[00:00:06]
[Call to Order]
IT'S 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING ON MAY 21ST, 2026, AND I WILL CALL TO ORDER THIS REGULAR MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.WE ARE MEETING IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS LOCATED IN CITY HALL AT 3 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
UH, WE HAVE A QUORUM OF THE CITY COUNCIL PRESENT.
LET ME SAY FOR THE RECORD THAT TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, WILL NOT BE PRESENT.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, HARPER MADISON WILL NOT BE PRESENT.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, FUENTES WILL NOT BE PRESENT.
SO I WILL NOT, EACH TIME I CALL OUT A VOTE, CALL OUT THAT FACT.
I JUST WANNA MAKE IT, UH, CLEAR FOR THE RECORD THAT, UH, BOTH OF THEM, UH, HAVE A GOOD REASON TO BE OUT TODAY.
UM, WITH THAT BEING SAID, LET ME WALK YOU EVERYBODY THROUGH THE ORDER OF BUSINESS FOR THE DAY, AND THEN I'LL READ CHANGES OF CORRECTIONS IN THE RECORD.
UH, THE ORDER OF THE DAY IS WE'RE GONNA DO THINGS JUST A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENTLY THAN WHAT WE HAVE GROWN ACCUSTOMED TO BECAUSE OF TIMING ISSUES.
AND I'LL, I'LL MAKE NOTE OF THAT HERE IN JUST A SECOND.
THE FIRST ITEM WE'RE GONNA TAKE UP TODAY WILL BE ITEM NUMBER 12.
WE'RE TAKING THAT UP BECAUSE WE NEED TO HAVE THAT APPROVED BY A CERTAIN TIME TODAY IF WE'RE GOING TO APPROVE IT, SO THAT WE CAN PROVIDE NOTICE, UH, CORRECTLY FOR THIRD READING ON MAY 28TH, 2026.
WE WILL THEN GO TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA.
THE ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA ARE OBVIOUSLY ITEM NUMBER 12, ITEM SEVEN, ITEM 16, AND ITEM 23.
WE WILL HEAR SPEAKERS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, AND THEN WE WILL GO AS SOON AS WE CAN TO THOSE OTHER ITEMS. UM, WE OF COURSE WILL AT NOON, WE WILL HAVE OUR 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, WHICH IS PUBLIC GENERAL, PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.
AT 1230, WE WILL HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
THE EXECUTIVE SESSION WILL BE ON ITEM NUMBER 16, ITEM NUMBER 16, AND WE'RE DOING THAT, UH, TO ACCOMMODATE, UH, A SCHEDULE WITH OUTSIDE COUNSEL ON THAT MATTER.
AND, UM, WHAT NORMALLY THAT WE WOULD HAVE, UH, MUSIC, BUT WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE MUSIC.
SO WE WILL, WE WILL GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 1230.
WE WILL COME OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION AND TAKE UP ITEM 16.
WE WILL THEN GO TO THE OTHER ITEMS. AS I'VE INDICATED, WE ALSO HAVE A NUMBER OF NON-CONSENT ITEMS, AND THEY ARE PUBLIC HEARINGS.
ITEM 57 HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL MAY 28TH, 2026, AND ITEM 58, 59 AND 60.
UM, MEMBERS, WE WILL HAVE A, OUR TWO O'CLOCK ZONING MATTERS.
UH, TYPICALLY THAT GETS PUT OFF A LITTLE BIT, DEPENDING UPON WHAT'S GOING ON DURING THE DAY, BUT WHATEVER WE'RE DOING, WHATEVER WE'RE DOING AT TWO O'CLOCK, WE'RE GONNA PAUSE WHATEVER WE'RE DOING, AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE UP SOME ZONING MATTERS.
WE'RE GONNA TAKE UP ITEMS 61, 62, 63, 64, 6, 76, 73, AND SEVEN.
UM, WE'RE GONNA TAKE THOSE UP BECAUSE THEY ARE BEING POSTPONED, AND WE NEED TO TAKE THEM UP AS CLOSE TO TWO O'CLOCK AS WE CAN SO THAT WE HAVE THEM DONE.
SO, AGAIN, NOTICE CAN BE PROPERLY PROVIDED.
I'LL PAY ATTENTION TO THAT, BUT I JUST DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO BE SURPRISED ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING WHEN WE DO THINGS.
MAYBE A LITTLE BIT OUT OF ORDER ON THOSE.
WITH THAT, UNLESS THERE'S QUESTIONS, LET ME READ THE CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS INTO THE RECORD.
ITEMS NINE AND 10 HAVE BEEN WITHDRAWN.
ITEM 54, WHEN PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE TAKEN UP, THIS ITEM WILL BE POSTPONED INDEFINITELY.
THAT'S WHAT I JUST READ, UH, INTO THE REC, NO, ACTUALLY I READ 57.
UH, ITEM 54 WILL BE POSTPONED INDEFINITELY.
ITEM 57 WILL BE POSTPONED TO MAY 28TH, 2026.
SO FOR THE RECORD, WHEN PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE TAKEN UP, THIS ITEM WE
[00:05:01]
POSTPONED TO MAY 28TH, 2026.AGAIN, LET ME REITERATE, WE ARE PULLING OFF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, ITEM 12, ITEM 16, AND ITEM 23.
[12. Approve second reading of an ordinance granting to Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative, Inc., a non-exclusive franchise for constructing, maintaining, operating and using a transmission and distribution system in the City to provide electric utility services within its certificated area. Funding: Estimated annual franchise revenue in the amount of $196,400 is anticipated under this franchise agreement. (Part 1 of 2)]
ARE QUESTIONS, UM, WHAT I WILL DO NOW IS WE WILL GO TO ITEM NUMBER 12, AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK FOR, UH, TO CALL.IF THERE ARE ANY SPEAKERS, THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON ITEM 12 MEMBERS.
THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 12, SO THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER 12, MAYOR PRO, TIM MOVES APPROVAL.
IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN.
IS THERE DISCUSSION ON THE ITEM? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.
AND, AND I'LL SAY IT THIS ONE LAST TIME, WITH, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES AND COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, HARPER MADISON, ABSENT, UH, AND, AND, AND THAT'S PROBABLY THE LAST TIME I SAY THAT.
I DO NOT HAVE ANY INFORMATION.
IF, IF SOMEBODY ON, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER LANE'S STAFF WILL LET ME KNOW WHETHER SHE IS, WELL, THERE SHE IS.
COUNCIL MEMBER LANE, DO YOU WANT TO VOTE ON ITEM NUMBER 12? ALL RIGHT, WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ELAINE, TEMPORARILY OFF THE DIOCESE, ITEM NUMBER 12 IS ADOPTED.
[Consent Agenda (Part 1 of 3)]
THAT WILL NOW TAKE US TO THE CONSENT AGENDA, AND I WILL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK TO CALL FOR SPEAKERS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.FIRST SPEAKER ON ITEM TWO IS AN OBIA JOSEPH.
AFTER MS. JOSEPH, WE HAVE BILL BUNCH ON ITEM THREE.
NEXT, MR. BUNCH IS HEADING ON IN.
WELL GO AHEAD AND CALL ON FOUR SO PEOPLE CAN MAKE THEIR WAY DOWN.
MR. BUNCH, YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED.
IF YOU WANNA TALK ADDITIONALLY, ON ITEM NUMBER FOUR, WE HAVE PAUL ROBBINS, CRAIG NASER, NANCY COWHER, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY DOWN.
AND IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD MY TIME TO CALL.
HAVE YOU ALREADY DONATED? ACCORDING TO OUR RULES, NO.
NO, WE DON'T HAVE ANY TIME DONATIONS.
WE HAVE NO TIME, TIME DONATIONS.
SO MR. ROBBINS WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
YOU WERE CALLED ON A PREVIOUS ITEM, SO, UH, IF YOU WANT TO TALK ON NUMBER THREE, YOU'RE WELCOME TO, UH, I, I, I THINK I'LL PASS ON THREE.
UH, WELL, YOU WEREN'T SIGNED UP FOR NUMBER TWO.
YOU WERE SIGNED UP FOR NUMBER THREE.
AND IF YOU'RE PASSING ON NUMBER THREE, THEN WE'LL GO TO NUMBER FOUR.
MAYOR, THIS WAS PREARRANGED TWO DAYS AGO AND DO NOT, WELL, WHEN YOU PREARRANGE IT WITH EACH OTHER, IT DOESN'T REALLY WORK.
YOU HAVE TO PREARRANGE IT WITH THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE.
UH, MR. NASSER'S TRYING TO RECONCILE THIS RIGHT NOW.
WELL, WE'RE IN A COUNCIL MEETING RIGHT NOW.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE RULES TO ALLOW FOR YOU TO DO THIS BEFOREHAND.
AND IF, AND I'VE, SO YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES, WHICH IS NOT REALLY ENOUGH TIME TO DO THIS.
WELL, THAT'S WHY WE PROVIDE FOR PEOPLE TO DONATE TIME FOLLOWING THE RULES, WHICH I'VE TRIED.
COUNSEL, UH, I QUESTIONED THE LAST BATTERY CONTRACT VOTE ON MAY 7TH, AND MAYBE SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE CONFUSED AS TO MY REASONING.
THE COMMON ASSUMPTION IS THAT IF AUSTIN WANTS TO SUPPORT RENEWABLE ENERGY STORAGE IS ESSENTIAL.
SO WHY WOULD WE QUESTION IT? AND LET ME SHOW YOU WHY, GIVEN THE TIME.
I'M GONNA ASK, UH, MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
NEXT SLIDE, NEXT SLIDE, NEXT SLIDE, NEXT SLIDE.
THIS IS A CHART THAT BASICALLY SHOWS THAT, UH, AUSTIN ENERGY'S THREE BATTERY CONTRACTS ARE ESTIMATED COST BETWEEN 10 AND 19 CENTS PER KILOWATT HOUR.
BUT BATTERIES WILL ONLY SAY SEVEN, 7 CENTS PER KILOWATT HOUR, UH, WITH ARBITRAGE.
AND THE UTILITY COULD PROBABLY BUILD IT FOR 8 CENTS.
THE ACTUAL COST OF POWER IN ERCOT WAS 4 CENTS.
AND I'VE ASKED PUBLICLY WHAT IS GOING ON.
SLIDE, UH, AUSTIN ENERGY REFUSES TO DESCRIBE THE BUSINESS MODEL THAT MAKES THESE STORAGE CONTRACTS.
AUSTIN ENERGY LACKS TRANSPARENCY.
[00:10:01]
TWO DAYS AGO, I SHOWED HOW THE UTILITY WAS HIDING THE EFFECTS OF RESIDENTIAL RATE INCREASES.NOW THEY ARE HIDING THIS, UH, BATTERY CONTRACT JUSTIFICATION.
THE PUBLIC DESERVES BETTER COUNSEL.
THE STAFF AT AUSTIN ENERGY DOES NOT OWN THE UTILITY THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM DO.
CONTINUE ON ITEM FOUR, WE HAVE NICK WANG, JEN ROBO, KABA WHITE, ELISA HAMMOND.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
I'M SPEAKING RIGHT NOW ABOUT THE 20 YEAR CONTRACT FOR BATTERY STORAGE AGREEMENT.
AND, UH, FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN THE THEME OF TODAY, MA'AM, WE, WE KNOW WHO YOU ARE, BUT YOU NEED TO STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
I'M JEN ROBO, UH, AUSTIN RESIDENT.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE SEE A THEME HERE ON THE AUSTIN ENERGY AGENDA THAT WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT DIVERSIFYING OUR GENERATION PORTFOLIO.
AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR RELIABLE AND RESILIENT GRID.
AND I KNOW YOU'VE SEEN A LOT OF PUSHBACK ON THESE ISSUES, SO I'M NOT CHALLENGING THE ACTUAL BATTERY STORAGE CONCEPT.
UH, I THINK MORE SO WHAT I'M LOOKING AT IS WHY ARE WE LOOKING AT SUCH A LONG, LONG TERM CONTRACT ON THE BATTERY STORAGE? 20 YEARS IS A LIFETIME IN THE REALM OF BATTERY TECHNOLOGY.
WE'VE SEEN HUGE STRIDES JUST IN THE LAST DECADE, AND I EXPECT THAT WE'LL SEE A LOT MORE IN THE NEXT DECADE TO COME, EVEN IN OUR OWN CITY.
WE HAVE INNOVATORS IN THIS FIELD AND A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY ARE SURPRISED THAT NOT ONLY ARE WE NOT, UM, TURNING TO THOSE PROVIDERS FOR THIS, BUT THAT WE ARE CONTRACTING OURSELVES FOR SO LONG.
AND SO I THINK WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS, WE REALLY WANNA BALANCE BETWEEN, YOU KNOW, GETTING A BETTER TERM FOR A LONGER TIME PERIOD OF COMMITMENT VERSUS HAVING THE FLEXIBILITY TO ADAPT TO CHANGING TECHNOLOGY THAT WE MIGHT COME ACROSS IN THE NEXT FIVE TO 10 YEARS.
UH, SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO JUST LOOK AT THIS A LITTLE MORE CLOSELY.
NOT QUESTION THAT THIS IS THE RIGHT CONTRACT RIGHT NOW, BUT QUESTION WHETHER IT'LL BE THE RIGHT CONTRACT IN FIVE TO 10 YEARS AND SEE IF WE CAN REDUCE THE LENGTH OF THIS CONTRACT JUST TO GIVE US MORE OPTIONS IN THE FUTURE.
I'M IN DISTRICT NINE, AND I'M, UM, APPEAR TO SHARE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE POTENTIAL OF BATTERIES BECAUSE WE HAVE SUCH A REVOLUTION GOING ON AT THIS TIME.
LAST YEAR IN MINNESOTA, THE POWER UTILITY, XCEL ENERGY PROPOSED A NEW PROGRAM CALLED CAPACITY CONNECT THAT WOULD HAVE IT DEPLOY 200 MEGAWATTS OF BATTERY STORAGE, NOT IN THE FORM OF LARGE UTILITY SCALE INSTALLATIONS, BUT SMALLER CHUNKS DISTRIBUTED THROUGH THE GRID, LIKE LEGO BLOCKS OF DIFFERENT SIZES, SOME PLACE TO TOP COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS, LIKE BIG BOX STORES.
OTHERS CAN BE IN THE BACKYARD OF A FAITH COMMUNITY, THE SIZE OF A SHIPPING CONTAINER, EACH GENERATING THAT KIND OF INCOME FOR THOSE LOCATIONS WHILE WE CONTINUE TO GROW OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND PROMOTE RESILIENCE AND RELIABILITY.
THIS INTRODUCES A NEW CHAPTER IN THE HISTORY OF THE US ELECTRICITY GRID AND FOR OUR ECONOMY MORE BROADLY.
AND I HOPE YOU WILL, UH, EXPLORE THIS CUTTING EDGE COST SAVING PROGRAM.
I EMAILED YOU, MAYOR AND ALL THE CITY COUNCIL PERSON ABOUT THE ARTICLE TODAY.
I'M WITH THIRD ACT, AND OUR ENERGY EXPERT, WHO'S OUTTA THE COUNTRY, EMAILED ME THIS INFORMATION JUST THIS MORNING.
THIS IS ALSO TAKING PLACE BY, UH, THE SOUTHERN COMPANY UTILITY IN GEORGIA.
AND I THINK THAT WE WILL BEGIN TO SEE THIS BECAUSE THE PRICE OF BATTERIES HAS DROPPED SO SIGNIFICANTLY SO, AND AS WE SEE FOSSIL FUELS INCREASING.
SO I THINK IT'S JUST SO IMPORTANT BEFORE WE MAKE A BILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT THAT LOCKS US INTO FOSSIL FUELS.
WE LOOK AT THIS OPPORTUNITY, CAN WE CREATE A BATTERY STANDARD OFFER LIKE WE HAVE SOLAR STANDARD OFFER SO THAT THE MONEY STAYS IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND SUPPORTS ALL LEVELS OF BUSINESSES.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS KIBA WHITE, SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF PUBLIC CITIZENS TEXAS OFFICE.
WE DO SUPPORT PASSAGE OF THIS ITEM, AND I WANNA POINT OUT THAT THERE IS SOME GOOD BASIC INFORMATION INCLUDED IN THIS RCA, INCLUDING THE COMPANY AND THE AMOUNT OF THE INVESTMENT, AS WELL AS THE TIME DURATION, AND A FEW OTHER DETAILS.
WE DO THINK THAT THIS WILL BE IN THE BENEFIT OF AUSTIN ENERGY CUSTOMERS AND MOVE TOWARDS MEETING THE ESTABLISHED GOALS IN THE THE AUSTIN ENERGY RESOURCE PLAN.
HOWEVER, I DO SEE IN THE ADDITIONAL BACKUP INFORMATION THAT IT STATES THAT THIS WILL, UH, ALLOW THE UTILITY TO EXCEED ITS GOALS.
[00:15:01]
ATTENTION THAT THE DELIVERY DATE IS FOR 2030, NOT FOR 2027.SO I DON'T THINK THAT THE, UH, GOAL IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE IMPACTED.
AND SO THAT DOES MEAN THAT THERE IS ACTUALLY STILL ADDITIONAL CAPACITY NEEDED BY 2027 TO MEET THAT GOAL.
SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO, UH, KEEP ASKING QUESTIONS OF AUSTIN ENERGY AND KEEP ENCOURAGING THEM TO MOVE FORWARD WITH ADDITIONAL STORAGE TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT 125 MEGAWATTS IS INSTALLED.
I KNOW WE HAVE A HUNDRED MEGAWATTS COMING ABOUT THE END OF THE YEAR.
ALL IN-PERSON SPEAKERS ITEM FOUR HAVE BEEN CALLED.
WE HAVE CYRUS REED ON ITEM FOUR.
HEY, GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
THIS IS CYRUS REED, UH, REPRESENTING THE SIERRA CLUB TODAY.
WE ARE VERY MUCH IN SUPPORT OF ITEM NUMBER FOUR, AND, UH, I WANTED TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THE GEN PLAN AS WELL AS AUSTIN ENERGY.
UM, WHAT'S IMPORTANT ABOUT THIS CONTRACT IS IT'S A DIRECT RESULT OF THE, SOME OF THE AMENDMENTS THAT WERE PLACED BY BOTH MY CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ZO, TO GET US TO HIGHER LEVELS OF STORAGE, BUT ALSO BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ TO MAKE SURE WE DID AN ALL OF THE ABOVE RFP THAT ALL OF THE ABOVE RFP RESULTED IN THIS PROJECT.
UH, WE ARE WELL, UH, AWARE OF THE OCI ENERGY, WHICH IS A, YOU KNOW, A VALID COMPANY AND HAS DONE A LOT OF WORK IN THE SAN ANTONIO AREA, BOTH ON SOLAR AND STORAGE.
UM, I'LL SORT OF ADD TO WHAT OTHER FOLKS SAID AND SAY THAT I HOPE IN ADDITION TO THE JUPITER CONTRACT AND THIS CONTRACT AND THE BASE POWER CONTRACT, WE WILL LOOK IN THE FUTURE AT, UH, LONGER DURATION STORAGE.
'CAUSE I THINK WE NOW HAVE, WE'LL HAVE, UH, TWO HOUR STORAGE, FOUR HOUR STORAGE, AND REALLY KIND OF THE HOLY GRAIL FOR STORAGE WILL BE, YOU KNOW, LONGER DURATION STORAGE, UH, WITH NEW TECHNOLOGIES.
SO I HOPE THAT YOU GUYS WILL CONTINUE TO ASK AUSTIN ENERGY TO KEEP THAT, UM, AS A TOOL FOR THE FUTURE.
'CAUSE I THINK IT ULTIMATELY WILL BE OF BENEFIT TO EVERYONE AND, UM, MIGHT REDUCE THE NEED FOR, UH, FOSSIL FUEL GENERATION.
SO WITH THAT, UM, UH, JUST WANTED TO, UH, THANK THE CITY COUNCIL AND AUSTIN ENERGY FOR BRINGING THIS CONTRACT FORWARD.
MR. REED, YOU'RE ALSO SIGNED UP ON ITEM FIVE.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO BEGIN ON ITEM FIVE RIGHT NOW? OH, SURE.
UM, AGAIN, UH, ITEM FIVE IS A CONTRACT FOR WIND WITH INVENERGY, WHICH, IF I GOT THE NAME RIGHT, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, A WELL-KNOWN COMPANY BASED OUTTA CHICAGO, THEY'VE GOT, UH, PROJECTS ALL OVER THE WORLD.
IF YOU'VE EVER DRIVEN TO LUBBOCK, YOU'VE DRIVEN BY THESE TWO, UM, FACILITIES.
THE OTHER IS KIND OF JUST EAST OF LUBBOCK.
UH, THEIR EXISTING WIND GENERATION FACILITIES.
WE KNOW THEIR PROFILES AND WE KNOW THEY WORK.
UM, ADOPTING THESE AND INCORPORATING THEM INTO OUR GENERATION PLAN WILL MOVE US CLOSER TO THAT 65% RENEWABLE BY 2027 GOAL.
I DON'T THINK IT QUITE GETS US THERE, BUT IT GETS US A LOT CLOSER.
UH, SO AGAIN, UH, THIS WENT THROUGH AN RFP PROCESS.
WE KNOW THE APPROXIMATE COST, WE KNOW WHERE THESE ARE LOCATED.
THEY'RE ACTUALLY EXISTING FACILITIES, SO WE THINK IT'S A, A GOOD IDEA FOR AUSTIN RATE PAYERS AND WILL BE BENEFICIAL TOWARDS MEETING OUR GOALS, BUT ALSO PROVIDING ENERGY, UH, AND THEY'RE CLOSE ENOUGH SO THEY SHOULDN'T BE SUBJECT TO ALL THE CONGESTION CONGESTION WE'RE SEEING FURTHER WEST OF THERE.
SO I THINK IT'S A, A GOOD IDEA.
AND ON BEHALF OF SIERRA CLUB, CYRUS REED, UH, WE SUPPORT IT.
BACK TO IN-PERSON ITEM FIVE, WHITE.
NEXT WE HAVE WAIT IN PERSON, NANCY CROWLER ON ITEM SIX.
OKAY, ITEM SEVEN HAS BEEN PULLED OFF CONSENT, SO WE WILL MOVE ON.
OH, APOLOGIZE, THAT'S BEEN WITHDRAWN.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR COUNCIL BILL BUNCH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SAIL SPRINGS ALLIANCE DISTRICT FIVE.
UH, THIS ITEM IS APPROVING A BILLION DOLLARS OF DEBT FOR THE, UH, WALNUT CREEK WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT EXPANSION.
[00:20:01]
I'VE ADDRESSED YOU ON THIS BEFORE.UH, RECOGNIZE OF COURSE THAT THERE'S SOME GOOD THINGS, UH, THAT WOULD GO ALONG WITH THIS EXPANSION, UH, UPGRADING TREATMENT OF THE WASTEWATER ITSELF, UH, THOUGH NOT NEAR ENOUGH, UM, TO MEET THE KIND OF STANDARDS WE SHOULD BE MEETING FOR DISCHARGES TO THE COLORADO RIVER, UH, GIVEN THE, IN PARTICULAR, THE HEAVY NUTRIENT LOADS IN THAT WASTEWATER.
UM, BUT AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, WE'RE NEVER GONNA HAVE ENOUGH WATER TO CONVERT INTO SEWAGE FOR THIS EXPANSION.
UM, THIS IS NOT AN URGENT ITEM IN A TIME OF, UH, FISCAL CONSTRAINTS.
UH, YOU SHOULD BE DOING EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO, UH, CONSERVE WATER UPSTREAM, UH, CREATE LESS SEWAGE FLOWING TO THIS PLANT, UH, SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO EXPAND IT NOW.
UH, AND IF WE GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE DO NEED AN EXPANSION, THAT IT'S A MUCH SMALLER ONE FOR A WHOLE LOT LESS MONEY, UH, IT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN A DIFFERENT WORLD NOW WITH WATER AVAILABILITY.
UM, Y'ALL SHOULD BE AWARE OF THAT.
OUR HIGHLAND LAKES DON'T HAVE THE WATER THAT WE'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT WERE THERE ON A FIRM MANUAL YIELD BASIS.
UM, WE'VE REALLY GOT TO TRANSLATE TRANS TRANSITION TO, UH, TREATING THIS WASTEWATER UPSTREAM ON SITE, ESPECIALLY THE LARGE WATER USERS, UM, AND NOT, UH, PUMPING IT ALL THE WAY TO A PLANT THAT, UH, CAN'T HANDLE IT AND SHOULDN'T BE, UH, CALLED ON TO HANDLE IT.
AND WE SHOULDN'T BE CALLED ON TO PAY FOR IT AS RATE PAYERS.
NEXT IS KABA WHITE ON ITEM 19.
SHE'S PASSING ON 19 JEN ROBES.
I'M JEN AU AUSTIN RESIDENT, AND I'M SPEAKING ON ITEM 28, WHICH IS $45 MILLION FOR FIVE YEAR CONTRACT FOR PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT AND MAINTENANCE.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COMES TO LIGHT IN LOOKING THROUGH THE BACKUP IS THAT THIS IS A LOT OF MONEY THAT WE DON'T HAVE.
I DO APPRECIATE VERY MUCH COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN CATCHING THE FACT THAT THE BACKUP DIDN'T REALLY SPELL OUT WHERE ALL OF THIS FUNDING WAS COMING FROM.
AND LUCKILY WE'VE GOTTEN SOME OF THOSE ANSWERS, WHICH LOOKS LIKE BASICALLY WE'RE JUST HOPING THAT THIS IS GONNA BE IN FUTURE BUDGETS AVAILABLE TO US.
AND WHILE AUSTIN WANTS TO INVEST IN OUR PARKS, WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN DEFERRED MAINTENANCE RIGHT NOW.
AND AS A PARENT, I LOVE PLAYGROUNDS, BUT WHAT WE REALLY NEED AS A CITY ARE SAFE PLAYGROUNDS.
AND IT'S NOT CLEAR FROM THIS CONTRACT WHETHER OR NOT THE MAINTENANCE IS TO IMPROVE SAFETY CONCERNS OR IF IT'S TO INSTALL NEW PRETTIER EQUIPMENT.
AND WITH THAT IN MIND AND WITH THE BUDGET CONSTRAINTS THAT WE WILL BE FACING, I THINK IT'S SHORTSIGHTED FOR US TO BE APPROVING SUCH A LONG TERM, SO MUCH JUST FOR PLAYGROUNDS WHEN THIS, THESE DOLLARS COULD BE SPENT MORE CAREFULLY IN OTHER PLACES WITHIN OUR PARK SYSTEM.
SO I URGE YOU TO VOTE NO ON THIS, SO THAT WAY WE HAVE MORE FLEXIBILITY WHEN IT COMES TIME TO BUDGETING IN SEPTEMBER AND AUGUST, SORRY, IN JULY AND AUGUST.
NEXT ON ITEM 30, WE HAVE KATIE CAM ON DECK FOR ITEM 32, WE HAVE RICH HAMAN AND ENOVIA JOSEPH, IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
HELLO, I'M KATIE CAM, RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE.
THIS ITEM IS TO PROVIDE ADVANCED TRAFFIC CONTROL, THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL CABINETS FOR NEW MODIFIED AND AGING TRAFFIC SIGNALS.
I'M SPEAKING AGAINST THIS ITEM BECAUSE THE CITY SHOULD COMMIT TO RETIRING TRAFFIC SIGNALS.
THE STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT ROUNDABOUTS ARE THE SAFEST INTERSECTION DESIGN OPTION WITH DRAMATIC REDUCTIONS AND CRASHES, INJURIES AND FATALITIES.
BECAUSE ROUNDABOUTS ARE SAFER, THAT REDUCES THE NEED FOR EMS FIRE AND POLICE TO RESPOND TO CAR CRASHES, WHICH REDUCES EMERGENCY RESPONSE COSTS.
ROUNDABOUTS ALSO DO NOT REQUIRE ELECTRICITY OR 24 7 OPERATIONS, SO WE'LL SAVE MONEY ON ELECTRICITY OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE.
UM, I'LL GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF CARMEL, INDIANA.
THEY'VE HAD A, UM, SINCE THE LATE NINETIES GETTING RID OF THEIR TRAFFIC SIGNALS AND MOVING TO ROUNDABOUTS.
UH, SO AS TRAFFIC SIGNALS AGE, RATHER THAN REPLACING WITH NEW SIGNALS, LET'S REPLACE THEM WITH ROUNDABOUTS.
SO I WOULD SAY LET'S, UH, NOT MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS AND START ACTIVELY MAKING THIS A SAFER CITY.
[00:25:01]
OR IS NOVIA JOSEPH HERE FOR ITEM 32? OKAY, MOVING ON TO ITEM 35.WE HAVE JEFFREY BOWEN AND EMILY BLAIR, YOU GOT ME ALL IN OF ORDER THIS MORNING, MR. MAYOR.
WELL, I'LL, I'LL TAKE THE BLAME FOR IT, MR. NO, THAT'S OKAY.
HEY, LIFE IS NOTHING IS ANOTHER THREE RING CIRCUS HERE, RIGHT? SO, UM, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT, UH, ITEM 35, JEFFREY BOWEN.
UH, MORNING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, I SAW ITEM 35, AND I JUST WANNA SAY I'M ALL FOR THIS.
UM, I JUST DON'T WANT YOU GUYS TO SCREW THIS UP BECAUSE THERE, THERE'S GONNA BE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE OFFERING US ONE POINT, ALMOST $1.5 MILLION, UH, AND IT'S GONNA COST US, UH, ROUGHLY 350 MILLION.
AND FOR SOME REASON, I KNOW THERE WILL BE AT SOME POINT THAT THERE'LL BE A THREAT TO TAKE THIS MONEY AWAY FROM US.
SO PLEASE DON'T SCREW THIS UP.
UH, JUST SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SCREWING THINGS UP, YOU SAID 350 MILLION, BUT YOU MEANT 350,000.
UH, I HAVE NEW CAT, I GOT MY CATARACTS DONE.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE NONE OF US IS SCREW UP MR. BONE.
I UNDERSTAND IT'S, UH, IT'S ALL MONEY AT SOME POINT IN TIME, BUT YEAH, 350,000.
SO, UM, I, I REALLY THINK BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD AN ISSUE WITH AUTO THEFTS LATELY, UM, THANK YOU, SIR.
UM, AND, BUT WE REALLY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CRACKING DOWN ON THE AMOUNT OF AUTO THEFTS THAT WE HAVE AND THE BURGLARIES AND BREAKING ENDS, AND HOPEFULLY THIS MONEY CAN BE USED THE PROPER WAY AND START TRYING TO, UH, TAKE CARE OF A LOT OF THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE WITH THE, THE AMOUNT OF CAR BREAK-INS ACROSS THE CITY.
THANK YOU MR. MEYER FOR CORRECTING MY MATH.
UM, THERE AGAIN, UM, THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU, MS. BLAIR, ARE YOU HERE? SHE'S PASSING.
MOVING ON TO ITEM 36 REMOTELY.
UH, HOPEFULLY Y'ALL CAN HEAR ME.
UH, YES MA'AM, WE CAN HEAR YOU.
UH, MONICA GUZMAN, POLICY DIRECTOR OF DAVA, GO AUSTIN, BA AUSTIN.
WE HAVE DRAFTED A LETTER, NO DATA CENTERS, DEFENSE CONTRACTORS, OR OTHER DAMAGING DEVELOPMENT ON THE COLORADO RIVER GABA AND MANY OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY, RESIDENTS FROM EVERY SINGLE DISTRICT ACROSS THE CITY.
ALL 10 OF THEM ORGANIZATIONS HAVE SIGNED ON.
WE ARE URGING YOU TO POSTPONE ACTIVITY ON ITEM 38, AS WELL AS RELATED ITEMS 39 AND 60, AT LEAST MOVE 38 AND 39 TO NON-CONSENT.
UH, ITEM 38 IS TOO BIG OF A DEAL.
UNLIMITED DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS WITH MOST ZONING USES ALLOWED VARIANCE IS THE CODE THAT WOULD BE AUTHORIZED BY THE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, THEIR SOLE DISCRETION, NO PUBLIC HEARING, NO VOTE FROM YOU, THE COUNCIL THAT IS DENYING THE COMMUNITY PUBLIC PROCESS.
WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO TELL YOU WHERE WE STAND ON THE ISSUE, WHETHER WE'RE FOR IT, AGAINST IT, OR ANYWHERE IN BETWEEN.
YOU ARE SURRENDERING COUNCIL AUTHORITY FOR 45 YEARS, NOT ONLY THIS CURRENT COUNCIL, BUT OBVIOUSLY FUTURE ONES.
YOU'RE COMPROMISING COMMUNITY EQUITY IN AN AREA THAT HAS EXPERIENCED YEARS OF DISINVESTMENT IN ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICES, AND YOU'RE GIVING THE DEVELOPER OR DEVELOPERS TAX BREAK THAT MANY PEOPLE CANNOT AFFORD TO DO.
WE NEED YOU TO TAKE THE TIME, PULL IT BACK, POSTPONE, AND PUT IT THROUGH THE PUBLIC PROCESS, THE PLANNING COMMISSION, THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.
WE SENT YOU AN UPDATED LETTER WITH ALL THE SIGN ONS, BUT I WANNA ADD A FEW WHO CAME ON SINCE I SENT AN UPDATE LETTER AT 9 43 THIS MORNING.
THANK YOU, MS. UZMAN FROM DISTRICT.
MOVING ON TO IN-PERSON FOR ITEM 36, MARIAN, I'M GONNA CALL SEVERAL NAMES.
PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT AND STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD BEFORE YOU BEGIN.
MARIAN SANCHEZ, ADRIAN MACIAS, SUSANNA ALMANZA, BIANCA GUERRERO, CARLOS PINON, MADDIE GUTIERREZ, VALERIE MENARD, PEDRO HERNANDEZ, JR.
[00:30:01]
STREET CARD.IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
OTHERWISE, WE'RE GONNA ASSUME YOU'RE NOT HERE TO SPEAK OR WAIVING YOUR RIGHT.
PLEASE GO AHEAD, KEEP CALLING NAMES.
LAUREN RAGGA, FELICITY MAXWELL, BRAD MASSING, JORDY TELLO, EMILY BLAIR, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD BEFORE YOU BEGIN.
UH, FELICITY MAXWELL, D FIVE RESIDENT OR A BOARD MEMBER.
GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 36 IN THE EFFORTS TO UPDATE AND REVISE THE LANGUAGE.
CHAPTER FOUR 18, ENSURING TENANT PROTECTIONS AND RIGHT TO ORGANIZE IS A CRITICAL ELEMENT OF OUR ONGOING HOUSING WORK, AND WE APPRECIATE STAFF'S WORK ON THIS ITEM.
UH, WITH REGARD TO THESE CHANGES, WE WOULD URGE STAFF TO CLARIFY SOME OF THE UPDATES, SPECIFICALLY PARTS EIGHT AND 11, WHICH WHILE NECESSARY ARE WRITTEN VERY BROADLY AND IN SOMEWHAT VAGUE WAY.
AS A RESULT, THESE SECTIONS COULD BE APPLIED TO ILL EFFECT IN THE FUTURE, WHICH IS CLEARLY NOT THE INTENT OF THE, UH, THESE REVISION EFFORTS.
IN ORDER TO MAKE THE PROCESS, UH, THE PROPOSED CHANGES ABUNDANTLY CLEAR ON WHAT THIS MEANS, THERE SHOULD BE A RULE MAKING PROCESS WITH A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF WHAT WILL BE REQUIRED UNDER THIS SECTION OF THE CODE THAT INVOLVES STAKEHOLDERS.
UH, THIS WILL REBUILD TRUST IN THE PROCESS IN THIS SECTION AND ENSURE THAT SUCH INPUT IS HEARD, DOCUMENTED, AND INCORPORATED INTO THE FINAL VERSION OF CHAPTER FOUR 18.
LET'S START WITH YOU AND THEN WE'LL JUST WORK OUR WAY DOWN TO MR. MASSING.
UH, BASICALLY I HAD IT FOR THIR FOR 60, BUT I'M GONNA GO AHEAD ON 36.
UH, AND SO A LOT OF THIS ZONING REMINDS ME OF THE EAST RIVERSIDE CORE DOOR, UM, MASTER PLAN THAT WAS DONE.
UH, AND IF YOU REMEMBER, UH, IN ORDER TO DO THE, THE BONUS, THERE WERE OVER SEVEN, 1700 RESIDENTS DISPLACED.
AND A LOT OF THIS WAS AFFORDABLE AND LOW INCOME HOUSING.
AND SO TO ME, UH, THIS SENDS UP A RED FLAG OF WHAT IS GOING TO BE HAPPENING, EVEN THOUGH THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE CITYWIDE.
UH, WHAT REALLY HAPPENS IS WHERE ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS AT AND WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO THOSE VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, UH, WHICH WE'VE ALREADY WI WITNESSED AND LIVED THROUGH.
ALSO, I HAVE A QUESTION BECAUSE IN THE RIVERSIDE CORRIDOR PLAN, YOU HAD FIVE DIFFERENT ZONING CATEGORIES, UH, CORRIDOR MIXED USE, INDUSTRIAL MIXED USE, NEIGHBORHOOD MIXED USE, AND URBAN RESIDENTIAL AND NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTIAL.
AND THEN YOU HAD IDENTIFIED FOUR HUBS WITHIN THE RIVERSIDE CORRIDOR, WHICH ALLOWED YOU TO GO FROM 60 TO 160 FEET.
SO MY CONCERN IS THAT IF YOU ALREADY HAVE THOSE DESIGNATED, UH, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE BASE ZONING, ARE YOU THEN SEEING YOU CAN GO 30 FEET ABOVE 160 FEET? YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE THE QUESTIONS BECAUSE YOU'RE, YOU'RE NOW ADDING, UH, 30 FEET AS PART OF THE WHOLE, UM, BONUS DENSITY BONUS.
AND SO THOSE ARE MAJOR CONCERNS FOR ME BECAUSE I'VE ALREADY WITNESSED WHAT HAPPENED TO THE EAST RIVERSIDE CORRIDOR, UH, MASTER PLAN.
UH, AND THEN ALSO TOO, BECAUSE NOW YOU'LL BE CREATING THESE CANYONS IN OUR COMMUNITIES WHERE YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, 120 FEET, 160 FEET GOING ALL STRAIGHT DOWN.
UH, AND I, I WON'T EVEN TALK ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ON HAVING THESE CANYONS IN OUR COMMUNITIES, UH, WHETHER THEY IMPACT THE, THE IMPERVIOUS COVER, THE EROSION, THE FLOODING, UH, THE AIR QUALITY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO THIS DENSITY BONUS REALLY CONCERNS ME.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M SPEAKING TODAY ON ITEM 36.
UM, WHILE WE APPRECIATE AUSTIN OR COUNCIL'S ONGOING EFFORTS TO IMPROVE CHAPTER FOUR 18 IN SUPPORT THE GOAL OF ENSURING THE DENSITY BONUS, APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS ARE CLEAR, EFFECTIVE, AND ALIGNED WITH AUSTIN'S HOUSING PRIORITIES, AND WE DO SUPPORT THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS RELATED TO CERTIFICATION AND APPROVAL OF DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS.
HOWEVER, WE ARE CONCERNED THAT SEVERAL PROVISIONS IN ITEM 36 EXTEND BEYOND THE INTENDED SCOPE OF THESE UPDATES AND WERE INTRODUCED WITHOUT MEANINGFUL STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT.
THE REVISIONS TO SECTION C AND G WE DO SUPPORT.
UM, WHAT WE DO NOT SUPPORT IS THE BROAD LANGUAGE PRESENTED IN THE AMENDMENTS TO OTHER SECTIONS TODAY ON ITEM 36, SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO A LEASE ADDENDUM AND QUOTE, ANY CITY CODE REQUIREMENT RELATED TO TENANT PROTECTIONS AND THE ONSITE RELOCATION SPECIALIST.
GIVEN THE SCOPE AND POTENTIAL IMPACT OF THESE CHANGES, WE BELIEVE THESE ISSUES SHOULD MOVE THROUGH A TRANSPARENT STAKEHOLDER PROCESS THAT INCLUDES HOUSING PROVIDERS, RESIDENTS, STAFF, AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS.
AND WE BELIEVE ITEM 80 TODAY PROVIDES THE APPROPRIATE PATH FOR THAT DISCUSSION.
SO FOR THESE REASONS, RE RESPECTFULLY ASK COUNSEL TO APPROVE THE AMENDMENT SOLELY IN SECTIONS C AND G ON FOUR 18, AND REMOVE THE ADDITIONAL PROPOSED LANGUAGE UNTIL A BROADER STAKEHOLDER PROCESS CAN OCCUR.
[00:35:03]
HELLO, MY NAME IS JORGE.HELLO, RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE.
I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 36.
UM, I'M A MEMBER OF THE AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL, UH, REPRESENTING SECTOR NINE, WHICH IS FAR SOUTH AUSTIN.
UH, I'M, I'M HERE SPEAKING FOR MYSELF.
I, I KNOW Y'ALL BEEN, UH, TRYING TO DEAL WITH THE STATE LAWS THAT HAVE BEEN PASSED DOWN REGARDING ALL THIS STUFF, BUT RU RUSHING TO, TO, TO DO ALL THIS STUFF.
IT, IT SEEMS TO BE, UH, WHAT WE'RE DOING WHEN WE'RE NOT INCLUDING THE COMMUNITY IN SOME OF THIS STUFF.
I'M, I'M REALLY, UH, JUST THE THINGS ABOUT, UH, YOU KNOW, THE, SORRY, LEMME GET MY, MY, MY ACT TOGETHER HERE.
THE, THE, THE WHOLE IDEA OF, OF A LET LETTING, NOT HAVING, LET, LET ME, LET ME BACK UP.
WHEN WE'RE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THESE DENSITY BONUSES IN PLUS 30, PLUS 45, PLUS 90, THIS IS ALL, UH, INDUSTRY FACING LANGUAGE.
THIS ISN'T STUFF THAT'S USER FRIENDLY.
I'M WORRIED THAT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THESE THINGS IN, IN THESE MINIMALISTIC TERMS, THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC ISN'T GONNA HAVE ENOUGH ALARM TO BE QUESTIONING THIS UNTIL IT'S TOO LATE, THAT THINGS ARE GONNA POP UP IN PEOPLE'S YARDS THAT ARE BACKYARDS THAT ARE, INSTEAD OF BEING 30 OR 45 FEET TALL, THAT IT KIND OF SEEMS LIKE WHEN YOU'RE GETTING ONE OF THESE NOTICES, IT'S ACTUALLY GONNA BE THE BASE HEIGHT OF WHATEVER'S ALLOWED THERE.
PLUS THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE FOR THE PUBLIC.
YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND IT MAKES IT EASIER FOR TO SELL THIS AS A DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM, THAT THIS IS SOMETHING YOU CAN ADD ON TO A PROPERTY THAT YOU ALREADY HAVE.
IT ADDS VALUE TO IT, AND IT'S GONNA, THE ONLY STIPULATION IS YOU GOTTA DO THESE THINGS TO, UH, SUPPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UM, AND, AND THANK YOU, MR. MASSENGILL.
ALL IN-PERSON SPEAKERS FOR 36 HAVE BEEN CALLED.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM 38 REMOTE, STARTING WITH MONICA GUZMAN, ITEM 38, MS. GUZMAN, WE'LL GO TO THE NEXT SPEAKER AND WE'LL TRY TO GET BACK.
WHAT ITEM NUMBER ARE YOU ON? I CAN'T FOLLOW UP.
WHAT I WAS SAYING IS I WANTED TO MAKE SURE ALL PEOPLE, ORGANIZATIONS THAT SIGNED ON THE LETTER, AND I THINK I ENDED AT HANDS OFF CENTRAL TEXAS.
I ALSO WANNA ADD THAT SOME QUESTIONS, UH, WERE DRAFTED AND SENT TO AT LEAST ONE COUNCIL MEMBER, AND UNFORTUNATELY I DON'T HAVE 'EM IN FRONT OF ME, BUT BASICALLY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN POSTED A, OR ADDED A MODIFIED QUESTION ON THE COUNCIL Q AND A ON THE AGENDA PAGE, AND IT WOULD'VE BEEN BETTER IF THE ACTUAL QUESTIONS ASKED HAD BEEN POSTED, UH, EITHER ON THE COUNCIL MESSAGE BOARD OR IN THE Q AND A AND THOSE QUESTIONS, WHICH I DON'T HAVE IN FRONT OF ME, UH, WELL, I WILL SEND THOSE AGAIN TO THE FULL COUNSEL, BUT BASICALLY THERE'S TOO MANY QUESTIONS.
WE NEED YOU TO PHONE POSTPONE ITEM THIRTY EIGHT, THIRTY NINE, AND 60.
PUT IT THROUGH A PUBLIC PROCESS, GIVE THE PEOPLE A CHANCE TO SEE MORE OF WHAT'S GOING ON AND BE ABLE TO SPEAK ON IT.
HELLO, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE CAN.
I'M SPEAKING TO YOU AS A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FOUR AND A RECENT GRADUATE OF UT'S MASTERS IN COMMUNITY OF REGIONAL PLANNING PROGRAM.
I'M URGING YOU TO INSTITUTE A PUBLIC PROCESS FOR THE ANNEXATION OF THE DOG'S HEAD, SPECIFICALLY FOR ITEMS 38, 39 AND 60, AND PUT THIS ITEM THROUGH THE PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSIONS.
AT A MINIMUM, I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S A SENSE OF URGENCY TO ENSURE THIS AREA IS ANNEXED INTO THE CITY'S TAX BASE, AND IT IS ALSO CLEAR THAT THE DEAL HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS FOR MANY YEARS.
[00:40:01]
UH, OKAY.I'M URGING YOU ALL TO PLEASE PUT A STOP ON THAT AND CREATE A PUBLIC PROCESS AROUND THE SITUATION.
UM, SPECIFICALLY COUNSELORS, PLEASE ASK MORE QUESTIONS AROUND THE IMPERVIOUS COVER LIMITS AND THE AGREEMENT.
WHY SHOULD THIS AREA THAT LARGELY SITS WITHIN A FLOOD PLAIN ALONG THE COLORADO RIVER HAVE 100% IMPERVIOUS COVER NO IMPERVIOUS COVER LIMITS THAT NOT ONLY IMPACTS THE DOG'S HEAD AREA, BUT ALSO SURROUNDING AREAS THAT ARE MADE THEN MUCH MORE VULNERABLE TO FLOODING.
AND SEEING THAT MUCH OF THAT AGREEMENT HAS NO IMP IMPERVIOUS COVER LIMITS.
IT BASICALLY DISREGARDS THE WELLBEING OF THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN AND THE ENVIRONMENT.
UM, SO PLEASE ASK ABOUT THAT IN, IN THE ENSUING DISCUSSION.
UM, TAKING MEASURES TO MITIGATE ENVIRONMENTAL HARM BEFORE IT HAPPENS CAN SAVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
SO INSTEAD OF CREATING THE CONDITIONS FOR THE COLORADO TO FLOOD SURROUNDING AREAS BY PAVING OVER EVERYTHING, IT COULD REQUIRE THE DOG HEAD TO ABIDE BY THE SAME LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE STANDARDS THAT THE REST OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, WHICH CAN RANGE FROM 40 TO 45% UP TO 80%, BUT I DON'T THINK ANYWHERE ELSE IS AT 100% IMPERVIOUS COVER.
ALSO, WHY SHOULD WE BE PLANNING FOR GOLF COURSES NEXT TO THE RIVER? THAT KIND OF THING IS THE OPPOSITE OF ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP.
IT'S DISPELLING ENVIRONMENTAL DESTRUCTION FURTHER, UM, AND FURTHER WE CAN SEE, UH, HOW THIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN, HOW THIS IMPERVIOUS COVER RELATES TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN.
UM, NEXT WE HAVE RAPHAEL SCHWARTZ ON ITEM 38.
MORNING, UH, RAFAEL SCHWARTZ SPEAKING FOR THE A STEER CLUB.
WE'RE EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS DOG'S PET AGREEMENT, WHICH AS I UNDERSTAND HAS BEEN NEGOTIATED, UH, BEHIND CLOSED THE DOORS WITHOUT THE TYPICAL PUBLIC INPUT VIA THE CITY COMMISSIONS.
SENSIBLE DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE WELCOME, BUT THERE ARE MANY RED FLAGS HERE.
WE ESPECIALLY WANT TO ECHO CONCERNS THAT THE AGREEMENT LEAVES THE CITY WITH NEARLY ZERO CONTROL OVER THE FUTURE USE OF THE SITE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
THIS IS A PRISTINE STRETCH OF A TRULY BEAUTIFUL, UH, RIVER ECOSYSTEM AND RIPARIAN ZONE.
AND A DEAL THAT ALLOWS 92% OF THESE 2,600 ACRES TO BE DEVELOPED WITH IMPERVIOUS COVER SEEMS EXTREMELY PROBLEMATIC.
THIS IS A SITE THAT'S NEARLY FOUR TIMES AS LARGE AS MIL, THE MILLER DEVELOPMENT.
AT THE VERY LEAST, IT SHOULD GO THROUGH THE NORMAL, UH, TRANSPARENT CITY PROCESS FOR DEVELOPMENT.
AND THE AGREEMENT SHOULD BE MODIFIED TO NEGOTIATE PROTECTIONS FOR THE COMMUNITY, FOR OUR WATER SUPPLY, AND FOR OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS.
NEXT WE HAVE HEATHER E BOROUGH ON ITEM 38.
MY NAME IS DANIELLA SILVA AND I'M SPEAKING AS A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT THREE.
UM, I'M URGING YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL TO POSTPONE TODAY'S VOTE IN ORDER TO SLOW DOWN THE PROCESS TO ALLOW FOR REVIEW BY THE PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.
AUSTIN, I MADE IT CLEAR THAT WE DON'T WANT DATA SETTERS, AI INFRASTRUCTURE, OR DEFENSE RESEARCH TO BEING SUBSIDIZED BY OUR TAX DOLLARS.
THESE INDUSTRIES MUST BE EXPLICITLY BARRED FROM BEING BUILT ON THIS PIECE OF LAND, WHICH SHOULDN'T BE MUCH OF AN ISSUE IF THEY'RE JUST WANTING TO BUILD A NEW DOMAIN.
I ALSO STRONGLY URGE YOU TO TAKE SERIOUSLY THE WATER CRISIS THAT WE'RE FACING IN OUR STATE.
ANY DEVELOPMENT THAT TAKES PLACE ON ONE OF THE MOST PRISTINE AND BIODIVERSE SECTIONS OF THE COLORADO RIVER MUST BE MINDFUL OF THE PERCENTAGE OF IMPERVIOUS COVER AND ACTUALLY HAVE LIMITS AND ANY ACTIVITIES THAT COULD LEAD TO TOXIC CHEMICAL RUNOFF.
ADDITIONALLY, ANYTHING BUILT SHOULD INCLUDE PURPLE PIPES, WATER ATTACH SYSTEMS, AND ANY OTHER TECHNOLOGIES TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF WATER BEING CONSUMED AND UTILIZED BY THE DEVELOPMENT.
OUR WATER TABLES AND LAKES ARE BARELY ABLE TO SUPPLY THE EXISTING POPULATION OF AUSTIN DEVELOPING EVEN MORE WITHOUT SERIOUSLY PRIORITIZING WATER CONSERVATION AND REUSE WOULD BE HIGHLY IRRESPONSIBLE.
LET'S NOT WAIT UNTIL WE GET IN AS BAD OF A SITUATION OF PERKS.
CHRISTI, BEFORE WE MAKE WATER CONSERVATION AND USAGE OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.
PREVENTATIVE POLICIES ARE ALWAYS BETTER THAN CURATIVE ONES.
SO I PLEASE URGE YOU TO POSTPONE ITEM 38 AND RELATED ITEMS 39 AND 60 TO ENSURE A PUBLIC PROCESS, INCLUDING REVIEWS BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION, ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, AND ANY OTHER BOARD.
AND PLEASE AMEND THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT LANGUAGE TO PRECLUDE USE BY DATA CENTERS AND DEFENSE CONTRACTORS.
WE ARE GONNA TRY HEATHER BURL AGAIN.
[00:45:06]
WOULD YOU GO TO THE NEXT SPEAKER? THANK YOU.I, I, I'M NOT SURE I COULD HAVE HANDLED TWO MINUTES OF THAT
MOVING ON TO IN PERSON FOR ITEM 38, WE HAVE ARIAN SANCHEZ.
I'M, I'M GONNA CALL A LOT OF NAMES, SO IF YOU HEAR YOUR NAME, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT.
UH, MARIAN SANCHEZ, JULIE OLIVER, ADRIAN MAIA ALMANZA, BIANCA GUERRERO, CARLOS PINON.
MADDIE GUTIERREZ, PLEASE GO AHEAD AND BEGIN.
ALRIGHT, I'M JULIE OLIVER, RESIDENT OF NINE, AND HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST ITEM 38 AND ASK YOU TO PULL FROM CONSENT AND THEN VOTE NO ON THIS.
THE 45 YEAR DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT IS BEING CONSIDERED IN A BROADER ENVIRONMENT WHERE THE PUBLIC HAS WATCHED THE MAYOR EXERT HEAVY PRESSURE ON CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS DURING MEETINGS.
AND AT LEAST ONE COUNCIL MEMBER HAS DESCRIBED THAT DYNAMIC AS VINDICTIVE.
WHEN THERE IS A DISAGREEMENT, THAT CONTEXT MATTERS WHEN YOU'RE BEING ASKED TO APPROVE SOMETHING OF THIS SCALE, OVER 2,600 ACRES, LONG-TERM TAX INCREMENT FINANCING, PUBLIC INCENTIVES, AND A FRAMEWORK THAT CLEARLY POSITIONS THIS LAND FOR MAJOR INDUSTRIAL USERS.
JUST TWO WEEKS AGO, THIS COUNCIL DISCUSSED RECRUITING INDUSTRIES LIKE DEFENSE AND DATA CENTERS.
NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT A PROPOSAL THAT ALIGNS DIRECTLY WITH THAT GOAL WITHOUT A FULL TRANSPARENT PUBLIC CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS FOR OUR COMMUNITY LONG TERM.
WHEN YOU CONNECT THIS TO ITEM SEVEN, THE PATTERN BECOMES CLEAR.
LAND USE AND ENERGY POLICY ARE BEING ALIGNED TO SUPPORT ENERGY INTENSIVE DEVELOPMENT WITH IRREVERSIBLE ENVIRONMENTAL AND INFRASTRUCTURE CON CONSEQUENCES.
THE PUBLIC DESERVES TO KNOW THAT THESE DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE INDEPENDENTLY, NOT UNDER PRESSURE.
THIS AGREEMENT IS TOO LARGE AND TOO CONSEQUENTIAL TO MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT THAT ASSURANCE.
MANY OF YOU ARE UP FOR REELECTION AND VOTERS WILL HEAR THIS.
CLEARLY, YOU ARE OPENING THE DOOR TO WATER INTENSIVE DATA CENTERS AND APPROVING FOSSIL FUEL POWER PLANTS TO FUEL THEM.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR WATSON AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS ADRIAN MACIAS AND I'M THE YOUTH COORDINATOR FOR PEREZ YOUNG SCHOLARS FOR JUSTICE, OUR YSJ PROGRAM.
I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES TO POSTPONE ITEMS 38 39 AND 60 TO ALLOW FOR MORE CONSIDERATION BY THE COMMUNITY AND THE RELEVANT CITY COMMISSIONERS COMMISSIONS.
THIS IS A MASSIVE DEVELOPMENT THAT WILL UNDOUBTEDLY HAVE AN IMPACT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL, BUT WE CANNOT KNOW THE EXTENT UNLESS THERE IS MORE TRANSPARENCY IN REVIEW BY STAFF AND COMMISSIONERS TO FIND OUT.
AS I MENTIONED, I'M A YHA PROJECT COORDINATOR.
IT'S A, IT'S A PROGRAM WHERE STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT HISTORY, CULTURE, AND GOVERNMENT IN THEIR NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT, INCLUDING TESTING THE WATER IN THE COLORADO RIVER, WHICH I HAVE BEEN DOING WITH MY COLLEAGUES EVERY MONTH AT TWO LOCATIONS AS PART OF RA'S CROWN PROGRAM SINCE 2024.
PEREZ RECENTLY CELEBRATED ITS 35TH ANNIVERSARY.
AND I REMEMBER SHARING AND SHARING DURING AN INTERVIEW OF COA RADIO THAT WHEN I WAS FIRST PARTICIPATED IN THE YSJ AS A TEENAGER, I LEARNED, I LEARNED HOW PEOPLE WE LIKE CAN MAKE DECISIONS THAT WILL AFFECT OUR LIVES.
AND THAT'S IMPORTANT TO GET INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY, TO PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT'S HAPPENING AND TO VOTE.
ON JUNE 1ST, OUR 12TH YSA CLASS WILL BEGIN AND LIKE ME, THEY WILL LEARN ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT SOME FOR THE FIRST TIME.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE TO THEM WITH CONFIDENCE THAT OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO CONSIDER THEMSELVES TRUE PUBLIC SERVANTS WILL LISTEN TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS AND TRY TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT WILL IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE.
PLEASE LISTEN TO US TODAY AND POSTPONE THESE ITEMS TO GIVE OUR COMMUNITY MORE TIME TO CONSIDER THE IMPACT THIS DEVELOPMENT WILL HAVE ON THE RIVER, BUT ALSO ON THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS WITHIN THE DOG'S HEAD AND THE LOWER COLORADO RIVER.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS CARLOS PINON.
I'M THE RESILIENCE PROGRAM COORDINATOR AT DER.
UM, AND I'M URGING YOU TO POSTPONE ITEMS 38, UH, AND RELATED ITEMS 39 AND 62.
ENSURE PUBLIC PROCESS, INCLUDING REVIEWS BY THE PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSIONS AND OTHER RELEVANT BOARDS.
FURTHERMORE, PLEASE AMEND THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT LANGUAGE TO PRECLUDE USE BY DATA CENTERS AND DEFENSE CONTRACTORS.
I'M JUST GONNA ECHO SOME OF THE POINTS MADE IN THAT LETTER BY GAVA, SIGNED BY MYSELF, COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND RESIDENTS FROM EVERY DISTRICT.
UM, THIS DRAFT AGREEMENT ESTABLISHES VERY FEW, IF ANY DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS, ESSENTIALLY GUARANTEEING THE DEVELOPER WHATEVER THEY WANT TO BUILD.
UM, THIS DRAFT AGREEMENT ALSO, UH, INCLUDES RESEARCH TESTING FACILITIES AND ALLOWS AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE AND BOAT TESTING APPEALING TO MILITARY CONTRACTORS LOOKING TO USE PUBLIC WATERWAYS.
UM, IF YOU HAD BEEN PAYING ATTENTION TO, UH, A CAMPAIGN THAT PULLED, THAT HAD RAN IN COALITION WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, UM, AGAINST IC, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE'RE ALL AT ALL INTERESTED IN.
UM, WE MOBILIZED OVER ABOUT 600 PEOPLE TO, UM, SUBMIT PUBLIC COMMENTS AGAINST THE AIR PERMIT THAT THEY WERE TRYING TO ESSENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, BUILD AND POLLUTE ONTOP, UH, AN AREA NICK'S MONTOPOLIS.
UM, AND SO I DO WANNA REITERATE THAT THIS IS NOT REALLY SOMETHING THAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS.
[00:50:01]
90% OF THE ACREAGE CAN BE DEVELOPED WITH A HUNDRED PERCENT IMPERVIOUS COVER, UM, WHICH TO ME IS ALSO ASTOUNDING.GRANTED THAT YESTERDAY WE WERE AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AND, AND NO MENTION OF THIS WAS GIVEN, UM, DESPITE A LOT OF THE CONVERSATION ON OTHER ITEMS BEING AROUND THE EFFECTS OF IMPERVIOUS COVER ON FLOODING, ON URBAN HEAT ISLAND, ON, UM, UH, THE EROSION OF THE COLORADO RIVER.
SO THERE ARE MANY DIMENSIONS TO THIS, UH, THAT I THINK THE COMMUNITY IS NOT AT ALL INTERESTED.
UM, THIS NEIGHBORHOOD HAS ALSO LONG SUFFERED FROM ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE AND DISINVESTMENT.
UM, SO THIS DRAFT AGREEMENT WILL OF COURSE EXACERBATE THESE INEQUITIES.
UM, AND THEN THE CITY WOULD BE COMMITTED TO ESTABLISH A TAX INCREMENTAL REINVESTMENT ZONE SO THE DEVELOPER CAN GET BOTH PROPERTY TAX AND SALES TAX CREDITS TO PUT TOWARDS THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE NEED THAT REDIRECTED TO OTHER THINGS LIKE SOCIAL SERVICES AND LIBRARIES AND PUBLIC SAFETY.
I'M SUSAN ALMANZA WITH PODER AND I'M ALSO REQUESTING THAT YOU POSTPONE ITEM 38, 39 AND 60.
AND I'M ALSO SUGGESTING THAT YOU PUT A LEACH ON THIS DOG.
YEAH, YOU NEED A LEACH ON THIS DOG BECAUSE IT HAS REALLY GONE CRAZY IN THE DOG'S HEAD.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PROVIDING REIMBURSEMENTS TO THE DOG HEAD OWNERS, AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT APPROVAL OF, OF NON, UH, ZONING VARIANCE, ADMINISTRATIVELY CURRENT.
YOU'RE LIVING, YOU'RE LEAVING OUT THE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THIS PROCESS, EVEN THOUGH THEY TALK ABOUT A PORTABLE HOUSING.
THERE'S NOTHING THAT SAYS AT WHAT MFI ARE WE TALKING ABOUT A D ARE WE TALKING ABOUT A HUNDRED PERCENT MEDIUM FAMILY INCOME? ALSO, YOU TALK ABOUT, UH, RIGHT OF RIGHT OF AWAY FEES NOT BEING APPLICABLE ON THIS DEVELOPMENT.
NOT TO MENTION THE A HUNDRED PERCENT IMPERVIOUS COVER.
SO THIS PARTICULAR, UM, 38, 39 AND 60, LIKE I SAID, YOU NEED TO PUT A STOP.
YOU NEED TO PUT A LEACH ON THIS DOG'S HEAD.
WE HAVE VALERIE MENARD WITH TWO MINUTES DONATED FROM ROY WHALEY.
VALERIE AND ROY, ARE YOU HERE? THEY, THEY ARE.
HEY, VALERIE, YOU'LL HAVE FOUR MINUTES.
PLEASE COME DOWN IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED.
UM, MAYOR WATSON AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT ONE AND I'M THE PROJECT DIRECTOR FOR POS, COLORADO RIVER CONSERVANCY.
AND HERE TODAY TO URGENTLY REQUEST THAT YOU POSTPONE ITEMS 38 3 9 AND 60 TO ALLOW FOR MORE CITIZEN INPUT AND REVIEW BY EXPERTS AT THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT ON SUCH AN IMPACTFUL DEVELOPMENT ALONG THE CALL, THE LOWER COLORADO RIVER IN EAST AUSTIN.
SPEAKING FOR THE CONSERVANCY, WE HAVE THE FOLLOWING CONCERNS THAT WE FEEL SHOULD GO TO THE FOLLOWING BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS FOR REVIEW SETTING IMPER CO IMPERVIOUS COVERAGE, A HUNDRED PERCENT UNRESTRICTED FLOOD RATE, FLOODPLAIN MODIFICATIONS, AND GREEN LIGHTING.
EXTENSIVE DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE SHRUNKEN CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE SHOULD BE REVIEWED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.
PLUS, THERE IS ZERO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS OFFERED FOR THE COLORADO RIVER IN THIS PLAN.
WHILE THE DEVELOPER CLAIMS THIS PLAN WILL PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THERE ARE NO SPECIFICS OFFERED, BUT UNITS PRICED AT 80% MFI ARE NOT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND ALLOWING GOLF CART PATHS DOES NOT INSPIRE CONFIDENCE.
WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE RESIDENTS LIVING IN THE DOG'S HEAD OR NEARBY? A QUICK LOOK AT THIS CENSUS SHOWS THAT THERE ARE NEWLY A THOUSAND RESIDENTS IN THE 7 8 7 4 2 ZIP CODE, WHICH INCLUDES THE DOG'S HEAD.
MOST OF THE HOMES THERE WERE BUILT IN THE 1950S AND ARE VALUED AT A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD SIZE IS THREE PERSONS.
AVERAGE INCOME PER HOUSEHOLD IS $74,000.
AND THE COST OF MONTHLY RENT, INCLUDING UTILITIES RANGES BETWEEN 200 AND A THOUSAND DOLLARS.
THIS DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A COMMUNITY THAT WILL SURVIVE A MASSIVE DEVELOPMENT, EVEN MUDDLED AFTER THE DOMAIN, BUT RATHER ONE THAT WILL BE OBLITERATED BY DISPLACEMENT AND GENTRIFICATION.
THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE REVIEWED BY THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.
WHY WOULD YOU EVEN CONSIDER ANNEXING THIS PROPERTY AND THEN SURRENDER CITY CONTROL FOR 45 YEARS? WHY WOULD YOU GIVE TAX CREDITS TO A DEVELOPER WITHOUT REQUIRING ANY OVERSIGHT OR COMMUNITY BENEFITS? WHY WOULD YOU SMOOTH THE PROCESS FOR CONNECTING THIS WATER HOG OF A DEVELOPMENT TO AUSTIN WATER? AND IF IT'S ANNEXED, WHAT DISTRICT WILL IT COME UNDER ONE, TWO, OR THREE, EVEN THOUGH IT WON'T MATTER FOR 45 YEARS? THIS EFFORT TO ANNEX THE PROPERTY, THEN SEED CITY AUTHORITY OVER IT, ADDING TAX CREDITS AS THE CHERRY ON TOP PUTS THE INTEGRITY AND ETHICS OF THIS BODY.
PLEASE PUMP THE BRAKES ON THIS DEVELOPMENT AND ALLOW FOR TRANSPARENCY AND PUBLIC INPUT.
UH, CRAIG NASER, UH, CONSERVATION CHAIR OF AUSTIN SIERRA CLUB.
[00:55:02]
SO THERE WAS A CLIMATE PROTECTION PLAN AND WE WERE PART OF IT, SIERRA CLUB, BUT WE SUBMITTED AS A PART OF THAT CLIMATE PROTECTION PLAN, A MINORITY REPORT.AND I DON'T THINK MANY PEOPLE READ IT,
AND WHAT IT SAYS ESSENTIALLY IS THAT CLIMATE CHANGE IS GONNA BE WORSE THAN WE CAN PREDICT BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S STOCHASTIC, IT'S NOT GONNA BE LINEAR, IT'S NOT EVEN GONNA BE LOGARITHMIC.
UH, WE'RE GONNA COME OUT OF THESE TIPPING POINTS AND WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO PREDICT THAT VERY WELL.
SUCH A BIG DEVELOPMENT RIGHT NEXT TO THE RIVER DOESN'T MAKE MUCH SENSE BECAUSE REGARDLESS OF WHAT ANYONE SAYS, IF A BIG FLOOD COMES DOWN, THE COLORADO AND I HAVE SEEN IT WHERE THEY HAD TO OPEN ALL THE PORTS OF THE, OF THE MANSFIELD DAM AND LET ALL THE WATER OUT BECAUSE IT HAD, IT WAS GOING TO TOP IT.
UM, IF THAT HAPPENS, WHO'S GONNA PAY FOR THAT? WE ARE THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
TAXPAYERS ARE GONNA PAY FOR THAT.
AND YOU WANNA DO THIS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS WITHOUT ANY COMMISSION OR ANYTHING? I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW.
I GO TO THOSE COMMISSION MEETINGS BECAUSE I CARE.
DON'T GET PAID A CENT TO DO THAT BECAUSE I CARE ABOUT THE CITY AND WHAT KIND OF FUTURE WE'RE GONNA HAVE.
SO I WOULD ASK YOU TO DELAY THESE AND GO THROUGH THE NORMAL PROCESS.
WE DO LET THE CITIZENS SPEAK BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T DO THAT, THAT'S JUST ANOTHER BIT OF CLIMATE CHANGE DENIAL.
I MEAN, OF COURSE YOU GET A TAX, YOU KNOW, YOU GET, YOU'RE GONNA GET ALL THESE TAXES IF YOU DEVELOP IT IN THE SHORT RUN.
IT'S SHORT RUN STUPID AND LONG OR SHORT, RUN SMART, MAYBE IN LONG RANGE, STUPID.
GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR, UH, DAVID WINERY FROM DISTRICT FIVE.
THIS PROJECT, UH, IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE IT IS SOMETHING THAT THERE COULD BE MORE BENEFICIAL USES TO THE LAND THAN THERE CURRENTLY ARE.
UH, ALSO MUCH NEEDED REVENUE FOR THE CITY.
ALTHOUGH I THINK, YOU KNOW, JACK CRAVER AND HIS NEWSLETTER HAD A PRETTY GOOD DISCUSSION ON THAT, UH, YESTERDAY IN TERMS OF LOOKING AT, UM, EXACTLY HOW MUCH AND WHEN.
UM, I WANTED JUST MAKE A COUPLE QUICK POINTS ON, ON PROCESS.
I WAS LISTENING TO THE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION ON TUESDAY, AND I HEARD CITY STAFF DESCRIBE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT FELL OUT OF THE SKY.
AND I WAS A LITTLE CONFUSED BECAUSE THEN LATER IN THE MEETING I HEARD THE APPLICANT FOR THE OWNER SAY THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THEY HAD BEEN WORKING ON FOR SEVEN YEARS.
UH, AND I CAN SEE A, A LITTLE BIT OF DAYLIGHT IN BETWEEN THOSE TWO THINGS.
UM, THIS, THIS, THIS, THIS DOES FEEL LIKE AN AGENDA ITEM THAT FELL OUT OF THE SKY.
UM, IT, IT IT'S QUITE A LARGE PROJECT.
IT IS, IT IS QUITE SUBSTANTIAL IN TERMS OF ITS MANY IMPACTS ON THE CITY.
I I THINK IT WOULD BE MORE PRUDENT TO PUT THIS BEFORE THE RELEVANT CITY COUNCILS, UH, AND NOT TAKE A QUICK VOTE ON THIS BEFORE YOUR, UH, SUMMER RECESS.
SO I WOULD ASK YOU TO PLEASE, UH, DELAY THIS PROJECT, PUT IT THROUGH SORT OF THE MORE NORMAL CHANNELS OF HOW CITY GOVERNMENT WORKS.
WE HAVE DENNIS KERWIN WITH TIME DONATED FROM JODY KERWIN.
UM, RICHARD SU, ELIZABETH LEVINS, CHRIS PAGE, WILLIAM BUNCH.
IS JODY HERE? I HAVE FOUR MINUTES.
AS THE, AS THE SPEAKERS ARE GETTING SEATED, MAY I REQUEST TO BE, UH, NOTED YEAH.
ON ITEM 12? YEAH, WHEN WE FINISH.
I'VE LIVED IN, UH, ON AT NINE 12 DALTON LANE IN THE AREA KNOWN AS THE DOG'S HEAD FOR 49 YEARS.
AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE THE DOGS' HEADS FINALLY GET DEVELOPED TO ITS FULL POTENTIAL.
I HAVE A FEW CONCERNS THOUGH ON THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
FIRST, I'M CONCERNED WITH THE CONCRETE CRUSHERS AND THE CONCRETE BATCH PLANTS.
IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE GONNA GET A, A WAIVER WHERE THEY CAN PUT IT WITHIN 500 TO A HUNDRED FEET OF A HOME.
[01:00:01]
THERE'S A LOT OF DUST COMES OFF THEM.I'VE BEEN AROUND THEM FOR MANY YEARS.
I RAN HALF THAT PLACE FOR A LONG TIME.
THE DUST AND THE SILICA FROM 'EM DOES NOT NEED TO BE NEAR ANYBODY'S HOME.
THEY NEED TO BE KEPT BACK AWAY FROM EVERYBODY.
THAT'S A VERY BIG PROBLEM RIGHT THERE, AND IT SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN.
UH, SECOND, I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT ON THE LOCAL STREETS WITH THE TRAFFIC.
THE AGREEMENT SHOWS THAT, UH, DEVELOPERS WILL HAVE NO RESPONSIBILITY TO IMPROVE THE STREETS OUTSIDE THE DEVELOPMENT.
DALTON LANE IS ALREADY TOO NARROW FOR SAFE TRAVEL.
WE'VE ALREADY GOT ALL THE 18 WHEELERS RUNNING IN OUTTA THERE FOR ALL THESE YEARS WITH THE DIRT, SAND, AND GRAVEL.
I'VE SEEN WRECKS WHERE THEY RUN HIT THE OFF THE BRIDGES MORE THAN ONCE.
UH, A LOT OF IT DOESN'T GET REPORTED.
THEY PULL EACH OTHER OUT AND GO ON.
UH, BUT WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU MEET THE 18 WHEELER, THOSE BRIDGES ARE TOO NARROW.
THEY MIGHT SEEM LIKE THEY'RE LEGAL, BUT WHEN THEY'RE, AND WHEN THERE'S TWO OF 'EM COMING, AND I LIVE RIGHT THERE ON DALTON LANE, SO I SEE THE TRAFFIC BACK UP WHEN THEY GET TO THOSE BRIDGES, THEY NEED TO BE FIXED AND NEED TO, AND, UH, FIXED THAT TRAFFIC.
AND THEN SECOND OF ALL, WE NEED TO CONSIDER A DRAINAGE.
EVERYBODY HERE SEEMS TO BE WORRIED ABOUT FLOODING.
WELL, THE FLOODING COMES OUT OF AUSTIN.
IT'S A LITTLE BIT TOO LATE WHEN IT ALREADY GETS TO THE DOG, TO THE DOG HEAD AREA.
THE OTHER FLOODING WILL BE THE COLORADO RIVER.
AND I'VE SEEN IT FLOOD TOO, WHEN THE GATES ARE ALL OPEN AND IT DOESN'T DO ANYTHING BUT COME UP A CERTAIN AMOUNT.
AND THAT'S GONNA ALL BE IN THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL STUFF.
SO, I MEAN, THAT'S NOT GONNA BE A PROBLEM WITH THE DEVELOPMENT.
I'M FARTHER DEVELOPMENT, YOU KNOW, THAT.
BUT THE FLOODING COMING FROM, UH, CARSON CREEK.
UH, THEY, UH, LET ME SEE WHERE I'M AT NOW.
I GOT OFF ON MY, MY RANT IS, IS, UH, IT IS, THEY'VE ALREADY BLOCKED PART OF THE A HUNDRED YEAR FLOODPLAIN IN THE 380 ACRES THE DEVELOPERS DID.
AND THEY PUT A LEVEE ACROSS IT.
THERE WAS, I WAS TOLD FOR 20 YEARS THAT, UH, THERE WAS A HUNDRED ACRE FEET THAT BACKED UP INTO THAT FIELD.
IT CAN'T BACK UP IN THERE ANYMORE.
SO WE NEED HELP TO DO SOMETHING WITH WHERE THAT WATER'S GONNA GO.
AND I BELIEVE THAT'S THEIR OBLIGATION.
IT LOOKS LIKE THE AGREEMENT REQUIRES A, A REGIONAL STORM PLAN, BUT KEEP IN MIND THE AGREEMENT SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THE PLAN WILL NOT INCLUDE ANY PROPERTY OUTSIDE OF THE DEVELOPMENT.
UH, IT WILL HAVE NO DEDICATED DRAINAGE EASEMENTS INSIDE THE DEVELOPMENT.
WE NEED A TRUE REGIONAL STORM PLAN THAT ACCOUNTS FOR THE LAND IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND ALSO RELIEVES THE FLOODING IN THE SURROUNDING AREA, WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN MADE WORSE BY THIS PROJECT.
DE DEDICATED DRAINAGE EASEMENTS SHOULD ALWAYS BE A PART OF THE PROJECT FOR LATER, UH, LATER PROBLEMS FOR GETTING THE DRAINAGE THROUGH IT.
WE'VE, WE'VE RUN INTO THAT PROBLEM ALREADY OVER ON DALTON LANE WITH TRYING TO GET THE WATER OUT OF THERE COMING FROM CARSON CREEK.
UH, AND ALSO ON THE TOPIC OF DRAINAGE.
I SEE THEY HAVE A LAND SWAP AGREEMENT IN THERE TALKING ABOUT, WELL, I THINK THAT'S A VERY GOOD IDEA AND HAS A LOT OF POTENTIAL.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN CAN SWAP THE ACREAGE IT OWNS ON THOMPSON LANE, WHICH I KNOW THEY GOT AT A VERY GOOD PRICE YEARS AGO FROM THE RANCH AND SWAP IT TO THE DEVELOPER IN EXCHANGE HOW THE DEVELOPER FIX A CHANNEL.
YOU CAN'T GIMME ANOTHER MINUTE ABOUT IT.
WHY DON'T YOU BEGIN, THEN WE'LL HEAR FROM YOU.
UH, BILL BUNCH, UH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE SPEAKING AGAINST THIS, UH, RUSH TO DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
UM, UM, THE POSTING IS IMPROPER.
THERE'S LOTS OF THINGS THAT ARE MISSING.
UH, IT TALKS ABOUT NEGOTIATION AND EXECUTION, UH, AUTHORITY FOR THE CITY MANAGER.
BUT YOU'VE ACTUALLY POSTED THE DRAFT AGREEMENT WITH A WHOLE LOT OF LATE BACKUP, UH, 38, 36 PAGES, SINGLE SPACED.
UM, YOU'RE, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, LIMITING US TO SPEAK TO TWO MINUTES, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE MINIMUM UNDER YOUR ORDINANCE, NOT WHAT'S APPROPRIATE WHEN YOU HAVE A HUGELY COMPLICATED 45 YEAR DEAL LIKE THIS.
SO I WOULD URGE YOU TO RIGHT NOW, START GIVING SPEAKERS MORE THAN TWO MINUTES, UH, FOUR OR FIVE AT LEAST, UH, TO BE COMPLIANT WITH THE TEXAS PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT.
UH, YOU KNOW, Y Y'ALL MUST FEEL A LITTLE BIT UNCOMFORTABLE WITH MR. SUBTLE, WHO NONE OF YOU EVER VOTE AGAINST, WITH PERHAPS THE EXCEPTION OF COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN OUTING YOU BY SAYING, OH, THIS HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR SEVEN YEARS, BUT NOW SOMEHOW WE DON'T HAVE
[01:05:01]
TIME TO GO THROUGH THE, UH, BOARD AND COMMISSION PROCESS THAT YOUR CITY CHARTER AND YOUR ORDINANCES REQUIRE YOU TO DO.AND THAT IF YOU CARE ABOUT PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, IF YOU CARE ABOUT TRANSPARENCY, IF YOU CARE ABOUT THE RIVER AND WATER QUALITY, IF YOU CARE ABOUT NOT SUBSIDIZING THE RICH AT THE EXPENSE OF THE REST OF US, THEN YOU WOULDN'T BE DOING THIS.
AND YOU CERTAINLY WOULDN'T BE CONSIDERING THIS WITHOUT DOING WHAT'S REQUIRED BY YOUR OWN PROCEDURES.
IT'S PARTICULARLY OFFENSIVE IF YOU COMPARE IT TO YOUR RAINER RIVER ON ITEM 45, WHICH CALLS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT APPROACH TO THIS ITEM.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS ELIZABETH LEVINS, AND I LIVE ON HER GODS LANE IN THE DOGHEAD NEIGHBORHOOD.
I'M HERE TO OPPOSE ITEMS 38, 39 AND 60 AS CURRENTLY PRESENTED THIS UP.
THIS PROCESS HAS MOVED TOO QUICKLY AND WITHOUT ADEQUATE TRANSPARENCY, NEIGHBORS LEARNED ABOUT MAJOR CHANGES AFFECTING OUR HOMES AND COMMUNITY.
AT THE LAST MINUTE, I RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO POSTPONE THIS ACTION, UM, PROP THIS PROPOSAL.
SO THIS PROPOSAL CAN UNDERGO FULL PUBLIC REVIEW, INCLUDING INDEPENDENT FLOODPLAIN AND TRAFFIC STUDIES, SO RESIDENTS HAVE MEANINGFUL NOTICE AND INPUT.
I'M ALSO DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPACT ON EXISTING HOMEOWNERS, THE PRO, THE PROPOSED WIDENING OF HER GOTS ROAD TO APPROXIMATELY A 92 FOOT RIGHT OF WAY COULD TAKE YARDS AND POTENTIALLY HOMES.
PLEASE DO NOT APPROVE RESIDENTIAL TAKINGS UNLESS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.
EXPLORE ALTERNATIVES THAT AVOID CONDEMNING HOMES AND PROTECTING THE PEOPLE WHO ALREADY LIVE HERE.
THE CURRENT AGREEMENT ALSO PLACES TOO MUCH LONG-TERM RISK ON TAXPAYERS WITHOUT SUFFICIENT ENFORCEABLE GUARANTEES FROM THE DEVELOPER BEFORE ANY VOTE.
REQUIRE CLEAR MILESTONES, INDEPENDENT REVIEW, AND STRONGER PROTECTIONS FOR THE PUBLIC.
FINALLY, STRENGTHEN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS NOW, NOT LATER.
DO NOT ALLOW REDUCED WATER QUALITY SETBACKS, EXCESSIVE IMPERVIOUS COVER, OR UNLIMITED FLOODPLAIN MODIFICATIONS WITHOUT STRONG SAFEGUARDS AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
IF THIS PROJECT TRULY SERVES THE PUBLIC INTEREST, IT CAN WITHSTAND ADDITIONAL REVIEW, TRANSPARENCY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
I URGE YOU TO POSTPONE THESE ITEMS, REQUIRE THE NECESSARY STUDIES AND WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH ADJACENT RESIDENCE BEFORE ANY FINAL APPROVAL.
CONTINUE ON ITEM 38, CONTINUE.
ON ITEM 38, WE HAVE JANICE BOOKOUT, ERIC POLOS, KIM VASQUEZ, DANIEL LOW KAR URI.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
BOBBY LAVINSKY WITH TIME DONATED BY BETSY GREENBERG AND BARBARA MACARTHUR ON ITEM 38 IS, ARE ALL THREE PEOPLE PRESENT? YES.
YOU WILL HAVE, UH, MR. LEVINSKY WILL HAVE SIX MINUTES WHEN HE BEGINS.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE.
UM, I AM, UH, OFFERING COMMENTS ON ITEM 38, UH, UH, REGISTERED AS NEUTRAL.
UM, I ORIGINALLY GREW UP IN HOUSTON, WHICH HAS SEEN A LOT OF ANNEXATIONS AND TS IN THE PAST, AND SO BASED ON THAT EXPERIENCE, I'VE SEEN THAT LIKE AN ANNEXATION FOR THE PURPOSES OF TAX REVENUE IS ALWAYS LIKE A POPULAR OPTION, BUT IT, WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL BECAUSE IT CAN EASILY, UH, GO THE OTHER WAY WHERE IT BECOMES A, A DRAG ON US.
UM, BECAUSE IF WE CHOOSE TO ANNEX EXIT AND THEN WE CHOOSE TO BUILD WIDE ROADS, UH, LET IT SPRAWL OUT, UH, THEN WE GET A SHORT TERM BOOST OF TAX REVENUE.
BUT THEN, UH, WE HAVE TO PAY FOR ALL THE MAINTENANCE OF THAT IN THE FUTURE.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT THE BEST USE OF THAT LAND.
WE'RE BASICALLY SUBSIDIZING WITH THAT TURNS THE TAX MONEY, LIKE ALL THE ROADS THAT THEY NEED.
BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, IF WE CHOOSE TO, YOU KNOW, UH, IF WE ARE GONNA PUT THAT TURS LIKE SUBSIDY MONEY IN, WE SHOULD ASK FOR IT TO BE SOMETHING THAT WILL BENEFIT THE CITY.
SOMETHING LIKE, UH, MUELLER IS PROBABLY THE BEST EXAMPLE THAT WE HAVE JUST BECAUSE THAT'S ONE OF THE GOOD EXAMPLES I HAVE.
UH, BUT, YOU KNOW, ANY OTHER TYPE OF EXAMPLE WHERE WE LET IT BUILD UP INTO SOMETHING MORE PRODUCTIVE, UH, AND MORE HOPEFULLY ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY, UH, THEN THAT'LL BE BETTER.
UH, SO PLEASE, AS YOU EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT, UM, AND, AND TALK ABOUT THE A SMP MODIFICATIONS, WHICH WAS MENTIONED IN THERE, WHICH, WHICH IS WHAT HAD ME CONCERNED THAT WE,
[01:10:01]
UH, TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT.WHY DON'T WE START WITH YOU AND WE'LL WORK OUR WAY DOWN.
BOBBY LAVINSKY SAVE SPRINGS ALLIANCE, UM, SPEAKING AGAINST ITEMS 38 39 60, THIS IS A DISASTER OF AN AGREEMENT.
UH, WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF PROBLEMS THAT HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY SB 2038, THE BILL THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO REMOVE THEMSELVES FROM THE CITY'S EXTRATERRITORIAL JURISDICTIONS, BUT I DON'T THINK WE'VE EVER SEEN AN AGREEMENT WHERE THE CITY SHOOTS THEMSELF IN THE FOOT SO HARD.
YOU ARE ACTUALLY ANNEXING THIS PROPERTY TO REMOVE MORE RESTRICTIVE COUNTY REGULATIONS.
UM, AND I THINK IT IS REALLY HORRIBLE.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE A TURNING THE DOG HEAD INTO A MIDDLE FINGER TO EAST AUSTIN, CONSIDERING ALL THE EFFORTS WE'VE BEEN, WE'VE MADE TO TRY TO RESTORE THE ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICES THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN THIS AREA.
AND THE REASON WHY PART OF THE DOG'S HEAD PROPERTIES IN ITS STATE WHERE IT'S AT RIGHT NOW, WE NEED TO BE MOVING FORWARD ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION ACTIVITIES, NOT AGREEING TO AN AGREEMENT THAT WOULD ALLOW 45 YEARS OF LOCKED IN DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS, 100% OF IMPERVIOUS COVER IN ALL OF THE DEVELOPER AREA.
THAT'S OVER 2300 ACRES OF IMPERVIOUS COVER FOR THIS PROPERTY THAT'S NOT ENTIRELY WITHIN THE FLOODPLAIN.
YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE CHANGES TO ONE OF THE MOST ECOLOGICALLY SENSITIVE STRETCHES OF AN URBAN RIVER IN THE ENTIRE STATE OF TEXAS, AND YOU'RE GOING TO PREVENT ANY FUTURE COUNSEL FOR 45 YEARS FROM CORRECTING THIS MISTAKE WITH ONE WEEK'S NOTICE.
YOU HAVEN'T SENT THIS AGREEMENT THROUGH THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS PROCESS.
YOU HAVE EXPERTS IN THESE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THAT CAN HELP YOU MAKE WISE DECISIONS.
YOU HAVE A FANTASTIC ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RIGHT NOW THAT'S REALLY WELL BALANCED.
THIS SHOULD BE GOING BEFORE THEM TO GIVE YOU ADVICE ON THE STANDARDS THAT COULD APPLY TO THIS PROPERTY TO MAKE THIS SITUATION BETTER, NOT WORSE.
AND ON TOP OF THAT, YOU'RE GUARANTEEING THIS DEVELOPER TAX BREAKS, TAX BREAKS THAT YOU DON'T GIVE TO OTHER PEOPLE.
TAXES ARE HERE TO, TO, TO PROVIDE LIBRARIES, TO PROVIDE PUBLIC SERVICE, TO PROVIDE SOCIAL SERVICES FOR PEOPLE, NOT TO HAND THEM OUT TO BILLIONAIRES THAT ALREADY HAVE ENOUGH MONEY THEMSELVES.
REALLY UPSET ABOUT THIS ONE, BECAUSE WE ARE IN A CONVERSATION RIGHT NOW WHERE THERE'S A TECH OLIGARCH KEY TAKING OVER PARTS OF TEXAS, AND THIS AGREEMENT HAS NO PROTECTIONS IN PLACE THAT WOULD PREVENT, UH, USE LIKE A MILITARY CONTRACTOR TO BE BUILT ON THE SITE.
I DON'T THINK ANY OF YOUR RESIDENTS WOULD WANT THAT.
I DON'T THINK ANY OF YOUR VOTERS WOULD WANT THAT.
AND WHEN IT HAPPENS, WOULD YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OF AFTER THE STATE, THEY'RE GONNA BE ASKING YOU WHY YOU WEREN'T ASKING THOSE QUESTIONS ON WHY IT WASN'T PROHIBITED ON THIS SITE, WHY YOU'RE GIVING THEM TAX BREAKS.
SERRANO TECH OR, UH, SARA, I KEEP SAYING THE NAME OF THE COMPANY WRONG.
THERE'S LANGUAGE IN HERE THAT INDICATES IT FOR, IT'S FOR A, UH, THERE'S FROM PERIOD TO USE FOR AUTO, UH, AUTOMOTIVE, UH, TESTING AND BOAT.
IT'S, ANYWAY, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S AN AI TYPE OF, UH, UH, USE THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR BOAT TESTING FOR, BASICALLY, IT'S A MILITARY CONTRACT THAT DOES DRONE, UH, DRONES FOR THE MILITARY FOR A DRONE, BOATS FOR THE MILITARY.
IT WAS A PERMIT THAT WAS JUST, UH, WITHDRAWN BECAUSE THERE'S AIR QUALITY CONCERNS FROM THE RESIDENTS.
AND AS AN EARLIER SPEAKER NOTED, 600 SPEAKERS CAME OUT TO SPEAK AGAINST IT.
THAT IN THAT USE THAT'S IN THERE IS EXACTLY THE WAY THAT THEY, THEY DESCRIBED THAT USE AS WELL.
YOU WOULD BE PERMITTING THAT ON THIS SITE BY NOT JUST TAKING THREE MONTHS, SEND IT TO THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, POSTPONE THIS.
THERE IS NO RUSH OTHER THAN THE DEVELOPER'S POCKETBOOKS ON THIS ITEM.
YOU HAVE AN ETJ RIGHT NOW IN PLACE THAT IT HAS NOT BEEN, THEY, THE PROPERTY HAS NOT BEEN REMOVED FROM IT.
AND I THINK THERE'S ALSO SOME VALID QUESTIONS ON WHETHER THEY WOULD EVEN HAVE THE, THE RIGHT TO REMOVE THEMSELVES FROM THE ETJ ISSUES THAT ARE BEING DISCUSSED BEHIND THE SCENES THAT ARE NOT BEING TAKEN ACCOUNTED FOR.
YOU HAVE CUT OUT THE PUBLIC, YOU HAVE CUT OUT THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, AND YOU HAVE CUT OUT, I'M GONNA SAY THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM.
YOU'VE CUT OUT YOUR OWN CITY STAFF.
IN EVALUATING THIS PROPOSAL, IT WAS NEGOTIATED BY BEHIND CLOSED DOORS BY CITY MANAGEMENT AND THE LOBBYIST, NOT YOUR CITY STAFF THAT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THEIR JOB, THEIR PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES TO PROTECT THE CITY.
AND ON TOP OF THIS, RIGHT NOW, THERE'S NOT EVEN A PRE-BRIEFING TO THE PUBLIC TO LET THEM KNOW WHAT'S IN THIS AGREEMENT.
SO I'M GONNA USE THE REST OF MY TIME ON THIS ITEM.
AND THEN ON THE OTHER ITEMS, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC IS AWARE OF ALL OF THE PROVISIONS IN THIS AGREEMENT THAT ARE NOT BEING TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT FOR, WE'VE ALREADY MENTIONED A HUNDRED PERCENT IMPERVIOUS COVER.
THERE'S NO HEIGHT, THERE'S NO SETBACK.
THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE IS REDUCED TO 200 FEET FOR THE COLORADO RIVER, THE FREE FLOWING SECTION OF THE COLORADO RIVER, WITH EXCEPTIONAL WATER QUALITY,
[01:15:01]
WITH EXCEPTIONAL BIODIVERSITY, WITH THE RIP PERIOD ZONE THAT NEEDS TO BE PROTECTED SO THAT THE WATER QUALITY REMAINS HIGH.YOU ALSO HAVE AN AGREEMENT THAT THAT GIVES ALMOST EVERY SINGLE PERMITTED USE UNDER THE SUN TO THE DEVELOPER LOCKED IN.
YOU CAN'T CHANGE THAT WITH A, WITH A LATER DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT THAT'S PASSED WITH A LATER REGULATING PLAN THAT'S PASSED LATER.
YOU HAVE A PROVISION IN THERE THAT WOULD GRANT THE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.
SO NOT AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, NOT SOMEBODY THAT THE PUBLIC HAS ANYBODY AT ANY ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE UNLIMITED ABILITY TO GRANT ANY VARIANCE TO THE CITY CODE WITHOUT ANY ARTICULABLE STANDARDS ON HOW THEY SHOULD APPROVE THAT VARIANCE.
AND THE PUBLIC CAN'T OPPOSE THAT VARIANCE.
IF THEY DON'T GET THEIR WAY WITH THE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOP DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, THEY GET TO APPEAL THAT DECISION TO THE CITY, TO THE CITY COUNCIL, OR TO THE CITY MANAGER.
SO THERE'S NO PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY WITH THAT.
YOU HAVE UNLIMITED CUT AND FILL VARIANCES.
I MENTIONED THAT THEY, IT'S, IT'S WORSE THAN THE COUNTY.
YOU'RE ACTUALLY HAVING NO CUT AND FILL VARIANCES, WHERE IF YOU'RE LEFT IN THE COUNTY, YOU WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE A CUT AND FILL STANDARD.
PLEASE VOTE AGAINST THIS THING.
PLEASE DON'T YOU, PLEASE, WHY DON'T YOU TAKE THE MICROPHONE.
STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
I'M KIM VASQUEZ, UM, AND I AM A RESIDENT OF HER GOD'S LIEN, AND I OPPOSE ITEMS 38 39 AND 60.
UH, THIS ITEM, THIS ANNEXATION PROPOSAL DOES NOT REFLECT A TRANSPARENT OR INCLUSIVE PUBLIC PROCESS.
THERE'S BEEN NO PUBLIC NOTICE, NO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND NO MEANINGFUL INPUT FROM THE ADVISORY COMMISSIONERS.
INSTEAD, IT IS HERE TODAY ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
SO THIS AGREEMENT IS ESTABLISHING A 45 YEAR ARRANGEMENT THAT GRANTS DEVELOPERS, THEIR BROAD DISCRETION WITH LIMITED PUBLIC OR COUNCIL OVERSIGHT, DELEGATE SIGNIFICANT AUTHORITY TO THE CITY'S ADMINISTRATION LEVEL, THE DIRECTOR'S LEVEL, WITHOUT ANY APPEALS TO COUNCIL.
IT LACKS CLEARLY DEFINED ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND OVERSIGHT MECHANISMS FOR THE DOG'S HEADS PRIVATELY, UH, PLAN, YOU KNOW, PARKS AND OPEN SPACES AND TRAILS.
ALSO, THERE'S WAIVERS THAT'S BEEN, APPEARS TO BE, YOU KNOW, UM, CERTAIN DEVELOPMENT CODES THAT'S BEEN WAIVED, THAT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN WAIVED.
AND IT, AND, AND THERE'S THE, THE PROCESS OF ELIMINATING TRAVIS COUNTY'S OVERSIGHT, UM, AS, AS PART OF THE, UH, DEVELOPMENT HERE, UM, FOR ITEM 39.
AND THEN IT RAISES CONCERNS ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY.
SO THIS PROJECT COM COMPLETELY AFFECTS THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.
THE INFRASTRUCTURE CHANGES, THE WIDENING OF THE 60 FOOT ROAD ON HER GOZ LANE TO POSSIBLY 90, OVER 90 FEET NEW, NEW ROADWAYS OF UP TO SIX LANES, AND THEN TO ADJACENT RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORS.
UM, THERE'S NO, NO TRAFFIC STUDIES, UH, AS FAR AS ANNEXATION FOR, FOR THIS NEW ROADWAYS DEVELOPMENT.
SO, AND THEN JUST BEING UNCLEAR THAT THE PUBLIC'S, HOW IS THIS PUB, UH, BENEFITING THE ENTIRE PUBLIC, UM, IS VERY DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACTING THE COMMUNITY, THE ENVIRONMENT, THE WATERWAYS, WILDLIFE, THE EQUITY OF THE ENVIRONMENT MAINLY.
UH, I OPPOSE THESE THREE ITEMS. THANK YOU.
I'M AN ARCHITECT BUSINESS OWNER, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY FOR THIS FORUM, A MEMBER OF THE SOEA EAST COLORADO NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
MY WIFE AND I LIVE ON ERGOTS LANE.
I'M SPEAKING AGAINST ITEMS 38, 39 AND 60.
AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, WE'VE SEEN THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS EVISCERATED.
WE'VE SEEN BACKROOM NEGOTIATIONS COME TO LIGHT ONLY AFTER THE WRECKING BALL HITS ITS MARK.
AND WE'VE SEEN THE SYSTEMIC MARGINALIZATION OF VOICES.
MY COMMUNITY AND I ARE, ARE COMMITTED TO PREVENTING THIS FROM HAPPENING IN OUR BACKYARD.
THE PROPOSED AGREEMENT CHERRY PICKS THE LEAST RESTRICTIVE REGULATIONS BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND THE CITY, WHILE SHUNNING ANY ENVIRONMENTAL OBLIGATIONS, RESPONSIBILITIES, OR OVERSIGHT.
A HUNDRED PERCENT ALLOWABLE IMPERVIOUS COVER.
THE SAME ALLOWED DOWNTOWN UNLIMITED FAR BUILDING HEIGHTS LIMITED ONLY BY THE FAA IN AN ENVIRONMENTAL AREA.
AS SENSITIVE AS THE RIPARIAN ZONE OF THE COLORADO RIVER IS INCREDIBLY CAVALIER BY BYPASSING THE CITY'S ENVIRONMENTAL CRITERIA MANUAL FOR FLOODPLAIN MODIFICATIONS AND ALLOWING A 12 FOOT WIDE PAVED E-BIKE SUPERHIGHWAY RUNNING DIRECTLY THROUGH THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE IS UNIMAGINABLE.
THE ALLOWABLE USES ARE EQUALLY CONCERNING.
A TERM UNDEFINED BY THE AGREEMENT ARE ALLOWED AS CONTINUED USE.
WOULD YOU ALLOW FIREARM ACTIVITIES DOWNTOWN, BECAUSE THAT'S THE POTENTIAL
[01:20:01]
DENSITY OF THIS DEVELOPMENT? UNDER THIS AGREEMENT.INDUSTRIAL USES SUCH AS DATA CENTERS COULD CONVENIENTLY PULL THEIR REQUISITE WATER DIRECTLY FROM THE RIVER.
FROM A BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE, THIS AGREEMENT LETS A DEVELOPER BASICALLY WALK AWAY AT ANY TIME YET BINDS THE CITY FOR 45 YEARS.
WHAT PROHIBITS A DEVELOPER FROM OPTING OUT AFTER MILLIONS OF TAXPAYER DOLLAR IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED? HAS THE CITY'S LEGAL EVEN REVIEWED THIS DOCUMENT? AS A BUSINESS OWNER, IF I ENTERED INTO SUCH AN EGREGIOUSLY ONE-SIDED CONTRACT, I WOULDN'T BE IN BUSINESS FOR LONG.
UM, THE EASIEST SOLUTION IS NOT ALWAYS THE BEST ONE.
PEOPLE WHO GET INTO DEBT SOMETIMES CREATE MORE DEBT TRYING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
THAT ONE, THAT 0% A PR FEELS LIKE A RELIEF UNTIL IT JUMPS TO 15%.
AND FOR YOUNG, THAT CAN BE A LACK OF EXPERIENCE.
BUT FOR OLDER ADULTS, WE KNOW BETTER.
PREDATORY LOANS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF DESPERATION.
THE COST IS NOT ON THE SURFACE.
DOG HEAD ANNEX LOOKS LIKE A GREAT DEAL.
THEORETICALLY, BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN TAX REVENUE ALLEVIATING A MAJOR DEFICIT.
BUT ARE WE SO DESPERATE FOR TAX DOLLARS THAT WE'RE WILLING TO RISK THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF NEARBY RESIDENTS BEFORE WE TRADE AWAY OUR ABILITY TO HOLD ENDEAVOR TO ENDEAVORS, ENDEAVOR, TO ACCOUNT, WE NEED A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THEIR PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT WILL IMPACT NEIGHBORS.
THERE ARE ABOUT A THOUSAND PEOPLE LIVING IN THE AREA SOUTH OF DOG'S HEAD, ALMOST ALL LIVING IN MOBILE HOMES, AND A PORTION OF WHICH ARE ALREADY IN THE 25 OR A HUNDRED YEAR FLOODPLAIN.
SOME OF DOGS HEAD DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE AT ELEVATIONS HIGHER THAN THIS AREA.
A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE IMPER IMPERVIOUS COVER COULD MAKE THIS MUCH WORSE.
AND, UH, 7 8 7 4 2 IS A NEARLY LANDLOCKED ZIP CODE DEFINED BY ITS BORDERS, WHICH INCLUDE THE COLORADO RIVER AND 180 3 AND 71 TO THE SOUTH AND WEST.
THE ONLY ACCESS FOR MOST NEIGHBORS IN 7 8, 7 4 2 IS THE SERVICE ROADS.
THE MAJORITY OF HOMES ARE MOBILE HOMES.
THEY'RE ALSO A FEW ISOLATED OLDER HOMES AND LARGER LOTS.
9% OF THE RESIDENTS ARE CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF FIVE, AND 5% ARE OVER THE AGE OF 64.
54% ARE LOW INCOME, 83.2% ARE HISPANIC.
THESE FOLKS ALSO HAVE HIGHER RATES OF HEART DISEASE, ASTHMA, LOW LIFE EXPECTANCY, AND PEOPLE, THERE ARE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGH PEOPLE LIVING IN THE, I HAVE SIX MINUTES.
WELL, YOU CAN COME BACK AND TESTIFY ON 39 AND 60 WHEN THEY'RE CALLED UP, IS THE WAY WE DO THAT.
WE HAVE RICH HAYMAN, BRAD MASSING, LEE EDWARDS, TOMMY JOAQUIN, HANCOCK, VICTORIA FINN.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
TONE VASQUEZ, JEFFREY BOWEN, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY FORWARD.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED AND YOU WISH TO SPEAK.
MR. MASSENGILL, WHY DON'T YOU BEGIN? HEY, Y'ALL.
UM, I FORGOT TO MENTION LAST TIME I WAS HERE, I'M, I'M ALSO ON THE BOARD OF THE SOUTH AUSTIN CREEK ALLIANCE.
UH, ONE OF THE THINGS WE GOTTA KEEP IN MIND HERE IS THAT, THAT WE LIVE IN A RIVER CITY.
UM, AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT DOG'S HEAD ON A MAP, IT'S LIKE A PENINSULA.
IT'S SURROUNDED ON, ON ALL THREE SIDES BY WATER.
UH, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FLOODING, HISTORICALLY, MAYBE IT'S NOT BEEN AS BAD AS IT CAN BE, BUT RECENTLY TEXDOT ANNOUNCED PUTTING IN THIS 22 FOOT DIAMETER DRAINAGE TUNNEL FROM I 35 THAT'S GONNA RELEASE SOMEWHERE BELOW LONGHORN DAM.
WHAT ABOUT THAT WATER? YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF WATER.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THERE SEEMS TO BE LACK OF COORDINATION OR PLANNING HERE TO TAKE THESE FUTURE IMPACTS INTO CONSIDERATION.
UM, I WAS JUST READING YESTERDAY ABOUT THIS TOWN CALLED ROBS TOWN, TEXAS, WHERE THEY HAVE A TESLA BATTERY PLANT, A LITHIUM PLANT.
THIS PLACE, ALTHOUGH NOTHING ILLEGAL HAS HAPPENED, APPARENTLY PERMITS WERE ISSUED.
THIS THING GOT BUILT TWO YEARS DOWN THE LINE.
A COUPLE OF WORKERS WERE AT ONE OF THESE DRAINAGE DITCHES WALKING DOWN.
THERE'S JUST BLACK STUFF COMING OUTTA THE PIPE INTO THE DITCH.
MOST OF IT WAS PERMITTED IN SOME LEVEL, BUT A LOT OF IT WAS NOT.
IF YOU'RE NOT CAREFUL WHEN YOU'RE AT ALLOWING THESE TYPES OF THINGS TO HAPPEN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SOME MAJOR
[01:25:01]
IMPACTS.THIS IS NOT A, A CASUAL, UH, GIVE.
WE NEED TO BE CAUTIOUS WHEN WE'RE DOING THESE TYPES OF THINGS.
WHEN, WHEN, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE, THE SATELLITE PICTURES OF AUSTIN, YOU CAN TELL THERE'S THAT THIS PART OF THE COLORADO RIVER IS WHAT THEY CALL A MEANDER.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS TRADITIONALLY ASSERTED ITSELF OVER TIME.
WHY DON'T WE GO THIS DIRECTION? YES.
TOMMY JOAQUIN HANCOCK, RESIDENT OF AUSTIN, DISTRICT FIVE.
I'M ECHOING THE COMMENTS BY PREVIOUS SPEAKERS SPEAKING OUT AGAINST ITEMS 38 39 60, ASKING YOU TO POSTPONE THESE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
THAT PROPOSED DOGHEAD DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT AFFECTS OVER 2000 ACRES OF LAND ON THE SHORES OF ONE OF THE MOST PRISTINE AND BIODIVERSE SECTIONS OF THE COLORADO RIVER.
THE DEAL WAS NEGOTIATED BEHIND CLOSED DOORS WITH NO PUBLIC INPUT OR OVERSIGHT, BYPASSING REVIEW BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION, ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, OR ANY OTHER RELEVANT BOARD.
HERE ARE SOME OF THE KNOWN PROBLEMS, NO DEVELOPMENT LIMITS, FLOODPLAIN AND WATER QUALITY RISKS, NO CUT AND FILL LIMITS CODE VARIANCES WITHOUT OVERSIGHT.
RISKY WATER QUALITY PONDS DEVELOPER CONTROL FOR 45 YEARS.
BROAD ZONING USES ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE AND TAX BREAKS FOR DEVELOPERS.
I'M ASKING YOU TO POSTPONE IMMEDIATELY AND SE SEND THIS TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION FOR FULL PUBLIC REVIEW PROCESS.
UH, GOOD MORNING AGAIN, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
MR. MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, JEFF BOWEN, DISTRICT EIGHT.
UM, I, I WATCHED THIS, UH, THROUGH THE WORK SESSION AND I KEPT PICKING UP ON THE ISSUE THAT, UM, THIS WAS BEING DONE IN A VERY RAPID FASHION.
AND I APPRECIATE THE, THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE PUT OUT BY THE, THE MEMBERS, UH, ASKING CERTAIN QUESTIONS.
AND THO THERE WERE ACTUALLY SOME VERY GOOD QUESTIONS THAT I, THAT I SAW THERE.
BUT I, MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS IS MOVING IN SUCH A RAPID PACE THAT EVEN WHEN THE STAFF IS SAYING THAT WE ARE HAVING TO RUSH THIS ENTIRE PROCESS, PUTTING THESE AGREEMENTS TOGETHER, UH, THEN I QUESTION THE, THE AMOUNT OF TRANSPARENCY ON THIS PROCESS.
YOU'VE HEARD FROM MANY PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THIS THIS MORNING, SAYING, WHERE DID THIS ACTUALLY COME FROM? ONE OF THE COMMENTS THAT WAS MADE DURING ONE OF THE QUESTIONS YESTERDAY WAS ABOUT THIS WAS THE CONCEPT, AND THAT THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT SOME BRIDGES THAT WERE GONNA BE CROSSING OVER THE RIVER, AND THE COMMENT WAS MADE, WELL, THEY WERE JUST PUT ON A MAP WITH A SHARPIE.
AND THAT WE WILL BE COMING BACK WITH A BETTER CONCEPT ON THIS.
HERE WE ARE TRYING TO LISTEN TO THE COMMENTS TODAY, AND YET, WHERE ARE THE REST OF THE REVIEWS ON THIS PROCESS? SO, AND, AND I HAVE A QUESTION REGARDING THE TURS AND, AND EXACTLY THE, THE AGREEMENT WAS, UH, EVEN ONE OF THE STAFF MEMBERS SAID YESTERDAY THAT THEY WERE WORKING ON THE TOURS AND TRYING TO GET, OR, OR THE TURS AND TRYING TO GET SOME OF THESE, THIS ALL WORKED OUT.
SO I REQUEST THAT YOU JUST KIND OF SIT BACK, THINK ABOUT THIS AND LOOK AT, UM, THE PROCESS.
WHAT IS IT THAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY SAYING? UM, I MEAN, EVEN THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT TALKS ABOUT THE CITY WILL ESTABLISH, UH, A SEPARATE TEAM THAT'S GOING TO DEAL WITH THIS.
AT WHAT POINT IS THAT GOING TO HAPPEN? SO I REALLY QUESTIONED THE, UM, THE RAPIDNESS OF SOME OF THIS, AND I REALLY SUGGEST THAT WE, UH, REALLY TAKE A STEP BACK.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LISTENING TO THIS THIS MORNING.
I ASSUME IT'S NOT A HAPPY JOB TO HEAR OPPOSED, OPPOSED, BUT OPPOSED.
I'M A RESIDENT OF OTTS LANE, WHICH IS WHERE THE EXTENSION OF A HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL IS PROPOSED TO GO.
SO I ALSO WANNA SPEAK ABOUT PROCESS.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE PRECEDENT THAT'S BEING SET FOR THE PROCESS OF THIS ONGOING DEVELOPMENT.
THIS IS MY STREET, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE USING MY STREET AS A HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL.
MAYBE IT'S A BAD THING, BUT I DIDN'T FIND OUT ABOUT IT UNTIL TWO DAYS AGO.
NOT FROM ENDEAVOR, NOT FROM DOGHEAD JV, NOT FROM THE CITY, FROM A FRIEND.
I DIDN'T KNOW 38, 39 60 EXISTED.
I DIDN'T KNOW ANY OF THIS EXISTED.
WE HAVE AN OFFICIALLY REGISTERED NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
SO I ASSUME NONE OF THE OTHER AFFECTED NEIGHBORHOODS ARE BEING CONSULTED.
AS FOR THE INPUT OR EVEN INFORMED EITHER, THAT'S A PROBLEMATIC PROCESS.
THERE'S EVEN A LINE IN THE DRAFT AGREEMENT.
MAYBE, YOU KNOW, THE LINE I'M TALKING ABOUT THAT SAYS, WE WILL AGREE THIS PROCESS WILL BE DONE AS RAPIDLY AS
[01:30:01]
POSSIBLE.THAT IS AN ODD LINE TO PUT IN OFFICIAL DOCUMENT.
BASICALLY, OUR PRIORITY MIGHT NOT BE DOING IT.
WELL, MIGHT BE DOING IT RAPIDLY.
I'M CONCERNED WE'LL TALK ABOUT CONTENT LATER.
BUT I WANTED YOU TO KNOW, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROCESS.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT INCLUSION.
CONTINUING ON ITEM 38, WE HAVE CATHERINE BROWN, MEGAN MEISENBACH, KATIE GAY, KABA WHITE CARMEN YEZ.
IF YOU'RE NOT, YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED.
PLEASE, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT.
IF, GO AHEAD AND, UH, START US OFF, PLEASE.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR WATSON, CITY MANAGER, BROAD NEXT, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS KATIE GAY DISTRICT FIVE, AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF EVERGREEN AUSTIN, A LOCAL WOMEN-LED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION FOCUSED ON PARKS, OPEN SPACE, ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, AND THOUGHTFUL LAND PLANNING.
I'M SPEAKING AGAINST ITEM 38, AND I'M HERE TO URGE YOU TO RECONSIDER ITEMS 38 39 AND 60 CONCERNING THE PROPOSED 45 YEAR DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT FOR THE AREA KNOWN AS DOGS HEADEND.
I ECHO THE OTHER SPEAKER'S CONCERNS ON THIS ITEM.
AUSTIN SHOULD BE A CITY THAT CELEBRATES AND PROTECTS ITS DEFINING NATURAL BEAUTY, ESPECIALLY THE COLORADO RIVER AND ITS WATERFRONT AT STAKE, ARE THE CITY'S LONG TERM ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL NEEDS.
REAL LONG RANGE PLANNING IS ALL ABOUT MORE THAN BUILDINGS.
IT'S ABOUT CREATING PLACES THAT INSPIRE PLACES WITH CHARACTER AND PLACES THAT DRAW PEOPLE IN THROUGH A POWERFUL SENSE OF THE WORLD AS IT WAS CREATED.
THIS KIND OF PLANNING REQUIRES COMMUNITY CONSENSUS, PUBLIC TRUST, TRANSPARENCY, AND A WILLINGNESS TO THINK BEYOND SHORT-TERM GAIN TOWARDS A LASTING CIVIC LEGACY.
THE DOGS HEAD AREA THAT SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW IS GINGER PRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHAPE AUSTIN'S FUTURE IN A BOLD AND MEANINGFUL WAY.
THRIVING CITIES ARE LED BY CREATIVE PROGRESSIVE LEADERS WHO ARE WILLING TO CHALLENGE CONVENTIONAL APPROACHES, EXPERIMENT THOUGHTFULLY, AND MOVE FORWARD WITH NEW IDEAS FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT.
AUSTIN HAS A CHANCE TO SHOW THAT GROWTH AND STEWARDSHIP CAN GO HAND IN HAND.
FOR THAT REASON, IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AGGRESSIVELY PRESERVE LAND AND PARKS FOR OPEN SPACE.
THE AGREEMENT NOW UNDER DISCUSSION WOULD SHAPE THIS AREA FOR DECADES WITHOUT FUTURE COUNCIL INPUT AND PUTS THE BURDEN OF INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT ON TAXPAYERS.
MORE THAN 30 YEARS AGO, THERE WAS A VISION TO PURCHASE 350 ACRES ON THE NORTH BANK OF THE COLORADO RIVER FOR WHAT IS NOW JOHN TREVINO, JR.
THAT SPECIFIC PARK'S VISION IS NOW CENTRAL TO WHAT COULD BECOME THIS 2,600 SMALL CITY ARISING FROM A FORMER GRAVEL MINE.
EVERGREEN AUSTIN'S CALL FOR A PARK AND RECREATION DISTRICT DESERVES SERIOUS CONSIDERATION.
A DISTRICT LIKE THIS COULD HELP FUND, MAINTAIN, IMPROVE, EQUIP, FINANCE, AND OPERATE PUBLIC PARKS, RECREATIONAL SPACES, AND RELATED FACILITIES AS NEW DEVELOPMENT TAKES SHAPE.
HI, MY NAME IS DR. CATHERINE BROWN.
I HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT OF AUSTIN SINCE 1966.
UM, I GREW UP IN EAST AUSTIN, AND ONE OF THE PROPERTIES THAT'S INVOLVED INVOLVES MY FATHER'S HOME, WHICH IS ALSO ON OTS LANE.
I CURRENTLY LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE.
UM, I, I RATHER THAN REPEATING MANY OF THE CONCERNS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN LISTED, I WILL SAY THAT, UM, I'M HERE ALSO TO REPRESENT ISSUES ABOUT ECOLOGY AND PUBLIC HEALTH.
I HAVE WORKED WITH THE CITY ON PUBLIC HEALTH ALREADY IN THE AREA OF WEST NILE VIRUS, FOR EXAMPLE.
THERE'S REALLY BEEN NO CONSULTATION AS FAR AS I CONCERN ABOUT OTHER ISSUES RELATED TO ECOLOGY, ECOSYSTEM DEVELOPMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES.
THIS IS A MATTER FOR ALL THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE.
THE MATTER OF THE PEOPLE WHO WILL LIVE THERE IN THE FUTURE.
UM, MY CONCERN HAS BEEN THE, UM, THE LACK OF CONSULTATION FOR MANY ISSUES ALREADY HERE.
THE, UM, CONCERNS ALREADY RAISED ABOUT THE LOCAL PEOPLE WHO ALREADY LIVE LOCALLY IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
LACK OF ENGAGEMENT, WHICH I HAVE SEEN THROUGHOUT MY TIME BEING AN EAST AUSTIN OR IN THIS CITY.
I LOVE MY CITY, BUT I REALLY FEEL THAT ASKING YOU WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO ACTUALLY POSTPONE THIS AND ENGAGE IN WITH THE POPULATION IN A WAY THAT I HAVE SEEN IT DONE POSITIVELY IN THE PAST WITH, UM, WITH RESPECT FOR THE PEOPLE THERE, WITH THOUGHTS FOR THE FUTURE OF THE CITY AND TRYING TO GAIN AS MUCH AS WE CAN WITH A, TO CREATE A NEW AREA IF WE ARE GOING TO DO THAT, THAT IS ALSO SAFE FOR THE PUBLIC NOW AND IN THE FUTURE.
ON ITEM 38, WE HAVE ZENOBIA JOSEPH, CAMERON, SHAW, GARRETT TONGUE, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, THAT HAS BEEN ALL IN PERSON, 38 SPEAKERS HAVE BEEN CALLED.
HELLO, UH, MY NAME'S CAMERON SHAW.
UH, AND I'M HERE TO ASK THAT YOU GUYS PUMP
[01:35:01]
THE BRAKES ON THIS.UH, DON'T SIGN THIS CONTRACT TODAY.
UM, AND MOSTLY BECAUSE I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS.
THIS IS A, I'M FLABBERGASTED THAT THEY JUST CAME ALONG TUCKED INTO AN AGENDA ITEM.
UH, YOU'RE EXPANDING THE FOOTPRINT OF AUSTIN BY 10%.
YOU'RE ANNEXING THE ENTIRE DOG'S HEAD.
THIS SHOULD BE LIKE A CUTTING RIBBONS, POPPING BOTTLES, GETTING EVERYONE EXCITED AND HYPED UP.
UM, AND IT'S GONNA REQUIRE MASSIVE PUBLIC INVESTMENT.
UH, AND, AND THIS CONTRACT IS JUST, I READ THROUGH IT.
I'M A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, AND IT'S LIKE CRAZY.
UM, AND LIKE ONE OF THE CLAUSES FOR, FOR THE WHOLE THING DEFAULTING, IS THAT IF YOU GUYS DON'T RESPOND WITH AN APPROVAL OR IN A DENIAL WITHIN 30 DAYS, THEN THE WHOLE, THE WHOLE CONTRACT IS VOID.
WHAT, LIKE 27 YEARS FROM NOW, AFTER WE'VE BUILT ROADS, ADDED WATER, ADDED MORE POWER, ALL THIS STUFF, 27 YEARS FROM NOW, WE COULD JUST TAKE 31 DAYS TO GIVE A YES OR NO.
AND THEN THE ANNEXATION IS GONE.
LIKE THIS IS AN ENTIRE, LIKE, SUCH A FLIMSY FOOTHOLD FOR LIKE A MONUMENTAL PLACE IN AUSTIN'S HISTORY.
IT'S A WHOLE NEW RIVER DISTRICT.
IT'S THE DOWNSTREAM OF THE COLORADO.
THIS IS LIKE SOME OF THE MOST FERTILE FARMLAND THAT WE'VE HAD.
THE RIVER'S BEEN MEANDERING HERE FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS.
HOW ARE WE GONNA BUILD IN THIS FLOODPLAIN? I'M AN ENGINEER.
THIS IS, I WANNA KNOW THE PLAN.
I WANNA KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING.
HOW ARE WE GONNA, YOU KNOW, BUILD GOOD BUILDINGS THAT ARE NOT GONNA GET WASHED AWAY? HOW ARE WE GONNA HAVE DENSITY? WHERE'S THE TRAIN GONNA GO? IT'S RIGHT BY THE AIRPORT.
HOW ARE WE GONNA CONNECT THAT IN? THERE'S JUST NOT A PLAN HERE.
AND IT'S LIKE, SO JUST LIKE PUMP THE BRAKES.
WE'RE GONNA ADD LIKE THE FOOTPRINT RIGHT CLOSE TO OUR DOWNTOWN CORE IS MONUMENTAL.
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO LIKE TRUST DERE AND ROME? EVERY GREAT CITY, OR SO MANY HAVE LIKE GREAT RIVER DISTRICTS, LIKE THE POTENTIAL FOR WHAT THIS DOGHEAD COULD BE COULD CHANGE THE FABRIC AND SHAPE OF AUSTIN FOREVER.
AND I THINK THAT WE SHOULD JUST TAKE SOME TIME, FIGURE OUT WHAT WE'RE DOING, AND THEN GO DO THAT.
AND THIS IS A 40 OR FIVE YEAR CONTRACT.
WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT THE A HUNDRED YEAR, 200 YEAR.
I'M A RESIDENT IN DISTRICT THREE.
I'M A MEMBER OF THE SOUTHEAST COLORADO NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND A HOMEOWNER ON HAGOS LANE.
48 HOURS AGO, I WAS JUST A LITTLE SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT THE FUTURE SEPARATED RIVER TRAIL, PART OF THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF THE DOG'S HEAD RUNS DIRECTLY THROUGH WHAT IS AS OF THIS MOMENT MY LIVING ROOM.
THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY SURROUNDING THIS PROJECT AND THE MANNER IN WHICH IT WAS PRESENTED TO THE PUBLIC HAS BEEN WHOLLY UNACCEPTABLE.
THEREFORE, I ASK THE COUNCIL TO POSTPONE APPROVING MEASURES 38, 39 AND 60 UNTIL THE PROPER BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THE PLANS AND IMPLEMENT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE DOG'S HEAD IN A SAFE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE MANNER.
APPROVING THIS MEASURE TODAY WOULD GRANT ENDEAVOR REAL ESTATE GROUP CARTE BLANCHE TO DEVELOP OVER 2,600 ACRES WITH ABSOLUTELY ZERO ENVIRONMENTAL OVERSIGHT OR REGULATION? IT WOULD DISPLACE AN ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD OF FAMILIES, MY NEIGHBORS, MANY OF WHOM HAVE LIVED ON HER GOT'S LANE IN THE SURROUNDING STREETS FOR GENERATIONS.
I'M NOT HERE TO DISCOURAGE DEVELOPMENT OR GROWTH.
I'M HERE TO ASK US TO TAKE A BREATH, SLOW DOWN, AND IMPLEMENT THE EVENTUAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE DOG'S HEAD IN A REASONABLE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE WAY.
APPROVING THIS PLAN TODAY WOULD BE SIMPLY PUT INCOMPREHENSIBLY, RECKLESS AND SHORTSIGHTED.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN SHOULD BE BEHOLDEN TO THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN, NOT BILLIONAIRE CORPORATIONS COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE POSTPONE APPROVING THIS PROJECT UNTIL PROPER DUE DILIGENCE CAN BE COMPLETED.
OKAY, WE, WE HAVE TWO MORE REMOTE SPEAKERS, STARTING WITH SEVERING CUSHING ON ITEM 38.
I, MY COMMENTS APPLY TO AGENDA ITEMS 38, 39, AND 60.
I WHOLEHEARTEDLY ECHO THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS ALREADY SURFACED AS WELL AS THOSE OF MY NEIGHBORS WHO HAVE ALREADY SPOKEN.
MY REQUEST IS FOR THIS PROPOSAL TO STOP HERE AND BECOME A PUBLIC PROCESS.
IT GIVES PROPERTY OWNERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS CORRECT NOTICE AND GOES THROUGH THE BOARD AND COMMISSION REVIEW PROCESS.
MY HOME FALLS WITHIN THE PROPOSED AREA TO POTENTIALLY BE ANNEXED AND UNDER A POTENTIAL IMMINENT DOMAIN.
I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY FORMAL COMMUNICATIONS ABOUT THESE CHANGES WHATSOEVER.
NEITHER HAS THE PRESIDENT OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION OR ANY OF MY NEIGHBORS.
EVERYTHING THAT WE KNOW ABOUT THIS, WE'VE LEARNED ONLY WITHIN THE LAST 48 HOURS AND ONLY FROM UNOFFICIAL COMMUNICATION CHANNELS SUCH AS THE LOCAL NEWS AND EACH OTHER.
I JUST WANNA REPEAT THAT THE FOLKS IMPACTED BY POTENTIAL IMMINENT DOMAIN HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY OFFICIAL COMMUNICATIONS WHATSOEVER.
WE'VE LEARNED ALL OF THIS IN THE LAST 48 HOURS, AND THERE ARE CERTAINLY A MAJORITY OF PROPERTY OWNERS WHO ARE IMPACTED WHO STILL DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS AT ALL.
AS IT STANDS NOW, THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT ONLY ACHIEVES ITS GOAL BY DISPLACING HOMES OF WONDERFUL FOLKS LIKE MY NEIGHBORS, MANY OF WHOM HAVE LIVED ON THE STREET FOR GENERATIONS, MANY OF WHOM
[01:40:01]
HAVE BUILT THEIR COZY AND QUAINT HOMES WITH THEIR OWN TWO HANDS.THESE ARE FARMERS, SMALL SCALE RANCHERS, ARTISTS, MUSICIANS, ENGINEERS, HARDWORKING TRADES PEOPLE, PUBLIC SERVANTS, ENTREPRENEURS, MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, SERVICE WORKERS, RETIREES, MILITARY VETERANS, GRANDPARENTS, AND MORE GOOD PEOPLE.
THIS WOULD DISPLACE A SMALL BUT VERY DIVERSE AND SPECIAL UNIQUE COMMUNITY THAT REPRESENTS TRUE AUSTIN.
I UNDERSTAND THE MOTIVATION AND THE NEED TO OFFER PUBLIC SERVICES FOR COMMUNITY AND GREATER GOOD.
I'M ALSO EXPLORING HOW WE CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN, BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE A PROPER AND CORRECT PROCESS IN PLACE FOR THAT.
SO AGAIN, MY REQUEST IS TO STOP HERE AND BECOME A PUBLIC PROCESS THAT GIVES OWNERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS
THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND GOES THROUGH.
WE DO HAVE KIBA WHITE IN PERSON.
ON BEHALF OF PUBLIC CITIZENS TEXAS OFFICE, WE ARE ASKING YOU TO POSTPONE THIS ITEM AND TO ENGAGE IN THE FULL TRANSPARENT PROCESS, INCLUDING GOING THROUGH THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND PLANNING COMMISSIONS, SOCIAL, AND ANY OTHER COMMISSIONS THAT WOULD NORMALLY HAVE PURVIEW OVER THIS TYPE OF, UH, ISSUE.
THIS SEEMS TO BE FOLLOWING A, AN UNFORTUNATE PATTERN OF A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND ABANDONMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITMENTS BY THE CITY.
THE FACT THAT SO MUCH IMPERVIOUS SURFACE UP TO A HUNDRED PERCENT AND SO MANY A LARGE PART OF THIS DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE ALLOWED IS PRETTY SHOCKING GIVEN WHERE IT IS.
IT REALLY DOES CALL INTO QUESTION WHETHER THE IMPACT OF FLOODING ON THE OTHER PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THIS AREA HAS BEEN CONSIDERED AT ALL, BECAUSE THAT WATER WILL BE DISPLACED AND WILL MOVE INTO THOSE EXISTING RESIDENTS, UH, THEIR PROPERTIES.
AND I'M HEARING FROM SOME OF THOSE RESIDENTS TODAY, AND I'M JUST SHOCKED TO HEAR THAT, UH, THEY WERE ENTIRELY LEFT OUT OF THIS PROCESS.
WE ARE ALSO CONCERNED THAT THE BROAD LATITUDE THAT IS BEING GIVEN TO THIS DEVELOPMENT AND THE LOCKING OUT OF FUTURE CITY COUNCILS TO ADDRESS ISSUES THAT MAY ARISE, UH, CAN, CAN RESULT IN NEGATIVE IMPACTS FOR THE AREA AND SPECIFICALLY ALSO THE DATA CENTERS AND OTHER KIND OF DEFENSE RELATED ACTIVITIES COULD BE TAKING PLACE ON THIS, UH, PROPERTY IN PARTICULAR WHEN IT COMES TO DATA CENTERS, WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPACT ON WATER AND ALSO ON ENERGY AS WELL AS ON THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORS.
SO WE'D ASK YOU TO SLOW DOWN AND GO THROUGH THE PROPER PROCESS SO THAT YOU CAN HEAR FROM, UH, THE NEIGHBORS IN THE AREA AS WELL FROM OTHER, UH, CONCERNED ENTITIES IN THE CITY.
HELLO, UH, MY NAME IS MAX HORSEMAN.
UM, I'M SPEAKING TO YOU AGAIN AS A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FOUR.
UM, UH, THERE'S SO MUCH THAT HAS BEEN SAID.
UH, SO I AM ECHOING SO MUCH ABOUT THE NEED FOR A PUBLIC PROCESS.
UM, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND, UM, PLANNING FOR THINGS LIKE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UH, TO BENEFIT LOCAL PEOPLE, UM, IS VERY POSSIBLE.
AND THE CITY SHOULD MOBILIZE ITS RESOURCES AND STAFF TOWARDS THAT.
UM, INSTEAD OF RUSHING THIS PROCESS, WHICH SEEMS TO BE VIOLATING MANY PEOPLE'S CIVIL RIGHTS, UM, AND NOT A, A GOOD SIGN FOR HOW THE REST OF THE PROCESS WILL UNFOLD.
UM, SO I URGE YOU TO DELAY THIS PROCESS AND START A COMMUNITY ENGAGED, UM, LONG-TERM PLANNING, UH, INITIATIVE TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE AREN'T DISPLACED FROM THEIR HOMES, UM, IN THE, IN THE, IN THE GOAL OF, UH, MILITARIZED AND AUTONOMOUS BASED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
MONICA GUZMAN, ITEM 39 REMOTE.
MONICA, ARE YOU THERE? UH, YEAH.
SORRY, I GOT A BAD CONNECTION.
UM, MONICA UZMAN GAVA POLICY DIRECTOR SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 39, INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO CONTINUE TO SIGN ON TO THE LETTER, WHILE MANY ARE SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION, URGING FOR POSTPONEMENT AND THE PUBLIC PROCESS.
ALSO SIGNED ON ARE ROBIN RATHER, DISTRICT NINE, WITH THE ZILKER NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IN REWILD, A TX DE ORDAIN DISTRICT FOUR, LAUREN ROSS, PHD DE GLEN ROSE ENGINEERING DISTRICT NINE FOUR QUESTIONS DRAFTED COLLABORATIVELY FOR THIS ARE CAN STAFF PROVIDE A LIST OF ALL ENVIRONMENTAL
[01:45:02]
ANALYSES, BLOOD PLAIN STUDIES, RECLAMATION ASSESSMENTS, WATER QUALITY STUDIES, TRAFFIC STUDIES, AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ANALYSIS THAT HAVE BEEN COMPLETED FOR DOGHEAD AND PUBLICLY RELEASE THOSE DOCUMENTS PRIOR, PRIOR TO YOUR ACTIONS.CAN STAFF CLEARLY EXPLAIN WHAT, WHICH EXISTING ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS, FLOOD PLANE REGULATIONS, CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURE PROTECTIONS, CUT FILL REQUIREMENTS, TRAFFIC ANALYSIS REQUIREMENTS AND PUBLIC REVIEW PROCEDURES ARE BEING MODIFIED, WAIVED, OR ADMINISTRATIVELY DELEGATED UNDER THE PROPOSED AGREEMENT? CAN STAFF PROVIDE A DETAILED PUBLIC EXPLANATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TERM PUBLIC FINANCING STRUCTURE, INCLUDING ELIMINATE, EXCUSE ME, ESTIMATED PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS ANTICIPATED REIMBURSEMENT TO THE DEVELOPER GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE AND THE LONG-TERM FISCAL RISK TO TAXPAYERS, THE PROJECTED REVENUES OR DEVELOPMENT ASSUMPTIONS DO NOT MATERIALIZE.
AND UNDER WHAT AUTHORITY WAS THE AGENDA ITEM POSTED SINCE IT WAS NOT INITIATED BY CITY COUNCIL, NOR DID IT GO THROUGH THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE US YOUR CONSTITUENCY AND OPPORTUNITY TO PLAN FUTURE DEALS WELL ON A WAY THAT TRULY BENEFITS OUR COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT.
WE URGE YOU, MAYOR WATSON AND MAYOR PRO AND COUNSEL, TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
WE URGE YOU TO POSTPONE ITEMS 38, 39 AND 60.
NEXT WE HAVE HEATHER A BURL ON ITEM 39 REMOTELY.
A BUR ITEM 39, WHAT ITEM IS IT? OH, 39.
HELLO? HELLO? OH, I'M SORRY BECAUSE I'VE BEEN TRYING TO SPEAK ON SEVERAL ITEMS. I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE HEARING ME.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE GOTTEN THROUGH.
UM, I'VE SIGNED UP FOR SEVERAL ITEMS BECAUSE, UH, ACTUALLY THE PROCESS AND WHAT THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY COUNCIL HAVE BEEN DOING, IT AFFECTS ITEM TODAY AMONG OTHERS.
UM, SO 39 IS ABOUT THE DOGHEAD THING.
UH, IT'S THIS WHOLE DEVELOPMENT MOVE WITH THE CITY COUNCIL TO ALLOW THESE BIG DEVELOPMENTS TO COME IN, IS WHAT I'M SPEAKING AGAINST.
UM, THIS ONE IN PARTICULAR IS AGAINST OUR STRATEGIC ANCHORS AGAINST STRATEGIC DIRECTION, NOT IN THE CITY'S PLANS OR FOCUS AREAS, NOT IN ALIGNMENT WITH OUR STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.
ALL OF THESE ARE THINGS THAT TOOK 10 YEARS TO BUILD AND THAT WE WANT TO GO TOWARDS WHAT WE ARE THE CITY WANT.
UH, IT IS A COMPLETE DISREGARD AND LACK OF SHORT RANGE FIVE YEAR FORECAST FOR BUDGET, HEALTH, ENVIRONMENTAL PARAMETERS ALREADY IN PLACE, BOTH LEGALLY, PROCEDURALLY AND WHAT SHOULD BE LOGICALLY.
AND FOR MYSELF MORALLY DISMISSAL OF CITY DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING RESOURCES, CREATING POLLUTION AND TAX INCENTIVES FOR THE DESECRATION AND VIOLATION OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN AS A WHOLE IS AGAINST THE JOB DESCRIPTION OF CITY MANAGER OF CITY COUNCIL.
YOU WERE HIRED BY THE US BY VOTING FOR THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MANAGER WAS HIRED BY THEM.
AND HIS WHOLE RESPONSIBILITY AS SOMEONE WHO REPRESENTS THE CITY'S INTEREST IN QUOTE.
AND THIS DECISION DOES NOT REPRESENT THE CITY'S STRATEGIC DIRECTION IN ANY WAY.
HE IS MAKING DECISIONS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS AND MOVING TOWARD FASCIST PRACTICES REGARDING THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S RESOURCES IN TOO MANY WAYS.
REMEMBER, THAT IS WHY HE WAS HIRED.
DO NOT LET THESE PROJECTS GO FORWARD.
POSTPONE ANY VOTING THEY NEED FULL REVIEW BY ALL APPLICABLE CITY DEPARTMENTS AS WELL AS STATE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS EVERY ACTION.
THANK YOU, HEATHER, THIS COUNCIL.
NEXT WE HAVE SEVERING CUSHING ON ITEM 39.
HI, I JUST HAD A QUICK COMMENT.
UM, I'M NOTICING THAT COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE QUEZ, REPRESENTING DISTRICT THREE, WHICH THIS IS, UM, WHAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON, SEEMS TO BE RATHER DISTRACTED.
MY MOST GENEROUS HOPE IS THAT HE'S TAKING NOTES, BUT I JUST WANNA CALL OUT THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT IT FEELS LIKE OUR REPRESENTATIVES ARE ENGAGED AND LISTENING TO US.
WE WILL MOVE ON TO IN-PERSON ITEM 39, STARTING WITH MARIAN SANCHEZ.
JULIE OLIVER, ADRIAN MACIAS, SUSAN ALMANZA, BIANCA GUERRERO, CARLOS PINON.
MADDIE GUTIERREZ, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT.
DON'T YOU GO AHEAD AND BEGIN, MS. OLIVER.
I'M JULIE OLIVER, RESIDENT OF D NINE.
[01:50:01]
I'M HERE TO SPEAK AGAIN, CI 39, AND ASK YOU TO PULL IT FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AND SAY, NO.WHILE THIS ITEM MAY SEEM PROCEDURAL, IT'S A CRITICAL STEP IN ADVANCING THE SAME 2,600 ACRE DEVELOPMENT TIED TO ITEMS 38 60, WHICH I'M AGAINST ALL OF 'EM.
AGAIN, THIS IS UNFOLDING IN A CONTEXT WHERE THE PUBLIC HAS SAID, NO, WE DON'T WANT THIS.
BECAUSE THIS AGREEMENT HELPS ACCELERATE A DEVELOPMENT THAT ALIGNS WITH RECENT EFFORTS TO RECRUIT DATA CENTERS AND DEFENSE ACTIVITY INDUSTRIES, PROJECTS THAT WILL SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE DEMAND FOR ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE.
IT BRINGS US NATURALLY BACK TO THE GAS PEAKER POWER PLANTS.
THEY'RE ALL CONNECTED AND ADVANCING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS PARTICULAR AGENDA ITEM AND 38 AND 60 INCREASES THE NEED FOR THE EXACTLY THE KIND OF FOSSIL FUEL INFRASTRUCTURE YOU'RE PROPOSING IN ITEM SEVEN.
SO THE QUESTION REMAINS, ARE THESE DECISIONS BEING MADE FREELY AND TRANSPARENTLY? NO.
OR ARE THEY SHAPED BY POLITICAL PRESSURE WITH A GUARANTEE OF A CAMPAIGN DONATION FOR THE RIGHT VOTE? THIS IS WHERE INDEPENDENCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY MATTER MOST.
THIS IS WHERE YOU NEED TO REPRESENT US, NOT ENDEAVOR, NOT ARM, BRITON BROWN, NOT RICHARD SUTTON, WHO IS SELLING OUT MY CHILDREN'S FUTURE FOR HIS HOURLY ATTORNEY'S RATE AND FAT ANNUAL BONUS.
IF ANY OF YOU HAVE COURAGE, AND I'M ASKING FOR ONE OF YOU, ONE OF YOU TO HAVE COURAGE, MAYBE ONE OF YOU WHO'S UP FOR REELECTION PULL 38, 39 AND 60 FROM CONSENT I ACT.
MIGHT ACTUALLY HAVE ONE OTHER REQUEST OF YOU.
FIRE THE CITY MANAGER TEAM, CITY MANAGEMENT TEAM FOR THIS EMBARRASSMENT THAT WAS BROUGHT BEFORE YOU TODAY.
I'M SUSAN ALMANZA WITH PO, BUT ALSO WITH THE LES NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND PRESIDENT OF LES NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, CONTACT TEAM.
AND COUNCILMAN JOSE VELASQUEZ, YOU'RE MY REPRESENTATIVE, AND I'M ASKING YOU, UH, TO BOTH HONE THIS ITEM ON BEHALF OF THE CONSTITUENTS IN DISTRICT THREE.
UH, AS WE ALL KNOW, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNED ON, ON TAPAS WAS, UH, APPROVED IN 2001, BUT AT THAT TIME, WE LOBBIED TO HAVE HER GODS ALL THE WAY TO THOMPSON LANE.
INCLUDED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, JUST FOR THESE PARTICULAR REASONS, IS BECAUSE THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AREA WAS NOT REPRESENTED.
THE CITY FOUGHT US TOOTH AND NAIL TO HAVE THEM INCLUDED SAYING THAT BECAUSE THERE WAS A HIGHWAY THERE, WE WEREN'T, THEY COULDN'T BRING US TOGETHER.
UH, BUT WE KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT TRUE.
AND NOW WE'RE FACING THIS WHOLE ISSUE OF THE IMPACT OF WHAT WOULD HAPPEN ALSO TO THE MENTALIS COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO TO THE COLORADO RIVER.
UH, ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, WE HAD RICHARD SETTLE ENDEAVOR AND THEM COME TO TALK TO US ABOUT A PROJECT ON BOMB AND 180 3.
AND THEY TOLD US, UH, ABOUT THEY WERE PLANNING, UH, TO ACQUIRE THE DOG'S HEAD AND ALL THAT, AND THAT THEY WOULD COME TO US, WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT? THEY NEVER CAME TO US.
AND NEXT THING WE KNOW, IT'S ON THE AGENDA, THIS AGREEMENT.
AND I, I FELT THAT THAT'S VERY DISINGENUOUS OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED ALONG THIS, UH, ALONG THIS THING.
BUT THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS THAT POED FOUGHT HARDLEY AND WORKED WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN WATERSHED DEPARTMENT, WAS TO, UM, INCREASE IN PREVIOUS THE HAZARDOUS EROSION ZONE BECAUSE WE KNEW THAT THIS DEVELOPMENT WAS COMING OUR WAY.
AND ALTHOUGH WE FOUGHT FOR 400 FEET, UH, WE GOT AN ADDITIONAL 100 FEET, WHICH THEN BECAME 200 FEET, UH, ON THE EROSION.
UH, BUT THE WHOLE FIGHT BACK WAS, UH, WITH RICHES SETTLES AND THEM TEAM OF GOING TO A STATE LEGISLATOR ABOUT OPPOSING US FOR THE 400 FEET DEVELOPMENT.
SO HERE WE ARE NOW ABOUT TO I THANK YOU.
CONTINUING ON ITEM 39, WE HAVE VALERIE MENARD, PEDRO HERNANDEZ, JR.
CRAIG NAZER RICHARDS, RICHARD SU, CHRIS PAGE, WILLIAM BUNCH.
IF YOUR NAME'S ALREADY BEEN CALLED AND, AND YOU INTEND TO SAY ANYTHING, PLEASE BEGIN.
UM, WE DON'T KNOW WHICH DISTRICTS THIS AREA WOULD BE IN, BUT IT WOULD MORE NATURALLY BE IN YOUR DISTRICT.
JUST WOULD SEEM NATURAL THAT IT WOULD BE IN IN DISTRICT THREE.
AND AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET YOU TO, TO COME ON A RIVER TOUR, AND THAT WOULD'VE BEEN PART OF THAT TOUR JUST TO GET HIM, UH, TO, TO APPRECIATE THE BEAUTY OF THAT PART OF THE RIVER.
BUT I THINK ULTIMATELY WOULD'VE LOVED ALL OF COUNCIL TO GO ON A TOUR AND TO GO ON THE RIVER.
YOU CAN'T TAKE A BIG BOAT FULL OF PEOPLE CAN TAKE A CANOE, MAYBE A SMALLER BOAT.
BUT WE DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU SEE THIS PART OF THE RIVER BEFORE YOU MAKE SUCH A TREMENDOUS DECISION REGARDING
[01:55:01]
THE, THE FUTURE OF, OF ITS ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND FOR THE, THE RESIDENTS THERE.UM, AFTER HEARING EVERYTHING YOU'VE HEARD TODAY, UM, COULD ONE OF YOU PLEASE JUST MAKE A MOTION TO PULL THIS FROM AS A CONSENT ITEM? AND IT DOESN'T TAKE A LOT OF COURAGE, BUT IT IS SOMETHING I THINK, AND NONE OF YOU'RE LOOKING AT ME, BUT THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ FOR KEEPING MY, YOUR ATTENTION.
LET'S, LET'S PUMP THE BRAKES ON THIS.
YOU'VE GOT A WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD OF PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THIS WAS HAPPENING TO THEM.
AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE SOUTHEAST COLORADO RIVER, UM, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, AND I'M MEANT TO CONTACT LEE, BUT I'M GLAD HE'S HERE.
UM, AND OTHER, OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
HOW CAN YOU MOVE FORWARD ON THIS KIND OF A PROJECT THAT COULD BE SO DEVASTATING THAT IT WILL REMOVE PEOPLE FROM THEIR HOMES? UM, PLEASE, LET'S PUMP THE BRICKS.
LET'S JUST PUT, TAKE THIS OUTTA CONSENT.
WE HAVE AN AMAZING WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT.
THEY HAVE, THEY MUST HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THIS.
THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN HERE ALREADY.
YOU HAVE TO USE THE TALENT THAT WE HAVE WITH THE CITY BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD ON SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
HELLO? UH, CRAIG NASER, AUSTIN SIERRA CLUB.
OKAY, SO NOT WANTING TO BEAT A DEAD HORSE FROM THIS SIDE.
ANYWAY, UH, IT, IT, IT IS CLEAR THAT THESE ARE STRANGE TIMES IN AUSTIN.
WE HAVE A, A FEDERAL REGIME THAT IS CORRUPT.
I'VE BEEN UP THERE FOR THE PAST COUPLE YEARS THAT IS FORCING VERY TOUGH ECONOMIC DECISIONS ON YOU AND ON OUR CITY.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT WE SHOULDN'T CAVE INTO THEM BECAUSE IT WILL DESTROY AUSTIN.
AND I HEARD ALL THE, THE ECONOMIC REASONS FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT ON TUESDAY, AND I UNDERSTAND THOSE AND I HEAR THOSE, BUT I DON'T THINK WE CAN COLLAPSE TO THEM PERSONALLY.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, IN MY, UH, I, I WANNA THE, THE AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL WAS A CREDIBLE POEM.
IT HAS THREE DIFFERENT VERSIONS.
I WANNA READ YOU ONE STANZA FROM THE FIRST VERSION THAT APPLIES HERE.
FOR GLORY TALE OF LIBERATING STRIFE WHO ARE ONCE AND TWICE FOR MANS OF AIL, MAN LAVISHED PRECIOUS LIFE, AMERICA, AMERICA, GOD, SHED HIS GRACE ON THEE TILL SELFISH GAIN NO LONGER STAIN THE BANNER OF THE FREE.
GOOD MORNING COUNCIL, UM, MAYOR WATSON AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS PEDRO HERNANDEZ JR.
AND I'M THE TRANSPORTATION COORDINATOR FOR POED.
AND I'M ALSO THE CHAIR FOR VASQUEZ FIELDS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
I'M AN AUSTIN NATIVE, RAISED IN MONIS, AND I'M HERE TO ASK THAT YOU POSTPONE ITEMS 38 39 AND 60 TO ALLOW FOR MORE CITIZEN INPUT ON SUCH A MASSIVE DEVELOPMENT ALONG THE EASTERN PART OF THE COLORADO RIVER.
WHILE MY FOCUS IS TRANSPORTATION, I ALSO, I'M ALSO A VOLUNTEER FOR THE L'S, COLORADO RIVER WATCH, VOLUNTEER RIVER TESTING PROGRAM.
I AND MY PART, UH, PO COLLEAGUE ADRIAN MACIAS TEST THE WATER QUALITY IN THE COLORADO RIVER UNDER THE MALOS BRIDGE.
A SECTION OF THE RIVER CONSIDERED PRISTINE A FACT.
I KNOW TO BE TRUE BECAUSE I'VE BEEN TESTING IT SINCE 2024.
HOWEVER, WE HAVEN'T, WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO TEST, WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO TEST TEST IT SINCE DECEMBER DUE TO THE I 35 PUMPING STATION PROJECT.
CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION, WHEN FINISHED, IT WILL PUMP STORM DRAINAGE FROM THE EXPANDED HIGHWAY INTO THIS SECTION OF THE RIVER.
WE'VE BEEN BLOCKED BY THE CONSTRUCTION, BUT JUST RECENTLY FOUND A LOCATION WHERE WE CAN BEGIN TESTING AGAIN, WE'RE ANXIOUS TO SEE WHAT IMPACT THE CONSTRUCTION HAS HAD, BUT WE FEAR THE RIVER WILL NO LONGER REMAIN PRISTINE WHEN PUMPING BEGINS IN 2029.
NOW YOU WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE DEVELOPER TO PLACE A MASSIVE DEVELOPMENT ON ANOTHER SECTION OF THE RIVER WITH NO REVIEW BY THE PUBLIC OR ANY CITY COMMISSION.
THIS IS YET ANOTHER PAINFUL REMINDER OF HOW THE DESIRED DEVELOPMENT ZONE FOR EVERYTHING EAST OF LONGHORN DAM ALLOWS THE CITY TO CONTINUE TO DUMP ON EAST AUSTIN, INCLUDING A SECTION OF THE RIVER THAT WE CONSIDERED A NATURAL JEWEL.
GIVING TAX CREDITS TO THESE DEVELOPERS WHEN YOU CAN'T EVEN PAY FOR A FILTRATION PROJECT THAT COULD REDUCE THE POLLUTION DUMPED INTO THE RIVER FROM I 35, JUST ADDS IN INSULT TO INJURY.
PLEASE POSTPONE THESE ITEMS, IF NOT FOR MORE PUBLIC INPUT.
LET THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT WEIGH IN ON POSSIBLE.
UH, BILL BUNCH, SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE DISTRICT
[02:00:01]
FIVE, UH, SPEAKING AGAINST THIS, UH, ITEM 39, WHICH IS BASICALLY CALLING FOR AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH TRAVIS COUNTY TO HAVE THEM JUST COMPLETELY ROLL OVER AND AE TO, UH, EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO WRAP UP INTO THIS, UH, 45 YEAR PAVE, PAVE ALL OF IT AGREEMENT.AND THEN WE GET TO PAY THEM TO PAY IT WITH A, A TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE.
MAYBE Y'ALL HAVEN'T PAID ATTENTION TO THOSE, UH, THE LAW AROUND THAT, BUT THOSE ARE LIMITED TO BLIGHTED AREAS.
WE HAVE THE GIGAFACTORY NEXT DOOR.
WE HAVE EXPLODING DEVELOPMENT.
WE HAVE BILLIONAIRES WITH THEIR HANDS ON THIS.
ARE YOU REALLY GONNA TELL US THIS IS A BLIGHTED AREA? AND LET ME ASK YOU THIS QUESTION.
HOW MANY TIMES HAVE EACH OF YOU TALKED TO YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR NEIGHBORS COMPLAINING ABOUT A SUPREME COURT THAT DOESN'T CARE ABOUT THE RULE OF LAW, ABOUT A CORRUPT PRESIDENT ENRICHING HIMSELF AND NOT CARING ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT, DESTROYING OUR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION RULES? WHOLESALE? THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE DOING RIGHT HERE.
YOU'RE SHOWING TOTAL DISRESPECT FOR THE RULE OF LAW, YOUR OWN CHARTER, OUR ORDINANCES.
YOU'RE THROWING OUT ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION STANDARDS THAT HAD BEEN PLACED FOR DECADES FOR THE BIGGEST DEVELOPER, THE BILLIONAIRES, AND THEIR CUSTOMERS NEXT DOOR.
SERIOUSLY, HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THAT WITH ANY WORD OTHER THAN CORRUPTION? CORRUPTION DRESSED UP AS PROGRESSIVE URBAN DEMOCRATIC POLICIES.
IMPORTANT, UH, BEFORE WE CALL ANY MORE SPEAKERS
[12:00 PM - Public Communication: General]
ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, IT'S 12 O'CLOCK.AND WHAT, WHAT I INDICATED WE WERE GONNA DO IS WE'RE GONNA GO TO OUR 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, UH, WE WILL HEAR FROM OUR PUBLIC COMMENTERS ON OUR 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN.
AND AT THE END OF THAT, WE WILL, UM, GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION REGARDING, UH, ITEM NUMBER 16.
AND IT'S ACTUALLY POSTED, UH, IN TWO PLACES.
AND I'LL CALL THAT OUT HERE IN, IN, UH, IN, IN A SECOND.
BUT, UM, WHY DON'T WE GO TO THE, OUR 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, OKAY.
UM, WE'VE HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE LET US KNOW, THEY WON'T BE IN ATTENDANCE, BUT WE WILL CALL THEIR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
UM, IN PERSON WE HAVE ETHAN SMITH, SAMSARA NOBLE, RYAN ORCO, UH, LET US KNOW HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND FY MOORE HERE IN PERSON.
DESMOND HAMPTON, PLEASE GO AHEAD AND BEGIN.
I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT GENERATIONAL INVESTMENTS AND I THINK IT'S FITTING THAT SO MUCH OF THE CONVERSATION HAS BEEN ABOUT PROCESS AND, UM, I THINK THAT GENERATIONAL INVESTMENTS ARE TYPICALLY ABOUT, UM, VALUES AND KIND OF LIKE IDENTITY.
SO LIKE I WAS IN THE GREEN BELT AND I WAS ENJOYING IT.
AND THEN AS I GET OLDER THINKING ABOUT THOUGHTS LIKE, WOULD MY KIDS BE ABLE TO ENJOY THIS? OR GRANDKIDS, WILL THERE BE, YOU KNOW, WATER FOR A GREEN BELT? AND I THINK THE THING IS, IS A LOT OF INVESTMENTS ARE NOT CERTAIN THE BEST GENERATIONAL INVESTMENTS AND, UH, UM, YOU KNOW, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF INSTITUTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME.
SO, AS I WAS THINKING ABOUT IT, I THINK THAT IN MY OPINION, MAYBE THE BEST GENERATIONAL INVESTMENT HAS ACTUALLY BEEN THE UT MEDICAL SCHOOL.
AS WE THINK ABOUT, WELL, IT WAS VERY UNCERTAIN AND IT WAS A FIGHT AT THE TIME IF IT WOULD HAPPEN, BUT NOW, SOMETIME LATER THERE'S GONNA BE A MEDICAL DISTRICT AND THAT WAS CERTAINLY NOT CERTAIN, BUT IT, IT WAS KIND OF A VALUES THING, RIGHT? THE, THE UT MEDICAL SCHOOL THAT WE SHOULD HAVE THIS HERE.
AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I, I APPRECIATE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME OUT TO FIGHT FOR KIND OF LONG-TERM PLANNING AND INVOLVING, UM, OUR INSTITUTIONS IN THESE PROCESSES.
'CAUSE I, I BELIEVE IN THAT AND UM, AND I KNOW WE CAN ACCOMPLISH GREAT THINGS, BUT UM, WE DO FACE CRISISES AND EXPECT OUR POLITICAL CLASS TO RESPOND TO CRISISES.
BUT A LOT OF TIMES OUR BEST SOLUTIONS AND POLICY COME FROM THE LONG TERM PLANNING SIDE.
[02:05:01]
AND NOT JUST THAT WE HAVE A BUDGET CRUNCH RIGHT NOW, OR WE HAVE TO ADDRESS A HOUSING CRISIS RIGHT NOW.'CAUSE THERE ARE GREAT HOUSING POLICIES IN AUSTIN, BUT A LOT OF 'EM COME FROM LONGER TERM PLANNING KIND OF, UM, THINGS.
AND SOMETIMES YOU JUST GOTTA WEATHER THE STORM.
OH, JUST STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.
THANK YOU MAYOR AND HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WOULD YOU BELIEVE ME IF I WERE TO TELL YOU THAT IN THE US WE LOSE ONE PERSON EVERY 11 MINUTES TO SUICIDE WHILE ACCORDING TO CDC.GOV? THAT UNFORTUNATELY IS OUR REALITY.
THIS IS WHY I ASK AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL TO INCREASE THE FUNDING OF MENTAL HOSPITALS TO SAVE MORE LIVES.
ACCORDING TO HEALTH TALK.ORG, MENTAL UNITS ACROSS US HAVE A SHORTAGE OF SPACE, WHICH MEANS PEOPLE ARE FORCIBLY FORCED INTO THE IN ER ROOMS TO HOURS TO EVEN DAYS ON END.
CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT? WAITING IN A ROOM FOR THAT LONG, FOR A WAITING IN A ROOM FOR THAT LONG WITH NOTHING TO DO EXCEPT SOMEONE WATCHING YOUR EVERY MOVE.
ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE, MENTAL HOSPITALS ARE CONSIDERED A LOWER PRIORITY FOR FUNDING, WHICH MEANS HOSPITALS ARE SEVERELY UNDERFUNDED AND UNDERSTAFFED.
AS SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN TO A MENTAL HOSPITAL BEFORE AND HAS KNOWN MANY OTHERS WHO'VE ALSO BEEN IN MENTAL UNITS BEFORE, IT WAS A BORDERLINE TRAUMATIZING EXPERIENCE, RUDE WORKERS, HORRIBLE SLEEPING CONDITIONS.
AND AFTER LEAVING, LEFT ME FEELING CRAZY AND SCARED TO REACH OUT FOR HELP AGAIN.
I'VE ALSO GOTTEN SIMILAR RESPONSES FROM PEOPLE IN MY COMMUNITY.
WHEN I ASKED THEM ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES AT MENTAL HOSPITALS.
MANY OF THE PEOPLE I INTERVIEWED EVEN ADMITTED TO LYING ABOUT THEIR STRUGGLES TO AVOID BEING ADMITTED INTO A HOSPITAL.
AGAIN, ACCORDING TO CDC.GOV, SUICIDE RATES HAVE INCREASED 37% SINCE THE YEARS 2020 18.
IF NOTHING CHANGES NOW, THE RATES WILL CONTINUE TO RISE AND WE WILL LOSE MORE LIVES.
SO I URGED AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER MY POINTS AND INCREASE THE FUNDING OF MENTAL HOSPITALS.
HAS ANYBODY'S NAME BEEN CALLED AND YOU HAVE PLEASE COME FORWARD.
WHO I AM IS NOT NEARLY AS IMPORTANT AS WHAT I'M ABOUT TO SHARE.
I'M IN THIS CHAMBER BECAUSE A PD HAS GONE TOO FAR AND HAS BEEN DOING SO FOR TOO LONG.
WHEN I'M SHARING OUR STORIES THAT WARRANT OUTCRY IN OUR COMMUNITY IN THE EARLY MORNING OF MARCH 2ND, 2025.
JOLYN CHAVEZ HAD BEEN APPROACHED BY A PD AFTER THEY WITNESSED HER PUNCHING AT SOMEONE.
INSTEAD OF TRYING TO DEESCALATE THE SITUATION, ONE OFFICER GRABBED HER AND THREW HER TO THE GROUND.
THIS CAUSED HER INJURIES TO HER FACE, LEFT ARM, CHEST, AND OTHER PARTS OF HER BODY.
AD'S FORCE REVIEW UNIT DETERMINED THE USE OF FORCE WAS WITHIN LAW AND POLICY INEXCUSABLE.
I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT KIND OF HORRORS AWAITED HER AS A TRANS WOMAN IN JAIL.
SOMETHING I'M FAMILIAR WITH PERSONALLY AND CAN ATTEST TO.
MATT SUTHER HAD BEEN PULLED OVER BY A PD FOR A FRONT BIKE.
LIGHT BEING OUT SILLY RIGHT? ONE, A PD OFFICER AND ANOTHER UNMARKED AGENT EXITED THE VEHICLE TO QUESTION HIM WHEN HE WAS EXPLAINING THAT HE WAS ON HIS WAY TO WORK.
HE REACHED FOR HIS WORK CREDENTIALS ONLY TO BE YANKED, CUFFED, AND THROWN INTO THE SQUAD CAR WITHOUT BEING READ HIS MIRANDA RIGHTS, WHICH IS ILLEGAL.
THIS PERSON IS NEURODIVERGENT AND HE WASN'T AWARE OF THE APDS.
EXTREME USE OF FORCE TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, HE WAS CHARGED WITH RESISTING ARREST DESPITE COOPERATING.
THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED AFTER THE RECENT SHOOTING INCIDENT IN LUIS'S RESTAURANT WORKERS WERE TOLD BY PD TO REMAIN SILENT ABOUT IT.
DOES THAT SOUND RIGHT TO Y'ALL? ANOTHER LOCAL RESIDENT HAD HIS DOG KILLED IN COLD BLOOD BY AN A PD OFFICER NAMED DANIEL WALSH.
AND AS FAR AS WE KNOW, HE WAS SUPPOSEDLY PLACED ON LEAVE AND RECEIVED NO PUNISHMENT, NO CHARGES.
ANOTHER VICTIM OF THIS ABUSE, A WOMAN NAMED NALY ES, WAS BRUTALLY BEATEN BY OFFICER SPIES WHILE IN CUSTODY AND SHE SUFFERED A BRAIN INJURY JUSTIFIABLY.
THE ONLY ACTION TAKEN WAS SUSPENDING SPIES FROM HIS DUTIES.
AND DON'T GET ME STARTED ON HOW A PD TREATS THE UNHOUSED COMMUNITY HERE IN AUSTIN.
WHY DOES THE POLICE CHIEF CONTINUE TO DO NOTHING? THIS IS HOW A PD SPENDS OUR TAX DOLLARS.
IS THIS WHAT PROTECT AND SERVE LOOKS LIKE? SO HEAR US WHEN WE SAY DO YOUR JOB.
WE DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY, WE DEMAND ANSWERS, AND WE DEMAND JUSTICE NOW.
HAS ANYBODY'S NAME, HAS ANYBODY'S NAME BEEN CALLED FOR THE 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN PUBLIC COMMUNICATION AND YOU HAVEN'T SPOKEN? WE HAVE.
SHE INFORMED US SHE WOULD NOT BE HERE.
[02:10:01]
HERE? JA.JACOB MENTI, UH, SIGNED UP REMOTELY AND HAS NOT CONNECTED WITH US.
DAVID HOUSTON AND EZ BOG ALSO LET US KNOW THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE PRESENT.
OKAY, SO THAT'S OUR ENTIRE PUBLIC.
UM, MEMBERS, THAT CONCLUDES THE
[Executive Session (Part 1 of 2)]
12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN FOR PUBLIC COMMUNICATION AS INDICATED.WE WILL NOW GO INTO AN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
UM, WE'LL TAKE UP ONE ITEM IN THIS EXECUTIVE SESSION, AND THAT IS PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 5 1 0 7, 1 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE.
THE CITY COUNCIL WILL DISCUSS LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO ITEM 81, DISCUSS LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO THE AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER.
WE'LL BE ENGAGING IN A PRIVATE CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL AGAIN PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 5 1 0 71 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION WITHOUT OBJECTION? WE'LL NOW GO INTO AN EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 12:09 PM FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
I, I'M NOT SURE HOW LONG THIS WILL TAKE, BUT WE'LL COME RIGHT BACK OUT AND WE WILL START BACK WITH THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ALTHOUGH PROBABLY THE FIRST TIME WE HANG ON, BEFORE WE, WELL, I'VE ALREADY INDICATED WE'RE GONNA GO INTO AN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE'LL COVER THAT WHEN COME BACK.
I WILL CALL THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL BACK TO ORDER AT 12:54 PM UH, WE ARE OUT OF OUR CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION IN THAT CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 5 1 0 7, 1 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE.
THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, ENGAGED IN A DISCUSSION OF LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO THE AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER, A PRIVATE CONSULTATION WITH OUR ATTORNEY.
[12. Approve second reading of an ordinance granting to Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative, Inc., a non-exclusive franchise for constructing, maintaining, operating and using a transmission and distribution system in the City to provide electric utility services within its certificated area. Funding: Estimated annual franchise revenue in the amount of $196,400 is anticipated under this franchise agreement. (Part 2 of 2)]
DO IS, UH, TWO THINGS BEFORE WE GET INTO GOING BACK TO THE CONSENT AGENDA AND THE SPEAKERS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.UH, THE FIRST THING, UH, IS COUNCIL MEMBER LANE WAS TEMPORARILY, UH, OFF THE DESK OR ABSENT OR, UH, NOT VIRTUAL.
UH, WHEN WE TOOK UP ITEM NUMBER 12, WHICH YOU WILL REMEMBER WAS OUR FIRST ITEM.
UM, AND SHE WOULD LIKE TO BE SHOWN VOTING YES, VOTING IN FAVOR OF THAT ITEM.
THE, UH, HER VOTE WOULD NOT CHANGE THE OUTCOME OF THE VOTE ON THAT ITEM.
SO, UH, I'LL MOVE THAT SHE BE SHOWN VOTING IN FAVOR OF ITEM NUMBER 12.
IT'S SECONDED BY THE MAYOR PRO TIM.
DISCUSSION, HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION, COUNCIL MEMBER LANE WILL BE SHOWN VOTING IN FAVOR OF ITEM NUMBER 12.
WHAT I'M GONNA DO BEFORE WE GO
[16. Approve an ordinance authorizing the issuance and sale of one or more series of City of Austin, Texas, Special Tax Revenue Bonds, Series 2026 (Convention Center Project), in a par amount not to exceed $1,350,000,000 to fund the Convention Center expansion project, in accordance with the parameters set out in the ordinance; authorizing related documents; approving the payment of costs of issuance; and rescinding Ordinance No. 20251023-009. Funding: Fiscal Year 2025-2026 debt service requirements and estimated annual administration fees for the paying agent/registrar for the proposed bond sale are included in the Operating Budget of the Convention Center Hotel Occupancy Tax Revenue Bond Redemption Fund. (Part 1 of 2)]
BACK TO THE SPEAKERS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA IS I'M GOING TO GO TO, I'M GONNA CALL UP ITEM NUMBER 16, WHICH IS AN ORDINANCE RELATED TO THE AUTHORIZATION AND ISSUANCE OF A SERIES OF BONDS, UH, RELATED TO THE CONVENTION CENTER PROJECT.AND I'M GONNA TURN TO THE CITY CLERK TO CALL THE SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 16.
UM, AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT PEOPLE ARE GONNA START MAKING THEIR WAY BACK INTO THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
OKAY, STARTING ON FOR ITEM 16.
IN PERSON WE HAVE TINA CANNON, STEVE GENI, WE HAVE WILLIAM BUNCH WITH TIME DONATED BY BETSY GREENBERG AND ROY WHALEY.
BRAD MASSENGILL, MEGAN MEISENBACH, JEN ROBO ZENOBIA, JOSEPH MOLLY PRIM, JOE ASH, NICK YAKI, SCOTT BLAYLOCK, THOMAS HOFFMAN, ROB GILLETTE.
UH, THE LAST PERSON IS KATIE CAM, THE TIME DONATED BY DOUG ADDISON.
MR. MASSING, I SEE YOU IF YOU'D COME FORWARD.
YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED AND, AND, AND WE'LL HEAR FROM THE SPEAKERS THAT ARE HERE.
'CAUSE I WANNA MAKE SURE, SINCE WE CAME OUT OF AN EXECUTIVE SESSION, PEOPLE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME IN.
BUT IF YOU'RE OUT IN THE LOBBY AREA AND YOU'RE, UH, LISTENING TO THE TVS OUT THERE, WE ARE TAKING UP ITEM NUMBER 16.
BEFORE WE GO BACK TO THE CONSENT SPEAKERS, PLEASE GO AHEAD AND BEGIN.
I'VE ASKED YOU TO PUT THAT MICROPHONE IN FRONT OF YOUR MOUTH.
THANK YOU, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
I'M AN AUSTIN RESIDENT AND I'M THE GENERAL MANAGER OF HOTEL VAN ZT, LOCATED WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF THE CONVENTION CENTER.
I'M HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 16 TO CONTINUE THE PROGRESS OF THE AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT.
THE CONVENTION CENTER IS CRITICAL TO A HEALTHY HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY IN AUSTIN.
AND SINCE THE PROJECT BEGAN, WE HAVE FELT THE IMPACT OF OPERATING WITHOUT IT AT OUR HOTEL.
THAT IMPACT HAS MEANT A NEARLY DOUBLE DIGIT OCCUPANCY DECLINE YEAR OVER YEAR THAT DECLINE AFFECTS PEOPLE.
THE HOTEL VAN ZANT EMPLOYS APPROXIMATELY 200 TALENTED, HARDWORKING INDIVIDUALS,
[02:15:01]
MANY OF WHOM HAVE FAMILIES TO SUPPORT.WE WANT TO CONTINUE OFFERING REWARDING CAREERS AND STABILITY FOR OUR ASSOCIATES.
AND A STRONG CONVENTION CENTER IS A MAJOR PART OF MAKING THAT POSSIBLE.
THE EXPANDED CONVENTION CENTER WITH 70% MORE MEETING SPACE WILL HELP AUSTIN CAPTURE GROUPS AND EVENTS THAT WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO ACCOMMODATE IN THE PAST.
DUE TO SPACE LIMITATIONS, THE IMPACT EXTENDS BEYOND HOTELS TO RESTAURANTS, RETAIL SHOPS, TRANSPORTATION PROVIDERS, LIVE MUSIC VENUES, AND OTHER LOCAL BUSINESSES.
AND WHEN HOTELS SUCCEED, AUSTIN SHARES IN THAT SUCCESS.
HOTEL OCCUPANCY, TAX REVENUE SUPPORTS, PARKS, CULTURAL ARTS, LIVE MUSIC AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION, ALL OF WHICH MAKE AUSTIN A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, AND VISIT.
I ALSO WANTED TO THANK THE TID FOR ITS CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP, HAS HELPED OFFSET SOME CHALLENGES DURING THIS PERIOD OF REDUCED DEMAND, AND WE APPRECIATE THAT SUPPORT.
I WANNA EMPHASIZE THAT THIS IS ESSENTIAL NOT ONLY FOR OUR INDUSTRY, BUT FOR AUSTIN'S BROADER ECONOMY.
AND THIS PROJECT REMAIN ON SCHEDULE AND ON BUDGET.
APPROVAL OF THE 1.35 BILLION BOND ISSUANCE IS A CRITICAL NEXT STEP.
I RESPECTFULLY URGE FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON ITEM 16.
UM, THIS, THIS HAS BEEN THE ONGOING, UH, WHAT DO THEY CALL IT? THE MAGIC HOLE.
UH, JUST, JUST AS A MUSICIAN, A LIFE LIFETIME MUSICIAN LIVING IN THIS TOWN AND, AND REALIZING WHERE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX IS ACTUALLY GOING, NOT TOWARD MUSICIANS, BUT YOU KNOW, I HAVE REALIZED THIS IS A BOND, UH, TALKING ABOUT BONDS, BUT IT'S ALL PART AND PARCEL OF THE SAME MISGUIDED NOTION THAT, UH, THE FIELD OF DREAMS TYPE OF PHILOSOPHY, THAT IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY'LL COME.
WHEN WE KNOW THAT THE, UH, WHOLE INDUSTRY OF CONVENTIONS IS, IS IT'S EVAPORATING.
IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT WHAT IT USED TO BE.
IT'S, IT'S A DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT NOW, EV EVER SINCE PANDEMIC, EVERYTHING'S GONE TO VIRTUAL, WE SEE THAT ACROSS CITY, GOVERNMENT, STATE GOVERNMENT, EVERY, EVERYTHING YOU CAN THINK OF.
WE'RE EVERYTHING'S AT ARMS LENGTH NOW, YOU KNOW, SO I DON'T, I DON'T SEE AS MAKING A BIG PLACE FOR A BUNCH OF PEOPLE TO GATHER IN IS GONNA DO THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN THAT MUCH.
I I MEAN, I I FEEL FOR THE HOTEL OWNERS, BUT IT'S A, YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN A TOURIST TOWN.
THERE'S ALWAYS STUFF TO DO HERE.
THERE'S ALWAYS GONNA BE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, THE THING GOING OUT AT CODA, ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS.
THEY'RE ALL DESIGNED FOR BRINGING IN PEOPLE TO BOOST THE HOTEL TAX, AS FAR AS I CAN TELL TO PAY FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER.
SO WHERE DO THE MUSICIANS AND THE ARTS COMMUNITY FIT INTO THIS OTHER THAN A FEW, YOU KNOW, UH, EXEMPLARS, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S PART OF THE POPULATION THAT'S BEING SHRUNK OUT OF TOWN IS, IS MUSICIANS AND ART, ART ARTS, YOU KNOW, THIS SAME TYPE OF MONEY AND IMPETUS COULD BE USED FOR BUILDING UP THE ACTUAL ARTS COMMUNITY AND, AND SUPPORTING MUSICIANS.
UH, I I THINK IT'S JUST DISINGENUOUS JUST TO, TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
YOU HAVE TIME DONATED BY, UH, MS. GREENBERG, SO YOU'LL HAVE FOUR MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MAYOR COUNCIL BILL BUNCH, SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE DISTRICT FIVE URGING YOU ONCE AGAIN TO, UH, JUST CALL TIME OUT AND SHOW A LITTLE BIT OF FINANCIAL, UH, TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
UH, YOU'RE SITTING HERE READY TO SIGN OFF ON $1.35 BILLION OF DEBT AT A TIME WHEN WE KNOW TWO THINGS.
MUNICIPAL BOND INTEREST RATES ARE THROUGH THE ROOF RIGHT NOW.
UH, THE WHOLE WORLD IS CHANGING, I GUESS REALLY THREE THINGS, UM, MAKING THIS PROJECT A LOT MORE EXPENSIVE AND DIFFICULT TO PURSUE.
UH, AND YET YOU'RE GETTING ABSOLUTELY NO REGULAR UPDATES ON WHERE WE ARE, COST OVERRUNS, UH, DELAYS, UH, ANY OF THAT.
IT'S ALL BEING KEPT SECRET WHEN EVERY OTHER PROJECT THIS CITY DOES OF ANY SCALE, UH, THE PUBLIC, AND YOU ARE GETTING REGULAR UPDATES.
YOU, YOU'RE IN A, YOU'RE IN A BLACK HOLE, KINDA LIKE THE, THE HOLE YOU'RE DIGGING AND YOU KEEP DIGGING.
UM, THE OTHER THING WE KNOW IS THE WHOLE INDUSTRY, UH, AS MR. SILL WAS REFERENCING, IS IN THE TOILET.
YOU'RE BUILDING SOMETHING FOR A, UH, AN IN INDUSTRY THAT HAS BEEN IN A TAILSPIN SINCE THE NINETIES ACTUALLY, BUT ESPECIALLY SINCE THE OA BUST CONVENTIONS
[02:20:01]
THAT USED TO RUN AND DRAW LARGE CROWDS, THEY'RE ACTUALLY SHUTTING DOWN.UH, AMERICAN DENTAL ASSOCIATION TOLD US, UH, THIS IS THEIR LAST YEAR,
UH, AND THEN LOOK, THE HEADLINES TODAY, META'S LAYING OFF 8,000 PEOPLE BECAUSE OF AI.
LAST I CHECKED, UH, RACKS OF COMPUTERS DON'T GO TO CONVENTIONS.
NVIDIA CHIP CARDS DON'T ATTEND CONVENTIONS.
ROBOTS THAT MR. MUSK WANTS TO BUILD, PROBABLY ON THE DOG'S HEAD.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME? SERIOUSLY, YOU'RE GONNA TIE UP BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
AND THE 1.35 BILLION IS THE JUST THE BUMPER STICKER PRICE.
WHAT'S, WHAT'S THE REAL INTEREST RATE COST HERE? OVER 30 YEARS OF DEBT, YOU'RE GONNA JUMP OFF THIS 32 YEAR CLIFF OF A DEBT COMMITMENT FOR SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T EXIST ANYMORE.
YOUR OWN DATA TELLS YOU ALMOST NOBODY WAS COMING TO AUSTIN FOR CONVENTIONS.
THE ONE THAT MAYOR WATSON LED US ACTUALLY VOTE ON IN 1998 NEVER DREW MORE THAN HALF OF THE PROJECTED BUSINESS IT WAS SUPPOSED TO DRAW.
THE TINY LITTLE BIT OF BENEFIT FOR HOTELS IS THOSE HANDFUL OF ULTRA LUXURY HOTELS SERVING THE RICH NEXT DOOR.
YOU'RE ABANDONING THE ARTS NATURE IN THE CITY.
THE FO THE THINGS THAT ACTUALLY MAKE THIS CITY SPECIAL, THAT WE BENEFIT FROM THOSE LUCKY OF US, OF US TO BE HERE.
AND THAT ACTUALLY DRAWS VISITORS.
AND THEN OF COURSE, THE CON THE CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING ARCHITECTURE FIRMS GET THE MONEY UP FRONT.
UH, YOU REALLY NEED TO LIKE SOUL SEARCH.
THIS SHOULDN'T BE YOUR LEGACY, MAYOR WATSON.
YOU HAVE REAL LEGAL PROBLEMS WITH THESE BONDS TOO.
YOU'RE STILL COLLECTING THE 2 CENTS FOR THE 98 THAT WE VOTED ON THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE LIMITED TO 135 MILLION, AND NOW YOU'RE GONNA ISSUE NEW VOTES FOR AN EXPANSION.
THAT'S ALL THE STATUTE ALLOWS YOU TO DO.
THIS IS AN ENTIRELY NEW PROJECT.
MS. CANNON MAYOR COUNCIL, I'M TINA CANNON, UH, HERE ON BEHALF OF VISIT AUSTIN IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 16, UH, FOLLOWING MANY YEARS OF COMMUNITY PLANNING, PUBLIC DISCUSSIONS.
WE ARE NOW AT A MOMENT, UH, TO CONTINUE THIS PROJECT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH CONFIDENCE AND EXECUTION.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT MATTERS ENORMOUSLY TO AUSTIN'S HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM WORKFORCE.
THIS PROJECT IMPACTS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF AUSTINITES WHERE JOBS AND SMALL BUSINESSES ARE CONNECTED TO THE VISITOR ECONOMY.
FROM HOTEL WORKERS TO RESTAURANT STAFF, LIVE MUSIC, VENUE, STAFF, MUSICIANS, EVENT TECHNICIANS, SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, DRIVERS, CATERERS, PEOPLE WHO BUILT THEIR CAREERS IN THIS CITY, SERVING THE VISITORS THAT WE HELP BRING HERE.
WHEN AUSTIN CAN HOST MORE EVENTS AND VISITORS SIMULTANEOUSLY, THAT TRANSLATES INTO MORE SHIFTS, MORE CUSTOMERS, MORE BOOKINGS AND GREATER ECONOMIC STABILITY FOR WORKING FAMILIES AND LOCAL BUSINESSES ALL ACROSS THIS CITY.
THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THIS PROJECT EXTENDS WELL BEYOND DOWNTOWN VISITORS SPENDING SUPPORTS RESTAURANT RETAILERS, MUSIC VENUES, SERVICE WORKERS AND BUSINESSES ALL ACROSS AUSTIN IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND CRITICALLY, EVERY DOLLAR OF DEBT SERVICE ON THESE BONDS IS REPAID BY VISITORS, NOT RESIDENTS.
THIS REPRESENTS A WORKFORCE FOCUSED INVESTMENT THAT IS FUNDED BY VISITORS THROUGH THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX RATHER THAN LOCAL RESIDENTS.
MOVING FORWARD EFFICIENTLY HELPS AUSTIN'S WORKERS, SMALL BUSINESSES, AND THE BROADER AUSTIN ECONOMY.
AND THE LONG-TERM BENEFITS OF THIS PROJECT ARE DESIGNED TO DELIVER.
THIS INDUSTRY IS ALIGNED, THE FINANCING IS STRUCTURE, IS SOUND, AND THE WORKFORCE IS READY.
PLEASE MOVE FORWARD ON ITEM 16.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS STEVE GENEVESE, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AT VISIT AUSTIN, AND I'M IN STRONG SUPPORT AT VI 16 AND PROUD LONGTIME RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 10.
I LEAD OUR SALES TEAM'S EFFORTS TO ATTRACT MEETINGS, CONVENTIONS, AND SPORTING EVENTS THAT SUPPORT LOCAL JOBS, SMALL BUSINESSES, AND AUSTIN'S VISITOR ECONOMY.
MANY OF OUR LARGER EVENTS DEPEND ON HAVING A MODERN COMPETITIVE CONVENTION CENTER.
I HAVE A FRONT ROW SEAT TO THE DEMAND FOR GROUP BUSINESS IN THIS CITY.
I HEAR DIRECTLY FROM EVENT ORGANIZERS ABOUT WHAT DRIVES THEIR LOCATION DECISIONS, AND I SEE FIRSTHAND
[02:25:01]
HOW COMPETITIVE THE NATIONAL CONVENTION MARKET HAS BECOME AS OTHER MAJOR CITIES IN TEXAS AND OUTSIDE TEXAS, SUCH AS NASHVILLE CONTINUE INVESTING HEAVILY IN THEIR CONVENTION INFRASTRUCTURE.IN JUST 11 MONTHS SINCE CONVENTION CENTER FLOOR PLANS BECAME AVAILABLE, AUSTIN HAS ALREADY SECURED DEFINITE AND VERBAL DEFINITE COMMITMENTS THROUGH 2040 PROJECTING TO BRING OVER 300,000 ATTENDEES AND GENERATING AN ESTIMATED 406 MILLION IN ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR AUSTIN, INCLUDING SOME GROUPS MEETING IN TRADITIONALLY SLOWER TIMES SUCH AS EARLY JANUARY AND THE SUMMER MONTHS WHEN LOCAL BUSINESSES AND WORKERS NEED IT MOST.
AND THE DEMAND IS NOT, IS CONTINUING.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE ACTIVE PROSPECTS REPRESENTING MORE THAN 400,000 ADDITIONAL ATTENDEES AND AN ESTIMATED 535 MILLION IN PROJECTED ECONOMIC IMPACT SINCE THE FULL YEAR OF CLOSURE OF THE CONVENTION CENTER.
DURING THAT TIME, CITYWIDE HOTEL OCCUPANCY HAS DECLINED 3.6% AND 4.5%.
DOWNTOWN HOTEL ROOM REVENUE DROPPED 116.4 MILLION.
CONVENTION CENTER BUSINESS IMPACTS BEYOND JOBS AND VISITORS SPENDING.
AS AN EXAMPLE, DURING THE RESTAURANT FACILITIES MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION CONVENTION COMMUNITY FIRST RECEIVED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN KITCHEN EQUIPMENT AND ONSITE VOLUNTEER LABOR.
SO THE MOMENTUM IS REAL, THE DEMAND IS THERE, AND THE TIME IS NOW.
PLEASE APPROVE THESE BONDS TODAY.
WHY DON'T WE START DOWN HERE AND WE'LL WORK THIS DIRECTION.
HELLO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I AM THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF AUSTIN HOTEL AND LODGING ASSOCIATION.
I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF DISTRICT THREE.
UM, I'M HERE TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF, OF THE BOND ISSUANCE FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER REDEVELOPMENT PLAN.
AUSTIN HOTELS HAVE LONG SUPPORTED THE CONVENTION CENTER REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT AND HAVE INVESTED HE HEAVILY IN THE DOWNTOWN MARKET IN ANTICIPATION OF ITS ECONOMIC IMPACT.
SINCE THE PROJECT WAS FIRST ANNOUNCED, 37 NEW HOTELS HAVE OPENED IN DOWNTOWN AUSTIN IN PREPARATION FOR THE PROJECTED 15 BILLION IMPACT TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY.
THE PREVIOUS FACILITY WAS FORCED TO TURN AWAY NEARLY 50% OF BOOKING OPPORTUNITIES DUE TO AN INSUFFICIENT FACE SPACE AND LIMITED CALENDAR AVAILABILITY.
THE EXPANDED CONVENTION CENTER WILL HELP ADDRESS THIS MISSED ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY WHILE POSITION POSITIONING AUSTIN AS THE HOME TO THE WORLD'S FIRST ZERO CARBON CERTIFIED CONVENTION CENTER FEATURING A 70% INCREASE IN MEETING SPACE.
APPROXIMATELY 300,000 HOTEL ROOM NIGHTS ARE DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO CONVENTION CENTER BUSINESS ANNUALLY.
AND THAT NUMBER MORE THAN DOUBLES WHEN ACCOUNTING FOR ATTENDEES WHO BOOK OUTSIDE THE BLOCK.
THIS NUMBER WILL CERTAINLY GROW WITH, WITH A NEW EXPANDED CENTER PROVIDING THE WEEKDAY AND NEED TIME BUSINESS THAT WE NEED HERE IN AUSTIN.
NATIONAL REVPAR PERFORMANCE HAS REMAINED RELATIVELY FLAT YEAR OVER YEAR, WHILE THE AUSTIN MARKET AND SURROUNDING MARKETS HAVE EXPERIENCED DECLINES RANGING FROM 5% TO NEARLY 10% DUE TO THE CONVENTION CENTER CLOSURE.
THESE CHALLENGES, THESE CHALLENGING CONDITIONS CONT CONTINUE TO IMPACT NOT ONLY HOTELS, BUT ALSO RESTAURANT BARS, TRANSPORTATION PROVIDERS, RETAILERS, AND OTHER LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT DEPEND ON CONVENTION AND TOURISM ACTIVITY.
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE STRONG OUTCOMES AND CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP OF THE AUSTIN T ID, WHICH HAS HELPED OFFSET SOME OF THE DEMAND REDUCTIONS DURING THIS TRANSITION PERIOD.
IT IS ESSENTIAL FOR BOTH OUR INDUSTRY AND AUSTIN'S BROADER E ECONOMY THAT THIS PROJECT REMAIN ON SCHEDULE AND ON BUDGET WITH APPROVAL OF THE 1.35.
YES, IS DOUG ADDISON HERE? OKAY.
KATIE CAM WILL HAVE FOUR MINUTES.
HI, I AM KATIE CAM, A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE LONGTIME AUSTIN RESIDENT.
I DID MY MASTER'S THESIS ON THE FIRST AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION.
UM, I HAVE LITERALLY TALKED TO THOUSANDS OF AUSTIN VOTERS AND THEY'RE NOT SUPPORTIVE OF THIS CONVENTION CENTER PROJECT.
THEIR HEART IS WITH THE CREATIVES OF THIS CITY.
UM, THEY NEED THE FUNDING, THE ARTS, THE MUSIC.
AND I'LL GO LATER INTO MY SPEECH INTO HOW WE CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN WITH THE HOTEL TAX REVENUE INSTEAD OF WITH THIS CONVENTION CENTER.
UM, THE COST OF, FIRST I'M GONNA START OFF WITH THE COST OF THIS CONVENTION CENTER IS MUCH HIGHER THAN THE $1.3 BILLION BILLION BOND.
THE CENTER IS PROPOSED ON SIX VALUABLE DOWNTOWN BLOCKS.
AT LEAST TWO TO THREE OF THESE BLOCKS SHOULD BE SOLD AND PUT BACK IN THE PROPERTY TAX RULE TO PROVIDE REVENUE FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND AUSTIN, ISD, UM, THAT ARE IN NEED OF REVENUE.
BUILDING THE CONVENTION CENTER ON THOSE SIX BLOCKS AND KEEPING 'EM OFF THE PROPERTY TAX RULE IS A POOR FINANCIAL DECISION FOR THOSE TWO ENTITIES AND OTHER ENTITIES THAT ALSO RELY ON PROPERTY TAX REVENUE.
ADDITIONALLY, THERE ARE OTHER WHAT IFS.
WHAT IF THE STATE LEGISLATURE DECIDES IT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF CITIES TO BE ABLE TO USE THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX REVENUE FOR OTHER USES, SUCH AS INFRASTRUCTURE
[02:30:01]
REPAIR BY TYING UP MOST OF THE HOTEL TAX REVENUE FOR THE NEXT 30 YEARS OR MORE.UH, IF THERE'S CHANGES AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE, WE CAN'T TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE BECAUSE WE'VE TIED IT UP INTO A BIG GIANT EMPTY BUILDING.
WHAT IF HOTEL TAX REVENUE DECLINES DUE TO LOSS OF INTEREST IN TRAVEL TO AUSTIN BECAUSE OF THE LOSS OF CULTURE? BECAUSE WE'RE NOT INVESTING IN THE CULTURE.
WE DO NOT HAVE THE PHILANTHROPY BASE LIKE OTHER CITIES DO.
WE NEED THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX REVENUE TO SUPPORT OUR MUSICIANS, OUR ARTISTS AND CULTURE? UM, THERE COULD BE OTHER FACTORS THAT ALSO IMPACT OUR ABILITY TO ATTRACT TOURISTS.
THE PRIORITY WILL BE TO PAY THE CONVENTION CENTER DEBT AND NOT TO SUPPORT THE CULTURE AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION.
OTHER KEY THINGS THAT ACTUALLY BRING PEOPLE TO AUSTIN, AND THIS SCENARIO ACTUALLY HAPPENED IN THE MID 1990S.
THERE WAS A DROP IN HOTEL TAX REVENUE AND THE AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER DEPARTMENT HAD TO DIP INTO SAVINGS TO COVER THE COSTS.
I HAVE COME HERE BEFORE IN ASSISTANCE COMMUNICATION.
I'VE PRESENTED DATA THAT SHOWS AUSTIN ALREADY HAS PLENTY OF CONVENTION SPACE, EVEN WITH THE DEMOLITION OF THE AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER.
AND THE CITY STAFF IS ALREADY GETTING PRACTICE OFFERING CONCIERGE CONVENTION SERVICES TO HELP COORDINATE THE, UH, BRINGING IN OF CONVENTIONS.
WHILE WE DON'T HAVE THAT BIG CON UH, THAT CONVENTION CENTER, WE'RE ALSO GETTING A NEW CONVENTION CENTER, UH, POTENTIALLY OUTTA CODA.
UH, PREVIOUS SPEAKERS EMPHASIZE THAT THE CONVENTION CENTER IS A BIG ECONOMIC AND INTER GENERATOR, BUT THE PROBLEM WITH HOW THEY PRESENT THE INFORMATION IS THEY DON'T COMPARE IT WITH OTHER THINGS THAT COULD BE USED WITH THE HOTEL TAX REVENUE.
AND AGAIN, THAT'S SOMETHING I BROUGHT UP IN A PREVIOUS PRESENTATION.
I'VE TALKED ABOUT HOW CULTURAL VENUES ACTUALLY BRING IN WAY MORE VISITORS, FOOT TRAFFIC AND ECONOMIC GENERATION THAN A CONVENTION CENTER DOES.
AND THE EXAMPLES I GAVE WERE NASHVILLE COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME, DENVER ART MUSEUM, THE MET IN NEW YORK CITY, ET CETERA.
THE ANTHROPOLOGY IN MEXICO CITY, MILLIONS OF VISITORS, UM, PUTS THE CONVENTION CENTER AS A FOOTNOTE TO THE TOURISM ECONOMY IN AUSTIN.
SO, UH, WE SHOULD SELL OFF DOWNTOWN AUSTIN BLOCKS, UM, THAT THE CONVENTION CENTER WAS SITTING ON TO GET THAT PROPERTY TAX REVENUE.
AND WE SHOULD DIVERT THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX REVENUE TO THE THINGS THAT THE TEXAS STATE TAX CODE ACTUALLY ALLOWS.
SO ONE IS PROMOTIONAL PROGRAMMING.
LET'S ELEVATE THE VISIBILITY OF AUSTIN-BASED ARTISTS.
UM, THEY REALLY WOULD APPRECIATE THAT
UH, WE CAN CREATE A CITY AMBASSADOR PROGRAM WHERE WE HIRE LOCAL MUSICIANS AND ARTISTS AND PAY THEM LIVABLE SALARIES.
UH, I'M SURE YOU'VE MET MANY CREATIVES.
THEY ARE CHARISMATIC, THEY'RE BEST AMBASSADORS FOR THE CITY AND WE SHOULD PUT 'EM ON THE CITY PAYROLL, GIVE 'EM A LIVING WAGE, AND MAKE THEM OUR BEST AMBASSADORS THAT TRAVEL THE STATE AND THE WORLD TO PROMOTE AUSTIN.
UM, AND THEN WE CAN ALSO, UH, CREATE A CULTURAL VENUE AS I MENTIONED BEFORE.
SO AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, VOTERS LOVE THESE IDEAS.
LET'S STOP THE CONVENTION CENTER PROJECT.
AND, UH, AUSTIN HAS A GRAVITATIONAL POOL FOR CREATIVITY.
WE SHOULD BUILD OFF OF THAT AND WE, YOU KNOW, MARKET OURSELVES AS LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL WORLD.
WE NEED TO PUT OUR MONEY BEHIND THAT.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WATSON AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
I'M THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE JW MARRIOTT HERE IN DOWNTOWN.
AND I'M HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 16 AND THE CONTI CONTINUED PROGRESS OF THE AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT, UH, BE BEFORE GOING FURTHER, I JUST WANNA SAY THE CONVENTION CENTER OR THE CONVENTION BUSINESS IS ALIVE AND WELL IN THIS COUNTRY.
UH, IN FACT, THE CNT UH, SOURCING ORGANIZATION JUST ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK THAT AUSTIN IS ONE OF THE TOP 10 DESTINATIONS FOR CONVENTIONS.
AND, UH, TWO OF THE HOTELS IN THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT ARE IN THE TOP 10 OF THE ENTIRE COUNTRY OUTTA 250 HOTELS.
AND AUSTIN IS THRIVING FROM A HOTEL OPERATIONS STANDPOINT.
PROJECTS LIKE THIS MATTER BECAUSE THEY DIRECTLY IMPACT HOW BUSY THE HOTELS ARE IN RESTAURANTS AND LIVE MUSIC VENUES, STAFFING LEVELS, AND AUSTIN'S ABILITY TO CONTINUE ATTRACTING MAJOR MEETINGS AND CONVENTIONS OVER THE LONG TERM RELY ON THIS CONVENTION CENTER.
WE'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS WHAT NOT HAVING A CONVENTION CENTER MEANS OCCUPANCY IN THE HOTELS IN THE JW COMPETITIVE SET AND ALL THE ONES NEAR THE CONVENTION CENTER IS DOWN 15% OVER THE LAST YEAR.
IN THE DECLINE IN CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT OCCUPANCY IMPACTS HOTELS THROUGHOUT AUSTIN.
IN FACT, THERE'S OVER 370 HOTELS IN AUSTIN, WHICH MAKE UP 48,000 ROOMS A NIGHT.
AND THE DECLINE IN OCCUPANCY FROM LAST YEAR OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS MEANS THERE'S 450,000 FEWER OCCUPIED ROOMS. THAT MEANS LESS VISITORS TO VISIT OUR RESTAURANTS, TO GO TO LIVE MUSIC VENUES AND AND SO ON.
BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT MEANS FEWER HOTEL WORKERS NEEDED TO DO THE JOB OF HOSTING ALL THESE VISITORS WHO COME INTO TO SEE AUSTIN.
WE HAVE OVER 145,000, UH, ASSOCIATES, AUSTINITES THAT WORK IN HOSPITALITY, RESTAURANTS AND LIVE MUSIC VENUES HERE IN AUSTIN.
LET'S NOT SLOW DOWN THE REBUILDING OF THE CONVENTION CENTER
[02:35:01]
KNOWING HOW IMPORTANT IT IS.THANK YOU MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
UH, MY NAME IS THOMAS HOFFMAN.
I AM THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE AUSTIN AREA DOWNTOWN, AND I'M HERE TODAY TO SUPPORT, UH, THE ITEM 16 AND THE CONTINUED PROGRESS OF THE AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT.
AS A HOTEL LOCATED DIRECTLY NEXT TO THE CONVENTION CENTER REDEVELOPMENT SITE, WE EXPERIENCED THE IMPACT OF THIS PROJECT EVERY SINGLE DAY.
OUR GUEST, EMPLOYEES AND OPERATIONS ARE NAVIGATING THE CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES, STREET CLOSURES, NOISE AND TEMPORARY DISRUPTION THAT NATURALLY COME WITH THE PROJECT OF THIS SCALE.
BUT WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THOSE ARE SHORT TERM CHALLENGES IN SUPPORT OF A LONG TERM INVESTMENT.
THIS IS CRITICAL TO AUSTIN'S FUTURE AND SUCCESS FOR US.
THIS IS NOT AN ABSTRACT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISCUSSION.
IT DIRECTLY IMPACTS NEARLY 400 ASSOCIATES WHO WALK AT OUR HOTEL EVERY SINGLE DAY.
CONVENTION BUSINESS HELPS CREATE STABLE WORKDAY OCCUPANCY, MORE CONSISTENT SCHEDULING, STRONGER BANQUET AND WESTERN ON DEMAND AND RELIABLE HOURS FOR OUR EMPLOYEES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
THOSE LARGE CITYWIDE EVENTS DRIVE BUSINESS ONLY FOR OUR GUEST ROOMS, BUT ALSO FOR HOUSEKEEPING TEAMS, BANQUET SERVERS, COOKS, PARTNERS WANT US ASSOCIATES, VALE ATTENDANTS, AND MANY OTHER HOSPITALITY WORKERS ACROSS DOWNTOWN AUSTIN.
THE AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER HAS HISTORICALLY GENERATED ABOUT 400,000 HOTEL ROOM NIGHTS ANNUALLY, AND AVERAGE IS APPROXIMATELY 28 CITYWIDE CONVENTIONS ANNUALLY WITH MORE THAN 1500 PEAK ROOM NIGHTS EACH.
SINCE THE CONVENTION OF CLOSURE BEGAN, WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN NEARLY 20,000 GROUP ROOM NIGHTS COME OFF OUR FUTURE BOOKING.
THAT'S FOR OUR HOTEL REPRESENTING MORE THAN $8 MILLION IN LOST ROOM REVENUE AT OUR HOTEL ALONE.
THAT IMPACTS STAFF STAFFING, DISCUSSIONS, FORECASTING, AND LONG-TERM OPERATIONAL PLANNING.
WE ARE ALSO SEEING BROADER SOFTNESS ACROSS THE DOWNTOWN MARKET INDUSTRY REPORTING.
ALL SPEAKERS ON ITEM 16 HAVE BEEN CALLED BECAUSE WE STARTED WITH ITEM 16 COMING OUT OF AN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
I WANNA MAKE SURE IF YOU SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM 16 AND YOU HAVE NOT HEARD YOUR NAME CALLED, UH, LET, LET US KNOW THAT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IT MAY BE THAT YOU WERE MAKING YOUR WAY BACK IN.
AND I THEN I WANNA MAKE SURE WE ACCOMMODATE THAT.
OTHERWISE, ALL OF THE SPEAKERS ON ITEM 16 HAVE BEEN CALLED AND WE'RE GOING TO GO TO A MOTION AND A VOTE.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT SIGNED UP FOR ITEM 16 THAT MAY NOT HAVE HEARD THEIR NAME CALLED BECAUSE THEY WERE OUT IN THE LOBBY? DID YOU SIGN UP ON 16? I DID, BUT I DONATE, DONATED MY TIME TO MR. BUNCH, BUT I WAS GETTING MY BAG CHECKED AGAIN BEFORE I COULD GET IN HERE.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON YOU.
WELL, IF YOU ALREADY DONATED YOUR TIME, YOU DON'T GET TO DO THAT.
AND, AND YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW THAT MR. WHALEY.
WELL, WE AND AND WE ARE NOT GONNA NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU RIGHT NOW EITHER, SO THANK YOU.
UM, OKAY, THAT BEING THE CASE, ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP ON ITEM 16 HAVE SPOKEN.
UM, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER 16.
THE MAYOR PRO TEM MOVES APPROVAL.
IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER.
IS THERE DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER 16? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ITEM NUMBER 16 IS APPROVED WITH, UH, CA UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL TEMPORARILY OFF THE DAIS AND THE ABSENCES THAT I PREVIOUSLY INDICATED WERE GOING TO, UH, BE HERE, UH, AND COUNCIL MEMBER LANE IS VOTING VIRTUALLY.
[Consent Agenda (Part 2 of 3)]
ITEM NUMBER 16 MEMBERS.WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO NOW IS WE WILL GO BACK TO THE CONSENT SPEAKERS.
WE WERE IN THE, I DON'T WANT TO HAVE THE CITY CLERK CHECK MY MATH ON THIS.
WE WERE IN THE, WE WERE IN THE ITEM NUMBER 39 AT THE TIME.
UM, MEMBERS, WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS GO BACK TO ITEM NUMBER 39 AND GO AHEAD AND HAVE A CONTINUATION OF THOSE SPEAKERS BECAUSE WE WERE ALREADY INTO THE ITEM, BUT BASED UPON, UM, THE PUBLIC COMMENT, WHAT I'M GOING TO SUGGEST, UNLESS THERE'S AN OBJECTION, IS THAT WE PULL ITEMS 38 AND 39 OFF OF THE CONSENT AGENDA SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A SPECIFIC DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO THEM.
AFTER WE'VE PASSED THE CONSENT AGENDA.
MY RECOMMENDATION WILL BE, SINCE ITEM NUMBER 60 IS SCHEDULED AS A PUBLIC HEARING, WE WILL TAKE THAT, UH, WE WILL BRING UP ITEM 38 AND 39 AFTER WE HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 60.
AND WITHOUT OBJECTION, JUST EVERYBODY KNOW THAT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.
BUT WE WILL GO BACK TO THE SPEAKERS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AND WE WILL START WITH THOSE WHO ARE LEFT ON ITEM NUMBER 39.
CONTINUE WITH ITEM ONE SECOND, ONE SECOND.
ONE OTHER THING I WANNA POINT OUT TO EVERYBODY AT TWO O'CLOCK.
[02:40:01]
PAUSE AND WE'RE GONNA TAKE UP OUR TIME CERTAIN AT TWO O'CLOCK BECAUSE WE HAVE A NUMBER OF ITEMS THAT ARE SCHEDULED TO BE POSTPONED.BUT IF WE'RE GOING TO POSTPONE THEM TILL NEXT WEEK, WE HAVE TO HAVE TIME TO POST THEM.
UH, WE HAVE TO HAVE TIME TO GIVE NOTICE.
AND SO WE NEED TO GET THOSE TAKEN UP AND NOT HAVE THEM AT SOMETIME LATER IN THE DAY.
SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE EVERYBODY'S WITH ME ON THAT.
ALRIGHT, NOW I APOLOGIZE FOR INTERRUPTING YOU, BUT PLEASE GO TO ITEM 39.
ITEM THREE NINE, JANICE, BOOK OUT.
I HAVE BOBBY LAVINSKY WITH TIME DONATED FROM BETSY GREENBERG AND BARBARA MACARTHUR.
ARE THEY BOTH HERE? OKAY, BOBBY, WHEN HE SPEAKS, WE'LL HAVE SIX MINUTES.
JANICE BOOKOUT, UH, DISTRICT FOUR TO CONTINUE.
UM, FROM MY EARLIER STATEMENT, PEOPLE LIVING IN THIS AREA ARE IN A FORCED STATE OF RESILIENCE DUE TO HISTORIC DISINVESTMENT.
THE AREA HAS ONE CONVENIENCE STORE, NO GROCERY STORE, NO AMENITIES, AND NO POLLING LOCATION.
THERE ARE NO SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS, OR PARKS.
ABOUT 40% OF DOGS HEAD ITSELF IS IN THE 100 YEAR FLOODPLAIN.
ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE RESIDENTIAL AREAS ADJACENT TO DOG HEAD ARE ALSO IN THE 25 AND 100 YEAR FLOODPLAIN.
THE EJ SCREEN, UM, FORMALLY FEDERAL NEWLY, UH, RE RECAPTURED ELSEWHERE, UM, CITES THE CITY AS AN AREA IMPACTED BY WASTEWATER DISCHARGE 90 TO 95TH PERCENTILE.
NITROGEN OXIDE 90 95 TO A HUNDRED PERCENTILE PARTICULATE MATTER, UH, 90 TO A HUNDRED PERCENT A PERCENTILE WITH CRITICAL SERVICE GAPS IN LACKING HEALTH INSURANCE, BROADBAND GAPS, HOUSING BURDEN, TRANSPORTATION ACCESS BURDEN, AND A FOOD DESERT FLOOD RISK IS IN THE 80 TO 100 PERCENTILE.
I'VE BEEN WORKING RECENTLY WITH THE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE IMPACTED IN THE SANDY CREEK AREA BY THE JULY 5TH FLOODS.
THE DEVASTATION IS HEARTBREAKING.
PEOPLE LOST FAMILY MEMBERS WHOLE HOMES AND THE RECOVERY WILL TAKE YEARS.
SUCH AN EVENT CAN ALSO PUSH PEOPLE INTO HOMELESSNESS, WHERE IN OUR CURRENT POLICY, THE CITY WILL THEN USE ITS BLOATED POLICE FORCE TO REPEATEDLY TAKE THEIR BELONGINGS AND PREVENT THEM FROM GETTING REST.
AUSTIN LOVES ITSELF SO MUCH, AND IN TRUTH, I HAVE LOVED MY LIFE HERE FOR OVER 30 YEARS, BUT IT IS SI IT IS TIME TO NAME THAT OUR CITY IS CRUEL TO ITS MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE.
A DEVELOPMENT OF THIS SIZE SHOULD HAVE DUE DILIGENCE, LEAN ON COMMISSIONS AND INCLUDE COMMUNITY INPUT.
BOBBY LAVINSKY SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE.
UM, THIS ITEM IS RELATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
UM, SECTION 3.01 OF THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
I WANNA HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE TERMS FOR YOU SO YOU CAN, UM, UNDERSTAND WHAT'S, WHAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY APPROVING.
SO THE AGREEMENT CONSTITUTES A PERMIT UNDER CHAPTER 2 45 OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE.
THAT'S THE VESTING RIGHTS STATUTE.
AND IT IS THE FIRST IN THE SERIES OF PERMITS REQUIRED FOR DEVELOPMENT.
SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS, AFTER TODAY, AFTER YOU VOTE FOR IT, YOU CAN'T CHANGE IT.
THERE WILL BE NO ABILITY FOR THE CITY TO, TO AFFECT THE DEVELOPMENT THAT'S OCCURRING ON THE PROPERTY.
UM, AND THAT COULD POTENTIALLY EVEN GO BEYOND THE 45 YEARS.
UM, SECTION 3.03 AUTHORIZATION OF GRANT VARIANCES.
SO EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN, UH, THE ZONING CODE OR OTHERWISE IN THE AGREEMENT, THE DIRECTOR OR HIS SUCCESSOR OR HER SUCCESSOR IS AUTHORIZED TO GRANT VARIANCES FROM ANY LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE REQUIREMENT.
THE DIRECTOR MAY ONLY GRANT A VARIANCE IF THE REQUESTED VARIANCE MEETS APPLICABLE CRITERIA, IF ANY AS MAY BE ESTABLISHED IN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.
SO THAT REALLY MEANS THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL CODE PROCESS, THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL VARIANCE PROCESS IS BEING UHER.
AND THEN THAT GOES TO JUST THE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, WHOEVER THAT MAY BE AT THE TIME.
AND IT ONLY APPLIES FOR, LIKE, THE CRITERIA THAT'S IN THE CODE ONLY REALLY APPLIES IF THERE ANY EXISTS.
SO IF THERE'S NO CRITERIA IN THE CODE FOR ANY OF THE DEVELOP LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE, UM, THEN THEY CAN JUST APPROVE IT BY THEIR OWN, UH, BY THEIR OWN JUDGMENT.
SO THERE'S NO CRITERIA FOR THEM TO BE APPLYING HERE.
UM, I MENTIONED THIS EARLIER UNDER SECTION 3.04.
THERE'S A USE DESCRIBED AS AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE AND BOAT TESTING.
THAT'S THE SAME USE THAT CERAMIC TECHNOLOGIES, THE MILITARY CONTRACTOR THAT WOULD JUST APPLY FOR A AIR PERMIT IN THE AREA, BUT WITHDREW IT AFTER COMMUNITY OPPOSITION.
UM, THAT'S THE SAME USE THAT THEY
[02:45:01]
DESCRIBE IT AS.SO YOU MIGHT BE APPROVING, UM, THAT SAME MILITARY CONTRACTOR THAT, UH, THE COMMUNITY'S SO OPPOSED TO, UM, UNDER SECTION 3.05 LAND USES.
SO AGAIN, I MENTIONED THAT PRETTY MUCH ANY, ANY ZONING, UH, PERMITTED USE IS ALLOWED UNDER THE AGREEMENT, UNDER THE MIXED USE AREA.
BUT, UM, THERE'S THIS REALLY, UH, INTERESTING SECTION, SECTION 3.05 C, WHICH SAYS, FOR NEW USES, IF CITY COUNCIL CREATES ANY NEW LAND USE AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS AGREEMENT.
SO THINK DATA CENTERS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ESTABLISHING A NEW USE FOR DATA CENTERS.
IT IS A PERMITTED USE IN THE MIXED DISTRICT, EXCEPT IF THE COUNCIL ONLY PERMITS THE NEW LAND USE IN MAJOR INDUSTRY OR RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS, THE USE WILL BE SUBJECT TO SPACING REQUIREMENTS IN SECTION 3.14.
SO UNLESS YOU'RE AGREEING TO, UH, ESTABLISH THAT THE NEW USES ARE ONLY, UM, UH, PERMITTED IN CERTAIN, IN CERTAIN USES, SO YOU'RE PRE MAKE, YOU'RE PRE MAKING THAT DETERMINATION, UM, THEY'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO HAVE THE, THE BY RIGHT ABILITY TO DO THAT.
IT WOULD BE BETTER JUST TO SAY, HEY, YOU CAN'T DO DATA CENTERS ON THE SITE.
UM, PUT THAT IN THE AGREEMENT HERE, UH, UNDER SECTION 3.07, UH, IMPERVIOUS COVER EXCEPT AS PROVIDED AN OPEN SPACE, WHICH AGAIN, THE OPEN SPACE ONLY GETS TRIGGERED IF YOU APPROVE A TAX INCREMENT FINANCING ZONE DISTRICT.
UM, THERE ARE NO IMPERVIOUS COVER LIMITS WITHIN THE DOG'S HEAD PROPERTY.
SO A HUNDRED PERCENT IMPERVIOUS COVER EXCEPT WITH THE OPEN SPACE THAT IS CONTINGENT, UH, TO BE DEDICATED.
THEY CAN'T EXCEED 20% IMPERVIOUS COVER.
AND SO THAT OPEN SPACE AREA INCLUDES A LOT OF THE RIPARIAN ZONES.
THERE'S SPECIAL CAR CARVE OUT PROVISIONS THAT THEY'RE ALLOWED TO DO GOLF CART TRAILS WITHIN THE RIPARIAN ZONE, UM, FOR COMPATIBILITY STANDARD.
SO THE NEIGHBORS THAT WERE HERE SAYING THAT THEY HAVE HAD NO NOTICE ABOUT THIS, IT'S GOING TO IMPACT THEM BECAUSE THEIR RIGHTS TO, UM, COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS ARE GONNA BE OVERRIDDEN BY THIS AGREEMENT BECAUSE THE DEVELOPMENT WILL NOT BE REQUIRED TO, UH, TO COMPLY WITH THEM.
UNDER SECTION 3.08, SECTION 3.09, WAIVES ALL HEIGHT REQUIRED RESTRICTIONS FOR THE PROPERTY 3.09, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SO THERE'S A, A, A PROMISE TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO LEARN FROM OUR PAST MISTAKES.
SO IF I REMEMBER BLOCK 21, THE, THE PROPERTY THAT WAS JUST A A, THAT'S NOW THE W HOTEL, WE HAD A SIMILAR PROVISION IN THERE THAT SAID, UM, IF YOU DO RENTAL HOUSING, YOU ARE GUARANTEED TO DO, YOU HAVE TO DO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, YOU HAVE TO DO IT AT A CERTAIN LEVEL THAT IN THAT AGREEMENT THEY DIDN'T DO RENTAL HOUSING, ENDED UP DOING OWNERSHIP HOUSING, SO WE NEVER GOT ANY AFFORDABLE HOUSING THERE.
UNDER SECTION 3.15, IT ONLY SAYS THAT, UH, THAT THEY INTEND TO DO RESIDENTIAL, UH, UNITS.
AND IF THEY DO SO, YOU'LL GET INCOME RESTRICTED HOUSING FOR 20% OF THE TOTAL FOR PERIOD OF 40 YEARS.
HALF OF THAT, THEY'RE GONNA BE RESPONSIBLE FOR HALF OF THAT.
THE CITY WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING FOR, UM, UNDER SECTION 0.4 0.01.
UM, THE PARKLAND DEDICATION ORDINANCE IS GOING TO BE, UH, COMPLETELY, UM, OVERRIDDEN.
UH, IT DOES NOT APPLY TO THE DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE DOGHEAD PROPERTY AND IN LIEU OF THE PARKLAND DEDICATION, THERE'S A SERIES OF THINGS THAT ARE REQUIRED TO HAPPEN HERE.
AND AGAIN, THAT ONLY GETS TRIGGERED IF THEY'RE GETTING THEIR TAX INCREMENT FINANCING DISTRICT APPROVED BY THE CITY.
UH, SO THE WATER QUALITY, UH, COMPLIANCE, SO THERE'S A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THE, UH, THE OLD MINING OPERATIONS ON THE SITE.
UM, THERE IS NO, THERE'S BEEN NO ANALYSIS, NO PUBLIC SCRUTINY ABOUT WHETHER THOSE, THOSE MINING PONDS COULD BE WELL SUITED FOR WATER QUALITY PONDS.
UM, AND WHAT'S INTERESTING HERE IS THAT THERE'S ACTUALLY PROVISIONS THAT SAY THAT THE MORE TOXIC USES SHOULD NOT BE USING THOSE UH, SITES.
SO IT RAISES THE QUESTION OF WHAT WATER QUALITY TREATMENT THOSE MINING PONDS WILL ACTUALLY BE PROVIDING FOR THE CITY.
AND AGAIN, YOU MIGHT, YOU HAVE A PROVISION HERE THAT HAS THE DEVELOP, UH, DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES SAYING, WE'RE JUST GONNA WAIVE ANY REQUIREMENT LATER.
UH, WHERE ELSE DO I WANNA GO WITH THIS? I'M JUST, I'M JUST, Y'ALL REALLY NEED TO GET INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND JUST SEE WHAT YOU'RE APPROVING HERE BECAUSE IT CANNOT BE UNDONE AND I CANNOT EMPHASIZE THAT ENOUGH.
CONTINUING ON ITEM 39, WE HAVE RICH HAYMAN.
IS LEE EDWARDS HERE? I DON'T SEE LEE EDWARDS.
VICTORIA FINN, IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MR. MASS MCGILL, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
UH, I'M GONNA FINISH THAT THOUGHT I WAS HALFWAY THROUGH.
UH, THE, THIS, THIS AREA OF THE COLORADO RIVER IS ON A, A MEANDER.
IT'S A, A GEOLOGICAL HYDROLOGICAL
[02:50:02]
BEECHER, UH, THAT, THAT BASICALLY MEANS THAT THIS RIVER CHANGES COURSES AND IT'S ON A LOOP RIGHT NOW THAT IT'S BEEN ON.BUT ANY, ANY FLOODING EVENT COULD CHANGE THE COURSE OF THIS RIVER.
AND LOOKING AT IT, THAT LITTLE ISUS WHERE THE HIGHWAY IS, THAT LOOKS LIKE THE MOST LIKELY PLACE, THIS PLACE COULD EASILY FLOOD.
AND WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING INDUSTRIAL USES HERE I WAS, I WAS TALKING ABOUT THE, THE THING IN OASIS COUNTY EARLIER IN ROBS TOWN, THIS, UH, TESLA FACTORY, THEY GOT THE PERMITS, THEY DID ALL THE RIGHT STUFF.
BUT WHEN THEY, THE TCEQ FINALLY GOT OUT THERE AND PUT SOME, UH, ACTUAL MONITORING EQUIPMENT IN THE WATER, IT HAS TO SIT THERE FOR A WHILE.
THEY FOUND ALL KIND OF THINGS, UH, HEXAVALENT, CHROMIUM, ARSENIC, STROUM, LITHIUM AND VANADIUM, ELEVATED LEVELS OF MAGNESIUM, IRON, PHOSPHORUS, CALCIUM, MAGNESIUM, AMMONIA, WHICH IS CONTRIBUTES TO, UH, ALGAE BLOOM.
UH, SOUTH AUSTIN CREEK ALLIANCE.
BEAUTIFUL AREA, YOU KNOW, TOTALLY QUIET DICHOTOMY.
THE OTHER SIDE IS THIS INDUSTRIAL WALL JUST GOES STRAIGHT UP.
YOU CAN HEAR THE TRUCKS ON THE OTHER SIDE.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HAVING THIS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE RIVER.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS A LOW DEPLOYMENT.
THIS IS ALL DOWNHILL FROM AUSTIN.
JUST SETTING UP SOMETHING LIKE THIS RIGHT IN A PLACE THAT'S LIKELY TO FLOOD SEEMS LIKE IDIOCY TO ME.
THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL, JOAQUIN HANCOCK, TOMMY JOAQUIN HANCOCK FROM DISTRICT FIVE.
AND I'M CURIOUS REGARDING RECENT EVENTS OF ITEMS THAT HAVE COME BEFORE COUNCIL AND, UH, THAT ARE PRESENTED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
WHAT HAPPENED TO CAUSE YOU, OUR MAYOR AND COUNCIL TO ABANDON THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES THAT PROTECT THE POTENTIAL AND PROMISE OF AUSTIN AS A VIABLE COMMUNITY FOR OUR FAMILIES AND FUTURE RESIDENTS? BECAUSE INITIATIVES ARE NOT PROPERLY VETTED AND PRESENTED TO VOTING STAKEHOLDERS, I'M CONCERNED THAT THE ENVIRONMENT AND CULTURE ARE BEING THREATENED BY THE DESIRES AND FORMIDABLE RE FORMIDABLE RESOURCES OF A MINORITY OF CORPORATIONS AND WEALTHY INDIVIDUALS.
YOU HAD TIME DONATED FROM GARRETT TONGUE.
IS THAT PERSON HERE? HE IS NOT.
OKAY, YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
UH, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION.
I AM REQUESTING, UH, A NO VOTE, ESSENTIALLY A POSTPONEMENT ON 39 AS WELL AS 38 AND 60.
UH, WE SPOKE, I SPOKE OTHER PEOPLE SPOKE ABOUT PROCESS THIS MORNING.
TRANSPARENCY, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
I WANT TO SPEAK JUST REALLY QUICKLY ABOUT CONTENT AND A VERY SMALL PIECE OF CONTENT.
OUR LITTLE SECTION OF OTTS LANE, IMMEDIATELY EAST OF 180 3 IS WHERE THE PROPOSED EXTENSION OF THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL WILL PASS RIGHT ON THE STREET.
IT'S A REGULAR QUIET RESIDENTIAL STREET, 30 FEET WIDE.
THERE'S NOT A LOT OF SPACE TO PUT A HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL.
SO THE VARIOUS MENTIONS OF WAYS TO DO THAT IN THE BACKUP MATERIALS, UH, THEY ALL COME WITH COSTS.
THERE ARE SHORT SETBACKS IN THAT AREA.
MY HOUSE AND THE HOUSE IS ON EITHER SIDE.
NONE HAS A SETBACK MORE THAN 17 FEET.
WE'RE ALSO ON PROPANE, NOT GAS.
THERE ARE WATER METERS RIGHT THERE.
IF YOU LOOK IN THE BACKUP MATERIAL, YOU CAN SEE A DOTTED LINE SHOWING THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL GOING DOWN HERTS LANE ON THE STREET.
THEN IT CURVES DOWN TO THE RIVERBANK AS YOU GET INTO THE CITY ON PROPERTY FARTHER TO THE EAST.
180 3 HERTZ LANE EXTENSION OF THE TRAIL CURVED DOWN TO THE RIVER.
WELL, THAT CURVE AS DEPICTED IN THE BACKUP MATERIALS, CURVES THROUGH MY LIVING ROOM.
IT CURVES THROUGH THE LIVING ROOM ON MY NEXT DOOR.
WE NEED TO BULLDOZE SOME HOUSES.
BUT IF THAT'S NOT THE CASE, THEN IT'S SLOPPY DRAWING OF MAPS.
MAYBE IT'S TRUE THAT THIS DEPICTION IN ANOTHER ITEM OF CARGO'S LANE AS A TWO F CORRIDOR WITH THE LEGEND SPECIFYING THAT IS A 92 FOOT WIDE CORRIDOR IS IN FACT ACCURATE.
CONTINUING ON ITEM 39, WE HAVE TONA VASQUEZ, KATHERINE BROWN,
[02:55:01]
MEGAN MEISENBACH, ROY WHALEY, KIBA WHITE, CARMEN YANAS, ELIZABETH LEVINS.IF YOUR NAME'S IN CALL, PLEASE COME FORWARD, MR. WHALEY, WE'LL START WITH YOU AND WE'LL WORK TOWARD MS. GIANNIS.
I'M A LONG TIME ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST AND POLITICAL ACTIVIST HERE IN CENTRAL TEXAS.
I WANTED TO WEAR DISGUISE IN HERE TODAY.
PROBABLY SOMETHING LIKE A DOG'S HEAD DISGUISE OR SOMETHING, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S WHAT THIS WHOLE THING IS, IS A MONSTROUS DISGUISE.
THEY WON'T TELL US WHAT THIS MYSTERY BUSINESS IS, WHETHER IT'S GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, SOME HIGH WATER OR ENERGY USE AI.
IS IT GOING TO BE, UH, A MILITARY USE? IS IT GONNA BE LIKE RICHARD SU TOLD ME EARLIER TODAY THAT THEY'RE GONNA MANUFACTURE FIGHTER JETS THERE AND THEN TAXI ACROSS 79 TO THE AIRPORT? WHAT IS THIS? YOU WOULDN'T BE SAYING THAT AND THAT WOULD BE TRUE, WOULD YOU, MR. WOOD? NO, BUT HE HAD, HE HAD A SLY WINK IN HIS EYE.
AH, BUT NONETHELESS, IT COULD BE.
IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE RULES FOR US AND RULES FOR YOU.
AND AS MUCH AS WE CAN IGNORE THE SUB, UH, THE FLOODPLAIN WHEN WE NEED TO, WE CAN OVERLOOK THOSE THINGS.
I I DON'T SEE HOW ANYONE, I DON'T SEE HOW ANY OF Y'ALL CAN SUPPORT THIS UNLESS YOU KNOW SOMETHING WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT WHAT IS ACTUALLY GOING IN THERE.
HOW MUCH HOUSING IS GOING IN THERE, HOW MUCH AFFORDABLE HOUSING, HOW MUCH OPEN SPACE, WHAT IS 100% IMP IMPERVIOUS COVER.
WHAT? WE DON'T HAVE ANY RESTRICTIONS.
LOOK, IF Y'ALL ARE INTO WRITING A BLANK CHECK, WRITE ONE TO ME.
I HOPE YOU WILL COME TO YOUR SENSES AND SAY, NOT NOW.
MY NAME IS DR. CATHERINE BROWN.
UM, I'M HERE JUST SIMPLY TO REITERATE SOME OF MY PREVIOUS CONCERNS REGARDING PUBLIC HEALTH.
UM, PART OF MY WORK ALSO ASIDE FROM MODELING, UM, EMERGING DISEASES IN TEXAS AND ALSO LOCALLY, IS THE INTEGRATION OF THESE WITH FLOODING.
AND ONE OF THE BIG PROBLEMS, OF COURSE, IS PART OF IT IS JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE IMPACT WILL BE, OF COURSE, ON THE FLOODPLAINS, ON THE IMPERVIOUS COVER AND WHAT THAT WILL MEAN.
NOT JUST FOR, AS I SAID, THE EXISTING RESIDENTS WITH THE NEW RESIDENTS TAKING INTO ACCOUNT.
YOU KNOW, AS OUR CITY COUNCIL, YOU KNOW, I FEEL THAT THERE'S A RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECTING THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE ACTUAL RISKS ARE.
AND NO RISK ASSESSMENT HAS BEEN DONE YET ON ALL THESE PROBLEMS THAT COULD OR MIGHT EMERGE AS A RESULT OF THE DEVELOPMENT.
AND IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT ONE CAN'T MITIGATE AGAINST THIS, BUT WITH NO PLAN, THERE IS NO WAY TO MITIGATE.
AND IN TERMS OF, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT ARE WE FACING? YOU KNOW, WE'RE FACING, UM, POTENTIAL TRANSIENT ENVIRONMENTS WITH STANDING WATER THAT BECOME BREEDING GROUNDS FOR MOSQUITOES AND OTHER PATHOGENS, WATER PATHOGENS.
WE ALREADY ARE ENDEMIC FOR WILD WEST NILE VIRUS HERE AND OTHER DISEASES ARE REGRESSING FROM THE SOUTH UPWARDS THROUGH OUR RIVERS AND THROUGH OUR ECOSYSTEM.
THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING A, A GREEN CORRIDOR, WHICH ALSO HAS GREAT BENEFIT FOR REDUCING PESTS, FOR KEEPING DOWN, UM, FOR KEEPING DOWN OTHER SORTS OF FLOODING AS WELL AS, UM, PEST CONTROL.
I THINK THAT THERE COULD BE, I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A, A WAY FORWARD THAT COULD BE EQUITABLE FOR EVERYONE.
BUT WITHOUT THE TIME TO MAKE THE ASSESSMENTS AND MAKE THE RIGHT PLANS, WE PUT OURSELVES, OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS ALSO AT RISK.
SO PLEASE DO CONSIDER, UM, POSTPONING THIS.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF GOWA BAMO AUSTIN.
AND I WAS BAPTIZED IN THE LOWER COLORADO RIVER, UH, NOT BY A CHURCH.
I WAS BROUGHT INTO MY, UH, RELATIONSHIP WITH MY ANCESTRY NATIVE TO THIS LAND.
AND THE COLORADO RIVER, WHICH IS OUR YANA,
[03:00:01]
IT IS OUR CELESTIAL RIVER.UM, I KNOW THE LOWER COLORADO WILL, WELL, AND THIS IS QUITE A WAYS FAR DOWN, BUT THERE ARE PLACES ON THIS RIVER WHERE AS YOU'VE HEARD, IT'S THE WATER'S CLEAN ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY DRINK.
THERE IS PRISTINE SHORELAND HERE.
AND THE FUTURE OF THIS IS IN YOUR HANDS.
THIS IS BEYOND THE NEXT ELECTION.
THIS IS BEYOND EVEN THE 45 YEARS THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO TAKE AWAY OUR PUBLIC AUTHORITY OVER MAKING CHANGES HERE.
IT GOES FAR BEYOND MY DAD'S LIFETIME, WHO GAVE A LOT OF HIS LIFE TO CREATING THE COLORADO RIVER CONSERVANCY AND PRESERVING THIS LAND.
WHAT ARE WE GONNA NAME THAT? YOU KNOW, HE DIDN'T, HE DIDN'T DO THAT TO BE NAMED.
HE DID THAT SO THAT THAT RIVER WOULD HAVE ITS PLACE WITH OUR ANCESTORS AND WITH OUR CHILDREN LONG AFTER WE'RE GONE.
AND THIS IS REALLY THE LEGACY THAT YOU'RE HOLDING.
IT'S, THIS IS ABOUT YOUR HUMANITY MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE.
BUT IF WE WANNA TALK IN POLITICAL TERMS, YOU'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT DATA CENTERS, YOU'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT DEFENSE COMPANIES, AND I'M SURE IT FEELS LIKE A LOT OF FEARMONGERING, BUT UNTIL YOU PRECLUDE THOSE FROM THE LANGUAGE, UNTIL OUR COMMISSIONS CAN ACTUALLY LOOK AT THIS AND MAKE SURE THAT THOSE THINGS DON'T APPEAR, PEOPLE ARE WORRIED ABOUT IT.
AND NOW WE HEARD FROM RICHARD SU, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR SEVEN YEARS.
WELL, SEVEN YEARS AGO, REAL ESTATE FINANCING LOOKED A LOT DIFFERENT, RIGHT? AND A BIG MULTI-UNIT MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT.
LIKE THE DOMAIN MIGHT HAVE BEEN SOMETHING THAT WAS FINANCEABLE THAT WAS ACTUALLY FEASIBLE FINANCIALLY.
RICHARD NEGOTIATED THE BORDEN TRACKED DEAL, RIGHT? YOU ALL REMEMBER THAT? I KNOW YOU REMEMBER THAT VELASQUEZ.
Y'ALL, WE NEED MORE TIME TO DISCUSS THIS.
TARA FAB IS ELON MUSK, MUSK COMPANY THAT'S MANUFACTURING.
BILLIONAIRES ARE DESTROYING OUR WORLD.
GOOD AFTERNOON, KABA WHITE ON BEHALF OF PUBLIC CITIZENS TEXAS OFFICE.
I THINK THAT MANY OF YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF URBANIST AND PERHAPS EVEN ENVIRONMENTALIST OR AT LEAST ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS.
AND I JUST WANNA POINT OUT THAT THIS IS CLEARLY SPRAWL.
SO EVEN IF IT IS SOMETHING THAT MIGHT HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE, I WOULD URGE YOU NOT TO GO OUT OF YOUR WAY TO, YOU KNOW, BEND THE RULES, AVOID THE PROCESS TO GIVE IT ITS FULL SCRUTINY.
IT APPEARS THAT IT IS A PIECE OF, UH, LAND AND AREA THAT COULD BEAR SOME ATTENTION FROM THE CITY COUNCIL.
HOWEVER, WE NEED A LOT MORE INFORMATION.
WE NEED TO DO THAT IN A WAY THAT DOES BENEFIT THE ENVIRONMENT AND AS WELL AS THE PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING IN THE AREA AND DEFINITELY PRECLUDES DATA CENTERS.
AND I JUST WANNA CIRCLE BACK TO THAT BECAUSE I'M SURE Y'ALL HAVE PROBABLY SEEN THE NEWS.
THIS IS A RISING ISSUE HERE IN TEXAS, AND IT REALLY CROSSES PARTY LINES.
SO IF THERE'S ONE WAY TO UNITE A COMMUNITY, AND WE'VE SEEN THIS NOT JUST IN TEXAS, BUT IN OTHER STATES AS WELL, IS TO START DOING BIG, UH, GIVEAWAYS AND, AND CUTTING DEALS WITH DEVELOPMENT FOR DATA CENTERS.
IT IS VERY UNPOPULAR POLITICALLY, AND IT'S FOR GOOD REASON.
IT'S BECAUSE THEY'RE WATER HOGS, THEY'RE ENERGY HOGS, THEY'RE UNSIGHTLY, AND THEY DAMAGE OUR ENVIRONMENT AND USE OUR LAND FOR SOMETHING THAT MOST OF US ARE NOT GOING TO BENEFIT FROM.
SO LET'S, FIRST OF ALL, MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS NOT WHAT THIS PROPERTY IS GOING TO BE USED FOR.
AND LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER IT IS GONNA BE USED FOR IS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST.
ALL SPEAKERS FOR ITEM 39 HAVE BEEN CALLED.
DAVID WEINBERG, BETSY GREENBERG, ABREA RUDDER, CAROL BAXTER, ITEM 40, BRAD MASSENGILL, MEGAN MEISENBACH, JEN ROBO ENOVIA, JOSEPH, KATIE.
CAM, IF YOUR NAME'S BEING CALLED, GO AHEAD AND COME FORWARD.
IF THERE'S AN OPEN SEAT HERE AT THE, UM, DESK, TAKE THAT.
IF NOT, SIT IN THE FRONT ROW PLEASE.
MS. GREENBERG, WE'LL START WITH YOU.
MY NAME IS BETSY GREENBERG AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE, AND I TOOK THE BUS TO GET HERE TODAY.
WHEN I HEARD FROM FRIENDS THAT MONEY IS BEING TRANSFERRED, TRANSFERRED FROM AUSTIN ENERGY, AUSTIN WATER, AND AUSTIN WATERSHED PROTECTION TO AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP.
I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE A JOKE, BUT I SEE FROM ITEM 40, THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT IS PROPOSED TO THE TUNE OF $37 MILLION.
AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP HAS ALREADY ERODED THE PUBLIC TRUST BY OVER PROMISING TO OBTAIN VOTER APPROVAL OF A PERMANENT TAX RATE INCREASE, AND THEN REDESIGNING A RADICALLY SCALED DOWN PROJECT CONNECT.
[03:05:01]
TEXAS TRIBUNE POSTED AN ARTICLE ENTITLED HOW AUSTIN'S PROJECT CONNECT WENT OFF THE RAILS.THE CITY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PROVIDE FUNDING ABOVE AND BEYOND THE PER PERPETUAL TAX REVENUE STREAM.
THE VOTERS APPROVED TO PAY FOR COMPONENTS OF PROJECT CONNECT.
AND IF OUR UTILITIES, PARTICULARLY AUSTIN ENERGY HAS THE MONEY AVAILABLE, IT SHOULD BE USED TO LOWER COSTS FOR RATE PAYERS.
SIMILARLY, IF WATERSHED PROTECTION HAS ADDITIONAL ROOM IN THEIR BUDGET, IT SHOULD BE USED FOR FLOOD MITIGATION.
PROJECT CONNECT SHOULD BE FUNDED BY THE VOTER APPROVED INCREASE TO AUSTIN'S PROPERTY TAX AND THE FEDERAL GRANTS THAT WE'VE BEEN ASSURED THAT AUSTIN WILL RECEIVE, PLEASE VOTE NO ON ITEM 40.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR COUNCIL, UH, DAVID WEINBERG, DISTRICT FIVE.
I JUST WANT TO PICK UP QUICKLY ON ONE THING BETSY MENTIONED.
YOU KNOW, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT AFFORDABILITY IN AUSTIN, WE'RE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS.
I THINK MOST, YOU KNOW, MOST PEOPLE THINK OF FIRST AND FOREMOST RENT, UH, THEIR, UH, THEIR PROPERTY TAXES, THAT TYPE OF THING, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER THINGS ON THAT LIST.
THERE'S GAS AND GROCERIES, THERE'S CHILDCARE AND HEALTHCARE.
AND THEN THERE ARE ALSO CITY FEES WHICH HAVE BEEN GOING UP, UH, FOR CUSTOMERS, UM, IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE GOING TO BE TAKING $37 MILLION FROM AUSTIN WATER AND GIVING IT TO PROJECT CONNECT, I I, I CERTAINLY AS A RESIDENT, TAXPAYER W WOULD LIKE TO SEE JUST A LITTLE MORE ENGLISH ON, ON WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY DOING HERE.
THE, THE, THIS IS A PRETTY, UH, SPARSELY, UH, SPELLED OUT, UM, AGENDA ITEM.
AND, AND IT WOULD JUST BE GOOD, I THINK, FOR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW EXACTLY HOW THESE DOLLARS ARE BEING SPENT.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WATSON AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF AUSTIN ROWING CLUB, WHICH IS LOCATED IN DISTRICT NINE.
AND I'M SPEAKING REGARDING ITEM 40.
AND WE'LL NOTE IT'S ALSO RELATED TO ITEM 79.
AUSTIN ROWING CLUB OR A RC HAS BEEN PART OF THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY SINCE 1981.
FOR MANY YEARS, OUR ORIGINAL BOATHOUSE WAS LOCATED ON TRINITY STREET UNTIL THAT PROPERTY WAS ACQUIRED FOR THE WALLER CREEK TUNNEL PROJECT.
SINCE 2012, WE HAVE PROUDLY CALLED THE WALL CREEK BOATHOUSE, OUR HOME.
FOR OVER FOUR DECADES, A RC HAS HELPED CONNECT AUSTINITES TO LADY BIRD LAKE THROUGH RECREATION, COMPETITION, ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING.
LAST YEAR ALONE, A RC VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF REMOVED MORE THAN 27,000 POUNDS OF TRASH FROM LADY BIRD LAKE.
CONTRIBUTED OVER $265,000 IN REVENUE SHARE TO THE GENERAL FUND.
WE SERVE OVER A HUNDRED JUNIOR ROWERS THROUGH OUR YOUTH PROGRAMS, CONTINUE OFFERING PROGRAMS FOR BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS, VETERANS ADAPTIVE ATHLETES, ENSURING THAT ROWING AND WATER ACCESS REMAIN AVAILABLE FOR ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
WE ALSO HOST TWO NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED REGATTAS ON LADYBIRD LAKE, BRINGING THOUSANDS OF ATHLETES, FAMILIES, AND SPECTATORS TO AUSTIN.
AND SHOWCASING THE LAKE IS ONE OF THE MOST UNIQUE URBAN ROWING VENUES IN THE COUNTRY.
AS PROJECT CONNECT MOVES FORWARD, WE UNDERSTAND THAT CHANGE IS PART OF AUSTIN'S GROWTH.
WHILE THIS NEXT CHAPTER INCLUDES RELOCATION OF OUR OPERATIONS FROM THE CREEK BOATHOUSE, WE WELCOME THE CONTINUED OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ALONGSIDE AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION, AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
DURING THIS NEXT PHASE OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY, WE ARE SO PROUD OF THE ROLE A RC HAS PLAYED IN LANEY BIRD LAKE FOR THE LAST 45 YEARS.
AND WE ARE EXCITED FOR THE FUTURE AND WANNA MAINTAIN THE OPPORTUNITIES AHEAD TO CONTINUE SERVING AUSTIN COMMUNITY, BOTH ON AND OFF THE WATER.
UM, I, I, I I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY, WHY WE'RE ROBBING PETER TO PAY PAUL, TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH.
I MEAN, WA WATERSHED, UH, IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING IN THE BACKSEAT FINANCIALLY.
UH, I DON'T, I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE THE MONEY TO SPARE PERSONALLY.
UH, HAVING BEEN OUT IN THE GREEN BELT AND DONE CLEANUPS, LOTS OF CLEANUPS AND SEEN, SEEN WHAT CONDITION THINGS ARE IN AND HOW MUCH, UH, HOW MUCH, UH, RESOURCES NEED TO BE COMMITTED TOWARD, UH, PUBLIC EDUCATION, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY, ALL THESE ISSUES THAT ARE TIED TO WATERSHED, THAT FRANKLY, I DON'T SEE WHAT THE, WHAT THAT HAS TO DO WITH, UH, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
UM, I UNDERSTAND THE URGENCY Y'ALL FEEL TO GET THIS THING GOING, BUT IT, IT'S BEEN, UH, JUST JERKING ALONG FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
AND, UH, PULLING FUNDING FROM,
[03:10:01]
FROM BY THE DEPARTMENTS OR AS POINTED OUT, INCREASING FEES FOR US TO HELP PAY FOR THIS DOESN'T SEEM VERY FAIR.I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE.
I HAVE A PHD IN CIVIL ENGINEERING WITH AN EMPHASIS ON TRANSPORTATION.
AND I HAVE DONE GRANT FUNDED FIELD RESEARCH ON TRANSIT NEEDS.
I'M ALSO THE RECIPIENT OF A COUPLE OF AWARDS FROM THE AMERICAN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION FOUNDATION, INCLUDING ONE FOR MY ESSAY ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF TRANSIT.
I'M VERY PROTRAN, BUT I'M OPPOSED TO CONTINUING INVESTMENT IN THE LIGHT RAIL PROJECT, ESPECIALLY FROM FUNDS FOR DEPARTMENTS THAT NEED THAT FUNDING FOR OTHER CRITICAL PROJECTS AROUND THE CITY.
I WANT AUSTIN TO HAVE THE BEST TRANSIT SYSTEM IN THE US IT NEEDS TO BE EXTENSIVE, SAFE, EQUITABLE, EFFECTIVE, RESPONSIVE, PRACTICAL, RELIABLE, AND TIME EFFICIENT FOR PEOPLE TO ACCESS JOBS, SCHOOL, AND OTHER DAILY TRAVEL NEEDS.
AND WE NEED TO MAXIMIZE WHO IS SERVED BY THIS TRANSIT SYSTEM IN THE, IN AUSTIN AND THE REGION FROM MY TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH AND MY TIME AS A SINGLE MOTHER WITH TWO KIDS AND WITHOUT A CAR FOR ABOUT A YEAR HERE IN AUSTIN.
I KNOW HOW MUCH MORE DIFFICULT LIFE BECOMES IN AUSTIN WITHOUT ACCESS TO A CAR OR GOOD RELIABLE TRANSIT.
SO WE NEED TO REEVALUATE THE APPROACH THAT PROJECT CONNECT IS TAKING, UH, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE'S JUST CONTINUED MONEY BEING THROWN AT IT, UM, WITHOUT THE BENEFIT THAT WE NEED FROM THE TRANSIT SYSTEM.
THE REAL PROJECT IS PROBLEMATIC ON MULTIPLE FRONTS.
THE INCREASING COSTS, THE REDUCED LENGTH, THE CHOSEN ROUTE, NOT BEING THE HIGHEST DEMAND ROUTE, THE AMOUNT OF RIGHT AWAY, TAKEN UP, THE DISPLACEMENT OF BUSINESSES, THE OUT UPGRADE CROSSINGS AND RESULTING CONFLICTS AND DELAYS IN THE STREET, THE TIMELINES TO IMPLEMENTATION AND THE INEQUITY RESULTING FROM UNDERSERVING OR NOT SERVING POPULATIONS THAT NEED FREQUENT AND EFFECTIVE AND RELIABLE TRANSIT.
THESE CONCERNS WARRANT A COMMUNITY DISCUSSION AND RECONSIDERATION OF THE PLANS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THE BEST COST EFFECTIVE TRANSIT SYSTEM THAT WORKS FOR AUSTIN'S NEEDS AND DOES NOT CONTINUE TO DRAIN FUNDING FOR OTHER PROJECTS.
MOVING ON TO ITEM 40, THREES ANDIA JOSEPH.
MOVING ON TO ITEM 44, BRAD MASSING AFTER MR. MASSING.
WE'LL TAKE UP ITEM 45 WITH ADRIAN MACIAS, BIANCA GUERRERO, AND CARLOS PINOT.
UH, UH, AFTER MY LAST COMMENTS AND, UH, TAKING MONEY FROM WATERSHED, IT, IT, THIS ITEM, I MEAN IT SPENDING MONEY TO HELP WILLIAMSON COUNTY, UH, GET THESE ATLAS 14 MAP IN, IN INSTATED TO WHERE WE KNOW WHERE ALL THIS FLOODING AND STUFF OCCURS.
I MEAN, THIS IS IMPORTANT THINGS, SO ACTUALLY SUPPORT SPENDING THIS MONEY, WE NEED TO BE SPENDING MORE MONEY ON THE WATERSHED, MORE MONEY ON IDENTIFYING THESE, UH, POTENTIAL PROBLEMS. SO THANKS, ADRIAN MACIAS, BIANCA GUERRERO, CARLOS PINON.
SUSAN ALMANZA, MADDIE GUTIERREZ, VALERIE MENARD, PEDRO HERNANDEZ, JR.
AFTER, AFTER WE GET TWO, PROBABLY TWO MORE SPEAKERS AND WE GO, WANNA TAKE UP TO TWO O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN MS. ALMANZA, ARE YOU HERE? YES.
SO I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I WAS, UH, A PARTICIPANT IN, UH, WORKING ON THE RANGE RIVER.
UM, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE, UM, VALERIE MENARD DISTRICT ONE, UH, WITH ED.
AND I WAS, UM, UM, HAPPY TO WORK ON THE COMMUNITY ACTIVATION GROUP, UM, THAT LOOKED AT THE STRATEGIC PLAN, THE REVISED STRATEGIC PLAN FOR RANGER RIVER.
AND I JUST WANTED TO COMPLIMENT, UM, AUSTIN WATERSHED DEPARTMENT.
THEY'VE JUST BEEN TREMENDOUS PARTNERS.
UH, THEIR COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY AND TO REACHING OUT TO COMMUNITY IS A MODEL, I THINK, FOR OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS.
AND I HOPE THAT THEY, UM, TAKE SOME, SOME CUES FROM OUR WATERSHED DEPARTMENT.
UM, WE WERE GLAD TO BE ABLE TO GIVE SOME INPUT INTO RANGER RIVER.
UM, SAD THAT ON A DAY THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT A MASSIVE PROJECT THAT'S GOING TO COMPLETELY IGNORE THE, THE, THE POINTS THAT WE WERE BRINGING UP.
UM, HOPEFULLY IN THE FUTURE WE WILL PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THIS PLAN.
I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT PLAN, UM, AND IT DOES HAVE A PLAN THAT REFLECTS COMMUNITY NEEDS AND CONCERNS AND, AND WORK.
[03:15:10]
UH, CONTINUING WITH ITEM 45, GREG NASER, GREG NASER, AUSTIN SIERRA CLUB.AND I'M HERE TO SAY THAT THIS PLAN IS REALLY GOOD AND I WAS A PART OF IT AND I HEARD THE PRESENTATION AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AND THE, FIRST OF ALL, THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT'S, ONE OF THE BEST DEPARTMENTS IN THE CITY.
AND I COME DOWN HERE AND I TALK TO YOU GUYS A LOT, BUT I TALK TO THEM EVEN MORE.
I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THAT DEPARTMENT, AND WHEN WE HAVE PROBLEMS OR ISSUES IN THE CITY, I HELP THEM.
ONE OF THE BEST PROGRAMS YOU GOT GOING IS THE WATERSHED RESTORATION PROGRAM.
THESE ARE SO GOOD AND WE HAVE GREAT SCIENTISTS AND YOU NEED TO LISTEN TO THEM.
WHAT DO THEY THINK ABOUT THE DOG'S HEAD? I DON'T KNOW.
DO YOU KNOW? I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT THAT.
SO PLEASE SUPPORT THIS AND THEN LISTEN TO THEM AND LET THE PEOPLE LISTEN TO THEM AND LET US ALL GET THE BENEFITS OF THIS GREAT AUSTIN DEPARTMENT.
[16. Approve an ordinance authorizing the issuance and sale of one or more series of City of Austin, Texas, Special Tax Revenue Bonds, Series 2026 (Convention Center Project), in a par amount not to exceed $1,350,000,000 to fund the Convention Center expansion project, in accordance with the parameters set out in the ordinance; authorizing related documents; approving the payment of costs of issuance; and rescinding Ordinance No. 20251023-009. Funding: Fiscal Year 2025-2026 debt service requirements and estimated annual administration fees for the paying agent/registrar for the proposed bond sale are included in the Operating Budget of the Convention Center Hotel Occupancy Tax Revenue Bond Redemption Fund. (Part 2 of 2)]
GONNA PAUSE ON THE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, UM, AND TAKE UP SOME ITEMS ON OUR TWO O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, IT'S NOW TWO O'CLOCK, AND SO WE'RE GONNA DO THAT.BUT BEFORE WE GO IMMEDIATELY TO THAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL WAS TEMPORARILY OFF THE DIOCESE WHEN WE TOOK UP ITEM NUMBER 16.
UH, HE WOULD LIKE TO BE SHOWN VOTING IN FAVOR OF ITEM NUMBER 16.
HIS, UH, VOTE BEING COUNTED WILL NOT CHANGE THE OUTCOME OF THE VOTE ON THAT ITEM, I MOVE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL BE SHOWN VOTING IN FAVOR OF ITEM 16.
IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.
DISCUSSION, HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION, COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL BE SHOWN VOTING IN FAVOR OF ITEM 16 WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER 23, WHICH COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER POOLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
UH, STAFF HAS AGREED TO WITHDRAW ITEM NUMBER 23 WITH THE INTENTION OF IT RETURNING TO COUNSEL NEXT WEEK TO GIVE COUNSEL AND STAFF MORE TIME TO DISCUSS THIS ITEM AND ANSWER QUESTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE AUTHORIZATION AMOUNT AND FUNDING SOURCES.
SO THERE WILL, ITEM 23 WILL NOT BE HEARD TODAY AND WILL NOT BE BROUGHT UP.
[2:00 PM - Zoning and Neighborhood Plan Amendments (Public Hearings and Possible Action) (Part 1 of 2)]
US TO, AGAIN, TO OUR TWO O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, WHICH ARE OUR ZONING CASES MEMBERS.I INDICATED THAT WE WOULD PAUSE SO WE COULD DO THIS BECAUSE WE HAVE A NU NUMBER OF ITEMS THAT ARE SCHEDULED OR, OR BEING LOOKED TO BE POSTPONED.
AND IN ORDER FOR THEM TO BE POSTPONED AND HEARD NEXT WEEK, WE NEED TO GET THEM, UM, WE NEED TO GET DECISIONS MADE SO THAT NOTICE CAN GO OUT IN A TIMELY FASHION.
SO WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO, AND, AND THE ONLY ONES I WANNA RECOGNIZE YOU ON RIGHT NOW, MS. HARDEN, ARE THOSE ITEMS, WE'LL COME BACK AFTER WE HAVE FINISHED THE OTHER SPEAKERS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, SO DON'T JUMP THE GUN
UM, I, I'LL RECOGNIZE MS. HARDEN ON ITEM 61, 62, 63, 64, 70, 73, AND 74.