[00:00:04]
[Call to Order]
EVERYBODY.IT'S 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING ON AUGUST 27TH, 2026, AND I WILL CALL TO ORDER THIS, UH, REGULAR MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
UH, WE HAVE A QUORUM OF THE CITY COUNCIL PRESENT, AND WE ARE MEETING IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, WHICH ARE LOCATED IN CITY HALL AT 3 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
UM, MEMBERS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
UH, LET ME WALK THROUGH HOW THIS DAY'S GOING TO GO.
UH, WE WILL HAVE, UH, WE'RE GONNA TAKE UP ONE ITEM, UH, THAT I'VE PULLED.
THERE'S A COUPLE OF ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AND MEMBERS, THOSE ARE ITEMS 50, ITEM 56, AND ITEMS 61, ITEMS 50 56 AND 61.
WE ARE GOING TO TAKE UP ITEM 56 FIRST, AND THEN WE WILL GO TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
WHEN WE TAKE UP THE CONSENT AGENDA, WHICH IS ALL THE ITEMS EXCEPT FOR THE THREE THAT I'VE MENTIONED, UH, WE WILL HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC AND THEY, THEY WILL SPEAK ON EACH ITEM AS THE, UH, ITEM IS CALLED UP.
UH, WE WILL THEN GO TO NON-CONSENT ITEMS. THE NON-CONSENT ITEMS, WE HAVE, UH, ITEMS THAT ARE REFERRED FROM VARIOUS COUNCIL COMMITTEES.
THOSE ARE ITEM 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, AND 82.
WE THEN HAVE IMMINENT DOMAIN ITEMS 83, 84 AND 85.
WE WILL CONDUCT PUBLIC HEARINGS ON ITEMS 86, 87, 88, AND 89, WHEREVER WE ARE IN THE AGENDA AT, AT RIGHT AT NOON, AS CLOSE TO NOON AS WE CAN PULL IT OFF.
WE WILL HAVE OUR TIME, CERTAIN OF PUBLIC COMMUNICATION, AND WE WILL HAVE LIVE MUSIC.
WE WILL RECESS AT THE END OF THE PUBLIC COMMUNICATION, WHICH USUALLY HAPPENS AROUND 1230 TO 1235.
WE WILL THEN HAVE LIVE MU, WE WILL RECESS UNTIL ABOUT ONE 10.
UM, AND WE'LL COME BACK AT ONE 10, AND WE WILL FINISH OTHER ITEMS THAT ARE ON THE AGENDA.
AND OF COURSE, AS CLOSE AS WE CAN, UH, TO TWO O'CLOCK, WE HAVE A TIME CERTAIN FOR OUR ZONING ITEMS. SO WITH THAT, UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, THE ITEMS, UH, THERE ARE NO CHANGES IN CORRECTIONS TO READ INTO THE, UH, RECORD ON THE AGENDA OTHER THAN THE ITEMS THAT I'VE INDICATED THAT ARE PULLED.
AND AGAIN, THOSE ARE ITEMS 50 56 AND 61.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WILL NOW CALL UP ITEM NUMBER
[56. Approve a resolution confirming the City Manager’s appointment of Assistant Fire Chief Tom Vocke as Interim Fire Chief of Austin Fire effective September 1, 2026. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.]
56, AND ITEM NUMBER 56 IS RELATED TO THE CONFIRMATION OF THE MANAGER'S APPOINTMENT OF AN INTERIM FIRE CHIEF BEFORE WE, UH, AND, AND AS PART OF DOING THAT, WE HAVE SOME OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO, AND I WANNA RECOGNIZE THE CITY MANAGER.UH, AND MAYOR PRO TIM AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, AND MEMBERS OF THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT.
UH, TODAY WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF RECOGNIZING SOMEONE WHO'S DEVOTED NEARLY FOUR DECADES OF HIS LIFE TO PROTECTING, UH, OTHERS.
OUR FIRE CHIEF JOEL BAKER, CHIEF BAKER, AS YOU PREPARE FOR RE TO RETIRE FROM FIRE SERVICE, I WANT TO THANK YOU AND TAKE A MOMENT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO SIMPLY THANK YOU PUBLICLY FOR YOUR SERVICE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, YOUR STEADY HAND, AND MOST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR A LIFETIME OF SERVICE.
IN DECEMBER OF 2018, YOU BECAME THE CHIEF OF THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT AND MADE HISTORY AS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN TO LEAD THIS DEPARTMENT.
THAT DISTINCTION MATTERS, BUT I KNOW YOU'VE ALWAYS VIEWED IT A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY.
YOU'VE SAID THAT WHAT MATTERED TO YOU WAS NOT SIMPLY BEING THE FIRST, BUT MAKING SURE YOU WOULD NOT BE THE LAST.
THAT SAYS A GREAT DEAL ABOUT THE KIND OF LEADER THAT YOU ARE.
CHIEF, YOU'VE LED THIS DEPARTMENT THROUGH SOME EXTRAORDINARY YEARS.
YOU'VE HELPED GUIDE OUR FIREFIGHTERS THROUGH A GLOBAL PANDEMIC, SEVERE WEATHER AND NATURAL DISASTERS, AND THE EVERYDAY EMERGENCIES THAT SEEM TO NEVER STOP.
YOU ALSO UNDERSTOOD SOMETHING THAT
[00:05:01]
PUBLIC SAFETY ORGANIZATIONS HAVE NOT ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT ENOUGH, TAKING CARE OF THE PEOPLE WHO TAKE CARE OF US.UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP, MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENTS BECAME A PART OF ANNUAL MEDICAL EVALUATIONS FOR FIREFIGHTERS, AN IMPORTANT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL DEMANDS WE PLACED ON THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO ANSWER ALL THE CALLS ON THE HARDEST DAYS OF MANY PEOPLE'S LIVES.
THERE'S A PHRASE THAT YOU'RE BECOME WELL KNOWN FOR IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF CHIEF BAKER IN THOSE WORDS, GRATITUDE, OPTIMISM, PERSPECTIVE, AND AN UNDERSTANDING THAT EVEN IN A PROFESSION BUILT AROUND RESPONDING TO DIFFICULT MOMENTS, THERE'S STILL MUCH IN LIFE TO APPRECIATE CHIEF BAKKER.
AFTER 40 YEARS OF ANSWERING THE CALL, YOU'VE EARNED THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENJOY A FEW MORE HOLIDAYS AND BANQUETS, AND WE HOPE MANY GOOD FORTUNES.
SO, ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY ORGANIZATION, THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN, THANK YOU FOR THE LIVES YOU'VE TOUCHED, THE FIREFIGHTERS YOU'VE LED IN THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU'VE SERVED.
AUSTIN IS BETTER BECAUSE YOU CHOSE TO SPEND THIS CHAPTER OF YOUR CAREER WITH US.
WE WISH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, GOOD HEALTH, HAPPINESS, AND WONDERFUL YEARS AHEAD AND CHIEF FROM A GRATEFUL CITY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND GOD'S SPEED.
SOMETHING I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO DO SINCE I CAME ON AS MAYOR AND THE CHIEF HAS BEEN HERE, IS I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO BE ABLE
UH, HE KEEPS TELLING ME WE NEED MORE LADDER TRUCKS, AND NOW I UNDERSTAND WHY WE NEED MORE LADDER TRUCKS.
UM, I'M GONNA INVITE THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL.
I'M GONNA CHIEF, I'M GONNA ASK THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL AND THE MANAGER TO COME DOWN HERE AND BE PART OF THIS.
UM, THE MANAGER SAID IT SO WELL, AND I, AND I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE ANOTHER SPEECH ABOUT IT, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO DO IS RECOGNIZE YOU, UH, IN YOUR WONDERFUL YEARS OF SERVICE AND WHAT YOU'VE MEANT TO OUR CITY WITH THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD, UH, FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND, AND, AND I'LL READ THIS AND, AND PRESENT THIS TO YOU ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL.
THIS IS A CITY OF AUSTIN DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD FOR HIS UNTIRING SERVICE AND COMMITMENT TO OUR RESIDENTS DURING HIS SEVEN YEARS AND EIGHT MONTHS TENURE.
AS THE FIRE CHIEF FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN, JOEL G BAKER IS DESERVING OF PUBLIC ACCLAIM AND RECOGNITION.
THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND APPRECIATION THEREOF.
THIS 27TH DAY OF AUGUST IN THE YEAR 2026, SIGNED BY ME AS MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL, AND THEY JOIN ME IN PRESENTING THIS TO YOU.
YOU KNOW, THE, THE MANAGER SAID A LOT OF WHAT ALL OF US FEEL IN OUR HEARTS ABOUT YOU.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANNA SAY, AND I THINK I SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THIS ROOM AND, AND THAT, THAT HAVE COME ACROSS YOU AND KNOW YOU, THANK YOU DEEPLY FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE.
BUT ON TOP OF ALL THAT, THANK YOU FOR JUST BEING A GOOD GUY.
AND SOMEBODY THAT WE JUST LOVE TO BE AROUND.
YOU'VE BEEN A GREAT PUBLIC SERVANT.
WE WISH YOU THE BEST IN RETIREMENT, AND, AND I PERSONALLY WISH YOU A LOT OF GREAT TIME ON THAT MOTORCYCLE.
UH, I DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT TO SAY SURPRISINGLY, BUT THANK YOU ALL TO THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN.
THANK YOU TO THE LEADERSHIP OF AUSTIN.
UH, MORE IMPORTANTLY, THANK TO THE, THE HEROIC, BRAVE WOMEN AND MEN OF THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO DO COME TO WORK EVERY DAY AND PUT THEMSELF IN HAM'S WAY.
UH, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SERVE AS YOUR FIRE CHIEF ALONG WITH OUR CIVILIAN STAFF IN AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT.
UH, WITHOUT OFFICER CIVILIANS DEATH, THERE WOULD BE NO ONE GETTING PAID, NO BENEFITS BEING ISSUED OUT AND ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
UH, BUT BEFORE I LEAVE, UH, I DO HAVE
[00:10:01]
SOME, UH, PERSONAL THANK YOUS.I LIKE TO GIVE, UH, TO MY DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, MY ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.
THEY CAN COME UP REAL QUICKLY HERE.
UH, UM, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL, UH, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER FOR, UH, YOUR LEADERSHIP AND FOR ALWAYS, UH, GIVING ME WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND JUST REALLY LEADING THE WAY.
UH, I WANNA PRESENT YOU WITH A, A TOKEN OF APPRECIATION, UH, FOR MYSELF SAID THANK YOU.
UH, AND ALSO FOR THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.
UH, WE HAD A SHORT TIME TOGETHER, AND I KNOW YOU WAS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND I SAW ON CNN THIS MORNING, SO EVERY LAW ENFORCEMENT CHIEF, THAT'S A FIRE CHIEF TRYING TO GET OUT.
SO DIEGO, YOU ARE ASKED ASS AS WELL.
AND, UH, UH, FOR THE CITY MANAGER, SIR, UH, YOU HAVE REALLY, UH, REALLY DEMONSTRATION STRONG LEADERSHIP HERE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR KIND WORDS AND THE PHONE CALLS, THE, YOU CHECK ON ME.
UM, UH, AND THE TIME I SPEND WITH YOU IS JUST, I JUST CANNOT SAY ENOUGH FOR, FOR BEING AN OUTSTANDING CITY MANAGER.
I WANNA PRESENT YOU WITH THIS SPEAKING, UH, TRUMPET HERE.
SO WHENEVER YOU WANT TO SHOUT AT THE FIREFIGHTER, JUST BLOW INTO IT AND, UH, UH,
UH, BUT, BUT THE, THE TRUMPET REPRESENT LEADERSHIP.
YOU KNOW, EVERY FIRE CHIEF HAVE A TRUMPET A BE ON THEIR CALL.
IT IS REPRESENT LEADERSHIP, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP, UH, AND, AND, AND FI FINALLY, UH, MR. MAYOR, UM, THE, THE, YOU ALWAYS QUIT TO ANSWER THE ALARM WHENEVER, WHENEVER A FIREFIGHTER IS INJURED OR ILL, YOU, YOU, YOU'LL CALL ME, YOU, YOU CHECK ON THE FIREFIGHTERS DURING THE DISASTER.
YOU MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE RESOURCES WE NEED.
SO I WANNA PRESENT YOU WITH THIS BELL THAT YOU CAN ALWAYS RING, AND WE'LL BE THERE RUNNING, STANDING BY IF YOU NEED ANYTHING FROM THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT.
SO, THANK YOU ALL THANKS TO ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THANKS TO ALL THE SERVICE FOR YOUR TIME.
APPRECIATE YOU VERY MUCH, CHIEF.
LET'S GIVE HIM ANOTHER RECOGNITION.
SO MEMBERS, THAT LEADS TO, UM, THE ADDITIONAL WORK WE'RE GOING TO DO ON ITEM NUMBER 56.
UH, AS WE CELEBRATE AND HONOR, UH, THE RETIRING CHIEF, UH, WE NOW ARE IN A SITUA A SITUATION WHERE WE NEED TO LOOK AT ITEM NUMBER 56, WHICH IS THE PROPOSED APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION CONFIRMING THE CITY MANAGER'S APPOINTMENT OF ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF TOM VOKEY IS THE INTERIM FIRE CHIEF OF THE AUSTIN FIRE OF AUSTIN FIRE EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2026.
I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE ANYBODY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
UH, SO WITH THAT, UH, I'LL ENTERTAIN THE, THE, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION AND A SECOND.
THE MOTION IS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, AND IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ TO APPROVE THIS RESOLUTION, CONFIRMING THIS INTERIM, THIS APPOINTMENT, UH, OF THE INTERIM FIRE CHIEF.
IS THERE DISCUSSION, HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.
UH, THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.
THIRD, YOU SAY CHIEF, CHIEF VOKEY, UM, I'M GONNA RECOGNIZE
[00:15:01]
THE MANAGER, BUT THEN I'M GONNA RECOGNIZE YOU IF YOU WANNA SAY ANYTHING, AND YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES.NOW, I, I WILL KEEP THIS BRIEF.
UH, CHIEF VOKEY, FIRST OF ALL, CONGRATULATIONS.
I LOOK FORWARD, UH, TO YOUR LEADERSHIP DURING THIS INTERIM PERIOD.
UH, YOU'VE GOT BIG SHOES TO FILL, BUT I HAVE NO DOUBT, UH, THAT, UH, GIVEN THE LEADERSHIP OF CHIEF BAKER, THAT YOU ARE PREPARED AND READY TO TAKE THE BATON, UH, UNTIL, IN FACT, WE DETERMINE WHO THE NEXT CHIEF OF FIRE WILL BE FOR THIS CITY.
BUT AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING WILLING TO STEP OFF AND I LOOK FORWARD, UH, TO WORKING WITH YOU DURING THIS INTERIM PERIOD.
BIG BIG ACT TO FOLLOW AND FILL IN THOSE SIZE 15 SHOES.
IT'S NOT GONNA BE EASY, FOR SURE.
UM, UH, I, I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO SERVE THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
I'VE BEEN HERE FOR 29 YEARS, AND, UM, NEVER IMAGINED I'D BE SITTING IN THIS SEAT, BUT AM VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
WE HAVE A, AN OUTSTANDING FIRE DEPARTMENT FULL OF, UH, AMAZING MEMBERS THAT DO GREAT WORK FOR THIS COMMUNITY, EXCITED TO REMAIN A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY AND, AND KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK THAT CHIEF BAKER AND THE CHIEFS BEFORE HIM HAVE PUSHED TO, TO MAKE THIS A GREAT DEPARTMENT.
THANK YOU ALL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, TO CONTINUING TO, UH, MAKE THINGS BETTER.
WELL, CHIEF, THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL, WE ALL THANK YOU FOR BEING WILLING TO STEP INTO THIS POSITION.
WE THANK THE MANAGER FOR PUTTING YOU IN THE POSITION TO DO THIS.
UM, BUT YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE MEANS A LOT TO US, AND THIS, THIS CREATES A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY, UH, TODAY WITH, WITH, UH, US CELEBRATING CHIEF BAKER AND CELEBRATING YOUR COMING IN AS THE INTERIM FIRE CHIEF TO SAY AGAIN, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND THE PEOPLE THAT KEEP US SAFE.
UH, WE WE'RE DEEPLY APPRECIATIVE AND THIS COUNCIL, UH, WANTS TO EMPHASIZE HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL.
[Consent Agenda]
TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.UH, WE WILL COME BACK AND TAKE UP ITEMS 50 AND 61 AFTER THE CONSENT AGENDA, BUT, UH, I WILL TURN TO OUR CITY CLERK AND ASK THAT THE CITY CLERK BEGIN THE PROCESS OF CALLING ON PUBLIC SPEAKERS FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA.
STARTING WITH ITEM ONE, ZENOBIA JOSEPH ON DECK FOR TWO.
I HAVE PAT VOS, SHE SIGNED UP FOR ITEM THREE AS WELL, PAT.
THANK YOU, MAYOR, IS THERE AN OPTION FOR ME TO SPEAK AFTER THE REMOTE SPEAKERS? WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD AND SPEAK NOW? OKAY, THANK YOU.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT THREE, AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON ANIMAL SERVICES BUDGET.
UM, ITEM TWO IS FOR, UH, AUTHORIZING THE NEGOTIATION EXECUTION OF AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH TRAVIS COUNTY SO THAT TRAVIS COUNTY WILL PAY THE CITY $3.7 MILLION FOR SERVICES PROVIDED TO, UM, COUNTY RESIDENTS, UH, ANIMAL SERVICES.
ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT I HAVE TRIED TO WORK ON WITH THE COUNTY IS PUTTING MORE MONEY INTO SPAY NEUTER, WHICH I BELIEVE THIS ALLOWS US TO DO, IS TO HAVE MORE MONEY FOR SPAY NEUTER.
HOWEVER, UM, THERE ARE STILL SOME ISSUES WITH HOW THE SPAY NEUTER MONEY IS SPENT, AND I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, BRING THAT TO YOUR ATTENTION AND ALSO MENTION THAT THIS BUDGET, THIS BUDGET ISSUE, WAS NOT DISCUSSED AT AN ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING.
AND I REALLY REGRET THAT BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THERE ARE TWO, WELL, THERE'S ONE MEMBER OF THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION WHO WAS APPOINTED BY THE COUNTY, AND THERE'S ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION WHO IS ABOUT TO START.
SHE HASN'T REPLACED SOMEONE WHO LEFT, AND THEY DID NOT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN ON WHAT DOES THIS BUDGET DO, WHAT ARE THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES RELATED TO SPAY NEUTER, OPEN INTAKE? AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS ISSUE DISCUSSED AT THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING.
NOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU AUTHORIZE NEGOTIATION EXECUTION, WHICH MEANS THAT YOU ARE AUTHORIZING
[00:20:01]
THE STAFF TO MOVE FORWARD AND TALK TO THE COUNTY.I AM REQUESTING THAT YOU BRING IT BACK AND YOU BRING IT BACK, HOPEFULLY, WITH A RECOMMENDATION BY THE, UM, ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION TO HAVE, UH, INPUT ON IT.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM THREE? YES, PLEASE.
UH, AGAIN, MY NAME IS PAT REES AGAIN.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT THREE, AND AGAIN, I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON THE ANIMAL SERVICES BUDGET.
THIS ITEM IS SPECIFICALLY $190,000 THAT THE COUNTY WILL REMOVE FROM WHAT USED TO BE, YOU KNOW, AN ENTIRE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT AND HAVE A SEPARATE ONE.
AND THAT IS GREAT 'CAUSE THAT WAY WE CAN MONITOR HOW THAT, UM, $190,000 IS SPENT.
MY PREFERENCE WOULD BE THAT EVEN MORE THAN THE 3.7 MILLION GO TOWARDS SPAY NEUTER AND BE DEDICATED TOWARDS THAT, AND THAT YOU HAVE SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE MEASURES FOR HOW MANY ANIMALS, AND IN PARTICULAR, HOW MANY LARGE FEMALE DOGS WILL BE SPAYED OR NEUTERED WITH THIS MONEY.
WE HAVE WAY TOO MANY LARGE DOGS AT THE SHELTER, AND IF YOU WALK THROUGH THERE, IT IS HEARTBREAKING HOW MANY LARGE DOGS THERE ARE.
AND WE KEEP FUNDING SPAY NEUTER, BUT THE EASIEST ANIMALS TO SPAY AND NEUTER ARE CATS.
I AM VERY SUPPORTIVE OF SPAY AND NEUTER AND CATS.
BUT WHEN YOU HAVE A LOT OF MONEY AND YOU WANNA USE IT THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY POSSIBLE, PLEASE TRY TO LOOK AT HOW MUCH WE'RE SPENDING ON LARGE FEMALE DOGS, HOW LONG IT TAKES TO GET AN APPOINTMENT, AND HOW WE CAN USE THAT TO LOWER INTAKE AND DO A BETTER JOB.
IF I HAVE A MINUTE LEFT, I ALSO WANNA JUST COMMENT ON THE, UM, $3 MILLION FOR THE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION.
I THINK THAT'S GREAT THAT Y'ALL DID THAT.
THERE'S A BROKEN WASHING MACHINE THAT BREAKS DOWN ALL THE TIME.
THERE'S A BROKEN DISHWASHER, AND I HEAR RECENTLY THERE WAS A BROKEN ANIMAL AIR CONDITIONER IN CERTAIN KENNELS.
WHY CAN'T WE JUST GO AHEAD AND PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL SOMEBODY AND FIX THE DISHWASHER, BUY A NEW DISHWASHER OUTTA THAT $3 MILLION, AND ALSO FIX THE AIR CONDITIONING.
THANK YOU FOR ITEM FOUR, PHILLIP FITZGERALD, AND THEN ON DECK ITEM 10, WILLIAM BUNCH.
BEFORE WE GO TO, BEFORE WE GO TO ITEM 10, I'M GONNA CALL UP LEGAL ON ITEM SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, AND NINE, SIR.
SORRY, I MISSED YOU GUYS ON TUESDAY.
YEAH, SO I SPOKE TO THIS, UM, PARTICULAR SUBJECT A FEW WEEKS AGO, THE REMOVAL OF OUR MURALS IN AUSTIN.
UM, SO I SEE ANOTHER ONE COMING DOWN, AND IT, IT ELICIT SOME ANGER FROM ME BECAUSE I, I SEE THESE, THESE CONSTANT ATTACKS FROM, FROM OUR FANTASTIC GOVERNOR OF TEXAS.
UH, AND IT, IT, IT'S UPSETTING BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE SO MANY PEOPLE HERE JUST EITHER DON'T WANNA RESPOND TO THE ATTACKS OR DON'T MIND THAT THEY'RE HAPPENING AT ALL.
AND YEAH, MAYBE TO SOME PEOPLE THESE MURALS ARE, ARE SMALL DONUTS.
UM, BUT I SEE IT AS AN EROSION OF OUR CULTURE AND, UH, THE THINGS THAT THE PEOPLE IN OUR CITY FIND AND HOLD DEAR.
AND IT'S NOT WITH JUST THE MURALS, IT'S WITH, WE SEE HEALTHCARE, YOU KNOW, WE SEE CHILDCARE, WE SEE THE GROCERIES.
WE, I, YOU KNOW, I LOOK AT ALL THESE ITEMS. WE GOT A HUNDRED AND SOMETHING ITEMS, 116 ITEMS, AND I DON'T SEE ANY POLICIES, ANY ATTEMPT TO CREATE ANY PROGRAMS FOR THE WORKING PEOPLE OF THIS CITY.
YOU KNOW, IF I WANTED TO DRIVE TO NORTH AUSTIN RIGHT NOW, IT WOULD TAKE ME 20 MINUTES IN MY CAR, BUT IF I TOOK A BUS RIDE, IT WOULD TAKE AN HOUR AND 20 MINUTES.
AND I'VE SPOKEN TO THE, YOU KNOW, ILLUSION OF CHOICE THAT WE HAVE IN THE CITY WHERE WE OFFER SO MANY CHOICES, BUT MOST OF 'EM DON'T WORK VERY WELL.
SO YES, IT'S JUST A MURAL, BUT I HAVE TO ASK WHY A CITY COUNCIL WANTS TO CONSISTENTLY BEND THE NEED TO GREG ABBOTT, HE'S FLAILING RIGHT NOW UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP.
OUR STATE HAS GOTTEN WORSE EVERY YEAR.
I APPRECIATE THAT SIGH, MAYOR WATSON.
UM, BUT I SEE SO MANY PEOPLE STRUGGLING.
I SEE PEOPLE, I KNOW PEOPLE IN AUSTIN THAT ARE HAVING TO GET BY BY EATING PEANUT BUTTER SEVERAL TIMES A DAY.
AND I WANT TO SEE MORE ACTION OF HOW WE ARE GONNA IDENTIFY THOSE PROBLEMS FOR THOSE PEOPLE AND PROVIDE BETTER FOR THEM.
AND THAT INCLUDES GETTING MORE BUSES ON THE ROAD, THAT INCLUDES HELPING OUR TEACHERS AFFORD THE THINGS IN THEIR CLASSROOMS. THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO GO IN THEIR POCKETS AND PAY FOR SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND NOT BEING REIMBURSED.
AND I KNOW AI ISD IS SEPARATE FROM AUSTIN, BUT WE CAN STEP IN AND HELP
[00:25:01]
THESE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN OUR CITY MEMBERS ON ITEM 6, 7, 8, 9.THOSE ARE POTENTIAL SETTLEMENTS.
AND SO I'M GOING TO ASK, UH, THE LAW DEPARTMENT TO, UH, MAKE A PRESENTATION.
AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, YOU'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK THEM.
MORNING MAYOR, MAYOR PROTI, COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'M ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY JEREMY THOMPSON.
I'M HERE TODAY TO RECOMMEND THAT YOU APPROVE SETTLEMENT PAYMENTS BASED UPON THE FOLLOWING TERMS IN FOUR DIFFERENT PERSONAL INJURY LAWSUITS THAT APPEAR ON THE AGENDA TODAY AS ITEM 6, 7, 8, AND NINE.
THE FIRST ITEM IS NUMBER SIX, YET VERSUS CITY OF AUSTIN.
UH, WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU APPROVE A PAYMENT OF $345,000 TO SETTLE THE BRANDON YET RUN SHE YET, AND UNIQUE SHANKLIN AS NEXT FRIEND OF TRUE HARVEY, A MINOR VERSUS CITY OF AUSTIN LAW LAWSUIT.
THIS LAWSUIT RELATES TO A NOVEMBER 20, 23 MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT INVOLVING AN AUSTIN WATER VEHICLE WHERE THE PLAINTIFFS SEEK PAYMENT FOR INJURIES THEY ALLEGEDLY SUSTAINED IN EXCHANGE FOR THE PAYMENT.
THE PLAINTIFFS WILL RELEASE ANY AND ALL CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY OF AUSTIN FROM THIS INCIDENT AND WILL ALSO DISMISS WITH PREJUDICE THEIR LAWSUIT FILED IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF TRAVIS COUNTY.
THE SECOND ITEM IS NUMBER SEVEN ON YOUR AGENDA, SAGE VERSUS CITY OF AUSTIN.
WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU APPROVE A PAYMENT OF $309,500 TO SETTLE THE SINFUL NATHAN RAJ INDIVIDUALLY AND HIS NEXT FRIEND OF A NA MINOR VERSUS CITY OF AUSTIN LAWSUIT.
THIS LAWSUIT RELATES TO A DECEMBER, 2023 MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT INVOLVING AN AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT VEHICLE WHERE THE PLAINTIFFS SEEK PAYMENT FOR INJURIES THEY ALLEGEDLY SUSTAINED.
THE PLAINTIFFS WILL RELEASE ANY AND ALL CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY AND WILL ALSO DISMISS WITH PREJUDICE THEIR LAWSUIT FILED IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF TRAVIS COUNTY.
NEXT IS ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, UH, JONES VERSUS CITY OF AUSTIN.
WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU APPROVE A PAYMENT OF $137,500 TO SETTLE THE CODY JONES, TIFFANY JONES INDIVIDUALLY, AND HIS NEXT FRIEND OF MJ, A MINOR VERSUS CITY OF AUSTIN LAWSUIT.
THIS LAWSUIT RELATES TO A FEBRUARY 20, 25 MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT INVOLVING AN AUSTIN FACILITIES MANAGEMENT VEHICLE WHERE THE PLAINTIFFS SEEK PAYMENT FOR INJURIES THEY ALLEGEDLY SUSTAINED IN EXCHANGE FOR THE PAYMENT.
THE PLAINTIFFS WILL RELEASE ANY AND ALL CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY FROM THIS INCIDENT AND WILL ALSO DISMISS WITH PREJUDICE THEIR LAWSUIT FILED IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF TRAVIS COUNTY.
AND LAST IS ITEM NUMBER NINE, HERRON GOZO VERSUS CITY OF AUSTIN.
WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU APPROVE A PAYMENT OF $279,500 TO SETTLE THE T HARRAN GAZO AND ELISA RA MOVA VERSUS CITY OF AUSTIN ET ALL LAWSUIT.
THIS LAWSUIT RELATES TO A DECEMBER, 2023 MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT INVOLVING AN AUSTIN RESOURCE RECOVERY VEHICLE WHERE THE PLAINTIFF SEEK PAYMENT FOR INJURIES THEY ALLEGEDLY SUSTAINED IN EXCHANGE FOR THE PAYMENT.
THE PLAINTIFF WILL RELEASE ANY AND ALL CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY FROM THIS INCIDENT AND WILL ALSO DISMISS WITH PREJUDICE THEIR LAWSUIT FILED IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF TRAVIS COUNTY.
I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
MEMBERS YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF LEGAL STAFF ON ITEMS 6, 7, 8, 9.
UH, IF YOU PLEASE GO TO THE NEXT ITEM YES, FOR ITEM 10, WILLIAM BUNCH.
AND THEN FOR ITEM 11, I HAVE JEFF DICKERSON, WILLIAM BUNCH, ZENOBIA, JOSEPH AND KATIE CAMP.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL BILL BUNCH.
UH, DISTRICT FIVE, FORMER LONG-TERM MEMBER OF THE YOUR TOURISM COMMISSION AND, UH, SELF-TAUGHT EXPERT ON LOCAL TOURISM AND THE CONVENTION CENTER PROJECT.
UH, THIS ITEM CALLS FOR YOU TO APPROVE SOME HISTORIC ZONING, UH, ON PROPERTY ADJACENT TO THE CONVENTION CENTER AS PART OF THAT LARGER PROJECT.
UM, THERE'S A WHOLE LOT MISSING HERE.
I'M JUST GONNA READ THE FIRST SENTENCE OF THE ADDITIONAL BACKUP.
THE SCOPE OF THE EXPANSION AND REDEVELOPMENT OF THE AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER HAS CHANGED, AND THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT CHILLING PLANT NUMBER FOUR, THAT WAS TO BE LOCATED ON THE RE PROPOSED REZONE TRACK, IS NO LONGER NEEDED BY AUSTIN ENERGY.
THERE'S BEEN NO INFORMATION TO YOU OR THE PUBLIC ABOUT HOW THE CONVENTION CENTER PROJECT HAS CHANGED, OR SPECIFICALLY HOW IT'S CHANGED RELATIVE TO THE CHILLING PLANT.
NOW, IF Y'ALL RECALL, THE FIRST TIME YOU WERE TOLD AT THE OFFICIAL UNVEILING, WHICH WAS REALLY JUST A BUNCH OF SKETCHES AND WASN'T A REAL UNVEILING BY LARRY SPECK, THE LEAD ARCHITECT, THE FIRST WORDS OUT OF HIS MOUTH WAS,
[00:30:01]
THIS IS THE FIRST ZERO CARBON CONVENTION CENTER IN THE WHOLE WORLD.THERE'S NO INFORMATION WHATSOEVER EVER TO SUPPORT THAT, BUT PART OF THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY THAT THEY WERE TRYING TO HYPE WAS THAT WE WERE GONNA HAVE A CHILLING PLANT.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT'S NOW COMPLETELY GONE AND NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT IT.
AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE PROJECT? WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR ITS CLIMATE IMPACT? Y'ALL NEED TO ASK THESE QUESTIONS.
YOU NEED TO BE GETTING MONTHLY REPORTS THAT ARE FOR THE PUBLIC PROGRESS REPORTS ON HOW WE'RE SPENDING, HOW WE'RE DOING, AND HOW MUCH OVER BUDGET WE ARE.
THIS IS JUST ONE ITEM OF THAT LARGER PICTURE WHERE EVERYBODY'S BEING KEPT IN THE DARK, INCLUDING EVERY ONE OF YOU.
MR. RICHARDSON, JEFF DICKERSON, DISTRICT FIVE.
UH, THIS IS COMMENT AND A QUESTION ABOUT TRANSPARENCY.
THERE IS A FIGURE OF $7.5 MILLION, WHICH IS JUST NOT MONEY COMING FROM THE CONVENTION CENTER OPERATING BUDGET.
IT IS ACTUALLY A PIECE THAT IS GROWING AT THE SHARE OF THE TOTAL FUNDING, EVEN THOUGH THE CITY'S OVERALL COMMITMENT TO AC BB SHRINKS.
SO THE QUESTION I HAVE ABOUT THIS FUNDING, IF ANY COUNCIL MEMBER KNOWS, OR STAFF OR MAYOR KNOWS, IS, IS THIS A DURABLE SHIP, A ONE YEAR PATCH, AND WHAT ELSE IS IT DISPLACING ELSEWHERE IN THE A CD OPERATING BUDGET? DO ANY OF YOU GUYS KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION? WE'LL GET SOMEBODY FROM CITY STAFF TO COME IN AND TALK TO YOU INDIVIDUALLY SO THAT WE'RE NOT SPENDING TIME, UM, ANSWERING.
THAT'S MY QUESTION FOR, WE'LL, WE'LL GET SOMEBODY TO COME AND GET YOU AN ANSWER.
THANK YOU MR. BUNCH ON ITEM 11.
YES, THANK YOU AGAIN, MAYOR COUNCIL BILL BUNCH ON ITEM 11.
THIS IS, UH, FOR THE AUSTIN CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR.
UH, LOOKING FORWARD FIVE YEARS FOR PROMOTION OF TOURISM AND THE CONVENTION CENTER.
UH, YOU ALLEGEDLY HAVE A MARKETING PLAN HERE AND A BUDGET HERE.
THERE'S NO DETAILS WHATSOEVER.
IT'S ALL JUST PURE FLUFF AND GENERAL, UH, PROJECTS.
UM, MOST IMPORTANT THOUGH, THERE'S NOT A SINGLE PROVISION HERE THAT REQUIRES VISIT AUSTIN DBA VISIT AUSTIN, AUSTIN VENTURE VISITORS BUREAU TO SPEND THIS $20 MILLION PAYING LOCAL TALENT AND LOCAL COMPANIES, A VP PEOPLE, MUSICIANS, ARTISTS, UH, FILMMAKERS, MARKETING PEOPLE, UM, AND INSTEAD IT'S WIDE OPEN FOR THEM TO DO WHAT THEY'VE DONE IN SPADES IN THE PAST IS GO TO DALLAS OR SOMEWHERE ELSE AND HIRE THEIR BUDDIES WHERE THE MONEY DOES NOTHING FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.
YOU'RE STEALING ALMOST ALL OF THIS ENORMOUS PILE OF MONEY OF THE HOT TAX FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER.
THE LEAST YOU COULD DO IS EARMARK THE MARKETING AND PROMOTIONS MONEY FOR LOCAL ARTISTS, LOCALLY OWNED COMPANIES THAT DO MARKETING AND PROMOTIONS THAT KNOW AUSTIN BETTER THAN ANYBODY ELSE FROM DALLAS OR SOMEWHERE ELSE.
SHOW US THAT YOU ACTUALLY GIVE A S**T ABOUT LOCAL BUSINESS AND LOCAL ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT.
THANK YOU FOR ITEM 12, WILLIAM BUNGE, AND THEN ITEM 15, JEFF D. DICKERSON, AND WILLIAM BUNGE.
OKAY, UH, BILL BUNCH, AGAIN, DISTRICT FIVE FORMER TOURISM COMMISSION.
THIS ITEM IS CALLING FOR, UH, PAYING TO KLRU, UH, OUT OF THE CONVENTION CENTER BUDGET TO PROMOTE AND SPONSOR THE AUSTIN CITY LIMITS TELEVISION SERIES.
UH, NOW THAT'S PROBABLY A GOOD EXPENDITURE, BUT LET'S THINK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE SAYING HERE.
YOUR STAFF, YOU YOURSELVES, HAVE BEEN TELLING THIS COMMUNITY, WE CAN'T SPEND THE HOT TAX SUPPORTING LOCAL MUSICIANS AND ARTISTS.
IT HAS TO GO TO THE CONVENTION CENTER.
WELL, THAT'S FALSE, BUT HERE YOU HAVE IT IN BLACK AND WHITE.
IT'S THE CONVENTION CENTER MONEY PAYING FOR A TV SERIES THAT MOSTLY FEATURES
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MUSICIANS AND ARTISTS THAT ARE WAY OUTSIDE AUSTIN CITY LIMITS, BUT YOU CAN'T SPEND IT OR EARMARK OR REQUIRE IT TO BE SPENT ON LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCTION.SERIOUSLY, THIS IS MONEY CONVENTION CENTER MONEY GOING FOR PROMOTIONS TO FUND MOSTLY TOURING BANDS ON THE LIVE NATION TICKETMASTER ARTIST LIST, THE GLOBAL MONOPOLY, UM, THAT IS WREAKING HAVOC ON OUR COMMUNITY, UH, ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS.
PLEASE WAKE UP AND DO YOUR JOB, SHOW A LITTLE BIT OF STEWARDSHIP, LIVE A LITTLE BIT TO YOUR OWN WORDS THAT YOU CARE ABOUT AND SUPPORT LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT, LOCAL MUSIC, AND USE THE MONEY THE WAY IT SHOULD BE SPENT.
YES, MS. CAM, YOUR NAME WAS CALLED ON ITEM 11, SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 11.
HI, I'M KATIE CAM, LONGTIME AUSTIN RESIDENT THAT ENJOYS SWING, LINDY HOP AND COUNTRY DANCING TO LIVE MUSIC IN AUSTIN.
I'M SPEAKING AGAINST THIS ITEM, ITEM 11.
BECAUSE THE PROPOSED MARKETING PLAN AND AMOUNTS BUDGETED FOR VISIT AUSTIN NEED TO BE REVISED TO SUPPORT THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE AUSTIN A VIBRANT PLACE FOR MUSIC, ARTS, AND CULTURE.
AUSTIN BECAME AUSTIN'S LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD BECAUSE OF DECADES OF TALENT PUTTING AUSTIN ON THE MAP, AND YET OUR MARKETED REPUTATION RESTS ON MUSICIANS AND ARTISTS THAT BARELY SURVIVE.
ACCORDING TO HEALTH ALLIANCE FOR AUSTIN MUSICIANS, 75% OF THEIR MEMBERS MAKE LESS THAN $30,000 A YEAR.
AND SOME ARE NOTED AS HOMELESS.
AS AUSTIN REMAINS UNAFFORDABLE AND OUR CREATIVE CLASS STRUGGLING, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE ANY MARKETING PLAN PUTS MUSIC, ARTS AND CULTURE FRONT AND CENTER.
I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW ISSUES WITH THE MARKETING PLAN THAT WARRANT A REWRITE.
FIRST, THE MARKETING PLAN DOES NOT MENTION THE PHRASE CULTURAL DESTINATION.
I WAS QUITE SHOCKED TO SEE THAT, AND I ALSO SEE THAT VISIT.
AUSTIN WEBSITE ALSO DOES NOT MENTIONING ONLY BUSINESS AND LEISURE DESTINATION.
THE MARKETING STRATEGY SHOULD FOCUS ON THE MUSICIAN, ARTISTS, CREATIVES, LOCAL BUSINESSES, AND OTHER UNIQUE ASPECTS OF AUSTIN THAT MAKE AUSTIN A CULTURAL DESTINATION TO JOIN THE RANKS OF MEXICO CITY, PARIS, AND LONDON.
THE HOTEL TAX REVENUE CAN ABSOLUTELY BE USED TO SUPPORT OUR MUSICIANS AND ARTISAN AUSTIN'S CULTURE.
MORE SADLY, ACCORDING TO THE MARKETING PLAN, ONLY $256,000 WAS PAID TO MUSICIANS A SMALL FRACTION OF THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT VISIT AUSTIN SPENDS.
THE MARKETING PLAN SAYS, WE HAVE ESTABLISHED ALWAYS ON MARKETING STRATEGIES THAT HELP PROTECT HOTEL REVENUES AND KEEP AUSTIN COMPETITIVE ON A GLOBAL STAGE.
THE FOCUS SHOULD NOT BE ON HOTEL REVENUE.
THE FOCUS SHOULD BE ON THE WHY PEOPLE COME TO AUSTIN, NOT THE HOTEL REVENUE, WHICH IS THE CONSEQUENCE OF PEOPLE VOTING TO AUSTIN.
I ENCOURAGE Y'ALL TO CONSIDER WHAT IRELAND DID.
THEY IMPLEMENTED A PROGRAM CALLED BASIC INCOME FOR THE ARTS BECAUSE THEY RECOGNIZE THAT PAYING A LIVABLE SALARY TO THE ARTIST AND MUSICIAN SUPPORTS IRELAND'S TOURISM ECONOMY.
PLEASE REWRITE THE MARKETING PLAN AND INDICATE MORE OF THE HOTEL TAX REVENUE TO OUR CREATIVES.
THIS IS ITEM NUMBER 15, JEFF DICKERSON, DISTRICT FIVE.
WE'RE SPENDING BORROWING ALMOST $339 MILLION OF TAX EXEMPT BONDS AND FINANCING FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND BUILDINGS FOR TAXPAYERS LIKE ME AND OTHERS.
THIS COME OUT OF 648 BILLION, MILLION DOLLARS THAT WE WILL BE BORROWING THIS UPCOMING CYCLE.
BUT LET'S BE HONEST ABOUT WHAT WE'RE REALLY PAYING.
WE'RE REALLY PAYING CLOSER TO $1.2 BILLION WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE FOR TAXPAYERS, THIS MONEY IS COMING FROM THE GENERAL OBLIGATION SERVICE FUND, WHICH IS FUNDED BY OUR PROPERTY TAXES.
SO EVERY TIME YOU ISSUE BONDS GOS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, TAXPAYERS HAVE TO BACKFILL THIS.
THE MORE YOU DO THIS, THE MORE THE TAX PROPERTY TAXPAYERS PAY EACH YEAR, AND THE CITY IS BORROWING MONEY NOW AND PAYING BACK WITH INTEREST.
WE NEED TO BE A LITTLE SMARTER ABOUT HOW WE FUND THESE THINGS.
MOVING ON TO ITEM 16, JEFF DICKERSON AND WILLIAM BUNCH.
MR. BUNCH, ARE YOU GONNA BE SPEAKING? JEFF DICKERSON, DISTRICT FIVE.
HERE WE HAVE ANOTHER $57 MILLION OF TAXABLE
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BONDS.NOW WHAT'S DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS VERSUS 15 IS THESE ARE TAXABLE BONDS, NOT TAX EXEMPT BONDS.
THIS IS NOT SAVING THE TAXPAYER ANY MONEY BECAUSE THE CITY IS NOW FORCED TO PAY A HIGHER INTEREST RATE.
HOW DOES THIS SERVE THE TAXPAYERS WHEN YOU DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS? THIS IS NOT A SMART USE OF THE MONEY.
MAYBE I DON'T HAVE ALL THE FINANCIAL ACUMEN, BUT THIS DOESN'T SEEM TO MAKE SENSE.
AGAIN, THIS $67 MILLION IS COMING OUT AT A TOTAL OF $648 MILLION OF NEW BORROWING, WHICH WE KNOW IS NOT TRUE.
IT IS CLOSER TO $1.2 MILLION WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE.
ALL THIS FUNDING IS BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN TAXPAYERS.
THIS IS OUR MONEY THAT YOU'RE USING.
I WAS SIGNED UP ON 15 AS WELL AS 16.
I DIDN'T HEAR MY NAME CALLED COME 15 AND YOU CAN SPEAK ON 16 AND YOU SIGNED UP ON 17 AND 18 AND 19 AS WELL.
SOME OF THIS ALL LUMPED TOGETHER, SO WELL, I THOUGHT YOU DIDN'T LIKE DOING THAT, BUT NOT TO WORRY.
WELL, I LIKE TO DO IT WHEN IT'S MY ELECTION.
WELL, YOUR TIME'S RUNNING, SO GO AHEAD, VIOLATION.
I'M GIVING YOU THE OPPORTUNITY.
I THOUGHT I WAS, BUT I, YOU EVEN ARGUE WITH ME WHEN I GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY.
I AM, BUT YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, GO AHEAD.
WE'RE LISTENING, SO I'M HAPPY WE'RE LISTENING.
WELL, I START HIS TIME SO HE, HE FEELS COMFORTABLE.
COUNCIL MEMBERS BILL BUNCH, UH, SPEAKING AS A DISTRICT FIVE RESIDENT TAXPAYER FOR MANY DECADES.
UM, THIS ITEM 15 IS $339 MILLION OF REFUNDING BONDS FOR A POT OF PROJECTS THAT IS ALSO VERY WELL OR VERY ILL-DEFINED.
IT'S NOT REALLY TELLING US WHAT IT'S ABOUT, BEST I CAN TELL.
UM, BUT WHAT YOU'RE ESTIMATING HERE IN YOUR BACKUP DOCUMENT IS OUTTA THAT 300 AND, UH, 80 SOME ODD MILLION.
UM, 143 AND A HALF MILLION IS ESTIMATED INTEREST PAYMENTS.
UH, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE PAYING ATTENTION, BUT WE'RE AT PRETTY MUCH RECORD HIGH, UH, INTEREST RATES FOR MUNICIPAL BONDS AND OTHER FORMS OF BONDS.
UM, THAT SHOULD GIVE Y'ALL A BIG PAUSE AND MAKE YOU THINK ABOUT WHICH OF THESE PROJECTS COULD BE POSTPONED OR SCALED BACK OR GOTTEN RID OF ENTIRELY SO THAT WE'RE NOT JUST SHIPPING THOSE INTEREST PAYMENTS OFF TO WALL STREET ANONYMOUS INVESTORS.
PEOPLE WHO CARE NOTHING ABOUT AUSTIN, UM, ESPECIALLY SINCE YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, IN THE MIDDLE OF CUTTING IMPORTANT SERVICES SAYING YOU DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY FOR 'EM.
UH, MOST RECENTLY IN THE NEWS, YOU KNOW, $400,000 TO GET RID OF OUR ADULT RECREATION PROGRAMS, UH, THAT OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT HAS LONG SPONSORED FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.
UH, WHAT WE DON'T KNOW IN THIS, UH, PACKAGE OF FUNDS ALSO IS, IS THERE MONEY IN HERE TO DESTROY OUR HISTORIC BARTON SPRINGS BRIDGE? UH, THAT'S PROJECT NUMBER ONE THAT NEEDS TO BE AXED.
I CAN'T TELL FROM THE BACKUP, BUT PLEASE ASK THAT QUESTION.
MOVING ON TO ITEM 16, WHICH IS ANOTHER ITEM FOR APPROVING DEBT OBLIGATIONS LONG TERM.
UM, THIS ONE FOR, UH, 67 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS.
THAT'S ANOTHER 142 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS OF DEBT.
UM, IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR BACKUP ON ALL OF THESE, THEY'RE TELLING YOU THE ESTIMATED INTEREST PAYMENTS ARE, YOU KNOW, AT 35% OR MORE OF THE STICKER PRICE.
UM, ON THE CONVENTION CENTER, IT'S PROBABLY EVEN HIGHER.
BUT AGAIN, THOSE NUMBERS ARE ALSO BEING HIDDEN OFFICIALLY BY YOUR STAFF AND YOU'RE ALL TOLERATING THAT.
UM, YOU NEED TO STEP BACK, YOU NEED TO DEMONSTRATE A LITTLE FISCAL INTELLIGENCE WHEN PEOPLE HIT HEADWINDS, WHEN INTEREST RATES GO UP.
UH, WHEN YOU HAVE OTHER CRITICAL NEEDS THAT YOU'RE NOW CUTTING, YOU NEED TO STOP AND SAY, MAYBE WE NEED TO SCALE BACK AND NOT COMMIT TO THESE 30 YEARS OF INTEREST PAYMENTS TO ANONYMOUS INVESTORS FROM NEW YORK OR CHINA OR WHEREVER.
THAT, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY BUYS
[00:45:01]
THESE THINGS, BUT THE PEOPLE BUYING 'EM ONLY CARE ABOUT THE MONEY.LET'S START CUTTING OUR INTEREST EXPENDITURES AS FAST AS WE CAN, ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW WITH RECORD HIGH BORROWING COSTS.
UH, YOU REALLY SHOULD HAVE A SPECIAL SESSION ON THIS, UH, AND STUDY IT BECAUSE I KNOW IF YOU CARED AND IF YOU ACTED, YOU'D SAVE US A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY, NOT JUST THIS YEAR, BUT FOR 30 YEARS INTO THE FUTURE.
UM, AND I'LL JUST HAVE THOSE COMMENTS COVER THE, THE NEXT THREE DEBT ITEMS AS WELL.
OKAY, SO FOR ITEM 17, I HAVE JEFF DICKERSON AND WILLIAM BUNCH.
JEFF DICKERSON, DISTRICT FIVE.
I'LL PIGGYBACK A LITTLE BIT ON ONE.
BILL IS SAYING WE'RE SPENDING $142 MILLION WITHOUT PHOTO APPROVAL.
AND I QUESTION WHETHER WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS REALLY A TRUE EMERGENCY OR THE EQUIPMENT OR THINGS THAT YOU ARE REPAIRING OR BUYING, WHY YOU CANNOT PUT IT IN THE BUDGET ITSELF OR WHY YOU CANNOT PUT IT BEFORE VOTERS.
THIS SEEMS TO ME AND OTHERS LIKE AN END ROUND UP THE VOTERS.
IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE, I DON'T KNOW PROP Q THEN SERVE YOUR PURPOSES.
SO NOW YOU'RE TRYING TO GET FUNDING ANOTHER WAY AND AGAIN, WITHOUT VOTER APPROVAL, THAT'S THE CRUTCH OF THIS.
IT'S $142 MILLION OF CO, BUT YOU DOUBLE THAT NUMBER AND THAT'S THE TRUE COST PLUS TO $300 MILLION.
I THINK WE CAN DO BETTER THAN THIS.
DID YOU WANNA SPEAK ON 18 OR 19 ITEMS? 18 OR 19? MR. DICKERSON, YOU'RE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON 1718 AT 19.
THIS IS THE SAME ISSUE AS THE CO VOTERS DIDN'T APPROVE THIS.
YOU'RE ASKING FOR $85 MILLION OF TAX EXEMPT FOR EQUIPMENT, PROPERTY AND PURCHASE.
WE DON'T GET TO APPROVE THIS, NOR DO YOU EXPOSE THIS TO THE PUBLIC.
IT'S EXCEPT DURING THE BUDGET TIMES, AGAIN, I QUESTION WHY THIS IS BEING DONE OUTSIDE OF VOTER APPROVAL.
THIS IS OUR TAXES, THIS IS OUR MONEY THAT YOU'RE SPENDING.
SO AGAIN, THESE HIGH COST ITEMS, WHEN YOU'RE CUTTING OTHER ITEMS AND YOU, IT SOUNDS AGAIN LIKE AN END RAMP.
IT SOUNDS AGAIN LIKE YOU'RE, UH, SCREW WHAT THE VOTERS WANT.
LET'S DO WHAT WE WANT AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO VOTE ON IT.
JEFF DICKERSON, AND THEN ITEM 20, NEED STAY UP THERE.
AND THEN ITEM 23, WILLIAM BUNCH.
LET'S ITEM NUMBER 20, MR. DICKERSON.
UH, JEFF DICKERSON, DISTRICT FIVE.
YOU NEED TO TURN ON YOUR MICROPHONE.
JEFF DICKERSON, DISTRICT FIVE.
THIS IS AN AMENDMENT THAT INCREASES THE TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT BY $69 MILLION AND EXTENDS THE TERM TO 19 MONTHS.
AND IT BRINGS UP THE REVISED TOTAL CONTRACT TO $141 MILLION.
THINK OF A, OH, THINK OF THIS IN EIGHTH GRADE TERMS. THINK OF THIS AS A FAMILY THAT SET A $72,000 CREDIT CARD FOR REPAIRS AND THEN TWO YEARS LATER SAYS, WELL, NO, WE NEED TO DOUBLE THAT AND LET'S BUMP IT UP TO $141 MILLION AND GIVE US MORE TIME.
BUT AGAIN, YOU'RE SPENDING TAXPAYER MONEY AND AGAIN, YOU'RE INCREASING THINGS.
THIS IS DOUBLE THE ORIGINAL AMOUNT.
[00:50:01]
THIS IS ONE OF THE LARGER PERCENTAGE OF JUMPS OF ANY ITEM ON THIS AGENDA.AGAIN, YOU'RE CUTTING OUT OUR SERVICES AND YOU'RE ADDING MORE MONEY BACK TO THE BUDGET AND IT'S SPENDING MORE MONEY.
YOU'VE ALREADY GOT YOUR TAX INCREASE.
YOU'RE ALREADY ASKING FOR GOS YOU'RE ALREADY ASKING FOR.
COS YOU GUYS GOT A SPENDING PROBLEM.
MR. BUNCH, YOU'VE BEEN CALLED ON ITEM NUMBER 23.
ITEM 26, SENOIA JOSEPH, ITEM 31, KATIE CAM, MR. BUNCH.
YOU'RE ON DECK FOR 47, 49 AND 50.
SO LET US KNOW IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE SPEAKING.
HI, I AM KATIE CAM AND RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE, AND AS Y'ALL ARE WELL AWARE, I'M OPPOSED TO THE AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER.
I'M GONNA TAKE EVERY OPPORTUNITY I CAN TO URGE Y'ALL TO STOP THIS PROJECT.
THERE ARE BETTER OPTIONS FOR THIS SITE, AND I DON'T WANNA SEE CONTINUED SPENDING ON THE CONVENTION CENTER PROJECT SUCH AS THIS $20 MILLION ON FURNITURE.
UH, THAT MONEY COULD BE USED TO ACTUALLY SUPPORT, AS I MENTIONED IN MY EARLIER TESTIMONY, TO SUPPORT OUR MUSICIANS AND ARTISTS AND CREATIVES.
AND, UH, WE SHOULD NOT BE PURSUING THIS CONVENTION CENTER PROJECT.
THE ALTERNATIVE IS TO ONE, SELL OFF AT LEAST THREE OF THE DOWNTOWN BLOCKS TO RETURN THOSE PROPERTIES TO THE PROPERTY TAX ROLL SO THAT THE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT AND OTHER TAXING DISTRICTS CAN EARN PROPERTY TAX REVENUE.
THE CONVENTION CENTER ECONOMIC REPORT DID NOT MENTION OR CONSIDER THE LOSS OF THE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE, WHICH IS A DIRECT COST TO AUSTIN.
TAX PAYERS CREATE A VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER THAT IS AN IMMERSIVE AND INTERACTIVE CULTURAL VENUE THAT CELEBRATES AUSTIN'S IMPRINT IN THE WORLD IN MUSIC, FILM, WRITING, THE ARTS, FOOD AND GREEN BUILDING CREATE A CITY AMBASSADOR PROGRAM THAT PUTS OUR, UH, CREATIVES ON A LIVABLE SALARY AND SENDS THEM TO OTHER CITY, STATES AND COUNTRIES TO PROMOTE AUSTIN.
UH, WE SHOULDN'T SEND BUREAUCRATS AND BUSINESS SUITS TO CONFERENCES.
WE NEED TO SEND OUR CREATIVES WHO ARE CHARISMATIC AND KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT AUSTIN'S CREATIVE SCENE TO THOSE OTHER PLACES.
IF YOU PUT THE CONVENTION CENTER INDUSTRY IN PERSPECTIVE OF THE TOURISM IN AUSTIN, IT IS A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 1%.
WHETHER YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE JOBS, THE NUMBER OF TOURISTS, THE HOTEL STAYS, IT'S A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE.
AND WE CAN CAPTURE THAT PERCENTAGE, NOT BY BUILDING A MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR BUILDING, BUT BY DOING WHAT THE CONVENTION BUREAU'S ALREADY DOING, WHICH IS, UH, CREATING A CI UH, THE CITY AS A VENUE APPROACH.
SO I URGE Y'ALL TO STOP THE SPENDING ON THE CONVENTION CENTER PROJECT AND RE UH, DIRECT HOW WE ARE APPROACHING TOURISM IN AUSTIN.
AND THEN FOR ITEM 51, WILLIAM BUNCH AND XENOBI JOSEPH.
UH, MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS BILL BUNCH, DISTRICT FIVE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE.
ITEM 47 IS CALLING FOR UP TO, UH, $1.25 MILLION FOR THE SEA GLOW GROUP FOR REFORESTATION OF FLOODPLAINS.
UM, THE SUGGESTION IS THAT THIS WILL BE, UH, MOSTLY IN EAST AUSTIN, IF NOT ENTIRELY.
UM, THE SCIENTISTS AT TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE WHO'VE STUDIED THE, WHAT'S HAPPENED WITH THE FLOODING AND REFORESTATION WHEN ALL OUR TREES ARE CUT DOWN ON ARE WIPED OUT BY FLOODING ON THE BLANCO, THE GUADALUPE, ET CETERA.
UH, THE SCIENCE IS THAT YOU DON'T REFOREST, YOU LET NATURE TAKE ITS COURSE.
SO THIS IS COMPLETELY WASTED SPENDING.
NOW, IF IT'S DIRECTED TO SPEND ON THE DOG'S HEAD, UH, IT'S, YOU ALREADY GAVE THEM $5 BILLION OF OUR TAXPAYER FUNDS UP TO PERHAPS MORE.
UH, THEY DON'T NEED ANOTHER 1.25 MILLION OF US PAYING TO PLANT TREES ON THEIR FLOODPLAIN.
SIGLO GROUP WAS THE CONTRACTOR ON THE ZILKER PARK PLAN.
AND GUESS WHAT? THEY MISCOUNTED THE TREES, THE LARGE TREES SPECIFICALLY IN
[00:55:01]
ZILKER PARK BY AN ORDER OF MAGNITUDE.THEY SAID THEY WERE GONNA CORRECT IT AND THEY NEVER DID.
SO WE'RE REWARDING INCOMPETENCE.
WE'RE IGNORING BEST SCIENCE, AND YOU'RE ABOUT TO SPEND A BUNCH OF MONEY THAT HAS NO BUSINESS BEING SPENT.
REFORESTATION NEEDS TO BE HAPPENING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE WE NEED THE SHADE AND WHERE THE URBAN HEAT ISLAND IS LITERALLY KILLING PEOPLE.
PLEASE, PLEASE CALL HIS NAME ON THE OTHER NUMBERS.
DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK ON 49 51 MR. BUNCH? UM, YES.
SO 49 IS ANOTHER AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER DEPARTMENT.
UM, JUST TO, UH, REITERATE WHAT, UH, MS. KIM JUST TOLD YOU, IT'S TIME TO CALL TIME OUT ON THIS ALBATROSS.
YOU NEED TO REPURPOSE AS SHE SUGGESTED THE CONVENTION CENTER PROJECT INTO A CULTURAL DISTRICT PROJECT.
AND YOU NEED TO SCALE BACK FUNNELING ALL THIS MONEY INTO THE, I MEAN, UH, YOUR, YOUR OWN STAFF WROTE THE MEMO, $5.6 BILLION WITH A B ALL IN INTEREST PAYMENTS, ANNUAL O AND M LOSSES AND BUMPER STICKER PRICE OF ONE POINT.
UM, CONVENTION CENTER HAS BEEN A DYING INDUSTRY FOR DECADES NOW.
IT'S NOT GONNA GET ANY BETTER IN THE FUTURE, ESPECIALLY AS THE HEAT EXTENDS AND MONTHS.
THE, THE WHOLE PERIOD WHEN NOBODY'S GONNA WANT TO BE COMING TO AUSTIN, THEY'RE ALL GONNA GO SOMEWHERE ELSE WHERE IT'S COOLER, UH, EXTENDS, UM, NO PROGRESS REPORTS WHATSOEVER.
SERIOUSLY, Y'ALL ARE, Y'ALL ARE JUST CHECKED OUT.
YOU SAY YOU CARE ABOUT AFFORDABILITY OR FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY, TRANSPARENCY.
EVERY ONE OF YOU SHOULD HANG YOUR HEAD IN SHAME UNTIL WE GET AN HONEST LOOK AND WE CALL TIME OUT AND FIGURE OUT WHAT WE REALLY SHOULD BE DOING TO PROMOTE VISITORS, BUSINESS AND TOURISTS AND TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.
AND WHEN YOU TAKE THAT HONEST LOOK, IT'S GONNA BE SPENDING IT ON OUR CULTURE AND OUR NATURE IN THE CITY.
THAT'S WHY WE ALL LOVE BEING HERE.
IT'S WHY TOURISTS AND VISITORS COME HERE.
YOU'RE SIGNED UP ON ITEM 51 AS WELL.
DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK ON 51? I'M SIGNED UP ON 50 ALSO, OR IS THAT SOMEWHERE ELSE? YOU'VE BEEN CALLED ON 50 AS WELL.
PARDON? YOU'VE BEEN CALLED ON 50 AS WELL.
THAT'S YOUR FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM COMING UP AND UM, I DID NOT GET A CHANCE TO STUDY THAT.
ITEM 52 ZENOBIA JOSEPH 53 ZENOBIA JOSEPH 54 JEFF DICKERSON, THEN 55 RYE VA, AND 57 AND 60 WILLIAM BUNCH.
PLEASE GO AHEAD, MR. DICKERSON.
JEFF DICKERSON, DISTRICT FIVE.
UH, THIS IS ABOUT APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION APPROVING HOUSING SUPPORT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF BARBARA PARK.
I'M NOT OPPOSED OR OBJECTING TO THIS.
IN THE SPIRIT OF TRANSPARENCY, ETHICAL WORLD BEHAVIOR OPTICS, IT'S MY OPINION THAT SEVERAL OF COUNCIL MEMBERS NEED TO RECUSE THEMSELVES FROM THIS VOTE.
THAT WOULD BE COUNCIL MEMBER VANESSA POES.
[01:00:01]
COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER.WHY WOULD I SAY SOMETHING LIKE THIS? UH, YOU GUYS ACCEPTED POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE PRESIDENT, DIANA MACGYVER, WHO IS THE OWNER OF DMA.
IT'S IN YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS AND YOU ALSO PRESENTED RESOLUTIONS IN SUPPORT OF THIS MORE THAN ONE TIME.
I AM NOT SAYING THAT ANYTHING ILLEGAL OR UNTOWARD WAS DONE.
ALL I'M SAYING IS THE OPTICS AND THE APPEARANCE OF CAMPAIGN DONATIONS TO THE VOTING SHOULD BE LOOKED AT.
AND YOU SHOULD THINK ABOUT THIS BEFORE VOTING ON THIS RESOLUTION.
AS DISTRICT NINE, UM, I AM CONCERNED WITH ITEM 55 FROM THE STANDPOINT OF I'VE BEEN UP HERE TALKING WITH BUDGETARY ABOUT POLICING AND THE BUDGET THERE.
UM, A REASSESSMENT OF CLASSY MISDEMEANORS AND FELONIES OF ANY KIND ARE ALWAYS STOOPED IN AN INCREASE IN POLICING.
AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS, WHEN YOU ARE TAKING A GOOD LOOK AT THESE THINGS, PLEASE FACTOR IN TRANSFORMATIVE JUSTICE OR SOCIAL PROGRAMS AND SOCIAL SERVICES VERSUS JUST GIVING A PD AND OTHER BLANK CHECK.
THESE KINDS OF DISCUSSIONS WHEN IT COMES TO, YOU KNOW, PRIVATE PRISONS AND EVERYTHING ELSE ALWAYS SERVE A BOTTOM LINE.
AND IF A BOTTOM LINE OF AUSTIN IS GOING TO BE, WE NEED MORE MONEY AND WE'RE GONNA PUT MORE PEOPLE IN PRISONS, THAT'S NOT OKAY.
I AM VERY, BESIDES MYSELF WHEN IT COMES TO THESE DISCUSSIONS AND HAVING A TRUE THROUGH LINE TO WHAT LOOK IT LOOKS LIKE AT THE END OF INCARCERATION AS WELL AS IT IS BEFOREHAND.
PEOPLE LOSE THEIR ABILITY TO VOTE.
PEOPLE LOSE THEIR HOUSING, THEIR JOBS, THESE KINDS OF THINGS THAT GO ON A RECORD ARE NOT GOOD AND IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE REASSESSED FROM A BASE LEVEL BECAUSE WHEN IT COMES TO CITY VIOLATIONS, IT'S EVERYTHING FROM GRAFFITI TO ANYTHING THAT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE, UM, SERIOUS.
AND I JUST REALLY CAN'T, IN MY HEAD FATHOM WHY WE DIFFERENTIATE.
AND I, I, TO QUOTE, I BELIEVE SOMEBODY ELSE, IT WAS, UH, IF THE PUNISHMENT FOR A CRIME IS A FINE, IT'S ONLY A CRIME FOR POOR PEOPLE.
AND I THINK THAT IS A DAMN SHAME.
AND ESPECIALLY IF A, YOU KNOW, TECH BILLIONAIRE'S KID CAN RUN A RED LIGHT AND FACE NO REPERCUSSIONS, THAT'S NOT THE REASSESSMENT WE NEED.
WE NEED ACTUAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES, TO STAY IN THEIR LIVELIHOODS, AND TO BE A BETTER REFLECTION OF OUR CITY AND OUR COMMUNITIES.
ARE YOU SPEAKING ON ITEM 57 AND 60? UH, I'LL PASS ON THE, FOR ITEM 65.
WILLIAM BUNCH, SOIA JOSEPH, I'LL PASS ON SIX FIVE.
I HAVE A REMOTE SPEAKER FOR ITEM 66, LAUREL CHESKY.
LAUREL, ARE YOU THERE? PLEASE? UNMUTE.
ALSO FOR 66, I HAVE JOSEPH LMA AND ZENOBIA JOSEPH.
PLEASE COME FORWARD, MR. BUNCH.
YOU'RE ON DECK ON ITEM 68, UNLESS YOU'RE NOT SPEAKING.
IS THIS ON? UM, UM, FULL TRANSPARENCY? UM, I WAS ACTUALLY SIGNED UP FOR, WHICH IS MY MISTAKE, ITEM 61.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN TALK ABOUT THAT RIGHT NOW.
YOU NEED TO, YOU, YOU JUST MADE A MISTAKE ON WHERE YOU SIGNED UP.
YEAH, I MIGHT HAVE SIGNED UP AS WELL FOR 61, SO I MIGHT GET CAUGHT UP A LITTLE BIT LATER.
WELL, DO YOU WANNA SPEAK ON 66? NO.
OKAY, WELL, WE'LL, WE'LL CALL YOU ON 61.
I'M GONNA TRY LAUREL ONE MORE TIME FOR ITEM 66.
UH, GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, I'M VICE PRESIDENT OF THE WINDSOR PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, WHICH REPRESENTS ABOUT 6,000 HOUSEHOLDS IN DISTRICT FOUR.
I'M SPEAKING TODAY, UH, IN SUPPORT OF ITEM NUMBER 66,
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IN PARTICULAR THE FUNDING AGREEMENT FOR THE BELFAST BRIDGE AND TRAIL PROJECT.THIS MAY BE A SMALL ADDITION TO OUR WONDERFUL URBAN TRAIL SYSTEM, BUT IT'S A BIG DEAL FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE ARE VERY HAPPY TO SEE IT MOVING FORWARD FOR A DECADE.
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS ADVOCATED FOR THIS PEDESTRIAN LINKED TO 51ST STREET, UH, WHICH HAS BECOME EVEN MORE IMPORTANT SINCE MARSHALL MIDDLE SCHOOL OPENED.
WE ARE DEEPLY GRATEFUL TO REPRESENTATIVE DOGGETT FOR SECURING THIS FEDERAL FUNDING AND TO MAYOR, UH, PRO TIM VELA FOR HIS ONGOING SUPPORT AND TO THE URBAN TRAILS PROGRAM STAFF AND OTHER CITY STAFF, UM, WHO HAVE HELPED MOVE THIS PROJECT ALONG.
OUR EXCITEMENT IS ONLY TEMPERED BY OP PLAN TO EXTEND BROADMORE DRIVE TO THE I 35 ACCESS ROAD AS PART OF THE CAPITAL EXPRESS CENTRAL PROJECT.
WE EXPECT THIS CHANGE TO SEND MORE TRAFFIC INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND CROSS BELFAST DRIVE EXACTLY WHERE PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLICS WILL CROSS TO REACH THE BRIDGE.
SO IN PARALLEL TO THIS PROJECT, WE RESPECTFULLY URGE TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS TO DESIGN A SAFE PEDESTRIAN CROSSING AT BROADMORE AND WESTMORE DRIVE NOW AND COUNCIL TO FUND IT.
PLEASE DO NOT WAIT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
IMPLEMENT A PROTECTED CROSSING BEFORE THE BELFAST BRIDGE AND TRAIL ARE CONSTRUCTED AND ENSURE THE SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR 69 RYAN POPPY, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
MY NAME IS RYAN POPPY AND I'M WITH CWA LOCAL 61 54, AND THE UNITED WORKERS OF AL CARE.
I WANT TO BE CLEAR, WE SUPPORT EVALUATING HOW AUSTIN PRESENTS DISPLACEMENT AND HOMELESSNESS, BUT AS COUNCIL CONSIDERS THIS EVALUATION, I WANT TO MAKE SURE ONE THING IS NOT LOST IN THE PROCESS.
AUSTIN ALREADY HAS A WORKFORCE DOING THIS WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY.
INTEGRAL CARE WORKERS HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND JUST AS IMPORTANTLY, PEOPLE WHO ARE AT RISK OF BECOMING HOMELESS IN THE FIRST PLACE.
SO AS THE CITY EVALUATES ITS DISPLACEMENT AND HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION SYSTEM, WE RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU LOOK NOT ONLY AT THE PROGRAMS THAT EXIST, BUT AT WHO'S ACTUALLY DELIVERING THESE SERVICES, WHAT THEY ACCOMPLISH AND WHAT IT TAKES TO KEEP THE WORKPLACE WORKFORCE RATHER IN PLACE.
BECAUSE A CONTRACT MAY APPEAR ON A SPREADSHEET IS A LINE ITEM, BUT BEHIND THAT LINE ITEM IS A PERSON THAT'S ANSWERING A CRISIS CALL, MEETING WITH A FAMILY, HELPING SOMEONE IN THEIR DARKEST MOMENT.
WE ASK THAT AS YOU EVALUATE THESE SERVICES, YOU RECOGNIZE AND STRENGTHEN THE COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ALREADY EXIST.
THE WORKERS OF INTEGRAL CARE ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF AUSTIN'S HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SAFETY NET.
PLEASE MAKE SURE THEY REMAIN PART OF THAT SOLUTION.
FOR ITEM 69, I HAVE AZAR, BARBARA SLY, ANITA SHORE, PHILLIP FITZGERALD, AND SHOSHANA KRIEGER MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS VEES HAR AND I SERVE AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HOUSING WORKS AUSTIN.
UM, I'M SPEAKING IN S HEY, HANG ON.
UM, MY NAME IS VEES HAR AND I SERVE AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HOUSING WORKS AUSTIN.
I'M SPEAKING HERE IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 69 TODAY.
THIS ITEM, UH, REALLY GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY AS A CITY TO ASSESS OUR EVICTION DISPLACEMENT PREVENTION SERVICES AND PROGRAMS HOLISTICALLY.
IT ALIGNS RESOURCES AND ENSURES THAT THIS PROGRAMMING IS SUSTAINABLE, BOTH FROM A FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVE BUT ALSO PROGRAMMATIC PERSPECTIVE, AND FOLLOWS NATIONAL BEST PRACTICES FOR PREVENTING EVICTIONS OUTSIDE OF END OF LINE COURT BASED SYSTEMS. IT ALSO REALLY BUILDS ON YEARS OF WORK BY OUR MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, OUR CITY STAFF, AND OUR COMMUNITY.
CONSIDERING THAT THE DISPLACEMENT PREVENTION, UH, PROGRAMS WERE NOT PART OF AN ASSESSMENT OF CITY SERVICES, UH, THIS RESOLUTION REALLY GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONDUCT THAT ASSESSMENT BEFORE FUNDING IS DEDICATED TO ANY NEW PROGRAMS OR SOLICITATIONS.
I, I DO HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE DISAPPOINTINGLY, THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF CONFUSION AROUND THIS, UM, YOU KNOW, CONVERSATION AND THE STATE OF CURRENT SERVICES AND HOW WE'RE LOOKING AT FUTURE SOLICITATIONS.
IT HAS CAUSED A LOT OF FRUSTRATION FOR OUR PROVIDERS AND COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO REALLY ERODES TRUST.
UM, I'M STILL VERY HOPEFUL THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA BE WORKING WITH OUR CITY STAFF MOVING FORWARD TO REALLY, YOU KNOW, ENSURE THAT WHAT WE ARE DOING IS BEST SERVING OUR, OUR COMMUNITY AND CREATING SUSTAINABLE PROGRAMS.
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UM, AS I WRAP UP, I DO WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER CADRY AND HIS TEAM FOR WORKING ON THIS RESOLUTION AND SETTING UP THIS PROCESS.I ALSO REALLY WANT TO THANK ALL THE CO-SPONSORS AND ALSO I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE WORK OF MAYOR WATSON AND HIS TEAM FOR HIGHLIGHTING THE NEED FOR REALLY A BROAD ASSESSMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY'S ANTI DISPLACEMENT STRATEGY AND LOOKING AT THESE PROGRAMS HOLISTICALLY.
SO I'M EXCITED FOR Y'ALL, UH, MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS PROCESS AND REALLY MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ALIGNING RESOURCES.
ALSO, WHILE I'M HERE AND I HAVE TIME, I'LL JUST SAY I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES AND HER CO-SPONSORS FOR BRINGING FORTH ITEM NUMBER 73 TO REALLY ADDRESS MOLDED ISSUES IN OUR COMMUNITY AND ENSURING THAT RESIDENTS ARE KEPT SAFE AND HEALTHY.
SO I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND SAVE YOU ALL SOME TIME AND I WILL NOT BE SPEAKING IN ITEM 73.
WHY DON'T YOU BEGIN? IS THAT FOR ME? OKAY.
SO ALWAYS IN FAVOR OF EVALUATIONS, BUT I, I THINK WE ALREADY KNOW THE ANSWER.
AND THE ANSWER IS, UH, OUR HOMELESS INITIATIVES ARE NOT WORKING.
UM, AND I THINK IT LARGELY COMES DOWN TO, UH, AN ALLOCATION ISSUE.
WE ONLY ALLOCATED ABOUT 3.4% OF OUR GENERAL FUND TOWARDS HOMELESS INITIATIVES, WHICH TO ME, SCREAMS OF A CITY THAT'S NOT REALLY TRYING TO ADDRESS THE UNDERLYING ISSUES.
UM, I FIND IT PARTICULARLY OBNOXIOUS THAT, UH, IN PASSING OF THE LAST BUDGET, THIS, THIS UPCOMING BUDGET, WE HAD A FEW MEMBERS THAT SAID THEY WANTED TO VOTE DOWN BECAUSE, UH, OF ISSUES OF AFFORDABILITY, CONCERNS ABOUT PROPERTY TAX INCREASES.
AND I THINK THAT KIND OF SIDESTEPS THE ISSUE IS NOT JUST THE, THE NUMBER, UH, THE GENERAL NUMBER OF THE PROPERTY TAX, WHETHER IT'S GOING UP OR DOWN, BUT IT'S MORE SO THAT PEOPLE DON'T FEEL THAT OUR TAXES ARE GOING TO FUNDING THE SERVICES THAT WE ARE EXPECTING.
SO WHEN PEOPLE COME DOWNTOWN AND SEE OUR NEIGHBORS ON THE STREETS, OR THEY'RE WAITING 20, 30 MINUTES IN LINE FOR A BUS, YOU CAN'T REALLY SAY, THIS IS, THIS IS GOING WELL.
UM, MY EXPECTATIONS FOR THE CITY COUNCIL IS THAT WE HAVE MEMBERS THAT ARE ENGAGED WITH OUR HOMELESS COMMUNITY GOING DOWN TO SHELTERS, GOING DOWN, YOU KNOW, OVER HERE ON I 35, OVER AROUND SIXTH STREET, UNDER THAT BRIDGE ON THE WEEKENDS.
THEY SERVE THOSE PEOPLE AND THEY HOLD MASKS FOR THOSE PEOPLE.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE CITY COUNCIL ENGAGED IN, IN ASKING THEM, HOW CAN WE HELP YOU? BUT WE'RE NOT SEEING THAT.
UM, INSTEAD WE'RE OFF FLOATING THIS RESPONSIBILITY, THESE MASSIVE RESPONSIBILITIES TO, TO NONPROFIT BUSINESSES, AND THEY'RE GETTING PAID VERY HANDSOMELY FOR THIS JOB.
BUT INSTEAD, WE SHOULD BE BUILDING CITY CAPACITY TO HANDLE THESE LARGE ISSUES.
UM, WE'VE, WE'VE ALLOWED FOR YEARS TO INFLATION TO, TO TAKE US FOR A RIDE, AND WE'VE SEEN PEOPLE HAVE TO FLEE OUR CITY AND NOT AFFORD THE SERVICES THAT THEY NEED.
I MEAN, RIGHT NOW IT'S, IT'S 2000 A MONTH AT LEAST FOR PEOPLE TO TAKE THEIR KIDS TO CHILDCARE, TO DAYCARE.
AND THAT'S JUST, WE'RE NOT ADDRESSING THOSE ISSUES AND THERE'S NOT A MARKET SOLUTION FOR THAT.
THE CITY HAS TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES THEMSELVES, AND I'M AFRAID THAT THE CITY COUNCIL IS NOT STEPPING UP TO MEET THAT MOMENT.
AND I WOULD REALLY LIKE YOU GUYS TO, TO, TO SHOW THAT YOU'RE CAPABLE OF DOING SO.
MS. SILLY, UM, I EMAILED IN MY PRESENTATION ITEM 69.
I ALSO HAVE ANITA HERE WHO'S DONATING TWO MINUTES TO ME.
UH, THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I AM ON THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF SRCC, AND WE RECENTLY ADOPTED THIS AT OUR LAST GENERAL MEETING.
AS YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE PURCHASED A BUILDING ON I 35.
UM, WE BELIEVE THIS IS AN EXCELLENT PLACE TO FOCUS YOUR PRE EVICTION HUB.
THESE NUMBERS ARE FROM THE COUNTY.
UM, SO THEY'RE ACTUAL NUMBERS.
UM, WE ACTUALLY HAD 8,100 IN EVICTION FILINGS LAST YEAR.
AS YOU KNOW, THE LEGISLATURE CHANGED THE LAW ON MAKING EVICTIONS EASIER, SO THEREFORE YOU'RE BEGINNING TO SEE A SPIKE IN EVICTION, UH, FILINGS.
BUT ACTUAL PUT AT THE CURB WAS 2,314.
THIS REALLY ILLUSTRATES VERY CLEARLY WHY WE NEED TO FOCUS ON A PRE EVICTION STRATEGY.
WE HAVE 1000 STUDENTS IN A ISD THAT ARE CLASSIFIED AS HOMELESS.
SO WHAT ARE THE SOLUTIONS? WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS FOR A PRE EVICTION PROCESS? NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
BASICALLY, THEY FALL INTO THREE BUCKETS, LEGAL
[01:15:01]
SERVICES, HOUSING, REFERRALS, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, AND FINANCIAL COUNSELING.OKAY, HERE ARE, WE BELIEVE THE STEPS IN A PLANNING PROCESS.
UM, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DO NOT KNOW, EVICTION IS NOT A CITY PROCESS.
SO WE START OFF WITH A SURVEY OF CONSTABLES AND JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
WE HAVE FIVE OF THOSE USING THOSE, THE INFORMATION GATHERED FROM THAT SURVEY, WE THINK YOU CAN WRITE AN EXCELLENT DESCRIPTION FOR THE NECESSARY LEGAL SERVICES AND REPUTA, UH, REPRESENTATION IN THE JUST JUSTICE OF THE PEACE COURTS.
YOU ALSO NEED TO LOOK AT UPGRADING YOUR, UH, EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING DATABASE TO MORE APPROPRIATELY AFFECT, REFLECT THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE YOU'RE DOING THE HOUSING COUNSELING FOR.
IN YOUR DATABASE DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS, YOU REALLY ALSO NEED TO MAKE IT AS COMPREHENSIVE AS POSSIBLE TO INCLUDE ALL EXISTING OPTIONS.
AND REALLY, BECAUSE, UH, WE HAVE A OVERSUPPLY OF APARTMENTS, SOME MARKET RATE APARTMENTS WOULD FALL IN THIS CATEGORY.
WE ALSO NEED TO DEVELOP A PIECE FOR HOW WE CAN LEVERAGE YOUR HOUSING VOUCHER PROGRAM.
THIS PROGRAM, GOING BACK TO THE PREVIOUS FIGURE OF 2,536 ACTUAL EVICTIONS, WOULD BE A WAY TO CUT THAT NUMBER.
SO WE ARE TRULY LOOKING AT A COST EFFECTIVE WAY TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF HOMELESS ON YOUR STREETS.
THERE ARE OTHER PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS.
WE DO NOT BELIEVE YOU NEED TO DEVELOP ANY NEW NONPROFIT CAPACITY FOR THIS FRAMEWORK.
YOU HAVE MANY, UH, PEOPLE WHO COULD DO THIS.
RIO GRANDE, UH, LEGAL AID AND ALSO LOCAL TEXAS.
KEY TO THIS SUCCESS IS A REFERRAL SYSTEM.
UH, AGAIN, YOU NEED TO WORK WITH YOUR CONSTABLES AND YOUR JPS.
THEY'RE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTUALLY DOING THIS WORK, AND YOU NEED TO HAVE A FRAMEWORK.
AND WE HOPE YOU WILL CONSIDER THIS.
I'M SORRY, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
UH, MY NAME IS SHOSHANA KRIEGER AND I'M THE DIRECTOR OF BASA.
UM, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
UM, I AM SPEAKING TODAY ON ITEM 69 RELATED TO DISPLACEMENT PREVENTION AND EVICTION SERVICES.
UM, I DO HAVE TO SAY I'M A BIT CONFUSED ABOUT THE STATUS OF EVICTION SERVICE PLANNING RIGHT NOW IN THE CITY IS REFLECTED IN BOTH VERSION TWO AND THEN ALSO IN SOME CONFLICTING INFORMATION, UH, THAT WE'VE BEEN, UH, HEARING ON JUST WHAT THE BASICS OF THE CURRENT PLANNING IS.
SO I THINK THIS RESOLUTION WOULD PROVIDE A REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNITY, UH, FOR EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY TO GET ON THE SAME PAGE.
UM, 2025 HAD THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF EVICTION FILINGS EVER IN TRAVIS COUNTY WITH 15,093.
THIS ISN'T SURPRISING GIVEN, GIVEN THE UNIQUE AFFORDABILITY PRESSURES OF TRAVIS COUNTY AND THE MANY LARGER SYSTEMS THAT INTERACT, UM, THAT RESULT WITH THE TENANT FACING EVICTION.
UM, IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE 15,000 NUMBER DRASTICALLY UNDER COUNTS.
THOSE WHO ARE EXPERIENCED EVICTION SINCE RESEARCH HAS FOUND THAT THE MAJORITY OF TENANTS LEAVE THEIR HOMES UNDER THREAT OF EVICTION AND NOT AFTER AN ACTUAL EVICTION FILING.
WE KNOW THERE ARE NO EASY SOLUTIONS, NO MAGIC BULLETS TO THE PROBLEM OF EVICTION OR DISPLACEMENT.
IF THERE WERE, WE IN OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WOULD'VE FIGURED IT OUT YEARS AGO.
POVERTY CANNOT BE SOLVED WITH ONE RENTAL ASSISTANCE CHECK, AND THE AFFORDABILITY CRISIS CANNOT BE SOLVED WITH THE UNRESTRAINED PRIVATE MARKET SOLUTIONS THAT BROUGHT PRIVATE EQUITY INTO RAVAGE OUR HOUSING SECTOR.
BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO AS A COMMUNITY TO MITIGATE THE IMPACT OF EVICTIONS AND REVERSE THE TIDE.
IT WILL REQUIRE MULTIPLE POINTS OF INTERVENTION FROM CASE MANAGERS TO EDUCATORS, TO MANAGEMENT COMPANIES, TO LAWYERS.
AND WE WILL NEED TO TAP INTO THE WISDOM OF THE MANY PEOPLE ON THE GROUND WHO ARE ALREADY WORKING WITH THOSE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF AATE RENTERS WHO ARE HOUSING INSECURE, INTERVENING EARLY MONTHS BEFORE A TENANT FINDS THEMSELVES IN COURT OR PACKING THEIR BELONGINGS TO TRY TO BEAT THAT NOTICE TO VACATE IS A KEY TO THE SU A SUSTAINABLE APPROACH.
UM, THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER PADRE AND YOUR STAFF FOR WORKING ON THE ITEM CONTINUE ON 69.
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DANIELLA SILVA, HARLA, AGUIRE, SENOIA, JOSEPH, AND RISE R PLEASE BEGIN.JUST STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
MY NAME IS PERLA GURE AND I AM A COMMUNITY EDUCATION SPECIALIST AT BAA.
AND I AM SPEAKING TODAY IN FAVOR OF ITEM 69.
AS PART OF MY ROLE AT BAA, I REACH OUT TO TENANTS THAT HAVE ACTIVE EVICTION CASES HERE IN AUSTIN.
AND A LOT OF THE TIME WHEN I'M REACHING OUT TO FOLKS, THEY'RE LEARNING ABOUT THEIR EVICTION FOR THE FIRST TIME.
AND SINCE SB 38 WENT INTO EFFECT, UH, WITH THE START OF THE NEW YEAR, UH, WHICH LOOSENED A LOT OF NOTICE REQUIREMENTS FOR LANDLORDS, THIS IS UNFORTUNATELY BECOMING MORE AND MORE COMMONPLACE AND TENANTS RIGHTFULLY SO, EXPERIENCE A LOT OF CONFUSION, ANGER, UM, AND FEAR AS THEY PROCESS THIS NEWS.
BUT WITHOUT THIS FIRST STEP, TENANTS ARE NOT ABLE TO TAKE MEANINGFUL ACTION ONCE A CASE IS FILED.
TENANTS, UH, HAVE SO LITTLE TIME TO DO STUFF SUCH AS ACCESS RENTAL ASSISTANCE, NEGOTIATE, OR COME TO AGREEMENTS WITH THEIR LANDLORDS, FIND NEW HOUSING, AND MOVE OUT THEIR BELONGINGS AND ACCESS LEGAL HELP, OR DO THEIR OWN RESEARCH ON THE EVICTION PROCESS.
UH, THERE'S A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS AND FOLKS ON THE GROUND HERE IN AUSTIN THAT HELP WORK WITH TENANTS IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
UH, AND BRINGING THOSE FOLKS INTO THE CONVERSATION ON HOW TO PREVENT EVICTIONS EARLY IS CRUCIAL BECAUSE TIME IS SUCH A IMPORTANT AND SCARCE RESOURCE IN THE EVICTION PROCESS.
AND INVESTMENT IN UPSTREAM SOLUTIONS CAN PREVENT TENANTS FROM FINDING THEMSELVES IN PRECARIOUS SITUATIONS OR MAKING DIFFICULT DECISIONS LIKE CHOOSING RENT BETWEEN RENT OR CAR REPAIRS, OR CHOOSING TO STAY IN DARKNESS LITERALLY WITH NO ELECTRICITY TO CATCH UP ON BACK RENT, WHICH ARE, UH, EXPERIENCES THAT I'VE HEARD RECENTLY.
UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I HOPE, UH, ITEM 69 ADVANCES.
PLEASE ARRIVE AS DISTRICT NINE.
I AM IN FAVOR OF ITEM 69 WITH THE LOT OF CAVEATS TO IT.
AND THE WHY I SAY THAT IS BECAUSE WHEN IT COMES TO YOU, THE OUTREACH PROGRAMS WE'VE HAD HERE IN AUSTIN AND HOMELESSNESS AND THE UNHOUSED, WE SEE A LOT OF GAPS.
WE SEE A LOT OF ENCAMPMENT SWEEPS, AND WE SEE A LOT OF THINGS THAT DON'T HELP THE COMMUNITY.
I WANNA HIGHLIGHT SOMETHING REAL QUICK.
WHEN YOU'RE AVERAGING, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR WHAT WOULD BE UNDER LIKE FEDERAL STATUTES, I BELIEVE IT'S A MEDIUM INCOME THAT IS FACTORED IN FOR THE CITY.
SO IF A TRILLIONAIRE IS BABY MAMA AND THEIR KID LIVES HERE IN AUSTIN, THAT IMMEDIATELY GOES UP.
THERE ARE SO MANY GAPS IN THIS DISCUSSION THAT ARE NOT ADDRESSED, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE CITY TOUTING A 16.6 DECREASE OR PERCENT DATE DECREASED IN RENT HERE IN AUSTIN.
I KNOW THAT WHEN I'M TRYING TO PAY MY RENT, IT GOES BETWEEN THOSE DISCUSSIONS OF, OH, I'M GONNA STAVE OFF THIS BILL, OR I'M GOING TO CUT CORNERS HERE.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT NOBODY SHOULD HAVE TO DECIDE.
I TRULY HOPE THAT THIS CONVERSATION LEADS TO PRODUCTIVE THINGS.
HELL, WHY DON'T WE THROW IT INTO THE MIX? WHY NOT INTRODUCE A MORATORIUM ON EVICTIONS? WHY DON'T WE JUST PAUSE THEM? BECAUSE IF THIS IS REALLY AN ISSUE THAT AUSTINITES ARE FACING, LET'S ADDRESS IT.
LET'S STOP IT AND LET'S ACTUALLY GO FORWARD, BECAUSE THERE IS, AND I KNOW THAT A LOT OF THIS WILL PROBABLY GO OVER YOUR HEAD IN TERMS OF A ACTUAL CONSIDERATION OF THAT, BUT WE'VE SEEN IT WORK, ESPECIALLY IN URBAN ENVIRONMENTS, AND IT CAN WORK IN AUSTIN AS WELL.
SO I WANT YOU TO FACTOR IN EVERY SINGLE SOLUTION INCLUDING THAT.
AND IT'S NOT AS CRAZY AS YOU WOULD THINK BECAUSE THE CITY PROCESSES THAT ALLOW FOR THAT TO HAPPEN WHEN IT COMES TO A PD AND OTHERWISE ENFORCEFUL EVICTIONS, IT IS DOABLE AND WITHIN THE PARAMETERS OF OUR BUDGET AND OUR CONSTRAINTS.
I HAVE HOLLY SEBASTIAN ON THE LINE.
HOLLY, ARE YOU THERE? CAN YOU PLEASE UNMUTE? LET'S TRY LIZ SCANLAN.
UM, HELLO, I AM LIZ GARTEN SCANLAN.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE, AND I'M A CHILDREN'S AUTHOR AND MEMBER OF AUTHORS AGAINST BOOK BAND.
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I'M SO HAPPY TO SPEAK TODAY ON THE RESOLUTION TO MAKE AUSTIN A BOOK SPACE HARBOR.IN A FEW MINUTES, YOU'LL HEAR FROM MY COLLEAGUE CORY PUTMAN OAK, WITH SOME SPECIFIC REASONS TO SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION.
BUT FIRST, A LITTLE BACKGROUND.
IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN MORE THAN 20,000 BOOK FANS NATIONWIDE, KEEPING FREEDOM TO READ ORGANIZATIONS ON CONSTANT HIGH ALERT.
JUST A WEEK AGO, OUR OWN LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SAID, AND I QUOTE, WE'RE COMING FOR THE BOOK.
WE'RE LUCKY WE HAVEN'T FACED AN ONSLAUGHT OF POLITICALLY MOTIVATED BOOK CHALLENGES IN AUSTIN AND AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY ALREADY HAS A LOGICAL, TRANSPARENT POLICY IN PLACE FOR RESPONDING TO CITIZENS' CONCERNS AND REQUESTS.
BUT THIS SPRING WE STARTED SPEAKING WITH LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS ABOUT TAKING A PROACTIVE APPROACH TO THE ISSUE BY DECLARING OUR CITY A BOOK SAFE HARBOR, EMPHASIZING INCLUSIVITY, ACCESSIBILITY, AND OUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.
IN LIGHT OF THE UNPRECEDENTED ATTACKS ON BOOKS, LIBRARIES, AND LIBRARIANS, AND BY ASSOCIATION ALL READERS, THERE'S NO BETTER TIME TO REAFFIRM THE VALUES AND PRACTICES OF A PL BY PROTECTING ITS RICH AND DIVERSE AND CAREFULLY CURATED COLLECTIONS AND ENSURING READERS ACCESS TO THOSE COLLECTIONS.
I WANT TO PUBLICLY THANK A TL DIRECTOR, HAMMA TERRELL AND LIBRARY FOUNDATION, ED TIM BAILEY FOR BEING SO ENCOURAGING OF THIS IDEA.
STAFF LIAISON LAURA POLIO FOR FACILITATING OUR PRESENTATION TO THE LIBRARY COMMISSION.
EACH AND EVERY LIBRARY COMMISSION MEMBER, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO FORMED A BOOK, SAFE HARBOR WORKING GROUP, TO ADVANCE THE EFFORT AND ALL OF YOU HERE TODAY, ESPECIALLY COUNCIL MEMBER LANE AND CO-SPONSORS FUENTES,
IT IS MY HIGH HOPE THAT YOU'LL PASS THIS RESOLUTION UNANIMOUSLY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH OF THE VALUES OF THE LIVE.
I'M GONNA TRY HOLLY SAVISTON ONE MORE TIME.
UM, THANK YOU MAYOR WATSON AND COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT FOUR AND I'M HERE IN MY PERSONAL CAPACITY, BUT I'M ALSO A REPRESENTATIVE ON THE LIBRARY COMMISSION FOR DISTRICT FIVE AND FOR ALL BRANCHES OF THE AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY.
SO THEREFORE, I HAVE SOME ADVANCED KNOWLEDGE OF THIS ITEM.
HAVING WORKED IN LIBRARIES SINCE COLLEGE, I HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN THESE COMMUNITY SPACES, WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL FOR CHILD DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION, AND LEARNING, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, INNOVATION, PRODUCTIVITY, AND EVEN PUBLIC HEALTH.
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY IS THE ORIGINAL DATA CENTER, UM, THE EN ENERGY EFFICIENT KIND, AND THAT'S WHY I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE COUNCIL SUPPORT OF THIS RESOLUTION DESIGNATING THE CITY OF AUSTIN, THE BOOK SAFE HARBOR, ESPECIALLY IN THIS YEAR, AS WE CELEBRATE A HUNDRED YEARS OF THE LIBRARY, WE WILL, WE WILL JOIN OTHER SUCCESSFUL DESIGNATIONS IN TEXAS, INCLUDING THE HARRIS COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM.
AND I WANTED TO READ DIRECTLY FROM THE LIBRARY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION.
WE CONTINUE TO BELIEVE IT IS A CORE MISSION OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY TO PROVIDE QUALITY INFORMATION FROM DIVERSE VIEWPOINTS.
BECAUSE AS OTHER SPEAKERS, THE OTHER SPEAKER HAS SAID, HER TEXAS, TEXAS HAS PASSED SEVERAL BILLS IN, UH, SINCE 2021, RESTRICT RESTRICTING PUBLIC ACCESS TO BOOKS.
AND THOSE ATTACKS ONLY SEEM TO BE INCREASING.
UM, A PL DOES, UH, HAVE A THOROUGH MATERIALS RECONSIDERATION PROCESS, UM, AND ALSO TO QUOTE FROM THE RECOMMENDATION BOOK, BANS AND UNDUE CHALLENGES ARE ATTACKS ON OPEN ACCESS AND FREE INQUIRY, WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL TO OUR DEMOCRACY.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER LANE AND CO-SPONSORS FUENTES, QUEZ, SIEGEL, AND ELLIS FOR BUILDING ON RESOLUTION 20 22 0 9 0 180 6, WHICH WAS SUPPORTED IN PROTECT AND PROTECTING OF THE FREEDOM TO READ THIS BOOK.
SAFE HARBOR DE DESIGNATION WILL PUT, UM, A PL IN LEAGUE, AND IT IS AN IMPORTANT STEP TOWARDS PROTECTING INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM, OPEN ACCESS, AND THE LIBRARY'S COMMITMENTS.
YOU VERY MUCH FUTURE GENERATIONS.
ITEM 70, I HAVE CORY OAKS AND ZENOBIA JOSEPH, AND THEN ON DECK FOR 72 WILLIAM BUNCH AND ZENOBIA JOSEPH, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
UH, MY NAME IS CORY PUTMAN OAKS.
I'M A CHILDREN'S BOOK AUTHOR, A FORMER A ISD, MIDDLE SCHOOL ENGLISH TEACHER, AND A MOM TO TWO TEEN AUSTINITE READERS, UH, LIKE LIZ, WHO YOU JUST, UH, HEARD FROM.
I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF AUTHORS AGAINST BOOK BANS CONTINUING WHERE SHE LEFT OFF.
I'M HERE TODAY TO URGE THE COUNCIL TO PASS THE RESOLUTION IN FAVOR OF NAMING AUSTIN A BOOK SAFE HARBOR IN VOTING
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TO SUPPORT THE AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY AND ITS MISSION TO FURTHER THE FREEDOM TO READ IN AUSTIN.YOU'LL ALSO BE SUPPORTING THE WHOLE BOOKISH COMMUNITY OF AUSTIN THAT COMES ALONG WITH IT.
WE ARE AUTHORS, ILLUSTRATORS, LIBRARIANS, EDUCATORS, BOOKSTORE OWNERS AND READERS.
THERE ARE A LOT OF US HERE IN AUSTIN WHO ARE DEEPLY INVESTED IN PROTECTING OUR PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
WE KNOW AUSTIN TO BE A CITY THAT IS PROUD OF OUR DIVERSITY, OUR INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM, AND OUR WEIRDNESS.
BUT WITH TODAY'S POLITICAL CLIMATE, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DON'T JUST REST ON OUR LAURELS AND HOPE THAT OUR STRONG, UNIQUE CITY CULTURE SURVIVES.
WE NEED TO TAKE STEPS TO DEFEND IT AGAINST PEOPLE WHO ARE SYSTEMATICALLY TRYING TO ERASE THE VOICES AND VIEWPOINTS OF THOSE WHO DISAGREE WITH THEM.
LIBRARIES ARE THEIR FAVORITE BATTLEFIELDS, SO IT MAKES SENSE TO TAKE SOME PROACTIVE STEPS TO DEFEND OURS.
THIS RESOLUTION IS ALSO TIMELY, GIVEN THAT THE AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY IS CELEBRATING ITS CENTENNIAL THIS YEAR.
I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER WAY TO CELEBRATE A HUNDRED YEARS OF THIS INSTITUTION THAN FOR THE CITY TO PASS THIS RESOLUTION, WHICH PUBLICLY SUPPORTS EVERYTHING THAT THE AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY STANDS FOR AND THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT THEY DO FOR THIS COMMUNITY.
WE ALSO HOPE THAT BY AUSTIN, HOPEFULLY TAKING THIS STEP, OTHER CITIES IN TEXAS AND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY WILL BE EMBOLDENED TO DO THE SAME.
IT FEELS RIGHT FOR AUSTIN TO BE A LEADER IN THIS MOVEMENT.
LET'S KEEP LIBRARIES FOR EVERYONE.
PLEASE VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE FREEDOM TO READ.
PLEASE PASS THIS RESOLUTION AND MAKES THE CITY OF AUSTIN A BOOK SAFE HARBOR.
OKAY, GOOD MORNING, BILL BUNCH, SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE DISTRICT FIVE SPEAKING ON ITEM 72.
UH, THIS IS A RESOLUTION LED BY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER LANE.
THIS IS IN HER DISTRICT, UH, CALLING FOR SOME LAKELINE SHOPPING MALL AREA PLANNING.
UM, I EMBRACE, UH, SMALL AREA PLANNING, UH, BUT THERE'S JUST FATAL FLAWS WITH THIS RESOLUTION.
I HOPE YOU AND YOUR CO-SPONSORS WILL, UH, STEP BACK AND AMEND IT AND FIX IT.
UM, YOU'VE GOT DOWN ON PAGE FOUR IS WHERE YOU FOR F FINALLY GET TO THE BE IT RESOLVED AND IT BECOMES CLEAR THAT THIS RESOLUTION IS ABOUT DIVERTING YET MORE FUNDING FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO SUPPORT, UH, BIG DEVELOPERS, GIANT CORPORATIONS, UH, TO GET TAX KICKBACKS TO EXPAND THEIR DEVELOPMENT.
UH, THE VERY FIRST THING IT'S CALLED FOR IS LOOKING AT TAX INCREMENT FINANCING.
UH, OUR STATE LAW SPECIFICALLY PROHIBITS, UH, TAX INCREMENT FINANCING IN AREAS THAT ARE NOT, UH, SUFFERING FROM A, A LACK OF DEVELOPMENT.
AND YOUR RESOLUTION SAYS, POINT BLANK, THIS AREA IS BOOMING.
SO 0.1, YOU'RE, YOU'RE OFF ON THE WRONG TRACK.
Y'ALL NEED TO READ THE LAW AND HAVE YOUR LAWYERS TELL YOU WHAT THE LAW IS ON EQUITY.
UH, YOU CALL FOR INCLUDING THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THE ROBINSON PUD, THE LAKELINE DEVELOPERS.
THERE'S NO CALL FOR ANY PARTICIPATION BY YOUR OWN CONSTITUENTS, THE NEIGHBORS WHO LIVE THERE.
YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THIS AREA PARTICIPATING IN THIS PLANNING PROCESS FOR REDEVELOPING THIS AREA.
UH, ALSO A NOTE, THERE ARE ENDANGERED SPECIES ON THE LAKELINE MALL PROP PROPERTY.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF Y'ALL KNEW THAT, BUT IT'S TRUE.
THANK YOU, MR. YOU NEED TO INCLUDE THE WATERSHED PROTECTION.
I HAVE LARRY PHELPS ON THE LINE.
I'M CALLING, UH, IN FAVOR OF ITEM 73.
UM, WHEN IT COMES TO, UH, THE MOLD ISSUE COMPLAINT THAT I WAS FILING WITH, UM, MY APARTMENT INITIALLY, I AM GRATEFUL THAT A, A COUNCILWOMAN WITH THIS, SHE HAS PROVEN A POLICY THAT THAT SEEKS TO IMPROVE THE CODE DEPARTMENT'S PROTOCOL WHEN COMPLAINTS ARE MADE, EXPAND EDUCATION AROUND PREVENTION OF MOLD AND TENANT, RIGHT? AND ALSO THIS REQUIRES REGULAR MOLD TESTING FOR CITY OWNED PROPERTIES, WHICH I THINK IS REALLY HUGE AND NECESSARY.
THAT'S, I THINK THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN, BEEN DONE THIS WHOLE, THIS WHOLE TIME,
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UM, TO PROTECT TENANTS LIKE MYSELF WHO WAS AFFECTED BY MOLD AND HAVING TO GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM NUMEROUS TIMES.UM, I'M IN FAVOR OF THIS 70 OF THIS RESOLUTION, 73, AND I THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN VANESSA.
THANK YOU ALSO FOR 73 SHOSHANA KRIEGER AND XIA JOSEPH.
I, GOOD MORNING AGAIN, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, SHOSHANA KRIEGER FROM BASA.
UM, AT BASA, WE REGULARLY HEAR FROM TENANTS WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH MOLD IN THEIR HOME.
JUST YESTERDAY, I GOT A TEXT FROM SOMEONE WHOSE LANDLORD, ACTUALLY, QUITE SURPRISINGLY, IS DOING SOME REMEDIATION AND TESTING, BUT THEY'RE ALSO REFUSING TO MOVE HER AND HER CHILDREN AND HER BELONGINGS TO AN ALTERNATE UNIT WHILE THE TESTING, UH, WHILE THE WORK IS BEING DONE.
UM, THIS IS A PROBLEM BECAUSE DISTURBED MOLD IS THE MOST UNHEALTHY KIND OF MOLD.
A UT DELL MED SCHOOL HEALTH ADVISORY ON MOLD, UH, WHICH CAN BE FOUND ON OUR WEBSITE, TALKS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF VENTILATION AND PROPER EQUIPMENT WHEN REMEDIATING MOLD.
UM, THE ADVISORY ALSO DETAILS THE MANY HEALTH IMPACTS OF MOLD RANGING FROM RESPIRATORY ISSUES TO WEAKENED IMMUNE SYSTEMS, ESPECIALLY IN CHILDREN.
IT EMPHASIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF TREATING THE UNDERLYING PROBLEMS BECAUSE MOLD WILL COME BACK UNLESS THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM IS FIXED.
THE RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU TODAY EMPHASIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF ADDRESSING THOSE UNDERLYING CONDITIONS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO MOLD, WHICH IS CRUCIAL.
MOST OF THE MOLD ISSUES WE HEAR ABOUT COME FROM WATER INTRUSION AND FAULTY HVAC SYSTEMS, NOT ISSUES THAT RENTERS ARE ABLE TO FIX ON THEIR OWN.
WE KNOW THAT OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS, AUSTIN CODE HAS TAKEN STEPS TO IMPROVE THEIR INSPECTION PROTOCOLS, INCLUDING INCORPORATING MOISTURE METERS INTO INSPECTIONS.
AND WE HAVE DEFINITELY SEEN IMPROVEMENTS ON THE GROUND, UM, IN FEWER COMPLAINTS FROM TENANTS.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT CODE IS LIMITED IN WHAT AND HOW THEY CAN ENFORCE THESE ISSUES, ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO LANDLORD TREATMENT OF TENANTS.
WE APPRECIATE CODE'S CONTINUED WORK IN THIS AREA.
THIS RESOLUTION PRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO EXPLORE POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS TO THIS PROBLEM THAT HAS PLAGUED AUSTIN RES.
THANK YOU TO COUNCILWOMAN FUENTES, UH, FOR ALWAYS BEING A SELLER ALLY OF TENANTS AND FOR HIGHLIGHTING THIS ISSUE AND, UM, FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK AND YOUR TEAM'S WORK ON THIS ITEM.
THANK YOU ALL AND HAVE A GOOD DAY.
ALL SPEAKERS FOR CONSENT HAVE BEEN CALLED.
UH, MEMBERS, AS YOU JUST HEARD, EVERYONE HAS BEEN CALLED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
LET ME ASK IF THERE'S ANY ITEM THAT ANY MEMBER WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA, UH, AFTER HEARING PUBLIC COMMENT.
ALRIGHT, WITH THAT BEING THE CASE, WHAT I'LL DO IS I'LL CALL FOR, FOR A MOTION IN A SECOND AND THEN WE'LL HAVE DISCUSSION IS THE MOTIONS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL.
IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS READ, UH, DISCUSSION.
AND IF YOU WANT TO BE RECOGNIZED, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU FIRST.
OTHERS WANNA BE RECOGNIZED, PLEASE, UH, LET ME KNOW.
COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES SHOULD BE FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL.
WHEN MOLD GO, WHEN MOLD GROWTH GOES UNADDRESSED YOUR HOME, YOUR SAFE PLACE CAN TURN INTO A PLACE OF HARM.
THIS RESOLUTION BUILDS ON PREVIOUS LEGISLATION FROM 2021, AN ITEM OF WHICH I WAS A CO-SPONSOR OF.
AND SO I'M GRATEFUL THAT OUR CITY HAS IMPROVED OUR PRACTICES AROUND DETECTING AND CORRECTING WATER INTRUSION.
BUT I CANNOT IGNORE THE VOICES WHO ARE PLEADING FOR MORE TO BE DONE.
I'VE HEARD FROM CONSTITUENTS ABOUT LANDLORDS NEGLECTING TO ADDRESS MOLD OUT OF FEAR AND HOW, WHO HAVE FEAR OF RETALIATION.
I'VE HEARD ABOUT THE SEVERE IMPACTS TO THEIR HEALTH.
FROM BRAIN FOG TO FULL BODY ECZEMA.
I'VE HEARD THAT MOLD HAS COMPLETELY CHANGED AND IN SOME CASES EVEN RUINED LIVES.
I'M BRINGING FORWARD THIS ITEM TO IMPROVE THE CITY'S LOCAL RESPONSE TO MOLD COMPLAINTS TO ENSURE THAT ALL AUSTINITES HAVE A SAFE AND HEALTHY HOME FREE OF MOLD.
THROUGH THIS RESOLUTION, WE WILL SET MOLD RELATED REGULATIONS.
LANDLORDS MUST FOLLOW AS RECOMMENDED FROM A DIVERSE GROUP OF STAKEHOLDERS.
THIS RESOLUTION ALSO ENHANCES PUBLIC AWARENESS AND EDUCATION RELATED TO MOLD PREVENTION AND REMEDIATION, THE HEALTH IMPACTS OF MOLD HOME REPAIR PROGRAMS AND MORE.
LASTLY, THIS ITEM ENSURES ALL CITY FUNDED HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS ADHERE TO CERTAIN MOLD PREVENTION AND PROPERTY MAINTENANCE STANDARDS.
I BELIEVE THIS POLICY WILL EMPOWER AND MAKE A TRUE DIFFERENCE FOR RESIDENTS LIVES.
AND SO WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY CO-SPONSORS, COUNCIL MEMBER, VELAZQUEZ, SIEGEL, AND CADRY.
COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS AND COUNCIL MEMBER CADRY.
AND YEAH, THANK YOU COUNCILMAN FUENTES FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS MOLD ISSUE.
AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER LANE FOR, AGAIN, FOR THIS BOOK, SAFE HARBOR POLICY.
UH, A LOT OF GOOD STUFF COMING FORWARD TODAY.
I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 60, WHICH IS, UH, IN A MAJOR INVESTMENT IN OUR CITY ARCHEOLOGY
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PROGRAM AND WANTED TO THANK OUR HISTORIC PRESERVATION STAFF FOR THEIR GREAT WORK ON THIS.UM, THESE ARE BASICALLY COMING FROM RECOMMENDATIONS FROM OUR EQUITY-BASED PRESERVATION PLAN TO SUPPORT INVESTMENTS IN CITYWIDE ARCHEOLOGICAL RESEARCH.
UM, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO LEARNING FROM STAFF HOW WE CAN INCORPORATE THIS RESEARCH INTO PROTECTING AND PRESERVING AUSTIN'S HISTORICAL SITES.
COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS CADRE, AND THEN THE MAYOR PRO TEM.
I'M HAPPY TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM NUMBER 65 TODAY.
IT'S AN ORDINANCE ACCEPTING OVER $30 MILLION FROM FEDERAL GRANT FUNDING FOR 14 TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS ALL OVER THE CITY.
AND WITH REGARD TO THOSE LOCAL MATCHING FUNDS, I PARTICULARLY WANNA BRING ATTENTION TO THE CRITICAL ROLE THAT THE VOTER APPROVED 2020 MOBILITY BONDS AND THE STREET IMPACT FEE ARE SERVING HERE.
WE'RE LEVERAGING $1.8 MILLION IN 2020 MOBILITY BONDS TO SECURE 7.3 MILLION MORE IN FEDERAL DOLLARS.
ONE OF THE PROJECTS I'M MOST PARTICULARLY PROUD OF IS TO SEE THE UPDATE TO THE EXPANSION OF CITY'S SAFE ROUTE TO SCHOOL PLANS, WHICH Y'ALL KNOW I AM A BIG CHAMPION OF.
UM, WE FOLLOW A FOLLOWING COUNCIL'S APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION THAT I WROTE, UH, EARLIER THIS YEAR AND LAST YEAR TO, AND THANK YOU TO OUR PROFESSIONAL TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORK STAFF FOR BEING ABLE TO EARMARK THESE DOLLARS.
I KNOW WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS, YOU KNOW, VERY RECENTLY ABOUT HOW WE DOVETAIL OUR DOLLARS TOGETHER AND HOW WE EARMARK SOME OF THESE VOTER APPROVED BOND DOLLARS.
AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO SHOWCASE, YOU KNOW, WHAT IT MEANS TO KEEP THEM, WHAT IT MEANS TO FLAG THESE PROJECTS.
AND THE PROJECT LIST, IT GOES ALL ACROSS THE CITY AND IS VARIOUS DIFFERENT DESIGN PHASES FROM CONSTRUCTION ALL THE WAY DOWN TO PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING.
AND SO I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ABLE TO LEVERAGE THESE DOLLARS AND HOW MUCH MORE MONEY WE'RE GETTING BY BEING ABLE TO KEEP THESE DOLLARS SAFE.
COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, THE MAYOR, TIM, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER LANE.
UM, AND BEFORE I GET INTO MY, UH, SPEECH ON ITEM 69, I'D LIKE TO BE ADDED AS THE CO-SPONSOR FOR ITEM 70 AND 71.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE WAS SHOWN AS CO-SPONSORS OF ITEM 70 AND 71.
UM, I, I JUST WANNA SAY ON, ON ITEM 6 69, UH, VERY THANKFUL TO STAFF FOR WORKING WITH US ON THIS ITEM.
UH, I WANNA SPEAK TO THE CONFUSION FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT WAS SPOKEN ABOUT DURING PUBLIC COMMENT.
AND I WANT TO CLARIFY THAT I RECEIVED COMMITMENT FROM CITY STAFF THAT THIS PROCESS WILL BE CONDUCTED PRIOR TO ANY NEW SOLICITATION, UH, FOR SERVICES.
UH, THE ITEM ESTABLISHES A LONGTIME NEED OF A HOLISTIC REVIEW OF OUR DISPLACEMENT AND EVICTION PREVENTION SERVICES.
THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP EVIDENCE-BASED COMMUNITY BACK RECOMMENDATIONS AND GO FORTH.
KNOWING OUR LIMITED CITY DOLLARS ARE MAXIMIZING EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS, KEEPING PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES IS THE FIRST STEP TO FIGHTING HOMELESSNESS.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH STAFF AND THE COMMUNITY TO GET THIS RIGHT.
UH, I WANT TO THANK ALL MY CO-SPONSORS, UH, ON THIS ITEM.
I WANT TO THANK MY STAFF, UH, ESPECIALLY MELISSA BEELER FOR, FOR WORKING ON THIS ITEM.
UH, AND THEN I WANT TO THANK, UH, I THINK AVES WHO'S, I DUNNO IF HE'S HERE ANYMORE.
HE THANKED YOU, MAYOR AND YOUR WORK ON IN THIS SPACE, SO I WANNA THANK YOU AS WELL.
THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TIM, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER LANE.
I JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF ITEMS. FIRST OF ALL, ITEM 14, WHICH IS A, A WIND ENERGY, UH, POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENT, UH, 60 MEGAWATTS.
AGAIN, GLAD TO SEE AUSTIN ENERGY, CONTINUING TO INVEST IN, UH, RENEWABLE, UH, POWER.
UH, ITEM 22, UH, WHICH IS, UH, IT'S A RATIFICATION OF A CONTRACT THAT HAS ALREADY PASSED.
AND ACTUALLY THE PROJECT IS, IS, IS DONE IN COMPLETE.
UH, IT'S A MES MEADOW, UH, FLOOD PROTECTION, A BIG DIVERSION PROJECT THAT THEY DID, UH, WHICH WAS STALLED WHEN I GOT ONTO COUNCIL.
BUT, UH, PROPS TO, UM, THE CAPITAL DELIVERY SERVICES AND WATERSHED FOR, UH, GETTING IT DONE.
IT'S WORKING AND PROTECTING, UH, HOMES AND RESIDENTS THAT WERE RECENTLY FLOODED.
UH, AND IT'S JUST, UH, GREAT TO SEE THAT ALL WRAPPED UP.
UH, JUST WANT TO MENTION THAT WE, I KNOW WATERSHED TYPICALLY DOES NOT DO, UH, RIBBON CUTTINGS FOR THEIR PROJECTS, BUT, UH, I THINK WE'VE GOTTA DO A RIBBON CUTTING, UH, FOR THIS ONE.
UH, AND, UH, I, I LOOK FORWARD TO IT.
I KNOW THE RESIDENTS OF MES MEADOW AROUND THERE, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO, YOU KNOW, WE, WE FLOODED ABOUT 30 HOMES.
I I KNOW SOME OF Y'ALL WERE ON THE D WHEN WE SAW THOSE HORRIBLE VIDEOS.
UH, THEY ARE, UH, VERY HAPPY TO SEE THE PROJECT UP AND RUNNING AND PROTECTING THEIR HOMES.
UM, ITEM 66, UH, LAUREL, UH, CHESKY, THE, THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE, UH, WINDSOR PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
UH, I JUST WANNA, AGAIN, THANK, UH, CONGRESSMAN DOGGETT WHO, UH, SECURED THAT, UH, EARMARK, UH, FOR THIS ITEM, IT'S A REALLY CRITICAL CONNECTION, A NORTH SOUTH CONNECTION THAT LETS ESSENTIALLY, UH, YOU KNOW, WINDSOR PARK AND NEIGHBORHOODS TO THE NORTH.
UH, GET ACCESS, GET PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE ACCESS, SAFE, EASY PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE ACCESS ACROSS, UH, 10 HILL BRANCH CREEK,
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UH, AND THEN ACROSS 51ST STREET AND INTO, UH, MUELLER.THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS BEEN PUSHING THIS FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.
UH, IT'S A CRITICAL GAP IN OUR NETWORK RIGHT THERE.
AND TO SEE IT HOPEFULLY SOON, UH, BE BUILT AND UP AND RUNNING IS, UH, GONNA BE A JOY FOR THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT'S GONNA JUST DO SO MANY, UH, GOOD AND, AND POSITIVE THINGS.
UH, AND AGAIN, CREDIT TO THE CITY.
'CAUSE WE BUILT THE SIDEWALK RIGHT UP TO THE CREEK ON BOTH SIDES.
UH, AND NOW WE JUST HAVE TO FILL THAT GAP.
BUT, YOU KNOW, FILLING THOSE GAPS, SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, WE BUILD OUT THE NETWORKS, BUT THEN THOSE LITTLE BRIDGES ARE THE MOST EXPENSIVE AND MOST DIFFICULT PART.
UH, BUT WE'RE GONNA GET THIS DONE AND I'M VERY, VERY EXCITED FOR THAT.
UM, UH, THANKS TO TPW ALSO, I KNOW I'VE BEEN HOUNDING THEM, UH, FOR A LONG TIME ABOUT THIS, UH, LITTLE GAP AND, UH, JUST SO GLAD TO SEE IT MOVING FORWARD.
UH, FINALLY, ITEM 70, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR TO ITEM 70, UH, THE, THE BAND BOOKS, UH, UH, A PROJECT.
AND I THINK ABOUT MY MOTHER, WHO WAS A, A LIBRARIAN IN ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL.
UH, AND EVERY YEAR SHE WOULD HAVE THE BAND BOOKS WEEK DISPLAY, UH, WHICH WAS JUST THIS KIND OF DISPLAY OF ALL THE BOOKS THAT HAD BEEN BANNED OVER THE YEARS.
AND IT'S SO FUNNY 'CAUSE GROWING UP I THOUGHT ABOUT IT AS SOME KIND OF ANTIQUATED, YOU KNOW, GOD, PEOPLE WERE SO DUMB BACK THEN THAT THEY TRY TO BAN THESE BOOKS,
UM, BUT, UH, UNFORTUNATELY, UH, WE'RE BACK IN THE, UH, BOOK BANNING, UH, TIME AND, UH, WE'VE GOTTA PUSH BACK AGAINST IT.
I KNOW AUSTIN WILL PUSH BACK AGAINST IT.
I KNOW OUR LIBRARIES WILL PUSH BACK AGAINST IT.
AND ALL, UH, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO, WHO READ, WHO LOVE LEARNING, UH, WILL PUSH BACK AGAINST IT.
SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER LANE FOR THE ITEM AND, AND I'D LOVE TO BE AT IT.
THE MAYOR PROTO WOULD BE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR OF ITEM NUMBER, UH, 70 COUNCIL MEMBER LANE, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN.
UH, FIRST I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 59, THE GRANT ACCEPTANCE FOR SPRINGWOODS PARK.
THIS IS THE MONEY SECURED BY STATE REPRESENTATIVE JOHN BUSEY.
UM, I CONTINUE TO EXTEND MY THANKS TO HIM.
AND NOW THAT, NOW THAT THESE DOLLARS HAVE OFFICIALLY BEEN APPROPRIATED, SPRINGWOODS PARK IS BELOVED IN DISTRICT SIX AND ALSO HEAVILY UTILIZED.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE AUSTIN PARKS DEPARTMENT ON IMPROVEMENTS THAT FURTHER ENHANCE THE EXPERIENCE OF OUR RESIDENTS AT THIS PARK.
UH, WITH RESPECT TO ITEM 70, THE BOOK SAFE HARBOR, THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR, UH, THE KIND WORDS ON THIS RESOLUTION.
UH, I, I'M HAPPY TO BRING FORWARD A RESOLUTION THAT DECLARES THIS CITY OF AUSTIN, A BOOK SAFE HARBOR.
UM, THIS RESOLUTION IS INSPIRED BY THE RECOMMENDATION OF OUR AUSTIN LIBRARY COMMISSION.
IT BUILDS ON THE FREEDOM TO READ RESOLUTION THAT COUNCIL PASSED IN 2022, AND IT REAFFIRMS OUR CITY'S COMMITMENT TO INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM WITH TEXAS LEADING THE NATION.
IN THE NUMBER OF BOOK CHALLENGES, IT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER TO SHOW OUR SUPPORT FOR THE FREEDOM TO READ AND FOR OUR AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY STAFF WHO ARE ON THE FRONT LINES OF THESE CHALLENGES.
THANK YOU TO MY CO-SPONSORS, COUNCIL MEMBER, SIEGEL FUENTES, VELASQUEZ ELLIS, AND A FEW OTHERS.
UH, AS OF THIS MORNING FOR JOINING ME AND BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD, AND ESPECIALLY THANK YOU TO AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY DIRECTOR HANNAH TERRELL AND HER AMAZING STAFF ARE CO-HOSTING US AT THE CENTRAL AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR YESTERDAY'S PRESS CONFERENCE.
UM, I'D ALSO, UH, LIKE TO COMMENT BRIEFLY ON ITEM 1772, UH, WHICH I AM PROUD TO BRING FORWARD.
THIS, UH, THIS ITEM FOCUSES ON THE LAKELINE STATION AREA, WHICH IS IN MY DISTRICT, AND IT IS BRIMMING WITH POTENTIAL.
IT SITS AT THE CONVERGENCE OF FOUR MAJOR TRANSPORTATION CORRIDORS, IS THE ONLY COMMUTER RAIL AND PARK AND RIDE FACILITY WITHIN A FIVE MILE RADIUS.
AND IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO SERVE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE A DAY, CONNECTING THEM WITH, UM, WITH TRANSIT OPTIONS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY AS ACCESSIBLE AS THEY COULD BE.
WHILE LAKELINE STATION HAS CARRIED A TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT DESIGNATION SINCE THE RED LINE OPENED IN 20 10, 16 YEARS LATER, IT REMAINS SIGNIFICANTLY UNDERUTILIZED.
THIS RESOLUTION DIRECTS CITY STAFF TO STUDY OUR OPTIONS AND DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS AND COLLABORATION WITH OUR REGIONAL PARTNERS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO IMPROVE MOBILITY, SAFETY, AND THE VIBRANCY OF THIS AREA SO THAT KIDS, SENIORS, AND EVERYONE IN BETWEEN ARE CONNECTED TO SCHOOLS, JOBS AND SERVICES THEY RELY ON.
UM, I'LL ALSO JUST BRIEFLY NOTE THAT ONE OF THE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES PRESENTED, UM, BY THE LAKELINE STATION AREA IS THE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF VACANT LAND.
AND, AND LOOKING AT THIS AREA HAS IN THE PAST, IRONICALLY BEEN, UH, DEPRIORITIZED SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE THERE IS NOT SIGNIFICANT DISPLACEMENT RISK.
AND, AND THIS REALLY REPRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADD HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND LAND WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT DISPLACEMENT.
I'M VERY EXCITED THAT THE CITY WILL BEGIN WORKING ON THIS, UM, WITH OUR PARTNERS AND AS ALWAYS, WITH CONSIDERATION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES, UM, AND OTHER
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ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES.AND FINALLY, WITH RESPECT TO ITEM 73, I WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR AND I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD RELATED TO MOLD.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, COUNCIL MEMBER LANE WILL BE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR OF ITEM NUMBER 73.
ONE IS TO JUST NOTE THAT IN ITEMS 15 THROUGH 19, WE ARE AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF NEARLY $650 MILLION OF BONDS TODAY.
AND THAT IS A LOT OF MONEY AND A LOT OF DEBT.
AND SO GOING FORWARD, I THINK IT COULD BE REALLY HELPFUL TO UNDERSTAND HOW THAT STACKS UP AGAINST, TO THE RATE THAT WHICH WE ARE ALSO RETIRING OUR DEBT.
AND THAT'S A TOPIC THAT CAME UP FROM SOME OF OUR COLLEAGUES DURING THE BUDGET DISCUSSIONS.
I WANNA POINT OUT ITEM 49, WHICH IS KIND OF A NEAT ITEM.
IT'S A CONVENTION CENTER ITEM TO RENT THE TOP LEVEL OF THE PARKING STRUCTURE FOR COMMUNITY USE BECAUSE IT'S CURRENTLY NOT GENERATING ANY REVENUE AS THE CONVENTION CENTER IS CLOSED.
THIS IS A REALLY CREATIVE SOLUTION, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE CONSIDER THESE KIND OF SOLUTIONS AS WE'RE FACING OUR FISCAL CONSTRAINTS.
I KIND OF WISH IT WASN'T IMMEDIATELY OFFSET BY $20 MILLION OF FURNITURE, BUT IT'S A GOOD START.
UH, ITEM 47, AUTHORIZES FLOODPLAIN REFORESTATION SERVICES FOR AUSTIN WATERSHED PROTECTION.
INCREASING THE TREE CANOPY INVESTING IN GREASE BASIS IS POSITIVE IN ALMOST EVERY INSTANCE I CAN THINK OF, AND I'VE GOT TWO NO VOTES.
WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE BUDGET FOR VISIT AUSTIN, WE FOUND THAT IT WAS COMPARABLE TO THE NEW YORK CITY TOURISM AND CONVENTIONS BUDGET, WHICH IS A MUCH BROADER TAX BASE TO SUPPORT SIMILAR TOURISM EFFORTS.
THEN ITEM 28, WE'VE ALREADY GOT A CONTRACT WITH MICROSOFT, UH, THAT INCLUDES POWER BI FRAMEWORKS.
THIS VENDOR IS THERE TO HELP US.
UM, THIS MICRO STRATEGY BUSINESS IS, IS THERE ARGUABLY COULD BE CONSIDERED DUPLICATIVE AND UNNECESSARY IN A TIME WHERE WE JUST DON'T HAVE A LOT OF RESOURCES.
SO I UNDERSTAND IT'S BEING USED TO HELP US WITH THE BUDGET, BUT I CAN'T SEE WHY THE MICROSOFT TOOLS WE'RE ALREADY PAYING FOR CAN'T DO THAT AS WELL.
COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, MEMBERS, UH, I I WANNA COMMENT ON ITEMS 58 AND 71 QUICKLY.
UH, ITEM 58 IS WHERE WE'RE, UM, ACCEPTING AN APPROPRIATE AND APPROPRIATING $25,000 IN A GRANT AND GRANT FUNDING FROM RRCX SPORTS FOUNDATION FOR THE MLS, UH, MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER GO PLAY FUND.
UH, THIS IS A NATIONAL RECREATION PARKS ASSOCIATION GRANT TO ESTABLISH A NEW CO-ED RECREATIONAL YOUTH SOCCER PROGRAM DEDICATED TO PROVIDING INCLUSIVE AND HIGH QUALITY SOCCER EXPERIENCE FOR OUR KIDS.
UH, I BRING THAT UP IN CONJUNCTION WITH ITEM NUMBER 71 BECAUSE ITEM NUMBER 71, UH, IF APPROVED, WILL HAVE A TRANSFER OF FUNDS FOR MY OFFICE BUDGET TO, UH, MATCH THAT $25,000 TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL AID FOR THE KIDS THAT ARE IN NEED, UH, OF FINANCIAL AID IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO BE PART OF, UH, THIS PROGRAM.
ONE OTHER ITEM IS, IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA, BUT IT IS SOMETHING BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING ELSE THAT RELATES TO THIS.
THROUGH THE US CONFERENCE OF MAYORS AND, UH, FIFA, WE, THE CITY OF AUSTIN RECEIVED 200 FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 OFFICIAL MATCH BALLS, UH, THAT WAS IN CELEBRATION OF THE SUMMER'S.
UH, BIG, Y'ALL MAY HAVE HEARD THERE WAS A SOCCER MATCH THIS SUMMER.
UM, AND, AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE, UH, HAVE THAT GIFT OF THESE SOCCER BALLS TO AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION SO THAT WE CAN USE 'EM DURING THE INAUGURAL SEASON OF THIS MLS GO PROGRAM.
SO I APPRECIATE ALL THE CO-SPONSORS OF THIS AS WELL.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UH, AS YOU'VE HEARD ME SPEAK BEFORE AND, AND WE LAID OUT JUST LAST WEEK, UH, FIVE PRIORITIES WERE WHAT I REFER TO AS GENERATION A TX.
AND, UH, ONE OF THOSE PRIORITIES IS ACTIVATING THIRD SPACES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND OF COURSE, A KEY PART OF ACTIVATING THOSE THIRD SPACES IS TO MAKE SURE THAT PE KIDS HAVE A SENSE OF BELONGING IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, AND THERE'S NOTHING I THINK THAT HELPS WITH THAT SENSE OF BELONGING MORE THAN TEAM SPORTS WHERE THEY, THEY'RE A PART OF A PART OF A GROUP.
SO I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY THAT WAS, UH, PART OF, UH, THAT AS WELL.
UH, THE CO-SPONSORS WERE COUNCIL MEMBER LANE COUNCIL MEMBERS, LANE FUENTES, RYAN, UH, UH, AL RYAN ALTER AND, UH, UH, MAYOR PRO, TIM LEN, OF COURSE, COUNCIL MEMBER CORY SIGNED ON, UH, TODAY WITH THAT MEMBERS, IF THERE'S NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, YES, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, MARY, I'D LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR ON 71.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ WILL BE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR OF 71 COUNCILOR ELLIS, I'D LIKE TO BE VOTING NO ON ITEM FOUR.
I WAS GETTING READY TO GO TO THAT.
SO LET ME ASK IF THERE'S ANYONE THAT WISHES TO, UH, BE SHOWN ABSTAINING ON
[01:55:01]
ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.NO, BUT I ALSO WANNA BE A CO-SPONSOR.
COUNCIL MEMBER LANE WILL BE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR OF ITEM NUMBER 71.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, 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 ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ALRIGHT, I HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN VOTING NO ON ITEMS 11 AND 28 AND COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS VOTING NO ON ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, I'D LIKE TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
ANYBODY ELSE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON ANY OTHER ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? HEARING NONE, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN BEING SHOWN VOTING NO ON ITEM 11 AND 28.
COUNCIL MEMBERS ELLIS AND FUENTES BEING SHOWN VOTING NO ON ITEM NUMBER FOUR MEMBERS.
THAT CONCLUDES THE CONSENT AGENDA.
BEFORE WE GET TO OUR 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND WE DO IS WE GO TO ITEMS THAT
[Items 77 - 82]
HAVE BEEN REFERRED FROM COMMITTEES.THOSE ARE ITEMS 77 THROUGH 82.
WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND WE DO ON THESE IS FOR PURPOSES OF, UH, EFFICIENCY.
EACH OF THESE ITEMS HAVE COME FROM THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE.
UH, I WILL CALL FOR SPEAKERS IN JUST A SECOND, BUT WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST WE DO IS TAKE THOSE AS A CONSENT AGENDA OF THOSE ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN REFERRED FROM COUNCIL COMMITTEES.
I, AS MEMBER, AS THE CHAIR OF THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE, I MOVE ADOPTION OF ITEMS 77 THROUGH 82.
THE VICE CHAIR COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, UH, SECONDS THAT MOTION.
I'LL NOW TURN TO THE CLERK FOR CALLING OF SPEAKERS.
ON ITEM 77, I HAVE XENOBI JOSEPH AND MAYOR, DID YOU MOVE THROUGH 81? I CAN'T REMEMBER.
ALRIGHT, MEMBERS, THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 77 THROUGH 82.
THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED TO ADOPT ITEM 77 THROUGH 82 AS ITEMS COMING FROM A COUNCIL COMMITTEE, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ITEM 77 THROUGH 82 ARE ADOPTED, UH, MEMBERS,
[Items 83 - 85]
WHAT WE'LL DO NOW IS WE WILL GO TO, UH, ITEMS 83 THROUGH 85, AND, UM, THESE ARE IMMINENT DOMAIN ITEMS AND I'LL TURN TO THE CLERK TO CALL FOR SPEAKERS FOR ITEM 83.I HAVE JEFF D. DICKERSON AND WILLIAM BUNCH.
MR. BUNCH, ARE YOU GOING TO BE TESTIFYING ON THIS? ALL RIGHT, MR. DICKERSON, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
MAYOR, BEFORE I BEGIN, I'D LIKE TO GET THE AUDIO VIDEO TEAM HERE OR SHOUT OUT BECAUSE NOBODY EVER SPEAKS ON THE WORK THEY DO BEHIND THE SCENES ON THE FLAKING AUDIO VIDEO AND HELPING OTHER PEOPLE SPEAK.
I DON'T THINK BUYING THE LAND IS AUTOMATICALLY IRRESPONSIBLE.
IT'S PRESERVING HISTORIC SITE, IT'S THINNING TRAILS.
THERE ARE LEGITIMATE PUBLIC PURPOSES, BUT BEFORE THAT, COUNCIL USES THE IMMINENT DOMAIN ON THIS AREA.
TAXPAYERS DESERVE A FULL PROJECT COST ESTIMATE.
WE KNOW AT THIS POINT IT'S $1.13 MILLION OR $61,000 AN ACRE.
THAT'S NOT THE FULL COST OF ALL.
WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE, SPENDING THE AMOUNT TO PURCHASE THE LAND MAY BE REASONABLE.
APPROVING THE PROPERTY WITHOUT KNOWING THE PROCESS TOTAL, IT'S ABOUT THE COST IS THE PART THAT DESERVES SCRUTINY AND IS PART THAT DESERVES TO BE SHOWN TO THE TAXPAYERS WHEN LOOKING AT THINGS LIKE THIS.
MR. BUNCH HAS WAIVED HIS RIGHT TO SPEAK ON ITEM 83, UH, MEMBERS.
I CONFIRM THAT THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP ON ITEM NUMBER 83 84 AND 85, UM, WITH RESPECT TO ITEMS 83, 84 AND 85, THESE ARE NON-CONSENT CONDEMNATION ITEMS, AND THE MOTION WILL BE 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 USES THAT ARE DESCRIBED THEREIN.
IS THERE A MOTION AND A SECOND MOTION IS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.
IS THERE DISCUSSION ON ITEMS 83 84 AND 85?
[02:00:02]
HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.UH, ITEMS 83 84 AND 85 ARE ADOPTED PURSUANT TO THE, THE SPECIFIC MOTION THAT I READ INTO THE, INTO THE RECORD MEMBERS.
[88. Conduct a public hearing and approve a resolution authorizing the City Manager to apply for and accept funds from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s (TPWD) Local Park Grant Program that will partially fund improvements to Bolm District Park and to take actions necessary to comply with requirements imposed as part of the Local Park Grant Program, including executing any necessary agreements. Funding: If successful and funding is awarded, up to $1,500,000 construction costs can be reimbursed by TPWD. A City match of $1,500,000 is required and is available in the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Operating Budget of Austin Parks and Recreation.]
88.ITEM NUMBER 88 IS A PUBLIC HEARING.
UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 88.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK.
THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THIS CALL FOR ON ITEM NUMBER 88.
SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 88, AND THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED.
I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION ON ITEM NUMBER 88.
IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION IS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER.
IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER LANE.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER 88? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ITEM NUMBER, THE RESOLUTION ON ITEM NUMBER 88 IS ADOPTED MEMBERS THAT WILL TAKE US, IT'S
[12:00 PM - Public Communication: General]
12 O'CLOCK.THAT WILL TAKE US TO OUR 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, UH, WHICH IS PUBLIC COMMUNICATION, AND I, UH, WILL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK AND ASK THE CITY CLERK TO BEGIN CALLING THE NAMES OF THOSE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
FIRST SPEAKER GINA WILD, ERNEST HOOVER, ANDREW DEAN, AND ALLISON NORTHROP.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
AND THEN WHAT WE'LL DO IS I'LL JUST ASK YOU TO IDENTIFY YOURSELF BY NAME, UM, AS YOU BEGIN SPEAKING, AND YOU'LL BE FIRST, I'M GINA WILDE.
UH, THIS SENSOR MEASURES PM 2.5, A DANGEROUS FORM OF AIR POLLUTION.
VERY SAFE AIR CHRONIC PM 2.5 EXPOSURE IS LINKED TO SYSTEMIC INFLAMMATION, CANCERS, AND PREMATURE DEATH.
WITH THE HALLOWEEN SEASON COMING UP, THEATER FOG WILL BE USED HEAVILY IN HAUNTED HOUSES, MUSIC VENUES, AND THEATER PRODUCTIONS WITH GUESTS AND WORKERS STANDING IN IT FOR LONG HOURS EVERY TIME.
SIX FLAGS FIESTA, TEXAS USED FOG IN THEIR THEATER BUILDINGS.
THIS SENSOR WENT FAR BEYOND THE EPAS HAZARDOUS RANGE FOR POLLUTION.
I'VE ALSO FOUND THE SAME HAZARDOUS LEVELS AT SEAWORLD WHENEVER THEY USED THEATER FOG.
MY HEALTH HAS BEEN SEVERELY IMPACTED AS A LONG-TERM GUEST.
LAST YEAR, I EXPERIENCED ANAPHYLAXIS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE, ALONG WITH IMMUNE AND DIGESTIVE SYSTEM DAMAGE THAT REQUIRED ONGOING MEDICAL CARE.
EVEN WEARING A KN 95 MASK INSIDE THE THEATERS IS NOT ENOUGH TO PROTECT ANYBODY.
I BELIEVE THIS WAS FROM CUMULATIVE POLLUTION EXPOSURE AND I HAVE OBSERVED SIMILAR SERIOUS HEALTH ISSUES AMONG OTHER LONGTIME GUESTS AND WORKERS, INCLUDING TECHNICIANS, MUSICIANS, AND USHERS.
WHILE I WAS RECOVERING FROM NEARLY DYING LAST JULY, 2025, I BEGAN RESEARCHING THEATER FOG.
I TESTED FOUR FOG MACHINES USING THREE DIFFERENT KINDS OF SENSORS.
I WROTE UP THE RESULTS AND SHARED WITH THEM WITH MY LOCAL STATE SENATOR'S OFFICE IN EVERY TEST.
FOG MACHINES PRODUCED EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS PM 2.5 LEVELS.
I HAVE LEARNED THAT FOG MACHINES OPERATE THE SAME WAY AS VAPING AND E-CIGARETTES.
THEY HEAT GLYCOL FLUIDS TO CREATE AEROSOLS, THE SAME CHEMICAL BASED, THE SAME HEATING MECHANISM, BUT MUCH HIGHER PM 2.5 FOR FOG MACHINES.
WHILE MY SENSORS MAXED OUT AT 5,000 MICRONS, STUDIES SHOW AVERAGE LEVELS OF 10,000 MICRONS FROM JUST A 22ND BURST OF FOG.
AND FOR CONTEXT, THE EPAS SAFE STANDARD IS 35 AND CLASSIFIES 225 AS HAZARDOUS.
BECAUSE VENUES RUN THESE MACHINES CONTINUOUSLY, THE ACTUAL LEVELS GENERATED IN THOSE SPACES ARE MUCH HIGHER THAN THAT.
THEATER FOG IS BASICALLY LARGE SCALE VAPING AND SHOULD BE TREATED AS VAPE DEVICES.
I REPORTED MY SENSOR READINGS AND HEALTH CONCERNS TO THE EPA OSHA HEALTH DEPARTMENTS.
NO ONE TOOK THE COMPLAINTS SERIOUSLY.
INDOOR AIR QUALITY IS UNREGULATED.
THE EPA WOULD NOT TOLERATE AT A QUARRY, BUT ENTERTAINMENT VALUE VENUES ARE ALLOWED TO GENERATE MASSIVE AIR POLLUTION WITHOUT OVERSIGHT.
MANY FAMILIES VISIT THEME PARKS UNAWARE THEIR BREATHING, HAZARDOUS AIR POLLUTION.
NOW WITH HALLOWEEN APPROACHING LOCAL HAUNTED HOUSES AND ATTRACTIONS WILL BE SATURATED WITH THESE SAME CHEMICAL CLOUDS.
THEATER FOG IS HAZARDOUS POLLUTION.
WHY DON'T WE START ON THIS END AND WE'LL JUST GO THIS DIRECTION AND ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS IDENTIFY YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD, BUT YOU DO NEED THAT MICROPHONE.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT THREE AND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE OFFICER RY CLUB, OF WHICH WE HAVE A FEW MEMBERS OF ATTENDANCE HERE TODAY.
UM, I'VE BEEN A MEMBER FOR TWO YEARS AND I GOT MORE INVOLVED WITH THE CLUB LAST
[02:05:01]
SPRING WHEN WE WERE THREATENED WITH CLOSURE, WE STAYED OPEN THANKS TO PUBLIC SUPPORT, HELP FROM THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE AND COUNCILMAN UCHIN, WHO IS THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE AREA THAT THE THE CLUB IS IN.UM, NOW AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION A PR HAS TOLD US THAT WE MUST LEAVE M ALONG BY DECEMBER 31ST.
UH, LAST SPRING, A PR AGREED TO WORK WITH US.
IF WE MET A SET OF REQUIREMENTS, WE'VE MET EVERYONE.
WE COULD BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR BOARD MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS, THIRD PARTY FINANCIAL ASSESSMENTS, AND A CONTRACTOR TO PURSUE A DA COMPLIANCE OR SEEK A VARIANCE WHERE COMPLIANCE ISN'T ACHIEVABLE.
DESPITE REFUSING NONE OF APRS REQUESTS, THEY KEPT MOVING THE GOALPOSTS.
MOST RECENTLY RAISING UNSUPERVISED GATE CODE ACCESS A COMPLAINT NEVER VOICED BEFORE.
THEY'VE ALSO CITED STORAGE CONTAINERS ON THE PROPERTY AS A PROBLEM.
THOUGH WE'VE NEVER ONCE ASKED, BEEN, BEEN ASKED TO REMOVE THEM, WE'VE REACHED THE POINT WHERE WE SIMPLY CANNOT COMMUNICATE WITH A PR.
WE'RE ASKING THAT THIS COUNCIL, UH, FOR HELP OVERRIDING THE A PR DECISION TO TERMINATE OUR LEASE AND TO DIRECT A PR TO MAKE A GOOD FAITH EFFORT TOWARD FINDING SOLUTIONS FOR A A C TO CONTINUE OPERATING.
UH, AT AL LONG PARK, WE'RE STUCK IN A CYCLE WHERE WE MEET, WE BUILD A PLAN, WE MAKE REQUESTS.
A PR SAYS THEY'LL RESPOND, THEN GO SILENT, UH, AT A MEETING COUNCILMAN UCHIN ATTEND.
WE BELIEVE WE'D SHOWN A GOOD FAITH EFFORT AND ASKED FOR A FULL YEAR'S EXTENSION, NOT JUST ONE TO DECEMBER 31ST.
THAT REQUEST, UH, I JUST LEARNED, WAS DENIED THOUGH NOT, WE WEREN'T REALLY EVEN NOTIFIED OF THAT.
UM, AFTERWARD WE PUT OUR CONTRACTOR ALTURA SOLUTIONS IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH A PR AS PLANNED AT OUR MEETING, UM, WHO ONLY RESPOND TO THEM WAS THAT BASICALLY DON'T BOTHER, UM, STOP ALL WORK.
THE THE SITE CANNOT BE BROUGHT INTO COMPLIANCE, WHICH IS NOT WHAT WE AGREED ON IN OUR MEETING.
WE, WE, WE DECIDED THAT WE WOULD, THEY WOULD COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY TO JUST CUT US OUT AS A MIDDLEMAN.
WE, WE PLAN, WE, WE MEET, WE MAKE A PLAN.
THE MOMENT WE FOLLOW UP OUTSIDE A MEETING, THEY JUST SAY, DON'T BOTHER.
YOU'RE BEING SHUT DOWN ANYWAY.
UM, REPEATEDLY A PR HAS SAID THAT THE SITE ISN'T SUITABLE FOR ARCHERY.
THIS, THIS IS A CLAIM THAT HAS NOT, UH, BEEN BACKED BY ANY KIND OF EVIDENCE, DATA, OR REASONING.
IT'S SIMPLY SOMETHING THAT JUST KEEPS SAYING, THIS SITE IS AN EXCELLENT PLACE FOR ARCHERY.
WE'VE BEEN OPERATING ON AT ONG PARK SINCE 1976 WITH A PERFECT RECORD OF SAFETY, NO INCIDENTS, AND WE'VE BEEN EXCELLENT STEWARDS OF LAND.
IT'S A LOW IMPACT USE OF THE LAND AND MOVING US OUTSIDE OF THE, THE PARK WOULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE, THE GREATER AUSTIN ARCHERY COMMUNITY.
AND ADDITIONALLY, THANK YOU SIR.
PLEASE IF YOU'LL STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
UM, I'M ALISON NORTHROP AND I'M A RESIDENT OF NORTHWEST HILLS AND THE INCOMING SECRETARY OF THE AUSTIN ARCHERY CLUB.
UM, WITH HERE WITH ANDY, I'M ASKING YOU TODAY FOR YOUR HELP TO OVERRIDE AUSTIN PARKS DEPARTMENT PARKS AND RECREATION DECISION TO TERMINATE AACS AGREEMENT TO PRACTICE ARCHERY AT EMEL LONG PARK.
FOR 50 YEARS, A A C HAS OPERATED AUSTIN'S ONLY PUBLIC OUTDOOR ARCHERY RANGE.
AT EMEL LONG PARK, WE HAVE MORE THAN 500 ARCHERIES FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE.
OUR MEMBERS LIVE IN EVERY COUNCIL DISTRICT WITHIN AUSTIN.
WE SERVE MEMBERS OF ALL PHYSICAL ABILITIES AND ROUGHLY 20% OF OUR MEMBERS ARE VETERANS.
IN THIS CLUB'S 50 YEAR HISTORY, WE'VE HAD ZERO RECORDED SAFETY INCIDENTS.
AND YOU'LL SEE THERE'S SOME, SOME PICTURES THAT WE'RE SHARING HERE OF, OF THE PARK.
UM, UH, AND SO WE'VE BEEN REALLY RESPONSIVE TENANTS AND ALSO MOST IMPORTANTLY, GOOD STEWARDS OF THE LAMB.
PERHAPS MOST CONCERNING IS THAT A PR IS TERMINATING OUR LEASE WITHOUT OFFERING A A CA REPLACEMENT LOCATION.
DISPLACING A 50-YEAR-OLD ARCHERY CLUB DOESN'T JUST TAKE AWAY A SAFE PLACE TO PRACTICE ARCHERY.
IT INCREASES THE RISK OF ARCHERY BEING PRACTICED IN UNSANCTIONED FAR LESS SAFE LOCATIONS, INCLUDING PEOPLE'S OWN NEIGHBORHOODS.
I CAN SPEAK TO WHAT THIS RANGE MEANS TO ME FIRSTHAND.
MY FAMILY AND I MOVED HERE A FEW YEARS AGO, AND THROUGH A A C WE'VE MET MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
WE NEVER WOULD'VE CROSSED PATHS WITH OTHERWISE.
THE OUTDOOR 3D COURSE WHERE YOU HIKE THE TRAILS BETWEEN TARGETS, CONNECTS PEOPLE TO NATURE AND BUILDS A KIND OF COMRADERY THAT YOU DON'T FIND IN AN INDOOR ARCHERY RANGE.
AND AGAIN, A A C IS THE ONLY PUBLIC OUTDOOR ARCHERY RANGE IN AUSTIN, A A C HAS MADE GOOD FAITH EFFORTS TO MEET APRS REQUIREMENTS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO NON-PROFIT VERIFICATION.
RESTATED FINANCIALS, A THIRD PARTY CPA REVIEW,
[02:10:01]
BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR EVERY VOLUNTEER, AND PAYING FOR AN A DA ASSESSMENT FOR TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING AND REGULATION USING APRS RECOMMENDED VENDORS.WE RESPONDED TO EVERY REQUEST, AND YET THE TERMINATION CAME IN AUGUST.
THE REASONING A PR GAVE US WAS THAT ARCHERY SIMPLY ISN'T APPROPRIATE USE FOR THE SITE.
A SITE THAT HAS BEEN USED FOR ARCHERY FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS.
THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT HAD NEVER BEEN RAISED WITH US BEFORE.
UM, AND A PR REACHED THAT CONCLUSION BEFORE THE VARIANCE PROCESS THEY DIRECTED US INTO WAS EVEN ALLOWED TO FINISH.
WE'RE ASKING COUNSEL FOR YOUR HELP IN DIRECTING STAFF TO REVERSE ITS DECISION THAT ARCHERY DOESN'T BELONG IN EMMA LONG PARK.
AND TO MAKE A GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO ALLOW A, A C TO CONTINUE USING THE SPACE SO THAT PEOPLE HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO PRACTICE ARCHERY.
AND THAT AUSTIN'S LONG STANDING CULTURE OF ARCHERY ISN'T LOST.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
YOU NEED TO TURN THAT MICROPHONE ON.
UH, I LIVE ON THE BORDER OF DISTRICT THREE AND DISTRICT FIVE, AND, UH, I'M ACTUALLY HERE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
YOU CAN GO TO THE FIRST LINE, THE SECOND.
UM, ON AUGUST 19TH, THERE WAS A SEGMENT ON KU NEWS, UH, REGARDING A HOMELESS LADY ON RED STREET, WHO'S BEEN THERE FOR OVER ALMOST TWO MONTHS.
UM, IF YOU CAN GO TO NEXT SLIDE.
THIS IS THE LADY AS OF THREE DAYS AGO.
CAN YOU GO TO NEXT SLIDE? THIS IS A P D'S STATEMENT IN REGARDS TO NOT BEING ABLE TO DO ANYTHING, SAYING THERE'S NOT A VIOLATION OF ORDINANCES OR THE LAW.
THIS IS HOUSE BILL 1925 SPECIFICALLY STATING THAT SLEEPING FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME OF STORING BELONGINGS IS IN VIOLATION OF THE LAW.
REGARDLESS, LETTING A WOMAN SLEEP ON THE STREET FOR MONTHS IN A HUNDRED DEGREE HEAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.
AND HER QUOTE UNQUOTE, NOT WANTING TO ACCEPT HELP IS NOT OKAY.
MAYBE THAT'S ACTUALLY A CRY FOR HELP, EVEN IF IT WAS LEGAL, WHICH IT ISN'T.
WHERE'S SOMEONE STEPPING UP TO SAY, WE NEED TO HELP THIS LADY.
WHERE IS HSO? WHERE ARE THE OUTREACH GROUPS BACK IN APRIL? MYSELF AND A NEIGHBOR, WERE ON AUSTIN FOX NEWS TO HIGHLIGHT THESE TYPES OF ISSUES.
THIS IS AN ENCAMPMENT, LITERALLY 10 FEET FROM ST.
ELMO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PARKING LOT.
AND ACROSS THE STREET THERE'S THREE DAYCARES.
WHY ARE WE WAITING FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN TO A CHILD OR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN TO ANY CITIZEN? BEFORE WE SAY ENOUGH, THERE SHOULD BE ZERO TOLERANCE OF ENCAMPMENTS IN NEIGHBORHOODS, ZERO TOLERANCE IN NEIGHBORHOODS.
THIS IS WHAT I SEE EVERY DAY WHEN I WALK MY DOG, UM, ACROSS THE BRIDGE AT ST.
THERE SHOULD BE BARRIERS ON THAT CORNER.
WE NEED TO CLEAN UP OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT'S NOT NORMAL, BUT I FEEL LIKE THE CITY, THE CITY IS DESENSITIZED.
I KEEP HEARING ABOUT COMPASSION AND RESPECT, BUT I DIDN'T GET ANY COMPASSION AND RESPECT WHEN A HOMELESS MAN ATTEMPTED TO STEAL MY TARGET ORDER FROM MY HOUSE AND I HAD TO CONFRONT HIM IN THE STREET.
THIS NEEDS TO BE A PRIORITY, NOT CAPS AND STITCHES.
YOU CAN'T ASK SOMEBODY FOR A VOTE, BUT THEN AT THE SAME TIME AND ASK THEM FOR PROPERTY TAX INCREASE AND THEN THIS GO ON IN YOUR BACKYARD.
AND THERE WERE TWO REMOTE SPEAKERS, BUT THEY HAVEN'T CALLED IN YET.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
[02:15:27]
WELCOME.JUST STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.
I'M IN FIFTH GRADE AT LONGVIEW, AND THIS IS MY WATER BOTTLE.
I CARRY THIS EVERYWHERE TO SCHOOL, TO PIANO CLASS, TO MATH CAMP.
IT'S BEEN REFILLED OVER A THOUSAND TIMES AND IT'S NEVER BEEN TO A LANDFILL, BUT NOT EVERY BOTTLE IS CREATED EQUAL.
AUSTIN HAS A GOAL TO REDUCE 90% OF LANDFILL WASTE BY 2040.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE ONLY AT 37%, SO WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.
AND SINGLE USE PLASTIC WATER BOTTLES LIKE THIS ONE ARE A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE PROBLEM.
EVEN WHEN THEY MAKE IT INTO THE RECYCLING, ONLY 30% ACTUALLY GET RECYCLED.
OTHER CITIES HAVE ALREADY MADE SOME EFFORTS.
FOR EXAMPLE, SAN FRANCISCO PANDEMIC AT THEIR AIRPORT AT, UM, IN 2019, EVEN AUSTIN HAS REDUCED THEM IN SOME VENUES.
AT Q2 STADIUM, FOR INSTANCE, 50,000 REUSABLE BOTTLES WERE REFILLED IN JUST ONE SEASON.
THE STADIUM NOW DIVERTS OVER 90% OF LANDFILL WASTE, AND IT'S THE FIRST SOCCER STADIUM IN THE WORLD TO BE A CERTIFIED ZERO WASTE.
BUT WE STILL HAVE ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT AT AUSTIN'S AIRPORT.
THOUSANDS OF THESE EVIL BOTTLES ARE SOLD EVERY DAY AT PALMER EVENT CENTER.
LONG CENTER CITY REC CENTERS, NONE OF THEM REQUIRE VENDORS TO STOP SELLING THESE BOTTLES.
I KNOW TEXAS LAW BLOCKED US FROM SELLING, PLANNING THEM IN PRIVATE STORES, BUT THE CITY CAN SET RULES FOR ITS OWN PROPERTY LIKE THE AIRPORT.
AND I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE TRADE-OFFS.
VENDORS MIGHT LOSE SOME REVENUE AND ALTERNATIVES COST A LITTLE MORE, BUT VENDORS CAN ADJUST LIKE THEY DID IN SAN FRANCISCO, AND PEOPLE CAN JUST REFILL THEIR WATER BOTTLES.
FOR FREE CITY COUNCIL LEADERS, I REQUEST YOU TO CONSIDER THREE THINGS.
NUMBER ONE, INSTALL REFILL STATIONS ON MAJOR CITY FACILITIES SUCH AS THE NEW CONVENTION CENTER.
NUMBER TWO, BAN PLASTIC BOTTLE SALES THROUGH VENDOR LEASES ON CITY PROPERTY.
AND NUMBER THREE, LAUNCH A CITYWIDE CAMPAIGN LIKE ACL'S, HASHTAG B BOTTLE TO MAKE CARRYING REUSABLE BOTTLE SCHOOL.
I'VE BEEN CARRYING THIS BOTTLE FOR YEARS NOW AND THE WATER TASTES BETTER THAN EVER BEFORE.
ANY QUESTIONS? VERY WELL DONE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
WHERE DO YOU GO TO SCHOOL? LONGVIEW MICRO SCHOOL.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR TAKING THE TIME TO BE HERE AND YOUR VERY, VERY GOOD TESTIMONY.
I HAVE, UH, SCOTT STRICKLAND ON THE LINE.
MY NAME'S, UH, FOR BUFFALO, NEW YORK.
UM, MY NAME IS SCOTT STRICKLAND.
I'M CURRENTLY TOURING THROUGH AMERICA'S HEARTLAND IN THE NORTHEAST, OPENING UP FOR ANOTHER AUSTIN BASED ACT.
IT'S A BADGE OF HONOR FOR ME TO TELL PEOPLE THAT I AM FROM AUSTIN, TEXAS, THE LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.
MY CALL TODAY CONCERNS A FATAL INTERACTION BETWEEN THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE 17-YEAR-OLD ANTHONY WILLIAMS, WHO WAS KILLED BY THREE AUSTIN POLICE OFFICERS HAPPENED TO MR. WILLIAMS THAT MORE THAN OUR GRIEF, IT DEMANDS THAT WE EXAMINED SYSTEMS RESPONSIBLE FOR DETERMINING WHEN FORCES JUSTIFIED, WHO INVESTIGATES POLICE CONDUCT, AND WHAT CONSEQUENCES FOLLOW WHEN SERIOUS MISCONDUCT IS SUSTAINED.
WHEN WE WERE WITNESSING ARISING AUTHORITARIAN GOVERNING ALONG WITH FATAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT THAT HAS RAISED PROFOUND CONCERNS ABOUT THE TREATMENT OF FAMILIES, THE USE OF FORCE, AND THE VALUE OF OUR GOVERNMENT PLACES ON HUMAN LIFE.
AUSTIN CANNOT NOT SOLVE EVERY NATIONAL PROBLEM, BUT AUSTIN CAN DECIDE WHAT AUSTIN WILL TOLERATE.
[02:20:01]
I RESPECTFULLY BELIEVE ITS GOVERNING BODY MISSED AN OPPORTUNITY DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS TO TO SEND AN UNMISTAKABLE MESSAGE THAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE KILLING OF EPIDEMIC ONE IS A SECOND DEMAND INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSE.THE OPPORTUNITY, HOWEVER, HAS NOT DISAPPEARED.
THE MEANINGFUL ACTIONS COUNCIL ARE MEANINGFUL ACTIONS THAT COUNCIL CAN PURSUE RIGHT NOW.
UH, THREE OF THOSE ACTIONS ARE, NUMBER ONE, GIVE THE COMMUNITY POLICE REVIEW COMMISSION MAXIMUM REGULATORY AUTHORITY ALLOWED BY LAW.
NUMBER TWO, MAKE SERIOUS MISCONDUCT CARRY PREDICTABLE CONSEQUENCES BY UPDATING THE DISCIPLINARY MATRIX WORKING WITH THE OFFICER POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION.
AND TO SUE PR C3 INDEPENDENTLY INVESTIGATE THE MOST SERIOUS INCIDENTS.
FIFTHLY PUT A PD SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO REMAIN THE ADMINIS, THE PRIMARY ADMINISTRATIVE INVESTIGATOR OF A PD INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTABILITY AND DUE PROCESS OR NOT MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE.
I HAVE WORKED ALONGSIDE MANY OF YOU ADVOCATING FOR ORDINANCES AND POLICIES THAT HAVE DIRECTED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TOWARD INDEPENDENT MUSICIANS, VENUE USED AND ARTS ORGANIZATIONS.
THROUGH MY FOUR YEAR TENURE AS A MUSIC COMMISSIONER WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, A SIGNIFICANT PART OF MY CAREER HAS A, A POSSIBLE BY THE CITY THAT I HAD FILED TO CALL HOME.
I ALSO RECOGNIZE THE EXTRAORDINARY DIFFICULT WORK THAT POLICE OFFICERS PERFORM EVERY DAY.
POLICE OFFICERS PUT THEMSELVES IN MOST SITUATIONS THAT MOST OF US WILL NEVER ENCOUNTER.
AND I HAVE WORKED ALONGSIDE POLICE OFFICERS IN VOLUNTEERING IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND THEIR MEMBERS IN A PD DOING HONORABLE WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY.
WE MUST DRAW A LINE WITH THE EXTRAORDINARY AUTHORITY ENTRUSTED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT RESULTS IN SERIOUS MISCONDUCT, UNNECESSARY VIOLENCE OR THE LOSS OF HUMAN LIFE.
ACCOUNTABILITY IS NOT ANTI-POLICE.
ACCOUNTABILITY PROTECTS THE PUBLIC, PROTECTS THE OFFICERS, AND PROTECTS THE INTEGRITY OF THE INSTITUTION ITSELF.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND SERVICE AND I'LL BE IN TOUCH.
MAYOR, ALL SPEAKERS HAVE NOW BEEN CALLED.
UH, MEMBERS, AS YOU'VE JUST HEARD, ALL THE SPEAKERS HAVE BEEN CALLED ON OUR 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, UM, FOR PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.
WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS, UM, I THINK WE GO AHEAD AND RECESS FOR OUR MUSIC RIGHT NOW AND COME BACK AT ONE 15 UNLESS THERE'S OBJECTION OR SOME COMMENT IN THAT REGARD.
YES, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADON.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY FOR THE SECOND TIME NOW, I THINK THE DISTRICT ONE OFFICE MIGHT HOLD THE DISTINCT HONOR OF HAVING TWO STAFFERS PERFORM AT CITY HALL.
OUR VERY OWN FAA IS GONNA BE PERFORMING DURING THE MUSIC HOUR, SO I ENCOURAGE FOLKS WHO WORK AT CITY HALL TO STICK AROUND AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT.
THANK, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE COUNCIL WILL BE IN RECESS UNTIL 1:15 PM UH, IT IS 12:21 PM WE ARE IN RECESS.
[Live Music – Stretch Muzik]
AFTERNOON, AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND WELCOME TO CHAMBERS, ESPECIALLY TO FOLKS WHO'VE NEVER BEEN TO CITY HALL.I'D LIKE TO WELCOME YOU TO THE PEOPLE'S BUILDING AND ENCOURAGE YOU TO SPEND MORE TIME HERE.
TODAY IS SPECIAL IN THAT AT EVERY COUNCIL MEETING, WE GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPRECIATE AND ENJOY AUSTIN BASED MUSIC.
UH, BUT THIS TIME AROUND WE GET TO ENJOY AUSTIN BASED MUSIC PRODUCED BY ONE OF OUR VERY OWN, UH, FILA, WHO WORKS IN THE DISTRICT ONE OFFICE IS ONE OF THE REASONS I'M VERY PROUD TO BE THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE DISTRICT.
AND I'M GONNA SAY IT'S UNREFUTED 'CAUSE TO DATE, IT'S UNREFUTED.
THE DISTRICT ONE OFFICE HAPPENS TO ALSO BE THE ONLY OFFICE RIGHT HERE AT CITY HALL, WHO'S HAD TWO DIFFERENT STAFF MEMBERS IN THEIR BANDS PERFORM.
UM, SO ALONG WITH FAA AND HER BAND MATES, WE ARE LOOKING AT STRETCH MUSIC BAND.
STRETCH MUSIC BAND IS AN EXCEPTIONAL COLLECTIVE OF TALENTED ARTISTS WHO BRING TOGETHER A POWERFUL FUSION OF R AND B, HIP HOP, SOUL AND ORIGINAL MUSIC.
THEIR REMARKABLE MUSICAL ABILITY AND CREATIVE ENERGY HAVE EARNED THEM NUMEROUS ACCOLADES, INCLUDING THE PRESTIGIOUS BEST BAND AWARD FROM THE BEST OF BLACK AUSTIN AWARDS IN 2023.
AS PIONEERS IN THEIR GENRE STRETCH MUSIC BANDS STANDS OUT FOR THEIR INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO MUSIC, TO VERSATILE SOUND AND THE ABILITY TO CAPTIVATE AUDIENCES WITH HIGH ENERGY AND ENGAGING PERFORMANCES.
STRETCH MUSIC IS A COMPANY WITH TWO DISTINCT BAND UNDER ITS UMBRELLA.
WE HAVE STRETCH MUSIC PARTY BAND THAT IS THE PREMIER EVENT AND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT BAND BASED IN AUSTIN, TEXAS AND PERFORMING THROUGHOUT THE US THE BAND PROVIDES LIVELY HIGH ENERGY ENTERTAINMENT FOR WEDDINGS, CORPORATE EVENTS, GALAS AND OUTDOOR EVENTS KNOWN FOR NONSTOP ENERGY AND AUDIENCE INTERACTION.
ALSO FOR KEEPING THE DANCE FLOOR PACKED.
STRETCH MUSIC, OH, PARDON ME, I GOT TOO EXCITED.
[02:25:01]
IT RIGHT ON UNDER HERE.COUNCIL MEMBER STRETCH MUSIC BAND CREATES MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES FOR EVERY EVENT.
STRETCH VIBES BAND BRINGS TO LIFE THE BEST OF THE NINETIES, R AND B, TWO THOUSANDS R AND B, TODAY'S R AND B AND ORIGINAL MUSIC FROM THE ARTIST WITHIN THE BAND, WITH THE TALENT AND MUSICAL RANGE TO MATCH THE SOUND AND FEEL OF THE MUSIC AUDIENCES LOVE STRETCH BAND VIBES, BAND DELI, STRETCH VIBES.
BAND DELIVERS UNIQUE ARRANGEMENTS AND VERSATILE PERFORMANCES THAT GO BEYOND YOUR AVERAGE COVER BAND.
AND I WANT Y'ALL TO WAVE AND SAY, HEY, UH, BRANDON TANK TANKSLEY, WHO'S OUR BAND DIRECTOR AND BASS PLAYER, Y'ALL ARE WELCOME TO GIVE HIM SOME LOVE.
WE HAVE FA QUEEN DE LA MOYE, CO-DIRECTOR MC AND VOCALIST.
THERE'S GIA WHO WAS ACTUALLY HERE NOT THAT LONG AGO, GETTING SOME RECOGNITION OF THEIR OWN VOCALIST AND MARKETING DIRECTOR.
LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, WE HAVE DANISHA, WHO'S A VOCALIST IN THE STRETCH MUSIC BAND FEATURING TODAY.
WE HAVE HONORARY MEMBERS, BRYCE ON THE DRUMS, AND AJ ON THE KEYBOARDS.
STRETCH MUSIC WAS FOUNDED BY BRANDON TANK TANKSLEY IN 2018 WITH A VISION TO CREATE A HIGH ENERGY MUSICAL EXPERIENCE THAT BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER THROUGH GREAT MUSIC ORIGINALITY AND UNFORGETTABLE LIVE PERFORMANCES.
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, WE'RE GONNA GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM STRETCH MUSIC BAND AND AFTER WE GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THEM AND PROCLAIM TODAY THEIR DAY.
SO WITH THAT, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, CRYSTAL LANE AND PAIGE ELLIS FOR JOINING ME UP HERE.
WE'RE GONNA GET OUTTA THE WAY AND LET Y'ALL ENJOY THE MUSIC.
CITY HALL, HOW Y'ALL FEELING? OKAY, WELL THEY SAID STRETCH MUSIC IS HIGH ENERGY.
SO THAT MEAN IF WE GIVE Y'ALL SOME ENERGY, Y'ALL GONNA GIVE US SOME ENERGY BACK.
WE KNOW IT'S HARD WORK HERE, BUT WE ARE GONNA TAKE THE TIME TO CELEBRATE TO OUR COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HARPER MADISON, WE LOVE YOU.
SHE TOLD ME BEFORE HER EIGHT YEAR TERM IS FINISHED, WE BETTER PERFORM FOR HER.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE GOING TO DO RIGHT NOW.
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO GET UP AND DANCE AND HAVE A GOOD TIME WITH US.
THIS JUST TURNED INTO A CONCERT HALL.
YOU COULD CRY ON AN EGG HERE TO LISTEN.
WHEN LIFE GOES TO CURVE BALL IN THE FIELD WHERE A DIFFERENT WINDOW GOING GETS TOUGH, THE TOUGH GETS GOING.
THE HUGS AND THE LOVE FROM MY HEART IS OVERFLOWING.
LOSING PEOPLE TO SITUATIONS THAT IS TRAGIC, IT'S SOMETHING HARD TO FATHOM AND THE MAN TO IMAGINE.
IF EQUIPPED WITH THE MAGIC GOD WILL RESTORE ITS TORE AND DAMAGED.
CALL MY NAME AND I'LL BE THERE BREATHING AND SPEAKING LIFE.
KRISTA, YO, MY INSPIRATION TO SPEAK THIS MOTIVATION.
THIS IS YOUR DEDICATION JAWAN SHAKE UP TO 11 FIVE SOLDIER.
WE RISE AFTER WE FALL, WE FLY AFTER WE CRAWL THE FIGHT.
[02:30:51]
CRY.Y'ALL STILL WITH US NOW Y'ALL ABOUT TO GET TO THE PARTY SIDE OF THIS OUTSIDE WHEN YOU NEED SOMEONE.
I JUST LET THE FEELING GO AND GROW.
TO MY FAULT, I'M ON THE MOUNTAIN.
WHEN OUR BODY START LIGHT, WHEN THE TREES POP UP, YOU HAD TO ADD TO MY WORLD VOLCANIC EXPLOS FROM UNLEASH AND DIAMONDS AND PEARL RIVERS ARE RICHES FLOW ACROSS THE EARTH.
THE PERFECT STORM, HOW THE WATER WAS BIRTH MINERALS HIT THE GROUND, PURIFYING THE DIRT THAT PLAYED FOR AS WE DOING THE WORK, GOD ALL IN IT SUPREME B BENNETT CONNECTION.
SO REAL, EVEN ANGELS LOVE A WITNESS.
IF YOU GO ASK, HE WOULDN'T SAY NO DIFFERENCE.
I, YEAH, THERE IS A LIGHT THAT SHINE SPECIAL FOR YOU CITY HALL AND I NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER.
[02:35:16]
IF YOU, WE NEED TO SEE Y'ALL OUT THERE DOING IT.THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER FOR GIVING US THIS OPPORTUNITY.
A REQUEST IS THIS THING ON, I THINK THERE WAS A REQUEST FOR AN ENCORE.
LISTEN, YOU BROUGHT OUT ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND EVERYTHING.
WE'RE ALSO JOINED BY COUNCIL MEMBER, CADRE AND SIEGEL.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALL JOINING US.
AS WE PREPARE TO PRESENT YOUR PROCLAMATION, I WANT Y'ALL TO BE THINKING ABOUT HOW FOLKS CAN FIND YOU THE BEST PLATFORMS AND HANDLES AND ALL THAT JAZZ.
UM, WHO'S GONNA BE RECEIVING THESE HERE? GOOD TO MEET YOU.
THANK, WE'LL GIVE YOU THE PRETTY ONE AND I'LL READ THE ONE THAT'S BIG ENOUGH FOR PEOPLE WITH EYEBALLS MY AGE.
ALRIGHT, SO TODAY WE PROCLAIM IT STRETCH MUSIC DAY RIGHT HERE AT CITY HALL IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS IS BLESSED WITH MANY CREATIVE MUSICIANS WHOSE TALENT EXTENDS TO VIRTUALLY EVERY MUSICAL GENRE.
AND WHEREAS OUR MUSIC SCENE THRIVES BECAUSE AUSTIN AUDIENCES SUPPORT GOOD MUSIC PRODUCED BY LEGENDS, OUR LOCAL FAVORITES AND NEWCOMERS ALIKE.
WHEREAS WE ARE PLEASED TO SHOWCASE AND SUPPORT OUR LOCAL ARTIST NOW, THEREFORE, I, NATASHA HARPER MADISON AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, ALONG WITH THE MAYOR KIRK WATSON, MY COUNCIL MEMBER, COLLEAGUES PRESENT TODAY AND THE REST OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM AUGUST 27TH, 2026 AS STRETCH MUSIC DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE A FEW WORDS? THANK YOU.
PLEASE SHARE A FEW WORDS WITH US, MAN, YOU GOT SOME CHARACTERS BEHIND ME,
UM, THE START OF THIS BAND, UH, REALLY JUST KIND OF CAME FROM, I PLAYED WITH A LOT OF OTHER BANDS, ACTUALLY WITH SOME OF THE PEOPLE BEHIND US BEFORE.
UM, AND WANTING TO LIKE, GET A, GET A DIFFERENT FEEL MORE LIKE A FAMILY, UM, AND WHERE IT'S MORE FAIR.
UM, I THINK MUSICIANS KNOW WHAT THAT MEAN BY FAIR, WHERE, UM, WHERE WE'RE ALL SHARING WHAT WE RECEIVE.
AND I, AND I KIND OF KNOW THE THINGS THAT KIND OF TEAR BANDS APART.
IT, IT'S, I MEAN, I FIRST OF ALL, THANK GOD YOU GOTTA FIND THE RIGHT PEOPLE, UM, TO MAKE SOMETHING WORK.
UM, UM, I THANK MY, MY FAMILY.
I GOT FRIENDS, A LOT OF PEOPLE WATCHING.
UM, I'LL TALK TO YOU ALL LATER.
BUT I DO WANT TO THANK THESE PEOPLE BEHIND ME.
UM, UH, BRYCE, BRYCE HAS BEEN ROCKING WITH US A COUPLE YEARS NOW, SO I APPRECIATE YOU BRYCE.
UM, AJ, AJ IS ONE OF OUR NEWEST MEMBERS.
UM, DANISHA DANISHA WAS OUR FIRST SINGER.
WE STARTED OUT AS A BAND THAT WAS JUST MUSIC AND WE WAS JUST PLAYING BEHIND OTHER PEOPLE.
BUT, UM, DANISHA WAS OUR FIRST SINGER TO KIND OF OPENED THE DOOR TO US GETTING OTHER, OTHER THINGS.
SO SHE HELD IT DOWN BY HERSELF
[02:40:01]
FOR A LONG TIME.UM, DELA DELA WAS SO BUSY AT ONE POINT.
I, I WANTED TO ADD
I WANTED TO ADD RAP AND NOT TO, I WANTED TO ADD RAP TO IT, BUT WITHIN THIS RAP, RAP KIND OF GETS A BAD RAP A LOT OF TIMES.
UM, AND IT'S, IT'S MORE SO BECAUSE OF HOW RAP IS CONTROLLED, BUT HOW RAP STARTED IS POETRY WITH MUSIC.
AND, UM, WE'RE NOT CONTROLLED SO WE CAN DO WHAT WE WANT TO DO.
SO DEALER WAS SUCH A, SUCH A BLESSING TO HAVE WITH US.
DEALER HAS ALSO OPENED UP SO MANY DOORS FOR US TO PLAY.
WE PLAYED, WE'VE DONE TOURS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, MOSTLY IN PART BECAUSE OF DEALER.
THERE'S THINGS THAT I CAN'T PAY FOR THAT, THAT YOU BRING TO US.
UM, AND GEO, GEO, THE SAME WAY GEO HAS GROWN.
UM, WHEN I MET GEO, I THINK I SEEN HER SINGING SOMEWHERE AT A SPOT AND I WAS LIKE, MAN, WE NEED HER HELP.
AND I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE ENOUGH GIGS TO
BUT ACTUALLY SINCE GEO, UM, YOU'VE OPENED, YOU'VE HELPED OPEN THE DOOR FOR A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE HAVE, UM, WITH WHAT YOU DO WITH US FOR SOCIAL MEDIA, ALL THE BEHIND THE SCENES THINGS THAT PEOPLE PROBABLY THINK I'M DOING.
I DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY ALWAYS.
GEO GEO HAS OPENED SO MANY DOORS.
UM, SINCE 2020 I'VE HAD A PRETTY ROUGH, UM, TIME.
GEO HAS BEEN HOLDING IT DOWN, UH, BIG TIME.
AND ONCE AGAIN, THINGS THAT I COULDN'T AFFORD TO HANDLE.
THIS IS, THIS IS FOR US, YOU KNOW, SO I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS VERY MUCH.
SO, UH, SO DON'T GO TOO FAR 'CAUSE WE WANNA KNOW HOW DO WE FIND Y'ALL ON SOCIALS AND WHERE CAN WE FIND YOUR MUSIC? BOTH LIVE AND, UH, ON STREAMING PLATFORMS? I'M LOOKING TO THE LOOK INTO THE, THE, THE SOCIAL MEDIA PERSON.
Y'ALL CAN FIND US EVERYWHERE AT STRETCH MUSIC BAND AND THAT'S MUSIC WITH A K.
MIND IF WE GET SOME PHOTOS, WE, THEY GENERALLY DIRECT US RIGHT AROUND THAT RUG OVER THERE, EVERYBODY.
IT'S 1:15 PM ON AUGUST 27TH, 2026.
AND I'LL CALL TO ORDER, UH, THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AFTER A BRIEF RECESS.
UM, MEMBERS, THE WAY I'M GONNA GO IS WE'RE GONNA GO TO THE PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS AND THEN WE'LL GO TO ITEM 50 AND ITEM 61.
UM, DEPENDING ON WHERE OUR TIMING IS TO TRY TO GET TO OUR TIME CERTAIN ON, UH, UH, TWO O'CLOCK.
[86. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance adjusting the City’s boundary limits by disannexing approximately 1.31 acres of land located at 1408 Rockcliff Road, Austin, Travis County, Texas under Texas Senate Bill 1844 (89th Regular Session). Case number: C7d-2026-0025. The majority of the property is located in Austin’s full purpose jurisdiction, and the remaining portion is located in Austin’s limited purpose jurisdiction in Council District 8. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.]
NUMBER 86 IS A PUBLIC HEARING WITHOUT OBJECTION.WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 86, AND THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN AND I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK.
HI, THIS IS COURTNEY MCCARTER ON BEHALF OF THE PETITIONER HERE IN FAVOR OF THE PETITION BEING FILED FOR DIS ANNEXATION ON 1408 ROCK CLIPS.
I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY.
AND THEN I ALSO HAVE WILLIAM BUNCH FOR 86.
UM, THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 86.
SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 86.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED.
UH, THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADOPT THE ORDINANCE.
IS THERE A MOTION MOTIONS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS? IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ DISCUSSION ON THE ITEM NUMBER 86.
HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ITEM NUMBER 86 IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN TEMPORARILY OFF THE DIOCESE ITEM.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN WILL BE SHOWN VOTING IN FAVOR OF ITEM NUMBER 86.
[87. Conduct a public hearing in accordance with Texas Parks and Wildlife Code Chapter 26 and consider a resolution authorizing a change in use of dedicated parkland, known as Sir Swante Palm Neighborhood Park, to permanently use approximately 9,852 square feet of parkland and temporarily use approximately 2,585 square feet of parkland in order to construct, operate, maintain, and repair Austin Water water and wastewater lines. Funding: This item includes a mitigation payment in the amount of $1,897,883 from Austin Water to Austin Parks and Recreation and, as a result, there is no impact to the General Fund.]
IS A PUBLIC HEARING.WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 87.
AND THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW, UH, UH, OPENED.
I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK WILLIAM BUNCH PASS.
UH, THERE ARE NO OTHER SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 87.
SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 87.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED, AND I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH REGARD TO THE RESOLUTION.
THE COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL MOVES
[02:45:01]
ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION.IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY THE MAYOR PRO TIM, IS THERE DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.
WE PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED AN ITEM NUMBER 88.
ITEM NUMBER 89 IS A PUBLIC HEARING.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN
[89. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance related to the Statement of Intent to Increase Gas Rates proposed by SiEnergy Gas, LLC, for natural gas services; authorize the City’s ongoing participation in a coalition of cities, including participation in proceedings related to the rate increase at the Railroad Commission of Texas; authorizing engagement with counsel and consultants for the coalition of cities, including authorizing settlement of the rate case; requiring reimbursement by SiEnergy Gas, LLC, of the municipal rate case expenses; and providing notice to SiEnergy Gas, LLC. Funding: This item has no fiscal Impact.]
THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 89.THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPENED, AND I WILL CALL ON THE CITY CLERK, WILLIAM BUNCH.
ALL MR. BUNCH, UH, PASSES WHILE BEING AGAINST IT.
UM, IS THERE, UH, ANYBODY ELSE? ALL SPEAKERS? ALL SPEAKERS HAVE BEEN CALLED ON ITEM NUMBER 89.
SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 89.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED AND I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH REGARD TO THE ORDINANCE.
IS THERE A MOTION? IS THERE A MOTION? A MOTION MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER LANE.
TIM, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER 89? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THAT CONCLUDES THE PUBLIC HEARINGS.
[50. Approve an ordinance establishing a process for managing condemnations of City-owned parkland including use of funds received due to such condemnation. Funding: This item has no financial impact.]
TO ITEM NUMBER 50.ITEM NUMBER 50, UM, WAS PULLED BECAUSE THERE IS A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO ITEM NUMBER 50.
AND, UH, BASED UPON MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE ISSUES, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WAS FULL OPPORTUNITY TO KEEP, MAKE A RECORD AND TO, UH, NOT, UH, MESS WITH THE CONSENT AGENDA, UM, WITH THE AMENDMENT.
SO COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, I'M GONNA CALL ON YOU FIRST SINCE YOU, SINCE YOU WERE THE ONE WITH THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT.
I PULLED IT, BUT THAT YOU, YOU HAD THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT.
AND THEN I'LL ASK FOR ANY SPEAKERS.
THIS IS, UH, THE CONDEMNATIONS ITEM ABOUT JUST WHAT PROCESS WE NEED TO FOLLOW AS A COUNCIL AND, AND FOR THE MANAGER.
UH, WHEN WE'RE DEALING WITH PARKLAND, THAT IS POTENTIALLY GONNA BE CONDEMNED, REALLY TRYING TO GET THIS MORE INTO THE PUBLIC DOMAIN, GETTING JUST MORE, UH, INFORMATION TO PEOPLE AND, AND HAVE THIS BE AS TRANSPARENT A PROCESS AS POSSIBLE.
SO, AND WE'LL HAVE AN AMENDMENT WHEN THE TIME COMES.
UH, MEMBERS, YOU'VE, I, I THINK EVERYONE HAS A COPY OF, UH, THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT FROM COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER.
UM, BUT I'M GONNA GO AHEAD NOW.
AND BEFORE WE TAKE A MOTION ON THE MAIN MOTION, I'M GOING TO, UH, CALL FOR SPEAKERS FOR ITEM 50.
THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 50.
ALL RIGHT, IN THAT CASE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER MOVES ADOPTION OF ITEM NUMBER 50.
IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL.
I'LL NOW RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER FOR HIS PROPOSED, UH, MOTION TO AMEND.
WE WERE ABLE TO WORK WITH STAFF ON, UH, A LOT OF THIS AND JUST THIS AMENDMENT, AS I MENTIONED ON THE MESSAGE BOARD, AS IT'S JUST BRINGING SOME, UH, STRONGER PROTECTIONS THAT INCREASE THAT TRANSPARENCY.
AND I MOVE ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT ONE COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER MOVES ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT NUMBER, ALTER AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER 50.
IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.
THE, THE VOTE WE'RE GETTING READY TO TAKE IS ON THE MOTION TO AMEND.
IS THERE DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION TO AMEND ALTER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER 50? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION, ALTER AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER 50 IS ADOPTED.
THAT WILL TAKE US BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION, WHICH IS ITEM NUMBER 50 AS AMENDED.
IS THERE DISCUSSION ON THE MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ITEM NUMBER 50 AS AMENDED IS ADOPTED MEMBERS.
[61. Approve a resolution initiating amendments to City Code Title 25 (Land Development Code) and other provisions of City Code or regulations necessary to establish land uses, site development regulations, and development processes, for data center use in certain zoning districts and to develop business regulations and permit requirements applicable to data center operations. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.]
ITEM NUMBER 61.AND, UH, JUST FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS, WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'LL HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC ON ITEM NUMBER 61.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS AS YOU ALL ARE AWARE, AND WE'LL WORK OUR WAY THROUGH THE PROPO, GET A MAIN MOTION, AND THEN WE'LL WORK THROUGH, UH, THE VARIOUS MOTIONS TO AMEND IN ORDER.
UM, SO I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK TO CALL ON SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 61.
I HAVE ONE REMOTE SPEAKER, TRUMAN MATH.
I JUST WANT TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST DATA CENTERS IN AUSTIN.
DATA CENTERS EMIT A HORRIBLE NOISE.
AND THEY USE OUR POWER AND OUR WATER, PRECIOUS RESOURCES, AND THEY IMPACT, UH, PEOPLE'S, UH, ELECTRICITY BILLS.
AND WE ARE SEEING THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO VOTERS.
SO I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT CITY COUNCIL KEEP THAT IN MIND, UH, THAT THESE ARE THE ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO VOTERS AND THEY PASS A MORATORIUM ON ALL DATA CENTERS.
NOW I'LL START CALLING IN-PERSON SPEAKERS, IF I, IF YOU HEAR YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME DOWN TO THE PODIUM.
TAKE A SEAT AT AN OPEN DESK AND STATE YOUR NAME BEFORE WE BEGIN.
[02:50:01]
THANK YOU MAYOR.I SEE THAT YOU HAVE DONATED TIME.
AND HERE ACCORDING BOBBY LEVI AND WILLIAM BUNCH.
THANK YOU MAYOR COUNSEL BOBBY LAVINSKY.
I'M THE ATTORNEY OF SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE.
UM, I'M ALSO ORGANIZING WITH THE DATA CENTER ACTION COALITION DOWN IN SAN MARCOS.
AND WE'VE, UH, ADDRESSED SOME OF THE REALLY BIG DATA CENTERS DOWN THERE.
UM, AND SO WE'VE GOT SOME, UH, EXPERIENCE WITH, UH, ADDRESSING THESE THINGS.
AND WE'D REALLY, UH, ENCOURAGE, UM, YOU TO REACH OUT TO US.
AMANDA RODRIGUEZ DOWN THERE IS A REALLY GREAT COUNCIL MEMBER, SOMEBODY YOU COULD REACH OUT TO DIRECTLY AS WELL.
UM, THIS IS NOT UNIQUE TO AUSTIN.
UM, UH, BUT IT IS A GROWING THREAT.
AND YOU CAN SEE WHERE WE ARE ON THIS MAP OF WHERE THEY'RE PROJECTED TO GO.
AND RIGHT THERE IN CENTRAL TEXAS, WE'VE GOT THE, THE HOTTEST OF THE, OF THE HEAT MAP IN TEXAS.
UM, AND IT'S, IT'S SHOWING, UH, WITH ALL THEM COMING AROUND IN CENTRAL TEXAS, UM, AT THE STATE LEVEL, THERE'S 480 PROJECTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY, UM, IN THE ERCOT QUEUE.
UM, THE ALL TIME PEAK RECORD IS 85,508 MEGAWATTS, UM, IN FOR DEMAND OF AIR ENERGY IN TEXAS.
IF ALL OF THE ONES THAT GET APPROVED AT ERCOT, THAT'S 438,000 MEGAWATTS, UM, THAT WOULD BE, UH, STAGGERING COMPARED TO JUST WHAT WE USE TODAY, UM, IN TEXAS.
AND THIS STATE IS FROM, UH, ERCOT ITSELF.
UM, ALSO THERE'S 18,750 HOMES IS THE AVERAGE, UH, CAPACITY FOR A 75 MEGAWATT DATA CENTER.
SO, UM, THE, THIS IS A NOT THE GREAT PLACE TO PUT, UH, THE EPICENTER OF ALL DATA CENTERS IN THE WORLD.
UM, THIS IS A VERY HOT CLIMATE.
UH, WE HAVE ENERGY PROBLEMS, WE HAVE WATER PROBLEMS. AND, UH, CURRENTLY THE WATER IS NOT FORECASTED IN THE STATE'S, UH, WATER PLANNING.
WE WERE ALREADY AT A 1.6 TRILLION GALLON DEFICIT UNDER OUR LAST WATER PLAN.
UM, AND I WANNA EMPHASIZE THAT WHEN YOU HEAR COMPARISONS OF DATA CENTERS TO, UM, TO LIKE SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCES, UM, IT DOESN'T REPLACE THE WATER DEMANDS FOR THOSE SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCES.
THAT POPULATION GROWTH IS GOING TO CONTINUE NO MATTER WHAT.
SO REALLY WE NEED EVERY SINGLE DROP OF WATER TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE GROWTH THAT WAS ALREADY FORECASTED FOR TEXAS, AND THAT INCLUDES AUSTIN.
UM, THERE'S A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT DIRECT VERSUS INDIRECT WATER DEMANDS.
UM, AND ONE OF THE ENGINEERS THAT WE WORK WITH HAS POINTED OUT THAT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ENERGY GOING INTO A SITE, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HEAT GOING TO A SITE.
SO THAT HEAT HAS TO BE DISPERSED SOMEWHERE.
SO NO MATTER THE COOLING METHOD IT IS, UH, THAT'S, THAT'S BEING USED, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE EVAPORATION LOSS, YOU'RE GO AND IT'S GOING TO, UM, IMPACT THE OVERALL AVAILABILITY OF WATER ON THE SYSTEM.
UM, A UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS PROFESSOR THAT WE WORK WITH HAS IN, UH, KIND OF DESCRIBED IT AS, UH, THOSE CLOSED LOOP SYSTEMS IS ABOUT 50% OF THE, UH, WATER DEMANDS AS A NORMAL LOOP, UM, SINGLE LOOP SYSTEM.
UM, TO GIVE YOU SOME NUMBERS AROUND, UH, WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WITH MEGAWATTS.
SO A 30 MEGAWATT, UH, DATA CENTER, WHICH IS AT THAT HIGH END OF WHAT IN YOUR STAFF MEMO IS TRADITIONAL.
UM, IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT ONSITE COOLING, UH, YOU GOT, UM, UH, ACCORDING TO AN APPLICATION THAT WE HAD ON A RECENT DATA CENTER SUBMITTAL, UM, YOU LOOK AT 2,635 GALLONS PER MEGAWATT PER DAY FOR THAT, FOR, UM, THAT DATA CENTER.
IF YOU MULTIPLY THAT BY 30, YOU GET TO 28 MILLION GALLONS PER YEAR USED ON THAT SINGLE SITE.
AND THAT'S ONLY THE ONSITE COOLING WHEN YOU FACTOR IN THE OFFSITE COOLING THAT'S REQUIRED, UH, FOR THE POWER GENERATION.
SO, AND MOST OF THE, THE FACILITIES ARE, UH, USING NATURAL GAS AS THEIR, UM, ENERGY DEMANDS.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT INCREASING IT TO ROUGHLY 81 MILLION TO 300 MILLION GALLONS OF WATER BEING USED BECAUSE WE WERE JUST ADDING ONE 30 MEGAWATT DATA CENTER INTO OUR SYSTEM.
UH, IT ALSO IMPACTS OUR ENERGY RATES.
AND I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT IT REALLY IMPACTS IS, UM, JUST THE SPEED AT WHICH WE HAVE TO BUILD OUT OUR SYSTEM.
IF ONE OF THESE GETS APPROVED, WHICH WE KNOW WITH GRANDFATHERING CAN BE DONE PRETTY QUICKLY, UM, UH, YOU'VE GOT, UM, A BUILD OUT OF ABOUT 18 MONTHS WHEN NORMALLY A COMPARABLE SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE WOULD, UM, A RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT WOULD, YOU KNOW, BE 20 TO 25 YEARS FOR A BUILD OUT.
SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT MASSIVE INCREASES IN IN INFRASTRUCTURE EXPANSION THAT NEED TO BE DONE UPFRONT.
AND THEN WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THOSE GET BECOME STRANDED COSTS.
SO WHEN THAT DATA CENTER FAILS, WHICH WE KNOW THAT THAT IS LIKELY GOING TO OCCUR WITH HOW MUCH, UM, VENTURE CAPITAL IS BEING INVESTED RIGHT NOW, I'M GONNA SKIP AHEAD TO TALK ABOUT THE SAN MARCOS BAND.
UM, 'CAUSE I THINK IT'S, UH, KIND OF MISLABELED AS A BAND.
THEY WERE REALLY SMART IN WHAT THEY DID.
THEY CREATED THE USE AND THEN THEY CHOSE NOT TO APPLY IT BY RIGHT INTO ANY OF THE ZONING CATEGORIES.
BUT IT'S STILL SOMETHING THAT IS SOMETHING THAT'S AVAILABLE FOR
[02:55:01]
SOMEBODY TO APPLY FOR.AND I'D LOVE TO TALK TO YOU OFFLINE ABOUT HOW THAT'S POSSIBLE.
BUT IT IS A WAY THAT YOU COULD DO AN EFFECTIVE BAN WITHOUT JUST AN ABSOLUTE PROHIBITION.
UM, AND IT REQUIRE THAT THERE'S SOME SORT OF PROCESS THAT WE, THAT'S, UM, UH, REQUIRED WHEN THESE THINGS ARE COMING IN LINE, UH, COMING ONLINE SO THAT WE KNOW WHAT THE IMPACTS ARE GOING TO BE TO THE RESIDENCES, TO THE, TO THE SYSTEM, TO OUR WATER SUPPLIES.
UM, THEY WERE ALSO REALLY CLEVER IN, UM, REQUIRING A, UH, THAT, UH, DOING A, A POTABLE WATER USE SPAN SO THAT FOR COOLING PURPOSES SO THAT YOU KNOW, THEY CAN'T USE, UH, DRINKING WATER FOR COOLING PURPOSES.
WE REQUIRED A THOUSAND FOOT SETBACK TO ANYWHERE THAT WOULD HAVE A USE THAT WOULD HAVE PEOPLE SLEEPING OVERNIGHT TO ADDRESS THE NOISE CONCERNS.
AND THAT ALSO INCLUDED DAYCARES, KIDS NAP TOO.
UM, AND THEN, UH, WE DID A 60 DECIBEL SOUND LIMIT, UM, FROM THE SITE.
AND THAT WOULD BE KEEPING IN LINES WITH, UH, WHAT, WHAT WE WERE TALKING WITH SOME OF THE APPLICANTS THAT THEY, THEIR EQUIPMENT PRODUCES A 65 DECIBEL, UM, AT THE SOURCE.
SO IT WOULD REQUIRE A REDUCTION IN NOISE.
UM, AND THEN WE REQUIRED A CONDITIONAL USE, UH, PROCESS FOR BACKUP GENERATORS.
AND THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE, UM, AT THE TCAQ, THOSE PERMITS ARE BEING APPROVED BY PERMIT BY RULE AND IT'S AN INSTANTANEOUS APPROVAL.
SO THERE'S NO REAL CONSIDERATION FOR AIR QUALITY CONCERNS.
REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO PASS ON.
CONTINUING ON WITH ITEM 61, VALERIE MENARD, PEDRO HERNANDEZ JR.
MARIAN SANCHEZ, RACHEL SCOTT, JOSEPH LERMA, MATT FOX.
WHY DON'T WE START ON THIS END AND WE'LL WORK DOWN THE AISLE.
MY NAME IS DR. RACHEL SCOTT, FAMILY PRACTICE PHYSICIAN.
RETIRED SPEAKING AS A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT TWO, UH, MAYOR WATSON, CITY COUNCIL MEMBER VANESSA FUENTES AND OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION TO A DATA CENTER ON DOG'S HEAD, WHICH WILL COME AS NO SURPRISE TO MOST OF YOU WHO, UH, HEARD ME LAST TIME I SPOKE.
SPECIFICALLY I WANT TO TALK ABOUT NOISE 'CAUSE I ONLY HAVE TWO MINUTES.
SOUND WAVES TRAVEL MORE THAN HALF A MILE FROM DATA CENTERS.
SOUNDS BELOW 20 HERTZ ARE CALLED IN INFRASONIC WAVES.
AND THESE ARE BELOW THE RANGE OF HUMAN PERCEPTION.
YOU WON'T HEAR THESE, BUT THEY CAN BE FILLED AS VIBRATION.
PEOPLE WHO LIVE NEAR THESE CENTERS EXPOSED LONG TERM CAN SUFFER SIGNIFICANTLY FROM NUMEROUS HEALTH CONDITIONS.
KNOWN EFFECTS INCLUDE, AND I'M ONLY GONNA MENTION A FEW THICKENING BLOOD VESSELS CAUSING THE HEART TO HAVE TO PUMP HARDER.
HYPERTENSION, CONFUSION, FATIGUE, MIGRAINE HEADACHES, ANXIETY, DEPRESSION.
AND THESE ARE KNOWN FOR PEOPLE.
USUALLY WE FIND THESE THINGS OUT BY DOING ANIMAL STUDIES.
SO YOU CAN IMAGINE THE ANIMALS ARE AFFECTED TOO.
SECONDLY, SOUND FROM SUPER DATA CENTERS TRAVELS THROUGH THE GROUND.
THIS WAS NEW TO ME AS WELL AS THE AIR, MUCH AS AN EARTHQUAKE DOES.
WE KNOW THAT WILDLIFE NOTORIOUSLY ARE EARLY HARBINGER OF EARTHQUAKES, FLEEING LONG BEFORE HUMANS ARE AWARE THAT ONE IS COMING.
I DUNNO IF ANY OF YOU HAVE EXPERIENCE OF A DOG CLIMBING INTO YOUR LAP DURING A THUNDERSTORM, BUT IT'S THE SAME THING.
UM, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
UH, UH, UH, PLEASE, UH, PLEASE OPPOSE THIS MA'AM, YOUR, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED, BUT WE APPRECIATE YOUR BEING HERE PLEASE.
HELLO, UH, MAYOR WATSON COUNCIL.
I AM A DISTRICT FIVE RESIDENT.
UM, AND I'M HERE TO SHARE MY CONCERNS SURROUNDING THE CURRENT DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENT.
UH, SPECIFICALLY FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A POPULATION THAT CAN'T SPEAK FOR ITSELF.
UM, I'M A BEEKEEPER HERE IN TOWN.
I TRAIN INDIVIDUALS HOW TO RAISE BEES.
I CATCH SWARMS. I MANAGE, UH, APIARIES IN BOTH HAYES COUNTY AND HERE IN TRAVIS COUNTY IN DISTRICT FIVE.
AS YOU MIGHT HAVE SEEN OVER THE PAST SEASON, UH, MYSELF AND FELLOW BEEKEEPERS HAVE SUFFERED AN UNPRECEDENTED 60% DIE OFF IN HIVES, UH, DUE TO SOMETHING CALLED
[03:00:01]
COLONY COLLAPSE DISORDER.UH, THIS RESULTED HERE IN TEXAS IN WHAT WAS A 4 MILLION POUND PRODUCTION STATE INTO A 2 MILLION POUND PRODUCTION STATE.
AND THEN REDUCING US FROM BEING THE EIGHTH LARGEST PRODUCER TO THE 14TH LARGEST PRODUCER, ALL IN A SINGLE ABOUT SIX MONTH WINDOW.
UM, THE HONEYBEE, SO A LITTLE BIT OF SCIENCE STUFF.
UH, SO THE HONEYBEE'S ABILITY TO IDENTIFY POLLINATING PLANTS IS THROUGH ELECTRIC MAGNETIC FIELDS.
EMF, THE NATURAL EMF THAT GOES HORIZONTALLY ALONG THE EARTH.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THEY USED TO NAVIGATE.
UH, THEY CAN ACTUALLY ADAPT TO NATURAL PHENOMENA WITH EMF, YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE LIGHTNING, SOLAR FLARES, ET CETERA.
UM, BUT RECENTLY MULTIPLE STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT ARTIFICIAL EMFS, UH, WHICH ARE BEING PRODUCED BY DATA CENTERS AT LARGE, ARE NEGATIVELY AFFECTING SPECIES OF ALL TYPES, INCLUDING HONEYBEES AND THOUSANDS OF NATIVE BEE SPECIES.
UM, THE SAME STUDIES SHOW THAT IN RECENT YEARS, HONEYBEE EXPOSURE TO THE UNPRECEDENTED INCREASE IN THIS EMF HAS LED TO INCREASED FLAT FLIGHT PATTERN DISRUPTION, LOSS OF FORGER, AND A SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN POLLEN AND NECTAR HARVESTING, ALL OF WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO COLONY COLLAPSE DISORDER, WHICH WE'RE SEEING CURRENTLY IN MASS.
THIS IS PRETTY OBVIOUS, LEADS TO DECREASE IN POLLINATION.
A VITAL STEP FOR 95% OF PLANTS, NO BEES, NO PLANTS, NO FOOD.
SO AS THE PRESENCE OF DATA CENTERS IN THEIR EMF OUTPUT CONTINUES TO ASTRONOMICALLY GROW HERE IN TEXAS, I'M FEARFUL OF THE ALREADY PROVEN NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF THIS AND WOULD REQUEST A MORATORIUM ON DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENT UNTIL WE TAKE SOME TIME TO THINK FURTHER ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS THAT WE'RE FACING.
UM, REALLY QUICK ABOUT MYSELF.
I'M JUST LIKE ANY OTHER AUSTIN CREATIVE.
I RELY ON MAP HEALTH INSURANCE AND I PLAY FREE SHOWS AROUND RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT JUST 'CAUSE I LOVE TO DO THAT.
UM, DESPITE THIS, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO WORK ON A PROJECT ABOUT COMMUNITY ACCOUNTABILITY AND, UH, THE THINGS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WITHIN THAT PROJECT, UM, ACTUALLY TRANSLATE TO THIS DATA CENTER PROBLEM VERY WELL.
CITY STAFF HAS NAMED A FAILURE.
CURRENT RULES DO NOT LET AUSTIN RELIABLY TRACK DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENT OVER TIME.
SUFFICIENTLY LIMIT WHERE IT CAN BE LOCATED OR ADEQUATELY ADDRESS ITS IMPACTS.
ITEM 61 RESPONDS BY CLASSIFYING DATA CENTERS BY SIZE AND IMPACT, DECIDING WHETHER THEY ARE PERMITTED, CONDITIONAL OR PROHIBITED, REQUIRING OPERATIONS PLANS COVERING WATER, ENERGY, NOISE, AND LIGHTING, AND ESTABLISHING MONITORING AND PERMITS, PROPOSE AMENDMENTS, ADD ENFORCEMENT CUMULATIVE IMPACT REPORTING AND REPORTS TO COUNSEL ABOUT 20 MEGAWATT 85 MILLION GALLONS OF WATER PER, PER YEAR.
YOU GUYS ARE DEFINING PERMISSION, PERFORMANCE MONITORING AND INFORM ENFORCEMENT, BUT YOU DON'T NOT HAVE, YOU DO NOT HAVE A PUBLIC REGISTER SHOWING EACH REQUIREMENT WHO IS RESPONSIBLE, WHAT PROVES COMPLIANCE AND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY FAIL.
SO WHETHER LIKE MY PROJECT HAS THOSE THINGS OR NOT, I WILL REACH OUT TO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE OFFICES AND LET THEM KNOW WHAT WE ARE WORKING ON.
'CAUSE THIS TRANSLATES DIRECTLY TO THAT.
SO WHAT YOU GUYS NEED TO DO IS EXPLAIN WHY EACH REQUIREMENT EXISTS.
WHO BENEFITS, WHO CARRIES THE RISK, AND HOW IT BENEFITS TAXPAYERS.
'CAUSE THIS IS NOT LIKE A POLITICAL ISSUE.
THIS IS A CITY OF AUSTIN ISSUE.
SO ONCE YOU COULD EXPLAIN THAT TO FIRST ME, TO THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM, THEN YOU COULD EXPLAIN THAT TO THE PUBLIC.
AND THEN AFTER THAT, I MEAN, IT'S UP TO THE PUBLIC TO DO IT.
'CAUSE A PRIVATE COMPANY WILL COME AND FORCE THAT INFRASTRUCTURE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES AND WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY RIGHT NOW TO LIKE PUT A STOP TO THAT OR AT LEAST DO SOMETHING.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WATSON AND COUNCIL MEMBERS AND COUNCIL MEMBER OF FUENTES.
OH, MY NAME IS VALERIE MINARD.
I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK TO YOU REGARDING ITEM 61.
WHILE I APPRECIATE THE EFFORT TO REVIEW THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE AND POTENTIAL REGULATIONS AND PERMIT REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO DATA CENTER OPERATIONS, SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT DONE FOR THE DOG'S HEAD, I WOULD ALSO ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER A THREE YEAR MORATORIUM TO LET THE DUST SETTLE ON THE IMPENDING LEGISLATION REGARDING DATA CENTERS AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL.
AND LESS THAN A YEAR, THE NUMBER OF DATA CENTERS IN AUSTIN HAS NEARLY DOUBLED.
HAVING GROWN FROM 41 TO 76, A MORATORIUM WOULD HALT THIS ALREADY UNCHECKED GROWTH AND ALLOW US TO GET A BETTER GRIP ON THE SITUATION.
THIS WOULD BE IN LINE WITH PUBLIC SENTIMENT BECAUSE UNLIKE SOME ISSUES, THE GENERAL PUBLIC HAS BEEN ALERTED TO THE THREATS POSED TO OUR WATER SYSTEM AND POWER GRID BY DATA CENTERS.
BUT THEY'RE ALSO AWARE OF FALSE NARRATIVES RELATED TO THEM LIKE JOB CREATION.
WHEN IN REALITY THE JOBS THAT DATA CENTERS CREATE ARE TEMPORARY MOSTLY, UH, IN CONSTRUCTION.
ACCORDING TO POLITICO, THE INDUSTRY IS IN THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING AN ESTIMATED 1500 DATA CENTERS IN LARGE PART TO SUPPORT THE GROWTH OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.
THIS IS THE DYSTOPIAN VISION OF TECH BROS.
ROBERT BARONS LIKE PETER THIEL AND ELON MUSK, WHO ARE ALSO PUSHING THE URGENCY TO BUILD THEM BUT DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH.
[03:05:01]
AI HAS ALREADY BROKEN FREE FROM CONSTRAINTS AND, AND HAS AND TO HACK OTHER SYSTEMS REVEALING ITS PREDATORY ABILITY.AND JUST YESTERDAY, BILL GATES WARNED THAT THE WORLD IS ENTIRELY UNPREPARED FOR THE MASSIVE SOCIAL, POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC UPHEAVAL.
WE NEED TO POP THE BRAKES AND LOOK BEYOND PERMIT REQUIREMENTS TO TRULY PREPARE AND PROTECT OUR FUTURE.
THREE YEARS ISN'T TOO LONG TO TAKE, TO GET THIS RIGHT BEFORE IT GOES TERRIBLY WRONG.
DAVID WEINBERG, JUNO BLACK, PHILLIP FITZGERALD, SHELBY EVANS, CRAIG NAZER, JERRY WHEAT, PLEASE COME ON DOWN IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED AND JUST STATE YOUR NA YOUR NAME BEFORE YOU BEGIN SPEAKING.
MY NAME IS PHILLIP FITZGERALD, UH, RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE.
SO, UM, ON TUESDAY THEY, UH, THEY GAVE A PRESENTATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND THEY WERE COVERING, UH, SOME OF THE, UM, SOME OF THE, UH, UH, I GUESS THE PATHWAY FOR MORATORIUM.
BUT, UH, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT REALLY STOOD OUT TO ME.
ONE, THEY SAID, EVEN IF WE VOTE ON THIS, UM, WE COULDN'T REALLY PASS ANY LEG, UH, UH, LEGISLATION OR RULES OR ANYTHING UNTIL SPRING 2027.
AND I HAVE TO ASK IF, IF THAT'S THE FASTEST WE CAN DO ANYTHING.
UM, THE MAYOR POSTED SOMETHING ON, ON THE PUBLIC FORUM IN MAY ASKING FOR A PRESENTATION IN JULY THAT GOT KICKED TO, TO THIS MONTH.
YOU KNOW, DOGS HEAD GOT APPROVED SOON AFTER, YOU KNOW, THE, THE SPECIAL TAX ZONE GOT APPROVED IN JULY BEFORE THIS, AND IT FEELS LIKE WE'RE MOVING WAY TOO SLOW ON THIS.
THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM IN CENTRAL TEXAS FOR A LONG TIME AND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS FOR A LONG TIME.
UM, THERE WAS ALSO A DISTINCTION BETWEEN 75 MEGAWATT, UH, DATA CENTERS VERSUS ONES THAT ARE BIGGER, THE HYPERSCALER ONES.
AND I HAVE TO ASK, WHY CAN'T WE JUST BAND THEM IN AGGREGATE IN THE TOTAL SIZE? BECAUSE AS, AS MEMBER SIEGEL, UH, DISCUSSED, IF THEY BREAK UP THESE DATA CENTERS INTO SEPARATE, UM, BUILDINGS, THEN THEY COULD GET UNDER THAT CAP.
SO I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT THE AGGREGATE ACROSS THE CITY.
UM, WHAT ELSE? UH, WE, WE ALSO, AS MENTIONED, WE CAN'T BAN SERVICES, UH, TO, TO CERTAIN AREAS.
WE BACKSTOP AREAS LIKE ROUND ROCK, UM, UH, SOME ENCLAVES AROUND US, IF THEY PUT DATA CENTERS IN THEIR AREAS, WE DON'T HAVE A MECHANISM TO STOP THAT.
SO I'D ASK THAT WE, WE START MOVING A LITTLE MORE, UH, AGGRESSIVELY TOWARDS LETTING THEM KNOW IF, IF THEY'RE GONNA BUILD DATA CENTERS, THEN WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA BE ENDING SOME LOCAL AGREEMENTS, INCLUDING WITH, WITH ROUND ROCK.
THEY HAVE THREE PROJECTS RIGHT NOW, UP TO 340 MEGAWATTS FOR, FOR DATA CENTERS.
THAT'S GONNA REALLY HURT US IF THEY RUN OUTTA WATER.
UM, I THINK A LOT OF THIS IS, IS DOWNSTREAM FROM PEOPLE'S ANGER.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE ANGER THAT WE SEE OUR LANDS AND OUR WATER BEING STRIPPED AWAY AND OUR LEADERS ARE NOT LISTENING TO US.
PEOPLE ARE REALLY SCARED ABOUT THIS AND I REALLY HOPE WE, WE MOVE QUICKER THAN SPRING 2027.
WE'LL START WITH YOU AND THEN WE'LL WORK DOWN THERE.
UH, CRAIG NAER, AUSTIN SIERRA CLUB.
WE BELIEVE THE DATA CENTERS ABOVE 20 MEGAWATTS NEED A COMPLETE REVIEW BEFORE CONSTRUCTION, AND WE SHOULD HAVE A MORATORIUM UNTIL WE GET THESE RULES IN PLACE.
THERE MAY BE SOME STATE LAWS THAT MAKE THIS DIFFICULT, BUT WE SHOULD DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO PREVENT WASTING ENERGY AND WATER.
SPECIFICALLY ON CRYPTO CENTERS.
YOU NEED TO CONSIDER THE ISSUE OF GROUNDWATER CONSERVATION DISTRICTS AND DATA CENTER LOCATION.
RECENTLY YOU VOTED TO ALLOW MASSIVE DEVELOPMENT ON THE DOG'S HEAD WHERE THERE IS AN UNDERLYING AQUIFER, BUT NO GROUNDWATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT.
WE KNOW THAT THE DOGS HEAD DEVELOPER OWNS THE WATER RIGHTS ON THIS DEVELOPMENT.
AS FAR AS I KNOW, THERE'S NOTHING TO PREVENT THE OWNER OF THOSE WATER RIGHTS TO PUMP AS MUCH GROUNDWATER AS THEY WANT ON THE DOG'S HEAD.
THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE WHEN IT COMES TO DATA CENTER LOCATION DEVELOPMENT, AND I'VE ASKED CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS A LOT OF PEOPLE FOR THIS INFORMATION.
I'VE NEVER BEEN GIVEN A GOOD ANSWER ON IT.
WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT A COMPLETE BAN ON DATA CENTERS, LIKE I SAID EARLIER, SHOULD BE IN PLACE UNTIL THESE RESTRICTIONS ARE PASSED INTO ORDINANCE.
NOW, SOMETHING ALSO INTERESTING IS THIS IS A BUBBLE.
DATA CENTERS ARE IN A BUBBLE RIGHT NOW, AND THE AMOUNT OF ENERGY IT TAKES TO OPERATE THESE THINGS IS RIDICULOUS.
AS I SAID ON TUESDAY, MY BRAIN TAKES 20 WATTS.
A SMALL DATA CENTER TAKES A MILLION TIMES THAT AMOUNT THAT IS GOING TO GO DOWN.
AND IF YOU BUILD THESE DATA CENTERS NOW WITH ALL THESE HUGE BOBBY TALKED ABOUT THIS, ALL THIS ELECTRICITY GOING WATER GOING ANYWHERE, AND THEN THAT GOES DOWN, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE STRANDED ASSETS.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT BECAUSE THIS IS CHANGING VERY RAPIDLY.
SO ANYWAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[03:10:03]
HI, I AM SHELBY, YOU NEED TO TURN THAT ON.I'M WITH HANDS OFF CENTRAL TEXAS.
WE NEED AN IMMEDIATE MORATORIUM ON DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENT IN AUSTIN.
COUNCIL IS IN A RARE POSITION WHERE THE STATE HAS NOT YET DICTATED YOUR POSITION.
IN FACT, THEY'VE UNFORTUNATELY LEFT THE DOOR WIDE OPEN FOR CORPORATE EXPLOITATION OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
BUT THIS ALSO OFFERS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS COUNCIL TO STEP UP AS LEADERS AND AS GOOD STEWARDS OF OUR LAND AND RESOURCES.
I APPRECIATE THE MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL WHO HAVE LED THE CHARGE TO KICK OFF REELING IN LARGE SCALE DATA CENTERS.
AS A START, I WANT TO ENCOURAGE COUNCIL TO LOOK TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND ENERGY EXPERTS TO UNDERSTAND AND DEFINE THE RISKS AND CONSEQUENCES OF DATA CENTERS.
EVEN IN CLOSED LOOP SYSTEMS, WATER AND ENERGY DEMANDS LEAD TO INCREASED FOSSIL FUEL USE AND WATER SCARCITY.
A 30 WATT MEG, UH, 30 MEGAWATT DATA CENTER WITH A CLOSED LOOP SYSTEM CAN USE ABOUT A 30 MILLION GALLONS OF WATER PER YEAR.
EACH 30 MEGAWATT DATA CENTER WITH AN OFFSITE ENERGY SYSTEM CAN USE ABOUT 80 MILLION GALLONS OF WATER PER YEAR.
IF AUSTIN IS WELCOMING DATA CENTERS OF ANY SIZE, IT IS IMPERATIVE.
WE APPROACH RESTRICTIONS WITH INCREDIBLE CARE AND URGENCY.
OVER HALF OF TEXAS IS CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING DROUGHT.
ANOTHER 32% OF THE STATE IS ABNORMALLY DRY, INCLUDING AUSTIN.
THE DECISIONS WE MAKE TODAY WILL NOT BE CONSTRAINED JUST OUR NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE DOGHEAD NOR JUST OUR CITY.
THE REVERBERATIONS OF THESE DECISIONS WILL REACH GENERATIONS TO COME ACROSS THE STATE.
PLEASE STOP ALL DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENT UNTIL WE HAVE ENFORCEABLE RULES IN PLACE.
AMEND ANY DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS LIKE DOG, DOG HEADS TO ENSURE PRIVATE PROFIT INTERESTS DO NOT TAKE PRIORITY OVER YOUR CONSTITUENTS WELLBEING AND LOOK TO THE GUIDANCE OF EXPERTS LIKE THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION'S RECOMME RECOMMENDATION ON THIS ISSUE.
HELLO, UH, JERRY WHEAT DISTRICT TWO.
MS. VANESSA, IT'S NICE TO MEET YOU OFFICIALLY.
I THINK THIS ITEM IS DECEPTIVE BECAUSE IT'S STARTS FROM THE ASSUMPTION THAT INDUSTRIAL SCALE DATA CENTERS ARE SOMETHING AUSTIN SHOULD ACCOMMODATE.
ONCE WE ESTABLISH THE ZONING STANDARDS AND PERMITTING PROCESS, WE'VE ALREADY SORT OF OPENED THE DOOR.
I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD DO THAT.
UM, I'M ALSO TIRED OF THESE FACILITIES BEING DISCUSSED PURELY AS INFRASTRUCTURE FOR AI.
DATA CENTERS ARE ALSO THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE BEHIND ENORMOUS SYSTEMS OF DATA COLLECTION AND SURVEILLANCE, INCLUDING TECHNOLOGIES LIKE FLOCK.
AUSTIN SHOULD NOT BE VOLUNTEERING ITS LAND, WATER, ELECTRICITY, AND INFRASTRUCTURE TO HELP BUILD EITHER A SPECULATIVE AI BOOM OR AN INCREASINGLY POWERFUL PANOPTICON STATE.
THE QUESTION SHOULD NOT BE HOW DO WE REGULATE DATA CENTERS? THE QUESTION SHOULD BE, DO WE WANT THESE OPERATIONS IN AUSTIN AT ALL? MY ANSWER IS NO.
I URGE TO VOTE AGAINST ITEM 61.
CONTINUING ON R AS KRISTIN SCOTT.
UM, THIS WAS WRITTEN VERY DECEPTIVELY.
THIS, AND AS IT IS WRITTEN ON THE, UH, AGENDA, HORRIBLY JUST MISLEADING.
IT MAKES IT SEEM LIKE SOME ACTION IS BEING TAKEN, BUT IT ISN'T.
I AM SO DONE WITH CATERING TO BILLIONAIRES, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO, AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR BUDGET CRISIS, AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR TAXES, AT THE EXPENSE OF EVERY SOCIAL SERVICE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
IF WE ARE GOING TO CATER TO BILLIONAIRES, THEY NEED TO PAY THEIR MONEY.
THEY NEED TO GIVE THEIR FAIR SHARE BECAUSE THEIR BILLIONS ARE ONLY GONNA MAKE THEMSELVES MORE BILLIONS AT THE EXPENSE OF EVERYBODY.
I AM GONNA PLAY REAL QUICKLY THE SOUND OF THESE DATA CENTERS AND I WANT YOU TO TAKE A GOOD LONG LESSON BECAUSE AT THIS POINT THIS IS GONNA BE IN EVERYONE'S BACKYARD THE WAY THAT THIS IS GOING.
AND IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE DISMISSIVE OF THIS, I HOPE THEY'RE PUT IN YOUR BACKYARDS 24 7 75 PLUS DECIBELS.
MENTAL HEALTH, IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CANCEROUS AREAS AND DUMPING OF POLLUTANTS THAT HAVE RAISED CANCER, THIS IS A KIND OF CENTER THAT WILL DESTROY COMMUNITIES, HAS RUN PEOPLE ALREADY OUT OF THEM.
POISON WATERS PASSED NO RETURN.
AND WE'RE GONNA SAY, SIT IN AUSTIN WITH GOLF COURSES AND OTHERWISE SAPPING OUT THE WATER.
AND THEN THAT ALSO GOES TO DATA CENTERS.
[03:15:01]
THEN OTHER MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES ARE GONNA BE ZONED OUT.WE HAVE A HISTORY AS A CITY DESTROYING INFRASTRUCTURE FOR ANYBODY OF COLOR AND PUTTING THESE WHERE QUOTE UNQUOTE UNDESIRABLES LIVE WHEN LIKE POLITICIANS ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS, THIS IS B******T.
AND THIS SHOULD NOT GO THROUGH.
ANY DATA CENTER THAT IS PROPOSED NOW IS ON YOUR HANDS.
AND I DON'T CARE WHAT ANY KIND OF DATA CENTER COMPANY WILL ADVOCATE FOR OR WHAT MONEY THEY'LL PROMISE.
THEY DON'T WANNA PAY THEIR TAXES.
THEY ARE LOBBYING YOU TO NOT PAY THEIR TAXES.
NONE OF THAT MONEY WILL GO BACK TO THE CITY.
FULL MORATORIUM ON DATA CENTERS.
HI, MY NAME IS CHRISTINA DISTEFANO AND I'M A RESIDENT OF AUSTIN DISTRICT TWO.
I AM ASKING CITY COUNCIL TO ENACT A BAN OR A MORATORIUM ON DATA CENTERS.
DATA CENTERS USE TOO MUCH OF OUR RESOURCES TO EVEN EVEN CONSIDER THIS A VIABLE BUSINESS OPTION.
YET HERE WE ARE ON, IN A STATE ON ITS OWN GRID WITHIN MONTHS WITH MONTHS OF DROUGHT AND THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF DATA CENTERS IN THE COUNTRY.
BACK IN JUNE, 2026, TEXAS NA NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE CONVENED FOR A SPECIAL PUBLIX MEETING ABOUT DATA CENTERS THAT WAS WIDELY ATTENDED FROM FOLKS ALL OVER THE STATE DRIVING FOR HOURS FOR ONE TO TWO MINUTES TO EXPRESS THEIR GRIEVANCE GRIEVANCES.
THESE WERE FARMERS AND RESIDENTS STILL THEY WERE EXPERIENCING, UH, LIVESTOCK STILLBIRTHS AND WELLS DRYING UP FROM OVER PUMPING OF NEIGHBORS EFFECTS TO THEIR LIVELIHOOD PRIOR TO SAID PUBLIC HEARING.
THIS SAME COMMITTEE SENT OUT A SURVEY ASKING 341 DATA CENTERS WHAT THEIR WATER AND ENERGY CONSUMPTION HAD BEEN.
LESS THAN ONE THIRD RESPONDED TO THE SURVEY.
ONLY 17% OF DATA CENTERS RESPONDED TO TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARDS ANNUAL SURVEY IN 2025.
IT IS APPARENT THESE DATA CENTERS HAVE NO INTEREST IN TRANSPARENCY.
THEY HAVE NO INTEREST IN WORKING WITH THE PUBLIC TO ENSURE CITIZENS' BASIC NEEDS, NECESSITIES ARE MET.
IF DATA CENTER EXECUTIVES ARE NOT WILLING TO WORK WITH US, WHY SHOULD WE WORK WITH THEM? RIGHT NOW? WE ARE WATCHING A RECKONING HAPPEN IN, IN REAL TIME.
IF WE DISMISS THE POWER OUTAGES IN GARY, INDIANA, THEIR SUFFERING WILL BE IN VAIN.
FOR THOSE NOT AWARE, GARY, INDIANA HAS BEEN WITHOUT POWER FOR TWO WEEKS AFTER TORNADOES AND FLOODING.
WHILE GARY, INDIANA DOES NOT HAVE DATA CENTERS WITHIN ITS CITY LIMITS, EIGHT DATA CENTERS ARE ON NIPSCO'S POWER GRID WITH, UH, WHICH PROVIDES FOLKS IN GARY, INDIANA WITH ELECTRICITY.
HOWEVER, THE LIGHTS ARE STILL ON IN THE DATA CENTERS.
UM, I KNOW A LOT, A LOT OF Y'ALL HAVE A REAL ESTATE BACKGROUND UP THERE.
SO YOU KNOW THAT IN, IN TEXAS, IF YOU OWN PROPERTY AND THERE'S NOT A A RULE AGAINST IT, YOU CAN DO IT.
THAT'S PRETTY MUCH CUT AND DRY.
SO WE REALLY NEED TO, TO GET AHEAD OF THIS AND GET SOME, A SUITE OF ORDINANCES, NOT JUST A BLANKET, UH, TYPE OF BAN BECAUSE THAT'S UPSETTING IT UP FOR ONE LAWSUIT TO STRIP THAT AWAY.
I, I KNOW ABOUT A INFRASOUND THAT DR.
RE WAS TALKING ABOUT EARLIER IN A, THE OIL FIELDS, THEY PUT THESE TRUCKS ON THE GROUND, THEY MAKE INFRASOUND BOUNCE IT OFF POOLS, OIL, AND IT COMES UP TO THESE INSTRUMENTS CALLED GEOPHONES AND THEY RECORD ALL THAT.
WHEN WE HAVE A SOMETHING THAT CAN MAKE POTENTIALLY THIS MUCH NOISE DEEP UNDERGROUND, WE NEED GEOPHONES AROUND A FACILITY AND, AND A, A ROBUST REQUIREMENTS THAT THEY KNOW ABOUT BEFORE THEY EVEN GET STARTED.
SO IF THEY VIOLATE IT, THEN THEY'RE, THEY, THEY CAN'T PROCEED IF THEY CAN'T COME UP WITH THE DESIGN, UH, CRITERIA TO MATCH THE CODE.
AND THERE'S MANY OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE NEED TO BE VERY PRECISE AND TARGETED ON A LOT OF THIS STUFF AND HAVE A BUNCH OF THEM.
SO THEY ALL, EACH ONE HAS TO BE PULLED ONE BY ONE IN COURT.
IT'S OTHERWISE WE'RE SETTING OURSELVES UP FOR A, A, A BIG FALL.
AND, AND WE NEED, WE DO, WE DO NEED IN EFFECT A BLANKET BAND, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE MORE GRANULAR THAN THAT.
RACHEL WAS TALKING ABOUT, THE, THE WHOLE SOUND AS A MUSICIAN, UH, I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK OF THOSE UNDERGROUND WAVES AND THE, NOT JUST THE, THE FUNDAMENTAL 20 HERTZ AND BELOW, WHICH IS BELOW HUMAN HEARING, BUT THOSE CREATE, UH, HARMONICS JUST LIKE A GUITAR STRING OR A, A INSTRUMENT WHICH ARE UP HIGHER FREQUENCIES.
AND THEY'RE NOT, YOU CAN'T READ THEM ON THE THANK YOU MS. MS. MASSILLON.
YOU DIDN'T STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
[03:20:01]
WE ALL KNOW YOU, BUT WE, OH, SORRY.SORRY, I HAVE A REMOTE SPEAKER ON THE LINE.
UM, MY NAME IS BECKY WOODWARD.
GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT TWO AND I'M AND AM AN AFME MEMBER.
UM, I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYONE COMING TO TALK ABOUT THESE ISSUES SURROUNDING DATA CENTERS AND I'M HERE TO NOT TALK ABOUT THEM IN A THEORETICAL SENSE, BUT TO ACTUALLY SHARE MY LIVED EXPERIENCE LIVING NEXT TO TWO, SOON TO BE THREE.
UM, ONE DATA CENTER I LIVE NEXT TO IS WITHIN 123 FEET FROM MY APARTMENT.
ONE IS 800 FEET AWAY AND A NEW ONE BEING CONSTRUCTED RIGHT NOW IS ACTUALLY LESS THAN 300 FEET AND THEY'RE ACT ACTIVELY BUILDING IT CLOSER.
UM, THERE ARE DATA CENTERS HERE THAT WERE BUILT IN 2006 THAT ARE NOT AI THAT ARE ACTUALLY IMPACTING PEOPLE TODAY.
ME AND MY NEIGHBORS ARE CONSTANTLY WOKEN UP FROM OUR SLEEP, HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME FALLING ASLEEP AND CAN HEAR THE INDUSTRIAL NOISE WITHIN OUR HOUSES.
IT IS EXHAUSTING, AS YOU CAN PROBABLY TELL FROM MY VOICE TO LIVE NEXT TO THIS.
AND TRUST ME, AS SOON AS MY LEASE IS UP, I AM MOVING.
WHEN I MOVED IN HERE, I HAD JUST HAD AN ACL SURGERY, SO I WASN'T ABLE TO TOUR THE, THE PROPERTY IN PERSON.
AND INSTEAD I DID A FACETIME VISIT.
I WAS UNAWARE THAT MY NEIGHBOR IS A DATA CENTER.
UM, I'VE HAD HEADACHE, INCREASED STRESS, EAR ACHE, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES RELATED TO THIS.
UM, AND I TRY MY BEST TO JUST ZONE IT OUT.
BUT WHEN IT WAKES YOU UP AT NIGHT, IT'S REALLY HARD.
I'M ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT ONSITE POWER GENERATION AND WELLS IF THEY'RE NOT GONNA USE WATER FROM OUR EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE, WHAT'S STOPPING THEM FROM DIGGING A WELL AND PULLING FROM OUR AQUIFERS.
SO I REQUEST THAT YOU REQUIRE ANY ADDITIONAL, WELL HAVE, UH, METERS ON THEM TO TELL HOW MUCH WATER IS BEING PULLED OUT THAT'S NOT CAPTURED IN ANY OTHER, UM, REPORTING REQUIREMENT.
UM, AND ALSO PROVIDE ADEQUATE STEP SETBACKS.
AND THIS IS NOT JUST THE CONTINUING ON, I HAVE CAMILLE COOK, CARLOS PINON, KAT FLEMING, CAROL PHILLIPSON, JOE GOOD.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
HOW ABOUT WE START ON THIS END AND WE'LL WORK OUR WAY DOWN.
HELLO, MY NAME IS CAROL PHILLIPSON.
I'M DISTRICT 10 AND I'M AGAINST THIS, UH, ITEM 61 WITH THE MANY UNKNOWN RISK DATA CENTERS POST TO OUR ENVIRONMENT, HUMANS AND WILDLIFE, THERE MUST BE A MORATORIUM WITHIN CITY LIMITS UNTIL WE LEARN THAN AND MITIGATE THEIR NEGATIVE EFFECTS.
YES, WE TALK ABOUT WATER TO COLD DATA CENTERS.
HOWEVER, THE WATER USED BY THEIR POWER SOURCE ALSO NEEDS TO BE ACCOUNTED FOR AND REPORTED, WHICH IS NOT MANDATED YET.
FOR AUSTIN DATA CENTERS, THIS IS MORE DIFFICULT.
I WROTE TO KEVIN KLUGE OF AUSTIN WATER FOR AN ANSWER.
HE REPLIED, ALL CURRENT AND FUTURE DATA CENTERS IN AUSTIN ARE AUSTIN ENERGY BUILD CUSTOMERS, BUT ALL THE POWER COMES FROM THE TEXAS ELECTRICAL GRID, WHICH IS SUPPLIED BY MANY POWER GENERATION SOURCES, IE GAS, NUCLEAR SOLAR, WIND ACROSS THE STATE.
FOR THAT REASON, IT'S RATHER DIFFICULT TO TIE A PARTICULAR CUSTOMER'S ELECTRICAL USE TO SPECIFIC WATER USE AND EVEN MORE DIFFICULT TO INFLUENCE OR REGULATE SUCH INDIRECT WATER USE.
THEN THERE'S THE CHEMICAL DISCHARGE.
THE WATER BLED OFF FROM COOLING SYSTEMS TEND TO HAVE A HIGH MINERAL CONTENT TRACES OF CHLORINE OR BIOCIDES AND ALTERED PH.
EACH DATA CENTER SHOULD BUILD ITS OWN WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT TO PREVENT NOT ONLY CHEMICAL POLLUTION, BUT THERMAL POLLUTION AS THE WATER RELEASED IS SIGNIFICANTLY WARMER, WHICH CAN UPSET THE ECOLOGY OF RIVERS, CREEKS, AND LAKES.
IF NOT, COLD DATA CENTERS MUST MEET RESOURCE EFFICIENCY STANDARDS.
I ALSO REQUEST THAT THERE IS AN END TO EXECUTIVE SESSIONS WITH SECRET VOTING LIKE THE RECENT MEETING THAT APPROVE THE PURCHASE OF GAS POWERED ELECTRICAL, UH, GENERATORS.
PLUS ALLOW AN EXEMPTION FOR EMISSIONS CREATED DURING LOCAL RE RELIABILITY EVENTS OR EXTREME GRID EVENTS, WHICH COULD POSSIBLY OCCUR FROM DATA CENTER.
POWER NEEDS INSTEAD MANDATE THAT IF THERE IS ONSITE ELECTRICAL GENERATION, RENEWABLES MUST BE USED.
LEARNING ALL THE FACETS OF THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY TAKES TIME.
SO PLEASE DON'T RUSH POLICY DECISIONS AS WAS DONE WITH THE DOG'S HEAD PROJECT.
AND PROMISE US, NO DATA CENTERS
[03:25:01]
FOR DOGS HEAD THE FUTURE OF YOUR THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AUSTIN LIES IN YOUR THANK.MY NAME IS CAMILLE COOK AND I'M IN SUPPORT OF THIS RESOLUTION BECAUSE I DON'T WANT ANY MORE DATA CENTERS IN OUR CITY.
I THINK THIS RESOLUTION COULD BE STRONGER AND I ENCOURAGE ADDITIONAL SAFEGUARDS LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL'S AMENDMENTS TO REALLY STRENGTHEN IT TO MAKE SURE DATA CENTER DEVELOPERS CAN'T SNEAK THROUGH WHILE THESE REGULATIONS ARE BEING FIGURED OUT.
I WANNA START THIS BY SAYING THAT THROUGH MY ROLE AT PUBLIC CITIZEN, I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ALL ACROSS THE STATE SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR WHO ARE FIGHTING DATA CENTERS.
THROUGH THAT WORK, I'VE SEEN MANY, MANY EXAMPLES OF DATA CENTER RESOLUTIONS BEING WORKED ON THROUGH COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S, COURTS, AND CITY COUNCILS.
I'VE SEEN MANY OF THE PACT HALLS FULL OF PEOPLE OPPOSED TO THE NUMEROUS INCOMING DATA CENTERS POPPING UP ACROSS THE STATE.
MANY OF THESE LOCALITIES WERE CAUGHT OFF GUARD WITHOUT ANY PROPER REGULATIONS IN PLACE.
SO IT'S GOOD THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS WORKING TO GET AHEAD OF THIS ISSUE, RIGHT? WE'RE LUCKY THAT AUSTIN ISN'T SEEING THESE SAME ISSUES AS SO MANY TEXANS ARE.
THAT BEING SAID, THOUGH, I WOULD ENCOURAGE ANOTHER RESOLUTION OR INTERIOR REG REGULATIONS THAT ESTABLISHES A MORATORIUM ON ANY NEW DATA CENTERS WHILE THESE REGULATIONS ARE BEING PUT INTO PLACE.
FROM MY EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH THESE COMMUNITIES, SOME OF THE BIGGEST HEADACHES FOR BOTH COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND THE ELECTED OFFICIALS HAPPEN WHEN REGULATIONS ARE BEING FORMULATED.
AS DATA CENTERS ARE ACTIVELY COMING INTO A COMMUNITY, THIS OPENS UP OPPORTUNITIES FOR LAWSUITS FROM INCOMING DATA CENTER DEVELOPERS, MAKES THE POLICY PROCESS MORE PROTRACTED AND CONFUSING, AND IT BREAKS DOWN TRUST BETWEEN THE RESIDENTS OF A CITY AND ITS ELECTED OFFICIALS, WHICH IS SO IMPORTANT WHENEVER WE'RE DEALING WITH SOMETHING AS CONTENTIOUS AS THIS.
SOME OF THESE MORATORIUMS MAY BE INSTITUTED AFTER HUNDREDS OF MEGAWATTS OF DATA CENTERS AND CO-LOCATED GAS PLANTS ARE ALREADY ALREADY SOLIDLY IN THE LOCALE AND GRANDFATHERED IN.
UH, THEREFORE, YOU KNOW, MISSING KIND OF THE POINT OF THIS WORK THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.
IT'S REALLY, REALLY MESSY AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY NEED TO GET AHEAD OF.
IT'S IN EVERYONE'S BEST INTEREST TO ENSURE THAT THERE ARE NO LOOPHOLES FOR DATA CENTERS TO SNEAK THROUGH.
WHILE REGULATIONS ARE BEING FIGURED OUT, A LACK OF ACTION COULD OPEN UP THE CITY TO EVEN MORE LAWSUITS.
THIS RELU RESOLUTION IS A GOOD FIRST STEP IN ADDRESSING DATA CENTERS IN OUR CITY, BUT WE NEED TO TIGHTEN IT UP WHILE WE'RE HERE.
PLEASE MA'AM, JUST STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
GOOD CONCERNED CITIZEN AND ORGANIZER WITH HANDS OFF CENTRAL TEXAS.
NOW, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT Y'ALL HAVE A REALLY ANNOYING RELATIVE.
YOU'VE GOT A SELFISH ONE THAT CALLED YOU UP AND SAID, HEY, YOU KNOW THAT ROOM YOU'RE USING FOR THE KIDS PLAYROOM? I'M MOVING IN NOW.
AND WELL, THERE ARE GONNA BE PROBLEMS. THE UTILITIES ARE GONNA GET RUN UP, THEY'RE GOING TO RUN THE SHOWER CONSTANTLY.
THE AC WILL BE SET CRAZY, THERE WILL BE NOISE COMPLAINTS, IT WON'T END WELL.
BUT FOR SOME REASON, EVEN THOUGH YOUR COUSIN ALREADY HAS SEVERAL HOMES, SOME IN TEXAS THINK NOT ONLY SHALL WE GIVE THEM THE KIDS PLAYROOM, LET'S PAY THEM TO TAKE IT.
AT THAT POINT, YOU SHOULD ALREADY BE CHARGED WITH UNCOMMON STUPIDITY, BUT HERE WE ARE NOW.
YOU CAN PROTECT THINGS IN ONE WAY.
IT IS LITERALLY THE LEAST YOU CAN DO AT THIS POINT REQUIRE COUSIN JEFF OR COUSIN ELON TO AGREE TO SOME VERY STRICT HOUSE RULES AHEAD OF TIME, DETAILED IN WRITING, AND IF THEY DON'T WANNA AGREE, THEY DON'T HAVE TO COME.
FRANCINE TATTOO, SHANE JOHNSON, MORGAN DONNELLY, EVA WHITE, DANIELLA SILVA.
PLEASE COME FORWARD IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED.
SHANE MENING, MS. WHITE, WHY DON'T YOU BEGIN? OKAY.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS KABA WHITE AND I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF PUBLIC CITIZENS TEXAS OFFICE.
I'M ALSO A DISTRICT THREE RESIDENT.
WE ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS RESOLUTION AND THIS EFFORT BECAUSE WE DO WANNA SEE LARGE DATA CENTERS KEPT OUT OF AUSTIN.
WE REALLY DON'T WANT THE EXPANSION OF DATA CENTERS AT ALL AT AUSTIN.
UM, BUT WE DO THINK THAT THOSE THAT ARE BEYOND WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE HERE ARE NOT REALLY COMPATIBLE WITH CITY OF AUSTIN VALUES AND LIFE.
AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS ZONING STRATEGY IS ONE OF THE ONLY MECHANISMS THAT CITIES REALLY HAVE TO KEEP DATA CENTERS OUT OF THEIR CITY LIMITS.
WE DO THINK THAT YOU COULD PROBABLY IMPROVE
[03:30:01]
THIS RESOLUTION IN A FEW WAYS.ONE, DEFINITELY WE SUPPORT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL'S, UH, AMENDMENT TO MOVE FORWARD THE TIMELINE FOR AT LEAST, UH, EXCLUDING THOSE LARGER SCALE, UH, DATA CENTERS.
UH, WE THINK THAT DECEMBER IS STILL QUITE A LONG TIME TO WAIT, AND WE DO HAVE A CONCERN THAT IF THERE'S NOT A MORATORIUM IN THE MEANTIME, THAT THAT DOES GIVE DEVELOPERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET IN AND GET THOSE PERMITS AND GET GRANDFATHERED.
SO WE WOULD LOOK TO YOU TO SEE IF YOU CAN MOVE THAT FORWARD.
WE HAVE SEEN THIS COUNCIL AND THE CITY MOVE VERY QUICKLY WITH SOME, UH, DEVELOPMENT AND OTHER CHANGES RECENTLY.
THIS WOULD BE AN AREA WHERE YOU HAVE PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR MOVING RAPIDLY.
AND I'VE HEARD FROM, UM, MOST ALL OF YOU THAT YOU SEEM TO WANT TO EXCLUDE DATA CENTERS, THAT THAT IS YOUR INTENTION HERE.
AND YET I THINK YOU'RE HEARING SOME CONFUSION FROM THE PUBLIC BECAUSE THAT ISN'T VERY CLEAR IN YOUR RESOLUTION.
I THINK YOU COULD MAKE A LITTLE BIT MORE CLEAR AND GIVE STAFF A BIT OF DIRECTION SO THAT WHAT YOU GET BACK IS NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU JUST HAVE TO AMEND IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE YOUR STATED GOAL.
SO BY THAT I'M SAYING, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD ACTUALLY SAY WE AREN'T INTENDING TO EXCLUDE DATA CENTERS ABOVE A CERTAIN THRESHOLD.
WE WOULD SUGGEST 20 MEGAWATTS.
JONATHAN DAVIDSON, DISTRICT THREE RESIDENT.
UM, THOUGH I'M BROADLY IN SUPPORT OF REGULATION, UH, ON THE DATA CENTERS, UH, ISSUE, I THINK IT NEEDS TO GO MUCH HARDER THAN THIS.
IT FEELS LIKE AN ELECTION SEASON PANDERING TO PUBLIC SENTIMENT RATHER THAN ANYTHING VERY CONCRETE.
AND THAT'S A LITTLE BIT ANNOYING TO ME, BUT I THINK THAT IT'S A START OF A CONVERSATION