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[CALL TO ORDER ]
AND WELCOME TO THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION.UH, IT'S WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4TH.
UH, WE ARE AT THE CITY HALL CHAMBERS, AND WE WILL PROCEED WITH THE, UH, CALL OF THE ROLL.
PRESENT, VICE CHAIR EVANS PRESENT.
UH, COMMISSIONER GROGAN IS ABSENT.
COMMISSIONER LAROCHE IS ALSO ABSENT.
COMMISSIONER PLEASANT WRIGHT PRESENT.
UM, VIRTUALLY, UH, PLEASE TURN ON YOUR CAMERA, BY THE WAY.
OH, I DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS OFF.
UH, COMMISSIONER TUCCI PRESENT AND THAT IS ROLL CALL.
[PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL]
EACH MEETING WITH THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO COMMUNICATE ON AN ITEM THAT IS NOT ON OUR AGENDA.UH, AS MANY OF YOU ARE AWARE, WE HAD AN ITEM, UH, NUMBER THREE, HAVING TO DO WITH THE ZILKER BRIDGE, WHICH WAS POLLED.
UH, AND SO THEREFORE, IT IS NOT ON OUR AGENDA AND IT IS APPROPRIATE THAT WE HAVE SPEAKERS ON THAT TOPIC IF THEY ARE SO MOTIVATED.
WE DO HAVE A LIMIT TO THE NUMBER OF SPOTS FOR PUBLIC COMMUNICATION AT THIS POINT, AND THERE ARE OTHER TOPICS AS WELL.
BUT THE KEY IS, IS THAT THESE ARE TOPICS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY ON OUR AGENDA, BUT IT WOULD BE RELEVANT TO, UH, HAVE COMMISSIONERS HERE REGARDING THE PRESERVATION.
SO AT THIS POINT, I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE PEOPLE SIGNED UP THAT WE'LL CALL YOUR NAME AND THEN HAVE YOU COME TO THE MICROPHONE? YES, WE DO HAVE PEOPLE SIGNED UP.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS A VIRTUAL SPEAKER, AND HER NAME IS KAREN COKER.
YOU OKAY? YOU MAY, YOU MAY PROCEED.
UM, MY NAME'S KAREN COKER AND I'M HERE ABOUT THE HISTORIC BRIDGE.
I THOUGHT IT WAS, THIS WAS A DONE DEAL AND I WAS SO HAPPY WHEN I SAW IT ON THE AGENDA TO BE RECONSIDERED.
I DON'T LIVE NEAR THE PARK, BUT MY WORK AS A DOCUMENTARY MEDIA PRODUCER WITH A STRONG, AWESOME FOCUS AS, UM, INTERSECTED WITH ZILKER PARK FOR DECADES.
AND, UM, I JUST, UM, WAS SO HAPPY TO HEAR THAT THERE MIGHT BE A CHANCE TO SAVE IT.
AND I, I AM MOST LIKELY PREACHING TO THE CHOIR HERE.
BUT FOR THE RECORD, I WILL SAY THAT THIS BRIDGE IS NOT SIMPLY, INFRASTRUCTURE IS A PART OF THE HISTORIC FABRIC OF ZILKER PARK AND ONE OF THE SIX CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURES CITED IN THE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ZILKER PARK, HISTORICAL DRIFTER DISTRICT, AS FAR AS I UNDERSTAND.
UM, AND I UNDERSTAND ALSO THAT PRESERVATION STANDARDS CONSISTENTLY PRIORITIZE REHABILITATION OVER DEMOLITION WHENEVER FEASIBLE.
AND I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THE CITY FULLY REEVALUATE STRUCTURAL REINFORCEMENT AND ALTERNATIVES.
I AGREE THAT THE SAFETY OF PEDESTRIANS AND THE CYCLISTS SHOULD BE TOP OF MIND.
SO LET'S CREATE A DEDICATED BRIDGE TO THE SIDE OF THE EXISTING STRUCTURE THAT REMOVES FOOT TRAFFIC FROM THE BRIDGE RATHER THAN WIDENING AND ALTERING IT.
ALSO, IT'S SOMETHING THAT CAME TO, UH, MY ATTENTION WHEN I WAS READING, WAS THE, THE CURRENT PROPOSAL TO EXPAND WOULD IMPINGE UPON THE PROPERTY ENTRUSTED TO THE CITY AT THE UMWA SCULPTURE GARDEN AND MUSEUM.
AND, UM, I'M JUST HOPING THAT COULD BE RE CONSIDERED AS WELL.
SO, UM, I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND HOPE THAT YOU ALL CAN DO SOMETHING TO PRESERVE THIS AMAZING BRIDGE, BOTH FROM ABOVE THE GROUND AND ALSO WHEN YOU'RE PADDLING.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JASON JOHN PAUL HASKINS FROM A I A GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.
UH, MY NAME IS JASON JOHN PAUL HASKINS.
I AM THE ADVOCACY COMMISSIONER FOR THE AUSTIN CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS.
UH, I HAD ORIGINALLY SIGNED UP, UM, ON PUBLIC COMMENT 'CAUSE I SAW THE, UM, LETTER IN THE, UH, BACKUP ABOUT BLACK SHEAR, AND I WAS GOING PUT A VOTE IN FOR THE ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE AND QUALITY OF THAT.
BUT SINCE THE BRIDGE IS NO LONGER ON THE AGENDA, I'M GONNA FOCUS ON THAT THIS EVENING.
UH, THE NUMBER OF A I A MEMBERS WHO HAVE EXPRESSED INTEREST AND CONCERN WITH THE PRO'S, DEMOLITION IN JUST THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS
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HAS BEEN REALLY INTENSE.UH, MY E EMAIL'S JUST BEEN BLOWING UP NONSTOP.
UM, SO I CAN SAY THAT, UM, WE HAVE NOT HAD, UH, TIME TO PUT TOGETHER A FORMAL STATEMENT, BUT DO LOOK FOR THAT COMING IN THE FUTURE.
UH, BUT I CAN SAY THAT OUR MEMBER'S CONCERN COMES FROM MANY DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS, ALL ALIGNED WITH AND SUPPORTING PRESERVATION, WHETHER THAT'S THE ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE OF THE STRUCTURE, ITS NOTABILITY AS A CULTURAL LANDMARK CONTRIBUTION TO THE DISTRICT.
UM, AND WITH A SPECIAL PLACE IN THE ARCHITECTURAL AND ARTISTIC STORY OF AUSTIN.
UH, THE ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF PRESERVATION, THE CONCERNS ABOUT MOBILITY, PEDESTRIAN AND BIKE SAFETY, CONSIDERATIONS OF THE DESIGN OF THE PUBLIC REALM, AND ULTIMATELY THE EGREGIOUS DISREGARD FOR DUE PROCESS.
AND THE CITY'S REQUIRE OWN REQUIREMENTS.
UH, SO YOU'LL BE HEARING FROM US AND OTHERS IN THE CITY WILL BE HEARING FROM US IN THE COMING MONTHS.
UH, WE APPLAUD YOUR EFFORTS TO DO YOUR JOB, UH, AND HOLD THE CITY ACCOUNTABLE TO THEIR OWN STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS.
AND WE WOULD, WE WOULD APPRECIATE UNDERSTANDING BETTER HOW THIS PROCESS BECAME SO PERVERSE, HOW THIS CAME SO LATE TO YOU, UM, AND HOW THEY DID NOT FOLLOW THE CORRECT PROCEDURES AND SKIPPED SO MANY REQUIRED COMMISSIONS AND PUBLIC REVIEWS.
AND WE'RE ALSO UNCERTAIN ABOUT WHAT THIS PROCESS LOOKS LIKE FROM HERE.
THIS IS A VERY STRANGE, UM, CASE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE FOR THE APPLICANT TO BE ABLE TO OVERRIDE THEIR HISTORIC ZONING IF THAT WERE TO COME TO IT.
UM, SO WE, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN THE CITY TO UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT WE CAN DO FROM HERE.
UM, AS THE PREVIOUS CALLER SAID, I THOUGHT THIS WAS A LOST CAUSE, UH, YEARS AGO.
UM, SO NOW THAT THE COST IS ESCALATING, HOPEFULLY WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO FIND A SOLUTION.
UH, WE HAVE AI MEMBERS READY TO PROPOSE THAT I'VE ALREADY GOT PEOPLE SENDING ME SKETCHES AND THINGS OF LIKE, THERE'S OTHER WAYS THIS COULD HAPPEN.
SO I HOPE WE CAN WORK TO ENCOURAGE TRANSPARENCY, RECONSIDERATION, AND PRESERVATION OF THIS LANDMARK.
OUR THIRD SPEAKER IS IKA KEEPERS, RIGHT HERE.
GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS, IKA KEEPERS.
I AM HERE TO TALK ABOUT A PREVIOUS TOPIC THAT YOU GUYS APPROVED ON JANUARY 7TH, SO I APOLOGIZE FOR, UM, TAKING UP A LITTLE BIT OF YOUR TIME.
BUT WE WERE HERE ON JANUARY 7TH FOR 5 2 2 SUNNY LANE, AND, UM, YOU DID APPROVE THE DEMOLITION PERMIT.
AND THE OWNER HAS GONE BACK TO GET THE DRAWINGS, UM, APPROVED AND GO THROUGH THE PROCESS, UM, THAT WE NEED TO GO THROUGH, THROUGH HISTORIC LAND COMMISSION AND PROPER REVIEW THROUGH YOU ALL.
BUT IN ORDER TO DO THAT WITH THE ODD SHAPE OF THE HOME, THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFICULTIES.
SO WE, WE HAVE THE SITE PLAN EXEMPTION AND PROCESS FOR THE TWO HOMES, UM, BECAUSE WITH THE ZONING WE CAN DO QUITE A BIT MORE, BUT WE'RE JUST DOING TWO RESIDENTIAL HOMES THERE.
UM, BUT BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE RESIDENTIAL HOMES IN PLACE, WE CANNOT DEMO IN REVIEWS.
EXCUSE ME, WE CANNOT START THE DEMOLITION PROCESS.
UM, THEY HAVE NOT, THEY'RE HOLDING THAT UP FROM US.
UM, SO WHEN WE HAD THE STRUCTURAL ENGINEER COME TO THE PROPERTY WITH THE LAYOUT OF THE PROPERTY, WITH THE HILLSIDE OF 50 FEET OFF OF RIVERSIDE AND, UM, THE EXISTING HOME, HAVING A LARGE BASEMENT AND THE PIER AND BEAN SYSTEM BEING VERY UNSOUND AND JUST NOT SECURE FOR THEM TO ACTUALLY TAKE EQUIPMENT DOWN INTO THE BOTTOM TO TAKE A SOIL BORING.
AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE ARE TREES, HISTORIC AND, AND PRESERVED TREES THAT ARE TO BE PROTECTED.
SO IN ORDER TO GET SOIL BORINGS, WE'D HAVE TO ACTUALLY DEMO SOMETHING ON THE PROPERTY IN ORDER TO DO THAT, OR WE'D BE CUTTING INTO CRITICAL ROOT ZONE OF TREES.
AND THE OWNER IS AN ARBORIST, SO THAT'S JUST NOT SOMETHING HE'S COMFORTABLE WITH DOING.
UM, WE CAN'T PRODUCE THESE STRUCTURAL DRAWINGS IN ORDER TO CREATE THE COMPLETE PACKAGE TO PRESENT TO STAFF.
UM, AND THE FENCE ALONG RIVERSIDE THAT KIND OF, UM, IS JUST ABOVE THE RETAINING WALL IS ALSO BEING HELD UP BY ROPES.
UM, SO THERE'S A LOT OF LIFE SAFETY CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE.
AND SINCE WE'RE NOT ON THE AGENDA, WE'RE JUST HERE TO ASK FOR HELP OR JUST GUIDANCE WITH THIS, WE DO HAVE ONLY A FEW OPTIONS, AND YOU'LL HEAR FROM THE OWNER IN JUST A SECOND AS WELL.
UM, BUT WITH THESE TWO HOMES, HE IS GONNA HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE PERMITTING PROCESS OF RECONSTRUCTING THAT RETAINING WALL, WHICH HE'S ALREADY STARTED, UM, WITH A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER.
WE HAVE THAT SITE PLAN EXEMPTION AND REVIEW.
UM, WE'RE JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS OUR BEST OPTION HERE.
DO WE DEMO SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T, WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO DEMO TO TAKE SOIL, PROPER SOIL SAMPLES.
DO WE GO AHEAD AND HAVE THE STRUCTURAL ENGINEER ASSUME AND UM, DRAW OUT
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STRUCTURAL DRAWINGS SO THAT WE CAN SUBMIT, UM, AND THEN DEMO AN ORDER AND THEN DEMO, AND THEN PROBABLY GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS TWICE WITH YOU GUYS, WHICH WOULD BE INEFFICIENT AND BE A WASTE, I THINK, OF YOUR TIME, UM, AND THIS PROCESS.AND ALSO, AND THAT'S, THAT'S YOUR TIME.
UM, LEMME MAKE A QUICK RESPONSE.
OBVIOUSLY WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS TECHNICAL AND PROBABLY REQUIRES SOME VISIT WITH OUR STAFF.
I WILL SAY THAT OUR HISTORIC REVIEW MOST LIKELY WON'T REQUIRE A FULL SUBMITTED PERMIT SET OF DRAWINGS.
AND I THINK THERE'S PROBABLY A WAY TO DO THE REVIEW THAT YOU'RE REQUESTING WITHOUT HAVING TO TRIGGER ALL OF THE OTHER ELEMENTS.
BUT THAT'S NOT SOMETHING WE CAN, WE CAN OFFER FROM THE DAIS.
BUT I DO THINK THERE HAS GOT TO BE A WAY THAT WORKING WITH STAFF, YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO GET THROUGH OUR PROCESS, EVEN AS OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS, UH, MIGHT BE MORE TECHNICAL AND MAY REQUIRE SOME OF THE THINGS YOU'RE YOU'RE REFERRING TO.
BUT, UH, THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S FROM WHAT YOU'VE SAID, I THINK WE CAN OFFER, UM, AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THE ARCHITECTURE REVIEW COMMITTEE AND WITH STAFF.
OUR NEXT AND FOURTH SPEAKER IS DAVID HAMAN.
I, UH, GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.
UH, I SPOKE LAST MEETING ABOUT THE, UH, UH, PRESERVATION OF THE BARTON SPRINGS, UH, ROAD, UH, BRIDGE AND COMMISSIONER LAROCHE.
AND I MENTIONED AT THAT TIME THAT THERE WAS, IT WAS WORTH CONSIDERING THE CARBON SAVINGS COMMISSIONER LAROCHE ASKED IF I COULD QUANTIFY THAT IN THE INTERIM.
I'VE TRIED TO DO THAT AND I HAVE A, IF I CAN DISTRIBUTE THIS TO THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION.
AND, AND I WILL SAY THAT YOU, YOUR EMAIL WAS RECEIVED TODAY AS WELL, SO I'M TERRIFIC.
SO, BUT, BUT YOU'RE, YOU'RE WELCOME TO, TO, BASICALLY, I'M JUST HERE TO SEE IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.
NOW, COMMISSIONERS, THIS IS A PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.
IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS THEY SHOULD BE, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, THIS IS NOT A DISCUSSION, UM, MOMENT, BUT, UH, BUT YOU MAY PROCEED WITH YOUR PRESENTATION.
THIS IS QUICKLY, I'M JUST HAVE JUST COME BACK TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
IT BASICALLY, WE DID A, WE, WE DID A KIND OF VIRTUAL MODEL OF THE EXISTING BRIDGE, UH, AND SIZED IT WEIGHTED, UH, MADE SOME ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPAIRED, A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE DECK, A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE TOP 50% OF THE VERTICAL MEMBERS BEING REMOVED AND REPAIRED, AND THE ARCH UNDERNEATH BEING ESSENTIALLY REPAIRED, UH, LOCALLY.
UM, WE THEN, UH, MADE A, UH, A KIND OF, UH, CALCULATION OF WHAT THAT WOULD, THE, THE, THE, THE METRIC TONS OF, UH, CARBON THAT, THAT WOULD REQUIRE, WHICH ON THE BOTTOM RIGHT OF THIS CHART IS THE RANGE, 193 TO 236, UH, TONS OF CARBON.
WE THEN, UH, MADE A, A, SORRY, HADN'T GOT ALL, GOT THEM YET.
WE THEN, UH, WENT AHEAD AND ASSUMED, UH, AS A BEEN PROPOSED THAT, UH, THERE MIGHT BE AN ADDITION OF A STEEL AND WOOD, UH, PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE ADJACENT, THAT'S THE SECOND COLUMN DOWN, OR THE SECOND ON THE BOTTOM RIGHT COLUMN, THE SECOND DARK BLUE RANGE, 357 TO 400 METRIC TONS.
WE THEN, UH, WENT AND LOOKED AT THE POSSIBILITY OF ESSENTIALLY REPAIRING THE EXISTING BRIDGE AND DOUBLING ITS WIDTH, WHICH IS THE THIRD COLUMN DOWN.
IT'S ACTUALLY A LITTLE BIT OF AN UNUSUAL CALCULATION BECAUSE THE CODES FOR CONCRETE HAVE CHANGED BETWEEN, IN THE INTERIM, WE, WE WENT AHEAD AND SLIGHTLY MORE THAN DOUBLED IT.
AND THEN AT THE BOTTOM, THIS IS OUR BEST GUESS ON THE CONCRETE OF THE DESIGN.
UH, BASED ON, UH, TAKING, UH, UH, IF WE LOOKED AT THE, UH, INDUSTRY EPD AVERAGES FOR TEXAS BRIDGES AND USE THOSE FIGURES TO APPROXIMATE, I THINK THE, THE, THE, THE ISSUE HERE IS THIS IS A PRELIMINARY APPROXIMATION, UH, UH, FINER GRAIN STUDY WOULD GIVE YOU A MUCH MORE PRECISE ANALYSIS.
BUT I THINK THE RANGES ARE GONNA REMAIN THE SAME HERE.
AND YOU CAN SEE THE ESSENTIAL CONSEQUENCE IF THE, IF YOU REPAIR THE EXISTING BRIDGE AND BUILD A STEEL BRIDGE NEXT TO IT, IT IS OVER ITS RANGE, ABOUT HALF THE CARBON COST OF TEARING THE RIDGE OUT AND REPLACING IT WITH THE NEW DESIGN.
SO THAT'S THE DARK BLUE, UH, BAND, UH, SECOND DOWN, UH, THERE ON THE BOTTOM RIGHT VERSUS THE YELLOW BAND ON THE BOTTOM, THE FAR RIGHT.
I'M HAPPY ALSO TO ANSWER QUESTIONS BY EMAIL.
UH, UH, UH, CHAIRMAN SETH, I SENT YOU MY EMAIL ADDRESS AND IF YOU WOULD, UH, BE, BE WILLING TO SHARE THAT WITH THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AS THEY COME UP.
I, I DO HAVE A QUICK QUESTION, UH, SURE.
IN THAT FINAL ANALYSIS, UH, OBVIOUSLY YOU, YOU NOTE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW BRIDGE, BUT THAT CARBON ALSO TAKES INTO
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ACCOUNT THE FULL DEMOLITION OF THE EXISTING BRIDGE.SO IF YOU LOOK DOWN BELOW, UH, ON THE LEFT, UH, YOU CAN SEE FOR EACH OF THE COLORS WHAT'S INCLUDED THERE.
SO FOR THE LIGHT BLUE TO REHABILITATE THE EXISTING BRIDGE, THAT'S THE TOP SET OF, UH, LIGHT BLUE, UH, NUMBERS, UH, REHABILITATING THE LOWER PORTION, REHABILITATING THE SPANEL COLUMNS, REPLACING THE UPPER PORTION.
THEN THE DARK BLUE IS ADDING THE CARBON COST OF A STEEL BRIDGE, 200 FEET LONG, 10 FEET WIDE, WHICH IS, UH, THE SAME DESIGN AS THE ONE A LITTLE BIT FURTHER DOWN THE RIVER, BUT WIDER TO ACCOMMODATE TRAFFIC IN TWO DIRECTIONS.
IT COULD BE OBVIOUSLY WIDER THAN THAT STILL.
UM, THE NEXT ONE DOWN IN ORANGE IS TO REHABILITATE AND EXPAND THE EXISTING BRIDGE, WHICH TAKES, UH, THE EXISTING BRIDGE REPAIR AND THEN ESSENTIALLY ADDS A NEW BRIDGE NEXT TO IT ON BOTH SIDES.
AND THEN THE BRIGHT ORANGE OR BOTH THE, THE KIND OF THE TANGERINE ORANGE AT THE VERY BOTTOM AS THAT COSTS IT, AND IT, IT INCLUDES THE VERY LAST LINE, THE DEMOLITION OF THE EXISTING.
UH, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? RIGHT, THANK YOU.
NEXT SPEAKER, YOU WANT MORE COPIES LEFT WITH, YOU CAN LEAVE THEM WITH STAND NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
OUR FIFTH SPEAKER IS BOBBY LEVINSKY.
HOPEFULLY YOU CAN GIVE A SPOT TO SOMEBODY ELSE IF WELL, WE'LL HAVE, WE HAVE 10 SLOTS, SO WE CAN LET THAT ONE PASS AND GO TO THE NEXT SPEAKER.
ALL RIGHT, OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BILL B.
THANK YOU, UH, CHAIR SAFF, UH, VICE CHAIR EVANS, MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.
I BILL BUNCH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND ATTORNEY WITH SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE.
I ALSO EMAILED Y'ALL A LETTER, UH, YESTERDAY, AND THEN YOU SHOULD HAVE A HARD COPY THAT WAS PASSED OUT EARLIER TODAY.
UM, I JUST, I'M GONNA HIT A COUPLE HIGHLIGHTS THERE, BUT I WANT TO START WITH THE, THE PROCEDURE HERE BECAUSE AS Y'ALL ARE FRUSTRATED AND THE COMMUNITY TOO, THERE WAS A GROSS, UH, ABUSE OF THE PROCESS AND ONLY BRINGING Y'ALL IN RIGHT NOW WHEN THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE BASICALLY 2014.
UM, AND THEN HERE WE ARE TODAY, AND ONCE AGAIN, STAFF IS, UM, MESSING WITH YOUR AGENDA.
UM, I DO A LOT OF MEETINGS, ACT WORK.
UM, YOU POKE PUBLISH THE MEETING, MEETING NOTICE THAT HAD THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA, PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK TO IT.
IT AT THAT POINT, THE STAFF CAN'T RE REMOVE IT FROM THE AGENDA.
IT IS NOW IN YOUR HANDS AS THE COMMISSION TO CONTROL THE AGENDA AND WHETHER YOU WANT TO LISTEN TO PEOPLE OR NOT.
AND, AND I WOULD SUGGEST THAT ACTUALLY THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT STRONGLY PUTS THE THUMB ON LETTING PEOPLE SPEAK TO IT, EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT GONNA TAKE ANY ACTION ON IT.
WHICH OF COURSE, IT WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR YOU TO TAKE ACTION ON WHAT WAS POSTED SINCE THE STAFF'S NOT HERE TO, TO TALK ABOUT IT, UH, TO MAKE SURE, HOWEVER, PLEASE, UH, THAT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.
HAVE Y'ALL CAN SET THE POSTING LANGUAGE AND HAVE IT BE CONSIDERATION OF INITIATING HISTORIC ZONING LIKE YOU DISCUSSED BEFORE.
UM, HAVE IT BE SOMETHING THAT YOU CONTROL AND NOT HAVE THE STAFF BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, PLAY THESE GAMES WITH IT ON THE MERITS.
UM, THE, THE KEY THING HERE IS, YOU KNOW, THEY DID NOT TELL YOU ABOUT THE LEGAL STANDARDS THAT APPLY THE LEGAL PROCEDURES.
UM, THESE ARE INCREDIBLY HIGH LEGAL STANDARDS, UM, UNDER THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY, SECTION FOUR F AND THIS IS IN MY LETTER.
THEY CANNOT TEAR DOWN THIS BRIDGE WITHOUT, UH, UH, A RECORD SCIENTIFIC AND, UH, ENGINEERING RECORD THAT SUPPORTS THAT THE CONCLUSION THAT THERE'S NO FEASIBLE AND PRUDENT ALTERNATIVE TO SAVE THE BRIDGE AND TO NOT TAKE PARKLAND FOR THIS GIANT EXPANDED BRIDGE TO NOT TAKE, UH, HISTORIC LAND AT UMOFF OR TO IMPINGE ON THE ARCHEOLOGICAL, UH, PROJECT.
AND Y'ALL SHOULD NOT BE, UH, TAKING ANY SORT OF POSITION THAT WOULD ENDORSE TEARING DOWN THE BRIDGE, UH, AND REPLACING IT UNTIL THAT WHOLE PROCEDURE HAS HAPPENED.
AND WE WERE JUST INFORMED BY THE OP FOLKS WHO ARE MANAGING THIS PROCESS PURSUANT TO THE FEDERAL GRANT AND DELEGATED AUTHORITY FROM FEDERAL HIGHWAYS THAT THAT WILL NOT TAKE PLACE UNTIL THIS SUMMER AT THE EARLIEST.
THAT SAID, I HOPE YOU'LL DERAIL IT MUCH SOONER, UM, AND MOVE THE CITY ON A PATH OF SAVING THE BRIDGE, UH, RATHER THAN DEMOLISHING IT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
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OKAY, THANK YOU.NEXT SPEAKER, OUR NEXT SPEAKER AND OUR SIXTH SPEAKER IS BEN LIVINGSTON.
AS A BOARD MEMBER OF SOS AND A LIFELONG LOCAL ARTIST AND PASSIONATE LOVER OF THE RIGHTEOUS SOUL OF AUSTIN, I KNOW THAT BARTON SPRINGS ROAD BRIDGE ITEM NUMBER THREE WAS WITHDRAWN TONIGHT.
BUT I CAME HERE ANYWAY BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THIS ISSUE'S NOT GOING AWAY, COMMISSIONERS.
OUR HISTORIC BARTON SPRINGS BRIDGE IS NOT JUST INFRASTRUCTURE AS, AS KAREN COKER SAID EARLIER, IT'S PART OF OUR CULTURAL LANDSCAPE EXPERIENCED BY HIKERS, CYCLISTS, FAMILIES ON THE TRAIL, AND SWIMMERS IN THE CREEK BELOW.
WHEN ME AND MY FRIENDS SWIM IN BARTON CREEK, AS WE HAVE FOR DECADES, WE ALWAYS BACKSTROKE PASSING UNDER THE BRIDGE TO LIGHTING AND LOOKING UP AT ITS CATHEDRAL-LIKE ARCHES FRAMING THE SKY.
IT FEELS ENT LIKE BEING EMBRACED BY ANCIENT EUROPEAN BRIDGES.
STRUCTURES BUILT NOT ONLY TO FUNCTION, BUT TO ENDURE WITH ELEGANT DIGNITY.
SCHOOLS OF SHAD FLICKER AND SILVER FLASHES BLUE GILL HOVER NEAR PILINGS WHILE BASS MOVES SLOWLY UNDERNEATH US.
IN A CURRENT QUIETED BY CLIMATE CHANGE FROM THE TRAIL AND ROAD ABOVE, THE BRIDGE FEELS HISTORICALLY GROUNDED, DRESSED WITH THOSE HANDSOME IRON RAILINGS AND FROM THE CREEK, IT FEELS TIMELESS IN THE CARE THAT WAS GIVEN VISIBLY TO CREATE A REAL ARCHITECTURAL JEWEL.
IN OUR CITY'S STORY, ENGINEERING PRACTICE MAKES CLEAR THAT OUR STRUCTURAL, THAT STRUCTURAL DISTRESS DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY REQUIRE DEMOLITION.
ON THE CONTRARY, REHABILITATION IS A COMMON AND VIABLE ALTERNATIVE THAT DESERVES FULL AND TRANSPARENT EVALUATION.
MEANWHILE, THE BANKS OF BARTON CREEK ARE VISIBLY DISTRESSED EXPOSED TREE ROOTS PUSH UP THROUGH LARGE EXPANSES OF BARE EARTH SOIL COLLAPSING INTO THE WATER.
WHY? BECAUSE MAINTENANCE NEVER COMES.
THE CITY RECENTLY APPROVED A $5.7 MILLION TO STABILIZE 700 FEET OF ERODED CCRA CREEK BANK, AND THE PROPOSED BRIDGE REPLACEMENT IS PROJECTED AROUND UPWARDS OF 55 MILLION AND AT THE SAME RESTORATION SCALE, MINUS THE COST OF RESTORING THE BRIDGE, COULD POTENTIALLY STABILIZE LONG STRETCHES OF BARTON CREEK'S BANKS.
AND BY THE WAY, REPLACING A BRIDGE LIKE THIS CARRIES HUGE ENVIRONMENTAL COSTS THAT WE CANNOT AFFORD IN THIS CLIMATE CHANGE ENVIRONMENT.
AND AS UT ARCHITECTURE PROFESSOR DAVID HAMMOND HAS POINTED OUT JUST NOW AND HERE ON RECORD, THAT MOST OF A BRIDGE'S MASSIVE CARBON FOOTPRINT HAPPENS BECAUSE OF THE CONCRETE AND STEEL REQUIRED TO BUILD IT.
THE GREATEST ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF REPLACING THIS BRIDGE WOULD HAPPEN BEFORE THE FIRST CAR EVER CROSSED IT.
Y'ALL AND I REPEAT WHAT NEEDS URGENT CARE HERE IS THE CREEK'S BANKS.
THIS BRIDGE WAS BUILT IN 1926 DURING AN ERA WHEN AUSTIN DESIGNED PUBLIC WORKS TO BELONG TO THE LANDSCAPE OF ZILKER PARK IN BARTON CREEK.
IT'S ONE OF THE FEW SURVIVING EXAMPLES OF THAT CIVIC DESIGN PHILOSOPHY.
'CAUSE ONCE OUR HISTORIC BARTON GRAVE SPRINGS ROAD BRIDGE IS GONE, IT'S GONE.
AND AUSTIN HAS ALREADY LOST TOO MANY PIECES OF ITS SOUL.
HAVE WE THANK YOU VERY, YOU'RE, YOU'RE, THAT'S YOUR TIME.
OUR SEVENTH SPEAKER IS CHARLES E. WALKER.
UM, HELLO AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.
I WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT THE BARTON CREEK BRIDGE, UH, REHABILITATION PROJECT.
UH, I'M CHARLES WALKER PE RETIRED.
I SPENT 28 YEARS IN THE TECH STOCK BRIDGE DIVISION, UH, AND EIGHT YEARS AFTER THAT IN PRIVATE SECTOR.
UM, I'VE WORKED ON APPROXIMATELY 43, UH, HISTORIC BRIDGE RESTORATIONS IN MY CAREER.
UM, I'M FAMILIAR WITH THE SECTION 1 0 6 AND SECTION FOUR OF PROCESSES FOR HISTORIC BRIDGES FOR THE BARTON SPRINGS ROAD BRIDGE.
THERE'S ONLY TWO REHAB OPTIONS THAT ARE BEING CONSIDERED RIGHT NOW FROM THE ENGINEERING REPORTS THAT I'VE LOOKED AT.
UM, THE CURRENT OPTION ONE IS TO PRESERVE THE BRIDGE AND ITS CURRENT, UH, PLAN
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AREA FOR FOUR TRAFFIC LANES AND PROVIDE SEPARATE, UH, BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN STRUCTURES.THE, UM, ENGINEERING REPORT CONCLUDES THAT THE ENTIRE FLOOR SYSTEM MUST BE REPLACED.
I WOULD PROBABLY AGREE WITH THAT CONCLUSION.
UM, IT THEN GOES ON TO CONCLUDE THAT BECAUSE OF THAT, AND I QUOTE, STRIPPING THE STRUCTURE DOWN TO THE ARCH RIBS, BY DEFINITION, REMOVED THE ORIGINAL OPTION ONE AS A FEASIBLE ALTERNATIVE SINCE THE INTENT WAS PRESERVE STRUCTURE.
THERE'S PLENTY OF EXAMPLES OF BRIDGES THAT, UM, HAVE REBUILT THE FLOOR SYSTEM AND PRESERVED THE ARCHES, CONGRESS AVENUE BEING ONE, THE OTHER ONE BEING KOMAL RIVER BRIDGE IN, UH, NEW BRAUNFELS.
UM, IT'S A JUDGMENT THAT SHOULD BE LEFT FOR THE SECTION 1 0 6 PROCESS.
UM, I WOULD PROPOSE ANOTHER OPTION EXACTLY THE SAME AS OPTION ONE, WHERE YOU ALLOW A NEW FLOOR SYSTEM TO BE EXPLORED.
AND THAT'S NOT IN THE ENGINEERING REPORT.
UM, THE CURRENT OPTION TWO IS STRIPPED DOWN THE ARCHES TO AND WIDEN THE BRIDGE IN KIND WITH A NEW 109 FOOT WIDE, UH, BRIDGE DECK TO INCLUDE, UH, THE VIKING PEDESTRIAN FUNCTIONS.
UH, THIS IMPLIES THAT THE ARCHES COULD BE REUSED, UM, AND IT SHOWS THAT THE, UM, EXISTING BRIDGE IS OVERWHELMED INSIDE OF ONE MASSIVE BRIDGE.
I SEE THAT MY PRESENTATION IS PULLED UP ON YOUR SCREEN.
I DON'T KNOW HOW TO ADVANCE IT.
THERE'S THE QUOTE ON STRIPPING THE STRUCTURE DOWN.
CAN YOU ADVANCE TO THE NEXT SLIDE? UH, HERE'S AN EXAMPLE OF A BRIDGE THAT'S BEEN STRIPPED DOWN TO THE DECK THAT'S A VIABLE REHABILITATION OPTION.
UM, THIS IS THE 109 FOOT BRIDGE PROPOSED, UH, SHOWING A WIDENING, UH, WITH ARCHES THAT ARE SIMILAR TO THE EXISTING ARCHES.
UM, OKAY, IF YOU HAVE, CAN YOU WRAP UP PLEASE? YEAH, I, YEAH, I THINK I'VE MADE MY POINT.
IT NEEDS TO HAVE AN OPTION, UM, WHERE YOU ALLOW THE DEMOLITION OF THE DECK AND RECONSTRUCTION OF THE DECK AND, UH, UH, PUT UH, PARALLEL STRUCTURES THAT CARRY BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN FUNCTION AND RE UM, PRESERVE THE BRIDGE DECK AS IT IS IN IT'S CURRENT WIDTH FOR FOUR LANES OF TRAFFIC THAT HASN'T BEEN LOOKED AT AT ALL TO OKAY.
SEE WHETHER IT MEETS PURPOSE IN NEED OF THE PROJECT.
ALRIGHT, SPEAKER IS PATRICIA BOBBECK, YOUR
GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
MY NAME IS PATRICIA BOBAK AND I AM A, A PROFESSIONAL HYDROGEOLOGIST, A A PHD HYDROGEOLOGIST.
AND I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS A FEW FACTS TONIGHT.
I WAS HERE LAST MONTH AND DIDN'T HAVE ANY FACTS AND I'VE DONE A LITTLE BIT OF WORK.
UH, SO I WANTED TO FIRST OF ALL TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT A CONTRACTOR WAS PUT IN CHARGE OF DETERMINING BRIDGE SAFETY AND WHETHER THE OLD BRIDGE WAS, UH, VIABLE, COULD BE SAVED.
AND I FIND THIS TO BE A FLAGRANT CONFLICT OF INTEREST AS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAVE MENTIONED TONIGHT.
MY SECOND POINT, IT HAS TO DO WITH THE ENGINEER'S IDEA THAT WAS, UH, EXPRESSED AT THE LAST MEETING OF BUILDING FOUR LANES.
I DIDN'T CATCH THE WHOLE THING, BUT BUILDING FOUR LANES OR MAKING THE BRIDGE FOUR LANES BECAUSE IT WOULD MAKE CONSTRUCTION EASIER.
WELL, BECAUSE CONSTRUCTION WILL MAY LA MAY LAST A YEAR OR TWO.
I'M WONDERING WHY WE HAVE TO BE STUCK WITH FOUR LANES FOR THE NEXT 100 YEARS.
AT THAT BRIDGE IS GOING TO BE IN SERVICE.
THE ENGINEERS WERE OBVIOUSLY THINKING OF THEMSELVES RATHER THAN THE PEOPLE AND THE PROJECT THAT THEY WERE, THAT THEY WERE WORKING ON.
I BROUGHT IN A, UM, A MAP, A GEOLOGIC MAP TO SHOW THE, THE, UH, GEOLOGY OF THE UMLA PROPERTY THAT CORNER OF THE, UM, OF THE CREEK.
IT SHOWS THAT THE ENGINEERS, IF THEY WERE TO DO A NEW BRIDGE, WOULD, UM, DO SOME SORT OF CONSTRUCTION ON THAT CORNER.
[00:30:01]
AT THAT CORNER, IF YOU LOOK AT IT, YOU CAN TELL THAT IT'S A VERY UNSTABLE SLOPE.AND THE FACT, THE REASON FOR THAT IS THAT IT IS 75 FEET OF THE DEL RIO CLAY OVER LAYING BY THE BUTYL LIMESTONE.
AND ON TOP OF THAT, UM, ANOTHER FORTED FEET OF, OF CLAY THAT IS BASICALLY AN UNSTABLE SLOPE.
AND ANY MOVEMENT ON THAT SLOPE WILL ENDANGER THE, THE HISTORIC HOME THAT IS ON, ON THE TOP OF THE, UM, OF THAT SLOPE.
SO OBVIOUSLY NOT A GOOD PLACE TO PUT A HUNK OF CONCRETE.
I DID A LITTLE LOOK AT THE PARIS BRIDGES THAT I TALKED ABOUT LAST TIME.
THE OLDEST WAS BUILT IN 1578 AND IS STILL THERE, IS CALLED THE
MOST OF THE PARIS BRIDGES WERE REBUILT IN THE 18 HUNDREDS AND REPAIRED IN THE 19 HUNDREDS.
AND MOST OF THE DAMAGE DONE TO THE PARIS BRIDGES IS FROM BARGE COLLISIONS, WHICH THANK GOODNESS WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IN BARTON CREEK.
SO IF THE FRENCH CAN SAVE THEIR BRIDGES, SURELY WE TEXANS CAN SAVE OUR BRIDGE
I THINK, COULD YOU WRAP UP PLEASE? I, YEAH, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT IN THAT CONCRETE IS NOT ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY AND THAT WE COULD CONSTRUCT A SEPARATE BICYCLE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE THAT WOULD PROVIDE A CALM AND SAFE WAY FOR BIKE RIDERS AND PEDESTRIANS TO CROSS THE CREEK.
AND OUR NEXT SPEAKER, OUR NINTH SPEAKER IS NELSON LIN.
IF YOU DON'T WISH TO SPEAK, THEN THE NEXT PERSON WILL BE, UH, ABLE TO SPEAK AND WE'LL HAVE AN EXTRA SPOT AVAILABLE.
SO WOULD YOU CARE TO COME TO THE MICROPHONE OR NOT? NO.
NEXT, OUR LAST SPEAKER IS MEGAN KING MOUR.
MEGAN KING, MOUR, UH, POLICY AND OUTREACH PLANNER FOR PRESERVATION.
AUSTIN, UM, HERE WITH YOUR MONTHLY REPORT FROM PA UH, YOU GUYS GOT A LETTER FROM US THE OTHER DAY ABOUT THE BARTON SPRINGS ROAD BRIDGE THAT ECHOES A LOT OF THE SENTIMENTS THAT WERE HEARD BY PREVIOUS SPEAKERS, SO I WON'T REHASH THAT.
BUT, UM, WE'RE GRATEFUL TO BE A PART OF THE, UH, FEDERAL SECTION 1 0 6 AND FOUR F PROCESSES AS A CONSULTING PARTY AND ARE EXCITED TO HAVE ANOTHER KICK AT THE CAN.
THIS BRIDGE IS REALLY SPECIAL, SO THANKS FOR ALL THAT YOU DO TOO.
UM, AND ON A LIGHTER, MORE FUN NOTE, UM, WE HAVE OUR ANNUAL HOME TOUR COMING UP NEXT MONTH ON APRIL 18TH AND 19TH.
IT FEATURES 10 INCREDIBLE HISTORIC HOMES ALL ACROSS THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
UH, WE ALSO HAVE A VIP PREVIEW PARTY ON APRIL 7TH OF FEATURING ONE OF THE HOMES.
SO EVERYBODY LOVES THE TOUR, IT'S A GREAT TIME AND, UM, WE'D LOVE FOR EVERYBODY TO COME AND JOIN US AND YOU CAN LEARN MORE AND BUY TICKETS ON PRESERVATION AUSTIN.ORG.
UM, SINCE WE HAD ONE SPEAKER DROP OUT, THERE IS ANOTHER SPOT.
IF THERE'S SOMEBODY WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO SIGN UP, SHE WAS THE LAST ONE WHO HAD SIGNED UP.
SO THERE ARE NO MORE SPEAKERS WITH ALL THE PEOPLE WHO DROPPED OUT.
ALRIGHT, SO WE'RE AT NINE AT THIS POINT THEN I'LL CALL UPON STAFF TO, UH, WELL BEFORE WE REVIEW OUR AGENDA.
SO WE DO HAVE SOMEONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.
AND PLEASE READ YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS UNDER OUR PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.
DO YOU WANT ME TO SPELL MY NAME? NO, JUST LET US KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
UM, BORN AND RAISED IN THE CITY.
I, THESE PEOPLE WALKED SO I COULD RUN.
UM, I GUESS MY QUESTION HERE, REALLY, AND I HAVEN'T, UM, BEEN AS GOOD ABOUT READING EVERY SINGLE PLAN, BUT IT WOULD BE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE 50, A HUNDRED YEAR, UM, FUTURE VISION IS WITH EXPANDING LANES HERE.
RIGHT? SO IN GENERAL, IF WE EXPAND LANES HERE, TRAFFIC, SURE MORE CARS CAN COME IN HERE.
UH, MORE, MORE BIKES OR CYCLISTS, YOU KNOW, MORE WALKERS CAN COME THERE AS WELL.
BUT WE STILL HAVE MORE, MORE DRIVING LANES, RIGHT? AND THOSE SPILL OUT TOWARDS MOPAC IN ONE DIRECTION.
THEY SPILL OUT ALSO TO LAMAR I 35 IN THE OTHER.
AND SO I GUESS FOR ME, IT'S KIND OF REMARKABLE THAT WE ARE STILL TRYING TO ADD MORE CARS INTO THE ZILKER BARTON SPRINGS AREA WHEN I WOULD THINK WE LIVE IN A CITY THAT HAS SEEN
[00:35:01]
SO MUCH POSITIVE BENEFITS FROM ADDING NON-CAR OPTIONS, RIGHT? THE MORE LANES THAT WE ADD HERE, THE MORE CARS WILL BE HERE INDEFINITELY,WHEREAS ESPECIALLY WITH IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS, A LIGHT RAIL AND OTHER PUBLIC TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE COMING IN, WE COULD ACTUALLY CONSIDER MAKING THIS AREA LESS CAR DEPENDENT, RIGHT? AND SO THIS IS NOT AN ATTACK ON, I, YOU KNOW, BRIDGES ARE BEAUTIFUL, ALL OF THAT.
BUT JUST FROM A CITY PLANNING PERSPECTIVE, I WOULD HOPE MAYBE THAT THERE'S SOME CONSIDERATION THERE WITH HOW WE CAN CREATE HOW THIS, HOW THIS PART OF THE CITY CAN BECOME A BIGGER PART OF THE VISION OF AUSTIN.
AND NOT JUST BE LOOKING AT IT FROM, YOU KNOW, A SINGULAR HISTORIC BRIDGE PERSPECTIVE, BUT LOOKING AT IT FROM A CITYWIDE TRANSPORTATION PERSPECTIVE.
I, I DO HAVE JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK COMMENTS BEFORE WE GET TO OUR AGENDA.
I, I DO WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO HAS WRITTEN US, WHO HAS COME HERE TONIGHT, EVEN IF YOU'VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO SPEAK, AND THOSE OF YOU WHO MIGHT BE AT HOME WHO ARE WATCHING THESE PROCEEDINGS WHO WERE READY TO COME AND PARTICIPATE, IT IS AN UNUSUAL SITUATION.
THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT HAVING THIS CASE WHERE WE HAD IT WITHDRAWN.
UH, THERE WAS A SET OF EXPECTATIONS THAT WERE MET AS CHAIR.
THIS FOLLOWS THE PRECEDENT THAT I FOLLOWED IN PREVIOUS MEETINGS.
WHEN AN APPLICANT WITHDRAWS A CASE, IT IS NO LONGER ON OUR AGENDA AND WE CAN'T FORCE IT.
AND THEREFORE, I MADE THE RULING THAT IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC USING THE OTHER PART OF OUR AGENDA, WHICH IS THE PUBLIC COMMUNICATION, WHICH IS ONLY POSSIBLE BECAUSE IT IS NOT A POSTED ITEM ON OUR AGENDA.
SO I THANK YOU ALL THE SPEAKERS WHO HAVE COME AND TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THAT.
AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING MORE INFORMATION FROM ALL OF YOU, AS WE DEFINITELY WILL HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTINUE TO HAVE INVOLVEMENT IN THIS CASE.
I WILL SAY THAT, UH, I CAN ONLY PASS ON WHAT STAFF HAS SHARED WITH US AT THIS STAGE THAT WE HAVE, AS YOU SAW, PERHAPS IN THE WITHDRAWAL LETTER THAT IS IN OUR BACKUP, UH, THEY'VE MADE A COMMITMENT TO HAVE A BRIEFING FOR US AT OUR NEXT MEETING.
I WILL POINT OUT AS CHAIR, A BRIEFING IS NOT A PUBLIC HEARING.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO PARTICIPATE EVERY WAY YOU CAN, AND I CERTAINLY WILL DO MY BEST TO EXPLORE AVENUES WITH STAFF, IF NOT IN THE APRIL MEETING, BUT IN FUTURE MEETINGS WHERE WE WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE THE FULL AMOUNT OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION THAT THIS ITEM DESERVES REGARDING ITS HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE.
WE CERTAINLY WILL TAKE OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS THE REPRESENTATIVES OF COUNSEL, UH, TO ADVISE ON THE HISTORIC MERIT OF THIS PROPERTY.
BUT AT THIS POINT, THE CASE HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN AND THIS IS BASICALLY THE ATTENTION THAT WE CAN GIVE IT AT THIS MEETING.
SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION.
AND NOW LET ME HAVE US PROCEED.
OH, I KNOW ONE THING I WAS GONNA DO, JUST FOR THE RECORD CHAIR GETS TO DO THIS.
I KNOW STAFF IS GONNA BE LISTENING TO THIS.
I WANT TO HAVE FOLLOWING UP ON, UH, ENGINEER, UH, WALKER'S COMMENTS.
I WANT TO HAVE WHAT I HAVEN'T SEEN IN THE BACKUP AT THIS BRIEFING.
I WANT TO KNOW THAT THEY HAVE CONSIDERED THE POSSIBILITY OF JUST SAVING THE BRIDGE AS IS, AND THEN TURNING IT INTO PEDESTRIAN AND BIKES FOR PEDESTRIAN BIKES AS IS.
AND THEN BUILDING A NEW BRIDGE, WHICH I DRIVE IN AND OUT OF BASTROP ALL THE TIME.
THEY DID THAT WITH THE TRESTLE BRIDGE GOING INTO MAIN STREET.
IT'S BEEN SITTING THERE FOR A LONG TIME.
THE NEW BRIDGE WAS BUILT A LONG TIME AGO, AND NOW THEY'VE RESTORED THAT BRIDGE.
SO I, I THINK THERE'S MANY OPTIONS THAT YOU ALL HAVE RAISED.
OBVIOUSLY I PERSONALLY WILL
UH, BUT THAT WILL BE HOPEFULLY IN OUR APRIL BRIEFING AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO FIND OUT MORE.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME.
NOW WE MAY PROCEED WITH THE AGENDA REVIEW.
UH, BEFORE WE PROCEED, I JUST WANT TO REMIND OUR COMMISSIONERS, UM, TO PLEASE REMEMBER TO FILL OUT THE ATTENDANCE QUESTIONNAIRE, UM, EACH MONTH, UM, AS EARLY AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN.
UH, WITHOUT EVERYONE'S RESPONSE IN A TIMELY MANNER.
WE DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE QUORUM AND WE MUST GIVE OUR APPLICANTS A TIMELY HEADS UP IF THE MEETING CANNOT OCCUR.
JUST A QUICK BSA BEFORE WE BEGIN OUR AGENDA.
WE'LL START OUR MEETING TONIGHT
[APPROVAL OF MINUTES ]
WITH ITEM ONE, THE FEBRUARY 4TH, 2026 MINUTES.UM, AND I WILL ASK, UM, EVERYBODY WHO IS NOT ON THE AGENDA, UM, TONIGHT OR WHO IS EXITING, UM, TO PLEASE, UH, EXIT QUIETLY.
[Consent Agenda]
ARE HISTORIC ZONING APPLICATIONS TONIGHT, UH, C 14 H 19 87 0 0 1 6 8.THAT'S AT EIGHT 10 WEST 10TH STREET, THE MEYER HOUSE HOUSE.
UH, THIS ITEM IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
IT'S AN ORDINANCE CLEANUP TO CORRECT AN ADMINISTRATIVE ERROR.
[00:40:01]
THREE AT 2100 BARTON SPRINGS ROAD.THIS, UH, AS THE CHAIR MENTIONED, IS A HISTORIC REVIEW APPLICATION FOR THE BARTON SWINGS ROAD ROAD BRIDGE, HR 20 25 1 4 5 7 2 9 AND HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN BY THE APPLICANT.
SO THERE WILL BE NO ACTION ON THIS ITEM TONIGHT.
HOWEVER, AS OUR CHAIR MENTIONED, THE APPLICANT PLANS TO GIVE A BRIEFING ON THE PROJECT, THE COMMISSION AT OUR APRIL 1ST MEETING AND A HISTORIC REVIEW APPLICATION MUST RETURN TO THE COMMISSION IN THE FUTURE, UH, SO THAT THE BODY MAY ISSUE FORMAL COMMENTS ON THE PROJECT WHEN IT IS READY.
UH, PLEASE REFER TO THE MEMO IN YOUR BACKUP FOR MORE DETAILS FROM THE APPLICANT AND KEEP AN EYE ON FUTURE AGENDAS FOR THESE UPCOMING ITEMS. ITEM NUMBER FOUR A LM 20 25 1 55 7 7 8 HR 20 26 0 1 4 1 8 3 AT SIX 17 CONGRESS AVENUE IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT TONIGHT.
ITEM NUMBER FIVE, HR 20 26 1 4 2 0 4 8 0 9 CONGRESS AVENUE IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
ITEM NUMBER SIX, HR 20 26 0 1 0 1 43 AT 1611 PRESTON AVENUE IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, PR 20 26 15 6 33 AT 1508 P ROAD IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
AND FINALLY, ITEM NUMBER EIGHT ARE ONLY DEMOLITION OR RELOCATION APPLICATION TONIGHT THAT IS NOT WITHIN A NATIONAL REGISTERED DISTRICT IS PR 2 2 6 8 4 4 AIRPORT BOULEVARD.
THIS ITEM IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT UNDER DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS TONIGHT WE HAVE A NUMBER OF DISCUSSION ITEMS. ITEM NINE.
UM, THIS IS THE BUDGET RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL VICE CHAIR EVANS WILL SPEAK TO THE BUDGET, UH, REQUEST THAT SHE AND THE PRESERVATION PLAN COMMITTEE HAVE PUT TOGETHER FOR RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL FOR FISCAL YEAR 26 27.
THIS IS AN ANNUAL RECOMMENDATION THAT THE COMMITTEE FORMULATES TO HELP ENSURE THAT OUR PRESERVATION PLAN IMPLEMENTATION, UM, AND OUR PROGRAM IN GENERAL STAY ON TRACK.
SO A THANK YOU TO VICE CHAIR EVANS AND THE PRESERVATION PLAN COMMITTEE TEAM.
ITEM 10 IS THE RECOMMENDATION FOR COMMISSION INITIATION OF HISTORIC ZONING FOR 1906 MAPLE AVENUE.
THIS IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT AS A FUTURE AGENDA ITEM, ITEM NUMBER 11 AND NUMBER 12, OUR, UH, DISCUSSION AND APPROVAL OF MEMBERS OF THE PRESERVATION PLAN COMMITTEE AND DOWNTOWN COMMISSION.
UM, ITEM NUMBER 13, FINALLY, UM, ARE OUR DETERMINATIONS OF ELIG ELIGIBILITY FOR PARTIAL A VALOREM TAX EXEMPTIONS.
UM, THIS IS ANOTHER ANNUAL ITEM TO CERTIFY ELIGIBILITY, UH, BASED ON PROPERTY MAINTENANCE STANDARDS OF OUR LANDMARKS, UH, SO THAT WE MAY INFORM TCA, TCA ADMINISTERS THE LANDMARK TAX RELIEF PROGRAM.
AND, UH, THAT WAY SHOULD SOMEONE CHOOSE TO APPLY TO THE PROGRAM BY THE END OF APRIL, TCA WILL KNOW THAT THEY'RE IN GOOD STANDING WITH REGARDS TO MAINTENANCE.
UM, AND THAT IS OUR LAST ITEM ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
UH, WE HAVE THE OPTION OF HAVING SPEAKERS ON THE CONSENT ITEM.
UH, THIS IS NOT A DISCUSSION, THIS IS JUST A CHANCE FOR YOUR COMMENTS TO BE READ INTO THE RECORDS.
IF IT'S ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, UH, AND IT IS APPROVED, THEN UH, YOUR ITEM WILL BE APPROVED.
SO WE DON'T REQUIRE YOU TO SPEAK, BUT YOU HAVE THE ABILITY IF YOU SO DESIRE.
UH, ARE THERE ANYBODY SIGNED UP FOR ANY OF THE CONSENT ITEMS? YES.
OUR FIRST ITEM, UH, ON THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ITEM NUMBER 4 6 17 CONGRESS AVENUE.
WE HAVE GRIFFIN WENT IN FAVOR.
THERE'S QUESTIONS, SO YOU DO NOT WISH TO SPEAK.
OUR NEXT CONSENT, UH, AGENDA ITEM WITH THE SPEAKER IS ITEM NUMBER 8 8 44 AIRPORT BOULEVARD.
WE HAVE CATHERINE CONGDON IN FAVOR.
AND WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK OR YOU CAN WAIVE YOUR RIGHT? NO, I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK 'CAUSE I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.
I DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND THE COMPLETE PROCESS.
YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME TO THE MICROPHONE AND READ YOUR NAME AND TO THE RECORD YOU GO.
GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
MY NAME IS CATHERINE CONDEN AND I'M ACTUALLY OWNER OF THE 8 44 AIRPORT BOULEVARD PROJECT.
UH, JUST QUICKLY WANTING TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THIS PROCESS.
WE SUBMITTED SOME BUILDING PERMITS,
I MEAN, WE, WE DO HAVE AN OLDER BUILDING.
WE'RE TRYING TO COME UP TO CITY CODE WITH, UH, AND ALSO BE MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT.
AND, UH, IT'S A VERY OLD BUILDING.
[00:45:01]
LET ME, LET ME STEP IN RIGHT, RIGHT NOW AND SAVE YOU SOME CONCERN.UH, YOUR APPLICATION WAS FOR THE DEMOLITION OF THAT EXISTING BUILDING.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WANT TO REPLACE IT WITH A NEW BUILDING.
AND BECAUSE OF ITS AGE AND BECAUSE OF STAFF KNOWING THE CONNECTIONS THAT THIS BUILDING HAS HAD, IT WAS BROUGHT UP SO THAT WE WOULD LOOK AT IT AS A COMMISSION AND SAY, DO WE GO FURTHER WITH ANY PRESERVATION ACTION? THE RECOMMENDATION THAT IS UNDER CONSENT IS THAT IT IS ALLOWED, THE DEMOLITION IS ALLOWED.
AND SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY ANYTHING MORE.
AND THE CONSENT AGENDA, UH, AGENDA THEN WOULD PASS AND YOU WOULD BE FINISHED WITH OUR APPROVAL FOR THE OKAY.
I JUST HAD THE ONE QUESTION ABOUT, UH, UPON, UH, THAT THE APPROVAL FOR THE DEMOLITION IS UPON COMPLETION OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE.
I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT PART OF IT.
YOU CAN CHECK WITH STAFF, BUT BASICALLY IT'S, IT'S PHOTOGRAPHING AND RECORDING THE EXISTING OKAY.
AND THEN THAT, THAT STAYED IN A REPOSITORY AT THE AUSTIN HISTORY CENTER.
THAT'S, THAT WAS MY QUESTION,
ANY MORE SPEAKERS? OUR NEXT ITEM WITH A SPEAKER ON THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ITEM NUMBER 13 FOR THE TAX OR PARTIAL A VALOREM TAX RELIEF.
AND THAT IS NICK HILL IN FAVOR.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF, UH, ICC AUSTIN WITH THE STUDENT CO-OPS.
WE HAVE ONE PROPERTY OF OUR NINE, UH, THAT IS DESIGNATED HISTORIC.
UM, AND WE RE WE RECEIVED INSPECTION CONCERNS AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE PROCESS WAS.
UM, BUT ESSENTIALLY WE WERE TOLD THAT WE HAVE A PASSING STATUS RIGHT NOW, BUT THAT IF THE WINDOWS AND SIDING WASN'T, UM, REPAIRED SUFFICIENTLY BY THE END OF THE YEAR, WE COULD LOSE OUR TAX EXEMPT STATUS.
SO I, I MAINLY CAME TO INTRODUCE MYSELF AND JUST TO, UH, GET A BETTER HANDLE OF WHAT THE PROCESS IS LOOKING LIKE.
UM, BECAUSE WE DO ARE A NONPROFIT PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE HAVE BUDGET CONSTRAINTS.
AND I'M CONCERNED THAT, UM, LIKE THE WINDOWS THEY WORK, UH, THEY, THEY MIGHT NOT BE TO THE LIKING, BUT THERE COULD BE SCOPE CREEP THAT, UM, WOULD REALLY HURT THE ORGANIZATION.
UM, WE'VE LIVE, WE WE'RE RIGHT NOW HAVE BEEN RUNNING OUTTA LOSS FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS.
UM, I JOINED THE, UH, NONPROFIT IN APRIL.
SO I'VE KIND OF INHERITED THESE PROBLEMS AND I I DON'T REALLY KNOW, UH, WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO BE DOING IN THIS SITUATION.
SO, UM, AGAIN, I, I MAINLY WANTED TO COME INTRODUCE MYSELF AND, UM, SEE IF I COULD GET ANY GUIDANCE, UM, BEYOND TALKING TO STAFF.
MR. HILL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR WORK AND THE WORK THAT YOUR ORGANIZATION DOES.
LET ME ASSURE YOU, THE, UH, IF ANYTHING, THE REPORT THAT YOU RECEIVED, UH, IT'S, IT'S THE CITY'S CONTRIBUTION TO YOUR PARTNERSHIP.
YOU IN ENTERING INTO A TAX ABATEMENT PROGRAM AS YOU HAVE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE CITY IS ABLE TO DO IS TO ALSO EVERY YEAR, UH, HAVE AN INSPECTOR TAKE A LOOK AND YOU HAVE AN EXPERT WHO CAN GIVE YOU SOME ADVICE ABOUT THE CONDITION OF YOUR BUILDING.
NOW, BECAUSE IT'S A HISTORIC BUILDING, WE DON'T WANT IT TO GET OUT OF HAND.
UH, IF YOU WISH TO FOLLOW UP WITH STAFF, THEY MAY BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU MORE SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT WHAT THE WINDOWS WERE.
IT MAY NOT BE EVERYTHING OKAY.
BUT THE FACT THAT YOU'VE HAD PRACTICED EYES AT NO COST TO YOU COMING AND GIVING YOU AN ASSESSMENT OF YOUR BUILDING, UH, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT OKAY.
AND WHAT WOULD BE I IDEAL OF COURSE IS THAT YOU CERTAINLY WOULD WANT TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THAT IN A MEANINGFUL WAY AS A GOOD, JUST LONG-TERM OWNER.
UM, IF THERE MAY BE OTHER COMMENTS FROM COMMISSIONERS WHO ALSO HAVE HAD EXPERIENCE WITH THE PROGRAM, BUT I THINK FOR, AND TO SPECIFICALLY ANSWER WHAT YOUR REQUEST IS, UH, I, I DON'T KNOW THE SPECIFICS, BUT I WOULD SAY FOLLOW UP FOR SURE WITH THE STAFF AND FIND OUT MORE.
YEAH, COMMISSIONER, I'D ALSO SAY LOOK INTO SOME, I MEAN, THERE ARE SOME GRANT PROGRAMS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, THERE'S SOME CITY STUFF I THINK AVAILABLE AND THEN ALSO PRESERVATION.
THERE'S SOME, SOME THINGS YOU COULD, YOU COULD LOOK INTO THAT AREN'T LIKE LARGER GRANT TYPE THINGS THAT MIGHT BE JUST KIND OF FLY UNDER THE RADAR THAT MIGHT HELP WITH SOME OF THAT STUFF.
YEAH, I DEFINITELY WANNA ADDRESS IT EARLY.
YOU, IT WOULDN'T HELP YOU TO LET THIS GET OUT OF HAND AND, AND THEN HAVE A BIGGER PROBLEM ON YOUR HANDS.
ARE THERE FURTHER SPEAKERS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA?
[00:50:01]
THERE ARE NO OTHER SPEAKERS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.UM, COMMISSIONERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE ON ANY OF THESE ITEMS? UH, I ONLY WANTED TO OFFER ONE COMMENT, AND THAT IS AT THE 8 0 9 CONGRESS AVENUE.
UM, AND I'M, I'M SURE THAT WE CAN GET THE MESSAGE BACK TO THE APPLICANT, BUT, UM, WHEN THEY COME BACK WITH THE PORTION THAT THEY'LL BE BE REBUILDING, UH, I WAS CURIOUS TO SEE IF THEY'RE GOING TO REBUILD OR WORK WITH THE HISTORIC PEDIMENT.
'CAUSE THE MATERIAL RIGHT NOW ENDS AND WAS CUT OFF, BUT THAT EXISTING MATERIAL STILL IS PRESERVED IN THEIR CURRENT PLANS AND WE APPLAUD THAT.
BUT, UH, I'M, I'M HOPEFUL THAT THE REBUILD, UH, PEI ELEMENT IS GOING TO BE PART OF THEIR PLANS.
UH, AND IF NOT, UH, I'LL CERTAINLY ENCOURAGE THEM TO SHOW US THAT AS AN OPTION.
BUT AGAIN, THEY'RE JUST MY COMMENTS FOR THE RECORD.
I DON'T, I DON'T NEED TO PULL THAT FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
UH, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE ONE COMMENT ABOUT THE INSPECTIONS LIST AND WHENEVER I SEE THE FAILED, IT ALWAYS MAKES ME NERVOUS ABOUT HOW FAILED THEY ARE.
AND WITH ALL THE DISCUSSION ABOUT DEMOLITION BY NEGLECT, UM, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH DETAIL THERE IS AND HOW IT COULD BE SHARED TO A QUORUM OF THE COMMISSIONERS.
BUT IF THERE IS, YOU KNOW, ANYTHING THAT IS SHOWING LIKE A REAL SLIP OF MAINTENANCE THAT COULD LEAD TO DEMOLITION BY NEGLECT BEFORE WE GET THERE, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A WAY TO HAVE A, YOU KNOW, YELLOW FLAG BEFORE IT'S A RED FLAG AND GETS TO US THAT MAYBE WE CAN HAVE A HEIGHTENED LEVEL OF ACTION AND RESPONSE.
UM, I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT CAN BE COMMUNICATED TO THE BODY AS A WHOLE IN THAT MUCH DETAIL.
UH, BUT I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT FOR CONSIDERATION.
UH, COMMISSIONER, WE CAN LOOK INTO THAT.
I'D LIKE TO, I'D LIKE TO PIGGYBACK ON THAT.
I MEAN, IF WE IN, IN ONE OF OUR, UH, GET TOGETHER, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE DO GETTING AN IDEA OF WHAT PASS FAIL MEANS, UM, WHERE THAT TIPPING POINT IS, AND THEN SOME ABILITY OF LIKE, IS THERE CONSEQUENCE OF FAILING CERTAIN NUMBER OF TIMES IN A ROW BEYOND JUST NOT GETTING THE, THE TAX ABATEMENT FOR THAT YEAR? THAT WOULD BE AN INTERESTING DISCUSSION FOR US TO HAVE AT SOME POINT.
CERTAINLY, COMMISSIONER, HAPPY TO ARRANGE IT.
ANY MORE COMMENTS? UH, HEARING NONE THEN I WILL QUICKLY RE REVIEW THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THAT IS ITEM NUMBER ONE, THE MINUTES ITEM NUMBER TWO, ITEM FOUR, ITEM 5, 6, 7, 8, ITEM 10, AND ITEM 13.
THOSE ARE ALL OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
I'LL MOVE TO PASS THE CONSENT AGENDA.
COMMISSIONER ACTON, IT'S BEEN FIRST AND SECONDED.
UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND AND I SEE ALL HANDS RAISED, INCLUDING COMMISSIONER RICE, UH, AT HOME.
UH, ANYBODY WHO HAD A CASE HERE THAT WAS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, IT HAS BEEN APPROVED AND WHATEVER ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS OR REQUIREMENTS OF STAFF, UH, ALSO ARE PART OF THE APPROVAL.
SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, YOU CAN REACH OUT TO STAFF ON THAT.
UH, WE HAVE A VERY SHORT AGENDA.
YOU ALL ARE WELCOME TO STAY AND HEAR THE REST OF IT IF YOU WISH.
BUT, UH, YOU CERTAINLY, IF, IF YOUR CASE IS OVER, YOU'RE, YOU'RE WELCOME TO LEAVE, UH, COMMISSIONERS.
[9.Approve budget recommendation to Council for FY 2026-27, sponsored by Vice-Chair Evans and Commissioner Taniguchi. ]
ITEM IS, UH, ITEM NUMBER NINE, WHICH HAS TO DO WITH OUR ANNUAL BUDGET.AND I AM ABSOLUTELY THRILLED THAT COMMISSIONER TUCCI AND OUR VICE CHAIR EVANS HAVE PUT THE TIME IN AND GIVEN US A CREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A GOOD CASE FOR OUR BUDGET.
BECAUSE IN YEARS PAST, IT'S BEEN A SCRAMBLE
SO I WILL GLADLY CALL UPON, UH, VICE CHAIR EVANS TO DISCUSS THIS.
AND THANK YOU CALLAN FOR, UH, PROVIDING THE BACKGROUND FOR THIS, UH, BUDGET RECOMMENDATION.
UH, AS SHE MENTIONED, THIS IS AN ANNUAL PROCESS WHERE WE, UH, MAKE SUGGESTIONS, UH, FOR BUDGETING THAT WILL HELP THE WORK OF THE COMMISSION AS WELL AS THE WORK OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE.
AND DURING OUR LAST, UH, PRESERVATION PLAN MEETING, WE HAD A PRETTY ROBUST DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW OUR BUDGET REQUESTS, IF, IF WE GET TO THAT POINT, IF THEY'RE APPROVED, HOW THEY WILL ACTUALIZE THE EQUITY BASED PRESERVATION PLAN AS WELL AS HELP THAT PLAN BE SUCCESSFUL AND ALSO ADVANCE THE HISTORIC WORK THAT OUR STAFF WORKS DILIGENTLY TO TRY AND DO,
[00:55:01]
AND THAT WE WORK HARD TO TRY AND DO.SO AS YOU'VE SEEN, UH, IN THE BACKUP, UH, THE THINGS WE ASK FOR ARE, UH, FAIRLY MODEST IN TERMS OF, UH, PROVIDING TWO STAFF MEMBERS.
AND, UH, WE KNOW OUR STAFF WORKS VERY HARD.
UH, I KNOW HOW MUCH OF THEIR TIME I TAKE UP.
SO IF YOU MULTIPLY THAT BY A FEW TIMES, I KNOW THEY WORK VERY HARD AND SO WE'D LIKE, LIKE THEM TO GET SOME, UH, GET SOME SUPPORT.
AND WE ALSO, UH, INCLUDED HAVING ACCESS TO ARCHEOLOGICAL, ARCHEOLOGICAL AND ENGINEERING EXPERTS, WHICH WE THINK WOULD BE HELPFUL, A HELPFUL ADDITION TO, UH, TO OUR STAFF AND ALSO THE TWO STAFF MEMBERS THAT I MENTIONED AND A CULTURAL MAPPING PROGRAM.
UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT DURING THE PRESERVATION PLAN MEETING WAS THE WORK THAT'S, UH, UNDERGOING NOW TO REDO THE EAST AUSTIN STUDY.
SO ALL OF THIS I THINK, TIES VERY NICELY INTO THE EQUITY BASED PRESERVATION PLAN.
AND IT SHOULD, UH, IF WE GET EVERYTHING THAT, UH, WE DESERVE IN THIS BUDGET, THEN I'M, I'M VERY CONFIDENT THAT WE'LL BE VERY SUCCESSFUL MOVING FORWARD.
SO THAT IS WHAT I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT OUR BUDGET RECOMMENDATION.
THANK YOU FOR AS ASSISTANCE FROM THE STAFF ON THIS AS WELL.
YEAH, NO, I, I JUST ECHO THAT EVERYTHING VICE CHAIR EVAN SAID, YOU KNOW, I KNOW, UM, CURRENTLY AT THE CITY, UM, YOU KNOW, FUNDS HAVE BEEN PRETTY THIN, YOU KNOW, WELL THERE HAVE BEEN BUDGETARY PROBLEMS AND EVERYTHING, BUT IF, UH, OUR PRESERVATION DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO GET ACCESS TO SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDS IN ORDER TO, UM, I GUESS PUT FORTH SOME OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS AND GOALS, I, I THINK, UH, THE EQUITY BASED PRESERVATION PLAN, UH, WOULD, WON'T HAVE ANY ROADBLOCKS GOING FORWARD OR ANYTHING.
SO I, I, YOU KNOW, JUST ECHO EVERYTHING, UH, VICE CHAIR EVAN SAID AND HOPE THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN THIS GETS TO COUNCIL AND GETS TO, UM, CITY STAFF, IT'S, UH, REALLY LOOKED INTO.
UM, BEFORE WE GET INTO ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, UH, AT THIS POINT WE'VE HEARD FROM, UH, OUR COMMISSIONERS WHO'VE WORKED ON THIS, BUT, UH, LET ME GO AHEAD AND GET A, A MOTION ON THE TABLE FOR APPROVAL AND THEN WE CAN CONTINUE DISCUSSION.
UH, AND VICE CHAIR EVANS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION? YES, I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE, UH, ADVANCE OUR BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS TO BE CONSIDERED BY COUNSEL AND COMMISSIONER TUCCI.
AND, UH, IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION COMMISSIONER, UM, AS PART OF THIS, AND GIVEN THAT, YOU KNOW, UH, PULLING FUNDS OUTTA THE CITY IS, HAS BEEN DIFFICULT AND WE ALSO SEEM TO BE, WE FUNNEL A LOT OF THINGS, YOU KNOW, FUNNEL IS PROBABLY THE RIGHT WORD.
THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF AND IT COMES THROUGH A VERY, VERY TIGHT, UH, GROUP DOWN THERE.
UM, I'D LIKE AT SOME POINT, ANOTHER MAYBE POINT OF DISCUSSION, ONE DURING ONE OF OUR GET TOGETHERS OF IDEAS FROM STAFF OF STREAMLINING ANYTHING WE POSSIBLY CAN AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO AS AN OPTION FOR FREEING UP SOME AMOUNT OF TIME TO DO THE OTHER THINGS WE KNOW WE ALSO WANT TO DO.
AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THE BEST PLACE FOR THAT TO COME FROM IS, IS THE STAFF THAT MIGHT, YOU KNOW, SAY, HEY, IF WE, IF WE COULD PUSH SOME FOCUS OFF OF THIS, WE CAN PUSH SOME MORE FOCUS ON THAT.
'CAUSE I KNOW THAT WE ALL HAVE AREAS WHERE WE'RE SEEING SOMETHING SLIP THROUGH, THINGS ARE CHANGING WHAT THE IDEA OF SOMETHING THAT'S OLD, A WHOLE NEW BUILDING STOCK COMING ON BOARD.
UM, SO I, I THINK A, A GENERAL DISCUSSION ABOUT WORKFLOW, POINTS OF FOCUS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
THERE'S OBVIOUSLY THINGS WE HAVE TO DO OR MANDATED TO DO, AND THEN THERE'S OTHER THINGS THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO BE SHIFTED AROUND A LITTLE BIT.
AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE AN INTERESTING DISCUSSION AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE, KNOWING THAT WE DON'T HAVE AUSTIN STILL GROWING.
THINGS ARE, ARE COMING UP MORE AND MORE, BUT WE'RE GONNA BE LIMITED ON ACTUAL STAFF I THINK, FOR SOME PERIOD OF TIME.
UM, AND THE OTHER THING THAT, THAT, THAT, UM, VICE CHAIR EVANS MENTIONED IS LIKE ONGOING, LIKE THE, A NEW SURVEY ON EAST SIDE AND THINGS.
I KNOW THAT, AND, YOU KNOW, UH, PART OF WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON, ON, ON, ON OUR SUBCOMMITTEE SIGNAGE AND THINGS IS HAVING A DISCUSSION AS THEY GO THROUGH AND LOOK AT SOME OF THESE READ SURVEY THEM IS LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES OF OTHER THINGS THAT ARE LESS TRADITIONAL, LIKE SIGNAGE, OP OBJECTS, PLACES, MURALS, THINGS LIKE THAT, WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO AS FAR AS THE EXISTING LANGUAGE WITHIN THE SIGNAGE ORDINANCE AND, AND OUR ABILITY TO MAYBE LANDMARK OBJECTS THAT MIGHT BE INTERESTING.
NOT SAYING THAT WE CAN OR WE WILL, BUT IT MIGHT BE
[01:00:01]
INTERESTING TO START INCLUDING SOME OF THAT STUFF A LITTLE BIT MORE SO THAT WE MIGHT LOOK AT THE FUTURE THINGS THAT COME BEFORE US OR TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GRAB SOME OF THOSE AND GO AHEAD AND, AND PROTECT THEM NOW.SO IF THEY'RE GONNA ALREADY DO A SURVEY, MAYBE EXPANDING SOME OF WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT WITHIN THAT CONTEXT.
UM, EVEN IF IT'S MORE OF A TRIAL RUN ON THINGS, IT MIGHT BE KIND OF INTERESTING TO, TO GRAB THOSE WITHIN THAT.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? YEAH, I THINK JUST PIGGYBACKING ON COMMISSIONER ACT'S COMMENTS, I MEAN STAFF AND THE RECOMMENDATION AS IT'S WRITTEN, UH, ALSO HAVING NON-STAFF, BUT OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE, I THINK RECOGNIZES THE VERY SPECIAL SKILL SETS THAT, UH, WE ARE VERY BLESSED TO HAVE WITH THE PROFESSIONALS WHO MAN THIS MAKE THIS COMMISSION RUN, UH, IN ADDITION, OF COURSE TO OUR LIMITED TIME AS VOLUNTEERS.
BUT, UH, YEAH, MAKING SURE THAT THAT'S USED TO ITS HIGHEST EFFECT AND THOSE THINGS THAT DON'T REQUIRE SPECIALTY, UH, DOESN'T HAVE TO BE NECESSARILY HANDLED, UH, IN THE SAME WAY.
UH, I, I CAN SEE THAT'S A, A LOGICAL FOLLOW ON AND, AND I THINK JUST REINFORCES THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS BUDGET REQUEST.
SO, AND CERTAINLY I THANK AGAIN THE COMMISSIONERS WHO PUT IN THE TIME AND OUR, UH, VICE CHAIR AND COMMISSIONER UCCI AS WELL.
UH, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
AND I SEE ALL HANDS RAISED AND IT'S UNANIMOUS.
[11.Discuss nominations and possible action to approve a member to represent the Historic Landmark Commission on the Downtown Commission. ]
AT THIS POINT, UH, I WILL OPEN THE, UH, I WILL OPEN THE NOMINATIONS OR CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR, UH, A MEMBER TO REPRESENT US ON THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION.AND, UM, I, I, AS CHAIR, I'M VERY PLEASED TO SAY THAT, UH, COMMISSIONER TANIGUCHI HAS BEEN WILLING TO TAKE THAT SPOT.
UH, SO I WOULD LIKE TO PLACE HIS NAME AND NOMINATION, UH, SPECIFICALLY CHAIR.
THAT'S FOR THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION, CORRECT? JUST FOR THE RECORD.
PARDON? FOR THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION TO BE OUR REPRESENTATIVE ON THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION.
DID I NOT SAY THAT CORRECTLY? YES, THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION, UH, AND THERE CERTAINLY ARE, WE'RE OPEN TO OTHER NOMINATIONS, IF THERE ARE ANY.
AND IF NOT, THEN I WILL CLOSE THE NOMINATIONS AND WE HAVE ONE, UH, NOMINEE.
SO I, I JUST FINISHED DOING THIS, UH, SESSION WITH THE CITY CLERK.
I THINK I CAN NOW SAY, UH, SINCE THERE'S ONLY ONE NOMINEE BY ACCLIMATION, UH, IF THERE'S NO OBJECTIONS, THEN LET US, UH, LET US CALL, UH, OUR, LET'S SAY THAT THE MOTION WAS APPROVED.
HOW'S THAT? UH, OR WE COULD ALL RAISE OUR HANDS ONE MORE TIME.
[12.Discuss nominations and possible action to approve a member for the Preservation Plan Committee.]
UH, NOW WITH, UH, COMMISSIONER UCCI ON AS OUR REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION, WE HAVE AN OPENING ON THE PRESERVATION PLAN COMMITTEE AND I WILL ENTERTAIN NOMINATIONS AT THIS POINT FOR THAT OPEN SPOT.UH, AND ONCE AGAIN, SINCE COMMISSIONER, UH, PLEASANT WRIGHT HAS BEEN WILLING TO TAKE THAT SPOT, I WILL PLACE HER NAME AND NOMINATION.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER NAMES? ALRIGHT, HEARING NONE THEN I WILL CALL THE QUESTION SHALL WE APPROVE COMMISSIONER TANYA WRIGHT AS OUR, UH, REPRESENTATIVE TO THE, UH, PRESERVATION PLAN COMMITTEE.
ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE.
UH, AT THIS POINT WE, I BELIEVE HAVE COMPLETED ALL OUR AGENDA.
WE, UH, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE ON 13 OR THAT WAS PASSED BY CONSENT? DO WE HAVE ANYTHING ELSE ON THAT? YEAH.
UM, COMMISSIONER LA ROCHE ALSO NEEDS TO BE FORMALLY NOMINATED TO THE PRESERVATION PLAN COMMITTEE.
UH, 'CAUSE HE WAS NOT FORMALLY NOMINATED.
COMMISSIONER LA ROCHE WAS, UH, WAS, WAS SERVING BUT WOULD NOT ACTUALLY FORMALLY ADOPTED, UH, NOMINATED HIM AS WELL.
SO I WILL, WE HAVE ANOTHER OPENING ON THE PRESERVATION PLAN COMMITTEE.
I WILL, UH, OPEN FOR NOMINATIONS AND PLACE, UH, UH, COMMISSIONER, UH, ROCHE'S NAME IN THE NOMINA, UH, IN NOMINATION.
AND ARE THERE OTHER NOMINATIONS? HEARING NONE.
THEN I WILL CLOSE THE NOMINATIONS AND I WILL HAVE A VOTE.
THEN WE CAN APPROVE COMMISSIONER LA ROCHE.
UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
AND YES, UH, IT'S UNANIMOUS AND EVEN THOUGH HE IS NOT HERE, UH, CHUCK, YOU GOT YOUR JOB,
IS THERE ANY OTHER BUSINESS WE NEED TO CONDUCT TONIGHT? IF NOT, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
IS THERE A SECOND? WAIT, WAIT.
WE HAVE COMMITTEE, COMMITTEE UPDATES.
[14.Update from the Architectural Review Committee regarding the February 11, 2026 meeting.]
BEG YOUR PARDON?[01:05:01]
COMMITTEE UPDATES FROM EACH OF OUR LEVELS.WE, WE'VE NOMINATED EVERYBODY.
THAT, THAT, UH, MOTION TO ADJOURN.
AND ITEM NUMBER 14, WE'LL HEAR FROM THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE.
UH, WE HAD A CASE IN HYDE PARK ON AVENUE BI THINK THAT WAS A REALLY SENSITIVELY, UH, DONE INFILL NEXT TO A REALLY WELL DONE REMODEL THAT SHOULD BE COMING OUR WAY.
UM, THAT WAS VERY EXCITING TO SEE.
AND ALSO THE PARAMOUNT THEATER CAME TO US, UM, WITH A PLAN TO ALTER THEIR ENTRANCE DOORS, WHICH ARE NOT ORIGINAL, THAT WAS PART OF THE 1940S CHANGES ALONG CONGRESS AVENUE.
AND THEY'RE GOING BACK TOWARDS SOMETHING SIMILAR, UH, TO WHAT WAS THERE HISTORICALLY.
AND, UH, WE'LL WORK WITH THEIR OPERATIONS BETTER.
AND I ALSO HAPPENED TO WALK BY AND SEE THE WORK WE HAD PREVIOUSLY APPROVED BEING DONE ON THE HISTORIC WOOD WINDOWS.
UH, THAT'S ALSO BEING, BEING DONE VERY WELL, VERY SENSITIVELY.
AND, UH, THE ALTERATION REQUEST IS POINTING OUT HOW MUCH INTACT HISTORIC MATERIAL WE HAVE ON THAT LANDMARK.
SO MORE GOOD CHANGES COMING AT THE PARAMOUNT.
[15.Update from the Operations Committee regarding the February 18, 2026 meeting.]
COMMITTEE.YEAH, I MEAN, COMMISSIONER ACTON KIND OF COVERED SOME OF IT WHEN TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET STUFF.
I MEAN, ONE OF THE BIG THINGS, ONE OF THE BIG THEMES WE TOUCHED ON AT OUR MEETING THIS PAST MONTH WAS THE GETTING SOME MORE INFORMATION ON THE PROCESS FOR LANDMARKING OF OBJECTS.
AND, AND PARTICULARLY AS IT CONCERNS TO OUR ONGOING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SIGNAGE, UH, WE HAVE, OR THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE PLANNING ON CONTINUING AT THIS, UH, THIS MONTH'S MEETING.
AND STAFF, I BELIEVE, WILL BE BRIEFING US ON WHAT SORT OF POWERS WE CURRENTLY HAVE AROUND LANDMARKING OBJECTS.
AND THEN OTHERWISE THE, UM, WE'RE JUST GOING IN AND STARTING TO RED LINE AND LOOK THROUGH THE CURRENT CODE OR THE CURRENT, UM, SIGN RULES AND, UH, HOW WE MIGHT, WHAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE WANNA KEEP, WHAT MIGHT WANNA CHANGE.
AND ESPECIALLY LIKE TO APPLAUD COMMISSIONER ACTON FOR COMING UP WITH SOME REALLY GREAT DOCUMENTS AND IDEAS WITH THAT, IF YOU'VE GOT ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD, FEEL FREE, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S RIGHT.
ALRIGHT, WELL THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR UPDATE.
[16.Update from the Preservation Plan Committee regarding the February 10, 2026 meeting.]
PRESERVATION PLAN COMMITTEE.UH, IN ADDITION TO THE BUDGET DISCUSSION, UH, WE HAD A PRETTY ROBUST DISCUSSION ABOUT THE, UH, SUCCESS OF THE PRESERVATION SUMMIT AND ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF IT BEING A SOMEWHAT REGULAR EVENT.
UH, AND WE TALKED ABOUT PERHAPS OTHER ACTIVITIES WHERE WE COULD BRING IN THE COMMUNITY AND, UH, SHARE OUR WORK AND, AND LET THE COMMUNITY KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING AND HOW THEY CAN GET INVOLVED.
WE HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT WHERE THE STAFF IS IN TERMS OF, UH, DOING A RFP OR RFQ OR MAYBE I HAVE THE OKAY.
UH, FOR THE, UH, UPDATED EAST AUSTIN SURVEY.
AND THE STAFF SPENT QUITE A BIT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT THE WORK THEY'RE DOING AS FAR AS IMPLEMENT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE, UH, EQUITY BASED PRESERVATION PLAN.
THEY'RE DOING A LOT OF WORK, REVAMPING THE WEBSITE, AND, UH, I'M SURE WE'LL HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT IN THE FUTURE WHEN, UH, THE WORK IS A LITTLE FARTHER ALONG, BUT THEY'VE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS.
AND WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE ANNUAL REPORT, WHICH WE'LL BE HEARING MORE ABOUT IN THE FUTURE.
SO THAT WAS OUR, THAT WAS OUR MEETING.
UM, THE COMMITTEES ARE DOING SOME GREAT WORK.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
AND NOW IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE ON OUR
[FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS]
AGENDA? HEARING NONE.I WILL ENTERTAIN COMMISSIONER ACTON.
IS THERE A SECOND? COMMISSIONER, UH, REPORTER.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED, WE ARE ADJOURN.