* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:04] YOU ARE WATCHING A MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL WITH MAYOR KIRK WATSON, MAYOR PRO, TIM CHEADLE, VELA COUNCIL MEMBERS NATASHA HARPER MADISON, VANESSA FUENTES, JOSE VELAZQUEZ, RYAN ALTER, CRYSTAL LANE, MIKE SIEGEL, PAIGE ELLIS, ZOE CADRE, MARK UCHIN, CITY ATTORNEY DEBORAH THOMAS, CITY CLERK ERICA BRADY, AND CITY MANAGER TC BROADNAX. WELL, GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. [Call to Order] IT'S 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING AND I WILL CALL TO ORDER THE REGULAR, UH, COUN AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING, UH, THAT IS SCHEDULED FOR TODAY, APRIL 9TH, 2026. WE HAVE A QUORUM OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARBOR MADISON IS JOINING US REMOTELY, AND COUNCIL MEMBER OF VELASQUEZ WILL BE ABSENT TODAY. UH, WE, UH, OUR MEETING IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, WHICH ARE LOCATED AT CITY HALL AT 3 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. UH, QUICKLY I'LL RUN THROUGH THE ORDER OF THE DAY IN JUST A MINUTE. I'M GONNA READ CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS INTO THE RECORD. THEN WE WILL GO TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA. MEMBERS. WE DO NOT HAVE ANY ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA TO MY KNOWLEDGE, SO IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. UH, WE WILL THEN WE WILL HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC ON THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS, AT WHICH POINT WE WILL HAVE DISCUSSION AND VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AT 10 30 OR AS CLOSE TO 10 30 AS WE CAN GET. WE WILL RECESS THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING, AND WE WILL, I WILL CALL TO ORDER THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION. WE WILL TAKE UP THE AGENDA ITEMS FOR A HFC AND WE WILL ADJOURN THAT MEETING AND WE WILL COME BACK TO THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS WHERE WE WILL TAKE UP NON-CONSENT ITEMS. MEMBERS. I'LL READ THIS INTO THE RECORD, UH, FOR THE OFFICIALLY HERE IN JUST A MINUTE. BUT ITEM NUMBER 41, WHICH WAS A NON-CONSENT ITEM, HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN. ITEM NUMBER 41 HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN. WE'LL TAKE UP ITEMS 43, 44 AND 45 AT NOON. WE WILL, UH, PAUSE WHEREVER WE ARE. UH, WE WILL PAUSE AND WE WILL TAKE UP OUR 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, WHICH IS PUBLIC COMMENT AND MUSIC. WE WILL RECESS UNTIL AT LE ONCE WE FINISH THE PUBLIC COMMENT, WE WILL RECESS UNTIL AT LEAST ONE 15. I'M ANTICIPATING THAT MAY BE UNTIL TWO O'CLOCK. AND AT TWO O'CLOCK WE WILL TAKE UP OUR OTHER TIME, CERTAIN ITEM, WHICH ARE ZONING ITEMS. UNLESS THERE'S QUESTIONS, I WILL READ CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS INTO THE RECORD. SEEING NONE ON THE, AS I INDICATED, THE ONE ITEM THAT IS A, AN OFFICIAL CHANGE IN CORRECTION TO OUR AGENDA IS ITEM NUMBER 41 HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN. ITEM NUMBER 41 HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN. SO [Consent Agenda (Part 1 of 2)] MEMBERS, UNLESS THERE'S OBJECTION OR ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, I WILL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK TO ASK THE CITY CLERK TO PLEASE START CALLING THE NAMES OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. WE HAVE NO REMOTE SPEAKERS THIS MORNING, SO WE'LL BEGIN WITH IN PERSON ON ITEM ONE, JEN ROBO. GOOD MORNING CITY COUNCIL. I'M JEN ROBES SHOW, A LONGTIME AUSTIN RESIDENT. I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ABOUT TRUST. TAXPAYERS DESERVE REPRESENTATION, AND OUR GOVERNMENT EXISTS TO SERVE US FIRST AND FOREMOST. ON MARCH 12TH, CITY COUNCIL VOTED TO TAKE A STEP BACKWARD AND CHOOSE TO REDUCE TRANSPARENCY, AVOID ACCOUNTABILITY, AND ERODE TRUST. AMENDMENTS TO THE LOBBYIST ORDINANCE WERE SHORTSIGHTED AND COUNTERPRODUCTIVE, AND YOUR CONSTITUENTS WANT TO KNOW WHO HAS YOUR EAR. AS THE REMOTE SPEAKER POINTED OUT, YOU'VE ALSO MISSED AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW HOW WELL YOU ATTEND TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS. TRACKING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN MAKING THE DATA PUBLIC IS MORE THAN SIMPLY HOLDING LOBBYISTS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ATTEMPTS TO INFLUENCE LOCAL POLICY. IT'S ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY TO DEMONSTRATE THAT YOU ARE IN FACT LISTENING TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS. I AM GRATEFUL TO MY COUNCIL MEMBER OF VANESSA FUENTES AND TO RYAN ALTER FOR TAKING A STANCE AGAINST THESE CHANGES TO THE LOBBYIST POLICY. HOWEVER, I'M DISAPPOINTED IN THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO JUSTIFIED THE CHANGES AS A WAY TO SAVE RESOURCES AND IMPROVE [00:05:01] EFFICIENCY. THIS SHOWS A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING THE PROBLEM AND A LACK OF CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING WITHOUT ASSUMING ANY NEGATIVE INTENT. THIS BODY AS A WHOLE OPTED FOR A LAZY SOLUTION RATHER THAN A WELL CONSIDERED ONE. TRUST IS A DELICATE THING. IT IS HARD EARNED AND EASILY BROKEN, AND WHEN IT IS BROKEN, IT TAKES AN ENORMOUS EFFORT TO RESTORE. THIS WAS A STEP BACKWARD. VOTERS DO NOT SEE THIS AS AN EFFICIENCY MEASURE. THEY SEE IT AS A WAY TO AVOID ACCOUNTABILITY. SO I'M APPEALING TO YOU TO REVISIT THE LOBBYIST ORDINANCE TO CORRECT THIS ERROR IN JUDGMENT AND TO LOOK FOR CREATIVE WAYS TO EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY COLLECT DATA AND BUILD TRUST WITH THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. BEFORE WE GO TO THE NEXT ITEM ON MEMBERS ON ITEM NUMBER TWO, ITEM NUMBER TWO IS, UH, RELATED TO A POTENTIAL SETTLEMENT. AND SO WE WILL ASK, UH, LEGAL COUNSEL TO MAKE A PRESENTATION. MORNING, MR. MAYOR, MAYOR PROTE, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, I'M ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY JEREMY THOMPSON, AND I'M HERE TODAY TO RECOMMEND THAT YOU APPROVE A SETTLEMENT PAYMENT AND A PERSONAL INJURY LAWSUIT THAT APPEARS ON YOUR AGENDA AS ITEM NUMBER TWO. ITEM NUMBER TWO, WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU APPROVE A PAYMENT TOTALING $250,000 TO SETTLE THE MARVIN REYES. JEREMIAH TE DANIELA TE IS NEXT FRIEND OF NR AND NT MINORS VERSUS CITY OF AUSTIN. THIS LAWSUIT RELATES TO A JULY, 2023 CAR ACCIDENT INVOLVING AN AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT VEHICLE WHERE THE PLAINTIFFS SEEK PAYMENT FOR INJURIES ALLEGEDLY SUSTAINED IN THAT ACCIDENT. IN EXCHANGE FOR THE PAYMENT, THE PLAINTIFFS WILL RELEASE ANY AND ALL CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY FROM THE ACCIDENT, AND WILL ALSO DISMISS, UH, THEIR PETITION AND INTERVENTION FILED IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF TRAVIS COUNTY. THE AUSTIN CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE RECOMMENDS THAT YOU APPROVE PAYMENT BASED UPON THESE TERMS, AND I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. MEMBERS. ARE, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OF LEGAL COUNSEL? THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. I'LL TURN BACK TO THE CITY CLERK. NEXT ITEM WILL BE FOR BILL BUNCH ON ITEM NUMBER SIX, MR. BUNCH, YOU HAVE MULTIPLE ITEMS, SO IF YOU COULD JUST STAY SEATED, I'LL CALL THE NEXT ONE. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY. UH, BILL BUNCH, ATTORNEY AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WITH SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE SPEAKING ON, I'M GONNA COMBINE THIS ONE WITH THE NEXT ONE, SIX AND SEVEN, UH, SIX BEING $9 MILLION FOR MOWING AND TREE CARE WITH AUSTIN ENERGY, AND THEN ANOTHER 24 MILLION FOR AUSTIN ENERGY, ALSO FOR VEGETATION MANAGEMENT ALONG POWER SYSTEMS. OF COURSE, WE HAVE TO BE SUPER CAREFUL WITH OUR ENERGY SYSTEM AND MAKE SURE IT'S MAINTAINED SAFELY, UH, BUT CUTTING TREES THAT DON'T NEED TO BE CUT, UH, EXCESSIVE MOWING, MOWING TOO SHORT DURING HOT, DRY CONDITIONS, AND ESPECIALLY WITH CLIMATE CHANGE AND DROUGHT, WE HAVE CAN DO, UH, EXTREMELY LONG-TERM DAMAGE. UH, IT IS ABSOLUTELY IMPORTANT THAT THIS CITY, NOT JUST AUSTIN ENERGY, BUT ACROSS OUR SYSTEMS, AUSTIN WATER PARKS, WAKE UP TO THE FACT THAT WE'RE IN CHANGED CIRCUMSTANCES AND THAT WE REVIEW OUR VEGETATION MANAGEMENT, ESPECIALLY OUR MOWING. I'M SEEING SEVERE DAMAGE IN ZILKER PARK ITSELF WHERE WE'RE MOWING TOO SHORT AND TOO FREQUENTLY, AND IF THAT HAPPENS THROUGH THE SUMMER, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A DUST BOWL DISASTER IF WE DON'T GET MORE RAIN. SO PLEASE WAKE UP, REVIEW ALL OF THESE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT, UH, ACTIVITIES AND CONTRACTS ACROSS THE CITY, UM, AND I BET YOU NOT ONLY WILL YOU GET A MUCH BETTER RESULT, BUT YOU'LL SAVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON WORK THAT'S NOT NEEDED, UH, OR IS, UH, OVERDONE OR IMPROPERLY DONE. UM, THIS IS CRITICAL FOR CLIMATE CHANGE, WATER PROTECTION, PARKS, WILDLIFE, AND URBAN HEAT ISLAND ISSUES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION ON ITEM 10. BILL BUNCH, MR. BUNCH. HANG, HANG ON. YOU'VE SIGNED UP ON LIKE 10 ITEMS. UM, YEAH. OKAY. SO YES. ITEM NUMBER 10 IS $7.3 MILLION [00:10:01] TO RATIFY A CONTRACT ALREADY ENTERED BY STAFF, UH, ON WHAT'S, UH, PURPORTED TO BE A EMERGENCY BASIS FOR EROSION AND DRAINAGE, UH, CONTROL PROJECT, UH, ALONG LITTLE WALNUT CREEK. UH, THIS ABSOLUTELY MAY WELL BE AN EMERGENCY, BUT THE BACKUP DOESN'T TELL US WHEN THIS PROBLEM AROSE. UM, WE'VE SEEN ISSUES THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED VERY QUICKLY, JUST SIT THERE FOR YEARS AND YEARS. WHAT WE ALSO SEE FREQUENTLY, AND AGAIN, YOU'RE IN A BUDGET CRISIS, WE'RE IN ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS. UM, A WHOLE LOT OF TIMES THESE EROSION ISSUES CAN BE HANDLED, WHICH MUST SMALLER SCALE, LIGHTER TOUCH, ESPECIALLY IF YOU JUMP ON 'EM RIGHT AWAY WITH CURRENT STAFF WHO HAS THE EXPERTISE TO DO RIPARIAN VEGETATION, RIPARIAN EROSION MANAGEMENT. WHEN YOU DO NOTHING, THE THE PROBLEM BALLOONS AND BECOMES MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. AND I'M GUESSING THIS IS EXAMPLE NUMBER ONE ON THIS AGENDA WITH ANOTHER ONE COMING UP SHORTLY. THANK YOU, MR. BUNCH. YOU HAVE ITEM 11, I'M PASSING ON THAT ONE. ITEM 12, BILL BUNCH, PASSING ON THAT ONE. ITEM 13, BILL BUNCH. ITEM 13 IS THE ONE I JUST REFERENCED. THIS IS ON THE BANKS OF LITTLE BARTON CREEK. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ENJOY THE HIKING BIKE TRAIL, YOU KNOW THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM, AND THE BACKUP TELLS US IT'S BEEN A PROBLEM FOR 10 YEARS. WHEN, UH, A STORM EVENT WASHED OUT A PART OF THE, UH, BUTLER HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL JUST BEFORE THE, UH, BARTON CREEK JOINS LADY BIRD LAKE ON THE NORTH SHORE, EXCUSE ME, ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF, OF, UH, BARTON CREEK. UM, IT WAS ABOUT 30 FEET STRETCH THAT SLUMPED YOUR STAFF THAT HAS THE EXPERTISE COULD HAVE GONE OUT THERE WITH NETTING AND YOUR STANDARD EROSION CONTROLS REPLANTED VEGETATION AND TOOK CARE OF THE PROBLEM INSTANTLY FOR LITERALLY NO MONEY. THOSE SCARS SAT THERE FOR ALMOST 10 YEARS WITH NO ACTION. WHEN WE HAVE THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY ALLEGEDLY TAKING CARE OF THE TRAIL, THEY PUT THEIR NAME ON THIS THING, THEY DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. AND YOU'RE HERE TODAY BEING ASKED TO ADD $81,000 TO A $5.8 MILLION PROJECT TO STABILIZE A SLOPE THAT LITERALLY COULD HAVE BEEN STABILIZED FOR FREE IF IT HAD BEEN DONE IMMEDIATELY. AND WITH YOUR WATERSHED PROTECTION STAFF JUMPING IN AND TAKING CARE OF IT, YOUR BACKUP HAS A HUGE FALSE STATEMENT. IT SAYS, NOT ONLY DOES IT STABILIZE THE SLOPE, BUT IT RESTORES ENVIRONMENTAL FUNCTION. IF YOU GO LOOK AT THIS PROJECT, WHICH YOU CAN SEE FROM THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF BARTON CREEK ON THE BUTLER HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL, YOU CAN LOOK ACROSS IT COMPLETELY DESTROYS ENVIRONMENTAL FUNCTION ON BARTON CREEK. FOR A VERY LONG STRETCH, THANK BUNCH, DON'T DO THIS ANYMORE. SAVE SOME MONEY, SAVE OUR RIPARIAN HABITAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. BUT HANG ON. MOVING TO ITEM 18, JEFFREY BOWEN AND JENNIFER ROBO, YOU WANNA GO FIRST? JEN, KNOCK YOURSELF OUT. GOOD MORNING, CITY COUNCIL. I'M JEN REIO, A LONGTIME AUSTIN RESIDENT. AS STATED EARLIER, I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT TRUST COUNCIL ISN'T A CEREMONIAL ROLE, AND I KNOW YOU KNOW THIS, AND I DON'T SAY IT TO BE DISRESPECTFUL. RATHER, RESIDENTS OFTEN WONDER WHAT LEVEL OF DUE DILIGENCE THIS BODY EXERCISES IN REVIEWING AGENDAS. IN RECENT WEEKS, WE HAVE SEEN COUNSEL PUT IN QUESTIONING TRUST IN THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY MANAGER PLACE UNCHECKED TRUST AND CONSULTANTS. IN BOTH INSTANCES, WE'VE SEEN ADMISSIONS THAT RECOMMENDATIONS SHOULD HAVE BEEN EVALUATED MORE CAREFULLY, BUT ONLY AFTER CONSTITUENTS SPOKE UP. WHILE TRUST IS A WONDERFUL THING, IT MUST BE EARNED. AND AS STEWARDS OF THE CITY, IT IS NOT UNREASONABLE FOR YOU TO VERIFY THE AGENDA. QA FOR ITEM 18 WEREN'T POSTED UNTIL [00:15:01] YESTERDAY, SO I HAD A HARD TIME FINDING INFORMATION ABOUT AUSTIN'S OUTSTANDING REIMBURSEMENTS. I DID FIND SOME IN THE QAS FROM LAST BUDGET CYCLE, AND I FIND THAT IT'S TOO BAD THAT THESE WEREN'T INCLUDED IN THE BACKUP. WHILE I DO BELIEVE THAT THE CITY WILL SEE A RETURN ON THIS SPENDING, THERE IS A SIMPLE ISSUE OF ARITHMETIC THAT UNDOES THIS WHOLE ITEM. THE CONTRACT FOR $362,000 EXCEEDS THE AVAILABLE BUDGET OF $201,000. AND I'M WONDERING, WHO HAS NOTICED THAT THE CONTRACT EXCEEDS THE BUDGET? WHO HAS RAISED ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS? WHAT IS YOUR PLAN TO RECONCILE THIS BUDGET SHORTFALL? AND ALL THIS BEGS THE QUESTION, HOW DOES THE COUNCIL DO THEIR RESEARCH AND MAKE DECISIONS ON THESE ITEMS? AND WITH THAT, I URGE YOU TO TAKE YOUR JOB OF OVERSIGHT MORE SERIOUSLY. RESIDENTS DESERVE MORE THAN UNQUESTIONING TRUST IN THE BUREAUCRACY. WE NEED LEADERS WHO VERIFY, WHO ASK HARD QUESTIONS, AND WHO ENSURE THAT BASIC MATH ADDS UP BEFORE APPROVING SPENDING. TRUST MUST BE EARNED THROUGH DILIGENCE AND TRANSPARENCY. THANK YOU, MR. BOWEN. UH, GOOD MORNING, UH, MR. MAYOR, COUNSEL, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. UM, I ECHO EXACTLY WHAT MY COHORT MS, UH, ROBEL WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT BECAUSE, UH, WHEN I LOOKED AT THIS, I KIND OF SAID, OKAY, WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON HERE? AND IT'S A LACK OF TRUST. UH, I WILL GIVE, UH, KUDOS TO MS. ELLIS FOR, FOR MAKING SURE THAT THERE, THIS ISSUE WAS BROUGHT UP BACK IN 2025 WITH A SERIES OF QUESTIONS DURING THE BUDGET, WHICH THERE NONE OF THIS WAS ACTUALLY IN THE BACKUP, NOR WAS THE INFORMATION THAT WAS RECEIVED LATE LAST NIGHT, WHICH WAS, WHAT WAS THE AMOUNT OF THIS? SO I HAVE A PROBLEM WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT YOU WANT MORE TRANSPARENCY, YOU WANT US TO TRUST WHEN WE CAN'T EVEN GET TO THE INFORMATION. AND WHY IS THAT? I MEAN, THIS IS ALMOST LIKE LOOKING FOR AN EASTER EGG OVER AT THE BOTANICAL GARDENS TRYING TO FIND INFORMATION. UH, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY IS $53 MILLION, WHICH IS REALLY A PITTANCE WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR OVERALL BUDGET, AND THERE'S 22 MILLION THAT'S ALREADY BEEN APPROVED. I REALIZE AFTER SPENDING OVER 20 YEARS IN THE SERVICE AND DEALING WITH MILITARY CONTRACTS, YES, FEDERAL PAPERWORK IS A PAIN. IT IS A PAIN, BUT IT IS A MUST WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THIS. ONE OF MY QUESTIONS ALSO IS, WAS THIS, ONE OF THE, WAS THIS ONE OF THE CONSULTING PROJECTS THAT WAS LOOKED AT DURING THE, UH, DURING THE AUDIT OF ALL THOSE CONSULTINGS THAT WAS, THAT WAS GIVEN OUT TO THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE. WE DON'T KNOW. WHY DON'T WE KNOW? BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T LIST THOSE DIFFERENT CONTRACTS, THOSE DIFFERENT ITEMS. WHY IS THAT A SECRET? IT SHOULDN'T BE A SECRET. WE SHOULD UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON WHEN WE LOOK AT THESE AND WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, THEN IT JUST LEADS TO MAKING PEOPLE WONDER WHAT IS ACTUALLY GOING ON. AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET THAT TRUST BACK BY PEOPLE ASKING HARD, SERIOUS QUESTIONS. UM, AGAIN, MS. ELLIS, THANK YOU FOR ASKING THE QUESTIONS AND GETTING THOSE ANSWERS. I JUST WISH WE'D HAVE GOT 'EM EARLIER. THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER 22, BILL BUNCH. GOOD MORNING AGAIN. UH, BILL BUNCH, ATTORNEY AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE, UH, DISTRICT FIVE RESIDENT. UM, I'M HERE TO SUPPORT AN ITEM, THANK GOD . UM, THIS IS PURCHASING 49 ACRES, UH, ON THE BANKS OF BART, UH, OF ONION CREEK IN FAR SOUTH CENTRAL AUSTIN, JUST OFF OF OLD SAN ANTONIO ROAD. UH, THE TRACTOR YOU WERE BUYING HERE, ADJOINS EXISTING PARKLAND AND PRESERVE LAND ALONG THE CREEK. UM, UH, THE EFFORTS THAT THIS CITY HAS MADE TO PROTECT THE ONION CREEK WATERSHED FOR, UH, PROTECTING BARTON SPRINGS FLOWS BECAUSE OF THE RECHARGE THAT FLOWS FROM THIS WATERSHED, AND ALSO TO HELP REDUCE FLOODING DOWNSTREAM, UH, DOWNSTREAM OF I 35, WHICH IS, AND THIS IS VERY CLOSE TO I 35. UM, IT'S BEEN A GREAT THING. UH, WE, THIS IS THE KIND OF SPENDING WE NEED TO BE DOING MORE OF BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE. SO, UH, THANK YOU TO YOU AND YOUR STAFF, UH, FOR MAKING THIS INVESTMENT IN, UH, ADDING, UH, MUCH NEEDED PARK LAND ALONG ONION CREEK. THANK YOU, BILL BUNCH. ITEM 35. [00:20:02] I GET TO GO HOME SOON. UM, WE DIDN'T MAKE YOU DO THIS , RIGHT? SO, UM, ITEM 35 IS TO RESURRECT A, UH, A WATER AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF ROUND ROCK, UH, SO THAT THE AUSTIN CAN PROVIDE THEM ONLY EMERGENCY WATER NEEDS. UM, OF COURSE, THIS SORT OF SUPPORT OF A NEIGHBOR IS A GREAT THING. UM, I WOULD JUST ASK, AND I DON'T SEE ANYTHING IN THE BACKUP, AND IT DOESN'T REALLY SAY THE CONTENTS OF THE AGREEMENT VERY WELL, BUT, UM, THERE SHOULD BE RECIPROCITY HERE, UH, BECAUSE IN MY VIEW, OUR WATER UTILITY, THOSE ON THE DAAS THAT WE'RE SLEEPY AT WALKING THROUGH, UH, WATER ISSUES THAT NEED YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION, AND TO THINK THAT WE ONLY CAN, WE'RE IN A POSITION OF HELPING OTHERS RATHER THAN, HEY, WE MIGHT NEED SOME HELP TOO, UM, IS A WRONG MINDSET. WE'RE RUNNING OUTTA WATER. IF YOU'RE IN A POSITION WHERE YOU'RE JUST ASSUMING YOU'RE GONNA HAND OVER, UH, OBSCENE AMOUNTS OF MONEY TO ELON MUSK'S TERRA FAB, TO OTHER MA MAJOR PE WATER DEMANDS FROM DATA CENTERS, OTHERS JUST STEPPING UP AND THINKING, OH, WE HAVE ENDLESS SUPPLIES. THOSE DAYS ARE OVER. THIS IS A WHOLE NEW WORLD AND WE NEED, Y'ALL NEED TO MOVE QUICKLY TO NOT JUST TAKE THESE KIND WATER ISSUES FOR GRANTED AND SAY, YES, WE CAN ALWAYS HELP. WE CAN ALWAYS HAND OUT MORE WATER BECAUSE WE CAN'T, WE, WE DON'T HAVE THE WATER. AND IT'S GONNA PUT AN INCREDIBLE FINANCIAL BURDEN ON EXISTING RATE PAYERS IF Y'ALL DON'T WAKE UP AND PAY ATTENTION TO THIS ISSUE RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU. ONE MORE. BILL BUNCH. ITEM 36 PASS. MAYOR, THAT CONCLUDES ALL CONSENT SPEAKERS. THANK YOU MEMBERS, AS YOU'VE HEARD, THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS THAT ARE SIGNED UP ON CONSENT, UH, AND THE CONSENT AGENDA. LET ME ASK, IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO PULL ANY OTHER ITEMS OFF OF THE CONSENT AGENDA? ALRIGHT, THEN, UH, THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA IS READ. IS THERE A MOTION MOTIONS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS? IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, UH, DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT, UM, ITEM 28 ON THE AGENDA HERE. UM, AND CELEBRATE THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH HELPING CENTRAL TEXAS FOOD BANK BUILD MORE FOOD PANTRIES ACROSS THE CITY OF AUSTIN. I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL FOR SUPPORTING THIS BUDGET AMENDMENT IN OUR LAST BUDGET CYCLE. UH, THIS IS A GREAT PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES FRESH PRODUCE AND FROZEN PROTEINS FOR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. AND THE CITY'S CONTRIBUTION HELPS THE FOOD BANK EXPAND A VERY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM, BOTH IN AUSTIN, ISD, AND ALSO OTHER AUSTIN DISTRICTS INCLUDING ROUND ROCK, ISD. SO, JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. ANYBODY ELSE? DISCUSSION, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER. JUST WANNA ALSO TAKE A MOMENT TO HIGHLIGHT THE, THE ITEM THAT THE SPEAKER SPOKE ABOUT. ITEM 22. THIS IS THE FIRST ACQUISITION IN A SERIES OF ACQUISITIONS THAT THE COUNCIL, UH, APPROVED MONEY FOR TWO BUDGETS AGO TO INCREASE OUR PARK SPACE, INCREASE OUR OPEN SPACE FOR THE PUBLIC. UH, WE NEED TO HAVE MORE OF THESE SPACES, NOT LESS. AND I'M REALLY EXCITED THAT THIS ONE IS MOVING FORWARD, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL SEE MORE TO COME. UH, BUT WE, WE NEED THESE SPACES TO NOT ONLY PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES, BUT TO BE SPACES WHERE JUST PEOPLE CAN GO AND ENJOY. SO, UH, I WANT TO THANK THE PARKS DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE ONES IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, LIKE MY COLLEAGUES, JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF ITEMS. UM, I WANNA FLAG 32, 33 AND 34. UH, LAST YEAR I TALKED ABOUT, I THINK I SAID SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF THE, UH, THE BEST KIND OF MONEY IS SOMEBODY ELSE'S MONEY, AND IN THIS CASE, WE'RE LEVERAGING STATE AND FEDERAL DOLLARS TO INTEGRATE TRAFFIC SIGNALS AND IMPROVE RESILIENCY AND REDUCE CONGESTION. AND SO I'D LIKE, I'M ENCOURAGING US TO PURSUE MORE OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES AND LOOK FORWARD TO THEM. UH, I WANNA FLAG ITEM SIX AND SEVEN ALSO, WHICH ARE THE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT ONES, WHICH ARE JUST IN A TIME WHERE WE'RE ALSO CONSCIOUS ABOUT WILDFIRE PREVENTION AND TRAFFIC CONGESTION. THAT, UM, SAME THING THAT WE'RE USING DIFFERENT, UH, GOVERNMENT FUNDING AND COORDINATION TO TRY AND ADDRESS THIS. AND THE LAST THING IS JUST TO ECHO SOME OF THE FEEDBACK WE HEARD ON IDA 18. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE SEEN, OR AT LEAST I'VE SEEN SINCE I STARTED [00:25:01] THAT, UM, DOES CONNECT WITH THE CONSULTING AUDIT THAT WE GOT. AND I APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS REVIEWING SOME OF THOSE DETAILS AND LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. UM, BUT I DO THINK THAT THERE'S PROBABLY A, A BETTER WAY THAT WE CAN APPROACH SOME OF THESE THINGS. I KNOW THE INFORMATION IS NOT PRIVILEGED, UH, OR SENSITIVE, UH, BUT IDEALLY IT SHOULD OUGHT TO BE INCLUDED IN ORIGINAL, UH, MATERIAL WITH THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDAS. AND SO I DON'T WANT TO PICK ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, BUT IT WOULD BE NICE TO SEE US, UH, BE MORE RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE ISSUES AS WE PUBLISH THEM. THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER, MAYOR PRO TIM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A, A COUPLE OF ITEMS. UH, ITEM UH, 10 IS, UH, THE STABILIZATION PROJECT FOR WALNUT CREEK IN THE, IN THE DISTRICT. UH, GLAD TO SEE, UH, THIS PROJECT, UH, MOVING FORWARD. UH, THAT'S, UH, A, A PORTION OF THE CREEK THAT IS, UH, STRUGGLING, UH, POLLUTED AND, AND HOPE THE, UH, IMPROVEMENTS WILL IMPROVE THE OVERALL, UH, CONDITION OF, UH, OF THE, OF THE CREEK THERE, UH, AND THE FLOWS INTO THE, THE REST OF WALNUT CREEK. I ALSO WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT, UH, ITEM, UH, 12, WHICH ARE WASTEWATER IMPROVEMENTS, UH, AGAIN IN, UH, DISTRICT FOUR. UH, JUST AGAIN, JUST KIND OF TRYING TO IMPROVE AND, AND MAINTAIN THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE CITY SO THAT THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY CAN JUST QUIETLY GET THE WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICES THAT THEY NEED. UH, I, I KNOW THAT DOESN'T GET A LOT OF PUBLICITY, BUT I JUST WANNA TO HIGHLIGHT THAT, THAT WORK THAT WE'LL BE SEEING SOON IN DISTRICT FOUR. AND, UM, I ALSO WANTED TO, UH, UH, AS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, ALTER MENTIONED, UH, ITEM 22. UH, I, I THINK THAT'S A, A GREAT ACQUISITION. I KNOW THAT, THAT HE LED THE CHARGE IN, IN GETTING THAT, UH, $50 MILLION FOR A LAND ACQUISITION A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. AND THIS IS, UH, SOME OF THAT MONEY ACTUALLY, UH, GOING TO WORK. UM, THIS IS, I, I BELIEVE THIS IS JUST OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS, BUT, UH, ADJACENT TO ANOTHER, UH, GOOD PIECE OF LAND, IT PROTECTS ONION CREEK. IT, IT'S GONNA BE A GREAT PLACE FOR, FOR FOLKS TO GO AND, AND, AND ENJOY. UH, AGAIN, I THINK THIS IS AN EXCELLENT, UH, UH, LAND ACQUISITION FROM, UH, FROM PARKS. SO THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TIM MEMBERS, THAT BEING ALL THE DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDAS ARE READ. LET ME ASK YOU FIRST, IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO ABSTAIN FROM A VOTE ON ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO RECUSE THEMSELVES FROM A VOTE ON ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ALRIGHT, WITHOUT FURTHER DISCUSSION, WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ADOPTED WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ ABSENT, UM, AND THAT THEY'LL COMPLETE THE CONSENT AGENDA. ALRIGHT, MEMBERS, UH, WE WILL NOW GO TO ITEM ITEM NUMBER 43. ITEM NUMBER 43 IS A PUBLIC HEARING WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 43. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN. COUNCILOR MCC CORY? YEAH, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS AFFECTS ANY PROCEDURAL STUFF, BUT COUNCIL MEMBER LANE'S NOT ON THE DAIS. I'M SORRY. YOU, I SHOULD HAVE CALLED THAT OUT. THANK YOU FOR CALLING THAT TO MY ATTENTION. COUNCIL. THE, THE VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, UH, FOR THE RECORD IS THE CONSENT AGENDA WITHOUT OBJECTION IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ ABSENT AND COUNCIL MEMBER LANE TEMPORARILY OFF THE, UH, OFF THE DAIS, I ASSUME. UM, ALRIGHT, ITEM NUMBER [43. Conduct a public hearing and approve a resolution to expand the Austin Downtown Public Improvement District by adding one parcel of land at 360 Nueces Street, Austin, Texas 78701, as requested by the property owners. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.] 43 IS A PUBLIC HEARING WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 43. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN. UH, I'LL TURN TO THE, UM, THERE SHE IS. WELL, WE WILL HAVE TO RECONSIDER IT HERE IN A MINUTE. THANK YOU, UHHUH. UM, I'VE, I'LL, WE'VE OPENED THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 43. IS THERE, UH, ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 43? NO SPEAKERS ON ITEM 43 MEMBERS, THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 43. SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 43. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED. COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE REMOVES APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 43. IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS. IS THERE DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION. ITEM NUMBER 43 IS ADOPTED MEMBERS. COUNCIL MEMBER [Consent Agenda (Part 2 of 2)] LANE HAS INDICATED THAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO BE SHOWN VOTING IN FAVOR OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. IT WILL NOT CHANGE THE OUTCOME OF THE VOTE. ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, I'LL MOVE THE COUNCIL MEMBER LANE BE SHOWN. VOTING IN FAVOR OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN? ANY OBJECTION WITHOUT OBJECTION? COUNCIL MEMBER LANE WILL BE SHOWN VOTING IN FAVOR OF THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IT WAS ADOPTED. ITEM NUMBER [44. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance adjusting the City’s boundary limits by disannexing approximately 0.043 acres of land located at 3103 Fritz Hughes Park Road, Austin, Travis County, Texas under Texas Senate Bill 1844 (89th Regular Session). Case number: C7d-2026-0014. A portion of the property is located in Austin’s full purpose jurisdiction, and the remaining portions are located in Austin’s limited purpose jurisdiction and extraterritorial jurisdiction in Council District 10. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.] 44 IS ALSO A PUBLIC HEARING WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 44. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN AND I WILL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. WE DO HAVE ONE REMOTE SPEAKER ON ITEM 44. COURTNEY HORTER. COURTNEY HORTER, YOU'RE CALLED UPON. HI, THIS IS COURTNEY HORTER, UH, THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PETITIONER REQUESTING THIS [00:30:01] ANNEXATION. I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. UH, MS. MCCARTER IS HERE FOR QUESTIONS. DO WE HAVE ANYBODY WITH ANY QUESTIONS? MS. MCCARTER IS THE ONLY PERSON SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AT THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 44. SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 44. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED AND I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE. ITEM NUMBER 44. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN IS THE MOTION IS TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 44. IS THERE DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION. ITEM NUMBER 44 IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ. ABSENT. THAT'LL TAKE US TO ITEM NUMBER [45. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance adjusting the City’s boundary limits by disannexing approximately 4.047 acres of land located at 2103, 2201, 2203, 2205, and 2301 Manana Street, Austin, Travis County, Texas under Texas Senate Bill 1844 (89th Regular Session). Case number: C7d-2026-0015. Portions of all five properties are located in Austin’s full purpose jurisdiction, and the remaining portions are located in Austin's limited purpose jurisdiction in Council District 10. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.] 45, WHICH IS ALSO A PUBLIC HEARING. UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 45. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN. WE HAVE NO SPEAKERS ON ITEM 45 MEMBERS. THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 45. SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 45. PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 45? COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN MOVES TO APPROVE. ITEM NUMBER 45. IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION. ITEM NUMBER 45 IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ. ABSENT MEMBERS, IT IS NOW 10 [10:30 AM - Austin Housing Finance Corporation Meeting] 30. SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL RECESS THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING. CITY COUNCIL MEETING IS RECESSED AT 10 30 AND I WILL CALL TO ORDER THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION. IT IS, WE'RE CALLING THAT MEETING TO ORDER AT 10 30. WE HAVE A QUORUM OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESENT WITH COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ. UH, BOARD MEMBER VELASQUE IS ABSENT. WE ARE MEETING IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS LOCATED AT CITY HALL AT 3 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND IT IS APRIL 9TH. WE'LL TURN TO STAFF. GOOD. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS NICOLE JOSCELYN. I'M THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OFFICER FOR AUSTIN HOUSING. AND I'M HERE TO PRESENT THE AGENDA FOR THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION BOARD MEETING TODAY. WE HAVE 11 ITEMS ON CONSENT TODAY. UM, OUR FIRST ITEM IS TO AUTHORIZE A LOAN AGREEMENT FOR THE GUADALUPE NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 150,000 FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN OWNERSHIP HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AT 8 0 6 VARGAS ROAD. I'LL NOTE THAT VARGAS IS MISSPELLED IN THE POSTING LANGUAGE AND I'D LIKE TO CORRECT IT TO BE SPELLED V-A-R-G-A-S RATHER THAN GUS AS POSTED. UM, THIS PROJECT AWARD WILL BE USING PROJECT CONNECT FUNDS AND IT IS LOCATED IN DISTRICT THREE. ITEM TWO IS THE AUTHORIZATION OF A LOAN FOR THE GUADALUPE NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, AGAIN, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 135,000 FOR AN OWNERSHIP HOUSING DEVELOPMENT LOCATED AT 21 OR 31 24 FATHERS JOE ZANOTTI. THIS PROJECT IS USING HOME CHODO FUNDS AND IS LOCATED IN DISTRICT THREE. ITEM NUMBER THREE IS TO AUTHORIZE A LOAN AGREEMENT WITH GUADALUPE NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $6.4 MILLION FOR AN OWNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT KNOWN AS ADA ANDERSON PLACE. THIS IS LOCATED AT 57 12 AND A HALF JACKIE ROBINSON STREET. THIS AWARD WILL BE USING 2022 GO BONDS AND IS LOCATED IN DISTRICT ONE. ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS TO AUTHORIZE A LOAN AGREEMENT WITH AUSTIN HABITAT FOR HUMANITY. THIS LOAN IS NOT TO EXCEED $4.7 MILLION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF OWNERSHIP HOUSING AT GOODNIGHT RANCH, LOCATED AT 5,800 ROTUNDA VIEW. THIS AWARD WILL ALSO BE UTILIZING 2022 GO BONDS AND IS LOCATED IN DISTRICT TWO. ITEM FIVE IS TO AUTHORIZE A LOAN AGREEMENT FOR THE GUADALUPE NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION FOR, UM, TO ADD FUNDS TO AN EXISTING LOAN. SO WE'RE ADDING $2,135,500 FOR A TOTAL LOAN AMOUNT, NOT TO EXCEED $5 MILLION $218,900 FOR AN OWNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT KNOWN AS JOHNNY LIMON VILLAGE. THIS IS LOCATED AT 800 GARDNER. IT IS ALSO USED UTILIZING 2022 GO BONDS. THIS IS IN DISTRICT THREE. ITEM NUMBER SIX IS TO AUTHORIZE NEGOTIATION AND EXECUTION, UM, OF ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR A HFC CENTRAL HOUSING NONPROFIT CORPORATION TO MAKE A CAPITAL CONTRIBUTION TO CENTRAL HOUSING LP. UM, THIS IS FOR $2.5 MILLION AND IT'S TO REPAY A PORTION OF THE SELLER FINANCING AT THE PRESERVE AT CENTRAL PARK. THE ADDRESS FOR THIS PROPERTY IS 6,008 AND 6,010 NORTH LAMAR BOULEVARD. THIS WILL BE UTILIZING PROJECT CONNECT FUNDS AND IT'S LOCATED IN DISTRICT SEVEN. ITEM NUMBER SEVEN IS TO AUTHORIZE A LOAN AGREEMENT WITH SOUTH FIRST AFFORDABLE PARTNERS LP IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $4,950,000. THIS IS FOR A MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT KNOWN AS SOUTH FIRST [00:35:01] AFFORDABLE APARTMENTS. THIS IS A SCATTERED SITE ACQUISITION AND REDEVELOP OR RENOVATION OF PROPERTIES LOCATED AT SEVEN 14 TURTLE CREEK BOULEVARD AND 56 0 9 COUGAR LANE. THIS WILL BE UTILIZING A MIX OF 2018 AND 2022 GO BONDS AND IS LOCATED IN DISTRICT TWO. ITEM NUMBER EIGHT IS TO GRANT IN FEE SIMPLE PROPERTY LOCATED AT OR NEAR 3 38 0 1 TANA HILL LANE TO THE GUADALUPE NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. THIS IS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ADA ANDERSON PLACE, WHICH YOU JUST HEARD A, UM, AUTHORIZATION OF A LOAN FOR. THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS IS LOCATED IN DISTRICT ONE. ITEM NUMBER NINE IS TO AUTHORIZE A AMENDED LOAN AGREEMENT FOR THE SASHA LP, UM, TO ADD $300,000 FOR A TOTAL LOAN AMOUNT, NOT TO EXCEED $8,795,000 FOR A MULTIFAMILY RENTAL DEVELOPMENT LOCATED AT 1325 GROVE BOULEVARD. THIS IS UTILIZING PROJECT CONNECT FUNDS AND IS LOCATED IN DISTRICT THREE. ITEM 10 IS TO AUTHORIZE A LOAN AGREEMENT FOR VEA FLATS, UM, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $8 MILLION. THIS IS LOCATED AT 10 17 WEST SLAUGHTER LANE. IT IS UTILIZING 2022 GO BONDS AND IS LOCATED IN DISTRICT FIVE. AND OUR FINAL ITEM TODAY, ITEM 11, IS TO AUTHORIZE AN AMENDMENT TO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO ADMINISTER THE A HFC LOCAL HOUSING VOUCHER PROGRAM TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF AGREEMENT BY SIX, THAT $6 MILLION. UM, THIS IS FOR AN INITIAL TERM OF 12 MONTHS FOR WITH UP TO TWO ADDITIONAL 12 MONTH RENEWAL OPTIONS. THIS WILL BRING THE TOTAL AGREEMENT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $20 MILLION OR $21,756,091. UM, AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR YOU TODAY. ALL OF THESE ITEMS ARE OFFERED ON CONSENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MEMBERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? ALRIGHT, IN THAT CASE THEN THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE. LET ME ASK THIS. DOES ANYBODY WISH TO PULL SOME ITEM OFF OF THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IT'S BEEN PRESENTED? UH, THE MAYOR PRO TIM MOVES APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA IS READ. IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, UH, DISCUSSION. LET ME ASK, IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO ABSTAIN FROM ANY ITEM THAT'S ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ANYONE WISHING TO RECUSE THEMSELVES FROM ANY VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON ANY ITEM THAT'S ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IT WAS READ, HEARING NONE AND WITHOUT, UH, OBJECTION THE CONSENT. SORRY, MAYOR. I'M SORRY. YES, I'M SORRY. I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T CATCH THAT. BOARD. MEMBER SIEGEL. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT TWO ITEMS AND THANK Y'ALL FOR THE PRESENTATION. UM, ITEM SIX IS CONTINUING TO MAINTAIN DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON NORTH MAR BOULEVARD, UH, IN DISTRICT SEVEN. THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE CITY ACQUIRING AND MAINTAINING, UH, PROPERTY 108 UNITS THAT INCLUDES 20% AT 50 A MI, 50% A MI ARE LOWER AND ALSO 10% OF THE UNITS ARE, UM, 10% A MI OR LOWER. SO, UH, THIS IS A WONDERFUL USE OF PROJECT CONNECT ANTI DISPLACEMENT FUNDS. IT'S ALONG THE FUTURE LIGHT RAIL CORRIDOR AND, UH, IT'S NOT EASY TO MAINTAIN DEEPLY AFFORDABLE PROPERTIES LIKE THIS. SO I'M THANKFUL FOR AUSTIN HOUSING'S WORK ON THAT. AND ALSO JUST ITEM 11, THE IDEA THAT WE'RE CONTINUING TO INVEST IN, UH, PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND CONTINUUM CARE. UH, OVER THREE 50 UNITS ARE, ARE SUPPORTED BY THIS ITEM. AND OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES WE NEED TO REALLY, UH, SOLVE THE HOUSING CRISIS. UH, I CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THAT THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS SHOULD STEP UP AND, AND SERVE THE PEOPLE, BUT, UH, I'M PROUD OF OUR CITY FOR CONTINUING TO INVEST IN PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS LIKE THIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UM, JUST BEFORE WE TAKE A VOTE, I I, I WILL ALSO SAY ITEM NUMBER THREE. UH, THE NAME OF THAT HOUSING DEVELOPMENT WILL BE KNOWN AS ADA ANDERSON PLACE. AND ANYONE THAT KNEW ADA ANDERSON, UM, PROBABLY WAS TOUCHED BY HER. AND THAT'S A, IT'S A WONDERFUL TRIBUTE. AND THEN OF COURSE, UH, IT'S ALSO POINTED OUT IN ITEM NUMBER FIVE, THAT DEVELOPMENT WILL BE KNOWN AS THE JOHNNY LIMON VILLAGE. AND AGAIN, SOMEBODY ELSE WHO, UM, JUST A WONDERFUL AUSTINITE AND, AND AND FRIEND OF SO MANY PEOPLE. SO IT'S, IT'S, IT'S COOL THAT, THAT THOSE TWO, UH, PEOPLE ARE BEING HONORED TODAY. UH, WITH THAT BEING SAID, THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDAS WAS READ, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION. THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ADOPTED WITH BOARD MEMBER OF VELASQUEZ ABSENT, UH, THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION ON APRIL 9TH, 2026. WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL ADJOURN THE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION AT 10:38 AM AM WE ARE ADJOURNED. I WILL CALL BACK TO ORDER THE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL, UH, MEMBERS. THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS OUR 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, WHICH IS PUBLIC COMMUNICATION. SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL RECESS THE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL UNTIL PROMPTLY AT 12:00 PM IT IS 10 39. [00:40:01] WE ARE IN RECESS. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY. IT'S 12 [12:00 PM - Public Communication: General] O'CLOCK AND IT'S, UH, STILL APRIL 9TH, 2026. WE HAVE A QUORUM OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL PRESENT. SO I WILL CALL BACK TO ORDER THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL FOR OUR 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, WHICH IS OUR PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS. UH, THE WAY WE'LL OPERATE IS THE CITY CLERK WILL CALL OUT THE NAMES, BUT YOU KNOW, YOU'VE SIGNED UP SO WE WOULD ASK THAT, UH, WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED OUT, THAT YOU MAKE YOUR WAY, UH, TO THE DESK HERE AND FIND A, AN OPEN MICROPHONE AND GO IN THE ORDER THAT YOU'RE CALLED. I WOULD ALSO ASK THAT IF YOU WOULD PLEASE, EVEN THOUGH YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, UH, STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. WITH THAT, I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK. THANK YOU MAYOR. FIRST WE HAVE RAYOR RADIO, AFI MOORE, AND SAM RATCLIFFE, IF YOU'LL PLEASE COME FORWARD. AND BY THE WAY, WE, UH, MEMBERS, WE HAVE, UH, A TREAT TODAY. UH, WE HAVE A GROUP OF STUDENTS AND I HOPE THAT THEY WILL ALSO IDENTIFY WHERE THEY'RE FROM AND WHAT GRADE THEY'RE IN AS PART OF THEIR INTRODUCTION WITH THEIR NAME. SO THAT, UH, WE WILL BE ABLE TO HEAR THEIR, THEIR PUBLIC COMMUNICATION AND KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THEM. IF YOU'LL START AND PLEASE MOVE THAT MICROPHONE IN FRONT OF YOU AND MAKE SURE IT'S ON. IT'S GREEN. IT THAT WORKS. WE CAN HEAR YOU. THANK YOU. HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS R RODIA. I'M IN EIGHTH GRADE. EVERY YEAR, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FLOOD DOWNTOWN AUSTIN FOR SO BY SOUTHWEST, ACL AND OUR COUNTLESS OF OTHER FESTIVALS. WHEN CROWD DENSITY EXCEEDS FIVE PEOPLE PER SQUARE METER, INDIVIDUALS LOSE THE ABILITY TO MOVE VOLUNTARILY. PEOPLE GET SWEPT AND PEOPLE FALL. I'M ASKING AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL TO IMPLEMENT PEDESTRIAN DIRECTIONAL SIGNAGE AT MAJOR AUSTIN EVENTS BECAUSE UNMANAGED FOOT TRAFFIC IS NOT JUST AN INCONVENIENCE, IT'S A PUBLIC HEALTH RISK. ANYONE WHO HAS BEEN TO THESE EVENTS CAN TELL YOU IT FEELS MESSY AND UNCOORDINATED. BIDIRECTIONAL FOOT TRAFFIC CAUSES TURBULENCE AND MISDIRECTION. A PUB MED STUDY FOUND THAT MERGING PEDESTRIAN FLOWS DIRECTLY INCREASED DENSITY, REDUCED VELOCITY, AND RAISED THE RISK OF DANGEROUS CONFLICT. WHILE TAKING AN HOUR TO TALK TO MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, I GOT TO HEAR ABOUT SOME OF THE TROUBLING EXPERIENCES PEOPLE HAVE HAD. SOMEONE SAID THAT THEY ALMOST GOT TRAMPLED WHILE OTHERS SAID THAT THEY GOT SEPARATED FROM THEIR GROUPS. IF NOTHING CHANGES, WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE CHALLENGES AND THIS WILL FACE MAJOR, MAJOR LEGAL, FINANCIAL, AND REPUTATIONAL COST TO THE CITY, WHICH IS GREATER THAN THE COST OF SIGNAGE. INSTEAD OF WAITING FOR A MAJOR ACCIDENT TO HAPPEN, WE SHOULD TAKE CHARGE NOW. WHY WAIT TO IMPROVE AND GROW AS A CITY? AUSTIN MARKETS ITSELF AS THE LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD. AND THAT TITLE DEPENDS ON PEOPLE FEELING SAFE AT EVENTS, NOT JUST HAVING A GOOD TIME COUNCIL MEMBERS. THE ASK IS SIMPLE DIRECTLY. AUSTIN CENTER FOR EVENTS TO CREATE A PEDESTRIAN SIGNAGE AND FLOW MANAGEMENT PLAN BEFORE THE NEXT EVENT SEASON. CLEAR DIRECTIONAL MARKERS, DESIGNATED ENTRY, AND EXIT ROUTES ONE-WAY CORRIDORS. AUSTIN ALREADY LEADS THE WORLD IN MUSIC, CULTURE AND INNOVATION. LET'S LEAD IN SAFETY TWO, BECAUSE THE SAME CITY THAT WELCOMES HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE EVERY SPRING HAS THAT RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE ALL OF THEM GET HOME SAFE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YES. HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS SAMUEL RATCLIFFE AND I'M IN SEVENTH GRADE. IMAGINE INTENTIONALLY HARMING SOMEBODY IN AUSTIN. WE DON'T HAVE TO IMAGINE IT. WE HURT THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY EVERY DAY THROUGH HOSTILE ARCHITECTURE. HOSTILE ARCHITECTURE IS ARCHITECTURE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO DISCOURAGE HUMAN USE, SUCH AS I COULD GO OUTSIDE RIGHT NOW AND SEE A HOMELESS PERSON SITTING ON THE GROUND INSTEAD OF ON A BENCH. THAT IS BECAUSE OF A HOSTILE ARCHITECTURE. BECAUSE OF OUR HOSTILE ARCHITECTURE PROBLEM, HOMELESS PEOPLE ARE HAVING TO GO SIT ON SPIKED BENCHES AND BENCHES WITH RAILS IN THE MIDDLE, WHICH STOPS 'EM FROM LAYING DOWN COMFORTABLY. PUBLIC SPACES SHOULD WELCOME EVERYBODY AND NOT PUSH THOSE WHO NEED THEM AWAY. MOST. ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL COALITION OF THE HOMELESS, HOSTILE ARCHITECTURE DRIVES MILLIONS OF HOMELESS AWAY FROM THE CITY EVERY YEAR AND AWAY FROM SOCIAL SERVICES. IF THEY CAN'T GET TO SOCIAL SERVICES, THEY CAN'T GET HELP. SO IF THAT KEEPS HAPPENING, THEN MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WILL GO HOMELESS. I ALSO ASKED MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHETHER THEY WANTED TO SEE A HOSTILE ARCHITECTURE REMOVED. AND OVER 20 PEOPLE SAID, YES. THAT'S MORE THAN 90% OF THE PEOPLE I ASKED. IT PROVES SOMETHING MORE THAN THAT. WE WANT TO CHANGE. WE NEED A CHANGE. WE SHOULD REMOVE HOSTILE ARCHITECTURE AND REPLACE IT WITH MORE EQUITABLE HUMANE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT SUPPORTS ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, NOT JUST PEOPLE WITH HOUSING. THANK [00:45:01] YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE LULU BRESSON, EDDIE MORGAN JUNCO, BOBBY SUE BROWN, HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS LULU BRESSON AND I'M AN EIGHTH GRADE STUDENT. ACCORDING TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN, AROUND 2.6 MILLION PEOPLE PER YEAR, WALK, BIKE, AND RUN ALONG THE LADY BIRD LAKE TRAIL. AND IT'S NOT JUST PEOPLE. ALL SORTS OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS CALLED THE SHORELINE HOME AND THAT LAND IS QUIETLY BEING DEGRADED. I'M HERE TO ASK AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL TO IMPROVE GREEN SPACES AROUND LADY BIRD LAKE BY REPLANTING NATIVE VEGETATION AND IMPROVING TRASH INFRASTRUCTURE BEFORE RAPID DEVELOPMENT CONTINUES TO HARM OUR NATURAL HABITATS. AUSTIN IS ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING CITIES IN THE COUNTRY. AND WHILE THAT GROWTH IS INCREDIBLY EXCITING, IT'S HOW WE MANAGE IT THAT DETERMINES HOW AUSTIN LOOKS LIKE AS IT CONTINUES TO GROW. AS LAND GETS PAVED OVER, SURFACE RUNOFF INCREASES. AND ACCORDING TO THE EPA, ONE CITY BLOCK GENERATES FIVE TIMES AS MUCH RUNOFF AS A FORESTED BLOCK OF THE SAME SIZE THAT RUNOFF CARRIES POLLUTION, LITTER, AND BACTERIA DIRECTLY INTO THE LAKE. THE CITY IS ALREADY SPENDING $300,000 A YEAR TRYING TO SOLVE THE ALGAE BLOOMS CAUSED BY POLLUTION. AND THAT PROGRAM ENDS THIS YEAR WITH NO REPLACEMENT. WHEN I WALK ALONG THE LAKE, I SEE IT FIRSTHAND. THERE'S TRASH TANGLED ALONG THE BANKS THAT NEVER MADE IT TO WHERE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO GO. THE NUMBERS TELL THE SAME STORY. THE RIPARIAN CORRIDOR ALONG LADY BIRD LAKE IS AROUND 200 ACRES, YET IT SUPPORTS OVER 190 BIRD SPECIES, 24 MAMMAL SPECIES, AND DOZENS OF REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS. RECENTLY I TOOK AN HOUR TO SPEAK TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS DOWNTOWN. IN JUST THAT HOUR, I MET 33 PEOPLE WHO FIRMLY AGREED WITH THIS PROPOSAL. THAT SHOWS ME THAT THIS ISN'T A SILLY CONCERN. IT'S SOMETHING THAT OUR COMMUNITY SEES AND DEEPLY FEELS AND THEIR RIGHT TO CARE. BECAUSE THE MORE POLLUTED LADY BIRD LAKE GETS, THE MORE OUR COMMUNITY IS HARMED. NOT ONLY IS THE HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITY AT RISK, BUT SO IS OUR ECONOMY. BECAUSE LADY BIRD LAKE SITS AT THE CENTER OF AUSTIN'S $7.4 BILLION TOURISM INDUSTRY. WE ALREADY KNOW WHAT'S WORKING. THE CITY IS ALREADY IN PARTNERSHIPS WITH, UM, LOCAL NONPROFITS, REVEGETATING, SHOUL, AND WILLIAMSON CREEK. SO I'M ASKING AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL TO BRING THE SAME COMMITMENT TO LADY BIRD LAKE, IMPROVE GREEN SPACES BY REPLANTING NATIVE VEGETATION AND IMPROVING TRASH INFRASTRUCTURE SO OUR COMMUNITY CAN CONTINUE TO USE THESE SPACES WITHOUT HARMING THEM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. PLEASE. HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS EDDIE JUNCO. IMAGINE GOING TO A CITY MEETING THINKING YOUR VOICE MATTERS, AND THEN REALIZING SOME OF THE PEOPLE THERE WERE PAID TO SHOW UP. I BELIEVE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL SHOULD REQUIRE DISCLOSURE WHEN INDIVIDUALS ARE BEING PAID TO PARTICIPATE IN CITY MEETINGS OR PUBLIC EVENTS. RIGHT NOW, THERE IS NO CLEAR WAY TO TELL WHEN PEOPLE ARE BEING PAID TO APPEAR AS LOCAL RESIDENTS. THIS CAN CREATE A MISLEADING PICTURE OF PUBLIC OPINION. FOR EXAMPLE, A REPORT BY THE NEW YORK STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOUND THAT OVER 18 MILLION PUBLIC COMMENTS SUBMITTED TO THE FCC WERE FAKE. MANY GENERATED BY ORGANIZATIONS AND PAID CAMPAIGNS USING PEOPLE'S IDENTITIES WITHOUT THEIR CONSENT. THIS SHOWS HOW EASILY PUBLIC INPUT CAN BE MANIPULATED AT A LARGE SCALE. WHEN I TOOK TIME TO SPEAK TO LOCAL RESIDENTS, ALL 40 OF THEM SAID YES TO DISCLOSURE AND EVEN SEND THINGS LIKE IT'S NOT OKAY THAT PEOPLE FROM OUT OF TOWN MAKE OUR DECISIONS. AND PAID VOICES ARE NOT REAL VOICES. THIS MATTERS BECAUSE CITY LEADERS RELY ON PUBLIC INPUT TO MAKE DECISIONS. IF THAT INPUT ISN'T GENUINE, POLICIES MAY NOT REFLECT THE ACTUAL NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. AND TRUST IN THE PROCESS STARTS TO BREAK DOWN. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, YOU CAN MAKE EASIER DECISIONS WITH EVEN BETTER RESULTS. SO I ASK CITY COUNCIL LEADERS FOR SIMPLE TRANSPARENCY. IF SOMEONE IS BEING PAID TO PARTICIPATE, THAT SHOULD BE DISCLOSED SO THAT WAY WE CAN MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND AND NOBODY'S PAYING YOU, RIGHT? ? NO, SIR. APPRECIATE YOUR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND THANKS FOR TAKING A GOOD JOKE. NEXT WE HAVE AALIYAH KLEINFELTER, SCOTT COBB. ELISA HOGAN. [00:50:05] I FORGOT WHAT SAYING. YOU'RE FINE. JUST WHATEVER YOU WANNA SAY. TAKE YOUR TIME. IT'S OKAY. TAKE A NOSE AND CITY COUNCIL COUNCIL. OKAY. GIVE IT. OKAY. IT'S IMPORTANT TO SHARE. YOU CAN DO IT. IT'S OKAY. PUSH. JUST PUSHING YOUR, YOUR FIRST LINE. JUST IMAGINE YOU, WE HAVE TO GO BACK. OKAY. AND I KNOW YOU WANT TO DO THIS, SO LET'S MAKE IT HAPPEN. HOLD MY HAND AND DELIVER YOUR SPEECH. YOU KNOW IT, IT'S YOUR FIRST LINE. WHAT'S YOUR FIRST LINE? WHAT'S YOUR FIRST LINE? I'M TRYING TO CALM DOWN. WE DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF TIME. WE NEED TO DELIVER OUR SPEECH. OKAY. LET'S DO IT. OKAY. NOW'S THE TIME. LET'S GO. YOU GOT IT. YOU GOT IT. YOU GOT IT. YOU GOT IT. YOU GOT IT. YOU, YOU'RE SO CAPABLE. I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT. LET'S DO IT. RUNNING OUTTA TIME. MR. COBB, ARE YOU HERE? MR. COBB? SCOTT COBB. LISA HOGAN. ELISA HOGAN. ELISA HOGAN. MR. ROBBINS COUNSEL, UM, I AM VICE CHAIR OF THE CITY'S RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT TWO RESOLUTIONS WE'VE RECENTLY SENT YOU. FIRST IN JANUARY WE PASSED A MULTIFACETED SET OF RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE NEW FRANCHISE BEING NEGOTIATED WITH TEXAS GAS SERVICE. THIS IS A ONCE IN A GENERATION OPPORTUNITY TO GET VERY LONG NEEDED REFORMS. WHILE OUR COMMISSION HOPES YOU'LL SUPPORT MOST OR ALL OF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS, WE ARE NOT A SOVEREIGN BOARD AND WE CANNOT SPEAK FOR COUNCIL. I'M ASKING YOU TO OFFICIALLY GO ON RECORD FOR WHAT YOU WANT FROM THIS NEW FRANCHISE. UH, SECOND. IN FEBRUARY, OUR COMMISSION ASKED COUNCIL TO CHALLENGE AUSTIN ENERGY'S REGRESSIVE RESIDENTIAL RATES THAT PUNISH CONSUMERS WHO USE LESS ENERGY. AUSTIN ENERGY'S 2022 RATE CASE PROPOSAL WAS TO DECIMATE THE PROGRESSIVE RATE STRUCTURE FROM 8 CENTS PER KILOWATT HOUR DIFFERENCE BETWEEN [00:55:01] THE LOWEST AND HIGHEST TIERS TO ONLY 1 CENT BETWEEN THE LOWEST AND HIGHEST TIERS. AND THE, THOUGH THE UTILITY WAS NOT WHOLLY SUCCESSFUL, THE RATE STRUCTURE WAS WEAKENED TO THE POINT WHERE IT UNEVENLY HURTS. MANY COUNCIL DISTRICTS MORE THAN AVERAGE, PARTICULARLY DISTRICTS 3, 4, 6, 7, AND NINE AND MAJORITIES IN EVERY COUNCIL DISTRICT ARE PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE RATE INCREASES. SO LARGE HOMES CAN GET A RATE BREAK IF ALL THIS WERE NOT BAD ENOUGH. AUSTIN ENERGY IS HIDING RATE INCREASES IN THE CHAOTIC BUDGET PROCESS WHERE THE INCREASES WILL RECEIVE LITTLE ATTENTION AND WHERE STAKEHOLDERS WILL NOT HAVE THE POWER OF DISCOVERY TO DETERMINE IF THE RATE CASES ARE JUSTIFIED. COUNSEL, UH, OUR COMMISSION IS ASKING THAT ANY FUTURE RATE INCREASES BE EVENLY DISTRIBUTED TO BOTH LOW AND HIGH CONSUMERS. AND THAT DETAILED ANALYSES LIKE, UH, THE DISTRICT MAPS THAT I RECENTLY PRESENTED, UH, UH, SO THAT YOU CAN SEE WHICH DISTRICTS ARE BEING, UH, ADVERSELY AFFECTED. UH, WE ALSO ASK THAT PROPOSED RATE INCREASES RECEIVE THEIR OWN SEPARATE HEARINGS AND PROCEEDINGS APART FROM THE CITY BUDGET PROCESS SO THAT THEY CAN RECEIVE ADEQUATE ATTENTION AND THAT SO THAT STAKEHOLDERS CAN BE GRANTED DISCOVERY POWER TO DETERMINE IF THE INCREASES ARE JUSTIFIED. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. YES. PLEASE COME FORWARD. WE'RE HAPPY TO HEAR FROM YOU. HONOR, HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL, HONORABLE MAYOR, AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS ALAYA KLEINFELTER AND I'M IN EIGHTH GRADE. WHAT IF A BIRD UP? GOOD. WHAT IF I YOU'RE DOING GREAT. DOING GREAT. DEEP BREATH. AND WE'RE ALL HERE FOR YOU. TELL ME ABOUT AND REMEMBER, LOOK RIGHT AT THE MAYOR. HE STILL KIND. YOU MET HIM. LOOK AT, LOOK AT THE MAYOR. IT'S A . YOU GOT THIS. YOU GOT IT. LET ME ASK YOU SOMETHING. WOULD IT BE HELPFUL FOR YOU IF WHEN WE FINISH THIS PART THE COUNCIL COMES DOWN AND HAS A PICTURE MADE WITH YOU AND ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS AND YOU CAN TELL US INDIVIDUALLY AT THAT TIME, WOULD YOU LIKE? BUT I LAY, HOW ABOUT WE DO THAT? I'M HAPPY TO DO THAT AND I THINK THE COUNCIL WOULD ALL ENJOY THAT. YEAH. TOPIC. TOPIC. I WANNA START WITH GO FOR IT. START WITH YOUR HOOK. YEAH, GO AHEAD. WHAT IS AN ENTIRE SPECIES WAS SURVIVAL WAS DEPENDING ON DECISIONS MADE RIGHT HERE IN AUSTIN. AUSTIN SHOULD AUSTIN SHOULD ENSURE PROTECTION OF THE PERSON HAVE HABITAT CONSCIOUSNESS PLANNING BEFORE DEVELOPMENT. 'CAUSE THE SURVIVAL OF AN ENTIRE SPECIES DEPENDS ON IT. THE GOLDEN CHEEK WARBLER IS NOT JUST ANOTHER BIRD. IT IS AN ENDANGERED BIRD THAT LIVES EXCLUSIVELY IN CENTRAL TEXAS. THIS MAKES OUR REGION ONE OF THE ONLY PLACES WHERE IT COULD SURVIVE. IT DEPENDS ENTIRE, IT DEPENDS ON ONE TREE. THE ASH JUNIPER, THE US FISH AND SERVICES REPORTS THAT THE BIRD USES. THE MA USES THE BARK OF THE MATURE ASH JUNIPER TO BUILD ITS NEST. WITHOUT THEM, IT CANNOT SURVIVE. WITHOUT IT, IT CANNOT REPRODUCE. SORRY. YET THESE VERY TREES ARE BEING CLEARED AT A ALARMING RATE DUE TO URBAN DEVELOPMENT, THEY'RE OFTEN MISLABELED AS INVASIVE, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE ESSENTIAL AND NATIVE TO THIS ECOSYSTEM. ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY, THE BIRD HAS LOST A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF ITS BREEDING HABITAT DUE TO LAND CLEARING. I, I FORGOT THE REST OF MY SPEECH. LOST A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF IT DUE TO LAND CLEARING. I FORGOT THE REST OF MY SPEECH. IT'S IMPORTANT. REMEMBER, THE COMMUNITY IS, THIS ALSO MATTERS TO OUR COMMUNITY. WE, MY GROUP SPOKE WITH AUSTIN RESIDENTS. 36 PE PEOPLE SUPPORTED PROTECTING [01:00:01] BOTH THE ASH JUNIPER AND THE WARBLER, INCLUDING SOMEONE WHO ORIGINALLY HAD A DISLIKE FOR BIRDS. . YES, YES, YES, YES, YES. WHY DOES IT MATTER? THAT WASN'T PART OF MY SPEECH THOUGH. IT'S ALRIGHT. YOU'RE DOING GREAT. WHAT'S YOUR CALL TO ACTION? I URGE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL TO ENSURE PROTECTION OF THE ASH JUNIPER, THE TRASH JUNIPER HAVE HABITAT CONSCIOUSNESS DEVELOPMENT BEFORE BUILDING ON LAND. BECAUSE WHEN WE LOSE THIS TREE, WHEN WE LOSE THIS TREE CENTER PLACE WHEN LOSE THE TREE, WHAT, WHEN WE LOSE THE TREE, WE LOSE SOMETHING THAT IS ESSENTIAL TO THE WARBLER. AND WHEN WE LOSE THE WARBLER, THERE'S NO BRINGING IT BACK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO, UM, EXTREMELY WELL DONE. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE AND THANKS FOR, UM, I MEAN THAT KIND OF MAKES OUR DAY GETTING TO HEAR FROM Y'ALL. WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO RIGHT NOW, JUST SO THAT YOU'LL KNOW WHAT THE PROCESS IS, IS TYPICALLY WHAT WE DO IS AT THE END OF PUBLIC COMMUNICATION, WHICH YOU'VE JUST PARTICIPATED IN, WE RECESS THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL. WE HAVE LIVE MUSIC, AND THEN WE COME BACK AT A POINT IN TIME, UH, TO CONTINUE WITH THE BUSINESS OF CITY COUNCIL. BUT WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO TODAY IS A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT, UH, I MUST ADMIT, WE DON'T ALWAYS TAKE PICTURES WITH THE PEOPLE THAT COME IN AND, AND SPEAK TO US , UH, DURING PUBLIC COMMUNICATION. UH, BUT, BUT I THINK EVERYBODY WOULD REALLY LIKE TO DO THAT TODAY. WE'RE WE'RE, WE'RE MOVED BY YOUR, YOUR BEING HERE. UM, WE'RE ALSO MOVED BY THE LEVEL OF PREPARATION YOU PUT INTO WHAT YOU'VE DONE TODAY, INCLUDING GOING OUT AND TALKING, TALKING TO FOLKS BEFORE YOU COME DOWN AND TALK TO US. UM, THAT REALLY MEANS SOMETHING TO ALL OF US. SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, COUNSEL, WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS, UH, WE WILL RECESS THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING. UH, OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS, IS OUR TIME CERTAIN AT TWO O'CLOCK. SO WE WILL RECESS UNTIL TWO O'CLOCK. I ASKED YOU ALL, UH, TO FEEL FREE TO STAY AND LISTEN TO THE LIVE MUSIC THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE, BUT, UH, WE WILL BE IN RECENT WITHOUT OBJECTION. THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL IS IN RECESS UNTIL TWO O'CLOCK. IT IS 12:22 PM NOW WE'RE IN RECESS. AND THE COUNCIL WILL COME DOWN AND GREET YOU ALL AND, UH, HAVE PICTURES MADE. IS THAT OKAY? GOOD DEAL. THANK Y'ALL. WE ARE IN RECESS. THE [Live Music] AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL. UH, I'M SO EXCITED, UH, TO BE DOING THIS. IT'S SUCH A GREAT DAY IN AUSTIN. UH, UNFORTUNATELY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ IS UNABLE TO BE HERE. BUT AS, BUT YOU KNOW, HE REACHED OUT AND, UH, ASKED IF I WANTED TO DO THIS AND I WAS LIKE, YEAH, LET'S, LET'S, LET'S DO THIS. SO, UH, I'M BEFORE, BEFORE I GET INTO, UH, THE MUSICAL ACT ITSELF, UH, I JUST WANTED TO CHAT ABOUT WHO BARS ROBINSON IS AUSTIN'S OWN RISING AND WELL-KNOWN ARTIST BARS. ROBINSON IS REDEFINING TEXAS HIP HOP WITH A UNIQUE SOUND THAT RESONATES GLOBALLY. HIS [01:05:01] VERSATILITY HAS EARNED HIM FANS IN COLLABORATIONS WITH ARTISTS IN GERMANY, SOUTH AFRICA AND CANADA, MY MAIN FOCUS IS CREATING TIMELESS MUSIC FOR ALL GENERATIONS. BAR STATES THIS UNIVERSAL APPEAL DRIVES HIS INDEPENDENT CAREER POWERED BY MARKETING OF WILL BELAFONTE AND ANYTOWN USA NETWORK, ALLOWING HIM TO MAINTAIN CREATIVE CONTROL AND MAKE SMART BUSINESS DECISIONS. IN AUSTIN, HE'S ALSO A COMMUNITY BUILDER, WORKING ALONGSIDE ARTISTS LIKE BLACK CHILD, COREY KENDRICKS, CLOVER CERTIFIED, AND MANY MORE AS HE CONTINUES TO INNOVATE AND INSPIRE BARS. ROBINSON IS A NAME TO WATCH IN HIP HOP. AND WITH THAT Y'ALL CAN TAKE IT AWAY. I APPRECIATE Y'ALL, I APPRECIATE Y'ALL. ALRIGHT, THIS FIRST ONE IS ON TOP. WE DOING TWO SONGS, THEN WE GOTTA GET OUT THE WAY. THIS FIRST ONE'S ON TOP AND UH, THIS IS JUST MY STORY ABOUT GROWING UP IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. IF YOU'RE FROM AUSTIN, CAN I HEAR YOU MAKE SOME NOISE FOR ME? IF YOU LOVE AUSTIN, CAN I HEAR YOU MAKE SOME NOISE FOR ME? ALL RIGHT. ALRIGHT. THIS IS PLUSH POSSE, MAN. IT'S PLAYING. YEAH, THIS PLUSH POSSE BAND WITH US RIGHT HERE AND WE GONNA ROCK. READY? YEAH. YEAH. USED TO HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS. THOUGHT I WAS ON TOP. THOUGHT I HAD IT ALL. BUT LOOKING BACK, I DID NOT KNOW. THIS ISN'T EASY. THIS ISN'T EASY. USED TO HAVE A LOT OF THOUGHT. I WAS ON TOP. THOUGHT I HAD IT ALL. BUT LOOKING BACK, I DID NOT KNOW THIS. THIS ISN'T EASY. YEAH, YOU BACK TO THEM DAYS MOVING AT THE PARK. BETTER PUT THAT BIKE INSIDE WHEN IT'S AT THE DOOR. SHOULDA BEEN AT HOME. THAT LIGHT CAME ON. MAMA, I'M SORRY FOR THE STRESS. THE PROBLEMS I BROUGHT AND NOW KNOW THAT CAR WAS REAL BECAUSE I'M FIGHTING MY OWN. I BE DEEP INSIDE MY HEAD WHEN I'M JUST TRYING TO MOVE ON. I DON'T KNOW WHO CAN RELATE, BUT IF YOU CAN, I HOPE YOU FEEL ME. I THINK WE WENT TO STRUGGLE YET AT HUMBLE MAKE. I WOULD'VE RE OUT IN MY POCKET AND FLEX WITH A COUPLE STACKS. NO CREDIT ON DE COST HOMIE. THAT'S ALL I HAD. THE MATH THAT WASN'T THAT ENOUGH. YOU REALLY HAD TO TO DO MY THING. THAT AIN'T NO BRAGGING BRO. CAME UP ON A SIDE OF TOWN WHERE I CAN'T HAVE MY KIDS AT SO MUCH THAT IT TOOK FOR ME. BUT SLOWLY I'M GONNA GET BACK EVERY NOW AND THEN. I TAKE A DRIVE TO EASE MY MIND SO MUCH ON MY SHOULDERS. BUT I'M STILL TRYING FOREVER. LOT OF FRIENDS THOUGHT I WAS ON TOP, THOUGHT I HAD IT ALL. BUT LOOKING BACK, I DID NOT KNOW. THIS ISN'T EASY. Y'ALL SEE THAT WITH ME? THIS ISN'T EASY. USED TO HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS THOUGHT I WAS ON TIME, THOUGHT I HAD IT ALL. BUT LOOKING BACK, I DID NOT KNOW. THIS ISN'T EASY. YEAH, THIS ISN'T EASY. CAN DO. GD WENT BACK FROM MY DIPLOMA. I CAN'T BUILD UP ON YOUR BUSINESS WHEN I'M TRYING TO OWN IT WITH WHAT I KNOW AND WHAT THEY TAUGHT ME. NOW WATCH HOW I SHOW YELLOW. AIN'T NO FAKING. THEY TELL WRONG. THEY TRY TO TEACH YOU GENE BUT THEY DON'T KNOW THE FIRST STEPS. I DOUBT YOU KNOW THAT EITHER LOOK LIKE SOMETHING YOU AIN'T LEARNED YET. TALK ABOUT THIS LIKE YOU WANT, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT THE WORK IT ARE YOU GONNA PUT ON A SHOW YOU WANT? COME BEHIND THE CURTAIN. TRY TO TELL ALL THE TIME. TRY TO TELL ALL THE TIME. IF YOU GO AND GET IT, STOP TALKING AND GET COMMITTED. TRY TO TELL THEM ALL THE TIME. TRY TO TELL THEM ALL THE TIME. THIS IS MORE I'M, IF THEY LISTEN WHEN I'M THERE WALKING LIKE, YEAH, I'VE BEEN AWAY LOOKING AT THIS MICROPHONE. LIKE I CAN'T GET AWAY. TAKE IT TO THEM DAYS WHEN YOU WOULD'VE BEEN AFRAID. KEEP YOUR HEAD AND EYES OPEN. THAT'S THE ONLY WAY I HAD A LOT OF FRIENDS. THOUGHT I WAS ON TIME, THOUGHT I HAD IT ALL. LOOKING BACK, I DID NOT KNOW THIS IS, THIS ISN'T EASY. GOOD. GOOD. WHEN I SAY GOOD, Y'ALL SAY VIBES. GOOD, GOOD. AND WE DOWN. I APPRECIATE THE AND FAMILY THAT MADE TIME TO COME OUT HERE ON A THURSDAY DURING THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY AND I APPRECIATE PLUS POSSE. CAN I GET SOME NOISE FROM PLUS POSSE BAND ONE TIME? ALRIGHT, WE GOT ONE MORE AND THEN WE GOTTA GET OUT THE WAY. IS THAT COOL? ALL RIGHT. THIS ONE IS TELL NO LIES. IF YOU DON'T TELL NO LIES, LET ME HEAR YOU SAY RIGHT NOW. TELL NO LIES. TELL NO LIES. ONE MORE TIME. TELL NO LIES. TELL NO LIES. ALL RIGHT, LET'S DROP THAT. GOTTA MAKE SURE STICKS WAS GOOD. CH CH. YEAH. YEAH. NO, I CANNOT TELL NO LIES. YEAH. AND KNOW WHAT IT IS. I KEEP IT ONE HONEY. DON'T CARE IF THEY FEEL ME THOUGH. DON'T GET IT TWISTED. YEAH, YEAH. NO, I CANNOT TELL NO [01:10:01] LIES. YEAH. THEY CAUGHT ME. THE REALS. I'M WORKING WITH FIVE. THEY ALL IN THEY FEELINGS. I CAN'T EVEN FEEL 'EM. HEY, WHY CAN I TELL NO LIES OUT THE OVEN? WHY CAN TELL NO LIES? YEAH, HOMIE, WE JUST TOOK THAT ROUTE. THAT'S CRAZY. WHY CAN TELL LIES? YEAH. 1 32. STOP TRIPPING. YEAH. YEAH. I CANNOT TELL NO LIES. I CAN'T DON'T THAT. I HATE THAT. YEAH. YEAH. I CANNOT TELL NO LIES. YEAH. AND KNOW WHAT IT, I KEEP IT ONE. DON'T CARE IF THEY DO ME. NO. DON'T GET TWIST. YEAH, YEAH. NO, I CAN TELL NO LIES. CHECK. WORKING, FEELING. I CAN'T EVEN, HEY, NINE TIMES OUTTA 10 DAY SHAKE. KEEP MY GUARD UP THERE. CRAZY. TELL LIES. YEAH. THE I'M ON THERE. TALK TO YOU. CALL BACK. CALL CAN TELL. YEAH. CAN'T TELL. DON'T THAT. I HATE THAT. Y YEAH. TELL NO LIES S**T. AND THEY KNOW WHAT IT'S, I KEEP IT. DON'T, IF THEY ME DON'T GET IT TWISTED TELL LIES S**T. THEY, I EVEN, I CAN TELL THE PLUSH POSSE BAND WHAT'S UP TO SEE ONE FROM EVERYBODY. I APPRECIATE ALL OF Y'ALL. AND ONE LAST THING TODAY IS MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER'S BIRTHDAY, SO I WANT TO SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY CALLIE ROBINSON. LET'S GO. APPRECIATE Y'ALL. APPRECIATE YOU, MAN. YEAH. WE GOT A LOT OF REALLY GREAT MUSIC AND MUSICIANS COME THROUGH, UH, THIS BUILDING. BUT THIS MIGHT HAVE BEEN MY FAVORITE, UM, ACT SO FAR. UM, WELL I GOT A PROCLAMATION, SO I'M GONNA, IF YOU DON'T MIND COMING UP. YES SIR. HOLD, UM, AND I'M GONNA READ IT. OKAY. UH, BE KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS IS BLESSED WITH MANY CREATIVE MUSICIANS WHOSE TALENT EXTENDS TO VIRTUALLY EVERY MUSICAL GENRE. AND WHEREAS OUR MUSIC SCENE THRIVES BECAUSE AUSTIN AUDIENCES SUPPORT GOOD MUSIC PRODUCED BY LEGENDS, OUR LOCAL FAVORITES AND NEWCOMERS ALIKE. AND WHEREAS WE ARE PLEASED TO SHOWCASE AND SUPPORT OUR LOCAL ARTIST NOW, THEREFORE, I COUNCIL MEMBER ZOE KARIE ON BEHALF OF KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL AND THE REST OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 9TH, 2026 AS BARR ROBINSON DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. GOOD . ALRIGHT, REAL QUICK, I GOT A FEW SHOUT OUTS. UH, I KNOW MY GUY RIGHT HERE. MASK IS ON THE CAMERA RIGHT NOW. BUT THIS IS THE FIRST PERSON I RECORDED WITH IN 2017 WHO HELPED ME. I, I NEVER RECORDED MYSELF A DAY AFTER THAT BECAUSE HE REALLY HELPED ME FIND MY SOUND, UH, MYSELF, AND MY SOUND. HE'S A GOOD DUDE. HE HELPED ME FIND A SOUND AS A ARTIST. I WANNA SHOUT OUT LAUNCHPAD STUDIOS. AAY, ONE OF MY TOP ENGINEERS AS WELL, HELPED ME FIND MY SOUND. UH, I WANNA THANK JUICY. JUICY IS, UH, PLUGGED IN WITH RADIO AND EVERYONE IN THE SCENE OF AUSTIN AND SHE WAS REALLY ONE OF THE FIRST ONES TO GIVE ME OPPORTUNITIES TO GET ON BIG STAGES. AND THEN I WANNA SHOUT OUT TY, TY GIBSON HELPS ME WITH MANAGEMENT. HE HELPS ME WITH PROMOTION. MARKETING HELPS ME WITH ADVICE OF BEING A GOOD DAD AND, UH, JUST KEEPING EVERYTHING MOVING MAN. AND LAST, I WANNA THANK MY MOMS. I WANT TO THANK MY DAD. I WANT TO THANK MY STEPMOM THAT'S HERE. MY UNCLE THAT'S HERE, MY AUNT, MY COUSIN, MY GREAT AUNT, NOOK, TURNER. UH, WHO ELSE? MY LADY ALI. I WANNA SHOUT HER OUT 'CAUSE SHE HELPS DO EVERYTHING AND PROMOTES, UM, EVERYTHING I DO AS AN ARTIST, THAT'S MY BACKBONE. AND SHE MADE THE GEAR CREATIVE CUSTOM WEAR. AND I WANNA SHOUT OUT MY GUYS IN THE BAND. MAN. WE COULDN'T DO THIS WITHOUT EVERYBODY THAT'S IN THIS ROOM RIGHT NOW. SO I APPRECIATE Y'ALL. THANK YOU. CAN I GET A OH SURE. [01:16:43] AND I'LL CALL THE [2:00 PM - Zoning and Neighborhood Plan Amendments (Public Hearings and Possible Action)] AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL BACK TO ORDER, UH, MEMBERS WHERE AT OUR TWO O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN AND I'LL RECOGNIZE OUR STAFF. THANK YOU MAYOR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I'M JOY HARDEN WITH AUSTIN PLANNING. THE ZONING AND NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AMENDMENT PORTION OF YOUR AGENDA BEGINS WITH ITEM 46 NPA 20 23 0 0 0 2 2 0.01. THIS ITEM'S OFFERED AS AN APPLICANT INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT. THE RELATED REZONING IS ITEM 47 C 1 4 20 24 0 0 1 0. THIS ITEM'S OFFERED FOR AN APPLICANT INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT AND ITEM 48, WHICH IS ALSO RELATED TO ITEMS 46 AND 47 C 1 4 20 24 0 0 1 7. AND AGAIN, THIS ITEM'S OFFERED AS AN APPLICANT INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT. ITEM 49 IS NPA 20 22 0 0 5 0.01. THIS ITEM'S OFFERED AS AN APPLICANT INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT AND THE RELATED REZONING IS ITEM 50 C 14 20 22 0 1 0 7. AND AGAIN, THIS ITEM'S OFFERED AS AN APPLICANT INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT. ITEM 51 NPA 20 24 0 0 5 0.01. THIS ITEM'S OFFERED AS AN APPLICANT POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR MAY 28TH COUNCIL MEETING. THE RELATED REZONING IS ITEM 52 C 1 4 20 24 0 0 9 9. AGAIN, THIS ITEM'S OFFERED AS AN APPLICANT POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR MAY 28TH COUNCIL MEETING. ITEM 53 IS C 1 4 20 25 0 1 0 9. THIS ITEM'S OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS. ITEM 54 IS C 1 4 20 24 0 1 6. THIS ITEM OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS. ITEM 55 IS C 8 4 6 7 5 7. THIS ITEM IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS WITH THE FOLLOWING MOTION, WHICH READS, AND THIS IS A LITTLE LENGTHY, UM, BUT IT BEGINS WITH, WITH THE APPLICANT'S CONSENT. STAFF REQUESTS THE FOLLOWING CHANGES TO THE DRAFT ORDINANCE. NUMBER ONE, AMEND PART FOUR OF THE DRAFT ORDINANCE TO REPLACE EXHIBIT B WITH THE ATTACHED EXHIBIT B. AMEND PART SIX OF THE DRAFT ORDINANCE AS FOLLOWS. PART SIX, PART EIGHT L FIVE OF THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE AS AMENDED IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS. PART FIVE, DEVELOPMENT OF PARCEL A IS LIMITED TO A MAXIMUM HEIGHT OF 160 FEET, EXCEPT THE MAXIMUM HEIGHT IS LIMITED TO 90 FEET FOR THAT PORTION OF PARCEL A ALONG THE EASTERN BOUNDARY LINE. AND MEASURING 30 FEET ALONG THE SOUTHERN PROPERTY LINE AS DEPICTED ON EXHIBIT B NUMBER THREE AT A NEW PART NINE OF THE DRAFT ORDINANCE AS FOLLOWS. AND REMEMBER, THE REMAINING PARTS OF THE DRAFT ORDINANCE, PART NINE, PART EIGHT F OF THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS. LANDOWNERS SHOW CONSTRUCTIVE VEGETATIVE WALL ALONG THE WEST SIDE OF THE FIRST THREE STORIES OF ALL BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES. NUMBER FOUR, ADD A NEW PART 10 OF THE DRAFT ORDINANCE AS FOLLOWS AND NUBER THE REMAINING PARTS OF THE DRAFT ORDINANCE. PART 10 LANDOWNERS SHALL COMPLY WITH THE DIMENSIONAL STANDARDS IN SUBSECTION C. ONE SECTION 4.3 0.3 STANDARDS SUB CHAPTER E CHAPTER 25, 2 ZONING ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF A STRUCTURAL BUILDING WITH FRONTAGE LOCATED ON CONCORDIA AVENUE [01:20:03] FIVE AT A NEW PART 11 OF THE DRAFT ORDINANCE AS FOLLOWS AND REMEMBER THE REMAINING PARTS OF THE DRAFT ORDINANCE, PART 11 LANDOWNER SHELL AT THE TIME OF SITE PLAN INCORPORATED A SIDEWALK TREATMENT PLAN FOR ANY CONCORDANT AVENUE DRIVEWAY AND CONSTRUCT A SIDEWALK WITH CONTRAST TO ENHANCE VISIBILITY AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AS APPROVED BY THE DIRECTOR OF AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS. NUMBER SIX, ADD A NEW PART 12 OF THE DRAFT ORDINANCE AS FOLLOWS AND NUBER THE REMAINING PARTS OF THE DRAFT ORDINANCE PART 12. PRIOR TO THE APPROVAL OF THE FIRST SITE PLAN ON THE PROPERTY, LANDOWNER SHALL PAY THE AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS THE AMOUNT OF $150,000 FOR PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS TO BE CONSTRUCTED BY THE CITY AT THE INTERSECTION OF HARMAN AVENUE AND CONCORDIA AVENUE. IF THESE IMPROVEMENTS ARE NOT APPROVED, IF THESE IMPROVEMENTS ARE NOT APPROVED BY THE DIRECTOR OF AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS, THE FUNDS WILL REMAIN WITH ARTS AND PUBLIC PLACES. AND WITH THAT, AGAIN, THIS ITEM IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT AT ALL THREE READINGS. AND LASTLY, ITEM 56 C 14 20 25 0 8 0. THIS ITEM IS OFFERED AS AN APPLICANT POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR APRIL 23RD COUNCIL MEETING. AND THIS CONCLUDES THE READING OF THE ZONING NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AMENDMENT PORTION OF YOUR AGENDA. AND AS ALWAYS, THIS IS AT YOUR DISCRETION. MEMBERS. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OF MS. HARDIN? OKAY, UM, THE, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS FOLLOWS, 46 47 48 49 AND 50 AN INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT 51 AND 52 A POSTPONEMENT TO MAY 28TH, 53, 54, AND 55. UH, ON ALL THREE READINGS ON 55, PLEASE NOTE THAT IT INVOLVES THE MOTION THAT WAS READ INTO THE RECORD BY MS. HARDIN. 56, A POSTPONEMENT TO APRIL 23RD. IS THERE A MOTION MOTIONS MADE BY THE MAYOR PRO TEMS? SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER LANE? UM, WE WILL NOW LOOK AT THE CITY CLERK TO SEE IF WE HAVE PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. WE DO HAVE ONE REMOTE SPEAKER. NICOLE ALDO. HI, NICOLE ELLO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT. APOLOGIES FOR NOT BEING THERE IN PERSON TODAY DUE TO SCHEDULING CONFLICTS. THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNSEL FOR YOUR PATIENCE. AS THE CULTURAL DISTRICT AND THE OWNER OF 1000 RED RIVER, WE'RE ABLE TO DETERMINE A PASS FORWARD REGARDING THE REZONING. THE CULTURAL DISTRICT WOULD LIKE TO EMPHASIZE THAT THIS THREE ACRE SITE AT 1000 RED RIVER IS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AS A CATALYST AND BRIDGE WITHIN THE RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT CORRIDOR, ESPECIALLY AS THE INNOVATION DISTRICT MEDICAL DISTRICT AND WATERLOO GREENWAY CONTINUE TO EVOLVE. WE EMPHASIZE THE NEED FOR A BROADER VISION, ONE THAT ADDS VALUE TO AUSTIN'S CULTURE AND DOES NOT DIMINISH IT. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO COLLABORATING WITH THE LANDOWNER AND DEVELOPMENT TEAM AS THE PROJECT MOVES FORWARD. WE JUST ASK THAT MAYOR AND COUNCIL HOLD THE APPLICANT ACCOUNTABLE TO THE COMMITMENTS OUTLINED IN THEIR LETTER OF INTENT AND ENSURE THAT FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE DOWNTOWN EVOLUTION WHILE MAINTAINING CULTURE. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO IN-PERSON SPEAKERS. CHARLES, THE HARD COURT. ARE YOU WAIVING YOUR RIGHT TO SPEAKER OR YOU JUST WAIVING 'CAUSE YOU THINK WE'RE PRETTY OKAY. THANK YOU MAYOR. THAT CONCLUDES ALL SPEAKERS MEMBERS. THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS ON THE CONSENT, CONSENT ZONING ITEMS. UM, IS THERE A DISCUSSION? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE. I GUESS WE WON'T SET A RECORD AFTER ALL. NO, NO. YOU, YOU, UH, APPARENTLY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE HAD THE OVER FOR, UH, TWO 10. UM, JUST WANNA QUICKLY, UH, TOUCH ON A FEW ITEMS, A FEW EXCITING THINGS HAPPENING, UH, IN DISTRICT NINE. UH, WANNA TOUCH ON ITEM 53, WHICH IS A WESTLAND CHURCH SITE. UM, IF ANYONE'S EVER BEEN TO HYDE PARK AND GONE TO ALL DAY PIZZA AND GOT A DELICIOUS SLICE OF PIZZA AND THEN ALSO GONE OVER TO FIRST SLIDE BOOK, UH, THAT IS WHAT'S GONNA BE COMING TO THAT, THAT CHURCH, UH, ON WESTLAND. SO I'M REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE THE, THE FIRST LIGHT BOOK CONCEPT CONTINUE, UH, THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT. UH, THAT'S ITEM 53. ITEM 54, UH, RED RIVER. AND THEN NICOLE JUST SPOKE. UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT AS AN OFFICE, UH, FROM THIS DIOCESE ABOUT THE POTENTIAL THAT THAT SITE HAS, UH, BRINGING TOGETHER THE RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT AS WELL AS THE INNOVATION DISTRICT. SO I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE WORK, UH, DONE, UH, TO REACH AN AGREEMENT ON, YOU KNOW, THROUGH ENGAGEMENT, UH, FROM BOTH THE APPLICANT AND THE RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT. UH, WE KNOW THAT THIS, THAT THE EASTERN PART OF DOWNTOWN IS GUARANTEED TO EVOLVE AND IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE ARE INTENTIONAL ABOUT HOW WE EVOLVE TO ENSURE THAT NO, THAT NO ONE IS CURRENTLY, UH, WHO'S CURRENTLY IN THIS AREA IS EVER LEFT BEHIND. UH, OUR ACTIONS SHOULD REFLECT OUR VERBAL COMMITMENTS. UH, AND I WANT THE CULTURAL INNOVATION DISTRICTS ALONG RED RIVER TO THRIVE IN TANDEM, AND I KNOW WE CAN ACHIEVE THAT, UH, IF WE BEGIN TO THINK OF RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT AS A HOLISTIC, UH, PLACEMAKING EFFORT. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CONTINUED WORK IN THAT AREA. [01:25:01] UH, AND THEN LASTLY, UH, ITEM 55. UM, IT WAS GREAT TO SEE CHARLES, SO I APPRECIATE HIM WAVING BOTH HIS TIME TO SPEAK AND ALSO, UH, WAVING TO, TO THE DIOCESE. BUT I APPRECIATE THE TIME, ENERGY, AND THOUGHT THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD PUT INTO THE PROCESS. UH, I KNOW IT TAKES A LOT OF PEOPLE'S PERSONAL TIME TO WORK ON THESE GREAT, UH, CASES AND I GREATLY APPRECIATE CHARLES AND UH, AND THE FOLKS IN THE HANCOCK NEIGHBORHOOD AROUND THIS. UH, AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE APPLICANT FOR WORKING DILIGENTLY WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, IN MY OFFICE TO REACH AN AGREEMENT. UM, WE REMAIN COMMITTED AS AN OFFICE, UH, WORKING WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, AN AT AN A TPW ON, UH, ON NEXT STEPS FOR THIS AREA, UH, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE MOBILITY IMPACTS ON CONCORDIA, UH, THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS. SO, UH, REALLY EXCITED THAT WE, WE GOT TO THE PLACE WHERE WE ARE. UH, BUT I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, WORK TO BE DONE AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO, TO WORKING WITH EVERYONE. GREAT. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER. AND, AND YES, REITERATE WHAT, WHAT HE SAID. THANK YOU, UM, FOR YOUR WORK. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO ABSTAIN FROM A VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? AS IT WAS READ, ANYONE WISHING TO RECUSE THEMSELVES FROM A VOTE ON ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IT WAS READ? ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON ANY ITEM? ALRIGHT, THEN WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE CONSENT AGENDA AS READ IS ADOPTED MEMBERS. THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE BUSINESS. WE HAVE TO COME BEFORE THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AT THIS REGULAR SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL. SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL IS ADJOURNED AT 2:09 PM THANKS EVERYBODY. . * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.