH TO KEEP A ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS.
WE MUST ENSURE THAT THESE NEIGHBORS KEEP THEIR HOUSING AND THAT THOSE CURRENTLY ON OUR STREETS HAVE A PATH TO DISABILITY.
SECOND, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER AND VILLA'S AMENDMENTS TO ENSURE FUNDING TO CONTINUE.
24 7 EM CAUGHT LAST YEAR, THE CITY RECOGNIZED THE NECESSITY OF HAVING MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AVAILABLE AT ALL HOURS AS PART OF THE 9 1 1 RESPONSE SYSTEM WITH A ONE-TIME SIX MONTH FUNDING WHEN AUSTIN CREATED THE FOURTH 9 1 1 OPTION.
AND YOU PROMISED RESIDENTS THAT WE WOULD NO LONGER BE MET WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT WHEN EXPERIENCING A MENTAL HEALTH EMERGENCY.
INSTEAD, THEY WOULD BE MET WITH TRAINED MENTAL HEALTH RESPONDERS.
THIS IS WHAT REAL PUBLIC SAFETY LOOKS LIKE, MEETING EMERGENCIES WITH THE RIGHT EXPERTISE, THE RIGHT COMPASSION, AND THE RIGHT TOOLS.
WE MUST ENSURE AMENDMENTS THAT FULLY FUND THE HSO PLAN AND ENSURE THAT THERE ARE NO CUTS TO THE HOMELESS, SURVIVOR HOMELESS SERVICE PROVIDERS SUCH AS INTEGRAL CARE SO WE CAN
[02:15:01]
CONTINUE TO EXPAND AND GROW EVIDENCE-BASED CARE TO ENSURE SAFETY AND CARE FOR EVERYONE.I WOULD LIKE TO HUMBLY THANK THESE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO THE HEALTH, WELLBEING, AND SAFETY OF EVERY AUSTIN RESIDENT AND ASK THAT ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS SUPPORT AND VOTE FOR THESE AMENDMENTS.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M BRIAN SUMMERS, PRESIDENT OF AFSCME LOCAL 1624, REPRESENTING THE THOUSANDS OF OUR MEMBERS THAT ARE CITY OF AUSTIN EMPLOYEES.
UH, THIS HAS BEEN QUITE AN EXPERIENCE THIS YEAR.
IT'S BEEN A LOT GOING THROUGH THIS BUDGET PROCESS, BUT WE HAVE BEEN REMINDED THAT WE HAVE SOME SHARED VALUES AND WE APPRECIATE THAT.
I WANNA START BY THANKING YOU FOR FIRST PRIORITIZING PAY RAISES AND THIS BUDGET AND IN THE COMING BUDGETS.
UH, WE SEE THAT IN THE PROPOSALS THAT HAVE BEEN RELEASED AND THE CIVILIAN WORKFORCE DOES FEEL APPRECIATED.
UH, WE ALSO APPRECIATE THE PRIORITIZATION OF OUR PROGRESSIVE COLA, UH, THAT WE HAVE PUT FORWARD.
ASME HAS BEEN ADVOCATING FOR THAT FOR YEARS, AND COUNCIL PICKING THAT UP SHOWS YOUR COMMITMENT TO HAVING A WORKFORCE THAT'S ACTUALLY COMPOSED OF AUSTINITES.
UH, WE'RE ALSO PLEASED TO SUPPORT SOME OTHER INITIATIVES THAT HAVE EMERGED IN THIS PROCESS.
UH, FOR THE WORKERS OUT THERE THAT HAVE TO GO IN DURING BAD WEATHER, THEY'RE PUTTING THEMSELVES AT RISK AND THEY'RE MAKING SURE THAT THE CITY ARE IS RUNNING, AND SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE TAKING CARE OF THEM FOR THE FRONTLINE WORKERS OUT THERE, THE ONES THAT ARE SERVING CUSTOMERS FACE TO FACE OR OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, UH, WHAT I REALLY MEAN IS THE WORKERS THAT CANNOT TELEWORK.
UH, WE'VE KNOWN THAT THERE HAS BEEN INEQUITY SINCE COVID, AND THIS SEEMS LIKE THE TIME THAT WE CAN RECTIFY THAT AND WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL WILL DO THAT BY GIVING THEM MORE PAY IN THE BUDGET AS WELL.
UH, BUT FINALLY, I I JUST WANNA SAY TO YOU, WE HAVE BEEN COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THERE IS SECURITY FOR OUR MEMBERS AND THEIR JOBS.
WHETHER THESE JOBS ARE AT RISK IN THIS BUDGET CYCLE OR IF THE PROGRAMS THAT THEY WORK AT WORK ON ARE AT RISK IN FUTURE BUDGET CYCLES, WE KNOW THAT THERE IS A THROUGH LINE, A TIE TO THEIR JOBS.
WE'VE DEMONSTRATED OUR ADVOCACY ON THIS ISSUE WHEN WE CAME TO THE, UH, TO SUPPORT AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH IN THE RALLY WE HAD OUTSIDE, UH, DUE TO THE FEDERAL FUNDING CUTS.
AND WE'VE BEEN CONSISTENT THAT THERE CAN BE NO LAYOFFS IN THE CITY.
AND SO PLEASE THINK ABOUT HOW ALL OF THOSE PROGRAMS ARE, ARE TIED TO A PERSON'S LIVELIHOOD FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILY.
UH, SO LET'S GET THIS DONE TOGETHER.
WE'RE EXCITED TO WORK WITH YOU.
ASH ME WILL BE STANDING BY YOUR SIDE AS WE GO AROUND THE CITY AND REMIND EVERYBODY WHY WE'VE GOT A FIGHT TOGETHER.
HELLO, MY NAME IS SCOTT COBB, AND AS I WAS SITTING IN THE BACK, I THOUGHT BACK ON MY ENGLISH MAJOR EARS AND I THOUGHT OF A LINE FROM SHAKESPEARE MACBETH BY THE PRICKING OF MY THUMBS.
SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES TODAY.
IT'S THE ATTITUDE THAT THE LOWEST PAID WORKERS, THE ONES MAKING THE MINIMUM WAGE, DESERVE LESS, LESS OF A PAY, INCREASE, LESS BENEFITS, LESS JOB PROTECTION, NO APPEALS PROCESS, AND TO TREAT THEM LIKE THEY CAN BE DISPOSABLE AND FIRED ON THE SPOT.
I WANT TO COMPARE TWO EMPLOYEES.
ONE MAKES 2163, THEY'RE A TEMPORARY EMPLOYEE.
THE REGULAR EMPLOYEE ALSO GETS $2,000 LUMP SUM THAT MAKES THEIR RAISE 6.39% A TEMPORARY 1.94%.
SOMETHING UN FUNDAMENTALLY UNFAIR ABOUT TREATING PEOPLE WHO YOU NEED TO BE ON THOSE LIFEGUARD STANDS AT THOSE PARK AT THOSE REC CENTERS PICKING UP THOSE TRASH CANS IN ZUCKER PARK, BUT NOT TREATING THEM EQUALLY.
IN THE PAST, YOU'VE DONE A GOOD JOB.
YOU GAVE US A 4% RAISE THE LAST THREE YEARS, THE SAME AS THE REGULAR EMPLOYEES LIKE MACBETH.
YOU STARTED OFF THE PLAY A HERO.
BY THE END, THE WORKERS ARE LOSING FAITH THAT YOU VALUE THEIR LABOR.
SO I ASK YOU TO KEEP IN MIND THE WORDS OF MAYA ANGELOU.
SHE USED TO SAY ALL THE TIME IN TALK SHOWS.
DO THE BEST YOU CAN UNTIL YOU KNOW BETTER.
THEN WHEN YOU KNOW BETTER, DO BETTER NOW YOU KNOW BETTER.
WHO DO BETTER? I, I BELIEVE WE HAVE ALICIA PEREZ HOBACK, SO I'M GONNA TRY.
UH, GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I AM THE DISTRICT DIRECTOR FOR, UH, LULAC LEAGUE OF UNITED LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS, UH, DISTRICT 12 AND ALSO, UH, CO-FOUNDER OF AB BLAH.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON THREE ITEMS. UM, THE FIRST IS
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THE 8 MILLION PLUS THAT IS BEING CUT FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, UM, AND SALARIES.THAT IS A LOT OF MONEY TO CUT FROM THEM.
WHEN YOU'RE WITH A MUCH BIGGER BUDGET IN POLICE, YOU'RE CUTTING 9 MILLION.
SO THAT IS A GREAT, UM, CONCERN AND THAT IS ALSO TIED THEN TO I BELIEVE, AND NUMBER SIX, UH, THAT IS AN REPEALING AN ORDINANCE THAT, UH, WOULD REQUIRE FOUR FIREFIGHTERS TO, UM, AN APPARATUS TRUCK AS OPPOSED TO THREE.
AND I THINK THE CITY MANAGER IS RECOMMENDING GO TO THREE.
I WOULD SAY PLEASE DON'T DO THAT.
THERE IS OSHA, UH, REQUIREMENT AS YOU HEARD PREVIOUSLY, AND IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE FOUR FIREFIGHTERS AT THE SCENE, THEY WILL NOT ALLOW TWO OF THEM TO GO INSIDE.
AND IF YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR ANOTHER TRUCK, THAT MEANS MINUTES AND PEOPLE COULD LOSE THEIR LIVES.
SO PLEASE RECONSIDER, UH, REPEALING THAT ORDINANCE AND, UH, PUTTING THE MONEY BACK IN IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THE OTHER ISSUE IS I, WE SUPPORT, UM, ANY ASSISTANCE TO IMMIGRANTS.
THEY ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR WORKFORCE AND ARE IMPORTANT.
A LOT OF THEM HAVE CHILDREN THAT ARE US CITIZENS AND WE WANT TO PROTECT THEM.
SO PLEASE SUPPORT, UH, PROPOSALS TO HELP, UH, IMMIGRANTS BECAUSE IF YOU'RE HELPING FAMILIES, YOU ARE HELPING UNITED STATES CITIZENS IN ALL LIKELIHOOD BECAUSE A LOT OF THE CHILDREN ARE THANK YOU.
THE LAST THING IS THE EMERGENCY CARE, PLEASE.
OKAY, I'LL SWITCH BACK TO IN-PERSON SPEAKERS AGAIN.
JESUSA WALTER MORROW, SOPHIA BARTO, RICHARD BONDE, HAN MAVERICK, ADRIAN MACIAS, VALERIE MENARD, PEDRO HERNANDEZ, JR.
NOE ALIAS, AND MEGAN KING NAER.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND HAVE A SEAT.
UH, PLEASE BEGIN WHEN YOU'RE READY.
GOOD AFTERNOON, RATHER, UH, MAYOR WATSON, MAYOR PRO TEM FUENTES COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY.
I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 10 AND I AM A POLICY AND RESEARCH ORGANIZER WITH GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP HERE IN AUSTIN.
UH, WHAT WE CARE ABOUT IS MAKING SURE THAT THE CITY IS RESPONSIVE TO EVERYONE'S NEEDS, INCLUDING PEOPLE WHO COME INTO CONTACT WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT HELD IN CUSTODY WITHOUT PROBABLE CAUSE AND EVEN WHERE PROBABLE CAUSE EXISTS THAT THE PERSON IN CUSTODY IS ABLE TO BE RELEASED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
WE ALSO CARE ABOUT SPENDING OUR CITY RESOURCES EFFICIENTLY AND IN WAYS THAT PUT PEOPLE BACK ON TRACK AND HELP THEM SUPPORT THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES.
THAT'S WHY SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE REPEATEDLY REPAY RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT APPEARS TO BE A NET INCREASE IN, OF $2.5 MILLION IN THE A PD BUDGET FOR COUNCIL AT FIRST APPEARANCE AND MAGISTRATION SERVICES, IT IS UNCLEAR EXACTLY WHAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS SUPPOSED TO DO WITH THAT MONEY AND WHY IT IS NOT GOING INSTEAD TO THE MUNICIPAL COURTS.
THIS IS A CONCERN BECAUSE PRESENTLY POLICE OFFICERS SOMETIMES DELAY SUBMITTING PROBABLE CAUSE AFFIDAVITS, WHICH DELAYS THE ARRESTEE'S MAGISTRATION AND IF THEY'RE ELIGIBLE, THEY'RE RELEASE ON BOND.
I'M AWARE THAT BECAUSE OF HOUSE BILL 1900, WHICH PASSED THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE IN 2021, ONCE MONEY GOES INTO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET IT OUT.
I SEE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL HAS OFFERED AN AMENDMENT TITLED TRAVIS COUNTY CENTRAL BOOKING, ILA AMENDMENT TO THE BUDGET TO TRANSFER MONEY FROM THE POLICE BUDGET TO THE GENERAL FUND.
I WOULD LIKE YOU TO PASS THAT AMENDMENT BECAUSE THAT WILL FUND INITIATIVES THAT ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT ENCOUNTERS AND THEREBY KEEP PEOPLE FROM SUFFERING THE TRAUMA OF UNDUE INCARCERATION SO THEY CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES.
THANK YOU FOR THIS, FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS CRITICAL ISSUE.
HELLO, MY NAME IS MEGAN KING DAMOUR.
I'M THE POLICY AND OUTREACH PLANNER FOR PRESERVATION AUSTIN.
I'M HERE TO TODAY TO EXPRESS OUR ORGANIZATION SUPPORT FOR MAYOR PRO TEM FUENTES AMENDMENT TO, UH, CREATE TWO NEW FTES FOR THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE AND FUND A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF PRESERVATION PRESERVATION INCENTIVES.
A REQUEST TOTALING APPROXIMATELY $440,000.
THE TWO FTES WOULD FULFILL NECESSARY CODE MANDATED REVIEW WORK AND SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CITY'S EQUITY BASED PRESERVATION PLAN.
THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR AN ANALYSIS OF PRESERVATION INCENTIVES WOULD EVALUATE AUSTIN'S CURRENT AND
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POTENTIAL PRESERVATION INCENTIVES, INCLUDING THE LANDMARK TAX EXEMPTION AND TRANSFER DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS, AND CREATE A CON COMPREHENSIVE SUITE OF OPPORTUNITIES TO PROMOTE PRESERVATION.IN THE FALL OF LAST YEAR, COUNCIL ADOPT ADOPTED THE EQUITY BASED PRESERVATION PLAN IN ITS 107 RECOMMENDATIONS.
WE KNOW THAT THIS DIOCESE VALUES PRESERVATION AND WANTS TO SEE BETTER OUTCOMES FOR AUSTIN'S HISTORIC AND CULTURAL RESOURCES, THE PLAN RECOMMENDS INCREASING HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE STAFFING TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY, IDENTIFY GAPS AND PRIORITIES, AND PROACTIVELY PROMOTE HISTORIC DESIGNATION.
A 2017 AUDIT NOTED THAT AUSTIN'S HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE HAD ONE OF THE LOWEST STAFFING LEVELS FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION AMONG COMPARABLE CITIES.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE CURRENTLY HAS SIX FTES, WITH THE HIGHEST RATIO OF STAFF TO CASELOAD AMONG PEER CITIES.
WITH THE PACE OF DEVELOPMENT AND DEMOLITION, OUR EXPERIENCE, OUR CITY EXPERIENCES, MOST OF THIS LIMITED STAFF TIME IS SPENT ON PERMIT REVIEW AND CASE MANAGEMENT, LEAVING LITTLE TIME FOR PROACTIVE OUTREACH AND EDUCATION THAT IS DESPERATELY NEEDED.
WE'D LIKE TO THANK MAYOR PRO TE FUENTES FOR HER LEADERSHIP ON THIS ITEM, AS WELL AS COUNCIL MEMBERS VELAZQUEZ AND ELLIS FOR THEIR SUPPORT PRESERVATION.
AUSTIN ASKS THAT YOU JOIN THEM IN FUNDING THIS AMENDMENT, WHICH WOULD HAVE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS FOR THE PRESERVATION OF OUR CITY'S HISTORY AND CULTURE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR SERVICE.
AND MONICA HAS TIME DONATED BY ROY WHALEY.
I SEE SIX MINUTES FROM MONICA AND THEN SHELLY LEHAM, SHARON BLYTH, REGINA CYPHERS, LORETTA VALENCIA, AND JAY KENNEDY.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M MONICA GUZMAN, POLICY DIRECTOR AT GAVA.
AUSTIN VAU, THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING THE 75,000 SUSTAINED FUNDING FOR THE BUILDING COMPREHENSIVE NETWORKS BCN PARTNERSHIP WITH HOMEGROWN TO SUPPORT STRATEGIES FOR HOME-BASED CHILDCARE IN THE BASE BUDGET WITH A TAX RATE NOT YET APPROVED.
BASED ON THE NOW SIX TRE SCENARIOS, WE URGE YOU TO ENSURE FUNDING AT MINIMUM 1.3 MILLION FOR THE FAMILY STABILIZATION GRANT, AN ECONOMIC INVESTMENT IN THE LIVES OF OVER 80 HOUSEHOLDS, PROVIDING THEIR ABILITY TO STABILIZE AND IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE.
5 MILLION FOR THE EQUITY DIVISION OF THE OFFICE OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION, ESPECIALLY FULLY FUNDING THE UNDOING RACISM WORKSHOPS.
733,000, SORRY, HARD NUMBER TO SAY.
733 AND $69,000 FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND DISASTER PREPAREDNESS COMMITMENTS WITH A DEDICATED COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER STRIKE TEAM.
AND WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THERE IS FUNDING IN PLACE FOR CRITICALLY NEEDED IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES AND URGE YOU TO ENSURE IT TO IT IS APPROVED.
WE THANK MAYOR PRO TE FUENTES FOR PRIORITIZING PRE-K STARTUP COSTS.
THOUGH WE WANT TO EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THOSE A ISD PRE-K FUNDINGS, INCLUDING INCLUDING PRE-K PARTNERSHIP FUNDING.
CURRENTLY PRE-K PARTNERSHIPS ARE COLLABORATIONS BETWEEN A ISD AND HIGH QUALITY COMMUNITY-BASED CHILDCARE CENTERS OR HEAD START PROGRAMS. THESE PARTNERSHIPS EXPAND EXCESS, UH, TO HIGH QUALITY PRE-K EDUCATION AND CHILDCARE OPTIONS FOR ELIGIBLE THREE AND 4-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN.
CHILDREN RECEIVE THEIR PRE-K INSTRUCTION AT THE COMMUNITY-BASED CENTER AND CAN ALSO RECEIVE BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL CARE THERE ENSURING CONTINUITY OF CARE AND EDUCATION.
THIS ARRANGEMENT IS PARTICULARLY BENEFICIAL FOR FAMILIES WITH WORKING PARENTS WHO NEED A FULL DAY OF CHILDCARE IN ADDITION TO IMPROVING STUDENT OUTCOMES AND SCHOOL READ READINESS.
PRE-K PARTNERSHIPS ALLOW SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY-BASED CHILDCARE TO SHARE RESOURCES, EXPERTISE, AND BEST PRACTICES.
PRE-K PARTNERSHIPS ARE A VITAL STRATEGY FOR EXPANDING ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY EARLY LEARNING EXPERIENCES AND PROMOTING POSITIVE CHILD OUTCOMES, BOTH IN THE SHORT AND LONG TERM.
BY FOSTERING COLLABORATION AND LEVERAGING THE STRENGTHS OF BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PROVIDERS, THESE PARTNERSHIPS CAN CREATE A MORE ROBUST AND EQUITABLE SYSTEM OF EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION, ULTIMATELY BENEFITING CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES.
AND FINALLY, WHILE THE COMMUNITIES OF SOUTH AUSTIN, AND THIS IS REGARDING THE NEIGHBORHOOD PARTNERING PROGRAM, WHILE THE COMMUNITIES OF SOUTH AUSTIN HAVE DE DEDICATED MANY YEARS OVER A DECADE OF ORGANIZING TO PROJECTS, SOMETIMES SUPPORTED BY THE NPP, AND THE PROGRAM ITSELF HAS SUPPORTED A FEW DIRECT INPUTS TO THESE PROJECTS.
WE FEEL STRONGLY THAT THE GREATEST CHANGES HAVE BEEN DRIVEN BY CHAMPIONS IN THE ACTUAL DEPARTMENTS ALLOCATING FUNDS AND STAFF TIME AND COMMITTING TO WORKING TOGETHER.
OUR ASK IS NOT TO RESTORE FUNDING TO NPP AT THIS TIME, BUT TO TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT WHAT'S MISSING ACROSS THE BOARD AND DEMAND THAT JUST EXPECTATIONS AND METRICS ARE SET TO ADDRESS LONGSTANDING GAPS IN AUSTIN'S MAJORITY NON-WHITE NEIGHBORHOODS WHO IS TRACKING THE FAIRNESS AND DISPARITY OF OUTCOMES WHEN PROJECTS ARE PRIORITIZED
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AND WHO IN THE COMMUNITY IS ENGAGED TO INFORM THEIR PROGRESS.IT'S REAL COMMUNITY PLANNING THAT GOT US THESE BIG WINS LIKE THE EAST WILLIAMSON CREEK PROJECT WHERE THE WATER RUNS IN THIS DRASTIC TIME OF CUTS.
WE HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO PRIORITIZE NPPS INSERTION INTO THE BASE OR TRE BUDGET PROPOSALS.
THAT SAID, THE COMMUNITY WILL BE HOLDING THIS COUNCIL ACCOUNTABLE FOR INTERDEPARTMENTAL COLLABORATION AND AUTHENTIC COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND PRIORITIZATION OF UNDER INVESTED AREAS.
WE'LL START WITH YOU AFTER MS. GUZMAN.
I'M SHARON BLYTHE, UM, RESIDENT DISTRICT SIX.
UM, I THINK THAT, UM, SINCE YOU'RE GONNA GIVE A 4% RAISE TO ALL YOUR EMPLOYEES EXCEPT THE UNIFORM PEOPLE, YOU OUGHT TO VERY, VERY UNDERSTAND THAT YOU SHOULD EXEMPT YOURSELVES, THE CITY COUNCIL AND HIGHLY PAID EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY FROM THAT 4%.
YOU HAVE ENOUGH MONEY IN YOUR SALARIES AND YOUR EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES TO AFFORD TO LIVE HERE AND YOU NEED TO NOT GET YOURSELF A RAISE THAT IS SELF-SERVING AND YOU NEED TO THINK ABOUT THAT AND I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF MY COUNCIL MEMBER WOULD MAKE THAT MOTION TO EXEMPT Y'ALL FROM THAT 4% RAISE.
IT'S AFTERNOON NOW IT'S, YES, IT IS MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
I WORK FOR AUSTIN AREA URBAN LEAGUE AND WHAT I'M DOING RIGHT NOW, I'M ASSIGNED TO THE HOUSING NAVIGATION AND UM, WITH THAT SAID, I AM HOUSING THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY THAT'S OUT AT SOUTH BRIDGE THAT WE DO MANAGE FOR THE CITY.
AND I FOUND IT, UH, THAT THE FAMILY STABILIZATION GRANT HAS BEEN REALLY BENEFICIAL IN THIS AREA, WHEREAS WE HAVE MOST OF OUR, UH, HOMELESS, UH, CLIENTS.
THEY DO HAVE SOME TYPE OF, EITHER THEY DON'T HAVE ANY INCOME OR THEY DO, BUT IT'S SO MINIMUM.
THE, UH, SSI THEY RECEIVE MONTHLY IT'S MINIMUM AND IT CANNOT HOUSE THEM.
BUT THE FAMILY STABILIZATION GRANT HAS BEEN BENEFICIAL TO US WITH PARDONING WITH CERTAIN APARTMENT COMPLEXES THAT WOULD LET THEM UTILIZE THAT $1,000 THEY GET A MONTH.
SO IF YOU HAVE BEEN PASSING THAT BILL, I APPRECIATE IF YOU CONTINUE TO PASS IT BECAUSE IT'S MADE MY JOB EASIER TO HOUSE THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT RECEIVE $551 FROM SSI OR I DO HAVE SOME THAT'S DISABLED.
AS YOU DO KNOW, THEY ARE DISABLED.
WE BRING 'EM FROM THE FIELD FROM UNDER THE BRIDGES FROM WHEREVER WE CAN FIND THEM AND WE DO TRY TO HOUSE THEM, BUT THEY DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH FUNDING AND YOU WANT US TO HOUSE THEM, SO PLEASE PASS THAT BILL.
IT IS HELPING ME HOUSE THEM, PARTNER WITH OTHER APARTMENT COMPLEXES AND, UM, THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
THAT'S WHAT I CAME TO SAY TODAY TO LET YOU KNOW THAT IF YOU PASS IT, YOU ARE HELPING US GET THEM OUTTA SAL BRIDGE AND I'M PRETTY SURE AS WELL AS NORTH BRIDGE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FOUR AND I'VE BEEN A VOLUNTEER AT AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER FOR OVER FIVE YEARS.
I'M REQUESTING YOU SUPPORT COUNCIL MEMBER LANE'S AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO AND IT'S ACCOMPANYING RESOLUTION TO REINSTATE FUNDING FOR EMERGENCY VETERINARY SERVICES FOR LOSS AND INJURED ANIMALS.
AACS MISSION IS TO PROVIDE A PUBLIC SERVICE AND SAFETY NET FOR LOSS AND HOMELESS ANIMALS IN THE COMMUNITY.
ELIMINATING FUNDING FOR EMERGENCY VET SERVICES FOR SICK AND INJURED STRAYS IS IN DIRECT CONFLICT WITH THAT MISSION.
THIS SERVICE DOES NOT GO ABOVE AND BEYOND.
IT LITERALLY IS THE MISSION COMPLETELY ELIMINATING.
THE SERVICE WILL PUT 100% OF THE BURDEN ON THE PUBLIC TO CARE FOR SICK AND INJURED ANIMALS OUTSIDE THE OPEN HOURS OF A A C.
THE PUBLIC ALREADY TAKES ON ENOUGH OF THE BURDEN THAT IS AAC C'S RESPONSIBILITY BY CARING FOR HEALTHY ANIMALS THAT ARE REFUSED INTAKE AT AAC C DUE TO LACK OF SPACE.
THE FACT THAT ELIMINATING THIS FUNDING WILL NOT AFFECT OUR 95% LIVE RELEASE GOAL SHOULD NOT BE A REASON TO SUPPORT IT.
LEAVING ANIMALS TO SUFFER AND DIE ON THE STREETS BECAUSE THEY AREN'T TECHNICALLY OWNED BY THE CITY YET AND THEREFORE WOULD NOT AFFECT OUR 95 LIVE RELEASE RATE IS CONTRARY TO HOW MOST RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN WANT ANIMALS TO BE TREATED, AND QUITE FRANKLY, IS INHUMANE.
IT IS A'S MISSION TO TAKE CARE OF STRAY ANIMALS REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY MAKE IT INTO THE SHELTER SYSTEM.
WE ALREADY TURN AWAY ENOUGH HEALTHY STRAYS IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN A 95 LIVE PERCENT RELEASE RATE.
WE SHOULD NOT DO THE SAME FOR SICK AND INJURED.
PLEASE SUPPORT COUNCIL MEMBER LANE'S AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO AND IT'S ACCOMPANYING RESOLUTION TO RESTORE THIS FUNDING.
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CONTINUE.ON ITEM NUMBER FIVE, WE HAVE CARRIE STANAL WITH TIME DONATED BY DARLENE LEWIS.
CARRIE AND DARLENE, ARE YOU HERE? UM, IF THEY ARE, IF THEY ARE.
OKAY, SO CARRIE, WE'LL HAVE FOUR MINUTES.
UH, WE'LL HAVE DORIS ADAMS, LUMUMBA WEBB KEBO WHITE, BRAD MASSING.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
HI, CARRIE STANNO WITH THE WILLIAMSON COUNTY CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER.
UM, AND THANK YOU DARLENE FOR DONATING YOUR TIME AND REALLY WANT TO THANK A COUNCIL MEMBER LANE FOR HER SUPPORT AND THE RECOGNITION OF THE VITAL, VITAL SERVICES THAT WE ARE PROVIDING TO ULTIMATELY STRENGTHEN AUSTIN CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.
I WANNA HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF OUR SERVICES, OUR FORENSIC INTERVIEWS THAT ARE CRUCIAL IN ABUSE CASES.
THEY PROVIDE A LEGALLY SOUND AND DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE WAY TO GATHER INFORMATION FROM VICTIMS, PARTICULARLY CHILDREN ABOUT POTENTIALLY ABUSIVE SITUATIONS.
THESE INTERVIEWS CONDUCTED BY TRAINED PROFESSIONALS AIM TO OBTAIN ACCURATE AND RELIABLE ACCOUNTS OF THE ABUSE WHILE MINIMIZING TRAUMA TO THE VICTIMS. THIS INFORMATION IS VITAL FOR INVESTIGATION, PROSECUTION AND ENSURING THE CHILD'S SAFETY AND WELLBEING AT THE SAME TIME.
WE'VE GOT NURSES ON STAFF AND THEY PROVIDE SPECIALIZED MEDICAL CARE.
THEY COLLECT EVIDENCE, THEY OFFER CRUCIAL EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL SUPPORT TO SURVIVORS.
OUR MODEL, THE ENTIRE MODEL THAT WE WORK IN, WORKS TO BE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE, BRINGING TRAUMA-FOCUSED SERVICES TOGETHER, BOTH TO SUPPORT THE INVESTIGATION AND THE FAMILY.
WE BELIEVE ONLY, UH, A MODEL LIKE OURS CAN DO IT IN THIS WAY, IN THIS FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE WAY.
IN ORDER TO ASSIST US IN CONTINUING TO MEET THE NEEDS.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ELIMINATING BARRIERS FOR FAMILIES AND FOR OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND DFPS PARTNERS.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO LOOK AT WAYS TO WORK MORE UPSTREAM WHILE WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE OUR ESSENTIAL SERVICES THAT I HIGHLIGHTED ABOVE.
THERE IS SO MUCH MORE WE COULD DO IN THE PREVENTION AND HEALING SPACE.
UM, WE'VE GOT EXCITING INITIATIVES THAT COULD HAVE SOME REAL IMPACT ON CHILD ABUSE VICTIMS. HOWEVER, AGAIN, WE NEED THE SUPPORT TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD ON THOSE.
WE ARE FOCUSED ON CHILD SAFETY AND WELLBEING, UH, WHEN A CHILD, CHILD ABUSE HURTS, MINDS, BODIES AND FUTURES IF IT'S LEFT UNTREATED.
AND SO WE ARE REALLY SEEKING TO CONTINUE TO DO MORE IN THIS SPACE.
WE WILL ALWAYS SEE CHILDREN WALKING IN OUR DOORS AND WE WILL PROVIDE OUR CRISIS SERVICES, BUT AGAIN, THERE IS SO MUCH MORE WE COULD DO AND WE NEED THE SUPPORT TO DO THAT.
ONLY ONE IN 10 CHILDREN WILL EVER SPEAK UP ABOUT THEIR ABUSE.
IT'S THE EDUCATION THAT WE PROVIDE TO THE COMMUNITY THAT INCREASES THOSE NUMBERS AND HAS AN IMPACT ON THAT STATISTIC.
UH, ONE IN FOUR GIRLS AND ONE IN 13 BOYS IN THE US ARE ESTIMATED TO EXPERIENCE CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE.
SO NONE OF THE OTHER ABUSES THAT, UH, THAT I COVERED EARLIER AND THAT WE WORK ON AT THE ADVOCACY CENTER, JUST SEXUAL ABUSE.
IT'S A MASSIVE NUMBER OF CHILDREN THAT ARE AFFECTED BY CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE.
1 BILLION CHILDREN GLOBALLY EXPERIENCE SEXUAL VIOLENCE.
SO TO GIVE YOU JUST A LITTLE MORE, UM, IMPACT OR INFORMATION ON THIS, CACS ACROSS THE US SERVE MORE THAN 370,000 KIDS EACH YEAR.
LOCALLY, WE ARE INTERVIEWING ABOUT A THOUSAND CHILDREN ANNUALLY.
AND AGAIN, THE AUSTIN PART IS ABOUT 10% OF THE CHILDREN THAT WE ARE SEEING.
UM, AND WE ARE ASSISTING OUR PARTNERS A PD IN ALL OF THESE INVESTIGATIONS, THEY'VE BROUGHT JUST OVER 70 CHILDREN, I THINK SO FAR THIS YEAR.
UH, BUT WHAT IS NOT REPRESENTED HERE IS, BESIDES THOSE 70 CHILDREN THAT COME IN FOR FORENSIC INTERVIEWS, IS ALL OF THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES THAT WE'RE PROVIDING TO FAMILY MEMBERS.
AGAIN, OUR ASSISTANCE WITH DFPS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT, UM, I KNOW I DON'T NEED TO EXPLAIN TO YOU GUYS, UM, THAT BESIDES THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES FROM ABUSE, LIKE LACK OF PROGRESS IN SCHOOL, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, MISSED WORK, OBESITY, SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS, DIABETES, HEART DISEASE, DEPRESSION, SUICIDE, AND OTHER STRESS RELATED, UH, DISEASES, THAT THERE IS A REAL ECONOMIC COST TO THE CITY, THE COUNTY, OUR COUNTRY, UM, WITH UNTREATED CHILD ABUSE.
SO HEALING AND THRIVING IS COMPLETELY POSSIBLE.
UH, TRAUMA SYMPTOMS ARE REDUCED TO HEALTHY RANGES THROUGH THE SERVICES AVAILABLE AT THE CAC, AND THAT IS PROVEN AGAIN AND AGAIN THROUGH OUR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
UM, AND I, AND I WANT ALSO JUST SAY THAT ABUSE DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE.
IT LITERALLY AFFECTS CHILDREN FROM EVERY BACKGROUND.
ALL SOCIO SOCIOECONOMIC GROUPS ORIENT SEXUAL ORIENTATIONS OR RACES, ETHNICITY, ETHNICITIES, AND RELIGION.
I WAS BORN HERE IN AUSTIN AND I LIVED MOST OF MY LIFE HERE.
I WENT FROM BEING A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER OF WEBB EMPIRE, LLC, TO ALMOST BEING HOMELESS.
I RECEIVED A, A 12 MONTH GRANT FROM THE, UH, FAMILY
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STABILIZATION PROGRAM AND THE UP OH, AND THE UP TOGETHER PROGRAM.AND IN MY TIMES OF HARDSHIP, AND EVEN THOUGH I WAS NOT HOMELESS, IT PREVENTED ME FROM BEING HOMELESS.
SO NOW I'M BACK IN THE, IN THE COMMUNITY THRIVE AND DO WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO DO.
I ASK COUNSEL THAT Y'ALL CONTINUE TO, TO SUPPORT AND FINANCE THESE PROGRAMS SO THAT PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF CAN CONTINUE TO BE IN AUSTIN ACT.
HELLO, KBA WHITE ON BEHALF OF PUBLIC CITIZENS TEXAS OFFICE.
UM, I'M GONNA SPEAK DIRECTLY TO, UH, SOME OF THE PROPOSALS THAT I KNOW Y'ALL ARE CONSIDERING AS PART OF YOUR, YOUR DIFFERENT SCENARIOS AND AMENDMENTS.
UM, SPECIFICALLY FUNDING FOR THE CLIMATE, UH, THE OFFICE OF CLIMATE ACTION AND RESILIENCE.
UM, YOU, YOU'VE PROBABLY SEEN THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER'S AMENDMENT NUMBER FIVE TO ADD A COUPLE STAFF TO THAT.
I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT THAT, UH, AS YOU MOVE FORWARD WITH THE BUDGET.
I DID, UH, ALSO HAVE A LOT OF, UH, HOPE FOR INCLUDING IN THE BUDGET SOME FUNDING FOR THAT CLIMATE REVOLVING FUND.
AND THAT IS ESSENTIAL TO ACTUALLY UPGRADING THE CITY, UH, BUILDINGS TO BE MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT AND REDUCE COST.
UM, HOWEVER, I DO THINK THAT IF IT IS A CHOICE BETWEEN, UM, PROVIDING THOSE STAFF OR A VERY MINIMAL AMOUNT INTO THAT FUND, I WOULD CHOOSE THE STAFF.
AND THAT IS BECAUSE IT DOES SEEM THAT THERE IS PROBABLY AN ANOTHER OPTION TO FUND THAT CLIMATE REVOLVING FUND USING DEBT BECAUSE THOSE INVESTMENTS WILL ACTUALLY SAVE MONEY AND COULD THEREFORE REPAY THE DEBT AND STILL, UM, START THAT FUND FOR, FOR ALLOWING FOR OTHER ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND SOLAR INVESTMENTS, UH, UNSTEADY BUILDINGS IN THE FUTURE.
AND THESE ARE OF COURSE, INVESTMENTS THAT ARE ULTIMATELY GOING TO SAVE OUR CITY MONEY AND ALLOW OUR BUILDINGS TO FUNCTION IN A MORE, UH, YOU KNOW, PRACTICAL WAY.
UM, SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE BOTH OF THOSE IN THE BUDGET.
I DO ENCOURAGE YOU TO INCLUDE BOTH THE STAFF AND THAT REVOLVING FUND, BUT I'M JUST SAYING IF YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE, I WOULD GET THE STAFF IN IN PLACE AND THEN MAYBE USE, UH, DEBT IN THE COMING MONTHS TO ESTABLISH THE FUND.
ON ITEM FIVE, WE HAVE TAYLOR NICOLO, HAYDEN BLACK WALKER, CHRIS PAGE, JEFFREY BOWEN, VICTORIA COYOTE, WALTER TUNNEL, WILSON, FRANCISCO MEIA.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO AN OPEN MIC.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR WATSON, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS TAYLOR NICOLO AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE AUSTIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
AUSTIN'S AFFORDABILITY CRISIS IS HITTING EVERYONE, RESIDENTS, FAMILIES, AND LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT EMPLOY THEM.
OVER THE PAST DECADE, PROPERTY TAX BILLS IN CENTRAL TEXAS HAVE GONE UP ALMOST 68% WITH A 13% INCREASE LAST YEAR ALONE.
AUSTIN BUSINESSES FACE AN OUTSIDE SHARE OF THESE RISING FISCAL PRESSURES IN OUR ORGANIZATION IS CONCERNED THAT FURTHER PROPERTY TAX INCREASES COULD LEAD TO ECONOMIC CONTRACTION, JOB LOSSES, AND THE DIFFICULTY IN ATTRACTING AND RETAINING TALENT.
WHEN TAXES GET TOO HIGH, IT DOESN'T JUST HURT THE BOTTOM LINE OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES.
IT IMPACTS JOBS, IT IMPACTS INVESTMENTS AND OUR ABILITY TO KEEP TALENT IN OUR COMMUNITY.
LOCAL BUSINESSES IS ALREADY EXPERIENCING ECONOMIC HEADWINDS WITH HIGHER INTEREST RATE, SLOWER GROWTH, AND UNCERTAIN TRADE CONDITIONS.
ADDING MORE TAX PRESSURE NOW COULD SLOW THINGS DOWN EVEN FURTHER.
THAT'S WHY HERE AT THE CHAMBER, WE BELIEVE THAT THE BEST PATH FORWARD IS TO STICK WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S PROPOSAL, WHICH ALREADY HITS A 3.5 STATE, 3.5% STATE CAP, AND LOOK FOR OTHER WAYS TO CLOSE THIS GAP.
WITH A 233 MILLION RESERVE BALANCE AND COUNTLESS CITY POSITIONS THAT HAVE GONE UNFILLED FOR MONTHS, THE CITY COULD TRY TO CONSIDER TAPPING INTO OUR RESERVE BALANCE AND PAUSING NON-ESSENTIAL HIRING TO HELP ADVANCE A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE BUDGET.
AUSTIN'S BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS DYNAMIC AND RESILIENT, BUT WE'RE NOT IMMUNE TO ECONOMIC CHALLENGES.
THE DECISIONS THAT YOU MAKE HERE WILL SHAPE WHETHER AUSTIN REMAINS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES CAN TRULY THRIVE.
THANK YOU FOR THE CHANCE TO SPEAK.
UH, I'M WRAPPING MY AFSCME SHIRT AND LIBRARY HOODIE TODAY, BUT I CLAIM TO SPEAK ON NO ONE'S BEHALF OF MY OWN.
I'VE WORKED AT THE LIBRARY FOR THREE AND A HALF YEARS NOW, AND I FEEL LIKE OUR JOBS ARE PRETTY SIMILAR.
TO BE HONEST, COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE PUBLIC CAN AND WILL APPROACH YOU AND OFFER THEIR HOTTEST TAKE ON THE WILDEST THINGS NO MATTER THEIR LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING OR YOUR LEVEL OF POWER OVER IT.
ANYTIME DAY OR NIGHT, 8:00 AM 8:00 PM AT THE LIBRARY.
WE'RE TALKING TAXES, WE'RE TALKING BAND BOOKS, WE'RE TALKING GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION.
[02:45:01]
SLOW DOWN.I CAN GIVE YOU A BOOK ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
I CAN RECOMMEND MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES NEARBY IF THEY'RE FUNDED AND NOT AT CAPACITY.
HOWEVER, I'M SORRY, I CANNOT GUARANTEE THE LETTER I'M HELPING YOU PRINT RIGHT NOW.
WE'LL MAKE IT TO MR. ELON MUSK.
PLEASE DO NOT MISTAKE WHAT I'M SAYING NOW AS THE VERY THING THAT I'M CRITICIZING.
I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO YOUR JOB.
HECK, I DON'T KNOW WHICH AGENDA ITEM I NEEDED TO SIGN UP TO TO SPEAK ON THIS TODAY.
WHAT I DO KNOW IS YOU MUST BE CLEAR WITH THE PUBLIC AND IMPLEMENT ANY TRE PROGRESSIVELY TO AID THOSE WHO CANNOT AFFORD HOUSING SAFETY HOUSING AT ALL.
I HAVE A COLLECTION OF THINGS HOMELESS PEOPLE HAVE GIVEN ME AT THE LIBRARY BECAUSE THEY APPRECIATE WHAT I DO.
THEY FIND A WAY TO GIVE MANY, MANY HOMEOWNERS OFTEN TO PAY 25 CENTS TO SUPPORT THE LIBRARY.
AS I CHECK THEM OUT, PEOPLE ARE HAPPY TO GIVE TO THE SERVICES THAT HELP THEM LIVE EVERY DAY.
AND THE ONES THAT MAKE AUSTIN, AUSTIN, I TELL THOSE PEOPLE IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO HAVE PROPERTY TO PAY TAXES ON.
I DO NOT ENVY YOUR JOB COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IT SEEMS VERY THANKFUL IN THE LIGHT OF WORKING AT THE LIBRARY WHERE PEOPLE YELL AT ME, BUT THEY ALSO BAKE ME COOKIES.
I ENVY YOUR METAL DETECTOR THOUGH.
I ENVY YOUR HOUSING SITUATION, WHATEVER IT MAY BE.
A GUN WAS PULLED ON A LIBRARY EMPLOYEE EARLIER THIS WEEK AND THEY SHOWED UP AS THEY SHOWED UP TO HELP SERVE THEIR COMMUNITY.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING THIS COMMUNITY EVERY DAY AND I HAVE A PRIVILEGE TO GO TO WORK, BUT I DO NOT FEEL SAFE A FEELING.
I'M SURE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE SPOKEN HERE TODAY SHARE AND A LOT OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY SHARE.
I HAVE MOVED FOUR TIMES IN THE FOUR YEARS THAT I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF HOUSING IN AUSTIN.
AND IF ANYBODY IS WORRIED ABOUT A 4% RAISE FOR CITY EMPLOYEES AFFECTING THEIR HOUSING, I WILL PERSONALLY GIVE HALF OF WHAT I MAKE AT THE CITY.
THANK THANK EVERY, EVERY MONTH.
DON'T GO INTO WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT.
YEAH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR COUNCIL.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, VERY EFFECTI
I'M HERE TODAY TO URGE YOUR SUPPORT FOR CRITICAL AMENDMENTS THAT FUND AUSTIN SIDEWALK INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH IS FOUNDATIONAL TO ACCESSIBILITY AND SAFE MOBILITY FOR ALL RESIDENTS SPEAKING FOR AND REPRESENTING ONLY MYSELF AS THE NEW MARKETING DIRECTOR FOR ON THE MOVE A STUDENT ORGANIZATION AT UT AUSTIN.
PROMOTING DISABILITY JUSTICE AND ACCESSIBILITY ADVOCACY.
BETTER SIDEWALK INFRASTRUCTURE MUST BE PART OF THE ACCESSIBLE FUTURES WE SEEK TO CREATE.
SIDEWALKS ARE MORE THAN JUST PAVEMENT.
THEY ARE A LIFELINE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, SENIORS, FAMILIES WITH STROLLERS, AND ANYONE WHO DEPENDS ON SAFE, RELIABLE ACCESS TO THEIR COMMUNITIES.
ACCESSIBLE SIDEWALKS WITH CONTINUOUS WELL-MAINTAINED PATHWAYS AND CLEAR MODE SEPARATION ARE ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE TOOLS WE HAVE TO REDUCE INJURIES AND FATALITIES ON OUR STREETS.
THEY ENSURE THAT EVERYONE CAN MOVE SAFELY WITH FEWER BARRIERS.
I STRONGLY SUPPORT COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS'S AMENDMENT TO INCREASE SIDEWALK MAIN MAINTENANCE FUNDING.
RIGHT NOW WE FUND ONLY ABOUT A QUARTER OF WHAT'S NEEDED TO PROPERLY MAINTAIN OUR NETWORK.
I ALSO URGE YOU TO SUPPORT COUNCIL MEMBER LANE'S AMENDMENT FOR $10 MILLION IN GAP FINANCING TO FOR NEW SIDEWALK CONSTRUCTION.
COMPARED TO OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, SIDEWALKS CAN BE BUILT QUICKLY AND COST EFFECTIVELY, DELAYING NOW RISKS LOSING SKILLED CONTRACTORS, WHICH WILL MAKE FUTURE PROJECTS MORE EXPENSIVE AND SLOW TO RESTART.
AUSTIN IS A BEAUTIFUL CITY, BUT IT'S ALSO ONE WITH THOUSANDS OF MILES OF MISSING SIDEWALKS.
THIS STANDS AS A LEGACY OF UNDERINVESTMENT THAT DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTS PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND OTHER MOBILITY CHALLENGES.
SIDEWALKS ARE NOT ONLY A MATTER OF SAFETY, BUT A VITAL PART OF MAKING OUR CITY EQUITABLE, SUSTAINABLE, AND CLIMATE RESILIENT.
PLEASE FUND WHAT WE KNOW WORKS TO ENSURE AUSTIN IS MORE ACCESSIBLE AND SAFE FOR EVERYONE.
I'M IN DISTRICT EIGHT AND I WILL NOT BE FLIPPING YOU OFF.
SO, UM, FIRST I WANT TO TELL MR. BROADNAX AND HIS BUDGET STAFF, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR PROVIDING A BUDGET THAT ACTUALLY HAD A LOT OF INFORMATION IN IT AND ACTUALLY PROVIDED MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS IN SOME REGARDS, BUT IT WAS MUCH MORE, UH, TRANSPARENT THAN WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST.
AGAIN, I KNOW I THANKED THEM ONCE BEFORE, BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S, THAT'S ALSO, UH, DONE.
AGAIN, WE ARE ALSO HAVING THIS ISSUE ABOUT THE SPENDING PER CAPITA.
AS THE NUMBER OF OUR POPULATION HAS DROPPED, WE ARE SPENDING MORE PER, UH, SO I REALLY REQUEST THAT WE START LOOKING MORE AT WHAT THE PERFORMANCE AND THE ACCOUNTABILITY.
WHAT ARE THE PERFORMANCE MATRIX THAT ARE BEING DONE? ARE THE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS OR OR FUNDING ITEMS THAT WE'RE DOING, ARE THEY MEETING THE PERFORMANCE THAT HAS BEEN EX THAT IS EXPECTED OF THEM? IF THEY DON'T HAVE ANY PERFORMANCE THAT'S BEEN LAID OUT FOR THEM,
[02:50:01]
WHY NOT THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.UM, WHAT ARE THOSE ESTABLISHED GOALS? UH, I NOTICE THAT ON FOR ME, BEING A CONSTRUCTION GUY, THE CITY BUILDING MAINTENANCE IS, IS MASSIVELY IMPORTANT TO ME ONLY BECAUSE IF WE DON'T MAINTAIN OUR BUILDINGS, IT COST US MORE.
IN THE LONG RUN, I DON'T WANNA SEE THOSE TYPE OF ITEMS BE CUT BECAUSE THEY CAN COST US IN THE LONG RUN AND SAFETY, SAFETY SHOULD NOT BE NEGLECTED OR RE MISSED.
UM, THAT WITHOUT SAYING THOSE PEOPLE, EVERYBODY SHOULD BE SAFE WHERE THEY'RE AT.
UH, EVEN THOSE AT THE LIBRARY.
UM, AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE THAT WE GET MORE EVALUATIONS ON OUR CONTRACTS AS TO WHAT WE'RE PROVIDING CONTRACT OR, OR GETTING REQUESTS FOR SERVICES ON.
ARE THOSE COMPANIES, UH, CAPABLE OF DOING THAT? ARE THEY NOT BEING UNDER INVESTIGATION IN SOME CASES? UH, MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S A ACTUAL EVALUATION OF THOSE TYPE OF THINGS.
I WANT TO, I WANT TO DO A LITTLE, WHERE ARE Y'ALL IN TERMS OF WANTING TO OR BEING PREPARED TO MAKE A PRESENTATION? THANK YOU.
UM, CARRIE LANG, BUDGET, DIRECTOR OF BUDGET AND ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE.
UM, WE ARE PREPARED TO DISCUSS THE MEMO THAT WAS SENT TO MAYOR AND COUNCIL A FEW MINUTES AGO.
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO.
UM, MEMBERS, MEMBERS, IF THERE'S NOT AN OBJECTION, WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST WE DO IS ASK FOR ANOTHER ROUND OF SPEAKERS, WHICH WILL GIVE, UH, BEFORE WE CALL MS. LANG UP AND HAVE HER LAY OUT WHAT HAS BEEN SENT.
AS I UNDERSTAND IT'S BEEN SENT TO ALL OF OUR OFFICES.
UH, IT'S IN THE BACKUP, SO EVERYBODY HAS THIS.
NOW, WHAT THAT ANOTHER ROUND OF SPEAKERS WOULD ALLOW IS FOR OUR VARIOUS, UH, STAFF PEOPLE TO GET PREPARED SO THAT THEY CAN ALSO LISTEN TO THIS PRESENTATION, UM, AND, AND WHERE THEY MIGHT BE OUTTA THE BUILDING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
THAT GIVES US A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO GET THEM GATHERED.
UM, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE A PRESENTATION RIGHT AFTER THE NEXT, NEXT ROUND OF FOUR OR FIVE SPEAKERS.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE TO EVERYBODY? OKAY.
YOUR NAME HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY CALLED, IT WAS CALLED IN THIS ROUND.
UM, SO THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS TAKEN THE VALUES OF ITS CONSTITUENTS HOSTAGE, FRANKLY, TO AN EXTORTED TRE WITH NO GUARDRAILS DURING THE MOST UNAFFORDABLE PERIOD IN AUSTIN'S HISTORY, THE BUDGETING CYCLE IS UNIQUELY DEFINED BY, UH, OFFICIALS DISSOCIATING THEMSELVES FROM THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR POLICIES AND PITTING ECONOMICALLY VULNERABLE UNHOUSED, RESIDENTS, FIRST RESPONDERS, UNIONS, AND GRASSROOTS LEADERS AGAINST EACH OTHER FIGHTING FOR CRUMBS.
SINCE 2020, THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS HAD $7.66 BILLION OF EXPENDITURE IN ITS GENERAL FUND.
THIS YEAR, IT'S A HUNDRED MILLION MORE THAN LAST YEAR.
UH, INCLUDED WITHIN SOME OF THOSE GENERAL FUNDS WERE 770.2 MILLION TRANSFERRED FROM UTILITIES, WHICH ARE ESSENTIALLY DEF A DEFACTO TAX, WHICH IS A LOOPHOLE RUN AROUND OF AR, UH, AROUND THE 3.5% REVENUE CAP.
CITY OF AUSTIN IS SLIDING TO A POINT WHERE ITS RESERVES ARE RISKING A POTENTIAL DOWNGRADE IN ITS CREDIT AND INCREASING ITS BORROWING COSTS.
YOU ARE NOT BLINDSIDED THIS YEAR.
SB TWO WAS PASSED AND TOOK EFFECT ON JANUARY 1ST, 2020.
SO YOU CAN'T BEMOAN THE COST OF EMERGENCY SERVICES, WHICH YOU AGREED TO.
THE COST OF HB 1900 BECAME LAW AND TOOK EFFECT ON SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2021.
SO YOU CAN'T PLEAD IGNORANCE ON THAT EITHER.
THE CITY HAS ENGAGED IN GROSS MISINFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC, INCLUDING A STATEMENT FROM COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES AND ALTER AND MAYBE OTHERS.
THE PROPERTY TAXES ON AVERAGE ON THE AVERAGE HOME ARE $60 LOWER TODAY THAN A DECADE AGO.
IT'S ABOUT $1,700 MORE FOR THE AVERAGE HOME.
UM, CURRENTLY WE HAVE SEEN SO MUCH, UH, MISINFORMATION BEING DEPLOYED, UM, ABOUT MANY THINGS, BUT THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX IS CRUCIAL TOO.
YOU CAN SPEND UP TO 15% OF THAT FOR TOURISM PROMOTION, INCLUDING PRESERVATION AND THE ARTS.
YOU HAVEN'T COLLECTED 13 YEARS OF HOTEL OCCUPANCY BACK TAX FROM ST.
THANK YOU, SIR, AND I'LL BE BACK.
WE ONLY HAVE FIVE MORE SPEAKERS TO CALL.
WHY DON'T WE GO AHEAD AND GO THROUGH THOSE FIVE SPEAKERS AND THEN, UH, PLEASE CALL THEM AND THEN WE'LL HAVE A PRESENTATION FROM STAFF, UM, AND MEMBERS.
WHAT I'M GONNA RECOMMEND, UNLESS SOMEBODY HAS UH, A STRONG OBJECTION, IS THAT WE HEAR FROM THOSE FIVE SPEAKERS,
[02:55:01]
WE GET A VERY BRIEF PRESENTATION FROM STAFF AND THEN WE RECESS FOR, WE'LL SEE WHAT TIME IT IS WHEN WE DO THAT, BUT WE'LL RECESS SO THAT THE MEMBERS MIGHT VISIT WITH THEIR STAFF MEMBERS, UM, BEFORE WE GO INTO THE REST OF THE COMMENTS, SO THAT MAYBE THAT IT WILL, UH, ALLOW FOR MORE EFFICIENT PROCESS LATER AT THE, IN THE DAY.IF YOU'LL CALL THE LAST SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
SEAN OLIVER, RATAN MITCHNER, MICHAEL SALAZAR.
HELLO, MY NAME IS SEAN OLIVER.
BECAUSE OF YOUR LEADERSHIP, AUSTIN HAS BECOME A CITY.
OTHER CITIES HAVE LOOKED AT WHEN IT LOOKS AT COMPASSIONATE INVESTMENTS THAT SAVE LIVES.
THE FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAMMING SUCH AS AT XPS IS JUST A SMALL PART OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUDGET, YET THE RETURNS ARE TRULY SIGNIFICANT.
WE KNOW OUR WORK PREVENTS VIOLENCE BECAUSE WE'VE HEARD IT DIRECTLY FROM THOSE IMPACTED.
WE HAVE FIRSTHAND ACCOUNTS FROM INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ON THE VERGE OR WHO HAD ALREADY MADE UP IN THEIR MINDS TO COMMIT ACTS OF VIOLENCE.
BUT THROUGH DI DIRECT INTERVENTION WITH OUR TEAM, THEY CHOSE ANOTHER PATH.
WE ALSO HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT SIMPLY HAVING A T XPS PRESENT AT VARIOUS EVENTS AND IN DIFFERENT APARTMENT COMPLEXES AND SCHOOLS VIOLENCE HAVE BEEN, VIOLENCE HAS BEEN PREVENTED.
OUR CITY IS LEADING MODELING AND SHARING EFFECTIVE COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION STRATEGIES WITH OTHERS ALL ACROSS THE NATION.
WHEN WE GO TO VARIOUS TRAININGS AND PROGRAMMING, OFTENTIMES IT'S NOT JUST TO LEARN, WE GO THERE TO LEARN, BUT WE'RE ALSO ASKED BEST PRACTICES THAT WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED.
AND WITH FIDELITY, WE'RE ABLE TO TRULY SAY THAT THE CITY COUNCIL HAS ENABLED US TO MAKE VAST IMPROVEMENTS AND EFFORTS IN INTERVENTION PREVENTION AND EDUCATION CON CONCERNING VIOLENCE PREVENTION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR VISION AND FOR CHAMPIONING THIS VITAL WORK.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS REAN MITCHNER AND I WORK FOR LIFE ANEW AT TX PIECE.
FIRST, I WANNA SINCERELY THANK THIS COUNCIL FOR YOUR INVESTMENT IN LIFE ANEW AND AT X PIECE, YOUR BELIEF IN OUR MISSION AND OUR WILLINGNESS TO FIND THIS WORK MEANS OUR TEAMS AND CAN CONTINUE PROVIDING COMMUNITY VIOLENCE, INTERVENTION, TRUST, AND HELPING TO MAKE AUSTIN A SAFER FOR EVERYONE.
I'D LIKE TO SHARE A BRIEF STORY.
RECENTLY, I WORKED WITH A STUDENT WHOSE FAMILY WAS DEEPLY IMPACTED BY GUN VIOLENCE.
SHE COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY, BUT HER JOURNEY HAS LEFT A LASTING IMPACT THROUGH THE WORK OF LIFE, A NEW A TX PIECE AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS LIKE OURS.
SHE FOUND HER VOICE, SHE WENT ON TO SERVE ON AT A PANEL ON AT THE GUN VIOLENCE SUMMIT, SPEAKING OUT WITH COURAGE AND RESILIENCE.
WATCHING HER GROW IN HER OWN VOICE REMINDED ME OF MY OWN STORY.
WHEN I WAS A CHILD, MY MOM SHOT MY DAD.
IN THE MOMENT, IN THE YEARS THAT FOLLOWED, THERE WAS NO LIFE ANEW, NO AT X PEACE, NO COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAM AT MY SCHOOL OR IN MY COMMUNITY.
I HAD TO NAVIGATE THE TRAUMA ON MY OWN.
THAT'S WHY THIS WORK THAT WE DO NOW MATTER SO DEEPLY BECAUSE OF YOUR SUPPORT.
CHILDREN TODAY DON'T HAVE TO WALK THROUGH THE PAIN ALONE.
THEY HAVE PEOPLE AND RESOURCES TO HELP THEM HEAL, TO ENCOURAGE THEM, AND TO SHOW THEM THE PATH FORWARD.
SO ON BEHALF OF LIFE A NEW AT X PEACES AND THE PEOPLE WE SERVE EVERY DAY, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BELIEVING IN THIS WORK, FOR FUNDING IT, AND FOR STANDING WITH US IN A FIGHT TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY SAFER.
COUNCIL MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY.
MY NAME IS MICHAEL SALAZAR II AND I'M A TRUSTED MESSENGER AND A VIOLENCE INTERRUPTER WITH, UH, LIFE ANEW AND A TX PEACE.
WE ARE FOR THE CITY, UM, AND FOR THE COMMUNITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR INVESTMENT IN ATX PEACE AND COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PREVENTION WORK.
WHEN OUR, WHEN OUR PROGRAM FIRST RECEIVED FUNDING TO ADDRESS GUN VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY, WE KNEW WE WERE BEING GIVEN MORE THAN A BUDGET.
EACH DOLLAR MEANT MORE THAN JUST SUPPLIES, TRANSPORTATION OR STAFFING.
FOR SOMEONE WHO HAD BEEN OVERLOOKED, IT MEANT A CHANCE FOR A YOUNG PERSON TO, TO FEEL HEARD, FOR A GRIEVING FAMILY, TO FEEL SUPPORTED, AND FOR A NEIGHBORHOOD TO BEGIN HEALING, IT SAYS, I SEE YOU AND I CARE TO THE COMMUNITY.
THIS LAST BUDGET CYCLE HAS ALLOWED US TO CONTINUE TO EDUCATE AND DEEPEN OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH COMMUNITIES.
MOBILIZE THESE COMMUNITIES, RESPOND TO CRISIS CALLS, CONNECT WITH INDIVIDUALS
[03:00:01]
AT RISK, EDUCATING THEM WITH NEW WAYS TO COPE WITH THEIR TRAUMA, AND CREATE SAFE SPACES WHERE CONVERSATIONS COULD REPLACE CONFLICT.WE WATCHED THE WALLS OF TRAUMA COME DOWN.
YOUNG PEOPLE PUT THEIR GUARD DOWN LONG ENOUGH TO IMAGINE A DIFFERENT FUTURE.
THE FAMILIES THAT WE'RE SUPPORTING IN THESE, IN THE LOSSES OF LOVED ONES FROM GUN VIOLENCE FROM LAST YEAR TO THIS VERY MOMENT, HAVE NOT PARTICIPATED IN RETALIATORY ACTS, WHICH IS A DIRECT IMPACT TO THE COMMUNITIES THEY BELONG TO BECAUSE OF THE SUPPORT GIVEN DUE TO THE BUDGET PROVIDED.
AND WE ARE ALL GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
THE NEED IN THE COMMUNITY IS GREAT AND OUR NEED TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITIES OF AUSTIN ARE, IS OUR HEART'S DESIRE.
AN INCREASE IN BUDGET WILL ALLOW US TO CONTINUE, GROW AND STRENGTHEN THESE COMMUNITIES.
WE CAN SUPPORT MORE FAMILIES, EXPAND OUR TEAM, INCREASE OUR PRESENCE IN THE MOST IMPACTED NEIGHBORHOODS, AND STRENGTHENED THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE CURRENTLY CHANGING LIVES.
I'M ASKING YOU TO CONTINUE TO HELP US RESTORE TRUST INTO THESE COMMUNITIES AND REBUILD IN THE BROKENNESS WITHIN THESE THESE COMMUNITIES BY CHOOSING TO CONTINUE AND INCREASE THE BUDGET FOR COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION.
LOVE CONQUERS AND WINS ALL THINGS.
HI, MY NAME IS GABBY RETTI AND I'M THE CAPACITY BUILDING MANAGER FOR TEXAS HARM REDUCTION ALLIANCE AND A DISTRICT FOUR RESIDENT.
TODAY I OFFER TRANSLATION, TURNING THESE BUDGET NUMBERS INTO MEANING WHEN WE LOSE SOMEONE TO OVERDOSE, ONE LIFE IS LOST, BUT COUNTLESS LIVES ARE HURT.
IF YOU'VE LOST SOMEONE TOO SOON, YOU KNOW, HEARTS ACHE IN A WAY THAT NEVER QUITE GOES AWAY.
JUST LAST MONTH, TEXAS HARM REDUCTION ALLIANCE RECORDED 31 OVERDOSE REVERSALS WITH THE NALOXONE.
WE DISTRIBUTED 31 PEOPLE STILL BREATHING, 31 LOVED ONES STILL HERE.
LAST YEAR THAT NUMBER WAS 379 PEOPLE.
I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING FOR THRA FOR FOUR YEARS NOW, AND IN THAT TIME I'M PROUD TO KNOW MY TEAM HAS SAVED HUNDREDS OF LIVES MORE THAN SAVING LIVES.
I'VE ALSO HAD THE PLEASURE OF WATCHING OUR TEAM TRANSFORM THEM.
OVER THE YEARS, I'VE SEEN PEERS HOUSED WORKING WELL FED, RECOVERING IN INCREDIBLE WAYS.
I'VE SEEN THE VICTORY OF A CONNECTION TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE AS SOMEONE REGAINED THEIR MIND.
I'VE SEEN THE SUCCESS OF AN ID THAT UNLOCKED THE DOOR TO EMPLOYMENT, HIV, AND HEP C TREATMENT THAT BROUGHT PEOPLE BACK THEIR HEALTH.
THIS IS WHAT FUNDING HARM REDUCTION DOES.
IN SHORT, IT IS MONEY WELL SPENT.
WE ARE ALSO HOPING TODAY THAT THE COUNCIL CONSIDERS THE TRE WITH HARM REDUCTION EXPANDED IN IT.
WE KNOW WHAT THIS FUNDING, WE COULD BE OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK AND SERVE AN ADDITIONAL 250 PEOPLE EVERY MONTH.
EVERY LIFE TOUCHED IS A LIFE THAT MATTERS.
I WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY WITHOUT PEOPLE THAT BELIEVED IN AND SUPPORTED MY RECOVERY.
THE PEERS I WORKED WITH ALL WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE, KNOW ALL ROADS OUT OF THE DARKEST PLACES AND WE'LL ALWAYS GO BACK TO SHOW OTHERS THE WAY OUT.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED MS. JOSEPH, YOU'RE WELCOME TO SPEAK.
IF ANYBODY ELSE'S NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
COUNSEL MAYOR, CAN YOU BEND THE RULES TODAY, MS. JOSEPH? YOU KNOW THE RULES AND YOU ASK ME THAT EVERY TIME WE'RE GONNA FOLLOW THE RULES.
OKAY, SO LET ME JUST READ INTO THE RECORD.
I WANNA REMIND YOU THAT ON APRIL 28TH, 2025 WHEN YOU HAD YOUR JOINT AUDIT AND PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE MEETING, YOU SAID QUOTE, THAT'S NOT HOW THE RULES WORK, BUT I'M GONNA ALLOW IT.
I'M GONNA BEND THE RULES BECAUSE THAT'S NOT THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO OPERATE, BUT WE'RE GONNA DO IT FOR YOU.
SO IN OTHER WORDS, YOU ARE ACTUALLY ENGAGING IN VIEWPOINT DISCRIMINATION BECAUSE WHEN CHAZ ACTUALLY CAME BEFORE YOU CHASE W RIGHT, YOU ACTUALLY PERMITTED HIM AND YOU BENDED THE RULES FOR HIM.
BUT YOU'RE NOT DOING IT FOR ME TO SHOW YOU MY SLIDES TODAY, AS YOU ARE WELL AWARE, MY COMMENTS, AS THEY ALWAYS ARE, ARE IN THE CONTEXT OF TITLE VI OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964, WHICH PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE, COLOR, AND NATIONAL ORIGIN.
I WANNA TELL YOU SPECIFICALLY THAT WHILE I CERTAINLY RESPECT COUNCIL MEMBER LANE'S AMENDMENT FOR $10 MILLION, I WENT BACK TO THE CONTRACT WITH VOTERS FROM NOVEMBER 8TH, 2016, SPECIFICALLY, COUNCIL PASSED ON AUGUST 18TH, 2020.
THAT CONTRACT SPECIFIED $65 MILLION FOR SAFETY AND IT ALSO SPECIFIES VI VISION ZERO.
I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THAT IT WAS 2016 THAT COUNCIL PASSED VISION ZERO.
IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR 2023 TRANSIT ENHANCEMENT INFRASTRUCTURE REPORT, IT SPECIFIES MONIES FOR ALLENDALE STATION AND IT SAYS HIGH CRASH RATE, DOESN'T MATTER IN A DOES $0.3 MILLION, YOU HAVE MORE FUNDING IN THE BREAKER LANE AREA AND $0 ALLOCATED FOR NORTH LAMAR.
SO, NO, I DON'T APPRECIATE THIS BUDGET.
[03:05:01]
SUPPORT IT.PAGE FIVE 15 ACTUALLY SPECIFIES THE SIDEWALKS.
ALL SPEAKERS FOR ITEM FIVE HAVE BEEN CALLED.
THANKS EVERYBODY WHO TOOK THE TIME TO BE HERE AND, AND SPEAK OR OR REMOTELY SPEAK MEMBERS.
WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS I'M GONNA ASK OUR, UH, FINANCIAL STAFF TO COME FORWARD, UH, SO THEY CAN MAKE A BRIEF PRESENTATION ABOUT WHAT HAS NOW BEEN, UH, DISSEMINATED, UH, TO ALL OF US AND AS I, AS THEY COMES FORWARD.
LET ME, LET ME REMIND EVERYBODY OF A COUPLE THINGS.
ONE IS THAT IN AN EFFORT TO BEGIN MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE SOCIALIZING AND TREATING THIS BUDGET AS ONE BUDGET AND NOT JUST TWO SUBPARTS, WHAT WE'LL DO TODAY IS ASSUMING WE GET TO IT TODAY OR WE'LL DO IT TOMORROW MORNING, IS THAT A THE PRIMARY MOTION THAT WE WILL HAVE ON THE BUDGET WILL BE A MOTION AND I'LL, I'LL LAY IT OUT.
A MOTION TO ADOPT AS THE 20 25 20 26 BUDGET OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
THE CITY MANAGER'S BUDGET PROPOSAL IS FILED BY THE CITY MANAGER ON JULY 11TH, 2025, AND IS PRESENTED TO THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL BY THE CITY MANAGER AT THE JULY 15TH, 2025 CITY COUNCIL MEETING WITH THE ADDITION OF THE DOCUMENT LABELED BUDGET EDITION ONE.
BUDGET EDITION ONE WILL BE THE DOCUMENT THAT MS. LANG IS GETTING READY THAT HAS BEEN DISSEMINATED TO ALL OF OUR OFFICES, AND THAT IS NOW IN THE BACKUP FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE, AND THAT MS. LANG IS GETTING READY TO TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT WILL BE BUDGET EDITION ONE.
I ANTICIPATE THERE WILL BE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO BUDGET EDITION ONE.
I MAY BE SURPRISED, BUT I DOUBT IT.
UM, AND SO WHAT I'M ASKING EVERYBODY TO DO IS, PLEASE, AND WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'LL TAKE A, A, A BRIEF BREAK HERE IN A SECOND, A BRIEF RECESS SO THAT WE CAN ALL TALK WITH OUR STAFFS.
BUT AS SHE LAYS THIS OUT, I THINK YOU'LL, YOU'VE PROBABLY ALREADY SEEN THE WAY IT'S SET UP SO THAT A, A BUDGET AMENDMENT CAN BE MADE.
AND IF YOU'LL LOOK AT LAST NIGHT'S MESSAGE BOARD POST, YOU WILL SEE PROPOSALS FOR THE BEST WAY FOR US TO GET THE BUDGET AMENDMENTS AT, IF AT LEAST AS THEY APPLY TO BUDGET EDITION ONE, WHICH IS THIS DOCUMENT.
WE'RE GETTING READY TO TALK ABOUT WAYS TO DO THAT.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, UM, AS SHE WALKS, I, I'LL JUST PULL OUT A A ONE, I'LL JUST MAKE UP A LINE HERE.
WELL, I'M GONNA ASK HER A QUESTION ABOUT THAT HERE IN JUST A SECOND.
'CAUSE I THOUGHT WE WERE GONNA HAVE LINES ON THAT, BUT, UM, WHY DON'T YOU MAKE YOUR PRESENTATION AND THEN I'LL ASK YOU.
UM, SO WE SENT A MEMO OUT, UH, A FEW MINUTES AGO TO TALK THROUGH THE SCENARIO, THE FINAL SCENARIO OR ANALYSIS OF THE, UM, SCENARIOS THAT WERE PRESENTED BY THE VARIOUS COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AND WHAT STAFF DID WAS LOOK AT THE AREAS WHERE THERE WAS CONSENSUS OF SIX OR MORE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO INCLUDE THOSE ITEMS INTO THE PACKAGE.
THAT, UM, OR THE DOCUMENT THAT SAYS BUDGET EDITION ONE.
UM, AS WE MENTIONED IN THE MEMO, UH, THESE ITEMS HAVE ALL THE, THE AREAS THAT WERE, UM, AGREED UPON OR APPARENTLY AGREED UPON BY, BY THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AND I GUESS, LET ME START WITH MAYOR TO SPEAK TO YOUR QUESTION ABOUT HOW TO REFERENCE THE ITEM.
I JUST REALIZED WHAT YOU HAD DONE SO GOOD.
WE HAVE THE REFERENCE NUMBER SO YOU COULD SAY WHICH ONES YOU WANT TO CHANGE IF, IF THERE ARE ANY AMENDMENTS OR CHANGES TO THOSE ITEMS. CAN I SAY THIS BACK TO YOU TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE AND EVERYBODY'S ON THE SAME PAGE? SO IF I'M GONNA SAY IT, I'M GONNA SAY IT THE WAY I I I THINK IT WORKS, BUT PLEASE, PLEASE, UH, CORRECT ME.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, I, IN THE EXAMPLE I GAVE YESTERDAY, I, I, I THOUGHT THERE WOULD BE A LINE NUMBER, BUT THE WAY THEY'VE DONE THAT IS THEY'VE GIVEN THE ITEM A NUMBER.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, I MOVE TO AMEND, THE WAY I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE DO THIS IS, AND I'M JUST GONNA START WITH THE FIR WITH, UM, THE FIRST HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING ITEM.
I MOVE TO AMEND LINE HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING, ONE OF BUDGET EDITION ONE REFERRING TO, AND THEN YOU'LL SEE A DESCRIPTION RESTORE HOUSING TRUST FUND STAFF RECOMMENDATION FY 27.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE LOOKING AT EACH OTHER LIKE THEY DON'T LIKE THAT.
[03:10:06]
TELL ME, TELL ME WHAT YOU DON'T LIKE ABOUT THAT.SO WE CAN TRY TO GET, I JUST WANT TO GET US TO A ROUTINE.
SO THERE IS A, THERE ARE TWO DOCUMENTS THAT YOU ALL RECEIVED.
THE, THE ONE THAT YOU'RE READING FROM IS THE DETAILED DOCUMENT THAT SHOWS ALL OF THE ITEMS, INCLUDING THE ITEMS THAT WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE, UM, CONSENSUS DOCUMENT.
THE BUDGET EDITION ONE DOCUMENT SHOWS THE SUMMARY OF ITEMS THAT WERE, I SEE WHAT YOU GOT AGREED UPON.
AND SO THAT, THAT WILL BE IF WHAT I ASSUME WOULD BE THE BASE PART OF THE BASE MOTION.
SO YOU'LL BE CHANGING, FOR EXAMPLE, HOMELESS AND HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS SEVEN WITH WHATEVER THE CHANGE YOU HAVE TO THAT ITEM.
ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY SEE THAT? YEAH.
THE NU THE, THEY HAVE, THEY'VE GOT AN ITEM THAT LOOKS LIKE THIS, THAT THEY'RE REFERRING TO AS BUDGET EDITION ONE, WHICH IS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT YESTERDAY.
BUDGET EDITION ONE HAS ALL OF THE, THE ITEMS THAT WOULD ADD UP TO WHAT THE TOTAL NUMBER AND A 4.60 CENT INCREASE.
SO IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A CHANGE TO THAT SPECIFIC LINE ITEM, WHAT YOU WOULD DO IS YOU WOULD MAKE REFERENCE TO THAT LINE ITEM.
UH, Y'ALL PLAY WITH THE LANGUAGE THAT I PUT OUT BECAUSE, UH, IT, IT MAKES IT A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, BUT IT WOULD BE YOUR, YOUR WRITTEN MOTION AND THE MOTION THAT WE'LL WE'LL TAKE AT THE TIME WE DO THE AMENDMENT WILL BE I MOVE TO AMEND AND THEN SAY HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS ZERO SEVEN OF BUDGET EDITION ONE REFERRING TO, AND THEN PLEASE TYPE OUT WHAT THE REFERENCES DO BY REPLACING IT WITH, AND THEN YOU WOULD PUT IN WHATEVER IS THE NUMBER OR THE, THE, THE LANGUAGE THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO DO THAT MAKES SENSE OR CLOSE ENOUGH THAT WE CAN MAYBE MUDDLE THROUGH.
THE SECOND WOULD BE JUST AN AMOUNT CHANGE.
I MOVE TO AMEND HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS OH SEVEN OF BUDGET EDITION ONE REFERRING TO STREET OUTREACH AND THEN PUT THE LANGUAGE THERE BY REPLACING THE AMOUNT OF MONEY IN THIS ITEM OF $2 MILLION WITH AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO, AND THEN YOU'D PUT WHATEVER IS THE OTHER NUMBER YOU'D WANT TO DO OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
EVERYBODY GOT THAT? THE THIRD POSSIBILITY IS YOU WOULD MOVE TO AMEND HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS.
SEVEN OF BUDGET EDITION ONE REFERRING TO, AND THEN MAKE REFERENCE TO THAT BY REMOVING THE LINE ITEM IF THAT'S SOMETHING YOU WOULD WANT TO DO.
NOW, THERE ARE, WHAT THAT ALSO MEANS MEMBERS IS THERE ARE THINGS YOU MAY WANT THAT AREN'T IN BUDGET EDITION.
NUMBER ONE, YOU MAY HAVE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS THAT ARE NOT IN BUDGET EDITION ONE.
THE LANGUAGE THAT I WOULD SUGGEST YOU USE THAT IN, IN THE, THE WRITTEN DOCUMENTS, SO THAT WE'LL HAVE THAT IN WRITING IS THAT I MOVE TO AMEND BUDGET EDITION ONE BY ADDING AND THEN PUT THE NAME, THE NAME WHERE IT WOULD GO, HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS, UH, SAFETY, YOU KNOW, THAT SORT OF THING, AND A DESCRIPTION OF IT AND THE NUMBER THAT WAY WE WILL HAVE THAT AND CAN ADD THAT IN.
THAT MAKES SENSE, MAYOR AND I, BECAUSE I THINK WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS WE'LL JUST NEED TO KNOW FOR THE AMENDMENTS THAT ARE NOT LISTED ON THIS BUDGET EDITION, ONE SPREADSHEET, UM, AND NOT INCLUDED IN THIS BUDGET EDITION ONE AMENDMENT AND IT'S IN, IN AN ADDITION, WE WOULD JUST NEED TO KNOW THE CATEGORY IN WHICH WE WANT ATTITUDE AND, AND, AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO FIGURE THAT WE'LL ALL BE ABLE TO DO THAT GENERALLY.
AND WHEN YOU LAY OUT THE, WHEN YOU LAY OUT THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT, YOU'LL LAY OUT WHERE YOU THINK IT OUGHT TO GO.
UM, BUT I WANNA BE VERY CLEAR, SO I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA ASK THIS QUESTION TO MS. LANG, WHAT THEY HAVE PREPARED FOR US TO HAVE AS A TARGET FOR PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.
THE DOCUMENT LABELED FY 20 25, 20 26 BUDGET EDITION ONE
[03:15:01]
IS WHAT THEY HAVE PUT TOGETHER AS SOMEWHAT OF A CONSENSUS DOCUMENT.IT LEADS TO THE NUMBERS THAT THEY HAVE AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS OTHER PAGE, AND A, A, A REVENUE AMOUNT OF, IN TERMS OF NUMBER OF PENNIES TO FIVE 100TH OF A PENNY AT 4.60.
BUT WHAT THAT ASSURES IS THAT THERE, AND, AND, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE ASKED THEM TO DO.
WHAT THAT ASSURES THOUGH, IS YOU ALL MAY HAVE ITEMS THAT YOU WANT TO ADD IN, AND THEREFORE YOU'LL NEED TO, TO MAKE THAT AS A MOTION, A MOTION THAT IT WOULD ADD THOSE NUMBERS.
AND, AND YOU NEED TO TRY TO HAVE, YOU NEED TO HAVE THAT IN WRITING.
MS. LANG, I APOLOGIZE, I'M INTERRUPTING YOU, BUT I'M TRYING TO GET US SO THAT WE CAN MAYBE BE MORE EFFICIENT LATER TODAY.
AND SO, UM, AS WE LOOK AT THE, UM, DOCUMENT, I WON'T GO THROUGH EVERY SINGLE LINE ITEM, BUT I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THE MAJOR POINTS THAT WE DISCUSSED IN THE MEMO, PRIMARILY WITH THE HOMELESS STRATEGY AND OPERATIONS PLAN.
UM, MOST OF THE ELEMENTS OF THE PLAN ARE INCLUDED IN THE DOCUMENT IN THE, IN THE CALCULATION.
THERE IS THE EMERGENCY SHELTER CAPACITY BEYOND FISCAL YEAR 26 THAT, UM, DID NOT GET THE FULL FUNDING OF THE PLAN, AS IN, AS, AS DIRECTOR, OR AS IS SEEN IN THE, IN THE DOCUMENT, AS WELL AS, UM, THE PREVENTION, DIVERSION, AND LANDLORD AGREEMENT THAT DID NOT HAVE A FULL CONSENSUS OF SIX OR MORE.
THEN WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE HOUSING TRUST FUND WITH THE HOUSING TRUST FUND, UM, THERE WAS ADDITIONAL REVENUE THAT WAS RECOGNIZED THROUGH THE CERTIFIED TAX ROW, THAT $5.25 MILLION THAT ALLOWED FOR THE, UM, COMING AMENDMENT OF THE FUNDS FOR THE MARSHALING YARD TO BE MOVED TO THE GENERAL FUND.
THIS ALLOWED FOR $5.25 MILLION TO BE AVAILABLE IN THE HOUSING TRUST FUND.
A STAFF AMENDMENT WILL COME FORWARD TO APPROPRIATE 2 MILLION OF THAT TO ASSIST WITH FUNDING, AS WELL AS THE 12.4 4.5 MILLION THAT IS IN THE SCENARIO TO COVER VOUCHERS AND THE CURRENT PROGRAMMING IN THE HOUSING TRUST FUND.
THERE WERE SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS OR SEVERAL PIECES OF, UM, UH, SCENARIOS FOR EER EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES AND TALKING TO THE CHIEF AND STAFF ON THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT WE BELIEVE ARE INTENDED WITH, WITH YOUR SCENARIOS.
UM, THAT WE ARE INCLUDING THE COLLABORATIVE CARE MENTAL HEALTH, UM, SINGLE RESPONSE UNITS, A BLS UNIT IN, UM, FISCAL YEAR 27 OF BASIC LIFE SER UH, SUPPORT UNIT IN FISCAL YEAR 27, I MEAN 26 AND 27, AND, UH, FOUR ADDITIONAL COMMUNICATION STAFF AS WELL AS COMMAND STAFF.
AND SO THE DOLLARS THAT YOU SEE, THERE ARE A MIX OF US UNDERSTANDING WHAT YOUR, UM, AGREEMENTS OR WHAT YOUR, WHAT YOUR PRIORITIES WERE, AS WELL AS CON CONVERSING WITH STAFF TO MAKE SURE WE HAD THE APPROPRIATE DOLLAR AMOUNT, THE APPROPRIATE POSITIONS TO SUPPORT THOSE PROGRAMS. AND THEN THERE ARE A FEW OTHER ITEMS THAT, UM, WE MADE ADJUSTMENTS TO INCLUDING, UM, THE, THE PUBLIC HEALTH CORE GRANTS, THE PARKLAND MAINTENANCE STAFF THAT IS BASED ON, UM, WORKING WITH STAFF ON THE NUMBER OF POSITIONS NEEDED AND THE FULL DO-DO AMOUNT FOR THAT, FOR THAT, UH, PROGRAM, AS WELL AS MOVING FIRE OVER TIME.
UM, THERE WERE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR FIRE OVERTIME THAT WAS LISTED.
AND SO WE LOOKED AT THE $6 MILLION, UM, AND USED IT MOVING THAT OVER TO ONE TIME.
AND THEN THE SIDEWALK MAINTENANCE, UM, THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE SCENARIOS THAT IS FUNDED BY THE TRANSPORTATION USER FEE.
AND SO THAT WILL REQUIRE A AMENDMENT TO, UH, TRANSPORTATION OF PUBLIC WORKS AND THE TOUGH, AND IT SHOULD NOT BE IN THE GENERAL FUND SCENARIO.
THE, UM, THE FINAL, UM, FINANCIAL STABILITY, LOOKING AT THAT, UM, FOR THE MID MEDIUM TERM WITH THESE, UH, SCENARIOS, WITH THIS CALCULATION, WE ARE IN, UM, POLICY, OUR FINANCIAL POLICIES WITH OUR RESERVE FUNDS, AND WE ARE BALANCED THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 29 MEMBERS.
UM, I'LL ASK IF WE HAVE SOME QUICK QUESTIONS, AND THEN WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST IS THAT WE RECESS UNTIL ONE 50 SO THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH THEIR STAFF, UM, AND PREPARE FOR LATER TODAY.
COMM UH, COUNCIL MEMBER S YOU SAY COMMISSIONER? I DON'T KNOW WHY I'VE SAID THAT.
[03:20:02]
THE ENVIRONMENT AND CULTURE OH FOUR, THE PARKLAND MAINTENANCE THAT YOU JUST REFERENCED, THAT'S PART OF REACHING THE GOLD STANDARD.I THINK THAT SHOULD BE PARKS AND RECREATION MAINTENANCE, JUST SO IT'S SEPARATE FROM PARK LAND MAINTENANCE, WHICH IS MORE OF, UM, HELP ME WITH MY WORDS HERE.
I KNOW IT'S NOT EVEN THAT LATE IN THE DAY, BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT WAS LESS ABOUT TREE TRIMMING.
'CAUSE I KNOW THERE'S SOME OTHER POTS OF MONEY WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THAT, EVEN THOUGH THAT COULD BE A FEASIBLE USE, BUT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT ALSO WAS USEFUL TO REC CENTERS THAT WE'RE HAVING MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS AS WELL.
CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT OR IS THAT A NON SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE? I THINK THAT'S A NON SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE BECAUSE I, I BELIEVE PARKS AND RECREATION HAS GROUNDS MAINTENANCE ACROSS THEIR, UM, ACROSS THEIR FACILITIES AND IN PARKLAND AS WELL.
AND SO THOSE ARE PRIMARILY GROUNDS MAINTENANCE POSITIONS.
UM, AND WITH THE NUMBER OF POSITIONS THAT WERE INCLUDED, I BELIEVE THE, THE DEPARTMENT WILL HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY AND UNDERSTANDING TO MOVE THOSE IN AREAS THAT'S NEEDED, WHETHER IT IS PARK LAND OR IF IT IS, UH, LAND AROUND THE RECREATION CENTERS TO SUPPORT.
AND I KNOW THERE WAS A PRESENTATION THAT HAS COME TO, UM, THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD AS WELL, THE, THE CLIMATE AND WATER COMMITTEE.
AND SO I'LL JUST DIG INTO THAT FILE IF I CAN FIND IT AND JUST MAKE SURE EVERYTHING'S BUTTONED UP BEFORE WE MAKE ANY FINAL BLESSINGS.
THANKS, COUNCIL MEMBER MAYOR PRO TIM.
THANK YOU, UM, COLLEAGUES, AS WE TAKE A RECESS TO REVIEW CITY STAFF'S ALTERNATIVE, UH, MOTION THAT IS BEFORE US, I'D ALSO LIKE TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO AN ALTERNATIVE THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE.
I'M JOINED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER, COUNCILOR JOSE VELASQUEZ AND COUNCIL VELA.
WE HAVE TAKEN THE TERRY SCENARIO PROPOSED BY OTHER COLLEAGUES ON THE DAIS, UM, AND WE'VE ADDED SOME MODIFICATION IN ADDITIONS AND AN EFFORT TO COMBINE BOTH OF OUR PROPOSALS.
AND SO WE'D LIKE TO POINT YOUR ATTENTION TO THE MESSAGE BOARD POSTS.
UM, WITH THIS ALTERNATIVE MOTION, IT WOULD FULLY FUND THE HSO PLAN.
IT INCLUDES 96% OF THE ITEMS IN THE AUGUST 11TH 5 CENT PROPOSAL.
IT ALSO ADDS AN ADDITIONAL 8.1 MILLION TO FY 26 OF THE COST OF THE 5 CENT TRE AND CONTAINS A RESERVE BALANCE OF 17.46 PERCENTAGE AND FY 26.
UM, THIS IS JUST ANOTHER OPTION FOR US TO CONSIDER AS A WAY TO HAVE AN EFFICIENT WAY FOR US TO HAVE, UM, A KIND OF A SHARED, MORE CONSENSUS ORIENTED, UH, TRE PROPOSAL.
AND SO WANTED TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO GET FEEDBACK, UM, FROM OUR COLLEAGUES HERE ON THE DIOCESE.
WELL, AND, AND I'LL, I WON'T SPEAK FOR EVERYBODY, BUT I, I THINK WHEN THAT WAS OFFERED UP, THERE