[00:00:03]
YOU ARE WATCHING A MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL WITH MAYOR KIRK WATSON, MAYOR PRO, TIM CHEADLE, VELA COUNCIL MEMBERS NATASHA HARPER MADISON, VANESSA FUENTES, JOSE VELAZQUEZ, RYAN ALTER, CRYSTAL LANE, MIKE SIEGEL, PAIGE ELLIS, ZOE CADRE, MARK UCHIN, CITY ATTORNEY DEBORAH THOMAS, CITY CLERK ERICA BRADY, AND CITY MANAGER TC BROADNAX.[Call to Order]
AT 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, AND I WILL CALL TO ORDER THIS REGULAR MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL FOR TODAY.WE HAVE A QUORUM OF THE CITY COUNCIL PRESENT.
WE ARE MEETING IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS LOCATED AT CITY HALL, WHICH IS AT 3 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
THE ORDER OF BUSINESS THAT WE'LL GO THROUGH TODAY IS WE WILL FIRST TAKE UP THE CONSENT AGENDA.
UH, WE WILL TAKE UP SPEAKERS RELATED TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
AFTER THAT, WE WILL HAVE, UH, DISCUSSION AND COMMENTS BY THE COUNCIL AND A VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
WE HAVE THREE ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PULLED.
UH, ITEM NUMBER FOUR HAS BEEN PULLED.
ITEM NUMBER 26 HAS BEEN PULLED, AND ITEM NUMBER 41 HAS BEEN BEEN WITHDRAWN.
IF, UH, YOU'RE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 41, UH, OR IF YOU'VE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 41, THAT ITEM HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN.
AND BECAUSE IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA ANY LONGER, UH, WE WILL NOT HAVE SPEAKERS WITH REGARD TO THAT ITEM.
BUT MEMBERS ITEM FOUR AND ITEM 26 HAVE BEEN PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
WE WILL HAVE THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING AT SOME POINT.
UH, WE MIGHT BREAK AT ABOUT 10 30 AND, AND TAKE THAT UP QUICKLY, BUT WE'LL JUST SEE WHEN, HOW WE PLAY THAT.
AND I'LL, UH, I'LL PLAY THAT BY EAR, UM, FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, THE WAY WE WILL DO THAT IS WE WILL RECESS THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING, AND I'LL CALL TO ORDER THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING OF THE A HFC.
WE WILL ADJOURN THAT MEETING, AND THEN WE'LL GO BACK TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
UH, WE WILL ALSO TAKE UP NON-CONSENT ITEMS. THOSE ARE ITEMS 27 AND 28, ITEMS 30 AND 31 AT NOON, OR AS CLOSE TO NOON AS WE CAN PULL IT OFF.
WE WILL HAVE THE TIME, CERTAIN PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS.
UH, WE HAVE A GROUP OF KIDS THAT'LL BE HERE TODAY FOR THE MUSIC.
AND, UH, IT'S A MUSIC VIDEO, UH, SO IT WILL BE A LITTLE BIT SHORTER THAN WHAT WE TYPICALLY DO WITH MUSIC.
SO, UH, WHAT I ANTICIPATE WILL HAPPEN IS WE WILL REASSESS THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING AT AROUND 1230 FOR OUR LIVE MUSIC WITH, UH, THE KIDS WHO WILL ALSO BE HERE AND, UM, COME BACK AT ONE, IS WHAT I'M GOING TO RECOMMEND, JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE, UH, SO MANY THINGS ON THE ITEM AND SO MANY SPEAKERS.
AGAIN, WE WILL ALSO, OF COURSE, HAVE OUR, UH, TIME CERTAIN FOR ZONING, ALTHOUGH I ANTICIPATE THAT WILL BE A LITTLE LATER THAN THE SCHEDULED TIME CERTAIN.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM ANY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL IN THAT CASE? UH, MEMBERS WE WILL, UH, I WILL READ NOW CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS INTO THE RECORD.
ITEM NUMBER 30, UH, WHEN I, PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE TAKEN UP.
AND ITEM NUMBER 30 IS A NON-CONSENT ITEM, PUBLIC HEARING WHEN PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE TAKEN UP.
THIS ITEM WILL BE POSTPONED TO MAY 28TH, 2026.
AGAIN, AS I INDICATED EARLIER, ITEM NUMBER 41 HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN.
ITEM FOUR AND ITEM 26 HAVE BEEN PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[Consent Agenda (Part 1 of 2)]
QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION.I WILL NOW TURN TO THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF CALLING ON SPEAKERS FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ON ITEM ONE, SCOTT LEDGE SPEAKING ON ITEM TWO, MOHAMMAD SAAB.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
PLEASE JUST KEEP CALLING NAMES ON ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, BILL BUNCH.
MR. BUNCH, MR. MORNING, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS,
[00:05:01]
UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.I'M SPEAKING ON THIS ITEM AS A TAXPAYER RESIDENT AND, UH, TRANSPARENCY ADVOCATE.
UM, THIS CALLS FOR $5 MILLION TO FEES.
SOME, UH, POORLY DESCRIBED BONDS.
UH, IT SAYS THERE'S NO FINANCIAL IMPACT.
IF YOU READ THE BACKUP, IT TALKS ABOUT A DEAL WITH AN UNNAMED DEVELOPER ON AN UNNAMED DEVELOPMENT, UM, AS POSTED, THIS IS A TOTAL VIOLATION OF THE PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT.
IT'S COMPLETELY OPAQUE WHAT THIS IS EVEN ABOUT, AND I'D LOVE TO HAVE EVEN ONE OF YOU TELL US WHAT IT'S ABOUT.
CAN YOU DO THAT? YOU'RE ABOUT TO VOTE ON IT, ON CONSENT.
I'LL LET YOU TAKE THE REST OF MY TWO MINUTES, UH, TO ANSWER MY QUESTION.
OTHERWISE, I'M GONNA TAKE THE, MY REST OF MY TWO MINUTES IN SILENCE.
IS THERE ANY CONCERN AT ALL ABOUT JUST BASIC TRANSPARENCY? MR. BUNCH, IF YOU WOULD LIKE, WE CAN ALWAYS PROVIDE YOU INFORMATION AND YOU CAN SEND US A REQUEST AND WE CAN GIVE YOU THE INFORMATION.
WELL, WE'RE IN A PUBLIC MEETING.
I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DECIDING THIS.
YOU AREN'T SUPPOSED TO DECIDE IT IN ADVANCE IN A BACK ROOM BY A CONSENT AGREEMENT, AND THAT HASN'T HAPPENED.
SO PLEASE TELL US WHAT THIS IS EVEN ABOUT, MR. BUNCH, THIS IS THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, AND WE'RE GOING TO HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT AND YOU KNOW HOW THIS WORKS, AND YOU CAN DO THE CHALLENGES THAT YOU ENJOY DOING AND GET THE ATTENTION THAT YOU GET.
Y'ALL NEED TO OBEY THE LAW CONSISTENTLY INSTEAD OF HIDE THE BALL.
REMOTE SPEAKING IS GONNA BE MONICA GUZMAN, GOOD MORNING.
I'M MONICA BUSMAN, DISTRICT FOUR, RESIDENT SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM NINE.
CITY STAFF HAVE LESS MAJOR ISSUES OUT OF THE DRAFT ORDINANCE, INCLUDING WAYS IT CAN HELP LOWER BILLS, LOW RECOVERY, NEW CUS OF NEW CUSTOMER CONNECTIONS.
SO EXISTING CUSTOMERS ARE NOT SUBSIDIZING NEW ONES AND FUNDING OF A BIANNUAL CONSULTANT REVIEW SO THAT THE COMPANY IS PROPERLY MANAGING CAPITAL EXPENDITURES AND NOT BUILDING A BRIDGE TO NOWHERE.
THE CITY OPERATED ENERGY CONSERVATION PROGRAM THAT SAVES ENERGY COST EFFECTIVELY.
ONE OF THE COMPANY'S PROGRAMS IN 2024 HAD A PAYBACK OF OVER 600 YEARS AND REQUIRING $500,000 FOR MORE EFFECTIVE ENERGY BILL PAYMENT PROGRAM FOR LOW INCOME TAX, UH, LOW INCOME RATE PAYERS.
I AGREE WITH PAUL ROBBINS' COMMENT AND ANY RECOMMENDATIONS HE PROVIDES TO COUNCIL WHEN HE SPEAKS.
CONTINUING ON ITEM NINE WITH IN-PERSON SPEAKERS.
PAUL ROBBINS IS BOBBY LEVINSKY HERE.
MR. ROBBINS, YOU'LL HAVE FOUR MINUTES ALSO ON ITEM NINE.
AL BRADEN, CAMILLE COOK, ROY WHALEY.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
UM, MR. WHALEY HAS, UH, IS IN THE PROCESS OF DONATING TIME TO ME, SO I'D HAVE SIX MINUTES.
WELL, IF HE'S, WE HAVE A PROCESS FOR THAT, MR. ROBBINS, AND, AND HE'S THERE.
OKAY, SO HE, HE YOU HAVE FOUR MINUTES? WELL, NO, WITH MR. LAVINSKY, WOULDN'T I HAVE? I'M SORRY.
UH, I TIMED IT FOR FIVE, IF THAT'S ANY CONSOLATION.
UH, THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN AUSTIN RATE PAYERS AND TEXAS GAS SERVICE HAS BEEN A COSTLY ONE, UH, IN 2025.
UH, IN 2025, AN EXTRA $121 MILLION IN INCREASED RATES COMPARED TO 2019 WAS TAKEN FROM AUSTIN'S ECONOMIES CITY GATE.
THIS IS MONEY THAT COULD HAVE BEEN USED FOR FOOD, HOUSING, HIGHER EDUCATION, AND A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE.
SLIDE BETWEEN 2019 AND 2026, RESIDENTIAL RATES HAVE INCREASED BY $365 PER HOUSEHOLD.
THIS IS A 126% INCREASE IN JUST THE LAST FEW YEARS IN A CITY FOCUSED ON AFFORDABILITY,
[00:10:01]
FIXATED ON AFFORDABILITY.THERE ARE TWO STRATEGIES SLIDE.
THERE ARE TWO STRATEGIES THAT YOU CAN USE TO LOWER BILLS THAT ARE NOT IN, THAT ARE NOT IN THE INSUFFICIENT DRAFT AGREEMENT.
THE FIRST IS FOR TEXAS GAS SERVICE TO COLLECT FULL CAPITAL RECOVERY FEES FROM DEVELOPERS THE WAY AUSTIN ENERGY AND AUSTIN WATER ALREADY DO.
WHEN OUR UTILITIES WENT TO FULL COLLECTION RATES IN BOTH OF THEM ACTUALLY WENT DOWN TO SHOW HOW POORLY THE GAS, UH, COMPANY IS DOING IN THIS DIRECTION.
FIGURES FROM THE, UH, 2024 RATE CASE, UM, SHOWED THAT THE COMPANY COLLECTED ONLY ABOUT 2% OF ITS NEW INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS FROM HOOKUP FEES.
UH, NOTE THAT THE COMPANY CONTINUES TO DODGE THE COLLECTION OF FULL AMOUNTS BY WAIVING ITS HOOKUP COSTS.
IF THERE'S A 10 YEAR PAYBACK, UH, CITY UTILITIES HAVE NO SUCH WAIVER SLIDE.
UH, AND SO AGAIN, UH, THIS IS URGING YOU TO DEMAND FULL CAPITAL RECOVERY FEES, AND THE COLLECTION SHOULD EMULATE WHAT AUSTIN WATER AND AUSTIN ENERGY ARE DOING, NOT WHAT TEXAS GAS SERVICES IS DOING.
THE OTHER THING YOU CAN DO IS TO CONDUCT ONGOING AUDITS OF THE COMPANY'S PLANNED IMPROVEMENT AND CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.
THE PROACTIVE ACTION DIFFERS FROM CURRENT PRACTICE OF WAITING UNTIL THE NEXT RATE CASE TO DEAL WITH EXPENDITURES THAT WERE, UH, SOMETIMES MADE YEARS AGO.
AS AN EXAMPLE, IN THE 2024 RATE CASE, UH, REFLECTED FROM, UH, 2019 TO 2023, UH, UH, PLANT COSTS INCREASED $342 MILLION, A 63% INCREASE IN ONLY A FOUR YEAR PERIOD, WHILE THE NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS ONLY INCREASED BY 5%.
UH, AND SO I'VE TRIED TO ABBREVIATE, UH, THIS COUNCIL SHOULD REQUIRE THAT ALL CAPITAL EXPENDITURES AND EXPENDITURES FOR THE ENTIRE COMPANY BE REPORTED ANNUALLY, UH, AND TO HIRE A CONSULTANT EVERY TWO YEARS TO REVIEW IT.
FUNDING FOR THIS CAN EITHER BE PROVIDED WITH A BILL RIDER OR A SLIGHT INCREASE IN FRANCHISE FEES.
THOUGH THIS IS A NEW PROGRAM, UH, I DO NOT EXPECT THIS MONTHLY BILL, UH, THIS TO INCREASE THE MONTHLY BILL BY MORE THAN A FEW PENNIES PER MONTH FOR THE AVERAGE RATE PAYER, BETTER TO SPEND A FEW PENNIES UP FRONT THAN BE BE HIT WITH HUGE INCREASES.
THIS IS THE LAST SLIDE, WITH INEQUITABLE COLLECTION OF FRANCHISE FEES FROM THE FUEL PORTION OF THE BILL TO UNDER.
UH, TO HELP YOU UNDERSTAND, UH, LARGE INDUSTRIAL CUSTOMERS BUY ON THE OPEN MARKET AND USE THE PIPELINE AS A COMMON CARRIER.
UH, SO IF THEY DEFAULT TO THE ESTIMATE OF THE HOUSTON SHIP CHANNEL INDEX, THEY'RE AVOIDING STORAGE COSTS AND DEMAND FEES, WHEREAS RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS HAVE TO PAY THEM.
SO, AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THIS CHART, THE AVERAGE, UH, IN 2024, THE AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER WOULD, UH, PAY ABOUT DOUBLE THE FRANCHISE FEE ON FUEL THAT A LARGE INDUSTRIAL CUSTOMER'S CUSTOMER WOULD PAY.
AND TO COMPENSATE, THE FRANCHISE SHOULD REQUIRE THAT IF FUEL COST IS ESTIMATED BY THE HOUSTON SHIP CHANNEL INDEX, A MULTIPLIER OF 2020 5% WOULD BE ADDED TO INDUSTRIAL CUSTOMERS, UH, TO COME TO SOMETHING, UH, APPROXIMATING THEIR FAIR SHARE OF THE FRANCHISE FEE.
IN CLOSING, COUNSEL, THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION HAS FOCUSED ON THIS FRANCHISE FOR OVER A YEAR AS A CONSUMER, AS CONSUMER AND ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES, WE FIND THE CURRENT DRAFT FRANCHISE TO BE LACKLUSTER AND ASK COUNSEL TO CONSIDER OUR ADVICE TO MAKE IT MORE EFFECTIVE.
WE ASK YOU TO PROVIDE RATE PAYERS WITH RELIEF FROM RELENTLESS BILL INCREASES.
[00:15:01]
DO NOT AGREE WITH STAFF THAT THERE ARE NO OPTIONS SPEAKING REMOTELY.I'M HERE TO WEIGH IN ABOUT WHAT'S IN THE GAS SERVICE FRANCHISE DOCUMENT AND WHAT IS NOT.
I'M A NATURAL GAS CUSTOMER IN OAK HILL, WHO BY PREFERENCE HAS GAS OVEN, WATER HEATER, AND HEATING SYSTEM.
NOW, I CRINGE WHEN I NOTE THE STEADY INCREASES IN GAS COSTS.
BUT WHILE I AM ABLE TO PAY THE INCREASED COST, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT LOW INCOME CUSTOMERS.
MY ASK IS THAT YOU PRIORITIZE A HIGHLY EFFICIENT ASSESSMENT OF NEED AND IMMEDIATE SERVICE UPON THAT VERIFICATION OF NEED.
SECOND, I THINK IT'S A NECESSITY TO RAISE THE PRICE OF NEW HOOKUPS IN A TIME OF RISING COST FOR EXISTING CUSTOMERS.
IT SEEMS ALL THE MORE UNFAIR THAT EXISTING CUSTOMERS ARE SUBSIDIZING THE HOOKUP COST FOR NEW CUSTOMERS.
AND THIRD, I THINK IT IS PRUDENT TO VERIFY THAT THE ORGANIZATION FOLLOWS BEST PRACTICES.
THE EXPERTISE OF A WELL CHOSEN CONSULTANT CAN ANALYZE AND PROPOSE CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENTS.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD.
CONTINUE ON ITEM NINE, RAFAEL SCHWARTZ.
NONE WERE GIVEN TO US THAT I KNOW OF.
UH, MY NAME'S RAFAEL SCHWARTZ.
I'M ON RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION, RMC, SPEAKING ABOUT OUR COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION.
UH, I'M GONNA TRANSITION FROM, UH, UH, WHAT, UH, COMMISSIONER ROBBINS WAS, UH, COVERING TO TALK ABOUT THE AREAS OF EMERGENCY BILL ASSISTANCE AND CONSERVATION PROGRAMS. UH, THESE ARE A COUPLE MAJOR AREAS WHERE THE CITY IS GETTING A WORSE DEAL HERE THAN PREVIOUSLY.
UH, INSTEAD OF THE FRANCHISE BEING AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET A BETTER DEAL FOR THE COMMUNITY, THINGS HAVE GONE BACKWARDS ON, ON THESE TWO ISSUES, UNFORTUNATELY.
THIS IS FUNDING FOR EMERGENCY BILL PAYMENT TO PREVENT GAS, SHUT UP, GAS SHUTOFF OF LOW INCOME CUSTOMERS.
THE PROPOSED FRANCHISE AGREEMENT DOES NOT INCLUDE ANYTHING ON THIS.
AUSTIN ENERGY DEDICATED ROUGHLY $20 MILLION TO LOW INCOME PROGRAMS, UH, LAST YEAR.
SO, UH, THIS IS A LITTLE CUTOFF.
UH, CURRENTLY, UH, AUSTIN OR TEXAS GAS DESIGNATES AROUND $70,000 IN AUSTIN TODAY.
THIS IS DOWN FROM $120,000 IN PREVIOUS YEARS, AND THERE'S NO COMMITMENT IN THE FRANCHISE TO CONTINUING THIS IN THE FUTURE.
SO OUR, OUR RECOMMENDATION WAS TO INCLUDE THIS, UH, PROGRAM FUNDED AT $500,000 IN TEXAS GAS SERVICE TO FUND, UH, 50 50% OF IT.
SO, CONSERVATION PROGRAMS. MOVING ON NOW.
TEXAS GAS SERVICES RUN ENERGY CONSERVATION PROGRAMS FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS.
THESE WERE A REQUIREMENT IN THE LAST FRANCHISE AGREEMENT IN 2006.
RMC RECOMMENDATION WAS TO IMPROVE THIS PROGRAM BY HAVING THE CITY MANAGE IT.
THAT WAY AUSTIN COULD DIRECT THE FUNDS TOWARD MORE EFFECTIVE ENERGY SAVINGS.
INSTEAD, THE PROPOSED FRANCHISE AGREEMENT HAS COMPLETELY ELIMINATED THIS LONGSTANDING PROGRAM, WHICH IS A STEP BACKWARDS FOR ENERGY SAVINGS FOR THE CITY.
SO, THE RECOMMENDATION IS THAT THE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT NEEDS A DEDICATED BILL, RIDER, OR INCREASED FRANCHISE FEE.
THIS WILL ALLOW AUSTIN TO TAKE OVER THE CONSERVATION PROGRAM.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS MANAGED THIS PROGRAM IN THE PAST, AND AUSTIN ENERGY APPEARS TO BE WELL POSITIONED TO RECEIVE A NEW FUNDING SOURCE FOR EACH ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS. THANK YOU.
SPEAKING REMOTELY ON ITEM 14, JANINE RAMIREZ, JANINE RAMIREZ, JEANINE RAMIREZ, SPEAKING IN PERSON ON ITEM 14, BILL BUNCH.
MR. BUNCH IS PASSING SPEAKING IN PERSON ON ITEM 15, BILL BUNCH.
HE'S PASSING ON ITEM 15 AS WELL, SPEAKING ON ITEM 19.
[00:20:10]
GOOD.THAT'S JUST TRYING TO BE THANK YOU.
UH, GOOD MORNING LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS JEFF BOWEN FROM DISTRICT EIGHT.
UM, I ACTUALLY, UH, WAS LOOKING AT THIS EARLIER, AND I'M NOT QUESTIONING THE NEED FOR WHY WE NEED TO HAVE, UH, YOU KNOW, OUR GRAFFITI TAKING CARE OF, BUT I, I DO START QUESTIONING THE COST ON THIS.
THE ORIGINAL COST, UH, AT $75,000 CAME OUT TO ABOUT $6,200 A MONTH.
BUT WITH JUST A SIX MONTH EXTENSION ON THIS, THEY'RE NOW WANTING TO GO UP TO A HUNDRED, UH, TO $282,000 FOR SIX MONTHS, WHICH IS $47,000 A MONTH.
HAVE WE CHANGED THE SCOPE OF WORK? WHAT, WHY THE BIG DIFFERENCE EIGHT TIMES THE AMOUNT FOR SIX MONTHS? I MEAN, WHAT SOMETHING ELSE IS GOING ON HERE? AND I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME TYPE OF QUESTIONS ASKED, EVEN IF YOU WERE TO GO IN AND SAY, HEY, CAN YOU GUYS EXTEND A CONTRACT TO UP TO $10,000 VERSUS THE 6,000 WOULD'VE MADE A LITTLE BIT MORE SENSE VERSUS EIGHT TIMES THAT AMOUNT.
SO I QUESTION, UM, WHAT'S GOING ON BECAUSE WE ARE IN SOME TYPE OF A, UH, BUDGETARY PROCESS, AND I WOULD THINK THERE, THERE'LL BE SOME QUESTIONS WHEN WE START LOOKING AT EXTENDING THESE CONTRACTS FOR THIS TYPE OF, THIS AMOUNT OF, UH, FOR THIS AMOUNT OF TIME, FOR THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY.
UM, I'M MCC CAL, UM, HERE AS A RESIDENT AND A CITIZEN, WELCOME TO COSTCO.
I AM HERE TODAY BECAUSE I SAW THAT AUSTIN IS PAYING MONEY TO DEVELOP A TIME MACHINE.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE SEEN THE MOVIE IDI IDIOCRACY, BUT I HEARD THAT COSTCO HAS A TIME MACHINE, AND I BET YOU COULD GET A GOOD DEAL ON IT.
AS A CITIZEN AND RESIDENT, THERE IS NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT TO ME THAN A BEAUTIFUL AND SAFE CITY.
WE HAVE SPENT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS CLEANING UP PARKS, HOMELESS CAMPS, GRAFFITI, AND MAKING THE CITY LOOK GOOD.
RIGHT NOW, IN THIS ECONOMY, ADMINISTRATION, AND GLOBAL CRISIS, WE NEED TO ADJUST OUR EXPECTATIONS.
WE NEED TO FOCUS OUR ATTENTION ON WHAT MATTERS MOST TO US.
ALL OF US, MYSELF INCLUDED, KNOW THAT WHEN MONEY GETS, OR SORRY,
IT IS THE TIME TO FOCUS ON FUNCTION.
WE FOCUS ON FEEDING AND CLOTHING AND HOUSING OUR FAMILIES, NOT SPENDING MONEY ON MAKING THINGS PRETTY.
IT IS NOT A TIME FOR FANCY UPGRADES OR FANCY DRESSES.
WE AS A CITY, SHOULD ALL LEAN IN AND LOOK AROUND.
IF WHAT WE SEE IS NOT PRETTY, IS IT FUNCTIONAL? ARE PEOPLE SAFE HOUSED, EMPLOYED AT A LIVING WAGE? ARE WE EATING FOOD? DO WE HAVE ANY TO SHARE PEOPLE WHO ARE SAFE AND HAPPY AND WELL FED, LOVE TO CREATE BEAUTIFUL THINGS.
THEY HAVE TIME TO VOLUNTEER, TO CLEAN UP PARKS OR PAINT MURALS TO KEEP AUSTIN WEIRD.
WE NEED TO FOCUS LESS ON HOW THINGS LOOK AND MORE ON HOW THINGS ARE ON THE POLISH.
IS YOUR NEIGHBOR, OKAY? IT'S A COMMUNITY EFFORT.
AND THE COMMUNITY HAS BUILT SERVICES LIKE ELOISE HOUSE FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT EXAMS THAT OFFER DIGNITY TO YOUR DAUGHTERS AND YOUR MOTHERS.
MOVING BACK TO EXAMS IN HOSPITALS IS LIKE POLISHING A TURD.
MOVING TO ITEM 21, BILL BUNCH.
JEFFREY BOWEN, MR. BUNCH IS PASSING ON.
GOOD MORNING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
UH, WE'RE GONNA GET THAT DOWN, RIGHT, FINALLY.
UM, I WAS LOOKING AT THIS AND HONESTLY, I, I THOUGHT, WELL, AT LEAST WE'RE MAKING SOME STEPS FORWARD WHEN WE START LOOKING AT HOW WE'RE DEALING WITH SOME OF OUR BONDS.
AND SOME OF THE PAST PROCESSES WE'RE NOT WORKING.
WHEN WE FINALLY STARTED GETTING THE, THE CAPITAL, UH, DEVELOPMENT PEOPLE THAT WERE FINALLY WORKING ON THE BONDS, IT WAS, I WAS, I WAS LOOKING AT HOW THIS WHOLE PROCESS WORKED.
AND AFTER TALKING WITH DIFFERENT PEOPLE, THEY WERE SAYING THAT THERE WAS SO MUCH CONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE.
SO I'M HOPING THAT THIS PROCESS WILL BE
[00:25:01]
CLEAR AND VERY TRANSPARENT, UH, TO US, THE VOTERS THAT VOTED FOR THESE BONDS, AND MAKING SURE WHAT IS BEING, UM, EQUATED OUT THERE.BECAUSE IN THE PAST, WE'VE HAD ISSUES ON THE BONDS THAT WE SAY, WE'RE GONNA DO THIS PROJECT, THIS PROJECT, AND THEN WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THOSE PROJECTS.
WE NEVER GET ANY INFORMATION ON THIS.
SO I'M HOPING THAT THIS WHOLE PROCESS WILL BE VERY TRANSPARENT, VERY, UH, AT LEAST TELLING US WHERE THE MONEY'S GOING.
IF THERE'S CHANGES, THEN THERE'S SOME TYPE OF IDEA WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS.
I'M VERY HOPEFUL THAT THIS WILL BE DONE AND THAT WE WILL ACTUALLY HAVE SOME TYPE OF MANAGEMENT ON THIS AND KNOW WHERE, UM, ARE THEY MEETING THE EXPECTATIONS THAT THEY'VE PUT DOWN AND MAKING SURE THAT, UH, THE DASHBOARDS ARE PUT OR ARE PUT OUT THERE SO THAT WE CAN READ AND GO FROM.
UH, BUT I'M, I'M HOPEFUL THAT THIS IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT PROCESS.
NOW, WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS GONNA FIT FOR 2026 BOND, I DON'T KNOW, BUT I'M, I'M HOPEFUL AGAIN, THAT WE'RE AT LEAST TRYING TO MAKE SOME MANAGEMENT DECISIONS AND BEING VERY TRANSPARENT ON THIS.
MOVING TO ITEM 24, SPEAKING REMOTELY.
THERE ARE A COUPLE PEOPLE ON 21 THAT YOU DIDN'T CALL.
I SEE ONE OF THEM, THEY, UH, THERE WAS TWO PEOPLE ON 21 THAT SIGNED UP FOR THE INCORRECT ITEM, SO WE MOVED THEM TO 24.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
THANK YOU, UH, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK THIS MORNING.
MY NAME IS JEREMY HENDRICKS AT THE LABORERS UNION WITH THE CENTRAL TEXAS BUILDING TRADES, AND I RESIDE IN DISTRICT FOUR, AND I'M HERE IN STRONG SUPPORTIVE ITEM 24, REGARDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THIS MORNING, THIS RESOLUTION IS AN IMPORTANT STEP TOWARD REESTABLISHING, OFTEN AS A PROACTIVE STRATEGIC LEADER IN SHAPING OUR ECONOMIC FUTURE.
IT RECOGNIZES THAT A STRONG, INTENTIONAL, RESILIENT ECONOMY IS THE FOUNDATION FOR EVERYTHING WE CARE ABOUT.
AS A CITY, OUR ABILITY TO MAINTAIN STAFFING AND SERVICES, FUND HOUSING, AFFORDABILITY, INFRASTRUCTURE PARKS, PUBLIC HEALTH, CLIMATE INVESTMENTS, AND THE CULTURAL ASSETS THAT REALLY DEFINED OFTEN ALL DEPENDS ON A HEALTHY GROWING ECONOMY.
THIS RESOLUTION GETS IT RIGHT BY PRIORITIZING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, NOT TREATING IT AS AN AFTERTHOUGHT.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CANNOT BE MEASURED ONLY BY THE NUMBER OF PROJECTS WE ATTRACT.
IT MUST ALSO BE MEASURED BY THE QUALITY OF THE CONSTRUCTION AND LONG-TERM JOBS.
AUSTIN NEEDS AN ECONOMY BUILT ON GOOD JOBS, JOBS WITH FAMILY, SUPPORTING WAGES, STRONG BENEFITS, AND CLEAR PATHWAYS INTO LONG-TERM CAREERS.
THESE ARE THE JOBS THAT STABILIZE FAMILIES, STRENGTHEN NEIGHBORHOODS, REDUCE CRIME, ADDRESS HOUSING, AND FOOD INSECURITY, AND ENSURE WORKING PEOPLE CAN FULLY PARTICIPATE IN AUSTIN'S PROSPERITY.
THERE IS A REAL OPPORTUNITY HERE TO EXPAND REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS, STRENGTHEN THE AUSTIN INFRASTRUCTURE ACADEMY, AND DEEPEN PARTNERSHIPS WITH LABOR ORGANIZATIONS THAT DELIVER HIGH QUALITY DOL REGISTERED TRAINING AND SAFETY STANDARDS.
AND THESE INVESTMENTS PREPARE THE WORKFORCE.
WE NEED TO BUILD AND MAINTAIN THIS AMAZING CITY, AND THEY ENSURE THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS TRANSLATE INTO REAL LASTING OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
THERE IS ALSO A REAL PRACTICAL BENEFIT TO ADOPTING A CLEAR, CONSISTENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POLICY.
IT MAKES IT EASIER FOR CITY LEADERSHIP, STAFF, WORKERS, AND BUSINESSES TO REACH AGREEMENTS THAT BENEFIT THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.
WHEN EXPECTATIONS ARE TRANSPARENT AND OUR STANDARDS ARE WELL-DEFINED, AND EMPLOYERS KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO PARTNER WITH AUSTIN WORKERS KNOW WHAT OPPORTUNITIES ARE BEING CREATED AND THE CITY CAN REALLY NEGOTIATE.
SPEAKING REMOTELY ON ITEM 24, MATEO ORTEGA.
HI, UM, MATEO ORTEGA, UH, DISTRICT FOUR.
UM, UH, I WANNA FIRST, UH, RECOGNIZE, UM, THE, UH, SHIFT OF CITY COUNCIL, UM, TO REVISE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RESOLUTION, UM, THAT OFFICIALLY REMOVES AI DATA CENTERS AND DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY FROM THE LIST OF TARGET INDUSTRIES.
UM, I'M SPEAKING IN, FIRST OF ALL, IN OPPOSITION TO THIS ITEM.
UM, AND WHILE THIS IS, UH, A GREAT CHANGE AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE COLLECTIVE POWER OF THE PEOPLE, UM, WHO ARE OPPOSED TO THESE INDUSTRIES, UM, IT ISN'T THE FULL THING.
UM, AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE SAFEGUARDS, UM, TO, UH, PREVENT THESE INDUSTRIES FROM, UH, FINDING LOOPHOLES, UM, IN THIS ORDINANCE.
AND, UM, I THINK THAT FOR OFTEN, UM, THESE ARE NOT THE KINDS OF INDUSTRIES THAT WE WANT TO SEE IN OUR CITY.
UH, THEY DON'T MAKE OUR CITY BETTER.
UH, ONE, THEY ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO THINGS LIKE INCREASED
[00:30:01]
HOUSING FIGHTS.UM, THE TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY HAS LED TO MORE JUSTIFICATION, UM, AND, UM, THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS NOT A PLACE TO PROMOTE WAR.
UM, AND WE ALREADY KNOW THAT IN TEXAS, WE ARE STRUGGLING WHEN IT COMES TO OUR WATER RESOURCES.
UM, CITIES LIKE CORPUS CHRISTI ARE RUNNING OUT OF WATER.
UH, AND SO THINGS LIKE AI DATA CENTERS, UM, HAVE NO PLACE HERE, UM, WHEN WE'RE ALREADY STRUGGLING FOR THESE, UH, FINITE RESOURCES.
UM, SO I EMPLOY THE CITY TO CONTINUE TO PUT IN SAFEGUARDS TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE INDUSTRIES, UH, DON'T COME IN AND TRY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE, UM, OF OUR CITY.
SPEAKING REMOTELY ON ITEM 24, BIANCA GUERRERO.
MY NAME IS BIANCA GUERRERO, AND, UM, I'M CALLING IN FOR, UM, DISTRICT THREE.
UH, I'LL BE HONEST, I'M CURRENTLY SITTING IN A DENTIST OFFICE WITH HALF AND NUMB FACE.
IT'S NOT THE IDEAL WAY TO ADDRESS YOU, BUT I FELT IT WAS ABSOLUTELY VITAL TO SPEAK UP TODAY BECAUSE ITEM 24 IS A FAR GREATER PAIN FOR OUR CITY THAN ANY ROOT CANAL EMERGING YOU TO VOTE.
AND, UM, I, I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME TO GO INTO IT BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN JUST, JUST WALKED IN, BUT, UH, MY, MY URGE IS FOR COUNSEL TO VOTE NO ON ITEM 24.
THANK YOU, SPEAKING REMOTELY ON ITEM 24, ABIGAIL, LINDSAY, GOOD MORNING.
MY PROPERTY IS IN DISTRICT FOUR.
UM, I AM AGAINST ITEM 24, SPECIFICALLY THE DATA CENTERS.
UM, I THINK IT'S IRRESPONSIBLE FOR THE CITY TO INCENTIVIZE DATA CENTERS OR MAKE IT EASIER FOR THEM.
I HAD BEEN FIGHTING THEM PERSONALLY FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF.
UM, EVERY PRESENTATION I'VE SEEN BY PEOPLE THAT ARE PRO DATA CENTERS, UM, HAS BEEN FILLED WITH TOP TRUTHS AND LIES.
AND REALLY, YOU DON'T HAVE TO LOOK TOO FAR.
IF YOU JUST GOOGLE IT, YOU WILL SEE ALL THE ARTICLES THAT HAVE COME OUT IN JUST THE LAST YEAR.
UM, TEXAS IS IN TROUBLE, AND WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF RULES AND REGULATION.
IT'S UNFORTUNATE, BUT, UH, WE DON'T NEED TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR THEM.
UM, THE WATER, THE POLLUTION, THE SOUND, YOU NAME IT, IT'S, IT'S HORRIBLE.
AND LIKE I SAID BEFORE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE AN EXPERT IN ANYTHING TO JUST READ AN ARTICLE.
UM, IT'S VERY BIPARTISAN, AND SO REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ARE COMING TOGETHER, UM, TO FIGHT THIS, WHICH SAYS A LOT.
UM, THOSE TWO SIDES DON'T USUALLY COME TOGETHER AND AGREE ON SOMETHING, BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S BAD WHEN, UH, YEAH, WHEN PEOPLE ARE JOINING TOGETHER, UM, WHEN ARE WE GONNA REALIZE THIS, THIS SAME OLD PONY AND SHOW THING ABOUT, HEY, WE'RE BRINGING MONEY, WE'RE BRINGING JOBS, YOU KNOW, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.
YOU KNOW, WHEN, WHEN DID THAT WORK OUT? I MEAN, AUSTIN, ISD IS A, A SHORTFALL OF A HUGE BUDGET.
YOU KNOW, I MEAN, Y'ALL BROUGHT INDUSTRY IN AND YOU STILL, YOU'RE STILL CHASING AFTER THAT, AND IT'S JUST, IT'S NOT GONNA WORK.
WE NEED TO START THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX, AND WE DON'T NEED TO SELL OURSELVES SHORT.
THE, THE CONSEQUENCES OF IT ARE JUST, THEY'RE HORRENDOUS.
LOOK AT GRANBERRY, LOOK AT EL PASO.
IT'S HORRIBLE, AND YOUR COMMUNITY DOES NOT WANT THIS.
PEOPLE WILL COME OUT IN LARGE NUMBER SPEAKING ON ITEM 24 REMOTELY.
ELI CORTEZ, GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
I LIVE IN, UH, DISTRICT THREE, AND I'M CALLING IN, IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 24.
UH, IT WASN'T LONG AGO THAT, UM, I'M AN ORGANIZER WITH VOCAL TEXAS.
IT WASN'T LONG AGO THAT WE STOOD IN FRONT OF COUNCIL AND A COALITION TO FIGHT, UM, AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READERS IN THIS, UM, IN THIS CITY.
UM, AND MADE THE MESSAGE CLEAR THAT, UM, AI AND, UM, SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGIES ARE NOT WELCOME IN OUR CITY, UM, TO, UH, INCENTIVIZE, UH, DEFENSE AND AI INDUSTRIES, UM, WHICH ARE THESE HUGE, MASSIVE INDUSTRIES THAT ARE, UH, LUCRATIVE AND HAVE TONS OF FUNDS.
IS, IS NOT, UM, AN APPROACH THAT, UM, OUR CITY NEEDS TO BE.
WE DON'T HAVE TO BE SENDING THAT MESSAGE.
UM, IF ANYTHING, WE SHOULD BE FINDING WAYS AND FINDING STRATEGIES TO, TO TAX AND TO, UM, UH, HELP PUT SOME OF THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THESE CORPORATIONS THAT ARE IN OUR, IN OUR CITY AND, AND MAKE, UH, LUCRATIVE AMOUNTS OF FUNDS TO HELP SUPPORT THE ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND THE, THE THINGS THAT OUR COMMUNITIES NEED.
[00:35:01]
UM, THE NEED FOR STORAGE AND FOR SHELTERS FOR OUR EN HOUSED NEIGHBORS THAT ARE FACING, UM, A PROPOSED PLAN TO INCREASE ENCAMPMENT SLEEP.THAT I HOPE Y'ALL TAKE ACTION TO PAUSE THAT PLAN.
UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
WE ARE, UM, HOPING TO SEE SOME GUARDRAILS IN THIS, UM, IN THIS, UH, RESOLUTION THAT SPECIFICALLY PROHIBITS AND THE INCENTIVIZATION OF AI AND DEFENSE INDUSTRIES IN THIS PROPOSAL.
THANK YOU SPEAKING REMOTELY ON ITEM 24, VALERIE MICKI.
I, HI, UH, MY NAME IS VALERIE.
I'M A CONSTITUENT OF DISTRICT THREE.
UM, AFTER MORE THAN TWO YEARS OF GENOCIDE, COSIGNED BY OUR LOCAL LEADERS CONSIDERING A RESOLUTION THAT COULD MAKE AUSTIN A HUB FOR WAR, TECH AND MILITARY PROPERTY HEARING IS TERRIFYING WITHOUT ANY EXPLICIT GUARDRAILS, PREVENTING VALUABLE CITY INCENTIVES FROM GOING TO COMPANIES THAT PROFIT FROM WAR SURVEILLANCE AND OCCUPATION.
THIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RE RESOLUTION OPENS THE DOOR FOR INDUSTRIES LIKE AI, AEROSPACE AND DEFENSE CONTRACTORS.
TO DEVELOP UNCHECKED RIGHT IN OUR BACKYARD, OFTEN IS ALREADY BECOMING DEEPLY TIED TO THE MILITARY AND DEFENSE PIPELINE.
JUST BLOCKS FROM CITY HALL CAPITAL FACTORY IS IN BED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR INVESTORS AND STARTUPS TIED TO THE MILITARY SURVEILLANCE AND GENOCIDE TECH.
THEY ALSO WORK WITH WAR CRIMINALS FROM THE ISRAELI OCCUPATION FORCES.
THESE PARTNERSHIPS ARE NOT NEUTRAL.
THEY'RE SHAPING THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY AND DEFINING AUSTIN AS A BLOODY CITY IN FAVOR OF DEATH AND DESTRUCTION.
AUSTIN USED TO BE KNOWN FOR CREATIVITY, ARTS, COMMUNITY, AND INNOVATION THAT IMPROVES PEOPLE'S LIVES.
WE ARE FIRMLY AGAINST THE DEVELOPMENT OF VIOLENT TECHNOLOGIES WITHOUT CLEAR AND EXPLICIT PROTECTIONS IN THIS RESOLUTION, WE RISK TURNING OFTEN INTO A CENTER FOR MILITARIZATION, SURVEILLANCE AND WAR PROFITEERING.
WE'RE THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE THE CITY RUN.
WE DESERVE A VOICE IN DECIDING WHAT VALUES OUR CITY INVESTS IN.
THAT MEANS A TRANSPARENT PUBLIC PROCESS, COMMUNITY INPUT AND CLEAR LANGUAGE, PROHIBITING COMPANIES TIED TO WEAPONS, MANUFACTURING, MILITARY SURVEILLANCE, POLICING, DETENTION AND WAR PROFITEERING FROM RECEIVING CITY INCENTIVES.
I URGE THE COUNCIL TO REJECT THIS RESOLUTION.
UNLESS STRONG AND ENFORCEABLE GUARDRAILS ARE ADDED, AUSTIN'S FUTURE BELONGS TO ITS PEOPLE NOT TO WAR.
PROFITEERS FREE PALESTINE ON ITEM 24 SPEAKING REMOTELY.
I URGE YOU TO VOTE AGAINST AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 24, HONOR.
AUSTIN'S ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION VOTED TO ADOPT RECOMMENDED RECOMMENDATION 20 26 0 4 0 1 DASH 0 0 4.
PLEASE PROHIBIT TAX BREAKS AND FINANCIAL INCENTIVES FOR DATA CENTERS LOCATING IN AUSTIN.
24 PUTS TAX REBATES ON THE TABLE.
PLEASE INVOKE A MORATORIUM ON ALL THEIR DATA CENTERS IN THE CENTER.
THIS TURNS ON A FAST LANE FOR PERMITS IMMEDIATELY.
WE NEED TO REPORT ON OBJECTED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND RESOURCE USAGE OF LOCAL DATA CENTERS OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS.
UM, WE DO NEED TO REQUIRE TIER TWO AND HIGHER DATA CENTERS TO GENERATE AT LEAST 50% OF THEIR ELECTRICITY ONSITE FOR RENEWABLE FROM RENEWABLE SOURCES.
WE DO NEED DATA CENTERS TO USE RECLAIMED WATER AND DIRECT INVESTMENT IN THE CITY'S PURPLE PIPE PROGRAM VIA WATER MITIGATION FUND.
UM, WE DO NEED OPERATIONAL CURTAILMENT DURING DECLARED ELECTORATE ELECTRICAL EMERGENCIES TO MANDATE COUNCIL APPROVAL FOR LARGE LOAD EXTENSION REQUESTS TO DEFINE DATA CENTER AND CITY CODE, AND TO REQUIRE PUBLIC NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN ONE MILE OF ANY DATA CENTER CONSTRUCTION SITE.
ITEM 24 PRE CLEARS LAND PER JOB.
THE PERMANENT ONSITE WORKFORCE IS USUALLY SMALLER THAN THE PUBLIC EXPECTS AND CAN INCLUDE UNDER 150 PERMANENT JOBS PER FACILITY.
SO THE SAFEST WAY TO INTERPRET THIS CLAIM, WE NEED THREE SEPARATE NUMBERS FOR THAT PERMANENT ONSITE DATA CENTER.
JOBS AFTER STABILIZATION, THAT'S AFTER YEAR ONE TO TWO OPERATIONS, PEAK CONSTRUCTION JOBS AND JOBS THAT ARE SUPPORTED.
DATA CENTERS DO REPRESENT HEALTH RISK FOR THEIR NEIGHBORS.
THEY CAUSE NOISE, POLLUTION, LIGHT POLLUTION.
THEY USE A HUGE TUNNEL OF WATER AND A HUGE TUNNEL OF ELECTRICITY.
UM, I THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO A VOTE AGAINST ON ITEM 24 REMOTELY.
[00:40:03]
JAMIE WILLIAMS. HELLO.FORREST ADDERHOLT FORREST ADDERHOLT ON ITEM 24, JAMIE WILLIAMS. HELLO, THIS IS JAMIE WILLIAMS. I AM A RES, I'VE BEEN A, UH, RESIDENT OF THE CENTRAL TEXAS AREA FOR MOST OF MY LIFE, AND I AM HERE TO SAY NO TO ANY, UM, ANY MENTION OF DATA CENTERS.
UM, THEY ARE A THREAT TO OUR WATER RESOURCES THAT ARE ALREADY SCARCE.
AND I'M HERE TO SAY THAT YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SAY ANY LONGER AFTER THIS PHONE CALL THAT YOU DO NOT KNOW THAT THERE ARE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN YOUR AREA AND UNDER YOUR CARE.
WITH THE WATER AND OUR RIGHTS, THERE ARE SO MANY LAWS THAT ARE MEANT TO PROTECT THE ABILITY TO HAVE ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER.
AND DATA CENTERS ARE AN EXTREMELY LARGE THREAT TO THAT.
UM, SO IF ANY OF YOU ARE LAWYERS, YOU OUGHT TO KNOW THAT THESE THINGS ARE AGAINST THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.
AND I WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT THESE TOOTH, TOOTH AND NAIL, ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE PUBLIC AND THE CITIZENS OF THIS TOWN.
SO PLEASE DO NOT GO FOR ANYTHING THAT HAS DATA CENTERS IN THE NAME.
SPEAKING ON ITEM 24 REMOTELY, AUSTIN WRIGHT.
MY NAME IS AUSTIN WRIGHT, AND I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK AGAINST ITEM 24.
WE'RE NOW SIX MONTHS OUT FROM A VERY PUBLIC AND HIGHLY CONCERNING BOND ELECTION FAILURE.
AND IN SHORT, PURSUING POLICY LIKE WHAT'S LAID OUT HERE IN ITEM 24, WILL ONLY SERVE THE DAMAGE OF THE PUBLIC'S PERCEPTION OF OUR CITY'S FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.
AFFIRM THE VIEW THAT TAXPAYERS ARE SECOND CLASS CITIZENS AND FURTHER GUARANTEE THE FAILURE OF FUTURE BOND ELECTIONS.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE PROPOSAL ON ITEM 24, HOW SHOULD THE PUBLIC FEEL ABOUT THE TREATMENT HERE? MANY FOLKS ALREADY STRUGGLE TO PAY THEIR PROPERTY TAXES AND OTHERS FACE ENDLESS HURDLES WITH ZONING CHANGES IN OPENING THEIR OWN BUSINESSES.
MEANWHILE, THE CITY IS HAPPILY GOING TO TURN AROUND AND OFFER TAX BREAKS, SPECIAL REGULATORY TREATMENT, AND THE POSSIBILITY OF COMMERCIAL USE OF PUBLIC LAND AS SOME OF THE LARGEST AND MOST CAPITAL SECURE COMPANIES ON PLANET EARTH.
HOW SHOULD THE PUBLIC FEEL? DOES THIS GENERATE MORE TRUST OR DO WE THINK THIS WOULD LIKELY AFFIRM THE IDEA OF DESPERATE TREATMENT? WHEN WE LIVE IN AN AREA THAT HISTORICALLY STRUGGLES WITH DROUGHT, PERIODIC RULING, BLACKOUTS, AND CONTROLLING FOR THE POLLUTION OF OUR WATERWAYS FROM EXISTING INDUSTRY, THE PUBLIC WILL SEE THAT ITEM 24 WILL ONLY SET A GOAL OF MINIMIZING THE BURDEN ON PUBLIC UTILITIES AND MAKES NO ATTEMPT TO ASSUAGE FEARS OF CONTINUED POLLUTION.
LIKE WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN COMMUNITIES LIKE BASTROP, AUSTIN LAND IS ALREADY IN HIGH DEMAND AND PREMIUM REAL ESTATE.
SO ANY USE FOR THINGS LIKE DATA CENTERS MUST COME WITH A REQUIREMENT, NOT GOAL OF SELF-SUFFICIENCY.
FURTHER, THE CITY MUST, MUST ANTICIPATE THE POLLUTIVE TENDENCIES OF THESE INDUSTRIES AND PROACTIVELY WORK TO CREATE A BETTER REGULATORY FRAMEWORK TO SAFEGUARD A COMMUNITY'S NATURAL RESOURCES.
I UNDERSTAND WE BELIEVE THAT TAKING A RADICAL STEP TO ATTRACT THINGS LIKE DATA CENTERS IN HEAVY INDUSTRY WILL PAY OFF ECONOMICALLY IN THE LONG TERM.
BUT THE CURRENT PROPOSAL IN ITEM 24 WILL LIKELY CONTINUE TO DRIVE PUBLIC DISTRUST AND DISCONTENT WITH OUR CITY'S FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.
IT'LL RESULT IN CONTINUED FAILED BOND ELECTIONS, INTENSE PUBLIC, UH, INTENSE BUDGET SCRUTINY, AND INCREASED RATE OF ELECTED TURNOVER, ALL HEARD IN YOUR CITY AND THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE.
IT IS NOT A RESPONSIBLE POLICY PROPOSAL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME SPEAKING ON ITEM 24.
I'M MONICA GUZMAN, POLICY DIRECTOR DAVA, GO.
VMO AUSTIN SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 24.
FIRST CONGRAT TO COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES ON HER BABY.
IT'S UNFORTUNATE SHE WON'T BE ON THE DAIS WHEN THE DOG'S HEAD DEVELOPMENT PROJECT CURRENTLY IN THE PIPELINE IS PUT ON COUNCIL'S MAY 21ST AGENDA.
YOU'RE PROPOSING A COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POLICY PACKAGE WITH FLEXIBLE DEVELOPMENT REGULATION INFORMED BY DEVELOPER COMPLAINTS ABOUT REQUIRED PROCESSES, THEREBY LOOSENING PROCESSES FOR DEVELOPERS TO ATTRACT BUSINESS WITH ZERO ZERO COMMUNITY INPUT.
IT'S CLEAR YOU ARE SETTING THE STAGE FOR DEVELOPMENT NEAR THE AIRPORT AND TESLA GIGAFACTORY IN THE DOG HEAD AREA LOCATED ON THE COLORADO RIVER, AND IN A FLOODPLAIN, MAKING IT EASIER FOR ENDEAVOR, WHICH ALSO OWNS LAND ON BOTH SIDES OF THE COLORADO TO DEVELOP A NEW DOMAIN.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UH, I'M A RESIDENT OF D THREE.
UH, FIRST I'D LIKE TO THANK Y'ALL
[00:45:01]
FOR REMOVING THE LANGUAGE IN ITEM 24 THAT, UH, SPECIFICALLY, UH, ENDORSES DATA CENTERS, UH, MILITARIZATION DEFENSE CONTRACTORS.UM, BUT I WOULD URGE Y'ALL ALSO TO, UH, INCLUDE SUCH LANGUAGE TO EXCLUDE THESE, UH, TYPES OF COMPANIES FROM THE DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND DEVELOP A STRONG PROCESS OF COMMUNITY, UH, ENGAGEMENT TO DEVELOP THESE, UH, IN THE PROCESS OF LIKE FIGURING OUT THIS DEVELOPMENT PLAN.
UM, AT THE END OF THE DAY, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU'LL HAVE A CHOICE TO MAKE ABOUT WHAT OUR CITY IS GOING TO BE, WHAT OUR IDENTITY IS, AND I DON'T THINK THAT, UH, WE WANT THE IDENTITY OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO BE ONE OF, UH, DEFENSE CONTRACTORS AND JUST INVITE THE WORST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD TO, UH, TO OUR CITY.
THANK YOU SPEAKING REMOTELY ON ITEM 24 FOREST ADDERHOLT.
UM, YEAH, MY NAME'S FOREST ADDERHOLT.
UM, I WAS CALLING TO VOICE MY CONCERNS ON ITEM 24.
UH, I RECOGNIZED THAT, UM, AI AND DEFENSE HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THE TARGET SECTORS.
UH, BUT I THINK JUST TO REITERATE WHAT'S BEEN SAID, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO URGE Y'ALL TO PUT IN SPECIFIC LANGUAGE THAT PROHIBITS, UH, AI AND SURVEILLANCE AND DISSENT FROM BENEFITING FROM THIS PROPOSAL.
UM, I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES THAT THESE AI DATA CENTERS BRING.
UM, JUST THIS YEAR THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION CITED DATA CENTERS AS A LEADING CAUSE OF AIR POLLUTION.
UH, THEY ALSO GAVE THE CITY OF AUSTIN AN APP AND AIR QUALITY RATING.
UH, SO I JUST DON'T THINK WE CAN AFFORD ANY MORE AIR POLLUTION, UH, THAN WE NEED.
UH, IT'S NO SECRET THAT THEY USE TONS OF WATER.
UM, WHILE NOT, YOU KNOW, IN A DATA CENTER, UH, WE CAN LOOK DOWN THE ROAD AT, UH, TESLA GIGAFACTORY, UH, WHICH IS THE THIRD LARGEST WATER USER ANNUALLY AT 556 MILLION GALLONS.
UH, WHICH IS A, A BIG INCREASE FROM 2023 WORRIES ME THAT IN THE FUTURE, THAT WATER USAGE WILL CONTINUE, UH, TO GROW.
AND THERE'S JUST NO WAY TO REALLY SEPARATE AI FROM DEFENSIVE TEAMS, EVEN IF THE COMPANIES DO, DO NOT START OUT THAT WAY.
UH, SO, AND, AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN, WE'VE REJECTED AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READERS AND THE FIFTH CONTRACTORS ARE SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST.
THAT IS JUST NOT THE CITY WE WANT TO LIVE IN.
SO I'D LIKE TO SEE AN ECONOMIC PROPOSAL THAT PUTS LOCAL BUSINESSES ABOVE TAX BREAKS, UM, FOR ESPECIALLY THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME SPEAKING REMOTELY ON ITEM 24, BECKY SMITH.
HI, UM, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE CAN.
GOOD MORNING, UM, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT.
I'M OUR TEXAS DIRECTOR FOR CLEAN WATER ACTION.
AND SO I'M REPRESENTING OUR SEVERAL THOUSAND MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS IN AUSTIN.
UM, I REGISTERED, UH, TO OPPOSE ITEM 24 FOR SOME REASONS YOU'VE HEARD OF HERE ALREADY, BUT SPECIFIC TO CONCERNS ABOUT WATER RESOURCE USE, UM, UH, THEIR DATA CENTERS.
UM, AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, UH, WHEN WE'RE GIVING AWAY, UH, CITY TAX DOLLARS, OTHER INCENTIVES AND ABATEMENTS, UM, THE, THE JOBS THAT ARE CREATED AT THE END OF THE DAY WHEN IT ALL SETTLES OUT ARE OFTEN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS PER JOB, UH, IN AVOIDED, UH, RESOURCES WE COULD BE USING FOR CITY SERVICES.
UH, AND AS WE KNOW, THE THREATS TO OUR WATER RESOURCES AS WELL AS THE ENERGY GENERATION AND AN ADDED POLLUTION OF OUR DATA CENTERS IS NOT, UH, NOT THE DIRECTION WE NEED OUR CITY WATER RESOURCES TO GO TOWARDS.
AND SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO FLOW AND, AND JUST USE GREAT CAUTION, UM, ON THIS PIECE, PARTICULARLY OF AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PACKAGE.
UM, AND AGAIN, APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO INTERACT AND HOPE THAT WE'LL HAVE A REALLY ROBUST PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROCESS AROUND BRINGING NEW DEVELOPMENT AND, AND GROWING OUR DEVELOPMENT, UM, ESPECIALLY IN THE DATA CENTER DEPARTMENT GOING FORWARD.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH SPEAKING REMOTELY ON ITEM 24, JAY POPHAM.
MY NAME IS JAY POPHAM, RESIDENT OF DISTRICT TWO, AND A MEMBER OF THE AUSTIN DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS OF AMERICA.
[00:50:01]
SPEAKING IN MY PERSONAL CAPACITY AND STEPPING AWAY FROM WORK FOR A MOMENT TO SPEAK ON THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE.UM, REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THIS.
AND, UH, CONGRATS TO COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES ON HER GROWING FAMILY.
UM, WE WERE NOTIFIED LAST MONTH OF THE ITEM FOUR CAPITAL TODAY.
UM, WE WERE IMMEDIATELY ALARMED BY THE LIST OF TARGET SECTORS THAT INCLUDED DEFENSE, TECH, AI, DATA MANAGEMENT, AND AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES.
UH, WE BELIEVE THAT THESE THINGS ARE ANTITHETICAL TO THE KIND OF PEACEFUL, CREATIVE, CARING HUMAN COMMUNITY THAT WE WANNA BUILD HERE IN AUSTIN WHERE PUBLIC RESOURCES ARE BEING ALLOCATED.
THE PUBLIC DESERVES OVERSIGHT AND INPUT.
AND THANKFULLY, UH, THROUGH DISCUSSIONS WITH CITY COUNCIL AND STAFF, WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE THE REMOVAL OF THE LIST OF TARGET SECTORS.
WE CAN CONSIDER THIS SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS, AND WE'RE GRATEFUL TO COUNCIL MEMBER GARE AND CITY COUNCIL STAFF FOR THEIR WILLINGNESS TO LISTEN AND RESPOND TO COMMUNITY CONCERNS.
ULTIMATELY, WE'RE STILL HERE TODAY BECAUSE WE WANNA SHOW OUR CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR KEEPING THESE TARGETED SECTORS OUT OF AUSTIN.
WE KNOW THAT A STRONG ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POLICY BE, WILL BE ONE DRIVEN BY AUSTIN'S DEEPEST VALUES.
AND WE BELIEVE A CONSULTATIVE COMMUNITY DRIVEN STAKEHOLDER PROCESS IS THE BEST WAY TO CODIFY THOSE VALUES AND ESTABLISH THE GUARDRAILS WE NEED.
WE WANT AUSTIN TO BE A CITY THAT RESPECTS HUMAN RIGHTS AND INTERNATIONAL LAW AS PART OF ITS EQUITY CONSIDERATIONS.
WE WANT AUSTIN TO BE A CITY THAT DOES WELL WITHOUT THE WAR ECONOMY.
WE WANT AUSTIN TO BE A CITY WHOSE VALUES ARE REFLECTED IN ETHICAL CONTRACTING COMMITMENTS.
THE PROPOSAL AS AMENDED TODAY, GET THIS HALFWAY THERE, WORK REMAINS AS THE INCENTIVE PLAN IS FORMALIZED OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.
YOU'VE SEEN THE BROAD COALITION ACTIVATED BY ALL THE ISSUES YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT TODAY.
WE'RE READY TO SUPPORT COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO DO THE RIGHT THING THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS TO DEVELOPING THE ORDINANCE THAT WILL RESULT IN THIS RESOLUTION.
I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK SPEAKING REMOTELY ON ITEM 24, LEAH MELTZER.
I'M A RESIDENT OF COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN, AND I'M ALSO MEMBER OF AUSTIN DSA.
UM, I WANTED TO FIRST OF ALL THANK Y'ALL, ESPECIALLY COUNCIL MEMBERS, THOUGH RIE AND COUNCIL MEMBER MIKE SIEGEL FOR LISTENING TO A COMMUNITY FEEDBACK ON THIS ITEM AND WORKING TO REMOVE THE LANGUAGE ABOUT, UM, CERTAIN INDUSTRIES LIKE THE AI DATA CENTERS AND SURVEILLANCE COMPANIES, UM, AND DEFENSE CONTRACTORS BEING REMOVED FROM, UH, THE LIST AND FROM, FOR GETTING INCENTIVES THAT COME TO AUSTIN AS PART OF THIS PLAN.
UM, AS Y'ALL HAVE HEARD TODAY, A LOT OF AUSTINITE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THESE INDUSTRIES AND THEM COMING INTO AUSTIN, UM, AS WELL AS THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES WITH THE AI DATA CENTERS AND THE EXCESSIVE STRAIN THAT THEY CAN PLACE ON LOCAL ENERGY GRID.
SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT LIST BEING REMOVED FROM THE ORIGINAL RESOLUTION.
UM, I ALSO JUST WANTED TO SAY, I THINK A LOT OF AUSTINITE ARE PAYING REALLY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THIS BECAUSE WE REALLY DO CARE A LOT ABOUT THIS.
WE ARE GONNA CONTINUE TO FOLLOW WHAT THE CITY DOES HERE VERY CLOSELY, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANNA SEE AUSTIN CREATE THESE INCENTIVES AND THESE BENEFITS FOR THESE INDUSTRIES.
UM, SO I HOPE THAT Y'ALL WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS AROUND THIS IS TRANSPARENT AND IS AN OPEN CONVERSATION AND SEEKING CONTINUAL FEEDBACK FROM THE PUBLIC.
UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH AND I SEE YOU THE REST OF MY TIME.
WE'LL NOW MOVE TO IN-PERSON SPEAKERS ON ITEM 24.
DUE TO A LARGE VOLUME, I WILL BE CALLING THEM IN BATCHES.
SO AS SOON AS YOU HEAR YOUR NAME, PLEASE STEP UP AND BEGIN SPEAKING.
MELISSA NULAND, AL BRADEN, MARK DUVAL.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND BEGIN SPEAKING.
GETTING USED TO NEW PROCEDURES HERE.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR WATSON AND COUNCIL.
I'M AL BRADEN FROM DISTRICT SEVEN.
LOOKING AT THE GLOWING LANGUAGE OF THIS ECONOMIC PLAN, I WONDER WHAT KIND OF AUSTIN WE'RE TRYING TO BUILD AS AN EL PASO ONE.
IT TOOK ME A MINUTE TO GET HERE, BUT FROM 2004, THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS GROWN BY 50%, THE MSA BY OVER 200.
IN THOSE 22 YEARS OF UNPRECEDENTED DEVELOPMENT, THE SKYLINE IS UNRECOGNIZABLE.
THE ROADMAPS FLASH BRIGHT RED EVERY MORNING AND EVENING, AND WE ARE SHORT ON HOUSING, WATER, ELECTRIC POWER, PARKING, AND TRANSIT.
WE ARE SHORT ON THE RESOURCES FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE.
WHAT IS OUR SOCIETAL BENEFIT OF AGGRESSIVELY BRINGING EVEN MORE PEOPLE TO THE AREA WHO BENEFITS WHEN YOU ATTRACT LARGE CORPORATIONS TO CRASH LAND HERE AND TAKE UP EVEN MORE LAND WHILE LOCAL FAMILIES ARE GENTRIFIED OUT OF TOWN? WHO BENEFITS AS WE BUILD I 35 MOPAC 180 3, 2 90, AND ONE 30 MONSTROUSLY LARGE IN EVERY DIRECTION, AND THEN FILL THEM WITH EVEN MORE TRAFFIC.
THIS IS A HAMSTER WHEEL OF ENVIRONMENTAL DESTRUCTION OF SERIOUS RESOURCE OVERREACH WITH THE COLORADO RIVER AS OUR ONLY WATER SUPPLY.
WE LIVE FROM FLOOD TO FLOOD, AND THE DICE ARE ROLLING.
LET US BUILD PROGRAMS TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN, NOT SPENDING COUNTLESS MILLIONS OF OUR TAX DOLLARS ON THE WEALTHIEST BUSINESSES ON EARTH, BEGGING THEM TO COME HERE AND OUTBID OUR RESIDENTS HOME, DRINK OUR
[00:55:01]
PRECIOUS WATER, OVERLOAD, OUR HIGHWAYS AND ELECTRIC GRID.WE WILL STILL HAVE GROWTH TO BE SURE AUSTIN IS JUST TOO DAMN COOL.
WE CAN BE FRIENDLY, IMPROVE OUR PERMIT PROCESSES, AND OFFER A GREAT GLASS OF LOCAL BEER.
BUT TONE DOWN THIS DEVELOPMENT, PUSH FOCUS ON SUSTAINABILITY OVER UNLIMITED GROWTH.
STOP THIS PLAN THAT GIVES AWAY THE STORE AND SELLS OFF THE CITY'S LAND.
I'D PUT UP A NEW SIGN AT THE EDGE OF TOWN.
WELCOME TO AUSTIN, BRING YOUR GUITAR AND YOUR OWN WATER.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR WATSON, MAYOR PROTON VELA, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS CARLY BARNETT, AND I'M HERE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE REAL ESTATE COUNCIL OF AUSTIN, REPRESENTING NEARLY 2000 MEMBERS OF THE COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY.
I'M HERE TODAY TO EXPRESS OUR STRONG SUPPORT FOR ITEM 24, A COMPREHENSIVE RESOLUTION TO CREATE A CITY OF AUSTIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POLICY.
RIKA APPLAUDS THE WORK BEING DONE BY MAYOR WATSON AND COUNCIL TO PUT TOGETHER A COHESIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POLICY FOR THE CITY.
THIS COMPLIMENTS THE EXCELLENT WORK BEING DONE BY CITY STAFF, ESPECIALLY ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, DR. JOHNSON AND DIRECTOR KEITH MARS, AND PLACES A RENEWED IMPORTANCE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT WILL SUSTAIN AUSTIN OVER THE LONG TERM.
THIS POLICY IS ESSENTIAL FOR ENCOURAGING RESPONSIBLE GROWTH THAT BENEFITS ALL OF AUSTIN.
RIKA SPECIFICALLY APPRECIATES THE RECOGNITION THAT SPEEDING UP THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT TAKES TO GET A PROJECT ON THE GROUND WILL ATTRACT MORE BUSINESSES BIG AND SMALL TO THE CITY.
THIS MEANS THE CITY WILL HAVE THE FUNDS NECESSARY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF CURRENT AND FUTURE RESIDENTS AND INSURERS.
LOCAL AUSTINITES WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THE JOBS, HOUSING, AND SERVICES REQUIRED TO STAY AND THRIVE IN AUSTIN.
I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION AND TRULY SUBMIT THAT AUSTIN IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS.
I'M REPRESENTING THE GREATER AUSTIN ASIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
UH, TO US, THIS IS A, THIS IS, UH, COMPLICATED BUT SIMPLE.
ULTIMATELY, UH, WE'LL KEEP IT SHORT.
UH, THIS RESOLUTION ENABLES THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO ESTABLISH ITSELF AT REESTABLISH ITSELF AS AN EFFECTIVE ECONOMIC LEADER FOR THE CITY.
THE THINGS WE ALL VALUE, THE PRECIOUS THINGS WE ALL VALUE HERE IN AUSTIN CAN BE FUNDED BY A THRIVING, GROWING, DIVERSIFIED ECONOMY.
AND WE NEED A THOUGHTFUL, COORDINATED APPROACH TO HELP DELIVER THAT ECONOMY.
THIS RESOLUTION PROVIDES A SOLID FRAMEWORK FOR SETTING THE RIGHT PRIORITIES, ESTABLISHING THE RIGHT TOOLS, STANDARDS, ENGAGING THE RIGHT STAKEHOLDERS, RECRUITING THE RIGHT PARTNERS, AND DELIVERING QUALITY ECONOMIC GROWTH, QUALITY JOBS WELL INTO THE FUTURE.
ULTIMATELY, THE FRAMEWORK WILL HELP GROW AND ATTRACT THE RIGHT TALENT, THE RIGHT CAPITAL, THE RIGHT COMPANIES, AND THE RIGHT JOBS TO AUSTIN.
SO WE FULLY SUPPORT THE VISION, THE RESOLUTION, AND WE STAND PREPARED TO WORK WITH THE CITY AND ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS IN AND AROUND THE CITY TO REALIZE THE VISION.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE.
MELISSA NELAND, UM, A DISTRICT EIGHT RESIDENT, AND I'M HERE STRONGLY SUPPORTING, UH, ITEM 24 IN THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO PRIORITIZING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
I HAVE A LITTLE SCRIPT I WROTE, BUT I'M GONNA GO OFF OF IT FOR A SECOND BECAUSE I, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, AT LEAST FOR ME TO NOTE, I DIDN'T READ THIS RESOLUTION.
I, AS A PRO DATA CENTER, BRING ALL THE DATA CENTERS TO AUSTIN.
I ALSO DIDN'T READ IT AS A, UH, REGULATIONS GO OUT THE DOOR.
BEING MINDFUL, BEING INTENTIONAL ABOUT THE TYPES OF BUSINESSES, SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESSES, SUPPORTING ENTREPRENEURS.
THIS, THIS IS A RESOLUTION AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO WORK AS A COMMUNITY, TO PUT TOOLS IN PLACE SO THE RIGHT BUSINESSES CAN COME HERE.
LET'S ALSO NOTE THAT YOU ALL AS A COUNCIL HAVE PRIORITIZED WATER REUSE VERY AGGRESSIVE PLANS THAT, THAT ARE GOING TO HELP MAKE OUR, OUR CITY MORE RESILIENT.
SO, I, I JUST WANNA GO ON THE RECORD SAYING, HEARING SOME OF THESE COMMENTS IS, I THINK IT'S A LITTLE OFF PLACE IN, IN MY OPINION, SO I'M GONNA GO BACK ON SCRIPT.
BUT OUR CONTINUED SUCCESS DEPENDS ON THOUGHTFUL FORWARD-LOOKING ECONOMIC POLICIES THAT STRENGTHEN OUR LOCAL ECONOMY, WHILE PRESERVING THE QUALITIES THAT MAKE OUR CITY INNOVATIVE, VIBRANT, AND RESILIENT.
THIS AGENDA ITEM REPRESENTS AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE GROWTH, THOUGHTFUL GROWTH, ATTRACT AND RETAIN HIGH QUALITY EMPLOYERS, ENCOURAGING ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND CREATING PATHWAYS TO GOOD PAYING JOBS FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
I WOULD LOVE MY CURRENT AUSTIN HIGH STUDENT TO BE ABLE TO GO TO SCHOOL AND COME BACK HERE AND FIND A JOB AND AFFORD TO LIVE HERE.
MAYBE IN OUR DISTRICT, PROBABLY NOT, BUT MAYBE, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES THAT INVEST IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, INFRASTRUCTURE, SMALL BUSINESSES, EMERGING INDUSTRIES, HELP ENSURE AUSTIN REMAINS COMPETITIVE,
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WHILE ALSO EXPANDING OPPORTUNITY ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY.I APPRECIATE THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL'S LEADERSHIP IN ADVANCING POLICIES THAT ENCOURAGE COLLABORATION.
CONTINUE ON ITEM 24, TAM HAWKINS, TODD HOGAN, DAVID AND BARBER
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND BEGIN SPEAKING.
WE ARE GRATEFUL THAT OUR COMMUNITY ADVOCACY WAS ABLE TO GET THIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RESOLUTION MODIFIED WITH THE TARGET SECTORS REMOVED.
THE MOST PROBLEMATIC OF THESE SECTORS WAS THE DEFENSE INDUSTRY LISTED AS A GROWING INDUSTRY CLUSTER THAT WE SHOULD BE INCENTIVIZING AS A CITY.
WE'RE ALSO HERE AGAINST THE ORIGINAL INCLUSION OF AI, AUTOMATED VEHICLES AND DATA CENTERS.
IF THE RESOLUTION PASSES, I WANNA ENSURE THAT WE DO NOT SNEAK THESE BACK IN AT THE ORDINANCE LEVEL.
WE KNOW WHEN YOU SAY TARGET INDUSTRIES AND GROWING CLUSTERS, WHAT YOU MEAN.
THE DEFENSE STARTUP INDUSTRY ON AUSTIN IS LOCALLY MAKING A LOT OF MONEY FROM THE WAR ON IRAN.
WHILE THE REST OF US SUFFER AND WORRY FOR OUR FAMILIES, THEY'RE MAKING BIG MONEY OFF THE GENOCIDE THAT ISRAEL INFLICTED ON PALESTINIANS.
THEY'RE INVENTING SURVEILLANCE TOOLS HERE IN AUSTIN TO TRACK US FOR ICE.
THEY'RE CREATING DRONES POWERED BY AI KILLING MACHINES, POWERED BY AI, AT LEAST BEFORE WAR CRIMES RESULTED IN GUILT AND PTSD FOR THE KILLERS.
NOW, WE CAN EVEN OUTSOURCE THAT.
AUSTINITES DO NOT WANT OUR CITY TO BECOME A HUB FOR WAR PROFITEERING.
WE DO NOT WANT AN ECONOMY BASED ON BLOOD, AND WE WILL NOT ALLOW OUR TAX MONEY TO BE USED TO INVITE MORE OF THESE STARTUPS OR ISRAELI DEFENSE COMPANIES INTO AUSTIN.
WE ALSO HAVE QUESTIONS ON WHAT WAS MEANT WHEN THE RESOLUTION CALLED FOR WORKING WITH INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIES THAT SPECIALIZE IN THESE INDUSTRY SECTORS.
WE KNOW WHICH COUNTRIES SPECIALIZE IN DEFENSE, AND WE KNOW WHICH COUNTRIES MAKE AN ECONOMY AROUND GENOCIDE, WAR AND SURVEILLANCE.
WE KNOW WHERE THE CUTTING EDGE BATTLE TESTED TECHNOLOGY IS COMING FROM ISRAEL, AND IT IS NOT WELCOME IN AUSTIN.
WE ASK COUNCIL TO MAKE THE ORDINANCE DRAFTING PROCESS OPEN AND TRANSPARENT TO INVOLVE ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS WHO CARE ABOUT THESE ISSUES AND PUT IN STRONG GUARDRAILS TO EXCLUDE THE DEFENSE INDUSTRY AND AI FROM RECEIVING ANY CITY INCENTIVES FOR DEFENSE, AI, AUTOMATED VEHICLES.
WE NEED TO SUPPORT OUR ARTISTS, OUR CREATIVES, OUR HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY, EDUCATION, AND INDUSTRIES THAT MAKE THE WORLD BETTER.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, CO MAYOR WATSON MAYOR, PRO TEM, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS TODD HOGAN, AND I SERVE AS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE AUSTIN LGBT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
I'M ALSO HERE TODAY AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE, OF THE DIVERSITY ETHNIC CHAMBER ALLIANCE OR DECA, WHICH BRINGS TOGETHER FOUR CHAMBERS SERVING DIVERSE BUSINESSES, COMMUNITIES ACROSS CENTRAL TEXAS.
I'M HERE IN STRONG SUPPORT OF ITEM 24, THE MAYOR'S RESOLUTION ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
THIS FRAMEWORK REFLECTS AN IMPORTANT SHIFT, ONE THAT RECOGNIZES AUSTIN MUST BE INTENTIONAL AND PROACTIVE IN SHAPING ITS ECONOMIC FUTURE GROWTH ALONE ISN'T THE GOAL.
SHARED PROSPERITY IS, AND THAT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS ALIGNED WITH WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES, SMALL BUSINESS ACCESS, AND MEASURABLE COMMUNITY IMPACT.
FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, THIS RESOLUTION ALIGNS CLOSELY WITH THE WORK.
DECA IS ADVANCING THROUGH PHASE TWO OF THE RE PLAN, PARTICULARLY AROUND PREPARING SMALL BUSINESSES FOR PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITIES, STRENGTHENING WORKFORCE PIPELINES, AND ENSURING THAT HISTORICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED BUSINESSES ARE POSITIONED TO COMPETE AND GROW.
WE ALSO SEE A CRITICAL ROLE FOR CHAMBERS LIKE OURS, AS TRUSTED CONNECTORS HELPING THE CITY ENGAGE DIRECTLY WITH THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY AS WE NAVIGATE MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS AND RAPID CHANGE ACROSS OUR REGION.
AUSTIN'S COMPETITIVE EDGE HAS ALWAYS BEEN ITS PEOPLE, ITS CULTURE, AND ITS WILLINGNESS TO LEAD.
THIS RESOLUTION BUILDS ON THAT FOUNDATION AND PROVIDES A STRONG ROADMAP FOR INCLUSION AND SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO PARTNERING WITH THE CITY'S LEADERSHIP TO HELP BRING THIS VISION TO LIFE, BECAUSE WHEN OUR SMALL BUSINESSES SUCCEED, AUSTIN SUCCEEDS.
THIS FRAMEWORK HELPS MAKE THAT POSSIBLE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR LEADERSHIP.
GOOD MORNING COUNCIL STAFF MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC DAVEON BARBOUR, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE.
I ALSO AM A NATIONAL STATE LONG STANDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PRACTITIONER.
I'M HERE TO STAY BEFORE YOU IN FIRM SUPPORT OF THIS AGENDA ITEM.
I OFTEN SAY THAT DOWNTOWN IS NOT A GATED COMMUNITY.
IT IS A PLACE FOR EVERYONE TO ENJOY, INCLUDING RESIDENTS, VISITORS, AND
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WORKERS.IT IS ALSO A PLACE THAT REPRESENTS A CROSS SECTION OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY FROM THE OFFICE AND RESIDENTIAL TOWERS, SMALL AUSTIN BUSINESSES, AND THE VIBRANT MUSIC SCENE ON RED RIVER.
DOWNTOWN AUSTIN IS AN ECONOMIC ENGINE THAT POWERS THE PROGRAMS ACROSS THE CITY.
DOWNTOWN AUSTIN IS LESS THAN 1% OF THE CITY'S LAND AREA, YET REPRESENTS 11% OF THE CITY'S TAXABLE LAND VALUE AND 30% OF TAXABLE SALES.
OVER THE LAST DECADE, THE CITY OF AUSTIN WAS A RECIPIENT OF INVESTMENT AND DEVELOPMENT, WHICH, WHICH RESULTED IN THE DOWNTOWN YOU SEE TODAY.
HOWEVER, THERE IS SO MUCH MORE TO ACCOMPLISH.
THE ECONOMIC CLIMATE THAT WE FACE TODAY IS FAR MORE DIFFERENT THAN A DECADE AGO.
WE, AS A COMMUNITY CANNOT REST ON OUR LAURELS.
WE MUST PROACTIVELY NURTURE ECONOMIC PROSPERITY FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES.
I AM EXCITED TO SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION OUTLINING A STRATEGY AND SUBSEQUENT POLICY GOALS THAT WILL ALLOW DAA AND OUR STAKEHOLDERS TO CONTINUE TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN BUSINESSES, THEREBY REDUCING COMMERCIAL VACANCY AND CREATING LIFE SUSTAINING JOBS.
IT SHOULD ALSO BE NOTED THAT THIS RESOLUTION SETS FORTH MANY GOALS IDENTIFIED THROUGH DA'S WORK WITH ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, DR. ERIC JOHNSON, TO ADVANCE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
WE MUST USE EVERY TOOL IN OUR TOOLBOX AND HAVE A UNIFIED GOAL OF SERVICE OPENING OUR DOORS AND ENCOURAGING BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT.
MOREOVER, WE CAN GROW AUSTIN'S ECONOMY WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY UPLIFTING SMALL BUSINESSES AS WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN DOING.
SO, DAA WILL CONTINUE TO STAND ALONGSIDE THE CITY AND STRENGTHENING THE ECONOMY FOR ALL AUSTINITES.
CONTINUING ON ITEM 24, MAX HORSEMAN, CLAIRE MCCASLIN, TINA CANNON, CHRIS FLORES.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND HAVE A SEAT.
UH, GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL AND CITY STAFF.
I'M TINA CANNON WITH VISIT AUSTIN AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE VISIT AUSTIN FOUNDATION.
I'M HERE TODAY ALONGSIDE AN INCREDIBLE GROUP OF PARTNERS FROM ACROSS AUSTIN'S HOSPITALITY AND SPORTS COMMUNITY.
WE ARE ESPECIALLY PLEASED TO SEE SPORTS INFRASTRUCTURE NAMED AS ONE OF THE PILLARS IN THIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE.
WE'RE UNITED IN OUR ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORT FOR THE DIRECTION THE COUNCIL IS TAKING, AND WE'RE HERE TO SAY THAT WE ARE READY TO WORK.
TOURISM IS A CORNERSTONE OF AUSTIN'S ECONOMY.
ACCORDING TO TEXAS TRAVEL, THE WORKFORCE COMMISSION AND THE US BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS, AUSTIN WELCOMED OVER 30 MILLION VISITORS LAST YEAR ALONE, GENERATING 11.1 BILLION IN ECONOMIC IMPACT, SUPPORTING OVER 148,000 JOBS IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY.
RIGHT HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY, VISITORS GENERATED 1.1 BILLION IN LOCAL TAXES, SAVING THE AVERAGE AUSTIN HOUSEHOLD, $1,500 AND 36, 1530 $6 ANNUALLY, AND THAT'S BEFORE YOU COUNT WHAT TOURISM DOES FOR OUR CREATIVE ECONOMY.
THE MUSICIANS, THE ARTISTS, THE FILMMAKERS, AND THE MAKERS WHOSE LIVELIHOOD DEPEND ON AUDIENCES AND VENUES THAT THRIVE IN THIS VISITOR ECONOMY.
SPORTS INFRASTRUCTURE IS AN ECONOMIC MULTIPLIER.
FORMULA ONE DRAWS OVER 430,000 FANS ANNUALLY.
NEARLY 70% OF THOSE ARE FROM OUTTA STATE, GENERATING A BILLION DOLLARS IN A SINGLE OCTOBER WEEKEND, AND OVER 10 BILLION ACROSS 13 YEARS.
BUT SPORTS INFRASTRUCTURE ISN'T JUST ABOUT BIG MARQUEE EVENTS.
INVESTING IN YOUTH SPORTS FACILITIES CREATE SUSTAINED TOURNAMENT WEEKENDS THAT FILL HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS, LOCAL BARS, RESTAURANTS AND VENUES.
IT OPENS WORKFORCE PATHWAYS FOR AUSTIN'S YOUNG PEOPLE INTO COACHING, HOSPITALITY, EVENT MANAGEMENT, AND SPORTS BUSINESS.
EVERY FIELD AND COURT THAT WE BUILD IS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY INVESTMENT IN ONE.
IN CLOSING, THE PARTNERS IN THIS ROOM, THE HOTELIERS, THE RESTAURATEURS, SPORTS ORGANIZATION, SMALL BUSINESSES, AND SO MANY OTHERS THAT ARE IMPACTED BY THE VISITOR ECONOMY ARE PROOF THAT AUSTIN'S HOSPITALITY ECONOMY IS READY TO GROW WITH YOU.
VISIT AUSTIN AND THE VISIT AUSTIN FOUNDATION ARE COMMITTED PARTNERS IN THIS WORK.
WHOEVER WANTS TO GO NEXT, PLEASE.
I'VE LIVED IN AUSTIN MY WHOLE LIFE, AND I'VE WATCHED MORE AND MORE OF MY COMMUNITY MEMBERS REQUIRE ASSISTANCE TO HAVE THEIR BASIC NEEDS MET.
AS THE TECH INDUSTRY HAS MOVED INTO AUSTIN, I WANT TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST MY TAX DOLLARS, GOING TO SUPPORT THE INDUSTRIES MENTIONED AND SPECIFICALLY WISH LEGISLATION TO PREVENT IT GOING TO AI AND THE DEFENSE INDUSTRY.
WE'VE HEARD BEFORE THAT THIS TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT WILL BOOST THE ECONOMY, BUT THOSE OF US HERE TO EXPERIENCE IT ONLY CONTINUE TO SEE OUR NEIGHBORS SUFFER MORE AND MORE.
I DO NOT WISH THE DOLLARS THAT I MAKE AS A CARETAKER TO BE USED TO HARM PEOPLE JEOPARDIZING OUR BASIC RESOURCES AND FUNDING.
THE DEFENSE INDUSTRY WILL DO THIS.
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I DON'T WANT AUSTIN TO BE OPEN FOR BUSINESS.MY NAME IS CHRIS FLORES AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT 10.
I'M TESTIFYING AGAINST NUMBER 24 AGENDA ITEM AS WRITTEN.
MY ASK IS THAT YOU POSTPONE VOTING ON THIS ITEM UNTIL IT'S BEEN EXPLAINED BY STAFF THROUGH ALL THE APPLICABLE COMMISSIONS.
I DON'T, UH, KNOW WHAT A PROPOSED DIRECTOR FOR AUSTIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WILL ACTUALLY DO, AND HOW WE THE TAXPAYERS WILL HOLD THAT PERSON TO ACCOUNT.
I FEAR, WITHOUT GUARDRAILS, THE PERSON IN THIS NEW POSITION COULD BECOME BILLIONAIRE, ELON MUSK'S WHISPERER AND ARRANGE TO TAKE OUR SCARCE NATURAL RESOURCES.
I THINK THIS ITEM NEEDS TO BE STUDIED.
I ADMIRED THE TOURISM, UM, WOMAN WHO JUST SPOKE BEFORE ME, I REALLY QUESTION AS A LONG TIME AUSTINITE, WHERE WE GET THESE STATISTICS FROM 30 MILLION VISITORS, BILLIONS, 148,000 HOSPITALITY JOBS, HOSPITALITY JOBS DON'T PAY ENOUGH FOR PEOPLE TO EVEN LIVE IN AUSTIN.
SO AS, AS, AS WE PROCEED IN THE FUTURE TO GROW OUR CITY AND GROW GOOD JOBS, WE NEED TO HAVE SOME SERIOUS DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE PUBLIC AND CITY COUNCIL.
SO I ASK YOU TO SOBERLY ASK THIS ITEM TO BE MOVED FORWARD FOR MORE DISCUSSION.
ON ITEM 24, STACEY SMIT, MONICA MUNOZ, ANDREW, MATTHEW KENNEDY, RACHEL SCOTT, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND BEGIN SPEAKING.
I'M STACY SCHMIDT, AND I'M HERE TODAY SPEEDING.
OVER THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS, THERE'S BEEN A, A RENEWED SENSE OF ENERGY AROUND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THIS CITY.
IT'S BEEN NOTICEABLE AND WE'VE APPRECIATED WORKING WITH THE STAFF, DR. JOHNSON.
MANY OF YOU ON COUNCIL, ON SEVERAL PROJECTS THAT ARE IMPORTANT FOR AUSTIN'S FUTURE.
IT'S ALSO ONE OF THE MANY REASONS WHY THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK THAT YOU'RE BRINGING FORWARD TODAY IS SO IMPORTANT.
AUSTIN'S CONTINUED GROWTH AND ITS ABILITY TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE, DEPEND ON OUR CAPACITY TO BUILD A SKILLED, RELIABLE WORKFORCE THAT MEETS THE DEMAND OF HIGH GROWTH INDUSTRIES.
AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY STRATEGY THAT IS CRAFTED WITH PURPOSE AND INTENT IS THE BEST WAY TO CREATE THESE JOBS.
I COMMEND YOU, MAYOR, FOR YOUR EFFORTS AND THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE SUPPORTED THIS RESOLUTION FOR RE-ESTABLISHING THE CITY AS AN ACTIVE PLAYER AND THE PROCESS AND BUILDING A VISION FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT CLEARLY STATES AND SUPPORTS AUSTIN'S VALUES AND NEEDS.
IT CREATES A FRAMEWORK THAT ALLOWS STRATEGIC AND INTENTIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR THIS CITY.
AS WE KNOW, THE CITY FACES A BUDGET SHORTFALL.
THE BEST WAY TO ADDRESS THIS SHORTFALL IS TO BRING IN INCREMENTAL REVENUE.
BRINGING IN INCREMENTAL REVENUE BY SUPPORTING BOTH SMALL AND LARGE COMPANIES AS THEY WANNA RELOCATE OR EXPAND HERE.
GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND HAVING PROGRAMS, WHETHER THAT'S IN TAX INCENTIVES OR DEVELOPMENT PROCESSES, WILL BE BENEFICIAL TO THE CITY AND BRING IN THAT INCREMENTAL REVENUE.
WE ALL WANT TO BALANCE THIS COMMERCIAL TAX BASE SO THAT WE, THE RESIDENTS WILL HAVE SOME RELIEF.
WE ALSO WANNA HAVE THE THINGS THAT WE THINK ARE GREAT IN THIS CITY THAT WE ALL LOVE TO, TO ENJOY.
THAT IS A GREAT, SAFE, CLEAN, ZILKER PARK, THINGS TO ENJOY, BUT THE CITY NEEDS THIS INCREMENTAL REVENUE AND HOW BETTER TO DO THIS IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
ANDREA AND I SERVE AS PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE GREATER AUSTIN HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
I'M HERE TODAY IN STRONG SUPPORT OF ITEM 24, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
IT POSITIONS THE CITY NOT JUST TO GROW, BUT TO GROW INTENTIONALLY WITH A CLEAR STRATEGY, TO FIND PRIORITIES AND A COMMITMENT TO SHARED PROSPERITY.
FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF HISPANIC BUSINESSES, THIS FRAMEWORK IS ESPECIALLY MEANINGFUL.
THERE ARE OVER 700,000 LATINO BUSINESSES IN TEXAS, AND WE'RE ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING SEGMENTS OF OUR ECONOMY.
WE'RE CREATING BUSINESSES, GENERATING JOBS, AND CONTRIBUTING TO THE CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC FABRIC OF THE STATE AND THE CITY.
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MANY OF THESE BUSINESS STILL FACE BARRIERS TO ACCESSING PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITIES, CAPITAL, AND PARTICIPATING IN HIGH GROWTH INDUSTRIES.THAT IS WHY THIS RESOLUTION PUTS EQUITY AT THE CENTER, NOT IN AT THE SIDELINES, BUT AS A CORE MEASURE OF SUCCESS.
WE STRONGLY SUPPORT THE FOCUS OF SUPPLIER DIVERSITY AND PROCUREMENT PATHWAYS BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE SCALE HAPPENS.
THAT'S WHERE SMALL BUSINESSES BECOME MEDIUM BUSINESSES AND WHERE WEALTH IS CREATED WITHIN COMMUNITIES.
WE ALSO APPRECIATE THE EMPHASIS ON REDUCING ADMINISTRATIVE BURDENS.
TOO MANY SMALL BUSINESSES ARE LOCKED OUT OF OPPORTUNITY, NOT BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF CAPACITY, BUT BECAUSE SYSTEMS ARE SOMETIMES TOO COMPLEX TO NAVIGATE.
IF WE WANT TO INCLUDE INCLUSIVE GROWTH, WE HAVE TO DESIGN SYSTEMS THAT BUSINESSES CAN ACTUALLY ACCESS.
IN ADDITION, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IS ANOTHER CRITICAL PIECE.
THE WORKFORCE, UM, THE HISPANIC WORKFORCE IS A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF AUSTIN, 30% INVESTING IN CAREER PATHWAYS, APPRENTICESHIPS, AND MOBILITY IS NOT JUST GOOD POLICY, IT'S ESSENTIAL TO OUR LONG-TERM SUCCESS.
WE'RE ALSO ENCOURAGED BY THE CITY'S FOCUS ON HIGH GROWTH SECTORS LIKE CLEAN ENERGY AND ADVANCED MANUFACTURING, BUT WE MUST BE INTENTIONAL ENTREPRENEURS CANNOT BE AN AFTERTHOUGHT IN THESE INDUSTRIES.
WE MUST BE PART OF BUILDING THEM.
UH, GOOD MORNING, UH, UH, MAYOR AND, AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UH, THANK YOU FOR, UH, GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I'M A RETIRED FAMILY PRACTICE DOCTOR, UH, A FORMER MEMBER OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION FOR AUSTIN, LONGTIME AUSTIN RESIDENT, UM, UH, IN, UH, DISTRICT TWO.
AND, UH, CONGRATULATIONS TO, UH, VANESSA FUENTES, UH, UH, MY, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ON, ON THE BIRTH OF HER BABY.
UM, SORRY SHE CAN'T BE HERE TODAY.
UM, BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT, UH, IT SEEMS LIKE ITEM 24 IS KIND OF A BROAD, UH, STATEMENT AND I, AND I WOULD, UH, RECOMMEND THAT IT BE TABLED FOR THE MOMENT BECAUSE I AM STRONGLY OPPOSED TO THE, UH, A PART OF IT THAT HAS TO DO WITH, UM, UH, DATA CENTERS.
I DON'T SEE HOW YOU CAN BUILD A DATA CENTER AS I, UH, UNDERSTAND IT WITHOUT CREATING A TREMENDOUS, UM, UH, IMPACT ON THE, ON THE HEALTH OF, UH, A CITY RESIDENTS WITHOUT CREATING A TREMENDOUS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT.
AND, AND I DO THINK THAT ONE OF, UH, THE, UM, WONDERFUL THINGS THAT HAS MADE AUSTIN, WHAT IT IS, IS THE WATER THAT WE HAVE, PARTICULARLY BARTON SPRINGS, THE COLORADO RIVER.
WITHOUT THIS WATER, REALLY, WHERE ARE WE? WE, WE'VE BECOME A DESERT AND WE KNOW WE'VE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH DROUGHT FOR YEARS NOW.
UH, WE'VE, WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE THIS SPRING, BUT THE, UH, THE LONG-TERM TREND WITH, UH, CLIMATE CHANGE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE IN THAT DIRECTION.
ALSO, UH, DATA CENTERS DO NOT PROVIDE LONG-TERM EMPLOYMENT, UH, AT ANY, UH, APPRECIABLE AMOUNT.
SO IT DOESN'T REALLY BRING THAT TO OUR, TO OUR, UH, ECONOMY.
MY NAME IS MATTHEW KENNEDY AND IS A UNION MEMBER WITH CWA AND A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE.
I AM URGING YOU TO EXPLICITLY PROHIBIT DEFENSE AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AS TARGET SECTORS FOR THE CITY TO INCENTIVIZE WITH THIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN.
WHILE I WELCOME THE REMOVAL OF THE DEFENSE SECTOR FROM THE RE REVISED RELU RESOLUTION, THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN DESERVE STRONGER LANGUAGE, ENSURING THAT OUR CITY WILL NOT BE USED AS A BREEDING GROUND FOR THE MOST DESTRUCTIVE AND DISRUPTIVE INDUSTRIES OF THE GLOBAL ECONOMY.
ALREADY, MILITARY TECH FIRMS AND OTHER WAR PROFITEERS ARE TAKING OVER THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
POLLUTING AI DATA CENTERS ARE THREATENING GREATER AUSTIN AND CENTRAL TEXAS WITH THEIR MASSIVE APPETITE FOR LAND, WATER, FOSSIL ENERGY, AND OTHER RESOURCES.
RESIDENTS HAVE DEMONSTRATED TIME AND TIME AGAIN THAT WE DON'T WANT THESE UNJUST AND UNSUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENTS THROUGH OUR ONGOING RESISTANCE TO THE PROPOSED DATA CENTERS, TO THE GENOCIDAL TECHNOLOGIES, INCUBATING A CAPITAL FACTORY AND TO THE INSTRUMENTS OF MASS SURVEILLANCE, LIKE AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READERS.
INSTEAD OF FACT TRACKING SO-CALLED HIGH VALUE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, NO MATTER THE ETHICAL, SOCIAL OR ENVIRONMENTAL COSTS, YOU SHOULD BE PRIORITIZING IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF JOBS, LOCAL AND COOPERATIVE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, RENEWABLE ENERGY ARTS AND CULTURE, AND REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE.
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THESE KINDS OF DEVELOPMENTS WILL BRING THE MOST TANGIBLE AND LASTING BENEFITS TO THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND WORK HERE, AS WELL AS OUR LOCAL ENVIRONMENT AND GLOBAL CLIMATE.DO YOUR PART AS OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO MAKE THE CITY MORE OF AN AFFORDABLE, LIVABLE HOME FOR ITS PEOPLE, NOT A HOME TO CORPORATIONS WHOSE BUSINESS MODEL IS WAR SURVEILLANCE AND THE ROGUE UNREGULATED PROLIFERATION OF AI.
LASTLY, PLEASE DON'T INCENTIVIZE AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE RESEARCH.
WE ALL RESENT THE ROBOT CARS AND WANT THEM OFF OUR STREETS.
SPEAKING ON ITEM 24, BOBBY LAVINSKY, VICTORIA KIDDER, BRIANNA ARY, MARIANNE SANCHEZ.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
SUSANA, I THINK I HEARD MY NAME OVER.
BOBBY LAVINSKY, UH, SAFER SPRINGS ALLIANCE.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT ITEM 24.
UM, I DID READ THE REVISED RESOLUTION, UM, AND I DO APPRECIATE THAT YOU'VE REMOVED THE LANGUAGE THAT WAS CALLING, UH, DATA CENTERS IN THE AI INDUSTRY, AN EXPLOSIVE GROWTH SECTOR, WHICH HAS, UH, UM, INFLUENCED A BUNCH OF, UH, UH, VENTURE CAPITALISTS TO INVEST IN THAT INDUSTRY AND THAT IT'S A TARGETED INDUSTRY THAT AUSTIN SHOULD BE, UM, UH, SEEKING, ACTIVELY SEEKING.
THAT'S IN, UH, IT'S, IT'S COMPLETELY IN CONTRADICTORY TO ANY NATIONAL DISCUSSION ON THIS ISSUE, AND I'M NOT SURE WHO DRAFTED THAT LANGUAGE, BUT I DON'T LIKE THE REVISED RESOLUTION BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MAKE IT CLEAR THAT AUSTIN DOES NOT WANT THAT POLICY.
YOU HAVE A UNANIMOUS RECOMMENDATION FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION ASKING YOU TO ACTUALLY CALL UPON A MORATORIUM FOR DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE OF ITS EXTERNALITIES ON OUR AIR QUALITY, ON OUR WATER QUANTITY.
UM, AND IT'S A, IT'S A MAJOR ISSUE THAT, THAT I, I DON'T THINK YOU CAN OPEN UP A NEWSPAPER AND IGNORE.
YOU HAVE BERNIE SANDERS, A OC CALLING ON A NATIONAL MORATORIUM.
YOU EVEN HAVE THE TEXAS REPUBLICAN PARTY PASSING A RESOLUTION SAYING THAT IT'S A CONCERN FOR, UM, OUR, OUR WATER AND OUR AIR.
IT IS A MOMENT THAT WE NEED YOU TO BE PART OF, AND WE NEED YOU TO FOLLOW UP THIS ACTION WITH A RESOLUTION THAT INCORPORATES THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATIONS, CALLING ON A BAN FOR DATA CENTERS UNTIL WE HAVE OUR WATER PLANNING IN PLACE TO ACTUALLY ADDRESS WHAT'S COMING TO US.
UM, I KNOW A LOT OF YOU CARE ABOUT AIR QUALITY.
WE JUST PASSED A, UH, YOU JUST PASSED A RESOLUTION, UH, FIGHTING A HIGHWAY, AND THAT'S REALLY GREAT.
BUT, UH, THE HOUSTON, UH, UH, AREA RESOURCE CENTER, UH, HAS DESCRIBED WHAT'S COMING WITH DATA CENTERS AS INCREASING PARTICULATE MATTER BEYOND WHAT EVEN THE TEXAS, ALL OF THE TEXAS HIGHWAYS COMBINED.
THAT IS WHAT IS WHAT'S HEADED IN OUR DIRECTION, AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THEIR DIESEL GENERATORS THAT THEY USE FOR BACKUP.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR WATSON, AN ESTEEMED AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS VICKI KIDDER AND I SERVE AS THE GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AND OUTREACH MANAGER FOR THE HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF GREATER AUSTIN.
I'M TESTIFYING TODAY IN FAVOR OF ITEM 24, A RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK AND THE CREATION OF A COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POLICY FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
OUR CITY NEEDS TO THINK CREATIVELY TO INCREASE THE REVENUE STREAMS NEEDED TO SUPPORT CRUCIAL CITY SERVICES, SUCH AS HOUSING PROGRAMS AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES.
THAT IS WHY THE HBA SUPPORTS MAYOR WATSON'S PROPOSAL, WHICH WOULD PROVIDE AUSTIN WITH A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE AND ATTRACTING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND INCREASING CITY REVENUE WITHOUT RAISING TAXES, RATES, OR FEES.
WE STRONGLY SUPPORT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OUTLINED IN THE PROPOSAL THAT WOULD STREAMLINE THE PERMITTING AND DEVELOPMENT PROCESS FOR PROSPECTIVE PROJECTS, INCLUDING PROVIDING LAND USE FLEXIBILITY, INCLUDING BUYRIGHT DESIGNATIONS, DENSITY INCENTIVES, AND PUT AGREEMENTS, AND MAINTAINING AN INVENTORY OF AND USING CITY OWNED LAND AS A STRATEGIC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSET.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING GO HAND IN HAND.
YOU CANNOT SUPPORT ONE WITHOUT SUPPORTING THE OTHER.
AS COUNCIL CONSIDERS THIS RESOLUTION, WE URGE YOU TO CONTINUE TO BUILD ON THE TREMENDOUS WORK DONE BY THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER JOHNSON, THAT WILL SUPPORT THE CITY'S ECONOMIC GROWTH.
THE HBA STANDS READY TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY AS THESE EFFORTS MOVE FORWARD.
AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
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AFTERNOON, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBER AND CITY MANAGER.WE ALL KNOW THAT FIRMS AND CORPORATIONS COME TO AUSTIN BECAUSE OF THE QUALITY OF A LABOR, UH, AS, AS STATED IN YOUR RESOLUTION, AUSTIN HAS PARKS, LIBRARIES, HOUSING PROGRAM, HEALTHCARE, CLIMATE INVESTMENTS, ET CETERA.
WE HAVE UNIVERSITIES, UT HT, A C, C, AND ST.
AUSTIN DOESN'T NEED TO GIVE INCENTIVES TO ATTRACT FIRMS OR CORPORATIONS.
WE DON'T NEED TO THROW AWAY THOUSANDS OR MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF THE CITY'S REVENUES WHEN THE CITY IS COST CUTTING.
SOCIAL SERVICES PROGRAMS. THIS RESOLUTION SHOULDN'T BE SUGGESTING USING PUBLIC LANDS FOR FIRMS AND CORPORATIONS.
PUBLIC LAND SHOULD BE USED FOR BUILDING LOW TO MODERATE INCOME HOUSING.
YOU, YOUR, YOUR EXPLICIT STANDARDS SHOULD BE WILL THIS FIRM OR CORPORATION CAUSE ANY HARM TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND TO THE PEOPLE.
LEMME REMIND YOU ABOUT SYMTECH IN THE EARLY 1990S, UH, WAS A NATIONAL CONSORTIUM OF HIGHTECH FACILITIES.
THEY WERE, UH, ALL BU BUILDING THE CHIPS USING MILLIONS OF GALLONS OF WATER A DAY IN ENERGY TO BUILD THE SMARTSHIP, WHICH I HAVE TO REMIND YOU, THE SMART BOMB, WHICH HAS CAUSED DEVASTATION IN OUR ENVIRONMENT AND TO THE PEOPLE.
SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T BRING ANY DATA CENTERS, ANY INDUSTRY THAT'S GOING TO HARM THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE PEOPLE.
CONTINUE ON ITEM 24, ADRIAN MACIAS, VALERIE MENARD, MADDIE GUTIERREZ, SOPHIA MURDO, WE CAN'T HEAR YOU WHEN YOU CALL NAMES.
WHILE PEOPLE ARE CLAPPING, NO ONE'S CLAPPING RIGHT NOW.
MADDIE GUTIERREZ, SOPHIA MURDO.
HOW DO Y'ALL AND CONGRATS TO MAYOR PRO TEM FOR THE NEW BABY.
UM, I'M HERE NOT JUST AS A DISTRICT SIX RESIDENT, BUT ALSO AS THE PRESIDENT OF HANDS-OFF CENTRAL TEXAS.
WE HOPE THAT THE UPDATED RESOLUTION LANGUAGE COMMUNICATES AN INTENTION FROM COUNCIL TO SEE INCENTIVES GO TO SMALL BUSINESSES WHO PROVIDE STRONGER LOCAL ECONOMIES AND MORE JOB SECURITIES.
FOR AUSTINITES, GETTING A LARGE CORPORATION TO MOVE IN MEANS THE CITY GETS TO SAY IT'S BRINGING JOBS, AND THEN A FEW YEARS LATER, LAYOFFS FROM SUCH A COMPANY WILL IMPACT HUNDREDS OF AUSTINITES ALL AT ONCE.
SMALL BUSINESSES PREVENT THIS PROBLEM WILL KEEPING THE CAPITAL CREATED BY AUSTINITES IN AUSTIN.
ONE PIECE OF THE UPDATE DOES SEEM TO HAVE WEAKENED DESCRIBING COMMUNITY BENEFITS.
CATEGORIES AS NOT ALL REQUIRED, MAKES THIS MORE LIKE A MENU RATHER THAN EXPECTATIONS.
SO WE'RE ASKING FOR COMMUNITY BENEFITS TO BE MANDATORY, MEASURABLE, AND ENFORCEABLE.
I'LL SECOND THE REQUEST THAT CITY COMMISSIONS HAVE A CHANCE TO WEIGH IN ON THIS BEFORE YOUR VOTE, SO WE'RE ASKING Y'ALL NOT TO VOTE ON THIS TODAY AND TO PUSH IT SO WE CAN HAVE MORE CONVERSATIONS.
WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE LACK OF DIRECTIVES FOR GUARDRAILS FOR OUR NEW ECONOMIC INCENTIVES PACKAGE, AND WE'RE ASKING FOR SPECIFIC BANS OR AT LEAST VERY ENFORCEABLE GUARDRAILS, THE MOST TOXIC INDUSTRIES AND COMPANIES LIKE DATA CENTERS, AI SURVEILLANCE COMPANIES, AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE COMPANIES, WHICH THE CITY IS SAYING YOU CAN'T REGULATE IN THE CURRENT POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT.
COMPANIES LINKED TO DEFENSE TECH, OF COURSE, AND ADDITIONALLY, COMPANIES THAT HAVE PAID ZERO IN FEDERAL INCOME TAX IN THE LAST SEVEN TO 10 YEARS, WHICH INDICATES THAT SUCH A COMPANY IS SIDESTEPPING THEIR RESPONSIBILITY AND WILL NOT OPERATE IN GOOD FAITH WITH THE CITY.
WE'RE ALSO LOOKING FOR FULL DISCLOSURE OF PUBLIC SUBSIDIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITMENTS AND COUNCIL APPROVAL FOR MAJOR PUBLIC SUPPORT PACKAGES.
UM, GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS SAMMI RIZVI AND I AM HERE TODAY REPRESENTING THE COUNCIL ON AMERICAN ISLAMIC RELATIONS, TEXAS, ONE OF THE LARGEST MUSLIM CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS IN THE NATION.
I AM TESTIFYING ON ITEM 24 REGARDING THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RESOLUTION.
FIRST, I WANNA WELCOME CITY COUNCIL'S, REMOVAL OF MASS SURVEILLANCE AND MILITARIZED TECHNOLOGIES FROM THE TARGET INDUSTRIES LIST.
THIS ALIGNS WITH YOUR RECENT PASSAGE OF THE TRUST ACT, WHICH SETS SURVEILLANCE LIMITS.
WHETHER YOU'RE A TECH WORKER IN NORTH AUSTIN OR A TRAITS PERSON, TRAITS PERSON IN SOUTH AUSTIN, NONE OF US WANT OUR TAX DOLLARS USED TO SUBSIDIZE INVASIVE MONITORING TOOLS THAT CAN BE TURNED AGAINST OUR OWN FAMILIES AND PEACEFUL ASSEMBLIES.
THE IMPACT OF SUCH SURVEILLANCE IS CLEAR CARE'S.
2026 CIVIL RIGHTS REPORT DOCUMENTED A RECORD BREAKING 8,683 CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINTS NATIONWIDE IN 2025, THE HIGHEST SINGLE YEAR TOTAL.
SINCE TRACKING BEGAN IN 1996, THIS DATA HIGHLIGHTS THAT GOVERNMENT COORDINATED SURVEILLANCE IS USED INTENTIONALLY TO CHILL CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS,
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SPECIFICALLY AFFECTING THE SAFETY AND DIGNITY OF BROWN, BLACK, AND MUSLIM COMMUNITY MEMBERS.AS WE ENTER THIS 90 DAY WINDOW BEFORE THE ORDINANCE IS INTRODUCED AND VOTED ON, WE MUST ENSURE THIS PROCESS IS TRANSPARENT.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SHOULD MEAN INVESTING IN INDUSTRIES THAT CREATE STABLE, DIGNIFIED JOBS FOR THE WORKING CLASS, NOT HANDING OUT BLANK CHECKS TO CORPORATIONS THAT PROFIT FROM GENOCIDE AND SURVEILLANCE.
WE NEED EXPLICIT GUARDRAILS, FOR EXAMPLE, A NO HARM CLAUSE TO ENSURE THAT CITY RESOURCES BUILD UP OUR LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND SMALL BUSINESSES RATHER THAN PROFILING OUR NEIGHBORS OR MONITORING OUR STREETS.
FOR NO OTHER REASON THAN INTIMIDATING AND THREATENING THE CIVIL LIBERTIES OF AUSTINITES.
EVERY RESIDENT DESERVES TO LIVE WITH DIGNITY, PRIVACY, AND SAFETY.
WHEN WE SAY PEOPLE OVER PROFITS, WE AREN'T JUST USING A SLOGAN, WE ARE CALLING FOR A FUNDAMENTAL SHIFT IN OUR LEGAL STANDARDS.
A PEOPLE FIRST ECONOMY MEANS A SYSTEM WHERE OUR LAWS PROTECT OUR FAMILIES AND OUR FUTURES FROM EXPLOITATION.
WE ARE READY TO DO THE WORK WITH YOU ALL TO ENSURE THESE VALUES ARE CODIFIED INTO LAW.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS DANIELLA SILVA AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT THREE.
I'D LIKE TO START BY THANKING YOU FOR REMOVING AI INFRASTRUCTURE AND DEFENSE COMPANIES AS TARGET SECTORS, AND ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO FURTHER BY SPECIFICALLY PROHIBITING THESE INDUSTRIES.
ITEM 24 IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO INCENTIVIZE THE WORLD WE WANT TO SEE FOR OURSELVES AND FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
WHEN USING OUR CITY RESOURCES TO BOOST AND SUPPORT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT MORE THAN JUST THE JOBS, BUT WHAT KIND OF EMPLOYER ARE THEY? DO THEY HAVE A HISTORY OF STEALING WAGES? IS THEIR PRODUCT OF SERVICE SOMETHING THAT MATERIALLY MAKES OUR LIVES BETTER? OR DO THEY MAKE THEIR MONEY OFF OF HARMING OR EXPLOITING PEOPLE? DOES THE BUSINESS WORK TO PROTECT OR EVEN REINVEST IN THE ENVIRONMENT OR ARE THEY ACTIVELY DESTROYING IT? HOW STRONG ARE THE WORK WORKER PROTECTIONS AND HAVE THEY EVER BEEN KNOWN TO ENGAGE IN UNION BUSTING? IS THE BUSINESS A COOPERATIVE OR A B CORP? BECAUSE WE SHOULD DEFINITELY BE INCENTIVIZING MORE OF THESE.
HOW MUCH MORE DOES THE CEO EARN THAN THE LOWEST PAID EMPLOYEE AND ARE THEY CONTRIBUTING TO THE GROWING WEALTH DISPARITIES IN OUR CITY? THESE ARE THE TYPES OF QUESTIONS I WANT OUR CITY LEADERSHIP TO BE ASKING AS PART OF THESE ECONOMIC INCENTIVES.
IF WE'RE DOLING OUT CARROTS, LET THEM BE GIVEN TO THE BUSINESSES THAT CARE ABOUT LONG-TERM ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS, AND THAT WORKERS ARE ABLE TO NOT ONLY SURVIVE BUT THRIVE.
ON THE CONTRARY, THIS POLICY MUST AVOID INVESTING IN CORPORATIONS THAT ARE ACTIVELY HARMING OUR COMMUNITIES, SUCH AS AI INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING DATA CENTERS AND BUSINESSES IN THE MILITARY, DEFENSE AND WEAPONS INDUSTRY.
IF YOU'RE NOT GONNA STOP COMPANIES THAT MAKE THEIR MONEY OFF OF SURVEILLING OUR EVERY MOVE, POISONING OUR WATERWAYS AND BOMBING CHILDREN FROM FINDING A HOME IN AUSTIN, THE LEAST YOU CAN DO IS NOT CUT THEM A CHECK FOR IT.
SO MANY SMALLER, INCREDIBLY INNOVATIVE COMPANIES DON'T MAKE IT BECAUSE THE MARKET IS RIGGED AGAINST THEM AND THEY GET EATEN UP BY THESE LARGER CORPORATIONS.
THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO RIG THE MARKET IN THE OTHER DIRECTION, TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF HELP TO THOSE BUSINESSES THAT PRIORITIZE THEIR PEOPLE OVER THEIR PROFIT.
HERE'S TO FEWER TESLAS AND FACEBOOK'S AND MORE ACE HARDWARES, DR.
BRONNER'S AND WHEATSVILLE, THANK YOU.
CONTINUING ON ITEM 24, JONATHAN SIBBEL, TAYLOR SMITH, DAVID JABOR.
DOMINIC PADILLA, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND BEGIN SPEAKING.
I AM THE CEO OF THE GREATER AUSTIN BLACK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
I AM HERE FIRMLY IN SUPPORT OF I NUMBER 24.
THE IDEA OF A ZERO SUM GAME VERSUS SMALL VERSUS LARGE IS JUST NOT A FEASIBLE WINNING PROPOSITION FOR ANY CITY.
THIS PLAN WILL HELP ENSURE THAT SMALL BUSINESSES ARE VITAL AND OUR ECONOMY IS GROWING.
THIS NEWLY PROPOSED ECONOMIC PLAN REPRESENTS AN IMPORTANT INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY.
AT ITS CORE, IT RECOGNIZES SOMETHING SIMPLE BUT POWERFUL.
SMALL BUSINESSES ARE THE BACKBONE OF AUSTIN'S ECONOMY.
THEY CREATE JOBS, BRING CHARACTER TO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, AND HELP KEEP OUR LOCAL ECONOMY STRONG AND RESILIENT.
THE AUSTIN ROUND ROCK METRO REPRESENTS ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING SEGMENTS OF BLACK BUSINESS.
I STAND HERE FIRMLY IN SUPPORT OF THIS PLAN AS IT WILL HELP ASSIST THOSE BUSINESSES.
IT GIVES THEM THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO GROW AND SUCCEED.
FROM IMPROVED ACCESS TO FUNDING AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT FOR INNOVATION AND NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION.
BY REDUCING BARRIERS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND ENCOURAGING LOCAL INVESTMENT, AUSTIN CAN CREATE A MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR FAMILIES ACROSS THE CITY.
JUST AS IMPORTANTLY, THIS PLAN PREPARES AUSTIN FOR LONG-TERM ECONOMIC GROWTH, WHILE PRESERVING THE CREATIVITY AND COMMUNITY SPIRIT THAT MAKES OUR CITY UNIQUE.
WHEN SMALL BUSINESSES THRIVE, ENTIRE COMMUNITIES BENEFIT,
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AND THIS PLAN MAKES CERTAIN THAT ALL COMMUNITIES WILL BENEFIT.AUSTIN HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CITY BUILT ON INNOVATION, DETERMINATION, AND LOCAL PRIDE.
THIS ECONOMIC PLAN CONTINUES THAT TRADITION AND HELPS ENSURE THAT OPPORTUNITY REMAINS WITHIN REACH FOR EVERYONE AND THAT'S WILLING TO WORK HARD AND CONTRIBUTE TO OUR CITY'S FUTURE.
I'M AN AUSTIN RESIDENT DISTRICT 10.
UH, TODAY I'M HERE TO URGE YOU TO VOTE NO ON ITEM 24 AND ESPECIALLY WITHOUT EXPLICIT GUARDRAILS THAT PREVENT DEFENSE AI DATA CENTERS AND SURVEILLANCE FROM BEING INCLUDED IN ANY FINANCIAL INCENTIVES OR INVESTMENTS PROVIDED BY THE CITY.
UH, TODAY I WANNA HIGHLIGHT THE USE OF OF DUAL USE TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES.
UH, THESE ARE COMPANIES WHO MAY PROVIDE MULTIPLE PRODUCTS OR SERVICES.
ON ONE HAND, THIS MIGHT SEEM BENIGN OR EVEN PROGRESSIVE, WHEN IN REALITY THERE'S ANOTHER SIDE OF THE BUSINESS ENGAGED IN DEFENSE OR SURVEILLANCE, UH, ESSENTIALLY HIDING THEIR TRUE NATURE IN THE SHADOWS.
THESE COMPANIES ARE ALREADY BEING INVESTED IN BY CAPITAL FACTORY AND TEXAS VENTURE VENTURE PARTNERS, WHICH AUSTINITES ARE ORGANIZING AGAINST.
UH, WE CANNOT BE DUPED BY THESE COMPANIES.
I DON'T BELIEVE WE NEED THIS RESOLUTION AT ALL.
I BELIEVE THE MONEY AND EFFORT SHOULD GO INTO EDUCATION AND SOCIAL BASED PROGRAMS INSTEAD OF FUNDING MASSIVE CORPORATIONS WHO EXPLOIT OUR CITY AND REDIRECT FUNDS OUT OF THE CITY.
BUT IF A RESOLUTION IS TO PASS, I BELIEVE IT MUST EXPLICITLY STATE NO COMPANIES INVOLVED IN DEFENSE SURVEILLANCE OR AI IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM SHOULD BE ELIGIBLE.
GOOD, GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M, UH, PRESIDENT AND OWNER OF TWIN LIQUORS AND INCOME CHAIR ELECT OF THE AUSTIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
MY FAMILY MADE THEIR WAY TO AUSTIN IN THE LATE 18 HUNDREDS.
POPULATION OF AUSTIN WAS 15,000 PEOPLE.
ONE FIVE CONGRESS AVENUE WASN'T EVEN PAVED WITH CONCRETE PAVERS YET.
WHAT BROUGHT PEOPLE TO AUSTIN, TEXAS IN THE LATE 18 HUNDREDS? OPPORTUNITY, BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY, OPPORTUNITY PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE.
TODAY, WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR IS CREATING OPPORTUNITIES.
I HAVE STORES IN EVERY MEMBER DISTRICT.
OUR HEADQUARTERS IS IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
OUR EMPLOYEES LIVE IN EVERY MEMBER DISTRICT.
WE CREATE JOBS IN EVERY MEMBER DISTRICT IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
AUSTIN IS A MAGICAL PLACE FOR US TO ENJOY ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS MORNING.
WE CARE ABOUT OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY.
YOU CAN DO THAT AND BE IN BUSINESS AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE CITY.
WE FEEL STRONGLY THAT WE NEED TO SUPPORT THIS.
WE NEED TO BE OPEN FOR BUSINESS TODAY JUST AS WE WERE OPEN FOR BUSINESS OVER 125,000 125 YEARS AGO.
THAT IS NOT THE WAY WE'RE GONNA PROCEED ON THIS.
THERE MAY BE DISAGREEMENT, THERE MAY BE EVEN MISUNDERSTANDINGS, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO CALL OUT, WE'RE NOT GOING TO RIDICULE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DEBATE THAT WAY.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT TWO.
I REPRESENT THE AUSTIN BOARD OF REALTORS AND ON BEHALF OF OF OUR MORE THAN 16,000 CENTRAL TEXAS MEMBERS, I ASK YOU TO SUPPORT ITEM 24, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RESOLUTION.
WHILE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FALLS OUTSIDE OF OUR TRADITIONAL SCOPE OF ISSUES THAT ABOARD ADVOCATES ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS ITEM COMPELS US TO SUPPORT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RESOLUTION.
BECAUSE A STRONG AND DIVERSE ECO AUSTIN ECONOMY IS VITAL TO THE LONG TERM HEALTH OF THE CENTRAL TEXAS HOUSING MARKET.
A HEALTHY ECONOMY SUPPORTS JOBS AND WAGES, IT BOOST HOUSEHOLD INCOMES AND INCREASES PURCHASING POWER AND HELPS GENERATE THE REVENUE NEEDED TO FUND THE CITY SERVICES.
AUSTIN AUSTINITES RELY ON AT ITS CORE THIS GOAL.
THE GOAL OF THIS RESOLUTION IS STRAIGHTFORWARD TO CREATE A MORE STRATEGIC AND DELIBERATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK THAT HELPS GROW AUSTIN ECONOMY BASE AND GENERATE THE REVENUE NECESSARY TO FUND CORE CITY SERVICES AND PROGRAMS LIKE PARKS, LIBRARIES, CULTURAL ARTS, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND HOUSING PROGRAMS. WITHOUT PLACING ADDITIONAL PRESSURES ON TAXPAYERS, AUSTIN IS FACING REAL FINANCIAL CHALLENGES AND AS AFFORDABILITY CONTINUES TO GROW, WE MUST BE THOUGHTFUL ON HOW WE FUND THE SERVICES OUR COMMUNITY VALUES, EXPANDING THE ECONOMIC BASE AND IMPROVING AUSTIN'S COMPETITIVENESS AND HELP, UH, CAN HELP ADDRESS THOSE, UH, FINANCIAL REALITIES WITHOUT RELYING SOLELY ON BONDS AND INCREASE PROPERTY TAXES THAT FURTHER BURDEN HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS.
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I WANT TO COMMEND MAYOR WATSON AND THE CO-SPONSORS OF THIS RESOLUTION FOR THE LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE AND FOR BEING WILLING TO RESTART WHAT HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN A DIFFICULT AND CONTENTIOUS COMMUNITY CONVERSATION.THESE CONVERSATIONS ARE IMPORTANT IF AUSTIN WANTS TO BE COMPETITIVELY, UH, ECONOMICALLY COMPETITIVE AND ADDRESS OUR AFFORDABILITY CHALLENGES.
WE APPRECIATE COUNCIL'S WILLINGNESS TO THINK PROACTIVELY ABOUT AUSTIN'S LONG-TERM FINANCIAL, UH, AND ECONOMIC FUTURE, AND WE LOOKED FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
CONTINUE ON ITEM 24, LAUREN WYATT, JOE BASH, BILL OLIVER, CHRISTIAN VIDAL, CARLOS PINON.
PLEASE COME DOWN IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED BRIANNE GATES.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND BEGIN SPEAKING.
WHY DON'T YOU BEGIN? HELLO, MY NAME'S CHRISTIAN VIDAL.
I'M WITH THE PARTY OF SOCIALISM AND LIBERATION.
UH, I WAS ORIGINALLY HERE TO, UH, BE AGAINST ITEM 24 AND STILL AM.
UH, THE LANGUAGE THAT HAS BEEN REMOVED, UH, REGARDING AI SYSTEMS, DEFENSE, TECHNOLOGY AND DATA CENTERS, I THINK IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
HOWEVER, I THINK WE CAN DO MORE AND CREATING CLEAR AND SPECIFIC LANGUAGES THAT WILL NOT ALLOW THESE TYPES OF COMPANIES AND PREDATORY COMPANIES IN AUSTIN AND DEFINITELY NOT INCENTIVIZE THEM.
THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT, UH, A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE HAVE ALREADY SAID, UM, AND PROBABLY WILL CONTINUE TO SAY, BUT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE VOICE OF AUSTINITES AND WHAT WE HAVE ALREADY SAID.
WE HAVE WITNESSED ICE KIDNAP OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR FRIENDS, OUR LOVED ONES.
UH, WE HAVE GONE IN, UH, VOICE OUR OPPOSITION TO ICE'S TYRANNY, UH, INCLUDING, UH, TALK.
IN TALKING TO THE, UH, POLICE CHIEF AUSTINITES, UH, SHARED THEIR ISSUES WITH THE COOPERATION WITH ICE.
SO WHY WOULD WE, UH, CONTINUE TO INVITE COMPANIES THAT PROVIDE SURVEILLANCE TECH FOR ICE, UH, THAT HELP KIDNAP OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, UH, SUCH AS, AND WE'VE ALSO EVEN FOUGHT AGAINST LIKE FLOCK CAMERAS FOR INSTANCE, AS WELL.
WE SEE ISSUES TOO, OF PALESTINE AND THE GENOCIDE THAT IS CURRENTLY GOING ON IN THE WAR AND IRAN AS NOT LOCAL ISSUES.
BUT IF WE CAN CONTINUE TO INVITE, UH, WAR MONGERS TO OUR CITY AND BENEFIT THEM, IT DEFINITELY BECOMES A LOCAL ISSUE, ESPECIALLY AS WE HAVE A CAPITAL FACTORY WHO CONTINUES TO DO THAT RIGHT NOW.
SO WHAT I'M SAYING IS WE NEED SPECIFIC LANGUAGE THAT DOES NOT ALLOW THESE TYPES OF COMPANIES IN AUSTIN BECAUSE AUSTINITES DO NOT WANT WAR MONGERS.
THEY DO NOT WANT SURVEILLANCE, AND THEY DO NOT WANT CONTINUOUS HARM TO OUR COMMUNITIES.
CANCEL CAP FACTORY AND UH, FREE PALESTINE.
UH, GOOD MORNING MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M THE RESILIENCE PROGRAM COORDINATOR AT DER BASED IN DISTRICT THREE.
IT'S HARDENING TO SEE COUNCIL REMOVE AI DATA CENTERS AND DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY FROM THE LIST OF TARGET INDUSTRIES IN THIS RESOLUTION.
BUT LIKE MANY OTHERS HERE TODAY, I WANNA STATE WE NEED TO, WE NEED EXPLICIT IRON LANGUAGE IN THE ORDINANCE TO ENSURE INCENTIVES AREN'T OFFERED TO ANY COMPANY.
PROFITING FROM WAR SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGIES, UNETHICAL INVESTMENTS IN A DEGRADATION OF AN ENVIRONMENT.
YOU DON'T WANT TO GO VERY FAR TO KNOW THAT DATA CENTERS HAVE WREAKED HAVOC ON COMMUNITIES RIGHT OUTSIDE OF OUR CITY AND WORLDWIDE DEPLETING AND POISONING DRINKING WATER, EXPLODING ENERGY COSTS, OFFERING FALSE PROMISES OF JOBS AND IMPACTING HUMAN HEALTH.
WE'RE NOT AT ALL IN A POSITION TO WELCOME DATA CENTERS AND YOU KNOW, WELL IF THAT, IF THEY WERE TO COME, THE FIRST PLACE THEY'D LOOK TO FOR LAND AND RESOURCES IS THE EASTERN CRESCENT, WHERE FOR DECADES OUR NEIGHBORS HAVE FOUGHT TO KEEP THEIR HOMES HAVE FOUGHT TO LIVE IN A CLEANER AND HEALTHIER ENVIRONMENT.
IN 1991, POED PARTICIPATED IN WRITING THE PRINCIPLES ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, ONE OF WHICH IS THE OPPOSITION TO MILITARY OCCUPATION AND THE REPRESSION AND EXPLOITATION OF LANDS, PEOPLE AND CULTURES AND OTHER LIFE FORMS. THIS MEANS WE ALSO DON'T WANT AN ORDINANCE PAVING THE WAY FOR COMPANIES WITH BLOOD ON THEIR HANDS TO BE PRIORITIZED AND RECEIVE CITY BENEFITS.
WE'RE NOT AT ALL INTERESTED IN OUR CITY CONTRIBUTING TO WARS ABROAD, AND WE'RE CERTAINLY NOT INTERESTED IN OUR CITY CONTRIBUTING TO THE POLICING OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
AUSTIN KNIGHTS HAVE ALREADY REJECTED SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGIES LIKE AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READERS AND THEY'VE, THEY'VE REJECTED WAR PROFITS YEARS AT SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST ORGANIZATIONS WORKING ON THE LINES OF MULTIPLE STRUGGLES, LABOR, IMMIGRATION, HOUSING FOR THE LIBERATION OF PALESTINE, AND ALL UNDER SIEGE BY OUR GOVERNMENT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.
OUR BUILDING A FRONT AROUND THIS PLAN TO MAKE CLEAR THAT WE WANT OUR MONEY TO GO NOT TOWARD DATA CENTERS AND WAR MONGERS, BUT FOR DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING, FOR EDUCATION, FOR SOCIAL SERVICES THAT KEEP YOUR CONSTITUENTS ALIVE.
IT DOESN'T SUFFICE TO REFER VAGUELY TO COMMUNITY VALUES IN THE PLAN WITHOUT FORMALIZING A CHANNEL IN WHICH THE COMMUNITY CAN SHAPE THESE POLICIES.
WE WANT A TRANSPARENT TWO-WAY PROCESS FOR CREATING THE COMMUNITY VALUES THAT GUIDE THESE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POLICIES.
AND WE WANT LANGUAGE THAT REFLECTS OUR INTERESTS, NOT
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THOSE OF COMPANY WHO HAVE NO BUSINESS IN AUSTIN.GOOD MORNING MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEM 24 TODAY.
MY NAME IS JOE BOASH AND I'M THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE AUSTIN HOTEL LODGING ASSOCIATION AND ALSO THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE HILTON AUSTIN.
UH, 450 OF OUR 149,000, UH, OF HOSPITALITY WORKERS HERE IN AUSTIN, WORK IN MY HOTEL AND PROUDLY RESIDE IN ALL OF THE COUNCIL DISTRICTS, UH, SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF, OF ITEM 24 AND SPECIFICALLY FOR ITS CAPACITY TO GROW AND DEVELOP THE VENUES, OPPORTUNITIES AND RELATIONSHIPS IN THE SPORTS MARKET FOR TOURISM FOR THIS CITY.
THAT MARKET IS UNDERDEVELOPED FOR AUSTIN AND REPRESENTS A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY, UH, FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF OUR MEMBER HOTELS IN AND OF THE FACT THAT IT'S A TREMENDOUS COMPLIMENT TO EVERYTHING ELSE THE CITY IS DOING NOW TO DEVELOP TOURISM AND TO DEVELOP HOSPITALITY HERE IN AUSTIN.
BY THAT I MEAN IT ABSOLUTELY PAIRS WITH THE PEAK PERIODS THAT THE CORPORATE MARKET TRAVELS, THE SPORTS MARKET TRAVELS IN ITS OPPOSITE.
SO IN THE SUMMER MONTHS IN OUR DISTRESS PERIODS IS WHEN WE SEE THE MOST TRAFFIC FROM OUR SPORTS MARKETS AND FOR OUR HOTEL THAT SPECIFICALLY CAN MEAN A COUPLE THOUSAND ROOM NIGHTS, UH, A YEAR RIGHT NOW.
BUT IT'S THE DIFFERENCE IN ONE OF MY TEAM MEMBERS BEING ABLE TO WORK A THREE DAY WEEK OR A FULL FIVE DAY WEEK.
SO FINDING THE ABILITY TO DEVELOP THAT MARKET THROUGH THIS PARTNERSHIP AND THIS INITIATIVE IS KEY TO OUR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT AND GOES PAIRS SO WELL WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONVENTION CENTER.
CONTINUE ON ITEM 24, JUSTIN SWAR, NATHAN COPP, ROB GILLETTE.
SARAH FAUST, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND BEGIN SPEAKING.
I'M A LIFELONG TEXAN AND AN AUSTINITE.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEM 24, SPECIFICALLY IN REGARDS TO THE REMOVED INCENTIVES FOR AI COMPANIES, DATA CENTERS, AND MORE PROFITEERS.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT NAVIGATING THESE EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES IS DIFFICULT AND FRUSTRATING FROM A LEGISLATIVE PERSPECTIVE, BUT WE WANT TO REASSURE YOU THAT WE WILL BE HERE AND TO GIVE YOU OUR FEEDBACK AND INPUT WHEN THESE TOPICS ARE ON THE AGENDA.
BUT TO GO OFF SCRIPT, WHAT I WANT TO EMPHASIZE IS THAT WE ARE NOT ANTIS SMALL BUSINESS.
WE ARE PRO SMALL BUSINESS, BUT PALANTIR IS NOT A SMALL BUSINESS.
CAPITAL FACTORY IS NOT A SMALL BUSINESS.
GOOGLE IS NOT A SMALL BUSINESS.
OPENAI IS NOT A SMALL BUSINESS.
WE WANNA SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS, NOT BIG BUSINESS.
THERE IS A PROFOUND ETHICAL CONCERN REGARDING THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF MANY OF THESE AI COMPANIES, WHICH IS INCREASINGLY VIEWED AS THE AUTOMATION OF AND REPLACEMENT OF LARGE AMOUNTS OF HUMAN LABOR.
SUBSIDIZING A SMALL NUMBER OF JOBS TO FACILITATE THE DISPLACEMENT OF THOUSANDS MORE IS SEEN BY MANY, INCLUDING MYSELF AS COMPLETELY UNCONSCIONABLE.
THE TANGIBLE IMPACT ON RESIDENTS LIVING IN PROXIMITY TO THESE FACILITIES IS A MAJOR POINT OF CONTENTION.
GRANBERRY, TEXAS, THE STATE OFFERED HUGE TAX INCENTIVES AND OTHER ECONOMIC INCENTIVES TO GET A GIANT CRYPTOCURRENCY FARM BUILT IN THEIR SMALL TOWN.
THE HEALTH EFFECTS ON THIS, ON THAT COMMUNITY ARE ABSOLUTELY UNBELIEVABLE.
THEIR HOMES ARE WORTHLESS ALL AS A RESULT OF THE ECONOMIC INCENTIVES WE WERE ORIGINALLY GOING TO OFFER THESE COMPANIES AND THESE INITIATIVES FOR THESE HUGE COMPANIES ARE A BOONDOGGLE.
BEFORE YOU CHAMPION DATA CENTERS ALL OVER AUSTIN, I CHALLENGE YOU.
GO TO GRANDBERRY, SPEAK TO THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE AND SEE IF YOU CAN WITHSTAND THE NOISE FOR MORE THAN TWO HOURS BEFORE WANTING TO CLAW YOUR EYES OUT.
IF YOU'LL PULL THAT MICROPHONE OVER TO YOU AND, AND PLEASE GO AHEAD SARAH FAUST.
I THINK I HAVE A TIME DONATION.
YES, THIS IS DAVID, UH, WEINBERG HERE.
SARAH BAKER FILES DISTRICT FIVE.
MY COMMENTS TODAY ARE DEDICATED TO BILL MORIARTY.
BILL IS AN ACCOMPLISHED ENGINEER THAT WORKED ON CRITICAL WATER AND WASTEWATER ISSUES IN CENTRAL TEXAS FOR DE FOR DECADES, HE DEDICATED THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEER HOURS TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN, SERVING SIMULTANEOUSLY ON THE WATER AND WASTEWATER COMMISSION AND THE WATER FORWARD TASK FORCE.
[01:50:01]
SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 24 TODAY 'CAUSE IT DOES NOT PROMOTE WATER EFFICIENCY AND DOES NOT PROTECT OUR POTABLE WATER SUPPLY.OUR CURRENT WATER SUPPLY STRUCTURE WILL NOT SUPPORT THE TYPES OF INDUSTRIES THIS RESOLUTION IS SEEKING TO ATTRACT TO AUSTIN.
THESE ARE HEAVY WATER USING INDUSTRIES.
WE'RE NOT POSITIONED TO PROVIDE FRESH WATER TO THESE HIGH VOLUME USERS AT THIS TIME WITHOUT PUTTING THE BURDEN OF THE HIGH COSTS OF INVESTING IN NEW WATER SUPPLY AND CONSERVATION RESTRICTIONS ONTO OUR CURRENT RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS.
AS A COUNCIL FOCUSED ON AFFORDABILITY, PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT DEVELOPING THE COST OF DEVELOPING NEW SUPPLY THAT WILL BE NEEDED UNDER THIS PROPOSAL WILL FALL TO OUR EXISTING RATE PAYERS UNLESS YOU CHANGE THE STATUS QUO.
AS YOU KNOW, FOR AUSTIN'S HISTORY, WE ENJOYED AFFORDABLE, ACCESSIBLE FRESH WATER FROM THE COLORADO RIVER, BUT THAT IS NOT OUR FUTURE.
RISING TEMPERATURES AND LOWER RAINFALL ARE OUR FUTURE.
LONGER DROUGHTS AND GREATER RESTRICTIONS ON USING RIVER WATER, MORE CONSERVATION, MORE RECYCLED WATER USE AND EXPENSIVE NEW METHODS OF TREATING AND STORING WATER ARE THE FUTURE.
AUSTIN WATER IS WORKING HARD TO DIVERSIFY OUR WATER SOURCES, BUT IT'S EXPENSIVE WORK THAT FACES MANY CHALLENGES THAT ARE NOT IN OUR CONTROL.
SEMICONDUCTORS ARE HEAVY WATER USE INDUSTRIES.
THE NEW SAMSUNG PLANT UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND TAYLOR IS EXPECTED TO USE 15 MILLION GALLONS OF WATER A DAY.
THAT'S ABOUT 10% OF WHAT OUR WHOLE CITY USES RIGHT NOW.
SO WE NEED TO LOOK AT TAKING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME THE MOST WATER EFFICIENT CITY IN THE COUNTRY.
WE CAN USE THIS TOOL TO DRIVE THE TECH SECTOR TO DEVELOP RIGHT HERE IN AUSTIN, THE MOST ADVANCED WATER PURIFICATION METHODS, NET ZERO WATER USE IN MANUFACTURING AND BEING A MODEL OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT DOES NOT QUIETLY EXTERNALIZE THE COST OF NATURAL RESOURCE DEPLETION ON OUR RESIDENTS.
THE WATER FORWARD TASK FORCE, WHICH I'M A MEMBER OF, I'M SPEAKING INDIVIDUALLY, BUT I'M A MEMBER AND WE HAVE A WORKING GROUP THAT WILL BE BRINGING FORWARD A RECOMMENDATION IN JUNE ON EXACTLY THESE ISSUES.
SO I HOPE YOU'LL WAIT AND CONSIDER THAT RECOMMENDATION.
I MADE A LIST OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD OF SOME SPECIFIC CHANGES THAT COULD BE MADE TO THIS RESOLUTION.
UM, PROMOTING OUR CENTRALIZED RECLAIMED WATER SYSTEM AS PART OF AUSTIN'S COMPETITIVE ECOSYSTEM.
PROMOTING OUR INNOVATIVE REQUIREMENTS FOR ONSITE REUSE IN THE LAND AND SITE ANALYSIS INCLUDE PROXIMITY TO THE RECLAIMED WATER SYSTEM.
THAT'S AN IMPORTANT FACTOR OF THE REAL ESTATE INVENTORY INCLUDE AUSTIN WATER AND ANY RECRUITMENT CONVERSATIONS REQUIRE USE OF RECYCLED WATER ONSITE REUSE OR NET ZERO WATER TO DEMONSTRATE COMMUNITY BENEFIT PARALLEL EFFORTS THAT NEED TO BE UNDERTAKEN INCLUDE RE REVIEWING THE SERVICE EXTENSION REQUEST FRAMEWORK TO ALLOW COUNCIL REVIEW OF ALL LARGE VOLUME USERS EXPAND OUR CURRENT REQUIREMENTS FOR USING RECLAIMED WATER.
CURRENTLY YOU ONLY HAVE TO BE 250 OR 500 FEET AWAY TO BE REQUIRED TO HOOK UP TO THAT SYSTEM FOR LARGE VOLUME USERS, WE NEED TO EXPAND OUR ONSITE REUSE REQUIREMENTS AND REPEAL THE FEE IN LIEU PROVISIONS FOR USING RECLAIMED AND ONSITE REUSE.
IF YOU DON'T PLUMB A BUILDING FOR REUSE AND USING RECYCLED WATER, YOU'RE NEVER GONNA HOOK UP.
IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE TO ALLOW FEE AND LIE.
WE ALSO NEED TO EXPAND OUR DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLANS, COMMERCIAL RESTRICTIONS.
WE NEED TO STRONGLY INCENTIVIZE COMMERCIAL USERS TO INVEST IN RECYCLED OR RECLAIMED WATER.
RIGHT NOW THE BURDEN OF DROUGHT RESTRICTIONS FALLS ON RESIDENTS RESIDENTIAL AND IRRIGATION USERS, AND THAT'S NOT FAIR TO THE FUTURE OF THE CITY.
UH, CITY COUNCIL LEADERS, MR. CITY MANAGER.
I'M THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE RENAISSANCE HOTEL IN THE ARBORETUM DISTRICT.
UH, I'M HERE TO, UH, EXTEND MY STRONG SUPPORT FOR MAYOR WATSON'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE, PARTICULARLY ITS FOCUS ON TOURISM AND SPORTS INFRASTRUCTURE AS KEY ECONOMIC MULTIPLIERS.
NOW MY HOTEL IS NOT LOCATED DOWNTOWN, BUT WE SEE FIRSTHAND HOW SPORTS DRIVE VISITATION ACROSS ALL AREAS OF AUSTIN.
MY HOTEL'S BEEN IN AUSTIN THIS SEPTEMBER, 40 YEARS FROM CIRCUIT THE AMERICA'S EVENTS AND UT ATHLETICS TO YOUTH AND AMATEUR SPORTS TOURNAMENTS.
THESE ACTIVITIES GENERATE MEANINGFUL DEMAND FOR HOTELS, RESTAURANTS, AND LOCAL BUSINESSES CITYWIDE IN OUR AREA OF NORTH AUSTIN.
THE Q2 STADIUM AND AUSTIN FC HAVE BEEN ESPECIALLY TRANSFORMATIVE FOR NORTH AUSTIN AND IT REALLY, UH, ILLUSTRATES THE BROAD ECONOMIC IMPACT OF A QUALITY SPORTS VENUE.
IN 2025 Q2 STADIUM HOSTED 180 COMBINED PUBLIC AND PRIVATE EVENTS WITH A TOTAL ATTENDANCE OF 870,000.
WHAT I'M HERE TODAY TO JUST ASK FOR IS IT'S, UH, TIME TO HIGHLIGHT THE NEED, UH, TO SUPPORT SPORTS EVENTS AND IN PARTICULAR YOUTH SPORTS IN OUR AUSTIN COMMUNITY THROUGH THE FOCUS AND INVESTMENTS FOR THEIR
[01:55:01]
PLAYING FIELDS, MULTI-USE OR MULTI-PURPOSE VENUES.THIS IS A HIGHLY COMPETITIVE STATEWIDE, UH, SEGMENT.
UM, IT FUELS A LOT OF VISITORS TO THOSE CITIES AND AUSTIN.
IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US.
AND ANOTHER ELEMENT OF THIS, UH, DESIRE WOULD BE IT CONTINUES TO PROMOTE, PROMOTE AUSTIN AS A FAMILY FRIENDLY DESTINATION.
SO WE RESPECTFULLY ENCOURAGE YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THIS INITIATIVE, INITIATIVE AND RECOGNIZE THAT AUSTIN SUPPORTS ECOSYSTEM IS A COORDINATED CROSS-SECTOR ENGINE THAT STRENGTHENS OUR LOCAL ECONOMY WELL BEYOND INDIVIDUAL EVENTS.
PLEASE, MAYOR WATSON, COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
MY NAME IS NATHAN COPP AND I REPRESENT VISIT AUSTIN AND THE AUSTIN SPORTS COMMISSION.
I'M HERE TO EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE FOCUSED ON YOUTH SPORTS INFRASTRUCTURE.
SPORTS TOURISM IS NO LONGER A NICHE SEGMENT.
IT IS A MAJOR DRIVER OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY NATIONWIDE.
ACCORDING TO THE SPORTS EVENTS AND TOURISM ASSOCIATION, THE INDUSTRY GENERATES 274 BILLION IN ANNUAL ECONOMIC IMPACT, SUPPORTS 1.6 MILLION JOBS AND PRODUCES 20 BILLION IN STATE AND LOCAL TAX REVENUES EACH YEAR.
IMPORTANTLY, MORE OF HALF OF THIS IMPACT COMES FROM YOUTH AND AMATEUR SPORTS.
65% OF THE DESTINATIONS REPORTED THAT SPORTS WAS THEIR TOP ROOM NIGHT GENERATOR IN THEIR DESTINATIONS.
THIS IS WHERE AUSTIN HAS AN OPPORTUNITY.
YOUTH SPORTS TOURNAMENTS ARE UNIQUELY VALUABLE BECAUSE THEY GENERATE CONSISTENT REPEATABLE DEMAND.
UNLIKE ONE TIME MEGA EVENTS, THESE TOURNAMENTS BRING FAMILIES, TEAMS AND SPECTATORS WHO STAY MULTIPLE NIGHTS, DINE LOCALLY, SHOP AT LOCAL ESTABLISHMENTS AND EXPLORE THE CITY.
A SIGNAL TOURNAMENT CAN PRODUCE THOUSANDS OF HOTEL ROOM NIGHTS AND MEANINGFUL SPILLOVER FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES, PARTICULARLY IN HOSPITALITY, RETAIL, AND TRANSPORTATION.
BY INVESTING IN MODERN TOURNAMENT READY FACILITIES, AUSTIN CAN BECOME SIGNIFICANTLY MORE COMPETITIVE AND ATTRACTING REGIONAL AND NATIONAL EVENTS.
THIS INITIATIVE IS NOT JUST ABOUT BUILDING FIELDS AND COURTS, IT'S ABOUT CREATING A LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC ENGINE THAT SUPPORTS SMALL BUSINESSES.
ON ITEM 24, HANS MAVERICK, PEDRO HERNANDEZ, JR.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND BEGIN SPEAKING.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY TODAY.
MY NAME IS HANS MAVERICK AND I'M A RESIDENT OF COUNCIL DISTRICT 10.
I'M ALSO A POLICY AND RESEARCH ORGANIZER FOR GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP HERE IN AUSTIN.
I'D LIKE TO SHARE MY THOUGHTS ABOUT ITEM 24.
AS I WAS PREPARING TO TESTIFY TODAY, I NOTICED THAT THE EXHIBIT A THAT ACCOMPANIES THIS RESOLUTION HAS UNDERGONE SUBSTANTIAL REVISION.
WHEN I LOOKED AT THE ORIGINAL VERSION, I WAS DEEPLY DISTURBED TO SEE THAT DA UH, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND DATA CENTERS WERE LISTED AMONG THE SECTORS THIS RESOLUTION WOULD PRIORITIZE.
NOW THAT ALL REFERENCES TO SPECIFIC INDUSTRIES, INCLUDING AI AND DATA CENTERS HAVE BEEN STRUCK.
GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP HAS CONSISTENTLY SPOKEN OUT AGAINST ALL FORMS OF MASS SURVEILLANCE.
AND BECAUSE DATA CENTERS AND AI HELP FACILITATE THAT, WE ARE TO SAY THE LEAST SKEPTICAL ABOUT ANY PROPOSALS TO EXPAND THOSE, WE BASE OUR SKEPTICISM ON THE FACT THAT THOSE SYSTEMS DISPROPORTIONATELY TARGET COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, PEOPLE WITH CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM INVOLVEMENT, AND, UH, UNHOUSED PEOPLE AND UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE.
EVEN THOUGH WE ARE PLEASED TO SEE THE REVISED LANGUAGE OF THE EXHIBIT, WE WILL STILL PLAY PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO HOW THE CITY ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTS THIS RESOLUTION.
WE DON'T WANT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO BE A BACKDOOR WAY TO PROP PROMOTE MASS SURVEILLANCE.
THOSE COMPANIES HAVE SHOWN US TIME AGAIN, HOW OBLIVIOUS THEY ARE TO THE CONCERNS OF OUR MOST MARGINALIZED RESIDENTS.
THOSE OF US OF A CERTAIN AGE, REMEMBER THE SONG, EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE BY THE IRONICALLY NAMED EIGHTIES PUNK BAND.
THE POLICE LIKE THE NARRATOR IN THAT SONG.
THE MASS SURVEILLANCE COMPANIES ARE WATCHING EVERY MOVE WE MAKE.
BUT WHILE I'M AT IT, HERE'S A POP CULTURE REFERENCE FOR THE MILLENNIALS IN THE AUDIENCE.
WE ARE WATCHING THEM WATCH US.
WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE DATA CENTERS SPECIFICALLY EXCLUDED FROM THIS RESOLUTION.
PLEASE, COUNCIL MEMBERS CONTINUE TO STAND UP FOR THE COMMUNITY AGAINST THE TECH COMPANIES THAT WANT TO STALK US FOR PROFIT BY IMPLEMENTING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS THAT TAKE THE COMMUNITY'S CONCERNED INTO ACCOUNT.
I'M THE HEAD OF DEVELOPMENT OF LONE STAR SOCCER CLUB, A LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION AND THE THIRD LARGEST YOUTH SOCCER CLUB IN THE NATION.
BORN AND RAISED RIGHT HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
I'M HERE TO SHOW LONE STAR'S FULL SUPPORT
[02:00:01]
OF MAYOR WATSON'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE AND A GREATER AND MORE AGGRESSIVE PUSH FOR DEVELOPING SPORTS INFRASTRUCTURE AS A CORE PILLAR OF AUSTIN'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY.EVERY YEAR, LONE STAR HOSTS TWO MAJOR STATE OF PLAY TOURNAMENTS.
AUSTIN LABOR DAY CUP AND THE BAT CITY CUP.
TOGETHER THEY GENERATE 8,000 HOTEL NIGHTS AND WE BRING IN ABOUT THOUSAND TEAMS FROM HOUSTON, DALLAS IN NEIGHBORING STATES LIKE OKLAHOMA.
FOR THREE STRAIGHT YEARS, THOSE TOURNAMENTS HAVE STAGNATED IN GROWTH, NOT BECAUSE THE DEMAND ISN'T THERE, THE DEMAND IS GROWING.
WE HAVE STAGNATED IN GROWTH AND ARE TURNING AWAY TEAMS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FIELD SPACE FOR THOSE KIDS TO PLAY.
WE HAVE REACHED AUSTIN'S CAPACITY AND THAT IS MONEY THAT THE CITY IS LEAVING ON THE TABLE.
AUSTIN IS THE BEST CITY IN THE WORLD AND IT'S OUR HOME.
WITH THE LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE, IT'S FORCING US TO MOVE FURTHER AND FURTHER AWAY OF WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW IN CITY HALL TO FIND FIELD SPACE SO THAT MORE KIDS CAN LEARN, GROW, BELONG, AND DEVELOP INTO THE FUTURE.
LEADERS THROUGH THE GAME OF SOCCER MATCHES.
TRAINING SESSIONS IN TOURNAMENTS THAT SHOULD BE HAPPENING HERE ARE MOVING OUTSIDE CITY LIMITS.
YOUTH SPORTS IS A GROWING $40 BILLION INDUSTRY.
THE COUNCIL HAS AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY TO BETTER POSITION THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO CAPITALIZE ON THE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY OF FAMILIES WHO TRAVEL, STAY, AND SPEND BECAUSE THEY HAVE AN A YOUNG ATHLETE INVEST IN THE FIELDS AND FACILITIES IN AUSTIN BETTER CAPTURES MORE OF THOSE FAMILIES ECONOMIC IMPACT AND CAN BE BE THE BEST CITY IN THE NATION TO BE A KID.
DON'T AND THOSE FAMILIES ARE GONNA GO ELSEWHERE.
LONE STAR SOCCER CLUB IS IN FULL SUPPORT, THE MAYOR OF MAYOR WATSON'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE TO INVEST MORE AGGRESSIVELY IN SPORTS INFRASTRUCTURE FOR AUSTIN'S YOUTH, SPORTS COMMUNITY AND ORGANIZATIONS LIKE US, AND FOR THE BETTERMENT OF AUSTIN'S ECONOMIC FUTURE.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE AND I'M HERE WITH A REALITY CHECK.
THIS PLAN DOUBLES DOWN ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENDA THAT WE'VE HAD FOR AT LEAST 25 YEARS, WHICH HAS NOT LED TO THE PROSPERITY OF ALL AUSTINITES.
INSTEAD, IT HAS LED TO INCREASED INEQUALITY, A SHRINKING MIDDLE CLASS, AND A GROWING PERCENTAGE OF LOW INCOME JOBS.
DATA FROM THE US BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS SHOWS THAT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MODEL WE'VE BEEN PURSUING AND CON HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE GROWING GAP BETWEEN THE RICH AND POOR.
THE CONTINUED SHRINKING OF THE MIDDLE CLASS IN AUSTIN.
THIS DYNAMIC HAS BEEN A MAJOR DRIVER OF HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND HOMELESSNESS CRISES IN THE CITIES IN THIS CITY.
37% OF ALL NEW JOBS CREATED IN THE PAST GENERATION BEEN LOW INCOME OCCUPATIONS SUCH AS FOOD SERVICE, WHICH IS THE SECOND FASTEST GROWING OCCUPATION CATEGORY IN AUSTIN PAYS LESS THAN 60% OF MEDIAN INCOME.
WE HAVE HAD MORE THAN TWO DECADES OF ENORMOUS GROWTH IN OUR TAX BASE.
WE ARE FACING A BUDGET CRISIS.
THIS KIND OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HAS COME AT THE EXPENSE OF MIDDLE AND WORKING CLASSES.
WE HAVE SEEN THE EFFECTIVE TAX BASE ERODED BY THE EXPANSION OF SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH DEVELOPMENT.
DEVELOPMENT HAS NOT PAID FOR ITSELF AND SAID WE HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR IT.
INSTEAD OF SUPERCHARGING THE SAME FAILED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SCRIPT, WE NEED TO ADOPT NEW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES THAT FOCUS ON IMPROVING HISTORICALLY LOW PAYING JOBS, GROWING THE MIDDLE CLASS, AND CREATING AN ECONOMIC FOUNDATION THAT IS LESS DEPENDENT ON THE WHIMS OF WALL STREET AND THE PROFIT INCENTIVES OF GLOBAL CAPITAL.
RATHER THAN DIRECTING MORE RESOURCES, RECRUITING HIGH VALUE DEVELOPMENT, WE SHOULD BE INVESTING HEAVILY IN GROWING LOCAL EMPLOYEE OWNED BUSINESSES AND OTHER ENTERPRISES THAT HELP KEEP MONEY LOCAL INSTEAD OF SENDING PROFITS BACK TO INVESTORS ON WALL STREET OR OVERSEAS.
OTHERWISE, WE'RE DOOMED TO ANOTHER GENERATION OF INCREASED INEQUALITY, DISPLACEMENT AND HOMELESSNESS LEADING TO MORE BUDGET CRISES AND CUTS TO BASIC SERVICES.
FOR 20 PLUS YEARS, WE'VE BEEN BUILDING A CITY FOR THE WEALTHY.
IT IS TIME WE PRIORITIZE THE REST OF US MEMBERS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WE'RE AT, AT, WE'RE JUST A LITTLE BIT PAST NOON.
AFTER MR. BUNCH SPEAKS ON THIS ITEM, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS THEN GO TO OUR 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN AND THAT'S THE PUBLIC COMMENT AND THEN WE WILL, UM, I'LL DESCRIBE IT MORE IN A MINUTE, BUT I JUST WANTED EVERYBODY TO KNOW THAT THAT'S THE TIMEFRAME WE'RE ON MR. BUNCH.
THANK YOU MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, BILL BUNCH, DISTRICT FIVE, UH, SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE, URGING YOU TO, UH, THROW THIS IN THE TRASH CAN AND START OVER WITH A POLICY THAT IS FOCUSED ON AND LIMITED TO LOCAL AND LOCALLY OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES SO THAT WHATEVER TAXPAYER AND RATE PAYER DOLLARS THAT ARE PUT INTO THIS FROM US, YOUR VOTERS, YOUR CONSTITUENTS, YOUR TAXPAYERS, YOUR RATE PAYERS, WE GET BACK AND THEY BENEFIT
[02:05:01]
THOSE OF US WHO ACTUALLY LIVE HERE.THIS IS A POLICY OF CORPORATE WELFARE FOR BILLIONAIRES, INCLUDING THE RICHEST MAN ON THE PLANET.
YOU DON'T PUT IT IN HERE, BUT THIS IS FOR ELON MUSK'S TERRA FAB FOR THE OTHER MEGA CORPORATIONS, THE DATA CENTERS, THE CRYPTOCURRENCY MINERS, THE OTHER BUSINESSES THAT ARE IN BUSINESS TO ELIMINATE JOBS, NOT CREATE THEM TO EXPORT THEIR PROFITS, TO PRIVATE EQUITY, TO ANONYMOUS INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS THAT DON'T GIVE A S**T ABOUT AUSTIN, TEXAS.
THEY'RE HERE ONLY TO MAXIMIZE REVENUE AND YOU'RE ABOUT TO PUT OUR MONEY IN THEIR POCKETS IN THE NAME OF BENEFITING US.
THIS IS A CLASSIC CASE OF ORWELLIAN NEWSPEAK, YOUR NUMBER ONE PROPOSED FINDING EXHIBIT A ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS AN EXPRESSION OF AUSTIN'S VALUES, NOT A COMPROMISE OF THEM.
THIS IS AN EXPRESSION OF YOUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT VALUES.
AND THAT IS THE SAME OLD, THE RICH GET RICHER.
THANK YOU MR. AND EVERYBODY ELSE SUFFERS.
AND YOU'RE ABOUT HAS EXPIRED YOU.
LET'S HAVE SOME INTEGRITY AND HONESTY.
SPEAKING OF INTEGRITY, DEVELOPMENT POLICY, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED AND SOME TRANSPARENCY.
[12:00 PM - Public Communication: General]
OUR, UH, TIME CERTAIN, WHICH IS PUBLIC COMMUNICATION MEMBERS.WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST WE DO, UH, WE'RE AT 1206.
IF THIS GOES AS IT TYPICALLY GOES, WE'LL BE DONE ABOUT 1236, AT WHICH POINT WE WILL HAVE, AS I INDICATED, THE, THE MUSIC, WE WILL RECESS AT THAT POINT IN TIME AND WE'LL RECONVENE AT ONE O'CLOCK WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION.
I THINK THE MUSIC, BECAUSE IT'S A RECORDED MUSIC, WILL BE QUICKER THIS TIME THAN WHAT WE TYPICALLY ARE USED TO.
SO WITH THAT, IF YOU WOULD GO TO OUR PUBLIC COMMUNICATION, YES.
THANK YOU MAYOR FIRST, BLAKE FLORES, JACOB ADAMIS, EVA MENKIN, LUKE HAWK.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND BEGIN SPEAKING.
PLEASE BEGIN AND, AND WELCOME ALL OF YOU HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS BLAKE FLORES AND I AM IN SEVENTH GRADE.
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN STUCK BEHIND A LARGE BUS AS A DRIVER AFTER STOPS PICK UP ITS PASSENGERS? IT'S FRUSTRATING.
I KNOW MANY PEOPLE IN AUSTIN FEEL THE SAME WAY.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHY I FULLY BELIEVE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL SHOULD EXPAND DEDICATED BUS LANES ACROSS THE CITY.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS IN AUSTIN IS TRAFFIC.
IT AFFECTS OUR TIME, OUR STRESS LEVELS, AND EVEN OUR ECONOMY.
IT IMPACTS HOW WE GET TO WORK, SCHOOL, AND SPEND TIME WITH OUR FRIENDS.
BUT HERE'S SOMETHING IMPORTANT.
AUSTIN HAS AROUND 2,500 MILES OF STREETS, YET ONLY AROUND 0.3% OF THEM ARE DEDICATED BUS LANES.
THAT MEANS THE VAST MAJORITY OF BUSES ARE STILL SHARING SPACES WITH REGULAR TRAFFIC.
EXPANDING DEDICATED BUS LANES WOULD SOLVE THIS.
WHEN BUSES HAVE THEIR OWN LANES, THEY MOVE FASTER AND MORE RELIABLY.
THIS ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO TAKE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, ESPECIALLY FOR COMMUNITY INTO WORK.
MORE PEOPLE ON BUSES MEANS FEWER CARS ON THE ROAD AND THAT EQUALS LESS TRAFFIC FOR EVERYONE.
I ALSO SPOKE WITH MEMBERS OF MY COMMUNITY.
OVER THE COURSE OF AN HOUR, I COLLECTED 30 VOTES AND 27 OF THEM AGREED THAT EXPANDING DEDICATED BUS LANES WOULD BE BENEFICIAL.
THIS SHOWS STRONG LOCAL SUPPORT FOR THIS IDEA.
THIS MATTERS BECAUSE AUSTIN IS GROWING RAPIDLY AND IF WE DON'T IMPROVE OUR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM NOW, TRAFFIC WILL ONLY GET WORSE AND CONTINUE TO IMPACT DAILY LIFE.
SO I URGE YOU TODAY INVEST TO EXPAND DEDICATED BUS LANES.
IT'S A SIMPLE EFFECTIVE STEP TOWARDS REDUCING TRAFFIC, APPROVING EFFICIENCY, AND MAKING AUSTIN A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE.
WHOEVER WAS THE NEXT ONE TO CALL NAME.
NAME WAS CALLED JACOB, HONOR HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS JACOB AND I'M IN SIXTH GRADE.
IMAGINE BEING A LOWER INCOME RESIDENT IN AUSTIN WITH THE IDEA OF OWNING A HOME, SLIPPING OUT OF REACH.
THIS IS BECOMING A REALITY FOR MANY PEOPLE AS HOUSING PRESIDENT IN AUSTIN HAVE RISEN SIGNIFICANTLY OVER RECENT YEARS.
ACCORDING TO AUSTIN, BOARD OF REALTORS HOUSING PRESIDENT IN AUSTIN ARE 40% MORE THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.
MANY FAMILIES ARE BEING PUSHED FURTHER AWAY
[02:10:01]
FROM THE CITY, LEADING TO LONGER COMMUTES AND FEWER OPPORTUNITIES.TO ADDRESS THIS AFFORDABILITY CRISIS, AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL SHOULD REDUCE MINIMUM LAND PLOT SIZES TO MAKE HOMES EASIER TO BUILD AND ALLOW HOME OWNERSHIP TO BE MORE ACCESSIBLE TO MORE PEOPLE.
CURRENTLY, MANY AREAS REQUIRE HOMES.
WE BUILT ON RELATIVELY LARGE PLOTS OF LAND.
THIS LIMITS HOW MANY HOMES CAN BE BUILT EVEN WHEN THERE IS AVAILABLE SPACE.
LOWERING MINIMUM LAND PLOT SIZES WILL MAKE HOMES EASIER TO BUILD AND WOULD ALLOW MORE HOMES TO BE BUILT ON THE SAME AMOUNT OF SPACE.
INSTEAD OF REQUIRING LARGE, EXPENSIVE LOTS, BUILDERS COULD CREATE SMALLER, MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS.
AS THE OVERALL NUMBER OF HOMES INCREASES, SUPPLY INCREASES AS SUPPLY INCREASES, PRICES DROP, MAKING HOME OWNERSHIP MORE ACCESSIBLE.
IN ADDITION, THE CITY COULD GENERATE MORE TAX REVENUE, NOT BY TAXING MORE PER HOUSE, BUT BY HAVING MORE HOUSES TO TAX.
THIS SHOWS THAT LOWERING MINIMUM LAND PLOT SIZES IS A PRACTICAL SOLUTION FOR THE CITY AND FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE SPAN OF AN HOUR.
16 OUT OF 21, LOCAL RESIDENTS AGREED THAT HOUSING PRESIDENT AUSTIN NEEDED TO BE LOWERED, SHOWING THAT THIS IS A CONCERN SHARED ACROSS THE COMMUNITY.
AUSTIN IS CONTINUING TO GROW AND WHILE WE CANNOT STOP THAT GROWTH, WE CAN MANAGE IT MORE EFFECTIVELY.
SO I ASK AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL TO REDUCE MINIMUM LAND PO SIZES TO MAKE HOME OWNERSHIP MORE ACCESSIBLE.
WHOEVER'S NEXT, HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS AVA MENKIN AND I'M AN EIGHTH GRADER.
IMAGINE WALKING A MILE EVERY DAY TO THE NEAREST BUS STOP.
THEY'RE WAITING 30 MORE MINUTES FOR THAT BUS TO ARRIVE.
THAT'S THE REALITY OF MOST AUSTIN RESIDENTS.
AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL SHOULD EXPAND BUS ROUTES TO INCREASE BUS USAGE AND DECREASE TRAFFIC CONGESTION.
EXPANDING BUS ROUTES WILL MAKE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION A MORE REALISTIC OPTION FOR MANY RESIDENTS.
THE MORE THAT PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO CONVENIENT AND RELIABLE BUS SERVICES, THE MORE LIKELY THEY ARE TO CHOOSE THEM OVER DRIVING.
EXPANDING BUS ROUTES WOULD ALSO DECREASE THE AMOUNT OF CARS IN THE ROAD.
ADDITIONALLY, IT WOULD MAKE ESSENTIAL LOCATIONS SUCH AS SCHOOLS, GROCERY STORES, WORKPLACES, AND HOSPITALS MORE ACCESSIBLE ESPECIALLY TO THOSE WHO DO NOT OWN A CAR OR CANNOT DRIVE.
CURRENTLY MANY RESIDENTS ARE UNABLE TO RELY ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION BECAUSE THE NEAREST BUS STOP IS EITHER TOO FAR FROM THEIR HOUSE OR THE SERVICE IS TOO FREQUENT TO USABLE.
ACCORDING TO CAMP METRO, ABOUT 50% OF AUSTIN RESIDENTS ARE THAN WALKING DISTANCE OF A BUS STOP, BUT ONLY AROUND 20% HAVE ACCESS TO CONVENIENT OR RELIABLE BUSES THAT ARRIVE EVERY 10 TO 15 MINUTES.
THIS MEANS THAT WHILE BUS COVERAGE TECHNICALLY EXISTS, IT'S NOT USABLE FOR MANY CITIZENS IN THEIR DAILY LIVES.
MANY LOWER INCOME RESIDENTS, STUDENTS AND ELDERLY PEOPLE DEPEND ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
WHEN BUS SERVICES ARE LIMITED AND UNRELIABLE, THESE GROUPS FACE CHALLENGES WHEN ACCESSING JOBS, HEALTHCARE AND EDUCATION.
I ASKED MEMBERS OF MY COMMUNITY WHAT THEY THOUGHT ABOUT EXPANDING BUS ROUTES, AND OVER 90% OF THEM AGREED WITH MY STANCE AS ONE AWESOME COMMUNITY MEMBER SAID, THE NEAREST BUS STOP TO MY HOUSE IS OVER A MILE AWAY SHARING HOW REAL OF AN ISSUE THIS IS.
ADDITIONALLY, AUSTIN IS ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING CITIES IN THE COUNTRY AND OUR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION MUST BE ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH DEMAND.
THE RECENT CAT METRO EXPANSION IN ADDITION OF NEW BUS ROUTES, HAS ALREADY MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE TO MANY CITIZENS AND IT IS AN IMPORTANT STEP TOWARDS IMPROVING.
IF NOTHING CHANGES, OUR CITY BUSES WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE LOW RIDERSHIP AND OF TRAFFIC CONGESTION.
FOR THESE REASONS, I URGE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL TO EXPAND BUS ROUTES TO INCREASE BUS USAGE AND DECREASE TRAFFIC CONGESTION.
DEAR HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS LUKE HAWK AND I'M IN SIXTH GRADE.
HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU WASTE SITTING IN TRAFFIC EVERY WEEK IN AUSTIN? INSTEAD OF LETTING THIS PROBLEM GROW, THE CITY MUST TAKE ACTION NOW.
THAT'S WHY I THINK THAT AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL SHOULD ADD MORE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
ACCORDING TO THE TEXAS A AND M TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE, DRIVERS LOSE DOZENS OF HOURS EACH YEAR SITTING IN TRAFFIC ALONE.
AND THE EPA REPORTS THAT TRANSPORTATION IS A MAJOR SOURCE OF POLLUTION.
ADDING MORE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ISN'T JUST SUPPORTED BY RESEARCH.
IT'S CLEAR IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY AS WELL.
I ASKED 28 AUSTIN COMMUNITY MEMBERS OVER THE COURSE OF AN HOUR ABOUT MY TOPIC AND 27 OF THEM AGREED WITH THEM.
MOST OF THEM SAID THAT SITTING IN TRAFFIC IS ONE OF THE MOST FRUSTRATING PARTS ABOUT LIVING IN AUSTIN.
AND IF AUSTIN DOES NOTHING TO DO, THEN AUSTIN RESIDENTS WILL CONTINUE TO FACE WORSENING TRAFFIC, HIGHER COST FOR RESIDENTS, AND INCREASE POLLUTION THAT WILL AFFECT EVERYONE'S DAILY LIFE.
AUSTIN IS GROWING AND OUR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM NEEDS TO GROW WITH.
THAT'S WHY I URGE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL TO INVEST IN BETTER PUBLIC
[02:15:01]
TRANSPORTATION FOR OUR CITY'S FUTURE.NEXT WE HAVE VALENTINA MELENDEZ, WENDALYN ME, JESSE VALMORE, NOAH COWER.
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO BEGIN IN THE ORDER.
YOUR NAMES WERE CALLED HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
CURRENTLY ONE OF OUR MOST POPULAR TRAILS IS FILLED WITH LITTER INSTEAD OF CLEAN SCENERY.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT SAYS ABOUT AUSTIN? IN MY OPINION, IT SUGGESTS THAT WE'RE NOT TAKING PROPER CARE OF ONE OF OUR MOST VALUABLE PUBLIC SPACES AND THAT NEGLECT REFLECTS POORLY ON OUR CITY.
PLEASE CONSIDER ADDING MORE TRASH CANS ON THE LAY BIRD HIKING BIKE TRAIL BECAUSE DOING SO WOULD REDUCE LITTER, DECREASE CONTAMINATION IN THE LADY BIRD LAKE AND PROVIDE A CLEANER HABITAT FOR WILDLIFE.
IN ADDITION, CLEANER PUBLIC SPACES ARE MORE ENJOYABLE MAKING AUSTIN MORE ATTRACTIVE TO BOTH RESIDENTS AND TOURISTS.
THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS ISSUE IS ALREADY EVIDENT.
ACCORDING TO THE COOL DOWN, WHEN UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS STUDENT DANIELLE ZALESKI COLLECTED A CORE SAMPLE FROM THE FLOOR OF LADY BIRD LAKE, IT CONTAINED SO MANY PLASTIC FRAGMENTS THAT RESEARCHERS WERE UNABLE TO COUNT THEM.
THIS SHOWS HOW LITTER FROM SURROUNDING AREAS, INCLUDING THE TRAIL, IS DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTING TO POLLUTION OF THE LAKE.
OVER TIME, THIS POLLUTION CAN BUILD UP AND CAN CAUSE LONG-TERM DAMAGE TO WATER QUALITY.
PUBLIC CONCERN REFLECTS THIS PROBLEM AS WELL.
AFTER SPEAKING WITH PEOPLE DOWNTOWN, I FOUND THAT 31 OUT OF 33 AGREED THAT WE SHOULD ADD MORE TRASH CANS ON THE LADY BIRD HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL.
THIS SHOWS THAT OUR COMMUNITY RECOGNIZES THIS PROBLEM AND SUPPORTS TAKING ACTION TO SOLVE IT.
ADDRESSING THIS PROBLEM IS CRITICAL TO PROTECTING AUSTIN'S ENVIRONMENT, WILDLIFE, AND REPUTATION.
TAKING ACTION OUT CAN PREVENT THIS ISSUE FROM BECOMING WORSE IN THE FUTURE.
IN CONCLUSION, BECAUSE OF THE REASONS I PRESENTED, PLEASE CONSIDER ADDING MORE TRASH CANS ALONG THE LADY BIRD HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL.
UH, DEAR HONORABLE MARYLAND CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, MY NAME IS GWENDOLYN MEGAN AND I AM IN EIGHTH GRADE.
IMAGINE YOU LOSE A FAMILY MEMBER OR FRIEND TO SUICIDE.
YOU'RE GRIEVING, SAD, MISSING THEM, AND MAD AT THE WORLD FOR LETTING THIS HAPPEN.
YOU WONDER WHY DID THIS HAPPEN? WHY DIDN'T THE RESOURCES THEY HAD HELP? WELL, MANY PEOPLE CAN'T GET THE RESOURCES THEY NEED THAT BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF FUNDING.
THAT'S WHY AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL SHOULD ADD MORE FUNDING TO SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAMS AND MENTAL HOSPITAL RESOURCES.
SO WHAT'S THE PROBLEM? THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE PROBLEM IS THAT MENTAL HOSPITALS DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO MAKE PEOPLE.
PEOPLE ALSO DON'T REACH OUT TO SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAMS FOR LACK OF AVAILABILITY OR FEAR OF BEING HOSPITALIZED AGAINST THEIR WILL, WHICH WOULD SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THE MENTAL HOSPITAL RESOURCES.
NOW, WHY IS THIS A PROBLEM THAT MANY PEOPLE CAN'T BE FACING MENTAL CONDITIONS? WELL, ACCORDING TO SUICIDE AND CRISIS CENTER OF NORTH TEXAS, SUICIDE IS THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR PEOPLE IN TEXAS AGE 10 TO 24 YEARS OLD.
THAT'S A HUGE ISSUE, RIGHT? BUT THERE'S MORE.
ACCORDING TO EVERY TEXAN, 12% OF TEXAS STUDENTS ATTEMPTED SUICIDE IN 2022.
THAT'S ABOUT 600,000 STUDENTS.
THAT'S LIKE THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF ICELAND ATTEMPTING SUICIDE ONE AND A HALF TIMES, AND THAT'S JUST IN ONE YEAR.
THE ARTICLE SAYS IT, BUT WHO ELSE IN THE COMMUNITY I'VE ASKED.
I'VE GOTTEN ANSWERS LIKE HOW SUICIDE CAN SERIOUSLY AFFECT FAMILIES, FRIEND GROUPS, AND PEOPLE WHO ACQUAINT EACH OTHER.
LOSING SOMEONE YOU LOVE TO THEMSELVES AND NOT KNOWING UNTIL IT'S TOO LATE WOULD BE AWFUL.
I'VE ALSO GOTTEN ANSWERS LIKE HOW MENTAL HOSPITALS DON'T HELP.
THEY LACK RESOURCES AND THEY OFTEN MAKE THE PERSON FEEL WORSE BUT HIDE IT.
AND THESE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN FROM EXPERIENCE.
THIS IS CRUCIAL TO PREVENT SUICIDE IN TEENS, YOUNG ADULTS, AND ANYONE NEEDING HELP AND NOT TALKING ABOUT IT.
ADDING FUNDING CAN SIGNIFICANTLY ADD TO THE RESOURCES PEOPLE CAN REACH OUT TO WHEN THEY'RE GOING THROUGH SOMETHING DIFFICULT OR NEED SUPPORT.
I PLEASE URGE YOU TO ADD MORE FUNDING TO SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAMS AND MENTAL HOSPITAL RESOURCES.
HONORABLE, HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME NAME IS NOAH COWER AND I AM 13 YEARS OLD.
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN WALKING DOWN THE STREET WHILE EATING FOOD AND NOTICED THAT THERE IS NO CONVENIENT TRASH CAN TO PUT YOUR TRASH IN? I AM ASKING TO ADD, UH, TRASH CAN AND ONE RECYCLING BIN EVERY 25 TO 30 STEPS.
MULTIPLE STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT THIS, THAT INCREASING TRASH CANS CAN REDUCE LITTER BY UP TO 56% IN CLEANER AREAS AND 35% IN DIRTIER AREAS.
[02:20:01]
A PHILADELPHIA BEHAVIORAL EXPERIMENT HAS SHOWED THAT DECREASING TRASH CANS IN INCREASED LITTER AND DUST STAFF CLEANUP TIME.I SAT OUTSIDE FOR AN HOUR AND ASKED 29 PEOPLE ABOUT THE AVAILABILITY OF TRASH CANS AND ALL 29 OF THEM THOUGHT THAT THAT THERE NEEDED TO BE MORE TRASH CANS AVAILABLE.
UH, ONE PERSON SAID THAT THEY HAVE BEEN CARRYING TRASH FOR TWO BLOCKS BECAUSE THERE WAS NO AVAILABLE TRASH CAN FOR THEM.
THIS WOULD ALSO HELP AUSTIN'S TAX REVENUE BECAUSE, BECAUSE, UM, IT WOULD ATTRACT MORE VISITORS IF THE STREETS AREN'T LITTERED WITH TRASH AND IT WOULD ALSO HELP FAMILIES WHO WALK DOWNTOWN AND SPEND TIME DOWNTOWN BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO CONSTANTLY BE DODGING TRASH IN OTHER LITTER.
I URGE CITY COUNCIL TO ADD TRASH CANS AND RECYCLING BINS EVERY 25 TO 30 STEPS.
MY NAME IS JESSE VALDELMAR AND I AM FROM, I AM A RESIDENT OF DIS DISTRICT SIX AND A NATIVE TEXAN.
I AM ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF LA FRONTERA UNIDA, AN IMMIGRANT RIGHTS COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION.
TODAY I AM HERE TO VOICE MY DISAPPROVAL AGAINST THE RECENT ACTIONS PART TAKEN BY THE CITY GOVERNMENT ON APRIL 24TH.
THE CITY GOVERNMENT GAVE IN TO THE RACIST DEMANDS OF GOVERNOR ABBOTT AND UPDATED POLICE ORDERS SUCH THAT OFFICERS SHOULD, WHEN OPERATIONALLY FEASIBLE, CONTACT ICE OVER ADMINISTRATIVE WAR WARRANTS, REPLACING THE PRIOR MAY LANGUAGE, WHICH ALLOWED FOR DISCRETION THAT DID THIS.
AS THE STATE OF TEXAS WAS THREATENING TO WITHDRAW $2.5 MILLION IN GRANT MONEY FOR NON-COMPLIANCE, I WANT THIS CITY GOVERNMENT TO HELP ME UNDERSTAND IS THE CITY GOVERNMENT SO STRAPPED FOR CASH TO RESORT TO ENDANGERING THE LIVES OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ITS COM OF ITS OWN COMMUNITY MEMBERS? IF THE CITY OF AUSTIN WAS SO STRAPPED FOR CASH, WHY WOULD IT THEN CALL FOR ITEM 24, WHICH WOULD FUNNEL MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO THE HA AND HANDOUTS TO BIG BUSINESS IF IT WAS REALLY A MONEY ISSUE? WE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT CUTTING BACK ON THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN HANDOUTS TO BIG BUSINESS THAT THIS CITY GIVES THAT ON A REGULAR BASIS RATHER THAN RISK SENDING ANY OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO THEIR DEATHS IN A CONCENTRATION CAMP.
I DO NOT THINK THIS IS A RADICAL DEMAND.
DO OUR NEIGHBORS NOT MATTER? I FIND THE ACTIONS OF THIS CITY GOVERNMENT TO BE VERY REVEALING.
FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS, THE F UNIDA HAS BEEN CANVASSING THE STREETS, ENGAGING PUBLIC OPINION, AND THE PEOPLE ARE NOT IMPRESSED BY THE ACTIONS OF THIS CITY GOVERNMENT.
PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY BEEN ASKING ME ABOUT WHO THEY SHOULD VOTE FOR IN THE NEXT ELECTION.
IT IS BECOMING READILY APPARENT TO THE LFU THAT WE ARE NOT A MINORITY IN OUR, IN OUR VIEWS, THAT PEOPLE DEMAND THE RIGHT TO WORK TO LIVE, TO THRIVE IN THIS CITY.
WITHOUT ANXIETY, THIS MEANS A LIFE WITHOUT ICE TERROR.
WE ARE DISAPPOINTED IN PARTICULAR WITH MAYOR KIRK WATSON, COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HARPER MADISON OF DISTRICT ONE MAYOR PRO TE JOSE CHITO VELA OF DISTRICT FOUR COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER OF DISTRICT FIVE.
COUNCIL MEMBER KRISTA LANE OF DISTRICT SIX.
COUNCIL MEMBER PAIGE ELLIS OF DISTRICT EIGHT AND COUNCIL MEMBER MARK UCHIN OF DISTRICT 10.
WE STRONGLY URGE Y'ALL TO JOIN THE REST OF YOUR COLLEAGUES.
JOSE VELAZQUEZ, UM, ZOAB CADRE, VANESSA FUENTES AND MICHAEL SIEGEL IN DEMANDING THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN SAY NO TO GREG ABBOTT.
SAY NO TO PRESIDENT TRUMP AND STOP THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN ICE AND A PD.
NOW THAT I'M DONE GIVING GENERAL COMMENT, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE EVERYONE HERE TO JOIN US OUTSIDE IN A RALLY DEMANDING THAT THE CITY GOVERNMENT STOP ALL COLLABORATION BETWEEN ICE AND A PD.
PLEASE CALL NAMES IMARA MAHEEN.
CYNTHIA TREVINO, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
HONORABLE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS AMARA MA HASPER AND I'M IN SIXTH GRADE.
IMAGINE WAKING UP ONE SPRING MORNING IN TEXAS AND THE FORESTS ARE SILENT.
NO SONGS, NO BRIGHT FLUSHES OF YELLOW IN THE TREES.
THIS IS THE FUTURE WE RISK IF WE DO NOT PROTECT THE GOLDEN CHEEK WARBLER.
I URGE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL TO PROTECT THE ASH JUNIPER TO ENSURE THE SURVIVAL OF THE GOLDEN CHEEK WARBLER.
THE GOLDEN CHEEK WARBLER IS A SMALL, BEAUTIFUL BIRD WITH A BRIGHT YELLOW FACE IN BLACK MARKINGS, BUT IT ONLY NESTS IN CENTRAL TEXAS, NOWHERE ELSE ON EARTH,
[02:25:01]
AND IT RELIES ALMOST ENTIRELY ON ONE TYPE OF TREE.THE ASH JUNIPER TO SURVIVE THE ASH JUNIPER, OFTEN CALLED CEDAR TREE, PROVIDES THE EXACT BARK THE WARBLER NEEDS TO BUILD ITS NESTS.
WITHOUT THIS TREE IT CAN'T REPRODUCE.
ASH JUNIPERS ARE BEING CUT DOWN AT AN ALARMING RATE DUE TO DEFORESTATION, LAND DEVELOPMENT AND EVEN BECAUSE THEY WERE CONSIDERED AN ALLERGY CAUSING WEED OR AN EVASIVE SPECIES.
BECAUSE OF THIS GOLDEN CHEEK WARBLER IS NOW LISTED AS CRITICALLY ENDANGERED AT ITS POPULATION HAS BEEN SHRINKING.
SAVING THE ASH JUNIPERS MEANS SAVING THE GOLDEN CH WARBLER.
THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT PROVES THAT AREAS WITH HEALTHY JUNIPER, OAK WOODLANDS HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER WARBLER POPULATIONS.
IN OTHER WORDS, SAVING THE TREE MEANS SAVING THE SPECIES.
ALSO, I HAVE GONE OUT INTO THE PUBLIC AND ASKED 36 PEOPLE WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT MY IDEA AND 36 PEOPLE SAID YES AND NO ONE OBJECTED.
BUT THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT ONE BIRD, IT'S ABOUT PRESERVING BIODIVERSITY AND HELPING PRESERVE THE ECOSYSTEM.
SO WHAT CAN WE DO? WE CAN SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS HELPING THIS GOAL AND TRY AND CHOOSE ENVI ENVIRONMENT, ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY OPTIONS INSTEAD OF THE ONES THAT ARE KILLING THESE TREES AND BIRDS.
THE GOLDEN CHEEK WARBLER DOESN'T GET A SECOND CHANCE.
ITS ONLY CHANCE, MEANING THAT WE ARE, ITS ONLY CHANCE.
LET'S MAKE SURE ITS SONG DOESN'T DISAPPEAR.
UH, MEMBERS, AS YOU JUST HEARD, THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS.
I WANNA SAY I THINK I SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE COUNCIL.
I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS THAT ARE HERE.
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT A GROUP FROM YOUR SCHOOL HAS BEEN DOWN HERE AND PROVIDED US, UH, COMMENTS AND COMMENTARY ON WHAT YOU SEE AS THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY.
AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT YOU DO IT WELL.
UH, YOU DO IT IN WHERE THE ADVOCACY IS PROFOUND AND WE'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THAT.
AND I WILL ALSO, I THINK SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE COUNCIL WHEN I SAY TO THE TEACHER THAT IS ORGANIZING THIS, UH, THANK YOU.
WE APPRECIATE YOU AS WELL MEMBERS.
WITH THAT, UH, WE WILL RECESS THE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL UNTIL 1:00 PM UH, WE WILL HAVE OUR MUSIC, UH, THAT WE HAVE AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
WE WILL BE BACK AT 1:00 PM WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL ON MAY 7TH, 2026 IS IN RECESS AT 12:26 PM UNTIL 1:00 PM THANK YOU EVERYBODY VERY MUCH.
[Live Music]
FOR BEING HERE TODAY.TODAY WE ARE JOINED BY THE SEMI MODULARS, WHICH IS AN ELECTRONIC MUSIC ENSEMBLE EXCLUSIVELY MADE UP OF STUDENTS AT THE TEXAS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED SYNTHESIS AND SOUND DESIGN CLASS.
THROUGHOUT EACH ACADEMIC YEAR, THE CLASS WRITES AND RECORDS AN ALBUMS WORTH OF ORIGINAL MATERIAL USING A VARIETY OF ANALOG AND DIGITAL SYNTHESIZERS, DRUM MACHINES AND SAMPLERS.
EACH SPRING THEY PERFORM THESE COMPOSITIONS LIVE FOR THE COMMUNITY AT VARIOUS VENUES AROUND AUSTIN.
FOLLOWING A YEAR OF INCREASED MEDIA ATTENTION, INCLUDING A FEATURE IN THE TEXAS MONTHLY MAGAZINE AND A PBS DOCUMENTARY AND TITLED SCHOOL OF SYNTH, THE GROUP HAS JUST RELEASED THEIR EIGHTH FULLTIME OR FULL LENGTH ALBUM ENTITLED FREE SYNTHESIZER.
THE ALBUM IS AVAILABLE TO STREAM FOR FREE ONLINE VIA THE GROUP'S BAND CAMP PAGE.
THEY'LL BE PERFORMING SELECTIONS FROM THIS ALBUM LIVE AT THE WHIMSY AND WONDER COMMUNITY ART STREET FESTIVAL IN LIBERTY HILL ON SATURDAY MAY 16TH.
AND TODAY WE GET TO, UH, LISTEN TO SOME VIDEO OF THEIR MUSIC, UH, AND SEE WHAT THEY'RE ALL ABOUT.
SO IF WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, LET'S TURN TO THE VIDEO SCREENS AND INTRODUCE THE SEMI MODULARS ELECTRIC ROBOT.
[02:30:59]
THAT'S TIGHT GUYS.ALRIGHT GUYS, OUR NEXT SONG IS DEDICATED TO A PERSON THE LEFT TOWN.
IT'S A PRETTY SAD SONG, BUT IT'S ONE OF THE BEST PERSONS THAT I EVER MET IN MY LIFE, BUT SHE'S NOT HERE ANYMORE WITH US.
SO THIS SONG IS CALLED TEXAS MISSES YOU 1, 2, 3.
UM, WE ARE GONNA BRING THE BAND UP HERE AND PRESENT A PROCLAMATION.
SO WE'LL HAVE Y'ALL RIGHT HERE AND IF I CAN I GET YOU TO HOLD THIS RIGHT HERE.
I CAN SAY AS A A FORMER BAND KID MYSELF, THAT WAS REALLY ENJOYABLE TO LISTEN TO.
[02:35:01]
YOU ARE SORRY,
WHAT'S MOVING THE CAMERA? NOTHING MOVING.
WHAT ARE THOSE WORDS? WE AGAIN? ALRIGHT.
WELL, I GET THE PRIVILEGE OF READING THIS PROCLAMATION, SO 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 AUDIT ARTISTS.
SO NOW THEREFORE, I, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 7TH, 2026 AS THE SEMI MODULARS DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
CERTAINLY WISH YOU ALL THE BEST OF SUCCESS AND CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOUR SHOWS AGAIN.
SO DO COME BACK AND GOOD LUCK THE DIRECTOR SAY ANYTHING.
Y'ALL WANNA SAY ANYTHING? SAY ANYTHING? YEAH.
RIGHT HERE? YEP, THERE YOU GO.
SO I WILL, WILL PRESENT SEMI MODULARS BECAUSE THE SYNTHESIZERS SOUND REALLY AMAZING TOWARDS THE T-S-B-B-I SEMI MODULARS OF 2026.
WE GOOD? ALRIGHT, THANK Y'ALL.
IS IT OKAY IF WE GET ONE GROUP SHOT? EVERYBODY ON? IT'S STILL MAY 7TH, 2026.
IT'S 1:00 PM AND I WILL CALL BACK TO ORDER THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR THIS.
I THOUGHT I, I THOUGHT I KNEW HE WAS THERE.
I'M CALLING BACK TO ORDER THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AT 1:00 PM
[Consent Agenda (Part 2 of 2)]
UH, WE WILL GO BACK TO ITEM NUMBER 24 AND I WILL RECOGNIZE THE CLERK'S OFFICE.THANK YOU MAYOR CALEB BAZI ON ITEM 24, CARRIE KING, KABA WHITE CAMILLE COOK, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND BEGIN SPEAKING.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS CALEB BAZI FROM DISTRICT FIVE.
TIME AND TIME AGAIN, LARGE CORPORATIONS HAVE PROVEN THAT THEIR SOLE MOTIVE IS TO MINIMIZE COSTS AND MAXIMIZE PROFITS.
AUSTIN HAS ALREADY PROVEN TO BE A VERY TECH FRIENDLY CITY IN A STATE CONSIDERED TO BE ONE OF THE MOST FRIENDLY TO LARGE CORPORATIONS.
INCENTIVIZING DATA CENTERS IN PARTICULAR WILL PROVIDE ABSOLUTELY NO BENEFIT TO THE CITY AND ITS CONSTITUENTS WHATSOEVER WHILE IT HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE TEXT'S.
IMPORTANT TO PROVIDE CLEAR EXPLANATION AS TO WHAT INDUSTRIES WILL BE INCENTIVIZED, WHETHER AI DATA CENTERS, DEFENSE CONTRACTORS AND SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY WILL BE EXCLUDED.
THEY'LL PRO PROVE A STRAIN ON OUR WATER AND POWER, WHICH TEXAS IS FAMOUS FOR.
IN STRUGGLING WITH DEMAND, THEY'LL PROVIDE NO PROPERTY TAX TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
EMPLOY VERY FEW FULL-TIME PERMANENT WORKERS.
THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO INCENTIVE FOR THE CITY TO ALLOW THESE DATA CENTERS TO BUILD WITHIN THE CITY, LET ALONE PROVIDE MASSIVE BENEFITS TO BUILD WITHIN AUSTIN COUNCIL MEMBERS, I IMPLORE YOU TO VOTE NO AND LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
HELLO, MY NAME IS KERRY KING AND I'M RAISING THREE CHILDREN HERE IN SOUTH AUSTIN, DISTRICT FIVE.
AS CARETAKERS OF THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY U BEAR, THE RESPONSIBILITY OF GUIDING OUR COMMUNITY TOWARDS SUSTAINABILITY AND COOPERATION.
NOT SHARED PROFIT AND DOMINATION.
NO MORE TAX INCENTIVES AND TAX BREAKS FOR COMPANIES THAT SEEK TO CONTROL AND EXPLOIT OUR COLLECTIVE NATURAL AND
[02:40:01]
INTELLECTUAL RESOURCES.COMMUNITIES ALL ACROSS THE NATION HAVE BEEN FIGHTING AGAINST THE DEVELOPMENT OF DATA PROCESSING CENTERS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE INDUSTRY USES TOO MUCH WATER.
LESS THAN 200 MILES AWAY, THE WHOLE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI FINDS ITSELF ON THE BRINK OF DEHYDRATION.
WHILE TO THE WEST, THE CENTRAL TEXAS HYLAND LAKES HAVE BEEN AT DROUGHT LEVELS FOR WELL OVER A DECADE.
WE HAVE NO BUSINESS ENCOURAGING WATER HOGGING INDUSTRIES TO COME SET UP SHOP HERE IN THE AUSTIN AREA, ESPECIALLY NOT NOW.
IN THIS CURRENT CLIMATE OF INDUSTRY DEREGULATION AND POLITICAL INSTABILITY, WE MUST NOT OPEN DOORS TO AI DATA COLLECTION AND SURVEILLANCE COMPANIES WITH ONE HAND INVITING POTENTIALLY NEFARIOUS AGENTS WHILE USING THE OTHER HAND TO CLOSE DOORS ON, FOR INSTANCE, AUSTIN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND HUMANE SOLUTIONS FOR OUR UNHOUSED POPULATION.
I UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO DRAW NEW INDUSTRY TO AUSTIN, BUT GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT SHOULD NOT FAVOR INDUSTRIES NOTORIOUS FOR HARMFUL PRACTICES.
EVERY CITY ACROSS THE STATE, ACROSS THE GLOBE FOR THAT MATTER, SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON CLIMATE AND ENERGY SOLUTIONS.
AT THE EXPENSE OF AUSTIN'S MORAL FIBER AND ETHICAL INTEGRITY, HECK NO.
AND BY THE WAY, PLEASE GET THESE WAYWARD WAYMO'S AND ROBO TAXIS OFF OUR STREETS.
I WITNESSED ONE CUTTING OFF MY CHILD'S SCHOOL BUS JUST THE OTHER DAY.
NO, THANK YOU AND NO THANK YOU TO ITEM 24.
TOSS IT OUT ON ITS BEHIND AND FOCUS ON INCENTIVIZING INDUSTRIES THAT PROVIDE SOLUTIONS.
I WORK AS A LOCAL CLEAN ENERGY ADVOCATE AND ORGANIZER, AND I'M ON THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE FOR DISTRICT THREE.
I'M HERE SPEAKING AGAINST ITEM 24.
THE CITY SHOULDN'T BE PRIORITIZING INVESTMENT IN AI AND DATA CENTERS.
THE CITY SHOULD INSTEAD PRIORITIZE AND INVEST IN MAKING THE CITY LIVABLE THROUGH PRIORITIZING SOCIAL SERVICES AND CLEAN ENERGY.
GREATER INVESTMENT IN DATA CENTERS AND INFRASTRUCTURE FOR AI WOULD NOT ONLY FURTHER CEMENT OUR CITY TO BIG TECH, BUT IT WOULD ALSO MEAN GREATER DEMAND FOR NEW GAS PLANTS AND FOSSIL FUEL INFRASTRUCTURE.
THESE WOULD MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE CITY TO MEET ITS CLIMATE GOALS.
AND WE ALREADY KNOW THAT AE WANTS TO BRING, AE BEING AUSTIN ENERGY WANTS TO BRING IN A NEW GAS PLANT TO THE CITY.
AND WE ALREADY KNOW THAT THERE'S A VERY GOOD CHANCE IT'LL BE IN EAST AUSTIN, A PART OF TOWN THAT HAS BEEN ATTACKED BY MALICIOUS HOUSING, ENERGY AND INDUSTRIAL POLICY AS WELL AS ECONOMIC POLICY.
SO I ASK WHO BENEFITS FROM THE CURRENT SECTORS YOU WANNA PRIORITIZE AND WHO WILL PAY THE PRICE FOR IT? OVER THE LAST HALF A YEAR, I'VE BEEN SUPPORTING COMMUNITY GROUPS ACROSS THE STATE, FIGHTING DA DATA CENTERS AND AI.
AND THESE FIGHTS HAVE AGITATED AND MOVED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF REGULAR TEXANS INTO THEIR CITY COUNCILS, THEIR COUNTY COMMISSIONS, THEIR LOCAL LIBRARIES JUST INTO THE STREETS ACROSS TEXAS.
THERE HAVE BEEN AT LEAST 15 CITY COUNCIL AND COUNTY COMMISSIONER RESOLUTIONS CALLING FOR MORATORIUMS OR GREATER RESTRICTIONS ON DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENT REFLECTING THE WILL OF OVER 1.3 MILLION TEXANS.
I PROMISE THAT SAME THING AS Y'ALL CAN SEE WHAT HAPPENED HERE.
PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT LOCAL.
I'VE SEEN PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT LOCAL POLITICS, HOLD DOWN AND HOST TOWN HALLS WITH HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE, ALL THINKING ABOUT WAYS THAT THEY CAN STOP DATA CENTERS AND THE POLITICIANS WHO SUPPORT THEM.
I KNOW THAT THIS ITEM HAS BEEN EDITED SINCE IT ORIGINALLY CAME OUT, BUT EVERYONE HERE KNOWS THAT IF IT WAS EVER ON THE AGENDA, THEN IT'S BEING TALKED ABOUT AND CONSIDERED.
WE DEMAND GUARDRAILS TO GUARANTEE THAT DATA CENTERS AND INVESTMENT IN AI ARE NOT PRIORITIZED BY THE CITY.
AND THAT CLEAN ENERGY, SOCIAL SERVICES AND THE SECTORS THAT MAKE AUSTIN LIVABLE FOR THE REGULAR PERSON ARE PRIORITIZED.
ON ITEM 24, JESSE BANGS, JEFFREY BOWEN, MEGAN FORTSON, MISAEL RAMOS, BEN SOTHEBY, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND BEGIN SPEAKING.
HI, I'M MEGAN FORTSON, THE SENIOR DIRECTOR FOR THE AUSTIN INFRASTRUCTURE ACADEMY WITH WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS CAPITAL AREA.
AND TODAY I AM, I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE ACADEMY, A LOCAL COALITION OF PARTNERS IN BUSINESS, EDUCATION, GOVERNMENT, AND THE COMMUNITY ALL WORKING TOGETHER TO GROW THE NEEDED WORKFORCE FOR TRANSPORTATION, CONSTRUCTION, AND OTHER SKILLED TRADES.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CREATES THE OPPORTUNITY AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CONNECTS AUSTINITES TO IT HAS.
AUSTIN CONTINUES TO GROW WITH THE $25 BILLION BEING INVESTED IN CAPITAL PROJECTS.
WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT LOCAL AUSTINITES BENEFIT FROM THIS OPPORTUNITY AND THIS INVESTMENT.
SINCE LAUNCHING THE ACADEMY JUST OVER A YEAR AGO, WE'RE SEEING STRONG MOMENTUM AND THIS REFLECTS JUST A PORTION OF THE FULL ECOSYSTEMS IMPACT.
SO WE KNOW AT WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS THAT WE'VE ENGAGED MORE THAN 1500 LOCAL JOB SEEKERS, UM, IN PERSON LEARNING ABOUT THESE OPPORTUNITIES.
SO RAISING AWARENESS, ENROLLED OVER A THOUSAND AUSTINITES INTO THE INFRASTRUCTURE ACADEMY, INCREASING ACCESS TO THESE OPPORTUNITIES PROVIDED 160
[02:45:01]
PLUS TRAINING SCHOLARSHIPS, SO REMOVING BARRIERS AND HELPED NEARLY A HUNDRED LOCAL JOB SEEKERS IMPROVE OR SECURE EMPLOYMENT JUST SO FAR WITH MORE STILL IN THE TRAINING PIPELINE.SO THIS SHOWS WHAT'S POSSIBLE, BUT IT ALSO SHOWS THE SCALE OF NEED.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO INVEST IN OUR LOCAL JOB SEEKERS AND REMOVE THESE BARRIERS, BUT ALSO TRAINING ALONE ISN'T ENOUGH.
THESE PATHWAYS MUST CONNECT DIRECTLY TO JOBS AND EMPLOYER PARTNERSHIP IS CRUCIAL IN THAT.
SO WE NEED EMPLOYERS SHARING THEIR WORKFORCE FORECAST HELP, UM, SHAPE TRAINING AND COMMIT TO HIRING LOCALLY.
THEIR BUY-INS CRUCIAL TO MAKING THIS SYSTEM AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE ACADEMY SUCCESSFUL, UM, IN HELPING PEOPLE CONNECT TO REAL JOBS AFTER TRAINING.
AND WE NEED THE CITY'S CONTINUED SUPPORT TO MATCH THE SCALE OF OPPORTUNITY AND, UM, DRIVING EMPLOYER COMMITMENT TO HIRING LOCAL SO THAT OUR OWN COMMUNITY CAN BUILD THIS FUTURE.
I'M A PSYCHIATRIST AND I'M A PROUD AUSTINITE.
I'M HERE FOR MY LOVE OF THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN, AS WELL AS THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY THAT I FEEL BLESSED TO LIVE IN.
UM, AND I WANNA TALK ABOUT ITEM 24 AND HOW IT THREATENS THE WELLBEING OF AUSTINITES AND THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY.
UM, SO FIRST OF ALL, DEFENSE HAS BEEN TAKEN OUT BY NAME AS A TARGET SECTOR FOR THIS CITY TO INCENTIVIZE, BUT IT HASN'T BEEN SPECIFICALLY PROHIBITED WITH AUSTIN'S HISTORY AS A HUB FOR DEFENSE COMPANIES.
THE CURRENT RESOLUTION IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH.
THERE SHOULD NOT BE ANY LOOPHOLES.
WE BELIEVE THAT UNLESS EXPLICIT LANGUAGE PROHIBITS IT, THE DEFENSE INDUSTRY WILL BENEFIT ENORMOUSLY FROM CITY INCENTIVES UNDER THE NEW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POLICIES.
ALSO, AUSTINITES DON'T WANT A RESOLUTION THAT PAVES THE WAY FOR PALANTIR AND DEFENSE STARTUPS TO GET PRIORITY TREATMENT AND CITY BENEFITS.
AI KILLER DRONES COULD END UP RECEIVING CITY OF AUSTIN TAXPAYER LAND OR TAXES.
WE DON'T WANT OUR CITY CONTRIBUTING TO ENDLESS WARS ABROAD.
WE DON'T WANT OUR CITY CONTRIBUTING TO NEEDLESS DEATHS.
AUSTINITES HAVE ALREADY REJECTED SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY, LIKE AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READERS.
AI DATA CENTERS ARE ALSO PROBLEMATIC ENVIRONMENTALLY AND AS A PHYSICIAN, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE THAT CONCERNS ME.
PALESTINE WILL BE FREE IN SHAAH.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
UH, JEFFREY BOWEN FOR DISTRICT EIGHT.
UH, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, ON THIS ITEM, THERE WAS SOME THINGS THAT AS I WENT THROUGH EVEN THE REVISED VERSION OF IT, AND I JUST WANTED TO JUST POINT OUT A COUPLE OF ITEMS UNDER THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS AND PERMITTING.
ON PAGE FOUR, YOU TALK ABOUT, UH, DEVELOPING A PERMITTING CONCIERGE SERVICE.
NOW, BASED UPON MY PRIOR EXPERIENCE IN DEALING WITH PERMITTING, UM, I FOUND THAT I DID THIS WITH A PROJECT THAT I BUILT ON THE EAST SIDE OF TOWN, BUT I HAD TO DEAL WITH TRAVIS COUNTY AND I GOT SUBJECTED TO TESLA COMING IN AND BEING PUT BEFORE A LOT OF OTHER PERMANENS.
MINE WAS SO FAR WAS AT THE VERY END OF THAT, SO I'D MISSED THAT OUT.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING IN HERE THAT SAYS THAT THIS DOES NOT TAKE AWAY FROM OTHER PEOPLE'S PERMITTING PROCESSES IN THAT IF IT'S GOING TO BE A SEPARATE ISSUE THAT A SEPARATE ITEM, THEN THAT'S FINE, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OTHERS ARE RECEIVING THE SAME BENEFITS, UH, AND GO FROM THERE.
ON THE NEXT ITEM BACK UNDER INFRASTRUCTURE AND UTILITIES, YOU SAY PROJECT, UH, PROJECTS WITH EXTRAORDINARY INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIREMENTS MUST DEMONSTRATE PROPORTIONAL HIGHER COMMUNITY BENEFITS AND PARTICIPATION.
WELL, WE ALL KNOW WE HAVE AN EXISTING WATER LEAKAGE ISSUE AND WE HAVE A USAGE ISSUE ON OUR STRAIN SUPPLY.
SO I WOULD REALLY LOVE TO SEE MORE TRANSPARENCY AND HOPING THAT THAT'S A VERY TRANSPARENT PROCESS BECAUSE THAT'S ONE THING THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S, THAT IS BEING TAKEN CARE OF.
UM, UNDER WORKFORCE AND TALENT.
ON PAGE FIVE, THE TALENT PIPELINE, THERE'S A LOT OF THE UNIVERSITIES ALL PUT THERE, BUT I DON'T SEE ANYTHING ABOUT OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN BEING ABLE TO MAYBE START GETTING STUDENTS, UH, INDOCTRINATE, WELL, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, INDOCTRINATED INTO OKAY, THE HVAC WORLD, UH, THE ELECTRICIAN SIDE, THE WELDING SIDES, THAT'S WHERE WE START WITH THIS WORKFORCE TRAINING AND GETTING STUDENTS,
[02:50:01]
UH, TO UNDERSTAND THERE'S A POSSIBLE FUTURE IN THIS AND WHAT THE NEEDS ARE.NOT EVERYBODY IS READY TO GO TO COLLEGE.
YOU'RE SITTING NEXT TO, RIGHT NEXT TO SOMEBODY THAT COULD PROBABLY GIVE YOU SOME MORE INFORMATION SPECIFICALLY ABOUT WHAT YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT.
CABO WHITE FOR PUBLIC CITIZENS TEXAS OFFICE.
APOLOGIES THAT I COULDN'T GET BACK QUITE IN TIME.
UM, PUBLIC CITIZEN IS GENERALLY, UH, OPPOSED TO ECONOMIC INCENTIVES FOR CORPORATIONS.
UH, HOWEVER, IF BUSINESSES ARE GOING TO RECEIVE SOME SORT OF PUBLIC INCENTIVES, WE BELIEVE THAT THEY SHOULD BE, UH, CHECKING THE POSITIVE BOX IN ALL CATEGORIES.
THAT'S ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL, AND ECONOMIC.
IT IS NOT ENOUGH SIMPLY TO CREATE JOBS.
BUSINESSES THAT ARE GOING TO RECEIVE PUBLIC SUPPORT FROM OUR CITY SHOULD BE IMPROVING OUR SITUATION WHEN IT COMES TO ENERGY, WHEN IT COMES TO AIR QUALITY, WHEN IT COMES TO WATER AVAILABILITY AND THE CLEANLINESS OF OUR WATER.
THEY SHOULD BE CREATING GOOD JOBS THAT BENEFIT PEOPLE AND BENEFIT OUR CITY OVERALL.
AND DON'T THINK THAT THAT CAN BE SAID TO BE TRUE FOR SURE OF DATA CENTERS OR OF AI TECHNOLOGY.
AND THIS IS NOT, UH, YOU KNOW, JUST UNIQUE TO THE, THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN THAT ARE SHOWING UP HERE TODAY TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST DATA CENTERS AND AI.
THESE ARE VERY UNPOPULAR, UH, TECHNOLOGIES AND INDUSTRIES.
RECENT POLLING HAS SHOWN THAT IN MANY CATEGORIES, THE PUBLIC WANTS A LOT MORE REGULATION ON AI IN PARTICULAR.
AND GOOD 72% OF VOTERS WOULD PREFER TO HAVE AI TECHNOLOGIES SLOWED DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY IN ORDER TO PUT THAT REGULATION ON.
AND THE REALITY IS, IS THAT IF YOU'RE SUPPORTING DATA CENTERS, THEN YOU ARE SUPPORTING THE BUILD OUT OF AI.
UM, AND POTENTIALLY ALSO CRYPTOCURRENCY, WHICH IS EVEN MORE WORTHLESS AND HAS EVEN LESS PUBLIC SUPPORT.
AND THE OPPOSITION TO DATA CENTERS IS, UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK EXPLODING FRANKLY, ACROSS OUR STATE AND, AND CERTAINLY ACROSS THE COUNTRY AS WELL AS SO MANY DATA CENTERS HAVE ATTEMPTED TO, UM, MOVE INTO TEXAS AND MANY HAVE AND THE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE UNFORTUNATELY BEEN FORCED TO HOST THESE THANK YOU DATA CENTERS ARE THANK YOU.
ON ITEM 24, ELISA HAMMOND, CHRISTOPHER PAGE, MATT OLIVER, RY VASQUEZ, STACEY ROH.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND HAVE A SEAT.
AND WHY DON'T YOU BEGIN? GOOD MORNING.
UM, MAYOR AND COUNCILMAN, I, MY NAME IS ELISA HAMMOND.
I'M IN DISTRICT NINE AND I'M HERE REPRESENTING A THIRD ACT.
THIRD ACT IS A NEW NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND STRONG ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND NOW A THOUSAND IN TEXAS.
WE ARE ELDERS, PEOPLE 55 AND OVER, UM, ORGANIZING TO PROTECT CLIMATE AND DEMOCRACY.
UM, NA NATIONALLY THIRD ACT HAS A CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE LOCAL AND NATIONAL MORATORIA ON NEW HYPERSCALE AI DATA CENTERS.
THE RAPID EXPANSION OF THESE DATA CENTERS THREATENS OUR ENERGY GRID, OUR WATER RESOURCES, OUR CLIMATE GOALS, AND THEY'RE HURTING PEOPLE'S HEALTH WITH NOISE, AIR POLLUTION, AND THE HEAT ISLAND EFFECT THAT THEY ARE CREATING AT EACH DATA CENTER.
OUR, OUR ARGUMENT, OUR REQUEST IS THAT WE HAVE STRONG GUARDRAILS IN PLACE THAT DATA CENTERS DON'T MOVE AHEAD UNTIL WE HAVE THOSE KIND OF ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS AND GUARDRAILS LIKE THE AUSTIN ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION HAS ALREADY PROPOSED.
MY REQUEST IS THAT WE PUT THIS ITEM 24 ON PAUSE UNTIL WE CAN ACTUALLY CREATE THE GUARDRAILS FOR ANY DATA CENTERS GOING FORWARD.
THIS, UM, I'M AFRAID DATA CENTERS AT SOME POINT BECAUSE WE HAVE IMPROVEMENTS WILL BE LIKE DEAD SHOPPING MALLS, THAT WE HAVE TOO MANY DATA CENTERS THAT MOVED AHEAD AND CREATED PERMANENT DESTRUCTION OF THE LAND THAT THEY ARE BUILT ON BECAUSE WE'RE MOVING TOO FAST.
UM, I ALSO WANNA POINT OUT IT'S SUCH AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL OF YOU AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO SHOW LEADERSHIP.
THE WHOLE NATION IN EVERY STATE IS RISING UP WITH CONCERNS, HOW TO PUSH BACK ON DATA CENTERS.
SINCE WE'VE ALREADY MADE PROGRESS WITH OUR ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, WE COULD MOVE FORWARD AND SHOW HOW WE ADOPT THAT HERE AND THEN ALSO CELEBRATE.
HERE'S FINALLY A BIPARTISAN ISSUE.
LET ME BE CLEAR OUT THE GATE, THE KINDS OF COMPANIES YOU WANT TO INVITE INTO OUR CITY WILL KILL AUSTIN.
[02:55:01]
IN COMPANIES THAT WILL HURT OUR COMMUNITY.COMPANIES LIKE ORACLE AND TESLA THAT PUT MONEY INTO MOVING TO AUSTIN, DRAINED OUR LIMITED RESOURCES AND THEN QUICKLY ABANDONED US CHOOSING TO MOVE ELSEWHERE.
COMPANIES LIKE PALANTIR SAY OUR JOB IS ON OCCASION TO KILL PEOPLE.
CHAD CHEAP PT ARE IN OTHER BIG CITIES ASKING FOR MORATORIUMS ON BEING PROSECUTED FOR KILLING PEOP OVER 100 PEOPLE.
AND THESE ARE THE COMPANIES WE WANT IN OUR TOWN, WHETHER BROAD OR HYPER-SPECIFIC OR WHATEVER LANGUAGE YOU CHOOSE.
THOSE PARASITIC COMPANIES READ THE FIRST DRAFT.
THEY KNOW YOU INTEND TO CATER TO THEIR WHIMS. DO YOU WANT AUSTIN ELECTRICITY BILLS TO SKYROCKET FOR ALL OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS? DATA CENTERS OFTEN SHIRK THE COST OF RUNNING THOSE FACILITIES TO THE COMMUNITIES AND DON'T PAY THEIR DUES.
DO YOU WANT TO ENSURE WE HAVE CLEAN WATER? MANY OF THESE UNREGULATED COMPANIES DUMP POISON INTO OUR WATER SOURCES, KILLING OUR ECOSYSTEMS, WHILE NOT GIVING A DAMN ABOUT THE PLACES THEY RUIN.
THE REASON WHY I'M IN AUSTIN CURRENTLY IS BECAUSE MY FATHER WORKED FOR BAE SYSTEMS, A DEFENSE CONTRACTOR.
THEY SAID, YOU EITHER MOVE TO AUSTIN OR GET LAID OFF AND WHAT HAPPENED? HE MOVED TO AUSTIN AND HE GOT LAID OFF.
THESE ARE NOT COMPANIES THAT VIEW WHETHER YOU ARE A TARGET OR THEY'RE EMPLOYEES.
WE NEED TO FULLY TAKE THIS OFF THE TABLE.
WE NEED TO START FROM SCRATCH AND FOR ALL THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE IN FAVOR OF THIS RESOLUTION, YOU'LL LOSE NOTHING RIGHT NOW BY TABLING THE CONVERSATION, PUTTING IN THESE GUARDRAILS AND PUTTING BACK FORWARD FOR OUR ECONOMIC GAIN.
THERE IS NOTHING THAT WE LOSE FROM THIS.
LET'S ACTUALLY THINK ABOUT THE COMMUNITY.
LET'S ROLL IT BACK AND VOTE NO ON THIS.
I BELIEVE I HAD SOMEBODY, UH, DONATE SOME TIME.
CAN I JUST GET A CONFIRMATION? ONE SECOND.
UH, THANKS, UH, MEMBERS, MAYOR, MY NAME'S MATT OLIVER.
I'M A FULL-TIME WORKING MUSICIAN LIVING IN DISTRICT NINE AND I'M HERE TO VOICE MY OPPOSITION TO ITEM 24, A RESOLUTION SPONSORED BY MAYOR WATSON, MAYOR PRO TIM VELA, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER AND COUNCIL MEMBER ZOE CADRY THAT OPENS THE DOOR TO TAXPAYER FUNDED GIVEAWAYS FOR AI AND DEFENSE CORPORATIONS AND OTHER BIG POLLUTERS WITH NO GUARDRAILS IN THE CITY WHOSE SCHOOLS ARE CLOSING WITH $180 MILLION BUDGET SHORTFALL.
OUR ASK UPFRONT MEMBERS DO NOT RUBBER STAMP OR ADVANCE MAYOR WATSON'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE UNTIL IT HAS BEEN AMENDED WITH ENFORCEABLE LANGUAGE THAT EXPLICITLY PROHIBITS CHAPTER THREE 80 AGREEMENTS OR CITY INCENTIVES FOR AI INFRASTRUCTURE, AEROSPACE, QUOTE, DATA MANAGEMENT, DEFENSE CONTRACTORS, JOB STEALING, AUTONOMOUS CAR COMPANIES, AND ANY OTHER INDUSTRIES WITH KNOWN RECORDS OF JOB OFFSHORING, POLLUTION, TOXIC WASTE, WAR, PROFITEERING, AND ENVIRONMENTAL HARM.
I'VE LIVED HERE IN AUSTIN SINCE 1998 AND LIKE THE OTHER HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE TAKING TIME OFF OF WORK AND OUTTA THEIR DAY TO VOICE THEIR OPPOSITION TO RESOLUTION 24.
I WANT TO HELP BE PART OF THE SOLUTION TO AUSTIN'S AFFORDABILITY CRISIS AND BUILD US A STRONG SUSTAINABLE LOCAL ECONOMY FOR THE LONG TERM.
I'VE GOT A KID IN A ISD PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHOSE TEACHERS AND STAFF DO HEROIC WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY.
I CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY TO HAVE ENOUGH WORK ON THE ROAD RIGHT NOW TO SCRAPE BY, BUT A LOT OF THE WORKING MUSICIANS I KNOW WHO THEMSELVES CREATE JOBS IN EVERY MEMBER DISTRICT HAVE HAD TO LEAVE THE CITY LIMITS OR GET SECOND AND THIRD JOBS JUST SO THEY CAN AFFORD GROCERIES WHILE THEY PROVIDE THE CULTURAL SERVICES THAT GENERATE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN TOURIST REVENUE FOR AUSTIN.
I'M NOT A HOTEL OWNER, I'M NOT A PAID LOBBYIST OR REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER.
BUT LUCKILY THE SOLUTION HERE DOES NOT REQUIRE A ROCKET SCIENTIST IN MAYOR WATSON'S.
FIRST TERM, THE CITY GAVE INTEL $15 MILLION.
INTEL NEVER FINISHED THAT BUILDING.
THE CITY'S CHAPTER THREE 80 AGREEMENT WITH SAMSUNG A HUNDRED PERCENT PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT FOR 10 YEARS, 75% FOR THE DECADE AFTER TOTALED OVER $62 MILLION.
AND BY 17, AUSTIN WAS CUTTING SAMSUNG A CHECK FOR NEARLY 10 MILLION BUCKS A YEAR EVERY YEAR.
THIS CITY COUNCIL APPROVED 725 FOOT TOWERS ON THE STATESMAN SITE WITH NO ONSITE AFFORDABLE HOUSING REQUIREMENT.
A TRAVIS COUNTY JUDGE RULED THE CITY TAX FINANCING SCHEME, UH, VIOLATED STATE LAW.
SO THAT'S PUBLIC LEVERAGE FOR PRIVATE GAIN WITH NO ACCOUNTABILITY.
IT'S NOW AN EMPTY PARKING LOT.
AI COMPANIES AND DEFENSE AND AEROSPACE CONTRACTORS ARE SERIOUS WATER AND ENERGY CONSUMERS IN THE STATE ALREADY RATIONING BOTH.
SO BEFORE THIS VOTE, TWO THINGS ON THE RECORD, PLEASE AMEND ITEM 24 TO EXPLICITLY PROHIBIT CHAPTER THREE 80 AGREEMENTS WITH AI INFRASTRUCTURE,
[03:00:01]
AEROSPACE, QUOTE, DATA MANAGEMENT, DEFENSE CONTRACTORS AND OTHER INDUSTRIES WITH KNOWN RECORDS OF POLLUTION, TOXIC WASTE, WAR PROFITEERING, JOB OFFSHORING, AND IN ENVIRONMENTAL HARM.PUT THOSE EXCLUSIONS IN THE TEXT OF THE RESOLUTION AND TELL US PUBLICLY BEFORE THE NEXT BUDGET CYCLE WITH REAL INDEPENDENTLY VERIFIED NUMBERS, NOT VAGUE CORPORATE LANGUAGE OR NAIVE WEASEL WORDS LIKE TARGETED FRAMEWORK AND PROPORTIONALLY HIGHER COMMUNITY BENEFIT, HOW YOU PLAN TO SUPPORT LOCALLY OWNED BUSINESSES AND GOOD LOCAL JOBS THAT PAY A THRIVING WAGE.
PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE TAX GIVEAWAYS TO CORPORATIONS AND REAL ESTATE DEVELOPERS IN YOUR ANSWER THESE DAYS.
IT SEEMS LIKE SO MANY OF THE MUSICIANS WHO WORK IN TOWN HAVE PACKED UP AND MOVED TO LOCKHART.
I MEAN, NO DISRESPECT TO MY FELLOW AUSTIN MUSICIAN, AARON FRANKLIN, WHO SECOND JOB AS A PIT MASTER OVERTOOK HIS DUTIES AS THE DRUMMER FOR THOSE PEA BODIES, A GREAT LOCAL BAND, BUT I WILL SAY THAT THE BARBECUE SMITTY'S IS THE BEST BRISKET IN THE WORLD.
WHY DON'T YOU AHEAD, WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD, UH, CHRIS PAGE, DISTRICT ONE.
UM, WHAT I'VE BEEN HEARING TODAY IS THAT WE DON'T TRUST YOU.
UM, AND I THINK WITH GOOD REASON WE HEAR ECONOMIC INCENTIVES, BUT WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT THESE ARE TAX PACKAGES THAT BUSINESSES DON'T NEED SOME, IN SOME CASES TRILLION DOLLAR BUSINESSES.
UM, WE SEE THEM CLOSING THEIR OFFICE SPACE IN OUR CITY AND TRYING TO OPEN UP DATA CENTERS THAT WANT MORE POWER THAN WE COULD EVER PROVIDE, AND MORE WATER THAN THE ENVIRONMENT WILL EVER PROVIDE.
WE KNOW FROM VERY THOROUGH NATIONAL CONVERSATIONS, TESTIMONY IN FRONT OF THE US SENATE AND CONGRESS BY THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE CREATED THESE COMPANIES, THAT THERE IS NOT ENOUGH POWER TO DO THE THINGS THAT THEY WANT TO DO.
AND THEY ARE COMING HERE TO TEXAS BECAUSE WE HAVE CHEAP POWER AND WE ARE FRIENDLY TO DEREGULATION.
IF YOU WANT AN ECONOMIC PACKAGE THAT PROTECTS AUSTIN, IT SHOULD HAVE STARTED A LONG TIME AGO.
AND FRANKLY, YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER STEWARDS OF OUR ECONOMY FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
BUT AS WE SEE EMPLOYEES LOSING THEIR JOBS, PEOPLE UNABLE TO PAY THIS, YOU KNOW, THEIR EVER ESCALATING RENT, THE INCREASINGLY HOSTILE ECONOMIC PRESSURE THAT IS PUSHING PEOPLE OUT OF THE CITY, OFTEN THE MOST VULNERABLE.
WE KNOW THAT YOU COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER STEWARDS THROUGH THE POLICIES THAT YOU CREATE EVERY SINGLE DAY.
AND IF YOU WANT AN ECONOMIC PACKAGE THAT SUPPORTS OUR CITY, SUPPORTS OUR CREATIVE CLASS, THE SOUL OF AUSTIN, AS SOME OF SOME OF YOU HAVE DESCRIBED IT, THEN YOU SHOULD STOP WHAT YOU'RE DOING TODAY AND LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE THAT WILL BE MOST AFFECTED.
AND UNTIL YOU DO THAT, YOU WILL NOT HAVE OUR TRUST.
AND YOU C YOU CERTAINLY SHOULD NOT HAVE OUR VOTES WHEN IT COMES TO NOVEMBER.
AND I HOPE THAT OUR CITY SEES BETTER DAYS THROUGH BETTER LEADERSHIP.
PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
UH, IS HASSAN LEWIS HERE? YES.
I DON'T INTEND TO USE IT ALL, BUT I JUST WANTED TO HAVE TIME TO TAKE MY TIME TO SAY WHAT I NEEDED TO SAY.
UM, THANK YOU, UH, COUNSEL AND MAYOR FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY ON BEHALF OF ITEM 24.
I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE TO REALIZE THAT WE'RE AT A VERY UNIQUE TIME FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND ESPECIALLY FOR AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL A HUNDRED YEARS AGO.
1928 IS WHEN THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL CREATED THE MOST INTRUSIVE AND AGGRESSIVE ECONOMIC PLAN FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN, SPECIFICALLY FOR THE MINORITY AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES THAT PUT A NEGRO DISTRICT EAST OF EAST AVENUE.
DURING THAT TIME, WE'VE HAD LANDFILLS BUILT IN OUR COMMUNITIES, WE'VE HAD HIGHWAYS GOING THROUGH OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND TO BRING CONTEXT TO THIS, I'M NOT JUST A LIFELONG AUSTINITE.
I ATTENDED AUSTIN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT SCHOOLS FROM HARRIS ELEMENTARY TO, UH, LBJ HIGH SCHOOL.
I ALL THE WAY TO GRADUATING FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS.
I'M AN ECONOMIST AND AN ENGINEER.
I LIVE EVERY DAY FIGHTING FOR MY COMMUNITY, NOT JUST THE ONES THAT LOOK LIKE
[03:05:01]
ME, BUT THOSE WHO ARE UNDERSERVED.AND A HUNDRED YEARS IS TAKEN US TO GET A COUNCIL TO CONSIDER AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN.
ONE THAT DOES NOT SILO TRANSPORTATION, IT DOESN'T SILO WATER, IT DOESN'T SILO ALL THE THINGS THAT HAVE ALLOWED EAST AUSTIN TO BE GENTRIFIED.
AND SO TODAY I SUPPORT THIS PLAN.
YES, I HEAR THE CONCERNS ABOUT DATA CENTERS AND AI AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT GUESS WHAT? WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS PLAN FOR A HUNDRED YEARS, 60 YEARS.
THESE THINGS DIDN'T EXIST THEN.
SO DON'T THROW THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATH WATER.
CONSIDER THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES, THE CULTURAL OPPORTUNITIES, THE COMMERCE, THE COMMUNITY THAT THIS NEW ITEM WILL IMPACT ACROSS AUSTIN.
GIVE THOSE PLACES LIKE HOUSTON TILLISON.
I HEARD SOMEONE TALK ABOUT EARLIER, WELL BACK IN 1928, IT WAS HOUSTON ON THE WEST SIDE IN TILLISON ON THE EAST SIDE.
THE 1928 PLAN BROUGHT US ALL TOGETHER ON THE EAST SIDE.
AND SO TODAY I'M ASKING YOU TO CONSIDER MOVING THIS FORWARD.
OF COURSE THERE SHOULD BE GUARDRAILS.
I'M SURE THAT SHOULD BE IN PLACE AT ANY TIME.
BUT THE CONSIDERATION OF BRINGING WORKFORCE, UH, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, SMALL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WORKFORCE HOUSING, ALLOW SOCIAL IMPACT DEVELOPERS TO DEVELOP THE COMMUNITY, I THINK THAT THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE TO AUSTIN DRAMATICALLY.
AND THE TIME THAT WE TOOK AS COMMITTEES, DIFFERENT COMMITTEES WORKING ON THE ISSUES THAT WERE OUTLINED IN THIS ITEM, IT DIDN'T COME HAPHAZARDLY, IT DIDN'T COME WITH BILLIONAIRES IN MIND, IT DIDN'T COME WITH DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE OR THINGS LIKE THAT.
IT CAME WITH ALL THOSE ATTRIBUTES THAT MAKE COMMUNITIES LIVABLE AND MAKES THEM WHOLE.
IT SEES US INTO THE NEXT DECADE AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND BUILD OUR FAMILIES.
THE GREATEST THING FOR ME IN MY COMMUNITY IS THAT FOR OVER A HUNDRED YEARS FOR OUR EXISTENCE, WE HAVE TRIED TO BUILD ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT AND GENERATIONAL WEALTH, AND WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT.
THIS CITY, CITY COUNCIL CAN CHANGE THAT IN THIS COMMUNITY.
IT WOULD ALLOW US TO COME BACK TO OUR COMMUNITIES.
IT WILL ALLOW FAITH-BASED INSTITUTIONS TO DEVELOP THEIR LANDS, TO SUPPORT BUSINESSES, TO SUPPORT CHILDCARE CENTERS, TO SUPPORT ALL THOSE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT MAKE A COMMUNITY WHOLE ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT, HOSPITALITY.
I HEARD SOMEONE SPEAK EARLIER ABOUT, YOU KNOW, UM, HOSPITALITY JOBS DON'T MEAN ANYTHING.
THEY MEAN A LOT BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE EMPLOYED IN THOSE JOBS.
COULD THEY HAVE BETTER WAGES? YES, THEY COULD.
COULD RESTAURANT OWNERS HAVE BETTER OPPORTUNITIES IN HAVING ACCESS TO CLIENTS? YES, THEY COULD IF THEIR BUSINESSES WERE IN A DOMAIN OR THEY WERE IN A DOWNTOWN AUSTIN.
BUT GUESS WHAT, UNDERSERVED BUSINESSES DON'T HAVE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.
SO THIS ITEM HAS A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE GREAT, THAT ARE GOOD, THAT COULD CHANGE THIS COMMUNITY.
AND IF THIS PASS, YES, I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE DEFINITELY GUARDRAILS IN PLACE, BUT I THINK THIS COUNCIL COULD MAKE HISTORY BY CHANGING THE 1928 PLAN BY 2028 AND MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
AND I'D APPRECIATE SEEING THIS MOVING FORWARD.
AND BY THE WAY, I'M NOT JUST A PERSON WHO LIVES HERE AND HAS LIVED HERE FOR FOUR GENERATIONS.
I RUN A NONPROFIT, BIG AUSTIN.
WE STARTED IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AUSTIN CREATED IT TO HELP WITH ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.
WE'VE SERVED OVER 64,000 INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE UNDERSERVED IN THIS COMMUNITY.
AND OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, WE HAVE INTERVIEWED THEM.
WE HAVE ASKED THEM WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE, AND THEY HAVE OUTLINED AND IDENTIFIED THE SPECIFIC THINGS THAT YOU SEE IN THIS ITEM AS THINGS THAT COULD CHANGE THEIR LIVES AND THEIR FAMILY'S LIVES.
SO I HOPE THAT YOU WOULD TAKE THIS VERY SERIOUSLY.
YES, I HEAR THE CONCERNS OF OTHERS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, BILLIONAIRES AND, AND PLANTER AND ALL THOSE OTHER THINGS.
AND I HAVE THE SAME ISSUES AND CONCERNS, BUT DO NOT HOLD BACK THIS RESOLUTION BECAUSE OF THAT.
MOVE THOSE THINGS OUT AND MOVE THIS FORWARD.
AND THIS WOULD BE A GREAT THING FOR THE CITY COUNCIL.
PLEASE GO AHEAD AND CALL OTHER NAMES.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND BEGIN SPEAKING.
I'M BILL OLIVER AT DISTRICT THREE.
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NOT ALLOWED TO PLAY THE GUITAR.GO AHEAD AND DO THAT HAPPENED.
I'M NOT SURE MR. OLIVER KNOWS, UH, HOW TO MAKE A PRESENTATION WITHOUT IT AND I'VE ALWAYS ENJOYED IT.
WHOA, GO AHEAD AND SET HIS TIME AGAIN.
I DON'T KNOW OF ANY OTHER WAY TO GO.
WE GOTTA GO WITH OUR STRENGTHS.
AND THIS TOWN HAS BEEN VERY NICE FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY.
WHERE DID THE OTHER GUITAR PLAYER GO? GO.
WELL, THERE IS NOT ENOUGH WATER.
DIGITAL CENTERS NOT ENOUGH WATER? NO.
ARTIFICIAL INCENTIVES, FAST TRACK TAX BREAKS.
A I A I KNOW THAT'S YOUR CEILING PART.
GOLDEN CHI WARBLER NOT ENOUGH WATER.
GUADALUPE BASS STATE FIT FISH.
NOT ENOUGH WATER TO GO AROUND.
NOT ENOUGH WATER TO FILL THE RIVERS.
NOT ENOUGH WATER TO GO AROUND.
THE DIGITAL CENTERS NOT ENOUGH WATER.
A I KNOW A-I-A-I-A-I-A-I-A-I KNOW.
A-I-A-A-I KNOW IT WAS A TWO MINUTE SONG.
WHY DON'T YOU, WHY DON'T YOU BEGIN? HI
UM, I, MY NAME WAS CHECKED OFF, BUT I DID NOT GET TO SPEAK, SO I WAS TOLD TO JUST COME UP.
I'M AN ARTS AND CULTURE EDITOR AND A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FIVE.
I WANT TO START BY THANKING THE WRITERS OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR REMOVING DEFENSE AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AS TARGET SECTORS INSISTING ON LIVING WAGE WITH ESCALATION AND UPHOLDING A FOCUS ON WOMEN AND MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES.
IN ADDITION TO THESE CHANGES, I ASK YOU TO DELAY A VOTE OR VOTE NO UNTIL A FURTHER AMENDMENT CLOSES.
LOOPHOLES BY EXPLICITLY DISQUALIFYING THAT AI DEFENSE SURVEILLANCE AND AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES BE INCENTIVIZED IN FUTURE VERSIONS OF THE PLAN.
IF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN IS SIMPLY A CATALOG OF GROWING INDUSTRIES IN THE UNITED STATES, THEN IT CORRECTLY IDENTIFIES THAT THERE IS MONEY TO BE MADE IN AI AND DEFENSE.
IF YOU SELL AUSTINITES OUT, IT IS NOT THIS COUNCIL'S JOB TO EXACERBATE THE UNCHECKED GROWTH OF THESE INDUSTRIES.
THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY IS TO SEEK BALANCE FOR ALL RESIDENTS.
AND AS THE DOCUMENT ITSELF STATES ENHANCE ECONOMIC DIVERSITY AND LONG-TERM COMMUNITY RESILIENCE, THIS MEANS PRIORITIZING MIDDLE AND LOW INCOME WORKERS, SMALL LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS, AND BUSINESSES THAT AREN'T RIDDLED.
AS OTHER SPEAKERS HAVE POINTED OUT WITH MASS LAYOFFS, AI IS A VERY SERIOUS THREAT TO THE ENVIRONMENT, TO REGULAR PEOPLE'S QUALITY OF LIVING, LIVING GIVEN THE NOISE, AIR POLLUTION, RESOURCE STRAIN AND POTENTIAL EMINENT DOMAIN AND OTHER REAL ESTATE ISSUES, AND TO THE QUALITY OF INTELLECTUAL, CREATIVE, AND EDUCATIONAL OUTPUT THAT AUSTIN HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN FAMOUS FOR.
I'LL ALSO DEFINITIVELY SAY THAT THE WORST FACET OF MY LIFE AS AN AUSTINITE IS, WAS WATCHING MY TAXES FUND WAR CRIMES ON FOREIGN PEOPLES AND INCENTIVIZE FOREIGN BUSINESSES KNOWING THAT IT COULD GO TO HEALTHCARE, CHILDCARE, EDUCATION, STABLE HOUSING, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, HELPING MUSICIANS LIVE WITHIN CITY LIMITS AND OTHER QUALITY OF LIFE UPGRADES AT HOME.
LOCAL POLICY IS OUR CHANCE TO PUT OUR MONEY WHERE IT REALLY WORKS FOR US AND GROW THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.
WE NEED TO TAKE A PROACTIVE APPROACH AND NOT JUST DELAY A COMMITMENT TO AI DEFENSE AND SURVEILLANCE, BUT FIRMLY MARK THEM AS AREAS THAT DO NOT WARRANT OUR COMMUNITY'S INVESTMENT.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I SERVE AS PRESIDENT OF THE AUSTIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR
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OF ITEM 24 AND JOIN MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS REPRESENTING OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES.OUR CORE FOCUS IS HELPING AUSTIN BUSINESSES SUCCEED.
BY ADOPTING THIS FRAMEWORK, YOU WILL COMMUNICATE AUSTIN VALUES AND PRIORITIZE HOW YOU CHOOSE TO INVEST IN OUR ECONOMY AND STRENGTHEN OUR CITY BUDGET.
SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS POLICY FRAMEWORK WILL HELP CREATE JOBS FOR AUSTINITES TODAY AND FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS AND HELP THOSE LOCAL AUSTIN BUSINESSES.
A STRONGER LOCAL ECONOMY GROWS THE TAX REVENUE NOT ONLY FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN BUDGET, BUT OUR OTHER LOCAL JURISDICTIONS AS WELL.
AND THIS WILL INCREASE RESOURCES FOR EDUCATION, TRANSPORTATION, CHILDCARE, AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS, AND HEALTHCARE.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE FOR SPONSORING THIS ITEM.
THANK YOU TO ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TODAY.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO CONTINUING OUR WORK WITH YOU AND THE CITY MANAGER TO MAKE THIS POLICY A SUCCESS.
MAYOR PROTE VELA, MEMBERS OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL, CITY OFFICIALS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
MY NAME IS ZANE BARNES AND I SERVE AS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS AT FOR CAP METRO.
I'M HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF CAP METRO TO SPEAK IN STRONG SUPPORT OF ITEM 24, THE RESOLUTION, ESTABLISHING A COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK FOR OUR CITY.
AT CAP METRO, WE SHARE THE MAYOR'S VISION THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS AN EXPRESSION OF OUR COMMUNITY'S DEEPEST VALUES, NOT A COMPROMISE OF THEM.
WE BELIEVE THAT A THRIVING, STRATEGICALLY DIVERSIFIED ECONOMY IS THE ESSENTIAL FOUNDATION FOR FUNDING THE INFRASTRUCTURE, HOUSING, UTILITIES, AND SOCIAL SAFETY NETS THAT MAKE AUSTIN A WORLD CLASS.
CITY CAP METRO IS FAR MORE THAN A TRANSIT PROVIDER.
OUR SYSTEM IS A POWERFUL DRIVER OF ECONOMIC MOBILITY, CONNECTING OUR WORKFORCE TO JOBS, EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, ENTERTAINMENT, AND MORE.
WE ARE ACTIVELY EMBRACING TRANSIT ADJACENT POLICIES AND OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING, RECOGNIZING THAT OUR ROLE IN THE REGION MUST INCLUDE BEING A PROACTIVE PARTNER IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, RESILIENCY, SUSTAINABILITY, AND LAND USE INITIATIVES.
WE ALSO APPRECIATE THE RESOLUTION'S, E EMPHASIS ON REGIONAL COORDINATION AS PART OF CAP METRO'S STRATEGIC PLAN 2030 EFFORTS WE'RE FOCUSED ON DRIVING REGIONALISM ACROSS CENTRAL TEXAS, ENSURING THAT OUR AREA GROWS, OUR TRANSIT SOLUTIONS AND ECONOMIC STRATEGIES REMAIN INTEGRATED AND BEST IN PRACTICE.
WE STAND IN LINE WITH, WITH CAP METRO'S MEMBER, NON-MEMBER AND PARTNER CITIES AS WELL AS OUR REGIONAL PARTNERS, INCLUDING OPPORTUNITY AUSTIN, OUR CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE, AND OTHER CRITICAL ASSOCIATIONS WHO RECOGNIZE THAT A CLEAR PROACTIVE STRATEGY FOR ATTRACTING INVESTMENT AS VITAL TO MAINTAINING OUR REGION'S GLOBAL COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE.
THIS FRAMEWORK IS, IS A WELCOME AND ESSENTIAL STEP TOWARD A MORE INTENTIONAL ECONOMIC FUTURE.
CAP METRO REMAINS FULLY COMMITTED TO OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND TO THE CONTINUED DELIVERY OF PROJECT CONNECT AS A CATALYST FOR SHARED PROSPERITY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS ITEM AND WE REALLY, WE RESPECTFULLY URGE IT'S APPROVAL.
HELLO, MY NAME'S BEN SOBE, RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FOUR.
UH, I INITIALLY REGISTERED AGAINST THIS ITEM, BUT AS THIS CONVERSATION HAS DEVELOPED AND THERE HAVE BEEN CHANGES, IMPROVEMENTS MADE, I'D LIKE THE CLERK TO MARK ME DOWN AS, UH, AS FOR THIS, THE CHANGE HINGES ON SOME OF THE INCLUSIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE TO THIS.
UM, I'D LIKE TO PARTICULARLY HIGHLIGHT THE INCLUSION OF, UH, LANGUAGE THAT ENCOURAGES LABOR BASED, UH, LABOR ORGANIZATION BASED, UH, APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS. I KNOW PEOPLE WHOSE LIVES HAVE BEEN MATERIALLY IMPROVED BY THESE TYPES OF THINGS.
THAT'S THE TYPE OF THING THAT OUR CITY SHOULD BE ENCOURAGING.
I ALSO KNOW THAT AS THIS, UH, INSTRUCTION TO THE CITY MANAGER TO DEVELOP THIS PROGRAM HAPPENS, WE'RE GONNA HAVE MORE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS.
AND WE HEARD A LOT FROM OUR COMMUNITY BOTH ABOUT THE POTENTIAL AND ALSO THE RISKS.
AND LIKE MANY THINGS, THE DEVIL'S IN THE DETAILS, RIGHT? UH, THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT ARE GREAT FITS FOR AUSTIN.
INCENTIVIZING, YOU KNOW, OUR MUSICIANS, OUR ARTISTS, UH, GOOD JOBS.
THERE ARE ALSO THINGS THAT DO NOT FIT WITH THE VALUES OF THIS COMMUNITY.
AND WE'VE HEARD FROM PEOPLE BOTH YOUNGER THAN ME WHO ARE AGHAST AT, UH, OUR NATION SUPPORTING FOREIGN WARS THAT ARE KILLING PEOPLE ALL OVER.
UH, ALSO FROM PEOPLE OLDER THAN ME.
I KNOW, YOU KNOW, THE OLD AUSTIN HIPPIES, THEY WERE ANTI-WAR, ANTI-NUKE, RIGHT? YOU RUN INTO 'EM AROUND TOWN STILL SOMETIMES EVEN COME AND GIVE TESTIMONY.
AND THOSE VALUES ARE STILL PART OF OUR CITY.
SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO INCLUDE LANGUAGE IN WHATEVER'S DEVELOPED THAT EMPOWERS STAFF TO DIVE DEEP ON THESE THINGS AND WEED OUT THE ONES THAT DON'T FIT US AND ENCOURAGE THE ONES THAT DO FIT US.
ENCOURAGE ALSO, UH, ROBUST COMMUNITY COMMU, UH, PARTICIPATION AND COMMENT ON, ON THESE DECISIONS BEFORE
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THEY'RE INKED.UM, THAT PROCESS WOULD WOULD FIT WITH AUSTIN.
YEAH, WHY DON'T YOU MOVE OVER HERE SO WE CAN SEE YOU.
HAS YOUR NAME BEEN CALLED? YEP.
MY NAME IS MESSIAH RAMOS, DISTRICT RUN RESIDENT AND I'M HERE IN OPPOSITION FOR THE ECONOMIC FRAMEWORK.
AS YOU CONTINUE TO WORK ON THIS FRAMEWORK, WE DEMAND THAT THESE INDUSTRIES, INCLUDING AI COMPANIES, DATA CENTERS, AND MILITARY DEFENSE, ARE STRICKEN OUT IN THE FINAL ORDINANCE.
THANK YOU FOR REMOVING THE TARGETED INDUSTRIES FROM THE FRAMEWORK, BUT WE NEED TO DO MORE AND CALLING A MORATORIUM TO OPPOSE THESE COMPANIES TRYING TO COME TO AUSTIN.
OUR CITY IS LOSING 9.3 BILLION GALLONS OF WATER A YEAR, AND OUR ABILITY TO PAY BILLS CONTINUES TO INCREASE DUE TO COMPANIES THAT OPERATE IN THESE INDUSTRIES IN EAST AUSTIN.
OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE BORE THE BRUNT WHEN IT COMES TO OUR NATURAL RESOURCES BEING DEPLETED.
ALLOWING THESE COMPANIES TO BUILD AND EXPAND HERE WON'T JUST HARM AUSTIN, BUT THEY WILL BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE IMPACTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT, ESPECIALLY ON THE EAST SIDE TIME AFTER TIME.
WE'VE BEEN TOLD COMPANIES WILL COME HERE AND PROVIDE WELL-PAYING JOBS, BUT THOSE JOBS DON'T OFTEN REACH WORKING FAMILIES WITHIN THE EASTERN CRESCENT.
AND IN TURN, THEY CONTINUE TO DISPLACE BLACK AND BROWN FAMILIES WHILE SAID, CORPORATIONS REAP THE BENEFITS PROVIDED BY OUR CITY ONLY TO LAY OFF EMPLOYEES YEARS LATER AND SIDESTEP REGULATIONS WE PUT INTO PLACE.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR STRIKING THESE INDUSTRIES DOWN FROM THE PLAN.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO BE VIGILANT.
SO THOSE INDUSTRIES CAUSING HARM AREN'T INCLUDED IN THE FINAL ORDINANCE.
WE ASK YOU PRIORITIZE OUR WORKING FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS WHEN THINKING ABOUT WHO SHOULD BENEFIT FROM THE EC, THIS ECONOMIC FRAMEWORK, WE'RE ASKING THAT YOU PUT PEOPLE IN SMALL BUSINESSES FIRST WHEN CRAFTING THIS ORDINANCE.
SO FUTURE DEALS CAN BENEFIT THE FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES THAT ADD TO THE CULTURAL FABRIC AND KEEP OUR CITY RUNNING, NOT COMPANIES THAT LEACH OFF OUR RESOURCES, FEEL GENOCIDE, CLASS DIVISION, AND HARM OUR PLANET.
CONTINUING ON ITEM 24, AHMED MEINA, CAMERON, DODD, ANGELO, ANGLO KENARD, WRITEOFF.
MATT PATTON SHANG, HOW WANG JAY CHOI.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND BEGIN SPEAKING PLEASE.
EITHER ONE OF YOU GO AHEAD, YOUR, YOUR NAME WAS, GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL THE HARD WORK DAY IN AND DAY OUT THAT YOU GUYS DO AND YOUR LEADERSHIP.
MY NAME IS AHMED MOENA, 38 YEAR RESIDENT OF AUSTIN.
CURRENTLY IN DISTRICT SIX AND AN ENTREPRENEUR.
I'M HERE TODAY IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM.
FOR AUSTIN TO TRULY THRIVE IN THE YEARS AHEAD, WE NEED A THOUGHTFUL, COORDINATED, AND INCLUSIVE APPROACH TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
THE QUESTION IS WHETHER THAT GROWTH CREATES LONG-TERM OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL PARTS OF OUR CITY, INCLUDING SMALL BUSINESSES, WORKING FAMILIES, STUDENTS, ENTREPRENEURS, AND HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.
MAYOR WATSON'S RESOLUTION PROVIDES A STRONG FRAMEWORK FOR HOW AUSTIN CAN APPROACH THAT CHALLENGE.
IT CREATES A CLEAR PATH FOR SETTING PRIORITIES, ESTABLISHING THE RIGHT INCENTIVES, ENGAGING STAKEHOLDERS, AND ENSURING THAT GROWTH IS INTENTIONAL RATHER THAN REACTIVE.
THAT KIND OF STRUCTURE MATTERS BECAUSE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DECISIONS MADE TODAY WILL SHAPE AUSTIN'S AFFORDABILITY, WORKFORCE INFRASTRUCTURE, AND COMPETITIVENESS FOR YEARS TO COME.
THIS FRAMEWORK ALSO POSITIONS AUSTIN TO ATTRACT THE RIGHT TALENT, CAPITAL AND COMPANIES.
AUSTIN HAS ALREADY MADE INCREDIBLE MOMENTUM, BUT MAINTAINING THAT MOMENTUM REQUIRES CLARITY, COLLABORATION, AND LONG-TERM VISION.
BUSINESSES AND INVESTORS WANT STABILITY AND DIRECTION.
WORKERS WANT OPPORTUNITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE.
RESIDENTS WANT GROWTH THAT STRENGTHENS COMMUNITIES INSTEAD OF DISPLACING THEM.
BY TAKING A STRATEGIC AND BALANCED APPROACH, AUSTIN CAN CONTINUE BUILDING AN E ECONOMY THAT IS INNOVATIVE, COMPETITIVE, AND INCLUSIVE.
ONE THAT BENEFITS NOT ONLY LARGE CORPORATIONS, BUT ALSO LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS, SMALL BUSINESSES, AND THE NEXT GENERATION OF AUSTINITES.
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HONORABLE MAYOR, HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.MY NAME IS ANGELO LOS ANGELOU.
I'VE BEEN A LONG TIME PLAYER IN, UH, THE CITY'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UH, THAT SPANS OVER 42 YEARS.
I AM HERE TO WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT THE MAYOR'S RESOLUTION, UM, WHICH, UM, ENCOMPASSES MANY THINGS, AND I WANT TO, UH, EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT IT CAN DO.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, IT SUPPORTS NEARLY 40,000 SMALL BUSINESSES IN AUSTIN, WHICH MAKES UP ABOUT 97% OF ALL BUSINESSES IN OUR CITY.
IT'S ABOUT INVESTING IN OUR SOCIAL FABRIC AND INFRASTRUCTURE, ROADS AND HOUSING AND SOCIAL SERVICES.
IT WILL RECALIBRATE AND REBALANCE OUR EFFORTS TO INCREASE THE TAX BASE, WHICH IS CRITICAL.
AND, UM, THE COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT HAS NEVER BEEN GREATER AROUND US.
UH, SO IF WE DO NOTHING, UH, THE CITY'S FISCAL SITUATION IS GONNA BE, IS GONNA BE BECOMING WORSE, UH, EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
THE RESOLUTION ESTABLISHES THE CITY AS A LEADER IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TAKES ADVANTAGE OF THE FANTASTIC BRAND THAT ARSEN ENJOYS BOTH NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY.
I WANT TO APPLAUD THE EFFORTS OF THE, UM, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, DR. JOHNSON, PARTICULARLY FOR HIS EFFORTS TO REKINDLE THE CITY'S INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY.
THE RESOLUTION SUPPORTS A PURPOSELY DRIVEN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITH TARGETED INDUSTRIES.
UM, THERE ARE NO WINNERS AND LOSERS IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
UM, AND MOREOVER, IT TAKES ADVANTAGE OF THE CITY'S ASSETS, BOTH SOFT AND HARD.
I'M, I'M SORRY, BUT YOUR TIME'S UP.
THE CITY'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
I, I APOLOGIZE FOR HAVING TO CUT YOU OFF, BUT I HAVE TO DO THAT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND WAITING.
ITEM 24, JULIAN ANN NISH, A PAPA, KERIK ROHN, GINA RAZZA, OLLIE HOFFMAN, STEPHANIE DOUGLAS, ANDREW TIAN, GIAN NINA DENES.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
JOSHUA DELAROSA, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND BEGIN SPEAKING.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD, PLEASE, MS. NI.
LISTEN, Y'ALL, UH, I THINK YOU CAN TELL BY WHO'S SPEAKING FOR AND WHO'S AGAINST THAT.
YOUR CONSTITUENCY DOES NOT WANT THIS.
AND WHILE I DO APPRECIATE THE UPDATED LANGUAGE, ZO, I FORGOT TO TEXT YOU BACK, BUT THANK YOU FOR SENDING ME THAT.
UM, THERE'S STILL NOTHING IN THERE THAT EXPLICITLY STATES THAT WE WILL NOT HAVE DATA CENTERS, THAT WE WILL NOT GIVE THIS TO TECH BROS.
MOREOVER, IT IS NOT OUR JOB AS PUBLIC SERVANTS TO INVEST IN BUSINESSES.
BUSINESSES ARE THERE TO PROFIT OFF OF PEOPLE.
THEY ARE NOT HERE TO HELP OUR COMMUNITIES.
EVEN, EVEN THE BELOVED HEB, IF YOU WERE TO TELL ME WE'RE GONNA GIVE THEM A TAX BREAK, I WOULD SAY, NO.
THE BUTTS FAMILY HAS ENOUGH MONEY AND THEY NEED TO GO AHEAD AND BUILD ME AN HEB IN THE EASTERN CRESCENT TOO, WHILE WE'RE AT IT.
THERE IS SO MUCH THAT WE COULD DO WITH THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE BEEN GIVING TO BUSINESSES, Y'ALL KNOW THE DIOCESE SET ON, AND FRANKLY, Y'ALL HAVE NOT COME IN GOOD FAITH ON CHILDCARE.
I HAVE THE LABOR FORCE, I HAVE THE DEGREES FOR IT.
I NEED THE CHILDCARE CENTERS BUILT.
WELL, THEY'RE ALSO PRO PARTIALLY PRIVATELY OWNED.
AND HOW MANY TIMES HAVE THEY GONE BANKRUPT? SEVEN, I THINK Y'ALL SPEND MORE MONEY BUSTING DOWN BUS STOPS.
SO POOR, POOR PEOPLE CAN'T SIT THERE THAN JUST BUILDING A TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM THAT WOULD WORK FOR THEM.
HAVE YOU RIDDEN A BUS? IT'S LIKE TWO AND A HALF HOURS TO GET ANYWHERE.
THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT USE OUR BUSES ARE PEOPLE THAT USE IT OUT OF DESPERATION.
THAT WOULD CREATE JOBS, BUS DRIVERS.
WHILE WE'RE AT IT, I ALSO TRAIN DRIVERS AT OUR COLLEGES.
THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT THIS CITY DOES NOT HAVE ELOISE HOUSE JUST CLOSED.
WHERE DO SURVIVORS GO TO GET? WHERE ARE SURVIVORS GONNA GO NOW? THEY HAVE TO GO TO A HOSPITAL WHERE THERE'S NO ONE THERE TO HELP THEM WHEN THEY'RE RAPED.
WE JUST CLOSED ELOISE'S HOUSE YESTERDAY.
SPEAKING OF A PD, QUIT CHECKING IN ON REGISTERED SEX OFFENDERS.
DID YOU KNOW THAT? BECAUSE I'VE CALLED SEVERAL OF YOU ABOUT IT.
THERE ARE PLACES OUR MONEY NEEDS TO GO.
ONE PLACE OUR MONEY NEVER NEEDS TO GO IS TO PRIVATE BUSINESSES.
SO YOU HAVE TO CHANGE THAT LANGUAGE OR YOU CANNOT VOTE ON THIS.
PLEASE, PLEASE GO AHEAD AND BEGIN, PLEASE.
MY NAME'S JOSHUA DELOSA FROM PROJECT PHOENIX,
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AND, UM, I'M A CONSULTANT AND A SYSTEMS ANALYST, SYSTEMS EXORCIST.AND, UM, I'M GONNA BE DEPLOYING SOME, UM, SOME AUDITING TOOLS FOR FREE.
UH, I JUST COMPLETED LIKE ONE OF THE LARGEST MOST, UH, LABOR INTENSIVE, UH, UM, ACTS, WHICH IS, I CALL IT THE GREAT AUDIT.
WHERE WE WENT IN, MY GUYS WENT IN AS, UM, AS INFORMANTS.
UM, WE WERE THE VICTIMS OF LIKE D UH, DIFFERENT FAILING AND CORRUPT SYSTEMS. SO LIKE A LOT OF STUFF IS GONNA BE COMING, UH, COMING ALL'S WAY.
UM, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WATSON INTO THE COUNCIL.
I'M A LIFELONG AUSTINITE, UH, SEVENTH GENERATION IN THIS AREA ACTUALLY, AND A STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS COLLEGE OF EDUCATION.
UM, FIRSTLY, I JUST WANNA, COULD YOU STATE YOUR NAME? OH, OLLIE HOFFMAN.
UM, SECONDLY, UH, OR FIRSTLY, I'D LIKE TO THANK, UH, MR. OLIVER FOR HIS TESTIMONY EARLIER BECAUSE MY FATHER'S A WORKING MUSICIAN WHO WAS FORCED OUTTA THE CITY, UH, BY THE RISING COST OF LIVING.
UM, SECONDLY, I'D LIKE TO DIRECTLY RESPOND TO THE OWNER OF TWIN LIQUORS.
UH, MY FAMILY CAME HERE IN 1830 ON A MEXICAN LAND GRANT, SO I'D BEAT YOU.
UM, YOU CAN CALL WHAT BROUGHT OUR PEOPLE HERE OPPORTUNITY.
I CALL IT A GOVERNMENT SELLING RESOURCES THAT DIDN'T BELONG TO THEM FOR CHEAP.