* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:06] YOU ARE WATCHING A MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL WITH MAYOR KIRK WATSON, MAYOR PRO, TIM CHEADLE, VELA COUNCIL MEMBERS NATASHA HARPER MADISON, VANESSA FUENTES, JOSE VELAZQUEZ, RYAN ALTER, CRYSTAL LANE, MIKE SIEGEL, PAIGE ELLIS, ZOE CADRE, MARK UCHIN, CITY ATTORNEY DEBORAH THOMAS, CITY CLERK ERICA BRADY, AND CITY MANAGER TC BROADNAX. GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. IT'S 10 [Call to Order] O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING ON MAY 28TH, 2026, AND I WILL CALL TO ORDER THIS REGULAR MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL. UH, WE HAVE A QUORUM OF THE CITY COUNCIL PRESENT. WE ARE MEETING IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, WHICH ARE LOCATED IN CITY HALL AT 3 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET IN AUSTIN. UM, MEMBERS, WHAT I'LL DO IS I'LL GIVE A RUNDOWN OF WHAT THE DAY'S GONNA LOOK LIKE, AND IN A MOMENT I'LL READ CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS INTO THE RECORD, AND THEN WE WILL GO FROM THERE TO, UH, OUR CONSENT AGENDA AND THE SPEAKERS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. MEMBERS, RIGHT NOW, THE ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA ARE, ITEM NUMBER 41 HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN. ITEM NUMBER 60 HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN. ITEM NUMBER 90 HAS BEEN PULLED, AND ITEM NUMBER 92 HAS BEEN PULLED. UH, MEMBERS. I WOULD ALSO POINT OUT THAT ITEM NUMBER 97 WILL BE TAKEN UP AFTER ITEM 1 0 2. JUST AS WE GO THROUGH THE DAY. WE'LL, UH, WE'LL HEAR FROM THE SPEAKERS. WE WILL GET A MOTION, A SECOND, AND COMMENTS AND DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. ONCE THE CONSENT AGENDA IS COMPLETE, WE WILL THEN GO TO PROBABLY THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETINGS. SO WHAT I WILL DO IS I WILL RECESS THE COUNCIL MEETING, CALL THAT BOARD, UH, MEETING TO ORDER. WE WILL DEAL WITH THAT, ADJOURN IT, AND THEN COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL MEETING, AT WHICH POINT WE WILL TAKE UP POOLED ITEMS. WE ALSO HAVE OTHER NON-CONSENT ITEMS. WE HAVE ONE ITEM THAT'S COMING FROM A COUNCIL COMMITTEE. WE HAVE IMMINENT DOMAIN ITEMS. WE HAVE PUBLIC HEARINGS AT NOON. WE WILL, WHEREVER WE ARE, WE WILL STOP AT NOON AND WE WILL TAKE UP OUR GENERAL, OUR TIME, CERTAIN GENERAL PUBLIC COMMUNICATION. THERE WILL BE NO MUSIC TODAY AND AT TWO O'CLOCK WE WILL ALSO HAVE A TIME. CERTAIN MEMBERS, UM, WE TYPICALLY KNOW THAT WE HAVE ZONING MATTERS AT A TIME CERTAIN, BUT WE WILL ALSO HAVE ITEM NUMBER 67, WHICH IS A PUBLIC HEARING, BUT WE WILL TAKE THAT ITEM UP AT 2:00 PM BECAUSE IT RELATES TO ZONING ITEM NUMBER 75, AND FOR THOSE THAT ARE HERE TO SPEAK AT THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 67, THAT WILL BE BROUGHT UP AT TWO O'CLOCK. THEN ITEM NUMBER 92, UH, WILL BE TAKEN UP AT 2:00 PM WITH, UH, THE ZONING ITEM NUMBER 75. AND, UM, AND HERE'S THE WAY THAT'S GONNA WORK, AND JUST SO THAT YOU 'CAUSE IT, IF I SAY IT LATER, I WON'T SAY IT A COUPLE OF TIMES. ONE IS IF 67 AND 75 DON'T PASS, THEN WE WILL TAKE UP ITEM NUMBER 92. IF THEY PASS ITEM NUMBER 92, WILL WE BE WITHDRAWN BY THE STAFF? AND THEN OF COURSE, WE WILL TAKE UP OUR ZONING ITEMS. SO, UM, GET YOUR MONEY IN ON THE POOL, WHAT TIME YOU THINK WE'LL FINISH TODAY. LEMME NOW READ CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS INTO THE RECORD. ITEM NUMBER 41, AS I INDICATED, HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN. ITEM NUMBER 58 SHOULD ADD COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER AS A CO-SPONSOR. ITEM NUMBER 59 SHOULD ADD COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE VELASQUEZ AS A CO-SPONSOR. ITEM NUMBER 60 IS WITHDRAWN. ITEM NUMBER 67, AS I INDICATED, THIS PUBLIC HEARING ITEM WILL BE TAKEN UP WITH THE 2:00 PM ZONING. ITEM NUMBER 75, ITEM NUMBER 92 HAS BEEN COOP POOLED FROM CONSENT TO BE HEARD WITH THE 2:00 PM ZONING. ITEM NUMBER 75, ITEM 73 AND 1 0 4. WHEN THOSE PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE TAKEN UP, THESE ITEMS WILL BE POSTPONED TO JULY 23RD, 2026. UM, ALSO FOR THE RECORD, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON AND COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, FUENTES ARE NOT GOING TO BE HERE TODAY. SO THEY WILL BE LISTED AS ABSENT ON VOTES THAT WE TAKE. AND WHEN I CALL [00:05:01] THE VOTE AS WE GO THROUGH THE DAY, I PROBABLY WILL NOT EACH TIME CALL OUT THEIR NAMES AS ABSENT, BUT THE RECORD WILL REFLECT THAT THEY ARE NOT PRESENT AND NOT VOTING. UM, SO MEMBERS, UNLESS THERE'S [Consent Agenda] QUESTIONS OR OBJECTIONS, WE WILL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK AND ASK THAT THE CITY CLERK START CALLING OUT NAMES. FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE SPEAKING ON OUR, UH, CONSENT AGENDA, PLEASE BEGIN. THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR ITEM ONE, JEFFREY BOWEN. AND THEN FOR ITEM TWO, THREE, AND FOUR ZENOBIA, JOSEPH. ALRIGHT, AS MR. BOWEN COMES FORWARD MEMBERS, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT ITEM ONE AS HE COMES FORWARD, UM, IN YOUR BACKUP. SO THE WAY IT WAS ORIGINALLY POSTED, THERE WAS A NUMBER PUT INTO ITEM NUMBER ONE. THIS IS RELATED TO THE, UH, TAX EXEMPTION IN YOUR BACKUP. THERE IS A BLANK IN PART FOUR, LINE 18 THAT NEEDS TO BE FILLED IN. WHEN WE ADOPT THE ORDINANCE, OUR FINANCIAL STAFF HAS TOLD US THAT THE AMOUNT NECESSARY TO PROVIDE EQUIVALENT TAX RELIEF TO WHAT WAS PROVIDED BY THE EXEMPTION WE ADOPTED LAST YEAR IS $204,000, $204,000. WHEN I TAKE A MOTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, THE MOTION WILL INCLUDE THAT THE ORDINANCE BE APPROVED. ITEM NUMBER ONE, THE ORDINANCE BE APPROVED WITH THE AMOUNT OF THE EXEMPTION IN PART FOUR, LINE 18 BEING SET AT $204,000, WHICH AS I'VE INDICATED OUR FINANCIAL STAFF HAS INFORMED US, IS THE AMOUNT NECESSARY TO PROVIDE EQUIVALENT TAX RELIEF TO WHAT WAS PROVIDED BY THE EXEMPTION WE ADOPTED LAST YEAR. SORRY TO TAKE UP, UH, TIME, MR. BOWEN, BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE WE HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION OUT THERE. AND NOW THE FLOOR IS YOURS. UH, THANK YOU MR. MAYOR. UH, MORNING LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MR. MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, JEFFREY BOWEN, DISTRICT EIGHT. UH, THAT WAS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I HAD, SIR, AND I APPRECIATE YOU HELPING ME FILL OUT THE BLANK THERE. UH, I DIDN'T BRING MY BIG CHIEF, UH, CRAYOLA TO, TO FILL THAT IN, BUT, BUT WE DID THAT. UM, SO AS A MEMBER OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, THAT ACTUALLY, UH, WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO MY HITTING 65 AND BEING ABLE TO GET MY EXEMPTION. I APPRECIATE THAT. I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT WE ARE DOING THOSE TYPE OF EXEMPTIONS, AND HERE COMES THE, BUT, BUT I ALSO HAVE A QUESTION REGARDING, UM, HOW'S THAT WORKING TOWARDS US THAT WE HAVE TO KEEP INCREASING EXEMPTIONS BECAUSE OF AFFORDABILITY ISSUES? HOW WELL ARE WE ACTUALLY WORKING ON THAT, THAT PREMISE OF SAYING WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THINGS MORE AND MORE AFFORDABLE? UH, WHEN I LOOKED THROUGH THE AGENDA THIS LAST, UH, OVER THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS, UH, I NOTICED THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY GOING HERE, GOING THERE. SO I, AGAIN, I APPRECIATE THE FACT OF, UH, THE INCREASE. I IMAGINE, UH, MY, SOME OF MY SENIOR FRIENDS, I KNOW MY ELDERLY AUNT WOULD APPRE IS APPRECIATING THE EXEMPTION. UM, AND THERE ARE MANY OTHERS THAT ARE DISABLED THAT ARE APPRECIATING THIS. BUT AGAIN, THE QUESTION COMES BACK DOWN TO HOW WELL ARE WE WORKING ON THE AFFORDABILITY ISSUES IN ORDER TO HAVE, TO KEEP OFFERING THESE EXEMPTIONS? SO MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, PLEASE, PLEASE, UH, BE CONSIDERATE WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT ITEMS THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO, OR YOU'RE LOOKING AT PROGRAMS YOU'RE WANTING TO TRY TO FUND AND FIGURE OUT HOW THAT WORKS WITHIN THIS AFFORDABILITY WINDOW THAT CONSTANTLY BE, SEEMS TO BE, UH, A CONSTANT CONVERSATION, NOT ONLY HERE, BUT ACROSS THE CITY. AGAIN, MR. MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME FILL IN THAT BLANK ON MY, UH, ON MY CHEAT SHEET. THANK YOU SO MUCH. LET US KNOW WHEN YOU TURN 65. I'M SORRY, SIR. SO JUST LET US KNOW WHEN YOU TURN 65. UH, I WILL AS SOON AS I'M ABLE TO GET MY, UH, MY, UH, TRANSPORTATION DEDUCTION. SO MS. JOSEPH, THERE YOU ARE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. COUNSEL, I'M ENOVIA JOSEPH. MY COMMENTS ARE ON TWO, THREE, AND FOUR. DOES THAT MEAN SIX MINUTES? MAYOR, YOU GET TO SPEAK ON TWO, THEN YOU GET TO SPEAK ON THREE AND YOU GET TO SPEAK ON FOUR. SO, YEP. , CERTAINLY. SO ITEM TWO IS THE $5 MILLION DEFIANCE ITEM SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO THE ST. JOHN PROPERTY, WHICH IS 19 ACRES. I JUST WANNA CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION AND BACK. IT ACTUALLY REFERENCES THE OCTOBER 5TH, 2023 ACTION THAT YOU TOOK. I AM STILL CONFUSED AS IT RELATES TO THE THIRD OPTION. IT SAYS THAT THE CITY CANNOT OR [00:10:01] CHOOSES NOT TO EXERCISE OPTIONS ONE OR TWO. OPTION ONE WAS FOR THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN OR OUR PUBLIC FACILITY CORPORATION, OUR AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION, TO TAKE OVER THE PROPERTY AFTER 60 YEARS. OPTION TWO WAS FOR THE CITY TO PURCHASE THE PROPERTY AT FAIR MARKET VALUE AFTER 60 YEARS. BUT OPTION THREE SPECIFIES THAT IF YOU DON'T EXERCISE OPTIONS ONE OR TWO, THE PROPERTY REVERTS TO MARKET RATE FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE 99 YEAR GROUND LEASE, 39 YEARS WITH NO AFFORDABILITY COMPONENT AT THE END OF WHICH THE CITY CAN BUY THE PROPERTY BACK FOR $1. I AM HAVING SOME DIFFICULTY FINDING WHERE THAT LANGUAGE DISAPPEARED TO. I EMAILED OLI, WHICH WAS IN BACKUP AND DIDN'T GET A REPLY BACK. SO IT WOULD BE HELPFUL, MAYOR, IF YOU WERE TRANSPARENT WITH THE PUBLIC OR THE CITY MANAGER WHO APPEARS TO BE PAYING ATTENTION. UH, WHILE YOU'RE NOT, UH, SPECIFICALLY I WANT TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION THAT THE REASON THAT YOU'RE BREAKING THIS 19 ACRES INTO TWO PARCELS IS BECAUSE THE INVESTORS WANT A BETTER RETURN ON INVESTMENT. AS BEST I UNDERSTAND. IT SAYS, UH, SPECIFICALLY FOLLOWING A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE ST. JOHN, AND IT HAS SOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND NORTH DEVELOPMENT. IT SAYS WALKER AND DUNLAP CONCLUDES, AND ITEM THREE CONTINUES WITH THE SAME PROJECT, UH, THAT THE MARKET RATE DEVELOPMENT IS NOT FINANCIALLY FEASIBLE UNDER CURRENT MARKET CONDITIONS GIVEN PREVAILING RENT LEVELS AND INVESTOR RETURN REQUIREMENTS IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE RETURN REQUIREMENTS ARE. IF YOU COULD BE A LITTLE BIT MORE TRANSPARENT, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE REASON THE PROPERTY HAS ONLY 30 OF 526 3 BEDROOM UNITS IS BECAUSE THE DEVELOPER WAS TRANSPARENT AFTER THE AFRICAN AMERICAN RESOURCE ADVISORY COMMISSION CHAIR ASKED, UH, ONCE UPON A TIME WHY THERE WEREN'T VERY MANY THREE BEDROOM UNITS FOR FAMILIES TO RETURN. UH, SPECIFICALLY, UH, UNDERSTAND THAT IF THE DEVELOPER CREATED ONLY ONE UNIT, THEN THEY WOULD NEED THREE OF THOSE ONE BEDROOM UNITS TO CREATE THE THREE BEDROOM UNIT, AND THEN THEY WOULDN'T GET A GOOD RETURN ON INVESTMENT. SO IT'S A LITTLE DISINGENUOUS BECAUSE THE BACKUP IS NOT TRANSPARENT. I WOULD JUST ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT ON ITEM THREE, YOU'RE SPECIFICALLY TALKING ABOUT CONNECTIVITY AND ACCESS TO AMENITIES THAT EXIST. I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT CAPITOL METRO HAS ELIMINATED OR REMOVED THE BUS STOP THAT WAS ACTUALLY ACROSS FROM THE SENIOR DEVELOPMENT, WHICH IS ADJACENT TO THIS OLD HOME DEPOT SITE AT ST. JOHN'S AND I 35, AND ON THE WEST SIDE OF I 35, RIGHT AT THE GAS STATION THERE, CAPITOL METRO ELIMINATED THE BUS STOP THAT IS NEAR THE SCHOOL. SO I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHILE IT SOUNDS GOOD TO PUT CONNECTIVITY IN THE BACKUP, THAT SPECIFICALLY, UH, IS DISINGENUOUS. I'M NOT SURE IF THERE'S SOMETHING MORE TO THE INFORMATION THAT YOU'RE SHARING WITH THE PUBLIC. UM, BUT AS IT RELATES TO WHAT IS ACTUALLY IN EXISTENCE TODAY, UH, CAPITOL METRO IS NOT TRYING TO CONNECT BLACK PEOPLE OR HISPANIC SPECIFICALLY, UH, TO THE AMENITIES ON THE WEST SIDE. UM, SPECIFICALLY MAYOR, ITEM NUMBER FOUR, WELL, THAT WAS FOUR, MAYOR. OH, OKAY. I THOUGHT THAT WAS THREE. SURE. THEY'RE ALL INTERRELATED. SO , UM, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW THAT I HAVE MUCH MORE TO ADD OTHER THAN TO GIVE THE ACREAGE FOR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. SO THE ST. JOHN NORTH WOULD BE 13.6 ACRES, $79.7 MILLION. ST. JOHN'S SOUTH IS 5.5 ACRES, $41.9 MILLION. IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PROJECT, MAY 21ST, 2026 SPECIFICALLY, IS WHEN THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAD THEIR MEETING TO DISCUSS. THE, NOW APPROXIMATELY 70% OF THE UNITS WILL BE INCOME RESTRICTED. I KNOW THAT SOUNDS GOOD, BUT I WOULD JUST ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE, MAYOR, THAT THIS IS A CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'LL BE SELECT, UH, INCOME RESTRICTED UNITS IN THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF THE PROPERTY, AND SPECIFICALLY, UH, YOU ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE FAIR HOUSING ACT, UM, 1968, I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT ACROSS FROM THIS DEVELOPMENT IS AN INCOME RESTRICTED, AFFORDABLE DEVELOPMENT FOR SENIOR CITIZENS. SO IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR THE CITY MANAGER TO PROVIDE AN OVERLAY IN THE FUTURE SO THAT THE PUBLIC CAN ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME IS IN THIS AREA. AND I WOULD ASK SHEET VELA TO LOOK AT THE TRANSPORTATION CONDITIONS TODAY AND RECOGNIZE THAT THE PEOPLE IN THIS AREA ARE NOT BEING SERVED. I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE AMENITIES THAT ARE NORTHEAST OF US, 180 3 ARE [00:15:01] ACTUALLY, UH, NOT THE SAME AS IT IS ON THE WEST SIDE. AND SO IT IS CERTAINLY DISINGENUOUS FOR YOU TO USE TRANSIT TO ACTUALLY BOLSTER THIS PROJECT. UM, I WOULD ASK CHEETO VELA TO GO INTO HIS DISTRICT AND TO ACTUALLY LOOK AT THE AMENITIES IN THE CAMERON AREA, THE AREA THAT'S ON ST. JOHN'S, AND TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE'S NO REAL TIME INFORMATION FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE USING THE TRANSIT, WHO ARE TRANSIT DEPENDENT RIDERS. UM, AND SPECIFICALLY IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, MAYOR, I'LL GLADLY ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME. BUT MY COMMENTS AS THEY ALWAYS ARE IN THE CONTEXT OF TITLE SIX OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964. THANK YOU. THANK YOU JOSEPH FOR ITEM FIVE, PAUL ROBBINS AND RAPHAEL SCHWARTZ FOLLOWED FOR ITEM SEVEN IS JOHN BRANCH. PLEASE COME FORWARD. IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE START MY TIME. COUNSEL, I'M PAUL ROBBINS. I URGE YOU TO REJECT THE FRANCHISE LANGUAGE YOU HAVE HERE TODAY BECAUSE TEXAS GAS SERVICE HAS NOT NEGOTIATED IN GOOD FAITH. YOU ASKED FOR POLLUTION REDUCTIONS. THE COMPANY WAS PROVIDED WITH A NUMBER OF OPTIONS THAT WOULD NOT COST A PENNY IN PROFITS. THE COMPANY CHOSE ONLY ONE AND LEFT THE REST ON THE FLOOR. THE COMPANY IS SO HARD HEARTED THAT IT CANNOT COME UP WITH A PALTRY $250,000 TO HELP THE POOR WITH EMERGENCY BILL ASSISTANCE. THE COMPANY WHICH CONSIDERS ITSELF A PARADIGM OF FREE ENTERPRISE CONTINUES, UH, TO FORCE EXISTING CUSTOMERS TO SUBSIDIZE MUCH OF THE COST TO CONNECT NEW CUSTOMERS. HENCE, EXISTING CUSTOMERS ARE SUBSIDIZING INCREASED PROFITS. THIS IS, IN FACT, A TWISTED FORM OF SOCIALISM. SINCE 2019, THE COMPANY'S RESIDENTIAL RATES HAVE INCREASED BY $360 A YEAR, 124%. ITS COMMERCIAL RATES HAVE INCREASED BY OVER $2,000 A YEAR, 167%. MANY AUSTINITES WISH COUNCIL WOULD REIGN IN THESE EXCESSIVE BILLS. UH, THE RIGID SCHEDULE THAT YOUR STAFF HAS SET FOR THIS SECOND READING IS PLACING THE CITY AT A DISADVANTAGE. THEY'RE BASICALLY SIGNALING TO THE COMPANY THAT THIS FRANCHISE DOES NOT MEAN THAT MUCH TO AUSTIN. IT'S LIKE THE DOG WHO PLAYED POKER. HE KNEW ALL THE ODDS HE COULD EVEN COUNT CARDS, BUT HE LOST EVERY HAND BECAUSE HE WAGGED HIS TAIL. I HOPE YOU'LL BE BETTER CARD PLAYERS. PLEASE GO AHEAD. UH, MORNING. MY NAME IS RAFAEL SCHWARTZ. I'M ON RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION. I WANT TO URGE COUNCIL TO NOT TAKE THIS ITEM UP TODAY, BUT RATHER, UH, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO PUSH BACK AND DELAY THE SECOND READING TO GIVE THE CITY MORE TIME TO NEGOTIATE THE ITEMS IN THE MOTION. AFTER FIRST READING ON MAY 7TH, HAD ASKED FOR IMPROVEMENT ON THREE THINGS, WHICH WERE LOW INCOME CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE, CAPITAL RECOVERY FEES, WHICH SUBSIDIZED SYSTEM EXPANSION AND REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS. I WAS DISAPPOINTED YESTERDAY TO SEE THAT NO MEANINGFUL IMPROVEMENT ON MOST OF THESE ISSUES WERE IN THE DRAFT AGREEMENT. ONE EXAMPLE IS EMERGENCY BILL ASSISTANCE FOR LOW INCOME. THIS IS LOWER THAN IT'S EVER BEEN BEFORE, AND IT'S NOT REQUIRED TO CONTINUE AT ALL IN THE AGREEMENT. A SECOND ITEM THAT, UH, RMC RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION PUSHED FOR IS THE ENERGY CONSERVATION PROGRAM, WHICH IS PAID FOR BY A MINIMAL CUSTOMER CHARGE THAT COSTS THE UTILITY. NOTHING. THESE PROGRAMS HAVE EXISTED FOR AT LEAST 30 YEARS IN AUSTIN, AND THEY WERE A REQUIREMENT IN THE 2006 FRANCHISE AGREEMENT. THE LAST ONE, THE NEW PROPOSAL COMPLETELY ELIMINATES THIS LONGSTANDING PROGRAM, WHICH IS A STEP BACKWARDS FOR ENERGY SAVINGS. THERE'S NO REASON TO LET THE UTILITY KILL A DECADES OLD CONSERVATION PROGRAM. IT'S A SIMPLE ITEM THAT WE CAN ADD TO FUND MORE ENERGY EFFICIENCY, SAVE ENERGY, AND IMPROVE OUTCOMES. FOR AUSTIN, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY ON BOTH CLIMATE AND AFFORDABILITY WITH A MEANINGFUL RETURN IN INVESTMENT. PLEASE, UH, DELAY THIS VOTE TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO ITEM NINE, JEFFREY BOWEN AND WILLIAM BUNCH. AND THEN FOR ITEM 13, AARON MONDAY. MR. BOWEN, MR. BUNCH, MR. BUNCH IS PASSING. IT IS THAT OLD THING, YOU KNOW, YOU GOTTA GET UP BACK OUTTA THAT CHAIR, SIR. OKAY. UH, JEFFREY BOWEN, DISTRICT EIGHT, UH, I'M SPEAKING ON ITEM NINE THIS MORNING. UH, BASED UPON JUST REALLY A COUPLE OF ISSUES, UM, [00:20:01] AND, AND I'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION WITH THE CITY MANAGER REFERRING TO DEFERRED MAINTENANCE, AND I REALIZE THAT THERE'S MANY ITEMS ON THIS LIST THAT, UM, APPEAR TO BE A LOT OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE. SO THE QUESTION IS ALWAYS HOW MUCH DEFERRED MAINTENANCE IS STILL OUT THERE THAT WE NEED TO DO. WHEN I LOOK AT ONE OF THESE AND I'M, WE'RE LOOKING AT A FIRE DEPARTMENT AND WE'RE STILL DOING LEAD AND ASBESTOS ABATEMENT. UM, I GO, WE HAVEN'T HAD ALL THAT TAKEN CARE OF YET. HOW MUCH MORE IS WE, DO WE STILL HAVE OUT THERE IN OUR CITY FACILITIES THAT OUR CITY EMPLOYEES OR, OR CITY ASSOCIATES ARE WORKING IN? UM, NOT QUESTIONING THE AMOUNT OF MONEY, EVEN THOUGH IT DOES ADD TO OUR DEBT AND SO ON AND SO FORTH. BUT I LOOK AT HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE US TO GET A PROJECT DONE IN THIS TOWN? HOW MANY CHANGE ORDERS ARE WE GETTING BASED UPON BAD ESTIMATES VERSUS THE BID? AND ALSO, HOW MANY MORE TIMES DO WE HAVE TO COME BACK AND COUNCIL HAS TO APPROVE MORE MONEY FOR PROJECTS. UH, THE MAYOR HAD HAD HIS ITEM UP THERE FOR LOOKING AT HOW WE DO SOME OF OUR PROCESSES. THIS IS ONE OF THE PROCESSES WHEN IT COMES TO ALL OUR AUDIT CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS ON ANY OF OUR PROJECTS THAT REALLY NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT WITH A FINE TOOTH COMB AND UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON. WHY DOES IT TAKE TWO YEARS TO DO A LIBRARY RENOVATION? WHY DOES IT TAKE OVER 90 DAYS JUST TO PUT SOME ASPHALT AT A, AT A SMALL, UH, LIBRARY PARKING LOT, AND IT'S EVEN GOT AN ISSUE WITH IT WITH A CHARGING STATION IN THE MIDDLE OF A WALKWAY. SO WHERE IS OUR INSPECTION PEOPLE? WHERE ARE OUR PEOPLE THAT ARE LOOKING AT THESE THINGS THAT COULD REALLY START SCRUTINIZING THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE'RE SPENDING VERSUS THE QUALITY OF WORK WE'RE GETTING? THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU, AARON MONDAY. MOVING ON TO ITEM 21, ZENOBIA JOSEPH AND KATIE CAM, THEN 26 ZIA JOSEPH, PLEASE BEGIN. MS. JOSEPH. THANK YOU, MAYOR. COUNSEL, I'M ENOVIA JOSEPH, I'M JUST GONNA READ INTO THE RECORD SO THE PUBLIC KNOWS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. THIS IS, UH, BARON STANE HIGH CRASH INTERSECTION, UH, $2 MILLION, $2.3 MILLION WITH THE CONTINGENCY. WELL, I CERTAINLY DON'T DOUBT THAT THERE'S A NEED FOR SOME TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE THERE. I JUST WANNA CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION. IT WAS AUGUST 18TH, 2016 THAT THERE WAS A CONTRACT WITH VOTERS FOR THE $720 MILLION MOBILITY BOND. AND I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE VOTERS PUT NORTH LAMAR, NUMBER ONE. AND SO I WOULD ASK THE TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TO REPRIORITIZE THESE FUNDS AND PUT THEM WHERE THERE HAVE BEEN FATALITIES. I HAVE SAID IT BEFORE 2009. THERE WAS A STUDY THAT SAID MIDBLOCK CRASHES IS WHERE PEOPLE GET KILLED THE MOST. YOU ARE WELL AWARE THAT ON AUGUST 5TH, 2025, THAT IS WHEN THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER ACTUALLY DID A RECON WITH ME. AND MIKE ROGERS SAW FOR HIMSELF THAT THERE IS NOT ANY TYPE OF PEDESTRIAN HYBRID BEACON IN THE AREA BY NOT YOUR ORDINARY SCHOOL. I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE HERE AT SNE AND BURLESON 65 0 5 BURLESON, WHICH IS SPECIFICALLY WHERE THE GOODWILL IS. THERE IS A BUS STOP, BUT THERE'S NOT A PAIRED STOP FOR VETERANS TO GET FROM THE VA CLINIC ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT YES, THE BUS RUNS THERE, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY, IT ENDS EARLY. IT DOESN'T RUN ON SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS. I DO UNDERSTAND THE TRAFFIC IN THE AREA, BUT AGAIN, MAYOR, THE VOTER SPOKE AND THE CITY MANAGER HAS AN OBLIGATION TO COMPLY WITH THE LANGUAGE THAT'S IN THE CONTRACT WITH VOTERS. AND SO I'M ASKING YOU TO REPRIORITIZE THESE FUNDS AND NOT FUND THIS AREA AT THIS MOMENT. SPECIFICALLY, YOU ARE WELL AWARE OF MR. NORTON WHO WAS KILLED IN 2016 AND THE IMAM WHO WAS KILLED IN 2025. AND YES, I RECOGNIZE THERE'S A PEDESTRIAN HYBRID BEACON THAT'S GOING UP BY THE MUSLIM CHURCH, BUT THAT'S NOT ENOUGH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. CAM. HELLO, I AM KATIE CAM OF DISTRICT NINE. THIS ITEM IS TO APPROVE A RE UH, CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT TO MAKE INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS TO BURLESON STANE A HIGH CRASH INTERSECTION. THE PLAINTIFF'S DAD RAISE MEDIANS FOR ACCESS MANAGEMENT, ENHANCED PEDESTRIAN, BICYCLE AND BUS FACILITIES, STRIPING CHANGES AND SIGNAL INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THIS WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DESIGN A MULTIMODAL ROUNDABOUT INSTEAD, WHICH IS KNOWN TO, UH, REDUCE SPEEDS AND REDUCE CRASHES, FATALITIES AND INJURIES. A ROADWAY NETWORK OF ROUNDABOUTS, UH, INTERSECTIONS CREATES [00:25:01] A MORE EFFICIENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM AS WELL. INSTEAD FOR THIS PROJECT, THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL WILL REMAIN. THIS IS A MISSED OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A SAFER, MORE EFFICIENT NETWORK. I'M SEEING THIS HAPPEN FOR MULTIPLE INTERSECTIONS ACROSS THE CITY FOR COSTS. THERE ARE LOW COST QUICK BUILD OPTIONS TO CREATE ROUNDABOUTS. ARIZONA, DOT JUST HAD A WEBINAR A COUPLE DAYS AGO ABOUT THIS. UM, AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE WORKING REALLY WELL. THE QUICK BUILD ONES, PLEASE DIRECT CITY STAFF TO DESIGN TO BEST PRACTICES SO THAT WE CAN TRULY HAVE SAFE STREETS FOR ALL. ADDITIONALLY, THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS PRODUCING DESIGNS FOR PEDESTRIANS, BIKES, BUSES, AND CARS. BUT THERE IS A SET OF WHAT WE CAN POTENTIALLY CALL, UM, MISSING MIDDLE MOBILITY MODES, WHICH ARE LOW SPEED MOBILITY MODES THAT ARE BEING EMBRACED BY OTHER COMMUNITIES. AND THEN I'M INCREASINGLY SEEING IN USE IN AUSTIN GOLF CARTS, LOW SPEED VEHICLES, E TRIKES, AND QUADR CYCLES, WHICH ARE THE THREE AND FOUR WHEEL CYCLES. WHERE IN THE ROADWAY SPACE CAN PEOPLE USE THOSE MODES? DESIGNS ARE OUTDATED AND BASED ON WHERE MODE CHOICE IS GOING IN THE US AND IN AUSTIN, WITH AUSTIN'S STRATEGIC MOBILITY PLAN, WANTING TO INCREASE MODE SHARE OF NON-CAR MODES, WE NEED THE ROADWAY TO BE DESIGNED TO ACCOMMODATE THEM. IN CONCLUSION, WE ARE MISSING OPPORTUNITIES TO CREATE A SAFER, MORE EFFICIENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM AND TO CREATE SPACE FOR THE MISSING MIDDLE MOBILITY MODES. TO AVOID THIS, PLEASE REQUIRE ALL ROADWAY PROJECTS TO INCORPORATE ROUNDABOUTS AND SPACE FOR THOSE VEHICLES. THANKS. THANK YOU, MS. CAM, MS. JOSEPH, YOU'RE ON 26 TOO. AND THEN FOR ITEM 29, I HAVE ANDREW HENDER ONE, POTENTIALLY IT SAYS HINDER ONE IN MY SYSTEM. WE DON'T HAVE THAT NOTATED. MS. JOSEPH, PLEASE GO AHEAD. THANK YOU, MAYOR COUNCIL, I'M ENOVIA JOSEPH. THIS IS A $500,000 ITEM. AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, A TRANSITION PLAN AND A SELF-EVALUATION REPORT, BUT IN FACT IS REALLY ABOUT MARKETING AND ABOUT BRANDING THE CITY AS COMPLYING WITH TITLE SIX. IF YOU LOOK AT THE BACKUP MATERIALS SPECIFICALLY, IT SAYS THE CURRENT CITY OF AUSTIN, A DA TRANSITION PLAN WAS LAST UPDATED IN 1996 AND IS OUTDATED. IT GOES ON TO SAY THE CONTRACT WILL RESULT IN AN UPDATED TRANSITION PLAN, STAFF TRAINING, SELF-EVALUATION, COMPLETED PUBLIC OUTREACH, A DIGITAL ACCESSIBILITY REVIEW FOR EXTERNAL WEBSITES IN THE UPDATED TITLE SIX IMPLEMENTATION PLAN. AND AS YOU ARE AWARE, MY COMMENTS ARE ALWAYS IN THE CONTEXT OF TITLE SIX OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964, WHICH PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE, COLOR, AND NATIONAL ORIGIN. I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT YOU GO ON TO TALK ABOUT REGIONAL BRAND ALIGNMENT, BRAND MANAGEMENT, AND MEDIA SUPPORT. SO YOU'RE GOING TO BRAND THE CITY AS BEING WELCOMING TO AFRICAN AMERICANS. WHILE YOU HAVE AN AVERSION TO US, SPECIFICALLY, I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE NORTHEAST OF US 180 3, THE REALTIME INFORMATION THAT WAS ONCE AT WALMART NORWOOD NO LONGER EXISTS. THERE'S NO REAL TIME INFORMATION AT NORTH LAMAR TRANSIT CENTER. SO CHEETO VELA, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO TO YOUR DISTRICT AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE AMENITIES THAT NO LONGER EXIST. I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE AS IT RELATES TO AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, I CONTINUE TO TELL YOU ABOUT YEAGER AND NORTH LAMAR. YOU'VE SEEN THE PICTURES. YOU RECOGNIZE THAT PEOPLE IN WHEELCHAIRS, WALKERS AND CANES CANNOT GET IN THE DITCH TO PUSH THE BUTTON TO CROSS THE STREET, BUT YET WE HAVE THE TRANSPORTATION PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT THAT UNILATERALLY DECIDE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BEAUTIFY BURNETT ROAD AIRPORT BOULEVARD AND OTHER PROJECTS THAT WERE NOT RANKED FIRST IN THE $720 MILLION MOBILITY BOND, AS WELL AS SUBSEQUENT BONDS. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GOLY ANSWER THEM. OKAY, MOVING TO ITEM 45, EMILY BLAIR, ALAN VAUGHN, SHELBY BAUER, TRAVIS ROCHA. TRAVIS, ARE YOU HERE HE IS. OKAY. WHAT ABOUT HANNAH GARCIA? OKAY, SHE'S DONE A TIME TO TRAVIS. OKAY. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, MAYOR, PRO TEM AND ESTEEM COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ALAN VAUGHN AND I'M A PROPERTY OWNER IN DISTRICT FOUR, SPECIFICALLY THE NORTH AUSTIN CIVIC ASSOCIATION AND A MEMBER OF THE AUSTIN DEPARTMENT ASSOCIATION. UM, UNEQUIVOCALLY, I COULD TELL YOU BY TALKING TO THE FELLOW PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN CERTAINLY NACA, UH, WE ARE FOR A HUNDRED PERCENT TRANSPARENCY WITH OUR RESIDENTS. IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO US. [00:30:02] I DO WANNA SPEAK BRIEFLY ABOUT THE IMPLE IMPLEMENTATION REALITIES AND WHY A JANUARY 1ST, 2027 EFFECTIVE DATE IS SO IMPORTANT. THE SYSTEMS USED TO ADVERTISE APARTMENTS, GENERATE LEASE QUOTES, CALCULATE UTILITIES, DISCLOSE FEES AND PROCESS. APPLICATIONS ARE NOT CONTROLLED ENTIRELY BY ONSITE STAFF OR EVEN INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY OWNERS. MANY RELY ON THIRD PROPERTY SOFTWARE VENDORS. LISTING PLATFORMS AND STANDARDIZED LEASE SYSTEMS USED ACROSS TEXAS. EVEN RELATIVELY SMALL CHANGES REQUIRE MONTHS OF PROGRAMMING, TESTING, TRAINING, AND COORDINATION BEFORE THEY COULD BE IMPLEMENTED ACCURATELY AND CONSISTENTLY. THAT IS WHY WE RESPECTFULLY ASK COUNSEL TO AMEND THE APPLICABILITY SO THAT ALL PROPERTIES, REGARDLESS OF SIZE, HAVE UNTIL JANUARY 1ST, 2027 TO COMPLY WITHOUT ADEQUATE LEAD LEAD TIME. YOU RISK CREATING CONFUSION FOR RENTERS INCONSISTENT DISCLOSURES ACROSS PLATFORMS AND COMPLIANCE PROBLEMS THAT NEITHER RESIDENTS NOR HOUSING PROVIDERS WANT. WE ALSO SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT CLARIFYING THE DEFINITION OF ADVERTISEMENT. A CLEAR DEFINITION, DEFINITION CREATES A MORE WORKABLE ORDINANCE AND REDUCES UNCERTAINTY ABOUT WHAT COMMUNICATIONS ARE ACTUALLY REGULATED. AGAIN, OUR CONCERN IS TIMING, NOT TRANSPARENCY. AUSTIN'S RENTAL HOUSING PROVIDERS ARE ALREADY MOVING TOWARD GREATER TRANSPARENCY. MANY HAVE INVESTED HEAVILY IN DISCLOSURE TOOLS AND RESIDENT FACING TECHNOLOGY. WE SIMPLY ASK FOR ENOUGH TIME TO IMPLEMENT THIS ORDINANCE CAREFULLY AND CORRECTLY, SO THE END RESULT IS MEANINGFUL AND TRANSPARENCY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. DON'T WE. GO AHEAD. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, MAYOR, PRO TEM, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS SHELBY BAUER, AND I'D LIKE TO SPEAK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO WILL ACTUALLY BE IMPLEMENTING THIS ORDINANCE EVERY DAY. LEASING AGENTS, ASSISTANT MANAGERS, AND ONSITE STAFF. THESE ARE HARDWORKING AUSTINITES. MANY ARE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS, SINGLE PARENTS OR PEOPLE JUST STARTING THEIR CAREERS. THEY DO NOT WRITE POLICY. THEY DO NOT OWN THE PROPERTIES, AND THEY OFTEN DO NOT CONTROL THE SOFTWARE SYSTEMS THEY'RE REQUIRED TO USE. YET UNDER THE CURRENT DRAFT, THE ORDINANCE COULD EXPOSE THESE INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEES TO CRIMINAL LIABILITY FOR INADVERTENT COMPLIANCE MISTAKES MADE DURING THE OR COURSE OF THEIR JOBS. TEXAS LAW ALREADY REFLECTS CONCERN ABOUT THIS ISSUE. TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 250.003 LIMITS LOCAL GOVERNMENT'S ABILITY TO IMPOSE CRIMINAL OR CIVIL PENALTIES DIRECTLY ON LANDLORDS EMPLOYEES ACTING WITHIN THE COURSE AND SCOPE OF EMPLOYMENT. THAT IS WHY WE RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO ADOPT AN ADDITIONAL AMENDMENT TO CORRECT THE DEFINITION OF PROVIDER. SO LIABILITY REMAINS APPROPRIATELY FOCUSED ON THE HOUSING PROVIDER ENTITY ITSELF, NOT INDIVIDUAL FRONTLINE EMPLOYEES. WE SUPPORT TRANSPARENCY, BUT TRANSPARENCY CAN BE ACHIEVED WITHOUT PLACING DIS DISPROPORTIONATE LEGAL RISK ON LEASING PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE SIMPLY TRYING TO HELP RESIDENTS NAVIGATE INCREASINGLY, INCREASINGLY COMPLICATED LEASING PROCESSES. AND AGAIN, OUR CONCERN IS TIMING, NOT TRANSPARENCY. A JANUARY 1ST, 2027 EFFECTIVE DATE FOR ALL PROPERTIES WOULD PROVIDE TIME FOR PROPER TRAINING, SOFTWARE INTEGRATION, AND STANDARDIZED IMPLEMENTATION ACROSS THE MARKET. THAT TIMELINE PROTECTS BOTH RENTERS AND EMPLOYEES BY REDUCING CONFUSION AND IMPROVING COMPLIANCE FROM DAY ONE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU, SIR. YOU'LL HAVE FOUR MINUTES. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, MAYOR, PRO TEM, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS TRAVIS ROCHA AND I'M HERE TODAY AS A MEMBER OF THE AUSTIN APARTMENT ASSOCIATION AND ARE NEARLY 1,400 COMMUNITIES AND THE THOUSANDS OF EMPLOYEES WHO WORK EVERY DAY TO MANAGE THE COMMUNITIES WHERE MOST AUSTINITES LIVE. THAT'S A RESPONSIBILITY WE TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY. WE WANT TO BE CLEAR AT THE ONSET OFFSET. THE, THE, EXCUSE ME, THAT THE AUSTIN DEPARTMENT ASSOCIATION, ASSOCIATION FEE TRANSPARENCY. THE APARTMENT INDUSTRY HAS ALREADY MOVED SIGNIFICANTLY TOWARD GREATER FEE TRANSPARENCY. THE TEXAS APARTMENT ASSOCIATION LEASE HAS LISTED NON RENT FEES PROMINENTLY SINCE 2021, AND MANY PROPERTIES NOW PROVIDE ONLINE FEE CALCULATORS AND DISCLOSURE TOOLS TO RENTERS CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND THEIR HOUSING COSTS BEFORE APPLYING. SO TODAY, WE ARE NOT HERE IN OPPOSITION TO RENTAL FEE TRANSPARENCY. WE ARE HERE TO ADDRESS CONCERNS WITH ITEM 45 AND ADVOCATE TO TARGETED IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ORDINANCE LANGUAGE SO THAT THE CITY ESTABLISHES A FRAMEWORK THAT ALLOWS HOUSING PROVIDERS TO DELIVER A CONSISTENT, TRANSPARENT AND LEGALLY COMPLIANT LEASING EXPERIENCE FOR PROSPECTIVE TENANTS. THIS SUPPORTS EFFECTIVE AND WORKABLE COMPLIANCE AT THE PROPERTY LEVEL AND MAINTAINS APPROPRIATE AND BALANCED BOUNDARIES REGARDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF THESE NEW REQUIREMENTS. WE APPRECIATE THE WORK OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ALTER AND STAFF HAVE PUT INTO THE ORDINANCE, AND WE ESPECIALLY SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT DEFINING ADVERTISEMENT MORE CLEARLY THAT CLARIFICATION PROVIDES MORE GUARDRAILS AND MAKES COMPLIANCE MORE REALISTIC FOR HOUSING PROVIDERS AND THE PLATFORMS THEY RELY ON. WE ALSO [00:35:01] RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU SUPPORT NARROWING THE DEFINITION OF PROVIDER SO THAT CRIMINAL LIABILITY DOES NOT EXTEND DIRECTLY TO THE INDIVIDUAL LEASING AGENTS AND ONSITE EMPLOYEES ACROSS THE CITY. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF LEASING AGENTS, PROPERTY MANAGERS, AND OTHER ONSITE RENTAL HOUSING PROFESSIONALS. THESE EMPLOYEES ARE NOT CORPORATE DECISION MAKERS. THEY'RE WORKING AUSTINITES, DOING THEIR JOBS AND INCREASINGLY COMPLEX SOFTWARE SYSTEMS AND REGULATORY ENVIRONMENTS. IF AN INADVERTENT MISTAKE OCCURS WHILE ACTING WITHIN COURSE OF AND SCOPE OF EMPLOYMENT, IT SEEMS FUNDAMENTALLY UNFAIR TO EXPOSE AN INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEE TO A CLASS C DIS DEMEANOR. FINALLY, WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST A JANUARY 1ST, 2027 IMPLEMENTATION DATE FOR ALL PROPERTIES TO ALLOW THE INDUSTRY SUFFICIENT TIME TO INTEGRATE DISCLOSURE FORMS AND COMPLIANCE SYSTEMS CONSIST CONSISTENTLY ACROSS THE MARKET. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU. PLEASE BEGIN. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, MAYOR, PRO TEM, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS TIFFANY BLANKMAN AND I AM SPEAKING TODAY AS A MEMBER OF THE AUSTIN APARTMENT ASSOCIATION TO ADDRESS THE BROADER REGULATORY LANDSCAPE SURROUNDING RENTAL FEE TRANSPARENCY. WE SUPPORT THE GOAL OF HELPING RENTERS BETTER UNDERSTAND HOUSING COSTS, BUT WE'RE ALSO ASKING THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER THE VERY REAL RISK OF OVERLAPPING OR CONFLICTING REGULATORY STANDARDS. THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION HAS ALREADY ANNOUNCED POTENTIAL RULEMAKING RELATED TO HOUSING RENTAL HOUSING FEE DISCLOSURES. THAT MEANS HOUSING PROVIDERS MAY SOON FACE A SEPARATE FEDERAL DISCLOSURE FRAMEWORK WITH POTENTIALLY DIFFERENT DEFINITIONS, FORMATTING REQUIREMENTS, TIMING OBLIGATIONS, OR ADVERTISING STANDARDS. IF AUSTIN MOVES TOO QUICKLY BEFORE THAT PROCESS CONCLUDES, PROVIDERS COULD BE FORCED TO BUILD ONE COMPLIANCE SYSTEM THIS YEAR ONLY TO REBUILD IT AGAIN ONCE FEDERAL STANDARDS ARE FINALIZED. THAT IS EXPENSIVE, DISRUPTIVE, AND ULTIMATELY UNHELPFUL FOR RENTERS WHO BENEFIT MOST FROM THE CONSISTENT AND STANDARDIZED DISCLOSURES. THIS IS WHY OUR CONCERN, AGAIN, IS TIMING, NOT TRANSPARENCY. WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THE COUNCIL TO ADOPT A JANUARY 1ST, 2027 EFFECTIVE DATE FOR ALL PROPERTIES TO ALLOW TIME FOR THE FEDERAL PROCESS TO DEVELOP AND TO REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF CONFLICTING REQUIREMENTS. WE THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER FOR AMENDING THE TO CLARIFY ADVERTISEMENT BECAUSE CLEARER DEFINITIONS REDUCE AMBIGUITY AND IMPROVE ENFORCEABILITY. AND FINALLY, WE ASK YOU TO SUPPORT NARROWING THE DEFINITION OF PROVIDER. SO INDIVIDUAL LEASING AGENTS ARE NOT PERSONALLY EXPOSED TO CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR INADVERTENT MISTAKES WHILE CARRYING OUT THEIR JOBS. THOUGHTFUL IMPLEMENTATION WILL PRODUCE BETTER COMPLIANCE, BETTER TRANSPARENCY, AND BETTER OUTCOMES FOR RENTERS AND HOUSING PROVIDERS ALIKE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU. CONTINUE. ON 45, I HAVE BRAD MASSING, SHOSHANA KRIEGER, AND TAYLOR SMITH. AND THEN FOR 46 ALSO, BRAD MASSING. PLEASE BEGIN. JUST STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. HI, YES. HI. UH, GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS SHOSHANA KRIEGER AND I'M THE PROJECT DIRECTOR OF BOSTON BUILDING AND STRENGTHENING TENANT ACTION. UM, WE, UH, WORK WITH TENANTS THROUGHOUT AUSTIN TO HELP ORGANIZE INFORMED TENANTS ASSOCIATIONS AND CONDUCT OUTREACH, UM, AND ADVOCATE ON TENANT'S. BEHALFS AND JUNK FEES ARE AN ISSUE WE HAVE BEEN SEEING FOR QUITE SOME TIME. IT'S AN ISSUE WHICH IS HAPPENING BOTH LOCALLY, UM, AND ALSO NATIONALLY. AND THE AMOUNT OF DIFFERENT FEES WE HAVE SEEN PROLIFERATE, UM, OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS IS PRETTY ASTOUNDING. UM, I JUST ASKED OUR TEAM MEMBERS RIGHT BEFORE COMING HERE, WHAT WAS THEIR FAVORITE FEE THAT THEY HAVE SEEN. AND SOME THINGS THAT I HEARD, UH, WERE PACKAGE CONCIERGE, UM, AND VALLEY TRASH, UH, AND VALLEY TRASH AT ONE COMPLEX ALSO HAS A TRASH SERVICE FEE AND ANOTHER TRASH FEE. AND THOSE WEREN'T DISCLOSED OR KNOWN TO TENANTS BEFORE, UM, BEFORE THEY SIGNED THEIR LEASES. UM, OTHER FEES, WHICH FOLKS TALKED ABOUT WERE PET RENT AND PET FEES. UM, MY PERSONAL FAVORITE IS A FIRE HYDRANT FEE, UM, THAT I SAW ON A LEDGER A WHILE BACK. UM, WHAT THIS RESOLUTION, WHAT THIS ORDINANCE DOES IS IT STARTS TO LEVEL A REALLY, REALLY UNEVEN PLAYING FIELD. UM, AND ALL IT'S DOING IS SAYING THAT, UH, THAT LANDLORDS HAVE TO BE STRAIGHT UP WITH HOW MUCH THEY'RE GONNA CHARGE. UM, WE WERE IN ONE MEETING WITH A, UM, WITH A DEVELOPER NOT THAT LONG AGO WHO SAID, BUT I CAN'T INCLUDE ALL OF THE FEES IN THE RENT BECAUSE I'LL BE AT A COMPETITIVE DISADVANTAGE 'CAUSE EVERYONE ELSE IS DOING IT. WHICH IS BASICALLY ADMITTING TO THE FACT THAT THE REASON THEY'RE DOING IT IS THEY'RE TRYING TO PULL, ABATE AND SWITCH ON TENANTS. AND SO WHAT THIS IS DOING IS IT'S LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD. SO, UM, THIS HAS BEEN A, UH, NUMBER OF YEARS IN THE MAKING. UM, THERE WAS THE UT LAW REPORT ON JUNK FEES, WHICH IS WELL OVER [00:40:01] A YEAR AGO, I THINK IT WAS TWO YEARS AGO. UM, AND THE TIME HAS COME, UM, TO, UH, FINALLY GET SOMETHING DONE HERE IN AUSTIN ON THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MR. MASSENGILL. HI, BRAD MASSENGILL, UH, DISTRICT THREE. UM, I'M ALSO THE ON THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE FOR THE AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOODS COUNCIL, BUT I'M HERE SPEAKING FOR MYSELF AND FOR TENANTS OF AUSTIN. IN CASE ANYONE IS WONDERING WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. IT'S TO REIGN IN, UH, EXCESS FEES ON RENTAL PROPERTIES AND REQUIRE LANDLORDS TO EXPOSE UPFRONT BEFORE YOU EVEN SIGN A LEASE, WHAT THOSE FEES ARE GONNA BE. UH, I HAVE A, A NEPHEW THAT RENTED AN APARTMENT FOR X AMOUNT, AND WHEN HE WAS FINISHED, THEY ADDED 25% ONTO HIS RENT. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AFFORDABILITY IN THIS TOWN, AND YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN AFFORD, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU'RE IN OVER YOUR HEAD BECAUSE THESE FEES JUST START PILING IN ON TOP OF YOU. THIS IS A, A, A, A BAD SITUATION FOR, FOR A LOT OF RENTERS. UM, THE OTHER THING I'D LIKE TO ENCOURAGE Y'ALL TO TACK ONTO THIS BILL IS TO REIGN IN, UH, SOFTWARE MANAGEMENT TOOLS LIKE REALPAGE THAT ARE PRICE FIXING ON THESE APARTMENTS. THIS IS, THIS IS, UH, WE HEARD EARLIER THAT THERE'S, THERE'S SOME SORT OF NATIONAL THING COMING DOWN THE PIPELINE, BUT WE DON'T, WE'RE NOT ASSURED THAT ANY OF THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN OR IF IT'S GONNA BENEFIT OUR POPULATION. WE NEED TO REIGN THIS IN AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR, UH, OUR, UH, LANDLORDS AND, UH, APARTMENT BUILDINGS HERE AREN'T INADVERTENTLY COLLUDING WITH ONE ANOTHER TO, TO MAKE THESE PRICES ARTIFICIALLY HIGH BECAUSE THEY WANT TO GET AS MUCH AS THEY CAN OUT OF THE MARKET. UH, IT'S, IT'S, IT, Y'ALL CAN DO THIS, AND I THINK THAT'S APPROPRIATE. THANKS. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. MY NAME IS TAYLOR SMITH. I REPRESENT DAWSON BOARD OF REALTORS AND OUR MORE THAN 16, UH, THOUSAND CENTRAL TEXAS MEMBERS. WHILE AOR IS NEUTRAL ON ITEM 45, WE GREATLY APPRECIATE CITY STAFF FOR RELEASING VERSION THREE OF THE ORDINANCE, WHICH INCLUDES LANGUAGE THAT FURTHER CLARIFIES THAT THE ORDINANCE APPLIES ONLY TO LANDLORDS WHO OWN FIVE OR MORE RENTAL UNITS. THIS CLARIFICATION ALIGNS THE, WITH THE ORIGINAL INTENT OF THE RESOLUTION COUNSEL APPROVED BACK IN, UH, 2024 AND HELP ENSURES THAT THE ORDINANCE IS IMPLEMENTED AS INTENDED STAFF'S. VERSION THREE OF THE ORDINANCE BALANCES COUNSEL'S GOAL OF PROVIDING PERSPECTIVE TENANTS WITH GREATER TRANSPARENCY DURING THE LEASING PROCESS WITH THE COST AND LIABILITY CONCERNS RAISED BY SMALL HOUSING PROVIDERS AND PRACTITIONERS. MOST LANDLORDS AND PROPERTY MANAGERS OF SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, DUPLEXES AND SMALL, SMALLER RENTAL PROPERTIES, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO USE THE TEXAS REALTORS, UH, RENTAL, UH, RESIDENTIAL LEASE AGREEMENT, ALREADY PROVIDE PROSPECTIVE TENANTS WITH THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH RENTING A UNIT, INCLUDING RENT FEES AND UTILITIES UPFRONT BEFORE A PROSPECTIVE TENANT SIGNS A LEASE. WE'D LIKE TO THANK CITY AND COUNCIL STAFF FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND FOR ENGAGING WITH ALL STAKEHOLDERS DURING THIS, UH, THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE. FRIDAY 49, WILLIAM BUNCH. MR. BUNCH. PASS. HE'S PASSING. OKAY, THEN I DO HAVE A REMOTE SPEAKER FOR 51 MONICA GUZMAN. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNSEL. I AM MONICA GUZMAN, DISTRICT FOUR RESIDENT. UH, JUST SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 54. I, I HAVE HAD THE, THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING ABLE TO SEE THE AREA FROM DANIEL'S BACKYARD AND, AND I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT. HE'S A VERY MUCH A LONG TIME ADVOCATE AND IT WOULD BE GREAT IF Y'ALL APPROVE ITEM 54. THANK YOU, MS. GUZMAN. THIS WAS 51. OH, THAT WAS FAST. . HANG ON A SECOND. UH, WELL, GOOD MORNING. MONICA GUZMAN. I'M MONICA GUZMAN, GABA POLICY DIRECTOR SEEKING IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 51 IN LINES ONE 50 TO 1 54. WE SUGGEST AND REQUEST ADDING, QUOTE, THE AUSTIN EQUITY AND INCLUSION EQUITY DIVISION AND UTILIZE EXISTING COMMUNITY INPUT AND EXPERTISE UNQUOTE, TO THE LIST OF STAKEHOLDERS TO ENSURE INPUT FROM TRANSIT DEPENDENT RIDERS WHO RELY ON PUBLIC TRANSIT DUE TO LACK OF ACCESS TO PRIVATE VEHICLES, AS WELL AS MULTIFAMILY PROPERTY TENANTS. IN LIGHT OF A COUNCIL MEETING ONLY ONE WEEK AGO, WE URGE YOU TO POSTPONE THIS ITEM, ALLOWING THE COMMUNITY SUFFICIENT TIME TO REVIEW THIS ITEM AND REACH OUT TO RELEVANT STAFF WITH QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS. IN ADDITION, POSTPONING YOUR VOTE ALLOWS TIME TO FURTHER INFORM THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY LOW INCOME [00:45:01] RESIDENTS WITH LIMITED OR NO ENGLISH PROFICIENCY. THANK YOU. AND IN PERSON FOR ITEM 51, I HAVE BRAD MASSENGILL, WILLIAM BUNCH, ANOVIA JOSEPH AND KATIE. CAM NAME'S BEEN CALLED AND YOU WANT TO SPEAK. PLEASE COME FORWARD. MR. BUNCH. ARE YOU WAVING ON THIS ONE? ALL RIGHT, MS. CAM, YOU'LL BE FIRST. HI, I'M KATIE CAM, RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE. UH, I SUPPORT EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE DESIGN OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT IN STREETS, HOWEVER, SIMILAR TO MY, UH, PAST TESTIMONY OR EARLIER THIS MORNING. UM, I WANNA ADDRESS WHAT'S MISSING FROM THIS RESOLUTION. UH, THIS RESOLUTION STATES THAT IT WANTS TO ENHANCE MULTIMODAL MOBILITY, BUT ONLY LIST WALKING, BIKING AND TRANSIT. THE RESOLUTION NEEDS TO LIST LOW SPEED VEHICLES, GOLF CARTS, STRIKES, QUADR CYCLES. THOSE MOBILITY MODES ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY POPULAR IN AUSTIN AND IN OTHER COMMUNITIES. THEY'RE SAFER MODES BECAUSE THEY'RE LOW SPEED MOVING 25 MILES PER HOUR OR LESS. THEY'RE MORE AFFORDABLE. TO GIVE AN EXAMPLE, THIS P VEHICLE CAN BE PURCHASED FOR ABOUT $3,000 AND YOU ONLY HAVE TO PAY ABOUT $200 A YEAR FOR VEHICLE INSURANCE. THEY'RE SPACE EFFICIENT, TAKING UP LESS SPACE THAN A CONVENTIONAL CAR. AND LASTLY, AN ELECTRIC FORM. THEY'RE EMISSIONS FREE, HELPING THE CITY MEET CLIMATE GOALS. THERE ARE MANY CITIES AROUND THE US TO LOOK AT, UH, FOR EXAMPLE, THE STREET DESIGN GUIDELINES THAT INCORPORATE THESE, UH, LOW SPEED MODES. UH, MANY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, PEACHTREE CITY, GEORGIA. UM, I'M HAPPY TO, UH, BE A RESOURCE FOR THIS SINCE I'VE BEEN LOOKING INTO THIS FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS AND SEE HUGE POTENTIAL AND TRANSFORMING THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM TO BE SAFER, LOWER SPEED, EFFICIENT AND FUN. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MASSENGALE. I DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT TO ADD. I JUST, I WANTED TO, UH, CONCUR WITH, UH, MONICA GOSMAN THAT, UH, THE DEFINITIONS IN IN THE PROPOSED, UH, ORATES, IT, THE, A PARTICIPANT ISN'T BIG ENOUGH. IT JUST SAYS STAKEHOLDERS IN THERE. AND THAT'S A PRETTY WIDE OPEN TERM. WE NEED TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE INCLUDING CITIZENS IN THESE KIND OF TALKS, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA, CAN REALLY AFFECT, UH, PEOPLE WHO, WHO AREN'T GONNA BE HERE AND DO THESE TYPES OF THINGS BECAUSE THEY ARE DEPENDENT ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND THEY'RE ALL WORKING. SO LET'S, LET'S POSTPONE THIS AND LET SOME MORE PEOPLE PARTICIPATE. MS. JOSEPH? THANK YOU MAYOR COUNCIL. I'M ENOVIA JOSEPH. MY OPPOSITION IS TO LINE 99 ON PAGE FIVE, WHICH SPECIFIES PROJECT CONNECT DESIGN. YOU ALSO MENTIONED MID-BLOCK BIKE PEDESTRIAN CROSSING IMPROVEMENTS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE NEW DEVELOPMENT AND LOCATIONS. WHAT ABOUT THE EXISTING MID-BLOCK STOPS, SPECIFICALLY THE METROPOLITAN PARK IN DISTRICT SEVEN THAT YOU'VE HEARD ME SPEAK OF AD NAUSEUM? I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT LOOKING FORWARD FOR WHAT GENTRIFIER NEED DOES NOT COMPLY WITH TITLE VI. I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE AS WELL THAT THE SPONSORS HAVE NOT EVEN LOOKED IN THEIR OWN AREAS, SPECIFICALLY CRYSTAL LANE, IF YOU'LL RECOGNIZE ROUTE 3 83 IS THE ONLY BUS THAT IS THERE FOR TRANSIT DEPENDENT RIDERS, AND IT BARELY RUNS ON TIME WITH 30 MINUTE HEADWAY. IT WAS REDUCED JUNE 3RD, 2018 FOR CAP RE MAP. SO YOUR CONSTITUENTS CAN'T EVEN WORK THE SECOND SHIFT. CHEETO VELA, YOU'LL RECOGNIZE THAT ON CAMERON ROAD, THEY'VE RETROFITTED A LITTLE BIT OF TERRACOTTA BASED ON MY COMMENTS FOR THE BIKE PAD AREA NEAR CROSS PARK. I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THE SYSTEM IS AN EQUITABLE, AND SPECIFICALLY YOU MENTIONED AUSTIN'S STRATEGIC MOBILITY PLAN 50 50 MODE SHARE ON PAGE ONE. AND SPECIFICALLY THAT IS JUST A PROXY FOR RACE DISCRIMINATION BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT BUILDING MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT NORTHEAST OF US 180 3. AND WHILE I CERTAINLY CAN RESPECT THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER WANTING TO HELP WITH IMPROVEMENTS TO MULTIMODAL CONNECTIONS, GO TO NORTHEAST OF US 180 3, AND YOU WILL NOT SEE THAT ON VERNON. YOU'LL SEE IT ON VERNON, EXCUSE ME, BUT NOT ON NORTH LAMAR. YOU WON'T SEE IT ON DESAL ROAD AND YOU WON'T SEE IT EAST WEST ON PARMA LANE. THIS IS DISINGENUOUS. I WOULD ASK YOU TO PULL THIS RESOLUTION DOWN. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GLADLY ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU, MS. JOSEPH. YOU'RE WELCOME, MAYOR. I HAVE A REMOTE SPEAKER, FREEDOM 52 TAMARA R STEIN. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS TAMARA [00:50:01] STEIN. I LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE IN THE OLD WEST AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD WITH MY HUSBAND AND TWO YOUNG CHILDREN. I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE ON THIS ISSUE, AND I WAS EAGER TO COME AND SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL ABOUT THE OVERNIGHT NOISE WE'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING ON A REGULAR BASIS. UM, I AM SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE RESOLUTION IN ITEM 52. I'VE LIVED IN OLD WEST AUSTIN SINCE I MOVED TO AUSTIN 11 YEARS AGO. I LOVE THE CITY AS A WHOLE AND MY NEIGHBORHOOD IN PARTICULAR. WE HAVE WONDERFUL NEIGHBORS, AND IMPORTANTLY A MIX OF HOUSING TYPES. SO WE'RE THANKFUL TO HAVE MULTI-FAMILY UNITS, SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AND RETAIL AREAS THAT CREATE A VIBRANT NEIGHBORHOOD AND A GREAT MIX OF NEIGHBORS. THAT SAID, OUR HOME IS NEXT TO A SMALL APARTMENT BUILDING, AND THIS BUILDING HAS A DUMPSTER THAT'S ABOUT 20 FEET FROM OUR HOUSE. IT'S EMPTIED EVERY WEDNESDAY IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS, GENERALLY BETWEEN ONE AND 3:00 AM IT'S INCREDIBLY LOUD. THE TRUCK LIFTS THE DUMPSTER UP INTO THE AIR, BANGS THE DUMPSTER AGAINST THE TRUCK TO EMPTY IT, AND THEN SLAMS THE DUMPSTER BACK TO THE GROUND. IT WAKES OUR ENTIRE FAMILY EVERY SINGLE WEEK. AND MY FOUR AND A HALF YEAR OLD GOES TO BED ON TUESDAY SAYING IT'S THE WORST NIGHT BECAUSE OF THE TRUCK THAT COMES AND HOW LOUD IT IS. WE ALSO HAVE AN INFANT ASLEEP IS HARD ENOUGH TO COME BY AS IT IS, BUT TRULY EVERY AUSTIN RESIDENT SHOULD BE ABLE TO SLEEP WITHOUT BEING WOKEN UP BY EXCESSIVELY LOUD DUMPSTER ACTIVITY. AS STATED IN THE RESOLUTION, SEVERAL OTHER LARGE CITIES IN TEXAS ALREADY HAVE SUCH ORDINANCES IN PLACE, UM, PROHIBITING OVERNIGHT DUMPSTER PICKUP IN RESIDE RESIDENTIAL AREAS. I DO WANT TO RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THE CITY MANAGER CONSIDER ENSURING THAT THE ORDINANCE BROUGHT BEFORE COUNCIL INCLUDES PICKUP FROM BOTH COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES SO THAT IT ADDRESSES SITUATIONS LIKE OUR OWN. BUT I HOPE YOU'LL FAVORABLY CONSIDER THIS ITEM. AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY FOR ITEM 52, BRAD MASSING GUILD, AND THEN ITEM 54, ANA ALMANZA. MY TIME'S ALREADY STARTED. UM, UH, THE, UH, THIS IS A LONG OVERDUE ORDINANCE. I'M SURPRISED THIS HASN'T BEEN IN EFFECT YEARS AGO. UM, I, I WOULD ENCOURAGE Y'ALL TO EXTEND THE, THE, UH, THE TRASH NIGHTTIME TRASH PICKUP NOISE ORDINANCE TO INCLUDE THE ALL THESE VM U Y'ALL ARE BRINGING ONLINE, BECAUSE TECHNICALLY THEY'RE COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES AND THEY'RE GONNA BE IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS, SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA BE HAVING THE DUMPSTER PICK UP 25 FEET AWAY FROM OUR ESTABLISHED NEIGHBORHOODS. THIS IS, UH, ALSO ALONG THE, UH, THIS TRANSPORTATION CORRIDORS THAT Y'ALL ARE SETTING UP. THESE, THESE ARE A LOT OF 'EM, THEY'RE VERY THIN, UH, BARRIER BETWEEN THEM AND RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS. SO WHEN YOU'RE ALLOWING ALL THESE DEVELOPMENTS TO, TO PUT APARTMENTS IN CONCENTRATION ALONG THESE COMMERCIAL AREAS, AGAIN, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE DUMPSTERS ALL TIMES OF NIGHT AND DAY. I LIVE, UH, TWO DOORS DOWN FROM THE SAGEBRUSH BAR. THEIR TRASH PICKUP COMES AT SEVEN IN THE MORNING. CVS. IT'S ELEVATED ABOVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. WE GET TRASH PICKUP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, TWO OR THREE DUMPSTERS, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN HEAR IT FOR BLOCKS AWAY. BEEP, BEEP, BEEP, CRASH, CRASH THREE TIMES IN A ROW. YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A PROBLEM ALL OVER. AND, UH, THANKS FOR FOR PUTTING THIS ON THE, THE AGENDA AND, AND BEEF IT UP SOME PLEASE. ALMANZA, UH, I HAVE A POWERPOINT MAYOR IF YOU WAIT. AND THAT SET THE TIME. OKAY. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. I AM SUSAN ALMANZA. DANIEL ES WAS GROUNDED IN THE ROOTS OF MOTHER EARTH. DANIELI AND I WERE CONCERTO ANTES, HONORING OUR CULTURAL AND SPIRITUAL IDENTITY, AND PRESERVING OUR ANCESTRAL TRADITIONS OF HONORING MOTHER EARTH. AND THE CARDINAL POINTS WE UNDERSTOOD IT'S NOT CHANGING. WE UNDERSTOOD THAT BEING A ANTE INVOLVED, WALKING ON THE PATH WITH THE, WITH THE COMMUNITY TO ACHIEVE JUSTICE. DANIELLE WAS A MEMBER OF THE KEEPERS OF THE COLORADO RIVER PARK, WHICH INCLUDED THE COLORADO RIVER PARK WILDLIFE, SANCTUARY PARKS THAT PROVIDE CRITICAL URBAN HABITAT FOR WILDLIFE AND WILL AS PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE WALL RIVER. DANIELLE UNDERSTOOD THAT NATURE KIND AND HUMANKIND WERE INTERWOVEN, INTERLOCKED AND INSEPARABLE. WE RECOGNIZED THAT OUR MAJOR STRUGGLE WAS A LAND STRUGGLE AND A STRUGGLE TO PROTECT OUR LIVING WATERS. DANIELE CHRIS BROWN, LINDA GUERRERO AND I FOUND WERE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF THE COLORADO RIVER CONSERVANCY PROJECT DEDICATED TO RIVER CONSERVATION. VALERIE MENARD PRESENTLY COORDINATES THE COLORADO RIVER CONSERVANCY [00:55:02] FOR FOUR DECADES, RIGHT UP UNTIL HIS DEATH, DANETTE TIRELESSLY ADVOCATED FOR THE RIVER AND THE MAINTENANCE OF HIS NATURAL CHARACTER. HE CHAMPIONED AND HELD, DEVELOPED THE CORE RULES OF THE WATERFRONT OVERLAY, WHICH IS ESTABLISHED DEVELOPMENT SETBACKS, AND HAVE PROVEN HIGHLY AFFECTED AT FACILITATING NEW DEVELOPMENT ALONG THE CORRIDOR IN A WAY THAT PROTECTS AND PRESERVES THE RIPARIAN GREEN BELT. HE ADVOCATED FOR THE CLEANUP AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE AREA UNDER THE MON TOPLESS BRIDGE IN THE YEARS WHEN IT HAD BECOME A DUMP INSIDE. EVEN AS HE WAS DYING OF CANCER, DAN WAS OUT LEADING PARKS LEADERS ON WALKS THROUGH THE COLORADO RIVER PARK WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, ADVOCATING FOR ITS STEWARDSHIP AMONG A NEW GENERATION WHO HAD NOT BEEN AROUND FOR THE WORK THAT LED TO ITS CREATION. , THANKFUL FOR MANY ISSUES, UH, JUST WANTED BECAUSE THEY STOPPED ME AND SAID, I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR HONORING DANIEL GIANNIS AND HIS WORK BY ME, BY RENAMING COLORADO RIVER WALLOCK SANCTUARY AND HIS BEHALF. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CONTINUE ON ITEM 54, PEDRO HERNANDEZ JR. VALERIE MENARD, LEE ZIEGLER, MONICA GUZMAN, AND RITA THOMPSON. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS PEDRO RAND AND I'M WITH THE VASQUEZ HILLS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. FOR DECADES, DANIEL DEDICATED HIMSELF TO PROTECTING THE COLORADO RIVER AND ITS SURROUNDING PARKLANDS. HE HELPED SHAPE POLICIES THAT PRESERVED THE NATURAL CHARACTER OF THE RIVER CORRIDOR, UM, SUPPORTIVE, RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT, AND ADVOCATED FOR THE ACQUISITION AND STEWARDSHIP OF THE PARKLANDS THAT WE NOW, THAT NOW MAKE UP GIE G**O PARK AND THE SANCTUARY WILDLIFE SANCTUARY. HIS LEADERSHIP HELPED SAFEGUARD ONE OF AUSTIN'S LAST REMAINING STRETCHES OF RIVER, WILD RIVER, AND REPAIRING HABITAT BEYOND HIS POLICY WORK. DANIEL HAD A GIFT FOR HELPING PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY YOUNG PEOPLE, FEEL THEIR CONNECTION TO THE LAND. I WANNA SHARE A MOMENT THAT CAPTURES WHO HE WAS AT HIS CORE. ONE DAY HE HELD THE YOUNG SCHOLARS FOR JUSTICE. HE LED THE YOUNG SCHOLARS FOR JUSTICE. ON A WALK INTO ROY GIRO PARK, WE BEGAN NEAR LAKE SHORE BOULEVARD, SURROUNDED BY THE NOISE OF THE CITY CARS RUSHING BY HORNS ENGINES, ALL THE SOUNDS THAT DROWN OUT THE CONNECTION TO THE NATURE. AS WE WALKED DEEPER INTO THE PARK, THE NOISE FADED. DANIELLE STOPPED. THE GRANT STOPPED. THE GROUP ASKED THEM, ASKED THE STUDENTS TO CLOSE THEIR EYES AND SIMPLY LISTEN. HE SPOKE ABOUT THE WIND IN THE TREES, THE BIRDS CALLING TO ONE ANOTHER, THE INSECTS HUMMING, AND THE QUIET HEARTBEAT OF THE EARTH. HE REMINDED THE YOUTH THAT THEY'RE NOT SEPARATE FROM NATURE, BUT PART OF IT. AS HE SPOKE, HIS VOICE TREMBLED TEARS FILLED HIS EYES. HIS LEFT OF THE LAND WAS SO SINCERE THAT IT MOVED ME TO TEARS AS WELL. IN THAT MOMENT, I FELT EXACTLY WHAT HE FELT, THE SACREDNESS OF THE PLACE AND THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT IT. AND THE BEAUTY OF BEING CONNECTED TO SOMETHING LARGER THAN OURSELVES. I WILL NEVER FORGET THAT DAY, DANIELLE DIDN'T JUST TEACH ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP. HE EMBODIED IT. HE HELPED US FEEL IT. RENAMING THE SANCTUARY AS THE DANIEL , COLORADO RIVER PARK WILDLIFE SANCTUARY IS A FITTING AND NECESSARY WAY TO HO TO HONOR HIS LIFE'S WORK AND PRESERVE THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR. I, I'D LIKE TO DONATE MY TIME TO CARMEN JANNIS, WHO WILL BE SPEAKING LATER. I JUST FILLED OUT THE FORM AND YOU NEED TO GO OVER HERE AND GET THAT DONE. I, I DID, I FILLED OUT THE FORM. AND SHE'S, SO, SHE, WE DON'T, WE NOT, WE DO THIS EVERY WEEK. WE HAVE A PROCESS. IF YOU'LL GO OVER THERE AND DO THAT, WE'LL MAKE SURE SHE DID. AND THEY SAID IT'S TOO LATE. WILL YOU ALLOW IT, PLEASE? WHO SAID IT WAS TOO LATE? APRIL, THE MAYOR. DO WHAT YOU WANT. I BELIEVE YOU TELL ME EVERY WEEK I CAN'T. MR. WHALE . I'M GLAD YOU FINALLY CAME AROUND. UM, YEAH. WE'LL, WE WILL DO THAT. WE WILL DO THAT. IF YOU'LL JUST GO SO THAT THEY HAVE IT IN THE RECORD AND WE CAN DO IT IN THE RECORD. WE'LL OF COURSE DO THAT. SO THANK YOU. I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE, HAVE IT SET UP RIGHT. BOBBY LEVINSKY, ADRIAN MESSIAHS AND MADDIE GUTIERREZ, WHILE WE SORT THIS OUT, PLEASE GO AHEAD. JUST STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. RITA THOMPSON. DISTRICT FIVE. GREAT. UM, IN A TIME WHERE WE'RE STRUGGLING WITH KEEPING OUR CONNECTION TO ALL THAT IS GOOD IN OUR HUMANITY AND APPRECIATING OUR CONNECTION TO NATURE AND THE ENVIRONMENT, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO DO A RIGHT AND HONORABLE THING. AND PLEASE NAME THIS AFTER DANIELLE GIANNIS AND, UH, AND MAKE OUR CITY PROUD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. [01:00:08] OKAY, I'M GONNA CONTINUE CALLING FOR THIS ITEM. JEFFREY BOWEN. BETSY GREENBERG, BARBARA MACARTHUR. UH, GOOD MORNING LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. JEFFREY BOWEN, DISTRICT EIGHT, ALSO SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOODS COUNSEL IS THEIR PRESIDENT. UH, DANIEL GIANNIS WAS ONE OF OUR KEY MEMBERS AND CONTRIBUTED A LOT. AND SO I REALLY, WHEN WE WERE ASKED TO SUPPORT THIS, THAT WAS A NO BRAINER FOR US. 'CAUSE WE WERE ALWAYS LOOK, LOOKING FOR A WAY TO DEAL WITH THIS. I'D LIKE TO THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ AND ALSO ALL THE CO-SPONSORS. MR. MAYOR MARK UCHIN. UH, OH, THERE HE IS, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM, UH, VELA. AND ALSO, UH, MEMBER, UH, BRIAN ALTER. UH, DANIEL WILL BE MISSED. UH, HE WAS NOT ONLY A FRIEND. I KNOW THAT'S SOMETIMES HARD TO BELIEVE, BUT WE WOULD HAVE ACTUALLY REALLY GOOD CONVERSATIONS. LAUGH, CUT UP, TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE, THE DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT I'LL MISS HIS HUMOR ALSO. BUT HE WAS AN EXTREMELY VALUABLE MEMBER OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND CONTRIBUTED MORE THAN MANY PEOPLE WILL EVER KNOW. SO WE ARE IN TOTAL SUPPORT OF CHANGING THE NAME OF THIS, UH, WILDLIFE SANCTUARY AND HIS HONOR AGAIN, UM, DANIEL WILL BE MISSED. UM, I KNOW IT PROBABLY WON'T BE MISSED COMING TO COUNCIL, UH, TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT HE DID, BUT AT LEAST HE WAS NOT AFRAID TO, UH, TO SPEAK HIS MIND AND SHOW HIS PASSION, UH, FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, FOR THIS TOWN, AND FOR THE ITEMS THAT HE DEARLY LOVED. AGAIN, PLEASE PASS THIS, AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING SPONSORS AND CO-SPONSORS OF THIS. AND THANK YOU TO PODER FOR, UH, BRINGING THIS FORWARD ALSO. OKAY, I'M GONNA CALL THE REST OF THE SPEAKERS FOR THIS ITEM. BRAD MASSENGILL, ROY WHALEY, WILLIAM BUNGE, AND THEN CARMEN YANES, WHO WE NOW HAVE TIME DONATED FROM. VALERIE MENARD. DAN DANIELLE WAS, UH, IF NOTHING ELSE, HE WAS A WARRIOR. I MEAN, HE BELIEVED IN THE THINGS THAT HE BELIEVED IN, AND HE FOUGHT FOR 'EM AND HIS COMMUNITY AND THIS AREA OF COLORADO WERE, WERE DEFINITELY HIGH ON HIS LIST OF PRIORITIES. UH, I, I, I WORKED WITH HIM ON AND OFF OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS. UM, AND I'VE ALSO HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF, OF BEING INVOLVED IN A LOT OF NATIVE AMERICAN CELEBRATIONS AND PROTESTS ALL ACROSS THIS COUNTRY. AND, UH, MEETING ELDERS, UH, TO SHOW RESPECT. YOU'D CALL YOUR, CALL HIM EL GRANDPA OR GRAND GRANDMA. YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE WAY THINGS WERE, YOU KNOW, AND, UH, DURING THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS OF DANIELLE'S LIFE, I MADE THE MISTAKE OF, UH, CALLING HIM GRANDPA. AND HE LET ME KNOW THAT THAT WAS NOT THE THING TO DO. HE WAS YOUNG AT HEART AND HE WAS FIERCELY, UH, INTO BEING ALIVE AND BEING PART OF NATURE AND THE THINGS AROUND HIM. AND THAT INCLUDES Y'ALL EVEN. SO, UH, I THINK THIS IS A VERY AWESOME OPPORTUNITY TO, TO LET HIS LEGACY LIVE ON. AND MAYBE FUTURE GENERATIONS CAN FIND OUT MORE ABOUT NOT JUST HIS, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVITIES, BUT HIS, UH, HIS ADVOCACY FOR INDIGENOUS RIGHTS. UH, THE P POOR PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, OUR COMMUNITY AND, UH, JUST IN GENERAL, A PEACE ADVOCATE AND A SOCIAL JUSTICE HERO. SO, THANKS FOR, FOR DOING THIS, MR. WHALEY. HOWDY, Y'ALL. MY NAME IS ROY WHALEY. I'M SPEAKING AS AN INDIVIDUAL AND AN ENVIRONMENTALIST AND A PROUD FRIEND OF, OF DANIELLE YIANNIS. UM, DANIELLE WAS A MAN OF, OF GREAT HEART, OF GREAT LOVE, AND HE SHARED IT. AND HE, I KNOW THAT I CAN COME DOWN HERE AND KIND OF BE A, A PAIN IN THE, THE BOTTOM END. SOMETIMES. DANIELLE WOULD BE A HUGE PAIN IN THE ASS. AND THANK GOD FOR [01:05:01] HIM FOR THAT. AND I'M SO GLAD THAT Y'ALL ARE SEEING THAT AND STILL HONORING HIM WITH THIS. WITH THIS, WE'RE, WE'RE, YOU CAN'T, I CAN'T WALK THROUGH THAT AREA WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT DANIELLE. AND HE WAS ALWAYS IN MY THOUGHTS, FREQUENTLY IN MY THOUGHTS. I THINK THIS IS A GREAT THING FOR YOU TO DO. I SUGGEST ALL OF YOU SIGN ON AS CO-SPONSORS OF THIS, BUT THIS IS ONLY A BEGINNING. THIS IS A BEGINNING TO NAME THEM AFTER HIM. IN A FUTURE COUNCIL MEETING, YOU ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT CESAR CHAVEZ STREET AND THINKING ABOUT RENAMING THAT. DON'T GO BACK TO FIRST STREET. YOU WANT SAY SOMETHING TO DANIELLE. SAY, THIS IS DANIELLE GIANNIS BOULEVARD. CHANGE THE NAME TO A LOCAL HERO. AND HE WAS A LOCAL HERO. CON MUTUAL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MR. BUNCH. THANK YOU MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS, BILL BUNCH, UH, SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE DISTRICT FIVE. I JUST WANNA THANK ALL OF Y'ALL FOR SUPPORTING, UH, THIS VERY IMPORTANT HONOR FOR DANIELLE YIANNIS. UM, HE HAS INSPIRED ME AND SO MANY OTHER, UH, ENVIRONMENT, NEIGHBORHOOD, SOCIAL JUSTICE, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ADVOCATES, UH, SINCE BACK, ALL THE WAY BACK IN THE EIGHTIES, UH, HE NEVER FELL FOR THE DIVIDE AND CONQUER TACTICS THAT WERE SO OFTEN, UH, THROWN AT US. UH, HE, YOU KNOW, HE WAS A STAUNCH ADVOCATE FOR EAST AUSTIN, UH, ESPECIALLY, UH, BUT HE BRIDGED OVER AND HE UNDERSTOOD WE HAD TO PROTECT THE WEST SIDE AS WELL, THE HILL COUNTRY AND OUR WATER SUPPLY WATERSHEDS, UH, BARTON SPRINGS, UH, LADY BIRD LAKE, UH, AND SO ON. UH, HE WAS AN ADVOCATE FOR THE ARTS AS WELL, ARTIST, MUSICIAN, UH, DANCER. UM, HE WAS AN ALL AROUND CITIZEN WHO CARED ABOUT, UH, THE WELLBEING OF THIS COMMUNITY AND IMPARTED THAT TO SO MANY PEOPLE. UM, THIS WILDLIFE SANCTUARY DESIGNATION IS SO APPROPRIATE. HE LIVED RIGHT THERE. HE KNEW IT BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS. AND THEN HE EMBRACED THE NEWCOMERS WHO WERE INTERESTED IN HELPING PROTECT IT, UH, WORKING CLOSELY WITH CHRISTOPHER BROWN. UM, AND SO MANY OF THESE STORIES AND, AND RECOGNITION OF THE SPECIALNESS OF THIS PLACE, THIS PARTICULAR WILDLIFE SANCTUARY DOCUMENTED BY CHRIS IN HIS BOOK, UH, FIELD GUIDE TO, UH, EMPTY LOTS AND, UH, CERTAINLY, UH, UH, A NATURAL HISTORY OF EMPTY LOTS. EXCUSE ME. HOPE YOU'LL READ THAT. UM, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S IN IT IN ITS WAY, OWN WAYS, A DEDICATION TO DANIELLE. SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD MORNING, CATA DISTRICT. UM, I AM DANIEL'S DAUGHTER, AND I WANNA SAY TO ALL MY RELATIONS, ALL MY EXTENDED FAMILY IN THIS ROOM, ALL OF THOSE WHOSE LIVES IN AUSTIN ARE MADE POSSIBLE BY OUR VERY OWN YANA, THE ONE WE KNOW AS THE COLORADO RIVER. I WANNA THANK SUSANNA AND ALL THE CITIZENS WHO WROTE TO YOU AND CALLED IN SUPPORT OF THE RENAMING TO HONOR MY FATHER'S LEGACY. AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT HIS DESIRE TO BE PERSONALLY RECOGNIZED ONLY EXISTED TO THE EXTENT THAT IT PROMOTED THE INTERESTS OF HIS NEIGHBORS, HIS WILDLIFE NEIGHBORS. THAT INCLUDES THE FISH EAGLES, THAT INCLUDES THE GREAT BLUE HERON AND THE LITTLE BLUE HERON, THE FOXES, THE WHITETAIL DEER, THE ANIMALS AS BIG AS THE BOBCAT THAT WE'VE SPOTTED ALONG THE RIVER. AND IN AS INDUSTRIOUS AS THE LEAF CUTTER ANTS, HE ALSO CARED IMMENSELY ABOUT HIS NEIGHBORS. AND HE TRULY UNDERSTOOD THAT NEIGHBORS AND ARE CARE FOR EACH OTHER AS NEIGHBORS IS WHAT MAKES LIFE LIVABLE. BEFORE THE COLORADO CONSERVANCY, HE HELPED START FRIENDS OF THE COLORADO, AND IN THE LAST DECADE ESPECIALLY, HE GOT TO KNOW HIS NEIGHBORS DOWNRIVER IN CO INCLUDING THOSE ALONG OTS LANE, YOU HEARD FROM THEM LAST WEEK, WE BEGGED YOU NOT TO ALLOW A HUNDRED PERCENT IMPERVIOUS COVER ON 2,600 ACRES OF THE COLORADO RIVER RIGHT NEXT DOOR, WHERE ALL OUR ANIMAL PLANT, FUNGAL AND HUMAN NEIGHBORS CURRENTLY LIVE DOWN RIVER. AND I CAN'T BE MY FATHER'S DAUGHTER WITHOUT [01:10:01] SPEAKING TO THAT TRUTH, BECAUSE IN HIS WORDS, WE GOTTA BE REAL. BEING IN EAST AUSTINITE OFTEN FEELS LIKE BEING IN AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP, GIVEN A GIFT IN PUBLIC AFTER BEING HURT VERY BADLY. AND HE PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FORGIVE YOU FOR WHAT YOU DID TO OUR RIVER LAST WEEK AND OUR PUBLIC PROCESS AND VOTING IN EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THOSE NATURAL GAS PEAKERS. BUT I AM HOPEFUL, UH, BECAUSE I APPRECIATE THAT YOU'VE STILL TAKEN THESE MEASURES TO HONOR HIM. NOT FOR HIM, HIS EGO, BUT FOR HIS LEGACY OF PROTECTING OUR NATURAL WORLD AND OUR NEIGHBORS IN IT. UM, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU, THANK YOU TO ALL THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO SUPPORTED THIS MEASURE. UH, OUR MOTHER MAY FORGIVE US BECAUSE SHE KNOWS THAT YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST WEEK. UM, BUT THERE'S STILL A FUTURE. THERE'S THIS LITTLE PIECE WE CAN CARVE OUT OF HABITAT, AND WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO TRY AND PROTECT WHAT WE HAVE LEFT. SO AGAIN, I SAY THANK YOU FOR HONORING MY FATHER AND RESPECTING HIS LEGACY, AND I HOPE MY WISH AND MY PRAYER AND THAT OF HIS, I BELIEVE AS WELL, IS THAT YOU CAN BE MOVED TO HONOR AND RESPECT OUR MOTHER AS WELL. THANK YOU FOR ITEM 55, BRAD MASSENGILL AND XIA JOSEPH, AND THEN FOR 56 FRED RICHARDSON FOR MR. MASSENGALE. ARE YOU HERE? YOU GONNA SPEAK ON 55? IF YOU ARE, PLEASE COME ON FORWARD. GO AHEAD AND BEGIN. MS. JOSEPH. THANK YOU, MAYOR COUNSEL, I'M ENOVIA JOSEPH. ITEM 55 IS SPECIFICALLY DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO LOOK AT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUY DOWN AFFORDABILITY. I'M NOT SURE WHY FEE IN LIEU INCLUDED, HOWEVER, I JUST WANNA CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION WHERE IT MENTIONS THE 60 TO 80% AREA MEDIAN INCOME ON PAGE, UH, ON LINE 18 THIS MORNING, I WROTE TO GARY.GATES@HOUSE.TEXAS.GOV, AND SENATOR CAMPBELL, HER STAFFER REPLIED BACK, SHE'LL LOOK INTO THIS ITEM. I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT WHAT THE CITY MANAGER NEEDS TO LOOK AT IS THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN VERON PROJECTS. THERE ARE 23 SINCE 2021. THESE ARE 60 TO 80% AREA MEDIAN INCOME. MOST OF THESE PROPERTIES ARE OVER 90% OCCUPIED AT THE TIME THEY DO THE DEAL. SO THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE OPPORTUNITIES, BUT I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE BUS DOESN'T GO TO THE HIGH OPPORTUNITY AREAS. SO WE COULD START WITH NORTHEAST WEST CONNECTIVITY THERE. THE 11TH ASSET WAS EXTREMELY HIGH OPPORTUNITY, 98% OCCUPIED. THAT WAS THE BELRON DEAL OVER, UH, UH, BASICALLY ROLLING OAKS APARTMENTS. THERE WAS THE BELRON DEAL ON FM ROAD 22 22 90 4% OCCUPIED. AND, UH, THAT FIRST PROPERTY THAT I MENTIONED WAS $136 MILLION. IT GOES ON, AND I JUST WOULD SAY THE STEINER RANCH ONE, THERE'S NO TRANSPORTATION THERE. THESE PROPERTIES START AT $1,600. AND SO, CITY MANAGER, I WOULD JUST ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS THE DATA, AND ZERO TO ONE VOUCHER HOLDERS ARE OFTEN IN THESE PROPERTIES, EVEN THOUGH THAT'S HOW THEY GET THE DEALS DONE. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GLADLY ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU, MS. JOSEPH. YOU'RE WELCOME. OKAY, MOVING ON TO ITEM 58. I HAVE MONICA GUZMAN, YOUR NAME WAS CALLED FROM SIX. GOOD MORNING. I'M, THAT'S WHY I ASKED PEOPLE TO COME DOWN, SO I'LL KNOW YOU'RE HERE. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU ALL. GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR. MAYOR, COUNCIL FRED RICHARDSON, COUNCIL DISTRICT THREE. UM, I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE AMIGOS DEPAR OSA, THE PARK ADOPTER GROUP FOR PARK OSA, THE OLDEST PARK IN EAST AUSTIN, ESTABLISHED IN 1931. UM, WE ARE STRONGLY IN SUPPORT OF COUNCIL MEMBER OF VELAZQUEZ'S RESOLUTION, UM, FOR ITEM 56 FOR EDWARD RED DAWN, SR. METROPOLITAN PARK, WITH THE DIRECTIVE TO STAFF FOR AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION TO COLLECT COMMUNITY FEEDBACK REGARDING DESIGN AND CONTENT OF INTERPRETIVE SIGNAGE. THERE. UM, WE'D LIKE TO SUGGEST A MODIFICATION TO THIS AGENDA ITEM TO INCLUDE PARKADE OSA AS [01:15:01] PART OF THE DIRECTIVE TO A PR STAFF, THAT THEY ALSO COLLECT COMMUNITY FEEDBACK ON THE CREATION OF INTERPRETIVE MEDIA FOR PARKADE ZARAGOZA, UM, REGARDING THE FINANCIAL AUTHORIZATION THERE, UM, WE'RE NOT ASKING PARKADE ZARAGOZA TO BE INCLUDED IN THAT. UM, WE'RE LOOKING TO HAVE THIS INTERPRETIVE MEDIA CREATED, UM, BY AND INSTALLED BY 2031, WHICH WILL BE THE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF PARK OSA. UM, AND SO WE'RE PROPOSING TO, UM, FIND FUNDING FOR THE DESIGN AND INSTALLATION OF THAT INTERPRETIVE MEDIA SEPARATELY OUTSIDE OF COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ'S, UM, SPECIFIC OFFICE BUDGET. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY, 58 MONICA GUZMAN. GOOD MORNING. I'M MONICA GUZMAN, GAVA, POLICY DIRECTOR SPEAKING ON ITEM 58. THE DRAFT RESOLUTION LACKS SUFFICIENT CLARITY REGARDING REDEVELOPMENT OF PARK AMENITIES. GAVA AND OTHER PARK SUPPORTERS AND CHAMPIONS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL IMPACT TO ZILKER PARK, CHICANO PARK, AND OTHER PARKLAND. THANK YOU. OKAY, FOR IN-PERSON SPEAKERS FRIDAY 58. I HAVE RITA THOMPSON, WILLIAM BUNCH, ZENOBIA JOSEPH, JEFFREY BOWEN, SCOTT JOHNSON, AND MICHAEL MOLA. PLEASE COME FORWARD IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED AND YOU WISH TO SPEAK. UH, RITA THOMPSON, DISTRICT FIVE. UM, I HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I HAVEN'T LOOKED AT THE BACKUP THOROUGHLY, BUT I LOOKED AT IT ENOUGH TO BE CONCERNED WHILE AT FIRST BLUSH IT LOOKS GOOD ABOUT ENHANCING PARKS AND ENABLING SOME POCKET PARKS TO HAVE, UH, CONCERNS ADDRESSED. BUT THEN AS I READ ON, I'M STARTING TO SEE THINGS LIKE WAIVERS, INCLUDING SITE PLAN WAIVERS. UM, PLEASE POSTPONE THIS AND WAIT FOR THERE UNTIL THERE'S FURTHER REVIEW. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS HAS BEEN PRESENTED IN A WORK SESSION TO YOUR PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A PLAN FOR THIS TO GO BEFORE ANY COMMISSIONS ABOUT CONCERNS THEY HAVE. IT DOESN'T GIVE ME PLEASURE TO SAY THIS, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE OUR TRUST AFTER THE ZILKER VISION PLAN, AFTER, UH, EXPLORING ALCOHOL CELLS AT BARTON SPRINGS BY ANY ACCOUNT. I WENT AND DID SOME RESEARCH ON THAT, BY THE WAY. AND THERE IS NO PUBLIC POLICY ENTITY THAT THINKS SELLING ALCOHOL AT A POOL MUCH LESS SOMETHING LIKE BARTON SPRINGS IS A GOOD IDEA. AND SINCE THOSE THINGS HAVE BEEN FLOATED HERE AND TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION BEFORE, I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT ANYTHING GOING THROUGH WITHOUT MORE OVERSIGHT FROM THE PARKS AND REC BOARD AND FOR MORE CITIZENS INPUT. SO, RESPECTFULLY, I ASK YOU, PULL THIS, POSTPONE THIS, AND WAIT TILL YOU GET SOME INPUT. AND RESPECTFULLY, STOP TELLING US WHAT YOU KNOW, WHAT'S BEST FOR US, AND LISTEN TO US AND TAKE SOME TIME. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS, BILL BUNCH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE, URGING YOU TO VOTE NO ON THIS PROPOSED RESOLUTION, UM, OR AT LEAST AMEND IT TO, UH, MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THIS HAS TO GO BACK TO ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, PARKS BOARD COMMISSION, ET CETERA. THIS IS A RESOLUTION TO STREAMLINE, BASICALLY DEREGULATE, UH, THE PAVING, CONSTRUCTION, COMMERCIALIZATION, AND PRIVATIZATION OF OUR PARKS. UM, IT, IT, THE FIRST COUPLE AT WAREHOUSES, UH, MAKE IT A A WOLF'S AND SHEEP'S CLOTHING, CLOTHING, UH, MAKING IT SOUND LIKE IT, LIKE IT'S JUST FOR PLAYGROUNDS IN NEIGHBORHOOD POCKET PARKS. UH, IT'S NOT, IT GOES WAY, WAY BEYOND THAT ENCOMPASSES ALL OF OUR PARKS. UM, YOU'RE NEXT TO LAST RE UH, WHEREAS IN THE RED LINE VOLUME TWO, VERSION TWO VERSION, UH, REFERENCES, PARKS AND REC HAS PRIORITIZED THE LIST OF PARK IMPROVEMENTS, RENOVATIONS, AND REPLACEMENTS TO BE IMPLEMENTED WITH FUTURE BOND FUNDING. UM, THAT LIST, THIS PRIORITIZED LIST IS NOT IN THE BACKUP. WHAT ARE YOU EVEN TALKING ABOUT FUTURE BOND FUNDS? WE, YOU KNOW, THAT WE DON'T HAVE A BOND PACKAGE THAT'S BEEN APPROVED. OKAY? THIS, THIS IS NOT RIGHT. WE NEED TO BE INFORMED BEFORE WE ACT. UM, IF YOU'RE GONNA MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS, WHICH YOU PROBABLY ALMOST CERTAINLY ARE, UM, MAKE SURE THIS GOES TO ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, PARKS BOARD AT A MINIMUM, UH, AND, AND TELL [01:20:01] AND PUT IT IN THE RESOLUTION SO THAT WE'RE NOT JUST BACK HERE IGNORING THE NORMAL COMMUNITY, UH, PROCESS, UH, FOR CONSIDERING, UH, THESE KIND OF CHANGES. UH, THANK YOU. GO AHEAD. THANK YOU, MAYOR COUNCIL. I'M ENOVIA JOSEPH. I'LL JUST PIGGYBACK OFF HER MR. BUNCH. AS IT RELATES TO THE BOND FUNDING LINE 26, I JUST WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT WHEN THE BOND ELECTION ADVISORY TASK FORCE ACTUALLY HEARD THE FINAL RECOMMENDATION, NOTHING WAS IN BACKUP. THE COMM, THE COMMUNITY DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT THEY COULD SPEAK ON THOSE ITEMS. AND SO I WOULD ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE EARLIER AS IT RELATES TO DISTRUST. UH, WE HAVE REASON TO DISTRUST YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT BEING TRANSPARENT WITH US. WHEN I ASKED NICOLE THE STAFF LIAISON, SHE BLAMED THE CITY CLERK. APPARENTLY THE INFORMATION WASN'T PROVIDED IN A TIMELY MANNER, BUT THE CITIZEN SHOULDN'T BE PENALIZED BECAUSE THE INFORMATION ISN'T THERE. BUT YET YOU CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD. SO I WOULD JUST REMIND YOU OF RYAN ALTER'S COMMENTS ON TUESDAY WHERE HE BASICALLY, AND I'M PARAPHRASING, SAYING THAT YOU CIRCUMVENT THE LAW BY BASICALLY FIGURING OUT WHAT IT IS YOU WANT TO DO. AND THEN AFTER THE FACT, YOU THEN FIGURE OUT THE POLICY TO SUPPORT YOUR WORK. I WOULD ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE AS WELL ON PAGE ONE AT THE BOTTOM, HIGH CAPACITY TRANSIT, CHEETO VELA, YOU ARE WELL AWARE THAT ROUTE 3 25 IS THE ONLY BUS ROUTE WITH 15 MINUTE HEADWAY IN YOUR AREA, AND IT BARELY RUNS ON TIME. AND SO WHILE YOU SUPPORT PROJECT CONNECT, WHICH IS ALSO SPECIFIED THERE, IT WILL NEVER SERVE THE CONSTITUENTS NORTHEAST OF US. 180 3, IT WILL NEVER SERVE THE CONSTITUENTS FROM SAMSUNG TO APPLE, THE 425 ACRE DEVELOPMENT EAST VILLAGE. AND SO I WOULD ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THE NEED TO PULL THIS DOWN AND TO BE TRUTHFUL WITH THE PUBLIC AND TO RECOGNIZE AS WELL ON RUNDBERG BY I 35, THAT IS ACTUALLY IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT BECAUSE IT'S AN AREA OF INTEREST FOR TEXDOT. AND EVEN THAT AREA WAS NOT IMPROVED. SO WHY SHOULD WE BELIEVE THAT YOU'RE GONNA DO ANYTHING WITH THIS PARKLAND NOW? THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. JOSEPH. AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS ARE FOR ITEM 59, JEFFREY BOWEN, SCOTT JOHNSON, AND MICHAEL MAZZOLA. IF YOU'RE READY. GO AHEAD, SIR. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS. SCOTT JOHNSON. HERE. I STRONGLY SUPPORT ITEM 59. I'M A REGULAR, UH, SIT DOWN VESPA TYPE SCOOTER RIDER. ELECTRIC SCOOTER BINDS OUTSIDE ON SECOND STREET. THE DMV CATEGORIZES ELECTRIC BICYCLES AS ONES THAT CAN'T GO OVER 28 MILES PER HOUR. THEY HAVE ONLY 750 WATTS MAXIMUM, WHICH IS EQUIVALENT TO ONE HORSEPOWER AND OTHER FACTORS. LAST YEAR IN MARCH, APRIL, I SENT A MESSAGE TO THE FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF OF A PD ROBIN HENDERSON INDICATING THAT I'M SEEING THESE IN GROWING NUMBERS AND THE SHEET MAY HAVE ALREADY BEEN PASSED OUT TO YOU. THE MOST EGREGIOUS ONE IS THIS SIRON, UH, NON ROAD OR OFF-ROAD ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLE. YOU COULD SEE KIDS ON THAT AS YOUNG AS 14 OR 13 COMING DOWN STRATFORD LANE, RIDING ON THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT IS ONLY 10 MILES PER HOUR WHIPPING AROUND. SO SHE THANKED ME FOR THAT. SHE SENT IT TO THE TRAINING ACADEMY SO THEY COULD PUT TOGETHER A BULLETIN AND BECOME AWARE OF THIS GROWING ISSUE. E SCOOTERS, AGAIN, ARE A DANGER TO VULNERABLE USERS OF THE BUTLER TRAIL BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING FAST OR WEAVING IN AND AROUND OF TRAFFIC. EVEN E-BIKES ALWAYS GO OVER, ALMOST ALWAYS GO OVER 10 MILES PER HOUR. SO ENFORCEMENT SHOULD BE THERE WITH THE TRAIL FOUNDATION, YOU SHOULD COLLABORATE WITH THEM. OTHER THINGS, E SKATEBOARDS, UNICYCLES, ONE WHEEL, TWO WHEELS, EVEN BICYCLES. ALL THESE OTHER VEHICLES ARE ONES THAT ARE CLOGGING SIDEWALKS, WHICH IS A CHALLENGE AND SOMETHING THAT HOPEFULLY THIS IS A COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AND YOU'RE GETTING FEEDBACK FROM PEOPLE LIKE ME RATHER THAN JUST THE TESTIMONY THAT I'M GIVING TODAY. SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHEN YOU HAVE A VEHICLE THAT GOES OVER 28 THAT HAS MORE THAN SEVEN 50 WATTS, MINE DOES, YOU NEED TO HAVE AN ENDORSEMENT FOR MOTORCYCLES. YOU NEED TO HAVE ALSO IT PLATED, AND YOU NEED TO HAVE LIABILITY INSURANCE. PLEASE KEEP THESE THINGS IN MIND. THANK YOU. UH, JEFFREY BOWEN, DISTRICT EIGHT. UM, [01:25:02] ACTUALLY, I, I KIND OF LIKE THIS, UH, THIS, UM, THIS AGENDA ITEM. UM, IN MY YOUNGER DAYS, I HAD A DIRT BIKE, BELIEVE IT OR NOT. AND WE RODE THROUGHOUT THE WOODS. AND, UH, THERE WAS A THING CALLED ENFORCEMENT FOR ME BACK THEN, BECAUSE WHEN I DID SOMETHING WRONG, I WAS HELD ACCOUNTABLE. MY, MY MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN AWAY FROM ME BY MY FATHER FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME WHEN I DID SOMETHING THAT WASN'T, WASN'T, WASN'T PROPER OR WASN'T, UH, CONDONED. UH, YESTERDAY AS I LEFT THE CONSTRUCTION SHOW, I, I, UH, WENT DOWN WEST RIVERSIDE. AND AS I WAS GOING DOWN WEST RIVERSIDE, GOING OVER TOWARDS LAMAR, THERE WAS A YOUNG MAN ON ONE OF THESE BIKES DOING WHEELIES ON THE PARKING LOT OR ON THE, UH, THE SIDEWALK GOING BACK AND FORTH IN FRONT OF THE BIG HILL THERE BY BUTLER PARK. AND I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, WOW, JUST AN ITEM THAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT WAS GOING TO TALK ABOUT, AND HERE HE IS. UM, I WAS ALWAYS HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR MY, UH, DERELICTION IN MY YOUNGER DAYS. AND SOMETIMES NOW, BUT I, I QUESTION GOING THROUGH ALL OF THIS. HOW ARE WE GOING TO ENFORCE THIS? HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO THESE TYPE OF THINGS IN ENFORCEMENT WHEN WE'RE NOT EVEN ABLE TO ENFORCE SOME OF THE OTHER ISSUES THAT WE HAVE OUT THERE? UH, WHETHER IT BE WITH SCOOTERS, WHETHER IT BE WITH JAYWALKING, WHETHER IT BE WITH, UH, TALKING HANDS FREE, SO ON AND SO FORTH. SO I DO URGE THIS, BUT I ALSO LOOK AT THIS AS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET HURT BY PEOPLE NOT BEING RESPONSIBLE IN THEIR YOUNGER YEARS. UM, AGAIN, I APPRECIATE THIS COMING FORWARD INTO THOSE SPONSORS THAT HAVE LOOKED AT THIS. UM, EVEN TRAVELING DOWN, UM, BLUE BONNET QUITE FREQUENTLY AS I DO, I SEE, UM, A LOT OF THESE, THESE TYPE OF VEHICLES IN THE BICYCLE LANES, UH, RUNNING AT VERY HIGH SPEEDS. AND EVEN ON THE ROADWAYS, SOMEBODY'S GOING TO GET HURT, AND THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YES, SIR. UH, GOOD MORNING, MICHAEL MOZILLA, DISTRICT NINE. I'M A BICYCLE RIDER AND ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLIST. UH, I CARE ABOUT RESPONSIBLE RIDING AND SAFE TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS. UM, AND I SUPPORT THE ENFORCEMENT AGAINST THE DANGEROUS BEHAVIOR OUTLINED IN THE RESOLUTION. UH, NOBODY WANTS PEOPLE RIDING RECKLESSLY ON SIDEWALKS THROUGH TRAFFIC. UM, BUT I URGE THE COUNCIL AND CITY, UH, MANAGER TO, TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT CREATING ADDITIONAL LOCAL REGULATIONS FOR VEHICLES THAT ARE ALREADY COVERED UNDER THE TEXAS TRANSPORTATION CODE. UH, THE RESOLUTION CORRECTLY RECOGNIZES THAT MOST OF THESE VEHICLES ARE NOT LEGALLY E-BIKES UNDER STATE LAW. AND THE TRANSPORTATION CODE ALREADY CONSIDERS THESE VEHICLES AS MOTORCYCLES OR MINI MOTORBIKES, UH, EACH WITH THEIR OWN RULES AROUND LICENSING AND HOW AND WHERE THEY CAN BE OPERATED. SO I WORRY THAT, UH, LAYERING AUSTIN SPECIFIC RULES ON TOP OF THIS COULD CREATE EVEN MORE CONFUSION FOR RIDERS, PARENTS, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR USERS OF LOW POWERED ELECTRIC VEHICLES. I ALSO WANNA EMPHASIZE THE RECREATIONAL SIDE OF THIS ISSUE, NOT JUST THE ENFORCEMENT SIDE. AUSTIN HAS STEADILY LOST LEGAL PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO RIDE OFF-ROAD MOTORCYCLES AND ALONGS. MOTORCYCLE TRAIL ACCESS HAS BEEN REDUCED OVER TIME, AND AUSTIN MOTOCROSS PARK CLOSED BECAUSE OF DEVELOPMENT. MEANWHILE, THESE VEHICLES HAVE BECOME MORE POPULAR WITH YOUNG PEOPLE LOOKING FOR RECREATION. UM, THE CITY HAS SUCCESSFULLY SUPPORTED THIS KIND OF RECREATION IN THE PAST BY CREATING LEGITIMATE SPACES, UM, INSTEAD OF JUST INCREASING ENFORCEMENT, SKATE PARKS AND NINTH STREET, BMX TRAILS ARE GREAT EXAMPLES OF THE CITY WORKING WITH RIDING COMMUNITIES TO CREATE A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN SAFELY RIDE AND BUILD COMMUNITY. UH, FOR MANY TEENAGERS, THESE VEHICLES AREN'T JUST TOYS, THEY'RE TRANSPORTATION OR A HOBBY TO GET THEM OUTSIDE. AND INTRODUCTION INTO MECHANICS AND MOTOR SPORTS, WE'RE CONTINUE TO REMOVING PLACES, UH, WITHOUT CREATING ALTERNATIVES. RIDERS WILL NATURALLY END UP IN THESE PLACES. THEY SHOULDN'T BE SELF WANTS SAFER OUTCOMES. THE ANSWER IS A MIX OF EDUCATION, TARGETED ENFORCEMENT, AND LEGAL PLACES WHERE PEOPLE CAN RESPONSIBLY RIDE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ITEM 62, SENOIA JOSEPH. THANK YOU, MAYOR. COUNSEL, I'M OPIA JOSEPH. ITEM 62 IS A FAIR FREE VOTING ITEM. I'M NEUTRAL. I THINK IT SHOULD BE FAIR ON ELECTION DAY, BUT RESPECTFULLY, THE CAPITOL METRO'S BUS FARE SHOULD BE FAIR EVERY DAY. SO I WOULD ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THE NEED TO ASK CAPITOL METRO TO ACTUALLY TELL YOU WHAT THE COST WOULD BE FOR THE SYSTEM TO BE FREE. IT'S INEQUITABLE ON SOCCER DAYS. YOU KNOW, THE WHITE PEOPLE, THE CHOICE RIDERS, THEY DON'T PAY BECAUSE IT'S TOO CROWDED ON THE TRAIN. SO THEY HAVE AUTOMATIC PASSENGER COUNTERS THAT DOUBLE IN TRIPLE COMP BLACK PEOPLE MARCH 25TH, 2024. [01:30:02] IF YOU GO TO CAPITOL METRO'S BOARD MEETING THE STAFF EXPLAIN, IF YOU TAKE THREE BUSES, THEN YOU GET COUNTED THREE TIMES. THAT WAY, YOU'RE ABLE TO INFLATE THE RIDERSHIP. SO MY COMMENTS, AS THEY ALWAYS ARE, ARE IN THE CONTEXT OF TITLE SIX OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964, WHICH PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE, COLOR, AND NATIONAL ORIGIN. I APPRECIATE THE SPONSORS, BUT DO YOU REALIZE THAT CAPITOL METRO IS CHANGING THE FAIR STRUCTURE JUNE 1ST, 2026 IN A FEW DAYS, $1 AND 25 CENTS ON EVERY BUS THAT YOU RIDE. AND THEY HAVE LIED TO THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION AND SAID ONLY 3% OF THE RIDERS ARE IMPACTED. IF YOU LIVE NORTH OF US, 180 3 NORTHEAST, YOU HAVE TO TAKE TWO BUSES. SO YOU ALREADY AT TWO 50 BEFORE YOU EVEN GET TO WORK, IF YOU HAVE TO GO SOMEWHERE AFTER WORK AND GET HOME, YOU'RE AT $5, YOU COULD END UP SPENDING $10 IN A DAY MORE THAN THE COMMUTER BUS PASS FOR THE WHITE CHOICE RIDERS WHO CAN AFFORD TO PAY FOR IT. SO PAGE ELLIS AND CHEETO VELA, PLEASE LOOK AT THE DATA AND STOP PUTTING PEOPLE'S LIVES AT RISK. NORTHEAST OF US, 180 3, CHEETO VELA. IT USED TO BE A ONE SEAT RIDE FROM WALMART, NORWOOD TO WALMART, NORTH CROSS. AND NOW YOU HAVE TO TAKE TWO BUSES. IT IS DISINGENUOUS FOR YOU TO ASK FOR ONLY ONE DAY RELIEF ELECTION DAY AND MAYBE EARLY VOTING. SO I'M NEUTRAL, BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GLADLY ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU, MR. JOSEPH. YOU'RE WELCOME. FOR ITEM 98, I HAVE MONICA GUZMAN BEFORE WE GO TO 90. BEFORE WE GO TO 98, 1 SECOND MEMBERS. ITEM NUMBER 87 IS A LEGAL, A PROPOSAL FOR A LEGAL SETTLEMENT. SO I'M GONNA CALL ON OUR CITY ATTORNEY TO MAKE A PRESENTATION. SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. COUNCIL, ITEM 87 IS A RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT SETTLING CLAIMS RELATED TO THE YOGURT SHOP CRIMINAL CASES. AS YOU RECALL, IN 19 99, 4 YOUNG MEN WERE ARRESTED AND CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH CRIMES KNOWN AS THE YOGURT SHOP MURDERS IN 2025, BASED ON NEW FORENSIC EVIDENCE, THE MEN WERE CLEARED OF INVOLVEMENT. THE INDIVIDUALS PURSUED FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS AND RELATED CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY. AFTER MEDIATION, A PROPOSED SETTLEMENT TOTALING $35 MILLION, WAS REACHED THE ACTION BEFORE YOU AUTHORIZES THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT, WHICH INCLUDES FILING AGREED FEDERAL COURT DOCUMENTS AND ISSUING AN INITIAL $450,000 PAYMENT TO THE CLAIMANTS FROM THE LIABILITY RESERVE FUND. THE CITY MANAGER WILL RETURN TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE TO EN ENSURE TO ISSUE, UH, GENERAL OBLIGATION REFUNDING BONDS FOR THE REMAINING AMOUNT OWED. WE ARE AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. MEMBERS. ANY QUESTIONS OF COUNCIL RIGHT NOW? ALRIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NOW LET'S GO TO, UH, ITEM 90 98. MONICA GUZMAN, 4, 9 8. UH, GOOD MORNING. I'M MONICA GUZMAN, GABA POLICY DIRECTOR SPEAKING ON ITEM 98. , UH, YOU AND EXPECT THIS TO COME UP SO FAST. I'M, I'M GLAD, OR WE ARE GLAD THAT YOU'RE DEVELOPING A POLICY PROPOSAL TO LIMIT AND MITIGATE IMPACTS OF AREAS NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY GAS PEAKER UNIT. HOWEVER, I WILL ALSO ADD, WHILE I DID NOT SPEAK ON IT TO COUNCIL MEETING LAST WEEK, WE ARE OPPOSED TO GAS PEAKERS. THEY ARE NOT SAFE. THEY NEGATIVELY IMPACT HEALTH. I WOULDN'T WANT TO LIVE ANYWHERE NEAR A GAS PEAKER. AND WHILE IT MAY COME UP ON ANOTHER ITEM, THERE IS CONCERN ABOUT THE DESCRIPTION, TALKING ABOUT EQUITABLE LOCATIONS. YET THE SORTING PROCESS SHOWS MORE THAN HALF OF THE FINAL 14 LOCATIONS IN EAST AUSTIN, EAST AUSTIN, EAST OF THE INTERSTATE HAS BORNE THE BRUNT OF SO MANY DAMAGING PROJECT POLICIES, INITIATIVES, WHETHER ECONOMICALLY, RACIALLY, ENVIRONMENTALLY, HEALTH WISE. THIS IS JUST ANOTHER ONE. GAS PEAKERS ARE NOT THE ANSWER. THANK YOU. CYRUS REED? YES, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES. YES. UH, CYRUS REED, UH, DISTRICT NINE, SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE SIERRA CLUB. I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 98. I WANT TO THANK, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, BUT ALL THE OTHER, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE MAYOR FOR SUPPORTING THIS RESOLUTION. AS YOU'RE WELL AWARE, AS PART OF THE GEN PLAN, UM, IT DID SAY TO THE EXTENT WE DO INVEST IN PEAKERS, AND OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, KNOW SIERRA CLUB WAS OPPOSED TO THAT ITEM LAST WEEK, UM, WE SHOULD HAVE [01:35:01] EMISSIONS GUIDELINES. THIS RESOLUTION ESTABLISHES THOSE EMISSION GUIDELINES, NOT ONLY FOR CARBON DIOXIDE, BUT IMPORTANTLY FOR NITROGEN OXIDE, WHICH AS YOU KNOW, CAN THEN COMBINE WITH VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS TO PRODUCE OZONE. UM, THIS IS GONNA BE PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT FOR THE HOT SUMMER MONTHS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT ADDING TO THE SMOG PROBLEM WE ALREADY HAVE IN AUSTIN. SO, VERY MUCH APPRECIATE, UM, THIS RESOLUTION COMING FORWARD. AND I LOOK, UH, I LOOK, AND I DO SUPPORT AS WELL, THE, THE VERSION TWO THAT ADDS THE POTENTIAL FOR LOOKING AT RETIREMENT OF SOME OF THE EXISTING, UH, PEAKERS. AND, UM, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT AUSTIN ENERGY WOULD COME BACK WITH A PROPOSAL, UH, YOU KNOW, IN ABOUT 18 MONTHS, UH, TO LOOK AT SOME OF THESE EMISSIONS GUIDELINES TO THE EXTENT WE DO INVEST IN THESE NEW SPEAKERS. SO, UM, THANK YOU TO ALL, ALL THE MEMBERS FOR PUTTING THIS ON THE AGENDA. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. THANK YOU. AND BOB HENDRICKS, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES. OKAY. HI, I'M BOB HENDRICKS, A VOLUNTEER CLIMATE ACTIVIST CHAIR OF THE AUSTIN SIERRA CLUB, VICE CHAIR OF THE STATE SIERRA CLUB, AND STATE COORDINATOR FOR CITIZENS CLIMATE LOBBY. I SPEAK ON BEHALF OF ALL OF THESE MORE THAN 6,700 AUSTIN AREA MEMBERS, AND MORE THAN 30,000 MEMBERS STATEWIDE. I'M HERE URGING YOU TO VOTE FOR RESOLUTION 98. WE ARE IN A WORSENING CLIMATE CRISIS. WE SEE IT IN INCREASINGLY DESTRUCTIVE WILDFIRES, FIRES, FLOODS, DROUGHTS, EXTREME STORMS, AND DISASTERS LIKE WINTER STORM URI. UNLESS GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS DECLINE RAPIDLY, THESE IMPACTS WILL CONTINUE TO INTENS INTENSIFY. AUSTIN HAS BEEN A BEACON OF HOPE AMONG CITIES CONFRONTING THIS CHALLENGE. THIS COUNCIL HAS PASSED MAJOR CLIMATE RESOLUTIONS, CULMINATING IN THE AUSTIN CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN. AUSTIN ENERGY HAS GENERATED MORE RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY THAN ANY UTILITY IN TEXAS AND HAS ADOPTED MANY FORWARD LOOKING POLICIES. I CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THAT THE EXPANDED SOLAR ENERGY AND BATTERY STORAGE WOULD BE ULTIMATELY MORE AFFORDABLE AND SUFFICIENTLY RELIABLE THAN NEW GAS PEAKER PLANTS, WHICH ARE LIKELY TO INCREASE CUSTOMER ELECTRICITY COSTS. BUT RESOLUTION 98 IS FUNDAMENTALLY ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY AND GUARDRAILS. IT ASK THE CITY MANAGER TO STUDY HOW AUSTIN CAN REDUCE EMISSIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THESE PLANTS AND BRING RECOMMENDATIONS BACK TO THE COUNCIL. THAT IS BOTH REASONABLE AND NECESSARY. IF THESE PLANTS ARE ONLY USED ONLY SPARINGLY DURING EMERGENCIES, IF THEY DISPLACE DIRTIER AND LESS EFFICIENT GENERATION, AND IF THEY INCLUDE THE STRONGEST AVAILABLE POLLUTION CONTROLS, AUSTIN CAN STILL MAINTAIN CREDIBILITY AS A CLIMATE LEADER. BUT ONCE FOSSIL FUEL INFRASTRUCTURE IS BUILT, THERE WILL BE ENORMOUS PRESSURE TO RUN IT AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE WHENEVER IT BECOMES PROFITABLE. THAT IS WHY THIS COUNCIL MUST ESTABLISH STRONG GUARD RAILS. NOW, AUSTIN HAS ALREADY REDUCED HARM FROM ITS PARTICIPATION IN THE FAYETTE COAL PLANT THROUGH PROGRAMS LIKE REACH. WE SHOULD APPLY THE SAME PRINCIPLE HERE BY PLACING AN INTERNAL PRICE ON CARBON EMISSIONS FROM FOSSIL FUEL GENERATION, ESPECIALLY THOSE NEW PEAKER PLANTS. SO, FINANCIAL DECISIONS ALIGN WITH AUSTIN'S CLIMATE RESPONSE COMMITMENTS. RESOLUTION 98 IS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH IN THAT DIRECTION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND THEN I HAVE SOME IN-PERSON SPEAKERS FOR ITEM 98, PAUL ROBBINS, BRAD MASSING, RAPHAEL SCHWARTZ, AND WILLIAM BUNCH. COUNSEL, I'M PAUL ROBBINS. I SUPPORT THE INTENT OF THIS RESOLUTION. HOWEVER, THIS DOES NOT MITIGATE THE GLARING PROBLEM WITH THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY THAT TOOK PLACE WITH THE VOTE ON THE GAS PEAKING PLANTS LAST WEEK. I AM ASKING FOR A COMPANION RESOLUTION ON YOUR NEXT AGENDA TO MORE FULLY INFORM THE PUBLIC OF YOUR ACTIONS. THANK YOU, MR. MASSENGILL. THE NEXT, NEXT FOUR ITEMS, JOEL, ARE PRETTY MUCH RELATED TO THESE PEAKERS. UM, I, I, I'M REALLY DISAPPOINTED THAT, UM, THIS IS GREAT, BUT WHY DIDN'T WE THINK ABOUT THIS BEFORE WE PASSED THE PEAKER RESOLUTION? THIS IS ALL STUFF THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE BEFOREHAND. IT HEARKENS BACK TO WHAT PAUL WAS SAYING ABOUT TRANSPARENCY AND PARTICIPATION IN CIVIC GOVERNMENT. UH, WE, WE NEED TO, UH, DEFINITELY LOOK AT THESE EMISSIONS AND, AND PUT AS, AS, UH, HARSH A CAP AS WE CAN ON 'EM, BECAUSE AS, AS USUAL, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GONNA CRAP ON EAST AUSTIN WITH THIS. YOU KNOW, I, I THINK IT WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE IF WE WERE ASKING INSTEAD OF DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS FOR THESE BIG BUILDINGS, WHY DON'T WE OFFER BONUSES TO HAVING THEM PUT EXTRA BATTERY [01:40:01] STORAGE IN THESE NEW BUILDINGS, JUST LOAD ALL THESE NEW BUILDINGS UP WITH, WITH, WITH BATTERY STORAGE AND GET SOME CAPACITY GOING SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE THESE PEAK PROBLEMS. YOU KNOW, WE HEARD TESTIMONY LAST WEEK FROM, UH, SENIORS AND ELDERS AND, AND PEOPLE THAT DEPEND ON OXYGEN AND EQUIPMENT AT HOME TO SURVIVE DURING A, A, UH, AN OUTAGE. WHAT WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE THESE CITIZENS TO PUT BATTERY STORAGE IN THEIR HOUSES. THIS, THIS SHOULD BE PRIORITY. THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO SUFFER THROUGH THE OUTAGE, AND THEY CAN, AT THE SAME TIME, BE CONTRIBUTING TO THE ROBUSTNESS OF OUR GRID BY HAVING BATTERIES IN THEIR, IN THEIR PROPERTY. INDEPENDENT OF SOLAR, YOU CAN STILL HAVE BATTERIES IN YOUR HOUSE. I THINK EVERY SENIOR AND EVERY SHUT IN, IN, IN, IN THE CITY SHOULD HAVE THE OPTION OF HAVING A BATTERY IN THEIR HOUSE. AND AGAIN, THESE EMISSIONS SHOULDN'T EVEN BE A PROBLEM IF WE DIDN'T NEED THE PEAKERS TO BEGIN WITH. SO, MORNING AGAIN. UH, MY NAME IS RAFAEL SCHWARTZ, DISTRICT TWO AND AUSTIN SIERRA CLUB. I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBERS, ALTER AND SIEGEL AND ALL OF THE SPONSORS FOR TAKING THIS ITEM UP. IN AN EFFORT TO SET UP GUARDRAILS THAT RECOGNIZE AUSTIN ENERGY CAN ACHIEVE FINANCIAL INSURANCE AND GREATER RELIABILITY, AND STILL LIMIT THE OPERATION OF GAS PEAKER UNITS FROM RUNNING AT A LEVEL BEYOND WHICH THE EXISTING PEAKER FLEET RUNS TODAY, I WANNA POINT OUT THAT THE PLAIN TEXT OF THIS RESOLUTION COULD BE READ AS INCENTIVIZING THE UTILITY TO RUN THE PEAKER FLEET MORE THAN IT CURRENTLY DOES IN THE YEAR BEFORE THE U THE NEW UNITS ARE INSTALLED. THIS WOULD ALLOW THE UTILITY A HIGHER BASELINE FROM WHICH TO WORK WITH FOR THE NEXT THREE DECADES. I DON'T KNOW THAT THE, THAT THIS REQUIRES A POLICY CHANGE OR ANYTHING, BUT IT'S SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND IF THE PLANTS ARE GONNA BE USED SPARINGLY. I AM GRATEFUL FOR COUNCIL FOR DOING THIS AND JUST LOOKING LIKE IN LOOKING AT THE NOX AND CARBON, UH, CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS AND LOOKING AT RETIRING THE OLDEST UNITS. AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS AND RECOGNIZE THAT THE COMPROMISE TO THE HAD HERE. THANK YOU FOR ITEM 99, CYRUS REED. YEAH, UH, GOOD MORNING. THIS IS CYRUS REED AGAIN, DISTRICT NINE, UH, SPEAKING ON, UH, BEHALF ALSO OF THE SIERRA CLUB IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 99. THIS IS REALLY ABOUT BEING A GOOD NEIGHBOR TO THE EXTENT, UH, NEW PEAKERS ARE BUILT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. THIS RESOLUTION SAYS, LET'S LOOK AT MITIGATING THOSE IMPACTS BY INVESTING IN THOSE COMMUNITIES WITH UTILITY FUNDED SOLAR STORAGE OR OTHER RESOURCES THAT CAN HELP THE COMMUNITY THAT'S MOST IMPACTED BY THOSE, UH, PEAKERS, UH, THAT ARE GONNA BE ON COMING ONLINE. SO, VERY MUCH SUPPORT IT AND APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL AND, AND THE OTHER MEMBERS WHO SIGNED ONTO THIS RESOLUTION. THANKS. THANKS VERY MUCH. AND BOB HENDRICKS FOR 99. HI, THIS IS BOB HENDRICKS, AGAIN, A SIERRA CLUB AND CITIZENS CLIMATE LOBBY. WINTER STORM URI WAS TRAUMATIC FOR MANY AUSTINITES, BUT THE LONG-TERM THREAT POSED BY UNCHECKED CLIMATE CHANGE IS EVEN GREATER. CLIMATE SCIENTISTS ARE CLEAR THAT IF HUMANITY CONTINUES ADDING GREENHOUSE GASES AT ANYTHING CLOSE TO THE CURRENT RATE, GLOBAL TEMPERATURES WILL CONTINUE RISING, CLIMATE DAMAGES WILL WORSEN, AND MAJOR CLIMATE TIPPING POINTS BECOME INCREASINGLY UNAVOIDABLE. THE UNCERTAINTY IS NOT WHETHER CONTINUED WARMING WILL PRODUCE CATASTROPHIC CONSEQUENCES. THE UNCERTAINTY IS HOW QUICKLY THOSE CONSEQUENCES ESCALATE AND HOW MUCH SUFFERING HUMANITY CHOOSES TO ACCEPT BEFORE ACTING AT HIGHER LEVELS OF WARMING. THE RISK DESCRIBED IN THE IPCC REPORTS DO NOT BECOME LESS LIKELY BECAUSE OF UNCERTAINTY. THEY BECOME MORE SEVERE, MORE WIDESPREAD, AND INCREASINGLY UNAVOIDABLE. THAT MEANS WORSENING HEAT WAVES, DROUGHTS, FLOODS, CROP FAILURES, WATER SHORTAGES, ECOSYSTEM COLLAPSES, MASS DISPLACEMENT FROM DISPLACEMENT FROM RISING SEAS, ECONOMIC DISRUPTION, POLITICAL INSTABILITY, AND ESCALATING HUMAN SUFFERING AROUND THE WORLD. THIS IS NOT A DISCIPLINE OR ABSTRACT CHANGER. IT IS THE FUTURE WE ARE CREATING IF WE CONTINUE EXPANDING FOSSIL FUEL DEPENDENCE WITHOUT STRICT LIMITS AND RAPID TRANSITION PLANTS. THIS IS WHY I AM URGING YOU TO VOTE FOR THESE FOUR RESOLUTIONS. 98 THROUGH 1 0 1 AUSTIN HAS TRIED TO LEAD. RATHER THAN FOLLOW THAT LEADERSHIP MATTERS, CITIES INFLUENCE MARKETS, UTILITIES, STATE POLICY, AND PUBLIC EXPECTATIONS. YOUR DECISIONS TODAY WILL HELP DETERMINE WHETHER AUSTIN CONTINUES MOVING TOWARD A SAFER FUTURE OR LOCKS ITSELF MORE DEEPLY INTO THE SYSTEMS DRIVING THIS CRISIS THAT IS THE REAL THREAT TO THE SAFETY AND FUTURE OF OUR CHILDREN WHO DESERVE A FAR BETTER INHERITANCE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND THEN I HAVE SOME IN-PERSON SPEAKERS FOR ITEM 99, PAUL ROBBINS, BRAD MASSENGILL, AND WILLIAM BUNCH. COUNSEL, I SUPPORT THE FIRST PART OF THIS RESOLUTION TO MITIGATE THE EFFECT OF AUSTIN'S [01:45:01] POWER PLANTS. THE SECOND PART LEAVES ME CONFUSED. THERE ARE FEW, IF ANY, HOMES WITHIN A MILE OF SANDHILL POWER PLANT. DECKER POWER PLANT WAS ORIGINALLY BUILT IN A RURAL AREA BEFORE AUSTIN GREW AROUND IT. IT IS GEOGRAPHICALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO LIVE CLOSE TO IT. FURTHER IN THE LAST DECADE, A LUXURY RESORT WAS ACTUALLY PROPOSED FOR DECKER LAKE, CALLING INTO QUESTION THE UNDESIRABILITY OF THE LOCATION. TO THE EXTENT THAT MITIGATION IS NEEDED, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IT WOULD BE NEEDED FOR NOISE AND POSSIBLY TRAFFIC AS OPPOSED TO SOLAR CELLS. UH, THIS RESOLUTION WILL PROBABLY PASS UNANIMOUSLY, BUT UNLESS YOU AMEND IT, YOU MAY NOT BE ADDRESSING REAL CONCERNS. THANK YOU, MR. MASSENGILL. YEAH, THE, THE RESOLUTION, IT, IT READS DIRECTLY IN THE CITY MANAGER TO DEVELOP A POLICY, A PROPOSAL TO LIMIT AND MITIGATE IMPACTS TO AREAS NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY GAS AND PEAKER UNITS AND OTHER EMERGENCY ENERGY GENERATION, AND ESTABLISH A PROGRAM TO BENEFIT RESIDENTS NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY LOCATION OF PAST AND FUTURE FOSSIL FUEL GENERATION FACILITIES AND REPORT BACK TO COUNCIL. ARE WE GOING ALL THE WAY BACK TO HOLLY POWER PLANT? I MEAN, THIS, THIS IS A TRADITION THAT WE HAVE OF, OF PUTTING THESE THINGS WHERE POLITICALLY POWERLESS PEOPLE APPARENTLY LIVE. UM, I'M GLAD WE'RE ADDRESSING THIS, BUT I, I WANT THIS TO BE SOMETHING THAT IF WE'RE GONNA ADDRESS IT CITYWIDE, AND WE KNOW WE'RE GONNA GET PUSHBACK FROM SOME OF THESE MORE AFFLUENT NEIGHBORHOODS THAT DON'T WANT THIS, THAT IF THERE'S NOT GONNA BE ANY THERE, THERE'S NOT GONNA BE ANY ANYWHERE. WE CAN'T BE PUSHING THESE THINGS OFF, OVER AND OVER AGAIN INTO THE POOR, LESS REPRESENTED PORTIONS OF OUR CITY, ESPECIALLY SINCE EAST AUSTIN. IF YOU LOOK AT IT FROM SPACE, THERE'S LESS TREES, MORE CONCRETE, LOTS MORE EMISSIONS, YOU KNOW, ALL THIS GROUND HUGGING OZONE, ALL THE, ALL THE POLLUTION THAT CAN COME OFF THESE TYPES OF, UH, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE NATURAL GAS AND MORE EFFICIENT THAN THE OTHER ONES, THEY'RE, THEY'RE STILL WILL BE AFFECTING THE NEIGHBORS. AND THEY'RE POLITICALLY LESS POWERFUL. PEOPLE ARE GONNA BE THE ONES THAT TAKE THE BRUNT OF THIS. SO, I, I ENCOURAGE Y'ALL TO BE VERY FAIR AND OPEN ABOUT WHERE YOU'RE GONNA PUT THESE AND PROPOSE PUTTING SOME OVER THERE AND WEST AUSTIN, NORTHWEST AUSTIN ON TOP OF THESE TALL BUILDINGS. WE CAN'T JUST BE PUTTING 'EM IN THE SAME PLACE OVER AND OVER AGAIN. THANKS FOR ITEM 100, CYRUS REED. YEAH. UH, AGAIN, CYRUS REED, DISTRICT NINE SPEAK ON BEHALF OF SIERRA CLUB, UH, VERY MUCH ALSO SUPPORT A HUNDRED THAT REALLY WAS IN THE GEM PLAN THAT Y'ALL, WELL, SOME OF YOU THAT WERE IN IN OFFICE THEN PASSED BACK IN 24 THAT SAID, TO THE EXTENT WE DO, UH, BUILD NEW PEAKERS, WE NEED TO BE EQUITABLE IN THE SIGHTING. WE CAN'T JUST PUT 'EM IN THE SAME AREA WE'VE ALWAYS PUT IN. SO APPRECIATE THE SPIRIT OF THE RESOLUTION BY, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER OF VE ALASKA AND THE OTHER CO-SPONSORS, UH, AND, UM, BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A NEEDED, UH, RESOLUTION TO MAKE SURE THAT AUSTIN ENERGY FOLLOWS THE GENERATION PLANS. SO THANKS VERY MUCH. AND FOR 100 PAUL ROBBINS, UH, I SUPPORT IN PASS FOR 1 0 1 CYRUS REED. UH, YES. I'M TRYING TO GO FAST 'CAUSE UH, UH, YEAH, RIS REED DISTRICT NINE. UM, ALSO SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE SIERRA CLUB. UH, THANK YOU, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE AND THE OTHER FOLKS WHO ARE SUPPORTING THIS RESOLUTION AND BRINGING IT FORWARD. UM, THIS IS REALLY NOT DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE PEAKERS, IT'S SAYING AS WE POTENTIALLY DEVELOP THESE NEW PEAKERS, LET'S DO EVERYTHING WE CAN ON THE DISTRIBUTION SIDE OF THE EQUATION IN TERMS OF BOTH RESIDENTIAL BATTERIES AND EVS TO LOOK AT BEING LEADERS IN THOSE PROGRAMS. AND, UM, APPRECIATE THE VERSION TWO OF, OF THE RESOLUTION, WHICH GIVES A LITTLE MORE TIME TO AUSTIN ENERGY TO COME BACK AND LOOK AT THAT BENCHMARK STUDY AND LOOK AT WHAT WE CAN DO, AND ALSO MAKING SURE IT GOES THROUGH THE EUC AND THE RMC FOR MORE INPUT, UH, AS WELL AS BACK TO CITY COUNCIL. SO, UH, DEFINITELY SOMETHING FOR US TO, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO, UM, SO THAT WE DON'T NEED TO USE THE PEAKERS AS MUCH BECAUSE WE'VE GOT PROGRAMS ON THE DISTRIBUTION SIDE [01:50:01] THAT CAN, UH, SERVE THE SAME PURPOSE. SO, UH, THANK YOU TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO BROUGHT THIS FORWARD AND LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, REPORT BACK FROM AUSTIN ENERGY BY DECEMBER OF, OF THIS YEAR. THANKS. AND THEN FOR 1 0 1 PAUL ROBBINS AND BRAD MASSING, COUNCIL COUNSEL, UH, I SERVE AS VICE CHAIR OF THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION. UH, THE ITEM ON ELECTRICAL VEHICLE CHARGING IS LONG OVERDUE. THANK YOU FOR PUTTING IT ON THE AGENDA. I WANT TO GIVE A CALL OUT TO THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION WHO CHAMPIONED THIS IDEA. TREY FARMER, APPOINTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL AND ALLISON SILVERSTEIN, APPOINTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE. UM, THANK YOU. I HAD MASSING YOU. AGAIN, I, I DEFINITELY SUPPORT THIS. I, I ENCOURAGE THE, THE COUNCIL TO LOOK INTO, TO NOT ONLY BATTERY STORAGE, BUT SOME OTHER TECHNOLOGIES LIKE GENS, STAT GENERATORS. UM, IT, IT, WE'VE GOT SO MUCH TECH COMPANIES IN THIS, IN THE CITY. UM, UNFORTUNATELY A LOT OF 'EM HAVE A VERY SMALL REAL ESTATE FOOTPRINT. SO TRYING TO USE REAL ESTATE AS A MECHANISM FOR FUNDING, UH, HOUSING AND ALL, YOU KNOW, ALL OF OUR, OUR CITY NEEDS IS, IS, IS IS TOUGH. WE NEED, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO ASK, ASK OR, OR LEVERAGE OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH THESE, WITH THESE COMPANIES TO SUPPLY MORE TECHNOLOGY TO THE CITY. WE'VE GOT PROPERTY ON IN THE CITY THAT WE COULD BE OFFERING FOR ENERGY CAMPUSES FOR DEVELOPMENT, AND THEY COULD PUT THE POWER RIGHT ON THE GRID AND USE OUR CITY PROPERTY AS PLACES FOR ESTABLISHING SOME OF THESE PROJECTS AND SOME OF THESE CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGIES FOR STORAGE AND WHATNOT. I MENTIONED EARLIER, ALL THESE BIG BUILDINGS THAT ARE COMING IN. IT SHOULD BE REQUIREMENT THAT SOME SPACE BE TAKEN UP FOR BATTERY STORAGE AND CAPACITANCE SO THAT WE CAN HAVE RESILIENCE DURING PEAK TIMES. WINTER, SUMMER, DOESN'T MATTER. WE, WE, WE HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY, WE'VE GOT LOTS OF MONEY FLOATING THROUGH THIS TOWN THAT'S JUST GOING OVER OUR HEADS. WE'RE NOT ABLE TO GRAB ANY OF IT. WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SOME OF THIS STUFF BENEFIT OUR, OUR, NOT ONLY OUR CITIZENS, BUT OUR QUALITY OF LIFE AND PRESERVE THE NATURE THAT WE HAVE AND PUTTING PEAKER PLANTS ALL THROUGHOUT THE CITY. IT'S NOT GONNA BE GOOD FOR KIDS OR ELDER PEOPLE. UM, SO THIS IS A, A GOOD FIRST STEP, BUT WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT REAL ALTERNATIVES TO THE, TO THE RESILIENCY PROBLEM. THANKS, MAYOR. THAT CHOOS ALL SPEAKERS FOR CONSENT. THANK YOU. UM, FOR THOSE THAT ARE HERE FOR OUR 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN OF PUBLIC COMMUNICATION, WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND HAVE THE DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AND VOTE ON THAT SINCE WE HAVE EIGHT MINUTES. I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER WE'LL BE DONE BY 12 O'CLOCK, BUT I JUST WANNA LET EVERYBODY KNOW WE TYPICALLY JUST STOP AT NOON AND DO THAT. BUT SINCE WE'RE SO CLOSE TO HAVING THIS DONE, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND, AND, UH, DEAL WITH THE CONSENT AGENDA. UM, MEMBERS, ARE THERE ANY OTHER ITEMS THAT ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO PULL OFF OF THE CONSENT AGENDA? THAT BEING THE CASE, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? IT IS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ AND SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER LANE. UH, WE WILL NOW GO TO DISCUSSION AND I WILL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS. COUNCIL MEMBER LANE COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I AM EXCITED TO BE BRINGING THE ITEM FROM COUNCIL TODAY, NUMBER 59, WHICH SPEAKS TO E MOTORBIKES. SO THIS IS A CONVERSATION THAT WAS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION. A LOT OF US HAVE SEEN THESE OUT IN THE WILD. A LOT OF NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE BEEN REACHING OUT TO US. AND THE CONCERN IS THAT THERE ARE NOW THESE VERY POWERFUL DEVICES OUT ON THE STREETS THAT ARE SOLD AND MARKETED LIKE THEY'RE AN ELECTRIC BICYCLE. BUT IN REALITY, THEY ARE A SMALL MOTORCYCLE. A LOT OF THEM CAN REACH SPEEDS UP TO 50 OR 60 MILES AN HOUR. AND THE CHILDREN THAT ARE RIDING THESE, UM, ARE NOT TRAINED. THEY HAVEN'T BEEN TO DRIVER SAFETY CLASSES OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE. AND SO A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE SEEN THEM ZIPPING AROUND, SOMETIMES INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC OR CUTTING CORNERS REALLY TIGHTLY. UM, SO WE STARTED TALKING WITH THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT A NUMBER OF MONTHS AGO ABOUT WHAT ARE THE RULES AND REGULATIONS AROUND THESE MOTORBIKES? WHERE IS IT APPROPRIATE FOR THEM TO BE AND HOW CAN WE ENHANCE SAFETY FOR THE, THE KIDS THAT ARE RIDING THESE BIKES, A LOT OF THEM DON'T HAVE AN ADULT WITH THEM. THEY'RE RIDING AROUND IN WATER QUALITY DETENTION PONDS PARK SPACES OUT ON THE ROAD ON THE SIDEWALKS, AND IT'S TURNED [01:55:01] INTO A BIT OF A, A CHAOTIC SITUATION THAT IS SCARING PEOPLE. THE LAST THING THAT ANYBODY WANTS HERE IS FOR KIDS TO GET HURT OR FOR THEM TO HURT OTHER PEOPLE WHEN THEY SIMPLY DON'T KNOW THE APPROPRIATE WAYS TO BEHAVE, UH, WITH THESE MOTORBIKES. AND SO THIS ITEM ADDRESSES FOUR DIFFERENT THINGS. ONE IS UPDATING THE CITY CODE AND ADMINISTRATIVE RULES TO REGULATE THE USE OF EMOTO'S, THE CREATION OF A SUSTAINED PUBLIC EDUCATION AND SAFETY CAMPAIGN REGARDING THE MOTORBIKES, A REVIEW OF A PD OFFICER TRAINING AND GENERAL ORDERS RELATING TO THE USE OF THE MOTORBIKES WITH THE GOAL OF PROMOTING CONSISTENT ENFORCEMENT AND SAFETY REGULATIONS. AND FOURTH, BECAUSE WE REALIZED THAT THERE HAS TO BE AN APPROPRIATE PLACE FOR KIDS TO HAVE FUN SAFELY, IS TO LOOK AT THE FEASIBILITY OF CREATING SOME SORT OF DIRT BIKE PARK OR OTHER SORT OF RECREATIONAL FACILITY SO THAT FOLKS CAN SAFELY PLAY. SO WE KNOW THAT THESE ARE GIFTS THAT ARE TYPICALLY GIVEN TO KIDS FOR BIRTHDAYS OR CHRISTMAS. AND WITH SUMMER APPROACHING VERY QUICKLY, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE TOOK PROACTIVE AND DEDICATED ACTION TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT HOW WE CAN ENHANCE SAFETY AMONG KIDS WHO REALLY ARE JUST TRYING TO PLAY, BUT ARE OFTENTIMES DOING SO IN A DANGEROUS WAY. AND WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROMOTING PUBLIC SAFETY ALONG THE WAY. AND SO I APPRECIATE THE COLLABORATION WITH THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, SPECIFICALLY. ASSISTANT CHIEF CHANCELLOR HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL, UH, IN WORKING WITH US ON A WAY TO MOVE FORWARD TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS, PARKS AND RECREATION AND AUSTIN WATER STAFF, AND TO THE MANY DISTRICT EIGHT CONSTITUENTS THAT HAVE REACHED OUT. UM, AND ALSO TO THE CO-SPONSORS, WHICH ARE COUNCIL MEMBERS ALTER UCHIN LANE. AND NOW COUNCIL MEMBER OF VELASQUEZ HAS JUST BEEN ADDED ON AS A CO-SPONSOR. WE REALIZE THAT KIDS NEED A SAFE PLACE TO BE ABLE TO PLAY. UM, WE KNOW THAT FOLKS GET A LITTLE BORED OVER THE SUMMER AND PARENTS DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE TIME TO STAY WITH THEM AT ALL HOURS OF THE DAY, BUT WE DO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROMOTING SAFETY AND THAT THERE IS A PLACE FOR KIDS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE FUN. UH, WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT NOBODY GETS HURT DOING SO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER LANE. COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ. COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, FIRST AS IT RELATES TO NUMBER 54, RENAMING THE COLORADO RIVER PARK WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, IN HONOR OF DANIELLE JANNIS, I WANTED TO THANK ALL OF THE SPEAKERS WHO CAME TO SPEAK IN HIS HONOR TODAY. UM, I AM PROBABLY THE NEWEST ENTRANT TO POLITICS ON THIS DIOCESE, AND I HAVEN'T HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF MEETING HIM OR MOST OF THE SPEAKERS TODAY. BUT, UM, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR ABOUT HIM AND THE SIGNIFICANCE IN THE CITY. AND I WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR. WITHOUT OBJECTION, YOU'LL BE SHOWN, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER LANE WILL BE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR. THANK YOU. UM, AS IT RELATES TO NUMBER 55, THE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY BUYDOWN, I WANTED TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER FOR BRINGING FORWARD THIS ITEM AND CONTINUING TO ADVANCE THE CONVERSATION AROUND HOW WE CAN INCENTIVIZE DEEPER AFFORDABILITY BECAUSE IT IS MUCH NEEDED IN OUR CITY AS IT RELATES TO ITEM. AND I'M HAPPY TO BE A CO-SPONSOR OF THAT. UM, ITEM WITH RESPECT TO NUMBER 58 RELATING TO PARK AMENITIES, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MAYOR PRO TEM VELA FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD. I'M HAPPY TO BE A CO-SPONSOR ON IT. UM, IT WILL MAKE IT EASIER TO DELIVER THE KINDS OF AMENITIES AND IMPROVEMENTS THAT MAKE OUR PARKS MORE WELCOMING AND FUNCTIONAL FOR FAMILIES AND RESIDENTS ACROSS THE CITY, WHICH IS ONLY MORE IMPORTANT AS FINANCIAL STRUGGLES INCREASE SIGNIFI AROUND OUR CITY. BY STREAMLINING PROCESSES, WE CAN MORE QUICKLY ADD THE EVERYDAY FEATURES THAT PEOPLE APPRECIATE AND RELY ON WHILE ENJOYING OUR PARKS FROM PLAY SCAPES AND FITNESS STATIONS TO DRINKING FOUNTAIN, DRINKING FOUNTAINS, SHADE RESTROOMS, AND OTHER BASIC AMENITIES. AND FINALLY, AS IT RELATES TO NUMBER 1559, UM, THE IFC THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS WAS JUST SPEAKING OF, I'M PROUD TO BE A CO-SPONSOR OF THIS ITEM AND I THANK HER FOR HER WORK, UH, AS SHE RESPONDED TO THE MANY EMAILS AND PHONE CALLS THAT BOTH OF OUR OFFICES, UH, RECEIVE FROM CONSTITUENTS ON THE ISSUES OF MANY MOTORCYCLES AND ELECTRIC DIRT BIKES AND OUT IN MY DISTRICT, UM, WHICH IS, DOESN'T HAVE ANY PARTS THAT ARE IN CENTRAL AUSTIN. UH, IT'S A REGULAR SIGHTING THAT WE ALSO SEE UNDERAGE STUDENTS RIDING E-BIKES TO AND FROM SCHOOL, UM, ON ROADS THAT DON'T EVEN ALWAYS HAVE A PLACE FOR THEM TO MOVE OFF OF THE ROAD ON. SO I'M VERY HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO JOIN THIS EFFORT TO, UM, BRING A MORE COMPREHENSIVE VIEW TO HOW OUR CITY HANDLES THESE ISSUES. UM, WHILE I FULLY SUPPORT EVERYONE USING MICRO MOBILITY SOLUTIONS, AS YOU ALL KNOW FROM MY MANY COMMENTS ON THE DAIS, UH, THIS REALLY IS AN EMERGING PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE THAT WE NEED TO TAKE ACTION ON, AND IT IS A PARTICULAR THREAT TO OUR YOUTH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, THEN THE MAYOR PRO TIM. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, ON ITEM, UH, 45 AND 55, I'D LIKE TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER AND HIS POLICY ADVISOR KRISTA WEATHERFORD, FOR ALL THEIR WORK AND COLLABORATION ON THESE ITEMS. UH, AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO WORK ON THEM WITH YOU. FIRST ON ITEM 45, WE ARE A MAJORITY RENTER CITY, SO IT'S CRUCIAL THAT THE [02:00:01] COMMUNITY HAS FULL TRANSPARENCY ON THEIR TOTAL EXPECTED HOUSING COSTS, UH, AT THE POINT OF MAKING THAT DECISION ON WHERE TO LIVE. SECOND, ON ITEM 55, USING FEE AND LUDE TO BUY DOWN FOR DEEPER LEVELS OF AFFORDABILITY. THESE ARE MORE OF THE CREATIVE OUTTA THE BOX SOLUTIONS THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS BROUGHT, UH, THAT ARE GOING TO ALLOW US TO CHIP AWAY AT OUR AFFORDABILITY CRISIS. AND I'M HERE FOR IT. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN. UM, TODAY'S, UH, UH, REGARDING ITEM 54. TODAY'S A SPECIAL DAY FOR PARKS AND THE EAST SIDE. UH, WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF SUSAN ALMANZA, WE HAVE RENAMED THE COLORADO RIVER WILDLIFE SANCTUARY TO THE DANIEL YANES WILDLIFE SANCTUARY SANCTUARY. DANIEL YANES IS KNOWN IN THE COMMUNITY AS A MUSICIAN AND COR CHOREOGRAPHER. HOWEVER, HE IS ALSO AN ADVOCATE FOR PRESERVING THE NATURAL RIVER AND WOODED FOOT FLOODPLAINS NEAR THE COLORADO. COLORADO. UH, FROM THE 1980S UNTIL HIS PASSING LAST YEAR, UH, HE FOUGHT AGAINST COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT THAT FELT THAT HE FELT THREATENED WILDLIFE AND NATURAL ENVIRONMENT NEAR THE RIVER. AND HE DID SO RELENTLESSLY. THANK YOU TO THE MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVISTS WHO CAME HERE TO SPEAK BEFORE THIS DIOCESE. UH, AND NOW IN HONOR OF HIS LEGACY, HIS NAME WILL BE REMEMBERED BY ALL WHO VISIT THE, THE WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, KEEPING HIS MEMORY ALIVE. THANK YOU TO MY CO-SPONSORS, THE MAYOR OF THE MAYOR, PRO TEM COUNCIL MEMBERS UCHIN ALTER AND LANE. UH, THANK YOU TO THE D THREE TEAM, MO COOPER AND ELISA LA FUENTE FOR ALL THEIR TIRELESS WORK ON THIS ITEM. UH, ITEM 56, AS A FOURTH GENERATION EAST AUSTINITE, UH, ITEM 56 COMMEMORATES SOMETHING THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME. MY ALL MY OFFICE HAS WORKED ON THIS INITIATIVE FOR SOME TIME AND HAS COLLABORATED WITH GROUPS IN OUR COMMUNITY TO ENSURE THAT THE LANGUAGE IN THIS RESOLUTION IS JUST RIGHT. THANK YOU TO THE EAST AUSTIN COMMUNITY GROUPS THAT HAVE PROVIDED US WITH INPUT ON LANGUAGE, ON THE LANGUAGE BEFORE US TODAY. THESE GROUPS INCLUDE MAURA, THE JOHNSTON SCHOOL RAMS FOUNDATION, EL BARRIO CAR CLUB, AND THE EAST TOWN LAKE CITIZENS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. THEY HAVE EACH PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE, UH, IN THIS PROCESS. ALSO, A BIG THANK YOU TO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT FOR HELPING US MAKE THIS A REALITY. THIS RESOLUTION DOES NOT JUST CREATE A SIGN, IT ACKNOWLEDGES CHICANO PARK AS A CULTURAL ANCHOR FOR THE EAST AUSTIN CHICANO COMMUNITY FOR GENERATIONS. CHICANO PARK HAS BEEN A GATHERING SPACE FOR CHICANO CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS, CAR CLUBS, FAMILY COOKOUTS, VENDOR MARKETS, AND FIESTAS FOR DAYS LIKE CIN. I DID NOT HAVE MINE THERE, BUT I, I'VE HEARD THAT THEY DO GO ON THERE. UH, AND, AND IT'S FINALLY TIME. CHICANO PARK HAS A PHYSICAL MARKER ACKNOWLEDGING ITS HISTORICAL AND PRESENT DAY COMMUNITY IMPACT. UM, I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT OUR FINAL SIGN WILL LOOK LIKE, UH, THE ONE THAT WE WILL BE CREATING TOGETHER. UM, AND THANK YOU TO THE MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM AND COUNCIL MEMBERS ELLIS AND ALTER. THANK YOU TO THE D THREE TEAM, MO COOPER, UH, ELISE DE LA FUENTE AND BENJAMIN ROMERO. AND FINALLY, ITEM 100. UH, WE WERE TRYING TO ADD THIS AS AN AMENDMENT TO LAST WEEK'S PEAKER CONVO, BUT PROCEDURALLY WE WERE PRECLUDED FROM DOING THAT. SO TODAY WE'RE BRINGING IT, UH, OVER THE PAST A HUNDRED YEARS, AUSTIN AUSTIN'S EASTERN CRESCENT HAS DISPROPORTIONATELY SHOULDERED THE IMPACTS OF DECISIONS IMPOSED BY THEM, BY A RULING CLASS THAT DEVALUED THEIR HEALTH AND WELLBEING WITH THIS ITEM. AND IN THE INTEREST OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL JUSTICE, WE ARE PRIOR PRIORITIZING A BALANCED RANGE OF SITES ACROSS OUR CITY, BEARING IN MIND THAT THE 10 EXISTING PEAKERS ARE EXCLUSIVELY LOCATED IN EAST AUSTIN. THANK YOU TO MY CO-SPONSORS, THE MAYOR, PRO TEM COUNCIL MEMBERS ALTER AND SIEGEL, WHO HAVE ALL BEEN IN THE TRENCHES WITH US ON THIS ISSUE. AND THANK YOU TO OUR POLICY DIRECTOR, VICTORIA HALL, FOR PUTTING UP WITH ALL OF MY MANIA LAST WEEK AROUND THIS AND FOR HUSTLING TO GET THIS ON THE AGENDA THIS WEEK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE MAYOR, PRO TEM, THEN COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN, UH, GRAY MAYOR. UM, WELL, TO KICK IT OFF, I'D LOVE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR TO ITEM 52, WHICH IS COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL'S ITEM AROUND THE, UH, DUMPSTER ACTIVITIES. WE'VE HAD CONSTITUENTS GALORE, UH, YOU KNOW, REACH OUT TO US ABOUT THAT. AND I WANT, I KNOW ONE OF THE CONSTITUENTS, TAMARA FROM, UH, THE ANA NEIGHBORHOOD REACHED OUT. SO I APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGELS OFFICE FOR LEADING ON THAT AND WOULD LIKE TO BE ASKED WITHOUT OBJECTION, COUNCIL MEMBER CODRE BE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR OF ITEM 52, WOULD ALSO LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR TO ITEM 54, WHICH IS COUNCIL MEMBER, THE COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE VELASQUEZ'S. ITEM WITHOUT OBJECTION, COUNCIL MEMBER CODRE BE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR OF ITEM 54. AND THEN LASTLY, WOULD LOVE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR TO BOTH ITEMS 99, WHICH IS COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL'S ITEM AND COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, ITEM NUMBER A HUNDRED, WHICH IS COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, JOSE VELASQUEZ'S. ITEM WITHOUT OBJECTION, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE WOULD BE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR OF ITEMS 99 AND 100. AND WITH THAT, I WILL SPEAK ON TWO ITEMS. UH, FIRST ITEM 51. UH, I'M REALLY PROUD TO BRING ITEM 51 FORWARD. WANT TO THANK MY STAFF FOR THEIR HARD WORK ON THE ITEM. THE RESOLUTION INITIATES A HOLISTIC UPDATE TO OUR CODE TO ENHANCE STANDARDIZED AND STREAMLINE, UH, STRAIGHT DESIGN STANDARD CITYWIDE TO ALIGN WITH OUR TRANSIT CORRIDORS AND A SMP STREET TIERS. IT PROVIDES BETTER CLARITY BETWEEN OUR CODE [02:05:01] AND TCM, WHICH IS CURRENTLY DUPLICATIVE, FRAGMENTED, AND CONFLICTING. IT INITIATES A WORK PLAN TO IMPLEMENT DESIGN STANDARDS CITYWIDE TO ADDRESS PRESSING EVERYDAY ISSUES SUCH AS SHADE AND PUBLIC SAFETY. THE ITEM ALSO HELPS US STREAMLINE THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS WHILE MORE CLEARLY AND PREDICTABLY DEVELOPING IN A WAY THAT MOVES US INTENTIONALLY CLOSER TO OUR CLIMATE AND MOBILITY GOALS AS A CITY. UH, IT'S ALSO ALIGNED IN DOVETAILS WITH, UH, FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER POOLS, GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE RESOLUTION, UH, THAT IS QUICKLY ADVANCING THE CITY'S EFFORTS TO GET MORE STREET TREES ON THE GROUND. UH, THE RESOLUTION CALLS FOR A ROBUST STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT PROCESS TO GET THIS RIGHT. UH, AND THAT INCLUDES ADVOCATES, THE GENERAL PUBLIC, THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY, AND IT ALSO INCLUDES OUR TRANSIT DEPENDENT RIDER, RENTERS, AND OTHERS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCES IN OUR COMMUNITIES. BOTTOM LINE ENSURES AUSTIN IS DEVELOPING AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. AS A CITY, WE WANT TO BIKE AND STROLL AND WALK IN AND TAKE TRANSIT IN. SO I WANNA THANK ONCE AGAIN MY, MY, MY STAFF, UH, FOR THEIR HARD WORK ON THE ITEM, MY CO-SPONSORS, UH, CITY STAFF AND OUR COMMUNITY LEADERS AND ADVOCATES WHO TOOK THE TIME, UH, TO PROVIDE INPUT ON THIS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT ITEM. UM, AND THEN ALSO WANNA SPEAK ON ITEM 1 0 1, UM, WHICH ONCE AGAIN, SHOUT OUT TO MY STAFF ON THE ITEM, UH, FOR THEIR HELP ON IT, UM, AND THEIR WORK ON IT, AS WELL AS AS MY CO-SPONSORS. UH, BUT AUSTIN IS NOW ONE OF THE TOP THREE CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE OWNERSHIP. AND THAT NUMBER IS ONLY CONTINUING TO GROW. TO ME, THIS RESOLUTION IS ABOUT PLANNING AHEAD RESPONSIBLY. WE HAVE A REAL OPPORTUNITY NOT ONLY TO INCENTIVIZE MORE RESIDENTS TO TRANSITION TO EVS, BUT TO DO IN A WAY THAT ACTUALLY HELPS THE GRID BY ENCOURAGING CHARGING DURING LOWER DEMAND, UH, PERIODS BEFORE PEAK DEMAND OCCURS IN THE FIRST PLACE. DURING THE PASSAGE OF THE AUSTIN ENERGY RESOURCE GENERATION PLAN IN 2024, UH, DR. WEBER'S ANALYSIS FOUND THAT UNMANAGED EV CHARGING REPRESENTED THE SINGLE LARGEST POTENTIAL DRIVER OF, OF FUTURE PEAK DEMAND AMONG THE ENA SCENARIOS STUDIED. THE SAME REPORT ALSO SHOWED THAT SMART CHARGING STRATEGIES THAT LIMITED EV CHARGING TO NO MORE THAN 10% OF VEHICLES AT ONCE COULD REDUCE PROJECTED 2040 PEAK DEMAND BY MORE THAN 3,400 MEGAWATTS FOR CONTACTS. THAT REDUCTION IS MANY TIMES LARGER THAN THE CAPACITY OF THE TRADITIONAL GENERATION RESOURCES WE RELY ON TODAY IN AUSTIN, INCLUDING DECKER AND FAYETTE, WHICH GENERATE 200 MEGAWATTS AND, AND 600 MEGAWATTS RESPECTIVELY. THAT SHOWS A SCALE OF OPPORTUNITY IN FRONT OF US AS WE INVEST EARLY AND THOUGHTFULLY IN THESE STRATEGIES. MY HOPE IS THAT THIS RESOLUTION HELPS AUSTIN CONTINUE LEADING OUR ON INNOVATION, WHILE ALSO SETTING A LONG-TERM PATH TOWARD REDUCING RELIANCE ON PEAKER PLANTS AND OTHER HIGHER EMISSION ENERGY SOURCES OVER TIME. SO, ONCE AGAIN, I WANNA THANK MY CO-SPONSORS. I WANNA THANK AUSTIN ENERGY STAFF ADVOCATES, UH, DISTRICT NINE COMMISSIONERS ON THE ON THE ELECTRIC UTILITY COMMISSION AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION, CYRUS REED AND ALISON SILVERSTEIN. UH, AND I ALSO WANTED TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL CLARITY ON EXPECTATIONS TIED TO THE RESOLUTION AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS ITEM IS A SIGNIFICANT ASK OF AE STAFF. UH, MY GOAL FOR THE DECEMBER EOUC MEETING IS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND OUR EXISTING INCENTIVE PROGRAMS, CURRENT RESIDENT PARTICIPATION LEVELS AND WHERE GAPS OR OPPORTUNITIES MAY EXIST. AND I ALSO WANNA BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT PROGRAMS OR STRATEGIES COULD REALISTICALLY BE IMPLEMENTED ALONG WITH POTENTIAL TIMELINES IN A RESPONSIBLE AND SCALABLE MANNER WITH A NEGATIVELY IMPACTING CUSTOMER RATES, WHILE ALSO TAKING INTO ACCOUNT OPERATIONAL REG REGULATORY AND MA MARKET FACTORS THAT AFFECT PUBLIC UTILITIES IN TEXAS. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU, COUNCIL. COUNCIL MEMBER MAYOR TEM, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN AND COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR. MAYOR, LET ME START WITH, UH, ITEM 43. THIS IS JUST A SMALL ACQUISITION BY THE PARKS DEPARTMENT. WE'RE BASICALLY BUYING A, A, A RESIDENTIAL LOT THAT IS GOING TO CREATE, UH, KIND OF A BACK DOOR ACCESS TO A PARK THAT WE ALSO JUST, UH, PURCHASED AND ARE, UH, STANDING UP. THESE ARE THE SMALL BUT IMPORTANT, UH, ACQUISITIONS BY PARKS THAT ARE JUST MAKING IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO GET TO THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD PARK. YOU KNOW, IF NOT FOR THIS ACQUISITION, YOU WOULD HAVE TO WALK A LONG WAY TO GET AROUND TO THE FRONT OF THE PARK AND ACTUALLY ENTER THIS, JUST GIVES THAT ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD THERE SOUTH OF WILLIAM CANNON, UH, AND JUST EAST OF CONGRESS, UH, GOOD PEDESTRIAN ACCESS TO THE PARK. I ALSO WANNA POINT OUT THAT THIS IS A VERY SMART USE OF OUR PARKLAND DEDICATION FUNDS. UH, SO AGAIN, KUDO TO, TO PARKS AND, AND PLEASE KEEP ON MAKING THOSE SMALL ACQUISITIONS THAT, UH, GET, UH, GOOD PEDESTRIAN AND, AND BICYCLE ACCESS TO OUR, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS. UM, I WANT TO, UH, THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, KARI FOR THE ITEM 51. I'M A CO-SPONSOR ON THE ITEM, AND IT'S GONNA DO A LOT OF GOOD. BUT ONE OF THE IMPORTANT ELEMENTS IS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A, UH, URBAN KIND OF DESIGN STANDARDS, AND THEN WE HAVE SUBURBAN DESIGN STANDARDS. AND, UH, FROM, FROM MY DISTRICT, 180 3 IS LARGELY THE DIVISION BETWEEN THE URBAN AND AND SUBURBAN DESIGN STANDARDS. AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S A BAD PLACE TO DRAW THE LINE, BUT MAJOR ROADWAYS, SUCH AS A LAMAR AND [02:10:01] A CAMERON, THEY REALLY BELONG MORE IN THE URBAN DESIGN STANDARDS. WE WANNA MAKE THOSE MAJOR ROADWAYS, UH, PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY, BIKE FRIENDLY, AND I THINK BY, UH, EXTENDING THOSE, UH, URBAN DESIGN STANDARDS, UH, ALONG OUR, UH, ROADWAYS AS A, INTO THE, THE, THE TRADITIONALLY SUBURBAN AREAS, UH, THAT'S, UH, ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT'S IN THE, UM, IN ITEM 51, 1 OF THE PROVISIONS THAT'S IN ITEM 51. AND I THINK THAT'S A VERY GOOD IDEA. AND, AND I'M, UH, LOOKING FORWARD TO SEE WHAT, WHAT STAFF THINKS ABOUT IT WHEN THEY, UH, COME BACK, UH, WITH, UH, UH, UH, A MORE HASHED OUT, UH, VERSION. UM, ITEM 58, UH, EXCITED TO, TO BRING THIS ITEM. UH, WE, UH, ONE OF THE THEMES, AND I THINK THE MAYOR HAS REALLY BEEN A CHAMPION OF THIS THEME IS, IS, IS TRYING TO GET OUT OF OUR OWN WAY WHEN WE ARE DOING GOOD THINGS. UH, WE'VE TRIED TO DO THAT, I THINK EXTENSIVELY IN, IN HOUSING, UH, WITH, UH, ZONING REFORMS AND PERMITTING REFORMS. THIS IS ONE FOR PARKS. UM, EVERYBODY LIKES. AND AS, AS COUNCIL MEMBER LANE MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, WATER FOUNTAINS, PLAYGROUNDS, BENCHES, PAVILIONS, REALLY, REALLY SMALL SIMPLE STRUCTURES THAT WE DON'T NEED TO PUT THROUGH A FULL KIND OF SITE PLAN PROCESS, A FULL, YOU KNOW, CODE, UH, PROCESS. WE, WE NEED TO HAVE A, A MORE SIMPLE, STREAMLINED APPROACH TO GETTING THESE AMENITIES OUT INTO OUR, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS AND, AND, AND OUR MAJOR PARKS AS WELL. UH, THIS IS ASKING, UH, STAFF TO GO OUT AND, AND LOOK AT THAT, AND THEN COME BACK WITH RECOMMENDATIONS. AND AGAIN, I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE WHAT THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE. UH, BUT AGAIN, WE WANNA IMPROVE OUR, OUR PARKS KEEP MOVING FORWARD ON THAT. WE'VE GOTTA STREAMLINE OUR, OUR REGULATORY, UH, PROCESSES. UM, AND THEN LAST, BUT DEFINITELY NOT LEAST, UH, ITEMS TWO, THREE, AND FOUR. THAT IS THE ST. JOHN REDEVELOPMENT. THAT'S, UH, FINALLY MOVING FORWARD. UH, AND I AM JUST SO HAPPY, UH, A LOT OF Y'ALL MAY KNOW THIS AS THE OLD HOME DEPOT LOCATION, UH, JUST EAST OF I 35 AND NORTH OF ST. JOHN'S. UH, IT'S, UH, ABOUT, I WANT SAY, 12 ACRES, 13 ACRES, A LARGE, UH, SITE THAT HAS BEEN SITTING EMPTY FOR, FOR QUITE SOME TIME. UH, BUT IT IS READY TO GO. WE HAVE THE DEAL TOGETHER, UH, AND IT'S GONNA BE A TREMENDOUS DEVELOPMENT. WHEN IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE. THE ST. JOHN'S PARK IS GOING FROM ONE ACRE TO ABOUT FOUR ACRES. UH, WE ARE PUTTING HOUSING ON THAT SITE, 500 UNITS, UH, 70% OF WHICH WILL BE AFFORDABLE IN, UH, IN, AT LEVELS RANGING FROM 50 TO 80%. UH, AND THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF AMENITIES THERE TOO. UH, SWIMMING POOLS, UH, FITNESS ROOMS, COMMUNITY ROOMS, UH, AND THEN WE HAVE COMMERCIAL, WHICH WAS A BIG REQUEST FROM THE ST. JOHN NEIGHBORHOOD. THEY, THEY WANTED ACCESS TO, UH, COMMERCIAL TO, TO STORES, TO SERVICES, AND THAT'S GOING IN AS PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT. SO IT'S JUST SO GREAT TO SEE THIS FINALLY HAPPEN. UM, AND I AM GOING TO PUT ON MY GLASSES AND, AND, AND BECAUSE I, THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE TO THANK THAT I, I HAD TO WRITE 'EM ALL OUT, AND I JUST WANT TO THANK THEM BECAUSE I KNOW HOW HARD PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS. FIRST OF ALL, HAKA, UH, GREYSTAR, WHICH IS OUR PRIVATE PARTNER AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN, ARE THE THREE ENTITIES THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS. UM, MIKE GERBER, UH, AND HAKA HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB ON IT. UH, THEY HAVE PASSED, UH, THE ITEM, UH, AT THEIR MAY 21ST AGENDA. HE, HE HAS BEEN JUST A TREMENDOUS, UH, UH, AS A LEADER OF HAKA AND HAKA HAS BEEN JUST GREAT IN, IN MOVING THIS FORWARD, IN PARTNERING WITH US ON THIS WITH, UH, GREY STAR. I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS OVER THERE, BUT YOU KNOW, CALI PHILLIPS AND DAVID WALSH ARE THE TWO THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH. AND OF COURSE, KATHERINE NICELY, WHO IS THEIR, UH, UH, ADVOCATE HERE, UH, AT COUNCIL, ALWAYS KEEPING ME INFORMED. UH, THEY'VE BEEN, UH, GREAT PARTNERS AND IS, I'M SO EXCITED TO, TO SEE WHAT THEY ACTUALLY BUILD THERE, UH, AT THE PROPERTY CITY STAFF. OH, SO MANY FOLKS THAT HAVE PUT SUCH TIME AND EFFORT INTO THIS, UH, FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UH, CHRISTINE FLE AND CHRISTINE MCGUIRE. THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR YEARS OF WORK ON THIS PROJECT, UH, FINANCIAL SERVICES, KATIE GOSS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. DSD KEITH MARTIN AND HIS TEAM HAVE BEEN GREAT AT EXPEDITING. THERE WERE A LOT OF LAST MINUTE CHANGES. UH, THERE WERE SOME PLATTING CHANGES. THEY GOT THE REPL DONE, THEY GOT THE PERMITTING DONE. SO WE ARE MOVING FORWARD. AUSTIN WATER AND AUSTIN ENERGY ALSO, WE'RE HUGE IN, UH, IN, IN EXPEDITING THIS PROCESS HERE AT THE END TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT CONSTRUCTION, UH, GETS GOING. UH, THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, UH, MANDY, UH, DAMO HAS BEEN JUST, UH, A HUGE HELP ON THIS. UM, AND IT'S, AND IT'S SO EXCITING BECAUSE WE'RE LOOKING AT A CONSTRUCTION STARTING IN THE, YOU KNOW, LATE JUNE JULY TIMEFRAME. SO THIS IS FINALLY, WE'RE MOVING FROM AN IDEA TO A REAL, UH, PROJECT HERE. UM, I'VE GOTTA THANK, UH, SOBE GOMEZ CHA, WHO WORKED ON THIS, UH, WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KASAR WORKED ON THIS WITH ME, WITH ME WHEN SHE WAS AT, UH, IN, AT THE DISTRICT FOUR OFFICE, . NOW SHE'S IN THE OTHER JOSE'S OFFICE, BUT SHE STILL WORKS ON IT, AND SHE STILL, WE STILL [02:15:01] TALK ABOUT IT AND, AND, AND BECAUSE SHE, IT'S A, A, A PROJECT THAT SHE'S BEEN VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT. AND, AND I JUST WANT TO THANK HER FOR ALL THE TIME AND EFFORT SHE'S PUT IN KO AS WELL. HE'S BEEN, UH, RUNNING POINT ON IT SINCE, UH, SINCE SOBE, UH, LEFT. AND HE HAS DONE A, A GREAT JOB. AND THEN AGAIN, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I'VE GOT TO THANK, UH, MY PREDECESSOR, THEN COUNCIL MEMBER CA WHO INITIATED THIS, UH, YEARS AGO. UH, HE, UH, YOU KNOW, GOT THIS, UH, GOING. WE TALK ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME. HE WANTS TO SEE IT, UH, JUST AS BADLY AS I DO. HE, HE STARTED THE RACE, HE PASSED ME THE BATON, AND THANKFULLY, I I, I'M GONNA BE FINISHING THE RACE. AND AGAIN, THANKS TO HIM AND LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING THE, THE, THE RIBBON CUTTING, UH, UH, WITH, UH, HIM THERE, UH, TOO. UH, AGAIN, JUST THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR THIS PROJECT. IT'S A HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT THAT SHOWS THAT THE CITY CAN BUILD HOUSING, AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON ITS OWN PROPERTY, WHICH IS GONNA BE KEY TO AFFORDABILITY AS WE MOVE INTO THE FUTURE. SO, MAYOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM, COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN, COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M GONNA START AN ORDER AND, UH, I THINK MAYOR PRO TEM BAYLA WAS PROBABLY A LOT MORE PERSUASIVE AND EFFUSIVE THAN I WAS, BUT I'M GONNA START WITH ITEMS TWO, THREE, AND FOUR. THESE ARE ALL POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS FOR THE ST. JOHN'S AREA. UH, INVESTMENTS LIKE THIS IN HOUSING AND INFRASTRUCTURE ALLOCATE RESOURCES TO ADDRESS VERY LIMITED HOUSING IN AUSTIN, UH, IN THE CITY. AND THIS IS AN EFFECTIVE WAY THAT COMPORTS WITH CURRENT USAGE. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE TEXAS GAS CONTRACT, AND THERE ARE TWO THINGS I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUT OF THE GATE HERE, WHICH IS, FIRST, THIS ISN'T A PERFECT DEAL. IT MIGHT NOT EVEN BE A GREAT DEAL, BUT I DO BELIEVE IN THIS MOMENT OF TIME, AFTER A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF BACK AND FORTH, I DO THINK IT'S THE BEST DEAL WE CAN PROBABLY REALISTICALLY ACHIEVE. AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE IT'S BECOME INCREASINGLY APPARENT AS THE DAYS GO BY, THAT WE HAVE VIRTUALLY NO LEVERAGE OVER OUR PRIVATE UTILITY MANAGED BY A BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT THAT LIVE IN A DIFFERENT STATE. AND THIS IS WHY, AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, WE ARE INCREDIBLY FORTUNATE THAT PRIOR CITY LEADERS HAVE SAFEGUARDED AND NURTURED OUR PUBLIC ELECTRIC AND WATER UTILITIES HERE, OUTSIDE OF FINDING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO EITHER BUY OUT TG S'S LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND CREATE A NEW AUSTIN GAS PUBLIC UTILITY. THE NEXT BEST SOLUTION I CAN COME UP WITH, AND I USE THAT TERM INCREDIBLY LOOSELY, IS TO SOMEHOW COLLECTIVELY ACQUIRE LARGE ENOUGH INTEREST IN ONE GAS, WHICH IS TG S'S PARENT COMPANY, TO SOMEHOW INFLUENCE POLICY HERE IN AUSTIN AND TEXAS. AND OUTSIDE OF EITHER OF THESE TWO INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE OPTIONS, WE HAVE VERY, VERY LIMITED LEVERAGE. SO I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE HARD WORK THAT OUR NEGOTIATORS, MS. MANN AND MS. NORTON HAVE INVESTED IN THIS PROCESS, KNOWING THAT WE HAVE VERY LITTLE TO WORK WITH HERE. I ALSO WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER AND HIS TEAM FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS. I KNOW THAT WE CONTEMPLATED A LOT OF ODD STRATEGIES, INCLUDING PUBLICLY SHAMING TEXAS GAS SERVICES REPRESENTATIVE OVER THE DEAL, BUT REALLY TO WHAT PURPOSE? BECAUSE MAYBE I CAN MAKE HIM FEEL A LITTLE BAD ABOUT IT, NOT HELPING CUSTOMERS WITH FILING AND GAS PRICES, BUT IN THE END, HE ALSO HAS LIMITED LEVERAGE OVER THE MANAGERS AND DIRECTORS AND SHAREHOLDERS. AND WE CAN DELAY, AS SOME PEOPLE SPOKE ABOUT THIS MORNING AND REQUESTED. BUT ALL WE'RE DOING IS PERPETUATING THE CURRENT AGREEMENT, WHICH WILL ROLL OVER, AND THEN THAT'S WORSE THAN THE NEW AGREEMENT. SO WHILE I'M PERSONALLY DISAPPOINTED THAT OUR NEGOTIATIONS DIDN'T RESULT IN SOME BENEFITS, WE THOUGHT THEY WOULD, THAT MIGHT'VE BEEN EASY OR CERTAINLY TGS COULD AFFORD. I THINK THERE ARE A NUMBER OF CHANGES THAT WE DID WIN FIRST. WE CHANGED THE CONTRACT TERM FROM 20 YEARS TO 10 YEARS. THAT CLARIFIES AND ALSO CLARIFIED OUR PURCHASE OPTION FOR TGS. WE GOT TGS TO IMPLEMENT A LOW INCOME ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. WE GOT TGS TO SUBMIT MORE REPORTING FOR THINGS LIKE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AND LEAK DETECTION. WHEN TGS HAS FUTURE RATE INCREASES, THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO FACE CUSTOMERS MORE DIRECTLY WITH NEW REQUIREMENTS FOR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND PUBLIC MEETINGS. WE'VE ENHANCED PROTECTIONS FOR PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAYS AND EASEMENTS THAT ARE ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREAS. WE'VE ADDED LANGUAGE TO ENSURE TGS FOLLOWS STATEWIDE TERMS AND TARIFFS RELATED TO RECOVERING DEVELOPER INITIATIVES AND MORE. AND SO, BOTTOM LINE WITH GAS PRICES RISING WITH OS NOT HAVING ITS OWN GAS UTILITY, THE BEST WAY I CAN COME UP WITH TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALL HAVE SOMEONE LOOKING OUT FOR YOU AS A CONSUMER IS TO PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT YOU VOTE FOR. THE RAILROAD COMMISSION REGULATES OIL AND GAS, AND WE SELECT THE COMMISSIONERS WHEN WE VOTE, AND WE POTENTIALLY HAVE THE BEST OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE IN YEARS THIS NOVEMBER, UH, MAYBE DECADES. SO I HOPE THAT WE SEIZE ON IT FOR ITEM 23, WHICH IS [02:20:01] AQUIFER STORAGE AND RECOVERY. ALTHOUGH I'M DISAPPOINTED, THE LARGER PROJECT IN, UH, UH, IN BASTROP DERAILED, I'M VERY GLAD TO SEE AUSTIN MOVING FORWARD IN THIS PROJECT BECAUSE WE'VE GOT A GREAT MANY DEMANDS ON LIMITED WATER. AND THIS PROJECT IS GONNA SUPPORT, UH, THE WATER FORWARD PLAN AND HELP US PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE. FRIDAY 59 ON MOTORBIKES. I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS FOR HER TREMENDOUS LEADERSHIP ON THIS. WE'VE HAD, UH, A LOT OF ISSUES WITH THESE MOTORBIKES IN OUR DISTRICT AND ARE GLAD TO SEE THE CITY MOVING FORWARD TO MAKING US A SAFER PLACE. I ALSO REQUEST TO BE LISTED AS A CO-SPONSOR TO ITEMS NINETY EIGHT NINETY NINE ONE HUNDRED AND ONE OH ONE. IN LIGHT OF THE HARD DECISIONS THAT COUNCIL HAS MADE LAST WEEK, UH, THESE ITEMS ARE GONNA HELP ADDRESS SOME OF THE CONCERNS, BOTH ENVIRONMENTAL AND EQUITY THAT ALL OF US SHARE. AND THEN FINALLY, FOR ITEM 54, I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE KNOWN DANIEL GIANNIS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. I'M PROUD TO HAVE WORKED WITH HIM ALONGSIDE HIM ON THE AUSTIN NEIGHBOR COUNCIL AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, UH, FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. AND HE BROUGHT AN INCREDIBLY VALUABLE PERSPECTIVE AND TREMENDOUS ENERGY TO HIS ADVOCACY, MORE THAN AN ADVOCATE. I REMEMBER HIM ALSO AS AN ARTIST AND MUSICIAN, AS A FATHER, AS A COMMUNITY LEADER. I COULD THINK A FEW BETTER WAYS TO HONOR HIS WORK THAN WITH THIS RENAMING AND A FEW PEOPLE MORE DESERVING OF THIS KIND OF LEGACY RECOGNITION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN, WITH WITHOUT OBJECTION, COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN WILL BE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR OF ITEMS NINETY EIGHT NINETY NINE ONE HUNDRED AND ONE OH ONE. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I JUST WANNA START OUT WITH ITEM 45. I WASN'T HERE IN 2024, BUT WANTED TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBERS ALTER FUENTES CADRY VELA VELAZQUEZ FOR THIS RENTAL FEE DISCLOSURE INITIATIVE, WHICH PROTECTS RENTERS. AND, UH, GIVEN THE COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, PRESENTED A PROCLAMATION TO BASTA THIS MORNING, CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF TENANT ADVOCACY. UH, REALLY THANKFUL FOR Y'ALL SETTING IN THIS MOTION. UM, ITEM 52, UM, IS NOT MAYBE THE FLASHIEST, UH, RESOLUTION, BUT IT'S ABOUT DUMPSTER NOISE. AND I JUST WANTED TO PEEL BACK THE CURTAIN A BIT ABOUT CONSTITUENT SERVICES AND HOW THIS POLICY CAME TO BE. UM, THE CONSTITUENT SERVICES LIAISON IN THE DISTRICT SEVEN OFFICE, SIERRA SWALLOW, HAS BEEN FIELDING CALLS FOR A LONG TIME FROM UNHAPPY RESIDENTS WHO LIVE IN RESIDENTIAL HOUSING, BUT, UH, NEIGHBOR COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES THAT HAVE DUMPSTERS. AND, UH, BASICALLY THE PICKUP FOR THESE DUMPSTERS OFTEN OCCURS AT THREE OR FOUR IN THE MORNING. UH, WAKING PEOPLE UP SOMETIMES MULTIPLE TIMES EACH WEEK. AND OUR CURRENT CODE DOES HAVE NOISE REGULATIONS, BUT, UM, THE, THE ACT OF PICKING UP A DUMPSTER IS EXEMPTED FROM THE CODE. AND SO WE'VE TRIED ALL SORTS OF TROUBLESHOOTING. WE'VE TALKED TO CODE, BUT, UM, A PD IS RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERNIGHT HOURS. OF COURSE, A PD DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF EXTRA RESOURCES FOR NUISANCE ABATEMENT. UH, WE TALKED TO BUSINESS OWNERS, UM, LANDLORDS TO SEE IF THEY COULD CHANGE PICKUP SCHEDULES. UM, WE TALKED TO HAULERS DIRECTLY TO SEE IF THEY COULD CHANGE THEIR ROUTES, AND WE GOT SOME RELIEF FOR SOME OF OUR IMPACTED RESIDENTS. BUT, UM, THIS IS A PERSISTENT CONCERN. SO THE GOAL OF THE RESOLUTION ITEM 52, IS TO SEE IF WE CAN LOOK AT OTHER TEXAS JURISDICTIONS THAT HAVE DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO REGULATING HOLLERS AND SEE IF WE CAN GET RELIEF FOR AUSTINITES AND HELP NEIGHBORS GET A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP. UM, ITEM 55, JUST WANNA BE ASKED, UH, TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR OF THE AFFORDABILITY BUY DOWN ITEM. WITHOUT OBJECTION, COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL BE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR OF ITEM NUMBER 55. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, ITEM 62 IS ABOUT VOTING, UH, AND IN PARTICULAR, FAIR FREE VOTING. THIS IS AN EXPLORATORY RESOLUTION INSPIRED BY OUR AFRICAN AMERICAN RESOURCE ADVISORY COMMISSION THAT WANTS US TO LOOK AT, UH, TALKING TO CAP METRO ABOUT MAKING IT FREE TO RIDE THE BUS, UH, DURING EARLY VOTING AS WELL AS ELECTION DAY. AND SO, UH, THE GOAL HERE IS FOR CITY MANAGEMENT TO LOOK AT THE COSTS AND THE EFFECTIVENESS TO SPEAK WITH CAP METRO AND TO TALK TO THE COUNTY WHO HAVE, UH, AT LEAST SOME OF THE REPRESENTATIVES HAVE INDICATED TO ME THAT THEY WOULD BE INTERESTED IN, IN POTENTIALLY CO-SPONSORING THIS PROGRAM. BUT WANTED TO THANK THE COMMISSION FOR THE RECOMMENDATION GIVEN THE ATTACKS ON VOTING RIGHTS IN THIS COUNTRY RIGHT NOW, INCLUDING THE RECENT SUPREME COURT DECISION THAT WEAKENS THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT AND WEAKENS PROTECTIONS FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN VOTERS. UH, JUST WANNA DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO THE POLLS. ITEM 97 IS A BOND ITEM. I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER FOR GETTING THIS RESOLUTION TOGETHER, WHICH ASKED STAFF TO CONTINUE TO DEVELOP POSSIBLE BOND PROGRAMS. I, I, ITEM 97 IS NOT ON AGENDA IN THE CONSENT AGENDA. OH, THEN I'LL SAVE MY COMMENTS ON THAT FOR LATER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. IT'S GOOD TO KNOW HOW YOU'RE GONNA VOTE, BUT, UM, I HAVE 97 . NO, I JUST WANTED TO SEE IF YOU WERE PAYING ATTENTION TO MAYOR. THANK YOU. UM, THEN THE LAST THING, UH, ITEMS 98 99 100 101. UH, THESE ARE KIND OF OUR COLLECTIVE EFFORT TO MITIGATE THE IMPACTS OF THE AUSTIN, UH, ENERGY PEAKER DECISION. WE KNOW THAT LAST WEEK'S APPROVAL FOR INVESTMENT IN NEW PEAKERS WILL REQUIRE VIGILANCE FROM THIS COUNCIL OVER THE COMING YEARS, SO THAT NEW PEAKERS WILL NOT DERAIL EFFORTS TO PURSUE RENEWABLE [02:25:01] ENERGY SOURCES, AND SO THAT THESE PEAKERS WILL NOT CAUSE INEQUITABLE OR UNNECESSARY HARM IN OUR COMMUNITIES. SO, I'M SO GRATEFUL TO JOIN SO MANY OF THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS IN DEMONSTRATING THAT VIGILANCE TODAY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBERS ALTER VELASQUEZ AND CADRE FOR BRINGING FORWARD IMPORTANT STRATEGIES THAT WOULD LIMIT EMISSIONS, EVALUATE SITE PROPOSALS WITH EQUITY TOP OF MIND, AND UPDATE OUR ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND BATTERY STORAGE PROGRAMS. AND THANK YOU TO THE CO-SPONSORS, VITAMIN 99, UH, VELASQUEZ ALTER AND ELLIS. UH, THIS IS THE RESOLUTION I'M BRINGING FORWARD TO ESTABLISH A PROGRAM FOR COMMUNITY DRIVEN AND COMPREHENSIVE IMPACT MITIGATION STRATEGIES FOR FOLKS, UH, BOTH FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE GONNA BE NEIGHBORS OF THESE NEW PEAKERS, BUT AS WELL AS PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN LIVING AND WORKING WITH PEAKERS OPERATING NEARBY FOR MANY YEARS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE STRATEGIES TO MITIGATE, UH, THE IMPACTS INCLUDE ACCESS TO SOLAR AND BATTERY INVESTMENTS SUPPORTED BY AE KIND OF IN THE SPIRIT OF THE, UH, SOLAR FOR ALL PROGRAM THAT WAS CUT AFTER WE LOST EPA SUPPORT. SO THANK YOU TO ALL THE ADVOCATES AND ORGANIZERS WHO HAVE SPOKEN UP OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS AND ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO HELP US TAKE MORE MEANINGFUL STEPS TOWARDS CLIMATE JUSTICE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, NOT MUCH LEFT TO BE SAID WHEN YOU GO LAST, BUT, UH, ONE ITEM THAT I WILL MENTION IT, UH, HAS NOT BEEN DISCUSSED IS ITEM NUMBER ONE. AND THAT IS, UH, RAISING THE SENIOR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE CERTAIN TOOLS AT OUR DIS AT OUR DISPOSAL TO HELP PEOPLE AGE IN PLACE TO BE ABLE TO LIVE HERE AFFORDABLY. AND THIS IS A VERY POWERFUL ONE. UH, EVER SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL EVERY YEAR, WE HAVE RAISED THAT HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION SO THAT INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ON A FIXED INCOME, UH, CAN AFFORD TO LIVE IN THEIR HOME AND STAY IN THEIR HOME. UH, AND SO I'M GLAD THAT WE ARE TAKING THAT STEP AGAIN TODAY. UH, I WON'T REHASH THE TEXAS GAS SERVICE FRANCHISE, BUT I WILL SAY I WANT TO CERTAINLY THANK, UM, ALL THE WORK OF THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION THAT THEY HAVE DONE. OUR STAFF WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING TIRELESSLY ON THIS, UH, TEXAS GAS SERVICE HAS PUT THINGS IN THIS AGREEMENT THAT WE HAVE NEVER HAD BEFORE. AND, AND THAT IS WE'VE MOVED THE NEEDLE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. UH, AND SO I, I WANNA RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE LIMITATIONS TO OUR POWER, AND ULTIMATELY THE RAILROAD COMMISSION IS WHO'S GONNA HAVE THE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY OVER RATES. SO IF WE WANNA LOWER COSTS MEANINGFULLY, UH, THAT HAS TO BE DONE AT A DIFFERENT BODY. UM, I ALSO, IT WAS MENTIONED BEFORE, BUT ON ITEMS 45 AND 55, WHICH ARE MAKING SURE WE DISCLOSE OUR FEES FOR RENTERS AND TO PROMOTE MORE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY HERE IN THE CITY, UM, KRISTA WEATHERFORD IN MY OFFICE HAS BEEN WORKING TIRELESSLY, TIRELESSLY ON, ON THESE, AND I WANT TO THANK HER FOR THAT WORK. UH, AND THEN OF COURSE, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, ON THE DISCUSSIONS AROUND, UH, REDUCING EMISSIONS AND REDUCING THE HARMFUL IMPACTS THAT ARE RELATED TO ANY KIND OF NEW GENERATION, THE PEAKER GENERATION, UH, THAT WE ARE MITIGATING THOSE IMPACTS, NOT EMITTING MORE, UH, THAN WE DO WITHOUT THEM. SO, UH, I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHAT WE, AUSTIN ENERGY IS ABLE TO DEVELOP, UH, IN ORDER TO MITIGATE AND OFFSET THESE IMPACTS. SO WITH THAT, I'LL SEND IT BACK. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS WOULD LIKE TO BE SHOWN VOTING, UH, IN FAVOR OF ITEM NUMBER 50, I'M SORRY, BE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR OF ITEM NUMBER 54. SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, SHE'LL BE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR OF ITEM 54. AND COUNCIL MEMBER LANE WOULD LIKE TO BE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR OF ITEMS 56 62 95 AND 1 0 1. WITHOUT OBJECTION, SHE'LL BE SHOWN AS CO-SPONSOR OF EACH ONE OF THOSE ITEMS. UM, I'M GOING TO BACK CLEAN UP HERE AND, AND SPEAK JUST QUICKLY ON ITEM NUMBER 87. UH, BECAUSE TODAY THE CITY COUNCIL IS TAKING ANOTHER STEP IN ADDRESSING A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY AND INCIDENT THAT DEVASTATINGLY IMPACTED OUR CITY. OVER THREE DECADES AGO, HORRIBLE CRIMES TOOK THE LIVES OF FOUR TEENAGE GIRLS. THE LOSS OF THESE WONDERFUL YOUNG WOMEN IMPACTED OUR WHOLE CITY. AND WE FEEL IT TODAY. LAST SEPTEMBER, AFTER A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION THAT INCLUDED THE USE OF ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY THAT DIDN'T EXIST IN 1999, AUSTIN POLICE ANNOUNCED A SIGNIFICANT BREAKTHROUGH IN THAT CASE, THE IDENTIFICATION OF A LONE SUSPECT ALSO POINTED TO THE WRONGFUL ACCUSATION OF FOUR YOUNG MEN PREVIOUSLY ACCUSED OF COMMITTING THESE CRIMES. THE LIVES OF THOSE YOUNG MEN, ROBERT SPRINGSTEEN, MICHAEL SCOTT, MAURICE PIERCE, AND FORREST WELLBORN WERE ALSO DRAMATICALLY AND IRREVOCABLY CHANGED THAT NIGHT. THEY WERE ACCUSED OF TERRIBLE ACTS, AND THAT WAS WRONG. AN AWFUL MISTAKE. AND FOR THAT, AS AUSTIN MAYOR, I APOLOGIZE TO THESE MEN [02:30:01] AND THEIR FAMILIES TODAY. POLICING HAS CHANGED. INVESTIGATIONS HAVE CHANGED, TECHNOLOGY HAS CHANGED, AND WE HAVE CHANGED. THERE'S NOTHING THAT WE OR I CAN SAY TO UNDO PAST WRONGS. WE CAN ONLY MITIGATE OUR MISTAKES WITH ACTION. I'VE SAID PREVIOUSLY THAT I HOPE THE EXONERATIONS BRING SOME RELIEF AND CLOSURE, AND I HOPE THAT THIS PROPOSED FINANCIAL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ALSO BRINGS, UH, SOME RELIEF AND CLOSURE. SO, WITH THAT, MEMBERS, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO ABSTAIN FROM ANY VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ANYONE WISHING? COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN? YEAH, I'M GONNA, UH, AB SEVEN AND 75. COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN IS ABSTAINING ON 67 AND 75. ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN RECUSING THEMSELVES FROM A VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? THAT BEING THE CASE WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN BEING SHOWN ABSTAINING ON ITEM 67 AND 75 AND THERE BEING TWO ABSENCES MEMBERS. WHAT WE WILL DO [12:00 PM - Public Communication: General] NOW IS WE WILL GO TO OUR PUBLIC COMMENT. AT THE END OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT, WE WILL, UH, RECESS AND TAKE UP THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING. AND FOLLOWING THAT, WE WILL TAKE UP ITEM NUMBER 90. SO WITH THAT, I'LL TURN TO THE CLERK AND ASK YOU TO PLEASE START CALLING PEOPLE FOR THE PUBLIC COMMENT. FOLKS, UM, HEY, EVERYBODY, PAY ATTENTION IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM. PAY ATTENTION. WE NEED YOU TO TAKE YOUR CONVERSATIONS OUTSIDE. PLEASE, AS HAPPY AS YOU MIGHT BE. FIVE FOR THE RECORD. BEFORE WE DO THAT, BEFORE THE RECORD, COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN, UM, HANG, HANG ON A SECOND. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN CANNOT BE SHOWN VOTING, UM, ABSTAINING ON ITEM NUMBER 75. 'CAUSE ITEM NUMBER 75 IS A TWO O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN MATTER, SO FOR THE RECORD. AND 67 HAS ALSO BEEN PULLED AND WILL BE TAKEN UP AT TWO O'CLOCK. SO BOTH OF THOSE ITEMS, UH, THAT I CALLED ON THE VOTE. SO NOW WITH THAT BEING THE CASE, LET ME MAKE SURE WE'RE CLEAR ON THE VOTE WITHOUT OBJECTION. THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ADOPTED WITH NO ABSTENTIONS, NO RECUSALS, AND NO VOTE, NO VOTES, BUT TWO ABSENCES. THANK YOU. SILVER WHITE MOUNTAIN, MARILYN HOWELL, CAROL BAXTER, AND CAROL ROSE KENNEDY, PLEASE BEGIN. I AM SILVER WHITE MOUNTAIN COUNCIL. MAYOR, I'M HERE TO DEFEND WAYMO. JUST KIDDING. THEY CAN DEFEND THEMSELVES. I'M HERE TO, UH, PLAY A SONG, DEDICATION TO COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HARPER. MADISON. PLAY IT LIKE, AND I WILL THEN SAY, LIKE, MY BROTHER, WILL YOU HOLD ME? WHEN WRONG WILL YOU SC ME? WILL, WILL YOU FIND ME? BUT THEY TOLD ME, A AND NOT, AND I'M ONLY [02:35:25] I, YOU'LL BE ME. AND THANK YOU. IF YOU'VE BEEN CALLED, PLEASE GO AHEAD AND COME ON UP AND JUST, IF YOUR NAME, IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE FIND A, A SEAT AND MAKE YOURSELF COMFORTABLE. AND THEN STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND BEGIN SPEAKING. I HAVE FIRST NEEDED TO WANT TO WHAT? I'M SORRY. IF YOU TAKE, WE'LL NEED TO GET THOSE TO THE CLERK SO YOU, SO YOU'LL KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. IT'LL MAKE MORE SENSE WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. WOULD SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP? BUT MY NAME IS, UM, MARILYN HOWELL COMING FROM HOUSTON, TEXAS WITH MY HUSBAND. UH, TO ME THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS MATTER. I'M TALKING ABOUT TRYING TO GET PRAYER BACK IN SCHOOL AND GETTING A BIBLE CLASS BACK IN SCHOOL. I'M STARTING OFF WITH MY COMMUNITY, MY CITY AND MY STATE. UM, LIKE THE LADY THAT TOOK PRAYER OUTTA SCHOOL. SHE LIVED HERE IN HOUSTON, IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. AND HER NAME WAS MADELINE O'HARA. OKAY. AND SHE WENT TO SUPREME COURT AND JOHN F. KENNEDY. AND THEY TOOK AND LET HER GET PRAYER OUT OF SCHOOL. WE WERE ON THE RIGHT TRACK. WE HAD A FOUNDATION OF HAVING PRAYER IN SCHOOL. AND IF YOU CAN SEE HER FACE, YOU'LL KNOW MAYBE WHO I'M TALKING ABOUT. 'CAUSE SHE LIVED HERE FOR A WHILE. UH, EVENTUALLY HER, HER SON AND HER GRANDDAUGHTER WAS MURDERED BY THE GENTLEMAN THAT USED TO WORK FOR HER, WHICH WAS A TRAGIC DEATH. UH, NOBODY SHOULD DIE LIKE THAT. UH, BUT I'M HERE TO TRY TO GET THAT DARK CLOUD THAT SHE LEFT OVER THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS. I'VE SEEN ENOUGH SCHOOL SHOOTINGS. I'M AT MY BREAKING POINT WHERE THE GIRL IN OHIO SHOT HERSELF IN THE HEAD IN THE CAFETERIA. THE LITTLE 6-YEAR-OLD CAME TO THE SCHOOL, SHOT HIS TEACHER. SO MY HEART IS HEAVY AND WHATEVER I HAVE TO DO, AND EVEN IF I HAVE TO GO TO BACK TO THE SUPREME COURT, I WILL. BUT ALL I'M ASKING, WILL YOU PLEASE SUPPORT ME IN ANY WAY YOU CAN. IF YOU SEE ANY INFORMATION THAT YOU CAN HELP ME, BECAUSE I KNOW Y'ALL RUN INTO DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN YOUR LIVES AND YOU KNOW, THEY PROBABLY MIGHT BE TALKING ABOUT, UH, SCHOOL AND GETTING PRAYER BACK IN SCHOOL. I'VE HEARD IT QUITE A FEW TIMES ON THE NEWS WHERE PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO GET PRAYER BACK IN SCHOOL. UH, LIKE I SAY, THIS IS MY MISSION, THIS IS MY PURPOSE, AND I'M GONNA KEEP FIGHTING FOR IT UNTIL I CAN SEE IT COME TO PASS. 'CAUSE I'M NOT ASHAMED OF GOD ONE BIT AND WHAT HE'S DOING WITH ME IN MY LIFE. SO ALL I'M JUST TRYING TO ASK YOU IS FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THAT'S ALL I'M TRYING TO ASK YOU FOR. SO I WILL BE GOING BACK TO HOUSTON, TEXAS, AND I WILL CONTINUE TO TALK TO PEOPLE THERE, GO TO COUNCIL MEETINGS THERE, AND JUST KEEP, CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR THIS SIR AND YOUNG LADY. UM, SIR, COULD YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. MY NAME IS KEN HOWELL. KEN HOWELL. K-E-N-N-E-T-H. SIR, I'M SORRY, I DON'T HAVE YOU REGISTERED FOR NOON PUBLIC COMMUNICATION? I'M JUST WITH MY WIFE. WELL, IF, IF YOU HAVEN'T SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO DO THAT. UH, UM, I'M SORRY, SIR. OKAY. OKAY. WELL THAT'S WHEN I CAME HERE TO DO, UH, YOU, YOU HAD YOUR, YOU SAID YOUR PEACE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. OKAY. APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AND BE SAFE DRIVING HOME. OKAY? THANK YOU. PLEASE, IT'S YOUR TIME. PLEASE, PLEASE GO AHEAD AND START. ME? YES. OH, OKAY. [02:40:02] THANK Y'ALL FOR SERVING ALL OF Y'ALL. IS IS YOUR MICROPHONE ON? HUH? CAN YOU MOVE THE MIC PLEASE? YOUR MOUTH PLEASE. AND STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. THIS DAD ? YES, PLEASE. RIGHT THERE. AND STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. OKAY. SORRY. LORD, I, THERE'S A LITTLE WHITE DUCK. OH MAN, , I DON'T FEEL VERY GOOD. SORRY. THERE'S A LITTLE WHITE DUCK. GOOD LORD. THERE'S A LITTLE WHITE DUCK WALKING ON THE WATER. A LITTLE WHITE DUCK. THERE'S A LITTLE WHITE DUCK. THERE'S A LITTLE WHITE DUCK WALTZ IN ON THE WATER. A LITTLE WHITE DUCK DEW IN WHICH SHE OUGHT TO. SHE JUMPS RIGHT OFF OF A LILY WHITE PAD, LEFT HER WINGS AND SHE SAYS, I'M BAD. THERE'S A LITTLE WHITE DUCK WATSON ON THE WATER, RIGHT? ALL RIGHT. ALRIGHT. ALL RIGHT. THERE'S A LITTLE BROWN MAN HANGING AT THE BORDER. A LITTLE BROWN MAN WAITING FOR AN ORDER. THE KIDS AND THEIR BOMBS SCREAMED AND CRIED ALL NIGHT BECAUSE HE PACKED HIS BAGS AND HE TOOK ANOTHER FIGHT. THERE'S A LONGHORN BOWL WAITING AT THE MARKET. THESE TO TAKE A CRAP. DON'T KNOW WHERE TO PARK IT. THEY ALL TOUCHED DOWN AND THEY THROW IT UP. OOPS. OH, HE FORGOT HIS CUP. THERE'S A HIGH WHITE TOWER BUILT INSIDE A BOARDROOM, A HIGH WHITE TOWER WAITING FOR A QUORUM. THEY ATE AND THEY DRANK AND THEY LEFT AND PLAYED WHILE THE PEONS WORKED AND BECAME THEIR SLAVES. THERE'S A LITTLE, LITTLE GIRL, UH, THERE, THERE'S A LITTLE WHITE GIRL CLIMBING UP A TREE. A LITTLE BLACK BOY FELL FROM NO, FELL FROM MAMA'S KNEE. THEY'RE HUNGRY, TIRED, AND THEY'RE SO CONFUSED. LOOK AT THE LITTLE WE, THE PEOPLE BEING USED. THERE'S A LITTLE YELLOW GIRL BORN TO SERVE A MAN. A LITTLE YELLOW GIRL DOING WHAT SHE CAN. SHE REACHES UP BUDDY SLAPS HER DOWN AND NOW SHE'S WORKING FOR A PARTY CLOWN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COULD YOU STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE? CAROL LYNN ROSE KENNEDY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE ALSO HAVE PAUL ROBBINS AND DAVID KAVIN. AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, WE HAD TWO REMOTE SPEAKERS THAT DID NOT CALL IN AND BOTH TAMARA AND JUSTIN INFORMED US THEY NO LONGER WISH TO SPEAK. OKAY. IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD. AND SHE'S CALLED ALL OF THE NAMES THAT SEPARATE FROM PEOPLE SIGNED UP ON PUBLIC COMMENT. COUNSEL. UH, I'M PAUL ROBBINS. I'M ASKING FOR TRANSPARENCY AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY REGARDING THE GAS PEAKING PLANTS THAT YOU ENDORSED LAST WEEK. WELL, I WOULD'VE PREFERRED, UH, I WOULD'VE PREFERRED A LEASE AS OPPOSED TO OWNERSHIP UNTIL ENERGY STORAGE IS MORE FULLY DEVELOPED. I'M NOT AGAINST A GAS PLANT AS AN INTERIM MEASURE, BUT VOTING IN SECRET AND NOT EVEN TELLING THE VOTERS WHAT YOU VOTED ON IS BEYOND THE PALE. AND WHAT IS EVEN MORE ANEMIC IS THE COST. COMPARING RESPECTED BENCHMARK STUDIES IN THE POWER INDUSTRY TO AUSTIN ENERGY'S SKETCHY ESTIMATE OF PRICE. AUSTIN WILL BE PAYING OVER [02:45:01] $600 MILLION IN EXCESS OF WHAT THESE UNITS COST THREE YEARS AGO WITH INTEREST ADDED. YOU'LL BE ASKING EVERY PERSON IN THE SERVICE TERRITORY TO PAY ALMOST $1,200 IN INCREASED COSTS OVER THE PLANT'S LIFETIME BECAUSE WE ARE NOT WAITING TO BUY AT A REASONABLE PRICE. AGAIN, $1,200 PER PERSON. I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN AUSTIN'S CIVIC AFFAIRS FOR CLOSE TO 50 YEARS WITHOUT EXAGGERATION. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A CITY GOVERNMENT DO ANY THIS CITY GOVERNMENT DO ANYTHING THIS SECRETIVE AND THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT YOU'LL BE THAT WILL BE WASTED CERTAINLY RIVALS OTHER PAST FISCAL MISTAKES, UH, THAT AUSTIN HAS MADE, INCLUDING THE SOUTH TEXAS NUCLEAR PROJECT WITH A 460% OVERRUN, THE OUTRAGEOUSLY PRICED BIOMASS PLANT AND BUILDING THE HANCOCK'S WATER TREATMENT PLANT, A GENERATION BEFORE IT'S NEEDED. IT WAS NEEDED. AND SO I'M ASKING THE FOLLOWING FIRST, GO BACK AND TELL PEOPLE HOW YOU VOTED AND WHY SECOND PAIR BACK THE PURCHASE FROM 400 MEGAWATTS TO 100 OR 200 MEGAWATTS. IT WAS ONLY A YEAR AGO THAT AUSTIN ENERGY STATED IT WOULD NEED 200 MEGAWATTS, NOT 400 MEGAWATTS, THIRD PURCHASE LATER RATHER THAN SOONER WHEN DATA CENTERS ARE NOT DRIVING UP PRICES IN FOURTH IF THEY DO NOT EXIST. TENDER FORMAL COMPETITIVE BIDS FOR THE GENERATORS IF SUCH BIDS EXIST. I'M NOT AWARE OF THEM. LET ME CAUTION YOU THAT AUSTIN ENERGY STAFF IS NOT ALWAYS RIGHT AND IF THE WHEELS COME OFF THIS PROJECT, THEY CAN JUST TAKE RETIREMENT. IT WILL BE THE CUSTOMERS WHO BEAR THE EXCESSIVE COSTS. THANK YOU MR. ROBINSON. THOSE ARE ALL THE PEOPLE. YES, MAYOR. ALRIGHT, MEMBERS, THAT CONCLUDES OUR, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. SO, UM, WHAT WE WILL DO [10:30 AM - Austin Housing Finance Corporation Meeting] IS WE WILL RECESS THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING, UH, AT 12:46 PM SO THAT WE CAN CALL TO ORDER THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION. SO WITH THAT OBJECTION, WE ARE IN RECESS OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING AT 12:46 PM AND I WILL CALL TO ORDER THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION AT 12:46 PM WE HAVE A QUORUM PRESENT OF THE DIRECTORS. WE ARE MEETING IN THE CITY HALL OF CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS LOCATED AT 3 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET IN AUSTIN, TEXAS ON MAY 28TH, 2026. THERE ARE TWO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA AND I'LL TURN TO OUR STAFF. GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM NICOLE JOCELYN. I'M THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OFFICER FOR AUSTIN HOUSING. I AM HERE TO PRESENT THE TWO ITEMS WE HAVE OFFERED ON CONSENT FOR THE A HFC BOARD MEETING TODAY. THE FIRST ITEM IS TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING ON MAY 7TH, 2026. AND THE SECOND ITEM IS TO AUTHORIZE NEGOTIATION AND EXECUTION OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO FUND AND ADMINISTER THE TENANT-BASED RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH SUBSIDIES TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. THIS ITEM INCREASES THE AMOUNT OF THE CONTRACT BY 1,419,480 $48 FOR A REVISED TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $2,838,896. THE FUNDING FOR THIS ITEM IS AVAILABLE IN THE FY 26 27 OPERATING BUDGET OF A HFC AND IS CONTINGENT UPON THE HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM MEMBERS. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF? ALRIGHT, PLEASE, UH, CALL ON OUR SPEAKER. I HAVE ONE SPEAKER FOR ITEM TWO XENOBI JOSEPH. THANK YOU MAYOR COUNCIL, I'M ENOVIA JOSEPH MAYOR, I JUST WANNA REMIND YOU THAT THE ONLY PLACE THAT THIS ITEM WAS POSTED WAS 66 ON THE AGENDA. ONCE AGAIN, I JUST WANNA REMIND YOU OF THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT 1 4 1 5 5 1 0.141 ACTION VOIDABLE AND WOULD ASK YOU TO POST THESE, UH, AGENDA ITEMS APPROPRIATELY. I JUST WANNA CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION AS IT RELATES TO THE VOUCHERS. UH, SPECIFICALLY DURING THE MAY 21ST, 2026 MEETING, HAKA MENTIONED THAT THEY HAVE NOT GIVEN OUT ANY NEW [02:50:01] VOUCHERS EXCEPT FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. THEY HAVE SOME PROJECT-BASED VOUCHERS. I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THE NEED TO ACTUALLY EARMARK SOME OF THESE VOUCHERS FOR VETERANS. THE HAKA PROPERTY ACTUALLY HAS 50% OF SOME VOUCHERS SET ASIDE FOR SAFE ALLIANCE AND AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH ACTUALLY PRIVILEGES WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN AS WELL. UH, DIRECTOR STEPHANIE HEATEN HOWARD MAY 8TH, 2025. I GAVE HER THE UPDATE FROM HUD 2024. SPECIFICALLY, IT SAYS THAT, UH, CASE MANAGEMENT, THE VA IN CONSULTATION WITH THE VETERAN IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DETERMINING IF CASE MANAGEMENT IS REQUIRED. AS IT RELATES TO YOUR POLICIES, YOU HAVE NOT UPDATED ANY OF THE POLICIES AND YOU PASSED THE HOMELESS STRATEGY STRATEGIC PLAN WITHOUT ANY REFERENCE TO VETERANS. I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS HOME FUNDING AND SPECIFICALLY THAT INFORMATION WAS NOT AVAILABLE ON MAY 12TH WHEN THIS ITEM WENT BEFORE THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION. I LASTLY, WANT TO THANK THE POLICE OFFICER AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHO ACTUALLY DIDN'T GIMME A TICKET WHEN I WAS AT GUS GARCIA. THEY HAD A RAID OVER THERE AND THE EMS WAS THERE AND HE DIDN'T, HE COULD'VE TICKETED ALL OF US, BUT HE SAID, INSTEAD, GIVE US A CALL IF YOU NEED US BECAUSE SOMEBODY WAS ACTUALLY STABBING PEOPLE THAT NIGHT. AND SO I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT YOU ARE LEAVING VETERANS ON THE STREET UNNECESSARILY. AND BECAUSE OF THAT INCIDENT NOW I'VE PAID OVER $10,000 AND WOULD ASK YOU TO REFUND ME. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GLADLY ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH MS. JOSEPH. WELCOME MEMBERS. UM, THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AT THE BOARD, TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION. ON AT THIS MEETING OF THE BOARD, UH, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IT WAS PROVIDED MADE BY, UH, BOARD MEMBER LANE. SECONDED BY BOARD MEMBER UCHIN. UH, IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN? WELL, FIRST OF ALL, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN ABSTAINING FROM A VOTE ON ONE ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IT WAS READ, ANYONE WISHING TO RECUSE THEMSELVES FROM A VOTE? ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING? NO. THAT BEING THE CASE WITH NO FURTHER DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE UH, CONSENT AGENDA FOR THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION IS ADOPTED WITH VICE PRESIDENT VELA, UH, AND, AND BOARD MEMBER OF VELASQUEZ OFF THE DAIS AND TWO ABSENCES, UH, MEMBERS, THERE'S NO OTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION AT THIS REGULAR MEETING, THE HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION. SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 12:51 PM THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED. I'LL NOW CALL BACK TO ORDER [90. Authorize six contracts for audio/visual and television broadcast equipment, products, and related services for all City departments with AVI-SPL, LLC; Donald Kenneth Martin d/b/a DVSERVE; Halbrook and Miller, Inc. d/b/a TM Television; Heart of Texas Music, Inc.; IES Commercial, Inc. d/b/a IES Communications, LLC; and Nelco Media, Inc., each for an initial term of two years with up to three one-year extension options in amounts not to exceed $27,330,000, divided among the contractors. Funding: $2,129,167 is available in the Operating Budget of all City departments. Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets.] AT 12:51 PM ON MAY 28TH, 2026, THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND MEMBERS, THE FIRST ITEM WE WILL TAKE UP IS ITEM, EXCUSE ME, I APOLOGIZE. ITEM NUMBER 90, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER YOU PULLED ITEM NUMBER 90 AND SO I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU AND, AND, AND I'M HOPING WHAT I RECOGNIZE YOU FOR IS A MOTION. AND THEN WE'LL TAKE UP YOUR PROPOSED, UH, AMENDMENT TO THAT, THAT ITEM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, I MOVE PASSAGE OF ITEM 90, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER MOVES PASSAGE OF ITEM NUMBER 90. IS THERE A SECOND? IT IS SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL. COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR, UM, DISCUSSION OF YOUR PROPOSED, UH, UH, OKAY. UH, WE HAVE A SPEAKER. SO BEFORE I TAKE YOUR MOTION, UH, ON THAT, WE'LL GO TO THE SPEAKER. JEFFREY BOWEN. ITEM 90. I HAD ACTUALLY LOOKED UP AND DIDN'T SEE HIM AND THAT'S WHY I THINK I, IN MY HEAD, UH, SUBCONSCIOUSLY, MR. BOWEN, ARE YOU HERE? OKAY, THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS, THAT'S ALL. I'M SORRY, UH, FOR INTERRUPTING YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ALT ALTER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. ABSOLUTELY. SO THIS ITEM IS THE, UH, AV ITEM THAT WE TALKED ABOUT AT OUR LAST WORK SESSION. WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO WORK WITH STAFF AND WHAT THEY'RE GONNA DO, ASSUMING THE DIRECTION PASSES THAT I'M GOING TO BE MOTIONING FOR HERE IN A SECOND, UH, IS TO GIVE US MORE INFORMATION THAT'S A FIVE YEAR CONTRACT, BUT ONE YEAR OUT. AND THEN EVERY YEAR THEREAFTER, TELL US WHAT THE, WHAT THEY WERE SPENDING THOSE DOLLARS ON AND THE SOURCE OF FUNDING AND THEN WHAT THEY EXPECT TO BE SPENDING THAT MONEY ON. SO WE CAN JUST KIND OF CHECK IN AND SAY, DOES THIS STILL MEET THE PRIORITIES THAT WE HAVE AS A COUNCIL IN TERMS OF SPENDING ON THINGS VERSUS SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO PRIORITIZE OR COMPETE THAT AGAINST SPENDING ON PEOPLE. SO, UM, I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT STAFF HAS DONE TO HELP GET THIS TO A, A GOOD SPOT. AND SO I, WITH THAT, I WILL MOVE THE AMENDMENT CM ALTER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER NINE. OH COUNSEL, YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU A MOTION SHEET LABELED CM ALTER NUMBER ONE, UH, TO PROVIDE DIRECTION FOR ITEM NUMBER 90. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER LANE. DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION TO AMEND ITEM NUMBER 90. [02:55:01] HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION. THE MOTION TO AMEND IS ADOPTED WITH, UH, COUNT WITH, UH, MAYOR PRO TIM VELA AND COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ OFF THE DAIS AND, UH, TWO ABSENCES. WE WILL NOW GO BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION, WHICH IS ITEM NUMBER NINE TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 90 AS AMENDED. UM, YOU SPEAK, SORRY. ALRIGHT, UM, WE HAVE, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. IT'S WE'RE WE'LL BE VOTING ON ITEM NUMBER 90 AS AMENDED. UM, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION? ITEM NUMBER 90 AS AMENDED IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, UH, OFF THE DAIS AND TWO ABSENCES. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. UM, MEMBERS, WHAT I'M [103. Approve a resolution appointing members to and designating the chair of the Municipal Civil Service Commission.] GOING TO DO FOR CONTINUITY OR WHAT I PERCEIVE TO BE CONTINUITY IS I'M GOING TO GO TO ITEM NUMBER 1 0 3, WHICH IS AN ITEM FROM A COUNCIL COMMITTEE, UM, MEMBERS, UH, THIS COMES FROM THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE AS CHAIR OF THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE. I WILL MOVE THAT WE REAPPOINT AND DESIGNATE KEVIN MULLINS AS CHAIR OF THE MUNICIPAL CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION AND WE APPOINT COURTNEY CARUTHERS AND RONALD BENNETT AS MEMBERS OF THE MUNICIPAL CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER LANE? IS THERE DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? AND I DON'T BELIEVE ANYBODY'S SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, NO SPEAKERS. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION. UM, ITEM NUMBER 1 0 3 IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ OFF THE DAES IN TWO ABSENCES MEMBERS. I'M GONNA [Items 63 - 65] GO TO ITEM 63, 64 AND 65 AND TRY TO TAKE THOSE UP. UH, THOSE ITEMS ARE IMMINENT DOMAIN ITEMS. LET ME FIRST TURN TO, UH, STAFF AND SEE IF ANYONE HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. I HAVE ONE SPEAKER FOR ITEM 63. WILLIAM BUNCH. MR. BUNCH. ARE YOU HERE MR. BUNCH? BILL BUNCH. ALRIGHT, UM, MEMBERS ON ITEMS 63 64 AND 65 WITH RESPECT TO THOSE ITEMS, THEY ARE NON-CONSENT CONDEMNATION ITEMS. THE MOTION THAT I WILL ACCEPT IS TO THE EFFECT THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF AUSTIN AUTHORIZES THE USE OF THE POWER OF IMMINENT DOMAIN TO ACQUIRE THE PROPERTY SET FORTH AND DESCRIBED IN THE AGENDA FOR THE CURRENT MEETING FOR THE PUBLIC PURPOSES AND USES THAT ARE DESCRIBED THEREIN. IS THERE A MOTION COUNCIL MEMBER LANE AND IS, MAKES THE MOTION IT IS SECONDED BY THE MAYOR PRO TIM. IS THERE DISCUSSION ON ITEMS 63, 64 AND 65? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION. ITEM 63, 64 AND 65 ARE ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ OFF THE DAIS AND TWO ABSENCES. WE WILL NOW GO [68. Conduct a public hearing and consider a resolution related to an application by Roers Austin Apartments Owner V LP, or an affiliated entity, for 4% Non-Competitive Housing Tax Credits for the construction of a multifamily development to be financed through the private activity bond program and to be known as Decker Lane Apartments, located at or near 7400 Decker Lane, Austin, Texas 78724. Funding: Approving this resolution does not constitute any obligation of the City with respect to funding. This resolution will support the applicant's application for federal Housing Tax Credits.] TO PUBLIC HEARINGS. ITEM NUMBER 68 IS A PUBLIC HEARING. UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 68. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN AND I WILL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK. THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS MEMBERS. THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 68. SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 68. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED AND I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CONSIDER THE RESOLUTION. MAYOR PRO TEM MOVES APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION. IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? UH, HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION. ITEM NUMBER 68 IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ OFF THE DAIS AND THERE, UH, BEING TWO ABSENCES. ITEM NUMBER 69 [69. Conduct a public hearing and consider a resolution related to an application by Elm Ridge Preservation, LP, or an affiliated entity, for 4% Non-Competitive Housing Tax Credits for the acquisition and rehabilitation of a multifamily development to be financed through the private activity bond program and to be known as Elm Ridge Apartments, located at or near 1190 Airport Boulevard, Austin, Texas 78702. Funding: Approving this resolution does not constitute any obligation of the City with respect to funding. This resolution will support the applicant's application for federal Housing Tax Credits.] IS A PUBLIC HEARING WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 69. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK. WE HAVE ONE REMOTE SPEAKER, PATRICK BARRY. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS PATRICK BARRY. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT AT BELRON PARTNERS. WE'RE THE APPLICANT FOR ELM RIDGE, A PRESERVATION TRANSACTION OFF OF AIRPORT BOULEVARD, THE 4% LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT REHAB PROJECT WHERE WE WILL BE PRESERVING AND MODERNIZING 130 EXISTING UNITS. ALL RESIDENTS WILL REMAIN IN PLACE. WE'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY HERE WITH A HFC AND THE ENTIRE TEAM OVER THERE TO PUT TOGETHER THE APPLICATION AND HAVE HAD NO OBJECTIONS. AND IMPORTANTLY, THIS RESOLUTION DOES NOT OBLIGATE THE CITY FINANCIALLY. IT SIMPLY ALLOWS US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDITS. APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION. THANKS. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL. SPEAKERS, MEMBERS, THOSE ALL THE SPEAKERS ON THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM NUMBER 69. SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 69, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED. THE MAYOR PRO TIM MOVES APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 69. IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER LANE. [03:00:01] IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION. ITEM NUMBER 69 IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ OFF THE DA IN TWO ABSENCES. ITEM NUMBER 70 [70. Conduct a public hearing and consider a resolution related to an application by South First Affordable Partners LP, or an affiliated entity, for 4% Non-Competitive Housing Tax Credits for the rehabilitation of a scattered-site multifamily housing development to be financed through the private activity bond program and to be known as South First Affordable Apartments, located at or near 714 Turtle Creek Boulevard, Austin, TX 78745 and 5609 Cougar Drive, Austin, TX 78745. This item has no fiscal impact. Approving this resolution does not constitute any obligation of the City with respect to funding. This resolution will support the applicant's application for federal Housing Tax Credits.] IS A PUBLIC HEARING WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 70. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN. UM, AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK. THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS. THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS AT THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 70. SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED. THE MAYOR PRO TIM MOVES APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION. AND ITEM NUMBER 70, IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER LANE. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION. ITEM NUMBER 70 IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ TEMPORARILY OFF THE DICE IN TWO ABSENCES. ITEM NUMBER 71 IS ALSO [71. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance granting variances for property located at 1812 Clifford Avenue from certain floodplain regulations prescribed by City Code for construction of a single-family residential dwelling unit within the 25-year and 100-year floodplains of Boggy Creek; establishing the conditions for the variances; and providing an expiration date for the variances. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.] A PUBLIC HEARING WITHOUT OBJECTION. WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 71. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK. I HAVE ONE SPEAKER, GREG AND ULLI, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD SO WE'LL KNOW WHO YOU ARE, ARE AND MAYBE WE'LL PRONOUNCE IT RIGHT THE NEXT TIME. I'M GREG ULLI AND OH, SHE DID IT. SHE DID. ALL RIGHT. I'M REPRESENTING, UH, THE OWNER AND I'M THE AUTHOR OF THE FLOODPLAIN IMPACT STUDY FOR THIS, UH, PROPERTY. AND I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE VARIANCE REQUESTS AND I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY ABOUT THE TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF THE STUDY. GREAT. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. MEMBERS, THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP ON ITEM NUMBER 71. SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 71. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED AND THE MAYOR PRO TIM MOVES APPROVAL OF THE ORDINANCE ON ITEM NUMBER 71. IT IS SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION. ITEM NUMBER 71 IS ADOPTED WITH TWO ABSENCES. ITEM NUMBER 72 [72. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance granting variances for the property located at 4502 Avenue F from certain floodplain regulations prescribed by City Code for construction of a single family residential dwelling unit in the 25-year and 100-year floodplains of Waller Creek; establishing the conditions for the variances; and providing an expiration date for the variances. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.] IS ALSO A PUBLIC HEARING. WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 72. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK. ABORN DARON. THAT ONE I DID MESS UP. WELL, YOU GET, YOU GET, YOU GET A SHOT AT AT CLEARING IT UP. YOU ALWAYS DO. AH, GO AHEAD. THANK YOU. UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WATSON AND MAYOR PRO TEMP AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ALAN DAR BONE AND MY FIANCE MARY WAT IS SITTING IN THE BACK AND WE'RE THE OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY AT 45 0 2 AVENUE F. THE REQUEST FOR SEEKING FOR THE VARIANCE HAS BEEN THOROUGHLY REVIEWED BY THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT. AND IMPORTANTLY, MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE SUPPORT APPROVAL OF THE VARIANCE, I'D LIKE TO THANK KEVIN REBECCA SHAMIR WITH WATERSHED AS WELL AS MELISSA BEELER FOR HELP WITH THIS PROJECT. UM, THE PROPOSED HOME IMPROVED DRAINAGE CONDITIONS THROUGH A APPEARING BEAM, DESIGNED ELEVATED TWO FEET ABOVE THE A HUNDRED YEAR FLOODPLAIN. ADDITIONALLY, BASED ON CALCULATIONS THAT I HAD MY ENGINEER PREPARE ON THE PROPERTY THAT EXISTED ON THIS LOT FOR NEARLY A HUNDRED YEARS, MY PROPOSED, UM, CONSTRUCTION WILL DISPLACE APPROXIMATELY EIGHT AND A HALF TIMES LESS VOLUME THAT THAT HOUSE HAD SET ON THERE FOR NEARLY A CENTURY. UM, FOR REASONABLE USE OF THIS PROPERTY, THIS VARIANCE IS NECESSARY. DENIAL WOULD CREATE AN UNNECESSARY BURDEN DUE TO THE UNIQUE CONS, CONDITIONS AFFECTED, AFFECTING THE SITE. WE BELIEVE THIS PROJECT REPRESENTS A THOUGHTFUL IMPROVEMENT TO THE PROPERTY AND TO THE HYDE PARK NEIGHBORHOOD. WE INTEND TO BE ACTIVE LONG-TERM MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. UM, LAND MODEM WITH ODOM VALLEY ENGINEER HAS PROVIDED A LETTER CONCLUDING THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT WILL NOT INCREASE FLOOD ELEVATIONS OR ADD ADVERSELY IN EFFECT THE ADJACENT PROPERTIES. WE HAVE RECEIVED STRONG SUPPORT FROM ADJACENT NEIGHBORS. AND WITH YOUR PERMISSION, I'D LIKE TO JUST READ A QUICK LETTER FROM BOTH OF THE NEIGHBORS ON THIS PROPERTY. UM, ASHLEY AND COLIN LAPAN. THESE ARE THE NEIGHBORS NORTH OF THE PROPERTY AT 45 0 2 AVENUE F. UM, TO MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, WE ARE WRITING TO EXPRESS OUR ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORT OF THE HOME CONSTRUCTED CONSTRUCTION PROPOSED BY MARY AND ALAN DARBO FOR THE VACANT LOT LOCATED AT 45 0 2 AVENUE F. AS RESIDENTS OF THE PROPERTY IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THIS LOT, WE HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING A COUPLE AND DISCUSSING THEIR VISION FOR THE FUTURE. A VACANT LOT. I'M SORRY, YOUR TIME'S EXPIRED. OKAY, WELL, I THINK YOU'RE GOOD. I THINK YOU'RE IN GOOD SHAPE EVEN WITHOUT THE ENDORSEMENT THERE. SO THANK YOU. UM, MEMBERS, THOSE ARE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT SIGNED UP TO SPEAK FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 72. SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 72, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH REGARD TO THE ORDINANCE GRANTING THE VARIANCES IN ITEM 72. MOTIONS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER LANE. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION. ITEM NUMBER 72 IS APPROVED WITH TWO ABSENCES MEMBERS. ITEM NUMBER 73 IS A PUBLIC HEARING, BUT AS I READ INTO THE CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS, IT WILL BE POSTPONED TO JULY 23RD. UH, ITEM NUMBER [74. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance granting variances for the property located at 4905 Prock Lane from certain floodplain regulations prescribed by the City Code for construction of a duplex within the 100-year floodplain of Tannehill Branch Creek; establishing the conditions for the variances; and providing the expiration date for the variances. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.] 74 IS ALSO A PUBLIC HEARING WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 74. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK. THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS MEMBERS. THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 74 FOR THAT PUBLIC HEARING. SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED AND I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH REGARD TO THE ORDINANCE ON ITEM NUMBER 74. COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN MOVES APPROVAL AT A SECOND BY THE [03:05:01] MAYOR PRO TEM. IS THERE DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION. ITEM NUMBER 74 IS ADOPTED WITH TWO ABSENCES. UH, THE FINAL PUBLIC HEARING MEMBERS IS ITEM NUMBER 1 0 4. AND AS I READ IN THE CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS EARLIER IN THE DAY, THAT WILL BE POSTPONED TO JULY 23RD. ALRIGHT, MEMBERS, NOW [102. Discussion and possible action on proposed changes to the City’s Fiscal Year 2026-2027 financial policies regarding revenue, spending and debt, including bonds.] WE WILL GO TO ITEMS 1 0 2 AND 97. AND, UH, WHAT I'M GONNA DO, UNLESS THERE'S OBJECTION, IS TAKE UP ITEM 1 0 2, WHICH RELATES TO FINANCIAL POLICIES BEFORE I TAKE UP ITEM 97, UM, WHICH RELATES TO, UH, POTENTIAL BOND ELECTIONS. SO, UM, ON ITEM 1 0 2, HANG ON ONE SECOND. WE DON'T HAVE, WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY THAT SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON 1 0 2, IS THAT RIGHT? I HAVE ONE SPEAKER FOR 1 0 2. OKAY, I'M SORRY, I MISSED THAT. THEN WHY DON'T WE CALL THAT SPEAKER WILLIAM BUNCH. OH, YEAH, I SEE IT NOW MR. BUNCH. MR. BUNCH. ALL RIGHT. I DON'T GUESS HE'S HERE. UM, SO MEMBERS ON 1 0 2, AND WE HAVE FINANCIAL STAFF HERE IF WE NEED ANYBODY, BUT ON 1 0 2, THE ITEM HAS AS PROPOSALS FROM THE CITY, THE PROFESSIONAL STAFF, FINANCIAL STAFF ON ITEMS ONE THROUGH NINE. AND THEN ON ITEM 10, IT PROVIDES AN ALTERNATE. I THINK THE REASON THIS WAS ORIGINALLY PUT, UM, ON THE NON-CONSENT IS BECAUSE IT WAS SEEN, UH, AS ALMOST AN ITEM COMING FROM A COMMITTEE. UH, BUT WHAT I WILL TELL THE, THE WHOLE COUNCIL IS IT CAME FROM THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE. AND AT THE TIME IT CAME FROM THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE, THERE WERE FOUR MEMBERS OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE THERE, AND ALL FOUR OF US COULD COUNT. IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS GONNA BE A SPLIT VOTE, TWO TO TWO. AND SO THERE IS NO RECOMMENDATION AS SUCH FROM THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE. SO IF, SO HERE, HERE'S THE WAY I WOULD ASK THAT WE DO THIS. IF WE'RE GOING TO, IF WE HAVE A MOTION ON THIS, THE MOTION WOULD BE TO DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER TO INCORPORATE THE CHANGES TO THE CITY'S FINANCIAL POLICIES SHOWN IN CHANGES ONE THROUGH NINE. AND THEN THE MOTION CHOOSE EITHER 10 A OR 10 B OF THE VERSION TWO OF EXHIBIT A POSTED IN THE BACKUP INTO THE PROPOSED CITY FISCAL YEAR 20 26, 20 27 FINANCIAL POLICIES THAT HE BRINGS AS PART OF THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 20 26, 20 27, BUDGET FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION. AND FURTHER DIRECT THE MANAGER TO ASSESS THE CITY'S ABILITY TO COMPLY WITH THE COUNCIL APPROVED BOND DECISION FRAMEWORK. IF THOSE FINANCIAL CHANGES ARE ADOPTED, UM, ARE ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL AND RETURN WITH THE RESULTS OF THAT ASSESSMENT TO COUNCIL NO LATER THAN THE AUGUST 12TH COUNCIL BUDGET MEETING. IS THERE A MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER 1 0 2? COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER? UH, YES. OOPS, SORRY. SO I MOVE ADOPTION OF ITEM 1 0 2, AND THEN THIS IS THE MOMENT WHERE I'D SAY WITH ALTERNATE A, I MEAN WITH ALL A OR B. A OR B, YES, YES. WITH ALTERNATE POLICY B. BUT I DO HAVE A QUESTION AFTER THIS. OKAY. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL SECONDS THE MOTION. UM, HE, HE, HE, HE ALSO TRIED TO MAKE THE MOTION. I JUST DIDN'T SEE THAT'S WHY YOU'RE, UH, I'M NOT DISSING YOU. UM, ALRIGHT. COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, YOU'LL BE RECOGNIZED. SO MY FIR I JUST HAVE A QUESTION AT THE TOP. AND WE RECEIVED NOTICE, I CAN'T REMEMBER IF IT WAS THIS MORNING OR LAST NIGHT ABOUT AUSTIN ENERGY LOOKING TO NOT CHANGE SOME OF THEIR FINANCIAL POLICIES. YES. AND I JUST WANT TO DOUBLE CHECK THAT THAT REQUESTED NON-CHANGE IS INCORPORATED HERE. GOOD, GOOD AFTERNOON, CARRIE LANG, DIRECTOR, BUDGET AND ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE. YES. THOSE CHANGES OR THOSE NONE CHANGES ARE INCLUDED IN THE BACKUP DOCUMENTATION. OKAY, VERY GOOD. I JUST WANTED TO BE, HAVE, START ON THAT. AND THEN, UM, JUST TO KIND OF HIGHLIGHT, WE, WE HAVE HAD A, A NUMBER OF DISCUSSIONS, UH, AT THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE. AND I APPRECIATE, UH, THE MAYOR BRINGING IT FORWARD A NUMBER OF TIMES SO WE COULD HAVE A NUMBER OF CONVERSATIONS TO REALLY MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE, WE'RE GETTING THIS RIGHT AND FIGURING OUT, UH, THE ISSUE. THE REASON WHY I BELIEVE IT'S, IT'S IMPORTANT TO GO WITH THAT 10 B INSTEAD OF 10 A IS I THINK THAT WE HAVE SEEN, UM, THAT THERE ARE BOND CATEGORIES [03:10:01] THAT SPEND THEIR MONEY AND I SHOULD SAY BOND PROPOSITIONS THAT ARE ABLE TO SPEND THEIR MONEY, UH, WITHIN THE TIME PERIOD ENVISIONED SOMETIMES EVEN A LITTLE FASTER THAN THAT, BETTER THAN OTHERS. AND LOOKING AT A SINGLE CATEGORY, NOT HOLDING US UP FOR THE CAPITAL NEEDS OF OTHER CATEGORIES, UH, I BELIEVE IS IMPORTANT. AND I ALSO BELIEVE JUST THE, THE SYSTEM WITH WHICH WE DO OUR BOND ELECTIONS, UM, I DON'T BELIEVE DOING EVERYTHING ONCE EVERY SIX YEARS MAKES THE MOST SENSE. UH, WE TALKED ABOUT IT A COUPLE TIMES. YOU KNOW HOW YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO A COUPLE IN ONE YEAR AND THEN TWO YEARS LATER DO A COUPLE DIFFERENT ONES AND THEN TWO YEARS LATER DO A COUPLE DIFFERENT ONES AND HAVE STAFF BE PLANNING THAT WAY. BUT IT MAKES THEM MORE BITE-SIZED. STAFF IS ABLE TO DEDICATE MORE TIME INTO EACH OF THOSE TWO YEAR, UM, WINDOWS STILL WITH A SIX YEAR HORIZON. SO ALL THAT TO SAY IS THIS ALLOWS FOR US TO BOTH HAVE A, A CONSIDERATION RIGHT NOW AS WELL AS THINK ABOUT HOW WE DO BOND PROJECTS IN THE LONG TERM. AND IF WE WANNA DO EVERYTHING AT ONCE OR IF WE WANNA TAKE A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT APPROACH, UH, THIS WOULD ALLOW FOR US TO DO THAT. SO, UH, THAT IS, THAT IS ALL I REALLY HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT FOR NOW. THANK YOU MEMBERS. YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU A PROPOSED MOTION TO AMEND ITEM NUMBER 1 0 2 FROM COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN. SO I WANNA RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN. IT'S, IT'S LABELED ITEM 1 0 2, MAY 28TH, 2026 CM UCHIN ONE. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, COLLEAGUES, I'M INTRODUCING THIS, UH, AS A COMPROMISE BETWEEN THE COMPETING VERSIONS THAT WE'VE GOT, WHICH ARE OPTIONS A AND B PER COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER'S COMMENTS. THIS IS TRYING TO ADDRESS A BOND TIMING ISSUE. AT THE SAME TIME AS WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO ADDRESS HIS POINT THAT SOME PROJECT CATEGORIES ARE SPENT MORE QUICKLY THAN OTHERS, AND THIS WOULD HELP ADDRESS OR SATISFY CERTAIN DEPARTMENTAL OR OTHER NEEDS. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IDEALLY GIVING US ADDITIONAL OPTIONS TO SOLVE THAT, THAT DON'T NECESSARILY TRIGGER, UH, OR EXPLICITLY TRIGGER, UM, HAVING THE BOND ELECTION, THAT PARTICULAR CYCLE. AND SO IN MY MIND, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESTORE SOME FINANCIAL DISCIPLINE AT THE SAME TIME AS GIVING US SOME FLEXIBILITY REGARDING OUR, OUR BOND CYCLE PROCESS. AND, UH, LAST THING I'LL SAY IS, ALTHOUGH THAT MOTION MENTIONED CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION, UM, COULD HAPPILY CHANGE IT TO JUST ALTERNATIVE FUNDING, UH, BECAUSE THERE'S PROBABLY ADDITIONAL OPTIONS BEYOND THAT THAT COULD DO THAT MY UNDERSTANDING RIGHT NOW FROM STAFF IS THAT IF WE USE COS OR ALTERNATIVE FUNDING TO FILL THESE GAPS RIGHT NOW IN OUR CURRENT SITUATION, WE MIGHT NEED SOMEWHERE IN THE REALM OF $190 MILLION THAT WOULD SATISFY THE PARKS, THE WATERSHED, UH, TRANSIT, SOME PARKLAND ACQUISITION. AND THAT WAY WE WOULD STILL PRESERVE THE OVERWHELMING AMOUNT OF OUR DEBT CAPACITY FOR FUTURE GEO BONDS, BUT ALSO GET BACK TO THIS ROUTINE BOND CYCLE. I'LL, I'LL JUST SAY AS CONTEXT, MAYBE AS A REMINDER THAT FOR 16 YEARS WE HAVE PUT ON THE BALLOT FOR VOTERS SOME KIND OF CITY BOND GOING BACK TO 2010. NOT ALL OF THEM PASSED. THESE WERE IN ADDITION TO, IN MANY CASES, A COUNTY AND A ISD OR OTHER BONDS. UH, AND SO STARTING IN 2010, PRETTY MUCH EVERY SINGLE, EVEN YEAR VOTERS HAVE HAD TO MAKE A CRITICAL DECISION ABOUT WHAT WE'RE, WHAT WE CAN AFFORD AND WHAT WE'RE PAYING FOR. AND WE'VE SEEN WITH THIS APPROACH THAT THE CITY STRUGGLE TO SPEND DOWN BONDS IN A TIMELY AND EFFECTIVE WAY IN SOME CASES TO PLAN, TO SOME CASES, STRUGGLE TO PLAN FOR FUTURE BONDS, AND IN SOME CASES EVEN STRUGGLED TO PROVIDE BASIC REPORTING ON THE STATUS OF PROJECTS. AND IT'S LED TO CAPACITY ISSUES WHERE OUR ABILITY TO SPEND DOWN THE BOND IS COMPLICATED BY OUR CAPACITY TO SPEND AND MANAGE THOSE PROJECTS ACROSS DISPARATE CAPITAL PROJECT NEEDS AND AREAS. UM, WE HEARD LAST WEEK DURING WORK SESSION THAT WE ARE A SIGNIFICANT OUTLIER, UH, COMPARED TO OUR PEER CITIES IN THIS REGARD. QUOTE, AUSTIN STANDS ALONE A LITTLE BIT IN TERMS OF THE FREQUENCY OF THE BONDS THAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. AND I THINK STAFF IS BEING KIND IN THAT COMMENT. AND SO BECAUSE WE'VE STRUGGLED TO COMPLETE THESE PROJECTS IN A TIMELY WAY, UH, MY HOPE IS THAT THIS STRIKES [03:15:01] THE RIGHT BALANCE BETWEEN GIVING US A SOLUTION THAT WE CAN LOOK TO WHEN WE DO HAVE THESE CATEGORIES THAT ARE SPENT DOWN, UM, IN DIFFERENT WAYS OR FASTER OR SLOWER THAN OTHERS, BUT THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY AUTOMATICALLY COMPEL US TO DO, UH, A BOND IN PARTICULAR CYCLE. AND SO WE'VE INVESTED TREMENDOUS TIME IN DECISION TREES, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE COMMUNICATE VERY CLEARLY TO PEOPLE THAT WE'RE READY TO BE FINANCIALLY DISCIPLINED. AND I THINK THIS IS A WAY THAT WE CAN NEGOTIATE BETWEEN THE TWO OPTIONS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE. DO YOU WANT, WE'VE GOT IT IN FRONT OF US, BUT YOU'VE, YOU'VE INDICATED YOU MIGHT WANT TO CHANGE IT AND, AND SO THAT IT READS WITH CERTIFICATES OF ALL NEXT TO NEXT TO LAST LINE, ADDRESS THOSE PROJECT NEEDS WITH CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION OR ALTERNATIVE FUNDING UNTIL THE NEXT YES. MEMBERS, I, I USUALLY ASK FOR THINGS TO BE IN WRITING, BUT THAT I ACTUALLY DO HAVE A A YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT VERSION OF IT. OKAY. BUT IT JUST STRIKES COS WITH ALTERNATIVE FUNDING. ALRIGHT, WHY DON'T YOU PASS THAT OUT. OKAY. YOU HAND OUT SOMETHING DIFFERENT. YEAH, I'M JUST IGNORE IT. NOW. IGNORING MEMBERS, THE, THE MOTION TO AMEND BY COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN IS THE ONE THAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU NOW, THAT IS THE THIRD FROM THE BOTTOM LINE. IT, IT SAYS, ADDRESS THOSE PROJECT NEEDS WITH STRIKE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION AND PUTS ALTERNATIVE FUNDING UNTIL THE NEXT REGULAR BOND CYCLE. UH, THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE TO AMEND ITEM 1 0 2 BY COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN. UM, IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION? I'LL SECOND THE MOTION TO AMEND, UM, MEMBERS DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO THE MOTION TO AMEND I QUESTION MEMBER? SURE. COUNCIL MEMBER, I'M CURIOUS, COUNCILOR UCHIN, AND THIS MAYBE A QUESTION FOR YOU, MAYBE A QUESTION FOR CDS, UM, BUT THE, THE MEANING OF THE WORD PROJECTS, UM, HOW SPECIFIC THAT IS. AND, AND THE REASON WHY I'M REALLY WANNA MAKE SURE WE GET CLARITY ON THAT IS I WAS LOOKING AT THE 2018 BOND PROJECTS LIST THAT THE CITY PUTS OUT, AND SOME OF THOSE ARE BROAD, SOMETHING LIKE LIBRARY PLANNING. UM, SOME OF THOSE ARE VERY SPECIFIC, UNIVERSITY HILLS BRANCH ROOF REPLACEMENT. UM, UM, AND MY CONCERN IS THAT IF WE, IF PROJECTS IS TOO NARROW, THEN LET'S TAKE SOMETHING LIKE PARK IMPROVEMENTS WHERE THAT AS A KIND OF BROADER CATEGORY MIGHT BE AT 90% OR NOT, UH, BECAUSE OF A SINGLE PROJECT IMPACTING THAT. SO I WAS, I WAS VERY CURIOUS IF YOU COULD HELP. YEAH. SO, UH, ERIC BAILEY, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF CAPITAL DELIVERY SERVICES, GOOD TO SEE EVERYONE TODAY. UM, SO IN TERMS OF HOW WE DEFINE PROJECTS IN A BOND PROGRAM, RIGHT? WE HAVE OUR, OUR STANDALONE NAMED PROJECTS, UM, YOU KNOW, FOR SPECIFIC THINGS THAT TEND TO BE LARGER. THEN WE ALSO HAVE OUR PROGRAMMATIC BUCKETS, WHICH CONTAIN A COLLECTION OF PROJECTS THAT ARE WITHIN THEM. I THINK THAT'S KIND OF THE CRUX OF THE QUESTION. SO THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION IS REALLY KIND OF, WE DO BOTH, WE KNOW WE HAVE IT THAT IT'S BOTH WAYS. THE, THE WAY A PROJECT IS DEFINED CAN BE AS SMALL AS A ASSIGNMENT FROM THE SIDEWALKS BUCKET TO DO FROM POINT A TO POINT B OF AN INDIVIDUAL PROJECT, OR IT CAN BE PART OF A LARGER, UM, UH, A LARGER PROJECT SAY, YOU KNOW, MEXICO CARTE OR A ROOF REPLACEMENT OR A, YOU KNOW, BRIDGE REPLACEMENT, THINGS LIKE THAT. SO, UM, WE DEFINE IT KIND OF BOTH WAYS. USUALLY WE TURN USE THE TERM PROGRAM WHEN WE COME TO THIS, A COLLECTION OF SMALLER PROJECTS AND WE, FOR THE STANDALONE PROJECTS, OR TEND TO BE THE LARGER THINGS, UM, THAT ARE RELATED TO INDIVIDUAL FACILITIES OR INDIVIDUAL STRUCTURES. SO THEN THINKING ABOUT PARKS AGAIN AS JUST AN EASY EXAMPLE, IF WE HAD FOUR POOLS THAT WE WANTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE, AQUATICS WOULD KIND OF BE THE PROGRAM, BUT THEN THOSE NAMED PROJECTS WOULD BE THE PROJECTS. EXACTLY. YEP. OKAY. UM, AND SO I THINK WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET AT THROUGH THE, THE ALTERNATE POLICY B IS LOOKING AT THAT, THAT BOND CATEGORY, WHICH IS THE PROPOSITION. IT DOES MENTION PROJECTS WITHIN THAT CATEGORY, BUT THAT'S PROJECTS COLLECTIVELY, WHICH IS NOT AT THE INDIVIDUAL PROJECT LEVEL. AND SO I'M JUST CONCERNED THAT THIS WOULD BE SO NARROWLY SCOPED AT THAT PROJECT LEVEL THAT WE [03:20:01] WOULDN'T, IF, IF, IF WE DID, UM, THE DOHERTY ARTS CENTER IS ALWAYS THE ONE THAT, THAT STICKS ON MY MIND, RIGHT? YOU'VE GOT SINGLE NAMED PROJECT, BUT THE, THE PROGRAM ITSELF IS, IS HELD UP BECAUSE OF THE PROJECT AND THEN EVEN THE BOND CATEGORY OR PROPOSITION MM-HMM . UM, AND SO DRILLING DOWN THIS, THIS NARROW, I, I WORRY ABOUT THE IMPLICATION OR THE, THE, IF IT GETS TO WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO GO IN TERMS OF LOOKING AT THAT LARGER PROGRAMMATIC LEVEL, THAT'S MY ONLY KIND OF CONCERN IN, IN THIS. BUT I DO THINK IT'S WORTH US TALKING ABOUT HOW WE KIND OF BANDAID THINGS TO FUTURE YEARS. UM, I, I'M, I THINK THAT'S A WORTHY GOAL HERE. ALRIGHT, FURTHER DISCUSSION IN THAT CASE, THOSE, I'M GONNA CALL FOR A VOTE ON THE UCHIN MOTION TO AMEND ITEM 1 0 2. UH, THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO AMEND RAISE YOUR HANDS. ALL RIGHT. UM, THOSE OPPOSED, RAISE YOUR HANDS. ALL RIGHT. THE MOTION TO AMEND FAILS WITH TWO YES VOTES. THAT BEING COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN AND THE MAYOR AND THE OTHERS VOTING NO WITH TWO ABSENCES. THAT WILL NOW TAKE US BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION. UM, AND THE MAIN MOTION I WANT, JUST FOR CLARITY PURPOSES, I WANNA READ THE MAIN MOTION AGAIN AND MAKE SURE EVERYBODY'S CLEAR AND, UH, AND I GET IT RIGHT, I GOT IT RIGHT, WHAT THE, THE MAKER OF THE MOTION WANTED TO DO. UM, AND IT WOULD BE TO DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER TO INCORPORATE THE CHANGES TO THE CITY'S FINANCIAL POLICIES AS SHOWN IN CHANGES ONE THROUGH NINE AND 10 B OF THE VERSION TWO OF EXHIBIT A POSTED IN BACKUP INTO THE PROPOSED CITY FISCAL YEAR 20 26, 20 27 FINANCIAL POLICIES THAT HE BRINGS AS PART OF THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 20 26, 20 27, BUDGET FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION AND FURTHER DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER TO ASSESS THE CITY'S ABILITY TO COMPLY WITH THE COUNCIL APPROVED BOND DECISION FRAMEWORK. IF THOSE FINANCIAL CHANGES ARE ADOPTED BY COUNCIL AND RETURN WITH THE RESULTS OF THE ASSESSMENT TO COUNSEL NO LATER THAN THE AUGUST 12TH COUNCIL BUDGET MEETING, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, THAT'S YOUR MOTION, RIGHT? ALL RIGHT. AND, UM, DISCUSSION ON THAT. I'M GOING TO MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS, BUT, UM, I WANNA MAKE SURE WE'VE COVERED EVERYBODY THAT WANTS TO TALK. I'M GOING TO VOTE NO ON THIS BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT THE ALTERNATIVE B UH, WEAKENS OUR FINANCIAL AND DEBT POLICIES. UH, WE'VE TALKED OVER AND OVER AGAIN HOW IN THE PAST, UH, CYCLES SEVERAL CYCLES. WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE ELECTION AFTER MULTIPLE ELECTION, UH, IN VIOLATION OF OUR FINANCIAL POLICIES IN MANY INSTANCES, WHICH HAS CREATED THE BOX WE NOW FIND OURSELVES IN. WHERE, AT A TIME WHEN PEOPLE WANT TO HAVE A BOND ELECTION, SOME WOULD BELIEVE THAT UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES WE WOULD NEED TO HAVE A BOND ELECTION. UH, BUT WE CAN'T DO IT AND STAY IN COMPLIANCE WITH OUR POLICIES IF WE FOLLOW OUR FINANCIAL AND DEBT POLICIES. I BELIEVE WE WOULDN'T AND SHOULDN'T HAVE A BOND ELECTION THIS YEAR. AND I REALIZE THAT'S A PROBLEM FOR THOSE THAT WANT A BOND ELECTION. IN THE PAST, IF THE POLICIES INCONVENIENTLY GOT IN THE WAY OF AN ELECTION, COUNCILS JUST HELD AN ELECTION ANYWAY. IN FACT, AS I'VE JUST SAID, THAT'S WHAT CREATED OUR CURRENT DIFFICULTY. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS MANY TIMES. WE'VE ACKNOWLEDGED THIS. OUR PROFESSIONAL FINANCIAL STAFF HAS RECOMMENDED PURSUING A 2028 BOND ELECTION. AND WHAT THEY SAID WAS THEY WOULD HAVE US DO THAT TO A QUOTE TO ALIGN WITH THE FRAMEWORK OF THE DECISION TREE THE COUNCIL ADOPTED, AND TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE CITY'S CURRENT FINANCIAL POLICIES. SO THE CITY IS OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH CURRENT POLICIES AND, AND WON'T BE IN COMPLIANCE, BUT WITH UNTIL 2028, AND IMPORTANTLY WOULD BE IN 2028. AND I WANNA SAY I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WAY STAFF TRIED TO CREATE AS MUCH FLEXIBILITY AS THEY PROFESSIONALLY COULD IN PROVIDING AN ALTERNATIVE POLICY RECOMMENDATION. BUT AS I'VE INDICATED, I THINK THIS WATERS DOWN OUR POLICIES. IF WE ONLY SUPPORT FINANCIAL GUARDRAILS UNTIL THEY BECOME INCONVENIENT, THEN WE SHOULDN'T BE SURPRISED WHEN THE PUBLIC QUESTIONS, WHETHER WE REALLY MEAN THEM, AND FRANKLY, WHETHER WE CAN BE TRUSTED. MY CONCERN IS LESS ABOUT THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION AND MORE ABOUT THE FACT [03:25:01] THAT WE'RE EASING STANDARDS WE KNOW ARE IMPORTANT IN ORDER TO GET TO A DESIRED OUTCOME. GOOD GOVERNANCE, GOVERNANCE THAT BUILDS CONFIDENCE REQUIRES MORE THAN FINDING TECHNICAL PATHWAYS TO DO SOMETHING. IT ALSO REQUIRES ASKING WHETHER WE SHOULD CHANGE THE GUARDRAILS BECAUSE THEY NOW CONSTRAIN US. IF WE SOFTEN THOSE POLICIES BECAUSE THEY STAND IN THE WAY OF AN OUTCOME WE WANT, THEN WE'RE SIMPLY RECREATING IN A MORE SOPHISTICATED FORM, THE SAME BEHAVIORS THAT CREATED THE PROBLEM WE FIND OURSELVES IN IN THE FIRST PLACE. I GET RESPONDING TO POLITICAL DESIRE, BUT WE'RE RESPONDING TO POLITICAL DESIRE BY RELAXING STANDARDS BEFORE WE'VE REESTABLISHED DISCIPLINE. AND I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD DO THIS. SO I'M GOING TO OPPOSE THE MOTION. COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, I JUST WANNA ADD TWO THINGS. I'M ALSO STRUGGLING WITH THIS AND HAVE STRUGGLED WITH THIS BECAUSE IT VERY MUCH FEELS LIKE A SITUATION OF CAN VERSUS SHOULD. AND IT'S FRUSTRATING TO HEAR THE CONVERSATIONS AROUND OUR DECISION TREE IF YOU WILL BE MORE ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT A BOND WOULD PASS THIS YEAR VERSUS WHETHER IT'S PRUDENT FOR US TO DO THAT AND WHETHER THERE'S THE NECESSITY FOR THAT. AND I AGREE THAT THERE'S A LEGITIMATE CONCERN ABOUT, UH, DEPARTMENTS AND, AND PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS THAT ARE AT 90% SPENDING ALREADY, AND THAT, UM, NEED A PATHWAY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT JEOPARDIZING INFRASTRUCTURE AND PERSONNEL AND OTHER THINGS. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY THE GOAL WITH, WITH, UH, THE ALTERNATE ALTERNATE POLICY WAS TO SHOW THAT THERE WAS A DIFFERENT WAY OF SOLVING THAT PROBLEM, THAT WE COULD STILL GET THERE AND, UH, AND THAT THERE WERE POTENTIALLY UPSIDES THAT APPROACH. SO, UH, I'M ALSO VERY MUCH STRUGGLING AND WE'LL BE VOTING NO ON THIS AS WELL. THANK YOU. THE VOTE WILL BE ON THE MOTION. IT WILL BE ON ITEM 1 0 2 ON ITEM 1 0 2. COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL. UM, PLEASE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, AND JUST A BRIEF CLARIFICATION, UH, YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO ANSWER THIS, MAYOR. UM, THE, YOU'RE SAYING THE BOND DECISION TREE PROHIBITED, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO RIGHT NOW LOOK AS, AS CURRENTLY WORDED AND, AND PART OF WHAT THE MOTION IS THAT HAS BEEN MADE IS TO BRING THIS BACK, UH, TO SEE IF IT COMPLIES WITH THE CHANGE IN POLICIES. UM, BUT AS IT, AS OUR PROFESSIONAL STAFF HAS INDICATED, THEY, THEY BELIEVE IT WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH OUR CURRENT POLICIES. AND THAT'S WHY THERE'S BEING A SUGGESTED CHANGE TO THOSE POLICIES. OKAY. WELL, I'LL JUST MAKE A BRIEF COMMENT, MAYOR AND I, I RESPECT YOUR POINT OF VIEW, UM, BUT I, I FEEL LIKE I'VE ATTENDED A LOT OF THESE AUDIT AND FINANCE MEETINGS AND OTHER DISCUSSIONS, AND I FEEL LIKE I HEARD SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT FROM FINANCE STAFF AND CAPITAL DELIVERY SERVICES LEADERS, THAT, FROM FINANCE STAFF'S POINT OF VIEW, UH, WE ARE STILL WITHIN OUR OVERALL DEBT LIMIT GOALS, UH, AS LONG AS WE STAY UNDER, YOU KNOW, $750 MILLION IN NEW CAPITAL INVESTMENTS. AND, UH, OF COURSE THE, THE RESOLUTION THAT'S GONNA BE SEPARATELY CONSIDERED IS FAR BELOW THAT. AND THAT, UM, THE IDEA OF DELIVERING ALL BOND PROJECTS WITHIN A, A FIXED SIX YEAR PERIOD. WHAT I REMEMBER TALKING TO A CM ROGERS ABOUT, UH, IN PUBLIC AT A HEARING WAS THAT THERE WOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM IF WE HAD TWO ALTERNATING CYCLES OF BOND PROGRAMS. SO, UM, I DON'T THINK THIS CREATES FINANCIAL RISK FOR THE CITY. WE HAVEN'T PREDETERMINED, UH, WHAT ANY PROPOSED BOND WOULD BE, BUT, UH, WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT OUR, BECAUSE OF PAST ACTIONS BY PRIOR COUNCILS, OUR BOND PROGRAMS ARE ON DIFFERING CYCLES AND THEY'RE NOT ALIGNED. AND THE IDEA, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT WE HAVE, UH, A 2018, UM, VOTE ON A PARKS BOND WAS THE LAST TIME VOTERS CONSIDERED A PARKS BOND. I DON'T THINK THAT'S JUST A, A POLITICAL CONCERN. I THINK THAT'S A POLICY CONCERN THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO MAKE CONTINUED INVESTMENTS IN PARKS, OPEN SPACE AND THESE KIND OF AMENITIES THAT THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN ENJOY. AND SO, UM, I GUESS I'M JUST GONNA DISAGREE WITH YOUR CHARACTERIZATION THAT WE'RE, THAT WE'RE PUTTING THE CITY AT RISK OR THAT WE'RE UNDERMINING THE CONFIDENCE OF THE VOTERS AND THAT'S WHY I'LL BE SUPPORTING, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER'S MOTION. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER. AND JUST A CLARIFYING QUESTION, UM, THE MOTION ITSELF, AND I, FORGIVE ME, I MISSED I THINK THE TAIL PIECE. THERE'S SOMETHING RELATED TO AUGUST THAT I, I THOUGHT I HEARD YOU SAY AND I, CAN YOU JUST CLARIFY 'CAUSE YES, WHAT IS, WHAT THE MOTION WOULD DO IS IT WOULD BRING BACK, IT WOULD ASK THE MANAGER TO BRING BACK [03:30:01] WITH THE NEW, WITH THE NEW CHANGE, AND IF A POLICY, IF, IF WE, WHEN HE BRINGS BACK, UM, RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A BOND ELECTION, WHETHER OR NOT IT COMPLIES AND WHAT, WAS THERE SOMETHING ABOUT AUGUST? OR DID I MAKE THAT UP? YES. NO, YOU GOT IT. THE AUGUST 12TH COUNCIL BUDGET MEETING. AUGUST 12TH. OKAY. UH, AND I JUST WANT TO NO LATER THAN THAT UNDER, OKAY. SO IF WE 'CAUSE UNDER THE DECISION TREE, WE WOULD HAVE THAT CONVERSATION FIRST IN AUDIT FINANCE, THEN AS A COUNCIL, UM, WOULD, WE WOULD NEED TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AT THE COMMITTEE SOMETIME BEFORE THAT, THAT AUGUST MEETING. OKAY. AND I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT BEFORE POTENTIALLY JULY, IF, IF, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT A DIFFERENT ITEM HERE AND WHAT, WHAT CONVERSATIONS WE HAVE IN JULY. BUT, UM, JUST FLAGGING THAT FOR THE MANAGER AND A CM ROGERS AS, AS WE WORK THROUGH THIS, UM, HE, HE'S STANDING RIGHT BEHIND YOU, LOOKING OVER YOUR SHOULDER , SO HE IS, CAN'T ASK YOU. ALRIGHT. THAT'S RIGHT. HE'S, HE'S LEARNED. I MIGHT ASK HIM A QUESTION. UM, ALL RIGHT, WELL, I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY 'CAUSE I, I THOUGHT YOU SAID THAT AND I JUST, THAT'S GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THE VOTE WILL BE ON ITEM NUMBER 1 0 2. UM, THOSE IN FAVOR OF ITEM NUMBER 1 0 2. UH, RAISE YOUR HAND. THOSE OPPOSED, SO THE MOTION CARRIES ITEM 1 0 2 CARRIES WITH THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER, UCHIN BEING SHOWN VOTING NO AND TOO ABSENT. NOW WHAT WE [97. Approve a resolution directing the City Manager to develop a potential bond package and related ordinances calling for a November 2026 bond election and posting these items for Council consideration and action on the July 23, 2026, council meeting agenda; and report back to Council on additional information and recommendations on other possible projects and funding mechanisms.] WILL DO IS WE WILL GO TO ITEM NUMBER 97. UM, I, I PULLED ITEM 97, BUT THE REASON I PULLED IT WAS SO IT WOULD FOLLOW ITEM 1 0 2. AND, UM, AND EVERYBODY I THINK IS AWARE THAT ITEM NUMBER 97 IS RELATED TO ASKING THE MANAGER TO BRING BACK SOMETHING RELATED TO A BOND PACKAGE. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, SO I'M GONNA TURN TO THE CITY CLERK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. FOR ITEM 97, WE HAVE BRIAN DOZO WITH TIME DONATED BY BARBARA SCOTT. IS BARBARA SCOTT PRESENT? SHE JUST HAD TO LEAVE. OKAY. WELL, WE HAVE TWO MINUTES. UH, THANK YOU COUNSEL. MS. SCOTT HAD TO LEAVE, UH, VERY QUICKLY. UH, SO I'LL, I'LL BE AS, BE AS BRIEF AS POSSIBLE TO, UH, SHARE OUR COMMENTS. I'M HERE TODAY TO URGE THE INCLUSION OF A COMBINED COLONY PARK LIBRARY IN PUBLIC HEALTH FACILITY IN ANY FUTURE BOND PACKAGE, SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO DO ONE, UH, TWO VITAL COMMUNITY PILLARS THAT WOULD BE, UM, ALSO PROVIDE CHILDCARE SERVICES FOR MORE THAN A HALF A CENTURY COLONY PARK AND OTHER COMMUNITIES IN THE EASTERN CRESCENT HAVE LIVED IN THE SHADOW OF DELAYED PROMISES AND UNEVEN INVESTMENT. WHILE OTHER PARTS OF AUSTIN FLOURISH, THIS AREA WAS LEFT NAVIGATING BARRIERS THAT NO COMMUNITY SHOULD HAVE TO FACE. TODAY, RESIDENTS STILL LIVE IN WHAT CAN ONLY BE DESCRIBED AS A RESOURCE DROUGHT, WHERE HEALTHY FOOD IS SCARCE, MEDICAL SERVICES ARE DISTANT, AFFORDABLE CARE IS LIMITED, AND EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT FOR YOUNG CHILDREN IS PAINFULLY INADEQUATE. A LIBRARY IS MORE THAN A BUILDING. FILLED WITH BOOKS IS A LAUNCHPAD FOR OPPORTUNITY. IT BECOMES A LIGHTHOUSE FOR CHILDREN LEARNING TO READ FOR TEENAGERS, PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE, AND FOR ADULTS SEEKING WORKFORCE SKILLS AND DIGITAL ACCESS. LIKEWISE, A PUBLIC HEALTH FACILITY IS NOT SIMPLY A CLINIC. IT IS A SAFETY NET, A PREVENTATIVE SHIELD, AND A DOORWAY TO HEALTHIER LIVES. TOGETHER, THESE FACILITIES WOULD SERVE AS THE HEARTBEAT OF THE COMMUNITY, ONE, TRUSTED AND ACCESSIBLE PLACES, A PLACE WHERE FAMILIES CAN LEARN, HEAL, GROW, AND THRIVE. THE CITY OF AUSTIN ALREADY OWNS LAND, UH, IN COLONY PARK ZONE FOR CIVIC USE. THAT MEANS THE FOUNDATION IS ALREADY BENEATH OUR FEET. THE BLUEPRINT EXISTS, THE NEED IS UNDENIABLE. WHAT REMAINS IS THE POLITICAL ACT, UH, UH, UH, POLITICAL WILL TO ACT. EQUITY CANNOT REMAIN A SLOGAN PRINTED ON PLANNING DOCUMENTS AND MUST BECOME VISIBLE IN BRICK AND MORTAR AND MEANINGFUL INVESTMENT. CONTINUING TO OVERLOOK COLONY PARK AND COMMUNITIES IN THE EASTERN CRESCENT ONLY DEEPENS THE VERY DISPARITIES THAT YOU AND SEVERAL COUNCILS BEFORE YOU HAVE PLEDGED TO ELIMINATE. WE KNOW THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS MANY PRIORITIES, BUT THIS SHARED LIBRARY HEALTH AND DAYCARE STANDARD IS THE PRIORITY AMONG PRIORITIES. TODAY WE'RE ASKING YOU TO TRANSFORM DECADES OF CONVERSATION INTO CONCRETE ACTION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CONTINUING ON ITEM 97, WE HAVE COLIN MCM, LAURA BENNETT, GARRETT HILL, WILLIAM BUNCH. SETH JOHNSON IS SETH JOHNSON PRESENT. HE HAS TIME DONATED BY ANDREW HENDERSON. SO SETH JOHNSON, WE'LL HAVE FOUR MINUTES. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD WHEN YOU SPEAK. UH, YEAH, MY NAME IS CULLEN MCM. UM, I'M WITH SEVERAL GROUPS, AUSTIN RIDGE RIDERS MOUNTAIN BIKE CLUB, AUSTIN OUTSIDE THE TRAILS AND ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE OF THAT, UH, BIKE TEXAS [03:35:01] DAVID PHILLIPS FOUNDATION. AND I'M A SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL. PTA, UH, LEADER FOR MY KIDS, UH, SCHOOL. UH, SO REP REPRESENTING BIKING ENTITIES. UM, I ACTUALLY VERY MUCH SUPPORT, UH, WHAT THE MAYOR IS SAYING ABOUT FINANCIAL DISCIPLINE AND ADHERENCE TO TIMELINES. UM, MY KIDS ARE GETTING OLDER. WE WANT TO SEE IMPROVEMENTS IN PARKS SOONER THAN LATER, AND WE WANT TO SEE THINGS THAT OUR CLUB HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT YEARS AGO. I MEAN, WE WERE PART OF VISION PLANNING FOR WALTER ELONG FOR, UH, LITTLE WALNUT CREEK GREENBELT. FOR TREVINO. WE'VE BEEN GONE TO THESE MEETINGS. WE'VE GOT OUR OPINIONS PUT INTO VISION PLANS, AND THEN THE VISION PLAN GOES ON THE SHELF, RIGHT? WHEN IS THAT VISION PLAN GONNA GET BUILT? SO I SEE THE BOND, UM, A NARROWLY TAILORED BOND PROCESS WITH FISCAL AND TIMELINE RESPONSIBILITIES BEING REALLY IMPORTANT, KEEPING THE MOMENTUM GOING, BUILDING WHAT'S ALREADY BEEN PLANNED. WELL, NOT, I CAN'T SAY PLANNED AND VISION PLANNED. AND, UH, HOPEFULLY COOL THINGS GET BUILT IN THE PARKS BEFORE MY KIDS ARE TOO OLD TO ENJOY THEM LOCALLY BEFORE THEY'VE GONE OFF TO COLLEGE. UH, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YES, SIR. HELLO, MY NAME IS SETH JOHNSON. I HAVE A PRESENTATION HERE. I'M HERE, UH, REPRESENTING THE DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE, UH, RESIDENCE DEPICTED IN THE PICTURE ON THE SCREEN RIGHT NOW. AND, UH, I WANTED TO REMIND, UH, THE COUNSEL THAT IN 2019, THIS BODY, UH, MADE A COMMITMENT VIA VOTE TO, UH, ADOPT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE LONG-TERM, UH, PARKS AND RECREATION PLAN. UM, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, UH, SOME OF THE PEOPLE ON THIS COUNCIL VOTED FOR, AND SOME OF THESE VOTES CAME FROM YOUR PREDECESSORS WHO TO CONTINUE THE METAPHOR THAT, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM MADE, UH, PASSED THE BATON ON TO YOU TO CARRY. UH, THE THING ABOUT CARRYING BATONS FOR PEOPLE IS THEY GENERALLY LOOK AT HOW THE BATON WAS CARRIED BY THE PRE BY THEIR PREDECESSORS, WHEN, UH, IT COMES TIME FOR THEM TO CARRY THE BATON. UM, THIS NEXT SLIDE IS TAKEN FROM THIS, UH, PARKS AND RECREATION LONG-TERM PLANNING, UH, GUIDE. UH, I WANTED TO DRAW ATTENTION THAT IN TERMS OF SKATE PARKS, THE, UH, THE DISTRIBUTION IS, IS VERY UNBALANCED IN THAT THESE, UH, FACILITIES DO NOT EXIST IN THE NORTH, SOUTHWEST, OR WEST SECTION OF THE CITY. THEY'RE THE LEAST EVENLY DISTRIBUTED RESOURCES IN THIS PLAN. UM, THERE ARE ONLY 0.03 SKATE PARKS PER 10,000 RESIDENTS AS PER, UH, 2018 WHEN THIS PLAN WAS, WHEN THIS, UH, WAS RESEARCHED. SO, UM, THIS NEXT SLIDE ALSO COMES FROM THE, UH, PARKS RECREATION LONG-TERM PLAN, AND, UH, IT HIGHLIGHTS ANOTHER DIMENSION OF WHY AUSTIN IS BETTER THAN DALLAS AND ATLANTA. AND THAT SAN ANTONIO HAS SET A GOOD EXAMPLE FOR, UH, DELIVERING PARK AMENITIES AS REQUESTED BY THEIR RESIDENTS. AS YOU CAN SEE, AGAIN, THE THE SKATE PARKS ARE, UH, QUITE SMALL IN RELATIVE TO THE, UH, THE OTHER FEATURES PROVIDED BY, UH, PARKS AND RECREATION. AND THE LAST SLIDE I WANTED TO PROVIDE FROM THIS, UH, FROM THIS LONG RANGE PLANNING GUIDE IS THAT THE PRIORITIES DEFINED IN THE GUIDE HIGHLIGHTED SKATE PARKS AS OUTDOOR AMENITIES WORTHY OF INVESTMENT. BUT HOW DO WE TANGIBLY DELIVER ON THIS INVESTMENT OVER TIME? ONE WAY THAT WAS PROPOSED WAS OUTSIDE OF, UH, PARKS AND RECREATION FUNDING, AND THAT WAS WITHIN THE CAP AND STITCH VISION PLAN. OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S A VERY EXPENSIVE WAY TO DELIVER, UH, PARKLAND FLOATING OVER I 35. AND, UH, THIS SECTION OF THE, THE PROJECT THAT WAS CONSIDERING PUTTING A A, A SKATE PARK IN, UH, HAS ACTUALLY BEEN DELETED FROM CONSIDERATION, WHICH IS PROBABLY BETTER OFF BECAUSE IT WOULD'VE BEEN PERHAPS THE MOST EXPENSIVE SKATE PARK IN THE WORLD. UM, LAST MONTH I READ THIS ARTICLE IN THE AUSTIN CURRENT WITH A GREAT OPTIMISM. IT HIGHLIGHTED THAT THERE ARE OPTIONS FOR, UH, CITING THESE TYPE OF FACILITIES IN OUR CITY. IT ALSO HIGHLIGHTS A RATIONAL AND RESPONSIBLE PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE THAT OUR CITY'S, UH, CONDUCTING BY SETTING ASIDE THIS PARKLAND FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT. BUT AS WE FIND OURSELVES MORE THAN HALFWAY THROUGH THE CURRENT LONG RANGE PLAN, I DON'T SEE ANY SKATE PARKS THAT HAVE BEEN FUNDED IN THE PAST 20 YEARS, LET ALONE NOW. UH, I WORRY THAT OUR CITY, OUR CITY PLANNING IS, IS, UH, CAUGHT IN A SENSE OF FATALISM WHERE, UH, WE'RE WE'RE UNABLE TO MOVE FORWARD ON THE, ON THE COMMITMENTS WE'VE MADE. BUT 2026 [03:40:02] IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US. UH, I KNOW THERE'S, THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT TAKING ON MORE DEBT, BUT, UH, I DO WANNA POINT OUT THAT IN 2000 WE DID PUT FORTH A LIGHT RAIL BOND INITIATIVE THAT, UH, SADLY FAILED BY 2000 VOTES. MANY PEOPLE SAY IT WAS BECAUSE THE NAME, THANK, THANK YOU, BUT I'M SORRY, YOUR TIME'S EXPIRED. OKAY, CONTINUING ON ITEM 97, LALO ESTRADA, FLEETWOOD JACOBS, MIKE TI, SYLVIA OROZCO, ALYSSA VARGAS. IF I'VE CALLED YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND TAKE A SEAT. YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED. JUST TAKE A SEAT AND FIND A MICROPHONE AND STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. GO AHEAD. OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M SYLVIA OZ, THE, UH, ONE OF THE FOUNDERS AND, UH, CO-FOUNDERS, AND I'M NOW THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MEXICO, THE MUSEUM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT, YOUR SERVICE AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN. GREAT CITIES LIKE AUSTIN'S ARE MADE UP OF GREAT LEADERS, ENGAGED COMMUNITY, HIGH QUALITY INSTITUTIONS, LIBRARIES, AND PARKS. THANK YOU. AUSTIN CONTINUES TO EVOLVE AND FLOURISH FOR TODAY AND FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. BECAUSE OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL'S VISIONARY DECISIONS, MANY OF THOSE YOU, YOU WILL MAKE TODAY, WE ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE BOND ELECTION FOR 2026 AND THE INCLUSION OF MEXICO AT THE MUSEUM. ITEM 97, TO SUPPORT A POTENTIAL BOND PACKAGE FOR NOVEMBER OF 26, WE URGE AND WE COMMEND YOUR SUPPORT TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION THAT INCLUDES THE CULTURAL ARTS PROPOSAL OF MEXICO, THE MUSEUM, THE PARAMOUNT AND UMLA SCULPTURE GARDENS, MEXICO. THE MUSEUM IS AT THE CENTER OF CONGRESS AVENUE HISTORICAL DISTRICT, A PROJECT THAT BRIDGES OUR COMMUNITIES AND THE OFFICIAL STATE DESIGNATED FIFTH STREET MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL DISTRICT. BOND FUNDING WILL COM COMPLETE THE CONSTRUCTION OF A BEAUTIFULLY DESIGNED BUILDING THAT WILL BE THE PRIDE OF DOWNTOWN AUSTIN, SHOWCASING LOCAL ARTISTS AS WELL AS INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITIONS FOR FAMILIES, SCHOOL, CHILDREN, AND TOURISTS. THE NEW BUILDING WILL ENHANCE ART AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS. THE MUSEUM WILL QUALIFY FOR ACCREDITATION FROM THE AMERICAN ALLIANCE OF MUSEUMS. THIS YEAR WE'LL BEGIN OUR THIRD, OUR 43RD YEAR OF SERVING AUSTIN THROUGH EXHIBITIONS, CITYWIDE EVENTS, SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS, AND A GROWING PERMANENT COLLECTION OF ART AND CULTURAL MATERIALS THAT RECORD THE STORIES OF THE LATINO COMMUNITY IN AUSTIN. WE ASK THE CITY OF TO SUPPORT ITEM NUMBERS 97. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. RUCO. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS FLEETWOOD JACOBS AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ZOGA 3 5 1 ZOGA THREE FIVE. ONE IS A NONPROFIT CONSERVANCY THAT WAS FORMED IN 2022 TO ECOLOGICALLY STEWARD ALL 351 ACRES OF ZILKER PARK, AND TO ENSURE EVERY AUSTINITE FEELS WELCOME IN OUR BELOVED GREEN SPACE. OVER THE PAST YEAR, WE HAVE REMOVED MANY INVASIVE SPECIES AND PLANTED 280 TREES THIS FALL, WE WILL CONTINUE TO REMOVE INVASIVE SPECIES AND CONTINUE TO PLANT TREES AND WILD FLOWERS. WE'RE ALSO LAUNCHING ZUCKER'S FIRST HISTORICAL AUDIO TOUR, BUT TODAY WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT ITEM 97, THE RESOLUTION TO DEVELOP A BOND PACKAGE. THE PARK PARKS BOND, THE BTIF COMMITTEE AND CITY STAFF ALL AGREE THAT PARKS ARE CRITICALLY UNDERFUNDED. AND AS COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL MENTIONED, THE PARKS HAVEN'T BEEN FUNDED THROUGH A BOND SINCE 2018. SO THE TIME IS NOW. BUT WHETHER THROUGH BOND OR BUDGET, I SPECIFICALLY WANNA ADDRESS FUNDING FOR THE STRETCH OF BARTON CREEK FROM THE SPILLWAY TO THE BARTON SPRINGS ROAD, KNOWN TO MOST AUSTINITES AS BARKING SPRINGS. THIS AREA IS AN ACTIVE ECOLOGICAL DECLINE. YEARS OF FLOODING, STORM WATER RUNOFF, EROSION, INVASIVE SPECIES, AND INTENSE PUBLIC USE HAVE DESTABILIZED THE SHORELINE TREE ROOTS ARE EXPOSED, SOIL IS COLLAPSING INTO THE CREEK, AND TRAILS HAVE NARROWED TO THE POINT THAT THEY'RE UNSAFE FOR CHILDREN, SENIORS, AND PEOPLE WITH LIMITED MOBILITY. BARTON SPRINGS POOL CHARGES A MISSION. BARKING [03:45:01] SPRINGS IS A FREE ALTERNATIVE WHERE FAMILIES FROM ALL OVER AUSTIN COME TO SWIM. THEY TAKE THEIR DOGS AND THEY FIND RELIEF FROM THE HEAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. MY COLLEAGUE, MIKE KANATI WILL YES, SIR, UH, GREETING COUNSEL. MY NAME'S MIKE KANATI. I SERVE ON THE BOARD OF ZOPA 3 5 1. UM, THE GOOD NEWS IS THERE'S THE PROBLEM THAT'S COMPLETELY DESCRIBED IS SOLVABLE WITH PARKS BOND FUNDING THAT IS VERY POPULAR WITH AUSTIN VOTERS. WE HAVE A PARK IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, WHICH WE CALL THE BARTON CREEK SPILLWAY, UH, SHORELINE PROJECT. THAT IS A COMMUNITY CONSENSUS PROJECT FROM THE COUNCIL APPROVED 2009 BARTON SPRINGS SCHOOL MASTER PLAN. THIS PROJECT WILL STABILIZE CREEK BANK, RESTORE THE NATIVE VEGETATION, IMPROVE TRAIL SAFETY AND ACCESSIBILITY ALONG THE CREEK, REDUCE EROSION AND PROTECT THE WATER QUALITY AT BARTON SPRINGS SPILLWAY AREA, WHICH IS OUTSIDE THE POOL, AND THEREFORE FREE TO ALL COMERS WITH AN ESTIMATED COST OF ABOUT $3 MILLION. ZILKER 3 51 STANDS READY TO RAISE MATCHING FUNDS FROM PRIVATE PHILANTHROPIC DONORS. AND THIS WILL MEETS THE GOALS OF RESOLUTION 97 BEFORE YOU TODAY, WHICH PRIORITIZES BOND PROJECTS THAT OFFER PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AND LEVERAGE MATCHING FUNDS. BUT PHILANTHROPY FOLLOWS PARTNERSHIP. PRIVATE DONORS NEED TO KNOW THAT THIS IS A PRIORITY FOR THE CITY BEFORE THEY'RE GOING TO DONATE. THIS IS WHAT WE'VE LEARNED IN FUNDRAISING FOR BARTON SPRINGS BATHHOUSE. WHETHER THROUGH BOND PACKAGE OR ANOTHER PATHWAY LIKE BUDGET ALLOCATION OR FORMAL PROJECT DESIGNATION, PUBLIC COMMITMENT IS A KEY THAT WILL UNLOCK PRIVATE DONATIONS. SHOULD COUNCIL MOVE FORWARD WITH THE DECISION ON THE BOND ELECTION, WE WOULD CERTAINLY HOPE ZUCKER WILL HAVE SOME OF THE LOVE. BUT IF ZILKER BOND FUNDING IS NOT POSSIBLE, WE WANT TO BEGIN PLANNING FOR NECESSARY REPAIRS IN THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR BUDGET FUNDING SO THAT WE CAN UPDATE THE SCOPE AND COSTS FOR THE SPILLWAY ENGINEERING AND REMEDIATION PROJECT. MAYBE THIS IS SOMETHING YOU ADD TO THE DIRECTION TO THE CITY MANAGER IN THE RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU, WE ARE NOT ASKING THE CITY TO DO SO LOAN, WE'RE ASKING THE CITY TO PARTNER WITH US. WE NEED YOUR LEADERSHIP SO THAT WE CAN HELP YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNSEL. THANK YOU, SIR. CONTINUING WITH ITEM 97, CECILIA HOGAN, DEREK HANSEN, AND THAT CONCLUDES ALL SPEAKERS FOR ITEM 97. MAYOR. UH, SO DO I. OKAY, GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M DEREK HANSON REPRESENTING GIALLO CYCLING INITIATIVE IN SUPPORT OF ADDING A BOND PACKAGE FOR TRANSIT AND PARKS. UH, GIALLO HELPS YOUTH AND ADULTS ACROSS AUSTIN ACCESS THEIR WORLD SAFELY BY BICYCLE. EACH YEAR WE TEACH BIKE SKILLS AND RULES OF THE ROAD TO OVER 2,500 YOUTH THROUGH IN-SCHOOL CLINICS, AFTERSCHOOL BIKE CLUBS, AND COMMUNITY BIKE BUSES. A LARGE PORTION OF OUR PROGRAMMINGS TAKES PLACE IN TITLE ONE SCHOOLS, BUT WE ALSO ASSIST WITH BIKE PED INFRASTRUCTURE ACTIVATIONS, AND SPECIAL EVENTS FOR THE CITY ACROSS ALL DISTRICTS. UM, FROM AFFLUENT NEIGHBORHOODS TO THE HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED, WE HAVE SEEN SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS ON BIKE PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE FROM THE PREVIOUS BOND CYCLE. AND WE'RE GRATEFUL, BUT WE NEED TO BUILD ON THIS MOMENTUM IN ORDER TO FINISH THE JOB, PROVIDE SAFE TRANSIT ACROSS THE CITY. TODAY IS THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR A ISD. SO A COUPLE EXAMPLES IN AUGUST WITH THE NEW REDISTRICT REDISTRICTING, KC ELEMENTARY IN THE SOUTH WILL RECEIVE AN INFLUX OF 200 NEW STUDENTS, BUT NO SAFE BIKE LANES TO REACH THEIR SCHOOL. GUS GARCIA MIDDLE SCHOOL AND BARBARA JORDAN ELEMENTARY IN THE NORTHEAST SHARE A SINGLE NARROW SIDEWALK, BUT NO BIKE LANES AND SUBSTANDARD CROSSINGS. THESE ARE JUST A COUPLE EXAMPLES FROM A LONG LIST OF UNSAFE AND AND OR INCOMPLETE ROUTES TO SCHOOL. A SMALL BOND PACKAGE CAN HELP MOVE THIS FORWARD TO ENSURE ALL OF OUR KIDS ARE SAFE. WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE BOND RENEWAL FOR PARK DEVELOPMENT, AS MANY OF OUR FRIENDS HERE HAVE, HAVE SAID. SO THERE ARE CHILDREN CAN HAVE SAFE PLACES TO PLAY AND EXPLORE PLACES LIKE BOHAM DISTRICT PARK AND LITTLE WALNUT CREEK GREENBELT IN EAST AUSTIN. THESE ARE LARGE PARCELS WITH MASTER PLANS IN PLACE JUST WAITING FOR BOND APPROVAL AND FUNDING, BOTH OF WHICH I'M PROUD TO SAY I WAS ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO AS A RESIDENT OF, UM, DISTRICT ONE IN THE PLANNING OF, OF THESE VISIONS FOR THE PAST 14 YEARS. UM, THESE PARKS WILL OFFER CYCLING AMENITIES AND TRAIL CONNECTIVITIES IN AREAS THAT HAVE TRADITIONALLY BEEN SLOWER FOR DEVELOPMENT IN TERMS OF PUBLIC GREENWAYS. I URGE COUNCIL TO APPROVE THIS ITEM AND INCLUDE A BOND PACKAGE TO SUPPORT TRANSIT INFRASTRUCTURE AND CITY PARKS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL SPEAKERS FOR ITEM 97 HAVE BEEN CALLED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, MEMBERS, ALL THE SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 97 HAVE BEEN CALLED. UM, WHAT I'LL DO THE, WE WE'LL APPROACH THIS, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY PROPOSED AMENDMENTS ON 97, SO IT'LL BE A STRAIGHT UP VOTE IF WE HAVE A MOTION ON ITEM NUMBER 97. COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL [03:50:01] MOVES APPROVAL. IT'S SECONDED BY THE MAYOR PRO TIM, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, YOU WISH TO SPEAK? YES, MA'AM. OKAY. I JUST WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER AGAIN FOR GETTING THIS RESOLUTION TOGETHER, UH, WHICH ASKED STAFF TO CONTINUE TO DEVELOP POSSIBLE BOND PROGRAMS SO THAT WE CAN MAKE A FINAL DECISION THIS SUMMER ON WHAT TO RECOMMEND AUSTIN VOTERS, IF ANYTHING. AND I'LL JUST SAY THAT FOR ME, I CONTINUE TO BELIEVE WE SHOULD ASK VOTERS TO INVEST IN AUSTIN PARKS, WHICH HAVE NOT RECEIVED A BOND INVESTMENT SINCE 2018. PARKS ARE ONE OF THE AMENITIES ALMOST UNIVERSALLY ENJOYED ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR GREEN SPACES, OUR PLAY SPACES AND OUR OPEN SPACES ARE A BIG PART OF WHAT MAKES AUSTIN GREAT AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONTINUED DISCUSSION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MAYOR PRO TIM. THANK YOU MAYOR. I'M A STRONG SUPPORTER OF THIS ITEM, A STRONG SUPPORTER OF, UH, A PARKS BOND. UH, IT, IT HAS BEEN TOO LONG AND IF WE WAIT TILL 28TH OF A DECADE BETWEEN PARK SPONSOR AND I, I JUST DON'T THINK THAT'S, UH, ACCEPTABLE. UM, I ALSO WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT PARKS ARE ONE OF THE FEW AREAS THAT WE'RE ABLE, ABLE TO LEVERAGE OUR, UH, PRIVATE PARTNERS, DONORS AND OTHER SUPPORTERS THAT ARE WILLING TO STEP TO THE TABLE AND, AND FUND PARKS. THE AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION JUMPS OUT AS ONE, THE ZILKER 3 6 1 FOLKS THAT WERE JUST, UH, TALKING ABOUT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T REALLY DO THAT WITH YOU WATERSHED OR, YOU KNOW, NO ONE'S VOLUNTEERING TO DONATE MONEY TO, YOU KNOW, UH, REPAIR STREETS AND, AND, AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. SO THERE'S, THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES HERE AND WE NEED TO, UH, TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEM. A STRONG SUPPORTER OF THIS. I, I DID WANNA, UH, I LOVE THE, THE SKATE PARK AND, AND BMX, UH, IDEA AND THE ZUCCA 3 6 1 PLAN THERE AT BARKING SPRINGS. THAT'S A, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL AREA. THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE GO THERE. UH, IT, IT'S ANOTHER, THERE'S MANY PARTS OF I THINK, ZILKER THAT HAVE BEEN LOVED TO DEATH, BUT BARKING SPRINGS, MAYBE, MAYBE MORE THAN ANY OTHER, UH, INDIVIDUAL SPOT, UH, IT, IT REALLY DOES NEED SOME, UH, SOME SAFETY AND ACCESSIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS. AND I THINK THAT THE PLAN PUT TOGETHER BY, UH, THE SUPPORTERS IS, IS, IS EXCELLENT. SO, UH, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THIS ITEM. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TIM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I JUST WANT TO REALLY CLARIFY, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THE CONVERSATION WE JUST HAD AROUND 1 0 2, THAT THIS, UH, IS MOVING THE PROCESS FORWARD. IT'S NOT THE DECISION ITSELF. YOU KNOW, I THINK, UH, THE MAYOR HAS LAID FORWARD, UH, A VERY ROBUST PROCESS FOR US TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT A BOND IS APPROPRIATE. AND AS COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, SHOULD WE NOT, CAN WE, RIGHT? IS, ARE THESE, UH, ISSUES OF THE LEVEL OF NEED AND IMPORT THAT WE SHOULD GO TO VOTERS AND ASK FOR THEM TO MAKE THESE INVESTMENTS? UH, BUT WE CAN'T DO THAT IF STAFF DOESN'T DO THE NECESSARY PREP WORK BEHIND THE SCENES. AND THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ASKING FOR. HERE'S A, A FRAMEWORK, BASICALLY BUILD THE MENU AND LET US COME BACK IN JULY AND HAVE THAT ULTIMATE DISCUSSION OF SHOULD WE DO THIS? IS IT IN COMPLIANCE WITH POLICIES WITH THE DECISION TREE? AND IS IT THE RIGHT DECISION IN TERMS OF ASKING THE VOTERS TO, YOU KNOW, TO PUT THAT BEFORE THEM AND, AND LIKE I SAID, MAKE THOSE INVESTMENTS. SO, UM, AS WE MOVE THIS FORWARD, I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK SO FAR DONE BY CAPITAL LIBERTY SERVICES, A CM ROGERS, UM, AND THEN HOPE THAT COME JULY WE CAN HAVE THAT FULL DISCUSSION OF WHAT, IF ANY OF THIS WE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD IN DOING. AND, YOU KNOW, NO SECRET, I I THINK OUR, OUR PARKS ARE, UH, IN DESPERATE NEED, BUT LET'S HAVE THAT CONVERSATION IN JULY ABOUT WHAT TYPES OF INVESTMENTS WE MAKE IN PARKS AND OTHER AREAS OF THE CITY. COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN, THANK, COUNCILMAN COUNCIL. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER. COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU, MAYOR. JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS IN RESPONSE TO SOME OF THE COMMENTS OF MY COLLEAGUES. ONE IS I'D REALLY WISH WE COULD FOCUS ON WHAT SPECIFICALLY IS THE PROBLEM WE'RE TRYING TO SOLVE HERE. IF THE PROBLEM WE'RE TRYING TO SOLVE IS TO INVEST IN THE PLACES THAT WE'VE ALREADY EXHAUSTED PRIOR BONDS, AS I DETAILED EARLIER, I THINK THERE'S AN ALTERNATE WAY TO DO THAT, THAT MAY NOT ARRIVE AT THREE $90 MILLION. FROM MY CONVERSATIONS WITH STAFF, WE CAN GET THERE FOR PROBABLY HALF AS MUCH. AND MY CONVERSATIONS WITH STAFF ABOUT PARKS, THEIR NEED TO BRIDGE US OVER TO 28 IS AROUND $70 MILLION. THAT INCLUDES AT LEAST $10 MILLION OF LAND ACQUISITION. SO I'M UNCLEAR ABOUT WHAT SPECIFIC PROBLEM THIS IS SOLVING BY GOING TO ESSENTIALLY TWICE THE VALUE THAT I UNDERSTAND THAT WE MIGHT ACTUALLY NEED TO GET US TO 2028. BECAUSE THE OTHER IMPLICATION OF THIS IS, IS THAT IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEVEN 50 NOW, AND WE'RE JUST DOING, UH, AND [03:55:01] WE'RE DOING THREE 90 AND WE'RE COVERING CERTAIN PIECES, THAT WE ARE BASICALLY COMMITTING TO DOING A 2028 BOND OF WHATEVER THE REMAINDER CATEGORIES ARE THAT AREN'T FUNDED RIGHT NOW. UH, AND SO WE'RE PERPETUATING THIS AGAIN, 16 YEAR CYCLE. WE'RE EVERY TWO YEARS, UH, APART FROM A GAP IN 2024, WE'VE BASICALLY ASKED VOTERS TO PONY UP MONEY FOR DIFFERENT THINGS. AND I THINK WE'RE SEEING THE RESULTS OF SOME FATIGUE ON THAT. SO THAT'S THE REASON THAT, UH, I'LL LIKELY BE VOTING THOUGH ON THIS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER. UM, I'M GONNA SAY A FEW THINGS AND AND I WANNA START OFF BY SAYING, THIS ISN'T EASY FOR ME. UH, AND, BUT, BUT AS COUNCILMAN WALTER JUST SAID, IT IS BEGINNING THE PROCESS AND, AND SO IT CREATES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR, I THINK ALL OF US TO SPEAK PLAINLY ABOUT WHERE WE STAND ON SOMETHING AND THAT INCLUDES ME AND BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT WHERE I AM ON THIS. AND I'M GONNA BE VOTING NO ON THIS BECAUSE I DON'T AGREE WITH THE PROCESSES PUTTING INTO PLACE. AND IT'S NOT BECAUSE I OPPOSE PARKS. UM, IT'S NOT BECAUSE I OPPOSE CULTURAL FACILITIES OR ANY OF THE OTHER INVESTMENTS THAT I KNOW PEOPLE CARE DEEPLY ABOUT. AND WHAT'S SHAPING UP TO BE WHAT I THINK IS SHAPING UP TO BE A BOND PACKAGE. UH, I SUPPORT MANY OF THOSE PRIORITIES VERY STRONGLY. FOR ME, IT'S ABOUT WHERE WE ARE AS A CITY AND WHERE WE ARE AS A COUNCIL, AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO GOVERN HOW WE'RE GOING TO STEWARD THIS CITY FOR ALM FOR A DECADE, UH, THIS CITY HAS DRIFTED. IT'S STEPPED AWAY FROM ITS FINANCIAL POLICIES AND ITS DEBT MANAGEMENT POLICY PRACTICES. AS I I SAID EARLIER, WE ALL KNOW THAT. WE'VE DISCUSSED IT, WE'VE ACKNOWLEDGED IT PUBLICLY. SOME OF US HAVE SAID IT MATTERED. ALL OF US HAVE ACTED LIKE IT MATTERED. AND THIS COUNCIL HAS UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED, UH, FINANCIAL REFORMS INTENDED TO RESTORE ALIGNMENT AND REBUILD TRUST. WE CREATED, AS WE'VE TALKED SEVERAL TIMES, AND I, AND I'M, I, I APPRECIATE THE RECOGNITION OF THE EFFORT TO CREATE THE DECISION MAKING FRAMEWORK, THAT DECISION TREE FOR HAVING FUTURE BOND ELECTIONS. WE ALSO ACKNOWLEDGED AFTER THE FAILURE OF THE TRE THAT WE NEEDED TO RESTORE PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN OUR FISCAL MANAGEMENT. AND WE PASSED POLICIES TO DEMONSTRATE A REASON TO TRUST US IN THAT REGARD. WE PASSED A STRONGER POLICY REGARDING THE USE OF COUNCIL OFFICE ACCOUNTS. WE INITIATED A SYSTEMIC CITYWIDE AUDIT PROCESS. WE BEGAN THIS BUDGET CYCLE LOOKING AT A NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE AS PART OF THE FORECAST. AND THEN JUST LAST WEEK, WE APPROVED STRONGER OVERSIGHT FOR CONSULTING CONTRACTS AND GRANTS. THOSE WERE IMPORTANT. THEY, THEY OUGHT TO BE MEANINGFUL, BUT PUBLIC TRUST ISN'T RESTORED SIMPLY BY PASSING NEW POLICIES. IT'S RESTORED BY PROVING DISCIPLINE. I HOPE THAT'S SOMEBODY CALLING WITH MONEY . IT'S, IT'S RESTORED BY, BY PROVING WE HAVE DISCIPLINE, EITHER ANSWER IT OR HANG UP ON . AND THAT DISCIPLINE IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT. AFTER VOTERS CLEARLY EXPRESSED CONCERN, THE TAX RATE ELECTION WAS ONLY SEVEN MONTHS AGO, AND IT FAILED BY A LARGE MARGIN. EVERYONE KNOWS FROM OUR DEBATE AND OUR DISCUSSIONS AT THE TIME THAT WE WENT TO THE VOTERS WITH A TAX RATE THAT WAS MORE THAN I LIKED. I SUPPORTED A COMPROMISED POSITION THAT WAS HIGHER THAN I PERSONALLY WANTED IN HOPES OF BUILDING CONSENSUS. AND I, I'M, I WON'T DO THAT AGAIN. THE VOTERS SPOKE CLEARLY AND DRAMATICALLY ALL OVER THE CITY IN REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC PRECINCTS, IN THE RICHEST NEIGHBORHOODS, AND IMPORTANTLY IN THE POOREST NEIGHBORHOODS. AND THINGS HAVEN'T GOTTEN BETTER FINANCIALLY SINCE THAT TIME. NOT FOR THE CITY AND NOT FOR THOSE LIVING IN OUR CITY. PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING, AND I DON'T BELIEVE WE'VE YET DONE ENOUGH TO JUSTIFY ASKING THE VOTERS THIS QUICKLY FOR ADDITIONAL DEBT WHILE WE REMAIN OUTSIDE THE FINANCIAL ALIGNMENT THAT WE SAID THAT WE ACTED LIKE MATTERED. IN FACT, ASKING THEM WHEN WE'RE OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND WHEN WE'RE CHANGING POLICIES TO GET US, PERHAPS GET US TO THE RESULT WE WANT, I THINK RE RISK ADDING TO THE DISTRUST AND A LACK OF CONFIDENCE. IMPORTANTLY, OUR PROFESSIONAL STAFF IS RECOMMENDING AN ELECTION IN 2028, AND I BELIEVE THEY'RE RIGHT. IF OUR, AGAIN, I'M GONNA SAY IT AGAIN. IF OUR FISCAL POLICIES APPLY ONLY WHEN THEY'RE CONVENIENT, [04:00:01] THEN THEY'RE NOT REALLY POLICIES. AND WE WE'RE, WE'RE DOING THINGS MAY BE DIFFERENTLY, BUT IT'S THE SAME SORT OF BEHAVIOR THAT HAS CAUSED THE PROBLEM IN THE FIRST PLACE THAT WE'RE NOW WORRIED ABOUT. OUR LEADERSHIP SOMETIMES MEANS SAYING YES, BUT OUR LEADERSHIP ALSO MEANS BEING WILLING TO SAY NOT YET, ESPECIALLY WHEN SAYING YES WOULD BE POLITICALLY EASIER IN THE MOMENT BECAUSE OF PEOPLE WANTING A BOND ELECTION. I BELIEVE WE CAN AND WE SHOULD BRING FORWARD SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS IN THE FUTURE. IN FACT, IF WE RESTORE COMPLIANCE WITH OUR FINANCIAL POLICIES AND WE MAINTAIN THE DIS UH, DISCIPLINE, WE ACTUALLY WILL HAVE GREATER FUTURE CAPACITY TO DO MORE FOR THIS COMMUNITY IN 2028. BUT I BELIEVE STEWARDSHIP REQUIRES TIMING, SEQUENCING, AND CREDIBILITY. AND I BELIEVE THE BETTER COURSE IS TO CONTINUE REBUILDING TRUST, CONTINUE DEMONSTRATING DISCIPLINE, RESTORE ALIGNMENT, AND COME BACK STRONGER AND MORE RESPONSIBLY POSITIONED IN 2028. SO WHILE THIS BEGINS THE PROCESS, I'LL STILL BE VOTING NO MEMBERS. THE VOTE WILL BE ON ITEM NUMBER 97. THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED. THOSE IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND. THOSE OPPOSED RAISE YOUR HAND. YOU ABSTAINING. ALL RIGHT. THE, THE VOTE PASSES WITH TWO NO VOTES. UH, THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN AND COUNCIL MEMBER LANE ABSTAINING ON THE VOTE. SO THE MOTION PASSES. ALRIGHT, MEMBERS THAT WILL NOW TAKE US, OH, LOOK AT THAT. TWO O'CLOCK, ALMOST ON THE DOT. UM, I WORRIED ABOUT THAT, BUT I I COULD'VE TALKED A LITTLE LONGER IF I NEEDED TO. I'M NOT SURE IT GOT MANY MORE VOTES, BUT IT SURE GOT US TO TWO O'CLOCK. UM, ALL RIGHT, WITH THAT BEING SAID, [67. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance amending City Code Title 25 (Land Development) to create new density bonus zoning districts and establish regulations and requirements that apply to new density bonus zoning districts including allowing additional building height, modifying uses, and modifying site development regulations in exchange for providing affordable housing and other community benefits; to modify Rainey Street Subdistrict Regulations relating to participation in the Downtown Density Bonus Program; and to decrease the eligibility area and remove certain properties from participating in the Downtown Density Bonus Program generally located west of I-35, east of Nueces Street, north of Lady Bird Lake, and south of East 11th Street (the new density bonus zoning districts are also known as downtown density bonus 400 (DDB400) combining district and downtown density bonus 850 (DDB850) combining district). Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.] WE'RE NOW AT OUR TWO O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN MEMBERS. THE WAY I'M GONNA DO THIS IS WE'RE GONNA TAKE UP ITEM NUMBER 67 AND THEN WE'RE GONNA TAKE UP ZONING ITEM NUMBER 75. AND THE REASON WE'RE DOING THAT IS BECAUSE IF THOSE TWO PASS, THEN ITEM NUMBER 92 IS GOING TO BE WITHDRAWN BY STAFF. SO THE FIRST ITEM IS ITEM NUMBER 67, AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE TO CALL OUR SPEAKERS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. WE HAVE A REMOTE SPEAKER FOR ITEM 67, MORA POWERS. HI, THIS IS MORA POWERS. I AM FROM, UH, DISTRICT 10 AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF TRAVIS AUDUBON. WE'RE A BIRD CONSERVATION NONPROFIT THAT ENCOURAGES BIRDING OUR MEMBERS APPRECIATE BIRDS AND SUPPORT THEIR SURVIVAL, WHICH IS NOW AT RISK FOR MANY NORTH AMERICAN SPECIES. FOR THIS REASON, WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE INCLUSION OF BIRD COLLISION DETERRENT IN THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE FOR DOWNTOWN HIGH RISES. HIGH RISES ARE THE CAUSE OF MORE, MORE BIRD DEATHS PER BUILDING THAN ANY OTHER TYPE OF BUILDING. LAST YEAR, AUSTIN WATERSHED PROTECTION COMPLETED AN EXTENSIVE STUDY OF THESE TYPES OF ORDINANCES IN NORTH AMERICAN CITIES AND TOWNS WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN ENACTED AND PROVEN THEIR EFFECTIVENESS IN PROTECTING BIRDS AND PROVIDING ENERGY SAVINGS FOR BUILDINGS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WHEN COUNCIL PASSES A RESOLUTION FOR THE DRAFTING OF A BROADER ORDINANCE ON BIRD PROTECTION FROM BUILDING COLLISIONS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE INCLUSION OF COLLISION DETERRENT IN THIS ORDINANCE. THAT CONCLUDES MY STATEMENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MOVING TO IN-PERSON SPEAKERS FOR ITEM 67, ALEXANDRA BOONE, JEFFREY BOWEN, ALEXANDER MILES, HANNAH WRANGELL, WILLIAM BUNCH. IF I'VE CALLED YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. ALEXANDER MILES. IT'S A PLEASURE. UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. UH, MY NAME IS ALEXANDER MILES. I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE AND I'VE WORKED ALONGSIDE TEAMS HELPING MOVE PROJECTS FROM CONCEPT TO REALITY. I'M HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF IEN 67 AND THE MODERNIZATION OF THE DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM. AND I THINK THE QUESTION BEFORE US IS BIGGER THAN ZONING OR INCENTIVES. IT'S ABOUT WHAT KIND OF FUTURE WE ARE BUILDING FOR THE PEOPLE WHO CALL THE CITY HOME. 'CAUSE WHEN GROWTH SLOWS DOWN IN THE URBAN CORE, IT DOESN'T STOP. IT JUST SPREADS FURTHER OUTWARDS. FAMILIES GET PUSHED FURTHER FROM THE JOBS, FROM SCHOOLS, FROM COMMUNITY, AND FROM OPPORTUNITY. TRAFFIC WORSENS, INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS RISES, AND [04:05:01] OVER TIME, THE CITY BECOMES HARDER TO AFFORD AND HARDER TO MOVE THROUGH FOR THE VERY PEOPLE WHO HELPED BUILD IT. BUT THERE'S ANOTHER PATH, A FUTURE WHERE MORE PEOPLE CAN LIVE CLOSER TO WHERE THEY WORK. WHERE DOWNTOWN REMAINS ACTIVE, SAFE AND ECONOMICALLY VIBRANT, WHERE GROWTH STRENGTHENS THE CITY INSTEAD OF STRETCHING IT THINNER AND THINNER OUTWARDS. 'CAUSE THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS ALREADY HERE. AND FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND, WHEN RESPONSIBLE REINVESTMENT BECOMES REALISTICALLY ACHIEVABLE, PEOPLE BUILD BUSINESSES, INVEST HOUSING GETS CREATED, AND PUBLIC BENEFITS GET DELIVERED AND MOMENTUM TURNS INTO OPPORTUNITY FOR REAL FAMILIES TRYING TO BUILD STABLE LIVES IN AUSTIN. I THINK SOMETIMES WE FORGET THAT BEHIND EVERY PROJECT ARE FUTURE RESIDENTS, PEOPLE WHO WANT A SHORTER COMMUTE HOME TO THEIR KIDS WORKERS TRYING TO STAY NEAR THEIR JOBS, AND YOUNG FAMILIES HOPING THEY BUILD A FUTURE IN THIS CITY. WHAT I APPRECIATE ABOUT ITEM 67 IS THAT IT RECOGNIZES AN IMPORTANT REALITY. PUBLIC BENEFIT PROGRAMS ONLY WORK WHEN PARTICIPATION REMAINS ACHIEVABLE. THIS PROPOSAL MAINTAINS AFFORDABILITY AND COMMUNITY BENEFIT EXPECTATIONS WHILE MOVING TOWARDS A FRAMEWORK THAT IS CLEAR, MORE FUNCTIONAL, AND MORE ECONOMICALLY REALISTIC TO NAVIGATE. AND I BELIEVE THAT GIVES AUSTIN A CHANCE TO KEEP GROWING IN A WAY THAT CREATES MORE OPPORTUNITY, MORE CONNECTION, AND MORE HOPE FOR THE PEOPLE. WE'LL CALL THIS CITY HOME IN THE YEARS AHEAD. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY. THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, HANNAH RANGEL WITH THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE. ON BEHALF OF THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, I'M SHARING OUR POSITION ON THE PHASE ONE DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS UPDATE. WHILE SOME OF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE BEEN SUPPORTED AND ADOPTED IN THIS PROCESS, AND WE THANK PLANNING AND COUNCIL STAFF FOR THE COLLABORATION, WE STILL FEEL THAT THE PROPOSAL FALLS SHORT IN ALIGNING POLICY GOALS WITH MARKET REALITIES AND THE LONG-TERM ECONOMIC POSITIONING OF DOWNTOWN. A CORE GOAL OF ANY DOWNTOWN POLICY SHOULD BE TO AMBITIOUSLY POSITION THE DISTRICT TO ATTRACT AND MAXIMIZE FUTURE GROWTH IN ORDER TO CONTINUALLY EXPAND TAX BASE THAT SUPPORTS PROGRAMS ACROSS THE CITY. INSTEAD, THE CURRENT PROPOSAL ARTIFICIALLY LIMITS IT BY DICTATING A MAXIMUM HEIGHT CAP AND FURTHER DISINCENTIVIZING HEIGHT. BY CREATING A FEE JUMP AT 750 FEET, THE EFFECT WILL BE FEWER HOUSING UNITS AND LESS TAXABLE VALUE. TWO THINGS IN HIGH NEED. OUR RECOMMENDATION IS TO RETURN TO THESE ASPECTS OF THE PROPOSAL TO ENSURE MAXIMUM DENSITY IS A CENTRAL OBJECTIVE OF THE PROGRAM. WE RECOMMEND FURTHER INCREASING THE HEIGHT LIMITS WITHIN D DB 400 AND D DB EIGHT 50. WE ALSO RECOMMENDING, RECOMMEND ELIMINATING THE 20% FEE ESCALATION BETWEEN THE TWO TIERS, WHICH DISINCENTIVIZES ADDITIONAL DENSITY. LASTLY, WE RECOMMEND EXPLORING A FURTHER INCREASE TO BASE ENTITLEMENTS TO PRIME THE PUMP FOR THE NEXT CYCLE OF GROWTH IN DOWNTOWN. THESE CHANGES WILL HELP EMPOWER DOWNTOWN TO PROVIDE THE GROWTH DENSITY AND INVESTMENT NEEDED TO EXPAND AUSTIN'S TAX BASE AND SUPPORT CITYWIDE PRIORITIES FOR DECADES TO COME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF DOWNTOWN. THANK YOU MAYOR. ALL SPEAKERS HAVE BEEN CALLED FOR ITEM 67. OKAY, UM, THANK YOU. UH, MEMBERS WILL NOW TAKE UP ITEM NUMBER 67. THERE ARE TWO POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS TO ITEM NUMBER 67 TO BE OFFERED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE. I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE TO MAKE A MOTION. UH, ON ITEM NUMBER 67, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE MOVES APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 67. IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS. UM, NOW I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE ON THESE TWO AMENDMENTS UNLESS SOMEBODY HAS ANYTHING THEY WANNA SAY ON THE MAIN MOTION BEFORE WE GO TO THE AMENDMENTS. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED ON CADRE MOTION TO AMEND NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER 67 MEMBERS. YOU HAVE BOTH OF HIS PROPOSED AMENDMENTS. THE ONE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT BEGINS, I MOVE TO AMEND SECTIONS OF PART EIGHT OF THE DRAFT ORDINANCE AS FOLLOWS AND REORDER THE REMAINING SECTIONS ACCORDINGLY. UM, SO I'LL START WITH THAT AND RECOGNIZE YOU. GREAT, THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, YEAH, COLLEAGUES, UH, IN FRONT OF YOU, YOU SHOULD HAVE MOTION SHEET NUMBER ONE. IT DOES NOT SAY NUMBER ONE, BUT IT'S THE ONE THAT'S STABLED. UM, WE WORKED WITH LAW TO ENSURE PLANNING COMMISSION AND DESIGN COMMISSIONS' RECOMMENDATIONS WERE INCORPORATED AS FULLY AS POSSIBLE IN THIS PHASE, WHILE ALSO BALANCING DEVELOPMENT REALITIES. A LOT OF VOLUNTEER TIME AND RESOURCES HAVE GONE INTO THIS WORK AT A RECORD PACE AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO ENSURE COMMISSION FEEDBACK IS INCORPORATED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. THIS PROCESS WITH CITY STAFF HAS TAUGHT US A LOT ABOUT HOW TO IMPLEMENT URBAN DESIGN CENTERS AND MOVE FORWARD. I'M BRINGING THIS MOTION TO ALIGN WITH PLANNING COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION IN THIS PHASE BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT TO SHOW HOW FAR WE'VE COME AND DO THE BEST WE CAN TODAY, KNOWING WE NEED TO REFINE THIS FURTHER IN PHASE TWO. SO WITH THAT, I I, UM, LOOK TO ADOPT MOTION SHEET NUMBER ONE, CA COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE MOVES TO AMEND ITEM NUMBER 67 WITH CADRE AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE. IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ. UM, DISCUSSION IS ON CADRE MOTION TO AMEND NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER 67. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE WITHOUT [04:10:01] OBJECTION? UH, THE MOTION CADRE MOTION TO AMEND, UH, NUMBER ONE FOR ITEM NUMBER 67, UH, OKAY, IS IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN ABSTAINING FROM THE VOTE. THAT WILL NOW TAKE US TO CADRE MOTION TO AMEND NUMBER TWO TO ITEM NUMBER 67. COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED. GREAT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, IN FRONT OF Y ALL YOU SHOULD HAVE ITEM SIX SEVEN. MOTION SHEET NUMBER TWO FOR DIRECTION, THIS MOTION SHEET. FURTHER, UH, IT PROVIDES FURTHER DIRECTION ON PHASE TWO AND ANY FUTURE PHASES OF THE DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS, INCLUDING RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT'S. NEXT STEPS, HISTORIC PRESERVATION TOOLS, SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT, AND THE NEXT STEPS NEEDED ON THE URBAN DESIGN STANDARDS. IT'S NEEDED TO ENSURE TO SUPPORT AND COLLABORATE WITH OUR DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY PARTNERS. UH, SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THE WORK AT, AND WITH THAT I MOVE, UH, ADOPTION OF, UH, MOTION SHEET NUMBER TWO, COUNCIL MEMBER CODRE MOVES, UH, ADOPTION OF HIS MOTION TO AMEND NUMBER TWO TO ITEM NUMBER 67. IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL. UH, DISCUSSION ON MOTION TO AMEND NUMBER TWO. HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION NUMBER COUNT CADRE. MOTION TO AMEND NUMBER TWO TO ITEM NUMBER 67 IS ADOPTED WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN BEING SHOWN ABSTAINING. THAT WILL TAKE US BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION ON ITEM NUMBER 67. AS AMENDED COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE HAD MOVED TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 67 AND HE MADE THE, UH, TWO MOTIONS TO AMEND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER 67 AS AMENDED COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER JUST ONE NOTE. UM, WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF TIMES WHERE WE'VE ASKED A QUESTION RELATED TO PROGRAMS LIKE THIS, ZONINGS LIKE THIS WHERE WE SAY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE INTERESTED IN DOING X OR Y, UH, HOW CAN WE DO THAT? AND THE ANSWER COMES BACK, WELL, WE CAN'T DO THAT BECAUSE THE NOTICE WAS SENT OUT TO ONLY DO X. AND WE FIND OUR, LIKE I SAID, IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. AND SO IF THERE IS A WAY FOR US BEFORE NOTICE GOES OUT, TO HAVE EVEN THE MOST PRELIMINARY DISCUSSION SO THAT WE CAN GIVE GUIDANCE ON, HEY, WE MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN THIS OR THAT TO SEND OUT THE NOTICE IN A BROADER SENSE OR TINKER IT SOME WAY, UM, TO MATCH WHAT WE MIGHT WANNA DO. I THINK THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL. SO THAT'S JUST A FLAG. UM, I KNOW IT'S COMPLICATED IN BEHIND THE SCENES AS Y'ALL ARE DOING THINGS, BUT, UM, IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL FOR US TO, ANYTIME WE HAVE A NOTICE GOING OUT, AND THEN IT'S LIMITING OUR ABILITY TO MAKE CHANGES, UM, TO HAVE A CONVERSATION BEFORE THAT NOTICE GOES OUT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT, THE VOTE IS ON ITEM NUMBER 67 AS AMENDED. NO, THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION. ITEM NUMBER 67 AS AMENDED IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN BEING SHOWN ABSTAINING AND TWO ABSENCES. ALL RIGHT, THAT WILL TAKE US TO ITEM 75 [75. C20-2024-018 - Conduct a public hearing and approve an ordinance amending City Code Title 25 by rezoning approximately 208 acres of property generally located west of I-35, east of Nueces Street, north of Lady Bird Lake, and south of East 11th Street to add downtown density bonus 400 (DDB400) combining district. Staff Recommendation and Planning Commission Recommendation: To grant downtown density bonus 400 (DDB400) combining district zoning. Applicant: City of Austin. City Staff: Alan Pani, Planner Principal, Austin Planning, Alan.Pani@austintexas.gov.] AND I'M GONNA RECOGNIZE MS. HARDEN ON ITEM NUMBER 75 MEMBERS. ITEM NUMBER 75 IS A ZONING ITEM IN OUR, IN OUR ZONING AGENDA FOR TODAY, BUT WE'RE GONNA TAKE IT UP SEPARATELY BECAUSE IT'S GONNA MAKE, IT COULD MAKE, YES, WE'RE GONNA TAKE IT UP SEPARATELY BECAUSE IF ITEM 75 FAILS, THEN WE'RE GONNA TAKE UP ITEM NUMBER 92. SO JUST ITEM 75 FOR RIGHT NOW. THAT WORKS FOR ME, MAYOR AND COUNCIL JOY HARDEN WITH AUSTIN PLANNING. UM, ITEM 75 IS C 2 0 20 24 0 1 8. THIS IS THE DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS ITEM, AND THIS ITEM IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS. MEMBERS, YOU'VE HEARD THAT THIS IS OFFERED ON ALL THREE READINGS AND WE HAVE ONE PERSON SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, SO I'LL RECOGNIZE THE CITY CLERK. THANK YOU MAYOR. WE HAVE HANNAH ELL TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 75. YOU'VE, YOU'VE DONE, YOU'VE DONE YOUR DEAL. OKAY. VERY GOOD. ALL RIGHT, GOOD TESTIMONY. UH, ALL YOU HAVE NO MORE SPEAKERS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK FOR THIS SENATE. THAT BEING THE CASE MEMBERS. UM, ON ITEM NUMBER 75, THE MOTION IS TO ADOPT IT ON ALL THREE READINGS. UH, THE MOTION WILL BE TO ADOPT IT ON ALL THREE READINGS. IS THERE SUCH A MOTION? COUNCIL MEMBER, THE MAYOR PRO TIM MOVES APPROVAL ON ALL THREE READINGS. UH, IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL. DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO THE ITEM. HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION. UH, ITEM NUMBER 75 IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN ABSTAINING FROM THE VOTE. ALRIGHT, MEMBERS, BECAUSE I ITEMS 67 AND AND 75 BOTH PASSED. STAFF WITHDRAWS ITEM NUMBER 92. NOW [2:00 PM - Zoning and Neighborhood Plan Amendments (Public Hearings and Possible Action)] WE WILL GO TO OUR REGULAR ZONING ITEMS AND, UH, MS. HARDEN, IT'S ALL YOURS. OKAY, SO WE WILL START, UH, YOUR ZONING [04:15:01] AND NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AMENDMENT PORTION OF YOUR AGENDA WITH ITEM 6 76 NPA 20 24 0 0 0 5 0.01. THIS ITEM IS OFFERED AS AN APPLICANT POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR JULY 23RD COUNCIL MEETING. THE RELATED REZONING IS ITEM 77 C 1 4 20 24 0 0 9 9. AGAIN, THIS ITEM IS OFFERED AS AN APPLICANT POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR JULY 23RD COUNCIL MEETING, ITEM 78 TO C 1 4 20 25 0 104. THIS ITEM IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS. THE RELATED ITEM IS ITEM 79 C FOUR 8,000 HUNDRED THREE SEVEN R CT. THIS ITEM IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT. ITEM 80 IS C 1 4 20 26 12. THIS ITEM IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS. ITEM 81 IS C 14 H 20 26 0 0 1 8. THIS, THIS IS AN HISTORIC LANDMARK REZONING. THE HOME IS RECOGNIZED FOR ITS ARCHITECTURE FROM JOHN CHASE AS WELL AS THE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE HILL AND THOMPSON FAMILIES. AND WITH THAT, THIS ITEM IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS. ITEM 82 IS C 1 4 20 25 0 1 2 0. THIS ITEM IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS. ITEM 83 IS C 14 20 26, 0 0 0 6. THIS ITEM IS OFFERED AS A NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR JULY 23RD COUNCIL MEETING. ITEM 84 IS C 4 0 6 0 1 1 7 R CT. THIS ITEM'S OFFERED FOR CONSENT. THE RELATED ITEM IS 85 C 4 72 2 99 R CT. THIS ITEM'S OFFERED FOR CONSENT. ITEM 86 IS C 814 2 8 0 8 7 0 2. THIS ITEM IS OFFERED AS A STAFF. POSTPONEMENT TO YOURS, JULY 23RD. COUNCIL MEETING AND MOVING ON TO ITEM 1 0 5 C 1 4 20 25 0 1 21. THIS ITEM IS OFFERED AS AN APPLICANT POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR JULY 23RD COUNCIL MEETING. ITEM 1 0 6 IS C ONE FOUR H 20 26 0 1 3. THIS ITEM'S OFFERED AS A POSTPONEMENT BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, TO YOUR JULY 23RD COUNCIL MEETING. ITEM 1 0 7 IS NPA 20 26 0 2 1 0.01. THIS ITEM'S OFFERED AS A STAFF POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR JULY 23RD COUNCIL MEETING. THE RELATED REZONING IS ITEM 1 0 8 C 8 1 4 20 25 0 1 1 1. THIS ITEM WAS OFFERED TO STAFF POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR JULY 23RD COUNCIL MEETING. ITEM 1 0 9 IS C 1 4 20 25 0 0 8 9. THIS ITEM IS OFFERED AS A NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR JULY 23RD COUNCIL MEETING. ITEM ONE 10 IS C 1 4 20 25 0 0 8. THE SAMES OFFERED AS A, AS AN APPLICANT POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR JULY 23RD COUNCIL MEETING. AND LASTLY, ITEM ONE 11 C 8 14 20 18, 12 2 0.03. THIS SAME OFFERED AS AN APPLICANT POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR JULY 23RD COUNCIL MEETING. THIS CONCLUDES THE READING OF THE ZONING AND NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AMENDMENT PORTION OF YOUR AGENDA. AND AS ALWAYS, THIS IS AT YOUR DISCRETION MEMBERS. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, MS. HARDEN? ALRIGHT, THEN I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. AND HERE'S THE CONSENT AGENDA. ITEM NUMBER 76 AND NUMBER 77. POSTPONEMENT TO THE JULY 23RD MEETING. ITEM 78, ALL THREE READINGS. ITEM 79 ON CONSENT ITEMS 80, 81 AND 82. ALL THREE READINGS 83. A POSTPONEMENT TO JULY 23RD, ITEM 84 AND 85. ITEMS 84 AND 85. IT WILL BE OFFERED ON CONSENT. UH, THEY ONLY REQUIRE ONE READING 'CAUSE THEY RELATE TO RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS. ITEM 86 POSTPONEMENT TO JULY 23RD ITEMS 1 0 5, 1 0 6, 1 0 7, 1 0 8, 1 0 9, 1 10, AND ONE 11 POSTPONEMENTS TO JULY 23RD. EVERYBODY REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO JULY 23RD. COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL MOVES APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IT'S READ. UH, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN. I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK FOR CALLING ON SPEAKERS. THANK YOU MAYOR FOR SPEAKING. ON ITEM 80, WE HAVE WILLIAM BUNCH, ITEM 81, MEGAN KING, NOMORE, MARILYN POOLE, WEBB, MARY COLLEY, AND THEN SPEAKING. IF YOU'VE HEARD YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME FORWARD. TAKE A SEAT AND STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. AND THEN SPEAKING ON THE ITEMS, UH, THE MERITS OF POSTPONEMENT FOR ITEM 83. IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, JUST COME UP AND FIND A SEAT. WE'RE READY TO HEAR. OKAY. HELLO, I'M MEGAN KING NOMORE POLICY AND OUTREACH PLANNER FOR PRESERVATION AUSTIN. I'M HERE TO EXPRESS OUR ORGANIZATION'S [04:20:01] SUPPORT FOR ITEM 81, THE DESIGNATION OF THE HILL THOMPSON HOUSE AS A HISTORIC LANDMARK. UM, WE ARE SO PROUD AND HONORED TO HAVE WORKED WITH OUR LONGTIME FRIEND MARILYN HERE NEXT TO ME. UM, OUR ADVOCACY COMMITTEE HAS PREPARED AND WRITTEN THIS NOMINATION AND IT'S REALLY SUCH A SPECTACULAR HOUSE AND SUCH AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF AUSTIN'S ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY, BLACK HISTORY, THE PEOPLE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS HOUSE ARE INCREDIBLE. YOU HAVE TEXAS'S FIRST, UM, LICENSED BLACK ARCHITECT, JOHN CHASE WHO DESIGNED THE HOME. UM, CIVIC LEADER, BLACK CIVIC LEADER, IRENE HILL THOMPSON, MARILYN'S AUNT WHO, UH, BUILT THIS HOME FOR HERSELF. UM, IN THE WAKE OF HER HUSBAND'S PASS PASSING. OSCAR THOMPSON, WHO WAS THE FIRST BLACK GRADUATE FROM UT. AND A ZOOLOGIST. AND GENETICISTS, REALLY THE, UH, ACOLYTES OF THIS HOME. AND ITS SPECTACULAR DESIGN. YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T OVERSTATE IT. AND SO WE'RE JUST SO HONORED TO, UM, BRING THIS NOMINATION FORWARD TO YOU ALL AND WE WILL BE BRINGING MORE FORWARD THIS YEAR AND INTO THE FUTURE. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. I'M MARY KALE. UM, I'M ON THE BOARD OF PRESERVATION AUSTIN AND I CHAIR IT'S ADVOCACY COMMITTEE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN. AND I AM ALSO SPEAKING IN SUPPORT, UM, TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT HISTORIC DESIGNATION FOR THE HILL THOMPSON HOUSE. WE'RE DELIGHTED TO PARTNER WITH MARILYN PO WEBB, THE HOMES OWNER. AND AS YOU HEARD FROM MEGAN PRESERVATION AUSTIN STAFF, UH, IT'S AN IMPORTANT EXAMPLE OF THE ARCHITECTURE OF JOHN CHASE, THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN LICENSED ARCHITECT IN TEXAS. UM, AND I ALSO JUST WANT TO ADD TO THIS, THAT THE LEGACY OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT THAT THE HOME EMBODIES THROUGH, UH, MARILYN'S RELATIVES EXTENDS TO MARILYN HERSELF. UH, SHE CONTINUES TO OPEN THE HOME TO, UH, HOUSES AND EDUCATIONAL TOURS SO PEOPLE CAN LEARN ABOUT THE HOUSE, THE ARCHITECTURE, AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD. AND SHE DOES SIGNIFICANT ADVOCACY WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THROUGH A LOCAL NONPROFIT, THE CHILDREN'S HAVEN ASSOCIATION. SO FOR ALL OF THE REASONS THE FAMILY ASSOCIATIONS THE IMPORTANT AND SIGNIFICANT ARCHITECTURE AND THE ONGOING IMPACT THAT THIS, UH, RESIDENCE HAS ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND OUR CITY, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT HISTORIC LANDMARK DESIGNATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. PLEASE. HELLO, MAYOR. I'M MARILYN POOL WEBB. UM, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION OF THIS APPLICATION. UH, I ADDED TO THE PACKAGE A TOUR GUIDE THAT THE ROGERS, WASHINGTON HOLY CROSS HISTORIC DISTRICT HAS BEEN ATTEMPTING TO PUT TOGETHER FOR TOURISTS WHO COME INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. UH, I'D LIKE TO INVITE ALL OF YOU TO COME VISIT THE ROGERS, WASHINGTON NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, AND ALSO TO JOIN US AT MY HOME. I'M HAPPY TO SHARE IT. THANK YOU. WELL, THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR WHEN WE HEAR THE TESTIMONY OF WHAT YOU DO TO SERVE THE CITY. THANK YOU FOR THAT AS WELL. THANK YOU. WE LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING THE VOTE ON THIS. THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO ITEM 83. SPEAKING ON THE MERITS OF POSTPONEMENT, WE HAVE EVAN UCCI. MR. UCCI, THE ITEMS BEING POSTPONED. DO YOU STILL WISH TO SPEAK? YES. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. SHEILA LYON. DONNA OSBORNE. NO, THEY'RE ALL WA THEY'RE WAIVING AND WAIVING THE RIGHT TO SPEAK. DOUG BYRON AND PAMELA HEINZ. ANYONE, ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE MERITS OF THIS POSTPONEMENT? DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK ON THE MERITS OF THIS POSTPONEMENT? OKAY, FOR ITEM 86, SPEAKING ON THE MERITS OF POSTPONEMENT, PLEASE COME DOWN. IS THAT THE PHONE? YES, SIR. THAT'S THE PHONE. MY APOLOGIES FOR THAT. MY NAME IS DOUG BYRON. I'M A RESIDENT, 6 0 6 WESTLAND. UM, ADJACENT TO THE, UH, SUBJECT PROPERTY AT 1608 WESTLAND. UM, I'M SPEAKING, UH, ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND SOME OF THE OTHER RESIDENTS. UM, WE DELIVERED A DESERT OR SO LETTERS, UH, UH, DISPUTING, UH, OR, OR IN, IN OPPOSITION OF THE APPLICATION. UM, LORD, YESTERDAY, THOSE, THOSE LETTERS REALLY DID NOT FOLLOW THE PROPER FORM FOR PETITION. AND WE WERE ALSO ALERTED, UM, JUST YESTERDAY THAT WE, UM, ARE REQUIRED TO TURN OVER, UM, BY LAWS FOR OUR CONDO ASSOCIATION, UM, THAT DETAIL, UM, WHO CAN, WHO CANNOT SPEAK ON BEHALF OF OUR, OF OUR CONDO ASSOCIATION. UM, UM, UH, WE, [04:25:01] I WAS ALSO SPEAKING, I HAVE ON BEHALF OF MR. ROYCE GORLEY, HE'S THE OWNER OF THE, UH, WEST SIXTH STREET APARTMENTS. UM, HE ALSO WAS ALERTED YESTERDAY THAT HE, UM, WOULD NEED TO PROVIDE HIS OPERATING AGREEMENT. SO THEY SAID HE COULD REVIEW IT AND DETERMINED, UM, YEAH, WHO CAN, UM, SIGN A PETITION ON BEHALF OF HIS, UH, APARTMENT, UM, PROPERTY. UH, THE TWO OF OUR COMMUNITIES MAKE APPROXIMATELY 200, UM, INDIVIDUALS, UH, RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY, UH, RESIDENTS WHO LIVE NEXT TO THE SUBJECT PROPERTY. UM, SO, UM, WE FEEL THAT THE POSTPONEMENT IS AN ORDER HERE, UM, SO THAT WE CAN HAVE TIME TO OBTAIN THE, THE NECESSARY OPERATING AGREEMENT AND BYLAWS. UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. MOVING TO ITEM 86, WILLIAM BUNCH, SPEAKING ON THE MERITS OF POSTPONEMENT. I THINK HE'S LEFT ITEM 1 0 9 ALSO WILLIAM BUNCH, SPEAKING ON THE MERITS OF POSTPONEMENT. AND DOUGLAS KEENAN SPEAKING ON THE MERITS. A POSTPONEMENT. MR. KEENAN, I DON'T SEE YOU EITHER. ITEM ONE 11, SPEAKING ON THE MERITS OF POSTPONEMENT, SUSAN SPATARO, WILLIAM BUNCH, ZENOBIA JOSEPH. I DON'T SEE ANY OF THEM. MAYOR. ALL SPEAKERS HAVE BEEN CALLED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MEMBERS, ALL SPEAKERS HAVE BEEN CALLED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IT WAS READ AND THE MOTION WAS MADE AND SECONDED. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO ABSTAIN FROM A VOTE ON ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN RECUSING THEMSELVES FROM A VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? I'M JUST GIVING HIM EXTRA TIME. UH, , THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION AND THAT BEING THE CASE. UH, THE CON WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ADOPTED. UM, MEMBERS, I BELIEVE THAT COVERS ALL [Additional Item] OF THE ITEMS THAT ARE ON THE REGULAR SCHEDULED AGENDA FOR THIS, UH, COUNCIL MEETING FOR MAY 28TH, 2026. SO, OH, HANG ON. ONE THING WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO TODAY THAT WE HAVEN'T DONE IS DRAW FOR SEATS FOR THE NEXT, WE'RE, WE'RE AT THAT BREAK. SO BEFORE I, BEFORE I CALL AN ADJOURNMENT. AND FOR, FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, UM, THE WAY THAT THIS WORKS IS EVERY SIX MONTHS WHAT WE DO IS WE DRAW FOR DIFFERENT SEATS ON THE AGENDA. AND THE, THE NUMBERS ARE, IT'S ONE ALL THE WAY. THIS WAY THE MAYOR AND THE MAYOR, PRO TIM STAY IN THE SAME SEATS. BUT, UM, AS, AS, WHAT NUMBER DID YOU GET? 2, 2, 7 8. WHAT'D YOU GET? WILL YOU, WILL YOU DRAW FOR COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES? UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES DREW? FOUR. WILL YOU DRAW FOR COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, I'LL DRAW BACK. OKAY. FIVE. COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON. DREW. 5 1 1. 3 3 6 6. OKAY. YEAH. ALRIGHT, SO HERE'S THE DEAL. UH, WHEN WE COME BACK IN JULY, EVERYBODY WILL HAVE THEIR NEW SEATS. ALRIGHT. ANY QUESTIONS? ALRIGHT. VERY GOOD. UH, THAT DOES CONCLUDE OUR BUSINESS FOR THE THIS COUNCIL MEETING. SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL IS OBER, UH, IS ADJOURNED AT 2:27 PM THANKS EVERYBODY. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.