[00:00:03]
NOT MUCH MORE TO SAY AFTER THAT.
WELL, IN THAT CASE, IT'S 10 O'CLOCK
[Call to Order]
IN THE MORNING ON FEBRUARY 5TH, 2026.AND, UM, I'LL CALL TO ORDER THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR THIS REGULAR SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
WE HAVE A QUORUM OF THE CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
AND, UH, WE ARE MEETING IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS LOCATED IN CITY HALL AT 3 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET.
UH, FOLKS, THE WAY WE'RE GOING TO FOLLOW TODAY IS IN JUST A FEW MINUTES, I'M GONNA READ CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS TO OUR AGENDA INTO THE RECORD.
UH, WE WILL THEN GO TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA MEMBERS.
UH, I DON'T HAVE ANY ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA UNLESS THEY ARE WITHDRAWN ITEMS, AND I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN JUST A SECOND.
WHEN I READ CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS INTO THE RECORD, WE WILL HEAR FROM OUR SPEAKERS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
WE WILL THEN GO TO THE NON-CONSENT ITEMS. THOSE INCLUDE PUBLIC HEARINGS ON ITEMS 48 AND 49.
WE WILL ALSO AT NOON, UH, HAVE OUR PUBLIC COMMUNICATION, WHICH IS A TIME CERTAIN AT NOON, AND THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY OUR LIVE MUSIC.
WHAT I ANTICIPATE WILL HAPPEN IS THAT WE WILL BEGIN AT NOON.
THAT WILL FINISH AT 1230 ISH, AND WE WILL THEN RECESS UNTIL AROUND ONE 10 OR ONE 15, DEPENDING UPON WHERE WE ARE IN THE AGENDA ITSELF, BECAUSE THE NE THE NEXT ITEMS ARE SET FOR A TWO O'CLOCK TIME.
CERTAIN, THOSE ARE PUBLIC HEARINGS ON ITEMS 50 AND 51 AND THE TWO O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN ON OUR ZONING ITEMS. SO, UNLESS THERE'S, UH, QUESTIONS FROM ANYBODY, I WILL NOW READ CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS INTO THE RECORD FOR THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5TH, 2026.
ITEM 45 IS WITHDRAWN, AND ITEM 58 IS WITHDRAWN FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT ARE HERE OR LISTENING ON LISTENING AND ARE WAITING TO, UH, PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT ON ANY OF THOSE THREE ITEMS, ITEMS 3 45 AND 58, BECAUSE THOSE ITEMS HAVE BEEN WITHDRAWN, THERE WILL NOT BE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THOSE ITEMS. SO IF YOU'RE HERE FOR THAT, UM, YOU JUST BOUGHT YOURSELF SOME PART OF A NEW DAY, UH, IT'S AN, IT IS A PRETTY DAY.
SO GET OUT THERE, ENJOY AND ENJOY IT.
IF YOU'RE LISTENING AND WE PLANNING TO SPEAK REMOTELY.
ITEMS 3 45 AND 58 ARE WITHDRAWN MEMBERS THAT
[Consent Agenda]
WILL TAKE US, UNLESS THERE'S, UH, QUESTIONS OR OBJECTION, TAKE US TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA.UH, AND AS I INDICATED, THERE'S NOTHING BEEN PULLED.
I'M GETTING READY TO ASK THE CITY CLERK TO, UH, HELP US WALK THROUGH THAT.
AND I, BEFORE I DO THAT, I WANNA JUST SAY, UH, FOR EVERYBODY WITHIN THE SOUND OF MY VOICE, WE ARE VERY PLEASED.
I, I SAW OUR CITY CLERK, ERICA BRADY HERE JUST A SECOND AGO.
SHE'S HIDING BEHIND THE, OKAY.
UM, WE ALL WANNA SAY WELCOME BACK.
WE ARE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE, UH, OUR CITY CLERK BACK.
AND AT THE SAME TIME, I WANNA SAY THAT STEPHANIE HALL HAS DONE A REMARKABLE JOB.
OUR DEPUTY CITY CLERK, UH, ON A, ON A, ON A VARIETY OF THINGS THAT SHE'S BEEN, SHE'S BEEN OUTSTANDING ON.
AND WE WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT.
SO WITH THAT, UH, LET'S SEE HOW GOOD A JOB YOU DO.
ON ITEM ONE, WE HAVE BERNARD KAUFMAN AND ENOVIA.
JOSEPH KAUFMAN, KAUFMAN, OR JOSEPH, ARE YOU HERE? ARE YOU HERE? OKAY, LET'S GO ON.
MS. JOSEPH, ARE YOU HERE? MS. JOSEPH? OKAY.
[00:05:01]
BELIEVE SHE'S HERE.WE'LL, NOW MOVE TO ITEM SEVEN.
MS. ROBA, MS. JOSEPH, OH, THERE'S MS. ROBA, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
AND BY THE WAY, FOR THE RE UH, FOR THOSE OF YOU ALL THAT ARE HERE AND GOING TO GIVE TESTIMONY, IF AN ITEM IS CALLED, UH, WHAT HE, YOU CAN SEE WHAT HE'S DOING, HE'S CALLING NAMES.
PLEASE FEEL FREE JUST TO COME DOWN WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR NAME CALLED AND TAKE ONE OF THESE CHAIRS AND, UH, AND THEN SAY YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
AND MS. ROBSHAW, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
GOOD MORNING, AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
I AM JEN ROBOSHO, A DISTRICT TWO RESIDENT.
AS AN EXPERIENCED CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE, I'M SPEAKING ON ITEM SEVEN, THE PROPOSED CONTRACT WITH CREATIVE CONSUMER RESEARCH FOR CUSTOMER SATISFACTION MARKET RESEARCH.
FOR AUSTIN ENERGY, THIS CONTRACT WOULD PAY UP TO $1.5 MILLION OVER FIVE YEARS, 200,000 FOR THE FIRST YEAR, AND THEN 300,000 PER YEAR IF EXTENDED.
THE GOAL IS TO RUN ANNUAL SURVEYS AND FOCUS GROUPS TO HELP AUSTIN ENERGY IMPROVE SERVICE, BILLING AND ENERGY PROGRAMS. I BELIEVE THIS WORK SHOULD BE BROUGHT IN-HOUSE INSTEAD OF OUTSOURCED.
THIS IS A LONG-TERM ONGOING NEED.
THE CONTRACT IS FOR FIVE YEARS, BUT CUSTOMER FEEDBACK WILL BE REQUIRED FOR DECADES.
THE BUDGET COULD EASILY FUND TWO OR THREE FULL-TIME CITY EMPLOYEES, PEOPLE WHO WOULD BUILD LASTING SKILLS RIGHT HERE IN AUSTIN.
IN-HOUSE WORK GIVES US MORE CONTROL, FASTER IMPROVEMENTS AND BETTER CONNECTION BETWEEN STAFF AND CUSTOMERS, OUTSOURCING ADS, DISTANCE AND COORDINATION COSTS.
WE ALREADY HAVE A CUSTOMER SERVICE TEAM THAT TALKS TO CUSTOMERS EVERY DAY.
THEY CAN SUPPORT AN INTERNAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT TEAM AT MUCH LOWER COST.
AUSTIN HAS A HUGE LOCAL TALENT IN RESEARCH AND DATA.
WE SHOULD CREATE GOOD JOBS HERE INSTEAD OF SENDING MONEY OUT OF THE CITY.
AND THE RECENT CITY MANAGERS REPORT ON AI CHALLENGES SHOWS AUSTIN ENERGY ALREADY STRUGGLES TO RECRUIT AND KEEP TALENT OUTSOURCING SIGNALS.
THERE'S NO GROWTH PATH FOR EMPLOYEES AND WORKS AGAINST PROTECTING CITY JOBS.
PLEASE RECONSIDER THIS CONTRACT IN YOUR OPTIONS.
APPROVING A MULTIMILLION OR MULTI-YEAR ONE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLAR CONTRACT WOULD LOCK US INTO THIS LARGE EXPENDITURE AND MISS A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD STRONGER INTERNAL CAPACITY AND INVEST IN OUR OWN WORKFORCE.
NEXT ON ITEM 16, WILLIAM HERMAN ON ITEM 17, WILLIAM HERMAN.
MR. HERMAN, ITEM 31, SALVADOR ESPOSA.
ON ITEM 36, ANDREW WEINBERG, DIANA PHILLIPS, MARTHA NEWMAN.
ON ITEM 36, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND BEGIN SPEAKING.
UH, GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, MY NAME'S ANDREW WEINBERG AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME ON AND SPEAK WITH YOU ABOUT THE ROMAN VALE PROPOSAL.
ITEM 36 ON THE COUNCIL AGENDA.
UH, I'VE LIVED IN 2 0 3 EAST MILTON STREET SINCE I, I HATE TO INTERRUPT YOU, BUT YOU'RE PRETTY SOFT SPOKEN.
WOULD YOU GET ME A LITTLE CLOSER TO THAT MICROPHONE? SURE.
IS THAT BETTER? THAT IS BETTER, THANK YOU.
UH, I'VE LIVED IN 2 0 3 EAST MILTON STREET SINCE 1989, AND MY BACKYARD ADJOINS THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT.
I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK FOR MYSELF AND MY NEIGHBORS WHO HAVE SIGNED THE STATEMENT THAT WE'VE ENTERED INTO THE RECORD AND SEVERAL OF WHOM ARE HERE IN ATTENDANCE TODAY.
WHILE WE APPLAUD THE CITY'S EFFORTS TO INCREASE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN AUSTIN, WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THE COUNCIL REJECT THE ROE AND VEIL APPLICATION FOR THE LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDITS.
IN THIS TIME, OUR CONCERNS SINCE ARE ON THREE POINTS.
FIRST, THE PROPOSAL IS FACTUAL ERRORS AND LACKS KNOWLEDGE OR UNDERSTANDING OF THE COMMUNITY.
IT CITES BECKER ELEMENTARY INSTEAD OF TRAVIS HEIGHTS AS THE LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
BECKER IS CLOSING NEXT YEAR SHOWS THE DISTANCE THE TWIN OAKS LIBRARY IS 2000 FEET WHEN IT'S OVER 4,200 FEET.
THIS TINY GROCER ON SOUTH CONGRESS IS OUR NEIGHBORHOOD GROCERY STORE.
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE DEVELOPER PREVENTED PLANS TO US THAT DIFFER FROM THE PROPOSAL SUBMITTED TO THE COUNCIL.
THE PROPOSAL SUBMITTED, SO 75 AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS, A PLAN PROVIDED TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD BY AN OSDA REPRESENTATIVE HAS 71 UNITS AND A PRE-K.
THIRD, THE PROPOSED LOCATION ON A TWO LANE NEIGHBORHOOD STREET LACKS THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO SAFELY SUPPORT SUCH HIGH DENSITY DEVELOPMENT.
ALL OF THE OTHER PROJECTS ON TODAY'S AGENDA FOR THESE TAX CREDITS FACE FOUR LANE STREETS AND HAVE ADJACENT COMMERCIAL PROPERTY.
THIS PROJECT FACES THE TWO LANE STREET AND IS SURROUNDED BY SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.
I'VE SUBMITTED TO THE RECORD A SET OF GOOGLE MAPS THAT DEMONSTRATE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THIS PROJECT AND OTHERS PROPOSED.
[00:10:01]
RECOGNIZE THAT ADDITIONAL HOUSING DENSITY IN THE URBAN CORE IS NEEDED, BUT WE SUBMIT THAT THE ROWAN VEIL DEVELOPMENT AS PROPOSED IS NOT READY FOR YOUR APPROVAL.MS. PHILLIPS AND DIANA PHILLIPS, I HAVE DONATED MY TIME TO DIANA? YES.
IS, IS THAT, ARE YOU MARTHA NEWMAN? YES.
DIANA PHILLIPS, WE'LL GET FOUR MINUTES.
I'M DIANA PHILLIPS, MY HUSBAND DAVID.
OUR DAUGHTER LIZ AND I LIVE ON EAST MILTON STREET.
OUR HOME OF 46 YEARS BACKS UP TO THE PROJECT AT A TIME WHEN WE FEEL HELPLESS TO CHANGE WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL.
WE AND OUR NEIGHBORS ARE HERE BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT AS INDIVIDUALS AND AS A NEIGHBORHOOD, WE CAN HAVE AN IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY.
OUR HOMES ARE NOT THE MANSIONS OF JUDGES HILL.
THEY'RE HAND-BUILT HOMES OF WORKING IN MIDDLE CLASS AUSTIN IN THE LATE 18 HUNDREDS AND EARLY 20TH CENTURY.
FRONT PORCHES AND NARROW STREETS FOSTER A THRIVING COMMUNITY.
WE LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER, FEED NEIGHBORS, PETS, CELEBRATE ACHIEVEMENTS AND MOURN THE LOSS OF FRIENDS.
MOST HOUSES DON'T HAVE GARAGES OR DRIVEWAYS.
THERE WERE MANY CARS SOUTH OF THE RIVER.
WE HAVE PERMITS TO PARK IN FRONT OF OUR HOMES ON PAY TO PARK STREETS.
OUR GREATEST CONCERN, TRAFFIC VOLUME AND SPEEDING ARE UP AS DRIVERS SEEK SHORTCUTS BETWEEN DOWNTOWN AND 35.
MILTON STREET IS A CITY PLACE.
STREET BARRIERS SAY LOCAL TRAFFIC ONLY THEN A PICKUP HEADING A FEW BLOCKS AWAY.
BARREL PASSED A BARRIER AND NEARLY KILLED TWO CHILDREN.
WE NOW USE TWO BARRIERS AT EACH END OF THE STREET.
EFFECTIVELY CLOSING THE STREET, THE PROJECT ADDS PARKING FOR 90 CARS WITH ACCESS ON TWO LANE ANNIE STREET.
FIRE TRUCKS FROM THE STATION A BLOCK AWAY USE ANY DAILY TO RESPOND TO CALLS TO THE EAST.
THE PRE-K CAN ADD MORE THAN 70 TRIPS PER DAY ON A SIDE STREET.
CURRENT PLANS INCLUDE CLASSROOMS FOR THREE AND FOUR YEAR OLDS THAT ARE NOT IN THE PROJECT BEFORE THE COUNCIL.
ACCORDING TO THE COMPANY'S OWN DATA, A CONTRACTED PRIVATE COMPANY WOULD COMPETE WITH THE ESTABLISHED PRE-K AT AISD, TRAVIS HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY.
THAT OFFERS FREE AND LOW COST TUITION AND SPANISH IMMERSION.
THIS PROJECT IS THE EXCEPTION THAT PROVES THE RULE.
PLANS ARE UNCLEAR AND CHANGING.
WE ASK THE COUNCIL NOT TO CONSENT TO THIS PROJECT, COME WALK WITH US, COME PLAY WITH US.
LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO CREATE AFFORDABLE LIVING ON ANY STREET THAT IS SAFE AND WORKS FOR RESIDENTS AND FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD ALIKE.
CONTINUING ON ITEM 36, PATRICIA HARRIS.
HELLO, MY NAME IS PATRICIA HARRIS.
I'M FROM 1711 DRAKE, ONE BLOCK FROM THE PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION.
ROWAN VALE HOUSING PROJECT IS AN INCOMPATIBLE ADDITION TO A NEIGHBORHOOD ALREADY BESET WITH TRAFFIC, CONGESTION AND PARKING LIMITATIONS.
OSDA HAS OFFERED INCONSISTENT ESTIMATES OF THE AMOUNT OF RESIDENT PARKING SPACES.
ITS BUILDING WILL CONTAIN AS TO AS 40 TOTAL SPACES OR 1.3 SPACES PER UNIT.
UM, THOSE ARE THE TWO ESTIMATES.
NEITHER WILL SUFFICIENTLY ADDRESS ACTUAL DEMAND FOR PARKING, WHICH ALSO INCLUDES APARTMENT MANAGEMENT, PRE-K STAFF, RESIDENTS, VISITORS, AND TWO VEHICLE HOUSEHOLDS.
OUR STREETS ARE AN INELASTIC RESOURCE.
WE CANNOT MAKE THEM LONGER OR WIDER TO MEET NEW DEMAND OVER THAT ALREADY REQUIRED BY EXISTING HOMEOWNERS, EMPLOYEES OF LOCAL BUSINESSES, TOURS AND SHOPPERS ARRIVING IN PERSONAL OR RENTED VEHICLES, AND THE NEED OF RESIDENTS LACKING DRIVEWAYS TO PARK IN THE STREET.
AND THAT'S NOT COUNTING DELIVERY TRUCKS PARKED IN TRAFFIC LANES, NOR DOES IT ACCOUNT FOR THE INEVITABLE OBSTRUCTION OF BIKE AND TRAFFIC LANES BY QUEUED VEHICLES AWAITING STAGGERED RECEPTION BY THE BUILDING'S PRE-K STAFF.
YOUR SUPPORT FOR OSDA APPEARS TO BE BASED ON FOUR FACTORS, AN AVAILABLE LOT, A CORPORATE PURCHASER, AMPLE AIRSPACE FOR VERTICAL CONSTRUCTION, AND A TIGHT TIMELINE FOR SECURING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.
[00:15:01]
THIS IS AN INSUFFICIENT SET OF CRITERIA.I SUPPORT AN INITIATIVE TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESIDENTS AT LOW INCOME THRESHOLDS TO JOIN OUR COMMUNITY.
SOCO OFFERS MANY RENTALS OF VARYING CAPACITIES.
A BETTER FIT IS TO SUBSIDIZE RENTS AND EXISTING HOUSING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
LOOK, IT'S EASY ENOUGH TO FIGURE OUT THAT TRAFFIC WILL BE A NIGHTMARE.
THE BUILDING LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF THE SOVIET UNION, AND IF YOU READ THEIR WEBPAGE AROUND ABOUT THE TYPE OF PROPERTIES THEY'VE BUILT BEFORE, AFTER TWO YEARS, THEY'RE FALLING APART AND THE PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING.
AND WHEN THEY SENT THEIR REPRESENTATIVE TO TALK TO US, SHE SAID, OH, THOSE, YOU KNOW THOSE PEOPLE, THEY'RE ALWAYS COMPLAINING, EXCUSE ME, WHY THEY HAD GOT BETTER INFORMATION THAN YOU DO.
NOW, THIS THING ONLY FLIES FOR TWO REASONS.
NUMBER ONE, THEY WANNA PUT A FIVE STORY BUILDING ACROSS THE STREET.
OKAY, FIVE STORIES IN A NATIONAL HISTORIC DISTRICT.
ARE WE KIDDING OURSELVES HERE? I MEAN, WHAT ELSE IS THIS? THESE ARE DOWN THE STREET.
JIM HIGHTOWER LIVES ONE OF THE OLDEST HOUSES IN THAT WHOLE DISTRICT.
THAT GUY, OP-ED WRITER FOR THE CHRONICLE, UH, HE WAS THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE.
OKAY? THEY LOOKED AFTER THE LITTLE GUY BACK THEN AGAINST THE CORPORATE INTEREST.
WHERE'S THE CORPORATE INTEREST IN THIS THING? WELL, IT IS, IT'S, IT'S NOT US, IT'S THEM WHEREVER THEY ARE RIGHT NOW.
AND WHAT ARE THEY GONNA DO WITH THESE TAX CREDITS? THEY'RE GONNA BUNDLE 'EM UP.
THEY'RE GONNA SELL 'EM TO GOLDMAN SACHS.
THEY'RE GONNA SELL 'EM TO UBS.
THEY'RE GONNA SELL 'EM TO MORGAN STANLEY.
THEY'RE GONNA PACKAGE 'EM UP AND THEY'RE GONNA SELL 'EM TO BILLIONAIRES.
AND WE WONDER WHY THE BILLIONAIRES DON'T PAY ANY TAXES.
THANK YOU, MAYOR WATSON, MAYOR PROTIME VELA, AND THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
I'M A LIFELONG TEXAN IN AUSTINITE.
I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST AGENDA ITEM 40, THE INCREASE OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
WHILE I DO LOVE OUR PARKS AND PUBLIC SPACES, THE RECENT BEHAVIOR OF THE AUSTIN PARKS DEPARTMENT HAS MADE ME CONCERNED IN REGARDS TO THEIR TRANSPARENCY, PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY, AND THEIR OBLIGATION TO THE AUSTIN TAXPAYERS AND VOTERS.
MULTIPLE TIMES NOW, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT HAS PROPOSED PROJECTS FOR INCREASED SECURITY IN THEIR PARKS.
WHILE I AND MANY OTHERS SUPPORT SAFER PARKS.
IN THEORY, THE FORM THAT THIS INITIATIVE HAS TAKEN HAS BEEN SEEN AS PROBLEMATIC TO MANY.
BACK IN AUGUST, 2025, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT PROPOSED SPENDING MILLIONS ON THE RENTAL OF AI SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS.
THIS WAS PUT ON THE AGENDA FOR THE AAU AUGUST CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
MANY CITIZENS, MYSELF INCLUDED, WENT TO THE EFFORT TO REGISTER TO SPEAK ON THIS ISSUE.
THEN THE DAY BEFORE THE MEETING, THE ITEM WAS WITHDRAWN FROM THE AGENDA WITH NOTICE TO SPEAKERS THAT IT WAS EXPECTED TO BE BROUGHT BACK IN SEPTEMBER.
THEN IN SEPTEMBER, THE AGENDA DID NOT INCLUDE THAT ITEM.
MYSELF AND MANY OTHERS STILL WENT TO THE TROUBLE TO ATTEND THE MEETING TO MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD, BUT WERE TOLD WE WERE NOT ALLOWED TO SPEAK ON THIS ISSUE.
WHILE AI CAMERA EMPLOYEES DID SPEAK DURING THE PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS SECTION PROMOTING THEIR PRODUCT AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF CLEAR CIVIC DISAPPROVAL.
FAST FORWARD TO 2026 AND AGAIN, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT PROPOSES SPENDING MILLIONS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS ON AI CAMERAS THIS TIME WITH LIVE VIEW TECHNOLOGIES AS THE VENDOR.
AGAIN, MANY CITIZENS WITH STRONG OPPOSITION TO THIS GO TO THE EFFORT OF REGISTERING TO SPEAK.
AND AGAIN, THE DAY BEFORE THE MEETING YESTERDAY, WE ARE INFORMED THAT THE AGENDA ITEM HAS BEEN STRICKEN.
THIS REPEATED BEHAVIOR BY THE AUSTIN PARKS DEPARTMENT TO PRETEND TO SOLICIT PUBLIC COMMENT ONLY TO THEN PULL BACK AT THE LAST MINUTE, INDICATES A SEVERE LACK OF RESPECT FOR THE AUSTIN CITIZENRY AND THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS AS A CITIZEN, A TAXPAYER AND A VOTER.
I'M APPALLED THAT THIS BLATANT DISREGARD FOR THE CIVIC PROCESS AND THE DISRESPECT SHOWN TO US CITIZENS, THE AUSTIN PARKS DEPARTMENT'S REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO CIRCUMVENT THE CLEAR WILL OF THE CITIZENRY, DEMONSTRATES THEY'RE UNINTERESTED IN THE ACTUAL OUTCOMES OF THOSE WHO CLAIM THEY SERVE.
AND THOSE WHO TAX DOLLARS THEY WANTONLY SPEND, THEY SHOULD NOT BE REWARDED WITH MORE TAXPAYER MONEY.
MOVING TO ITEM 43, CARLOS LEON AND ENOVIA JOSEPH, WELCOME MR. LEON.
SO CARLOS LEON, FIRST AND FOREMOST, GRACIAS FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TO ITEM 43 UNDER T CAP METROS, A TEXAS TRANSIT AGENCY USING STATE HIGHWAYS WITHIN AUSTIN.
[00:20:01]
THOSE HIGHWAYS FOR SAFE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION REQUIRES REAL-TIME ROAD CONDITION INFORMATION, WHICH KAT METRO'S, SENIOR DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, DARRELL JAMEL IS EXPECTED TO PROVIDE.HOWEVER, JAMAL'S WORDS CANNOT BE TRUSTED BASED ON HIS WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS TO ME, FORWARDED TO YOU BY CITY CLERK BEFORE THIS MEETING.
JAMEL CLAIMS CAP METRO SERVICE IS A PRIVILEGE.
AND THAT TO END THE FRAUDULENT SUSPENSION HE ISSUED ME, I HAVE TO SIGN A FRAUDULENT AGREEMENT SAYING ANY CODE OF CONDUCT VIOLATION MAY RESULT IN MY INDEFINITE, MY INDEFINITE SUSPENSION FALSE CAP METRO DEFINED SUSPENSION AS REMOVING THE RIGHT TO USE CAP METRO TRANSIT SERVICES DUE TO VIOLATIONS OF CAP METRO'S CODE OF CONDUCT REPRESENTING A DIRECT THREAT, A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF SUBSTANTIAL HARM TO THE HEALTH OR SAFETY OF THE INDIVIDUAL OR OTHERS THAT CANNOT BE REDUCED OR ELIMINATED BY REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION.
CAB METRO PLAGIARIZED THAT DEFINITION WORD FOR WORD FROM A DA SECTION 1630 0.2 R.
THOUGH ADA'S DIRECT THREAT IS NOT TO DENY MASS TRANSIT SERVICE, BUT PREVENT WORKPLACE DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION.
THUS, BECAUSE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC USING CAT METRO ARE NOT DISABLED, CAT METRO EMPLOYEES, CAT METRO'S SUSPENSION POLICY MISAPPROPRIATE AADA A LANGUAGE TO MISAPPLY FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE INTENT OUT OF CONTEXT BECAUSE CAT METRO'S, CEO, AND PRESIDENT DOTTIE WATKINS APPROVED THAT SUSPENSION POLICY.
JAMELE AND WATKINS ALLEGEDLY CONSPIRED AGAINST MY RIGHT TO RIDE CAP METRO VIOLATING US.
CODE TITLE 18, SECTION 2 41, ALL DOCUMENTED IN MY UPCOMING REPORT TO A PD SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT, TO LAWFULLY HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.
COUNSEL HAVE NO FELLOWSHIP WITH THE UNFRUITFUL WORKS OF DARKNESS, BUT RATHER REPROVE THEM.
EPHESIANS CHAPTER FIVE, VERSE 11.
ON ITEM 44, CARLOS LEONE ANDIA JOSEPH.
SO CARLOS LEONE, FIRST AND FOREMOST, SPEAK TO ITEM 44.
SINCE YOUR LIBRARY COMMISSION CANCELED LAST MONTH'S MEETING, I'M TELLING YOU A'S DIRECTOR, SEARCH WAS FRAUDULENT BECAUSE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, HAYDEN HOWARD, AND CITY MANAGER BROAD ACTS, DID NOT ADHERE TO CITY JOB POSTING JR 10, 10 45, WHICH SAID, DEVELOPING, REVIEWING, AND APPROVING ALL LIBRARY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ARE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS FOR WHICH THE DIRECTOR CANDIDATE MUST POSSESS REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES, AND EXPERIENCES, AS WELL AS BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN AND DEMONSTRATE THAT HE OR SHE CAN PERFORM SAID FUNCTIONS.
THOUGH INTERIM DIRECTOR HANNAH TERRELL KNEW APLS LIBRARY USE RULES TWO B THREE 15, D ONE, AND 15 D TWO NEITHER COMPLIED WITH CITY SUPERSEDING RULES FOR PUBLIC USE OF CITY PROPERTIES NOR PARAMOUNT CONSTITUTIONAL LAW.
SHE DID NOT FOLLOW CITY CODE ONE DASH TWO TO REVISE APLS RULES.
THOUGH SHE HAD MORE THAN ONE YEAR TO DO SO.
THUS TERRELL NEITHER DEMONSTRATED SHE COULD PERFORM THOSE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS, NOR SHOWED SHE HAD THE REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILL, ABILITY, AND EXPERIENCE TO DO SO, MAKING HER INELIGIBLE FOR DIRECTOR.
THOUGH BROAD KN KNEW TERRELL LACKED THOSE BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR THE JOB, HE APPOINTED HER DIRECTOR OVER KATHY DONLIN, WHO WAS THE TOP CANDIDATE BASED ON MERIT, FITNESS AND EXPERIENCE.
IN HIS ANNOUNCEMENT, BROAD EXCLAIMED INTERIM DIRECTOR TERRELL QUOTE, POSITIONED A PL AS A NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL DESTINATION BULL CRAP.
FORMER DIRECTOR WEEKS ENJOYED THAT BECAUSE TIME MAGAZINE NAMED BRAND NEW CENTRAL LIBRARY, ONE OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST PLACES IN 2018, TERRELL DID NOT JOIN A PL UNTIL NOVEMBER, 2021.
HE THAT WALKETH UPRIGHTLY WALKETH SHIRLEY, BUT HE THAT PERVERTED HIS WAYS SHALL BE KNOWN.
PROVERBS CHAPTER 10, VERSE NINE.
SO IN CARLOS LEONE, FIRST AND FOREMOST GRAS FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TO ITEM 46.
THOUGH CITY IS DOING ITS PART TO SUPPORT AUSTIN SUNSHINE CAMPS, WE AUSTINITES CAN DO OURS BY GROCERY SHOPPING AT TOP SPONSOR HEB, BUT DO NOT BUY JENNY'S ICE CREAM BOYCOTT JENNY'S AND THEIR SHOPS IMMEDIATELY AND PERMANENTLY BECAUSE JENNY'S WRONGLY ISSUED A CEASE AND DISORDER OR A CEASE AND DESIST ORDER AGAINST ME FOR RIGHTLY WHISTLE BLOWING FEMINIST AND L-G-B-T-Q EMPLOYEES TARGETING ME, A STRAIGHT CHRISTIAN MAN WITH THEIR DISRESPECTFUL, UNPROFESSIONAL ASS, BACKWARDS, VERBAL AND PSYCH WARFARE ATTACKS VIOLATING THEIR OWN SAFE SPACE POLICY.
JENNY'S TWO PAGE LETTER AND MY 15 PAGE EVIDENCE-BASED RESPONSE SHOULD HAVE BEEN FORWARDED TO YOU, COUNSEL BY CITY CLERK BEFORE THIS MEETING, AND WILL SOON BE POSTED ON EDEMS FOR ONLINE PUBLIC ACCESS.
JENNY'S BLATANTLY MISNAMED ME AND MADE MULTIPLE FALSE STATEMENTS AND MISLEADING
[00:25:01]
REPRESENTATIONS AGAINST ME BECAUSE SEVERAL OF THEIR STATEMENTS APPEARED DEFAMATORY JENNY'S MAY BE HELD LIABLE FOR LIABLE PROTECT CIVIL PRACTICE AND REMEDIES CODE 73.001, JENNY'S WORDS AND ACTIONS APPEAR TO BE PART OF A LARGER MISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN ABOUT AND AGAINST ME ATTRIBUTING THE CONTENT OF SPURIOUS CLAIMS ONTO ME, TO INJURE MY REPUTATION AND THEREBY EXPOSE ME TO PUBLIC HATRED, CONTEMPT, OR RIDICULE OR FINANCIAL INJURY, OR TO IMPEACH MY HONESTY, INTEGRITY, VIRTUE OR REPUTATION LIKE CAT METRO'S DARRYL JAMELL, JENNY'S REPEATEDLY TRIED PROJECTING THEIR MISCONDUCT ONTO ME TO TRY BLAMING THE TARGET AND GASLIGHTING THE PUBLIC INTO ACCEPTING THEIR FALSE UPSIDE DOWN ANTI-REAL, OPPOSITE TRUE REALITY THAT DISHONEST, ABUSIVE, CONTROLLING SICKLE BEHAVIOR MUST BE DEFEATED AND ITS WORKS DESTROYED.A FALSE WITNESS SHALL NOT BE UNPUNISHED.
AND HE THAT SPEAKETH LIES SHALL NOT ESCAPE.
PROVERBS CHAPTER 19, VERSE FIVE.
THANK YOU, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
WE'LL NOW MOVE TO REMOTE SPEAKERS ON ITEM 47.
FIRST WE HAVE JEREMY HENDRICKS.
UH, GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M JEREMY HENDRICKS WITH THE LABORERS INTERNATIONAL UNION IN, UH, NORTH AMERICA AND THE CENTRAL TEXAS BUILDING TRADE.
I'M ALSO PRESIDENT OF THE WINDSOR HILLS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND I RESIDE IN DISTRICT FOUR.
I'M HERE IN STRONG SUPPORT OF COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL'S GREEN SOCIAL HOUSING POLICY.
BECAUSE AUSTIN CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP DOING HOUSING THE SAME WAY AND EXPECTING DIFFERENT RESULTS FOR TOO LONG.
WE'VE RELIED ALMOST ENTIRELY ON THE PRIVATE MARKET TO SOLVE OUR HOUSING CRISIS.
WHAT WE'VE GOTTEN INSTEAD ARE SKYROCKETING, SKYROCKETING RENT DISPLACEMENT IN ENTIRE COMMUNITIES, PUSHED FURTHER AND FURTHER FROM OPPORTUNITY.
GREEN SOCIAL HOUSING GIVES OFTEN A NEW NECESSARY TOOL, ONE ROOTED IN PUBLIC PURPOSE, LONG-TERM AFFORDABILITY, INSTABILITY.
THIS MODEL, WHICH HAS WORKED IN CITIES AROUND THE WORLD, ALLOWS THE CITY TO HELP CREATE PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE HOMES THAT ARE PROTECTED FROM SPECULATION AND REMAIN AFFORDABLE FOR GENERATIONS.
THAT MATTERS FOR THE PEOPLE WHO KEEP THIS CITY RUNNING.
TEACHERS FIRST RESPONDERS, CITY EMPLOYEES, AND FRONTLINE WORKERS WHO DESERVE TO LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY THEY SERVE.
THIS POLICY IS ALSO SMART CLIMATE POLICY BY CENTERING ENERGY EFFICIENT CONSTRUCTION, CLEAN ENERGY, AND TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT.
GREEN SOCIAL HOUSING HELPS US REDUCE EMISSIONS WHILE LOWERING LONG-TERM UTILITY COSTS FOR RESIDENTS.
JOBS AND SERVICES ISN'T JUST ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE, IT'S HOW WE REDUCE TRAFFIC, CUT COTS FOR FAMILIES AND CREATE A HEALTHIER, MORE CONNECTED NEIGHBORHOODS.
WHAT I, WHAT I APPRECIATE MOST ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL IS THAT IT RECOGNIZES A SIMPLE TRUTH.
HOUSING IS INFRASTRUCTURE JUST LIKE ROADS, PARKS, WATER, AND SCHOOLS.
IT REQUIRES LONG-TERM PUBLIC PLANNING AND PUBLIC LEADERSHIP.
GREEN SOCIAL HOUSING DOESN'T REPLACE OUR EXISTING TOOLS.
IT STRENGTHENS THEM AND HELPS ENSURE AFFORDABILITY DOESN'T DISAPPEAR.
THE MOMENT THE MARKET HEATS UP AGAIN, OFTEN PRIDES ITSELF ON BEING INNOVATIVE AND VALUES DRIVEN.
SUPPORTING THIS ITEM IS A CHANCE TO LIVE UP TO THOSE VALUES, TO SAY THAT WE BELIEVE IN BUILDING A CITY THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE.
I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THIS POLICY AND TAKE A MEANINGFUL STEP TOWARD A MORE AFFORDABLE, SUSTAINABLE, AND INCLUSIVE.
AUSTIN, THANK YOU AND HAVE A GREAT DAY.
THANK YOU, MR. HENDRICKS SPEAKING REMOTELY ON ITEM 47, REESE ARMSTRONG.
NEXT ON ITEM 47, SPEAKING REMOTELY IS HAILEY CAMPBELL.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE AND I'M CALLING IN STRONG SUPPORTIVE ITEM 47, UH, WHICH IS TO, UM, DO A STUDY ON THE, UH, POSSIBILITY OF IMPLEMENTING GREEN SOCIAL HOUSING HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
UM, ONE THING THAT I LOVE ABOUT LIVING IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS I THINK THAT WE CAN KIND OF BLOCK OVER THE GREEN PART BECAUSE WE'RE A CITY THAT CARES DEEPLY ABOUT OUR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT.
WE ALL KNOW WHAT GREEN BUILDINGS LOOK LIKE.
THEY'RE BUILT WITH ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY MATERIALS, AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE WITHIN THE BUILDINGS IS DESIGNED TO MAXIMIZE RESOURCE EFFICIENCY, BOTH FOR THE RESIDENTS THEMSELVES TO HELP THEM SAVE ON UTILITY BILLS, WHICH IS FANTASTIC, AND ALSO FOR THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF ALL OF THE FOLKS WITHIN OPTUM.
I'M DEEPLY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS PROGRAM AND THE STUDY TO CREATE GREEN SOCIAL HOUSING BECAUSE OF THE INCOME DISPARITIES THAT I SEE WITHIN MY OWN NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THE PREVIOUS APPROACHES THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS TAKEN TO ADDRESS HOUSING INEQUALITY SIMPLY HAVEN'T PRODUCED THE RESULTS THAT I AS A RESIDENT WOULD LIKE TO SEE WITHIN MY OWN NEIGHBORHOOD.
MY HOME IS, I MEAN, I WOULD DESCRIBE IT AS LAVISH.
WE LIVE A VERY SAFE, COMFORTABLE, HAPPY LIFE WITH GREAT DIGNITY.
AND WITHIN A FIVE MINUTE WALK OF MY HOME, THERE ARE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS.
[00:30:01]
UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS AND I BELIEVE THAT GREEN SOCIAL HOUSING IS THE LOGICAL NEXT STEP, THE NEXT THING TO TRY IN ORDER TO HELP ADDRESS THE DIGNITY AND, UH, THE CARE THAT I WANTED OUR CITY TO EXTEND TO OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS.IT ALSO MAKES GOOD FINANCIAL SENSE THAT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
AS AN ADDITIONAL ANECDOTE, A STUDY WAS RECENTLY, UH, PRODUCED THAT I READ ABOUT ON NPR, ABOUT THE HOPE SIX PROGRAM.
THIS PROGRAM CREATED, UH, A LARGE NUMBER OF MIXED YOUTH HOUSING COMPLEXES.
AND WHAT THE STUDY PRODUCED WAS THAT IF CHILDREN ARE RAISED IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE LOWER INCOME CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS AND EXPOSURE TO, UH, CHILDREN OF OTHER MIXED INCOME LEVELS AS THEY GROW THEIR ULTIMATE EARNINGS POTENTIAL AS ADULTS, UH, IS EXPONENTIALLY GREATER THAN CHILDREN WHO, UH, LIVE IN ENVIRONMENTS WHERE THEY ARE ONLY EXPOSED TO FOLKS AT THEIR SAME INCOME LEVEL IF THEIR FAMILIES ARE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED.
SO THIS IS ANOTHER HIDDEN BENEFIT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, HOUSING PROGRAM.
NEXT WE'LL MOVE TO IN-PERSON SPEAKERS ON ITEM 47, BRIGHTON SUMMERS, RICH HAMAN, DANIELLA SILVA.
COLE WEAVER, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND BEGIN SPEAKING.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M BRIAN SUMMERS, PRESIDENT OF ASME LOCAL 1624.
WE'RE THE UNION FOR CITY OF AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY EMPLOYEES.
I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL'S OFFICE FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD.
I ALSO WANNA THANK MAYOR PRO TEM VELA, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER VELASQUEZ AND FUENTES.
UM, AFFORDABILITY IS A KEY ISSUE FOR OUR MEMBERS.
AS I'M SURE SOME OF YOU KNOW, WE HAVE QUITE A FEW MEMBERS THAT ARE NOT ABLE TO LIVE WITHIN THE CITY, UM, WHETHER IT'S OUR CITY OF AUSTIN MEMBERS OR OUR TRAVIS COUNTY MEMBERS.
AND SO THAT IS A REAL CHALLENGE FOR FOLKS TO SERVE THESE COMMUNITIES BUT NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO LIVE IN THEM.
UM, AND THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN SO IMPORTANT TO US THAT OUR UNION HAS CREATED A WORKFORCE HOUSING COMMITTEE WITHIN OURSELVES TO EXPLORE WHAT CAN BE DONE TO PROMOTE GREATER AFFORDABILITY FOR OUR MEMBERS.
UM, AND I THINK THAT WHAT WE HAVE FOUND IS THAT WE NEED STABILITY FOR OUR MEMBERS TO KNOW THAT HOUSING PRICES ARE GONNA REMAIN STABLE AND SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY ACHIEVE, EITHER IF THEY'RE LOOKING TO BUY OR IF THEY'RE LOOKING TO RENT, BUT HOW CAN THEY GET HERE? AND SO WE APPRECIATE THIS EFFORT TO BRING STABILITY TODAY.
I THINK WHEN FACED WITH A TOUGH CHALLENGE, IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO TAKE IN ALL OF THE ALL, ALL OF THE ABOVE APPROACH, RIGHT? AND THAT'S WHAT I SEE THIS AS.
UH, IT'S REPRESENTING ONE TOOL IN THE AFFORDABILITY TOOLKIT, JUST IN THE SAME WAY THAT CITY COUNCIL HAS LOOKED AT ZONING AND CODE CHANGES AND PERMITTING CHANGES, UH, AND REALLY BEEN OPEN TO EXPLORING WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO TACKLE AFFORDABILITY.
I SEE THIS AS ANOTHER STEP IN THAT PROCESS.
UH, WE ALSO APPRECIATE THE INCLUSION OF THE BETTER BUILDER PROGRAM.
WE KNOW THAT THAT'S IMPORTANT TO OUR GREATER LABOR COMMUNITY.
WE KNOW IT'S IMPORTANT TO THE WORKERS THAT WOULD BE ON THESE PROJECTS AND ENSURING THAT THEY WOULD ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO LIVE IN THE PLACES THAT THEY HAVE HELPED CREATE.
SO WE ARE, UH, VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEE THE PROGRESS ON IT, UH, AFTER TODAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
UH, MY NAME IS DANIELLA SILVA.
I'M THE AUSTIN POLICY COORDINATOR AT WORKERS' DEFENSE ACTION FUND.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL'S OFFICE FOR PUTTING FORTH THIS ITEM AS WELL AS MAYOR PRO TE VELA, COUNCIL MEMBERS FUENTES VELAZQUEZ AND ALTAR FOR CO-SPONSORING AS AN ORGANIZATION REPRESENTING MEMBERS OF THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY WHO ARE OFTEN THE ONES BUILDING HOUSING THEY WILL NEVER AFFORD TO LIVE IN.
WE ARE PARTICULARLY EXCITED ABOUT THE PERMANENT AFFORDABLE UNITS THAT WILL BE INTEGRAL TO THESE FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS.
PROVIDING ABUNDANT WORKFORCE HOUSING IS ONE OF THE MANY TOOLS THAT CAN BE USED TO BRING MORE EQUITY AND PARITY INTO OUR CITY.
AND I'M GLAD TO SEE OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES WIELDING THIS TOOL IN A WAY THAT ALSO PRIORITIZES ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY FROM LOWERING UTILITY COSTS TO IMPROVING AIR AND WATER QUALITY, IT IS WONDERFUL TO SEE PLANS FOR HOUSING THAT BENEFIT FROM SUSTAINABILITY MEASURES BE MADE AVAILABLE WITHOUT HAVING TO SACRIFICE AFFORDABILITY.
WORKING CLASS AUSTINITES DESERVE DIGNIFIED AND SAFE PLACES TO LIVE JUST AS MUCH AS THEY DESERVE DIGNIFIED AND SAFE PLACES TO WORK.
IT IS OUR DEMAND FOR THIS SAFETY AND DIGNITY AT WORKPLACES AND JOB SITES THAT MAKES US PARTICULARLY PROUD TO SEE THE INCLUSION OF THE BETTER BUILDER PROGRAM IN THIS RESOLUTION.
BETTER BUILDER STANDARDS ENSURE THAT WORKERS ARE EARNING WAGES THEY DESERVE, HAVE THE SAFETY PRO PROTECTIONS THEY'RE OWED, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, CAN TRUST THAT BOSSES ARE BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE THROUGH THE RIGOROUS, INDEPENDENT THIRD PARTY MONITORING THAT IS SO UNIQUE TO THE PROGRAM.
I WANT TO THANK EACH OF YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO FINDING CREATIVE AND SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS TO THE HOUSING CHALLENGES.
SO MANY OF US AUSTINITES FACE AND LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING WITH YOU ALL SO YOU CAN HEAR FIRSTHAND ACCOUNTS OF THE VISION OUR MEMBERS HAVE FOR THE TYPES OF HOUSING THEY'D LIKE THEIR FAMILIES TO LIVE IN.
UM, MY NAME IS COLE WEAVER AND I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF UNITED WORKERS OF INTEGRA CARE.
[00:35:01]
UM, AS WORKERS PROVIDING COMMUNITY-BASED MENTAL HEALTH AND IDD SERVICES, ONE OF OUR ONGOING PRIORITIES IS SUPPORTING CLIENTS WITH HOUSING NEEDS, ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO THEIR MENTAL HEALTH AND OR DISABILITIES.WE HAVE AND ALWAYS WILL REITERATE THAT STABLE AND SAFE HOUSING IS A FUNDAMENTAL COMPONENT OF RECOVERY.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE VERY FEW OPTIONS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN AUSTIN, ESPECIALLY FOR MANY OF OUR CLIENTS UNABLE TO WORK AND LIVING OFF FIXED INCOMES OF THE PROPERTIES THAT DO EXIST.
OH, THE AFFORDABLE PARTY PROPERTIES THAT DO EXIST OR ACCEPT VOUCHERS FOR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, MANY OF THEM LACK PROTECTIONS FOR TENANT RIGHTS OR ARE UNACCOMMODATING TO THOSE WITH PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE DISABILITIES OR MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS.
EXAMPLES OF HOW THIS AFFECTS OUR CLIENTS INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO FAILING TO MEET RIGID AND ABLEIST REQUIREMENTS TO PASS INSPECTIONS.
HAVING NEEDS UNHEARD BY LANDLORDS BECAUSE OF STIGMA OR BEING FORCIBLY EVICTED BECAUSE OF HAVING ONE DAY BAD DAY WITH MENTAL HEALTH SYMPTOMS. THIS IS WHY OUR CLIENTS ARE IN NEED OF SOCIAL RESOURCES LIKE SOCIAL HOUSING.
BY BEING UNDER COMMUNITY CONTROL AND HAVING TENANT SECURITY HOUSING CAN BE MADE TO ENSURE ACCESSIBILITY FOR A WIDE VARIETY OF NEEDS, ESPECIALLY MENTAL HEALTH AND IDD.
ALSO, BY FORCING PERMANENT AFFORDABILITY AND BEING SOCIALLY OWNED, OUR CLIENTS CAN BE GUARANTEED A PATH TO RECOVERY THROUGH SAFE AND AND STABLE HOUSING.
WE'RE GONNA MOVE BACK TO REMOTE SPEAKERS.
WE WERE ABLE TO GET REESE ARMSTRONG BACK ON THE LINE.
SO ON ITEM 47, REESE, PLEASE UNMUTE.
HELLO? CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, YOU CAN.
YOU HEAR ME OKAY? YES, WE CAN.
I AM REESE ARMSTRONG, THE CO-CHAIR OF THE MCCALLUM DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST OF AMERICA, AND THE CANDIDATE FOR TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER PRECINCT TWO.
BUT I'M SPEAKING IN MY PERSONAL CAPACITY.
UH, I REALLY WANNA COMMEND COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL FOR PUTTING FORTH THIS MOTION.
UM, I BELIEVE IT'S CRUCIALLY IMPORTANT TO BUILD OUT A STOCK OF PUBLIC SOCIAL HOUSING IN ORDER TO ANCHOR THE MARKET TO A LOWER PRICE AND INCREASE STANDARDS FOR TENANT RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS, UH, IN THAT LOWER END OF THE AFFORDABILITY, UM, MARKET FOR HOUSING.
I ALSO WANT, YOU KNOW, IF WE BELIEVE HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT, WE HAVE TO START ACTING LIKE IT AND
SO, UM, YEAH, I JUST WANT TO, I JUST WANNA URGE, UH, EVERYONE ON COUNCIL TO VOTE YES FOR THIS.
MOVING BACK TO IN-PERSON SPEAKERS, ANN MORRIS, RYAN P*****K, JOSEPH HERNANDEZ, JEN ROBO JAY J POPHAM.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND BEGIN SPEAKING WHOEVER WANTS TO TAKE, TAKE OFF.
JUST SAY, MY NAME IS JOSEPH BIG JORDAN HERNANDEZ.
I'M A JOURNEYMAN LI LICENSED JOURNEYMAN ELECTRICIAN AND AN ORGANIZER FOR THE INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICAL WORKERS LOCAL UNION FIVE 20.
I'M A NATIVE AUSTINITE, BORN IN BRACKENRIDGE HOSPITAL AND RAISED IN DO SPRINGS.
I'M A PART OF THE WORKING CLASS THAT IS BUILT THIS CITY, AND THAT'S CONTINUING TO DO SO TO THIS DAY, AT 34 YEARS OF AGE, CURRENTLY, I DIDN'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUY A HOME ONCE I CAME INTO MY LICENSE BEFORE THE BOOM, I SHOULD SAY NOT WISHING TO LEAVE THIS CITY.
I RECRUIT MEMBERS WHO, WHO LIVE, BUILD, CONTINUE TO BUILD THIS CITY, BUT CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE IN IT.
APPRENTICES, YOUNG APPRENTICES STARTING OFF AT ANYWHERE FROM 16 TO $20 AN HOUR, YET HAVE A TWO, ANYWHERE FROM A TWO TO FOUR HOUR AVERAGE DAILY COMMUTE TO BUILD A CITY THAT THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE IN.
SO WITH, I STAND STRONGLY IN SUPPORT OF THIS, OF THIS, UM, OF THIS MOTION RIGHT HERE.
AND I ASK FOR COUNCIL'S CONTINUED SUPPORT IN SUPPORTING THE CITIZENS THAT BUILD THIS CITY EVERY DAY.
GOOD MORNING, AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
I'M JEN ROBOSHO, A DISTRICT TWO RESIDENT.
I'M SPEAKING AGAINST ITEM 47, THE RESOLUTION DECREE GREEN SOCIAL HOUSING POLICY.
WHILE WE ALL WANT MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THIS PROPOSAL TAKES THE WRONG PATH FOR AUSTIN.
THE RESOLUTION SAYS THE PRIVATE MARKET HAS FAILED, BUT THE REAL PROBLEM IS THAT GOVERNMENT RULES, ESPECIALLY HIGH FEES AND COMPLICATED PERMITTING, MAKES IT VERY EXPENSIVE TO BUILD HERE.
THE HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF GREATER AUSTIN FOUND THAT THESE FEES ADD TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO EVERY NEW HOME OR APARTMENT THAT COSTS GET PASSED, GETS PASSED STRAIGHT TO RENTERS AND BUYERS BEFORE THE CITY STARTS A HUGE NEW HOUSING
[00:40:01]
PROGRAM.IT SHOULD LOOK FIRST AT ITS OWN RULES AND CUT THE BARRIERS THAT ARE DRIVING PRICES UP.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY'S MODEL ISN'T RIGHT FOR AUSTIN.
THEY SAY A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS CREATES 1500 UNITS, BUT THE REAL COST PER UNIT IS FAR HIGHER.
ADDING PUBLIC BANKING OR LAND BANKING BRINGS SERIOUS RISKS.
POLITICAL DECISIONS CAN OVERRIDE GOOD ECONOMICS, COSTS CAN SPIRAL AND TAXPAYERS END UP COVERING LOSSES.
THE BIGGER ISSUE IS THIS KIND OF APPROACH TENDS TO FAVOR LARGE WELL-CONNECTED COMPANIES AND ADDS MORE LAYERS OF BUREAUCRACY.
IT MAKES IT HARDER FOR SMALLER BUSINESSES AND INNOVATORS TO COMPETE THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT AUSTIN NEEDS.
AUSTIN THRIVES ON PRIVATE INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP.
HEAVY GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP ISN'T THE PATH FORWARD HERE.
BEFORE WE CREATE NEW GOVERNMENT RUN HOUSING SYSTEMS THAT WILL COST MORE MONEY AND COMPLICATE EVERYTHING FOR EVERYONE, WE SHOULD USE AN EFFICIENCY AND AFFORDABILITY AUDIT TO EXAMINE HOW THE CITY'S OWN FEES, RULES, AND PROCESSES ARE MAKING HOUSING LESS AFFORDABLE.
WE CAN'T TAX OUR WAY TO AFFORDABILITY.
WE CAN'T SPEND OUR WAY TO AFFORDABILITY.
I URGE COUNSEL TO REJECT THIS RESOLUTION AND VOTE NO ON THIS ITEM.
THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT POLICY FOR AUSTIN.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS RYAN P*****K AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND SECRETARY TREASURER OF THE TEXAS STATE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION TRADES COUNCIL.
I'VE CALLED AUSTIN HOME FOR THE LAST 19 YEARS, CURRENTLY IN DISTRICT NINE.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 47.
AUSTIN'S WORKFORCE IS BEING PRICED FARTHER AND FARTHER FROM THE JOBS THAT KEEP THIS CITY RUNNING.
WHEN MORE THAN HALF OF RENTERS ARE COST BURDEN, THE STATUS QUO IS NOT WORKING FOR NOT FOR WORKING FAMILIES AND NOT FOR AUSTIN'S LONG-TERM ECONOMIC HEALTH.
THIS RESOLUTION CREATES A PRACTICAL PATHWAY FOR THE CITY TO EXPAND MIXED INCOME HOUSING SUPPLY IN A WAY THAT IS COMMUNITY DRIVEN, PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE, AND RESILIENT THROUGH MARKET CYCLES.
WE SUPPORT THIS EFFORT BECAUSE IT ALIGNS WITH WHAT WE HEAR FROM OUR MEMBERS REGULARLY WORKING.
PEOPLE NEED STABLE ATTAINABLE HOUSING WHERE THE WORK AND TRAINING IS.
THE CITY CAN PLAY A CONSTRUCTIVE ROLE HERE BY LEVERAGING PUBLIC LAND, PUBLIC FINANCING TOOLS, AND PARTNERSHIPS TO DELIVER MIXED INCOME HOUSING AT SCALE.
A REVOLVING HOUSING PRODUCTION FUND IS A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE MODEL THAT CAN PRODUCE HOUSING WHILE REPLENISHING PUBLIC DOLLARS FOR FUTURE PROJECTS.
AND BY INCORPORATING GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS, WE CAN LOWER HOUSING UTILITY BILLS, IMPROVE INDOOR AIR QUALITY AND ADVANCE AUSTIN'S CLIMATE AND WATER GOALS ALL AT THE SAME TIME.
BUT I WANT TO EMPHASIZE WHAT MATTERS MOST TO OUR MEMBERS.
PUBLIC PROJECT SHOULD UPHOLD AUSTIN'S STANDARDS FOR WORKERS.
THAT MEANS STRONG SAFETY PROTECTIONS, PREVAILING WAGE STANDARDS, AND APPRENTICESHIP UTILIZATION SO THAT THE HOUSING BUILT FOR WORKING PEOPLE IS ALSO BUILT BY WELL-TRAINED WORKERS EARNING FAMILY SUPPORTING WAGES.
THIS FRAMEWORK SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE DEVELOPED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING BUILDING TRADES AND LABOR UNIONS, AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVOCATES, TENANT ORGANIZATIONS AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS.
THAT COLLABORATION WILL BE ESSENTIAL TO DELIVERING PROJECTS THAT ARE HIGH QUALITY, COST-EFFECTIVE, AND DURABLE FOR DECADES.
THESE REASONS WE RESPECTFULLY URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION AND DIRECT STAFF TO DELIVER A COMPREHENSIVE GREEN SOCIAL HOUSING POLICY THAT IS EFFECT THAT IS FINANCIALLY SUSTAINABLE.
CONTINUE ON ITEM 47, BRIAN WELDON, MISAEL RAMOS.
JASON HASKINS, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND BEGIN SPEAKING.
GOOD MORNING, HONOR HONORABLE MAYOR, UH, ESTEEMED COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS BRIAN WELDON, UH, MEMBER OF ASME 1624, UH, AUSTIN NATIVE, UH, LONGTIME RESIDENT OF DISTRICT THREE.
UM, I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF COUNCILMAN SIEGEL'S, UH, GREEN SOCIAL HOUSING POLICY.
IT STARTS WITH A VERY SIMPLE THING.
UH, THE PEOPLE WHO KEEP THE CITY RUNNING AND THE PEOPLE WHO BUILD IT, INDEED, ALL WORKING CLASS PEOPLE, THEY DESERVE TO LIVE WHERE THEY WORK.
OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, MANY OF OUR MEMBERSHIP AND EVERYDAY AUSTINITES HAVE BEEN PUSHED OUT TO COMMUNITIES OUTSIDE OF THE CITY DUE TO HIGH PRICES.
UH, DESPITE WORKING IN AUSTIN, MANY OF MY COWORKERS INDEED, UM, THEY COMMUTE FROM SIN MARCUS FROM GERALD.
MORE THAN HALF OF AUSTIN RENTERS ARE RENT BURDENED.
FOR THOSE OF YOU KEEPING SCORE AT HOME, THAT'S DEFINED AS PAYING MORE THAN, UH, 30% OF YOUR MONTHLY INCOME ON RENT.
AND AN INTERNAL STUDY OF, UH, AME MEMBERSHIP THAT WE CONDUCTED LAST YEAR FOUND THAT MORE THAN 66% OF OUR MEMBERSHIP WHO MAKE LESS THAN $110,000 A YEAR ARE ALSO RENT BURDENED.
BY PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THE CITY CAN ACTUALLY RESIDE IN THE CITY THAT THEY BUILD AND RUN.
DEMOCRATIZING HOUSING IS IN LINE WITH UNION VALUES.
JUST AS WE PUSH FOR DEMOCRACY IN THE WORKPLACE, UH, VIA LABOR ORGANIZING, WE SUPPORT THE DEMOCRATIZATION OF HOUSING VIA THIS PROGRAM.
[00:45:01]
BUILT WITH THE GREEN SOCIAL HOUSING FRAMEWORK WILL PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR CITY TO BE A MODEL FOR DEMOCRATIC HOUSING PRACTICES SUCH AS TENANT REPRESENTATION AND RENTER PROTECTIONS, WHILE ALSO BUILDING TRUST WITHIN THE COMMUNITY BY MATERIALLY DEMONSTRATING OUR SUPPORT FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.THESE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS MUST ALSO BE BUILT IN COLLABORATION WITH PEARL LABOR PROGRAMS AND ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE WORKER DEFENSE PROJECTS, BETTER BUILDER PROGRAM, THE AUSTIN INFRASTRUCTURE ACADEMY, AND WITH APPRENTICESHIP RA RATIOS CONSISTENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR.
HOW ARE YOU DOING? MY NAME IS MESSIAH RAMOS AND I'M HERE REPRESENTING DISTRICT RUN AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER.
FIRST, I WANNA SAY I WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT SOCIAL HOUSING AND AM IN FAVOR OF THIS RESOLUTION, MAKING PUBLICLY OWNED HOUSING ACCESSIBLE TO AUSTINITES OF ALL INCOMES AND DOING IT IN SUCH A WAY THAT MAKES HOUSING TRULY AFFORDABLE FOR RESIDENTS MOST IMPACTED SHOULD BE APPLAUDED.
D ONE HAS BEEN GROUND ZERO FOR GENTRIFICATION AND DISPLACEMENT.
WE'VE SEEN NEIGHBORS PUSHED OUT OF THEIR COMMUNITIES.
AND WHEN I THINK OF THE POSSIBILITIES OF SOCIAL HOUSING, I SEE THESE COMMUNITY MEMBERS BEING AT THE CENTER OF AUSTIN'S SOCIAL HOUSING MODEL.
I SEE A CITY WHERE WE BUILD AFFORDABLE UNITS FOR WORKING CLASS FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS.
AND IF DONE RIGHT, THESE GOALS CAN COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER.
THE FUNDAMENTAL PURPOSE OF SOCIAL HOUSING IS TO PROVIDE THE ABILITY TO CROSS-SUBSIDIZE RENTS FROM HOUSEHOLDS WITH MODERATE INCOMES.
WHEN I WAS CHAIR AT BCDC, WE IMPLEMENTED A SOCIAL HOUSING MODEL ON A SMALLER SCALE.
WE WERE ABLE TO SUPPORT OUR TENANTS WITH THE LOWEST INCOMES WHILE PROVIDING HOUSING FOR FOLKS ON THE HIGHER END, AS SOME OF WHICH ACTUALLY WORKED HERE FOR THE CITY.
AND IF DONE RIGHT, THESE SOCIAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS WILL PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR CITY WORKERS TO MOVE CLOSER TO THEIR PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT AND ALLOW THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN PUSHED OUT OR DISPLACED DUE TO AFFORDABILITY CONSTRAINTS TO RETURN.
THIS RESOLUTION IS A GREAT OPENING FOR SOCIAL HOUSING IN AUSTIN, AND WE SHOULD CONTINUE EXPLORING WAYS TO GET TOWARDS DEEPER MFIS AT ZERO TO 30% DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
I AM COMPELLED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT BLACK RESIDENTS ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY UNHOUSED COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND MANY OF THEM ARE AUSTIN NATIVES.
WHEN WE DECIDE TO NOT PRIORITIZE HOUSEHOLDS MAKING ZERO TO 30% MFI, WE ARE ALSO DECIDING TO NOT PRIORITIZE BLACK PEOPLE.
AGAIN, I SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION IN SOCIAL HOUSING AND WE CAN ENTER CENTER THE MOST IN NEED BY ENSURING OUR SOCIAL HOUSING RESOLUTION INCORPORATES THE PRIORITIES PUSHED BY VOCAL TEXAS DSA AND COMMUNITY POWERED A TX.
JASON JOHN PAUL HASKINS, AND I AM A MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE FOR AUSTIN HOUSING COALITION.
UM, AND I APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE FOR TRYING TO ADD SOME NUANCE TO CONVERSATION IN CITY HALL.
I KNOW THAT'S NOT ALWAYS WELCOME.
UH, I JUST WANTED TO COME AND CLARIFY AUSTIN HOUSING COALITION'S CURRENT POSITION ON THE RESOLUTION TODAY BECAUSE WE HEARD LAST EVENING THAT, UM, SOME OTHER ORGANIZATIONS WERE, UM, HEARING FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WE WERE SUPPORTING IT.
UH, AND OUR POSITION IS UNCHANGED FROM OUR, THE LETTER THAT WE SENT OUT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO THAT SAID WE ARE VERY, UM, EXCITED ABOUT THE CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE SO FAR.
THE CURRENT VERSION IS A, IS A SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN QUAL AND CLARIFYING THE INTENT FOR THIS TO BE A STUDY AND NOT, AND A, A PROGRAM IN, YOU KNOW, IMMEDIATELY, UM, IMPLEMENTING A PROGRAM.
AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS OVER THE LAST WEEK TO REACH OUT TO LOCAL EXPERTS AND MORE STAKEHOLDERS.
UH, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO, UM, THAT ONGOING DURING THIS STUDY THROUGH A REAL ROBUST, UH, STAKEHOLDER PROCESS.
UM, THAT SAID, THERE'S A FEW THINGS THAT STILL, UH, ARE, ARE POINTS OF CONCERN ABOUT WHAT'S ACTUALLY BEING DIRECTED TO STAFF AND WHAT THAT WILL DO TO THEIR WORKLOAD.
UM, AND ASSURANCES THAT THIS WILL NOT NEGATIVELY INFA IMPACT THE GOOD WORK THAT WE ARE DOING IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, UH, GOING FORWARD.
UH, BUT WE TRUST THAT THESE CAN BE WORKED THROUGH, UH, AS WE SAID IN A STAKEHOLDER PROCESS.
NOW, IF I CAN TAKE OFF MY OFFICIAL HAT AND JUST SPEAK PERSONALLY, UM, I DO, I DO PERSONALLY THINK THERE IS A GREATER, UH, OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC OPTIONS AND SOCIAL HOUSING IN THE SPACE OVERALL, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE BALANCED, UH, TO BE MEETING NEEDS THAT, THAT THE EXISTING SYSTEMS ARE NOT, ARE NOT MEETING.
AND AS SOMEONE RECOGNIZED BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN AS A NET ZERO HERO FOR MY WORK IN AFFORDABLE SUSTAINABLE HOUSING, AND ONE OF THE ONLY FOLKS WHO HAS DONE THE BETTER BUILDING, UH, PROGRAM AS A MULTIFAMILY PROVIDER, UH, WE DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE A SUSTAINABILITY PROBLEM IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
15% OF ALL MULTIFAMILY PROJECTS ARE A A GB RATED IN THE LAST 10 YEARS, 67% OF PROJECTS WITH AN AFFORDABLE COMPONENT ARE.
SO WE ARE DOING WELL AND WE JUST NEED TO KEEP GOING.
WE HAD A REMOTE SPEAKER JOIN ON ITEM 47.
[00:50:01]
PROAM, COUNCIL MEMBER, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY.MY NAME IS VE HAR AND I SERVE AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HOUSING WORKS AUSTIN.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO REACH OUT TODAY ON ITEM 47 AND, UM, HANK COUNCIL MEMBER SEGAL AND HIS CO-SPONSORS FOR POSTPONING THIS ITEM PREVIOUSLY AND ACCEPTING OUR RECOMMENDATIONS.
WHEN WE INITIALLY STARTED THIS DISCUSSION, UM, WITH THE CO-SPONSORS IN COUNCIL MEMBER OFFICE, I THINK THERE WAS A LOT OF, UM, FOCUS ON LOOKING AT HOUSING SERVING RENTERS WHO MAKE BETWEEN 80,000 TO A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
SO REALLY I THINK FOLKS WHO FALL WITHIN THE MODERATE TO HIGHER INCOME CATEGORIES, PARTICULARLY FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN, WE ARE REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THAT IN THE LATEST DRAFT THERE IS THE REAL FOCUS ON LOW INCOME HOUSING REQUIREMENTS SERVING THOSE BELOW 50% MEDIUM FAMILY INCOME AND LOWER.
AND OF COURSE, FROM A, OUR PERSPECTIVE AS HOUSING ADVOCATES, WE REALLY WANT TO SEE PARTICULARLY WHERE CITY RESOURCES AND FUNDING ARE BEING EXPENDED, THAT WE ARE TRULY FOCUSED ON PROVIDING HOUSING TO THOSE MOST IN NEED, THOSE CRITICAL WORKERS WHO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY MOVE FORWARD AND FRANKLY OFTEN ARE EARNING BELOW THAT 50% MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME.
SO WE'RE EXCITED TO SEE THAT THAT HAS BEEN ADDED IN HERE.
WE'RE ALSO EXCITED TO SEE THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBER AND HIS CO-SPONSORS TOOK RECOMMENDATIONS FROM US ADDRESSING ISSUES AROUND FEES, ENSURING THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT, UH, HOUSING RENTS WERE BASED ON ESSENTIALLY A 30% FORMULA.
SO ENSURING THAT IT IS TRULY AFFORDABLE TO THOSE HOUSEHOLDS LIVING WITHIN THEM.
AND THEN ALSO ENSURING THAT THERE'S NO DISCRIMINATION IN HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAMS. WE'RE ALSO EXCITED TO SEE MORE CLARIFICATION IN HOW THIS CAN BE A TRUE EXPLORATION WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND HOW WE CAN WORK WITH CITY STAFF AND OTHERS WHO REALLY MOVE THIS CONVERSATION FORWARD ALONG WITH ENSURING THAT THIS WORKS, UM, IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR OTHER PROGRAMS AND LOOKING AT THE AMAZING WORK THAT CITY HAS DONE ON EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAMS. HOW DO WE MOVE ALL OF THIS FORWARD TOGETHER WHILE THIS PROCESS, UH, HAS BEEN FR WITH CHALLENGES AND COMMUNICATION.
ITEM 47, SUSAN SPATARO, ENOVIA, JOSEPH, PETER KIM AND BEN SOTHEBY, UNLESS THAT'S A PHONE CALL FOR MONEY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SUSAN RO I LIVE IN DISTRICT EIGHT AND I'M NOT REALLY IN GENERAL AGAINST THIS PROJECT, BUT I'M THINKING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED WITH PROP Q I'M THINKING OF WHAT PEOPLE SAID DURING THAT AND WHAT THEY'RE EXPECTING.
AND SO I HOPE THAT AS YOU'RE LOOKING AT BIG PROJECTS, THAT YOU'RE TAKING THOSE LESSONS AND APPLYING THEM, YOU KNOW, ACCOUNTANTS CALL TAXES INVOLUNTARY TAKING, AND, AND I THINK IT'S GOOD TO KEEP THAT IN YOUR HEAD BECAUSE AS USUAL, PEOPLE WHO ARE DOWN HERE TESTIFYING NORMALLY BENEFIT OR GET MONEY, BUT THAT MONEY DOESN'T COME FROM NOWHERE.
IT COMES FROM SOMEONE AND MOST OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE WORKING, THEY CAN'T COME DOWN HERE AND THEY VOTED NO ON PROP Q.
SO I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT AS, AS YOU'RE LOOKING AT THIS, FOR INSTANCE, UM, THERE NEEDS TO BE FISCAL NOTES IN THESE KINDS OF STUDIES.
FOR INSTANCE, WHEN THE GOVERNMENT TAKES OVER PRIVATE LAND, THERE'S A FISCAL NOTE TO THAT BECAUSE IT'S NOT GONNA GENERATE PROPERTY TAXES ANYMORE.
SO I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A FISCAL NOTE IF IN FACT YOU NEED LARGE INFRASTRUCTURE INCREASES.
THERE NEEDS TO BE A FISCAL NOTE.
OF COURSE IT'S NOT PERFECT, BUT THAT HAS TO BE LOOKED AT AND I DON'T THINK IT IS.
THE OTHER THING THAT PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT MANY PEOPLE DURING, DURING PROP Q WAS, HOW MUCH IS THE CITY SPENDING ON THESE HOTELS AND HOUSING, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.
AND I THINK IT'S A FAIR QUESTION AND I THINK THAT DURING YOUR STUDY IT WOULD BE GOOD IF YOU THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT PERCENTAGE OF HOUSING DO YOU BELIEVE SHOULD BE SUBSIDIZED.
I THINK THAT'S A FAIR QUESTION.
I MEAN, IS IT 10% OF THE INVENTORY OR 60% OR WHAT? BUT I THINK THAT'S A FAIR QUESTION AND IT'S A QUESTION THAT PEOPLE ARE ASKING.
SO WHAT I WOULD ASK YOU TO DO IS LOOK AT FISCAL NOTES AND THAT MAKES YOU LOOK OUT AT A PROJECT AND ALSO LOOK AT THE FINAL GOAL OF WHAT WE THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE HERE.
EITHER ONE OF YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE AND I'M ALSO HERE TO JUST SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF, UH, THIS RESOLUTION.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYONE IN THIS ROOM WHO DOESN'T THINK THAT AFFORDABILITY IS THE KEY ISSUE, KEY ISSUE OF OUR DAY.
[00:55:01]
AND THE IDEA IS PUT FORTH IN THIS RESOLUTION AND THE SPIRIT THAT MOTIVATES, MOTIVATES IT ARE COMPELLING TO ME.I THINK MOST PEOPLE WILL AGREE THAT HOUSING IS NOT JUST A COMMODITY TO BE TRADED AND INVESTED IN, BUT IT IS A FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHT, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAVE THE MEANS TO PROVIDE FOR IT NOW IN THE 21ST CENTURY AND HERE IN THE WEALTHIEST COUNTRY ON THE PLANET.
BUT AS A COMMUNITY, UH, WE NOT ONLY NEED TO JUST BELIEVE THIS, WE NEED TO PUT THIS INTO REAL PRACTICE AND WE NOW HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO.
UH, THE IDEAS PUT FORTH IN THIS RESOLUTION SUCH AS THE REVOLVING LOAN FUND ARE NOT NEW.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MARYLAND AND PORTLAND, MAINE AND MANY OTHER MUNICIPALITIES HAVE ENACTED SIMILAR INITIATIVES.
AND THESE HAVE ALLOWED THEM TO NOT ONLY BUILD NEW SUPPLIES OF HOUSING QUICKLY, BUT ENSURE THAT THOSE UNITS REMAIN AFFORDABLE.
UM, THESE DAYS, UM, I'VE BEEN SEEING ARTICLES HERE AND THERE, UH, TOUTING HOW THE MEDIAN RENT IN AUSTIN HAS FALLEN FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS OR SO, AND I THINK COUNCIL SHOULD FEEL QUITE PLEASED THAT THEY HAD SOME PART TO PLAN THAT.
UM, BUT THAT BEING SAID, UH, THE SITUATION IS STILL PRECARIOUS WITH THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS ACTIVELY DOING THEIR BEST TO DEFUND SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAMS SO THEY CAN RE REDIRECT THOSE DOLLARS, UM, TO INSTRUMENTS OF OPPRESSION.
UM, AND SO THE BEST WAY TO ENSURE THAT THIS TREND CONTINUES, ESPECIALLY IN THE CURRENT CLIMATE WE'RE IN NOW, IS TO PRESS OUR ADVANTAGE AND TO BUILD BLASTING INFRASTRUCTURE WHILE WE ARE PULLING AHEAD, RATHER THAN WAIT FOR THE NEXT AFFORDABILITY CRISIS TO HIT US AND SCRAMBLE TO FIND A SOLUTION.
THANK YOU, MR. KIM, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS BEN EBBY, UH, RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FOUR.
UM, I'M HERE ON MY, IN MY OWN PERSONAL CAPACITY, NOT SPEAKING ON BEHALF ANYONE, UH, TO SPEAK IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THIS RESOLUTION.
UM, BASICALLY ECHOING WHAT, UH, YOU HEARD FROM SIBLINGS IN THE LABOR MOVEMENT HERE SAID THIS MORNING.
UM, I WANTED TO ADDRESS THOUGH SOME OF THE FOLKS WHO MAY BE FEELING SOME TREPIDATION OR CONCERNS ABOUT THIS.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE LANGUAGE, THIS IS INSTRUCTING THE CITY MANAGER TO EVALUATE A COMPREHENSIVE SOCIAL GREEN HOUSING POLICY THROUGH RESEARCH, STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND COUNCIL DISCUSSION.
THIS IS KICKING OFF A CONVERSATION.
THIS ISN'T SILENCING OR PUSHING OUT ANY ONE OF THE APPROACHES THAT PEOPLE ADVOCATE FOR.
THIS IS TALKING ABOUT WHAT IS THE BEST WAY OR WHAT ARE THE BEST WAYS, UH, WHAT ARE WE DOING CURRENTLY? WHAT OTHER OPTIONS EXIST OUT THERE? THIS IS EXPLORING AND FINDING SOLUTIONS.
UH, THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS I'M SO STRONGLY AND SUPPORTIVE OF THIS IN CONVERSATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY.
ONE OF THE MOST CONSISTENT THEMES, REGARDLESS OF THE TOPIC OF THE FORUM OR OR WHATEVER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT DAY, IS PEOPLE ARE SAYING, WE NEED HOUSING.
WE NEED THE CITY TO DO MORE IN THIS AREA.
AND PART OF THAT, I WILL SAY TO SOME OF THE NAYSAYERS, IS INFORMING PEOPLE OF WHAT YOU'RE CURRENTLY ACTUALLY DOING.
BUT ANOTHER LARGE PART OF IT IS WHAT OTHER AREAS, WHAT OTHER STONES HAVE NOT YET BEEN UN UNTURNED TURNED OVER LOOKING FOR SOLUTIONS? AND THAT'S WHAT THIS CONVERSATION WILL ALLOW.
IT'LL ALLOW INPUT FROM STAKEHOLDERS, IT'LL ALLOW INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC, IT'LL ALLOW LOOKING AT BEST PRACTICES ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND SEEING HOW WE CAN PUT AN AUSTIN TWIST ON THAT AND, AND PULL TOGETHER ALL THE BEST WAYS OF DOING IT.
SO I REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO ENGAGE IN THIS PROCESS TO VOTE FOR IT AND FOR ANYONE WHO MAY BE FEELING SOME TREPIDATION TO VIEW THIS AS A YES, AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THE BEST AND PULL TOGETHER AUSTIN FOR HOUSING.
MOVING TO ITEM 57, STACEY SCHMIDT, JEN ROBSHAW, GOOD MORNING MAYOR COUNCIL AND STACEY SCHMIDT WITH OPPORTUNITY AUSTIN.
I'M HERE SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 57 ON BEHALF OF OUR 400 INVESTORS IN THIS COMMUNITY.
UM, I FIRST WANNA START OFF BY SAYING THANK YOU TO THE CITY STAFF, TO DR. JOHNSON AND HIS TEAM, AND TO ALL OF YOU IN THESE COUNCIL OFFICES, UM, FOR WORKING COLLABORATIVELY TOGETHER, UM, ON THIS PROJECT AND SEVERAL OTHERS.
THIS PROJECT IS MEANINGFUL TO AUSTIN BECAUSE IT WILL BE CREATING 200 JOBS, UM, AND IT WILL REALLY BE ABLE TO STRENGTHEN OUR LIFE SCIENCES ECOSYSTEM.
AS WE ALL KNOW, THIS IS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW LIFE SCIENCES AS WELL AS AN INTERNATIONAL COMPANY WHO WILL BE COMING HERE AND REALLY FOCUSING ON THE TALENT THAT WE HAVE IN THIS COMMUNITY AND BRINGING A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE HEALTHCARE AND, AND LIFE SCIENCES SPACE.
I WANNA SAY COMMEND THIS COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR FOR HIS LONG-TERM VISION AND REALLY WORKING TOWARDS STRATEGIC GROWTH THAT FOCUSES ON OUR TALENT, OUR INNOVATION, AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT WE HAVE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
THE COLLABORATION AND WORKING TOGETHER WITH ALL OF YOU IS REALLY GOING
[01:00:01]
TO MOVE US FORWARD AND TO PUT AUSTIN ON THE MAP.GOOD MORNING, AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
I'M JEN ROBOSHO, DISTRICT TWO RESIDENT.
I'M SPEAKING AGAINST ITEM 57, THE RESOLUTION TO NEGOTIATE A $200,000 JOB SUBSIDY FOR 3 BILLION US INCORPORATED.
WHILE NEW JOBS AND LIFE SCIENCES ARE WELCOME, THIS IS AN UNNECESSARY CORPORATE WELFARE THAT DISTORTS MARKETS AND SHIFTS TAX BURDENS TO AUSTIN RESIDENTS.
THIS FOREIGN COMPANY, A US AFFILIATE OF A KOREAN PARENT, IS ALREADY ESTABLISHING ITS NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS IN AUSTIN.
WE DON'T NEED TO SUBSIDIZE INTERNATIONAL FIRMS WHEN OUR CITIES STRENGTHENED.
BIOTECH TALENT AND INNOVATION ARE THE REAL DRAW.
AUSTIN IS A GREAT PLACE FOR BUSINESS HANDOUTS, LIKE A THOUSAND DOLLARS PER JOB.
JUST REWARD COMPANIES THAT WOULD COME ANYWAY.
INSTEAD OF FINANCIAL INCENTIVES, AUSTIN SHOULD FOCUS ON SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE TO MAKE IT SAFER AND MORE APPEALING FOR ENTREPRENEURS, INCLUDING GLOBAL CITIZENS TO MOVE BUSINESSES AND FAMILIES HERE.
THE TRAGIC MURDER OF AKSHAY GUPTA LAST YEAR, A TALENTED HEALTH TECH INNOVATOR WHO CHOSE AUSTIN FOR ITS PROMISE IS A HEARTBREAKING REMINDER OF HOW PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES CAN DETER THE VERY TALENT WE WANT TO ATTRACT.
LET'S PRIORITIZE INVESTMENTS IN PUBLIC SAFETY AND POLICIES THAT IMPROVE AFFORDABILITY SO THE AMERICAN DREAM CAN EXPAND TO EVEN MORE PEOPLE.
THE $200,000 INCENTIVE FUNDED BY TAXPAYERS THROUGH THE ECONOMIC INCENTIVE RESERVE COMES AT A BAD TIME AFTER THE RECENT BUDGET CYCLE AND ELECTION SHOWS VOTER FRUSTRATION WITH SPENDING BEFORE APPROVING THIS CONTRACT.
THE CITY SHOULD RELEASE FULL CONTRACT TERMS FOR TRANSPARENCY AND BETTER YET USE AN EFFICIENCY AUDIT TO REVIEW THESE SUBSIDIES AND ENSURE THEIR TRULY NEEDED.
I URGE FOR COUNSEL TO STAND FOR FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND VOTE NO.
MOVING TO ITEM 61, WE'LL BEGIN WITH REMOTE SPEAKERS, MARINA ROBERTS.
MY NAME IS MARINA ROBERTS AND I'M A RESIDENT OF D FOUR.
I'M CALLING IN SUPPORT OF THE TRUST ORDINANCE.
UH, AS AN ACTIVIST WHO HAS WORKED OVER THE LAST YEAR ON A VARIETY OF ANTI SURVEILLANCE MEASURES, I'M GRATEFUL TO SEE A PUSH FROM CITY LEADERS TO ENSHRINE THOUGHTFUL PROCEDURES, PROVIDING ADEQUATE NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC TO MEANINGFULLY ENGAGE IN SHAPING POLICY AROUND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND THE USE OF AI BY CITY DEPARTMENTS.
WHAT HAS BECOME CLEAR TO ME IS THAT CITY COUNCIL FACES THE LITANY OF TOUGH PROBLEMS AND THAT YOU ALL HAVE BECOME TARGETS OF TECH COMPANIES DEVOTED TO PROFIT WHO WILL REPRESENT THEIR PRODUCTS IN WAYS THAT ARE DISHONEST IN ORDER TO WIN YOUR BUY-IN.
JUST THIS WEEK, WE MOBILIZED AGAINST AI SURVEILLANCE IN OUR PARKS.
A PROPOSAL THAT REMAINS BAFFLING TO ME WHEN SO RECENTLY SO MANY OF YOU WERE SWEARING TO DO EVERYTHING IN YOUR POWER TO STAND WITH IMMIGRANTS.
AND WHEN WE ALSO KNOW THIS TECHNOLOGY FEEDS INTO THE SURVEILLANCE APPARATUS BEING USED TO OUR IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORS POSITIONS ARE FUNDAMENTALLY IRRECONCILABLE, BUT ADDRESSING HARMFUL BEHAVIORS IN NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS IS A REAL CHALLENGE.
AND THESE TECH COMPANIES CLAIM TO OFFER YOU THE SOLUTION.
IN REALITY, SURVEILLANCE IS A SOLUTION THAT MOVES HARM FROM A SURVEILLED AREA TO A LESS SURVEILLED AREA, CREATING THE ILLUSION OF SOLVING ONE PROBLEM WHILE OPENING UP A NEW SITE OF FIRM ELSEWHERE.
THE HARM CONTINUES AI WHILE FLASHY AND IMPRESSIVE, SOLVED VERY LITTLE ULTIMATELY.
AND WE PAY FOR IT IN DOLLARS AND IN FREEDOM WE PAY FOR IT IN COOK STAFF AT YOUR FAVORITE THIA AND IN FIVE-YEAR-OLD LITTLE GIRLS.
THE REASON TECH COMPANIES LIKE LIVEVIEW AND BLOCK CAN OUTBID THEIR COMPETITORS IS OFTEN BECAUSE THEY SIMPLY DON'T CARE HOW MUCH MONEY THEY MAKE IN CONTRACT WITH MUNICIPALITIES.
LIKE OFTEN THEIR PROFIT COMES FROM SELLING OUR DATA NOT FROM PUBLIC SAFETY CONTRACT.
THAT SHOULD TELL YOU WHERE THEIR MOTIVES REALLY LIE, AND WE SHOULD TREAT THEM WITH A LOT MORE SCRUTINY THAN I'VE SO FAR SEEN IN OUR PROCESSES.
IT IS A PRIVILEGE FOR THE WORK OF YOUR LIFE TO BE FINDING SOLUTIONS TO THE MYRIAD ISSUES WE FACE.
I HOPE THAT YOU PASS THE TRUST ACT SO YOU CAN HEAR FROM MORE OF US FOR THE POLICIES YOU PASS, CAN WORK TOWARD REAL SOLUTIONS AND NOT JUST THE PERFORMANCE OF DOING SOMETHING IN A MOMENT WHEN OUR DEMOCRACY.
SPEAKING REMOTELY ON ITEM 61, MONICA GUZMAN.
I'M MONICA GUZMAN, POLICY DIRECTOR AT GAVA.
GO AUSTIN, BAMO AUSTIN SPEAKING ON ITEM 61.
WE APPRECIATE THE WORK DONE BY MAYOR PRO TE BELLA SUB QUORUM ON THE TRUST ACT.
WE ALSO APPRECIATE AND SUPPORT THE POSTPONEMENT REQUEST POSTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS ELLIS AND UCHIN.
VALID CONCERNS HAVE BEEN VOICED ABOUT EXIGENT CIRCUMSTANCES THAT QUOTE, REQUIRE CITY DEPARTMENT TO TEMPORARILY ACQUIRE OR USE A SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY OR THE INFORMATION IT PROVIDES WITHOUT OBTAINING A SURVEILLANCE USE POLICY APPROVED BY COUNSEL AND THAT QUOTE, EX EXIGENT CIRCUMSTANCES MUST BE FOR SPECIFIC INVESTIGATIVE OR PUBLIC SAFETY PURPOSES AND NOT MERE CONVENIENCE.
[01:05:01]
TO INTERPRETATION WITHDRAWN.ITEM THREE IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF WHAT WAS CONSIDERED FOR CRIME REDUCTION AND THE COMMUNITY PUSHBACK ON THE GROUND OF REDUCED SAFETY, ESPECIALLY FOR VULNERABLE FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES.
IN THE CURRENT POLITICAL CLIMATE.
WE URGE YOU TO POST ITEM 61 WITH SUFFICIENT TIME FOR INPUT FROM COMMUNITY-BASED AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WHO WORK WITH AND OR SUPPORT DEAD VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES.
AND ALSO, I DIDN'T GET CALLED FOR 47, BUT GAVA APPRECIATE THE UPDATED VERSION, THE REDLINING AND LOW INCOME BEING INCLUDED.
HOWEVER, IN LIGHT OF THE RESULTS ON THE AUSTIN HOUSING BLUEPRINT, ONLY 2% HAS BEEN ACHIEVED FOR PEOPLE 30% BELOW MFI AND 39% I BELIEVE IT SAID, FOR 31 TO 60.
ITEM 47 NEEDS TO BE MORE OF A FOCUS ON THE TRULY LOW INCOME WORKING POOR VERSUS WORKFORCE HOUSING, WHICH TENDS TO BE 80 TO 120%.
MOVING TO IN-PERSON SPEAKERS ON ITEM 61, BRANDON FAREN, FORT DANIELA SILVA, HANS MAVERICK, ASHLEY COPELAND, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND BEGIN SPEAKING.
BRANDON REFOR SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF AGENDA ITEM 61.
UH, I'M AN ATTORNEY, BUT I'M SPEAKING HERE IN MY PERSONAL CAPACITY.
I HAVE A TECH BACKGROUND AND I'VE OBSERVED THE CITY'S HAD A BIT OF A STORIED HISTORY PAST AND PRESENT WITH SURVEILLANCE CONTRACTS, AND SO I'M HAPPY TO SEE THAT THAT'S, UH, WE'RE TURNING THE CORNER ON THAT.
UM, I THINK THERE ARE THREE MAJOR CONCERNS THAT ANY USE OF SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGIES TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.
THERE'S THE POSSIBILITY FOR MISUSE BECAUSE ONCE DATA IS OUT THERE, IT NEEDS TO BE LIMITED.
THERE'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A VULNERABILITY IS DISCOVERED IN THE SYSTEM BECAUSE THE DOOR GETS LEFT OPEN AND BREACHES ARE NOT OF MATTER OF IF, BUT WHEN.
AND THEN FINALLY, THE LEVEL OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY FOR WHEN SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY IS USED SO THAT IF A PROBLEM COMES TO LIGHT, WE CAN IDENTIFY IT VERY QUICKLY.
UM, I THINK THAT THE, THE TRUST ACT IN PARTICULAR ADDRESSES ALL THREE OF THESE CONCERNS, AND SO I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR WORKING ON THAT AND DIRECTING MANAGER PROAC TO COME BACK WITH A PROPOSED ORDINANCE.
AND THANK YOU IN PARTICULAR TO MR. SIEGEL FOR MEETING WITH ADVOCATES ON THIS ISSUE.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE OUR VOICES HEARD AND I'LL PASS THE PODIUM.
I'M THE AUSTIN POLICY COORDINATOR AT WORKERS' DEFENSE ACTION FUND.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MAYOR PRO TELA AND COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, AS WELL AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, FUENTES LANE AND QUEZ FOR BRINGING FORTH AND SPONSORING THE TRUST ACT.
AN ITEM TO CREATE TRANSPARENCY AROUND SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY CONTRACTS.
MANY OF OUR MEMBERS AT WORKERS' DEFENSE ARE DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT FEELS LIKE A ROTATING DOOR OF SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY, PARTICULARLY THOSE WITH AI CAPABILITIES THAT THEY DON'T HEAR ABOUT UNTIL IT'S ALREADY BEEN IMPLEMENTED.
WITH THE CURRENT STATE OF OUR POLITICAL LANDSCAPE, BOTH NATIONALLY AND STATEWIDE, OUR MEMBERS HAVE A DEEP FEAR OF HOW ANY KIND OF SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY WILL BE USED TO TARGET OR EVEN HARM THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES.
THIS RESOLUTION IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, SLOWING DOWN THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS TO ALLOW FOR PUBLIC INSIGHT, DEEPER COUNCIL REVIEW, AND MORE MINDFUL ADOPTION OF EVER-CHANGING TECHNOLOGIES THAT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD.
WHILE I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM, I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE SOME CONCERNS AROUND THE CURRENT LANGUAGE, MAINLY AROUND THE FOUR MONTH LOOPHOLE CREATED FOR TECHNOLOGIES THAT ARE CLAIMED TO BE NEEDED FOR EXIGENT CIRCUMSTANCES.
THIS FOUR MONTH DURATION OF THE EMERGENCY EXCEPTION IS FAR TOO LONG, AN EXCEPTION OF THIS LENGTH RISKS BECOMING A DEFACTO AUTHORIT, UH, AUTHORIZATION PERIOD.
RATHER THAN A TRUE EMERGENCY MEASURE, SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGIES CAN RAPIDLY AMASS SENSITIVE PERSONAL INFORMATION, CREATING SERIOUS RISK OF MISUSE INTERNAL ABUSE, OR SHARING WITH OUTSIDE AGENCIES, INCLUDING FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES.
PLEASE REDUCE THAT AMOUNT OF TIME BY AT LEAST 50% TO A TWO MONTH EXCEPTION.
OUR MEMBERS ALREADY HAVE A STRAINED RELATIONSHIP WITH THE POLICE, HOLDING VERY LITTLE TRUST AND NOT KNOWING WHO TO CALL WHEN THEY FEEL UNSAFE.
QUIETLY IMPLEMENTING THESE TECHNOLOGIES, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH AI CAPABILITIES, FURTHER ERODES THAT TRUST AS, UH, WORKERS DEFENSE MEMBERS ARE DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THEIR DATA AND WHO IS USING IT.
THEY WERE EXCITED TO HEAR ABOUT THIS MEASURE WHEN I BROUGHT IT UP AT THE LAST MEMBER MEETING, AND, UM, SUPPORT ANY KIND OF MEASURE TO MORE DEEPLY SCRUTINIZE ANY KIND OF SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY THAT COULD BE USED TO PUT OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES AT RISK.
PLEASE CONSIDER REDUCING THE EDU EXIGENT CIRCUMSTANCES PERIOD, IN WHICH CASE WE ROBUSTLY SUPPORT THIS ITEM.
MAYOR PRO TELA COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
[01:10:01]
SHARE MY THOUGHTS WITH YOU TODAY.I'M A RESIDENT OF COUNCIL DISTRICT 10, AND I'M ALSO A POLICY AND RESEARCH ORGANIZER WITH GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP HERE IN AUSTIN.
FOR THE RECORD, I'M SPEAKING FOUR ITEM 61, NOT AGAINST.
THERE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A WAY TO SIGN UP TO SPEAK AGAINST ONE ITEM AND IN FAVOR OF ANOTHER DURING THE SAME COUNCIL MEETING.
THE REASON I'M IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM IS THAT I WANT TO SEE GREATER TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY BROUGHT TO DECISIONS THE CITY MAKES ABOUT SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY.
I WAS JUST HERE TUESDAY AT THE WORKS SESSION SPEAKING OUT AGAINST AI ENABLED CAMERAS IN PUBLIC PARKS.
THE REASON I SPOKE AGAINST THAT ITEM HAD A LOT TO DO WITH CONCERNS ABOUT THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY OF PRIVATE TECH COMPANIES.
I HOPE THAT IF THE CITY ADOPTS AN ORDINANCE BASED ON ITEM 61, THE RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN AND OUR ELECTED OFFICIAL WILL HAVE GREATER LEVERAGE TO PUT A PAUSE ON TECHNOLOGY THAT DOESN'T RESPECT OUR RIGHTS.
WHEN I ATTENDED TUESDAY'S WORK SESSION, I LISTENED CAREFULLY TO COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS'S CONCERNS ABOUT CRIME IN ZUCKER PARK.
ZUCKER PARK IS A CROWN JEWEL OF AUSTIN.
I WANT PEOPLE TO FEEL SAFE GOING THERE.
I WANT PEOPLE TO FEEL SAFE FROM CRIMES LIKE THEFT AND VANDALISM, AND I WANT PEOPLE TO BE SAFE FROM CRIMES LIKE IDENTITY THEFT AND CYBER STALKING.
IT'S BEEN SAID BEFORE, BUT IT BEARS REPEATING.
THE ONLY DATA THAT IS SAFE FROM HACKING IS DATA THAT IS NEVER CAPTURED IN THE FIRST PLACE.
WHILE ITEM 61 DOES NOT PROHIBIT ALL FORMS OF SURVEILLANCE, IT DOES AT LEAST GIVE THE COMMUNITY A GREATER CHANCE TO WEIGH IN.
WHILE I AM GENERALLY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS RESOLUTION, I TAKE ISSUE WITH SECTION SIX POINT A 0.4, THE SECTION THAT GIVES CITY DEPARTMENTS 120 DAYS TO UTILIZE A MASS SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM UNDER EXIGENT CIRCUMSTANCES WITHOUT, UH, COUNCIL APPROVAL.
I BELIEVE THAT THAT PERIOD IS TOO LONG.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE.
MY NAME IS ASHLEY COPELAND AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE CENTRAL TEXAS PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION.
AND WHAT WE HAVE TO SAY IS THAT THE EXPECTATIONS PLACED ON AUSTIN PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEM ARE SIGNIFICANT.
WE EXPECT TIMELY EMERGENCY RESPONSE, THOROUGH INVESTIGATIONS, AND THE ABILITY TO HELP PEOPLE WHEN THEY'RE EXPERIENCING THE WORST DAYS OF THEIR LIVES.
ANY POLICY THAT AFFECTS THOSE SYSTEMS DESERVES CAREFUL CONSIDERATION, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT CHANGES HOW TOOLS ARE APPROVED AND ACCESS SAFEGUARDS MATTER.
TRANSPARENCY MATTERS, OVERSIGHT MATTERS.
THESE ARE ALL VALUES THAT WE CAN AGREE THAT WE SHARE.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, OPERATIONAL READINESS ALSO MATTERS.
THE ABILITY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEMS TO FUNCTION RELIABLY WHEN THEY'RE NEEDED IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
WHEN USED APPROPRIATELY, TECHNOLOGY CAN STRENGTHEN ACCOUNTABILITY.
DIGITAL TOOLS CAN CREATE RECORDS, AUDIT TRAILS, AND CLEAR BOUNDARIES AROUND HOW AND WHEN THEY'RE USED.
PUBLIC TRUST DEPENDS ON TWO THINGS AT THE SAME TIME.
STRONG GUARDRAILS AND A SYSTEM THAT WORKS WHEN THE PEOPLE NEED IT TO.
WE DON'T HAVE TO CHOOSE ONE OVER THE OTHER AND WE SHOULD AIM FOR BOTH OF THEM.
CONTINUING ON ITEM 61, CORBY JARO, JEN ROBES SHOW JAY POPHAM.
BRIAN WELDON, PLEASE GO AHEAD, MR. JARO.
UH, GOOD MORNING, MAYOR COUNSEL.
MY NAME IS COURTNEY GASTRO, UH, LIFELONG AUSTIN.
AUSTIN KNIGHT, RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 10.
EVERY ADDED LAYER OF DELAY, UNCERTAINTY, OR ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLEXITY, IT IS, IS A DECISION WITH CONSEQUENCES.
IT AFFECTS HOW FAST HELP ARRIVES, HOW QUICKLY CASES MOVE FORWARD, AND WHETHER PROBLEMS ARE ADDRESSED EARLY OR ALLOWED TO GROW.
AUSTIN IS ALREADY OPERATING UNDER STRAIN, STAFFING SHORTAGES, INCREASED DEMAND AND LIMITED RESOURCES IN THAT ENVIRONMENT.
IT SAVES TIME, REDUCES WORKLOAD, AND HELPS SYSTEMS KEEP UP WITH REALITY.
WHEN COMMONLY USED TOOLS ARE SLOWED DOWN OR TREATED AS EXTRAORDINARY, THE WORK DOES NOT DISAPPEAR.
IT JUST GETS PUSHED ON THE PEOPLE MORE OVER TIME, MORE FATIGUE AND MORE BACKLOG.
THAT'S A TRADE OFF, AND IT'S ONE THE PUBLIC ULTIMATELY FEELS OVERSIGHT IS IMPORTANT, BUT PRECISION MATTERS.
THE QUESTION ISN'T WHETHER AUSTIN VALUES PRIVACY.
THE QUESTION IS WHETHER OUR POLICIES ALLOWED PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEMS TO FUNCTION WHEN TIMING MATTERS MOST.
I THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTINUED SERVICE TO OUR GREAT CITY.
[01:15:03]
GOOD MORNING, AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.I AM JEN ROBO DISTRICT TWO RESIDENT.
THIS IS A COMPLEX ISSUE AND I WANT TO START BY EXPRESSING MY GRATITUDE TO MAYOR PRO TEM VELA FOR BRINGING THIS RESOLUTION ON THE TRANSPARENT AND RESPONSIBLE USE OF SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY.
SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY CAN BE A POWERFUL TOOL TO ASSIST LAW ENFORCEMENT HELPING SOLVE CRIMES, DETER WRONGDOING, AND KEEP OUR PUBLIC SPACES SAFER.
AT THE SAME TIME, IT CARRIES SERIOUS RISKS TO PERSONAL PRIVACY AND CIVIL LIBERTIES.
IF NOT HANDLED WITH STRONG SAFEGUARDS, I SUPPORT MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS RESOLUTION.
BUT I BELIEVE THE ORDINANCE, THE CITY MANAGER RETURNS SHOULD INCLUDE STRONGER PROTECTIONS, SURVEILLANCE RESTRICTIONS, AND DATA RETENTION SHOULD NOT OBSTRUCT LAW ENFORCEMENT'S ABILITY TO INVESTIGATE CRIMES OR PROSECUTE CRIMINALS.
WE NEED MANDATORY HUMAN OVERSIGHT IN ALL USES OF SURVEILLANCE DATA AND AI FEATURES.
SO TECHNOLOGY SUPPORTS DECISIONS RATHER THAN REPLACING JUDGMENT.
WE NEED ROBUST SECURE TRANSMISSION OF DATA TO PROTECT AGAINST BREACHES, HACKING OR EXPLOITATION BY FOREIGN ACTORS AND CYBER CRIMINALS.
AND WE NEED MEANINGFUL PUBLIC REVIEW TIME FAR MORE THAN THE CURRENT TWO WEEKS FOR BOTH THIS ORDINANCE AND ANY FUTURE SURVEILLANCE CONTRACTS, USE POLICIES OR RELATED AGREEMENTS.
A 30 OR EVEN 60 DAY PUBLIC COMMENT AND REVIEW PERIOD WOULD BETTER SERVE TRANSPARENCY AND TRUST.
I ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL TO DIRECT THE MANAGER TO DEVELOP A STRONG ORDINANCE THAT GIVE THE COMMUNITY PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY FOR MEANINGFUL INPUT BEFORE FINAL ADOPTION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, PLEASE.
BRIAN WELDON, UH, DISTRICT THREE AFSCME 1624.
AS WE HAVE SEEN, BOTH GOVERNMENT ENTITIES AND PRIVATE CORPORATIONS ADOPT MASS SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGIES.
SO HAVE WE ALSO SEEN THE TARGETING OF POLITICALLY DISFAVORED GROUPS, OVERPOLICING OF ALREADY OVER POLICE POPULATIONS AND MISUSE OF THIS TECHNOLOGY BY BAD ACTORS AND FEDERAL AGENCIES.
AS UNION MEMBERS IN A STATE THAT IS NOT ALWAYS FRIENDLY TO OUR INTERESTS, WE HAVE A RIGHT TO BE CONCERNED WITH THE INCREASED USAGE OF THESE TECHNOLOGIES.
WHILE THESE TECHNOLOGIES ARE STILL RELATIVELY NEW, THEY'RE ALSO UNPROVEN.
UM, HOWEVER, THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW PEER REVIEWED STUDIES ABOUT SIMILAR SYSTEMS IN OTHER CITIES.
UH, SHOT SPOTTER, FOR INSTANCE, UH, OVER PROMISE, UNDER DELIVERED, UH, PEER REVIEWED STUDY, UH, REGARDING ITS USE IN KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, AND CHICAGO, ILLINOIS SHOWED THAT THE TECHNOLOGY DID NOT SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF EVIDENCE COLLECTION OR CASE CLEARANCE AND SHOOTING INCIDENTS, AND CONCLUDED THAT GDT MAY NOT ADD INVESTIGATIVE VALUE TO POLICE RESPONSES TO SHOOTING INCIDENTS AND MAY IN FACT INCREASE PATROL WORKLOAD.
THERE'S A LOT OF FEAR AND CONCERN IN AMONG THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THESE PROGRAMS, AND RIGHTFULLY SO, IMPLEMENTATION OF MASS SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGIES IN OTHER CITIES HAS PROVEN TO BE AN EXPENSIVE BOONDOGGLE THAT UNDERDELIVER ON THEIR PROMISES WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY PUTTING CITIZENS' DATA AND PARADOXICALLY SAFETY AT RISK.
UM, FOR INSTANCE, UH, FLOCK WAS KICKED OUTTA MOUNTAIN VIEW AFTER THEIR SYSTEM WAS UNAUTHORIZED, UH, SEVERAL HUNDRED TIMES BY STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES.
FLOCK HAS ALSO BEEN USED BY TEXAS DEPUTIES TO ENFORCE ABORTION BANS.
ANY ORDINANCE REGULATING PROPOSED MASS SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGIES NEEDS TO BE WRITTEN TO HOLD ANY PROPOSAL TO THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE STANDARD OF DATA SECURITY, PRIVACY, ACTIONABLE PUBLIC SAFETY BENEFIT, AND APPROPRIATE USE.
IN ADDITION TO BEING EVALUATED THROUGH A LENS OF COMMUNITY JUSTICE AND RACIAL EQUALITY, THERE MUST ALSO BE STRONG PENALTIES FOR COMPANIES WHO MISUSE THE INFORMATION THEY COLLECT OR FAIL IN THEIR DUTY TO SAFEGUARD THE DATA THEY GATHER ON OUR CITIZENS.
CONTINUING ON ITEM 61, SUSAN SPATARO, PETER KIM, NICK CAVALERO, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND BEGIN SPEAKING.
SUSAN SPATARO AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT EIGHT.
UM, I THINK THAT I LISTENED TO THE WORK SESSION AND I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST EXCELLENT TO HEAR WHAT WENT ON.
I THOUGHT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT DID A REALLY GOOD JOB OF PRESENTING WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND WHAT THEY'RE TESTING.
I AGREE THAT THERE ARE SOME REALLY BAD THINGS ABOUT TECHNOLOGY, BUT WHAT I SEE MISSING FROM THIS STUDY, AND I HOPE IT IS ADDED, IS WHAT IS THE CONSEQUENCE OF NOT DOING IT? AND REALLY THE WORK SESSION, I THINK SHOWED THAT, IN OTHER WORDS, UM, THERE REALLY WEREN'T, WASN'T ANY PROBLEM WITH, WITH THE TECH THERE.
IT WASN'T, IT WORKED FINE, IT DIDN'T ABUSE ANYONE, BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT, THEN THERE'S THE CRIME IN THE PARKING LOTS AND IN AND IN THE PARKS.
UM, THERE'S NO SENSE BUYING MORE PARKS AND SPENDING MONEY ON PARKS IF PEOPLE FEEL UNSAFE TO GO THERE.
AND I APPRECIATE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS U BRINGING THAT UP IN OUR DISTRICT.
SO I THINK THAT WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE STUDY, UM, YOU SHOULD BE LOOKING AT THE TECHNOLOGY AND, AND WHAT IT BRINGS THE VALUE OF A TOOL FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.
BUT IF IN FACT YOU DON'T LIKE THAT, WHAT IS YOUR SOLUTION? THE SOLUTION IS NOT, WELL, I MEAN, WE JUST LET THE CRIME HAPPEN IN
[01:20:01]
THE PARKS.UM, SOMEONE WAS SAYING THAT PEOPLE WANTED TO WALK TO PARKS, AND THERE WAS JUST AN ARTICLE BY COMMUNITY IMPACT THAT SAID ONLY 70%, 70% OF OUR RESIDENTS CANNOT WALK TO A PARK, WHICH MEANS THEY HAVE TO DRIVE, AND THAT MEANS THAT THE PARKING LOT SHOULD BE SAFE.
SO I I I HOPE THAT YOU WILL LOOK AT ALL, ALL ALTERNATIVES.
UM, IF YOU DON'T WANNA USE THIS SURVEILLANCE, WHAT DO YOU WANT? PUT MORE POLICE.
UM, THAT'S JUST PUT MORE PARK RANGERS, BUT IT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE JUST TO SAY, WELL, I MEAN, WE'LL JUST LET THE CARS BE BROKEN INTO AND STOLEN.
SO I HOPE IN THE STUDY, AND AS YOU'RE EXAMINING THIS, YOU'LL ALSO HAVE THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S EASY TO BE NEGATIVE ON A SOLUTION, WHICH NOT GOOD IS WHAT'S, WHAT DO YOU DO ABOUT IT? AND, YOU KNOW, THE, THE PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE SOLVED.
UM, MY NAME IS PETER, UH, RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE, AND I WAS HERE EARLIER THIS WEEK ON TUESDAY IN A BIT OF A FOUL MOOD, BUT I AM MUCH HAPPIER TO BE HERE TODAY TO ASK FOR COUNCIL, UH, TO VOTE FOR THIS.
UM, I WANT TO, I WANT TO REITERATE AGAIN THAT I AM AN ADVOCATE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND, UM, I WANNA HIGHLIGHT THAT PUBLIC SAFETY ENCOMPASSES MORE THAN JUST MAKING SURE THAT CARS DON'T GET BROKEN INTO.
IT ALSO MEANS THAT WE KEEP OUR COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE SAFE FROM THE PREDATORY INSTINCTS OF MASS SURVEILLANCE WHOLESALERS AND BIG DATA BROKERS SUCH AS PALANTIR AND FLOCK, AS WELL AS THEIR CUSTOMERS.
UM, IN OTHER WORDS, I WANT TO SAY THAT I AM FOUR REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF PETTY CRIME BREAK-INS, THEFTS, AND OTHER PROPERTY DAMAGE THAT DO ACTUALLY OCCUR.
UH, MY CAR HAS BEEN BROKEN INTO MULTIPLE TIMES, AND MY PARTNER'S CAR HAS BEEN STOLEN MULTIPLE TIMES, AND IT WOULD JUST BE A GOOD THING IF THAT JUST HAPPENED LESS OFTEN.
UM, BUT WE NEED TO DO IT IN A WAY, UH, THAT DOESN'T EXPOSE OUR PERSONAL DATA AND OUR WHEREABOUTS, UH, TO THE LIKES OF PETER KEEL AND HIS BUDDY JOE LONSDALE, LIKE OUR WORST NEIGHBOR, WHO IS ON THE RECORD SAYING, YOU KNOW, THAT HE THINKS THE BEST SOLUTION TO SOLVING HOMELESSNESS IS TO JUST KILL THEM, KILL THEM ALL.
UM, THESE ARE THE KINDS OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE THE ULTIMATE RECIPIENTS OF DATA THAT IS COLLECTED WITHOUT OVERSIGHT, WITHOUT REGULATION, AND WITHOUT PROTECTION.
UM, AND SO I JUST AGAIN, URGE YOU TO VOTE YES ON THIS AND ENSURE THAT WE AS A COMMUNITY GET TO HAVE THAT DECISION MAKING POWER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP IT SAFE AND THAT WE DON'T OUTSOURCE THAT RESPONSIBILITY TO BILLIONAIRES AND THEIR SHAREHOLDERS.
UH, MY NAME IS NICK CAVALERO AND I AM IN FAVOR OF ITEM 61.
UH, THE DEBATE ON SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS IS NOT OVER, EVEN AFTER ITEM MATERIAL WAS PULLED.
YESTERDAY WHEN I DROVE HERE THIS MORNING FROM HOUSTON, I PASSED UNDER FOUR FLOCK CAMERA TOWERS JUST TO GET ON THE FREEWAY.
THAT DID NOT MAKE ME FEEL ANY SAFER.
IT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE A CRIMINAL IN MY OWN HOMETOWN.
THE DEBATE ISN'T OVER, AND I'LL DRIVE HERE TO ATTEND EVERY CITY COUNCIL MEETING IF I HAVE TO, JUST TO SAY NO TO FLOCK LVT OR ANY OTHER MASS SURVEILLANCE COMPANY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME ON ITEM 61, LILLIAN RAD AND BEN SOTHEBY.
UH, SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MYSELF, I AM A PROUD MEMBER OF THE UNION THAT REPRESENTS CITY AND COUNTY WORKERS AFSCME 1624.
UM, I CAN SAY THAT AS SOMEONE WHO LIVES BY A PARK THAT, UH, HAS A LOT OF, UH, COMPLAINTS ABOUT THOSE WHO ARE UNHOUSED, HANGING OUT THERE, MY BUS STOP, UH, YOU KNOW, I BIKING THROUGH THERE PRETTY MUCH EVERY DAY.
UH, I, I HEAR THE CONCERNS OF PEOPLE WHO SAY, HEY, I WANT TO USE THE PARK.
I DON'T THINK THE SOLUTION IS TECHNOLOGY THAT MAKES THE OTHER HALF OF OUR CITY FEEL UNSAFE AND UNWELCOME AND MONITORED WHEN VISITING THESE PARKS.
UH, SO I REALLY AM SUPPORTIVE OF THIS, OF US ESTABLISHING A FRAMEWORK THAT HAS MECHANISMS FOR, UH, FOR COUNCIL OVERSIGHT ON THE WARDING OF THESE CONTRACTS AND OUR HAVING CONSISTENCY.
I WOULD QUIBBLE ON THE, SOME OF WHAT I VIEW AS LOOPHOLES, UH, 120 DAYS OF AN EMERGENCY THING.
I THINK WE CAN NARROW THAT DOWN, YOU KNOW, MAKE IT MAKE IT BE 60 DAYS.
UH, THE OTHER ONE THAT CONCERNS ME EVEN MORE IS THAT THE EXTENSION WITHOUT REPORTING BACK TO Y'ALL, UM, I, I, I WORRY ABOUT THAT, MAKE THAT 30 DAYS.
UH, IT COULD BE IN, IN A CLOSED SESSION.
UH, LIKE I, I UNDERSTAND SENSITIVITY OF, OF INVEST INVESTIGATIONS, BUT THE CONCEPT IS, YOU KNOW, WE COULD HAVE A CITY THAT, YOU KNOW, STAFFS ARE PARKS BY HAVING A PARK RANGER.
I, YOU KNOW, I ACTUALLY AGREE WITH MS. RO ON THAT ONE.
[01:25:01]
A HAVE A PARK RANGER THAT'S VISITING OUR AREA PARKS IN THE AREA OF THE CITY.THEY, THEY MAY CONNECT PEOPLE WITH SERVICES, LET YOU KNOW ABOUT A PROGRAM THAT'S COMING UP.
IT'S A COMMUNITY, UH, BASED APPROACH THAT, UH, WILL, UH, NOT ONLY PROVIDE A, A GOOD JOB FOR A PARK RANGER, BUT ALSO HELP US TIE TOGETHER, UH, MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO MAY THINK THAT THEY'RE AT ODDS, BUT ARE ACTUALLY WANTING THE SAME THING, ACCESS TO OUR, OUR PUBLIC SPACES THAT ARE FREE FROM CRIME, UH, OR, OR, UH, ALSO FREE FROM BEING, UH, MADE FELT UNSAFE FROM SURVEILLANCE.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL SPEAKERS FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA.
MEMBERS, AS YOU'VE JUST HEARD, THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF THE SPEAKERS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
LET ME ASK, IS THERE ANY MEMBER THAT WANTS TO PULL AN ITEM FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IS PREVIOUSLY LAID OUT, THAT BEING THE CASE? WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST WE DO IS I WILL CALL FOR A MOTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, AND THEN, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CODRE REMOVES APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARBOR MADISON.
WE'LL NOW GO TO DISCUSSION AND COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.
UM, I JUST, I HAD A QUICK QUESTION FOR STAFF ON ITEM 36 AND, AND, UH, AND AS STAFF COMES DOWN, I, I WANT TO THANK THE, THE NEIGHBORS WHO ARE STILL, WHO STUCK AROUND, UH, FOR ITEM 36.
WE HAD A CONVERSATION WITH 'EM AS A, AS A TEAM, UH, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO, TO FUTURE DIALOGUE.
UM, SO I JUST WANNA THANK THEM FOR STILL BEING HERE.
UM, COULD YOU CLARIFY THE AFFORDABILITY LEVELS OF THE PROJECT THAT THEY TALKED ABOUT IN ITEM 36? WE'VE HEARD TODAY FROM, UH, SOME NEIGHBORS THAT HALF OF THE UNITS ARE INCOME RESTRICTED, BUT THEY HAD ORIGINALLY BEEN TOLD THAT A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE UNITS WOULD BE INCOME RESTRICTED.
COULD YOU, COULD YOU TELL US IF IT'S GONNA BE HALF OR IF IT'S GONNA BE A HUNDRED PERCENT? ABSOLUTELY.
BRENDAN KENNEDY, DIVISION MANAGER WITH AUSTIN HOUSING.
UM, SO THE APPLICANT'S PROPOSED UNIT MIX, UH, IS REFLECTED IN THE AGENDA MATERIALS.
IT IS 75 TOTAL UNITS, AND ALL OF THOSE UNITS ARE PROPOSED TO BE INCOME RESTRICTED.
UM, THIS INCLUDES EIGHT UNITS THAT ARE PROPOSED TO BE AFFORDABLE AT 30% MFI, 29 UNITS AT 50% MFI, 34 UNITS AT 60% MFI AND FOUR UNITS AT 80% MFI.
UM, THE DEVELOPER HAS COMMITTED TO A HUNDRED PERCENT AFFORDABLE PROJECT, UH, AND THE UNIX WILL BE FINALIZED IN THE COMING WEEKS, UH, AND WILL ULTIMATELY BE REFLECTED IN THEIR APPLICATION, UH, FOR LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDITS THAT WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS.
UH, AND THAT APPLICATION WILL BE SUBMITTED BY FEBRUARY 27TH.
I THINK YOU ALREADY, YOU ALREADY ANSWERED MY SECOND QUESTION.
I WAS GONNA ASK YOU WHAT THE NEXT STEPS WERE IN THE STATE FUNDING PROCESS, AND YOU, YOU WENT AHEAD AND ANSWER THAT.
SO THIS RESOLUTION IS IN SUPPORT OF THEIR APPLICATION FOR TAX CREDITS.
UH, THE RESOLUTION WILL BE INCLUDED ALONG WITH OTHER MATERIALS, AND AGAIN, THAT WILL BE, UM, PREPARED BY THE APPLICANT FINALIZED IN THE COMING WEEKS SUBMITTED TO T-D-H-C-A BY FEBRUARY 27TH.
UH, AND MAYOR, IS THIS THE TIME I COULD ALSO MAKE A COMMENT ON THE ITEM? SURE.
UH, WELL, I APPRECIATE THE ANSWER ONCE AGAIN.
I APPRECIATE THE NEIGHBORS FOR STILL BEING HERE.
UH, TODAY'S VOTE ON ITEM 36 IS ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON SITE, AND I JUST WANT TO FURTHER CLARIFY.
THERE WILL BE A REZONING CASE IN THE FUTURE, AND I'M COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY, UH, WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT ALSO MAKING SURE THE APPLICANT WORKS WITH THE COMMUNITY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND I, I BELIEVE WE ALREADY HAVE A, A MEETING ON THE BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK, UH, WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND WITH THE APPLICANT AND, AND WITH MY TEAM.
SO I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO, UH, FUTURE CONVERSATIONS AS WE, AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, FOLLOWED BY THE MAYOR PRO TIM, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL.
I APOLOGIZE I WASN'T EXPECTING ANY CALLED ON SO SOON, UM, UH, UH, ON ITEM COLLEGE.
YOU WANT US TO, HUH? NO, NO, NO, I'M GOOD.
UH, ON ITEM 60, UH, COLLEAGUES, I'M GLAD TO SEE THIS ITEM COME BEFORE US TODAY.
I WANT TO THANK CYNTHIA, UH, SIMMONS AND TARA TUCKER OF SCALING SAFETY FOR WORKING WITH OUR OFFICE TO ENSURE THAT THIS ITEM CAME TO FRUITION.
UH, WITH OUR BUDGET SHORTFALLS, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE AND APPLY FOR GRANT, UH, GRANTS AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE ARE ELIGIBLE FOR.
UH, THIS GRANT, IF FUNDED, WILL ALLOW US TO CON, CONTINUE DOING MUCH NEEDED WORK WITH OUR YOUTH AND SUPPORT VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAMS. SHOUT OUT TO MY, UH, CVI FAMILIA, UH, ITEM 61.
WANT TO THANK, UH, THE MAYOR PRO TEM FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
AS, UH, TECHNOLOGY CONTINUES TO DEVELOP, ESPECIALLY SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ESTABLISH REGULATIONS THAT WILL PROTECT EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY THOSE MOST VULNERABLE TO UNJUST INFRINGEMENT OF CIVIL LIBERTIES IN THEIR DAILY LIVES.
THIS ITEM IS COMING, UH, BEFORE THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
ES AS THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS ARE HAVING, OR EXCUSE ME, ARE INVADING OUR PRIVACY, I'M DAMN PROUD TO BE A CO-SPONSOR OF THE TRUST ACT, A RESOLUTION THAT TAKES ONE STEP TOWARDS SETTING REGULATIONS ON SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY.
UM, AND ON ITEM 46, UH, I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER KARI, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
[01:30:01]
I AM A FORMER SUN SHINER, AS I KNOW, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, NATASHA HARPER MADISON IS, IT IS A WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION THAT EXPOSES KIDS, UH, PREDOMINANTLY THAT GROW UP IN ROUGH AREAS.UM, UH, UM, WELL, OURS WAS ALL, IT USED TO BE ALL OF EAST AUSTIN, UH, BACK IN THE DAY, AND, UH, EXPOSES THEM TO CAMPING AND, AND OTHER, UH, FUN ACTIVITIES.
AND MAYOR, I KNOW THAT WE HAVE KEPT A, UM, A STRONG SENSE OF SOLIDARITY ON THIS DIA AS WE MOVE ON THINGS.
YOU KNOW, THERE WAS AN ARTICLE THAT CAME OUT THE OTHER DAY AND SAID THAT THERE ISN'T MUCH DEBATE OR, OR, OR, OR BAD ENERGY UP HERE.
IT'S BECAUSE I, I, I, I BELIEVE THAT THIS DIOCESE IS MORE AGREEABLE AND HAS A, A SHARED VISION OF HOW WE WANT TO MOVE
UM, BUT I, I DID HEAR THAT, THAT THAT COUNCIL MEMBER RI WANTED THAT SMOKE.
SO I, I, I AM, I AM CHALLENGING COUNCIL MEMBER QRI, UH, TO RUN WITH ME AT THE SUNSHINE RUN ON MAY 3RD.
UM, AND SO I, UH, I I, I, I DIDN'T WANNA HAVE TO DO IT IN FRONT OF EVERYBODY, BUT, BUT, BUT THERE WE ARE.
IN THE, UH, IN THE SPIRIT OF US ALWAYS BEING ON THE SAME PAGE, I, I'LL TAKE YOU UP ON THAT OFFER AND, AND I'LL WEAR A, I DON'T KNOW, A FOOTBALL JERSEY OF A WINNING TEAM.
MONIKA WEAR A JERSEY OF THE, OF THE COWBOYS.
SEE, SEE, IT'S, IT'S ALREADY GETTING MAD UP HERE.
WELL, I, I SURE APPRECIATE YOU'RE MESSING IT ALL UP, CAST MEMBER VELASQUEZ.
UM, YEAH, MY, MY MEMORY IS THAT, THAT IT WAS, THE COMMENT WAS BY A FAIRLY PROMINENT GUY HERE IN TOWN THAT HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN A NUMBER OF ELECTIONS OVER MANY, MANY YEARS THAT THERE WAS NOT MUCH MUSTARD, BUT A LOT OF MAYONNAISE, WHICH SAYS HE OUGHT TO NOT BE TALKING TO THE REPORTERS WHEN HE'S HUNGRY.
UM, SO, UH, WITH THAT BEING SAID, LET'S GO TO, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM VELA, UH, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR.
OH, MAN, HOW DO I FOLLOW THAT
SO I WANTED TO START OFF, UH, JUST HIGHLIGHTING ITEM FOUR, UH, WHICH IS, UH, A TINY LITTLE ADDITION TO ONE OF OUR URBAN TRAILS, BUT A REALLY CRITICAL ADDITION.
THIS ESSENTIALLY WOULD PUSH, AND THIS IS IN DISTRICT SEVEN, ACTUALLY, IT'S NOT IN MY DISTRICT, BUT IT'S A GREAT, UH, ITEM.
AND, AND IT'S IMPORTANT AS WE MOVE TOWARD A MORE WALKABLE BIKEABLE AUSTIN.
UM, THIS ESSENTIALLY IS GONNA PUSH THE SHOAL CREEK TRAIL UNDER, UH, UH, 22, 22 OF, OF FIXING A CRITICAL GAP IN THE TRAIL AND MAKING IT JUST A MUCH, MUCH EASIER, BETTER WAY TO, TO BIKE AND, AND TO, TO GET AROUND AUSTIN.
UM, I ALSO WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT AGAIN, THIS IS PROBABLY NOT EVEN A QUARTER MILE OF TRAIL, UH, $3 MILLION.
UH, WE, WE'VE DONE A GREAT JOB IN BUILDING OUT OUR TRAIL NETWORK, BUT WE KIND OF, YOU KNOW, PUSHED TO THE, TO THE BACK OF THE LINE, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE MORE EXPENSIVE, MORE DIFFICULT SECTIONS.
YOU KNOW, IT'S EASY TO PUT UP FLEX POLES AND, AND, AND PAINT THE STREET AND PUT UP THE LITTLE BUTTONS ON ARMADILLOS.
IT'S MUCH HARDER TO, UH, DO SOMETHING LIKE, WE'RE DOING THIS A, A, A $3 MILLION PROJECT, BUT IT'S CRITICAL IF, ULTIMATELY, IF WE'RE GONNA HAVE A, A SOLID, UM, URBAN TRAILS AND, AND A BIKE SYSTEM WHERE PEOPLE CAN TRULY GET AROUND THE CITY, UH, ON THEIR BICYCLE.
THESE ARE THE KINDS OF IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE.
AND, AND JUST WITH THE BOND TALK AND LOOKING TOWARD, UH, I THINK THESE KIND OF FIXING THESE TINY LITTLE GAPS THAT WE HAVE IN WHAT'S ALREADY A QUALITY BIKE NETWORK IS, UH, IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL.
AND THEN, LET ME JUST COMMENT ON, UH, ON THE TRUST ACT.
THE FIRST THING I HAVE TO DO IS, UH, THANK THE FOLKS THAT HAVE WORKED SO HARD ON THIS, UH, IN MY OFFICE.
UH, KO HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS, UH, GOD, SIX MONTHS OR SO, AND EMILY GARRICK AND, AND, UH, DISTRICT SEVEN, UH, MIKE'S CHIEF OF STAFF HAS BEEN WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH US.
UM, THIS WAS, UH, AND ALSO ACTUALLY, UH, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, JUDGE FORTUNE, HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN, AT VIRTUALLY EVERY STEP OF THE WAY TO, UM, THIS IS A REALLY THOUGHTFUL, UH, ITEM WE LOOKED AT.
WHAT DO, AGAIN, THIS IS THE FIRST THING I DO, HONESTLY, WHEN I'M, WHAT DO OTHER CITIES DO? HOW DO OTHER CITIES HANDLE THESE KINDS OF THINGS? AND, AND WE FOUND, UH, A HANDFUL OF CITIES, NOT A LOT OF CITIES ARE, ARE DOING ANYTHING LIKE THIS, BUT THERE WERE A HANDFUL OUT THERE, AND THE ONE THAT REALLY KIND OF ROSE TO THE TOP WAS, UH, SANTA CLARA COUNTY, UH, WHICH, UH, HAS A, WHICH A LOT OF THIS ORDINANCE IS BASED ON WHAT, UH, SANTA CLARA COUNTY IN, IN CALIFORNIA, UH, DOES, WHERE THEY JUST HAVE A BASIC, UH, TRANSPARENCY MECHANISM FOR WHENEVER THEY'RE DOING ANY KIND OF SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY.
JUST UNDERSTANDING, YOU KNOW, WHAT IT IS, WHAT ARE THE FEATURES THAT ARE IN IT, UH, WHAT ARE THE PROTECTIONS AND SAFEGUARDS THAT ARE IN IT? UH, AND THE, UH, IDEA IS THAT WE WANT TO HAVE, UH, AN INFORMED AND PRODUCTIVE DEBATE AROUND THESE ISSUES AND NOT, UH, JUST KIND OF, UH, HAVE MISINFORMATION FLYING AROUND AND, AND YELLING AND WHATNOT.
WE, WE NEED TO, TO THINK THROUGH, UH, THESE KINDS OF ISSUES.
THERE CAN BE, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY BENEFITS, BUT THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY, UH, DANGERS TO, TO CIVIL LIBERTIES AND, AND TO PRIVACY.
[01:35:01]
OUR BEST TO BALANCE THESE.UH, I THINK THIS IS AN IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD IN, UH, TRYING TO, TO BALANCE THOSE ISSUES.
AND AT THE VERY, UH, AT THE VERY LEAST, JUST TRYING TO GET A, A, A FRAMEWORK FOR A BETTER DEBATE AND A DISCUSSION.
UM, AND THEN FINALLY, I JUST WANNA THANK MY, MY CO-SPONSORS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, MIKE SIEGEL, UH, JOSE VELASQUEZ, VANESSA FUENTES, AND, UH, CRYSTAL LANE.
THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND, UH, UH, JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO, TO, TO STAFF BRINGING THIS BACK IN, IN A FEW MONTHS, UH, WITH THE FINAL VERSION AND, AND, AND SEEING WHERE WE, UH, WHERE WE END UP WITH IT.
COUNCIL MAYOR PROAM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SEGAL, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER.
UM, FIRST ON ITEM 46, I WAS INSPIRED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ.
I'D LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR AND CONTRIBUTE $500 TOWARDS THE FEE WAIVERS.
UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, COUNCIL MEMBER SEGAL BE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR OF THAT ITEM, LIKE TO GO WATCH THIS, UH, THIS RACE AS WELL.
I THOUGHT YOU WERE GONNA VOLUNTEER TO WEAR A JERSEY, BUT I WAITING TO HEAR WHAT THAT WAS.
UM, AND YEAH, ON THE I TRUST, I REALLY WANNA THANK MAYOR PRO TE THANKS FOR GIVING STAFF A SHOUT OUT.
UM, I THINK THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD FOR THE CITY TO IMPROVE OUR INTERNAL SYSTEMS, TO BRING PROCUREMENT AND LAW AND INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS AND TECHNOLOGY STAFF TOGETHER TO CREATE PUBLIC TRANSPARENCY AND TO DO THE ANALYSIS ON THE FRONT END TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE BUYING BEFORE WE ACQUIRE A TOOL WITH SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY.
UH, SO THIS, THIS WAY, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A LOT OF PUBLIC SUNSHINE.
TWO WEEKS BEFORE COUNCIL TAKES ACTION, THERE'S GONNA BE A REPORT PUBLISHED, AND THEN WE'LL REALLY KNOW WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON AND WHAT THE CAPABILITIES AND RISKS ARE OF ANY SURVEILLANCE CONTRACTS.
UM, AND SO I HOPE, UH, THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF COUNCIL DOING OUR PART, UM, TO CREATE BETTER GOVERNANCE.
I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SOME TENSION ABOUT THE A LPR AND, UH, AI PARKS CAMERA ITEMS, AND HOPEFULLY THIS IS US KIND OF MAKING IT EASIER STAFF TO, TO WORK THROUGH, THROUGH THESE ITEMS AND AVOID, UH, SURPRISES AND DISAPPOINTMENTS.
UM, I'LL ALSO SAY, UH, WE DEFINITELY HEAR THE, THE CONCERN OF THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE EXIGENT CIRCUMSTANCES ASPECT OF THE RESOLUTION.
AND WE'LL DEFINITELY LOOK AT THAT CAREFULLY TO MAKE SURE WE'RE, WE'RE MAINTAINING THIS, THE COMMUNITY'S TRUST IN THIS POLICY.
UH, AND I'M HOPEFUL THIS WILL BECOME A FRAMEWORK THAT'S, UH, A MODEL AND, AND AN INSPIRATION FOR OTHER CITIES IN TEXAS AND ACROSS THE REGION.
UM, ALSO WANTED TO COMMENT ON ITEM 47.
THIS IS THE GREEN SOCIAL HOUSING, UH, STUDY AND STAKEHOLDER PROCESS.
UM, THIS HAS TAKEN A LOT OF WORK, EVEN THOUGH IT'S KIND OF JUST A, A SMALL STEP FORWARD IN POLICY CREATION.
SO I DO WANT TO THANK REALLY DOZENS OF PEOPLE WORKED ON THIS, INCLUDING MY STAFF.
UH, KAYLA SIMON, HEIDI SLOAN, UH, CO-SPONSORS, MAYOR PRO TEM VELA, COUNCIL MEMBERS, VELASQUEZ FUENTES, AND ALTAR.
ACTUALLY, THEIR STAFF PLAYED A HUGE ROLE.
TIMOTHY BRAVE VICTORIA HALL, SOPHIA MORALES, AND KRISTA WEATHERFORD, WANTING TO GIVE THEM SHOUT OUTS.
UH, THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, UH, MINNIE DE MAYO AND DIRECTOR DEAN, UH, A CM JOHNSON, HOUSING ADVOCATES, LABOR ADVOCATES, A LOT OF FOLKS WORKED ON THIS, UM, TO, TO BRING THIS TO THIS POINT.
AND SO JUST TO SUMMARIZE, YOU KNOW, KNOW THE IDEA OF GREEN SOCIAL HOUSING IS TO BRING PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE, CLIMATE FRIENDLY, AND PUBLICLY CONTROLLED HOUSING TO AUSTIN.
THIS WAS DEFINITELY INSPIRED BY SOME OF THESE LABOR LEADERS YOU HEARD TODAY WHO TALKED ABOUT THE STRUGGLE OF THEIR MEMBERS TO LIVE IN THE CITY WHERE THEY WORK.
UH, WE'RE THINKING OF THE FOLKS WHO BUILD AUSTIN AND MAKE IT GREAT AND ECONOMICALLY SUCCESSFUL, AND WE WANT THEM TO HAVE AFFORDABLE PLACES TO LIVE.
UM, THERE'S A LOT OF INSPIRATION FROM OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AS WELL AS AROUND THE WORLD THAT WE CAN, UH, LOOK AT FOR THIS.
AND I WANNA COMMENT A LITTLE BIT ON HOW IT MIGHT BE STRATEGIC.
'CAUSE SOME PEOPLE ARE HEARING ABOUT FALLING RENTS.
WHY IS THIS THE TIME FOR THE CITY TO POTENTIALLY INVEST IN, IN MORE, UH, HOUSING? AND THIS IS WHAT IS CALLED COUNTERCYCLICAL INVESTMENT BECAUSE WE KNOW AUSTIN IS CONTINUING TO GROW ALL THESE INVESTMENTS IN INFRASTRUCTURE, SEMICONDUCTORS, MANUFACTURING.
UH, WE KNOW PEOPLE ARE GONNA CONTINUE TO COME HERE, AND IF WE, UH, CREATE A PUBLIC OPTION FOR HOUSING THROUGH CITY INVESTMENT, THAT COULD LOCK IN FUTURE AFFORDABILITY FOR ALL THE WORKERS THAT ARE GONNA CONTINUE TO COME HERE.
UM, SO I REALLY WANNA THANK EVERYONE, UH, FOR BEING A PART OF THIS.
UH, WE HOPE WE CAN CREATE, CREATE A, A PUBLIC OPTION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE WORK AHEAD.
JUST WANNA PICK UP WHERE COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL LEFT OFF AND BOTH THANK AND CONGRATULATE HIM ON, ON ITEM 47.
EVERY TIME WE TALK ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THERE'S NO ONE SOLUTION, RIGHT? IT'S A WHOLE TOOLBOX.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT TOOLS AND WE DO HAVE A LOT OF REALLY GREAT TOOLS, BUT HOPEFULLY THIS IS ONE THAT WE CAN ADD TO THAT TOOLBOX AND BE ABLE TO CREATE EVEN MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING HERE IN AUSTIN.
SO I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO EXPAND OUR RANGE OF OPTIONS HERE, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT IT RESULTS.
COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
UM, MAY I ASK A QUESTION OF AUSTIN ENERGY? I SEE SOMEBODY THAT CAN ANSWER THAT.
GOOD MORNING, STUART RILEY, AUSTIN ENERGY GENERAL MANAGER.
[01:40:01]
REGARDING NUMBER ITEM SEVEN, I AM INTERESTED TO KNOW IF 3 1 1 SERVICES ARE A PART OF WHAT WILL BE CONSIDERED IN THIS CONTRACT.UM, I, I BELIEVE THIS IS A SEPARATE CONTRACT FOR OUR, FOR THE AUSTIN ENERGY SIDE.
UM, AND IT, IT, IT TALKS TO PEOPLE POST CALLS WITH OUR CUSTOMER CONTACT CENTER, PEOPLE WHO PARTICIPATE IN OUR REBATE PROGRAMS. SO IT DOES FOCUS GROUPS, UM, PHONE CALLS, ONLINE RESEARCH.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME KNOW.
I DO FIND THE CONTENT OF THE CONTRACT TO BE DIRECTLY RELEVANT TO THE CONCERNS THAT I'VE BEEN RAISING SINCE ELECTION.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT I'M SEEING SOMETHING COME TO COUNCIL ABOUT THAT.
UM, I WILL JUST FLAG THAT 3 1 1 SERVICES ARE ANOTHER AREA OF FREQUENT CONCERN, AND PERHAPS AFTER MY COMMENTS, UM, WE CAN TALK FURTHER ABOUT, OKAY, WHAT MIGHT WORK IN THAT AREA.
SO WITH THAT, I WILL TURN TO CONSENT COMMENTS.
UM, FIRST IN RELATION TO THIS CONTRACT, THE AUSTIN ENERGY CUSTOMER SATISFACTION MARKET RESEARCH, I WANNA MAKE A COUPLE OF GENERAL COMMENTS THAT, UM, RELATE TO EXTERNAL CONSULTING CONTRACTS.
THERE'S REALLY NO ONE SIZE FITS ALL ANSWER AS TO WHETHER A PROJECT IS MOST EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY COMPLETED IN-HOUSE VERSUS BUY AN EXTERNAL CONSULTANT.
IF WE HIRE TOO MANY EXTERNAL CONSULTANTS, WE, WE WILL ABSOLUTELY WASTE CITY RESOURCES.
BUT IN A CITY, THE SIZE AND COMPLEXITY OF AUSTIN, WE WILL ALSO RAISE RESOURCES IF WE DON'T HIRE ENOUGH CONSULTANTS.
UM, IT IS BECAUSE OF THE ONE ONE SIZE FITS ALL NATURE OF THE CALLS FOR A HUNDRED PERCENT EXTERNAL EFFICIENCY AUDIT THAT I DO NOT SUPPORT THAT.
BUT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THIS AUSTIN ENERGY CONTRACT AS AN EXAMPLE, WHERE WE ARE BEST SERVED AND WILL MOST EFFECTIVELY BE STEWARDS OF FINANCIAL RESOURCES BY APPROVING THIS CONTRACT.
UM, AS GENERAL MANAGER STUART RILEY NOTED THIS, THIS RESEARCH WILL INCLUDE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION, PROGRAM PARTICIPATION, LOW INCOME WEATHERIZATION EVALUATIONS, AND FOCUS GROUPS ON CORE SERVICES.
THE DATA COLLECTED WILL BE INVALUABLE TO ENSURE THAT OUR UTILITY CONTINUES TO DELIVER ON THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY BY CONTRACTING OUT WHAT IS BOTH CRITICAL AND EXTENSIVE WORK REQUIRED TO ACCURATELY MEASURE ATTITUDES OF AUSTIN ENERGY'S RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS.
WE WILL ACTUALLY EMPOWER OUR AUSTIN ENERGY STAFF TO FOCUS ON OPERATIONS WHILE STILL MAKING EFFECTIVE DATA-DRIVEN STRATEGIC DECISIONS ABOUT WHERE TO SHIFT RESOURCES IN ORDER TO IMPROVE RELIABILITY RESILIENCE FOR THOSE PARTS OF THE SERVICE AREA THAT CONTINUE TO SUFFER, UH, FROM INTERRUPTIONS IN POWER SERVICE AND OTHER CORE SERVICES.
THIS IS EXACTLY THE TYPE OF CONSULTING CONTRACT THAT, THAT I BELIEVE ADDS VALUE AND I AM PLEASED TO SUPPORT IT.
UH, THE OTHER ITEM I'D LIKE TO COMMENT ON IS ITEM 57, WHICH IS THE, UM, ECONOMIC INCENTIVE AGREEMENT RELATING TO THE SOUTH KOREAN COMPANY, 3 BILLION.
SO IT'S NO ACCIDENT THAT THIS KOREAN COMPANY, UM, THAT WORKS IN TECHNICAL FIELDS HAS CHOSEN THIS LOCATION IN AUSTIN'S DISTRICT SIX.
UM, TO, TO LOCATE AS THIS IS THE DISTRICT THAT I REPRESENT, I'LL COMMENT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST, UH, RATES, DENSITIES OF IMMIGRANT POPULATION IN THE CITY.
WE ALSO HAVE THE HIGHEST DENSITY OF ASIAN POPULATION IN THIS CITY.
AND HAVING RAISED MY CHILDREN IN THIS DISTRICT, UM, THEY ATTENDED AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THAT WAS 54% ASIAN, PREDOMINANTLY IMMIGRANT WORKING IN FIELDS JUST LIKE THIS.
THIS COMPANY HAS SELECTED A STRATEGIC LOCATION THAT IS ACCESSIBLE TO SIX 20 HIGHWAYS, BUT ALSO TO REALLY SIGNIFICANT INFRASTRUCTURE THAT THIS CITY HAS ALREADY INVESTED AND PAID FOR IN THE REDLINE.
UM, THIS, THIS LOCATION IS, IS VERY CLOSE TO THE LAKELINE STATION RAIL STOP, WHICH IS A RAIL THAT ALSO PROVIDES FREIGHT SERVICE, STRONG SCHOOLS AND, AND OTHER CHARACTERISTICS INCLUDING, UH, A LOT OF DIVERSITY THAT ARE ALL REASONS THAT A SOUTH KOREAN COMPANY WOULD CHOOSE TO LOCATE HERE.
UM, AND I AM HERE TO SAY QUITE EXPLICITLY THAT EVEN THOSE WHO THINK ABOUT, UH, WANTING A HOMEGROWN COMPANY OR LOCAL TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY, OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY INCLUDES KOREAN FAMILIES WHO HAVE HAD CHILDREN THAT ARE BORN AND RAISED HERE, NEVER LIVED ANYWHERE BUT DISTRICT SIX.
AND SO I PERSONALLY AM QUITE EXCITED TO SEE THIS COMPANY CHOOSE THIS LOCATION.
IT IS ALSO LOCATED NEAR ROUND ROCK ISDS, NEW CAREER TECHNICAL AND EDUCATION FACILITY.
[01:45:01]
ANTICIPATE HAVING SEEN FIRSTHAND THE WAYS IN WHICH OUR HIGH TECH WORKERS WORK WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT WE WILL UNCOVER NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO TRAIN, GROW, LEARN FROM THIS COMPANY THAT I KNOW ITS EMPLOYEES WILL BE INTERACTING CONSISTENTLY IN OUR SCHOOLS WITH OUR COMMUNITY.AND SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY HOW MUCH I, HOW PLEASED I AM TO WELCOME THIS COMPANY TO DISTRICT SIX AND HOW PLEASED I AM THAT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICE HAS PUT IN THE WORK TO CREATE AN INCENTIVE PLAN THAT WORKS FOR AUSTIN AS WELL AS THE COMPANY.
AND THE REASON I SAY THAT IT WORKS FOR AUSTIN IS BECAUSE THIS IS THE TYPE OF INVESTMENT THAT CAN START TO CREATE STIMULUS IN AN AREA, A RED LINE STATION THAT HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY NOT FULLY DEVELOPED.
AND, UM, AND THE COST OF THE INCENTIVES IS, IS SMALL RELATIVE TO THE BENEFITS THAT WE'RE GETTING, BUT IT'S ALSO BEEN A VERY CAREFULLY CRAFTED INCENTIVE PACKAGE AND I'M JUST VERY PLEASED TO SUPPORT IT.
COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN.
THANK YOU MAYOR FOR THE RECOGNITION.
AND YOU'LL HAVE TO FORGIVE ME FOR MY ALLERGIES.
IT'S THE SPRING ELM, I GUESS IT IS.
I WANTED TO SPEAK VERY DIRECTLY ABOUT ITEM NUMBER 61.
I KNOW I HAD POSTED ONTO THE MESSAGE BOARD THAT I WOULD, UM, BE SUPPORTIVE OF A POSTPONEMENT.
IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THERE IS, UM, A LOT OF OTHER FOLKS THAT WANT A LITTLE MORE TIME TO WORK ON THIS.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF WORK BY THE SUB QUORUM AND THEIR STAFF MEMBERS TO GET TO A PLACE WHERE THEY HAVE A REALLY GOOD WORKING DOCUMENT.
UM, BUT THOSE OF US THAT WEREN'T IN THE SUB SUB QUORUM HAVE NOT HAD THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME TO BE ABLE TO DIGEST THE INFORMATION.
THERE ARE 16 PAGES OF BE IT RESOLVES.
AND SO, UM, I KNOW THAT THIS CONVERSATION IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO GET MORE DETAILED AND THAT A LOT OF QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN ASKED ALONG THE WAY, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH STAFF IN THE COMING WEEKS TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
I DO THINK THIS IS A MOMENT THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BE THE EXAMPLE OF GETTING IT RIGHT.
THERE IS A VERY COMMON GOAL THAT'S HAPPENING HERE IN THIS CONVERSATION THAT EVERYBODY SAW PLAY OUT ON TUESDAY.
AND THAT IS THAT OUR PUBLIC SPACES SHOULD BE SAFE FOR EVERYONE IN AUSTIN.
WE CAN WANT INFORMATION TO BE SAFE FROM THE ENTITIES THAT ARE NOT BEHOLDEN TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND ARE NOT WORKING IN WAYS THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN SUPPORTS.
AND WE CAN ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THOSE VERY SAME POPULATIONS ARE NOT UNFAIRLY TARGETED IN OUR PARK SPACES, WHETHER THAT IS BY MURDER, BY HATE CRIME, AND YES, BY THEFT IN SOME INSTANCES.
THE STATE OF TEXAS HAS VERY LAX GUN LAWS.
WE HAVE HAD PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS GO AND TESTIFY TO OUR STATE LEGISLATURE THAT THEY ARE CREATING DANGEROUS ENVIRONMENTS FOR EVERYBODY IN TEXAS.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS THAT DO NOT KNOW HOW TO RESPONSIBLY HANDLE WEAPONS ARE USING THEM IN OUR PUBLIC SPACES.
THERE WAS A REPORT THAT A PD HAD DONE IN 2018 THAT SHOWED THAT STOLEN GUNS WERE FOUR TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE STOLEN FROM CARS THAN FROM HOMES.
SO WHAT'S HAPPENING IS PEOPLE WILL BREAK INTO VEHICLES, THEY WILL FIND THINGS, WHETHER THOSE ARE COMPUTERS, DEBIT AND CREDIT CARDS, OTHER PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION AND WEAPONS.
AND SO I HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK OVER MY TENURE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT LETTING PEOPLE WHO ARE CRIMINALS GET THEIR HANDS ON WEAPONS THAT THEY ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO HAVE AND THAT THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO SAFELY UTILIZE.
SO I THINK THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT MOMENT FOR THIS CITY COUNCIL.
I THINK THE COMMON GOAL IS, IS THE SAME HERE.
AND I THINK WE CAN TRULY STEP UP AND BE A LEADER IN THE STATE OF TEXAS ABOUT HOW TO BALANCE THE NEEDS OF PERSONAL SECURITY WITH INFORMATION AND THE WAY THAT, UM, TECHNOLOGIES ARE TRACKING PEOPLE, AND ALSO MAKE SURE THAT OUR MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES ARE NOT UNFAIRLY TARGETED AT THE EXACT SAME TIME.
I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO MOVE THROUGH THIS CONVERSATION.
EVERYONE'S HEART IS IN THE RIGHT PLACE AND THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD MINDS WORKING ON THIS, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THIS OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS TO SEE WHERE WE CAN LAND AND HOW WE CAN LEAD BY EXAMPLE.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN.
I WANNA ASK, UH, PROCEDURALLY, WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE FOR ME TO SAY, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEM 46, FOR WHICH I'M ALREADY A CO-SPONSOR, I'M SO INSPIRED BY MY COLLEAGUES, I'D LIKE TO CO-SPONSOR ALL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS.
IS THAT, IS THAT A THING I DO? UNLESS THERE'S OBJECTION.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON BE SHOWN AS A, A CO-SPONSOR OF, UH, ANY ITEM THAT WAS BROUGHT BY COUNCIL WHERE WE HAVE SPONSORSHIPS.
UM, AND I ALSO APPRECIATE GETTING THE OPPORTUNITY TO WATCH THIS RACE FORTHCOMING, UM,
UM, SO, UH, UH, I'D LIKE TO START WITH THE MILLENNIUM YOUTH ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX ITEM.
MY TEAM AND I, EVERY ITERATION OF IT HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR THE MILLENNIUM SINCE PRIOR
[01:50:01]
TO COUNCIL AND THEN DAY 1, 20 19.SO, UM, THE RELATIONSHIP HAD ALWAYS BEEN A THIRD, A THIRD PARTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY.
A LOT OF FOLKS DON'T RECOGNIZE THAT IT'S OUR FACILITY, IT'S DEDICATED PARKLAND, BUT IT WAS MANAGED BY A THIRD PARTY ENTITY.
WE NOW HAVE THE PROUD HONOR OF OUR VERY OWN IN-HOUSE ACME ARTS, UM, CULTURE, MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT DEPARTMENT, TAKING THE LEAD AS THE STEWARD FOR THE SPACE.
AND SO THERE'S AN ITEM THAT'S BEING APPROVED TODAY FOR, UM, UH, FUNDING, BUT IT'S FUNDING THAT WE OTHERWISE WOULD'VE ALLOCATED TO THE THIRD PARTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY ON BEHALF OF THE SPACE.
AND I'M REALLY HAPPY TO SEE IT COMING.
UM, ALSO A LOT OF FOLKS DON'T KNOW WHAT, WHY, WHERE, HOW THE MILLENNIUM, UM, THE NINETIES EAST AUSTIN, THE OH TWO EAST SIDE, TAMIKA ROSS AND JUAN RA LOST THEIR LIVES TO GUN VIOLENCE ON THE EAST SIDE.
AND THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN DECIDED THAT IT WAS HIGH TIME THAT WE CREATED A PLACE IN A SPACE FOR BLACK AND BROWN YOUTH TO BE ABLE TO SPEND THEIR DAYS AND THEIR TIME AFTER SCHOOL AND OUTSIDE OF, UM, RESPONSIBILITIES IN A WAY THAT WAS SAFE AND WHERE THEY COULD REMAIN IN THE COMMUNITY AND HAVE ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMMING THAT WERE SPECIFIC TO THEM.
THE, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY TOLD ME ONE TIME, IN FACT, I'LL GO AHEAD AND, AND WRITE HER OUT, IT WAS ONE OF MY TEENS.
SHE GOES, MOM, NOBODY PLAYS ARCADE GAMES.
AND IT OCCURRED TO ME AS I WAS WATCHING THIS EVOLUTION OF THE MILLENNIUM, THE SPACE, IT OCCURRED TO ME THAT MY KIDS ARE PLAYING ROBLOX WITH SOMEBODY IN SINGAPORE RIGHT NOW.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO VIDEO GAME ARCADES.
SO WATCHING THE EVOLUTION OF THAT SPACE TO ACCOMMODATE THE NEEDS OF OUR CURRENT GENERATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO STILL NEED SAFE PLACES TO GO, UM, I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THE PROGRESS MOVE FORWARD FOR THIS RELATIVELY NEW, UM, DEPARTMENT FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN WITH A LOT, A LOT TO CARRY.
AND SO I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE OUR COMMUNITY TO BE PATIENT AND ALSO BE SUPPORTIVE OF OFME AND THEIR EFFORTS.
UM, SO THE DISSOLUTION OF THAT MANAGEMENT CONTRACT, UM, IT'S THE BEGINNING OF THE NEXT CHAPTER.
AND SO AS A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT MAY COME, YOU KNOW, MY TERM ENDS THIS YEAR, AND SO I KEEP THINKING ABOUT ALL THE DISTRICT ONE ASSETS THAT I GET TO ENJOY NEXT YEAR AS A CONSTITUENT.
UM, AND SO THIS IS, I'LL COUNT THIS AS ONE.
UM, ALSO, SO WE HAVE A LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT DEVELOPMENT ON SPRINGDALE AND IN, UH, DISTRICT ONE.
I BASICALLY JUST WANNA SAY ANYTHING THAT'S OFFERING OVER 70% OF UNITS AT PERPETUAL AFFORDABILITY I'M A FAN OF.
AND SO I REALLY JUST APPRECIATE HAVING THIS ITEM COME FORWARD.
THERE ARE SO MANY POCKETS IN NORTHEAST AUSTIN AND THE NORTHEAST PLANNING DISTRICT THAT ARE ON COUNTY LAND.
A LOT OF OUR CONSTITUENTS DON'T RECOGNIZE THE VERY DISTINCT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND THE CITY, BUT WE ARE SEPARATE ENTITIES AND SO A LOT OF OUR, UM, ASSETS ARE ON COUNTY LAND.
SO MY OFFICE FREQUENTLY WORKS WITH OUR PARTNERS OVER AT THE COUNTY AND WITHIN THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH TRAVIS COUNTY, UM, WITH OUR COUNTERPARTS.
SO THESE TWO CORRIDOR PLANS WILL GO A LONG WAY TO REALLY IMPROVE MOBILITY IN THIS PART OF THE FURTHER PART OF NORTHEAST AUSTIN.
UH, LASTLY, THE COMPREHENSIVE, UH, EFFICIENCY ASSESSMENT.
I'M REALLY HAPPY TO SEE THIS MOVE FORWARD.
I'M REALLY HAPPY TO SEE IT ARTICULATED IN A WAY THAT IT'S BEING RECEIVED SO WELL BY BOTH THE COMMUNITY AND OUR COLLEAGUES.
THE ONE THING I'D LIKE TO ASK, AND I'M NOT SURE WHO THE MOST APPROPRIATE PERSON TO ASK IS DURING THE COURSE OF THE EXECUTION OF THIS AUDIT, UM, YOU GUYS MIGHT KNOW THAT THAT ITEM WAS WITHDRAWN.
UM, AND THEN, OH, BUT YOU KNOW, I DO HAVE A QUESTION FOR IT, BUT I'LL POSE IT NOT HERE.
UM, AND SO, OH, LASTLY, THE URB AMENDING EAST 11TH AND 12TH TO INCREASE MAX BUILDING HEIGHT.
UM, 11TH AND 12TH CONTINUES TO BE SORT OF A DIFFICULT AREA TO DEVELOP.
YOU KNOW, I USED TO SAY, UM, AUSTIN IS CHANGING AS A NATIVE AUSTIN, AUSTIN IS CHANGING.
IT AIN'T ALL GOOD, IT AIN'T ALL BAD, BUT IT'S ALL COMPLEX WHEN IT COMES TO THE EAST SIDE.
AND SO I LIKE VERY MUCH THAT THERE'S SO MUCH EFFORT BEING PAID TO PAYING ATTENTION TO THE NUANCES OF DEVELOPMENT IN THE HISTORIC AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL HERITAGE DISTRICT.
I JUST WANTED TO TOUCH ON TWO AGENDA ITEMS. ONE IS THE, UH, ITEM 47, WHICH I'LL BE UPSTANDING ON, EVEN THOUGH I KNOW THAT WE'VE INCORPORATED SOME OF THE, UH, SUGGESTIONS THAT WE'VE, UH, ASKED FOR.
I STILL WORRY THAT SOME OF THE PROTECTIONS AND REGULATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN THE ORDINANCE ARE VERY WELL INTENDED, BUT COULD DRAMATICALLY INCREASE THE COST OF PRODUCING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UH, AND, AND I WOULD SAY AN EVEN BIGGER CONCERN IS THE INCLUSION OF GENERAL FUND ALLOCATIONS AND POSSIBLE FUNDING THROUGH CO BONDS, UH, OR CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION THAT
[01:55:01]
WOULD NOT REQUIRE TAXPAYER APPROVAL, ESPECIALLY AFTER WHAT WE HEARD FROM OUR COMMUNITY LAST NOVEMBER.THAT SAID, I'M JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH OUR STAKEHOLDERS HERE ON THIS PROGRAM, WORKING OUT ANY KINKS THAT WE MAY RUN INTO AND SEEING WHAT, HOW WE COULD SCALE THIS KIND OF PROGRAM SHOULD, UH, UH, IF WE CAN DO THAT WITHOUT UNDERMINING THE GOOD WORK THAT WE'VE ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED IN THIS SPACE.
AND THE OTHER ITEM IS ITEM, UH, 61, AS I INDICATED ONLINE.
AND, AND TO BUILD ON COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS'S UH, OBSERVATIONS, UH, I'M REALLY GRATEFUL THAT MY COLLEAGUES AND STAFF HAVE INVESTED A LOT OF TIME IN DEVELOPING THIS POLICY.
AND I AGREE WITH THEM THAT A SMART, THOUGHTFUL LENS TO VIEW, UH, FOR, FOR US AS A CITY TO VIEW SURVEILLANCE TOOLS AND TECHNOLOGIES IS GONNA MAKE IT A LOT EASIER TO EVALUATE AND SELECT TECHNOLOGY TOOLS GOING FORWARD.
AND I ALSO APPRECIATE THE RESPONSIVENESS AND CHANGES THEY'VE ALREADY MADE TO, UH, TO THE POLICY.
BUT A, A SIGNIFICANT PART OF MY CONCERN IS JUST HOW WE WENT ABOUT THIS, THAT WE ADDED A 17 PAGE POLICY LAST FRIDAY AT THE END OF AN ADDENDUM AGENDA THAT GAVE THOSE OF US THAT WERE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE POLICY, BASICALLY THREE DAYS TO UNDERSTAND THE RESOLUTION, UH, WHICH IS THEN GONNA BE WOULD'VE UNTIL THE CHANGES WOULD'VE BEEN CONVERTED TO AN ORDINANCE IN LESS THAN TWO MONTHS.
UH, AND AND THAT WOULD'VE BASICALLY MEANT THAT THE PROVIDED GUIDELINES FOR FUTURE TECHNOLOGY, UH, WOULD'VE MEANT NOT JUST THE FUTURE TECHNOLOGY, BUT REVIEWING REALLY EVERY SINGLE LEGACY TECHNOLOGY OR TOOL THAT MIGHT HAVE HAD A SURVEILLANCE COMPONENT IN THE CITY.
AND I'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF ADVICE OVER THE LAST YEAR ABOUT JUST HOW TO PROCEED WITH GENERAL COUNCIL PROCESSES AND HOW WE GO ABOUT GETTING BUSINESS DONE AND MOVING THINGS THROUGH COUNCIL COMMITTEES AND GETTING INPUT THROUGH THE PUBLIC AND GETTING, SOLICITING OUR BOARD AND COMMISSION MEMBERS AND, AND GENERALLY PROVIDING PEOPLE ENOUGH TIME TO UNDERSTAND AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON POLICY, UH, AND TO ASK THE QUESTIONS AND TO GET THE CLARITY DURING OUR WORK SESSIONS AND THAT WE DO HAVE APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS TO PROVIDE THAT KIND OF INPUT.
SO I'M JUST REALLY URGING US TO BE MINDFUL GOING FORWARD, HOW WE APPROACH THESE KIND OF ITEMS, HOW WE APPROACH THESE KIND OF POLICIES, MAKE SURE THAT WE, UM, WE APPROACH WHEN THEY ARE SENSITIVE POLICIES, THAT THEY'RE IN LINE WITH THE GOALS AND THE LANGUAGE OF THE POLICIES THEMSELVES THAT WE'VE SEEN THIS HAPPEN MORE RECENTLY ON FINANCIAL ITEMS AND PROCESSES FROM OUR AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE.
WE COULD DO THAT WITH THIS KIND OF WORK AS WELL.
SO IN THE END, I'M LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH MAYOR PRO TEM AND STAFF AND DELIVERING A, A VERSION IN APRIL THAT WE CAN ALL GET BEHIND THAT BALANCES BOTH PROTECTING OUR PUBLIC SPACES BUT ALSO OUR COMMUNITY OF RESIDENTS AS WELL.
COUNCIL MEMBER, UCHIN MEMBERS, UM, THE, THE CONSENT AGENDA, THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER ERY, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN ABSTAINING OTHER THAN COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN ON ITEM NUMBER 47? IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN ABSTAINING FROM A VOTE ON ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN RECUSING THEMSELVES FROM A VOTE ON A SPECIFIC ITEM ON THE AGENDA? ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER I'D LIKE TO BE SHOWN NO.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER WILL BE SHOWN VOTING NO.
ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON AN ITEM ON THE UH, CONSENT AGENDA.
HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN ABSTAINING ON ITEM NUMBER 57 AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER VOTING NO.
UH, MEMBERS, THAT WILL TAKE US TO ITEM NUMBER 48 AND LET ME JUST IN, IN ADVANCE AND PREEMPTIVELY ASK EVERYONE TO TAKE THEIR CONVERSATIONS OUTSIDE BEFORE THEY START THEIR CONVERSATIONS.
[48. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance adjusting the City’s boundary limits by disannexing approximately 1.02 acres of land located at 1406 Rockcliff Road, Austin, Travis County, Texas, under Texas Senate Bill 1844 (89th Regular Session). Case number: C7d-2025-0009. The property is in Austin’s full purpose jurisdiction in Council District 8. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.]
IS A PUBLIC HEARING WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 48.THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK.
WE HAVE NO SPEAKERS ON ITEM 48 MEMBERS.
THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 48.
SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 48 AND THAT PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED.
UH, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER 48 MOTIONS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL.
IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE FOR ADOPTION OF ITEM NUMBER 48.
IS THERE DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER 48? HEARING NONE.
UH, ITEM NUMBER WITHOUT OBJECTION, ITEM NUMBER 48 IS ADOPTED MEMBERS.
[49. Conduct a public hearing to consider the proposed full-purpose annexation of approximately 9.776 acres of the Ross Road roadway and associated right-of way from the intersection of State Highway 71 East to approximately 381.35 feet south of Saint Thomas Drive. Case number: C7a-2026-0001. The property is currently located in Austin’s extraterritorial jurisdiction contiguous to Council District 2. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.]
ITEM NUMBER 49 IS ALSO A PUBLIC HEARING.IT IS A PUBLIC HEARING WHERE WE WILL NOT BE VOTING AT THIS MEETING, BUT IT IS A PUBLIC HEARING ON AN ANNEXATION, SO WE WILL HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT ANNEXATION WITHOUT A VOTE, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 49.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN AND I WILL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK.
THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON ITEM 49 MEMBERS.
[02:00:01]
ARE NO SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 49.UH, SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 49.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED.
AS I INDICATED, THIS IS AN ITEM THAT THERE WILL NOT BE A VOTE AT THIS POINT IN TIME, UH, BUT WE NEEDED TO CONDUCT THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THAT PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN CONDUCTED AND IS NOW CLOSED, AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE WHETHER THE MAYOR IS CAPABLE OF TALKING ABOUT ITEM NUMBER 49 FOR ANOTHER 10 SECONDS.
YES, THIS COLLEAGUE, THIS SEGMENT OF ROAD IS IN DELL VALLEY.
IT'S ONE OF THOSE MANY AREAS OF MY DISTRICT WHERE A ROAD IS HALF IN THE CITY AND THEN PARTIALLY IN THE COUNTY AND THEN BACK IN THE CITY.
UM, SO I'M VERY PLEASED TO SEE THIS ITEM MOVE FORWARD.
IT WAS APPROVED BY TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT, UH, TO ALLOW THE CITY TO AG, AG ANNEX
AND SO THIS WILL ALLOW US TO ENSURE THAT THE SAFETY OF OUR STREETS AND ROADWAYS ARE DONE WITH THE COMMUNITY IN MIND TO FACILITATE BETTER IMPROVEMENTS.
AND SO I'M REALLY PLEASED TO SEE THIS MOVE FORWARD.
[12:00 PM - Public Communication: General]
TAKES US TO OUR 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN.UM, AND WITH THAT I WILL TURN, WHICH IS PUBLIC COMMUNICATION, AND I WILL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK TO PLEASE ASK THAT YOU START CALLING THE NAMES FOR THOSE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
IF YOUR NAME, YOU'VE SIGNED UP AND YOU KNOW THAT THE ORDER.
SO IF YOU ARE, ARE HERE TO SPEAK, COME PLEASE COME FORWARD.
UH, GO AHEAD AND TAKE THE, TAKE A SEAT IF YOUR, UH, NAME IS CALLED SO THAT WE WILL, UH, BE ABLE TO EFFICIENTLY, UH, UH, HEAR FROM YOU.
SO I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK.
FIRST WE HAVE LAUREN ROSS, DR. ROSS, DO YOU HAVE THE MICROPHONE? MY NAME IS JUNIPER LAUREN ROSS.
I'M A LONGTIME AUSTIN RESIDENT, A QUEER WHITE WOMAN, AN ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER, AND AN ORGANIZER WITH UNDOING WHITE SUPREMACY AUSTIN, A COLLECTIVE OF MORE THAN 2000 OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE CITY'S EQUITY DIVISION AND THEIR LEGAL TRANSPARENT PARENT AND COURAGEOUS RACIAL EQUITY WORK ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
WE SEE ATTACKS ON IMMIGRANTS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR, NOT JUST ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BUT IN OUR OWN CITY.
WE ALSO SEE ATTACKS ON ANYONE WHO STANDS UP TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES AND THE PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS THAT NAME RACE AS A FACTOR IN UNEQUAL OUTCOMES.
CITIES ARE PRESSURED TO FALL IN LINE OR FACE SANCTIONS THAT CONTEXT MATTERS.
TRUMP'S DOJ INVESTIGATION HAPPENED IN A POLITICAL MOMENT WHEN RACIAL EQUITY WORK IS BEING FRAMED AS UNLAWFUL SIMPLY BECAUSE IT CHALLENGES ENTRENCHED POWER.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, LANE FUENTES AND SIEGEL.
WHEN THIS INVESTIGATION WAS ANNOUNCED, YOU SAID PUBLICLY THAT EQUITY IS BOTH LEGAL AND NECESSARY AND YOUR SUPPORT MATTERED TO THOSE OF US WATCHING TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT AUSTIN WILL STAND STRONG.
AS AN ENGINEER, I'M TRAINED TO LOOK AT SYSTEMS WHEN RACIAL DISPARITIES SHOW UP IN OUR CITY.
OVER DECADES IN HIRING AND ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE IN FLOODING AND HOUSING INSTABILITY, THAT IS NOT RANDOM.
THAT IS THE SYSTEM DOING EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS DESIGNED TO DO.
THE UNDOING RACISM WORKSHOP HAS GIVEN STAFF A FRAMEWORK TO UNDERSTAND HOW UN INSTITUTIONAL RACISM FUNCTIONS.
THE TEXAS MODEL DEVELOPED BY JOYCE JAMES REMAINS THE ONLY INTERVENTION THAT HAS CLOSED RACIAL DISPARITIES ACROSS TEXAS.
WHEN SOMETHING WORKS, DON'T ABANDON IT BECAUSE IT'S POLITICALLY INCONVENIENT.
BEFORE THE CURRENT FEDERAL PRESSURE, BEFORE TRUMP WAS ELECTED, THERE WERE EFFORTS TO SCALE BACK EQUITY WORK IN THIS CITY.
YOUR CAMPAIGN DONORS MAKE BANK ON INEQUITY AND THEY EXERT INFLUENCE.
THAT IS EXACTLY WHY INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY ACCOUNTABLE EQUITY INFRASTRUCTURE MATTERS.
AS A WHITE PERSON, IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO SPEAK OUT WHEN EQUITY WORK IS UNDER ATTACK, TO TAKE ON SOME OF THE RISKS SO THAT BLACK AND BOUND COMMUNITIES DON'T CARRY IT ALONE.
I URGE THIS COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THE EQUITY DIVISION AND UNDOING WORK RACISM WORKSHOPS.
I HAVE A PETITION FOR YOU SIGNED BY MORE THAN 200 PEOPLE ASKING FOR THIS SUPPORT.
AUSTIN CAN COMPLY WITH THE LAW AND KEEP ITS MORAL COMPASS.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ROCHELLE WILSON.
[02:05:01]
AT OUR COUNTRY.LOOK AT THE FEAR IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
ICES IN OUR STREETS, OUR STORES, OUR SCHOOLS, OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THEY ARE TERRORIZING PEOPLE, ABDUCTING CHILDREN, AND THEN LOSING THEM AND COMMITTING MURDER WITH IMPUNITY.
IS IT MAKING YOU UNCOMFORTABLE? YET Y'ALL MIGHT NOT BE CAPABLE OF DRAWING THE LINE BETWEEN WHAT WE FUND IN THE WEST BANK AND GAZA AND WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE, BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT LINE DOESN'T EXIST.
IT JUST HIGHLIGHTS YOUR INABILITY OR REFUSAL TO SEE A BIGGER PICTURE.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN INCENTIVIZES WAR PROFITEERS LIKE BAY TO MOVE.
HERE WE FUND SURVEILLANCE PROGRAMS THAT HELP ICE TARGET OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND NOW A PD WITHOUT MEANINGFUL PUSHBACK FROM OUR MAYOR OR CITY MANAGER, HAS DECIDED TO DEEPEN THAT HARM.
EMS LOST DESPERATELY NEEDED FUNDING WHILE A PD GOT EVEN MORE MONEY.
AND FOR WHAT? SO THAT UNDERTRAINED FEDERAL THUGS CAN MAKE US ALL FEEL LESS SAFE.
JUST THIS WEEK, ICE RAN A CAR OFF THE ROAD INTO SOMEBODY'S YARD IN CENTRAL AUSTIN.
AND WHAT ARE Y'ALL DOING ABOUT IT? ASIDE FROM POSTING FACEBOOK'S STATEMENTS DECORATED WITH YOUR NEW $1.4 MILLION CAMERA QUALITY LOGO, PLAYING BINGO IN BACK ROOMS WHILE YOU ROLL YOUR EYES AT YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
I SAY THIS WITH MY WHOLE CHEST, KNOWING MOST OF YOU DO NOT CARE WHAT THIS CITY PROMOTES AND FUNDS DOESN'T STAY HERE, IT TRAVELS TO PALESTINE WHERE IT IS BATTLE TESTED IN REAL TIME ON INNOCENT PEOPLE AND THEN THOSE SAME TOOLS ARE BROUGHT BACK HERE AND USED ON US.
AUSTIN IS CURRENTLY CONSIDERING A COMMUNITY SURVEILLANCE PARTNERSHIP WITH LIVEVIEW TECHNOLOGIES.
A COMPANY THAT DIRECTLY PARTNERS WITH IS IS AN ISRAELI AI ANALYTICS FIRM CALLED CUOMO.
THE SAME SURVEILLANCE USED TO MURDER COUNTLESS PALESTINIANS WOULD NOW BE WATCHING US ON THE STREETS OF AUSTIN.
AND YOU CALL THAT SAFETY AND PROGRESS.
IS THAT WHAT YOU MEANT WHEN YOU PROMISED US ETHICAL AI? WHEN I WATCH WHAT HAPPENS TO PEOPLE IN THE WEST BANK AND GAZA, IT TERRIFIES ME BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND IMPLICITLY THAT THE FATE OF PALESTINE WILL BECOME THE FATE OF US ALL AND Y'ALL SEEM TO WANT TO LICK THE G*****N ENVELOPE THAT IS SEALING THAT FATE.
HISTORY WILL NOT ASK WHAT YOU MEANT TO DO, ONLY WHAT YOU FUNDED AND WHAT YOU ENABLED AND WHO YOU IGNORED.
YOU ARE DECISION MAKERS AND THE HARM UNFOLDING NOW CARRIES YOUR FINGERPRINTS.
BE BRAVE ENOUGH TO CALL TO ABOLISH ICE AND LIBERATE PALESTINE.
ANYTHING LESS THAN THAT IS SIMPLY PERFORMATIVE AND IT IS THAT EXACT TYPE OF PERFORMATIVE POLITICS THAT HAVE LED US TO HAVING A PEDOPHILE FOR PRESIDENT.
GOD HELP US ALL AND GIVE US THE STRENGTH TO HELP OURSELVES BECAUSE OUR GOVERNING BODIES CLEARLY CAN'T DO THAT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DEREK SCHOONMAKER.
MY COMMUNITY IS EXPERIENCING ROAD CONDITIONS.
WAIT, AND AND I AND I APOLOGIZE, BUT WE NEED, EVEN THOUGH YOUR NAME GETS CALLED, WE NEED YOU TO STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
HI, MY NAME IS DEREK SCHOONMAKER.
MY COMMUNITY IS EXPERIENCING ROAD CONDITIONS THAT POSE A RISK FOR SERIOUS INJURY.
SEVERAL RESIDENTS HAVE REPORTED THIS ISSUE THROUGH APP, EMAIL, AND PHONE WITHOUT CORRECTIVE ACTION.
I'M HERE BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD ARE INCREASINGLY ALARMED BY THIS LONGSTANDING PREVENTABLE SAFETY HAZARD.
THE STREET I'M REF REFERRING TO IS DRISCOLL STREET BETWEEN THE I 35 SERVICE ROAD AND RED RIVER STREET WHERE IT MEETS THE WATERLINE CONSTRUCTION SITE.
THE MOST SEVERE ISSUE IS THE WAY PARKING IS ALLOWED TO SWITCH FROM ONE SIDE TO THE STREET TO THE OTHER.
DRISCOLL IS ONLY ABOUT THREE CAR WIDTHS WIDE, WHERE PARKING SWITCHES SIDES TO THE STREET EFFECTIVELY BECOMES ONE LANE CREATING A DANGEROUS BOTTLENECK.
I REGULARLY WITNESS NEAR HEAD-ON CLINICIANS AT CONCERNING SPEEDS.
VEHICLES ARE FORCED TO WAIT OR EVEN REVERSE INTO UNSUSPECTING TRAFFIC BEHIND THEM.
ALSO, CREATING DANGEROUS CONDITIONS IS A LACK OF PARKING ENFORCEMENT EVERY DAY.
ILLEGAL PARKING REDUCES THE ROADWAY TO LESS THAN A FULL LANE.
RESIDENTS DELIVERY DRIVERS CONSTRUCTION VEHICLES AND EVEN 18 WHEELERS ROUTINELY PARK ILLEGALLY WITHOUT CONSEQUENCE.
CONSTRUCTION VEHICLES HAVE MADE THIS WORSE BY CONSISTENTLY IGNORING RESTRICTIONS, EVEN COVERING NO PARKING SIGNS WITH TRASH BAGS, THE DANGER IS FURTHER WORSENED BY THE LACK OF PARKING SETBACKS.
EVEN VIGILANT DRIVERS NOT ANTICIPATING SINGLE LANE TRAFFIC, NARROWLY EVADE COLLISION WHEN PARKED VEHICLES ELIMINATE VISIBILITY.
ADDITIONALLY, THE STREET MARKINGS ARE ASSOCIATED THAT MANY DRIVERS DO NOT REALIZE RISK DRISKELL IS A TWO-WAY STREET OR EVEN IF THEY'RE DRIVING IN THE CORRECT LANE.
VEHICLES FREQUENTLY PARK IN WHAT SHOULD BE AN ACTIVE TRAVEL LANE.
WE'D LIKE TO PROPOSE SOME REASONABLE LOW COST SOLUTIONS.
ONE, ALLOW PARKING ONLY ON THE NORTH SIDE OF DRISCOLL AND PROHIBIT PARKING ON THE SOUTH SIDE, WHICH WOULD ELIMINATE THE BOTTLENECK AND APPROVE
[02:10:01]
VISIBILITY FOR DRIVERS AND PEDESTRIANS.TWO REPAINT STREET LINES SO DRIVERS CAN CLEARLY IDENTIFY TRAVEL LANES AND DIRECTION.
THREE, CONSISTENTLY ENFORCED PARKING RULES, PARTICULARLY BETWEEN EIGHT AND 9:00 AM AND IN THE AFTERNOON AND FOUR, ADD A PARKING SETBACK WHERE DRISCOLL MEETS I 35 EXTENSION TO RESTORE SIGHT LINES.
I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT THE CITY TREAT THIS AS AN URGENT SAFETY ISSUE AND TAKE ACTION BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED.
FINALLY, I'D JUST LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE ALL CONCERNED WITH A PROGRESSIVE MARCH TOWARDS AUTHORITARIANISM.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
AND, AND MR. MENDOZA, WILL YOU, IF YOU TURN AROUND THERE, YOU'LL SEE, UH, RICHARD MENDOZA IS THE DIRECTOR OF AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION AND, AND HE'LL VISIT WITH YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CALLIE HIBBS.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND BEGIN SPEAKING.
MY NAME IS CALLIE HIBBS OF DISTRICT THREE.
IN MARCH OF 2025, A PALESTINIAN STUDENT ORGANIZER FROM COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY BY THE NAME OF MAHMUD.
KHALIL WAS ABDUCTED BY ICE AGENTS.
HE WAS HELD IN DETENTION UNTIL PUBLIC PRESSURE ALLOWED FOR HIS RELEASE.
THREE MONTHS LATER, UPON HIS KIDNAPPING, THE AUSTIN FOR PALESTINE COALITION RESPONDED WITH THE DEMAND THAT WILL REMAIN LOUD AND CLEAR UNTIL IT COMES TO FRUITION.
ABOLISH ICE AS OUR NEIGHBORS YOUNG AND OLDER BEING VIOLENTLY DISAPPEARED BY FACELESS MEN WHILE LEAVING HEB ON RUNDBERG OR DRIVING TO WORK EARLY IN THE MORNING ON HIGHWAY TWO 90.
LET'S TALK ABOUT ICE HAVING THEIR OWN FIELD OFFICE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE GLOBE IN SO-CALLED TEL AVIV, ISRAEL.
THE ISRAELI OCCUPATION FORCES SHARE INFORMATION AND STRATEGIES WITH ICE, MEANING THE SAME TERROR TACTICS THAT ARE PRACTICED IN PALESTINE ARE THEN BROUGHT HERE TO THE US AND PERFECTED UPON, UH, OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY AND PRIMARILY PEOPLE OF COLOR.
AS OF LATE OTHER DEMOGRAPHICS HAVE FATALLY FALLEN TO THIS STATE.
VIOLENCE AS IMPORTANT AS IT IS THAT MANY AMERICANS ARE FINALLY BECOMING ACTIVATED AGAINST ICE IN THE WAKE OF THE RECENT MURDERS OF MINNEAPOLIS, I MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT'S BEEN VERY UNSETTLING TO SEE THAT MOST OF THESE FOLKS DIDN'T GIVE A DAMN UNTIL IT WAS WHITE AMERICANS GETTING SHOT DOWN IN REGARDS TO THE MURDER OF RENEE.
IN PARTICULAR, HER DEATH WAS MARKED IN A WAY THAT PALESTINIANS ARE ALL TOO FAMILIAR WITH.
YOU SHOOT THE INDIVIDUAL, YOU DENY ACCESS FOR A DOCTOR OR AN AMBULANCE TO INTERVENE.
THAT PERSON DIES WITHOUT LEAVING ANY SORT OF STATEMENT, AND THEN YOU LABEL THEM A TERRORIST.
SO NO ONE HAS TO BE HELD TO ACCOUNT FURTHER.
IT'S, IT'S TOUGH FOR A DEAD PERSON TO DEFEND THEIR OWN NAME AND INTENTIONS, RIGHT? ONE MUST HOPE THAT OTHERS TAKE UP THAT TASK.
IT'S BEEN DEVASTATING TO SEE THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND THE ENTITIES THAT EXIST WITHIN IT DEVOLVE TO BE COMING FUNCTIONALLY FASCIST WITH ICE TERRORISTS RUNNING AROUND KIDNAPPING COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
WAYMO'S WATCHING US AT ALL HOURS OF THE DAY.
WAR PROFITEERS SUCH AS THOSE A, B, C, G CAPITAL FACTORY AND THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR ITSELF, ALL HAVING LOCAL HEADQUARTERS HERE.
NO LONGER DOES OUR CITY PROVIDE ART CULTURE NOR MUSIC AND MASS FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD TO BEHOLD.
BUT RATHER WE DEAL OUT SURVEILLANCE, DISAPPEARANCE, DISAPPEARANCE, DESTRUCTION, AND DEATH.
A TANGIBLE ACTS ACTION THAT THIS COUNCIL COULD TAKE TO COUNTER THIS DETER, THIS DISTURBING TREND TOWARDS FASCISM IS SAYING NO TO AI SURVEILLANCE IN OUR PARKS.
WE NEED MONEY FOR HOUSING AND HEALTHCARE AND EDUCATION.
WE DO NOT NEED OUR FACES TO BE SCANNED, PROFILED, AND UPLOADED INTO GOD KNOWS WHAT KIND OF DATABASE BY LIVEVIEW TECHNOLOGIES, WHICH AS, UH, MY FRIEND ALREADY STATED, UH, PARTNERS HEAVILY WITH A ISRAELI AI COMPANY.
CUOMO PALESTINE IS NOT A NICHE ISSUE, NOR IS ICE TERROR, NOR IS AI.
THESE ISSUES ARE NOT ONLY MATERIALLY CONNECTED, BUT THEY'RE CORE IN DEFINING WHAT TYPE OF SOCIETY WE LIVE IN.
ABOLISH ICE LIBERATE PALESTINE.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE JOINING REMOTE EDWIN BATISTA.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SEVEN, A UT ALUM, A FORMER WEST CAMPUS RESIDENT AND A CERTIFIED URBAN PLANNER.
I'M SPEAKING TODAY BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD WITH THE UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD OVERLAY WAS NOT JUST A ZONING DELAY, IT WAS A FAILURE OR TRANSPARENCY WITH REAL CONSEQUENCES FOR STUDENTS AND RESIDENTS.
RIGHT NOW, IN APRIL TWO, APRIL, 2024, THAT'S CANCELED UNANIMOUSLY INITIATED THE UNO UPDATE.
WHAT FOLLOWED WAS NEARLY A YEAR OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.
STUDENTS, TENANTS, NEIGHBORS, AND PLANNERS SHOWING UP IN GOOD FAITH.
A VOTE WAS SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 5TH, 2025.
THEN AT THE 11TH HOUR, THE PROCESS WAS DERAILED.
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS REQUESTED
[02:15:01]
A PAUSE, NOT PUBLICLY, NOT BEFORE THIS COUNCIL, BUT THROUGH A PRIVATE LETTER SENT ONLY TO THE MAYOR.THE LETTER YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN TODAY WAS NOT DISCLOSED TO THE PUBLIC, NOT SHARED WITH STAKEHOLDERS, AND ONLY CAME TO LIGHT MONTHS LATER THE WAY PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUEST.
YET IT EFFECTIVELY HALTED THIS REFORM THAT MATTERS BECAUSE WHILE U TEASE SAID VERY LITTLE PUBLICLY, IT INTERNALLY CIRCULATED A FACT SHEET CLAIMING THAT THERE WAS QUOTE NO URGENT MARKET DRIVEN NEED END QUOTE FOR MORE HOUSING WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY ACKNOWLEDGING THAT UNO HAS FAILED TO PRODUCE SUFFICIENT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THAT SAME DOCUMENT STATES ONLY 3.5% OF NEW GROWTH SINCE 2004 HAS BEEN INCOME RESTRICTED.
THAT AFFORDABILITY HAS LARGELY BEEN REPLACED BY FEE LU PAYMENTS AND THAT SAFETY AND INFRASTRUCTURE CONCERNS WERE USED TO JUSTIFY DELAY.
SO LET'S BE CLEAR, THIS WAS NEVER JUST A DISAGREEMENT ABOUT HEIGHT OR BOUNDARIES.
THE PROPOSED UNO REFORMS INCLUDED NON-CONTROVERSIAL AND WIDELY SUPPORTED MEASURES LIKE ANY WINDOWLESS BEDROOMS, STRENGTHENING TENANT PROTECTIONS, IMPROVING AFFORDABILITY MECHANISMS, AND MAKING WEST CAMPUS SAFER AND MORE WALKABLE.
THESE ARE BASIC QUALITY OF LIFE STANDARDS THAT DID NOT REQUIRE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT HEIGHTS BOUNDARY EXPANSION OR WAITING UNTIL 2026, YET ALL OF THEM WERE STALLED.
ROLLING UNO INTO THE CENTRAL CITY PLAN DISTRICT MAY BE ADMINISTRATIVELY CONVENIENT, BUT IT PUSHED THESE NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS 18 MONTHS INTO THE FUTURE.
MEANWHILE, DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS ARE MOVING FORWARD RIGHT NOW UNDER OUTDATED RULES.
DELAY IS A DE A DECISION AND IT FAVORS OF STATUS QUO.
THE UNIVERSITY SHOULD NOT BE SHAPING CITY LAND USE POLICY THROUGH PRIVATE LETTERS WHILE CLAIMING CONCERN FOR STUDENT WELFARE.
IF THE UNIVERSITY HAS CONCERNS, THEY SHOULD BE DEBATED PUBLICLY, NOT INTRODUCED PRIVATELY AT THE LAST POSSIBLE MOMENT.
AFTER A YEAR OF ENGAGEMENT COUNCIL MEMBERS, I URGE YOU TO DO TWO THINGS.
FIRST, DECOUPLE THE NON-CONTROVERSIAL UNO REFORMS AND ADOPT THEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
THIS COUNCIL'S ROLE AS THE PUBLIC DIVISION MAKER GROUNDED IN TRANSPARENCY AND AN OPEN PUBLIC PROCESS.
WEST CAMPUS RESIDENTS CANNOT WAIT ANOTHER ACADEMIC CYCLE FOR SUNLIGHT, SAFETY AND FAIR HOUSING.
YOU STARTED THIS PROCESS WITH CLARITY AND CONSENSUS.
PLEASE FINISH IT WITH URGENCY AND TRANSPARENCY.
OUR NEXT SPEAKERS WILL BE CATHERINE GARCIA.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND BEGIN SPEAKING.
HELLO, MY NAME IS CATHERINE ILLA.
I GREW UP IN AUSTIN AND GRADUATED FROM UT AND I RUN A LOCAL RESTAURANT.
I'M HERE TODAY TO ADDRESS THE EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES WE FIND OURSELVES IN REGARDING FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT IN OUR CITY.
AND I WANNA START BY SAYING THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBERS, FUENTES, VELAZQUEZ, AND BELA FOR HOSTING A COMMUNITY CONVERSATION WITH CHIEF DAVIS.
TONIGHT AT SIX 30 AT AYA ELEMENTARY, WE'VE SEEN ICE AGENTS ABDUCT OUR NEIGHBORS OFF OUR STREETS, OUT OF THEIR CARS FROM THEIR WORKPLACES.
WE'VE WATCHED THEM CONDUCT HIGH SPEED CHASES THROUGH OUR STREETS, ENDANGERING OTHER DRIVERS, PEDESTRIANS, AND HOMEOWNERS.
WE SEE ICE AT TRAVIS COUNTY JAILS EVERY TWO HOURS SCOOPING UP ANYONE DETAINED WHO CANNOT PROVE THEIR CITIZENSHIP STATUS REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF A CRIME.
WE'VE SEEN A PD OFFICERS VOLUNTARILY CALL ICE ON VICTIMS WHEN THEY CALLED FOR HELP RESULTING IN THOSE VICTIMS BEING DEPORTED.
WE'VE GOTTEN KNOCKS ON OUR DOORS BY ARMED AND MASKED MEN WHO PRESENT NO JUDICIAL WARRANT AND NO PROBABLE CAUSE FOR BEING THERE.
ALL OF THIS IN THE WORDS OF TEXAS DISTRICT JUDGE BI IS TO SERVE THE ILL-CONCEIVED AND IN COMPETENTLY IMPLEMENTED GOVERNMENT PURSUIT OF DAILY DEPORTATION QUOTAS, APPARENTLY EVEN IF IT REQUIRES TRAUMATIZING CHILDREN.
AUTHORITARIANISM IS THE WORD OF THE DAY, AND AUTHORITARIANISM IS A FANCY WORD FOR THE STATE BULLYING THE PEOPLE.
AND A BULLY NEVER BACKS DOWN WHEN YOU GIVE THEM WHAT THEY SAY THAT THEY WANT BY MAKING YOURSELF SMALL AND NON-THREATENING, THEY ONLY BACK DOWN WHEN YOU STAND UP TO THEM WITH YOUR WHOLE CHEST AND YOU SAY NO, YOU CALL THEIR BLUFF AND YOU MAKE THEM STOP.
I BELIEVE THAT EACH OF YOU SITTING IN THIS ROOM WANTS OUR CITY TO BE WELL SAFE AND TO THRIVE.
BUT I DON'T SEE THE KIND OF COURAGEOUS AND CREATIVE THINKING FROM YOU THAT WE NEED IN ORDER TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
IN 2026, I KNOW THAT THE COUNCIL HAS FUNDED RED CARDS AT OUR PUBLIC LIBRARIES AND THAT'S WONDERFUL.
WILL YOU PLEASE ALSO GIVE THESE CARDS TO ALL CITY EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING A PD TO DISTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY.
CURRENTLY, OUR NEIGHBORS AND OUR NONPROFITS ARE SHOULDERING THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO CALL STRANGERS AND KNOCK ON DOORS.
WHEN WE WITNESS PEOPLE'S LOVED ONES BEING ABDUCTED, THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.
HOW WILL THE COUNCIL ENSURE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO FIND OUR LOVED ONES WHEN THEY GO MISSING? AND WHAT RESOURCES WILL THE CITY GIVE TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE LEFT BEHIND? IN, IN 1925, TEXAS ENACTED A PUBLIC MASK BAN IN RESPONSE TO THE KK K'S VIOLENCE AGAINST OUR COMMUNITIES.
TODAY, RACIALIZED VIOLENCE IS HAPPENING AT THE HANDS OF THE STATE.
WILL YOU RESEARCH AND CREATE A LOCAL ORDINANCE LIKE DETROIT IS CONSIDERING
[02:20:01]
TO PREVENT LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM CONCEALING THEIR IDENTITIES FROM OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT IN OUR CITY? IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.AS CHIEF DAVIS HAS SAID THAT A PD DOES NOT KNOW HOW MANY FEDERAL AGENTS ARE IN OUR CITY OR WHERE THEY ARE.
A PD MUST KNOW WHO IS LEGITIMATE LAW ENFORCEMENT.
HOW WILL A PD OFFICERS RESPOND WHEN THEY GET REPORTS OF OR DIRECTLY WITNESS FEDERAL AGENTS VIOLATING OUR COMMUNITY CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.
AND WILL YOU WORK WITH DA GARZA AND A PD TO ENSURE THAT EVERY CRIME COMMITTED BY ICE AGENTS IN OUR CITY IS TRACKED, RECORDED AND PROSECUTED ICE OUT OF AUSTIN? DID YOU CALL, DID YOU CALL LAURA CARINO? NO, WE HAD HER AS REMOTE.
UM, MY NAME'S LAURA CAROW AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE.
DO YOU GUYS REMEMBER KEEP AUSTIN WEIRD? YEAH, IT MIGHT FEEL LIKE A THROWBACK TO A BYGONE DAY.
UM, BUT I STILL BELIEVE
IT ALSO MEANS PROTECTING THE VULNERABLE.
WE MAY NOT HAVE THOUSANDS OF ICE AGENTS IN OUR CITY LIKE MINNEAPOLIS, BUT OUR GOVERNOR HAS ESSENTIALLY DEPUTIZED STATE TROOPERS TO BE THEIR WATCHMEN.
ONE IN FOUR ARRESTS IN ICE OR BY ICE ARE IN TEXAS.
MONDAY MORNING MY FRIEND WAS WALKING HER DOG ON A QUIET STREET IN NORTH LOOP WITH NO SIDEWALKS.
WHEN SUDDENLY A CAR FLEEING ICE AGENTS NEARLY RAN HER OVER ALONG WITH A MOTHER PUSHING HER CHILD IN A STROLLER.
THE AUSTIN ONLINE CHATS LATER EXPLODED WITH PHOTOS OF A PD WITH ICE.
AFTER A PD WAS CALLED, UM, BECAUSE OF THE CRASH, PEOPLE WERE ALSO POSTING PHOTOS OF FLOCK CAMERAS AT BURNETT AND SAYING, A PD HAS A CONTRACT WITH FLOCK.
THAT'S BECAUSE FLOCK STILL SAYS THAT ON THEIR WEBSITE, PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND.
THEY CAN'T PAY ATTENTION TO ALL THE DETAILS OF WHAT Y'ALL ARE DOING.
AND TRUST IS LOW IN, IN AUSTIN, AS YOU'VE HEARD FROM OTHER FOLKS TODAY.
MEANWHILE, VOLUNTEERS ARE WORKING TO HELP OUR NEIGHBORS WHO ARE TERRORIZED BY ICE ACTIVITY, AFRAID TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES PROVIDING GROCERIES, CHRISTMAS GIFTS, RIDES TO IMMIGRATION APPOINTMENTS WHERE THEY MAY GET DETAINED ALL WHILE WORRYING ABOUT SURVEILLANCE.
I WORRY, HOW WILL WE SUSTAIN THIS? HOW CAN KIDS FOCUS ON SCHOOL WHEN THEY WORRY THAT THEY AND THEIR PARENTS MAY END UP IN A PRIVATE PRISON WAREHOUSE WITH A MEASLES OUTBREAK WHEN THEIR PARENTS CAN'T WORK? AND I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU THINK YOU'RE WALKING A FINE LINE AS CITY COUNCIL AND BE TEMPTED BY APPEASEMENT, GOVERNED BY THE ARCHITECT OF THE CRUEL INHUMANE OPERATION LONE STAR, WHICH INCLUDES IMPRISONING BABIES AND TODDLERS.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? PEOPLE ARE VERY WEARY OF THIS CRUELTY AND CORRUPTION AND WE EXPECT OUR LEADERS TO SHOW CONVICTION TO DEFEND US, ESPECIALLY OUR IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORS.
I URGE YOU TO PUSH YOUR STAFF AND A PD TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND TO LISTEN TO THE VULNERABLE AND TO THE COMMUNITY.
HOW CAN WE HAVE PUBLIC SAFETY WITHOUT MASS SURVEILLANCE? HOW COULD A PD NOT COMPLY IN ADVANCE? HOW CAN ICE BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE WHEN THEY ENDANGER OUR COMMUNITY? COULD WE HAVE AN EVICTION PREVENTION PROGRAM TO HELP FAMILIES? THOSE ARE JUST A FEW IDEAS I HAD ON MY OWN.
PLEASE GO AHEAD, JUST STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD PLEASE.
I'VE LIVED IN AUSTIN FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS NOW.
UM, ESTEEMED CITY COUNCIL OFFICIALS.
WE ARE AT CROSSROADS IN HISTORY.
OUR NATION IS BESIEGED BY WHITE RADICALISM POSING AS LAW ENFORCEMENT TARGETING THE MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, OUR IMMIGRANT BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHOSE ONLY CRIME IS SEEKING A BETTER LIFE.
OUR CITY HAS BEEN WOEFULLY NEGLIGENT IN PROVIDING THEM WITH ASSISTANCE.
ICE IS IN AUSTIN AND IS OUR JOB TO SHOW THEM AS LITTLE HOSPITALITY AND AFFECTION AS WE CAN TO MONITOR THESE MASS THUGS AND PROVIDE THEM WITH NO AID.
I CALL UPON OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO STYMIE THEIR EFFORTS BOTH HERE IN AUSTIN AND FURTHER AFIELD REASSURE OUR MIGRANT COMMUNITY THAT WE STAND WITH THEM IN BOTH WORD DEED.
I URGE YOU TO MEET THE FAMILIES OF
[02:25:01]
THE DETAINED AND HEAR THEIR STORIES, THEIR FEARS AND THEIR GRIEF.WE NEED YOU TO SEARCH INSIDE YOURSELF AND DETERMINE WHAT SORT OF LEGACY YOU WANT TO LEAVE ONE OF HOPE AND BRAVERY OR ONE OF TOING TO HATE.
WE HAVE ALI THARP AND ETHAN SMITH.
I ASKED HIM TO GO IN FRONT OF ME.
UM, I SENT Y'ALL A ONE SHEET PIECE.
CAN JUST STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD PLEASE.
I SENT Y'ALL A ONE SHEET PIECE OF PAPER AND THEN THERE'S SOME BACKUP THAT ARE EMAILS.
DID Y'ALL RECEIVE THAT? WHEN DID YOU SEND IT A FEW DAYS AGO THROUGH THE CITY CLERK.
I DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME NOW.
IT'S, UH, SO THIS IS KIND OF MUNDANE, BUT THERE'S A WASTEWATER AVERAGING PERIOD AND UM, IF YOU HAVE A, AN INCIDENT LIKE A, A LEAKY FAUCET OR PIPE, YOU HAVE A LOT MORE WATER USAGE DURING THAT TIME.
AND IT IS, UM, IT IS A NON-STANDARD USE OF WATER.
SO WE'RE IN THE WASTEWATER AVERAGING PERIOD RIGHT NOW, ACTUALLY, I THINK BECAUSE THIS IS THE LOW PERIOD.
THEY DON'T WANNA HAVE LIKE, WHEN YOU'RE WATERING YOUR LAWN IN THE SUMMER TO CALCULATE IT.
SO BASICALLY IF YOU HAVE LIKE A, UH, A LEAKY PIPE, YOU GET AN AUTOMATED SYSTEM WILL TELL YOU SO, WHICH IS GREAT 'CAUSE THEN YOU CAN HIRE SOMEBODY TO ADDRESS IT.
BUT, UM, BUT THAT USAGE WILL GO INTO YOUR AVERAGE OF THAT PERIOD EVEN THOUGH IT WASN'T AN A USAGE, RIGHT? SO, UM, THE IDEA IS THERE'S THE BILLING SYSTEM AT AUSTIN WATER AND THEN THERE'S THIS SYSTEM THAT, THAT PINGS THE AUTOMATED USE TO CONNECT THOSE SYSTEMS SO THAT THIS ADDITIONAL USAGE DOESN'T GO INTO YOUR AVERAGE WASTEWATER BILL FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR.
AND, UM, THIS MAY OR MAY NOT BE DOABLE THIS YEAR.
IT MAY BE THAT AUSTIN WATER NEEDS ADDITIONAL TIME TO GET THIS READY FOR NEXT YEAR, BUT, UM, I JUST WANTED TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT BECAUSE, UM, AND THE INFORMATION ABOUT KIND OF THE DETAILS IS IN THAT PAPERWORK, BUT, UM, SOMETIMES IT HELPS TO HAVE THE POLITICAL LEADERSHIP CHECK UP ON THOSE KIND OF ISSUES AND JUST MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW, HEY, IT'S OKAY FOR THIS TO BE A PRIORITY.
'CAUSE IT IS A, A COST OF LIVING ISSUE, WHICH IS SOMETHING WE TALK ABOUT A LOT.
UM, AND YEAH, I'LL JUST, I GOT A LITTLE TIME LEFT.
I'LL JUST SAY SOMETHING ABOUT UNO THAT IT IS, UM, IT'S DIFFICULT THE, THE UNIVERSITY AND THE CITY'S RELATIONSHIP AND THEN PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT, IT'S DIFFICULT RIGHT? TO KIND OF SQUARE ALL THOSE THINGS.
BUT BASICALLY IF THE UNIVERSITY HAS A GOAL, WHICH I'M SPECULATING OF INCREASING ENROLLMENT, THEY'LL NEED ADDITIONAL HOUSING.
BUT IT MAY BE THAT FROM AN EQUITY STANDPOINT, UH, WHAT THEY'RE ABLE TO GIVE BACK AND PASS ON TO THEIR STUDENTS IS GREATER IF THEY BUILD THE HOUSING.
AND THAT'S JUST A A MULTI-YEAR CONVERSATION.
SO IT'S UP TO Y'ALL TO FIGURE OUT WHAT PARTS OF THAT SHOULD BE PUBLIC AND NOT.
BUT THANKS FOR THE WORK YOU DO ON THAT.
AND WE HAVE SOMEBODY THAT WILL VISIT WITH YOU ON THE UH, WATER ISSUE.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND BEGIN SPEAKING.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF FESTIVAL BEACH FOOD FOREST, A COMMUNITY LED EDIBLE FOREST GARDEN ON CITY PARKLAND.
IF ANYONE ELSE HERE KNOWS AND LOVES THE FOOD FOREST, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU REGULARLY VOLUNTEER WITH THE FOOD FOREST.
WE ARE HERE TODAY BECAUSE THANK YOU.
WE ARE HERE TODAY BECAUSE THE CHAPTER 26 APPROVAL OF A WASTEWATER PIPELINE EASEMENT THROUGH THE PARKLAND THAT WE STORED PASSED BY THIS BODY JANUARY OF 2025, FAILED TO ACTUALLY MEET THE STANDARD OF DOING ALL REASONABLE PLANNING TO MITIGATE HARM TO THE PARK AND FAILED TO NOTIFY OR INCLUDE US IN THE PUBLIC HEARING PROCESS AS DIRECT STEWARDS AND SUPERVISORS OF THE IMPACTED PARKLAND THROUGH OUR LONGSTANDING PARTNERSHIP WITH A PR AND THE CITY AT LARGE, WHICH YOU CAN REVIEW IN THE DOCUMENTS I'VE PROVIDED FOR YOU TODAY.
WE WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THIS EASEMENT OR PROJECT IN ANY FASHION BY ANY CITY OR TXDOT STAFF.
[02:30:01]
QUARTERLY MEETINGS WITH TXDOT TO MITIGATE HARM TO THE COMMUNITY AND PARKLAND UNTIL JANUARY 6TH OF THIS YEAR, HALF A MILLION DOLLARS IN COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS WILL BE DESTROYED, INCLUDING SIGNIFICANT FUNDING FROM THE CITY URBAN FOREST GRANT PROGRAM.WE'RE BEING TOLD CONSTRUCTION OF THIS PIPELINE WILL BEGIN THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 16TH.
THIS IS A VIOLATION OF OUR LEGAL CONTRACT WITH THE CITY THROUGH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, SECTION EIGHT CLAUSE D, WHICH OUTLINES A RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CITY TO GIVE US 60 DAYS WRITTEN NOTICE OF ANY CONSTRUCTION THAT WILL TAKE PLACE WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF THE FOOD FOREST.
I'M HERE TO ASK FOR THIS BODY'S IMMEDIATE SUPPORT TO CORRECT THE MISTAKE THAT WAS MADE IN JANUARY OF LAST YEAR WHEN THIS PROJECT WAS APPROVED BEFORE ALL REASONABLE PLANNING TO MITIGATE HARM TO THE PARK WAS DONE.
FIRSTLY, PLEASE TAKE SOME TIME TO READ THROUGH THE PETITION SIGNATURES OVER 1800 AUSTIN RESIDENTS GENERATED OVER THE PAST WEEK.
I'VE ORGANIZED THEM BY COUNCIL DISTRICT FOR YOU.
THIS COMMUNITY DEEPLY BENEFITS FROM AND LOVES THIS PARK AND WE ARE HEARTBROKEN.
SECONDLY, USE ALL LEVERS OF POWER THAT YOU HAVE TO ENSURE OUR LEGAL CONTRACT IS UPHELD.
THE FOOD FOREST MUST BE GIVEN 60 DAYS WRITTEN NOTICE BEFORE THIS CONSTRUCTION BEGINS.
WE NEED TO SLOW DOWN SO THAT WE CAN COORDINATE WITH AUSTIN WATER, WITH AUSTIN PARKS, WITH CAPITAL DELIVERY SERVICE WITH TDOT IN ORDER TO MITIGATE HARM.
THIRD, PLEASE USE ALL LEVERS OF POWER AT YOUR DISPOSAL TO CALL TXDOT INTO BEING A BETTER ACTOR WHEN THEY ARE DOING WORK ON BEHALF OF THE CITY TO REALLOCATE A CITY UTILITY.
THEY ARE POINTING BLAME TO THE CITY AND THEY ARE FAILING TO COME TO THE TABLE, FAILING TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE INFORMATION AND HARM MITIGATION.
AND LASTLY, PLEASE KEEP YOUR EYES ON THIS EVOLVING SITUATION TO ENSURE THE FOOD FOREST CAN RECOVER FROM THIS DEVASTATING BLOW CAN CONTINUE TO GROW AND THRIVE AS A PUBLIC COMMONS THAT SUPPORTS OUR CLIMATE ACTION PLAN, OUR FOOD PLAN, OUR COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
LOOK AT ITEM 40 ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, WHICH PROVIDES FUNDING AND PLEASE PUT THAT FUNDING BACK INTO THE FOOD FOREST, BOTH THROUGH PARKS AND THROUGH GRANTS OR CONTRACTS WITH US SO THAT WE HAVE MONEY IN OUR BANK ACCOUNT AS WELL.
UH, TWO THINGS, MR. A GARY, MS. MA'AM, YOU IF YOU'D VISIT WITH MR. AGAR, HE'S IN THE BACK WITH A, A, AN ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER SO YOU CAN DISCUSS THAT AND COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU ON HER COMMENTS.
UH, YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO THANK MS. STAR AND, UH, THE FOLKS FROM THE FOOD FORCE FOR BEING HERE.
Y'ALL HAVE OUR OFFICE'S SUPPORT AND, UH, COMMITMENT THAT WE WILL ENSURE THAT THE CITY BETTER COLLABORATES WITH YOU IN A TIMELY MANNER.
UH, OUR STAFF HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH SOME OF Y'ALL'S LEADERSHIP AND, UH, NOTED YOUR DEMANDS TO THE CITY.
THOSE FOLKS HAVE ME AND MY, UH, MY POLICY ADVISORS PERSONAL CELL PHONE NUMBERS.
PLEASE REACH OUT ANYTIME WE CAN BE OF SERVICE AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON PUBLIC, OUR 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.
THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS FOR A TWO O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN.
SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL WILL BE IN RECESS UNTIL PROMPTLY AT TWO O'CLOCK.
IT IS 12:32 PM THANKS EVERYBODY.
[Live Music]
GOOD AFTERNOON, AUSTIN, TEXAS.MY NAME IS NATASHA HARPER MADISON AND I'M THE PROUD COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT ONE ON THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
UM, SOMETHING THAT WE GET TO DO NOT AS FREQUENTLY AS I WOULD LIKE IS SAY THANK YOU TO OUR STAFFERS.
AND SO A GENERAL BIG THANK YOU TO OUR STAFFERS IS IN ORDER, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, A REAL GENERAL BIG THANK YOU TO A MULTI-TALENTED STAFFER WHO IS A POLICY AID IN THE DISTRICT ONE OFFICE.
SO AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND CITY HALL CHAMBERS.
I WANT Y'ALL TO GIVE A BIG FAT WELCOME TO WHERE ARE THE BATS? I DIDN'T HEAR IT THERE.
WHERE ARE THE BATS? IS AN AUSTIN BASED POP BUNK AND POP PUNK AND EMO VAN WHOSE MEMBERS HAIL FROM BOTH COAST, THE MIDWEST AND THE LONE STAR STATE ITSELF.
THEIR MIX OF COVERS AND ORIGINALS HAS RUNG THROUGH THE HALLS OF THE WORLD'S LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL SINCE AUGUST OF 2025.
ITS MEMBERS ARE ANDREW, MICHELLE, JORDAN, ANDY CHIRA, THOMAS BROOKS, AND CITY HALL'S OWN SEAN MONROE.
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, WHERE ARE THE BETS?
[02:35:37]
SEE EVERYTHING YOU MEANT TO ME? I JUST WISH I SAW IT TOO.BUT I THINK THAT EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING'S FINE MAKING MY WAY THROUGH IT THIS TIME.
WHO KNEW? I FEEL SO TELL YOU I DIDN'T, DIDN'T, I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T FREAK YOU.
DUCK LIKE A CAR WRAPPED AROUND A TREE.
YOU ARE ALWAYS SUPPOSED TO BE THE ONE WHO I CALL YOU AND TAKE BACK THE THINGS I DID WRONG, BUT UN THE MEMORIES OF AND HE HAS GIVE IT UP FOR ANDY ON THE GUITAR.
[02:40:11]
SEE? AND NOW THERE'S A KNIFE WHERE YOU USED TO BE.I TRADE ALL THE PAIN FOR I CALL YOU AND I DID WRONG THE AS THOMAS ON THE BASE, FINALLY, ANDREW JORDAN ON THE THANK YOU CITY HALL.
PLEASE FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM.
WE ARE AT, WHERE ARE THE BATS? AT TX ON INSTAGRAM.
CAN YOU REPEAT THAT AGAIN? I THINK WE WERE TOO BUSY CHEERING.
YOU SAID WHERE WE CAN FIND JOE, WHERE ARE THE BATS AT TX AWESOME.
WHERE ARE THE BATS? A TX LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.
I'M GONNA READ INTO THE RECORD NOW YOUR PROCLAMATION.
I'D LIKE TO PREFACE THIS BY SAYING THIS IS MY FIRST TIME DOING THIS FOR A STAFFER AND IT FEELS REALLY SPECIAL.
SO THANK YOU ALL Y'ALL FOR PERFORMING TODAY.
BE KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS IS BLESSED WITH MANY CREATIVE MUSICIANS WHOSE TALENT EXTENDS TO VIRTUALLY EVERY MUSICAL GENRE.
AND WHEREAS OUR MUSIC SCENE THRIVES BECAUSE AUSTIN AUDIENCES SUPPORT GOOD MUSIC PRODUCED BY LEGENDS, OUR LOCAL FAVORITES AND NEWCOMERS ALIKE.
WHEREAS WE ARE PLEASED TO SHOWCASE AND SUPPORT OUR LOCAL ARTISTS.
NOW, THEREFORE, I NOT KIRK WATSON, NATASHA HARPER MADISON, ALONG WITH OUR MAYOR KIRK WATSON, THE MAYOR OF THE LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD, AND THE REMAINDER OF THE COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROC CLAY THIS DAY, FEBRUARY 5TH, 2026.
AS WHERE ARE THE BATS DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS? YOU KNOW, I GOTTA PUT YOU ON THE SPOT.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE A FEW WORDS? WHAT WAS THAT? I SAID YOU'RE NOT GONNA PUT YOU ON THE SPOT.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE A FEW WORDS? OH, REALLY QUICK.
OUR FIRST SHOW IS, OUR NEXT SHOW IS FEBRUARY 25TH AT COME AND TAKE IT LIVE.
SO PLEASE COME TO THAT IF YOU'RE ABLE TO MAKE IT, UM, EVEN THOUGH IT'S A WEDNESDAY NIGHT, 11:00 PM YOU KNOW, I KNOW NOT THE LOGISTICALLY MOST CONVENIENT TIME, BUT WE'LL BE THERE.
UM, I WANT SHOUT OUT MY CITY HALL FRIENDS FOR, FOR BEING SUCH A GOOD CROWD.
UM, YEAH, I WAS REALLY NERVOUS, SO I APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT I WAS TELLING MY BAND MATES, I WAS MORE NERVOUS FOR THIS THAN I WOULD BE FOR A REGULAR 40 MINUTE SET IN FRONT OF PEOPLE.
SO, UH, APPRECIATE YOU GUYS A LOT.
UM, I WANNA SHOUT OUT MY BAND MATES.
THOMAS ACTUALLY WILL BE JOINING US AS AN INTERN IN A FEW WEEKS.
AND, UH, YEAH, ONCE AGAIN, THAT'S UH, ANDY ON THE GUITAR.
WE'VE GOT, UH, ANDREW ON THE DRUMS. THEN MICHELLE, WHERE'S MICHELLE? SHE'S OUR MANAGER.
AH, THERE'S MICHELLE'S GIVE MICHELLE A SHOUT OUT TO.
UM, YEAH, I MOVED TO AUSTIN A YEAR AND A HALF AGO IN LARGE PART 'CAUSE OF EVERYTHING, ALL THE GREAT THINGS I WAS HEARING ABOUT THE LIVE MUSIC SCENE HERE.
AND UH, YEAH, IT'S DEFINITELY LIVED UP TO AND EXCEEDED MY EXPECTATIONS AND YOU GUYS ALL HAVE, UH, HELPED MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME, MAYOR PRO.
TIM, WOULD YOU LIKE TO JOIN US FOR SOME FOLK OUT? OH YEAH, YEAH.
[02:45:01]
HEY EVERYBODY, IT'S TWO O'CLOCK ON FEBRUARY 5TH, 2026 AND I WILL CALL THE CITY COUNCIL BACK TO ORDER AFTER A BRIEF RECESS.[2:00 PM - Public Hearings and Possible Action (Part 1 of 2)]
WILL GO TO OUR TWO O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, WE HAVE TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS THAT WERE SET FOR A TWO O'CLOCK AND FIRST ONE IS ITEM NUMBER 50.UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, I WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE.
WE HAVE NO SPEAKERS FOR ITEM 50 MEMBERS AS YOU'VE HEARD.
THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 50.
SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED AND THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE.
ITEM NUMBER 50, MOTION MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.
HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.
UM, THAT WILL TAKE US ITEM NUMBER 51, WHICH IS ALSO A PUBLIC HEARING.
UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK.
WE HAVE NO SPEAKERS FOR ITEM 51.
UH, THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS, SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 51 AND I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE.
UH, MOTIONS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PUENTES IS THEIR DISCUSSION.
HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION, ITEM NUMBER 51 IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER LANE TEMPORARILY OFF THE DIOCESE.
AND BY THE WAY, FOR THE RECORD, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER LANE WAS TEMPORARILY OFF THE DA ON ITEM NUMBER 50 AS WELL.
[2:00 PM - Zoning and Neighborhood Plan Amendments (Public Hearings and Possible Action)]
TAKE US TO OUR TWO O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN ON ZONING AND I'LL RECOGNIZE MS. HARDEN.THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL JOY HARDEN WITH AUSTIN PLANNING YOUR ZONING AGENDA BEGINS WITH ITEM NUMBER 52 C 1 4 20 25 0 1 1 0.
THIS ITEM'S OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
ITEM 53 IS C 8 1 4 0 4 0 1 8 7 0.03 S EIGHT.
THIS ITEM IS OFFERED AS A STAFF POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR MARCH 26TH COUNCIL MEETING.
THIS ITEM IS OFFERED AS A POSTPONEMENT BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRY TO YOUR MARCH 26TH COUNCIL MEETING AND ITEM 55, IT'S C 1 14 20 24 0 1 7 9.
AND THIS ITEM IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
THIS CONCLUDES THE READING OF THE ZONING AGENDA, PORTION OF YOUR AGENDA AND IS ALWAYS, THIS IS AT YOUR DISCRETION.
COUNCIL, DOES ANY MEMBER HAVE QUESTIONS OF MS. HARDEN? ALRIGHT, MEMBERS, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
UH, THE CONSENT AGENDA WILL BE ITEM NUMBER 52, ALL THREE READINGS, ITEM 53, A POSTPONEMENT TO MARCH 26TH, ITEM 54, POSTPONEMENT TO MARCH 26TH.
AND ITEM 55 ON ALL THREE READINGS.
IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUCH AND SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ, I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK FOR ANY, UH, PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
ON ITEM 53, WE HAVE ENOVIA JOSEPH, MS. JOSEPH, ARE YOU HERE? SHE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE HERE.
ON ITEM 54, WE HAVE NICOLE CAP.
PLATO, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND SPEAK TO THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF OUR BOARD AND OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, THE CULTURAL DISTRICT HAS REACHED OUT TO THE PROPERTY REPRESENTATIVE FOR 1000 RED RIVER, UM, STARTING IN OCTOBER.
DURING THAT SAME PERIOD, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE PROPERTY REPRESENTATIVE HAD MET WITH OTHER DOWNTOWN STAKEHOLDERS.
UM, DURING THIS TIME WE MET WITH, UM, ZONING STAFF AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS CASE WAS ABOUT.
UM, AND HAD SUBMITTED A LETTER TO CITY COUNCIL FOR OUR CONCERNS AND OUR POSTPONEMENT.
UM, SINCE THE POSTPONEMENTS ON DECEMBER 11TH AND JANUARY 22ND, WE'VE SINCE MET WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER, UM, SHARED OUR VISION FOR THE SITE AND ALSO OUR WILLINGNESS TO BE A PARTNER IN THIS SPACE.
UM, THE CULTURAL DISTRICT IS OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED AS A CITY AND STATE CULTURAL DISTRICT, AND IT IS THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATION OF INDEPENDENT LIVE MUSIC VENUE USE PER BLOCK IN THE COUNTRY.
UM, THIS IS NOT JUST A NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, IT IS A WORKING CULTURAL ECOSYSTEM AND A MAJOR ECONOMIC ENGINE AND TOUR TOURISM ENGINE FOR AUSTIN.
IT IS A FULL BLOCK GATEWAY THAT CONNECTS THE CONVENTION CENTER, WATERLOO PARK, AND THE EXPANDING GREENWAY AND THE DEVELOPING INNOVATION DISTRICT I 35 CAP ANDIT AND RED RIVER'S MUSIC MILE FROM FIFTH TO 15TH STREET.
THIS SITE HAS POTENTIAL TO BE A CATALYST, AN ANCHOR, AND A CONNECTOR FOR OUR EASTERN PART OF DOWNTOWN.
UM, FOR THESE REASONS, WE ASK THAT, UM, WHILE WE'RE POSTPONING TODAY, WE ASK THAT THE COUNCIL, UM, CONSIDER ANY SORT OF APPROVAL OF THIS CONTINGENT ON A COUPLE OF CONDITIONS.
UM, WE REALLY WOULD LIKE TO BE PERCEIVED AS THE RESPECTED, UM, UH, ORGANIZATION THAT WE ARE AND HAVE A MEANINGFUL, MEANINGFUL AND COLLABORATIVE
[02:50:01]
RELATIONSHIP WITH THIS PROPERTY OWNER.UM, WE'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE SOME GROUND FLOOR ACTIVATION AT THIS SPACE.
UM, AND CURRENTLY ALL FOUR SIDES, UM, DO NOT INVITE ANY PEDESTRIAN ACTIVITY.
UM, AS YOU KNOW, BEING IN A CULTURAL DISTRICT, UM, THERE IS ADJACENCY TO LIVE MUSIC VENUES.
WE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO AND WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AND LAYING THAT OUT.
NEXT ON ITEM 55, BILL BUNCH AND ENOVIA JOSEPH, MR. BUNCH, MS. JOSEPH, BILL BUNCH, ENOVIA JOSEPH.
UM, MEMBERS, AS YOU'VE HEARD, THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF THE SPEAKERS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
UH, LET ME ASK IF THERE'S DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
UH, YES, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.
UM, I JUST WANNA QUICKLY TOUCH ON ITEM 54.
UM, I'VE ASKED FOR POSTPONEMENT UNTIL, UH, MARCH 26TH FOR THE CASE.
THE GOAL FOR THAT POSTPONEMENT IS TO ALLOW ADDITIONAL COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE APPLICANT AND THE AREA STAKEHOLDERS WHO I, WHO I APPRECIATE BOTH OF THEM SO MUCH, UH, ESPECIALLY ON THE RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT, WHICH I BELIEVE IS A CRITICAL PARTNER IN THIS CONVERSATION.
THE SITE SITS AT THE CONVERGENCE OF TWO SIGNIFICANT AREAS THAT ARE OUR CULTURAL DISTRICT AND THE EMERGING INNOVATION DISTRICT.
THAT INTERSECTION GIVES US THIS PROPERTY ENORMOUS POTENTIAL, BUT POTENTIALLY MATTERS IF WE GET THIS PROCESS RIGHT.
AND I WANT TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S ENOUGH TIME FOR REAL GOOD FAITH ENGAGEMENT.
AND I, UH, THIS EXTRA TIME, I, YOU KNOW, I WANT FOLKS, I WANT THE APPLICANT AND STAKEHOLDERS TO WORK TOWARD A SHARED UNDERSTANDING AND, AND, AND HAVE TIME TO REACH AN AGREEMENT ON HOW ENGAGEMENT WILL CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS.
THE EASTERN EASTERN CRESCENT OF DOWNTOWN IS GOING TO EVOLVE, AND I DON'T DISAGREE WITH THAT REALITY, BUT EVOLUTION WITHOUT INTENTION CAN LEAVE PEOPLE BEHIND.
AND THAT IS NOT SOMETHING, UH, THAT I BELIEVE ANYONE WANTS TO SEE.
WE HAVE TO BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT HOW CHANGE HAPPENS.
AND THAT MEANS INTENTIONAL ENGAGEMENT AND MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE AND INSTITUTIONS THAT BUILT THIS AREA ARE PART OF ITS FUTURE.
WE ALWAYS CLAIM THAT WE CARE ABOUT THE RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ACT LIKE IT.
AND IF WE SAY WE, WE VALUE CULTURE AND COMMUNITY.
OUR PROCESS HAS TO REFLECT THAT.
UH, I WANNA SEE THE CULTURAL DISTRICT AND THE INNOVATION DISTRICT THRIVE TOGETHER, NOT IN COMPETITION, BUT IN PARTNERSHIP.
AND THAT STARTS WITH THINKING ABOUT THE RED RIVER STREET AS A HOLISTIC PLACEMAKING EFFORT.
UM, I, AND I JUST WANNA SAY I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE, UH, BUT I REALLY DO LOOK FORWARD TO THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE APPLICANT, THE RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT AND OTHER DOWNTOWN STAKEHOLDERS.
UH, YOU KNOW, I HOPE FOR A, A CONSTRUCTIVE PROCESS AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THIS ITEM BACK ON MARCH 26TH.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? YES, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.
COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, THANK YOU FOR MOVING TO POSTPONE ITEM 54 OR PUTTING THAT AS PART OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
I APPRECIATE THAT POSTPONEMENT.
I THINK IT'S ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY, ESPECIALLY THAT AREA OF DOWNTOWN.
WHEN THIS ITEM COMES BACK TO US IN MARCH, I AM GONNA BE LOOKING TO SEE IF THE ADVOCATE CAN SPEAK TO HOW THOSE ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS HAVE GONE TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE PRESERVING WHAT MAKES AUSTIN SO SPECIAL WHEN IT COMES TO OUR LIVE MUSIC.
AND JUST WANTED TO REITERATE MY SUPPORT FOR POSTPONEMENT AND TO SHARE THAT.
I HOPE TO SEE THOSE CONVERSATIONS MOVE FORWARD AND TO SEE A PLAN FLESHED OUT.
COUNCIL MEMBER MEMBERS, UH, IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO ABSTAIN FROM A VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN AS RECUSING 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? HEARING NONE THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ADOPTED MEMBERS, UH, COUNCIL
[2:00 PM - Public Hearings and Possible Action (Part 2 of 2)]
MEMBER LANE WAS TEMPORARILY OFF THE DIOCESE WHEN WE TOOK UP ITEMS 50 AND 51 AND SHE WOULD LIKE TO BE SHOWN VOTING IN FAVOR OF ITEMS 50 AND 51.HER VOTE, UH, WOULD NOT CHANGE THE OUTCOME OF THE VOTE OF THE PREVIOUS VOTE, SO I WOULD MOVE THAT SHE BE SHOWN VOTING IN FAVOR OF ITEMS 50 AND 51.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? WILL THAT OBJECTION? COUNCIL MEMBER LANE WILL BE SHOWN VOTING IN FAVOR OF ITEMS 50 AND 51 MEMBERS.
THAT CONCLUDES THE AGENDA FOR THIS REGULAR MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL FOR FEBRUARY 5TH, 2026.
SO, WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL IS ADJOURNED AT 2:09 PM THANKS EVERYBODY.