[00:00:04]
[Call to Order]
O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING ON MARCH 26TH, 2026, AND I WILL CALL TO ORDER THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL FOR TODAY.UH, WE ARE MEETING IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS LOCATED IN CITY HALL AT 3 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET, AND WE HAVE A QUORUM OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL PRESENT.
UM, WHAT I'M GONNA DO FIRST IS I'M GOING TO KIND OF GO THROUGH THE ORDER OF THE DAY, AND THEN WE WILL B BEGIN THE ACTUAL, UH, ASPECTS OF THE MEETING.
UH, IN A FEW MINUTES, I WILL READ CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS INTO THE RE UH, RECORD, UH, WHICH CHANGES THE AGENDA.
UM, THERE ARE NO ACTION ITEMS THAT, THAT HAVE HAVE BEEN CHANGED, BUT I'LL, I'LL COME BACK TO THAT IN A MINUTE.
THEN WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS WE'RE GONNA GO TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA.
UH, THERE'S ONLY BEEN ONE ITEM PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA, AND THAT IS ITEM NUMBER 31.
ITEM NUMBER 31 HAS BEEN PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
AFTER WE HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC ON, WITH COMMENTS ON THE ITEMS, ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, WE WILL THEN HAVE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, WE'LL HAVE DISCUSS.
I'LL GET, I'LL TAKE A MOTION AND GET A SECOND, AND THEN WE WILL HAVE DISCUSSION AMONG THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WITH REGARD TO, UH, THE CONSENT AGENDA.
AND WE WILL VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AS CLOSE TO 10 30 AS WE CAN GET, BUT IT WILL NOT BE AT 10 30 BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
WE WILL, UH, RECESS THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING, AND I'LL CALL TO ORDER THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING.
WE WILL TAKE THAT UP AND, UM, THEN WE WILL ADJOURN THAT MEETING AND GO BACK TO THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
MY GUESS IS THAT'S WHEN WE WILL TAKE UP ITEM NUMBER 31.
UM, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF NON-CONSENT ITEMS THAT AREN'T PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA, BUT THEY'RE NON-CONSENT ITEMS BECAUSE THEY COME FROM THE, UH, FROM COUNCIL COMMITTEES AND UNDER OUR RULES.
THOSE ARE ITEMS 48, 49 AND 74.
THOSE WILL BE TAKEN UP AFTER WE TAKE UP AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION, AND PROBABLY AFTER WE TAKE UP ITEM NUMBER 31, WE ALSO HAVE A NUMBER OF PUBLIC HEARINGS.
ITEMS 51 THROUGH ITEM 66 ARE PUBLIC HEARINGS.
I WILL PROBABLY, WELL, I, I'LL, I'LL WAIT TILL WE GET TO THOSE AND WE'LL SEE WHAT, HOW WE'RE MANAGING TIME.
BUT WHAT I'LL SAY IS, AT LEAST RIGHT NOW, THOSE WILL PROBABLY BE TAKEN UP IN THE ORDER OF THEIR NUMERICAL ORDER, UH, AT, AT NOON, WHEREVER WE ARE, UH, ON THE AGENDA AT NOON, WE WILL, UH, MOVE TO, WE, WE'LL PAUSE, UH, AND WE WILL GO TO OUR TIME, CERTAIN PUBLIC, GENERAL, PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
I ANTICIPATE THAT WE WILL RECESS AT, AT, AT THE END OF THAT PUBLIC COMMENT, AND THAT WILL BE AROUND 1230 TO 1235, PROBABLY TILL ABOUT ONE 10.
UH, AT ONE 10, WE WILL RECONVENE AND WE WILL JUST, WE'LL GO WITH WHEREVER WE ARE ON THE AGENDA AT THAT POINT IN TIME.
AND AS CLOSE TO TWO O'CLOCK AS POSSIBLE, WE WILL TAKE UP ZONING ITEMS. SO THAT'S THE, UNLESS THERE'S QUESTIONS, UM, I'LL NOW GO TO CHANGES OF CORRECTIONS IN THE RECORD.
UH, AS I INDICATED, THERE ARE NO ITEMS THAT, UH, CHANGES IN CORRECTIONS THAT I NEED TO READ SPECIFICALLY TO AN AGENDA ITEM, BUT I DO WANT TO, FOR THE RECORD, AGAIN, SAY THAT THE ITEM PULLED OFF THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ITEM NUMBER 31.
[Consent Agenda (Part 1 of 2)]
THERE'S OBJECTION, WE WILL GO TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE CONSENT ITEMS, AND I WILL ASK THE CITY CLERK TO NAVIGATE US THROUGH THAT PROCESS.STARTING WITH ITEM TWO, NALIA, ACMI, SANKOFA, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THIS AS WELL.
OH, THIS IS TOO ON ITEM EIGHT.
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WILLIAM BUNCH, ITEM 10.GOOD MORNING, MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, BILL BUNCH, UH, DISTRICT FIVE, SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE SPEAKING ON ITEM EIGHT, WHICH IS, UM, 2.2 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS TO UPGRADE THE PARKING GARAGE AT THE CONVENTION CENTER.
UH, JUST WANNA FLAG WHETHER IS THIS REALLY A PRIORITY? I MEAN, Y'ALL ARE TRYING TO DE-EMPHASIZE CAR PARKING.
UH, IT'S A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY JUST TO, UH, CLEAN UP, ADD SOME SIGNAGE TO A PARKING GARAGE.
THIS IS MONEY THAT COULD REALLY BE USED FOR DELIVERING IMPORTANT SERVICES.
UM, IT SAYS THAT IT'S NOT PART OF THE CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION PROJECT.
UM, BUT THE REASON IT'S NOT IS BECAUSE THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS A CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION PROJECT.
Y'ALL CON CONTINUE TO CALL THAT, CALL IT THAT, BUT YOU TORE DOWN A PERFECTLY FUNCTIONAL CONVENTION CENTER.
YOU'RE BUILDING AN ENTIRELY NEW PROJECT THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE, UH, CONVENTION CENTER WE HAD, UH, EXCEPT IT HAPPENS TO BE IN THE SAME LOCATION.
UM, IT'S, IT'S A FRAUD ON THE COMMUNITY ON SO MANY LEVELS.
UH, IF YOU READ TEXAS MONTHLY LAST WEEK, YOU HAVE, UH, THE SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST CEO, SAYING THEY MAY WELL NOT EVER GO BACK TO THE CONVENTION CENTER.
THAT WAS A THIRD OF THE ENTIRE BUSINESS.
THE ENTIRE ANNUAL BUSINESS OF THE CONVENTION CENTER WAS SOUTH.
AND THEY'RE SAYING POINT BLANK, THEY MAY NOT GO THERE.
IT'S TIME FOR Y'ALL TO QUIT THROWING MONEY AWAY, MILLIONS.
AND HERE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BILLIONS MISLEADING THE PUBLIC ABUSING THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE WITH ZERO INTEGRITY.
UM, I'M SIGNED UP FOR NUMBER 10.
SHE CALLED ME ON ITEM 13 ALSO.
SO I GUESS I DO, I KEEP GOING.
MAYOR, YOU HAVE, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES ON ITEM 13.
UH, SPEAKING HERE, JUST ON MY OWN, UH, THIS ITEM AND THE FOLLOWING SEVERAL ITEMS IS FOR VARIOUS TYPES OF, UH, COMPUTER SERVICES AND SOFTWARE, UM, ENORMOUS SUMS OF MONEY AGAIN, THAT YOU'RE SPENDING, OUTSOURCING, UH, JUST DOING THE SAME OLD, SAME OLD WHEN TECHNOLOGY IS RAPIDLY CHANGING.
I DON'T SEE ANY SORT OF COORDINATION OR VALUATION OF ANY OF THESE CONTRACTS, UH, WHETHER WE ACTUALLY NEED THEM OR NOT.
IT SEEMS LIKE AT THIS POINT, THERE REALLY NEEDS TO BE A, A TIMEOUT AND, AND BRINGING A BUNCH OF THAT WORK IN, IN-HOUSE.
IT'S A $78,000 CONTRACT THAT NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN IS A $1.6 MILLION CONTRACT.
IT'S JUST A, JUST A MERE TWEAK, BUT IT'S A ORDER OF MAGNITUDE INCREASE, AND Y'ALL AREN'T EVEN ASKING ANY QUESTIONS, THINKING TWICE.
AND YET YOU SAY YOU CARE ABOUT AFFORDABILITY, THAT YOU'VE HEARD THE, THE COMMUNITY ABOUT TAXES AND SPENDING AND FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY.
UM, YOU'RE SLEEPWALKING THROUGH THIS OVER AND OVER, AND YOU GOT FOUR ITEMS HERE STACKED UP.
THAT'S AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF SPENDING THAT DESERVES A WHOLE LOT MORE ATTENTION.
YOU ALSO SIGNED UP FOR 19, UH, YEAH, I'M GONNA SKIP ON THAT ONE TOO.
ITEM NUMBER 24, SCOTT COBB, ITEM 30, SHARON BLYTHE, AND 30 BEN SOTHEBY.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE, AND I WOULD LIKE A MEETING WITH MR. CADRE.
I AM HERE BECAUSE I, I SHOULD BE IN CLASS AT
[00:10:01]
UT.I SKIPPED 'CAUSE I KNEW NO, NO ONE WOULD COME AND SPEAK AGAINST THIS.
JUST LIKE LAST SUMMER, NO ONE CAME AND TALKED TO Y'ALL ABOUT THE DENTAL INSURANCE BEING TAKEN AWAY BY HR.
THIS IS ANOTHER HR INITIATIVE THAT WOULD SET ASIDE TWO OVER $2 MILLION TO LINE UP PROBE MANAGEMENT LAW FIRMS TO INVESTIGATE CLAIMS ALLEGATIONS AGAINST EMPLOYEES THAT I JUST HAD DONE BY ONE OF THESE FIRMS. TRUDY OAK LAW FIRM, EMPLOYERS LAW FIRM.
I'M SIGNED UP TO SPEAK APRIL 9TH ON THAT.
IN NO CASE SHOULD TREATY OAK EVER GET ANY MORE ADDITIONAL CONTRACTS FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
I SPECIFICALLY ASKED FOR A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION BECAUSE OF MY HEARING PROBLEMS, AND THEY REFUSED TO ALLOW ME TO MEET WITH THEM IN PERSON.
THEY REQUIRED HER TO BE ON ZOOM.
I COULD NOT FOLLOW THE CONVERSATION.
I REPEATEDLY ASKED MY LAWYER, WHAT IS THEY SAYING? WHAT IS GOING ON? THEY VIOLATED THE LAW.
YOU HIRE THEM, YOU HIRE THEM AGAIN, THEY WILL MISTREAT YOUR LABOR FORCE.
YOU NEED TO DECIDE, ARE YOU ON THE SIDE OF MANAGEMENT? ARE YOU ON THIS SIDE OF THE WORKERS? YOU SET ASIDE THIS $2.25 MILLION, YOU ARE ON THE SIDE OF THE MANAGEMENT THAT $2 MILLION COULD PAY FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS OF DENTAL INSURANCE.
THIS LAW FIRM AFFIRMED THAT WITHOUT INVESTIGATING A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION, WITHOUT INTERVIEWING ME, MS. BLYTHE, HI, SHARON BLYTHE, DISTRICT SIX.
UH, VERY RARELY DO I AGREE WITH AN AN ITEM.
I KIND OF AGREE WITH THIS ONE, OTHER THAN THE AGENDA ITEM DIDN'T REALLY SPECIF SPECIFY WHO'S GONNA BE ABLE TO USE THE FURNITURE OUTTA THE WAREHOUSE.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THAT BEFORE Y'ALL VOTE ON IT, BECAUSE, UM, IF IT, I HEARD IN A MEETING THE OTHER DAY THAT AUSTIN CITY LUTHERANS ARE SUPPORTING THIS, AND I GUESS THEY WOULD BE ONE OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WOULD BE ALLOWED TO GO IN THERE AND GET FURNITURE FOR THE HOMELESS.
BUT I DON'T KNOW WHO ELSE WOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
IS IT THE GENERAL PUBLIC OR IS IT JUST THE HOMELESS? AND IS THERE ANYBODY HERE THAT COULD ANSWER THAT QUESTION FOR ME? WE'LL GET SOMEBODY TO ANSWER THE QUESTION FOR YOU.
GO AHEAD AND FINISH YOUR TESTIMONY.
WELL THEN WHY DON'T YOU VISIT WITH, WE'LL HAVE SOMEBODY I WOULD LIKE TO, FOR THE PUBLIC TO HEAR HIS ANSWER.
WELL, THAT'S REALLY NOT THE WAY WE'VE SET THIS UP, BUT, UM, GO AHEAD AND GIVE A QUICK ANSWER.
UH, UH, GOOD MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS RICHARD ML, DIRECTOR FROST AND RESOURCE RECOVERY.
UH, WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THE BUSINESS PLAN, BUT PRIMARILY THIS, UH, THE FURNITURE WILL BE, UM, WE WILL WORK WITH NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF GETTING HOMELESS PEOPLE BACK ON THEIR FEET.
AND SO WE'LL BE WORKING WITH THOSE GROUPS.
UM, THERE MAY BE A TIME LATER WHERE WE CAN BE ABLE TO EXPAND THAT PROGRAM, BUT THAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN AT THIS POINT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. SOBE.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MYSELF FOR EVERYTHING TODAY.
UH, ON A VACATION DAY, ANYONE WHO'S WORRIED ABOUT, UH, MY, MY DAYTIME EMPLOYMENT, UM, I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS AS A D FOUR RESIDENT AND SOMEBODY WHO BIKES PAST THIS PRETTY REGULARLY ON MY WAY TO SOCCER GAMES AND OTHER EVENTS, GOING TO GRAB A BITE TO EAT.
UM, I AM THINKING ABOUT WHEN, UH, PEOPLE I KNOW, YOU KNOW, SAY A YOUNG COUPLE, UH, THEY DECIDE TO GET MARRIED, AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE MOVING IN TOGETHER AND BOTH OF THEM HAVE A PERFECTLY GOOD USE, UH, COUCH.
WHAT DO YOU DO WITH ONE OF 'EM? UH, I THINK IT IS WONDERFUL FOR OUR CITY TO, UH, SET UP WAYS THAT MAKE THAT LESS OF A BURDEN.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD GO TO, UH, OUR LANDFILL AND TAKE UP SPACE.
IT SHOULDN'T BE, UH, A BURDEN FOR OUR RESOURCE RECOVERY WORKERS WHO WORK SO HARD AND ARE SO DEDICATED TO THE CITY FOR THEM TO TRY AND FIT THAT INTO, INTO, YOU KNOW, REGULAR SERVICE PICKUP, UH, OF YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, RECYCLING AND TRASH AND, AND COMPOST.
UH, IT IS GOOD FOR US TO HAVE A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN TAKE THOSE THINGS.
AND FOR OUR NON-PROFITS WHO WORK SO HARD AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO, TO CONNECT PEOPLE WHO ARE EXITING HOMELESSNESS, TO GIVE THEM SOME OF THE BASIC THINGS TO MAKE THEIR NEXT SITUATION FEEL LIKE HOME.
UH, THIS IS A GOOD, IT IS GOOD IN CLIMATE IMPACTS TOO.
THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH ENERGY GOES INTO BUILDING FURNITURE, MOVING FURNITURE FOR IT TO END UP TAKING UP SPACE IN OUR LIMITED, UH,
[00:15:01]
YOU KNOW, DUMP.THAT'S, THAT'S, UH, NOT A GOOD USE.
HAVING, UH, YOU KNOW, THE REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE AS WE LEARNED IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
THIS IS, THIS IS THAT REUSE IS VERY GOOD, GOOD FOR THE CLIMATE, GOOD FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DONATING SOMETHING AND GOOD FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE RECEIVING IT.
SO, JUST WANTED TO COME AND SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS, UH, SINCE IT IS IN D FOUR.
ITEM 37, BILL BUNCH, MR. BUNCH, CALL.
PLEASE CALL SOME OTHER NAMES WHILE WE'RE WAITING ON MR. BUNCH TO COME DOWN SO WE, PEOPLE WILL KNOW THEY'RE COMING UP.
MY NEXT SPEAKER'S REMOTE, BUT I'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL SOME IN PERSON.
ITEM 39, STREETCAR NALU, JEFF DICKERSON, CHRISTIAN CHOP, AND ZACHARY FADI.
SO IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY FORWARD, MR. BUNCH.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, BILL BUNCH, DISTRICT FIVE, SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE.
UH, THIS ITEM IS TO ADD $4.4 MILLION TO, UH, A PREVIOUS $5 MILLION CONTRACT OR AGREEMENT TO, UH, SUBSIDIZE THE CONSTRUCTION OF A MAJOR SEWER LINE OUT EAST TO SERVE A LARGE DEVELOPMENT.
UM, I THINK THAT'S ABOUT A 80% INCREASE IN YOUR SHARE OF THIS PROJECT.
UM, THE BACKUP DOESN'T JUSTIFY THAT.
UM, IT'S AN ENORMOUS INCREASE.
IT'S A HUGE WASTEWATER INTERCEPTOR, AND AGAIN, YOU'RE MAKE, YOU'RE JUST GOING, YOU'RE SLEEPWALKING THROUGH THE WATER CRISIS THAT WE'RE IN.
WE DON'T HAVE THE WATER TO CONVERT INTO SEWAGE TO SERVE DEVELOPMENT AT THIS CAPACITY.
IT'S A SERVICE EXTENSION REQUEST, WHICH RIGHT NOW IS HANDLED ADMINISTRATIVELY ON THE EAST SIDE.
SO I THINK YOU'RE, YOU'RE COMMITTED TO DOING SOMETHING HERE.
YOU'RE NOT COMMITTED TO PAYING AN EXTRA $4.4 MILLION ON IT, BUT YOU NEED TO REVISE YOUR POLICIES RIGHT AWAY SO THAT THIS COUNCIL IS LOOKING AT ALL OF THESE LARGE SERVICE EXTENSION REQUESTS FOR WATER OR SEWER THAT YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MEET.
THAT COULD BE AN ENORMOUS COST BURDEN TO OUR RATE PAYERS.
AND ALREADY YOUR WATER AND SEWER RATES ARE GOING THROUGH THE ROOF TO SERVE NEW DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE THE IMPACT FEES ONLY COVER A PERCENTAGE OF THAT.
AND NOW WITH THE DATA CENTERS, THE LATEST ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE TARIFF FAB, UM, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ENORMOUS POTENTIAL, ENORMOUS COMMITMENTS OF WATER, SEWER SERVICE THAT YOU SIMPLY CAN'T PROVIDE.
OR IF YOU DO PROVIDE IT, IT'S GONNA BE A PHENOMENAL COST BURDEN ON YOUR RATE.
PLEASE DON'T SLEEP WALK THROUGH THIS ANYMORE.
IT'S TIME TO REVISE THESE POLICIES.
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO JUST IDENTIFY YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD AND, AND BEGIN YOUR COMMENTS.
HELLO, MY NAME IS JEFF DICKERSON, SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MYSELF WITH DISTRICT FIVE LAW COUNCIL MEMBERS MAYOR, SPEAKING ON ITEM 39.
THIS ITEM IS DIRECTIONALLY CORRECT, BUT OPERATIONALLY COMPLETE.
I WILL ONLY COVER THE PARKING ISSUES WE KNOW FROM AUSTIN'S OWN DATA.
I HATE TO INTERRUPT YOU, BUT IF YOU'D MOVE THAT MICROPHONE A LITTLE CLOSER TO YOUR MOUTH, I THINK IT'D BE BETTER.
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? THAT'S BETTER.
WE KNOW FROM AUSTIN'S OWN DATA THAT PARKING IS NOT NEUTRAL.
IF PARKING IS CHEAP, MORE PEOPLE WILL GO.
IF PARKING IS EXPENSIVE, LESS PEOPLE WILL GO.
BUT HERE'S THE PROBLEM WITH THIS RESOLUTION.
IT SETS UP PARKING MAXIMUMS WITHOUT DEFINING WHAT A MAXIMUM IS.
IN MEASURABLE TERMS, THERE ARE NO KPIS.
THERE ARE NO TARGETS FOR REDUCED CAR TRIPS, NO THRESHOLD FOR PARKING UTILIZATION.
WITHOUT THOSE, THIS BECOMES A POLICY BY ASSUMPTION, NOT A POLICY BY PERFORMANCE, THIS VIOLATES BASIC PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT, HAVING NO BASELINE OR TARGETS.
THIS VIOLATES BASIC GOVERNANCE AND AUDITING STANDARDS, WHICH THE CITY COUNCIL IS REALLY PROPOSING.
THERE IS A STATEMENT IN THERE THAT EXPLICITLY STATES THAT PRIOR EOT ACTIONS HAD NO FISCAL IMPACT.
THAT IS HIGHLY IMPLAUSIBLE GIVEN THAT THERE ARE INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS, ENFORCEMENT COSTS, AND LAND CHIP COSTS.
FINALLY, THERE IS NO NEIGHBORHOOD PROTECTION FRAMEWORK HERE, NO PERMIT STRATEGY, NO ENFORCEMENT PLAN, NO MITIGATION FOR RESIDENT STREETS.
WITH THE RECENT REMOVAL OF PARKING REQUIREMENTS EARLIER, THAT OMISSION IS GUARANTEED A CAUSE CONFLICT.
[00:20:01]
SILENT ON A CRITICAL ISSUE OF NEIGHBORHOOD IMPACT, CONGESTION, SPILLOVER, PARKING, AND FLOW.IF WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT THIS E-T-E-L-D, WE NEED HARD MATRIX, TIGHT CAPS AND NEIGHBORHOOD SAFEGUARDS THAT ARE FUNDED.
HADDY, UH, ZACH FADI, UM, SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF ITEM 39, UH, RESIDENT DISTRICT ONE, PRESIDENT AURORA, UH, VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS ITEM.
UH, WE'RE PUTTING HUGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY INTO A LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM TO, TO, UH, ALLOW OUR NEIGHBORS TO GET AROUND.
HOPEFULLY IN THE NEAR FUTURE, WE, WE WILL SEE LOTS OF, OF NEW DEVELOPMENT.
UM, AND IT'S OFTEN, UH, DEVELOPERS KNOW HOW TO FUND WHAT THEY'RE, WHAT THEY'RE USED TO, AND WE'RE NOT, THEY'RE NOT USED TO A CITY, UH, WITH, WITH AND MAKING DEVELOPMENTS WITH LESS PARKING.
AND SO I THINK THAT WE HAVE A ABILITY AS A CITY TO, TO NUDGE THE MARKETS, UM, AND TO, TO MAKE THEM SEE THE WISDOM OF, OF THIS NEW, UH, BEAUTIFUL WAY THAT WE'RE, UH, THAT WE'RE BUILDING.
I AM GONNA CALL TWO REMOTE SPEAKERS FOR ITEM 39, JOSHUA GOLDENBERG.
UM, MY NAME, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU.
UM, MY NAME IS JOSHUA GOLDENBERG.
I'M A JUNIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL, SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MYSELF.
UH, I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF THE AUSTIN YOUTH COUNCIL, AND, UH, I'M INVOLVED IN AURA, WHICH IS GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION.
UH, SO I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF BESIDE HIM BECAUSE I BELIEVE LIMITING PARKING AROUND OUR FUTURE LIGHT RAIL STATIONS IS REALLY, REALLY ESSENTIAL TO MEETING OUR CITY GOALS, UH, OUTLINED IN LIKE THE IMAGINE AUSTIN PLAN, THE AUSTIN STRATEGIC MOBILITY PLAN, AND LIKE OTHER MODE SHIFT GOALS AND DMT REDUCTION GOALS, UH, AND LIMITING PARKING AROUND OUR FUTURE LIGHT RAIL STATIONS IS ALSO GONNA BE REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT TO, IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THAT OUR FUTURE LIT RAIL VINE SERVES PEOPLE AS BEST AS POSSIBLE.
UH, AS A YOUNG PERSON, I'M REALLY, REALLY EXCITED ABOUT USING THIS LINE IN THE FUTURE, AND I WOULD HATE FOR THE FUTURE STATION AREAS TO JUST BE SURROUNDED BY PARKING.
UM, SO YEAH, I THINK, I THINK, UM, LIMITED PARKING AROUND THE FUTURE, STATIONARIES IS A REALLY GOOD WAY, UH, TO MAKE THE LANDS AROUND, UH, THE LIGHT RAIL LINE AS GOOD AS IT CAN POSSIBLY BE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WASHINGTON COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M PETER BRETTON AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT EIGHT.
I'M IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM, AND I WILL YIELD MY REMAINING TIME.
I'M GONNA GO BACK TO IN-PERSON SPEAKERS FOR ITEM 39.
I'M GONNA CALL SEVERAL NAMES AT A TIME.
IF YOU HEAR YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME DOWN AND TAKE AN OPEN SEAT AT THE PODIUM.
CHARLES BRADBURY, JUDEA RICE, ERIC KYLEBERG, MIRIAM SCHOEN FIELD, JOHN STARK.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
TAKE AN EMPTY SEAT OR SIT AT THE FRONT.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
UH, MY NAME IS MIRIAM SCHOFIELD.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE AND HERE REPRESENTING THE AUSTIN PARKING REFORM COALITION.
UH, WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS POLICY AND WANNA THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER LANE, UH, HER STAFF AND THE CO-SPONSORS FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD.
THIS IS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE GET THE FULL VALUE OUT OF OUR TRANSIT SYSTEM.
LIGHT RAIL IS AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AND ALSO EXPENSIVE INVESTMENT, AND ITS SUCCESS DEPENDS SO MUCH ON WHAT IS BUILT AROUND IT.
EXCESSIVE PARKING NEAR THESE STATIONS CAN BE DEVASTATING TO THE SYSTEM, AND IT LIMITS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT CAN LIVE, WORK AND ACCESS IT.
PARKING'S ALSO VERY EXPENSIVE.
THOSE COSTS THAT GET PASSED ON, UH, TO RESIDENTS, AND BY, UH, MAKING SURE THAT DEVELOPERS ARE BUILDING AN APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF PARKING NEAR THESE STATIONS, WE KEEP LIVING NEAR TRANSIT AN AFFORDABLE OPTION FOR MORE AUSTINITES.
UH, WE ARE SO EXCITED ABOUT THE LIGHT RAIL INVESTMENT, AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THE MOST OUT OF IT.
UH, PARKING CAPS ARE A SIMPLE AND PRACTICAL WAY TO DO THAT.
NEXT SPEAKER, I'M GONNA CONTINUE ON WITH ITEM 40, TY HOKEY, ADAM GREENFIELD, JORDY, TELLO, CAMPBELL NELSON, FELICITY MAXWELL.
AGAIN, IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME DOWN AND TAKE AN OPEN SEAT AT THE PODIUM.
JUST STATE YOUR NAME, ALL YOURS.
UM, I'M A MEMBER OF DISTRICT EIGHT.
SO, UH, THANK YOU, UH, COUNCILWOMAN ELLIS FOR, UH, SPONSORING THIS.
UM, I, UH, I MOVED TO AUSTIN ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO, UM, TO START A, UH, YOU KNOW, TO START A
[00:25:01]
COMPANY.THE REASON WAS THAT WE SORT OF SAID, OKAY, WELL, WHAT IS THE ONLY, YOU KNOW, CITY IN THE COUNTRY THAT HAS A BIG TECH SCENE AND CAN ALSO, AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, HAS CHEAP HOUSING? AND THERE WAS ONLY ONE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ONLY ONE OPTION.
UM, THIS IS SORT OF, THIS IS AUSTIN'S COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE IN THE NATION.
UM, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN, YOU KNOW, IT HAS, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY A GOOD 75, 80% OF THE NETWORK OF, YOU KNOW, SAN FRANCISCO OR NEW YORK, BUT YOU'RE NOT PAYING, YOU KNOW, $2,500 A MONTH TO LIVE IN A SHOEBOX.
UM, THAT IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP THAT GOING.
YOU KNOW, I MEAN, ANY, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, ADDITIONAL HOUSING, UM, KNOW, LOWERS RENTS, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY NO MATTER, UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT KIND IT IS.
AND, YOU KNOW, MISS, YOU KNOW, BUILDING MORE, MISSING, BUILDING MORE MISSILE, MORE MISS, MORE MISSING MIDDLE, YOU KNOW, HOUSING, CAN YOU, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, ALLOWS THE, YOU KNOW, ALLOWS MORE DENSITY TO DEVELOP, YOU KNOW, MORE ORGANICALLY.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
ADAM GREENFIELD HERE WITH SAFE STREETS AUSTIN.
WE'RE ALSO A MEMBER OF THE AUSTIN PARK REFORM COALITION, UH, SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF AGENDA ITEM 39.
UM, ONE OF THE REALLY EXCITING ASPECTS OF THE LIGHT RAIL PROJECT IS NOT JUST THAT WE'RE GONNA GET HIGH CAPACITY TRANSIT, WHICH IS JUST GONNA BE A DREAM TO RIDE, BUT IT'S ALSO GONNA HAVE GENERATIONAL, UH, UM, IMPACTS ON THE STREETSCAPE AROUND THE LIGHT RAIL.
UM, ANY ONE OF THE STREETS THAT ARE GONNA BE TRANSFORMED, LIKE THE DRAG OR SOUTH CONGRESS WOULD BE A LIFETIME ACCOMPLISHMENT.
AND YET WE ARE DOING A SERIES OF THESE AS PART OF THE LIGHT RAIL PROJECT.
UH, AGENDA ITEM 39 ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT'S CRUCIAL TO GET THE LAND USE RIGHT AROUND LIGHT RAILS, THAT WE ARE MAXIMIZING OUR INVESTMENT IN THIS INFRASTRUCTURE.
UM, ALSO, YOU KNOW, IT WILL MAXIMIZE WALKABILITY, BIKEABILITY SO THAT PEOPLE CAN GET FROM THE LIGHT RAIL AND MAKE THAT, THAT, UM, LAST MILE TRIP, UH, TO THEIR FINAL DESTINATION.
UM, AS IS SO OFTEN PARKING REFORM IS, UH, THE PATH TO SALVATION HERE.
GREAT TO SEE IT, UH, UH, CONNECT UP WITH PROJECT CONNECT AND REALLY, UH, TAKE US HOME AND MAKE THIS THIS, UM, INCREDIBLE INVESTMENT WORK.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO COUNCIL MEMBER LANE FOR SPONSORING THIS AND FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, ALTER CAD, VELASQUE AND SEAGULL FOR CO-SPONSORING.
UH, FELICITY MAXWELL D FIVE RESIDENT, OR A BOARD MEMBER AS THE AURA REPRESENTATIVE TO THE AUSTIN PARKING REFORM COALITION.
I'M DELIGHTED TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 39 TODAY IN THE CONCEPT OF LIMITING EXCESS PARKING AROUND OUR PROJECT CONNECT STATIONS AND FUTURE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT AREAS.
UH, TO COUNCIL MEMBER, CRYSTAL ELAINE AND HER STAFF FOR THEIR DILIGENT WORK ON THIS ITEM.
EFFORTS LIKE CAPPING PARKING, NEAR TRANSIT STATIONS, INSURERS, WE CONTINUE TO CREATE AN AUSTIN THAT IS MORE WALKABLE, BIKEABLE, AND TRANSIT FRIENDLY.
AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE CURRENT AND PAST COUNCIL MEMBERS, INCLUDING FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER CHRIS RILEY, WHO HAVE HELPED AUSTIN MAKE, MAKE AUSTIN A LEADER IN PARKING REFORM NATIONWIDE.
YOU MAY HAVE HEARD THAT WE RECENTLY, THE AUSTIN PARKING CO COALITION RECENTLY WON A NATIONAL AWARD FOR OUR ADVOCACY EFFORTS AROUND PARKING REFORM IN THE CITY.
THAT'S ONLY POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE PARTNERSHIP WE HAVE WITH SO MANY OF YOUR OFFICES.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM AND THE ITEM BY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRY, AND ALL OF THE WORK YOU DO ON PARKING REFORM IN OUR CITY.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE, AND I WANTED TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 39.
I THINK FOR THE LIGHT RAIL, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE LAND AROUND IT BE ORIENTED TOWARDS PEDESTRIANS IN ORDER TO GET THE MOST OUT OF THAT INVESTMENT.
AND, UM, I YIELD THE REST OF MY TIME.
CONTINUING WITH 39, CHRIS GANNON, JEN ROBO, RICHARD EASTERLING, NIKOLAI TANGENT, LIZA WIMBERLEY.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD, MS. ROBO, YOU MAY BEGIN.
I'M JEN ROBO, A LONGTIME AUSTIN RESIDENT.
I'M SPEAKING ON THE ITEM 39 IN OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED PARKING MAXIMUMS. THE CITY COUNCIL PREVIOUSLY ELIMINATED MINIMUM PARKING REQUIREMENTS CITYWIDE IN 2023, AND THIS NEW RESOLUTION WOULD ADD YET ANOTHER LAYER OF REGULATION BY IMPOSING MAXIMUM PARKING LIMITS AND EQUITABLE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT COMBINING DISTRICT.
INSTEAD OF REDUCING GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE, THIS PROPOSAL CREATES MORE RULES, MORE ADMINISTRATIVE OVERSIGHT, AND HIGHER COSTS FOR DEVELOPMENT.
WE DO NOT SOLVE AUSTIN'S HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS BY LAYERING ON ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS THAT INCREASE THE COST AND THE COMPLEXITY OF BUILDING THE VERY FACT THAT THE RESOLUTION INCLUDES SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS PROVES THE POINT THE CITY RECOGNIZES THESE PARKING CAPS WILL CREATE REAL PROBLEMS AND BURDENS.
YET COUNCIL WANTS TO BURDEN SOME RESIDENTS
[00:30:01]
WHILE CARVING OUT RELIEF FOR FAVORED INTERESTS.THE SELECTIVE APPROACH IS UNFAIR AND DISCRIMINATORY.
THE FREE MARKET IS THE BEST SOLUTION HERE.
IF PARKING IS EXPENSIVE TO PROVIDE, DEVELOPERS WILL NOT BUILD MORE PARKING THAN THEIR CUSTOMERS ACTUALLY NEED AND ARE WILLING TO PAY FOR MARKET DEMAND, NOT CITY MANDATES SHOULD DETERMINE PARKING SUPPLY.
DEVELOPERS ALREADY HAVE EVERY INCENTIVE TO CONTROL COSTS AND MAXIMIZE HOUSING UNITS.
COUNCIL SEEMS TO HAVE A DEEP DISTRUST OF, OF THE FREE MARKET PREFERRING INSTEAD TO MICROMANAGE DEVELOPERS AND DICTATE EXACTLY HOW MUCH PARKING CAN BE BUILT.
THE SINGLE-MINDED FOCUS ON REDUCING CAR USE THROUGH RESTRICTIONS RATHER THAN MAKING TRANSIT TRULY ATTRACTIVE, ONLY LOWERS QUALITY OF LIFE.
PEOPLE CANNOT BE FORCED OUT OF THEIR HOMES BY MAKING DRIVING LESS CONVENIENT.
REAL PROGRESS WOULD COME FROM POSITIVE INCENTIVES, IMPROVING PUBLIC SAFETY ON TRANSIT, AND DELIVERING SERVICES THAT PEOPLE ACTUALLY WANT.
AUSTIN DESERVES POLICIES THAT TRUST RESIDENTS IN THE MARKET, NOT MORE TOP-DOWN CONTROL THAT PICKS WINNERS AND LOSERS.
OKAY, I'M CALLING THE LAST GROUP OF SPEAKERS FOR 39.
JEFFREY BOWEN, AMY DELUNA, BEN SOTHEBY, AND KATIE CAM.
WELL, GOOD MORNING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, JEFFREY BOWEN, DISTRICT EIGHT.
UM, I'M REALLY KIND OF SPLIT ON THIS ENTIRE ISSUE, UH, PRIMARILY BECAUSE JUST LIKE MS. ROBO SAID, WHY ARE WE NOT LETTING THE MARKET TAKE ITS PLACE? UH, THIS, NOT THIS PARTICULAR COUNCIL BODY, BUT OTHERS PRIOR TO GOT RID OF ALL OF THE PARKING.
YET IT BRINGS UP OTHER QUESTIONS.
YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT THE MAGICAL CHOO CHOO THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE GETTING, BUT THERE'S NOTHING IN THIS THAT TALKS ABOUT WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING IN TO PARK BECAUSE THERE'S NO PARKING AT THE END OF THE LINE WHERE THEY'RE TRYING TO GO, HOW IS THAT ISSUE GOING TO BE RESOLVED? THAT'S NOT, THAT'S NOTHING REALLY TALKED ABOUT IN THIS.
SO WHAT ABOUT THOSE BUILDERS THAT ARE BUILDING BASED UPON THEIR TARGET MARKET? UH, THAT'S ACTUALLY A MARKETING TERM SO THAT THEY PEOPLE BUILD TO WHAT THE PEOPLE THEY'RE TRYING TO ATTRACT.
SO IF CARS ARE PART OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE STILL TRYING TO ATTRACT BECAUSE THEY STILL USE A VEHICLE AND ALSO USE THE TRANSIT SYSTEM, DON'T THOSE CONSIDERATIONS ALSO NEED TO BE PUT INTO EFFECT? YES.
THE COST OF THE AFFORDABILITY IN THIS ISSUE IS, IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE CONCERNED WITH, BUT THE ONE THING THAT COUNCIL CANNOT CONTROL IS THE COST OF LABOR AND THE COST OF MATERIALS.
CONCRETE'S A VERY EXPENSIVE PRODUCT, YET WE HAVE TO DIG DEEPER TO PUT IN PARKING GARAGES AS WE HAVE ONE IN THIS BUILDING RIGHT HERE, YET WE NEED TO HAVE THAT PARKING FOR THOSE THAT DO NEED THAT FACILITY.
SO I, I REALLY THINK THAT THERE'S SOME ISSUES IN THIS THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
UM, AND, AND IT'S BEEN A MUCH, UH, A LOT OF UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES WITH THE FACT OF REMOVING PARKING REQUIREMENTS AT SOME POINT COMPLETELY VERSUS JUST EASING THOSE.
JUST FEEL FREE TO STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
HELLO, I AM KATIE CAM, RESIDENT OF D NINE AND A PLANNER AND CIVIL ENGINEER.
I SUPPORT THE CREATION OF NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS THAT ENHANCE QUALITY OF LIFE AND THE EXPERIENCE OF LIVING IN THE CITY FOR EVERYONE.
I SUPPORT THE EXPLORATION OF POLICIES SUCH AS THESE THAT ACHIEVE THOSE GOALS.
I'M SPEAKING TODAY TO HIGHLIGHT SOME INSIGHTS I'M HEARING THAT THE EXPLORATION SHOULD CONSIDER.
I'M SURE Y'ALL ARE FAMILIAR WITH THESE, BUT I'M HERE TO EMPHASIZE THEM FIRST.
AS WITH ALL PARKING REFORM POLICIES, THERE'S ALWAYS A CONCERN THAT THERE WILL BE SPILLOVER PARKING INTO NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE CONCERN IS ESPECIALLY HEIGHTENED IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT DO NOT HAVE ANY SIDEWALKS OR HAVE DISCONTINUOUS OR POOR QUALITY SIDEWALKS IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS USE THEIR STREET SPACE ALONG THE CURB AS A WALKING PATH OR KIDS TO RIDE THEIR BIKES, IF SAFE TO DO SO.
WHEN SPILLOVER PARKING BEGINS TO HAPPEN, THEIR WALKING DISTANCE, UH, SPACE DISAPPEARS AND THE NEIGHBOR IS NOT AS WALKABLE.
I'M ADVOCATING FOR PROACTIVE PLANNING TO PRIORITIZE INSTALLATION OF SIDEWALKS AND OR IMPLEMENTATION OF PARKING MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS SUCH AS RESIDENTIAL PERMIT PARKING AND PARKING BENEFIT DISTRICTS, AND THE AREAS IMPACTED SHOULD BE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THIS PROCESS.
SECOND, I'M A CIVIL ENGINEER, AND I WILL OCCASIONALLY HEAR FROM CLIENTS ABOUT CERTAIN TENANTS REQUIRING A MINIMUM AMOUNT OF PARKING OR THE SITE WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
EDUCATION AND ONGOING CONVERSATIONS WILL BE NEEDED.
SHARED PARKING AGREEMENTS CAN HELP IN SOME OF THOSE SITUATIONS, BUT THOSE ARE NOT ALWAYS AN OPTION.
THIRD, THE POLICY WILL NEED TO CONSIDER THE NEEDS THAT HAVE OF THOSE THAT HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO DRIVE BECAUSE OF A LACK OF TRANSIT SERVICE TO THE AREA, OR BECAUSE OF THE NEED FOR LOADING AND UNLOADING SUCH AS MUSICIANS OR DELIVERY, CUTE, WALKABLE COMMERCIAL
[00:35:01]
CORRIDORS SUCH AS THOSE WE HAVE IN AUSTIN NOW IS A COMMUNITY GOAL WORTH PURSUING AND SHOULD BE PURSUED WITH PROACTIVE PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION AND STRONG PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT FEEDBACK THAT ENSURES A SMOOTH TRANSITION THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE AND THAT RESULTS IN A GAIN AND WALKABILITY IN THE CORRIDOR, IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS, AND ACCESS TO BUSINESSES AND RESIDENCES.WHY DON'T YOU GO NEXT AND THEN WE'LL, UH, BEN SAID BE DISTRICT FOUR.
UH, I WANNA THANK THE, UH, SPONSOR AND CO-SPONSORS OF THIS ITEM.
UM, I THINK THIS IS AN EXCELLENT CON CONTINUATION OF THIS CONVERSATION THAT WE'RE HAVING AS A CITY.
UH, FOR THOSE WHO MAY BE FEELING, UH, TREPIDATION OR CONCERNS, I WANT THEM TO NOTE THAT AT THE, AT THE WAREHOUSES OR THE RESOLVES ON THIS, IF YOU LOOK AT THE RESOLVES, THIS IS THE CONVERSATIONS INSTRUCTING OUR CITY MANAGER TO EXPLORE OPTIONS.
UH, SO THIS IS NOT BY ANY MEANS ANYTHING FINAL, AND IN FACT, UH, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SPECIFICALLY THAT THE NUMBERED ITEMS. NUMBER FOUR, I LOVE THAT IT'S INCLUDING LANGUAGE THAT TALKS ABOUT EXPLORING OPTIONS TO ENSURE LOW INCOME RESIDENTS, ESSENTIAL WORKERS, AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS AREN'T BURDENED BY, UH, PARKING REFORMS, BUT STILL GETTING THE BENEFIT OF THE EQUITABLE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT.
THAT'S EXACTLY THE TYPE OF CONVERSATION THAT WE NEED TO HAVE.
PULLING IN STAKEHOLDERS, LOOKING AT THE BENEFITS THAT WE CAN GET, UH, WE'VE HEARD ABOUT, UH, SOME OF THEM TODAY, BUT MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE'S AT THE TABLE SO THAT WE CAN RIGHT RIGHTFULLY WAVE THE CONSEQUENCES OF THESE LONG-TERM DECISIONS AS WE BUILD OUT THIS MUCH NEEDED, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE AROUND OUR TRANSIT.
UH, AS SOMEONE WHO REGULARLY USES TRANSIT AND, UH, SOMETIMES HAS TO WALK A LONGER DISTANCE ACROSS THE PARKING LOT TO GET TO MY TRAIN STOP OR MY BUS STOP, UH, I LIKE THIS.
UM, I LIKE THIS CONVERSATION BEING KICKED OFF OR CONTINUED, I SHOULD SAY.
UM, PARTICULARLY BECAUSE OF THE COSTS THAT UNNECESSARY PARKING HAS ON THE WORKING CLASS, PEOPLE ADDED COSTS THAT FILTERS DOWN TO THEM AND THEIR RENT BECAUSE OF SOME PARKING THAT THEY MAY NOT USE.
I I KNOW PEOPLE WHO GET AROUND THE CITY THROUGH THE BUS AND THROUGH BIKING, AND WHY SHOULD THEY BE BURDENED WITH COSTS OF PAYING FOR A PARKING GARAGE THAT THEY NEVER END UP USING? SO IN THAT, UH, FOR THOSE REASONS, I'M A HIGHLY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS CONVERSATION.
UM, SORRY I MISSED MY NAME BEING CALLED OVER HERE.
I'M FROM DISTRICT THREE, UM, AND, UH, BEN HIT A LOT OF MY POINTS, SO, UM, I'M, I'LL BE SHORT, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK IN PARTICULAR, I'M, SO, I'M IN SUPPORT OF THE ITEM OF ITEM 39.
UM, AND I, I HEAR SOME OF THE CONCERNS ABOUT PARKING MAXIMUMS, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THIS POLICY GETS CRAFTED CORRECTLY, AND I, YOU KNOW, THIS IS JUST A RESOLUTION, UM, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE POTENTIAL DOWNSIDES TO, UH, YOU KNOW, A HARD MANDATE, BUT THIS IS, THIS IS NOT A HARD MANDATE.
THIS IS, THESE ARE SOFT CAPS THAT CAN BE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S PROVISIONS FOR THESE TO BE AVOIDED IF THERE'S REALLY, UM, AN ABSOLUTE NECESSITY FROM, ESPECIALLY FROM A FINANCING PERSPECTIVE, UM, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT THE FREE MARKET, BUT WE DON'T EXACTLY LIVE IN A, YOU KNOW, THE PERFECT, YOU KNOW, UH, ECONOMICS CLASS, UTOPIAN FREE MARKET.
I MEAN, WE HAVE, THERE'S MUCH BIGGER ACTORS AT PLAY, AND IN A LOT OF INSTANCES YOU'LL HAVE PROJECTS WHERE THIS GIVES A DEVELOPER SOMETHING TO POINT TO AS, UM, YOU KNOW, A REASON THAT MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE LESS PARKING BECAUSE, UM, WHEN THEY'RE TALKING TO THEIR FINANCIERS, UM, AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALREADY SEEN SINCE WE'VE REPEALED THE PARKING, UH, MANDATES BACK IN 2023 THAT THE AMOUNT OF PARKING BUILT IN NEW CONSTRUCTION HAS, UH, GONE DOWN BY, I THINK AROUND 20%.
I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBER, SO I THINK THIS IS JUST A NATURAL CONTINUATION OF THAT, AND, UM, I, I THINK THIS IS A GREAT IDEA TO BE LOOKING INTO.
MOVING TO ITEM 40, I HAVE SOME REMOTE SPEAKERS.
PETER, ARE YOU THERE? OKAY, WE'LL TRY PETER IN A MINUTE.
JOSHUA GOLDENBERG, UH, HELLO AGAIN.
JOSHUA GOLDENBERG, DISTRICT 10.
UM, I'M SPEAKING STRONGLY IN SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM, UH, BECAUSE, UH, AGAIN, AS A YOUNG PERSON, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO STAY IN AUSTIN WHEN I GROW UP, BUT I'M KIND OF WORRIED THAT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOUSING PRICES.
UM, SO I THINK IF WE ALLOW MORE MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING, UH, THAT WOULD PROVIDE A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE WITH MORE OPTIONS, ESPECIALLY WORKING CLASS YOUNG PEOPLE, UH, WITH MORE OPTIONS TO STAY IN THE CITY RATHER THAN HAVING TO MOVE OUT TO A SUBURBS.
UM, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S MORE SMALLER UNITS AVAILABLE.
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, IF WE COULD JUST KEEP BUILDING SINGLE FAMILY OR LIKE EXPENSIVE APARTMENTS, THEN IT'S GONNA BE A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, MORE EXPENSIVE HOUSING, BUT WE'RE NOT REALLY GONNA HAVE THE CHEAPER HOUSING THAT A LOT OF PE A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE
[00:40:01]
ARE GONNA NEED WHEN THEY FIRST GET INTO, UH, THE HOUSING MARKET.SO YEAH, FOR THOSE REASONS, I STRONGLY SUPPORT THE ITEM.
VERY, VERY GOOD WAY TO IMPROVE, UH, LIKE DIVERSIFY THE HOUSING SUPPLY WE HAVE IN OUR CITY.
GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS BRUCE GRINER AND I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SIX AND HAVE LIVED IN AUSTIN FOR 34 YEARS.
THE CITY IS NOW IN THE PROCESS OF PROPOSING SEVERAL CHANGES TO ADDRESS WHAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS AN A DECLINING GROWTH TREND.
THE CITY'S OWN PLANNING DEPARTMENT HAS IDENTIFIED THAT ONE FACTOR IS A RESULT OF FORMER AND, UH, MANY POTENTIAL NEW RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN INSTEAD ELECT TO MOVE TO SUBDIVISIONS OUTSIDE CITY LIMITS.
HAVE YOU EVEN CONSIDERED THAT YOUR RECENT ZONING POLICIES IS DRIVING THIS SHIFT TO JURISDICTIONS WHICH DO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT AND EXISTENCE OF SINGLE FAMILY SUBDIVISION? THE FACTS ARE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL HAS ACTED LIKE A QUIZ LINK TO AUSTIN RESIDENTS LIVING IN SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.
YOUR POLICIES ARE A DIRECT ATTACK ON THE CHARACTER AND NATURE OF SUCH NEIGHBORHOODS, WHICH REPRESENT OVER 40% OF THE HOUSING UNITS IN AUSTIN.
IT RAISES THE QUESTION, WHY AREN'T OUR ELECTED CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS REPRESENTING AND PROTECTING THEIR INTERESTS? AFFORDABLE HOUSING CAN BE ENCOURAGED WITHOUT DESTROYING SINGLE FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS.
IN THIS LATEST PROPOSAL, YOU NOW WANT TO INTRODUCE AND ENCOURAGE SMALL BUSINESSES IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS.
WHY? WHILE MANY SUBDIVISIONS ARE PROTECTED BY COVENANTS AND DEED RESTRICTIONS, IT FALLS TO INDIVIDUAL HOMEOWNERS AND OR HOAS TO DEFEND THEM.
IS THIS FAIR THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO INCUR COSTLY LEGAL FEES JUST TO PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS BECAUSE OF ZONING CODES WHICH ARE CONTRARY TO THEM? MANY OF YOU HAVE A SIGNIFICANT, HAVE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF SUBDIVISIONS JUST LIKE MINE.
YOUR SUPPORT OF THESE CODE CHANGES CLEARLY STATE WHERE YOU STAND.
THESE POLICIES ARE CONTRARY TO WHAT MANY OF THEM HOLD DEAR, RESIDING IN NEIGHBORHOODS DESIGNED FOR SINGLE FAMILY HOMES WITH SAFE STREETS, YARDS TO PLAY IN LOW TRAFFIC VEHICLES PARKED IN GARAGES AND DRIVEWAYS AND NO BUSINESSES.
I WOULD URGE, SIR, EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER THANK YOU TO CONSIDER YOUR SUPPORT OF THESE MESSAGE PETER BRETON.
PETER, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WATSON AND COUNCIL MEMBERS I HELLO? YES, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WATSON AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M PETER BRETON AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT EIGHT.
I HOPE THAT Y'ALL, THE AUDIENCE IN FRONT OF YOU AND EVERYONE LISTENING WILL AGREE WITH ME WHEN I SAY THAT.
ONE OF AUSTIN'S BEST QUALITIES IS ITS DIVERSITY IN ITS KINDS OF PEOPLE, ARTISTS, ENGINEERS, MECHANICS, JANITORS, SCIENTISTS, COOKS AND MORE.
WE ATTRACT IMMIGRANTS FROM ACROSS THE WORLD AND STILL HAVE FAMILIES IN TOWN THAT LETS HERE.
PRIOR TO THE CIVIL WAR, THIS VARIED SET OF PEOPLE HELPS OUR CITY TO BE VIBRANT, AND WE NEED HOUSING THAT RESPONDS TO THEIR NEEDS.
WE CANNOT POSSIBLY HOPE THAT ALL THESE DIFFERENT KINDS OF PEOPLE CAN FIT INTO ONLY TWO DIFFERENT KINDS OF HOMES.
HUGE APARTMENT COMPLEXES WITH HUNDREDS OF UNITS STACKED THIS WAY, AND THAT YOUR MORNING WALK LOOKING LIKE A SEA FROM SEVERANCE OR SINGLE FAMILY HOMES CUT LIKE COOKIES SPRAWLING OUT INTO THE HORIZON, ONLY ABLE TO GET GROCERIES BY DRIVING 20 MINUTES DOWN FOUR DIFFERENT HIGHWAYS.
WE NEED ABUNDANT HOUSING OF ALL SHAPES AND ALL SIZES.
WE CAN'T DO THAT WITH THE STATUS QUO.
WE CAN'T MAKE IT HAPPEN WITH OUR CURRENT SET OF RESTRICTIVE ZONES.
WE MUST MAKE SOMETHING MORE NUANCED, SOMETHING THAT RESPECTS THE DIVERSITY OF NEEDS IN OUR CITY.
LET'S MAKE IT RIGHT, LET'S MAKE IT WORK.
THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS FOR SPONSORING THIS ITEM.
ITEM NUMBER FOUR, WHO PROPOSES THAT IF WE JUST BUILD MORE UNITS, WE'LL BE MORE AFFORDABLE? BUT THAT IDEA WAS REFUTED BY THE CITY'S OWN DEMOGRAPHER IN 2018 REPORTING THAT NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO TO THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE, IT CAN'T CONTROL THE PRICE OF LAND.
HIS REPORT WAS CENSORED AND HE RESIGNED.
WHEN YOU DO COMBINE THE COST OF LAND CONSTRUCTION AND INCREASED PROPERTY TAXES, NOTHING IS MORE AFFORDABLE UNLESS THE GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIZES IT.
AND WE GENERALLY DO NOT SUBSIDIZE
[00:45:01]
MORE THAN ABOUT 10% OF NEW CONSTRUCTION.IF, IF THAT, MY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION USED TO BE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE SO THAT AN UPZONING DIDN'T UPEND THE STREET IN 1975, YOU COULD STILL BUY A HOUSE THERE FOR $16,500.
BUT PROFIT MOTIVE SKYROCKETED.
THAT SAME HOUSE WAS ON THE MARKET IN 2024 FOR $697,000.
I MOVED WHEN AN ABSENTEE OWNER OF FIVE HOUSES ON MY THREE BLOCK STREET ADDED AN ILLEGAL UNIT ON HIS DUPLEX ACROSS THE STREET, AND THE CITY EXCUSED IT SAYING THAT HE SAID IT WAS ONLY USED FOR STORAGE.
THAT ABSENTEE OWNER NOW OWNS A DOZEN RENTAL PROPERTIES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, INCLUDING A HOUSE WITH THE LANDMARK COMMISSION, THE PLANNING COMMISSION, AND YOU ALLOWED TO BE DEMOLISHED EVEN THOUGH IT HAD BEEN RECOMMENDED FOR THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.
AND 71 NEIGHBORS SIGNED PRESERVATION LETTERS.
ITEM NUMBER 40 WILL OBLITERATE AUSTIN'S REMAINING INVITING, APPRECIATED OLDER NEIGHBORHOODS, AND WE WILL ALL BE THE POORER FOR IT.
MOVING TO IN-PERSON SPEAKERS FOR ITEM 40, CHLOE WILKINSON, STREETCAR, CHRISTIAN CHOP, BETSY GREENBERG.
AND IS MARIA MORALES HERE? OKAY, SHE IS.
SO WHEN MRS. GREENBERG'S UP, SHE'LL HAVE FOUR MINUTES.
UM, I WANT TO QUOTE A NUMBER HERE.
400,400,000 TRANS PEOPLE HAVE SAID THAT THEY WERE DISPLACED FROM THEIR STATES BECAUSE OF TRANSPHOBIC POLICIES AT THE STATE LEGISLATORS ACROSS THIS COUNTRY, AUSTIN IS THE LAST BEACON OF A PLACE THAT WANTS TO PROTECT TRANS PEOPLE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
IT WAS THE ONLY PLACE THAT PASSED GENDER AFFIRMING POLICIES AFTER THE TRANS BATHROOM BAN.
SO I SUPPORT ITEM 40, NOT JUST BECAUSE IT'S GOOD POLICY FOR EVERYONE, BUT IT'S GOOD POLICY FOR MY COMMUNITY.
TRANS PEOPLE ARE SHOWN TO BE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED ACROSS THE COUNTRY, USUALLY SOME OF THE POOREST INDIVIDUALS, ESPECIALLY IN CONSERVATIVE STATES.
I AM A PROUD SOUTHERNER AND I DO NOT PLAN ON LEAVING THE SOUTH ANYTIME SOON.
WE NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING SO THAT TRANS PEOPLE ACROSS TEXAS CAN AFFORD TO LIVE HERE SO THAT MUSLIMS ACROSS TEXAS CAN AFFORD TO LIVE HERE.
IMMIGRANTS ACROSS TEXAS CAN AFFORD TO LIVE HERE BECAUSE ACROSS THIS STATE THERE ARE PEOPLE TRYING TO ATTACK OUR COMMUNITIES.
THE STRENGTH OF AUSTIN, ITS IS, ITS DIVERSITY.
IT IS NOT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN HERE FOR GENERATIONS TO SAY WHO CAN AND CANNOT AFFORD TO LIVE IN THIS CITY.
WE ALL DESERVE THE RIGHT TO LIVE HERE.
IT IS A BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY OF A MOSAIC OF THE MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT LIVE ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.
SO YES, I ASK YOU KINDLY TO VOTE FOR ITEM 40 TO CREATE AN AFFORDABLE AUSTIN FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO GO.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE, AND I'M OPPOSED TO ITEM 40 AND I'LL FOCUS MY COMMENTS ON MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING.
THE RESOLUTION BEGINS BY SAYING THAT THE CITY IS COMMITTED TO PROMOTING ATTAINABLE AND DIVERSE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESIDENTS OF ALL INCOME LEVELS.
A POINT OF VIEW THAT I SUPPORT AS I EXPRESS EXPECT MOST ANYONE WOULD, THERE IS A ZONING STUDY PROVIDED IN THE BA BACKUP.
THE SUMMARY STATES HOUSING TYPES LIKE TOWN HOMES, COTTAGE COURTS, FOUR PLEXES AND SMALL MULTI-UNIT BUS BUILDINGS, OFTEN CALLED MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING, ARE INDEED MISSING.
IN AUSTIN, ONLY 3% OF AUSTIN'S CURRENT HOUSING STOCK IS IN THE MISSING MIDDLE RANGE OF THREE TO 16 UNITS.
SO NOW WE KNOW THE WHAT THE PROBLEM THIS ITEM IS INTENDING TO FIX.
I LIVE IN THE HERITAGE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS LOCATED BETWEEN GUADALUPE AND LAMAR, JUST NORTH OF THE UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD OVERLAY KNOWN AS UNO AND SOUTH OF THE STATE LAND THAT HOUSES CENTRAL MARKET IN THE HAR HEART HOSPITAL.
[00:50:01]
NEIGHBORHOOD, I AM ONLY GIVING MY POINT OF VIEW.HERITAGE IS AN OLDER NEIGHBORHOOD WITH A SINGLE FAMILY FEEL, BUT IN REALITY, LESS THAN 30% OF THE RESIDENCES ARE SINGLE FAMILY HOUSES AND ABOUT HALF OF THOSE ARE RENTED.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD ACTUALLY HAS A WIDE VARIETY OF HOUSING TYPES, EXACTLY LIKE YOU SAY YOU WANT.
THERE ARE SMALL MULTI-UNIT BUILDINGS AND EVEN BUILDINGS WITH MICRO UNITS THAT ARE UNDER 400 SQUARE FEET.
THERE ARE TOWN HOMES AND AT ONE TIME THERE WAS EVEN A COTTAGE COURT ON MY STREET, THOUGH A DEVELOPER SADLY TORE THAT DOWN WITH CITY COUNCIL PERMISSION.
ALTHOUGH MANY OF THE HOMES OF ALL TYPES IN HERITAGE ARE FROM THE PREVIOUS CENTURY, NOT ALL OF THEM ARE.
FOR EXAMPLE, THESE TOWN HOMES WERE BUILT IN 2009 WITHOUT A ZONING CHANGE.
HERE'S A LIST OF PROPERTIES WITH FROM FOUR TO 16 UNITS, IE THOSE THAT FIT THE DEFINITION OF MISSING MIDDLE.
THERE ARE ALSO ONES WITH THREE UNITS, BUT IT DIDN'T FIT ON THE PAGE.
LOOKING OVER THE LIST, YOU MAY WONDER WHAT THEY HAVE IN COMMON.
AND THE ANSWER IS THAT THEY ARE ZONED MF THREE OR BELOW.
NONE OF THESE PROPERTIES HAVE MF SIX OR DB 90 ZONINGS.
THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE MF FOUR OR MF FIVE ZONING.
THERE ARE ALSO MF TWO PROPERTIES THAT I DIDN'T LIST, HAVING THREE UNITS, I DIDN'T INCLUDE.
THOSE AS THREE UNITS ARE NOW ALLOWED ON SINGLE FAMILY LOTS.
UNFORTUNATELY, EVERY SINGLE PROPERTY IN THE HERITAGE NEIGHBORHOOD NOW HAS DBE TODD INCLUDED IN ITS ZONING.
I FEAR THAT THIS COULD LEAD TO A LOSS OF MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING, AND I HOPE YOU'LL PROCEED WITH CAUTION IN OTHER LOCATIONS.
IF YOU WANT MISSING MIDDLE, WE DO NOT NEED NEW MISSING MIDDLE ZONING DISTRICTS.
WE HAVE THE APPROPRIATE TOOLS.
MF ONE, MF TWO, MF THREE, SF FIVE, SF SIX, ALL WORK FOR MISSING MIDDLE.
WE DON'T NEED THIS RESOLUTION.
ALL THAT YOU NEED TO DO IS QUIT UPZONING.
YOU DO NOT NEED TO GRANT EVERY ZONING REQUEST.
NOBODY IS GOING TO BUILD MISSING MIDDLE WHEN USED ZONE PROPERTIES TO ALLOW HIGHER HEIGHTS AND DENSITY, ESPECIALLY MF SIX AND DB 90.
THIS ISN'T ROCKET SCIENCE, IT'S JUST COMMON SENSE.
UH, GOOD MORNING MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE, UH, AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 40.
UH, I WAS ABLE TO COME HERE AND BUILD A LIFE, AS IS A VERY TYPICAL STORY IN AUSTIN.
BY COMING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND IN MAJORITY PART BECAUSE OF HOUSING REFORMS SUCH AS UNO, WHICH ALLOWED ME TO, YOU KNOW, LIVE IN AN APARTMENT BUILDING THERE, START TO BUILD A LIFE.
I CURRENTLY LIVE IN AN APARTMENT BUILDING IN DISTRICT NINE, AND WHAT'S HAPPENED IS A LOT OF MY FRIENDS THAT ALSO WANTED TO BUILD A LIFE AS THEY'VE STARTED TO GET MARRIED AND HAVE CHILDREN, HAVE HAD TO MOVE OUT TO EITHER THE SUBURBS OR, UH, EVEN TO OTHER CITIES LIKE HOUSTON, WHERE THERE'S MORE OPTIONS SUCH AS TOWN HOMES AVAILABLE IN NEW CONSTRUCTION.
UH, AND THAT HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO BE AS MUCH OF THE CASE IN AUSTIN.
THERE'S A LOT OF LIKE, YOU KNOW, VERY EXPENSIVE $1 MILLION HOUSES BEING BUILT, OR THERE'S A LOT OF APARTMENT BUILDINGS, WHICH ARE, YOU KNOW, NOW COMING DOWN IN PRICE, BUT THAT'S A LITTLE BIT HARDER WHEN YOU WANNA HAVE KIDS AND STUFF.
AND SO, UH, YOU KNOW, WE SEE IT WITH A ISD ENROLLMENT GOING DOWN AND STUFF LIKE THAT TOO.
AND SO I WOULD STRONGLY SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, ALLOWING MORE OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE TO STAY HERE, NOT JUST START AND BUILD A LIFE HERE, BUT ALSO STAY HERE WITHOUT BEING FORCED OUT.
AND I WANT THE OPTION TO STAY HERE WITHOUT HAVING TO PUSH SOMEONE ELSE OUT, BECAUSE IF THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH LAND IN AUSTIN, AND IF, IF WE ONLY ALLOW A SINGLE FAMILY HOUSE AND I BUY ONE, THAT MEANS BY DEFINITION THAT ONE HOUSE THAT CAN'T BECOME MORE HOUSES, SOMEONE HAS TO LEAVE IT.
CONTINUING ITEM 40, ZACHARY FADI, CHARLES BRADBURY, JUDAH RICE, KYLE VANISE, RYAN SAER.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
ZACH FADI, UM, RESIDENT DISTRICT NINE PRESIDENT OF ARA.
I AM INCREDIBLY EXCITED, UH, ABOUT THESE NEW MISSING MIDDLE DISTRICTS.
UM, IN MY MIND EARLIER THIS YEAR, WE PASSED A SINGLE STAR REFORM.
THE, THE TRUE PROMISE IN MY, UH, IN MY MIND OF SINGLE STAIRS.
IT ACTUALLY GIVES US A TOOL TO TURN, UM, A SINGLE FAMILY HOME INTO TO FOUR EIGHT UNITS.
THAT'S WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO DO IF WE WANT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS TO BE ABLE TO GROW UP WITHOUT HAVING TO TEAR DOWN A WHOLE BLOCK TO, TO PUT UP A, A MEGA COMPLEX.
UM, IF WE WANT TO, UH, IF WE REALLY WANNA US OPEN UP OUR NEIGHBORHOODS TO BECOME AFFORDABLE PLACES, UH, BUT, BUT WHAT WOULD YOU EVEN ASK FOR IF
[00:55:01]
YOU WANT TO DO IT? THERE'S LITERALLY NOT A, AN OPTION IN IN THE MENU FOR, FOR MOST SINGLE FAMILY SIZED LOTS TO DO THAT.UM, SO THIS BEGINS TO GIVE US THOSE TOOLS.
UH, I, I THINK THE M MR TWO, UM, NEEDS TO GO ANOTHER, UH, 10 OR SO FEET IF WE ACTUALLY WANT, UH, IT TO WORK FOR SINGLE STARE.
UM, BUT THIS IS DEFINITELY THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
UH, UH, HOWEVER, THIS IS, YOU KNOW, IF WE ACTUALLY WANT THESE TO BE BUILT ANYWHERE, THIS IS CREATING THESE PAPER DISTRICTS IS, IS ABOUT HALF THE WORK.
WE EACH SHOULDN'T EXPECT INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPERS TO GO THROUGH THE, UH, LARGE RE THE, THE VERY COMPLICATED AND EXPENSIVE, UH, REZONING PROCESS TO, TO ONLY TO BUILD, YOU KNOW, EIGHT UNITS.
UH, THEY CAN DO THAT IF THEY'RE TRYING TO BUILD A HUNDRED UNITS OR SOMETHING, BUT, BUT THEY'RE JUST NOT GONNA DO IT FOR EIGHT.
SO, YOU KNOW, BY THE, BY THEMSELVES, THIS GIVES US THE, THE OPTION.
BUT THESE OPTIONS LARGELY AREN'T GONNA BE UTILIZED UNTIL WE ACTUALLY MAP THEM SOMEWHERE.
YES, WE WANT THESE TO BE BUILT SOMEWHERE.
UM, SO THAT THIS IS THE FIRST STEP, BUT I'M CURRENTLY EXCITED FOR THE STEP AND I'M INCREDIBLY EXCITED TO, TO BE THERE FOR THE NEXT STEP, UH, TO ACTUALLY MAKE THESE, THESE NOT ONLY TECHNICALLY POSSIBLE, BUT, BUT, BUT LEGAL AND, AND, AND REAL OPTIONS.
UM, AND I GREW UP IN DISTRICT NINE.
UM, AND WHEN I WAS GROWING UP IN TRAVIS HEIGHTS, I, UM, USED TO SEE PEOPLE WALKING AND BIKING TO WORK AT THEIR JOBS AT RETAIL ON SOUTH CONGRESS.
AND AS I GREW UP, UM, DESPITE THE CITY'S RECORD GROWTH AND PARTICULARLY HOUSING CONSTRUCTION AS WE'VE BEEN WATERED FOR, WE SAW TRAVIS HEIGHTS BECOME A NEIGHBORHOOD, GO FROM A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WAS AFFORDABLE FOR A MIDDLE CLASS FAMILY TO A NEIGHBORHOOD FOR WEALTHY PEOPLE ONLY.
UM, I REMEMBER WHEN THE HOUSE NEXT DOOR TO THE HOUSE THAT I GREW UP IN THAT WAS, UM, SOLD IN, YOU KNOW, 2005 FOR $250,000, GOT SOLD FOR $1.5 MILLION IN 2021.
AND, UM, IT'S EASY TO SEE WHY, BECAUSE THE FAIRVIEW PARK, UM, TRACKED THAT WHERE TRAVIS HEIGHTS IS SAW NET LOSS IN HOUSING UNITS IN FROM 2010 TO 2020.
SO IT'S NO WONDER THAT WORKING PEOPLE CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO LIVE NEAR THEIR WORK.
AND I THINK THIS, UM, ITEM IS A GREAT STEP INTO SOLVING THAT PROBLEM BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS TODAY THAT ARE OUR MOST DESIRABLE PLACES, THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE THE NICEST TO BE IN, WE ALREADY HAVE, AS ONE SPEAKER HAS, UH, MENTIONED IN HER SLIDE DECK, THERE'S THIS TYPE OF HOUSING ALREADY EXISTS TO SOME EXTENT.
UM, BUT THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE STOPPED BUILDING IT ONCE THOSE ZONING CATEGORIES GOT CREATED IN THE 1984 LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.
UM, SO I SEE THIS AS REALLY, UM, WE ALREADY HAVE THIS PROOF THAT MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING DOES NOT DESTROY NEIGHBORHOODS BECAUSE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE MORE THAN A SUM OF THEIR BUILDINGS.
THEY'RE A NEIGHBORHOOD IS MADE UP OF PEOPLE AND OF FAMILIES.
AND RIGHT NOW, THOSE PEOPLE AND THOSE FAMILIES CANNOT AFFORD TO LIVE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, IN OUR SINGLE FAMILY, EXCLUSIVE ONLY HOUSING.
SO I AM ABSOLUTELY IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT MAPPED AS WELL.
YOU WANT ME TO BEGIN? PLEASE? UM, THANK YOU TO THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M IN DISTRICT NINE, UH, SUPPORT ITEM 40.
UH, IT IS IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT 39, 40 AND 42, WHICH WE'LL TALK ABOUT LATER, ALL STACK ON EACH OTHER TO BUILD BETTER NEIGHBORHOODS.
UH, WE NEED TO CHANGE THE WAY PEOPLE LIVE IN ORDER TO SUPPORT PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND A MORE WALKABLE CITY.
UH, MISSING MIDDLE PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR SMALL SCALE DEVELOPMENT.
SMALL SCALE DEVELOPMENT PROVIDES LOWER BARRIERS TO ENTRY FOR WHO CAN DEVELOP, USUALLY PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN AND HAVE PRIDE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
PEOPLE WHO DEVELOP OWN BUSINESSES WHERE THEY LIVE, PUT MORE CARE AND BUILD BETTER PROJECTS.
WE NEED TO BUILD HUBS OF ACTIVITIES WHERE THEY LIVE IN WORK IN A SMALLER RADIUS.
I PREVIOUSLY REFERENCED ITEM 40, WHICH I'LL ALSO SPEAK ON LATER.
I BRING THIS UP BECAUSE WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE CROSS DEPARTMENT COLLABORATION TO PRODUCE THE BEST RESULTS.
THERE SHOULD BE PROGRAMS TO INCENTIVIZE THE RIGHT TYPES OF DEVELOPMENTS TO ENSURE THINGS GET BUILT.
AND DON'T JUST LIVE ON A PAGE IN A RULE BOOK.
THINGS LIKE EXPEDITED PERMITTING, PRE-APPROVED BUILDING PLANS AND CITY PROVIDED UTILITY RESEARCH.
FURTHERMORE, TRANSPORTATION, PUBLIC WORKS STILL PRIORITIZES VEHICLE TRAFFIC OVER PEDESTRIANS AND OFTEN OPPOSES LANE WIDTH REDUCTION, SPEED REDUCTION, AND CROSSWALKS THAT MAY IMPEDE TRAFFIC FLOW.
STREETS LIKE EAST CESAR CHAVEZ ARE LABELED HIGH VOLUME PASS THROUGH CORRIDORS RATHER THAN NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS.
MISSY MIDDLE IS IMPORTANT, BUT IT NEEDS TO INCLUDE THE RIGHT STRATEGIES AROUND NEIGHBORHOOD, COMMERCIAL, AND PUBLIC TRANSIT TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
JEFF DICKERSON, TY HAKI, JORDY TELLO, CAMPBELL NELSON, RICH HYMAN.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED FOR 40, PLEASE COME ON DOWN.
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HI.MY NAME IS TY HOKI FROM DISTRICT FIVE.
AS THE CITY GROWS IT, I, I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 40.
AS THE CITY GROWS, IT HAS TWO CHOICES.
EITHER THE PHYSICAL BUILT ENVIRONMENT CHANGES OR THE DEMOGRAPHIC MAKEUP CHANGES.
THERE'S NO MAGICAL SCENARIO WHERE A RAPIDLY GROWING CITY GETS TO LOCK LOOK THE SAME FOREVER, WHILE ALSO AVOIDING DISPLACEMENT.
EVERY CITY IN AMERICA HAS TRIED PRETTY UNSUCCESSFULLY, TO BE HONEST.
PERSONALLY, I PREFER THAT WE BUILD ENOUGH HOUSING FOR THE NEWCOMERS AND FOR THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN HERE THEIR WHOLE LIVES.
THE ALTERNATIVE IS THAT WE TRY TO PRESERVE THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT IN AMBER AND WE'LL JUST END UP SEEING THE DEMOGRAPHICS CHANGE AS NEWER, RICHER RESIDENTS ARE THE ONLY ONES WHO CAN AFFORD LIVING IN THE CENTER OF THE CITY.
I DON'T WANT HOME OWNERSHIP NEAR THE CENTER OF THE CITY TO BE ONLY ACCESSIBLE TO MILLIONAIRES OR TO PEOPLE WHO BOUGHT THEIR HOMES DECADES AGO.
WE'VE SEEN THAT MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING CAN BE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS CHEAPER THAN NEWLY BUILT SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.
UH, BOTH HERE, LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, WITH NEW BUILDS ON DREW LANE, SELLING FOR ABOUT 300 TO 400 K, WHICH IS MUCH CHEAPER THAN THEY WOULD'VE BEEN IF THEY WERE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES THAT WERE NEWLY BUILT OR, UH, IN PORTLAND.
WHEREAS A REPORT BY THEIR CITY SHOWED THAT THOSE NEW MISSING MIDDLE UNITS WERE 200 TO $300,000 CHEAPER THAN, UH, A NEWLY BUILT NEW SINGLE FAMILY HOMES WOULD'VE BEEN.
AND THEN ADDING TO THIS, EACH FAMILY THAT'S ABLE TO LIVE IN CENTRAL AUSTIN BECAUSE OF THESE POLICY IS ONE LESS FAMILY LIVING OUT IN THE SUBURBS WHERE THEY WOULD'VE HAD LONGER COMMUTES AND LESS ACCESS TO SOME OF THE BEST PARTS OF AUSTIN, TEXAS.
IF WE DON'T WANT AUSTIN TO KEEP EXPANDING OUTWARD UNTIL WE'RE AS LARGE AS DALLAS OR LA WHERE PEOPLE ARE DOING HOUR LONG OR MORE COMMUTES, UH, WE MUST PASS THIS.
OTHERWISE WE'RE DOOMED TO SEE THE SAME FATE THAT OTHER CITIES HAVE SEEN AT SCALE, SUCH AS WELL LA FOR EXAMPLE, UM, AND LA SPRAWL, INSANE COMMUTES.
SO I'D LIKE TO THANK CITY COUNCIL AND ESPECIALLY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS FOR SPONSORING THESE REFORMS. UM, PLEASE PASS THIS ALONG WITH ITEMS 42 AND 39.
HELLO, MY NAME IS JORDY TELLO AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE.
I LIVE, UH, IN AN APARTMENT WITH MY GIRLFRIEND WHO'S A MEDICAL ASSISTANT.
I WANTED TO SAY THAT I THINK THE MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT FAMILIES CAN CONTINUE TO LIVE IN THE CORE OF THE CITY.
WHEN PEOPLE ASK ME WHERE I WANNA RAISE MY KIDS, I SAY THAT I WANNA RAISE THEM IN THE CITY.
AND I THINK SOMETHING LIKE THIS GIVES PEOPLE JUST LIKE ME AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIFFERENT NEEDS THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAY.
HELLO, MY NAME IS JEFF DICKERSON, DISTRICT FIVE COUNCIL MEMBER, MS. MAYOR.
I'M GOING TO SPECIFICALLY FOCUS ON MISUSE DEVELOPMENT ACCESSORY, COMMERCIAL UNITS AND FRONT YARD BUSINESS.
INTRODUCE COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY THAT IS NOT HOUSING.
THEY DO NOT TARGET AFFORDABILITY.
BY CONTRAST, HOME DOES THIS PROPOSAL ADDS JOBS WITHOUT ADDING HOUSING, WORSENING JOBS TO HOUSING IMBALANCE IDENTIFIED IN THE COA COUNCIL POLICY IN REGARDS TO TRAFFIC AND PARKING CURRENT HOME OCCUPATION.
RULES UNDER 25 2, 900 STRICTLY LIMITS IMPACT, INCLUDING A CAP OF THREE VEHICLES PER DAY AND PROHIBIT CUSTOMER FACING TRAFFIC.
YOUR PROPOSALS WILL REMOVE THESE CAPS WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY RELAPSING PARKING REQUIREMENTS, WHICH ARE BECOMING NON-EXISTENT TODAY.
ALLOWING COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY WITHOUT TRIGGERING ANY TRAFFIC IMPACT ANALYSIS.
ADDING THESE COMMERCIAL ENTITLEMENTS TO THE RESIDENTIAL LAND, YES, IT DOES INCREASE THE VALUE.
YES, IT DOES PROVIDE REVENUE FOR THOSE HOMEOWNERS, BUT IT RAISES TAXES, RENTS, AND BARRIERS FOR EVERYBODY ELSE.
THIS IS NOT A HOUSING POLICY, IT IS A MICRO COMMERCIAL DEREGULATION POLICY WITH REAL NEIGHBORHOOD INFRASTRUCTURE, ENVIRONMENTAL COST, AND NO MISERABLE PATH TO SOLVING AFFORDABILITY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND I STILL HATE THE CITY LOCAL.
THANK YOU, RYAN PKI, EDGAR HANDEL, FELICITY MAXWELL, CHRIS GANNON, PATTY SPRINKLE.
UH, GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M RYAN PKI, AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT ONE.
I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 40, UH, RESOLUTION TO INTERSTATE MISSING MIDDLE ZONING.
UM, FOR MOST OF THE PAST 40 YEARS, OUR CODE HAS FAVORED TWO TYPES OF HOUSING,
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UH, LARGE SCALE APARTMENT COMPLEXES AND TRADITIONAL SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.UH, LOW DENSITY FORMS LIKE TOWN HOMES, COTTAGE COURTS, AND SMALL SCALE APARTMENTS ARE THE MISSING LINK BETWEEN THESE TWO.
UH, THESE ARE A ONCE VITAL, ONCE COMMON CATEGORY OF HOUSING IN OUR MOST BELOVED CENTRAL NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT TODAY, THEY ARE EXCLUDED FROM MOST OF THOSE LOW DENSITY NEIGHBORHOODS.
AS PLANNING STAFF HAVE NOTED IN THEIR REPORT, THE MID THE MIDDLE IS VERY MUCH MISSING.
THE RESULT IS THAT SMALLER SCALE, MORE AFFORDABLE OPTIONS, ARE NOT WITHIN REACH OF MANY MIDDLE AND KAMASA NIGHTS, INCLUDING FAMILIES WHO CAN'T AFFORD A TRADITIONAL SINGLE FAMILY HOME, BUT NEED SOMETHING MORE THAN A TWO BEDROOM APARTMENT.
OUR DECLINING SCHOOL CENSUS IS A REFLECTION OF THE REALITY THAT MANY FAMILIES HAVE ALREADY LEFT THE CITY FOR MORE SUITABLE HOUSING BEYOND CITY LIMITS.
TODAY'S RESOLUTION IS AN IMPORTANT STEP TOWARD ENSURING THAT AUSTIN CAN MAKE GOOD ON ITS PROMISE TO BE A TRULY INCLUSIVE AND COMPLETE CITY FOR ALL TYPES OF FAMILIES.
SO I THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THIS RESOLUTION.
MY NAME IS EDGAR HANDEL AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT THREE SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 40.
I APPRECIATED THE COMMENTS FROM MY COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE VELAZQUEZ AT THE TUESDAY'S WORK WORK SESSION.
I ECHO THE NEED FOR MORE HOUSING TOOLS AND SHARE THE EAGERNESS TO MAP WHERE MISSING MIDDLE CAN PREVENT DISPLACEMENT AND ADD DIVERSITY TO HISTORICALLY EXCLUSIVE AREAS TO OFTEN DISCUSSIONS AROUND DEVELOPMENT, DISPLACEMENT AND EQUITY FOCUS ON REDUCING HOUSING CHOICE IN PARTS OF AUSTIN.
BUT I BELIEVE THE RIGHT APPROACH IS TO MAKE SURE ALL PARTS OF AUSTIN ARE CARRYING THEIR WEIGHT, AND EVEN THAT HISTORICALLY EXCLUSIVE AREAS OF TOWN HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND TO MAKE UP FOR MISTAKES OF THE PAST.
MORE HOUSING ACROSS THE WHOLE CITY IS HOW WE GET THIS RIGHT.
UM, I ALSO WANNA RAISE SOMETHING THAT I THINK MAYBE DOESN'T GET DISCUSSED ENOUGH, AND THAT IS THAT ZONING IS A BUDGET ISSUE.
THE STATE'S 3.5% CAP IS DRACONIAN AND DESTRUCTIVE, BUT WE HAVE OUR OWN SELF-IMPOSED CAP.
OUR ZONING NEW DENSER CONSTRUCTION DOESN'T COUNT AGAINST THE CAP.
IT RAISES REVENUE, IT REDUCES PER HOUSEHOLD COSTS IN THE CITY AS WE FACE PAINFUL CUTS.
WE NEED EVERY BUDGET TOOL AVAILABLE TO US JUST LIKE WE NEED OUR HOUSING TOOLS IN THAT LIGHT.
LAND USE EFFORTS LIKE THIS ARE JUST AS URGENTLY NEEDED FOR ADDRESSING OUR SHORTAGE OF CITY DOLLARS AS THEY ARE FOR OUR SHORTAGE OF HOMES.
HELLO, MY NAME IS CHRIS GANNA.
I'M A RESIDENT OF D ONE, AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE THIS ITEM BEING BROUGHT FORWARD AND I ENTHUSIASTICALLY SUPPORT IT.
THE, THE, UH, MIDDLE HOUSING AND MIXED USE STUDY PREPARED BY OUR CITY'S PLANNING DEPARTMENT DID AN EXCELLENT JOB OF IDENTIFYING A PROBLEM WITH OUR ZONING CODE, THE EXCLUSION AND IMPEDIMENT OF SMALLER MULTIFAMILY AND THOUGHTFUL MIXING OF USES WITHIN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
THESE TYPES OF DEVELOPMENTS ALLOW FOR MORE FOLKS TO USE LESS LAND AND OFFER AMENITIES WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE.
UM, A FEW SUGGESTIONS TO KEEP IN MIND AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
THERE ARE ABOUT 14,000 LOTS ZONED FOR HOUSING THAT ARE BELOW 57 50.
UH, SO LET'S NOT FORGET ABOUT THOSE LOTS.
I THINK THERE'S AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY TO INCORPORATE SMART URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES THAT DO NOT HINDER INNOVATION, BUT ENCOURAGE BETTER UTILITY OF SPACE AND LUSH HEALTHY STREETS.
UH, THESE COULD BE PAIRED WITH, UH, URBAN TREE DENSITY BONUSES OR SMART STORMWATER IMPROVEMENTS THAT ALLOW FOR MORE SITE COVERAGE AND FOR THE MIXED USE PORTION.
I KNOW THAT WE ARE LIVING IN A POST SB EIGHT 40 WORLD, WHICH SETS A FLOOR FOR WHAT MIXED USE BUILDINGS LOOK LIKE, AND THAT FLOOR MAY BE LARGER THAN WHAT WE'RE PREPARED TO BRING INTO OUR LOW SLUNG NEIGHBORHOODS.
HOWEVER, I WOULD ENCOURAGE THAT WE LOOK INTO A SMALLER MIXED USE TYPOLOGY NOW WHILE WE'RE ALL THINKING ABOUT, AND LET THAT BE THE MODEL FOR A FUTURE SB EIGHT 40 CARVE OUT, AS OPPOSED TO LETTING THE STATE DICTATE WHAT IT IS THAT WE'LL BE BUILDING.
AND THAT'S A WAY THAT WE CAN BE ACTING PROACTIVELY EVEN IF WE DON'T ALLOW FOR THOSE SMALLER MIXED USE BUILDINGS.
UM, AND I'M ENCOURAGED THAT THE STUDY LOOKS NOT ONLY AT THE ZONING REGULATIONS, BUT AT THE BROADER REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT ITSELF.
AS A PRACTITIONER ACTIVELY BUILDING THESE TYPOLOGIES, I AM ACUTELY AWARE ZONING IS ONLY THE VERY FIRST BARRIER REFORMS TO HOW WE COLLECT TRASH AND DELIVER UTILITIES AND PROVIDE FOR FUTURE MANAGEMENT OF THESE PROPERTIES ARE JUSTICE IMPORTANT.
UH, FULL CITY MAXWELL D FIVE RESIDENT SPEAKING HERE AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF TEXANS FOR HOUSING, A STATEWIDE HOUSING ADVOCACY GROUP.
WE AT TEXANS FOR HOUSING ARE DELIGHTED TO SEE THIS EFFORT EXPANDING, MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES IN AUSTIN.
ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS SURVEY OF HOME BUYERS AND HOME SELLERS, THE MEDIAN AGE OF FIRST TIME BUYERS HAS NOW CLIMBED TO 40 IN 2025 A RECORD HIGH.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT STATEWIDE, TEXAS HAS A SHORTAGE OF OVER 300,000 HOUSING UNITS.
THE INCREASING COST OF HOUSING AND THE OVERALL SHORTAGE OF HOMES HAS
[01:10:01]
LED TO STATEWIDE CRISIS IN, IN OUR HOUSING MARKET.EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILD TOWN HOMES, FOURPLEXES AND OTHER IN-HOME INFILL HOMES ADDRESSES BOTH OF THESE ISSUES, LOWERING THE COST OF EACH UNIT AND ADDING ADDITIONAL HOMES TO OUR CITIES.
AND AUSTIN'S LEADERSHIP ON HOUSING REFORMS LIKE ITEM 40 IS LEADING THE WAY FOR OTHER TEXAS CITIES TO CONSIDER SIMILAR ITEMS, SPECIFICALLY IN DALLAS AND SAN ANTONIO.
AS MANY OF NOTED EXPANDING, MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING IS A KEY PIECE OF ADDRESSING THE STATEWIDE SHORTAGE OF HOUSING, AND WE APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS AND HER STAFF AND THEIR WORK ON THIS ITEM IN THE SUPPORT OF THIS COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR BEING LEADERS ON HOUSING REFORM, MAKING HOUSING MORE ATTAINABLE FOR AUSTINITES AND FORGING A PATH FOR THE REST OF TEXAS.
RICHARD EASTERLING, NIKOLAI TANGENT, GARRETT HALL, ANUSH RAZAN, AND WILLIAM BUNCH.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD IF YOU PLAN ON TESTIFYING, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
I'VE BEEN IN AUSTIN FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS, AND I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 40 AS A YOUNGER MILLENNIAL.
I CAN SPEAK FOR MYSELF AND MY CLOSE FRIENDS THAT IT FEELS LIKE THE AMERICAN DREAM IS SLIPPING OUT OF OUR GRASP EVERY DAY.
I CAN'T AFFORD AND DON'T WANT TO LIVE IN A THREE AND A HALF BEDROOM HOUSE IN THE SUBURBS OUT OF THE CITY AND SPEND MY TIME AND MONEY COMMUTING TO AND FROM FOR WORK, FOR PLEASURE, FOR FUN, ET CETERA.
WE CRAVE THE FREEDOM TO LIVE LIFE ON OUR OWN TERMS, TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD A HOME WHERE WE CAN PAINT OUR WALLS AND TO LIVE A MORE COMMUNITY-CENTRIC LIFESTYLE AND THE NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE WE LIVE AND SLEEP.
MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING AFFORDS US OPPORTUNITY BY BUILDING MORE TYPES OF HOUSING FOR MORE TYPES OF PEOPLE TO LIVE HOW THEY WANT TO.
WE WOULD BE ABLE TO PUT DOWN ROOTS IN THE CITY, SPEND OUR MONEY HERE, UH, RAISE OUR FAMILIES HERE, ET CETERA.
I'M IN FAVOR OF ITEMS 39 40, 42, 44, 45, AND 51.
UH, I'LL BE SPEAKING ON ITEMS 40 AND 51.
FIRST, I WANTED TO APPLAUD COUNCIL FOR THE AMAZING WORK DONE SO FAR WITH PRO HOUSING INITIATIVES.
FROM HOME REMOVING, UH, PARKING MINIMUMS AND APPROVING SINGLE STAIR BUILDINGS.
CREATING A NEW MISSING MIDDLE, UH, ZONE IS THE NEXT STEP IN IMPROVING THE HOUSING SUPPLY SO MORE PEOPLE CAN AFFORD TO LIVE IN AUSTIN.
UM, AND JUST KEEP AUSTIN WEIRD.
UH, I PARTICULARLY EXCITED WITH THE IDEA OF ALLOWING, UH, COMMERCIAL USES IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS.
THE FEW PLACES IN AUSTIN WHERE THAT DOES EXIST, IT IS VERY WELL LOVED.
UH, JUST LOOK AT FIRSTLIGHT BOOKSTORE AND THE HYDE PARK NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, ALSO LIKE TO TALK ABOUT AGENDA ITEM 51 REGARDING THE AUSTIN CORE TRANSPORTATION PLAN.
UH, FOR THE MOST PART, I'M VERY MUCH IN FAVOR WITH WHAT'S IN THE PLAN.
I THINK IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE ADD BIKE LANES TO SIXTH STREET TOURISTS USE MICRO MOBILITY ALL THE TIME TO MOVE FROM DIRTY SIXTH TO WEST SIXTH.
AND A BIKE LANE OFFERS HUGE SAFETY IMPROVEMENT FOR EVERY ROAD USER, NOT JUST THOSE ON BIKES AND SCOOTERS.
UH, RIGHT NOW, THE STREETS IN DOWNTOWN ARE, UH, FAR TOO WIDE AND DON'T JUST DIVIDE SO MANY LANES.
SO THIS PROJECT IS MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
UH, MY ONLY GRIPE IS THAT THIS DOESN'T GO FAR ENOUGH AND THERE ARE STILL MA UH, MANY ONE-WAY STREETS THAT SHOULD BE CONVERTED TO TWO-WAY STREETS AS TWO-WAY OFFERS MORE ACCESSIBILITY TO LOCATIONS AND SIMPLIFY THE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.
UM, PLEASE CONSIDER THESE CHANGES AND THANK YOU, COUNCIL.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, BILL BUNCH, DISTRICT FIVE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE.
UH, SPEAKING AGAINST THIS ITEM, UM, I THINK Y'ALL KNOW THERE'S REALLY BROAD CONSENSUS IN THE COMMUNITY FOR INCREASING DENSITY ALONG OUR CORRIDORS, UH, THAT'S BAKED INTO OUR IMAGINE AUSTIN PLAN.
UM, AND THEN TO THE EXTENT THAT Y'ALL HAVE ALREADY DONE SOME SUBSTANTIAL DEREGULATION OF DEVELOPMENT, UH, AS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, EXCUSE ME, DR.
BETSY GREENBERG SPELLED OUT BEFORE, THE GOAL HERE IS MORE MISSING MIDDLE INSIDE NEIGHBORHOODS, CORE NEIGHBORHOODS WITH NARROW STREETS THAT WERE WERE NOT DESIGNED FOR HIGH DENSITY.
UH, YOU HAVE THE TOOLS TO DO THAT ALREADY IN PLACE, UH, AND THIS WILL SIMPLY UNDERMINE THAT.
UM, WHAT I'M SPECIFICALLY, UH, OPPOSED TO IN THIS RESOLUTION IS SPECIFICALLY IS DIRECTING THE, THE CITY MANAGER TO MOVE TO, UH, GET RID OF OR CHANGE OTHER REGULATIONS OUTSIDE THE ZONING CODE.
SO WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE IS IMPERVIOUS COVER LIMITS AND TREE PROTECTIONS, GREEN SPACE.
[01:15:01]
THIS IS THE ABSOLUTE WRONG DIRECTION WE CAN, CAN AND SHOULD BE INCREASING DENSITY WHILE INCREASING OUR GREEN SPACE IN THE CENTRAL CITY AT THE SAME TIME, RATHER THAN DIMINISHING IT AND INCREASING URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECTS TO DISASTROUS CONS, DEADLY CONSEQUENCES, INCREASING FLOODING TO DISASTROUS AND DEADLY CONSEQUENCES, GETTING RID OF OUR TREES WHEN Y'ALL, YOU KNOW, PROCLAIM THAT YOU CARE ABOUT TREES AND THAT YOU SUPPORT, UH, MORE TREE CANOPY RATHER THAN LESS.THIS IS GOING IN THE ABSOLUTELY WRONG DIRECTION.
THIS IS, UH, LONG AGO, UH, DISPROVEN RONALD REAGAN, MILTON FRIEDMAN DEVELOPER DEREGULATION, HIDING BEHIND PROGRESSIVE LANGUAGE THAT IS FALSE AND MISLEADING.
THANK, PLEASE DON'T DO THAT SO MUCH.
MR. BOWEN, ARE YOU HERE? OKAY.
IS MEGAN MEISENBACH HERE? OKAY, MR. BOWEN, WE'LL HAVE FOUR MINUTES.
I AM A, UH, 27 YEAR RESIDENT OF DISTRICT EIGHT AND, UH, PROUD FATHER OF, UH, TWO AUSTIN HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES, UH, WHO ALSO STILL RESIDE IN DISTRICT EIGHT.
AND, UH, I'M ABSOLUTELY FOR THIS AS SOMEONE WHO, UH, MY CHILDREN WANNA STAY IN AUSTIN, THEY'RE, THEY'RE BORN AND RAISED IN AUSTIN.
THEY, UH, THEY DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO MOVE TO THE SUBURBS.
THEY DON'T WANNA HAVE TO MOVE TO KYLE OR HU OR ANYWHERE ELSE TO, TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD A HOUSE.
AND, UH, ABSOLUTELY 100% SUPPORT THIS MEASURE.
UH, MY NAME IS NALA, EA SANKOFA.
UM, I MOVED HERE IN 1989, SO, AND I'M FROM CHICAGO, NEW YORK HAS MY HEART.
SO WHILE I AM NOT FROM AUSTIN, I AM OF AUSTIN.
WHEN I MOVED HERE, MY DAUGHTERS WERE FIVE AND A HALF YEARS OLD BY TWIN DAUGHTERS.
UM, THEY ARE NOW IN THEIR FORTIES AND THEY ARE UNABLE AND UNWILLING TO LIVE SEPARATELY FROM ONE ANOTHER, NOT JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE IDENTICAL TWINS, TWO MINUTES APART, BUT BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT THEY CAN AFFORD TO LIVE SEPARATELY IN THE CITY.
THAT USED TO BE A HAVEN FOR ARTISTS AND STRUGGLING FOLKS, AND PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T HAVE A LOT.
AND BY HAVEN I MEAN AFFORDABILITY.
I AM VERY NEUTRAL ABOUT ITEM 40, UM, AGAINST ITEM 39, AND I'M SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ABOUT OTHER ITEMS. AND BEING FROM A CITY LIKE CHICAGO AND TRAVELING A LOT TO OTHER, AND HAVING LIVED IN OTHER MAJOR CITIES, UH, AUSTIN CANNOT CONTINUE TO SAY THAT IT IS GOING TO DO SOMETHING LIKE MIDDLE HOUSING AND AFFORDABILITY, WHEN IT WILL NOT FACE THE FACT THAT IT HAS TO GO UP.
PLEASE STOP BUILDING APARTMENT COMPLEXES OR ALLOWING APARTMENT COMPLEXES TO BE BUILT THAT ARE SPREAD ALL ACROSS TWO AND THREE BLOCKS OF A NEIGHBORHOOD.
WHEN YOU CAN GO UP, YOU HAVE ALL OF THESE NEW HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS HERE FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES.
THE SAME THING NEEDS TO HAPPEN WITH HOUSING.
AND BY UP, I MEAN 10, 12, 15 STORIES.
UH, GOOD MORNING LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
UH, MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, IN REGARDS TO ITEM 40, I, I'M, I'M REALLY, IT JUST BROUGHT ABOUT MORE QUESTIONS.
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, I HAVE MORE QUESTIONS THAN I HAVE ANSWERS.
SO I, I LOOK AT THIS AND I START LOOKING AT THE QUESTIONS I STARTED WITH, UH, WITH THE REPORT, AND I NOTICED THAT NOBODY HAS EVEN MENTIONED THE FACT THAT, UH, ON PAGE SEVEN OF THIS REPORT, THEY TALK ABOUT THE, THE MISSING MIDDLE DROPPED 20%.
BUT HAS ANYBODY ADDRESSED THAT? IF YOU THINK ABOUT THIS, IT WENT FROM 23% DOWN TO 3%.
SO THAT MEANS THAT 20% OF THAT WAS ELIMINATED THROUGH SOME PROCESS CALLED DEMOLITION, BECAUSE THEN THEY ENDED UP DOING, UH, EVEN IN THEIR SCALE.
THAT'S ON THE, THAT'S IN THE REPORT.
IT SAYS THAT THE, THE A HUNDRED PLUS
[01:20:01]
UNITS WENT FROM 28% TO 58% WHILE SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING WENT FROM 49 TO 38.SO, UH, AS A SINGLE FAMILY, AS A SINGLE FAMILY OWNER AND ALSO A PROPERTY RIGHTS PERSON, UH, I HAVE TO ASK THE QUESTION, WHY IS THERE SO MUCH? WHY, WHY ARE SINGLE FAMILIES ALWAYS BEING TARGETED ON THIS ENTIRE PROCESS? YOU WANNA PUT MISSING MIDDLES IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT JUST LIKE MR. BUNCH SAID, THERE ARE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES WHEN WE START REMOVING TREES, WE COMPLAIN ABOUT THE HEAT ISLAND EFFECT, BUT WHEN WE TAKE OUT TREES TO PUT MORE IN THESE 57, 50 LOTS, THEN ARE WE NOT CREATING ANOTHER PROBLEM? UH, MS. GREENBERG BROUGHT UP SOME EX EXCELLENT EXAMPLES OF THE ENTIRE PROCESS OF WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.
THERE ARE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.
HOME WAS SUPPOSED TO BE OUR SAVIOR, CORRECT? IT'S WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE PUSHED.
UH, THIS IS OVER IN BRENTWOOD AREA.
HERE'S ONE AT 55 0 7 CLAY AVENUE.
IT'S, UH, BASICALLY TWO THREE PLEXES TOGETHER, $5,000,390 OR YEAH, NINE 90, $90,000.
HERE'S ANOTHER ONE, UH, AT, UH, 73 10 WOODROW, 1.75 MILLION.
THESE ARE ALL BUILT UNDER HOME.
SO WHERE'S THE AFFORDABILITY AND WHO ARE THEY AFFORDABLE TO? UH, 8 26 MORROW NUMBER FOUR $1,075,000.
AND ANOTHER ONE AT 1 0 0 4 MORROW, AGAIN, 1,000,700 OR $75,000.
SO WHAT ARE WE REALLY DOING? YOU'RE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE WANTING US TO GET OUT OF SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING AND PUT US ALL IN THESE BOXES, BUT THERE'S ALL KINDS OF CONSEQUENCES THAT GO WITH THIS.
SO I STILL ASK THE QUESTION, WHY IS THERE SUCH A DISDAIN FOR THOSE OF US THAT LIVE IN SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING? WE DON'T TELL YOU WHERE YOU SHOULD GO LIVE OR THE IMPACTS THAT THE, IF YOU WANNA LIVE IN AN APARTMENT, THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED TO DO.
BUT COMING INTO NEIGHBORHOODS AND YOU WILL NOT, YOU WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE DEED RESTRICTIONS.
JUST LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW AT ROSEDALE.
WE'RE BEING THAT AREA'S BEING UPZONED, EVEN THOUGH THE LAWSUIT HAS NOT EVEN BEEN SETTLED DUE TO DEED RESTRICTIONS YET, IT'S A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO MAYBE TAKE HOME AND PUT THAT IN THAT AREA.
YET IT'S BEING PUSHED FOR SIX STORIES OF MORE APARTMENTS.
YOU ALREADY HEARD SOME OF 'EM HERE TALK ABOUT, WELL, WE REALLY LIKE THE MISSING MIDDLE.
GO BACK AND LOOK AT YOUR CHART AND FIND OUT WHY IS IT THAT THAT WENT FROM 20% TO 3%.
THERE ARE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.
EVERY TIME YOU LOOK AT THESE, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO SET BACK AND ACTUALLY DO SOME ACTUAL EVALUATIONS VERSUS JUST RUNNING DOWN THE ROAD THINKING THIS IS GONNA SOLVE IT.
THE LAST GROUP FOR ITEM 40, AMY DELUNA, MICHAEL RHODES, BEN SOTHEBY, ADAM NIK, KATIE CAM.
UH, THE REASON WHY THAT PERCENTAGE HAS NOT GROWN IS BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T ALLOWED IT TO GROW.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE REPORT, IT EXPLAINS THAT, UH, WE'VE BASICALLY HAVE BEEN ALLOWING TWO TYPES, SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING AND LARGE APARTMENT COMPLEX.
WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS ALLOW PEOPLE TO HAVE OPTIONS.
ONE OF MY MAIN MOTIVATIONS FOR SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM IS I KNOW OF SOMEONE WHO'S LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO RENT RIGHT NOW.
THEY HAVE, THEY HAVE OUTGROWN THEIR, UH, SMALL APARTMENT AND THEY'RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING IN THIS MISSING MIDDLE.
AND THEY ASK ME, YOU KNOW, HEY, YOU, YOU BIKE AROUND, YOU WALK AROUND, YOU KNOW THE NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU KNOW THE AREA.
I'M LOOKING FOR SOMETHING CLOSE TO WORK.
I'M LOOKING FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS, A LITTLE MORE SPACE, AND THEY'RE HAVING SUCH A DIFFICULT TIME AMONGST MY FRIENDS WHO ARE RENTERS.
THESE ARE PRIZED HOUSING FORMS. THEY SHARE IN TEXT MESSAGES WHEN ONE IS AVAILABLE.
HEY, MY SMALL APARTMENT COMPLEX OF FOUR SIX UNITS HAS AN OPENING, IT'S WORD OF MOUTH THAT PEOPLE SHARE BECAUSE IT'S SO PRIZED, WE NEED TO HAVE MORE OF THESE OPTIONS.
THE REASON WHY THEY PRIZE THEM IS THAT YES, IT ALLOWS A LITTLE MORE SPACE, BUT ALSO A LITTLE MORE COMMUNITY.
THEY WANT TO BE HERE FOR A LONG TIME.
THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ROOTS IN OUR COMMUNITY, UH, AND I DON'T THINK THAT WE SHOULD LOOK DOWN ON OUR FELLOW AUSTINITES FOR THE HOUSING CHOICES THAT THEY HAVE, UH, AND AND FORCE THEM TO CHOOSE BETWEEN A HOUSE THAT'S UNAFFORDABLE TO THEM, A SINGLE FAMILY HOME, OR LIVING IN A LARGE APARTMENT COMPLEX.
WE NEED TO GIVE THEM OPTIONS SO THAT PEOPLE CAN MAKE CHOICES BASED ON WHAT WORKS FOR THEM.
[01:25:01]
ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING IN THE SERVICE INDUSTRY, PUBLIC SERVICE WHO FINANCIALLY CAN'T AFFORD A LARGE SINGLE FAMILY HOUSE, BUT PROBABLY CAN AFFORD A TOWNHOUSE OR CAN AFFORD SOMETHING THAT IS A LITTLE MORE SHARE OF THAT LAND.AND AS WE BUILD OUT OUR TRANSIT, WE NEED TO HAVE MORE OF THESE HOUSING FORMS SO THAT PEOPLE CAN CHOOSE TO STAY IN AUSTIN, CHOOSE TO LIVE AND WORK HERE, AND CONTRIBUTE TO OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY.
I'M A MEMBER OF DISTRICT NINE.
I SUPPORT ONGOING EVALUATION OF HOUSING POLICIES AND EXISTING CODE OPTIONS TO ENSURE WE ARE PROVIDING THE REGULATIONS THAT SUPPORT AFFORDABLE MISSING MEDIA HOUSING IN ALIGNMENT WITH CITY PLANS AND APPROPRIATE FOR DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOOD CONTEXTS.
IN THE TUESDAY WORK SESSION MEETING, THERE WAS DISCUSSION ABOUT THE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF THE EXISTING CODE REGARDING HOUSING BEFORE PURSUING ADDITIONAL CHANGES.
I WENT TO SPEAK TO THAT ISSUE FIRST.
I'M A CIVIL ENGINEER ON THE FRONT LINE OF WHEN CODE IS IMPLEMENTED.
I SEE THE CASES THAT HIGHLIGHT WHEN UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF CODE HAPPEN FOR ONE RESIDENTIAL UNIT LOT IN EAST AUSTIN.
IN AN EFFORT TO BUILD A SECOND UNIT ON THE LOT, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE CODE HAS A SIGNIFICANT GAP THAT FORCES A RE SUBDIVISION OF THE LOT INTO TWO LOTS, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE THE DEMOLITION OF THE EXISTING HOME ON THE LOT IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE WHAT WE CALL THE FLAG LOT WITH THE STRIP OF LAND FOR THE BACK LOT TO THE STREET FRONTAGE.
I DO NOT THINK THE INTENTION OF THE CODE IS TO FORCE DEMOLITION OF EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING STOCK.
SO THOROUGH EVALUATION OF UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES WILL NEED TO BE DONE.
SECOND, THE ABILITY TO ADD HOUSING OFTEN HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH EXISTING REGULATIONS.
PUBLIC EASEMENTS WITH ACTIVE UTILITIES CROSSING THE REAR YARDS OF LOTS, SITE CONSTRAINTS AND OTHER FACTORS SUCH AS THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES OF THE EXISTING RESIDENTIAL LANDOWNER IMPACT THE ADDITION OF HOUSING UNDER THE EXISTING CODE.
IT IS DIFFICULT FOR EXISTING HOMEOWNERS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OPPORTUNITIES TO ADD A UNIT TO THE LOT BECAUSE THE CITY AND PROFE CITY AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICE FEES PROJECTS TO ADD HOUSING CAN STALL BECAUSE THE RESIDENTIAL LANDOWNER DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO FINISH THE EXPENSIVE PROCESS.
AND THE SMART HOUSING INCENTIVES DO NOT PROVIDE ENOUGH RELIEF AT THAT POINT.
SELLING IT TO A DEVELOPER THAT HAS THE LARGER FINANCIAL RESOURCES WOULD BE THE ONLY OPTION.
THAT ACTION OF COURSE, INCREASES THE RISK THAT THE RESULTING HOUSING ON THE PROPERTY WILL NOT BE AFFORDABLE.
AGAIN, I AM SUPPORTIVE OF, OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND A MIX OF HOUSING TYPES, BUT ANY CHANGES TO THE CODE SHOULD BE GUIDED BY CITY GOALS, SUCH AS THE TREE CANOPY MENTIONED EARLIER, INFORMED BY PROACTIVE PLANNING THAT INVOLVES NEIGHBORHOODS AND EVALUATION OF THE PERFORMANCE AND UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF THE EXISTING CODE AND ANY PROPOSED CHANGES.
THANK YOU MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
UH, MY NAME IS ADAM HOO NICK, DISTRICT SEVEN ROSEDALE, UH, WANTED TO BRIEFLY APPEAR IN SUPPORT OF MISSING MIDDLE.
UH, I THINK WE ALL KNOW HOUSING AFFORDABILITY IS A PROBLEM, AND HOUSING AFFORDABILITY DEPENDS ON HOUSING SUPPLY, YET SINGLE FAMILY AND MASSIVE COMPLEXES CANNOT BE OUR ONLY ANSWERS.
UH, WE NEED INNOVATION IN HOUSING, WE NEED THOUGHTFUL DEVELOPMENT THAT MATTERS.
UH, MYSELF, I HELPED LAUNCH, UH, OMC ONE OF THE FIRST RESIDENTIAL MODULAR HOUSING MANUFACTURERS IN AUSTIN, AND SUBSEQUENTLY, UH, LAUNCHED HOUSING GROWTH PARTNERS, A COMPANY FOCUSED ON HOUSING INNOVATION AND DEVELOPMENT HERE AND THROUGHOUT THE MIDWEST.
JUST YESTERDAY, UH, THE FIRST, UH, MODULAR SET OF MODULAR TOWN HOMES THAT WE, UH, DELIVERED WERE FEATURED AS AN EXAMPLE OF THIS KIND OF HOUSING.
AND I'M PROUD TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS AND, AND HOPE TO SEE MORE.
UH, JUST WANNA SAY, AS A RESIDENT OF ROSEDALE, WHERE, UH, WE ARE CURRENTLY FACING ONE OF THESE MASSIVE DEVELOPMENTS THAT IS INAPPROPRIATE FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UH, MANY OF US ARE BEING, UH, TREATED AS THOUGH WE ARE NIMBYS, UH, UH, WHO DON'T WANNA SEE MORE HOUSING, WHO DON'T WANNA SEE GOOD DEVELOPMENT, WHO DON'T WANNA SEE INNOVATION.
AND, UH, I THINK THERE ARE MANY OF US, UH, I'M CERTAINLY ONE WHO WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE DIVERSITY OF MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING, LIKE THESE TYPES THAT WOULD, WOULD FIT IN A NEIGHBORHOOD LIKE MINE.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING MORE OF IT IN OUR CITY.
MOVING ON TO ITEM 41, CHRISTIAN CHOP, CAMPBELL NELSON, BILL BUNCH.
JEFFREY BOWEN, PLEASE COME FORWARD NOW IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED.
ALL RIGHT, LET ME GET THESE NOTES, OKAY? OKAY.
COUNSEL, UH, JEFFREY BOWEN, DISTRICT EIGHT.
I DON'T KNOW IF I SAID THAT LAST TIME OR NOT, BUT WE'LL, WE'LL MAKE UP FOR IT.
JEFFREY BOWEN, DISTRICT EIGHT.
[01:30:01]
OF, UH, DIFFERENTIATING ON THIS, UH, ITEM BECAUSE OF THE, THE ISSUE REGARDING THE SCHOOL OF LAND, BECAUSE WE HAVE DIFFERENT, WE HAVE SEVERAL ITEMS ALL HERE THAT ALL INTERRELATE.UH, THE FACT THAT, THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS AND WE'RE, WE'RE SAYING, OKAY, WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE SAVING THIS PARK LAND, BUT I WANNA KNOW IF IT'S COMING FROM THE SCHOOLS THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT DOING.
AND IN ANOTHER ONE OF THESE ISSUES, WE, WE WANT TO FIND OUT HOW ARE YOU GOING TO PAY FOR ALL OF THIS? HOW ARE YOU GOING TO DO THIS? WE NEED THE GREEN SPACE, JUST AS MY FRIEND MR. BUNCH SAID, BECAUSE OF OUR UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF GOING IN AND TEARING DOWN ALL OF OUR TREES, REMOVING SOME OF OUR IMPERVIOUS COVER ISSUES.
SO THE, THE LACK OF, UM, TRYING TO REALLY GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS, I, I NOTICED THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER TALKED ABOUT, UH, DEALING WITH THIS AND SAYING, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS VERY TRANSPARENT.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THIS IS A COMPLETE TRANSPARENT PROCESS.
IF, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH, UH, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE NOT HAVE OUR, HAVE THE FIRST OPTION AT THIS LAND AND MAKING SURE THAT IT'S NOT BEING TAKEN AWAY WITHOUT SOME DUE JUSTICE.
UM, RIGHT NOW WE'VE, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE RESOLVED WITH HOW WE EVEN TREAT OUR PARKS NOW.
SO THIS IS A VERY, UH, COMPLEX ISSUE.
AND I THINK THAT, UH, THE FACT THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IT FROM THE STANDPOINT OF TRYING TO DO THE LEGAL AND FIND, UH, LIKE I SAYS, DEDICATE PARK PURPOSES THAT PROTECTS THE CITY'S LEGAL AND FINANCIAL INTEREST WILL SEEK TO MAXIMIZE SHARED COMMUNITY VALUE.
CAN I ASK WHAT HAPPENED TO ITEM 40? I MISSED THAT.
WELL, WE'VE LISTENED TO A LOT OF TESTIMONY ON IT WAS IN NAME EXCUSE MR. IS THIS IS 41? THIS IS 41.
UH, THANK YOU BILL BUNCH, UH, SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE, UH, SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM AND WANT TO THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER FOR, FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD.
UH, I AM CONCERNED THAT THE VERSION TWO RED LINE SUGGESTS THAT THE PARKS BOARD IS GONNA BE CUT OUT OF THE PROCESS AND, UH, MORE OF THE, UH, CONCERNS AND REVIEWS SPECIFIC TO, UH, PROTECTING OUR PARK LAND FROM A RANGE OF THREATS.
UM, AND ALSO SEIZING OPPORTUNITIES, UH, WOULD JUST GO INTO THE BACK ROOM WITH OUR, UH, PARKS DIRECTOR.
UM, I THINK Y'ALL ARE AWARE WE HAVE SOME REALLY SERIOUS FINANCIAL MALFEASANCE HAPPENING INSIDE OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT, UH, THAT NEEDS TO BE SURFACED AND ADDRESSED AND, UM, EMPOWERING MORE OF THIS WORK IN THE BACK ROOM IS NOT THE RIGHT WAY TO GO.
UM, THIS FOCUSES ON THE, THE SCHOOL PROPERTIES, AND THAT'S A HUGE OPPORTUNITY THAT WE NEED TO SEIZE.
IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT'S HAPPENING AT THIS MOMENT WHEN, UH, THE CITY IS STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY.
UH, BUT IT GOES BEYOND DEALING WITH THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE THERE THAT THAT NEED TO BE SEIZED BY HOOK OR BY CROOK TO SAVE SOME OPEN SPACE, SAVE SOME COMMUNITY GATHERING SPACES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, UM, AND TO ADDRESS OTHER THREATS TO OUR PARKLAND MOPAC SOUTH EXPANSION AT THE TOP OF THAT LIST, UM, WE NEED Y'ALL DEFENDING ZILKER PARK, OUR BARTON CREEK GREENBELT, AND THE OTHER PARKS IN THE MOPAC CORRIDOR, UM, AND ACROSS OUR WHOLE CITY.
UM, AND RIGHT NOW WE ARE GIVING AWAY, UH, WAY TOO MUCH, UH, FOR SORT OF ALLEGEDLY TEMPORARY TAKINGS IN SOME INSTANCES AND ALSO ON PERMANENT TAKINGS OF OUR PARKLAND.
LET'S HAVE MORE TRANSPARENCY IN THERE.
ITEM 42, I HAVE SOME REMOTE SPEAKERS.
WE'LL START WITH PETER BRETON.
HI THERE, I'M RUNNING THROUGH MY DOCUMENT.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WATSON AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M PETER BRETON AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT EIGHT.
THE ESSENCE OF THE AMERICAN DREAM IS BUILT ON THE ABILITY FOR ANYONE TO BE ENTERPRISING, TO ADD TO THEIR COMMUNITY AND BUILD A BETTER FUTURE FOR THEIR FAMILY.
THIS ITEM IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION IN HONORING THE SPIRIT OF SO MANY OF OUR CURRENT AND FUTURE AUSTINITES.
THANK YOU, TRACY WHITT, UM, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES AND CO-SIGNERS FOR THE MEMO, DEMANDING ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THOSE OSTENSIBLY ENFORCING IMMIGRATION LAWS, BUT WHO END UP VIOLATING
[01:35:01]
CIVIL RIGHTS AND OR PHYSICALLY HARMING HUMAN BEINGS IN THE COURSE OF THEIR ACTIVITIES.ULTIMATELY, IT IS ABOUT DEMANDING THAT OUR LAWS AND POLICIES ARE NOT SUGGESTIONS, BUT FUNDAMENTAL REQUIREMENTS.
I'M SORRY, YOU'RE SPEAKING, PLEASE.
I HOPE YOU'LL BRING, YOU NEED TO GET TO ITEM NUMBER 42, PLEASE.
I HOPE YOU'LL BRING THE SAME DEMAND FOR ACCOUNTABILITY TO YOUR EVALUATION OF ITEM 42.
PROPAGATING OUTDOOR COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY IN ACUS AND RESIDENTIAL AREAS FAR EXCEEDS WHAT WAS CONTEMPLATED IN HB 24 64.
IN FACT, THE BILL SAYS NON-IMPACT BUSINESSES ARE NOT TO INCREASE TRAFFIC STREET TRA, UH, STREET PARKING DEMAND OR NOISE.
THE RESOLUTION AUTHOR NOW CLAIMS THE CITY IS PIVOTING TO QUOTE, IMPACT MANAGEMENT.
YOU DON'T MANAGE IMPACT BY ENABLING CONCENTRATED PROPAGATION OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS IN GUINEA PIG NEIGHBORHOODS WITH NO EXPLICIT GUARDRAILS FOR BUSINESS OPERATOR ACCOUNTABILITY.
THE RESOLUTION IS ABOUT LOWERING MOST EXPECTATIONS FOR OPERATORS AND TESTING THE IMPACT TESTING.
DON'T WE ALREADY KNOW THE QUESTIONS? WHERE'S ALL THE TRASH GONNA GO? WHERE ARE CHILDCARE WORKERS, CAREGIVERS, AND OTHER RESIDENTIAL VISITORS GONNA PARK? ARE NOISE, LIGHT AND ODOR POLLUTION GONNA HARM HUMAN BEINGS LIVING ADJACENT TO BUSINESSES THAT WERE NOT ALLOWED WHEN THEY SIGN THEIR LEASES OR PURCHASE THEIR PROPERTIES? DON'T WE ALL KNOW WHAT A CHALLENGE MANAGING THOSE IMPACTS HAS BEEN WHEN IT COMES TO STR? ARE WE GONNA HIRE MORE CODE OFFICERS? I'M NOT SURE THIS IS REALLY GONNA LOWER THE FINANCIAL BURDEN OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP SO MUCH AS PAST THE COST OF BUSINESS LIABILITY ON THE LANDLORDS AND ADJACENT OWNERS WHO HAVE TO THINK ABOUT HOW THE POTENTIAL COMMERCIAL PROPERTY NEXT DOOR MIGHT HAVE A FIRE DRAW MORE PEOPLE, UM, WHO DRESS PAST OR GET INJURED.
OUR PROPERTY TAX IS GONNA CHANGE BECAUSE COMMERCIALS ALLOWED SOMEONE HAS TO COVER THAT COST.
WHAT IF LANDLORDS RAISE RENT 'CAUSE THEY HAVE THE OPTION TO APPROVE A BUSINESS AND OR THEIR TAXES GO UP? IT FEELS SO AT LARGE.
COUNSEL TO BAIL ON THE CAPTAIN STITCH SOCIAL JUSTICE HIGHWAY AND THEN EXPLOIT CENTRAL AND EAST AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOODS FOR RAISING REVENUES AND TESTING DOUBLESPEAK LEGISLATION PRECISELY BECAUSE THEIR HISTORY HAS BEEN ONE OF MAKING ROOM FOR COMMERCIAL ZONING ALL UP AND DOWN CORRIDORS.
IF YOU'RE GONNA PASS ITEM 42, WHY NOT MAKE IT APPLICABLE CITYWIDE BEHIND GATED COMMUNITIES? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I ASKING YOU TO PLEASE OPPOSE ITEM 42, ALLOWING RETAIL BUSINESSES IN NEIGHBORHOODS AND HOMES.
UM, I'M OPPOSED TO THIS ITEM BECAUSE OF THE INCREASED CAR SHIPS THAT ARE GONNA BE GENERATED IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT DON'T HAVE SIDEWALKS AND ADEQUATE PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE KNOW THAT RETAIL BUSINESSES AND NEIGHBORHOODS WILL INCREASE CAR TRAFFIC.
THE RESOLUTION PURPORTS TO TRANSFORM RESIDENTIAL BLOCKS INTO ACTIVE PEDESTRIAN SAFE CORRIDORS, BUT IT DOESN'T ADD ANY PEDESTRIAN SAFETY MECHANISMS OR BAR BIKE LANES.
UM, WHEN WE DON'T HAVE SIDEWALKS, WE'VE GOT THE KIDS, THE BIKES, THE DOGS, THE STROLLERS WE'RE ALL FORCED TO WALK OUT IN THE STREET.
WALKABILITY IN AUSTIN IS OFTEN NOT LIMITED BY DESTINATIONS.
IT'S LIMITED BECAUSE WE'RE IN THE STREET DODGING THE WAYMO'S, THE AMAZON TRUCKS, THE CONSTRUCTION TRUCKS, AND THE DRIVERS LOOKING AT THEIR PHONES.
WHEN IT'S NEARLY A MILE TO WALK TO THE NORT PARK, YOU HAVE TO EXERCISE AND WALK IN THE BIKE IN THE STREET.
WE WON'T SURVIVE ADDING MORE CAR TRIPS TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS FROM THE RETAIL BUSINESSES.
WE HAVE COMMERCIALLY ZONE AREAS WHERE THE CITY HAS ALREADY INVESTED IN THE SIDEWALKS, THE CROSSWALKS, AND THE TRAFFIC SIGNALS THAT ALLOW FOR PEDESTRIANS AND CARS TO MIX SAFELY.
WE SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON CREATING SAFE PEDESTRIAN CORRIDORS TO THESE BUSINESS AREAS.
PLEASE OPPOSE THIS ITEM, BUT IF IT DOES PASS, THE TYPES OF BUSINESSES NEED TO BE LIMITED.
IT NEEDS TO HAPPEN ONLY IN AREAS WHERE THEY'RE ALREADY CONSISTENT, SIDEWALKS THROUGHOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AND WHERE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS BELIEVE IT'S INAPPROPRIATE FOR THEIR AREA.
HELLO, MAYOR WATSON AND AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS AVA MUAN JOHNSON, AND I'M SPEAKING TODAY BOTH AS A NATIVE AUSTINITE AND AS A CITY POLICY COORDINATOR FOR INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE'S CITY'S WORK INITIATIVE.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 42.
OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, I'VE CONDUCTED IN-DEPTH RE REGULATORY RESEARCH ON STARTING SMALL BUSINESSES IN AUSTIN AND INTERVIEWED OVER 30 ENTREPRENEURS ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES.
THIS PAST FRIDAY, WE PRESENTED A REPORT SUMMARIZING OUR RESEARCH TO THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY COMMITTEE.
NOTABLY, IN COMPARISON TO MORE THAN 25 OTHER CITIES WE'VE STUDIED OFTEN IS THE MOST REGULATORY COMPLEX IN THE THIRD MOST EXPENSIVE CITY TO START A SMALL BUSINESS, WE FOUND THAT AN ENTREPRENEUR STARTING A SMALL RESTAURANT IN AUSTIN WOULD NEED TO COMPLETE 105 STEPS AND PAY NEARLY $9,000 IN PERMIT AND LICENSEES ALONE.
THE COST OF NAVIGATING THE REQUIREMENTS PRICE MANY ENTREPRENEURS OUT OF THE CITY BEFORE THEY EVER GET STARTED, WHICH IS WHY TODAY'S RESOLUTION IS SO IMPORTANT.
OFTEN ONCE HOME IS THEIR MAIN SOURCE OF CAPITAL.
LEGALIZING HOME BUSINESSES AND ACUS WILL ALLOW ENTREPRENEURS TO UTILIZE THE CAPITAL THEY HAVE REASONABLY
[01:40:01]
IN.INDIVIDUALS MAY BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPACT OF HOME BUSINESSES AND ACUS AND RESIDENTIAL AREAS OFTEN ALREADY HAS STRONG NUISANCE REGULATIONS ON THE BOOK.
SO WE DO CAUTION AGAINST CREATING NEW ARBITRARY RESTRICTIONS LIKE SQUARE FOOTAGE AND ZONING LIMITATIONS BECAUSE RATHER, THE CITY SHOULD CONTINUE ENFORCING ITS NUISANCE AND TRAFFIC REGULATIONS THAT PROHIBIT EXCESS NOISE, ODORS, POLLUTIONS, AND IMPROPER PARKING AND STOPPING OF TRAFFIC.
WE ENCOURAGE THE CITY TO PASS A STRONG LOCAL COMMERCE INITIATIVE AND BUILD UPON THE MOMENTUM TO CONTINUE REFORM FOR ADVANCED REGULATORY JUSTICE.
WE ALSO STRONGLY RECOMMEND THE CITY CLARIFY THE RESOLUTIONS.
LAND DEVELOPMENT AMENDMENTS APPLIED TO HOME-BASED BUSINESSES REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY OPERATE WITHIN AN A CU OR ENTIRELY WITHIN THE PRINCIPAL STRUCTURE, AS WELL AS ALLOW NON ENTREPRENEUR EMPLOYEES IN ADVERTISING WITH AN ADDRESS PASSING THE STRONG LOCAL COMMERCE INITIATIVE IS A PROMISING FIRST STEP IN OFTEN BECOMING A LEADER IN REGULATORY AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE.
WE ARE EXCITED TO SUPPORT AUSTIN IN THIS EFFORT.
WE APPRECIATE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS SPONSORING THIS, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
HELLO, UH, I'M BARBARA EPSTEIN, AND I PROBABLY DIDN'T SAY BEFORE.
I'M IN DISTRICT NINE, UM, UH, IN THE HANCOCK NEIGHBORHOOD.
I'M NUMBER 42, MAY BE A REVISION OF A RESOLUTION FROM A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO THAT PROPOSED HOME BUSINESSES UP TO 5,000 SQUARE FEET FOR A MEDICAL OFFICE, MUSIC VENUES AND CONVENIENCE STORES, AMONG OTHER THINGS, OR POSSIBLY A RESPONSE TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PASSED IN NOVEMBER FOR, UH, HOME PROPERTY BUSINESS, UH, UH, EXEMPTIONS.
EITHER WAY, IT WON'T IMPROVE WALKABILITY OR ENHANCE NEIGHBORHOODS.
IT, THE, THE PROPOSAL DOESN'T ADEQUATELY ANALYZE HOW REZONING WILL IMPACT HOUSING AFFORDABILITY.
I WOULD NOTE THAT A 640 SQUARE FOOT UNIT ON RED RIVER JUST SOLD, AND IT WAS ON THE MARKET FOR $230,000.
I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS WOULD CHANGE THAT.
UM, WE, WE DON'T KNOW WHETHER THERE WILL BE ANY RIGHT TO PROTEST A BUSINESS STARTUP NEIGHBORS LEGAL RIGHT TO QUIET ENJOYMENT OF THEIR PROPERTY SAFETY ISSUES FOR CHILDREN, THE IMPACT ON NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS, THE IMPACT OF HOME, UM, THE IMPACT OF HOME BUSINESSES IN EXISTING DENSELY BUILT SINGLE FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE MINE, A DECREASE IN IRREPARABLE MATURE URBAN TREE CANOPY.
I WOULD NOTE THAT, UH, IT WAS RECENTLY REPORTED THAT AUSTIN IS SECOND ONLY TO LAS VEGAS NOW FOR ABNORMALLY HOT NIGHTS.
UH, AND REMOVING THAT TREE CANOPY AFFECTS THAT.
UM, THERE ARE THE POTENTIAL FOR INCREASED CAR TRAFFIC, DISRUPTIVE LIGHTING, NOISE, GARBAGE, RATS AND FLOODING, AND AN INCREASED NEED AND BUDGET FOR CODE ENFORCEMENT STAFF.
PLEASE RETHINK, OR BETTER YET, JUST DON'T DO IT, GIVEN THAT THE RESOLUTION PROPOSES ELIMINATING THE CURRENT THREE CAR TRIPS PER DAY TO HOME BUSINESSES AND THE FUNDAMENTALLY INADEQUATE BUS SERVICE IN NEIGHBORHOODS RIGHT NOW.
AND AS I SAY THAT, AS SOMEONE WHO DEPENDS ON, ON PUBLIC TRANSIT, UH, WE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO NEARBY ESSENTIAL BUSINESS DESTINATIONS.
NOW, THIS RESOLUTION WOULD ACTUALLY INCREASE CAR TRAFFIC, THANK YOU, AND DO NOTHING EITHER WALKABILITY OR ENHANCE 100-YEAR-OLD NEIGHBORHOOD.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, BRUCE GREINER, UM, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I ALREADY ADDRESSED THIS ITEM IN MY EARLIER REMARKS, SO I WILL YIELD THE TIME BACK.
I'LL NOW GO TO IN-PERSON SPEAKERS FOR ITEM 42.
RECAR CHRISTIAN CHOP, ZACHARY FA, BETSY GREENBERG AND HIS MARIA MORALES HERE.
CAN MRS. GREENBERG, MRS. GREENBERG WILL HAVE FOUR MINUTES.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE, AND I'M OPPOSED TO ITEM 42 THAT ENCOURAGES FRONT YARD BUSINESSES.
I'M HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE, OKAY.
UM, THE FIRST THING TO THINK ABOUT IS WHAT TYPE OF BUSINESS WE ARE LIKELY TO SEE IN FRONT YARDS.
WILL IT BE LEMONADE STANDS LIKE THIS ONE THAT MY NEIGHBOR'S GRANDCHILDREN HOSTED LAST WEEKEND? IT'S PLEASANT TO IMAGINE FLOWERS AND HANDMADE CRAFTS BEING SOLD, BUT CAN WE COUNT ON THIS OR COULD IT BE SOME LESS APPEALING BUSINESSES LIKE PAWN SHOP, ALTERNATIVE FINANCIAL SERVICES, CAR REPAIR, UNLICENSED FOODS OR SODA SALES, PERMANENT GARAGE SALES, USE CAR PARTS, AND FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, ADULT PRODUCTS.
AND WILL LIGHTED SIGNS BE ALLOWED AS AUSTIN DOESN'T REQUIRE PARKING? I EXPECT THAT CIRCULAR DRIVEWAYS WILL BE NEEDED FOR CUSTOMERS BESIDES ADDED TRAFFIC.
[01:45:01]
BUSINESSES THAT HAVE NO NOISE REGULATIONS BECAUSE THEIR VEHICLES WITHOUT ZONING? IS IT POSSIBLE THAT IN FACT, THE BUSINESSES WILL BE SET UP IN TRUCKS OR TRAILERS JUST LIKE MOBILE PHONE, UM, MOBILE FOOD VENUES? THE RATIONALE FOR THIS IS THAT AUSTIN'S HOME BUSINESSES ARE TOO RESTRICTIVE.SO THE REASONABLE APPROACH WOULD BE TO RELAX THOSE RULES.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE COULD INCREASE THE TRIP LIMIT FOR A HOME BUSINESS.
INSTEAD, THIS PROPOSAL GOES TOO FAR.
WE REALLY DON'T NEED TO ALLOW 200 SQUARE FOOT STRUCTURES TO BE BUILT ON THE FRONT YARD OF HOMES AT THAT SIZE.
THEY COULD BE BUILT WITHOUT PERMITS OR INSPECTIONS ALONG WITH EXTRA IMPERVIOUS COVER.
I'M PLEASED THAT INSTEAD OF ALLOWING FRONT YARD BUSINESSES CITYWIDE, THE RESOLUTION PROPOSES TO DO TESTS WITH SO-CALLED PINK ZONES, WHERE THE RED TAPE IS RELAXED IN EACH CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT.
THE PINK ZONE SHOULD BE CENTERED AROUND EACH COUNCIL MEMBER'S RESIDENCE, ESPECIALLY THE SPONSORS EXTRA FOCUS ON GATED COMMUNITIES OR WHERE DEED RESTRICTIONS, PUDS OR CONDO RULES ARE BARRIERS TO VIBRANCY SHOULD BE, UM, PAID ATTENTION TO.
IN PARTICULAR, MUELLER IS A PARTICULARLY IDEAL LOCATION AS IT HASN'T BEEN AFFECTED BY OTHER CHANGES LIKE HOME AND EAD HOUSING LOOKS DIFFERENT IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE CITY, SO TESTING IN EVERY DISTRICT DOES MAKE SENSE.
I TAKE CAP METRO TO CITY HALL AND THERE ARE APARTMENTS BEHIND ME THAT CAN BE REDEVELOPED TO A HUNDRED FEET.
AND YET I KNOW SOME PEOPLE WILL STILL CALL ME A NIMBY, SO I'M GOING TO OWN THAT AND SAY, NOT IN MY FRONT YARD.
OF COURSE, I DO HAVE CONTROL OF WHAT HAPPENS IN MY OWN FRONT YARD.
WHAT I REALLY MEAN IS NOT ON THE FRONT YARD, NEXT DOOR OR ACROSS THE STREET.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, IF YOU VOTE FOR THIS, WHICH I HOPE YOU WON'T, THAT PINK ZONE SHOULD BE CENTERED ON YOUR HOME, PLEASE.
ZACH FADI, UH, RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE PRESIDENT AURORA.
I'M SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM.
UM, GROWING UP MY MOTHER HAD AN IN-HOME DAYCARE.
UM, IT WAS USUALLY FIVE, SEVEN KIDS, UH, USUALLY YOUNGER BETWEEN WHEN THEY GOT OUTTA SCHOOL AND WHEN, WHEN THEIR PARENTS COULD PICK THEM UP.
UM, I WOULD OFTEN HELP, UH, AFTERWARDS.
I, I DON'T KNOW IF SHE, UH, EVER ASKED ANYONE'S PERMISSION OR IF IT WAS TECHNICALLY LEGAL.
UM, I DO KNOW THAT IT, UH, PROVIDED EXTRA INCOME FOR US.
IT, IT PROVIDED HER A SENSE OF PURPOSE AND A WAY TO SERVE HER COMMUNITY, UM, AND LIT UP HER LIFE.
UH, AND IT, IT HELPED MAKE OUR COMMUNITY MORE RESILIENT.
UM, WHEN PEOPLE'S LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGE, THEY, THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO CHANGE THEIR SPACE WITH IT, UH, AND WHAT, WHAT THEY DO WITH THEIR SPACE AND, AND THEIR PROPERTY.
UM, AND, AND IT MAKES COMMUNITIES MUCH STRONGER.
UH, AND, AND OVER TIME, WE'VE INCREASINGLY REGULATED AND SAID, UH, WE HAVE TO DEFINE STRICTLY WHAT, WHAT YOU CAN AND CANNOT DO WITH YOUR SPACE.
UH, AND IT MADE US A A LOT WEAKER AS A COMMUNITY.
IT MAKES US LESS RESILIENT TO CHANGE AND LESS ABLE TO ADAPT AS, AS LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGE.
UH, WE HAD A HUGE CHANGE A COUPLE YEARS AGO WITH, WITH COVID, AND SUDDENLY PEOPLE WERE, UH, WORKING FROM HOME MUCH MORE OFTEN.
I KNOW MANY PEOPLE BUILT, BUILT THINGS LIKE BACKYARD, UH, UH, OFFICES AND STUFF.
AND, UM, UH, I I THINK THAT, UH, I'M SORRY,
UH, UH, THAT'S ALL I GOT TO SAY.
CHARLES BRADBURY, JUDAH RICE, RYAN SAER, KATHERINE ICK, JOHN STARK, TY HOKI, IF YOU'VE HEARD YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
UH, JUDAH RICE DISTRICT THREE.
UM, I'M SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM.
I MEAN, BECAUSE I SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES IN AUSTIN.
AND, UM, AS I MENTIONED IN MY PREVIOUS TESTIMONY, I GREW UP IN TRAVIS HEIGHTS.
AND I THINK THAT NEIGHBORHOOD IS PARTICULARLY INSTRUCTIVE HERE BECAUSE WE TALK A LOT ABOUT SUPPLY AND DEMAND AND ABOUT THE WAY THAT RESTRICTIONS ON NEW CONSTRUCTION OF HOUSING HAVE CAUSED THE PRICE OF NEW HOUSING OR THE PRICE OF HOUSING, UH, BOTH NEW AND, AND OLD TO, TO RISE.
AND WHEN WE ALLOW MORE HOUSING, THE THE RENTS FALL.
THE, UH, AND THE, AND THE HOME PRICES FALL.
THAT SAME MATH APPLIES FOR COMMERCIAL SPACES.
AUSTIN HAS NOT BEEN BUILDING ENOUGH SMALL, AFFORDABLE
[01:50:01]
COMMERCIAL SPACES, WHICH MEANS THAT AS THE CITY HAS GROWN, THE EXISTING COMMERCIAL SPACES THAT USED TO BE AFFORDABLE, THAT ARE SMALLER FOR A SMALL BUSINESS TO INHABIT, LIKE ON SOUTH CONGRESS, GET OUTBID BY THESE INTER, YOU KNOW, NATIONAL CHAINS AND THESE LUXURY BRANDS THAT ARE NOT ROOTED IN OUR COMMUNITIES.AND AS A RESULT, I, I'VE SEEN SOME OF OUR FAVORITE RESTAURANTS CLOSE OR MOVE OUT TO THE SUBURBS.
AND I'M NOT SUGGESTING NECESSARILY THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS, THAT THAT'S WHAT WOULD BE ALLOWED UNDER THIS, BUT IT MAKES IT SO THAT IF SOMEONE IS TRYING TO CREATE A LESS INTENSIVE BUSINESS, LIKE A HOME BAKERY OR A FLOWER SHOP OR WHATEVER, THEY'RE NOT HAVING TO COMPETE WITH THE SMALL RESTAURANT OWNER FOR THE SAME STOREFRONT ON SOUTH CONGRESS OR ON SPEEDWAY, UM, OR IN CLARKSVILLE OR MANY OF OUR OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ALREADY HAVE SOME SCALE OF NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL.
AND THE SKY HAS NOT FALLEN DOWN.
IF YOU GO DOWN WEST LYNN OR SOUTH FIFTH, OR YOU GO DOWN SPEEDWAY, UM, AND, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD ARGUE THAT THOSE ARE TECHNICALLY CORRIDORS, BUT I'D SAY THAT SPEEDWAY AND WESTIN ARE NOT THE SAME THING AS SOUTH CONGRESS.
SO THIS IS REALLY JUST EXPANDING WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE AND ALLOWING MORE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS TO THRIVE IN THIS CITY.
UM, THANK YOU TO MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
MY NAME'S BRIAN SAUNDERS, DISTRICT NINE.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 42, UH, SPOKE EARLIER IN REGARD TO ITEM 40.
AS IT'S IMPORTANT, THE STRONG LOCAL COMMERCE INITIATIVE IS BUILT INTO THE NEW MISSING MIDDLE ZONES.
THE CONCEPT OF LIVE WORK EXISTS CURRENTLY, BUT USUALLY AS PART OF INSTITUTIONAL LARGE SCALE APARTMENT BUILDINGS ON MAJOR THOROUGH AFFAIRS.
SIMILAR TO MY POINTS ON ITEM 40, ACCESSORY COMMERCIAL UNITS AND FRONT YARD BUSINESSES HELP PEOPLE TO AFFORD TO LIVE WHERE THEY WANT TO LIVE BY BRIDGING THE GAP OF HOUSING COSTS WITH ADDED REVENUE FROM THEIR SMALL BUSINESS.
ADDITIONALLY, MOST PEOPLE ARE LIMITED BY THEIR BUDGET AS TO WHERE THEY CAN OPEN A BUSINESS.
AND YOU HAVE TO GET FURTHER AND FURTHER AWAY FROM CENTRAL AUSTIN TO FIND AFFORDABLE REAL ESTATE.
SMALLER SPACES ARE NATURALLY MORE AFFORDABLE, BUT ALSO RARE.
IF SOMEONE CAN OPEN A BUSINESS AT THEIR RESIDENCE, THEY CAN BUILD A CUSTOMER BASE.
USUALLY THEY WANT TO MAINTAIN THAT CUSTOMER BASE AND WILL SEEK A BRICK AND MORTAR IN THE SAME AREA WHEN THEY NEED TO GROW, PERHAPS BEING APPROVED, UH, ALSO BEING APPROVED FOR FINANCING OR LEASE WITH A TRACK RECORD FROM THEIR SMALL FRONT YARD BUSINESS OR ACCESSORY COMMERCIAL UNIT.
EVEN BETTER PARTNERING AS PART OF A SMALL SCALE MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT.
THIS ALSO CREATES JOBS CLOSE TO HOME AND WALKING DISTANCE FROM OTHER NEIGHBORS THAT MAY HAVE TRANSPORTATION STRUGGLES.
OVER THE YEARS, I'VE SHARED CONCERNS ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE LIVING NEXT DOOR TO BARS AND ENTERTAINMENT VENUES, BUT D ONE HAS BEEN LISTENING TO MYSELF AND OTHER NEIGHBORS ON THE GROUND LEVEL AND BUILT THIS PROGRAM AT THE RIGHT SCALE TO BE NEIGHBORHOOD FRIENDLY.
THEREFORE, I STRONGLY SUPPORT ITEM 42.
THIS PROGRAM WILL CREATE A PIPELINE OF SMALL BUSINESSES AS THEY GROW AND BUILD MA BETTER NEIGHBORHOODS IN AUSTIN.
HI, MY NAME IS TAHOE VANKE FROM DISTRICT FIVE.
UH, SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 42, I SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE I WANT TO KEEP AUSTIN WEIRD.
WHAT DO I MEAN BY THAT? WHEN YOU CREATE SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO CREATE SMALL BUSINESSES IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, YOU ENABLE THE KIND OF QUIRKY NICHE BUSINESSES THAT A LOT OF THE OTHER SPEAKERS HAVE MENTIONED.
UM, AND THESE BUSINESSES GIVE THAT NEIGHBORHOOD A UNIQUE QUALITY WEIRDNESS, IF YOU WILL.
THE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT COULD ONE DAY OCCUPY THESE ACUS COULD BE THE ELEC ECLECTIC BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY SPACES THAT FUTURE AUSTINITES WILL WAX NOSTALGIC ABOUT ENTREPRENEURS THAT WOULD'VE OTHERWISE BEEN HINDERED BY RENTS IN LARGER COMMERCIAL SPACES.
UM, THEY'LL FINALLY HAVE A CHANCE TO BUILD SOMETHING THAT PROVIDES BOTH UTILITY AND JOY TO THE PEOPLE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
WE'VE SEEN THE EFFECTIVENESS OF LOWERING BARRIERS TO STARTING BUSINESSES WHEN WE MADE IT EASIER FOR FOOD TO BE SOLD OUT OF TRUCKS.
NOW THOSE FOOD TRUCKS ARE A BELOVED PART OF AUSTIN'S CULTURE.
ON A DIFFERENT NOTE, WE'VE ALSO SEEN HOW INCREASED SUPPLY CAN LOWER RENTS FOR RESIDENTS IN, IN THE HOUSING SECTOR WHEN IT COMES TO RETAIL SPACES.
IF THE ONLY AVAILABLE SPACE IS JUST IN A FEW STRIP MALLS OR A FEW DESIGNATED BUSINESS DISTRICTS, UH, THAT MEANS THAT THE RENT WILL BE SO HIGH IN EACH OF THOSE, UH, DISTRICTS THAT THE ONLY BUSINESSES THAT CAN AFFORD THAT WILL BE THE NATIONAL BRANDS.
PEOPLE KEEP SAYING UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES WHEN, WHEN IT COMES TO THESE CHANGES, BUT I THINK THAT THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE OF THE STATUS QUO IS EXACTLY THIS, THAT, THAT YOU END UP WITH BASICALLY A TAKEOVER, BUT THE SAME GENERIC MILLENNIAL YUPPIE BRANDS THAT ARE PRESENT IN EVERY CITY, IN EVERY BIG BUSINESS DISTRICT, UM, AND THEN THAT YOU END UP LOSING THE WEIRDNESS THAT MADE OUR CITY SPECIAL.
CONTINUING ON JORDY TELLO CAMPBELL NELSON, RYAN PKI, EDGAR HANDEL, AND PHILIS MAXWELL.
PLEASE COME FORWARD IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED.
AND I'LL NOTE FOR THE RECORD THAT IT'S 1154.
[01:55:01]
UH, THEREABOUTS, WHAT WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'LL TAKE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE AND THEN WE WILL GO TO OUR 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN.ALRIGHT, UH, GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS RYAN PKI AND I'M A DISTRICT ONE RESIDENT SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF ITEM 42.
UM, I WANNA THANK MY REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, AND THE CO-SPONSORS FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD.
UH, SOMEONE WHO'S RUN A SMALL BUSINESS, I KNOW FIRSTHAND THAT THE HIGH COST OF COMMERCIAL SPACE IN TRADITIONAL BRICK AND MORTAR BUILDINGS CAN MAKE OR BREAK A BUSINESS MODEL.
AND IT OFTEN PUTS ENTREPRENEURSHIP SIMPLY OUT OF REACH.
FOR MANY ACCESSORY COMMERCIAL UNITS ARE THE STARTER HOME EQUIVALENT FOR LOCAL COMMERCE.
WE OFTEN TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF COMPLETE COMMUNITIES AND WALKABILITY.
SMALL SCALE HOME BUSINESSES ALLOW PEOPLE TO LEAVE THEIR CARS AT HOME FOR SOME TRIPS, TRIPS AND TO SUPPORT THE ECONOMIC LIVELIHOODS OF THEIR NEIGHBORS AND COMMUNITIES.
LEGALIZING ACUS IS A VITAL STEP TOWARD A MORE RESILIENT HUMAN SCALE, AUSTIN, WHERE RESIDENTS CAN BUILD WEALTH AND COMMUNITY RIGHT WHERE THEY LIVE.
THIS RESOLUTION ENCOURAGES BUSINESSES THAT ARE LITERALLY HOMEGROWN.
UH, I'D ALSO LIKE TO NOTE THAT IF THE RECOMMENDATION TO PUT THE PINK STONES AROUND COUNCIL MEMBER HOMES IS TAKEN SERIOUSLY, MY HOME WOULD FALL WITHIN THE ZONE.
AND THAT SOUNDS PRETTY GOOD TO ME.
I JUST HOPE OTHER AUSTINITES CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS TOO.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE.
I WANTED TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 42 ALLOWING ACCESSORY COMMERCIAL UNITS.
UM, I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT WE CONTINUE TO DO THINGS TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES AND PEOPLE WHO WANT TO TRY SMALL IDEAS, UM, ON THEIR HOME AND PROPERTY.
AND I CAN ONLY IMAGINE IN THE FUTURE THIS WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO BUY THINGS LIKE VISIT PLACES ALL WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE, WHICH WOULD ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR EVERYONE.
HI, I AM EDGAR HANDEL, A DIS, UH, RESIDENT OF DISTRICT THREE SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 42.
I GREW UP IN A MOSTLY WORKING CLASS IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE IT FELT LIKE THERE WERE SO MANY FAMILIES WHO EITHER OWNED A SMALL BUSINESS OR ASPIRED TO IT.
MY PARENTS, MY OWN PARENTS RAN BUSINESSES FROM HOME.
AND WHAT I REMEMBER MOST IS THAT THEY WERE AROUND.
I'D GO TO MY FRIEND'S HOUSES TO HANG OUT AND RARELY SEE THEIR PARENTS.
THEY WERE OFF WORKING FOR SOMEONE ELSE OR RUNNING THEIR OWN BUSINESSES.
HAVING MY PARENTS THERE MADE A REAL DIFFERENCE IN MY LIFE.
TODAY, MY WIFE RUNS A BUSINESS FROM HOME AND I'M LUCKY ENOUGH TO WORK FROM HOME TOO.
THAT PRESENCE FOR OUR KIDS FOR EACH OTHER MEANS A LOT TO ME.
BUT I KNOW THAT THESE DAYS THIS IS A PRIVILEGE MANY WORKING FAMILIES DON'T HAVE.
THESE FAMILIES HAVE JUST AS MUCH A REASON TO WANT TO BE HOME WITH THEIR FAMILY.
ACCESSORY, COMMERCIAL UNITS, RESTORE SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN TAKEN AWAY.
THE BASIC RIGHT TO RUN A NEIGHBORHOOD SCALE BUSINESS WHERE YOU LIVE BUSINESSES THAT CAN IMPROVE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND LET YOU BE PRESENT FOR YOUR FAMILY AT THE SAME TIME.
SO I'D LIKE TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE FOR THE SPONSORS FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD, AND I HOPE WE CAN SEE MORE PROGRESS ON ACUS AND NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, RETAIL.
MS. ROBO, ARE YOU HERE? JUST LEFT BECAUSE YOU WERE GONNA AT 12.
WELL, I'M SORRY THAT I, I I DID THAT MR. BOWEN.
HI, THIS IS CHRIS GANNON, A I A HOUSING ADVOCATE, D ONE RESIDENT AND THIRD PLACE IN JOYER.
I'M IN SUPPORT OF THE STRONG LOCAL COMMERCE INITIATIVE.
THIS MODEST STEP EXPANDS WHAT IS ALREADY ALLOWED AS A FIRST STEP FOR FOLKS WHO ARE LOOKING TO START, START A BUSINESS.
IT STRENGTHENS OUR, OUR ECONOMIC LADDER.
WHAT DO WE LOVE ABOUT AUSTIN? WHAT KEEPS IT WEIRD? CHEAP RENT AND FUN BUSINESSES.
OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES ARE STRUGGLING TO FIND SPACE, AND THIS WOULD HELP THAT.
I WANNA EMPHASIZE HOW MODEST THIS IS IN-HOUSE BUSINESSES.
AND A MAX 200 SQUARE FOOT LIMIT FOR ADDITIONAL COMMERCIAL UNITS IS NOT THAT MUCH.
THIS IS NOT A SCALE THAT WILL HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
IT'LL FORMALIZE A CURRENTLY HIDDEN ECONOMY WHILE BUILDING WALKABILITY INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
HISTORICALLY, PRE-WAR NEIGHBORHOODS WERE FILLED WITH SMALL LOCAL BUSINESSES MIXED IN WITH THE HOMES.
THIS BUILT RESILIENCY AT A NEIGHBORHOOD SCALE.
IT ALSO CREATES SOME OF MY FAVORITE BUILDING TYPES.
THE SHOPFRONT HOUSE IN BUFFALO IS A GREAT EXAMPLE AND I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO LOOK IT UP.
UH, THE AREA THAT THESE BUILDINGS STILL EXISTS IS BY FAR THE MOST SOUGHT AFTER AREA IN THE CITY.
PEOPLE LOVE THEIR LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESSES.
HERE IN AUSTIN, WE SEE THAT AS WELL.
AVENUE B, GROCERY AND MARKET, OR EVEN FLETCH COFFEE BECOME THE GEMS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN WALK TO MEET THEIR NEIGHBORS AND PARTICIPATE IN THE HYPER-LOCAL COMMERCE.
AND I'M GONNA, UH, I'LL ALSO DOUBLE DOWN.
YOU CAN CENTER THE PINK ZONE ON MY HOUSE AS WELL.
UM, I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON'S OFFICE AND ALL THE CO-SPONSORS FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
[02:00:01]
THIS PROPOSAL AND OUR LOCAL COMMERCE GROWS.UM, LET'S HAVE ONE MORE SPEAKER.
UH, MY NAME'S RICHARD EASTERLING.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE AND I'M HERE TO SUPPORT ITEM 42.
UM, WHEN I IMAGINE THE FUTURE OF AUSTIN THAT I LIVE IN, I AM IMAGINING A PLACE WHERE I CAN WALK DOWN MY STREET TO BUY FLOWERS FROM A NEIGHBORHOOD FLOWER SHOP, GET MY HAIR CUT AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD SALON, UH, DROP MY KIDS OFF AT A NEIGHBORHOOD DAYCARE AND KEEP THE MONEY THAT I SPEND IN THE LOCAL ECONOMY WITH MY NEIGHBORS.
AND THIS, UM, ITEM AFFORDS THAT FUTURE TO US.
UM, AND I ALSO JUST WANNA TAKE A QUICK MOMENT TO PUSH BACK A LITTLE BIT ON SOME EARLIER TESTIMONY THAT I HEARD THAT, UM, THIS KIND OF ZONING OR CHANGE TO THE NATURAL ORDER OF HOUSING WILL SUDDENLY HAVE ADULT SHOPS POP UP ON EVERY CORNER, UM, OR INCREASE TRAFFIC ON THE STREETS WHEN THE WHOLE POINT OF THESE KINDS OF REFORMS IS TO ENABLE INTER NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS AND COMMERCE WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE TO LEAVE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND DRIVE ACROSS TOWN TO GET GOODS AND SERVICES OR DRIVE YOUR KIDS PLACES.
[12:00 PM - Public Communication: General]
MEMBERS.WE'LL NOW GO TO OUR 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, WHICH IS, UH, THE GENERAL PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.
UM, FOLKS THAT, THAT ARE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK YOU, YOU KNOW, THAT YOU'VE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
AND SO YOU, AND YOU KIND OF KNOW WHAT THE ORDER OF THAT SIGN UP IS.
SO IF YOU WOULD MAKE YOUR WAY, SHE'LL, SHE'LL CALL THE NAMES FOR THE RECORD.
BUT GO AHEAD AND GET YOURSELF UP FRONT AND BE READY TO, TO GO IF YOU DON'T MIND.
UM, SO PLEASE START CALLING THE NAMES.
MR. TALLEY IS MR. TALLEY HERE.
ALL RIGHT, MS. ALMANZA, IF YOU'D LIKE TO BEGIN.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AT TODAY'S MEETING ABOUT THE ANNUAL CESA CHAVEZ AND DOLORES WORTHAM MARCH.
BUT NOW I'M HERE FOR A DIFFERENT PURPOSE.
IT'S A PAINFUL DAY WHEN THE TRUE NATURE OF THOSE WE THINK AS FIGURE HITS IN OUR MOVEMENT IS BROUGHT TO LIFE.
BUT NO PAIN CAN MATCH THAT OF THE SURVIVORS, ESPECIALLY SURVIVORS OF A PEOPLE STRUGGLE SEEKING TO CHALLENGE THE HARM AND OPPRESSION.
CESAR CHAVEZ DEALT TOWARD THE WOMEN WHO SHARED THEIR STORIES LAST WEDNESDAY.
THIS NEWS HAS SEVERED SERVED AS A REMINDER THAT RATHER THAN ELEVATE ONE PERSON TO THE MANTLE, WE SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK ACHIEVED BY PEOPLE EVERY DAY IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
IN THE WAKE OF THE HORRIFIC TESTIMONIES REGARDING CESA CHAVEZ, THE POED BOARD HAS DECIDED TO CHANGE THE NAME OF ITS CESA I CHAVEZ CI AWARDS, WHICH RECOGNIZES COMMUNITY LEADERS OF ALL GENERATIONS FOR THEIR ACHIEVEMENT IN SOCIAL JUSTICE TO THE POED SOCIAL JUSTICE LEADERSHIP AWARD.
SINCE 2007, THE ANNUAL AWARDS DINNER HAS TAKEN PLACE ON MARCH THE 31ST.
HOWEVER, BEGINNING THIS YEAR, WE WILL HONOR OUR AWARDEES ON MAY 1ST, THE DAY THAT POED WAS FOUNDED 35 YEARS AGO AND A DAY WE ALSO COMMEMORATE AS INTERNATIONAL WORKERS DAY.
FOR DECADES, OUR LATINO COMMUNITIES HAVE CENTERED CHAVEZ IN COMMEMORATING THE FARM WORKERS STRUGGLE.
WE HAVE LIONIZED HIMN FOR SO LONG, BUT WE MUST SHIFT OUR FOCUS TOWARD THE WOMEN'S HE HARMED TO ALL WHO HAVE CARRIED AND CONTINUE TO CARRY THE MOVEMENT.
WE ECHO WHAT OTHERS HAVE OBSERVED THAT THIS COULD GO UNSPOKEN FOR SO LONG, DEMONSTRATES A LONGSTANDING NEED FOR OUR MOVEMENT TO KNOW HOW TO PREVENT HARM, PROTECT ONE ANOTHER FROM THOSE WHO ABUSE THEIR POWER, AND ADMINISTER PROPER ACCOUNTABILITY AND HEALING PROCESSES ON BEHALF OF PO I SAY TODAY AND EVERY DAY WE UPLIFT THE STORIES OF THE WOMEN IN OUR MOVEMENT FOR JUSTICE IN THEIR HONORARY, CONTINUE TO CHALLENGE THE POWERFUL AND DEFENSE OF THE POWERLESS BODER DEFINITIVE SERVE SERVES ITS TIES TO CESAR CHAVEZ AND STANDS FIRMLY BEHIND ALL SURVIVORS OF ABUSE.
I LEAVE YOU WITH WORDS BY THE WOMEN IN LAST WEEK'S ARTICLE.
THE STORY OF CHAVEZ'S MOVEMENT IS THEIR STORY TOO, OF THE WOMEN WHO MARCHED BESIDE THE MEN, WORKED IN THE FIELDS, TOOK CARE OF THE CHILDREN.
[02:05:01]
THAN ONE MAN.MR. CA TELL WHAT, WHY DON, Y'ALL TELL ME WHO YOU ARE SO WE CAN FIGURE OUT
WHAT'S YOUR NAME? FOREMAN GRAHAM.
OKAY, IS MR. KAVIN HERE? OKAY, MR. GRAHAM, WHY DON'T YOU BEGIN? I'M HERE TODAY TO, UH, ASK YOU TO PLACE A TS PROPOSAL FOR 7,900 SOUTH CONGRESS ON THE AGENDA AND TO EXERCISE YOUR AUTHORITY TO ADDRESS KNOWN POLLUTANTS AND ADD TRANSPARENCY OVER A GROWING PUBLIC COST.
IN JANUARY OF 2023, UH, THE ZONING OF THIS PROPERTY WAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED ON ALL THREE READINGS, BUT IT IS TOTALLY STUCK NOW.
THE SITE RIGHT NOW HAS A WRECKING YARD THAT WE ARE WORKING TO RELOCATE TO THE TRAVIS COUNTY LANDFILL, WHICH IS THE OLDEST LANDFILL IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, YET TO BE DEVELOPED IN AN URBAN AREA.
ENGINEERS WILL TESTIFY THAT THE RELOCATION STRENGTHENS THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS, BUT MOREOVER, THE TAX REVENUE THAT WOULD BE ADDED IS MORE THAN ENOUGH TO PERMANENTLY ADDRESS THE LANDFILL'S CURRENT NEGLECTED CONDITION.
THIS SHOULD NOT BE A COST TO TAXPAYERS, IT SHOULD BE A GAIN.
I'M CONCERNED THAT TRAVIS COUNTY IS ON A PATH THAT COULD EXPOSE YOUR SHARED CONSTITUENTS TO MASSIVE AND UNAVOIDABLE COST.
ALL TOLD UP TO NEARLY $200 MILLION IS AT STAKE.
THUS, FOR, UH, FAR, UM, THUS FAR WITHOUT A, A SINGLE, THUS FAR WITHOUT A SINGLE PUBLIC MEETING EXPLAINING WHY.
AS A TAXPAYER, I WOULD WANT TO KNOW, AND I'M ASSUMING THAT AS A COUNCIL, YOU WOULD ALSO WANT TO KNOW FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS, NEGLECT HAS ALLOWED A LEACHATE LEAK TO CONTINUE AND WORSEN THE WATER THAT IS BEING CONTAMINATED BY THE LEAKS AT TRAVIS COUNTY IS THE CITY OF AUSTIN WATER.
IT'S FLOWING THROUGH YOUR WATERSHED AND INTO YOUR NATURE PRESERVES.
THIS IS NOT A TRAVIS COUNTY PROBLEM.
THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR AUSTIN THAT AUSTIN CITED AS A PROBLEM WAY BACK IN 1973 AND IS NOW UNIQUE, AND NOW AUSTIN IS UNIQUELY SUITED TO HELP SOLVE IT.
SO TODAY I'M ASKING FOR TWO THINGS.
FIRST, PUT THE TURS ON THE AGENDA SO THE DEVELOPMENT PAYS FOR IT.
SECOND, I'M ASKING YOU TO FORMALLY REQUEST A JOINT PUBLIC HEARING WITH THE TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT SO THAT THESE DECISIONS CAN BE EXPLAINED ON THE RECORD.
IS THE COUNTY INCURRING THESE FOR A LEGITIMATE REASON? DOES IT ENSURE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AT A REASONABLE COST? IS IT BACKED BY ENGINEERING OR LEGAL AUTHORITY? WHAT ARE THE PROS AND CONS OF THE ALTERNATIVES? MY CONCERN AFTER TWO YEARS OF TRYING TO ENGAGE COLLABORATIVE SOLUTIONS IS THAT THE SEIZING OF THE PROPERTY FROM ME IS TO PROTECT POLITICAL NARRATIVES OVER COMMUNITY WELFARE AND PREVENT OVERSIGHT IN THE WORDS OF A FORMER COUNTY STAFFER TO MOTHBALL THE LANDFILL.
THIS IS THE LEAD SHEET, UH, THAT THE CITY CITED IN 1973.
IT CONTAINS ARSENIC AND LEAD AND IS COMING OUT IN MILLIONS OF GALLONS.
I'M PROUD OF EVERYTHING THIS DEVELOPMENT DOES.
IT HAS IDENTIFIED AND SOLVED DEGRADATION OF OUR WATERSHED.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS BRANIFF DAVIS AND I AM THE SENIOR GEOSPATIAL ANALYST IN AUSTIN FIRES WILDFIRE DIVISION AND A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FOUR.
I'M SPEAKING TODAY IN MY PERSONAL CAPACITY AS AN ACTIVE MEMBER WITH AFSCME'S LOCAL 1624 STOP OATS CAMPAIGN.
I WAS HIRED AS A WILDFIRE SPECIALIST WITH OVER A DECADE OF EXPERIENCE.
I'M ONE OF THE FEW CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES IN A FD WHO REPORT DIRECTLY TO A FIRE CHIEF.
WE DO THIS BECAUSE IN AN EMERGENCY, TO OPTIMIZE OUR WORK AND PROVIDE VALUABLE SUPPORT TO AUSTIN FIREFIGHTERS QUICKLY, WE NEED TO DO THAT SO THEY CAN DO THEIR JOB SAVING LIVES.
HOWEVER, BECAUSE I HAVE IT IN MY TITLE, THE CITY PLANS TO MOVE ME AND MANY OTHER SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS AWAY FROM OUR DIVISIONS WITH NO NUANCE OR CONCERN OVER HOW THESE CHANGES WILL IMPACT AUSTINITES.
THEY WANT TO REMOVE ME FROM MY CHAIN OF COMMAND AND HAVE ME REPORT TO AN A TS SUPERVISOR WHO KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT HOW WE RESPOND TO DISASTERS.
THE CITY MANAGER WANTS YOU TO THINK THIS IS HAPPENING IN THE NAME OF OPTIMIZATION.
THIS IS RECKLESS AT S'S RESPONSES TO OUR CONCERN.
SO FAR, WE UNDERSTAND THAT CHANGE IS HARD, QUOTE UNQUOTE.
MY COLLEAGUES AND I DO THE HARD THINGS EVERY DAY.
IN A RAPIDLY CHANGING OUR AUSTIN, WE CAN HANDLE HARD THINGS.
I ASK WHY DIDN'T THE CITY DO HARD THINGS? WHY DID THEY OUTSOURCE THE WORK TO CONSULTANTS?
[02:10:01]
UNDER THE VEIL OF OPTIMIZATION AND EFFICIENCY, THEY PUSHED ONE A TS WITHOUT CONSIDERING THE CONSEQUENCES OF REMOVING EMBEDDED SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS.THE DISCOVERY PHASE, IN ESSENCE HAD CONSULTANTS HIT CONTROL F FIND EVERY IT POSITION IN THE CITY AND INTERVIEW THEM WITH NO REAL PLAN.
BEYOND THAT, THIS RECKLESSNESS AND THE AT S'S TRITE RESPONSE SHOW A DISREGARD FOR OUR WORK IN PUBLIC SAFETY.
OTHER CITIES RETAIN SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS IN THEIR PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICES BECAUSE IT SAVES LIVES.
BECAUSE I'M A WILDFIRE SCIENTIST EMBEDDED IN THE WILDFIRE DIVISION, I KNOW WHAT DATA FIREFIGHTERS NEED AND I'M ON CALL NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS FOR AS LONG AS IT TAKES.
BECAUSE I'M A CERTIFIED WILDLAND FIREFIGHTER, I CAN PROVIDE ONSITE SUPPORT BECAUSE I REPORT DIRECTLY TO A FIRE CHIEF AND NOT SOME SUPERVISOR IN A TSI CAN DO, UM, MY WORK.
IT IS QUICK AND IT IS EFFICIENT.
WELL, AN A TS SUPERVISOR ALLOW ME TO WORK A WEEKEND WHEN A DISASTER STRIKES.
WILL THEY KNOW WHAT AN INCIDENT COMMANDER NEEDS DURING AN EVACUATION? WILL THEY BE ABLE TO SUPPORT ME AND MY WORK WITHOUT THAT KNOWLEDGE? IF YOU MOVE PUBLIC SAFETY SPECIALISTS INTO A TS, RED TAPE WILL DRAMATICALLY IMPACT OUR ABILITY AS A CITY TO RESPOND TO A DISASTER.
AND WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE PUBLIC WILL NOT BLAME OPTIMIZATION OR EFFICIENCY.
FURTHERMORE, THERE ARE MANY MEMBERS ON THE DAES TODAY WHO CONSIST, SAY, CONSISTENTLY SAY PUBLIC SAFETY AND SPECIFICALLY WILDFIRE ARE A REAL CONCERN FOR AUSTIN.
MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN, I HAVE WORKED WITH YOU ON THE UPCOMING CWPP AND THE CITY'S NEW PROTECTIVE ACTION PLAN.
COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ, YOUR MOST RECENT NEWSLETTER FEATURED SEVERAL WILDFIRE RELATED PRODUCTS THAT MY STAFF HELPED BUILD.
I'M A HUNDRED PERCENT SURE THAT ONE A TS WILL MAKE OUR CITY LESS PREPARED FOR DISASTERS.
SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS DO MATTER.
DAVID CRUZ, AMEE APPLEWHITE, NATHAN WILKES, DAVID GNI, AND SARAH LAMBERT.
I'M A PLANNER WITH AUSTIN HOUSING.
TODAY I AM HERE AS AN ASME MEMBER TRYING TO STOP ONE A TS.
THE CITY MANAGER WILL TELL YOU THEY'RE LISTENING TO OUR WORKERS.
THEY'RE ONLY IN THE DISCOVERY PHASE AND THERE ARE SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMPLOYEES TO PROVIDE INPUT ON THIS PROCESS, BUT LISTENING IS NOT THE SAME AS RESPONDING TO FEEDBACK OR CHANGING COURSE WHEN FACED WITH HIGH RISKS.
ALL OF THE TESTIMONY YOU'LL HEAR TODAY HAS BEEN SAID MANY TIMES TO CITY MANAGEMENT OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS.
BUT AT A BRIEFING TO THE AUSTIN TECHNOLOGY COMMISSION LAST THURSDAY, DIRECTOR LAKEY WAS ASKED HOW HAS INPUT FROM STAFF IMPACTED THE DIRECTION OF ONE A TS? SHE STRUGGLED TO COME UP WITH A SINGLE EXAMPLE OF HOW OUR STAFF HAS IMPACTED THE PROCESS.
IT ECHOES WHAT SHE HAS SAID TO THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE EARLIER THIS MONTH THAT NO MATTER WHAT THE PROCESS TELLS THE CITY MANAGER, NO MATTER WHAT CORRECTIONS TO THE GARTNER REPORT SHOW, THE FINDINGS ARE QUOTE DIRECTIONALLY CORRECT IN CONSOLIDATING OVER A THOUSAND IT WORKERS ACROSS THIS CITY.
THAT'S BECAUSE THE GOAL OF CONSOLIDATING OUR, IT WAS BAKED INTO THE PROCESS.
ALL PUBLIC DOCUMENTS SUGGEST THAT CONSULTANTS WERE GIVEN CONSOLIDATION AS A GOAL AND WORK BACKWARDS FROM THERE.
THIS IS AN ISSUE WHERE RANK AND FILE EXPERTS AND DEPARTMENT LEADERSHIP ARE IN AGREEMENT THROUGH PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUESTS.
AFSCME HAS OBTAINED MEMOS FROM AUSTIN WATER, AUSTIN ENERGY, AUSTIN WATERSHED, AND AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS.
THESE MEMOS WERE NOT SENT TO YOU NOR THE PUBLIC.
THESE MEMOS WERE SENT TO THE CITY MANAGER AND DIRECTOR LAKEY IN OPPOSITION TO ONE A TS AND THIS IS JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG OF OUR CONCERNS.
I'LL BE PROVIDING THE CLERK WITH 12 COPIES OF THESE MEMOS.
ONE FOR EACH OF YOU AND ONE FOR YOU MR. MANAGER, UH, TO REVIEW.
BEFORE NEXT WEEK'S CONSULTATION MEETING, I ASK YOU IF DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS BELIEVED THAT THEY WERE BEING LISTENED TO, DO YOU THINK THEY WOULD'VE ESCALATED THEIR CONCERNS AND OPPOSITION TO THE MANAGER IN THIS WAY? AT NEXT WEEK'S CONSULTATION MEETING, WE SINCERELY HOPE TO GET ANY RESPONSE TO THE INPUT OF OVER 600 WORKERS THAT THEY'VE GIVEN THROUGH QUESTIONNAIRES AND INTERVIEWS.
TO THIS POINT, THEY'VE BEEN IGNORED AND THEY'RE WORRIED.
WHAT MIGHT LEADERSHIP WHO WON'T LISTEN TO REASON, CONCERNS, BE CAPABLE OF MISSING, WHAT HAVE THEY IGNORED TO REACH THEIR GOALS? IF THEY WOULD HIDE THESE MEMOS, WHAT ELSE WOULD THEY HIDE? CITY WORKERS AND DIRECTORS ARE RAISING THE ALARM, BUT MANAGEMENT IS DIRECTIONALLY CORRECT NO MATTER WHAT THEY ARE TOLD.
BUT I ASK YOU, COUNSEL, GIVEN THE RESPONSE OF STAFF AND DIRECTORS AND OUR PRESENCE HERE TODAY, HOW SURE ARE YOU THAT THEY'RE DIRECTIONALLY CORRECT? THIS SAYS ONE THING.
STOP THE ONE A TS CONSOLIDATION EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.
THANK YOU MS. APPLEWHITE, MAYOR WATSON, MAYOR PRO MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL.
[02:15:01]
MY NAME IS AMENITY APPLEWHITE.I'M AN IT SUPERVISOR SENIOR ON THE DATA AND TECHNOLOGY SERVICE TEAM AT AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION PUBLIC WORKS.
AND I'M SPEAKING TODAY AS A MEMBER OF AFSCME LOCAL 1624 STOP OATS CAMPAIGN.
THE CITY MANAGER IS GOING TO TELL YOU NOT TO WORRY THAT THEY'RE ONLY IN THE DISCOVERY PHASE, THEN NOTHING IS FINAL.
THE CITY MANAGER IS GOING, BUT WHAT IF WE'RE, BUT WHAT IF WE'RE STILL DISCOVERING KEY RISKS? WHY ARE TRANSFERS STARTING IN MAY? THEY HAVE NO OPERATING MODEL, NO RISK ASSESSMENT, NO COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS, NO CARVE OUT RULES, ZERO ACCOUNTABILITY STRUCTURE AND THE DISCOVERY WAS NEVER NEUTRAL.
THE SCOPE OF THE CONSULTANT REPORT USED TO JUSTIFY ALL OF THIS STATE'S EXPLICITLY THAT THEY WERE HIRED TO CREATE AN INTENTIONAL ORGANIZATIONAL DESIGN FOR CITYWIDE TECHNOLOGY WITHIN A TS.
SINCE WE'RE CURRENTLY FEDERATED, THE ONLY DESIGN THEY COULD DELIVER WAS CENTRALIZATION.
THE REORG WASN'T A POSSIBLE OUTCOME.
WE HAVE OUR RECORDS SHOWING CONSOLIDATION WAS BEING DISCUSSED AT THE CFO LEVEL BEFORE THE REPORT WAS EVEN FINISHED.
THEY PAID CONSULTANTS, IGNORED THEIR STAFF AND BUILT A CENTRALIZED IT DEPARTMENT THAT THEIR OWN EMPLOYEES RATED WORSE THAN A FAST FOOD RESTAURANT.
DEPARTMENTS LOST EMBEDDED EXPERTS WHO KNEW THEIR SYSTEMS AND CRITICAL WORK GOT LOST IN A QUEUE NO ONE CONTROLLED.
THEY SAID IT SET THEM BACK 15 YEARS WHEN THEY HAD TO FIX IT.
AUSTIN IS ABOUT TO PAY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO REPEAT THE SAME LESSON.
THAT'S WHY WE ARE CALLING A MANAGER BROAD ACTS TO END ALL TRANSFERS AND RECLASSIFICATIONS RELATED TO ONE A TS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.
MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM CITY COUNCIL.
I'M A CONSULTING ENGINEER IN TRANSPORTATION.
PUBLIC WORKS AT THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AMONG MY 18 YEARS AT THE CITY INCLUDE OVERSEEING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE WISHBONE BRIDGE FROM ORIGINAL THREE ONE ONE CALL THROUGH FINAL DESIGN AND CONDUCTING THE PLANNING AND BUILD OUT OF THE CITY'S NOW 360 MILE PLUS BICYCLE ALL AGENT ABILITIES NETWORK.
I'M SPEAKING TODAY IN MY PERSONAL CAPACITY AS AN ACTIVE MEMBER WITH AFSCME'S STOP OATS CAMPAIGN.
THE CITY MANAGER IS GONNA TELL YOU THAT THIS IS GONNA SAVE THE CITY MONEY.
IF THAT WERE TRUE, HE SHOULD SHOW HIS WORK AFTER SPENDING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON CONSULT CONSULTANT CONTRACTS.
MANAGEMENT SHOULD BE ABLE TO SHOW WHERE THE SAVINGS WILL COME FROM, WHEN THEY WILL OCCUR, WHAT THEY DEPEND ON AND WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF CENTRALIZATION.
BUT THE CITY STILL HAS NOT PUBLICLY PRODUCED ANY OF THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS OR TRANSPARENT SAVINGS MODEL FOR OATS.
EVEN THE BENCHMARKING USED TO JUSTIFY OATS IS DESCRIBED BY THE CITY AS AN INITIAL ESTIMATE UNDERGOING REFINEMENT, INCLUDING THE REMOVAL OF OUR MANY UTILITIES OPERATIONAL TECHNOLOGY COSTS.
WHAT I'M NOT HEARING IN THIS CONVERSATION IS WHAT ARE WE GETTING FOR OUR INVESTMENT IN DATA SERVICES? AFTER YEARS OF NOT BEING SERVED BY CENTRALIZED A TS FOR WIDESPREAD DEPARTMENT AND WORK GROUP NEEDS, I ADVOCATED TO BUILD DEPARTMENT CAPACITY TO TO SAVE COSTS AND IMPROVE SERVICES.
I SAT ON THE INITIAL HIRING PANEL FOR OUR FIRST DATA TEAM MANAGER IN 2016.
I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND WHAT A CAPABLE DEPARTMENT EMBEDDED DATA TEAM CAN DO TO BUILD TRUST CAPACITY AND DELIVER RESULTS.
SOLVING REAL DAY-TO-DAY PROBLEMS, PROBLEMS THAT ARE COSTING THE CITY SIGNIFICANT NON-TECH FTE RESOURCES YEAR OVER YEAR.
ONE OF THE MANY SUCCESS STORIES IS THE MODERNIZATION OF THE CITY'S TRAFFIC REGULATIONS.
A UNIQUE RESPONSIBILITY DELEGATED BY CITY CODE.
THE SYSTEM CONTAINING OVER 30,000 TRAFFIC REGULATIONS RELIED ON A PAPER FLOW OF INTER-OFFICE MAIL ONLY TWO YEARS AGO.
THE WORKFLOW AND APPROVAL PROCESS HAS NOW BEEN DIGITIZED THROUGH A LOW-CODE DATABASE WEB APP.
THE TIME SAVINGS OF THE SYSTEM OFFSET THE COST OF ITS DEVELOPMENT IN ITS FIRST YEAR.
ALSO, AFTER YEARS OF INVESTING IN SYSTEMS TO MANAGE CRASH AND PROJECT DATA, WE CREATED AN AUTOMATED DASHBOARD EVALUATING VISION ZERO OUTCOMES FOR ALL PROJECTS IN UNDER A MONTH.
WHAT USED TO BE ONE-OFF STUDIES BY TRAINED DATA ANALYSTS THAT TOOK WEEKS TO COMPLETE IS AVAILABLE AT OUR FINGERTIPS AT ANY TIME.
WE CAN NOW SAY THAT OUR MOBILITY INVESTMENTS OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS ARE SAVING THE PUBLIC 300 TO $400 MILLION A YEAR IN COMPREHENSIVE
[02:20:01]
CRASH COSTS.WE HAVE NO CONFIDENCE THAT THE ONE A TS CONSOLIDATION PROPOSAL WILL BE ABLE TO KEEP THESE SYSTEMS RUNNING MUCH LESS POSITION OTHER DEPARTMENTS TO ADDRESS SIMILAR DAY-TO-DAY BUSINESS NEEDS.
THAT IS WHY WE ARE CALLING ON MANAGER BROAD NEXT TO IMMEDIATELY END ALL TRANSFERS AND RECLASSIFICATIONS RELATED TO ONE A TS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.
MAYOR, PRO TEM, MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS DAVID GICH AND I WORK FOR AUSTIN'S TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS.
I'M SPEAKING TODAY IN MY PERSONAL CAPACITY AS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF AFSCME'S LOCAL 1624 AND OPPOSITION TO THE ONE A TS IT STAFF CONSOLIDATION.
FOR 14 YEARS, I'VE SUPPORTED CRITICAL EMERGENCY SERVICES ACROSS AUSTIN AS A DIGITAL CARTOGRAPHER BUILDING CRITICAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE MAPS.
I'VE WORKED FOR AUSTIN WATER, AUSTIN FIRE TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS, THE GEOSPATIAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM, THE EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTER, AND I ASSISTED AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH WITH THE CITY'S CVID 19 DASHBOARD.
I'M ALSO A WILDLAND FIREFIGHTER.
THE CITY MANAGER AND HIS TEAM MAY TRY TO FRAME OUR OPPOSITION AS AN EMOTIONAL REACTION TO CHANGE, BUT THAT'S JUST NOT TRUE.
DURING THE SAME PERIOD, THE CITY HAS GONE THROUGH REBRANDING DEPARTMENT, RENAMING, WEBSITE UPDATES, BUDGET PROCESS CHANGES, APPLICATION RATIONALIZATION AND MORE.
NONE OF THOSE CHANGES HAVE AFFECTED PUBLIC SAFETY.
WE ARE NOT OPPOSED TO ALL CHANGE.
MY OPPOSITION TO THIS IT STAFF CONSOLIDATION IS ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.
AS A MEMBER OF TP W'S EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM, I AM NOT AN IT EMPLOYEE SERVING THAT TEAM FROM THE OUTSIDE.
THAT MATTERS BECAUSE EMERGENCY RESPONSE DEPENDS ON TRUST, SHARED LANGUAGE AND SWIFTNESS.
DURING JANUARY'S WINTER WEATHER EVENT ON A WEEKEND, WE WERE TOLD TO INCORPORATE CAP METRO BUS DATA INTO OUR CRITICAL ROADS NETWORK REQUIRING US TO WORK WELL INTO THE EVENING.
BUT BECAUSE I'M INTEGRATED IN THE DEPARTMENT, THEY KNEW WHO TO CALL.
THEY KNEW HOW TO CONTACT ME, AND I WAS ABLE TO BUILD THAT MAP THAT SAME NIGHT.
THAT KIND OF RESPONSE CANNOT HAPPEN THROUGH A CENTRALIZED TICKETING PROCESS.
IT CANNOT HAPPEN WAITING FOR A SERVICE REQUEST ASSIGNMENT OR WAITING FOR A CALL THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY IN AN EMERGENCY.
THOSE EXTRA STEPS, WASTE TIME AND COST LIVES, THOSE EMERGENCY REQUESTS COULD BE ASSIGNED TO ME DIRECTLY BY MY DEPARTMENT BECAUSE I WORK FOR THAT DEPARTMENT.
WE NEED TO REMEMBER DURING THAT FREEZE, AUSTIN LOST A MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AN UNHOUSED PERSON DIED AND SURE I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT OTHER CONSEQUENCES OF THIS CONSOLIDATION, BUT WHAT I'M REALLY GETTING EMOTIONAL ABOUT HERE TODAY IS PUBLIC SAFETY.
HOW OUR DECISIONS AFFECT LIVES.
THE DEATH OF THAT MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY WAS NOT ABSTRACT TO ME.
IT WAS NOT ABSTRACT TO THE TEAM I WORK WITH UNDER THE CURRENT FEDERATED SYSTEM WITH IT STAFF EMBEDDED IN EACH DEPARTMENT.
I KNOW THAT TRANSPORTATION PUBLIC WORKS AND THE CITY AS THE WHOLE DID THE BEST THAT WE COULD TO CLEAR ROADS AND BRIDGES AND GET PEOPLE TO WARMING CENTERS AND OVERNIGHT SHELTERS.
BUT IF THE ONE A TS IT STAFF CONSOLIDATION MOVES FORWARD AND EMBEDDED SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS LIKE ME AND THE REST OF US ARE REMOVED FROM OUR DEPARTMENTS, OUR RESPONSE WILL BE SLOWER AND WEAKER AND THE NEXT EMERGENCY AND MORE LIVES COULD BE LOST.
THAT IS WHY I AM HERE RESPECTFULLY CALLING A MANAGER MANAGER BROAD NEXT TO END THE ONE A TS, IT CONSOLIDATION.
MY NAME IS SARAH LAMBERT AND BOTH MY FRIENDS ENEMIES AND FRENEMIES ALL CALL ME SADIE.
UM, I'M A PROUD DISTRICT ONE VOTER.
I'M HERE ON MY VACATION TIME AFTER 14 YEARS WORKING WITH THE CITY.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I'VE BEEN AFRAID ENOUGH TO COME BEFORE YOU GUYS AND TALK TO YOU ABOUT SOMETHING.
THE MANAGER'S GONNA TELL YOU THAT MORE STAFF AND MORE IT SPENDING, UM, IS WHAT WE'RE DOING COMPARED TO PEER CITIES.
THE MEDIA HAS BOUGHT THIS LINE HOOK LINE AT SINKER AND THIS IS DERIVED FROM THE MATH IN A SINGLE REPORT.
THIS COMES FROM BENCHMARKING DONE BY GARNER ON A CHERRY PICKED PEER CITIES OF THE NINE PEER CITIES SELECTED, ONLY ONE OF THEM OPERATES IN AN ELECTRIC UTILITY AND ONLY FOUR OPERATE AIRPORTS.
IT'S NOT EVEN APPLES TO APPLE JACKS Y'ALL.
WHY DIDN'T THEY FIND CLOSER MATCHES LIKE ACTUAL PEER CITIES? 'CAUSE THEY DON'T REALLY EXIST.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE HERE.
EVERYONE ON THAT DAIS KNOWS THAT WE'RE SPECIAL.
WE HAVE AN ELECTRIC UTILITY, WE HAVE A INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
WE HAVE WATER, TRASH, WATERSHED, UTILITIES.
THE REASON THAT WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE IS BECAUSE WE HAVE MORE SERVICES.
IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT IN THE MATH.
WE ALL KNOW THAT OUR CITY IS SPECIAL.
[02:25:01]
AND ALL OF OUR PROFITS GO TO THE PARKS AND LIBRARIES FUND IN HER MARCH 4TH, 2026.BRIEFING TO AUDIT AND FINANCE.
CIO LAKEY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE GARTNER ANALYSIS INVOLVES COMPARISONS THAT ARE NOT FULLY ACCURATE.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER THAT EVEN IF THEY WERE 100% CONFIDENT IN THEIR ANALYSIS.
ALL OF THIS IS A STRUCTURAL METRIC, NOT A PERFORMANCE METRIC.
NONE OF THE GARTNER REPORTS PRO PROVIDE ANY PROOF THAT WE'RE UNDERPERFORMING.
I AND MY COLLEAGUES CAN PROVIDE IRREFUTABLE PROOF THAT WE'RE OUTPERFORMING THAT WE AND OUR POWER DATA AND INFRASTRUCTURE IS LEAPS AND BOUNDS SAFER THAN THAT OF ANY CITY DEPARTMENT THAT'S MANAGED BY A TS.
SO, AND WITH THE DISAPPEARANCE, MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE 48 HOURS AGO OF THE CHIEF INFORMATION SECURITY OFFICER AND TWO OF HIS CRONIES, IS THIS REALLY THE TIME TO HAND OVER OUR ELECTRIC UTILITY TO AN OUTSOURCED IT DEPARTMENT? I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE HERE.
WE ALL WERE THERE WHEN THE POWER WENT OUT.
WE POWER THE WATER UTILITY, WE POWER THE WATER TREATMENT PLANTS, WE POWER THE HOSPITALS.
WHY WOULD WE HAND OVER THAT POWER THAT PROTECTION, THAT DATA TO SOMEBODY WHO IS NOT AS COMPETENT AS THE CURRENT IT STAFF SUPPORTING IT? THAT IS JUST ONE MORE REASON WHY WE'RE CALLING ON CITY MANAGER BRA NEXT TO IMMEDIATELY END THIS.
THANK YOU MS. LAMBERT MEMBERS.
THAT CONCLUDES THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT, OUR 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN.
SO, UH, WHAT WE WILL DO NOW, AS I INDICATED EARLIER, IS WE WILL RECESS FOR OUR LIVE MUSIC RETURNING PROMPTLY AT ONE 10 MEMBERS.
WHAT I, UNLESS THERE'S OBJECTION, WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST WE DO SO THAT WE CAN MOVE THE ITEM IS WHEN WE COME BACK AT ONE 10, I WILL FIRST CALL TO ORDER THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION, SO THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THAT AND THEN WE WILL GO BACK TO SPEAKERS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL IS IN RECESS UNTIL 1:10 PM IT IS 12:26 PM THANKS EVERYBODY.
[Live Music]
EVERYONE.YOU DOING TRIPLE DUTY HERE, HUH? GOOD AFTERNOON.
WELCOME TO, UH, CITY HALL SESSIONS.
TODAY WE HAVE ERNIE, UH, UA PLAYING, UH, AND HIS BAND, AND WE, WE WILL INTRODUCE EVERYBODY HERE IN A BIT, BUT IT'S, UH, IT'S A, A REALLY, UH, UH, UH, ERNIE IS A LEGENDARY AUSTIN, UH, MUSICIAN.
UH, UH, TEO, A MUSICIAN, UH, ON THESE MANY DIFFERENT, UH, UH, GENRES.
HE'S THE ORIGINAL DRUMMER FOR THE GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING TEXAS TORNADOES, A TRAILBLAZING BAND THAT HELPED DEFINE AND POPULARIZE TEX-MEX MUSIC WORLDWIDE.
UH, I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL WHEN THE TEX TORNADOES WERE, UH, UH, DOING ALL KINDS OF, UH, STUFF, AND I WAS A BIG FAN AND DANCED TO MANY OF THE OLD, UH, TEXAS TORNADOES, UH, UH, SONGS.
UH, ALTHOUGH HE WAS BORN IN SAN ANTONIO, UH, ERNIE HAS BEEN A CORNERSTONE OF THE AUSTIN MUSIC SCENE FOR DECADES KNOWN FOR HIS ABILITY TO SEAMLESSLY BLEND JAZZ, BLUES, COUNTRY ROCK AND TE HANO INTO A SOUND THAT IS UNIQUELY HIS OWN.
OVER THE COURSE OF HIS REMARKABLE CAREER, ERNIE HAS PERFORMED WITH SOME OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL ARTISTS IN AMERICAN MUSIC, INCLUDING DELBERT MCCLINTON AND ALONGSIDE ICONS SUCH AS DOUG SOM, FREDDIE FENDER, FLACO JIMENEZ.
AS PART OF THE TEXAS TORNADOES, HIS WORK HAS TAKEN HIM TO NATIONAL STAGES, INCLUDING SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, AUSTIN CITY LIMITS AND SOLID GOLD, UH, MASTER OF RHYTHM AND VERSATILITY.
ERNIE MUSICIANSHIP HAS TRANSCENDED GENRES AND GENERATIONS MAKING HIM ONE OF THE MOST RESPECTED DRUMMERS IN TEXAS MUSIC.
HE STUDIED UNDER LEGENDARY CHICAGO DRUM TEACHER ROY KNAPP, AND HAS CONTRIBUTED TO COUNTLESS RECORDINGS, LIVE PERFORMANCES AND MUSIC EDUCATION EFFORTS, MENTORING YOUNG MUSICIANS AND HELPING SHAPE AUSTIN'S CREATIVE COMMUNITY.
UH, AND WITH THAT, LET ME, UH, GO AHEAD AND TURN IT OVER TO THE, TO ERNIE AND, AND, AND THE BAND.
AND, UH, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND LET THEM, UH, TAKE IT AWAY.
[02:30:02]
LOOKING BACK, I AGAIN, THIS TIME I'M GONNA WIN.AIN'T RIGHT, I'M LOSING AGAIN.
YEAH, I TRY TO TAKE CONTROL OF THE LOVE.
I TOOK CONTROL OF ME BECAUSE YOU LOSE ON SET SPACE AND TIME AND HAVE A CHANGE OF MINE TAKING THE BRUISES OF THE A TWO TIME LOSER.
LOOKS LIKE ANOTHER G COME ON NOW.
I TRY TO TAKE CONTROL OF THE LOVE.
I TOOK CONTROL OF ME BECAUSE YOU LOSE NO SENSE OF SPACE AND TIME AND HAVE A CHAIN OF MINE TAKING THE BUMPS AND THE BRUISES OF ALL THE THINGS OF A TWO TIME LOSER.
YOU SEE, I'M TRYING TO HOLD ON.
I THINK I LET IT GO, LET IT GO LIKE ANOTHER THAT IS ON ERNIE AND OUR NEW ALBUM, SO IF YOU LIKE IT, IT'S ON YOUR PHONE.
ALL RIGHT, WELL, AND ERNIE, YOU WANT TO, UH, JOIN ME ALL PLEASE, UH, COME ON UP AND, UH, LET ME, UH, UH, IF YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE THE BAND AND, UH, TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UH, ABOUT THE, THE BAND AND, AND THEN WELL, OKAY.
WELL, UH, I ACTUALLY PLAYED GIGS WITH ALL THESE GUYS, UH, DAVID WEBB ON KEYBOARD.
WE, WE DO A LOT OF GIGS TOGETHER WITH MATT SMITH BAND, AND HE'S VERY VERSATILE, GREAT, GREAT MUSICIAN FRIEND.
AND LENNY'S BEEN PLAYING WITH ME AT, WHAT ARE YOU GONNA BE DOING? UH, THE ADA, YOU KNOW, AT THE EL MERCADO.
IT'S GONNA BE NOW CALLED ADA AND, AND THEY'RE RESTORING THE, THE ROOM WHERE WE'VE BEEN PLAYING.
I'VE BEEN THERE EIGHT YEARS, SO, UH, HOPEFULLY WHEN THAT'S FINISHED WE'LL GO BACK TO THAT.
AND THEN IS MY BUDDY FROM NEW YORK, HE'S, HE FLIES DOWN HERE TO PLAY WITH ME AND WE
[02:35:01]
HAVE A FEW MORE GIGS LEFT IN TOWN.UM, LET'S SEE THEN, WELL, WE'RE, WE'RE PLAYING, UH, WE, WE PLAYED AT THE GREEN MESQUITE LAST NIGHT.
WE'LL BE, WE'LL BE BACK THERE SUNDAY AGAIN AT SIX O'CLOCK.
AND, UH, HE, HE COMES FROM, HE LIVES IN WOODSTOCK, NEW YORK, BUT FOR THE LAST 20 SOMETHING YEARS WE'VE BEEN PLAYING AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR, HE FLIES DOWN TO PLAY WITH ME.
SO ANYWAY, THAT'S THE BAND AND, AND THE NAME OF THE BAND AND THE ALBUM OR, WELL, UH, THE ALBUM ACTUALLY, UH, HE HAS HIS OWN ALBUM AND WHAT DID YOU CALL HER? IT'S CALLED, YOU TELL HIM EARLY, IT'S CALLED SOUL OF THE NATION.
THAT AND, AND, UM, HE HAS SOME NEW YORK PLAYERS AND THEN WE'RE ON IT TOO.
WE HAVE TWO TRACKS AND THEN I HAVE MY OWN ALBUM.
IN FACT, I NEED TO GET YOU A COPY TOO.
I HAVE ONE IN MY BAG THERE, UH, THAT HAS, UH, A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT PLAYERS ON IT TOO, AND IT'S JUST MY ALBUMS JUST CALLED UA AND FRIENDS.
BUT, UH, AND OF COURSE, UH, IF YOU GO AND, UH, THE THE LAST FOUR T TEXAS TORNADO RECORDS THAT I PLAYED ON, AND YOU CAN FIND, FIND THOSE IN THERE.
YOU CAN FIND ME ON THEM, PRETTY MUCH.
WELL, IT'S A PLEASURE TO TO HAVE YOU HERE.
IT'S A PLEASURE TO, UH, AND I'M GONNA READ THE PROCLAMATION RIGHT NOW TO, UH, ANNOUNCE, UH, ERNIE, UH, DUR DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
AND IT'S A, THE LOVE THE SONG.
LOVE THE MUSIC, UH, AND LOVE TO HAVE Y'ALL HERE.
IT'S A, IT, IT'S A, IT IS JUST A REAL HONOR AND, UH, AND A JOY.
AND WITH THAT, LET ME GO AHEAD AND GET TO THE, THE PROCLAMATION, 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 LOCA LOCAL ARTISTS.
NOW, THEREFORE, I CHITO VELA, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM OF AUSTIN ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR OF AUSTIN AND THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL DO HERE BY PROCLAIM MARCH 26TH, 2026 AS ERNIE DUA DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
AND YOU WANT, UH, CLOSE US OUT? OH YEAH, NO, JUST THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY BEING HERE.
THANK EVERYBODY THAT'S BEEN HERE AND LINDA AND YOUR FRIENDS.
GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL AND CHRISTIAN AND ALL THE HELPERS HERE AND THAT'S BEEN HELPING US, YOU KNOW, AND THANK YOU, ESPECIALLY YOU CHEETO.
ANYWAY, I'M HONORED BY IT, SO, OH, IT, IT'S, IT'S OUR HONOR, IT'S OUR, UH, PRIVILEGE TO, TO HAVE YOU HERE.
AND AGAIN, I I JUST, EVERY, I I I SHOULD BE USED TO IT BY NOW.
WE DO THIS SO, YOU KNOW, AT EVERY, UH, COUNCIL MEETING, BUT IT'S, IT'S SO SPECIAL TO HAVE LIKE MUSIC, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE BRING LEGENDS INTO CITY HALL TO PLAY MUSIC AND IT'S JUST SUCH A SPECIAL THING AND, AND IT'S A PRIVILEGE FOR ME AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, AS MAYOR PRO TEMP TO BE HERE AND DO THAT.
[10:30 AM - Austin Housing Finance Corporation Meeting]
10 ON MARCH 26.AND I WILL CALL BACK TO, WELL, NO, I WILL NOT, INSTEAD OF CALLING BACK IMMEDIATELY TO ORDER THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCILMAN YOU, I GET INTO A ROUTINE, DON'T I? UM, AND WHAT I'LL DO IS I WILL CALL TO ORDER THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.
UM, WE HAVE ONE AGENDA ITEM ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.
AS I INDICATED, IT'S MARCH 26TH, UH, AT ONE 10.
WE ARE MEETING AS A BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS LOCATED IN AUSTIN CITY HALL, WHICH IS AT 3 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
AND WE HAVE A QUORUM OF THE BOARD AVAILABLE.
UH, SO I'LL TURN TO OUR PROFESSIONAL STAFF.
I AM NICOLE JOCELYN, I'M THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OFFICER FOR AUSTIN HOUSING, AND I'M HERE THIS AFTERNOON TO PRESENT THE AGENDA FOR THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATIONS BOARD MEETING.
WE HAVE ONE ITEM ON THIS AGENDA TODAY, AND IT'S OFFERED ON CONSENT.
THE ITEM IS TO AUTHORIZE A LOAN FOR, TO THE NATIONAL CHURCH RESIDENCES IN THE AMOUNT OF $3.5 MILLION FOR SUNDAY VILLAGE, WHICH IS FORMERLY KNOWN AS ARBOR'S AT CREEKSIDE.
THIS PROJECT IS ALSO A PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP WITH AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.
IT'S A SENIOR PROPERTY WITH 176 UNITS.
IT HAS 35 40% MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME UNITS AND 88 50% MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME UNITS, AND IT'S IN DISTRICT FOUR.
AND WE HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM NCR HERE TODAY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
I'LL, UH, FIRST TURN TO Y'ALL AND SEE IF ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS FOR ANYBODY.
[02:40:01]
IS THERE ANYBODY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? WE HAD ONE SPEAKER, BUT THEY ARE NOT ONLINE.THEN WHAT I WILL DO IS I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH REGARD TO THE ITEM THAT'S ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
MOTIONS MADE BY BOARD MEMBER SIEGEL, SECOND OF AYE, BOARD MEMBER CADRE.
UH, THE MOTION IS TO ADOPT THE ITEM.
IS THERE DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THE MOTION IS ADOPTED WITH, UH, BOARD MEMBERS HARPER MADISON, UM, UH, THE MAYOR, PRO TIM, BOARD MEMBER FUENTES, UH, OFF THE, UH, OFF THE DICE OR ABSENT UNTIL WE, WE, UH, GET THEM BACK AND HOPEFULLY THEY'LL BE BACK BEFORE WE TAKE THIS VOTE.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER LANE, OR BOARD MEMBER LANE IS PARTICIPATING REMOTELY AND IS ON, UH, THE SCREEN, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION.
IT IS ADOPTED WITH THOSE PEOPLE.
ABSENT FROM THE BOARD MEETING, UH, THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION AT THIS BOARD MEETING WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE ARE ADJOURNED AT 1:13 PM I WILL NOW CALL BACK
[Consent Agenda (Part 2 of 2)]
TO ORDER THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL FOR A REGULAR MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AT ONE 13, UH, PM AND WE WILL GO BACK TO OUR CITY CLERK FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.I'M BACK TO ITEM 42 WITH CATHERINE ICK, NIKOLAI TANGENT, ANUSH RAZAN, WILLIAM BUNCH, AND AARON FARMER.
ALRIGHT, IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
WERE YOU ONE OF THE NAMES? YES, SIR.
HELLO, MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS CATHERINE EK AND I WAS COMING TO SAY THAT THERE ISN'T REALLY A NEED TO PASS WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT PASSING ON THIS CONGENTA CONSENT AGENDA FOR NUMBER 42.
MY HUSBAND'S HAD A BUSINESS FOR 30 YEARS IN A NEIGHBORHOOD.
HE'S MADE SURE THAT HE WAS UNDER THE LIMIT FOR WHAT WAS ALLOWED.
HE'S ALSO MADE SURE THAT HE WAS NOT A NUISANCE TO THE NEIGHBORS.
HE'S ALSO MADE SURE HE DIDN'T PUBLISH THIS ADDRESS ANYWHERE.
AND PART OF THAT IS BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE A BUSINESS AND SOMEONE TO HAVE YOUR ADDRESS BECAUSE THEY WILL JUST SHOW UP.
IF THIS PASSES, WHICH I DIDN'T EXPECT TO BE BACK SO SOON, YOU ALL LAST WEEK VOTED FIVE TO FIVE WITH AN ABSTENTION OR TWO WEEKS AGO FOR, UM, ESTEE SAM, HELEN MOSS'S PROJECT, YOU VOTED AGAINST THAT OR VOTED NOT TO SEND IT ON.
WAKE UP THEN, YOU KNOW, ON THE 16TH AND FIND OUT THAT NOW IT'S GONNA BE COMMERCIAL, UH, BUSINESSES THAT ARE PLACED IN OUR HOMES AND JUST RUN IN FRONT OF HOMES ACROSS FROM HOMES.
AND I ALREADY KNOW OF A MARKET THAT'S IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD THAT IS UNDER THE RADAR THAT HAS ABOUT 80 PEOPLE THAT'LL BE BETWEEN TWO DIFFERENT HOUSES.
THE STREETS WILL BE, THERE'S PARKING.
WHY? BECAUSE IT'S AN INSTAGRAM BUSINESS.
SO THE CONCERN IS THAT WHAT WE WILL HAVE IS A LOSS OF PRIVATE SPACE, A LOSS OF PEACEFUL SPACE, A LOSS OF SOMETHING THAT WOULDN'T BE A PUBLIC NUISANCE.
THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT IS ACTUALLY GOING TO HAPPEN.
THERE'S NOTHING THAT ANYONE CAN ACTUALLY TELL US IN REGARDS TO HOURS OR WHAT KINDS OF BUSINESSES, WHAT KIND OF LIABILITY INSURANCE, WHAT ABOUT NOISE AND TRASH AND SIDEWALK BLOCKAGE, ALL OF THOSE KIND OF THINGS.
THIS IS NOT ALREADY AN IMPERVIOUS COVER, COVERING UP IMPERVIOUS COVER WITH 200 SQUARE FOOT.
MY HUSBAND'S OFFICE IS LESS THAN THAT, AND I'M GONNA SAY FOR 30 YEARS HE IS MADE A LIVING.
AND SO I BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE CAN MAKE LIVINGS IN THEIR HOMES AND THEY CAN MAKE IT WITHOUT BEING A NUISANCE TO THEIR NEIGHBORS.
AND THE ANSWER IS, I COULD GO ON WITH ASKING THOSE QUESTIONS, BUT NOBODY KNOWS.
I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER MOVEMENT, SO I'M GONNA KEEP CALLING NAMES.
AND IS MEGAN MEISENBACH STILL HERE? I DON'T SEE HER.
OKAY, SO JUST TWO TIMES, MR. I MEAN, TWO MINUTES.
MR. BOWEN, AMY DELUNA, MICHAEL RHODES.
ALL RIGHT, LEMME GET MY NOTES OUT HERE.
JEFFREY BOWEN, DISTRICT EIGHT.
UM, YOU KNOW, LAST WEEK OR A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, I HEARD THE STATEMENT THAT SAID, REALLY WE NEED PEOPLE THAT ARE, I GUESS WE NEED TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE EXPERTS.
WELL, I CAN SAY ON THE BUSINESS SIDE OF IT, I PROBABLY FIT THAT DESCRIPTION.
I WOULD ASSUME SINCE I'VE BEEN DOING MY CONSTRUCTION SERVICES FOR 25 YEARS, AND MY WIFE HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR OVER 35 YEARS, UH, SHE RUNS HERS OUTTA THE HOUSE.
AND IN FACT, SHE'S RIGHT NOW SETTING UP FOR A SHOW IN GEORGETOWN.
AND WE TYPICALLY GET THE, THE ISSUE OF, OH, WHEN WE COME TO AUSTIN, WE'D LIKE TO COME BY YOUR STOREFRONT.
AND SHE HAS TO TELL THEM, WELL, I DON'T
[02:45:01]
HAVE A STOREFRONT.AND THEY GO, WELL, WHY? WELL, NUMBER ONE, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH BUSINESS FOR HER.
UH, THE TAXES, THE, ALL OF THE ISSUES THAT GO ALONG WITH IT, THE COST OF, UH, OF HAVING THE BUILDING AND JUST THE, THE PHYSICAL BURDEN THAT GOES ALONG IN THIS.
UM, I WATCHED THE, UM, THE ECONOMICS OPPORTUNITY, UH, COMMITTEE THE OTHER DAY, AND I WANNA, MY HAT'S OFF TO MR. SIEGEL AND MS. FUENTES FOR ASKING THE QUESTIONS.
BUT ON ITEM THREE, WHEN THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF THE DIFFERENT ISSUES, IT SEEMS THAT WE'VE HAD AN ISSUE FOR A LONG TIME ON THIS ENTIRE BUSINESS, UH, DEVELOPMENT WITH SMALL BUSINESSES.
BEFORE WE GO STEPPING INTO THIS, WHY DON'T WE FIX WHAT WE GOT? BECAUSE EVEN UNDER, EVEN UNDER THE, ONE OF THE SLIDES THAT THEY, THEY SHOWED, THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT JUST FOR STARTING A RESTAURANT, THERE WAS A, THEY HAD 15 AGENCIES INVOLVED, UH, 24, UH, PERSON ACTIVITIES.
AND IT GOES ON AND IT TALKS ABOUT IT WAS A $9,000 COST.
SO FOR THOSE OF US THAT HAVE BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR A LONG TIME, UM, I SEE THIS NOT AS A DETRIMENT, BUT I THINK THAT PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND YOU'RE IN BUSINESS BECAUSE YOU WANT TO BE IN BUSINESS.
THIS IS A, THIS IS A, UH, A LIFESTYLE AND NOT EVERYBODY IS MEANT TO DO THAT.
CONTINUING ON TAYLOR NOLO, JENNIFER MURDOCH, CHRIS PAGE, AND BEN SOTHEBY.
GOOD AFTERNOON, BEN SOTHEBY, DISTRICT FOUR.
UM, I'M SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF THIS, UH, AND IN ADDITION TO ALL THE GREAT REASONS THAT WE HEARD BEFORE OUR BREAK, UH, I WANT TO TOUCH ON A FEW THINGS THAT MAYBE HAVEN'T BEEN MENTIONED TODAY.
I KNOW THAT IN MY COMMUNITY, AND SOME OF Y'ALL WHO ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE LATINO COMMUNITY WILL ATTEST THAT A LOT OF THESE ACTIVITIES ARE ALREADY HAPPENING.
UH, I KNOW THAT IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD I AM, UH, A VERY, I'M ON A FIRST NAME BASIS WITH THE PALERO WHO SELLS, WHO SELLS POPSICLES.
UH, THE CORN CUP TRUCK KNOWS MY SCHEDULE.
AND 8 45, 9 O'CLOCK ON AN AWAY GAME NIGHT, HE COMES TO MY CUL-DE-SAC BECAUSE HE KNOWS I'M GONNA GO OUT THERE AND BUY A CORN CUP.
I KNOW THAT IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, I CAN WALK TO SOMEBODY WHO SELLS TORTILLAS OUT OF HER HOUSE.
AND WHEN THE FREEZE KILLED MY PLANTS, I KNOW THE LADY ON THE STREET SELLS.
AVILA SELLS ALOE, AND I CAN, I CAN GET SOME PLANTS FROM HER.
WHAT THIS WILL ALLOW IS FOR MY NEIGHBORS TO NOT, TO HAVE LESS FEAR OF SOMEONE LEVERAGING SOME OBSCURE LAWS THAT THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT TO HARASS THEM.
MAYBE SOMEBODY WHO ISN'T FAMILIAR WITH OUR COMMUNITY COMING IN AND SAYING, OH, I'M NEW HERE, BUT I DON'T LIKE THIS.
YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN A PERMIT, I DON'T THINK THIS SHOULD BE ALLOWED.
AND NOT DEALING WITH THE REALITY OF PEOPLE USE THIS, YOU KNOW, FRONT PORCH BUSINESS, SELL, SELL SOME PLANTS, WHATEVER, TO BRIDGE GAPS, TO BRIDGE THAT, THAT RENT GAP, TO BRIDGE THAT UNEXPECTED BILL GAP, A CAR REPAIR.
ANOTHER POINT FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE SCARED ABOUT BUSINESS, BIG BUSINESS TAKING OVER THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
THIS IS THE MICRO SCALE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR NEIGHBORS OWNING THE OWN THEIR OWN MEANS OF PRODUCTION, NOT AN EMPLOYER.
THIS IS THEM USING THEIR SKILLS AND THEIR WITS TO MAKE A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA CASH THAT MAYBE SUPPLEMENTS THEIR RETIREMENT INCOME, OR LETS AN ARTIST SELL THEIR ART AND NOT HAVE TO HAVE AN EXPENSIVE STUDIO SPACE.
SO I THINK FOR MANY REASONS MENTIONED TODAY, BUT SOME OF THESE, PARTICULARLY IN MY DISTRICT, I REALLY FEEL YOU.
UH, THIS IS NOT ABOUT POPSICLES.
UH, EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE TO SAY IS MY OPINION.
UH, THIS IS AN UN UNSUSTAINABLE VERSION OF CAPITALISM AND CORPORATE EVANGELISM DRESSED IN THE CLOTHING OF THE WORKING POOR AS FAR AS I CAN TELL.
ITEM 42 IS A PRODUCT OF A DC AREA, NEO LIBERTARIAN, THINK TANK AND LEGAL ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION THAT TOOK IN OVER $50 MILLION LAST YEAR AND HAS OVER 140 MILLION, UH, IN ASSETS.
UH, MUCH CONTRIBUTED BY BILLIONAIRES.
UH, THIS IS NOT FOR SMALL BUSINESS.
ITEM 42, IT'S, UH, A LAB RAT EXPERIMENT AND DEREGULATION, EFFICIENCIES OF SCALE, ANTI-COMPETITIVE MARKET CONDITIONS, LIABILITIES OFTEN RELATED TO HEALTH AND HUMAN SAFETY, PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, MANAGERIAL EXPERIENCE, MARKET VOLATILITY, AND THE UNLIMITED RUNWAY.
UH, THE COMMERCIAL LANDLORDS HAVE PAVED FOR DEEP POCKETED SPECULATORS.
THOSE ARE WHAT'S KILLING SMALL BUSINESSES, NOT AN UNENFORCEABLE AND FRANKLY, UNENFORCED PROHIBITION IN OPERATING OUT OF A SHED.
[02:50:01]
I WANNA POINT OUT TOO THE DEEP IRONY THAT TODAY WE SEE SO MANY, UH, HOUSING SECURE, VERY PRIVILEGED TECH WORKERS HERE TELLING YOU THAT YOU NEED TO SACRIFICE WHAT IS CURRENTLY DEDICATED AS RESIDENTIAL SPACE FOR BUSINESS SHEDS.THEY WERE SCREAMING FOR YEARS ABOUT HOW WE, WE NEED MORE HOUSING WITH THIS ELEMENTARY ARGUMENT AROUND SUPPLY AND DEMAND.
AND HERE THEY ARE SAYING NOW TO ELIMINATE THAT SUPPLY FOR BUSINESS SHEDS.
UH, THE BUDGETING ISSUES THAT THE CITY IS RUNNING INTO RIGHT NOW HAVE HEAVILY, UM, THEY HAVE A LOT TO DO WITH QUALITY OF LIFE.
AND THE MORE YOU TEAR UP QUALITY OF LIFE, THE BIGGER THAT HOLE IN YOUR BUDGET IS GONNA GET.
UM, I THINK AS A MATTER OF PUBLIC RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY, YOU SHOULD ALLOW COMMUNITIES TO HAVE THE, THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLANS AND THE AUSTIN COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND HAVE INPUT BEFORE YOU IMPOSE MORE PINK ZONES ON PEOPLE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS TAYLOR NICOLO AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE GREATER AUSTIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 42, THE STRONG LOCAL COMMERCE INITIATIVE.
AT A HIGH LEVEL, WE SEE THIS PROPOSAL AS ALIGNED WITH THE CHAMBER'S PRIORITIES AROUND REDUCING REGULATORY BARRIERS, SUPPORTING ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN CREATING MORE PATHWAYS FOR AUSTINITES TO START AND GROW BUSINESSES.
AUSTIN SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS ONE OF OUR GREATEST ECONOMIC ASSETS, BUT WE CONSISTENTLY HEAR FROM ENTREPRENEURS AT HIGH COST AND COMPLEX REGULATIONS MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO GET STARTED.
THIS INITIATIVE OFFERS A CREATIVE APPROACH TO LOWERING THESE BARRIERS BY ALLOWING SMALL SCALE NEIGHBORHOOD BASED BUSINESSES TO TEST IDEAS, BUILD CUSTOMERS, AND GROW OVER TIME.
WE ALSO APPRECIATE THAT THIS RESOLUTION IS A FIRST STEP OF ASKING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXPLORE HOW THESE COM CONCEPTS CAN BE IMPLEMENTED THOUGHTFULLY.
WE ENCOURAGE A STRONG FOCUS ON CLEAR STREAMLINED PERMITTING PROCESSES, COORDINATION ACROSS DEPARTMENTS, AND AVOIDING OVERLY COMPLEX REQUIREMENTS THAT COULD LIMIT PARTICIPATION WITH THE RIGHT IMPLEMENTATION.
THIS INITIATIVE HAS A POTENTIAL TO SUPPORT LOCAL WEALTH BUILDING, ACTIVATE NEIGHBORHOODS, AND STRENGTHEN AUSTIN'S SMALL BUSINESS PIPELINE.
WE APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON'S LEADERSHIP ON THIS EFFORT AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY AS THIS WORK PROGRESSES.
I'VE CALLED ALL SPEAKERS FOR 42, SO IF YOU'RE WAITING FOR ITEM 42, PLEASE HURRY AND COME DOWN TO THE PODIUM NOW.
AND WE'RE MOVING ON TO ITEM 43, CAMPBELL NELSON, RICH HYMAN, NYLA
WHAT NUMBER ARE YOU? HAS YOUR NAME BEEN CALLED? UM, I'M FOR 42 CHARLES
WELL, YOUR NAME'S ALREADY BEEN CALLED, BUT PLEASE GO AHEAD.
HELLO, MY NAME'S CHARLES BRAD, I'M FROM DISTRICT NINE.
I'M SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF ITEM 42.
UM, I AM A ENTREPRENEUR MYSELF.
I OWN A FILM PRODUCTION COMPANY.
UM, I'M FROM AUSTIN, AND BEING ABLE TO RUN THAT OUT OF MY HOUSE HAS BEEN ABLE TO HELP ME STAY, STAY HERE.
AND I THINK THE INDEPENDENT, UH, ENTREPRENEURIAL HERITAGE OF THE CITY IS IMPORTANT AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT PRIVILEGE EXTENDED TO MORE PEOPLE IN THE CITY.
I THINK IT WILL, UH, HELP THE URBAN FABRIC AND HELP PROSPERITY FOR MORE PEOPLE.
WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE REMOTE, SO I'M GONNA START WITH IN-PERSON SPEAKERS, SIKA NALU, ZACHARY FADI, CHARLES BRADBURY, JUDA, JUDAH RICE, ERIC KYLEBERG.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MIRIAM SCHOEN FIELD, LUKE WEBER, AND JOHN STARK.
I'M CHARLES BRADBURY, UH, DISTRICT NINE.
UH, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, UM, PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT TO USE A CAR, NOT HAVE TO BASICALLY PAY FOR THE PARKING, UH, INCLUDED IN THEIR RENTS.
UH, I WENT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, AND WHEN I LIVED IN WEST CAMPUS, IT WAS UNBUNDLED.
UM, AND IT ACTUALLY ENCOURAGED ME NOT TO HAVE A CAR DURING THAT TIME.
AND I ACTUALLY THINK THAT IMPROVED MY EXPERIENCE OF GOING TO UNIVERSITY.
UM, AND IT ALSO SAVED ME MONEY.
AND OVERALL I WOULD LIKE TO SEE LESS UNNECESSARY PARKING, UH, IN THE CENTER OF THE CITY IF POSSIBLE.
I THINK, UM, THE MORE DENSE AND WALKABLE CITY CAN BE, THE BETTER IT'S FOR ITS PEOPLE AND THE MORE ATTRACTIVE IT WILL BE, UM, FOR, UH, PEOPLE TO LIVE IN.
PLEASE GO AHEAD, JUST STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
I'M THE RETHINK REPRESENTATIVE OF THE AUSTIN PARKING REFORM COALITION, AND WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS ITEM AND WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE AND THE CO-SPONSORS FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD.
[02:55:01]
IS ABOUT CHARGING RENT AND PARKING SEPARATELY.AND IT, THE BASIC IDEA IS JUST THAT TENANTS SHOULD HAVE A CHOICE OVER HOW MUCH PARKING THEY PAY FOR.
A HOUSEHOLD WITH ONE CAR SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR MORE THAN ONE PARKING SPOT, BUT WHEN PARKING AND RENT ARE BUNDLED, PEOPLE ARE OFTEN PAYING FOR PARKING THAT THEY'RE NOT USING.
OWNERSHIP, UH, PER HOUSEHOLD CORRELATES STRONGLY WITH INCOME LEVELS.
SO WHEN PARKING AND RENT ARE BUNDLED INTO A SINGLE PRICE, THAT MEANS THAT IT'S LOWER INCOME HOUSEHOLDS THAT ARE OFTEN SUBSIDIZING THE PARKING COSTS OF HIGHER INCOME ONES, AND THOSE COSTS AREN'T INSIGNIFICANT.
UH, ONE STUDY SHOWS THAT THE, UH, COST OF A BUNDLED PARKING SPOT IS ABOUT, ADDS ABOUT 17% TO A UNIT'S RENT.
UH, AND ANOTHER STUDY SHOWS THAT'S ABOUT $200 PER MONTH.
UH, PERSONALLY I'VE LIVED IN AUSTIN, UH, IN A, AN APARTMENT THAT I RENTED AT A TIME WHEN I DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO A CAR OR A BIKE.
I WAS RELYING ON TRANSIT AND I DID NOT HAVE GOOD ACCESS TO TRANSIT EITHER.
UH, ADDING INSULT TO INJURY, I HAD TO PAY FOR A PARKING SPOT THAT I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO USE FOR.
AND IF THE PARKING WERE UNBUNDLED, UH, THAT WOULD'VE LIKE PROVIDED ME WITH SAVINGS OF ABOUT FOUR TO FIVE UBERS A MONTH, THAT WOULD'VE BEEN VERY HELPFUL IN A SITUATION LIKE THAT.
CITYWIDE UNBUNDLING HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN MANY PLACES AROUND THE COUNTRY, UH, SEATTLE, SAN FRANCISCO, ST.
PAUL, AND THERE'S ALSO A STATEWIDE BILL, UH, FOR UNBUNDLING IN CALIFORNIA, WHICH APPLIES TO 10 COUNTIES, BOTH RURAL AND URBAN.
UH, IT'S TIME FOR AUSTIN TO JOIN THE RANKS AND CONTINUE TO LEAD THE NATION ON PARKING REFORM.
AND I WANNA ALSO WISH YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY PARKING REFORM MONTH.
UM, I'M IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM.
UM, AND I'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO, UM, THE DIFFERENT PEOPLE WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM THIS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE HEAR A LOT TODAY ABOUT, OH, WELL THIS COULD, UM, YOU KNOW, REALLY BENEFIT IF YOU DON'T OWN A CAR, RIGHT? UM, AND, AND THAT'S TRUE, UM, WHERE IF YOU, IF YOU DON'T OWN A CAR, YOU SHOULDN'T BE PAYING FOR PARKING THAT YOU'RE NOT USING.
BUT THERE'S ALSO, I I WOULD ARGUE PROBABLY A LARGER GROUP OF AUSTINITES WHO ARE ONE CAR HOUSEHOLDS AND, AND SOMETIMES BY NECESSITY ECONOMICALLY AND SOMETIMES BY CHOICE BECAUSE THEIR LIFESTYLE ALLOWS IT.
UM, AND AT MY OLD APARTMENT WHEN I WAS, I LIVED UP NORTH, UM, WE WERE REQUIRED TO PAY FOR TWO PARKING SPACES, UM, DESPITE ONLY HAVING ONE CAR.
AND PART OF THE REASON THAT I DECIDED TO MOVE WAS BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO BE PAYING EXTRA HOWEVER MUCH PER MONTH IN RENT FOR A PARKING SPACE THAT I WAS NEVER GOING TO USE.
UM, AND I BIKED HERE TODAY TO CITY HALL, AND A LOT OF OUR APARTMENT COMPLEXES DON'T HAVE ANY BIKE PARKING WHATSOEVER BECAUSE THERE'S PARKING IS SO PLENTIFUL.
AND SINCE IT'S BUNDLED IN AND IT'S BEING SUBSIDIZED BY DRIVERS AND NON-DRIVERS ALIKE, THAT THESE COMPLEXES HAVE NO INCENTIVE TO ALLOW OTHER OPTIONS.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU, IF YOU DRIVE, THAT'S TOTALLY FINE.
AND THIS DOES NOTHING TO TO CHANGE THAT.
UM, I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE LATE GREAT COUNCIL MEMBER CHRIS RILEY WOULD REMEMBER, WOULD REMIND US THAT THERE'S NO TRUE SUCH THING AS FREE PARKING.
UM, NO MATTER THE COST IS ALWAYS HIDDEN.
NO, EVEN, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE STICKER PRICE IS FREE.
AND I THINK THIS IS A REALLY GREAT STEP TOWARDS, UM, TOWARDS WRITING THAT WRONG AND ALLOWING US TO ONLY PAY FOR THE PARKING THAT WE USE.
SO I APPRECIATE, UH, COUNSEL FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
HELLO, UH, MY NAME'S LUKE WEBER.
I AM A PROUD RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE.
I'M ALSO A SENIOR AT UT AND I ALSO SERVE AS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF LONGHORN URBANISTS.
UH, IT'S OFTEN SAID THAT COLLEGE IS THE BEST YEARS OF ONE'S LIFE, AND AS I APPROACH GRADUATION LESS THAN TWO MONTHS, I'M TOLD THIS MORE AND MORE THAT I MUST SAVOR THESE LAST FEW MONTHS BEFORE EVERYTHING GOES DOWNHILL.
UM, AND SURE I'LL CONCEDE I'M NOT JUMPING AT THE IDEA OF LOSING MY SPRING BREAKS FOREVER.
HOWEVER, A CORE PIECE OF OUR MISSION WITH LONGHORN URBANISTS IS TO SHOW STUDENTS THAT YES, COLLEGE IS AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE FOR MANY, BUT THIS SIMPLY ISN'T JUST A PRODUCT OF NOSTALGIA OR BECAUSE YOU'RE IN YOUR TWENTIES.
MANY OF THE FEATURES THAT MAKE A COLLEGE EXPERIENCE SO MEMORABLE ARE IDENTIFIABLE.
AND THE BEST PART IS WE CAN REPLICATE AND SCALE THEM UP CITYWIDE.
SO IF WE WANT TO RETAIN THE TALENTED MINDSET WE WORK TIRELESSLY TO ATTRACT TO UT, IT'S ESSENTIAL THAT THE LIFESTYLE AND THE AMENITIES THAT WE PROMISED THEM IN WEST CAMPUS DON'T HAVE A BUILT-IN EXPIRATION DATE THE MINUTE THEY GRADUATE AND MOVE ELSEWHERE.
IN AUSTIN, WE RECENTLY ASKED THE CANDIDATES RUNNING TO LEAD UT STUDENT GOVERNMENT FOR THEIR OPINION ON UNO, AND THE CONSENSUS WAS CLEAR ACROSS THE BOARD, EVERY SINGLE CANDIDATE SUPPORTED UNO.
AND WE HEAR THIS ALL THE TIME, LONGHORNS LOVE THE VIBRANT AND AFFORDABLE LIFESTYLE GRANTED TO THEM BY UNO.
SO I'LL ASK YOU, WHY NOT ALLOW AUSTINITES ACROSS THE CITY TO ENJOY THE
[03:00:01]
SAME BENEFITS LIKE UNBUNDLED PARKING? LET'S SAY I'M LIVING IN AN APARTMENT AND I DON'T HAVE A DOG, I DON'T PAY THE PET FEES.AND WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT THAT JUST WOULDN'T MAKE SENSE.
BUT LET'S SAY ALSO DON'T OWN A CAR YET SOMEHOW I'M STUCK PAYING FOR PARKING THAT I DON'T EVEN NEED.
THE PROBLEM HERE IS SILLY, BUT LUCKILY THE SOLUTION IS VERY SIMPLE AND I WOULDN'T BE SKIPPING CLASS TO SPEAK TO YOU RIGHT NOW IF IT WASN'T IMPORTANT.
GOOD, YOU'RE AT THE END THERE.
CHRIS GANNON, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
YOU DON'T NEED TO WAIT FOR EVERYBODY.
ALRIGHT, I'LL GET US KICKED OFF.
UM, I WANNA THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH, COUNCIL STAFF, UM, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THIS.
UM, I AM ALSO THE HOST OF URBAN AUSTIN REEDS AND A URBAN GEOGRAPHER SETTING FOR A PHD AT TEXAS STATE.
UM, AND I WAS REALLY EXCITED TO COME BEFORE YOU BECAUSE I RECENTLY WAS APARTMENT HUNTING AND CAME ACROSS SOME THINGS RELEVANT TO THIS EXACT CONVERSATION.
UH, WHAT I FOUND IN MOST PLACES I WAS LOOKING, WHICH WERE, UM, NOTABLY IN THE, IN D NINE MOSTLY, I DIDN'T WANNA LOSE MY COUNCILMAN.
UM, BUT UNBUNDLING PARKING IN WALKABLE AREAS IN AUSTIN IS ALREADY SOMETHING THAT'S PRETTY FREQUENTLY DONE.
UM, THAT HAD NOT BEEN THE CASE IN OTHER PLACES.
I HAD LOOKED, AND UNFORTUNATELY I DIDN'T GET AN UNBUNDLED UNIT BECAUSE MY LANDLORD DROPPED MY RENT.
AND SO I DECIDED TO STAY, WHICH THANKS TO Y'ALL AS WELL.
UM, BUT AS WE WERE LOOKING AROUND ME, UH, MY SOON TO BE FORMER ROOMMATE AND HIS GIRLFRIEND, WHICH IS WHY HE'S SOON TO BE FORMER ROOMMATE, UM, WE'RE LOOKING AT THESE PLACES AND AS WE WERE DISCUSSING, DO WE WANNA MOVE INTO A TWO BED AND SPLIT COSTS AND LIVE SOME SOMEWHERE DOWNTOWN OR WHATEVER ELSE? THE FACT THAT PARKING WAS SEPARATE FROM OUR RENT LED TO DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HOW WE COULD REDUCE THE NUMBER OF CARS WE COLLECTIVELY OWNED.
AND AS I WAS HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS, IT WASN'T, UH, I DIDN'T LET IT GO, MISSED THAT THE FACT THAT THESE CHOICES, THE SEPARATION OF THE COST THAT WE HAVE TO BEAR AS RENTERS ALLOWED US OR OPENED UP THE CONVERSATION ABOUT CAR FREE OR CAR LIGHT FUTURES.
AND WHAT I WANT IS FOR EVERYONE IN AUSTIN TO HAVE THAT OPENING, TO HAVE THAT THOUGHT TO SAY, OH, WAIT, MAYBE I DON'T NEED TWO CARS FOR A TWO, TWO PERSON HOUSEHOLD.
OR MAYBE I DON'T NEED THREE CARS FOR A THREE PERSON HOUSEHOLD, BUT TO HAVE TO THINK THROUGH IT AND MAKE THAT CHOICE INTENTIONALLY MATTERS.
UM, I STUDY URBAN GEOGRAPHY, LIKE I SAID, AND THOSE OPENINGS ARE THE CRITICAL POINTS AT WHICH RESISTANCE TO THE STATUS QUO HAPPENS.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
ADAM GREENFIELD HERE WITH SAFE STREETS, OUR SIM.
WE ARE A MEMBER OF THE AUSTIN PARKING REFORM COALITION, AND WE ARE VERY EXCITED AND VERY PROUD TO SUPPORT, UM, UNBUNDLING IN AUSTIN CITYWIDE.
UH, AUSTIN IS A NATIONAL LEADER ON PARKING REFORM.
WE ARE STILL THE LARGEST CITY IN THE COUNTRY TO HAVE GOTTEN RID OF MINIMUM PARKING REQUIREMENTS.
AND WE CAN SEE ALREADY THAT THIS, UH, THAT THIS POLICY CHANGE TWO YEARS IN IS HAVING THE EFFECT PRETTY MUCH WE EXPECTED A, A SIGNIFICANT, UH, RIGHT SIZING AND THE AMOUNT OF PARKING AND MATCHING THE DEMAND FOR PARKING, UH, WITH THE SUPPLIER PARKING UNBUNDLING IS ANOTHER COMMON SENSE MEASURE THAT IS GONNA MOVE US EVEN CLOSER IN THAT DIRECTION.
AND IT REALLY, AT ITS CORE HAS THE SAME VALUE AS, UH, REMOVING MINIMUM PARKING REQUIREMENTS, WHICH IS CHOICE THAT THE, UH, TENANT KNOWS BEST HOW MUCH PARKING THEY THEY NEED, AND THEY DON'T NEED TO HAVE IT, UH, UH, FORCED ON THEM IF THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY NEED.
UH, THE DATA ARE VERY CLEAR THAT UNBUNDLED PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN UNBUNDLED BUILDINGS ARE MORE LIKELY TO, UH, GET AROUND BY WALKING, BIKING, AND TAKING TRANSIT.
SO THIS IS GREAT FOR OUR MODE SHIFT GOALS AS WELL.
UM, 25 MILLION PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY LIVE IN AN UNBUNDLED JURISDICTION.
WE HAVE SPOKEN TO MANY OF THOSE JURISDICTIONS, AND REALLY IT'S, IT WAS THUMBS UP FROM THEM THAT THEY ARE, THEY'RE SAYING AUSTIN REALLY SHOULD DO THIS.
UH, IT'S A, IT'S JUST A NO NONSENSE.
SAN FRANCISCO TOLD US WE HAVEN'T HAD A SINGLE COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS MORE THAN 10 YEARS INTO THE POLICY.
SO IT IS JUST REALLY EXCITING THAT THIS COUNCIL CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD WITH PRODUCTIVE, UH, UM, POWERFUL PARKING REFORM THAT KEEPS US RIGHT AT THE TOP OF THE, OF THE PILE OF CITIES IN THIS COUNTRY THAT ARE REALLY THINKING ABOUT THIS.
BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S NOT REALLY ABOUT PARKING, IT'S ABOUT PEOPLE.
AND REFORMING PARKING POLICIES IS A, IS ABOUT A BETTER URBAN FABRIC FOR EVERYONE.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE.
UH, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I CURRENTLY BENEFIT FROM UNBUNDLED PARKING.
[03:05:01]
IT'S TWO OF US LIVING IN AN APARTMENT TOGETHER, BUT ONLY MY GIRLFRIEND'S JOB REQUIRES HER TO HAVE A VEHICLE.I'VE BENEFITED TREMENDOUSLY FROM US BEING ABLE TO SAVE THE MONEY THAT I WOULD'VE PAID FOR PARKING, AND INSTEAD USING THAT TO TAKE THE BUS TO PLACES, WALKING TO PLACES, ET CETERA.
I JUST WANNA SEE THAT POLICY IMPLEMENTED CITYWIDE.
HELLO, I'M CHRIS GANNON, A I A I'M A HOUSING ADVOCATE, BUT I ALSO, UH, ENJOY GREATLY PARKING REFORM AND I, UH, SUPPORT THIS WHOLEHEARTEDLY.
UM, I'M GONNA SHARE A QUICK ANECDOTE ABOUT WHAT PARKING REFORM CAN DO.
UH, MY OFFICE IS ABOVE A COFFEE SHOP AND THEY FOUND THAT THEY DON'T NEED AS MUCH PARKING AS WHAT THEY HAVE.
SO THIS WEEK THEY HAVE CUT UP THE PARKING AND THEY'VE INSTALLED STREET TREES WHERE THE PARKING WAS.
I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A PRECEDENT THAT SHOULD BE WIDELY SHARED.
UH, IT'S BEAUTIFIED OUR, OUR CAMPUS THERE.
UM, AND THESE ARE THE KIND OF THINGS THAT WE CAN DO WITH PARKING REFORM.
CONTINUING ON 44 RICHARD EASTERLING, OLA TANGENT.
LIZA WIMBERLEY, AMY DELUNA, MICHAEL RHODES, BEN SOTHEBY, KATIE CAM.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
UH, MANY OF THE POINTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE, SO I'LL KEEP IT BRIEF.
I COME TO THIS FROM MAYBE A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT ANGLE.
I'M REALLY FOCUSING ON HOW MUCH A DIFFERENCE THAT WILL MAKE FOR A WORKING CLASS PERSON, MAYBE WORKING IN THE SERVICE INDUSTRY.
MAYBE A STUDENT, SOMEBODY WHO'S, UH, WHOSE BUDGET'S REALLY TIGHT.
IF THEY DON'T NEED TO PAY FOR PARKING BECAUSE THEY DON'T USE IT, THEY'RE USING ANOTHER BIKE, THEY'RE USING TRANSIT, UH, THEY'RE WALKING TO, TO THEIR WORK OR PLACE OF EDUCATION, THEN WHY MAKE THEM PAY FOR IT? THAT CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.
THAT COULD SUPPLEMENT THEIR, THEIR MEAL, THAT CAN SU SUPPLEMENT THEIR GROCERY MONEY.
UH, ANYTHING WE CAN FACILITATE TO MAKE THINGS CHEAPER IN OUR CITY FOR THE WORKING CLASS IS A GOOD THING.
I'M RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE.
I SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF PARKING POLICIES TO HELP WITH AFFORDABILITY, MORE EFFICIENT USE OF PROPERTY AND THE CREATION OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND CORRIDORS WE ENJOY.
ABOUT 12 YEARS AGO, I ACTUALLY LIVED CAR FREE IN AUSTIN FOR ABOUT A YEAR WHILE I WAS A SINGLE MOM WITH TWO SCHOOL AGED KIDS RELYING ON WALKING, BIKING, AND CAR SHARING AS NEEDED.
AN UNBUNDLING PARKING POLICY WOULD'VE BEEN NICE TO SAVE MONEY AND TO REWARD MY SUPER MOM JUGGLING EFFORTS TO NAVIGATE THE SAR WITHOUT, UM, NAVIGATE THE CITY WITHOUT A CAR.
AS MENTIONED BEFORE, THE UNBUNDLING OF PARKING IS SOMETHING ALREADY DONE IN OTHER CITIES AND IN AUSTIN, IN THE WEST CAMPUS AREA, AND ON THE UT CAMPUS.
WITH RESIDENTS IN THOSE AREAS HAVING AN OPTION TO PURCHASE PARKING, THE CITY SHOULD EVALUATE THE PERFORMANCE, PERFORMANCE OF THE UNBUNDLING POLICIES IN AUSTIN TO INFORM, EXTENDING THIS POLICY TO ENSURE THEY ACCOMPLISH AFFORDABILITY AND EQUITY GOALS AND REMAIN AN ENFORCEABLE COST-EFFECTIVE PROGRAM PROGRAM.
YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED THAT THE THEME OF MY TWO MINUTE SPEECHES TODAY IS TO HIGHLIGHT INSIGHTS TO CONSIDER AS THE CITY EXPLORES EACH PROPOSED POLICY SO THAT A WIN-WIN, COMPREHENSIVE, EFFECTIVE SOLUTION IS DEVELOPED.
WHAT I SAID FOR ITEM 39 REGARDING MAXIMUM PARKING APPLIES FOR THIS ITEM TWO.
IF ANY CONCERNS ARISE REGARDING THIS, THIS POLICY, JUST A REMINDER, THE CITY HAS A MEANS TO PROACTIVELY PLAN FOR THE UNBUNDLING OF PARKING WITH NEIGHBORHOOD OUTREACH AND PLANNING, RESIDENTIAL PERMIT, PARKING AND PARKING BENEFIT DISTRICTS.
IN ADDITION, WE'LL NEED TO MAKE SURE THOSE WITH LIMITED INCOME AND HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO OWN A CAR SUCH AS UT STUDENTS, THIS, THAT MUST WORK TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES THROUGH SCHOOL, HAVE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE PARKING PROGRAMS. THANK YOU.
MOVING ON TO ITEM 45, I HAVE THREE CAR NALU, ZACHARY FADI, CHARLES BRADBURY, JOHN STARK, LARISSA QUINTANA.
HI, CHARLES BRADBURY, DISTRICT NINE.
UH, I'M IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 45, UM, BECAUSE I THINK THAT ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO HAVE MORE HOUSING IN THE CITY FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE IN AND RAISE FAMILIES IS A GOOD THING.
UM, I THINK IF THIS PUBLIC LAND CAN BE USED, UM, IN THE INTEREST OF PROVIDING MORE HOUSING TO PEOPLE, HOPEFULLY AT AFFORDABLE RATES, UM, I THINK THAT'S A GREAT THING.
I HEARD RECENTLY ABOUT THE PROJECT TO KEEP TEACHERS IN THE CITY, UM, AT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I THINK TEACHERS ARE UNDERPAID AND, AND WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO KEEP THEM IN OUR COMMUNITIES IS A GOOD THING AND IT'S A NOBLE PROFESSION.
SO I'M SAD THAT THE SCHOOLS HAVE HAD TO CLOSE DOWN DUE TO BUDGETARY RESTRAINTS AND LACK OF PEOPLE.
BUT IF WE CAN BRING MORE PEOPLE THERE, UM, AND WE CAN HELP GIVE MORE MONEY TO A ISD, I THINK WE CAN MOVE TOWARDS SOLVING THE PROBLEM.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU FOR PROPOSING THIS.
HI, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL.
[03:10:01]
ON THE AUSTIN SCHOOL BOARD, WHICH IS IN SOUTHEAST AUSTIN.MY DISTRICT OVERLAPS A LOT WITH COUNCILWOMAN FUENTES.
UM, AND I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MYSELF IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 45.
UM, AS Y'ALL KNOW, WE HAVE HAD TO CLOSE CAMPUSES DUE TO, UM, A NUMBER OF REASONS.
UM, AND ONE OF THOSE CAMPUSES IS IN COUNCILWOMAN FUENTES DISTRICT.
UM, IT'S IN THE HEART OF DOVE SPRINGS, AND IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF OUR COMMUNITY IN DOVE SPRINGS ESPECIALLY.
UM, AND SO IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE KEEP THAT LAND AND THAT BUILDING FOR PUBLIC USE AND COMMUNITY BENEFIT.
UM, ANYTHING OTHER THAN THAT I THINK COULD BE PERCEIVED AS PRIVA PRIVATIZATION, UH, WHICH I AM VERY MUCH AGAINST.
UM, AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT OUR PUBLIC, UH, BUILDINGS AND LAND ARE BEING USED TO BENEFIT THOSE WHO LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, ESPECIALLY A NEIGHBORHOOD LIKE DOVE SPRINGS.
UM, AND I'M VERY EAGER TO WORK WITH THE CITY ON TRANSFORMING OUR CAMPUSES INTO BEING REAL COMMUNITY ASSETS WHERE WE COLLABORATE WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND TALK WITH THEM ABOUT WHAT THEY NEED IN THE HEART OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, UM, AND MAKE IT HAPPEN.
I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
BETSY GREENBERG, TY HAKI, JORDY TELLO, EDGAR HANDEL, FELICITY MAXWELL, JEN ROBO.
MY NAME IS BETSY GREENBERG AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE.
I USUALLY SIGN UP AGAINST ITEMS ON YOUR AGENDA, BUT NOW I'M GOING TO CHANGE IT UP AND SAY I'M IN FAVOR OF ITEM 45.
THE RESOLUTION DIRECTS THE CITY MANAGER TO INITIATE DISCUSSIONS WITH ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITHIN THE CITY'S JURISDICTION TO EXPLORE PARTNERSHIP OR ACQUISITION OPPORTUNITIES THAT WOULD REPURPOSE CLOSE SCHOOL CAMPUSES OR UNUSED PROPERTIES IN ORDER TO DELIVER COMMUNITY BENEFITS THAT ALIGN WITH THE CITY'S GOALS.
COMMUNITY WORKFORCE, HOUSING, COMMUNITY BENEFITS THAT ARE MENTIONED IN THE RESOLUTION INCLUDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WORKFORCE HOUSING, PARKLAND ACQUISITION, AND EVEN CARBON SEQUESTRATION.
THIS SOUNDS GREAT, BUT WHAT COUNCIL SAYS IN RESOLUTIONS ARE ELECTION CAMPAIGNS AND WHAT COUNCIL DOES DOES NOT ALWAYS ALIGN.
SO IN ADDITION TO PASSING A FEEL GOOD RESOLUTION, I'D LIKE TO SEE THE COUNCIL VOTE FOR INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENTS ON ANY ZONING CHANGE ON CLOSED SCHOOL CAMPUSES UNTIL STRATEGIES ARE DEVELOPED AND IMPLEMENTED TO DELIVER COMMUNITY BENEFITS INSTEAD OF DEVELOPER PROFITS.
IN PARTICULAR, I ASK THAT YOU DEMONSTRATE YOUR COMMITMENT TO THIS RESOLUTION BY DENYING THE REQUEST FOR MF SIX ZONING AT THE UPCOMING HEARING ABOUT FORMER ROSEDALE SCHOOL SITE.
PLEASE SHOW THE COMMUNITY WHERE YOU REALLY STAND.
HOW YOU TALKED ABOUT TWO ITEMS. THAT'S GREAT.
UH, MAYOR, MAYOR EMM, COUNCIL MEMBERS, FULL CITY MAXWELL D FIVE RESIDENT AND A ISD PARENT IN 2024, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING ON THE AUSTIN ISD BUDGET STABILIZATION TASK FORCE.
IT WAS CLEAR AT THE TIME THE DISTRICT WAS FACING A SEVERE BUDGET CRISIS, AND THOSE FINANCIAL ISSUES HAVE SADLY ONLY CONTINUED TO GROW.
THE PLAN CLOSURE OF ADDITIONAL A ISD SCHOOLS IS A SAD NECESSITY, SAD, RE SAD, BUT NECESSARY RESPONSE TO THESE ONGOING BUDGETARY CHALLENGES.
MY OWN KIDS' WONDERFUL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BECKER WILL CEASE OPERATIONS AT THE END OF THIS YEAR.
BUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT TO CAMPUSES LIKE BECKER IS STILL VERY UNCLEAR.
SO I APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES AND THE CO-SPONSORS OF THIS ITEM FOR DRAWING ATTENTION TO THE COMPLEX ISSUES RELATED TO SCHOOL CLOSURES AND THE CHANGE IN LAND USE.