[00:00:05]
YOU ARE WATCHING A MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL WITH MAYOR KIRK WATSON, MAYOR PRO TIMM CHEADLE, VELA.
COUNCIL MEMBERS NATASHA HARPER MADISON, VANESSA FUENTES, JOSE VELAZQUEZ, RYAN ALTER, CRYSTAL LANG, MIKE SIEGEL, PAIGE ELLIS, ZOE CADRE, MARK UCHIN, CITY ATTORNEY DEBORAH THOMAS, CITY CLERK ERICA BRADY, AND CITY MANAGER TC BROAD.
[Call to Order]
IT'S 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING ON FEBRUARY 26TH, 2026, AND I WILL CALL TO ORDER THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL FOR THIS REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.WE HAVE A QUORUM OF THE COUNCIL PRESENT AND WE ARE MEETING IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS LOCATED IN CITY HALL AT 3 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET.
WHAT I'LL, UH, DO IS I'LL WALK THROUGH NOW THE ORDER OF THE DAY, UH, SO THAT EVERYBODY WILL BE AWARE OF WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO TODAY, AND THEN, UM, WE'LL PROCEED, UH, IN A MINUTE I'M GOING TO READ CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS INTO THE RECORD AND, UH, THEN WE WILL GO TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA.
WE WILL HAVE, UH, SPEAKERS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THERE HAVE BEEN TWO ITEMS PULLED SO FAR FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THOSE ARE ITEMS 23 AND AND 38, 23 AND 38 ITEMS THAT ARE NOT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THOSE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THOSE ITEMS, WE WILL HEAR FROM YOU.
WHEN WE CALL UP THOSE ITEMS, WE WILL THEN, AFTER THE CONSENT AGENDA, WE WILL, UH, AFTER WE HEAR THE SPEAKERS, WE WILL VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, AND THEN WE WILL GO TO THE ITEMS 23 AND 38.
THEN WE WILL GO TO ITEMS THAT ARE GENERALLY LABELED NON-CONSENT ITEMS. THOSE ARE ITEMS THAT COME FROM COUNCIL COMMITTEES.
SO WE WILL TAKE UP ITEM 55 AND ITEM 56, UM, MEMBERS ON ITEM NUMBER 55 AND AND FOR THE PUBLIC, JUST SO THAT EVERYBODY WILL BE AWARE THAT IS THE PROPOSED, UH, DECISION TREE.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS HAD A NUMBER OF, UH, UM, UH, PROPOSED AMENDMENTS THAT ARE IMPROVING THAT IMPROVE THE DECISION TREE.
AND SO WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS I'M, I'M GOING TO HAVE DELIVERED, UH, AND SO THAT EVERYBODY WILL HAVE IT A, A COPY OF THE ONE WITH THE CHANGES IN IT, A A DIFFERENT VERSION BECAUSE WHAT I WANT, WHAT I, I THINK WE ALL WANT IS FOR THE PUBLIC TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT ONE DOCUMENT AND NOT HAVE TO GO AND SAY, OH, WAS THIS AMENDMENT? THAT KIND OF THING.
SO WE WILL INCORPORATE COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS'S CHANGES.
WE WILL HAVE BOTH ONE THAT SHOWS THE CHANGES IN VERSION TWO, BUT WE WILL ALSO HAVE WHAT IS HOPEFULLY A, A FINAL DOCUMENT THAT'LL BE ON YELLOW PAPER THAT DOESN'T HAVE UNDERLINES AND THAT KIND OF THING SO THAT THE PUBLIC WILL HAVE A DECISION TREE AND BE ABLE TO LOOK AT ONE PLACE AND NOT HAVE TO LOOK AROUND.
AND, AND THAT'S OKAY WITH YOU, RIGHT? COUNCIL MEMBER? YES, I, I THINK THAT'S GREAT AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT'S GONE INTO IT THROUGH THE COMMITTEE AND, AND THROUGH COUNCIL MEMBER'S INPUT AND, UM, AGREE THAT THE PUBLIC WOULD PROBABLY LIKE A VERY CLEAN VERSION JUST SO WE CAN UNDERSTAND WHERE IT ULTIMATELY LANDS.
AND, AND BY THE WAY, THAT WILL ALSO INCLUDE CHANGES THAT IF, IF YOU GO TO THE MESSAGE BOARD, YOU WILL SEE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL HAD SOME THOUGHTS.
UM, I, I REACTED TO THOSE AND PUT, UH, PROPOSED CHANGES ON THE MESSAGE BOARD AS WELL.
SO ANYWAY, I I JUST WANTED TO EXPLAIN THAT SO WHEN WE GET TO IT, AND SO THAT THE PUBLIC THAT MAY BE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 55, UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PROCESS WILL BE.
WE'LL ALSO TAKE UP ITEM NUMBER 56 AS AN ITEM FROM A COUNCIL COMMITTEE COMING FROM THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE.
WE WILL TAKE UP IMMINENT DOMAIN ITEMS. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PUBLIC HEARINGS AND WE WILL TAKE THOSE UP.
ITEM NUMBER 83, UH, IS AN ITEM THAT REQUIRES A PUBLIC HEARING AND IT WAS NOT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA TO BEGIN WITH.
WE WILL PROBABLY GO NOT PROBABLY, WE WILL GO INTO AN EXECUTIVE SESSION ON ITEM NUMBER 83, UH, AND WE WILL TAKE IT UP AT THE, WHENEVER, UH, WE COME OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE ALSO AT NOON OR AS CLO, UH, WHEN WE GET TO NOON, DEPENDING UPON WHERE WE ARE, WE WILL, UH, PROBABLY BREAK FOR THE PURPOSES OF TAKING UP THE 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, THE NOON TIME, CERTAIN WHICH IS PUBLIC COMMUNICATION AT 1230 OR 1235 WHEN THE PUBLIC COM COMMUNICATION IS COMPLETE, WE WILL RECESS UNTIL ONE 10, UH, SO THAT WE CAN HAVE MUSIC AND WE WILL COME BACK AND AT ONE 10, WE WILL, UH,
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ALSO, UH, MOVE FORWARD AT TWO O'CLOCK.WE HAVE OUR ZONING ITEMS. TWO O'CLOCK IS A TIME CERTAIN FOR ZONING AND, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING ITEMS, AND WE WILL TAKE THOSE UP AS CLOSE TO TWO AS WE CAN.
AND WE ALSO HAVE A SCHEDULED EXECUTIVE SESSION RELATED TO AN EVALUATION OF A COUNCIL APPOINTEE, THE CITY MANAGER.
SO WITH THAT, UNLESS THERE ARE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL, UM, I WILL READ CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS INTO THE RECORD.
UH, ITEM NUMBER 46 HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN.
ITEM NUMBER 46 HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN.
ITEM NUMBER 47 HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN, SO IF 47 HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN.
SO IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 46 OR 47, THOSE ITEMS HAVE BEEN WITHDRAWN.
THEY ARE NO LONGER ON THE AGENDA, SO WE WILL NOT BE HEARING PUBLIC COMMENT ON THOSE TWO ITEMS. AS I INDICATED, ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN CURRENTLY PULLED OFF THE CONSENT AGENDA ARE ITEMS 23 AND 38, ITEMS 23 AND 38.
[Consent Agenda]
AGAIN, UNLESS THERE'S QUESTIONS OR OBJECTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL, WE WILL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK AND I WILL ASK YOU TO CALL BY ITEM THE CONSENTED, THE ITEMS THAT ARE CURRENTLY ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, AND LET'S, UH, ASK OUR SPEAKERS TO COME UP.FOR THOSE THAT ARE HERE WISHING TO HAVE YOUR VOICES HEARD, WHAT WE WOULD ASK IS WHEN SHE CALLS YOUR NAME, SHE'S GONNA CALL 2, 3, 4, 5 NAMES AT A TIME.
PLEASE COME DOWN FRONT SO THAT YOU'LL BE READY.
AND IF THERE'S AN OPEN SEAT, GO AHEAD AND TAKE THAT SEAT.
AND WE JUST ASK THAT YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD PRIOR TO YOU BEGINNING YOUR TESTIMONY.
IF I STOP YOU TO ASK YOU FOR YOUR NAME, IT'S NOT THAT I'M BEING RUDE, IT'S JUST THAT WE NEED TO HAVE THAT IN THE RECORD.
SO WITH THAT, I'LL TURN TO OUR CITY CLERK.
FOR ITEM THREE, I HAVE ANITA TOHO, AND THEN JENNIFER ROBOSHO FOR ITEM FOUR.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M A LONGTIME AUSTIN RESIDENT, A HOMEOWNER AND TAXPAYER.
I BELIEVE IN COMMON SENSE LEADERSHIP AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
AND I'M SPEAKING AGAINST ITEM FOUR.
IMAGINE WAKING UP TO YOUR FRONT DOOR, EXPLODING OFF ITS HINGES, BULLETS FLYING THROUGH YOUR WINDOWS, A GLASS LINE RUPTURING IN YOUR HOME, ALL BECAUSE LAW ENFORCEMENT USED YOUR HOUSE AS COVERED DURING A NEIGHBOR'S STANDOFF.
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED TO GLENN AND MINDY SHIELD.
ON AUGUST 6TH, 2023, AN INNOCENT COUPLE WAS HANDCUFFED AND DETAINED FOR THREE HOURS AND A POLICE CAR WHILE OFFICERS RANSACKED THEIR HOME CAUSING OVER $23,000 IN DAMAGE.
THEY WERE TERRIFIED, VIOLATED IN THEIR OWN HOME AND LEFT TO PICK UP THE PIECES.
GLEN SHIELD HAS SHARED OPENLY HOW THEY SPENT TWO YEARS CALLING CITY DEPARTMENTS FOR ANSWERS AND HELP.
HE SAID, IF THEY HAD COME THE NEXT DAY AND APOLOGIZED AND PAID FOR THE DAMAGES, WE WOULDN'T BE HERE.
BUT THE FACT THAT FOR TWO YEARS THEY REFUSED TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, THE SHIELDS SIMPLY ASKED THE CITY TO MAKE THEM WHOLE.
THE CITY SAID NO CLAIMING POLICE POWER, IMMUNITY.
NOW WE'RE SPENDING $610,000 OF TAX PAYER MONEY, INCLUDING THIS AMENDMENT TODAY TO FIGHT THEM IN FEDERAL COURT INSTEAD OF DOING THE RIGHT THING AT A TIME WHEN THE CITY CLAIMS A BUDGET CRISIS.
FAILING TO SETTLE $23,000 IN DAMAGES WHILE APPROVING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO DEFEND AGAINST THESE INNOCENT NEIGHBORS SIMPLY DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
WHY ARE WE TAKING THIS TO COURT WHEN IT SHOULD BE RESOLVED OUTSIDE? WHY FIGHT CITIZENS WHO WANT RESTITUTION WHILE PASSING THE BILL TO TAXPAYERS LEADERSHIP OWNS MISTAKES, SHOWS EMPATHY, AND DOES THE MORAL THING, WHICH IS VOTING NO ON THIS ITEM AND DIRECTING THE CITY ATTORNEY TO SETTLE FAIRLY WITH THE SHIELDS.
I HAVE LUKE HUMPHREY ON THE LINE FOR ITEM 18.
LUKE, ARE YOU THERE? UH, YES, MA'AM.
AND, UH, CAN EVERYONE HEAR ME OKAY? YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU.
UH, FIRST, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, UH, TAKING THE TIME, UH, UH, TO HEAR ME ON ITEM NUMBER 18.
I AM, UM, AGAINST ITEM NUMBER 18 AND, UH, WE'LL PROVIDE SOME BACKGROUNDS HERE.
UM, THIS, UH, ON JUNE 23RD, 2025, THE CITY PUBLISHED THIS RFP FOR CRANE AND HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATIONS TRAINING ON AUGUST 7TH, 2025.
PROPOSALS IN RESPONSE TO THE SOLICITATION WERE RECEIVED AND OPENED.
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FROM US AT TRAIN FOR THE CRANE.I AM THE OWNER AND CEO OF TRAIN FOR THE CRANE.
AND THEN ON OCTOBER 20TH, 2025, UH, TRAIN FOR THE CRANE SUBMITTED A TIMELY PROTEST TO THIS, UH, DECISION.
AND ON DECEMBER 16TH, 2025, WE RECEIVED A RESPONSE FROM CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER JAMES SCARBOROUGH THAT, UM, UH, THEIR DETERMINATION WAS THAT THEY FOUND NO LEGAL OR FACTUAL GROUNDS TO SUSTAIN ANY OF OUR PROTEST CLAIMS. AND I AM CHALLENGING THIS COMMITTEE ON THIS, UH, DECISION.
THIS, UM, IN THIS AGENDA ITEM, UH, THERE WAS A, A FILE NUMBER 26 DASH 10 29.
ASSOCIATED WITH THIS AGENDA ITEM IS STATES, UH, IN THE ADDITIONAL BACKUP INFORMATION THAT THIS IS A NEW CONTRACT AND EVALUATION TEAM WITH EXPERTISE IN THIS AREA EVALUATED THE OFFERS AND SCORED TRAIN TECH LLC OF THE BEST TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES BASED ON PROJECT CONCEPT, STRATEGY AND COMPANY QUALIFICATIONS.
NEXT I HAVE ITEM 25, ELIZABETH BAKER, JENNIFER ROBOW, AND ZENOBIA JOSEPH.
MY NAME IS ELIZABETH BAKER, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE OTHER ONES FOUNDATION.
I JUST WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MAYOR PRO TEM MAYOR WATSON FOR, UH, FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF ITEM 25.
THE OTHER ONE'S FOUNDATION IS DEEPLY HONORED TO BE SELECTED AS THE OPERATOR OF THE SOUTH BRIDGE SHELTER.
OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, WE HAVE REFINED AND NON CONGREGATE SHELTER MODEL THAT CENTERS COMMUNITY, DIGNITY AND PATHWAYS FORWARD.
WE'RE EXCITED TO REPLICATE THAT MODEL TO SOUTHBRIDGE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HOMELESS STRATEGY.
OFFICE CHIEF HAS ALREADY BEGUN ENGAGEMENT WITH NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS TO BUILD STRONG RELATIONSHIPS AND EXPLORE STRATEGIES TO INCREASE COMMUNITY COHESION.
WE'RE CONFIDENT THAT THROUGH THIS PROJECT, WE WILL SHOW THE POWER OF TRUE PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATION TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M A LONGTIME AUSTINITE AND A TAXPAYER.
I'M SPEAKING AGAINST ITEM 25 AUTHORIZING A CONTRACT WITH THE OTHER ONE'S FOUNDATION FOR BRIDGE SHELTER, OPERATIONS AND SOCIAL SERVICES AT THE SOUTH BRIDGE.
SHELTER, $2.7 MILLION FOR THE FIRST YEAR AND UP TO $20 MILLION OVER FOUR YEARS FOR 145 BEDS AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE FIRST YEAR.
THAT COMES TO $1,400 A MONTH PER BED, ROUGHLY THE SAME COST AS AN AVERAGE ONE BEDROOM APARTMENT LAST YEAR.
THE OTHER ONE'S FOUNDATION WAS A PROMINENT SUPPORTER.
THEY AND OTHER HOMELESSNESS NONPROFITS DONATED TO THE CAMPAIGN IN AN ATTEMPT TO SEEK MORE TAX DOLLARS FROM VOTERS TO FUND THEIR INDUSTRY AND RESIDENTS SEE THE PATTERN CONTRIBUTE TO CAMPAIGNS FOR MORE FUNDING THAN SECURE MASSIVE CITY CONTRACTS.
THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER PROPOSALS FROM CAPABLE NONPROFITS, INCLUDING INCUMBENTS AS WELL AS NEW AND FRESH ORGANIZATIONS.
YET COUNCIL IS VOTING TODAY TO GIVE YET MORE WORK TO THE OTHER ONE'S FOUNDATION AND ORGANIZATION THAT ALREADY HOLDS OVER $20 MILLION IN ACTIVE CITY CONTRACTS AND IS SLATED FOR TENS OF MILLIONS MORE ON THIS VERY AGENDA.
THIS DIRECTLY CONTRADICTS THE PROPOSED HOMELESS STRATEGIC PLAN, WHICH CALLS FOR BRINGING IN MORE AND SMALLER SERVICE PROVIDERS TO CREATE A MORE INCLUSIVE AND COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE.
THE OTHER ONE'S FOUNDATION HOLDS A DISPROPORTIONATE SHARE OF THE HOMELESSNESS RELATED CONTRACTS.
WHILE THEY'VE STRUGGLED TO ARTICULATE A CLEAR LONG-TERM VISION FOR ACTUALLY ENDING HOMELESSNESS, AUSTIN RESIDENTS WANT SERVICE PROVIDERS WHO TRULY WANT TO SEE AN END TO HOMELESSNESS, NOT A SELF-SERVING SYSTEM THAT SEEKS TO PERPETUATE ITSELF.
THANK YOU, MAYOR COUNSEL, I'M ZIA JOSEPH.
MY COMMENT, AS THEY ALWAYS ARE, ARE IN THE CONTEXT OF TITLE VI OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964, WHICH PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE, COLOR, AND NATIONAL ORIGIN AS IT RELATES TO THIS, TO F CONTRACT UP TO $20 MILLION.
I WOULD ASK YOU, MAYOR, TO RECOGNIZE THAT IT WAS APPROXIMATELY $4.7 MILLION FOR THE METRO
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RAPID TO SERVE SAMSUNG TO APPLE.I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THE $65 MILLION BACKDOOR DEAL THAT YOU DID WITH THE GOVERNOR AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDING.
WHEN I PUT IN AN OPEN RECORDS REQUEST, THERE WAS NOTHING RESPONSIVE TO MY REQUEST FOR THAT INFORMATION.
AND HERE YOU ARE MAINTAINING THIS CONTAINMENT STRATEGY.
I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THAT 2 1 7 IS THE BUS ROUTE THAT WAS CREATED BY CAPITAL METRO TO GET THE PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING THERE TO DOWNTOWN, I SUPPOSE, EVERY 15 MINUTES, AND THEN THEY CHANGED IT TO 30 MINUTE HEADWAY.
BUT SEEING AS THOUGH IT'S BLACK HISTORY MONTH, I WOULD JUST REMIND YOU THAT AFRICAN AMERICANS ARE OVER SIX TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE HOMELESS THAN OUR WHITE COUNTERPARTS.
AND I WOULD JUST REMIND YOU THAT BLACK PEOPLE WAIT 60 MINUTES FOR THE BUS IN COLONY PARK AND CRAIG WOOD PUTTING PEOPLE OVER HERE AT THE OTHER ONE'S FOUNDATION IS CONTAINING THEM.
IT SIMPLY KEEPS THE HOMELESS OUTTA SIGHT OUTTA MIND.
I WOULD ASK YOU TO TABLE THIS ITEM, MAYOR AND RESPECTFULLY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO RUN SOME TYPE OF TRANSPORTATION ON PALMER LANE BETWEEN SAMSUNG AND APPLE.
IF PEOPLE COULD GET TO THE JOBS, THEY WOULD NOT NEED THESE SOCIAL SERVICES.
AND SO THAT IS MY REQUEST OF YOU TODAY.
IT WILL BE REPEATED THROUGHOUT, AND I WOULD ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE YOU NEED TO BE MORE TRANSPARENT.
OBVIOUSLY, YOU AND THE GOVERNOR HAD SOME COMMUNICATION AND I WOULD ASK YOU TO RELEASE THAT INFORMATION.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GLADLY ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME.
AND THEN ITEM 33 IS A NOIA JOSEPH AND ITEM 34, JENNIFER ROBES.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD, SO YOU'LL BE PREPARED TO GIVE US YOUR COMMENTS, MR. BUNCH.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, BILL BUNCH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WITH SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE SPEAKING ON THIS ITEM, WHICH PROVIDES FOR UP TO $2 MILLION FOR CLIMATE POLLUTION REDUCTION.
UH, THAT MONEY WOULD GO TO THE TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, UM, AND SPECIFICALLY ON MESSAGING COMMUNICATIONS AROUND, UH, LOW IMPACT, UH, MOBILITY OPTIONS, GETTING PEOPLE OUT OF SINGLE FAMILY CARS, UH, DRIVING TOO MUCH.
UM, WE DEFINITELY SUPPORT THIS.
UH, IT'S IMPORTANT, UM, BUT IT'S AT THE, IN THE WRONG DEPARTMENT'S HANDS.
THIS REALLY SHOULD BE IN YOUR SUSTAINABILITY OFFICE.
UH, YOUR PUBLIC WORKS AND TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT HAS PROVEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN THAT THEY'RE NOT REALLY INTERESTED IN REDUCING CLIMATE POLLUTION.
UM, EXHIBIT A IS THE TRYING TO DESTROY OUR HISTORIC BARTON SPRINGS ROAD BRIDGE, UM, WHERE THE EMBODIED, UH, UH, CONCRETE, UM, THAT'S CLIMATE, UH, CARBON SEQUESTRATION.
BUILDING A GIANT NEW BRIDGE WOULD ENCOURAGE ADD TRAVEL LANES EXPANDING FROM THE CURRENT THREE TO FOUR, PROVIDING FOR UP TO SIX CAR LANES IN THE FUTURE.
THAT'S, THAT'S ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO DRIVE.
IT'S GOING BACKWARDS ON PUBLIC SAFETY FOR BIKES, PETS AND CARS.
UM, AND THEN WE HAVE MOPAC SOUTH ON OUR TABLE.
THAT'S NOT YOUR PROJECT, BUT THAT ONE PROJECT ALONE WOULD JUST WIPE OUT EVERY DROP OF CLIMATE POLLUTION REDUCTION, TRANSPORTATION, DEMAND MANAGEMENT, UM, THAT THIS, THIS EFFORT WOULD NEED.
WE REALLY NEED A MORE SYSTEMIC APPROACH WHERE EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING THAT HAS CL SIGNIFICANT CLIMATE IMPACTS, HAS A CLIMATE IMPACT STATEMENT.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE YEARS AGO.
I'LL DO IT NOW, MS. JOSEPH, I TAKE IT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 33.
WELL, WE GO, WE TRY TO GO IN ORDER, AS YOU KNOW, NOT QUITE WELL.
WE MAY MISS IT FROM TIME TO TIME, BUT YOU HEARD US CALL YOUR NAME ON 33, SO PLEASE PROCEED.
THANK YOU, MAYOR COUNSEL, I'M ENOVIA JOSEPH SPEAKING ON ITEM 33.
I HAVE HERE IN MY NOTES THAT IT'S, UH, $839,354, UH, UP TO $3.75 MILLION FOR STREET OUTREACH INTEGRAL CARE.
AND THE QUESTION I HAVE REALLY IS WHERE ARE THEY DOING THIS OUTREACH AND WHERE ARE THE OUTCOMES? I SEE THESE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS ON THE GROUND SPECIFICALLY WHERE YOUR STAFF PUT A BUS STOP SHELTER AT CROSS PARK AND CAMERON ROAD.
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DOING STREET OUTREACH, IS IT TO DISMANTLE THESE ENCAMPMENTS OR IS IT TO DO SOMETHING ELSE? I WILL TELL YOU THAT THERE'S AN ENCAMPMENT OVER AT GUS GARCIA IN THAT AREA.UH, WHAT DOES THE OUTREACH LOOK LIKE IN THAT AREA? AND SPECIFICALLY, I'LL TELL YOU OVER ON WELLS BRANCH BEHIND THE BE SAFE STORAGE ACROSS FROM, UH, SARAH'S CREEK, YOU'LL SEE THAT THERE'S A HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT THERE.
THAT'S THE CITY OF AUSTIN THAT PUT NOTICE THERE AT ONE POINT, BUT TODAY THERE'S ACTUALLY A BIG BROWN DOG THAT'S OFF THE LEASH, AND WHEN YOU GO TO CATCH THE BUS, THEY'VE REMOVED THE BUS STOP SHELTER.
SO THERE WAS A GENTLEMAN SITTING ON THE GROUND TWO DAYS AGO, AND SO I AM REALLY CONCERNED YOU'RE JUST THROWING MONEY AT THE PROBLEM.
YOU'RE NOT ACTUALLY STREAMLINING WHAT YOU'RE USING IT FOR, AND THESE ENCAMPMENTS ARE THERE.
IF YOU GO DOWN RUNDBERG, CHEETO VELA, RESPECTFULLY, UH, RIGHT BY THE SHELL GAS STATION, BY I 35, THE PEOPLE ARE RIGHT THERE IN THE GUTTER AND THEY'RE RIGHT IN THE FRONT.
WHEN IT WAS COLD, THEY WERE SETTING LITTLE FIRES EVERY NIGHT.
SO I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT MENTAL HEALTH OUTREACH IS BEING DONE SPECIFICALLY IN THE RUNDBERG AREA ACROSS FROM HEB RUNDBERG.
THERE'S A GENTLEMAN WHO LIVES THERE WITH HIS DOG.
IT'S A BLACK MAN, AND HE HAS ALL HIS BELONGINGS THERE AS WELL.
SO WHAT OUTREACH IS BEING DONE? I WOULD ASK YOU TO TABLE THIS ITEM AS WELL, MAYOR, AND TO RESPECTFULLY RECOGNIZE THAT THE OUTREACH AND THE OUTCOMES ARE NOT THERE.
SO WHEN STAFF ASK FOR MORE MONEY, THEY NEED TO GIVE US THE OUTCOMES TOO.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GLADLY ANSWER THEM.
MS. JOSEPH, YOU ALSO SIGNED UP FOR 34, SO DON'T GO TOO FAR.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M A LONGTIME AUSTINITE AND A TAXPAYER.
I'M SPEAKING AGAINST ITEM 34, AUTHORIZING UP TO $16 MILLION WITH FAMILY ENDEAVORS FOR EMERGENCY SHELTER OPERATIONS AT THE MARSHALING YARD.
$8 MILLION THIS YEAR, ANOTHER $8 MILLION NEXT YEAR FOR 300 BED SHELTERS SERVING INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
THAT BREAKS DOWN TO ABOUT $2,200 PER MONTH PER BED, MORE THAN THE AVERAGE RENT FOR A TWO BEDROOM CONDO.
THIS FACILITY ISN'T DELIVERING GOOD VALUE TO TAXPAYERS.
THE CITY'S 2025 DATA SHOWS NEARLY 900 PEOPLE'RE SERVING WE'RE SERVED AND FAMILY ENDEAVORS FORECASTED 70% SUCCESS WHEN THEY TOOK OVER, BUT ONLY 26% EXITED TO A POSITIVE DESTINATION SUCH AS PERMANENT HOUSING RETURNING HOME OR ANOTHER PROGRAM.
THAT MEANS 74% OF WHAT WE'RE FUNDING IS RESO IS REVOLVING DOOR SERVICE IN, OUT AND BACK TO THE STREET.
AT BEST, THAT'S A QUESTIONABLE TRACK RECORD OF ACCEPTING MILLIONS OF GOVERNMENT FUNDS WITH PERSISTENTLY LOW OUTCOMES.
MOREOVER, DATA FROM THE LAST FALL SHOWS 60% OF PEOPLE OFFERED SHELTER SERVICES DON'T EVEN WANT THEM.
MEANWHILE, THE SITE HAS BECOME A HUB FOR UNHOUSED ACTIVITY THAT HARMS THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY, WHICH TIES DIRECTLY INTO THE HOMELESS STRATEGIC PLAN.
STILL UNDER DISCUSSION, THE PLAN'S CENTRAL STRATEGY IS MORE SHELTERS WHILE IGNORING THE CONCERNS OF TAX PAYING RESIDENTS WHO SIMPLY WANNA BUILD A LIFE HERE.
WE WORK AND PAY TAXES FOR THAT PRIVILEGE TOO.
OUR VOICES MATTER, AND WE SEE A SYSTEM THAT'S BROKEN AS THE CITY INSISTS ON THE SHELTER MODEL.
TAXPAYERS IMPLORE YOU TO DEMAND GENUINE ACCOUNTABILITY FROM PROVIDERS, HIGHER POSITIVE EXITS, LOWER RECIDIVISM, AND A FOCUS ON WHAT ACTUALLY MOVES PEOPLE TO HOUSING OFF THE STREETS AND OUT OF COMMUNITY GREEN SPACES, NOT WHAT KEEPS THE SHELTER INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX GOING.
I APPRECIATE YOU REMINDING ME.
ITEM 34, THE ENDEAVORS CONTRACT.
IT SPECIFIES THAT IT'S NOT TO EXCEED $16 MILLION.
AGAIN, MAYOR, I JUST WOULD REMIND YOU THAT CAMP ESPERANZA IS WITHIN TWO MILES OF THIS PARTICULAR AREA.
I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER, YOU HAVE ABOUT 300 PEOPLE THAT ARE HOUSED HERE, AND SPECIFICALLY CAPITAL METRO HAS NOT LAED THE ROUTE 20 TO SERVE THESE INDIVIDUALS.
SO ONCE AGAIN, IT IS A CONTAINMENT STRATEGY.
I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER YOU HAVE THE SMART ORDINANCE, SAFE, MIXED INCOME, ACCESSIBLE, REASONABLY PRICED, TRANSIT ORIENTED.
THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON WHY THE BUS COULDN'T GO AND SERVE THIS PARTICULAR POPULATION ON CONVICT HILL.
THE BUS LAPS EVERY OTHER ROUTE ON CONVICT HILL FOR 2.9 BOARDINGS AN HOUR, BUT YET PAIGE ELLIS SITS THERE WHINING ABOUT NOT HAVING THE TRANSPORTATION IN HER AREA.
THAT SAME RESOURCE COULD SERVE THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE AT THE MARSHALING YARD.
SO THE QUESTION IS, WHAT DO YOU PLAN TO DO TO GET THEM TO JOBS? ONCE AGAIN, IF THEY DON'T HAVE TRANSPORTATION TO GET THERE, THEN YOU ARE EXACERBATING THE PROBLEM AS OPPOSED TO
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FIXING IT.AND THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY COULD ALSO BE USED.
IT WAS JULY 27TH, 2020 WHEN COUNCIL AND CAPITAL METRO ELIMINATED THE METRO RAPID.
BUT I WILL JUST REMIND YOU, MAYOR, THAT IT WAS IN 2014, THE NORTH CORRIDOR LOCALLY PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE FOR PROJECT CONNECT.
TOLD YOU THAT 58% OF THE JOBS WOULD BE IN THE NORTH CORRIDOR, WILLIAMSON COUNTY AND TRAVIS COUNTY BY 2035.
YET YOU HAVE ELIMINATED THE TRANSPORTATION THERE.
AND I SEE THAT YOU'VE ELIMINATED ITEM 46 AS WELL.
BUT I'M STILL GONNA SHOW YOU MY SLIDES AND IT IS GERMANE TO THIS ITEM BECAUSE I WOULD ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THE NEED FOR TRANSPORTATION AT THE MARSHALING YARD, A FIXED DRAW.
THANK YOU MS. JOSEPH FOR ITEM 36, BRIDE AND SUMMERS.
AND IS CAROL GUTHRIE HERE? SHE IS.
OKAY, SO BRIGHTON WILL HAVE FOUR MINUTES, AND THEN BILL BUNCH ON ITEM 36.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M BRIGHTON SUMMERS, PRESIDENT OF ASME LOCAL 1624.
UM, FIRST I WANNA START BY SAYING WE GENUINELY APPRECIATE THE COLLABORATION FROM CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE AND FROM HUMAN RESOURCES IN ITERATIVE PROCESS.
WE'VE HAD TO IMPROVE WHAT'S COMING BEFORE YOU TODAY.
UH, THEY'VE BEEN VERY RECEPTIVE TO THINGS WE BROUGHT FORWARD.
I THINK WE'RE AT A REALLY GOOD PLACE WITH ONE EXCEPTION.
THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS THAT WE ARE ABLE TO APPOINT TO THE CONSULTATION COMMITTEE AS IT IS WRITTEN RIGHT NOW, IT WOULD PROHIBIT COUNTY ANY MEMBERS FROM AFSCME THAT ARE COUNTY EMPLOYEES FROM PARTICIPATING ON THAT COMMITTEE.
THE REASON THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE IS BECAUSE OUR EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS ARE ELECTED AT LARGE.
I'M THE FIRST PRESIDENT OUT OF THE LAST FIVE THAT HAS BEEN A CITY OF AUSTIN EMPLOYEE.
SO I WILL BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE, BUT THE ISSUE I WANNA RAISE IS THAT THIS CONSULTATION PROCESS LIVES ON BEYOND MY TERM.
IT LIVES ON BEYOND THE TIME THAT THIS CITY MANAGER WILL BE HERE.
AND SO WE NEED TO PUT INTO THIS ORDINANCE NOW THE ABILITY FOR THE PRESIDENT TO PARTICIPATE IN FUTURE CONSULTATION MEETINGS REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY WORK.
OUR MEMBERS ELECT AT LARGE WHO THEY WANT TO REPRESENT THEM.
IF OUR CITY OF AUSTIN MEMBERS WANT TO BE REPRESENTED BY A COUNTY MEMBER AT THE CONSULTATION COMMITTEE, THAT SEEMS LIKE A FAIR ASK.
THERE IS NO ABILITY FOR AFSCME TO DETERMINE WHO THE CITY MANAGER APPOINTS FOR THEIR COMMITTEE.
WE'RE REALLY ESSENTIALLY JUST ASKING FOR THAT SAME CONSIDERATION.
AND SO WE ARE EXCITED TO GET STARTED.
I THINK WE'RE EYEING APRIL 1ST.
UH, THAT'S NO JOKE TO HAVE OUR FIRST CONSULTATION COMMITTEE MEETING.
UH, WE WERE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT WORK.
WE APPRECIATE THE COLLABORATION WE'VE HAD SO FAR, BUT THIS ISSUE IS STILL UNRESOLVED AS OF THIS MORNING.
AND SO I'M HOPING WE CAN MAKE THAT CHANGE TODAY.
PASS THIS, PASS IT ON CONSENT, AND WE CAN GET STARTED.
AND MS. GUTHRIE, I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU DID NOT WANNA DONATE TIME.
DO YOU WANNA TAKE YOUR TWO MINUTES? UH, I'M, I'M DONATING TIME TO ITEM 50.
DID YOU WANNA SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? YES.
IT'S BEEN AN INTERESTING MORNING TODAY.
SO I'M HERE TO SUPPORT ITEM NUMBER 36.
UH, WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND HIS TEAM.
I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH HIS TEAM, UH, FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW, AND I THINK WE CAN SHARE MUCH INFORMATION IN THE FUTURE TO HELP US COLLABORATE.
I HOPE THAT WE ARE MAKING CLEAR, UH, WHY WE NEED TO HAVE THE PRESIDENT OF AFSCME AS A COMMITTEE MEMBER.
AND THE WAY TO DETERMINE THIS IS JUST TO WRITE THAT IN, THAT THE PRESIDENT OF AFSCME IS A COMMITTEE MEMBER.
SO I HOPE THAT WE CAN MAKE THIS SMALL MODIFICATION, MOVE ON, GET BUSY AND TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS OF THE CITY.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
AFTER MR. BUNGE, I HAVE FOR ITEM 48, CARLOS LEON AND XENOBI JOSEPH, PLEASE COME FORWARD IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED.
COUNCIL MEMBERS BILL BUNCH IS SPEAKING AS A INDIVIDUAL VOTER, UH, DISTRICT FIVE.
UM, CERTAINLY SUPPORT, UH, BETTER COMMUNICATION, ENHANCED COMMUNICATION BETWEEN OUR, UH, PUBLIC WORKERS UNION, AFS, ME AND THE CITY MANAGER.
I, BUT I SEE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING IN THIS RESOLUTION CONCERNING, UH, TRANSPARENCY, UH, OR, UH, OUTSIDE THIRD PARTY SORT OF WATCHDOG PARTICIPATION.
UM, HAVING ENHANCED COMMUNICATION CAN GO TOO FAR, ESPECIALLY
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IF IT'S IN THE BACK ROOMS. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE PUBLIC OVERSIGHT OF NEGOTIATIONS, COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE POLICE UNION.UM, WE SEE, UH, ON OCCASION I THINK THAT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AFSCME AND INCUMBENTS RUNNING FOR OFFICE IS TOO CLOSE.
UM, AND, UH, CHALLENGERS ARE NOT GIVEN A FAIR SHAKE AND, UM, THIS RUNS THE RISK OF HAVING, UH, TOO CLOSE OF A BACK DOOR CLOSED ROOM RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY MANAGER AND AFSCME.
SO PLEASE, UH, AMEND YOUR RESOLUTION.
REQUI REQUIRE TRANSPARENCY, EITHER PUBLIC MEETINGS OR, UH, PUBLIC PARTICIPATION BY SOME PUBLIC, YOU KNOW, DESIGNATED MEMBERS AND MINUTES BEING KEPT AND PUBLISHED SO THAT, UM, THE PUBLIC CAN UNDERSTAND, UH, WHAT'S HAPPENING, UH, IN THESE, UH, COMMUNICATIONS AND WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO BOTH THE CITY MANAGER AND TO AFSCME.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, MS. JOSEPH.
COUNCIL, I'M JUST SPEAKING ON THE COMMISSION BYLAWS AND THAT PROCESS, UH, MORE BROADLY, I JUST WANNA ASK MAYOR FOR THE BOND ELECTION ADVISORY TASK FORCE, WHAT GOVERNS THOSE MEETINGS? BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS NOW IS THAT OUR INFORMATION THAT SUBMITTED IS NO LONGER POSTED.
AND I UNDERSTAND THE CITY CLERK HAS NOW DECIDED SHE WILL ONLY PUT THE NUMBER OF SPEAKERS AND NOT OUR NAMES.
AND I'VE ASKED, UH, HERNANDEZ NICOLE, WHO IS THE STAFF LIAISON FOR A SPECIFIC RESPONSE, AND I'VE GOTTEN NOTHING.
AND SO AS YOU SIT HERE DELIBERATING AND SPEAKING ABOUT THE LACK OF TRUST THAT THE PUBLIC HAS, I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE HOW THESE MEETINGS ARE BEING RUN.
AND SPECIFICALLY, I AM ALWAYS TESTIFYING ON TITLE SIX AND I GIVE THEM MY SLIDES WELL IN ADVANCE.
AND, UH, MS. HERNANDEZ WOULD NOT EVEN PUT THE TITLE OF MY SLIDES LIKE SHE DID FOR OTHER SPEAKERS.
SO THAT'S VIEWPOINT DISCRIMINATION.
IT WOULD BE HELPFUL, MAYOR, IF IT WAS SIMPLY POSTED WITH THE AGENDA.
I DON'T WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND AS WELL THAT THE BACKUP MATERIAL IS NOT POSTED UNTIL AFTER THE MEETING.
SO IT IS A BIT DIFFICULT TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE DELIBERATING ON.
THEY SAY THEY WANNA HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC, THEY SAY THEY WANNA KNOW ABOUT THE PROJECTS THAT ARE OF INTEREST, BUT YET WHEN WE TRY TO GIVE INFORMATION, IT ISN'T POSTED.
SO I THINK YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THAT'S PROBLEMATIC.
AND I WOULD ALSO ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE JULY 24TH, 2025, WHEN YOU CHANGED THESE RULES.
YOU DIDN'T POST MY SLIDES EVEN THOUGH THE DECISION WAS MADE AFTER THE FACT, I WOULD ASK THE STAFF TO GO BACK AND PUT THOSE SLIDES UP.
THAT'S WHERE THE LADY WAS PREGNANT, SITTING WITHOUT ANY PLACE WITH HER GROCERIES AT GUS GARCIA ACROSS OVER THERE AT DOBY MIDDLE SCHOOL.
AND SO I WOULD JUST ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT YOU'RE NOT BEING TRANSPARENT WITH THE PUBLIC, AND THESE RULES NEED TO BE UPDATED SO THAT WE KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN WE TAKE THE TIME TO COME AND SPEAK.
CARLOS LEON, FIRST AND FOREMOST, GRA FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TO ITEM 48 ISSUES.
STILL NEEDING YOUR ATTENTION THOUGH YOUR LIBRARY COMMISSION MET EARLIER THIS WEEK.
KATHY DONNELLAN IS STILL NOT DIRECTOR OF AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARIES, THOUGH SHE WAS THE TOP CANDIDATE FOR THE POSITION BASED ON MERIT, FITNESS AND EXPERIENCE.
INSTEAD, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, HAYDEN HOWARD AND CITY MANAGER BROAD NEXT, ALLEGEDLY CONSPIRED TO INSTALL HANNAH TERRELL OVER KATHY DONNELY IN DECEMBER, 2025.
DESPITE KNOWING TERRELL ALLEGEDLY REPEATEDLY AND KNOWINGLY BROKE MULTIPLE STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS THROUGHOUT HER TIME AS APLS INTERIM DIRECTOR, ALL DOCUMENTED IN WRITING WITH CORROBORATING EVIDENCE OFFICIALLY SUBMITTED TO THE CITY AUDITOR LATE AUGUST, 2025, AND COMMUNICATED TO THEM IN WRITING EARLY SEPTEMBER, 2025, A PL RULES TWO B THREE 15, D ONE, AND 15 D TWO STILL DO NOT COMPLY WITH CITY'S SUPERSEDING RULES FOR PUBLIC USE OF CITY PROPERTIES OR THE LAW.
DESPITE HAYDEN HOWARD PROMISING THE CITY AUDITOR FIVE AND A HALF MONTHS AGO, SHE WAS WORKING ON THEM AND WOULD SEND AN UPDATE WHEN DONE.
NOT ONLY HAS THIS TRAVESTY GONE ON TWO AND A HALF YEARS, COUNSEL, BUT YOU'VE ALLOWED HAYDEN, HOWARD, AND BROAD NEXT TO WRONGLY REWARD TERRELL WITH A PROMOTION INSTEAD OF RIGHTLY PUNISHING HER BY FIRING AND CRIMINALLY PROSECUTING HER.
BECAUSE ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS.
YOUR INACTION TACITLY TELLS OTHER DEPARTMENTS TO FOLLOW THEIR LEAD, TO IGNORE, DISRESPECT AND BULLY YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE UNWILLING AND OR UNABLE TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.
PART OF WHY PROP Q VOTERS COMMUNICATED A LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN YOU ALL
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STAND, THEREFORE HAVING YOUR LOINS GIRD ABOUT WITH TRUTH AND HAVING ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.EPHESIANS CHAPTER SIX, VERSE 14.
FOR ITEM 49, ELIZABETH BAKER, MARK RESOUR, JENNIFER RAU, BILL BRYCE, AND ZENOBIA JOSEPH, GOOD MORNING AGAIN.
MY NAME IS ELIZABETH BAKER, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE OTHER ONES FOUNDATION.
THIS ITEM IS A ONCE IN A GENERATION OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS ON HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
IT EXPANDS UPON THE SUCCESSES OF THE ESPERANZA COMMUNITY AND UNLOCKS THE ABILITY FOR THE SHELTER TO GROW FROM 200 UNITS OF SHELTER TO 525.
THIS WILL BE THE LARGEST NON CONGREGATE SHELTER IN THE UNITED STATES, SERVING MORE THAN A THOUSAND PEOPLE EACH YEAR, AND BASED ON ESPERANZA'S COMMUNITY MODEL PROVEN SUCCESS, THIS PROJECT WILL PRODUCE STRONG OUTCOMES FOR AUSTIN'S UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS.
NEARLY TWO YEARS AGO, TWO WAS INVITED TO APPLY FOR THE HOME ARP NON CONGREGATE SHELTER FUNDING THROUGH T-D-H-C-A TO DEVELOPED A COMPREHENSIVE PROPOSAL TO EXPAND ESPERANZA AND WAS AWARDED $48 MILLION IN STATE CAPITAL FUNDS IN DECEMBER.
THIS ITEM IS ABOUT LEVERAGING THAT UNPRECEDENTED STATE INVESTMENT.
IN ORDER TO SECURE THESE FUNDS, T-D-H-C-A REQUIRES A TWO YEAR OPERATING COMMITMENT TO BE AVAILABLE ONCE THE FACILITY OPENS.
WE'RE ASKING THIS FOR THE CI, WE'RE ASKING FOR THE CITY'S SUPPORT TO MEET THIS REQUIREMENT.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS PROJECT WILL NOT RELY SOLELY ON CITY DOLLARS.
THIS PROJECT IS ALIGNED WITH THE STRATEGIC GOALS OF MULTIPLE FUNDING ORGANIZATIONS AND WITH THREE YEARS OF CONSTRUCTION AHEAD, TOOTH IS ACTIVELY WORKING TO FACILITATE A DIVERSIFIED SUSTAINABLE FUNDING MODEL BY THE TIME THE SHELTER OPENS IN 2029.
YOU DID RECEIVE A DOCUMENT TO SUPPORT MY TESTIMONY THIS MORNING, A LETTER WRITTEN BY TUCK TUCKER FERGUSON, DISTRICT ENGINEER OF TXDOT THAT REFLECTS YEARS OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION TO MAKE THIS PROJECT POSSIBLE AND CLEAR ROLES FOR EACH GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION INVOLVED.
I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF ITEM 49 AND FOR YOUR CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP IN BUILDING A FUTURE WHERE RECOVERY, STABILITY, AND ECONOMIC MOBILITY ARE TRULY WITHIN REACH.
THANK FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR LEADERSHIP.
GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY MANAGER.
I'M BILL BRYCE, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT WITH DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE STAFF.
YOU ALL SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM OUR CEO DAVE ON BARBOUR SUPPORTING ITEM 49, WHICH I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF, BUT ALSO IN SUPPORT OF ITEMS 25, 33 AND 34, AS WELL AS THE PROPOSED STRATEGIC PLAN.
THE NEED FOR MORE SHELTER BEDS TO GET PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS SAFE AND QUICKLY UNDER A ROOF CANNOT BE OVERSTATED READY ACCESS TO SHELTER AND SERVICES SAVES MONEY AS AND PEOPLE'S LIVES IN THE LONG RUN.
PASSING ITEM 49, AS LIZ MENTIONED, ALLOWS THE CITY TO LEVERAGE STATE LAND AS WELL AS $48 MILLION IN HOME ARC FUNDING THAT WOULD NOT OTHERWISE BE AVAILABLE TO CREATE 300 UNITS.
IN ADDITION TO THE 200 UNITS THAT ARE NEARLY COMPLETE IN ESPERANZA ONE OVER THE PAST DECADE.
THE OTHER ONE'S FOUNDATION HAS DEMONSTRATED THEIR EFFECTIVENESS AS A SHELTER DEVELOPER AND OPERATOR, BUT ALSO IN THE AREAS OF JOB TRAINING AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
AGAIN, THIS ALLOWS US TO UNLOCK AND PARTNER WITH THE STATE TO DRAW DOWN $48 MILLION AS WELL AS STATE OWNED LAND TO CREATE NEW SHELTER BEDS THAT WILL SAVE PEOPLE'S LIVES.
THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE SUPPORTS THIS ITEM AND WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO THE SAME.
UH, MY NAME IS MARK RAMER, UM, AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT 10.
I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH CAP ESPERANZA FOR I THINK SINCE ITS INCEPTION, AND I JUST WANT I ECHO WHAT'S ALREADY BEEN SAID AND WANT TO, UH, SUPPORT AND ASK FOR YOU TO SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M A LONGTIME AUSTINITE AND TAXPAYER.
I'M SPEAKING AGAINST ITEM 49, THE RESOLUTION COMMITTING OVER $15.6 MILLION IN LOCAL TAXPAYER DOLLARS FOR OPERATIONS AT ESPERANZA TWO, A PROPOSED 325 UNIT EMERGENCY SHELTER EXPANSION ON BASTROP HIGHWAY.
THIS UNLOCKS $48 MILLION IN STATE FUNDS FOR THE OTHER ONE'S FOUNDATION TO ADD UNITS NEXT TO THEIR EXISTING ESPERANZA COMMUNITY.
[00:40:01]
WHILE THE CITY IS ONLY FUNDING A QUARTER OF THE COSTS, THIS PROJECT AMOUNTS NEARLY $60 MILLION INVESTED IN THIS FACILITY.THAT'S $185,000 PER HOUSING UNIT.
THESE NUMBERS SIMPLY DON'T ADD UP.
THEY MAKE HOMELESSNESS LOOK LESS LIKE A PROBLEM AND MORE LIKE AN INDUSTRY.
THIS CONTRACT DOESN'T JUST SUPPORT HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.
IT LOCKS IN TAXPAYER DOLLARS FOR A MASSIVE SHELTER EXPANSION BEFORE RESIDENTS HAVE HAD ANY REAL SAY NO PUBLIC HEARINGS ON ESPERANZA.
TWO, NO NEIGHBORHOOD INPUT, NO CHANCE FOR THOSE WHO LIVE NEARBY OR PAY FOR IT TO VOICE CONCERNS.
WE'RE RUSHING TO MEET A STATE DEADLINE SIDELINING THE VERY PEOPLE WHOSE TAXES FUND THIS.
THIS REFLECTS THE DEEPER FLAW IN THE HOMELESS STRATEGIC PLAN.
THE PLAN IS ONE-SIDED SHAPED IN AN ECHO CHAMBER OF DONORS, NONPROFITS, AND DEPARTMENTS, BUT EXCLUDING EVERYDAY TAXPAYERS, THE LARGEST FUNDERS, EVERY NEW SHELTER SHIFTS THE BURDEN INTO SOMEBODY ELSE'S NEIGHBORHOOD WHILE NORMALIZING HOMELESSNESS.
AND THE MORE WE BUILD, THE MORE WE ATTRACT NATIONWIDE HOMELESS MIGRATION LEADERSHIP MEANS INCLUDING THE PUBLIC BEFORE COMMITTING OUR MONEY AND OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
I URGE YOU TO VOTE NO ON ITEM 49 AND SEND IT BACK FOR REAL PUBLIC HEARINGS AND NEIGHBORHOOD INPUT.
THANK YOU MAYOR COUNCIL, I'M ENOVIA JOSEPH.
MAYOR, I WOULD JUST CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION THE MOBILITY COMMITTEE PRESENTATION THAT WAS GIVEN ON SEPTEMBER 28TH, 2023, WHICH SAID THAT CAMP BARZA EXPANSION WAS MITIGATION FOR I 35.
THAT SEEMS QUITE A DISINGENUOUS.
PAIGE ELLIS DIDN'T ASK ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT IT WHEN IT WAS PRESENTED BEFORE HER COMMITTEE, BUT I WOULD ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE'S SOMETHING NOT QUITE RIGHT ABOUT THIS, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU CONSIDER THIS IS AN INDUSTRIAL ZONE.
SO WHILE I RECOGNIZE YOU HEARD THAT THIS IS ECONOMIC MOBILITY, I WOULD ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE AS WELL.
THIS IS A SHARED VAN SERVICE THAT ENDEAVOR PROVIDES, AND THEN HERE AT CAMP ESPERANZA, IT'S WITHIN TWO MILES OF THE 300 UNITS THAT ARE ALREADY OVER AT THE MARSHALING YARD.
AND SO I WOULD ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THE FAIR HOUSING ACT OF 1968 AND TO RECOGNIZE THAT YOU ARE CONCENTRATING POVERTY IF YOU WANT TO GAIN SOME TRUST FROM THE COMMUNITY.
HOW ABOUT DISPERSING THE HOMELESS SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE CITY? WEST AUSTIN GETS THE BENEFITS BUT NOT THE BURDEN.
AND I WOULD ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THE NEED TO LOOK AT FACILITIES THAT THE CITY OWNS AS THEY DID WITH YOUR PREDECESSOR, AND TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE WAS A BUILDING IN THE CONVICT HILL AREA, BUT THE WHITE CHOICE RIDERS IN THAT AREA DIDN'T WANT IT THERE.
AND SO IT IS DISINGENUOUS MAYOR TO CONTINUE TO PUT ALL OF THE HOMELESSNESS ISSUES IN ONE CONCENTRATED AREA.
AND YES, THE RAIL LINE WOULD TERMINATE IN THAT AREA IN EAST RIVERSIDE, BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THEY'RE GONNA HAVE ACCESS TO BETTER ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES.
I WOULD ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE AS A MODEL, COMMUNITY FIRST VILLAGE IS A GOOD MODEL, BUT THE PEOPLE IN WHEELCHAIRS WAIT TWO HOURS FOR THE BUS.
THANK YOU FOR ITEM 50, STACEY SCHMIDT, TREY SALINAS BRIDE, AND SUMMERS AND CAROL GO THROUGH.
DONATED TIME TO BRIDE AND SUMMERS AND TAYLOR NICOLO.
MY NAME IS STACY SCHMIDT AND I REPRESENT OPPORTUNITY AUSTIN.
AND ON BEHALF OF THE MORE THAN 400 INVESTORS AND PARTNERS COMPANIES THAT WORK WITH US ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUICK BUT THOROUGH ACTION ON THE SUFFICIENCY REVIEW ORDINANCE OPPORTUNITY.
AUSTIN STRONGLY SUPPORTS SUFFICIENCY REVIEW PROGRAM FOR MANY REASONS.
THE REVIEW PROCESS HOLDS THE POTENTIAL TO IDENTIFY IMPROVEMENTS THAT WILL GREATLY BENEFIT ALL AUSTINITES THROUGH FASTER AND MORE EFFECTIVE CITY SERVICES.
THE ORDINANCE ALSO PRESENTS OPPORTUNITIES FOR GREATER INVOLVEMENT AND TRANSPARENCY FOR AUSTINITES AND CITY EMPLOYEES ON PROGRAMS THAT ARE OVERLOOKED ARE NOT WELL UNDERSTOOD.
WE ALSO BELIEVE THE REVIEWS, JUST LIKE ANY OTHER REPORT CARD, GIVES AUSTIN THE ABILITY TO SHOWCASE THE THINGS THAT IT DOES REALLY WELL, REINFORCING THE REASONS WHY AUSTIN IS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK.
I WANNA THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR WORK ON ADVANCING THIS IDEA AND PRIORITIZING THE VISION OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE CITY SERVICES.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
UH, MY NAME IS TRE SALINAS AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF
[00:45:01]
OF THE AUSTIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.UH, WE'RE HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU TO PLEASE SUPPORT ITEM NUMBER 50, THE ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE CITYWIDE COMPREHENSIVE EFFICIENCY ASSESSMENT PROGRAM.
THE CHAMBER HAS LONG ADVOCATED FOR EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE CITY OPERATIONS, ALONG WITH ACCOUNTABLE BUDGET DECISIONS WITH TRANSPARENCY FOR TAXPAYERS, AND GIVES US A PREDICTABLE ENVIRONMENT THAT ALLOWS OUR BUSINESSES TO GROW.
WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THIS ITEM AND ASK THAT YOU PASS IT TODAY.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M BRIAN SUMMERS, PRESIDENT OF AFME LOCAL 1624, THE UNION REPRESENTING CITY OF AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY EMPLOYEES.
OUR UNION SAW IN THE PROP Q RESULTS THAT THE CITY MUST REGAIN THE PUBLIC'S CONFIDENCE AS BEING GOOD FISCAL STEWARDS OF TA OF THEIR TAX DOLLARS.
OUR CITIZENS MUST FEEL THAT OUR CITY SPENDS ITS MONEY WISELY, PROVIDES ITS SERVICES EFFICIENTLY AND PRIORITIZES OUR VALUES.
NOW, I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE MISTRUST THAT WE'VE SEEN IS BECAUSE OF CITY WORKERS AND THEIR PERFORMANCE DURING THAT CAMPAIGN.
WE HEARD IT DOOR AFTER DOOR THAT PEOPLE LOVE THEIR SERVICES, THEY VALUE THEIR CITY EMPLOYEES, BUT THEY HAD CONCERNS ABOUT THEIR TAX BURDEN AND WHERE THAT MONEY WOULD GO.
THIS TRUST ISSUE IS SO CRITICAL TO OUR MEMBERS BECAUSE AS CITY EMPLOYEES, WE RELY ON THE PUBLIC HAVING FAITH IN US.
UH, WE NEED THEM TO RELY ON WHAT WE DO AND HAVE OUR BACKS EVERY DAY LIKE WE HAVE THEIRS.
AT SOME POINT, WE'RE GONNA NEED A NEW TAX RATE ELECTION TO PASS, AND WE'RE ABSOLUTELY GOING, WE'RE ABSOLUTELY NOT GOING TO ALLOW THE NEGATIVE FRAMING AND SORT OF ATTACKS WE'VE SEEN AT THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVEL ATTACK OUR WORKERS HERE.
SO AFSCME IS PROUD TO PARTNER WITH THIS COUNCIL, CITY MANAGER, AND THE CITY AUDITOR TO REBUILD THIS TRUST.
WE ARE UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO DO THAT WORK AS THE PEOPLE CLOSEST TO THE CITY'S OPERATIONS, BUT THIS DOES NOT COME WITHOUT RISK TO THE WORKFORCE.
THIRD PARTY EFFICIENCY STUDIES AND THE PRIVATE CONSULTANTS THAT RUN THEM USUALLY SET OFF ALARM BELLS FOR UNIONS.
SO AS WE DO THIS TOGETHER, WE MUST REMAIN FOCUSED ON HOW WE CAN PROVIDE MORE EFFECTIVE SERVICE DELIVERY.
THIS IS NOT AN EXERCISE IN DETERMINING HOW WE CAN CUT CITY SERVICES.
THIS CANNOT BE ABOUT BALANCING THE BUDGET CONSTRAINTS ON CIVILIAN WORKERS.
I'M PLEASED THAT WE'RE STARTING WITH THE RIGHT FRAMING.
I APPRECIATE THE MAYOR AND I APPRECIATE ALL OF COUNCIL, UH, BEING RECEPTIVE TO THE ISSUES THAT WE'VE RAISED IN THIS PROCESS.
I WANNA THANK THE MAYOR AND HIS OFFICE FOR LISTENING TO THE KEY CONCERNS THAT WE'VE HAD AND WORKING THROUGH AN ITERATIVE PROCESS TO ARRIVE AT A RESULT THAT GIVES US THE ASSURANCES WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD.
I WANNA THANK ALL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WORKED WITH US TODAY.
AS WE BEGIN THIS WORK, I WANNA TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EMPLOY THE CITY AUDITOR TO DIRECT THEIR EFFORTS TOWARDS THE LARGEST INEFFICIENCIES THAT WE'RE ALREADY AWARE OF AND THE LARGEST EXPENDITURES.
PLEASE START THIS WORK WITH AN EVALUATION OF A PD OPERATIONS AND THE $53 MILLION IN OVERTIME JUST LAST YEAR, UH, AS THE CIVILIAN DEPARTMENTS WE'RE ALREADY UNDERGOING EFFICIENCY STUDIES, UH, UNDER THE CITY MANAGER, UH, AND REORGANIZATIONS.
AND SO MY ME, THE MESSAGE OF THE ORDINANCE IS THAT EVERYTHING IS ON THE TABLE, ALL DEPARTMENTS ARE ON THE TABLE.
SO PLEASE LOOK TO THE AREAS OF GREATEST OPPORTUNITY.
FIRST, WE KNOW WHERE THEY ARE.
I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT TWO KEY COMPONENTS OF HOW WE CAN WORK THROUGH THIS TOGETHER.
ONE, THE UNION CAN AND WILL BE A SOURCE OF INFORMATION AND INFORMING EFFICIENCY RECOMMENDATIONS.
I APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBERS ALTER, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER'S AMENDMENT TO ENSURE THERE'S A MECHANISM FOR US TO REPORT THIS UP.
WE INTEND TO UTILIZE THAT TO THE FULLEST.
TWO, THE UNION MUST HAVE A VOICE IN EVALUATING RECOMMENDATIONS AND BE INCLUDED IN ANY DISCUSSIONS ON ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES.
IT IS THE RIGHT CALL FOR COUNCIL TO BE BRIEFED ON RECOMMENDATIONS BROUGHT FORWARD BY CONSULTANTS THAT INVOLVE REDUCTION IN FORCE, REORGANIZATIONS, OR PRIVATIZATION OF CITY SERVICES.
PUBLIC OVERSIGHT OF THESE DECISIONS THAT WILL IMPACT OUR RESIDENTS AND CITIZENS IS SO IMPORTANT TO US.
AND THOSE DISCUSSIONS BEING DONE HERE IN THE CHAMBERS AND US WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND OUR CONSULTATION AGREEMENTS IS CRITICAL.
SO LASTLY, IT'S THE WORKERS THAT WILL BE ASSESSED.
IT'S OUR JOBS AND OUR DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE UNDER REVIEW, BUT WE UNDERSTAND IT'S NECESSARY FOR US TO COME TO THE TABLE, WORK WITH COUNCIL, AND WORK WITH MANAGEMENT SO THAT WE CAN IMPROVE THIS CITY THAT IS OUR PART OF THE DEAL.
FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOUR RESPONSIBILITY IS GOING TO BE OVERSIGHT.
WE NEED YOU TO TAKE EACH STEP SERIOUSLY AS YOU APPROVE CONTRACTS, REVIEW REPORTS AND SET DIRECTION.
THE SUCCESS OF THIS ORDINANCE REST UPON YOU JUST AS MUCH AS THE LIABILITY OF THIS ORDINANCE REST UPON YOU.
PLEASE BE COGNIZANT OF THE COSTS AND THE OUTCOMES OF ANY ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES, BUT WITH THAT, WE ARE EXCITED THAT WE CAN NOW ALL COMMIT TO WORK TOGETHER, UH, AND PUT FORWARD A GOOD EFFORT ROOTED IN RESPECT FOR OUR CITY'S WORKERS AND ITS SERVICES SO THAT WE CAN REBUILD THIS TRUST TOGETHER.
GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS TAYLOR NICOLO AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE AUSTIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO SHARE OUR SUPPORT FOR THE CITYWIDE COMPREHENSIVE EFFICIENCY ASSESSMENT ORDINANCE.
WE SEE THIS AS A THOUGHTFUL STEP TOWARD REGULARLY EVALUATING HOW THE CITY OPERATES, HOW SERVICES ARE DELIVERED,
[00:50:01]
HOW DEPARTMENTS FUNCTION, AND WHERE THERE MAY BE OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY.ESTABLISHING AN INDEPENDENT REOCCURRING REVIEW PROCESS THROUGH THE CITY AUDITOR'S OFFICE WITH OUTSIDE EXPERTISE CREATES A STRUCTURED AND OBJECTIVE WAY TO TAKE THAT LOOK.
DURING LAST YEAR'S BUDGET DISCUSSIONS AND THROUGHOUT FISCAL YEAR 2026 PROCESS, MEMBERS OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY EXPRESSED INTEREST IN HAVING A MORE FORMAL AND CONSISTENT WAY TO REVIEW CITY OPERATIONS.
THIS ORDINANCE MOVES IN THAT DIRECTION IN A CONSTRUCTIVE FORWARD-LOOKING WAY FOR RESIDENTS.
THIS MEANS GREATER TRANSPARENCY AND CONFIDENCE THAT CITY GOVERNMENT IS WORKING EFFICIENTLY AND STRATEGICALLY FOR OUR CITY LEADERS, IT ENFORCES AUSTIN'S REPUTATION AS A FORWARD-THINKING AND FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE CITY.
AND FOR THE BROADER BUSINESS COMMUNITY, IT SUPPORTS A STABLE AND PREDICTABLE ENVIRONMENT THAT ALLOWS OUR ECONOMY TO THRIVE.
WE APPRECIATE THE COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION OF THIS ORDINANCE AND THE CONTINUED FOCUS ON ACCOUNTABILITY AND OPERATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS.
WE URGE COUNCIL TO SUPPORT AND PASS THIS ORDINANCE TODAY.
CONTINUING ON ITEM 50, TAYLOR SMITH, ARBOR, MARK RESOUR, CARLOS LEON, JENNIFER ROBO JEFFREY BOWEN AND ZENOBIA JOSEPH.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS TAYLOR SMITH AND I'M WITH THE AUSTIN BOARD OF REALTORS, AND WE REPRESENT MORE THAN 16,000 CENTRAL TEXANS ACROSS, UH, SIX 16,000 CENTRAL TEXAS REALTORS, UH, IN AUSTIN.
UH, WE SUPPORT THE COMPREHENSIVE EFFICIENCY ASSESSMENT PROGRAM ORDINANCE BECAUSE IT ESTABLISHES A RECURRING CITYWIDE EVALUATION FRAMEWORK TO REGULARLY ASSESS THE PERFORMANCE AND EFFICIENCY OF CITY DEPARTMENTS.
AUSTIN CAN NO LONGER JUST GROW OR TAX OUR WAY OUT OF OUR FINANCIAL CHALLENGES.
WE HAVE TO LOOK AT OPPORTUNITIES TO FIND SAVINGS AND ALSO CREATE EFFICIENCIES ACROSS THE BOARD.
AUSTIN RESIDENTS FUND CITY SERVICES THROUGH PROPERTY TAXES, FEES, AND UTILITY BILLS.
AND WHEN SYSTEMS AND PROGRAMS ARE INEFFICIENT, REDUNDANT, OR OUTDATED, HOUSEHOLDS BEAR THE COST.
AS OUR MEMBERS SIT AT THE KITCHEN TABLE HELPING CLIENTS FIND A HOME THAT THEY CAN AFFORD IN AUSTIN FOR THEIR FAMILY, THEY CAN CONSISTENTLY HEAR THAT EVERY PENNY MATTERS, NOT JUST AT THE CLOSING, BUT OVER THE LONG TERM WHEN IT COMES TO PROPERTY TAXES, UTILITY BILLS, AND INSURANCE COSTS.
ITEM 50 IS A MEASURED APPROACH TO HELP REBUILD THE TRUST IN THE COMMUNITY THAT THEIR TAX DOLLARS ARE BEING USED EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY.
WE APPLAUD MAYOR WATSON AND COUNCIL FOR TAKING A STEP BACK TO DEVELOP THIS HOLISTIC FRAMEWORK, NOT JUST A ONE-TIME AUDIT THAT WILL LEAD THE CITY INTO THE FUTURE.
SHOW THE COMMUNITY THAT THE CITY WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO MAXIMIZE EVERY VALUE OF THEIR TAX DOLLARS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND OUR AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY.
UH, GOOD MORNING AGAIN, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE AUSTIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, WHERE I'M IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR OF THE BOARD.
I'M SPEAKING HERE IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 50, THE CITYWIDE COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT PROGRAM.
UH, I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN FOR, UH, MEETING AND, AND GOING THROUGH THIS.
I THINK FROM A BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE, THIS IS A SMART ORDINANCE THAT'S A PROACTIVE STEP, UM, TOWARDS STRENGTHEN AUSTIN'S EFFICIENCY AND LONG-TERM AFFORDABILITY BY ESTABLISHING A RE REOCCURRING INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT LED BY THE CITY AUDITOR.
WITH EXTERNAL EXTERNAL EXPERTISE, WE CAN OPTIMIZE RESOURCES, STREAMLINE OPERATION, AND IMPROVE PERFORMANCE ACROSS ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS.
DELIVERING REAL VALUE WITHOUT CUTTING ESSENTIAL SERVICES.
I PARTICULARLY LIKE THE BENCHMARKING THAT'S IN THERE, UM, TO WHERE WE CAN BENCHMARK OUR PRACTICES AGAINST, UH, PEER CITIES.
I THINK THAT WE CAN ADOPT PROVEN PRACTICES TO KEEP AUSTIN AFFORDABLE WHILE MAINTAINING HIGH QUALITY CITY SERVICES FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR BUSINESSES.
THIS SHOULD HELP CONTROL COST, HOLD PROPERTY TAXES IN CHECK, AND EASE THE OVERALL COST OF LIVING IN OUR GROWING CITY.
CITIES LIKE HOUSTON HAVE SHOWN THAT HOW A TARGETED EFFICIEN RE REVIEW CAN GENERATE SIGNIFICANT ANNUAL SAVINGS OVER A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS IN THAT CASE, THROUGH REFORMS THAT EMPHASIZE ACCOUNTABILITY.
WITHOUT HARMING CORE SERVICES, AUSTIN CAN ACHIEVE SIMILAR RESULTS AND THIS ORDINANCE SETS UP FOR SUSTAINED SUCCESS.
I URGE THE COUNCIL TO PASS THIS MEASURE TODAY.
I BELIEVE THAT IT IS ESSENTIAL IS AN ESSENTIAL INVESTMENT IN OUR PHYSICAL RESPONSIBILITY THAT WILL ENHANCE THE PUBLIC'S TRUST AND HELP ENSURE A MORE PROSPEROUS FUTURE.
SO CARLOS LEON, FIRST AND FOREMOST FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TO ITEM 50.
YOU SAY YOU WANT PUBLIC CONFIDENCE RESULTING FROM INDEPENDENT TRANSPARENT EVALUATION OF CITY OPERATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS,
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INDEPENDENT TRANSPARENT EVALUATION OF CITY OPERATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE IMPLEMENTABLE AND SUSTAINABLE OVERSEEN BY THE CITY AUDITOR.THOUGH EFFICIENCY OF CITY POLICIES WILL BE ANALYZED, HOLDING CITY EMPLOYEES ACCOUNTABLE FOR FOLLOWING THOSE POLICIES.
CITY RULES AND LOCAL AND STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS IS THE ELEPHANT IN THIS CHAMBER.
THROUGHOUT 2025, I SHOWED AND TOLD YOU WITH EVIDENCE THAT SINCE AUGUST, 2023, APLS LIBRARY USE RULES WRONGLY BANNING PATRONS FROM ALL LIBRARY BRANCHES VIOLATED CITY SUPERSEDING RULES FOR PUBLIC USE OF CITY PROPERTIES, RIGHTLY LIMITING DENIAL, THE PHYSICAL ACCESS TO THE BRANCH OF THE ALLEGED VIOLATION, RESULTING IN FORMER DIRECTOR ROOSEVELT WEEKS AND FORMER INTERIM DIRECTOR HANNAH TERRELL, ISSUING HUNDREDS OF SYSTEM-WIDE CTMS WITHOUT LEGAL AUTHORITY TO DO SO, VIOLATING OUR FUNDAMENTAL FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO ACQUIRE INFORMATION IN PERSON AT THE LIMITED PUBLIC FORUM LIBRARY.
I FILED EVIDENCE-BASED ALLEGATIONS OF WRONGDOING WITH THE CITY AUDITOR OR HOLD TERRELL ACCOUNTABLE FOR HER ALLEGED CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR AND EXPOSE THE NEED TO FOLLOW CITY CODE ONE DASH TWO TO REVISE THOSE A PL RULES TO COMPLY WITH CITY RULES.
BUT CITY AUDITOR DEFERRED TO ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER STEPHANIE HAYDEN HOWARD, WHO SAID SHE WAS WORKING ON THOSE RULES.
YET TODAY, THOSE A PL RULES STILL DO NOT COMPLY WITH CITY RULES.
WORSE AS HIRING MANAGER DURING THE A PL DIRECTOR SEARCH, SHE APPEARED TO IGNORE TERRELL'S TRANSGRESSIONS TO HELP CITY MANAGER BROAD.
NEXT, APPOINT TERRELL, DIRECTOR OVER TOP CANDIDATE KATHY DONLIN.
THUS UNTIL TERRELL, HAYDEN, HOWARD, AND BROAD NECKS ARE LAWFULLY HELD ACCOUNTABLE, THIS HAS NO TEETH IN REALITY.
MR. BOWEN, MS. ROBIO AND MS. JOSEPH.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M A LONGTIME AUSTINITE AND A TAXPAYER.
THIS AUDIT ORDINANCE IS A MEANINGFUL STEP FORWARD TOWARD THE FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY VOTERS HAVE DEMANDED.
I SENT DETAILED FEEDBACK BY EMAIL AND I HOPE THAT YOU ALL HAVE TAKEN THE TIME TO CONSIDER IT.
HERE I'M GOING TO RECAP THE KEY IMPROVEMENTS NEEDED TO MAKE THIS AUDIT POLICY TRULY STRONG.
FIRST, AUDITORS MUST REMAIN OBJECTIVE.
THE LANGUAGE IN THIS POLICY UNDERMINES EVIDENCE-BASED REPORTING BY PRE-QUALIFYING RECOMMENDATIONS THAT SABOTAGES THE INTENT OF AN INDEPENDENT AUDIT.
THEY MUST SURFACE ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES EARLY WITHOUT BIASED PARAMETERS.
YOU NEED TO REMOVE CONSTRAINTS ON THE AUDITOR.
SECOND SAFEGUARDS BELONG ON COUNCIL, NOT THE AUDITOR.
REMEMBER, THE AUDITOR'S FINDINGS ARE ADVISORY ONLY COUNCIL RETAINS FULL AUTHORITY TO ACCEPT, MODIFY, OR REJECT THEM.
TRUE SAFEGUARDS SHOULD BE DETAILED IN A SEPARATE COUNCIL POLICY, GIVING COUNCIL FLEXIBILITY AND TRANSPARENCY WHILE PRESERVING AUDITOR NEUTRALITY AND OBJECTIVITY ACTIVITY.
AND THIRD, VOTERS NEED THEIR SAY TO RESTORE TRUST.
A NINE VOTE SUPER MAJORITY TO AMEND THE AUDIT POLICY SIGNALS THAT COUNCIL RECOGNIZES THE AUDIT AS AN ACT OF TRUST BUILDING, BUT A SUPER MAJORITY PROVIDES INADEQUATE PROTECTION, OFFERING LITTLE REASSURANCE THAT THIS ORDINANCE WON'T BE DILUTED OR REPEALED IN THE FUTURE.
BECAUSE, BECAUSE THIS COUNCIL VOTES UNANIMOUSLY FAR TOO OFTEN, AND I CHALLENGE YOU TO PROVE ME WRONG TODAY, AN ORDINANCE ALONE IS TOO FRAGILE.
ONLY A VOTER APPROVED CHARTER AMENDMENT CAN LOCK AN INDEPENDENCE WITHOUT BIAS BY ENSHRINING CORE PRINCIPLES.
IN THE CHARTER, WE ADD A SAFEGUARD THAT ONLY VOTERS CAN CHANGE.
COUNSEL, I URGE YOU TO SEIZE THIS MOMENT, TO LEAD, TO REFINE THE ORDINANCE, TO PLACE STRONG, TO PLACE A STRONGER AUDIT AMENDMENT ON THE BALLOT FOR VOTERS.
I'M A I'M A LONG TIME RESIDENT OF DISTRICT EIGHT.
UH, FOR MANY OF YOU, YOU KNOW THAT I'VE FELT VERY STRONGLY ABOUT AN AUDIT.
UM, I SPOKE DURING THE FINANCE AND AUDIT COMMITTEE BASED UPON THE ORDINANCE THAT THE MAYOR HAD PROVIDED.
UH, I FOUND SOME VERY GOOD THINGS IN THAT.
UM, AND IN FACT I WAS ASKED TO, UH, LOOK AT THAT AND MEET WITH HIS STAFF ON THAT.
YET, WHEN I SAT HERE AND I HEAR THOSE BEHIND ME, THEY SEEM TO HAVE HAD A WHOLE LOT MORE INFLUENCE OR A WHOLE LOT MORE SAY SO IN THIS THAN THE PUBLIC.
AND I WANT TO ASK THE QUESTION WHY THIS IS NOT.
UH, THIS IS ABOUT OUR CITY AND THE TAXPAYERS AND THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OVER OVERSPENDING.
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TALK ABOUT, OH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO TRUST THE EMPLOYEES, THOSE TYPE OF THINGS.IF THEY'RE BAD EMPLOYEES, THEN THERE NEEDS TO BE PROCEDURES AND BE ABLE TO DO THIS.
AN AUDIT WILL HELP PROVIDE THIS.
I'M IN, I'M IN FACT IN FAVOR OF AN INDEPENDENT AUDITOR, BUT HE NEEDS TO BE COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT.
HE DOESN'T NEED THE THUMB OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS OR OUTSIDE GROUPS PUSHING DOWN ON THOSE SCALES AND NOT ALLOWING THE TAXPAYERS TO BE ABLE TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON.
WHETHER THOSE BACK BEHIND ME SAY, OH, IT'S THERE, IT'S, YOU KNOW, THERE IS TRUST.
AND IT'S MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SAY, YES, I'M REALLY FOR THIS.
WHEN HONESTLY, WE STILL NEED AN AUDIT TO HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE, DEPARTMENTS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR SPENDING.
AND WHERE'S ALL THIS MONEY GOING? HOW ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE THIS TOWN AFFORDABLE IF THERE'S NO TRUST IN WHAT THE DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND, UH, YOUR AND YOUR, UH, LISTENING.
COUNSEL, I'M JUST GONNA SPEAK QUICKLY, MAYOR TO, UH, THE JULY, 2023 AUDIT, WHICH WAS DATA RELIABILITY.
IT SAID OVER HALF OF THE OFFICES, UH, FROM 2017 TO 2021 DID NOT USE THE DATA.
AND DEPARTMENTS ARE NOT USING IT TO IMPROVE PROCESSES.
I JUST WANNA SHOW YOU THE INEFFICIENCIES WITH TRANSPORTATION.
I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THEY'RE NOT USING THE DATA TO DETERMINE WHAT PROJECTS THEY ACTUALLY IMPLEMENT.
IT'S IN SOUTHWEST AND CENTRAL AUSTIN AND THERE'S NO CONNECTIVITY IN NORTH AUSTIN, NORTH OF NORTHEAST OF US.
YOU CAN SEE HERE, MAYOR, WHERE YOU HAVE ALL THE GROWTH IN THE NORTH CORRIDOR, 425 ACRE DEVELOPMENT ACROSS FROM SAMSUNG.
THIS IS EAST VILLAGE AND I MENTIONED EARLIER THE 24 PROJECT CONNECT NORTH CORRIDOR LOCALLY PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE STUDY.
AND THIS IS THE ACTUAL INFORMATION THAT I RECEIVED IT FROM.
I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE AS WELL THAT THE GROWTH IS IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY AND TRAVIS COUNTY, BUT THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT CONTINUES TO IMPROVE AIRPORT BOULEVARD AND OTHER PET PROJECTS.
I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE WHAT RUNDBERG LOOKS LIKE.
THIS IS SPECIFICALLY THE 8 0 1 METRO RAPID STOP.
IF YOU LOOK REAL CLOSE, YOU'LL SEE A LITTLE GUY WITH GRAY AND HE ACTUALLY HAS HIS HEAD ON THE GROUND.
HE WAS SITTING UP WHEN I GOT THERE, BUT HE TOOK SOME TYPE OF DRUG AND THEN HE WENT OUT.
BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE SIDEWALK, AND I SHOWED MIKE ROGERS THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, THE DIFFERENCE IN TERRACOTTA VERSUS PLAIN GRAY SIDEWALKS HERE ON RUNDBERG NORTH LAMAR.
BUT STILL, IF YOU GO DOWN CAMERON ROAD TODAY, YOU WILL SEE THE CONTRACTOR IS STILL CONSTRUCTING THESE PLAIN GRAY SIDEWALKS.
NOT MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT, NOT SHARED USE PATHS, AND THERE'S NO TERRACOTTA.
THIS IS WHAT NICE SIDEWALKS LOOK LIKE.
HE ACTUALLY HAS TERRACOTTA ALL THE WAY TO 46TH STREET ACROSS FROM IN-N-OUT BURGER.
AND HE TOOK PRIDE IN PUTTING A BUS STOP SHELTER MID BLOCK.
THANK YOU FOR ITEM 53, JENNIFER ROBOSHO.
AND THEN FOR ITEM 54, JENNIFER ROBOSHO, JEFFREY BOWEN, AND KELLY ECCO, CHANGE CHAIRS
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS JEN ROBO AND I'M A LONGTIME AUSTINITE AND TAXPAYER.
I ACTUALLY SUPPORT PRACTICAL COMMUNITY LED PROJECTS, BUT ONLY WHEN THEY'RE TRANSPARENT AND FULLY FUNDED.
UPFRONT, I'M SPEAKING ON ITEM 53, THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING $6,500 FROM THE DISTRICT SIX OPERATING BUDGET FOR ENHANCEMENTS TO SPICEWOOD SPRINGS.
PARK PARKS MATTER DEEPLY TO FAMILIES LIKE MINE AND SMALL TARGETED UPGRADES CAN IMPROVE LIVABILITY WITHOUT IMPOSING HEAVY TAXPAYER BURDENS.
BUT WE HAVE ALMOST NO DETAILS HERE.
THE BACKUP RESOLUTION IS VAGUE.
IT AUTHORIZES THE $6,500 FOR UNSPECIFIED ENHANCEMENTS TO IMPROVE USER EXPERIENCE AND LONG-TERM VITALITY.
WITH ONLY A PASSING REFERENCE TO FUTURE COMMUNITY COLLABORATION.
THERE'S NO LIST OF WHAT'S ACTUALLY PROPOSED WITHOUT THAT CLARITY, WE CANNOT EVEN ESTIMATE THE OVERALL PROJECT COST IS $6,500 THE FULL AMOUNT NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE WORK, OR IS IT MERELY A DOWN PAYMENT WITH ADDITIONAL REQUESTS LIKELY TO
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FOLLOW FROM THE GENERAL FUND OR OTHER SOURCES? COUNCILWOMAN LANE, RESPECTFULLY, SMALL EXPEN EXPENDITURES LIKE THIS ARE REASONABLE WHEN JUSTIFIED, BUT FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY DEMANDS SHOWING THE FULL PICTURE BEFORE APPROVAL.WHAT EXACTLY ARE THE PROPOSED UPGRADES? WHAT IS THE TOTAL ESTIMATED COST OF THE PROJECT? WILL THE $6,500 COVER EVERYTHING OR ADDITIONAL FUNDS ANTICIPATED? AND TO THE COUNCIL AT LARGE? HOW CAN MEMBERS APPROVE THE USE OF COUNCIL OFFICE FUNDS? WITHOUT THESE DETAILS, WHAT DUE DILIGENCE HAS BEEN PERFORMED? I RESPECTFULLY ASK THE COUNCIL TO DEFER APPROVAL UNTIL THESE QUESTIONS ARE FULLY ANSWERED AND DISCLOSED.
AND AGAIN, SPEAKING ON ITEM 54.
I AM JEN ROBOSHO, LONGTIME AUSTINITE AND TAXPAYER, AND AS I SAID, I VALUE OUR PARKS DEEPLY.
HOWEVER, I'M SPEAKING AGAINST THE AUTHORIZATION OF A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM THE DISTRICT EIGHT BUDGET FOR AN OFF-LEASH DOG AREA IN CIRCLE C METROPOLITAN PARK, WHICH HAPPENS TO BE ONE OF MY FAMILY'S FAVORITE PARKS.
THE AGENDA BACKUP OFFERS ALMOST NO DETAILS ON THIS PROJECT.
THE $100,000 IS DESCRIBED AS OFFSETTING SOME COST WITH NOTHING ABOUT THE TOTAL ESTIMATED BUILD COST.
WHO'S GONNA COVER THE OVERRUNS IN ONGOING ANNUAL MAINTENANCE? THE CIRCLE C DOG PARK FACEBOOK GROUP, WHICH WAS OMITTED FROM THE BACK BACKUP, INCLUDES A 2018 COST ESTIMATE OF $492,000.
WHAT IS THE UPDATED 2026 FIGURE? HAVE WE ACCOUNTED FOR INFLATION? WHAT ARE THE DESIGN CHANGES, ANY CHANGES IN THE CURRENT MATERIALS? A FEBRUARY 11TH FACEBOOK POST FROM ED SCRUGGS PROVIDES SOME ANSWERS INDICATING THE DESIGN IS UNDERWAY FOR A ONE ACRE SITE BY FALL WITH ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS AND A POSSIBLE WATERLINE FOR A DRINKING FOUNTAIN.
HE ADDED THAT THE LONG-TERM VISION IS A PHASE TWO ACRE SITE WITH WATER SEEDING, SHADE, LIGHTING, AND LANDSCAPING.
THIS ALL STRONGLY SUGGESTS THAT THE $100,000 IS SEED MONEY.
COUNCILWOMAN ELLIS, RESPECTFULLY, WHAT IS THE PLAN TO FUND THE REMAINDER OF THIS? WILL IT COME FROM THE GENERAL FUND NEGOTIATIONS THIS SUMMER, A FUTURE BOND ELECTION, OR NEXT YEAR'S OFFICE BUDGET? AND TO THE COUNCIL AT LARGE? WHY HAVE THESE QUESTIONS NOT BEEN ASKED OR ANSWERED BEFORE BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD? COUNSEL, I URGE YOU TO DEFER APPROVAL UNTIL THE FULL SCOPE, TOTAL COST, FUNDING PLAN AND ONGOING MAINTENANCE ARE CLEARLY DISCLOSED.
TAXPAYERS DESERVE TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY'RE COMMITTING TO AND HOW IT'LL BE PAID FOR, ESPECIALLY WHEN THIS MAY EXCEED THE INTENT OF THE COUNCIL MEMBER EXPENSE POLICY.
UH, JEFF BOWEN, UH, MEMBER OF DISTRICT EIGHT.
BEEN THERE 35 YEARS, WELL, LONGER THAN DISTRICT EIGHT.
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT, UH, THE DOG PARK IN CIRCLE C.
NOW BE ADVISED, UH, I HAVE NOTHING AGAINST THE PARKS.
I HAVE NOTHING AGAINST PET OWNERS.
I'M CURRENTLY FOSTERING TWO PETS RIGHT NOW AS WE SPEAK, BUT I HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES WITH THIS BASED UPON THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY.
UH, I SEE THIS AS A TEST CASE BASED UPON Y'ALL'S DECISION TO BE ABLE TO MOVE MONEY FROM WITHIN YOUR OWN BUDGETS OVER TO DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS FOR WHATEVER PROJECTS YOU ARE.
SO I SEE IT AS KIND OF THE, IF THIS PASSES, IT'S GONNA BE MAYBE A QUICK PRO QUO, BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS, MS. ROBO IS RIGHT, THERE WAS, BACK IN 2018, THERE WAS A BUDGET THAT WAS KIND OF PUT TOGETHER BY, I GUESS IT WAS FOR THE CITY.
IT WAS A CITY DOCUMENT, $492,000.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THOSE EXPENSES ARE NOW? WE HAVE NO IDEA.
THERE'S OVER $700 MILLION WORTH OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE IN OUR PARKS.
I WOULD URGE MS. ELLIS TO MAKE SURE THAT MAYBE THAT A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS WOULD BE USED FOR THE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE IN THE THREE PARKS, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE NOT ONLY CIRCLE C, BUT DICK NICHOLS AND ALSO ZILKER.
SO THE ISSUE HERE FOR ME IS THAT WE HAVE VERY LITTLE TRANSPARENCY.
WHAT ARE THE COSTS TO PUT THIS ENTIRE PROCESS TOGETHER? NOT ONLY THAT, THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PROCESS FROM 2000, UH, IN 2018, WHEN THIS THE FACEBOOK GROUP WAS STARTED, THERE WAS CONSTANT REMINDERS IN THERE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.
LESS THAN A HUNDRED YARDS FROM THE EXISTING PARK IS A DRY CREEK, AND ALL THAT WATER RUNS TOWARDS THAT CREEK.
THERE WAS $25,000 IN WATER QUALITY PONDS IN THAT ORIGINAL BUDGET.
YET, WHERE'S THE BUDGET FOR THIS ENTIRE PROCESS NOW? SO I'M ASKING YOU TO PUT THIS THING ASIDE TILL WE GET MORE INFORMATION, MORE TRANSPARENCY ON THIS ENTIRE ISSUE.
ALL SPEAKERS FOR CONSENT HAVE BEEN CALLED.
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THAT CONCLUDES AS YOU'VE HEARD ALL OF THE SPEAKERS FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA.UH, DURING THE PROCESS OF THE CONSENT AGENDA ON ITEM NUMBER 36, THERE WAS A, UH, YELLOW SHEET HANDED OUT THAT WOULD AMEND ITEM NUMBER 36.
SO I'M GONNA PULL ITEM 36 OFF OF THE CONSENT AGENDA SO THAT WE CAN ADDRESS IT, UH, SPECIFICALLY AND GET THE AMENDMENT IN FOR, FOR CLARITY PURPOSES AND NOT HAVE ANY CONFUSION ABOUT THAT.
SO THAT INDICATES THAT ITEMS 23, 38 AND 36 ARE THE THREE ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PULLED OFF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
I'M GOING TO ASK FOR A MOTION AND A SECOND, AND THEN WE WILL GO TO DISCUSSION AND COMMENTS FROM ANY MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL WITH REGARD TO CONSENT AGENDA.
SO PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU WISH TO BE HEARD ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA? MOTION IS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ.
UH, WITH THAT I WILL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, AND THEN FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.
UH, JUST ON ITEM 16, I WANTED TO CELEBRATE THE WORK OF AUSTIN WATER TO ADDRESS WATER LOSS THROUGH OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS, INCLUDING BY REPLACING POLYBUTYLENE PIPES.
UH, I KNOW WATER CONSERVATION AND REDUCING LEAKS IS A BIG PRIORITY FOR THE COMMUNITY, AND THIS WORK IS A GREAT STEP FORWARD ON THAT FRONT.
AND ON ITEM 50, THE EFFICIENCY ASSESSMENT.
I JUST WANTED TO REITERATE MY THANKS TO THE MAYOR AND THE CO-SPONSORS AND OUR CITY AUDITOR AND HIS TEAM FOR DEVELOPING THIS PROGRAM AND FOR CO CONSULTING WITH AFSCME IN DEVELOPING THE REVISED PROPOSAL, WHICH I AM HAPPY TO SUPPORT.
COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER.
TODAY I AM VERY PROUD TO BE SPONSORING ITEM 54, WHICH ALLOCATES A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM THE DIS THE DISTRICT EIGHT OFFICE FUNDS TOWARD THE CONSTRUCTION OF A PERMANENT FENCED OFF LEASH AREA WITHIN CIRCLE C METROPOLITAN PARK.
APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM HONORS THE RESIDENTS OF SOUTHWEST AUSTIN WHO CAME TOGETHER MORE THAN 10 YEARS AGO.
FOLLOWING A SERIES OF AGGRESSIVE ENCOUNTERS BETWEEN PEOPLE AND ROAMING OFF LEASH DOGS, IT BECAME OBVIOUS THAT ESTABLISHING A SECURE SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO EXERCISE AND SOCIALIZE THEIR DOGS WAS KEY TO ALL USERS BEING ABLE TO SAFELY ACCESS OUR PUBLIC SPACES THROUGH NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS, MOMS GROUPS, ONLINE ADVOCACY, DOG LOVERS AND THEIR FAMILIES ASKED TO ENJOY A RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITY LONG AVAILABLE TO RESIDENTS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY.
PARK STAFF DID CREATE A DESIGN FOR AN OFF-LEASH AREA, BUT TO THE DISAPPOINTMENT OF MANY DEVELOPMENT STALLED PENDING AN IDENTIFIABLE FUNDING SOURCE.
TODAY WE'RE TAKING A MAJOR STEP FORWARD BY PUTTING DISTRICT DATE FUNDS TO WORK DIRECTLY IN DISTRICT DATE.
WHEN THIS OFF-LEASH AREA OPENS LATER THIS YEAR, SOUTHWEST AUSTIN RESIDENTS AND THEIR PUPPIES WILL ENJOY AN ACCESSIBLE, SECURE, AND INTERACTIVE OUTDOOR SPACE THAT STRENGTHENS COMMUNITY AND MAXIMIZES THE SAFE USE OF ONE OF OUR LARGEST AND MOST POPULAR METROPOLITAN PARKS.
I WANNA THANK MY CO-SPONSORS, WHICH ARE MAYOR PRO TE VELA, COUNCIL MEMBERS, CADRE AND VELASQUEZ FOR THEIR SUPPORT, AS WELL AS THE DEDICATED PARK STAFF WHO ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE ANOTHER USER-FRIENDLY FACILITY FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO ENJOY AND BLEND IT WITH THE UNIQUE LANDSCAPE THAT IS IN SOUTHWEST AUSTIN.
AND I ALSO WANNA THANK THANK THE CONSTITUENTS WHO HAVE ADVOCATED OVER THE COURSE OF MANY, MANY YEARS AND SUPPORTED THIS WITH EMAILS THAT WE HAVE ADDED TO BACKUP TO MOVE THIS PROJECT FORWARD.
THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO USE OUR DISTRICT A OFFICE BUDGET DOLLARS DIRECTLY BACK INTO THE DISTRICT IN 2022.
I WAS PROUD TO PUT THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY INTO DICK NICHOLS PARK.
AND WITH THOSE DOLLARS, WE WERE ABLE TO RESURFACE SPORT COURTS AND FIX THE SPLASH PAD THAT IS THE SEAL SLASH DOLPHIN, DEPENDING ON WHO YOU ASK IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND SO I'M HAPPY TO CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO PUT A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY AWAY EVERY SINGLE YEAR TO BE ABLE TO DELIVER BIG AND MEANINGFUL PROJECTS FOR THE DISTRICT.
AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE NEXT STEPS.
THIS WON'T BE ABLE TO FULFILL ALL OF THE PHASING OF WHAT SHOULD BE THE ENTIRE VISION PLAN OF A DOG PARK, BUT IT WILL GET US PHASE ONE AND HOPEFULLY THAT WILL, UH, LEND THE WAY FOR OTHER EXPANSIONS TO BE ABLE TO HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE.
SO I'M VERY EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THIS COMMITMENT TODAY.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER AND COUNCIL MEMBER LANG.
IT'S A DOLPHIN IN OUR HOUSEHOLD, UH, ACCORDING TO MY KIDS, THE FRONT AND THE LIKE DOLPHIN TAIL, BUT SEAL KNOWS IT VERY MUCH IS A, A LITTLE AMORPHOUS, BUT SOUNDS LIKE CREATED BY COMMITTEE.
UH, I JUST WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 49.
IT'S BEEN DISCUSSED HERE TODAY, UH, BUT WE ARE IN A POSITION TO SEE THE BENEFIT OF $50 MILLION OF INVESTMENT FROM THE STATE, UH, THAT WE WOULD NOT HAVE, BUT FOR, UH, THE WORK OF THE MAYOR.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND, AND HELPING US GET THAT.
UM, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE
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GONNA SEE NOT ONLY, YOU KNOW, 325 PEOPLE AT A TIME, BUT THAT'S GONNA CYCLE THROUGH PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO HAVE FOUR WALLS AND A ROOF AND A BED, AND A PLACE THAT THEY CAN FEEL SAFE AND SECURE AND START TO, UH, HEAL AND ULTIMATELY MOVE, GET WORKFORCE TRAINING AND INTO SELF-SUFFICIENCY.THIS IS THEIR FEW THINGS AS CRITICAL, UH, AS THIS, THAT WE CAN DO.
AND SO, UH, I JUST REALLY WANT TO TO HIGHLIGHT THE MONUMENTAL NATURE OF THIS BECAUSE IT'S NOT EVERY DAY THAT WE GET THIS AND, AND I REALLY DO, UH, MEAN IT WHEN I SAY WE WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED, BUT FOR YOUR WORK.
SO, REALLY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COUNCIL MEMBER LANE, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN.
UM, I HAVE A COUPLE QUICK COMMENTS.
UH, FIRST I WANTED TO COMMENT ON ITEM FIVE, WHICH IS THE EM COT EXPANSION.
I'M GRATEFUL TO CITY STAFF FOR BRINGING FORWARD THIS ITEM TO PROVIDE INCREASED FUNDING FOR THE EXPANDED MOBILE CRISIS OUTREACH TEAM, WHICH OFFERS A FIRST RESPONSE TEAM FOR MENTAL HEALTH CRISES IN COLLABORATION WITH CITY FIRST RESPONDERS.
EM COT HELPS DIVERT PEOPLE AWAY FROM JAIL AND UNNECESSARY ER VISITS.
IT PROVIDES SUPPORT TO STABILIZE SOMEONE IN, IN A CRISIS, AND IT CONNECTS THEM TO ONGOING CARE THROUGH INTEGRAL CARE AND OTHER PROVIDERS AM COT IS EXACTLY THE KIND OF RESPONSE WE WANT TO SEE WHEN SOMEONE IS EXPERIENCING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.
AND WE ALSO WANT TO SEE THIS TYPE OF RESPONSE OUT ALL THE WAY ACROSS OUR CITY TO THE EDGES.
AND THEREFORE, I AM PLEASED TO SEE THAT FUNDING FOR THE EXPANSION OF THIS PROGRAM TO TRULY SERVE ALL OF OUR CITY CONTINUES TO BE IDENTIFIED AND ALLOW, AND WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.
UM, I ALSO WANNA QUICKLY COMMENT ON ITEM 36, UH, THE AFSCME LOCAL 1624 CONSULTATION POLICY.
THANK YOU TO CITY STAFF FOR TURNING THIS AROUND SO QUICKLY.
IT WAS BROUGHT FORWARD EARLIER THIS YEAR BY COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, AND I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THE WORK DONE ON THIS POLICY HAS HELPED US TO ARRIVE AT A BETTER PLACE WITH RESPECT TO ITEM 50, THE COMPREHENSIVE EFFICIENCY ASSESSMENT ORDINANCE.
AND SO ALSO WITH RESPECT TO ITEM 50, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU MAYOR FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD.
I WAS PREVIOUSLY LISTED AS A CO-SPONSOR WHEN THIS ITEM WAS BROUGHT FORWARD IN THE LAST MEETING.
AND I, I WOULD LIKE TO FORMALLY ADD MY NAME AGAIN AS A CO-SPONSOR NOW.
UM, AND I WILL JUST SAY, OUR CONSTITUENTS EXPECT STRONG SERVICES AND RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP OF THEIR TAX DOLLARS, WHICH REQUIRES ONGOING ACCOUNTABILITY ACROSS THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION.
THIS ORDINANCE ENSURES THAT AN ORGANIZATION-WIDE EFFICIENCY ASSESSMENT BEGINS WITHOUT DELAY, IS COMPLETED WITH FULL TRANSPARENCY AND RECURS ON A PREDICTABLE SCHEDULE.
IT ALSO RECOGNIZED THE VALUE OF CITY EMPLOYEES AS ESSENTIAL PARTNERS IN IDENTIFYING EFFICIENCIES AND IMPROVING OPERATIONS, WHILE ENSURING THAT INDEPENDENT AUDIT WITH FULL ACCESS TO RESOURCES AS NEEDED TO DELIVER THE MOST EFFECTIVE CONCLUSIONS AND USEFUL CONCLUSIONS AS POSSIBLE.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO'S BEEN INVOLVED IN ADVANCING THIS EFFORT, ESPECIALLY CITY OTTER, JASON AVI, MY COLLEAGUES ON THE DAAS WHO'VE WORKED TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT INPUT RECEIVED FROM A WIDE RANGE OF STAKEHOLDERS HAS BEEN CONSIDERED AND INCORPORATED.
AND ASK ME WHO HAS BEEN AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE A VITAL PARTNER IN THIS WORK.
AND FINALLY, I'D LIKE TO COMMENT ON NUMBER 53 60 $500 FROM THE DISTRICT SIX OFFICE BUDGET FOR SPRINGWOODS PARK ENHANCEMENTS.
THIS IS IN FACT A TEST CASE OF THE ABILITY OF OF AN OFFICE TO DEDICATE FUNDING TO A PRIORITY.
UM, THERE HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN CONTEMPLATED BY, UH, CITY STAFF, UH, A PLAN FOR THIS PARK THAT INCLUDES AS MUCH AS THREE TO THREE TO $4 MILLION IN IMPROVEMENTS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO ALL ABILITIES, PLACE SCAPES AND RELATED, UH, IMPROVEMENTS.
THAT FUNDING HASN'T BEEN FOUND.
I HAVE SPOKEN AT LENGTH AND CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THAT IT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT THE CITY IMPROVES THE STRUCTURES BY WHICH IT SECURES AND MAKES USE OF A MORE DIVERSE SET OF REVENUE SOURCES.
WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO FUND EVERYTHING FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
WE HEAR THIS, AND WE NEED TO BE WORKING WITH NEW PARTNERS.
IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, STARTING FROM A, A BUDGET THAT HAD BEEN CONTEMPLATED BETWEEN THREE AND $4 MILLION, WE'VE ALREADY SEC SECURED A MILLION DOLLARS FROM OUTSIDE OF THE CITY.
THANKS TO STATE LEGISLATIVE REP WILLIAM, UM, JOHN BUSEY FROM WILLIAMSON COUNTY.
UH, I NOW AM REQUESTING THAT $6,500 FROM MY COUNCIL OFFICE BUDGET BE ALLOCATED AS A MEANS TO SEED PRIVATE AND COMMUNITY BASED DONATIONS.
THIS IS A WAY TO BRING TOGETHER DIFFERENT PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY TO FUNDRAISE AND VOLUNTEER AND BE PART OF THE PROCESS IN IMPROVING THIS PARK.
AND IT DOES FIT IN WITH THE OVERALL, UH, PLANS FOR THIS PARK.
[01:20:01]
MY CO-SPONSORS ON THIS ITEM.COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
I WANTED TO BRIEFLY COMMENT ON ITEM 50, WHICH IS THE AUDIT ORDINANCE.
THIS ORDINANCE PROTECTS SOCIAL SERVICES.
IT PROTECTS PUBLIC SAFETY AND PROTECTS EVERYTHING ELSE.
I THINK THE CITY PROVIDES THAT WE VALUE.
AND MY SENSE IS THAT THOSE SERVICES COULD BE IN REAL JEOPARDY IF MY COLLEAGUES AND I DON'T ACT.
NOW, IT DIDN'T TAKE MUCH FOR CITY HALL TO FIND ITSELF IN ITS CURRENT POSITION.
IT TOOK A MODEST DECREASE IN SALES TAXES, AND THAT WAS COMBINED WITH SOME STATE RESTRICTIONS.
I WORRY THAT A MORE SEVERE DOWNTURN COULD LEAD TO, UH, A LOT OF PAINFUL DECISIONS.
IT COULD LEAD TO HUGE CUTS IN SOCIAL SERVICES.
IT COULD LEAD TO FEWER POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS ON DUTY.
IT COULD LEAD TO PARK CLOSURES AND PUBLIC LAYOFFS.
AND I HOPE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN, BUT MY SENSE IS THAT WILL BE WISE TO PREPARE FOR THAT.
THAT'S WHY I WANNA BORROW AN ANALOGY FROM ANOTHER SPACE THAT WE'VE TRIED TO DO A LOT OF WORK IN OVER THE LAST YEAR, WHICH IS WILDFIRE PREVENTION AND PREPAREDNESS, AND THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE TRYING TO IMPLEMENT OUR WILDFIRE ACTION PLAN.
I THINK OF THIS AUDIT AS A KIND OF CONTROL BURN, SOMETHING THAT WE ROUTINELY DO IN A TARGETED WAY, DESIGNED TO PREVENT A CATASTROPHIC WILDFIRE.
WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT OUR FINANCES IN THE, IN A SIMILAR WAY, TO ENSURE THAT WE'VE GOT A PROCESS THAT'S ROUTINE, THAT'S THOUGHTFUL AND IS INTENDED TO PREPARE US FOR WHAT COULD BE A MORE SEVERE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN OR EVENT BY ENSURING THAT WE'VE GOT PROPER CONTROLS AND GUARDRAILS.
WE'VE GOT VISIBILITY AND PERFORMANCE THAT WE'RE SPENDING EACH DOLLAR AS WISE AS WE CAN REGARDLESS OF THE SERVICE OR THE PROJECT OR THE SPACE.
AND THAT'S A DUTY I FEEL LIKE WE OWE TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, AND PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO ARE DISADVANTAGED AND DEPEND ON PUBLIC SERVICES THE MOST.
SO THAT'S WHY I'M EAGER TO SUPPORT THIS EFFORT.
I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR FOR HIS LEADERSHIP.
IT'S ALSO WHY, JUST LIKE THE WILDFIRE ANALOGY, THE WORK DOESN'T STOP HERE.
WE'LL NEED TO CONTINUE TO BE VIGILANT LONG AFTER THIS VOTE.
WE NEED TO WORK WITH THE AUDITOR TO GET REGULAR UPDATES AND ENSURE THAT WE'RE RECEIVING AUDIT RECOMMENDATIONS IN A TIMELY WAY TO MAKE INFORMED BUDGET CHOICES.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT WORK.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU AND I APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU'VE DONE.
COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
I AM, I'M GONNA TRY TO NOT SPEAK TOO LONG TODAY, BUT THERE ARE A COUPLE ITEMS THAT I'M ESPECIALLY PROUD OF.
UM, AND BECAUSE THEY'RE CONNECTED, I'LL SPEAK ABOUT, UM, SIMULTANEOUSLY.
SO THERE'S TWO ITEMS THAT DEAL WITH INFRASTRUCTURE IN DISTRICT ONE TODAY.
UM, AND IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE I HEAR FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, FAILING INFRASTRUCTURE.
YOU KNOW, THEY TALK TO ME ABOUT, OH, THEY HAVEN'T DONE ANY WORK ON THIS BLOCK SINCE 1951.
AND YOU THINK, SURELY THAT'S NOT TRUE.
BUT THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS, IT'S, IT'S TRUE IN, IN A LOT OF PARTS OF OUR CITY, UM, WHERE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IS FAILING OR WAS NEVER INSTALLED IN THE FIRST PLACE.
SO SEEING THAT CONNECTIVITY WITH INFRASTRUCTURE LEAVES ME, UM, VERY, UH, ENCOURAGED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF DEVELOPMENTS OF AREAS THAT ARE, UM, I THINK, I THINK IT'S EASY TO SAY NOBODY LIVES THERE WHEN YOU'VE NEVER BEEN, OR YOU DON'T KNOW ANYBODY WHO LIVES THERE, BUT THERE ARE FOLKS WHO ALREADY LIVE IN THESE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE GETTING THIS ADDITIONAL SUPPORT THROUGH INFRASTRUCTURE.
UM, SO, UH, I'LL MOVE ON TO OUR EFFICIENCY ASSESSMENT.
OH, ACTUALLY, NO, I'M GONNA SKIP OVER TO ITEM NUMBER 51.
THE PERSON WHO I'D LIKE TO SPECIFICALLY SHOW A LITTLE BIT OF APPRECIATION FOR IS HERE TODAY.
SO, UM, I'D LIKE TO ADD THAT I'M HONORED TO JOIN.
AND ITEM NUMBER 51, GROWING UP IN AND NOW REPRESENTING DISTRICT ONE.
I REALLY DO KNOW FIRSTHAND THAT GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER MUSEUM, IT HAS LONG CREATED A SPACE IN A PLACE WHERE THE GLOBAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF BLACK COMMUNITIES ARE CELEBRATED, UM, BY TELLING LOCAL STORIES AND CONNECTING THEM TO LARGER HISTORIES AND MOVEMENTS.
THAT MISSION IS VERY MUCH ALIVE IN THIS MOMENT AS THE MUSEUM, AS THE MUSEUM HAS SERVED AS A PLACE TO STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF MUSLIM HERITAGE MONTH, OUR FIRST OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED MUSLIM HERITAGE MONTH.
UH, AND I WANNA THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CADRY, FOR BRINGING THIS TOGETHER.
I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, UM, THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT SOMEBODY SAID TODAY SOMETHING THAT I, I DON'T WANNA PUSH BACK TOO HARD, UM, BUT HE SAID DEMOCRACY IS AT RISK.
AND I DON'T KNOW THAT I BELIEVE THAT, UH, I FEEL VERY MUCH OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FACT THAT WHEN OP, WHEN DEMOCRACY IS CHALLENGED, I AM, UH, I'M ENCOURAGED TO SEE PEOPLE BECOME EMBOLDENED, TO MAINTAIN OUR DEMOCRACY AND THIS BODY OF PEOPLE THAT REPRESENTS THE CITY OF AUSTIN, THE 10TH LARGEST CITY IN THE NATION.
OUR DIVERSE LIVED EXPERIENCES ARE DEMOCRACY AT WORK.
IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE DIVERSE, AND IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE ALL ENCOMPASSING, AND IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE INCLUSIVE.
SO I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE THAT THIS OPPORTUNITY
[01:25:01]
IS REPRESENTED FROM THE DAYS AS WELL.UH, AND THEN LASTLY, I'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO, UM, UH, ITEM NUMBER 14.
SO, COLONY PARK, AS YOU ALL KNOW, UH, HAS BEEN LARGE FOCUS FOR MY OFFICE.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, UM, WE HAD OUR, UH, STATE REP CHERYL COLE IN THE BUILDING TODAY, AND IT REMINDED ME THAT IT WAS WORK THAT CHEATED AND THAT HER PREDECESSOR DID.
SO, UM, I WILL SAY THAT I'M, I'M THE CURRENT STEWARD FOR THE DISTRICT, THE AREA THAT REPRESENTS COLONY PARK, BUT I'M, I'M TRYING MY BEST TO FILL REALLY BIG STEPS OR BIG SHOES.
WHILE MUCH OF THIS DISCUSSION AROUND DEVELOPMENT HAS REALLY FOCUSED ON EXTERIOR PROJECTS, FUTURE LIBRARY, HEALTH CENTER, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ALL IMPORTANT, I'M GLAD TO SEE A CONCERTED EFFORT TO ALSO ADDRESS INFRASTRUCTURE.
THESE PROJECTS RELY ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE BEING SOLID.
UM, THESE WATER MAINS HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF BREAKS, AND THIS PROJECT WILL REPLACE MORE THAN 12,000 FEET OF AGING PIPELINE IN COLONY PARK, INCLUDING OLD ASBESTOS LINES.
THIS INVESTMENT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT AS WE CONTINUE TO FACE DROUGHT AND FLOODING ACROSS OUR CITY.
AND THIS PROJECT WILL HELP TO PRESERVE BETTER AND BETTER MANAGE THE WATER FLOW IN THIS COMMUNITY.
THE WORK BEING DONE IS COORDINATED WITH IMPROVEMENTS ALONG JOHNNY MORRIS, UM, INCLUDING SAFETY ENHANCEMENTS NEAR BARBARA JORDAN ELEMENTARY, WHICH REALLY MATTERS VERY DEEPLY TO DISTRICT ONE FAMILIES AND MOBILITY ADVOCATES ACROSS THE CITY.
SO I'M HAPPY TO SEE THOSE HAPPEN CONCURRENTLY.
AND THEN WATER, ROADS, AND, YOU KNOW, JUST BASICALLY ALL OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS, OUR UTILITIES REALLY ARE THE KIND OF THINGS THAT WE CAN'T HAVE INSTABILITY IN.
SO I'M VERY HAPPY TO SEE THAT THIS FOUNDATIONAL ELEMENT, UM, TO STABILIZE COMMUNITIES AND PERPETUALLY STABILIZE INFRASTRUCTURE ARE HAPPENING.
THIS PROJECT, IT REALLY DOES REFLECT AN, A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO INVESTING IN COLONY PARK.
UM, NOT JUST WHAT WE BUILD, BUT HOW WE SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY FOR THE LONG HAUL.
I FEEL LIKE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS REALLY SAY WHERE YOUR VALUES LIE AND WHAT YOUR COMMITMENT IS.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, FOR THE THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER.
UH, COUNCIL BEFORE WE GO, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRY, UM, I FORGOT, UM, WITHOUT OBJECTION, COUNCIL MEMBER LANE WILL BE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR OF ITEM NUMBER 50.
NOW, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRY, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
I'LL MAKE MY COMMENTS REALLY QUICK.
UM, JUST KIND OF GOING OFF OF WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON JUST SAID, UH, HOW GREAT THE CITY IS BECAUSE OF THE PEOPLE WHO CALL IT HOME.
UM, I, I'M, I'M A BIT UNDER THE WEATHER THE PAST FEW DAYS, SO I'M, I'M NOT FASTING.
SO I, I FEEL I'VE HEARD, I'VE ALWAYS HEARD OF CATHOLIC GUILT.
I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT FULLY IS, BUT I HAVE A LOT OF MUSLIM GUILT RIGHT NOW FOR NOT FASTING.
UM, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT WAS JUST LAST WEEK THAT IT WAS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE STILL IN BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
IT WAS THE START OF, UH, CHINESE LUNAR NEW YEAR.
UH, IT WAS ASH WEDNESDAY, AND IT WAS THE FIRST DAY OF FASTING FOR RAMADAN.
AND I'M LIKE, WHAT A, WHAT A JUST WHAT A COOL THING.
UH, AND I REMEMBER GROWING UP, UH, IT MUST HAVE BEEN WHEN ALL THE MOONS AND STARS WERE ALIGNED.
UM, IT WAS ONE WINTER WHERE IT WAS CHRISTMAS, I THINK HANUKKAH AND, AND EVE ALL IN THE SAME, UH, MONTH.
UH, AND, AND I THINK THAT'S JUST WHAT MAKES AUSTIN SO SPECIAL, JUST THE DIFFERENT PEOPLE WHO CALL IT HOME.
AND THE FACT THAT WE GET TO CELEBRATE, YOU KNOW, BLACK HISTORY MONTH, AND WE CELEBRATED MUSLIM HERITAGE MONTH LAST YEAR.
SO I, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THOSE QUICK COMMENTS.
UM, I, I DID HAVE COMMENTS ON ITEM 36, BUT I KNOW THAT'S BEEN PULLED, SO I'LL, I'LL MAKE THOSE LATER.
UH, BUT JUST WANTED TO, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ARE, ARE, ARE HARD AND REAL WORK.
UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S STILL, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE, UH, YOU KNOW, IN, IN THE CITY.
AND I THINK OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONERS MAKE THAT WORK, UH, THAT MUCH EASIER.
UH, SO, UH, WE, WE JUST HAD AN APPOINTMENT, UH, FOR THE ASIAN AMERICAN QUALITY OF LIFE COMMISSION,
AND I THINK WE STILL HAVE A FEW APPOINTMENTS AS AN OFFICE, AND I THINK SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES MIGHT HAVE SOME APPOINTMENTS.
SO IF YOU'RE IN THE AUDIENCE OR TUNING ON ONTO HOME, OR YOU'RE GONNA WATCH THIS LATER ON, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN SERVING THE CITY, UH, THERE'S A LOT OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, SO SIGN UP.
COUNCIL MEMBER MEMBERS, I'LL, UH, SPEAK BRIEFLY ON ITEM NUMBER 50, UH, BECAUSE I, I THINK THIS IS A REALLY PROUD STEP FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND AUSTIN CITY GOVERNMENT.
IT'S A MAJOR STEP, UH, IN AN, IN AN EFFECTIVENESS, EFFICIENCY, AND INNOVATION AGENDA FOR OUR CITY.
UH, WE DON'T KNOW OF ANY OTHER CITY THAT'S DOING IT THIS WAY WHERE IT'S A SYSTEMIC, CITYWIDE, ONGOING, INDEPENDENT EFFICIENCY ASSESSMENT OR AUDIT.
UH, NEVER BEFORE HAS AUSTIN DONE THIS.
UH, IT'S, IT'S AN INTERESTING SITUATION BECAUSE IT'S BOTH A BACK TO BASICS AND A MODERNIZATION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
AND THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT ARISES OUT OF A DETERMINATION FOR US TO SAFEGUARD PUBLIC CONFIDENCE, TO ASSURE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY WITH CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT, AND TO, TO DELIVER THE BEST VALUE FOR THE SERVICES THAT WE AS A CITY PROVIDE.
[01:30:01]
COUNCIL IS RECOGNIZING THAT WE ACHIEVE THAT ONLY THROUGH INDEPENDENT SYSTEMIC ONGOING EVALUATION OF OUR WORK, RESULTING IN OPERATIONAL INNOVATION AND IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE REAL IMPLEMENTABLE AND SUSTAINED.THIS PROGRAM OFFERS CONSPICUOUS INDEPENDENCE AND A CONCRETE DECLARATION WITH APPROPRIATE SPECIFICITY OF THE WORK THAT'S GOING TO BE DONE WORKING WITH OUR PROFESSIONAL INDEPENDENT CITY AUDITOR, AND I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO HIM, WE'VE PUT TOGETHER A BEST PRACTICES PERFORMANCE REVIEW PROCESS.
UH, IT'S ANCHORED IN THOSE BEST PRACTICES WHERE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE CLEAR MINIMUM DELIVERABLES.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE BENCHMARK DRIVEN PRIORITIZATION AND PUBLIC IMPLEMENTATION REPORTS.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE'VE INCLUDED THE BEST PARTS OF OTHER RECENT LOCAL PROPOSALS, UH, INCLUDING HOW WE USE THE AUDITOR IN ORDER TO HIRE AN INDEPENDENT AUDITOR.
AND BASED UPON OUR WORK AND OUR DISCUSSIONS AND OUR RESEARCH, WE WILL AVOID SOME OF THE PROBLEMATIC PARTS OF OTHER PROPOSALS.
THIS ORDINANCE IS PRACTICAL, EFFECTIVE, AND IT IS UNIFYING ABOUT GOOD GOVERNANCE.
I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS AND PEOPLE OF THIS COMMUNITY THAT HAVE GIVEN INPUT.
I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, AND OUR PROFESSIONAL STAFF AND OUR CITY AUDITOR WHO HAVE PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN THIS.
THIS ORDINANCE WILL MAKE AUSTIN BETTER, AND IT CONTINUES THE PRACTICE OF AUSTIN BEING IN A UNIQUE POSITION OF LEADING WHEN IT COMES TO ISSUES LIKE THIS.
MEMBERS, UNLESS THERE'S FURTHER DISCUSSION.
LET ME ASK, IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO ABSTAIN FROM ANY VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AS READ? ANYONE WISHING TO RECUSE THEMSELVES FROM A VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO.
COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES? YES, PLEASE SHOW ME VOTING NO ON ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
ANYONE ELSE? YES, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER.
I JUST WANNA DOUBLE CHECK SOMETHING REAL QUICK.
ALL RIGHT, WITH THAT BEING SAID, NO FURTHER DISCUSSION.
UH, THE CONSENT WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS ALTER AND FUENTES BEING SHOWN VOTING NO ON ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY THAT SHOWED UP AND SPOKE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA TODAY.
[36. Approve a resolution establishing a policy for consultation between representatives of the City Manager’s Office and representatives of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 1624 concerning issues that may impact the City's civilian workforce. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.]
WE WILL GO, UH, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS THE LAST ONE PULLED, I'M GOING TO GO TO ITEM NUMBER 36 NEXT.AND, UH, I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL FOR A MOTION TO ADOPT.
WELL, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, LET'S GO TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT FIRST.
I WAS GONNA GET A MAIN MOTION OUT AND, UH, I'LL TURN TO THE, THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE.
WE CALLED SPEAKERS ALREADY FOR 36.
I PULLED IT AFTER THE CONSENT AGENDA WAS READ.
UH, IF THAT'S THE ONLY MISTAKE I MAKE TODAY, WE'LL ALL BE COOL.
RIGHT? UM, UH, UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES, I WILL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, UM, AND ASK HIM FOR A MAIN MOTION.
WE'LL GET A MAIN MOTION UP, AND THEN I'LL GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE ON THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT.
I JUST WANNA THANK THE CITY MANAGER'S TEAM AND AME LOCAL 1624 FOR WORKING SO PRODUCTIVELY TO ADOPT THIS IMPORTANT AND HISTORIC POLICY WHERE THE CITY WILL ENSHRINE A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS WITH STAFF LEADERS AND UNION REPRESENTATIVES TO DISCUSS THE ISSUES OF THE DAY AND IMPROVE THE MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS OF THE CITY.
THIS IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT AS EXTERNAL PRESSURES BEAR DOWN ON OUR CITY FINANCIAL AND OTHERWISE.
AND AS THE EFFICIENCY AUDIT MOVES FORWARD, THOSE REPORTS WILL BE DISCUSSED DURING CONSULTATION AND THAT WILL MAKE THE EFFICIENCY PROCESS STRONGER AND MORE EFFECTIVE.
THANKS AGAIN TO EVERYONE WHO MADE THIS POSSIBLE.
UH, TO ME THIS POLICY REPRESENTS HOPE THAT AS A COMMUNITY, AS A CITY, WE CAN WORK TOGETHER FOR THE BETTER OF US ALL.
AND WITH THAT, WE WOULD LIKE TO MOVE ADOPTION OF ITEM 36.
COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL MOVES ADOPTION OF ITEM 36.
IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, UH, MEMBERS.
YOU HAVE A YELLOW SHEET IN FRONT OF YOU THAT IS LABELED ITEM 36, FEBRUARY 26TH, 2026.
COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE MOTION ONE.
UH, IT IS A MOTION TO AMEND THE MAIN
[01:35:01]
MOTION THAT WAS JUST MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER SEGAL AND I WILL TURN TO COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE FOR DISCUSSION AND TO A MOTION ON HIS MOTION.UH, I WANT TO THANK, UM, CITY MANAGER, HIS TEAM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SEGAL AND HIS TEAM, UM, AND, AND THE SPEAKERS TODAY FROM, FROM AFSCME 1624.
UH, ALL WE'RE DOING HERE IS ADDING A LINE THAT SAYS, INCLUDING THE AFSCME LOCAL 1624 PRESIDENT.
UH, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IS A, UM, A, A A A TITLE THAT'S, THAT'S KIND OF BAKED INTO THIS.
UH, REGARDLESS IF THE AF AFS E LOCAL 1624 PRESIDENT IS A CITY OR A COUNTY EMPLOYEE, WE THINK THAT REPRESENTATION'S REALLY IMPORTANT AS THAT POSITION IS ELECTED BY, UH, ALL MEMBERS, BOTH, UH, AT THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND AT TRAVIS COUNTY.
SO, UH, I THINK IT'S A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT AND WE'RE APPRECIATIVE OF EVERYONE FOR THE MANY CONVERSATIONS WE HAD TO GET TO THIS POINT.
FRIENDLIER, NOT COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE JUST MADE IT A MOTION TO AMEND ITEM NUMBER 36.
IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER.
IS THERE DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION TO AMEND DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION TO AMEND HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THE MOTION TO AMEND ITEM NUMBER 36 IS ADOPTED.
THAT WILL TAKE US BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION, WHICH WOULD BE TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 36 AS AMENDED DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ITEM NUMBER 36 AS AMENDED IS ADOPTED MEMBERS.
[23. Authorize a contract for a recreation management software system for Austin Parks and Recreation with RecTrac, LLC d/b/a Vermont Systems, for an initial term of two years with up to four two-year extension options in an amount not to exceed $2,000,000. Funding: $133,140 is available in the Operating Budget of Austin Parks and Recreation. Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets.]
TAKE US TO ITEM NUMBER 23.WHAT I WOULD, UH, LIKE TO DO IS NOW TURN TO THE CITY CLERK AND ASK FOR YOU TO CALL, CALL ON PEOPLE, UH, WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 23.
FOR ITEM 23, WE HAVE BILL BUNCH AND DEREK BII BUSINESS.
BIZ WE'LL, WE'LL LET HIM, WE WON'T, WE WON'T TAKE IT OUT OF YOUR TIME TEACHING US HOW TO SAY YOUR NAME.
IS MR. BUNCH HERE, MR. BUNCH? WILLIAM BUNCH.
UM, MY NAME IS DEREK BUDZINSKI.
UH, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE AGENDA.
I'M 23 ON THE, UM, I GUESS THE EXTENSION OF THE CURRENT SYSTEM, THE REC TRACK, VERMONT SYSTEMS. UM, I'M COMING AT IT FROM A GOLF PERSPECTIVE.
I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SOME COMMENTS, UM, IN YOUR WORK MEETING AND ALSO AT THE PARKS AND REC MEETING ABOUT, UH, THE SYSTEM'S FAILURE AS FAR AS, UH, SCHEDULING, UM, UH, CLASSES FOR KIDS OR, OR JUST OTHER THINGS.
UM, I, THE SYSTEM, I'M CONFUSED AT WHY WE'RE EXTENDING THE SYSTEM BECAUSE IT JUST DOESN'T WORK VERY WELL AT ALL.
UM, I, ALONG WITH A BUNCH OF MY FRIENDS WHO GOLF TRY, AND RECENTLY THE, UM, THE GOLF PROGRAM WENT FROM A IN-PERSON SYSTEM TO AN ONLINE SYSTEM.
THEY SWITCHED IN FALL FOR BOOKING TEE TIMES, UH, ON THE WEEKENDS.
AND, UM, AS EVEN THOUGH THE OLD SYSTEM WASN'T GREAT, UM, THIS NEW SYSTEM SEEMS TO JUST BE WORSE BECAUSE EVERYONE HAS TO LOG ON EIGHT O'CLOCK ON A TUESDAY.
UM, IN MY DISCUSSION WITH PEOPLE WORKING GOLF, IT'S ABOUT A THOUSAND PEOPLE LOGGING ON AT LEAST EVERY 8:00 PM ON A TUESDAY.
AND IT'S JUST LIKE, CAN'T GET THROUGH.
IT'S, IT'S, UM, IT LAGS, IT LOGS YOU OUT.
IT SAYS ALL THESE ISSUES WITH TRYING TO GET A TEE TIME.
UM, AND THEN THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE, SO, I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY'RE USING THE CURRENT SYSTEM.
UH, AND THERE HASN'T BEEN, SEEMS TO BE ANY TRANSPARENCY AS TO WHAT THAT MONEY IS GOING TO AS FAR AS THE ENHANCEMENTS IT'S GOING TO BE PROVIDING.
UM, THE PERSON WHO SPOKE AT THE PARKS AND RECS MEETING COULDN'T TALK ABOUT WHAT, WHO ELSE THEY CONSIDERED OR, UM, WHAT OTHER SYSTEMS THEY WERE CONSIDERING OR WHAT EXACTLY THIS WAS GOING TO FIX IN THE FIRST PLACE, UM, OR HOW IT WAS GOING TO GET ANY BETTER.
SO, UM, YEAH, I'M JUST CONCERNED ABOUT WHERE THIS MONEY WOULD BE GOING TO AND HOW THIS WOULD BE IMPROVING THE SYSTEM AT ALL.
THAT'S ALL MEMBER FOR 23 MEMBERS.
THAT'S ALL THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SPOKEN, UH, SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 23.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS GET A MOTION ON ITEM NUMBER 23, AND THEN I'M GONNA RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, WHO, UH, HAD, UH, I'M GOING TO RECOGNIZE A MOTION TO AMEND BY GIVING DIRECTION ON THE ITEM.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? ITEM NUMBER 23 MOTIONS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
UH, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ.
UH, I'LL NOW RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.
I HAVE PROVIDED DIRECTION THAT I WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO THIS ITEM.
WE HAD A VERY PRODUCTIVE DISCUSSION AT THE WORK SESSION ON TUESDAY.
I HAD BEEN HEARING FROM A LOT OF FOLKS, MOSTLY PARENTS THAT WERE NEEDING TO SIGN UP THEIR CHILDREN FOR SOME OF THE RECREATIONAL PROGRAMMING AND ALSO SAYING THAT THE SYSTEM DOESN'T QUITE FUNCTION CORRECTLY.
[01:40:01]
WHY IT CAME ONTO MY RADAR THAT, UM, THERE WERE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY ARE WE GOING WITH THE SAME VENDOR IF THERE ARE SO MANY FRUSTRATIONS WITH THE SIGNUP PROCESS.UM, DURING THAT TIME, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATION WITH STAFF THAT THERE ARE SOME FEATURES AND TOOLS WITHIN THE PROGRAM THAT CAN BE SORTED OUT TO HELP ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES.
BUT I STILL HAD A CONCERN ABOUT THE PUBLIC BEING ABLE TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES, SUCH AS WHAT YOU JUST HEARD FROM MR. BUDZINSKI.
UM, WHO I DON'T KNOW, BY THE WAY.
I JUST LOVE THAT HE SHOWED UP AND SAID HE REALLY CARED ABOUT BEING ABLE TO, UH, MAKE THE PROGRAM WORK BETTER.
SO, I'LL READ MY DIRECTION INTO THE RECORD.
IT SAYS, THE CITY MANAGER SOUGHT SHALL SOLICIT FEEDBACK ON THE REC TRACK USER EXPERIENCE, SUCH AS PRE-REGISTRATION, REGISTRATION, ACCESSING ENROLLMENT AND PAYMENT DOCUMENTATION, ABILITY TO COMPLETE WAIVERS ONLINE AND OTHER COMMON TASKS, AND USE THAT FEEDBACK TO IMPROVE THE CITY'S REC TRACK CONTRACT AND THE REC TRACK SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION.
THIS FEEDBACK COLLECTION EFFORT SHOULD BE PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON THE EXPERIENCE OF PARENTS AND GUARDIANS WHO HAVE USED OR TRIED TO USE RECTRAC FOR YOUTH PROGRAM REGISTRATION.
TO DO THIS, THE MANAGER SHALL CREATE A SURVEY ON SPEAK UP AUSTIN DIRECTLY INVITE REC RECTRAC ACCOUNT HOLDERS TO COMPLETE THE SURVEY, KEEP THE SURVEY OPEN FOR AT LEAST FOUR WEEKS, AND ANALYZE AND APPLY THE FEEDBACK TO IMPROVE THE CITY'S REC TRACK CONTRACT AND SIM SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION.
THE SURVEY SHOULD INCLUDE AT LEAST ONE OPEN-ENDED FIELD QUESTION FOR FEEDBACK THAT MAY NOT OTHERWISE BE COLLECTED.
THE MANAGER IS FURTHER ENCOURAGED TO SEEK POTENTIAL FOCUS GROUP VOLUNTEERS FROM THE SPEAK UP AUSTIN SURVEY AND CONDUCT LIVE USER TESTING FOCUS GROUPS WITH PARENTS, GUARDIANS, CITY STAFF, AND REC TRACK EMPLOYEES TO CAP CAPTURE RICHER FEEDBACK ON PAIN POINTS AND WAYS THE REC TRACK USER EXPERIENCE COULD BE IMPROVED.
SO I DIDN'T WANT TO, UH, INADVERTENTLY EXCLUDE A VENDOR THAT MAY HAVE OPTIONS THAT JUST HADN'T BEEN USED, BUT I DID WANT TO CREATE A MORE ROBUST PROCESS FOR MAKING SURE THAT THE END USER IS ABLE TO ACCESS THE INFORMATION THAT THEY NEED TO DO, INCLUDING, YOU KNOW, PRINTING OUT DOCUMENTATION AND, AND SOME OF THESE OTHER TOOLS THAT SHOULD, SHOULD BE AVAILABLE AND SHOULD BE EASY TO FIX.
SO I'D APPRECIATE, UM, BEING ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE ITEM TODAY WITH THIS ADDED DIRECTION.
SO, UM, MEMBERS, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU A A SHEET THAT SHE'S PROVIDED THAT SAYS, COUNCIL MEMBER PAGE ELLIS.
ITEM NUMBER 23 PARKS REC TRACK CONTRACT, FEBRUARY 26TH, 2026, COUNCIL MEETING.
AND SHE HAS READ THAT INTO THE RECORD.
COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS MOVES TO AMEND ITEM NUMBER 23 TO ADD THIS DIRECTION TO THE CITY MANAGER.
IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION? SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION TO AMEND.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION TO AMEND HEARING NONE AND WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE MOTION TO AMEND ITEM NUMBER 23 BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS IS ADOPTED.
THAT WILL TAKE US BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION, WHICH IS THE, THE MOTION WAS TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 23 AS AMENDED.
IS THERE DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER 23 AS AMENDED? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ITEM NUMBER 23 AS AMENDED IS ADOPTED MEMBERS THAT WILL TAKE US
[38. Approve an ordinance amending Chapter 12-1 (Traffic Regulation and Administration) of the City Code to add a new section relating to vehicle engine noise; and creating an offense. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.]
TO ITEM NUMBER 38, AND WE WILL BEGIN BY TURNING TO THE, UH, CITY CLERK AND ASKING THE CITY CLERK TO CALL PEOPLE ON ITEM THAT WISH TO SPEAK.I HAVE ONE REMOTE SPEAKER, LAURA ON EARTHMAN.
HI, MY NAME IS LAUREN EARTHMAN.
I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF PROPOSED NOISE ORDINANCE NUMBER 38.
MY FAMILY MOVED TO AUSTIN NINE YEARS AGO FROM NEAR DOWNTOWN HOUSTON IN SEARCH OF A QUIETER, SCENIC, AND SERENE ENVIRONMENT.
WHEN WE PURCHASED OUR HOME NEAR FM 2222 IN 2017, THE NEIGHBORHOOD WAS PEACEFUL OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS.
HOWEVER, NO, EACH OF THE ROADWAY, PARTICULARLY FROM HIGH SPEED MOTORCYCLES, HAS INCREASED DRASTICALLY.
THIS IS NOT OCCASIONAL TRAFFIC NOISE.
MOST TYPICALLY IT IS REPEATED HIGH PITCHED ENGINE REVVING FROM SPORTS BIKES, RIDING THE CURVES OF 2222 AT HIGH SPEED, OFTEN LOOPING BACK MULTIPLE TIMES.
THE VIDEO THAT YOU WILL BE SHOWN ACCURATELY REFLECTS WHAT RESIDENTS EXPERIENCE ON A NEAR DAILY BASIS.
PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO THIS LEVEL OF NOISE HAS REAL HEALTH IMPACTS, TRIGGERING STRESS RESPONSES, SLEEP DISRUPTION, AND MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO ENJOY OR EVEN REMAIN IN OUR HOMES.
THE PROBLEM IS MADE WORSE BY DANGEROUS AND AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR.
MOTORCYCLE GROUPS OPENLY POST VIDEOS ONLINE SHOWING EXCESSIVE SPEEDING, EVADING LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND INTENTIONALLY CREATING NOISE.
I PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED A RIDER STRIKING MY VEHICLE WITH HIS FIST WHILE DRIVING ON 2222 BECAUSE I WAS UNABLE TO MOVE ASIDE QUICKLY ENOUGH WHEN HE APPROACHED ME FROM THE REAR AT HIGH SPEED.
BEYOND HEALTH AND SAFETY, PERSISTENT NOISE POLLUTION NEGATIVELY AFFECTS PROPERTY VALUES AND DISCOURAGES PROSPECTIVE HOME BUYERS ULTIMATELY IMPACTING HOMEOWNERS AND CITY TAX REVENUE.
I WOULD NOT HAVE CHOSEN TO PURCHASE THE HOME THAT I CURRENTLY LIVE IN.
[01:45:01]
EXISTED WHEN WE WERE EXPLORING A NEIGHBORHOOD NINE YEARS AGO.THE CITY HAS EXISTING RULES LIMITING EXCESSIVE NOISE, BUT THEY DO NOT APPLY TO THESE ROADWAY SITUATIONS, SO CANNOT BE ENFORCED IN THEIR CURRENT STATE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.
THE PROPOSED NOISE ORDINANCE WOULD PROVIDE AN IMPORTANT ENFORCEMENT TOOL TO ADDRESS PURPOSEFUL, EXCESSIVE NOISE WHEN IT OCCURS.
A RESPECTFULLY URGE THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO PASS THIS NOISE ORDINANCE TO HELP RESTORE SAFETY, LIVABILITY AND QUALITY LIFE TO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
THANK YOU FOR IN-PERSON SPEAKERS FOR ITEM 38.
I HAVE CHRIS LAMBRECHT, SAVANNAH LEE, MARISSA LIPER, AND LISA CAPS.
AND IS LINDA BAILEY HERE? YES.
SHE'S DONATED TIME TO MARISSA LIPER.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE SHEPHERD MOUNTAIN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, AND I'M GONNA START OFF WITH A SHORT VIDEO.
UM, AND NOW IMAGINE THAT AT 1:00 AM 3:00 AM 5:00 AM AND ALL OVER AUSTIN.
WE COULD ONLY GET VIDEO IN OUR AREA 2222.
BUT WE HAVE BEEN POSTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND WE'RE HEARING FROM A WHOLE LOT OF FOLKS FROM OTHER PARTS OF AUSTIN, INCLUDING EAST AUSTIN, NORTH AUSTIN, SOUTH AUSTIN, EVERYWHERE.
THIS IS NOT JUST A PROBLEM TO OUR AREA.
SO IF THIS ORDINANCE IS AMENDED IN ANY WAY THAT MAKES IT FUNCTIONALLY UNENFORCEABLE, IT WILL SIT ON THE BOOKS AND CHANGE NOTHING ON OUR ROADS.
WE DID NOT COME THIS FAR TO HAND OUT A FREE PASS TO DRIVERS WHO TREAT OUR COMMUTER ROADS LIKE RACETRACKS AND OUR HOMES AND BUSINESSES LIKE COLLATERAL DAMAGE.
THIS ORDINANCE IS NOT AIMED AT SOMEONE WHOSE MUFFLER SUDDENLY FA FAILS OR WHO HAS A ONE-TIME MECHANICAL ISSUE.
IT IS DESIGNED TO ADDRESS DELIBERATE REPEATED REV ENGINE REVVING RACING, AN EXPLOSIVE ACCELERATION THAT ENDANGER PUBLIC SAFETY AND DISRUPTS DAILY LIVES OF THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS.
IF THE STANDARD IS SET SO HIGH THAT OFFICERS CANNOT ACT IN REAL TIME, THEN THE BEHAVIOR WILL CONTINUE UNCHECKED AND OUR COMMUNITIES WILL GET A CLEAR MESSAGE.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN TOLERATES THIS CONDUCT.
COUNCIL MEMBER MARK UCHIN AND AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT COMMANDER CRAIG SMITH, HAVE SPENT CONSIDERABLE TIME COLLABORATING WITH US NEIGHBORS WHO HAD CONTEND WITH THIS PROBLEM EVERY DAY.
WE FINALLY HAVE AN ORDINANCE THAT IS BOTH ENFORCEABLE AND FAIR.
[01:50:01]
ITEM 38.UM, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR, UM, LISTENING.
I'M GONNA REITERATE MY SUPPORT FOR ITEM 38 AS, UM, I DID ON TUESDAY.
THE EXTREME NOISE AND RECKLESS BEHAVIOR IS NOT MERELY, UM, AN EXTREME NUISANCE, AS YOU SAW, UM, BUT A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD TO MANY AUSTIN RESIDENTS.
UM, I WANNA EMPHASIZE THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS ISSUE AND THE NECESSITY OF PROVIDING LAW ENFORCEMENT WITH THE APPROPRIATE TOOLS TO PROTECT PUBLIC SAFETY.
WE ALL KNOW THAT ENFORCEMENT IS THE CRITICAL ELEMENT HERE, AND IF THE LANGUAGE AND THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE, UH, REVISION IS NOT PRESERVED AS IS, THERE WILL BE LITTLE POINT IN PASSING IT.
THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE INCLUDES COMMON SENSE ENFORCEMENT CLAUSES.
IT'S NOT ABOUT PENALIZING EVERYDAY COMMUTERS, BUT TARGETS THE SMALL GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS WHO USE THEIR THEIR VEHICLES TO CREATE OFFENSIVE NOISE.
WE TRUST OUR TRAINED POLICE FORCE TO USE THEIR PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT IN MORE SERIOUS MATTERS.
SO I FIND IT DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS THAT THEY WOULD ABUSE THIS REVISED POLICY.
MY PRIMARY CONCERN IS ACTUALLY THE PROVISION OF A PD AND DPS OFFICERS TO ENFORCE THE NOISE ORDINANCE.
CAN YOU IMAGINE SOMEONE WALKING, UM, IN FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE GENERATING NOISE OVER 90 DECIBELS AT ALL HOURS OF THE DAY ON THEIR WHIM? HOW LONG WOULD YOU TOLERATE THIS BEFORE SEEKING LAW ENFORCEMENT INTERVENTION? AND HOW WOULD YOU FEEL WHEN THE AUTHORITIES EXPLAIN TO YOU THAT THE EXISTING LAWS GIVE YOU NO PROTECTION FROM THIS PERSON'S IN INTENTIONAL DISRUPTION OF YOUR DAY? YOU'VE SEEN THE NOISE.
LET ME ASSURE YOU, THERE'S AN EXTENSIVE LIBRARY OF FAR WORSE BEHAVIOR, DANGER THAT'S NOT REFLECTED IN THE DEPARTMENT OR STATE METRICS.
THIS IS A CONSTANT DAILY THREAT TO OUR PEACE AND SAFETY.
AND THE NOISE ORDINANCE IS WRITTEN AS A BALANCED, REASONABLE MEASURE THAT EMPOWERS OUR OFFICERS TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY FROM CLEARLY IRRESPONSIBLE CONDUCT.
I RESPECTFULLY URGE YOU TO VOTE YES ON ITEM 38.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MA'AM, COULD YOU STATE YOUR NAME REAL QUICK? YES.
BA UH, MY NAME IS SAVANNAH LEE.
I'M HERE WITH EQUITY ACTION TO SPEAK ON ITEM 38, THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE CREATING A CLASS C MISDEMEANOR FOR VEHICLE ENGINE NOISE.
WHILE THIS MAY BE FRAMED AS A QUALITY OF LIFE MEASURE, WE ARE CONCERNED THAT IT WILL CRIMINALIZE EVERYDAY BEHAVIOR AND PULL MORE AUSTINITES, ESPECIALLY THOSE ALREADY STRUGGLING INTO A SYSTEM THAT PUNISHES POVERTY WITHOUT IMPROVING PUBLIC SAFETY.
CLASS C OFFENSES ARE OFTEN CALLED FINE ONLY, BUT FOR PEOPLE WHO CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY, THEY TRIGGER A CASCADE OF HARM, LOST JOBS, MOUNTING FEES, WARRANTS, AND SOMETIMES JAIL.
THESE IMPACTS FALL HARDEST ON LOW INCOME RESIDENTS AND BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES, AND THEY CAN CARRY IMMIGRATION CONSEQUENCES FOR OUR UNDOCUMENTED NEIGHBORS.
WE'RE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE ORDINANCES, VAGUE AND SUBJECTIVE.
STANDARD PROHIBITING NOISE THAT IS LOUD OR DISTURBING OR OFFENSIVE TO A PERSON OF ORDINARY SENSIBILITIES LEAVES TOO MUCH ROOM FOR INTERPRETATION AND INCONSISTENT ENFORCEMENT.
WHEN PEOPLE CANNOT CLEARLY UNDERSTAND WHAT IS PROHIBITED, ENFORCEMENT CAN BECOME ARBITRARY AND DISCRIMINATORY.
ADDITIONALLY, TEXAS LAW ALREADY ADDRESSES UNREASONABLE NOISE WITH A NARROW, NARROWER INTENT STANDARD.
THIS PROPOSAL GOES FURTHER BY ALLOWING ENFORCEMENT FOR CONDUCT DEEMED RECKLESS OR NEGLIGENT, POTENTIALLY CRIMINALIZING ORDINARY SITUATIONS LIKE UNEXPECTED VEHICLE BACKFIRES OR UNNECESSARY CALL REPAIRS.
EXPANDING CRIMINAL LIABILITY IN THIS WAY IS UNNECESSARY AND RISK SWEEPING PEOPLE WHO POSE NO THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
WE URGE COUNSEL TO RECONSIDER THE ORDINANCE, AND IF IT MOVES FORWARD, WE ASK YOU TO ALIGN THE INTENT STANDARD WITH STATE LAW AND REQUIRE A WARNING BEFORE ISSUING A CITATION.
AUSTIN SHOULD INVEST IN SOLUTIONS THAT SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITIES, NOT POLICIES THAT DEEPEN INEQUITY AND CRIMINALIZED POVERTY.
ALL SPEAKERS HAVE BEEN CALLED.
MEMBERS, ALL SPEAKERS HAVE BEEN CALLED ON ITEM NUMBER 38.
UH, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, WE HAVE TWO PROPOSED MOTIONS TO AMEND.
ITEM NUMBER 38, 1 FROM COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER AND ONE FROM COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, DO I HAVE THAT? NO, I DON'T.
UM, SO IF YOU COULD GET THAT, THEN I'LL MAKE SURE WE, WE TAKE IT UP AND, WELL, CITY ATTORNEYS JUST MADE IT AVAILABLE TO ME.
SO WE HAVE THREE PROPOSED, UH, MOTIONS TO AMEND.
UH, ONE FROM COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, ONE FROM COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL AND ONE FROM COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ.
I WILL ASK FOR A MO A MAIN MOTION SO THAT WE CAN THEN TAKE UP THOSE COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE MOVES APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 38.
UH, IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN.
AND WHAT I WILL NOW DO IS GO TO PROPOSED, UH, MOTIONS TO AMEND.
THE FIRST ONE BEING I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER MEMBERS.
YOU HAVE AN ITEM THAT SAYS ITEM 38, FEBRUARY 26TH, 2026.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER MOTION NUMBER ONE.
THIS IS A PROPOSED MOTION TO AMEND ITEM NUMBER 38, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER.
THIS IS WHAT I ALLUDED TO ON TUESDAY.
IT IS DIRECTION NOT, UH, AMENDING THE ORDINANCE LANGUAGE, BUT FOR THE MANAGER
[01:55:01]
TO COME BACK, UH, WITH AN EXPANSION FOR NON VEHICULAR MOTOR NOISE.YOU KNOW, WHETHER THAT'S LANDSCAPING EQUIPMENT, CONSTRUCTION VEHICLES IN THE RIGHT OF WAY, INCLUDING ON OUR SIDEWALKS.
'CAUSE OFTEN THAT IS WHERE A LOT OF THE COMPLAINTS THAT WE HEAR ABOUT IN TERMS OF LOUD NOISE OCCURS.
SO, UM, THAT WILL COME BACK TO US WITHIN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS AND WE WILL THEN GET TO REVIEW IT.
COUNCIL MEMBER TER MOVES TO AMEND ITEM NUMBER 38 BY GIVING THIS DIRECTION TO THE CITY MANAGER AT A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ.
IS THERE A DISCUSSION ON ALTER MOTION TO AMEND ITEM 38? WITHOUT OBJECTION, ALTER MOTION TO AMEND.
THAT WILL NOW TAKE US TO COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, YOU HAVE A, YOU HAVE A SHEET IN FRONT OF YOU THAT IS LABELED COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL MOTION SHEET ITEM 38 2 26 26.
I WILL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL.
UH, MY MOTION WOULD AMEND THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE TO CLARIFY THAT YOU NEED TO HAVE EITHER KNOWLEDGE OR INTENT TO BE GIVEN A CITATION WHICH WOULD ALIGN WITH STATE LAW.
I ALSO SUPPORT COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ VELAZQUEZ'S AMENDMENT, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE ISSUANCE OF A WARNING BEFORE A PENALTY IS ASSESSED.
MY MOTIVATION IS TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY'S DEMAND TO DEAL WITH THE RECKLESS AND DISTURBING BEHAVIOR IN PLACES LIKE 2222, BUT AT THE SAME TIME CREATE GUARDRAILS AND PROTECTIONS.
SO INNOCENT BEHAVIOR IS NOT CRIMINALIZED AND WE REDUCE THE RISK OF ARBITRARY OR UNFAIR ENFORCEMENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL MOVES TO AMEND ITEM NUMBER 38 WITH SIEGEL AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE.
IT IS SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER OF VELASQUEZ DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO THIS ITEM.
YES, MAYOR PRO TEM UH, AMER, COULD WE, UH, TALK TO LAW ABOUT THE, THE LEGAL STANDARDS INVOLVED? I BET WE CAN.
THANK COULD, UM, AND THIS IS MY UNDERSTANDING.
I'M, I'M REACHING BACK A LITTLE BIT TO MY CRIMINAL DEFENSE CASE, BUT YOU TYPICALLY, YOU'RE, UH, AND, AND KNOWINGLY AND INTENTIONALLY, UH, TYPE CRIMINAL STATUTES HAVE A VICTIM.
UH, IN OTHER WORDS, THE, I GUESS, LET ME REPHRASE THAT AS A QUESTION.
HOW WOULD WE PROSECUTE A KNOWING AND INTENTIONAL STANDARD ON THIS TYPE OF, UH, OF CRIME? LIKE, I'M JUST TRYING TO KIND OF THINK FROM Y'ALL'S PERSPECTIVE, FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY'S PERSPECTIVE, HOW, HOW DO YOU PROSECUTE A KNOWING, AN INTENTIONAL VIOLATION OF, OF, OF THE NOISE ORDINANCE? I JUST, IN MY MIND, I CAN THINK OF JUST MULTIPLE DEFENSES.
MY SENSE WOULD BE THAT IT MAKES IT BASICALLY UNENFORCEABLE.
BIANCA BENSON WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, UM, YOU'RE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE CORRECT.
AND, AND THE LAST THING YOU SAID, BECAUSE THE, WHAT INTENTIONALLY AND KNOWINGLY DOES IS BASICALLY REQUIRE, UH, THE PROSECUTION TO PROVE IF IT'S, IF IT'S INTENTIONALLY THAT SOMEBODY WENT OUT WITH THEIR MOTORCYCLE, WOKE UP THAT DAY AND SAID, I'M GONNA TAKE MY MOTORCYCLE OUT AND CREATE A LOT OF NOISE SO I CAN DISTURB PEOPLE, RIGHT? MM-HMM
IF IT'S KNOWINGLY, UM, IT'S SORT OF THAT, THAT SAME THING, THAT IT'S, INSTEAD OF THEM WAKING UP AND SAYING THAT, IT'S THAT AS THEY'RE RIDING THEIR MOTORCYCLE, THEY KNOW WITH A, FOR A FACT THAT THEY ARE DISTRIBUTING OTHER PEOPLE.
SO THOSE ARE DIFFICULT TO PROVE IF, IF, IF THOSE WERE TO BE LEFT JUST IN THIS PARTICULAR, UH, CR ALLEGED CRIME.
AND, AND AGAIN, MY SENSE OF IT FROM A, AGAIN, FROM A CRIMINAL DEFENSE PERSPECTIVE IS THAT, WELL, I DIDN'T INTEND, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS WAS OVER.
AND, AND THAT WOULD BE ENOUGH, UH, FOR A NOT GUILTY.
AND AGAIN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PROOF BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT.
BECAUSE THAT EXACTLY, THEY WOULD SAY, WELL, I DIDN'T INTEND TO, OR I DIDN'T KNOW KNOW.
AND, AND, AND IF IN FACT, IF, WELL, I'LL, I'LL, I WANTED TO SPEAK TO RECKLESSLY AS WELL BECAUSE THAT THERE'S A POINT TO THAT.
AND COULD WE TALK ABOUT WHAT ARE THE STANDARDS FOR RECKLESSLY AND WHAT ARE THE STANDARDS FOR A CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE? SURE.
HOW, HOW WOULD, UH, WHAT IS THE MENTAL STATE, YOU KNOW, HOW, HOW DOES THAT WORK? YES.
SO THE MAIN, THE MAIN DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE RECKLESSLY STANDARD AND THE CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE STANDARD IS THAT YOU ARE YOU WITH RECKLESSLY, YOU BASICALLY ARE AWARE THAT IT'S MAKING NOISE, BUT YOU ARE, DON'T CARE.
I MEAN, TO USE JUST KIND OF, UH, SIMPLE LINGO THAT IT'S DISTURBING OTHER PEOPLE.
SO WITH CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE, UM, YOU, IT JUST MEANS THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT YOUR MOTORCYCLE'S MAKING NOISE.
I'M JUST USING MOTORCYCLES AS THE EXAMPLE.
THAT YOUR MOTORCYCLE'S MAKING NOISE AND YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT IT WOULD DISTURB OTHER PEOPLE.
SO WITH RECKLESSLY, YOU SHOULD KNOW AND YOU DON'T CARE.
THAT IT'S DISTURBING PEOPLE AND CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE IS, WELL, WE'RE GONNA SAY YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT IT'S MAKING NOISE AND YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT YOU'RE DISTURBING OTHER PEOPLE.
[02:00:01]
SO, UM, AND IN TERMS OF, AND AGAIN, JUST TRYING TO COMPARE IT TO OTHER MOTOR VEHICLE, WHAT IS A STANDARD, THE TYPICAL, UH, UH, MENTAL STATE STANDARD FOR, UH, VIOLATIONS, YOU KNOW, FOR, FOR, UH, MOVING VEHICLE VIOLATIONS? WELL, ARE WE, ARE WE TALKING ABOUT JUST ABOUT NOISE RELATED ONE OR NO, I, I THINK MORE KIND OF CLASS C GENERALLY SPEAKING.I'M JUST KIND OF WONDERING, UH, BECAUSE MY, MY SENSE AGAIN, LET'S SAY TAKE A SPEEDING, YOU KNOW, WELL, I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS RIGHT.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? I DIDN'T INTEND TO SPEED, YOU KNOW, AND, AND, AND TYPICALLY THE POLICE ARE, ARE NOT VERY, UH, UH, RECEPTIVE TO THAT, UH, THAT THAT DEFENSE.
SO FOR, FOR YOUR JUST SORT OF AVERAGE TR TRAFFIC OFFENSE, IT'S ALL OF THEM BECAUSE MM-HMM
OTHERWISE WE'D HAVE PEOPLE JUST SAYING, WELL, I DIDN'T MEAN TO SPEED, AND THEN THAT WOULD BE IT.
SO, UM, OR I DIDN'T MEAN TO CAUSE THAT COLLISION OR WHATEVER IT IS.
SO YOU'RE RIGHT, THEY, THEY, THEY ENCOMPASS MOST OF ALMOST ALL OF THESE, UH, ALRIGHT.
THERE MIGHT BE SOME EXCEPTIONS CARVED OUT, BUT THOSE ARE VERY RARE.
AND MY SENSE WOULD BE MOST OF THE MOVING VIOLATIONS WOULD BE STRICT LIABILITY.
IS THAT, WOULD THAT BE THE CASE? CORRECT.
IN OTHER WORDS, IT'S COMPLETELY, YOUR, YOUR MENTAL STATE IS NOT RELEVANT.
THE FACT THAT YOU WERE DOING 40 AND A 30.
WHETHER YOU INTENDED TO, WHETHER YOU WERE RECKLESS ABOUT IT, WHETHER, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, THAT IS A VIOLATION.
BECAUSE IF WE LEFT ALL TRAFFIC LAWS WITH SOMEONE BEING ABLE TO SAY, WELL, I DIDN'T MEAN TO, THEN WE COULD GO A HUNDRED MILES ON MOPAC AND WHENEVER WE WANT IT.
UH, UH, AND, AND, AND I I JUST WANNA SAY I APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, I KNOW WE'RE ON, UH, UH, BUT AS A KIND OF THE WARNING, UH, I, I JUST, I DON'T WANT TO GUT THE ENTIRE ORDINANCE BECAUSE I THINK THERE ARE LEGITIMATE CONCERNS HERE AND I I I DON'T WANNA MAKE IT COMPLETELY UNENFORCEABLE.
SO THANK YOU MAYOR TIM, FOR THE RECORD, I KIND OF CHALLENGED WHETHER YOU COULD GO A HUNDRED ON MOPAC ANYTIME YOU WANTED
PEOPLE DO, UM, COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN.
AND I WANTED TO KIND OF UNDERSTAND THE BALANCE OF COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ'S AMENDMENT AND COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL'S AMENDMENT, BECAUSE IF AN INDIVIDUAL IS PULLED OVER AND RECEIVES A WARNING AT THAT POINT, IF THEY'RE PULLED OVER AGAIN, PRESUMABLY IT WOULD BE KNOWING, RIGHT? CORRECT.
SO REALLY THIS IS A QUESTION OF WHETHER YOU GET ONE CHANCE OR TWO CHANCES GOOD.
RIGHT? I, I GUESS I I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
IS, SO, IS IS THAT A QUESTION? WELL, SO MY QUESTION I GUESS THEN IS IF WE ADOPT COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ'S AMENDMENT, DOESN'T THAT EFFECTIVELY DO WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL IS SAYING BECAUSE THE INDIVIDUALS PULLED OVER, WHETHER IT'S RECKLESS CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE OR KNOWING THEY GET A WARNING AND NOW THE NEXT TIME THEY'RE PULLED OVER, WELL, THEY KNOW, SO THEY HAVE, IT'S AT LEAST KNOWING IF NOT INTENTIONAL.
'CAUSE THEY'VE BEEN WARNED ALREADY.
SO THE, THE ISSUE WITH THE WARNING SYSTEM, I'LL SPEAK TO IT FROM A PROSECUTION STANDPOINT, AND THEN IF SOMEONE HEARS FROM A PD WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS ON THEIR END IN TERMS OF DOCUMENTATION AND, AND ALL OF THAT, UM, THAT MIGHT BE ONEROUS ON THAT.
BUT, UH, FROM A PROSECUTION STANDPOINT, THAT'S JUST AN EXTRA LAYER WE HAVE TO PROVE OF.
WELL, OKAY, NOW WE HAVE TO ACTUALLY PROVE THAT THE WARNING WAS GIVEN, IT WAS DOCUMENTED, THEY RECEIVED IT.
THAT'S A, AN EXTRA LAYER THAT WOULD MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO ENFORCE.
AND I, I, I'LL JUST ADD TO THAT, I THINK IS THAT YOU ALSO ARE GONNA HAVE TO, TO, TO PROVE THAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE THE SAME ON BOTH OF THOSE OCCASIONS.
SO THE, YOU KNOW, JUST BECAUSE IT HAPPENED BEFORE, THE PERSON MAY SAY, WELL, IT, IT WASN'T KNOWINGLY OR INTENTIONALLY THE SECOND TIME BECAUSE SOMETHING CHANGED.
SO THAT, I THINK THAT DOES ADD TO THE LAYER OF, OF PROOF REQUIRED.
BUT ON, UNDER THE ORDINANCE, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT, THERE'S KIND OF TWOS THAT WHETHER OR NOT YOU CREATED THE LOUD NOISE AND WHETHER OR NOT THAT LOUD NOISE IS OFFENSIVE.
AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE MENTAL STATE AS IT RELATES TO MAKING THE LOUD NOISE, BUT UNDER THE ORDINANCE, IF IT'S 85 DECIBELS OR ABOVE, THAT IS YOU'VE ALREADY MET THEM.
THE PRESUMPTION THAT IT IS OFFENSIVE TO AN INDIVIDUAL.
AND SO THAT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT SITUATIONS THAT I, I, IT SEEMS LIKE THAT WOULD REMOVE THAT BARRIER, THAT ELEMENT, BECAUSE I PULL OVER JOE CITIZEN, I SAY THAT WAS 90 DECIBELS, THAT'S IN VIOLATION OF THIS ORDINANCE.
THEY NOW KNOW THAT WHEN THEY'RE DRIVING DOWN 22, 22, IT'S TOO LOUD.
[02:05:01]
DO IT AGAIN, I, I, IF I'M MISSING SOMETHING, MAYBE I AM, I'M JUST, I'M TRYING TO RECONCILE THE TWO AMENDMENTS.I, I MEAN, I GUESS SPEAKING TO THE PRESUMPTION THAT, YOU KNOW, THE DECIBELS WOULD REQUIRE PROVING THE DECIBEL LEVEL, WHICH OFTEN REQUIRES A DECIBEL METER OF SOME SORT, WHICH OFFICERS DON'T ALWAYS HAVE.
AND THEN SECONDLY, THE PRESUMPTION DOES REQUIRE A WARNING AS WELL.
SO YOU HAVE TO GET, THE PRESUMPTION IS ALREADY A MUCH HIGHER STANDARD OF PROOF.
AND COULD I ASK THIS A QUESTION OF A PD MORNING? JJ SCHMIDT, ASSISTANT CHIEF WITH A PD DO Y'ALL HAVE DECIBEL METERS? WE DO HAVE DECIBEL METERS.
UH, WE DON'T USE THEM FREQUENTLY FOR TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT, BUT THEY ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH OUR PROPERTY CONTROL OFFICE.
UH, FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT ARE HERE FOR, UH, THE NOON PUBLIC COMMUNICATION, WE'RE A LITTLE PAST NOON, BUT WE'RE GONNA FINISH THIS ITEM BEFORE WE GO TO PUBLIC COMMUNICATION AND MEMBERS THAT MAY CHANGE WHAT WE DO IN TERMS OF RECESS SO THAT WE CAN STAY, UH, ON, ON SCHEDULE.
I ALSO WANNA SAY FOR THE RECORD THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER'S MOTION TO AMEND ITEM NUMBER 38.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, IT WAS ADOPTED, BUT COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON WAS OFF THE, WAS TEMPORARILY OFF THE DAIS AT THE TIME.
UH, I WILL NOW RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN.
UH, WE'VE HEARD FROM SOME COLLEAGUES THAT ARE ATTORNEYS.
I'M NOT ONE, BUT I DO WANNA SPEAK TO SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL RAISED ON TUESDAY AT THE TUESDAY WORK SESSION, AND THAT WE'VE HEARD, UH, A LITTLE BIT TODAY FROM, AS WELL AS THAT WE'VE GOTTEN SOME INFORMATION FROM SOME GROUPS LIKE THE ACL U, UM, AND, AND THE CHIEF REQUEST.
UH, SO ONE OF MY FRUSTRATIONS AROUND THIS IS THE SENSE THAT WE WANT TO TAKE OUT THIS LANGUAGE THAT FROM WHAT WE HEARD ON TUESDAY, IS KIND OF THE ESSENTIAL TEETH OF THIS ORDINANCE.
AND THAT I THINK MS. BENSON CONFIRMED AGAIN THIS MORNING.
AND WHAT I, ONE OF MY FRUSTRATIONS IS I'M NOT REALLY HEARING AN ALTERNATE WAY TO APPROACH THIS, UH, PROBLEM.
YOU KNOW, I, I INTERPRET THAT TO MEAN SORT OF IF WE'RE GONNA PASS SOMETHING THAT HAS NO TEETH, THE ALTERNATIVE IS SORT OF TO DO NOTHING.
AND IN THIS CIRCUMSTANCE, THAT FEELS IRRESPONSIBLE TO SERVING AND PROTECTING RESIDENTS.
UM, YOU KNOW, I I THINK THERE'S SORT OF A MORAL COMPONENT.
WE OFTEN HAVE CHALLENGING DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE WHEN WE'RE BALANCING THE NEEDS OF DIFFERENT CIVIC INTERESTS UP HERE.
I'M NOT SURE THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TIMES, UH, UNLESS WE'RE CONSIDERING THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE WHO WANT TO USE OUR PUBLIC ROADWAYS TO RACE AND DRIVE RECKLESSLY, UM, AND USE A COMBINATION OF VEHICLE PARTS AND BEHAVIOR SORT OF EXPLICITLY DESIGNED TO MAKE EXTREMELY LOUD NOISE AS EQUAL TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO LIVE THERE AND WORK THERE AND RAISE FAMILIES AND PAY TAXES AND FUND EVERYTHING FROM THOSE EXACT ROADWAYS TO THIS EXACT COUNCIL.
ONE OF THE CONCERNS THAT WAS BROUGHT UP IS, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT THIS MIGHT DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACT POOR PEOPLE, PEOPLE OF COLOR.
UH, WHEN THE A CLU SENT THEIR LETTER, THEY STRANGELY ASSERTED THERE WAS NO MEASURABLE PUBLIC SAFETY BENEFIT.
AND I WOULD FLIP THAT ON ITS HEAD AND SAY, I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY MEASURABLE EVIDENCE FROM PLACES WE KNOW THAT THIS HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN DALLAS AND EL PASO AND HOUSTON, UH, WHERE THEY'VE GOT SIMILAR RULES THAT HAVE DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED POOR PEOPLE OR PEOPLE OF COLOR.
I KNOW I LOOKED, I DIDN'T FIND ANY EVIDENCE.
NONE HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO US.
AND SO I'M WONDERING IF I'M WONDERING HOW, HOW REAL THAT RISK IS.
UH, I'M ALSO GONNA ASK WHO OUR NOISE POLLUTERS ARE HERE, WHO OUR RACERS ARE.
EVERY INDICATION I HAVE FROM VISITING WITH THE COMMUNITY IS THEY RACE AT ALL HOURS THE DAY AND NIGHT.
THEY APPARENTLY HAVE THE DISPOSABLE INCOME TO AFFORD VEHICLES AND AFTERMARKET PARTS DESIGNED TO RACE AND MAKE LOUD NOISES.
MY SENSE IS THIS IS A RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY AND IT'S MADE POSSIBLE BY LEVERAGING A KEY TAXPAYER FUNDED PUBLIC GOOD, WHICH IS OUR ROADWAYS.
SO NONE OF THIS SCREAMS FINANCIAL HARDSHIP TO ME.
I WANT TO TOUCH ON A COUPLE THINGS THAT WE DID HERE TUESDAY THAT I WOULD ASSUME, UM, UH, MR. COPPOLA AND BEN CAN, CAN CONFIRM.
WE LEARNED FROM OUR PROSECUTOR THAT WE DON'T USE THE STATE LAW FOR DISORDERLY CONDUCT, UH, BECAUSE IT'S TOO HARD TO PROVE.
IT REQUIRES KNOWING A MENTAL STATE, BASICALLY.
AND IT'S WHY THE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES ACROSS THE STATE HAVE IMPLEMENTED
[02:10:01]
THEIR ADDITIONAL SPECIFIC RULES TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.THERE'S THE IDEA THAT WE'RE DUPLICATING STATE LAW, BUT THE REALITY IS STATE LAW IS JUST INSUFFICIENT TO ADDRESS THIS.
IT'S SIMPLY NOT DESIGNED FOR APPROPRIATE FOR THIS USE CASE.
IT'S LITERALLY THE FIRST THING THAT I THINK CHRIS AND I LOOKED AT WHEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT OUR OPTIONS ARE.
WE'VE ALSO LEARNED FROM CITY LEGAL THAT ENFORCING THIS IS JUST A CHALLENGING ISSUE AND THAT THERE ARE NOT A LOT OF, UM, OBVIOUS SOLUTIONS AND THAT A PD HAS STRUGGLED HISTORICALLY, AND THAT'S WHY THE SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE AND NOT BETTER IN THIS AREA.
AND AS THE, UH, THE RESIDENTS SHARED, IT'S AS THEY'VE DISCOVERED IT'S NOT JUST IN WEST AUSTIN THAT'S HAPPENING ALL OVER.
WE LEARNED THAT OUR GENERAL CITY NOISE ORDINANCE, THE ONE THAT REGULATES LOUD BARS, WAVES, CRIMINAL INTENT COMPLETELY.
SO AS ESSENTIALLY A LOWER STANDARD APPROVED THAN THIS ORDINANCE, WE LEARNED THAT THOSE CITY NOISE RULES ARE TOO NARROW TO HELP US HERE BECAUSE THEY APPLY TO JUST A LIMITED KIND OF NOISE AND HOURS IN PROXIMITY TO BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS THAT WE NEED SOMETHING THAT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE FLEXIBLE.
IF WE REMOVE THE CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE OR RECKLESSNESS AS COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, A CLU WOULD PREFER, UH, IN THE WORDS OF OUR PROSECUTOR ON TUESDAY, THIS WOULD BE MUCH, MUCH HARDER TO PROSECUTE, ENFORCE, THUS RENDERING INEFFECTIVE IN TERMS OF ADDRESSING CITIZEN CONCERNS.
QUOTE, WE WOULD BE STUCK WITH A BURDEN TOO GREAT TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS AND CRIMINAL CONDUCT.
SOMEONE COULD JUST SAY, QUOTE, I BOUGHT THE MOTORCYCLE LIKE THIS, AND THAT WOULD HELP THEM GET OUT OF THE ISSUE FOREVER.
OR THAT QUOTE, I DIDN'T REASONABLY EXPECT.
SOMEONE THREE STREETS DOWN COULD HEAR THIS.
AND THE LAST THING I'LL SAY IS THE ORDINANCE MEETS TWO OF THE THREE REQUESTS THE A CLU DID MAKE TO US, WHICH WAS ESTABLISH AN OBJECTIVE DECIBEL LEVEL AND PART C.
AND I BELIEVE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ'S AMENDMENT WOULD CODIFY A WARNING, WHICH IN MY CONVERSATIONS WITH A PD, THEY WERE GONNA DO ANYWAY.
SO MY HOPE IS THAT WE CAN, UM, UM, MY ASK FOR THE COLLEAGUES HERE IS TO KEEP THESE FOUR STANDARDS, ENSURE THE ORDINANCE HAS TEETH, AND THAT IT CAN PROVE TO BE A DETERRENT GOING FORWARD AND HELP RESOLVE THE COMMUNITY CONCERN THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR A LONG, LONG TIME, INCLUDING MY PREDECESSOR.
COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU TO CLOSE ON YOUR MOTION TO AMEND.
THANK YOU MAYOR, AND I APPRECIATE THE DISCUSSION.
UM, I MEAN, FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER ALLUDED TO WAS THAT, UM, IF WE ADOPT COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ'S AMENDMENT, THAT DOES SOLVE A LOT OF THE ISSUES, RIGHT? BECAUSE IF YOU GET A WARNING, THEN THE SECOND TIME IS YOU HAVE KNOWLEDGE, RIGHT? AND THAT, THAT'S DEFINITELY TRUE.
I DID WANNA PUSH BACK GENTLY ON, UH, MY COLLEAGUE MAYOR PRO TEM VILLA'S, UH, COMMENTS, UM, IN TERMS OF BASICALLY THE REQUIRED MENTAL STATE.
'CAUSE WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT TRAFFIC OFFENSES HAVE AN OBJECTIVE STANDARD, RIGHT? IF YOU'RE SPEEDING, YOU'RE GOING O OVER A CERTAIN MILES PER HOUR IN A ZONE, AND THAT'S AN OBJECTIVE STANDARD.
UM, IT'S INTERESTING HERE THAT WE'RE, WE'RE HERE IN FRONT OF THE FLAG OF THE STATE OF TEXAS AND TALKING ABOUT TEXAS PENAL CODE BEING TOO LENIENT.
UH, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING I WOULD USUALLY THINK ABOUT, RIGHT? WE HAVE A PRETTY STRONG SET OF STATE PENAL CODE LAWS, AND WHAT THE STATE LAW DOES IS REFER TO AN OBJECTIVE STANDARD 85 DECIBELS.
SO IF ALL THIS, THIS LOCAL ORDINANCE DID WAS REFERRED TO AN OBJECTIVE STANDARD OF 85 DECIBELS, THAT WOULD BE A LOT MORE PROTECTIVE AND THAT WOULD BE A MUCH STRONGER GUARDRAIL.
BUT INSTEAD, WE'VE GOT THIS ILLUSION TO, YOU KNOW, UM, WHAT A, UH, A PERSON FINDS UNREASONABLE.
THERE'S A SUBJECTIVE ASPECT TO THE STANDARD HERE, UM, UNREASONABLE TO, YOU KNOW, I GUESS I, UH, A VEHICLE ENGINE NOISE IS PRESUMED TO BE LOUD OR DISTURBING AND OFFENSIVE TO A PERSON OF ORDINARY SENSIBILITIES.
UM, AND SO IF ALL WE WERE SAYING IS THAT PER SE YOU HAD TO BE 85 DECIBELS ARE ABOVE, AND YOU HAD TO HAVE A WARNING, IF THAT'S ALL THE, THE STATUTE SAID THAT, THAT WOULD BE A LOT MORE CLEAR.
BUT INSTEAD, WE HAVE ALL THESE OTHER SUBJECTIVE FACTORS THAT ARE UP TO IN INDIVIDUAL OFFICER'S DISCRETION.
SO, UM, AGAIN, I WOULD, I WOULD URGE THE AMENDMENT, BUT I WOULD ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ'S AMENDMENT IS REALLY, UH, GONNA BE THE STRONGEST PROTECTION HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER MEMBERS, UH, THE VOTE WILL BE ON SEGAL, A MOTION TO AMEND ITEM NUMBER 38.
UH, ALL THOSE IN FA ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF SEGAL.
MOTION TO AMEND ITEM NUMBER 38, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED, RAISE YOUR HAND.
[02:15:03]
THEY'RE BEING SIX NOS, FOUR YESES.AND COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MEDICINE BEING OFF THE DAIS.
OH, I WAS, I WAS TRYING TO RAISE MY HAND, BUT I I KNOW YOU WERE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT.
HOW ARE YOU? HOW DO YOU VOTE? I'M A NO VOTE.
THERE BEING SEVEN NO VOTES AND FOUR YESES.
AND FOR THE RECORD, THOSE BEING, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, SIEGEL CADRE, FUENTES, AND VELASQUEZ, UH, THE MOTION TO AMEND ITEM NUMBER 38 BY COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL FAILS.
THAT WILL NOW TAKE US TO A MOTION TO AMEND BY, UH, A PROPOSED MOTION TO AMEND BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ MEMBERS.
YOU HAVE A MOTION SHEET, UH, THAT SAYS, COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE VELASQUEZ.
UH, I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ ON HIS PROPOSED MOTION TO AMEND.
UM, COLLEAGUES, I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN AND COMMANDER SMITH FOR ALL THEIR WORK ON THIS ITEM.
I'M GRATEFUL TO ALL THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT CAME AND SPOKE AT OUR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, UH, MEETING EARLIER THIS MONTH.
LOUD ENGINE NOISES ARE DISRUPTIVE, HOWEVER, CREATING A NEW OFFENSE WITHOUT FIRST GIVING A CITATION OR WARNING CAN INADVERTENTLY HAR HARM OUR MOST VULNERABLE NEIGHBORS.
RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ARE AFRAID TO STEP OUT OF THEIR HOMES, SEND THEIR KIDDOS TO SCHOOL, AND GO TO THE STORE FOR BASIC NEEDS.
FOR MANY OF OUR IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORS, CARS ARE ESSENTIAL TO THEIR LIVELIHOODS.
THIS NEW OFFENSE COULD EXACERBATE FEAR AROUND USING VEHICLES.
IT COULD INCREASE THE VULNERABILITY OF IMMIGRANTS, AND, UM, AND IT BEING A NEW OFFENSE.
AND OUT OF AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION, I WANT TO PUT IN, PUT IN AS MANY SAFEGUARDS AS POSSIBLE AND ENSURE THAT WE ARE BEING AS THOUGHTFUL AS POSSIBLE.
I DON'T DO NOT WANT TO ADD FEAR OR CAUSE HARM, OR FURTHER CRIMINALIZE OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY.
AND I HOPE THAT YOU'LL JOIN ME IN SUPPORTING THIS AMENDMENT THAT WOULD FIRST REQUIRE AN INITIAL WARNING BEFORE A TICKET CAN BE ISSUED TO THE PUBLIC.
COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ MOVES TO AMEND ITEM NUMBER 38 WITH VELASQUEZ.
IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL.
UH, DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION, COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ MOTION TO AMEND.
ITEM NUMBER 38 IS ADOPTED MEMBERS, UH, THAT WILL TAKE US BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION ON ITEM NUMBER 38 AS AMENDED DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER 38 AS AMENDED COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN.
SO, A FEW GENERAL COMMENTS I WANNA MAKE.
UH, AND BEFORE I DO THAT, I FIRST REALLY WANT TO THANK THE COMMUNITY FOR THEIR INCREDIBLE PATIENCE ON THIS.
THIS HAS, I THINK, BEEN LIKE NINE OR 10 MONTHS IN THE MAKING, MAYBE LONGER, MAYBE LONGER IF YOU COUNT THE WORK THAT MY PREDECESSOR STARTED HERE.
UH, WORKING CLOSELY WITH A PD, HAVING MONTHLY MEETINGS WITH US AND TDOT AND OTHER PARTNERS.
I WANT TO THANK, UH, COMMANDER SMITH, LIEUTENANT CASTO FOR THEIR ENERGY AND CREATIVITY HERE, AND MR. COPPOLA, MS. BENSON, FOR THEIR LEGAL OPTIONS AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE CODE.
UH, AND OBVIOUSLY MY COLLEAGUES WERE HAVING A, A ROBUST DISCUSSION AND SUGGESTIONS FOR HOW TO ENHANCE THE ORDINANCE.
I THINK WE'VE HEARD, AND FOR THOSE OF US THAT WERE AT THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING, WE'VE HEARD AN OUTPOURING CONCERN FROM RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY LIVING ALONG 22, 22 AND 360 MOPAC.
AND, AND I WANNA READ JUST ONE PIECE OF CONSTITUENT CORRESPONDENCE THAT WE GOT ON THIS IN PARTICULAR THAT KIND OF HIGHLIGHTS THE PROBLEM BECAUSE YOU WERE SEEING A LOT OF FOOTAGE FROM THE ROADWAYS, MAYBE A COUPLE OF STREETS AWAY THIS INDIVIDUAL ROAD, AND URGING US TO PASS THIS ITEM AND, UH, TO CRIMINALIZE WHAT THEY CALL REV BOMBING ON 360 AND 2222.
THEY LIVE IN JESTER ESTATES, WHICH IS A FULL MILE FROM 22, 22 AND 360, AND THEY'VE GOT GREAT THICK WINDOWS.
THEY'VE STILL BEEN WOKEN UP BY THESE NOISES FROM 22, 23, AND FROM 360 WORSE ON SATURDAY NIGHTS WITH THE SAME MOTORCYCLES AND CARS MAKING REPEATED LOOPS UP AND DOWN THE HIGHWAYS, THE NOISE REVERBERATES TO THE HILLS AND IT'S COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY.
IT'S BOTH A NOISE AND SAFETY CONCERN, AND THEY'VE SEEN THE MOTORCYCLES WEAVE THROUGH TRAFFIC AT VERY HIGH SPEEDS, CREATING OTHER SAFETY ISSUES.
SO REALLY JUST TRYING TO EMPHASIZE THAT.
UM, IT'S NOT JUST THE IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORS, THESE ARE, THESE ARE POTENTIALLY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING IMPACTED BY THIS, THAT LIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
AND AS YOU HEARD FROM THEM EARLIER, ALSO DISCOVERING THAT THERE ARE OTHER PLACES AROUND AUSTIN WHERE THERE ARE SIMILAR CHALLENGES, AND MOST ARE SAYING THE SAME THING, THAT THE, THAT THE NOISE FROM THE RACING HAS GOTTEN SIGNIFICANTLY WORSE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, PARTICULARLY ON THE WEEKENDS.
UH, I KNOW WE'VE SPOKEN WITH A PD AND THEY'VE CONFIRMED
[02:20:01]
THIS IS A GROWING ISSUE THROUGHOUT THE CITY.THEY'VE STEPPED THE PATROLS, BUT THEY MADE IT CLEAR THAT WE NEED A NEW TOOL TO COMBAT THE PROBLEM.
AGAIN, I WANNA REINFORCE THAT WE'VE HAD EXTENSIVE ONGOING COORDINATED EFFORTS WITH A PD, WITH THE NEIGHBORS, WITH BUSINESSES, WITH MULTIPLE PUBLIC SAFETY ORGANIZATIONS TO FIND SOLUTIONS.
UM, I THINK IT'S REALLY BEEN A GREAT EXAMPLE OF HOW, DESPITE HOW PROBABLY FRUSTRATING AND LONG IT'S TAKEN, HOW STAKEHOLDERS CAN COME TOGETHER AND COME UP WITH CREATIVE SOLUTIONS.
BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN WORKING THROUGH EVERYTHING FROM DESYNCING LIGHTS TO RUMBLE STRIPS, AND ANY OTHER CREATIVE WAYS WE CAN COME TO ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE.
UH, WE'VE ALSO TALKED WITH A LOT OF CONSTITUENTS AND NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS.
I KNOW THAT WHEN MY PREDECESSOR WAS HERE, WE HAD PUBLIC MEETINGS ABOUT THIS AS WELL.
UH, AND VIRTUALLY NOBODY OPPOSING TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE DO MORE TO COMBAT THIS ISSUE.
I THINK OF THE CORRESPONDENCE THAT WE'VE GOTTEN, SOMETHING LIKE 84 PEOPLE HAVE WRITTEN IN SUPPORT OF THIS AND JUST TOO AGAINST IT.
SO MY SENSE IS THAT AITE WANT TO SEE THAT WE DO SOMETHING AND TAKE MEANINGFUL ACTION, UM, AND THAT WE DO IT IN A FAIR, IN A FORCEFUL WAY, HIGHLIGHTING SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT MY COLLEAGUES RAISED.
SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, WE'RE NOT TARGETING NORMAL EVERYDAY DRIVERS.
WE'RE NOT TARGETING ANY PARTICULAR KIND OF VEHICLE.
UH, WE'RE HELPING REDUCE NOISE FROM VEHICLES THAT ARE MUCH, MUCH LOUDER THAN THE AVERAGE CAR.
AND THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE BEING PULLED OVER, THEY'LL BE GIVEN THE INITIAL WARNING, UH, BEFORE ANY TICKETS ARE WRITTEN.
AND THE ORDINANCE PROVIDES A LIST OF CRITERIA THAT POLICE MUST TAKE INTO MIND BEFORE ISSUING A CITATION, INCLUDING, UH, A DECIBEL LEVEL.
AND I'LL ALSO POINT OUT THERE'S A FINANCIAL AND SAFETY BENEFIT FOR THE ENTIRE CITY, WHICH IS IF WE CAN DEFER, DETER PEOPLE FROM DRIVING IN THIS MANNER, WE'RE GONNA FREE UP POLICE TO FIGHT MORE SERIOUS CRIME THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND REDUCE RESPONSE TIMES.
SO I'M HOPING IF THIS IS A COMMON SENSE STEP FOR US TO TAKE, AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S GONNA MAKE OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY SAFER.
AND WITH THAT, I URGE YOU GUYS TO, UH, TO SUPPORT THIS.
COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
UH, ITEM NUMBER 38 AS AMENDED IS ADOPTED.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARBOR MADISON, DO YOU WISH TO BE SHOWN VOTING ON THIS ITEM? AND SHE VOTES IN FAVOR.
UH, SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, ITEM NUMBER 30 38 AS AMENDED HAS BEEN ADOPTED, THANK YOU.
AND, AND THANKS TO ALL THAT CAME AND SPOKE TO US ON THIS MEMBERS THAT WILL TAKE US
[12:00 PM - Public Communication: General]
TO, UH, PUBLIC COMMUNICATION AND, UM, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT ARE HERE FOR THE PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.YOU KNOW, YOU'VE SIGNED UP AND YOU KNOW WHERE YOU ARE ON THE LIST.
I WOULD ASK FOR YOU TO MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT OF THE CHAMBER SO THAT YOU CAN, UH, STEP UP AND, AND MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD.
UH, WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED, PLEASE, UH, GO TO CALLING NAMES DAVID WEINBERG, FRANCISCO GOMEZ, SILVER, WHITE MOUNTAIN, AND JESSE GREER.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE, UH, GRAB A SEAT AND STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND BEGIN SPEAKING, MR. WEINBERG.
UH, GOOD MORNING SLASH AFTERNOON COUNSEL.
MY NAME'S DAVID WEINBERG, UM, AT DISTRICT FIVE RESIDENT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS YOU TODAY.
UH, I WANTED TO MAKE A FEW COMMENTS ABOUT THE HISTORIC 100 100-YEAR-OLD BARTON SPRINGS BRIDGE, UM, WHICH I GUESS BUTTRESSES PART OF DISTRICT FIVE, PART OF DISTRICT EIGHT.
UM, IN 2023, THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THE DEMOLITION OF THIS BRIDGE.
I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU TO RECONSIDER AND REVERSE THAT DECISION AND INSTEAD LOOK AT REHABBING THIS HISTORIC BRIDGE.
UM, A FEW THINGS HAVE CHANGED SINCE 2023 WHEN THAT DECISION WAS MADE.
FIRST OF ALL, THE CITY IMP IMPLEMENTED A PROGRAM ON BARTON SPRINGS ROAD TO REDUCE TRAFFIC LANES IN WHAT IS CALLED A A ROAD DIET.
UM, AND FRANKLY, THERE WAS SOME SKEPTICISM WHEN THAT WAS PUT IN PLACE, HOW WELL IT WOULD WORK, BUT IS IT HAS IN FACT WORKED OUT PRETTY WELL.
UH, AND FOR, UH, FOLKS WHO MAY CONSIDER THEMSELVES URBANISTS ON THE DAIS OR IN THE AUDIENCE OR KEEPING A SCORE AT HOME, UH, THE PROPOSED NEW BRIDGE, UM, AT THIS LOCATION WOULD SORT OF REVERSE WHAT WE HAVE DONE THERE.
IT WOULD CREATE A BRIDGE THAT HAS FOUR LANES, A TURN LANE, AND IT, AND WOULD BE EXPANDABLE TO SIX LANES.
SO WE'RE TALKING MORE, UH, MORE CARS, MORE TRAFFIC, MORE SMOG, UM, AND ANTITHETICAL TO THE GOALS OF URBANISM.
THE SECOND THING THAT HAPPENED, AND THIS IS THE ONLY PLACE I WANT TO GO TO MY NOTES, IS THAT CURIOUSLY, THE QUESTION OF WHAT TO DO WITH THIS BRIDGE FINALLY MADE ITS WAY TO AUSTIN'S, UH, HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION,
[02:25:01]
UH, THIS MONTH WHERE THE CHAIRMAN SAID, AND I QUOTE, YOU HAVE A CITY OWNED PROPERTY IN THE NATIONAL REGISTERED HISTORIC DISTRICT, AND NOBODY ASKED, WHERE IS THE LANDMARK COMMISSION? WE ARE NOT TALKING TO THEM.I WANNA MAKE ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN THAT IT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN.
SO WHY WE WENT AFTER THE FACT OF THE LANDMARKS COMMISSION ABOUT A VERY HISTORIC BRIDGE IN THE CITY IS I THINK AN IMPORTANT QUESTION.
AND, AND THIS WILL BE BACK BEFORE THEM NEXT MONTH.
UM, THE LAST, THE LAST THING POINT I WANNA MAKE IS THAT, UM, AND I, I UNDERSTAND THAT MOST OF THIS PROBLEM LANDS AT THE DOORSTEP OF THE STATE CAPITOL 10 12 BLOCKS NORTH OF HERE, BUT SOMETHING THAT IS DIFFERENT NOW IS THAT THE CITY IS RUNNING YEARLY STRUCTURAL BUDGET DEFICITS.
UM, AND I WOULD SAY THAT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY, THIS IS AN ADDITION BY SUBTRACTION, UM, UH, TYPE OF PROJECT WHERE THE CITY DOES NOT HAVE TO SPEND $55 MILLION BUILDING A NEW BRIDGE HERE, UH, THE BRIDGE, A NEW BRIDGE AS A OPPOSED BY THE ZILKER NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, BARTON HILLS SAVE OUR SPRINGS, THE SIERRA CLUB.
UM, AND I THINK INCLUDING IT IN A BOND WOULD JEOPARDIZE THAT, AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU.
MY NAME IS FRANCISCO GOMEZ AND I'M A STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN.
I'M SITTING IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE CAN DO IS AS MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY GET INVOLVED WITHIN OUR SAID COMMUNITY AND WITH OUR REPRESENTATIVES.
WE HOLD A LOT OF RESPECT FOR YOU GUYS BECAUSE AFTER ALL, YOU GUYS ARE PUBLIC SERVANTS AND CARE DEEPLY FOR OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
AS AN ACTIVE MEMBER, I CAN ONLY DO MY PART IN SPEAKING ABOUT INJUSTICES DONE TO MY FELLOW MEMBERS.
AS MLK ONCE SAID, INJUSTICE ANYWHERE IS A THREAT TO JUSTICE EVERYWHERE.
WHAT I, ALONG WITH MY FELLOW PEERS THAT COULDN'T MAKE IT BECAUSE OF, UH, CONFLICTS BECAUSE OF CLASSES WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS TODAY, IS THE PREVENTATIVE ACTION AGAINST THE UNLAWFUL ACTS COMMITTED BY ICE.
THIS IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS RUNNING RAMPANT THROUGH OUR NATION AND NEEDS REGULATION YESTERDAY WITH THE HELP OF OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY OFFICIALS, WE CAN MAKE OUR CITY A SAFER PLACE FOR ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ADDRESS THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS, UH, SOMETHING THAT WE ARE NOT OKAY WITH.
MY SECOND PREVENTATIVE MEASURE I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS IS IN REGARD TO DATA CENTERS.
I'M AWARE THAT AUSTIN IS A TECH CAPITAL OF THE US BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE SHOULD PUT TECH OVER PEOPLE.
UH, WE HAVE SEEN RECENT MONTHS AS COUNTLESS OF CITIES AND COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN DISRUPTED.
UM, BY THE ADDITION OF DATA CENTERS TO THEIR LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURES, THEY CREATE DIFFICULT LIVING CONDITIONS AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE THAT ARE LESS FORTUNATE AND LESS LIKELY TO SPEAK UP.
THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT WE HAVE THE POWER TO PUT A STOP TO BEFORE WE'RE IN TOO DEEP, AND I URGE YOU TO KEEP THIS IN MIND MOVING FORWARD.
I'LL END THIS WITH A FAMOUS QUOTE CALLED THE, THEY FIRST CAME QUOTE, THEY FIRST CAME FOR, UH, THE SOCIALIST, AND I SAID, NOTHING FOR, I WASN'T A SOCIALIST.
THEY THEN CAME FOR THE JEWS AND I DID NOTHING FOR, I WASN'T A JEW.
THEN THEY CAME FOR THE CATHOLICS AND I DID NOTHING FOR, I WASN'T A CATHOLIC.
AND BY THAT TIME, THERE WAS NO ONE LEFT TO TO SPEAK UP.
NOW MORE THAN EVER, I URGE YOU, COUNSEL AND EVERYONE HERE TO CARE FOR YOUR NEIGHBOR.
WE ARE ALL HUMANS AND WE'RE ALL DEALING WITH OUR OWN PROBLEMS. A LITTLE EMPATHY CAN GO A LONG WAY.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
SILVER WHITE MOUNTAIN COUNCIL.
THAT SOUND IS WHAT I HEAR ON MY WAY OVER WHEN I'M COMING TO SPEAK.
LET ME TELL YOU, I DIDN'T WANT TO SPEAK ON THIS CERTAIN TOPIC, WHICH IS ABOUT CURSING.
I WAS FIGHTING IT AND FIGHTING IT, BUT THEN THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED ON THE BRITISH ACADEMY OF FILM AND TELEVISION AWARDS, BAF BAFTA.
IT IS THE EQUIVALENT TO THE OSCARS.
THAT DAY WAS MY GRANDSON'S BIRTHDAY.
FEBRUARY 22ND, HE TURNED TWO ON ONE OF THE PER ONE OF THE PERSONS HONORED WAS JOHN DAVIDSON, A SCOTTISH CAMPAIGNER FOR TOURETTE SYNDROME AWARENESS, WHOSE LIFE IS IN INSPIRED THE 2026 BAFTA NOMINATED FILM.
I SWEAR BAFTA SAID IT TOOK MEASURES TO INFORM ATTENDEES OF DAVIDSON'S PRESENCE AND THAT THEY MAY HEAR STRONG
[02:30:01]
LANGUAGE.THE ENTIRE N WORD WAS SAID BY DAVIDSON ON BAFTA.
IN THE US WE ALSO USE EUPHEMISTIC WORDS, THE N WORD, THE R WORD, YET PEOPLE SAY THE FOUR LETTER OR SEVEN LETTER F WORD.
OTHERS ARE ALWAYS SAYING MF WORD, WHICH IS TWO WORDS, 12 LETTERS OR THE GD WORD, WHICH IS TWO WORDS, SEVEN LETTERS.
THEN THERE ARE ALL THE OTHER CURSE WORDS.
I HAVE BEEN FEELING CONVICTION AND IT WILL BE, AND I WILL BE THE GOOD WITCH TODAY.
I FEEL THESE THREE MAJORITY SAID WORDS NEED TO BE FACED OUT, OR A EUPHEMISM NEEDS TO BE CREATED FOR THEM ALSO.
THE N WORD CAN STILL BE SPOKEN AS A COLOR OR IN REF OR IN REFERENCE TO THE CATEGORY OF PEOPLE.
MY EX-HUSBAND USES IT ALL THE TIME.
HE DOES NOT SPEAK ENGLISH WHEN HE SAYS HE IS REFERRING TO THE PEOPLE IN THE CATEGORY OF THE N WORD.
HE LAUGHED WHEN I MENTIONED THAT I WOULD BE SPEAKING ABOUT CURSING TODAY.
I SAID, PROBABLY NOT IN MY LIFETIME.
HE WAS NOT RETURNING TO HIS HOME COUNTRY UNTIL CHRISTMAS OR NEXT YEAR.
THEN SUDDENLY HE GOT REALLY SICK.
HIS BLOOD PRESSURE SHOT UP REALLY HIGH AND COULD NOT BE CONTROLLED.
HE IS ONLY 49, WILL BE 50 IN MAY.
HE LEFT FOR HIS HOME COUNTRY BECAUSE HE SAID HE DIDN'T WANNA DIE IN THE US.
HE STILL HAS NOT ARRIVED BECAUSE HE CALLED ME THIS MORNING AND SAID HE SHOULD ARRIVE TOMORROW OR SATURDAY.
AND HE SAID HE WAS ONLY FEELING A LITTLE BETTER.
SORRY, I DIDN'T HAVE MY MIC ON.
PLEASE, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND SURE, PROCEED.
UH, MY NAME'S JESSE GREER AND I'M THE FOUNDER OF THE BEAUTIFUL FARMER'S MARKET IN BUTTA, TEXAS.
I'M HERE TODAY TO RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THE OPPORTUNITY TO HOST A FARMER'S MARKET AT AUDITORIUM SHORES ON AVAILABLE WEEKENDS.
AS A STRUCTURED PILOT PROGRAM, AUSTIN'S KNOWN FOR SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESSES, SUSTAINABILITY AND COMMUNITY WELLNESS.
A FARMER'S MARKET AT AUDITORIUM SHORES ALIGNS DIRECTLY WITH THOSE VALUES.
THIS WOULD NOT BE A FESTIVAL STYLE EVENT.
IT WOULD BE A CURATED PRODUCER FOCUSED MARKET FEATURING LOCAL FARMERS, RANCHERS, FOOD PRODUCERS, SMALL BUSINESSES, MANY OF WHOM ALREADY SERVE THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY.
THE PURPOSE IS SIMPLY TO CREATE CONSISTENT ACCESS TO LOCAL FOOD WHILE ACTIVATING A PUBLIC SPACE IN A MEANINGFUL AND LOW IMPACT WAY.
AUDITORIUM SHOWER ALREADY ATTRACTS FAMILIES, RUNNERS, TOURISTS, RESIDENTS.
EVERY WEEKEND A FARMER'S MARKET COMPLIMENTS THE PARK'S EXISTING USE IT ENCOURAGES FOOT TRAFFIC, SUPPORTS LOCAL AG AND PROVIDES A SAFE FAMILY FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT CENTERED AROUND, UM, FOOD ACCESS AND SMALL BUSINESS GROWTH.
UM, I UNDERSTAND CONCERNS AROUND PARK PRESERVATION TRAFFIC AND OVER PROGRAMMING OF PUBLIC SPACES.
THAT'S WHY I'M PROPOSING THIS AS A PILOT WITH CLEAR OPERATIONAL STANDARDS, VENDOR CAPS, INSURANCE, SANITATION PLANS, AND A MEASURABLE OUTCOME.
UM, WE CAN COLLECT DATA ON ATTENDANCE, VENDOR REVENUE, PARKING IMPACT, COMMUNITY FEEDBACK.
IT DOESN'T, IF IT DOESN'T MEET EXPECTATIONS, WE CAN REASSESS.
IF IT SUCCEEDS, THEN AUSTIN GAINS A RELIABLE FOOD HUB IN ONE OF THE MOST ICONIC SPACES.
AND THIS IS, UH, ALSO AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY.
SMALL FARMERS AND COTTAGE FOOD PRODUCERS ARE STRUGGLING WITH RISING COSTS AND LIMITED RETAIL ACCESS.
UM, SO IT WOULD PROVIDE STABILITY AND A PREDICTABLE INCOME OPPORTUNITY FOR DOZENS OF LOCAL FAMILIES.
AUSTIN'S ALWAYS BEEN A CITY THAT SUPPORTS LOCAL FIRST, SO IT'S A CHANCE TO REINFORCE THAT IDENTITY IN A VISIBLE AND ACCESSIBLE WAY.
SO I'M NOT ASKING FOR AN EXCEPTION, I'M ASKING FOR A PATHWAY, A CHANCE TO WORK WITH CITY STAFF TO BUILD A COMPLIANT DATA-DRIVEN PILOT THAT BENEFITS RESIDENTS, SUPPORTS SMALL BUSINESSES AND ENHANCES ONE OF AUSTIN'S MOST ICONIC SPACES.
UM, THANKS FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION AND I HOPE TO MEET WITH SOME OF YOU SOON.
THEN WE HAVE PORTIA RIGGINS AND KATIE CAM.
UH, LUKE HAD SIGNED UP REMOTELY, BUT HAS NOT JOINED YET.
FOR THE RECORD, I'M PIA RIGGINS.
COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THANK YOU.
COMMUNITY AUSTIN IS ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES CITY COUNCIL.
DECISIONS AFFECT WHERE FAMILIES LIVE, HOW LONG THEY SIT IN TRAFFIC, AND WHETHER LONG LONGTIME RESIDENTS CAN STAY IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
THIS IS A CRITICAL MOMENT TO ENSURE AUSTIN CONTINUES ADVANCING WITHOUT LEAVING COMMUNITIES BEHIND.
MY NAME IS PORTIA RIGGINS AND I'M A THIRD GENERATION AUSTINITE, BORN AND RAISED IN EAST AUSTIN.
I GREW UP NEAR 12TH STREET IN AIRPORT BOULEVARD AND PUBLIC HOUSING HUD SUPPORTED COMMUNITY.
I ATTENDED OAK SPRINGS ELEMENTARY, LAMAR MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND ELSIE ANDERSON HIGH SCHOOL.
I AM RUNNING FOR AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT ONE BECAUSE OF WHAT I CALL
[02:35:01]
RELUCTANT AUTHORITY.I NEVER PLANNED TO LEAD, BUT WHEN I SAW PROBLEMS NOT BEING ADDRESSED, I STEPPED UP TO ADVOCATE.
ADVOCATING FOR MY SISTER AFTER INCARCERATION SHOWED ME THE IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL HEALTH AND REENTRY SUPPORT.
ADVOCATING FOR MY MOTHER WHO IS DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING, SHOWED ME THE NEED FOR ACCESSIBLE HEALTHCARE AND COMMUNICATION.
I NEVER LEFT EAST AUSTIN AND UNDERSTAND DISPLACEMENT MOBILITY CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITY GAPS MANY FAMILIES FACE.
I WORKED AT HEB FIVE YEARS STARTING AS A TEENAGER, AND I'M CURRENTLY STUDYING FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING AT AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
ATTENDING MEETINGS AND FORUMS ACROSS AUSTIN MOTIVATED ME TO STUDY LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND BUDGETING SO I CAN LEAD WITH KNOWLEDGE AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
CITY COUNCIL DECISIONS ABOUT BUDGETING AND INFRASTRUCTURE DIRECTLY IMPACTS AFFORDABILITY, MOBILITY, SAFETY, AND OPPORTUNITY.
AS AUSTIN GROWS, LEADERSHIP MUST FOCUS ON RESULTS AND COMPLETION, NOT JUST IDEAS.
MY FOCUS IS RESPONSIBLE BUDGETING, STRONG INFRASTRUCTURE, HOUSING STABILITY, EFFECTIVE INNOVATION, MOBILITY, MENTAL HEALTH AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.
I AM COMMITTED TO ENGAGING IN EVERY ZIP CODE IN DISTRICT ONE.
SO EVERY VOICE IS HEARD AND REPRESENTED IT.
I KNOW THE LAND, THE NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THE PEOPLE.
I BELIEVE VOTERS DESERVE LEADERS WHO TRULY UNDERSTAND THEIR COMMUNITIES.
BECAUSE EFFECTIVE REPRESENTATION REQUIRES BOTH LIVED EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE.
I'M NOT JUST RUNNING TO REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY, I AM THE COMMUNITY.
AND THANK YOU, THANK YOU TO THE ELDERS THAT CAME BEFORE ME.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE AUSTIN NAACP FOR YOUR PROCLAMATION TODAY.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT'S HERE.
HI, I'M KATIE CAM, A LONGTIME AUSTIN RESIDENT LIVING IN DISTRICT NINE.
AS A VOLUNTEER FOR THE PETITION DRIVE TO STOP THE CONVENTION CENTER PROJECT.
I PERSONALLY COLLECTED MORE THAN 4,000 SIGNATURES FROM AUSTIN VOTERS.
I'M HERE TODAY TO HIGHLIGHT BETTER WAYS TO SPEND THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY, TAX HOT REVENUE, AND CONVERSATIONS WITH MANY OF OF THE PETITION SIGNERS.
I KNOW FIRSTHAND THAT VOTERS ARE ENTHUSIASTICALLY SUPPORTIVE OF THESE ALTERNATIVE IDEAS.
FIRST, YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT AUSTIN HAS PLENTY OF CONVENTION SPACE, EVEN WITH THE DEMOLITION OF THE AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER.
ACCORDING TO THE AUSTIN VISIT WEBSITE, THERE ARE MORE THAN 600 LOCAL VENUES THAT PROVIDE MEETING AND EXHIBIT SPACE WITH ROOM CAPACITY TO HOLD MORE THAN 600,000 PEOPLE SIMULTANEOUSLY.
IN ADDITION, 1.2 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF EVENT SPACE, INCLUDING LARGE EXHIBIT HALLS, ARE AVAILABLE IN THE EXISTING DOWNTOWN HOTELS.
AND AT CODA, LET'S BE EFFICIENT AND USE THE EXISTING SPACES.
HOT REVENUE CAN FUND CONCIERGE CONVENTION SERVICES AND LOCAL TRANSPORTATION SERVICES THAT SERVE THE CONVENTION ATTENDEES.
CITY STAFF CAN HELP EVENT PLANNERS SEAMLESSLY BOOK MULTIPLE LOCAL VENUES AND TRANSPORT AND PROVIDE PERSONNEL TO CREATE A UNIQUELY AUSTIN CONVENTION EXPERIENCE.
SECOND, THE PROPOSED MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR AUSTIN CONVICTION CENTER WILL ATTRACT ONLY ABOUT 700,000 ATTENDEES PER YEAR.
THAT IS NOT A NUMBER TO BRAG ABOUT.
EXAMPLES OF MORE COST-EFFECTIVE AND POPULAR TOURIST DRAWS ABOUND IN THE US AND AROUND THE WORLD.
THE COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME IN NASHVILLE ATTRACTS 1.5 MILLION VISITORS A YEAR, AND REINFORCES NASHVILLE'S MARKETED REPUTATION AS MUSIC CITY.
DENVER'S ART MUSEUM ATTRACTS ABOUT TWO TO THREE TIMES MORE ATTENDEES THAN ITS CONVENTION CENTER.
THE MET IN NEW YORK CITY AND THE MUSEUM OF ANTHROPOLOGY IN MEXICO CITY BOTH ATTRACT 5 MILLION VISITORS ANNUALLY.
THE LIEU OF IN PARIS ATTRACTS 8.7 MILLION VISITORS A YEAR.
YOU'RE STARTING TO GET THE IDEA CULTURALLY SIGNIFICANT VENUES ATTRACT MORE VISITORS AND FOOT TRAFFIC THAN A CONVENTION CENTER, WHICH IS BETTER FOR BUSINESSES, HOTELS, RESIDENTS, TOURISM, ECONOMY, AND TAX REVENUE.
WE CAN USE THE HOT REVENUE TO BUILD A WORLD RENOWNED, IMMERSIVE AND INTERACTIVE VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER THAT HIGHLIGHTS AUSTIN'S HISTORY AND CURRENT CONTRIBUTIONS IN MUSIC, ART, FILM, WRITING, ARCHITECTURE, GREEN BUILDING, AND FOOD AT THE CENTER.
VISITORS WOULD LEARN ABOUT WHERE THEY CAN GO TO THE CITY TO EXPLORE MORE.
HOW ELSE CAN WE EXPLORE SUPPORT CULTURE WITH HOT REVENUE? CITY STAFF CONTINUE TO CLAIM THAT ONLY 15% OF HOT REVENUE CAN BE USED TO SUPPORT CULTURAL ARTS, BUT THAT IS FALSE.
TEXAS TAX CODE SECTION 3 3 51 SAYS WE CAN USE THE MONEY FOR PROMOTIONAL PROGRAMMING THAT ELEVATES THE VISIBILITY OF AUSTIN-BASED ARTISTS, MUSICIANS, FILMS, EVENTS, AND VENUES.
UH, WE CAN ALSO USE THE MONEY FOR A CITY AMBASSADOR PROGRAM IN WHICH THE CITY HIRES LOCAL MUSICIANS AND ARTISTS AND PAYS THEM A LIVABLE SALARY AND THEIR TRAVEL EXPENSES TO TOUR BEYOND AUSTIN TO SHOWCASE THEIR WORK AND PROMOTE AUSTIN AS A PLACE TO VISIT VOTERS LOVE THESE IDEAS.
PLEASE STOP THE CONVENTION CENTER PROJECT.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL NOON COMMUNICATION.
[02:40:01]
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MEMBERS.THAT, UH, CONCLUDES THE PUBLIC COMMUNICATION SECTION OF OUR AGENDA.
UH, WE WILL NOW, UH, RECESS AND I I MY RECOMMENDATION, UNLESS THERE'S OBJECTION IS WE, WE RECESS UNTIL ONE 20.
UH, WE WILL HAVE OUR LIVE MUSIC.
UH, NOW DURING THIS RECESS, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL IS IN RECESS UNTIL ONE 20.
WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY.
[Live Music]
I AM COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER, AND IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO INTRODUCE AUSTIN KIMBALL TODAY.UH, AUSTIN IS AN AUSTIN BASED JAZZ PIANIST, UH, MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST MUSICAL DIRECTOR AND EDUCATOR WHOSE WORKS SPANS JAZZ PERFORMANCE, AMERICAN THEATER AND COMMUNITY MUSIC MAKING.
HE'S A NOMINEE FOR THE BE IDEN PAYNE AWARDS AND THE CENTRAL TEXAS EXCELLENCE IN THEATER AWARDS AND A TWO-TIME RECIPIENT OF THE BROADWAY WORLD AUSTIN AWARD FOR BEST MUSICAL DIRECTION, HOLDING A BACHELOR OF MUSIC AND PIANO PERFORMANCE WITH JAZZ, WITH A JAZZ EMPHASIS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN KIMBALL HAS BEEN AN ACTIVE FORCE IN THE TEXAS MUSIC AND THEATER SCENE FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS.
UH, HIS WORK INCLUDES TOURING JAPAN, FRANCE, CUBA, UH, WITH THE AUSTIN KIMBALL TRIO, AND PERFORMING THROUGHOUT AUSTIN AS A COLLABORATIVE PIANIST WITH JAZZ ENSEMBLES AND LOCAL ARTISTS INTERNATIONALLY.
KIMBALL SERVES AS A MUSIC DIRECTOR, CONDUCTOR AND PIANIST FOR TAPESTRY DANCE COMPANY'S SOLES OF OUR FEET.
A CELEBRATION OF AMERICAN TAP DANCE TOUR IN CHINA, A PRODUCTION RECOGNIZED BY THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS AS AN AMERICAN MASTERPIECE.
HIS WORK BLENDS IMPROVISATION, RHYTHM AND STORYTELLING, DRAWING DEEP CONNECTIONS BETWEEN JAZZ AND AMERICAN PERFORMANCE TRADITIONS.
IN ADDITION TO HIS JAZZ CAREER, KIMBALL HAS AN EXTENSIVE BACKGROUND IN MUSICAL THEATER.
UH, HE PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS A LECTURER IN MUSIC THEORY AND ASSOCIATE MUSIC DIRECTOR IN THE BFA MUSICAL THEATER PROGRAM AT TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY, WHERE HIS MUSICAL DIRECTION CREDITS INCLUDE PIPPEN AND YOU'RE IN TOWN.
IN ADDITION TO PERFORMING, KIMBALL MAINTAINS A PRIVATE TEACHING STUDIO IN AUSTIN WORKING WITH STUDENTS IN PIANO TRUMPET VOICE MUSIC THEORY, IMPROVISATION, AND AUDITION TECHNIQUE.
WELL, WITHOUT ANY FURTHER ADO, MAY I PLEASE PRESENT AUSTIN KIMBALL?
[02:46:56]
WELL DONE.WELL, UH, IF Y'ALL WANNA COME ON OVER FOR THE PROCLAMATION HERE.
ALL RIGHT, WELL, IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TODAY.
SO BE IT 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, AND WHEREAS WE ARE PLEASED TO SHOWCASE AND SUPPORT OUR LOCAL ARTISTS.
SO NOW, THEREFORE, I, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 26TH, 2026 AS AUSTIN KIMBALL DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
WE CAN TAKE A PICTURE IF YOU WANT.
AND I'LL CALL THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL BACK TO ORDER ON FEBRUARY 26TH, 2026.
THE WAY I'M GONNA GO HERE IS I'M GONNA GO TO ITEM, UH, 57 58, UH, THROUGH 62, AND THEN WE WILL GO BACK TO 55 AND 56, AND THEN WE'LL GO TO BE ROUGHLY TWO O'CLOCK FOR OUR TIME.
WHAT I ANTICIPATE WILL HAPPEN IS WE WILL DO THAT, THEN WE WILL GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON ITEM 83, COME BACK OUT, DEAL WITH ITEM NUMBER 83, AND THEN GO BACK IN, UH, FOR, UH, THE PERSONNEL MATTERS THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE UP.
[57. Approve a resolution authorizing the filing of eminent domain proceedings and payment to acquire the property interests needed for CKT961 Induction Reduction Project for the public use of mitigating an induced voltage by the Austin Energy Circuit 961 transmission line on the Cap Metro Red Rail Line requiring the acquisition of a permanent access easement consisting of approximately 0.3293 of one acre (14,345 square feet) easement out of the Rachael Saul Survey, Abstract No. 551, Williamson County, Texas, being a portion of Lot 1, Block A, Mustang Ranch Subdivision, a subdivision of record in Cabinet R, Slides 102-103, Plat Records, Williamson County, Texas, said Lot 1 (Tract 1) conveyed to TREA SH Ranch, LLC by Special Warranty Deed dated November 29, 2018, as recorded in Document Number 2018105519, Official Public Records, Williamson County, Texas, currently appraised at $119,432, subject to an increase in value based on updated appraisals, a Special Commissioner’s award, negotiated settlement, or judgement. The owner of the property is TREA SH Ranch, LLC. The property is located at 9400 West Parmer Lane, Austin, Texas 78717. The general route of the project begins at the Jollyville Substation and runs along the Cap Metro Red Rail Line, ending at the Ashton Woods Substation. Funding: $119,432 is available in the Capital Budget of Austin Energy.]
WE WILL GO TO ITEM NUMBER 57.ITEM NUMBER 57 IS A PUBLIC HEARING.
UH, IS IS AN ITEM ON FOR, UH, CON CON, IMMINENT DOMAIN AND CONDEMNATION.
AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK AND SEE IF WE HAVE, HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS, UH, MEMBERS, THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 57.
SO WITH RESPECT TO ITEM NUMBER 57, THIS BEING A NON-CONSENT CONDEMNATION ITEM, UH, I WILL ACCEPT A MOTION TO THE EFFECT THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF AUSTIN AUTHORIZES THE USE OF THE POWER OF IMMINENT DOMAIN TO ACQUIRE THE PROPERTY SET FORTH AND DESCRIBED IN THE AGENDA FOR THE CURRENT MEETING FOR THE PUBLIC USE THAT'S DESCRIBED THERE IN COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL MOVES APPROVAL OF THAT MOTION.
IT IS SECOND BY THE MAYOR PRO.
TIM, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THE ITEM IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE AND HARPER.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, HOW DID YOU VOTE? I APOLOGIZE.
DID YOU VOTE IN FAVOR OF IT? THANK YOU VERY MUCH SO WITH COUNCIL MEMBER.
HOW ARE Y'ALL VOTING? YEAH, AT 1 22.
HOW, HOW ARE Y'ALL VOTING AT 1 22?
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I'VE BEEN HERE.OH, WERE YOU THERE? I'M SORRY.
COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS VOTES IN FAVOR.
SO IT'S A UNANIMOUS VOTE ON ITEM NUMBER 57.
UH, THAT'LL TAKE US TO ITEM NUMBER
[58. 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.]
58 MEMBERS.ITEM NUMBER 58 IS A PUBLIC HEARING.
UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK.
THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS MEMBERS.
THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON THE PUBLIC FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ON ITEM NUMBER 58, ITEM NUMBER 58 IS AN ITEM FOR PUBLIC HEARING ONLY AND NO ACTION.
SO WE WILL NOW GO TO ITEM NUMBER.
WE'VE, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 58.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED AND COMPLETED.
[59. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance adjusting the City’s boundary limits by disannexing approximately 0.35 acres of land located at 1900 Cliffwood Drive, Austin, Travis County, Texas under Texas Senate Bill 1844 (89th Regular Session). Case number: C7d-2026-0001. A portion of the property is located in Austin’s full purpose jurisdiction, and the remaining portion is in Austin’s limited purpose jurisdiction in Council District 10. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.]
IS ALSO A PUBLIC HEARING.UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 59.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK.
I HAVE ONE SPEAKER, COURTNEY HORTER.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR COUNSEL.
I'M HERE AS ATTORNEY ON BEHALF OF THE PETITIONER PROPERTY OWNER IN FAVOR OF THE PETITION AND WE'LL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
MEMBERS YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO.
UM, MEMBERS, ITEM NUMBER 50, THOSE ARE ALL THE PEOPLE WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 59, UH, AT THE PUBLIC HEARING.
SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 59.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED.
I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER 59, MAYOR PRO.
TIM MOVES APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 59.
IT IS SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ.
IS THERE A DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION? ITEM NUMBER 59 IS ADOPTED.
THAT WILL TAKE US TO ITEM NUMBER 60,
[60. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance adjusting the City’s boundary limits by disannexing approximately 0.82 acres of land located at 1111 North Weston Lane, Austin, Travis County, Texas under Texas Senate Bill 1844 (89th Regular Session). Case number: C7d-2026-0002. A portion of the property is located in Austin’s full purpose jurisdiction, and the remaining portion is located in Austin’s extraterritorial jurisdiction in Council District 10. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.]
WHICH IS ALSO A PUBLIC HEARING.WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 60.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK.
COUNSEL COURTNEY MCCARTER HERE AS ATTORNEY ON BEHALF OF THE PETITIONER PROPERTY OWNER IN FAVOR OF THE PETITION AND WILL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
ANYBODY ELSE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? THAT'S ALL.
MAYOR MEMBERS THERE BEING, UH, NO OTHER SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 60 WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 60.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED AND I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER 60.
THE MAYOR PRO TIM MOVES APPROVAL SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL.
[61. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance adjusting the City’s boundary limits by disannexing approximately 2.28 acres of land located at 2701, 2801, and 2802 Pearce Road, Austin, Travis County, Texas under Texas Senate Bill 1844 (89th Regular Session). Case number: C7d-2026-0003. Two properties are located in Austin’s full purpose jurisdiction, and a portion of the third property is located in Austin’s full purpose jurisdiction with the remaining portion located in Austin’s limited purpose jurisdiction. All three properties are located in Council District 10. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.]
IS A PUBLIC HEARING WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 61.THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN.
UH, AND I WILL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK ONE SPEAKER, COURTNEY MCCARTER.
COUNSEL COURTNEY MCCARTER AS ATTORNEY ON BEHALF OF THE PETITIONER PROPERTY OWNER IN FAVOR OF THE PETITION.
UM, I'D LIKE TO REFLECT THAT THE AGENDA HAS A TYPO.
THE PROPERTY IS 27 0 7 28 0 1 AND 28 0 2 PIERCE ROAD.
IT'S CORRECT IN THE ORDINANCE THAT WAS PREPARED.
UM, I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
UM, MEMBERS, UM, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 61.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED AND I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE THAT'S IN THE BACKUP, AS POINTED OUT BY THE SPEAKER COUNCIL MEMBER DUCHEN MOVES APPROVAL.
IS THERE A SECOND? IS SECOND BY, UH, MAYOR PRO TIM? UH, I'M SORRY I CLOSED THE PUBLIC HEARING RIGHT.
SO, UM, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION? ITEM NUMBER 61 IS ADOPTED.
[62. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance adjusting the City’s boundary limits by disannexing approximately 4.2 acres of land located at 3115 and 3117 Westlake Drive, Austin, Travis County, Texas under Texas Senate Bill 1844 (89th Regular Session). Case number: C7d-2026-0004. Portions of both properties are located in Austin’s full purpose jurisdiction, and the remaining portions are located in Austin’s limited purpose jurisdiction in Council District 8. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.]
62 IS ALSO A PUBLIC HEARING WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 62.THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK ONE SPEAKER COURTNEY MCC QUARTER, LET'S SEE IF WE, WE CAN, YOU CAN RUN THE TABLE.
MAYOR COUNSEL COURTNEY MCCARTER HERE AS ATTORNEY ON BEHALF OF THE PETITIONER PROPERTY OWNER.
IN FAVOR OF THE PETITION, WE WILL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
UM, ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS WITHOUT OBJECTION? WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 62.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN MOVES APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 62.
IT IS SECONDED BY THE MAYOR PRO.
TIM, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER 62? WITHOUT OBJECTION? ITEM NUMBER 62 IS ADOPTED.
THANK YOU MS. RECORDER MEMBERS.
[55. Approve a resolution adopting the Audit and Finance Committee’s framework for developing a general obligation bond program.]
NOW GO BACK TO ITEM NUMBER 55 OF YEAH, WE'LL GO BACK TO ITEM NUMBER 55.UH, FOR, FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE IN YOUR PA YOU, YOU HAVE BEEN PROVIDED THREE DOCUMENTS.
UM, IN ORDER FOR US TO MOVE THROUGH ITEM NUMBER 55, YOU HAVE A RED LINE VERSION OF THE DECISION TREE ITSELF.
THAT DOCUMENT IS MARKED MAYOR WATSON AMENDMENT ONE DASH V TWO DASH RED LINE.
AND YOU'LL NOTICE IN THE UPPER RIGHT HAND CORNER IT HAS, IT SAYS LEGEND AND THEN SAYS AMENDMENT.
YOU'LL RECALL THAT IN A PREVIOUS ITERATION OF THIS, IT HAD A LEGEND WHERE WE HAD PUT SOME COLORS TO, UH, SPECIFIC POLICIES AND THAT SORT OF THING.
[02:55:01]
THIS ONE ONLY IS A RED LINE VERSION OF THE AMENDMENT OF THE, OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE OFFERING AS AN AMENDMENT.UH, YOU ALSO HAVE A CLEAN VERSION OF THE DECISION TREE, AND THAT IS MARKED MAYOR WATSON AMENDMENT ONE DASH V TWO CLEAN AND IT DOESN'T HAVE THE LEGEND.
THE REASON WE DID THAT IS SO THAT THERE WILL BE A CLEAN VERSION FOR THE PUBLIC TO BE ABLE TO SEE, UH, IF THERE'S NO, IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER AMENDMENTS TO THIS ITEM.
THE THIRD DOCUMENT YOU HAVE IS A RED LINE VERSION OF THE DRAFT RESOLUTION.
YOU HAVE A RED LINE VERSION OF THE DRAFT RESOLUTION.
YOU'LL RECALL THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER HAD SOME PROPOSALS WE MADE, WE INCORPORATED THAT IN A PREVIOUS VERSION.
COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, THERE WAS A DISCUSSION ON THE MESSAGE BOARD, UH, BETWEEN COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL AND ME, AND WE'VE MADE, UH, WE'VE MADE CHANGES BASED UPON HIS SUGGESTIONS.
AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS HAD SOME ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS AND WE HAVE INCORPORATED ALL OF HER SUGGESTIONS IN BOTH THE RESOLUTION AND THE DECISION TREE.
WE WILL HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC ON THIS, BUT HOW WE WILL PROCEED IS SINCE THIS IS AN ITEM FROM A COUNCIL COMMITTEE, THE REASON I'VE OFFERED THESE UP, I'M OFFERING THESE, THESE RED LINES THAT YOU SEE AS AMENDMENTS BECAUSE IT COMES FROM A COUNCIL, A RECOMMENDATION FROM A COUNCIL COMMITTEE.
IT'S NOT A STANDALONE IFC, IF YOU WILL.
SO WHAT WHAT I'LL DO IS I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO, UH, TO ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE, AND THEN I WILL OFFER THIS AS AN AMENDMENT SO THAT TO, TO THAT MOTION.
SO THAT'S, I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU ALL A FEELING FOR HOW WE'RE GONNA PROCEED.
I'LL NOW TURN TO THE CLERK TO CALL SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 55.
WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE THAT HAS JOINED REMOTELY, BUT I HAVE IN-PERSON SPEAKERS, ITEM 55, SAVANNAH LEE, JUDY BRADFORD, MEL LEBLANC, BILL BUNCH, JENNIFER ROBISHO, JEFFREY BOWEN, PETER HUNT, AND JIM CROSBY.
IF I CALLED YOUR NAME, PLEASE GO AHEAD AND COME ON DOWN.
A LOT OF FOLKS HAD TO LEAVE, SO I THINK QUITE A FEW PEOPLE, UM, WON'T BE ABLE TO MAKE IT FROM THAT LIST.
BUT MY NAME IS MEL LEBLANC AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT ONE AND I'M REPRESENTING VOCAL TEXAS.
I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK THAT YOU DO CARRY THROUGH WITH A BOND IN 2026.
I KNOW THIS DECISION, DECISION TREE COULD RESULT IN MAYBE NOT A BOND, BUT, UM, I, WE NEED FOR THIS BOND TO INCLUDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND SPECIFICALLY FUNDS FOR DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND SHELTER BEDS.
LAST YEAR AT VOCAL, WE LAUNCHED A CAMPAIGN.
ONE OF THE PIECES WAS TO GET MORE DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN OUR CITY.
AND THIS CAMPAIGN GREW OUT OF THE EXPERIENCES OF OUR LEADERS AND MEMBERS WHO WERE, AND STILL ARE FINDING IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO ACCESS ZERO TO 30% MFI UNITS IN OUR CITY AND PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING UNITS.
AND WE KNOW THROUGH PREVIOUS BONDS THAT THERE'S BEEN MONEY THAT HAS BEEN, UM, ALLOCATED TOWARDS AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND IN 2018, THE BLUEPRINT SCORECARD CAME WITH A PLAN TO, UM, TO HAVE 20,000 UNITS OF ZERO TO 30%.
WE KNOW AS OF NOW, ONLY 426 OF THOSE UNITS HAVE BEEN BUILT, WHICH IS ONLY 2%.
AND ON THE FLIP SIDE, UM, 60 TO 80% MFI UNITS SURPASSED THEIR GOAL BY 136%.
SO WE ARE STILL SEEING A NEED OF DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND WE'VE BEEN HEARING THERE'S AN OVERSUPPLY OF HOUSING UNITS, BUT IT'S NOT FOR THE DEEPEST AFFORDABILITY.
AND I ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE THAT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF PROGRESS ON PSH, BUT, UM, THE NEED STILL SURPASSES BY FAR WHAT WE HAVE.
AND A LOT OF UNITS ARE STUCK IN THE PIPELINE RIGHT NOW.
WE ARE ALSO OUT OF SHELTER BEDS AND, UM, HOMELESS SHELTERS ARE AT CAPACITY, MEANING PEOPLE ARE STILL SUBJECT TO SLEEPING ON THE STREETS, AND THEN THEY GET CAUGHT IN INHUMANE AND HORRIBLE ENCAMPMENT SWEEPS.
AND THEN THERE'S USUALLY SUPPOSED TO BE CONNECTED TO SHELTER, BUT WITH SHELTER, BEDS NOT ALWAYS BEING AVAILABLE.
PEOPLE ARE RETURNED TO THE STREETS, BUT THEN WITHOUT BELONGINGS, WE'RE SEEING LOTS OF CUTS AT THE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVEL.
AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SURE WE CAN FILL SOME OF THOSE GAPS.
I'M JIM CROSBY, AND BUT FOR A MINUTE I'M GONNA BE, UH, MY FRIEND JUDY BRADFORD, IF I MAY, SHE HAD A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT.
GOOD MORNING, MY GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS JUDY BRADFORD AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT TWO.
I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK TO THE NEED FOR A 2026 BOND INITIATIVE THAT WOULD FUND THE DEVELOPMENT OF DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PERMANENT SUPPORTED HOUSING, AND MORE SHELTER BEDS.
IN ADDITION, ANY USED BOND MONEY MUST BE DEDICATED TO THIS PURPOSE AS WELL.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS MADE COMMITMENTS AND PROMISES TO THE COMMUNITY THAT MUST BE HONORED.
6,000 AUSTINITES HAVE NO HOME TO CALL THEIR OWN.
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REPORTED THAT THEY STRUGGLED TO PAY RENT IN 2024.WHILE THE CITY HAS DONE A FABULOUS JOB OF ENSURING THAT DEVELOPERS PRODUCE UNITS AT 60 TO 80% OF MFI, THEY'VE ONLY REACHED 2% OF THE GOAL OF CREATING DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
DEVELOPERS ARE NOT GOING TO ADDRESS THE AFFORDABILITY CRISIS IN AUSTIN.
IT WILL TAKE BOLD MEASURES SUCH AS PUBLIC INVESTMENT AND OWNERSHIP TO TACKLE THIS PROBLEM.
LOW WEALTH PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE AT EXTREME RISK FOR BECOMING UNHOUSED.
THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GOVERNMENTS HAVE ALL BEEN ABANDONED ANY COMMITMENT TO HELP OUR PEOPLE.
IT IS UP TO ALL OF US IN OUR COMMUNITY OF AUSTIN TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR NEIGHBORS ARE CARED FOR AND NOT ABANDONED TO THE CRUELTY OF THE STREETS.
TIME AND TIME AGAIN, THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN HAVE INSISTED THAT WE CREATE A COMMUNITY OF CARE.
IT IS A MATTER OF DECENCY AND PUBLIC SAFETY.
SO I WILL CONCLUDE BY ASKING YOU TO DO WHAT YOU KNOW IS THE RIGHT THING.
WE NEED TO RAISE $320 MILLION AS RECOMMENDED BY THE BOND ELECTION ADVISORY TASK FORCE SO THAT WE CAN BEGIN TO ADDRESS THE DEEP FOR THE NEED FOR DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT ZERO TO 30% OF MFI PERMANENT SUPPORTED HOUSING AND SHELTER BEDS.
UH, IF I MAY SPEAK BRIEFLY AS JIM CROSBY.
YOU HAVE TH YOU HAVE 13 SECONDS.
WELL, YEAH, WE SHOULDN'T HAVE.
UM, I JUST WANNA AFFIRM, HAVING SAT THROUGH THIS MORNING'S SESSION AND GETTING HERE A LITTLE EARLY TO SIGN IN AND, AND SEEING SOME OF THE CELEBRATION OF, UH, BLACK HISTORY MONTH, UM, I WANNA AFFIRM, UH, IN PART WHAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON SAID THIS MORNING ABOUT DEMOCRACY AND THE SERVICE AND THE WORK THAT Y'ALL ARE ALL DOING.
I I HATE TO CUT ANYBODY OFF SAYING SOMETHING NICE ABOUT THIS.
SHE, SHE NEEDS TO BE HERE UNLESS YOU'RE GONNA READ IT LIKE YOU DID.
I CALLED ALL SPEAKERS FOR ITEM 55.
UM, ALL THE SPEAKERS HAVE BEEN CALLED ON ITEM NUMBER 55.
SO MEMBERS, AS I INDICATED, UH, THIS IS AN ITEM FROM COUNCIL THAT CAME FROM THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE AS A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE TO THE ENTIRE COUNCIL, I WILL SAY, UH, ON BEHALF OF THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER LANE, WHO ALSO PARTICIPATED AND TOLD US HOW SHE WOULD VOTE ON THE ITEM.
UH, I APPRECIATE THE INPUT FROM OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL TO GET US TO THIS POINT.
UH, AGAIN, I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THOSE ITEMS WHERE, UH, IT SHOWS THAT THE COUNCIL WANTS TO TAKE A DISCIPLINED, UH, APPROACH TO HOW WE'RE MAKING THESE DECISIONS.
AND SO I'M APPRECIATIVE OF THE INPUT.
AND WITH THAT, AS CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE, I WILL MOVE APPROVAL OF THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE.
AND REMEMBER, I'M GONNA ALSO OFFER AN AMENDMENT, THE VICE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, UH, SECONDS THAT MOTION.
SO WE NOW HAVE A MOTION TO, TO ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATION AND PROVE ITEM NUMBER 55.
AS POINTED OUT, UH, YOU HAVE A MOTION SHEET IN FRONT OF YOU THAT SAYS, MAYOR WATSON MOTION SHEET ONE DASH ITEM 55 2 26 26 COUNCIL MEETING.
AND SO I WOULD MOVE TO AMEND THE DRAFT RESOLUTION, UH, WITH EXHIBIT A, THE BOND DECISION FRAMEWORK TO REFLECT THE CHANGES IN THE TWO ATTACHED RED LINE VERSIONS, BOTH THE DECISION TREE AND THE RESOLUTION.
AND AS I POINTED OUT, THOSE REFLECT THE PROPOSED CHANGES, UH, THAT COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL AND COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS HAVE BROUGHT FORWARD.
IS THERE DIS? IS THAT I, I MOVE TO AMEND ITEM NUMBER 55.
IT IS SECONDED BY, UH, THE VICE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? COUNCIL MEMBER SEGAL? UH, MAYOR, THANK YOU.
I JUST WANTED TO THANK THE COMMITTEE FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK ON THIS, ALL THE THOUGHT AND RESEARCH THAT WENT INTO IT.
AND, UH, MAYOR, I DID WANNA THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM, VERY HARDWORKING STAFF, UM, BECAUSE YOU'RE MAKING IT LOOK EASY TO INCORPORATE ALL OF OUR AMENDMENTS AND COME UP WITH NEW VERSIONS.
UM, AND I KNOW IT TAKES A LOT OF WORK, SO I JUST WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.
WELL, I APPRECIATE YOU SAYING THAT, AND, AND I WILL, UH, I'LL SECOND YOUR STATEMENT ABOUT HOW, HOW STRONG MY TEAM WORKS AND HOW WELL THEY WORK.
UM, THEY HAVE REALLY PUT A LOT OF ENERGY AND EFFORT INTO THIS.
UH, AND I'LL, I'LL ALSO USE YOU, YOUR STATEMENT AS A PLATFORM TO SAY HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE OUR PROFESSIONAL FINANCIAL STAFF AND, UH, MR. VINO, UH, HE'S PUT AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF TIME INTO THIS AND, UH, HELPED TEACH AND, AND WORK THROUGH THINGS.
SO, UM, I, I, HE'S HERE AND I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO HIM AS WELL.
UH, IS THERE A FURTHER DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO THE MOTION TO AMEND THAT BEING THE CASE WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE MOTION TO AMEND ITEM NUMBER 55 IS ADOPTED.
THAT WILL TAKE US BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION, WHICH IS ITEM NUMBER 55 AS AMENDED.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? THE ONLY DISCUSSION I WOULD
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ADD IS TO POINT OUT THAT, UH, THIS IS A DECISION FRAMEWORK THAT, AS I INDICATED EARLIER, WILL CREATE DISCIPLINE IN HOW WE GO ABOUT MAKING OUR DECISIONS.AND SO IT'S SOMETHING TO BE APPLAUDED AND WE OUGHT TO BE PROUD OF.
THERE ARE, THIS HAS ALSO BROUGHT TO LIGHT, THIS WHOLE PROCESS HAS BROUGHT TO LIGHT THE POLICIES THAT WE DEAL WITH, THE FINANCIAL POLICIES AND PRACTICES THAT WE DEAL WITH.
AND THAT, FRANKLY, UM, HAVE BEEN DEALT WITH OVER YEARS IN WAYS THAT MAY BE DIFFERENT THAN THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN.
BUT THAT BEING SAID, THERE'S BEEN, UH, AS WAS POINTED OUT ON THE MESSAGE BOARD BY COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, JUST THE OTHER DAY, SOME ISSUES AND, AND BY THE COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER SPECIFICALLY IN THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE ABOUT HOW WE APPROACH SOME OF THOSE THINGS.
THIS FRAMEWORK HAS BEEN BUILT SO THAT IF THERE ARE CHANGES IN OUR POLICIES IN THE CITY FINANCIAL POLICIES, THE FRAMEWORK STILL SURVIVES AND, AND TAKES THAT INTO ACCOUNT.
WE HAVE AN AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING NEXT.
SOMEBODY HELP ME NEXT WEDNESDAY THE FOURTH, THE FOURTH.
WE HAVE A, UM, IT'S ACTUALLY, I SHOULD REMEMBER THAT THAT'S THE, THE, THE, THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE DATE OF BIRTH OF MY YOUNGEST GRANDDAUGHTER.
SO LEMME JUST, UH, SAY THAT ANYWAY, UH, BIRDIE'S BIRTHDAY IS THE DAY WE WILL HAPPILY TAKE UP POLICIES, FINANCIAL POLICIES OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN AS A GIFT TO HER, REALLY
UM, AND WHAT WE'LL DO IS, UH, WE'LL HAVE, UH, MR. VINO THERE AND HE HAS ALREADY PUT OUT A MEMO.
IS THAT RIGHT? HAVE YOU ALREADY DONE THAT? OKAY.
HE, UH, HE, HE WILL HAVE A MEMO THAT WILL GO OUT SHORTLY.
I PUT THIS UP ON THE MESSAGE BOARD.
HE'LL HAVE A MEMO THAT WILL GO OUT SHORTLY THAT WILL PROVIDE SOME THOUGHT PROCESSES THAT HE HAS WITH REGARD TO THESE POLICIES SO THAT WE'LL ALL GET THOSE EARLY.
WE'LL TAKE IT UP AT THE, AT THE UM, UH, AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE ON THE FOURTH.
AND MY GUESS IS THERE PROBABLY WILL BE BEFORE WE, IF THERE'S ANY CHANGE WE END UP WANTING TO MAKE, EVEN IF IT COMES AS A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE BECAUSE OF THE MAGNITUDE OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, WE WILL PROBABLY HAVE A WORK SESSION WHERE WE'LL TAKE THAT UP IN AN ALSO, UM, ANY, ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT? ALRIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, DID YOU HAVE YOUR HAND UP? OKAY, WITH THAT BEING SAID, UM, IS THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER 55 AS AMENDED WITHOUT OBJECTION? ITEM NUMBER 55 AS AMENDED IS ADOPTED.
AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNSEL.
[56. Approve a resolution directing the City Manager to create a comprehensive rubric as a tool to assess and recommend which of the City’s existing social service contracts should be fully funded, partially funded, or eliminated in Fiscal Year 2026-2027.]
NUMBER 56.UH, THAT, THAT IS A RECOMMENDATION FROM A COUNCIL COMMITTEE AND THAT THE COUNCIL COMMITTEE IS THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE AND I AM GOING TO TURN TO THE CITY CLERK, UH, TO ASK IF, UM, WE HAVE PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AND IF THEY'RE HERE.
YES, I HAVE ONE REMOTE SPEAKER AND THEN SOME IN PERSON.
I'M MONICA GUZMAN, POLICY DIRECTOR OF GAVA GO AUSTIN.
VAL AUSTIN SPEAKING ON ITEM 56.
WE SUPPORT THE EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL'S FISCAL YEAR 2027, BUDGET WORK GROUP DRAFT BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS.
SPECIFICALLY, QUOTE THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN MAINTAIN ALL CURRENT INVESTMENTS, CONTRACTS, AND MAINTENANCE AGREEMENTS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS AND INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO MAINTAIN FUNDING FOR CONTRACTS RELATED TO SERVICES FOR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN WITHIN AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH AND AUSTIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
MAINTAIN FUNDING FOR CURRENT CITY PROGRAMS RELATED TO CHILDCARE AND CHILDREN'S SERVICES, WHICH HAVE A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF STRENGTHENING CHILDCARE PROGRAMS AND PROVIDING PREVENTATIVE SUPPORTS FOR FAMILIES OF THE YOUNG CHILDREN.
MAINTAIN THE A PH AND A ED STAFFING BUDGET FOR CRITICAL STAFF WHO OVERSEE EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.
IF THE CITY MANAGER CREATES A COMPREHENSIVE RUBRIC TOOL TO ASSESS FUTURE FUNDING FOR THE CITY'S EXISTING SOCIAL SERVICE CONTRACTS, THE RUBRIC SHOULD CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING.
CHILDCARE, EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND EARLY INTERVENTION SUPPORTS AND CONDUCT REGULAR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND PUBLIC FEEDBACK SESSIONS WITH SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS, CHILDCARE PROVIDERS, SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS, AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS TO UNDERSTAND AND IDENTIFY COMMUNITY PRIORITIES AND DEVELOP THE COMPREHENSIVE RUBRIC AND SOCIAL SERVICE CONTRACT RESTRUCTURING PLAN TO MAXIMIZE SERVICE IMPACT.
IN ADDITION, GAVA ADVOCATES FOR SUSTAINED FUNDING FOR THE EARLY CHILDHOOD STAFF IN AUSTIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SUSTAIN FUNDING FOR THE AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY FAMILY CHILDCARE EDUCATOR, FCCE NETWORK, FORMERLY KNOWN AS BUILDING COMPREHENSIVE NETWORK IMPLEMENTATION OF A DIRECT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM PILOT FOR CHILDCARE PROVIDERS TO INTEGRATE THE HOMEGROWN DRIVING PROVIDERS PROJECT INTO THE AUSTIN TRAVIS
[03:10:01]
COUNTY, FCCE NETWORK AND STRATEGY FOR A MOBILE LENDING LIBRARY FOR HOME-BASED RELATIVE CARE PROVIDERS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD.THANK YOU, MS. GUZMAN AND RESOURCES.
AND THEN IN PERSON I HAVE GABRIELA KANE, JENNIFER ROHO, AND ZENOBIA JOSEPH, WELCOME.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS GABRIELA QUIN GUARDIA, AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LATINAS.
I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 56.
LATINAS IS A WORKFORCE PARTNER IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
A COMPREHENSIVE RUBRIC FOR SOCIAL SERVICES WOULD BE ESSENTIAL TO ENSURING FUNDING DECISIONS ARE GROUNDED IN MEASURABLE IMPACT IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE CITY'S WORKFORCE STRATEGY.
LAST YEAR, NEARLY A HUNDRED ADULT RESIDENTS PARTICIPATED IN OUR WORKFORCE BASED DIGITAL LITERACY PROGRAMS. EACH OF THEM IMPROVING SIGNIFICANTLY IN THEIR DIGITAL SKILLS AS THE CITY INVEST MILLIONS INTO THE INFRASTRUCTURE ACADEMY AND OTHER WORKFORCE INITIATIVES.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THOSE PROGRAMS ARE DOWNSTREAM LATINAS OPERATES, OPERATES UPSTREAM.
BEFORE SOMEONE CAN ENTER TECHNICAL TRAINING, THEY MUST BE ABLE TO NAVIGATE ONLINE SYSTEMS, COMPLETE DIGITAL APPLICATIONS, COMMUNICATE BY EMAIL, AND PARTICIPATE IN HYBRID COURSEWORK.
FOR MANY RESIDENTS, THOSE FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS ARE NOT A GIVEN.
WE PROVIDE THE BASIC, BASIC DIGITAL LITERACY AND HANDS-ON SUPPORT THAT MAKE HIGHER LEVEL WORKFORCE PROGRAMS POSSIBLE.
OUR RECENT 10% CONTRACT REDUCTION, JEOPARDIZES CRITICAL STAFFING, INCLUDING ONE-ON-ONE INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT.
IF COHORT SIZES SHRINK FEWER RESIDENTS, RESIDENTS ARE PREPARED TO ENTER THE INFRASTRUCTURE ACADEMY PIPELINE.
AUSTIN HAS INVESTED MILLIONS IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, PROTECTING UPSTREAM READINESS PROGRAMS AND ENSURING THOSE INVESTMENTS YIELD REAL ECONOMIC MOBILITY IS IMPERATIVE.
CAN IT HELP ENSURE THAT CONTRACTS DEMONSTRATE MEASURABLE WORKFORCE PREPARATION ARE FULLY FUNDED.
AUSTIN'S WORKFORCE PATHWAY BEGINS LONG BEFORE TECHNICAL CERTIFICATION AND ECONOMIC RESILIENCE BEGINS WITH FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS.
IT BEGINS WITH DIGITAL LITERACY, TRUST AND RESIDENCE AND READINESS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS.
YOU'VE BEEN CALLED ON ITEM NUMBER 56.
I DON'T KNOW THAT I HAVE MY NOTES IN FRONT OF ME, BUT I GUESS I DON'T NEED 'EM.
MY COMMENTS AS IT RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO THE CUT IN SOCIAL SERVICES IS FOR THE CITY MANAGER TO ACTUALLY LOOK AT INFRASTRUCTURE.
IT IS MENTIONED IN THE BACKUP MATERIALS.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE RESOLUTION, AND I WOULD ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT IT HAS, UH, PEDESTRIAN SAFETY.
AND SO YOU SAW THE PICTURES EARLIER THAT SHOWS THE DISCRIMINATION THAT'S ACTUALLY BAKED INTO THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE CITY, AND I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT AS IT RELATES TO AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, SPECIFICALLY, THE NEAREST NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, COMMUNITY CENTER IS ACTUALLY ST.
JOHN'S, WHICH MEANS THAT ANYBODY THAT LIVES NORTH OF US, 180 3, WHETHER IT'S LAKE LINE OR WHETHER IT'S IN THE DESA PALMER AREA, THEY ACTUALLY HAVE TO TRAVEL ABOUT TWO HOURS, IF NOT MORE.
JUST TO GET TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER.
I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE AS WELL THAT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE UNILATERAL DECISIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE BY AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, SPECIFICALLY THOSE CONTRACTS THAT EXCEED $50,000.
I WANT TO GIVE YOU JUST ONE EXAMPLE.
YOU'LL REMEMBER THE LIFE OF NEW CONTRACT WAS $826,000.
THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO REDUCE, UH, K 12, UM, DISPARITIES AND EDUCATION AND, AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE AS WELL.
UM, BUT IT DIDN'T EVEN HAVE EDUCATORS INCLUDED IN THAT CONTRACT.
AND SO I WOULD ASK YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT ALL OF THE CONTRACTS THAT ARE UNILATERAL DECISIONS OF THAT SORT, AND TO ALSO RECOGNIZE THE NEED TO COMPLY WITH, UH, VETERANS, UH, CHANGES IN THE LAW AS IT RELATES TO HUD VASH, SO THAT WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT YOUR CRITERIA AS, UH, YOU HEARD ON TUESDAY FROM A VETERAN, IT DOES NOT INCLUDE ANYTHING ABOUT VETERANS SPECIFICALLY IN THIS ITEM, BUT I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE NOT REQUIRED TO HAVE CASE MANAGEMENT.
YOU CAN TALK TO ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER STEPHANIE HAYDEN HOWARD, I'VE GIVEN HER THAT INFORMATION FROM THE FEDERAL REGISTER, AUGUST 13TH, 2024.
YOU'VE NOT UPDATED YOUR POLICY TO COMPLY WITH THE FEDERAL REGISTER AND WOULD ASK YOU TO DO SO.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GLADLY ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME.
UM, MEMBERS, I'M GOING TO TURN TO THE CHAIR OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES FOR A MOTION ON ITEM NUMBER
[03:15:01]
56.SHE ALSO HAS AN AMENDMENT BECAUSE BECAUSE IT COMES FROM A COUNCIL, UH, COUNCIL COMMITTEE, WE'LL PUT A MOTION ON THE FLOOR AND THEN I'LL, I'LL RECOGNIZE HER FOR A PROPOSED AMENDMENT.
I MOVE TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO CREATE A COMPREHENSIVE RUBRIC AS A TOOL TO ASSESS AND RECOMMEND WHICH OF THE CITY'S EXISTING SOCIAL SERVICE CONTRACT SHOULD BE FULLY FUNDED, PARTIALLY FUNDED, OR ELIMINATED IN THE FISCAL YEAR 26 27, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES MOVES APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 56.
IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ.
UH, I'LL NOW TURN TO COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES FOR A PROPOSED MOTION TO AMEND ON ITEM NUMBER 56.
I MOVE TO AMEND THE RESOLUTION FOR ITEM 56 BY MAKING THE CHANGES SHOWN IN RED LINE IN THE RESOLUTION DRAFT ATTACHED TO THE MOTION, UH, SHEET THAT WAS PROVIDED EARLIER VIA EMAIL AND IS INCLUDED IN THE BACKUP COUNCIL MEMBER.
UH, FUENTES MOVES TO AMEND ITEM NUMBER 56.
IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION TO AMEND.
IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO DISCUSS THE MOTION TO AMEND WITHOUT OBJECTION? COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES MOTION TO AMEND.
THAT WILL TAKE US BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION ON ITEM NUMBER 56 AS AMENDED COUNCIL MEMBER LANG.
UM, FIRST, I ABSOLUTELY WANNA THANK CHAIR FUENTES AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND STAFF ACROSS SO MANY DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS WHO'VE BEEN WORKING TIRELESSLY TO EVALUATE, IMPROVE, AND STRENGTHEN THE STABILITY OF OUR SOCIAL SERVICES IN THE FACE OF INCREASING FINANCIAL CHALLENGES.
UM, I ADD MY VOICE AS WELL TO SAY THAT OUR SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN KEEPING OUR COMMUNITIES AFLOAT, ESPECIALLY THE MOST VULNERABLE.
AND I, AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, IT IS MY JOB TO ADVOCATE AND MAKE SURE THAT THESE SERVICES REACH MY DISTRICT AND ALL OF THE CITY, UM, INCLUDING AREAS WHERE MANY DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS OVERLAP, CAUSING UNINTENDED BARRIERS AND CHALLENGES FOR BOTH PROVIDERS AND THOSE SEEKING SERVICES.
I AM REALLY PLEASED TO SEE LANGUAGE INCORPORATED THAT WILL ENSURE THAT GAP ANALYSIS IS PERFORMED AND THAT NEW PARTNERSHIPS ARE FOSTERED WHERE NEEDED TO ENSURE THAT OUR CITY FUNDED PROGRAMS REACH MORE OF OUR CITY, INCLUDING AREAS OF INCREASING NEED.
I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO COLLABORATE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, HER OFFICE AND CITY STAFF TO CREATE A SUSTAINABLE SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDER NETWORK THAT THAT REACHES EVERY CORNER OF OUR CITY.
COUNCIL MEMBER LANE, COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL.
AND JUST WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK ON THIS.