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GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.[Call to Order]
IN THE MORNING ON JANUARY 22ND, 2026, AND I WILL CALL TO ORDER THE FIRST REGULAR MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL FOR THE YEAR 2026.UH, WE ARE MEETING IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, WHICH ARE LOCATED IN CITY HALL AT 3 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND WE HAVE A QUORUM OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL PRESENT.
UH, BEFORE WE GET STARTED, UH, AS YOU JUST SAW WHEN YOU WERE, IF YOU WERE PAYING ATTENTION TO THAT VIDEO, UH, WE HAVE A NEW MAYOR PRO TEM.
THE WAY THE COUNCIL HAS DONE THIS, UH, OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS IS, UH, WE ELECT A MAYOR PRO TEM IN, IN SOME CASES WE ELECT A MAYOR PRO TEM FOR A YEAR.
AND THEN, UH, WE ALSO DESIGNATE WHO'S GONNA BE THE MAYOR PRO TEM FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR.
SO I WANNA SAY A BIG THANK YOU TO FORMER MAYOR PRO TEM VANESSA FUENTES, UH, WHO SERVED US VERY WELL LAST YEAR, AND, AND WE GREATLY APPRECIATE THAT AND WELCOME OUR NEW MAYOR, PRO TEM MAYOR, PRO TEM CHITO VELA.
AND I, AS PART OF THAT, I WANNA MAKE A SPECIAL PRESENTATION TO MAYOR PRO TEM VELA, UH, OF A GAVEL, A CEREMONIAL GAVEL, AND IT READS JOSE CHITO VELA 2026 AUSTIN MAYOR PRO TEM, PRESENTED BY MAYOR KIRK WATSON, AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR SERVICE.
UH, MAYOR, I'M, UH, I'M, I'M HONESTLY, I'M, I'M TOUCHED AND, AND, UH, UH, VANESSA HAS SET A VERY HIGH, HIGH BAR FOR, UH, UH, FOR COMMUNICATION AND FOR, YOU KNOW, PERFORMING THE DUTIES OF, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT, UH, ALTHOUGH WOW, UH, THEY THINK I'VE BEEN IN COURT MANY TIMES AND I THINK FOLKS HAVE BEEN, NEVER GIVE HIM THE GAVEL.
SO
CUSTOMER VELASQUEZ, DID YOU WANNA SAY SOMETHING? UH, YES, SIR.
UH, FIRST I WANNA SAY THAT I HEARD JOSE THE BEGINNING OF THAT, AND I THOUGHT Y'ALL HAD GOTTEN THE NAMES MIXED UP IN THE, IN THE ELECTION, AND I THOUGHT I WAS COMING UP NEXT, SO GOT A LITTLE EXCITED THERE, BUT I, I JUST WANTED TO, UH, MAKE A FEW COMMENTS.
IT IS A HISTORIC DAY IN AUSTIN.
TEJAS AUSTIN HELD ITS FIRST COUNCIL ELECTION IN 1840, AND IT TOOK 138 YEARS FOR US TO ELECT OUR FIRST LATINO MAYOR PRO TEM.
MAY HE REST IN PEACE ANOTHER 20 YEARS FOR US TO ELECT OUR SECOND ONE AND ANOTHER 10 AFTER THAT, TO ELECT A THIRD.
NEVER IN THE HISTORY OF THIS CITY HAVE WE ELECTED BACK TO BACK LATINO MAYORS PRO TEM IN THE 172 YEARS BEFORE WE PASSED THIS DISTRICT REPRESENTATION.
IN 2012, WE ONLY ELECTED THREE LATINOS MAYOR PRO TEM.
SINCE TEN ONE, WE HAVE ELECTED THREE LATINOS MAYORS PRO TEM IN JUST 14 YEARS.
THAT IS NOT COINCIDENCE, THAT IS PROGRESS, AND THAT WILL BE THE LEGACY OF TEN ONE, A SYSTEM THAT WIDENED THE CIRCLE OF LEADERSHIP THAT MADE REPRESENTATION REAL AND THAT PUSHED THIS CITY TO WORK HARDER TO ACKNOWLEDGE ITS SHORTCOMINGS AND LIVE UP TO ITS PROMISE OF PROGRESSIVISM.
NOT AS A SLOGAN, BUT AS A PRACTICE.
CHITO AND VANESSA, YOU ARE OUR ANCESTORS, WILDEST DREAMS WHISPERED IN PRAYERS THAT CROSS BORDERS, GENERATIONS AND HARDSHIPS.
AND FOR A BOY THAT IS BORN AND RAISED IN EAST AUSTIN, WHO HAS SEEN UP CLOSE, HOW THIS CITY'S LIBERALISM DOESN'T ALWAYS REACH THE SHORE OF PEOPLE OF COLOR, YOU ARE MY WILDEST DREAMS COME TRUE.
YOUR PROOF THAT WAS ONCE DENIED CAN STILL BE CLAIMED, AND THAT WAS ONCE IMAGINED CAN STILL BE REALIZED.
I'M BLESSED AND HONORED TO SERVE ALONGSIDE YOU AND TO WITNESS HISTORY NOT AS A CHAPTER LOSS, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ARE WRITING TOGETHER.
AND IT IS MY DREAM THAT IN MY LIFE I WILL SEE THE SEVENTH, EIGHTH, AND 20TH LATINOS MAYOR PRO TEM, AND THAT I'LL GET TO SEE THE FOURTH, FIFTH, AND SIXTH 50TH AFRICAN AMERICANS MAYOR PRO TE, THE FIRST MUSLIM MAYOR, PRO TEM, THE FIRST TRANS MAYOR, PRO TEM.
I WANT US TO GET A, GET A GET.
I WANT US TO GET TO A PLACE IN AUSTIN WHERE THESE MOMENTS ARE NO LONGER CALLED HISTORIC, WHERE THEY'RE COMMONPLACE, WHERE THE PRESENCE OF A PERSON OF COLOR AS MAYOR PRO TEM, DOES NOT CHALLENGE OUR SENSE OF WHAT NORMAL IS, BECAUSE IT IS NORM, THE NORM.
A CITY WHERE LEADERSHIP LOOKS LIKE IT'S PEOPLE WHERE REPRESENTATION IS NOT REMARKABLE, BUT REFLECTIVE, WHERE WE STOP MARVELING AT PROGRESS AND INSTEAD LIVE, LIVE IT SO COMPLETELY THAT IT SIMPLY BECOMES WHO WE ARE.
MY MENTOR, BIG SISTER, AND OUR ALL AROUND CHINGONA COUNTY ATTORNEY DERA, SAYS IT BEST.
OUR CHARGE IS NOT TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE THE FIRST, BUT TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE NOT THE LAST TO OUR LATINO MAYOR'S PRO TEM MAYOR,
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PRO TEM JOHN TINO, 1978, MAYOR GUS GARCIA, 1999 MAYOR PRO TEM, MIKE MARTINEZ, 2009, TRAVIS COUNTY ATTORNEY DELIA GARZA, 2019 MAYOR PRO TEM FUENTES 2025, AND TO OUR NEWEST EDITION, MIKE MPA AND BIG BROTHER MAYOR PRO TEM JOSE CHITO VELA FOR 2026.THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE ANTE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER.
ALRIGHT, SO, UM, WITH THAT WE WILL, UM, I'LL TELL YOU HOW WE'RE GONNA GO THROUGH THE REST OF THIS DAY.
IN JUST A FEW MINUTES, I'LL READ CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS INTO THE RECORD FOR THE JANUARY 22ND MEETING.
UM, WE WILL THEN GO TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA.
I DON'T HAVE ANY ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PULLED.
UH, ONE ITEM THAT HAD BEEN PULLED IS NOW, THAT'S ITEM NUMBER 52 HAS NOW BEEN WITHDRAWN, SO WE HAVE NO ITEMS PULLED, UH, FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA, WE WILL HAVE SPEAKERS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, UM, AND THEN WE WILL ALSO A, AFTER THAT WE WILL GO TO OUR NON-CONSENT ITEMS. MEMBERS, UH, AS YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE ITEMS, UH, FROM, UH, COUNCIL COMMITTEES.
WE HAVE, UH, TWO ITEMS, ITEMS 57 AND ITEM 85.
WE WILL ALSO HAVE OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS.
ITEMS 58 59, 60, 61, 60, TRU TWO, I'M SORRY, 61, 62, 63.
UH, ITEM 64 HAS WITH BEEN BEEN WITHDRAWN, 65, 66, 67, AND ITEM 86 HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN.
WHEN WE'RE AROUND, WHEN WE'RE AT 12 O'CLOCK, UM, WE WILL HAVE OUR TIME, CERTAIN PUBLIC COMMUNICATION, WE WILL RECESS, UH, AT THE END OF THAT.
I ANTICIPATE THAT WILL BE ABOUT 1230 OR 1235, AND WE WILL HAVE LIVE MUSIC.
WE WILL RECESS UNTIL PROBABLY AROUND ONE 10.
WHEN WE DO THAT RECESS, WE HAVE SOME TIME CERTAINS AT TWO O'CLOCK THAT ARE PUBLIC HEARINGS.
THOSE ARE, UM, I'M SORRY, THOSE ITEMS THAT WERE SET FOR TWO O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN HAVE BEEN WITHDRAWN.
THE TWO, THE TWO ITEMS, 68 AND 69.
SO IF ANYBODY'S LISTENING OR HERE BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO BE PART OF THE PUBLIC HEARINGS ON ITEM 68 AND 69, THOSE TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS HAVE BEEN WITHDRAWN AT TWO O'CLOCK.
WE WILL ALSO HAVE OUR TIME CERTAIN ON ZONING.
THOSE ARE ITEMS 70 THROUGH 84.
UNLESS THERE'S QUESTIONS, I WILL NOW READ CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS INTO THE RECORD.
ITEM NUMBER 15 HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN.
ITEM NUMBER 16 HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN.
ITEM NUMBER 61 SHOULD READ, CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE ADJUSTING THE CITY'S BOUNDARY LIMITS BY DIS ANNEXING APPROXIMATELY DELETE 0.06, DELETE 0.06, AND REPLACE IT WITH 0.0 5.05 ACRES OF LAND LOCATED IN THE CITY'S FULL.
FOUR FIVE, WHAT'D I SAY? I'M SORRY, POINT.
IT'S THE FIRST MEETING OF THE NEW YEAR.
LET ME SEE IF I CAN GET THESE NUMBERS RIGHT.
UM, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT I SAID, BUT I SAID IT WRONG.
POINT ZERO FOUR FIVE ACRES OF LAND LOCATED IN THE CITY'S FULL PURPOSE JURISDICTION AND AT 3 1 0 1 FRITZ HUGHES PARK ROAD, ET CETERA.
ITEM 64, WHEN PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE TAKEN UP, THIS ITEM WILL BE WITHDRAWN.
WHEN THE 2:00 PM PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE TAKEN UP, THIS ITEM WILL BE WITHDRAWN.
WHEN THE TWO O'CLOCK PUB PM PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE TAKEN UP, THIS ITEM WILL BE WITHDRAWN.
WHEN PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE TAKEN UP, THIS ITEM WILL BE WITHDRAWN THAT THOSE ARE THE CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS TO BE READ INTO THE RECORD MEMBERS, WE WILL NOW GO TO THE CONSENT, UNLESS THERE'S OBJECTION OR QUESTIONS.
[Consent Agenda]
AGENDA AS WE GO INTO THE CONSENT AGENDA.LET ME POINT OUT ON ITEM NUMBER 48.
ITEM NUMBER 48 RELATES TO APPOINTMENTS ON ITEM NUMBER 48.
UH, THERE'S A POTENTIAL APPOINTMENT.
THERE WAS A POTENTIAL APPOINTMENT TO THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT FOR DISTRICT ONE.
THE NAME PATRICK HOWARD IS BEING WITHDRAWN.
SO AT THE TIME WE TAKE UP THE CONSENT AGENDA, THE MOTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA WILL BE TO WITHDRAW THE NAME.
IT, IT WILL NOT INCLUDE THE NAME PATRICK HOWARD BECAUSE THE NAME PATRICK HOWARD IS BEING WITHDRAWN FROM
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THE APPOINTMENT TO THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT.WITH THAT, WE WILL NOW GO TO THE CONSENT AGENDA AND I WILL TURN TO THE CLERK AND ASK YOU TO HELP US NAVIGATE THROUGH THAT.
STARTING WITH ITEM ONE, WE HAVE ZENOBIA JOSEPH, WELCOME MS. JOSEPH, HAPPY NEW YEAR.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS SPECIFICALLY AS IT RELATES TO THE MINUTES FROM DECEMBER 11TH, 2025.
I JUST WANT YOU TO ANNOTATE IN THE RECORD THAT I WAS ON THE, THE LINE I CALLED IN REMOTELY.
SO IT'S A BIT PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE I COULD HEAR THE MEETING THROUGH ITS ENTIRETY, BUT THEN YOU CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENTS AND THEN I WAS DISCONNECTED.
SO I'M NOT REAL SURE WHAT I NEED TO DO TO ENSURE THAT IF I REGISTER FOR REMOTE TESTIMONY THAT I'M ABLE TO SPEAK.
THE OTHER THING I WOULD CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION AS A TECHNICALITY IS THAT IF YOU REGISTER TO SPEAK REMOTELY, IT ONLY ALLOWS ONE POSITION UNLIKE THE KIOSK.
SO THE PERSON HAS TO BE FOR ON OR AGAINST OR DO MULTIPLE REGISTRATIONS.
SO I JUST DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE ABLE TO FIX THAT, UH, SO THAT IT MIRRORS THE KIOSK.
THE KIOSK ALLOWS US TO REGISTER FOR MULTIPLE ITEMS AT ONCE, BUT THEN IT ACTUALLY DELINEATES EACH OF THE ITEMS AND YOU CAN REGISTER THAT YOU WANNA SPEAK YES OR NO, AND THEN IT ALSO ALLOWS YOU TO PUT YOUR POSITION ON FOR AGAINST.
JUST WANTED TO MAKE YOU AWARE THAT I WAS ON THE LINE.
I HEARD MR. BUNCHES TESTIMONY AND OTHER PEOPLE AS WELL.
UM, BUT THERE'S GOTTA BE A WAY FOR THE PERSON ON THE LINE TO ACTUALLY CONTACT THE CLERK OR THE PERSON THAT'S THE VENDOR.
UM, IT DOES GIVE US A MESSAGE THAT SAYS, IF YOU WANNA ASK A QUESTION, PRESS ZERO, BUT THAT DOESN'T WORK.
SO IF THEY CAN ENABLE THAT FUNCTION, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT AND OTHERS MAY DO SO AS WELL.
ITEM NUMBER THREE, UH, IS A MEMBERS.
ITEM NUMBER THREE IS A, UH, POTENTIAL SETTLEMENT.
AND SO WE HAVE A PRESENTATION FROM LEGAL AND I'LL ASK, UM, LEGAL TO MAKE THAT PRESENTATION FOR US.
GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR, UH, NEW MAYOR, PRO TEM, UH, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS JEREMY THOMPSON AND I'M HERE TODAY TO RECOMMEND THAT YOU PROVE SETTLEMENT PAYMENTS, UM, IN TWO PERSONAL INJURY SUITS THAT SHOW UP AS ITEMS NUMBER THREE AND NUMBER FIVE IN YOUR AGENDA TODAY.
ITEM NUMBER THREE, A MAYOR VERSUS CITY OF AUSTIN.
WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU APPROVE A PAYMENT TOTALING $155,000 TO SETTLE THE LAWSUIT TITLED MAYOR VERSUS CITY OF AUSTIN.
THIS LAWSUIT RELATES TO A NOVEMBER 20, 24 CAR ACCIDENT INVOLVING AN AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT VEHICLE WHERE PLAINTIFFS SEEK PAYMENT FOR INJURIES ALLEGEDLY SUSTAINED IN THE ACCIDENT.
IN EXCHANGE FOR THE PAYMENT, PLAINTIFF WILL RELEASE ANY AND ALL CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY FROM THE ACCIDENT AND WILL ALSO DISMISS THE LAWSUIT FILED IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF TRAVIS COUNTY.
THE AUSTIN CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE RECOMMENDS THAT YOU APPROVE PAYMENT BASED UPON THESE TERMS. ITEM NUMBER FIVE, BEFORE WE GO TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE, JUST FOR CLARITY PURPOSES, THE NAME OF THE PLAINTIFF IS MAYOR
UH, WE, UH, WE OUGHT TO HAVE SOME CLARITY THOUGH TO THAT.
UH, ALL RIGHT, ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
ITEM NUMBER FIVE, UH, WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU APPROVE A SETTLEMENT PAYMENT TOTALING $172,000 TO SETTLE THE LAWSUIT TITLED TIMOTHY JONES INDIVIDUALLY AND AS NEXT FRIEND OF BRADLEY JONES, A MINOR VERSUS CITY OF AUSTIN, DBA AUSTIN ENERGY.
THIS LAWSUIT RELATES TO A JULY, 2024 CAR ACCIDENT INVOLVING AN AUSTIN ENERGY VEHICLE WHERE THE PLAINTIFFS SEEK PAYMENT FOR INJURIES, ALLEGEDLY, EXCUSE ME, ALLEGEDLY SUSTAINED IN THE ACCIDENT.
IN EXCHANGE FOR THE PAYMENT, THE PLAINTIFFS WILL RELEASE ANY AND ALL CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY AND WILL DISMISS THEIR LAWSUIT FILED IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF TRAVIS COUNTY.
THE AUSTIN CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE RECOMMENDS THAT YOU APPROVE PAYMENT BASED UPON THESE TERMS, AND I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY.
APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENTATION MEMBERS.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF OUR LEGAL COUNSEL ON ITEMS THREE OR FIVE? ALRIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR.
LET'S RETURN TO THE CLERK FOR CALLING PEOPLE'S NAMES.
WE HAVE SENOIA JOSEPH AND BILL BUNCH, MR. BUNCH, ARE YOU HERE? OH, I APOLOGIZE.
MR. BUNCH IS NOT BEYOND SEVEN.
ALL RIGHT, MR. BUNCH, ARE YOU HERE? OKAY, MS. JOSEPH, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
THANK YOU, MAYOR COUNSEL, I'M ENOVIA JOSEPH.
ITEM NUMBER SEVEN IS ACTUALLY THE CONTRACT FOR $29.3 MILLION
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FOR BRIGHT VERDE WAY.I JUST WANNA CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION SPECIFICALLY, AND I'LL HAVE THE STAFF BRING UP MY ONE PRESENTATION LATER, BUT THAT CORRIDOR IS PARALLEL WITH NORTH LAMAR BOULEVARD.
I WOULD, UH, CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION THE FATALITIES THAT OCCUR ON NORTH LAMAR AND WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT YOU'VE GONE OUT OF YOUR WAY TO PRIVILEGE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE WHITE CHOICE WRITERS GOING TO THE AUSTIN FC SOCCER GAMES.
AND SO THIS CONTRACT SPECIFICALLY IS GOING TO UTILIZE FUNDING THAT COULD POT POTENTIALLY BE USED FOR NORTH LAMAR.
INSTEAD, I WILL JUST CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS IMPORTANT, ALL OF THIS TIES IN THE PROJECT CONNECT, AND I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THIS IS SPECIFICALLY THE BROADMOOR STATION AREA.
I WANT YOU TO REALIZE THAT THE CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS ACT PROHIBITS USE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS FOR PROPAGANDA AND INFLUENCING LEGISLATION.
AND I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT ON DECEMBER 21ST OR SO, UH, DECEMBER 17TH, 2021, CAPITOL METRO ACTUALLY PAID $1,000,087 TO BLANK ROME.
THEY'VE HAD LOBBYISTS INFLUENCING LEGISLATION BEFORE CONGRESS SINCE 2008, WHICH, UH, ESSENTIALLY SHOULD DISQUALIFY YOU FOR THE FEDERAL FUNDING, UH, FOR THE LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM.
I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE MY COMMENTS, AS THEY ALWAYS ARE, ARE IN THE CONTEXT OF TITLE VI OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964, WHICH PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE, COLOR, AND NATIONAL ORIGIN.
AND I DO WANT TO STATE MY OPPOSITION TO HAVE IN CHEETO VELA ON THAT BOARD.
UH, AND I WILL SAY IT'S GERMANE MAYOR, BECAUSE THAT'S A THREE YEAR APPOINTMENT, NOT A ONE YEAR APPOINTMENT, BUT I CAN SPEAK TO THAT IN MORE DETAIL WHEN YOU GET TO THE ITEM ON BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GO AHEAD AND ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME.
WELL, MR. JOSEPH, YOU MIGHT, YOU COULD FEEL FREE TO STAY THERE.
UM, WE HAVE MR. BUN BILL BUNCH ON ITEMS 22, AND THEN ALSO HE DOES, HE DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE HERE.
OKAY? HE ALSO SIGNED UP FOR 23, SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM 37, ZIA JOSEPH, AND ABOUT TO KEEP UP WITH.
SO, UM, THANK YOU MAYOR COUNCIL ZIA JOSEPH, ITEM 37 IS SPECIFICALLY $99,359 FOR CAMP CAP COG, AND I JUST WANNA CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION SPECIFICALLY THERE'S LANGUAGE AS IT RELATES TO REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION IN THAT RESOLUTION.
I WANT YOU TO BE AWARE, IN 2021, CAMPBELL ACTUALLY DESIGNATED FM 7 34 PALMER LANE, SAMSUNG, THE APPLE AS A REGIONALLY SIGNIFICANT CORRIDOR.
THERE WERE OTHER MAJOR CORRIDORS LISTED AS WELL.
I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE IT WAS JULY 27TH, 2020 WHEN COUNSEL ACTUALLY ELIMINATED THE METRO RAPID THAT WOULD'VE SERVED MINORITIES AND ALSO ALL THE WAY PROBABLY THE LEANDER TO THE WHITE CHOICE RIDERS ON FM 7 34.
TO THIS DAY, WE DO NOT HAVE TRANSPORTATION.
I WANNA REMIND YOU THAT THERE'S A 425 ACRE DEVELOPMENT ACROSS FROM SAMSUNG.
I WANNA REMIND YOU AS WELL THAT THERE IS NO TRANSPORTATION AND EVEN THE DESSAU PICKUP ZONE DOESN'T GO EAST WEST ON, UH, JUNE 3RD, 2018.
CAPITAL METRO ELIMINATED EAST WEST CONNECTIVITY AND THEY ACTUALLY DOUBLE AND TRIPLE COUNT MINORITIES.
SO THEY GAME THE SYSTEM AND THEN PURPORT TO BELIEVE THAT THERE'S INCREASED RIDERSHIP SYSTEM WIDE.
SO I'M NOT REAL SURE IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF THE STAFF WOULD ACTUALLY PRESENT TO US WHAT CAP COG HAS DONE FOR REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION.
UH, ANECDOTALLY I DON'T SEE IT, UH, AND I DON'T THINK YOU DO AS WELL, MAYOR AND I WILL LASTLY JUST SAY IT WAS DECEMBER 17TH, 2018, WHEN YOU WERE BEFORE CAPITOL METRO'S BOARD WHEN THEY ACTUALLY APPROVED THE LONG RANGE PLAN FOR PROJECT CONNECT.
BUT IN 2014, YOU HAD A PROJECT CONNECT NORTH CORRIDOR LOCALLY PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE STUDY THAT TOLD YOU 58% OF THE JOBS WOULD BE IN THE NORTH CORRIDOR BY 2035.
AND WITH THAT IN MIND, I WOULD ASK THAT THIS NOT JUST BE A FEE THAT YOU'RE PAYING, BUT THAT YOU ACTUALLY DO REGIONAL MOBILITY.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GLADLY ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME.
NEXT WE HAVE ITEM 42, ZIA JOSEPH.
COUNSEL, ITEM 42, AND I DON'T HAVE THE SHEET IN FRONT OF ME IS A CAMPO PROJECT CALL.
IT'S ACTUALLY FOR THE ITEMS THAT ARE GOING TO BE ON THE CALL FOR 2028 TO 2031.
IT'S DUE, UH, AT THE END OF THIS MONTH TO CAMPO.
I JUST WANNA REMIND YOU THAT IT MENTIONS VULNERABLE POPULATIONS IN THAT DOCUMENT.
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NUMEROUS TIMES.ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S PROBLEMATIC, HOWEVER, AND CHEETO VELA CAN PULL UP THE DOCUMENT AND LOOK AT IT, THERE IS A LANGUAGE IN THERE SPECIFICALLY FOR NORTH LAMAR FROM BREAKER TO US 180 3.
THAT'S APPROXIMATELY $4.9 MILLION.
BUT I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT 75 PEOPLE WERE HIT IN A THREE MILE STRETCH ON NORTH LAMAR, BETWEEN NORTH LAMAR TRANSIT CENTER AND ABOUT BREAKER LANE.
THIS WAS IN THE DANGEROUS BY DESIGN DOCUMENT THAT WAS DONE BY KU DEFENDERS.
AND WHAT I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE, MAYOR, THAT IN 2009 T THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE AND THE CITY'S DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING, AND THE POLICE AS WELL AS TRANSPORTATION STUDIED NORTH LAMAR FOR 20 MONTHS.
AND SO THIS IS THE SAME AREA ESSENTIALLY, THAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY SEEKING FUNDING FOR.
I WOULD SUBMIT TO YOU THAT YOU COULD TABLE THE BRIGHT VERDE WAY ITEM AND YOU COULD ACTUALLY USE SOME FUNDING TO IMPROVE NORTH LAMAR.
AND RESPECTFULLY, MERIT WAS ABOUT 30 YEARS THAT IT TOOK FOR THERE TO BE A SIDEWALK FROM NORTH LAMAR TRANSIT CENTER OVER TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN DISTRICT 14 WHEN YOU WERE MAYOR.
1985 IS WHEN NORTH LAMAR TRANSIT CENTER WAS ACTUALLY CONSTRUCTED.
AND THEN IN 2019, I TESTIFIED BEFORE TEXAS TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION MAY 29TH AND 30TH, AND THERE WAS STILL NO SIDEWALK.
AND THIS WAS AFTER DAVID JOHN MADANO WAS KILLED MID-BLOCK.
AND SO I WOULD ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE IN THE NORTH LAMAR CORRIDOR.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GLADLY ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME.
NEXT WE HAVE ITEM 40 THREES AND OIA JOSEPH.
THIS IS ACTUALLY THE CAMP ITEM.
I, THEY'RE ALL PRETTY MUCH, UH, GERMANE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT ITEM I JUST SPOKE TO MAYOR, BUT SPECIFICALLY THIS IS THE CAMP CALL.
IT'S ACTUALLY GONNA BE ON CAPITOL METRO'S AGENDA ON MONDAY AS WELL.
I JUST WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, IT WAS 2009 THAT THE 20 MONTH STUDY WAS DONE.
AND THIS IS A CALL FOR PROJECTS THAT WILL ESSENTIALLY MAKE THE PEOPLE IN NORTH LAMAR WAIT FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS.
YOU'VE HAD THE FUNDING, YOU HAD $47.5 MILLION FOR SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL.
AND ONE OF THE POINTS THAT YOU CAN GET IN THE CAMPO, UH, ITEM IS ABOUT 75% FOR ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION.
AND SO THEY DO VALUE PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS.
BUT IF YOU GO TO NORTH LAMAR TODAY, RUNDBERG NORTH LAMAR AREA, YOU WILL SEE PLAIN PAVEMENT.
AS YOU'RE AWARE, THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, MIKE ROGERS, I DID A RECON WITH HIM AND HE ACTUALLY LOOKED AT THAT AREA, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THAT AREA IS STILL NOT BEING INCLUDED FOR SHARED USE PATHS.
IF YOU LOOK IN THE BACKUP MATERIALS, YOU WILL ACTUALLY SEE SHARED USE PATHS FOR SOUTH AUSTIN, BUT YOU WILL NOT SEE IT SPECIFICALLY FOR THE NORTHEAST CORRIDOR.
I'LL ALSO CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION THE REPORT THAT WAS DONE, UH, BY ANNA MARTIN.
AND BASICALLY, UH, AS YOU'RE AWARE, MAYOR ON, UH, THE FINANCE COMMITTEE ON THE 14TH OF THIS MONTH, YOU ACTUALLY GOT A PRESENTATION THAT SAID THAT THE TRANSPORTATION OFFICE IS REALLY NOT TRANSPARENT AND THEY'RE NOT USING CRITERIA SPECIFICALLY SO THAT THE PUBLIC KNOWS HOW THESE BOND DOLLARS ARE BEING UTILIZED.
UH, IT WAS NOVEMBER 8TH, 2016 WHEN THE $720 MILLION BOND PACKAGE PASSED.
BUT STILL, NO MATTER THE AMOUNT OF MONEY, EVEN THOUGH NORTH LAMORE RISES TO THE TOP, IT'S NOT FUNDED.
AND THAT IS ACTUALLY IN YOUR AUSTIN STRATEGIC MOBILITY PLAN UPDATE ON PAGE 23, UH, PAGE, UH, 78, I STAND CORRECTED IN 2023.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL ANSWER THEM.
WE HAVE SENOIA JOSEPH ON DECK FOR ITEMS 49, WE'LL HAVE BRIDE AND SUMMERS, TONY MACIAS AND DAVID CRUZ.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GO AHEAD AND TAKE A SEAT SO THAT, UH, YOU'LL BE READY WHEN WE CALL YOUR NAME FOR YOUR TESTIMONY.
SO ITEM 48 IS YOUR STANDING BOARD AND COMMISSION ITEM.
I ACTUALLY WENT TO KINKO'S, SO I FEEL A LITTLE CHEATED BECAUSE I WENT AND PAID TO GET THAT PRINTED.
YOU MENTIONED ON TUESDAY AT THE WORK SESSION THAT NOBODY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK BEFORE YOU, BUT I JUST SORT REMIND YOU THAT YOUR CHANGES TO THE SIGNUP POLICY IS SILENT ON HOLIDAYS AND WHILE THE STAFF WASN'T WORKING, THE PUBLIC WAS EXPECTED TO REGISTER BY NOON, AND THEN THE ONLY OTHER TIME WE COULD HAVE REGISTERED WAS IN PERSON 45 MINUTES BEFORE THE MEETING STARTED.
BUT AT NINE O'CLOCK, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU STARTED WITH AUSTIN ENERGY OVERSIGHT.
HAD YOU POSTED THE MEETING FOR THE ACTUAL TIME THAT YOU WERE GOING TO CONVENE, THEN MAYBE WE WOULD'VE SIGNED UP.
[00:25:01]
POINT IN BRINGING THIS UP TO YOU, MAYOR, IS BECAUSE THE ITEM IS BLANK, IT HAS POSTING LANGUAGE, BUT IT DOES NOT HAVE THE LIST OF APPOINTMENTS FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS.AND EVEN AFTER THE DISCUSSION, IT DOES NOT HAVE THE FINAL DOCUMENT THAT YOU ACTUALLY SUBMITTED TO THE CLERK.
AND SO THERE'S AVOID ABILITY PROVISION IN THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT, AND I WOULD SUBMIT TO YOU THAT WHEN THE PUBLIC HAS NO IDEA WHAT YOU'RE VOTING ON, THAT WHATEVER ACTIONS YOU TOOK SHOULD BE VOIDABLE.
UM, I WOULD JUST CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION.
OBVIOUSLY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DOESN'T ENFORCE THE, UH, OPEN MEETINGS ACT.
IT'S THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.
AND SO THERE ARE LOOPS, YOU KNOW, A BUNCH OF LOOPS THAT WE HAVE TO JUMP THROUGH IN ORDER TO GET YOU, UM, TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR ACTIONS SUCH AS THIS.
BUT I DO WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE AS IT RELATES TO CAPITAL METRO, THAT IS A THREE YEAR APPOINTMENT AND YOU KEEP CIRCUMVENTING THE LAW BY ANNUALLY APPOINTING SOMEONE TO THAT BOARD.
AND I WOULD ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE SPECIFICALLY THAT IN THE LAST QUADRENNIAL REPORT FROM CAPITAL METRO, IT SAYS THAT THERE'S SOMEONE ON THE BOARD REPRESENTING THE DISADVANTAGE, BUT HE HAS NEVER DONE ANYTHING TO LOOK AT COVERAGE.
AND I WOULD ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT TEXAS TRANSPORTATION CODE FOR 4 5 1 ACTUALLY PERMITS YOU TO APPOINT AN INDIVIDUAL AND NOT JUST THE ELECTED OFFICIALS.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL ANSWER THEM.
I'M BRIAN SUMMERS, PRESIDENT OF ASME LOCAL 1624, THE UNION THAT REPRESENTS CITY OF AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY EMPLOYEES ON BEHALF OF THE UNION.
WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT ITEM 49 TODAY.
UH, I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBERS, VELASQUEZ LANE, CADRE AND FUENTES FOR CO-SPONSORING.
I ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL AND HIS OFFICE FOR OR FOR SPONSORING THIS, UH, FOR THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE, RESEARCHING IT AND BRINGING IT FORWARD TODAY.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE AND THE LAW DEPARTMENT FOR PROVIDING FEEDBACK AND SUGGESTIONS SO IT COULD GET TO A POINT WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY WHERE WE CAN ALL CONSIDER IT.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE ARE SO PLEASED THAT THIS IS ON CONSENT BECAUSE IT SHOWS THAT AUSTIN IS A LABOR TOWN.
IT SHOWS THAT OUR COUNCIL CARES ABOUT ITS WORKERS, THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE THIS, UH, CITY RUN.
UM, WHY IS CONSULTATION IMPORTANT? UH, IT'S BECAUSE IT'S A PRACTICE THAT'S VERY COMMON IN LABOR AGREEMENTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, BUT WE'RE NOT ABLE TO HAVE IT HERE AS CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES.
WHEN I'VE TALKED TO PEOPLE ABOUT THIS IDEA, THE COMMON REFRAIN HAS BEEN THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.
AND WE AGREE BECAUSE IT ESTABLISHES A STRUCTURED, UH, CONSISTENT COMMUNICATION LINE BETWEEN US AND CITY MANAGEMENT.
I THINK MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT'S GOING TO CREATE A PARTNERSHIP THAT'S GONNA BE GOOD FOR THE CITY.
AND THERE'S REALLY THREE BENEFICIARIES HERE.
ONE, OF COURSE, THE WORKERS BEING ABLE TO TAKE OUR ISSUES DIRECTLY TO CITY MANAGEMENT AND ALSO TO ADVOCATE FOR WORKERS THAT HAVE LESS VISIBILITY, PARTICULARLY FOLKS OUT IN THE FIELD.
FOR THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, WE THINK THEY'RE GONNA HAVE BENEFITS BECAUSE WE'LL BE SHARING INFORMATION.
UH, THE UNION CAN HELP CONTEXTUALIZE AND SPREAD INFORMATION FROM THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, UH, TO HELP MAKE SURE EMPLOYEES ARE INFORMED.
BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, I THINK THE BIGGEST BENEFICIARY HERE IS GONNA BE THE PUBLIC, BECAUSE IF WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER IN A PARTNERSHIP, WE'RE GONNA HAVE BETTER OUTCOMES.
WE KNOW THAT THERE'S SERIOUS ISSUES THAT THE CITY IS FACING, PARTICULARLY RELATED TO THE BUDGET.
AND THIS WORK TOGETHER IS GONNA HELP US CREATE THOSE EFFICIENCIES AND MOVE THIS CITY FORWARD AND, UH, REALLY GIVE THE VOTERS AND OUR, UH, CITIZENS WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR.
I'M GONNA GET MY PHONE 'CAUSE IT JUST, OKAY.
UH, GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
UH, I, MY NAME'S DAVID CRUZ, I'M ON THE BOARD OF AFME LOCAL 1624, UH, AND I WORK FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
I JUST WANNA OFFER A HEARTFELT THANK YOU FROM THE BOARD, FROM OUR MEMBERS, UH, TO THIS ENTIRE COUNCIL, TO THIS ENTIRE DIOCESE, UH, ESPECIALLY TO COUNCIL MEMBERS, CADRE LANE, VELAZQUEZ, AND FUENTES, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, TO COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL AND YOUR STAFF WHO HAVE WORKED VERY HARD ON THIS.
AND ALSO A THANK YOU TO THE CITY MANAGER, UH, FOR, FOR COMING TO THE TABLE ON THIS AND GIVING IMPORTANT INPUT.
UH, WE SEE THE COMMITMENT TO THE LABOR MOVEMENT HERE, AND THAT MEANS THE WORLD TO US.
BUT I'M GONNA PUT ON MY BUREAUCRAT HAT A LITTLE BIT AND JUST SAY THAT WHEN WE LOOK AROUND AND WE SEE OUR PEER CITIES, CITIES THAT WE OFTEN COMPARE OURSELVES TO, THE DENVERS, PORTLANDS, MINNEAPOLIS, HOUSTON, WE SEE THAT THEY HAVE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.
AND THIS, THIS ITEM MOVES US CLOSER TO THOSE TYPES OF AGREEMENTS WE SEE WITH MUNICIPAL WORKERS AND MANAGEMENT AND COUNCILS.
AND, UH, THE REASON THIS IS BEST PRACTICE IS THAT WHEN WE SEE LARGE ORGANIZATIONS, WE SEE THAT EFFICIENCY IS TIED TO EXPERTISE.
AND THE EXPERTS OF HOW THIS CITY RUN ARE THE PEOPLE WHO WORK EVERY DAY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PICKING UP TRASH, THAT WE'RE BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THAT
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WE ARE PLANNING OUR CITY, THAT WE'RE DOING ALL THE MOST IMPORTANT WORK.THEY'RE THE CLOSEST TO THE PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS.
AND THAT'S WHY THIS ITEM IS SO IMPORTANT.
IT PUTS THOSE WORKER VOICES IN CONSULTATION WITH CITY MANAGEMENT.
IT OPENS A CLEAR LINE OF COMMUNICATION AND IT'S GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WILL INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY AND GUARANTEE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE AS A CITY ARE DELIVERING ON OUR PROMISES TO THE PUBLIC.
GOOD MORNING, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY MANAGER, AND THE MAYOR.
MY NAME IS TONY MACIAS AND I AM A UNION REPRESENTATIVE WITH AFSCME LOCAL 1624, REPRESENTING CITY OF AUSTIN EMPLOYEES.
I AM HERE TODAY TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 49, THE CONSULTATION PROCESS.
I HAVE FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE WITH CONSULTATION THROUGH MY PREVIOUS ROLE AS PRESIDENT OF THE SAN ANTONIO, A FT, REPRESENTING PARAPROFESSIONALS AND CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES.
IN THAT ROLE, WE WORKED COLLABORATIVELY WITH S-A-I-S-D TO ADDRESS WORKPLACE ISSUES, SHARE FEEDBACK, STRENGTHENED TRUST, AND IMPROVED OUTCOMES FOR BOTH EMPLOYEES AND MANAGEMENT.
CONSULTATION GIVES EMPLOYEES A VOICE AND A SEAT AT THE TABLE.
NO ONE UNDERSTANDS THE DAILY CHALLENGES OF PUBLIC SERVICE BETTER THAN EMPLOYEES WORKING IN THE TRENCHES EVERY DAY.
THEIR EXPERIENCE AND INSIGHT ARE INVALUABLE WHEN IT COMES TO IMPROVING EFFICIENCY, PRODUCTIVITY, AND SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC.
I COMMEND THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF A STRUCTURED AND POSITIVE PROCESS THAT ALLOWS EMPLOYEES TO CONTRIBUTE MEANINGFULLY FOR MOST MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES.
OUTSIDE OF POLICE AND FIRE CONSULTATION IS THE CLOSEST AVAILABLE PATHWAY TO COLLECTIVE PROBLEM SOLVING AND SHARED DECISION MAKING.
THE CITY OFTEN REFERS TO ITSELF AS A TEAM, AND CONSULTATION TRULY REFLECTS THAT VALUE.
IT IS A TEAM EFFORT THAT BENEFITS EMPLOYEES MANAGEMENT AND ULTIMATELY THE COMMUNITY THAT WE SERVE.
WE RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU VOTE YES, VOTE IN FAVOR OF CONSULTATION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
CONTINUING ITEM 49, WE HAVE NATHAN FERNANDEZ, BEN SOTHEBY, ANDREW HAIR ON DECK FOR ITEM 51, WE'LL HAVE AS ZIA JOSEPH.
UH, MY NAME IS NATHAN FERNANDEZ.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT TWO, A PROUD MEMBER OF AFSCME LOCAL 1624, AND AN EMPLOYEE OF THE COUNTY HERE ON MY OWN TIME.
UM, I JUST WANNA THANK FIRST OF ALL COUNCIL MEMBER COUNCILOR, COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, UH, VELASQUEZ LANE, CADRE AND FRANCIS FOR CO-SPONSORING THIS ITEM.
UM, WHEN I GO OUT AND ABOUT THE LABOR MOVEMENT WITH OUR BROTHERS AND THE ELECTRICAL WORKERS, TEACHERS UNIONS AND EVERYTHING, AND I TELL THEM ABOUT AFSP, WE'RE THE BIGGEST UNION IN TOWN, AND THEY'RE SHOCKED TO HEAR THAT WE DON'T ACTUALLY OPERATE OFF OF A CONTRACT BECAUSE IN TEXAS, CIVIL PUBLIC WORKERS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE ONE.
WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO COLLECTIVELY BARGAIN.
SO THIS ITEM REALLY BRINGS US A FIRST TIME OPPORTUNITY TO SIGNAL TO THE REST OF THE LABOR COMMUNITY AND RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN THAT WE CARE ABOUT CITY WORKERS AND MUNICIPAL WORKERS, UH, THAT Y'ALL CARE ABOUT PUBLIC WORKERS AND THAT, UH, THIS RESOLUTION AND THIS AGREEMENT IS STANDARD PRACTICE IN MANY LABOR CONTRACTS.
UM, AND IS A, IS A, IS A MEANINGFUL PRACTICE TO BRING IN, UH, AND HAVE AN OPEN LINE TO RANK AND FILE WORKERS LIKE MYSELF AND, AND THOUSANDS OF OTHERS, UH, LIKE ME AT THE CITY, UM, TO COLLABORATE AND SHARE INFORMATION AND BE IN THE KNOW WHEN THERE ARE ANY SWEEPING CHANGES TO PERSONNEL OR WORKFORCE CAPACITY.
UM, AND WE'RE KEENLY AWARE THAT THOSE MIGHT BE ON THE HORIZON THIS YEAR.
UM, SO THIS IS THE FIRST STEP IN US, UH, BEING AT THE TABLE, UM, BEING CLOSE TO ALL OF Y'ALL IN THE DECISIONS YOU MAKE.
UH, AND WE HOPE THAT THIS WILL BE A REALLY EFFECTIVE AGREEMENT GOING FORWARD, UM, TO ENSURE THAT, UH, ANY CHANGES TO THE PERSONNEL OR WORKFORCE OF THE CITY ARE BROUGHT IN, IN FORCE WITH THE WORKERS IN MIND FIRST AND FOREMOST AT THE TABLE.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN, COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL AND THE REST OF Y'ALL.
GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
I'M A CIVIL RIGHTS LAWYER AND DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST BASED IN DISTRICT ONE OF AUSTIN.
I ECHO NATHAN'S GRATITUDE TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO SPONSORED THIS ITEM ON THE COUNCIL AGENDA TODAY.
2026 MARKS A DECADE AS A CIVIL RIGHTS LAWYER.
FOR ME, I FOCUSED MY CAREER ON DISMANTLING THE SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE, BUT WITHIN THAT, WE SEE THE DISENFRANCHISEMENT THAT COMES WITH PARENTS WHO ARE SEEKING TO ENGAGE WITH THE SYSTEMS THAT IMPACT THEIR CHILDREN.
WE COULD SEE WHERE CITY AND COUNTY WORKERS
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WHO ARE TRYING TO FIGHT FOR THE RIGHTS OF THEIR CHILDREN ARE CURTAILED IN THEIR ABILITY TO FULLY VOCALIZE WHAT THEIR CHILDREN NEED.THIS CONSULTATION POLICY, I BELIEVE, STRENGTHENS THE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.
THE PARTICIPATION OF WORKING CLASS PEOPLE IN AUSTIN AND, UH, AS DAVID SAID PREVIOUSLY BRINGS US CLOSER TO OUR PEER CITIES LIKE DENVER AND I THINK IS IMPORTANT PIECE TO CONVEY TO THE WORLD IN THIS TIME OF GROWING PRIVATIZATION AND FASCISM.
IT'S CERTAINLY BEEN A DIFFICULT PRESS YEAR FOR CITY HALL.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT VARIOUS POLICY REFORMS HAVE GONE TO PLACE WITH REGARD TO SPENDING THAT OCCURS AT CITY HALL, AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE PEOPLE OF SME LOCAL 1624 WHO TRULY MAKE THIS CITY RUN BE AT THE TABLE WITH CITY MANAGEMENT TO ENSURE THAT FAIR POLICIES ARE BEING ENACTED FOR THE WORKERS OF THE CITY AND THE COUNTY.
I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY AND YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THIS ITEM.
I'M A PROUD MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES LOCAL 1624 HERE IN AUSTIN THAT RE REPRESENTS COUNTY WORKERS AND CITY WORKERS.
I THINK THIS ITEM IS WONDERFUL, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE TI THE THE TIME AND EFFORT THAT YOU AS COUNCIL, UH, US PUBLIC SERVANTS SPEND THINKING ABOUT IF, UH, THE USE OF OF PUBLIC DOLLARS.
THIS CAN BE A GREAT MECHANISM WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING FOR EFFICIENCIES.
WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO DO LOTS OF GOOD WITH LITTLE SPEND, YOUR WORKFORCE IS THE CLOSEST TO THE WORK.
THEY CAN BE YOUR EYES AND EARS AND OPENING UP THIS LAND OF COMMUNICATION CAN ONLY BE A GOOD THING.
THIS ALLOWS CONSULTATION IN MATTERS OF GREAT IMPACT TO THEM, BUT ALSO US AS CONSTITUENTS.
YOU KNOW, I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FOUR, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM, UH,
AS, AS SOMEONE WHO WORKS IN PUBLIC SERVICE.
YOU TALKING TO YOUR WORKFORCE WILL AID YOU IN HEARING FROM THE PEOPLE WHO ARE CLOSE TO YOUR CONSTITUENCIES.
SO I'M SO GLAD TO SEE YOU TAKE THIS UP.
THANK YOU, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL AND ALL THE CO-SPONSORS, THIS IS EXACTLY THE TYPE OF THING THAT WE NEED.
THE LABOR MOVEMENT, OUR UNIONS ARE ONE OF THE, THE STRONGEST BASTIONS OF DEMOCRACY IN OUR SOCIETY.
IT IS WHERE THE WORKING CLASS GET TOGETHER AND TALK TO EACH OTHER ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THEY'RE FACING AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT EXIST FOR IMPROVING THE DAY-TO-DAY LIFE OF OURSELVES, OUR COWORKERS AND OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
THIS KNOWLEDGE EXISTS VERY CLOSE TO YOU, BUT SOMETIMES STRUCTURES KEEP IT AT ARM'S LENGTH.
THIS OPENS UP A CHANNEL FOR YOU TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM YOUR WORKERS.
AND WHEN YOU HAVE CHALLENGES THAT YOU'RE FACING, HEY, BRING IT UP TO 'EM.
THEY MAY HAVE IDEAS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN BROUGHT TO THE TABLE YET THAT CAN OVERCOME SOME OF THESE CHALLENGES.
NEXT WE HAVE ITEM 51, XENOBI JOSEPH ON DECK.
AFTER XIA JOSEPH, WE WILL HAVE ITEM 55 WITH SPEAKERS.
SHAMA, I'M SORRY, ZAN IMAD AHMAD.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MS. JOSEPH, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
THANK YOU, MAYOR COUNCIL, I'M OPIA JOSEPH.
ITEM 51 ACTUALLY IS FOR A WAIVER $1,134 FOR THE MUSLIM HERITAGE MONTH.
I JUST WANT TO CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION.
IT REFERENCES SPECIFICALLY THE ASIAN AMERICAN, UH, FACILITY.
AND SO I WOULD JUST ASK THE SPONSORS, THOSE WHO ACTUALLY ARE PAYING THE, THE FEES, SIEGEL LANE, UH, TO ACTUALLY GO OVER CADRE AS WELL.
AND FUENTES, UH, 3 84 IS WHAT, UH, CADRE PAID AND THE OTHERS PAID $250.
I WOULD JUST ASK THEM TO ACTUALLY GET ON THE GROUND AND GO AND SEE THAT AREA FOR YOURSELF.
THERE'S NOT EVEN A BENCH FOR PEOPLE TO SIT DOWN AND ACROSS FROM THAT AREA.
CAMERON CROSS PARK NEAR MOUNT SINAI, IT DOESN'T REALLY SERVE THE CHURCH.
IT'S ACTUALLY A BUS STOP THAT WAS ERECTED NEXT TO WHERE IT USED TO BE A HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT.
WHY IS THIS GERMANE? AUGUST 6TH, 2025.
YOU'LL RECALL THERE WAS A PRESS CONFERENCE AFTER IMAM ISLAM.
MOSSAD WAS KILLED ON NORTH LAMAR, JULY 27TH, 2025.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS SAID BY THE LEADERS IS THAT MANY OF THE PEOPLE IN THE AREA WALK.
AND SO IF THEY WALK DOWN NORTH LAMAR, THEN THEY PROBABLY RIDE THE BUS AND WALK TO THE EVENTS THAT THEY HAVE AS WELL.
ON CAMERON ROAD, IT WOULD BE NICE TO MOVE THAT STOP ACTUALLY CLOSER TO MOUNT SINAI SO THEY COULD ACTUALLY GET TO THE ASIAN CENTER A LITTLE BIT EASIER.
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BUT I WILL JUST LASTLY TELL YOU THAT ACCORDING TO THE FINDING TOO THAT YOU HEARD, UH, ABOUT TRANSPORTATION, UH, THE DECISION MAKERS ULTIMATELY SELECT PROJECTS TO IMPLEMENT THROUGH AN INFORMAL PROCESS.AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROJECTS ARE IN AN INFORMAL PROCESS AS WELL.
SO THERE'S NO TRANSPARENCY AS TO WHY THAT PARTICULAR BUS STOP IN THE SHELTER WAS PUT THERE.
THERE ARE SERVICE GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS, BUT APPARENTLY PUTTING IT BY THE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT THAT HAS BEEN CLOSED WAS JUST A UNILATERAL DECISION.
I WOULD ASK YOU TO DO BETTER AND NOT JUST PUT THE MOBILITY BOND SIGNS IN THOSE AREAS.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GLADLY ANSWER THEM.
UH, HI, MY NAME IS UNA HUSSEINI.
I'M, I'VE BEEN IN AUSTIN FOR 25 YEARS.
UM, I AM SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE RESOLUTION PROCLAMATION FOR MUSLIM HERITAGE MONTH.
UH, IN 2001, I WAS A BRIGHT-EYED BUSHY TAILED GRADUATE FROM UT READY TO TAKE ON THE WORLD.
I MOVED OUT OF TOWN AND TWO WEEKS AFTER I STARTED WORKING, NINE 11 HAPPENED THAT WEEK AT WORK.
I'VE BEEN SPIT ON, I'VE BEEN YELLED AT, I'VE BEEN RUN OFF THE ROAD.
I'VE BEEN, I WAS ALMOST STABBED IN PUBLIC AND THAT HAPPENED WITHIN WEEKS OF NINE 11.
I DIDN'T HAVE ANY FRIENDS OR FAMILY WHERE I WAS LIVING.
I DEALT WITH ALL OF THAT ALONE.
I AM PROUD TO LIVE IN A CITY THAT CONSIDERS ME MY FAMILY AND MY COMMUNITY PART OF AMERICA.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS RES PROCLAMATION BEING PASSED SO THAT I CAN FEEL PROUD ABOUT AUSTIN BEING A PLACE WHERE EQUITY IS VALUED.
UM, I KNOW MY FRIEND SITTING NEXT TO ME IS DOING WORK TO, TO PROVIDE COMMENT ABOUT BUILDING THAT EQUITY.
AND I LOVE THAT WE CAN HAVE THE CONVERSATION AND CONTINUE TO PUSH THINGS FORWARD BECAUSE WE DON'T ALWAYS GET EVERYTHING EXACTLY RIGHT.
BUT IN THIS PROCLAMATION, WE ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
I WANNA SAY THANK YOU IN ADVANCE AND, UM, SAY THAT THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD AMERICA IN THE DIRECTION IT WAS MEANT TO BE.
GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS AMAD AHMED AND I'M SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF THE MUSLIM HERITAGE MONTH RESOLUTION.
MUSLIMS HAVE A STORIED HISTORY IN AUSTIN DATING BACK HUNDREDS OF YEARS.
IN FACT, SCHOLARS ESTIMATE THAT AS MANY AS 30% OF AFRICAN ENSLAVED PEOPLE BROUGHT TO THE US WERE MUSLIMS. UNFORTUNATELY, THE LAST FEW YEARS HAVE BEEN CHALLENGING FOR AUSTIN, 60,000 MUSLIMS. THE NUMBER OF ISLAMOPHOBIC INCIDENTS LOCALLY HAVE GONE UP DRASTICALLY.
THERE HAVE BEEN TWO PHYSICAL ATTACKS SINCE LAST YEAR AGAINST MUSLIMS IN AUSTIN.
AND ON MAY 22ND OF THIS YEAR, THREE AUSTIN MOSQUES WERE VANDALIZED IN ONE DAY.
THESE INCIDENTS CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO A RECENT SURGE OF HATEFUL RHETORIC AND ACTIONS BY STATE LEADERS TARGETING THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY FOR CHEAP POLITICAL POINTS.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE'VE SEEN STATE OFFICIALS LAUNCH BASELESS INVESTIGATIONS INTO TEXAS MOSQUES, DECLARE THE NATION'S LARGEST MUSLIM CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATION, A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION IN ATTEMPT TO EXCLUDE MUSLIM PRIVATE SCHOOLS FROM TEXAS'S SCHOOL VOUCHER PROGRAM.
THIS DANGEROUS NARRATIVE THAT MUSLIMS ARE SOMEHOW UN-AMERICAN AND A THREAT TO THEIR NEIGHBORS COULDN'T BE FARTHER FROM THE TRUTH.
I CAME UP WITH THE IDEA OF AUSTIN RECOGNIZING MUSLIM HERITAGE MONTH TO COUNTER THIS NARRATIVE.
I WANTED AUSTIN NICE TO SEE WHO THEIR MUSLIM NEIGHBORS REALLY ARE.
THE ENTREPRENEURS WHO BUILD AUSTIN'S UNICORNS, THE ARTISTS WHO MAKE AUSTIN CULTURALLY RICH, THE VOLUNTEERS WHO GIVE BACK TO AUSTIN'S DOWN TRODDEN, AND THE DOCTORS WHO KEEP US HEALTHY.
THIS INAUGURAL MUSLIM HERITAGE MONTH, WE'VE PUT ON A GREAT SLATE OF PROGRAMMING TO AMPLIFY THESE VOICES AND OTHERS.
THANKS TO ALL OF YOU ON THE DAAS FOR SUPPORTING THIS RESOLUTION TO ENSURE THAT AUSTIN CONTINUES THIS GREAT MUSLIM HERITAGE MONTH TRADITION IN FUTURE YEARS.
THIS IS A CHANCE TO MAKE A BOLD STATEMENT AGAINST THOSE WHO FAN THE FLAMES OF ISLAMOPHOBIA AND IN SUPPORT OF AUSTIN'S TRADITION OF CELEBRATING CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION.
I HAVE A PRESENTATION, MAYOR, NOT ON THIS ITEM, RIGHT? YES, ON THIS ITEM.
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ON THIS ITEM.55 MS. SPOKE ON 51 MR. SHE CAN SPEAK ON 55 TOO.
IT'S HARD FOR ME TO KEEP UP TOO.
THANK YOU MAYOR COUNCIL, I'M ZIA JOSEPH, ITEM 55.
AS YOU PREVIOUSLY HEARD, THE OTHER TWO SPEAKERS IS ABOUT THE MUSLIM HERITAGE MONTH RECOGNITION.
AND WHILE I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THAT YOU ARE RECOGNIZING THE MONTH, I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT SIMPLY THE CULTURAL SYMBOLISM IS NOT ENOUGH.
YOU PROMISED THE COMMUNITY AFTER THE JULY 27TH, 2025 FATALITY OF IAM UH, MUSTAD WAS KILLED ON NORTH LAMAR IS DEEPLY DISTURBING.
I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE WERE TOLD TO WAIT UNTIL THE END OF THE OF THE YEAR.
THAT'S WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL SAID.
IF YOU GO TO NORTH LAMAR NEXT SLIDE, YOU'LL SEE THAT JOEL MEYER TOLD YOU THAT VISION ZERO, BASICALLY THE NORTH LAMAR AREA, IT'S POOR PEOPLE.
SO THE 75 PEOPLE THAT WERE HIT IN A THREE MILE STRETCH IS UNDERSTANDABLE IS WHAT HE SAID.
IF YOU LOOK IN THE FAR UPPER RIGHT HAND CORNER, THAT IS WHAT NORTH LAMAR LOOKED LIKE ON MLK DAY A FEW DAYS AGO.
THE MONDAY THAT JUST PASSED, YOU HAVE NOT IMPROVED THE AREA.
AS YOU HEARD ME SAY BEFORE, THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER DID A RECON WITH ME.
YOU SEE THERE'S THE WALNUT CREEK PARK AND MOSSAD WAS KILLED, UM, JUST NORTH OF THAT AREA.
IF YOU LOOK TO THE RIGHT, THAT'S WHERE THE HAKA PROPERTY IS HOUSED IN AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND NOW YOUR ORDINARY SCHOOL IS NORTH OF THAT AREA.
IF YOU LOOK FAR DOWN TO THE BOTTOM, YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO BE IN THE DITCH IN ORDER TO PUSH THE BUTTON TO CROSS THE STREET.
IT IS NO WONDER THAT DONALD NORTON WAS KILLED IN HIS MOTOR SCOOTER.
IT WAS JANUARY 30TH, 2016 THAT HE WAS HIT, HIS SERVICE ANIMAL LIVED.
YOU'VE HEARD ME TELL THIS STORY BEFORE.
AND THEN HE DIED FROM HIS INJURIES DO BETTER AND NOT JUST SYMBOLIC GESTURES.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GLADLY ANSWER THEM.
IS SHAIMA ZION HERE FOR ITEM 55? OKAY, WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM 56.
SPEAKERS NAMES HAVE BEEN CALLED AT THIS TIME.
MEMBERS, UH, AS YOU JUST HEARD, THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE CONSENT SPEAKERS, UH, ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ARE THERE ANY ITEMS ANYONE WISHES TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AFTER THE CONSENT TO SPEAK? CONSENT SPEAKERS? ALRIGHT, IN THAT CASE, UH, PLEASE REMEMBER THAT ON ITEM NUMBER 48, UH, AS I'VE ALREADY READ INTO THE RECORD, ON ITEM NUMBER 48, THERE WILL BE A WITHDRAWAL OF THE NAME OF PATRICK HOWARD FROM THE DISTRICT ONE APPOINTMENT TO THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT.
UH, THAT WILL BE THE MOTION THAT I WILL NOW ACCEPT, WHICH IS TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS READ, UH, MOTIONS MADE BY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL.
UM, MEMBERS THAT'LL TAKE US TO DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE, UH, HEARD, PLEASE LET ME KNOW AND I'LL, UH, MAKE, I'LL CALL ON YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON WILL LEAD OFF WITH YOU, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ.
UH, I WANTED TO START OFF BY SAYING THE ITEM THAT WE JUST DISCUSSED, UH, PATRICK HOWARD'S NAME, UH, BECAUSE HE HAS DONE SUCH GREAT WORK OVER THE DECADES FOR THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND IN SERVICE OF THE CITY ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND OTHER CAPACITIES, I WANTED TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WHEN WE HEAR NAMES LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW, BEING REMOVED, PEOPLE WILL SPECULATE.
THE COURT OF PUBLIC OPINION IS NOT SLOW TO JUDGE.
UM, THERE WAS A SIMPLE CLERICAL ERROR, AND THAT'S WHY MR. HOWARD'S NAME IS BEING REMOVED, UM, FROM APPOINTMENT TO THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS AND IT NO CONSPIRACY, VERY SIMPLE CLERICAL ERROR.
UM, AND THEN IN ADDITION TO THAT, I'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO A FEW ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, INCLUDING ITEM NUMBER 43.
UM, THIS ONE PUTS AUSTIN IN A POSITION TO WIN WHEN WE REALLY NEEDED OVER $380 MILLION IN FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION DOLLARS FOR SIDEWALKS, FOR BIKE LANES, TRANSIT, UH, STREET SAFETY AND CARBON REDUCTION.
AND IF WE DON'T APPLY, WE DON'T COMPETE.
SO WE ARE APPLYING FOR THESE FEDERAL DOLLARS.
UM, AND IF WE WIN THE FUNDS, WE GET TO VOTE AGAIN AND STAFF WILL IDENTIFY A LEGAL LOCAL MATCH, UM, BEFORE ANY MONIES ARE ACCEPTED.
SO I AM SUPER EXCITED THAT DISTRICT ONE GETS REAL ON THE GROUND.
WE GET SIDEWALKS, BIKE LANES ON JOHNNY MORRIS.
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PIERCE, A TRAFFIC SIGNAL AT MONIS AND GROVE DIRECT TRAILING TO METRO CENTER, AND FASTER ACCESS TO I 35.I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT PROJECTS LIKE THESE COME STRAIGHT FROM OUR ADOPTED PLANS, OUR URBAN TRAIL PLANS, SIDEWALK AND CROSSING BICYCLE INFRASTRUCTURE PLANS.
UM, SO THIS IS EQUITY AND CLIMATE INFRASTRUCTURE AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE ITEMS LIKE THIS COME BEFORE US FOR CONSIDERATION FOR SAFER STREETS, FOR BETTER ACCESS IN GENERAL, FOR LOWER EMISSIONS IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND, UM, I'D LIKE TO MAKE SURE WE TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THAT A LOT OF COMMUNITIES HAVE WAITED FAR TOO LONG IN OUR CITY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS LIKE THESE.
SO IN THEORY IT'S RETROFITTING, BUT ALL NEWS THAT, UH, LEADS TO IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE IS GOOD NEWS AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.
THIS ITEM DIRECTS THE CITY MANAGER TO DEVELOP A GREEN SOCIAL HOUSING POLICY.
VERY EXCITED TO SEE MIXED INCOME, UM, PERPETUALLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT IS SUSTAINABLE, ENERGY EFFICIENT, AND COMMUNITY DRIVEN.
UH, THIS REALLY MATTERS IN LARGE PART OVER HALF OF AUSTINITES.
A LOT OF FOLKS REALLY DON'T RECOGNIZE THIS.
OVER HALF OF AUSTINITES ARE RENTERS AND DON'T OWN THEIR HOMES.
UM, OVER HALF OF AUSTIN RENTERS ARE COST BURDEN.
UM, THAT MEANS AN, UH, AN EQUITABLE AMOUNT OF THEIR MONTHLY INCOME GOES TO COVERING THE COST OF RENT.
UM, SO PERPETUALLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UM, WITH COST BURDEN FAMILIES, UH, THAT ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY AUSTIN'S HOUSING INSTABILITY, DISPLACEMENT AND LACK OF AFFORDABILITY.
UM, ANY POLICY THAT ADDRESSES THAT ISSUE THAT'S SO COMPLEX AND NUANCED, UM, AND HAS THE KIND OF LAYERS THAT IN A TIME LIKE WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW WITH, UH, REAL FINANCIAL DEFICITS FOR OUR CITY.
UM, THIS IS AN ANOTHER WIN AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE IT GO IN CONSENT TODAY.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR, MR. MAYOR, ON THE ITEM.
SO BEFORE WE DO THAT, UM, OH, WE DID.
UM, IT'S, UH, WE REZONING 38 11 AIRPORT BOULEVARD TO ALLOW A DENSITY BONUS FOR, UH, MIXED USE PROJECTS.
THIS, UH, PART OF MAINOR ROAD, IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH IT, IT'S CLOSE TO AIRPORT, UM, AND BEFORE BERGMAN.
AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S ONE OF THAT, IT'S ONE OF THOSE PLACES, YOU KNOW, WHERE THE OLD AIRPORT WAS AND SOME STRUCTURES THAT WERE THERE BEFORE REALLY MADE SENSE, BUT NOW IT, IT REALLY DOESN'T.
SO I'M EXCITED TO SEE STRUCTURES THAT ARE FOR THE GREATER COMMUNITY BENEFIT, UM, BE ERECTED AND DISTRICT ONE.
COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL AND COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY, UH, ON ITEM 49, THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
I'M PROUD TO CO-SPONSOR THIS, UH, IN ENSURING THAT OUR EMPLOYEES UNION HAS A SEAT AT THE TABLE WHEN MATTERS THAT MAY AFFECT THEIR EMPLOYMENT AND QUALITY OF EMPLOYMENT ARE UP FOR DISCUSSION.
I ALSO KNOW THAT I'M MAKING MY MOTHER, YOLANDA VELASQUEZ, A 50 YEAR PLUS UNION MEMBER, VERY PROUD TODAY, UM, ON ITEM NUMBER 55.
COUNCIL MEMBER RI, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
I WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR.
WITH THAT OBJECTION, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ WILL BE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR OF THE ITEM.
COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRY.
UH, JUST WANNA SPEAK TO ITEM 49, WHICH IS THE CREATION OF A CONSULTATION POLICY WITH AFSCME LOCAL 1624.
REALLY WANNA THANK MY COLLEAGUES AND STAFF FOR ALL THE COLLABORATION THAT LED UP TO TODAY, INCLUDING CO-SPONSORS, FUENTES VELASQUEZ, UH, LANE AND CADRE, AS WELL AS THE OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER AND, UH, HR DIRECTOR SINCE, UM, AND REALLY THANK YOU TO ALL THE WORKERS WHO CAME TO SPEAK UP TODAY.
UH, THIS ITEM WILL INITIATE A CONSULTATION PROCESS WITH CITY WORKERS, UH, WHO ARE REPRESENTED BY AFSCME LOCAL 1624.
UH, IT WAS ASKED ME THAT SUGGESTED THIS POLICY TO MAKE SURE THAT WORKERS ARE AT THE TABLE WHEN OUR CITY MAKES DECISIONS IMPACTING OUR WORKFORCE.
AND I THINK WE ALL KNOW THIS IS A VERY CHALLENGING TIME TO BE IN GOVERNMENT, ESPECIALLY MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT HERE IN TEXAS, IN OUR CITY.
WE'LL HAVE TO MAKE SOME VERY CHALLENGING FINANCIAL DECISIONS IN THE MONTHS AND YEARS AHEAD.
AND AFSCME REPRESENTS THOUSANDS OF OUR CIVILIAN WORKERS WHO NOT ONLY SERVE OUR COMMUNITY IN A WIDE VARIETY OF ROLES AND FUNCTIONS FOR THE CITY, BUT THEY ALSO LIVE HERE AND THEY'RE AN INTEGRAL PART OF AUSTIN.
AND SO THIS CONSULTATION POLICY WILL CREATE A NEW OPPORTUNITY FOR CITY WORKERS TO BRING THEIR KNOWLEDGE TO THE TABLE AND HELP LEAD THE CITY TO THE BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOMES EVEN DURING TOUGH TIMES BECAUSE WE KNOW OUR CITY'S WELLBEING IS A TIED TO THE WELLBEING OF OUR WORKERS.
UH, FINALLY, ON A PHILOSOPHICAL NOTE, UM, JUST THAT TAKING CARE OF OUR WORKERS ISN'T JUST THE JUST AND MORAL THING TO DO.
IT'S NOT JUST SOMETHING WE DO BECAUSE IT LEADS TO EXCELLENT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.
WE ALSO DO IT FOR DEMOCRACY BECAUSE WORKING PEOPLE DESERVE TO SHAPE THE WORLD THEY LIVE IN AND THEY DO EVERY DAY.
[00:55:01]
I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IN MINNESOTA RIGHT NOW, COMMUNITY GROUPS ARE STANDING UP TO ICE REPRESSION IN A REALLY COURAGEOUS WAY TO DEMAND JUSTICE FOR RENEE GOODE, TO DEMAND JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS OF ICE BRUTALITY, TO STAND UP FOR OUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS TO ASSEMBLE AND SPEAK OUT.AND IT'S ACTUALLY MINNESOTA UNIONS THAT TODAY, UH, THAT HAVE CALLED FOR A DAY OF ACTION TOMORROW, FRIDAY, UH, A GENERAL STRIKE TO DEMAND THAT ICE LEAVE THE STATE OF MINNESOTA AND IT'S UNIONS LIKE THE LOCAL TEACHERS UNION, THE LOCAL BUS DRIVERS UNION, AND YES, THEIR LOCAL CHAPTER OF AFSCME, THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE AND COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES WHO ARE MAKING THIS HAPPEN.
SO THANK YOU TO MY CO-SPONSORS ON THIS ITEM FOR SUPPORTING GOOD POLICY, FOR SUPPORTING GOOD GOVERNANCE, FOR SUPPORTING OUR WORKERS AND SUPPORTING OUR DEMOCRACY.
COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.
COUNCIL MEMBER L THANK YOU MAYOR.
I HAD A COUPLE ITEMS I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT AS WE TAKE THIS VOTE.
ITEM NUMBER 42 IS A NEW SCHOOL ZONE FOR CEDAR CREEK ELEMENTARY AND HILL COUNTRY MIDDLE SCHOOL.
UH, WHEN I FIRST CAME INTO OFFICE, I JUST SAW EVERY SCHOOL GOT A SCHOOL ZONE.
AND IT WASN'T UNTIL PARENTS STARTED REACHING OUT AND TALKING ABOUT TRAFFIC PATTERNS AND TRYING TO MAKE SURE THEIR KIDS COULD GET TO AND FROM SCHOOL SAFELY, THAT WE REALIZED THERE WAS A LOT OF WORK TO BUILD UPON HERE.
SO I'M APPRECIATIVE THAT TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS IS MOVING THIS ITEM FORWARD AND THAT FAMILIES IN THIS AREA, WHICH HAPPENED TO BE NEAR WHERE I LIVE, UM, BUT IT IS ALSO IN ANOTHER SCHOOL DISTRICT.
AND IT SHOWS THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS AND NOT ONLY A ISD, BUT OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE CITY.
ITEM NUMBER 43 IS THE AMAZING LIST OF CAMPO PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE SUBMITTED THROUGH THE PROJECT CALL.
THERE'S SOME REALLY GOOD ITEMS IN SOUTHWEST AUSTIN, LIKE THE INDUSTRIAL OAKS CONNECTION TO SOUTHWEST PARKWAY.
THIS IS DIRECT ACCESS FOR OUR FIRE AND EMS, UM, NEW FACILITY TO BE ABLE TO GET MORE DIRECTLY TO THE TRAVIS COUNTRY NEIGHBORHOOD.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE, UH, CURRENTLY UTILIZING A PRIVATE EASEMENT AND HOPING IN THE FUTURE TO BE ABLE TO CREATE A MORE PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE SPACE FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS TO GET WHERE THEY NEED TO BEAT QUICKLY.
IT ALSO INCLUDES A LIST OF OTHER SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL ACROSS THE CITY.
UM, PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS FOR CONVICT HILL AND IMPROVEMENTS AT DAVIS LANE AND MOPAC.
SO IT'S A GREAT LIST OF PROJECTS, SOME OF WHICH ARE JUST IN THE PLANNING PHASE AND SOME OF WHICH ARE A LITTLE FURTHER ALONG AND GOING INTO ENGINEERING.
BUT IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO WORK WITH OUR REGIONAL PARTNERS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DELIVERING PROJECTS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
ITEM NUMBER 54 IS OUR FIRST RESOLUTION OF THE YEAR, AND IT IS SHOWING THAT COUNCIL IS SUPPORTIVE OF GREAT SPRINGS PROJECTS WORK IN, UM, SOUTHERN TRAVIS COUNTY, HAYES COUNTY, CITY OF BUTTA.
SO THIS IS JUST SAYING THAT WE AGREE THESE ARE GREAT PROJECTS TO MOVE FORWARD.
SOME OF THE FOOTPRINT THAT THESE PROJECTS WILL BE ON IS CITY OWNED LAND.
AND SO IT, UH, SHOWS OUR SUPPORT FOR GREAT SPRINGS PROJECT WORK, WHICH IS CONNECTING A BUNCH OF AMAZING SPRINGS OVER THE EDWARDS AQUIFER, UH, FOR FOLKS IN THE REGION ALL THE WAY DOWN FROM THE, UH, MISSIONS IN SAN ANTONIO, NOT THE BASEBALL TEAM, THE ACTUAL MISSIONS ALL THE WAY UP TO THE TEXAS STATE CAPITOL.
SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT WORK TOO.
AND LAST ONE IS ITEM NUMBER 49, THE ASK ME CONSULTATION POLICY.
I WANNA THANK THE SPONSOR AND CO-SPONSORS FOR BRINGING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A CONS CO-SPONSOR AND APPRECIATE OUR UNION SIBLINGS COMING AND SPEAKING TO US TODAY.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE LOOKED OUT FOR AS WE MOVE THROUGH DIFFICULT FINANCIAL, UH, DECISIONS MOVING FORWARD.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS WILL BE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR OF THE ITEM.
COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, COUNCIL MEMBER LANE, THE MAYOR, PRO TEM.
UH, WANT TO FIRST, UH, START OFF BY THANKING COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL AND HIS STAFF ON ITEM 49, UH, AND ONCE AGAIN, GIVING FLOWERS TO, TO AFME 1624 FOR ALL THEIR HARD WORK, UH, MAKING SURE THE CITY WORKS AND, AND RUNS, YOU KNOW, AS, AS NICELY AS IT DOES.
UH, AND THEN JUST WANNA TALK ABOUT ITEM 55.
I WANT TO THANK MY, MY COLLEAGUES, UH, CITY STAFF ADVOCATES AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS FOR COMING TOGETHER AND PUTTING TOGETHER A FULL MONTH OF MUSLIM HERITAGE MONTH EVENTS.
ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW, THESE EVENTS MATTER BECAUSE THEY CREATE REAL BELONGING.
IN RECENT YEARS, WE'VE SEEN DEEP, DEEP PAIN IN OUR CITY HATE CRIMES, ISLAMOPHOBIA PEOPLE TARGETED FOR WHO THEY ARE.
THE GOAL WAS ALWAYS TO ISOLATE AND, AND INTIMIDATE, BUT IT FAILED BECAUSE AUSTIN KEEPS CHOOSING COMMUNITY OVER FEAR TO MUSLIMS IN AUSTIN.
YOU ARE SEEN, YOU'RE LOVED AND YOU BELONG HERE FULLY.
AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATIONS AND HOW WE CAN STRENGTHEN HERITAGE MONTHS, UH, MOVING FORWARD, ALL HERITAGE MONTHS MOVING FORWARD, AND HOPE WE CAN BUILD ON THIS MODEL FOR OTHER HERITAGE MONTHS IN THE FUTURE.
AT A TIME LIKE THIS, CITIES SUPPORTED HERITAGE MONTHS CAN'T BE PERFORMATIVE.
THEY SHOULD BUILD REAL BELONGING.
AUSTIN IS STRONGER WHEN WE PROTECT ONE ANOTHER.
AUSTIN IS BETTER WHEN WE REFUSE, REFUSE TO LET HATE HAVE THE FINAL WORD.
AND I'M SO GRATEFUL TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED MAKE THIS MONTH, UH, HAPPEN.
COUNCIL MEMBER COUNCIL, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM.
[01:00:01]
SORRY.UM, I JUST WANNA MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS, UM, RELATING TO ITEM 43, WHICH IS THE CAMPA CALL FOR PROJECTS.
I, I REALLY WANNA THANK THE TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORK STAFF THAT HAS DONE A LOT OF WORK TO COMPILE THE MOST EFFECTIVE, UH, SUBMISSION FOR PROJECTS WITH THIS CALL THAT, THAT COULD BE DONE AT THIS TIME.
UH, I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF THE COLLABORATION THAT HAS GONE INTO THAT.
AND THIS LIST HAS A GOOD MIX OF GEOGRAPHIC DIVERSITY, WHICH, UH, YOU ALL KNOW THAT ICARE SIGNIFICANTLY ABOUT AND ALSO ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION, UH, WHICH I, WE NEED MORE OF IN OUR OUTLYING AREAS.
SO I'M VERY HAPPY TO SEE THESE PROJECTS.
I HOPE THAT THEY'LL BE LOOKED UPON FAVORABLY BY THE CAMPO BOARD AND STAFF, AND I'M COMMITTED TO DOING EVERYTHING I CAN, UH, TO ADVOCATE TOGETHER WITH MY COLLEAGUES AND OTHER PARTNERS FOR THESE PROJECTS.
UM, I'D ALSO LIKE TO COMMENT ON ITEM 49, WHICH IS THE AFSCME CONSULTATION POLICY.
I WANNA THANK MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER, MIKE SIEGEL, FOR BRINGING FORWARD THIS ITEM.
AND I ALSO JUST WANNA SAY THAT I FIRMLY BELIEVE IN THE VALUE OF TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION BETWEEN MANAGEMENT AND STAFF, BETWEEN POLICY MAKERS AND WORKERS, AND ALSO THE VALUE OF SKIP LEVEL COMMUNICATION.
I AM VERY PROUD OF THE COLLABORATIVE WORK THAT WE HAVE ALL DONE IN, IN ORDER TO BRING THIS POLICY FORWARD AND PASS IT TODAY.
UH, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT AND I APPRECIATE THE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS AS WELL.
AND FINALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, MAKE A COMMENT IN RELATION TO ITEM 65.
WE HAVE A SPECIAL GUEST IN THE AUDIENCE, STATE REPRESENTATIVE BUSEY.
HE HAS A BUSY SCHEDULE AND I WANNA GO AHEAD AND RECOGNIZE HIS WORK WHILE HE IS HERE.
UH, THANK YOU TO THE MAYOR AND REP BUSEY FOR YOUR ADVOCACY AND TIRELESS EFFORTS TO BRING INVESTMENT DIRECTLY BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING US TO THE AREA THAT BOTH YOU AND I REPRESENT.
UH, SPRINGWOODS PARK IS A RECIPIENT OF FUNDING FROM THE STATE.
IT'S A BELOVED PARK IN DISTRICT SIX, VERY HIGH TRAFFIC, HAS A VARIETY OF TYPES OF PLAY SCAPES AND FIELDS AND, AND IS REALLY ONE OF THE HEARTS OF THE COMMUNITY IN THAT AREA FOR ALL AGES.
WELL, SHADED HAS A PAVILION THAT'S COVERED FOR OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WHICH IS IN SHORT SUPPLY ON DISTRICT SIX.
UM, AT THE SAME TIME, UH, WE HAVE LONG LOOKED FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO ALSO BRING AN ALL ABILITIES PLAYGROUND TO THAT PARK.
AND SO, UM, AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS THAT WILL CONTINUE TO ENHANCE IT.
SO I JUST VERY MUCH THANK BRETT BUS BUSEY FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD FOR THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE, UM, AT THE STATE WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND I ALSO A ABSOLUTELY WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS DIRECTOR, CARRIE ROGERS.
SHE'S BEEN INVALUABLE IN THIS PROCESS, IN PART FOR WORKING TOGETHER WITH ALL OF US.
LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING, AND THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY.
MAYOR PRO TIM, COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN, AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER.
UH, I JUST WANTED TO THANK, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE FOR THE, UH, ITEM 55, AND IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE PARTICIPATING IN THE, IN THE MULTIPLE, UH, MUSLIM HERITAGE MONTH EVENTS THAT HAVE HAPPENED.
UH, THE KICKOFF AT THE ATRIUM WAS BEAUTIFUL.
UH, THE WORDS SPOKEN TODAY WERE EXCELLENT.
AND, UH, I'M PROUD OF OUR, OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, I'M PROUD OF THE COUNCIL FOR, UH, FOR, FOR MAKING, UH, THIS EFFORT FOR, FOR LIFTING UP THE COMMUNITY.
UH, THE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION HAS BEEN A PART OF AUSTIN SINCE, I MEAN, AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN HERE AND WELL BEFORE.
IT'S WHAT MAKES A COMMUNITY SPECIAL, WHAT IT'S, WHAT ATTRACTS PEOPLE HERE TOO.
SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU AND HAS TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR TO ITEM 55.
WITH WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE MAYOR PROTO WILL BE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR OF THAT ITEM.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN FALL BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER.
LIKE OTHERS, I JUST WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER QUADRI FOR BRINGING FORWARD ITEM 55.
I'D ASK TO BE LISTED AS A CO-SPONSOR TO THAT ITEM ALONG WITH, UH, THE OTHERS AND JUST WANNA SAY, LOOK FORWARD TO BRINGING FORWARD OTHER SIMILAR ITEMS THIS YEAR THAT ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, THE HISTORY AND DIVERSITY OF THIS COMMUNITY.
UH, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, COUNCIL MEMBER DUCHEN WILL ALSO BE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR OF THE, THAT ITEM COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, UH, LOOKING TO BE ADDED AS CO-SPONSORED ITEMS 49 AND 55.
PLEASE WITHOUT OBJECTION, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER WILL BE SHOWN AS CO-SPONSORS OF ITEMS 49 AND 55 MEMBERS.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? YES.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO CO-SPONSOR 55.
ALL RIGHT, AND WITHOUT OBJECTION, COUNCIL MEMBER, HOW ABOUT WE DO THIS? HOW ABOUT EVERYBODY? BE A CO-SPONSOR OF 55
AND I WANT TO ECHO WHAT THE MAYOR PRO TIM SAID, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, WE APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP ON, ON NOT JUST THE ITEM ITSELF, BUT ON HELPING WITH THE KICKOFF OF, OF THE WHAT WE WILL NOW BE AN ANNUAL EVENT.
AND I I WANNA SAY TO THE FOLKS
[01:05:01]
THAT ARE HERE THAT HAVE, HAVE PROVIDED TESTIMONY TODAY ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS, THANK YOU FOR THAT.THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
BUT IN ADDITION, THANK YOU FOR THAT NIGHT.
UH, I THOUGHT THAT WAS A REALLY WONDERFUL, UH, DEEPLY FELT EVENING.
AND SO THANK YOU FOR THAT AS WELL.
AND I THINK IT SETS A, A WONDERFUL STANDARD FOR WHERE WE GO IN THE FUTURE.
SO, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, ALL MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL WILL BE SHOWN AS CO-SPONSORS OF ITEM NUMBER 55.
COUNCIL MEMBER CADRY, MA'AM? YES, COUNCILOR LANE.
I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS VERY MUCH AND I JUST WANNA FLAG THAT, UH, WE ALSO HAVE AN EVENT THAT WILL HELP US CONCLUDE THE CELEBRATION OF THE MONTH, WHICH IS OF THE MUSLIM HERITAGE MONTH, WHICH WILL BE ON JANUARY 30TH, HERE IN THE ATRIUM CITY HALL.
UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYONE'S SUPPORT OF THIS.
ALRIGHT, MEMBERS, THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN ABSTAINING FROM A VOTE ON ANY ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN RECUSING THEMSELVES FROM A VOTE ON ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON AN ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? HEARING NONE AND THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE CONSENT AGENDA AS READ IS ADOPTED.
THANK YOU AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
[57. Approve a resolution reappointing Eliza May to the Central Health Board of Managers]
WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS I'M GONNA GO IN THE ORDER OF THE NUMBER NUMERICAL ORDER, UM, SO THAT WE, I'M TRYING TO MANAGE, UH, THE, THE MEETING IN TERMS OF TIME, BUT ALSO IN TERMS OF OUR SPEAKERS.THE NEXT ITEM WILL BE ITEM NUMBER 57, UH, THAT IS AN ITEM FROM COUNCIL COMMITTEE, THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE.
I'LL RECOGNIZE THE CHAIR OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES FOR A MOTION ON ITEM NUMBER 57.
I MOVE APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION APPOINTING ELISA MAY TO THE CENTRAL HEALTH BOARD OF MANAGERS, UH, MEMBERS.
YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION IS SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN.
UH, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION? UH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
UH, I WAS, I WAS WONDERING WHERE YOU WERE, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION.
UH, THE ITEM, ITEM NUMBER 57 IS ADOPTED, UH, MEMBERS.
[58. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance approving a land development standards interlocal agreement with Round Rock Independent School District and authorizing the City Manager to execute the agreement. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.]
US TO ITEM NUMBER 58.ITEM NUMBER 58 IS A PUBLIC HEARING WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 58.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN.
I'LL RECOGNIZE THE CITY CLERK.
THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON 58 MEMBERS.
THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 58.
UH, SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM ITEM NUMBER 58, AND I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE.
MOTION IS MADE BY THE MAYOR PRO TIM, IT IS SECONDED BY, IS THERE A SECOND? YES.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.
UH, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION? ITEM NUMBER 58 IS ADOPTED.
[59. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance amending City Code Section 25-7-152 (Dedication of Easements and Rights-of-Way) to allow for an administrative variance to the drainage easement dedication requirement for park improvements on City parkland. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.]
59 IS A PUBLIC HEARING.WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 59.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN.
THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON 59, UM, MEMBERS, THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 59.
SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 59.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED.
UH, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 59 IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION? ITEM NUMBER 59 IS ADOPTED.
[60. Conduct a public hearing in accordance with Texas Parks and Wildlife Code Chapter 26 and consider a resolution authorizing a change in use of dedicated parkland, known as the Colorado River Park Wildlife Sanctuary and Roy G. Guerrero Colorado River Metro Park, for Austin Water to permanently use approximately 6,327 square feet of parkland in order to construct, operate, maintain, and repair approximately 415 linear feet of water line. Funding: Available in the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 of Austin Water Capital Budget. This item includes a mitigation payment based on the appraised value of the affected parkland in the amount of $37,641 from Austin Water to Austin Parks and Recreation, which will be recognized in the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Austin Parks and Recreation Capital Budget. There is no net General Fund impact from the payment of the mitigation fee.]
ITEM NUMBER 60 MEMBERS.ITEM NUMBER 60 IS BROUGHT FORTH BECAUSE THERE IS NO FEASIBLE AND PRUDENT ALTERNATIVE TO THE USE OF DEDICATED PARKLAND.
AND ALL REASONABLE PLANNING HAS BEEN AND WILL BE TAKEN TO MINIMIZE HARM TO SUCH LANDS.
THE DATE OF PUBLIC NOTIFICATION ON THIS ITEM IN THE AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN.
DECEMBER 28TH, 2025 AND JANUARY.
UM, THREE DATES JANUARY 4TH AND 11TH OF 2026.
THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 60.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN AND I WILL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY SPEAKERS ON ITEM 60 MEMBERS.
THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 60.
SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 60, AND THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON ITEM NUMBER 60 THAT RECOGNIZES THAT THE ITEM IS BROUGHT FORTH BECAUSE THERE IS NO FEASIBLE AND PRUDENT ALTERNATIVE TO THE USE OF DEDICATED PARKLAND.
AND ALL REASONABLE PLANNING HAS BEEN AND WILL BE TAKEN, MINIMIZE HARM TO SUCH LANDS.
THE MOTION ALSO RECOGNIZES THAT THE DATES OF PUBLIC NOTIFICATION IN THE AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN WERE DECEMBER 28TH, 2025, AND JANUARY 4TH AND 11TH 2026.
IS THERE SUCH A MOTION? THE MAYOR PRO TEM MAKES THAT MOTION.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL.
IS THERE DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION? ITEM NUMBER 60 IS NOW ADOPTED.
[61. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance adjusting the City’s boundary limits by disannexing approximately 0.06 acres of land located in the City’s full purpose jurisdiction and at 3101 Fritz Hughes Park Road, Austin, Travis County, Texas under Texas Senate Bill 1844 (89th Regular Session). Case number: C7d-2025-0006. A portion of the property is located in Austin’s full purpose jurisdiction and the remaining portion is located in Austin’s limited purpose jurisdiction in Council District 10. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.]
TAKE US TO ITEM NUMBER 61, WHICH IS ALSO A PUBLIC HEARING WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.UH, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK.
COURTNEY HORTER, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
[01:10:01]
REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE PETITIONER, SO I GOT SIGNED UP INCORRECTLY AND I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ONCE IT'S CLOSED.ALL RIGHT, MEMBERS, UM, THAT WILL CONCLUDE ALL OF THE SPEAKERS THAT ARE SIGNED UP ON ITEM NUMBER 61.
BUT BEFORE WE DO THAT, LET ME ASK, IS ANYBODY THAT HAS QUESTIONS OF MS. MCCARTER, UH, BEFORE WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, WE'LL JUST DO THAT AS PART OF THE PUBLIC HEARING.
DOESN'T LOOK LIKE ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS.
SO WITH THAT, WE WILL, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 61.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED, AND I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER 61.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON MOVES ADOPTION OF ITEM NUMBER 61 IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.
IS THERE DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION? ITEM NUMBER 61 IS ADOPTED.
[62. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance adjusting the City’s boundary limits by disannexing approximately 0.75 acres of land located at 2705 Pearce Road, Austin, Travis County, Texas under Texas Senate Bill 1844 (89th Regular Session). Case number: C7d-2025-0007. The property is in Austin’s full purpose jurisdiction in Council District 10. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.]
TAKE US TO ITEM NUMBER 62, WHICH IS ALSO A PUBLIC HEARING.WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 62.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK.
WE ALSO HAVE COURTNEY HORTER ON ITEM 62.
MS. MCCARTER, DO YOU WANT TO STATE FOR THE RECORD WHAT YOU'RE DOING HERE? YES, PLEASE, PLEASE COME FORWARD UP.
I NEED YOU TO COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME AND, AND, AND DO THAT AS PART OF THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ACTUALLY, THAT WAS AN INCORRECT SIGNUP, SO, BUT I AM FOR IT.
UM, WITH, THERE ARE NO OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 62, UH, TWO.
SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 62.
IS THERE A MOTION ON ITEM NUMBER 62? COUNCIL MEMBER LANE MOVES APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 62.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION? ITEM NUMBER 62 IS ADOPTED.
[63. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance adjusting the City’s boundary limits by disannexing approximately 0.27 acres of land located at 6700 Troll Haven, Austin, Travis County, Texas under Texas Senate Bill 1844 (89th Regular Session). Case number: C7d-2025-0008. The property is in Austin’s full purpose jurisdiction in Council District 10. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.]
GO TO ITEM NUMBER 63, WHICH IS ALSO A PUBLIC HEARING.UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 63.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK.
THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON 63 MEMBERS.
THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 63.
SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 63.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED AND I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON ITEM NUMBER 63.
IS THERE SUCH A MOTION? THE MAYOR PRO TIM MOVES APPROVAL.
IT IS SECONDED BY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, IS THERE A DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION? ITEM NUMBER 63 IS ADOPTED.
ITEM NUMBER 64 MEMBERS WAS WITHDRAWN.
[65. Conduct a public hearing and approve a resolution authorizing the City Manager to apply for a grant in an amount not to exceed $1,000,000 from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) for a Local Parks Rider Grant and authorizing and directing the Director of Austin Parks and Recreation to act on the City's behalf and work with the TPWD for purposes of the 2025 Local Parks Rider Grant. Funding: $1,000,000 is available from TPWD through the Local Parks Rider Grant. No City match is required.]
ITEM NUMBER 65 IS ALSO A PUBLIC HEARING.WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 65.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN AND I WILL RECOGNIZE THE THE CITY CLERK.
WE HAVE JOHN BUSEY SIGNED UP FOR ITEM 65, AND HE HAS TIME DONATED BY AL ALLISON HEINRICH.
ARE BOTH OF THOSE PEOPLE PRESENT? YES, UH, THEY ARE.
OKAY, THEN HE WILL HAVE, MR. BUSEY WILL HAVE FOUR MINUTES.
REPRESENTATIVE BUSEY, WE WELCOME YOU AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND YOUR PATIENCE.
MAYOR PROTO VELA, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME TO BE HERE TODAY.
I WANNA ESPECIALLY THANK YOU MAYOR.
I WANNA THANK COUNCILWOMAN KRISTY LANE, AND I WANNA THANK KERRY ROGERS IN YOUR OFFICE FOR ALL THE WORK IN THIS INITIATIVE.
I'VE ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT PARKS ARE ESSENTIAL TO OUR COMMUNITIES.
I'M AN AVID HIKER AND LOVE EXPLORING THE NATURAL WONDER OF OUR STATE PARKS WHENEVER I CAN.
BEING OUTDOORS REMINDS ME HOW IMPORTANT THESE SPACES ARE, NOT JUST FOR RECREATION, BUT FOR OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.
BECAUSE ACCESS TO THE OUTDOORS ISN'T JUST ABOUT GETTING A LITTLE FRESH AIR.
IT'S ABOUT WHAT THESE PLACES MEAN TO THE PEOPLE WHO USE THEM.
AND WHEN IT COMES TO OUR LOCAL PARKS, THEY'RE WHERE THE KIDS PLAY, LEARN, AND MAKE FRIENDS.
THEY'RE WHERE FAMILIES CAN SLOW DOWN AND SPEND TIME TOGETHER.
THEY'RE WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN GATHER FOR BIRTHDAY PARTIES, COOKOUTS AND GAMES OF PICKUP, GREAT PUBLIC PARKS, SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH, STRENGTHEN FAMILIES, AND HELP BUILD THE KIND OF CLOSE KNIT COMMUNITIES WE ALL WANT TO LIVE IN.
THAT'S WHY I'M INCREDIBLY PROUD THAT WE ARE ABLE TO SECURE $1 MILLION OF FUNDING THROUGH THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE LOCAL PARKS GRANTS PROGRAM TO UPGRADE SPRINGWOODS PARK IN NORTHWEST AUSTIN.
WHEN CHAIRMAN WALLY ASKED HOUSE MEMBERS FOR IDEAS FOR DISCRETIONARY PARKS FUNDING, MY TEAM AND I GOT TO WORK RIGHT AWAY.
WE WENT STRAIGHT TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND ASKED, WHAT DOES OUR COMMUNITY NEED? WE DISCUSSED MANY POSSIBILITIES, BUT I WANTED TO FOCUS ON A PROJECT THAT WOULD MAKE A REAL TANGIBLE DIFFERENCE FOR OUR AUSTIN KIDS AND FAMILIES.
THAT'S WHEN WE LANDED ON SPRINGWOODS PARK IN DISTRICT SIX.
THE CITY HAD ALREADY ENVISIONED UPDATING SPRINGWOODS INTO A PLAY FOR ALL ABILITIES.
PLAY SITE A SPACE DESIGN, SO KIDS OF ALL PHYSICAL, SENSORY, COGNITIVE AND DEVELOPMENTAL ABILITIES CAN PLAY TOGETHER SIDE BY SIDE.
WHAT IT NEEDED WAS THE SUPPORT TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
THIS GRANT WILL HELP MAKE THAT VISION A REALITY BY INVESTING IN PLAYGROUND UPGRADES THAT PRIORITIZE ACCESSIBILITY, IMPROVE SAFETY, AND CREATE A MORE ENGAGING AND WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT FOR AUSTINITES OF ALL AGES AND ALL ABILITIES.
INVESTMENTS LIKE THIS SHOW WHAT'S POSSIBLE WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER.
THEY DEMONSTRATE WHAT GOOD GOVERNING
[01:15:01]
LOOKS LIKE, LISTENING TO OUR COMMUNITIES, SEIZING OPPORTUNITY AND THINKING BIG.I'M PROUD TO BE A PART OF THIS WORK AND PROUD TO HELP INVEST IN A PARK THAT WILL SERVE AUSTIN FAMILIES FOR YEARS TO COME.
THANK YOU COUNCIL FOR ALL THE HARD WORK YOU'RE DOING FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR, UH, IT'S NO SMALL FEAT TO HAVE A SPECIAL ITEM LIKE THIS IN THE BUDGET AND, AND DO DO THIS.
SO, UM, AND, UH, WE'RE ALWAYS WELCOMING MONEY, BUT PARTICULARLY NOW WE WELCOME MONEY.
UM, AND I TEASE ABOUT THAT, BUT IT'S, IT'S NOT SOMETHING TO JOKE ABOUT THAT THIS IS A, THIS IS VERY, A VERY GOOD THING FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE AND APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS.
UM, I WILL NOT REPEAT, BUT I HAVE ONE MORE THING TO SAY, BUT HOW, HOW ABOUT WE GET A MOTION AND THEN I'LL, I'LL, I'LL I'LL GO TO DISCUSSION.
I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY SIGNED TO SPEAK UP AGAIN.
LET'S DO THIS WITHOUT OBJECTION.
WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
UH, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED.
COUNCIL MEMBER LANE MOVES APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION ON ITEM NUMBER 65.
IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER LANE, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS AS WELL.
AND I JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT THAT SPRINGWOOD PARK IS IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY, WHICH INCLUDES 60% OF MY DISTRICT, AND I AM SO PLEASED TO HAVE OUR REPRESENTATION, OUR REPRESENTATIVE FROM WILLIAMSON COUNTY, BRINGING THE SIGNIFICANT FUNDING TO A COLLABORATIVE PROJECT FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
I WILL HIGHLIGHT THAT I BELIEVE THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF GREAT RELATIONSHIPS IN AND THROUGHOUT OUR WILLIAMSON COUNTY, PART OF DISTRICT SIX.
UM, WE HAVE ALSO IN THIS MEETING HAD, UM, HAD APPROVAL OF THE FIRST INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH ROUND ROCK ISD, WHICH RELATES TO THE PERMITTING PROCESS AND THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES PROCESS, AND WILL ALLOW EXPEDITING OF THEIR $1 BILLION BOND, UM, WHICH WILL SAVE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, AT LEAST WITHOUT ANY ADDITIONAL EXPENSE TO US.
AND I BELIEVE THAT BETWEEN THESE CONNECTIONS WITH WILLIAMSON COUNTY AND ROUND ROCK ISD, THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF MORE COLLABORATIVE FUNDING PROJECTS IN THESE AREAS, WHICH WILL BE EVER.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? MEMBERS, UM, THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION IN ITEM NUMBER 65.
THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION.
UH, REPRESENTATIVE BUSEY, THANK YOU AGAIN.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR TAKING THE TIME AND BEING HERE IN THE WORK YOU DID IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND YOUR PATIENCE THIS MORNING.
UH, MEMBERS THAT WILL NOW TAKE
[66. Conduct a public hearing and approve a resolution authorizing the City Manager to apply for grant funding from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) for a Recreational Trails Grant in an amount not to exceed $300,000 and authorizing and directing the Director of Austin Parks and Recreation (APR) to act on the City's behalf and work with the TPWD for purposes of the 2026 Recreational Trails Grant. Funding: Funding is available in the Parkland Dedication Fund Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Capital Budget of Austin Parks and Recreation (APR) to meet the City’s matching requirement of $75,000 ($60,000 in addition to $15,000 in in-kind project management and materials).]
US TO ITEM NUMBER 66, WHICH IS ALSO A PUBLIC HEARING.WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 66.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK.
THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON 66 MEMBERS.
WE HAVE NO SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 66.
SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 66.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED.
COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL MOVES APPROVAL.
IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.
IS THERE DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ITEM NUMBER 66 IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER LANE BEING TEMPORARILY OFF THE DAIS.
[67. Conduct a public hearing and approve a resolution authorizing the City Manager to apply for up to $25,000 in grant funding from The RCX Sports Foundation for the MLS GO PLAY FUND - NRPA Grant and authorizing and directing the Director of Austin Parks and Recreation to act on the City's behalf and work with RCX Sports Foundation for purposes of the MLS GO PLAY FUND - NRPA Grant. Funding: Up to $25,000 will be requested from the MLS GO PLAY FUND Grant. There is no City match required..]
NUMBER 67, WHICH IS ALSO A PUBLIC HEARING WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 67.UH, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN.
WE DO NOT HAVE ANY SPEAKERS ON 67 MEMBERS.
THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 67.
SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 67.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 67, MOTION MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS? IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN.
IS THERE DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION? ITEM NUMBER 67 IS APPROVED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER LANE TEMPORARILY OFF THE DAAS MEMBERS.
THAT TAKES US, UH, TO ITEM NUMBER 85.
BUT WHAT I WOULD ASK IS THE INDULGENCE OF THE COUNCIL.
AND WE WILL, WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST WE DO IS THAT WE RECESS UNTIL OUR 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, WHICH IS THE, UM, PUBLIC COMMUNICATION THAT WILL TAKE TILL ABOUT 1230 OR 1235.
AND WHAT WE WILL THEN DO IS RECESS UNTIL ONE 10, AT WHICH TIME WE WILL TAKE UP ITEM NUMBER 85.
AND THAT EITHER WILL TAKE US TO OUR TWO O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, OR, UH, WE'LL TAKE ANOTHER SMALL BREAK DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME.
THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL IS IN RECESS UNTIL 12 O'CLOCK NOON.
IT IS NOW 11:19 AM THANK YOU EVERYBODY.
[12:00 PM - Public Communication: General]
ONE ON JANUARY 22ND, 2026, AND I WILL CALL THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL BACK TO ORDER AFTER A BRIEF RECESS.AND I WILL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK BECAUSE WE ARE NOW AT OUR 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, WHICH IS PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.
AND I'LL ASK THE CLERK TO BEGIN CALLING THE NAMES.
IF YOU'VE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON PUBLIC COMMUNICATION, YOU, YOU HAVE A PRETTY GOOD IDEA OF WHERE YOU ARE ON THE LIST.
SO, UH, BE SURE YOU MAKE YOUR WAY DOWN TO THE FRONT.
[01:20:01]
AND WHEN SHE CALLS YOUR NAME, PLEASE, UH, JUST GRAB ANY CHAIR THAT HAS A MICROPHONE AND, UH, IDENTIFY YOURSELF AND, AND BEGIN TELLING US WHAT YOU WANT US TO HEAR.WE'LL START WITH CAMILLE COOK.
AND ON DECK WE HAVE CAROLINE ROSE KENNEDY, AND ANGELA GARZA.
PLEASE COME FORWARD IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL AND MAYOR.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT THREE AND AM AND AM A COMMISSIONER ON THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION.
ALTHOUGH TODAY I'M REPRESENTING PUBLIC CITIZEN.
UH, THIS PAST TUESDAY, THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY PASSED A RESOLUTION RECOMMENDING SEVERAL THINGS TO Y'ALL ABOUT THE UPCOMING TEXAS GAS SERVICE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT.
AND SO I JUST WANTED TO GO INTO SOME OF THOSE THINGS TODAY.
UM, AS Y'ALL KNOW, TEXAS GAS SERVICE PROVIDES GAS TO THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN THROUGH A FRANCHISE AGREEMENT.
THIS AGREEMENT IS CURRENTLY RENEWED EVERY 20 YEARS, UH, AND THE NEXT RENEW RENEWAL IS SET FOR THIS OCTOBER.
THIS IS A ONCE IN A GENERATION DECISION Y'ALL WILL BE MAKING.
SO TODAY I WANNA REITERATE SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THE RMC MADE TO HELP Y'ALL THROUGH Y'ALL'S DECISION AS IT COMES UP.
ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WAS MADE WAS TO SHORTEN THE CON THIS CONTRACT RENEWAL PERIOD TO 10 YEARS TO ALLOW FOR GREATER REGULATORY ACCOUNTABILITY OF TEXAS GAS.
UH, AND THIS WILL ALSO INCLUDE A BIANNUAL REPORT TO THE CITY TO MAKE SURE, UM, TEXAS GAS IS ON TRACK TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH ALL OF THEIR CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS.
UM, THE CITY WE RECOMMENDED, OR THE RMC RECOMMENDED THAT THE CITY SHOULD ALSO HIRE A CONSULTANT TO LOOK THROUGH PROPOSED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AND ACTUAL EXPENDITURES FROM THE PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR.
TO KEEP A CLOSER EYE ON THE CONSTANTLY INCREASING RATES THAT TGS HAS BEEN PUSHING OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.
RESIDENTIAL GAS RATES HAVE GONE UP 108% BETWEEN 2019 AND 2025, WHICH IS 75% ABOVE INFLATION.
UH, THE RMC ALSO RECOMMENDED INCLUDING A PROGRESSIVE TIERED RATE STRUCTURE, SO THAT WORKING CLASS AUSTINITES AREN'T PAYING MORE PER UNIT OF GAS, UH, THAN THE, THAN THE RICH IN AUSTIN.
AUSTIN ENERGY AND AUSTIN WATER ALREADY DO THIS AS A WAY TO ENCOURAGE ENERGY AND WATER CONSERVATION.
THE RMC ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT TGS ADOPT AN INCOME QUALIFIED MONTHLY CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, WHICH IT CURRENTLY DOES NOT HAVE, AND THAT THE CITY SHOULD TAKE OVER PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT OF TGS CONSERVATION PROGRAMS. SINCE TGS HAS DEMONSTRATED A CONFLICT OF INTEREST IN RUNNING THESE PROGRAMS, AND THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY CONSERVING GAS, MANY OF THEIR PROGRAMS ACTUALLY INCREASE THE USE OF NATURAL GAS.
AND THIS DOESN'T ALIGN WITH CITY POLICY ON CONSERVING OUR RESOURCES.
IN CONTRAST, THE, THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS DEMONSTRATED ITS ABILITY TO RUN EFFECTIVE CONSERVATION PROGRAMS, WHICH IS WHY, UM, IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT THE CITY SHOULD TAKE OVER PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT OF THEIR CONSERVATION PROGRAMS. UM, THERE ARE MORE DETAILS IN THE RECOMMENDATION, AND I REALLY ENCOURAGE Y'ALL TO PUSH FOR AS MANY OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS AS POSSIBLE.
UH, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT WITH TGS IS IN AGREEMENT AND THAT TGS MAY NOT BE FANS OF MUCH OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT I STILL ENCOURAGE Y'ALL NONETHELESS, TO PUSH FOR THESE AS MUCH AS Y'ALL CAN IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT, UH, OUR NATURAL RESOURCES ARE CONSERVED THAT, UH, THE WORKING CLASS AND EVERYONE IN AUSTIN HAS A EQUAL ABILITY TO, YOU KNOW, UH, CONSERVE ENERGY AND, UH, ALIGN WITH CITY POLICY.
AND, UM, YEAH, REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
UM, INTERIM PRESIDENT FOR SAANA CO-CHAIR AT EAST MLK COMBINED CONTACT TEAM.
UM, THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR AND MAYOR PERM, NEW MAYOR PERM, UM, VELA, FORMER MAYOR PERM, VANESSA FUENTES.
FIRST THING I WANNA START WITH IS, UM, WHAT WE KNOW IS HAPPENING WITH ICE OUT THERE.
WE'VE ALL WORKED SO HARD TO FOCUS ON, UM, PEACE AND EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR KIDDOS AND OUR FAMILIES.
I KNOW VANESSA FUENTES, UM, MENTIONED THAT SHE'S GIVEN OUT CARDS TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THEIR RIDES.
I LIKE TO GET SOME FROM YOU SO WE CAN HELP YOU GET THOSE PASSED OUT.
UM, IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT MY DAD WAS ALMOST TAKEN, UM, BECAUSE HE FORGOT HIS IDENTIFICATION, DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO FROM HIS JOB AT ONE POINT.
SO IT, THIS DOES HAPPEN TO CITIZENS AS WELL.
UM, ALSO, I DO WANNA CONGRATULATE EVERYONE ON THE WORK FOR PROJECT CONNECT.
UM, BUT HOWEVER, THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF LAND ACQUIRED.
WHAT WE DON'T UNDERSTAND AS CITIZENS IS WHAT ARE OUR RIGHTS WHEN THERE'S IMMINENT DOMAIN AND, UM, ACQUISITION OF LAND.
AND WE LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE RULES ARE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, STATE LEVEL, AND THE COUNTY LEVEL AND WHAT ALL OUR RIGHTS AND OPTIONS ARE AS WELL.
WE LIVE TO BE INVOLVED, AS YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE I'M INVOLVED WITH A LOT OF YOU ON, UM, ELECTION STUFF AND POLITICS AS WELL.
WHAT WE DON'T LIKE FROM POLITICIANS AND WE LIKE TO ADDRESS THIS BEHAVIOR IS RETALIATION.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND ABUSIVE BEHAVIORS.
WHEN THINGS DON'T GO THEIR WAY, WE NEED TO KNOW WHO TO CONTACT WHEN WE EXPERIENCE THIS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE DO NOT WANNA EXPERIENCE THIS FROM ANYBODY 'CAUSE WE DO
[01:25:01]
NOT WANT TO.UM, WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO BE SCARED TO VOTE SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY'RE VOTING FOR SOMEBODY OR VOTING FOR SOMETHING THAT SOMEBODY DOES NOT AGREE ON.
WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE, UM, ACTUALLY ENGAGED AND BE SAFE AND FEEL SAFE TO DO THAT AS WELL.
COEXISTENCE MEASURES AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
WE REALLY DO NEED TO WORK ON THIS.
WE HAVE BETTER IDEAS AS WE HAVE BEEN SPEAKING TO PEOPLE.
UM, BEING ON THE E-E-M-L-K CONTACT TEAM THAN NATASHA HAS GIVEN US THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO, HAS ALLOWED US TO LISTEN TO A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE.
AND WE FEEL THAT WE CAN BRING BETTER IDEAS THAT CAN HELP US AS WE PROGRESS FORWARD.
WE KNOW WE'RE GROWING AND WE'RE GROWING FAST.
UM, ALSO AI, WE DO NEED MORE PROTECTION FOR OUR MISS OF VULNERABLE PEOPLE.
WE NEED, UM, POLICY PROTECTION FOR THAT AS WELL, PLEASE.
AND IF WE CAN GET THAT, WE CAN HELP YOU GET THAT INFORMATION OUT TO OUR NEIGHBORS AS WELL.
AND WE'RE WILLING TO HELP YOU WITH THAT AS WELL.
WE ARE BOOMING AND PROSPERITY IS HERE.
HOWEVER, THOSE OPPORTUNITIES ARE NOT COMING TO OUR FAMILIES THAT HAVE HELPED BUILD THIS, UM, THIS CITY AS WELL.
WEBINARS, WHATEVER YOU CAN GET.
'CAUSE I WORK TWO JOBS WHO HELP.
UM, THAT ACTUALLY HELPS BUILD COMPANIES WITH GENERATIONAL WEALTH AND REAL, THE REAL ESTATE SOLUTIONS AS WELL.
HOWEVER, BECAUSE I'M SO BUSY WITH MY FAMILY, FAITH AND ET CETERA, WE NEED A, AN EASIER WAY TO BE ABLE TO LOOK UP THIS INFORMATION AND UNDERSTAND WHERE IT IS.
AND SO WE CAN PASS THIS INFORMATION TO OTHER PEOPLE AND HELP 'EM FILL PART OF THIS PROSPERITY AS A, AS WE PROGRESS TOGETHER AS WELL.
OTHER THAN THAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING.
MS. KENNEDY, YOUR NAME WAS CALLED.
DID YOU WANNA MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM? AND ON DECK WE HAVE DAVID KA, ALIO HERNANDEZ, BRENDAN MCGRATH.
I'M THE OWNER OF 1 3 2 0 9 DESAL ROAD, A COMMERCIAL PROPERTY JUST BEFORE HOWARD LANE.
MY SITUATION IS THAT I LOST ELECTRICITY ON JULY THE 28TH OF LAST YEAR.
THE SERVICE LINE TO MY PROPERTY CAUGHT ON FIRE AND I LOST POWER.
I CALLED AUSTIN ENERGY, THEY SHOWED UP THE FOLLOWING DAY, REMOVED THE METER, STATED I NEEDED AN UPGRADE AND IT HAD TO BE DESIGNED.
IT WOULD TAKE 12 WEEKS WORK ORDER.
I HIRED AN ELECTRICIAN, MR. JOHN JUSTIN WILSON TO UH, GET THE NECESSARY PERMIT AND WORK NEEDED.
I HAD TO RENT A HUNDRED KW GENERATOR TO PROVIDE ELECTRICITY FOR MY TENANTS.
THE RENTAL OF THE GENERATOR IS 5,000 A MONTH PLUS DIESEL, A PERSON TO AND SERVICE UNIT DAILY.
IT COST ME 13,000 A MONTH TO RUN THE GENERATOR FOR NINE HOURS A DAY.
THE AVERAGE COST OF ELECTRICITY BEFORE THE WIRE CAUGHT ON FIRE WAS 25 50 A MONTH DUE TO THE PROBLEM OF NO ELECTRICITY.
THE RENT WAS 2,500 A MONTH AND MAY LOSE MORE.
THIS IS ALSO MY HOMESTEAD AND I HAD TO MOVE OUT BECAUSE I COULD NOT AFFORD TO RUN 24 HOURS A DAY.
SO NO ELECTRICITY AFTER HOURS, NO AC, NO REFRIGERATION.
THREE WEEKS LATER WITHOUT NOTICE, MR. RYAN KIN DESIGNER AUSTIN ENERGY SHOWED UP AND STATED IT WOULD TAKE 12 WEEKS.
ABOUT SIX WEEKS LATER, I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE WRONG DEPARTMENT AND HAD TO BE TRANSFERRED TO ANOTHER DEPARTMENT.
IT WOULD TAKE ANOTHER 12 WEEKS.
AUSTIN ENERGY SHOWED UP WITHOUT NOTICE, STATED HE DID NOT KNOW WE DID NOT HAVE POWER AND ASKED FOR THE METER.
HE STATED HE WOULD EXPEDITE THE WORK AND I NEEDED AN ESPA WRONG INFORMATION TO THE WRONG PEOPLE AT AUSTIN ENERGY.
IT WOULD TAKE SEVEN WEEKS TO DESIGN AFTER THE FINAL DESIGN.
THIS STATED IT WOULD TAKE ANOTHER 12 WEEKS FOR CONSTRUCTION.
THE CONSTRUCTION PERSONNEL SHOWED UP ON OCTOBER AND STATED THAT THE POLE WAS NOT SAFE TO CLIMB.
THEY WOULD HAVE TO INSTALL A NEW POLE IN TRANSFORMER.
AND I ENDED UP PAYING 29,500 IN NOVEMBER FOR THAT.
I WAS INFORMED AT THAT TIME THAT I NEEDED AN EASTMAN TO INSTALL THE POLE AND IT HAD TO BE SEVEN FEET FROM THE PROPERTY LINE.
I HAVE TWO BUILDINGS AT THE SIX FOOT LINE.
I HAD TO CUT THOSE BUILDINGS TO PROVIDE NINE FEET OF CLEARANCE FOR THE EASTMAN AT ADDITIONAL COSTS.
I WAS TOLD THE CONSTRUCTION DEPARTMENT WOULD INSTALL THE POLE IN MARCH OF 26.
FINALLY, I RECEIVED A CALL ON DECEMBER 30TH SAYING BY ONE OF MY TENANTS AT AUSTIN ENERGY WAS THERE TO INSTALL THE POLE.
AND I WAS ASKED WHY WAS NOT A RACK INSTALLED? NEWS TO ME? I'M GETTING INFORMATION PIECEMEAL.
ALL REQUIREMENTS SHOULD HAVE BEEN STATED AT THE BEGINNING, DESIGN RACK, CONSTRUCTION FINAL STAMP.
THE WORK HAS AT THIS POINT STOPPED TO HAVE NO IDEA WHEN AUSTIN ENERGY WILL FINISH.
I WAS EXPANDING ON THIS PROPERTY, WHICH CAME TO A HALT IN ALL SIX MONTHS.
I HAVE SPENT $120,000 WITH NO END IN SIGHT.
NORMALLY IT WOULD'VE COST ME 13 15,300 FOR THE SAME PERIOD.
I'M SORRY YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH THAT.
WE'LL HAVE SOMEBODY, SOMEBODY'S ALREADY STANDING UP TO VISIT WITH YOU ABOUT THIS.
[01:30:01]
MS. KENNEDY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK? YES, PLEASE.PLEASE JUST IDENTIFY YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD.
HUH? JUST IDENTIFY YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD.
THANK Y'ALL FOR SERVING AND THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
TAKE ME OUT TO THE OCEAN SOLUTION.
TAKE ME OUT TO THE SEA, TIP ME OVER AND SLIDE ME OUT.
MAKE SURE THAT I DON'T PLEASE.
PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU DON'T FLOAT ABOUT.
AND IT'S ROOT TWO, TWO FOR MY FUNERAL.
WON'T IT BE GREAT IF THEY'RE FREE BECAUSE IT IS.
THE SHARKS WILL MUTATE THEIR CHROMOSOMES.
NOW WE DON'T NEED A HOUSE 'CAUSE WE JUST FOUND A HOME AND IT'S ROOT TWO TWO FOR MYFU OUR F FUNERALS.
WON'T IT BE GREAT IF THEY'RE FREE? 'CAUSE THIS 1, 2, 3 SLIDES.
HOW Y'ALL DOING TODAY? HEY, GREAT TO BE IN FRONT OF THE CITY AND THE MAYOR AND, AND THE COUNCIL.
I'D DONE SOMETHING LIKE THIS IN HOUSTON AS WELL AND I HAD BROUGHT UP AN IDEA.
CAN YOU STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD? SORRY.
YOU KNOW, I FEEL WORN OUT AS PROBABLY ANYBODY ELSE DOES, BUT, UH, IT MIGHT BE MORE PSYCHOLOGICAL THESE DAYS.
BUT, UH, I BROUGHT UP THE IDEA OF, UM, CON USING SMS CARDS FOR PEOPLE THOUGH DON'T HAVE MAYBE A, A POCKET CHANGE FOR THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
AND LET SAY THEY HAVE A DOLLAR OR TWO OR SOMETHING LEFT ON THEIR CARD FOR TRAVEL'S SAKE, THEY COULD TAP THEIR CARD ON THERE AND IT SOMEHOW WOULD MAKE SOME SENSE.
AND THE MECHANISM MIGHT HOPE THAT, UH, IT WOULD ACT AS A DAY PASS FOR THOSE WHO TRAVEL FROM OTHER STATES, CITY STATES, ESPECIALLY FOR THE LIFE CAPITAL OR THE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.
THAT IS, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE TRAVEL.
THEY DON'T HAVE REALLY HAVE A LOCAL BUS FARE CARD.
YOU KNOW, THEY WANT TO TRANSFER AND TRAVEL ALL OVER TOWN.
GET THEM SMS CARDS, THEY'LL FOUR OR FIVE MORE DOLLARS EXTRA FOR EVERYBODY.
AND PEOPLE GET A RAISE A PROMOTION.
YOU HAVE FUNDING FOR ALL THE CITY, UH, POTHOLES AND SUCH.
UH, EXCUSE MY FRENCH ON THAT ONE.
BUT YOU KNOW, LIKE, UM, THAT WOULD BE A HELPFUL IDEA.
AND, UM, AND, AND THE LANDFILLS.
GO THROUGH THEM WITH LIKE A HAZMAT, UH, UH, GROUP AND GET THE RECYCLING OUT OF THE HA OUT THE LANDFILLS AND RECYCLE IT FOR THE CITY SO THEY CAN FIX THE POTHOLE ISSUES AS WELL.
EXCUSE MY FRENCH ON THAT AGAIN.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WOULD BRING SOME CONS, CONSTITUTIONAL, UH, UH, UH, FUNDING TO THE CITY WITH THE MONEY YOU ALREADY HAVE.
JUST FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE MONEY.
IT DIDN'T, I DIDN'T REALIZE THEY WERE ASKING ABOUT THAT ISSUE, BUT I THINK THAT COULD BRING UP A LOT OF FUNDING, UH, UH, RELAXATION OR, UH, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF HEADACHE REMOVED FROM THE STRESS OF THAT KIND OF THINKING.
I BROUGHT THAT UP WITH THE HOUSTON CITY MAYORS TWICE, UH, SYLVESTER TURNER AS WELL AS, UM, UH, THE NEWEST ONE.
I FORGOT HIS NAME OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD RIGHT NOW, BUT WHITMEYER WHITMEYER.
YEAH, I STUDIED HIM IN COLLEGE.
BUT YEAH, MR. WHITMEYER AND MR. TURNER.
I, IFI FREQUENTLY HAD, UH, EMAILED, UH, MR. TURNER.
SO I GUESS I KIND OF HELPED MAYBE PROMOTE HIM INTO HIS NEWER FEDERAL OFFICE.
BUT, UH, UM, IT, I I'VE ALWAYS BEEN AN ADVOCATE FOR THE PUBLIC, YOU KNOW, USE THE FUNDING WE GOT JUST, JUST LIKE JOSEPH ALWAYS MADE SENSE OF ALL THE MONEY IN THE BIBLE.
LIKE, YOU HAVE WHAT YOU HAVE, LET'S MAKE SENSE OF WHAT WE GOT, YOU KNOW.
AND I SAY THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY.
PEOPLE JUST THROW AROUND, LIKE LOOSE CHANGE ON THEIR CARDS, RE RECYCLING ALL THE LANDFILLS.
[01:35:01]
YOU HAVE SO MUCH MONEY GOING IN.AND, AND ALSO ANOTHER BUS LINE THAT COULD HELP OUT WITH JUST LOCAL ROUTES.
AND THE, THOSE CARTS GOING TO GO ALL THE WAY TO TEMPLE TEXAS.
MR. MCGRATH, MAYOR WATSON, COUNCIL MEMBERS NEIGHBORS OF AUSTIN.
MY NAME IS BRENDAN MCGRATH AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT EIGHT.
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT DUE PROCESS.
'CAUSE IN THIS COUNTRY AND IN THIS CITY, DUE PROCESS IS NOT A FAVOR.
IT'S THE LAW AND IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
THE CONSTITUTION DOES NOT SAY CITIZENS ONLY.
AND WHEN DUE PROCESS IS IGNORED FOR SOME PEOPLE IT BECOMES WEAKER FOR ALL PEOPLE.
AUSTIN IS A CITY SHAPED BY IMMIGRATION, NOT JUST HISTORICALLY, BUT RIGHT NOW OUR ECONOMY, OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND OUR INSTITUTIONS RELY ON PEOPLE WHO CAME HERE SEEKING SAFETY, OPPORTUNITY AND STABILITY.
THEY'RE NOT ABSTRACTIONS, THEY'RE RESIDENTS, THEY'RE FAMILIES, AND THEY'RE PART OF THE CITY.
RECENT ICE ACTIVITY IN CENTRAL TEXAS HAS BEEN PROFOUNDLY DISTURBING OPERATIONS IN AUSTIN, LOCKHART, KYLE, AND BUDDA HAVE OCCURRED.
WITHOUT CLEAR PUBLIC INFORMATION OR TRANSPARENCY, THESE ACTIONS HIGHLIGHT THE URGENT NEED TO ENSURE DUE PROCESS AND TRANSPARENCY FOR EVERYONE.
WE CAN'T OVERRIDE FEDERAL LAW, BUT AUSTIN IS NOT POWERLESS.
THE CITY CAN STAND UP FOR DUE PROCESS AND PROTECT ACCESS TO IT LOCALLY.
WE CAN USE OUR VOICE CLEARLY AND CONSISTENTLY TO AFFIRM THAT NO ONE SHOULD BE DETAINED, TRANSFERRED, OR DEPORTED.
WITHOUT ACCESS TO LEGAL COUNSEL AND A FAIR HEARING, THERE ARE CONCRETE STEPS WE CAN TAKE NOW.
FIRST, EXPAND LEGAL DEFENSE AND RAPID RESPONSE FUNDING FOR DETENTION AND REMOVAL PROCEEDINGS.
SECOND, COORDINATE AND SUPPORT TRAINED LEGAL OBSERVERS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO DOCUMENT ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY AND PROMOTE TRANSPARENCY.
THIRD, ADOPT A RESOLUTION AFFIRMING DUE PROCESS AND DIRECTING DEPARTMENTS TO PROTECT OUR ACCESS TO COUNSEL WHERE LEGALLY ALLOWED LEADERSHIP IS NOT ABOUT WHAT IS EASIEST, IT'S ABOUT WHAT'S DOING WHAT IS RIGHT.
I HUMBLY ASK THAT YOU FUND LEGAL COUNSEL, PROTECT, TRANSPARENCY, AND AFFIRM DUE PROCESS FOR ALL PEOPLE.
I'LL ALL NAMES HAVE BEEN CALLED FOR NOON PUBLIC COMMUNICATION MEMBERS.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR TIME, CERTAIN NOON PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.
UH, SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL BE IN RECESS UNTIL ONE 10.
[Live Music]
AFTERNOON.I'M COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, AND I JUST WANTED TO WELCOME YOU OUT TO CITY HALL FOR OUR MUSIC.
UM, THIS IS, UH, A BLESSING FOR ME AND AN HONOR FOR ME BECAUSE LARA IS ONE OF MY DEAR FRIENDS.
UH, BUT ALSO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT WHEN, UH, WHEN WE FIRST GOT IN OFFICE IS ENSURING THAT WE IDENTIFY THIS BUILDING AND THIS, THIS IS ONE OF OUR SHOTS AT DOING THAT.
UM, LAURA LARA RA AHMED, KNOWN AS LAIRA, THE A TX IS A PASSIONATE ADVOCATE OF CUMBIA AND A DYNAMIC PRESENCE IN AUSTIN'S MUSIC AND COMMUNITY SCENES.
FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS, SHE HAS PERFORMED AS ARISTA CAP, HUH, RISTA, EXCUSE ME, CAPTIVATING AUDIENCES THROUGH ENERGETIC CROWD ENGAGEMENT AND COLLABORATIONS WITH BANDS IN SAN ANTONIO, CORPUS CHRISTI AND AUSTIN LARA IS A CURRENT MEMBER OF THE SELENA TRIBUTE BAND, LAS CHICA IN 5 1 2, AND THE FOUNDER OF MBIA BAJO LA LUNA.
A COMMUNITY CENTERED EVENT THAT BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER THROUGH MUSIC AND DANCE.
BEYOND HER ARTISTIC WORK, LAURA HAS DEDICATED OVER 12 YEARS TO PUBLIC SERVICE AND PUBLIC EDUCATION.
LITTLE SIDE NOTE, SHE USED TO HELP MY NIECE AT, UH, EAST SIDE ELEMENTARY OR EAST SIDE, UH, HIGH SCHOOL, CONNECTING LOW INCOME STUDENTS AND FAMILIES ACROSS THE GREATER AUSTIN AREA TO CRITICAL RESOURCES WHILE UPLIFTING STUDENTS OF COLOR THROUGH COLLEGE AND CAREER ACCESS.
THROUGH BOTH MUSIC AND EDUCATION, SHE CONTINUES TO BUILD MOTIVATING INCLUSIVE EVENTS THAT EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATION.
[01:45:58]
MY[01:45:58]
NAME'S A THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCILMAN VELAZQUEZ.ALL RIGHT, Y'ALL GIVE IT UP ONE MORE TIME.
NOW I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF READING THIS PROCLAMATION, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS IS BLESSED WITH MANY CREATIVE MUSICIANS WHOSE TALENTS EXTEND TO VIRTUALLY EVERY MUSICAL GENRE.
AND WHEREAS OUR MUSIC SCENES, 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, COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE VELASQUEZ, ALONG WITH COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HARPER MADISON AND PAIGE ELLIS ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE DICE, AND THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF WA OF AUSTIN, KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD, AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JANUARY, 2020.
JANUARY 22ND, 2026 AS DAY A TX IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
I AM SO THANKFUL AND HONORED TO BE A PART OF AUSTIN, PART OF THE COMMUNITY FOR THE LAST 14 YEARS.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EVERYONE WHO'S HEARD MY MUSIC COME OUT TO MY GIGS, SUPPORTED ANY OF MY EVENTS, UM, BUT HUGE SHOUT OUT TO COUNCILMAN VELAZQUEZ FOR BRINGING THIS DAY FORWARD AND TO MY FAMILY THAT CAME.
IT'S 1:10 PM ON JANUARY 22ND, 2026, AND I WILL CALL BACK TO ORDER THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL, UH, WHICH WAS IN A BRIEF RECESS.
[85. Approve a resolution establishing an officeholder expense policy]
MEMBERS, UH, BEFORE OUR, WE HAVE ONE ITEM TO TAKE UP BEFORE OUR TWO O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN ON ZONING, AND THAT IS ITEM NUMBER 85.ITEM NUMBER 85 IS AN ITEM FROM A COUNCIL COMMITTEE FROM THE AUDIT FINANCE COMMITTEE.
AND SO THE WAY I THINK WE'LL PROCEED ON THIS IS GET A MOTION ON THE FLOOR, HAVE A LITTLE DISCUSSION, AND THEN I KNOW THAT THERE, OR I THINK, I KNOW THAT THERE ARE GONNA BE SOME PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE MAIN MOTION, BUT I, I THINK IT WOULD BE BEST IF WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF DISCUSSION BEFORE WE GET TO THOSE AMENDMENTS, UH, BECAUSE IT MAY HELP US, UH, NAVIGATE OUR WAY THROUGH THE AMENDMENTS AS THE CHAIR OF THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE, WHICH IS THE, AND WE ALSO HAVE ONE PERSON SIGNED UP TO SPEAK IS MY UNDERSTANDING.
UM, AS AS THE CHAIR OF THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE, I WILL MOVE ADOPTION OF ITEM NUMBER 85 SO THAT WE'LL GET A MAIN MOTION.
IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRY.
LET'S GO TO THE SPEAKER FIRST AND THEN WE'LL OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION.
GOOD AFTERNOON AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
I SIGNED UP NEUTRAL ON THIS 'CAUSE I THINK IT'S A REALLY GOOD IDEA TO HAVE THESE RULES.
I THINK YOUR MICROPHONE'S STILL OFF.
[01:50:03]
HOW'S THAT? THAT'S BETTER.UM, I SIGNED UP NEUTRAL ON THIS FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS.
FIRST, I THINK IT'S A REALLY GOOD IDEA AND I KNOW YOU'VE PUT A LOT OF WORK INTO IT, JUST READING, READING THROUGH IT.
BUT I DO THINK THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT ARE MISSING THAT YOU MIGHT WANNA CONSIDER ADDING OR LOOKING AT.
THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT PROP Q SHOULD HAVE BEEN A WAKE UP CALL.
AND I KNOW IT IS FOR SOME OF YOU.
IN MY DISTRICT, DISTRICT, EIGHT 78% OF THE PEOPLE VOTED NO.
THAT IS A VERY, VERY STRONG MESSAGE.
AND A LOT OF TIMES WHEN I COME HERE, I SAY, AND I'M SAYING AGAIN, I WANNA SPEAK FOR THOSE WHO PAY TAXES, OBEY THE LAW WORK MONEY DOESN'T GROW ON TREES.
THEY'RE THE ONES THAT HAVE TO PAY FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING AND THEY DESERVE BETTER.
ALL OF YOU TOOK AN OATH OF OFFICE TO FOLLOW THE LAW.
AND I THINK GOVERNMENTS IN GENERAL ARE STRAYING FROM FOLLOWING THE RULE OF LAW.
I THINK IT'S A MISTAKE IN TERMS OF SPENDING MONEY OR OTHER THINGS.
SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO REALLY PAY ATTENTION TO THE LAW REGARDING, UM, CITY FINANCING.
UM, THE COUNCIL SPEAKING IS INCONSISTENT WITH THE SPENDING, AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY IRRITATED VOTERS.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE MESSAGE WAS, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY.
BUT IN FACT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANNA PICK ON ANYONE, BUT IN A, IN A TOWN WHERE THEORETICALLY ONE IN FIVE PEOPLE ARE FOOD INS, HAS FOOD INSUFFICIENCY, BUYING THINGS WITH TAXPAYER MONEY, LIKE ARTWORK IS NOT, IT'S NOT APPROPRIATE.
IT DOESN'T GO WITH THAT MESSAGE.
AND I THINK THAT'S THE KIND OF THING THAT REALLY IRRITATED PEOPLE.
UM, I THINK THAT IN TERMS OF THE SPECIFICS, IT FEELS LIKE THESE, THIS IS, THESE ARE, YOU KNOW, I'M A, AN AUDITOR TYPE, UM, THAT THIS IS A, LIKE A SLUSH FUND WITH FEW INTERNAL CONTROLS.
YOU NEED TO GET INTERNAL CONTROLS.
NOT ONLY GET YOUR RULES, BUT WHO ENFORCES THEM AND HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT THEY'RE BEING ENFORCED.
UM, THANK YOU MS. PATARA, WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AND YOUR COMMENTS.
ALRIGHT MEMBERS, UM, THAT'LL LEAD US TO WHAT I, WHAT I'LL WILL DO, I THINK IS HAVE SOME BRIEF DISCUSSION AND THEN, UH, WHEN THAT SEEMS TO BE CONCLUDED, I'LL, UH, RECOGNIZE PEOPLE ON, UH, POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS.
LET ME START OFF AS THE, I GUESS KIND OF THE AUTHOR OF THE RESOLUTION.
AND, UM, AND I WANNA START BY SAYING THANK YOU TO THE COUNCIL.
I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO OUR, UH, STAFF, UH, WHO, UH, I'VE THANKED THEM A COUPLE OF TIMES, BUT THEY, THEY DESERVE IT EACH TIME I SPEAK, UH, FOR THE AMOUNT OF ENERGY AND WORK THEY WENT INTO ON THIS.
THE GOALS OF THE PROPOSAL, UH, WAS TO ONE, HAVE A SINGLE POLICY, UH, THAT THE PUBLIC AND COUNCIL AND STAFF WOULD BE ABLE TO USE AND UNDERSTAND.
UH, A SECOND GOAL WAS TO PROVIDE AND IS TO PROVIDE MORE PRECISE DEFINITIONS AND GREATER CLARITY ON WHAT USES OF FUNDS ARE PERMISSIBLE.
UH, THIS WILL HELP SAFEGUARD PUBLIC CONFIDENCE AND OFFER GREATER CLARITY ON PERMISSIBLE AND IMPERMISSIBLE USE OF FUNDS.
A THIRD WAS TO ASSURE THAT AUSTIN IS MORE IN LINE WITH WHAT OTHER JURISDICTIONS DO, UH, PEER JURISDICTIONS AND, AND, UH, PEER CITIES AND OTHER JURISDICTIONS THAT HAVE OFFICE HOLDERS THAT HAVE FUNDS, UH, APPROPRIATED TO THEM ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
UM, AND, AND LET ME JUST SAY THAT WHEN WE REVIEWED, AND I SHOULD HAVE SAID THIS JUST A SECOND AGO, WHEN WE REVIEWED THE COUNCIL SPENDING POLICIES, WE FOUND A BUNCH, A LOT, A WHOLE LOT OF DECENTRALIZED ADMINISTRATIVE BULLETINS AND GOVERNING POLICIES.
AND SO THIS HAS, HAS, UH, THIS KIND OF CORRESPONDS THOSE TOGETHER AND BRINGS 'EM TOGETHER.
SO I WANNA, HAVING SAID, THOSE ARE THE THREE GOALS, I THINK WE ALL REALLY SHARE THOSE GOALS.
AND IT'S BEEN, UH, I'M, I'M THANKFUL TO THE MEMBERS AND INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL WHO HAVE PROVIDED THE INPUT THROUGH THE, THE, UH, THE AUDIT FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS TO GET US WHERE WE ARE.
IT SEEMS THAT THE ONE AREA, BASED UPON WHAT I'M SEEING WITH THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS, THAT THAT WHILE THERE ARE SOME TWEAKS IN CERTAIN INSTANCES, LIKE THE $50, UH, THING THAT WE'LL WE'LL TALK ABOUT IN A MINUTE, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
THE BIGGEST AREA OF DISAGREEMENT THAT WE CURRENTLY MIGHT BE FACING, IT RELATES TO THE ROLLOVER OF FUNDS.
AND I WANNA REMIND EVERYBODY THAT, OF SOMETHING I'VE SAID IN THE PAST, AND THAT IS THAT OUT OF THE PEER CITIES THAT WE REVIEWED BEFORE WE PROVIDED, UH, EVEN THE FIRST DRAFT OF THIS POLICY TO COUNCIL OUT OF THE PEER CITIES THAT WE REVIEWED,
[01:55:02]
PEER CITIES AND PEER JURISDICTIONS, ONLY ONE ENTITY, AND THAT WAS THE TEXAS SENATE ALLOWED FOR A ROLLOVER OF FUNDS.AND BY THE WAY, IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, WE DON'T HAVE A ROLLOVER OF FUNDS BECAUSE WE HAVE ANNUAL BUDGETING, AND EACH YEAR WE BUDGET.
AND, UH, IF A, IF, IF FOR SOME REASON A DEPARTMENT DIDN'T SPEND, AND LET'S JUST USE A NUMBER, YOU KNOW, A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS DURING THE APPROPRIATION PROCESS, THEY CAN SAY, WELL, WE STILL NEED A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, BUT THE REASON WE DIDN'T SPEND IT THIS YEAR IS THIS HAPPENED, OR THAT HAPPENED.
AND, AND SO THAT BECOMES PART OF THE APPROPRIATION PROCESS.
CURRENTLY, THE CITY COUNCIL, THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL, AS I KNOW IT, ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT HAVE THE ABILITY TO ROLL OVER FUNDS.
AND AS I'VE POINTED OUT, WE DIDN'T FIND THAT IN OTHER PEER CITIES AND PEER JURISDICTIONS EXCEPT FOR THE TEXAS SENATE.
AND IN THE TEXAS SENATE, IT'S CAPPED AT $20,000.
UM, AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, AND I'M GONNA SAY IT AGAIN, IF AN OFFICE IS APPROPRIATED MONEY AND IT HAS MONEY LEFT OVER AT THE END OF THE YEAR THAT IS EITHER A SIGN OF AN OVER APPROPRIATION, WE APPROPRIATED TOO MUCH MONEY, OR IT'S A SIGN THAT SOMETHING HAPPENED THAT YEAR, THAT MAY MEAN, UH, YOU'RE GONNA NEED SOME OF THAT MONEY AGAIN.
BUT IT CERTAINLY, AS IT BUILDS UP AND BUILDS UP AND BUILDS UP, IT SEEMS TO BE AT LEAST PRETTY GOOD EVIDENCE THAT THERE'S AN OVER APPROPRIATION.
AND IN A TIME WHERE WE ARE IN A TIGHT BUDGET AND IN A TIME WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT HOW MUCH MONEY IS ACTUALLY IN THE GENERAL FUND, THAT MONEY IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS WOULD GO BACK TO THE GENERAL FUND.
IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATED THROUGH A PROCESS THAT THAT MEETS THE OVERALL CITY NEEDS.
AND IT WOULD TAKE INTO ACCOUNT OVERALL CITY NEEDS.
SO WE CRAFTED THIS POLICY, I THINK THOUGHTFULLY AND, AND THOUGHT INPUT ON IT, THAT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IS THAT THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OFFICES WOULD STILL HAVE FLEXIBILITY TO ADDRESS THAT SECOND POSSIBILITY I JUST TALKED ABOUT BY, BY.
WHAT WE DID IS WE SET THE ROLLOVER, WE SET A ROLLOVER CAP AT $50,000, WHICH IS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE EVEN THAN THE ONE ROLLOVER THAT WE FOUND, WHICH WAS THE TEXAS SENATE.
UM, AND THE ADDITIONAL ROLLOVER FUNDS WOULD THEN GO BACK TO THE GENERAL FUND TO BE UTILIZED IN THE OVERALL APPROPRIATION PROCESS SO THAT WE WOULD GO THROUGH A PROCESS WHERE WE WOULD CONSIDER MEETING SPECIFIC NEEDS, AND WE WOULD CONSIDER TAKING INTO ACCOUNT CITYWIDE NEEDS.
UH, I HEARD SOMEBODY USE THE PHRASE THAT THEY BELIEVED WE SHOULD WORK TO INCENTIVIZE SPENDING YOUR MONEY IN THE APPROPRIATED YEAR.
AND I, I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY TRUE, BUT BY THE SAME TOKEN, WE SAW WITH THAT $50,000 CAP A MEANS OF MAYBE MODERATING IT A LITTLE BIT SO THAT SOME, AN OFFICE WOULDN'T FEEL COMPELLED OR DISINCENTIVIZED, IF YOU WILL, TO JUST SPEND MONEY.
RIGHT? UH, BECAUSE IF I DON'T SPEND IT, I'M GONNA LOSE IT.
SO THAT'S WHY WE, WE PUT A CAP OF $50,000 WITH AN ADDITIONAL ROLLOVER GOING BACK INTO THE GENERAL FUND.
NOW AS I UNDERSTAND IT, WE'RE GONNA HAVE SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE OUGHT TO DO AWAY COMPLETELY WITH THE ROLLOVER, WITH THE ACCEPT, UH, THE, THE PRO PROHIBITION ON ROLLOVER SO THAT THERE'S, WE, WE DO IT LIKE WE'RE CONTINUING, WE'RE DOING IT RIGHT NOW.
UH, IT'S, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, WE'VE GOT PROPOSED AMENDMENTS THAT WOULD TAKE THE $50,000 CAP, BUT PUT MONEY INTO, UH, A, A, THE, THE DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS THAT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT BY WAY OF A RESOLUTION.
AND WE HAVE A MEMO THAT WAS DONE BY THE MANAGER'S OFFICE SAYING HOW THAT PILOT WOULD WORK.
SO IN ESSENCE, SOME OF THE AMENDMENTS I THINK HAVE, HAVE, UH, SAID, OKAY, WELL LET'S JUST IN LET, JUST, LET'S JUST CREATE THAT DISTRICT SERVICES FUND.
AND, AND I'LL, AND I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT IN A SECOND, BUT UTILIZE A POLICY ABOUT COUNCIL SPENDING TO DO THE DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS.
I THINK THAT OUGHT TO BE DONE AS THE DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS.
WE OUGHT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS.
WE OUGHT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY WE HAVE ABOUT THAT, AND NOT LET THAT CONFUSE WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IN BUILDING CONFIDENCE WITH THE PUBLIC WHEN IT COMES TO OUR POLICY.
BECAUSE FOLKS, IF IT'S PARTLY GOING
[02:00:01]
TO STAY IN THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET, PARTLY GOING AND, AND WHAT'S LEFT OVER GOES TO THE DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS, THAT IS STILL A ROLLOVER OF ALL OF THE MONEY.SO I THINK IF WE'RE GONNA DO THE DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS, WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS WE NEED TO FOLLOW THE MEMO, UH, THAT THE MANAGER PUT OUT.
UM, DON'T DO IT AS AN ADD-ON TO THIS, UH, THIS COUNCIL SPENDING POLICY.
AND IT KEEP IN MIND THAT WHAT THE MA THE, THE RESOLUTION THAT LED TO THE MANAGER'S MEMO SAID, THE MEMO WAS VERY CLEAR THAT IT WOULD REQUIRE, AS PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS FOR A DETERMINATION TO BE MADE ABOUT HOW THE MONEY WOULD BE UTILIZED.
THIS, THIS, THIS AMENDMENT WON'T ALLOW FOR THAT.
THIS AMENDMENT JUST SAYS IT'S GONNA GO INTO THIS DISTRICT SERVICE FUND.
UM, IT TOOK INTO ACCOUNT EQUITY.
YOU KNOW, WE SHOULDN'T HAVE A SITUATION WHERE, BECAUSE ONE COUNCIL OFFICE IS IN A POSITION THAT IT NEEDS TO SPEND ITS MONEY IN ORDER TO SERVE ITS CONSTITUENTS, DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO ROLL IT OVER TO A SYSTEM BENEFIT FUND, AND THEN ANOTHER DISTRICT DOES.
AND IT CREATES CONTINUED INEQUITIES IN HOW WE'RE SPENDING OUR MONEY.
IT ALLOWED THE, THE MANAGER'S MEMO ALSO SPEAKS IN TERMS OF, OR ALLOWS FOR GREATER TRANSPARENCY.
WE LOSE THAT IN MY VIEW, IF WE JUST, IF WE JUST CONFLATE IT AS PART OF A SPENDING POLICY.
SO I WANTED TO LAY THAT OUT THAT WAY BECAUSE IF ONE OF OUR GOALS IS TO INCREASE PUBLIC CONFIDENCE, WHICH I KNOW EVERYBODY SHARES, I THINK WE OUGHT TO BE VERY CLEAN IN HOW WE GO ABOUT DOING THIS POLICY.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE ATTEMPTED TO DO AND WHAT WE'VE LAID OUT.
AND THAT IS THE BASIS OF MY MOTION TO ADOPT THIS POLICY.
SO WITH THAT, UM, I'LL, I'LL DEFER, I'LL MAKE FURTHER COMMENTS LATER IF NEED BE, BUT I WANTED TO LAY THAT OUT AND I'LL NOW RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.
UH, THANK YOU MAYOR FOR LAYING THAT OUT AND JUST WANNA SPEAK A LITTLE BIT TO THE DISTRICT SERVICE FUND AS THE AUTHOR OF THE ORIGINAL RESOLUTION THAT COUNCIL ADOPTED IN NOVEMBER OF 2024.
NOW, I WAS REALLY HEARTENED TO HAVE THE TOPIC OF A DISTRICT SERVICE FUND COME UP DURING THE AUDIT COMMITTEE A FEW WEEKS AGO AS PART OF THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION ON OFFICE SPENDING.
AND REALLY THE REASON WHY I BELIEVE IT CAME UP AS A, AS A REFERENCE POINT IS BECAUSE WE SAW THAT FOR OFFICES THAT HAD A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF CARRYOVER DOLLARS AND THEY WERE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, APPROPRIATE THOSE DOLLARS BACK INTO THEIR DISTRICT VIA AN APPROPRIATION TO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT OR WHAT HAVE YOU, WAS THAT COUNCIL OFFICES WERE USING THEIR OFFICE DOLLARS TO SERVE THEIR DISTRICT.
SO IT WOULD MAKE SENSE FOR US TO CONSIDER THE PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED POLICY THAT COUNCIL HAS PROVIDED AS DIRECTION TO THE CITY MANAGER AS ONE WAY OF US HAVING A PROGRAM SPECIFIC TO SERVING THE NEEDS OF OUR DISTRICT AND ALLOWING US THAT FLEXIBILITY IN HOW WE SERVE OUR DISTRICT, AS WELL AS ENSURING THAT THERE'S A PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THE DETERMINATION OF THOSE PROJECTS.
UM, I CERTAINLY, UM, WELCOME THIS CONVERSATION BECAUSE THIS, YOU KNOW, PART OF US MOVING FORWARD ON A DISTRICT SERVICE FUND PILOT PROGRAM IS THAT WE NEED THE FUNDING FIRST.
UM, THE MEMO THAT THE MANAGER LAID OUT SUGGESTED A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT FUNDING PATHWAYS, BUT IT WAS VERY CLEAR IN THAT WE HAVE TO IDENTIFY THE FUNDING FIRST AND THEN WE CAN BUILD OUT THE PROGRAM GUIDELINES, PARAMETERS AND TALK ABOUT THE DASHBOARD AND HOW WE WOULD ENSURE THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY.
SO THERE WAS STILL A LOT OF TBD IN CARRYING OUT THAT POLICY, BUT THE FIRST PART THAT WAS IDENTIFIED WAS WE NEED TO IDENTIFY THE FUNDING SOURCE.
UM, SO THAT'S HOW WE CAME TO THIS CONNECTION OF USING ANY, UM, SURPLUS AND OFFICE REVENUES OR OFFICE DOLLARS THAT HAVE, WERE UNUSED WITHIN THAT FISCAL YEAR.
AS A WAY TO SEED THE DISTRICT SERVICE FUND.
I DO NOT SEE IT AS THE ONLY FINANCIAL TOOL TO FULLY IMPLEMENT THE DISTRICT SERVICE FUND.
AND IN FACT, IN MY, UM, RESEARCH OF OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE SIMILAR TYPES OF PROGRAMS AND STRUCTURES, UH, THEY HAVE A VARIETY OF FUNDING SOURCES.
SO I REALLY SEE THE OFFICE SPENDING POLICY AS ONE WAY, UH, ONE PATHWAY IN US FUNDING THE DISTRICT SERVICE PRO PROGRAM.
UM, BUT ULTIMATELY WHAT CAME OUT OF THE CONVERSATION WAS THAT THERE ARE, THERE IS A MAJORITY OF US WHO WANT TO SEE THAT POLICY MOVE FORWARD.
UM, IT IS AGAIN, A PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED POLICY OF COUNSEL.
UM, WE WOULD, I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION, UH, WITH COLLEAGUES HERE AND WITH THE MANAGER AND MOVING FORWARD AND DEVELOPING THE PROGRAM AND GUIDELINES, BECAUSE IT, THERE DOES SEEM TO BE A MAJORITY WHO WANT TO SEE THE PROGRAM MOVE FORWARD.
UH, SO JUST WANNA ADD THAT CONTEXT TO THE, TO THE PROGRAM.
COUNCIL MEMBER LANE, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ.
UH, I, I FIRST DO REALLY WANNA THANK EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO PUT THIS LEVEL OF EFFORT INTO DEVELOPING MUCH MORE CLEAR GUIDANCE, AND PARTICULARLY FOR THE MAYOR IN LEADING
[02:05:01]
THIS PROCESS, AND ALSO FOR THE MANY COUNCIL MEMBERS WITH WHOM I HAVE HAD VERY ROBUST DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE PROS AND CONS.AND, UM, AND I, AND THAT HAS MOVED US TO THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A STRONGER POLICY.
UM, I WILL NOT TOUCH ON THE POINTS THAT Y'ALL HAVE ALREADY MADE, HOWEVER, UM, I WILL, UM, REFERENCE THE WAKE UP CALL, CALL, THE VERY CLEAR WAKE UP CALL THAT THE VOTE ON PROP Q WAS FROM OUR VOTERS.
AND IN ADDITION, SOME OF THE MEDIA COVERAGE THAT HAS BEEN OCCURRING AROUND THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T COME FROM GOVERNMENT, I CAME FROM PRIVATE INDUSTRY.
SO WHEN I SET UP MY OFFICE A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO, I SIMPLY FOLLOWED THE PRACTICES THAT I HAD ENCOUNTERED AT EVERY OTHER ENTITY THAT I HAD BEEN CONNECTED WITH, WHETHER AS AN EMPLOYEE OR ON A BOARD, OR ACTIVELY RUNNING A NONPROFIT.
I, UM, HAVE NOT EVER ENCOUNTERED.
I'VE BEEN CONNECTED WITH AN ENTITY THAT ALLOWS SUBSTANTIAL ROLLOVER.
UM, SO THIS IS A FIRST FOR ME.
AND I, IN LISTENING TO THE, TO THE MAYOR'S COMMENTS, I, IT CONCERNS ME DEEPLY TO BE SO FAR OUT OF LINE WITH TYPICAL PRACTICE OF GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES, UM, AND PRIVATE INDUSTRY AND NONPROFITS, EVEN PTAS DON'T ALLOW ROLLOVER TO THE NEXT YEAR.
AND, YOU KNOW, THAT ISN'T THE KIND OF OPERATION THAT HAS THIS LEVEL OF MONEY AT PLAY.
AND SO I FEEL MOST COMFORTABLE IF WE HAVE MORE SPECIFIC CLEAR GUIDANCE.
I BELIEVE THAT THAT SERVES US AS COUNCIL MEMBERS.
BY HAVING SPECIFIC CLEAR GUIDANCE LAID OUT GUARDRAILS, IT'LL GIVES US SOMETHING TO RELY UPON RATHER THAN EACH OFFICE AND EACH COUNCIL MEMBER DECIDING DIFFERENTLY WHAT THEY WANNA DO.
AND THEN THE PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUESTS JUST CONTINUE AND CONTINUE.
I AM AFTER SOUND POLICY AND CLEAR GUIDANCE.
AND, UM, I, I REALLY THINK THAT NO MATTER WHAT PASSES TODAY, WE WILL BE WAY AHEAD OF WHERE WE WERE BEFORE.
UM, BUT I PERSONALLY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH A COUNCIL ADOPTING A POLICY FOR ITSELF THAT NONE OF THE REST OF THE CITY HAS THAT OPPORTUNITY, AND I DON'T THINK IT'S ON POLICY.
AND SO I WAS VERY GRATIFIED TO LEARN ABOUT THE DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS, WHICH WERE PASSED BEFORE I WAS ON COUNCIL, WHICH LAYS OUT A FRAMEWORK, A SEVERAL PAGE, SINGLE SPACED FRAMEWORK FOR A WAY TO HANDLE THESE BALANCES THAT HAVE INCREASED IN VALUE.
NOT IN MY ACCOUNT
AND THIS PROVIDES A CLEAR, TRANSPARENT PROCESS TO SHIFT TO A MORE TYPICAL APPROACH TO ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL POLICIES WHILE PRESERVING THE VERY REAL NEED THAT I CERTAINLY HAVE SPOKE ABOUT AT LENGTH ON THIS DAAS OF THE NEED TO HAVE ACCESS TO TIMELY, FLEXIBLE FUNDING FOR DISTRICTS SPECIFIC PROJECTS.
UM, AND I REALLY BELIEVE THAT WE AS A COUNCIL, EACH OF US INDIVIDUALLY AND AS A BODY CORPORATE, WILL BE BETTER SERVED BY MORE CLEAR GUIDANCE AND LAYING OUT POLICIES THAT CONFORM WITH WHAT IS COMMON PRACTICE.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONTINUED DISCUSSION HERE.
UM, AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO KICK THIS OFF.
CA, COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN.
I, I HAVE A QUESTION AND, UH, I'M NOT SURE WHO CAN ANSWER IT.
WHEN A, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER IS TERMED OUT AND THERE ARE FUNDS STILL LEFT IN THEIR ROLLOVER, WHAT, WHAT WAS PREVIOUSLY ROLLED OR WHAT IS ROLLOVER? WHERE DO THOSE FUNDS GO NOW? UH, YES, SIR.
ED VINO, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, WHEN A COUNCIL MEMBER TURNS OUT THOSE FUNDS DO REVERT TO THE GENERAL FUND.
AND THANK YOU FOR, UH, MY APPRECIATION FOR BRINGING FORWARD THIS POLICY AND FOR GIVING US, UH, AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE SPEED AND CLARITY TO IT.
I REALLY JUST WANNA REINFORCE SOME COMMENTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE, UH, AND PUT THIS IN CONTEXT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, ON THE ONE HAND, I CAN APPRECIATE THAT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE IS IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THE CITY BUDGET, FAIRLY MINUSCULE.
SO IN MY, THE WAY I'M SEEING THIS IS THAT THIS IS REALLY ABOUT VALUES AND LEADERSHIP AND HOW THE COUNCIL BEHAVES AND HOW WE'RE PERCEIVED MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE.
UH, AND SO MY OBSERVATION OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS DEALING WITH THIS IS THAT WE'RE INCENTIVIZED IN A VERY AD HOC WAY TO SQUIRREL AWAY DOLLARS FOR DISTRICT PRIORITIES THAT OTHERWISE ARE STRUGGLE.
WE STRUGGLE TO FUND, UH, FOR WHATEVER REASONS.
AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT THOSE ARE.
AND I UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, MY SENIORS HERE, UH, SOME OF Y'ALL HAVE
[02:10:01]
BEEN DOING THIS AND, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE, BUT I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THAT'S OBVIOUSLY GOING ON.IF THIS IS THE PRACTICE, AND THIS MAY MAY FOR ALL I UNDERSTAND BE GOING ON FOR YEARS, FOR FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN HERE FOR SOME TIME, UH, AND PER COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES AND OTHERS, MY SENSE IS THAT THE, SOME SORT OF COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUND, AND I WANNA THANK HER FOR THE WORK THAT SHE DID BEFORE I EVER SHOWED UP HERE, UH, AND THAT MANY PEER CITIES ALREADY USING THIS.
IN FACT, FROM MY CONVERSATION YESTERDAY WITH A CM ROGERS, IT SOUNDED LIKE WE ARE FAIRLY ATYPICAL IN THAT WE LACK THIS KIND OF PROGRAM, WHETHER IT'S AN NOMINAL AMOUNT OR SIGNIFICANT.
UH, AND SO IN PLACE OF THIS PROGRAM, WE'RE HAVING TO SQUIRREL AWAY THESE DOLLARS AND, UH, IN THESE OTHER CITIES, THE ONE THING I REALLY LIKE ABOUT IT IS THAT THE PROGRAM EXISTS IN THE BUDGET.
SO IT'S TRANSPARENTLY VOTED ON DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS.
AND IF I AM RESPONDING TO THE CURRENT PUBLIC SENTIMENT, THAT SEEMS LIKE A MAJOR STEP FORWARD IN MAKING SURE THAT, UH, PEOPLE KNOW WHAT PROJECTS ARE FUNDED, THAT, THAT WE CAN SUBMIT, UH, PROJECTS TO BE VOTED ON FOR APPROVAL, THAT THERE'S GUIDELINES AROUND IT, THAT WE HAVE CONTROLS ON IT, THAT IT'S EQUITABLE, UH, AND ACCOUNTABLE.
AND I'M JUST GONNA READ, AND IT, SO HOUSTON, IN THEIR 2026 BUDGET SAID THAT THEIR PROJECT, I THINK $5.8 MILLION ACROSS THE SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICTS REPAIR, MAINTAIN, AND, AND IMPROVE CITY ASSETS, INCLUDING STREETS, SIDEWALKS, SEWER SYSTEMS, BUILDINGS, PARKS, TRAILS THAT BETTER SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND ANTICIPATE FURTHER NEEDS AND PREVENT FURTHER DEGRADATION TO EXISTING FACILITIES AND ASSETS.
UH, AND TO FACILITATE A CONVERSATION WITH CONSTITUENTS THAT CAPTURES ALL THE CONSIDERATIONS INVOLVED IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND ASSURE ALL INTERESTS ARE ADDRESSED AND REFLECTED WITH THE FUNDS PROVIDED VIA THE PROGRAM.
AND I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN ALL AGREE THOSE ARE ALL WORTHWHILE GOALS.
UH, AND THAT ALONGSIDE, I THINK, ROBUST CONTROLS COULD BE A MUCH MORE STRUCTURED APPROACH TO DEALING WITH THIS CHALLENGE.
UH, AND THAT'S BEEN AROUND FOR 10 YEARS.
AND FROM WHAT I CAN TELL, BEEN FAIRLY SUCCESSFUL.
IN FACT, I THINK THEY VOTED A COUPLE TIMES TO INCREASE THOSE DOLLARS AND ADD ADDITIONAL CONTROLS TO MAKE SURE IT'S NOT BEING USED FOR KIND OF SELF-SERVING REASONS.
SO THE CHALLENGE, AS AGAIN, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES POINTED OUT IN THE MEMO LAST SUMMER IS THE LACK OF FUNDING AND THE MEMO POINTS TO TWO OPTIONS THAT SEEM SOMEWHAT UNREALISTIC AT THIS POINT.
ONE, A TAX REELECTION, THE OTHER, THE BUDGET STABILIZATION FUND.
AND I DON'T THINK EITHER OF THOSE ARE APPROPRIATE.
AND I'VE SPOKEN WITH A COUPLE OF SENIOR CITY STAFF ABOUT SOME OPTIONS.
AND MY HOPE IS THAT JUST IN THE NEXT MONTHS, WE CAN BE CREATIVE ABOUT HOW TO FUND THIS EVEN IN A VERY NOMINAL WAY, UH, BUT SUBSTANTIAL ENOUGH THAT IT FINDS A WAY TO DISINCENTIVIZE US FROM TURNING TO THIS OTHER SOLUTION OF SQUIRRELING MONEY AWAY AND ROLLING IT OVER AND FIGURING OUT HOW TO ADDRESS DISTRICT PRIORITIES IN THAT WAY.
SO, UH, SO AGAIN, I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE RESOLUTION.
UH, I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE PRIOR WORK ON THIS, AND I JUST WANT TO ENDORSE THAT SOLUTION AS A WAY THAT FOR WHATEVER CONVERSATIONS HAPPENED A YEAR AND A HALF AGO ABOUT THAT, THAT I THINK IT CAN ALSO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW IN A SINGLE POLICY STROKE.
AND, AND I MIGHT JUST PIGGYBACK ON THAT JUST A SECOND TO, TO TALK ABOUT IF WE, IF WE WANT TO FUND THE DISTRICT SERVICE FUND.
AND I WANNA REITERATE WHAT I SAID A MINUTE AGO.
THERE'S A PROCESS FOR US TO DO THAT, AND THAT IS THE BUDGET PROCESS.
AND WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S DONE IN A, UH, AS THE MEMO OF THE MANAGER'S OFFICE PUT OUT, UM, WHEN, WHEN THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE BUDGET AND ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE PUT IT OUT.
UM, BACK SOME MONTHS AGO, IT POINTED OUT THAT IT COULD BE DONE IN SUCH A WAY WHERE THERE WOULD BE APPROVED CAPITAL PROJECTS AS PART OF WHAT WAS GOING ON.
UH, EQUITY WOULD BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.
AND IF IN FACT, WHAT HAPPENS IS IF WE PASS THIS RESOLUTION AS IT'S CURRENTLY WRITTEN, AND WHAT IT SAYS IS YOU'RE CAPPED AT A ROLLOVER OF 50,000 AND THERE'S EXTRA MONEY, THE ARGUMENT CAN VERY EASILY BE MADE AT THAT POINT IN TIME.
THAT OUGHT TO GO INTO THE DISTRICT FUNDS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
UM, AND, AND, AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE AN APPROPRIATE DISCUSSION AT THE TIME OF THE BUDGET.
IT'S INTERESTING TO ME THAT THE RESOLUTION THAT THE MANAGER'S OFFICE PROVIDED US IN RESPONSE, NOT THE RESOLUTION, THE MEMO THAT THE MANAGER'S OFFICE PROVIDED US IN RESPONSE TO COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES RESOLUTION, IT EVEN EXPRESSED THAT UN EXPENDED OR UNALLOCATED FUNDS WOULD NOT BE CARRIED OVER TO FUTURE YEARS
[02:15:02]
IN RECOGNITION THAT THAT IS JUST NOT A COMMON FISCAL PRACTICE.SO I REALLY URGE US TO SEPARATE THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS.
I'M GLAD WE'RE HAVING THE DISCUSSION BECAUSE IT ONCE AGAIN, HIGHLIGHTS AS COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES HAS SAID, IT HIGHLIGHTS THE DESIRE.
BUT WE'RE A LONG WAY FOLKS FROM KNOWING HOW THOSE FUNDS OUGHT TO LOOK AND HOW YOU'RE GOING TO PUT MONEY IN 'EM AND WHERE THE MONEY'S GOING TO COME FROM AND HOW YOU'RE GOING TO ASSURE EQUITY, HOW YOU CITYWIDE, HOW YOU'RE GOING TO ASSURE TRANSPARENCY, HOW YOU'RE GOING TO DO THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
IT'S GREAT THAT THIS SPAWNED THAT DISCUSSION, BUT THIS ISN'T ABOUT THAT.
THIS IS ABOUT WHAT OUR COUNCIL SPENDING POLICIES, NOT HOW WE WANT TO FUND THE DISTRICT SERVICES FUNDS.
SO I WOULD REALLY ENCOURAGE US TO STEP AWAY FROM THAT.
AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE US TO NOT ADD TO THE $50,000 CAP ON ROLLOVER AND PUT US OUTSIDE THE MAINSTREAM, UH, ON, ON, ON WHAT THAT OUGHT TO BE.
I DON'T HAVE ANYBODY ELSE SIGNED UP FOR, UH, IN THE QUEUE.
SO WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO GO TO POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS.
AND THE ORDER I'M GOING TO GO ON THE POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS IS, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, COUNCIL MEMBER LANE AND COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ.
AND I WOULD ASK YOU WHEN THOSE THAT FOLLOW COUNCIL AND THAT, AND WHAT I'M DOING THERE IS IN THE ORDER I RECEIVED THEM.
SO IF ANYBODY'S ASKING HOW DID HE COME UP WITH THAT, UM, THAT THAT'S THE ORDER IN WHICH I RECEIVED THEM.
UM, WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS ASK YOU AS YOU LAY IT OUT, TO BE VERY CLEAR IF YOU THINK THERE'S ANY CONFLICT BETWEEN YOUR AMENDMENT AND A PREVIOUS AMENDMENT AND SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT AS WELL.
COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
THANK YOU FOR THE RECOGNITION, MAYOR AND BEAR WITH ME 'CAUSE I WANNA MAKE SURE IT'S REALLY TRANSPARENT AND CLEAR SINCE THIS IS A VERSION TWO OF A VERSION ONE.
UM, SO THAT IS THE SHEET THAT I'M READING OFF OF.
AND SO IT BEGINS WITH ON ITEMS ONLINE ITEM 46 AND 47 OF THE DRAFT RESOLUTION THAT WE WOULD CHANGE THAT LANGUAGE TO READ, DEVELOP, AND PROVIDE TRAINING FOR NEW ELECTED OFFICIALS AND NEW CITY COUNCIL OFFICE EMPLOYEES ON LAWS, POLICIES AND PROCEDURES RELATING TO CITY COUNCIL OFFICE BUDGETS AND EXPENSES.
AND THEN WE ADDED AND ALSO MAKE THIS TRAINING AVAILABLE AT LEAST ANNUALLY FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND CITY COUNCIL OFFICE EMPLOYEES WHO WOULD LIKE TO REFRESH THEIR KNOWLEDGE.
SO THIS IS QUITE SIMILAR TO HOW WE DO ORIENTATION.
UH, WE USUALLY GET IT WHEN WE'RE FRESH AND NEW IN OUR POSITIONS, BUT AS NEW MEMBERS ARE SWORN IN, WE ARE MORE THAN MORE THAN WELCOME TO JUMP IN ON THOSE ORIENTATIONS AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE REFRESHERS ON ANY QUESTIONS THAT WE MAY HAVE COME ACROSS.
AND THEN JUMPING INTO THE EXHIBIT A, I MOVE TO AMEND EXHIBIT A ON PAGE FOUR IN THE GENERAL CATEGORY, SUB A UNDER PERMISSIBLE ADD THE FOLLOWING BULLET TRANSFER OF FUNDS TO A CITY DEPARTMENT CONTINGENT UPON COUNCIL APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION THAT CLEARLY DOCUMENTS THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT PURPOSE AND RECIPIENT DEPARTMENTS IN PARENTHESES OF THE PROPOSED TRANSFER.
AND SO THAT HELPS MAKE SURE THERE'S A TRANSPARENT WAY IN OR OUTSIDE OF THE BUDGET CYCLE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE BEING VERY OPEN AND TRANSPARENT WITH WHAT DOLLARS WE ARE ALLOCATING FROM OUR OFFICE BUDGET TO A DEPARTMENT AND SPECIFIC PROJECTS.
AND THEN UNDER SUBHEADING B UNDER PROHIBITED AMEND THE THIRD BULLET AS FOLLOWS.
AND IT SAYS TRANSFERS OF FUNDS TO OTHER CITY COUNCIL OFFICE BUDGETS AND STRIKES THE LANGUAGE OR DEPARTMENTS.
SO THIS FREES UP THE ABILITY FOR THOSE DOLLARS TO GO TO DEPARTMENTS FOR SPECIFIC PROJECTS.
AND THEN NUMBER TWO, ON PAGE FIVE IN THE SOFTWARE AND IT SERVICE CATEGORY, SUBHEADING A UNDER PERMISSIBLE AMEND, THE FIRST BULLET AS FOLLOWS, SOFTWARE AND MINOR COMPUTER HARDWARE MAY INCLUDE THE PURCHASE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ITEMS LIKE LAPTOPS, MONITORS, OR MINOR SOFTWARE LICENSES SUCH AS SOFTWARE THAT THE CITY OWNS AND STRIKES THE LANGUAGE.
AND NOT A SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE FOR SOFTWARE JUST TO PROVIDE FLEXIBILITY FOR OUR OFFICES TO BE ABLE TO UTILIZE SOFTWARE SUBSCRIPTIONS IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SEE IS, UM, IS HELPING OUR CONSTITUENTS IN SPECIFIC WAYS.
AND THEN MY VERSION TWO THAT I'M READING OFF OF STRIKES ANY AMENDMENTS I WAS MAKING TO SUBSECTION THREE, I KNOW THERE'S OTHER AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN PROPOSED THAT WILL ADDRESS THE LANGUAGE THERE, BUT FOR MY, MY VERSION TWO OF THE MOTION, UM, I'M JUST TAKING THAT OUT OF VERSION ONE'S AMENDMENT.
SO, SO FOR CLARITY, HOPE I GOT THROUGH THAT.
IF I, YEAH, IF I COULD START WITH
[02:20:01]
THAT.UM, I WANT, I'M, AND I'M, I'M ASKING QUESTIONS FOR CLARITY PURPOSES.
IS ALL, UH, WHEN YOU SAY YOU'VE, YOU STRUCK THROUGH ITEM THREE THAT IS NOT STRIKING IN THE ORIGINAL RESOLUTION.
THAT IS STRIKING YOUR FIRST PROPOSED AMENDMENT.
OUR VERSION ONE MADE EDITS TO SUBSECTION THREE.
AND SO WE ARE JUST GOING TO BE SILENT ON THE ISSUE AND IN THIS AMENDMENT LEAVE IT AS IS IN THE ORIGINAL.
THAT'S WHY I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S CLARITY ON THAT.
SO, UM, AND, AND THE SECOND THING I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT IS YOU, YOUR MOTION HAS WHAT I READ AS THREE PARTS TO IT.
UM, THE FIRST PART IS, IS MO THE AMENDMENT OF LINES 46 AND 47 OF THE DRAFT RESOLUTION.
THEN YOU HAVE IN EXHIBIT A, YOU HAVE A PART ONE AND A PART TWO.
AND MY QUESTION IS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO OFFER THAT AS, 'CAUSE YOU HAVEN'T OFFERED REALLY AS AN AMENDMENT YET, YOU'VE DESCRIBED THE AMENDMENT.
SO I'M GONNA ASK, WOULD YOU LIKE TO OFFER THREE SEPARATE AMENDMENTS AS OPPOSED TO TYING ALL THREE OF THOSE ITEMS TOGETHER WITH THE IDEA THAT THERE MIGHT BE SOME OF US THAT MIGHT BE OKAY WITH PARTS OF WHAT YOU'VE DONE HERE AND NOT OTHER PARTS? WELL, WITHOUT KNOWING THE APPETITE OF OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS, I WAS INTENDING FOR THEM TO BE MOVED AS ONE ITEM TOGETHER.
BUT IF FOLKS SAY THEY'RE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH PARTS OF IT, I'M HAPPY TO DIVIDE THE QUESTION THEN, THEN I WOULD LIKE TO ASK A A, A QUESTION ON THE EXHIBIT A EXPENSES BY CATEGORY ON PAGE FOUR IN THE GENERAL CATEGORY, WHAT THAT AMENDMENT WOULD DO IS IT WOULD SAY THAT IF THERE ARE FUNDS IN A CITY OFFICE ACCOUNT, A CITY COUNCIL, MAYOR OR CITY COUNCIL'S ACCOUNT, THAT THAT PERSON COULD SEND THAT MONEY TO ANOTHER DEPARTMENT.
IT WOULD NOT BE USING THE DISTRICT SERVICE FUND CONCEPT THAT WE'RE, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.
BUT INSTEAD IT WOULD ALLOW FOR, UH, A JUST A TRANSFER FROM THE COUNCIL TO ANOTHER DEPARTMENT.
AND THAT IS THE WAY WE HAVE USED IT IN THE DISTRICT DATE OFFICE, IS TO BE ABLE TO GIVE IT TO THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
I ALSO KNOW THE LATE AND GREAT BILL SPELLMAN.
I, I HEARD HE HAD BOUGHT LIBRARY BOOKS AT SOME POINT.
AND SO I THINK THERE ARE SOME SPECIFIC USES WHERE SENDING IT TO A DEPARTMENT AS LONG AS IT'S A SPECIFICALLY NAMED PROJECT AND LIMITED DOLLAR AMOUNT, UM, IS HOW WE HAVE USED IT.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE DOING THAT.
UM, MEMBERS, UH, NOW THAT WE'VE GOT CLARITY, WHAT I, WHAT I WILL RECOGNIZE, I'VE RECOGNIZED COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS HAS MOVED ADOPTION OF ELLIS AMENDMENT TO ITEM NUMBER 85.
IT IS VERSION TWO AS SHE HAS DESCRIBED.
IS THERE A SECOND COUNCIL MEMBER? VELAZQUEZ SECONDS THE MOTION, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, YOU, YOU NOTICE THAT MY HEAD IMMEDIATELY WENT THAT DIRECTION? IT'S GONNA TAKE ME A WHILE TO GET, I TOLD, I TOLD COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL THAT HIS CHASTISEMENT OF ME FOR THE PAST SIX MONTHS WHEN HE WAS SITTING OVER THERE AND HE CLAIMED THAT I NEVER LOOKED OVER THERE TO CALL ON ANYBODY.
I SAID IT, IT'S GONNA WORK AGAINST HIM NOW.
'CAUSE I'M NOW, I'M NOW TRAINED TO ONLY LOOK THIS DIRECTION.
AND MAYOR, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR PUTTING ME OVER.
COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, I I FEEL LIKE IT'S GONNA BE EASY TO REMEMBER WHERE MIKE IS 'CAUSE HE'S ON THE FAR LEFT.
UH, JUST NOW IT'S GETTING PERSONAL.
SO, UH, HAD UH, I GUESS A QUESTION FOR THE MANAGER OR, UH, HIS DESIGNEE.
UM, ARE OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS ALLOWED TO TRANSFER DEPARTMENT FUNDS TO ANOTHER DEPARTMENT UNDER THE CURRENT APPROACH? I BELIEVE ED'S GONNA ANSWER THE QUESTION, BUT I BELIEVE ONLY THROUGH COUNCIL ACTION CAN WE SEND FUNDS TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
AND JUST TO CLARIFY, I MEAN, THIS PROPOSAL WOULD REQUIRE A RESOLUTION, SO IT WOULD BE KIND OF IN LINE WITH PRACTICES FOR OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
ANY TRANSFER OF FUNDS FROM ONE DEPARTMENT TO ANOTHER WOULD REQUIRE COUNCIL ACTION.
FURTHER DISCUSSION, COUNSEL, I'LL, I'LL I'LL SAY, UH, AS THE MAKER OF THE MAIN MOTION THAT WHILE I, I WOULD BE FOR THE FIRST PART AND THE THIRD PART, I'M NOT FOR THE TRANSFER OF FUNDS TO A CITY DEPARTMENT EVEN IN THIS WAY, SO LONG AS WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO LIVE UP TO THE RESOLUTION THAT WE PASSED WITH REGARD TO DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS, WHAT I WOULD PREFER TO SEE US DO
[02:25:01]
IS DEAL WITH DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS IN, IN A, IN A BROADER, MORE, UH, UH, SUBSTANTIVE APPROACH.WHILE IT IS, AND I AGREE THAT, THAT WHAT WE OTHER DEPARTMENTS, DEPARTMENTS CAN DO, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
AND I ALSO AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS THAT THIS CREATES GREATER TRANSPARENCY THAN WHAT, WHAT WE'VE BEEN, WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN DOING.
UM, I WOULD PREFER BECAUSE WE HAVE NOW SURFACED THE NEED FOR GOING FORWARD WITH THE DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS.
I THINK THAT DESERVES A FULL CONSIDERATION.
AND SO, UM, I JUST, I MENTIONED THAT DETERMINE HOW, JUST AS, AS PART OF HOW WE DEAL WITH THE MAIN MOTION, THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR IS ELLIS AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER 85, UH, AS DESCRIBED BY HER.
AND, AND THE MOTION HAS BEEN SECONDED.
COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL THEN IF WE DIVIDE THE QUESTION ON THIS, THAT WAY WE COULD SEE SPECIFICALLY WHERE EVERYONE IS AT ON THAT ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO TRANSFER TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
AND THEN A QUESTION FOR COUNCILOR ELLIS IS THIS COULD, AND WELL A QUESTION OVERALL, UM, ON THE RESOLUTION ITSELF, THIS WOULD, SHOULD COUNCIL MOVE FORWARD IN ADOPTING OVERALL THE RESOLUTION? THIS, WOULD IT TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY OR AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR? I GUESS THAT WOULD BE WHATEVER THE EFFECTIVE DATE IS OF THE ENTIRE PROPOSAL.
THIS WOULD BE AN IMMEDIATE, UM, THERE'S NOTHING THAT, THAT DELAYS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT.
AND EM ELLIS IS, 'CAUSE I'M TRYING TO RECOGNIZE THAT FOR SOME OFFICES WE KNOW THAT THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT, UH, CARRYOVER BALANCE AND THAT THERE MIGHT BE A NEED TO DO THAT TRANSFER TO KIND OF, YOU KNOW, HONOR WHATEVER VISION THAT COUNCIL MEMBER HAD FOR, FOR THEIR OFFICE BUDGET.
UM, IS THERE ANY CONTEXT LIKE THAT, THAT WE SHOULD BE AWARE OF IN REGARDS TO THIS SECTION? IF WE DO DIVIDE THE QUESTION ON THIS AMENDMENT? I'M NOT SURE I UNDERSTAND WHAT THE QUESTION IS.
IF I UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION, UM, THIS AMENDMENT DOESN'T DO AWAY WITH THE CAP ON THE $50,000.
THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT SHE HAS TAKEN OUT.
RIGHT? SO IF THE, IF THIS AMENDMENT PASSES AND NOTHING ELSE PASSES THAT JUST THIS AMENDMENT AND THEN THE MAIN MOTION AS THEN AMENDED PASSES, THERE WOULD BE A CAP OF $50,000.
SO AGAIN, THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I THINK, FIRST OF ALL, I OBVIOUSLY BELIEVE STRONGLY IN THE CAP, BUT THAT'S ANOTHER REASON I THINK IT WOULD BE BETTER TO HAVE THIS KIND OF DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW WE DO THIS AS PART OF A DISTRICT SERVICE FUND COMPLETE DISCUSSION MM-HMM
SO THAT WE'D BE TALKING ABOUT FULL, THE ABILITY TO FUND AS FULLY AS POSSIBLE THE DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS.
IF THAT'S THE CASE, AND I AGREE WITH THAT LINE OF THINKING.
I DO THINK THE DISTRICT SERVICE FUND NEEDS ITS OWN, YOU KNOW, SEPARATE DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION.
ARE WE ABLE TO SPLIT THIS AMENDMENT OUT? I I WOULD RECOGNIZE THAT.
I WOULD RECOGNIZE WHAT YOU, I DIDN'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT YOU, I APOLOGIZE.
THAT'S, BUT, BUT I, I, THAT'S WHERE I WAS HEADING.
UH, NOT AN AMENDMENT, BUT, UM, THE MOTION IS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES TO DIVIDE THE QUESTION.
SO THAT, AND THE DIVISION, AS I UNDERSTAND IT MM-HMM
WOULD BE THAT I PARTS ONE, WHICH IS THE TOP PART OF THIS MOTION SHEET.
AND ITEM NUMBER TWO DOWN BELOW WHERE IT BEGINS ON PAGE FIVE IN THE SOFTWARE AND IT SERVICES CATEGORY, THAT IS ONE PROPOSED AMENDMENT.
AND ANOTHER PROPOSED AMENDMENT IS THE ITEM ONE ON PAGE FOUR IN THE GENERAL CATEGORY.
AND THEN PARTS A AND B, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES MOVES TO DIVIDE THE QUESTION.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL, IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER LANE DISCUSSION.
AND THE, THE VOTE WILL BE, THE FIRST VOTE WE WILL HAVE WILL BE ON THE MOTION TO DIVIDE THE QUESTION.
THE SECOND VOTE WILL BE THEN BACK TO, UH, THE, THE MOTIONS TO AMEND DEPENDING UPON THE OUTCOME OF THIS VOTE.
COUNCIL MEMBER LANE, YOU WISH TO BE RECOGNIZED? I DO.
UM, I SECONDED THE MOTION TO DIVIDE THE QUESTION BECAUSE MY CONCERN IS THAT IF THIS AMENDMENT IS THE ONLY ONE THAT PASSES, WE WOULD THEN BE IN A SITUATION IN WHICH IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO HONOR, UM, OR TO ENABLE HONOR WHAT THE INTENT HAS BEEN THUS FAR.
AND AS I HAVE PREVIOUSLY ADVOCATED FOR ENABLE, FACILITATE, USE THE STRUCTURES THAT OUR CITY ALREADY HAS IN PLACE, UM, AND HAS PROPOSED IN ORDER FOR THERE TO BE A GRADUAL TRANSITION BETWEEN THE TWO SYSTEMS. SO MY CONCERN WOULD BE THAT IF THIS IS THE ONLY AMENDMENT THAT PASSES AND IT'S NOT DIVIDED, THEN EVERYBODY'S DOWN TO 50,000.
[02:30:01]
I DON'T, DOESN'T IMPACT ME THE WAY IT IMPACTS THE REST OF YOU, BUT I VALUE THE, WHAT I'VE HEARD FROM OTHER MEMBERS ABOUT THAT BEING AN IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION.AND IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I, I DO HAVE IT BUILT INTO MIND.
UM, SO I THINK DIVIDING THE QUESTION WOULD ALLOW FOR, UM, AN APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF VOTING DISCUSSION.
COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ? UH, YES, MAYOR, JUST FOR CLARITY, UM, UH, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT IF THE, IF IT'S APPROVED, THE 50, THE 50 K CAP TAKES EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.
THAT'S THE WAY IT'S CURRENTLY WRITTEN.
JUST, JUST WANTED TO ADD ONTO TO THAT.
'CAUSE I APPRECIATE THE INPUT OF MY COLLEAGUES.
I ALSO WILL BE SUPPORTING DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS AS WE APPROACH THAT CONVERSATION.
I APPRECIATE THE MAYOR KIND OF DAYLIGHTING THAT WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE ALL THOSE DUCKS IN A ROW YET.
AND SO THERE WILL BE A GRAY AREA BETWEEN IF WE END UP NOT ROLLING OVER DOLLARS AND WE ARE NOT PUTTING THEM IN DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS, THEY ARE JUST GETTING ABSORBED INTO THE, THE LARGER GENERAL FUND.
UM, I THINK IT WOULD BE PRUDENT TO KNOW WHAT THE DISTRICT SERVICE FUND CONVERSATION LOOKS LIKE AND POTENTIALLY REVISIT THESE CONVERSATIONS AROUND GIVING THOSE DOLLARS TO DEPARTMENTS FOR PROJECTS THROUGH THE IFC PROCESS OR OTHERWISE FIGURING OUT HOW COUNCIL WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THE DISCUSSION OF, OF ROLLING OVER DOLLARS.
BUT WITHOUT THAT, I FEEL LIKE THERE'S A BIG GAP IN THE MIDDLE OF WE'RE CAPPING ROLLOVER, BUT WE DON'T HAVE A DISTRICT SERVICE FUND PROGRAM SET UP YET.
AND THAT IS GONNA LEAVE A LOT OF PROJECTS POTENTIALLY ON THE TABLE IN A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT DISTRICTS IF FOLKS DON'T ALLOCATE THOSE DOLLARS PRIOR TO GETTING THE DISTRICT SERVICE FUND LANGUAGE FORMALIZED.
AND THAT, AND THAT'S A REALLY GOOD POINT.
UM, WHAT I WOULD SAY, NOT SO MUCH IN RESPONSE, BUT IN, IN, IN TERMS OF POTENTIAL CLARITY, IS THAT THE IMMEDIATE EFFECT OF PUTTING A CAP INTO PLACE, UM, DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU'RE GONNA GET A CALL FROM THE MANAGER'S OFFICE TOMORROW TO SEND FUNDS.
SEE, I KNEW THAT'D GET HIM, GET HIS ATTENTION NOW.
IT, IT, WE, WE, WE ARE EARLY IN THE BUDGET CYCLE, RIGHT? WE'RE, WE'RE IN JANUARY.
SO ONE OF THE VALUES THAT I WASN'T ANTICIPATING WOULD BE A VALUE OF DOING A BETTER JOB OF OUR SPENDING POLICY HAS BEEN THAT IT HAS HIGHLIGHTED THIS DESIRE TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD.
NOW GRANTED LAST YEAR DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS, WHICH WOULD'VE BEEN A TIME TO DO THAT, WE HAD DI WE, WE HAD ISSUES, RIGHT? WELL, TO COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS'S POINT, IT'S TIME TO MAYBE GET ON OUR HORSES AND GET MOVING ON THE DISTRICT SERVICE FUND.
AND NOBODY'S GONNA BE TAKING, NOBODY'S TAKING ANY MONEY AWAY FROM ANYBODY RIGHT NOW.
WE WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, WE WILL SET THE CAP IF WE DON'T GET OUR WORK DONE ON THE DISTRICT SERVICES FUNDS.
AND, AND IF OUR WORK THAT GETS DONE ON THE DISTRICT SERVICES FUNDS DOESN'T INCLUDE COUNCIL MONEY THAT MIGHT OTHERWISE ROLL OVER, UM, THEN WELL THEN IT, THAT MONEY WOULD GO AWAY.
BUT WE'VE GOT TIME TO DO WHAT IT IS THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS IS TALKING ABOUT.
IT'S JANUARY AND WE'RE A WAYS OFF ON THE BUDGET PROCESS AND, AND THE MANAGER, UH, I THINK HEARS THE, THE, THE DESIRE FOR THERE TO BE GREATER DISCUSSION ON THAT.
THE VOTE WILL BE WHETHER TO DIVIDE THE QUESTION.
THE VOTE IS WHETHER TO DIVIDE THE QUESTION AS I'VE DESCRIBED IT.
SO COULD YOU REPEAT THAT THERE? YEAH, SURE.
HERE'S, HERE'S THE WAY THE QUESTION WILL BE DIVIDED.
COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS'S MOTION TO AMEND WILL BE IN TWO PARTS.
THE FIRST PART WE WILL TAKE UP WILL BE THE PROVISION AT THE TOP OF HER YELLOW MOTION SHEET THAT'S LABELED V TWO AND DEALS WITH THE ADDITION OF THE LANGUAGE THAT YOU SEE THERE, INCLUDING MAKING TRAINING AVAILABLE AT LEAST ANNUALLY FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS.
THAT, THAT PART, IN ADDITION, THAT MOTION WILL INCLUDE THE PART LABELED ITEM TWO DOWN BELOW, WHICH IS AN AMENDMENT TO EXHIBIT A EXPENSES BY CATEGORY TABLE.
AND IT WILL, UH, IT'S ONE THAT SAYS TWO ON PAGE FIVE IN THE SOFTWARE AND IT SERVICES CATEGORY.
AND IT DELETES THE PHRASE AND NOT A SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE FOR SOFTWARE.
THAT WILL BE ONE MOTION TO AMEND IF THE MOTION TO DIVIDE IS APPROVED.
THE SECOND MOTION TO AMEND, BUT BECAUSE OF THE DIVISION WILL BE THE ITEM LABELED ONE.
AGAIN, IT'S AN AMENDMENT TO EXHIBIT A EXPENSES BY CATEGORY TABLE.
AND IT'S LABELED ONE ON PAGE FOUR IN THE GENERAL CATEGORY, AND
[02:35:01]
IT DEALS WITH THE TRANSFER OF FUNDS TO A CITY DEPARTMENT.UH, PART THREE, THAT STRIKES LANGUAGE PART, THE PART, SHE'S JUST TAKEN THAT OUT OF HER PREVIOUS MOTION.
UM, THAT'S OUT OF HER PREVIOUS MOTION.
THAT'S NOT, THAT'S NOT ANYTHING WE'RE VOTING ON.
I AMENDED MY OWN AMENDMENT BEFORE DISTRIBUTING IT.
UM, AND, AND WE, WE APPRECIATE THE DILIGENCE.
UM, SO THAT'S THE, THE FIRST VOTE WILL BE ON THE DIVISION, AND THEN WE WILL GO BACK TO THE, WELL, IF, IF IT PASSES, WE WILL GO BACK TO THE TWO ESSENTIALLY MOTIONS.
IF IT DOESN'T PASS, WE WILL GO BACK TO THE MOTION TO AMEND ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF DIVIDING THE QUESTION.
UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, UH, RAISE YOUR, UH, OF DIVIDING THE MOTION.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED RAISE YOUR HAND.
THERE BEING FIVE VOTES IN FAVOR OF DIVIDING THE QUESTION.
THE MOTION TO DIVIDE THE QUESTION, UH, FAILS.
THAT WILL NOW TAKE US BACK TO THE MOTION TO AMEND BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.
THE VOTE WILL BE ON THE MOTION TO AMEND ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO AMEND.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED RAISE YOUR HAND.
COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, HAVE YOU VOTED? UH, I VOTED PERSON.
COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, ARE YOU A NO VOTE NO.
THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO AMEND, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AGAIN.
THERE BEING 10 VOTES IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION.
ONE OPPOSED THE MOTION TO AMEND IS ADOPTED.
THAT WILL NOW TAKE US TO THE PROPOSED MOTION TO AMEND BY COUNCIL MEMBER LANE.
UM, AND YES, I'LL WALK THROUGH DIFFERENCES.
AND BY THE WAY, FOR THE RECORD, I VOTED NO, THE MAYOR VOTED NO ON THE MOTION TO AMEND COUNCIL MEMBER LANE.
I APOLOGIZE, I JUST DIDN'T MAKE MY RECORD.
UM, AND THEN I'LL, I'LL JUST LAY OUT THE DIFFERENCES AND, UM, THAT I'M PROPOSING.
SO, UM, STARTING ON PAGE FOUR IN THE GENERAL CATEGORY, UNDER PERMISSIBLE, I AM PROPOSING TO ADD A BULLET POINT.
UM, I WILL CORRECT, UM, THE FIRST TWO WORDS THAT ARE ON YOUR VERSION TWO OF MY AMENDMENT.
INSTEAD OF GIFTS FOUR, IT SHOULD READ EXPENDITURES TO.
AND SO I'M PROPOSING TO ADD A BULLET OF GUIDANCE THAT SAYS EXPENDITURES TO CONTRACTORS, CONSTITUENTS, OR NONPROFITS VALUED AT LESS THAN $50 THAT PROVIDE A DIRECT SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.
AGAIN, THIS ALIGNS WITH WHAT I'VE EXPERIENCED ACROSS A RANGE OF INSTITUTIONS.
UM, IT, WE FREQUENTLY DO REALLY RECEIVE AS PART OF BEING ON COUNCIL DECORATIVE GIFTS, UM, THE ABILITY TO ENTER, UH, AN EVENT SO THAT WE CAN BECOME MORE FAMILIAR WITH THIS.
UM, AND SO THIS IS DESIGNED TO SIMPLY PROVIDE FOR THAT, BUT TO PROVIDE CLEAR GUIDANCE WITH A NUMBER.
SO IT'S EASY TO INTERPRET AND IT PROTECTS US, AS I'VE SEEN IT, PROTECT OTHERS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.
MOVING ON TO PAGE FIVE, SOFTWARE AND IT SERVICES UNDER PERMISSIBLE, I WOULD PROPOSE, UM, FIRST TO AMEND THE FIRST BULLET AS FOLLOWS.
THIS IS ALMOST THE SAME AS WHAT COUNCIL HAS ALREADY PASSED AS AN AMENDMENT WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.
I JUST, FOR THE SAKE OF CLARITY, ALSO STRUCK THROUGH SUCH AS SOFTWARE THAT THE CITY OWNS.
UM, BECAUSE I DON'T, IT DOES, IT JUST DIDN'T, FOR THE SAKE OF CLARITY, IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE THAT WE ARE PERMITTED TO BUY SOFTWARE LICENSES THAT THE CITY OWNS.
SO IT'S A SMALL DIFFERENCE, BUT I JUST THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE CLEAR.
UM, AND THEN UNDER B, UH, I, I'M SORRY, UNDER THE SECOND
[02:40:01]
BULLET POINT, AMEND IT TO ALL SOFTWARE PURCHASES SHOULD BE COMMUNICATED TO AUSTIN TECHNOLOGY SERVICES TO ENSURE THEY COMPLY WITH ALL CYBERSECURITY REQUIREMENTS AND AVOID DUPLICATE RESOURCES.AS I MENTIONED IN IN THE DISCUSSION IN THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE, UM, I REALLY, REALLY VALUE THE WORK THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE, UM, BY OUR CITY MANAGER AND STAFF TO IT IS GROUNDWORK FOR EFFICIENCIES THAT I KNOW ARE GOING TO COME.
UM, BUT WE HAVEN'T COMPLETED THAT TASK ALREADY.
AND, UM, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT, THE PURCHASING PROCESS CAN BE QUITE LENGTHY CURRENTLY, AND I FIND IT VALUABLE TO BE ABLE TO TEST A SOFTWARE, UM, AND KEEP THEM IN THE LOOP, MAKE SURE THAT WE AREN'T DUPLICATING SERVICES, UM, AND THAT THEY KNOW WHAT WE ARE FINDING IS VALUABLE.
UM, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO PURCHASE IT WITH THE FLEXIBILITY THAT A COUNCIL MEMBER BUDGET ALLOWS RATHER THAN RESTRICTING TO GOING THROUGH THAT PROCESS IN ORDER TO TEST SOMETHING.
UM, AND I DO BELIEVE THIS ALSO COULD, WELL, I'LL STOP THERE ON THAT ONE.
UM, SO, AND THEN ON PAGE PAGE SEVEN THROUGH EIGHT, UM, THIS IS WHERE, UH, I DID REALLY APPRECIATE, UH, THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ EARLY IN THIS PROCESS.
COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS'S PROPOSED PAGE THREE AND, AND VERY MUCH TOOK IT TO HEART, BUT ALSO IT'S NOT PART OF WHAT'S PASSED SO FORTH.
SO ON PAGES SEVEN THROUGH EIGHT IN THE UNENDED BALANCE CATEGORY, UNDER PERMISSIBLE, I PROPOSE REPLACING BULLETS ONE AND TWO WITH A SINGLE BULLET AS FOLLOWS.
ANY SURPLUS ABOVE $50,000 REMAINING IN A CITY FUNDED COUNCIL OFFICE ACCOUNT AT THE END OF A FISCAL YEAR SHALL BE ALLOCATED TO A CORRESPONDING DISTRICT SERVICE FUND, AS DESCRIBED IN THE JULY 3RD, 2025 MEMO RESPONDING TO RESOLUTION NUMBER 2 0 2 4 1 1 0 7 DASH OH THREE FOUR UNLESS EXPRESSLY AUTHORIZED OTHERWISE DURING THE ANNUAL BUDGET PROCESS.
AND I'LL DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO A COUPLE OF THINGS HERE.
ONE, THIS BULLET POINT, AS PROPOSED, DOES SQUARELY PLACE THE ROLLOVER INTO THE BUDGET PROCESS? SO AS I, YOU KNOW, LISTENED TO THE DISCUSSION, THIS AMENDMENT STILL ACCOMPLISHES THAT I HAVE LIVED THROUGH TWO BUDGET PROCESSES IN MY SHORT TIME ON COUNCIL.
THERE WERE MANY TIMES DURING BOTH OF THE LAST TWO WHERE THERE WAS SOME QUESTION ABOUT SPECIFICS.
AND SO THE PRIMARY DIFFERENCE THAT, THAT, THAT THIS PROPOSAL GIVES TO US IS THAT YES, IT'S STILL GOING TO BE DISCUSSED IN THE BUDGET PROCESS.
YES, THAT BUDGET PROCESS WILL BE THE FINAL ARBITER OF WHAT HAPPENS.
HOWEVER, WE ARRIVE WITH THE FRAMEWORK IN PLACE SO THAT THIS ISSUE DOESN'T SLIP THROUGH THE CRACKS.
AND AS THE MAYOR POINTED OUT, THIS RESOLUTION WAS PASSED BEFORE BOTH OF THE BUDGET PROCESSES THAT I WAS A PART OF THE PILOT PROGRAM WAS LAID OUT.
I WOULD SAY THAT OUR CITY MANAGER GOT ON HIS HORSE A YEAR AGO AND LAID OUT A PILOT PROGRAM.
WE ARE THE ONES WHO AREN'T GETTING ON TO FUND IT.
AND AS SOMEONE WHO IS NEW TO THIS BODY AND WHO CARES VERY MUCH ABOUT EFFICIENCY, EFFECTIVENESS, TRANSPARENCY, FINANCIAL CONTROLS, ALL OF THESE THINGS, I BELIEVE THAT IT IS AN INEFFICIENT USE OF OUR RESOURCES TO ASK OUR STAFF TO DEVELOP PILOT PROGRAMS THAT WE THEN DO NOT FUND AND DON'T MAKE IT INTO THE PROCESS.
AND I DO THINK THERE'S, THERE IS VALUE, UH, IN FURTHER DISCUSSION AND GUIDANCE, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS PILOT, THIS RESOLUTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
A PILOT PROGRAM HAS BEEN LAID OUT.
IF WE SEED THE PROGRAM WITH FUNDS, WHICH HONESTLY WILL REMAIN, THAT'S A DECISION THAT REMAINS WITH EVERY COUNCIL OFFICE BECAUSE WE HAVE EIGHT MONTHS BEFORE WE REACH THE END OF THE YEAR TO EVEN SEE WHAT THE ROLLOVER IS.
AT THAT POINT, IF WE DON'T SEED OUR POP OUR PILOT PROGRAMS WITH MONEY, THEY WON'T HAPPEN.
AND WHAT I HEARD AGAIN AND AGAIN THROUGH BOTH BUDGET PROCESSES AND, AND IS THAT WELL, IS THAT THIS ISN'T THE TIME TO FUND NEW PILOT PROGRAMS. SO IF WE IN FACT, DO WANT TO FUND THIS PILOT PROGRAM THAT WAS LAID OUT A YEAR AGO, AND WE HAVE A FUNDING SOURCE AVAILABLE THAT WAS OVERLOOKED IN THE PRIOR TO BUDGET PROCESSES OF THIS COUNCIL IN THIS YEAR, THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO ONE, ENSURE THAT THIS MONEY DOESN'T JUST GET MISSED AS WE'RE IN THE BUDGET PROCESS.
THAT IF IT IS NOT EXPRESSLY DEFINED BY THEM, CERTAINLY I HOPE NOT.
I HOPE THAT WE GET MORE DEFINITION ON THE PILOT PROGRAM, BUT LET'S JUST SAY THAT IT DOESN'T HAPPEN.
THERE IS GUIDANCE TO OUR CITY MANAGER ABOUT WHAT TO DO IN THAT CASE THAT IS DIRECTLY RESPONSIVE TO EVERYTHING THAT OUR VOTERS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATING TO US.
AND WE HAVE EIGHT MONTHS TO FURTHER FLESH IT OUT.
UM, I, YOU KNOW, I, AS I, AS I'VE MENTIONED, THE ROLLOVER IS NOT A BIG CONCERN
[02:45:01]
TO ME.DISTRICT SIX HASN'T HAD AN INCUMBENT WIN AND DOESN'T HAVE SIGNIFICANT ROLLOVER.
I AM LITERALLY LAYING THIS OUT BECAUSE OF THE CONCERNS THAT THIS BODY HAS RAISED TRYING TO FIND A COMPROMISE POSITION IN THAT PRESERVES WHAT SO MANY HAVE SAID THEY VALUE.
UM, AND SO I PERSONALLY, I DO NOT FAVOR A HARD STOP.
I PREFER A GRADUAL TRANSITION.
AND I WILL ALSO NOTE THAT OUR CITY MANAGER LOOKS TO OUR VOTES FOR GUIDANCE ON WHERE HIS EFFORT SHOULD BE.
HE'S ALREADY PUT EFFORT IN TO, TO DESCRIBE A PILOT PROGRAM.
WE HAVE NOW GONE THROUGH TWO BUDGET PROCESSES THAT AREN'T FUNDING IT, AND WE NOW HAVE A DISCRETIONARY POSSIBILITY OF SEEDING THAT PROGRAM, WHICH IS WHAT CAUSES THERE TO BE MERIT IN WORKING MORE ON IT.
IF WHAT WE DO IS WE REQUEST FOR PLANS FOR PILOT PROGRAMS THAT WE CAN'T FUND, WE WON'T FUND, WE DON'T EVER CHOOSE TO FUND THAT.
IT'S WASTED WORK AND ITS OWN EFFICIENT USE OF OUR RESOURCES.
AND I PERSONALLY THINK THAT IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE PROVIDE CLEAR GUIDANCE.
AND SO THAT'S WHY I'VE INCLUDED THIS AMENDMENT HERE.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER LANE MOVES ADOPTION OF LANE AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE, WHICH SHE'S WALKED THROUGH.
IS IS LABELED MOTION SHEET VERSION TWO YELLOW COPY.
UH, IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.
FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE ITEM.
HEARING NONE, UM, WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THE MOTION TO AMEND IS ADOPTED.
WAIT, WELL, YOU WANNA VOTE? NO? YES.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, DO YOU WANT TO TALK, OR IF WE HAD A MOTION TO AMEND HER AMENDMENT AND HER AMENDMENT DOESN'T MAKE IT ON, WHAT IS THE PROCESS THERE? WELL, UH, IS YOUR MOTION, I SAY I APOLOGIZE TO YOU.
UH, I, I, I, I WAS READING THAT WHEN I FIRST SAW IT AS A, A MOTION TO AMEND.
AND BEFORE I CALL A VOTE, CALL THE RESULTS OF ANY VOTE.
YOU DO HAVE A MOTION TO AMEND.
SO I DON'T WANT TOWAR YOU OF THAT OPPORTUNITY.
SO, COUNCIL MEMBER RIGHT NOW, COUNCIL MEMBER WHAT'S ON THE TABLE IS COUNCIL MEMBER LANE'S MOTION TO AMEND.
COUNCILOR SIEGEL, DO WILL YOU WISH TO SPEAK ON THE HER MOTION OR DO YOU WANNA WAIT? UH, COUNCIL MEMBER LANE, IT WAS A QUESTION.
UM, I'M SORRY, I WAS A LITTLE SLOW ON.
I DIDN'T SEE, SEE YOUR NO, I, I WAS LATE PRESSING THE BUTTON.
UM, UH, REGARDING TO, UM, THE FIRST, UH, ITEM ON, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER LANE'S MOTION SHEET VERSION TWO, UH, AND I BELIEVE THAT THE LANGUAGE WAS UPDATED TO SAY, EXPENSES OR PAYMENTS TO CONTRACTORS, CONSTITUENTS, OR NONPROFITS VALUED AT LESS THAN $50.
UM, AND I, I'M JUST KIND OF WONDERING THAT DOES THIS ALLOW PAYMENTS TO INDIVIDUALS, ORGANIZATIONS WITHOUT RECEIVING, UH, CORRESPONDING BENEFIT TO THE CITY? LIKE WE'RE NOT PAYING FOR SOMETHING IN PARTICULAR.
AND THEN IF THAT'S THE CASE, UH, I WOULDN'T MIND IF THE CITY ATTORNEY WOULD CHIME IN ON IF THERE'S ANY RISK TO THAT ALLOWANCE.
UM, THE IDEA WAS THAT, UH, THE COUNCIL MEMBER WAS LOOKING FOR A WAY TO STREAMLINE, FOR INSTANCE, IF WE HAVE A HEAT WAVE AND, UM, A PARTICULAR NONPROFIT IS GIVING OUT, UH, WATER, SHE WANTED TO BE ABLE TO, UM, PURCHASE UP TO $50 WORTH OF WATER, GIVE IT TO THE NONPROFIT SO THAT THEY COULD GIVE IT OUT.
SO IT, THE PURPOSE, THE INTENT WAS THAT IT ALWAYS HAD TO BE A DIRECT, UH, SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.
SO WE TRANSLATED THAT TO BE A PUBLIC BENEFIT, A PUBLIC PURPOSE.
SO, AND MAYOR, I'M GONNA RECOGNIZE COUNCIL, I'M SORRY.
THANKS FOR KEEPING US ON TRACK.
I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT THE $50 LIMIT.
DOES THAT INCLUDE TICKETS TO EVENTS, LIKE SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE GOING TO A LUNCHEON TO LEARN MORE ABOUT A CAUSE, BUT THE TICKET'S $60, IS THAT INTENDED WITH THIS LANGUAGE? WELL, UM, IT IS INTENDED TO ENSURE THAT THERE ISN'T AN ISSUE AS LONG AS IT'S LESS THAN 50.
YES, THERE WOULD BE AN ISSUE IF IT'S MORE THAN 50, BUT CURRENTLY THERE'S NO DE MINIMS DEFINITION IN THERE, SO AT LEAST IT GETS US TO 50 OF.
COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ HAS A MOTION TO AMEND THIS AMENDMENT, AND I WILL RECOGNIZE HIM ON THAT.
I'M THANKFUL FOR THIS DISCUSSION, WHICH AIMS TO PROVIDE MORE TRANSPARENCY, MORE GUIDANCE TO OUR OFFICE AROUND BUDGETS AND AN OVERALL BETTER POLICY.
UH, MY ITEM LOOKS TO AMEND COUNCIL MEMBER LANE'S AMENDMENT PART THREE.
THE MAIN THING MY AMENDMENT DOES
[02:50:01]
IS IT STRIKES THE DISTRICT SERVICE FUND AND ALLOWS OFFICES TO USE THEIR ROLLOVER DOLLARS BEYOND THE PROPOSED CAP.COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, UH, I APPRECIATED THE LANGUAGE YOU PROVIDED IN VERSION ONE, SO I'M, I'M LEANING ON THAT HERE A LITTLE BIT.
UM, MY MOTION ALLOWS OUR, OUR INDIVIDUAL OFFICES TO MAINTAIN THEIR ROLLOVER.
THIS ALLOWS OUR OFFICES MUCH NEEDED FLEXIBILITY TO DELIVER SERVICES AND PROJECTS THAT SERVE OUR UNIQUE COMMUNITIES.
WHILE WE ALL RECEIVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF FUNDING, OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE VERY DIFFERENT NEEDS.
SOME EXAMPLES OF THOSE ARE INTERPRETATION AND TRANSLATION SERVICES, AND MEETING WITH ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS THAT SERVE MONOLINGUAL SPANISH SPEAKERS AND IMMIGRANTS.
WITH REGARD TO EQUITY, I BELIEVE EACH COUNCIL OFFICE BETTER UNDERSTANDS THEIR COMMUNITY'S, UH, INDIVIDUAL NEEDS RATHER THAN THE BODY AS A WHOLE.
THIS AMENDMENT GIVES US TIME AND RESOURCES TO HEAR OUT OUR COMMUNITIES AND RESPOND ACCORDINGLY.
AND PERSONALLY AS A, AS IT STATED SOMEWHERE OVER, UH, EARLIER AS A FISCALLY PRUDENT OFFICE, DISTRICT THREE IS GRATEFUL TO HAVE THE FUNDS THAT, UH, THAT WE'VE SAVED TO SERVE OUR NEIGHBORS.
UH, THE MOTIONS HAS BEEN MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, UH, FOR VELASQUEZ AMENDMENT TO THE LANE AMENDMENT.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA DISCUSSION ON THE AMENDMENT.
UM, JUST WANNA CLARIFY, SO WITH THIS PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT, IT WOULD UNDO THE AUDIT COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION OF HAVING A $50,000 CAP FOR OUR OFFICE BUDGET? THAT'S RIGHT.
AND WITH THAT THEN, I GUESS THIS STILL WITH THE PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED ALICE AMENDMENT COUNCIL OFFICES WOULDN'T HAVE A NEED TO OFFER A PASS A RESOLUTION TO APPROPRIATE TO A CITY DEPARTMENT, OR THIS ALLOWS THE DOLLARS TO STAY WITHIN THE OFFICE BUDGET FOR THOSE INTERPRETATION SERVICES THAT YOU MENTIONED.
COUNCILOR QUE THE, THE WAY I WOULD INTERPRET THIS, BUT I'LL ASK, UH, LEGAL IF THEY DISAGREE WITH THIS INTERPRETATION, BUT THE WAY I INTERPRET THIS IS THAT, UM, IT WOULD DO AWAY BY DOING AWAY WITH THE AMENDMENT AND CARRYING IT FORWARD TO THE NEXT YEAR.
UM, IF YOU WANTED TO TRANSFER THAT TO SOME OTHER CITY DEPARTMENT, AND ONLY IF YOU WERE TRANSFERRING IT TO A CITY DEPARTMENT, WOULD YOU THEN HAVE TO FOLLOW THE ELLIS AMENDMENT? THAT WOULD BE THE ONE CAVEAT TO THE ROLLOVER.
ANYTHING ELSE WOULD BE, UH, WOULDN'T GO THROUGH.
I, I DON'T BELIEVE WOULD GO THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS.
IT WOULD BE AT THE DISCRETION OF THE COUNCIL MEMBER.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT HE ARGUED FOR IN LAYING OUT THE MOTION TO, TO BE ABLE TO FUND THOSE SPECIAL PROJECTS.
SO IT ONLY WOULD BE, IF IT GOES TO, TO FUND A PROJECT IN YOUR DISTRICT THAT'S PARKS RELATED, THEN IT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO BRING FORWARD A RESOLUTION THAT'S THE PARKS BEING ONE EXAMPLE OF THAT? YES.
THE, THE LANGUAGE OF COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS'S AMENDMENT IS VERY SPECIFIC.
IT'S TRANSFER OF FUNDS TO A CITY DEPARTMENT.
CONTINGENT IS CONTINGENT UPON COUNCIL APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION THAT CLEARLY DOCUMENTS THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT, PURPOSE AND RECIPIENT DEPARTMENTS OF THE PROPOSED TRANSFER.
UM, AND YOU CAN ALSO TR UH, AND, AND THAT DEALS WITH THE, THE DEPARTMENTS.
I, I WAS GONNA READ IN THE SECOND PART TO MAKE SURE I WAS RIGHT ABOUT THAT.
WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER OF VE ALASKA JUST LAID OUT WAS IF HE HAS SPECIAL PROJECTS IN HIS DISTRICT, HE WANTS THE MONEY TO ROLL OVER, WHICH AS YOU POINT OUT, IS CONTRARY TO WHAT THE RECOMMENDATION WAS OF THE $50,000.
AND IF IT'S NOT GOING TO A CITY DEPARTMENT, IT WOULD NOT HAVE TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS'S, UH, AMENDMENT THAT HAS, HAS PASSED.
UM, WELL, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
UNFORTUNATELY, I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS ITEM.
I DO BELIEVE THAT, YOU KNOW, IN THE RESEARCH THAT WAS DONE IN BRINGING FORWARD THE RESOLUTION AND LOOKING AT HOW OTHER CITIES HANDLE THEIR OFFICE BUDGETS AND UNDERSTANDING THAT WE WOULD BE AN OUTLIER AND NOT HAVING A CAP ON OUR CARRYOVER, I'M UNCOMFORTABLE WITH US HAVING, UM, THAT TYPE OF FINANCIAL POLICY ASSOCIATED WITH OUR OWN OFFICE BUDGETS, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT'S DIFFERENT THAN OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS.
UH, SO WITH THAT, I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS AMENDMENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER LANE, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, I ALSO CANNOT COMFORTABLY SUPPORT, UH, AN AMENDMENT THAT, THAT ALLOWS FOR AN UNLIMITED ROLLOVER.
UM, I, I HEAR SOME OF THE CONCERN AROUND WE DON'T HAVE THESE FUNDS FULLY DEFINED ALREADY.
WE HAVE MORE DEFINITION IN THE WAY THAT MY AMENDMENT LAYS
[02:55:01]
IT OUT THAN WE DO FOR THIS.AND WE ALSO HAVE PROTECTIONS TO HELP US TRANSITION FROM A BLANK CHECK PRACTICALLY, UH, TO WORKING IN COLLABORATION WITH OUR CITY MANAGER.
AND THAT IN THE END WILL BE THE MOST EFFECTIVE PATH.
I BELIEVE WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT DISTRICTS AND DIFFERENT NEEDS, AND I REALLY BELIEVE IN THE VALUE OF THE DIS OF BEING ABLE TO IMPACT AND SEED PROGRAMS. BUT, UM, THE MOST EFFECTIVE USE OF MONEY IS WHEN IT'S FOLLOWING THE SAME STRATEGIC GOALS.
AND SO THAT PROCESS OF WORKING WITH OUR CITY MANAGER THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BY THE END OF TWO YEARS, WE WOULD HAVE HAD TWO YEARS TO WORK WITH OUR CITY MANAGER, UM, TO DEFINE HOW THESE FUNDS WOULD BE SPENT STILL TARGETED TOWARDS OUR DISTRICT.
UM, I BELIEVE THAT IS A MORE SOUND PATH.
I AM NOT COMFORTABLE BEING AN OUTLIER.
I AM NOT COMFORTABLE TAKING THIS LEVEL OF ADDITIONAL PRIVILEGES IN TERMS OF HOW MONEY IS SPENT VERSUS THE REST OF THE CITY AND THE REST OF PUBLIC GOVERNMENT IN TEXAS.
UM, AND SO I ALSO, I CANNOT SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT, BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE THE, THE DISCUSSION THAT WE'VE ALL HAD.
AND I THINK THAT WE WILL END UP BETTER THAN WE WERE BY THE END OF THIS, NO MATTER WHICH VERSION PASSES.
AND I'M JUST CATCHING UP TO THE DEFINITIONS OF THE DISTRICT SERVICE FUND, AT LEAST AS LAID OUT IN THE RESOLUTION AND, AND, UH, MEMO.
UM, SO I WANNA DIRECT THIS QUESTION, I GUESS TO THE MANAGER, BUT, UM, IS THE CONCEPTION OF THIS FUND THAT THERE WOULD BE SEGREGATED FUNDS PER DISTRICT? UM, BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND KIND OF IN THE SITUATION OF COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ, IF THE ELLIS AMENDMENT TAKES EFFECT AND A SPECIFIC OFFICE HAS MORE THAN 50,000 AND THEN IT GETS TRANSFERRED TO THE DISTRICT SERVICE FUND, IS THAT SEGREGATED BY DISTRICT? THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN.
AND, AND SO SHOULD SUCH A FUND BE CREATED? UH, IT WOULD, BASED ON MY RECOMMENDATION BE SEGREGATED BY DISTRICT SPECIFICALLY.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN.
UH, JUST A COUPLE QUESTIONS FOR OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER WHO HAS PRESLY SAT AT THE MICROPHONE HERE.
UM, I JUST WANNA UNDERSTAND, AS YOU READ, COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ'S AMENDMENT, AND I MAY BE RESTATING WHAT THE MAYOR SAID, BUT I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING IT.
IF, IF THIS PASSED AND WHAT COUNT THE AMENDMENT THAT HAS ALREADY PASSED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.
SO DURING THE YEAR, YOU COULD HAVE THE TRANSFER FUNDS TO A CITY DEPARTMENT WITH A RESOLUTION THAT WAS UNDER COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS'S AMENDMENT, RIGHT? YES.
I THINK IT WOULD TECHNICALLY REQUIRE AN ORDINANCE, BUT YEP.
UNDER COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ'S LANGUAGE, UNDER SUBPART A, IT SAYS THAT THE UNEXPECTED APPROPRIATION WILL CARRY FORWARD IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR UNLESS EXPRESSLY APPROPRIATED OTHERWISE DURING THE ANNUAL BUDGET PROCESS.
SO YOU WOULDN'T NECESSARILY NEED TO HAVE A RESOLUTION, BUT COUNCILOR VELAZQUEZ, FOR INSTANCE, COULD HAVE AN AMENDMENT IN THE BUDGET THAT SAYS, I MOVE, YOU KNOW, OUR, UH, MOVE $25,000 FROM DISTRICT THREE OFFICE TO HARD OR TWO WHATEVER, BECAUSE THAT IS AN APPROPRIATION DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE WE'RE NOT REQUIRING A RESOLUTION ON TOP OF A BUDGET AMENDMENT OR, OR SOMETHING OF THAT.
THE WAY I READ IT WAS IT, IT, THE DEFAULT IS IT ROLLS OVER IF, IF THERE'S, BUT IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO APPROPRIATE DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS.
AND, AND I JUST WANT TO TOUCH ON THIS NOTION ABOUT THE ROLLOVER AND WHAT OTHER DEPARTMENTS CAN DO AND NOT DO THE, LET'S JUST LOOK AT LIKE THE HOUSING TRUST FUND, FOR INSTANCE.
THE BALANCE IN THAT FUND, DOES IT ROLL OVER TO THE NEXT YEAR? UH, IT, IT DOES THROUGH THE PROCESS OF COUNSEL APPROPRIATING THE FUNDS BACK TO THAT FUND.
RIGHT? SO THE STARTING POINT IN THE BUDGET IS, AND AS YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK AT THE BUDGET, YOU HAD LAST YEAR'S BUDGET, IT FINISHED WITH $9 MILLION AND THAT'S THE STARTING POINT, RIGHT? IN THE NEXT, SO IT, IT'S, AND THAT'S FOR OUR OTHER FUNDS, THE CODE FUND AND WHATEVER THAT FUND, SOME OF OUR DEPARTMENTS, THOSE DO ROLL OVER AND WE APPROVE THAT IN THE BUDGET.
AND THESE, THIS IS THE CHARTER REQUIREMENT THAT OPERATING FUNDS THAT AREN'T EXPENDED IN THE FISCAL YEAR REVERT BACK TO THE FUNDING SOURCE FROM WHICH THEY CAME.
SO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CO COMPLIANT FUND IS THAT, IS THE FUND THAT, THAT, UH, ACCOUNTS FOR THE CO COMPLIANCE FEE.
THE HOUSING TRUST FUND IS A TRANSFER FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO
[03:00:01]
THE HOUSING TRUST FUND.AND SO IT WOULD, UH, WITHOUT THE COUNCIL ACTION, IT WOULD REVERT BACK TO THE GENERAL FUND.
BUT EVERY YEAR THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS COUNCIL IS REAPPROPRIATING THAT ENDING BALANCE TO THE HOUSING TRUST FUND.
UM, AND WHEN WE WOULD BE UNDER COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ'S AMENDMENT, IF WE WERE IN THE BUDGET PROCESS, SIMILAR TO THE, WHAT YOU LAID OUT WITH ANY OF THESE OTHER FUNDS, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD HAVE WHATEVER DISTRICT OFFICE, THE STARTING POINT WOULD BE WITH THE ROLLOVER SUBJECT TO AND OTHERWISE APPROPRIATION DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS.
AND, AND WE, WE CURRENTLY, AS PART OF OUR ANNUAL BUDGET PROCESS, THERE'S ALWAYS A LINE ITEM IN THERE THAT ROLLS OVER THE COUNCIL FUNDS AT, AT A DEPARTMENTAL LEVEL.
WE ACCOUNT FOR IT DISTRICT BY DISTRICT, BUT, UH, EVERY BUDGET CYCLE RECENTLY, THERE IS A AMENDMENT FROM STAFF THAT ROLLS OVER THOSE FUNDS BASED UPON PRIOR COUNSEL DIRECTION.
UM, I, I REALLY THINK THIS, WE OBVIOUSLY THIS HAS CRACKED OPEN A, A MUCH LARGER CONVERSATION WHETHER DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS, WHAT OUR BUDGETS ARE.
I THINK AT THE BUDGET TIME IS WHEN WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT THESE QUESTIONS AND ASKING OURSELVES, YOU KNOW, IF EVERY OFFICE IS CARRYING OVER $20,000, THAT SHOULD REALLY RAISE THE QUESTION OF ARE WE OVERFUNDING OUR BUDGETS $20,000? I I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S TRUE OR NOT, BUT I THINK THIS PROCESS HAS HIGHLIGHTED THE NEED THAT DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS, AND THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS GOING ON, AS YOU MENTIONED, IT'S HARD TO REMEMBER ALL THE THINGS WE NEED TO DO, BUT THAT, THAT'S THE MOMENT WHERE WE NEED TO REALLY ASK OURSELVES WHAT IS THE APPROPRIATE OFFICE BUDGET AND HOW DO WE WANT TO FUND THAT? JUST LIKE WE DECIDE HOW WE WANNA FUND EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT.
SO JUST, JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT THAT.
I WAS JUST LOOKING FOR CLARITY, UH, AT KIND OF A HIGHER LEVEL BETWEEN, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ'S MOTION SHEET AND THE MOTION THAT IT'S REPLACING BY COUNCIL MEMBER LANE.
MY CURRENT UNDERSTANDING IS COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ IS ESSENTIALLY RETURNING TO WHAT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE THE STATUS QUO WHERE WE'VE GOT NO LIMIT AND WE RUN INTO THAT PROBLEM THAT I FELT LIKE I TRIED TO HIGHLIGHT IN THE COMMENT EARLIER THAT WE ARE KIND OF INCENTIVIZING A PRACTICE OF, UH, HOLDING OVER MONEY FOR, FOR PROJECTS.
BUT MY, MY OTHER UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE MOTION THAT IT'S REPLACING DOES THIS, BUT IN A DIFFERENT WAY, WHICH IS THAT WHERE IF WE DO HOLD OVER MORE THAN $50,000, IS THIS GOING IN A DIFFERENT FUND THAT HAPPENS TO BE SEGREGATED FOR A DISTRICT PER THE MAYOR, UH, FOR THE MANAGER'S COMMENT, BUT, UH, AND ALSO THAT THAT FUND DOESN'T EXIST RIGHT NOW.
UH, SO IS THAT A, IS THAT CORRECT MY READING? UNLESS SOME, SOME ONE OF THE PROFESSIONAL STAFF WANTS TO DISAGREE.
I, THE WAY I THINK YOU'VE GOT TWO, TWO BUCKETS, IF YOU WILL.
YOU'VE GOT THE VELAZQUEZ BUCKET, WHICH IS STATUS QUO.
AND I THINK HE EVEN SAID THAT IN THE LAYOUT IS, IS IS PRETTY MUCH THE WAY, IT IS NOT PRETTY MUCH THE WAY IT IS RIGHT NOW.
AND YOU WOULD ALLOW AN UNLIMITED ROLLOVER UNLESS AT THE TIME OF APPROPRIATION, THE COUNCIL MEMBER OFFERED UP SOMETHING, THE WHOLE COUNCIL APPROPRIATED IN A DIFFERENT FASHION, WHICH, WHICH HAPPENED DURING THE LAST BUDGET CYCLE.
UM, THE LANE BUCKET, UH, IT SAYS WE WOULD CAP AT $50,000, WHAT'S IN YOUR COUNCIL BUDGET, BUT ANYTHING ABOVE THE $50,000 WOULD GO INTO A, A FUND THAT CORRESPONDS TO YOUR DISTRICT.
SO IN ESSENCE, IT IS A FULL ROLLOVER, IT JUST ROLLS IT OVER INTO A DIFFERENT ACCOUNT RIGHT.
THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO CLARIFY.
UM, AND JUST UNDERSCORING MY CHALLENGE THAT, MY SENSE WAS THE GOAL WAS TO TRY AND GET AWAY FROM GETTING OVER $50,000 REGARDLESS OF WHERE THE SOURCE OF THAT.
AND EITHER WAY IT SEEMS LIKE A CHALLENGE TO ME, SO I'LL BE, THAT'S WHY I'M VOTING TO ON BOTH.
I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY A LITTLE BIT THAT, UM, IT IS ROLLING OVER TO A DIFFERENT COUNT, BUT IT'S A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT BUDGET AND IT PUTS IT INTO THE ZONE THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN DEFINED BY MEMO THAT ALIGNS WITH PREVIOUS GUIDANCE GIVEN BY THIS COUNCIL.
AND THAT FACILITATES A TRANSITION TOWARDS SPENDING, THAT MEETS THE NEEDS THAT WE SEE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS AND HEAR FROM CONSTITUENTS AND THE CITY MANAGER SEES FROM
[03:05:01]
HIS BROADER VIEW OF THE ENTIRE CITY.UM, AND IT ENCOURAGES US TO START WORKING IN A MORE EFFECTIVE MANNER TOWARDS THE STRATEGIC GOALS AND ALLOWS OUR STAFF TO WORK MORE EFFICIENTLY BY FOLLOWING THROUGH ON PRIOR GUIDANCE, GRADUALLY ADDING ADDITIONAL GUARDRAILS AS WE TRANSITION TO A MORE EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT SYSTEM.
UM, SO AGAIN, UH, OBVIOUSLY WE'LL FOLLOW THE WILL OF THIS BODY, BUT, UM, JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLARIFICATION.
UM, ALRIGHT, SO THE VOTE IS ON THE VELAZQUEZ MOTION TO AMEND THE LA, UM, PROPOSED AMENDMENT.
SO I WANNA GET BACK TO WHERE THE VOTE IS.
IT'S THE VELAZQUEZ MOTION TO AMEND THE LA MOTION.
ALL THOSE THAT ARE IN FAVOR OF THE, UNLESS YOU WANT TO WRAP UP.
UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? DO YOU WANNA SAY SOMETHING? I DID.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANKS TO THE AMEND.
I KNOW, UM, THIS IS NOT AN EASY CONVERSATION AND A LOT OF US ARE UTILIZING OUR OFFICE DOLLARS IN DIFFERENT WAYS SIMPLY BECAUSE WE HAVE ALL DIFFERENT CONSTITUENTS AND NEEDS FOR OUR DISTRICTS.
AND SO I, I THINK THIS HAS BEEN A REALLY HEALTHY CONVERSATION.
I THINK FOLKS ARE REALLY WORKING TOWARD TRYING TO FIND A, A WORKABLE MEDIUM SOMEWHERE IN HERE BETWEEN CURRENT, CURRENT PRACTICE AND THE DISTRICT SERVICE FUND CONVERSATION.
I JUST WANTED TO, TO ECHO, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, ELLISS THAT, AND ESPECIALLY FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN ON THE DIAS FOR SOME TIME HAVE MANAGED THEIR OFFICE BUDGET IN A CERTAIN WAY TO ACHIEVE A CERTAIN GOAL.
AGAIN, EVERYBODY HAS THEIR KIND OF OWN, UH, APPROACH AND, AND, AND WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.
UH, BUT, BUT I APPRECIATE THAT.
I, I'VE SEEN THESE ROLLOVER FUNDS GO TO VERY GOOD, YOU KNOW, USES, WHETHER IT BE, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, LIBRARY BOOKS OR, OR, OR SWING SETS OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE.
AND, UH, UH, I THINK IT'S, WE'RE KIND OF, WE KINDA HAVE A BACKWARDS WAY TO KIND OF DO THE, THE DISTRICT FUNDS RIGHT NOW.
AND, AND, UH, UH, I'M OPEN TO CHANGING DISCUSSION, BUT, BUT I, I, I DO SUPPORT, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VE LASKI, UM, AMENDMENT.
FOR THOSE, THOSE THAT ARE IN FAVOR, THOSE THAT ARE IN FAVOR OF THE VELAZQUEZ MOTION TO AMEND THE LA AMENDMENT, PLEASE, UH, RAISE YOUR HAND IN FAVOR OF FAVOR OF VELAZQUEZ'S MOTION.
THOSE OPPOSED, RAISE YOUR HAND.
THOSE ABSTAINING, THEY'RE BEING SIX VOTES IN FAVOR, FOUR VOTES OPPOSED, AND ONE ABSTENTION.
THE FOUR IN OPPOSITION ARE THE MAYOR FUENTES COUNCIL MEMBERS, FUENTES, UCHIN, AND LANE.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL IS IN ABSTENTION, UH, THE MOTION TO AMEND CARRIES.
UH, SO THAT WILL NOW TAKE US BACK TO THE LANE MOTION TO AMEND AS AMENDED.
I'M SORRY, I JUST, THE, THE, THE CATEGORY, THE, THE FIRST AMENDMENT ONE ON THE PAGE FOUR IN THE, UH, GENERAL CATEGORY.
UH, I JUST WANNA UNDERSTAND THAT, UH, UH, A LITTLE BIT MORE.
UH, THE, THE LANGUAGE KIND OF POPS OUT TO ME, UH, UH, AS A LITTLE PROBLEMATIC.
UH, AND, AND IS THIS THE LANGUAGE, THE GIFTS FOR CONTRACTORS, CONSTITUENTS, ARE NON-PROFITS VALUED LESS THAN $50? AM I LOOKING AT THE RIGHT? YES.
IT'S EXPENDITURES FOR THE WAY IT READS IS EXPENDITURES TO CONTRACTORS, CONSTITUENTS, OR NONPROFITS VALUED AT LESS THAN $50 THAT PROVIDE A DIRECT SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.
PERMISSIBLE NO WOULD BE A, THAT WOULD BE PERMISSIBLE.
THE, UM, THERE BEING NO COUNCIL MEMBER LANE.
THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE LANE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, AMEND AS AMENDED WITH THE LANGUAGE, NOT SAYING GIFT, SAYING EXPENDITURES.
WELL, THAT'S JUST, YEAH, IT IS EXPENDITURES TOO, BUT THE AMENDMENT WAS, THE VELASQUEZ AMENDMENT THAT GOT PUT ON TOP OF IT.
IS, IS, WHEN I SAY AMENDED IT IS THE VELASQUEZ AMENDMENT THE ONE WE JUST GOT? YES.
[03:10:01]
ALL RIGHT.IF YOU'RE VOTING FOR THE, THE LANE MOTION TO AMEND AS IT WAS AMENDED.
PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU'RE VOTING.
NO, RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU'RE ABSTAINING.
RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU'RE ABSTAINING.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, HOW ARE YOU VOTING? YES.
THERE BEING EIGHT VOTES IN FAVOR OF THE LANE.
THAT BEING THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN AND ONE ABSTENTION, THE MAYOR PRO TIM.
THE MOTION TO AMEND IS ADOPTED MEMBERS THAT WILL TAKE US BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION.
THE MAIN MOTION IS THE MOTION I MADE SOMETIME A WEEK AGO.
UM, UH, THE MAIN MOTION WAS MY MOTION AS THAT MOTION WAS AMENDED NOW BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS'S, MOTION TO AMEND AND COUNCIL MEMBER LANE'S MOTION TO AMEND AS AMENDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON? YES.
UM, COLLEAGUES, JUST REALLY APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION THAT WE HAD TODAY, AND THANK YOU TO OUR CHAIR OF OUR AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
AND CERTAINLY THIS IS A PRIORITY FOR COUNCIL TO ADOPT, UH, GUIDELINES AND CRITERIA FOR HOW WE MANAGE AND SPEND OUR OFFICE BUDGET DOLLARS.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO TALK ABOUT SPECIFICALLY THE DISTRICT SERVICE FUND SINCE IT HAS BEEN INCORPORATED AT THIS TIME WITH THE AMENDMENTS IN ESTABLISHING AND PROVIDING INITIAL FUNDING FOR THAT FUND THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH THE CITY MANAGER TO DEVELOP GUIDELINES AND, UM, AND A PARAMETER OF HOW WE ADMINISTER THE DISTRICT SERVICE FUND.
AND I THINK THAT WORK NEEDS TO CONTINUE AND IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR US TO HAVE IT AT A LATER TIME.
UM, BUT JUST WANNA ELEVATE THAT, THAT, UM, THAT PIECE OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT POLICY, UM, WILL NEED TO BE DISCUSSED AT A LATER DATE.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION MEMBERS? LET ME JUST SAY AS, UH, THE MAKER OF THE MAIN MOTION AND, AND, UH, I WANNA SAY THANKS AGAIN TO ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION.
AND THOSE OF YOU THAT CAME TO THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE, UH, WE HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED THE POLICY RELATED TO COUNCIL SPENDING AND THEIR OFFICE BUDGETS.
UH, I DO BELIEVE THAT, AND I, AND AS YOU CAN TELL BY MY VOTES, UM, AND I, I DO BELIEVE THAT IT'S, IT'S A MISTAKE FOR US TO NOT PUT A CAP ON THE ROLLOVER.
AND I THINK THAT IS A, THAT IS A, I'M NOT, I'M NOT, I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO REALLY EXPLAIN WHY AUSTIN IS DIFFERENT FROM THE REST OF THE WORLD ON THIS, WHY WE ARE EXCEPTIONS TO THE RULE.
AND I'M GONNA HAVE SOME DIFFICULTY DESCRIBING WHAT GOAL THAT ACHIEVES, UH, PARTICULARLY IN TERMS OF TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND EQUITY AND GOOD FISCAL DISCIPLINE.
I THINK THAT IS A MISTAKE AT A TIME WHEN WE'RE WORKING VERY HARD TO RESTORE CONFIDENCE.
IT WASN'T VERY LONG AGO THAT IN PART BECAUSE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT COUNCIL SPENDING, THE VOTERS GAVE US A CLEAR SIGNAL.
I THINK WE HAD BETTER WAYS TO ACHIEVE THE GOALS THAT YOU, THAT WE, YOU ALL AND WE ALL WANT TO ACHIEVE.
BUT THAT BEING SAID, UH, I WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS.
IF THE VOTE GOES THE WAY, I THINK IT'S GETTING READY TO GO, UM, ON THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A MUCH IMPROVED POLICY.
UM, AND, AND I THINK GOING FORWARD, IT, IT, IT IS ONE THAT WE CAN, UH, POINT TO WITH CONFIDENCE.
SO ALL WITHOUT, WITH THAT AND WITHOUT FURTHER DISCUSSION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION AS AMENDED.
UM, BUT LET ME JUST ASK, IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO VOTE IN OPPOSITION OR TO ABSTAIN WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THE MOTION TO THE, THE MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED IS ADOPTED.
CONGRATULATIONS EVERYBODY AND THANK YOU MEMBERS
[2:00 PM - Zoning and Neighborhood Plan Amendments (Public Hearings and Possible Action)]
THAT WILL TAKE US TO OUR ZONING ITEMS AND, UM, I WILL[03:15:01]
ASK THAT, UH, MS. HARDEN COME FORWARD AND HELP US WITH THAT.I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN WAITING THERE WITH BATED BREATH.
YOU JUST READY TO GO? UH, I'M JOY HARDEN WITH AUSTIN PLANNING.
YOUR ZONING AGENDA BEGINS WITH ITEM NUMBER 70 C 1 4 8 4 0 2 2 RCA.
THIS ITEMS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
THIS ITEM'S OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
THIS ITEM IS OFFERED AS A POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR FEBRUARY 5TH COUNCIL MEETING BY COUNCIL MEMBER CORICK.
ITEM 73 IS NPA 20 23 0 0 0 5 0.01.
THIS ITEM'S OFFERED AS A STAFF POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR FEBRUARY 26TH COUNCIL MEETING.
THE RELATED REZONING IS ITEM 74 C 1 4 20 24 0 0 1 5.
AGAIN, THIS ITEM IS OFFERED AS A STAFF POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR FEBRUARY 26TH COUNCIL MEETING.
ITEM 75 IS C 1 4 20 25 0 0 2 9.
THIS ITEM IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
ITEM 76 IS C 1 14 20 25 0 0 7 8.
THIS ITEM IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
ITEM 77 IS C 1 4 9 3 0 4 7 RCA.
THIS ITEM OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
ITEM 78 C 4 20 25 0 0 9 8 RCT.
THIS ITEM OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
ITEM 79 IS C ONE 40 H 20 25 0 5.
THIS ITEM IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
THIS ITEMS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
THIS ITEMS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
ITEM 82 IS C 1 4 20 25 0 1, 0 2.
THIS ITEM'S OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
ITEM 83 IS C 1 4 20 25 0 0 9 7.
THIS ITEM'S OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
AND LASTLY, WE HAVE ITEM 84 C 1 4 20 24 0 1 7 9.
THIS ITEM IS OFFERED AS A STAFF POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR FEBRUARY 5TH COUNCIL MEETING.
AND THIS CONCLUDES THE READINGS OF THE ZONING AND NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AMENDMENT PORTION OF YOUR AGENDA.
AND AS ALWAYS, IT IS AT YOUR DISCRETION.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF MS. HARDEN AT THIS TIME, WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS READ THE PROPOSED CONSENT AGENDA, UM, HANG ON, PROPOSED CONSENT AGENDA AND, AND MS. HARDEN, UH, CRY OUT IF YOU THINK I MAKE A MISTAKE HERE.
UH, ITEM NUMBER 70, UM, IT IS A COVENANT TERMINATION, SO IT WILL, IT, IT WILL THAT, THAT WILL BE ON CONSENT.
CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
72 A POSTPONEMENT TO FEBRUARY 5TH, 73 AND 74, A POSTPONEMENT TO FEBRUARY 26TH, 75 AND 76 ON ALL THREE READINGS.
77 ON CONSENT IS A COVENANT AMENDMENT 78, AGAIN, A COVENANT TERMINATION ON CONSENT.
79 80, 81, 82 AND 83 ON ALL THREE READINGS.
AND 84 ARE POSTPONEMENT TO FEBRUARY 5TH.
I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
IT'S MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER LANE.
NOW WE'LL TURN IT TO THE CLERK TO SEE IF PEOPLE HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ON ITEM 72, WE HAVE NICOLE ALDO.
AND ON ITEM 84, WE, UM, SPEAKING ON THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT, WE HAVE Z NOIA.
JOSEPH, MS. JOSEPH, ARE YOU STILL HERE? YES, SHE IS.
[03:20:01]
COUNCIL, I'M ENOVIA JOSEPH SPEAKING ON THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT.UH, ITEM 84, I JUST WANTED TO SAY I APPRECIATE THE POSTPONEMENT AND JUST MORE BROADLY WOULD LIKE TO ASK THAT WHEN THE ITEM COMES BACK TO YOU, THAT STAFF ACTUALLY PROVIDES YOU WITH AN OVERLAY OF WHERE THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS ARE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT I'VE ASKED FOR IN THE PAST, AND I JUST WANT IT TO BE SPECIFIC.
UH, TO THE EXTENT THAT ANY OF THOSE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS RELATE TO PROJECT CONNECT, I JUST WANT TO CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION, HR TWO FOUR SEVEN ONE, THAT'S THE CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS ACT 2022.
I MENTIONED IT EARLIER AND I'LL JUST READ THE LANGUAGE.
NONE OF THE FUNDS APPROPRIATED BY THIS ACT MAY BE USED IN ANY WAY, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY TO INFLUENCE CONGRESSIONAL ACTION ON ANY LEGISLATION OR APPROPRIATION MATTERS PENDING BEFORE CONGRESS.
AND SO I JUST WANTED TO BE CLEAR THAT SECTION 7 3 5 AND THAT CAPITAL METRO SINCE 2008 HAVE PAID LOBBYISTS.
AND SO IT'S GERMANE TO THE ITEMS IN GENERAL.
NOT GONNA BE SPECIFIC TO THE CASE.
I JUST WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT IT MAY BE HELPFUL, UH, FOR YOUR LEGAL COUNSEL TO ACTUALLY DELVE INTO WHETHER OR NOT THAT WOULD DISQUALIFY YOU FOR THE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR THE LIGHT RAIL.
AND TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT PRIVATE RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS AND, UH, HALF MILE RADIUS BE BETWEEN THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND ACTUALLY THE RAIL LINE.
I WILL LASTLY JUST SAY THAT AS IT RELATES TO BLANK ROME, IT WAS THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT AND ALSO, UH, THE BUILD BETTER ACT THAT THEY ACTUALLY INFLUENCED.
YOU COULD FIND THAT INFORMATION THROUGH PROPUBLICA.
THE CONTRACT IS STILL RELEVANT.
AND SO I WOULD JUST ASK YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE, THOSE DOCUMENTATIONS AND SEE IF THEY'RE GERMANE TO THIS CASE IN PARTICULAR AND MORE BROADLY TO YOUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING DOWNTOWN.
AND TERRY GRCA ACTUALLY HAD A REPORT FEBRUARY 17TH, 2020 KVU BEFORE SHE RETIRED, DEVELOPERS PAYING A FEE IN LIEU OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING DOWNTOWN.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GLADLY ANSWER THEM.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL ZONING SPEAKERS MEMBERS THAT, AS YOU JUST HEARD, THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS.
WE HAVE SIGNED UP ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
LET ME A YES COUNCIL MEMBER CODRE IS NOW THE TIME FOR COMMENTS? UH, SURE.
UH, I JUST WANNA QUICKLY TOUCH ON ITEM 72, WHICH, UH, WE POSTPONED TO THE FEBRUARY 5TH MEETING.
UH, I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD, UH, TO FEBRUARY 5TH BECAUSE I, I THINK I WANT TO SEE, UH, THE PROCESS FOR COLLABORATION AND MOVEMENT, ESPECIALLY IN OUR EASTERN CRESCENT OF, OF THE DOWNTOWN, UH, THE EASTERN CRESCENT OF DOWNTOWN IS EVOLVING.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO ENGAGE ALL STAKEHOLDERS IN THE AREA TO BRIDGE THE INNOVATION DISTRICT WITH THE RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT AND MINIMIZE LOSING ANY BUSINESSES, VENUES, AND PEOPLE THAT MAKE THE DISTRICT AND THE CITY, UH, YOU KNOW, SO SPECIAL.
UH, THE SITE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO SERVE AS AN IMPACTFUL AREA WHERE CULTURE AND AND INNOVATION MEET.
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO ENGAGEMENT IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS BETWEEN, UH, THE RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT, THE DA, THE APPLICANT, AND ANY OTHER RELEVANCE TO STAKEHOLDERS, STAKEHOLDERS, UH, IN THE AREA, UM, MOVING FORWARD.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION MEMBERS? IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO ABSTAIN FROM A VOTE ON ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO RECUSE THEMSELVES FROM A VOTE ON ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
AND I'LL JUST, I KNOW YOU STATED IT EARLIER, BUT I JUST WANNA NOTE THE 2:00 PM PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS SEE STATING 69 ARE WITHDRAWN.
AND I READ THOSE AS CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS INTO THE RECORD, UM, BEFORE, SO THERE'S NO, THERE'S NO LACK OF CLARITY NOW.
UH, WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE HAVE NO OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA FOR THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AT THIS REGULAR MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
SO, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, MAYOR PRO, TIM.