[00:00:03]
[Call to Order]
10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING ON NOVEMBER 20TH, 2025, AND I WILL CALL TO ORDER THIS REGULAR MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.UH, WE ARE MEETING IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, WHICH ARE LOCATED AT CITY HALL, WHICH IS AT 3 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND WE HAVE A QUORUM OF THE CITY COUNCIL PRESENT BOTH IN PERSON AND VIRTUAL.
UH, SO LET ME RUN THROUGH HOW WE'RE GOING TO, UH, CONDUCT THE MEETING TODAY.
UH, I'M GONNA READ HERE IN JUST A SECOND, CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS INTO THE RECORD.
UH, THEN I WILL, UH, THEN WHAT WE WILL DO IS WE WILL GO TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
UH, THERE HAVE THE ONLY ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN TECHNICALLY PULLED FROM THE AGENDA ARE THOSE ITEMS RELATED TO THE BUDGET.
THOSE ARE ITEMS FOUR, FIVE, AND SIX ITEMS FOUR, FIVE, AND SIX.
WE WILL TAKE UP, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA, AND THEN WE WILL, UH, GO TO WHAT ARE BROADLY LABELED NON-CONSENT ITEMS. THOSE INCLUDE ITEMS RELATED TO IMMINENT DOMAIN AND THE PUBLIC HEARINGS THAT WE WILL CONDUCT, UH, BY 12 O'CLOCK, UH, OR AT 12 O'CLOCK, REGARDLESS OF WHERE WE ARE IN THE AGENDA.
AT 12 O'CLOCK, WE WILL PAUSE SO THAT WE CAN TAKE UP OUR TIME, CERTAIN POSTING, WHICH IS PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.
WE WILL PROBABLY TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF A BREAK THERE.
WE WILL RECESS, UH, WE WILL HAVE LIVE MUSIC, AND THEN WE WILL COME BACK AND I, AND, AND I'LL, I'LL MAKE THE CALL ON THAT AS WE GET TO IT.
WE HAVE A TWO O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN AND THAT ARE, THOSE ARE OUR ZONING ITEMS. MY INTENTION WOULD BE THAT WE WILL TAKE UP THE BUDGET ITEMS, ITEMS FOUR, FIVE, AND SIX, UH, AT THE, AT THE END OF THIS REGULAR SCHEDULED AGENDA.
HOWEVER, IF DURING THE COURSE OF THE DAY WE, UH, FINISH A, A, A SECTION AND WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT ALL WE HAVE LEFT ARE THINGS THAT ARE TIME CERTAINS, FOR EXAMPLE, THE 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN OR THE TWO O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, WE WILL HAVE PUBLIC COMMUNICATION ON THOSE ITEMS, FOUR, FIVE, AND SIX AT THOSE TIMES SO THAT WE HAVE AN EFFICIENT USE OF OUR TIME.
SO THAT'S, UNLESS THERE'S QUESTIONS, YES.
I WOULD JUST ASK BEFORE WE TAKE UP THE BUDGET ITEMS THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH OUR SUB QUORUMS, SO A RECESS BEFORE, WELL, WE WE'RE GONNA TAKE A RE WE WILL TAKE OUR, OUR TYPICAL NORMAL RECESS, UH, AROUND THE 12 O'CLOCK TIME.
AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK AT, WE'LL COME BACK AT LIKE ONE 10 THE WAY WE TYPICALLY DO, BECAUSE ABOUT 12, WE'LL BE TAKING PUBLIC COMMENT TO 1230.
SO THAT GIVES US ABOUT 45 MINUTES.
SO, MEMBER, UH, MEMBERS, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? GREAT, THEN, UH, LET ME READ INTO THE RECORD CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS ITEMS. 30 48, 49, 50, 51, AND 54 HAVE BEEN WITHDRAWN FROM THE AGENDA ITEMS. 30 48, 49, 50, 51, AND 54 HAVE BEEN WITHDRAWN FROM THE AGENDA.
ON ITEM NUMBER 57, IT SHOULD ADD COUNCIL MEMBER PAGE ELLIS AS A SPONSOR OF THAT ITEM.
AND AGAIN, THE ONLY ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA ARE ITEMS FOUR, FIVE, AND SIX, AND THOSE ARE ITEMS RELATED TO OUR BUDGET.
[Consent Agenda]
GO TO, UH, SPEAKERS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.I WANT TO NOTE FOR THE RECORD THAT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE HAS ON ITEM NUMBER 44, HE HAS DIRECTION THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR BACKUP DIRECTION TO THE MANAGER'S OFFICE WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER 44.
SO WHEN THE CHAIR ACCEPTS A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IT'S READ, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE'S DIRECTION ON ITEM NUMBER 44 WILL BE A PART OF THAT MOTION.
COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, YOU WANNA SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THAT?
[00:05:01]
OKAY.WITH THAT, I WILL NOW TURN IT OVER TO THE CITY CLERK TO HELP US, UH, BY CALLING OUT PEOPLE TO SPEAK ON THE PUBLIC COMMUNICATION WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED.
IT'S REALLY HELPFUL TO US IF YOU MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT SO THAT WE KNOW YOU'RE HERE.
AND IF THERE'S A, AN OPEN CHAIR IN FRONT OF ONE OF THESE MICROPHONES, PLEASE GO AHEAD AND TAKE THAT, AND THEN WE'LL CALL ON YOU IN ORDER, AND YOU CAN STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO THE CITY CLERK.
FIRST FOR ITEM ONE, I HAVE MIKE MINZ AND TIOS BELAY.
PLEASE GO AHEAD, JUST STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.
UH, I LIVE IN, UH, DISTRICT ONE, AND I'M WITH THE US AFRICAN INSTITUTE.
UH, GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND, UH, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
UH, OUR ORGANIZATION, US AFRICAN INSTITUTE, UH, IS A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION THAT, UH, EMPOWERS, UH, IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES, UH, IN AUSTIN AND AROUND THE COUNTRY.
AND TODAY, UM, I'M HERE TO URGE, UH, ALL OF YOU TO NOT CUT FUNDINGS FOR, UH, UH, UH, CRITICAL SOCIAL SERVICE AND ALSO, UH, LEGAL IMMIGRATION SUPPORT FOR, UH, THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES.
UH, OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES ARE ALREADY, UH, CARRYING THE WEIGHT OF ECONOMIC HARDSHIP AND DISCRIMINATION AND INCREASINGLY HARSH IMMIGRATION POLICIES AND ENFORCEMENT ALREADY, YOU SEEING, UH, THOSE SUPPORTS AND, AND CRITICAL, UH, SOCIAL SUPPORTS, UH, TO, UH, NOT ONLY TO OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES, UH, BUT ALSO, UH, UH, THE RESIDENTS OF, UH, AUSTIN, UH, WOULD DEEPEN THE, THE STRUGGLE OF, UH, OUR COMMUNITIES AND ALSO LIMIT OUR COMMUNITY'S ABILITY TO STAY SAFE, INFORMED, AND STABLE.
AND SOCIAL SERVICE AND LEGAL IMMIGRATION ASSISTANCE ARE NOT EXTRA.
THEY ARE ESSENTIAL, UH, TOOLS, UH, THAT KEEP OUR IMMIGRANT FAMILIES UNDERSTAND THEIR RATES, ACCESS PROTECTION, OBTAIN LEGAL SUPPORT, AND NAVIGATE THE COMPLEX IMMIGRATION SYSTEM THAT SHAPE THEIR DAILY LIVES.
WHEN THESE SERVICE ARE DEFUNDED, PEOPLE FALL THROUGH, UH, THE CRACKS AND THE, THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY FEELS THE IMPACT.
UH, AUSTIN IS A CITY OF IMMIGRANTS, AND OUR STRENGTHS COMES FROM THE PEOPLE WHO CONTINUE TO BUILD THEIR LIVES TODAY AND IN, IN THE FUTURE HERE IN AUSTIN.
IF WE WANT AUSTIN TO REMAIN A WELCOMING CITY FOR ALL OF US, WE MUST PROTECT THE PROGRAMS THAT ALLOW, UH, ALLOW, UH, IMMIGRANTS IN ANOTHER RE RESIDENTS REGARDLESS OF THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS.
AND I URGE YOU ALL, UH, TO SUPPORT, UH, ALL THESE, UH, UH, SOCIAL SUPPORTS AND THEN CRITICAL IMMIGRATION SUPPORT PROGRAMS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I HAVE A REMOTE SPEAKER FOR ITEM TWO QUA BRUCE.
MS. BREWSTER, ARE YOU THERE? I AM HERE.
HI, COUNSEL AND MAYOR, MY NAME IS QUA AND I'M ACTUALLY SPEAKING ON THE ITEM FOUR.
I THINK THAT I MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED.
SORRY, WE'LL NEED TO CALL ON YOU LATER.
IF YOU SIGNED UP ON ITEM FOUR, WE'LL NEED TO CALL YOU LATER.
YES, THANK, SORRY ABOUT THAT, MA'AM, YOU ONLY SIGNED UP ON ITEM TWO.
MA'AM, IF YOU'RE STILL THERE, YOU ONLY SIGNED UP ON ITEM NUMBER TWO.
DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER TWO? NO.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ITEM NUMBER EIGHT.
I, BRAD, ARE YOU THERE? PLEASE GO TO THE NEXT ONE.
MONICA GUZMAN, ITEM EIGHT, AND THEN BRENT DAVY FOR ITEM 13.
I THEN HAVE BILL BUNCH FOR ITEM 23.
I, ALL RIGHT, MY NOTES ARE NOT QUITE WHERE THEY NEED TO BE, BUT GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNSEL.
I'M MONICA GUZMAN, POLICY DIRECTOR AT GAVA, SHARING THOUGHTS
[00:10:01]
FROM VARIOUS COMMISSIONERS IN THE REVISED BYLAWS TEMPLATE, SPECIFICALLY ARTICLE SEVEN, ITEM J, LINES 31, 2, 34.THERE IS VERBIAGE ABOUT LIMITING SPEAKERS TO THREE MINUTES AND NO LESS THAN TWO MINUTES PER AGENDA ITEM.
AND THERE WAS CONCERN ABOUT PRESENTERS.
HOW ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO GIVE PRESENTATIONS IN SUCH A SHORT TIME? UM, AND, AND THAT IS THE MAIN THING, IS ALLOWING THE COMMISSIONS OR THE COMMISSIONERS TO SET THOSE RULES.
THEY EXPLAINED TO ME THAT, UM, SORRY, IN MY, LIKE I SAID, MY NOTES ARE A LITTLE BIT OUT OF IT HERE, LIKE THE, THE BOARD OF THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS.
LIKE I SAID, THESE WERE TEXTED TO ME.
BUT BASICALLY THEY'RE USED TO SOMEBODY ELSE SETTING THEM, NOT COUNCIL, HAVING A ONE SIZE FITS ALL, AND THEY'RE JUST CONCERNED ABOUT PEOPLE NOT BEING ABLE TO PRESENT.
AND I BELIEVE FOR ANYTHING GOING TO BE OA AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, OTHERS THAT ARE CRITICAL TO WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY, THEY REALLY NEED TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THE AMOUNT OF TIME NEEDED FOR PRESENTERS.
AND, UH, THANK YOU GUYS FOR HAVING US.
IT'S ACTUALLY ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIC HOW OPEN THIS COUNCIL IS.
UM, I AM A RECOVERING ADDICT, AND I'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH THE REHAB PROCESS AND I'VE BEEN INTERFACING WITH A BUNCH OF ASSISTANCE, YOU KNOW, FROM STATE, LOCAL, UH, RISE, COMMUNITY NAVIGATION CENTER, UM, THE WORKS.
AND ONE OF THE ISSUES, THIS IS RELATED TO THE WORK, UH, WORKFORCE BOARD AND THE CITY'S RELATIONSHIP WITH IT.
UM, I THINK THERE MIGHT BE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE.
WHAT ARE THE ISSUES THAT I FOUND COMING UP FREQUENTLY, UM, IS EVEN AMONG THE WORKFORCE CLERKS RIGHT, THAT I'M INTERFACING WITH, IS ALL OF THESE NOTIFICATIONS ARE SENT BY MAIL TO PEOPLE, AND THEY'RE, THESE PEOPLE ARE TYPICALLY TRANSIENT.
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GOING THROUGH DIFFERENT HOUSING SITUATIONS.
UM, I DIDN'T GET A NOTICE ON MY SNAP MEETING TILL AFTER THE SNAP MEETING
SO, UM, MAYBE THE CITY CAN PUT SOME PRESSURE WITH THE STATE AND DEVELOP A SOLUTION THERE, AND YOU MIGHT EVEN SAVE SOME MONEY DOING IT.
UH, BILL BLANC, UH, SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE, UH, DISTRICT FIVE.
I'M HERE SPEAKING ON ITEM 23, WHICH IS $12 MILLION, UH, FOR A COUPLE OF CONTRACTORS TO HELP MANAGE WATER AND WASTEWATER, UH, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.
UM, THAT BUDGET IS WAY BIGGER THAN IT NEEDS TO BE.
UM, THE ONE PROJECT THIS MENTIONS, AND IT'S FOR MANAGING A BUNCH OF 'EM, IS THE BIGGEST ONE IN THE WATER WASTEWATER UTILITIES BUDGET.
THAT'S THE WALNUT CREEK WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.
THAT IS A PROJECT THAT REALLY NEEDS TO BE PUT ON HOLD.
UH, WE'RE NEVER GONNA NEED THE SCALE OF EXPANSION, UH, FOR THAT $1.1 BILLION PROJECT.
WE'RE AT A TIME AT RECORD OR NEAR RECORD, UH, MUNICIPAL BOND INTEREST RATES.
EVERY SINGLE CAPITAL PROJECT THAT YOU HAVE THAT'S NOT URGENT SHOULD BE PUT ON HOLD.
CERTAINLY RECOGNIZE THIS IS NOT PART OF THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET, UH, BUT THESE PROJECTS ARE DRIVING THESE WATER AND WASTEWATER RATE INCREASES, AND THAT'S DIRECTLY AFFECTING THE BUDGET.
UH, AT MINIMUM, YOU SHOULD POSTPONE THIS ITEM UNTIL YOU REEVALUATE YOUR WA YOUR CAPITAL INFRASTRUCTURE, ESPECIALLY WITH MAYOR WATSON'S ANNOUNCEMENT LAST NIGHT ABOUT, UH, BASICALLY ABANDONING THE, UH, AQUIFER STORAGE AND RECOVERY PROJECT, WHICH IS THE BIG KAHUNA IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR WATER FORWARD PLAN.
UH, I HOPE THIS IS, THIS IS A RADICAL RE SHIFT IN REALIGNMENT THAT WE CAN ALL CELEBRATE TOWARDS CONSERVATION AND REUSE INVESTMENTS.
UM, AND THIS, THIS ITEM RIGHT HERE POINTS DIRECTLY TO THAT BECAUSE THOSE PROJECTS THAT WILL SAVE OUR WATER FUTURE AND MAKE US SUSTAINABLE AREN'T THESE BIG, BIG GIANT CAPITAL PROJECTS.
THEY'RE DOING A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER STUFF THAT'S SMALL SCALE, AND THAT'S EMBRACING THE COMMUNITY TO, UH, THANK YOU FOR DIFFERENT WATER CULTURE.
I'M GONNA TRY BRAD MASSENGILL ONE MORE TIME.
[00:15:05]
BRAD, ARE YOU THERE? BRAD? OKAY.MR. MASSING ALSO SIGNED UP FOR 18 AND 20.
BRAD, ARE YOU THERE? YEAH, SORRY, I'M A LITTLE DISORGANIZED HERE.
UM, I, ITEM 20 AND IN THE ITEMS AFTER IT UP TO 20 STREET, THE, THE ITEM THAT, UH, MR. BUNCH WAS JUST DESCRIBING, UM, I AGREE THERE, THERE'S, THERE'S A LOT MORE ROOM FOR TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO ROLL THESE OUT.
THAT'S, THAT'S A BIG EXPENDITURE, UH, ON THE PART OF THE CITY.
AND THE OTHER OUTLIER, AND THIS IS SOMETHING I I MENTIONED YESTERDAY, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THESE BIG TIE IN PROJECTS AND AND LARGE, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, THEY INVOLVE OUR CITY EMPLOYEES AND OUR RESOURCES TO MAKE THEM HAPPEN.
AND SOME OF THOSE RESOURCES AND PEOPLE CAN BE USED ELSEWHERE TO DO THINGS THAT ARE MORE CLOSER TO THE COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR ITEM 44, MEGAN MEISENBACH.
HI, THIS IS MEGAN MEISENBACH IN THE JUDGES HILL NEIGHBORHOOD IN GOOD DAY, MAYOR WATSON AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M ASKING FOR A POSTPONEMENT OF ITEM 44.
AS A RESIDENT AND MEMBER OF THE ADJACENT NEIGHBORHOOD, AND ACTUALLY PART OF STEAD PRESERVATION, DISTRICT D IS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT WILL HAVE IMPACTFUL REDUCTIONS IN THE CITY BUDGET, MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
THE PROPERTY TAX, UH, DOLLARS FROM WEST CAMPUS WILL BE DIVERTED FOREVER TO A PRIVATE ENTITY BY THIS MEASURE.
AND THESE TAX DOLLARS ARE, ARE PROPOSED TO BEING, UM, TAKEN AWAY FROM THE CITY BUDGET BASED ON OLD DATA.
AND IN YOUR BACKUP, IT SAYS, WITH A HIGH AMOUNT OF ERROR DUE TO THE SMALL SAMPLE SIZE, ET CETERA.
THE, THE MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME IS NOT MEANINGFULLY SIGNIFICANT.
IT SAYS IN, UM, APPENDIX B, OF COURSE, YOU DON'T EXPECT STUDENTS TO REALLY HAVE A HIGH INCOME.
SO CALLING IS A POVERTY AREA, IS NOT REALLY, UM, TRANSPARENT.
ALSO, NONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, AND AS FAR AS I KNOW, THE ADJUSTMENTS NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE UNIVERSITY AREA AREA OVERLAY, WERE NOT INFORMED AT THE FORMATION OF THIS DISTRICT.
SO BASED ON THESE ITEMS, I HOPE YOU'LL POSTPONE ITEM 44 TILL DECEMBER WHEN WE HAVE A CHANCE TO LOOK AT IT MORE FULLY.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION, UH, TODAY.
FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO AGAIN REQUEST A POSTPONEMENT FOR ITEM, UH, NUMBER 44 UNTIL DECEMBER'S COUNCIL MEETING WHEN WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK OUR QUESTIONS OF STAFF MEMBERS.
SECOND, I AGREE THAT NEIGHBORHOODS ARE IN FEAR OF LOSING THEIR HOMES, BUT NOT BECAUSE OF LOW INCOME DISPLACEMENT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
WHAT WE FEAR ARE RISING TAXES, INCOMPLETE, INCOMPATIBLE ZONING WITHIN OUR BOUNDARIES, AND BEING SQUEEZED OUT OF OUR HOMES FOR OVER DEVELOPMENT.
WE ARE SURROUNDED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AREA HERE.
I ALSO AGREE THAT HPD SERVE AN IMPORTANT PURPOSE, YET PUTTING ONE IN THE CAMPUS, UH, OR IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS NOT APPROPRIATE GIVEN THE DYNAMIC FOR THE UT AREA.
UH, HPDS WERE CREATED FOR LONG-TERM, UH, HOMEOWNERS EXPERIENCING LOW INCOME DISPLACEMENT, BUT THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
UH, THE UNO AREA HAS BEEN ONE OF SUCCESS, AND H HP D DO NOT APPEAR TO HAVE AS GOOD A TRACK RECORD AS SOME OF THE CITIES.
YOU KNOW, IT ADDS BUREAUCRACY, IT'S LOW DOWN DEVELOPMENT AREAS WHERE THEY'RE IMPLEMENTED.
AND IF OUR GOAL IS TO LOWER RENT AND OWNERSHIP PRESSURES ON STUDENTS AND NEIGHBORHOODS SLOWING DOWN DEVELOPMENT AND REVITALATION IS COUNTERPRODUCTIVE.
IN ADDITION, THE CAMPUS HPD WOULD DIVERT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN FUTURE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE AWAY FROM ESSENTIAL CITYWIDE SERVICES, AND THEY WOULD BE LOCKED INTO ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE, HEAVILY ENLISTED AREAS IN THE CITY INSTEAD OF BENEFITING COMMUNITIES THAT ACTUALLY NEED THE PROGRAM.
UH, ESTABLISHING HPD HERE MISUSES THE TOOL DESIGNED FOR
[00:20:01]
AT RISK LOW INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE PROGRAM, NOT AREAS DOMINATED BY CONSTANT STUDENT TURNOVER IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.ALSO FOR ITEM 44, I HAVE JOEL MCNE, MICHAEL MCCONE, AND THEN ITEM 52, BILL BUNCH.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF SAFE HORNS.
I AGREE WITH THE PREVIOUS SPEAKERS.
WE ARE ASKING FOR A POSTPONEMENT ON THIS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND.
I DID A QUICK POLL LAST NIGHT BECAUSE I WAS LOOKING AT THE DATA THAT THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER SPEAKERS TALKED ABOUT FOR LOW INCOME AND THE BENEFITS OVER 150 PARENTS REACHED OUT IN A QUICK REQUEST FOR INFORMATION LAST NIGHT.
TO ME, THE AVERAGE ROOM IN WEST CAMPUS STUDENT HOUSING, WHICH MAKES UP THE MAJORITY OF HOUSING IN THIS AREA, IS $2,200 PER BED.
THAT ALSO IS ANOTHER FEE FOR TWO TO $300 FOR PARKING.
THERE WAS A FUNNY LITTLE FEE FOR GREEN SPACE, WHICH THAT PROPERTY DOESN'T EVEN HAVE GREEN SPACE.
UM, THE AVERAGE PARENT IS PAYING PARENTS ARE CO-SIGNERS.
SO THE FACT THAT THIS AREA IS CALLED LOW INCOME, REALLY THAT IS CURIOUS TO US.
BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE WANNA UNDERSTAND WHAT THE BENEFIT IS TO STUDENTS FOR HPD, WHICH THEY ARE THE PREDOMINANT CITIZENS OF THIS AREA.
WHAT WE EMPHATICALLY NEED MOST FROM ALL OF YOU IS TO PLEASE HELP US IN ADDRESSING MOLD ISSUES IN THESE PROPERTIES.
WE HAVE MOLD ISSUES, WE HAVE PHYSICAL SECURITY ISSUES, ACCESS CONTROL, VERY POOR MAINTENANCE, NO OVERSIGHT.
SAFE HORNS HAS PREDOMINANTLY BEEN THE OVERSIGHT AND THE PEOPLE WORKING TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR STUDENTS THAT MAKE UP THIS IMPORTANT AREA OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AGAIN, THE AVERAGE UNIT IS COLLECTIVELY $6,600 A MONTH.
SOME ARE $8,800 A MONTH FOR AN APARTMENT THAT THEN REQUIRES YOU TO PAY FOR PARKING UTILITIES THAT ARE DEALING WITH ELEVATORS THAT DO NOT WORK.
GARAGE GATES THAT DO NOT, THAT ARE NOT SECURE DOORS, ACCESSIBLE EXTERIOR DOORS THAT ARE NOT FUNCTIONING.
APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND YOUR SERVICE.
I'VE NOT BEEN HERE IN A WHILE.
A MAYOR, LAST TIME I WAS HERE, I WAS STANDING IN FRONT OF YOU AND, UH, CELL PHONE WENT OFF.
OF COURSE, IT WAS THE WILLIAM TELL OVERTURE, AND I BELIEVE TO GET THIS ITEM TO BE, UH, POSTPONED, I'M GONNA NEED ALL THE HELP I CAN GET FROM THE LONE RANGER, BUT IT'S NOT AN IMPOSSIBLE, UH, ASK.
WE'RE JUST ASKING FOR A LITTLE BIT OF TIME.
WE KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE DONE IMMEDIATELY.
IT IS AN IMPLEMENTATION TOOL THAT IS BEING CONSIDERED, BUT ONCE YOU START GETTING A SITUATION WHERE YOU HAVE THE NEIGHBORS AND THE ADJACENT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS ALL CONFUSED AND CONCERNED, IT DOESN'T DO ANY GOOD TO THEN SAY, WELL, UH, LET'S GO AHEAD WITH SOMETHING.
LET'S BE LIKE WE DID WHEN WE CREATED UNO AND UNIVERSITY AREA PARTNERS BROUGHT IT TO YOU, WRAPPED IN A BOW WITH THE AGREEMENT OF SEVEN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT YES, THROUGH COOPERATION, COLLABORATION, AND COMMUNICATION, WE CAN CREATE A BETTER PLAN.
I AGREE THAT ALL OF THESE, WE HAVE MANY PROBLEMS IN THE UNIVERSITY IN EVERY OVERLAY.
UH, IT'S 20 YEARS OLD, IT HAS CHA TAKEN PROPERTY THAT WAS VALUED AT $5 TO $25 A SQUARE FOOT TO WELL OVER 700 TO 800, EVEN A THOUSAND DOLLARS A SQUARE FOOT.
WE HAVE BROUGHT 80% OF THE STUDENT BODY BACK TO THE CAMPUS, SO THEY'RE NO LONGER TRYING TO GET TO CLASS ON BUSES THAT GET CLOGGED ON OUR FREEWAYS.
SO IT'S A VERY HUMBLE REQUEST.
HAVE IT MEETINGS THE FIRST WEEKEND, DECEMBER, AND COME BACK TO THIS COUNCIL AT YOUR DECEMBER 11TH MEETING AND HAVE A VOTE ON WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS A GOOD IDEA.
SO UNIVERSITY AREA PARTNERS BEEN IN BUSINESS A LONG TIME.
WE WERE, UH, DESIGNATED AS A FIRST PEDESTRIAN DOMINANT ZONE BY THE CITY COUNCIL BACK IN 1996.
SO PLEASE, JUST A LITTLE TIME TO DISCUSS THIS.
THANK YOU, MR. MCCOMB, MR. BUNCH.
THANK YOU MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
BILL BUNCH, UH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE, UM, HERE SPEAKING ON ITEM 52, UH, WHICH I'M EXCITED
[00:25:01]
TO SUPPORT WHOLEHEARTEDLY.UH, THIS IS AN ORDINANCE ACCEPTING A $35,000 GRANT FROM KEEP AUSTIN BEAUTIFUL TO AUSTIN.
RESOURCE RECOVERY TO HELP THE CITY BUY MORE PUBLIC WASTE AND RECYCLING BINS.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT Y'ALL SHOULD BE DEMANDING OF YOUR NONPROFIT PARTNERS.
UM, AND I WOULD JUST WANT TO DRAW THE INCREDIBLY SHARP CONTRAST, UH, BETWEEN THIS NONPROFIT AND THE AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION, WHICH IS A BIG NEWS STORY TODAY IN THE AUSTIN FREE PRESS, ABOUT, WHICH I ENCOURAGE YOU AND EVERYBODY TO READ, UM, THIS NOT SMALL NONPROFIT, YOU KNOW, $200,000 IN ASSETS, AND THEY'RE GIVING YOU A $35,000 GRANT.
THEY'RE GIVING US TAXPAYERS A $35,000 GRANT TO HELP US WITH SOMETHING IMPORTANT.
AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION BRINGS IN $8 MILLION OR SO EVERY SINGLE YEAR OF MONEY FROM USING ZILKER PARK, OUR PARK.
THEY'RE SITTING ON $25 MILLION THEREABOUTS.
OUR PARKS ARE NEGLECTED, ESPECIALLY IN THE EAST SIDE OF TOWN, EVERYWHERE OUTSIDE OF DOWNTOWN WHERE YOU'RE FUNNELING ALL THE MONEY, YOU NEED TO DEMAND THE REAL AUDIT THAT WE WERE PROMISED OF THESE NONPROFITS OPERATING IN OUR PUBLIC PARKLANDS AND TAKING OUR MONEY AWAY RATHER THAN BRINGING IT TO US AND CONTRIBUTING.
THAT'S THE THEORY THAT WE EMBRACE THESE NONPROFITS BECAUSE THEY'RE HELPING US DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO FOR THE PUBLIC.
THEY'RE DOING IT AND WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT IT.
THANK YOU FOR ITEM 55, CARLOS LEON, AND THEN ITEM 58, PAUL BAHAR, LIZ MARTA, BILL BUNCH, AND CHRISTOPHER PAGE.
PLEASE COME FORWARD IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED.
SO CARLOS LEON, FIRST AND FOREMOST FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TO ITEM 55 A PL DIRECTOR SEARCH ISSUE IN HER APPLICATION.
HANNAH TERRELL CLAIMS SHE HAS DEMONSTRATED UNPRECEDENTED LEADERSHIP WHILE OVERSEEING AND DIRECTING IN AN INTERIM CAPACITY AS DIRECTOR OF LIBRARIES FOR THE AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY IS A SUPERIOR COMMUNICATOR WHO VALUES THE IMPORTANCE OF RELATIONSHIP BUILDING THAT PROMOTES TRUST AND TRANSPARENCY AND PRIORITIZES BEING RESPONSIVE TO ANY QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, OR REQUESTS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS, LIBRARY CUSTOMERS, ADVOCACY GROUPS, OR PARTNER FUNDING STAKEHOLDERS.
NO, HER ACTIONS TELL THE TRUTH, THOUGH YOUR SUPERSEDING RULES FOR PUBLIC USE OF CITY PROPERTIES.
RULE SIX H SAYS, A DIRECTOR MAY DENY PHYSICAL ACCESS ONLY TO THE SPECIFIC LIBRARY BRANCH WHERE THE VIOLATION OCCURRED.
TERRELL HAS NOT FOLLOWED SIX H, NOT REVISED LIBRARY USE RULES TO COMPLY WITH SIX H AND NOT PUBLICLY ADDRESSED HER ALLEGED SIX H CRIMINALITY TO NEITHER HEED MY WARNINGS NOR ENACT MY SOLUTIONS, SHE HEARD AND SAW IN PERSON AT LIBRARY COMMISSION MEETINGS.
THOSE FACTS SPEAK TO TERRELL'S MERIT AND FITNESS, WHAT YOUR MUNICIPAL CIVIL SERVICE RULE 4.02 A REQUIRES TO CHOOSE THE NEXT DIRECTOR.
YET YOUR HIRING MANAGER, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, STEPHANIE HAYDEN HOWARD, HAS NOT FOLLOWED UP WITH CITY AUDITOR REGARDING MY ALLEGATIONS OF WRONGDOING AGAINST TERRELL SINCE SAYING SEPTEMBER 8TH.
I WILL SEND YOU A SUMMARY ABOUT THIS ISSUE, AND WE HAVE COMPLETED THE UPDATE.
THUS, HAYDEN HOWARD APPEARS TO BE STALLING TO FALSELY KEEP TERRELL IN GOOD STANDING DURING THE HIRING PROCESS, THREATENING THE INTEGRITY OF THE SEARCH SCANDAL.
CLOUDS ARE DARKENING OVERHEAD.
BILL BUNCH, DISTRICT FIVE SAVE SPRINGS ALLIANCE ON ITEM 58, WHICH IS BEING BROUGHT FORWARD BY MY PERSONAL COUNCIL MEMBER, RYAN ALTER AND A FEW OTHERS, UM, WHICH I APPRECIATE THE RESPONSIVENESS HERE TO THE REPORTING ON THE FINANCIAL MISDOINGS WITH YOUR OFFICE HOLDER ACCOUNTS, UM, AND LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AROUND THE FUNDING FOR YOUR, UH, INDIVIDUAL OFFICES.
PLEASE DO THIS, BUT YOU'VE BEEN TELLING THE VOTERS ALL OF YOU PRETTY MUCH SINCE PROP Q WAS SO SEVERELY TROUNCED
[00:30:01]
THAT YOU'RE GONNA TRUST THE VOTERS, THAT YOU'RE GOING TO, UH, INCREASE TRANSPARENCY AND FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY THAT NEEDS TO GO TO THE WHOLE BUDGET.YOU ARE SITTING THERE DOING NOTHING WHILE YOUR STAFF HAS TOLD YOU THAT THEY'RE GONNA KEEP ALL OF THE BUDGET DETAILS ON THE CONVENTION CENTER PROJECT SECRET UNTIL 2027, AND YOU'RE REFUSING TO LET THE VOTERS VOTE ON IT.
THIS IS THE ABSOLUTE HEIGHT OF FINANCIAL DISRESPECT AND UNACCOUNTABILITY.
IT'S AN IMPORTANT STEP, BUT IT'S IT'S A MICRO MOVE IF YOU'RE ACTUALLY SERIOUS ABOUT WAKING UP AND FINDING SOME FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRUSTING THE VOTERS AS OUR MAYOR HAS PROMISED.
ARE YOU PAUL? YEAH, I HAD SOME TIME, YES.
IS LIZ MARTA HERE? OKAY, FOUR MINUTES.
UH, GOOD MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS PAUL BAHAR AND AUSTIN RESIDENT.
UM, I APPRECIATE THE THOUGHTFUL STRUCTURE OF ITEM 58.
IT REFLECTS A COMMITMENT TO INSTITUTIONAL CLARITY THAT RESIDENTS VALUE, AND IT CREATES AN IMPORTANT FOUNDATION FOR STRENGTHENING PUBLIC CONFIDENCE.
OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, I'VE SPENT SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME REVIEWING CITY PUBLISHED MATERIALS, CONTRACTS, COMPLIANCE REPORTS, AMENDMENT HISTORIES, AND AUDIT FINDINGS.
ONE CONSISTENT THEME IS THAT CLEAR PREDICTABLE PROCEDURES ARE HELPFUL FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED, STAFF COUNSEL, AND THE PUBLIC.
THAT'S WHY I'M GLAD TO SEE AUDIT AND FINANCE FINANCIAL SERVICES IN THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE INCLUDED DEVELOPING THESE OFFICE HOLDER POLICIES.
THEIR INVOLVEMENT, UH, HELPS ENSURE THE RESULT WILL BE GROUNDED IN BEST PRACTICES AND CONSISTENTLY APPLY.
UM, IF I MAY OFFER ONE SUGGESTION, AS THESE OFFICE HOLDER POLICIES ARE DEVELOPED, THERE MAY BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ALIGN THIS SAME LEVEL OF CLARITY, UM, WITH LARGER FINANCIAL PROCESSES, UM, THAT RESIDENTS FOLLOW MOST CLOSELY MAJOR CONTRACTS, COMPLIANCE REPORTING, AND SIGNIFICANT AMENDMENTS.
TWO MODEST STEPS COULD HELP REQUESTING THAT FINANCIAL SERVICES AND THE CITY AUDITOR RETURN EARLY NEXT YEAR WITH A BRIEF OUTLINE OF HOW MAJOR CONTRACT COMPLIANCES, M-B-E-W-E-B-E PERFORMANCE AMENDMENT HISTORY AND TOTAL OBLIGATIONS CAN BE MADE MORE ACCESSIBLE.
SECOND, ENSURING THAT SAME CLARITY AND CONSISTENCY APPLIED TO OFFICE HOLDER POLICIES IS REFLECTED IN HOW THE CITY COMMUNICATES PROGRESS ON ITS LARGEST AND MOST CONSEQUENTIAL FINANCIAL DECISIONS.
ADDITIONALLY, MIGHT BE HELPFUL TO CREATE A SIMPLE STANDARDIZED PUBLIC REPORTING TEMPLATE FOR MAJOR CONTRACTS.
ONE THAT INCLUDES COMPLIANCE STATUS, AMENDMENT HISTORY, AND KEY PERFORMANCE METRICS IN A CLEAR, CONSISTENT FORMAT.
THIS KIND OF TEMPLATE WOULD MAKE INFORMATION EASIER FOR RESIDENTS TO FOLLOW AND SUPPORT STAFF IN PRESENTING UPDATES MORE EFFICIENTLY.
THANK YOU COUNCIL FOR THE TIME.
UH, CLEAR CONSISTENT PROCESSES, STRENGTHEN PUBLIC CONFIDENCE AND SUPPORT THE WORK YOU DO EVERY DAY.
GOOD MORNING, BILL BUNCH AGAIN, UH, DISTRICT FIVE SAVE SPRINGS ALLIANCE ON ITEM 76, WHICH IS COUNCIL INITIATED PROPOSAL TO DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER TO, UH, INSTALL SOME FINANCIAL BEST PRACTICES IN PREPARING THE BUDGET.
UM, OBVIOUSLY THIS IMPORTANT STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, UH, VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.
UM, IT SHOULD, YOU SHOULDN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT BUDGET CYCLE.
YOU NEED TO START DOING FINANCIAL BEST PRACTICES TODAY AT THIS MEETING
[00:35:02]
BECAUSE YOU'RE STARING AT APPROVING A BUDGET THAT'S A TINY BIT OF TWEAKAGE FROM THE PREVIOUS ADOPTION.WHEN YOU ARE ASSUMING PROP Q WOULD PASS, THE VOTER MANDATE IS CLEARLY FOR SOMETHING VERY, VERY DIFFERENT.
AND YOU NEED TO POSTPONE ACTION AND DO FINANCIAL BEST PRACTICES RIGHT AWAY, AND THAT INCLUDES PUBLIC INPUT THAT'S MEANINGFUL.
AND THIS HAS BEEN SUCH A RUSH JOB.
THERE'S NO OPEN MINDS HERE EXCEPT ON VERY SMALL PIECES OF THIS BUDGET.
SO PLEASE, FINANCIAL BEST PRACTICES RIGHT NOW.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL SPEAKERS FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA.
UM, MEMBERS, WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS, UH, ASK FOR A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
UH, REMEMBER THAT ITEM NUMBER 44, UH, WHICH WE'VE HEARD COMMENT ON, HAS DIRECTION ATTACHED TO THAT FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.
UH, I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.
UH, HE'S INDICATED HE WANTS TO SPEAK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, SO I'LL RECOGNIZE HIM, UH, WHEN WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
SO IS THERE MOTIONS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRY TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS READ? UH, I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER CADRY.
UM, AND BEFORE SPEAKING, ITEM 44, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR LEADING ON ITEM 58.
UM, I THINK THAT WAS AN IMPORTANT ITEM TO BRING FORWARD.
BUT, UH, ITEM 44, I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL THE SPEAKERS FOR COMING TODAY.
I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE GOOD CONVERSATIONS WITH, WITH MIKE, WITH, UH, WITH, WITH TRACY, WITH WITH MEGAN YESTERDAY, UH, ABOUT THE ITEM.
AND I WANT TO THANK THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR HARD WORK.
UH, WHILE THE ITEM IS BEING LED BY THE AUSTIN HOUSING DEPARTMENT, OUR GOAL IS TO WORK WITH ALL STAKEHOLDERS IN THE WEST CAMPUS AREA TO ACHIEVE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY GOALS, AND SPECIFICALLY BEING, UH, ACCESSIBLE, SORRY, EXPANDING HOUSING ACCESS AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR ALL.
UM, AND THEN WE, WE HAD BROUGHT FORWARD A MOTION AS THE MAYOR HAD MENTIONED, UH, FOR FURTHER DIRECTION TO ENSURE STAFF MONITORS CENSUS THIS DATA TO RETURN IF THERE ARE MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO USE THIS TOOL IN OTHER PLACES IN THE FUTURE.
UH, THE, THE MOTION ALSO ASKS STAFF TO RETURN TO HAVE A PUBLIC CONVERSATION ABOUT THESE POTENTIAL TOOLS.
AND I, AND I VERY MUCH ENCOURAGE OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO BE A PART OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
SO, ONE, I WANNA, I ONCE AGAIN REAFFIRM THIS AS I DID YESTERDAY.
THIS ITEM, NOTHING CHANGES WITH THIS.
WE'D LIKE TO CONTINUE TO ALLOW STAFF TO ENGAGE AND ANALYZE THE RIGHT TOOLS TO HELP THE COMMUNITY MEET ITS NEEDS.
UH, AND THAT'S WHERE MORE CONVERSATION NEEDS TO HAPPEN.
SO WHETHER IT BE UAP OR, OR THE MANY NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, AROUND THE AREA, LIKE JUDGES HILL, UH, VERY MUCH WELCOME THIS CONVOS.
I JUST WANTED TO, UH, COMMENT ON ITEM 40.
THIS IS AN ACQUISITION BY, UH, PARKS OF ABOUT TWO ACRES, UH, CLOSE TO A BREAKER.
AND LAMAR, IT'S SOMETHING THAT, THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR SOME TIME.
JOHN EPISCOPAL CHURCH AND THE CONGREGATION THERE, UH, MOTHER MINERVA, UH, IS GOING TO BE, UH, SELLING, UH, UH, THE TWO ACRES TO, UH, THE, UH, THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A FUTURE PARK.
THIS IS AN AREA THAT IS A PARK DEFICIENT.
UH, AND, UH, AND, AND I KNOW THAT THE, THE CONGREGATION IS ALSO COMMITTED TO, THAT'S THEIR PART AND THEY'RE GONNA TAKE CARE OF IT, AND THEY'RE GONNA LOVE IT, AND THEY'RE GONNA MAKE SURE THAT IT'S A GOOD PLACE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND FOR THE, THE CHILDREN IN THE AREA AND FOR THE FAMILIES IN THE AREA.
SO, UH, AGAIN, THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT, UH, UH, SMALL BUT IMPORTANT STEP.
AND I JUST WANT TO THANK, UH, THE, THE, THE CHURCH AND, UH, PARKS FOR, UH, WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
AND, AND AS, AS A COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL AS WELL.
'CAUSE IT'S ON THE BORDER OF, UH, D FOUR AND D SEVEN, AND IT'S GONNA HELP, UH, A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THAT AREA.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT ON ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
UM, I WANTED TO THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD.
I, I ALSO LOOK FORWARD TO JOINING THE UPCOMING AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE SO THAT, UM, I CAN DAYLIGHT SOME OF THE SPECIFIC IDEAS THAT, UM, WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING REGARDING, UM, THESE CHANGES.
UM, I KNOW THAT WE ALL SUPPORT, UH, STRENGTHENING FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY IN OUR COUNCIL OFFICES AND ORGANIZATION WIDE.
UM, IT'S AN IMPORTANT STEP TOWARD REBUILDING PUBLIC TRUST AND DEMONSTRATING RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
UM, AND I, I AM PERSONALLY OF THE PHILOSOPHY THAT WE ARE WHERE WE ARE, AND WHEN WE KNOW MORE, WE DO MORE.
AND I AM SO HAPPY WITH THE SHIFTS THAT I HAVE SEEN THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY AND COMING TOGETHER AROUND THESE MUCH NEEDED CHANGES.
[00:40:01]
IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO, TO ABSTAIN FROM A VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO RECUSE THEMSELVES FROM ANY ITEM THAT'S ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING? NO.I WISH TO BE SHOWN VOTE VOTING NO ON ITEM 44.
ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? VERY GOOD.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN BEING SHOWN VOTING NO ON ITEM NUMBER 44.
ALL RIGHT, MEMBERS, THAT WILL TAKE
[Items 59 - 61]
US TO ITEM NUMBER TWO.UH, ITEM NUMBER 59, ITEM NUMBER 60, AND ITEM NUMBER 61.
UH, THOSE ARE IMMINENT DOMAIN ITEMS AND I WILL STATE, UH, THE, UH, MOTION THAT I WILL ACCEPT, UH, ONCE WE'VE HEARD FROM PUBLIC COMMENT, MR. BUNCH, I BELIEVE YOU'RE, YOU'RE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON 59 AND 60, SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME FORWARD, MR. BUNCH HAS, UH, WAIVED HIS RIGHT TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 59 AND ITEM 60 MEMBERS WITH RESPECT TO ITEMS 59 60 AND 61.
LET ME FOR THE RECORD THOUGH, UH, CHECK WITH THE CLERK'S OFFICE.
THERE'S NO ONE ELSE SIGNED TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 59 60 OR 61, IS THAT CORRECT? CORRECT.
MEMBERS WITH RESPECT ITEMS 59 60 AND 61, THOSE ARE ALL NON-CONSENT CONDEMNATION ITEMS. UH, THE MOTION THAT I WILL ACCEPT IS A MOTION TO THE EFFECT THAT THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZES THE USE OF THE POWER OF IMMINENT DOMAIN TO ACQUIRE THE PROPERTY SET FORTH AND DESCRIBED IN THE AGENDA FOR THE CURRENT MEETING FOR THE PUBLIC USES DESCRIBED THEREIN.
IS THERE SUCH A MOTION? MOTION IS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.
DISCUSSION, HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.
UH, ITEMS 59 60 AND 61 ARE ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER VELA TEMPORARILY OFF THE DIETS MEMBERS THAT WILL NOW TAKE US TO THE PUBLIC AND MR. MAYOR WITHOUT DUE RESPECT THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON VIRTUAL YES.
WELL, UH, I I, IF I DON'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT IT, I'M COUNTING YOUR VOTE.
UH, WHEN YOU'RE PRESENT, I COUNT YOUR VOTE SO YOUR, YOUR VOTE IS COUNTED.
COUNCIL MEMBER VALA, UH, INDICATES THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO BE SHOWN VOTING IN FAVOR OF ITEMS 59 60 AND 61.
UH, IT WILL NOT CHANGE THE OUTCOME OF THE VOTE.
I MOVE THAT HE BE SHOWN VOTING IN FAVOR OF 59 60 AND 61.
IT'S SECONDED BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM.
DISCUSSION, HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA WILL BE SHOWN VOTING IN FAVOR OF ITEMS 59 60 AND 61.
[62. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance adjusting the City’s boundary limits by disannexing approximately 0.314 acres of land out of the John Jackson Survey, Abstract Number 450, located at 12919 On the Lake Road, Austin, Travis County, Texas under Texas Senate Bill 1844 (89th Regular Session). Case number: C7d-2025-0001. The property is in Austin’s full purpose jurisdiction in Council District 10. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact. (Part 1 of 2)]
IS A PUBLIC HEARING WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 62.THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN.
I'LL TURN TO THE CLERK AND ASK IF THERE IS ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 62.
THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS, MAYOR MEMBERS, THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 62.
UH, SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 62.
AND I'LL NOW ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE MOTIONS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.
HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.
UH, THE MOTION IS ADOPTED ON ITEM NUMBER 62.
[63. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance amending Ordinance No. 20151217-099 to extend the term of Homestead Preservation Reinvestment Zone No. 1 by 10 years and increase the City’s tax increment amount to be deposited into the tax increment fund for development, construction, and preservation of affordable housing, adopting a preliminary financing plan supplement for the extension term, and amending Ordinance No. 20190411-006 to appoint the Mayor as chairman of the board of directors of the zone and clarify the chairman’s term. Funding: increasing the reinvestment zone increment from 20% to 40% directs a larger share of captured property-tax revenue to the zone fund. The City’s voter-approval rate will increase slightly to generate the same amount of property tax revenue for operations and maintenance and for debt service. The typical homeowner impact would be marginal, while the change provides additional resources for affordable housing.]
PUBLIC HEARING WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 63.THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN.
THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS MEMBERS.
THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 63.
SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 63, AND WE WILL CONSIDER THE ORDINANCE.
IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION IS MADE BY THE MAYOR PRO TIM, IS IT SECONDED? SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.
IS THERE A DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.
UH, THE MOTION IS ADOPTED ON ITEM NUMBER 63.
ITEM NUMBER 64 IS ALSO A PUBLIC
[64. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance adjusting the City’s boundary limits by disannexing approximately 1.02 acres of land out of the W.M. Brown Survey, Abstract Number 72, located at 1404 Rockcliff Road, Austin, Travis County, Texas under Texas Senate Bill 1844 (89th Regular Session). Case number: C7d-2025-0002. The property is in Austin’s full purpose jurisdiction in Council District 8. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.]
HEARING.WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 64.
THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS MEMBERS.
THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 64.
SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ON ITEM NUMBER 64, THE MAYOR PRO TIM MOVES APPROVAL OF THE ORDINANCE.
IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.
HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THE ORDINANCE IS ADOPTED ON ITEM NUMBER 64 MEMBERS.
THAT COMPLETES ALL OF THE ITEMS THAT WE HAVE THAT ARE NOT SET FOR A TIME CERTAIN.
UH, WE HAVE A 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, WHICH IS OUR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS.
SO WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND WE DO IS THAT WE RECESS UNTIL THE 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, UM, AND WE WILL COME BACK FOR OUR PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.
MY HOPE IS THAT WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO IS COME BACK FOR PUBLIC COMMUNICATION, RECESS FOR A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME, UH, FOR LIVE MUSIC.
UH, DEPENDING UPON WHERE WE STAND ON THINGS, WE MIGHT JUST COME RIGHT BACK AFTER LIVE MUSIC, WHICH WILL ALLOW US TO DO SOME PUBLIC COMMENT OR VISIT WITH OUR PROFESSIONAL FINANCIAL STAFF BEFORE THE TWO O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN.
AND IF THE TWO O'CLOCK AT TWO O'CLOCK, OF COURSE WE WILL TAKE UP OUR TIME CERTAIN THEN AND WE WILL COME BACK FOR THE BUDGET ITEMS. IS THERE ANY OBJECTION? WITHOUT OBJECTION? WE ARE IN RECESS UNTIL 12 O'CLOCK PROMPTLY.
IT IS NOW 10:44 AM AM THANKS EVERYBODY.
[00:45:01]
GOOD[12:00 PM - Public Communication: General]
AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY.IT'S NOON, UH, ON NOVEMBER 20TH, 2025, AND I'LL CALL BACK TO ORDER THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL FOR THIS, UH, REGULAR MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
WE HAVE A 12:00 PM TIME CERTAIN, AND THAT IS OUR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.
AND SO I WILL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK AND ASK THE CITY CLERK TO HELP US WITH GENERAL PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.
WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE IN THE REMOTE QUEUE RIGHT NOW, SO I'M JUST GONNA CALL THE IN-PERSON SPEAKERS, MARINA ROBERTS, ELIZA MAY MARBURY, RICK SMITH, SAM DELGADO, AND BY UTILIZING THE IT LOOKS OR ENOUGH, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO BEGIN.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT FOUR, AND I'M WITH THE NO APRS COALITION REPRESENTING OVER 30 ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING THE CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL, AUSTIN DS, ALA, VOCAL AND OTHERS.
IF YOU WERE A CORPORATION WHOSE PROFIT MODEL RELIED ON THE COLLECTION AND BROKERING OF OUR DATA, YOUR PREFERENCE WOULD BE TO CIRCUMVENT THE NEED TO OBTAIN THE INFORMED CONSENT OF CONSUMERS IN HARVESTING THAT DATA.
WHAT A LPR COMPANIES LIKE FLOCK DO IS DRESS UP THEIR NAKED PROFIT MOTIVE FOR SOMETHING WE DON'T WANT IN THE SHEEP'S CLOTHING OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
IF YOU BELIEVE THESE CORPORATIONS ARE MORE INVESTED IN PUBLIC SAFETY THAN THEY ARE IN DOLLARS, YOU'RE BEING HOODWINKED AND YOU'RE LETTING YOUR CONSTITUENTS FOR THE BILL FOR YOUR CREDULITY.
BUT FLOCK IS A SYMPTOM OF THE REAL PROBLEM, WHICH IS THE TECHNOLOGY THAT IS THE FUNCTIONAL EQUIVALENT OF HAVING A POLICE OFFICER TAIL UNITE AND DAY IN THEIR CRUISER.
WITHOUT A WARRANT, THIS WOULD BE UNCONSTITUTIONAL, BUT WE HAVEN'T YET REACHED THE SAME CONCLUSION ABOUT ALPS BECAUSE THEY ARE SO NEW AND SO VERY PROFITABLE DESPITE THE FALSE ASSURANCES YOU'RE BEING OFFERED ABOUT GUARDRAILS.
FIVE MINUTES OF RESEARCH PRODUCE VIDEOS OF YOUTUBERS LIKE BEN JORDAN ABLE TO HACK INTO A LPR CAMERAS IN SECONDS.
THE UK'S ENTIRE A LPR DATA SET WAS STOLEN BY RUSSIAN HACKERS AND SOLD ON THE BLACK MARKET.
COPS WITH ACCESS TAKE SCREENSHOTS OF A LPR DATA AND TEXT IT TO THEIR BUDDIES IN ICE.
THESE ARE NOT MINOR ISSUES THAT CAN BE RESOLVED WITH GUARDRAILS WHILE FLOCK TOUTS MISLEADING STATS FROM STUDIES FUNDED BY THE COMPANY.
IN REALITY, NO INDEPENDENT RESEARCH HAS BEEN ABLE TO CONFIRM A MEASURABLE IMPACT ON CRIME RATES FROM ALPS.
FLOCK COMPETITOR ACTS ON QUIETLY STIPULATES IN THEIR CONTRACTS THAT THERE IS NO GUARANTEE OF ACCURACY IN THEIR PRODUCTS.
BUT EVEN IF THESE COMPANIES DIDN'T HAVE TO LIE ABOUT THE EFFICACY OF MASS SURVEILLANCE, DO YOU BELIEVE TRADING OUR CIVIL LIBERTIES IS WORTH IT? COPS COULD SOLVE A LOT MORE CRIMES IF THEY COULD ENTER YOUR HOME WITHOUT A WARRANT, BUT WE DREW A LINE A LONG TIME AGO IN ORDER TO PRESERVE THE CIVIL LIBERTIES NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN DEMOCRACY.
DON'T HAND AN ASPIRING DICTATOR THE KEYS TO AUTHORITARIANISM AND CALL IT GOOD GOVERNANCE.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO FLAG, UM, PLEASE CHECK YOUR SPAM FOLDERS.
YOU HAVE HEARD FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS ON THIS ISSUE, BUT, UM, OUR CORRESPONDENCE WAS BEING MISDIRECTED.
UM, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, BUT WE HAVE A VERY BROAD COALITION OF ORGANIZATIONS AND PEOPLE.
I'VE KNOCKED DOORS ON THIS ISSUE FOR MONTHS, AND I'VE HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS WITH AUSTINITES WHO INTUITIVELY UNDERSTAND THE HARM OF THIS TECHNOLOGY AND THE HARM OF MASS SURVEILLANCE AND DATA COLLECTION WITHOUT GAR, YOU KNOW, ANY KIND OF REAL SECURITY.
UM, AND I WOULD REALLY STRONGLY URGE YOU NOT TO INCLUDE ANY MASS SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY OR ANY EXPANSIONS OF MASS SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY IN THE BUDGET THAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO APPROVE AND TO REJECT ANY PROPOSALS IN THE FUTURE THAT WOULD SEEK TO REINSTATE APRS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
I CALLED ALL IN-PERSON SPEAKERS.
EVERYONE ELSE WAS REMOTE AND NO ONE HAS JOINED THE REMOTE QUEUE.
OKAY, UH, WELL IN THAT CASE, UH, MEMBERS, UH, THAT WILL CONCLUDE OUR 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN.
THE NEXT THING ON THE AGENDA IS OUR TWO O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN.
SO WHAT I'M GONNA RECOMMEND IS THAT, UH, WE RECESS UNTIL TWO O'CLOCK, UH, AND WE WILL HAVE OUR LIVE MUSIC.
AND SO, UH, WE, WHEN WE RECESS, UH, THEY'LL SET UP FOR LIVE MUSIC.
WE'LL HAVE LIVE MUSIC, BUT WE WILL RETURN AT 2:00 PM UH, FOR OUR TIME CERTAIN.
SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, AT 12:04 PM WE ARE RECESSED UNTIL TWO O'CLOCK.
[Live Music]
EVERYONE.WELCOME TO CITY HALL SESSIONS IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
I'M, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CHITO VELA HERE WITH MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER CRYSTAL LANE.
AND IT IS A PLEASURE TO WELCOME RAGAB BASH TO CITY HALL.
UH, RAGAB BASH IS AN ECLECTIC GARAGE BAND SHOWCASING A STABBING AND DISTORTING OFF KILTER STYLE CROWD PLEASING, ORGANIZED CHAOS, AND ALL HANDS ON DECK APPROACH TO VOCAL HARMONIES.
[00:50:01]
ACCORDING TO MUSIC CRITIC JACK ANDERSON, UH, INSPIRED BY POST-PUNK JAZZ AND INDIE ROCK GENRES, RAGGA BASH COMBINES BOLD DYNAMICS, INSTRUMENTAL INTERPLAY, AND VIBRANT STACCATO SEQUENCES TO CREATE THEIR UNIQUE SOUND.RAGGA BASH RELEASED THEIR DEBUT ALBUM, LOTUS EER IN 2023 AND ARE CURRENTLY PREPARING TO RECORD THEIR SOPHOMORE EFFORT.
LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING THE MUSIC.
PLEASE GO AHEAD AND, AND TAKE IT AWAY.
I, WELL, THAT, THAT WAS GREAT.
THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR THE SHOW.
UH, PLEASE, UH, INTRODUCE YOUR YOURSELF AND, AND, AND THE BAND MEMBERS.
THANK YOU, G THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.
WE JUST SO EXCITED TO BE HERE AT AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
UM, TO MY LEFT, WE'VE GOT, UH, JOSH LEVINE ON TRUMPET.
UH, WE'VE GOT K POWELL OVER THERE ON BASE, UH, MARTIAL ATWATER ON DRUMS, AND ALEX OXFORD MOTON ON, UH, KEYS AND
YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA ON INSTAGRAM.
WE'LL PLAY MORE SHOWS OVER THE NEXT YEAR.
[00:55:01]
A NEW SONG.WE'VE NEVER PLAYED IT BEFORE, AND WE'RE RECORDING OUR SECOND ALBUM RIGHT NOW.
SO JUST REALLY HAPPY TO BE HERE, A SHOW AND ANY UPCOMING SHOWS, ANY, UH, PLACE THAT PEOPLE CAN GO AND SEE YOU LIVE.
I DUNNO IF WE HAVE ANYTHING IN THE BOOKS RIGHT NOW.
MAYBE SOMETHING IN JANUARY HOLE IN THE WALL, BUT, UH, NOTHING IMMEDIATELY
UH, WELL, IT, IT'S A, A PLEASURE, UH, UH, LOVE THE SOUND AND, UH, LET ME READ THE RAGGA BASH DAY PROCLAMATION.
AND WHEREAS OUR MUSIC SCENE THRIVES BECAUSE AUSTIN AUDIENCES SUPPORT GOOD MUSIC PRODUCED BY LEGENDS, OUR LOCAL FAVORITES AND NEWCOMERS ALIKE.
AND WHEREAS WE ARE PLEASED TO SHOWCASE AND SUPPORT OUR LOCAL ARTISTS.
NOW, THEREFORE, I CHITO VELA WITH KRIS LANE ON BEHALF OF MAYOR KIRK WATSON AND THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL, UH, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM NOVEMBER 20TH, 25 AS RAGAB BASH DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
WELL, THANK YOU'ALL, UH, SO MUCH, UH, UH, UH, GREAT SOUND AND, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO, TO CATCHING YOU, UM, UH, LIVE, UH, UH, SOMEWHERE ELSE AT, AT SOME POINT.
BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING DOWN TO CITY HALL AND, AND PLAYING CITY HALL SESSIONS.
THANK, LET'S GET A A, A PHONE.
WE, WE CAN COME OVER HERE AND JOIN WHATEVER Y'ALL.
[2:00 PM - Zoning and Neighborhood Plan Amendments (Public Hearings and Possible Action) (Part 1 of 2)]
EVERYBODY.IT'S TWO O'CLOCK ON, UH, NOVEMBER 20TH, 2025 AND I WILL CALL BACK TO ORDER THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL FOR THIS REGULAR MEETING, THE CITY COUNCIL.
WE ARE AT OUR TWO O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN AND I WILL CALL ON MS. HARDEN.
WE HAVE A QUORUM OF THE COUNCIL PRESENT.
THANK YOU MAYOR COUNCIL, I'M JOY HARDEN WITH AUSTIN PLANNING.
HERE IS ZONING, A NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AMENDMENT AGENDA BEGINS WITH THE ITEM FIVE IN PA 20 23 0 0 0 5 0.01.
THIS ITEM'S OFFERED AS AN APPLICANT POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR DECEMBER 11TH COUNCIL MEETING.
THE RELATED REZONING IS ITEM 66 C 1 4 20 24 0 0 1 5.
AGAIN, THIS ITEM'S OFFERED AS AN APPLICANT POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR DECEMBER 11TH COUNCIL MEETING.
ITEM 67 IS C 1 4 20 25 0 0 2 9.
THIS ITEM IS OFFERED AS AN APPLICANT POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR DECEMBER 11TH COUNCIL MEETING.
ITEM 68 IS C 14 20 25 0 0 5 7.
THIS ITEM IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS WITH THE FOLLOWING MOTION.
UM, THIS IS LONG AND I HAVE TO READ THE WHOLE THING.
I JUST WANNA SAY THE GIST OF THE MOTION IS A SEVEN FOOT WIDE VEGETATIVE BUFFER THAT WILL BE PROVIDED UM, ALONG THE EAST PROPERTY LINE, BUT I WILL READ THE WHOLE MOTION SHEET.
UM,
ADD A NEW PART TWO AND PART THREE AS FOLLOWS AND RENUMBER THE REMAINING SECTIONS ACCORDINGLY.
PART TWO, THE PROPERTY WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE CONDITIONAL OVERLAY COMBINING DISTRICT ESTABLISHED BY THIS ORDINANCE IS SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS.
A SEVEN FOOT WIDE VEGETATIVE BUFFER SHALL BE PROVIDED AND MAINTAINED PARALLEL TO AND MEASURED FROM THE EACH PROPERTY LINE.
IMPROVEMENTS PERMITTED WITHIN THE BUFFER AREA ARE LIMITED TO LANDSCAPING, FENCING, DRAINING AND UNDERGROUND UTILITY IMPROVEMENTS AND THOSE IMPROVEMENTS THAT MAY BE OTHERWISE REQUIRED BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN OR SPECIFICALLY AUTHORIZED IN THIS ORDINANCE.
PART THREE EXCEPT AS SPECIFICALLY RESTRICTED UNDER THIS ORDINANCE, THE PROPERTY MAY BE DEVELOPED AND USED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REGULATIONS ESTABLISHED BY THE COMMUNITY, COMMERCIAL GR BASED DISTRICT AND OTHER APPLICABLE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CITY CODE.
AND AGAIN, WITH THAT, UH, ITEM 68 IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
ITEM 69 IS C ONE FOUR H 20 25 86.
THIS ITEM IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
ITEM 70 IS C 1 4 20 25 0 0 7 8.
THIS ITEM IS OFFERED AS A STAFF POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR DECEMBER 11TH COUNCIL MEETING.
ITEM 71 IS C 1 4 9 3 0 4 7 RCA.
THIS ITEM IS OFFERED AS AN APPLICANT POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR DECEMBER 11TH COUNCIL MEETING.
ITEM 72 IS C 1 4 20 25 0 0 5 3.
THIS ITEM'S OFFERED AS A POSTPONEMENT BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRY TO YOUR DECEMBER 11TH COUNCIL MEETING.
THIS ITEM IS OFFERED AS A STAFF POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR DECEMBER 11TH COUNCIL MEETING.
ITEM 74 IS NPA 20 25 0 0 0 8 0.01.
WE DO HAVE SPEAKERS FOR THIS ITEM.
IT WAS APPROVED FIRST READING AT YOUR OCTOBER 23RD COUNCIL MEETING AND APPROVED ON SECOND READING AT YOUR NOVEMBER 6TH COUNCIL MEETING.
WE ARE OFFERING THIS ITEM FOR CONSENT.
THE RELATED REZONING IS ITEM 75 C 4 2 25 0 0 4 9.
[01:00:01]
AGAIN, WE HAVE SPEAKERS FOR THIS ITEM AND WE'RE OFFERING THIS ITEM FOR CONSENT.AND THIS CONCLUDES THE READING OF THE ZONING AND NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN.
AND AS ALWAYS, THIS IS AT YOUR DISCRETION.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. HARDEN? ALRIGHT, MEMBERS, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE.
LET ME READ THE CONSENT AGENDA AND THEN I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
ITEM 65 66 AND 67 WOULD BE A POSTPONEMENT TO DECEMBER 11TH, ITEM 68 WITH THE MOTION THAT MS. HARDIN READ INTO THE RECORD WOULD BE CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS 69, ALL THREE READINGS 70, 71 AND 72.
ALL WOULD BE POSTPONEMENTS TO DECEMBER 11TH AS WOULD BE 73 A POSTPONEMENT TO DECEMBER 11TH.
ITEM 74 AND 75 ARE BEING OFFERED FOR THIRD READING.
I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION MOTIONS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.
IT IS SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL.
I'LL NOW TURN TO THE CLERK TO SEE IF WE HAVE PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
I'M GONNA START WITH ITEM 74 IN PERSON.
SPEAKERS NO ONE HAS CALLED IN REMOTELY YET, SO WE HAVE NO REMOTE SPEAKERS.
KIM BARKER, RICH HAYMAN, CHRISTOPHER PAGE.
CHRISTOPHER, ARE YOU HERE? I SEE HIM WALKING IN RIGHT NOW.
JENNY GRAYSON, ARE YOU HERE? OKAY.
CHRIS PAGE WILL HAVE SIX MINUTES WHEN HE MAKES HIS WAY DOWN HERE.
PLEASE BEGIN WHENEVER YOU'RE READY.
JUST PUT YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNSEL FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION TODAY.
I'VE LIVED ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE PROPERTY, UH, BORDERED BY ROSEWOOD HARGRAVE BEDFORD AND SEOUL WILSON FOR THE LAST 16 YEARS AND HAVE SPOKEN TO DOZENS OF NEIGHBORHOODS ABOUT THIS REZONING CASE.
SO I COME TO YOU WITH MY OWN PERSONAL THOUGHTS AS WELL AS REPRESENTING SOME OF WHAT I'VE HEARD FROM NEIGHBORS.
I AM OPPOSED TO REZONING THE ENTIRE PROPERTY COMMERCIAL MIXED USE AS IS INCLUDED IN THIS APPLICATION.
BUT I'M SUPPORTIVE OF MUCH OF THE DEVELOPER'S PLANS FOR THE PROPERTY.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT APPLICANTS TYPICALLY ASK FOR NEIGHBORHOOD SUPPORT OF REZONING CASES AND THAT IN EXCHANGE FOR ENTITLEMENTS, IT'S COMMON FOR THEM TO ENGAGE IN A RESTRICTED COVENANT WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT ADDS SOME LIMITATIONS TO THE MAXIMUM ALLOWED.
UM, BY THE PROPOSED NEW ZONING, MY NEIGHBORS AND I WANTED A RESTRICTED COVENANT TO GUARD AGAINST WHAT WE VIEW AS A WORST CASE SCENARIO IN THIS CASE, UM, IN WHICH THE HISTORIC BUILDING WOULD BE DEMOLISHED AND AN INAPPROPRIATE COMMERCIAL USE BUILT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT NEGATIVELY IMPACTS OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.
WE TRIED DILIGENTLY TO ENGAGE IN SUCH AN AGREEMENT, BUT THE APPLICANT HAS BEEN UNWILLING.
THE APPLICANT HAS MET WITH US WHEN ASKED, BUT HAS NOT BEEN PROACTIVE IN WORKING WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD OR SEEKING RESOLUTION TO OUR CONCERNS.
I WISH THIS PROCESS WERE DIFFERENT AND THAT THE APPLICANT HAD BEEN MORE COLLABORATIVE AND OPEN WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD UP UNTIL TODAY.
THAT SAID, I CAN SEE A WORLD IN WHICH YOU APPROVE THIS REZONING APPLICATION AND IF THAT'S THE CASE, I WANT TODAY TO BE A TURNING POINT TO A BETTER AND MORE COLLABORATIVE AND PROACTIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE APPLICANT.
UM, AS OF YESTERDAY AFTERNOON IS COMMITTING TO MONTHLY MEETINGS WITH US.
A GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO MOVE ACCESS OFF SOLE WILSON STREET AND UNDERSTANDING THIS LOCATION IS WITHIN A FAMILY NEIGHBORHOOD, MAKING SURE THAT USES OUR SOUND AND LIGHTING IS COMPATIBLE WITH THAT SETTING.
WE'RE EAGER TO SEE THE HISTORIC SCHOOL RETAINED AND REHABILITATED AND FOR THE BUILDING TO LIVE A NEW LIFE WITH A NEW USE THAT HONORS HIS PAST AND FITS COMPAT WITH THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. PAGE.
HOW MUCH TIME DO I HAVE? SIX MINUTES.
UM, SO I'VE SENT YOU ALL A LETTER.
UH, IF YOU'RE NOT AWARE OF THAT, PLEASE UH, VIEW YOUR INBOX.
UM, I'LL SHARE THE CONTENTS OF THAT WITH YOU.
NOW, RESPECTFULLY, AND AS I'M SURE EVERYONE HERE UNDERSTANDS WHAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO OUR COMMUNITY IS AN UNENFORCEABLE LETTER TO BE READ INTO THE RECORD.
IT WAS SENT TO US ON THE EVE OF THE FINAL HEARING AFTER MONTHS OF NEGOTIATION AND MULTIPLE POSTPONEMENTS.
IT'S ACTUALLY THE SECOND UNENFORCEABLE LETTER THAT'S BEEN PRESENTED TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IN ONLY TWO YEARS.
THE FIRST WAS PRESENTED BY MR. SU'S COLLEAGUE IN SEPTEMBER OF 2023, AND IT EPITOMIZES HOW THE APPLICANT'S MONTHS LONG UNWILLINGNESS TO NORMALIZE, OR SORRY, IT EPITOMIZES THE APPLICANT'S MONTH, MONTHS LONG, UNWILLINGNESS TO NORMALIZE ANY OF THE GROSS OVERREACH THAT'S ATTEMPTED IN THEIR APPLICATIONS FOR CLARITY.
UH, LISTING ON THE NATIONAL HISTORIC OR THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES IS HONORIFIC AND DOES NOT REGULATE LAND USE OR PRESERVATION.
IT'S DISPOSABLE AT WILL, NOR DOES ANY, UH, NOR DOES FILING APPLICATIONS FOR COMPETITIVE TAX CREDITS AND GRANTS.
BY CONTRAST, MUNICIPAL HISTORIC ZONING DOES WHILE PROVIDING SIGNIFICANT TAX EXEMPTIONS THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR LOWER RENTS.
UM, THE APPLICANT NOT ONLY OPPOSES HISTORIC ZONING, BUT THEY ALSO OPPOSE THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
[01:05:01]
TO NOT OPPOSE HISTORIC ZONING.SHOULD THE CASE GO BEFORE THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION AND THEY OPPOSE A RESTRICTIVE COVENANT THAT WOULD'VE ALLOWED THEM TO SELECTIVELY ADOPT COMPONENTS OF HISTORIC ZONING.
WHAT'S PROPOSED IS THE DISCONTINUATION OF FR RICE'S LEGACY AT THIS SITE, WHICH GOES FOR ALMOST A HUNDRED YEARS AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF A NEARLY CENTURY LONG HISTORY, UH, INTO DECORATION, MERE DECORATION IN TERMS OF SOUND.
THE APPLICANT, UH, HAS MEASURED NOISE, BUT THEY REFUSE TO LIMIT THEIR ABILITY TO FULLY EMIT UP TO 70 DECIBELS AT THEIR PROPERTY LINES.
IT'S SUCH A REASONABLE THING TO ADJUST THAT AND THEY WERE UNWILLING TO DO SO IN TERMS OF TRAFFIC.
UM, THEY'VE INDICATED IN THEIR LETTER TO YOU THAT THEY'RE GOING TO WORK WITH CAP METRO ON A BUS STOP FACILITY.
WHAT THAT REALLY MEANS IS REPLACING THE EXISTING BUS STOP THAT THEY PLAN TO TEAR OUT SO THEY CAN CONSTRUCT A DOUBLE WIDE CURB CUT THAT ALIGNS WITH THEIR REQUESTED CS BASE ZONE.
UH, WHICH ACCORDING TO CODE IS FOR COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL USE OF A SERVICE NATURE THAT HAS OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS OR TRAFFIC SERVICE REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE INCOMPATIBLE WITH RESIDENTIAL ENVIRONMENTS.
MOREOVER, WITHOUT REASON, THEY REFUSE TO RELINQUISH THEIR CURB CUT INTO AN A SMP LEVEL ONE STREET THAT RUNS INTERIOR TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO THAT'S A 3.15 ACRE CS PROPERTY THAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR THAT SENDS ALL OF ITS TRAFFIC ONTO AN AS SMP ONE STREET.
IN TERMS OF USE, THEY'VE LISTED 38 USE RESTRICTIONS, BUT 19 OF THOSE WERE ALREADY IN PLACE FROM THE ROSEWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN.
UM, ADDITIONALLY, TWO RESTRICTED USES WERE RELAXED OR ELIMINATED.
AND MS. SHIPMAN'S LIST IS PRESCRIBED, UNILATERALLY NOT NEGOTIATED, AND IT RETAINS HIGHLY INAPPROPRIATE USES LIKE HOTEL TELL.
IN TERMS OF DURABILITY, MERE APPLICATIONS AND VAGUE OPERATIONAL INTENTIONS HAVE NO REGULATORY POWER.
THEY'RE EASILY ERASED BY AMENDMENTS, RE REVOCATIONS RESALE OR THE MERE FAILURE TO FOLLOW THROUGH, WHICH IS WHAT THEY'VE DONE SO FAR.
IT'S HOW EVASIVE AND UNCOMMITTED INVESTORS WEAVE A MARKETABLE NARRATIVE WHILE GUARANTEEING THEIR PROFIT, MAXIMIZING LIQUIDITY.
AND IT'S WHY RESIDENTS WITH A LONG-TERM INTEREST IN THEIR COMMUNITY DEMAND RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS, WHICH ARE STANDARD PRACTICE ELSEWHERE IN THE CITY.
THERE'S LOTS OF UNANSWERED QUESTIONS.
WHAT PART OF CREATIVE REUSE IN TOWNHOUSES TOWNHOUSE CONSTRUCTION REQUIRES A 1.62 ACRE PROPERTY THAT'S ZONED SF THREE ON THE INTERIOR OF A NEIGHBORHOOD TO BE CHANGED TO CS.
IT DOESN'T, THERE'S NO JUSTIFICATION FOR CS.
WHY NOT LR INSTEAD OF CS, WHICH IS FULLY ALIGNED WITH THE APPLICANT'S STATED INTENTIONS AND PRESERVES AT LEAST SOME INCENTIVE TO PARTICIPATE IN DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS. WE'VE SUGGESTED IT.
WHY RESIST HISTORIC ZONING THAT EXEMPTS A HUNDRED PERCENT OF CITY PROPERTY TAX ON A HISTORIC, UH, PRESERVATION PROJECT? THAT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.
WHY ASK FOR AN NPA TO GET A PLUMB DESIGNATION FOR MIXED USE INSTEAD OF NEIGHBORHOOD MIXED USE? AND OUR PLANNING DEPARTMENT ACTUALLY RECENTLY REJECTED, UH, A SIMILAR NPA BACK IN 2015 BECAUSE IT SENT ALL OF ITS TRAFFIC INTO A NEIGHBORHOOD.
I DON'T KNOW WHY THEIR LOGIC CHANGED.
WHY REFUSE ANY BINDING COMMITMENT TO RULES THAT ARE FULLY ALIGNED WITH THE APPLICANT'S NARRATIVE.
WHY ALIENATE THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH YOU HOPE TO SUCCESSFULLY OPERATE A BUSINESS BY MISINFORMING THEM AND REFUSING TO GENUINELY COLLABORATE? WON'T APPROVAL OF THIS CASE SET A PRECEDENT THAT ACCELERATES THE DISPLACEMENT BY ENCOURAGING PREDATORY BUYERS AND PREDATORY REZONING ON SINGLE STORY NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT'S THAT EXISTS ALL AROUND IT.
THE MOST OBVIOUS EXPLANATION FOR THE APPLICANT'S CONDUCT IS THAT THEY SEEK MAXIMUM IMMEDIATE PROFIT OFF A PURCHASE OPTION PLUS, UH, COMBINED WITH A REZONING.
THEY WANNA STREAMLINE THE REFINANCING TO SOAK UP THAT VALUE.
AND WHEN IT'S CONVENIENT, THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO SELL IT AS UNTAILORED AS POSSIBLE TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER.
CONSISTENT, REASONABLE REQUESTS HAVE BEEN MADE BY THE COMMUNITY.
INSTEAD OF COLLABORATION, THEY UTILIZE A HYBRID OF HAM-FISTED SCHOOLYARD NEGOTIATION TACTICS AND PRIVATE LOBBYING.
DURING DISCUSSIONS, THEY'VE SHOWCASED A BRASS INSENSITIVITY AT THE DYNAMIC LOSS AND ADVERSITY OF OUR COMMUNITY FOR MONTHS, WHAT EASILY COULD HAVE BEEN A PRODUCTIVE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT WAS TREATED LIKE AN INVOLUNTARY AND INEFFECTIVE GRIEVING PROCESS.
IT'S AMPLIFIED THE NEGATIVE FEELINGS AND I'LL HAVE MORE TO SAY ON THE NEXT ISSUE.
AARON COLLINGER, KENNETH WALLACE, BILL BUNCH, KIM SHIPMAN.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
[01:10:03]
GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNSEL.I LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WITH A STONE'S THROW FROM THE PROPERTY IN QUESTION.
BACK IN 2015, A ISD OFFLOADED THIS PROPERTY AND THE ZONING WAS CHANGED TO ACCOMMODATE THE CAN ACADEMY TO BE ABLE TO HAVE ADMINISTRATION OFFICES INSIDE OF THE BUILDING.
THAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF ORIGINALLY CHANGING HALF OF THE PROPERTY TO CS ZONING.
THERE WAS NO PURPOSE FOR ANYTHING, BUT THAT IT RETAINED A CIVIC USE.
THIS OCCURRED IN THE MIDST OF THE CODE NEXT PROJECT AND THE, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CALL IT HOME AMENDMENTS OR HOME AMENDMENTS PROJECT.
UM, THERE WASN'T ANY THAT I COULD FIND, UM, DISCUSSION IN THOSE REWRITING PROJECTS THAT WOULD INCREASE, UM, THE, THE, UH, UM, COMMERCIAL USES IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
OPTIC COAST DESIGN INCORPORATED WAS FIRED, I BELIEVE.
UM, AND THEN IT WOULD, IT WAS CONTINUED ON AS THE HOME AMENDMENTS.
UM, OPTIC COAST WAS CELEBRATED FOR THE WORK THEY DID IN SAN DIEGO BEFORE THEY WORKED WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
UM, AFTER THEIR PROJECT WAS DONE IN SAN DIEGO, THEY WERE CRITICIZED FOR OVERBURDENING THE VULNERABLE.
I THINK THAT'S THE CASE THAT WE HAVE HERE, THAT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS BEING WHITTLED AWAY AT.
I'M KIM SHIPMAN WITH TOPO, AND I WANTED TO TAKE MY TIME TO, TO FIRST EXPRESS THANKS TO SHARON MAYS OF THE D ONE OFFICE FOR FACILITATING, UM, CONVERSATIONS WITH THE, THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE KNOW THAT, THAT WE ARE OPERATING IN A NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE WANTED TO READ OUR LETTER INTO THE RECORD, UM, THE, TO THE HOMEWOOD HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, FOR THIS COUNCIL, AS WELL AS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, IN THE FUTURE.
UM, I'LL TRY TO BE CONDENSED SINCE OUR TIME IS SHORT.
UM, SO THERE MAY BE ELEMENTS OF THE LETTER THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED THAT, THAT I'M NOT COVERING.
UM, WE WANTED TO CLEARLY OUTLINE THE COMMITMENTS WE ARE MAKING, UH, IN THE REHABILITATION AND ADAPTIVE REUSE OF THE HISTORIC ROSEWOOD SCHOOL.
AS THEY TAKE SHAPE, THESE COMMITMENTS COME AS A RESULT OF THE CONCERNS RAISED BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SOME OF THEM WILL BE ADDRESSED IN THE ZONING ORDINANCE.
SOME WILL BE ADDRESSED IN THE SITE PLAN AND OTHERS IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER PROCESS THAT WE ARE IN NOW.
UM, SOME ARE OPERATIONAL THINGS THAT WE WILL CARRY FORWARD AS STEWARDS OF THE PROPERTY, WE ARE COMMITTED TO REHABILITATION, REUSE OF THE SCHOOL.
THIS INCLUDES BOTH THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR OF THE BUILDING, THE HISTORIC CHARACTER, THE STRUCTURE GUIDES, BOTH OUR DESIGN WORK AND OUR APPROACH TO REUSE.
WE ALSO WILL LOOK TO SEE IF IT IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE RECORDED, THE TEXAS HISTORIC LANDMARK DESIGNATION AND PURSUE THAT PATH IF APPROPRIATE.
AND BECAUSE THE SCHOOL WILL STAY LARGELY INTACT, IT PROVIDES, UH, ITSELF, UH, THE CLASSROOMS, UM, AS A GREAT SMALL SPACE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT, UH, SMALL BUSINESSES, NONPROFITS, AND CREATIVE USERS, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT TOPO IS, HAS EXPERIENCE WITH.
HAVE YOU SUBMITTED THAT LETTER? I, I CIRCULATED IT TO COUNSEL AND, OKAY.
SO IT'S BEEN CIRCULATED THE LETTER YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S, WE NEED TO JUST MAKE SURE IT'S PART OF THE RECORD.
UH, I LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE, AND I'M SPEAKING TO OPPOSE, UH, THIS REZONING IN SUPPORT OF THE HOMELAND HEIGHTS NEIGHBORS.
BECAUSE THE DEVELOPER IS UNWILLING TO COMMIT TO ENFORCEABLE AGREEMENTS FOR MODEST COMMUNITY BENEFITS, THEY'VE NOT BEEN OPERATING IN GOOD FAITH TO MAKE THE CASE FOR WHY THIS PROPERTY SHOULD BE GRANTED EXTRAORDINARY ZONING ENTITLEMENTS IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD CONTEXT.
WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB STEWARDING OUR SCHOOL SITES, WHICH ARE HISTORIC AND PUBLIC ASSETS
[01:15:01]
THAT BELONG TO THE LARGER AUSTIN COMMUNITY.WE CANNOT RELY ON UNENFORCEABLE PROMISES FROM DEVELOPERS.
OKAY, MOVING ON TO ITEM 75, BRAD MASSENGILL.
I KEEP GETTING HUNG UP ON, UH, IT'S NOT ON PURPOSE.
IT'S, IT'S, WE'RE IN A TECH CAPITAL WORLD.
THESE THINGS HAPPEN, UH, AS, AS YOU ALL WELL KNOW, UM, I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE COMMERCIALIZATION OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THIS IS A, A STEP IN THAT DIRECTION THAT THIS BLARING RIGHT NOW, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF BUDGET CUTS AND THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING WITH THE SCHOOLS, UH, PASSING THIS RIGHT NOW AND LETTING THIS SLIDE INTO A COMMERCIAL STATUS IS JUST SETTING IT UP TO BE SOLD OFF AT SOME POINT IN THE NEAR FUTURE TO TURN INTO SOMETHING UNCONTROLLABLE.
THAT'S WHY FOLKS KEEP TALKING ABOUT RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS AND, UH, UH, ACCOUNTABILITY WITH THE DEVELOPER AND ALL THESE THINGS.
THERE'S, THERE'S NO GUARANTEES THE WAY TEXAS LAW IS WRITTEN RIGHT NOW, THAT ONCE YOU PUT THAT C ON THE ZONING, THAT IT'S GONNA TURN INTO SOMETHING THAT'S TOTALLY INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UH, I WISH Y'ALL WOULD TURN THIS ONE DOWN OR AT LEAST KICK IT DOWN THE ROADWAYS.
CONTINUING WITH 75 KIM BARKER, RICH HAYMAN, CHRISTOPHER PAGE, AND AGAIN, IT'S JENNY GRAYSON HERE, AND MONICA GUZMAN.
UM, I REALLY WENT VERY QUICKLY THROUGH THAT, UM, WHAT I HAD SAID EARLIER.
SO I JUST WANT TO READ MY LAST PARAGRAPH A LITTLE BIT SLOWER AND THEN TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE BUILDING.
UM, MY NEIGHBORS AND I ARE VERY EAGER TO SEE THE HISTORIC SCHOOL RETAINED AND REHABILITATED, AND FOR THE BUILDING TO LIVE A NEW LIFE WITH A NEW USE THAT HONORS ITS PAST AND FITS COMPATIBLY WITH THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND WE'RE, WE REMAIN WILLING TO WORK WITH TOPO TO THAT END, AND I, I AT LEAST DO, AND I I DO KNOW THAT OTHERS DO AS WELL.
UM, WITH MY NEXT MINUTE AND 20 SECONDS, I'M GONNA TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE BUILDING.
THE HISTORIC ROSEWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OPENED IN EAST AUSTIN DURING THE ERA OF SEGREGATION FOLLOWING THE AUSTIN CITY PLAN OF 1928 THAT CALLED FOR PUBLIC SERVICES FOR BLACK RESIDENTS TO BE LOCATED EAST OF EAST AVENUE.
THE SCHOOL BEGAN FORMING IN THE EARLY 1930S WITH MULTIPLE LAND ACQUISITIONS.
BETWEEN 32 AND 35 CLASSES WERE FIRST HELD IN FRAME BUILDINGS THAT WERE MOVED TO THE SITE, INCLUDING THE WHEATVILLE SCHOOL BUILDING AND AN ADDITIONAL BUILDING PREVIOUSLY LOCATED AT HOUSE PARK.
IT WAS OFFICIALLY NAMED ROSEWOOD IN 1932 AT THE RECOMMENDATION OF AUSTIN COLORED TEACHERS.
AND THE SCHOOL GREW QUICKLY WITH ENROLLMENT INCREASING DRAMATICALLY AS THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS WERE CONSTRUCTED.
THAT PERMANENT SIX ROOM BRICK BUILDING WAS COMPLETED IN 36, FUNDED IN PART BY THE PUBLIC WORKS ADMINISTRATION, AND IT, OVER THE DECADES, IT CONTINUED TO GROW AND ADAPT WITH THE SCHOOL EXPANDED IN 1940 AND, UM, AS WELL AS 51 56.
AND THROUGH THE, I THINK, 1960S, IT TRANSITIONED TO THE FR RICE SCHOOL IN THE MID 1980S AS AN ALTERNATIVE HIGH SCHOOL FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, NAMED IN HONOR OF, UM, A ONE-TIME PRINCIPAL OF THIS SCHOOL, FRIENDLY R RICE, THE BUILDING RETURN BRIEFLY TO ELEMENTARY USE BEFORE BEING SOLD TO TEXAS CANYON 20 2003.
IT'S AN IMPORTANT BUILDING AND I'M GLAD WE'RE KEEPING IT.
UM, SO REPEATING SOME OF THE QUESTIONS SO THAT, I MEAN, YOU REALLY SHOULD THINK ABOUT THESE.
WHY DO YOU NEED CS HERE? THERE IS LITERALLY NO RATIONAL BASIS FOR IT.
WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD THAT QUESTION MULTIPLE TIMES.
THEIR BEST ANSWER WAS THAT THEY WANNA MAKE CERAMICS, UM, WHICH THEY ALREADY HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO ON THEIR SOUTHERN BUDDING CS ZONED PROPERTY.
GENERALLY, CS IS INCOMPATIBLE FOR THIS KIND OF A SPACE UNLESS IT'S HIGHLY TAILORED, AND THEY'VE SUGGESTED THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO TAILORING.
ANOTHER THING THAT IS PROBABLY MORE PUZZLING THAN ALL THE QUESTIONS YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD IS WHY WOULD YOU BUY A SPLIT ZONED PROPERTY WHEN THE WHOLE AREA IS TEAMING WITH UNOCCUPIED
[01:20:01]
CS ZONED PROPERTY? IT'S ONLY TO REALIZE A VALUE GAIN BECAUSE THEY FELT LIKE LAWYERS' FEES AND FILING FEES WOULD BE A LOT LESS THAN THE PROFIT THAT THEY'LL SOAK UP WITH THE REFI CONS.UM, GOING BACK TO THE PART I DIDN'T FINISH.
CONSISTENT, REASONABLE, ACHIEVABLE REQUESTS FROM THE COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN MET WITH TOTAL DISREGARD.
INSTEAD OF COLLABORATION, THEY UTILIZED A HYBRID OF HAM-FISTED SCHOOLYARD NEGOTIATION TACTICS AND PRIVATE LOBBYING.
DURING DISCUSSIONS, THEY'VE SHOWCASED A BRASH INSENSITIVITY TO THE DYNAMIC LOSSES AND ADVERSITY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS, YOU KNOW ABOUT THE SCHOOLS THAT WE'RE LOSING, THE FACILITIES THAT HAVE BEEN CLOSED, INCLUDING OUR LIBRARIES, OUR PARKS FOR MONTHS, WHAT EASILY COULD HAVE BEEN PRODUCTIVE.
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT WAS TREATED LIKE AN INVOLUNTARY AND INEFFECTIVE GRIEVING PROCESS, AND IF PREDICTABLY AMPLIFIED FEELINGS OF DISTRESS AND RESENTMENT, IF THIS CASE IS APPROVED WITHOUT ANY MODIFICATION, IT INVIGORATES A VILE NOTION THAT COMMUNITIES IN OUR PART OF THE CITY LACK THE RIGHTS AND AGENCY OF OTHERS, THAT THE GLIMMER OF ONE INVESTOR CAN OUTSHINE THE MULTI-GENERATIONAL VISION THAT THIS COMMUNITY HAS CREATED FOR ITSELF.
THAT THE LADDER OF OPPORTUNITY IS BUILT ON OVERPRICED COFFEE CUPS INSTEAD OF THE TRANSMISSION OF SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE THAT LAST A LIFETIME.
I URGE THE COUNCIL TO REJECT THE REZONING AND NPA AND ITS CURRENT FORM, RELIANCE ON DIALOGUE AND COLLABORATION THROUGH PUBLIC PROCESS HAS YIELDED NOTHING.
AND THEIR UNJUSTIFIABLE OVERREACH CONFLICTS WITH THE CORE PRINCIPLES AND MUNICIPAL ZONING CODE.
EQUITY BASED PRESERVATION PLAN ADOPTED JUST LAST YEAR, THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL HERITAGE DISTRICT, WHICH HAS ONGOING WORK.
IMAGINE AUSTIN, THE ROSEWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, WHICH OUR COMMUNITY HAS SUPPORTED AND DEFENDED EVERY TIME IT'S BEEN CHALLENGED.
AND THERE IS WISDOM IN THAT PLAN THAT THE CITY IS STILL TRYING TO CATCH UP WITH ELSEWHERE.
AND THE GENERATION A TX INITIATIVE AS WE LOSE ANOTHER SCHOOL, IS THIS AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE IT'S GONNA BE A GREAT PLACE, ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO RAISE A CHILD WHERE OUR PARKS ARE CLOSED, OUR POOLS ARE CLOSED, OUR SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED.
I HAVE TWO AND AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF RESIDENTS BECAUSE WE HAVE DONE EXTENSIVE OUTREACH TO OUR ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE HAVE KNOCKED ON DOORS, EVEN ON THE BORDER OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD INTO THE BOOKER T UH, HOUSING COMPLEX.
WE HAVE REACHED OUT, WE HAVE MET IN PERSON, WE HAVE MET WITH THE APPLICANT CONSTANTLY.
AND WHAT WE'VE GOTTEN IS NOTHING.
I AM ALSO COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH WHATEVER WE'RE LEFT WITH AT THE END OF THIS, BECAUSE THAT'S JUST WHAT YOU HAVE.
YOU HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE, BUT ALL OF YOU HAVE A CHOICE RIGHT NOW TO MAYBE HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL DIALOGUE TO MAYBE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S IN YOUR TOOLBOX, BUT IF THERE'S ANYTHING IN YOUR TOOLBOX THAT CAN PREVENT A HUNDRED YEAR OLD SCHOOL FROM BEING WIPED OUT AND TURNED INTO AN ALMOST DISNEY LIKE FEATURE THAT YOU ERPS THE RICH HISTORY OF EAST AUSTIN AS DECORATION.
I MEAN, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT TURNING SCHOOL SUPPLY CLOSETS INTO NARNIA DOORS.
THEY DON'T WANT TO TURN OFF AMPLIFIED SOUND NEXT TO NEIGHBORS.
THEY WANT THEIR TRAFFIC TO GO WHEREVER THEY WANT IT TO GO, AND IT'S PROBABLY NOT GONNA BE THEM WHO DIRECTS IT.
IT'S GONNA BE SOMEONE ELSE WHO BUYS IT.
WE'VE SEEN THIS TOO WITH SPRINGDALE GREEN, WHICH WAS A HUGE LAND BUY UP REZONING TURNED INTO COMMERCIAL PROPERTY, AND RIGHT NOW THERE'S ABOUT 900,000 SQUARE FEET OF COMMERCIAL PROPERTY THAT HAS SAT VACANT FOR OVER A YEAR AND A HALF.
THERE'S ANOTHER NEW COMMERCIAL PROPERTY ON WEBER V ROAD RIGHT NEAR THIS PROPERTY.
IT'S HAD ALMOST IDENTICAL SPACE IN TERMS OF SPACIOUSNESS AND, YOU KNOW, UH, HOOKUPS AND ALL THAT UNOCCUPIED FOR OVER A YEAR AND A HALF.
MY ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD IS RINGED IN CS ZONING.
AND THAT HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH THE SEGREGATION HAS PASSED OF AUSTIN AND HOW IT'S SPRINKLED INTENSE LAND USES INTO NEIGHBORHOODS TO BREAK THEM UP.
THERE'S AN INCINERATOR THAT USED TO BE ACROSS THE STREET AND SCATTERED ASH ON HOMES.
EVERY DAY THERE'S A DUMP SITE THAT OUR NEIGHBORS LIVE OVER, AND IT, THE REMEDIATION WAS NEVER EVEN COMPLETED, BUT WHEN THEY DISCOVERED IT, THEY HAD TO CUT DOWN EVERY TREE AND COVER IT WITH CLAY.
THIS IS THE HISTORY THAT PEOPLE HAVE SURVIVED THROUGH THAT KEPT A SCHOOL GOING FOR A HUNDRED YEARS, EVEN WHEN IT WAS SOLD OFF FROM THE DISTRICT.
AND YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT THE BEST USE WE HAVE FOR TODAY IS NARNIA CLOSETS? I DON'T THINK SO.
[01:25:09]
HI, COUNSEL.UH, RICH HAMAN, DISTRICT NINE.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK AGAIN TO OPPOSE THIS, UH, REZONING.
AND I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE HOMEWOOD HEIGHTS NEIGHBORS.
I WANT TO ELABORATE ON A POINT THAT I MADE AT THE END OF MY COMMENTS ON THE PREVIOUS ITEM, THAT WE CANNOT RELY ON UNENFORCEABLE PROMISES FROM DEVELOPERS.
WE KNOW FROM THE HISTORY OF MANY PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS IN THIS CITY THAT PRIVATE ENTITIES CHANGE THEIR PLANS TO MEET CHANGING MARKET CONDITIONS.
IT IS, THEY, THEY DO NOT REPRESENT THE PUBLIC INTEREST.
IT IS THE ROLE OF OUR GOVERNMENT, OF OUR CITY GOVERNMENT AS STEWARDS OF THE PUBLIC INTEREST, TO ENSURE THAT COMMU THAT DEVELOPMENT RESULTS IN AND SERVES THE PUBLIC INTEREST.
WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT JUST GOING ALONG WITH WHAT THE DEVELOPERS WANT WITH PROMISES THAT ARE UNENFORCEABLE IS NOT IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST, DOES NOT ENSURE THAT DEVELOPMENT SERVES THE PUBLIC INTEREST.
I HAVE ON THE LINE JOSHUA COLLIER.
UM, JUST SPEAKING OUT, UH, IN, ON THIS MATTER, UH, TO ONE SUPPORT ALL THE, THE PREVIOUS SPEAKERS HAVE SHARED, UH, I LIVE ON THE SAME STREET AS SEVERAL OF THE SPEAKERS, SA WILSON, UM, NAMED AFTER ONE OF THE EDUCATORS, UM, FROM EAST AUSTIN.
UM, AS IS THE SCHOOL IN IN QUESTION HERE.
AND, UM, I WAS BORN IN AUSTIN.
INCREASINGLY, UM, PEOPLE ARE SURPRISED TO HEAR THAT, BUT I, WHEN I WAS LITTLE, LIVED IN EAST AUSTIN AND TO SPEAK TO, UM, THE FACT THAT, UM, AS MOST PEOPLE WHO'VE SPENT ANY TIME IN AUSTIN KNOW THIS PART OF THE CITY, UM, HAS BEEN AFFECTED, UM, MORE THAN OTHERS AND IN UNFAIR WAYS, UM, BY DEVELOPMENT.
AND WE ALL KNOW, AT LEAST IN THEORY, THAT THE LAW SHOULD BE APPLIED EQUALLY, UM, TO ALL THOSE WHO COMMIT SEX.
AND OF COURSE, IN THE CASE OF LAND DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCES IN AUSTIN, THAT UNFORTUNATELY HAS NOT BEEN THE CASE.
AND SO, AS PREVIOUS SPEAKERS ALLUDED TO, THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY HERE TO APPLY, UM, THESE ORDINANCES IN TERMS OF LAND USE AND, AND ALSO TO ADDRESS THE BLATANTLY, UM, I THINK IT WOULD BE FOUND WITHOUT BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT OR, UM, TO BE, UM, THE USE OF CHANGING ZONING TO INCREASE THE VALUE OF PROPERTY, TO ENRICH A VERY FEW PEOPLE AT THE EXPENSE OF MANY PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO IN A VERY UNITED WAY, HAVE I THINK MADE VERY LOGICAL ARGUMENTS, UM, ABOUT WHY, UM, THIS CHANGE IS NOT NECESSARY AND WHY THIS SPACE IN PARTICULAR IS SIGNIFICANTLY, UM, IMPORTANT TO THE HISTORY OF AUSTIN.
AND SO THANK YOU ALEXANDRIA ANDERSON.
ALEXANDRIA, ARE YOU THERE? CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WATSON, MAYOR PROTON FUENTES AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS ALEXANDRIA ANDERSON.
I'M CO-CHAIR OF THE EAST MLK CONTACT TEAM.
I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE HOMEWOOD HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
THEIR CONCERNS AND THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS.
THEY, THEY HAVE OUTLINED OUR AREA WITH ITS CLOSEST PROXIMITY TO DOWNTOWN HAS SEEN SOME OF THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF REZONING AND UPZONING OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.
THOSE PROPOSALS SIMILAR TO THE ONE THAT YOU SEE TODAY AND HAS BEEN PROVEN BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN DEMOGRAPHER REPORTS HAVE LED TO SOME OF THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF DISPLACEMENT AT TRIGGER SPECULATIVE SALES AND RISING PROPERTY VALUES.
THESE ARE THE SAME CONCERNS OF THE FAMILIES THAT LIVE IN HOMEWOOD HEIGHTS, BOOKER T AND THE ROSEWOOD AREA.
ALTHOUGH THE DEVELOPER'S, ATTORNEY, ATTORNEY HAS SHARED THAT THIS IS NOT A SPECULATIVE SALE, AND THAT THE FIRM INTENDS TO PRESERVE THE HISTORIC STRUCTURE THAT HAS NOT BEEN SHOWN IN GOOD FAITH WITH THE COMMUNITY, WITH ACTIONS, THESE AREAS FOR DECADES HAVING GIVEN ND INTENDS WILL CONSIDER, AND IT'S JUST BEEN WORDS AND NOT ACTION.
[01:30:01]
NEIGHBORS THAT FAMILY IN THIS AREA ARE FRANKLY SICK AND TIRED OF GETTING SCREWED OVER UNTIL BOTH WEBSITES ABOUT US PAGE.THEY BELIEVE THAT RESPONSIBLE GROWTH MEANS CREATING SPACES THAT BOTH OUR COMMUNITY CAN GROW AND PAY TRIBUTE TO.
ITS ROOT INTENTIONAL DEVELOPMENT IS NEEDED IN OUR AREA, AND THAT ONLY COMES WITH COLLABORATIVE EFFORT WITH THE COMMUNITY AGREEING TO COLLABORATE, COLLABORATE, AND MEET WITH THE MINIMUM ASK OF THE NEIGHBORS, WHICH I THINK IS ONLY FOUR, WOULD BE PAYING TRIBUTE TO THEIR ROOT TFO.
PUT ACTIONS BEHIND THEIR WORDS, SIGN THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT BECAUSE WE ARE OVER FALSE PROMISES.
CLON, CLONINGER, KENNETH WALLACE, BILL BUNCH.
MY NAME'S AARON K CLONINGER LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THAT'S, UH, UH, A NICE PROVISION THAT WOULD EASE THIS IF WE DIDN'T HAVE COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC FED ONTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD STREET.
ALSO, COMPATIBILITY IN GENERAL, THIS PROPERTY IS HEMMED IN BY RESIDENCES, SINGLE FAMILY DWELLINGS AND THE BOOKER T WASHINGTON TERRACES.
THE REASON WHY I WOULD, BECAUSE OF THE STATE OF NEGOTIATIONS RIGHT NOW, URGE YOU TO EITHER DO AN INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT OR A NO VOTE IS LARGELY THESE THINGS.
BUT I'D ALSO LIKE TO INCLUDE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE PERIL OF FUTURE POSSIBILITIES.
UM, AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE STATE HAS PASSED SENATE, IT BILL EIGHT 40, WHICH GOES FAIRLY UNINTERRUPTED AS OF YET IN AUSTIN.
AND IT TAKES CASES LIKE THIS TO UNDERSTAND IT.
IF THE DEVELOPER WERE TO SEEK A, A HIGHER HEIGHT ALLOWANCE IN THE FUTURE, THEY HAVE A, A, A, PHASE A, PHASE B, AND PHASE C.
THE PHASE C EVIDENTLY WAS, UH, ORIGINALLY WHERE THEY PLACED THE RESIDENTIAL.
NOW THERE'S NO CLAIMS AS TO HAVING ANY RESIDENTIAL.
AND SO THAT PHASE C, THE EASTERN MOST PART OF THE PROPERTY IS A BIG RECTANGULAR SQUARE RIGHT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND THAT WOULD BE A REAL PITY IF Y'ALL WERE INVOLVED IN SETTING UP FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.
OKAY, MAYOR ALS ZONING SPEAKERS HAVE BEEN CALLED.
ALRIGHT, MS. HARDEN, YOU LOOK LIKE YOU WANT SAY SOMETHING.
UM, YES, STAFF JUST RECEIVED THIS FROM THE APPLICANT.
UM, SO FOR THE LAST ITEM, ITEM 75, AS YOU KNOW, THE APPLICANT'S REQUESTING C-S-M-U-C-O-N-P, UM, AND THE CO THE CONDITIONAL OVERLAY WOULD LIMIT THE HEIGHT, UH, TO NO MORE THAN 40 FEET AND PROHIBIT 27 USES.
AND THAT'S IN YOUR STAFF REPORT.
THE APPLICANT ALSO WANTS TO PROHIBIT SOME ADDITIONAL USES THAT I'D LIKE TO READ INTO THE RECORD, AND THOSE ARE AUTOMOTIVE CELLS, BED AND BREAKFAST GROUP, ONE BED AND BREAKFAST GROUP TWO, COMMERCIAL OFF STREET PARKING, OFFSITE ACCESSORY PARKING, OUTDOOR ENTERTAINMENT AT PET SERVICES.
AND I'D JUST LIKE TO PUT THAT ON THE RECORD, PLEASE.
YEAH, BUT IT WASN'T, I DIDN'T READ IT INTO, BUT WE'RE, WE DON'T NEED TO DO THAT.
YEAH, MR. PAGE DOESN'T GET THE CALL OUT FROM THE, THE AUDIENCE.
AND SO THIS WAS NOT IN, IT WAS NOT IN THE ORDINANCE AND BACKUP.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THESE ADDITIONAL USES.
UM, IN THAT CASE, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT THE, UH, MOTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA INCLUDES THOSE ITEMS THAT MS. HARDIN JUST READ INTO THE RECORD.
SO, UH, IS THERE A MOTION TO AMEND COUNCIL MEMBER VELA MOVES TO AMEND THE MO THE CON MAIN MOTION, WHICH IS TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS READ.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN, UH, MEMBERS, WE WILL VOTE ON THE MOTION TO AMEND THE MAIN MOTION, WHICH WILL BE, AND, AND THE MOTION THAT HAS BEEN TO AMEND IS THAT THE ITEMS THAT
[01:35:01]
MS. HARDEN JUST READ INTO THE RECORD AS RESTRICTIONS ON THIS ITEM WILL BE RESTRICTIONS ON THE ITEM.THE MOTION TO AMEND HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED.
IS THERE DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION? UH, THE MOTION TO AMEND IS ADOPTED, UH, WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, TEMPORARILY OFF THE DIOCESE AND, AND NOT ON VIRTUALLY.
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO ADD? I THINK THAT'S IT.
COUNCIL MEMBER BAILEY, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED, MS. HAR, HOLD ON JUST A SECOND.
UM, AND, AND I'M LOOKING AT THE LETTER FROM MS, UH, SHIPMAN.
AND, UH, I UNDERSTAND THEY'VE, THEY'VE ALREADY SUBMITTED THE APPLICATION FOR THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES, AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE GOING THROUGH, UH, THAT PROCESS.
UH, AND AGAIN, I'M NOT INTIMATELY FAMILIAR WITH THAT, THAT PROCESS, BUT SPEAKING TO THE POTENTIAL, THE FUTURE OF THE, THE BUILDINGS, JUST THEORETICALLY, IF THEY WERE TO WANT TO DEMOLISH ONE OF THE BUILDINGS ON THAT PROPERTY, UH, WHAT WOULD, WHAT WOULD HAVE TO HAPPEN? IN OTHER WORDS, DOES THAT NEED TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL TO, TO A, A DEMOLITION PERMIT FOR, FOR ONE OF THOSE BUILDINGS? SO, UH, I'LL SAY TWO THINGS, AND KIM, IF YOU WANNA ASSIST, UM, SO I'LL SAY TWO THINGS TO THAT.
UM, THE PROCESS THAT THE APPLICANT IS PROCEEDING WITH IS A STATE PROCESS, NOT THROUGH THE CITY AS, UM, THE NEIGHBORHOOD STATED AS WELL, BUT IF A BUILDING PERMIT OF ANY TYPE IS PULLED, IT WOULD GO THROUGH THE HISTORIC, PER OUR HISTORIC PROCESS, THEN THAT WOULD GO, IF THEY WERE DE DEMO DEMO DEMOLISHING THE STRUCTURE, OF COURSE, THAT WOULD BE ELEVATED ALL THE WAY TO THE COUNCIL.
IF THAT'S WAS THE CASE, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT TO BE THE CASE.
HOWEVER, EVEN ANY BUILDING PERMIT WOULD BE LOOKED AT BY OUR HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE, BECAUSE IF THEY'RE MODIFYING THE STRUCTURE, WE WANNA SEE THAT.
AND, AND THAT'S JUST WHAT I WANTED TO CONFIRM.
'CAUSE UH, CLEARLY WE ALL WANT TO PRESERVE THE HISTORIC BUILDINGS.
AND AGAIN, THE, THE APPLICANTS CLEARLY WANT TO PRESERVE THE HISTORIC BUILDINGS.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S CONCERN ABOUT, ABOUT THE, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN OR NOT.
BUT IN OTHER WORDS, EVEN AGAIN, LET'S SAY THAT FOR WHATEVER REASON, IT CHANGED HANDS AND THE NEXT OWNER WANTED TO COME AND, AND TEAR THE BUILDINGS DOWN, THEY HAVE TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL.
THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL THE PROCESS AND COME TO COUNCIL.
AND, AND I'M NOT, I'M GONNA SPEAK FOR MYSELF.
UH, THAT IS NOT A DEMOLITION PERMIT THAT'S GONNA BE APPROVED BY, I MEAN, BY FROM MY END, YOU KNOW, SO, SO AGAIN, I JUST WANTED TO OFFER, IT WOULD BE DOUBTFUL THAT THAT WOULD BE SUPPORTED BY STAFF, AND THAT WOULD BE OUR RECOMMENDATION TO THE COUNCIL AS GREAT.
AND, AND I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE, THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, WE, WE, MY INTENT JUST SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF, OF MYSELF, AND I'VE BEEN TALKING WITH, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON AND, AND HER STAFF ABOUT THIS.
I MEAN, EVERYBODY'S INTENT IS TO PRESERVE THIS, UH, UH, HISTORIC PROPERTY AND, AND MAKE IT AN, AN ASSET FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND EVEN THOUGH THERE'S NOT MAYBE LIKE A LEGAL KIND OF PROMISE, THE REALITY IS THAT THE PATH TO ANY DEMOLITION COMES THROUGH COUNSEL.
AND, UH, AGAIN, I'LL SPEAK FOR MYSELF.
I WOULD NOT BE SUPPORTIVE OF A DEMOLITION, UH, UH, PERMIT, UH, GOING FOR THOSE BUILDINGS.
SO JUST GIVEN THAT I FEEL VERY, VERY COMFORTABLE WITH, WITH, UH, THE, WHAT THE, WHAT THE, UH, APPLICANT, UH, HAS, UH, LAID OUT, I CAN ADD THAT WHILE LISTING TO THE NATIONAL REGISTER IN AND OF ITSELF DOES NOT PROVIDE LOCAL PROTECTION LIKE A LOCAL HISTORIC LANDMARK, IT DOES HAVE, UM, IMPLICATIONS FOR KIND OF ENHANCING THE CRITERIA.
SO IF, IF IT WAS LISTED TO THE NATIONAL REGISTER AND IT WERE TO COME TO OUR OFFICE, IT'S AUTOMATICALLY ELIGIBLE.
UM, BUT IT ENHANCES ITS ELIGIBILITY.
AND, AND I KNOW, I KNOW JUST ENOUGH ABOUT THIS TO KIND OF, YOU KNOW, MESS, MESS IT UP.
BUT IN, IN TALKING WITH THE, THE, THE ST.
JOHN'S, UH, UH, ASSOCIATION, THE, THE BAPTIST ASSOCIATION, UH, THEY WERE INTERESTED IN THAT NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES BECAUSE IT GIVES YOU A LITTLE MORE FLEXIBILITY THAT THAT, THAT THEY LIKED THAT DESIGNATION, UH, BECAUSE THEY INTENDED TO BOTH A, PRESERVE THE BUILDING AND DEVELOP KIND OF OTHER LAND AROUND IT.
AND, AND SO AGAIN, THIS SEEMS LIKE A VERY SIMILAR CONTEXT TO WHAT WE'RE TALKING TO THE ASSOCIATION ABOUT.
UH, YOU KNOW, MONTHS BACK, UNFORTUNATELY, THE FIRE HAS CHANGED EVERYTHING, BUT I'LL, I'LL LEAVE THAT THERE, BUT I JUST WANTED TO GET THAT ON THE RECORD AND THANK YOU.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS, MS. HARDEN? ALRIGHT, UH, MEMBERS, THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED.
IT WOULD BE TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS AMENDED.
IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO ABSTAIN FROM A VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AS AMENDED? IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO RECUSE THEMSELVES FROM A VOTE ON ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO BE SENT, SHOWN AS VOTING NO ON ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? AGAIN, MEMBERS, THE MOTION IS TO APPROVE THE
[01:40:01]
CONSENT AGENDA AS AMENDED WITHOUT OBJECTION.THE CONSENT AGENDA AS AMENDED IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, UH, OFF THE DAIS AND, AND NOT, UH, PRESENT VIRTUALLY MEMBERS.
THAT CONCLUDES, UH, ALL OF OUR TIME, CERTAIN TWO O'CLOCK ZONING ITEMS. UH, THE NEXT ITEMS THAT WE HAVE ON THE AGENDA ARE ITEMS FOUR OR FIVE AND SIX RELATED TO THE BUDGET, UH, WITH THE INDULGENCE OF THE COUNCIL.
WHAT I WOULD ASK IS THAT WE RECESS UNTIL THREE O'CLOCK SO THAT EVERYBODY CAN GET READY ON THE BUDGET ITEMS AND PEOPLE WILL, UH, KNOW THAT WE'RE GONNA TAKE UP PUBLIC COMMUNICATION ON THOSE ITEMS AND WE WILL TAKE UP THE PUBLIC COMMUNICATION ON ALL OF THE ITEMS AT ONE TIME.
SO THEN WE CAN GO INTO OUR DELIBERATIONS, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE CITY COUNCIL OF AUSTIN IS IN RECESS UNTIL 3:00 PM GOOD LUCK.
[4. Approve an ordinance amending Ordinance No. 20250813-005 adopting the City of Austin Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026, beginning on October 1, 2025, and ending on September 30, 2026, to reflect reduced projected property (ad valorem) tax revenues resulting from the voters not approving the property tax rate adopted by the City Council and making corresponding changes to budget expenditure allocations. (Part 1 of 2)]
IT'S THREE O'CLOCK ON NOVEMBER 20TH, 2025, AND I WILL CALL BACK TO ORDER THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING.UH, THE NEXT ITEMS WE'RE GONNA TAKE UP ARE ITEMS FOUR, FIVE, AND SIX.
UH, IN ADDITION TO THE MEETING THAT WE'RE HAVING TODAY, WHERE WE'RE GOING TO HEAR, UH, FROM THE PUBLIC ON ITEMS FOUR, FIVE, AND SIX, WE'VE HAD ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK ON THE PROPOSED AMENDED BUDGET.
WE HAD A WORK SESSION TUESDAY DURING WHICH WE HEARD FROM ALL SPEAKERS, AND WE HAD A MEETING ON WEDNESDAY IN WHICH WE INCLUDED, UH, A PUBLIC HEARING WHERE WE HEARD FROM ALL SPEAKERS ON THE PROPOSED AMENDED BUDGET.
IN ADDITION TO HEARING FROM SPEAKERS ON A SPECIFIC BUDGET AGENDA ITEM, WE'VE ALSO, WE ALSO HAVE MEETINGS POSTED FOR TOMORROW, WHICH IS THE 21ST, MONDAY THE 24TH, AND TUESDAY THE 25TH.
HOWEVER, FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, I WANT TO AGAIN EMPHASIZE THAT THOSE MEETINGS WILL ONLY BE HELD IF THE COUNCIL DOES NOT GET TO THE NEEDED NUMBER OF VOTES IN FAVOR OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET AMENDMENTS BEFOREHAND, AND NEEDS TO HAVE THOSE MEETINGS FOR THE REQUIRED VOTES TO PASS THE ITEMS THAT ARE ON THE AGENDA.
IF COUNCIL GETS TO THE NEEDED VOTES BEFORE ANY OF THOSE MEETINGS, WE WILL BE CANCELING THOSE REMAINING MEETINGS.
ALSO FOR TODAY, IF COUNSEL CAN GET TO A VOTE ON THE AMENDED BUDGET BY 10:00 PM TONIGHT, WE WILL RESET.
IF WE CANNOT GET TO A VOTE ON THE AMENDED BUDGET BY 10 O'CLOCK TONIGHT, WE WILL RECESS AND WE WILL CONTINUE THE MEETING TO TOMORROW.
IF THAT HAPPENS, WE WILL CANCEL THE SEPARATE MEETING THAT'S POSTED FOR, FOR TOMORROW SO THAT WE DON'T END UP HAVING OVERLAPPING MEETINGS IF IT COMES TO THAT.
IN OTHER WORDS, IF WE DON'T HAVE A VOTE BY 10 O'CLOCK TONIGHT AND WE RECESS AND COME BACK TOMORROW, IF WE DO THAT, WE WON'T HAVE SPEAKERS TOMORROW SINCE WE WILL HAVE ALREADY HAD THEM FOR THIS MEETING TODAY.
AND THAT'S JUST A CONTINUATION OF THE MEETING.
THEREFORE, IF YOU'VE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK TODAY, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO SO RATHER THAN WAITING FOR THE OTHER POSTED MEETINGS IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
AS TODAY MAY BE THE LAST GUARANTEED OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THE BUDGET AND THE TAX RATE AMENDMENT ITEMS THAT ARE BEFORE US TODAY.
AGAIN, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE UP PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS FOUR, FIVE, AND SIX.
WE WILL, UH, DO THAT IN ORDER, BUT WE'RE GONNA TAKE UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE WE GO TO A DISCUSSION BY THE COUNCIL ON THE BUDGET.
SO I'LL NOW TURN TO THE CITY CLERK AND ASK YOU TO PLEASE, UH, FEEL FREE TO START CALLING PEOPLE'S NAMES.
FIRST SPEAKER MARIA UNDA, ITEM FOUR.
MARIA, ARE YOU THERE? GONNA SEND HER BACK.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WATSON AND CITY AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS PATRICIA NUNEZ AND I HAVE BEEN A BILINGUAL PUBLIC, UH, SCHOOL TEACHER AND, UH, ADVOCATE, UM, IN THE AUSTIN AREA FOR NEARLY 30 YEARS.
I AM HERE TODAY TO ASK THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S CONTINUED TO ASK FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S CONTINUED SUPPORT, FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR ACADEMIA,
UM, AS A LONGTIME COLLABORATOR WITH ACADEMIA, I CAN ATTEST TO THE POWERFUL LEARNING SPACE THIS PROGRAM CREATES FOR OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES.
IT IS NOT A TYPICAL, UH, CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT.
IT IS A COMMUNITY SPACE WHERE CULTURE, LANGUAGE, AND IDENTITY ARE HONORED AS CENTRAL TO LEARNING FOR STUDENTS THIS SPACE, UM, THIS IS THE SPACE WHERE THEY SEE THEIR HISTORY, THEIR HOME LANGUAGE, AND THEIR FAMILY KNOWLEDGE TREATED AS ASSETS, UM, TO TOWARDS ACADEMIC, UH, GROWTH.
ONE OF THE GREATEST STRENGTHS OF ACADEMIA
[01:45:01]
IS A DEEP LEVEL OF PARENT INVOLVEMENT.FAMILIES ARE NOT ONLY INVITED INTO THE LEARNING, BUT THEY ARE CO-CREATORS OF IT.
PARENTS PARTICIPATE AND SHARE THEIR KNOWLEDGE THROUGH CULTURAL ACTIVITIES AND SUPPORT WITH RE AND GAIN SUPPORT WITH RESOURCE NAVIGATION, UH, FOR BEING RESIDENTS OF THE CITY, THIS VIBRANT CITY.
UM, I ALSO THINK THAT IT'S A SPACE WHERE PARENTS WALK ALONGSIDE THEIR CHILDREN AS PARTNERS IN EDUCATION, WHICH STRENGTHENS FAMILIAL RELATIONSHIPS, UM, AND OFFERS A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE FROM TRADITIONAL SCHOOL SETTINGS.
UH, SO FOR MANY PARENTS, ACADEMIA PROVIDES A WELCOMING SPACE WHERE THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCES ARE VALUED AND ESSENTIAL TO THE CHILDREN'S SCHOOL SUCCESS.
UH, THE BILINGUAL PROGRAMMING THAT ACADEMIA THANK YOU MUCH OFFERS IN SPANISH AND ENGLISH.
THAT'S ALL THE REMOTE SPEAKERS WE HAVE IN THE QUEUE.
SO I'M GONNA SWITCH OVER TO IN PERSON FOR ITEM FOUR, I HAVE BRIDE AND SUMMERS, JANICE BOOKOUT, A LOKI SHAW, TREY SALINAS, RICH HAMAN, PLEASE COME DOWN IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M BRIAN SUMMERS, PRESIDENT OF AFME LOCAL 1624, THE UNION FOR CITY OF AUSTIN EMPLOYEES.
UH, AS I'VE TOLD YOU THROUGHOUT THIS WEEK, WE HAVE FIVE PRIORITIES.
TWO INCLUDE THE PROGRESSIVE COLA.
SO I WANNA THANK THE CITY MANAGER, THE BUDGET OFFICE, AND COUNCIL FOR SUPPORTING THESE.
WE ALSO WANT TO INCLUDE BAD WEATHER PAY AND THE STIPEND FOR ESSENTIAL EMPLOYEES.
SO I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ FOR ADDING THAT BACK INTO THE CONVERSATION.
THE TWO PRIORITIES THAT ARE LEFT ARE ACTIONS.
WE WANT THE CITY TO EVALUATE WHERE WE CAN GET MORE MONEY FOR THE REST OF THE CITY FROM THE POLICE BUDGET, AND THAT'S GOING TO TAKE LEADERSHIP.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE WANT THE SE THE CITY TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF PUBLIC DOLLARS BECAUSE WE'RE IN AN INEVITABLE CONFLICT.
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO RUN INTO THIS EACH YEAR, AND SO TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO START.
I ALSO WANNA ADDRESS CONSOLIDATIONS AND EFFICIENCY AND OPTIMIZATION.
'CAUSE AFTER THIS BUDGET IS ADOPTED, WE'RE GONNA BE HEADING DOWN THAT ROAD.
I THINK THE KEY TO SUCCESS FOR THAT PLAN IS THAT WE ARE ALL PARTNERS TOGETHER.
COUNCIL, WHEN YOU'RE WORKING WITH THE CITY MANAGER, YOU'RE RIGHT TO PUT YOUR BENCHMARKS AND AND PRIORITIES ON THAT.
WHAT IS YOUR DIRECTION FOR MEASURING SUCCESS? THE CITY MANAGER WORKING WITH COUNCIL AND AFSCME, PLEASE CONTINUE TO GIVE US CLEAR COMMUNICATION AND GUIDANCE ON THE PROCESS.
AND FOR US, WE'LL NEED TO MAKE SURE EMPLOYEES FEEL SAFE AND PREPARED AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
BUT ALL OF THIS HAS TO BE PREDICATED ON SHARED GOALS TOO.
HAS TO BE ON ENSURING STABILITY FOR THE CITY'S BUDGET, DEFINITELY ENSURING JOB SECURITY, FAIR TREATMENT AND COMPENSATION FOR WORKERS, AND ENSURING IT'S NOT JUST CIVILIAN WORKERS CARRYING THE LOAD.
I HOPE THAT WE CAN ALL COMMIT TO A PARTNERSHIP BUILT ON GOOD FAITH AND SHARED VALUES.
AND SO WE HOPE TO SEE THAT LEADERSHIP STARTING TODAY.
UM, HELLO, MY NAME IS AOKI SHAW AND I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED WORKERS OF INTEGRAL CARE.
I WOULD FIRST LIKE TO THANK MAYOR WATSON FOR HIS AMENDMENT AND INCLUSION OF EXPANSION OF EM COT INTO THE CITY OF BOSTON FISCAL YEAR 26 BUDGET.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR RECOGNITION OF THE VALUE OF THE WORK THAT WE DO AS A VITAL PART OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEM IN AUSTIN.
UNFORTUNATELY, 1 MILLION WON'T BE ENOUGH TO SUSTAIN 24 7 EM COT.
THE ANNUAL OPERATING COST TO KEEP EM COT RUNNING AROUND THE CLOCK IS 3 MILLION TO BE AT OUR BEST.
SO WE ARE ASKING FOR AN AMENDMENT TO FULLY COVER THESE COSTS SO WE CAN MAINTAIN QUALITY 24 7 SERVICES AND AVOID LAYOFFS.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE YOU TO CONSIDER IF THE CUTS AND PARTIAL FUNDING THAT HAVE BEEN MADE TO HOUSING AND EMS ARE TRULY IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY.
ALL OF THESE SYSTEMS WORK TOGETHER IN COLLABORATION ON THE GROUND TO MAKE LIFE BETTER FOR ALL AUSTINITES, I WOULD LIKE TO UPLIFT THE POSSIBLE SOLUTION CUTS TO VACANT POSITIONS.
WHILE YOU'RE ASKING SOCIAL SERVICE AND OTHER PA PUBLIC SAFETY PROVIDERS TO DO MORE, LESS A PD HAS NOT BEEN CONSIDERED AT ALL FOR PLACES THAT MIGHT BE GENERATE SAVINGS.
IF HOUSING MENTAL HEALTH IDD AND EMS ARE ALL WORKING AT FULL CAPACITY, THERE'LL BE LESS NEED FOR POLICE OVERTIME IN THE FIRST PLACE.
WE NEED BALANCE IN THE SYSTEM AND THIS BALANCE WILL LEAD TO A BETTER SOCIETY.
I WOULD LIKE TO UPLIFT THE NEED TO KEEP THE OTHER INTEGRAL CARE CONTRACTS INTACT AS WE ARE AN WE, AS WE ARE ANOTHER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY AND MAKE SENSE FOR THESE CONTRACTS TO BE EXEMPT AND FOR INTER-LOCAL AGREEMENTS FOR THESE SERVICES TO BE EXPLORED AS THE LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH AND IDD AUTHORITY OF THE AREA.
WE ARE ONE OF THE LARGEST SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS FOR THE COMMUNITY.
OUR SERVICES ARE KEY TO KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY SAFE AND HEALTHY.
OUR CONTRACTS AT INTEGRAL CARE INCLUDE SERVICES FOR ADULT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, HOUSING, SUBSTANCE USE, AND CRISIS RESPONSE.
OUR EMPLOYEES DELIVER THESE SERVICES EVERY DAY TO OUR COMMUNITY WITH EXPERTISE AND COMPASSION.
WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE MORE FUNDING, MORE WORKERS, AND MORE PROGRAMS AS WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN HIT HARD BY FEDERAL AND STATE CUTS.
I URGE ALL OF COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THIS IN FULL, IN FULL FUNDING FOR 24 7 EM.
[01:50:12]
UH, GOOD AFTERNOON COUNSEL.THE MESSAGE FROM VOTERS IS CLEAR.
AUSTINITES WANT THE COUNCIL TO EXERCISE MORE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.
IT IS NOT FISCAL FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE TO HOLD UNSPENT FUNDS IN ONE PART OF THE BUDGET WHILE NOT FUNDING COMMUNITY PRIORITIES AND KEY SERVICES FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, THUS ENDANGERING THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF ALL RESIDENTS.
I'M TALKING OF COURSE ABOUT THE POLICE BUDGET.
COUNSEL NEEDS TO INVOKE SECTION FOUR B OF THE POLICE CONTRACT AND PROPORTIONALLY REDUCE ITS OBLIGATIONS TO A PD SHARE OF THE BUDGET.
TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ARE IRRESPONSIBLY NOT BEING PUT TO THEIR INTENDED USE, WHICH IS TO IMPROVE THE DEPARTMENT'S RECRUITING AND TRAINING PROCESSES.
THE HUNDREDS OF VACANT OFFICER POSITIONS ARE EVIDENCE THAT WE HAVE NOT SEEN PROGRESS ON THIS FRONT.
THIS IS A CLEAR CASE WHERE SIMPLY THROWING MORE MONEY AT AN ISSUE DOES NOT FIX IT.
THEREFORE, THE RESPONSIBLE THING TO DO IS TO REALLOCATE THOSE FUNDS TO WHERE WE HAVE A REASONABLE CHANCE OF MAKING PROGRESS ON COMMUNITY PRIORITIES SUCH AS FOLLOWING THROUGH WITH THE PROMISING HEADWAY WE'VE BEGUN TO MAKE ON OUR HOMELESS STRATEGY.
AS THE MAYOR POINTED OUT IN HIS WATSON WIRE IN OCTOBER, WE CAN'T LET THOSE GAINS SLIP THROUGH OUR FINGERS.
THE FUNDS STRANDED IN THE POLICE BUDGET NEED TO BE PUT TOWARDS MORE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND PRODUCTIVE USES ON COMMUNITY PRIORITIES, INCLUDING FULLY FUNDING SOCIAL SERVICE CONTRACTS, RAPID REHOUSING, PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING RENTAL ASSISTANCE, AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH EMS, AND PARKS AND SUPPORTING OUR CITY WORKERS.
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT COUNCIL TAKES THIS OPPORTUNITY TO MITIGATE THE STRUCTURAL DEFICIT THAT THE PREVIOUSLY PROPOSED BUDGET PUTS US IN.
YOU MUST ACT NOW ON SECTION FOUR B OF THE POLICE CONTRACT.
CONTINUE ON WITH ITEM FOUR, DANIELA SILVA, SAVANNAH LEE, ELI CORTEZ, ROXANNA HERDON, ALFREDO REYES.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M THE AUSTIN POLICY COORDINATOR AT WORKERS' DEFENSE ACTION FUND.
IN TODAY'S POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT, PEOPLE ARE GETTING KIDNAPPED OFF THE STREETS AND HOMELESSNESS IS BEING CRIMINALIZED NATIONWIDE.
OUR NEIGHBORS ARE FACING CONSTANT DANGER AND IT IS THE DUTY OF THIS COUNCIL TO DO EVERYTHING IN ITS POWER TO KEEP THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN SAFE.
EVERY DEPARTMENT IS BEING ASKED TO MAKE CUTS AFTER THE FAILURE OF PROP Q, WHICH MANY PEOPLE FELT THEY COULDN'T VOTE FOR.
AFTER COUNCIL AGREED TO SUCH A BLOATED POLICE BUDGET, KNOWING THAT WE WOULD BE FACING A DEFICIT THIS YEAR.
IF EVERY OTHER DEPARTMENT SHOULD HAVE TO MAKE SACRIFICES, WHY SHOULD THE POLICE DEPARTMENT MAKE, UH, BE ANY KIND OF EXCEPTION? I WANT MY TAX DOLLARS TO FUND LAWYERS FOR IMMIGRANTS, DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO KEEP PEOPLE OF ALL RACES AND NATIONALITIES OFF THE STREETS.
THE HUNGRY HILL RESOURCE CENTER THAT PROVIDES VITAL ESSENTIAL RESOURCES AND WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES TO MANY OF OUR IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORS AND MANY OTHER PROGRAMS. I DON'T WANT MY TAX DOLLARS BEING SPENT ON THINGS LIKE AI SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY SUCH AS ALPS OR THE 300, UH, POLICE DEPARTMENT VACANCIES, UH, DEPARTMENTAL BUDGET THAT NEEDS TO REMAIN FLAT THIS YEAR.
OUR COMMUNITY, OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY NEEDS THE SAFETY THAT COMES FROM ROBUST EMS PARENT SUPPORT SPECIALISTS RATE RENT STABILIZATION, AND THE ABILITY TO PAY THEIR BILLS.
THAT IS THE PUBLIC SAFETY THAT OUR COMMUNITY WANTS FUNDED, AND IT CAN ONLY BE DONE BY REALLOCATING MONEY FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, MAKE THE FISCALLY AND MORALLY CORRECT DECISION AND REALLOCATE MONEY FROM PD TO FUND ALL OF THE OTHER FORMS OF PUBLIC SAFETY THAT OUR COMMUNITIES SO HEAVILY RELY ON.
I'M HERE WITH EQUITY ACTION AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE.
I HAD PLANNED TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING DIFFERENT TODAY, BUT THEN I SAW SOME OF THE CUTS THAT CAME OVERNIGHT AND WHEN WAS REMINDED OF SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED EARLIER THIS WEEK ON TUESDAY, A QUESTION CAME FROM A COUNCIL MEMBER THAT I THINK ENCAPSULATES THE CHOICE THAT'S BEING MADE TODAY AND THE ATTITUDE THAT GOT US HERE.
THE QUESTION WAS SOMETHING TO THE TUNE OF CAN WE CONSIDER CITATIONS AS A SOURCE OF REVENUE FOR THE CITY? WHAT I HEARD WAS, CAN WE USE THE POLICE FORCE TO EXTRACT MONEY FROM THE LEAST OF US IN ORDER TO AVOID MAKING CUTS TO SAID POLICE FORCE? I WOULD SAY THAT WAS SHOCKING, BUT THAT'S NOT REALLY TRUE.
THAT IS THE ETHOS OF ANY GOVERNMENTAL BODY WHO FUNDS THE POLICE TO THIS DEGREE WHILE MAKING CUTS TO RAPID REHOUSING AND EMERGENCY MENTAL HEALTH CARE.
THIS WEEK, YOU'VE HEARD OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY WANT THEIR SERVICES FUNDED AND WANT THE POLICE BUDGET TO REMAIN STABLE BECAUSE IT'S THE FAIR THING TO DO.
WHILE A QUESTION IS DIRECT, AS THE ONE THAT CAME FROM THE DIOCESE THIS WEEK AND MAY BE GRADING, AT LEAST IT'S HONEST
[01:55:01]
AT LEAST IT GETS TO THE HEART OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE, WHERE YOU'RE CHOOSING BETWEEN PROVIDING AID, HOUSING, HEALTHCARE, AND FOOD TO FOLKS IN AUSTIN, OR ADDING ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR A PD WHILE ASKING EVERYBODY ELSE TO MAKE SACRIFICES.I'M NOT SURE WHY ANY OF YOU GOT INVOLVED IN POLITICS.
I CAN SAY FROM MY EXPERIENCE, PEOPLE GENERALLY BEGIN THIS JOURNEY BECAUSE THEY LOOK AROUND AND THEY CARE DEEPLY ENOUGH ABOUT THE PLACE THEY LIVE THAT THEY WANT TO GIVE OF THEIR TIME TO MAKE IT BETTER.
THAT'S WHY I, THAT'S WHAT I ASSUME EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM IS DOING.
I HAVE TO OR I WILL LOSE MY MIND IF THAT'S WHY YOU'RE HERE.
I WOULD URGE YOU TO LISTEN TO WHAT WE'RE ALL SAYING, IF NOT IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
ALL THAT'S BEING SAID REALLY IS DON'T YOU CARE ABOUT US? CAN'T YOU FUND THE CITY IN A WAY THAT TELLS US THAT YOU CARE ABOUT US? CAN'T YOU SHOW US THAT YOU WOULD RATHER SEE THE FOLKS OF THIS CITY HOUSED AND FED THAN TICKETED AND ARRESTED? THAT IS WHAT IS AT THE HEART OF THIS ISSUE.
YOU'VE BEEN GIVEN A CHOICE TO MAKE.
AND ALL WE'VE DONE THIS WEEK IS ASK YOU TO MAKE THE RIGHT ONE.
I'M AN ORGANIZER OF VOCAL TEXAS AND A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT THREE.
UM, IT IS UNDENIABLE THAT OUR FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION IS CARRYING OUT A CLEAR AGENDA TO ATTACK THE MOST VULNERABLE AND POOR IN THIS COUNTRY AND DISMANTLE SAFETY NETS AND LONG-TERM HOUSING RESOURCES.
WE MAY NOT HAVE HAD THAT CLARITY WHEN WE ENTER THE CITY'S BUDGET PROCESS, BUT NOW WE'RE IN IT AND WE CAN'T DENY IT.
WE ARE FACING MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR REDUCTIONS IN OUR FEDERAL HOUSING DEPARTMENT.
UH, THAT MEANS, UH, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS LOSING THEIR HOUSING VOUCHERS, UM, SHELTER IN HOMELESSNESS, FUNDING BEING SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED AND A GUARANTEED RETURN TO A BOOM IN HOMELESSNESS THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN SINCE.
COVID, WE NEED TO BE MOVING EVERY SINGLE RESOURCE AND DOLLAR TO HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS RIGHT NOW.
WE NEVER SHOULD HAVE SET ASIDE CRITICAL AND CRUCIAL SERVICES AND PROGRAMS TO A TAX RATE ELECTION YEAR AFTER YEAR.
THIS DA IN FRONT OF ME AND BEFORE SHOWS ITS SOLIDARITY WITH POLICE.
THERE'S ENDLESS SUPPLY OF FUNDS FOR POLICE RAISES, FOR POLICE QUALITY OF LIFE, FOR IMPROVED SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY.
AND YOU CHOOSE A PD OVER US EVERY SINGLE TIME, EVERY YEAR DESPITE LOWER CRIME RATES, DESPITE 300 VACANCIES IN THE DEPARTMENT.
AND DESPITE THE GROWING NEED AND HUNGER IN YOUR DISTRICTS, THE CRISIS THAT WE'RE FACING IS NOT GOING TO BE SOLVED BY POLICING.
COMMUNITY SAFETY IS NOT POLICING.
YOUR POLICE ARE NOT GONNA GET PEOPLE INTO A SHELTER.
YOUR POLICE ARE NOT GONNA MAKE SURE THAT OUR FAMILIES ARE FED IN THIS CITY.
AND FEDERAL CUTS THAT ARE COMING TO OUR SHELTERS, PERMANENT HOUSING RESOURCES, HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE SYSTEM, ARE NOT GOING TO BE SUPPORTED BY POLICING.
WE NEED TO INVEST IN REAL SOLUTIONS THAT KEEP PEOPLE HOUSED AND WITH ACCESS TO TRUE CARE AND SERVICES.
AND RIGHT NOW, WE JUST CON OUR CITY JUST CONDUCTED A THREE WEEK SWEEP EFFORT.
UM, THERE ARE PEOPLE TODAY THAT ARE HIDING FROM POLICE IN CREEK BEDS AND THERE'S A FLOOD WARNING RIGHT NOW.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO THOSE PEOPLE.
AND I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT ARE Y'ALL GONNA DO ABOUT IT? WHAT, WHAT ARE YOU IN THIS DO IN THIS BUDGET TO STAND UP FOR YOUR PEOPLE AND YOUR COMMUNITY AND YOUR RESUME? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I'M AN ORGANIZER FOR VOCAL TEXAS.
I WAS HOMELESS FOR SEVEN AND A HALF YEARS NOW I'M HOUSED THROUGH THE RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAM, WHICH ENDS IN JANUARY.
I'M SO UPSET BECAUSE PROPER PROP Q FELL AND THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS CUTTING SNAP MEDICARE HOUSING MONEY.
THAT MEANS FEWER PEOPLE WILL GET ACCESS TO THE RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES I GOT.
MORE PEOPLE ARE ON THE STREET WILL SUFFER AND THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY WILL SUFFER.
FOR THE LAST FEW WEEKS I HAVE BEEN DOING OUTREACH AND CAMPS THAT HAVE BEEN SWEPT.
I'VE HEARD STORIES AND WITNESSED PEOPLE NOT BEING DESTROYED.
PEOPLE LOST THEIR SURVIVAL GEAR, IDENTIFICATION PICTURES AND THEIR BELONGINGS IS HORRIBLE.
LAST WEEK WE CAME TO THE CITY COUNCIL WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN SWEPT.
THOSE PEOPLE SHARE THEIR STORIES AND ASKED THE CITY TO STOP THE SWEEPS AND INVEST IN THINGS LIKE SHELTERS AND RAPID REHOUSING AND WHICH HELPED ME GET OFF THE STREET AND SAY, WE'RE BACK HERE TODAY.
BECAUSE WHILE SHELTERS IN RAPID REHOUSING AND OTHER MANY THINGS GET CUT BY THE MILLIONS, A PD BUDGET REMAINS EXACTLY THE SAME AS I ASK MYSELF.
HOW CAN THAT BE? A PD HAS 330 VACANT POSITIONS THAT CAN BE, THAT CAN NEVER BE SEEN TO BE FILLED.
THAT MEANS MONEY IS JUST SITTING ON USE.
WHY NOT REALLOCATE MONEY TO, UH, TO HELP PEOPLE? TRUMP'S ADMINISTRATION IS ATTACKING POOR PEOPLE AND CUTTING HUD.
WHY NOT HELP US? WHY DO YOU THINK IT WILL? WHY DO YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN IF POOR PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY HAVE LESS ACCESS TO FOOD, SHELTER AND FACING MORE PO POLICING? I WILL LEAD, IT WILL LEAD TO MORE SWEEPS, TICKET AND ARREST.
YOU SAID HOMELESSNESS IS A PRIORITY ON YOUR BUDGET, BUT ALL I HAVE BEEN SEEING IS JUST CUTS ONLY A FEW INVESTMENTS ON THE TABLE.
THE CITY COUNCIL SHOULD REALLOCATE MONEY AWAY FROM A PD AND PUT IT TOWARDS HOUSING SERVICES AND CARE FOR PEOPLE.
[02:00:01]
DOUBLE DOWN ON FUNDING POLICE AT THE EXPENSE OF SHELTER BEDS, RAPID REHOUSING VOUCHERS, SERVICES AND PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, AND MANY CRITICAL OTHER PROGRAMS THAT HELP PEOPLE.THESE ARE PROGRAMS THAT HELP ME.
CONTINUING WITH ITEM FOUR, HANS MAVERICK, CHRIS HARRIS, BENJAMIN SANTOS, BILL BUNCH.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WATSON, MAYOR PROES AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 10 AND I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU THIS AFTERNOON.
TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN SPENDING AND INVESTING.
SPENDING IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU USE FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT HAS ALREADY OCCURRED.
INVESTING IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU USE FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO PREVENT A PROBLEM FROM OCCURRING IN THE FIRST PLACE.
IN THIS CONTEXT, SPENDING MEANS GIVING EVEN MORE MONEY THAN LAST YEAR TO THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
INVESTING MEANS SPENDING MONEY ON THE KINDS OF SERVICES THAT PREVENT PEOPLE FROM ENCOUNTERING LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE FIRST PLACE.
SOMETHING I THINK GETS MISSED TOO OFTEN IN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT POLICE ENCOUNTERS WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE, SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS, MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES AND HOMELESSNESS, IS THAT THOSE SITUATIONS ARE USUALLY TEMPORARY.
THE RIGHT KIND OF INTERVENTION AT THE RIGHT TIME CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE.
WHAT'S MORE POLICING IN THIS COUNTRY HAS AN INVIDIOUS HISTORY OF DISPROPORTIONATELY TARGETING, TARGETING PEOPLE OF COLOR, UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE, POOR PEOPLE, AND PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES.
I KNOW A LOT OF FELLOW IS AUSTINITES WHO HAVE GOTTEN BACK ON THEIR FEET WITH THE HELP OF CITY PROGRAMS. THESE PROGRAMS PREVENT ARREST.
BEING ARRESTED BY CONTRAST AND SPENDING TIME JUST A FEW DAYS IN JAIL OFTEN MEANS LOSING EVERYTHING.
YOUR JOB, YOUR HOUSING, AND YOUR PROPERTY.
THE PROGRAMS I'M ASKING Y'ALL TO SUPPORT, GO TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS STAFFED BY FOLKS WHO HAVE THEMSELVES DEALT WITH BEING UNHOUSED AND RELATED CHALLENGES.
THESE ORGS ARE IN THE BEST POSITION TO UNDERSTAND AND HELP PEOPLE OVERCOME THOSE CHALLENGES.
WHILE I'M UP HERE, JUST A REMINDER THAT ONE GROUP OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT ABSOLUTELY DON'T NEED ANY OF OUR MONEY ARE THOSE AI TECH SURVEILLANCE CORPORATIONS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, PLEASE.
UM, I'M HERE TODAY REPRESENTING EQUITY ACTION.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE AND I'M HERE TO SAY SOMETHING PREDICTABLE, UH, WHICH IS THAT, UM, THIS BUDGET NEEDS TO KEEP THE POLICE BUDGET FLAT AND THE DOLLARS SAVED FROM THAT CAN HELP PEOPLE IN REAL WAYS TODAY.
AND I AM PERSONALLY EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED BY THE EXTENT TO WHICH, UH, THE HOOPS THAT THIS BODY WILL JUMP THROUGH, UH, ITSELF.
UH, THE, THE HOOPS IT WILL HAVE THE STAFF JUMP THROUGH AND THE HOOPS IT WILL MAKE, UH, THE, THIS COMMUNITY, UH, AND, AND THOSE THAT CARE ABOUT IT JUMP THROUGH IN ORDER TO AVOID EVEN A VERY MINOR CUT, UH, TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET, WHICH OF COURSE WE KNOW IS NOT ACTUALLY A CUT.
IT'S SIMPLY KEEPING IT FLAT FROM LAST YEAR.
AND, AND AGAIN, FOR WHAT REASON? NONE, NO REAL REASON HAS BEEN GIVEN, UH, NO, NO REASON THAT INVOLVES ACTUALLY HELPING PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR NOT TAKING $13 MILLION HAS BEEN GIVEN.
AND, BUT WE DO KNOW ALL THE THINGS THAT THAT $13 MILLION CAN FUND.
WE'VE HEARD MANY EXAMPLES JUST IN THE SPEECHES TODAY, MUCH LESS THE SPEECHES, THE LAST TWO DIFFERENT DAYS THAT YOU'VE HEARD.
AND I JUST WANNA BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO THE FISCAL SIDE OF IT.
BEYOND THAT, WHICH IS, UM, THIS COUNCIL HAS TALKED ABOUT, THE CITY STAFF HAS TALKED ABOUT FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, REGULAR TAX INCREASE ELECTIONS IN ORDER TO ADDRESS ONGOING BUDGET SHORTFALLS.
UH, THAT WAS BEFORE THOSE CONVERSATIONS STARTED, BEFORE TRUMP TOOK OVER AGAIN AND STARTED CUTTING ALL THESE PROGRAMS. WELL, THAT'S OFF THE TABLE.
SO WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO? WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO? UH, YOU HAVE A PART OF A BUDGET THAT CAN NEVER COME DOWN.
UH, AND IF YOU KEEP RAISING IT, UH, YOU ARE CONSIGNING THIS CITY, UH, TO AUSTERITY FOREVER.
AND JUST KNOW EVERY $13 MILLION DOES MATTER.
UH, IT MATTERS TO PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY WHO WILL BE FED AND HOUSED, UH, RATHER THAN YOU JUST FUNDING EMPTY CHAIRS FOR POLITICAL REASONS.
MY NAME IS BENJAMIN CHANCE HOST AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE.
UH, I'D LIKE FIRST LIKE TO ECHO THE SENTIMENTS OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS THAT YOU'VE HEARD SO FAR.
UM, I'M HERE TODAY TO VOICE MY OPPOSITION TO RAISING THE POLICE BUDGET
[02:05:01]
AND ENCOURAGE YOU TO INVEST IN THE LONG-TERM FISCAL HEALTH OF OUR CITY AND THE COMMUNITY OF AUSTIN.I READ THAT THE BUDGET PROPOSED IN JULY HAS SINCE BEEN AMENDED TO SAVE 9,000 OR $9 MILLION BY RESTRUCTURING OVERTIME SCHEDULING.
I'D LIKE TO COMMEND YOU FOR THAT.
WITH THAT SAID, I BELIEVE FURTHER AMENDMENTS TO APDS BUDGET ARE NECESSARY AND ETHICAL.
TAKE FOR INSTANCE, THE FACT THAT SWORN OFFICERS STAND TO RECEIVE A 50% HIGHER WAGE INCREASE COMPARED TO OTHER CITY EMPLOYEES.
SENATE BILL 23 OF THE 87TH LEGISLATURE REQUIRES US TO HOLD ELECTIONS BEFORE REDUCING OUR REALLOCATION OR OR REALLOCATING OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT BUDGET.
SO EVERY DOLLAR ALLOCATED TOWARDS THE APDS ALREADY INFLATED BUDGET WILL BE A DOLLAR THAT WON'T FUND PREVENTATIVE WRAPAROUND SERVICES THAT ENSURE THE SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY'S MOST VULNERABLE MEMBERS IN THEIR FAMILIES.
WRAPPING UP WITH ITEM FOUR, CHRISTOPHER PAGE, ASHLEY COPELAND, BEN SOTHEBY, MONICA GUZMAN, ALICIA CASTILLO, PLEASE BEGIN WHENEVER YOU'RE READY.
UM, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US COUNCIL AND MAYOR.
I'M THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER FOR THE CENTRAL TEXAS PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION, AND I PREPARED A STATEMENT, UH, REGARDLESS OF WHERE WE STAND TODAY ON SO MANY ISSUES, UM, MANY NOT ALL OF US AGREE ON.
UH, ONE THING THAT I KNOW THAT WE CAN COME TOGETHER AND AGREE ON IS THAT WE LOVE THE CITY AND THAT WE WANT AUSTIN TO THRIVE AND TO REMAIN SAFE, AND WE WANT IT TO BE A WELCOMING HOME FOR ITS RESIDENTS.
THAT SHARED BELIEF IS WHAT BROUGHT US TOGETHER TODAY, AND IT'S WHAT BRINGS ME HERE TODAY.
ON BEHALF OF CENTRAL TEXAS PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION, THE COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THAT THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO MAKE THAT SHARED GOAL POSSIBLE IS OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.
THEY SHOW UP EVERY DAY IN UNPREDICTABLE HIGH PRESSURE SITUATIONS SO THAT THE REST OF US CAN GO ABOUT OUR LIVES WITH CONFIDENCE AND SECURITY.
THEIR COMMITMENT IS THE BACKBONE TO THE SAFETY.
IN AUSTIN, THE COMMISSION SUPPORTS SUSTAINING AND STRENGTHENING FUNDING FOR OUR CITY'S FIRST RESPONDERS.
PUBLIC SAFETY IS NOT ANOTHER LINE ITEM, BUT IT'S A FOUNDATION ON WHICH EVERY OTHER PRIOR PRIORITY SHOULD REST FROM ECONOMIC GROWTH.
TRANSPORTATION, EDUCATION, NONE OF IT WORKS WITHOUT OUR COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
IN MY POSITION AT THE COMMISSION, I SEE FIRSTHAND THE DEDICATION, PROFESSIONALISM, AND COMPASSION THAT OUR PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS DEMONSTRATE EVERY SINGLE DAY.
I ALSO SEE THE STRAIN PLACED ON THEM WHEN RESOURCES DO NOT KEEP ON PACE WITH THE DEMAND.
INVESTING IN THEIR WELLBEING, READINESS AND CAPACITY IS NOT JUST AN INVESTMENT IN THEM, BUT IT'S AN INVESTMENT IN OUR CITY.
TODAY WE ASK THAT YOU PRIORITIZE A BUDGET THAT REFLECTS THE ESSENTIAL ROLE OF THESE INDIVIDUALS AND THAT THEY CONSISTENTLY, UH, SORRY THAT OUR BUDGET REFLECTS THE ESSENTIAL ROLE THESE INDIVIDUALS PLAY IN OUR CITY'S HEALTH, SAFETY, AND FUTURE.
THEY CONSISTENTLY SHOW UP FOR US AND I ASK TODAY THAT WE SHOW UP FOR THEM.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, MS. GUZMAN.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M MONICA GOSMAN, POLICY DIRECTOR AT GAVA READING A RESIDENT STATEMENT.
MY NAME IS QUA BRU BREWSTER AND I WANT TO SPEAK AGAINST THE CURRENT BUDGET PLAN THAT PROBABLY MEANS A $38 MILLION LOSS FOR SOCIAL SERVICES THAT ARE NEEDED FOR THE SUSTAINABILITY OF LOWER INCOME COMMUNITIES.
THE IMPROPER ALLOCATIONS OF THESE FUNDS MEANS MORE STRAIN AND STRESS ON AN ALREADY UNAFFORDABLE AUSTIN.
YOU NEED TO INVEST IN THE PEOPLE AND NOT FOR THE FOR-PROFIT CORPORATIONS AND DEVELOPERS.
WE ARE LOSING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THERE IS AN INCREASE IN HOMELESSNESS AND THE LAWS OF THESE PROGRAMS MEANS YOU'VE CHOSEN PROFIT OVER PEOPLE.
THOSE OF US DIRECTLY AFFECTED ARE CREATING VALUABLE SOLUTIONS, BUT THE CUT IN THE BUDGET WILL MAKE IT HARDER FOR A LASTING CHANGE.
GAVA HOPES THAT THE COUNCIL TAKES THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RESTORE TRUST AND BUILD ACCOUNTABILITY WITH THE COMMUNITY'S MOST IN NEED OF BASIC SERVICES AND CRITICAL PROGRAMS. GAVA URGES YOU TO PRIORITIZE THE NEEDS BROUGHT UP IN THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET AND TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO IDENTIFY SOURCES OUTSIDE OF THE GENERAL BUDGET TO RESTORE FUNDING TO THOSE YOU CANNOT FUND INSIDE IT.
UM, MY NAME IS ALICIA CASTILLO.
I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE TEXAS CIVIL RIGHTS PROJECT IN A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT THREE.
UM, WE ARE SUPPORTIVE AND AND THANKFUL TO THE COUNCIL FOR ALL THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE IN THE PAST TO FUND CRITICAL SERVICES LIKE, LIKE IMMIGRANT LEGAL
[02:10:01]
SERVICES, LIKE, UM, EMERGENCY RENT, UM, ASSISTANCE, UM, LIKE THE YOUTH SUMMER PROGRAMS, UM, AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE IN THE CITY, LIKE THE HUNGRY HILL, UH, DAY PROGRAM THAT SERVES SO MANY DISTRICTS IN THE CITY.AND WE ARE OPPOSED TO THE SLASHING OF THOSE SERVICES IN THIS BUDGET.
AND WE'RE ALSO OPPOSED TO ANY PROPOSAL THAT MIGHT COME OUT THAT PUNTS THE DECISION ABOUT WHETHER TO REALLOCATE FUNDING FROM VACANCIES AND OVERTIME TO SUPPORT THESE CRITICAL SERVICES THAT PUNTS THAT DECISION TO MIDYEAR.
AND THE REASON WE ARE SO VEHEMENTLY OPPOSED TO THAT IS BECAUSE HB 1900 PASSED IN THE 87TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION MAKES IT SO THAT WHATEVER BUDGET YOU PASS TODAY FOR THE POLICE CANNOT BE REDUCED.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENT INTERPRETATIONS OF THE LAW THAT IS TEXAS CIVIL RIGHTS PROJECT'S, UH, OFFICIAL INTERPRETATION OF HB 1900 THAT YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO REDUCE, UH, THE BUDGET TODAY.
AND WE ARE ASKING YOU TO KEEP IT FLAT.
UM, I'LL SAY PERSONALLY, IT IS REALLY SHOCKING AND FRUSTRATING TO BE IN AN ERA WHERE IT FEELS MORE POLITICALLY PALATABLE FOR US TO SLASH UM, EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND HOMELESSNESS PROGRAMS THAN IT DOES TO SLASH VACANCIES THAT HAVE BEEN VACANT FOR TWO YEARS.
UM, THAT'S REALLY OFFENSIVE TO THE CONSCIENCE.
UM, SO I WANTED TO MENTION THAT.
BUT ALSO JUST NOTE THAT WHEN, UM, THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION'S SECRET POLICE DESCEND UPON THE CITY, PEOPLE WILL LOSE THEIR JOBS.
PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE ME WILL LOSE THEIR JOBS BECAUSE THEY WILL BE AFRAID TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES.
AND THAT'S WHEN WE NEED THINGS LIKE EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE.
THAT'S WHEN WE NEED, UH, IMMIGRATION LEGAL RESOURCES IN THE CITY.
UM, NOT THE POLICE WHO WILL ONCE AGAIN PROBABLY PEPPER SPRAY ME WHEN I'M OUT THERE PROTESTING THE SECRET POLICE.
SO, UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FOUR SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND NOT ANYONE ELSE.
UM, I WANNA THANK THE COUNCIL FOR THE WORK THAT HAS GONE IN IN THESE, THESE SHORT FEW DAYS INTO, UH, ADDING AND PROPOSING SOME CHANGES THAT TRY AND PRESERVE AS MUCH OF OUR SOCIAL SAFETY NET AS WE CAN.
I WANNA ECHO WHAT WAS JUST SAID, UH, BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT FISCAL PRUDENCE IS, IT IS THAT AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION BEATS A POUND OF CURE.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO PAY FOR THINGS ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, AND IT IS BETTER TO TAKE CARE OF OUR NEIGHBORS.
IT IS BETTER TO TAKE CARE OF IT IN A PREVENTION EARLY ON THAN IT IS TO PAY TO CLEAN UP THE MESS.
IT'S CHEAPER TO KEEP SOMEBODY HOUSED THAN TO REHOUSE THEM AFTER THEY'VE ALREADY LOST A HOME THAT THEY LIVED IN.
IT IS CHEAPER TO VACCINATE OUR COMMUNITY THAN IT IS TO HAVE MASS OUTBREAKS THAT WE HAVE TO SCRAMBLE AND, AND DEAL WITH.
THIS IS THINGS THAT YOU KNOW, YOU ALSO KNOW WHERE THE MONEY IS.
UH, I DON'T THINK THAT ANYBODY'S ASKING FOR ANYTHING RADICAL.
WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR IS A BALANCE, A SMOOTHING OUT.
ALL THE BURDEN SHOULDN'T BE BORE BY CERTAIN SECTIONS OF YOUR EMPLOYEES.
UH, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO AFSCME'S UH, PRIORITIES.
I AM A PROUD MEMBER OF THAT UNION.
UH, I REALLY DO FEEL FOR OUR, UH, CITY MEMBERS AS THEY FACE UNCERTAIN TIMES.
I ALSO FEEL FOR OUR COMMUNITY AS WE FACE UNCERTAIN TIMES AND UNCERTAIN ECONOMIC TIMES IS WHEN WE MOST NEED A SOCIAL SAFETY NET.
THAT IS WHAT WILL PRESERVE OUR TAX BASE.
THAT'S WHAT'S GONNA PRESERVE THE FOLKS WHO GO TO THE, THE RESTAURANT AND SPEND MONEY.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE HEARD MANY TIMES ABOUT THE FICKLE NATURE OF SALES TAX REVENUE.
THE WAY WE BOLSTER OUR COMMUNITY IS BY TAKING CARE OF EACH OTHER.
AND I WANNA SEE THOSE PRIORITIES REFLECTED TO EVERY EXTENT POSSIBLE IN THE BUDGET THAT Y'ALL PASS.
I KNOW THAT THIS IS WHAT MY, MY FELLOW AUSTINITES WANT.
MOVING ON TO ITEM FIVE, RICH HAMAN, ANGELA BALENZUELA.
I, UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNSEL.
I'M A RESIDENT IN DISTRICT NINE.
IN JUST ABOUT AN HOUR FROM NOW, I'LL BE HEADING TO LOCKHART TO TEACH AN URBAN STUDIES CLASS AT THE WOMEN'S PRISON.
THERE, THE STUDENTS ARE AMAZING AND THEY'RE WORTH THE RUSH HOUR DRIVE TO LOCKHART TWICE A WEEK.
AND BY THE WAY, THIS IS A VOLUNTEER GIG I'M TALKING ABOUT.
ALL OF MY STUDENTS ARE EITHER FROM POOR BACKGROUNDS, FORMERLY HOMELESS, OR HAD MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES.
YET THEY ALL CAME FROM COMMUNITIES THAT DID NOT HAVE ADEQUATE SERVICES TO ADDRESS THESE STRUGGLES.
INSTEAD, THEIR ISSUES WERE LEFT TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
[02:15:01]
A SYSTEM IS REALLY A DIFFERENCE OF FUNDING PRIORITIES.WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE SOCIAL SERVICES FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE, NOT IRRESPONSIBLE SPENDING ON POLICING.
THANK YOU FOR ITEM SIX, RICH, HAMAN, BRENT, DAVEY, MR. CHA PASSING THE MAYOR.
ALL SPEAKERS HAVE BEEN CALLED FOR FOUR, FIVE, AND SIX.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND THANKS FOR ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE AND, AND COMMENTING ON THIS.
UM, MEMBERS, AS YOU JUST HEARD, WE HAVE HEARD FROM ALL OF THE SPEAKERS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP ON ITEMS FOUR, FIVE, AND SIX.
UM, I WANT TO KIND OF GET A FEEL FOR THE COUNCIL.
UH, WE CAN EITHER RIGHT NOW, UM, GO AHEAD AND GET A MOTION OUT ON THE TABLE AND BEGIN THE DISCUSSION OF THAT MOTION, INCLUDING ANY QUESTIONS THAT ANY MIGHT BODY MIGHT HAVE.
UM, BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY'S IS READY TO GO TO THAT, I GUESS IS WHAT I'M, UH, I'M ASKING ABOUT.
IN THAT CASE THEN, UM, IF, WELL, OUR PROFESSIONAL STAFF WILL COME FORWARD, UH, MEMBERS, THAT'LL TAKE US TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2 0 2 5 8 3 5, BY WHICH WE ADOPTED THE CITY'S BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 20 25, 20 26.
WE CONDUCTED A HEARING ON THIS YESTERDAY, AND WE ALSO ALLOWED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM, UH, JUST NOW.
THE BASE MOTION THAT I WILL ACCEPT IS TO ADOPT VERSION TWO OF THE ORDINANCE, WHICH INCLUDES AS EXHIBIT A, THE CITY MANAGER'S PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE ADOPTED BUDGET.
AFTER THAT MOTION IS MADE, WE WILL TAKE UP ANY AMENDMENTS TO THE MOVED ORDINANCE THAT'S RECOMMENDED BY STAFF.
AND THEN COUNSEL AMENDMENTS TO THE MOVED ORDINANCE AS AMENDED, UH, BY THE STAFF AMENDMENTS.
SO LET ME WALK THROUGH THAT AGAIN.
THE MOTION IS, AND I'LL, I'LL, I'LL ASK FOR THE, THE MOTION IN A MINUTE, BUT THE MOTION IS, UH, IT WILL BE TO AMEND, IT WILL BE TO, IT'LL BE VERSION TWO OF THE ORDINANCE, WHICH INCLUDES THE EXHIBIT A, THE CITY MANAGER'S PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE ADOPTED BUDGET.
AND THEN WHAT WE WILL DO IS WE WILL TURN TO STAFF FOR THE STAFF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.
AND THEN WE WILL TAKE UP ANY COUNCIL AMENDMENTS TO THE MOVED ORDINANCE AS AMENDED BY THE STAFF AMENDMENTS.
UM, IS THERE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADOPT THE ORDINANCE? AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2 0 2 5 0 8 1 3 0 0 5 ADOPTING THE CITY'S FISCAL YEAR 20 25, 20 26.
IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION IS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL.
IT IS SE SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER.
WHAT WE WILL DO NOW IS WE WILL HAVE A STAFF PRESENTATION OF THE STAFF RECOMMENDED AMENDMENTS.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
CARRIE LANG, DIRECTOR OF BUDGET AND ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE ON YESTERDAY EVENING.
AND THEN AGAIN, THIS MORNING WE GAVE A MEMO THAT WALKED THROUGH, UM, SOME OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS THAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING TO THE BUDGET FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR.
UM, I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF SLIDES TO TALK THROUGH THOSE AMENDMENTS.
UM, AND SO WHAT YOU'LL SEE HERE IN THIS FIRST SLIDE IS A BREAKDOWN OF THE REDUCTIONS THAT WE ARE, UM, WE ARE RECOMMENDING FOR US TO GET TO A BALANCED BUDGET.
WE LOOKED AT SEVERAL ITEMS, WHETHER OR NOT THOSE WERE ITEMS THAT WERE, UM, INCLUDED IN THE CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED, UH, PROPOSED AMENDED BUDGET OR ITEMS THAT WERE, UM, INCLUDED IN BASELINE FUNDING FOR SOME OF, FOR, FOR SOME OF THE, UH, STAFF AS WELL AS THE PROPOSED BUDGET EARLIER THIS YEAR.
UM, THIS FIRST ITEM THAT YOU SEE UP HERE, AND I WON'T GO THROUGH EVERY SINGLE ONE, BUT THIS FIRST ITEM IN PARTICULAR IS MOVING SOME OF THE FUNDING FOR THE FUNDING FOR NAVIGATION SERVICES TO THE HOPE FUND.
AS IF YOU'LL REMEMBER, THE HOPE FUND WAS CREATED, UM, FULLY IN THIS FISCAL YEAR.
WE HAVE APPROPRIATION THAT SHOULD BE COMING IN DECEMBER FOR THE HOPE FUND, AND THAT WILL GIVE THAT $500,000 INSTEAD OF BEING IN THE GENERAL FUND TO THE HOPE FUND.
THE, UH, ADDITIONS THAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING INCLUDE,
[02:20:01]
UM, THE NON CONGREGATE SHELTERS AT 2.9 MILLION.THE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING THAT YOU SEE HERE AT 200,000, THAT IS THE GENERAL FUND PORTION OF THE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
THERE IS 2 MILLION IN THE HOUSING TRUST FUND THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE FUNDED, UM, FOR ONE YEAR FOR, FOR THAT PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING SERVICES.
UM, THE 2.5 MILLION FOR, UM, TO ELIMINATE BROWNOUTS FOR EMS SWORN, UH, STATIONS, AS WELL AS 1 MILLION FOR THE OTT PROGRAM.
UM, THEN THERE IS $120,000 FOR THE, UM, CHILD ADVOCACY SERVICES IN WILLIAMS COUNTY.
AND FOR, TO ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITIES, THERE ARE FOOD PANTRIES AT TITLE ONE SCHOOLS AS WELL AS HOME DELIVERY MEALS FOR, UM, OUR OLDER COMMUNITY.
THOSE ARE THE AMENDMENTS THAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING, UM, BE ADDED TO OR BE CHANGED FROM THE CITY MANAGERS.
UM, RECOMMENDED PROPOSED FOR, FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR.
SO MEMBERS, WHAT WE'LL DO, FIRST OF ALL, UM, I, I, I, I'LL GET A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE STAFF AMENDMENTS FOR CLARITY PURPOSES.
WHAT I THINK WE WILL DO IS WE WILL THEN GO TO COUNCIL AMENDMENTS.
AND THE COUNCIL AMENDMENTS WILL BE MOTIONS TO AMEND THE STAFF AMENDMENT.
NOW I'M DOING THAT SO THAT WE HAVE CLARITY THAT THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE, WE'RE ADDRESSING.
AND, AND SO I, I'D LIKE TO GET A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE STAFF AMENDMENTS, AND THEN I'LL RECOGNIZE FOR DISCUSSION, DO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE, THE STAFF AMENDMENTS THAT MS. UH, DIRECTOR LANG JUST LAID OUT? C CAN IS A MOTION IS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER L IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND THE MOTION COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, THIS IS THE TIME THAT WE CAN TAKE TO ASK QUESTIONS.
COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWING COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.
UM, I HAD MY FIRST QUESTION FOR, FOR ED.
COULD YOU CLARIFY THAT AS IT RELATES TO THE A PD BUDGET, IS IT LOCKED IN AT THE LEVEL SET TODAY OR IS THERE ROOM FOR MOVEMENT? UH, I THINK YOU'RE QUESTIONING IN REGARD TO THE, UH, STATE STATUTE THAT DOESN'T ALLOW THE A PD BUDGET TO BE LOWERED FROM ONE YEAR TO THE NEXT.
SO THE, THE BENCHMARK THERE IS THE BUDGET THAT WAS APPROVED FOR FISCAL YEAR 25.
AND SO AS LONG AS OUR FISCAL YEAR 26 BUDGET, WHETHER IT BE THE ADOPTED BUDGET OR AMENDED BUDGET, 'CAUSE WE CAN AMEND THE BUDGET ANY COUNCIL MEETING, AS LONG AS WE DON'T GO BELOW THE FISCAL YEAR 25 APPROPRIATION, WE ARE NOT IN VIOLATION OF THAT STATUTE.
AND COULD YOU, COULD YOU REMIND US WHAT THAT, UH, NUMBER WAS FOR, FOR FISCAL YEAR 25, OR, SORRY, 24? UH, I, I BELIEVE THE, UH, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO YEARS WAS A, WAS ABOUT 12.3 MILLION.
CUT IT IN JUST THE GENERAL FUND.
UH, WE BELIEVE WE NEED TO ALSO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT SOME OTHER NON-GENERAL FUND POLICE DEPARTMENT FUNDS.
AND THE DELTA, THERE WAS ABOUT NINE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS.
SO IN OTHER WORDS, THE FY 26 TOTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR POLICE ACROSS VARIOUS FUNDS IS ABOUT NINE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS MORE THAN WHAT IT WAS IN FISCAL YEAR 25.
UM, AND THEN I HAVE A QUESTION FOR CARRIE.
UM, COULD YOU EXPLAIN IN THE PROPOSED BASED BUDGET, UM, COULD YOU EXPLAIN ANY CUTS THAT HAVE ALREADY OCCURRED TO THE POLICE BUDGET? YES.
SO, UM, THE POLICE DID HAVE, UM, A $9 MILLION REDUCTION IN OVERTIME.
UM, AND THAT WAS BASED ON, UM, THE RESTAFFING MODEL THAT THE, UH, CHIEF PUT INTO PLACE IN, IN FISCAL YEAR 25.
AND THAT CARRIED OVER TO, TO RESULT IN $9 MILLION OF ANNUALIZED SAVINGS.
UM, THERE WAS $500,000 IN SAVINGS WITH THE MOVE, UM, OF THE BLUE SANTA WAREHOUSE TO A CITY FACILITY.
UM, I BELIEVE THOSE WERE THE TWO MAJOR ONES.
AND LET ME DOUBLE CHECK AND MAKE SURE I, I DON'T, I DIDN'T MISS ONE.
OKAY, SO ABOUT 9.5 MILLION IN RE IN REDUCTION.
THE LAST ONE WAS, UM, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS HISTORICALLY HAD THE TRAVIS COUNTY JAIL ILA IN THEIR BUDGET, AND WE MOVED THAT OUT TO THE FUND LEVEL, AND I BELIEVE THAT WAS 16.1 MILLION.
OKAY, SO THAT IS WHAT, 25.1 MILLION? YES, 25.6 I BELIEVE.
UM, AND THEN MY LAST QUESTION, UH, AS IT RELATES TO ALL THIS, UH, I, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR CHIEF DAVIS IF SHE'S, SHE'S HERE.
I HAVE A QUESTION FOR CHIEF DAVIS REALLY QUICK.
[02:25:09]
UH, THANK YOU, CHIEF.UM, I JUST HAD A QUESTION ON, ON, UM, AS IT RELATES TO CUTS.
IF, IF, IF A PD HAS ANY ADDITIONAL CUTS, LET'S SAY IT'S 2 MILLION, 4 MILLION, 6 MILLION, 8 MILLION, 10 MILLION, I'M THROWING AROUND NUMBERS, HOW DOES THAT AFFECT, HOW DOES THAT AFFECT THE A PD AND AND, AND THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO? WELL, I THINK I KIND OF GO BACK TO WHEN I WAS HIRED BY ALL OF YOU HERE, UM, JUST A YEAR AGO AND ALL THE CHANGES AND THAT YOU WANTED TO SEE HERE WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND I DO FEEL THAT I HAVE CERTAINLY BEEN RESPONSIBLE WITH THIS BUDGET THAT I HAVE.
UM, LOOKING AT THE CHANGES WE'RE DOING, IMPLEMENTING THE RESEARCHERS THAT WE'VE BROUGHT IN, WE HAVE BARRY DUNN RECOMMENDATIONS.
WE ARE GOING TO DO THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS, AND THERE'S GONNA BE A BUDGET AND A COST TO THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND SO AS WE'RE MOVING FORWARD AND GETTING PROS, PRO PRO PROGRESS HERE, WHICH I FEEL WE ARE, AND SO ANYTHING FROM THIS BUDGET WOULD TAKE AWAY FROM THAT PROGRESS.
AND, UH, I JUST WANNA SHARE SOMETHING WITH YOU AS OUR MASTER OF, UH, PROCEDURE.
UM, THE SUB QUORUM I'M WORKING WITH HAS, UH, A PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE MOTION FOR THE STAFF MOTION.
HAS ANYONE SEEN THAT? SO, UM, I'M JUST SHARING THAT NOW.
I, I'M GONNA START WITH QUESTIONS.
BUT PROCEDURALLY, I JUST WANNA GIVE YOU A HEADS UP THAT WE ARE GONNA PROPOSE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION.
UM, AND THANK YOU AGAIN TO THE BUDGET TEAM FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK.
UM, I WANTED TO START WITH THE, UH, PROPOSED ADDITIONS.
UM, UH, DIRECTOR LANG, IF YOU COULD EXPLAIN, UM, THE $2.9 MILLION FOR NON CONGREGATE SHELTERS.
AND, UM, IN PARTICULAR, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT PROVIDERS FOR SHELTERS.
WE HAVE THE OTHER ONES FOUNDATION, WE HAVE FOUNDATION COMMUNITIES, UH, WE HAVE THE SAFE ALLIANCE.
UM, SO IF YOU COULD EXPLAIN, UH, GIVE US A LITTLE MORE CONTEXT OF, YOU KNOW, WHO WOULD QUALIFY FOR THIS FUNDING STREAM IN THE ADOPTED BUDGET? THERE WAS, UM, $5.1 MILLION, I BELIEVE, FOR EMERGENCY SHELTERS, AND THAT INCLUDED THE DOLLARS FOR, UM, UH, THE OTHER ONE'S FOUNDATION AND SEVERAL OTHER AGENCIES IN THE ADOPTED BUDGET THAT WAS RELYING ON THE TRE.
UM, AND WITH THAT CHANGE, WITH THE TRE NOT PASSING AND THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE OTHER ONE'S FOUNDATION, I BELIEVE, UM, THE CITY HAS ALREADY, ALREADY, UM, PAID INTO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THAT SITE.
AND THOSE DOLLARS WOULD ALLOW FOR THE OTHER ONES FOUNDATIONS TO CON TO OPEN UP THAT DEVELOPMENT.
UM, THAT 2.9 MILLION WAS FOCUSED ON THAT SITE VERSUS THE OTHER DOLLARS THAT WERE NOT INCLUDED, OR WOULD THAT WERE NOT AVAILABLE BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE OF THE TRE.
AND THEN IN TERMS OF THE OTHER PROVIDERS, UH, THEY WOULD PROBABLY NOT BE RECEIVING FUNDS UNDER THIS PROPOSAL? CORRECT.
UM, AND THEN IN TERMS OF THE EMS ITEM, UM, EMS SWARM OVER TIME TO ELIMINATE BROWNOUTS $2.5 MILLION, UM, YOU KNOW, PREVIOUSLY WE UNDERSTOOD THAT, UH, $4.3 MILLION WAS NEEDED TO PREVENT BROWNOUTS, ESPECIALLY IN THE CONTEXT OF AVOIDING BROWNOUTS AND ALSO AVOIDING OTHER MAJOR CUTS, UH, TO EMS PROGRAMS. SO IF YOU COULD EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE THREE, $4.3 MILLION NUMBER AND THE 2.5 MILLION NUMBER.
UM, WHEN EMS CREATED THEIR ENHANCEMENT REQUEST DURING THE PROPOSED BUDGET PROCESS, THEY WERE LOOKING HOLISTICALLY AT THEIR PROGRAMMING, UM, INCLUDING BROWNOUTS AS WELL AS, UM, THE ACADEMY AND RECRUITING FUNCTIONS.
AND SO WE BROKE DOWN THOSE COST, UM, TO SHOW WHAT WAS SPECIFICALLY NEEDED FOR, UM, ELIMINATING THE STATION BROWNOUTS, THE FUNDING THAT WAS NEEDED FOR THAT VERSUS THE OTHER, UH, PROGRAMMATIC FUNCTIONS.
AND SO, UM, THAT 2.5 MILLION REPRESENTS THE DOLLARS THAT ARE REQUIRED TO, UM, ELIMINATE THE STATION BROWNOUTS, UM, IN THE COMING FISCAL YEAR.
UM, AND THEN MOVING ON TO, UM, WHAT WE CALL EM COT.
UM, UH, IN THIS STAFF PROPOSAL, UH, $1 MILLION IS PROPOSED FOR EXPANDED MOBILE CRISIS OUTREACH TEAM.
AND OUR UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT, UM, THE ACTUAL BUDGET NUMBER TO GUARANTEE 24 7 EM COT WAS, UH, ROUGHLY $3.08 MILLION.
UH, COULD YOU EXPLAIN THE, THE $1 MILLION RECOMMENDATION IN THAT CONTEXT, PLEASE? SURE.
AS WE WERE TALKING TO, UM, STAFF ABOUT THE EM COT FUNDING AND THE POSSIBLE, UM, NEEDS RELATED TO THAT FUNDING, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS WOULD ALLOW
[02:30:01]
FOR EM COT TO CONT TO CONTINUE THE SAME LEVEL OF SERVICES THAT THEY'RE DOING RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS A LITTLE BIT MORE EXPANDED SERVICES THAT I THINK THEY DID BEFORE FISCAL YEAR 25.UM, AND THAT WOULD, THIS 1 MILLION WOULD ALLOW FOR THAT CONTINUED SERVICE.
AND, UH, THE CONVERSATION THAT I BELIEVE HAS BEEN HAD WAS BETTER UNDERSTANDING, UM, THE DATA BEHIND THE 24 7 REQUEST AND UNDERSTANDING WHETHER OR NOT, UM, THE DATA SUPPORTS THE 24 7 OR IF THERE'S A WAY TO EXPAND THE HOURS, UM, WITH, WITH THESE ADDITIONAL FUNDS THAT THEY, THAT WE'VE INCLUDED.
AND THEN, UM, ON THE, UH, PROPOSED ADJUSTMENTS AND REDUCTIONS, UM, IF YOU COULD SHARE, I GUESS FIRST OF ALL, I'LL GIVE AN OVERVIEW, UH, OF, UM, HOW YOU CAME TO THESE RECOMMENDED ADJUSTMENTS AND REDUCTIONS.
UM, AS WE LOOKED AT, UM, THE ITEMS THAT, OR AS WE FEEL LIKE WE HEARD FROM THE COUNSEL ON THE ITEMS THAT WERE PRIORITY, UM, WE UNDERSTOOD THAT THE MAJOR PRIORITIES WERE, UM, INCLUDING FUNDING FOR HOMELESSNESS, PARTICULARLY, UH, EMERGENCY SHELTERS AS WELL AS, UH, PSH.
UM, WE UNDERSTOOD THAT THERE WAS, UH, A NEED TO ADDRESS THE EMS, UH, BROWNOUTS, AND WE UNDERSTOOD THAT PART OF THAT NEED OR PART OF THAT PRIORITY INCLUDED, UM, WORKING THROUGH AN UNDERSTANDING OR MAKING SURE WE HAD FUNDING FOR MOT, UM, WITH THE LIMITED DOLLARS THAT WE HAD AND UNDERSTANDING THAT WE, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE BALANCED AND KEPT AS MUCH OF THE PRIORITIES IN PLACE.
WE LOOKED AT HOW WE COULD ADDRESS THOSE SPECIFIC PRIORITIES WITHOUT, UM, COMPLETELY REMOVING ALL THE OTHER THINGS.
BUT IT DID TAKE A REDUCTION IN SEVERAL AREAS.
UM, AND SO WE, WE LOOKED AT WHAT DEPARTMENTS HAD WHAT WE ALREADY PUT INTO PLACE FROM DEPARTMENTS.
WE ALSO, UH, LOOKED AT THE AREAS OF HOMELESSNESS THAT WE, WE THOUGHT WE COULD BALANCE OUT AND CONTINUE TO SERVE AT THE, THE BASELINE LEVELS.
AND SO THOSE ARE THE GENERAL IDEAS THAT WE LOOKED AT AS WE TRIED TO COME UP WITH THE CORRECT BALANCE OF DOLLARS TO REDUCE AS IN COMPARISON TO WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO INCREASE.
UM, MAYOR, I BELIEVE NOW, UM, THE DIOCESE HAS IN FRONT OF THEM, UM, THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION AS WELL AS THE EXHIBIT THAT GOES WITH IT.
UM, SO, UH, OF COURSE I'M, I'M HAPPY TO DEFER TO OTHER QUESTIONS OF YEAH.
COUNCIL MEMBER IS IN, IN FAIRNESS, HAS STAFF, IS HAS STAFF SEEN THIS? I, I I MEAN THEY'VE SEEN THE, THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT, BUT THIS IS JUST PRODUCED.
SO, UM, WHAT I, WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST WE DO IN, IN, IN FAIRNESS TO THE SUB QUORUM AND BEING RECOGNIZED TO HAVE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION THAT'S NOW JUST HITTING THE DAAS AND, AND I'M, I WANNA BE FAIR IN THAT, BUT I THINK IT'S ONLY APPROPRIATE FOR STAFF FOR, FOR THE REST OF THE COUNCIL YES.
AND FOR STAFF TO HAVE HA HAVE A MOMENT TO ACTUALLY LOOK AT WHAT'S IN THIS YES, SIR.
AND THE REST OF THE COUNCIL MAY HAVE QUESTIONS OF ST THE PROFESSIONAL STAFF ABOUT WHAT IT IS THAT THIS SUBSTITUTE MOTION DOES, BECAUSE THAT'S WHY WE RELY ON THEM.
SO COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, YOU'RE THE ONLY, WELL, AND, AND NOW THE MAYOR PRO TEM, DO Y'ALL WANNA DO QUESTIONS BEFORE WE TAKE A BREAK AND ALLOW THE STAFF TO LOOK AT THIS? UH, MY QUESTIONS ARE RELATED TO THE STAFF AMENDMENT, SO, OKAY.
BEFORE WE CONSIDER THE SUBSTITUTE.
THE COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, WHAT'S YOUR SITUATION, MS. MAYOR? I DON'T WANNA DISRUPT THE PROCEEDS, BUT I HAVE QUESTIONS NOW TOO.
THEN, THEN WHAT WE'LL DO IS, IS I TELL YOU WHAT, LET, LET'S DO, JUST SO THAT STAFF HAS AN IDEA OF WHAT'S IN THIS THING, AND THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT'S IN IT.
WHAT I'M GONNA RECOMMEND WE DO IS THAT WE RECESS UNTIL FOUR 30.
AT THAT POINT, WE'LL COME BACK AND I'LL RECOGNIZE THE MPRO.
TIM FOR QUESTIONS ON THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION, UH, ACTUALLY, I RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ FIRST, THEN THE MAYOR PRO TIM, THEN COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.
SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE ARE IN RECESS UNTIL 4:30 PM ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY, IT'S FOUR 30 ON NOVEMBER 20TH, 2025, AND I WILL CALL BACK TO ORDER THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AT THIS REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
MEMBERS, UM, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF ITEMS THAT, THAT I WANT TO CLEAN UP BEFORE WE GO, UH, BACK INTO, UH, ITEMS FOUR, FIVE, AND SIX.
[02:35:01]
UM,[62. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance adjusting the City’s boundary limits by disannexing approximately 0.314 acres of land out of the John Jackson Survey, Abstract Number 450, located at 12919 On the Lake Road, Austin, Travis County, Texas under Texas Senate Bill 1844 (89th Regular Session). Case number: C7d-2025-0001. The property is in Austin’s full purpose jurisdiction in Council District 10. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact. (Part 2 of 2)]
WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS ON ITEM NUMBER 62, DURING THE BREAK, IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT ON ITEM NUMBER 62, THE ORDINANCE IN THE BACKUP HAS THE INCORRECT EFFECTIVE DE EFFECTIVE DATE.THE DATE SHOULD BE DECEMBER 1ST, 2025.
SO THE MAYOR PRO TEM MOVES THAT WE RECONSIDER THE VOTE BY WHICH ITEM NUMBER 62 WAS ADOPTED.
IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, ITEM NUMBER 62 WILL BE CONSIDERED.
UM, THE NOW, UH, THE MAYOR PRO TEM MOVES THAT ITEM NUMBER 62 BE ADOPTED WITH THE EFFECTIVE DATE BEING DECEMBER 1ST, 2025.
IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.
UH, UM, ALL THOSE IN, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, UH, THAT ITEM IS ADOPTED WITH THE EFFECTIVE DATE BEING DECEMBER 1ST, 2025, WITH COUNCIL MEMBER LANE AND COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE BEING TEMPORARILY OFF THE DAAS, UH, MEMBERS ON ITEMS
[2:00 PM - Zoning and Neighborhood Plan Amendments (Public Hearings and Possible Action) (Part 2 of 2)]
ON ITEMS NUMBER 74 AND 75, WHICH WERE TWO ZONING ITEMS. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON HAD TO BE TEMPORARILY OFF SCREEN, AND SO SHE WAS NOT COUNTED IN THAT VOTE.SHE WOULD LIKE TO BE SHOWN VOTING IN FAVOR OF ITEMS 74 AND 75.
UH, IT WILL NOT CHANGE THE OUTCOME OF THE VOTE.
COUNCIL MEMBER VELA MOVES AND COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL SECONDS THAT COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON BE SHOWN VOTING IN FAVOR OF ITEMS 74 AND 75.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION? WITHOUT OBJECTION? UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON WILL BE SHOWN VOTING IN FAVOR OF ITEM 74 AND 75 MEMBERS.
THE MANAGER IS ASKED THAT WE GIVE HIM A COUPLE MORE MINUTES.
UH, SO WHAT I'M GONNA DO, I WAS HOPING THAT THAT WOULD TAKE A LITTLE LONGER THAN IT DID, UM, BUT Y'ALL ARE VERY EFFICIENT, SO THANK YOU.
UH, WE WILL BE, UH, WE'LL STAND AT RECESS, BUT I HOPE EVERYBODY KIND OF STANDS BY THEIR CHAIRS, UH, UNTIL FOUR 40, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'RE IN RECESS.
THERE'S SOME ADDITIONAL WORK GOING ON ON THE NUMBERS.
UH, I KNOW THAT, UH, SURPRISES EVERYBODY.
UM, BUT SO, BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A, A THOROUGH AND A THOUGHTFUL PROCESS, I WANNA MAKE SURE I GIVE THE MANAGER'S OFFICE AND OUR FINANCIAL STAFF ENOUGH TIME TO GO THROUGH THOSE NUMBERS, UH, INCLUDING THE NEW NUMBERS OR THE NEW PROPOSALS THAT THEY'VE SEEN.
SO, UH, WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS WE'RE GONNA BE IN RECESS UNTIL FIVE O'CLOCK.
TRY TO GIVE EVERYBODY ANOTHER 15 MINUTES, AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK.
WE, WE'LL START WITH QUESTIONS THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAD, BUT I ALSO, I, I KNOW MR. VINO CAN PROBABLY ANSWER ALL OF THEM, UH, WITH HIS HANDS TIED BEHIND HIS BACK.
BUT IN CASE WE NEED, WE NEED THEM, WE, WE'LL WANT THEM, IF THAT'S OKAY WITH YOU.
THE CITY COUNCIL IS IN RECESS UNTIL 5:00 PM IT'S 4:43 PM NOW, CALL BACK
[4. Approve an ordinance amending Ordinance No. 20250813-005 adopting the City of Austin Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026, beginning on October 1, 2025, and ending on September 30, 2026, to reflect reduced projected property (ad valorem) tax revenues resulting from the voters not approving the property tax rate adopted by the City Council and making corresponding changes to budget expenditure allocations. (Part 2 of 2)]
TO ORDER THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL, 5:23 PM ON, UH, NOVEMBER 20TH, 2025 MEMBERS, WHEN WE TOOK A BREAK, IT WAS SO THAT, UM, OUR PROFESSIONAL STAFF WOULD HAVE A CHANCE TO LOOK AT A DOCUMENT THAT, UH, WAS PROVIDED TO THEM AND HAVE A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THOSE NUMBERS.UH, BUT WE, WHEN WE BROKE, WE WERE GONNA HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, AND I WANT TO GO BACK TO THOSE.
UH, MY MEMORY WAS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, FOLLOWED BY THE MAYOR PRO TIM, AND THEN I DON'T REMEMBER WHO ELSE HAD PUNCHED THE BUTTON, AND FOR SOME REASON IT'S BEEN CLEARED HERE.
SO IF YOU WANNA SPEAK AGAIN, UH, PUT YOUR NAME UP THERE AND, UH, BUT WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, UH, AND, AND YOU'VE GOT THE FLOOR.
UH, MY FIRST QUESTION IS FOR, UH, CHIEF LUCK, AND WHILE HE'S COMING DOWN, I, I, I GUESS I CAN ASK STAFF, UM, ON THE, ON THE OTT MONEY, CAN YOU CLARIFY IF THE PROPOSED, UH, 1 MILLION FOR OTT WOULD HELP ACHIEVE THE 24 7 RESPONSE, AND IF NOT, WHAT IS THAT 1 MILLION GUARANTEE?
[02:40:04]
THANKS, COUNCIL MEMBER.UM, SO THE 1 MILLION, MY UNDERSTANDING IS, WOULD ALLOW FOR OTT TO CONTINUE THE SERVICE LEVEL THAT THEY, THEY BEGAN, UM, IN MID FISCAL YEAR 25.
SO THEY DID HIRE UP SOME ADDITIONAL STAFF BASED ON THAT ONE TIME, UM, FUNDING THAT WE PROVIDED IN FISCAL YEAR 25.
AND IT WOULD ALLOW FOR THAT ADDITIONAL, UM, EXPANDED HOURS.
I'M NOT SURE OF THE EXACT EXPANDED HOURS, BUT IT WILL CONTINUE THE SERVICES THAT THEY BEGAN MID MIDYEAR.
UM, CHIEF, UH, WE ASKED EARLIER, OR SOMEBODY ASKED EARLIER OF STAFF, UM, ABOUT THE 2.5 IN FUNDING FOR EMS. CAN YOU SHARE IF AND HOW THE, THAT PROPOSED 2.5 FUNDING FOR EMS, UH, SWORN OVERTIME WILL, WILL IT ELIMINATE THE BROWNOUTS? THE, THE 2.5 MILLION IN FUNDING GIVES US THE RESOURCES WE NEED IN ORDER TO, TO, WELL, I'LL SAY ENSURE, BUT BASED ON THE CURRENT RUN, UH, MAINTAIN ALL OF OUR STATIONS OPEN AND FUNCTIONING WITH AMBULANCES IN THEM.
CERTAINLY WE CAN NOT PREDICT WHAT THE, THE FUTURE YEAR MAY HOLD OR ANY OF THOSE OTHER THINGS, BUT BASED ON OUR CURRENT PROJECTIONS, THAT WOULD BE ADEQUATE FOR US TO KEEP THOSE, UH, THOSE STATIONS OPEN.
THANKS, CAST MEMBER, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, AND COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.
UH, COLLEAGUES WANTED TO START WITH THE STAFF'S PROPOSAL FOR THE AMENDMENT THAT THEY ARE OFFERING, UM, FOR THE BUDGET.
WE WERE EMAILED THIS, THE STAFF AMENDMENT LAST NIGHT, I THINK AROUND 11 O'CLOCK.
SO I WANNA FIRST THANK FOR OUR STAFF AND PUBLIC WHO PERHAPS ARE WATCHING, UH, JUST APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE BECAUSE WE'VE HAD LESS THAN 24 HOURS TO DELIBERATE WHAT STAFF HAS COME UP WITH, AND THEN HAVE ALSO WORKED ON AN ALTERNATIVE AMENDMENT, UM, THAT LAYS OUT DIFFERENT WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN FUND OUR PRIORITIES.
SO, UM, I WANT JUST WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THE TIME HERE BECAUSE WE ARE BEING VERY THOUGHTFUL AND INTENTIONAL AND DISCIPLINED IN HOW WE APPROACH THIS BUDGET.
AND SO WANTED TO SHARE THAT OUT.
SO STAFF HAS PROPOSED TAKING OUR PRIORITY AMENDMENTS THAT WE DISCUSSED, OR PRIORITY AREAS THAT WE DISCUSSED YESTERDAY AND PUT FORTH BEFORE US A $7.2 MILLION AMENDMENT THAT, UM, THAT, YOU KNOW, LAYS, I MEAN, IT LAYS OUT HERE ON PAGE ONE, THE AREAS IN WHICH WE WOULD INVEST IN.
MY MAIN ISSUE WITH THIS IS THAT NOWHERE DURING YESTERDAY'S CONVERSATION DID WE SAY, PULL IT FROM PARKS OR PULL IT FROM HOMELESSNESS.
AND YET WHAT WE SEE WITH STAFF IS RECOMMENDING IS THAT IN ORDER TO FUND OUR PRIORITY AREAS, THEY HAVE PULLED MORE THAN HALF OF IT FROM HOMELESSNESS INVESTMENTS, AND THEY'VE ALSO DECREASED HALF OF THE NEW PARKS INVESTMENTS.
AND SO I'M REALLY WANTING TO FOCUS ON THE AREAS THAT STAFF IS PROPOSING TO REDUCE IN ORDER TO FUND AREAS THAT WE HAVE DEEMED PRIORITY, INCLUDING A PORTION OF THE M COT 24 7 MENTAL HEALTH RESPONSE, AS WELL AS EMS. UM, SO I GUESS FIRST AND FOREMOST, BEFORE I GO THROUGH MY LINE OF QUESTIONING HERE, I, I JUST WANTED TO ASK STAFF IF THEY COULD, IF THERE'S ANY OTHER CONTEXT OR INSIGHT THAT THEY WANNA PROVIDE AS TO WHY THE REDUCTIONS THAT ARE PROPOSED HERE TO FUND OUR PRIORITY AREAS LEAN SO HEAVILY, HALF OF IT BEING HOMELESSNESS, AND THEN AN ADDITIONAL 1 MILLION FROM PARKS.
TALK US THROUGH WHY YOU IDENTIFIED THOSE AREAS VERSUS LOOKING THROUGH OTHER PARTS OF CITY DEPARTMENTS FOR EFFICIENCIES.
SO AS WE BEGAN LOOKING AT, UM, HOW TO REBALANCE THE BUDGET OR WHAT THE OPTIONS WERE, WE UNDERSTOOD THAT THE PRIORITIES FOR MOVING FORWARD INCLUDED, UM, THE NON CONGREGATE SHELTERS AS WELL AS THE, UM, PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AMONG THE OTHER ITEMS THAT YOU MENTIONED.
UM, AND SO WHEN WE STARTED LOOKING AT WAYS TO BALANCE THOSE THINGS, WE HAVE LOOKED AT, WE ALREADY LOOKED AT A NUMBER OF THE, UM, AMENDMENTS AND CHANGES THAT WERE IN THE CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED, UM, PROPOSED THAT WE GET, THAT WE GAVE ON NOVEMBER 7TH.
WE WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT A NUMBER OF THE PRIORITIZATION ITEMS AND SEVERAL OF THOSE ITEMS. UM, EVEN THOUGH WE, WHEN WE WENT THROUGH THE PROPOSED BUDGET PROCESS, THOSE ITEMS WERE PUT IN PLACE IN MAY DEPARTMENTS RECOMMENDED THOSE CHANGES IN MAY OF THIS YEAR.
AS WE CONTINUED TO MOVE THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND BEGAN THIS FISCAL YEAR, SEVERAL OF THOSE ITEMS, UM, ARE NO LONGER VIABLE FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS.
ONE, AS THE DEPARTMENT STARTED DOING THEIR OPERATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 26, WE GAVE THE, UH, INSTRUCTION TO STAY AT FISCAL YEAR 25 LEVELS, AND THEY STARTED LOOKING AT HIRING POSITIONS THAT THEY MAY HAVE HELD BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT REDUCED IN THE BUDGET
[02:45:01]
PROCESS.UM, SOME OF THOSE DOLLARS WERE ONE-TIME DOLLARS AND WERE NOT VIABLE FOR FISCAL YEAR 26.
SO WE COMBED THROUGH SOME OF THOSE PREVIOUS, UM, RECOMMENDATIONS AND WE LOOKED AT WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE, UM, PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING TO OTT EMS. THOSE WERE THE PRIORITIES THAT WE UNDERSTOOD COUNCIL TO HAVE FOR, UM, OUR UPDATED RECOMMENDATION.
UM, WE RECOGNIZE THAT, UM, THERE ARE SOME GIVE AND TAKE IN, IN, UM, THE RECOMMENDATION WE PUT FORWARD, BUT WITH PART IN PARTICULAR, THOSE ADDITIONAL 10 POSITIONS WOULD ALLOW FOR THEM TO CONTINUE THE WORK.
UM, IN MY MIND, THAT WOULD MEAN THAT WE WOULD STILL LOOK AT YEARS TWO AND THREE AND FOUR OF THIS FORECAST PERIOD TO SEE HOW WE COULD POTENTIALLY ADD MORE RESOURCES TO PAR, BUT WE WERE COMMITTED TO DOING AT LEAST THOSE 10 THIS YEAR.
I THINK THIS IS JUST A, UM, AN OVERVIEW OR A RE A RECOMMENDATION THAT ALLOWS OR, OR, UM, APPRECIATES THE GIVE AND TAKE THAT WE HAVE TO DO BECAUSE OF THE FISCAL, UM, RESTRAINTS THAT WE HAVE AND JUST CHOOSING WHAT WE THINK WE COULD IMPLEMENT IN THIS FISCAL YEAR.
WERE, AND, AND JUST FOR COLLEAGUES, YOU KNOW, PART OF WHAT I, OUR SUB QUORUM REFERENCE THROUGH THIS PROCESS WAS THE PRIORITIZATION LIST THAT STAFF DEVELOPED IN PART OF THE EARLIER BUDGET PROCESS.
AND IN THAT, YOU KNOW, DEPARTMENTS WERE ASKED FOR THEIR OWN AREAS IN WHICH THEY WOULD RECOMMEND CUTS.
AND AS MS. LANG LAID OUT HERE, THIS INFORMATION IS OLD NOW 'CAUSE IT WAS LAST DONE IN MAY.
AND SO I GUESS MY NEXT QUESTION IS WAS WERE THE DEPARTMENTAL LEADERS ASKED TO UPDATE THIS INFORMATION AS PART OF CONSIDERATION FOR THIS UPDATED BUDGET PROCESS? WE DID NOT ASK DEPARTMENTS TO GO BACK AND GIVE MORE OR UPDATED CUTS.
UM, WHAT WE DID WAS WE LOOKED AT THE ONES THAT WERE STILL LISTED AND WE ASKED QUESTIONS OF THE DEPARTMENTS, UM, BUT WE DID NOT GO BACK AND GIVE NEW INSTRUCTION TO PROVIDE NEW REDUCTIONS, UM, FOR THIS BUDGET 2.0.
I AM WORRIED ABOUT NOT HAVING THAT BUILT INTO OUR PROCESS HERE, KNOWING THAT WE'RE POISED TO ADOPT A NEW BUDGET AND NOT KNOWING, KNOWING THAT THERE HAVE BEEN CHANGES TO THE CITY AND HOW WE OPERATE IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS, THAT WE DON'T HAVE OUR DEPARTMENTAL LEADERS WEIGHING IN ON AREAS THAT THEY SEE AS OPPORTUNITIES FOR, FOR EFFICIENCIES OR AREAS TO REPRIORITIZE.
UM, WHICH IS WHY I AM VERY CONCERNED WITH THE PROPOSAL THAT THE STAFF HAS LAID OUT BECAUSE THERE'S A NUMBER OF REDUCTIONS, CONTINUED REDUCTIONS WITHIN HOMELESSNESS AND PARKS.
AND SO I'M WONDERING IF DIRECTOR GRAY IS HERE SO HE COULD SPEAK TO SOME OF THE REDUCTIONS THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED HERE ON THE HOMELESSNESS FRONT.
THE FIRST ITEM I'D LIKE TO GO THROUGH IS THE RECOMMENDATION TO MOVE THE HOMELESSNESS NAVIGATION SERVICES TO HOPE FUND.
AND THE HOPE FUND WAS A, A NEW FUND THAT WAS CREATED, I BELIEVE JUST IN THE LAST YEAR.
AND IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL, UH, MS. LANG, IF WE COULD GO OVER HOW THE, THE HOPE FUND IS FUNDED AND HOW IT GETS ITS REVENUE SOURCES.
I PAUSED BECAUSE, UM, I'M TRYING TO THINK THROUGH HOW TO BEST DESCRIBE, BUT THE HOPE FUND IS FUNDED PRIMARILY THROUGH TPI DOLLARS, UM, AND, UM, THOSE DOLLARS, AND I'M GONNA LEAN TO ED TO SEE IF HE CAN GIVE THE, IF HE HAS THE DETAILS OF HOW THOSE DOLLARS ROLL THROUGH FOR TPI TO HOPE, JUST SO THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE TOURISM PIT, THE COUNCIL ESTABLISHED.
AND SO, UM, THERE'S A DIFFERENT PROVISIONS NOW IN GENERAL, WHEN THE CONVENTION CENTER IS UP AND RUNNING, TO THE EXTENT THEY, UH, PROVIDE INCENTIVES TO, UH, EVENTS TO COME TO AUSTIN AND OCCUPY THE CONVENTION CENTER, THE TOURISM PIT CAN, UM, REIMBURSE THE CITY FOR THE INCENTIVES THAT WE'VE HAD TO PAY IN ORDER TO GET EVENTS TO COME HERE.
AND OF COURSE, THOSE PEOPLE THEN USE HOTELS.
SO THAT'S KIND OF HOW THE FUNDING CYCLE WORKS.
COUNCIL PASSED A RESOLUTION THAT AS THE TOURISM BID STARTS, UM, PUTTING OFF REVENUE, THAT THAT REVENUE WOULD GET DEPOSITED INTO THE HOPE FUND.
AND THAT FIRST DEPOSIT, WHEN WAS THAT? BECAUSE IT WAS RECENT.
SO THE FIRST DEPOSIT WILL, UM, COME IN ON A DECEMBER 11TH ON THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.
THAT'S WHEN WE PLAN ON BRINGING FORWARD.
AND IS IT, WHAT AMOUNT IS THAT? WILL THAT BE WE ANTICIPATE $942,000.
DIRECTOR GRAY, IF YOU COULD SPEAK TO THE REDUCTIONS THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED HERE BY THE CITY MANAGER ON AREAS WHERE WE CAN REALLOCATE DOLLARS.
UH, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF CUTS TO HOMELESSNESS SERVICES, INCLUDING AROUND RAPID REHOUSING, REDUCED FUNDING FOR THE BRIDGE, SHELTER, LANDLORD ENGAGEMENT, HOMELESSNESS, DIVERSION SERVICES, CAN YOU, AND AS WELL AS EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE.
CAN YOU TALK THROUGH WHAT THESE
[02:50:01]
REDUCTIONS, PROPOSED REDUCTIONS WOULD DUE TO OUR HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE SYSTEM? YES, MA'AM.UH, DAVID GRAY, DIRECTOR AUSTIN HOMELESS STRATEGIES AND OPERATIONS.
UH, SO AS YOU MAY RECALL, UH, EARLIER THIS YEAR, COUNCIL DIRECTED OUR OFFICE TO LAY OUT, UH, SOME RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO CONTINUE TO DEVELOP OUR LOCAL HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM.
UH, AND SO STAFF PRESENTED THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS IN JUNE.
UH, THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS IN TURN INFORMED WHAT STAFF BROUGHT TO COUNCIL IN AUGUST FOR THE BUDGET THAT YOU ULTIMATELY ADOPTED.
BUT WITH PROPOSITION Q FAILING, WE'VE NOW HAD TO READJUST AND REPRIORITIZE, UH, WHAT WE THINK IS MOST CRITICAL FOR US TO SUSTAIN.
UH, AS I HAD MENTIONED ON YESTERDAY, OUR TOP PRIORITY RIGHT NOW IS TO DO NO HARM TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE'VE ALREADY INVESTED IN AND THINGS THAT WE ARE ALREADY BUILDING.
UH, AND SO WHAT THAT WOULD MEAN FOR US IS FIRST SUSTAINING OUR INVESTMENT IN THE MARSHALL YARD EMERGENCY SHELTER, SO WE DON'T LOSE THOSE 287 BEDS THAT WE CURRENTLY OPERATE.
THE SECOND IS CON IN CONTINUING OUR INVESTMENTS IN NEW SHELTER BEDS, PARTICULARLY ONES THAT THE CITY HAS ALREADY INVESTED FUNDING IN.
UH, I THINK, AS MS. LANG ALLUDED TO EARLIER TODAY, WE'VE INVESTED ABOUT A MILLION AND A HALF INTO, UH, THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW SHELTER BEDS OUT AT THE ESPERANZA COMMUNITY.
UH, AND WE'RE AWARE THAT IF WE ARE NOT ABLE TO FIND ONGOING OPERATING DOLLARS FOR THAT INVESTMENT, UH, NOT ONLY MIGHT WE NOT SEE THE NEW HUNDRED BEDS OUT AT THE ESPERANZA COMMUNITY, BUT THE EXISTING HUNDRED BEDS MIGHT ALSO BE FORCED TO CLOSE.
THE THIRD IS INVESTMENTS IN SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AT THE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS FUNDED.
UH, THIS IS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT WE BELIEVE NOW FOR US TO CONSIDER THAN IT WAS WHEN WE FIRST ADOPTED THE BUDGET, BECAUSE IN THAT TIME, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS SHIFTED THEIR FUNDING PRIORITIES AND THEY ARE SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCING, UH, HOW MUCH COCS CAN SPEND ON PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
UH, AND SO ALL THE MORE IMPORTANT FOR US TO SUSTAIN OUR INVESTMENTS THERE.
THE OTHER BIG THING THAT WE DID THIS PAST YEAR IS GET MORE UPSTREAM OF HOMELESSNESS BY INVESTING IN HOMELESS PREVENTION SERVICES, HOMELESS DIVERSION SERVICE, LAND SERVICES, LANDLORD ENGAGEMENT, ET CETERA.
UH, THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION THAT WAS PRESENTED LAST NIGHT AND DISCUSSED TODAY, AS YOU MENTIONED, UH, ELIMINATES THE ONGOING FUNDING FOR THOSE SERVICES FROM THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
OUR OFFICE DOES HAVE OUR EXISTING CONTRACTS THAT ARE FUNDED WITH ONE-TIME FUNDS.
UH, WE CAN SUSTAIN THOSE CONTRACTS THROUGH FY 26, SO WE'D STILL BE OKAY THIS FISCAL YEAR.
HOWEVER, WE'D HAVE TO RECONSIDER IF WE'RE GONNA PROVIDE ONGOING FUNDING FOR THOSE INVESTMENTS NEXT FISCAL YEAR OR IF WE'RE GONNA GET OUT OF THE, THE BUSINESS OF PROVIDING THAT MINIMAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE, WHICH IS NOT SOMETHING THAT OUR OFFICE WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE DO.
SO I'LL, I'LL PAUSE RIGHT THERE, MAYOR PROTE, TO SEE IF YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE ME TO CLARIFY.
WELL, I MEAN, IF YOU COULD SPEAK SPECIFICALLY TO THE RAPID REHOUSING, THE 1 MILLION REDUCTION IN RAPID REHOUSING BEDS, THE 750,000 REDUCTION IN BRIDGE SHELTERS, THE 600,000 REDU REDUCTION IN LANDLORD ENGAGEMENT, 500,000 REDU REDUCTION IN HOMELESSNESS DIVERSION SERVICES.
THOSE SPECIFIC REDUCTIONS WOULD IMPACT THE HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE SYSTEM.
SO FOR THE 1 MILLION, UM, ELIMINATION IN THE RAPID, THE NEW FUNDING FOR RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAMS, UH, THAT WOULD LEAVE US WITH OUR EXISTING BASELINE OF ABOUT 4.8 MILLION FOR RAPID REHOUSING, WHICH MAKES UP 8% OF OUR SOCIAL SERVICES BUDGET.
UM, WE'VE HAD TO PAUSE RAPID NEW RAPID REHOUSING INTAKES THIS FISCAL YEAR, OR I GUESS LAST FISCAL YEAR TO TRANSITION PEOPLE WHO WERE IN THE ONE-TIME ARPA FUNDED RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAMS INTO THE ONGOING GENERAL FUND FUNDED RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAMS SO THAT THOSE CLIENTS DIDN'T EXIT THE ARPA PROGRAMS BACK INTO HOMELESSNESS.
BECAUSE OF THAT PAUSE AND NEW INTAKES, THE, THE BACKLOG FOR THE RAPID REHOUSING HAS GROWN.
UH, THIS MILLION DOLLARS WOULD HAVE ALLOWED US TO ADDRESS SOME OF THAT BACKLOG.
UH, SO WITHOUT IT, THE, THE BACKLOG REMAINS WE'RE, WE'RE, WE WILL STILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE RAPID REHOUSING, UH, AS A CITY FUNDED PROGRAM.
UM, BUT OUR ABILITY TO CATCH UP IS, IS GONNA BE LIMITED.
IN ADDITION, I I HAD SPOKEN ABOUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHIFTING THEIR FUNDING PRIORITIES, UH, THAT SHIFT IN FUNDING PRIORITIES ALSO AFFECTS FEDERALLY FUNDED RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAMS IN OUR COMMUNITY TOO.
UH, SO WE ARE GONNA SEE SOME RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAMS THAT ARE NOT CITY FUNDED, THEY'RE FEDERALLY FUNDED.
[02:55:01]
PROGRAMS MAY LOSE THAT FEDERAL FUNDING.SO JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT WHEN IT COMES TO THE 750,000 FOR BRIDGE SHELTERS, UH, THOSE DOLLARS WOULD HAVE ENABLED US TO PROVIDE HOUSING ASSISTANCE TO OUR NORTH BRIDGE AND SOUTH BRIDGE CLIENTS TO HELP THOSE CLIENTS MOVE ON INTO HOUSING.
IT ESSENTIALLY IS, IS THE OUTPUT, AND IT ALLOWS US TO FREE UP MORE BEDS IN THE BRIDGE SHELTERS.
SO WHEN WE DO OUR HEAL INITIATIVES OR THE ENCAMPMENT CLOSURES, WE HAVE BEDS TO PLACE PEOPLE INTO.
AND SO BY REMOVING THIS 750,000, UM, WE WON'T HAVE FUNDING FOR THAT DEDICATED HOUSING SUPPORT AT THE BRIDGE SHELTERS.
UH, AND SO IT JUST, IT SLOWS OUR BED TURNOVER AT THE SHELTERS, THE LOSS OF $600,000 IN LANDLORD ENGAGEMENT.
UH, AGAIN, WE HAVE OUR EXISTING CONTRACT WITH HOUSING CONNECTOR.
IT'S FUNDED FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR, SO IT WOULDN'T HAVE AN IMPACT ON US THIS FISCAL YEAR.
UH, BUT IF WE WEREN'T ABLE TO IDENTIFY FUNDING FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR, UH, THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO REEVALUATE IF WE KEEP THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH HOUSING CONNECTOR.
UH, AND THEN THE 500,000 FOR HOMELESS DIVERSION SERVICES, UH, WE HAVE OUR EXISTING CONTRACT FOR THE WAYFINDER PROGRAM THAT'S GOOD FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR.
SO WE'RE, AGAIN, WE'RE COVERED FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR.
WE ALSO HAVE ONE EXTENSION ON THAT CONTRACT, SO WE'RE ASSUMING WE, WE GET FUNDING NEXT FISCAL YEAR AT OUR BASELINE.
WE'LL HAVE THAT PROGRAM COVERED IN Y 27 AS WELL.
SO FOR THE LANDLORD ENGAGEMENT AND THE HOMELESSNESS DIVERSION SERVICES, WE HAVE SUFFICIENT FUNDING TO HOLD US OVER FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR.
AND THEN THE OTHER QUESTION I WANTED TO DIG INTO IS, UH, IF WE COULD GET CHIEF LITZ BACK, I JUST WANNA TALK THROUGH THE OVERTIME FOR EMS AND, AND BETTER UNDERSTAND, UM, THE PROPOSAL THAT IS BEFORE US.
THIS TO ME, IS KEY, AND I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE, 'CAUSE CHIEF LUCK, YOU MENTIONED FOR THE RECORD THAT HAVING THIS AMOUNT THAT STAFF IS PROPOSING WOULD BE SUFFICIENT TO KEEP US FROM HAVING TO HAVE BROWNOUTS AMBULANCES THAT ARE NOT IN USE DUE TO STAFFING SHORTAGES.
AND THAT AMOUNT WOULD BE 2.5 MILLION THAT IS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THE ASSOCIATION SAYS IS NEEDED FOR, TO PREVENT BROWNOUTS.
UM, AND IT'S DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WAS IN THE PRIOR THE ENHANCEMENTS LIST THAT, THAT WAS SHARED WITH US EARLIER THIS SUMMER.
SO CAN YOU JUST TALK US THROUGH THE DIFFERENCES THERE AND, AND WHAT OTHER CONTEXT WE SHOULD BE AWARE OF AND HOW THIS 2.5 MILLION IS SUFFICIENT TO ELIMINATE BROWNOUTS? SURE.
SO, UM, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER WAS WE LOOK AT WHAT OUR SPEND WAS, UH, LAST YEAR, UM, IN TERMS OF HAVING ALL OF THE AVAILABLE RESOURCES AND ALL THE INITIATIVES THAT WE HAD ACROSS THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT.
UH, MOVING FORWARD, IT WAS A HIGHER AMOUNT.
UM, WHEN WE LOOK AT KIND OF THE NEED FOR US TO FOCUS IN ON THESE CORE SERVICES AND ENSURE THAT WE HAVE, UM, ADEQUATE STATION COVERAGE ACROSS THE COUNTY, THE 2.5 MILLION REPRESENTS WHAT IT WOULD, WHAT IT WOULD REQUIRE FOR US TO, UM, UH, TO HAVE THE FUNDING NECESSARY TO, UM, ENSURE THAT WE HAVE AN AMBULANCE IN EVERY EMS STATION.
UM, THE DIFFERENCE THAT YOU SEE BETWEEN THAT AND SAY THE 4.4 MILLION, UM, REPRESENTS, UH, THE, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THAT REPRESENTS THE EFFORTS THAT WE WERE MAKING TOWARDS OUR, UH, ONBOARDING AND RECRUITING EFFORTS, UH, TO REALLY ADDRESS THE ONGOING VACANCIES.
UM, WHAT WE'VE SEEN AND IN OUR DISCUSSIONS IS WE KIND OF WEIGH THE, THE PROS AND CONS AND WHERE BEST TO ALLOCATE OUR RESOURCES.
UH, WE WERE RUNNING, COMING INTO 2025 WITH A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS ON OUR RECRUITING LIST THAT WE WERE TRYING TO BRING ON BOARD.
UH, AND, AND THE INCREASED COSTS AS I DESCRIBED EARLIER, OF, UM, BOTH RECRUITING, BUT EVEN MORE SO, THAT ONBOARDING AND THE LONG TIME THAT IT TAKES FOR US TO BRING PEOPLE FROM, UH, JOINING THE DEPARTMENT TO BECOMING FULLY PRODUCTIVE, UH, WITHIN THE WORKFORCE.
UM, OUR CURRENT ACADEMY RIGHT NOW THAT WE HAVE GOING ON IS, IS 17, WHICH IS DRAMATICALLY LOWER THAN WHAT WE HAD SEEN, 20, 25 WITH ACADEMIES, UH, UP TO 41 INDIVIDUALS.
AND SO AS WE LOOK AT, UM, THE TIMELINE FOR BRINGING THOSE INDIVIDUALS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS, UH, FULLY ONLINE AND FULLY PRODUCTIVE, AND WE LOOK AT WHAT THIS YEAR WOULD LOOK LIKE GIVEN WHERE WE ARE AT, UM, YOU KNOW, ALREADY INTO THIS FISCAL YEAR OF THE NEED TO DO RECRUITING AND THEN APPLICATION PROCESS, AND THEN ONBOARDING, TRYING TO BE REALISTIC ABOUT HOW MANY NEW PEOPLE WE WOULD ACTUALLY BRING ON IN THIS FISCAL YEAR THAT THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO DO.
AND SO WE'RE NOT AT A PLACE FROM A, UH, PIPELINE PERSPECTIVE AS WE WERE IN THE BEGINNING OF 2025.
UH, WE NEED TO PRIME THE PIPE THIS YEAR.
WE NEED TO PUT A LOT OF EFFORTS INTO OUR RECRUITING, UM, AND GETTING BACK OUT INTO THE NATIONAL STAGE, GETTING BACK OUT INTO THE COMMUNICATIONS OF, UH, THE GREAT WORK THAT WE'RE DOING HERE IN AUSTIN.
[03:00:01]
PIPELINE AND THEN WE'LL WORK THROUGH THE WORK WITH THE CITY MANAGER, THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, LOOK AT OUR OWN STRUCTURE TO SEE THEN HOW DO WE TAKE THE FOLKS THAT ARE IN THAT STARTING PIPELINE AND ACTUALLY BRING THEM ON BOARD INTO THE COMING YEARS.I, I GUESS I'M JUST, BECAUSE AT THE BEGINNING YOU SAID THAT THE REST OF THE 4.4 MILLION WAS FOR RECRUITMENT, BUT YOU JUST ALSO SHARED THAT THE NEED TO PRIORITIZE RECRUITMENT.
SO HOW, HOW DO YOU PLAN TO PRIORITIZE RECRUITMENT IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING THAT IS NEEDED FOR THOSE EFFORTS? YES.
SO THE BULK OF THAT WAS REALLY THE ONBOARDING PIECE AND THE ACADEMIES.
UM, AND SO I'M, I'M KIND OF MAYBE, UM, BLENDING THOSE TOGETHER A LITTLE BIT.
RECRUITING AND ONBOARDING IN THE ACADEMY PIECE.
UM, IT'S REALLY GONNA BE A LOT OF MARKETING.
IT'S GONNA BE A LOT OF, UM, GETTING OUR TEAMS BACK.
WE REALLY TRIMMED OUR TRAVEL LAST YEAR AS WELL, AND SO WE WERE NOT MARKETING OURSELVES AT SOME OF THE LARGE NATIONAL AND LARGE REGIONAL CONFERENCES, UH, ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
WE, UM, AND SO WE WANT TO GET BACK OUT THERE AND TRY TO, UH, AGAIN, REINVIGORATE, UM, THE COMMUNITY, UM, TO COME TO AUSTIN, UM, AND, AND SET SOME REALISTIC TIMELINES AS WE'RE OUT THERE OF WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE FOR US MOVING FORWARD.
UH, IT, IT IS A LONG PROCESS FOR US FROM START TO FINISH TO GET FOLKS TO COME TO AUSTIN AND, AND WHAT WE SEE SOMETIMES IS INDIVIDUALS THAT WANT TO COME TO AUSTIN.
IT, IT'S A, IT IS A LONG PROCESS AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO EVALUATE THOSE PROCESSES TO WORK THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR HOW IT IS THAT WE CAN STREAMLINE THAT PROCESS, UH, AS WE GO INTO FISCAL YEAR 2027.
CAN YOU PROVIDE MORE DETAILS SPECIFICALLY HOW THAT PORTION OF FUNDING, THE GAP FUNDING THAT WOULD'VE GONE TO ONBOARDING FOR THE NEW MEDICS GOING THROUGH ACADEMY? HOW, LIKE, IF WE DON'T HAVE THAT FUNDING, HOW DOES THAT AFFECT ONBOARDING SPECIFICALLY? SO, UH, WE WOULD LOOK AT, OR, OR WE ARE LOOKING AT, RIGHT, THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS THAT SAY ARE IN QUEUE TO POTENTIALLY JOIN US IN AN ACADEMY.
UM, AND IN ORDER FOR, FOR US TO REALLY GET TO WHERE WE WANT TO BE FROM A STAFFING PERSPECTIVE AND TO FILL OUR VACANCIES, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS THAT WE'RE PUTTING INTO OUR ACADEMY SUCCEEDS, UH, THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE DEPARTING THE DEPARTMENT.
AND AS WE GROW, UM, WE HAD REACHED THAT PERIOD IN 2025 WHEN WE WERE HAVING, YOU KNOW, 30 TO 40 INDIVIDUALS PER ACADEMY, UM, AT TIMES, UH, WHERE WE ARE AT NOW, UM, WITH THOSE LOWER NUMBERS, UM, WHAT IT DOES FOR US FROM AN ONBOARDING PERSPECTIVE IS IT KEEPS US WHOLE, AS WE REALLY START TO RETHINK THAT STRATEGY OF, OF GOING INTO FUTURE FISCAL YEARS AND HOW IT IS THAT WE CAN CHANGE THE WAY THAT WE DO ONBOARDING AS A DEPARTMENT TO BE ABLE TO FACILITATE, UM, IN A RESPONSIBLE MANNER, GETTING OURSELVES TO BEING ABLE TO CONTINUE LARGER ACADEMIES, UM, AND, AND HAVE THAT PIPELINE BUILT UP TO BE ABLE TO, TO, TO STAFF THOSE ACADEMIES AS WELL.
I JUST, YOU KNOW, I, I'M, I'M STRUGGLING HERE IN, IN UNDERSTANDING HOW HAVING A REDUCTION IN THE FUNDING THAT EMS NEEDS FOR RECRUITMENT AND ONBOARDING, BUT KNOWING THAT WE HAVE A 15% VACANCY RATE WITHIN THE EMS DEPARTMENT AND KNOWING THE IMPORTANCE OF US RECRUITING AND HAVING THAT PIPELINE AS A WAY TO OFFSET THE OVERTIME FUNDING THAT WE ARE ESSENTIALLY TRYING TO ADDRESS WITH THIS AMENDMENT.
I MEAN, THOSE TWO GO HAND IN HAND.
SO IF WE'RE REDUCING THE PORTION THAT'S FOCUSED ON RECRUITMENT, YOU KNOW, WE WILL AL EVERY YEAR WE'LL HAVE TO COME BACK AND ADD MORE FOR OVERTIME BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GETTING THE NECESSARY AMOUNT OF, OF MEDICS THROUGH THE PIPELINE.
I MEAN, ANY, ANY THOUGHTS ON, YEAH, I, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US IN THIS, THIS COMING YEAR, I SHOULD SAY THE, THIS EXISTING YEAR HERE TO REALLY WORK WITH THE TEAM, UM, WORK WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, REALLY WORK TOWARDS, I THINK AS MANY OF THE OTHER PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS ARE SEEING IS WHAT IS, HOW CAN WE RETHINK OVERALL? UM, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE IS THE, AS I'VE SAID, THE EXPONENTIAL GROWTH THAT WE'RE SEEING IN OUR DEPARTMENTS, UH, OR CERTAINLY IN OUR DEPARTMENT.
AND, AND THAT'S A UNIQUE CHALLENGE FOR US, UM, TO, YOU KNOW, WE ARE UP MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE IN SEATS, STAFF IN SEATS FROM WHEN I STARTED IN, IN 2022.
THE CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE HERE IS AS MUCH ABOUT DEALING WITH THAT GROWTH AS IT IS WITH DEALING WITH, WITH TURNOVER.
UM, AND SO IT'S A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT MECHANISM FOR US AS WE LOOK TO NOT JUST MAINTAIN THE TURNOVER, WHICH IS HISTORICALLY WHAT MANY OF THESE AGENCIES HAVE DONE, RIGHT? WE, WE HAVE ENOUGH FOLKS COMING THROUGH AND END TO MAINTAIN US IN THE SIZE THAT WE ARE TODAY OR THE SIZE THAT WE WERE IN 2022.
BUT IF WE ARE GONNA GROW THE DEPARTMENT AS QUICKLY AND AS WE, WE, WE NEED TO SEE IN ORDER TO FULFILL THE, UH, THOSE, THOSE INITIATIVES THAT YOU HAVE FUNDED OVER THE YEARS, THOSE ADDITIONAL POSITIONS THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN US, WE'RE GONNA NEED TO VASTLY EXPAND, UM, THAT RECRUITING PIECE AND VASTLY EXPAND THAT ONBOARDING PIECE.
AND SO THAT REQUIRES US TO REALLY BUILD A SOLID INFRASTRUCTURE.
YOU KNOW, WHEN I, WHEN I SPOKE, UH, EARLIER THIS WEEK,
[03:05:01]
YOU KNOW, THIS YEAR FOR US IN 2026, FISCAL YEAR 2026 IS, IS A LITTLE BIT OF ABOUT BACK TO THE BASICS.I THINK MANY DEPARTMENTS ARE GOING THROUGH THAT SAME THING OF LOOKING AT OUR OVERALL INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE'VE GROWN BY, BY SEVERAL HUNDRED, OVER A HUNDRED NEW POSITIONS SINCE I CAME HERE.
AND, YOU KNOW, OUR OVERALL OPERATIONS HAVE GROWN BY ALMOST 50%.
UM, WE NEED TO TAKE A PAUSE, UM, AND, AND REALLY THINK THROUGH, DO WE HAVE ALL OF THE PIECES THAT WE, WE HAVE IN PLACE FROM A RECRUITING PERSPECTIVE, FROM AN ONBOARDING PERSPECTIVE, FROM ALL OF THE OTHER PIECES THAT WE HAVE THAT OPERATE SO MUCH IN THE BACKGROUND TO SUPPORT THAT EXPONENTIAL GROWTH THAT YOU GUYS HAVE, HAVE SO GRACIOUSLY FUNDED US OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.
AND I THINK THAT TAKING THIS FISCAL YEAR TO REALLY HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A, OF A RESET FOR OURSELVES, MAINTAIN WHERE WE ARE AND UNDERSTAND HOW DO WE, UH, PROPERLY MAKE SURE THAT COMING INTO FISCAL YEAR 2027, GIVING THE FINANCIAL CLIMATE THAT WE ARE IN, THAT WE HAVE BUILT OUT A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE MECHANISM FOR US TO BE ABLE TO MEET THE GROWTH, MEET THE DEMAND OF THE COMMUNITY, UH, MEET THE, THOSE PROGRAMS THAT YOU HAVE FUNDED, UM, AND, AND HAVE US ON A GOOD TRAJECTORY TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT WE'RE SERVING THE GROWTH OF AUSTIN AND THE RESIDENTS IN OF AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY.
THANK YOU CHIEF FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.
I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND FROM FINANCIAL STAFF, UM, SOME OF THESE ITEMS THAT ARE DIFFERENT FROM YOURS JUST TO, UM, FULLY WE HAVEN'T LAID OH, OKAY.
SHOULD WE WAIT FOR THAT? YEAH, WHY DON'T YOU WAIT ON THAT.
I'M HAPPY TO DO THAT DOESN'T COME OUT YET.
UM, JUST WANTED TO, I, I SAW THE TALK ABOUT THE SOBERING CENTER, THE CUT, THE 125,000 CUT.
UH, AGAIN, I KNOW THE ANSWER IS THERE'S A SHORTAGE OF OF FUNDS, BUT WHAT WAS THE THINKING KIND OF BEHIND THAT, THAT THAT 125 CUT, I KNOW THAT IT, IT HAD THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL CAME OUT WITH THE, UH, ADDING, UH, 500,000, UH, AGAIN, WHICH WAS DOWN FROM THE PROP Q AMOUNT AND, AND NOW WE'RE DOWN TO THE, THE 3 75.
JUST KIND OF THOUGHTS ON THAT.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS, UM, THAT THE TEAM FROM THE SOBERING CENTER, UM, MADE A, A, UM, PRESENTATION IN AUGUST THAT INDICATED THAT THEIR FUNDING NEEDS, UM, WERE THE 3 75 FOR THE YEAR, THE ADDITIONAL 3 75 FOR THE YEAR, NOT AN ADDITIONAL 5 MILLION FOR THIS COMING YEAR.
SO WE MADE THAT ADJUSTMENT BASED ON THAT INFORMATION.
NOW, AN ADDITIONAL 500,000, UH, CORRECT.
UH, THE, UM, AND I WAS THAT, UH, THE SOBERING CENTER, UH, THEY HAD A BOARD MEETING LAST NIGHT.
UH, THE CENTRAL HEALTH, AGAIN, JUST KIND OF FOR BACKGROUND INFORMATION, UH, FOR, FOR OURSELVES AND FOR THE PUBLIC, UM, CENTRAL HEALTH, UH, HAS, UH, GIVEN THE SOBERING CENTER A $600,000 CONTRACT TO HELP WITH SOME OF THE, UM, THE, WHAT THEY CALL THE HOLDOVER.
IN OTHER WORDS, FOLKS THAT ARE TAKEN TO THE SOBERING CENTER FOR CRIMINAL DIVERSION OF PURPOSES, BUT THEN, UH, AT THE SOBERING CENTER, UH, REALIZE THAT THEY NEED MUCH DEEPER SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT.
AND THE SOBERING CENTER HAS BEEN, UM, DOING THIS KIND OF ON A REALLY AD HOC BASIS WITH VERY LIMITED RESOURCES.
CENTRAL HEALTH IN THE PAST YEAR HAS STEPPED UP TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.
AND NOW THIS YEAR IS REALLY, UH, A STEPPING OF, AND, AND MY CONCERN WITH THAT, THAT THAT CUT THERE ALSO WOULD BE THAT I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO OPERATIONALIZE THE, THE, THE, THE, THE ADDITIONAL SERVICES WITHOUT THE KIND OF THE BASE SUPPORT FROM, UH, FROM THE, THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
UM, SO I WOULD HATE TO, TO LOSE KIND OF CENTRAL HEALTH OR I, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THERE'S SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE KIND OF THE, THE DOWNTOWN, UH, UH, THERE IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF THE, THE DOWNTOWN PUBLIC SAFETY PUZZLE THAT, UH, I WOULD HATE TO, UH, TO LOSE THAT ADDITIONAL BENEFIT FROM THE, THE, THE CENTRAL HEALTH, UH, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE IT'S JUST VERY HARD TO GET INTO, UH, INDIGENT, UH, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, UH, CARE.
UH, BUT, UH, ALRIGHT, I'LL, I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT.
UM, I THINK THAT COVERS THE QUESTIONS ON THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDED AMENDMENTS TO THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT.
UH, WE WILL NOW GO TO AMENDMENTS TO THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDED AMENDMENT TO THE PROPOSED AMENDED BUDGET.
[03:10:02]
YEAH, I KNOW.UH, SO, SO LET ME REMIND EVERYBODY WHERE WE ARE.
WE HAVE MADE A MAIN MOTION, AND THAT IS TO, AND, AND, AND UNFORTUNATELY THE WORD AMENDED GETS USED A LOT HERE.
BUT THE MAIN MOTION IS TO AMEND THE BUDGET THAT WAS ORIGINALLY PASSED.
COUNCIL PASSED A BUDGET, UH, THAT BUDGET INCLUDED A TAX RATE THAT REQUIRED A TAX RATE ELECTION.
AND SO WE ARE HERE TO AMEND THAT BUDGET.
SO THE, THE ORIGINAL MOTION, THE MAIN MOTION WILL BE A MOTION TO AMEND THAT BUDGET.
WE NOW HAVE AN AMENDMENT TO THAT WHICH IS RECOMMENDED BY THE STAFF, AND THAT WILL BE THE FIRST ITEM WE TAKE UP.
THE COUNCIL AMENDMENTS WILL BE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE STAFF RECOMMENDED AMENDMENT.
AND UNLESS SOMEBODY WANTS TO START WITH SOMETHING ELSE, AND I'M NOT SEEING ANYBODY DOING THAT, I'M GOING TO GO IN THIS ORDER, I'M GONNA FIRST CALL ON COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER FOR HIS PROPOSED AMENDMENT.
I WILL THEN GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, FOLLOWED BY THE MAYOR PRO TIM.
AND I'LL, UH, THE NEXT IN LINE WOULD BE COUNCIL MEMBER LANE.
UM, BUT CA BUT IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THOSE AMENDMENTS ARE GOING TO BE WITHDRAWN.
BUT I'LL, I'LL WAIT TILL I GET TO YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT'S THE CASE.
COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, I HAVE ONE, AND THEN WE'LL GO BACK TO COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER.
AND THEN THERE'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE'S ALSO ONE BY COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, UH, AND I, AND I MISSPOKE THE YEAH, I MEAN, I'LL, I WANNA CHECK WITH WHAT YOU HAVE.
YEAH, WELL, THAT'S WHAT I'LL DO IS I'LL CALL 'EM OUT BECAUSE I KNOW WE'VE, WE'VE ALL BEEN MOVING AROUND, SO WE'LL, WE'LL, I'LL, I'LL BE REAL FLEXIBLE ON TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ALL THOSE.
SO, UM, A ACTUALLY, THE FIRST AMENDMENT THAT I'M GOING TO BRING FORWARD IS ONE THAT IS FROM, FROM ME.
AND, AND FOLKS, YOU HAVE THE YELLOW COPY AND IT'S, IT'S LABELED ITEM FOUR, MOTION SHEET 2 11 20 25.
AND I'M GONNA READ THIS SO THAT THE PUBLIC, MR. MAYOR, IF I MAY I YES, MA'AM.
IN, IN THE WAY THAT I WOULD LIKE TO, AND THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT THING, AND I CAN'T TAP IN LIKE I WOULD LIKE TO.
DID, DID, DID, DO YOU? NO, I GOT NOTHING.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU DON'T MISS YOU OPPORT PARTICULARLY RECOGNIZE THAT I'M HERE.
AND I APPRECIATE YOU LETTING ME, REMINDING ME.
SO THE FIRST, SO HERE'S THE ORDER.
UM, YOU KNOW, OUR SUB QUORUM HAS A SUBSTITUTE.
WELL, THAT'S, I, THAT'S WHY I WAS LOOKING RIGHT AT YOU.
OH, I THOUGHT YOU UNDERSTOOD THAT.
AND THAT'S WHY I WAS LOOKING AT YOU WHEN I WAS SAYING I, I DON'T SEE ANYBODY A ASKING FOR IT.
DO YOU WANT TO MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION? YES, SIR.
WELL THEN I, THEN HERE'S THE ORDER.
I WILL, BECAUSE YOU'VE INDICATED YOU WANNA DO THAT.
I'M GONNA RECOGNIZE YOU ON A SUBSTITUTE MOTION.
AND SO WE WILL RECOGNIZE THAT WE WILL DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION IS ADOPTED MEMBERS.
YOU'LL RECALL THAT IF, IF A SUBSTITUTE MOTION IS MADE, AND THIS WILL BE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION, IT WILL BE A MOTION TO REPLACE OR SUBSTITUTE THE MOTION THAT COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL MAKES.
IT WILL BE TO REPLACE OR SUBSTITUTE THE STAFF RECOMMENDED AMENDMENT TO THE PROPOSED AMENDED BUDGET.
WE HAVE A, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THAT ALREADY.
IF, AND, AND THE DEBATE WILL BE THEN ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION AND WHETHER WE WANT TO ADOPT THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION, WE WILL VOTE ON NOT THE SUB TO ADOPT THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION, BUT ON WHETHER OR NOT IT WILL BE SUBSTITUTED.
IN OTHER WORDS, WILL IT REPLACE THE STAFF RECOMMENDED AMENDMENT AND THAT, AND, AND THAT WILL BE THE FIRST VOTE.
IF IT IS VOTED TO REPLACE THAT, THEN WE WILL HAVE IT AS THE AMENDMENT.
AND IF THERE'S OO OTHER AMENDMENTS TO THAT, THOSE WILL ALSO BE OFFERED UP AT THAT POINT IN TIME.
SO COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED ON A PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE MOTION.
AND, UH, I'M GONNA DESCR DESCRIBE IT BRIEFLY.
UH, A CLEAN COPY IS COMING DOWNSTAIRS BECAUSE, UH, DURING THE LAST BREAK WE MET WITH CITY STAFF AND THEY GAVE US A COUPLE NOTES.
[03:15:02]
UM, IT'S LARGELY WHAT ISN'T ON THE DAIS, BUT THERE ARE A COUPLE CHANGES.UM, THE INTENTION OF THIS SUBSTITUTE MOTION IS TO FULLY FUND SOME OF COUNCIL'S SHARED PRIORITIES, INCLUDING EMS EM COT, UH, BETTER SERVICES AT PARKS AND ITEMS FOR CITY EMPLOYEES, LIKE BAD WEATHER PAY, AND ALSO, UH, TO IMPROVE WILDFIRE MITIGATION.
SO THOSE ARE SO BASICALLY ENHANCED INVESTMENTS ON THE EXPENSE SIDE.
AND THEN ON THE PAY FORCE SIDE, UM, OUR SUB QUORUM FELT THAT SOME OF THE CUTS WERE, UM, VERY PAINFUL AND, AND ESPECIALLY TO THE HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICE, UH, SOME OF THE PARKS, CUTS AND OTHER CUTS.
AND SO THE INTENTION IS TO REPLACE SOME OF THE PAY PAY FORS THAT ARE IN THE STAFF MOTION.
UM, SO I WILL DESCRIBE AS WE'RE WAITING FOR THE DOCUMENT, THE KEY CHANGES TO INVESTMENTS.
SO, UH, TO STAFF RECOMMENDATION 19, WHICH IS THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES SWORN OVERTIME TO ELIMINATE BROWNOUTS, WE PROPOSE SPENDING $3 MILLION INSTEAD OF 2.5 MILLION TO ADDRESS PART OF WHAT CHIEF RETS, UH, REFERRED TO ABOUT IMPROVING OUR ABILITY TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN, UH, NEW CADETS.
WE ALSO PROPOSE ADDING A MILLION DOLLARS TO THE EM COT EXPANDED MOBILE CRISIS OUTREACH TEAM ITEM, SO THAT IT WOULD GO UP TO $2.086 MILLION.
AND FROM WHAT WE UNDERSTAND, THAT WOULD ENABLE THE PROGRAM TO TRULY OPERATE 24 7, UM, I HAVE AGREED TO REDUCTIONS INTO A COUPLE OF THE FOOD ITEMS TO FREE UP A LITTLE MONEY.
SO REDUCING THE FOOD PANTRIES ITEM TO 150,000 A YEAR, REDUCING THE HOME DELIVERED MEALS TO OLDER ADULTS TO 100,000 A YEAR.
BUT THEN ADDING BAD WEATHER PAY FOR ESSENTIAL CITY EMPLOYEES, $152,000, ADDING DENTAL BENEFITS FOR PART-TIME TEMP EMPLOYEES, THAT'S ABOUT $119,000.
AND THEN ADDING A MILLION DOLLARS TO WILD FIRE MITIGATION, THEY WOULD BE PAID FOR THROUGH THE URBAN FOREST REPLENISHMENT FUND.
SO THOSE ARE THE ENHANCEMENTS TO THE STAFF PROPOSAL.
ON THE, ON THE, UM, YOU KNOW, PAYMENT SIDE, WE PROPOSE REDUCING FUNDING FOR IMAGINE AUSTIN BY $2 MILLION.
WE PROPOSE VACANCY SAVINGS FOR POSITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN VACANT FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS OF $1 MILLION.
UM, WE DO PROPOSE TRANSFERRING FROM THE RESERVE FUND, $2 MILLION.
UM, BUT WE'VE REMOVED A LOT OF THE CUTS THAT WERE IN, UH, THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
AND, UH, THOSE ARE APPARENT, UM, IN, IN THE ATTACHMENT THAT'S ACTUALLY NOW BEING DISTRIBUTED.
UM, IN ADDITION, WE WANNA CUT FEWER POSITIONS FROM PARKS, FROM THE STAFF AMENDMENT.
SO INSTEAD OF REDUCING THE MANAGER'S PROPOSAL, UM, BY 10 EMPLOYEES, WE PROPOSE ONLY CUTTING FIVE.
UH, WE WANNA, UM, REDUCE THE CUT TO RAPID REHOUSING.
SO INSTEAD OF CUTTING 1 MILLION, WE WANNA REDUCE IT TO A $500,000 REDUCTION.
UM, AND THEN THERE'S A NUMBER OF CUTS THAT ARE BASED ON THE SERVICE PRIORITIZATION REPORT THAT ARE BASICALLY AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS CHART.
UM, I KNOW THERE'S GONNA BE QUESTIONS AND, YOU KNOW, I, MY, MY PEERS IN THE SUB QUORUM CAN ANSWER SOME OF THE QUESTIONS MORE BROADLY, BUT BIG PICTURE, WE WANNA STRENGTHEN EMERGENCY RESPONSE EMS AND EM COT.
WE WANNA IMPROVE OUR PARKS MAINTENANCE, WE WANNA TAKE CARE OF OUR CITY EMPLOYEES, AND WE WANT TO IMPROVE WILDFIRE MITIGATION WITHOUT CUTTING SO DEEPLY INTO HSO AND OTHER, UH, ESSENTIAL PROGRAMS. COUNCIL MEMBER, BEFORE I GO TO, UH, PEOPLE THAT ARE SIGNED UP TO ASK QUESTIONS, UH, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I'M CLEAR ON SOMETHING.
ON THE REDUCING FUNDING FOR IMAGINE AUSTIN, I HEARD YOU SAY THAT YOU REDUCED THAT BY 2 MILLION.
YOUR, THE VER ONE OF THE VERSIONS THAT I HAD BEFORE HAD IT AT 2 MILLION.
THE VERSION I WAS JUST HANDED HAS IT AT 1 MILLION.
UH, WHAT NUMBER ARE WE DEALING WITH? OKAY, MY APOLOGIES.
UM, I, UH, I THINK AT THE, UH, MANAGER'S, UH, RECOMMENDATION, WE HAVE REMOVED THAT TO REDUCE THAT TO $1 MILLION.
THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UM, I WANTED TO JUST ASK FINANCIAL STAFF TO GET SOME CLARITY ON A COUPLE OF THESE NEW ITEMS. UM, THE, I'M JUST GONNA START TOWARDS THE TOP.
THE WILDFIRE MITIGATION WITH THOSE DOLLARS,
[03:20:01]
ARE THOSE FUNDING CONTRACTED POSITIONS OR WOULD THOSE FUND NEW FTES TO DO THIS WORK? I SEE CHIEF BAKER WORKING HIS WAY DOWN.JOEL BAKER, AUSTIN FIRE, FIRE CHIEF, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER THAT WIFI MITIGATION.
I HAVE A LIST HERE, UH, TO START WITH.
IT IS TO FUND ADVERTISEMENT FOR BILLBOARDS, UH, FOR VARIOUS ADVERTISEMENT, UH, INITIATIVE, UH, TO, UH, TO HELP US IDENTIFY WILDFIRE HAZARDS IN VARIOUS COMMUNITIES, AS WELL AS SOFT VARIOUS SOFTWARES.
OUR ANNUAL FIRE ASIDE SOFTWARE ALONG WITH SCHEDULING SOFTWARE TO HELP US SCHEDULE, UH,
ALSO PROVIDE PUBLIC SAFETY SERVERS.
UH, IT'S A CENTRAL DATABASE SHARING PLATFORM FOR AWARENESS FOR FIRST RESPONDER AGENCIES, VARIOUS AGENCIES THAT WE USE.
ALSO TO HELP US GET FIVE SHELTERS AND PACKS, WHICH IS A-N-F-P-A 7 19 77 COMPLIANCE FOR REGIONAL WILDFIRE POLICY, UH, THAT WE SHOULD HAVE IN PLACE IS ALSO TO HELP US WITH WIE COLE EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY AND OUR OTHER STAKEHOLDERS ABOUT W CODE AND ALSO FOR EMBER'S INITIATIVE ZONE COMPLIANCE.
THAT'S WHAT THE FUNDING IS FOR.
SO I, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT USING ONE TIME DOLLARS THAT THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR WE WOULDN'T HAVE AN ONGOING NEED FOR THESE EXPENSES.
IT'S NOT FOR, UH, FTES OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE.
UH, MOVING ON TO IMAGINE AUSTIN, THE REDUCTION IS LISTED IN THE ONGOING, SHOULD THAT BE ONE TIME BECAUSE IT'S A ONE TIME CIP TRANSFER? YES, THOSE ARE ONE TIME FUNDS.
JUST WANNA CONFIRM ON THE VACANCY SAVINGS IS MY UNDERSTANDING, SINCE THIS IS KINDA, THIS WOULD BE UP TO THE MANAGER TO IMPLEMENT, BUT ESSENTIALLY IN PRACTICALITY, WHAT THIS WOULD LOOK LIKE IS IF A POSITION, LET'S SAY RIGHT NOW, WHEN YOU CALCULATE YOUR VACANCY SAVINGS, YOU THINK THAT A POSITION MIGHT BE OPEN FOR THREE MONTHS AND SO YOU FUND NINE MONTHS WORTH.
BUT TO DO THIS, YOU MIGHT SAY, ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GONNA HOLD THAT POSITION OPEN FOR FIVE OR SIX MONTHS AND THEN FILL IT SO THAT THERE IS A SAVINGS ACHIEVED IN VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS.
IS THAT A KIND OF ACCURATE WAY HOW THIS WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED? YES, THAT IS ACCURATE.
UH, AND THAT WOULD BE, AS IT'S MENTIONED, CITYWIDE, THERE'S NO, NO REQUIREMENT IN THIS THAT IT WOULD BE FOR A SPECIFIC DEPARTMENT.
IT'S LISTED AS CITYWIDE THE, UM, SAVINGS FROM ANY VACANCIES IN OTHER FUNDS.
ENTERPRISE FUNDS CANNOT BE USED FOR THE GENERAL FUND.
SO WE WOULD PRIMARILY LOOK AT GENERAL FUND AND SUPPORT SERVICES FUND.
WITH THE STIPULATION FOR VACANT POSITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN VACANT FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS, I SEE THE MANAGER'S SHAKING HIS HEAD, SO I MANAGER THANK YOU.
SO THAT I THINK IS WHAT THE NOTES SAY.
AND I THINK THE INTENTION WAS TO LOOK AT VACANCIES THAT WERE TWO YEARS OR MORE.
AND AS I THINK I DESCRIBED, UH, IN CONVERSATION, UH, THOSE TYPES OF VACANCIES THAT ARE TWO YEARS OR MORE, UH, ARE ALREADY ACCOUNTED FOR, UH, IN OUR NORMAL, UH, SALARY, UH, SAVINGS OR VACANCY SAVINGS AS WE LOOK ANNUALLY, BECAUSE THAT IS EITHER A CHOICE AND OR WHAT IS CONSISTENTLY HAPPENING GIVEN THE TYPES OF PHYSICIANS AND THE DIFFICULTY TO FILL THEM.
THOSE COSTS, UH, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, ARE ALREADY COUNT ACCOUNTED FOR, NO DIFFERENT THAN YOUR EXAMPLE COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER OF SOMETHING THAT NORMALLY TAKES TWO MONTHS TO FEEL THAT WE MAY ACTUALLY WANT TO EXTEND TO FIVE.
WHAT'S CALCULATED IN THE CURRENT VACANCY SAVINGS WOULD PROBABLY BE THE NORMATIVE THREE, UH, MONTHS.
SO, UH, AS I'VE INDICATED THE NORM AND HOW THAT'S GROSSED UP ACROSS THE CITY, WHETHER GENERAL FUND OR NOT, IS THE NUMBER, I
[03:25:01]
THINK ED KIND OF WALKED THROUGH AN EXAMPLE OF.AND SO MY UNDERSTANDING AND MY INTENTION WOULD BE SOMETHING DIFFERENT AS YOU DESCRIBED, WOULD HAVE TO HAPPEN TO REALIZE ADDITIONAL SAVINGS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY COUNTED FOR.
AND THAT WOULD MEAN TO EXTEND THE LENGTH OF WHAT IS NORMAL, UH, WHETHER IT'S ALWAYS BEEN VACANT FOR TWO YEARS, OR IF THERE'S ONE THAT'S BEEN VACANT FOR ONE YEAR, THAT WOULD'VE ALREADY BEEN ACCOUNTED FOR IN OUR OVERALL NUMBER.
SO THOSE NUMBERS WOULD ALREADY EXIST.
SO AGAIN, I THINK THE NOTE SAYS THAT, BUT IN PRACTICAL, IN REALITY, WE'D HAVE TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE STARTED WITH AND WHAT WE NORMALLY SEE.
UH, THEN I SEE THIS, UH, TRANSFER FROM THE RESERVES THAT'S ALSO PUT IN ONGOING.
SHOULD THAT BE ONE TIME? YES, THAT WOULD BE A ONE TIME TRANSFER.
UH, GOING DOWN, THESE ARE ALL IN THE EXISTING, UH, 500,000 REDUCTION FOR RAPID, WE COVERED REDUCTION IN PARKS, WE COVERED THIRD PARTY CONTRACTS.
THIS AUSTIN HUMAN RESOURCES, COMMODITIES AND CONTRACTUALS.
CAN YOU JUST HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS IS? I'M GONNA ASK SUSAN SINS TO COME UP FROM THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT.
REBECCA KENNEDY WITH THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, WE'VE LOOKED AT OUR CONTRACTUAL AND COMMODITIES BUDGET AND IDENTIFIED POTENTIALLY $75,000.
IT'S MAINLY COMING FROM PRINTING COSTS.
WE'D BE LOOKING AT REDUCING OUR COMPUTER SOFTWARE BUDGET, UM, OUR POSTAGE BUDGET,