Apr 23, 2026 City Council Meetings

TO TRULY UNDERSTAND HOMELESSNESS IN AUSTIN, WE NEED BETTER INFORMATION ABOUT WHERE OUR HOMELESS NEIGHBORS ARE COMING FROM, SUCH AS DID THEY MOVE HERE BY CHOICE OR WERE THEY SENT BY ANOTHER MUNICIPALITY WHEN THEY ARRIVED? DID THEY COME FOR A JOB OR WERE THEY ALREADY HOMELESS? HAVE THEY EVER HELD A JOB IN AUSTIN OR HAD THEIR OWN HOUSING? HERE, THE DATA MATTERS TO TAXPAYERS WHO SUPPORT HELPING LOCAL AUSTIN NEIGHBORS, BUT OPPOSE USING PUBLIC RESOURCES FOR HOMELESS MIGRANTS, KNOWING IF OUR POLICIES ATTRACT HOMELESSNESS IS ESSENTIAL FOR PUBLIC TRUST AND EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS.

WE'LL BEGIN WITH IN-PERSON SPEAKERS ON ITEM ONE, JEN ROBO.

GOOD MORNING, COUNSEL.

I'M JEN ROBO, A LONGTIME AUSTIN RESIDENT.

I'M ADDRESSING THE HOMELESS STRATEGIC PLAN FROM THE COUNCIL'S MEETING ON MARCH 26TH.

FIRST, I THANK THE HOMELESS STRATEGIES AND OPERATIONS FOR THEIR PLANNED CLEANUPS.

TAXPAYERS HAVE ASKED FOR THIS, AND IT SHOWS THAT THE CITY IS WORKING TO MAINTAIN PUBLIC SPACES.

WHILE I APPRECIATE THE CITY GATHERING DATA TO ASSESS OUR STRATEGIES, EFFECTIVENESS, SIGNIFICANT GAPS REMAIN IN DATA COLLECTION AND HOUSING OPTIONS.

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WE ALSO FACE GAPS IN HOUSING OPTIONS.

MANY HOMELESS NEIGHBORS REFUSE SHELTER, YET OUR STRATEGY RELIES ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY ON TRADITIONAL MODELS AND FAILS TO OFFER LEGAL NON-TRADITIONAL ALTERNATIVES THAT RESPECT THE RIGHTS OF BOTH THE UNHOUSED AND HOUSED.

OUR CITY CODE MAKES IT A CRIME TO CAMP IN PUBLIC AREAS THAT ARE NOT DESIGNATED AS A CAMPING AREA BY THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.

THIS INDICATES THAT PARK PARKS AND REC HAS THE AUTHORITY TO DESIGNATE SUCH AREAS, AND AUSTIN HAS NEARLY 300 ACRES OF UNDEVELOPED PARKLAND.

TAXPAYERS DO NOT WANT ENCAMPMENTS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ON STREETS, ALONG TRAILS, CREEKS, OR SWIMMING HOLES.

HOWEVER, CREATING PUBLIC CAMPING AREAS OUTSIDE THESE ZONES WITH CLEAR ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC SAFETY GUIDELINES COULD PROVIDE VIABLE OPTIONS FOR THOSE WHO DECLINE SHELTER.

THESE GAPS COME FROM ADDRESSING THE ISSUE TOO NARROWLY AND EXCLUDING TAXPAYERS AS STAKEHOLDERS.

WE WILL MOVE NEXT TO ITEM THREE, BILL BUNCH.

KATIE CAM, IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK.

MR. BUNCH IS PASSING ON ITEM NUMBER THREE, KATIE CAM, I DON'T SEE KATIE CAM ON.

PERFECT.

WE'LL MOVE TO HANG, HANG BEFORE WE GO TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE.

ITEM NUMBER FOUR, MEMBERS.

UH, ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS A LEGAL MATTER WITH A PROPOSAL FOR A SETTLEMENT.

SO I'M GOING TO ASK, UH, OUR LAW DEPARTMENT TO COME FORWARD AND MAKE A BRIEF PRESENTATION WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR.

GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR.

THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

I AM ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY JEREMY THOMPSON.

I'M HERE TODAY TO RECOMMEND, UH, THAT YOU APPROVE A SETTLEMENT PAYMENT AND A PERSONAL INJURY LAWSUIT THAT APPEARS ON YOUR AGENDA IS ITEM NUMBER FOUR.

ITEM NUMBER FOUR, OUR MIJO VERSUS CITY OF AUSTIN.

WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU PROVE A PAYMENT OF $120,000 TO SETTLE THE LAWSUIT TITLED GUSTAVO, OUR MIJO V, CITY OF AUSTIN, DBA AUSTIN ENERGY.

THIS LAWSUIT RELATES TO A JANUARY, 2018 CAR ACCIDENT INVOLVING AN AUSTIN ENERGY VEHICLE WHERE PLAINTIFF SEEKS PAYMENT FOR INJURIES ALLEGEDLY SUSTAINED IN THE ACCIDENT.

IN EXCHANGE FOR THE PAYMENT, PLAINTIFF WILL RELEASE ANY AND ALL CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY FROM THE ACCIDENT AND WILL ALSO DISMISS HIS LAWSUIT FILED IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF TRAVIS COUNTY.

THE AUSTIN CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE RECOMMENDS THAT YOU APPROVE PAYMENT BASED UPON THESE TERMS. I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

THANK YOU MEMBERS.

DOES ANYBODY HAVE QUESTIONS OF OUR LEGAL STAFF? THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.

UH, I'LL TURN BACK TO THE CITY CLERK TO GO TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE ON ITEM NUMBER FIVE, BILL BUNCH.

MR. BUNCH IS PASSING ON ITEM NUMBER FIVE.

ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, DAVID LEVESQUE, HAYDEN BAGOT.

ITEM SIGNED UP ON SIX.

ITEM NUMBER SIX IS I INDICATED EARLIER, HAS BEEN PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA, MR. BUNCH.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND BEGIN SPEAKING.

MAYOR AND COUNSEL, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

SPEAK TODAY.

MY NAME IS HAYDEN BAGGET AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE COALITION FOR CLEAN, AFFORDABLE, RELIABLE ENERGY OR CCARE TO SUPPORT THE UTILITY SCALE SOLAR AND DISTRIBUTED BATTERY STORAGE CONTRACTS, AS WELL AS THE RESOLUTION TO EXPAND RESIDENTIAL SOLAR AND BATTERY ACCESS TODAY.

COLLECTIVELY, THESE ITEMS HELP THE UTILITY FULFILL ITS RESOURCE GENERATION PLAN AND MAINTAIN ITS RENEWABLE ENERGY PRODUCTION AS A PERCENTAGE OF LOAD, WHILE ALSO OFFERING FINANCIAL BENEFITS TO CUSTOMERS.

PAUL ROBBINS IS BOBBY LAVINSKY.

MOVING ON TO ITEM EIGHT.

HERE, YOU'LL HAVE TIME DONATED.

IT'LL BE FOUR MINUTES.

COUNSEL, UH, A FEW DAYS AGO YOU RECEIVED A LETTER FROM ME AND FOUR OTHER COMMISSIONERS FROM THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION ASKING YOU TO DELAY ITEM EIGHT ON YOUR AGENDA.

THIS IS A CONTRACT FOR ELECTRIC STORAGE BATTERIES LOCATED

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AT INDIVIDUAL BUILDINGS IN THE AUSTIN AREA.

WE HAVE AN ENGAGED COMMISSION, AND I FEEL SURE THAT WE COULD HAVE GOTTEN AT LEAST EIGHT OUT OF OUR 10 MEMBERS TO SIGN ON TO THIS LETTER, BUT I LIMITED IT TO FIVE MEMBERS OUT OF CONCERN FOR QUORUM RULES.

I BEGAN MY INVOLVEMENT IN AUSTIN'S AFFAIRS IN 1977, OPPOSING THE SOUTH TEXAS NUCLEAR PROJECT.

IN A FIVE YEAR PERIOD, UH, THE NUKE EXPERIENCED A 460% OVERRUN.

THIS EARLY EXPERIENCE GREATLY INFLUENCED MY SKEPTICISM OF UTILITY PROPOSALS THAT DO NOT OFFER ENOUGH INFORMATION TO UNDERSTAND THEM.

IN 2008, AUSTIN ENERGY PROPOSED A BIOMASS POWERED GENERATOR WITH VERY LITTLE TIME TO EVALUATE IT.

DESPITE WARNINGS ABOUT ITS COST FROM ENVIRONMENTALISTS COUNCIL, APPROVE THE CONTRACT, AND TODAY IT IS THE UTILITY'S MOST EXPENSIVE SOURCE OF ELECTRICITY.

THE COST WAS SO HIGH THAT MAYOR STEVE ADLER RAN AGAINST IT IN HIS FIRST CAMPAIGN.

UH, WE, THE COMMISSION ARE GENERALLY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT STORAGE BATTERIES AND THEIR POTENTIAL TO BE COORDINATED AS VIRTUAL POWER PLANTS.

AND I HAVE HEARD GOOD THINGS ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC COMPANY.

THE PROBLEM ARISES BECAUSE THERE'S NO INFORMATION IN THE BACKUP MATERIAL ABOUT THE CONTRACT'S COST EFFECTIVENESS TO AUSTIN ENERGY'S RATE PAYERS OR PARTICIPATING CUSTOMERS.

THIS IS A $41 MILLION CONTRACT.

UH, WHERE IS THE COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS AFTER THE FAILURE OF PROP Q? EVERY SINGLE LINE ITEM IN YOUR BUDGET IS UNDER A MICROSCOPE.

THERE IS NO TIME TO, THIS IS NO TIME TO ABANDON FISCAL CAUTION.

THE UTILITY HAS PUBLICLY STATED ITS INTENT TO RAISE RATES 5% A YEAR FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.

I'VE WORKED AROUND ENERGY POLICY FOR ALMOST 50 YEARS.

I HAVE PERSONALLY ATTEMPTED TO ANALYZE THE SPARSE AMOUNT OF DATA IN THE BACKUP MATERIAL, BUT LITTLE INFORMATION THERE SEEMS TO POINT TO A COST OF ABOUT 19 CENTS KILOWATT HOUR CONTRASTED TO RETAIL AUSTIN ENERGY POWER OF ABOUT 11 CENTS PER KILOWATT HOUR IN 2025.

THE CONTRACT MIGHT STILL BE COST JUSTIFIED.

THERE MAY BE SAVINGS FROM REDUCED AIR COT FEES OR SAVINGS FROM LOWER PEAK DEMAND COSTS, BUT THE UTILITY NEEDS TO BE TRANSPARENT AND EXPLAIN WHAT THESE BENEFITS ARE.

I WOULD NOT EXPECT MORE THAN A MONTH'S DELAY TO GET MORE CLARITY ON THE NUMBERS.

AGAIN, THIS IS A $41 MILLION CONTRACT AND THE FIRST OF WHAT MIGHT BE A GROWING TREND.

THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW THE BENEFITS.

I WOULD THINK YOU WOULD WANT TO BOAST ABOUT THEM.

UH, TAKE THE TIME TO DO THIS RIGHT.

AGAIN, PLEASE GET RATE PAYERS A COST BENEFIT NUMBER.

TWO 90, INDEPENDENT TESTING HAS SHOWN ELEVATED LEVELS OF LEAD BARIUM AND ARSENIC WELL ABOVE EPA ACCEPTABLE LIMITS FLOWING DIRECTLY TOWARD THE PLANT.

CONTINUING ON ITEM EIGHT, DAVID LAVESQUE AND HAYDEN BAGOT.

IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

I DON'T, I DON'T SEE ANY MOVEMENT.

WE'LL MOVE TO ITEM 10, JENNIFER ROBO AND BILL BUNCH.

GOOD MORNING COUNSEL.

I'M JEN ROBO LONGTIME AUSTIN RESIDENT.

I'M SPEAKING ON ITEM 10, THE PROPOSED ISSUANCE OF BONDS FOR THE WALNUT CREEK WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.

I SUPPORT NECESSARY INVESTMENTS IN OUR WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE, HOWEVER, APPROVING THIS BOND WITHOUT ADDRESSING KNOWN UPSTREAM CONTAMINATION IN THE WALNUT CREEK WATERSHED RAISES SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND LONG-TERM RISK TO TAXPAYERS.

MY FIRST CONCERN IS FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP.

THE WALNUT CREEK PLANT PROCESSES WATER FROM A WA WATERSHED CONTAMINATED FOR OVER 50 YEARS BY LEACHATE FROM THE CLOSED TRAVIS COUNTY LANDFILL.

ON HIGHWAY

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UNADDRESSED UPSTREAM POLLUTION COULD DRAMATICALLY INCREASE FUTURE OPERATING COSTS.

MAINTENANCE AND TREATMENT CHALLENGES ALL PASSED ON TO AUSTIN TAXPAYERS.

MY NEXT CONCERN IS REGULATORY OVERSIGHT.

WHEN RESIDENTS RAISED WATER QUALITY ISSUES, WATERSHED PROTECTION STAFF SAID THEY WOULD ASK TRAVIS COUNTY IF THEY WANTED THE CITY INVOLVED IN THE STAKEHOLDER GROUP.

THIS INVERTS THE RELATIONSHIP.

THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS THE REGULATOR.

TRAVIS COUNTY IS A DEFENDANT IN A STATE ENVIRONMENTAL ENFORCEMENT ACTION OVER THE LANDFILL, REGULATORS SHOULD NOT NEED A POLLUTER'S PERMISSION TO INVESTIGATE THEIR OWN WATERSHED.

MY LAST CONCERN IS ACCOUNTABILITY.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION TRIED TO ADVANCE A RESOLUTION FOR WATER QUALITY TESTING IN WALNUT CREEK, BUT CITY LEGAL INTERVENED TO BLOCK IT.

SO THE CITY AVOIDS ACCOUNTABILITY BY STAYING IGNORANT OF THE DATA.

THE PLANT EXPANSION MAY BE NECESSARY, BUT PROCEEDING WHILE ACTIVELY AVOIDING UPSTREAM ACCOUNTABILITY TURNS A NEEDED INVESTMENT INTO A FAR LARGER LIABILITY FOR AUSTIN'S FUTURE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME MR. BUNCH.

COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.

UH, BILL BUNCH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WILL SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE, UH, SPEAKING AGAIN, UH, AND URGING YOU TO STOP OR SLOW DOWN ON THIS MASSIVE EXPANSION TO THE, UH, WALNUT CREEK WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.

FROM 75 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY CAPACITY TO A HUNDRED MILLION GALLONS OF DAY PER DAY CAPACITY, UM, WE SIMPLY DON'T HAVE THE WATER TO EVER NEED THAT MUCH CAPACITY, UM, TO CONVERT INTO SEWAGE.

UH, WE ARE IN A WATER CRISIS.

UH, YOU'RE ALSO FACING SEVERE FISCAL RESTRAINTS AS YOU KNOW IT.

UH, AND THIS PROJECT JUST IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS, BALLOONED FROM A BILLION DOLLARS TO $1.6 BILLION.

NOW, I APPRECIATE THE ITEM BEFORE YOU IS A $59 MILLION LOAN.

JUST A SMALL PIECE OF THIS.

UM, BUT I URGE YOU TO SLOW DOWN ON THIS.

THERE DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE SOME FLOOD MANAGEMENT AT THE SITE, BUT WE REALLY NEED TO HAVE THIS WASTEWATER TREATED UPSTREAM, DECENTRALIZED, WHERE IT CAN BE REUSED ON SITE OR CLOSE TO WHERE IT'S NEEDED.

SIMPLY DOING THINGS THE SAME WAY WE'VE ALWAYS DONE 'EM, UH, HAS GOT TO STOP.

TIMES ARE HAVE CHANGED.

WE'RE IN A WHOLE NEW REALITY, A WHOLE NEW WATER REALITY AND, AND TECHNOLOGY REALITY.

AND ALSO URGE YOU TO LISTEN TO WHAT MS. ROBOSHO SAID.

YOU HAVE SE HAVE HAD VERY SERIOUS UPSTREAM POLLUTION PROBLEMS WITH SAMSUNG AND OTHERS, DISCHARGING TOXIC MATERIALS INTO THE WASTEWATER SYSTEM, DOING DAMAGE TO THE FUNCTIONING OF THIS PLANT.

UM, AND IF ANY OF ALL, ANY OF THAT CONTINUES, UH, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE WAY MORE FINANCIAL PROBLEMS ON YOUR HANDS.

SO WE REALLY NEED TO SCRUTINIZE THIS PROJECT.

MOVING TO ITEM 30, SYNOVIA JOSEPH, MS. JOSEPH, MS. JOSEPH, I DON'T BELIEVE SHE'S HERE.

ITEM 31, BILL BUNCH.

MR. BUNCH IS PASSING ON ITEM 31.

ITEM 33, BILL BUNCH.

FOLLOW YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSIONERS WHO DID THE DEEP DIVE ON IT AND RECOMMENDED AGAINST IT.

UH, BILL BUNCH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE.

THIS ITEM IS TO APPROVE A SERVICE EXTENSION REQUEST TO A 2.85 ACRE TRACT, UH, VERY CLOSE TO BARTON CREEK AND THE BARTON CREEK WATERSHED.

UM, YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOMMENDED AGAINST THIS, YOUR STAFF HAD ALSO BEEN RECOMMENDING AGAINST THIS.

UH, YOU HAVE A DIVIDED VOTE FROM YOUR WA UH, WATER AND WASTEWATER COMMISSION.

UM, IT'S A FAIRLY SMALL TRACT, BUT YOU ARE NOW CHALLENGED WITH THE ABILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT ONCE THEY GET THIS WATER AND SEWER SERVICE, THAT THEY DON'T COMPLETELY CHANGE THEIR PLANS AND OVERDEVELOP THE TRACT.

UH, YOU KNOW ABOUT THE STATE LAW, UH, CHANGES THAT ARE IN PLACE.

AND SO, UH, WOULD URGE YOU TO BE EXTRA CAREFUL, UH, DOING THIS AND TO

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

ITEM 34, CARLOS LEONE AND BILL BUNCH.

SO AT CARLOS LEON, FIRST AND FOREMOST, CIOS FOR LETTING ME SAY WHY NOT TO DO BUSINESS WITH KA METRO.

ON ITEM 34, APRIL 17TH, GUILTY BLACKMAIL.

OBAMA BUS DRIVER 3 2 2 4 7 0 INTENTIONALLY INITIATED AN ESCALATED ABUSIVE CONTROLLING BEHAVIOR AGAINST ME TO DISRESPECTFULLY, TRIED DENYING ME WHAT'S LEGALLY MINE TO ACCOMMODATE AND SERVE HIM.

THOUGH HE MUST ACCOMMODATE AND SERVE ME BECAUSE HE'S A PUBLIC SERVANT LIKE YOU PER TEXAS.

PENAL CODE 1.07 A 41 A YESTERDAY GUILTY OLDER MIDDLE EASTERN OBAMA MALE DRIVER OF BUS 2 8 0 6, REFUSE TO BOARD ME FALSELY CLAIMING I WAS BANNED.

HE REFUSED TO LOOK AT THE CAT METRO LETTER I HAD IN HAND SAYING I COULD RIDE AND REFUSED TO CALL RADIO DISPATCH TO VERIFY HIM BLATANTLY DISREGARDING TRUTH RULES.

PROTOCOL CHAIN OF COMMAND AND CONSTITUTIONAL LAW TRIGGERED AN IRATE MALE PASSENGER TO ATTACK ME WITH ASSAULT BY THREAT AND ASSAULT BY CONTACT, EXPLICITLY THREATENING TO SMASH HIS METAL THERMOS IN HAND ON MY SKULL, AND SHOVING ME OFF THE BUS FOR LAWFULLY STANDING MY GROUND.

THESE CAT METRO ATTACKS APPEAR TO BE CONTINUING RETALIATION AGAINST ME FOR WHISTLE BLOWING CAT METRO SENIOR DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, DARRELL JAMAL'S, ALLEGED CRIMES A PD SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT.

LIEUTENANT BREAL SAID, MY REPORT IS STILL BEING REVIEWED, A PREREQUISITE TO LAUNCHING AN OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION TOWARD CRIMINALLY PROSECUTING JAMELE.

REREAD MY REPORT THAT I MAIL EMAILED ALL OF YOU FEBRUARY 25TH VIA THE CITY CLERK BECAUSE KAT METRO, CEO PRESIDENT AND DOTTIE WATKINS HASN'T NEITHER STOPPED THIS NOR FIRED JAMEL, SHE'S NO BETTER KICK CORRUPT CAT METRO TO THE CURB.

IN JESUS' NAME I PRAY.

AMEN MR. BUNCH.

HE'S PASSING ON THAT ITEM.

MOVING TO ITEM 35, CARLOS LEON, BILL BUNCH.

JOIN CARLOS LEON, FIRST AND FOREMOST S FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TO ITEM 35 ISSUES.

YOUR LIBRARY COMMISSION ALLEGEDLY HAS NOT UPDATED YOU SINCE AUGUST, 2023.

APLS USE RULES TWO B THREE 15, D ONE AND 15 D TWO STILL HAVE NOT COMPLIED WITH YOUR SUPERSEDING RULES FOR PUBLIC USE OF CITY PROPERTIES OR PARAMOUNT CONSTITUTIONAL LAW.

AUGUST, 2025, I FILED ALLEGATIONS OF WRONGDOING AGAINST HANNAH TERRELL WITH THE CITY AUDITOR TO HOLD HER ACCOUNTABLE FOR HER ALLEGED CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR AND FORCE HER TO FOLLOW CITY CODE ONE DASH TWO TO REVISE A PL RULES TO COMPLY WITH YOUR RULES IN FEDERAL LAW.

SEPTEMBER, 2025, HER BOSS, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, STEPHANIE HAYDEN HOWARD, SAID SHE WAS WORKING ON THOSE RULES AND WOULD UPDATE THE CITY AUDITOR ONCE DONE YET, AS OF TODAY, NOTHING'S CHANGED WORSE.

HAYDEN HOWARD ALLEGEDLY IGNORED TERRELL'S TRANSGRESSIONS TO HELP HER BOSS CITY MANAGER, BROAD NECKS WRONGLY REWARD TERRELL'S IN SUBORDINATION BY FRAUDULENTLY PROMOTING TERRELL TO DIRECTOR OVER TRUE TOP CANDIDATE KATHY DONLIN.

THUS EXPECT ME TO SOON FILE ALLEGATIONS OF WRONGDOING AGAINST HAYDEN, HOWARD, AND BROAD NECKS WITH THE CITY AUDITOR TO HELP YOU TAKE ACTION AGAINST THEM.

AND TERRELL, FOLLOWING YOUR FEBRUARY 26TH ORDINANCE TO SAFEGUARD PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN CITY SERVICES BY IDENTIFYING AND IMPLEMENTING PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENTS VIA ASSESSMENT REQUIRING EXTERNAL INDEPENDENCE, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND TRANSPARENCY.

IF YOU DON'T DO THAT, YOU ARE JUST AS GUILTY AS THEM BECAUSE TO HIM, THAT KNOWETH TO DO GOOD AND DOETH IT NOT TO HIM, IT IS SIN.

JAMES FOUR 17 KING JAMES.

IN JESUS' NAME I PRAY.

AMEN.

PRAISE GOD, OUR TRUE LORD.

HECK YEAH.

MOVING TO ITEM 37, WE WILL NOW BEGIN WITH REMOTE SPEAKERS.

BEFORE WE DO ITEM 37, ITEM 35 IS THE ONE THAT I POINTED OUT.

WE HAVE ADDITIONAL BACKUP, UH, ON ITEM NUMBER 35, NOT JUST THAT ITEM THAT

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HE WAS TALKING ABOUT, BUT THE OTHER BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AS WELL.

SO I'LL JUST POINT THAT OUT TO YOU.

I'M SORRY, GO AHEAD.

37, BEGINNING WITH NISHA ABRAM.

HELLO CITY COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS NISHA ABRAHAM.

I AM A LONGTIME AUSTIN MEMBER AUSTIN CONSTITUENT AND, UH, FROM DISTRICT, UM, SEVEN.

I WANTED TO CALL AND SPEAK ABOUT, UM, THE SAFE TO CALL, UH, RESOLUTION, AND I WOULD JUST REALLY LIKE TO ENCOURAGE THE, THE CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER PASSING THIS RESOLUTION.

UM, IT REALLY AFFECTS THE FACT THAT WE CAN'T CALL OUR POLICE OFFICERS, UH, OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS LIKE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, IMMIGRANTS, UM, YOU KNOW, GOVERNMENT GO GOVERNOR ABBOTT IS MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR, FOR US THAT I INCLUDE MYSELF IN THIS TO GET HELP AND SAFETY THAT WE NEED.

UM, I REALLY ENCOURAGE US NOT TO GIVE IN TO GOVERNOR ABBOTT'S PRESSURES TO CUT FUNDING.

IT'S A REALLY LOW BLOW TO TAKE, UM, ESPECIALLY WITH OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.

UM, AND I ALSO WANNA MENTION THAT THIS MEASURE HAS BROUGHT A LOT OF STAKEHOLDERS AND GROUPS TOGETHER THAT HAVE A LOT OF DEEP KNOWLEDGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE.

SO WE KNOW THAT THIS IS A VETTED MEASURE AND THAT IT REALLY MAKES SENSE AND WE NEED PUBLIC SAFETY FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED HELP, BUT MIGHT BE SCARED TO ASK.

UM, I MYSELF HAVE HAD TO CALL ON POLICE OFFICERS MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE 20 YEARS THAT I'VE LIVED HERE IN AUSTIN, UM, AND, UH, I'VE BECOME MORE AND MORE AFRAID OF CALLING THEM, AND I THINK THAT'S A REALLY, YOU KNOW, PROBLEMATIC TIME THAT WE LIVE IN.

SO REALLY ENCOURAGING CITY COUNCIL TO GO AHEAD AND PASS THE SAFE TO CALL RESOLUTION AND I SEE THE REST OF MY TIME.

CONTINUING WITH THE REMOTE SPEAKERS ON ITEM 37 J POPHAM.

UH, THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE.

UH, MY NAME IS JAY POPHAM.

I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT TWO AND A MEMBER OF AUSTIN DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST OF AMERICA STEPPING AWAY FROM WORK FOR A MOMENT TO SPEAK IN MY PERSONAL CAPACITY.

UH, THE FOURTH AMENDMENT PROTECTS THE RIGHT OF EVERY PERSON IN THE UNITED STATES TO BE SAFE FROM UNREASONABLE SEARCH AND SEIZURE.

IT REQUIRES THAT IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WANTS TO TAKE YOU FROM YOUR HOME, THEY NEED PROBABLE CAUSE IN THE APPROVAL OF THE JUDGE, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND ITS JUNIOR PARTNERS IN OUR STATE GOVERNMENT HAVE DISCARDED THIS BEDROCK REQUIREMENT OF THE UNITED STATES LAW AS PART OF A SPECTACLE OF CRUELTY THAT THEY EXPECT WILL PAY POLITICAL DIVIDENDS FOR THEM IN NOVEMBER AND BEYOND.

MAKE NO MISTAKE, WHAT THEY'RE PROPOSING IS NOTHING LESS THAN A TWO-TIERED RACE-BASED SYSTEM OF LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AIMED AT DESTROYING FAMILIES AND TRAMPLING OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS FOR ONE GROUP, JUDICIAL OVERSIGHT, SEMBLANCE OF DUE PROCESS AND THE CHANCE OF LEGAL REMEDY FOR THE OTHER GROUP, A LIFE IN THE SHADOWS, CONSTANT THREAT OF PERMANENT SEPARATION AND REMOVAL, AND THE PAINFUL CALCULATION OF WHETHER TO CALL FOR HELP FROM YOUR CITY OR SUFFER ALONE, LEAVING YOURSELF AND YOUR LOVED ONES IN DANGER IN THE HOPE OF JUST ONE MORE DAY.

WE'RE A COUNTRY OF LOSS.

WE ASPIRE TO ONE STANDARD OF JUSTICE AND WE WILL NOT ABANDON OUR NEIGHBORS REGARDLESS OF THE STATE THREATS.

ITEM 37 ESTABLISHES A STAKEHOLDER PROCESS TO DETERMINE HOW TO ENSURE UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO CITY SERVICES, INCLUDING PUBLIC SAFETY.

WHILE PRESERVING OUR FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS, I LIKE TO TALK ABOUT HOW SOCIALISM IS ABOUT POSITIVE BELIEFS.

STABILITY IS PUBLIC SAFETY.

WE WILL LOOK AFTER ONE ANOTHER.

WE WILL WORK TOGETHER TO SOLVE OUR SHARED PROBLEMS. WE WILL NOT SUBMIT TO BULLIES THE EMBATTLED STATE GOVERNMENT AND THE DISGRACED, BUT NOT YET DISCARDED.

ATTORNEY GENERAL KEN FACTS THAN OUR BULLIES DESPERATE FOR ANY DISTRACTION THEY CAN FIND.

FROM THE DISASTROUS STATE OF THE NATIONAL AND GLOBAL ECONOMY, THE GRUESOME WARS OF CHOICE, WE HAVE WAGED AND SUPPORTED AND THEIR TOTAL SUBMISSION TO THE BILLIONAIRE CLASS IN CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM.

CORNELL LAWS LEGAL INFORMATION INSTITUTE PROVIDE US WITH A TIMELY WARNING.

TODAY, PROTECTION UNDER THE FOURTH AMENDMENT CAN BE WAIVED IF ONE VOLUNTARILY CONSENTS TO OR DOES NOT OBJECT TO EVIDENCE COLLECTED DURING A WARRANTLESS SEARCH OR SEIZURE.

I BELIEVE THEY'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO FIND A WAY IN THE FIRST AND ALWAYS.

DO NOT CONSENT TO THIS EXTORTION.

WE'LL NOW MOVE BACK TO IN-PERSON SPEAKERS ON ITEM 37, AND WE WILL BEGIN WITH SPANISH SPEAKERS.

LETICIA MENDEZ.

EVA ALDO, KAYLA ERVE, MANUEL GARCIA.

SOMA FRANCO.

I'M SORRY, BUT WE, WE, OUR RULES DON'T ALLOW IF YOU'RE, IF YOU'RE HERE TO MM-HMM .

[00:30:08]

YEAH, PLEASE EXPLAIN.

HELLO, MY NAME IS CATALINA JUAREZ MENDEZ, AND I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO VOTE FOR ITEM 37.

ON JUNE 15, WE LEFT OUR HOME, MY HUSBAND AND I, AND WE WERE GOING TO CHURCH.

SO WHEN WE WERE PASSING A LIGHT, WE WERE STOPPED BY A TROOPER THAT TOLD US THAT THEY NEEDED TO CHECK OUR LIGHTS, AND THEY TOLD US THAT EVERYTHING WAS OKAY, BUT WE NEEDED TO GO TO A GAS STATION THAT WAS 10 MINUTES AWAY.

CAR CANNOT TRACK HER.

THEY TOLD US TO GO TO A GAS STATION BECAUSE THEY ONLY NEEDED TO CHECK FOR WEAPONS OR DRUGS AND THAT EVERYTHING WAS OKAY, AND THEN WE COULD LEAVE AFTER THAT.

BUT WHEN WE GOT TO THE GAS STATION, WE WERE SURROUNDED BY THREE CARS AND ABOUT SIX ICE AGENTS.

WE WERE HANDCUFFED AND THEY WERE, DIDN'T EVEN MAKE ANY QUESTIONS.

WE WERE TAKEN TO A DETENTION CENTER.

I WAS THERE, UH, FOR 10 DAYS.

MY HUSBAND WAS THERE FOR THREE MONTHS AND HE WAS THEN DEPORTED TO MEXICO.

THEY ALSO PUT AN ELECTRONIC BRACELET AND THEY SAID THAT I COULDN'T WORK ANYMORE.

THEN I LOST MY HOUSE.

THAT WAS MY HOME, MY THAT MY HOME FOR MY CHILDREN AND MY GRANDSON AND I CAN'T WORK ANYMORE.

SO I COULDN'T WORK ANYMORE.

I COULDN'T PAY FOR MY, MY BILLS.

WHEN I WENT TO COURT, MY LAWYER COULDN'T GO WITH ME, SO THAT'S WHEN I MET THE ADVOCATES FROM GRASSROOTS.

THEY ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT HAVE COME WITH ME, AND NOW I AM LIVING IN A NIGHTMARE.

THIS IS NOT ONLY MY EXPERIENCE, BUT THE EXPERIENCE OF MANY.

SO THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING YOU TO VOTE FOR ITEM 37.

BECAUSE IF WE HAVE A PROBLEM AT ANY MOMENT, WE SHOULDN'T BE FEARFUL TO CALL THE POLICE.

HELLO, MY NAME IS EVA ALDO, AND I'VE BEEN LIVING IN THE AREA OF AUSTIN FOR 22 YEARS, AND I'M ASKING HERE TO VOTE FOR ITEM 37.

I'M HERE.

I'M HERE RAISING MY VOICE FOR MY SON BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT MORE FAMILIES THAT ARE SEPARATED

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WE ARE RISKING TO BE SEPARATED.

MY FAMILY WAS VICTIM OF THIS LAW.

MY SON THAT WHO LIVED IN AUSTIN SINCE HE WAS 1-YEAR-OLD.

MY SON, SINCE HE WAS LIVING IN AUSTIN, UH, SINCE HE WAS 1-YEAR-OLD, HE WAS DEPORTED TO MEXICO.

NOW I'M, UH, I'M ASKING THAT THEY STOP, THEY MEET THE POLICE WITH IMMIGRATION BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE, WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING FOR HIM.

HE HAS A PROBLEM OF HE'S IN MEXICO AND HE HAS A MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEM.

HE'S NOT OKAY, AND HE HAS HEALTH PROBLEMS THERE.

IN MEXICO, WE SHOULDN'T BE FEARED TO BE ASKING FOR HEALTH.

YOU HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE.

AUSTIN, PLEASE BE BRAVE AND DEFENDANTS FROM GOVERNOR ABBOTT.

ONCE AGAIN, I ASK YOU TO VOTE FOR AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

KAYLA.

HELLO, MY NAME IS KAYLA AND I'VE BEEN LIVING IN AUSTIN FOR 10 YEARS, AND I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT.

PLEASE VOTE FOR ITEM 37.

WE ARE A VERY VULNERABLE COMMUNITY AND WE ARE FEARFUL.

THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE POLICE AND IMMIGRATION IS AFFECTING MANY FAMILIES, FAMILIES THAT ARE HARD WORKERS, FAMILIES THAT ARE HONEST, FAMILIES THAT ONLY WANT TO PROGRESS.

WE LIVE WITH UNCERTAINTY EVERY DAY AND EVERY DAY WE ASK OURSELVES, CAN WE GO OUT TO WORK AND COME BACK HOME WITH OUR CHILDREN? IS WHO, IS IT FAIR TO LIVE WITH THIS FEAR? AUSTIN IS A BEAUTIFUL CITY, BUT IT SHOULD BE SAFE FOR EVERYONE.

WE DON'T ASK HIM FOR PRIVILEGES.

WE ONLY WANT TO LIVE IN PEACE AND WITH DIGNITY.

WE ONLY WANT TO WORK AND TAKE CARE OF OUR FAMILIES.

WE'RE ASKING YOU TO LISTEN TO OUR VOICES BECAUSE YOU ARE PARENTS AND YOU HAVE FAMILIES.

PLEASE BE IN OUR PLACES.

YOU HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE THIS.

PLEASE LISTEN TO OUR VOICES AND VOTE FOR ITEM 37.

OKAY, LEADERSHIP.

MY NAME IS SUMMA FRANCO AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT TWO.

I WORK WITH GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP AND I'M ASKING THE CITY COUNCIL TO PLEASE VOTE FOR ITEM 37.

[00:40:01]

ALL LIVE TO THIS.

UH, WE ALL DESERVE TO LIVE IN A PLACE WITH PEACE AND JUSTICE, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE DON'T HAVE.

IT'S ALSO TO KNOW THAT A CITY LIKE AUSTIN THAT IS SO BEAUTIFUL CANNOT TAKE CARE OF THEIR RESIDENTS, AND THEY ARE ALL LIVING IN FEAR.

WE ALL KNOW HOW OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY HAS BEEN SUFFERING OF RACIST ATTACKS THAT IS BEING, BECOMING LIKE CONSEQUENCES, LIKE TO BEING IN JAIL AND BEING SEPARATED FROM THEIR FAMILIES.

RIGHT NOW, TEXAS HAS BEEN BECOMING LIKE A LAB THAT IS ONLY LIKE JUDGING PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY RACE OR COLOR AND ATTACKING THEM WITH A SERIES OF RULES AND POLICIES THAT ARE ONLY ATTACKING AND DESTROYING OUR COMMUNITIES.

LIKE THE NEW RULE AT THE DMV NOW, THEY'RE NOT ALLOWING THAT PEOPLE WITH LEGAL STATUS, THEY CAN RENEW THEIR STICKERS, THEIR REGISTRATIONS.

THIS IS ONLY INCREASING THE RISK THAT A PERSON IS BEING DETAINED IN ANY STREET FOR BY THE POLICE BECAUSE THE STICKER IS EXPIRED.

AND THIS INCREASING THE NIGHTMARE FOR FAMILIES.

ABBOT, PLEASE BE BRAVE AND DEFEND OUR COMMUNITY FROM THE ATTACKS FROM GOVERNOR ABBOTT.

WE DESERVE SOMETHING BETTER.

WE DESERVE SOMETHING BETTER THAN THIS.

WE NEED TO BE SAFE TO BE, TO CALL THE POLICE WITHOUT FEAR.

IT IS TIME THAT YOU TAKE ACTION AND YOU DEFENDS.

AND THEN PLEASE VOTE FOR ITEM 37.

HAS ONE MORE IF SHE HAS TIME? SHE, SHE HAS 51 SECONDS.

OKAY.

CAN YOU READ THAT IN? MY NAME IS RES.

I'VE BEEN IN A RESIDENT IN DISTRICT FOUR FOR 21 YEARS, AND I'M ASKING YOU TO VOTE FOR ITEM 37.

I'M AFRAID TO CALL THE POLICE IF I HAVE A PROBLEM BECAUSE I'M AFRAID THAT THEY WILL DO SOMETHING TO ME INSTEAD OF HELPING ME EVERY DAY.

I AM AFRAID OF GOING OUT BECAUSE I DUNNO IF I'M GOING, COMING BACK TO MY HOUSE TO MY CHILDREN.

WE DESERVE SOMETHING BETTER.

PLEASE HELP US.

THE TIME IS, THANK YOU.

CONTINUING SPEAKERS ON ITEM 37, REBECCA LIGHTSEY, CATHERINE GARCIA, JENNY FLEMING, MICHAEL STEIN.

IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND BEGIN SPEAKING.

COLLEAGUES, THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY PERILOUS TIME FOR OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY.

I'M REBECCA LIGHTSEY.

I'M CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT AMERICAN GATEWAYS.

FOR NEARLY 40 YEARS, AMERICAN GATEWAYS HAS BEEN PROVIDING CRITICAL LEGAL IMMIGRATION SERVICES TO OUR LOW INCOME, UH, NEIGHBORS HERE IN CENTRAL TEXAS.

WE WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL AND THE, AND YOUR COLLEAGUES FOR THIS PROPOSED RESOLUTION, WHICH WE STRONGLY SUPPORT.

WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE CITY MANAGER, CITY MANAGER, BRO AND HIS TEAM FOR HIS BUDGET TRANSPARENCY AND LISTENING TO THE NONPROFIT COMMUNITY, INCLUDING MANY OF US WHO ARE IMPACTED BY THIS, THIS RESOLUTION.

AS YOU HAVE JUST HEARD FROM KAYLA AND HER

[00:45:01]

THEIR STORIES ARE HEARTBREAKING AND NOT AT ALL UNIQUE.

WE HEAR FROM CLIENTS WITH THESE EXPERIENCES VIRTUALLY EVERY DAY.

AS YOU MAY KNOW, TEXAS LEADS THE COUNTRY AND THE NUMBER OF ICE ARRESTS, ONE IN FOUR ICE ARRESTS TAKE PLACE HERE IN TEXAS.

OUR CLIENTS HAVE THE SAME FEARS THAT YOU JUST HEARD, AFRAID TO GO TO THEIR CANCER TREATMENTS, TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL, EVEN TO GO TO CHURCH.

SO WE SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION TO ENHANCE THE COMMUNITY'S TRUST IN GETTING THE HELP THEY NEED, AND WE SUPPORT ALL THE STRATEGIES LAID OUT IN THIS RESOLUTION.

WE ALSO COMMEND YOU FOR, UH, RECOGNIZING THE NEED TO INCLUDE COMMUNITY PARTNERS.

I KNOW THAT'LL BE A TRICKY PIECE OF IT, FIGURING JUST, UH, WHICH COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO INCLUDE.

UM, THAT SAID, AMERICAN GATEWAYS WOULD BE HAPPY TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS, UM, CRITICAL PROCESS.

SO THANK YOU FOR THE THOUGHTFULNESS OF THIS RESOLUTION, UM, AND FOR ALL THAT THE COUNCIL DOES.

HELLO, COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS KAT GIA.

I LIVE IN DISTRICT 10.

UM, I HAVE GROWN UP HERE IN AUSTIN AND I ALSO, UH, VOLUNTEER AS A COMMUNITY ADVOCATE.

UM, I'M REALLY PLEASED TO SEE THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF IT.

THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.

UM, THIS ISSUE OF PUBLIC SAFETY IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY, AND I THINK YOU CAN SEE FROM THE PEOPLE WHO TURNED OUT TODAY AND ALSO FROM THE PEOPLE WHO COULD NOT TAKE TIME OFF WORK, WHO DID NOT ACTUALLY FEEL SAFE TO COME HERE TODAY.

THIS IS EXACTLY WHY IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE, UH, MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PROCESS AND I URGE YOU TO APPROACH IT WITH URGENCY AND TO HELP GIVE OUR COMMUNITY THE DIGNITY AND RESPECT THAT WE ALL DESERVE, UM, AS, AS AUSTINITES AND ALSO AS HUMAN BEINGS.

AND I JUST WANNA SHARE, LIKE MYSELF AS A SURVIVOR OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, I KNOW HOW DIFFICULT COMPOUNDING ELEMENTS OF, UH, OF UH, I DUNNO, UH, , TRYING TO THINK OF THE WORD, BUT LIKE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE USED AGAINST YOU, ANYTHING THAT PREVENTS YOU FROM BEING SEEN BY AUTHORITIES AS SOMEONE WHO IS WORTHY OF RECEIVING SAFETY AND RECEIVING HELP IN A, IN THE INSTANCE OF BEING THE VICTIM OF A CRIME THAT WILL BE USED BY YOUR ABUSER.

AND THEY ABSOLUTELY KNOW THAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE UNPROTECTED STATUS ARE AFRAID TO CALL AND WILL NOT BE RESPECTED WHEN THEY CALL.

AND WE'VE SEEN A PD OFFICERS STRUGGLE TO JUDGE, UH, APPROPRIATELY HOW TO PRIORITIZE FELONY INVESTIGATIONS OVER LOW LEVEL MISDEMEANORS AND OR ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANTS.

UM, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY NEED TO CHANGE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY, UH, EQUITABLY CAN ACCESS SAFETY, WHICH WILL IMPROVE SAFETY OVERALL FOR ALL OF US.

MY NAME IS MICHAEL STEIN.

I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SEVEN.

UM, I CAN'T REALLY ADD MORE THAN WHAT'S ALREADY BEEN SAID HERE.

UH, I SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION.

CONTINUE ON ITEM 37, FRANCESCA LEAHY, HANS MAVERICK, JAMIE GARDNER.

TRUDY SMITH, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND BEGIN SPEAKING.

PLEASE BEGIN.

DOLLARS TO GO TO FUND AN ALREADY, UM, OVER BLOATED, UH, HIGHLY CORRUPT AND, UM, UNCONSTITUTIONAL, UH, IN IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT ENTITY AT THE FEDERAL, UH, GOVERNMENT.

MY NAME IS FRANCESCA FRAGA LEHE AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FIVE, AND I AM PROUD OF AUSTIN FOR PUTTING THIS RESOLUTION FORWARD.

ITEM 37 AND GRATEFUL TO EACH COUNCIL MEMBER AND STAFF MEMBER WHO WERE IN, WAS INVOLVED IN PUTTING THIS, UM, THIS TESTAMENT TO AUSTIN'S VALUES TOGETHER AND AS THE, UH, SPEAKER FROM THE AMERICAN GATEWAYS, UM, SAID TO ENHANCE THE COMMUNITY'S TRUST IN GETTING THE HELP THEY NEED.

LAST JULY, THE REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED CONGRESS PASSED A, THE QUOTE, BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL ACT, WHICH MEANS THAT ICE'S BUDGET HAS SKYROCKETED TO BECOMING THE HIGHEST, HIGHEST FUNDED US LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY WITH $85 BILLION NOW AT ITS DISPOSAL.

LAST NIGHT, SENATE REPUBLICANS PASSED A BLANK CHECK OF $70 BILLION TO FUND ICE WITH ZERO REFORMS ADDED.

HOPEFULLY IT FAILS IN THE HOUSE A WEEK AGO, MAYOR WATSON, WHO MADE THE STATEMENT THAT OUR A PD OFFICERS DO NOT HAVE THE CAPACITY AND SHOULD NOT BE ASKED TO DO THE OTHER, TO DO THE JOBS OF OTHER ENTITIES.

I AGREE.

I DO NOT WANT MY TAXPAYER

[00:50:01]

MY TAXPAYER TAXPAYER DOLLARS ARE ALREADY GOING TO THAT, AND I AM INFURIATED BY THAT FACT EVERY DAY, AND I DO NOT WANT MY CITY MUNICIPAL, UH, TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO GO TO FURTHER IN, UH, TO SUPPORT AN, AN AGENCY THAT IS CAUSING SUCH GREAT HARM TO OUR COMMUNITY.

AS WE'VE HEARD TODAY, THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS RESOLUTION FORWARD AND PLEASE, UH, DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO ENSURE THAT IT PASSES AND IS, UM, UH, FULLY IMPLEMENTED.

THANK YOU, MAYOR WATSON.

MAYOR PROTO VELA COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY TODAY.

MY NAME IS HANS MAVERICK.

I'M A RESIDENT OF COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 AND I'M A POLICY AND RESEARCH ORGANIZER WITH GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP HERE IN AUSTIN.

I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR ITEM 37, THE SAFE TO CALL RESOLUTION.

NOT LONG AGO, I WORKED FOR A NONPROFIT THAT HELPED PEOPLE RESOLVE OUTSTANDING CLASS C TICKETS AND GET THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSES REINSTATED.

WE CALLED IT FIGHTING THE CRIMINALIZATION OF POVERTY.

WHAT I LEARNED FROM THAT EXPERIENCE IS THAT SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS A TRAFFIC TICKET CAN CREATE A BARRIER TO FULLY PARTICIPATING IN LIFE, ACCESSING HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, CHILDCARE, HEALTHCARE, ET CETERA.

I OBSERVED THAT CLASS C TICKETS HAVE A DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT ON LOW INCOME PEOPLE, UNHOUSED PEOPLE, UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE, AND PEOPLE OF COLOR.

ALSO, THE SYSTEMS MOST CITIES USE TO HELP PEOPLE RESOLVE THEIR TICKETS ARE DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND AND NAVIGATE WHAT'S MORE PEOPLE HAVE OUTSTANDING CLASS C WARRANTS MAY HESITATE TO CONTACT LAW ENFORCEMENT IF THEY ARE THE WITNESSES OR VICTIMS OF CRIME, PARTICULARLY IF THEY ARE UNDOCUMENTED.

I WORRY ABOUT MY UNHOUSED AND UNDOCUMENTED NEIGHBORS HAVING ACCESS TO EMERGENCY SERVICES.

RECENT STATE AND FEDERAL ACTIONS HAVE FURTHER ERODED THEIR TRUST IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.

I WANT EVERYONE IN AUSTIN TO FEEL SAFE TO CALL WHEN THEY NEED HELP.

IN LIGHT OF THOSE CONCERNS, I BELIEVE THAT ITEM 37 IS GOOD POLICY.

ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY IN EFFECTIVE AND COMPASSIONATE APPROACHES TO CLASS C TICKETS WILL HELP REBUILD THE TRUST THAT HAS BEEN LOST.

AN EASY TO NAVIGATE SYSTEM FOR ADDRESSING CLASS CS WILL REDUCE UNNECESSARY POLICE CONTACT.

PLEASE STAND UP FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND STAND UP AGAINST RIGHT WING BULLIES.

TAKE MEASURES THAT REDUCE RACIAL DISPARITIES, PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF IMMIGRANTS DURING POLICE ENCOUNTERS, AND DISMANTLE THE PATHWAYS THAT LEAD TO FAMILY DESTRUCTION.

TRUE SAFETY IS LIKE TRUE JUSTICE.

IT IS ONLY MEANINGFUL IF IT APPLIES TO EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS TRUDY TAYLOR SMITH.

I'M SENIOR ADMINISTRATOR OF POLICY AND ADVOCACY AT CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND, TEXAS AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT 10.

UM, WE ARE A NONPROFIT ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO ADVANCING CHILD WELLBEING AND BUILDING COMMUNITY SO THAT YOUNG PEOPLE GROW UP WITH DIGNITY, HOPE, AND JOY, AND WE SUPPORT THE SAFE TO CALL RESOLUTION AS A NECESSARY FIRST STEP TOWARD PROTECTING YOUNG PEOPLE IN AUSTIN FROM THE SERIOUS AND MULTIFACETED HARMS THAT RESULT WHEN A PD GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAW TO COLLABORATE WITH ICE CURRENT A PD POLICY HARMS CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN A NUMBER OF WAYS, INCLUDING DISCOURAGING IMMIGRANT RESIDENTS FROM REPORTING CRIMES, SEEKING HELP TO ESCAPE VIOLENCE OR ABUSE OR CALLING EMERGENCY SERVICES.

AS OTHERS HAVE MENTIONED, IT ALSO INCREASES THE RISK THAT CHILDREN WILL EXPERIENCE OR WITNESS VIOLENCE AND CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN THE COURSE OF AN IMMIGRATION ARREST.

BUT BEYOND THAT, IT EXPOSES FAMILIES TO DANGEROUS DETENTION CONDITIONS AT THE DLI DETENTION CENTER OUTSIDE OF SAN ANTONIO, ICE DETAINS FAMILIES INCLUDING CHILDREN IN HORRIFIC CONDITIONS MARKED BY MEDICAL NEGLECT, HUNGER, AND INADEQUATE ACCESS TO CLEAN DRINKING WATER AND NUTRITIOUS FOOD, EVEN IN CASES WHERE CHILDREN ARE NOT DETAINED.

ICE ARREST ARISING OUT OF TRAFFIC STOPS WELLNESS CHECKS AND 9 1 1 RESPONSES.

FREQUENTLY TRAUMATIZED CHILDREN SEPARATE THEM FROM THEIR FAMILIES AND PLACE CHILDREN IN HARM'S WAY.

WITHIN THE PAST YEAR, AT LEAST THREE AUSTIN CHILDREN WERE DEPORTED DESPITE HOLDING US CITIZENSHIP.

AND IN THE MOST RECENT CASE, THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE A PD CONTACTED ICE WHILE RESPONDING TO A 9 1 1 CALL.

AT LOCAL SCHOOLS, MORE CHILDREN AND IMMIGRANT FAMILIES ARE ARRIVING AT SCHOOL EMOTIONALLY DISTRAUGHT, OVER MISSING RELATIVES COMING TO SCHOOL HUNGRY AFTER A FAMILY BREADWINNER HAS BEEN DETAINED, OR THEY'RE NO LONGER ATTENDING SCHOOL AT ALL.

SHOCKINGLY, CHILDREN IN MANY CASES ARE LEFT WITHOUT A LEGAL GUARDIAN AFTER ICE ARRESTS AND DETAINS THEIR PARENTS WITHOUT MAKING ANY ARRANGEMENTS FOR THEIR CARE.

EVERY CHILD DESERVES TO GROW UP IN A CARING FAMILY AND COMMUNITY WHERE THEY ARE SAFE AND HAVE ACCESS TO THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO THRIVE.

WITH THAT GOAL IN MIND, CDF TEXAS ASKED THE CITY COUNCIL TO PASS THIS RESOLUTION AND TO CONTINUE WORKING TO SECURE THE SAFETY AND WELLBEING OF EVERY CHILD IN OUR CITY.

BRANDON PICKARD, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND BEGIN SPEAKING.

CONTINUE ON ITEM 37, KENDRA BOLTON, SAVANNAH LEE, CARRIE ANN SMITH,

[00:55:01]

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS KENDRA WALTON OF DISTRICT FIVE, AND I'M HERE AS A REPRESENTATIVE AND BOARD MEMBER OF TOTO JUNTOS LEARNING CENTER AND STRONG SUPPORT OF ITEM 37.

PEOPLE IN AUSTIN SHOULD BE ABLE TO CALL 9 1 1 WITHOUT FEAR AND TRUST THAT REACHING OUT FOR HELP WOULD NOT PUT THEIR FAMILY AT GREATER RISK.

AT TOTAL JUNTOS, WE WORK ALONGSIDE IMMIGRANT FAMILIES, STUDENTS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

WE HEAR THE FEAR, WE SEE THE HESITATION, AND KNOW THAT FOR MANY PEOPLE, CALLING FOR HELP FEELS DANGEROUS.

IT FEELS LIKE ONE DESPERATE MOMENT COULD SPIRAL INTO DETENTION, SEPARATION, OR OTHER LONG LASTING HARM, AND THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE WHEN PEOPLE ARE TOO AFRAID TO CALL 9 1 1.

THAT DOES NOT MAKE OUR CITY SAFER.

IT MAKES IT MORE DANGEROUS WHEN VICTIMS ARE TOO AFRAID TO COME FORWARD.

VIOLENCE CONTINUES WHEN WITNESSES STAY SILENT.

ACCOUNTABILITY DISAPPEARS WHEN FAMILIES DECIDE THEY ARE SAFER.

STAYING QUIET IN CRISIS THAN THE SYSTEM IS FAILING THE VERY PEOPLE IT IS DESIGNED TO PROTECT AND WE MUST BUILD A BETTER SYSTEM.

ITEM 37 IS ABOUT COMMUNITY SAFETY AND TRUST.

TRUST IS THE FOUNDATION OF PUBLIC SAFETY WITHOUT TRUST, EMERGENCY SYSTEMS BREAK DOWN.

PEOPLE DO NOT REPORT HARM AND FEAR WINS.

THIS RESOLUTION IS ABOUT REAL PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES, LIKE THE SPEAKERS THAT WE HAVE HEARD EARLIER THIS MORNING.

EVERY POLICY CHOICE WE MAKE IMPACTS REAL PEOPLE.

NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO STOP AND THINK, WILL CALLING FOR HELP MAKE THIS SITUATION WORSE? NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO EARN THE RIGHT TO BE PROTECTED IN A CRISIS.

I'M ASKING YOU TO SUPPORT ITEM 37 AS A POLICY DECISION AND AS A STATEMENT ABOUT WHO WE ARE AS A CITY.

AUSTIN SHOULD BE A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN ASK FOR HELP WITHOUT FEAR, WHERE FAMILIES ARE PROTECTED IN A PLACE WHERE SAFETY INCLUDES DIGNITY, FAIRNESS, AND TRUST.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING US TODAY.

MY NAME IS SAVANNAH LEE.

I'M HERE WITH EQUITY ACTION AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE.

I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 37 BECAUSE NO ONE IN OUR, IN OUR CITY SHOULD BE AFRAID TO CALL FOR HELP.

THAT'S NOT A CONTROVERSIAL STATEMENT, AND I KNOW EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM SHARES THAT VALUE.

BUT VALUES ONLY MATTER WHEN THEY'RE REFLECTED IN OUR ACTIONS.

AND IN THIS CASE, OUR POLICIES.

WE CAN SAY AUSTIN BELIEVES IN TRUST, DIGNITY, AND COMPASSION.

BUT IF SURVIVORS, IMMIGRANT FAMILIES AND LOW INCOME RESIDENTS ARE STILL AFRAID TO CALL 9 1 1, THEN WE'VE GOT WORK TO DO.

AS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TARGETING IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES AND THE STATE CONTINUES ENABLING THAT CRUELTY, IT FALLS TO CITIES LIKE AUSTIN TO PROTECT OUR PEOPLE AND LEAD WITH HUMANITY.

THAT IS WHAT THIS ITEM BEGINS TO DO.

SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, WITNESSES TO CRIME, IMMIGRATION, FA OR IMMIGRANT FAMILIES, AND PEOPLE LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK SHOULD NEVER HAVE TO WONDER WHETHER ASKING FOR HELP COULD LEAD TO THEIR OWN ARREST OVER AN UNPAID TICKET OR SOME OTHER LOW LEVEL ISSUE.

WHEN PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO CALL FOR HELP, VIOLENCE GOES UNREPORTED.

ABUSE ESCALATES AND TRUST IN THE GOVERNMENT BREAKS DOWN THAT MAKES EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD LESS SAFE.

PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS ONLY WORK WHEN PEOPLE TRUST THEM ENOUGH TO USE THEM.

WHEN THOSE MOST VULNERABLE TO POLICE CONTACT OR ICE INVOLVEMENT DO NOT FEEL SAFE SEEKING HELP, WE BEGIN THE FAIRNESS, LEGITIMACY, AND EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR SYSTEMS. ITEM 37 OFFERS A COMMON SENSE PATH FORWARD.

IT BRINGS THE COMMUNITY INTO THE POLICYMAKING PROCESS.

PRIORITIZES SURVIVORS INCREASES ACCOUNTABILITY AND HELPS ENSURE THAT ASKING FOR HELP DOES NOT BECOME ANOTHER SOURCE OF HARM.

I WOULD ADD IN LIGHT OF RECENT NEWS THAT EVERY GOOD THING WE DO IN THIS BUILDING ONLY STANDS A CHANCE AT MAKING A DIFFERENCE IF WE REFUSE TO BOW TO THE GOVERNOR'S POWER GRABBING CRUELTY.

THE 11 OF YOU ARE THE LAST ELECTED LINE OF PROTECTION FOR THE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE IN THIS CITY.

TRUE BRAVERY AND LEADERSHIP MEANS DOING THE RIGHT THING EVEN WHEN IT'S DIFFICULT OR FRIGHTENING.

I WOULD ASK THAT YOU USE THE POWER YOU'VE BEEN GIVEN TO PRIORITIZE THE MOST VULNERABLE FOLKS HERE AND STAND IN THE WAY OF THE STATE'S LATEST ATTEMPT AT FORCING, FORCING US INTO THEIR AUTHORITARIAN IDEOLOGY.

THE FIRST WAY TO DO THAT IS BY SUPPORTING THIS ITEM.

HELLO, MAYOR WATSON AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS CARRIE ANN SMITH.

I'M LEADER.

I'M A LEADER WITH VOCAL TEXAS.

I'M HERE TO SUPPORT ITEM 37.

I STAND HERE TODAY WITH A HEAVY HEART TO ADDRESS A CRITICAL AND SAFETY JUSTICE ISSUE, CLASS C TICKETS AND WARRANT ISSUES.

I SUPPORT THE STOCKHOLDERS PROCEDURE PROCESS BECAUSE IN AUSTIN HERE ALONE, OVER 60,000 WARRANTS HAS BEEN ISSUED.

NOT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, BUT JUST HERE IN THE CITY OF

[01:00:01]

AUSTIN.

AND MORE CONCERNING 25% OF THESE TICKETS HAS BEEN ISSUED TO BLACK RESIDENTS.

I SPEAK FROM A DE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.

I TOO HAVE RECEIVED MULTIPLE TICKETS FOR SLEEPING IN MY VEHICLE THAT TURNED INTO WARRANTS.

HOW DO YOU EXPECT SOMEONE TO BE COMPLIANT WITH THESE TICKETS WHEN THEY DO NOT HAVE STABLE HOUNDS IN AND THEY DON'T EVEN REALLY KNOW? THESE TICKETS EXIST MULTIPLE TICKETS, AND YOU GET REPEATED OFFENSES FOR THESE TICKETS THAT TURNS INTO WARRANTS.

THIS IS, THIS CYCLE IS A NUISANCE.

IT'S NO, THIS CYCLE IS NOT JUST A NUISANCE.

IT'S A TRAP THAT ESCALATED TO TICKETS, TO WARRANTS, TO FELONIES AND ALL WITHOUT OFFERING REAL SERVICES SUPPORT OR A PATHWAY OUTTA HOMELESSNESS.

RATHER THAN CONTINUE TO SPEND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON ENCAMPMENT SUITES TICKETS AND ARRESTING POOR PEOPLE AND UNHOUSED PEOPLE, PLEASE SUPPORT THIS ITEM AND SO WE CAN WORK TOGETHER.

HELLO, MAYOR WATSON CITY COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS BRANDON PICKARD, BUT MOST OF Y'ALL KNOW ME.

HERE IS EIGHT TRACK.

IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK.

UM, I AM HERE IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 37.

UH, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW, I AM CURRENTLY HOMELESS OUT ON THE STREETS OF AUSTIN.

THINGS GET CRAZY OUT THERE VERY QUICKLY.

AND AT THE DROP OF A HAT, YOU COULD BE IN TROUBLE.

YOUR FRIEND CAN BE IN TROUBLE, SOMEONE COULD BE HURT, BUT YOU GOT THAT CAMPING WARRANT.

WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO? YOU CAN'T CALL THE COPS, THEY'RE JUST GONNA LOCK YOU UP.

AND THEN MAYBE TAKE YOUR FRIEND TO THE HOSPITAL, MAYBE THE, THE, THIS PA OH, I'M SO SORRY.

THIS PAVES THE WAY TO ACTUALLY START HELPING PEOPLE OUT HERE.

THIS IS A VERY, VERY GOOD FIRST STEP.

PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE AFRAID TO HAVE TO CALL FOR AN EMERGENCY AT ALL.

I'VE MET SO MANY PEOPLE WHERE SOMEBODY GOT HURT AND THEN THEY'RE LIKE, HEY BRO, CAN YOU CALL 9 1 1? I GOT THAT CAMPING WARRANT, OR I GOT THAT CRIMINAL TRESPASS OR BLAH BLAH BLAH.

AND SO I'M LEFT THERE, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF SOMEBODY WHO I DON'T KNOW UNTIL EMS GETS HERE.

AND HOPEFULLY I DON'T HAVE TO TALK TO THE COPS BECAUSE WHY ARE THE COPS SHOWING UP WHEN I'M CALLING FOR EMS? THEY SHOULD BE NOT NEEDED AT ALL.

I NEED EMS, NOT A PD.

SO THAT'S PROBABLY ANOTHER CONVERSATION FOR ANOTHER DAY.

BUT THANK YOU ALL FOR LISTENING.

IT'S GREAT TO BE BACK.

UM, I HOPE TO HAVE MANY POSITIVE CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU IN THE FUTURE AND, UH, THANK YOU Y'ALL SO MUCH.

CONTINUING ON ITEM 37, KAY GRAZIANI, BARRY JONES, TONY CARTER, DAVID WEINBERG.

ANTONIO RENA, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND BEGIN SPEAKING.

FEEL FREE TO BEGIN.

MY NAME IS DAVID WEINBERG, IMA DISTRICT FIVE RESIDENT.

UM, I'M GONNA START OFF WITH A PLATITUDE.

UH, THE UNITED STATES IS A NATION THAT WAS BUILT BY IMMIGRANTS.

UM, THIS IDEA IS VERY TRUE FOR THE TEXAS THAT WE LIVE IN TODAY.

IMMIGRANTS ARE A VITAL PART OF THE TEXAS ECONOMY, MANY CRITICAL PIECES OF IT, OIL AND GAS, PRODUCTION, AGRICULTURE, CONSTRUCTION, HOSPITAL, HOSPITALITY, HEALTHCARE.

WE SHOULD BE EMBRACING THESE POPULATIONS WHO ARE DOING SO MUCH FOR OUR STATE.

UH, I KIND OF MISS THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF TEXAS, WHICH WAS WHAT IS GOOD FOR BUSINESS IS GOOD FOR TEXAS.

UM, WE SHOULD BE, I THINK THIS ITEM IS A NO-BRAINER.

I THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT.

UH, I WISH WE WERE NOT IN A POSITION WHERE THE GOVERNOR WAS VILIFYING AND TERRORIZING THESE COMMUNITIES, UM, WHO PUT FOOD ON OUR TABLE, WHO PUT GAS IN OUR GAS TANK WHO'D CARE FOR THE ELDERLY WHO BUILD OUR HOUSES AND HOTELS.

UM, AND I LAED YOU FOR TAKING THIS VERY IMPORTANT STEP TODAY.

I'M AN ORGANIZER AT GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP.

MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO TESTIFY.

MY NAME IS JORGE RENO AND

[01:05:01]

I URGE YOU TO PASS THIS RESOLUTION BASED ON MY EXPERIENCES.

I WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED FROM THE ARMY IN 1976 AND RETURNED TO BEEVILLE.

I WENT TO A DANCING CENTER, ROLLED THROUGH A STOP SIGN, WAS PULLED OVER BY A LOCAL POLICEMAN AND ENDED UP NOT WITH A TRAFFIC TICKET, NOT WITH A WARNING, BUT THROWN INTO THE LOCAL COUNTY JAIL.

WHERE I FOUND OUT LATER, THE ARRESTING OFFICER TOLD FOLKS THERE TO TOUCH ME UP.

WHAT RESULTED WAS A SERIES OF EVENTS THAT STILL RESONATE WITH ME TODAY, 27 YEARS IN PRISON AND ON PAROLE UNTIL I UNTIL 2051.

WE'VE HEARD SOMEONE SAY THAT WE ALL MAKE, MAKE MISTAKES WHEN EXPLAINING AWAY A PRISON TERM.

I DID NOT GO TO PRISON FOR A MISTAKE, BUT BECAUSE I MADE CHOICES AFTER THAT FIRST ARREST, CHOICES BASED ON RAGE AND AN INDIVIDUAL IN A SYSTEM THAT THOUGHT IT WAS OKAY TO HAVE ME BRUTALIZED, BEATEN, AND RAPED FOR NOT STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN AT AN ARGUING WITH A POLICE OFFICER.

THERE IS A PHENOMENON CALLED CHURN THAT REFERS TO INDIVIDUALS WHO CYCLE THROUGH THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM, THE MAJORITY OF THEM, PEOPLE OF COLOR, MOST WITH EITHER SUBSTANCE ABUSE OR MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS.

THE CHANCE OF AN INDIVIDUAL BEING REARRESTED AND GOING TO PRISON, LOSING FAMILY AND EMPLOYMENT, AND BEING CONSIGNED TO A LIFE OF POVERTY AND DESPAIR, GO UP EXPONENTIALLY AFTER THAT ARREST FOR WA WAS YES A MISTAKE BECAUSE ONCE IN THE SYSTEM, POLICE AND PROSECUTORS AND JUDGES LOOK AT YOU NOT AS A CITIZEN WITH YOUR RESPECT AND DIGNITY, BUT AS A NUMBER, A MISC TO THE CRIMINAL.

AUSTIN HAS MADE GREAT STRIDES WHEN IT COMES TO OFFERING DIVERSION TO INDIVIDUALS, MOSTLY YOUTH WHO BECOME ENSNARED IN A SYSTEM THAT OFFERS LITTLE BUT INCARCERATION TO THOSE THAT CAPTURES, WE HAVE A SOBERING CENTER AND A MENTAL HEALTH DIVERSION COMPLEX ON THE HORIZON.

I ASK THAT YOU VOTE YES ON ITEM 37 AND OFFER RELIEF IN THE LIFE OF HOPE TO AT LEAST 60,000 PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE A MISTAKE AND TO NOT LET THAT MISTAKE GROW INTO A LIFE OF INCARCERATION OR REGRET.

ARE IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 37 BECAUSE WE NEED A REAL ROBUST STAKEHOLDER PROCESS, UM, TO DISCUSS HOW WE'RE GOING TO STOP CRIMINALIZING PEOPLE WHO LIVE ON THE STREETS, UM, PEOPLE WITH IMMIGRATION STATUS AND HOW WE'RE GONNA BEGIN TO SUPPORT OUR MOST VULNERABLE AUSTINITES.

YES, SIR.

UH, GOOD MORNING, CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR WATSON.

MY NAME IS BARRY JONES.

I'M A LEADER AT VOCAL TEXAS.

UH, FORMERLY I WAS UNHOUSED IN AUSTIN FOR 10 YEARS.

UM, I'M HERE TO SUPPORT ITEM 37.

UH, WHEN I FIRST BECAME HOMELESS, I HAD AN OLD VEHICLE AND I WAS TRYING MY HARDEST TO GET OUTTA MY SITUATION.

I DIDN'T HAVE INCOME, I COULDN'T PAY MY VEHICLE INSURANCE, WHICH QUICKLY LED TO A CITATION AND THEN A WARRANT AND THEN ARREST.

AND SO, SO I SPENT 10 DAYS COURTESY OF THE CITY INSIDE.

UH, WHEN I GOT OUT, I STILL HAD TO FACE, UH, COMING UP WITH THE MONEY TO, TO, UH, GET MY VEHICLE BACK FROM IMPOUNDMENT, UH, WHICH WAS REALLY DIFFICULT.

UM, AND I JUST WANNA SAY THAT THIS SYSTEM OF, OF WARRANT ENFORCEMENT TOO OFTEN TURNS INTO A TRAP FOR POOR PEOPLE.

UH, IF, IF YOU'RE WORKING AND YOU ARE ARRESTED, THE CHANCES ARE VERY GOOD THAT YOU'RE GONNA LOSE YOUR JOB.

IF YOU LOSE YOUR JOB, YOU'RE VERY LIKELY TO LOSE YOUR VEHICLE.

NOW YOU ARE A PERSON WITHOUT A VEHICLE, WITHOUT A JOB, WITHOUT INCOME WHO IS FACING THE SAME SITUATION THAT YOU GOT THE CITATION FOR TO BEGIN WITH, SO YOU CAN GET MORE CITATIONS.

AND THIS JUST BECOMES A DOWNWARD SPIRAL FOR TOO MANY PEOPLE.

AND I THINK THAT WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT THIS SITUATION.

WE NEED, UH, OUR LEADERS TO STEP UP AND, UH, HELP US MOVE FORWARD TO SOLVE THIS SITUATION TO TOGETHER AND, AND PUT THIS SITUATION BEHIND US.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

GOOD MORNING, COUNSEL.

MAYOR, MY NAME IS KATE ANI, ALSO WITH VOCAL TEXAS.

UM, WE ARE HERE IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 37, AS YOU'VE HEARD FROM SOME OF OUR MEMBERS ALREADY.

UM, THE CRIMINALIZATION THAT'S HAPPENING ON THE STREETS OF AUSTIN RIGHT NOW IS PUTTING PEOPLE ALREADY VULNERABLE IN MORE DANGER.

UM, FOLKS WHO ARE POOR AND CAN'T PAY THEIR TICKETS ARE, ARE GETTING, UH, WARRANTS ISSUED BY THE CITY.

AND THIS IS A LOCAL POLICY THAT WE THINK NEED TO CHANGING.

UM, I HAVE A, UM, A STORY FROM ONE OF OUR LEADERS, TONY CARTER, WHO COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY THAT I WANTED TO READ QUICKLY AS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW BROKEN THIS SYSTEM IS.

UM, TONY GOT A CAR, A TICKET FOR FLYING A SIGN IN DECEMBER.

UM, IN ORDER TO, UM, ADDRESSED THE TICKET, HE ENGAGED WITH DAK CASE MANAGEMENT, UM, AND HE'S CURRENTLY IN, IN THEIR DEFERMENT PROGRAM.

BUT BECAUSE HE, TONY HASN'T BEEN CONNECTED TO HOUSING, THE WAITING LISTS ARE TOO LONG.

EVERY NIGHT WHEN HE LAYS HIS HEAD DOWN, HE'S AT RISK OF GETTING A CAMPING TICKET, WHICH WOULD VIOLATE, UM, THE PROGRAM THROUGH DAK COULD REVOKE HIS DEFERRAL.

HE'D HAVE TO PAY A TICKET THAT HE CAN'T PAY FOR $300 LEADING TO A WARRANT.

UM, WE HAVE OVER 66,000 WARRANTS FOR CLASS C UM, MISDEMEANORS IN THIS CITY RIGHT NOW.

AND THAT'S WHY WE

[01:10:01]

MANY OF US LIVE HERE IN AUSTIN BECAUSE WE STAND UP TO THE STATE AND WE HAVE DIFFERENT VALUES HERE, AND WE PROTECT OUR MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

RIGHT NOW, FOLKS ON THE STREETS ARE BEING TERRORIZED DAILY WITH SWEEPS LED BY A PD.

THESE ARE, THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE ALSO VICTIMS OF CRIME AND ASSAULT AND VIOLENCE, AND THEY ARE NOT SAFE TO CALL THE POLICE AND WE NEED TO CHANGE THAT.

OKAY, CONTINUING ON.

ITEM 37, DANIELLA SILVA.

ROXANNA HERNDON, ALLISON COLE, SUSANNA RAZA, MARISSA DIXON, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND BEGIN SPEAKING.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR.

CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS DANIELA SILVA.

I'M THE AUSTIN POLICY COORDINATOR AT WORKERS DEFENSE ACTION FUND, AN ORGANIZATION REPRESENTING THOUSANDS OF WORKING CLASS LATINA PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS THAT FIGHTS FOR IMMIGRANT AND WORKER JUSTICE.

I WOULD FIRST LIKE TO EXPRESS DEEP GRATITUDE TO THE CO-SPONSORS OF THIS ITEM.

COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL MAYOR PRO COUNCIL MEMBERS FUENTES AND VELAZQUEZ.

OUR MEMBERS IN AUSTIN WORK ACROSS INDUSTRIES AND LIVE DIFFERENT LIVES, BUT SHARE ONE THING IN COMMON.

THEY WANT SAFETY FOR THEMSELVES, THEIR FAMILIES, AND THEIR COMMUNITIES.

WHETHER SOMEONE HAS BEEN A VICTIM OF A HATE CRIME, WAGE THEFT, OR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WORKERS', DEFENSE MEMBERS WISH FOR A CITY WHERE THEY CAN CALL 9 1 1 FOR HELP WITHOUT WORRYING IF THEY ARE GOING TO BE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST, HARASSED, OR HARMED.

ANOTHER MEMBER, MANUEL SAYS THAT OUR COMMUNITY DOESN'T FEEL SAFE CALLING THE POLICE BECAUSE THEY MAY CALL ICE.

SO IF THERE IS AN EMERGENCY, THEY DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT TO DO.

HE BELIEVES THE POLICE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE HERE TO PROTECT PEOPLE AND WANTS TO BE ABLE TO TRUST THEM.

MANUEL HAS A QUESTION FOR CHIEF DAVIS.

CAN I TRUST YOU? CAN I TRUST THAT I CAN CALL YOU WITH ANY PROBLEMS I HAVE? BECAUSE MANY POLICE ARE WORKING WITH ICE, SO THE TRUST ISN'T THERE.

NOW, BY AIMING TO PROTECT VICTIMS FROM UNNECESSARY AND UNRELATED ARRESTS OR DETENTIONS, THE SAFE TO CALL RESOLUTION IS THE FIRST STEP IN REESTABLISHING TRUE TRUST AMONGST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.

BY BRINGING COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE TO THE TABLE, TO CO-CREATE POLICIES THAT SUPPORT THE SAFETY OF FOLKS EXPERIENCING CRISIS AND TRAGEDY.

THE CURRENT SYSTEMS THAT EXIST LEAVE VULNERABLE PEOPLE AT RISK OF BEING PUNISHED FOR THE BRAVERY IT REQUIRES TO ASK FOR HELP AND FOR PUTTING FAITH IN INSTITUTIONS THAT HAVEN'T ALWAYS LISTENED OR STOOD UP TO THEM.

WE CALL ON THE CHIEF OF POLICE, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL AND MANAGER TO EMULATE THAT SAME BRAVERY BY STANDING FIRM BEHIND THIS AND ALL POLICIES CREATED TO PROTECT ALL AUSTINITES.

ANYONE CAN BECOME A VICTIM REGARDLESS OF AGE, RACE, NATIONALITY, GENDER, OR INCOME.

HELLO, MY NAME IS ROXANNA HERNDON.

I'M A AUSTIN KNIGHT WITH GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP UNDER THE TAJ ADVOCATE FOR JUSTICE.

I HAVE RESIGNED IN AUSTIN, TEXAS IN DISTRICT FOUR FOR 40 PLUS YEARS LIVING.

I'M HERE TO ASK CITY COUNCIL TO VOTE YES FOR ITEM 37.

CLASS C TRAFFIC TICKETS IS A HINDRANCE FOR CITIZENS TO BE ABLE TO COMMUTE BACK AND FORTH TO WORK, SCHOOL, OR DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS.

THIS IS HURTING US BY NOT ALLOWING US TO CHOOSE TO PAY FOR GROCERIES OR PAY FOR A TRAFFIC VIOLATION THAT WILL PREVENT US FROM GOING BACK TO JAIL.

I'M STANDING UP BECAUSE I'M A MOTHER THAT IS STANDING IN THOSE SHOES THAT HAS CLASS C TICKETS THAT IS HURTING ME.

I'M SPEAKING ON THIS BECAUSE THAT I'M FACING SITUATIONS THAT IS HURTING ME FROM GOING TO WORK OR BEING ARRESTED WHEN I GET IN MY CAR TO DRIVE, TO TAKE CARE OF MY CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN FOR SAFE CALL RESOLUTION TO BE EFFECTIVE.

PEOPLE LIVING HERE IN AUSTIN SHOULDN'T BE AFRAID TO DRIVE ON THE ROAD TO FEAR OF BEING ARRESTED, NOR MAKE 9 1 1 CALLS FOR HELP.

AND THIS IS BEING USED AGAINST US.

THERE IS, THERE SHOULDN'T BE PENALTIES THAT HOLD US BACK FROM TRYING TO CHANGE FOR THE BETTER IN OUR LIVES.

THIS GOES AGAINST THE AMENDMENT FOR, FOR THE AMENDMENT FOR, AND THIS GOES AGAINST THE RIGHTS FOR JUSTICE.

I'M HERE ASKING CITY COUNCIL AGAIN TO VOTE YES TO ITEM 37 TO HELP US TO BE ABLE TO SURVIVE AND PROVIDE FOR OUR FAMILY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HEARING ME.

OF PERSONAL STORIES TO SUPPORT AND I HAVE NOTHING TO ADD TO THAT, BUT WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT IS THAT A PD KEEPS SAYING PUBLICLY THAT WANTS TO BUILD TRUST WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

HI, MY NAME IS SUSANNA ZA.

I LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE AND I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF SAFE TO CALL ITEM 37.

YOU HEARD LOTS

[01:15:01]

ONE GREAT STEP TO DO THAT IS TO COME IN HERE AND TESTIFY IN FULL SUPPORT OF IT, BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE GUIDELINES THAT YOU CAN PRIORITIZE THE SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO SERVE AND NOT ADD THEM TO THE PRISON PIPELINE, THAT WOULD BE THE BEST PR YOU CAN EVER GET WITHOUT ANY MONEY.

IT'S JUST LIKE, SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION.

IT WILL MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER.

PEOPLE WILL START GOING TO NOT BE AFRAID OF YOU, AND YOU'LL HELP THE COMMUNITY.

PLEASE, I, UH, URGE EVERYBODY TO SUPPORT ITEM THREE, SEVEN.

EXCUSE ME.

UM, MY NAME IS ALISON COLE.

I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 10, AND I AM ALSO THE VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNITY SERVICES AT SAFE ALLIANCE, WHICH IS A NONPROFIT THAT SERVES SURVIVORS OF ABUSE WITH THINGS LIKE SHELTER, HOUSING, ADVOCACY, FORENSIC EXAMS, COUNSELING, THERAPY, LEGAL SUPPORT.

THE LIST GOES ON.

I'M ALSO PERSONALLY AN ATTORNEY WHO HAS SPENT MY CAREER, UM, SERVING SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE, AND WHAT I AND MY COLLEAGUES HAVE OBSERVED TIME AND TIME AGAIN WITH THE PEOPLE THAT WE WORK WITH IS THAT THEY DO NOT FEEL SAFE FOR SO, SO MANY REASONS COMING FORWARD OR SEEKING EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE, EVEN IN LIFE-THREATENING ASSAULTS.

THERE ARE SO, SO MANY REASONS FOR THAT.

TOO MANY TO GET INTO TODAY.

HOWEVER, WHY I PERSONALLY AND SAFE ARE SO EXCITED ABOUT ITEM 37 IS THAT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REMOVE SOME OF THOSE BARRIERS, VERY REAL BARRIERS TO SEEKING SERVICES IN A LIFE AND DEATH EMERGENCY.

WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT ABUSERS ARE VERY, VERY GOOD AT WEAPONIZING THE SYSTEMS THAT ARE MEANT TO PROTECT PEOPLE AGAINST THEM.

AND WE HAVE CLIENTS WHO ARE THINKING TWICE BEFORE CALLING 9 1 1.

THEY'RE THINKING, WHO'S GONNA TAKE CARE OF MY KIDS TOMORROW IF BOTH OF THEIR PARENTS ARE ARRESTED TONIGHT BECAUSE OF THAT UNPAID PARKING TICKET THAT I HAVE? BECAUSE OF THAT TIME, I GOT CAMPING BECAUSE MY ABUSER KICKED ME OUT AND I HAD NOWHERE TO SLEEP THAT NIGHT.

THEY'RE WORRYING, WHAT IF IT'S GONNA BE MY FAULT FOR CALLING POLICE BECAUSE MY MIXED STATUS FAMILY GETS TORN APART TONIGHT.

THIS IS A CHANCE TO EMPOWER A PD TO FIGHT CRIME BECAUSE THIS IS A LOT OF UNREPORTED CRIME GOING AROUND, A LOT OF VULNERABLE PEOPLE NOT BEING PROTECTED.

THIS IS A CHANCE FOR A PD TO BE EMPOWERED TO PREVENT HOMICIDES BECAUSE SURVIVORS OF ABUSE WON'T HAVE TO THINK TWICE WHEN THEY ARE CALLING FOR HELP IN LIFE AND DEATH SITUATIONS.

SO I WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.

I WANNA THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THIS BECAUSE THIS COULD BE SOMETHING THAT COULD MAKE OUR COMMUNITY SO MUCH SAFER FOR EVERYONE, AND IT'S ACTUALLY A WAY THAT WE CAN FIGHT CRIME.

AND RELEASING REPEAT OFFENDERS.

CONTINUE ON ITEM 37, RYAN ROSSER.

COURTNEY SKI SALVADOR ESPINOSA, VIN ROBO MIRA ROS, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND BEGIN SPEAKING WITH THE SPEAKERS.

GO AHEAD AND COME ON DOWN IF THAT NEXT GROUP IS PRESENT.

ALRIGHT.

GOOD MORNING COUNSEL.

I AM JEN ROBO, A LONGTIME AUSTIN RESIDENT.

WHILE I SUPPORT THE GOAL OF HELPING VICTIMS AND WITNESSES FEEL SAFE, CALLING 9 1 1 THE POLICIES AND THE SAFE TO CALL RESOLUTION WILL ACTUALLY MAKE LAW ENFORCEMENT LESS EFFECTIVE AND AUSTIN LESS SAFE FOR EVERYONE.

THE RESOLUTION DIRECTS OFFICERS NOT TO CHECK FOR WARRANTS ON VICTIMS OR WITNESSES DURING EMERGENCY CALLS, TO DELAY ARRESTS ON UNRELATED WARRANTS AND TO USE ALTERNATIVES INSTEAD OF TICKETS.

THESE CHANGES MAY SOUND COMPASSIONATE, BUT THEY ARE BROAD AND REACH FAR BEYOND OUR HOMELESS AND IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES.

THEY DELIBERATELY REDUCE THE CHANCE THAT PEOPLE WILL FACE REAL CONSEQUENCES FOR THE CRIMES THAT THEY COMMIT.

EVEN MORE CONCERNING STOPPING OFFICERS FROM CHECKING SOMEONE'S CRIMINAL RECORD DURING A NINE ONE ONE CALL PUTS BOTH OFFICERS AND THE PUBLIC IN GREATER DANGER.

OFFICERS MAY NOT SHOW UP WITH KNOWLEDGE THAT THE PERSON THAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH HAS A VIOLENT HISTORY OR AN ACT OF WARRANT THAT RAISES THE RISK OF SUDDEN VIOLENCE AGAINST THE OFFICERS OR BYSTANDERS.

RESEARCH AND REAL, REAL WORLD EXAMPLES SHOW THAT WHEN THE COST OF BREAKING THE LAW GOES DOWN, CRIME GOES UP, ESPECIALLY PROPERTY CRIME, THEFT AND DISORDER.

WE ALREADY HAVE A COUNTY DA WHOSE POLICIES HAVE BEEN WIDELY CRITICIZED FOR DROPPING OR REDUCING CHARGES

[01:20:01]

ADDING CITY RULES THAT FURTHER LIMIT WARRANT CHECKS, ARRESTS AND CITATIONS MAKES THE PROBLEM WORSE.

THIS IS NOT VICTIM CENTERED, IT'S CRIMINAL CENTERED, AND IT MAKES THE REVOLVING DOOR PROBLEM EVEN BIGGER.

THIS RESOLUTION IS PRESENTED AS PROTECTING VICTIMS, YET MUCH OF THE LANGUAGE FOCUSES ON PROTECTING PEOPLE WITH WARRANTS AND IMMIGRATION ISSUES, CREATING A CASCADE OF UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES IN TRYING TO HELP SOME.

IT PUTS THE SAFETY OF LAW ABIDING RESIDENTS AND THE WHOLE COMMUNITY AT RISK.

IF PUBLIC SAFETY IS TRULY THE GOAL, WE NEED ACCOUNTABILITY FOR WEAK PROSECUTION POLICIES, NOT NEW POLICIES THAT ERODE DETERRENTS.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS COURTNEY SIVER AND I'M HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 37, THE SAFE TO CALL RESOLUTION.

I SPEAK NOT ONLY AS AN AUSTIN RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FOUR OF VOLUNTEER WITH HANDS-OFF CENTRAL TEXAS, BUT AS A SOCIAL WORKER WHO HAS WORKED WITH INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS, SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT, WHICH I HAVE LIVED EXPERIENCES WITH AND IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES I HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP.

FEAR ISOLATES PEOPLE, TRAPS THEM IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS AND DEEPENS TRAUMA.

WHEN SOMEONE CALLS 9 1 1, IT IS OFTEN DURING THE WORST MOMENT OF THEIR LIFE, THEY MAY BE FLEEING ABUSE, REPORTING, VIOLENCE, OR TRYING TO PROTECT THEIR CHILDREN.

NO ONE IN THAT MOMENT SHOULD HAVE TO WONDER WHETHER REACHING OUT FOR SAFETY COULD INSTEAD LEAD TO ARREST OR DETENTION OVER AN UNRELATED MATTER.

I HAVE WORKED WITH SURVIVORS WHO ALREADY CARRY ENORMOUS FEAR AND SHAME.

I HAVE WORKED WITH IMMIGRANTS WHO ARE TERRIFIED OF SYSTEMS BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE ANY INTERACTION WITH AUTHORITIES COULD TEAR THEIR FAMILIES APART.

I HAVE WORKED WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN INCARCERATED AND KNOW HOW EASILY MINOR ILLEGAL ISSUES CAN SPIRAL INTO LIFE ALTERING CONSEQUENCES.

WHEN WE CREATE BARRIERS TO CALLING FOR HELP, WE EMPOWER THOSE WHO ABUSE SILENT SURVIVORS AND MAKE ALL OF US LESS SAFE.

AUSTIN SHOULD NOT BE COOPERATING WITH FEAR-BASED ENFORCEMENT PRACTICES OR COWTOWING TO ICE PRIORITIES WHEN OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO PROTECT THE SAFETY AND WELLBEING OF OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY.

OUR CITY'S EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEM SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON HELPING PEOPLE IN CRISIS, NOT CREATING MORE TRAUMA.

THIS RESOLUTION IS ABOUT RESTORING TRUST, PROTECTING VULNERABLE PEOPLE, AND ENSURING THAT EMERGENCY SERVICES REMAIN EMERGENCY SERVICES.

I URGE YOU TO VOTE YES ON ITEM 37.

ALSO SPEAK, OH, SORRY.

GO AHEAD, CONTINUE.

OH, THANK YOU.

UH, GOOD MORNING, COUNSEL.

MY NAME IS MAYOR ROS.

I ALSO GO BY GUMBO.

I USE THEY THEM PRONOUNS.

I'M ONE OF THE CO-CHAIRS OF AUSTIN, DSA RESIDENT OF DISTRICT THREE.

I WANNA START BY THANKING COUNCIL MEMBER, SINGLE AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, CADRE, ENTENTES, AND VELAZQUEZ FOR INTRODUCING THIS ITEM NUMBER 37, WHICH I AM IN SUPPORT OF TODAY.

I HAD THE HONOR TO VISIT MINNEAPOLIS AT THE END OF FEBRUARY, BEGINNING OF MARCH FOR A WEEK OF ACTION FOR PEOPLE AROUND THE COUNTRY TO LEARN ABOUT HOW THEY RESISTED ICE IN THEIR CITY.

AND THEY KEPT ASKING ME WHAT THINGS WERE LIKE IN AUSTIN, WHAT THINGS WERE LIKE IN TEXAS, AND I WOULD DESCRIBE TO THEM HOW STATE TROOPERS WERE PULLING PEOPLE OVER AND PEOPLE WERE BEING DEPORTED ON THE SPOT.

UH, I'VE SEEN THEM COME AND GO WITHIN 15 MINUTES, THEY DETAINED, THEY ARREST, THEY DEPORT, THE CAR IS TOWED AND THEY'RE GONE.

UM, AND THEY SAID, WOW, WE HAVE IT EASY UP HERE.

UM, THEY SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, ICE HAS TO, HAD TO MOVE IN MINNEAPOLIS LIKE AN OCCUPYING ARMY BECAUSE THEY HAD NO OPEN COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL AND STATE POLICE.

AND SO THEY HAD TO MOVE THAT WAY BECAUSE THEY KNEW THEY WERE UNDER SCRUTINY.

AND HERE ICE AND CBP ARE ALMOST LIKE A FACT OF LIFE.

THEY'RE JUST AROUND AND THEY JUST SHOW UP.

WE HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING WHERE THEY'RE COMING FROM, WHERE THEY'RE GOING, WHERE THEY'RE TAKING PEOPLE, UM, AND THE FACT THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO COME WHEN 9 1 1 CALLS COME UP.

AND THE FACT THAT A PD IS NOT ALWAYS ABLE TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN AN ADMINISTRATIVE AND A JUDICIAL WARRANT ONLY INCREASES THAT LACK OF SAFETY.

SO WE NEED TO PUT AS MANY BARRIERS AS POSSIBLE BETWEEN OUR PUBLIC SAFETY LOCALLY AND THE FORCED MIGRATION AND DEPORTATION OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND WE ALSO NEED TO BREAK THE MOLD SET BY AM MAYOR WHITMEYER IN HOUSTON OF CAVING TO ABBOTT AND PAXTON AND THEIR THREATS AGAINST OUR CITIES.

THEY WANNA TAKE AWAY TWO AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS AND THEN MAYBE A COUPLE HUNDRED MILLION MORE FROM PUBLIC SAFETY.

AND THAT SHOWS THAT THIS IS NOT ABOUT SAFETY FOR THEM.

THIS IS ABOUT FORCE AND THREATS OF VIOLENCE.

SO PLEASE VOTE YES ON ITEM 37 AND, UH, F**K ICE.

STEWART, CHRIS HARRIS, RYE VASQUEZ, AND BEN SOTHEBY.

CONTINUE ON ITEM 37, CRYSTAL SILVA, MCCORMICK, ALVIN

[01:25:01]

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND BEGIN SPEAKING.

MY NAME'S BEN SOTHEBY.

I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FOUR.

UH, I WANNA START BY THANKING THE SPONSORS, UH, OF, OF THIS ITEM.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS SIEGEL, MAYOR PROAM VELA, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, UH, CADRE AND VELASQUEZ.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

UM, WE'VE HEARD EXCELLENT TESTIMONY THIS MORNING.

THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY, I THINK ALL BUT ONE WE'VE HEARD SO FAR VASTLY IN FAVOR OF THIS, THIS IS WHAT OUR COMMUNITY WANTS.

THEIR LIVED EXPERIENCES ARE GONNA SPEAK LOUDER THAN ANYTHING I CAN SAY, BUT THERE ARE ASPECTS OF THIS THAT JUMP OUT AT ME.

FROM A PUBLIC BUDGETS PERSPECTIVE.

WE SEE AN INTENTION TO FIND EFFICIENCY IN OUR SYSTEMS. LOADS AND LOADS OF UNRESOLVED CLASS C MISDEMEANORS, BOGGING DOWN OUR LEGAL SYSTEM.

UH, DON'T SAVE US MONEY.

YOU KNOW, I PAY ONE TAX BILL, BOTH CITY AND COUNTY ON THAT ONE THING.

AND SOME OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE.

AND THE BIGGEST DOLLAR SPEND THAT'S HAPPENING ON THERE IS CHASING AFTER PEOPLE WHO HAVE GOTTEN CAUGHT UP WITH, YOU KNOW, LOW LEVEL NONVIOLENT CRIMES THAT, UH, MAYBE IT'S CAMPING 'CAUSE THEY HAVE NOWHERE TO GO.

WE KNOW THAT OUR, OUR CAPACITY IS, UH, OUTSTRIPPING OUR SUPPLY OF, OF BEDS TO SLEEP.

AND IT'S JUST STACKING AND PUTTING THESE PEOPLE IN WORSE PLACES, YOU KNOW, SENDING THEM TO THE TRAVIS COUNTY JAIL WHERE IT'S REALLY EXPENSIVE TO HOUSE AND FEED AND HEALTHCARE AND ALL THE, ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT DOESN'T HELP MY TAX BILL.

SO I LOVE THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR STRATEGIES TO MAKE BOTH THEIR OUTCOMES AND THEIR LIVES BETTER, BUT ALSO SAVING OUR PRECIOUS PUBLIC RESOURCES TO DEVOTE THEM TO THINGS THAT REALLY HELP PEOPLE GET SAFE.

SAFETY MEANS MY NEIGHBOR'S NEEDS BEING MET.

I THINK ABOUT, UH, THE HESITANCY TO CALL 9 1 1 WHEN, WHEN MY NEIGHBOR'S, UH, TOOLS GOT STOLEN.

RIGHT.

UH, NOW HE CAN'T GO WORK ON THAT CONSTRUCTION SITE DELAYING THE PROVIDING OF HOUSING IF I GET HIT BY A CAR.

THANK, SIR.

I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEIR WITNESSES CALL 9 1 1.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

MY NAME IS ALVIN STEWART.

UM, AND I'M HERE TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF ITEM 37.

BUT I WANNA BEGIN WITH A STORY.

A MOTHER AND A DAUGHTER WERE DEPORTED AFTER POLICE WERE CALLED FOR A DOMESTIC DISPUTE.

WELL BEGIN AS A CALL FOR HELP TURNED INTO A LIFE-CHANGING CONSEQUENCE FOR AN ENTIRE FAMILY.

THE MOTHER WAS DETAINED OVER AN ADMINISTRATIVE A WARRANT, AND THEN THE DAUGHTER AND HER WERE LATER DEPORTED.

THE LOWEST LEVEL OF OFFENSE SHOULD NOT CREATE THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF CONSEQUENCES.

YEARS AGO, A PERSONAL STORY OF MINE.

I WAS TAKEN TO JAIL FOR A CLASS C MISDEMEANOR.

I DID NOT EVEN HAD, I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW I HAD.

IT CAME FROM A CRIMINAL TRESPASSING TICKET AFTER OFFICER SAW A CAR I USED DRIVE PAST THE SCHOOL THAT I WAS EXPELLED FROM.

EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS NOT IN MY NAME, I WAS NEVER AWARE OF THAT WARRANT UNTIL I WAS ARRESTED.

THAT EXPERIENCE SHOWED ME HOW QUICKLY A MINOR ISSUE CAN BECOME LIKE SOMETHING SERIOUS.

I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE, THE HISPANIC WOMEN THAT CAME UP HERE EARLIER.

I KNOW SOME OF THEM PERSONALLY, AND THAT STORY TRULY TOUCHED MY HEART.

THEIR EXPERIENCE REFLECT REAL PEOPLE TRYING TO BUILD THEIR LIVES IN THE CITY, AND THEY DESERVE UNDERSTANDING AND FAIRNESS IN HOW OUR SYSTEMS IMPACT THEM.

THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING THIS COUNCIL TO SUPPORT ALTERNATIVES AND INCARCERATION FOR CLASS C MISDEMEANORS TO HELP REDUCE MORE THAN 66,000 OUTSTANDING CLASS C WARRANTS AND TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF I 37.

I ALSO WANNA HIGHLIGHT A SERIOUS CONCERN.

AFRICAN AMERICANS MAKE UP ABOUT 8% OF AUSTIN'S POPULATION, YET ACCOUNT FOR ROUGHLY 25% OF WARRANTS FOR THESE LOW LEVEL OFFENSES.

THAT DISPARITY IS SIGNIFICANT AND RAISES REAL QUESTIONS ABOUT FAIRNESS.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I, AND WE RESPECT, SUPPORT AND APPRECIATE OUR POLICE OFFICERS.

THEY DO A DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS JOB EVERY DAY, AND THAT SERVICE DESERVES RECOGNITION.

AND BECAUSE WE RESPECT THAT WORK, WE ALSO BELIEVE IN TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY SO OUR COMMUNITY CAN UNDERSTAND HOW OUR DECISIONS ARE MADE TO BUILD A STRONGER TRUST.

STATISTICALLY SKYROCKETS WHEN FACTORING IN RACE, DISABILITY STATUS, OR OTHER MARGINALIZED GROUPS.

GOOD MORNING, COUNSEL.

MY NAME IS RA VA COMMUNITY ADVOCATE, REPRESENTING MYSELF.

PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE SCARED WHEN THEY SCARED THAT THEY WILL BE INCARCERATED BECAUSE THEY CALL FOR HELP.

OUR TAX DOLLARS GO TO A SYSTEM THAT RELIES HEAVILY ON LAW ENFORCEMENT AS THE MECHANISM TO MEDIATE VIOLENT OFFENSES.

BLUE COLLAR CRIME AND MENTAL HEALTH EPISODES BEING CAUGHT IN YOUR WORST DAY SHOULDN'T RESULT IN YOU BEING BOOKED AND PROCESSED.

THE FACT IN THE MATTER IS THAT THE METRICS SHOW THAT INCARCERATION

[01:30:01]

PERSONALLY, I KNOW THAT WHEN I WOULD BE SCARED TO CALL 9 1 1 IF I KNEW THERE WAS A THREAT, THAT I WOULD BE TURNED OVER TO A FEDERAL FORCE, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S AN ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANT THAT HAS NO APPROVAL FROM A JUDGE.

I PRIDE MYSELF IN KNOWING THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN ENDEAVORS TO RECTIFY THESE OVERREACHES OF ENFORCEMENT THAT DO NOTHING BUT HARM THE GREATER GOOD OF OUR COMMUNITY.

CHANGES TO SYSTEMS LIKE THIS ARE DAUNTING, I KNOW, BUT THIS IS A DROP IN THE BUCKET COMPARED TO THE GREAT GOOD IT WILL DO FOR OUR AUSTIN CITY.

THIS IS A MEANINGFUL WAY TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF OUR NEIGHBORS.

GREG ABBOTT IS NOT THE ARBITER OF HOW AUSTIN USES ITS PUBLIC FUNDS.

ABBOT HAS MADE IT CLEAR IF THE GOVERNOR MANCHIN WAS NOT LOCATED ON 11TH STREET, HE WOULD NOT LIVE IN AUSTIN.

HE'S STARTED WITH OUR RAINBOW CROSSWALKS AND NOW HE THREATENS OUR PUBLIC FUNDS BECAUSE WE DARE TO SHOW COMPASSION FOR OUR FELLOW NEIGHBORS.

DO NOT LET HIS EMPTY THREATS STOP YOU FROM DOING SOMETHING THAT WILL BENEFIT OUR COMMUNITY.

HAVING A TASK FORCE TO REASSESS THAT STATISTICS, OUR AND BACKGROUNDS OF ARREST, IS A GREAT IDEA.

I HOPE THAT IT WILL LEAD TO A BETTER AND MORE PROSPEROUS CITY AND MORE AVENUES FOR OUR NEIGHBORS TO FEEL COMFORTABLE RELYING ON EMERGENCY SERVICES THAT THEY PAID FOR.

VOTE YES ON ITEM 37.

GOOD MORNING, UH, COUNCIL MAYOR.

UM, MY NAME IS CHRIS HARRIS.

I'M WITH TEXAS CIVIL RIGHTS PROJECT.

I'M ALSO A RESIDENT HERE IN DISTRICT NINE, UM, HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 37, UH, I WANT TO THANK, UH, THE SPONSOR AND CO-SPONSORS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, VELAZQUEZ, FUENTES, VELA CADRE, AND SIGU, UM, FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM.

WE OFTEN TALK, ESPECIALLY IN, IN NONPROFIT SPACES, BUT ALSO IN IN GO GOVERNMENT SPACES ABOUT HELPING MARGINALIZED PEOPLE.

UM, AND OF COURSE THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

RARELY DO WE TALK ABOUT ACTUALLY ENDING KEY VECTORS OF THEIR MARGINALIZATION.

UH, SOCIAL, CULTURAL, ECONOMIC ISOLATION, DENIAL OF POLITICAL POWER, DENIAL OF ACCESS TO RESOURCES.

WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY THROUGH THIS ITEM AND THE STAKEHOLDER PROCESS THAT FOLLOWS AND ACTUALLY HELPING PEOPLE TO BECOME LESS MARGINALIZED BY, BY ENABLING PEOPLE TO ACCESS CITY RESOURCES IN A WAY THAT THEY HAVE CURRENTLY DO NOT FEEL SAFE TO DO.

UH, AND AND THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WHILE SOME WOULD ARGUE THAT MARGINALIZING PEOPLE OVER THEIR DOCUMENTATION STATUS OR COMMITTING THE LOWEST LEVEL OFFENSE IN OUR CRIMINAL SYSTEM, THAT DOESN'T EVEN CARRY JAIL TIME IF FOUND GUILTY, UH, HELPS MAKE US SAFER.

UH, BUT I THINK ALL THE EVIDENCE, ALL THE DATA AND ALL THE TESTIMONY YOU'VE HEARD HERE TODAY POINTS A VERY DIFFERENT STORY.

THAT WHEN WE MARGINALIZE PEOPLE, WE MAKE US ALL LESS SAFE.

I WANNA ALSO TALK ABOUT THE GOVERNOR FIRST.

THE TERMS OF THE GOVERNOR'S PUBLIC SAFETY GRANTS VIOLATED OUR INITIAL FREEDOM CITY POLICY.

SIGNING THAT GRANT TO BEGIN WITH WAS A, A MAJOR BETRAYAL OF THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY IN THIS CITY, AND WHOEVER'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT IN THIS CITY DESERVES ACCOUNTABILITY.

FULL STOP.

SECOND, THE GOVERNOR CANNOT COMPEL THIS CITY TO VIOLATE THE FOURTH AMENDMENT IN, IN ORDER TO RECEIVE GRANT FUNDS.

OKAY, LIKE THE, YOU CANNOT BE COMPELLED TO VIOLATE THE FOURTH AMENDMENT IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THE GRANT FUNDS.

PLEASE FIGHT AND PLEASE VOTE FOR ITEM 37.

AND RECENT LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR THE CITY'S COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING APPLICATION VIA REPRESENTATIVE KASSAR'S OFFICE, SO THE CITY CAN HOPEFULLY BUY HIS LAND AND THE CO-OP CAN FIND A PERMANENT HOME.

WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ITEM 38, BEGINNING WITH REMOTE SPEAKERS.

CASSIE SOREN.

UH, GOOD AFTERNOON.

MY NAME IS CASSIE SOREN.

I LIVE IN DISTRICT SIX AND I WORK AT GOOF BAMO, OFTEN ALSO KNOWN AS GAVA.

I'M SPEAKING TODAY ON ITEM 38.

UM, I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE DELL VALLEY FOOD CO-OP FROM INCEPTION.

HAVING WRITTEN THE ORIGINAL GRANT PROPOSAL IN 2022 FOR THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY OWNED FOOD RETAIL INITIATIVE, I BEGAN AS A PROJECT MANAGER AND NOW SERVE ON THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE TO GET TO THIS POINT.

GAVA HAS FACILITATED HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF EXTENSIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND ORGANIZING ACTIVITIES.

ESTABLISHED A MULTILINGUAL RESIDENT LED STEERING COMMITTEE WHO DEVELOPED THE CO-OPS BUSINESS PLAN, AND WE NOW SUPPORT THE BOARD AS THEY OVERSEE THIS TRULY COMMUNITY OWNED ASSET.

FOR YEARS, RESIDENTS IN DELL VALLEY HAVE SOUNDED THE ALARM ON THEIR LACK OF ACCESS TO FRESH, AFFORDABLE FOOD.

AND THIS PROBLEM EXISTS DUE TO A LACK OF INVESTMENT IN THE COMMUNITY, WHICH HAS LEFT PEOPLE WITH LIMITED ACCESS TO FOOD AND BASIC NECESSITIES.

UH, NOW THE CO-OPS BOARD HAS OBTAINED A THREE YEAR LEASE FOR THE PROPERTY IN QUESTION, AND IT REQUIRES REZONING SO THE COMMUNITY EFFORTS CAN CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD.

THE CURRENT PROPERTY OWNER IS, IS IN FULL SUPPORT OF THE CO-OP, AS EVIDENCED BY HIS COLLABORATION

[01:35:01]

UM, I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS INITIATIVE OVER THE YEARS, AS WELL AS THE OTHER CO-SPONSORS TODAY, INCLUDING MY COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER LANE, UM, FOR SUPPORTING THIS CRITICAL STEP IN THE DELL VALLEY FOOD CO-OP INITIATIVE.

AND I URGE OTHERS TO VOTE YES AND SUPPORT FOOD SECURITY IN DILL VALLEY.

CONTINUING WITH REMOTE SPEAKERS ON ITEM 38, MONICA GUZMAN.

I'M MONICA GUZMAN, POLICY DIRECTOR GABA, GO.

AUSTIN BAIN SPEAKING ON ITEM 38.

WE THANK THE FOOD POLICY BOARD FOR THEIR RECOMMENDATION FOR COUNCIL APPROVAL AND WAIVING OF RELATED FEES.

WE THANK COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES FOR PROPOSING THIS RESOLUTION AND THANKS AS WELL TO THE CO-SPONSORING COUNCIL MEMBERS TO INITIATE THE REZONING OF THE DELVAL FOOD COOPERATIVE PROPERTY.

HISTORICALLY, FOOD ACCESS IN DEL HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR RESIDENTS, RESIDENTS HAVING TO DRIVE LONG DISTANCES TO BIKE GROCERIES.

PLANNING A TRIP TO A GROCERY STORE ISN'T EASY FOR WORKING FAMILY.

I KNOW THE CHALLENGE PERSONALLY FROM MY LIVED EXPERIENCES WHEN I LIVED IN SAN ANTONIO OFF LOOP FOUR 10, AND FOR THOSE WHO KNOW SAN ANTONIO, THAT THAT WAS WAY OUT THERE.

THE ROUTE TO A GROCERY STORE WAS LOOP FOUR 10 TO US 90 TO MILITARY DRIVE.

THAT WAS QUITE A DRIVE.

AND WE ALSO HAD TO PLAN SINCE WE WERE AT, UH, ONE CAR HOUSEHOLD.

AND MY THEN PARTNER HAD THE CAR MOST DAYS.

SO, THANK YOU, YOU KNOW, FOR ALL WHO HAVE SUPPORTED THIS WORK, COMMUNITY DRIVEN, AND WE REQUEST COUNSEL TO APPROVE THE DRAFT RESOLUTION AND WAIVE THE REZONING FEES AS RE REMAIN RECOMMENDED BY THE FOOD POLICY BOARD.

MOVING TO IN-PERSON SPEAKERS ON ITEM 38, CHRISTOPHER REYES AND BRITTANY BURKE, PLEASE COME FORWARD IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED.

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND BEGIN SPEAKING.

, PLEASE.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS CHRISTOPHER REYES AND I'M THE BOARD CHAIR OF THE DELL VALLEY FOOD CO-OP AND A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT TWO.

I'M HERE TO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN THIS ITEM TO INITIATE THE REZONING OF 58 0 7 ROSS ROAD, SO THAT DELL VALLEY CAN HAVE A NEIGHBORHOOD GROCERY STORE.

RIGHT NOW, MANY DELL VALLEY RESIDENTS TRAVEL LONG DISTANCES, OFTEN OVER AN HOUR JUST TO ACCESS FRESH, AFFORDABLE FOOD.

OUR CO-OP WAS CREATED BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO CHANGE THAT, TO BRING HEALTHY AND AFFORDABLE GROCERIES CLOSER TO HOME.

BUT WHAT WE'RE BUILDING IS MORE THAN A STORE.

WE ENVISION THAT THIS SITE IS A COMMUNITY SPACE, A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN GATHER, LEARN, AND CONNECT.

IN ADDITION TO GROCERY SALES, WE PLAN TO HOST EVENTS, OFFER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, AND CREATE A WELCOMING THIRD SPACE FOR RESIDENTS.

WE'RE ALSO EXPLORING OPPORTUNITIES LIKE GROWING PRODUCE ON SITE, AND SUPPORTING LOCAL PRODUCERS AND CRAFTSPEOPLE THROUGH WEEKEND MARKETS.

THIS REZONING ENSURES THE PROPERTY CAN HELP SUPPORT THESE KINDS OF COMMUNITY CENTERED USES.

IMPORTANTLY, WE HAVE STRONG ALIGNMENT WITH A PROPERTY OWNER.

OUR MULTI-YEAR LEASE INCLUDES A FORMAL RECORDED PURCHASE OPTION REFLECTING A SHARED COMMITMENT TO MAKING THIS A LONG, LONG-TERM COMMUNITY ROOTED SITE.

I ASK YOU TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF ITEM 38.

THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TURN A VACANT PROPERTY INTO SOMETHING THE COMMUNITY TRULY OWNS, ALLOWS FOR ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND A PLACE TO GATHER.

WE HOPE YOU'LL HELP US MAKE THAT POSSIBLE.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MIN FUENTES, AND THE OTHER CO-SPONSORS.

GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL AND MAYOR WATSON.

MY NAME IS BRITTANY BURKE AND I AM THE DIRECTOR OF THE DELL VALLEY LIBRARIES.

WE HAVE THE ELROY LIBRARY ON EIGHT 12 AND THE GARFIELD LIBRARY ON 71.

WE'RE ALSO BUILDING A NEW LIBRARY AT 7 2 2 5 ROSS ROAD, NEXT TO THE DELL VALLEY HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER, AND DOWN THE STREET FROM THE PROPOSED SIDE OF REZONING.

I'M IN FAVOR OF THIS REZONING BECAUSE THE DELL VALLEY COMMUNITY IS IN DIRE NEED OF EQUITABLE FOOD ACCESS.

I'VE WORKED AT THE LIBRARY SINCE 2019 AND TIME AND TIME AGAIN WE HAVE HEARD FROM PATRONS ABOUT FOOD INSECURITY.

FOOD ACCESS IS SO CENTRAL TO WORK IN DELL VALLEY BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE A TRADITIONAL GROCERY STORE.

WITH THIS EFFORT TO REZONE, IT WILL ENSURE FOOD ACCESS FOR THOSE IN DE VALLEY.

MOVING TO ITEM 39, BEGINNING WITH REMOTE SPEAKERS.

[01:40:04]

MONICA GUZMAN.

I'M MONICA GUZMAN, POLICY DIRECTOR AT GAVA.

GO.

AUSTIN.

OBAMAS AUSTIN.

WHOOPS, SPEAKING ON ITEM 39.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER QUEZ FOR LEADING THE RESPONSE TO THE COMMUNITY DRIVEN EFFORTS TO PROTECT THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING SUPPLY IN AUSTIN.

THIS RESOLUTION IS NOT AN EQUITY OVERLAY, BUT IT TAKES A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

WHILE IT DOES NOT PROTECT OUR NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING FROM THE DISPLACING IMPACT OF THE CITY'S DENSITY BONES PROGRAMS, IT DOES PROVIDE DIRECTION TO STAFF TO MONITOR FOR HARM AND GIVE COMMISSIONERS MORE INFORMATION TO CONSIDER BEFORE THEY RECOMMEND UPZONING EXISTING MULTIFAMILY PROPERTIES.

THE STRATEGIC HOUSING BLUEPRINT 10 YEAR GOAL IS TO PRODUCE 45,000 UNITS FOR PEOPLE MAKING LESS THAN 60%.

MFI, ACCORDING TO THE SCORECARD FROM 2018 TO 2023, 10,094 UNITS HAVE PRODUCED ONLY 22.4% OF ITS GOALS FOR UNITS AT THIS LEVEL.

YET THE PAST THREE COUNCILS HAVE APPROVED UPZONING AND SUBSEQUENT DEMOLITION OF AT LEAST 600 UNITS.

ONLY ONE OF THESE APARTMENTS REQUIRED ONE-TO-ONE REPLACEMENT OF AFFORDABLE UNITS LOST, WHICH MEANS WE'RE OPERATING IN A NEGATIVE FOR THIS GOAL.

THESE ARE SOME OF THE LAST MULTI BEDROOM APARTMENTS THAT RENT FOR UNDER 1500 PER MONTH.

THE TENANTS WHO LIVE IN THESE PROPERTIES OFTEN DON'T RECEIVE NOTICE OF PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT LIKE HOME OWNING CONSTITUENTS.

THEY RELY ON NEIGHBORS AND ALLIES PROACTIVELY WORKING TO ENSURE THAT THEIR RIGHTS ARE RECOGNIZED AND HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR NEIGHBORS.

THIS POLICY WOULD PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A REVIEW BY THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, THE ONLY COMMISSION DESIGNATED TO CONSIDER THE NEEDS OF THE WORKING POOR.

UH, UM, MORE AND MORE OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS FALL INTO THAT CATEGORY, EVEN THOSE WHO WERE PREVIOUSLY CONSIDERED MIDDLE CLASS.

WHILE THIS POLICY DOESN'T OUTRIGHT GRANT PROTECTION TO OUR NATURALLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR TO AUSTINITE WHO LIVE THERE, IT PROVIDES COMMISSIONERS AND COUNCIL MEMBERS A MORE INFORMED OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO.

PLEASE VOTE YES ON ITEM 39 AND TAKE A SMALL STEP TOWARD PROTECTING THE SUPPLY OF TRULY AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN AUSTIN.

MOVING TO IN-PERSON SPEAKERS ON ITEM 39, DAVID WEINBERG.

UH, I AM DAVID WEINBERG.

I AM FROM DISTRICT FIVE.

I AM SUPPORTING, UH, THIS ITEM 39.

I THINK IT IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, UH, TO SORT OF IMPROVING, UH, THE THOUGHTFULNESS OF PROCESS AND COMMUNICATION WHERE WE HAVE EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CITY, UH, AND MAKING SURE THAT THE VOICES OF THE FOLKS WHO ARE LIVING THERE ARE BEING HEARD.

IF WE ARE CONSIDERING A REZONING OF THOSE PROPERTIES.

I THINK THIS COUNCIL AIRED WHEN IT GRANTED A REZONING OF AKIA CLIFFS.

UM, SERIOUSLY, UH, IT'S NOT CLEAR TO ME WHAT EXACTLY IS HAPPENING WITH THAT PROPERTY TODAY.

IT MIGHT BE GOOD TO GET AN UPDATE ON THAT.

UM, ALSO, UH, WHILE THE RESOLUTION IS GOOD, IT COULD HAVE, UM, MORE TEETH.

UH, IT, IT DOES NOT REQUIRE APPLICANTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS DISCUSSION WITH THE CDC ALSO.

IT, IT SAYS THAT THE PROCESS OF REZONING CANNOT BE HELD UP, UH, WITH THESE CONVERSATIONS ONGOING WITH THIS, UH, WITH THIS, UM, COMMISSION.

UH, AND I THINK THE LAST THING I'LL SAY IS, UM, ALSO THIS, THIS HAS MORE MEETING IF, WHEN REZONING APPLICATIONS FIND THEIR WAY TO THE FULL COUNCIL, THAT THEY ARE NOT TAKEN AS STATE A COMPLETE, I THINK DARRYL SLUSHER AND THE INDEPENDENT REPORTED THAT, UH, A COUPLE WEEKS BACK, Y'ALL VOTED DOWN TWO ZONING APPLICATIONS, UH, ON SPLIT VOTES.

AND AS THE FIRST TIME THIS COUNCIL HAS DONE THAT IN A NUMBER OF YEARS.

UH, SO LET'S BE THOUGHTFUL AND, UH, INTENTIONAL ABOUT HOW WE ARE DEALING WITH, UH, EXISTING WORKING CLASS HOUSING, UH, IN THIS CITY.

BUT THIS IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

DAVID WEINBERG, MIRIAM SCHOFIELD.

SPEAKING ON ITEM 41, HAYDEN BAGOT BAG.

I'M GOOD.

MOVING TO ITEM 64, SPEAKING REMOTELY IS MONICA GUZMAN IPADS.

MOVING TO IN-PERSON SPEAKERS ON ITEM 64, ADAM GREENFIELD.

[01:45:03]

THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER, AND ESPECIALLY THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS AND THE CO-SPONSORS FOR BRINGING FORWARD THIS ITEM.

UM, TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE DECISIONS IN GENERAL ARE DECISIONS ABOUT FUTURE DEVELOPMENT AND THE DECISION TO EXPAND.

UH, URBAN HIGHWAY IS NO MORE AND NO LESS THAN A DECISION TO ENCOURAGE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE UTILIZING THE OPPORTUNITIES IN THE CITY TO LIVE FURTHER AWAY FROM IT.

UH, THE MOPAC EXPANSION THAT'S BEING PROPOSED, UM, IS NO EXCEPTION TO THIS.

AND THE PROJECT IS PARTICULARLY EGREGIOUS BECAUSE OF THE IMPACTS ON SCO PARK AUSTIN HIGH AND BARTON SPRINGS.

UM, WHAT I REALLY WANT TO EMPHASIZE THOUGH ABOUT THIS PROJECT AND THIS RESOLUTION IS THAT THIS IS A PROJECT BY C-T-R-M-A, THE CENTRAL TEXAS REGIONAL MOBILITY AUTHORITY AND NOT BY TDOT.

AND THAT HAS TWO IMPORTANT IMPLICATIONS.

FIRST, IN ADDITION TO THE HARMS THAT THIS, UH, EXPANSION WOULD CAUSE, THERE'S HUGE OPPORTUNITY COST.

C-T-R-M-A HAS SO MUCH FLEXIBILITY IN HOW THEY USE THEIR FUNDS, UNLIKE TXDOT, AND THE BILLION DOLLARS FOR THIS PROJECT COULD BE SPENT BUILDING THE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM OF YOUR DREAMS. THIS COULD BE SPENT ON REGIONAL RAIL.

THIS COULD BE SPENT ON IMPROVING TRANSIT INFRASTRUCTURE, ON TRAILS, AND ON SO MUCH ELSE.

SECOND, THIS ISN'T BEING DRIVEN BY THE STATE.

C-T-R-M-A IS GOVERNED BY A SEVEN PERSON BOARD.

THREE OF THOSE BOARD MEMBERS ARE APPOINTED BY TRAVIS COUNTY.

UH, THIS IS A PROJECT THAT AS THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL HUB OF OUR REGION, THE CITY SHOULD AND CAN HAVE INFLUENCE OVER THE ASKS IN THIS RESOLUTION THAT THE EXPANSION BE NO MORE THAN ONE LANE IN EACH DIRECTION, AND THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES BE SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED, ARE REASONABLE, ACHIEVABLE, ASK.

THIS IS A FIGHT THAT, UH, THE CITY CAN WIN ON.

SO PLEASE PASS THE RESOLUTION.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST AND ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER.

AND I'D ALSO ASK ALL OF YOU WHO ARE INTERESTED AND CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PROJECT TO NOT JUST SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION, BUT ALSO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE IN OTHER WAYS.

HELLO AGAIN.

DAVID WEINBERG, UH, DISTRICT FIVE RESIDENT, UH, SUPPORTING THIS ITEM.

I WANT TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UH, FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD TODAY.

UH, I'LL TRY TO BE BRIEF.

I'LL TRY TO BE QUICK.

UM, I THINK THE IDEA OF DOING A MAJOR HIGHWAY EXPANSION OVER A RIVER, WHICH WE CALL A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT LAKES, UH, THROUGH OUR MAIN METROPOLITAN PARK, WHERE WE HAVE, UH, I THINK FOUR DIFFERENT ENDANGERED SPECIES LIVING THERE, OR IN THE VICINITY OF VICINITY OF THIS PROJECT, PROPOSED PROJECT THAT WE WOULD NOT BE DOING A FULL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT DOES NOT PASS THE THE SMELL TEST.

UH, SO I AM, I'M GLAD THAT, THAT Y'ALL ARE GETTING ON BOARD WITH, WITH ASKING FOR THAT.

I GUESS ALSO, JUST BEFORE I WRAP UP HERE, AS THE PARENT OF A SOPHOMORE AT, UH, AUSTIN HIGH SCHOOL, AND AS THE PARENT OF A, OF A, AS A RISING, UH, SIXTH GRADER AT O HENRY, I WILL BE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE, UH, WHO WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE, UH, SUPREME MESS, UH, THAT THIS PROJECT APPEARS THAT IS GOING TO IMPOSE ON OUR, UH, ON AUSTIN HIGH SCHOOL HERE IN CENTRAL AUSTIN.

UH, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR DOING THIS.

UH, I, I KNOW THAT IT IS, UM, UH, SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF FOLKS ARE LOOKING FOR LEADERSHIP FROM Y'ALL TO DO, AND, UH, YOU'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING.

THAT ARE SUBMITTING COMMENTS AS PART OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS.

CONTINUE ON ITEM 64, BOBBY LAVINSKY, CHRISTIAN MAY, BILL BUNCH IS PAUL ROBBINS AND NEDA CHOLAR HERE.

PERFECT.

MR. LAVINSKY WILL HAVE SIX MINUTES.

THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

UM, AND A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS FOR SPONSORING THIS RESOLUTION.

UM, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, COUNCIL VOA, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER AND VELASQUEZ, THANK YOU FOR SPONSORING THIS.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO HELP OUT QUITE A BIT.

YOU MAY ALSO KNOW THAT THE TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT HAS CALLED FOR THE C-T-R-M-A TO PREPARE A FULL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT AS WELL FOR THE MPAC EXPANSION PROJECT, AS WELL AS THE URBAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION.

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THE, UM, AUSTIN ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION IS GONNA BE, UH, ADDRESSING THIS MATTER AG ON, UH, THE MAY 6TH AGENDA.

UM, WHY DOES IT MATTER? THIS IS A, IT'S, IT'S BEING SOLD AS A FORWARD LANE EXPANSION.

IT IS ACTUALLY A SIX TO EIGHT LANE EXPANSION BETWEEN, UH, SCISSOR CHAVEZ, UH, REALLY ANFIELD ROAD DOWN TO SLAUGHTER, REALLY SLAUGHTER CREEK.

UM, THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREAS OF THE CITY, WHICH YOU'RE WELL, WELL AWARE OF.

IT'S THE RECHARGE ZONE.

I'M GONNA ADDRESS JUST SOME REALLY HIGH LEVEL STUFF, BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO REACH OUT.

WE'VE GOT, UM, EXPERTS

[01:50:01]

SO WE'VE HAD, UM, YOU KNOW, DOCTORS THAT ARE SPECIALISTS IN THEIR FIELDS ADDRESSING, UM, THE IN, UH, INADEQUACY OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND THE RIDICULOUSNESS OF A FONZI FOR SUCH A MASSIVE HIGHWAY EXPANSION PROJECT, UM, IN OUR COMMUNITY.

UM, JUST TO REMIND YOU, THE I 35 EXPANSION PROJECT WAS ALSO EIGHT MILES, AND IT WHAT REQUIRED AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT? UM, AIR QUALITY, UH, AS YOU ARE AWARE, IS A MAJOR CONCERN.

THIS PROJECT IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE, UH, THE CITY'S GOALS FOR REDUCING, UH, GREENHOUSE GASES AND REDUCING DEPENDENCY ON SINGLE OCCUPANCY VEHICLES.

UH, IT ACTUALLY WILL RESULT IN A, UH, THAT SHOULD BE A 331 MILLION, UM, INCREASE IN VMT ANNUALLY.

UM, AND THAT IS AN INCREASE, UM, OF A 96 MILLION BETWEEN THE BUILDS AND THE NO BUILD SCENARIO.

OVER THAT SAME PERIOD OF TIME.

THEY ARE PROJECTING THAT AIR QUALITY WILL IMPROVE DESPITE THAT INCREASE IN, UH, IN CAR EMISSIONS.

UM, THAT IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE RECENTLY PUBLISHED DRAFT ENVIRONMENT, UH, UH, EMISSIONS REDUCTION PLAN BY CAMPO, UH, WHICH ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE INCREASES IN VMT IN OUR COMMUNITY, UH, WILL OUTWEIGH ANY BENEFITS THAT WE'RE SEEING WITH CLEAN TECHNOLOGY.

AND I THINK IT'S HIGHLY DISCREDITED THAT THE STATE OF TEXAS IS RELYING ON CLEAN TECHNOLOGIES WHEN THEY'RE ACTIVELY SUING OVER EMISSION STANDARDS FEDERALLY AND, UH, SUING TO PREVENT THE TRACKING OF AIR QUALITY EMISSIONS RELATED TO HIGHWAYS.

UM, THE CURRENT EA ONLY REALLY ADDRESSES, UM, UH, THE BASIC, UH, ONES AND NOT THE ONES THAT MATTER.

IT DOESN'T ADDRESS PM 2.5, DOESN'T ADDRESS PM 10.

UM, AND IT, UH, DOESN'T ADDRESS OZONE, UH, WATER QUALITY.

UH, YOU'RE HEARING A LOT ABOUT JELLYFISH.

I WANNA EMPHASIZE THAT, UH, THIS JELLYFISH TYPE, UH, FILTER TECHNOLOGY THAT'S BEING PROPOSED IS NOT ACCEPTED BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN AS AN ACCEPTABLE WATER QUALITY TREATMENT METHOD OVER THE RECHARGE ZONE.

UM, AND THAT'S BECAUSE IT HAS ISSUES WITH THE INSPECTION, MAINTENANCE, AND OPERATIONS OF IT OVER TIME.

IT ALSO, UH, ONLY, UH, ADDRESSES TOTAL SUSPENDED SOLIDS.

THAT'S ONLY ONE OF THE, UH, CONTAMINANTS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH HIGHWAYS.

UH, IT DOESN'T ADDRESS THINGS LIKE OIL AND GAS AND FERTILIZERS AND ALL, EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH HIGHWAYS.

UH, DR. LAUREN ROSS MADE A REALLY GREAT PRESENTATION THAT I'M PROBABLY GONNA FORWARD TO YOUR OFFICE UNTIL YOU HAVE IT.

UM, THAT, UH, IDENTIFIES ALL OF THE, I THINK SHE HAD 13 OTHER CONTAMINANTS THAT THESE, THESE, UH, STORMWATER, UH, QUALITY, UH, TREATMENT METHODS ARE NOT ADDRESSING.

UH, AND IT ALSO DOESN'T ADDRESS THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE.

THAT IS REALLY WHERE WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE IN THE, IN THE THREAT TO BARTON SPRINGS TO COLD SPRINGS AND THE ENDANGERED SPECIES.

THERE ARE FOUR ENDANGERED SPECIES THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED THAT WILL BE HARMED BY THIS PROJECT.

THAT IS ONE OF THE FACTORS THAT UNDER THE OLD CEQ THAT, UH, WOULD IDENTIFY THAT AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT WOULD BE NEEDED.

UM, THAT IS THE AUSTIN BLIND, THE BARTON SPRINGS SALAMANDERS, AS WELL AS TWO CAPE CRATERS THAT ARE LIVE UNDERNEATH THE HIGHWAY.

SO THIS PREMISE THAT THEY'RE EXPANDING INWARD, UM, REALLY DOESN'T SUPPORT THE, THE NOTION THAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY DAMAGING THE HABITAT FOR THESE SPECIES ON TOP OF THEM.

AND THEN UPSTREAM, UH, IN, IN THE RECHARGE ZONE.

UM, WHAT HAPPENS WITH SALAMANDERS, WITH THE SEDIMENTATION, UM, WITH, WITH THE DIRT THAT, SO THAT THEY TAKE THESE HIGH PRESSURE DRILLS WHERE THEY'RE DRILLING INTO THE KARST FEATURES, THEY, THAT RESULTS IN A BUNCH OF SEDIMENT THAT GETS KICKED UP AND IT GO, IT GOES INTO THE, UH, SALAMANDER HABITATS.

IT CLOGS THEIR GILLS, IT DESTROYS THEIR SHELTER, AND IT DESTROYS THEIR FOOD SUPPLIES.

SO THERE'S A MASSIVE HARM TO THE, TO THE SPECIES THAT WE'RE LEGALLY REQUIRED TO PROTECT UNDER A HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN.

UM, TRAFFIC, THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT ONE.

UM, THERE WAS A 2024 UPDATE WHERE THEY ADJUSTED THIS, THIS PROJECT BASED OFF THE MODEL.

INITIALLY THEY WERE PROPOSED SAYING THAT WITH THE, WE DO NOTHING, WE'RE GONNA HAVE 52 MINUTES OF NEW DELAYS.

THAT CHANGED IN 2024 WHEN IT UPDATED WITH THE NEW MODEL DOWN TO ONLY 20 MINUTES.

SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS THIS BUILD SCENARIO IS ONLY GIVING YOU A BENEFIT OF FIVE TO SIX MINUTES DURING PEAK HOUR IF YOU TRAVEL THE ENTIRE EIGHT MILE STRETCH OF THE HIGHWAY.

THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I THINK THIS COMMUNITY IS ASKING FOR.

IT'S JUST THAT FIVE TO SIX MINUTE BENEFIT.

WE'RE ASKING FOR BETTER SOLUTIONS FOR MOBILITY AND TO STOP LIVING OUR LIVES ON HIGHWAYS.

UM, AND IT ALSO DOESN'T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT POST PANDEMIC TRENDS, EMERGING TECHNOLOGY, OR EVEN THE CURRENT CAMP MODEL.

PLEASE

[01:55:01]

GO AHEAD.

UH, GOOD MORNING COUNCIL.

UH, I'M HERE TO SPEAK, UH, UH, IN FAVOR OF ITEM 64.

THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAVE WORKED AND PUT THIS FORWARD, ESPECIALLY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.

UM, THE CITY MUST DO EVERYTHING WITHIN, IN ITS POWER TO PREVENT THE WIDENING OF MOPAC.

THE REASONS ARE COUNTLESS, BUT I'D LIKE TO FOCUS ON ONE, THE AIR POLLUTION THAT WOULD CREATE AND THAT POLLUTION'S VERY HUMID COST.

I DON'T NEED TO CONVINCE YOU THAT HIGHWAY EXPANSIONS CAUSED MORE POLLUTION.

CO2 AND O2 SO 2:00 PM 2.55 10, IT ALL GOES UP.

I'D INSTEAD LIKE TO DESCRIBE THE INTERSECTION, UH, AS A WAY OF EXPLORING THE HUMAN COST, UH, OF MOPAC AND DAVIS LANE, UH, WHICH IS ALONG THE PATH OF THE PROPOSED EXPANSION.

UH, ON THE EAST SIDE OF THIS INTERSECTION, WITHIN A BLOCK IS THE PRIMROSE SCHOOL, A PRESCHOOL IN KINDERGARTEN.

ON THE WEST SIDE IS DELL CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.

THE, UH, DAVIS LANE LOCATION JUST NORTH IS DICK NICHOLS DISTRICT PARK, WITH A LOVELY PLAY PLAYGROUND.

THESE ARE PLACES WHERE CHILDREN LEARN, HEAL, AND PLAY.

IT SHOULDN'T BE A PLACE WHERE WE ALLOW AIR POLLUTION TO INCREASE THEIR RISK OF LUNG AND HEART DISEASE, ESPECIALLY CHILDHOOD ASTHMA.

UH, AND POLLUTION DOES NOT JUST AFFECT CHILDREN.

UH, IN THE MIDDLE OF THESE THREE PROPERTIES IS ANOTHER BUSINESS, UH, SILVERADO, BARTON SPRINGS MEMORY CARE COMMUNITY, A NURSING HOME THAT TAKES CARE OF PEOPLE WITH DISEASES LIKE DEMENTIA, ALZHEIMER'S, UH, DISEASES, WHICH ARE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE LIKELY TO AFFECT THOSE EXPOSED TO HIGHWAY AIR POLLUTION.

UH, MY WIFE HAS AS HAD, HAS HAD ASTHMA SINCE SHE WAS A CHILD.

UH, EVERY TIME SHE STRUGGLES TO BREATHE, IT BREAKS MY HEART.

MY GRANDFATHER DIED FROM DEMENTIA.

WATCHING HIM WASTE AWAY BROKE MY HEART.

WE SHOULD DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO SAVE OTHERS FROM THAT PAIN.

THANK YOU, SIR, CAN YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME? OH, SORRY.

CHRISTIAN MAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ADAM GREENFIELD HERE WITH SAFE STREETS AUSTIN SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF AGENDA ITEM 64.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS RESOLUTION.

UH, TO THE CO-SPONSORS, COUNCIL MEMBERS ELLIS QUE ALTER, KARI AND MAYOR PRO TEM VALA, UH, THANK YOU FOR RAISING YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT THIS PROPOSED HIGHWAY EXPANSION.

WE ABSOLUTELY CONCUR THAT WE SHOULD BE PRIORITIZING FOR THIS PROJECT, BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN TRAILS ALONG THE FULL EXTENT OF THE AREA, MORE CROSSINGS AND EVERYTHING WE CAN DO FOR TRANSIT WE SHOULD ABSOLUTELY BE DOING FOR THIS PROJECT IN THIS MOST ANTI-URBAN OF ENVIRONMENTS, ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO INCREASE TRANSPORTATION CHOICE IS EXTREMELY VALUABLE, UH, TO THE POINT MADE IN THE RESOLUTION.

WE ABSOLUTELY CANNOT ALLOW THIS PROJECT TO INCREASE VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED.

WE ABSOLUTELY CANNOT ALLOW THIS PROJECT TO UNDO THE PROGRESS, THE AMAZING PROGRESS THAT OSEN IS MAKING ON TRANSPORTATION MODE SHIFT.

SPEAKING OF SHIFT, WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A GENERATIONAL SHIFT IN HOW WE THINK ABOUT AND IMPLEMENT TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE WILL PROBABLY HAVE THESE KINDS OF PROJECTS COMING FORWARD FOR A WHILE AROUND AUSTIN.

AND EVERY TIME COUNCIL SPEAKS ON PROJECTS LIKE THIS, YOU HASTEN YOU SPEED UP THIS BADLY NEEDED AND MUCH DE NOT DESIRED GENERATIONAL SHIFT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE.

ADMIT THIS, THAT WILL BE HARMED BY THIS PROJECT.

COUNCIL MEMBERS, BILL BUNCH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE DISTRICT FIVE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS AND THE OTHER CO-SPONSORS FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.

UM, ESPECIALLY YOUR VERY FIRST BE IT RESOLVED, CALLING ON C-T-R-M-A TO PREPARE A FULL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT, UM, THAT IS REQUIRED BY FEDERAL LAW, OUR NATIONAL CHARTER, THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT.

THIS IS EARTH WEEK.

UM, WE NEED TO ADHERE TO THAT NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHARTER BY DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO LIVE IN HARMONY.

THERE'S GONNA BE ECONOMIC GROWTH.

WE HAVE TO DO THINGS SMARTER WITH THE BEST SOCIAL SCIENCE, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ECONOMICS AT THE TABLE.

THERE'S NOTHING OF THAT IN THE EA.

THIS TRUNCATED, UH, STUDY AND PROPOSED CONCLUSION THAT'S ABSURD, THAT THERE'LL BE NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS FROM THIS PROJECT.

ADDING SIX TO EIGHT LANES OF PAVEMENT, UH, BASICALLY CONVERTING MOPAC INTO A, A, UH, WESTERN I 35, UM, 8.8 MILES OVER THE MOST VULNERABLE PLACE IN THE ENTIRE STATE OF TEXAS.

UH, IT'S EASY TO FORGET THAT.

UM, THERE'S NO OTHER CITY ON THE PLANET THAT HAS A NATURAL, BEAUTIFUL, CLEAN, UH, GIANT SPRING IN THE HEART OF IT.

AND OUR STATE HAS TOLD US THAT THIS IS MORE VULNERABLE TO POLLUTION THAN ANY OTHER AQUIFER IN THE WHOLE STATE OF TEXAS.

THERE'S FOUR ENDANGERED SPECIES, AND THAT THEY

[02:00:01]

TWO AQUATIC SALAMANDERS AT THE SPRINGS AND TWO CAVE CRITTERS.

THERE'S CAVES ALL UP AND DOWN UNDERNEATH THIS, WE, WE HAVE TO PROTECT THIS ONE OTHER THING ON THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE, THEY WILL BE HAVING TO SHUT DOWN THE ROBERTA CRENSHAW BRIDGE, WHICH IS OUR HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL FOR YEARS.

JUST THINK OF THE HARM TO THE RECREATIONAL BENEFITS OF LADY BIRD LAKE BOATERS, WALK, HEART WALKERS, HIKERS, ALL OF THEM.

WE HAVE ONE REMOTE SPEAKER ON ITEM 64.

MEGAN MEISENBACH.

HI, THIS IS MEGAN MEISENBACH.

THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK ON ITEM 64.

I'M IN SUPPORT OF IT.

I THINK IT'S, UH, FABULOUS THAT OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, ELLIS AND UH, OTHER SUPPORTERS HAVE PUT THIS FORWARD.

I REALLY CAN'T ADD MUCH TO WHAT, UH, THE EXPERTS HAVE SAID.

I THINK BILL BUNCH HAS BEAUTIFULLY POINTED OUT WHAT THERE IS TO LOSE WITH CONTINUING WITH THIS ROADWAY PROJECT, WHICH, UH, WE NEED TO KEEP OUR AIR QUALITY AS, AS CLEAN AS WE CAN.

THE WATER QUALITY, THE SPECIES THAT ARE, WE ARE LEGALLY MUST, UH, UH, PROTECT.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS UP, AND I HOPE YOU'LL GIVE IT YOUR FULL SUPPORT, ESPECIALLY THE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY.

MOVING BACK TO IN-PERSON SPEAKERS ON ITEM 64, JORDY TELLO, ROY WHALEY AND XIA JOSEPH.

IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, GO AHEAD AND COME ON DOWN.

MR. WHALEY FLOOR IS YOURS.

HOWDY, Y'ALL.

MY NAME'S ROY WHALEY.

I AM A LONG TIME ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST HERE IN AUSTIN, AND A LONGTIME POLITICAL ACTIVIST ALSO, UM, AND A LONGTIME LOVER OF BARTON SPRINGS IN ZILKER PARK.

MY FIRST MEMORY OF THE LITTLE OLD WESTERN WILLIAMSON COUNTY HILL COUNTRY KID OF COMING IN TO SEE MY FAMILY IN AUSTIN, WAS GOING TO BARTON SPRINGS.

GOING TO ZILKER PARK, ZILKER PARK.

AND AS A REALTOR, I GET ASKED THIS ALL THE TIME ABOUT ZILKER PARK.

THE WONDERFUL THING THAT WE HAVE THIS SPRING AND POOL IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR CITY.

I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU THAT ARE SPONSORING THIS AND ENCOURAGING THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVEN'T TO VOTE FOR THIS.

AND LET'S GET THE STUDY DONE.

A, AS MR. BUNCH SAID, WE'VE GOT FOUR ENDANGERED SPECIES, WE'VE GOT MULTIPLE ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES, AND WE'RE RUSHING THIS THROUGH AS IF IT'S A FEDERAL ISSUE.

AND I'M NOT GONNA START IT ON THE FEDS, BUT ALL OF YOU PLEASE.

WE HAD A GREAT EVENT LAST NIGHT.

WE HAD BETWEEN 250 PEOPLE ON A VERY BUSY NIGHT IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, WHERE THERE ARE VERY MANY DIFFERENT MEETINGS SHOW UP TO LISTEN TO AND DISCUSS THIS.

THAT'S GREAT THAT WE HAD THAT TURNOUT.

WE NEED MORE PEOPLE COMING OUT COMMENTING ON THIS.

SO IF YOU WOULD, ALL OF YOU HAVE GREAT OUTREACH, AND I'M ON MOST OF YOUR NEWSLETTERS AND I'M GLAD BECAUSE I LEARNED SO MUCH FROM EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.

REACH OUT TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS AT THAT ARE PART OF YOUR NEWSLETTERS, ASK THEM TO WEIGH IN ON THIS, ASK THEM TO COMMENT ON THIS, ASK THEM TO ASK FOR A REAL ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY.

NOT LOOKS GOOD FROM HERE.

WELL, I'M SORRY, BUT YOU'RE IN ONTARIO.

ANYTHING MIGHT LOOK GOOD FROM THERE.

ON PAGE ONE OF THE DOCUMENT AT THE BOTTOM, IT MENTIONS PROJECT CONNECT, THE NOVEMBER 3RD, 2020 AD VALOREM TAX INCREASE.

IT'S GOOD TO SEE ALL OF YOU AGAIN.

JOSEPH, I JUST WANTED TO STATE MY OPPOSITION TO THE PARK AND RIDE THAT'S ACTUALLY SPECIFIED.

I'M PA I'M PAID IT'S LINES 1 78 TO 180 8 TO THE CITY MANAGER.

I JUST WANNA REMIND YOU OF A COMMENT MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER ON APRIL 15TH, 2026 AT YOUR FINANCE AND AUDIT COMMITTEE MEETING WHERE HE SAID, QUOTE, SO, YOU KNOW, WE CAN DECIDE TO VIOLATE POLICIES OR CHANGE THE POLICIES TO MEET WHERE WE ARE.

AND I JUST WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE RESPECTFULLY THAT AS IT RELATES TO TRANSPORTATION IN THE SOUTHWEST AREA, IT'S 2.9 BOARDINGS AN HOUR ON CONVICT HILL.

AND PAIGE ELLIS HAS ENGAGED IN WILLFUL BLINDNESS AND SHE REFUSES TO RECOGNIZE THAT BLACK PEOPLE ARE WAITING 60 MINUTES FOR THE BUS, 10 TIMES LONGER THAN SOUTHWEST IN CENTRAL AUSTIN RESIDENTS.

AND SO AT OUR, WHAT I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE IS THAT IT IS DISCRIMINATORY.

YOU'VE ACKNOWLEDGED IT

[02:05:01]

I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS WAS LATE BACKUP MAYOR.

AND SO RESPECTFULLY, YOU HAVE PUT US ON A STRICT DIET AND YOU DO NOT ALLOW US TO PROVIDE OUR SLIDES.

SO I'M GONNA ASK YOU IF YOU'RE GONNA BE LENIENT WITH THE COUNCIL FOR YOU TO BE LENIENT WITH US SO THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THE DOCUMENTATION THAT SUPPORTS THE COMMENTS THAT WE MAKE.

I DO WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE AS WELL, IT SAYS TO COOPERATE WITH CAPITOL METRO CENTRAL TEXAS REGIONAL MOBILITY AUTHORITY.

MAYOR, YOU'VE SEEN THE SLIDES BEFORE.

YOU KNOW THAT IT'S INFREQUENT, UNRELIABLE, DISCONNECTED NORTHEAST OF US, 180 3.

AND SO MY OPPOSITION IS TO FUNDING ANYTHING IN SOUTHWEST AUSTIN BECAUSE IT WAS NOVEMBER 7TH, 2016 THAT YOU CAN FIND IT ON PAGE 20 IN CAPITAL METRO'S BOARD PACKET THAT TELLS YOU 2.6 BOARDINGS AN HOUR.

THE CONSULTANT RUSH CHISHOLM TOLD CAPITAL METRO THAT THEY DON'T HAVE THE RIDERSHIP THERE.

THANK, THANK YOU MAYOR.

THAT CONCLUDES ALL SPEAKERS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

UH, MEMBERS, YOU JUST HEARD THAT THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR PLANNING PURPOSES.

LET ME TELL YOU HOW I, I SEE US GOING FORWARD.

UNLESS THERE'S AN OBJECTION.

I THINK WE GO AHEAD AND ADDRESS THE CONSENT AGENDA, GET THE CON, UH, PASS THE CONSENT AGENDA OR, OR TURN IT DOWN, WHATEVER WE END UP DOING HERE.

AND THEN WE WILL GO THEN TO OUR 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN ON PUBLIC COMMUNICATION AT THE CONCLUSION OF THAT.

UH, WHAT I WILL, WHAT I, I WANNA SUGGEST WE DO IS RECESS, JUST FOR A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME, WE WILL COME BACK AND GO INTO AN EXECUTIVE SESSION AT THAT POINT.

I I, BEFORE WE GO INTO ANY OTHER ITEMS, SO LET'S, LET'S ADDRESS THE CONSENT AGENDA.

WE WILL THEN HAVE, UH, PUBLIC COMMUNICATION AND UH, THEN WE WILL GO IN, INTO THE, THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.

AND, AND I'M, I'M GONNA WORK ON SOMETHING WITH REGARD TO THE MUSIC, UH, SO THAT MAYBE WHAT WE DO IS WE JUST GO STRAIGHT INTO THE EXECUTIVE SESSION AND WE ALLOW THE MUSIC TO BE HANDLED IN ANOTHER WAY THAN WHAT WE TYPICALLY DO.

COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES IS THE EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM TIME SENSITIVE BECAUSE WE DO HAVE QUITE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE HERE FOR ITEM SIX.

IT IS.

OKAY.

YEAH.

COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.

MAYOR, I WANTED TO PULL ITEM NUMBER 33 OFF THE CONSENT AGENDA.

AGENDA.

THAT WAS GONNA BE THE VERY NEXT THING I DID WAS TO ASK FOR THAT AND I KNEW YOU WERE GONNA DO THAT.

SO, UH, FOR THE RECORD, UH, THE ITEMS THAT ARE NOT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA ARE ITEM 6 29 AND 33, ITEM 6 29 AND 33.

IS THERE ANY OTHER ITEM THAT ANYBODY WISHES TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? ALRIGHT, THEN THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS READ, UH, MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.

UH, IF ANYONE WISHES TO BE HEARD AND IS PART OF THE DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

ALL RIGHT.

COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER.

COUNCIL MEMBER CADRY.

COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL.

COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.

THEN COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, FOLLOWED BY THE MEMBER PRO.

TIM, I'VE GOT YOU.

IF YOU PUNCH THE BUTTON, I GET YOU.

SO THANK YOU.

GREAT.

WELL, YOU, I I YOU HAVE NOT PUNCHED THE BUTTON, BUT I, I I SAW YOU RAISE YOUR HAND.

PERFECT.

SO THE ORDER WILL GO IN IS CADRE SIEGEL ELLIS, MAYOR PRO TIMM VELAZQUEZ ANDAR.

HE STILL HAVEN'T PUNCHED IT.

WELL, YOUR NAME, COUNCIL MEMBER LANE, YOUR NAME'S NOT UP THERE, SO YOU TOLD ME.

WELL, I, I, IT WENT OFF.

YOU, YOU, IF YOU, IF YOU PUNCH IT AND YOU PUNCH IT A SECOND TIME, IT TAKES YOUR NAME OFF.

SO PUNCH IT ONCE, LEAVE IT THERE.

UNLESS YOU WANT TO BE OFF THAT, THAT, THAT HELPS ME KEEP IT THROUGH ORDER.

ALRIGHT, UH, WE'LL START OVER.

COUNCILMAN CODRE, FOLLOWED BY COUNCILMAN SIEGEL, THEN COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.

GREAT.

BY A LOT OF THE SPEAKERS ON, ON HOW THE STATE HAS, HAS KIND OF SHIRKED THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES, UH, AND, AND, AND LEAD WITH, UH, WELL, DON'T LEAD WITH EMPATHY.

UM, I WASN'T EVEN TRYING TO BE FIRST AND I SOMEHOW ENDED UP FIRST.

UM, BEFORE I GET INTO MY, UH, REMARKS THAT I, I DO WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE TRAIN DERAILMENT THAT HAPPENED EARLIER THIS MORNING, UH, IN DISTRICT NINE.

AND, AND, YOU KNOW, THANKFULLY THERE WERE NO CASUALTIES, THERE WAS NO INJURIES, UH, AND REALLY WANT TO THANK OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, UH, FOR, FOR BEING ON SCENE.

UH, I UNDERSTAND IT'S, IT'S THE PROCESS TO KIND OF CLEAR IT UP.

WE'LL BE THE ENTIRETY OF, OF THE DAY, UH, BUT VERY MUCH THANKFUL FOR, FOR FIRST RESPONDERS ON SCENE.

UM, WE JUST WANNA TOUCH ON ITEM 37.

UH, WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, UH, AND HIS TEAM FOR THEIR HARD WORK ON IT.

UM, YOU KNOW, I, I THINK THE TESTIMONY THAT WE HEARD TODAY, ESPECIALLY FROM THE, THE SPEAKERS WHO KIND OF KICKED IT OFF, UH, IT, IT WAS VERY HEARTFELT.

UM, IT WAS VERY HUMAN.

AND I THINK OFTEN WHEN WE BRING FORWARD POLICY, UM, I, YOU KNOW, I, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT WHEN WE BRING FORWARD POLICY, THERE, THERE ARE PEOPLE BEHIND THAT POLICY.

UH, THERE'S PEOPLE, THE, THE REASON WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO IS TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE, ARE TAKEN CARE OF.

AND IT WAS MENTIONED

[02:10:01]

UH, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US AS A COUNCIL TO, TO DO THAT.

SO I'M VERY THANKFUL THAT WE'RE ABLE TO GET THE ITEM ACROSS THE FINISH LINE, UH, TO PROVIDE ASSURANCE AND SAFETY AND PROTECTIONS, UH, FOR OUR, FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES.

UH, AND I, I REALLY AM ENCOURAGED BY THIS, THIS COUNCIL, UH, THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST AND THE WORK THAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO, TO DO TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT AUSTIN REALLY DOES WORK FOR EVERYONE.

AND THAT, YOU KNOW, FOLKS THAT WE'RE HERE FROM TODAY ARE, ARE PROPERLY TAKEN CARE OF.

SO I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, SIEGEL AND HIS TEAM AGAIN, AND, AND ALL THE FOLKS WHO, WHO MADE THE ITEM POSSIBLE AND AS WELL AS THE SPEAKERS WHO CAME TODAY.

COUNCIL MEMBER.

COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS MAYOR, PRO TEAM.

FOURTH AMENDMENT OF THE US CONSTITUTION.

UM, WE'LL BRIEFLY JUST WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE SOME GREAT ENVIRONMENTAL ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.

UM, REALLY AWESOME ENERGY IS DOING A GREAT JOB ON, ON SOME CLIMATE FORWARD ITEMS. WE HAVE ITEM SEVEN, WHICH IS EIGHT MEGAWATTS OF SOLAR POWER GENERATION, UH, AT OUR LANDFILL.

ITEM EIGHT IS 40 MEGAWATTS OF ELECTRIC POWER CAPACITY FROM DIS, UM, DISTRIBUTION SCALE SALE BATTERY FACILITY PORTFOLIO, BASICALLY BATTERY STORAGE ACROSS THE COMMUNITY THAT'S GONNA KEEP RATES DOWN, IMPROVE RELIABILITY.

AND THEN WE'VE GOT ITEM 23, WHICH IS, UM, YOU KNOW, NEW SOLAR POWER, UH, PANEL FACILITIES ON CITY LAND, UH, 25 MEGAWATTS OR MORE.

UM, AND, AND THERE'S ANOTHER IFC FROM COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER.

SO JUST, YOU KNOW, EVEN DESPITE ALL THE CHALLENGING THINGS HAPPENING AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVELS ON ENERGY POLICY, UH, I WANNA CONTINUE TO LIFT UP AND CELEBRATE WHAT AUSTIN ENERGY IS DOING.

AND I ALSO WANNA THANK, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS FOR ITEM 64 TO DISCOURAGE A MASSIVE EXPANSION OF MOPAC, WHICH IS ALSO A VERY IMPORTANT, UM, ITEM 37.

I'M HONORED TO BE THE, THE SPONSOR OF THE SAFE TO CALL ITEM.

AND I DO WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRY AMER PRO TELA FOR YOUR CO-SPONSORSHIP.

THE RESOLUTION COVERS A LOT OF GROUND, BUT AT ITS CORE STANDS FOR SOMETHING SIMPLE THAT WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY IN AUSTIN, INCLUDING OUR MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, FEEL SAFE CALLING FOR HELP IN AN EMERGENCY.

WE'VE HAD DOZENS OF MU MEETINGS IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS, UH, WITH SURVIVOR LEADERS, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS, LEADERS IN THE IMMIGRATION SPACE, LEGAL PROVIDERS, EXPERTS, CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS, AND DIRECTLY IMPACTED PEOPLE, UM, WHO FEEL UNSAFE TO CALL THE CITY FOR HELP DUE TO ANY NUMBER OF VULNERABILITIES INCLUDING POVERTY, HOUSING INSECURITY, IMMIGRATION STATUS, PAST NEGATIVE EXPERIENCES WITH THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM AND MORE.

WE KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY, THERE HAVE BEEN INSTANCES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND IN OUR OWN CITY WHERE VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HAVE CALLED FOR HELP AND HAVE THEN BEEN THREATENED WITH ARREST ON LOW LEVEL OR EVEN NON-CRIMINAL WARRANTS.

WE KNOW THERE ARE OVER 60,000 WARRANTS FOR UNPAID CLASS C CITATIONS, WHICH ARE LOW LEVEL TA UH, TRAFFIC OFFENSES AND OTHER POVERTY BASED OFFENSES.

WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE WITH WARRANTS UNPAID TICKETS ARE NOT ONLY AFRAID TO CALL THE CITY FOR HELP IN EMERGENCIES.

THEY'RE AFRAID TO GO TO COURT TO GO VOTE, TO GET THEIR ID CARD, APPLY FOR NEEDED BENEFITS AND MORE.

AND WE KNOW WE HAVE TO COME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.

SO THIS RESOLUTION WILL START A STAKEHOLDER PROCESS IN WHICH COMMUNITY EXPERTS, CITY STAFF, AND RELEVANT COUNTY OFFICIALS WILL COME TOGETHER TO DEVELOP SAFE TO CALL POLICIES RELATED TO AT LEAST THREE DIFFERENT BUT INTERCONNECTED TOPICS.

THE FIRST TOPIC IS A DIRECT RESPONSE TO INCIDENTS IN WHICH VICTIMS HAVE BEEN THREATENED WITH ARREST OR UNRELATED WARRANTS, EVEN DURING RAPE EXAMINATIONS.

WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE ALREADY STEPS BEING TAKEN TO ADDRESS THIS, AND WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL TO CHIEF DAVIS AND THE MANY EXPERTS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS WE'VE SPOKEN WITH WHO'VE EXPRESSED A COMMITMENT TO A STAKEHOLDER PROCESS TO FURTHER THESE EFFORTS.

THE RESOLUTION DESCRIBES MULTIPLE POLICIES AND STRATEGIES, INCLUDING PERFORMING IDENTIFICATION CHECKS WITHOUT RUNNING THE OPTIONAL WARRANT CHECK ON VICTIMS AND WITNESSES, AND LESS REQUIRED FOR SAFETY REASONS, AND ALSO EXPANDING ALTERNATIVE REPORTING PATHS AND WAYS TO ACCESS SERVICES, INCLUDING THROUGH VICTIM SERVICES AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH TRUSTED COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.

THE SE SECOND TOPIC RELATES TO THE OVER 60,000 WARRANTS FOR UNPAID CLASS C TICKETS.

WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH NATIONAL EXPERTS WHO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY REDESIGNED COURT FORMS AND NOTICES WITH BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE PRINCIPLES, WHICH RESULT IN A DECREASE IN WARRANTS AND FAILURE TO APPEAR RATES.

THE SAFE TO CALL STAKEHOLDER GROUP WILL ALSO EXPLORE WAYS TO REDUCE ARRESTS ON CLASS C OFFENSES, INCLUDING THROUGH EXPANDED USE OF ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS LIKE THE SOBERING CENTER OR TRANSPORT DIRECTLY TO COURT AND SET, UH, RATHER THAN JAIL TO RESOLVE TICKETS.

AND THEN THE THIRD TOPIC RELATES TO ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANTS, WHICH IS A SUBJECT THAT IS HEAVY ON OUR MINDS.

EARLIER THIS YEAR, A WOMAN CALLED 9 1 1 TO REPORT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND ENDED UP BEING REMOVED FROM THE COUNTRY ALONG WITH HER CHILD.

WE THANK AND COMMEND CHIEF DAVIS FOR AMENDING THE GENERAL ORDERS TO CLARIFY THAT DETAINING SOMEBODY B SOLELY BASED ON A NON-JUDICIAL, NON-CRIMINAL ADMINISTRATIVE ICE WARRANT, IS NOT PERMISSIBLE UNDER THE

[02:15:01]

AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES AND MAKE AUSTIN A SAFE PLACE FOR EVERYONE.

THANKS AGAIN TO MY CO-SPONSORS AND ALL THE COMMUNITY EXPERTS WHO CAME FORWARD TO HELP, UH, DRAFT AND HONE THE LANGUAGE OF THIS RESOLUTION AND WHO ARE COMMITTED TO SEEING THE STAKEHOLDER PROCESS THROUGH.

AND AGAIN, THANK YOU TO CHIEF DAVIS FOR COMING TO THE TABLE AND COMMITTING TO AN OPEN AND HONEST CONVERSATION WITH THE COMMUNITY, WITH THE GOAL OF COMING TOGETHER WITH REAL CONCRETE SOLUTIONS.

I TRULY BELIEVE THAT IF WE BRING EVERYONE TO THE TABLE DIRECTLY IMPACTED PEOPLE, DECISION MAKERS AT THE CITY AND THE COUNTY COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS, WE CAN MAKE AUSTIN A SAFER CITY FOR EVERYONE.

COUNCIL MEMBER.

COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, FOLLOWED BY THE MAYOR PRO TIM AND COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ.

AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR ON 37.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU AND, UM, THE OTHER COLLEAGUES HAVE DONE ON THAT.

THE MOTHER AND DAUGHTER WERE FROM DISTRICT EIGHT, AND SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE DEFINITELY FELT AN IMPACT FOR IN SOUTHWEST AUSTIN TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS ARE, UM, NOT ENDING UP DEPORTED SIMPLY FOR CALLING 9 1 1, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR HOME AND THEIR FAMILY IS SAFE.

WITHOUT OBJECTION, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS WILL BE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR OF ITEM 37.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SPEAK BRIEFLY TO ITEM NUMBER 64, WHICH IS THE ONE YOU JUST HEARD THE SPEAKERS COME AND TESTIFY ABOUT.

THAT IS IN REGARD TO THE HIGHWAY EXPANSION THROUGH SOUTHWEST AUSTIN.

UM, THIS MOPAC SOUTH EXPANSION COVERS EIGHT MILES AND IS ESSENTIALLY THE ENTIRE SPINE OF DISTRICT EIGHT.

IT, THE IMPACTS THAT THIS HIGHWAY EXPANSION ARE GOING TO HAVE, ARE GOING TO AFFECT ALMOST EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD, EVERY SCHOOL THAT'S CLOSE TO MOPAC, ENDANGERED SPECIES, AND, AND A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDER AND INTEREST GROUPS ALONG THE WAY.

UM, WE HAVE FOUND THROUGH OUR CONVERSATIONS, A COUPLE OF THE GROUPS THAT OPERATE WITHIN THE FOOTPRINT OF ZILKER PARK, UM, WE'RE NOT CONSULTED AND DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY ABOUT THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND WHAT THE IMPACTS TO THEIR BUSINESSES AND THEIR EVENTS WERE GOING TO BE.

UM, SO I WANNA THANK C-T-R-M-A FOR STEPPING UP ONCE WE RECOGNIZE THAT AND OFFERING TO HAVE THOSE, UH, CONSULTATIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT AS MANY CONSTITUENTS HAVE THE INFORMATION THAT THEY NEED AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE.

UM, THIS RESOLUTION BUILDS ON THE ONE THAT WE SENT TO C-T-R-M-A ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO AT THIS POINT, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL HAD ALSO SUPPORTED FOR US TO PUT IN AS A RECOMMENDATION, BUT IT NOT ONLY FOCUSES ON, UM, EXPANSION FOR CAR LANES, BUT IT ALSO CALLS FOR BETTER BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE.

UM, PARK AND RIDE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT APPROPRIATE LOCATIONS FOR PARK AND RIDES THAT ARE PART OF THE PROJECT CONNECT SYSTEM THAT VOTERS APPROVED IN 2020.

AND A NUMBER OF OTHER ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY INITIATIVES LIKE SAFE STREET CROSSINGS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T END UP WITH THIS FURTHER DIVIDE THROUGH SOUTHWEST AUSTIN.

UM, THE CITY DEPARTMENTS DO HAVE UNTIL MAY 3RD TO CONTRIBUTE THEIR COMMENTS INTO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

SO THERE, I KNOW THAT THERE ARE, THOSE WERE NOT READY TO GO.

AT THE SAME TIME.

THIS RESOLUTION IS READY TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, BUT WE KNOW THAT THE DEPARTMENTS ARE WORKING VERY CLOSELY, UM, TO BE ABLE TO SUBMIT THOSE COMMENTS.

UM, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT STRUCTURES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE HISTORIC NATURE OF ZILKER PARK THAT WERE LEFT OFF THE LIST.

UM, CLARKSVILLE AS A HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD IS NOT ONE THAT, UM, IS BEING FACTORED INTO SOME OF THIS FOOTPRINT.

AND I'VE NOTICED SOME LANGUAGE AROUND IMPACTS TO ENDANGERED SPECIES NOT BEING CONSIDERED REGIONALLY SIGNIFICANT, WHICH I FIND TO BE INTERESTING BECAUSE THE ENDANGERED SPECIES THAT OUR SPEAKERS LISTED PREVIOUSLY, THEY DON'T HAVE ANOTHER HOME TO GO TO IF THEIR CAVE IS IMPACTED, THAT SPECIES MAY CEASE TO EXIST ENTIRELY, AND THEY ARE ON THE FEDERAL LIST OF ENDANGERED SPECIES.

SO THIS IS REALLY, REALLY SENSITIVE.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE CANNOT GET WRONG.

THIS HIGHWAY IS SET TO DOUBLE IN SIZE.

UM, SO I THINK THAT THE FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT AGAIN.

AND SO I'M HAPPY THAT HOPEFULLY IF COUNCIL APPROVES THIS, THAT WE WILL BE JOINING ARM IN ARM WITH THE COUNTY WHO HAS ALREADY CALLED FOR THE FULL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT.

AND I APPRECIATE MY CO-SPONSORS, MAYOR PROAM, VELA ALTER, VELASQUEZ, AND CADRE FOR WORKING ON THIS WITH US.

UM, IT'S VERY, VERY IMPACTFUL AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE GET THIS RIGHT.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, MAYOR PROAM VELA, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS VELASQUEZ AND ALTER.

GREAT TO SEE THESE ITEMS, UH, ON THE AGENDA.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL HIGHLIGHTED THOSE, UH, CRITICAL AUSTIN ENERGY ITEMS THAT ARE MOVING THROUGH.

UH, AGAIN, A LOT OF GOOD STUFF ON THIS AGENDA, BUT ITEM SEVEN, EIGHT, AND, UH, 23.

UH, JUST WANT TO REITERATE THE AUSTIN ENERGY MOVING AGGRESSIVELY ON, UH, BATTERY STORAGE ON, UH, SOLAR POWER.

YOU KNOW, THE ITEM NUMBER SEVEN WITH, UM, SOLAR ON THE LANDFILL.

THAT'S, I THINK, ONE OF THE LAST LARGE SCALE SITES THAT WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO PUT A, A, A BIG SOLAR FARM ON WITHIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

UH, BUT ITEM NUMBER 23 WITH THE SOLAR ON CITY FACILITIES, WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING FOR ANY SQUARE FOOTAGE WE CAN TO, UH, PUT, UH, SOLAR POWER ON THERE AND, UH, GENERATE ADDITIONAL RENEWAL POWER, UH, STRENGTHEN, UH, LOCAL GENERATION AND, AND MAKE AUSTIN ENERGY A A BETTER, MORE, UH, RELIABLE SYSTEM.

[02:20:01]

AND I JUST WANT TO THANK, UM, OUR, OUR DIRECTOR O'REILLY AND ALL THE STAFF AT, UH, AUSTIN ENERGY FOR ALL THEIR, THEIR HARD WORK ON THAT.

UM, I, I WON'T, UH, SAY, UH, MUCH MORE ABOUT ITEM 37.

AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL PROUD TO BE A CO-SPONSOR ON IT, AND THE TESTIMONY WITH, UH, VERY, UH, COMPELLING, UH, IT, IT'S, UH, HEARTBREAKING, UH, OUT THERE RIGHT NOW.

UH, WHAT'S GOING ON WITH, UH, THE IMMIGRATION, UH, TACTICS.

UM, ITEM NUMBER 29, UH, IT WAS ACTUALLY NOT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

I'M GONNA HOLD OFF ON, ON THAT ONE.

UM, ITEM NUMBER 31 IS A TINY LITTLE ITEM, BUT AN IMPORTANT ONE.

UH, IT, IT WILL HELP PRESERVE HISTORIC PROPERTIES THAT MAKES THE PROCESS FOR GETTING, UH, ELECTRICITY AND, AND, AND OTHER, UH, RENOVATIONS TO HISTORIC BUILDINGS THAT MAY, UH, INFRINGE ON THE CITY RIGHT OF WAY.

AGAIN, THESE ARE A HUNDRED YEAR OLD BID BUILDINGS, AND, AND THE RIGHT OF WAY HAS CHANGED ON THEM MORE THAN THEY, THEY'VE DONE ANYTHING WRONG.

WE HAD A LONG GRUELING PROCESS TO DO THIS.

THIS WILL SIMPLIFY IT AND, AND MAKE IT BETTER AND HELP PRESERVE HISTORIC BUILDINGS IN AUSTIN.

A GOAL THAT I VERY, VERY MUCH SUPPORT.

UM, NUMBER 64, UH, THE, UH, RESOLUTION ON THE, THE MOPAC EXPANSION.

I WOULD JUST SAY THAT, UH, I 35 HAD TO HAVE A FULL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT.

PROJECT CONNECT, HAD TO HAVE A FULL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT.

I JUST DON'T SEE WHY THE EXPANSION OF MOPAC WOULD NOT HAVE TO HAVE, UH, A FULL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT.

I JUST WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS FOR, UH, BRINGING THAT ITEM.

AND THEN, UH, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, UH, ITEM 40, THE CITY IS GOING TO BE, UH, SPONSORING THE DRAGON VOTE, UH, FESTIVAL.

UH, AND FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK, UH, AMY WONG MONK, UH, ANDREW LEE, VICTORIA LEE, NAT HO, UH, AND THEN THE, UH, BOARD MEMBERS, UH, YUSAK YOUNG, UH, BE BERNHARDT AND JEFF MANLEY FOR, UH, BEING HERE TO, UH, SUPPORT FOR ALL THEIR WORK IN MAKING THE DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL.

SUCH A GREAT, UH, SUCCESS AND, AND SUCH A GREAT EVENT.

THE FESTIVAL STARTED IN 1999.

THIS IS THE, I GUESS, 26TH YEAR, UH, 26TH ANNUAL, UH, DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL FOR, UH, THIS IS ALSO BE THE FIRST EVER CITY SPONSORED ASIAN AMERICAN EVENT, WHICH IS A LONG OVERDUE.

UH, AND IT'S A, A, A REALLY EXCITING, UH, TIME FOR, FOR THOSE THAT THAT ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH, UH, WHAT THE DRAGON BOAT RACE IS.

UH, IT'S A, UH, A CHINESE TRADITION, UH, SPORTING EVENT DATING BACK, UM, 2000 YEARS OR SO.

THERE'S A, A BOAT WITH A, A DRAGON HEAD ON IT AND A TEAM OF PADDLERS, AND THEY LINE UP AND THEY RACE EACH OTHER.

UH, IT WILL BE THIS SATURDAY AT, UH, FESTIVAL BEACH, UH, UH, GOING, UH, ALL DAY FROM ABOUT, UH, THIS NINE O'CLOCK OR SO TO THE END, AROUND THREE O'CLOCK.

PLEASE GO AND CHECK IT OUT.

UH, I, I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH, UH, THE SPONSORS OF THE DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL TO HIGHLIGHT IT.

AND, UH, I, I'LL JUST SAY THAT IT WOULD BE GREAT TO MOVE IT TO, UH, AUDITORIUM SHORES AS WELL, WHERE I CAN HAVE EVEN MORE PARTICIPATION AND BECOME AN EVEN MORE HIGH PROFILE EVENT.

I JUST WANTED TO, UH, SINCERELY THANK EVERYBODY THAT'S BEEN INVOLVED IN THAT.

WE APPRECIATE YOU AND WE APPRECIATE ALL Y'ALL DO.

YEAH, THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TIM.

SOME OF US ARE OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER 1999 AND, UM, AND I'LL SEE YOU SATURDAY.

SO, THANK YOU.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, VELASQUEZ ALTAR AND LANE.

UM, UH, THANK YOU MAYOR.

I ALSO WANT TO CO-SIGN WHAT, UH, COUNCILMAN OH, MAYOR PRO TE VELA SAID ABOUT MAKING SURE WE BRING THIS TO AUDITORIUM SHORES NEXT YEAR.

UM, UH, UH, COLLEAGUES, UH, ITEM NUMBER 39, UH, ASK PLANNING STAFF TO GIVE THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION OUR COMMISSION THAT IS SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED ON THE NEEDS OF OUR, OF AUSTIN'S LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS, AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW ZONING CASES THAT AFFECT EXISTING MULTI-FAMILY COMMUNITIES.

WE, AS AIS HAVE AGGRESSIVELY PURSUED WAYS TO INCREASE AFFORDABLE HOUSING HERE IN AUSTIN, AND I'M DAMN PROUD OF THAT WORK.

WE ALSO NEED TO BE JUST AS AGGRESSIVE WHEN WE'RE TACKLING DISPLACEMENT.

UM, THIS WILL BE ONE IN MANY STEPS THAT OUR OFFICE HAS TAKEN AND WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE TO ENSURE THAT, THAT WE ARE WORKING TO MITIGATE DISPLACEMENT.

I WANT TO THANK MY CO-SPONSORS, MAYOR WATSON, MAYOR PRO TE, AND COUNCIL MEMBER PUENTES AND UCHIN.

THANK YOU TO TRISH LINK AND OUR LAW DEPARTMENT AND ALSO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS ITEM.

AND A HUGE THANK YOU TO VICTORIA HALL AND THE D THREE OFFICE FOR ALL OF HER WORK.

COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER LANE AND UCHIN.

SHORE CULTURAL DISTRICT, WHICH IS SOMETHING WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, AND I THINK THEY CAN DO.

UH, JUST A FEW QUICK HITS HERE ON, ON ITEM FIVE, WHICH IS AROUND OUR CITY DESIGNATED CULTURAL DISTRICT.

SO I APPRECIATE THE, THE WORK STAFF'S DONE AND WANTED TO ASK IF THEY COULD INCLUDE THE SCORING AND IMPACT ANALYSIS FOR THE SOUTH

[02:25:01]

SO JUST WHENEVER Y'ALL ARE DOING THAT, IF, IF YOU COULD TAKE A LOOK THERE.

UM, I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR ITEM NUMBER NINE, KIM VARDAS, WHO, UM, THIS IS A PIT.

IT'S, IT'S BY D FIVE, BUT SHE HAS HELPED WITH SOME OF THE INTRICACIES HERE AND MADE THIS HAPPEN.

AND SO I JUST WANNA, UH, THANK HER FOR HER WORK ON THAT TO GET US WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

UM, ALSO ITEM NUMBER 30, JUST THANK GREG, UH, CONGRESSMAN KASSAR'S OFFICE.

UH, WE WILL ALWAYS ACCEPT MONEY INTO THE CITY, AND THIS IS GONNA BE, UH, MONEY FOR US TO HELP IMPROVE, UH, LONGHORN DAM AND, AND THE MOBILITY INFRASTRUCTURE THERE.

SO THAT'S VERY EXCITING AS WELL.

UM, CERTAINLY WANNA TOUCH ON, WE, WE HAD THE CHANCE TO TOUCH TALK YESTERDAY AT THE CLIMATE WATER ENVIRONMENT PARKS COMMITTEE, BUT WHEN, WHEN I FIRST CAME HERE, WE HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW WE HAD ALL THESE GREAT, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL PLANS, BUT THEY WERE JUST KIND OF SITTING ON THE SHELF, NOT DOING THE WORK THAT WE WANTED THEM TO DO.

AND THROUGH THE WORK OF THIS COUNCIL, UH, WE WERE ABLE TO OKAY, PROVIDE DIRECTION AND, AND ULTIMATELY, OUR CLIMATE ACTION AND RESILIENCE STAFF AND DIRECTOR BOMBER, UH, UNDER YOUR WORK, PUT TOGETHER AN ACTIONABLE PLAN OF THE STEPS THAT WE COULD TAKE TO MOVE US FORWARD TO ACHIEVE THE GOALS THAT WE HAD SET AS A COMMUNITY.

AND TODAY WE ARE TICKING OFF A LOT OF THOSE.

UH, ONE OF THOSE WAS TO DO THE LANDFILL SOLAR PROJECT.

WE'RE APPROVING THAT TODAY.

ONE OF THOSE WAS TO HAVE A VIRTUAL POWER PLANT, UH, PROJECT THROUGH AUSTIN ENERGY'S WORK, UH, WITH ITEM NUMBER EIGHT.

WE'RE DOING THAT TODAY.

ANOTHER ONE, PUT SOLAR ON CITY FACILITIES.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I HAVE BELIEVED WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN DOING A LONG TIME AGO, BUT IT'S GONNA SAVE US MONEY.

IT'S GOING TO IMP, UH, INCREASE OUR LOCAL GENERATION.

AND THAT'S ON THE LIST.

WE'RE DOING THAT TODAY.

AND I REALLY WANT TO THANK, UH, ALL THE WORK THAT ZACH, YOUR TEAM HAS DONE, AND, AND AUSTIN ENERGY, I KNOW HAS HELPED AS WELL.

WE HAD TO, WE HAD TO RUSH THIS ONE A LITTLE BIT TO, TO MEET A DEADLINE, AND I THINK WE'RE GONNA DO IT.

SO REALLY KUDOS TO YOU ON THAT.

UM, ITEM 41, SOMETHING THAT, THAT I'M BRINGING FORWARD TO INCREASE RESIDENTIAL SOLAR, UH, BRING MORE OF THAT TO OUR COMMUNITY, UH, IN NEW INNOVATIVE WAYS.

AND I WANNA THANK MY CO-SPONSORS, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, VELASQUEZ SIEGEL AND LANE ON THAT.

BUT WITHIN THAT IS ALSO HOW WE CAN ENHANCE DEMAND RESPONSE, WHICH IS ALSO ON OUR LIST OF ACTIONABLE ITEMS. AND SO WE ARE REALLY MOVING THE BALL FORWARD TODAY, UH, IN TERMS OF GETTING CLOSER TO OUR ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS AS A CITY.

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T THANK COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS FOR ALL HER WORK ON THE MOPAC SOUTH, UH, EXPANSION PROJECT.

NOT JUST THIS RESOLUTION, BUT, UH, YOU HAVE CHAMPIONED ALL THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, UH, IN ORDER TO MAKE THAT PROJECT BETTER AND, AND, UH, HOPEFULLY NOT HAVE AN ADVERSE IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY LIKE IT'S CURRENTLY SCHEDULED TO DO.

SO I JUST APPRECIATE YOUR DEDICATION TO THAT.

THANKS.

COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER LANE.

COUNCIL MEMBER DEON.

UM, FIRST, AS IT RELATES TO ITEM 37, I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL FOR HIS LEADERSHIP, THE CO-SPONSORS WHO BROUGHT THIS FORWARD FOR US, AND ABSOLUTELY THE MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT THEIR, THE DIRECT IMPACTS OF THESE ISSUES ON THEIR LIVES.

YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE TO COME AND TELL US ABOUT THESE EXPERIENCES, AND I AM SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU DID.

UM, I'D LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A CONS CO-SPONSOR FOR ITEM 37.

WITHOUT OBJECTION, COUNCIL MEMBER LANG WILL BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR OF ITEM NUMBER 37.

ENCOURAGING C-T-R-M-A TO RE REEVALUATE THEIR DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF THIS EXPANSION.

AS IT RELATES TO ITEM 27, WHICH, UM, IS ABOUT THE SALVATION ARMY WOMEN AND CHILDREN'S SHELTER, I AM VERY PLEASED THAT AUSTIN IS CONTINUING ITS SUPPORT OF THE AUSTIN SHELTER FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

SHELTER FOR CHILDREN TOGETHER WITH THEIR GUARDIANS IS A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF AUSTIN'S EMERGENCY SHELTER AND HOMELESS RESPONSE PROGRAMS, THE NEED FOR WHICH HAS GROWN DRAMATICALLY OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

OUR EXISTING SHELTER SYSTEM WAS DESIGNED BEFORE FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN FACED HOUSING INSTABILITY IN THE NUMBERS THAT THEY NOW DO.

THANK YOU TO DIRECTOR GRAY AND THE HOMELESS STRATEGY AND OPERATIONS TEAM FOR YOUR CONTINUED EFFORTS TO ENSURE ADEQUATE SHELTER FOR AUSTIN'S CHILDREN, WHICH INCLUDES SUSTAINING THIS DOWNTOWN SHELTER FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN, BUT ALSO REQUIRES FIRST EXPANDING ACCESS TO FAMILY SHELTER OUTSIDE OF CENTRAL AUSTIN AND CLOSER TO CHILDREN'S HOME SCHOOLS AND NEIGHBORHOODS.

AND SECOND, ADDING A FAMILY SHELTER OPTION THAT IS ACCESSIBLE TO MEN CARING FOR CHILDREN MEMBERS.

I HOPE TO HAVE YOUR SUPPORT AND WORKING WITH DIRECTOR GRAY AS WE MOVE THROUGH BOTH BUDGET AND BOND DISCUSSIONS SO THAT AUSTIN MAKES PROGRESS THIS YEAR ON THE CRITICAL GOAL OF SHELTER FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR GUARDIANS.

WHILE AUSTIN'S FINANCIAL REALITIES ARE TOUGHER THAN THEY HAVE EVER BEEN, AUSTIN'S CHILDREN AND THEIR GUARDIANS CANNOT CONTINUE TO WAIT FOR US AS A COUNCIL AND A CITY TO PRIORITIZE EXPANDED ACCESS TO FAMILY SHELTER.

WITH RESPECT TO ITEM 64, THE MOPAC EXPANSION, I WANNA EXPRESS MY SUPPORT

[02:30:01]

AND TO FIND THE MIDDLE GROUND ON THIS PROJECT.

WIDENING BY TWO LANES DOES NOT ALIGN WITH THE CITY'S GOALS.

ENVIRONMENTALLY, YES, BUT ALSO WITH RESPECT TO TRANSIT AND MOBILITY.

WE MUST FIND A WAY TO DEVELOP RESPONSIBLY BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY SENSITIVE AREA, SURROUNDED BY SENSITIVE POPULATIONS THAT IT IS OUR DUTY TO PROTECT.

AND SO I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR ON THIS ITEM.

UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, COUNCILMAN LANE BE SHOWN AS A, A CO-SPONSOR OF ITEM NUMBER 64.

AND FINALLY, ON A HAPPIER NOTE, UH, I AM A CO-SPONSOR OF ITEM 40, THE DRAG, WHICH RELATES TO THE DRAGON VOTE FESTIVAL.

I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER VELA FOR HIS LEADERSHIP IN MOBILIZING CITY SUPPORT FOR THIS LONGSTANDING TRADITION IN AMY MOCK FOR HER YEARS OF DEDICATION TO AUSTIN, ENSURING THAT WE CELEBRATE OUR ASIAN COMMUNITY, BOTH NEAR MY HOME IN NORTH NORTHWEST AUSTIN AND IN THE HEART OF OUR CITY THIS WEEKEND.

I WILL SEE YOU THERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER.

COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN.

UH, NOW WHAT WE WILL DO IS WE WILL GO TO OUR PUBLIC COMMUNICATION AGENDA ITEM, UH, THE, FOR THE, JUST TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF HEADS UP ON WHERE WE WILL GO.

I WANNA JUST FLAG A COUPLE OF ITEMS. FIRST, ITEMS SEVEN, EIGHT, AND 23.

UH, I WANNA POINT OUT THAT THESE ITEMS ARE JUST GONNA HELP AUSTIN GROW OUR LOCAL ENERGY PRODUCTION TO MAKE US MORE RESILIENT, MORE COST EFFECTIVE, AND MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY, WHICH ARE EXACTLY THE THREE PRIORITIES THAT AUSTIN ENERGY HAS FOR US.

FOR ITEM NINE, WHICH COUNCILOR ALTER TOUCHED ON THE ESTANCIA HILL COUNTRY DEVELOPMENT IS A POSITIVE FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

IT'S GONNA ALLOW FOR AND SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF BOTH SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, AS WELL AS OTHER HOUSING TYPES THAT WE COMMONLY ENCOURAGE.

AND IT'S GONNA ALLOW BROADER MARKET ACTIVITY THAT'S GOING TO, I THINK, ENCOURAGE, UH, VAST, UH, AND DIVERSE GROUPS OF PEOPLE TO SETTLE DOWN THEIR RESIDENTS.

THEY'RE GONNA PUT DOWN ROOTS THERE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

ITEM 35, 31, I'M NOT SURE IF WE BROUGHT UP YET.

UM, I'M VOTING YES IN THIS ITEM TO REVISE OUR POLICY FOR LICENSE AGREEMENTS, A VERY SEXY ITEM AND THE RIGHT OF WAY RELATIONSHIPS FOR HISTORIC BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES.

UH, THE EXEMPTION HERE IS WELL TAKEN, BUT WE'RE ONLY HERE.

THE ACTION IS ONLY REALLY NECESSARY BECAUSE THE COST OF THE AGREEMENTS HAS GROWN CONSIDERABLY OVER THE LAST DECADES.

AGREEMENTS THAT I THINK IN THE FIRST PLACE WE'RE THERE TO SIMPLY GUARANTEE THE CITY'S LEGAL RIGHT TO ACCESS THE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE HAVE INSTEAD TRANSFORMED INTO BECOMING A REVENUE GENERATION TOOL.

AND SO WE'VE SEEN NOW IN SEVERAL INSTANCES WHERE FORMALLY INSIGNIFICANT FEES HAVE BECOME, UH, FOR SOME OS KNIGHTS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS THAT, UH, ESSENTIALLY BECOME APPROACHING A WHOLE YEARLY TAX BILL FOR THEM.

SO AS WE'RE REVIEWING THE POSITIVE IMPACTS OF THE EXEMPTION FOR HISTORIC STRUCTURES, I WANNA ENCOURAGE US AS A CITY TO REVIEW THE TOTALITY OF THESE CONTRACTS TO ENSURE THAT OUR CALCULATIONS ARE JUSTIFIABLE AND FAIR FOR ALL.

AND THEN FINALLY, FOR ITEM 64, I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS FOR HER WORK ON THIS.

I ALSO REQUEST TO BE ADDED TO A CO-SPONSOR THE LATEST VERSION OF THIS ITEM.

AND I'M ALSO HOPEFUL GOING FORWARD AS A COUNCIL DISTRICT THAT BORDERS ON THE PROPOSED EXPANSION AREA THAT I CAN ACTIVELY WORK WITH MY COLLEAGUES ON SOLUTIONS HERE.

WITHOUT OBJECTION, COUNCIL MEMBER DUCEN WILL BE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR OF ITEM NUMBER 64.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL, MEMBER MEMBERS, IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO ABSTAIN FROM A VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? UH, AS THE MOTION SECOND CAME IN, ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN RECUSING 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 AS IT WAS READ? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.

THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, ABSENT MEMBERS AS I INDICATED.

[12:00 PM - Public Communication: General]

WE WILL DO THIS, UH, THEN WE WILL GO INTO AN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

UH, WE WILL HAVE, WE WILL STILL HAVE LIVE MUSIC, BUT I'VE ARRANGED TO HAVE, UH, SOMEBODY FROM ACME UH, DO THE INTRODUCTION OF THE LIVE MUSIC SO THAT WE CAN GO CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK OF THE COUNCIL, UH, IN, IN EXECUTIVE SESSION WHEN WE RETURN FROM THE EXECUTIVE SESSION AND FOR THE PUBLIC THAT'S HERE ON OTHER ITEMS. I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THE EXECUTIVE SESSION'S GOING TO TAKE, BUT IT WILL, IT, IT, IT, UM, JUST PLEASE PAY ATTENTION SO THAT YOU'LL BE HERE.

WHAT WE WILL DO, HOWEVER, IS THE FIRST ITEM WE WILL TAKE UP WILL BE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING OF THE AU AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.

AND THEN WE WILL TAKE UP IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THAT ITEM NUMBER SIX.

SO WITH THAT, UH, I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK TO CALL FOR OUR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.

I WOULD PLEASE ASK THAT YOU WAIT TO START YOUR CONVERSATIONS UNTIL YOU GET OUT SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE WITH OUR WORK.

WE'LL BEGIN WITH ADRIAN MACIAS, MARIANNE SANCHEZ, VALERIE MENARD, PEDRO HERNANDEZ, JR.

MAD GUTIERREZ, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND BEGIN SPEAKING FOLKS.

HEY, EVERYBODY THAT'S, UH, IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS,

[02:35:01]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR BEING HERE.

PLEASE, UH, WHATEVER ORDER HE CALLED YOUR NAMES, BUT FEEL FREE TO BEGIN.

I HAD A SLIDESHOW WITH MY PRESENTATION.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS ADRIAN MACIAS.

I AM ONE OF THE YOUTH.

UM, I AM ONE OF THE YOUTH COORDINATORS FOR POES SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAM, YOUNG SCHOLARS FOR JUSTICE, OR WISE J FOR SHORT.

I HAVE BEEN A YOUTH COORDINATOR SINCE 2022 WHEN I WAS INVITED TO HELP WITH THE SCHEDULING AND PROGRAMMING FOR THE YOUTH PROGRAM BY POS DIRECTOR SUSANA AMANZA, WHO WAS ALSO MY GRANDMOTHER.

SORRY.

BEFORE STEPPING INTO THIS LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, I WAS A Y STREET STUDENT MYSELF.

I JOINED THE PROGRAM IN 2016 WHEN I WAS JUST 13 YEARS OLD, ALONGSIDE MY TWO OLDER BROTHERS.

AT THAT AGE, I DIDN'T FULLY UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WORK I WAS STEPPING INTO, BUT OVER TIME, YSJ BECAME A SHAPE THAT SHAPED MY PERSPECTIVE, MY VOICE, AND MY PURPOSE.

THROUGH THE PROGRAM, WE LEARNED ABOUT THE HISTORY OF AUSTIN, NOT JUST THE VERSION YOU FIND IN TEXTBOOKS, BUT THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF OUR COMMUNITIES.

WE LEARNED ABOUT THE RACISM THAT HAS DEEPLY, THAT HAS BEEN DEEPLY ROOTED IN AUSTIN'S PAST AND HOW THOSE SYSTEMS CONTINUE, CONTINUE TO IMPACT FAMILIES.

TODAY WE STARTED GENTRIFICATION AND HOW IT HAS DISPLACED GENERATIONS OF PEOPLE FROM THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.

WE TALKED ABOUT JUVENILE JUSTICE AND HOW YOUNG PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED BY INEQUITIES IN THE SYSTEM.

WE LEARNED ABOUT THE VICTORIES THAT MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ORGANIZATIONS LIKE PURA HAVE FOUGHT HARD TO ACHIEVE VICTORIES LIKE THE SHUTDOWN OF THE TANK FARM, THE HOLLY POWER PLANT, AND THE VICTORY AGAINST PEER CASTING Y STREET DIDN'T JUST TEACH ME HISTORY, IT GAVE ME THE TOOLS TO BECOME PART OF THAT CHANGE.

I DEVELOPED SKILLS IN PUBLIC SPEAKING, LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZING.

I LEARNED HOW TO WORK WITH OTHERS AND TO ADVOCATE FOR MY COMMUNITY.

THESE ARE THE SKILLS THAT I CARRY WITH ME EVERY DAY AND THEN CONTINUE TO SHAPE THE WORK THAT I DO.

NOW AS A YOUTH COORDINATOR, I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY AND RESPONSIBILITY TO GIVE BACK TO THE SAME PROGRAM THAT HELPED SHAPE ME.

I WANT THE NEXT GENERATION TO UNDERSTAND NOT ONLY WHERE THEY COME FROM, BUT ALSO THE POWER THAT THEY HAVE TO SHAPE WHERE WE ARE GOING.

PROGRAMS LIKE YJ ARE IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY INVEST IN YOUNG PEOPLE, NOT JUST AS STUDENTS, BUT THE FU.

BUT AS FUTURE LEADERS, ORGANIZERS, AND DECISION MAKERS, YJ SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAM STARTS THIS SUMMER FROM JUNE 1ST THROUGH JUNE 25TH, MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY FROM 8:00 AM TO 12:00 PM AGES 14 THROUGH 18 MAY JOIN, AND EVERY WEEK STUDENTS ATTEND RECEIVE $160 STIPEND PER WEEK.

YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION AND FILL OUT AN APPLICATION ON OUR WEBSITE, POE AUSTIN.ORG.

ON THAT NOTE, WE WOULD LIKE TO INVITE EVERYBODY TO POES 35TH ANNIVERSARY.

THE ANNIVERSARY WILL TAKE PLACE AT COLONY GODO FROM SIX TO 9:00 PM WE WILL HAVE DINNER AND DANCE, AND ALSO HAVE AN AWARD CEREMONY HONORING THOSE WHO HAVE EARNED PORTES SOCIAL JUSTICE LEADERSHIP AWARD.

REDEVELOPMENTS POED ADDITIONALLY PARTICIPATED IN THE ELECTRIC UTILITY COMMISSION

I BEGIN, OKAY, PLEASE, YES.

JUST STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

UH, MARIA SANCHEZ WITH POED.

THANK YOU COUNSEL.

CENTERING ON CLEAN ENERGY EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY.

POED SOLAR EQUITY CAMPAIGN IS FOUNDED ON THE ENERGY COST BURDEN, UNRELIABILITY AND CLEAN ENERGY AND EQUITY THAT'S FACED BY EAST AUSTIN'S LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

ENERGY POVERTY.

STUDIES CONDUCTED ACROSS TEXAS HAVE REFLECTED THE DISPARATE BURDEN THAT THESE DEMOGRAPHICS FACED FACE COMPOUNDED BY THE CLIMATE CHANGE AND AFFORDABILITY CRISIS THAT AUSTINITES ARE ENDURING IN TANDEM WITH THE EVER INCREASING COST OF LIVING IN AUSTIN.

JUST A FEW YEARS AGO, CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT THREE EXPERIENCED THE HIGHEST INCREASE, 23% IN AUSTIN ENERGY RATES LIVED IN SHARED EXPERIENCES DURING EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS.

HIGHLIGHT THE LACK OF RELIABILITY THAT OUR ENERGY GRID DESPERATELY NEEDS.

SOLAR INSTALLATION, SOLAR INSTALLATIONS, AND BATTERIES THAT PRODUCE RELIABLE, CLEAN, AND AFFORDABLE ENERGY AT ALL TIMES HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO REMEDIATE THESE ISSUES.

UNFORTUNATELY, MANY AUSTINITES LACK ACCESS TO SOLAR ENERGY BECAUSE THEY'RE RENTERS CANNOT AFFORD THE STEEP UPFRONT COSTS, LACK AWARENESS, SUFFICIENT PROPERTY STANDARDS, ET CETERA.

A SURVEY THAT PODER CONDUCTED FOUND THAT A COMBINATION OF THESE FACTORS INHIBIT MANY OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM INCLUSIVE PARTICIPATION.

AS SUCH, PODER HOST SOLAR WORKSHOPS THROUGHOUT EAST AUSTIN COMMUNITIES WORKING TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE ADVANTAGES OF CLEAN RENEWABLE ENERGY AND CONNECTING THEM TO LOCAL SOLAR RESOURCES AND INITIATIVES.

WE LEVERAGE EDUCATIONAL TOOLS SUCH AS OUR SOLAR LAIA, WHICH IS CHARACTERIZED BY SOLAR ENERGY AND SUSTAINABILITY RELATED TERMS. POED ALSO ADVOCATES FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SOLAR AT THE CITY AND STATE LEVELS.

LOCALLY.

POED HAS ENGAGED WITH ALLISON ELEMENTARY'S, PTA, AND CAMPUS ARCHITECTURAL TEAM IN ADDITION TO THE CDC AND HAKA TO ENSURE THAT SOLAR IS INCORPORATED INTO THE ALLISON ELEMENTARY AND SANTA RITA COURTS.

[02:40:01]

WORKING GROUP FOR THE RESOURCE GENERATION AND CLIMATE PROTECTION PLAN.

UPDATE SUBMITTING RECOMMENDATIONS TO ENSURE AUSTIN ENERGY PRIORITIZES CLEAN ENERGY, COMMUNITY NEEDS AND DIVESTMENT FROM FOSSIL FUELS.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE, POED AND ITS PARTNERS WILL CONTINUE TO CHAMPION LOCAL AND STATEWIDE COALITION EFFORTS TOWARD A CLEAN, AFFORDABLE ENERGY TRANSITION.

WE BELIEVE THAT WE MUST USE CREATIVE MECHANISMS TO FOSTER GREATER DEPLOYMENT OF SOLAR ENERGY PROJECTS WITHIN OUR MOST DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES.

IN AUSTIN, LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES OF COLOR TEND TO BENEFIT FROM REDUCED ENERGY COSTS, RE RESILIENCY, AND A HEALTHIER ENVIRONMENT FOR THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY AT LARGE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR CITY'S CLIMATE EQUITY GOALS, WE ENCOURAGE THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND AUSTIN ENERGY TO CONTINUE TO EXPLORE THE AVENUES THAT COULD ALLOW SOLAR TO BE IMPLEMENTED AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.

WHOEVER WANTS TO GO NEXT.

GOOD.

A GOOD MORNING.

OH, AFTERNOON , UH, MAYOR WATSON AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

WE'RE HERE TODAY AS YOU MIGHT MIGHT, UH, CAN TELL, UH, TO CELEBRATE WELL THAT 31ST ANNIVERSARY TO SHARE INFORMATION WITH YOU ABOUT, UM, SOME OF OUR PROGRAMS. I HAVE A SLIDE.

COULD YOU STATE YOUR NAME? I'M SORRY.

THIS IS VALERIE MENARD WITH BO OF FOR THE COLORADO RIVER CONSERVANCY.

SO I AM THE PROJECT DIRECTOR FOR THE COLORADO RIVER CONSERVANCY, ALSO A PROJECT OF POED.

UH, THE COLORADO RIVER CONSERVANCY WAS, UH, FOUNDED IN 2020 BY, UM, DANIEL YEZ, CHRIS BROWN, LINDA GUERRERO, AND SUSAN ALMANZA.

AND AS A COALITION, IT WAS ORGANIZED TO PROTECT, UH, PRESERVE AND RESTORE ONE'S MOST PRECIOUS NATURAL RESOURCES.

THE WILD GREEN STRETCH OF THE LOWER COLORADO RIVER THAT RUNS FROM EAST AUSTIN'S LONGHORN DAM TO THE TRAVIS COUNTY LINE.

UM, TO PRESERVE THE COLORADO RIVER, UM, WE BLED AND CRC JOINED THE RA'S CROWN VOLUNTEER RIVER TESTING PROGRAM IN 2022.

TESTING THE RIVER AT TWO LOCATIONS, THE, UH, ONLO BRIDGE, UH, CONSIDERED A PRISTINE SECTION OF THE RIVER AND NEAR THE DOG'S PAW IN AUSTIN'S COLONY.

WE ALSO CONTINUE TO WORK TO MINIMIZE THE IMPACT OF IMPENDING DEVELOPMENT ALONG THE RIVER.

UH, TO PROTECT THE RIVER, PO AND SIERRA SEA BUILT A STRONG PARTNERSHIP WITH THE AUSTIN WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT.

UH, WPD LED BY, UH, MANAGER JURE MORALE, WPD STAFF AND CRC IN THE LOOP REGARDING ISSUES OF CONCERN.

UM, THROUGH THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THAT AND THE CRC SUCCESSFUL SUCCESSFULLY LOBBIED CITY COUNCIL ON MARCH 27TH, 2025, TO PASS THE, UH, WPDS COLORADO RIVER PROTECTIONS ORDINANCE THAT EXPANDED THE EROSION HAZARD ZONE TO 200, 200 FEET AND 2025.

WITH THAT NCOC JOINED THE WPDS RAIN TO RIVER COMMUNITY ACTIVATION GROUP TO HELP REVISE THE STRATEGIC PLAN TO BE MORE INCLUSIVE OF UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.

UH, TO RESTORE THE COLORADO RIVER PO AND CRC SUPPORTED EFFORTS BY THE WPD TO RESTORE THE BRIDGE AT ROY GUERERO PARK AND STABILIZE AREAS OF THE PARK DAMAGED BY EROSION COMPLETED IN 2026.

THE PROJECT WAS COST 28.5 MILLION, IS THE LARGEST EROSION CONTROL PROJECT IN AUSTIN'S HISTORY.

OUR NEXT CONCERN IS THE, UM, PUMPING STATION THAT WILL DIRECT ALL STORM DRAINAGE FROM THE EXPANDED IH 35 TO THE MONTOPOLIS BRIDGE.

UM, AND SO WE ARE READY TO SUPPORT THE WPDE AND THE CITY IN ITS EFFORTS TO FIND THE 21.65 MILLION THEY'LL NEED TO FINISH IN AND INSTALL A FILTERING SYSTEM THAT WILL MAKE SURE THE STORM DRAINAGE WATER, UH, RUNOFF FROM THE EXPANDED I THREE FIVE WILL BE CLEAR OF PARTICULATE POLLUTION.

UH, FINALLY, UM, OUR FUTURE STEWARDS, EVERYTHING WE DO WILL INCLUDE OUR YSJ, OUR, OUR YOUNG FOLKS.

UH, WE INCLUDE THEM IN THE RIVER TESTING PART PART.

UM, THEY GET TO SEE WHAT WE DO THERE, BUT THE YOUTH IS ALWAYS GONNA BE IN OUR MINDS, UM, AND OUR FUTURE OF PROJECTS.

AND VERY QUICKLY, WE HAVE OUR ANNIVERSARY.

ALSO WANTED TO MENTION WE HAVE FREE PANELS, AND THE LAST ONE IS TODAY AT, UH, ROY.

SUMMER PROGRAM ARE INVITED TO CONTINUE THEIR INVOLVEMENT THROUGHOUT ADVANCE YSJ, WHERE THEY GAIN MORE EXPOSURE AND ENGAGEMENT.

CAN I JUST MENTION THIS? WE, WE SOLVED IT ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YES, THANK YOU, PLEASE.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS MA GUTIERREZ AND I'M ONE OF THE YOUTH COORDINATORS AT POED YOUNG SCHOLARS FOR JUSTICE PROGRAM.

I'VE BEEN A PART OF POED SINCE 2017 AS A YOUTH SCHOLAR AND EVENTUALLY BECAME A YOUTH CO COORDINATOR IN 2023.

AFTER ACQUIRING TWO ASSOCIATES IN GENERAL, SCIENCE AND BIOLOGY AT A CC POES AND SCHOLARS FOR JUSTICE HAS TAUGHT ME MANY VALUES IN MY COMMUNITY FROM ORGANIZING TO COMMUNICATING AND SCULPTING ME AND BECOMING A YOUNG LEADER.

I'M PROUD TO SHARE THAT OUR PROGRAM HAS CONTINUED TO GROW WITH NOW REGULAR SUMMER YSJ AT THE ADVANCED YSJ.

THE ADVANCED YSJ PROGRAM MEETS BIWEEKLY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR OUTSIDE OF THE SUMMER SESSION AND FOCUSES MORE ON IN-DEPTH AND CURRENT ISSUES RELATED TO POLITICAL AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.

STUDENTS WHO COMPLETE THE

[02:45:01]

SOME OF THE TOPICS AND ACTIVITIES ARE AT EVENTS YSJ STUDENTS HAVE PARTICIPATED IN, INCLUDE YOUTH CANDIDATE FORUMS, VOTER REGISTRATION, DISCUSSIONS ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND DATA CENTERS, AND CONVERSATIONS AROUND BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS.

LASTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU ALL TO ED'S 35TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION FRIDAY MAY 1ST FROM SIX TO 9:00 PM AT THE K GUERRERO CENTER.

DURING THIS EVENT, WE'LL HOST AN AWARD CEREMONY HONORING RECIPIENTS OF THE POED SOCIAL JUSTICE LEADERSHIP AWARD.

UM, GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS BIANCA GUERRERO AND I'M BOARD PRESIDENT OF FAR EAST AUSTIN, CDC, AND A SUSTAINABILITY ANALYST AND ORGANIZER WITH BODED AUSTIN.

UM, IF I COULD HAVE THE SLIDE GO ON AT THE VERY LAST 30 SECONDS, THAT'D BE GREAT.

UM, I'M HERE TO SPEAK FOR THE RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN'S COLONY IN 7 8 7 2 5, A COMMUNITY JUST OUTSIDE OF THE CITY, BUT RIGHT NEXT TO TESLA'S GIGAFACTORY AND, UM, LEFT TO DEAL WITH THE WATER CRISIS THAT SHOULD NOT EXIST ANYWHERE WHILE TESLA RECEIVES CLEAN WATER.

A CLEAN CITY OF AUSTIN WATER, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS STUCK WITH A PRIVATIZED UTILITY MONOPOLY DELIVERING DISCOLORED FOUL SMELLING UNDRINKABLE WATER TO A MARGINALIZED COMMITTEE, UH, COMMUNITY.

UM, THAT IS NOT SUSTAINABLE.

AND IT IS NOT JUST, THIS IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ISSUE.

FAMILIES ARE PAYING HIGH MONTHLY BILLS FOR WATER THEY CANNOT TRUST, WHILE ALSO ABSORBING THE COSTS OF DAMAGED PLUMBING WATER HEATERS, AND, UM, NEEDING TO BUY BOTTLED WATER JUST TO MEET THE BASIC NEEDS.

FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, WE'VE PARTNERED WITH UT BRIDGES PROJECT TO SAMPLE DRINKING WATER QUALITY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND THOSE RESULTS ARE COMING SOON.

UM, WE ARE NOT ASKING YOU TO IMAGINE THE PROBLEM.

WE'RE BRINGING DATA AND WE ARE BRINGING THE LIVED REALITY OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THIS, UM, LIVE WITH THIS EVERY DAY.

I WANT TO THANK POED FOR INVESTING TIME, RESOURCES, AND CARE INTO AUSTIN'S COLONY, AND FOR HELPING THIS COMMUNITY BETTER UNDERSTAND DOCUMENT AND FIGHT FOR THE SOLUTIONS WE NEED THAT SUPPORT MATTERS.

UM, POED IS ALSO HOSTING A FREE LEGISLATIVE WORKSHOP TO HELP RESIDENTS UNDERSTAND HOW BILLS MOVE THROUGH TEXAS LEGISLATURE, BECAUSE WE NEED POLICY CHANGE, NOT MORE DELAY.

UM, THOSE WORKSHOPS START THIS WEEKEND AND YOU CAN FIND MORE ON POED, UH, WEBSITE.

UM, AND FINALLY, I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US ON MAY 1ST FOR OUR 35TH ANNIVERSARY AT THE CONLEY GUERRERO SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER.

WE'LL HAVE DINNER DANCING, AND A CHANCE TO REFLECT ON, UH, JUSTICE WORK STILL AHEAD.

UM, I ALSO WANNA THANK COUNCILWOMAN VANESSA FUENTES AND STATE REP LULU FLORES FOR THEIR STATE AND LOCAL TOWN HALL THAT WAS GIVEN AT THE DELL VALLEY OPPORTUNITY CENTER.

UM, THANK YOU AND CLEAN WATER FOR ALL.

SO THAT WE COULD CONSTRUCT A NETWORK OF RESILIENCE HUBS IN MENTALIS.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS CARLOS PINON AND I'M THE RESILIENCE PROGRAM COORDINATOR AT ED.

THOUGH I'VE WORKED HERE FULL TIME SINCE FEBRUARY, 2023.

I ACTUALLY STARTED AS AN INTERN IN THE WINTER OF 2018 WHEN I WAS A STUDENT IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AT UT.

MY EXPERIENCE THEN WAS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT FOR MY PERSONAL AND POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT.

BOLD IS ONE OF FEW PLACES IN AUSTIN THAT UNDERSTOOD JUST HOW INTERWOVEN THE STRUGGLE FOR A CLEANER, SAFER, AND HEALTHIER ENVIRONMENT IS WITH THE STRUGGLE AGAINST RACISM, EXPLOITATION OF WORKING CLASS COMMUNITIES, AND THE LEGACY OF SETTLE COLONIALISM.

IT WAS ME AND JUST ONE OTHER STUDENT, THEN MAKING MAPS IN ARC GIS AND HELPING SUSANNA TO WRITE REPORTS ON HOW CODE X WOULD'VE COMPOUNDED THE IMPACTS OF GENTRIFICATION THAT BEGAN HERE YEARS BEFORE I WAS EVEN BORN.

PRIOR TO PO I SPENT MAYBE 95% OF MY TIME ON CAMPUS.

AND THERE IN MY PROGRAM WAS LITTLE MENTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.

IT WAS ONLY THROUGH THIS INTERNSHIP THAT I LEARNED HOW TO BE AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN THE ISSUES AFFECTING THE MOST VULNERABLE, TO LISTEN TO AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH LONGTIME RESIDENTS OF A PLACE THAT I DIDN'T GROW UP IN.

AND TO UNDERSTAND THE RESPONSIBILITY OF USING MY SKILLS AND TALENTS TO SUPPORT MY COMMUNITY.

NOW THINGS HAVE COME FULL CIRCLE IN A WAY.

AS A PART OF MY WORK, I'M DEEPLY INVOLVED WITH THE BRIDGES PROGRAM, WHICH BIANCA MENTIONED.

UM, IT'S A COLLABORATIVE PROJECT BETWEEN POED AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE INSTITUTE AT UT CO-CREATED WITH THREE PRIMARY GOALS.

ONE, TO HAVE COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN THE EASTERN CRESCENT LEAD RESEARCH PROJECTS THAT WILL ULTIMATELY PROVIDE, UH, MATERIAL BENEFITS TO THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGH DATA THAT SUPPORTS LIVED EXPERIENCES, POLICY CHANGE AND SKILL BUILDING.

TWO, TO ESTABLISH A BI-DIRECTIONAL LEARNING MODEL AND BUILD EXPERTISE AMONG COMMUNITY MEMBERS SO THAT THEY MAY CONDUCT THE RESEARCH THEMSELVES.

AND THREE, TO GO AGAINST THE HISTORY OF EXTRACTIVE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ACADEMIA AND COMMUNITIES.

ORIGINALLY, WE WERE FUNDED BY THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION FOR FIVE YEARS.

HOWEVER, LAST APRIL, OUR GRANT WAS TERMINATED.

SHORTLY AFTER OUR YEARS LONG WORK WITH AUSTIN ENERGY TO BRING RESIDENTIAL SOLAR TO WORKING CLASS COMMUNITIES AND BOLSTER THE COMMUNITY.

SOLAR PROGRAM TOOK AN INCALCULABLE HIT WHEN THE EPA SOLAR FOR ALL GRANTS WERE RESCINDED.

PODA ALSO SUBMITTED A FEDERAL GRANT APPLICATION FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, WHEN THE EPA LESSON BARRIERS TO ENTRY THROUGH THE GRANTMAKERS PROGRAM

[02:50:01]

BUT THAT WENT TO, DESPITE OUR LOSSES, WE CONTINUE TO FIGHT AND WE CELEBRATE NEXT FRIDAY, MAY 1ST, WE INVITE ALL TO COMMEMORATE THE DEPO THAT WAS FOUNDED 35 YEARS AGO.

OUR GATHERING OFFERS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO REFLECT ON THE STRUGGLES AND VICTORIES WE'VE HAD FOR OVER THREE DECADES, ALONGSIDE MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ORGANIZATIONS.

WE FOUGHT FUEL STORAGE TANKS, POWER PLANTS, GARBAGE TRUCK FACILITIES, UPZONING, UNAFFORDABLE, HOUSING DISPLACEMENT, AND THE DESTRUCTION OF OUR GREEN SPACES.

TO THIS DAY, WE STILL PASS ON THE LESSONS WE'VE LEARNED TO THE NEXT GENERATION.

WE WORK TO PRESERVE THE COLORADO RIVER EAST OF 35 TO LOWER THE COSTS OF UTILITY BILLS AND FARES TO TAKE ON PRIVATE WATER COMPANIES AND DEVELOPERS WHO PRIORITIZE PROFIT OVER COMMUNITY NEEDS.

WE RISE UP FOR EQUITABLE EDUCATION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THE PRESERVATION OF WORKING CLASS NEIGHBORHOODS, BUILT OVER GENERATIONS, BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.

THE STRUGGLE IS LONG AND CONTINUOUS.

CAROLYN ROSE KENNEDY SILVER, WHITE MOUNTAIN, GEORGE REYNA.

IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND IF YOU'RE ALREADY, SIR, IF YOU'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD, PLEASE GO AHEAD.

JUST STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

MY NAME IS GEORGE RAIN.

I'M HERE TO TALK TO CITY COUNCIL PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM, PEOPLE WATCHING AND LISTENING WHEREVER YOU ARE INTO THE FUTURE AUDIENCES OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING WHEN THEY WATCH OR LISTEN TO IT.

UM, I WAS TOLD, I SAID A LOT OF UMS AND AHS.

SO LEMME GO AHEAD AND GET THOSE OUT OF THE WAY BEFORE I CONTINUE.

AND A FEW MORE ARE GONNA SLIP BY.

SO PLEASE BEAR WITH ME.

I'M TRYING TO GET BETTER AT, UM, PUBLIC SPEAKING OR SPEECH SPEAKING.

UM, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT HARD RED LIGHT RUNNERS AND STOP SIGN PAUSES.

HARD RED LIGHT RUNNERS ARE DRIVERS WHO AFTER THE YELLOW LIGHT HAS TURNED RED, THAT THEY RUN IT.

I UNDERSTAND WHEN THE LIGHT IS YELLOW TRYING TO MAKE THE LIGHT, OR IF YOU HAVE AN AGGRESSIVE DRIVER BEHIND YOU, YOU DON'T WANT TO, YOU HAVE TO GAS IT 'CAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO GET HIT.

UH, YOU DON'T WANNA GET REAR-ENDED.

BUT NOW THEY'RE EATING INTO THE TIME OF PEDESTRIANS TRYING TO CROSS THE STREET WHEN THEY HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY.

AND THE ONLY TIME I HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY IS WHEN, UH, THE SIGN SAYS WALK.

SO I'M TRYING TO FOLLOW THAT.

UM, ALSO STOP SIGN PAUSES ARE PEOPLE THAT TREAT A STOP SIGN AS A YIELD SIGN.

AND I KNOW WE CAN'T STOP 'EM, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, MAYBE I'M JUST TALKING TO THEM LIKE, I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE FOCUSING ON CARS, BUT YOU NEED TO TAKE A MOMENT, SCAN THE SIDEWALKS FOR WALKERS, PEOPLE ON BIKES, MOPEDS SCOOTERS, E-BIKES, ET CETERA.

UM, TO CLOSE.

SPEAKING TO THE RED LIGHT RUNNERS AND THE THE OH THE STOP SIGN PAUSES.

PLEASE DON'T EAT UP MY TIME.

UM, AND IF YOU CAN MAKE THE LIGHT, MAKE IT, BUT TRY NOT TO EAT MY SLICE OF PIE.

LEAVE MINE ALONE BECAUSE, UH, YOU'RE EATING MY TIME CROSSING THE STREET WHEN I HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY.

I THANK YOU.

OH, UM, CAROLYN ROSE KENNEDY.

MS. KENNEDY.

THANK Y'ALL FOR HAVING ME AND THANKS FOR SERVING ALL OF Y'ALL.

I, THE DAY I MET CAESAR CHAVEZ, I WAS 17, FRESH OUTTA HIGH SCHOOL.

I PLANNED TO VOLUNTEER ALL SUMMER.

I, EXCUSE ME, I, I CHOSE CAESAR CHAVEZ AND HIS CREW TO BOYCOTT LETTUCE.

I TOLD MY PARENTS I WAS GOING TO CALIFORNIA.

I AM, I'M THIRD OF NINE KIDS.

DAD SAID, DO YOU NEED SOME MONEY? MOM CRIED ALL NIGHT.

GOD BLESS HER.

I WENT TO CALIFORNIA BY BUS.

IT TOOK ME A DAY AND A HALF TO GET THERE.

I WAS WEARING T-SHIRT, BLUE JEANS, CUTOFFS, AND BARE FEET.

I, I LOOKED AT HIM IN THE EYES, CESAR CHAVEZ, AND I SAID, HI, I'M KENNEDY.

I'M FROM TEXAS.

HE LOOKED AT ME

[02:55:01]

AND LOOKED AT, LOOKED AT MY BARE FEET AND HE SAID, WHERE'S YOUR BOOTS? THAT'S ALL.

AMEN.

TOPIC, PROCLAMATION DEDICATION ON FEBRUARY, 2026.

SILVER WHITE MOUNTAIN HERE.

AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MAYOR ZENOBIA C JOSEPH TRIES TO GET Y'ALL'S COOPERATION THROUGH DOLLAR FIGURES.

I WILL TRY TO GET HER POINT ACROSS THROUGH A DIFFERENT ANGLE AND POSSIBLY A HIGHER POWER.

SINCE I FEEL COMPELLED TO DO THIS.

OUR LIFESPAN COULD BE DETERMINED BY DISEASE, ACCIDENT, SUICIDE, AND HOMICIDE.

WHEREAS MAXIMUM LIFESPAN IS DETERMINED BY RATE OF AGING.

AGING RATES VARY BETWEEN INDIVIDUALS BASED ON LIFESPAN, GENETICS, AND THE ENVIRONMENT.

HERE IN OUR CITY, CERTAIN FACTORS GREATLY CONTRIBUTE TO A SHORTER LIFESPAN.

THERE'S THE AIR QUALITY ISSUE HERE IN AUSTIN BECAUSE OF ALL THE POLLUTION FROM TRAFFIC, THERE'S ROAD RATES THAT CAUSES PHYSICAL AND MENTAL STRESS.

ALSO LOSING TIME THAT WE ARE NEVER GOING TO GET BACK BECAUSE IT TAKES LONGER TO GET FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER.

THE RATE OF AGING IS SIGNIFICANTLY ELEVATED BY LIVING IN AUSTIN.

SO NOW I'D LIKE TO QUOTE DENZEL WASHINGTON FROM THE MOVIE THE EQUALIZER.

DO THE RIGHT THING BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE A LIMITED LIFESPAN AND IT'S GETTING SHORTER BY THE MINUTE.

EVERYONE WILL EXPIRE AND IT WON'T NECESSARILY BE AT BOOT HILL WITH YOUR ANCESTORS.

ACTION PLAY VIDEO.

THERE'S A TRAIL THAT LEADS FROM DODGE UP HERE TO BOOT HILL THAT MANY PEOPLE TRAVEL IT BY CHOICE BECAUSE IT STOPS RIGHT HERE.

MOST OF THE MEN LYING HERE THOUGHT THEY WERE HEADING SOMEWHERE ELSE, BUT THIS IS WHERE THEY ENDED FOR ALL THEIR TROUBLE, I KNOW I'M MATT DILLON, US MARSHALL.

PART OF MY JOB IS TO STEER 'EM AWAY FROM HERE, TO KEEP 'EM FROM A USELESS, VIOLENT END.

BUT NOW, AND THEN THERE'S ONE WHO WON'T LISTEN.

AND MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, HE'S BURIED OUT HERE ALONE AND FORGOTTEN.

I NEED TO PAY TRIBUTE TO MY MOTHER.

A A HALF BREED, A WARRIOR, A MISSIONARY WHO LATER IN LIFE EARN HER CREDENTIALS TO BECOME A PASTOR BECAUSE OF HER.

I CANNOT CURSE AS I HAD MY MOUTH WASHED OUT WITH SOAP.

I NEED TO COME CLEAN AND CONFESS ONE OF MY SINS HERE IN FRONT OF THE PUBLIC BEFORE I DIE.

I DO NOT WANT TO BE NEAR PEOPLE WITH AIDS.

VANESSA FUENTES.

2026 WAS ABOUT AIDS.

THE FIRST AIDS CASE WAS REPORTED IN AUSTIN, TEXAS IN THE SUMMER OF 1983.

NOT MUCH WAS KNOWN ABOUT AIDS BACK THEN.

OVER 40 YEARS AGO.

I WAS WORKING AT THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH BACK IN THE EIGHTIES AT A YOUNG AGE, EVEN THOUGH I WAS NOT IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH PEOPLE THAT HAD AIDS, I QUIT MY JOB.

'CAUSE OTHER PEOPLE IN THE OFFICE I WORKED WITH WERE IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH THOSE PATIENTS.

I DID NOT HAVE EMPATHY BACK THEN, AND THAT'S CONTRARY TO CHRISTIANS.

NOW GO INTO A CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION TO TAKE UP TWO ITEMS PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 5 1 0 7, 1 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE.

THAT CONCLUDES ALL PUBLIC COMMUNICATION SPEAKERS.

THANK Y'ALL, UM, MEMBERS THAT AS YOU'VE JUST HEARD THAT IT CONCLUDES ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK IN OUR, UH, GENERAL PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.

AS I'VE INDICATED, WE'RE NOW GONNA GO INTO AN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

WHEN WE RETURN FROM THE EXECUTIVE SESSION, THE FIRST ITEM WE WILL TAKE UP WILL BE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.

AND THEN WE WILL TAKE UP ITEM NUMBER SIX WHILE WE ARE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

UH, WE WILL CONTINUE WITH OUR LIVE MUSIC TRADITION AND WE WILL HAVE A LIVE MUSIC.

UH, THEY WILL BE INTRODU.

THE THE, THE MUSIC WILL BE INTRODUCED BY, UH, ACME, UH, OUR, OUR OUR ACME DEPARTMENT.

SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, UH, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL

[Executive Session]

THE CITY COUNCIL WILL DISCUSS LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO ITEM 66, DISCUSS LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO SB FOUR PASSED DURING THE 85TH TEXAS LEGISLATIVE SESSION REGARDING ENFORCEMENT BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITIES OF STATE AND FEDERAL IMMIGRATION LAWS.

THIS WILL BE A PRIVATE CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL PURSUANT TO 5 5 1 0 7 1 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE.

IN ADDITION, PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 5 5 1 0 7 1 AND 5 5 1 0 7 2 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL DISCUSS LEGAL ISSUES AND REAL ESTATE MATTERS RELATED TO ITEM 67.

THAT WILL BE A DISCUSSION OF LEGAL AND RELATE AND REAL ESTATE MATTERS RELATED TO THE ACQUISITION BY IMMINENT DOMAIN OF A FEE.

SIMPLE INTEREST IN RIGHT OF WAY, CONSISTING OF APPROXIMATELY 0.282 ACRES, 12,301

[03:00:02]

SQUARE FEET.

LOCATED AT ZERO ZERO MOUNT LARSON ROAD, AUSTIN, TEXAS 7 8 7 4 6 FOR THE PUBLIC USE OF SITUATING A COMMUNICATIONS TOWER TO PROVIDE RADIO COVERAGE IN SUPPORT OF ALL CITY AND COUNTY PUBLIC SAFETY AND PUBLIC SERVICE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES.

THIS WILL BE A PRIVATE CONSULTATION WITH OUR LEGAL COUNSEL PURSUANT TO 5 5 1 0 7 1 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE.

AND A DISCUSSION OF REAL PROPERTY MATTERS PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 5 1 0 7 2 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE.

THERE BEING NO OBJECTION TO US GOING INTO AN EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THE ITEMS ANNOUNCED.

THE COUNCIL WILL NOW GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 12:59 PM HOLD APD ACCOUNTABLE.

MY NAME IS ANGELA MEANS

[Live Music]

DIRECTOR OF ARTS CULTURE, MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT.

AND IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE TODAY TO INTRODUCE OUR MUSICIAN OF THE DAY FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

AS LITTLE J FROM DALE.

FROM DALE.

I KNEW I WAS GONNA SAY IT LIKE WE SAY IT IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA.

LITTLE J FROM THE O HI UHHUH AUSTIN, TEXAS.

ALL RIGHT.

AND I SEE HIS FAMILY'S HERE, SO I WANNA MAKE SURE I GIVE Y'ALL A SHOUT OUT.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

THIS IS A BIG DEAL.

THANK Y'ALL.

I HOPE YOU ARE PROUD OF HIM.

LIL J FROM THE O IS A RISING REALITY RAP ARTIST FROM AUSTIN, TEXAS KNOWN FOR BLENDING RAW STREET PERSPECTIVES WITH AUTHENTIC TEXAS STORYTELLING ROOTED IN REAL LIFE EXPERIENCE.

HIS MUSIC REFLECTS THE REALITIES, THE RES, THE RESILIENCE, AMBITION AND CULTURE OF THE CITY THAT SHAPED HIM.

DELIVERING RECORDS THAT RESONATE ACROSS GENERATIONS AND COMMUNITIES.

HIS SOUND CAPTURES THE GRIT OF SOUTHERN HIP HOP WHILE REMAINING ACCESSIBLE, ENERGETIC, AND PURPOSE DRIVEN BUILDING CONSISTENT MOMENTUM.

LIL J FROM THE O IS A TWO TIME OFFICIAL SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST ARTISTS ESTABLISHING HIMSELF AS A STANDOUT PRESENCE ON ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST INFLUENTIAL MUSIC STAGES.

THAT IS A BIG DEAL.

HE HAS TOURED ACROSS TEXAS, ALONGSIDE TEXAS LEGEND SEVERAL LEGENDS, BUT CHINO BLING FURTHER EXPANDING HIS REACH AND LIVE PERFORMANCE REPUTATION THROUGHOUT THE REGION.

HIS RISE HAS EARNED HIM NOTABLE RECOGNITION ACROSS RESPECTED PLATFORMS, INCLUDING BEING LABELED NEXT TO BELOW BY RAP ECONOMICS.

TOP 20 TEXAS LATINO ARTISTS BY TEXAS BUZZ AND RECOGNIZED AS A TOP 20 RAP ARTISTS BY AUSTIN STREETS TV.

THESE ACCOLADES REFLECT BOTH HIS GROWING INFLUENCE AND THE RESPECT HE'S EARNED WITHIN TEXAS HIP HOP CULTURE.

HE HAS RECEIVED GENUINE CO-SIGNS FROM ICONIC ARTISTS SUCH AS PAUL WALL BBY AND LIL KIKI, AND HAS ESTABLISHED GROUNDWORK WITH ARTISTS LIKE CHINO BLING, GT GARZA, SLIM THUG, OC CHRIS THAT MEXICAN OT, THE BABY, AND MORE AT HIS PLAT.

AS HIS PLATFORM CONTINUES TO GROW, HE REMAINS FOCUSED ON REPRESENTING AUSTIN WITH AUTHENTICITY WHILE PUSHING TEXAS HIP HOP FORWARD ON A NATIONAL LEVEL.

OKAY, AND I HAVE A PROCLAMATION FOR YOU AND I'M GONNA READ IT ON BEHALF OF THIS CITY COUNCIL.

THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS IS BLESSED WITH MANY CREATIVE MUSICIANS WHOSE TALENT EXTENDS TO VIRTUALLY EVERY MUSICAL GENRE.

AND WHEREAS OUR MUSIC SCENE THRIVES BECAUSE AUSTIN AUDIENCES SUPPORT GOOD MUSIC PRODUCED BY LEGENDS, OUR LOCAL FAVORITES AND NEWCOMERS ALIKE.

AND WHEREAS WE ARE PLEASED TO SHOWCASE AND SUPPORT OUR LOCAL ARTISTS.

NOW, THEREFORE, I ANGELA MEANS I AM THE DIRECTOR OF ACME OF THE LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD DUE HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 23RD, 2026 AS LIL J DAY IN AUSTIN.

WOO.

I FEEL LIKE BEFORE I GET STARTED, I JUST WANNA SHOUT OUT A FEW PEOPLE THAT PLAYED A BIG ROLE IN UH, TO WHERE I'M AT TODAY.

[03:05:03]

AND FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT TO JOSE.

UM, PART OF THE COUNCIL.

HE PLAYED A BIG ROLE AS FAR AS LIKE GETTING TO ME WHERE I'M AT AND ACHIEVING THIS GOAL.

UM, GREG, UH, SHELBY, EVERYBODY THAT HAS PLAYED A PART TO GET TO WHERE I'M AT, UM, IT'S CRAZY HOW TO THANK UH, A LITTLE GET A BOY IN THE EAST SIDE PROJECTS CAN ONE DAY, UM, HAVE ITS OWN DAY IN ITS OWN CITY.

SO, UM, IT'S DEFINITELY A HUGE STEPPING STONE FOR ME.

UM, THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING TO WHERE I, I SEE MYSELF, UM, BUT THANKFUL FOR EVERYBODY THAT IS HERE TODAY AND ANYBODY THAT PLAYS MY MUSIC OR PLAYS ANY PART OF SEEING ME GROW.

SO THIS IS FOR THE CITY.

LET'S GO.

LET'S GO N BOY.

LET'S GIVE HIM A SHOW.

HEY, A, YOU TURN ME UP ON THE MIC A LITTLE BIT.

I WANT TO HEAR MYSELF A LITTLE BIT MORE.

AYE HEY, HEY, HEY.

I'M THIS HOP BEAT BE RAP.

SO WHEN IT COME TO THIS PAPER I WANTED THEM BLUES.

I AIN'T TAKING NO DUST, NO HANDOUT TRYING TO LOOK LIKE A MILLION.

I STEP IN THE BUILDING, IT LOOK LIKE ONE OFF A SCRATCH OUT.

NO, THIS CAME FOR THE PAYMENT.

I PUT PUT THAT IN IF YOU PLAYED IT THIS MAN DOWN AND I'M GOING WAY HARDER THAN EVER EXPECTED.

THEY STILL CAN'T SAID IT BUT THEY GOING RESPECT AS FAR AS THE DAYS THAT I USED BE RE I PUT ON THE BEAT, NOW I GET STRAIGHT TO RE AND I TODAY THE PEOPLE, THEY CAN'T EVEN COMPARE.

I'M FEELING OUT WHOEVER DECLARED, I ALWAYS STAY READY.

NO NEED TO PREPARE.

THEY SAYING THIS, WELL I CAME HERE DECLARED THEY TAKING NO DAYS OFF OR BEHIND THE NEXT PART IN THE MIDDLE OF SUMMER.

THEY CALL IT THE CLASS CLOWN.

NOW YOU LOOK LIKE CASH COW WHO GET SOME MONEY, NEED ALL MY, THEY COME IN THE BUN REPLYING THE PRESSURE FOR THINGS THAT I WANT AND DON'T KNOW HOW TO QUIT.

MAMA SAY DON'T SOMETHING.

SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGED.

NEVER CHANGED WITH THE MONEY.

I KEPT IT ON HONEY.

HUH? I KEPT IT ON HONEY.

HEY LET'S GO.

HEY, I AM THAT TEST MADE MEXICAN, HUH? LET'S GO.

HEY, I AIN'T FINNA TELL Y'ALL HOW I GOT AWAY WITH THIS S**T.

LET'S GO.

HEY, HEY.

I SAID BACK THEN, THEN WON.

BUT NOW POPPING TODAY, Y'ALL ON ME NINE DAYS GOING DO A SHOW IN.

LET'S PULL IT.

OUR HOMIE BIG DO I CLIP THESE OTHER JUST SMALL PONIES DOWN OUTSIDE.

WE GRIPPING GRAY.

WE CHOPS LIKE PAUL BLEND.

DON'T ELEVATING MY NAME.

DON'T HEAR ME UP.

WITH NO SMALL BUDGET.

GC GAME.

THE VBS GOING TO BANG FOR ME.

SECTION EIGHT.

Y'ALL SPOON FED.

CAN'T EVEN SEE IN MY LANE HOMIE.

I BEEN DOING MY THING HOMIE.

CHASE MAKES REAL CHANGE HOMIE.

I I TAKE YOU BACK WHEN.

I AIN'T EVEN KNOW I WHO I WAS.

Y TEXAS TALK.

NOW THAT TEXAS BOY DONE GOT A BUZZ.

I MADE A WAY.

THAT'S WHY THEY HEY, BUT S**T, YOU GOTTA LOVE IT.

I BET THEY CHANGED THEY MIND WHEN SUPPOSED BE PULLING UP HIS BUMPER.

KIDS DON'T BUMP YOUR LIFT BECAUSE BY BEST AIN'T GOOD.

COME AROUND MY SIDE OF TOWN.

YOU KNOW WE ON THAT TEXAS, I SAID BUMPER KIDS DON'T BUMP LIFTS BECAUSE BY BEST AIN'T GO COME AROUND MY SIDE OF TOWN.

YOU KNOW HE ON GOING CRAZY.

HEY, I GOT ONE MORE SONG FOR YOU.

IF YOU CAME A LONG WAY HAD TO GO THE HALLWAY, THIS SONG'S DEDICATED TO YOU.

AH, LET'S GO HI TO THE WRONG DOWN THE PATH.

I GUESS I HAD TO LEARN A HARD WAY.

LET'S GO.

HEY, I DONE CAME A LONG WAY.

I TO THE WRONG WAY DOWN THE PATH.

I GUESS I HAD TO LEARN A WHOLE WAY.

I, I GUESS I HAD TO LEARN A HARD WAY.

I DONE CAME A LONG, LONG WAY.

I TO THE WRONG WAY DOWN A PATH.

I GUESS I HAD TO LEARN A HARD WAY.

I DONE CAME A LONG WAY UP OUT THE TRENCHES.

I HAD TO BE THE DIFFERENCE.

THEY TRYING TO BEAT ME WHEN I'M DOWN.

SO I JUST KEEP MY DISTANCE.

YOU KNOW, MY PHONE DIDN'T ONLY RING WHEN THAT'S BENEFICIAL.

I HAD TO HARD TIMES.

HEY, I HAD MY FAIR SHARE.

I HAD TO LEARN TO GROW FROM PAIN THAT I CAN'T ON BEL JUST CERTAIN THINGS I WOULD NOT SAY.

I KEEP THAT TO MYSELF.

I ADD LIKE I DON'T REALLY KNOW, BUT I BE WILLING, AWARE.

I'M GOING FOR HEY, FOR SURE FOR TRIBULATION AND TRIALS.

BEEN TRAUMATIZED BY CERTAIN THINGS THAT I DONE SEEN AS A CHILD.

A LOT THAT I LET GO.

'CAUSE IF I DON'T, IT JUST PILE LOT OF THINGS WENT ON MY MIND THAT OUTTA SKY WITH A SMILE DEDICATED TO THIS REP.

I PUT MY LIFE ON THE LINE.

NO SUBSTITUTION.

IF I FALL, I GOT MY FAMILY, MY SPINE HARDWORKING, PERSEVERANCE, THEY GONNA PAY OVER TIME.

MY HARDWORKING PERSEVERANCE.

THEY, I DONE I TO THE WRONG WAY DOWN A PATH.

I GUESS I HAD TO LEARN THE HARD WAY.

HEY, I GUESS I HAD TO LEARN THE HARD WAY I DONE CAME A LONG, LONG WAY.

[03:10:01]

TO THE WRONG WAY DOWN A PATH.

I GUESS I HAD TO LEARN THE HARD WAY.

HEY, I GUESS I HAD TO LEARN THE HARD WAY.

AIN'T PROMISED NO TOMORROW.

BUT ONE THING FOR SIR, BUT EVERY SECOND I GOT, I'M CHASING THERE FOR MY PURPOSE.

IT'S WHEN THEY TELL YOU YOU WORTHLESS WHEN YOU FIND WHAT YOUR WORTH IS.

I'M TRYING TO BREAK THIS FAN CYCLE.

THAT'S GOOD.

OR WITH CURSES.

I'M NOT IN DAY WITH THIS MICROPHONE TRYING TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

SO MANY PEOPLE DONE TOLD ME Y'ALL WOULDN'T MAKE A RAPPING.

BUT NOW THEY SEE ME PERFORMING.

I WENT AND MAKE CONNECTIONS.

MY LIFE WAS DAMN.

BUT I WENT AND MADE A CHANGE OF DIRECTION.

SO MUCH BUILT UP DEEP INSIDE THAT I COULD HAVE BLOWN A PISTON.

I GUESS MY LOVE AND MY LOYALTY WAS JUST USED AGAINST ME.

CAN'T JEOPARDIZE WHAT I'M WORKING FOR.

I GOT FIVE PENNANTS.

SO THAT'S MY REASONS WHY I GET UP OFF MY AND GET IT.

I KNOW I'M DESPERATE FOR GREATNESS DOWN.

ITS TIME FOR THE RICHES.

NOW WITH THE SCARS THAT I'VE GAINED FOR THE TRENCHES, I HAD TO GIVE HIM MY ALL KNOCK STRAIGHT OUT THE HINGES.

I'M JUST A PERSON WITH PROBLEMS THAT GOING VENT WITH THESE LYRICS I DONE CAME A LONG WAY.

HUH? I TOOK THE WRONG WAY DOWN A PATH.

GUESS I HAD TO LEARN A WHOLE WAY.

HEY, I GUESS I HAD TO LEARN A HARD WAY.

I DONE CAME A LONG, LONG WAY.

I TO THE WRONG WAY DOWN A PATH AGAINST.

I HAD TO LEARN THE HALLWAY WAY.

HEY, I GUESS I HAD TO LEARN THE HALLWAY WAY I THEN CAME A LONG WAY.

LOVE, MAN.

I LOVE Y'ALL IN TEXAS.

YOU DON'T WANNA SLEEP.

CAN WE TAKE DOWN GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY.

IT IS 2 59 AND WE ARE OUT OF THE CLOSED SESSION.

IN THE CLOSED SESSION WE DISCUSSED LEGAL ISSUES AND REAL ESTATE MATTERS RELATED TO ITEM 66 AND 67.

UM, MEMBERS.

MEMBERS.

UM,

[10:30 AM - Austin Housing Finance Corporation Meeting]

WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL RECESS THE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL, UM, AT 3:00 PM THERE'S NO OBJECTION.

SO WE ARE IN RECESS AND I WILL NOW CALL TO ORDER THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.

UM, AND WE HAVE A QUORUM OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION PRESENT, UH, WITH, UH, AND, AND I WILL TURN TO WE'RE BY THE WAY, WE'RE MEETING, IT'S ON, UH, APRIL 23RD, 2026 AT 3:00 PM AND WE ARE MEETING IN CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS LOCATED IN CITY HALL AT 3 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET.

AND WE WILL RECOGNIZE OUR PROFESSIONAL STAFF TO TALK TO, UH, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

GOOD AFTERNOON Y'ALL.

I AM NICOLE JOCELYN.

I'M THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OFFICER FOR AUSTIN HOUSING.

I AM HERE TO PRESENT THE AGENDA FOR THE A HFC BOARD MEETING TODAY.

WE HAVE TWO ITEMS ON CONSENT.

THE FIRST ITEM IS TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE PREVIOUS BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETINGS FOR MARCH 12TH, MARCH 26TH AND APRIL 9TH.

ITEM NUMBER TWO IS TO AUTHORIZE A AMENDED LOAN AGREEMENT WITH THE LA VISTA DE LOPEZ LP IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED ONE POINT, UH, 1 6 0 5 $5 MILLION FOR A TOTAL LOAN AMOUNT, NOT TO EXCEED $6,233,365 FOR A MULTIFAMILY RENTAL DEVELOPMENT KNOWN AS LA VISTA DE LOPEZ, LOCATED AT 8 0 9 EAST NINTH STREET.

THIS LOAN IS UTILIZING HOMESTEAD PRESERVATION DISTRICT TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE FUNDS AND IT IS LOCATED IN DISTRICT ONE.

AND THAT IS ALL WE HAVE ON THE AGENDA TODAY.

UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

UH, CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY, UH, SPEAKERS? YES, WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER ON ITEM HFC 0 0 2.

ZENOBIA JOSEPH, WELCOME MS. JOSEPH.

THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TIM MEMBERS, I'M ENOVIA JOSEPH.

MY COMMENTS ARE SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO THE $1 MILLION REQUEST.

THE ACTUAL APPLICATION SAYS PROJECT CONNECT AND IT SPECIFIES PLAZA SALTILLO FEE IN LIE.

I JUST THINK THAT THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT IS A BIT DECEPTIVE.

[03:15:02]

IF I'M CORRECT, I THINK IT'S 10 STORIES, 27 UNITS, $20 MILLION TOTAL.

THAT'S ABOUT $734,000 PER UNIT.

IF IT'S ONLY 27 UNITS, MAYBE THE STAFF CAN CLARIFY.

THERE WAS A DISCUSSION JUNE 10TH, 2025 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION WHERE MANDY DEMILLE ACTUALLY MENTIONED THE HUD FUNDING ABOUT $3 MILLION.

IT IS HOWEVER UNCLEAR WHY WE WOULD SPEND THAT MUCH MONEY ON ONE UNIT.

I JUST WANNA MAKE YOU AWARE, THIS IS 27 UNITS FOR THE SENIOR CITIZENS AND THE SENIOR CITIZENS AND NORTHEAST AUSTIN SPECIFICALLY DO NOT HAVE TRANSPORTATION ON BREAKER LANE.

3 92 IS ELIMINATED TO COLLINWOOD.

AND SO MY COMMENTS ARE ALWAYS IN THE CONTEXT OF TITLE SIX OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964, WHICH PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE, COLOR, OR NATIONAL ORIGIN.

I WOULD CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT HARRIS BRANCH SENIOR LIVING, IT'S ABOUT TWO MILES TO WALK ON DESSA TO THE NEAREST BUS STOP.

AND SO I AM HAVING SOME DIFFICULTY UNDERSTANDING HOW YOU COULD INVEST $734,000 IN ONE UNIT PER ELDER.

AND IT'S ABOUT A MILE WALK FROM THE WELLS BRANCH, MERRILL TOWN AS WELL.

AND SO IT'S AN EQUITABLE, IT'S DISCRIMINATORY, AND IT ALSO WOULD VIOLATE THE FAIR HOUSING ACT IN 1968.

SO IF YOU COULD JUST SEE CLARIFICATION ON THE FUNDING MECHANISM.

IT'S STARTED AT 16 MILLION.

IT'S ONLY ABOUT EIGHT AFFORDABLE UNITS AT 30% AREA MEDIAN INCOME.

AND THEN THERE ARE 19, UH, TOTAL FOR 50% AREA MEDIAN INCOME OR MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME.

IT JUST SEEMS A BIT EXCESSIVE AND I WOULD ASK YOU TO TABLE THE ITEM AND RECOGNIZE THAT IT'S NOT COST EFFECTIVE.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GLADLY ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME.

THANK YOU, MR. JOSEPH.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

NO OTHER SPEAKERS.

THAT CONCLUDES ALL SPEAKERS.

WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL UP ITEM SIX, AND PLEASE CALL ANY SPEAKERS ON ITEM SIX.

THEN, UH, WITH THE, UH, CAN I-A-F-C-A AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION, UH, THE CONSENT AGENDA WOULD INCLUDE THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES AND APPROVAL OF ITEM TWO.

IS THERE A MOTION? A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER OF VELASQUEZ, UH, ANY, UH, OBJECTIONS THEN? WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE H OF THE CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVED.

GOING BACK TO THEN, ACTUALLY WE WERE, YES.

ALRIGHT.

UH, THEN SORRY.

DO YOU HAVE THE LIST OF FOLKS WHO ARE OFF THE DIOCESE? UH, THANK YOU FOR THE REMINDER WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, UH, UH, ABSENT AND, UH, THE MAYOR OF THE DIOCESE AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER LANE OFF THE DAIS.

LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT, UH, ON THE CONSENT AGENDA VOTE, THOSE THREE MEMBERS WERE, UH, NOT PRESENT FOR THE VOTE.

UH, AND WITH, UH, THAT VOTE, THEN WE WILL, UH, ADJOURN THE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION AND WE WILL, UH, RETURN, UH, TO THE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL, UH, CLERK, WHERE ARE WE ON THE SPEAKERS WHEN WE'RE DONE WITH THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM? AND WE'RE GOING TO ITEM SIX.

YES, SIR.

THEN, UH,

[6. Authorize negotiation and execution of a Business Expansion Program economic development agreement with RIDA COTA Hotel, LLC for a term up to 30 years, with performance-based payments not to exceed an amount equal to 8.25 percent of the gross room night revenue generated through RIDA COTA Hotel, LLC’s development and operation of a hotel at 9201 Circuit of the Americas Boulevard, Del Valle, Texas 78717 and approve an ordinance waiving the staff presentation, public announcement and portal setup, and public hearing requirements of Ordinance Nos. 20180830-057 and 20240926-013. Funding: Agreement payments are contingent upon the annual appropriation of funds by City Council for that purpose. The maximum agreement payments to RIDA COTA Hotel, LLC are capped at an amount equal to 8.25 percent of gross room night revenues generated at the hotel to be developed under the agreement, annually for a term up to 30 years if all performance and compliance criteria are met and subject to negotiation. The agreement payments are contingent on the hotel generating hotel occupancy tax revenue and will not begin until after the hotel begins remitting hotel occupancy tax to the City.]