* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:06] YOU ARE WATCHING A MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL WITH MAYOR KIRK WATSON, MAYOR PRO, TIM CHEADLE, VELA COUNCIL MEMBERS NATASHA HARPER MADISON, VANESSA FUENTES, JOSE VELAZQUEZ, RYAN ALTER, CRYSTAL LANE, MIKE SIEGEL, PAIGE ELLIS, ZOE CADRE, MARK UCHIN, CITY ATTORNEY DEBORAH THOMAS, CITY CLERK ERICA BRADY, AND CITY MANAGER TC BROAD. [Call to Order] WELL, GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY. IT IS 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING ON MARCH 12TH, 2026, AND I WILL CALL TO ORDER THE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL. UH, ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE HERE, AND WE ARE MEETING AT THE, IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS LOCATED IN CITY HALL AT 3 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. UM, MEMBERS, UH, THE WAY WE'LL PROCEED TODAY AND FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AS WELL IS IN A MOMENT, I WILL, FOR THE RECORD, READ THE CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS INTO THE RECORD, ALTHOUGH THERE AREN'T ANY, BUT I'LL, I'LL DO THAT FOR THE RECORD IN JUST A MINUTE. UH, WE WILL THEN BEGIN WITH OUR CONSENT AGENDA. CURRENTLY, I DON'T HAVE ANY ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA. I HAVE NO ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA. WE WILL HEAR FROM SPEAKERS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THOSE ITEMS THAT ARE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, AND AROUND 10 30, OR AS CLOSE TO 10 30 AS WE'RE ABLE TO DO IT. UM, I, OR IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE CONSENT AGENDA AND COMMENTS AND DISCUSSION BY MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, I WILL RECESS THE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AND CALL TO ORDER THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION. WE HAVE TWO ITEMS ON THE A HFC AGENDA. WE WILL ADJOURN THAT MEETING, AND THEN WE WILL GO TO NON-CONSENT ITEMS. WE HAVE TWO NON-CONSENT ITEMS. THOSE ARE, UH, PUBLIC HEARINGS ON ITEMS 30 AND 31. UH, AT AS CLOSE TO NOON AS WE CAN, WE WILL HAVE OUR PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS, UH, AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS. WE WILL RECESS FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, UH, AND WE WILL HAVE LIVE MUSIC DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME. AND THEN AT, UH, TWO O'CLOCK, WHICH IS WE HAVE A TIME CERTAIN FOR OUR ZONING AND NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING ITEMS. THAT'S THE ORDER OF THE AGENDA WE WILL FOLLOW TODAY. NOW, FOR THE RECORD CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS TO BE READ INTO THE RECORD, THERE ARE NO CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS TO BE READ INTO THE RECORD. AND AS I'VE INDICATED, THERE ARE NO ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PULLED OFF THE CONSENT AGENDA. SO MEMBERS, UNLESS THERE'S [Consent Agenda] OBJECTION OR QUESTIONS WITH THAT, I WILL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK AND ASK THAT THE CITY CLERK PLEASE, UH, BEGIN CALLING THE NAMES OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE ITEMS ARE ON OUR AGENDA. IF YOU'RE IN THE ROOM AND YOU'RE CALLED UPON TO SPEAK, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT OF THE CHAMBERS OR, AND, OR TAKE ONE OF THE SEATS THAT'S HERE SO THAT WE'LL KNOW THAT YOU'RE HERE AND WE CAN, UH, MOVE THROUGH IN AN EFFICIENT WAY FOR THOSE THAT ARE WANTING TO SPEAK. SO, I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. WE DO HAVE, UH, IN-PERSON SPEAKERS ON ITEM TWO, BILL BUNCH, JENNIFER ROBO AND JEFFREY BOWEN. IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS JEN RHO. I'M A LONGTIME AUSTIN RESIDENT. I'M SPEAKING ON ITEM TWO, THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS ON LOBBYIST REGULATIONS. AS A TAXPAYER, DEEPLY INTERESTED IN GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY, I SEE THE CITY STRIPPING AWAY KEY ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES. THIS ORDINANCE ORIGINALLY ACTED IN 2016, SET A HIGH STANDARD FOR AUSTIN BY REQUIRING SIGN-IN SHEETS FOR LOBBYIST VISITS, SOMETHING NO OTHER MAJOR TEXAS CITY MANDATES A WAY FOR AUSTIN TO BE A LEADER IN GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY AND SOMETHING THAT ITS RESIDENTS HIGHLY VALUE. THESE SHEETS ALLOW CITY OFFICIALS TO INDEPENDENTLY TRACK PAID INFLUENCE, PROVIDING A VERIFIABLE CROSSCHECK AGAINST LOBBYISTS OWN REPORTS, ENSURING ACCURACY AND EXPOSING OMISSIONS. THIS ALSO GIVES CITY OFFICIALS CLARITY AND UNDERSTANDING HOW MONEY IS BEING USED TO INFLUENCE THEIR DECISION-MAKING. THE PROPOSED REVISIONS WOULD ELIMINATE THESE REQUIREMENTS, SHIFTING THE ONUS OF REPORTING TO THE LOBBYISTS, [00:05:01] CREATING SERIOUS RISKS WITHOUT INDEPENDENT RECORDS. WHAT INCENTIVES DO LOBBYISTS HAVE TO REPORT? HONESTLY, CITY OFFICIALS HAVE A DUTY TO KNOW WHO'S INFLUENCING THEIR DECISIONS. HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU'RE NOT TRACKING IT? REMOVING THIS CHECKPOINT ERODES PUBLIC TRUST, AND IGNORANCE IS NO EXCUSE FOR UNETHICAL BEHAVIOR. SO WHY MAKE IT HARDER TO DO THE RIGHT THING? THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN EFFICIENCY AND TRANSPARENCY. INSTEAD OF GETTING THESE PROTECTIONS, WE CAN ADOPT SMARTER, MODERN TOOLS, WHICH ARE READILY AVAILABLE. DIGITAL FORMS ARE UBIQUITOUS, AND MANY BUSINESSES INTERESTED IN ROBUST DATA USE THESE TO TRACK THEIR VISITORS. INSTANT DATA COLLECTION REMOVES THE HEADACHES OF PAPERWORK, ENHANCES THE AUDITOR'S REVIEWS, MAKES PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUESTS SIMPLER, AND BUILDS CONFIDENCE THAT ETHICS ARE ENFORCED. I'M ASKING YOU TODAY TO PRIORITIZE ETHICS AND TRANSPARENCY, KEEP THE INTERNAL TRACKING REQUIREMENTS, AND INSTEAD PURSUE EFFICIENT DIGITAL ALTERNATIVES THAT MAKE DATA READILY AVAILABLE. THANK YOU, MR. BOWEN. UH, GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. JEFF BOWEN, UH, MEMBER OF DISTRICT EIGHT. I DID REMEMBER THIS TIME, MR. MAYOR . UM, SO LIKE MY FRIEND HERE, MS. ROBA, SAID, UH, I HAVE AN ISSUE REGARDING THIS OVER TRANSPARENCY. UH, I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S, UH, THERE'S A NEED AND THERE'S SOME CHANGES IN HERE, BUT WHAT REALLY CAUGHT MY EYE IS THAT REMOVING REQUIREMENTS, UH, THIS IS REGARDING REGULATING LOBBYISTS AND, AND CHANGING SOME OF THE DEFINITIONS AROUND, BUT I, I NEED TO ASK THIS ONE QUESTION FIRST. WHAT IS THE LINE BETWEEN A LOBBYIST AND AN ACTIVIST? WHAT, I MEAN, DO WE HAVE PEOPLE HERE THAT HAVE COME AND SPOKE IN FRONT OF THIS COUNCIL IN FRONT OF THIS BODY THAT HAVE RECEIVED SOME TYPE OF PAYMENT AND JUST HAVE SPOKE? UM, MORE THAN LIKELY, YES, BUT THEY'RE NOT REGISTERED. SO WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF TRYING TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE GET REGISTERED? ONE OF THE OTHER ISSUES THAT I HAVE IS THIS, IS THAT EVEN IN THESE REPORTS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DONE EVERY FOUR, EVERY, EVERY QUARTER, WHAT IF AN ITEM GETS LEFT OFF? HOW DO WE KNOW THROUGH ANY OTHER WAYS, ANY OTHER WAYS THAT THEY MAY HAVE MADE A VISIT TO, TO WHATEVER PERSON IS THE CASE? WHAT IF THAT GETS LEFT OFF? ARE THERE ANY PUNISHMENTS? ARE THERE ANY ANY RULES THAT ACCOUNT FOR THAT? IT, IT TALKS ABOUT, UH, ENFORCEMENT. OKAY, WHAT'S THE ENFORCEMENT? YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE SUPPER TOMORROW. I MEAN, WE REALLY NEED TO BE LOOKING AT THIS. THIS BODY HAS TALKED ABOUT THE NEED TO BE MORE TRANSPARENT. HOW ABOUT MORE ACCOUNTABILITY? SO, I SEE ISSUES WITH THIS IN A MATTER OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO STREAMLINE THIS, BUT I BELIEVE THAT THERE'S ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE DISCUSSED, NEED TO BE, UH, VERY PUBLIC IN ORDER TO DO THIS, BECAUSE EVEN THE AUDITOR GETS TO LOOK AT THIS EVERY THREE YEARS. THAT'S A LONG TIME BETWEEN AUDITS AND TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT HAS ACTUALLY HAPPENED IN THAT PROCESS AND WHAT HAS BEEN AFFECTED THAT AFFECT US AS TAXPAYERS AND AS CITIZENS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU, MR. BOWEN. WE HAVE ONE REMOTE SPEAKER ON ITEM TWO, TRACY WITTY. GOOD MORNING. UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE AND FOR CONSIDERING HOW TO IMPROVE REQUIREMENTS FOR DOCUMENTATION OF MEETINGS BETWEEN DECISION MAKERS AND LOBBYISTS. A PRIMARY GOAL OF SWITCHING FROM AN AT LARGE COUNCIL TO ATTEND ONE SYSTEM WAS TO PROMOTE REPRESENTATION THAT'S MORE ACCESSIBLE AND RESPONSIVE TO SMALLER GEOGRAPHIC CONSTITUENCIES. ONE VERY VISUAL WAY TO DOCUMENT A COUNCIL OFFICE'S ACCESSIBILITY TO ITS CONSTITUENCY IS TO KEEP DIGITAL SIGN-IN SHEETS THAT RECORD THE NAMES OF VISITORS IN REAL TIME, WHETHER THEY'RE COMPENSATED FOR THE ACTIVITY AND BY WHOM. AND OF COURSE, THE MUNICIPAL QUESTION AT HAND. AND THEN POST INTERACTION LOG THE CALENDARS ONLINE IN A SEARCHABLE FORMAT AS CLOSE TO REAL TIME AS POSSIBLE. INCLUDE VIRTUAL OR REMOTE MEETINGS, AS WELL AS IN-PERSON MEETINGS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE OFFICE. INCLUDE INFORMAL UNPLANNED INTERACTIONS. EXPENDITURE OF OFFICE RESOURCES IS WORTH IT. WHY WOULD A DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE ABROGATE HER RIGHT AND C HER RESPONSIBILITY TO CONVEY TO THE PUBLIC WITH WHOM SHE OR HER STAFF SPOKE ABOUT? WHAT, WHY LET LOBBYISTS TELL HER STORY UNLESS REPRESENTATIVE'S OWN COMPLETE RECORDS WOULD SHOW HER TIME DISPROPORTIONATELY SPENT WITH LOBBYISTS RATHER THAN WITH CONSTITUENTS? I'VE HEARD THAT SOMETIMES COUNCIL OFFICES DON'T REALIZE THEIR MEETING WITH A LOBBYIST. THE OFFICE CAN ACCESS A SEARCHABLE LOBBYIST DATABASE AND REQUIRE PEOPLE WITH WHOM THEY MEET TO CERTIFY WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE ATTENDING A MEETING FOR COMPENSATION BEFORE THEY SET THE MEETING IN THEIR CALENDARS. IF AN ERROR SOMEHOW OCCURS, AN ONLINE INTERACTION BLOG SEARCHABLE BY THE PUBLIC, MAKES IT MORE LIKELY THAT OVERSIGHT WILL BE CORRECTED QUICKLY. TODAY. PLEASE RATE THE BAR FOR YOURSELF TO PROVIDE COMPLETE AND ACCURATE REPORTING OF YOUR MEETINGS RATHER THAN DENYING YOUR CRITICAL ROLE IN ENSURING TRANSPARENT GOVERNMENT THAT'S ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE, YOUR AUTHORITY TO LEAVE THE CITY REST, [00:10:01] AND HOW YOU ARE SEEN TO MOVE THROUGH THE WORLD AS YOU CARRY OUT YOUR DUTIES. IT BEGINS WITH YOUR COMMITMENTS TO TRANSPARENT GOVERNMENT THAT LEAVES AS LITTLE DOUBT AS POSSIBLE ABOUT WHY YOU TAKE THE ACTIONS THAT YOU DO ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE. THANK YOU. WE'LL MOVE BACK TO IN-PERSON SPEAKERS ON ITEM THREE, NYLA SANKOFA. MOVING TO ITEM FOUR, NYLA SANKOFA, ZENOBIA JOSEPH ON ITEM FOUR, AND BEN SOTHEBY ON ITEM FOUR. YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES. HELLO, MAYOR. MAYOR, PRO TEM COUNCIL. MY NAME IS BEN SOTHEBY. I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FOUR AND A RESIDENT OF ST. JOHN'S. UH, I'M, I'M JUST A FEW BLOCKS AWAY FROM WHERE THIS PROJECT IS. THE, THE OLD HOME DEPOT AND, AND TRUCKS LOT, UH, THAT THE CITY OWNS. AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF THIS PROJECT AND THE CHANGES HERE THAT ARE, UH, EXPANDING, UH, DEEPENING THE AFFORDABILITY AND MAKING SURE THAT THIS CONTINUES MOVING FORWARD. AS SOMEBODY WHO, WHOSE BUS STOP IS RIGHT NEXT TO THAT LOT, AND I BIKE PAST THIS PRETTY MUCH EVERY DAY, UM, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD WILL BENEFIT WHEN IT'S IMPLEMENTED AND THE FOLKS WHO SPEND LOTS OF THEIR TIME IN AND AROUND THAT AREA, UM, WHETHER HOUSED OR UNHOUSED WILL SEE GREAT BENEFIT. ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES FACING THE WORKING CLASS IN OUR COUNTRY IS THE COST OF LIVING AND A HUGE COMPONENT, IF NOT THE BIGGEST IS HOUSING COSTS. AND ONE THING THAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE CONCRETE PROGRESS IN OUR CITY IS TO CONTINUE MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE BUILDING HOUSING SO PEOPLE HAVE OPTIONS, AND ESPECIALLY IN MIXED USE PROJECTS LIKE THIS THAT HAVE A, A MIX OF AFFORDABILITY IN IT AS SOMEBODY WHO WILL BE A NEIGHBOR TO THOSE PERSPECTIVE NEIGHBORS. I'M HERE TO SPEAK AGAIN, STRONGLY IN FAVOR OF THIS. THE PROCESS HAS BEEN ACCESSIBLE TO US IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. I GET THE NEWSLETTERS IN MY EMAIL. I LOOK FORWARD TO INCLUDING ART THAT PAYS, UH, UH, HOLDS ONTO THE HISTORY OF THAT AREA. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE WATER RETENTION . I WAS TALKING TO MY COUNCIL MEMBER ABOUT THAT. I LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, HAVING THOSE NEW NEIGHBORS IN OUR AREA. SO, UH, JUST WANTED TO COME DOWN HERE AND SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS. UH, I KNOW THAT LOTS OF PEOPLE WILL COME DOWN AND SPEAK AGAINST ZONING CHANGES AND AGAINST NEW NEIGHBORS AND AGAINST BUILDINGS. I SAY, BUILD THIS TO THE SKY HOUSE AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. WELCOME ON ITEM FIVE, BILL BUNCH. I'VE NOT SEEN MR. BUNCH. COME IN MR. BUNCH. ARE YOU HERE? HE DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE HERE. MOVING ON TO ITEM SIX, JEFFREY BOWEN. OH, UH, GOOD MORNING. UH, JEFFREY BOWEN, DISTRICT EIGHT. UM, I'M ACTUALLY WANTING TO JUST THROW IN A COUPLE THINGS ABOUT ITEM SIX THAT, UM, I UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR WANTING TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF TEMPORARY SERVICES. I, I GET IT. UH, EVEN LOOKING AT SOME OF THE, THE AREAS THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT, ADMINISTRATIVE ACCOUNTING ASSOCIATES, DISPATCHERS, UH, MAIL SERVICE CLERKS, UH, AND AND SO ON, AND HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING. UH, ONE OF THE ISSUES, AND I KNOW THAT IT'S COME UP SEVERAL TIMES, IS THE AMOUNT OF PAY. AND I'M HOPING, AND I, I MORE THAN LIKELY BELIEVE MR. BROAD NECKS AND HIS TEAM ARE LOOKING AT WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING PEOPLE SO THAT WE'RE NOT HAVING TO PAY AN OUTSIDE SOURCE. BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE PAYING AN OUTSIDE SOURCE, BASICALLY YOU, YOU'RE PAYING A LOT MORE MONEY THAN WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST US IF WE HAD THOSE PEOPLE IN HOUSE. UM, BEING, BEING ON THAT END OF THE COIN OF, OF, AT TIMES WORKING IN THAT AREA, UM, I GOT X AMOUNT OF MONEY. THE COMPANY GOT Y AMOUNT OF MONEY, AND THE, THE PERSON THAT ACTUALLY DID THE SERVICE, OR THE PERSON THAT NEEDED THE SERVICE ACTUALLY PAID MORE THAN WHAT IT WAS FOR THAT WHAT THAT, THAT, THAT COST WOULD'VE COST HIM FOR THAT EMPLOYEE DIRECTLY. SO I, UM, I'M LOOKING AT THIS AND I'M GOING, OKAY, I, I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH SOME OF THE MONEY BEING SPENT SINCE WE'RE REALLY KIND OF, UM, HAVING SOME ISSUES WITH OUR FINANCES. BUT I REALLY WISH THAT WE WOULD START CONCENTRATING ON TRYING TO GET MORE EMPLOYEES AND UNDERSTANDING WHY WE CANNOT HIRE THOSE EMPLOYEES. WHAT IS IT THAT'S, THAT'S [00:15:01] IMPACTING THAT? UH, WE TALK ABOUT AFFORDABILITY. YEAH, WE HAVE A PROBLEM HERE, BUT THIS IS NOT ADDING THIS TO OUR BUDGETS AND TRYING TO SPEND MORE MONEY THAN WHAT IT WOULD ACTUALLY COST US FOR EMPLOYEES IS ACTUALLY A CONCERN OF MINE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. ON ITEM NINE, ZIA JOSEPH, I HAVE NOT SEEN HER COME IN. MS. JOSEPH, ARE YOU HERE? ITEM 11, ZIA JOSEPH. ITEM 14, BILL BUNCH. ITEM 16, BILL BUNCH. ITEM 18. ZENOBIA JOSEPH. ITEM 25, BILL BUNCH. ALSO ON ITEM 25. BOBBY LAVINSKY. I HAVEN'T SEEN HIM EITHER. MR. LAVINSKY, ITEM 26. ENOVIA JOSEPH. ITEM 27, BILL BUNCH. ITEM 28. ENOVIA JOSEPH. ITEM 28. AARON GONZALEZ. ITEM 28. OPHELIA, ZAHA, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND BEGIN SPEAKING. I COUNSEL AND MAYOR, UM, THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME. UM, I LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE AND I'M SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF ITEM 28. SO THIS ITEM WOULD MAKE IT EASIER FOR STUDENTS TO APPLY TO THIS ESSENTIAL PROGRAM. HISTORICALLY, THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN LOOKED AT AS A CRIME PREVENTION, UM, YOU KNOW, MECHANISM. BUT MOVING FORWARD IS, IS GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, LOOK TO IT FROM WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVE. RIGHT NOW. STUDENTS, EVERY YEAR, THEY'RE TURNED AWAY BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH JOBS. UM, EMPLOYERS OFFERING JOBS IN THIS PROGRAM, INVESTING IN THIS PROGRAM AND HAVING A CITY MANAGER LOOK AT NEW PATHWAYS ALLOWS US TO LOOK AT, UH, SOLVING THAT PROBLEM INTO THE FUTURE AND CHANGING THAT. GROWING UP ON THE WEST SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO, A LOT OF MY OPPORTUNITIES IN LIFE WERE LIMITED TO THE NETWORK THAT MY FAMILY HAD. UH, I GREW UP IN A PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK HOUSEHOLD AND OFTEN HIGH PAYING INDUSTRY JOBS. UM, THEY FELT OUTSIDE OF MY ACCESS AND OUT OF REACH. THIS PROGRAM FROM A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVE, HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO UPLIFT A LOT OF THE PEOPLE WHO GROW UP IN THOSE PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK HOUSEHOLDS. NOT ONLY THAT, THOUGH, IT HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A PIPELINE OF FUTURE WORKERS THAT WE'RE GONNA NEED FOR OUR AMBITIOUS INFRASTRUCTURE GOALS AND OUR, UH, AMBITIOUS GOALS THAT WE HAVE AS FOR CITY. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND SUPPORT. THANK YOU, MS. ZAPATA. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. UH, . I'M ON THE ECONOMIC PROSPERITY COMMISSION FOR DISTRICT TWO, AND, UH, ALSO A CO-FOUNDER OF THE SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM OVER 35 YEARS AGO. ITS ORIGINAL INTENT WAS TO ENSURE THAT OUR STUDENTS DON'T GET IN TROUBLE IN THE SUMMER, REALLY TARGETING 14, 15 YEAR OLDS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BEGIN LOOKING AT THE WORLD OF WORK, BUT ALSO UP TO 16, 17 YEAR OLDS, SO THAT, UH, THEY, WE CAN BEGIN HELPING THEM TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THEIR EDUCATION THROUGH THIS JOB EXPERIENCE. SO, WHICH WAS AMAZING, AND THAT'S WHY IT STILL EXISTS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT'S, UH, BEEN DOING. HOWEVER, IT'S UH, IT'S REALLY, UH, INSTEAD OF GROWING, IT'S DECREASING. AND, UH, THE CITY NO LONGER HAS HIRED MANY OF OUR STUDENTS ANYMORE. SO HOPEFULLY THIS RESOLUTION IS GOING TO HELP US TO REVISIT AND SEE HOW WE NEED TO, WHAT CHANGES WE NEED TO DO TO MAKE IT A VERY MORE MEANINGFUL AND SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM FOR MORE STUDENTS. 'CAUSE WE DON'T HAVE LESS STUDENTS THAT NEED THE JOBS, WE HAVE MORE STUDENTS. AND ALSO IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO ALIGN WITH, UH, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, UH, UH, INTERNSHIPS. YOU KNOW, WHAT IS OUR, OUR, UM, AIKENS HIGH SCHOOL JUSTICE, UH, UH, INTER INTERNSHIP? HOW IS THAT ALIGNING WITH THE JOBS THAT WE'RE PROVIDING FOR THESE YOUNG STUDENTS TO BEGIN SEEING? IS THIS THE DREAM JOB THAT I REALLY WANT, YOU KNOW, AT, UM, UH, AT, AT, UH, ALSO THE HEALTHCARE AT AT EAST SIDE, TO HAVE THE HEALTHCARE TRACK. YOU KNOW, IS THAT, ARE WE, UH, ARE WE PARTNERING WITH EMPLOYERS [00:20:01] THAT ARE HELPING US TO BUILD OUR LOCAL WORKFORCE? SO IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVISIT, REENGAGE, AND MAKE IT A VERY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM FOR OUR STUDENTS, OUR FAMILIES, AND OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. MAYOR, THAT CONCLUDES ALL SPEAKERS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UH, MEMBERS, AS YOU, AS YOU HAVE HEARD. THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. UH, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH REGARD TO THE COUNCIL MEMBER. CADRE MOVES APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA AS READ, AND IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES. UH, WITH THAT, I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE TO SPEAK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. GREAT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, DIDN'T REALIZE I WAS THE FIRST PERSON TO CLICK ON RAISING MY HAND. UM, NO. UM, YOU'RE, YOU'RE A LEADER COUNCIL MEMBER. YEAH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I, I ALSO WANNA POINT OUT, I, I JUST GOT A NOTIFICATION ON MY CALENDAR. WE'RE LESS THAN TWO MONTHS AWAY BETWEEN JOSE AND I'S RACE, UM, FOR THIS, SO, UM, BUT NO. OH, YOU'RE RUNNING TO, AND, AND, AND COUNCILOR SIEGEL AS WELL. UM, I JUST WANNA QUICKLY TOUCH ON ITEM 28. UM, WANT TO, SO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES FOR BRINGING OUT FOR THE ITEM. UH, WOULD LOVE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR. UH, WITHOUT, WITHOUT OBJECTION, COUNCIL MEMBER CONDRE WILL BE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR OF THE ITEM. GREAT. AND THEN I WOULD ALSO LOVE TO FURTHER HAVE A CONVERSATION AROUND ALL THIS DURING THE, UH, A FUTURE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY COMMITTEE, UH, MEETING WHERE I CHAIR AND COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, UH, IS THE VICE CHAIR. SO JUST WANT TO THANK HER FOR, FOR HER WORK ON THIS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN. AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER VELASCO. YES. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND LEADERSHIP COLLEAGUES. THIS ITEM IS BROUGHT FORTH REALLY IN RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF INVESTING IN OUR YOUTH HERE AT THE CITY. WE HAVE AT LEAST TWO YOUTH FOCUSED EMPLOYMENT AND INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS. ONE THAT'S CITY BASED, ONE THAT'S IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNTY. AND SO REALLY ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE THAT THERE ARE CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY ON RENEWING OUR AGREEMENT ON THE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE. AND SO THIS ITEM REALLY SETS FORWARD, UM, KIND OF THAT RENEWED INTEREST, THE ABILITY FOR US TO BRING IN OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO INCREASE EMPLOYER PARTICIPATION, ALL IN THE SPIRIT OF EMPOWERING OUR WORKFORCE AND INVESTING OUR YOUTH. I WANT TO THANK, UH, OUR ECONOMIC PROSPERITY COMMISSION 'CAUSE THIS IS BASED ON A COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY TODAY. I ALSO WANNA THANK OUR CO-SPONSORS, MAYOR WATSON, COUNCIL MEMBERS HARPER MADISON VELASQUEZ, UCHIN, AND CADRE FOR CO-SPONSORING THIS RESOLUTION. AND A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO SOPHIA MORALES WITH MY TEAM FOR HER WORK ON THIS ITEM. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN. COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ. COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO TOUCH ON A COUPLE OF ITEMS AS WELL. UH, THE FIRST ONE IS TO JUST SPEAK VERY QUICKLY ABOUT ITEM FOUR, UH, AND JUST COMMEND THE FOLKS AT GREYSTAR FOR THEIR ADAPTIVE THINKING, THEIR AGILE MANAGEMENT. I THINK THE ADDITIONAL PROTECTIONS FOR TENANTS THAT WERE PLACED HERE, UM, CAN UNDERMINE INCENTIVES, UH, TO USE THOSE FUNDS BY SOME, AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS AND LOSS LATITUDE WHILE NEEDED FOR TENANT ADVOCACY CAN BURDEN THOSE WORKING IN THE SPACE. SO I'M HAPPY TO SEE THAT TOGETHER AS A CITY, WE'RE WORKING WITH FOLKS WHO CAN ADAPT TO THE CHANGING ENVIRONMENT AS WELL, AND THAT THE PROJECT PROVIDES HOUSING AT THE MUCH NEEDED 50% MFI INCOME RANGE, UH, LOWER INCOME, AND DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS GONNA CONTINUE TO BE SOMETHING THAT WE'RE STRUGGLING TO ADEQUATELY SUBSIDIZE. ITEM 28, I JUST WANNA EXPRESS MY THANKS TO BEING A CO-SPONSOR FOR THIS ITEM, SUPPORTIVE OF THE EFFORTS OF THE CITY'S SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, AS WELL AS THE TRAVIS COUNTY SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM. I THINK THIS REVIEW IS GONNA HELP US BETTER TRAIN THE NEXT GENERATION OF WORKERS, ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO ENTER PROFESSIONAL WORKFORCE EARLY IN THE LIFE AND DISTRIBUTE OPPORTUNITY. AND THEN FINALLY, ON ITEM 16, UM, THIS ONE WAS A STRUGGLE IN A, IN SOME WAYS I'M VOTING TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR THE, THE TREATMENT PLAN BECAUSE ONE, WE NEED TO BUILD THIS TREATMENT PLAN. AND TWO, I BELIEVE THAT THE NEW VALUE, ONE AND A HALF BILLION DOLLARS IS MUCH CLOSER TO THE ACTUAL COST OF THIS PROJECT. AND, AND I THINK THREE WOULD BE THE LONGER THAT WE WAIT, THE MORE EXPENSIVE THIS PROJECT'S GONNA BECOME. UH, AND THAT'S ALREADY STARTED. AND SO I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT AUSTIN WATER HAS PROVIDED US, OUR STAFF, MY COMMISSIONER, I APPRECIATE THE GOOD WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING TO ACCESS LOW INTEREST LOANS FROM THE EPA AND DEBT FINANCING. I APPRECIATE THEIR WORKING TO GET COMPETITIVE BIDDING AT EVERY STAGE OF THE PROCESS SO FAR. SO HERE'S MY ASTERISK. UH, I'D BE REMISS TO NOT MENTION THE BROADER CONCERNS THAT I THINK WE BROUGHT UP AT THE BRIEFING. A 67% INCREASE HERE ON SUCH A LARGE BUDGET IS SIGNIFICANT. I, I FEAR THAT WE MISSED THE BULLSEYE HERE TOO FAR. AND I KNOW THAT INFLATION IS REAL. I THINK THE QUESTION IS HOW AUSTIN WATER AND REALLY ALL OF OUR MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS GOING FORWARD, THE AIRPORT, THE CONVENTION CENTER CAP AND STITCH, UH, THIS TREATMENT PLANT, HOW WE CAN GET MORE ACCURATE ESTIMATES IN THE FUTURE. I THINK THAT CONVERSATION IS GONNA BE IMPORTANT. UH, I'D LIKE FOR US TO LEARN FROM THIS AND THINK HOW WE CAN BETTER DO THE COST ESTIMATES ON THESE HUGE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. 'CAUSE THEY REALLY CARRY CONSEQUENCES FOR BOTH THE CITY AND [00:25:01] FOR, UH, AND FOR THE PUBLIC. AND, AND I ALSO JUST WANNA ACKNOW, YOU KNOW, THE FUNDING LANDSCAPE IS GETTING TRICKIER LITERALLY EVERY SINGLE DAY BETWEEN FUEL COSTS AND WARS AND INFLATION AND SLOWDOWNS, AND THE IMPACT OF TARIFFS AND ALL OTHER THINGS THAT ARE FAR OUTSIDE OUR ABILITY TO CONTROL. SO HOW DO WE AS A CITY, BETTER ESTIMATE AND NAVIGATE AND BLUNT WHAT I THINK IS AN EVER TRICKIER FORECASTING SCENARIO OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, UH, I THINK IS GONNA BE INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT. SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING THAT CONVERSATION AND FIGURING OUT HOW WE CAN IMPROVE ON THIS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DUCH AND COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL AND THE MAYOR PRO TEM. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, FIRST I WANTED TO SAY THAT NOW THAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL HAS JOINED THIS, UM, THIS RACE THAT WE PROBABLY NEED TO GET A TXN OUT THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF US COLLAPSE ON LIVE TV. UM, BUT, UH, NO, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER GODDY FOR CONTINUING TO CALL ME OUT. WE WILL DEFINITELY HAVE, WE NEED TO SET UP A COUNTDOWN CLOCK HERE IN CHAMBERS SO THAT FOLKS KNOW WHEN THAT'S HAPPENING. UH, I, UH, ON ITEM NUMBER 28, I WANT TO THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES FOR BRINGING THAT FORWARD. IT A VERY NECESSARY, NECESSARY TOOL IN ENSURING OUR YOUTH HAVE, UH, UM, JOBS. THANK YOU. UM, ON ITEM NUMBER 26, UH, I'M EXCITED TO WELCOME JU JULES MARIN AS DISTRICT THREE'S NEW ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSIONER. JULES IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF AUSTIN WILDLIFE RESCUE, AN ORGANIZATION WHICH, UH, CARES FOR MORE THAN 10,000 NATIVE WILD ANIMALS ANNUALLY. JULES ALSO HELPED OUR, UH, D THREE NEIGHBORS WITH A DENSE RACCOON HABITAT IN, UH, IN THE EAST SIDE BY SHARING SOME EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND POSSIBLE NEXT STEPS. AND NO WORRIES. THE, UH, THE RACCOONS ARE SAFE. UM, AND ONE OF THEIR BRETHREN POPPED UP ON MY PORCH THE OTHER DAY, AND I'M SURE THAT I WAS RIGHT IN FEEDING HIM AND BEFRIENDING HIM. AND, UH, WE NOW HAVE, UH, WE HAVE NOW MADE HIM TO DISTRICT THREE MASCOT. UM, HE WAS THERE TO THANK YOU. YES. AND, AND WHILE I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS NEXT CHAPTER WITH JULES AS OUR COMMISSIONER, I WANT TO THANK OUR FORMER DISTRICT THREE ANIMAL COMMISSIONER AND LINDER FOR HER SERVICE TO THE CITY, AND WAS KEY IN HELPING US GET RID OF GLUE TRAPS IN ALL CITY OWNED FACILITIES. WE NOW USE A MORE HUMANE AND SUSTAINABLE PEST CONTROL. WE NOW USE MORE HUMANE AND SUSTAINABLE PEST CONTROL ALTERNATIVES. UH, ANN LINDER DID THAT. THANK YOU ANN. AND WELCOME JULES. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL MAYOR PRO TIMM, AND COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I JUST WANNA START OFF BY THANKING THE MANAGER FOR THIS, UH, STREAMLINED AGENDA. I THINK IT MIGHT BE OUR SHORTEST AGENDA IN A LONG TIME. UM, BUT I WANNA HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE ITEMS. UH, ITEM 22 IS A FUNDING INCREASE FOR MEALS ON WHEELS. UH, THEY PROVIDE HOT, HEALTHY MEALS, VITAL SAFETY CHECKS AND COMPANIONSHIP TO THOUSANDS OF AGING FOLKS IN AND AROUND AUSTIN. AND I'M THANKFUL, UH, OUR SUB QUORUM WAS ABLE TO INCORPORATE THIS FUNDING INCREASE TO LAST YEAR'S BUDGET PROCESS AT A TIME WHEN IMPROVING FOOD SECURITY FELT ESPECIALLY URGENT. UH, WHEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FAILED TO STEP UP TO PROTECT OUR MOST VULNERABLE, THE CITY DID STEP UP. SO HAPPY TO SEE THIS MOVING FORWARD TODAY. AND ON ITEM 28, A LOT'S BEEN SAID, BUT I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS IMPROVED COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE CITY AND COUNTY, UH, YOUTH JOBS PROGRAMS. AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR. WITHOUT OBJECTION, COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL BE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR OF ITEM NUMBER 28. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, AND COUNCIL MEMBER LANE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT, UH, AGENDA ITEM FOR THE TERM SHEET FOR THE ST. JOHN PROJECT. THE HOUSING ABOUT 526 UNITS, I BELIEVE, UH, 70% ARE, WHICH, UH, OF WHICH ARE GOING TO BE AFFORDABLE. UH, RANGING FROM 50% TO 80% AFFORDABILITY, A BRAND NEW, UH, OR I SHOULD SAY EXPANDED, UH, THREE ACRE PARK. THERE'S CURRENTLY A SMALL PARK THERE, BUT THIS WILL, UH, INCREASE THE, THE SIZE AND AMENITIES THERE AT THE PARK. THE, MY CONSTITUENTS HAVE BEEN, UH, WAITING FOR THIS FOR WAY TOO LONG. AND, BUT IT, IT, I KNOW SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE PUT IN SO MUCH HARD WORK, AND I'VE JUST GOT TO, UH, HIGHLIGHT THE PROJECT. IT'S GONNA BE A BIG WIN FOR THE CITY. IT'S GONNA BE A BIG WIN FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD. UH, AND IT'S GONNA BE, UH, UH, JUST ADVANCING OUR, OUR HOUSING GOALS, OUR OUR PARKS GOALS, UH, SO MANY, UH, ISSUES THAT, THAT THIS, UH, TOUCHES. I WANNA, AND I, I, I SEE THEM, UH, HERE IN THE AUDIENCE. UH, CALLIE PHILLIPS AND DAVID WALSH WITH, UH, GRAY STAR. GRAY STAR IS OUR PRIVATE PARTNER ON THE PROJECT. THEY'RE GONNA BE BUILDING THIS AS, AS SOON AS, UH, THE CONTRACT IS SIGNED AND THE SITE PLAN IS APPROVED, WHICH HOPEFULLY WILL BE, UH, VERY SOON. UM, I ALSO HAVE TO, UH, THANK, UH, MIKE GERBER WITH HAKA HAKA IS A, A PARTNER, UH, IN, IN THE PROJECT. AND CATHERINE NICELY ALSO IS OUT THERE, AND SHE'S BEEN WORKING ON IT. AGAIN, JUST VERY EXCITED TO, TO GET THE TERM SHEET PASSED. I KNOW THAT'S NOT THE FINAL STEP, BUT WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO THE END. AND, AND I SWEAR I CAN SEE THE FINISH LINE. LET'S GET THIS DONE AND, AND BUILD THAT HOUSING AND BUILD THAT NEW PARK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. BUT THE USE OF THE WORD FINISH LINE, I WONDER IF SOME OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL SEE THE [00:30:01] . SO, SORRY, I GOT DISTRACTED. COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER LANE. THEN COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I APPRECIATE IT. AND I GOTTA SAY SMACK TALK AND DISTRACTIONS ARE ALWAYS PERMITTED, SO NO PROBLEM. FOR THE DELAY, I'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO A COUPLE ITEMS ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA, BUT I'D LIKE VERY MUCH TO START BY SAYING I REALLY APPRECIATED HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES THIS MORNING IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND RECOGNITION. AND MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, UH, Y'ALL OUT THERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, KNOW DEBORAH BORA DUNCAN. SHE RECEIVED A DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD TODAY FOR 35 YEARS OF SERVICE. AND IT WAS JUST SO COOL TO WATCH THAT AND BE A PART OF IT. ALSO, UM, SOMETHING MAYBE NOT AS, UM, UH, JOYFUL, BUT REALLY NECESSARY TO RECOGNIZE, AND I'M GONNA SHOUT OUT ONE PERSON WITHOUT TELLING THEIR THEIR NAME, BUT WE HAVE AN AUSTIN FIREFIGHTER WHO'S BEEN OUTTA WORK FOR NEARLY THREE YEARS. UM, HE CONTRACTED COVID AND IT NEVER WENT AWAY. AND SO THIS MORNING WE ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE LONG COVID. THERE ARE FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR WHOM THE PANDEMIC IS NOT GONE. COVID DID NOT GO AWAY. SO JUST TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN FOR BRINGING THAT, UM, RECOGNITION TO THE MATTER. UM, AND MOVING BEYOND THAT, I'D LIKE TO SAY, UM, ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, ITEM NUMBER TWO, TO MY UNDERSTANDING, WHAT THIS ITEM DOES IS SHIFT RESPONSIBILITY FROM COUNCIL OFFICES TO LOBBYISTS. UM, SOMEBODY MADE MENTION EARLIER THAT OTHER CITIES, PEER CITIES DON'T KEEP THESE LOGS, BUT THE, THE REFERENCE WAS, UM, I THINK INTENDED TO SAY WE SOMEHOW ARE MORE TRANSPARENT, TRANSPARENT IN THAT WAY. I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE CASE AT ALL. I THINK WE'RE MORE INEFFICIENT IN THAT WAY. AND SO I APPRECIATE THAT WE'RE MAKING THE NECESSARY CHANGES TO OFFSET THAT RESPONSIBILITY. YOU GUYS DON'T KNOW THIS, BUT COUNCIL OFFICES WITH THOSE PEERS, I, I OFTEN ENCOURAGE PEERS 'CAUSE I WANT YOU GUYS TO KNOW EVERYTHING THAT IT, THAT IT IS YOU'D LIKE TO KNOW. BUT I ALSO NEED YOU TO UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU SAY SOMEBODY DIDN'T ANSWER THE, THE PHONE AT THE OFFICE OR THIS, THAT, OR THE OTHER THING, PEERS TAKE FOREVER. ANYTHING THAT WILL HELP TO STREAMLINE THAT PROCESS. SO WE'RE NOT LOSING OFFICE MEMBERS THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE WEEKS PROCESSING PEERS REDACTING ANYTHING THAT MAKES COUNCIL OFFICES WORK MORE EFFICIENTLY. I PROMISE YOU GUYS, YOU'LL GET A BETTER WORK PRODUCT OUTTA THOSE COUNCIL OFFICES. SO I'M, I'M HAPPY TO SEE ANY ITEM THAT COMES FORWARD THAT HELPS US BE MORE EFFICIENT WITH THE USE OF THE TIME AND SPEND MORE OF IT WORKING ON CONSTITUENT ISSUES. UM, I'D ALSO LIKE TO SPEAK TO ITEM NUMBER THREE. THE VORTEX IS A LEGACY LOCAL BUSINESS AND CREATIVE SPACE IN CENTRAL EAST AUSTIN. UM, THESE TYPES OF PLAY SPACE AGREEMENTS, UM, THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT RECOGNIZE ARTS AND CULTURAL VENUES AND HOW THEY CONTRIBUTE BOTH TO AUSTIN'S CREATIVE IDENTITY, UM, BUT ALSO THE LOCAL ECONOMY, UH, BUSINESSES THAT ARE CENTERED. UM, I TAKE THAT BACK, COMMUNITIES THAT SURROUND BUSINESSES MAKE THEM STRONG AND VICE VERSA. AND SO I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT AGREEMENTS THAT HELP SMALL BUSINESSES STAY IN SMALL COMMUNITIES. UM, MOVING BEYOND THAT, I'LL CLOSE OUT BY SAYING I REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO, UM, TALK ABOUT YOUTH EMPLOYMENT. UM, I WAS A, I WAS A KID WHO HAD A JOB. UH, THERE WAS THE OPPORTUNITY THROUGH VARIOUS HARDSHIP OPPORTUNITIES. UM, AND I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU GUYS, I LIED WHEN I WAS 14 ON THAT APPLICATION. I SAID I WAS 15, UH, AND I WASN'T. BUT I NEEDED A JOB. MY FAMILY NEEDED ME TO WORK. UM, BEYOND THE PRACTICAL NEED FOR EMPLOYMENT, THOUGH, WHAT THAT PROVIDED TO ME AS AN INDIVIDUAL THROUGH MY FORMATIVE EXPERIENCE AND INTO ADULTHOOD, UM, I CAN'T REWIND, UM, WHAT MY FORMATIVE EXPERIENCE LOOKED LIKE, BUT HAVING ACCESS TO EMPLOYMENT MADE THE DIFFERENCE. IT WAS THE EQUALIZER FOR ME AND MY FAMILY. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT THE CITY HAS OUR, UM, HAS OUR HEAD IN THE GAME WHEN IT COMES TO EMPOWERING OUR YOUTH IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER LANE, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS. I'D LIKE TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR MAKING SO MANY OF THE POINTS THAT I HAD PLANNED TO MAKE, AND I WILL THEREFORE SKIP THEM AND LIMIT MY COMMENTS TO, UM, REQUESTING TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR TO ITEM 28 AND THANKING COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES FOR HER LEADERSHIP IN ENSURING THAT, THAT WE CONSIDER HOW WE WILL REACH STUDENTS ACROSS ALL OF AUSTIN, UH, INCLUDING A VARIETY OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WITH THAT OBJECTION, COUNCIL MEMBER LANE WILL BE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR OF ITEM NUMBER 28. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, THANK YOU FOR THE RECOGNITION. MAYOR, I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT BRIEFLY ITEMS 18 AND 19. THERE'S BEEN A LONG CONVERSATION ABOUT THE NEEDS OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS AND TO MAKE SURE THAT LEADERSHIP IS OFFING OUT OF BUILDINGS THAT ARE FUNCTIONING PROPERLY, UM, AVAILABLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC WHO NEEDS TO COME AND SPEAK WITH A PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER, UM, IN, IN A, IN A WAY THAT IS HELPFUL FOR THE NEEDS THAT THEY'RE GONNA HAVE WHEN THEY SOLVE SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT THEY'VE EXPERIENCED. AND SO, I'M EXCITED TO SEE SOME OF THESE LEASE NEGOTIATIONS [00:35:01] CHANGING. THERE HAS TO BE SOME PREDICTABILITY FOR THE FOLKS THAT ARE ALREADY OFFICE IN THAT BUILDING AND ALREADY UTILIZING THAT SPACE FOR THEIR BUSINESSES. BUT I'M REALLY, REALLY EXCITED TO WELCOME OUR PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS TO SOUTHWEST AUSTIN. THIS IS IN DISTRICT EIGHT, UM, AND I THINK IT'S GONNA PROVIDE A BETTER EXPERIENCE BOTH FOR THE FOLKS THAT DO THIS WORK DAY IN DAY OUT, AND FOR THE FOLKS THAT NEED TO INTERACT WITH SOMEONE TO HELP THEM SOLVE A CASE. SO I'M EXCITED TO SEE THE CONVERSATION MOVING FORWARD AND LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO FULLY OPEN THIS BUILDING IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MEMBERS, UH, THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION. UH, THE MOTION WAS MADE AND SECONDED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS READ. IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN ABSTAINING FROM VOTING ON AN ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN RECUSING THEMSELVES FROM A VOTE ON AN ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES? YES, IF I CAN BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON ITEM NUMBER TWO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO BE SHOWN, NO VOTING ON, SHOWN, NO VOTING ON ANY OF THE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. ALL RIGHT, WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES AND ALTER BEING SHOWN VOTING NO ON ITEM NUMBER TWO MEMBERS. UH, THAT CONCLUDES THE CONSENT AGENDA. WITHOUT OBJECTION, [10:30 AM - Austin Housing Finance Corporation Meeting] WE WILL ADJOURN. UH, WE WILL RECESS THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING, UH, AT 10:35 AM AND I WILL CALL TO ORDER NOW THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION. UH, THAT MEETING IS, IT IS 10 35 AND WE HAVE CALLED THAT MEETING TO ORDER AND I WILL, UH, TURN TO OUR PROFESSIONAL STAFF. IF YOU'RE LEAVING THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, PLEASE KEEP YOUR CONVERSATIONS. I KNOW YOU CAN'T HEAR ME BECAUSE YOU'RE TALKING. THERE YOU GO. GOOD MORNING. MANDY DE MAYO, AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION. UH, I AM HERE THIS MORNING TO PRESENT THE AGENDA. HANG ON MR. DE MAYO, PLEASE. IF YOU'RE LEAVING THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS AND YOU'RE TALKING, I WOULD ASK THAT YOU NOT DO THAT SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE WITH THE BUSINESS. THANK YOU. THERE ARE TWO ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA. THE FIRST ITEM IS, UM, AUTHORIZING THE NEGOTIATION AND EXECUTION OF A LOAN WITH FOUNDATION COMMUNITIES FC BLOOM HOUSING FOR $5.5 MILLION. UH, THIS, UH, UH, LOAN AGREEMENT MAY BE FAMILIAR. YOU'RE ACTUALLY REAUTHORIZING. THERE WERE SOME CHANGES TO THE APPLICATION AND INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF UNITS AS WELL AS A TEMPORARY, UH, CHANGE IN THE MFIS THAT WE WILL BE SERVING ON THIS PROPERTY IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE RELOCATION WHILE THE PROPERTY UNDERGOES REDEVELOPMENT. THAT INFORMATION IS PROVIDED IN YOUR BACKUP. AND WE ALSO HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM FOUNDATION COMMUNITIES HERE TODAY, SO THAT'S A $5.5 MILLION LOAN. AND THEN THE SECOND ITEM IS APPROVING THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING MINUTES FROM NOVEMBER, UH, 6 20 25. I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS. I OFFER THIS ON CONSENT BOARD MEMBERS. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER THE LOAN. IS IT THROUGH THE RHODA PROGRAM OR IS THIS OUTSIDE OF RDA? THIS IS THROUGH THE RHODA PROGRAM, AND IT WAS PREVIOUSLY LAST MAY, YOU ALL APPROVED A $5.5 MILLION LOAN. THE LOAN DID NOT CHANGE. THE AFFORDABILITY PERIOD WAS EXTENDED FROM 40 TO 41 YEARS. SOME OF THE MFIS WERE ADJUSTED TO ACCOMMODATE EXISTING RESIDENTS ON THE PROPERTY WHO WILL BE TEMPORARILY RELOCATED. UM, BUT IT IS A, A, A ROAD ALONE. AND THE TERM IS FOR HOW LONG? OF 40, 41 YEARS. OKAY. THAT'S YEAH, THE ENTIRE TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? LET ME ASK, DO WE HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? THANK YOU, MAYOR. WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER ON A HFC 0 0 1 ENOVIA JOSEPH, I'VE NOT SEEN HER COME IN TODAY. MS. JOSEPH, ARE YOU HERE? I DON'T SEE HER. THAT CONCLUDES ALL SPEAKERS. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU MEMBERS. UH, THAT CONCLUDES THE ITEMS THAT WE WOULD TAKE UP ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA OF ALL HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION. COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ MAKES THE MOTION TO SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER LANE. UM, ANY, I'LL ASK FOR DISCUSSION. ANY DISCUSSION? ANYONE WISHING TO ABSTAIN FROM A VOTE ON ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ANYONE WISHING TO RECUSE THEMSELVES FROM A VOTE ON AN ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON ONE OF THE A-F-H-F-C ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? SEEING NONE, WITH NO FURTHER DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION FOR TODAY IS ADOPTED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL ADJOURN THE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION FOR MARCH 12TH, 2026 AT THREE, UH, 10 38. UH, WE ARE ADJOURNED. I WILL NOW CALL BACK TO ORDER THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR THIS DATE AT 10:38 AM MEMBERS THAT WILL TAKE [30. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance adjusting the City’s boundary limits by disannexing approximately 0.247 acres of land located at 6704 Pixie Cove, Austin, Travis County, Texas under Texas Senate Bill 1844 (89th Regular Session). Case number: C7d-2026-0005. The property is located in Austin’s full purpose jurisdiction in Council District 10. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.] US TO THE NON-CONSENT ITEMS, ITEMS 30 AND 31. THOSE ARE [00:40:01] PUBLIC HEARINGS. ITEM NUMBER 30, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 30. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK. THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS FOR ITEM 30 MEMBERS. THERE'S NO ONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AT THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 30. SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED. IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE ORDINANCE SET FORTH IN ITEM NUMBER 30, MOTION MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER 30? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION. ITEM NUMBER 30 IS ADOPTED MEMBERS. WE [31. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance adjusting the City’s boundary limits by disannexing approximately 0.146 acres of land located at 3107, 3109, 3111, and 3113 Brass Buttons Trail, Austin, Travis County, Texas under Texas Senate Bill 1844 (89th Regular Session). Case number: C7d-2026-0006. Portions of all four properties are located in Austin’s full purpose jurisdiction, and the remaining portions are located in Austin’s limited purpose jurisdiction in Council District 10. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.] WILL NOW GO TO ITEM NUMBER 31, WHICH IS ALSO A PUBLIC HEARING. WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 31. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN. I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK. THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS FOR ITEM 31 MEMBERS. THERE'S NO ONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AT THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 31. SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 31. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE SET FORTH ON ITEM NUMBER 31. MOTION MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER LANE. SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN DISCUSSION. HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE ORDINANCE IS ADOPTED FOR ITEM NUMBER 31 MEMBERS. THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS THE 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN RELATED TO PUBLIC COMMUNICATION. SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, UH, WE WILL RECESS THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL FOR MARCH 12TH, 2026 AT 10:40 AM AT 10:40 AM RETURNING PRECISELY AT NOON. PRECISELY, PRECISELY OR IN ADVANCE FOR THOSE OF Y'ALL THAT ARE BRAGGING HOW FAST YOU ARE, LET'S SEE IF YOU CAN GET HERE, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION. WE ARE, ARE IN, IN RECESS AT 10:40 AM THANKS EVERYBODY. GREAT JOB. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY. IT'S 12:00 PM ON MARCH 12TH, 2026. UH, THE COUNCIL HAS BEEN IN RECESS, BUT I WILL CALL BACK TO ORDER THE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AND WE HAVE A QUORUM OF THE CITY COUNCIL PRESENT. UH, [12:00 PM - Public Communication: General] WE ARE AT OUR 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN FOR PUBLIC COMMUNICATION AND I WILL ASK THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE TO HELP NAVIGATE THAT FOR US. OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS CAROLANN ROSE KENNEDY. NEXT WE WILL HAVE DEREK BUDZINSKI AND SOPHIA DELORETTO CHUDY. IF YOU'RE HERE AND YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, JUST COME FORWARD AND TAKE ONE OF THE CHAIRS PLEASE. MR. BUDZINSKI, ARE YOU HERE? OKAY, MS. KENNEDY, IF YOU'LL JUST TAKE A SEAT ANYWHERE. NO, UP HERE BY THE MICROPHONE. YOU, YOU'RE GONNA SPEAK TO US. I DON'T GET OUT MUCH. . HELLO? HI. YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES, MS. KENNEDY. THREE MINUTES. MS. KENNEDY, IF YOU'LL GO PROCEED. OKAY. THANK Y'ALL FOR HAVING ME AND THANK ALL OF Y'ALL FOR SERVING. OH LORD. , I'M EXHAUSTED. I USED TO WORK AT IRS AMONG THE BEST TO SERVE AND THEN MY BOSS SAID, KENNEDY, YOU'RE GETTING ON MY NERVE. IN 1,991 I LOOKED THROUGH TRUCKS OF MAIL THAT CAME INTO THE TEXAS SHOP THROUGH WIND AND FIRE, AND HELL BY BIRD, BY PLANE, BY SUPERMAN OR SO JOYFULLY BY GOAT, BY ROTOR, ON BICYCLE. AND IT CROSSED THE SHINING SEA. I EAR MARCH RED AND MARCH TAX RETURNS WITH DOG BITES, PEE AND WINE. BUT THE ONES FROM THE POPES AND THE PRESIDENTS SMELLED VERY BAD OF SWINE. BUT I WORE MY SUIT WITH HOSE AND HEELS, MY HAIR, THE LAY STYLE. AND I WALKED REAL FINE AND I TALKED REAL STRAIGHT, BUT I PLASTERED ON MY SMILE. AND THEN I GOT TO MOVE DOWNTOWN ON THE HILL NEAR THE CAPITOL. HOW PROUD I WAS, BUT HUMBLED WHEN I FACED THE ALBANINO BULL THROUGH THE K BOMB AND 9 1 1, I LIVED WITHOUT A SCRATCH. BUT SOON I FOUND THAT THE ONE TO FEAR WAS RIGHT BEHIND MY ASS. SHE, SORRY, SHE CRITICIZED [00:45:01] MY MESSY DESK. THE FILE PILES ON MY FLOOR, MY OVERLOADED VOICEMAIL BOX, MY UNREAD EMAIL CHORE. AND THEN IT WAS MY TONE OF VOICE, THE COLOR OF MY EYES, AND THEN MY RESPIRATION RATE COULD BE I'M TWICE HER SIZE. THE BORAL TWO TO HER STORY IS DON'T GIVE YOUR TIME IN LIFE TO FEDERAL SHENANIGANS UNLESS YOU HAVE A WIFE. I GAVE MY TIME AND LIFE TO Y'ALL, MY MONEY AND MY FUN. AND NOW I HAVE GREAT NEWS FOR Y'ALL FROM YOUR UNCLE SAM. I'VE RUN THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. OH, THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. YES MA'AM. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU TOO. YES, MA'AM. UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I AM HERE TODAY BECAUSE AS COUNCIL MEMBER ZENOS, MY CAR WAS RECENTLY BOOTED WHILE I WAS DELIVERING FLYERS IN HIS DISTRICT. AND I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU, BUT CAN YOU STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD? SOPHIA DE LORETTO CHETTY. GREAT, THANK YOU. I WAS GONE FOR ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME THAT I'M ALLOWED TO SIT HERE AND SPEAK TODAY. THE NOTICE SHOWS THAT I LEFT AT 5 0 9. THE RECEIPT SHOWS I RETURNED AT FIVE 12. MY CAR WAS UNLOCKED, THE KEYS WERE INSIDE, THE LAPTOP WAS ON THE FRONT SEAT. MY SUNROOF WAS OPEN. IT WAS PRETTY OBVIOUS I WASN'T GONNA BE GONE FOR LONG. BUT ONE SPACE OVER. A YOUNG MAN SAT IN HIS CAR WITH A BOOT IN THE TRUNK WAITING FOR SOMEONE LIKE ME TO MAKE A MISTAKE SO HE COULD MAKE A COMMISSION. WHEN I CALLED 3 1 1 TO FILE A COMPLAINT, THE PERSON WHO HELPED ME TOLD ME THEY RECEIVED MANY SIMILAR FRUSTRATED CALLS. SHE EXPLAINED SYMPATHETICALLY THAT AS LONG AS THE SIGNAGE REQUIREMENTS WERE MET, THESE PRACTICES WERE TECHNICALLY WITHIN THE LAW. THAT'S WHEN I REALIZED IT WASN'T ABOUT ME OR THE TIME THAT I SPENT THERE. EVERY SYSTEM OF RULES CREATES INCENTIVES AND IF THOSE INCENTIVES REWARD, EXPLOITATION, THEN IMMEDIATE IMMOBILIZATION IS WHAT WE'RE GONNA GET. THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU TO CONSIDER THREE SIMPLE POLICY IMPROVEMENTS THAT WOULD MAKE ENFORCEMENT FAIRER AND LESS PREDATORY. LESS THAN A WEEK AFTER THE BOOTING INCIDENT. I ALSO RECEIVED A PARKING TICKET FROM THE CITY ITSELF. IT WAS ISSUED AT 5 38 ON A MONDAY WHEN PAID TO PARK IN THE AREA ENDS AT SIX. OF COURSE, THAT WAS MY MISTAKE, TO THINK ENFORCEMENT WOULDN'T BE SWEPT IN THE FINAL 30 MINUTES ON A MONDAY NIGHT. BUT TWO SMALL PARKING AREAS IN THE SAME WEEK COST ME $150. MORE THAN HALF THE MONTHLY FOOD ASSISTANCE THAT MY FATHER AND I RECEIVE FOR MANY PEOPLE, INCLUDING ME, THAT IS NOT DISCRETIONARY SPENDING. IT'S MONEY THAT COULD HAVE GONE TO LOCAL SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS DOWNTOWN AS SOMEONE WORKING REMOTELY WHILE LAUNCHING A NONPROFIT. THIS MEANS LOSING THE ABILITY TO LEAVE HOME, TO WORK FROM NEIGHBORHOOD COFFEE SHOPS AND PARTICIPATE IN THE LOCAL ECONOMY WHEN ACCESSING DOWNTOWN OR UNIVERSITY AREAS BECOMES FINANCIALLY RISKY. FOR RESIDENTS WHO DON'T HAVE EXTRA CASH ON HAND, IT CHANGES WHO FEELS WELCOME TO PARTICIPATE IN THOSE SPACES. LAST YEAR, THE CITY RAISED PARKING FEES FROM 20 TO $50. 20 FELT LIKE A REASONABLE REMINDER TO FOLLOW THE RULES. 50 BEGINS TO FEEL A LOT LESS LIKE A REMINDER AND MORE LIKE A SIGNAL THAT CERTAIN PEOPLE SIMPLY SHOULD NOT BE DOWNTOWN. SMALL PROCEDURAL SAFEGUARDS PROTECT FA FAIRNESS WHILE SIMPLY ALLOWING ENFORCEMENT TO DO THEIR JOB. SO HERE'S WHAT I'M PROPOSING. A 10 TO 15 MINUTE OBSERVATION PERIOD BEFORE A VEHICLE CAN BE BOOTED. A WARNING NOTICE FOR FIRST TIME OFFENDER ON A PROPERTY, A REASONABLE BOOT FEE REMOVAL OF $75 TO MATCH THE CITY'S OWN PARKING STRUCTURE FEES. YOU CAN SEE FROM THE HANDOUTS I PROVIDED THAT OTHER OTHER CITIES ALREADY DO THIS, INCLUDING SAN ANTONIO CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY REGULATE PRIVATE BOOTING, NOT BY BANNING ENFORCEMENT, BUT BY REQUIRING REASONABLE WAITING PERIODS AND PROCEDURAL SAFEGUARDS. THEY PROTECT PROPERTY OWNERS' RIGHTS WHILE ALSO PROTECTING RESIDENTS AND VISITORS FROM PREDATORY ENFORCEMENT PRACTICES. SMALL ADJUSTMENTS LIKE THESE, IMPROVE FAIRNESS, REDUCE CONFLICT, AND BUILD TRUST IN OUR LOCAL SYSTEMS. ALL I ASK IS THAT COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER DIRECTING STAFF TO REVIEW THESE EXAMPLES AND EXPLORE WHETHER AUSTIN CAN ADOPT SIMILAR SAFEGUARDS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE 3 1 1 EMPLOYEE WHO TOOK MY CALL. SHE TOLD ME HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO TAKE CALLS FROM RESIDENTS WHO FEEL TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF KNOWING THERE'S VERY LITTLE SHE CAN OFFER BECAUSE THESE PRACTICES ARE TECHNICALLY WITHIN THE LAW. I PROMISED HER THAT I WOULD COME HERE TODAY AND TRY TO FIX THAT. WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. THANK YOU. IS MR. BUDZINSKI HERE? OKAY, THAT CONCLUDES ALL SPEAKERS, MAYOR MEMBERS. UH, THAT CONCLUDES OUR 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, UM, WHAT, AND WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING OTHER THAN, UH, ON THE AGENDA OTHER THAN OUR TWO O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, BUT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE LIVE MUSIC AND I THINK SOME FOLKS HAVE SHOWN UP SO THEY CAN BE PART OF THAT. AND I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT. THAT'S WONDERFUL. UH, SO WHAT WE WILL DO MEMBERS IS WE WILL, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL RECESS AT 12:08 PM UNTIL TWO O'CLOCK, PROMPTLY AT 2:00 PM AND, UM, WE WILL, BUT WE'LL HAVE LIVE MUSIC, THE LIVE MUSIC SET UP ALMOST IMMEDIATELY NOW, WE WILL HAVE LIVE MUSIC AND THEN EVERYBODY WILL BE BACK FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL AT 2:00 PM IT'S 12:08 PM AND THE COUNCIL IS IN RECESS. [00:50:07] ALL [Live Music] RIGHTY. WELCOME EVERYBODY TO CITY HALL. UH, IT IS, UH, BEFORE I GET INTO THE REMARKS, IT IS A FULL CIRCLE MOMENT FOR ME AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HARPER MADISON, AS WE WERE BORN AND RAISED, EAST SIDERS, EAST AUSTIN, TEXAS, OH TWO BABIES. UH, AND WE GREW UP LISTENING TO THE WOOD. I WAS TELLING THE GUYS, I SAID, UH, I HAD A, I HAD A BOOTLEG PRESS OF IT BACK IN THE DAY, SO I'M SORRY 'CAUSE I DIDN'T ACTUALLY PAY FOR IT. SOMEBODY GOT ME ONE, BUT THEY SAID, WE'RE EXCITED. YOU JUST HAD IT. SO IT, IT'S A FULL CIRCLE MOMENT FOR ME BECAUSE THIS, THIS WAS AN ANTHEM BACK IN 99. SO THANK Y'ALL FOR BLESSING US. FLOW MOB ORIGINALLY KNOWN AS FLOW MOTION IS A LEGENDARY HIP HOP COLLECTIVE AND RECORD LABEL BASED IN AUSTIN, TEXAS FORMED IN 1993. THE GROUP IS WIDELY CREDITED WITH PIONEERING THE A TX HIP HOP SOUND THAT HELPED DEFINE THE CITY'S UNDERGROUND IDENTITY FLOW. MOB CAPTURED THE SPIRIT OF AUSTIN STREETS WITH THEIR BREAKOUT ANTHEM THE WOOD. IN 1999, A REGIONAL HIT THAT DOMINATED LOCAL RADIO AND SOLIDIFIED THEIR PLACE IN HIP HOP HISTORY. THE COLLECTIVE'S CORE MEMBERS BIG SAID CORNBREAD AND MR. CRITICAL BECAME KNOWN FOR THEIR DYNAMIC STAGE PRESENCE, LYRICAL AUTHENTICITY, AND DEDICATION TO COMMUNITY UPLIFTMENT. IN 2023, FLO MOB WAS HONORED WITH THE HIP HOP HONORS AWARD FROM THE CITY OF CITY OF AUSTIN HISTORY MUSEUM AND LIBRARY, RECOGNIZING THEIR LASTING INFLUENCE ON THE CITY'S CULTURAL AND MUSICAL LANDSCAPE. BIG SAID, BORN CEDRIC MASON STANDS AS A DRIVING FORCE BEHIND FLO MOB. FLO MOB'S RECORDS AS A FOUNDING MEMBER. HE SHAPED, HE HELPED SHAPE THE GROUP'S CREATIVE AND BUSINESS DIRECTION FOR MORE THAN THREE DECADES. A VETERAN, RAPPER, PRODUCER AND ENTREPRENEUR, BIG SET IS OFTEN DESCRIBED AS ONE A ONE MAN ARMY. FOR HIS ABILITY TO WRITE, PRODUCE, ENGINEER, AND DIRECT HIS OWN VIDEOS. LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR FLOW MOB A TX. STAND UP. WELCOME AUSTIN. HEY, WE APPRECIATE THE, WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND, AND, UH, WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME TONIGHT AND, AND DO THIS SONG FOR Y'ALL. YOU KNOW, THE WOOD, IT'S UH, IT MEANS SO MUCH TO US. UH, 30 YEARS, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? I THINK, UH, WE STARTED PERFORMING IN 92 AS FLOW MOTION AND BASICALLY, UH, THIS IS THE CULMINATION. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? THIS IS ALL THOSE YEARS OF HARD WORK, ALL OF THAT DEDICATION. AND IT'S LIKE NOW TO BE ABLE TO GET HONORED. UH, THERE'S NO GREATER FEELING. SO WE APPRECIATE THE, THE OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU. YES, YES, YES. NO FURTHER ADO. WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT WOOD? A TX. HEY, WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT WOOD? WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT WOOD X BRING THAT. WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT WOOD? WOOD GRIND WITH THE LEATHER. WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT WOOD? WOOD GRAIN WITH THE LEATHER? WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT WOOD, WOOD GRAIN WITH THE CRANE FROM THAT? MOM, YOU CAUGHT UP IN THAT TWIST. IF YOU SCARED CAUGHT THE LAW, MY HEAD IS DOING BAD AND THESE MUSCLES AIN'T NO GOOD BECAUSE THEY BE TRYING TO SIDE, BUT THEY ROLLING WITH NO WOOD. WHAT YOU DROVE OUT THAT WOOD BOY. I'M GRO GREEN FOR DAM IN A DROP TOP SIX NINE CAT. I'M THE TEXAS JOHN CLAY AND I'M PAYING SO INGRAINED TRUCK AND THERE ALL UP ON TOP OF THAT DASH I FAVOR WITH THE COMBO ASS. AMEN. SEE, THIS IS REAL. I PUT THAT ON MY QUARTER. THEY JUST ON IT WITH THAT WOOD UP IN YOUR OR THIS MUST BE AT BECAUSE EVERY TIME I STROKE I GET CHILL LIKE IT WINNER, THEN I START SWEATING LIKE THAT. I I'M BRINGING 9 59 TO THE TABLE. ROCKING YOUR WHOLE WITH THAT MY LOVE. THEY CALL ME CORN BREAD. AIN'T OF WOOD. THAT WOOD. WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT WOOD? WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT WOOD? WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT THATS GET THEY BACK CRACKED WITH THAT FALL. ABOUT THAT WOOD. WOOD GRAIN WITH THE LEATHER SEED. WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT WOOD? WOOD GRAIN WITH THE LEATHER SEED? WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT WOOD? WOOD GRAIN WITH THE, WITH THE, WE PRAYING WITH THE LEATHER SEATS. DAMN. MY OLO BEEN GIVING ME TROUBLE DOUBLE ON THE BUBBLE 'CAUSE THAT TIME GOT STUB ROLLING DOWN THE STREET, CHOKING ON THE SWEET AND MY PEOPLE JACK WITH NO RAG HELL SWEET. I NO COPPER TEND ON THEM CHOPPERS GIVING UP THEM POPPERS. JACK [00:55:01] INTERIOR HAD TO GET RA JUST TO STEER HER FOR A MINUTE. LET ME IN IT LIKE THAT TRUNK WAS FULL OF PUNK BECAUSE I AIN'T NO DAMN PULLED. I HER WAS HER OWNER. SHE SAID HER OWNER WAS US ON HER BECAUSE THEY YOUNG BROTHER KEPT HITTING CORNERS AND I WANTED, I NO LONGER DRIVE 55. SHE SAYS, ALL ON YOU KEEP GETTING ME LIVE. HEADLIGHTS ARE JUMPING RED LIGHT GOING UP THE DOOR TO SEE THE WOOD RAN AND ALMOST LOST MY MIND. CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD ENGINE. ALL GOOD IN FOUR DAYS WAS NO WOOD IN MY HOOD. WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT? WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT WOOD? WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT? GET THEY BACK CRACK WITH THAT LORD MAN. WOOD DRAIN WITH THEM NEVER WITH, WITH WOOD WITH GO FREE LIKE MO SHOOTING DOWN THE MO LIKE LOW LOADS SLOW IN A WITH WE JUST TRYING TO IT HOT DEGREES HOT. THE WOUND YOU GOT, WE CAN DO IT EVERY NIGHT AND RIDE BUS, STRETCH THE BRAIN THEN SITTING ON WHAT THEY KNOW, THEY KNOW ABOUT THAT THEY DON'T KNOW. THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT. THEY DON'T KNOW. THEY DUNNO. THEY DUNNO. THEY KNOW ABOUT THAT. THEY, THEY ABOUT THAT. THEY DON'T KNOW THEY ABOUT IT. THEY DUNNO. THEY DUNNO. HEY, WE COMING FROM THE SOUTH AND WE GOING TURN IT OUT. WE COMING FROM THE SOUTH AND WE GOING TURN IT OUT. WE COMING FROM THE SOUTH AND WE GOING TURN IT OUT. WE COMING FROM THE SOUTH AND WE GOING TURN IT OUT ABOUT THAT WOOD. WE LOVE Y'ALL ABOUT THAT WOOD. THANK YOU. WE GOT Y'ALL. CITY HALL. IS THIS ON CITY HALL? WHAT DO Y'ALL KNOW ABOUT THAT WOOD NOW? UH, TEENAGE JOSE IS SUPER, SUPER EXCITED RIGHT NOW. LIVING OUT A DREAM. UM, IT IS NOW MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE, UH, MY, LIKE I SAID, MY FELLOW, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, BUT ALSO MY FELLOW BORN AND RAISED EAST AUSTINITE, NATASHA HARPER, MADISON. HEY. YAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT. I LIKE, UH, I LIKE WHEN CITY HALL LOOKS LIKE THIS. ABSOLUTELY. ONE BECAUSE IT FEELS FAMILIAR, BUT TWO, BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE ON THIS DAY. I GET TO RECOGNIZE FLOW MOB IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. Y'ALL KNOW HOW COOL THAT IS. BUT ALSO, LET ME JUST TELL YOU, YOU SAID 30 YEARS AGO, DON'T BE TOSSING AROUND DECADES LIKE IT'S SKITTLES. LISTEN, 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 ARTIST NOW, THEREFORE, I COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HARBOR MADISON ALONGSIDE OUR MAYOR, KIRK WATSON AND THE REST OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DO HEREBY OH, AND THE MAYOR EXPLICITLY WANTS US TO REMIND Y'ALL THAT WE ARE THE LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD. WE DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH 12TH, 2026 AS FLOW MOB DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. GIVE THEM A HAND, Y'ALL. ANYBODY WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO OFFER US REMARKS OR LET FOLKS KNOW WHERE THEY CAN FOLLOW? FIND YOUR STUFF. NEW OLD MAN, MAN, COME ON NOW. THAT'S, THAT'S THE HONOR OF A LIFETIME. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE'RE HONORED. UH, FLO MOB, LIKE I SAID, WE HAVING A PARTY TONIGHT, Y'ALL. THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING. WE HAVING A PARTY TONIGHT AT SPENDERS. WE GOING TO GO CELEBRATE AND WE REALLY GOING TO, UH, UH, PUT [01:00:01] THE, PUT THE, PUT THE FINAL TOUCHES ON THIS THING, RIGHT? WE WANT TO TELL THEM WHERE TO FIND THE PARTY. THE PARTY IS AT SPINNERS. IT'S UH, UH, I 35, UH, PFLUGERVILLE ROUND ROCK KIND OF AREA, JUMPING OFF 7:00 PM 11:00 PM DJ DERO IN THE HOUSE. FLO MOB IN THE HOUSE. LIKE WE GOING TO CELEBRATE AND HAVE A GOOD TIME. Y'ALL AND I BOUGHT THE BAR, OKAY? SO I'M JUST SAYING THAT'S HOW WE DO IT, BUT MAN, WE APPRECIATE Y'ALL MAN. FLO MOB BIG SAID, WE STILL DOING MUSIC. UH, YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON UH, INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK AT BIG SAID FLOW MOB. WE GOT THE WEBSITE. BIG SAID MUSIC. LIKE I SAID, I GOT THE, THE T-SHIRTS AND I GOT THE QR CODES. HIT US UP. LIKE I SAID, WE STILL DOING MUSIC. WE STILL PRODUCE AND WE STILL REPRESENT A TX. OKAY, STAND OVER THERE. I LOVE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. THIS. HEY Y'ALL, AFTER WE DO THIS FIRST PHOTO, WE WELCOME FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO COME UP TO TAKE ONE UP, UP FRONT. SO IF Y'ALL WANT TO GO AHEAD AND START LINING UP ON EITHER SIDE TO COME ON UP. WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY. IT'S TWO O'CLOCK AND I WILL CALL THE AUSTIN CITY QUICK COUNCIL BACK TO ORDER AFTER A RECESS, UH, ON MARCH 12TH, 2026. UH, [2:00 PM - Zoning and Neighborhood Plan Amendments (Public Hearings and Possible Action)] MEMBERS, THE ITEM ON OUR AGENDA ARE, IS THE ARE TWO O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN RELATED TO ZONING AND NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING, AND I WILL, UH, LOOK TO MS. HARDEN TO BEGIN THAT PROCESS FOR US. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNSEL. I'M JOY HARDIN WITH AUSTIN PLANNING. YOUR ZONING AND NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AMENDMENT AGENDA BEGINS WITH ITEM NUMBER 32 C 1 4 20 25 0 1 2 4. THIS ITEM IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS. ITEM 33 IS C 1 4 20 25 0 1 0 6. THIS ITEM WAS OFFERED AS A NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR MARCH 26TH. COUNSEL MEETING ITEM 34 C 1 4 20 25 0 1 0 8. THIS ITEM IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS. ITEM 35 IS NPA 20 25 0 0 1 2 0.01. THIS ITEM IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT. FIRST READING ONLY. THE RELATED REZONING IS ITEM NUMBER 36 C 4 20 25 0 0 9 2. AGAIN, THIS ITEM IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT FIRST READING ONLY WITH THE FOLLOWING MOTION, WHICH READS, AMEND THE DRAFT ORDINANCE AS FOLLOWS, REMOVE THE FOLLOWING USES FROM PART TWO A AND ADD THEM TO PART TWO B, BED AND BREAKFAST. GROUP TWO, COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY FACILITIES, COMMUNICATION SERVICE FACILITIES, PET SERVICES ADD A NEW PART TWO C AS FOLLOWS, THE MAXIMUM HEIGHT OF A BUILDING OR STRUCTURE ON THE PROPERTY SHALL NOT EXCEED 35 FEET. WITH THAT, AGAIN, THIS ITEM SUFFERED FOR CONSENT. FIRST READING ONLY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER AND MADISON HAS MADE THE REQUEST OF FIRST READING TO ALLOW FOR MORE TIME FOR CONTINUED CONVERSATION. THESE ITEMS WILL RETURN FOR SECOND AND THIRD READING CONSIDERATION AT YOUR MARCH 26TH COUNCIL MEETING. THERE ARE SPEAKERS HERE IN OPPOSITION TO THIS REQUEST. THE PRIMARY CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE HEARD WERE RELATED OR TRANSPORTATION RELATED, SPECIFICALLY PARKING AND THE ENCROACHMENT OF COMMERCIAL ZONING INTO THE RESIDENTIAL AREA. WE TOOK THOSE CONCERNS SERIOUSLY AS WE WAIT. OUR RECOMMENDATION, PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE IS EXISTING COMMERCIAL AND MULTIFAMILY ZONING ON THE NORTH SIDE OF EAST 22ND STREET WITHIN THREE BLOCKS TO THE EAST AND WEST. WE ALSO CONSIDERED THE RESOLUTION APPROVED BY THIS COUNCIL THAT SUPPORTS MORE NEIGHBORHOOD SCALE COMMERCIAL USES IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS. AS WE'RE OFFERING THIS ITEM FOR CONSENT, I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A BIT OF STAFF'S PERSPECTIVE ALONG WITH THE TESTIMONY YOU'LL HEAR FROM THE NEIGHBORS SHORTLY. ITEM NUMBER 37 IS MPA 20 25 0 0 2 5 0.02. THIS ITEM WAS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS. THE RELATED REZONING IS ITEM 38 C 14 20 25 7 9. AGAIN, THIS ITEM IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS WITH THE FOLLOWING MOTION, WHICH READS ADD ADULT ORENT BUSINESSES TO THE LIST OF PROHIBITED USES IN PART TWO. AGAIN, THERE ARE SOME SPEAKERS HERE TODAY IN OPPOSITION TO THIS ITEM. THEIR MAIN CONCERNS ARE RELATED TO LAND USES DENSITY OF DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION. THERE ARE 27 USES PROHIBITED IN THE PROPOSED CONDITIONAL OVERLAY AND STAFF FEELS THE REMAINING USES ARE APPROPRIATE AT THE [01:05:01] INTERSECTION OF TWO MAJOR HIGHWAYS. THE ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS WILL BE A FORCED AT THE TIME OF SITE PLAN AND WOULD LIKELY RESULT IN A SUPERIOR DEVELOPMENT TO WHAT EXISTS ON THE SITE TODAY. WITH THAT, AGAIN, STAFF IS OFFERING THESE ITEMS. WELL, THIS ITEM AND THE RELATED NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AMENDMENT FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS. UH, ITEM 39 IS C 14 20 25 0 8 0. THIS ITEMS OFFERED AS AN APPLICANT POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR MARCH 26 COUNCIL MEETING. ITEM 40 IS NPA 20 23 0 0 0 5 0.01. THIS ITEM IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT, SECOND AND THIRD READINGS. LASTLY, THE RELATED REZONING IS ITEM 41 C 1 4 20 24 0 0 1 5. AGAIN, THIS ITEM IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT, SECOND AND THIRD READINGS. UM, AND MAYOR COUNSEL, THIS IS THE 10TH TIME YOU'RE SEEING THESE ITEMS. ITEM 40 AND 41 ON YOUR COUNCIL AGENDA SINCE THEY WERE SUBMITTED IN 2024. THESE ITEMS WERE APPROVED ON A SEVEN FOUR VOTE AT YOUR FEBRUARY 26TH COUNCIL MEETING. AND PLEASE NOTE WE DO HAVE OPPOSITIONAL SPEAKERS SIGNED IN FOR THESE ITEMS. THIS CONCLUDES THE READING OF THE ZONING AND NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AMENDMENT AGENDA, AND AS ALWAYS, THIS IS AT YOUR DISCRETION. THANK YOU. UM, ANY QUESTIONS OF COUNSEL? UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS? I DID, BUT IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL TO HEAR FROM THE SPEAKERS FIRST. OKAY. AND I, FAIR ENOUGH. ASK THAT QUICK QUESTION AFTER WE HEAR FROM EVERYONE THAT, THAT WORKS FOR ME. UH, VERY GOOD, UH, MEMBERS THEN I WILL, WHAT I'LL DO IS I'LL READ INTO THE RECORD, UH, THE MOTION OR THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IT'S BEEN READ. I'LL ASK FIRST IF THERE'S, ANYBODY WISHES TO PULL SOMETHING OFF THE CONSENT AGENDA AS MS. HARDEN HAS LAID IT OUT? ALRIGHT. THE, THE MOTION, UH, THAT I'M, I'M LOOKING FOR IS TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. ITEM NUMBER 32 ON ALL THREE READINGS 33, A POSTPONEMENT TO MARCH 26TH, 34, ALL THREE READINGS 35 AND 30. THE RELATED ITEM, UH, 36 ON FIRST READING ONLY. ITEM NUMBER 36, HAVING, UH, ALSO INCLUDING THE MOTION. THAT WAS THE ADDITION THAT WAS READ INTO THE RECORD BY MS. HARDEN. ITEM 37, ALL THREE READINGS. ITEM 38, ALL THREE READINGS, UH, AND AGAIN WITH THE MOTION THAT WAS READ INTO THE RECORD AS PART OF THE MOTION BY MS. HARDEN. 39, A POSTPONEMENT TO MARCH 26TH, ITEM 40, AND THE RELATED ITEM 41 ON SECOND AND THIRD READINGS IS THERE A MOTION, MOTION IS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, UH, TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. WITH THAT, WE WILL GO TO SPEAKERS ON THE CONSENT ITEMS, AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK, UH, BEFORE HE STARTS CALLING NAMES. UH, WHAT I WOULD ASK IS, AS, UH, AS HE CALLS YOUR NAME, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE COME FORWARD AND EITHER TAKE A SEAT IF THERE'S ALREADY SOMEBODY SEATED AT ONE OF THESE CHAIRS IN FRONT OF THE MICROPHONES, JUST TAKE A SEAT UP FRONT. OTHERWISE, GO AHEAD AND TAKE AN OPEN SEAT AT ONE OF THE MICROPHONES, AND THAT WAY WE'LL KNOW YOU'RE HERE AND WE'LL KNOW YOU WANT TO TESTIFY AND WE'LL OPERATE YOUR TIME MORE EFFICIENTLY. IN ADDITION TO THAT, WHEN YOU'RE, IT COMES YOUR TIME TO SPEAK, IF WHAT YOU WILL DO IS ALSO STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. WE WOULD APPRECIATE THAT. AND WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO THE CITY CLERK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. WE'LL BEGIN WITH REMOTE SPEAKERS ON ITEM 33, SPEAKING TO THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT. KATHY BROCO. HELLO, THIS IS KATHY BRIDO, AND I'M JUST REQUESTING AN ADJOURNMENT SO THAT WE CAN, UH, POSTPONEMENT UNTIL THE MAR THAT WAS AN ABRUPT POSTPONEMENT. ARE YOU THERE? WE'LL TRY TO GET HER BACK ON THE LINE. OKAY. MOVING TO ITEM 35, MARVA OVERTON, JEFFREY BOWEN AND CATHERINE TOE. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL AND MAYOR. MY NAME IS MARVA OVERTON AND I REPRESENT THE BLACKLAND NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. AND I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK OR, UH, OPPOSITION TO THE ZONING REQUEST TO APPEND AMEND THE NEIGHBORHOOD. UH, PLAN. UH, THIS ITEM, UH, HAS THREE PRIMARY CONCERNS FOR OUR NEIGHBORS. UH, ONE IS THE ENCROACHMENT OF COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES INTO THE RESIDENTIAL PORTION OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND I HEARD, UH, STAFF MENTION THAT THE COUNCIL IS ACTUALLY ENCOURAGING DEVELOPMENT, UH, COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT, BUT WE HAVE PLENTY OF COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. IT'S ALONG THE CORRIDOR, WHICH WE THINK IS APPROPRIATE, BUT NOT WITHIN THE INTERIOR OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. UH, WE HAVE GRAVE CONCERNS THAT THIS WILL START AN EROSION OF THE RESIDENTIAL PORTION, UH, OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND LEAD TO MORE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT REQUESTS. THIS PARTICULAR, UH, PROPERTY WOULD ACTUALLY BE NEXT TO AND ACROSS THE STREET FROM RESIDENTIAL HOMES. THERE IS NO OTHER COMMERCIAL [01:10:01] BUSINESS ON THAT STREET. WHAT EXISTS IS, UH, MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL. WE ALSO HAVE TRAFFIC AND SAFETY CONCERNS. UH, WE UNDERSTAND THAT, UH, THE NA WE ALREADY HAVE SIGNIFICANT TRAFFIC AND PARKING ISSUES ON 22ND AND KALITA, AND IT'S VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE DURING THE CURRENT RESTAURANT OPERATIONS HOURS, UH, FOR PARKING. A NEW RESTAURANT IN ADDITION TO ESTE AND BARTE WILL INCREASE THE PROBLEM. UH, 2108 AND 2110 ARE LOCATED VERY CLOSE TO ALAMO PARK, UH, AND WE HAVE VERY LIMITED SIDEWALKS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AS IS, UH, HOURS OF OPERATIONS. AND, UH, IS ANOTHER CONCERN. ALONG WITH, UH, THE UNLIMITED NUMBER OF PRIVATE EVENTS THAT COULD OCCUR. THE PROPOSED NEW RESTAURANT WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FROM 7:00 AM TO 4:00 PM WORKERS WILL ARRIVE BEFORE AND AFTER AND REMAIN AFTER THOSE HOURS. THE APPLICANT WANTS THE ABILITY TO HAVE UNLIMITED PRIVATE EVENTS AT THE NEW RESTAURANT THAT COULD LAST UNTIL 10:00 PM ESTE OPENS AT 5:00 PM TO 10:00 PM DURING THE WEEK AND NOON TO 10 FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. THIS CREATES THE LIKELY SCENARIO THAT BOTH NEW RESTAURANTS WILL HAVE CUSTOMERS AT THE SAME TIME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. BOWEN. UH, JEFFREY BOWEN, DISTRICT EIGHT, AND I'M HERE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD'S COUNCIL AS THEIR PRESIDENT. UH, WE TOOK A VOTE LAST NIGHT AT THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE TO SUPPORT THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN THIS, AND PRIMARILY ONE OF THE REASONS, UM, I ACTUALLY SAT THROUGH THE PLANNING COMMISSION THAT NIGHT THAT THEY HAD THIS, I WAS ABSOLUTELY APPALLED AT THE WAY THAT THE COMMISSION TREATED THE PEOPLE THAT SPOKE THE OVERTONS, UH, FORMER ME, UH, FOR FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER HOUSTON. I WAS, HONESTLY, IT WAS, IT WAS VERY DISTURBING. UH, AND SO I VOWED THAT I WOULD COME DOWN AND SPEAK TO THIS, BUT LAST NIGHT WE ACTUALLY MADE A VOTE THAT WE WERE GOING TO SUPPORT THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S DECISION TO OPPOSE THIS ZONING. UM, SO DURING THE ENTIRE PROCESS, DURING THE PLANNING COMMISSION, WHICH IS ALL ON VIDEO, UM, IT WAS, IT WAS VERY OBVIOUS THAT THEIR MINDS WERE ALREADY MADE UP, THAT THIS WAS ALL GOING TO BE UP ZONED, UH, THE LACK OF RESPECT, THE LACK OF EVEN WANTING TO LISTEN TO A LONG ESTABLISHED NEIGHBORHOOD AND LONG ESTABLISHED NEIGHBORS IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. I, I JUST FOUND IT EGREGIOUS AT, AT THEIR BEHAVIOR WHEN ONE OF 'EM ACTUALLY SAID, WELL, THIS IS, WE'RE GONNA UP ZONE THIS BECAUSE OF THE CORRIDOR. EAST 22ND IS NOT A CORRIDOR. IT MAY BE CLOSE, BUT WHEN THESE TYPE OF INCIDENTS HAPPEN, WE START TO LOSE TRUST WITHIN THE ENTIRE PROCESS BECAUSE OUR WORDS ARE NOT BEING HEARD. AND THE FACT THAT WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT MAINTAINING NEIGHBORHOODS, IT DOESN'T SEEM THAT THAT IS, UH, ANY TYPE OF A FACTOR IN THIS CASE HERE. SO I ASK FOR YOU TO PLEASE RECONSIDER UPZONING THIS AND LISTEN TO THESE NEIGHBORS. THEY HAVE, THEY HAVE LOOKED AT THIS VERY HARD. THEY'VE TRIED TO WORK WITH THESE PEOPLE, AND IT HAS BEEN, UM, IT HAS NOT BEEN A, A VERY GOOD EXPERIENCE BASED UPON WHAT I WITNESSED AT THE PLANET COMMISSION AT NIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MR. BOWEN. YES, MA'AM. HI, I AM CATHERINE EK, AND I LIVE ABOUT A HUNDRED FEET FROM THE PROPOSED RESTAURANT IN BLACKLINE NEIGHBORHOOD. AND I WANTED TO SAY TO YOU THAT BLACKLAND IS THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU WANT THE NEIGHBORHOOD YOU'VE BEEN ACTUALLY DESCRIBING. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT ZONING, WE HAVE TWO CORRIDORS OF THRIVING BUSINESSES THAT BLACKLINE NEIGHBORS HAVE SUPPORTED FOR ON THE BORDER NORTH AND SOUTH, WHICH WOULD BE MLK AND MAINOR. AND WE HAVE RESIDENTIAL WITH BOTH RENTERS AND OWNERS AND DUPLEXES AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH BCDC AND DENSITY OVER BY UT WHERE WE PARTICULARLY FOUGHT, UH, TALKED WITH THEM ABOUT, HEY, PLEASE DON'T GIVE US TENNIS COURTS THAT YOU'RE PLANNING. GIVE US, GIVE US PEOPLE, GIVE US NEIGHBORS. WE ALSO HAVE THOSE GRAD STUDENTS OR PEOPLE THAT I MIGHT MEET IN THE PARK SOME PLACES. THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT WALK THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THESE ARE NEIGHBORS. BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL BLACK RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY REALLY SEEMED TO UNDERSTAND NEIGHBORHOOD. THEY ALSO REALIZED THAT THEY NEEDED SOME SAFETY AND THEY NEEDED THAT SAFETY TO BE WITHIN THE NEIGHBORS AND WITHIN THOSE STREETS THAT WERE THERE. AND THEN THEY BORDERED IT WITH THE BUSINESSES BECAUSE THEY ALSO VALUED WHAT YOU VALUE. WHEN I LOOK AT MILLER, YOU VALUED THE ABILITY TO WALK TO BUSINESSES, TO SHOP PLACES, TO FIND A WAY, TO BE ABLE TO TAKE, BRING YOUR GROCERIES HOME. WE HAVE 30 BUSINESSES WITHIN 0.8 MILES ON THE MLK AND MAINOR CORRIDORS. THOSE ARE RESTAURANTS, THAT'S JUST THE RESTAURANTS, BARS, AND THE SHOPS THAT I COUNT THE, UH, COFFEE SHOPS, I COUNTED. AND WHEN I, WHAT I DO UNDERSTAND IS THAT BUSINESSES COME AND GO AND I'M, I'M GLAD SAM IS THERE. I LIKE SAM. I'VE PRAYED FOR SAM'S BUSINESSES. I WANTED HIM TO DO WELL WITH ESTEE AND BARTO, AND IN PARTICULAR, AS LONG AS PEOPLE'S HEALTH ALLOWED, [01:15:01] THEY STAYED ON THE INNER STREETS. SO YOU KNEW PEOPLE AND THEY HAD PORCHES THAT THEY SAT ON, AND THEY TALKED TO PEOPLE ACROSS THE STREET FROM THOSE PORCHES. AND WHEN I MOVED THERE IN 1996, I HAD TWO ELDERLY NEIGHBORS WHO TOLD ME THE, TOLD ME THE LIFE THERE, THEY EXPLAINED WHAT THE HISTORY OF BLACKLAND WAS ABOUT. AND I'M ASKING YOU SAVE SOMETHING ABOUT THE HISTORY OF BLACKLAND. THANK YOU. ALSO SPEAKING ON ITEM 35, CHRISTOPHER PAGE AGE. I DON'T SEE HIM. I'M GONNA SWITCH BACK TO REMOTE SPEAKERS. WE ARE HAVING TECHNICAL ISSUES, SO WE'LL STICK WITH REMOTE, UH, WITH IN-PERSON SPEAKERS ON ITEM 36, ANNA MARIA GUTIERREZ, KATHERINE EK, AND DANIEL EK. PLEASE COME FORWARD IF YOU WISH TO TESTIFY, AND YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE. HI COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS AN MARIA GUTIERREZ, AND FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS, I HAVE BEEN THE GARDEN MANAGER AT ESTE GARDEN FROM THE BEGINNING OF ESTA GARDEN. OUR MISSION HAS BEEN TO GROW SEASONAL PRODUCE FOR OUR RESTAURANTS, AND BACK THEN WHAT WAS SOON TO BE ESTE, WHILE REVITALIZING THE HISTORIC GARDEN SPACE THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY TENDED TO BY EASTSIDE CAFE. ESTA GARDEN WOULD REMAIN OPEN TO THE PUBLIC WITHOUT ANY GATES OR LOCKS, WITH THE INTENTION OF CREATING A COMMUNITY HUB, A SPACE WHERE NATURE REIGNS AND OUR NEIGHBORS CLOSE AND FAR CAN GATHER TO GROW, LEARN, AND EAT. I'D LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT THE ECOSYSTEM AT ISTE GARDEN. MANY ARE SHOCKED TO SEE HOW MUCH LIFE THERE IS IN THIS FOURTH OF AN ACRE. AS AN URBAN GARDENER, I TOO HAVE LOVED LEARNING HOW ABUNDANT A SMALL GARDEN CAN BE BEYOND ITS HARVEST. THE GARDEN'S DIVERSE ECOSYSTEM IS COMPOSED OF PLANTS, POLLINATORS, FOOD, LIVING SOIL, BIRDS, FLOWERS, AND ALSO A LARGE COMMUNITY OF AUSTINITES AND NEIGHBORS WHO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THIS GARDEN. I SEE NEIGHBORS WHO TAKE A DAILY STROLL, HOME. GARDENERS COME TO ASK FOR ADVICE, DINERS WHO ARE CURIOUS ABOUT THE FOOD ON THEIR PLATES, PARENTS WHO BRING THEIR KIDS TO EXPLORE, AND VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE BEEN COMING FOR YEARS TO THE GARDEN BECAUSE OF THEIR LOVE FOR THIS LEARNING COMMUNAL GREEN SPACE. WE'VE HOSTED SCHOOL GROUPS OF ALL AGES, COHORTS FROM URBAN ROOTS, FARM SHARE, PEAS, UM, GOOD WORK, AUSTIN, FRUITFUL COMMONS, AND MANY MORE, AS WELL AS WORKSHOPS, VOLUNTEER PROGRAMMING, FREE EDUCATIONAL TOURS, FARMER SOCIALS AND BEYOND WITHIN THE BLACKLAND NEIGHBORHOOD, WE'VE HAD NEIGHBORS COME TO ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS, EXCHANGE SEEDS WITH ALAMO REC CENTER, AND MUCH MORE. IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO WITNESS THE IMPACT THIS GARDEN HAS HAD ON SO MANY. I'M SORRY, BUT YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HI, CATHERINE, TO CHECK AGAIN, AND I WANTED TO SAY THAT WE DO LOVE THE GARDEN. IT'S BEAUTIFUL. UM, WHAT WE ARE HERE ABOUT IS TALKING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS. ONE REASON WE DON'T HAVE RESIDENTIAL PARKING IS WE'VE ALWAYS SUPPORTED THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE'VE THE, THE BUSINESSES ON THE CORRIDOR, AND WE DIDN'T WANNA AFFECT EAST SIDE AND WE DIDN'T WANNA AFFECT ME MADRES, WE DIDN'T WANNA AFFECT WHOEVER MOVED IN AFTER, WHICH IS SAM, BUT IN PARTICULAR, THE PARKING HAS BECOME INSANE BECAUSE OF HOW CROWDED IT IS. NOW, WHAT MIGHT WE HAVE TO DO? RIGHT? WE MIGHT HAVE TO DO WHAT SOME OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE DONE, BUT LET ME ASK THIS. IF THERE'S ANOTHER RESTAURANT AND THEY RUN CONCURRENTLY WITH TIMES, WHAT, THEN THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH SPACE THAT PEOPLE CAN COME INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND FIND A PLACE, AND WE NEVER DID IT BEFORE BECAUSE IT WOULD PUSH PEOPLE FURTHER IN. IN ADDITION TO THAT, I KNOW THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S STILL LISTED ON THERE, IF, IF YOU ALL DECIDE TO PASS THIS, WE NEED SOME PROTECTIONS, AND ONE OF THEM THAT'S ON THERE IS AN OFFSITE ACCESSORY PARKING, OFFSITE ACCESSORY PARKING MEANS THAT THEN OTHER BUSINESSES CAN ALSO PARK IN SPACES. AND THE QUESTION IS, WHERE ARE THOSE SPACES ON THE LOT? AND I'M TELLING YOU, I HOPE SAM DOES REALLY WELL, BUT IF THAT GOT SOLD SOMEHOW AND IT BECAME A PARKING LOT, THEN WHAT ABOUT ETOD? WHAT, WHAT IS THE POINT OF SAYING THAT WE WANNA MAKE MORE SPACE FOR CARS? I, I WOULD URGE YOU TO PUT THAT, TAKE THAT OFF AND PROTECT US IN REGARDS TO THAT. IN ADDITION, I WANTED TO ASK ALSO THAT MAYBE YOU WOULD START TO LOOK IN A DIFFERENT WAY AT EXACTLY HOW, UH, THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS TRIED TO WORK. WE HAVE TRIED TO WORK, WE'VE TRIED TO, I CAN'T MAKE MY NEIGHBORS CHANGE THEIR MINDS, BUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO TRY AND WORK SOMETHING OUT, THEY'VE BEEN HELPFUL IN [01:20:01] REMOVING CERTAIN THINGS WITH COS AND THEY'VE ALSO BEEN HELPFUL IN SOME OTHER THINGS. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU ALL DON'T GOVERN IS THAT A RESTRICTIVE COVENANT. AND WE, WE NEED SOME ASSURANCES THAT WE WERE TRYING TO WORK WITH IN THAT. NOW WHAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD DID IS SAID, WE CAN'T GO WITH THIS PARTICULAR RESTRICTIVE COVENANT. AND SO IF THERE'S TIME ALLOWED, IF YOU ALL CAN HELP US ALLOWED TO WORK WITH THEM, THAT WOULD BE INCREDIBLY HELPFUL. BECAUSE I HAVE A FEELING THIS MIGHT PASS. YES, SIR. FOR YOU. CAN I GIVE MY, CAN I GIVE MY TIME FOR HER? NOT NOW. THE, THE WAY WE, WE HAVE RULES ABOUT HOW YOU CAN DONATE TIME, SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK THOUGH, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES. YES. WE JUST, WE JUST WOULD LIKE TO KEEP THE NEIGHBORHOOD A NEIGHBORHOOD WITHOUT, UM, COMMERCIAL ENCROACHING AND, AND THEN SETTING A PRECEDENT FOR OTHER PROPERTIES TO BE REZONED. UM, IF THAT HAPPENS, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS GONE AND THERE'S JUST NO WAY THAT, UM, WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO, UM, FUNCTION THERE ANYMORE WITH THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC THAT'S GONNA BE THERE AND THE, THE LACK OF SAFETY THAT'S GONNA BE THERE. SO WHAT IS, HANG ON ONE SECOND. STOP, STOP THE CLOCK SO HE'LL HAVE MORE TIME. I'LL HAVE THE AMOUNT OF TIME. WHAT, WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE SOUND? UH, RECALL SWITCHING, CAN YOU SWITCH THAT NOW? NOW? OKAY. YOU MAKE YOU, SIR, YOU CAN CONTINUE. I JUST DIDN'T THAT, THAT, THAT WAS DISTRACTING FOR PEOPLE THAT WANTED TO LISTEN TO YOU. OKAY. UM, YEAH, WE JUST KNOW THAT, UH, THE DEVELOPERS ARE GONNA COME IN AND WANT TO, UH, UM, REZONE OTHER PROPERTIES AND, AND PUSH, UH, THE NEIGHBORS OUT WHERE A NEIGHBORHOOD OF ONLY FOUR BY SIX BLOCKS AND WE'RE ALREADY SMALL, AND IF IT THE ENCROACHMENT COMES IN EVEN, UH, ONE STREET IN, ON EACH SIDE, THEN THERE'S JUST HARDLY ANYTHING LEFT. AND SO, UM, WE'RE ASKING THAT YOU DON'T, UH, APPROVE THE REZONING AND SAVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, SAVE THE, THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE INVESTED THERE, UM, AND WHO, WHO ARE WANTING TO REMAIN TO, TO LIVING THERE. AND, UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. CONTINUING ON ITEM 36, KEVIN O'REILLY, MARVA OVERTONE. JEFFREY BOWEN, PLEASE. WHOEVER WANTS TO GO FIRST. OKAY. STATE YOUR NAME. HELLO, MY NAME IS KEVIN O'REILLY, MY WIFE ALEX. AND I WOULD LIKE TO VOICE OUR SUPPORT FOR THE ZONING CHANGE AT ESTEE GARDEN. WE'VE BEEN, UH, CHERRYWOOD RESIDENTS, UH, RIGHT AROUND THE BLOCK GOING ON 15 YEARS NOW, AND THIS WILL BE OUR FIFTH YEAR VOLUNTEERING IN THE GARDEN, HELPING TO CARE FOR THE PURPLE MARTINS THAT NEST THERE EACH, EACH SEASON. IT'S A SMALL BUT MEANINGFUL SPACE, NOT JUST FOR US, BUT TO A COMMUNITY OF VOLUNTEERS. PEOPLE COME TOGETHER THERE TO GARDEN, LEARN AND CONTRIBUTE TO SOMETHING GREEN IN THE MIDDLE OF, UH, OUR BUS LANE NEIGHBORHOOD. UH, WE'VE MET COUNTLESS AUSTIN NEIGHBORS BEING THERE THROUGH THE, AND THROUGH THE GARDEN TOURS AND TALKING TO SAM, THE OWNER. I KNOW HE CARES ABOUT THE COMMUNITY AND HE'S COMMITTED TO KEEPING A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE GARDEN WITH A NEW RESTAURANT HE WANTS TO BUILD. I ALSO KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT ALONE AND LOVING THE AREA FOR ITS VIBRANCY. UH, IN A RECENT NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, UH, NEWSLETTER SURVEY THAT WAS PUBLISHED JUST LAST MONTH, THE TOP TWO COMMON THREADS WERE PEOPLE'S LOVE OF THE VARIETY OF BUSINESSES ON MADER, AS WELL AS ITS WALKABILITY AND FRIENDLINESS. UH, WE THINK THIS WILL ONLY ADD TO THIS. AND, UM, YEP. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM. YES. MARVA OVERTON. I'M GONNA PICK UP WHERE I LEFT OFF. UM, ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I WANT TO ADD THAT I HAVE LIVED ON EAST 22ND STREET IN BLACKLAND SINCE 1994. I LIVE IN THE HOME THAT MY GRANDMOTHER AND STEP-GRANDFATHER BUILT IN THE 1950S, AND MY PARENTS LIVE ON THE SAME STREET, SIX BLOCKS TO THE WEST. THEY ARE BOTH FROM AUSTIN, BUT THEY, UM, MOVED TO TENNESSEE FOR 42 YEARS, MOVED BACK HERE IN 2003, AND THEY LIVE AT THE HOUSE ON THE CORNER OF CAL LEONA IN 21ST STREET. AND IT'S A BLESSING TO HAVE THEM THAT CLOSE, UH, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THAT THEY'RE KNOW NOW BOTH IN THEIR NINETIES. I HOPE THEY DON'T MIND ME SHARING THAT. BUT THE HOUSE THAT THEY RESIDE IN STANDS TODAY [01:25:01] ONLY, ONLY BECAUSE THE BLACKLAND NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION WAS FORMED IN 1981 TO FIGHT THE FURTHER ANNEXATION OF LAND BY THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN, BNA. AND UT REACHED AN AGREEMENT WHEREBY THE UNIVERSITY WOULD NOT ACQUIRE PROPERTY EAST OF LEONA STREET IN BLACK LAND. IN 2016, UT PROPOSED CONSTRUCTING TENNIS COURTS ON THE WEST SIDE OF LEONA. BNA FELT THIS WOULD BE DISRUPTIVE TO NEIGHBORS TO LIVE NEAR LEONA STREET. AND FOR SEVERAL YEARS PRIOR TO THAT PROPOSAL, HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH UT REGARDING ESTABLISHING GRADUATE STUDENT HOUSING. BNA HAD THE DESIRE TO MAINTAIN THE RESIDENTIAL FABRIC OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND UT HAD A NEED FOR GRADUATE STUDENT HOUSING AFTER MANY MEETINGS AND SOME COMPROMISING THE EAST AUSTIN GRADUATE APARTMENTS OPEN IN THE FALL OF 20 2024. I SHARE THESE STORIES BECAUSE THIS IS THE HISTORY THAT WE, ESPECIALLY LONGTIME RESIDENTS BRING TO THIS REZONING CASE. WE KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE WHAT CAN HAPPEN IF YOU DON'T TAKE A STAND TO PROTECT YOUR RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. I DOUBT VERY SERIOUSLY THAT MR. SAM HELMAN MOSS IS AWARE OF THIS HISTORY. IF HE WERE, I THINK, OR AT LEAST HOPE, HE WOULD'VE REALIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF WORKING WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD UPFRONT RATHER THAN REACHING OUT FOR THE REQUEST FOR THE FIRST TIME ON AUGUST THE 22ND IN SUBMITTING THE APPLICATION ON SEPTEMBER THE THIRD. MA'AM, THANK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M SORRY. YOUR TIME'S EXPIRED. MR. BOWEN, UH, THANK YOU. UH, JEFFREY BOWEN, PRESIDENT A NC, REPRESENTING THE EXECUTIVE COUNSEL ON THIS, WHAT SHE JUST GOT THROUGH TALKING ABOUT THE HISTORY OF BLACK LANDS GOES BACK AS A, AS A CO-OP BASICALLY, THAT STARTED PURCHASING LAND TO KEEP FROM BEING TAKEN OVER BY UT. THIS NEIGHBORHOOD IS VERY SMALL AND THEY'VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR A VERY LONG TIME. I HOPE YOU CAN SEE THE AMOUNT OF, OF NOT ONLY DESPERATION, BUT THE PRIDE THAT THEY HAVE IN TRYING TO MAINTAIN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. THEY'RE ASKING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY, AND I WOULD HOPE THAT IN THE FAIRNESS OF AFFORDABILITY AND TRYING TO SAVE NEIGHBORHOODS AND THOSE THINGS, THAT MAYBE THIS COUNCIL WILL ACTUALLY STEP BACK AND SAY, MAYBE WE NEED TO LOOK AT THIS AND ACTUALLY DO, UH, THE RIGHT THING. UH, WE'RE NOT AGAINST BUSINESS, WE THINK THAT'S WORKS, BUT THESE PEOPLE HAVE TRIED THEIR DAMNEDEST TO WORK AND TRY TO GET SOME RESOLVE OVER THIS ENTIRE ISSUE. UH, AGAIN, UH, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO BACK AND WATCH THE, THE PLANNING COMMISSION TAPE ON THAT. IT, IT WAS, UM, IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS VERY EYE-OPENING AND I, AND I HOPE THAT IT NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN. BUT AGAIN, WE HAVE THOSE THAT BELIEVE MORE IN DENSIFICATION THAN THERE IS IN PRESERVATION. AND PRESERVATION SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN LOST IN THIS ENTIRE CONVERSATION. UM, IT'S ALL ABOUT WHAT WE WANT TO DO, MAYBE TO INCREASE THE TAX BASE. WELL, GUESS WHAT? THOSE HOMEOWNERS ARE PAYING TO THE TAX BASE ALSO, BUT, UH, THEY NEED TO BE HEARD. THEY NEED TO BE HEARD, UM, VERY CLEARLY ON WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO, WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO PRESERVE, AND WHAT THEY WANT TO, UH, KEEP IN THEIR LIVES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. GINA HOUSTON, AND IS AURA HOUSTON? HERE SHE IS. YOU'LL HAVE FOUR MINUTES. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND BEGIN SPEAKING. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNSEL MAYOR. MAYOR PRO TEM, CITY MANAGER. MY NAME IS GINA HOUSTON, A NATIVE AUSTINITE LIVING IN DISTRICT TWO, BUT RAISED ON EAST 22ND STREET, AND ULTIMATELY THIS CASE IS ABOUT DREAMS, THE DREAMS OF A BUSINESS OWNER VERSUS THE DREAMS OF A NEIGHBORHOOD WHOSE DREAMS HOLD MORE WEIGHT. LET'S SEE WHAT THE HISTORY OF AUSTIN SHOWS IN 1928. 98 YEARS AGO, THE CITY FATHERS DECIDED THAT THE FREED NEGROES WERE TOO MANY AND TOO FREE, SO THEY MANDATED THAT THEY BE MOVED EAST OF WHAT IS NOW IH 35. WE MOVED AND BUILT A COMMUNITY THAT NURTURED A HOSPITAL, A, AN AWARD-WINNING HIGH SCHOOL AND TWO COLLEGES, ONE OF WHICH IS OLDER THAN THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS. THE HOSPITAL CLOSED, THE HIGH SCHOOL WAS CLOSED, THE MIDDLE SCHOOL WAS BURNED DOWN. OLD EAST AUSTIN BEGAN TO DECLINE, BUT PEOPLE STAYED LIVING OUT THEIR DREAMS OF SELF-DETERMINATION, BUILDING NEIGHBORHOODS IN COMMUNITY. IMAGINE A QUIET NEIGHBORHOOD MADE UP OF LIFELONG AUSTIN RESIDENTS, AS WELL AS NEW NEIGHBORS FROM AFTER THE TURN OF THE CENTURY, THEY WERE LIVING THEIR LIVES, ONE BLOCK FROM A MAIN COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR, CROWDED STREETS, BUT STILL FRIENDLY TO CHILDREN AND PETS. THEN THE PETITIONER DECIDED HE WANTED TO BUILD AN OFFICE SPACE, A BREAKFAST RESTAURANT THAT COULD BE OPEN UNTIL 10:00 PM ON ANY NIGHT OF THE WEEK, [01:30:01] WHENEVER HE LIKED HOSTING PRIVATE PARTIES AS LARGE AS HE WANTS, MAYBE A BAKERY, MAYBE A LEATHER GOODS STORE. BASICALLY A SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTERTAINMENT CENTER FACING INTO A RESIDENTIAL STREET FACING SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, COMPLETELY CHANGING THE CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. WHEN CLARKSVILLE FACED COMMERCIAL ENCROACHMENT, THIS COUNCIL VOTED ON JULY 24TH, 2025 ON CONSENT TO APPLY STRINGENT RESTRICTIONS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF 6 0 8. BLANCO BLACKLAND FACES THIS, BUT WE ARE TOLD THAT WE, IT'S BETTER FOR US TO ALLOW SOFT COMMERCIAL ENCROACHMENT. OUR DREAMS OF A QUIET NEIGHBORHOOD ARE DEFERRED, BUT NOT THOSE OF 6 0 8 BLANCOS. WHY THE COMMERCIAL ENCROACHMENT ON RAINY STREET STARTED AND THAT NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED HISTORIC RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD NO LONGER EXISTS. IT'S ALL COMMERCIAL. WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN COMMERCIAL ENCROACHMENT IS ALLOWED, IT EXPANDS AND GROWS. AND AS SHOWN ON RAINY STREET DREAMS OF A QUIET, FAMILY-ORIENTED NEIGHBORHOOD ARE DESTROYED, DREAMS DEFERRED, DREAMS DESTROYED. WE ARE ONLY ASKING THAT THE COUNCIL ABIDE BY THE UPPER NEIGHBOR UPPER BOGGY CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN THAT WAS ADOPTED IN 2002. IF THE PETITIONER WANTS TO AMEND THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, A RIGOROUS PROCESS MUST BE FOLLOWED. INSTEAD, PLANNING STAFF RECOMMENDED THE REZONING ON ITS FACE WITHOUT ANY INDICATION OF WHAT IT WAS GOOD FOR THE RESIDENTS OF BLACKLAND. HOW IS THIS GOOD FOR US? THERE IS NO NET POSITIVE COMMERCIAL ZONING MEANS MORE TRAFFIC, LESS STREET PARKING, EARLY MORNING TRUCK DELIVERIES ON THE SLEEPING STREET. THE PETITIONER CITES THE VORTEX AND STAFF JUST CITED THE VORTEX AS A PRECEDENT, BUT THE VORTEX DOES NOT HAVE A COMMERCIAL ENTRANCE ONTO 22ND STREET, AND THEY HAVE PUT UP MITIGATION EFFORTS TO MASK THE COMMERCIAL CHARACTER OF THAT PROPERTY. WHY DID 6 0 8 BLANCO IN CLARKSVILLE RECEIVE RESTRICTIONS ON CONSENT, BUT BLACKLAND HAS TO ASK TO WORK WITH THE PETITIONER AND GIVE UP OUR DREAMS WHILE THE PETITIONER FOR REFUSES TO AGREE TO SIMPLE COMPROMISES SUCH AS RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE FOR THE OFFICES, WE BEING POOR HAVE ONLY OUR DREAMS. WE HAVE LAID OUR DREAMS AT YOUR FEET TREAD SOFTLY BECAUSE YOU TREAD ON OUR DREAMS. PLEASE VOTE NO ON THE REZONING OF THESE TWO LOTS. REQUIRE THE PETITIONER TO FOLLOW A FULL NON NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, AMENDMENT, PROCESS. BLACK LANDS DREAMS SHOULD MATTER AS MUCH AS CLARKSVILLE. THANK YOU. WE'LL MOVE BACK TO REMOTE SPEAKING. HANG ON ONE SECOND. MEMBERS I WANNA RECOGNIZE AND FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, I ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE THAT A FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER OR HOUSTON IS IN THE AUDIENCE AND JUST DONATED TIME, UH, TO THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER. AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. GOING BACK TO REMOTE SPEAKERS, UH, SPEAKING ON THE MERITS OF POSTPONEMENT FOR ITEM 33, KATHY BRODO. KATHY, PLEASE UNMUTE KATHY BRODO ON ITEM 35, TRACY WITTY, SEEMS LIKE WE'RE STILL HAVING TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY. WE WILL GO TO ITEM 36, BILL BUNCH. LEAH ZIEGLER AND BOBBY LEVINSKY. IS JEFFREY BONE HERE? HE IS. LEAH WILL HAVE FOUR MINUTES. LEE ZIEGLER, CHAIR OF THE OAK HILL NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING CONTACT TEAM SPEAKING ON ITEMS 37 38 SOUTH TOWN SQUARE. GOOD AFTERNOON. NOW MY SLIDES, SORRY, CAN I SPEAK LATER? WELL SURE IF, IF, IF HE THINKS HE CAN GET 'EM BACK. OH, I HAVE MY FLASH DRIVE WITH THAT GUN. NO, WE DON'T, WE WE CAN'T DO THAT, BUT, BUT, BUT [01:35:02] TELL YOU WHAT, LET'S GO ON TO ANOTHER MR. LAVINSKY, WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD AND SPEAK AND, AND WE'LL, I HAD SOME WIDGETS TOO THAT I WOULD'VE LIKE TO SHOW, SO WE BOTH PREPARED IT FOR THAT. ALRIGHT, UH, LET'S GO TO ANOTHER ITEM OR IF THERE'S SPEAKERS ON ITEMS 30, YOU, YOU CALLED 36, BUT WE'RE REALLY ON 37 AND, AND, AND ON ITEM NUMBER 37, IF THERE ARE SPEAKERS THAT DON'T HAVE, UH, AUDIO, UH, DON'T HAVE VISUALS, I THINK THE LAST ONE FOR 37 WAS BILL BUNCH. THAT, AND HE'S NOT HERE, IS NOT HERE. SO WE'LL MOVE TO ITEM 38. BILL BUNCH. LEAH ZIEGLER, JEFFREY BOW, AND BOBBY LAVINSKY. ALL HE IS CALLED, HE'S CALLED 38, AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE SLIDES ON 38, UH, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COME FORWARD MR. BOWEN. I, I, I DON'T WANNA SAY YOU'RE OLD SCHOOL, BUT YOU KNOW, HEY, YOU KNOW, I DON'T HAVE ANY SLIDES, BUT, UH, I DONATED TIME TO MS. ZIEGLER AND, AND ENDED UP GETTING THE OTHER TWO BACK. UM, ACTUALLY, I, I LIVE NOT TOO FAR FROM HERE AND, UH, AS A NC PRESIDENT, UH, JEFFREY BOWEN, UH, DISTRICT EIGHT, UH, I'M REPRESENTING A NC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE TODAY REGARDING THIS ISSUE. UM, FOR WHERE THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY IS, IT'S ACTUALLY WHERE THE BEST BUY IS AT THE CORNER OF MOPAC AND TWO 90, UH, THAT ENTIRE AREA RIGHT THERE IS GOING TO BE, IS WANTING TO BE UP ZONED AND PUT IN. THEY WANT A THOUSAND UNITS, ALL THIS OTHER STUFF. ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE WITH THIS, UM, IS THAT THE FACT THAT THERE'S SOME OF THE OVERLAY THAT THEY'RE WANTING TO, THAT STAFF HAS SAID WE WANT TO GET RID OF. WELL, THIS IS AN ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREA. IT ACTUALLY BACKS RIGHT UP OR GAINES CREEK BACKS RIGHT UP TO THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY. IT IS RIGHT NOW 95% IMPERVIOUS COVER. SO WE'RE GONNA WANT, WE DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE VMU, WE DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS, BUT WE DO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE FACT OF WANTING TO TAKE AWAY SOME OF THE OVERLAYS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO AUTOMOTIVE SALES AND AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES. NOW REMEMBER I JUST GOT THROUGH SAYING THIS BACKS UP TO GAINES CREEK WATERSHED, ALSO THE MASSIVE GAINES CREEK GREEN BELT AREA. IT'S AN ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREA. WHERE DOES THE WATER GO FROM THIS AREA? IT GOES INTO BARTON CREEK, WHICH THEN ENDS UP DOWN IN TOWN LAKE GOING THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS. THIS NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED. WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE OKAY WITH THE FACT THAT THEY'RE WANTING TO GO HIGHER, PUT ALL THESE APARTMENTS IN THERE, NO MATTER HOW MUCH TRAFFIC GETS GOING TO PUT IN THIS AREA, THAT'S ALREADY A TRAFFIC MESS. BUT THAT IS THE MAIN CONCERN, IS THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS OVER THIS ENTIRE PROJECT. PLEASE LISTEN TO WHAT'S GOING ON HERE WITH WHAT MR. LAVINSKY HAS TO SAY AND WITH WHAT LEE HAS TO SAY. THEY'VE GOT SOME VERY GOOD SLIDES ON THIS WHOLE PROCESS. THIS ALSO ADDS TO ANOTHER MASSIVE AREA THAT WE'VE GOT, WHICH IS GONNA BE BUILT RIGHT IN BEHIND THE TARGET, RIGHT BEHIND OUR OVER A THOUSAND UNITS. THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE THE VISUALS WORKING NOW? YES. ALRIGHT, SO WE'LL GO BACK TO ITEM 37. THANK YOU, LEAH ZIEGLER AND BOBBY LAKI. LEAH WILL STILL HAVE THE TIME DONATION. SO FOUR MINUTES AGAIN. LEE ZIEGLER, CHAIR OF THE OAK HILL NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING CONTACT TEAM. GOOD AFTERNOON. THIS PROPERTY SITS ABOVE THE BARTON CREEK WATERSHED WHERE GAINES CREEK TRIBUTARIES CONVERGE AND QUICKLY MERGE DIRECTLY INTO BARTON CREEK. NOTE THE LOCATION OF SOUTH TOWN. THE PROPERTY CORNER IS BOUNDED BY STATE HIGHWAYS AS WELL AS GAINES CREEK. THE CREEK GOES UNDER MOPAC HERE. TRAFFIC FROM FIVE LANES LARGELY CONVERGES INTO A SINGLE LANE NEAR THE, UH, NORTH MOPAC FEEDER LANES BORDERING THE PROPERTY. NO IMPROVEMENTS ARE PLANNED HERE ON THE NORTH SIDE OF TWO 90 AND THE MOPAC EXPANSION. SINCE HOUSING IS THE REAL GOAL AND GIVEN THE TRAFFIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS, OUR REQUEST IS STRAIGHTFORWARD. RETAIN THE 1993 PROHIBITED COMMERCIAL USES. ADD EIGHT ADDITIONAL PROHIBITED USES TO BETTER PROTECT THE ADJACENT WATERSHED [01:40:01] AND ENSURE TRAFFIC IMPACTS ARE EVALUATED USING THE APPROPRIATE CURRENTLY RESTRICTED BASELINE ESTABLISHED BY THE CONDITIONAL OVERLAY. THE EIGHT ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDED PROHIBITED USES INCLUDE CONVENIENCE STORAGE, ELECTRONIC PROTOTYPE ASSEMBLY, OFFSITE ACCESSORY PARKING, PETTY CAB SERVICES, WHICH MIGHT BE A CONDITIONAL USE PLANT NURSERY PRINTING AND PUBLISHING SERVICES, INDUSTRIAL CUSTOM MANUFACTURING AND URBAN FARM. TO BE CLEAR, THE CURRENT STAFF RECOMMENDATION WOULD REMOVE THE PROHIBITION ON AUTO SALES FROM THE 1993 CONDITIONAL OVERLAY. WE BELIEVE THAT PROHIBITION SHOULD REMAIN IN PLACE AS THE USE WOULD EXACERBATE HAZARDOUS ROADWAY CONDITIONS AND CROSS TRAFFIC ALONG NORTH MOPAC FEEDER ROADS GENERATED FROM THIS SITE. THERE ARE TWO DRIVEWAYS COMING OFF THE SIDE OF THE PROPERTY THAT MUST MERGE WITH THE FIVE OFTEN CONGESTED LANES GIVEN BY RAPIDLY INCREASED LOCAL DEVELOPMENT. IN ADDITION, AUTO SALES WOULD CLEARLY INCREASE POLLUTION DIRECTLY TO GAINES CREEK. THIS IS BECAUSE AUTO SALES INCLUDES 10% ACCESSORY SERVICES BY UP TO MORE THAN A HALF ACRE. IT WOULD HAVE GREATER IMPACT UNDER THE REDEVELOPMENT EXCEPTIONS SINCE POLLUTION TREATED REQUIREMENTS WILL BE GROSSLY LIMITED, THIS PROTECTION NOW IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR DOWNSTREAM WATER QUALITY. FINALLY, A TRAFFIC IMPACT ANALYSIS IS ONLY TRIGGERED AT SITE PLAN IF PROJECTED TRIPS EXCEED THE BASELINE BY THOUSANDS. A SECOND CONDITION OF THE CONDITIONAL OVERLAY CURRENTLY LIMITS ALLOWABLE SITE PLAN COUNTS IN TRIP COUNTS IN DEVELOPMENT. 4,500, OOPS. 4,500 TRIPS ARE OVERSTATED IN THE APPLICATION AS THIS IGNORES THE EXISTING CONDITIONAL OVERLAY LIMITATION ON TRIPS. IF THE OWNER IS IN VIOLATION OF THE EXISTING RESTRICTION DETERMINED IN 1992, WE BELIEVE BEFORE RELEASING THE CONDITIONAL OVERLAY, THE ITE TRIP GENERATION STANDARDS SHOULD NOW COME FROM THE REFERENCE BOOK OF THAT PERIOD. OR BETTER YET, THE SPECIFIED TIA REFERENCED IN THE CONDITIONAL OVERLAY AND PRODUCED BY THE ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS. OVERALL, WE DO NOT OPPOSE THE PROPOSED UPZONING TO VMU. IT ALIGNS WITH COUNCIL COUNCIL'S HOUSING GOALS TO ADD HOUSING AT AUTOCENTRIC INTERSECTION AND BRINGS GREATER HEIGHT AND HOPEFULLY IMPROVED IMPERVIOUS COVER UTILIZATION UP TO 95% OF THE LOT FOR THE BETTER OUTCOME. WE ASK COUNSEL TO CAREFULLY INTRODUCE SAFEGUARDS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU MR. LAVINSKY. I HAVE SLIDES AS WELL. THANK YOU MAYOR COUNCIL, BOBBY LAVINSKY, UH, ATTORNEY WITH SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE. AT ITS SURFACE, THIS IS A CASE THAT IS A REZONING CASE AT TWO MAJOR HIGHWAYS, BUT WHAT WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT HERE IS THE SUBSURFACE. UM, AND I WANNA REMIND YOU THAT ZONING IS THE CITY'S FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION. SO THESE ARE ACTUALLY REALLY IMPORTANT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS AS WELL TO PROHIBIT USES IN ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREAS. UM, THIS NEXT MAP I WANNA SHOW YOU HERE, UM, IS, UH, THE FLOW PATHS THAT ARE UNDERNEATH THE SITE. ALL THIS, THIS RECHARGE ZONES IN THIS SCREEN HERE, UM, WHAT YOU'LL SEE IS THAT THIS TWO TO EIGHT DAY RANGE HERE AT THE TOP OF THE CHART, THAT'S WHERE THIS SITE IS LOCATED AND THAT MEANS THAT ANYTHING THAT GETS INTO THE AQUIFER, WHICH IS A LIMESTONE AQUIFER, ANYTHING GOES STRAIGHT THROUGH, THERE'S NO NATURAL FILTRATION. IT GETS INTO THESE ENDANGERED SPECIES HABITATS WITHIN TWO DAYS. UM, WHAT YOU'LL SEE HERE IN THIS FIRST SLIDE IS, UM, THIS IS FROM THE GEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT FROM THE MOPAC SOUTH EXPANSION. YOU'LL SEE THAT THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT RECHARGE FEATURES DIRECTLY ON THE BORDER OF THIS PROPERTY WITHIN THE MOPAC RIGHT OF WAY. THAT DOESN'T MEAN THESE ARE THE ONLY RECHARGE FEATURES THAT ARE PRESENT IN THE AREA. THERE ACTUALLY ARE SEVERAL IN THE AREA. A LOT OF THEM HAVE BEEN FILLED IN OVER TIME. UM, IT'S, IT'S A CONCERN BECAUSE, UM, I THINK WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE REALITY THAT MOPAC LIKELY SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN BUILT THERE. AND THIS SUB, THIS, UH, THIS SUB UM, THIS SHOPPING CENTER AS WELL PROBABLY SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN, UH, LOCATED HERE AS WELL. UM, WHAT ALL I'M ASKING YOU TO DO HERE IS AGREE WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN ADDING SOME ADDITIONAL PROHIBITED USES, PARTICULARLY THE AUTO SALES. UM, CAR DEALERSHIPS ARE REALLY NOTORIOUS FOR THE CHEMICALS THAT I HAVE ON SITE, UH, NOT ONLY OILS BUT ALSO THE, THE, THE STUFF THAT THEY USE TO, TO PAINT CARS, TO REPAIR EQUIPMENT AND THEY DO A LOT OF WASHING OFF IN THOSE FACILITIES. JUST PROHIBIT AUTO USES. THAT'D BE REALLY GREAT. UM, AND I'LL SPEAK A LITTLE BIT MORE AT THE NEXT ITEM. THANK YOU. [01:45:02] ALRIGHT, WE'LL MOVE BACK TO REMOTE SPEAKERS. SPEAKING TO THE POSTPONEMENT ON ITEM 33. KATHY BRODO. HELLO, MY NAME IS KATHY BRODO AND I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF AUSTIN SINCE 2009. I APOLOGIZE FOR GETTING, CUTTING OFF AND JOINING REMOTELY. WE WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THE POSTPONEMENT TO ALLOW MORE TIME TO NEGOTIATE TO CONTINUE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE APPLICANT AND TO UNDERSTAND THE APPLICANT'S FULL PLANS FOR THE SITE. OUR, OUR CONCERNS INCLUDE INCREASED TRAFFIC, LACK OF PARKING, ENCROACHMENT OF COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD CONSTRUCTION OF ADDITIONAL STRUCTURES ON THE SIDE, IMPERVIOUS COVER AND HEIGHT OF NEW CONSTRUCTION. GIBSON IS A VERY SHORT AND NARROW STREET ONLY ABOUT 600 FEET AND IT IS OFTEN PARTIALLY BLOCKED BY DELIVERY TRUCK TRUCKS AND SHARED RIDE VEHICLES AND OTHER VEHICLES LOOKING FOR PARKING TO VISIT THE BUSINESSES ON SOUTH CONGRESS. TRAFFIC OFTEN BACKS UP UNDER SOUTH CONGRESS DUE TO THIS CONGESTION. IN ADDITION TO TRAFFIC CONCERNS, PEDESTRIAN VISITORS OFTEN STEP INTO G GIBSON AND WALK ON GIBSON TO AVOID CONGESTION ON THE STREET, CREATING SAFETY CONCERNS. DUE TO THESE ISSUES, WE WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST A POSTPONEMENT UNTIL THE MARCH 26TH MEETING TO CONTINUE OUR NEGOTIATION WITH THE APPLICANT TO ADDRESS OUR CONCERNS ABOUT THEIR REZONING REQUEST. THANK YOU AND AGAIN, I APOLOGIZE FOR JOINING REMOTELY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY SPEAKING ON ITEM 35, TRACY WHITTY. AND IF YOU CAN STAY ON THE LINE, YOU'LL BE CALLED FOR ITEM 36. HELLO, COUNSEL, THIS IS TRACY WHITTY. I LIVE IN DISTRICT ONE, LIKE A CASE LAST YEAR ON A LOT IN CLARKSVILLE AT 6 0 8 BLANCO STREET. THESE EAST 22ND STREET LOTS ARE APPROXIMAL TO CSMU PROPERTY ON A BUSTLING ACTIVITY CORRIDOR. UNANIMOUSLY YOU VOTED FOR LR WITH A CO THAT PROHIBITS ALL RESTAURANT USES WITH AND WITHOUT ALCOHOL SERVICE OFF OFFSET ACCESSORY PARKING, CUSTOM MANUFACTURING PEOPLE WHO ARE INVESTED IN THE LLC THAT OWNS THESE EAST 22ND STREET LOTS BENEFIT EVERY DAY FROM YOUR SUPPORT OF THAT CLARKSVILLE CO, WHICH CONTRIBUTES TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR SEVERAL BLOCKS AROUND THAT SITE. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE APPLICANT HAS INVESTORS INTENDED TO DEVELOP THREE TO 4,000 ADDITIONAL SQUARE FOOTAGE OF RESTAURANT SPACE FOR BREAKFAST, LUNCH, AND PRIVATE EVENING EVENTS, OFFICE SPACE, ADDITIONAL SQUARE FOOTAGE OF RETAIL AND OFFSITE ACCESSORY PARKING IS ONE OF THE LAST RESIDENTIAL STREETS IN BLACKLAND GOING TO BECOME A SAFE ROUTE FOR VALET PARKING THAT SEEMS TO DISHONOR PEOPLE OVER DECADES WHO HAVE BEEN VERY COMMITTED TO PROMOTING A COMPLETE COMMUNITY AND HOUSING OF ALL TYPES, ESPECIALLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THEY'VE SUPPORTED BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ALONG EAST MLK AND MAINOR. THEY HAVE KEPT THEIR STREET PARKING OPEN TO SHARE WITH BUSINESSES. THEY DESERVE A FAR MORE ROBUST CONDITIONAL OVERLAY AND RESTRICTIVE COVENANT IF THE COMMERCIAL ZONING ON A HALF ACRE IS TO BE APPROVED. AND AS STAFF POINTED TO ANOTHER COMMERCIAL SITE TO JUSTIFY THIS, THEY ARE RIGHT TO FEAR THAT THIS WILL OCCASION MORE ENCROACHMENT. THIS NEIGHBORHOOD IS MARKED AS AN ETOD STATION AREA IN YOUR PLANNING EFFORTS, WHICH MEANS ENCOURAGING ALTERNATIVE MODES OF TRANSPORTATION TO DRIVING IS AN IMPERATIVE. GIVEN THAT PLEASE ADD OFFSITE ACCESSORY PARKING TO THE LIST OF PROHIBITED USES ON ANY MOTION YOU MIGHT MAKE TODAY. AND I HOPE YOU'LL ENCOURAGE THE APPLICANT TO LEAN INTO FURTHER TAILOR THE ZONING. HE SAYS HE NEEDS THE NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS ARE JUST AS INVESTED, IF NOT MORE THAN THE PEOPLE WHO WILL PROFIT FROM THIS SITE AND PROBABLY DRIVE HOME TO PLACES WHERE THIS KIND OF IN INTE INTENSITY OF USE IS NOT WHAT AGREED TO THEM. THANK YOU. TRACY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 36? NO, I HAVE THE SAME COMMENTS FOR THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALSO SPEAKING REMOTELY ON ITEM 36, STEVEN BROWN. UH, HELLO. MY NAME IS STEVEN BROWN. I'M A LONG TERM, UH, LONG TIME RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE, BORN AND RAISED THERE. AND, UH, YOU KNOW, AS GINA HOUSTON MENTIONED, UH, I ECHO WHAT SHE SAID. I MEAN THE HISTORY OF AUSTIN AND, UM, THE SITUATION OF THIS COMMUNITY HAS FACED, I MEAN, IS WELL DOCUMENTED AND, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT HAVING GIVEN A LIT, UH, HISTORY LESSON, YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD BE COMMITTED TO NOT REPEATING THAT HISTORY. AND I THINK THAT ANYTIME WE DO ANYTHING WITH LAND DEVELOPMENT AND ZONING, UH, WE SHOULD BE DOING IT THROUGH A SOCIAL JUSTICE LENS. UH, WHEN, WHEN A COMMUNITY, UM, UH, SOMEONE DECIDES TO BUY A HOUSE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU KNOW, THEY WANT IT TO HAVE CHARACTER WALKABLE SPACES. THEY WANNA BE ABLE TO, TO SEE, UH, THE KIDS WALK DOWN [01:50:01] THE STREET. AND, YOU KNOW, HAVING ENCROACHMENT FROM COMMERCIAL ZONING INTO RESIDENTIAL IS VERY CONCERNING. I MEAN, NO ONE WANTS THEIR CHILD WALKING DOWN THE STREET AND HAVING CARS WHIPPING INTO TO A POSSIBLE PARKING AREA OR JUST TRYING TO FIND PARKING ON THE, UH, ON THE STREET. AND I ASK ANY COUNCIL MEMBER, YOU KNOW, WOULD THEY CONSIDER, UH, YOU KNOW, WOULD THEY WANT THAT? WOULD THEY WANT THEIR CHILD OR GRANDCHILD, YOU KNOW, WALKING UP THE STREETS AND, AND YOU KNOW, HAVING TO, UH, BE ON GUARD FOR, FOR CARS AND STUFF. BUT, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS I REALLY WANNA SPEAK TO AS WELL IS THE, THE MICRO ASSAULTS TO A LOT OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS. UH, WHEN, WHEN COMING DOWN TO CITY HALL OR JUST HAVING TO FIGHT THESE BATTLES, IT REALLY DOES, UH, YOU KNOW, IT HURTS. IT HURTS THAT, THAT WE'RE WE'RE NOT BEING LISTENED TO, WE'RE, WE'RE FEELING IGNORED. AND, UM, ALL THESE THINGS COMPOUND WHEN NEIGHBORS OWED IN NEW MAKE DECISIONS ON WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANT TO CONTINUE TO STAY HERE AND ENGAGE WITH A LOCAL GOVERNMENT THAT JUST DOESN'T FEEL LIKE THEY'RE BEING HEARD. UM, YOU KNOW, I'M OPPOSED TO, TO THIS FOR MANY REASONS, BUT I DO THINK THAT IT WILL SET A STANDARD IF Y'ALL AREN'T EVEN WILLING TO HONOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THANK YOU, MR. THE NEIGHBORHOOD. MOVING BACK TO IN-PERSON SPEAKERS ON ITEM 38, BILL BUNCH, LEAH ZIEGLER AND BOBBY LEVINSKY, LEAH ZIEGLER. UM, ITEM 38 CONTINUING. OVERALL, WE DON'T OPPOSE THE UPZONING TO VMU. IT ALIGNS WITH COUNCIL'S HOUSING GOALS TO ADD HOUSING AT AUTOCENTRIC INTERSECTIONS AND BRINGS GREATER HEIGHT AND HOPEFULLY IMPROVED IMPERVIOUS COVER UTILIZATION. UM, I'M GLAD WE PULLED UP SLIDE FOUR. THAT IS THE LIST OF, UM, OF THE CONDITIONS THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR, AND I DON'T FEEL LIKE GIVEN THE INTENSITY THAT IS COMING TO THAT SEVEN ACRES, THIS LIST DOES NOT SEEM EXCESSIVE AT ALL. AND, UM, USING THE BASELINE TRIPS, UH, AT 4,544 IS DEFINITELY EXCESSIVE. UM, I, NO ONE COULD FIND THE ORIGINAL, UH, TIA FROM THE, THAT'S THAT APPARENTLY THE DEPARTMENT SHOULD HAVE. AND, UM, FOR THAT REASON WE SUGGESTED THAT THE, UM, THE, IT'S A BOOK, THE ITE BOOK THAT RELATES TO THAT TIME. APPARENTLY IT'S UPDATED EVERY THREE OR FOUR YEARS AND I FEEL THAT WE SHOULD BE, UH, USING THAT ITE TRIP GENERATION STANDARD TO COME UP WITH A BASELINE SINCE OTHERWISE THE OWNER WOULD'VE BEEN IN VIOLATION OF THE CONDITIONAL OVERLAY. SO THAT SEEMS TO BE THE MOST APPROPRIATE STANDARD AT THIS TIME. UM, AGAIN, FOR A BETTER OUTCOME, WE ASK COUNSEL TO CAREFULLY INTRODUCE SAFEGUARDS FOR WATERSHED PROTECTION AND HELP TO REGULATE SITE GENERATED TRAFFIC FOR COMMERCIAL USES BY SLIGHTLY EXPANDING THE EXISTING CONDITIONAL OVERLAY TO ADD EIGHT PROHIBITED USES AND BY CORRECTING THE BASELINE TRIP COUNT. AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE THE AUTO SALES, WHICH AGAIN HAS 10% SERVICE. UM, THANK YOU. THANK YOU MR. LEVINSKY, MAYOR AND COUNSEL AGAIN, I'M GONNA ECHO, UM, DR. ZIEGLER'S, UH, COMMENTS THAT AUTO SALES NEED TO BE PROHIBITED OVER THE RECHARGE ZONE. UM, I THINK THAT'S NOT A RADICAL PREMISE AND SO WE'RE REALLY ASKING YOU TO JUST ADD A FAIRLY REASONABLE ADDITIONAL PROHIBITED USE ON THE SITE. UM, AND, AND THE OTHER LIST OF THE, THE PROHIBITED USES THAT WERE ON YOUR SCREEN JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO, ALL OF THOSE HAVE POLLUTANTS AND CHEMICALS THAT ARE JUST, IF THEY MAKE IT INTO THE GROUNDWATER, IT WOULD CAUSE SOME DETRIMENT TO NOT ONLY GAINES CREEK AND BARTON CREEK, BUT UM, ALSO SOME ENDANGERED SPECIES DOWN THE WAY. UM, THERE WAS AN OLD RESTRICTIVE COVENANT PUT ON THE SITE THAT PROHIBITED UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS. I UNDERSTAND THAT CAN'T BE INCORPORATED INTO A CONDITIONAL OVERLAY WISH IT COULD BE. BUT ANOTHER WAY TO REALLY MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE BELT AND SUSPENDERS TO PROTECT THE RECHARGE ZONE WOULD BE JUST ADD THOSE PROHIBITED USES THAT WERE ON LEE ZIGLAR'S SITE, UH, ON HER SLIDE. THAT WOULD BE REALLY, UM, ENVIRONMENTALLY PROTECTIVE. AND, UH, WE'RE NOT SAYING DON'T APPROVE THIS ZONING IN CASE WE'RE SAYING JUST ADD THESE ADDITIONAL PROHIBITED USES. UM, I THINK IT'S A REASONABLE POSITION TO TAKE AND I APPRECIATE THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR WORKING ON THIS SO HARD. THANK YOU. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ITEM 40, BEGINNING WITH REMOTE SPEAKERS, [01:55:01] ELLIOT REHAN. HELLO. UH, CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME? YES. UM, HI. APOLOGIES THAT THERE WAS THE NOISE THERE FOR A SECOND. UM, MY NAME'S ELLIOT REHAN AND I'LL KEEP IT BRIEF. I GREW UP IN DISTRICT ONE AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT EIGHT CURRENTLY NEITHER OF THOSE THEM ON TOP LIST AND I DON'T HAVE A STRONG CONNECTION TO ON TOP LIST. THAT IS PARTLY THE POINT IS THAT I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S BEST FOR ON TOP LIST BECAUSE IT'S NOT MY COMMUNITY AND THERE ARE SO MANY WONDERFUL PEOPLE WHO ARE IN CITY HALL RIGHT NOW TODAY WHO ARE FROM MONTOPOLIS AND WHO HAVE SO MANY WONDERFUL IDEAS FOR HOW TO INVEST IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITY. AND SO CITY COUNCIL, I REALLY URGE YOU TO LISTEN TO ALL THESE VOICES BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL IN OPPOSITION. UM, AT LEAST THE ONES THAT I'VE BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH TO, UM, AGENDA ITEM 40 AND 41. AND I STAND WITH THEM AND WITH THEIR, UH, SELF-DETERMINATION TO DETERMINE WHAT'S BEST FOR THEIR COMMUNITY AND NOT FROM ANOTHER DEVELOPER WHO IS LIKE ME NOT FROM THE COMMUNITY MIGHT IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. UM, PLEASE OPPOSE 40 AND 41 CONTINUING WITH REMOTE SPEAKERS, SPEAKING ON ITEM 40 QUINLAN TAYLOR. HI, UM, MY NAME IS QUINLAN TAYLOR. I'M A RESIDENT OF COUNCIL DISTRICT NINE. I'M CALLING TO ASK COUNCIL MEMBERS TO OPPOSE ITEMS 40 AND 41 ON TODAY'S AGENDA, CHANGING THE ZONING FROM SINGLE FAMILY TO MIXED USE AND OVERTURNING THE MON TOPLESS NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN ADOPTED IN 2001 TO ACCOMMODATE THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT WILL HARM THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN SEVERAL WAYS. UM, ONE OF WHICH BEING IT WILL STICK OUT AS THE TALLEST COMPLEX IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD BY FAR TOWERING OVER HISTORIC HOMES AND CREATING MORE IMPERVIOUS COVER, HARMING THE ENVIRONMENT IN AN ALREADY THREATENED NEIGHBORHOOD. ALSO, THE NEIGHBORHOOD INFRASTRUCTURE CANNOT ACCOMMODATE THE AMOUNT OF CARS THE DEVELOPMENT LIKE THIS WOULD BRING IN, WHICH WILL CAUSE TRAFFIC AND ENDANGER THOSE ALREADY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHO USE THESE STREETS TO WALK BIKE OR BUS TO SCHOOL AND WORK. AND ALSO THE DEVELOPER, DEVELOPER CLAIMS THE REZONING WILL BE USED TO CREATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT WITH UNITS AT 80% MEDIUM FAMILY INCOME, THIS HOUSING WILL ONLY BE AFFORDABLE TO FAMILIES WHO MAKE UP TO $90,000 A YEAR. THIS CRUSHES THE AVERAGE FA MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME FOR RESIDENTS ALREADY IN THE AREA, WHICH AT 40% MEANS FAMILIES MAKE LESS THAN 50 KA YEAR. THIS WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE ONGOING DISPLACEMENT OF COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE LIVED IN THE METROPOLIS NEIGHBORHOOD FOR DECADES. THIS HOUSING IS NOT AFFORDABLE FOR THEM AND IT WILL RAISE THE COST OF LIVING AROUND THEM UNTIL THEY CAN NO LONGER SURVIVE IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS AND THEIR HOMES. DON'T SIDE WITH DEVELOPERS. DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND PLEASE OPPOSE ITEMS 40 AND 41. MOVING TO IN-PERSON SPEAKERS, JOSHUA BRUNS, SUSAN ALMANZA, MARY SANCHEZ. MS. AMANZA, PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND BEGIN. YOUR NAME'S BEEN IF, IF HE'S CALLED YOUR NAME AND YOUR IN THE AUDIENCE, WOULD YOU PLEASE COME FORWARD. UH, MY NAME IS JOSHUA BRUNSON. I'M THE APPLICANT AND THE OWNER. PLEASE GO AHEAD AND SPEAK. OH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, MAYOR, UH, CITY MANAGER. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. MY NAME IS JOSHUA BRUNSON. I'M A 15 YEAR LONG RESIDENT HERE IN AUSTIN. I'M A FORMER HOUSTON TILSON, A CC STUDENT, LIVED OFF OF RIVERSIDE FOR SEVERAL YEARS WHILE I ATTENDED A CC. UH, THIS CASE HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR QUITE SOME TIME. I JUST WANNA BRIEFLY WALK THROUGH THE HISTORY BECAUSE IT'S GONE THROUGH SEVERAL CHANGES IN TRYING TO GET IT RIGHT. WE REALLY JUST STARTED WITH CSMU ZONING MOVED TO GRMU BASED ON STAFF FEEDBACK. WHEN DB 90 WAS ADOPTED BY COUNCIL, WE ENCOURAGED TO CONSIDER THE PATH BECAUSE IT ALIGNED WITH THE CITY'S GOALS FOR DENSE HOUSING AND TRANSIT SUPPORTED DEVELOPMENT, WHICH WE FEEL IS LIKE, IS THE PROPER DIRECTION FOR THIS VACANT PARCELS. I UNDERSTAND DB 90 RAISED CONCERNS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. I ADJUSTED. UH, WHEN PEOPLE HERE DB 90, IT'S SPOOKS YOU. I GET IT. UH, IT DOES ACCOMPLISH THE GOAL OF DENSE HOUSING AROUND TRANSIT TO JUSTIFY OUR INVESTMENT AS A COMMUNITY INTO OUR FUTURE TRAIN SYSTEM, ESPECIALLY THE YELLOW LINE. THAT'S ME GOING DOWN RIVERSIDE. UH, THIS MAKES IT A MEANINGFUL PROJECT. THE SITE'S LOCATED WITHIN A FOUR MINUTE WALK FROM THE TRANSIT WHERE THE CITY HAS CONSTANTLY SAID DENSITY NEEDS TO GO WITHIN A HALF MILE FROM RAIL OR LESS TO BE ABLE TO JUSTIFY THESE COSTS. UM, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE STEPPED BACK FROM DB 90, UH, DOWN TO GRV, WHICH WOULD BE A 60 FOOT FIVE STORY CAP. AS WE CONTINUE WORKING THROUGH THIS PROCESS, WE TRY TO RESPOND TO THOSE CONCERNS AND PULL BACK FROM THE DB 90, THE GRV. UM, WE STILL HAVE THE OPTIONS TO PARTICIPATE IN VMU, WHICH ALSO BRINGS AFFORDABLE UNITS, BUT AT A LOWER INTENSITY COMPARED TO WHAT DV 90 OFFERED, UH, WHICH WE FELT WAS A BETTER FIT OF 45 [02:00:01] AFFORDABLE UNITS STARTING OFF AT 60% MFI COMPARED TO THE 12% THAT'S UNDER VMU FOR, UH, 80% THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS WENT WITH THE NEIGHBORHOODS STAFF PROVIDED MULTIPLE OPTIONS AND AGREED TO SEVERAL POSTPONEMENTS TO ALLOW FOR US TO BE HERE. UM, THIS IS FOR THE CITY POLICIES. WHAT I DON'T WANT TO DO IS I DON'T WANT TO BUILD THE, UH, 18 TO 20 HOMES ON HERE THAT ARE GONNA BE CATERING TO PEOPLE STARTING OFF AT 180,000 FOR OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH IS ONLY GONNA EXACERBATE THE, UH, GENTRIFICATION AND THE PRICE VALUES AND SPECULATIONS BY INFILL BUILDERS IN THIS AREA. UH, RENTS HAVE CONTINUED TO DECLINE IN TOWN, BUT WE'RE HOPEFUL, UH, MARKET CONDITIONS ARE IMPROVING THIS YEAR AND THE ZONING IN PLACE CAN MOVE FORWARD AND FINALLY GET THE HOUSING ON THIS SITE. UM, I STARTED THIS IN 2022 AND I EXPECT TO BE COMPLETED IN 2031. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANKS SIR. I'M HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS AS WELL. IS BIANCA GUERRERO HERE? OKAY, SUSAN VO. HAVE FOUR MINUTES. THANK YOU. UH, GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M SUSAN ALMANZA, PRESIDENT OF THE MONTOPOLIS NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN CONTACT TEAM DIRECTOR PO. PLEASE DENY THE RACIST LAND USE ZONING AND PLUM CHANGE FOR THE MONIS FAIR WEAR MIXED USE CASE. THIS CASE IS A CLEAR EXAMPLE OF ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM. MONT TAPPE ALREADY HAS THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATION OF MULTIFAMILY, COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL ZONING OF ANY PLANNING AREA IN THE CITY. OUR GREEN SPACES LIKE OUR SINGLE FAMILY ZONING ARE PRECIOUS AND LIMITED. HELP US TO PROTECT OUR FAMILIES AND OUR COMMUNITY BY OPPOSING CLEARLY INCOMPATIBLE AND UNWELCOME DEVELOPMENT. IT MAY ALSO BE WORTHWHILE TO CONSIDER THIS. WHY DO THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE CITY COUNCIL PERSISTS ON PUSHING FORWARD UNWANTED LAND USE POLICIES OVER NEIGHBORHOOD AND NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN OPPOSITION IN THE MOST POLITICALLY AND ECONOMICALLY VULNERABLE PARTS OF OUR CITY WHILE SENDING NOTHING FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGED SIGNALS TO RICH AND POLITICALLY CONNECTED. HOW IS THIS A CON AS CONSISTENT OR FAIR? THE ONTOP FAIRWAY MIXED USE CASE CURRENTLY ZONED SINGLE FAMILY 3G RMP, THE ONTOP FAIRWAY MIXED USE CASE IS A DEVELOPER SPECULATION CASE. AND HERE IS THE EVIDENCE ON FEBRUARY THE 21ST, 24, IT WAS PRESENTED AS COMMERCIAL SERVICE MIXED USE VERTICAL NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN. ON MAY THE 1724, IT WAS PRESENTED AS COMMERCIAL SERVICE DB 90 NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN. ON SEPTEMBER THE 1925, IT WAS PRESENTED AS GR VERTICAL MIXED USE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN. ON JANUARY THE 22ND, 26TH, IT WAS PRESENTED AS GR VERTICAL MIXED USE DB 90 NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN. THAT IS EVIDENCE OF SPEC SPECULATION GOING ON. HERE'S THE PLANNING, THE PLANNING COMMISSION NOTICE REGARDING PROPONENT ON FEBRUARY 23RD, 24TH. THE CASE WAS POSTPONED BY THE APPLICANT ON FEBRUARY 27, 24. THE CASE WAS PROPOSED POSTPONED AGAIN BY THE APPLICANT IN MARCH 26TH. THE CASE WAS POSTPONED BY THE STAFF ON MAY 28, 24. THE CASE WAS POSTPONED BY STAFF. I WANNA CLARIFY. IT WAS IN JUST US, BUT HERE'S THE REASON. IMPORTANT NOTE. EACH TIME THE ZONING FOR THE PROPERTY WAS CHANGED, THE MONTOPOLIS NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN CONTACT TEAM REQUESTED A PRESENTATION BY THE DEVELOPER TO EXPLAIN WHAT WAS HIS PLANS FOR REDEVELOPMENT. UH, WERE A RIDE GIVEN BY THE ADOPTED CITY COUNCIL, NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, CONTACTS, TEAM PROCESS. WE KNOW WHERE FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE IS MOST URGENTLY NEEDED. MONTOPOLIS ALREADY IS THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATION, MULTI-FAMILY, COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL ZONING OF ANY PLANNING IN THE CITY. OUR GREEN SPACES, LIKE OUR SI SINGLE-FAMILY ZONING ARE PRECIOUS AND UNLIMITED. HELP US TO PROTECT OUR FAMILIES AND OUR COMMUNITY BY POSING CLEARLY AN INCOMPATIBLE AND UNWELCOME DEVELOPMENT AND A PURE SPECULATION. I WANNA REMIND ME OF WHAT KEN THOMPSON REMINDED ME YESTERDAY THAT THE 1928 MASTER PLAN, IT'S NOT IN THE PAST, IT'S STILL ONGOING, IT'S IN THE FUTURE. WE SEE THE COLONIZATION OF EAST AUSTIN WHERE PEOPLE OF COLOR WERE FORCED TO LOCATE AND WHILE NOW WE'RE UNDER CONSTANT THREAT BY THE UPZONING AND BY DEVELOPERS SPECULATING, TRYING TO MAKE MONEY OVER OUR PEOPLE, TRYING TO STAY. WE SAW IT IN CESAR CHAVEZ PLAN. WE SAW IT THEN GO TO THE HOLLY PLAN. WE SAW IT GO TO THE GO VALLEY JOHNSON PLAN AND NOW WE'RE IN THE MONIS. WE ARE THE LAST FRONTIER, AS THEY SAY, TO BE DOMINATED. AND IT'S YOUR POWER THAT WE NEED TO VOTE AGAINST THIS RACIST LAND USE CASE. THANK YOU. CONTINUING ON ITEM 40, ADRIAN MACIAS, VALERIE MENARD, CARLOS PINON OWN. IF YOUR NAME'S [02:05:01] BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND BEGIN SPEAKING. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. I AM MAJOR IN MACIAS. I'M WITH PEREZ YOUNG SCHOLARS FOR JUSTICE COORDINATOR AND A RESIDENT OF METROPOLIS AS IT HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED BY HISTORIANS. THE METROPOLIS COMMUNITY WAS AN AUSTIN PIONEER IN THE PROVISION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING DURING THE WAR ON POVERTY. AT THE TIME OF ADOPTION OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN IN 2001, IT WAS UNDERSTOOD THAT PROTECTING OUR SINGLE FAMILY HOMES WAS AN ESSENTIAL COMPETENT OF PRESERVING OUR NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER, FAMILY HOMES, UH, QUALITY OF LIFE, NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES AND COMMUNITY COHESION. IT IS FOR THESE AND OTHER REASONS THAT WE CONTINUE TO BE PERPLEXED BY EFFORTS TO CONTINUE THE CRAM ON ONE MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT DOWN OUR COLLECTIVE THROATS, IT BEARS REPEATING. MENTALIS IS NOT A HIGH OPPORTUNITY AREA UNDER THE FAIR HOUSING ACT. ASK YOURSELF THIS SIMPLE QUESTION. HOW DO CITY COUNCIL PRO DISPLACEMENT POLICIES FIRMLY FURTHER HAIR FAIR HOUSING IN OUR CITY AT A MORE LOCAL LEVEL? WAS IT THE ATTENTION OF THE ORIGINAL FARMERS OF THE AUSTIN'S FAIR HOUSING ORDINANCE IN 1967 TO PRODUCE OPEN HOUSING BY LEAVING THE RICHEST IN THE WHITEST PARTS OF OUR CITY ALONE WHILE ETHNIC CLEANSING THE ORIGINAL SEGREGATED PARTS OF OUR CITY? IT MAY, SO, IT MAY ALSO BE WORTHWHILE TO CONSIDER THIS. WHY DO CITY PLANNING COMMISSIONS AND CITY COUNCIL PERSISTS ON PUSHING UNWANTED LAND USE POLICIES OVER NEIGHBORHOOD AND NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN OPPOSITIONS AND THE MOST POLITICALLY AND ECONOMICALLY VULNERABLE PARTS OF OUR CITY. WHILE SENDING NOTHING WILL FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE SIGNALS TO THE RIDGE AND POLITICALLY CONNECTED, HOW IS IT CONSISTENT OR FAIR? WHY EVEN AS A NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN OF CITY OFFICIALS ACT AS IF ZONING AND THE ONLY LAND USE QUESTION THAT MATTERS. THANK YOU, PLEASE. UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS, MAYOR WATSON. MY NAME IS VALERIE MENARD. I'M A PROJECT DIRECTOR FOR POES, COLORADO RIVER CONSERVANCY, AND I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU TO VOTE AGAINST THE ZONING CHANGES INCLUDED FOR THE PROPERTIES ALONG CADDY STREET, MONTOPOLIS DRIVE, AND FAIRWAY STREET. LISTED IN ITEMS 40 AND 41. THE BUILDING THAT DEVELOPERS HOPE TO CONSTRUCT IS AN UNPRECEDENTED SIZE FOR THE MONTAO NEIGHBORHOOD. AND LIKE GODZILLA, THIS BEHEMOTH OF A BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT WILL ACCELERATE THE DESTRUCTION OF WHAT REMAINS OF LOW INCOME SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING. THIS METAPHOR MAY SEEM LIKE HYPERBOLE, BUT YOU DON'T LIVE IN MONTOPOLIS. YOU DON'T SEE WHAT WE SEE HAPPENING EVERY DAY BECAUSE THIS BODY CONTINUES TO IGNORE US AND APPROVED PROJECT AFTER PROJECT THAT DOES NOTHING TO ADDRESS THE MAIN ISSUES IMPACTING THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, GENTRIFICATION AND DISPLACEMENT. AND SETTING ASIDE A FEW UNITS TO BE PRICED AT 60 TO 80% OF MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME DOES NOTHING TO ADDRESS THE LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE RESIDENTS EARN 30 TO 50% OF MFI COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ UNDERSTANDS THE NEEDS OF THIS COMMUNITY. THAT'S WHY HE VOTED AGAINST THE ZONING ON FIRST READING COUNCIL MEMBER. I HOPE YOU WILL SPEAK TO YOUR REASONS WHY TODAY IF YOU VOTE TO APPROVE THIS ZONING, YOU'LL BE IGNORING THE COUNCIL MEMBER WHO'S TRYING TO DO HIS BEST TO REPRESENT THIS COMMUNITY. WE KNOW THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN TO OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS BECAUSE YOUR OWN HOUSING DEPARTMENT JUST RECEIVED A REPORT FROM CONSULTANTS THAT SHOWS THAT THE MAJORITY OF NEW DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS ARE DIRECTED AT MONTOPOLIS. ADD TO THAT THIS DEVELOPMENT SITS IN THE PROJECT CONNECT ANTI-DEVELOPMENT DISPLACEMENT ZONE. HOW CAN YOU JUSTIFY VOTING FOR A DEVELOPMENT THAT WILL ACCELERATE DISPLACEMENT IN A ZONE SET ASIDE TO PROTECT AGAINST IT? WE DON'T NEED THIS DEVELOPMENT IN ON TOP OF AND WE DON'T WANT IT. PLEASE VOTE NO ONE'S ZONING CHANGES. AND IF YOU REALLY WANT TO ADDRESS AFFORDABILITY, PURCHASE OR DEDICATE CITY OWNED LAND FOR LOW INCOME SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING, THAT'S WHAT WE WANT. THAT'S WHAT WE NEED. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS CARLOS PINON. I'M THE RESILIENCE PROGRAM COORDINATOR AT PODER. I ASK YOU ALL TO VOTE AGAINST THE PROPOSED ZONING CHANGES FOR THE PROPERTIES ON CADDY EIGHT MONTOPOLIS AND FAIRWAY. THE SUMMARY LETTER IN THE BACKUP STATES THAT THIS PROJECT ADHERES TO GOALS FROM THE OPIS NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN TO RESPECT THE DIVERSE CHARACTER OF THE MON TOPLESS NEIGHBORHOOD AND ENSURE COMPATIBILITY BETWEEN ADJACENT LAND USES HOW THE TOWER ARE BUILT NEXT TO SINGLE FAMILY HOMES WITHOUT A TRUE AFFORDABILITY COMPONENT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIVED IN MONIS FOR GENERATIONS ACHIEVE EITHER IF ONE GOES THROUGH THE PUBLIC COMMENT FORMS IN THE STAFF REPORT, YOU CAN SEE QUICKLY THAT CURRENT RESIDENTS SAY THAT THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH PROPERTY TAXES THAT INCREASE WITH PROJECTS LIKE THIS AND TRAFFICS THAT, THAT'S WORSENED AS MORE MULTI-FAMILY COMPLEXES HAVE COME IN TRAFFIC SIGNALING. THOSE WHO HAVE JUST ARRIVED TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD OVER THE LAST YEARS AREN'T ACTUALLY TAKING PUBLIC TRANSIT LIKE DEVELOPERS EXPECT THEY WOULD JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE BLOCKS AWAY FROM A TRANSIT CORRIDOR. MORE TRAFFIC WILL ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS COMPLEXES ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT. AT MINIMUM 1,337 ADDITIONAL TRIPS TO THE AREA, A DAY IS PROJECTED AS A RESULT OF ITS CONSTRUCTION, PLUS THE IMPERVIOUS COVER FROM THIS BUILDING AND A PROPOSED SIDEWALK [02:10:01] WILL WORSEN THE HEAT ISLAND WE'RE ALREADY IN PER THE CITY'S HEAT RESILIENCE PLAYBOOK. THE AVERAGE HIGH DURING THE SUMMER IS BETWEEN 1 0 5 AND 1 0 8 DEGREES IN MONIS. AND WE KNOW WELL THAT MORE CONCRETE WEAKENS THE LANDSCAPE'S ABILITY TO REFLECT HEAT FILTER POLLUTANTS AND ABSORB STORM WATER, MEANING MONIS AND NEARBY NEIGHBORHOODS WILL BE HOTTER AND MORE VULNERABLE TO FLOODING THAN THEY ALREADY ARE WHILE THE QUALITY AND SURROUNDING BODIES OF WATER WILL DECREASE. AND A COMMENT ON INSTAGRAM POST ABOUT THIS CASE, THE DEVELOPER FOR THIS PROJECT STATED THAT FACTORS LIKE INFLATION DEVELOPMENT COSTS AND HOUSING AFFORDABILITY ARE REAL, BUT OUT OF HIS CONTROL. HIS GOAL IS QUOTE, TO ADD MORE HOMES SO MORE PEOPLE CAN LIVE IN AUSTIN UNQUOTE, BUT WHO ARE THE PEOPLE HE'S TALKING ABOUT? THE MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME IN MONIS IS 40%, NOT 80%, WHICH FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR IS UP TO $90,000 A YEAR AND IS FOR WHOM OSTENSIBLY AFFORDABLE UNITS ARE PROMISED TO. THERE ARE ALREADY ABOUT 4,000 APARTMENTS IN AND RIGHT BY OPIS, YET LONGTIME RESIDENTS STILL STRUGGLE TO REMAIN HERE. WE NEED DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR FAMILIES AT 30 TO 40%. MFI. WE NEED HOUSING TO BE BUILT FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO DEPEND ON PUBLIC TRANSIT TO LIVE. WE NEED HOUSING FOR ALL WHO FIGHT TO STAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS THEY GREW UP. THANK YOU. CONTINUING ON ITEM 40, PEDRO HERNANDEZ JR. TESS MEYERS. VICTORIA BANNO. LIESL POPPEN HAUSEN. IS BRAD MASSING? HERE HE IS. OKAY, LIESL WILL HAVE FOUR MINUTES. GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR WATSON. MY NAME IS PEDRO HERNANDEZ JR. AND I'M A PRESIDENT OF THE VASQUEZ FIELDS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND TIS TRANSPORTATION COORDINATOR. AND I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU TO VOTE AGAINST THOSE, UH, ZONING CHANGES FOR THE PROPERTIES ALONG CADDY STREET ONTOP OF DRIVE AND FAIRWAY STREET. I AGREE WITH THE ARGUMENTS EXPRESSED SO FAR ABOUT THE THREAT. THIS DEVELOPMENT OF THIS SIZE MAKES TO ANY NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT ESPECIALLY MANLESS, WHICH IS STRUGGLING TO REMAIN AFFORDABLE FOR FAMILIES. I GREW UP IN MANLESS AND I'M AFRAID I WON'T BE ABLE TO MAKE TOPLESS MY HOME FOR MUCH LONGER. THESE DEVELOPMENTS CONTINUE TO PUSH OUT FAMILIES I'VE KNOWN MY WHOLE LIFE. PLEASE VOTE WITH MY COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE VELASQUEZ, WHO IS ALSO AN EAST AUSTIN NATIVE. WE FOUGHT SO HARD FOR SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICTS BECAUSE WE BELIEVE WE COULD GET BETTER REPRESENTATION, BUT IF YOU KEEP VOTING AGAINST THE COUNCIL MEMBER WHO REPRESENTS US, THEN WHAT WAS IT? WHAT WAS THE POINT? PLEASE VOTE AGAINST THE ZONING CHANGE. THANK YOU. YES MA'AM. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. INDEED. MY NAME IS LISA PPEN HAUSEN. I'M A RESEARCHER FROM UT AUSTIN AND I STUDY HOW THE COLORADO RIVER IN AUSTIN IS CHANGING DUE TO HUMAN INFLUENCES, PARTICULARLY CONSTRUCTION IN THE PLACEMENT OF IMPERVIOUS COVER. IMPERVIOUS COVER IS ANY SURFACE THAT PREVENTS RAINWATER FROM FLOWING THROUGH IT. SO THE ROOFS OF BUILDINGS, SIDEWALKS, PAVEMENT, ALL CITIES HAVE IT, BUT IT CHANGES THE WAY THAT WATER FLOWS THROUGH OUR RIVER. IMMEDIATELY AFTER A STORM EVENT ENDURING, WE SEE A RUSH OF RUNOFF MOVE TOWARD THE RIVER. BUT BECAUSE THE IMPERVIOUS COVER PREVENTS IT FROM INFILTRATING INTO THE SOIL, WE SEE A REALLY LOW AND SLOW BASE FLOW IN BETWEEN STORMS. THIS CYCLE OF WET AND DRYING AND THE FLOOD OF THE WATER BOTH DESTABILIZE THE BANK MAKING IT ERODE MUCH FASTER THAN WHAT WE WOULD EXPECT FROM A NATURAL SYSTEM. SORRY. OKAY. UM, HERE'S A PICTURE OF IMPERVIOUS COVER DISTRIBUTION IN AUSTIN IN 2000, AND THIS IS IMPERVIOUS COVER IN 2025. IMPERVIOUS COVER IS CONTINUALLY EXPANDING IN AUSTIN, ESPECIALLY SURROUNDING THE RIVER WITHIN THE COLORADO RIVER FLOODPLAIN. WE'VE SEEN THE PROPORTION OF IMPERVIOUS COVER INCREASE BY ABOUT 50% SINCE 1985. HERE WE PRESENT CUMULATIVE EROSION ACROSS THREE TIME INTERVALS FROM THE LONGHORN DAM TO HIGHWAY 180 3. EACH RED AREA REPRESENTS A LOSS OF SEDIMENT VOLUMES CALCULATED FROM A DIGITAL ELEVATION MODEL OR A DIGITAL RENDITION OF EARTH'S SURFACE CREATED FROM LIDAR DATA. WE'VE SEEN TWO LARGE URBAN GULLY FEATURES ERO ERODE OUT OF THE LAND NEXT TO ROY VETO PARK. THE DARKER RED GULLY IS BOTH OLDER AND SMALLER THAN THE LIDAR RED FEATURE, AND THIS IS BECAUSE THE INCREASE IN IMPERVIOUS COVER THAT WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS HAS LED TO, UM, MUCH MORE EROSION IN GENERAL IN THIS AREA. THE MONTOPOLIS AREA IS ADDITIONALLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO EROSION ALONG THE COLORADO RIVER DUE TO THE LONGHORN DAM. REMOVING SEDIMENT FROM THE WATER SUCH THAT THE WATER PASSES THROUGH IS VERY CLEAR MAKES AND THAT MAKES THE UH, WATER VERY LIKELY TO PICK UP SEDIMENT. AND HERE WE PRESENT THE RESULTS OF A VISUAL BANK LINE ANALYSIS SHOWING HOW SECRET BEACH HAS CHANGED OVER A LARGER TIMESCALE AS WE DO NOT HAVE LIDAR DATA FROM BEFORE 2000. THESE STATES, UH, AT EAST [02:15:01] RIVERSIDE AND NEARBY NEIGHBORHOOD WERE BUILT IN 1997. BY 2002, FIVE YEARS LATER, WE SEE A RAPID PULSE OF EROSION ALONG THE RIVERBANK AS WELL AS THE URBAN GULLIES. THIS RESEARCH HAS FOUND A CONTINUAL PATTERN OF RAPID EROSION FOLLOWING CONSTRUCTION AND IMPERVIOUS COVER PLACEMENT ABOUT THREE TO FIVE YEARS LATER. THE RESEARCH HAS SHOWN, ONCE AGAIN THIS PATTERN, BUT ALLOWING A PLAN WITH UP TO 90% IMPER OF IMPERVIOUS COVER IN SOME AREAS IS ILL-ADVISED AS IT WILL ACCELERATE AND EXACERBATE LAND LOSS ALONG THE COLORADO RIVER. THE EROSION PATTERNS THAT WE SEE AT MONTOPOLIS ARE ALREADY ABOUT 500 TIMES LARGER THAN THE EROSION PATTERNS WE SEE AT MCKINNEY ROUGHS AND NATURE PRESERVE EAST OF AUSTIN WITH NO CONSTRUCTION OR IMPERVIOUS COVER PLACE NEXT TO THE RIVER. THIS RAPID LAND LOSS WILL SOON BREACH A ROAD IN RO GREDO PARK. AND THIS PATTERN WILL CONTINUE INTO THE FUTURE. ALLOWING SUCH MASSIVE CONSTRUCTION AND IMPERVIOUS COVER EXPANSION SO CLOSE TO THE RIVER WILL EXACERBATE ALL OF THESE ISSUES. CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT EXPANSION DO NOT COME WITHOUT CONSEQUENCES FOR THE SURROUNDING AREAS. THE MORE THAT IS BUILT ON THIS LAND, THE MORE ITS HEALTH WILL DEGRADE AND CONTINUE TO DISAPPEAR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SPEAKING ON ITEM 40, NOE ALIAS, CELINE RENDON, YVETTE CASTRO, SIDNEY LIBING, UZI MCCOY DONOVAN SPAN. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND BEGIN SPEAKING. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AUSTIN AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS NO ELIA. I AM FROM AN TOPLESS AND DISTRICT THREE. I'M ALSO A HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER AT EAST SIDE. UM, I'M HA I'M NOT HAPPY THAT I HAVE TO TAKE A A DAY OFF TODAY, UH, TO BE HERE. UM, BUT I AM HERE TO STAND UP AND FIGHT FOR MY COMMUNITY. SO I'M ASKING YOU TO VOTE NO ON ITEMS 40 AND 41. UH, THESE ITEMS WOULD ALLOW A DEVELOPER TO UP ZONE SINGLE FAMILY LOTS IN OPIS TO BUILD A DEVELOPMENT THAT WOULD TOWER OVER THE EXISTING HOMES. AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THIS PROJECT INCLUDES NO AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR AT LEAST NOTHING THAT WOULD BE AFFORDABLE TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE CURRENTLY LIVING IN OUR COMMUNITY. IN OPIS, MANY FAMILIES EARN LESS THAN $50,000 A YEAR. UH, A DEVELOPMENT LIKE THIS ONE BEING PROPOSED TODAY WOULD NOT BE AFFORDABLE TO THEM. INSTEAD, IT WOULD ACCELERATE THE SAME PATTERN, UH, THAT WE'VE SEEN ACROSS EAST AUSTIN, WHICH IS GENTRIFICATION, RISING PROPERTY VALUES AND DISPLACEMENT OF LONGTIME RESIDENTS. WE HAVE SEEN THIS HAPPEN IN A AGAIN AND AGAIN WITH DEVELOPMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THIS CITY COUNCIL AND OUR COMMUNITY CANNOT CONTINUE TO ABSORB THAT KIND OF PRESSURE. ALSO, THIS PROPOSAL IS A CLEAR EXAMPLE OF SPECULATION. THE DEVELOPER INVOLVED IN THIS HAS A PATTERN OF TARGETING VULNERABLE NEIGHBORHOODS IN EAST AUSTIN LIKE MENTALIS BECAUSE THEY SEE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE MORE MONEY. IF YOU LOOK AT THE BACKUP MATERIALS FOR THIS CASE, YOU'LL SEE THAT THE ZONING PETITION HAS BEEN CHANGED MULTIPLE TIMES AND THE DEVELOPER HAS CITED MARKET CONDITIONS AND MARKET FACTORS. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? IT MEANS THAT THIS, IF THIS COUNT GRANTS THIS UPZONING, THE DEVELOPER WILL ULTIMATELY DO WHATEVER THE MARKET TELLS HIM TO DO, WHICH MEANS THAT HE MAY BUILD LUXURY CONDOS, HIGH-END APARTMENTS THAT FAMILIES IN MENTALIS CANNOT AFFORD. OR IT COULD ALSO MEAN THAT HE JUST SITS ON THE PROPERTY FOR 10, EVEN 20 YEARS INTO THE DEVELOPMENT BECOMES MORE PROFITABLE. OR IT COULD MEAN THAT HE SELLS IT TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER. UH, ONCE THE ZONING CHANGE INCREASES THE VALUE. AND IN ANY OF THOSE SCENARIOS, THE COMMUNITY OF METROPOLIS GAINS NOTHING. SO PLEASE VOTE NO ON ITEMS 40 AND 41. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. PLEASE. UH, GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M CELINE REON. I LIVE IN DISTRICT FIVE AND I'M A HOUSING ORGANIZER WITH COMMUNITY POWERED A TX. PLEASE VOTE AGAINST THE PROPOSED ZONING CHANGES FOR THEM PROPERTIES ALONG CADDY METROPOLIS AND FAIRWAY. THE SURROUNDING LOTS ON THIS PROPERTY ARE BEACONS OF DIVERSE COMMUNITY GATHERING SPACES ALONG WITH SINGLE FAMILY HOMES. THERE'S POP-UP MARKETS THAT OCCUR THROUGHOUT THE WEEK THAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS WOULD OTHERWISE NOT HAVE ACCESS TO. THE MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME AS MENTIONED IS 40% MFI FOR FAMILIES MAKING UP TO 50 KA YEAR. AND MANY OF THE CURRENT RESIDENTS RELY ON PUBLIC TRANSIT THAT'S CURRENTLY AVAILABLE TO THEM. WITH A DEVELOPER PROPOSING A, UH, THE DEVELOPMENT, UH, HIGH INCOME 80% MFI, THIS WOULD BE FOR FAMILIES MAKING UP TO 90 KA YEAR. INSTEAD IF DEVELOP, IF WE'RE NOT BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THE LONG TIME RESIDENTS WHO LIVE HERE, THEN IT WILL ONLY CAUSE GENTRIFICATION DISPLACEMENT. FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS, JUST ADDING HOUSES DOES NOT SOLVE THE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS. THIS IS A SUPPLY DEMAND DEVELOPER TALKING POINT THAT WE'VE HEARD AGAIN AND AGAIN THROUGHOUT THE EASTERN CRESCENT. WE NEED DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO BE BUILT FOR THE LONG TIME MENTALIS COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO [02:20:01] DEPEND ON THIS TRANSIT TO WORK AND LIVE. PLEASE OPPOSE ITEMS 40 AND 41 AND CONSIDER THE OPTIONS LED BY AND CRAFTED BY THE METROPOLIS COMMUNITY. THERE'S OPTIONS SUCH AS THE PROPERTY BEING ACQUIRED AND BUILT UPON RESPONSIBLY BY AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPER, OR IT CAN BE EVEN BOUGHT BY THE CITY AND WORKED ON ALONGSIDE THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHO UNDERSTANDS THESE LOTS VALUES AND SHOULD STAND THERE AS A RESULT AS A COMMUNITY VISION FOR MENTALIS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS UZI MCCOY. I'M A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER WITH, UH, COMMUNITY PER A TX AND I STUDIED GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMICS AT WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY. I WANNA BEGIN CLEARLY BY STATING I'M NOT A POST NEW HOUSING. AUSTIN ABSOLUTELY NEEDS IT, BUT EVEN THOUGH WE'RE A NATIONAL LEADER IN BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING OVER 4,000 UNITS IN 2024, WE ARE NOT MEET, WE'RE ONLY MEETING 40 PER 4% OF OUR 10 YEAR GOAL, UH, FOR THOSE EARNING A 30% BELOW MFI DEMOGRAPHIC. AND TODAY, MY CONCERN IS PARTICULARLY ABOUT MY OLD NEIGHBORHOOD AND AREA MONTOPOLIS AND THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIVED THERE FOR GENERATIONS. MONTOPOLIS IS ONE OF THE MOST ECONOMICALLY VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES IN OUR CITY. THE MFI IS ABOUT $31,000 A YEAR. THE PER CAPITA INCOME IS JUST AROUND 16,000. AND ROUGHLY 33% OF RESIDENTS LIVE IN POVERTY. AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD MFI IS AROUND 40%, WHICH MEANS THE FAMILIES THERE NEED DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING, NOT SIMPLY MORE UNITS AT MARKET RATE. AND TODAY, THE AVERAGE RENT IN THE 7 8 7 4 1 ZIP CODE IS ABOUT $1,500 A MONTH FOR FAMILIES LIVING ON THE INCOMES THAT I JUST STATED. THAT IS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO SUSTAIN. AND THAT'S WHY THIS CASE CONCERNS ME. THE ZONING CHANGE BEING REQUESTED. UH, THE GRV NP INCREASES DEVELOPMENT INTENSITY BUT DOES NOT REQUIRE AFFORDABILITY. AND MOST PRIVATE DEVELOPMENTS THAT USE INCENTIVES ONLY PRODUCE ABOUT 10 TO 12% OF AFFORDABLE UNITS AT BEST. AND THAT'S WHEN AFFORDABILITY PROGRAMS ARE USED. WITHOUT THEM, THERE'S NO GUARANTEE AT ALL. WE'VE ALREADY SEEN HOW SO MANY OF THESE LIKE CASES AND PROBLEMS CAN BE DIFFICULT AND OCCUR JUST LIKE LAST SUMMER WHEN ALL OF YOU VOTED TO DESTROY ACACIA CLIFFS. AND THAT'S WHY I BELIEVE THAT THESE ITEMS DON'T ADHERE TO, UM, THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S ANTI DISPLACEMENT TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS, WHICH EXPLICITLY WARN AGAINST INCREASING DENSITY AND GENTRIFYING NEIGHBORHOODS. AND TO MY RECOLLECTION, COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, YOU SERVE ON THE ANTI DISPLACEMENT TASK FORCE. YOU KNOW, THESE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE VITALLY IMPORTANT TO PRESERVING AND PROTECTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING. MONTOPOLIS IS ALSO, UM, LOCATED NEAR MAJOR TRANSIT CORRIDOR AND THIS, UM, DEVELOPMENT SHOULD PRIORITIZE FAMILIES WHO USE PUBLIC TRANSIT, WHICH IS MOSTLY GONNA BE LOW INCOME OR, UM, EARNERS, WHICH IS WHY I'M PROUD TO OPPOSE. AND I ASK YOU VOTE NO, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CONTINUE ON ITEM 40 RES MATA, MICHAEL CURRY, ERIC PAULIS, MARK VIEJO, JEFFREY BOWEN, CHRISTOPHER PAGE, SYNOVIA JOSEPH, IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND OUT OF ALL OF THAT YOU GET ME. SO, UH, JEFFREY BOWEN, UH, DISTRICT EIGHT, I'M HERE REPRESENTING A NC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. UM, AGAIN, WE VOTED LAST NIGHT TO COME AND SUPPORT THE NEIGHBORHOOD REGARDING THIS. UM, YOU'VE HEARD A LOT OF STORIES HERE ON THIS. UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THAT JUMPED OUT AT ME IS THAT, UH, AND HAVING LIVED HERE AS FAR AS LONG AS I HAVE, WE HAVE SEEN SEVERAL PLACES THAT HAVE BEEN UPZONED ONLY TO BE SOLD TO SOMEBODY ELSE. SO THE THE, THEY GO THROUGH THE, THE DEVELOPER GOES THROUGH THE PORTION OF IT, UP, ZONES IT, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE PIECE OF PROPERTY BECOMES MORE VALUABLE, THEN THE NEXT PERSON GOES AND DOES WHATEVER BASICALLY THEY WANT TO DO BASED UPON THE ZONING. SO IT IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE IN THIS TOWN, WHETHER YOU WANNA BELIEVE IT OR NOT, IT DOES HAPPEN AND IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. UM, THE FACT THAT THIS, THIS IS RIGHT IN THE, IN THE MIDDLE OF A NEIGHBORHOOD AND YOU'RE NOW AT LEAST IT'S DOWN TO 60 FEET. UM, THERE'S BEEN SOME INTERESTING INFORMATION WHEN IT TALKS ABOUT IMPERVIOUS COVER, THOSE TYPE OF ISSUES. BUT ONCE AGAIN, IT'S ABOUT NEIGHBORHOODS OR IS IT BECAUSE WE TALK ABOUT THE, UH, THE NEED FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT MAKE UP THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHICH MAKE UP THIS CITY, AND YET SOMETIMES THEIR VOICES GET LOST IN, IN, IN THE GIANT SHUFFLE. SO I REALLY HOPE THAT YOU REALLY CONSIDER WHAT THESE PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT WHEN WE'RE SUPPORTING THEM BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN NEIGHBORHOODS, AND NEIGHBORHOODS ARE A VITAL PORTION OF THIS CITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU SIR. MOVING TO ITEM 41, JOSHUA BRUNSON, SUSAN EL MANZA, MARIANNE SANCHEZ, ADRIAN MACIAS, [02:25:01] IF YOU WISH TO BE HEARD, COME FORWARD PLEASE. VALERIE MENARD. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M SUSAN ALMANZA WITH PRESIDENT LES NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN CONTENT TEAM AND DIRECTOR POED. AND I'D LIKE TO, UH, REQUEST THAT YOU ALL VOTE AGAINST THIS ZONING CHANGE FOR THE CADDY STREET ON TOPLESS DRIVE IN FAIRWAY STREET. AS YOU, AS WE, AS WE KNOW, UH, WHAT WE HAVE AROUND THAT IS SWALLOWING UP OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. IF YOU LOOK AT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, ONE THING WE FOUGHT WAS TO KEEP THE HARDMAN TOPLESS SINGLE FAMILY. AND IF YOU LOOK AT THAT MAP, YOU'LL SEE THAT THIS IS SINGLE FAMILY LAND AND IT'S SURROUNDED BY HOUSING, WHICH ARE EVERYWHERE YOU GO. AND WE'VE SEEN THE LOSS OF POPULATION IN THE SCHOOLS BECAUSE WE'RE DISPLACING FAMILIES AND WE DON'T WANNA SEE ALLISON CLOSE. WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP OUR FAMILIES INTACT. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. WE SOMETIME LOSE SIGHT OF WHAT HAPPENS, HOW IT IMPACTS THE AUSTIN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT WHEN WE DISPLACE FAMILIES. WE CAN SEE IT NOW THAT WE HAVE ABOUT 10 SCHOOLS THAT WILL BE CLOSING BECAUSE OF LACK OF POPULATION. AND A LOT OF THAT IS IN EAST AUSTIN. AND THE REASON IS BECAUSE WE'VE UP ZONE THOSE PROPERTIES AND WE ARE DISPLACED THE FAMILIES THAT WERE THERE ONCE THERE, THOSE FAMILIES WHO HAVE BEEN THERE FOR GENERATIONS. AND WE ARE NOW INUNDATED BY APARTMENTS THAT EITHER HAVE STUDIOS OR ONE OR TWO BEDROOMS, UH, VERY FEW. AND WITH THAT, WE'VE HAD TO FIGHT FOR TO GET AT LEAST TWO OR THREE UNITS FOR THREE BEDROOMS AND ONE FOR FOUR BEDROOMS. SO THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. PLEASE, UM, LET'S FOLLOW THE ADOPTION OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AND LET'S KEEP OUR SINGLE FAMILY ZONING. THANK YOU. YES, SIR. BRING UP MY SLIDE. CAN WE GO TO PAGE TWO PLEASE? UM, CAN YOU CLICK ON ITEM ONE PLEASE? UM, IN THE BOTTOM LEFT CORNER, UM, I'M NOT DISPLACING ANYONE. THIS IS VACANT LAND. UM, I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS FOR QUITE A LONG TIME AND I JUST WANNA BRING A COUPLE THINGS TO LIGHT. UM, THIS IS NOT IN MY OPINION, UM, BEEN ABOUT MONEY. CAN YOU GO AHEAD AND PLAY THAT? THEY'VE BEEN ABOUT HOUSING. IT'S BEEN ABOUT MONEY. OKAY. THOSE IMPACTS HAVE A MONETARY VALUE OR AT LEAST WE CAN APPROXIMATE IT. ONE THING FOR SURE, WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO COME FOR FREE. I HOPE YOU DIDN'T EXPECT THAT YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO COME HERE FOR FREE. AND IF, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN SAY WHATEVER YOU LIKE, THAT'S GREAT. I THINK IT'S WORTHFUL. UM, BUT IT'S, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO NEGOTIATE THAT AND PUT IT IN A LEGALLY BINDING AGREEMENT. OTHERWISE, LIKE I SAID, CAN YOU CLICK ON ITEM TWO PLEASE? THANK YOU. UM, WE HAVE WORKED EXTENSIVELY WITH NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP. I'VE MADE EVERY EFFORT TO FIND COMMON GROUND. AT THIS POINT WE'VE BEEN ASKED FOR WHAT AMOUNTS OF WENT ALL OVER $1 MILLION UNDER THIS COMMUNITY BENEFIT AGREEMENT. IF YOU READ THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT AGREEMENT, WILL YOU PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO THE HIGHLIGHTED PORTION? THIS IS FOR SF SIX ZONING, WHICH WOULD ACCOMMODATE 12 HOUSES. UM, CAN I APOLOGIZE, I SENT THE WRONG ONE IN. CAN YOU, UH, GO TO THE 150,000 RIGHT THERE? THE DONATION THAT IS PER DOOR. SO THIS IS $150,000 DONATION PER DOOR. THAT'S A NON AFFORDABLE UNIT THAT'S AMOUNTS TO ABOUT 1,000,050 THOUSAND THAT IS BEING ASKED ME TO DONATE. IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT WITHOUT FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION SUPPORT FOR THIS CASE MAY NOT BE THERE. I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS IS APPROPRIATE FOR A PROJECT APPROVAL TO DEPEND ON DIRECTING MONEY TO A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION WITHOUT CLEAR TRANSPARENCY OR DEFINE PUBLIC BENEFIT, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE PROJECT ALREADY COMPLIES WITH THE CITY'S PROCESS. WE REMAIN OPEN TO CONTRIBUTING TO TRUE COMMUNITY SERVING ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE RECREATION CENTER, BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB, AND LA GROUPS THAT SUPPORT YOUTH AND LONG-TERM OPPORTUNITY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. UM, THIS COMMUNITY BENEFIT AGREEMENT WAS FROM 20 20 24, WHERE NOE AND SUSANNA SLID THIS ACROSS THE TABLE TO ME AND ASKED ME TO SIGN THIS WITHOUT READING THIS. I DON'T THINK THIS IS ABOUT FUNDS OR HOUSING. THIS IS ABOUT DONATING MONEY TO PRIVATE GROUPS AND THAT IS WRONG. THANK. THANK YOU SIR. UH, I BELIEVE MY NAME WAS CALLED VALERIE. YEAH, PLEASE JUST SAY YOUR NAME AND GO AHEAD. YES, THANK YOU. AND I HOPE WE HAVE SOME LAWS FOR SLANDER HERE. UM, I WANT TO, UM, STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. MY NAME IS VALERIE MENARD AND I JUST WANTED TO RESPOND. UM, IT'S A RED FLAG TO ME. I WASN'T GONNA SAY ANYMORE 'CAUSE I'VE ALREADY SPOKEN ON THESE TWO ITEMS. BUT WHEN SOMEONE SHOWS YOU A MAP OF AN EMPTY LOT AND SAYS, LOOK, I'M NOT DISPLACING ANYBODY, THIS IS DISPLACEMENT, THEN CLEARLY HE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THE MEANING OF THE WORD. WE'RE NOT, WE ARE NOT ARGUING THAT. I THINK Y'ALL DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT. WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS THESE KINDS OF DEVELOPMENTS, RACE, PROPERTY TAXES, THEY MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR HOMEOWNERS TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES AND THEN THEY GET DISPLACED AND THEY MOVE TO OTHER PARTS OF TOWN THAT ARE MORE [02:30:01] AFFORDABLE OR OUTSIDE OF AUSTIN, WHICH WE'VE SEEN A MASS EXODUS FOR THE FIRST TIME. AUSTIN CENSUS CENSUS STATUS SHOWED HER A LOSS OF LATINO POPULATION IN THE CITY, WHICH IS UNPRECEDENTED. WE KNOW THAT NORMALLY EACH CENSUS SHOWS AN INCREASE THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN IN 2020. SO I GUESS JUST WANTED TO CHECK, UM, UH, WHAT WAS SAID ABOUT DISPLACEMENT AND TO JUST REMIND Y'ALL, AND I KNOW Y'ALL UNDERSTAND, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DISPLACING FAMILIES ALREADY LIVING IN THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF AFFORDABILITY OR LACK OF AFFORDABILITY, AND BECAUSE THEY WILL FACE INCREASING COSTS FROM PROPERTY TAXES AND OTHER, UM, COST TO LIVING IN MONIS. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CONTINUE ON ITEM 41, CARLOS PINON. PEDRO HERNANDEZ JR. TESS MEYERS. VICTORIA BANNO. BIANCA GUERRERO, LIZEL PPEN HAUSEN NOE ALIAS, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND BEGIN SPEAKING. PLEASE BEGIN. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS PEDRO RAND AND I AM WITH THE MENTAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. I'M ON THE CONTACT TEAM ALSO. AND, UM, WHAT I'D LIKE TO SAY IS, AGAIN, NONE OF THIS HAPPENED. THERE WAS NEVER A CONTRACT, UH, COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT MADE. WHAT WAS DONE AT THE, UM, THE MEETING WAS EXAMPLES WERE GIVEN TO MR. BRUNSON, SO THERE WAS NO COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT MADE. OKAY. YOU FINISHED? YES. THANK YOU. MM-HMM . PLEASE GO AHEAD. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS BIANCA GUERRERO. MY FAMILY HAS BEEN ROOTED IN MELO FOR FOUR GENERATIONS. MY GRANDPARENTS, THE GUERRERO'S, BOUGHT THEIR HOME IN THE EARLY SEVENTIES AND STILL LIVE THERE TODAY WITH EVEN DEEPER ROOTS ARE THE RAS AND THE FABIAN FAMILIES, AMONG MANY OTHERS. WE ARE THE LIVING HISTORY OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FIRM OPPOSITION TO THIS ORDINANCE. WHILE THE DEVELOPERS, OWNERS, AND APPLICANTS TALK ABOUT VIBRANT MIXED USE SPACES, THEIR PROPOSAL IGNORES THE ACTUAL HUMANS WHO BUILT THE FABRIC OF THIS COMMUNITY. THE MATH SIMPLY DOESN'T WORK FOR US. THE MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME IN MENTALIS IS AROUND 40%. ANY PROJECT WITHOUT DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING MANDATES IS NOT DEVELOPMENT. IT'S A BLUEPRINT FOR DISPLACEMENT. THIS PROPERTY SITS ON A VITAL TRANSIT CORRIDOR THAT PROJECT CONNECT HAS ALREADY FLAGGED AS BEING AT RISK FOR DISPLACEMENT. THE OWNERS AND APPLICANTS CLAIM, THIS IS PROGRESS, BUT PROGRESS THAT ERASES A CENTURY OF HISTORY IS JUST EXTRACTION. THIS LAND SHOULD BE ACQUIRED BY THE CITY OR A COMMUNITY DEVELOPER. AND IF HOUSING IS THE ROUTE, THEN IT SHOULD BE FOR PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY LIVE HERE. THE TRANSIT DEPENDENT FAMILIES. AT THE 40 MFI LEVEL, THE FABRIC OF THE COMMUNITY ISN'T A MARKETING BUZZWORD. IT IS MY GRANDPARENTS' HOME AND MY FAMILY'S LEGACY. AND I URGE YOU TO VOTE NO AND CHOOSE THE PEOPLE OF MONTOPOLIS OVER THE PRO PROFITS OF THE APPLICANTS. THANK YOU. PLEASE BEGIN. YES. UH, SO I WANNA SPEAK ON THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT THAT WAS, UH, PRESENTED BY THE DEVELOPER. UH, WE MET WITH THE DEVELOPER, UH, COUPLE OF, ALMOST A YEAR AGO WHEN, UH, HE WANTED A DB 90, I BELIEVE, UM, IN THE, UH, PETITION. UM, WE PRESENTED THIS C UH, CBA AS AN EXAMPLE OF SOMETHING THAT, UM, UH, ANOTHER DEVELOPER HAD AGREED WITH BEFORE. AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE TOP, UM, PARAGRAPHS, IT, UH, CAUSED FOR DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING, INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF UNITS THAT ARE AFFORDABLE AND ALSO DECREASING THE MFI FOR AFFORDABILITY. UH, THE, THE PART THAT THE DEVELOPER HAS SHOWN IS THAT, UH, THERE, IF AFTER THE FACT, IF THOSE, UM, THAT AGREEMENT IS NOT MET, UH, ESSENTIALLY BUILDING THE AMOUNT OF, UH, UNITS THAT WE, UH, THAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS AT THE AFFORDABILITY LEVEL, THEN THEY WOULD PAY, UM, INTO A FUND FOR, UH, THE MENTALIS CDC TO BUILD THOSE, UH, UNITS SOMEWHERE ELSE. SO THAT'S WHAT THE DEVELOPER WAS, UH, SHOWING YOU AS FAR AS THAT COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CONTINUE ON ITEM 41, CELINE RENDON, YVETTE CASTRO, SIDNEY LIBING, UZI MCCOY, DONOVAN SPAN, RES [02:35:01] MATA, MICHAEL CURRY, ERIC PAULIS, MARK VIEJO, JEFFREY BOWEN, CHRISTOPHER PAGE, AN XENO ANDIA. JOSEPH, IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD. LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE THERE. UH, HELLO AGAIN. UZI MCCOY ORGANIZER. CALL SOON, YADA YADA, YADA. UH, JUST WANT TO CONTINUE ON SOME OTHER POINTS THAT I WASN'T ABLE TO GET INTO WITH MY SPEECH. UM, AGAIN, INSTEAD OF APPRO APPROVING LIKE A REGULAR BASIC ZONING CHANGE WITHOUT AFFORDABILITY GUARANTEES, THE PROPERTY COULD BE ACQUIRED AND DEVELOPED BY A COMMUNITY DEVELOPER OR EVEN BY THE CITY ITSELF. UH, WE SAW REALLY GOOD WORK WITH THE JOHNNY LEE MOON VILLAGE AND DOING THAT, AND THAT WAS AMAZING. PEOPLE GOT THE HOUSING THEY NEEDED, RIGHT? WE ALL LOVE HOUSING. UM, LIKE, AND I JUST WANT TO ESPECIALLY TOUCH ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL, UM, CONCERNS. SO MONTOPOLIS IS ALREADY PART OF AUSTIN'S URBAN HEAT ISLAND. AND THAT'S WHEN OFTENTIMES THE SUMMER TEMPERATURES ARE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER. AND ACCORDING TO THE CITY'S HEAT RESILIENCE, UH, PLAYBOOK ACID EARLIER, THE AVERAGE SUMMER HIGHS IN THE AREA CAN REACH TO LIKE, UH, TRIPLE DIGITS. AND WHILE, WHILE MONTOPOLIS DOES HAVE A BIT OF AN URBAN TREE CANOPY, UH, IT IS RELATIVELY SPARSE COMPARED TO LIKE THE WEALTHIER, WIDER NEIGHBORHOODS IN AUSTIN THAT LIKE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL REPRESENT. AND THAT MEANS THAT THERE IS LESS NATURAL COOLING, LESS SHADE, AND LESS PROTECTION FROM HEAT COMPARED TO OTHER CITIES OR OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY. AND THESE DEVELOPMENTS, UH, WITH ADDITIONAL IMPERVIOUS COVER, THAT MEANS MORE CONCRETE, MORE PAVEMENT, THEY CAN INTENSIFY THAT HEAT ISLAND EFFECT AND WEAKEN THE LAND'S ABILITY TO ABSORB STORM WATER AND WORSEN FLOODING RISKS. AND THESE ENVIRONMENTAL BURDENS OFTEN LIKE FAIL DISPROPORTIONATELY ON COMMUNITIES THAT ALREADY FACE ECONOMIC VULNERABILITY. AND I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE SOMETHING IMPORTANT. THE DEVELOPER HAS INDICATED ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT HE DOES WI THAT HE DOES NOT WISH TO HARM THE COMMUNITY AND WANTS, WANTS OPEN COMMUNICATION. I APPRECIATE THAT SENTIMENT AND I BELIEVE IT'S SINCERE. BUT INTENTIONS ALONE CAN'T SUBSTITUTE FOR STRUCTURAL AFFORDABILITY PROTECTIONS. AND IF WE ARE GOING TO BUILD HERE, BUILD HERE, AND I AGREE, YOU SHOULD BE BUILDING HOUSING. WE SHOULD BUILD DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT ALLOWS MON TOPLESS FAMILIES TO REMAIN IN THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY BUILT. BECAUSE THE QUESTION WE SHOULD ALWAYS ASK WITH NEW DEVELOPMENT IS SIMPLE. WHO GETS TO STAY? AND RIGHT NOW, MON TOPLESS RESIDENTS ARE TELLING US THAT THEY'RE STRUGGLING TO REMAIN IN THE PLACE THAT THEY CALL HOME. AND FOR THOSE REASONS, I RESPECTFULLY ASK COUNSEL TO VOTE AGAINST THESE ITEMS AND WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY TO PURSUE A DEVELOPMENT THAT REALLY PROTECTS THESE RESIDENTS. AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. PLEASE BEGIN. HI, MY NAME IS YVETTE CASTRO AND I'M HERE TODAY REGARDING ITEMS 40 41 TO VOTE AGAINST THE ZONING CHANGES PROPERTIES HERE ON CADDY AND MONTOPOLIS. UM, I COME FROM A FAMILY WHO'S LIVED IN MONTOPOLIS, MY GRANDPARENTS LIVED THERE AS WELL. SO THERE'S A LOT OF GENERATIONAL, UM, GENERATIONS THAT HAVE LIVED THERE. LIKE, UM, BIANCA HAS STATED HER FAMILY'S FROM THERE AS WELL. AND JUST THIS NEW DEVELOPMENT, IT'S GONNA BE AT 60 80% MFI THAT'S NOT AFFORDABLE TO THESE FAMILIES THAT LIVE HERE. AS MENTIONED, IT'S, UM, CURRENTLY 30 TO 50% MFI FOR THE FAMILIES WHO LIVE HERE. UM, THE FAMILIES THAT LIVE HERE, IT JUST WOULDN'T BE ACCESSIBLE, AFFORDABLE TO THEM. AND THAT'S NOT FAIR TO US. OUR FAMILIES WHO HAVE BEEN HERE FOR SO LONG WHO BUILT THE CULTURE AROUND MOUNT TOPLESS, UM, WE DESERVE A RIGHT TO STAY IN OUR COMMUNITIES. I MEAN, I WANNA RETURN TO THE COMMUNITY I WAS BORN IN. I'M VERY PROACTIVE IN MY COMMUNITY. I STAND FOR IT, BUT SOME, IT'S NOT EVEN ACCESSIBLE TO ME AT 80% MFII DON'T MAKE ENOUGH MONEY TO COME BACK TO WHERE MY FAMILY CAME FROM, AND THAT'S PRETTY, UM, DEVASTATING. I WANNA HAVE MY FAMILY GROW UP HERE AS WELL. AND JUST THESE DEVELOPMENTS THAT AREN'T ACCESSIBLE TO FAMILIES THAT ARE HERE NOW ARE JUST GONNA DISPLACE THEM AND WE'RE JUST GONNA SEE MORE GENTRIFICATION IF IT'S NOT AT 30 50% MFI, WHICH THESE DEVELOPERS WANTED AT 80, WHICH IT'S NOT FAIR. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR. THAT CONCLUDES ALL SPEAKERS MEMBERS, AS YOU'VE HEARD. THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS THAT HAVE BEEN SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE, UH, ZONING CONSENT AGENDA. ITEMS 32 THROUGH 41. UM, A MOTION WAS MADE AND SECONDED. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU. I THOUGHT YOU HAD A QUESTION. I DID. UH, CAN MS. HARDEN COME UP? I GOT YOU. THANK YOU. I THINK THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN LARGELY ADDRESSED, BUT SINCE WE HAD SPOKEN ABOUT IT, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THE RECORD WAS CLEAR. UM, I HAD RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM MR. LEVINSKY EARLIER TODAY AND, UM, WE HAD HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANK AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS STORAGE. UM, BUT THOSE ARE NOT TAKEN UP DURING THE ZONING ITSELF. CORRECT? CAN YOU WALK ME THROUGH THAT AGAIN? UH, YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. COUNCIL MEMBER. UM, SO YES, I'VE SPOKEN WITH MR. LIPSKY AS WELL. AND SO THOSE TWO, THEY'RE NOT USES AND THE CODE OUTLINES WHAT YOU CAN PROHIBIT IN A ZONING ORDINANCE. AND SINCE THOSE ARE NOT USES, WE CANNOT PROHIBIT THOSE IN A ZONING ORDINANCE. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND THEN MAYOR, I WILL HAVE COMMENTS ONCE WE TAKE THE VOTE, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE NO ONE ELSE HAD QUESTIONS BEFORE. I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER [02:40:01] UCHIN HAS A QUESTION. PERFECT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WAS WONDERING IF THE, UH, DEVELOPER APPLICANT FOR 35 AND 36 MAY BE HERE TO ANSWER A QUESTION, QUESTION ABOUT PARKING. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNSEL. MY NAME IS DREW ELL ON BEHALF OF THE OWNER. UH, THANK YOU. MY QUESTION IS, I UNDERSTAND DURING PLANNING COMMISSION THERE WAS A QUEST REGARDING THE VALET SERVICE THAT ESTES USES. UM, CAN YOU, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE AT THAT TIME THE INFORMATION WASN'T AVAILABLE. CAN YOU UPDATE ON US ON HOW THE VALET SERVICE WORKS? IS IT USED STREET PARKING THERE? YEAH. THANK YOU FOR ON THAT QUESTION. UM, I DID CLARIFY WITH THE OWNER. AND SO THE VALET COMPANY THAT OPERATES, UM, THEY CANNOT PARK VEHICLES ON THE STREET. IT IS, UM, IT'S A LIABILITY AND THEIR INSURANCE, UH, WOULD NOT COVER ANY DAMAGES, SO THEY HAVE TO PARK ON THE PROPERTY. GOT IT. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT. YES, THAT'S ALL I GOT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY, IS ANYBODY ELSE HAS QUESTIONS? OTHERWISE I'LL OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION. ALL RIGHT. COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU MAYOR. LEMME MAKE SURE I HAVE ALL MY INFORMATION AVAILABLE. UM, WANTED TO SPEAK BRIEFLY ON ITEMS 37 AND 38, WHICH ARE IN MY DISTRICT. UM, THIS IS IN A PART OF THE DISTRICT THAT DOES HAVE, UH, A LOT OF OLD IMPERVIOUS COVER THAT PREDATES THE SOS ORDINANCE AND IS RIGHT NOW OPERATING IN A WAY THAT IS NOT ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHY THE SOS ORDINANCE, UH, WAS DEVELOPED. UM, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY. AND SO I THINK ADDING A RESIDENTIAL USE INTO THE ALLOWED USES IN THIS SPACE IS, IS IMPORTANT. IT IS AT AN INTERSECTION OF TWO HIGHWAYS. UM, I DON'T ALWAYS TRY TO PUT HOUSING NEXT TO HIGHWAYS JUST FOR THE SAKE OF IT, BUT I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHERE WE HAVE ACCESS TO OUR TRAIL NETWORK AND WHERE WE HAVE ACCESS TO, UM, MULTIPLE BUS ROUTES THAT RUN THROUGH THAT REGION, AS WELL AS GREAT SCHOOLS AND GREAT RETAIL OPPORTUNITIES FOR JOBS AND SHOPPING. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO CREATE THAT BLENDED FABRIC IN A COMMUNITY AND TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THE RIGHT BALANCE OF LIVE, WORK AND PLAY IN THIS AREA. ALMOST EVERY CORNER OF THIS INTERSECTION IS COMPLETELY COMMERCIAL, SO THERE IS A LOT OF JOB OPPORTUNITY OUT HERE. UM, AND I APPRECIATE THE, THE WORK OF THE ADVOCATES AS WELL AS THE APPLICANT TO, UM, TO WORK THROUGH SOME OF THE PROHIBITED USES ALLOWANCES. I THINK THE LIST WE CAME TO WITH 27 SEEMS TO BE SUFFICIENT TO COVER MOST BASES. UM, SO I JUST WANTED TO DAYLIGHT THAT TODAY. UM, I AM SUPPORTIVE OF THE ITEM, BUT JUST WANTED TO LET EVERYONE KNOW WHERE MY BRAIN WAS AT THINKING OF, OF THIS OLD PROPERTY THAT DOES NEED TO BE REDEVELOPED. WE NEED BETTER WATER QUALITY STANDARDS THAT ARE NOT BEING ACCOMPLISHED RIGHT NOW. AND SOMETIMES, UM, CHANGING OVER WHAT THESE PROPERTIES ARE ALLOWED TO DO IS THE ONLY WAY TO, TO GET THE BETTER ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS THAT I THINK ARE REALLY NECESSARY THROUGH THIS AREA. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ. COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN. UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR. MY REMARKS ARE REGARDING ITEMS 40 AND 41. UH, THIS BODY KNOWS THAT I HAVE BEEN, UH, PRO HOUSING, BUT I'LL BE VOTING NO ON THESE ITEMS. UH, AS A DAIS, WE HAVE WORKED RIDICULOUSLY HARD ON POLICY CHANGES TO HELP INCREASE HOUSING SUPPLY. AND THOSE CHANGES HAVE HAD AN IMPACT ON RENTS IN AUSTIN. MEIS, THOUGH CONTINUES TO FEEL THE IMPACTS OF GENTRIFICATION, INCLUDING DISPLACEMENT OF LONGSTANDING RESIDENTS. AND WE NEED TO SEE A SUPPLY OF QUALITY, AFFORDABLE, TRANSIT ORIENTED HOUSING THAT ALLOWS ESSENTIAL WORKERS DOING VITAL JOBS TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES. AND WITH THAT SAID, MAYOR, UH, I'LL BE VOTING. NO, THANK YOU. THANK, THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I AM, UH, SPEAKING JUST BRIEFLY ON, UH, BOTH THE MONTOPOLIS AS WELL AS THE, UH, EAST 22ND CASE. AND AFTER DIGGING INTO THOSE CASES, OUR INVESTIGATION WAS THAT THERE WAS A COMMON THREAD THAT I THINK, UM, MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO ASSESS THE RIGHT WAY TO DELIVER COMMUNITY BENEFITS IN THOSE CASES. AND IN THE PROCESS OF LEARNING ABOUT THE NEGOTIATIONS THAT COMMUNITIES HAD WITH DEVELOPERS, WITH THE CITY BEING IN THE MIDDLE, I SENSE THAT THERE'S BOTH THE GAP, BUT AT THE SAME TIME ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY. AND AS WE NEGOTIATE, I THINK WE CAN PROBABLY DO A BETTER JOB OF ADDRESSING HOW WE DELIVER OR ADDRESS THOSE COMMUNITY NEEDS IN A TRANSPARENT AND PRODUCTIVE WAY THAT MAY NOT BE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. UM, AND I WANNA SAY OUT OF THE GATE, I APPRECIATE THAT THE CITY NEEDS MORE HOUSING AND GREATER ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, AND I ALSO APPRECIATE THE ZONING IS ONE WAY WE CAN OPEN UP THE CITY TO FACILITATE THOSE EFFORTS. UH, BUT IN WEIGHING THOSE INTERESTS, WHICH ARE OFTEN COMPETING, YOU KNOW, IT'S OFTEN [02:45:01] NECESSARY THAT WE DEDICATE FUNDS FOR SPECIFIC NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS. THINGS LIKE PARKLAND DEDICATION OR TRAFFIC MITIGATION, OR OTHER PARTICULAR NEEDS THAT A COMMUNITY MIGHT RECOGNIZE. AND SO I, AGAIN, MY SENSE ON THESE CASES AND OTHERS THAT WE'VE DEALT WITH IS THAT WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD IS WHEN THESE NEGOTIATIONS, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, IT'S CURRENTLY A CHALLENGING AND OPAQUE PROCESS, UH, AT LEAST FROM MY PERSPECTIVE. UH, SO WHAT I'M GONNA SUGGEST IS WE FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE A MORE TRANSPARENT PROCESS. OTHERWISE, I THINK IT'S HARD FOR US TO ENSURE THE COMMUNITIES ARE GETTING A FAIR SHAKE, UH, AND IMPROVE THEIR, UH, CIRCUMSTANCES AND MAKE SURE THEY'RE THRIVING RATHER THAN SIMPLY CHANGING OR GROWING. SO I'D LIKE TO SEE THE COUNCIL USE SOME OF THE TOOLS AT OUR DISPOSAL TO HELP FACILITATE HOW WE WORK WITH DEVELOPERS AND ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY AND ADDRESS THOSE COMMUNITY NEEDS. UH, WHETHER IT'S DIRECT INVESTMENT TO WHERE THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S IDENTIFIED THE MOST URGENCY OR SOMETHING ELSE. UH, WE'VE DISCUSSED PRETTY RECENTLY THE DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS. I KNOW I'M GONNA PROBABLY GET A STINK GUY FROM THE MANAGER OVER HERE MM-HMM . BUT, UH, MY SENSE IS THAT THAT'S A POT THAT'S A POTENTIAL TOOL THAT, UH, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO USE IN THIS CIRCUMSTANCE, UH, TO DELIVER LOCALIZED BENEFITS AND INVESTMENTS BY ACTING AS A TRUSTED INTERMEDIARY BETWEEN PARTIES IN THESE CONTENTIOUS CASES. UH, AND SO MY HOPE IS THAT THERE COULD BE A CLEARER FORMULA OR MAYBE GUIDELINES WE CAN WORK ON AND HOW TO MAKE THESE SORT OF INVESTMENTS. UM, THAT MIGHT DEPEND ON THE SCALE AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEVELOPMENT IN QUESTION. UH, I JUST SENSE THAT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY HERE TO CREATE A CLEAR PROCESS, UM, ONE THAT'S PROFESSIONALIZED, ONE THAT ENSURES THAT WE ARE TALKING OPENLY ABOUT THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS THAT OFFSET THE CONSEQUENCES FOR THE DEVELOPMENTS. UM, AND SO WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF CALLS FOR TRANSPARENCY. WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF CALLS FOR ACCOUNTABILITY, AND I THINK THAT THIS PROCESS COULD BENEFIT FROM THAT. SO I HOPE TO WORK ON THAT WITH ANYBODY UP HERE THAT'S INTERESTED IN, IN PURSUING THAT PROCESS. BUT THAT'S WHY I'LL BE ABSTAINING. THANK YOU FOR CLARITY, PURPOSE. YOU'RE ABSTAINING ON 35, 36, 40 AND 41. COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON. YES, MR. MAYOR. I WAS ACTUALLY, UM, I THINK YOU READ MY MIND. I WAS GONNA SAY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DUCHEN. I REALLY WANTED, SO TO YOUR POINT ABOUT THAT NECESSARY TRANSPARENCY, THAT IN AND OF ITSELF IS COMPLEX AS WELL, RIGHT? AND SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY, YOU KNOW, I AM IN AUSTINITE ALSO. UM, AND ALL THE CHANGES IN OUR CITY, I, I'D LIKE TO SAY IT AIN'T ALL GOOD. IT AIN'T ALL BAD, BUT IT IS ALL COMPLEX AND COMPLICATED. AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS THINKING AS YOU WERE SPEAKING IS I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, OUR STREETS IN OUR TOWN THAT START AND STOP, I MEAN, THE POOR WAY IN WHICH IN SOME AREAS OF OUR TOWN WE'RE GRIDED POORLY. A LOT OF THAT IS SOMEBODY MADE A DECISION 30 YEARS AGO THAT WASN'T THE RIGHT DECISION. AND SO WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE, THE CITY OF THE FUTURE THAT I'D LIKE TO SEE, I KNOW WE AT THIS STAGE ARE GONNA HAVE TO MAKE THE KIND OF DECISIONS THAT THINK THROUGH CONGRUENT DEVELOPMENT FOR OUR CITY. YOU CAN SEE THE START, STOP, STUTTER, STOP ALL OVER OUR CITY AND WAY AT HOW WE EXECUTED PLANNING AND ZONING. AND I WANNA SEE MORE TRANSPARENCY TOO. I REALLY, I APPRECIATE WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION EARLIER ABOUT OUR INTERACTIONS WITH LOBBYISTS. I, I'M HAPPY TO DISCLOSE HOW FREQUENTLY WE SPEAK TO LOBBYISTS. THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS, I'D RATHER IT NOT BE MY OFFICE'S RESPONSIBILITY. WE GOT ENOUGH TO DO Y'ALL CALLING US AND WE'RE KEEPING TRACK OF LOBBYISTS. I'D RATHER THEY BEAR THAT RESPONSIBILITY. AND I THINK IN A LOT OF WAYS, FROM AN ACCOUNTABILITY PERSPECTIVE, I THINK THE COUNCIL BEING THE INTERMEDIARY BETWEEN DEVELOPERS, OWNERS, DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS, LOBBYISTS, I THINK IT'S A SETUP. FRANKLY. THE SETUP ALWAYS PUTS US IN THE POSITION TO DECIDE WHO'S NEGOTIATING THE MOST FAIRLY, I THINK NEIGHBORHOODS AND DEVELOPERS SHOULD NEGOTIATE AMONGST THEMSELVES AND WE COME IN AT ANOTHER STAGE. BUT THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE PROCESS, EVEN THAT MAKES ME THINK HOW MANY OF MY NEIGHBORS KNOW THE INTRICATE, VERY MUCH LIKE OB OBSCURE DETAILS OF CITY PLANNING. VERY FEW PEOPLE. SO WHEN I THINK ABOUT WHO ON MY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, FOR EXAMPLE, WELL, I'LL GO BIGGER. TRANSPARENCY SHOULD EXTEND TO EVERYBODY ENGAGED AND INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS. I ALSO THINK IT'S RELEVANT TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE LEVEL OF EXPERTISE AND INFORMATION THAT PEOPLE HAVE. AND THAT'S NOT EXCLUSIVE TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS. I HAVE SAID, AND I GOT IN TROUBLE FOR SAYING IT, I THINK COUNCIL MEMBERS GET TO VOTE ON SOME THINGS WE SHOULDN'T VOTE ON. I DON'T HAVE, I'M NOT A SYMBOL [02:50:01] ENGINEER. I DON'T THINK I SHOULD BE WEIGHING IN ON TRAFFIC INFRASTRUCTURE DECISIONS THAT LAST A HUNDRED YEARS. THAT'S NOT MY AREA OF EXPERTISE. SO I THINK FROM A TRANSPARENCY AND WHO SHOULD BE PARTICIPATING IN WHAT DISCUSSIONS, UM, PERSPECTIVE I, I THINK THAT IS TO PULL AT THAT THREAT. I THINK THAT IS WHAT IT IS. WHO'S CONTRIBUTING TO THE DISCUSSION UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES? AND DOES IT PUT US IN A POSITION FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND COUNCIL MEMBERS TO HAVE GOOD RELATIONSHIPS THAT AREN'T CONTENTIOUS FOR NO DAMN REASON? LIKE I, MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER HAS NO MOTIVATION OR REASON TO VOTE AGAINST YOUR BEST INTEREST. AND THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS, IF THEY WEREN'T THE NEGOTIATOR, THE MEDIATOR BETWEEN COMMUNITIES AND DEVELOPERS, WE WOULDN'T FIND OURSELVES ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE THING SO FREQUENTLY, WHICH MAKES EVERY OTHER DISCUSSION VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE. PEOPLE ARE STUBBORN ONCE THEY DECIDE THEY DON'T LIKE YOU, THEY'LL NOT WORK WITH YOU FOR THE REMAINDER OF TIME. CARDI B SAID FOREVER. AND THEY BRINGING THAT BEAT FOREVER, EVEN TO THE DETRIMENT OF THEMSELVES AND THEIR COMMUNITIES. SO I'D LIKE TO SEE US AS A BODY BE ABLE TO WORK THROUGH HOW DO WE ELIMINATE THAT? THE THINGS THAT MAKE IT SO THAT WE'RE AUTOMATICALLY FOR NO REASON FIGHTING AGAINST ONE ANOTHER WHEN SO FREQUENTLY THE OUTCOME WE DESIRE IS THE EXACT SAME. THE SETUP IS WITHIN THE SYSTEM, IN MY OPINION, INCLUDING I KNOW THAT THERE ARE NEIGHBORS WHO DON'T FEEL REPRESENTED BY THE NEIGHBORS WHO SHOWED UP TO SPEAK ON THEIR BEHALF. SO WHERE IS THEIR ADVOCACY AND REPRESENTATION? I'D LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE NOTE. THERE'S NO WAY FOR US TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS ARE OPERATING WITH ANY DEGREE OF COMPLIANCE, HOSTING ELECTIONS BEING INCLUSIVE, FOLLOWING THEIR BYLAWS, TAKING NOTES BECAUSE WE DON'T CHECK. SO IF THERE'S A LEVEL OF ACCOUNTABILITY, CAPABILITY AND APTITUDE THAT SHOULD RIGHTFULLY BE EXPECTED BY THE COUNCIL, I THINK WE SHOULD ALL COME TO SOME FAIR AGREEMENT OF WHAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO EXPECT FROM THE REPRESENTATIVES OF NEIGHBORHOODS. LET'S MAKE CERTAIN THAT THE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM ARE IN FACT SPEAKING FOR MOST OF THEIR NEIGHBORS. 'CAUSE WHEN I GET THE CALL THAT SAYS, SO AND SO SAID BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, AND THAT IS NOT REPRESENTING ME, WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT SOMEBODY ELSE CAN'T SPEAK FOR ME? JUST 'CAUSE THEY GOT THE CHANCE TO GO TO CITY HALL TODAY? AND THAT'S A REAL THING TOO. I THINK THE WHOLE SYSTEM DESERVES AN INVESTIGATION AND AN AUDIT ON OUR PART AS POLICY MAKERS AND AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THANK YOU MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MEMBERS. UM, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO BE, UH, SHOWN ABSTAINING ON ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? I HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN ABSTAINING ON ITEMS 35, 36, 40 AND 41. ANYONE WISHING? YES, MAYORAL. TIM? I'M, UH, I'M GONNA VOTE NO ON THAT, BUT I THINK THAT WAS YOUR NEXT COMMENT, RIGHT? NO, I'M GONNA GO TO REUSE FIRST. BUT, UM, ANYBODY WISHING TO BE SHOWN RECUSING THEMSELVES ON ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ALRIGHT, THOSE WISHING TO BE SHOWN. VOTING NO. I HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ BEING SHOWN VOTING NO ON 35, 36 40 AND 41. MAYOR PRO TEM, I RECOGNIZE YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M A YES ON ITEM 40, BUT A NO ON ITEM 41. ALRIGHT, ANYONE ELSE? COUNCIL MEMBER CODRE ALL, UH, MAYOR, I'M A NO ON ITEMS 35, 36, 40 AND 41. COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I AM, UH, NO ON 35, 36, 40 AND 41. OKAY, WHAT I'M GONNA DO, UH, MEMBERS, UM, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, BUT BECAUSE OF THE NA I I CAN COUNT AND, UM, ACTUALLY I CAN SUBTRACT. AND SO WHAT I'M GONNA DO, UNLESS THERE'S OBJECTION IS I MOVE TO AMEND THE CONSENT AGENDA TO REMOVE ITEMS 35, 36, 40 AND 41 FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER FOR DOING WHAT'S RIGHT. THAT'S ALL I GOTTA SAY. OKAY. WELL THEN SAY IT OUTSIDE PLEASE. . UM, UM, MOTION BEEN, I, I MADE THE MOTION SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER THAT WE AMEND THE CONSENT AGENDA SO THAT ITEMS 35, 36, 40 AND 41 ARE REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA. THAT MEANS THAT THE CONSENT AGENDA IS 32, 33, 34, 37, 38, [02:55:05] AND 39. THE VOTE THAT WE'RE GETTING READY TO TAKE IS ON THE MOTION TO AMEND THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IT WAS READ. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION. THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ADOPTED. UH, THE MOTION TO, TO AMEND THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ADOPTED. NOW WE WILL GO BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION, WHICH IS TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS AMENDED THE CONSENT AGENDA AS AMENDED. AND FOR CLARITY, THAT'S 32, 33, 34, 37, 38, AND 39. ANY DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AS AMENDED? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION. THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ADOPTED. MEMBERS. [Item 35 & Item 36] WHAT I'M NOW GOING TO DO, UH, AND I'M, THE REASON I'M DOING THIS OF COURSE, IS FOR PURPOSE OF CLARITY AND TRANSPARENCY AND HOW THIS VOTE GOES. WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS I'M GOING TO, UNLESS THERE'S OBJECTION, UH, I WILL BRING UP ITEM, UH, ITEMS 35 AND 36 TOGETHER. ITEMS 35 AND 36 ARE BEING BROUGHT UP TOGETHER. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO A A WELL, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH REGARD TO 35 AND 36. YES. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, I'D LIKE TO MOVE, MR. MAYOR, THAT WE, I'D LIKE TO MOVE MR. MAYOR THAT WE PROCEED AS PROPOSED FOR ITEMS 36 35 AND 36 ITEMS. COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON MOVES APPROVAL OF ITEMS 35 AND 36 ON FIRST READING ONLY. AND IT, THAT INCLUDES ON ITEM NUMBER 36, THE, THE MOTION THAT WAS THE, THE ASPECT ASPECTS OF THAT MOTION THAT WERE READ INTO THE RECORD BY MS. HARDEN. MAYOR PRO TIM, YOU SECOND IT. THE MAYOR PRO TIM'S SECOND. THE MOTION, THE VOTE IS ON ITEMS 35 AND 36. LET ME ASK IF THERE'S ANY DISCUSSION. THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. ALL RIGHT, THOSE OPPOSED, RAISE YOUR HAND. AND COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN, I HAVE YOU ABSTAINING. THEY'RE BEING FIVE VOTES IN FAVOR. FIVE VOTES IN OPPOSITION AND ONE ABSTENTION. THE MOTION FAILS. SO ITEMS 35 AND 36 DO NOT PASSED ON FIRST READING. I WILL NOW. AND, AND FOR THE RECORD, THOSE VOTING IN FAVOR, WERE ELLIS COUNCIL MEMBERS ELLIS HARPER MADISON, THE MAYOR, PRO TEM COUNCIL MEMBERS LANE COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER THOSE VOTING IN OPPOSITION. WERE COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL CADRE, FUENTES VELASQUEZ AND THE MAYOR AND ABSTAINING WAS COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN. NOW WHAT [Item 40 & Item 41] I WOULD DO IS I'M GOING TO TAKE UP ITEMS 40 AND 41 IN COMBINATION AS WELL, AND I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON ITEMS 40 AND 41. IS THERE A MOTION ON ITEMS 40 AND 41? THERE COULD BE A MOTION TO DO IT OR THERE CAN BE A MOTION TO DENY IT. THE MOTION IS TO TAKE THE ITEMS UP IN COMBINATION. WELL, NO, THE MOTION IS WHETHER OR NOT I WAS TAKING THEM UP. IS THERE A MOTION TO PASS OR TO DENY ITEMS 40 AND 41. COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ. MAYOR, I MAKE A MOTION TO DENY BOTH ITEMS. COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ MOVES TO DENY ITEMS 40 AND 41. IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION? COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, UH, SECONDS THE MOTION. IS THERE A DISCUSSION? YES, MAYOR PRO. TIM, JUST QUICK QUESTION, SINCE THEY'RE BOTH BEING TAKEN UP, MAYOR AND I DO SUPPORT THE PLUM CHANGE, BUT NOT THE INDIVIDUAL ZONING. SO I'M GONNA BE A YES ON 40 AND, AND A NO ON 41. I'LL COUNT YOUR VOTE THAT WAY. OKAY. I JUST WANTED TO, TO CLARIFY THAT, UH, GOING INTO YEAH, FOR PURPOSES THAT I HEAR YOU AND I, AND I'LL COUNT YOUR VOTE THAT WAY. THANK YOU. AND, AND SO WHEN WE DO, WHEN I CALL, WHEN I CALL THE VOTE, BE SURE I CALL IT THE WAY YOU WANT IT. YOU'RE IN FAVOR OF 40 AND OPPOSED TO 41, THE MOTION TO DENY. I UNDERSTAND. OKAY. SO HE'S IN FAVOR OF THE LONG CHANGE. BUT I, I UNDERSTAND. I I GOT HIM. I GOT IT. I GOT IT. UM, AND, BUT, BUT HAVING JUST SAID, LISTEN TO ME. 'CAUSE IF I MAY, I DON'T HAVE IT, BUT, UM, UH, I THINK I GOT IT. UM, THE MOTION [03:00:01] IS TO DENY 40 AND 41. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT. THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO DENY, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE, THE, THOSE OPPOSED TO DENYING THE MOTION. PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND WITH MY CAVEAT. I, I GOT YOU. I GOT YOU. AND FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, MAYOR, UM, UH, I'M FOLLOWING SUIT WITH COUNCIL MEMBER OR WITH MAYOR PRO TIM VELA IN TERMS OF RATIONALE. OH, OKAY. SO LET ME LOOK AT THIS SIDE OF THE DIOCESE. THOSE THAT OPPOSE DENIAL. IN OTHER WORDS, THOSE THAT FAVOR EITHER 40 OR 41, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. ALL RIGHT. AND COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN, I HAVE YOU ABSTAINING ON BOTH 40 AND 41. ALL RIGHT, I THERE BEING EIGHT ACTUALLY, THERE BEING 10 VOTES IN FAVOR OF DENYING OP, UH, ITEM NUMBER 41. ITEM NUMBER 41 FAILS THERE BEING EIGHT VOTES IN FAVOR OF DENYING ITEM NUMBER 40. ITEM 40 ALSO FAILS. SO THE MOTION TO DENY, THE MOTION TO DENY IS GRANTED FOR THE RECORD. THOSE VOTING IN FAVOR OF DENIAL ON ITEM NUMBER 41 ARE SIEGEL CADRE ELLIS, FUENTES LANE ALTER VELAZQUEZ, VELA HARPER MADISON, AND THE MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN, UH, VOTING, UH, ABSTAINING THOSE VOTING TO DENY. ITEM NUMBER 40 ARE SIEGEL CADRE ELLIS, FUENTES LANE ALTER VELAZQUEZ, AND THE MAYOR. THOSE VOTING IN FAVOR ARE HARPER, MADISON AND VELA, THE MAYOR PRO TIM. AND COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN IS SHOWN ABSTAINING ON BOTH 40 AND 41. DID I RECORD EVERYBODY'S VOTE CORRECTLY? ALL RIGHT THEN. THEN ITEMS 40 AND 41 ALSO ARE DENIED MEMBERS. THAT CONCLUDES ALL. YES, MAYOR [Additional Item] PRO TIM. UH, JUST BRIEFLY, I WANNA TAKE A, A MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE TO WELCOME TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS FROM GAITHERSBURG, MARYLAND OH, THAT ARE HERE FOR SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST VISITING, UH, IL EL HERNANDEZ AND ROB WU. RIGHT THERE. WELCOME, UH, TO BOTH OF Y'ALL. ENJOY OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY AND I'M GLAD YOU GOTTA SEE A LITTLE ACTION TODAY AT THE AUSTIN CITY HALL. , UH, MEMBERS, THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF THE BUSINESS THAT'S SCHEDULED ON THIS AGENDA TO COME BEFORE THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AT THIS REGULAR SCHEDULED MEETING IN THE CITY COUNCIL. SO, WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL IS ADJOURNED AT 4:02 PM ON MARCH 12TH, 2026. THANKS EVERYBODY. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.