[00:00:04] >> MAYOR ADLER: THIS IS THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING. THE TIME IS 10:08. WE'RE DOING THIS MEETING REMOTELY AND VIRTUALLY. LET'S SEE WHO IS HERE REAL FAST. COUNCILMEMBER HARPER-MADISON, ARE YOU HERE? >> HARPER-MADISON: PRESENT. >> MAYOR ADLER: THANK YOU. IS COUNCILMEMBER MAYOR PRO TEM GARZA HERE? >> GARZA: I'M HERE. >> MAYOR ADLER: IS COUNCILMEMBER RENTERIA HERE? >> RENTERIA: PRESENT. >> MAYOR ADLER: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER CASAR? >> CASAR: HERE. >> MAYOR ADLER: COUNCILMEMBER KITCHEN? >> KITCHEN: I'M HERE. >> MAYOR ADLER: COUNCILMEMBER FLANNIGAN? >> FLANNIGAN: HERE. >> MAYOR ADLER: COUNCILMEMBER TOVO? >> TOVO: I'M HERE. >> MAYOR ADLER: AND COUNCILMEMBER ALTER. >> ALTER: I'M HERE. >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY, GREAT. BEFORE WE GO TO THE MEETING, [Additional Item] COUNCILMEMBER POOL AND I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THIS IS MUNICIPAL CLERKS WEEK AND OUR CLERK'S OFFICE WAS AWARDED ACHIEVEMENT AWARD BY MUNICIPAL CLERKS ASSOCIATION WHICH IS AN INCREDIBLE AWARD, SO CONGRATULATIONS NOT ONLY FOR THE WORK THAT EARNED YOU GUYS THIS BUT ALSO FOR THE SPECIAL RECOGNITION. WE KNOW DURING THIS VIRUS SITUATION YOU ARE NOT ONLY KEEPING THE OFFICE RUNNING ISSUING PERMITS BUT ALL THE REMOTE MEETINGS OF CITY COUNCIL AND BOARDS. WE'RE JUST REAL APPRECIATIVE OF THE WORK AND WE WANT OUR CLERK'S OFFICE TO BE THE BEST EVER. COUNCILMEMBER POOL, DO YOU WANT TO JOIN ME? >> POOL: THANKS, MAYOR, YEAH, THANKS FOR THOSE WORDS. JEANETTE, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM. WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU DO ALWAYS, BUT NOW MORE THAN EVER. SO PLEASE PASS ALONG OUR HEART-FELT CONGRATULATIONS ON THE ACHIEVEMENT OF EXCELLENCE. >> MAYOR ADLER: ALL RIGHT, COLLEAGUES, GENERALLY SPEAKING I'M GOING TO START THIS MEETING BY DOING THE CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS. AFTER WE'VE DONE THE CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS AND INDICATE WHAT'S BEEN PULLED, THEN WE'RE GOING TO GO TO SPEAKERS. WE HAVE QUITE A NUMBER OF SPEAKERS. 72 HAVE SIGNED UP. THE FIRST DOZEN OR SO ARE GOING TO NEED TRANSLATION SERVICES AND I'M GOING TO CALL THOSE FIRST WHILE WE HAVE THE TRANSLATOR HERE. THEN THE MAYOR PRO TEM AND I MAY TRADE OFF THE CHAIR WHILE WE'RE GOING THROUGH SPEAKERS. WHEN WE'RE DONE WITH THE SPEAKERS, AND BY THE WAY, WE'LL TAKE A LUNCH BREAK ABOUT NOON IF WE NEED TO WITH THE SPEAKERS. BUT ANYHOW, AFTER SPEAKERS AND KNOWING WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LUNCH BREAK ABOUT NOON, WE'LL THEN COME BACK AND TAKE A VOTE, A VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. AFTER THE CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVED, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE UP ITEM NUMBER 28, WHICH IS THE TEXAS GAS RATES CASE BECAUSE WE HAVE OUTSIDE COUNSEL WITH US ON THAT. AND THEN WE WILL GO BACK AND DO THE PULLED ITEMS AND THE NON-CONSENT ITEMS. THERE'S ONLY ABOUT A HALF DOZEN OF THOSE. WE'LL SEE HOW MANY GET PULLED. ZONING WE'LL START AT 2:00 FIRST BY CALLING THE SPEAKERS AGAIN, AND THEN WE'LL DO OUR ZONING AGENDA AND THEN WE WILL END THE DAY WITH GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. ALL RIGHT. I'M GOING TO BEGIN BY READING INTO THE RECORD THE [Consent Agenda (Part 1 of 2)] CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS. ITEM NUMBER 8 IS WITHDRAWN AND REPLACED BY ITEM NUMBER 50. ITEM NUMBER 20 IS POSTPONED TO JUNE 11TH. ITEM NUMBER 23, I'M ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR. ITEM NUMBER 26 POSTPONED UNTIL MAY 21ST. ITEM NUMBER 29 IS POSTPONED UNTIL JUNE 4TH. ITEM NUMBER 62 HAS THE ADDED SPONSOR OF COUNCILMEMBER [00:05:03] CASAR. AND AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION, ITEM 3, THE PROPERTY IS NOT MEADOW LAKE, IT IS PERSIMMON 4.0 AS MEADOW LAKE. WE HAVE THREE ITEMS I'M SHOWN BEING PULLED AT THIS POINT AND THOSE THREE ITEMS ARE ITEM NUMBER 16, PULLED BY COUNCILMEMBER CASAR. ITEM NUMBER 22, PULLED BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM GARZA, AND ALSO COUNCILMEMBER FLANNIGAN. AND ITEM NUMBER 56, WHICH IS PULLED BY COUNCILMEMBER FLANNIGAN. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT WE HAVE LATE BACK ITEMS ON 21, 22, 23, 26, 29, 36, 37, 41, 42, 57, 60, 61, 63, AND 64. I'M GOING TO READ INTO THE RECORD ITEM NUMBER 21, WHICH IS BOARD AND COMMISSION NOMINATIONS AND WAIVERS. THERE ARE TWO ON THE AGENDA. ARTS, NICK VANDYKE NOMINATED BY COUNCILMEMBER KITCHEN. AND THE ESB, THE -- THE MEXICAN-AMERICAN CULTURE CENTER ADVISORY BOARD, DIANA GOMEZ AS NOMINATED BY COUNCILMEMBER ELLIS. AND APPROVING A WAIVER OF ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENT, SECTION 2-1-26 OF THE CITY CODE ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, CURTIS SMITH. AND A WAIVER OF THOSE ABSENCES THROUGH TODAY. ALL RIGHT. I THINK AT THIS POINT I WILL HAVE -- >> MAYOR? >> MAYOR ADLER: -- WE WOULD GO INTO SPEAKERS. COLLEAGUES? >> TOVO: MAYOR, WOULD YOU MIND READING THE LATE BACKUP ITEMS AGAIN? I THINK WE'VE GOTTEN A FEW DIFFERENT EMAILS BUT I NEED THEM ALL IN ONE PLACE. IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND READING THE LATE BACKUP ITEMS. >> MAYOR ADLER: 21, 22, 23, 26, 29, 36, 37, 41, 42, 57, 60, 61, 63, AND 64. >> TOVO: THANK YOU. >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY. SO WE WILL NOW GO STRAIGHT INTO SPEAKERS SO THAT -- >> MAYOR? >> MAYOR ADLER: YES. YES? IS THAT COUNCILMEMBER FLANNIGAN? >> FLANNIGAN: YEAH. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ALL THE FACES ON THE SCREENS SO YOU CAN TELL WHOSE HANDS ARE UP. ALSO PULLING ITEMS 54 AND 61 >> MAYOR ADLER: ALSO PULLING 54 AND 61. >> FLANNIGAN: YES, THANK YOU. >> MAYOR ADLER: COUNCILMEMBER CASAR? >> CASAR: MAYOR, I'M HAPPY TO UNPULL 15 BASED ON THE CONVERSATION WE HAD DURING WORK SESSION WITH JUST A YES FOR THE MANAGER THAT YOU ALL WILL FIGURE OUT HOW TO WORK WITH CONTRACTORS AND FRONTLINE WORKERS TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE MEETING THE PUBLIC HEALTH STANDARDS FOR THOSE EMPLOYEES THAT WE'RE TRYING TO SET UP OURSELVES. >> YES, COUNCILMEMBER, WE'RE STARTING THOSE COUNCILMEMBERS BUT THAT DIRECTION WAS GIVEN AT WORK SESSION. THANK YOU. >> ELLIS: MAYOR? >> MAYOR ADLER: YES, COUNCILMEMBER ELLIS. >> ELLIS: I ALSO RAISED BY HAND. FOR ITEM NUMBER 62, THE CLERK HAS SENT OUT ANOTHER REVISED VERSION THAT WE HAD DONE. IT JUST ADDED SOME LANGUAGE TO MAKE SURE IT WASN'T CONFLICTING WITH OTHER PROGRAMS THAT THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT IS TIMELY WORKING ON. >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER TOVO? >> TOVO: WITH REGARD TO 15, I DO HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THAT. IT CAN BE A VERY QUICK QUESTION, BUT I DO HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE RESPONSE TO THE QUESTION I ASKED THROUGH THE Q AND A. SHALL I DO THAT NOW, MAYOR, OR WOULD YOU PREFER I JUST PULL IT AND WAIT? >> MAYOR ADLER: WHY DON'T YOU PULL IT AND WAIT SO WE CAN GET INTO THE SPEAKERS SO WE CAN GET THROUGH THAT PART OF THE PROCESS. WE'LL KEEP 15 PULLED AND IF YOU GET A QUICK ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION WE CAN UNPULL IT THEN. >> ELLIS: THANKS, I'LL NEED TO ASK MY QUESTION. >> MAYOR ADLER: DO YOU [00:10:01] WANT TO ASK THE QUESTION NOW? >> TOVO: SO WE HAD ASKED A QUESTION ABOUT THE HIRING FREEZE. YOU KNOW, MY CONCERN, AND I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO EXTEND IT A YEAR THAT WE'RE NOT QUITE READY TO BRING THOSE POSITIONS IN-HOUSE, BUT IT IS A COUNCIL POLICY NOW AND IT'S ONE WE WORKED HARD TO MOVE TOWARD SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT IMPLEMENTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. MY CONCERN IS THE ANSWER WE GOT THROUGH THE Q AND A IS THAT BUILDING SERVICES, THESE WOULD BE BUILDING SERVICES EMPLOYEES AND BUILDING SERVICES CURRENTLY HAS A HIRING FREEZE. SO REALLY I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S A QUESTION AS MUCH AS A COMMENT. I WOULD HOPE EVEN IF THERE'S A HIRING FREEZE IN ONE OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT WOULD BECOME THE HOME DEPARTMENT TO THOSE EMPLOYEES THAT WE WOULD STILL MOVE FORWARD WITH FIGURING OUT HOW TO IMPLEMENT AND EXECUTE THAT COUNCIL POLICY TO BRING THOSE POSITIONS IN-HOUSE. SO I'M FINE WITH THE EXTENSION FOR TODAY, BUT I DON'T WANT EVENTUAL HIRING FREEZES TO PREVENT US FROM MOVING TOWARD THAT IN ALL DUE HASTE. MANAGER, IS THAT DIRECTION OR POINT MORE OR LESS FAIR? >> YEAH, COUNCILMEMBER, THE POINT IS CLEAR. THESE ARE ALSO BUDGET DISCUSSIONS THAT WE'LL BE HAVING OVER THE COURSE OF TIME SO I THINK I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU ARE COMING FROM AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO TALK TO YOU AND ENTERPRISE AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THESE DECISIONS. >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY. I THINK BASED ON THAT WE COULD PROBABLY -- GO AHEAD. >> TOVO: I MEAN THAT'S -- AGAIN, I WOULD JUST SAY WE MADE A COUNCIL DECISION AND SET A COUNCIL POLICY. WE HAVE NOT JET SEEN IT REALLY IMPLEMENTED IN THE DEPARTMENTS WHERE IT WOULD MAKE A MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE. THAT SHOULD BE A HIGH PRIORITY. >> MAYOR ADLER: UNDERSTOOD. WITH THAT I THINK 15 STAYS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. ARE WE READY TO HEAR FROM [Public comment] THE PUBLIC? LET'S GO AHEAD AND CALL IF WE CAN THE FOLKS WHO WILL HAVE TRANSLATION MADE. FIRST THERE'S JUANITA HERNANDEZ. IS SHE HERE? >> JUANITA IS NOT HERE. >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY. WHAT ABOUT CARMEN VEGA? >> SHE IS NOT ON THE LINE EITHER. >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY. WHAT ABOUT MARY LOU SUPPOSE TUCIO? >> SHE IS NOT ON THE LINE EITHER. >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY. WHAT ABOUT ATHELA GARCIA? >> [INAUDIBLE] IS HERE. >> GARCIA. >> >> MORNING, MY NAME IS ATHELA GARCIA. >> TODAY IS TO ASK FOR YOU TO VOTE FOR THE RESOLUTION 60. >> WILL HAVE MORE FUNDS AND THEY WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO THE RISE FUND. >> >> TRANSLATOR: AT THIS TIME THE FUNDS HAVE BEEN VERY HELPFUL FOR THE COMMUNITY. >> TIME TO -- IF THERE'S ANYTHING TO HELP THE COMMUNITY, IT'S RIGHT NOW. IT'S NOW. >> DO THIS IF WE CAN SECURE MORE FUNDS FROM THE ORGANIZATION RISE. >> >> TRANSLATOR: I ALSO HOPE THOSE FUNDS CAN HELP OTHER [00:15:02] FAMILIES THAT ARE IN NEED. >> >> TRANSLATOR: AND I ALSO WOULD LIKE FOR IT TO BE GIVEN TO THE ORGANIZATION THAT'S DEPENDENT FAMILIES. >> ORGANIZATION TOGETHER WITH LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN ABLE TO RELEASE THE FUNDS OR DISTRIBUTE THE FUNDS. >> DISTRIBUTE 1.5 MILLION IN ONLY THREE DAYS TO THE COMMUNITY. >> >> TRANSLATOR: WE WERE AFFECTED BY COVID-19. >> >> TRANSLATOR: MY FAMILY PERSONALLY WAS AFFECTED. >> AND I WERE SUSPENDED FROM OUR JOBS. >> WORKING RIGHT NOW AND WE ARE A FAMILY OF EIGHT, WE HAVE SIX CHILDREN. >> >> TRANSLATOR: AND THANKS TO THE ORGANIZATION RISE THEY WERE ABLE TO DISTRIBUTE THE FUNDS QUICKLY. >> WERE ABLE TO HELP US BECAUSE THE FUNDS WERE ABLE TO BE DISTRIBUTED IN ONLY 72 HOURS. >> THOSE FUNDS WE WERE ABLE TO HELP OUT TO BE ABLE TO PAY THE RENT OF OUR HOME. >> >> TRANSLATOR: AND I HAVE A CHILD THAT'S IN THE UNIVERSITY FINISHING HIS CAREER. >> SON ALSO HELPED [INAUDIBLE] HE WAS NEEDING. >> APPRECIATE THE FUNDS THAT HAVE BEEN GIVEN AND IF THEY COULD RELEASE MORE FUNDS TO THAT ORGANIZATION. >> IT WOULD HELP A LOT MORE FAMILIES THAT ARE IN THE SAME SITUATION THAT I AM. >> >> TRANSLATOR: I APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH AND THE NAME OF MY FAMILY, THE GARCIA FAMILY, AND HAVE A GREAT DAY. >> MAYOR ADLER: GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. >> JOSE SERANO. I'M TOLD ONLY FOUR OF THE SPEAKERS WANTING TRANSLATION SERVICES ARE WITH US. IS JOSE SERANO HERE? NO? OKAY. WHAT ABOUT MERIQUN MEDRANO? >> YES, MY NAME IS -- I'M HERE TO SHARE MRS. MEROQUINN'S TESTIMONY. HERE'S WHAT IT IS, A PROGRAM COORDINATOR IF OUR AUSTIN SANCTUARY NETWORK IS ASKING HER TO SHARE EXPERIENCE THROUGH GRASS ROOTS LEADERSHIP AND HOW IT COMPARED TO HER EXPERIENCE WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT RECEIVED RISE FUNDS. AND THIS IS HER TESTIMONY AND IT BEGINS WITH HER DESCRIBING FIY. QUOTE, FOR ME IT WAS A WONDERFUL THING BECAUSE I NEVER THOUGHT GOD WOULD SEND SO MANY ANGELS AROUND ME. I'M SO GRATEFUL AND I DON'T KNOW HOW TO REPAY YOU ALL. IT WAS INCREDIBLE BUS I DIDN'T THINK THEY WOULD HELP ME SO MUCH. I HAD CRIED AND FELT SO DISCOURAGED. THE ORGANIZATIONS I CONTACTED DIDN'T RESPOND. WHEN THEY DIDN'T RESPOND AS ALL, I GOT ONE MESSAGE AND I RESPONDED BUT THEY NEVER RESPONDED OR FOLLOWED UP WITH ME. WITH CLAUDEY AT GRASS ROOTS,ER HAD CALLED ME AND WHEN I RETURNED HER CALL SHE GOT BACK TO ME QUICKLY. IT'S WONDERFUL FOR ME. I DIDN'T THINK IT WOULD GO THIS WAY, BUT IF I COULD HELP SOMEONE LIKE THIS I WOULD HELP THEM TOO. EVEN WITH ALL I'VE BEEN THROUGH WITH MY CANCER I [00:20:04] FEEL REALLY SUPPORTED. AND I HAD CALLED ALL THE NUMBERS OF THE ORGANIZATIONS YOU SENT ME, LEFT A MESSAGE AND NOTHING. HEARD NOTHING. >> MAYOR ADLER: GREAT. GRACIAS. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS KARINA MARTINEZ. WHAT ABOUT BERNICE HERNANDEZ RIOS? WHAT ABOUT DARIO PI NO-CO? MIRIAM INEZ. >> I'M HERE. >> MAYOR ADLER: GREAT. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS MIRIAM AND I'M A MEMBER OF [INDISCERNIBLE] GRASS ROOTS LEADERSHIP. I'M CALLING TO SUPPORT RESOLUTION 60 SO MORE FUNDS CAN BE GIVEN TO THE FUND RISE. MAKING SURE RISE GETS MORE FUNDS SO THEY CAN KEEP HELPING FAMILIES. I WAS TOLD AND I'M A SINGLE MOTHER OF THREE KIDS AND I WAS LAID OFF TWO MONTHS AGO FROM MY JOB DUE TO COVID-19. I DIDN'T KNOW, I WASN'T SURE HOW I WAS GOING TO MAKE, YOU KNOW, THE MONEY TO PAY MY RENT AND MY CAR PAYMENT. I HAVE TO TAKE MY CHILDREN TO THE HOSPITAL. MY LITTLE ONE HAS A KIDNEY OBSTRUCTION AND HE HAS TO BE SEEN BY A SPECIALIST EVERY WEEK. SO I WAS HAVING A HARD TIME. I APPLIED FOR THE -- FOR THE HELP WITH [INDISCERNIBLE] BUT THEY NEVER GOT BACK TO ME DUE TO ME NOT HAVING A WAY TO -- TO SHOW THEM WHERE I LIVE DUE TO THAT I RENT A ROOM RIGHT NOW. I HAD TO MOVE OUT OF AN APARTMENT THAT I WAS RENTING BECAUSE IT WAS WAY EXPENSIVE. SO RIGHT NOW I GOT HELP WITH WITHIN 72 HOURS OF DOING THE APPLICATION, AND THIS ORGANIZATION TOGETHER WITH OTHER ALLIES OF THE COMMUNITY LIKE GRASS ROOTS LEADERSHIP GAVE $1.5 MILLION IN ONLY 72 HOURS. SO IT'S DEMONSTRATING HOW EFFECTIVE AND GOOD THIS ORGANIZATION IS. I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET FUNDS FOR THE INDEPENDENT FAMILY INITIATIVE. I APPLIED OVER THE PHONE AND, LIKE I SAID, WITHIN 72 HOURS I HAD MY HELP. SO I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE THIS MONEY GO TO RISE ORGANIZATION SO THAT THEY CAN KEEP HELPING OTHER FAMILIES BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT IT'S IN MY SITUATION TOO, LIKE THEY JUST DON'T HAVE A WAY TO SHOW PEOPLE WHERE THEY LIVE, THEY DON'T HAVE A BILL UNDER THEIR NAME SO IT'S REALLY HARD TO GET THE HELP AND THIS ORGANIZATION MADE IT EASY FOR ME AND I WAS REALLY STRUGGLING TO PARAMEDIC I MY BILLS, MY -- PAY MY BILLS AND PAY MY CAR PAYMENT AND OTHER NECESSITY FOR MY KIDS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND I HOPE SOMETHING IS THROUGH THIS ORGANIZATION SO ALL THE FAMILIES CAN GET THE HELP. >> MAYOR ADLER: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> BRITANY LYNN FIGORA? WHAT ABOUT ERNESTINA AVILA? >> I'M HERE. >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY. YOU CAN GO AHEAD. >> [00:25:12] MEMBER OF GRASS ROOTS LEADERSHIP. >> OUTSIDE OF AUSTIN. >> >> TRANSLATOR: I'M CALLING TO ASK COUNCIL TO PLEASE VOTE FOR RESOLUTION 60. >> >> TRANSLATOR: SO MORE FUNDS CAN BE DESTINED TO THE RISE FOUNDATION. >> >> TRANSLATOR: WE'RE ASKING FOR THE HELP TO BE NOW. >> >> TRANSLATOR: ABLE TO SECURE MORE FUNDS FOR RISE. >> HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO RISE. >> >> TRANSLATOR: FYI TO THE INDEPENDENT FAMILIES INITIATIVE. >> >> TRANSLATOR: NOW THAT THEY ARE INTEGRATED WITH GRASS ROOTS LEADERSHIP. >> >> TRANSLATOR: A LOT OF MONEY. IN LESS THAN 72 HOURS. >> >> TRANSLATOR: TO FAMILIES THAT HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY COVID-19. >> >> TRANSLATOR: WHICH DEMONSTRATES THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE IN NEED OF THESE FUNDS. >> HI, THIS IS [INAUDIBLE] THIS MORNING. I'M GOOD. HOW ARE YOU? >> MAYOR ADLER: EXCUSE ME, COULD YOU PLEASE MUTE YOUR PHONE? >> I SHOULD BE -- >> MAYOR ADLER: WOULD YOU PLEASE MUTE YOUR PHONE? WILL THE SPEAKER PLEASE CONTINUE. >> YEAH, SORRY. THANK YOU. >> THE MANY PEOPLE AFFECTED. >> >> TRANSLATOR: MY HUSBAND LOST HIS JOB. >> MONTH. >> >> TRANSLATOR: THE ORGANIZATION HAS HELPED ME. >> MONEY TO PAY MY BILLS. >> >> TRANSLATOR: AND THE LAST PAYMENT TO THE UNIVERSITY FOR MY DAUGHTER. >> >> TRANSLATOR: I APPRECIATE IT. >> YOU THE FUNDS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HELP US. >> PEOPLE THAT CANNOT RECEIVE HELP FROM ANYWHERE ELSE. >> MY FAMILY IT WAS VERY NICE. >> >> TRANSLATOR: THAT THERE'S ORGANIZATIONS THAT WILL HELP THE COMMUNITY. >> >> TRANSLATOR: ALL I HAVE TO SAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION. HAVE A GOOD DAY. >> MAYOR ADLER: WOULD YOU SEE IF [INAUDIBLE] 1 ON IS ON THE CALL? >> >> MAYOR ADLER: WHAT IS THE NAME? >> THAT MIGHT BE EVERYBODY, YOU THINK. >> MAYOR, THAT INCLUDES ALL THE SPANISH SPEAKERS. Q.GREAT. THANK YOU. WE'LL CONTINUE ON THEN WITH PHILLIP EVERETT. [00:30:14] KAITLIN WITTINGTON. >> YES, HELLO. YEAH, HI. MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? >> MAYOR ADLER: WE CAN. GO AHEAD. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY. MY NAME IS CAL WITTINGTON [INAUDIBLE] FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS. IT'S GOOD TO HEAR YOUR VOICES AND SEE YOUR SMILING FACES. I JUST WANTED TO REACH OUT AND VOICE MY SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT FOR EXPEDIENCY FOR ITEM NUMBER 23. I COMMEND COUNCILMEMBER FLANNIGAN AND THE CO-SPONSORS AND CONTINUED EFFORTS TO FIND RESOURCES FOR AUSTIN'S NON-PROFITS AND SMALL BUSINESSES. AS WE AT THE LONG CENTER CONTINUE TO WEATHER THIS STORM WITH SIGHTS ON THE HORIZON, WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS BEING CONTINUED GOOD STEWARDS OF THIS WORLD CLASS COMMUNITY ASSET FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND ALL AUSTINITES. WE'RE CONTINUING TO MAINTAIN OUR STAFF FOCUS ON EFFORTS FOR RECOVERY AND OUR RESPONSE TO THESE DIFFICULT TIMES. SO LIKE MANY OTHER VENUES AND NON-PROFITS, THIS IS COMPOUNDED BY AN IN ABILITY TO POST EVENTS FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. AT THE END OF THE DAY IT WILL REQUIRE RESOURCES IN ORDER TO ENSURE THE LONG-TERM SUCCESS OF AND THE ABILITY TO ADAPT TO THE CURRENT ENVIRONMENT. SUCH RESOURCES ARE NEEDED TO ENSURE THE ABILITY THAT WE CAN OPEN OUR DOORS WHEN ABLE TO DO SO AND TO OPEN THEM SAFELY BASED ON THE NEEDS OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND SAFE OPERATING ACTIVITY. SO AT THAT I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I'M GRATEFUL FOR COUNCIL AND THEIR CONTINUED LEADERSHIP AND FOR HELPING TO FIND FUNDING DURING THESE DIFFICULT TIMES FOR NON-PROFIT AND COMMERCIAL ORGANIZATIONS. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. >> MAYOR ADLER: GREAT. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS BOB HAMRICKS. >> I'M HERE. >> MAYOR ADLER: GO AHEAD. >> MAYOR, COUNCIL. THANK YOU. MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR LETTING US SPEAK AN EXAMPLE OF DEMOCRACY IN ACTION. I'M ON THE SIERRA CLUB EXECUTIVE HE COMMITTEE AND CO-CHAIR OF THE CLIMATE CHANGE COMMITTEE. CURRENTLY OUR GLOBAL TEMPERATURE IS ONE DEGREE CELSIUS ABOVE HISTORICAL LEVELS YET THE PLANET IS SEEING RECORD WILD FIVES FROM AUSTRALIA TO CALIFORNIA TO THE ARCTIC CIRCLE. INTENSITY OF HURRICANES AND TYPHOONS NEVER SEEN BEFORE. STORMS WITH RECORD TORNADOES AND RAINFALL, FLOODING EVENTS, KILLER HEAT WAVES, SPREAD OF TROPICAL DISEASES, WIDESPREAD DROUGHTS, SEA LEVEL RISE AND MORE. THE CURRENT TREND SHOWS US STEADILY RISING AND REACHING 2 DEGREES CELSIUS. WHAT TIPPING POINTS BUILT INTO OUR PLANETARY SYSTEMS TO KEEP THE PLANET WARMING. CLIMATE SCIENTISTS HAVE BEEN TELLING US FOR DECADES OUR COURSE OF GLOBAL WARMING WOULD LEAD TO EXTREME CLIMATE EVENTS. THESE EVENTS AND STARTED AND IT WILL GET WORSE. IT'S TIME TO JOIN OTHER CITIES IN DEVELOPING PLANS TO DEAL WITH THEM BEFORE THEY HAPPEN. EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS HAVE HIT AND WILL CONTINUE TO CAUSE SUFFERING IN AUSTIN. IT WILL AFFECT EVERYONE BUT ESPECIALLY THE MOST DISADVANTAGED. THE ECONOMICALLY CHALLENGED, HOMELESS AND PEOPLE IN OUR JAILS AND OTHERS. AUSTIN HAS ALREADY SEEN 200-YEAR FLOODS HIT THE SAME AREA IN 12 MONTHS. WE'VE SEEN A HEAT WAVE WITH ABOUT 70 100 PLUS DEGREE DAYS. STORMS THAT TAKE OUT OUR ELECTRICITY. WE NEED TO PLAN FOR THESE AND OTHER EVENTS LIKELY TO STRIKE WHO KNOWS WHEN. WE NEED PLANS TO TAKE CARE OF ALL AUSTINITES. HERE'S THE SIERRA CLUB'S OFFICIAL STATEMENT SENT TO ALL OF YOU LAST WEEK. SUPPORTS THE RESOLUTION TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY RESILIENCE PLAN WITH FUNDING FOR AN OFFICER AND STAFF. WE HAVE SEEN ALL TOO CLEARLY AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL THE COST OF NOT HAVING AN ALL-OUT PLAN FOR THE DISASTERS THAT MAY STRIKE. WE APPLAUD THE INVOLVEMENT OF A BROAD BASE OF COMMUNITIES IN THE AGENCIES IN DEVELOPING THIS PLAN, EXTREME EVENTS CAN DEVASTATE ANY PART OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE ESPECIALLY IMPROVE THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE EQUITY OFFICE AND EXTREME CLIMATE EVENTS TEND TO HURT THE MOST [00:35:01] VULNERABLE POPULATIONS MOST. THE SIERRA CLUB WILL PROVIDE INFRASTRUCTURE AND SUPPORT FOR THE PLAN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY. THANK YOU. IS JANICE BOOKOUT HERE? >> YES, I AM. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR ADLER: THREE MINUTES. GO AHEAD. >> THANK YOU. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF EARTH DAY AUSTIN AND MOST RECENTLY ORGANIZER -- CO-ORGANIZER OF COMMUNITY RESILIENCE TRUST. FIRST OF ALL I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE I CAN'T SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE BODY THAT IS COMMUNITY RESILIENCE TRUST. I'M HERE TO GENERALLY SHARE THE VIEWS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE TRUST. I JUST WANTED TO SAY, FIRST OF ALL, TO ECHO THE CONCERNS ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS IMPACTS. THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACT PEOPLE OF COLOR AND THAT IS ANY DISASTER INCLUDING THE PANDEMIC DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTS PEOPLE OF COLOR. AS MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN THE GROUP, WE'VE BEEN HAVING THIS DISCUSSION MOST OF THE WEEK. WE SUPPORT ITEM 22 WITH CAUTION AND WOULD -- AND APPLAUD THE REVISION OF THE 23. IN BOTH CASES WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT PROCESS AND WE WOULD LIKE THE EQUITY OFFICE TO GIVE OVERSIGHT TO BOTH TO MANAGE, YOU KNOW, TO SUPPORT THE MANAGEMENT OF THE FUNDING AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE FUNDING. AND ALSO TO SUPPORT AND OVERSEE THE COMMUNITY RESILIENCE OFFICER. MOSTLY BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY RESILIENCE -- COMMUNITY RESILIENCE EQUITY IS AT THE CENTER OF THAT. YOU CAN'T HAVE RESILIENCE WITHOUT EQUITY AND YOU CAN'T HAVE WITHOUT REPRESENTATION OF MULTIPLE COMMUNITIES. IN GENERAL FUNDING DURING DISASTERS, THE SMALLEST ORGANIZATIONS AND ESPECIALLY THOSE EXISTING LESS THAN THREE YEARS AND THOSE WHO SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR HISTORICALLY AND PERSISTENTLY RECEIVE THE LEAST SUPPORT. SO WE APPLAUD THE CHANGE IN THE 5013C. WE DO RECOMMEND THE LANGUAGE ABOUT THE ADMINISTRATION THAT IT GO THROUGH A BANK, A BCL, SORRY. WE DO SUPPORT BOTH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I YIELD THE REST OF MY TIME TO FATIMA MANN WHEN SHE SPEAKS. >> MAYOR ADLER: YOU CAN'T YIELD YOUR TIME, BUT IT WAS GOOD TO HAVE YOU SPEAK. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. I DID NOT REALIZE THAT. >> MAYOR ADLER: THAT'S OKAY. THAT'S OKAY. IS MS. MANN HERE? >> I HOPE YOU ALL ARE DRINKING WATER AND TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF. I AM HERE. >> MAYOR ADLER: YOU HAVE THREW -- THREE MINUTES. >> I AM THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ADVOCACY AND HUMAN PROJECT. AND I AM A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY RESILIENCE TRUST COLLECTIVE AND SO I JUST WANTED TO ECHO WHAT JANICE WAS SAYING ABOUT ITEM 22 REGARDING THE COMMUNITY RESILIENCE MANAGER POSITION. I DO BELIEVE THIS IS A GREAT IDEA. I THINK THE [INAUDIBLE] IT SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A POSITION UNDER THE EQUITY OFFICE IN WHICH THE EQUITY OFFICE WILL THEN BE STRONGER AND HAVING A SAY IN WHAT THAT POSITION LOOKS LIKE, WHAT TRAINING THAT PERSON SHOULD HAVE. THAT INDIVIDUAL WOULD BE GUARANTEED TO HAVE ANTI-RACIST CLAIMS AND BE ABLE TO ESTABLISH HOW SYSTEMIC RACISM PLAYS A ROLE IN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND DOING THAT WORK AS WELL AS WORKING WITH THE CHIEF EQUITY -- THE CHIEF OFFICER OF SUSTAINABILITY. THE IDEA OF HAVING THIS POSITION IS NEEDED. IT SHOULD BE UNDER THE EQUITY OFFICE. THE EQUITY OFFICE NEEDS TO BE WHAT IT WAS CREATED TO BE AND BE ABLE TO BE THE ADMINISTRATION OF ALL THINGS THAT DEAL WITH EQUITY, AND SO THAT SHOULD DEFINITELY BE UNDER THAT OFFICE. THEN I WOULD ALSO ADD FOR ITEM 23 AND THIS FUNDING, THIS FUNDING SHOULD ALSO GO THROUGH THE EQUITY OFFICE SO THAT ORGANIZATIONS AREN'T RECEIVING VARIOUS FUNDING THAT HAVEN'T WORKED WITH COMMUNITIES THAT ARE VULNERABLE TO SYSTEMIC RACISM, THAT DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES. THERE SHOULD BE SOMETHING. IT WAS IN THIS [INAUDIBLE] FOR ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE ADMINISTERING FUNDS AND/OR DOING RESOURCES AND SERVICES TO HAVE TO PROVE THAT [00:40:01] THEY'VE BEEN WORKING WITH UNDER SERVED COMMUNITIES AND WORKING FROM AN EQUITABLE ANTI-RACIST LENS AND WE SHOULDN'T BE JUST GIVING PEOPLE MONEY AND THERE SHOULD ALSO BE A PROCESS THAT HONORS PEOPLE'S LIVED EXPERIENCES AND NOT JUST HOW LONG THE 5013C HAS BEEN A 5013C BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T ALWAYS START 5013CS BUT HAVE BEEN WORKING IN THE COMMUNITIES FOR FIVE YEARS. AND WOULD ALSO JUST LIKE TO INVITE US TO CONSIDER CHURCHES THAT HAVE A BUDGET LESS THAN $50,000 THAT ARE 5013CS AND HAVE BEEN WORKING TO SERVICE COMMUNITIES IN NEED DURING COVID TIMES. WE JUST NEED TO BE MORE MINDFUL ABOUT MAKING SURE EQUITY IS AT THE CENTER OF THIS AND IF WE'RE TALKING UTILIZING EQUITY THAT THE EQUITY OFFICE BE THE OFFICE THAT WE GO TO AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS ACTUALLY TRUST THE EQUITY OFFICE OUT OF ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT THE CITY HAS TO OFFER. IT'S THE ONE OFFICE THAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS SHOW UP FOR AND THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN VERY SERIOUSLY. AND WHEN CONSIDERING -- THINGS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> MAYOR ADLER: THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS JODY HOPKINS. IS JODY HOPKINS HERE? >> YES, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. MY NAME IS JODY HOP CONTINUES AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 23. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION CHARITABLE CLINICS I'M HERE REPRESENTING ONE VOICE CENTRAL TEXAS. ONE VOICE IS A COALITION OF OVER 80 LEADERS FROM HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES ORGANIZATIONS. WE REPRESENT A NETWORK THAT WORKS EVERY DAY WITH INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO HELP THEM ACCESS HEALTH CARE, HOUSING, BASIC NEEDS. [INAUDIBLE] OUR COMMUNITY THESE NON-PROFITS AND THE CLIENTS WE SERVE IMMEDIATELY BEGIN TO FEEL THE AFFECTS -- I WANT TO EXPRESS OUR APPRECIATION FOR ALL THE WORK ALREADY BEEN DONE BY AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL TO ADDRESS THIS CRISIS. I'M PROUD TO COME HERE TODAY WITH MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES TO EXPRESS ONE VOICE CENTRAL TEXAS' FULL SUPPORT FOR AGENDA ITEM 23, PROPOSED NON-PROFIT AND CIVIC HEALTH RELIEF FUND KNOWN AS ANCHOR. THE CRUCIAL NEED FOR AUSTIN NON-PROFITS CANNOT BE DISPUTED. THEY ARE TRULY ON THE FRONT LINES OF THIS PANDEMIC RESPONSE PROVIDING FOOD, SHELTER, MEDICAL ASSISTANCE AND COUNTLESS OTHER SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY. EVEN THOUGH THESE NON-PROFITS HAVE TRACK RECORDS AND SOME OF THEM LONG TRACK RECORDS OF SUCCESS, THIS PANDEMIC HAS ALSO BEEN DEVASTATING FOR THEM. OUR FUNDRAISERS HAVE BEEN CANCELED, OUR INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS ARE DOWN, AND IT'S CREATING A SIGNIFICANT VOID IN FUNDING. THESE NON-PROFITS WILL BE NEEDED MORE THAN EVER AND THEIR CLIENT BASE WILL INCREASE, THEIR FUNDING BASE IS SHRINKING. THIS WILL PUT PROGRAMMING AT RISK AND IN SOME CASES ALREADY HAS. I THINK ASSISTANCE TO PROVIDE RAPID FUNDING FOR NON-PROFITS IS NEEDED TO HELP THESE ORGANIZATIONS SURVIVE AND MAINTAIN OPERATIONS AND ALL OF WHICH ULTIMATELY HELPS PROTECT THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF OUR COMMUNITY. THE ANCHOR FUND CAN BE JUST SUCH A SYSTEM AND SO AGAIN I WANT TO EXPRESS SUPPORT OF THIS PROGRAM ON BEHALF OF ONE VOICE CENTRAL TEXAS AND I LIKE EVERYONE ELSE AM VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK BEFORE YOU TODAY. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR ADLER: THANK YOU. IS CODY COWAN HERE? >> YES, SIR. MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM, COUNCIL, SALDANA YOU LAYINGSS. CODY COWAN. LIVE MUSIC IN AUSTIN IS DEAD. SURVEY DATA COLLECTED FROM AUSTIN'S LIVE MUSIC VENUES INDICATE LIVE MUSIC VENUES HAVE ONLY 30 DAYS OF OPERATIONAL SAVINGS. CONVENIENT USE WERE THE FIRST TO GO AND WILL BE THE LAST TO SHOW. EARLY DATA FROM OUR NATIONAL ORGANIZATION, NATIONAL INDEPENDENT VENUE ALLIANCE, WITH A MEMBERSHIP OF ALMOST 2,000 LIVE MUSIC VENUES SIMILARLY INDICATES THAT IF VENUES REMAIN CLOSED TO 2020 WE EXPECT A 90% LOSS NATIONALLY. WHILE OUR COMMUNITY FULLY SUPPORTS ALL EFFORTS TO PREVENT LOSS OF LIFE AND PANDEMIC SPREAD, WE MUST ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT THE FUTURE OF MUSIC AND EMPLOYMENT IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY LIKE OTHER SERVICE INDUSTRY WORK UTTERLY DEPENDS ON ROBUST DISASTER [00:45:03] RELIEF FUNDING. BASED ON SURVEY DATA FOR AUSTIN'S VENUES BASIC COSTS LIKE RENT, UTILITIES, MINIMAL STAFF, WE'VE ESTIMATED THAT REQUIRE 2 MILLION PER MONTH CLOSED TO SUSTAIN THE CURRENT 53 LIVE MUSIC VENUES IN AUSTIN. SIMILARLY SXSW, AUSTIN'S FLAGSHIP FESTIVAL, PROVIDES MORE ACCOUNTING FOR 12 TO 60% OF ANNUAL INCOME MAKING IT THE LARGEST SINGLE CONTRIBUTORY THE MUSIC ECONOMY VENUES AND WORKERS. THE COUNCIL WOULD LIKE LIVE MUSIC TO RETURN AT A SAFE LATER DATE. I EDGER YOU TO SUPPORT -- URGE YOU TO SUPPORT ITEM 23 SPONSORED BY FLANNIGAN, ALTER AND HARPER-MADISON AND PAIGE. FOR LIVE MUSIC VENUES IN SXSW. THE FUTURE OF LIVE MUSIC FOR THE CULTURAL TOURISM ECONOMY RESTS ON YOUR ACTIONS. FORTUNE FAVORS THE BOLD. NOW IS THE TIME TO INVEST IN THE FUTURE OF LIVE MUSIC IN AUSTIN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THESE HARD TIMES AND MAY PEACE BE UPON YOU. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR ADLER: THANK YOU. IS MAGGE VASQUEZ HERE? >> YES. THANK YOU, MAYOR, COUNCIL. >> MAYOR ADLER: YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. >> GOOD MORNING, I'M MAGGE VASQUEZ, CEO -- FOCUSED ON BUILDING THE CAPACITY OF THE NON-PROFIT SECTOR BY SUPPORTING NON-PROFIT LEADERS, STRENGTHENING DELIVERY OF SERVICES AND BACKBONING COLLECTIVE IMPACT WORK AMONG NON-PROFITS. TODAY WE SUPPORT ITEM 23, THE ANCHOR FUND RESOLUTION, TO DEVELOP AND DEPLOY RAPID FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE SUSTAINABILITY AND SERVICE DELIVERY OF NON-PROFITS AS THEY RESPOND TO THE COVID-19 CRISIS. MISSION CAPITAL RECENTLY CONDUCTED A SURVEY WITH OVER A DOZEN COMMUNITY PARTNERS. WE HAD CLOSE TO 500 NON-PROFITS WHO RESPONDED AND CLAMORED FOR FLEXIBLE OPERATING FUNDS TO CONTINUE SERVING COMMUNITY MEMBERS. IN NORMAL TIMES NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE IN THE COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE OF CERTAINLY SERVICES AND OUR -- SOCIAL SERVICES AND SAFETY NET. IN COVID-19 TIMES WE'RE SEEING DEMANDS FOR NON-PROFIT SERVICES DRAMATICALLY SPIKE WHILE THEIR FINANCIAL ABILITY TO MAINTAIN SERVICE OPERATIONS IS BEING SEVERELY COMPROMISED. OUR NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS ARE IN DESPERATE NEED OF ADDITIONAL RAPID RESPONSE FUNDS TO SUSTAIN THEIR IMPORTANT WORK NOW AND ESPECIALLY OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS. AS WE ALL PREPARE FOR THE RECOVERY PHASE OF COVID-19. IN TERMS OF EQUITY, BY NOW MANY OF US HAVE SEEN THE NATIONAL AND REGIONAL AND CITY DATA SHOWING THE DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACTS OF COVID-19 ON COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. A KEY DATA FINDING FROM THE NON-PROFIT POLL SURVEY HIGHLIGHTED WITHOUT INTERVENTION COVID-19 WILL EXACERBATE HISTORIC AND SYSTEMIC IN EQUITIES. AND MISSION CAPITAL WE'RE FOCUSED ON ADVANCING EQUITY AND OPPORTUNITY IN CENTRAL TEXAS THROUGH THE WORK OF NON-PROFIT LEADERS, ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR DIVERSE COMMUNITY NETWORKS. AND SO MISSION CAPITAL SUPPORTS THE ANCHOR RESOLUTION AND WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF PRIORITIZING EQUITABLE ACCESS TO FUND RESOURCES AS THEY ARE DESIGNED AND DEPLOYED. SO ECHOING SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO YOU JUST HEARD, WE ENCOURAGE CITY STAFF TO CENTER EQUITY AND DIVERSE COMMUNITY COLLABORATIVE PROCESSES IN THE CRITERIA FOR EVALUATING PROPOSALS. AND SO AGAIN WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP TODAY IN SECURING URGENT FUNDING FOR OUR NON-PROFIT SAFETY NET IN CENTRAL TEXAS VIA THIS ANCHOR FUND. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY, THANK YOU. IS DAVID SMITH HERE? >> YES, THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY. I'M HONORED TO SERVE AS CEO UNITED WAY OF GREATER AUSTIN AND IN SUPPORT OF RESOLUTION 23 AND THIS EYE CYST IS EXPOSING HAS BEEN WITH US FOR GENERATIONS. FROM OUR DATA AT 211, WE'RE MORE THAN A THIRD OF THE PEOPLE CALLING IN THE LAST MONTH ON FIRST-TIME CALLERS. FROM OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS [00:50:03] AND FROM THE PROPOSALS WE RECEIVE FOR THE FIRST PHASE OF DISTRIBUTION AT THE ALTOGETHER ATX FUND, WITH HE KNOW OUR COMMUNITY IS SEEING THE HIGHEST NEED WE'VE EVER SEEN. SO WE HAVE A NEW TERM THAT OVERNIGHT HAS BECOME PART OF OUR VERNACULAR, ESSENTIAL WORKERS. AND I WOULD INCLUDE THE NON-PROFIT ECOSYSTEMS. SO MANY ARE WORKING HARD TO MAKE SURE OUR NEIGHBORS DON'T FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR FORESIGHT AND SUPPORT OF THIS NON-PROFIT ECOSYSTEM AND APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT FOR RESOLUTION 23. THANK YOU >> MAYOR ADLER: THANK YOU, MR. SMITH. IS AMANDA MACINO HERE? >> YES, HELLO, THANK YOU. MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM, COUNCILMEMBERS, FOR YOUR TIME. MY NAME IS AMANDA MACINO. I'M ON THE BIOLOGY FACULTY AT HUSTON-TILLOTSON AND I'M THE ED OF THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY DATA COALITION. I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY RESILIENCE TRUST, WHICH IS A COLLECTIVE OF LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE WORKING TO ENSURE AN EQUITABLE AND EFFECTIVE RESPONSE TO THE COVID PANDEMIC HERE IN AUSTIN. I DO WANT TO SAY I'M NOT SPEAKING VISUAL ON BEHALF OF ANY OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS, BUT I AM REFLECTING THE VOICES I HEAR FROM AND WORK WITH IN THOSE SPACES. YOU ALREADY HEARD FROM JANIS BOOKOUT AND BETTINA. AND LIKE THEM I AM HERE TO EXPRESS QUALIFIED SUPPORT FOR ITEM 23 AND THE CREATION OF THE ANCHOR FUND. IT IS INCREDIBLY ENCOURAGING TO SEE SUCH STRONG SUPPORT FOR AUSTIN NON-PROFITS, SO MANY OF WHOM DO VITAL WORK, MUCH OF IT DIRECTED AT OUR MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS. I'M PLEASED TO SEE THE MOST RECENT REVISION OF THE RESOLUTION HAS REMOVED THE REQUIREMENT THAT RECIPIENT ORG NON-PROFITS BE ESTABLISHED FOR THREE YEARS. THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT CONCERN, ESPECIALLY AMONG OUR CRT MEMBERS, THAT THIS REQUIREMENT WOULD PREFERENCE LARGER NON-PROFITS AT THE EXPENSE OF SMALLER GRASSROOTS GROUPS AND THIS IS A PATTERN THAT WE'VE SEEN MANY, MANY TIMES FOR DECADES HERE IN AUSTIN, A MAGNIFIES THOSE INEQUITIES THAT WE SEE IN OUR POPULATION. STRATIFICATION. SO IT IS EXCELLENT TO SEE IT REMOVED IN A WAY THAT SHOULD MAKE THE PROGRAM MORE ACCESSIBLE TO SOME OF THESE SMALLER ORGANIZATIONS. IT WAS ALSO GOOD TO SEE A LISTING OF [INDISCERNIBLE] LOOK AT ORGANIZATIONS SHOULD BE COLLECT FROM THE RECIPIENT NON-PROFIT, WHAT WOULD THEY HAVE TO SUBMIT TO BE APPLIED TO THE PROGRAM. AND SO THAT WAS ALSO GOOD GUIDANCE. THE RESOLUTION STOPS SHORT, THOUGH, OF INDICATING THAT EQUITY SHOULD BE EVALUATED WHEN MAKING THESE AWARDS. AND I THINK YOU HEARD IT ALREADY A FEW TIMES. I'M JUST GOING TO REITERATE THAT NEEDS TORE MOB EXPLICIT. THERE'S A MENTION OF EQUITY BEING IN LIKE A RETURN ON INVESTMENT TOOLS, KIND OF A REPORTING. IT NEEDS TO BE STRONGER. THERE NEEDS TO BE LANGUAGE ABOUT EQUITY THAT'S BEING REPORTED BY THE APPLICANT ORGANIZATIONS AND MORE GUIDANCE FROM THE EQUITY OFFICE ON HOW THAT IS GOING TO BE EVALUATED BEFORE AWARDS ARE MADE, WHEN THEY'RE MADE AND DURING THE PROGRAM BEING RUN. AND TRANSPARENCY IS AN ISSUE THAT RUNS INTO THIS SPECTRUM OF NON-PROFIT WORK. FOR APPLICANT ORGS THERE NEEDS TO BE A COMMITMENT TO BEING TRANSPARENT ABOUT YOUR EQUITY PRACTICES. OKAY, THE NEXT SPEAKER IS CORRIE BAKER. IS CORRIE BAKER HERE? >> YES, THANK YOU, MAYOR ADLER, MAYOR PRO TEM GARZA AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. I'M CORRIE BAKER, CEO OF THE LONG CENTER. AS LEADER OF A NON-PROFIT STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 AND ECHOING WHAT OTHERS HAVE SAID, I'M CALLING IN SUPPORT OF ITEM NUMBER 23 AND TO THANK COUNCILMEMBERS FLANNIGAN, ALTER, HARPER-MADISON AND ELLIS FOR SPONSORING THIS INITIATIVE. AND THEIR EFFORTS TO INCLUDE THE NON-PROFIT COMMUNITY IN RELIEF CONVERSATIONS. THE LONG CENTER WILL SUFFER SUBSTANTIAL FINANCIAL IMPACT BECAUSE OF THE ABILITY TO GATHER IN LARGE GROUPS, BUT OUR FUND-RAISING EFFORTS WILL ALSO BE SEVERELY CHALLENGED DUE TO THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN. WE WILL NEED HELP TO GET THROUGH IN CRISIS AND APPRECIATE THIS COUNCIL'S [00:55:02] UNDERSTANDING THAT IT WILL BE CRITICAL FOR OUR ORGANIZATION TO SURVIVE AS A NON-PROFIT SECTOR WILL BE VITAL IN THE RECOVERY EFFORTS FOR OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY. THEREFORE WE SUPPORT ITEM NUMBER 23 AND THE CREATION OF THE ANCHOR FUND AND ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VISION AND SUPPORT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> MAYOR ADLER: THANK YOU. IS PAUL ROBBINS HERE? >> I AM. >> MAYOR ADLER: GO AHEAD. >> MAYOR ADLER: COUNCIL, I'M PAUL ROBBINS, I'M AN ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST AND CONSUMER ADVOCATE. I USUALLY SPEAK FOR MYSELF, BUT TODAY I SPEAK ON BEHALF OF NINE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE SENT YOU A LETTER. IN UNISON THESE ORGANIZATIONS OPPOSE THE RECORD 22% RESIDENTIAL RATE INCREASE PROPOSED BY TEXAS GAS SERVICE. THE SIGNERS OF THIS LETTER INCLUDE MARTHA CARLTON WITH THE ACTION GROUP 350 AUSTIN. DAVID FOSTER WITH CLEAN WATER ACTION. LESLIE LIBBY WITH SOLAR AUSTIN. BRUCE MELTON WITH CLIMATE ACTION NOW INITIATIVE. PATRICK MURPHY WITH THE AUSTIN GROUP OF THE SIERRA CLUB. JEANNIE NELSON FROM THE AUSTIN TENANTS' COUNCIL. CYRUS REED WITH THE LONE STAR CHAPTER OF THE SIERRA CLUB. ROBIN SCHNEIDER FROM THE TEXAS CAMPAIGN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. AND KIEBA WHITE WITH PUBLIC CITIZEN OF TEXAS. AS WELL AS OPPOSING THE 22% RESIDENTIAL RATE INCREASE THESE ORGANIZATIONS PROPOSE FOUR SOLUTIONS TO LOWER RATES, PROVIDE BILL ASSISTANCE TO LOW INCOME CUSTOMERS AND ENCOURAGE CONSERVATION AND RENEWABLE ENERGY. FIRST, ADVOCATES ASK FOR HALF AFTER MILLION DOLLARS IN ADDITION TO CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS FOR LOW INCOME BILL ASSISTANCE. LAST YEAR THE CITY OF AUSTIN PROVIDED $60 MILLION IN RATE RELIEF, BUT TEXAS GAS SERVICE ONLY PROVIDED A PALTRY $78,000. IN THIS PANDEMIC RECESSION THIS IS GROSSLY INADEQUATE. SECOND, WE ASKED FOR A RESTRUCTURE OF RESIDENTIAL RATES. TEXAS GAS SERVICE HAS REGRESSIVE RATES. THE MORE YOU USE, THE LESS YOU PAY PER UNIT. THIS DISCOURAGES CONSERVATION AND HURTS LOW INCOME CUSTOMERS. CUTTING MONTHLY FEES IN HALF AND PLACING A PREMIUM ON HIGH CONSUMERS WILL HELP SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. THIRD, ADVOCATES ASK FOR A SIR CHARGE TO RESEARCH TECHNOLOGIES TO REPLACE FOSSIL FUELS IN GAS UTILITIES. AUSTIN ENERGY PLANS TO BE CARBON FREE BY 2035, BUT THE GAS UTILITY USES NO RENEWABLE ENERGY AT ALL. THIS NEEDS TO CHANGE. AND FOURTH, WE ASK THAT TEXAS GAS SERVICE CHARGE FULL CAPITAL RECOVERY FEES SO THAT EXISTING CUSTOMERS DO NOT SUBSIDIZE NEW CUSTOMERS. THIS POLICY LED TO RATE DECREASES BY AUSTIN ENERGY AND AUSTIN WATER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION, COUNCIL. PLEASE REFER TO CHARTS THAT I'VE SENT YOU AS BACKUP MATERIAL ON RATES. AND I CAN TAKE QUESTIONS NOW OR AT A HEARING -- THEM TO ME. >>> MAYOR ADLER: ALL RIGHT, PAUL. THANK YOU. IS CYRUS REED HERE. >> I AM, MAYOR. CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME? >> MAYOR ADLER: WE CAN. GO AHEAD. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. >> OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THIS IS CYRUS REED WITH THE LONE STAR CHAPTER OF THE SIERRA CLUB. I'M ALSO AUTHORIZED TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE AUSTIN GROUP OF THE SIERRA CLUB WHICH THEIR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE DID PASS A RESOLUTION BOTH OPPOSING THE PROPOSAL TO INCREASE GAS RATES BY 22 TO 35%, IF THOSE NUMBERS ARE CORRECT, WHICH I THINK THEY ARE, AND TO ADVOCATE FOR SOME COMMON SENSE CHANGES TO THEIR PROPOSAL. AND SO REALLY I'M HERE TO ASK YOU, THIS I THINK YOUR STAFF HAS ALREADY RECOMMENDED, PLEASE REJECT THIS PROPOSAL, WHICH IS VERY SHORT SIGHTED. AND ALSO, IF YOU CAN, TAKE OUR RECOMMENDATION AND ASK STAFF AS THEY NEGOTIATE WITH ALL THE CITIES THAT WOULD BE IMPACTED BY TEXAS GAS SERVICE RATES TO CONSIDER THOSE IDEAS. I THINK IN ADDITION TO THE ONE OF REALLY [INDISCERNIBLE] UP THEIR CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT [01:00:01] ARE TO CREATE A RATE STRUCTURE THAT ACTUALLY ENCOURAGES CONSERVATION OF GAS AND SO FOLKS USE LESS GAS HAVE LESS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS, BUT ALSO TO RESEARCH WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN MOVE BEYOND THE TRADITIONAL GAS OR METHANE AND MOVE INTO GAS WHICH IS LESS DEADLY FOR OUR CLIMATE AND FOR FOLKS WHO BREATHE THE IMPACTS OF GAS OR SUFFER THE IMPACTS OF THE WIDE USE OF WATER, WHICH IS USED IN THE PRODUCTION OF GAS. AND THERE ARE A LOT OF THIS RESEARCH IS JUST BEGINNING, BUT THERE ARE SOME POLICY DEVELOPMENTS AND THINGS LIKE HYDROGEN GAS AND POLLUTION USING HYDROGEN GAS. THEY'RE NOT READY FOR FULL IMPLEMENTATION RIGHT NOW, BUT WE SHOULD START THAT RESEARCH IF WE'RE TRULY TO BECOME A CITY THAT'S GOING TO BE ZERO CARBON, WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO MOVE AWAY FROM GAS AND WE SHOULD START THAT PROCESS NOW. BUT WE SHOULD ALSO HAVE A RATE STRUCTURE THAT HELPS PEOPLE MOST IN NEED AND HELPS PEOPLE CONSERVE THEIR USE OF THEIR RESOURCE. SO WITH THAT I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AND THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT. >> MAYOR ADLER: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS MONICA GUZMAN. IS MONICA HERE? >> YES, I AM, THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD MORNING, I'M MONICA GUZMAN, POLICY DIRECTOR FOR [INDISCERNIBLE], SPEAKING ON ITEMS 22, 58 AND 60. ITEM 22, PLEASE PRIORITIZE THE RESILIENCE RESOLUTION. WE'VE LEARNED A LOT FROM COMMUNITY RESILIENCE WORK IN SOUTHEAST AUSTIN. IT IS CRITICAL FOR DEPARTMENTS TO WORK TOGETHER AND TO PRIORITIZE EQUITABLE INVESTMENTS SO THAT AS A CITY WE ANTICIPATE, PREPARE AND RESPOND EQUITABLY AND RESPONSIBLY TO CLIMATE SHOCKS AND STRESSORS AS WELL AS THE OTHER PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS LIKE THE ONE WE ARE ALL ENDURING RIGHT NOW. WE HAVE TO BE READY FOR THE NEXT FLOOD EVENT, FOR EXAMPLE, KNOWING IT COULD COME DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. ITEM 58, THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING FAMILIES. SPECIFICALLY THE PARENTS AND CARETAKERS FROM AUSTIN OTHER SCHOOLS AND THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING AUSTIN ISD. ITEM 60, WITH THE USE OF THE CASH ASSISTANCE PLATFORM AND THE TRUSTED NETWORK RELATIONSHIPS OF GAVA AND ALL OF OUR PARTNERS, WE WERE ABLE TO SUPPORT 90 HOUSEHOLDS, 90, IN 72 HOURS. RAPID DIRECT CASH ASSISTANCE WAS POSSIBLE ONLY BECAUSE OF THESE RELATIONSHIPS. CASH ASSISTANCE HELPS KEEP SOMEONE FROM SKIPPING MEALS OR MEDICINE. IT HELPS KEEP THINGS MOVING FORWARD T RESIDENTS RECEIVING CASH ASSISTANCE ARE ABLE TO PAY RENT AND BASIC LIVING EXPENSES. SPEND MONEY THAT HELPS SMALL BUSINESSES. IT ALSO ENABLES GAVA TO DO ORGANIZING WORK AROUND HELP. WE THINK THE BEST USE OF FINANCIAL RELIEF FUNDING WE HAVE EVER SEEN IS THE $2 MILLION THAT WENT TO THE EQUITY OFFICE. SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE IT REACHED PEOPLE THAT IT OTHERWISE MIGHT NOT HAVE. I'D LIKE TO SHARE A RESIDENT QUOTE. QUOTE, THIS HAS BENEFITED ME AND MY FAMILY IN SEVERAL WAYS. FOR ONE, KEEPING A ROOF OVER OUR HEADS. KEEPING THE LIGHTS AND WATER ON UNDER THAT ROOF. MOST OF THE FINANCIAL RELIEF IS BEING USED TO CATCH UP ON OVERDUE BILLS. I AM PERSONALLY BENEFITING AS I WILL BE USING SOME OF THE FUNDS TO HELP ME PAY FOR MY MEDICINE FOR ANXIETY, SLEEPING AND DEPRESSION. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE ARE BENEFITING BY KEEPING OUR MENTAL HEALTH STABLE AND KEEPING THE STRESS LEVEL MANAGEABLE. THAT'S FROM JUAN IN EAST AUSTIN. IN CLOSING, I ASK THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL TO INVEST IN AUSTIN'S EASTERN CRESCENT. THANK YOU. > >> MAYOR ADLER: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS ZENOBIA JOSEPH. >> IS ZENOBIA WITH US? NO? WHAT ABOUT CYNTHIA VASQUEZ? >> YES, I'M HERE, THANK YOU. >> MAYOR ADLER: GO AHEAD. >> MY NAME IS CYNTHIA VASQUEZ AND I'M A SCHOOL ORGANIZER FOR GAVA, GO AUSTIN [INDISCERNIBLE]. AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO START WITH A QUOTE FROM BRIAN STEPHENSON WHO IS THE FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE EQUAL JUSTICE DEPARTMENT. ACTUALLY, IT'S A FEW SENTENCES LONG. MY WORK WITH THE POOR AND INCARCERATED HAS PERSUADED ME THAT THE OPPOSITE OF POVERTY IS NOT WEALTH. THE OPPOSITE OF POVERTY IS JUSTICE. FINALLY, I'VE COME TO BELIEVE THAT THE TRUE MEASURE OF OUR COMMITMENT TO [01:05:04] JUSTICE, THE CHARACTER OF OUR SOCIETY, OUR COMMITMENT TO THE RULE OF LAW, FAIRNESS AND EQUALITY, CANNOT BE MEASURED BY HOW WE TREAT THE RICH, THE POWERFUL, THE PRIVILEGED AND RESPECTED AMONG US. THE TRUE MEASURE OF OUR CHARACTER IS HOW WE TREAT THE POOR, THE DISFAVORED, THE ACCUSED, THE INCARCERATED AND CONDEMNED. SO ON THAT NOTE I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 60 SPECIFICALLY REGARDING THE BUDGET RESOLUTION FOR FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING. AND OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS I'VE CONTINUED TO CONNECT WITH FAMILIES AND STAFF AT OUR TITLE I SCHOOLS ACROSS 78744, 78745 AND AREAS OF NORTH AUSTIN. PARENTS WHO ONCE MAY HAVE SAID I'M OKAY FOUR WEEKS AGO NOW FIND THEMSELVES IN LESS OPTIMISTIC SITUATIONS. A FEW STORIES I'VE HEARD ARE 1,200-DOLLAR RENT FOR SOME OF OUR SINGLE PARENTS, JOB LOSSES FROM COMPANIES AFTER 15 TO 20 YEARS OF SERVICE. AND FORMERLY INCARCERATED PARENTS FACING DIRE HOUSING ISSUES. AND SOME OF OUR CHILDREN ARE FACING CRIMES OF POVERTY LIKE STEALING BECAUSE THERE IS NO MONEY. SO I'M ASKING YOU ALL TO CONTINUE YOUR WORK AND APPROVAL ON CASH DISTRIBUTIONS AND DIRECT CASH ASSISTANCE FOR SOME OF OUR HARDEST HIT FAMILIES MAY SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES. I'M SPECIFICALLY ASKING YOU TO ALLOCATE THE ENTIRE $150 MILLION TO RISE FUNDING SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR ADLER: THANK YOU. IS IVAN NARI HERE? IVANA NARI HERE. >> MAYOR, THIS IS ZENOBIA JOSEPH. YOU CALLED ME EARLIER. >> MAYOR ADLER: YES. WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBERS. MAYOR, I HAVE A TECHNICAL QUESTION. I SIGNED UP FOR CITIZENS COMMUNICATION AND A NUMBER OF AGENDA ITEMS. IS THAT THREE MINUTES FOR CITIZENS COMMUNICATION AND AGENDA ITEMS? >> YES. >> DO YOU HAVE THE LIST OF ITEMS BEFORE YOU THAT I SIGNED UP FOR? >> MAYOR ADLER: YES. 44, 45, 46, 47, 52, 53, 57, 58T59 AND 60. >> THANK YOU. MY COMMENTS ARE SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO THE LANGUAGE IN NUMBER 60, WHICH IS THE DIRECTION TO THE CITY MANAGER AS IT RELATES TO THE FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING. I JUST WANTED TO REFER BACK TO YOUR APRIL 7, 2020 WORK SESSION MINUTES. MR. ED VAN EENOO, YOUR DEPUTY CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, MENTIONED YOUR 148-MILLION-DOLLARS IN GENERAL FUND RESERVES. HE ALSO MENTIONED, MAYOR, THERE ARE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA AND ITEMS THAT ARE EXPECTED TO BE USED AS RELATED TO COVID-19 RELIEF. AND THEN HE SPECIFICALLY REFERENCED APPROXIMATELY 75% REIMBURSEMENT FOR DISASTER RELIEF. I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT IN THE BACKUP MATERIALS AS IT RELATES TO THE RISE FUNDING, YOU HAVE LANGUAGE THAT SPECIFIES IMMIGRANTS. AND THEY ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING FROM THE CARES ACT. SO TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU'RE GOING TO RELY ON MR. VAN EENOO'S BRIEFING THIS WEEK AS WELL AS THE BRIEFING ON APRIL 7TH, THEN THAT LANGUAGE SHOULD BE STRICKEN AND YOU SHOULD WORK WITH UNITED WAY AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH THE LOCAL FUNDS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY. SPECIFICALLY I WANT TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO NUMBER 47, WHICH IS THE ASIAN FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES ONE MILLION DOLLARS AND ALSO THE 44, WHICH IS FOR THE AUSTIN AREA URBAN LEAGUE. WHAT I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE IS THAT FROM A DATA DRIVEN PERSPECTIVE, THE AFRICAN-AMERICANS ARE THE ONES THAT ARE SUFFERING FROM COVID-19, NOT THE ASIANS. IN AUSTIN IT'S SPECIFICALLY ABOUT 10% AFRICAN-AMERICANS, EIGHT PERCENT ASIAN. BUT WHAT I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND IS THEY EARN THE HIGHEST INCOME IN AUSTIN, APPROXIMATELY $101,000 COMPARED TO 50,000 FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS. BUT THEY'VE RECEIVED $1 MILLION, TWICE AS MUCH, AS THE ORGANIZATION THAT HISTORICALLY SERVES THE BLACK PEOPLE AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM. I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND TOO THAT THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF CONFUSION ONLINE. THE FAMILY INDEPENDENCE INITIATIVE HAD A DOCUMENT THAT SPECIFIED THESE FUNDS WOULD NOT BE RELEASED UNTIL THE WEEK OF MAY 4TH. HOWEVER AS YOU HEARD FROM GAVA AND AS I HEARD ON TUESDAY THE FIFTH OF MAY, CINCO DE MAYO, WHEN I [01:10:03] LISTENED TO THE TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' COURT, THOSE FUNDS HAD IN FACT BEEN DISBURSED. AS A MATTER OF FACT, GREATER MOUNT ZION RECEIVED THESE FUNDS AND ON THEIR WEBSITE FACEBOOK PAGE IT SAYS THEY ARE OUT OF FUNDS APRIL 30TH. SO THERE IS A DISCONNECT AND A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY. I DID COPY YOU ON AN OPEN RECORDS REQUEST THAT I SUBMITTED THIS MORNING AND I DID COPY THE CONGRESSMAN AS I MENTIONED I WOULD. SO CONGRESSMAN MICHAEL MCCAUL. AND I ALSO SENT THIS TO THE FAMILY INDEPENDENCE INITIATIVE. I WOULD ASK YOU, MAYOR, SO TRANSPARENTLY LIST ALL 30 ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE RECEIVING THE FUNDS AND EXACTLY WHAT'S BEING GIVEN. I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE ASIAN ORGANIZATION PAYS CAR PAYMENTS, SMARTPHONE WITH PLAN AND CHROME BOOKS, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN, THE URBAN LEAGUE, IT SAYS DEPENDENT CAREGIVER SERVICES AS ONE OF THE EXTRA THINGS THAT THEY PAY IN ADDITION TO UTILITIES. CLOSE TO -- TO BE SUCCINCT AND ALSO ENSURE THAT ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS ARE FAIR AND NOT TO HAVE CATHOLIC CHARITIES, FOR EXAMPLE, GIVE $5,000 AND ONLY 1200 FOR INDIVIDUALS. IT'S JUST NOT EQUITABLE. BUT -- THIS IS MY LAST COMMENT. YOU DO HAVE A GOOD MODEL -- I CAN'T EVEN GET IT OUT. COUNCILMEMBER CASAR, AS IT RELATES TO THE RENT CIS SENSE WAS TRANSPARENT AND IT HAS -- THAT IT'S NOT ASKING FOR STATUS OR ANYTHING, BUT IT'S TRANSPARENT AND THAT WAS NOT THE CASE. >> MAYOR ADLER: THANK YOU. >> WITH THE RISE FUNDS. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR ADLER: COUNCILMEMBER FLANNIGAN, YOUR HAND IS RAISED? >> >> FLANNIGAN: YEAH. I WANTED TO ADD THAT ANOTHER COMPONENT OF ITEM 23, MS. JOSEPH, IS A PUBLIC DASHBOARD SO THAT ALL OF THAT DATA WILL BE TRANSPARENT AND PUBLISHED IN AS REALTIME AS WE CAN. >> MAYOR ADLER: GREAT, THANK YOU. WE'LL CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD. I'M GOING TO ASK AGAIN IS IVANI NARI HERE? MAYBE YOU ARE MUTED. YOU NEED TO PRESS *6. WHAT ABOUT ALICIA TORRES? >> ALICIA TORRES. >> I'M HERE, ALICIA TORRES IS HERE. >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY. GO AHEAD. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. >> MY NAME IS ALICIA TORRES. I AM A MEMBER OF [INDISCERNIBLE] AND I'M CALLING TO ASK CITY COUNCIL TO VOTE YES ON ITEM 60. HOWEVER, I ALSO WANT TO ENSURE THAT THE SPENDING FRAMEWORK THAT IS ASKED FOR IN THIS IS DONE THROUGH AN EQUITY LENS WITH OVER $170 MILLION COMING INTO THE CITY FOR COVID-19 RESPONSE. IT IS THE CITY COUNCIL'S RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT THOSE FUNDS REACH THE PEOPLE THAT MOST NEED THEM AND IN A FAST AND EFFICIENT FORM. THIS ITEM ALSO CALLS FOR SOME OF THE MONEY TO BE ALLOCATED TO THE RISE FUND AND I ASK THAT A LARGE PERCENTAGE ARE AWARDED TO IT. I ALSO ASK THAT SOME OF THE LANGUAGE NEEDS TO BE STRUCTURED DIFFERENT AS I ASKED THAT COUNCIL CONSIDER REACHING OUT TO FOLKS THAT WORK DIRECTLY WITH -- DIRECTLY IMPACT THE COMMUNITIES TO ENSURE THAT AUSTIN'S MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES WILL BE ABLE TO ACCESS THIS FUND. OR ANY OF THE FUNDS THAT GET TRICKLED DOWN TO LOCAL FUNDS VIA THIS MONEY. I ALSO WANT TO SPEAK TO CITY COUNCIL AND ASK THAT PLEASE, FOR CITY COUNCIL TO PLEASE CONSIDER THE REMAINING FUNDS AVAILABLE IN THE RISE FUND, WHICH I BELIEVE SHOULD BE ANYWHERE -- I THINK ABOUT FIVE MILLION DOLLARS. AND THAT THEY BE ENERGY ITS ENTIRETY AWARDED TO FAMILY INDEPENDENCE INITIATIVE. THE REASON BEING THAT THEY HAVE EFFICIENTLY DEMONSTRATED THE INITIATIVE OF PROVIDING DIRECT ASH AID VIA CASH TRANSFERS TO FAMILY IS NOT ONLY A SUCCESSFUL INITIATIVE, BUT IT'S ALSO EFFICIENT. THE PROOF IS THAT AS ONE OF THE PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, GRASSROOTS, RECEIVED SOME -- SOME OF THE MONEY AND IN LESS THAN 72 HOURS WE WERE ABLE TO HELP OVER 50 FAMILIES. ONE OF THOSE FAMILIES THAT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IS ONE OF OUR MEMBERS WHO WAS PICKED UP IN A COLLATERAL RISK AFTER ICE SHOWED UP AT A LOCAL APARTMENT TO LOOK -- LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY ELSE. SHE WAS A SINGLE MOTHER OF ONE. WE HARKED HARD HE ON HE OWE WORKED HARD TO GET HER RELEASE FROM ICE AND CAME BACK AND BECAUSE SHE WORKS IN THE FOOD SERVICE INDUSTRY, IN THE CLEANING INDUSTRY, SHE SAW HER HOURS BE CUT DOWN TO HALF. UPON GOING THROUGH THE APPLICATION PROCESS AND, YOU KNOW, IN -- THIS IS SOMEONE THAT WE'VE BEEN BUILDING A RELATIONSHIP WITH, YOU KNOW, IN 72 HOURS SHE WAS ABLE TO [01:15:05] RECEIVE HELP THAT HELPED HER PAY RENT, THAT HELPED HER PROVIDE FOR HER CHILD, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY SOMETHING THAT SHE MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, AND I'LL SHARE A QUOTE, IS THAT SHE SHARED WITH ME. RENT AND PHONE BILL. MY JOB HOURS ARE CUT IN HALF AND I'VE ONLY BEEN ABLE TO PAY [INDISCERNIBLE]. I'VE HAD A LOT OF ANXIETY AND NOW I'M ABLE TO BREATHE A LITTLE BETTER. TO CLOSE OFF THIS IS THE KIND OF HELP THAT WE'RE TRYING TO AMPLIFY FOR LARGER COMMUNITY AND I ASK THAT THE REMAINING BALANCE BE AWARDED TO FI SO IT CAN BE REPLICATED AT A LARGER LEVEL [INDISCERNIBLE]. >> MAYOR ADLER: THANK YOU. IS ROSA FRANCIS HERE? >> YES, I'M SORRY. >> MAYOR ADLER: GO AHEAD. >> OKAY. GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS DISDAIN I'M A CONSTITUENT OF DISTRICT 3, A TEACHER AND I ALSO GROUP UP IN AUSTIN. WE WORK WITH FAITH BASED COMMUNITIES ALL OVER AUSTIN WITH IMMIGRANTS WHO FACE DEPORTATION OR THE IMMIGRATION SYSTEM IN SOME OTHER WAY. MANY IMMIGRANT MEMBERS COME TO THE PROGRAM AND TELL US THAT THEY LOST THEIR JOBS OR HAD HOURS SEVERELY REDUCED. AND FOLKS REQUESTED FOOD ASSISTANCE AND THEN EXPRESSED A LOT OF WORRY ABOUT MAKING RENT ON MAY 1ST. AS SOON AS THE RISE FUNDS WERE ALLOCATED TO THE FOUR NON-PROFIT OPERATIONS, OUR COORDINATORS WERE IN TOUCH WITH EVERY FAMILY WE KNEW QUALIFIED, WHICH WAS ABOUT 20 FAMILIES. SO WHEN WE TRIED CALLING WE NOTICED THE LINES WERE BUSY AND IMMIGRANT MEMBERS TOLD US THE SAME. HOWEVER, WE CONTINUALLY ENCOURAGED FAMILIES TO KEEP CALLING EVERYDAY, ESPECIALLY IN THE MORNINGS OR EVENINGS TO GET THROUGH. OUR MEMBERS DID THAT, BUT AS THE RENT DUE DATE CAME UP, NOT ONE MEMBER HAD GOTTEN A RESPONSE TO SET UP AN APPOINTMENT. THE VAST MAJORITY HAD GOTTEN NO RESPONSE AT ALL AND THE VAST MAJORITY HAD GOTTEN AN EMAIL SAYING THEY WOULD BE FOLLOWED UP WITH, BUT IT TAKES TIME DUE TO OVERWHELMING CALL VOLUME. SO THIS DATE NO FAMILIES HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN FOLLOWED UP WITH FOR APPOINTMENTS WITH THOSE FOUR ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE GIVEN RISE FUNDS AND THIS IS NOT TO SPEAK ILL OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS. WE UNDERSTAND THIS IS A CRISIS AND THEY ARE COMPLETELY OVERWHELMED, HOWEVER FAMILIES IN CRISIS NEED TO HAVE ACCESS TO QUICK, EFFICIENT OPTIONS TO GET THE RELIEF THEY NEED. AND THIS IS WHY FOR ITEM 60 I WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT THAT ITEM AND WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE ALL OF THE REMAINING RISE FUNDS ALLOCATED TO FII. WE WERE ABLE TO SUPPORT FAMILIES WITH SMALL DONATIONS AND LETTERS TO LANDLORDS ASKING FOR RENT REDUCTIONS, BUT IT WASN'T UNTIL STAFF AT GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP WHO HAD BEEN GIVEN FII FUNDS WHO KNEW THAT WE WERE IN TOUCH WITH IMPACTED IMMIGRANT FAMILIES REACHED OUT. AND THEN THE FOLKS IN OUR PROGRAMS STARTED GETTING REAL RELIEF. THE STRESS AND FEAR MELTED AWAY TO JOY FOR THE HANDFUL OF FAMILIES IN OUR PROGRAM THAT GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP HAD CODE FOR THROUGH FII. AND THE FAMILIES LET US KNOW THEY HAD A GREAT SUPPORTIVE EXPERIENCE COMPLETING THE APPLICATION AND THEY DID GET A DEPOSIT VERY SOON. THIS IS WHAT THE IMMIGRANT FAMILIES NEED AND CONSERVE DESERVE RIGHT NOW. AND I'M ALSO AWARE THAT SOME NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, WHEN FOLKS NEED TO APPLY FOR THE RISE FUNDS, MAY ASK FOR DOCUMENTS THAT FAMILIES REALLY HAVE TROUBLE ACCESSING, SUCH AS LETTERS FROM EMPLOYERS SAYING THAT THEY LOST THEIR JOB DUE TO COVID-19. FII DOES NOT HAVE SUCH BUYERIERS AND THESE FUNDS NEED TO BE ACCESSIBLE SO FAMILIES DON'T HAVE TO UNNECESSARILY WAIT TO RECEIVE THE HELP THEY NEED. I'M ALSO AWARE THAT SOME NON-PROFITS HAD DISCRETION IN HOW MUCH FUNDS TO DISTRIBUTE TO EACH FAMILY AND ARE DISTRIBUTING H.E.B. CARDS AND OTHER NON-CASH ASSISTANCE. SO I CAN TELL THAT YOU IMMIGRANT FAMILIES WE KNOW ARE COMPLETELY AWARE OF THEIR EXPENSES AND WHAT THEY NEED -- TO RECEIVE DIRECT CASH ASSISTANCE. ALTERNATIVE SO I ASK YOU TO ALLOCATE THE LARGEST AMOUNT OF FUNDS POSSIBLE TO FII. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR ADLER: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IS DAVID RODRIGUEZ HERE? >> YEAH. >> GO AHEAD, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. >> I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION AND A SHORT COMMENT SO I'LL MAKE IT QUICK. I'M AN AUSTIN NATIVE AND A BUSINESS OWNER HERE IN AUSTIN. WE PROVIDE NURSING, TRIAGE SERVICES ACROSS THE COUNTRY SO WE'RE KIND OF RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS WHOLE COVID RESPONSE. MY COMMENT AND QUESTIONS ARE REGARDING WHAT THE CITY IS DOING TO EFFECTIVELY HOLD RETAIL AND HOSPITALITY BUSINESSES IN AUSTIN ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE SAFETY OF THE CUSTOMERS DURING AND AFTER THE PANDEMIC? WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THAT OUR CITY IS JUST PUTTING THEIR TRUST IN THE BUSINESSES TO PROTECT AND SCREEN, BUT NOT TO TRACK AND NOTIFY. SO WHEN THERE'S A POTENTIAL [01:20:01] EXPOSURE, HOW DO WE AS CITIZENS OF AUSTIN FEEL SA SAFE, AND AS WE'VE HEARD TIME AND TIME AGAIN PEOPLE WANT TO GET BACK TO NORMAL. THE MAJORITY OF US WANT TO DO IT, BUNDLE IF WE FEEL SAFE WITHOUT COMPROMISING OUR PHI OR CIVIL LIBERTIES. IF WE DON'T PUT A PROGRAM IN PLACE TO HELP MAKE PEOPLE FEEL SAFE, JUST OPENING BUSINESSES WILL BE A NON-STARTER. ULTIMATELY THIS WILL END UP WITH MORE INFECTION AND MORE DAMAGE TO OUR LOCAL ECONOMY. HOW HAS THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR BEEN EVALUATING ANY AND ALL TECHNOLOGY, NON-TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS SINCE THE STATE TASK FORCE HAS ONLY PUT MEASURES IN PLACE THAT MANDATE WHEN BUSINESSES CAN OPEN AND OCCUPANCY RATES, BUT NOTHING ABOUT MONITORING POTENTIAL EXPOSURE. HOW ARE WE WORKING WITH LOCALLY DEVELOPED SOLUTIONS WITH BUSINESSES HERE IN AUSTIN TO HELP WITH THE SAFETY OF OUR CITIZENS. AND TO DATE I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR TRACKING AND TRACING OTHER THAN A COUPLE OF MANUAL SOLUTIONS. WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE AS A TECH DRIVEN CITY TO POTENTIALLY PUT SOLUTIONS OUT THERE THAT COULD NOT ONLY BE A STANDARD FOR US, BUT FOR THE COUNTRY. AND FINALLY, HOW AND WHERE CAN COMPANIES GO TO PROPOSE THESE SOLUTIONS WITHOUT GOING THROUGH EITHER PERSONAL CONNECTIONS OR THE TYPICAL RED TAPE TO GET SOLUTIONS PROPOSED TO THE CITY TASK FORCE SOONER RATHER THAN LATER TO HELP SET A STANDARD CITYWIDE? >> MAYOR ADLER: YOU'VE ASKED A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND I WANT TO RESPOND TO THEM. FIRST IF YOU HAVE TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS THAT YOU WANT TO SUGGEST, I WOULD SUGGEST YOU SEND THEM TO DR. MARK ESCOTT, ALSO TO STEPHANIE HAYDEN, THE DIRECTOR OF AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, ALSO TO THE JUDGE ECKHARDT AND TO ME. WE HAVE A TASK FORCE NOW THAT IS WORKING ON THE OVERARCHING STRATEGY FOR TESTING AND CONTACT TRACING BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE THAT THOSE THINGS ARE KEY TO NOT LETTING A SURGE HAPPEN TO OVERRUN OUR HOSPITALS. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT BEHAVIORS OR TECHNOLOGIES ARE GOING TO BE EFFECTIVE OR NOT EFFECTIVE. ANSWER. BUT WHAT WE ARE GOING TO BE MONITORING VERY CLOSELY ARE THE NUMBERS IN OUR CITY OF HOSPITALIZATIONS. OF THE USES OF VENTILATORS BECAUSE THE MODELERS NOW SAY THAT BASED ON OUR PAST EXPERIENCE AS WE WATCH THOSE NUMBERS WE'LL KNOW WHEN WE'RE RUNNING INTO A SITUATION WHERE WE NEED TO ACT. BUT THAT'S WHERE THE FOCUS IS NOW ON TESTING AND ON TRACING. THOSE ARE THE TRIGGERS, BUT WE WOULD CERTAINLY INVITE SUGGESTIONS AND THOUGHTS ON HOW TO DO THOSE THINGS BEST AND WE'LL GET THEM TO THE FOLKS THAT ARE GOING THE STRATEGIC WORK ON THAT. COUNCILMEMBER FLANNIGAN. >> FLANNIGAN: I WILL JUST ADD I THINK WERE IT UP TO THE CITY, WERE IT UP TO US, WE WOULDN'T HAVE REOPENED BUSINESSES BEFORE THOSE ANSWERS WERE DEVELOPED. UNFORTUNATELY THE GOVERNOR DID NOT GIVE US THAT OPTION. SO BUSINESSES ARE NOT BEING TRUSTED BY THE COUNCIL DIRECTLY. IT'S MORE SO THE SITUATION THAT THE STATE HAS PUT US IN. WE'RE TRYING TO MOVE AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN. >> MAYOR ADLER: THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS -- >> SORRY, DO YOU HAVE ACTUAL CONTACT WITH FOLKS? >> MAYOR ADLER: I'M SORRY? >> JUST A QUESTION OF WITH WHERE CAN WE FIND THE ACTUAL CONTACT INFORMATION TO SEND SUGGESTIONS OR SOLUTIONS? >> MAYOR ADLER: YOU CAN SEND IT TO STEVE.ADLER@AUSTINTEXAS.GOV. AND I'LL GET IT TO THE PEOPLE THAT I MENTIONED. >> THANK YOU. >> KITCHEN: MAYOR, I THINK THE REST OF THE COUNCIL WOULD BE INTERESTED IN HEARING THE SOLUTIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY ALSO. SO THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO SHARE. >> ABSOLUTELY. I'LL GET IT TO THE CLERK SO THE CLERK CAN GET IT TO EVERYBODY. IS KEITH [INDISCERNIBLE]? >> CAN YOU REPEAT THAT NAME? >> MAYOR ADLER: I HAVE KEITH SECREST. AND THEN I HAVE SAM WAUGH. >> HI, THIS IS SAM. HI, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO LET ME SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY. MY NAME IS SAM LAW AND I'M A GRADUATE STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AUSTIN. I'M ALSO A RENTER IN DISTRICT 9 AND AN ORGANIZER WITH RENT STRIKE ATX. I'M CALLING IN TODAY TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 56 TO EXTEND THE EXISTING [01:25:02] EMERGENCY PROTECTIONS THE CITY HAS PROVIDED FOR RENTERS IN THESE DIFFICULT TIMES. I WANT TO START BY TALKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THIS CRISIS HAS AFFECTED ME PERSONALLY. AS A GRADUATE STUDENT I'M FORTUNATE THAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTINUE WORKING FOR THE UNIVERSITY TEACHING MY STUDENTS [INDISCERNIBLE]. A GRADUATE STUDENT AT UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MAKES ABOUT $1,600 A MONTH [INDISCERNIBLE]. SO WE'VE ALREADY BEEN STRUGGLING WITH THE COST OF PAYING RENT AS RENT HAS RISEN. MOST GRADUATES LIVE WITH ROOMMATES, PARTNERS AND INCOME FROM OUTSIDE OF THE UNIVERSITY TO BE ABLE TO LIVE IN THE CITY. I PERSONALLY WHEN THIS CRISIS HAPPENED MY PARTNER AND ONE OF MY ROOMMATES BOTH LOST THEIR JOB. SPEAKING TO OTHER STUDENTS I KNOW THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON SITUATION. SO I WANT YOU TO KEEP IN MIND THAT GRADUATE STUDENTS ARE RENTERS AND WE'RE DEEPLY IMPACTED BY THIS. I ALSO WANT TO -- WHEN THE CRISIS HAPPENED, [INDISCERNIBLE] RENT STRIKE ATX AND ALL VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS FOUNDED IN THE MIDDLE OF MARCH COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE NO ONE FACED THIS CRISIS ALONE. ONE OF THE FIRST STEPS WE DID WAS TO SET UP A HOTLINE WHERE TENANTS WHO WERE WORRIED ABOUT PAYING RENT COULD CALL IN AND GET ASSISTANCE NEGOTIATING WITH THEIR LANDLORDS AND LETTING US HEAR HOW THEY'RE GOING THROUGH THIS CRISIS. WE HAVE HEARD STORIES ABOUT PEOPLE LAID OUT OF, WHO HAVE DIFFICULTY ACCESSING UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS OR FEDERAL AID, AND MANY, MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING VERY HARD DECISIONS BETWEEN CHOOSING TO PAY FOR FOOD, MEDICAL SUPPLIES OR RENT. AND WE'VE ALWAYS TOLD PEOPLE TO PRIORITIZE [INDISCERNIBLE]. IN THIS CRISIS IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE STAY IN THEIR HOMES SO I'M CALLING AGAIN ON CITY COUNCIL TO EXTEND THE EMERGENCY PROTECTION THAT WERE ALREADY IN PLACE TO PREVENT ANY EVICTIONS DURING THIS CRISIS. BUT WE KNOW THAT THE CURRENT PROTECTIONS WON'T BE ENOUGH WHEN THIS -- WHEN THE MEDICAL PHASE OF THIS CRISIS IS OVER. WE'RE CURRENTLY IN THE WORST ECONOMIC CRISIS IN MODERN HISTORY AND WITH SO MANY UNEMPLOYED, WITHOUT EXPANDING TENANT PROTECTIONS WE'RE GOING TO SEE A MASSIVE HOUSING CRISIS THE MOMENT THIS IS OVER. SO THAT'S WHY AUSTIN RENT STRIKE HAS JOINED WITH THE AUSTIN [INDISCERNIBLE] LAW CENTER AND AUSTIN RENTERS ACTION, CALLING ON THE CITY TO TAKE AS MUCH ACTION AS IT CAN TO PROTECT RENTERS. SPECIFICALLY WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS NOT JUST CAUSE TO EVICT PEOPLE OR [INDISCERNIBLE] TO COVID-RELATED ISSUES. EMERGENCY POWERS TO ENACT A RENT FREEZE SO THAT IN LANDLORDS RAISE RENTS DURING THIS CRISIS. AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT RENTERS AREN'T DISCRIMINATED AGAINST FOR EVICTIONS OR IN THE FUTURE FOR THIS CRISIS. WE WOULD HATE TO SEE THE RESULT OF THIS CRISIS IN A MONTH OR TWO BEING THAT SUDDENLY WE HAVE A WAVE OF EVICTIONS AND MANY OF THE FORWARD WORKING CLASSES OF AUSTIN ARE PUSHED OUT OF THE CITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. IS ALISON TAYLOR HERE? >> YES, I'M HERE. >> GO AHEAD. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. >> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS ALISON TAYLOR AND I'M ALSO AN ORGANIZER WITH RENT STRIKE ATX AND I'M ALSO SPEAKING FOR SU56. RENT STRIKE ATX CAME TOGETHER AS A TENANT ORGANIZER IN MARCH AS IT BECAME THAT RENTERS WOULD BE SPECIFICALLY AFFECTED BY COVID-19. I MYSELF HAD LEFT A PREVIOUS SERVING POSITION FOR A BETTER PAYING SERVICE INDUSTRY JOB AT THE BEGINNING OF MARCH AND NOW I HAVE LEFT THAT JOB AND WAS NOT THERE LONG ENOUGH TO QUALIFY FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS. I WAS ABLE TO HAVE RENT WAIVED FOR APRIL DUE TO THE FACT I WAS IN A COOPERATIVE STYLE HOUSEHOLD UNLIKE SO MANY OTHERS. UNFORTUNATELY I HAVE TO MAKE A PAINFUL CHOICE TO MOVE OUT OF THIS COMMUNITY WHERE I FELT SAFE AND HOME BECAUSE I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CONTINUE MAKING RENTAL PAYMENTS. AND NOW LIVE WITHMY PARTNER IN . I THANK THE COUNCIL FOR PUTTING THIS ISSUE BACK ON THE AGENDA, BUT I WANT TO ENCOURAGE COUNCILMEMBERS TO TAKE SERIOUSLY HOW THIS PROPOSAL DOES NOT GO FAR ENOUGH. AT THIS POINT I'VE ALREADY MISSED FOUR PAYCHECKS AND I DO NOT, LIKE THE VAST MAJORITY OF AMERICANS, HAVE ANY FORM OF EMERGENCY SAVINGS, NOR DO I LIKE THE VAST MAJORITY OF AMERICANS HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE IN THE MIDST OF A GLOBAL HEALTH CRISIS. I AM NOT UNIQUE. MANY FIND THEMSELVES IN THIS SITUATION AS WELL. COUPLED WITH THE FACT THAT MARKET RATE IN AUSTIN FOR A [01:30:02] ONE BEDROOM IS 1100 AND A LITTLE OVER 13 FOR A TWO BEDROOM. THE ONE TIME FEDERAL STIMULUS CHECK FOR $1,200 SIMPLY DOES NOT GO FAR ENOUGH. WE AS TENANTS MAY HAVE EVICTIONS FILED AGAINST US WHEN THE GRACE PERIOD IS LIFTED. EVEN MISSING A PAYMENT OR HAVING AN EVICTION AGAINST YOU WILL FORCE US TO FIND NEW HOUSING AND MOVE US AWAY FROM OUR CHILDREN'S SCHOOLS AND PUSH OUT OUT INTO THE PERIPHERIES OF THE CITY. I WORKED IN THE HOUSING ORGANIZATION IN THE CITY FOR A FEW YEARS. I WAS WITHIN THE ECHO COALITION IN THE NOW HERALDED YOUTH HOUSING INITIATIVE SO I'VE SEEN MORE INSTANCES THAN MOST OF THE PREDATORY NATURE OF MOST COMPLEXES IN THE CITY. WE SET UP A HOTLINE TO TALK TO TENANTS DIRECTLY AND WHEN WE FIRST BEGAN WE WOULD FIELD DOZENS OF CALLS A DAY. MANY PROPERTIES OFFERED VERY INFLEXIBLE, NON-REALISTIC PAY BACK PLANS AT BEST OR PUT UP THREATENING FLIERS OR DISSEMINATED SHEETS OF PLACES FOR HIRE. I WORKED WITH A TENANT WITH PREEXISTING HEALTH CONCERNS. AFTER LOSING HER JOB THE LEASING OFFICE ENCOURAGED HER TO GO TO H.E.B. WHEN SHE EXPRESSED SHE WOULD BE PUT IN SERIOUS RISK IF SHE WOULD NOT. SHELTER IN PLACE, SHE FOUND LITTLE EMPATHY AND WAS TOLD SHE, QUOTE, BETTER FIGURE IT OUT QUICKLY. IN MARCH WE SPOKE WITH TENANTS WHO SAID THEY WOULD BE OKAY WITH APRIL, BUT WHEN ASKED ABOUT MAY THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T KNOW HOW THEY WOULD PAY IF THE CRISIS CONTINUES. AS THE CRISIS CONTINUES AND IF PEOPLE CAN CONTINUE MAKING RENTAL PAYMENTS OR HAVING EVICTION FILES AGAINST THEM. [INDISCERNIBLE]. I ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL TO EXTEND THE STAY ON EVICTIONS AND PUT IN PLACE THE [INDISCERNIBLE] CAMPAIGN THAT YOU CAN FIND AT [INDISCERNIBLE]. >> MAYOR ADLER: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER IS TAT VILLA ROSA. YOU HAVE TO PRESS *6 TO UNMUTE. WHAT ABOUT GREG GRIMES? *6 TO UNMUTE. WHAT ABOUT ELLE VILLANUEVA. >> I'M HERE. HE HAVE. >> OKAY. >> HI. I'M SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF ITEM 56 TO EXTEND THE EVICTION MORATORIUM AND I WANT TO ENCOURAGE ALL MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND FOLKS LISTENING TO CLOSE YOUR EYES AND REALLY PICTURE WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT HERE. HOW DO YOU TELL YOUR FAMILY WE'RE BEING EVICTED? TELL THEM TO PACK UP AS MANY BELONGINGS AS YOU CAN BEFORE YOUR TOYS AND CLOTHES ARE THROWN ON THE FRONT GRASS? HOW DO YOU TELL A PERSON TO RISK STAYING WITH AN ABUSIVE EX-OR FAMILY OR SOMEONE WHO ALREADY HAS A LOT OF PEOPLE CRASHING WITH ESPECIALLY THIS. WHY IN A PANDEMIC WOULD WE TAKE PEOPLE'S HOMES AWAY? AS OF THREE WEEKS AGO ONE OUT OF EVERY FIVE AUSTINITES HAD LOST THEIR WORK DUE TO THE PANDEMIC AND MANY ARE ONLY NOW FACING THE SERIOUS FINANCIAL REPERCUSSIONS. I'M SCARED TO IMAGINE LIFE IN JULY OR AUGUST BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF I'LL HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE OR IF I'LL EVEN BE IN THE CITY. IN MARCH I HAD THREE JOBS AND NOW I HAVE NONE. WE'RE THE PEOPLE WHO SERVE YOUR FOOD, WHO CLEAN YOUR OFFICE BUILDINGS AND WHO CREATE SO MUCH OF THE ART AND MUSIC THE ENTIRE CITY BENEFITS FROM. WHEN THE PANDEMIC IS OVER, WILL WE STILL BE HERE? CAN THE ECONOMY REALLY COME BACK WITHOUT A FIFTH OF THE WORKFORCE? BECAUSE IF WE'RE EVICTED MOST OF US WON'T BE ABLE TO AFFORD STAYING IN AUSTIN. DESPERATE TIMES CALL FOR BOLD MEASURES. WE NEED TO EXTEND THE MORATORIUM ON EVICTIONS. WE NEED TO CANCEL RENT AND UTILITY PAYMENTS IN THE MEANTIME AND WE NEED TO ENACT LONG OVERDUE RENT CONTROL. EVEN WITH THE CURRENT EVICTION MORATORIUM, LANDLORDS ARE INTENTIONALLY INTIMIDATING TENANTS BYPASSING OUT EVICTION NOTICES THEY KNOW THEY CAN'T MAKE GOOD ON AND EVEN CHANGING TENANTS' LOCKS SAYING ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS COME AND ASK FOR A NEW KEY. THESE ARE QUESTIONABLE SCARE TACTICS TO FORCE TENANTS TO VACATE WHEN THEY ARE WELL WITHIN THEIR RIGHTS TO STAY PUT IN THEIR HOME. AS LONG AS LANDLORDS CAN USE DIRTY TRICKS LIKE THIS, EVICTIONS ARE HAPPENING IN OUR CITY BY THE FORCE OF FEAR -- OF POWER AND OF FEAR. EVERY PERSON HAS THE RIGHT TO LIFE. IT'S DISINGENUOUS TO PRETEND A PERSON CAN LIVE WITHOUT SAFE AND STABLE HOUSING AND IT'S DISINGENUOUS TO BELIEVE THAT A PERSON CAN SHELTER IN PLACE WITHOUT A HOME. THIS IS NOT TO FORGET THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY BEEN [01:35:01] SUFFERING THE INDIGNITY OF HOMELESSNESS. LET I GUESS BE A CITY OF NEIGHBORS, THAT CITY THAT PROTECTS RATHER THAN PROFITS OFF OF EACH OTHER WHEN THE WORLD COMES CRASHING DOWN. SO PLEASE, PLEASE SUPPORT ITEM 56, EXTENDING THE MORATORIUM ON EVICTIONS AS WELL AS FURTHER NECESSARY MEASURES. LIKE CANCELING RENT AND UTILITIES AND OF COURSE RENT CONTROL. AS MENTIONED BEFORE, AUSTIN RENTERS ACTION AT AUSTINRENTERSACTION.ORG HAS A PETITION THAT LAYS THESE OUT. PLEASE WHEN YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT THIS, THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE BEHIND IT. THINK ABOUT THE YOUNG PEOPLE LIKE ME TRYING TO START OFF OUR LIVES IN THIS CITY. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR ADLER: THANK YOU. IS SUSAN LIP TON HERE? LIPTON HERE? >> YES, I'M HERE. >> MAYOR ADLER: GO AHEAD. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. >> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS SUSAN LITMAN. I LIVE IN SOUTH AUSTIN NEAR SLAUGHTER LANE. I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO SUPPORT NUMBER 56 AND NOT TO FACE EVICTION IN THE PANDEMIC EMERGENCY. [INDISCERNIBLE] AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE RELATED. THESE DAYS WITH THE CORONAVIRUS QUARANTINE METAGES HAS BEEN ON THE SEVERE THREAT OF THIS FEES AND THE SEVERE IMPACTS ON OUR SOCIETY AND OUR CITY AS WE TRY TO FIGHT THE VIRUS BY STAYING HOME. FOR SOME OF US THE BOREDOM AND ISOLATION ARE THE BIGGEST PROBLEM, BUT OTHERS FIND THEMSELVES STRUGGLING HANGING ON TO THE BARE NECESSITIES OF LIFE THROUGH SHELTER AND ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE. IN THE '60S, '70S AND '80S I WAS A RENTER IN AUSTIN. I'VE HAD QUITE A FEW ADDRESSES. THESE DAYS I'M ABLE TO STAY AT HOME, I'M RETIRED ANYWAY. IN WATCHING THE NEWS AND SEEING HOW MANY PEOPLE LOST THEIR WORK, INCLUDING SO MANY PEOPLE IN THE SERVICE INDUSTRIES WHO ARE ALREADY OFTEN LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK. OUR FAILURE AS A SOCIETY TO REQUIRE THE MINIMUM WAGE WILL BE A LIVING WAGE, TO HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE IS NOW BUILDING TO HIGH RELIEF. IT'S CRITICAL TO HELP THESE FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS STAY IN THEIR HOMES DURING THIS PANDEMIC. TO NOT BECOME HOMELESS. SO NOT HEAD OUT TO WORK WHEN THEY DON'T FEEL WELL OR WHEN THEIR WORKING CONDITIONS WOULD BE DANGEROUS. BECAUSE I FEEL SO STRONGLY ABOUT THIS THAT I MADE A LAST MINUTE DECISION TO JOIN A PROTEST ORGANIZED BY A GROUP THAT'S NEW TO ME, RENT STRIKE AUSTIN, WHICH RELATED IN ME RECEIVING AN UNEXPECTED FREE 24 TOUR OF THE COUNTY JAIL FACILITIES. I MIGHT MOTION THAT ALTHOUGH THE MAIL PERSONNEL WERE MASKED AND KEPT THE INMATES APART, THEY WERE CONSTANTLY WITHIN TWO OR THREE FEET DISTANCE THEMSELVES AND DETAINEES. THIS IS NO TIME WHEN SIX FEET OF SOCIAL DISTANCING IS NOT POSSIBLE. IT'S ALSO NO TIME TO BE FACING THE CHAOS THAT EVICTION PROCEEDINGS THROW INTO A PERSON'S LIFE. NUMBER 56 WILL HELP THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN AUSTIN, WHICH IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD DO OUT OF A SENSE OF ETHICS AND COMPASSION, BUT IF EVERYONE HAS TO HAVE A SELFISH REASON TOW DO THIS, THEN PLEASE REMEMBER IT WILL HELP ALL OF US GET THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC SOONER AND SAFELY. AND I HOPE YOU WILL LISTEN CAREFULLY TO THE FIRSTHAND STORIES ARE PEOPLE ARE TELLING YOU AND REFER TO THE AUSTIN RENTERS ACTIONS' PETITION. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY, THANK YOU. IS THEONA GOVERN HERE. >> HI, I'M HERE. I'M JENNA MCGOVERN. THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TODAY. I'M ALSO AN ORGANIZER WITH RENT STRIKE AUSTIN. AND I WOULD LIKE TO ECHO SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT FELLOW SPEAKERS HAVE ADDRESSED TODAY AND WANT TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 56. I THINK FIRST OF ALL TALK ABOUT HOW I'VE PERSONALLY BEEN AFFECTED DURING THE% COVID-19 PANDEMIC. THE -- BEFORE THE PANDEMIC I HAD THREE JOBS TO MAKE ENDS MEET, AND AS OF TODAY I CURRENTLY HAVE NONE OF THEM. AND SO MY -- AND I WAS LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK TO MEET THE NEEDS OF MAKING RENT. LUCKILY I AM IN THE POSITION TO HAVE ADVOCATED FOR RENT REDUCTION WITH MY LANDLORD, BUT MANY PEOPLE ARE NOT IN THAT POSITION. AND I'M ALSO A DIABETIC, SO THE COST OF MY INSULIN ON A MONTH TO MONTH BASE IS THE COST OF MY RENT. I WOULD RATHER PRIORITIZE SPENDING MY MONEY ON LIFE SAVING MEDICINE THAN I WOULD ON HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT HOUSING. AND I'M NERVOUS ABOUT PEOPLE HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT STAYING IN THEIR HOMES. SO I WANT TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 56, BUT I [01:40:01] ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT IT DOESN'T GO FAR ENOUGH. PEOPLE I'VE TALKED TO OVER THE PHONE ARE STILL WORRIED ABOUT THE ACCUMULATION OF DEBT THAT THEY'LL FACE AFTER THIS PANDEMIC IS OVER, WHICH IS MONTHS, MAYBE EVEN A YEAR OF ACCUMULATION. THAT WILL REALLY MAKE PEOPLE SUFFER. I THINK I'M ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT PEOPLE WHO MIGHT HAVE TO MOVE BECAUSE THEIR LEASE IS UP AND SAFELY MOVING DURING THIS PANDEMIC IS A REALLY DIFFICULT OPTION, AS WELL AS GETTING FRIENDS TOGETHER TO SUPPORT THAT MOVING PROCESS. AND SO I JUST WANT TO FURTHER HIGHLIGHT THE DEMANDS OF THE -- THE ASK OF THE AUSTIN RENTERS' PETITION AND ASK THAT CITY COUNCIL EXPLORE ALL OPTIONS TOWARDS THAT. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR ADLER: THANK YOU. I WOULD POINT OUT THIS COUNCIL I THINK HAS DONE AND IS EXTENDING ITSELF BECAUSE WE WANT TO HELP RENTERS RENTERSO THE FULL EXTENT THAT THE LAW ALLOWS US TO DO. THE ORDINANCE BEING EXTENDED TODAY IS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT, NOT EVICTING ANYBODY FOR NONPAYMENT OF UTILITIES IS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT T. I'LL BE EXTENDING MY ORDER TODAY THAT PROHIBIT THE INITIATION OF EVICTION WITH A NOTICE OF EVICTION AND I'LL BE EXTENDING THAT BY ORDER TODAY. I ONLY WISH THAT WE HAD THE POWER AND THE ABILITY TO CONSIDER CANCELING RENTS. IT'S NOT A TOOL WE HAVE. AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT -- LIKE PRICE CONTROLS AND THE LIKE THAT VERY WELL WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT THIS COUNCIL WOULD CONSIDER ALSO NOT ALLOWED BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE. SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE FOLKS THAT WOULD LIKE THE CITY TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THINGS THAT THE LAW DOES NOT LET US DO THAT TO REALLY WORK AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND THE STATE LEADERSHIP TO GIVE US THOSE POWERS. >> CASAR: AND MAYOR, TO THAT POINT, WHILE I KNOW CONGRESSMAN OMAR HAS A BILL TO -- YOU CAN'T ACTUALLY CANCEL RENTS AND MORTGAGES AND PUSH THOSE PAYMENTS BACK SO THERE IS THAT POTENTIAL THERE THAT PEOPLE CAN ORGANIZE AROUND. AND AS FAR AS THE RENT CONTROL ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN RAISED, THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE SIGNED OFF ON BY THE GOVERNOR, SO THERE IS THAT POWER WITHIN, BUT IT HAS TO BE THE GOVERNOR'S SIGNATURE. AND GIVEN THAT RIGHT NOW WE'RE CONTINUOUSLY LOSING THE ABILITY TO ENFORCE SOME OF OUR MOST IMPORTANT PUBLIC SAFETY RULES BY THE GOVERNOR'S ACTIONS, I DON'T SEE RENT CONTROL BEING SOMETHING THAT HE'S CURRENTLY GOING TO BE SIGNING OFF ON. SO I THINK WE NEED TO BE DOING EVERYTHING CREATIVE UNDER OUR CONTROL FOR THAT. >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY. COLLEAGUES, JUST BY WAY OF TIME CHECK, WE HAVE 24 SPEAKERS THAT ARE LEFT. THAT WOULD TRANSLATE TO A LITTLE OVER AN HOUR. THE CLERK, ALL THINGS BEING EQUAL, FOR LOVE FOR US TO -- WOULD LOVE FOR US TO TAKE CARE OF ALL THE SPEAKERS NOW, BUT THAT WOULD MEAN US NOT BREAKING FOR LUNCH UNTIL ABOUT 1:00. WHAT'S THE PREFERENCE OF THE DAIS? OR DO WE WANT TO BREAK FOR LUNCH AT NOON, COME BACK WITH SPEAKERS OR DO WE WANT TO TRY TO PUSH THROUGH? COUNCILMEMBER KITCHEN. >> KITCHEN: I'M OKAY WITH PUSHING THROUGH. >> POOL: MAYOR? >> MAYOR ADLER: YES, COUNCILMEMBER POOL. >> POOL: I'M FINISH CONTINUING ON AS WELL. -- I'M FINE CONTINUING ON AS WELL. >> MAYOR ADLER: DOES ANYBODY FEEL DIFFERENTLY? >> CASAR: I DON'T FEEL DIFFERENTLY, BUT MAYOR, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF SPEAKERS WHO WERE GOING TO PLAY A VIDEO. THEY DON'T HAVE TO ACTUALLY SPEAK. THEY'RE ON FOR -- THEY'RE HERE FOR AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION. SO I'M GOING TO SUGGEST THAT WHAT WE DO IS DROP OFF SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO WAIT A PLAY A VIDEO AND I'LL JUST PLAY THAT VIDEO WHEN WE GET TO THAT ITEM, THAT NON-CONSENT ITEM. THAT WILL SAVE US SOME SPEAKERS. >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY. THAT WOULD BE FINE. >> TOVO: MAYOR, I MAY HAVE TO STEP OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES DURING THIS PERIOD OF TIME, BUT I WILL SIGN IN VIA PHONE SO THAT I CAN STILL HEAR THE CITIZEN COMMENTS. SO IF I'M NOT HERE IN MY CHAIR, I'LL BE LISTENING TO Y'ALL ON THE PHONE. >> MAYOR ADLER: SOUNDS GOOD, COUNCILMEMBER TOVO. LET'S CONTINUE ON WITH SPEAKERS THEN. IS JACKSON FRAZIER HERE? [01:45:04] >> YES, HELLO. >> MAYOR ADLER: YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. >> MY NAME IS JACKSON FRAZIER. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS JACKSON FRAZIER AND I'M SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF ITEM 56. I'VE LIVED IN AUSTIN ALL MY LIFE. I WAS BORN [INDISCERNIBLE] DOWN THE STREET FROM MY HOUSE AND I WENT TO COLLEGE AT UT. AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT 9 NOW. IN A HOUSE THAT I SHARE WITH 12 PEOPLE TO TRY TO KEEP COSTS LOW. WE ARE [INDISCERNIBLE] AND TEACHERS AND GROCERY CLERKS AND MORE THAN HALF OF US WERE LAID OFF AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS CRISIS. AND MOST OF THE REST OF US HAVE LOST MORE THAN HALF OF OUR INCOME. THE MAJORITY OF US WERE LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK WITH LITTLE OR NO SAFETY NET LIKE A LOT OF OTHER AUSTINITES. SINCE THE STAY AT HOME ORDER WE'VE BEEN SCRAMBLING TO ACCESS THE GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS THAT ARE OVERBURDENED AND UNRESPONSIVE. BEING REALISTIC, WE CAN'T PAY OUR RENT. WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO NEGOTIATE WITH OUR LANDLORD AND HE LETS US KNOW OUR LEASE OBLIGATES US TO PAY OUR RENT AND IT IS A SYSTEM THAT WE CAN'T WORK. HE'S TOLD US THAT ELGIN EVICTION PROCEEDINGS -- THAT HE WILL BEGIN EVICTION PROCEEDINGS AS SOON AS HE CAN AND I GUESS WITHOUT THE MAYOR'S [INDISCERNIBLE] WOULD BE IN 11 DAYS. I DON'T KNOW WHEN WE HAVE, GIVEN WHAT'S BEEN SAID SO FAR, HOW LONG WE HAVE TO LIVE IN OUR HOUSE, BUT I WILL TELL YOU WE WILL SPEND THAT ENTIRE TIME TERRIFIED OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN THEN. THE TWO MORATORIUMS HAVE HELPED SO FAR, BUT WE WILL BE EVICTED AND IF IT'S THE SAME PANDEMIC CONDITIONS THAT THE ORIGINAL MEASURE WAS TO PROTECT US FROM. WHEN WE SHOULD BE PREPARING FOR THE SECOND WAVE OF INFECTIONS, WE AND A LOT OF OTHER AUSTINITES WILL BE STRUGGLING TO FIND MEDICINE, FOOD AND SHELTER WITH NOWHERE TO GO. THE STATE GOVERNMENT HAS SAID THAT THEY DON'T MIND SACRIFICING THE LIVES OF TEXANS FOR THE SAKE OF REOPENING THE ECONOMY TO THIS PANDEMIC. THEY SAY SENDING US BACK TO WORK WILL HELP US PAY RENT. AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT RISKING OUR LIVES DURING AN EMERGENCY [INDISCERNIBLE] HAIRCUTS IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD BE ASKED TO DO, BUT IT DOESN'T PROTECT THOSE OF US WHO CAN GO BACK TO WORK RIGHT NOW FROM EVICTION AND HOMELESSNESS. IF WE WERE TO GO BACK TO WORK, GET SICK, ASSUMING WE DON'T DIE, WE CAN'T TAKE TWO WEEKS OFF TO QUARANTINE AND RECOVER. WE'LL BE FIRED, WHICH EXCLUDES US FROM ACCESS TO UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS AND MANY OTHER GOVERNMENT BENEFITS. MANY OF US NOW DON'T HAVE A JOB TO RETURN TO AND IF THE RENT PROTECTION IS LIFTED AT ANY TIME WE WILL BE HOMELESS. THE EVICTION MORATORIUM IS THE ONLY REASON I STILL HAVE, BUT IF MORE ISN'T DONE I WILL BE HOMELESS SOON AFTER THE GOVERNMENT'S ASSISTANCE IS WITHDRAWN. MY ROOMMATES AND I WERE BEAR LETTER ABLE TO MAKE RENT BEFORE AND IF WE'RE FORCED FURTHER INTO DEBT TO PAY BACK RENT DURING THE RECOVERY IT'S JUST KICKING THE CAN OF OUR HOMELESSNESS DOWN THE ROAD AND FEWER PEOPLE WILL BE PAYING ATTENTION AND FEWER RESOURCES WILL BE AVAILABLE. ME AND MY HOUSE MATES AND ALL AFFECTED AUSTINITES WANT YOU TO TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT US DURING THIS CRISIS, KNOW HALF MEASURES. BUT YOU -- IF YOU DON'T TAKE STEPS NOW TO PASS THE EVICTION MORATORIUM, WE WILL ALL BE DEALING WITH THE MORE CATASTROPHIC CONDITION AND MANY OF US WILL BE DOING SO UNHOUSED. THANK YOU FOR HEARING FROM US TODAY. >> MAYOR ADLER: IS SUMMER HERE, BEGANOFF? *6? IS EMILY BLAIR HERE? >> YES, THIS IS EMILY. >> MAYOR ADLER: GO AHEAD. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS EMILY BLAIR. I'M SPEAKING TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE AUSTIN APARTMENT ASSOCIATION. AND OUR OVER 1,000 PROPERTIES THAT ARE RENTAL HOUSING PROVIDERS IN EITHER APARTMENT HOMES OR RENTAL HOMES. SPEAKING TODAY REGARDING AGENDA ITEM 56. I JUST WANT TO START FIRST OFF IN THANKING THE MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBER FOR BEING ACCESSIBLE DURING THIS TIME. WE'VE WORKED WITH AS MANY COUNCIL OFFICES AS POSSIBLE IN CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS ORDINANCE AMENDMENT. AND ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR RISING TO THE CHALLENGES THAT YOU'RE FACING RIGHT NOW IN THIS VERY UNIQUE WAY OF DOING BUSINESS. ITEM 56 TODAY PROPOSES AMENDMENTS TO THE 60 DAY ORDINANCE. AND WE UNDERSTAND THERE'S CONCERN ABOUT THE ORDINANCE'S APPLICABILITY PERIOD AND THE DESIRE TO PROVIDE THE 60-DAY NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENT FOR THE JUNE RENT CYCLE. AS YOU KNOW, THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE EXPIRES MAY 8TH, WHICH ENABLED ANY APRIL AND MAY RENT THAT WOULD BE [01:50:01] REQUIRED TO BE PROVIDED A 60-DAY NOTICE TO CURE PRIOR TO FILING -- POTENTIALLY FILING AN EVICTION OR NOTICE TO VACATE. PRESENTED TODAY IS AN APPLICABILITY PERIOD THAT COINCIDES WITH THE LOCAL DISASTER DECLARATION, WHICH IS PROBLEMATIC. IT CREATES AN ORDINANCE THAT IS TIED TO AN UNKNOWN DATE IN THE FUTURE AND SO TODAY WE'RE ASKING FOR AN ALTERNATIVE TO WHAT IS PROPOSED FOR THE APPLICABILITY PERIOD. RATHER THAN WE ASK THE AMENDMENT BE CHANGED TO REFLECT A JUNE 8TH DEADLINE. A JUNE 8TH APPLICABILITY END DATE APPLIES THE 60 DAYS SAME NOTICE TO THE JUNE RENT CYCLE AND ALSO KEEPS THE SPIRIT OF INTENT AND THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE ORDINANCE EFFECTIVELY IN PLACE UNTIL JULY. THIS 30 DAY EXTENSION WOULD ALSO ALLOW THE OPPORTUNITY TO FULLY DISCUSS HOW THE ORDINANCE IS WORKING AND CRAFT ANY SOLUTIONS AND CONTINUE EFFORTS ALSO ON RENTAL RELIEF PROGRAMS, MONITOR THE ONGOING COURT MORATORIUMS AND REALLY ADDRESS THE SCENARIOS WITH RESIDENTS WHO ARE NOT RESPONDING TO PROPERTY OWNERS AND MANAGERS. AND WHILE MOST RESIDENTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COME TO AGREEMENT, THERE ARE CASES WHERE RESIDENTS HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO COMMUNICATE WITH PROPERTY MANAGEMENT. AND BECAUSE THERE ARE INSTANCES OF THIS, THE NEED FOR COUNCILMEMBER FLANNIGAN'S AMENDMENT TODAY AS PRESENTED HAS BEEN INCREASINGLY JUST BY A WAY OF A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES, WE HAVE A MEMBER, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT OWNS A PROPERTY WITH ABOUT 125 OR SO UNITS, AND FIVE UNITS WHERE RESIDENTS SHUT OUT ANY OFFER OR COMMUNICATION. JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE WE HAVE OF PROPERTY OWNER WHO'S RETIRED AND RELIES ON THE RENTAL PROPERTY INCOME TO MAKE ENDS MEET AND IS STRUGGLING WITH TWO TO THREE NONRESPONSIVE TENANTS TO VIEW THIS PERIOD AS A FREE RENT PERIOD. ONE REJECTED A PAYMENT PLAN THAT WAS EXTENDED TO THEM FROM THE OWNER. AGAIN, WE MUST NOT CONTINUE TO JUST FOCUS ON EVICTION DELAYS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE BURDENS THAT DESTABILIZE THE BUSINESSES OF THOSE WHO SUPPLY RENTAL HOUSING MANY OF THOSE PROVIDERS ARE SMALL BUSINESSES. SO THEY'RE ALSO TRYING TO MEET THEIR OBLIGATIONS (INDISCERNIBLE) FOR THEIR RESIDENTS DURING THIS TIME. >> MAYOR ADLER: THANK YOU. >> WE WANT TO ASK FOR A 30-DAY EXTENSION TO JUNE 8TH. >> MAYOR ADLER: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IS JENNY WILLIAMS HERE? >> I'M HER >> MAYOR ADLER: GO AHEAD. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS JENNY WILLIAMS, AND I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE AU AUSTIN REALTORS. WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH MANY OF YOU IN YOUR OFFICES THIS WEEK AND WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR RESPONSIVENESS DURING THIS CRAZY TIME. AS WE'VE MENTIONED IN SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU, WE'RE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE APARTMENT ASSOCIATION, THIS IS AN UNKNOWABLE DATE IN THE FUTURE. WE ASK YOU ONLY EXTEND THIS ORDINANCE TO JUNE 8TH WHICH WILL ALLOW CONTINUED CONVERSATIONS TO ENSURE ALL PARTIES ARE PROTECTED. WE'D ALSO ASK THAT -- WE'D LIKE TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER FLANNIGAN TO REQUIRE RESPONSE FROM TENANTS WHO RECEIVE A NOTICE FROM THEIR LANDLORD. WE ASK YOU TO SUPPORT THAT AMENDMENT TO ENCOURAGE CONTINUED CONVERSATION BETWEEN LANDLORDS AND TENANTS DURING THIS CRAZY TIME. AS WE HAVE SEEN IN OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS, IT SEEMS THAT EVERY DAY WE LEARN SOMETHING NEW ABOUT THE WORLD WE'RE LIVING IN, AND ARE CONFRONTED BY NEW CHALLENGES. SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC WE'VE SEEN OUR COMMUNITY COME TOGETHER IN INSPIRING WAYS AND LANDLORDS AND PROPERTY OWNERS, MANY OF THEM HAVE WORKED PROACTIVELY TO SET UP PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS AND WAIVE LATE FEES. UNFORTUNATELY SOME IN OUR COMMUNITY HAVE TAKEN THIS ORDINANCE AS A WAIVER OF RENT. WE'VE HEARD FROM SOME OF OUR OWN MEMBERS WHO HAVE TENANTS WHO HAVE CITED THIS ORDINANCE AS A REASON THEY WILL NOT PAY, OR ENTER A PAYMENT ARRANGEMENT. UNFORTUNATELY OTHERS HAVE HAD TENANTS THAT ARE COMPLETELY NONRESPONSIVE. AS YOU MAKE THIS POLICY DECISION, PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT NEARLY 1 IN 4 REPRESENTER HOUSEHOLDS IN TRAVIS COUNTY LIVE IN SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES. I DO MYSELF. A MAJORITY OF THOSE RENTAL UNITS ARE OWNED BY AUSTIN RESIDENTS. JUST AS MANY BUSINESSES IN AUSTIN AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE SUFFERING, PROPERTY OWNERS WHO RELY ON RENT FOR REVENUE STREAM ARE ALSO SUFFERING. THE RETIREMENT PLAN FOR INVESTMENT PROPERTIES ARE LOOKING AT LOOM ING PROPERTY TA DEADLINES AND HOW THEY'LL CONTINUE TO MAKE ENDS MEET IF THEY DON'T RECEIVE AT LEAST PARTIAL RENT PAYMENTS. THE LONGER THIS GOES ON THE LESS LIKELY LANDLORDS WITH UNCOOPERATIVE TENANTS WILL BE ABLE TO COLLECT BACK RENT. THIS COULD HAVE DEVASTATING EFFECTS ON OUR COMMUNITY AND [01:55:04] HOUSING MARKET RESULTING IN ENCLOSURES, WHICH WOULD ALSO RESULT IN EVEN MORE EVICTIONS. AND STRAINING OUR ALREADY TIGHT -- OUR VERY TIGHT HOUSING MARKET. WE APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME AND WE'RE HERE TO WORK WITH YOU AS YOU CONTINUE TO MAKE THESE DIFFICULT DECISIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> MAYOR ADLER: GREAT. THANK YOU. IS JONATHAN SOLAMA? >> YES, SIR. >> MAYOR ADLER: GO AHEAD. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. I JUST WANTED TO TALK ABOUT A COUPLE OF ITEMS. ONE OF THEM I'M ASKING FOR SUPPORT FOR ITEM 56, AND THEN I WANT TO SHARE SOME PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, RENTING FROM (INDISCERNIBLE) ORGANIZATION IN THE AUSTIN AREA THAT IS HEAVILY SUBSIDIZED AND INVESTED IN BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND THE TAXPAYERS OF AUSTIN. FOR ITEM 56, WE JUST NEED SOME EXTRA LAYER FOR A SUPPORT SAFETY NET FOR FOLKS STRUGGLING WITH REPRESENT. AND ALSO TO PREVENT THE LANDLORDS FROM SCARE TACTICS AND INTIMIDATIONS. I KNOW THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO COLLECT RENT AND BE IN BUSINESS, BUT THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESSES THAT ARE PRIVATE, THAT LANDLORDS THAT QUALIFY FOR FEDERAL HELP, AND ALSO THE ONES THAT RELY 100% ON FUNDING FROM THE CITY, AND THE STATE, AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, LIKE THE FOUNDATION COMMUNITY I LIVE IN. AND, YOU KNOW, THE CITY HAS LEVERAGE, BECAUSE WHERE I LIVE AT, THE COST IS LIKE $19 MILLION AND MAYBE THE LAND IS DIFFERENT TO INVEST IN THIS PROPERTY. AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT 9, COUNCIL MEMBER CASAR. YOU KNOW, A LOT OF STRUGGLES. WE'VE STRUGGLED WITH THIS ORGANIZATION FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS, AND, YOU KNOW, ALL OF US ARE STRUGGLING. I JUST WANT TO COMMEND THE COUNCIL MEMBER AND THE MAYOR AND CITY OFFICIALS, THE MANAGERS AND THE LIKE FOR MAKING THE DECISIONS, AND BOLD DECISIONS TO OFFER PROTECTIONS, AND PUT THE SAFETY AND THE HEALTH OF THEIR CONSTITUENTS AND CITIZENS OF THE CITY AS NUMBER ONE PRIORITY, AND NOT TO FOLLOW THE LEAD OF OTHER LEADERS WHO WOULD RATHER PUT BUSINESS AND MONEY A NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. AND I WAS IMPRESSED BY MISS JOSEPH WHO EARLIER TALKED, AND I WANT TO SECOND WHAT SHE SAID. YOU KNOW, WE ARE IN NEED OF TRANSPARENCY, WE ARE IN NEED OF OVERSIGHT. I KNOW CITY OFFICIALS TALKED ABOUT THAT YEARS AGO. WE NEEFR OVERSIGHT. WE CAN'T JUST DISPENSE FUNDS TO ORGANIZATIONS AND NOT FOLLOW THROUGH TO SEE WHAT THEY DO. I GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. THE ONE EXAMPLE IS ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT RECEIVED FUNDING FROM THE CITY AND FROM UNITED WAY, I HAVE CALLED EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM, AND NONE OF THEM RESPONDED. THE AGING COMMUNITY CENTER, IT WAS MENTIONED ABOUT BEING A RICH COMMUNITY. THEY JUST CALLED BACK AND SAID, WE DIDN'T GET ANYTHING FROM THE CITY AND THEY'RE ON THE LIST. AND THE COMMUNITIES WE LIVE IN, SENDING AN E-MAIL, THEY NEVER RESPOND BACK. THEY ONLY SAID THAT YOU HAVE TO PRIORITIZE PEOPLE -- >> MAYOR ADLER: SIR? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR ADLER: CHRIS KENNEDY? STAR 6. GO AHEAD. >> MY NAME IS CHRIS KENNEDY. I'M A RENTER IN DISTRICT 9. I ALSO WANT TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 56. MOST OF MY ROOMMATES AND I HAVE BEEN LAID OFF DUE TO COVID-19. I WAS LAID OFF FROM MY JOB AT A PLANT NURSERY. MANY OF US ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR STIMULUS CHECKS, AND SEVERAL OF US HAVE HAD GREAT DIFFICULTY GETTING THROUGH TO UNEMPLOYMENT. I JUST GOT ON UNEMPLOYMENT AFTER WEEKS OF DELAY, AND MANY OF MY HOUSEMATES ARE STILL WAITING, TRYING TO APPEAL, BUT UNABLE TO GET THROUGH. WE'VE BEEN IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH OUR LANDLORD TO GET SOME REPRESENT RELIEF AND WE'RE TOLD VERBATIM THAT HE WOULD LET US GO HOMELESS IF NEED BE. ANOTHER FRIEND I SPOKE TO SAID THAT HE WAS CHOOSING BETWEEN RENT AND HER CANCER TREATMENTS. SEVERAL OF US ARE STRUGGLING TO [02:00:03] KEEP UP WITH STUDENT DEBT AND CAR PAYMENTS, AND FURTHER DEBT HANGING OVER OUR HEADS FROM BACKLOG RENT PAYMENTS. IT'S UNTHINKABLE RIGHT NOW DURING THIS TIME. I APPRECIATE AND SUPPORT A STAND ON EVICTIONS AND ALL THE ACTIONS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL HAS TAKEN SO FAR, BUT DO NOT THINK THAT A STAND ON EVICTIONS IS SUFFICIENT. WE GENERALLY NEED FURTHER PROTECTIONS FOR RENTERS THAT ENSURE THAT COUNTLESS PEOPLE ARE NOT MADE HOMELESS AFTER THE GRACE PERIOD ENDS BECAUSE OF FACTORS OUT OF OUR CONTROL. I ALSO SUPPORT THE AUSTIN RENTERS ACTION PETITION FOR EMERGENCY RELIEF AND UNDERSTAND THE CONSTRAINTS ON THE CITY COUNCIL, AND WHAT Y'ALL ARE AND AREN'T ABLE TO DO. BUT REALLY THINK THAT YOU SHOULD LOOK CLOSELY AT THE DEMANDS OF THE RENTERS ACTION PETITION. FOR EXAMPLE, THE DESIGNATION OF NONPAYMENT DUE TO COVID-19 TO NOT JUST BE CAUSE FOR EVICTION AND DISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE THAT THE CITY CAN PASS FOR FAIR HOUSING LOSS AT FAILURE TO PAY RENT DURING THIS CRISIS CANNOT BE BLACKBALLED. SO I REALLY THINK THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE FULLY RATHER THAN SIMPLY CONTINUE THE GRACE PERIOD WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT, AND I DO SUPPORT ITEM 56. BUT I THINK THAT WE NEED FURTHER ACTION AND THAT THE CITY CAN AND NEEDS TO DO MORE TO MAKE SURE THAT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AREN'T MADE HOMELESS IN THE MONTHS TO COME, AND AS THIS CRISIS CONTINUES. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS JESSICA LEHMAN. IS JESSICA LEHMAN THERE? >> YES, I'M HERE, MAYOR. >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, MY NAME IS JESSICA LEHMAN, AND I'M WITH THE OUTSTRETCH AND ADVOCACY HERE IN AUSTIN. ON BEHALF OF THE THOUSANDS OF MEMBERS OF AARP MEMBERS, AARP WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE CITY FOR THE EFFORTS THAT HAVE BEEN UNDERTAKEN THUS FAR TO ADDRESS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN THIS UNPRECEDENTED PUBLIC HEALTH AND ECONOMIC CRISIS. BECAUSE THE GRAVITY OF THE PRESENT CHALLENGE WILL REQUIRE BOTH NEW POLICIES AND ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND INVESTMENTS TO ADDRESS THE GROWING NEED OF AUSTIN RESIDENTS, I'M HERE TODAY TO URGE YOU TO SUPPORT ITEM 59 THAT WOULD DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER TO TAKE ACTION AND USE THE NECESSARY RESOURCES TO PREVENT THE FURTHER SPREAD IN NURSING HOMES. THE HEALTH IMPACT OF COVID-19 CAN OCCUR AT ANY AGE, ACCORDING TO THE RESOLUTION NURSING AND ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY DEATHS COMPRISE NEARLY TWO-THIRDS OF THE COVID-19 RELATED DEATHS IN AUSTIN. WHICH IS EVEN HIGHER THAN THE STATE AVERAGE OF (INDISCERNIBLE). THE ACTIONS OUTLINED IN THE RESOLUTION INCLUDE PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE TESTING OF RESIDENTS, ASSESSING STAFFING AND RESPONDING TO STAFFING NEEDS WHERE IT IS DETERMINED THERE IS A SHORTAGE AND ENSURING ADEQUATE ACCESS TO PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT. AARP FEELS THESE STEPS ARE CRITICAL TO STOPPING THE SPREAD IN FACILITIES AND ALSO THE GENERAL PUBLIC BECAUSE IT KEEPS THE ESSENTIAL WORKERS IN THESE FACILITIES SAFE. NURSING HOME RESIDENTS ARE AMONG OUR CITY'S MOST VULNERABLE. THEY DO NOT HAVE THE AGENCY TO PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM THE THIS VIRUS, SO THE ONUS IS ON US TO DO SO. AARP IS WORKING ON THIS ISSUE AT EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL FOR FUNDING TO SUPPORT THE EFFORT TO STOP THE SPREAD IN LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. AND A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN FOR THIS RESOLUTION AND HER LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR ADLER: . >> KITCHEN: MAYOR, MISS LEHMAN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR TESTIFYING TODAY. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE ADVOCACY EFFORTS OF AARP. WE'RE TAKING IMMEDIATE ACTION TODAY AT THE CITY LEVEL, BUT AS YOU SAID, THERE ARE NECESSARY ACTIONS THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN AT A STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL ALSO. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY. >> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR? >> MAYOR ADLER: YES? MAYOR PRO TEM. >> GARZA: I TRIED TO MUTE -- UNMUTE REALLY QUICKLY WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE BREAK. I HAD PROMISED I WOULD MAKE QUICK THANK YOU REMARKS TO A GROUP OF COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS, AND I TRIED TO DO IT AT THE SAME TIME, BUT I CAN'T, SO I'M GOING TO JUMP OFF THIS CALL AND I'LL JUMP BACK IN WHEN I'M DONE. OKAY? >> MAYOR ADLER: SOUNDS GOOD. THANK YOU. [02:05:02] OKAY. LET'S CONTINUE ON. IS TRENTON HENDRICKSON HERE? >> I AM. >> MAYOR ADLER: GO AHEAD. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. >> MY NAME IS TRENTON HENDRICKSON FOR CATHOLIC CHURCH SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF (INDISCERNIBLE). WE WANT THE CITY OF SUS TIN TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FOR ECONOMICALLY DISTRESSED FAMILIES. (INDISCERNIBLE) RENTERS IN AUSTIN ARE STRUGGLING. OVER 73,000 RENTERS IN AUSTIN MAKE BELOW $35,000 A YEAR. BEFORE THE CRISIS, WE'RE SPENDING MORE THAN A THIRD OF THEIR INCOME ON RENT, AND THE MAJORITY WERE SPENDING MORE THAN HALF OF THEIR INCOME (INDISCERNIBLE). WE HEARD THE STORIES IN INSTITUTIONS. TWO BROTHERS WORKING CONSTRUCTION WHO COULDN'T (INDISCERNIBLE) THEIR SISTERS ALREADY FULLY OCCUPIED HOME. OTHERS WHO DEVELOPED INSOMNIA AND EVEN SEIZURES DURING THE STRESS OF THIS PANDEMIC. (INDISCERNIBLE) MOUNTING LATE FEES AND BACK RENT. THESE FEES WILL COME DUE AS SOON AS THE MORATORIUM ENDS. OUR NEIGHBORS STAND ON THE BRINK OF FINANCIAL DISASTER. THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS EARMARKED 1.2 MILLION TO RENTAL ASSISTANCE SO FAR AND 7 MILLION OVERALL FOR HOUSING ASSISTANCE. THIS WILL NOT COVER THE SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM. NATIONAL STUDIES SUGGEST 31% OF RENTERS MISSED PAYMENTS IN APRIL. IN AUSTIN, THIS IS ROUGHLY 68,000 RENTERS. TO COVER A SINGLE $600 MONTHLY BILL FOR 68,000 RENTERS WOULD COST $41 MILLION. SAN ANTONIO HAS SET ASIDE $25 MILLION FOR ASSISTANCE. HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY SET ASIDE 30 MILLION. THE MOST EXPENSIVE FOR AUSTIN WOULD BE INACTION. AUSTIN CAN AFFORD (INDISCERNIBLE) GOING INTO DEFAULT AND WORKERS DISPLACED BEFORE OUR RECOVERY. INVESTING IN RENTAL ASSISTANCE NOW PREVENTS HOMELESSNESS. FREES UP FUNDS FOR FOOD AND MEDICINE, AND PREVENTS COST TO PUBLIC HEALTH IN THE FUTURE. THE COVID-19 VIRUS HAS ALSO REVEALED AUSTIN TO BE A LEADER. WE (INDISCERNIBLE) THE RISE FUND IN CERTAIN RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. WE CAN AND MUST DO MORE. TEXAS INTERFAITH LOOKS FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY COUNCIL TO LEAD THE WAY THROUGH THIS CRISIS. IF COVID-19 HAS TAUGHT US ANYTHING, IT IS THAT IT IS ESSENTIAL TO PUT (INDISCERNIBLE) FAMILIES FIRST. WE CANNOT OVERLOOK HOW ESSENTIAL THESE FAMILIES ARE, CARING FOR OUR CHILDREN AND PERFORMING CRITICAL WORK IN OUR HOSPITALS. AUSTIN HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD (INDISCERNIBLE). LET'S DO THIS TOGETHER. THANK YOU, COUNCIL. >> MAYO >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY. >> I'M FINISHED. >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY. GREAT. THANK YOU. IS SAM (INDISCERNIBLE) HERE? SAM POTASNIK? STAR 6 IF YOU'RE ON MUTE. IS MARIA HERNANDEZ HERE? >> YES, I AM HERE. >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY. WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. >> MY NAME IS MARIA HERNANDEZ AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF A NONPROFIT THAT EMPOWERS AND SUPPORTS UNDERSERVED FAMILIES OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES. I WANT TO SINCERELY THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND FOR PROVIDING $2 MILLION TO THE EQUITY OFFICE, AND FOR ALLOCATING THOSE FUNDS TO THE FAMILY INDEPENDENCE INITIATIVE. THEY'RE PARTNERED WITH FYI TO DISTRIBUTE 25 CASH TRANSFERS OF $2,000 EACH TO THE FAMILIES THAT WE SERVE, THAT WERE MOST IN NEED. THESE INCLUDED LATINO IMMIGRANT HOUSEHOLDS WITH ONE TO TWO CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES. WITHIN 48 HOURS, WE EFFECTIVELY DISTRIBUTED THE FUNDS AND ALL OF OUR FAMILIES NOW HAVE THE MONEY IN HAND. STUDIES DEMONSTRATE THE CORTISOL LEVELS OF MOTHERS WITH CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES COMPARED TO THOSE OF A SOLDIER IN COMBAT. THAT WAS PRECOVID. THAT MEANS THAT NOW THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES IN AUSTIN ARE DROWNING. BEING ABLE TO CALL FAMILIES AND WALK THEM THROUGH THIS APPLICATION TO ACCESS THE FUNDS WAS LIFE-SAVING. FAMILIES SHARED THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO PAY RENT, RUN TO BUY FOOD, PURCHASE SPECIALIZED FORMULAS, BUY MEDICATIONS, FIX BROKEN WHEELCHAIR LIFTS AND AFFORD SEDATION TREATMENT REQUIRED FOR A 16-YEAR-OLD WITH [02:10:05] DOWN SYNDROME TO SEE THE DENTIST. I STRONGLY SUPPORT ITEM 60 AND TO PASS THE ALLOCATED $5.9 MILLION TO THE RISE FUND DIRECTLY TO FAMILY DEPENDENTS INITIATIVE. THE IMPACT APPROACH WORKED. AUSTIN NONPROFITS KNOW OUR FAMILIES AND THEIR URGENT NEEDS. OUR WAIT LIST IS READY AND WE HAVE THE KNOW-HOW AND ABILITY TO SUFFICIENTLY AND SUCCESSFULLY DISTRIBUTE THE FUNDS QUICKLY TO THOSE IN GREATEST NEED. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. >> MAYOR ADLER: THANK YOU. IS CHRISTINA GARZA HERE? YOU NEED TO HIT STAR 6 TO UNMUTE. PAUL LA ROJAS? >> I'M HERE. >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY. GO AHEAD. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'M PUTTING IN MY HEADPHONES SO YOU CAN HEAR ME BETTER. MY NAME IS PAULA ROJAS, AND I'M A MOTHER AND A MIDWIFE, AND I'VE SEEN SOME OF YOU IN THE PAST AND I REALLY WANTED TO START BY APPRECIATING HOW QUICKLY YOU'VE TRANSITIONED TO A NEW WAY OF INTEGRATING PARTICIPATION VIA THESE CALLS, AND LET YOU KNOW THAT SOME OF THE SPANISH SPEAKERS WHO DID GET ON THEN WERE BUMPED OFF, AND WHEN YOU CALLED THE MAYOR, THEY COULDN'T GET BACK ON. SO THERE WERE OTHERS THAT YOU WON'T GET TO HEAR. BUT I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE TREMENDOUS WORK AND RESPONSIBILITY ON YOUR SHOULDERS RIGHT NOW, TO DISTRIBUTE RESOURCES TO ADDRESS THE CRISIS THAT WE ARE FACING. AND I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW HEAVY THAT FEELS, SO I HAVE A LOT OF APPRECIATION FOR YOU AND THE CHAIR YOU'RE SITTING IN RIGHT NOW. I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE A LOT OF COMPETING PRIORITIES, AND LIKE A FEW OTHERS BEFORE, I REALLY WANTED YOU TO TAKE A MOMENT TO REALLY THINK ABOUT WHAT IT WOULD FEEL LIKE FOR YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, IF YOU RIGHT NOW WERE EXPERIENCING A SITUATION FOR YOUR FAMILY OF HAVING NO MORE INCOME COMING IN, OF HAVING BILLS PILING UP, YOU KNOW, WAITING IN LINE FOR HOURS TO TRY TO GET FOOD, HAVING CHILDREN AND ELDERS TO TAKE CARE OF. I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT THAT MUST BE LIKE FOR FAMILIES RIGHT NOW, AND MANY ARE IN THAT SITUATION TODAY IN AUSTIN. AND IT'S ONLY GETTING WORSE. SO I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT ITEM 60, IS THERE A WAY THAT YOU CAN FIND -- A WAY TO ALLOCATE THE FEDERAL FUNDS IN A WAY THAT FREES UP MORE FUNDS LOCALLY TO GO DIRECTLY TO FAMILIES WHO ARE ON THE EDGE RIGHT NOW, INCLUDING UNDOCUMENTED FAMILIES. BECAUSE I DO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE LIMITATIONS -- OR RESTRICTIONS ON THOSE FEDERAL FUNDS WHETHER OR NOT THEY COULD SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, FAMILIES WHO ARE UNDOCUMENTED, OR OTHERS. IS THERE A WAY TO REALLOCATE THINGS SO THAT YOU CAN CREATE A BIGGER POOL OF LOCAL MONEY TO GO DIRECTLY TO FAMILIES? AND TO ME THE KEY WORD THERE IS "DIRECTLY." SO THE RISE FUND IS AN AMAZING INITIATIVE ON YOUR PART. MY CONCERN IS THAT DESPITE GREAT INTENTIONS, THE DISTRIBUTION METHOD HAS NOT BEEN VERY EFFECTIVE. AS A MIDWIFE, I'M SPENDING HOURS AND HOURS WITH MANY FAMILIES, MANY MOTHERS WHO ARE PREGNANT, OR JUST NEW MOMS, AND MANY ARE TELLING ME THAT THEY'VE BEEN CALLING, CALLING, AND CALLING, AND CAN'T GET THROUGH TO (INDISCERNIBLE) CATHOLIC CHARITIES, THE URBAN LEAGUE, AND THEY KEEP TRYING. AND IT'S CREATING A LOT OF STRESS FOR THEM, IN ADDITION TO WAITING IN LINES TO GET FOOD, ET CETERA. SO THAT OOH, SORRY. SO I, AS WELL AS OTHERS, WANT TO SUPPORT THAT YOU FUND MORE OF THE MONEY TOWARD FII, BECAUSE THAT'S DIRECT DISTRIBUTION. I WOULD CONSIDER IT'S A VERSION OF ECONOMIC CONTACT TRACING. PLEASE CONSIDER PUTTING THE MONEY -- >> MAYOR ADLER: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> MAYOR ADLER: THANK YOU. IS RACHEL SHANNON HERE? >> YES, I'M HERE. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR ADLER: GO AHEAD. >> HELLO, MAYOR ADLER, AND ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS. I WANT TO FIRST THANK PAULA FOR HER TESTIMONY AND FOR ALL THE MOVING TESTIMONY OF THE RECIPIENTS OF THE FII FUNDS. I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK AS A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 1, ALSO AS A MEMBER OF THE (INDISCERNIBLE) IN SUPPORT OF TRANS WOMEN OF COLOR IN THE PROCESS. [02:15:03] AND ADDITIONALLY AS A MEMBER OF UNDOING WHITE SUPREMACY AUSTIN. I'M ASKING FOR EACH OF YOU TO SUPPORT ITEM 60 AS WELL, CALLING FOR MORE FUNDS TO BE ALLOCATED FROM STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDS TO THE RISE FUND AND SPECIFICALLY ASK THAT THE REMAINING FUNDS FOR THE RISE FUND BE AWARDED TO FII ALONG WITH ALL OF THEIR COMMUNITY PARTNERS. (INDISCERNIBLE) SAYS A PARTNER WITH GRASS ROOTS LEADERSHIP WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY AND WITHOUT RED TAPE ALLOCATE FUNDS TO PROVIDE RELIEF TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS SWIFTLY AND WITHOUT UNNECESSARY STRESS AND DIFFICULTY. WE'RE SO THANKFUL TO THE HARD WORK OF GRASS ROOTS LEADERSHIP AND PERSONALLY REACHING OUT TO US AS ONE OF THEIR PARTNERS, AND TO THEIR ENTIRE COMMUNITY NETWORK IN SUCH A FAST -- IN SUCH A QUICK WAY AND OFFERING SO MUCH SUPPORT IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING THE FUNDS MOVED QUICKLY. TRANS WOMEN OF COLOR AND WOMEN IN THE ASYLUM SEEKING PROCESS ARE SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THEY HAVE COMPLEX SITUATIONS TO WHICH MAY KEEP THEM FROM OTHERWISE SEEKING OR ACCESSING OTHER FORMS OF AID THAT ARE MEYERED IN BARRIERS. SO BECAUSE WE'RE ABLE TO WORK FROM OUR ESTABLISHED NETWORK OF EXISTING RELATIONSHIPS BASED ON COMMITMENT AND TRUST, WE WERE ABLE TO EASILY AID IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS WITHOUT THE RESIDENT RECIPIENTS FEELING REPERCUSSIONS BASED ON THEIR GENDER IDENTITY OR THEIR STATUS. BECAUSE OF THE USE OF THIS PROCESS, WE HAVE SEVERAL FAMILIES WHO HAVE EXISTING RELATIONSHIPS WITH WHO HAVE ALREADY HAD FUNDS ADMINISTERED AND WHICH THEY CAN IMMEDIATELY IMPLEMENT TO ENSURE SOME STABILITY IN THIS EXTREMELY CHALLENGING TIME. WE ARE IN CONTACT WITH MORE WOMEN AND FAMILIES IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE. AND WE REALLY BELIEVE THESE WOMEN ARE THE AUTHORITIES ON WHAT THEY MOST NEED RIGHT NOW, TO GET THROUGH THIS CRISIS, AND TO COME OUT ON THE OTHER SIDE INTACT, AND WITH SOME STABILITY TO MOVE FORWARD, TRUSTING THEM TO BE ABLE TO DECIPHER THEIR NEEDS. OFTEN THEY'RE DENIED THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL AUTONOMY. SO THAT SPEAKS TO THE NEED FOR THAT DIRECT CASH ASSISTANCE AND MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN, WITH AGILITY, MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS FOR THEM TO WEATHER THIS CRISIS. SO WE'VE ALSO -- I'VE HEARD MANY REPORTS THAT THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE FRUSTRATED SUPPORT. I THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'M THANKFUL FOR THE JOB THAT FII HAS DONE. THANK YOU EACH FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. >> MAYOR ADLER: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IS CRYSTAL ERICKSON-COLLINS? >> HI, I'M HERE. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR ADLER. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR ADLER AND COUNCIL PEOPLE. THANK YOU FOR YOU TO SERVE AND PROTECT AND BEING SUCH A ROLE MODEL FOR THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF (INDISCERNIBLE). WE ARE ASKING THAT YOU DEDICATE SOME STATE AND FEDERAL COVID-19 RELIEF FUNDS TO INCREASE RISE FUNDS AND AWARD ANY UNALLOCATED RISE FUNDS TO FAMILY, INDEPENDENTS INITIATIVE, THROUGH THE EQUITY OFFICE. SO THAT THEY MAY DISTRIBUTE THESE FUNDS DIRECTLY TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS PROMPTLY. FII BELIEVES IN SOLIDARITY OVER CHARITY, INVESTING IN LOW-INCOME FAMILY, INDIVIDUAL INITIATIVE TO ESCAPE THE TRAP OF POVERTY. THEY TRUST FAMILIES TO WORK TOWARDS THEIR OWN SUCCESS, AND CHECK IN REGULARLY TO PROVIDE SUPPORT. WE AT USAA HAVE APPRECIATED THE GRASS ROOTS COMMUNITY GROUPS. INSTEAD OF WAITING FOR PHONE CALLS, THEY HAVE PROACTIVELY REACHED OUT TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO IDENTIFY NEEDS AND WORK TO OVERCOME TECHNOLOGY CHALLENGES TO TRANSFER CASH ASSISTANCE. AS ONE EXAMPLE, MAMA SANA VIBRANT WOMAN AND FII DISTRIBUTED $2,000 TO 50 FAMILIES WITH PREGNANT OR NEW MOTHERS WITH A TOTAL OF $100,000 IN 48 HOURS. MEANWHILE, UNFORTUNATELY WE'VE HEARD MANY REPORTS THAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE FRUSTRATED BY THE PROCESS OF APPLYING FOR SUPPORT, THE NONPROFITS WHO RECEIVED FUNDS IN THE FIRST ROUND OF RISE FUNDING. THEY WERE HAVING TROUBLE GETTING THROUGH ON THE PHONE, OR WHEN THEY LEFT MESSAGES, THEY WERE NOT GETTING REPLIES. [02:20:02] FII HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB WITH THE FIRST PHASE OF CASH ASSISTANCE DUE TO THE RELATIONSHIP WITH LOCAL GRASS ROOTS ORGANIZATIONS. THESE GROUPS HAVE ALREADY IDENTIFIED ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO NEED SUPPORT. WE THINK THIS SHOULD BE A PRIORITY FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT GIVEN THEIR STRONG TRACK RECORD. LASTLY WE ASK YOU TO RESIST THE URGE TO UNBIASED DISCUSSIONS FROM CLASS PRIVILEGE, HOW PEOPLE MIGHT USE THE ASSISTANCE GIVEN THEM, AND TRUST THAT THESE PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THEY NEED TO GET THROUGH THIS CRISIS AND BE STRONGER ON THE OTHER SIDE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS GOING TO BE JULIAN REYES. COLLEAGUES, DO YOU ALL HAVE A LIST OF THE SPEAKERS ALSO? >> YES, MAYOR. >> YES, MAYOR, WE DO. >> MAYOR ADLER: ANN, WOULD YOU TAKE THE DAIS? WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE SPEAKERS HERE FOR A MOMENT? IF NOT, I'LL ASK SOMEONE ELSE TO. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS JULIAN REYES, WHICH IS RIGHT UNDER THE FOLKS -- LET ME SEE. >> CAN YOU HEAR ME? CAN YOU HEAR ME, MAYOR? >> MAYOR ADLER: HUH? >> CAN YOU HEAR ME, MAYOR? >> MAYOR ADLER: YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU. >> OKAY. THEN JULIAN -- YES, I CAN DO IT. >> MAYOR ADLER: THANK YOU. I'LL BE BACK SHORTLY. >> KITCHEN: MR. REYES, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN. IS HE NOT HERE? OKAY. NEXT IS SUE GABRIEL. IS SHE HERE? I AM NOT HEARING HER EITHER. THEN WE HAVE AKINNIA WILSON. >> I'M HERE. >> KITCHEN: OKAY, IF YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM AND COUNCIL FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY. MY NAME IS AKINA WILSON, AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF A LOCAL NONPROFIT WORKING TO ADDRESS BLACK MATERNAL MORTALITY SO THAT ALL BLACK MOTHERS ARE ABLE TO NOT ONLY SURVIVE, BUT THRIVE BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER CHILDBIRTH. I'M CALLING IN TO SHARE MY P EXPERIENCE IN ISSUING THE FUNDS PROVIDED BY FII. ON BEHALF OF THE FAMILIES WHO SERVE, WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING THE 2 MILLION TO THE EQUITY OFFICE WHICH ALLOCATED ALL THE MONEY TO FAMILY INDEPENDENCE INITIATIVE. BECAUSE OF YOUR ACTION WE RECEIVED $50,000 OF THE RENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR OUR FAMILIES. EACH FAMILY RECEIVED $2,000 AND WERE ABLE TO SPEND THE FUNDS TO COVER THE COSTS THEY FELT MOST NECESSARY INCLUDING RENT, MORTGAGE PAYMENTS, BILLS AND MANY OF THE BASIC NEEDS THAT HAVE BEEN COMPROMISED DUE TO THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF COVID-19. WE WERE ABLE TO QUICKLY GAIN ACCESS TO THE FUNDS AND DISTRIBUTE ALL $50,000 WITHIN THE FIRST 24 HOURS TO OUR FAMILIES. AND THROUGH THE MUCH-NEEDED FUNDS TRANSFERS, THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THOSE DIRECTLY DEPOSITED INTO THEIR BANK ACCOUNT, WITH VERY LITTLE HASSLE AS WELL AS NO COMPLICATIONS IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS ONLINE. THIS FUNDING IS CRITICAL FOR OUR FAMILIES IN PARTICULAR BECAUSE THE WOMEN THAT WE SERVE ARE EITHER PREGNANT, OR WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR POSTPARTUM ARE EVEN MORE VULNERABLE FINANCIALLY AND PHYSICALLY. IN FACT, TO DATE WE HAVE EVEN EXPERIENCED ONE OF OUR FAMILIES BEING COVID POSITIVE WITH A 2-WEEK-OLD AS WELL AS HER AND HER HUSBAND, AND WE WERE ABLE TO HELP SUPPORT THEM. THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW SOME OF THE WOMEN THAT WE SERVE ARE IN NEED OF THAT KIND OF SUPPORT, AND IF WE HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED BY FII, AND IF WE HAD NOT RECEIVED THE FUNDING BECAUSE OF WHAT WAS GIVEN TO THE EQUITY OFFICE, THOSE WOMEN MAY HAVE GONE UNSERVED. TODAY WE WOULD LIKE TO AGAIN EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE FOR THE FINANCIAL RELIEF THAT THE CITY PROVIDED TO OUR FAMILIES, AND IMPLORE YOU TO ALLOCATE THE REMAINING OF THE 5.9 MILLION OF RISE FUNDING INTO THE FII, BECAUSE IT WORKS WELL TO IMMEDIATELY ASSIST FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO NEED IT MOST. THE EXECUTION OF FUNDS TO GIVE GREAT ATTENTION TO SAFELY AND EFFICIENTLY GETTING THE MONEY OUT, AND FI DID SO BY PARTNERING WITH KEY ORGANIZATIONS LIKE OURS THAT WORKED WITH PEOPLE DIRECTLY [02:25:02] IN THE COMMUNITY. AND THEY DID GO WITHOUT CHARGING ANY ADMINISTRATIVE AND OVERHEAD COSTS TO ENSURE THAT 100% OF THE FUNDS WENT DIRECTLY TO FAMILIES. TODAY BLACK MAMA ASKS TO PASS ITEM 60 SO MORE MONEY CAN BE ALLOCATED INTO THE RISE FUND FROM THE 150 MILLION THAT WAS RECEIVED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THANK YOU. >> KITCHEN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ROSE SMITH. AND THEN AFTER ROSE WE'LL HAVE MAYA PILGRIM. MAYOR PRO TEM, I SEE THAT YOU ARE BACK. WOULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE BACK T THE -- WELL, NOW I LOST YOU. I'M NOT SURE IF YOU'RE HERE. >> GARZA: I'M HERE. I TRIED TO UNMUTE AND I TURNED THE VIDEO OFF. >> KITCHEN: ROSE SMITH IS COMING UP. IF YOU HAVE THE LIST IN FRONT OF YOU -- >> GARZA: YEAH. THANK YOU. >> KITCHEN: THANK YOU. >> GARZA: IS ROSE SMITH ON THE LINE? OKAY. I'M TRYING TO FIND ROSE SMITH ON MY LIST HERE. CAN YOU CALL THE NEXT ONE, COUNCILWOMAN KITCHEN? >> KITCHEN: YES, THE NEXT ONE IS MAYA PILGRIM. SHE'S NUMBER 62 ON THE LIST. IS MISS PILGRIM HERE? >> GARZA: OKAY. I FOUND THE LINE. THANK YOU. >> KITCHEN: GREAT. >> GARZA: SOPHIA BARON? >> YES, I'M HERE. >> GARZA: YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES, MISS BARON. >> THANK YOU. I AM A MEMBER OF MISSMA OF DOMESTIC WORKERS WITH 300 MEMBERS. I'M SUPPORTING RESOLUTION 60. DOMESTICS WORKERS (INDISCERNIBLE) HARD TO WORK RIGHT NOW. WE WANT TO THANK THE FAMILY INITIATIVE, INDEPENDENT INITIATIVE THAT HAS CHOSEN TO HELP FUND THE MEMBERS TO HELP WITH CAR PAYMENTS, RENT AND FOOD. WE ASK FOR THE POSSIBILITY TO RECEIVE MORE FUNDS TO THE FII SO WE CAN BE ABLE TO KEEP HELPING OTHER MOST NEEDED MEMBERS IN OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. >> GARZA: THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS PARK SMITH. >> HELLO. CAN YOU HEAR ME? >> GARZA:. YES, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. >> OKAY, THANK YOU. SO I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 61. AND I'M PARK SMITH WITH AMERICAN YOUTH WORKS AND THE TEXAS CONSERVATION CORPS IN THE AUSTIN PROGRAM. WE'RE WITH A LENS TOWARD EQUITY AND INCLUSION, AMERICAN YOUTH WORKS PROVIDES EDUCATION, HANDS-ON JOB TRAINING IN THE SKILLED TRADES AND SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY WHILE EMPLOYING SOME OF AUSTIN'S MOST VULNERABLE YOUNG ADULTS. FOR OVER 25 YEARS WE'VE HAD A PARTNERSHIP OPERATING IN CONSERVATION CORPS AND JOBS TRAINING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY, COUNTY, STATE AND FEDERAL DEPARTMENTS TO BUILD TOMORROW'S WORK FORCE WHILE MEETING CRITICAL COMMUNITY BUILDING AND CONSERVATION NEEDS. WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE CITY'S PARTNERSHIP ON THIS, AND IT'S RESULTED IN POSITIVE IMPACTS FOR OUR YOUNG ADULT PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS AND RESULTED IN LONG-LASTING COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE AND CONSERVATION PROJECTS BEING IMPLEMENTED FOR AUSTIN. PROJECTS HAVE INCLUDED WILDFIRE MITIGATION, CONSERVATION, HABITAT RESTORATION, TRAIL BUILDING, DISASTER RELIEF WORK, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FEMA AND LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, EMERGENCY HOME REPAIRS, WEATHERIZATION IMPROVEMENT AND BUILDING HOMES FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES AND CHRONICALLY HOMELESS. WE'VE RECYCLED CITY COMPUTERS AND BUILT THEM OUT INTO COMMUNITY CENTERS TO BRIDGE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE. THESE ARE GREAT KINDS OF PROJECTS THAT CAN FIT WITH THIS MODEL OF THE AUSTIN CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS CONCEPT. I SERVED ON A FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR AND DEPARTMENT OF AG TO RECREATE THE CCC OF THE 1930S, CALLED THE 21ST CENTURY CONSERVATION SERVICE CORPS. AND IT WAS IN PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN ALL THE FEDERAL LAND MANAGEMENT AGENCIES AND NONPROFITS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO ALREADY RUN EXISTING CONSERVATION CORPS PROGRAMS DOING LAND MANAGEMENT AND DISASTER RELIEF AND OTHER TYPES OF PROJECTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. A KEY RECOMMENDATION OF THE FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE AT THAT TIME WAS THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NOT RECREATE A NEW PROGRAM, BUT WORK WITH THE EXISTING PRIVATE NONPROFITS AND STATE-RUN CONSERVATION CORPS THAT COULD BE SCALED UP AS OPPOSED TO STARTING A NEW [02:30:03] FEDERALLY RUN PROGRAM. AND SO I'M IN SUPPORT OF RESOLUTION 61, I THINK IT'S A REALLY BRILLIANT IDEA TO GET PEOPLE TO WORK, AND IT -- AND WHILE ALSO MEETING COMMUNITY NEEDS. I HAVE A FEW RECOMMENDATIONS, AND ONE IS THAT THE RESOLUTION ALLOWS FOR PARTNERSHIP WITH EXISTING CITY AND COUNTY PARTNERS TO SUPPORT AND EXPAND NONPROFITS WHO ARE HIGHER VULNERABLE POPULATIONS TO DELIVER THESE KINDS OF SERVICES. PLEASE DON'T REINVENT THE WHEEL AND CREATE A NEW ARM FOR THE CITY, INSTEAD WORK WITH EXISTING PARTNER LIKE AMERICAN YOUTH WORKS AND TEXAS CONSERVATION CORPS TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES THAT IT ALREADY DOES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CITY PARK, AND WATER UTILITY. WE WOULD ASK THAT YOU FOCUS ON EMPLOYING DIVERSE YOUNG ADULTS WHO ARE ENTERING THE WORK FORCE AND ALREADY DISPROPORTIONALLY AFFECTED BY COVID. THESE WERE THE FIRST TO LOSE THE JOBS IN THE COMMUNITY AND THEY WILL BE SOME OF THE LAST TO BE HIRED EXCEPT THROUGH SOME OF THESE INITIATIVES THAT CAN HOLD THEM IN SOME OF THESE MOST VULNERABLE IN EMPLOYMENT AND PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT FOR THOSE WHO ARE OUT OF IT. IF IT'S POSSIBLE TO SET UP A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT OR CONTRACT STRUCTURE THAT ALLOWS THE PROGRAM FUNDING TO EXTEND THE EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING BEYOND DECEMBER 2020, THAT WOULD BE IDEAL, BECAUSE YOU WOULD BUILD IN SUSTAINABILITY. IT'S A SHORT RAMP-UP AND IT WOULD BE GREAT TO KEEP THAT GOING LONG TERM. BUT IF IT ALLOWS FOR FUNDING TO STABILIZE THE EXISTING EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY PARTNER WHO ALREADY RUNS THIS SAME TYPE OF PROGRAM, BUT IS BASIC FUNDING CONCERNS DUE TO THE SHELTER HOME SHELTERS THAT REDUCED CRITICAL FUND FOR SERVICE PROJECTS CONDUCTED WITH THE CITY ON THESE PROPERTIES ALREADY. WE CAN WORK WITH PARTNERS LIKE WORK FORCE SOLUTIONS TO HELP RECRUIT AND PLACEMENT OF CONSERVATION CORPS MEMBER POSITIONS, AND CO-ENROLL IN THE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES LIKE CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE. I'M HAPPY TO PROVIDE ANY MORE INPUT ON THIS AND TAKE QUESTIONS. THIS IS A PATH THAT I THINK CAN WORK WELL BY SCALING UP AN EXISTING PARTNER OF THE CITY AND UTILIZING EXISTING EXPERTISE THAT IS THERE FOR RISK MANAGEMENT AND DELIVERY OF THESE KINDS OF PROJECTS, JOBS TRAINING, AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR YOUNG ADULTS ENTERING THE WORK FORCE. WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS' LEADERSHIP DURING THESE UNPRECEDENTED TIMES THROUGH EMPLOYMENT AND JOB CERTIFICATIONS WHILE MAKING LASTING IMPACTS THROUGH INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT. >> GARZA: THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> GARZA: THE NEXT SPEAKER IS RENE HERNANDEZ. RENE HERNANDEZ? THE NEXT SPEAKER IS TAMARA ATKINSON. TAMARA ATKINSON? THE NEXT SPEAKER IS ADAM GREENSFIELD. OKAY. TED SIFF? >> I'M HERE. >> GARZA: OKAY. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM, COUNCIL MEMBERS, FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I AM TED SIFF AND I'M CALLING AS A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 9 AS WELL AS A BOARD MEMBER OF THE GROWING COALITION OF PARK, TRAIL AND ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION ORGANIZATIONS CALLED AUSTIN OUTSIDE. AUSTIN OUTSIDE'S OVER TWO DOZEN MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS, SUPPORT THE PASSAGE OF ITEM 62, THE HEALTHY STREETS RESOLUTION. THANK YOU, MAYOR, ELLIS, SPONSOR AND CO-SPONSOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS HARPER-MADISON GARZA FOR SPONSORING THIS GREAT RESOLUTION. IN ADDITION TO THE NONPROFITS THAT SUPPORT IT, OVER 1,000 AUSTINITES HAVE SIGNED THE PETITION SUPPORTING THIS HEALTHY, ALSO KNOWN AS SLOW STREETS RESOLUTION. AND THIS ONLINE PETITION HAS ONLY BEEN COLLECTING SIGNATURES FOR THE LAST WEEK. SO IT'S CLEAR THAT A VERY SIGNIFICANT NEW DEMAND FOR SAFE SIDEWALKS, BIKE PATHS, AND THE FACILITATION OF THESE MODES OF TRANSPORTATION THROUGH MODIFICATIONS TO APPROPRIATE STREETS DISPERSED EQUITABLY THROUGHOUT THE CITY HAS ARISEN. MEETING THIS DEMAND IS -- COUNCIL RESOLUTION 62 MEETS THIS [02:35:03] DEMAND. IN ADDITION TO THE GREAT REASONS IN THE RESOLUTION EXPRESSED THROUGH ITS WHEREAS CLAUSES, YOUR AUSTIN STRATEGIC MOBILITY PLAN ALSO CALLS FOR SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN WALKING AND BIKING TO ACHIEVE ITS GOALS. SO IMPLEMENTATION OF RESOLUTION 62 -- THE RESOLUTION IN ITEM 62 WILL BE A GREAT STEP TOWARD ACHIEVING THESE ASMP GOALS AS WELL. SO, PLEASE VOTE FOR ITEM 62. AND ON A QUICK FOOTNOTE, I ALSO AS AN INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT THE PASSAGE OF ITEM 61, WHICH IS A GREAT PROPOSAL, IF IT INCLUDES THE REQUESTS THAT HAVE JUST BEEN MADE BY THE AUSTIN YOUTH WORKS ORGANIZATION. THANKS AGAIN. AND THANKS FOR ALL OF YOUR GOOD WORK. >> GARZA: THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS KELSEY, IS IT BALABAN? GEORGE KOFER? MARY -- I'M SORRY, I SKIPPED A COUPLE -- MADELINE CRIBS? >> I'M HERE. CAN YOU HEAR ME? >> GARZA: YES, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. >> PERFECT. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. MY NAME IS MADELINE CRIBS AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 3, I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 62, THE HEALTHY STREETS PROGRAM. I SUPPORT IMMEDIATELY CREATING A HEALTHY STREETS PROGRAM IN AUSTIN TO ADDRESS COVID-19 BECAUSE I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE CROWDING HAPPENING ON PARKS AND ON TRAILS. I LIVE ON THE EAST SIDE OF AUSTIN WHERE SIDEWALKS ARE ALREADY SPARSE AND STREETS ARE HIGHLY CONGESTED, DUE TO THE DENSITY OF HOUSING, NARROW STREETS AND LACK OF DRIVEWAYS RESULTING IN A LOT OF CARS BEING PARKED ON THE STREET. NORMALLY THIS ISN'T A PROBLEM, BECAUSE I HAVE USUALLY BEEN A RUNNER OF THE LATE -- THE TRAIL AROUND LADY BIRD LAKE, BUT I HAVEN'T STEPPED FOOT ON THAT IN OVER A MONTH DUE TO THE CONGESTION ON THAT TRAIL THAT IS SLIGHTLY EASED BY THE CLOCK-WISE TRAFFIC MANDATE. ADDITIONALLY THE AREA I LIVE IN, EAST AUSTIN GETS A LOT OF FOOT, CAR AND BIKE TRAFFIC FROM THOSE HEADING TOWARD CENTRAL AUSTIN OR TRYING TO ACCESS HIGHWAY 35. DELEGATING STREETS TO NON-CAR TRAFFIC HELP SEPARATE THE FOOT TRAFFIC AND RECREATIONAL TRAFFIC HELD BY BIKERS, DOG WALKERS, AND RECREATIONAL JOGGERS AND WALKERS. HEALTHY STREETS PROGRAM WILL ALLOW FOR THE SAFETY OF WALKERS AND BIKERS, AND I URGE YOU TO CREATE THIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. AND I AM EXCITED TO TAKE TO THE STREETS VERY SOON IN A SAFE MANNER. >> GARZA: THANK YOU. MARY STRAW? GEORGE KOFER? GABRIELLA GARCIA? >> HI. CAN YOU HEAR ME? >> GARZA: HI. YES, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. >> THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS GABBY GARCIA. I'M A TENANT ORGANIZER WITH (INDISCERNIBLE) FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW. ARNOLD UNLIKE ANY COMMUNITY I'VE EVER WORKED WITH, THEY BEGAN TO SELF-ORGANIZE IN RESPONSE TO OWNERS WHO BEGAN THREATENING RESIDENTS WITH EVICTION. RESIDENTS FORMED AN ASSOCIATION AND SOUGHT HELP FROM THEIR CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE GREG CASAR WHO CONNECTED THEM (INDISCERNIBLE) EVENTUALLY TO ROCK. THIS IS THE DREAM OF OWNING THEIR MOBILE HOME PARK BEGAN. THIS WAS ALMOST FIVE YEARS AGO. THE PROCESS HAS BEEN SLOW AND MANY COMMUNITIES MAY HAVE GIVEN UP LONG AGO BUT RESIDENTS OF ARNOLD DID NOT GIVE UP EASILY. THEY HAVE HAD POOR LIGHTING, OVERFLOWING DUMPSTERS, ONLY TO NAME A FEW. THE CHALLENGES FURTHER MOTIVATED AND KILLED THE RESOLVE TO PURCHASE THE COMMUNITY SO THEY COULD PUT AN END TO THESE ISSUES ONCE AND FOR ALL. LATE LAST YEAR THEY LEARNED THE PROPERTY WAS BEING PUT UP FOR SALE, AND ARNOLD WITH THE SUPPORT (INDISCERNIBLE) SPRUNG INTO ACTION TO ENSURE THE RESIDENTS COULD BUY THE MOBILE HOME PARK AS A COOPERATIVE. THEY HAVE THE SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE OF SO MANY OTHERS, INCLUDING WALK USA, (INDISCERNIBLE) HOUSING WORKS AND HACA. THE PROCESS HAS BEEN A LOT OF WORK INCLUDING COUNTLESS MEETINGS, SOMETIMES THREE OR FOUR TIMES A WEEK. IT'S BEEN ESPECIALLY CHALLENGING IN THE TIME OF COVID-19. WE STARTED HAVING VIRTUAL MEETINGS IN MARCH AND HAVE MADE SURE EVERYONE CAN ACCESS TECHNOLOGY THEY NEEDED IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE (INDISCERNIBLE) MEETINGS THAT WERE SIMULTANEOUSLY INTERPRETED. ALTHOUGH RESIDENTS ARE EXHAUSTED FROM BALANCING THEIR JOBS, FAMILIES AND NOW DEALING WITH [02:40:03] THE EFFECTS OF THIS PANDEMIC, THEY CONTINUE TO MOVE THE PROJECT FORWARD. NOW THEIR DREAM IS CLOSE TO BECOMING A REALITY. RESIDENTS COULD NOT MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PURCHASE WITHOUT THIS ASSISTANCE BECAUSE OF THE RENTS BEING UNAFFORDABLE. FOR LOW-INCOME WORKING CLASS FAMILIES, EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS AND ANY INCREASE IN RENT CAN BE ENOUGH TO PUT FAMILIES UNDER WATER OR FORCE THEM TO SACRIFICE FOOD OR OTHER NECESSITIES IN ORDER TO COVER RENT. WE KNOW THE CITY HAS NOT FUNDED A PROJECT LIKE THIS BEFORE AND WE APPRECIATE THE DEDICATION TO THE STAFF WHO HELPED NAVIGATE THIS PROCESS. WE THANK YOU, MAYOR ADLER, AND CITY COUNCIL. WE HOPE ARNOLD IS JUST THE BEGINNING AND THE CITY WILL CONTINUE TO PROTECT THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT EXISTS IN MOBILE HOME COMMUNITIES. THE COOPERATIVE MODELS ARE A WAY TO ENSURE THEY REMAIN AFFORDABLE AND RESIDENTS ARE NOT EXPOSED TO UNHEALTHY LIVING CONDITIONS. UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES THE RESIDENTS OF ARNOLD WOULD HAVE PACKED CITY HALL TO THANK YOU IN PERSON. THAT WILL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THAT PANDEMIC IS OVER. RIGHT NOW THEY HAVE A VIDEO TO SHARE THEIR APPRECIATION. I BELIEVE IT WILL BE PLAYED WHEN YOU ALL COVER THE AGENDA. THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN FOR YOUR SUPPORT. >> GARZA: THANK YOU. SO SHAUNA CRAIGER? >> MAYOR PRO TEM, I THINK THE LAST TWO SPEAKERS, WE TOLD THEM NOT TO TALK BECAUSE WE'LL PLAY THEIR VIDEO. >> GARZA: OKAY. JUST TO CONFIRM THE LAST SPEAKER I HAVE IS ELLA ALEJANDRA MONIZ? JUST TO ASK THE CLERK, HAVE I CALLED ALL THE NAMES I SHOULD HAVE CALLED? >> I BELIEVE SO. THERE SHOULDN'T BE ANYBODY ELSE LEFT ON THE LINE. >> I THINK (INDISCERNIBLE) ATKINSON MIGHT BE TRYING TO GET ON, BUT I'M NOT SURE. >> WHO? >> TAMARA ATKINSON? BUT I'M NOT SURE. WE'RE CHECKING. YOU CALLED HER ALREADY. >> I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN ADMIT MORE PEOPLE WITHOUT DISRUPTING THE MEETING. JUST AS A FYI. >> THEN WE WON'T BE ABLE TO. SHE WAS ON BEFORE. THANKS. >> GARZA: THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS WE HAVE SIGNED UP. [Consent Agenda (Part 2 of 2)] SO THE ITEMS PULLED THAT I HAVE ARE 22, 54, 56, 60, 61, I'M ALSO GOING TO PULL 7 NOW, BECAUSE I WANTED DIRECTION TO THAT. I DON'T HAVE IT AT THIS MOMENT. BUT I CAN WORK ON THAT DURING LUNCH. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO PASS THE CONSENT AGENDA. >> COULD YOU READ THOSE AGAIN, MAYOR PRO TEM? I'M SORRY, I WANT TO MAKE SURE I HAD THEM RIGHT. >> GARZA: I HAVE 22 BY FLANNIGAN, 54 BY FLANNIGAN, 56 BY FLANNIGAN, 60, IT'S -- I HAVE A NOTE THAT THE MAYOR JUST PULLED THAT. >> YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT. >> GARZA: OKAY. 61 BY FLANNIGAN AND I'M ALSO PULLING 70 -- I'M SORRY, 7 TO ADD SOME DIRECTION. >> I'LL MOVE (INDISCERNIBLE). >> MAYOR PRO TEM? >> GARZA: IS THERE A SECOND? IT LOOKS LIKE YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO SOMETHING. >> I WANTED TO ADD CLARIFICATION, COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO HAD PUT AMENDMENTS ON THE MESSAGE BOARD. I CONSIDERED THEM FRIENDLY. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE AS THIS ITEM IS PASSED ON CONSENT THAT THEY'RE INCLUDED TO THE INCLUDE, TO ALL OF US. >> GARZA: CAN YOU SAY THE ITEM NUMBER? >> 62. THE HEALTHY STREETS INITIATIVE. >> GARZA: OKAY. SO THE RECORD SHOULD REFLECT THAT THESE TWO INCLUDE THE AMENDMENTS POSTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO ON THE MESSAGE BOARD. COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN? >> KITCHEN: IF THIS IS THE APPROPRIATE TIME I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A FEW COMMENTS ABOUT ITEM NUMBER 59 RELATING TO NURSING HOMES. >> GARZA: SURE. GO AHEAD. >> KITCHEN: ALL RIGHT. I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR -- MY CO-SPONSORS FOR THIS ITEM AS WELL AS EVERYONE WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH AND WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH. I WANT TO THANK ESPECIALLY THE FAMILIES THAT HAVE BROUGHT THEIR CONCERNS TO OUR ATTENTION AS THEIR COUNCIL ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR NURSING FACILITIES AND THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. I THINK THEIR CONTINUED VIGILANCE FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR REACHING OUT TO US HAS BEEN VERY IMPORTANT. AND I WANT TO THANK DR. ESCOTT AND STEPHANIE HAYDEN, DR. FRY AND ALL OF OUR MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCE (INDISCERNIBLE) AND [02:45:02] WILL CONTINUE TO DO. SO I WOULD JUST SAY VERY QUICKLY THAT AS WE ALL KNOW, WE ARE IN A VERY DISTURBING -- WE'RE SEEING A VERY DISTURBING NUMBER OF INFECTIONS AND DEATHS IN OUR NURSING HOMES, AND SO WE JUST RECEIVED INFORMATION ON TUESDAY THAT DISCLOSED THAT 335 RESIDENTS AND STAFF OF FACILITIES WHICH INCLUDED MOSTLY NURSING HOMES, ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES, ARE SEEING THE IMPACTS OF THIS PANDEMIC. AND IT ALSO IMPACTS OUR SOCIAL WORKERS IN OUR COMMUNITY. LET ME JUST SAY THIS CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION AND FUNDING AND AUTHORIZES THE CITY MANAGER TO IMMEDIATELY USE THE FUNDING AND THE RESOURCES NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT THE ACTIONS THAT ARE IN THIS RESOLUTION, TO COME BACK TO US ON THE 21ST, WHICH I WOULD THINK WOULD BE AS PART OF OUR BUDGET FRAMEWORK, WITH THE NUMBERS THAT ARE NEEDED SO WE'LL HAVE A BETTER IDEA. WE DELIBERATELY DID NOT -- WE DID NOT ATTEMPT TO PUT A DOLLAR AMOUNT IN THIS RESOLUTION, BUT WE ARE EXPECTING THAT TO COME BACK ON THE 21ST. AND THEN JUST QUICKLY, I WOULD JUST POINT OUT THAT THIS RESOLUTION SPEAKS TO SUPPORTING STAFF WITH ACTIONS THEY HAVE BEEN TAKING WITH ADDITIONAL RESOURCES THEY NEED, AS WELL AS POINTING TO SOME ADDITIONAL ACTIONS FOR THEM TO BEGIN WORK ON, SO THAT INCLUDES TESTING, STRIKE TEAM, PROVIDING FOR FUNDING FOR HIRING AND RETAINING FACILITY STAFF, ENSURING THAT WE HAVE PPES AND TESTING EQUIPMENT, COLLABORATING WITH THE DESIGN INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH AT THE DEL MEDICAL SCHOOL TO HELP US GET AHEAD OF THE CURVE AND HELP US IDENTIFY PREVENTIVE STRATEGIES, PROVIDE ONGOING UPDATES. I APPRECIATE THE EXAMPLE THAT'S IN ONE OF OUR OTHER RESOLUTIONS ABOUT A DASHBOARD. THAT'S GOING TO BE VERY HELPFUL. I THINK THAT KIND OF INFORMATION WILL BE HELPFUL FOR THIS ALSO. AND THEN ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL ACTIONS THAT OUR STAFF WILL IDENTIFY FOR US AS THEY CONTINUE WORKING ON THIS. SO THANK YOU AGAIN. I THINK THAT THIS IS TO GET RESOURCES NOW. WE CAN'T WAIT FOR THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. WE WILL, OF COURSE, (INDISCERNIBLE) STAFF DOING THIS, AND CITY MANAGER I KNOW YOU ALL ARE DOING THIS TO SEEK REIMBURSEMENT WHERE WE CAN. BUT WE CAN'T WAIT. AND WE NEED TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION. SO THOSE ARE THE COMMENTS I WANTED TO MAKE. >> GARZA: THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE. COUNCIL MEMBER FLANNIGAN? >> FLANNIGAN: FIRST I WANT TO THANK COUNCILWOMAN ELLIS FOR THE LEADERSHIP, AND SEEING THAT STAYING ON CONSENT. ON ITEM 23 I WANTED TO THANK ALL MY CO-SPONSORS AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK PULLING THE ANCHOR FUND TOGETHER AND ALL THE EFFORT YOU PUT IN COLLABORATING WITH THE NONPROFITS ACROSS THE COMMUNITY. IT WAS REALLY A PARTNERSHIP EFFORT WITH ALL OF OUR CO-SPONSORS ON THAT, AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO THANK YOU. BETWEEN THE CLEAR FUND THAT WILL HELP OUR SMALL BUSINESSES AND ANCHOR FUND FOR OUR NONPROFITS AND CHILD CARE FUND TO HELP ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY LIVE UNDER THE GOVERNOR'S ORDERS, IT'S GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE FOR EVERYBODY, AND I'M SO GLAD THAT THIS COUNCIL IS IN AGREEMENT TO MOVE FORWARD QUICKLY. AS COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN SAID, THE DASHBOARD THAT IS PART OF ITEM 23 I THINK IS REALLY A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF HOW WE CAN ENSURE THE PUBLIC THAT WHILE WE MOVE AS FAST AS WE CAN TO GET HELP OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY, WE ARE ALSO FULFILLING OUR VERY NECESSARY OVERSIGHT AND TRANSPARENCY OBLIGATIONS FOR TAXPAYERS. SO THANKS AGAIN TO MY CO-SPONSORS, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, ELLIS, HARPER-MADISON AND THE MAYOR FOR ITEM 23 AND FOR EVERYONE'S SUPPORT MOVING FORWARD. >> GARZA: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER FLANNIGAN. COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER-MADISON. >> HARPER-MADISON: THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE YOUR RECOGNIZING ME. I'M GETTING A LOT OF TEXT MESSAGES FROM FOLKS AND ORGANIZATIONS SAYING THAT MULTIPLE SPEAKERS HAVE BEEN KICKED OUT OF THE SYSTEM. I'M TRYING TO HELP THEM FIGURE OUT HOW TO RECONCILE THE ISSUE. MY THOUGHT WAS THAT THEY CAN E-MAIL US THEIR COMMENTS AND SOMEBODY CAN READ THEM INTO THE RECORD. BUT IS THERE ANOTHER WAY THAT WE SHOULD APPROACH RECOGNIZING [02:50:03] SPEAKERS WHO SIGNED UP BUT FOR WHATEVER REASON THE SYSTEM IS KICKING THEM OUT? >> GARZA: ON ONE HAND THEIR NAMES WERE CALLED AND I'M HAPPY TO -- THE RECORD SHOWS THEY DID SIGN UP. BECAUSE THEIR NAMES WERE CALLED. I CAN ASK -- WE CAN ASK THE CLERK MAYBE -- BUT YES, SENDING AN E-MAIL WOULD BE A GREAT WAY TO LET ALL OF COUNCIL MEMBERS KNOW THEIR COMMENTS. >> HARPER-MADISON: THANK YOU. >> GARZA: WE APOLOGIZE FOR THAT TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY TO ANYBODY WHO WAS KICKED OUT OF THERE.. EXACT I BELIEVE HAD HER -- COUNCILMEMBER ALTER, I BELIEVE HAD HER HAND RAISED. >> ALTER: I WANTED TO SPEAK BRIEFLY TO ITEM 22, BUT I WANTED TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER TOVO FOR HER LEADERSHIP AND HER CO-SPONSORS FOR OUR LEADERSHIP ON THE FOOD PROGRAM AND COUNCILMEMBER KITCHEN FOR HER LEADERSHIP WITH RESPECT TO MEETING THE NEEDS OF OUR SENIORS, AND COUNCILMEMBER ELLIS, ON THE HEALTHY STREETS. AND WE HAVE A LOT OF REALLY IMPORTANT WORK ON THIS AGENDA, SO IF I LEFT SOMEBODY OFF I'M SORRY, THERE'S A LOT HERE. I WANTED TO SPEAK REALLY BRIEFLY TO ITEM 23. WHICH WAS THE RESULT OF A GREAT COLLABORATION. I REALLY APPRECIATED WORKING WITH MY CO-SPONSORS, COUNCILMEMBER HARPER-MADISON, COUNCILMEMBER ELLIS, THE MAYOR. AND PARTICULARLY MR. FLANNIGAN BECAUSE WE WERE ABLE TO REALLY FIND A WAY TO THINK DIFFERENTLY ABOUT HOW WE CAN REACH SEVERAL INSTITUTIONS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE REALLY CRITICAL, NOT JUST NOW, BUT AS WE MOVE FORWARD THROUGH RECOVERY. AND I APPRECIATE THE ABILITY FOR US TO SET THIS UP SO THAT IT CAN BE DONE QUICKLY AND TRANSPARENTLY AND ACCOUNTBLY. I WANT TO SPEAK SPECIFICALLY TO THE ANCHOR FUND A LITTLE BIT MORE AS WE'VE HEARD FROM SEVERAL OF THE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, AS WELL AS THE CONVENER ORGANIZATIONS. IN MY MIND WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY, PARTICULARLY FOR THE ANCHOR FUND, BUT POSSIBLY FOR THE [INDISCERNIBLE] AND CHILDCARE SUPPORT, IS KIND OF AN INITIAL INVESTMENT IN THIS. AND AS THIS PLAYS OUT AND WE MAKE THE INVESTMENTS WE'LL LEARN A LOT FROM THE DATA AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO HAVE A CLEARER PICTURE OF WHERE SOME OF THE BEST INVESTMENTS ARE THAT WE NEED. WHAT THESE INITIAL FUNDS ARE REALLY DOING IS PROVIDING THAT LIFE SUPPORT, THAT PROPERTY TAX APPRAISAL SUPPORT THAT IS EXTREMELY NECESSARY FOR OUR -- THE OPERATIONAL SUPPORT FOR OUR NON-PROFITS TO SURVIVE. WE ARE FORTUNATE IN AUSTIN TO HAVE A VIBRANT NON-PROFIT ECOSYSTEM, BUT ACROSS THE BOARD THE WAY NON-PROFITS CONTRIBUTE TO OUR COMMUNITY, THEY'RE IN PAIN AND WE NEED THEM TO BE THERE AS WE TRANSITION OUT. SO THIS FUND IS DESIGNED TO GET THEM TO QUICKLY AND TO HELP THEM TRANSITION TO THE NEW REALITIES AND BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY ACROSS A VARIETY OF THE NON-PROFIT SECTORS. WE HAVEN'T SPOKEN A LOT ABOUT THE CHILDCARE SUPPORT AND I REALLY APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES SUPPORTING THIS. WE HAVE A LOT OF CHILDCARE CENTERS THAT ARE ON THE VERGE OF GOING OUT OF BUSINESS GIVEN WHERE WE ARE AT THIS POINT IN TIME. AND THIS FUNDING GIVES THEM THAT LIFELINE, IT GIVES THEM THE OPPORTUNITY FOR GRANTS SO THAT THEY CAN KEEP THEIR DOORS OPEN AND BE THERE FOR THE WORKING FAMILIES AS WE MOVE FORWARD. WE CANNOT REOPEN, WE CANNOT RECOVER IF WE DON'T HAVE CHILDCARE AVAILABLE. I'M REALLY ALSO EXCITED ABOUT THE WORK THAT COUNCILMEMBER FLANNIGAN DID IN COMING UP WITH AN INNOVATIVE WAY FOR US TO LOOK AT THE SMALL BUSINESSES, AND RECOGNIZING THAT LOANS ALONE ARE NOT ENOUGH FOR THOSE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT AND WE NEED GRANTS AND WE NEED TECHNICAL SUPPORT. AND I'M LISTENING FOR ALL OF THE FUNDS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT CAN HELP US GET THIS OUT THE DOOR QUICKLY WHILE MAINTAINING THE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABLE. SO I'M REALLY -- AND ACCOUNTABILITY, AND I'M EXCITED AND APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES' SUPPORT. >> GARZA: MAYOR, I BELIEVE COUNCILMEMBER TOVO WAS NEXT. >> MAYOR ADLER: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER TOVO. >> TOVO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I HAVE A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT THINGS I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO VERIFY THAT ALTHOUGH 15 THAT THE EXTENSION IS JUST ONE YEAR. I KNOW WE HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT EARLIER, BUT I JUST WANT TO AFFIRM THAT THE MOTION THAT'S BEFORE US ON THE CONSENT AGENDA IS FOR A ONE-YEAR EXTENSION OF THAT CONTRACT. [02:55:02] >> MAYOR ADLER: THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING. DOES ANYBODY OBJECT TO THAT? STAFF IS OKAY WITH THAT IS MY UNDERSTANDING AS WELL. >> CORRECT. >> MAYOR ADLER: SO IT IS ONE YEAR FOR ITEM 15. THANK YOU. >> TOVO: AND NOW I WANT TO SPEAK FOR JUST A MINUTE ON THE ITEM THAT I BROUGHT FORWARD, ITEM 57, ALONG WITH MY CO-SPONSORS. AS I SAID ON THE MESSAGE BOARD I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THE -- ONE OF THE AWKWARDNESS OF DOING THIS WORK IN THIS PERIOD OF TIME IS THAT WE CAN'T ALWAYS TALK ABOUT -- TALK ABOUT OUR ISSUES WITH THOSE -- OUR COLLEAGUES ON THE COUNCIL WHO WOULD HAVE BEEN STRONG ADVOCATES. SO I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE COUNCILMEMBER RENTERIA AND MAYOR PRO TEM GARZA FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK ON FOOD ACCESS AND AGAIN JUST TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO THE MESSAGE BOARD POSTS THAT GIVEN ONE OF THE PIECES OF THIS IMPACT YOUR DISTRICT, WE'D LOVE TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH YOU ON THIS. THIS IS THE ITEM THAT -- THIS IS THE ITEM THAT WOULD RESTORE CAREGIVER MEALS IN AISD AND WOULD START THEM IN DEL VALLE ISD. IT ALSO PROVIDES DIRECTION TO THE CITY MANAGER TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATIONS THEY'RE HAVING WITH OTHER ISDS, AT LEAST ONE OF WHICH, PFLUGERVILLE, HAS EXPRESSED AN INTEREST. AND THERE WILL BE ONGOING CONVERSATIONS WITH TRAVIS COUNTY AS WELL ABOUT WHETHER THEY CAN ASSIST WITH THE PIECES THAT FALL OUTSIDE THE CITY OF AUSTIN. YOU KNOW, WE ARE REALLY SEW BLESS UNDERSTAND THIS AREA IN A HAVE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THIS AREA THAT IMMEDIATELY STEPPED UP TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS TO HAVE FOOD ACCESS FOR THEIR STUDENTS. AND THIS PROPOSAL WILL ALLOW FOR THEIR CAREGIVERS TO ALSO ACCESS PREPARED MEALS. I KNOW AISD IS CONSIDERING A MODEL THAT WOULD INVOLVE RESTAURANTS IN PROVIDING THOSE PREPARED MEALS, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THAT IS I THINK AN IDEAL SITUATION. WE'RE ALSO PROVIDING HELPING INVEST IN EMPLOYMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN ECONOMICALLY IMPACTED BY THE CORONAVIRUS AND THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. THAT IS A MODEL THAT I THINK WE'RE REALLY -- REALLY HELPS US FILL SEVERAL OF THOSE IMPORTANT NEEDS. IN LOOKING THROUGH STRONG TOWNS, I KNOW MANY OF YOU ARE POSSIBLY ON THE STRONG TOWN MAILING LIST AND ATTEND SOME OF THEIR SESSIONS. ONE OF THE -- THEY SENT OUT A LIST OF THE TOP NINE THINGS THEY NEED TO DO AND ONE IS THAT MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE FED. I WANT TO COMMEND CITY STAFF WHO HAVE BEEN MAKING SURE THIS HAPPENS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN. EDWIN MARTY, WHO I HOPE WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR AN REPORT FROM ED WHO HAS BEEN SO COLLABORATIVE WITH DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY, MAKING SURE THAT OUR NEIGHBORS WHO ARE FOOD INSECURE, AND WE HAVE MANY MORE NEIGHBORS WHO ARE FOOD INSECURE THAN WE DID SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THIS -- TO THE CRITICAL MEALS THAT THEY NEED. SO THANK YOU, EDWIN AND THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE TO SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION WHICH CAME QUICKLY. IT BUILDS ON SOME WORK THAT STAFF IS DOING THAT PUTS US IN A PLACE WE NEED TO BE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND IN SUPPORTING OUR FAMILIES. AND I WANT TO REALLY THANK AISD AND DEL VALLE FOR THEIR PIP IN WORKING THROUGH SOME OF THE DETAILS, AND ASHLEY RICHARDSON AND MY STAFF WHO HAS DONE TREMENDOUS WORK IN GETTING A LOT OF THESE DETAILS WORKED OUT. IN ADDITION TO HAVING OTHER CITY STAFF IN OUR LAW DEPARTMENT AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL REGULATIONS HAS COME TOGETHER QUICKLY AND EVERYONE WORKED HARD TO GET IT DONE. SO THAT IS THAT. MAYOR, AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME AS WE GET THROUGH THE CONSENT AGENDA, I WANTED TO MAKE A FEW COMMENTS. IF YOU PREFER ME TO DO THAT NOW, I CAN OR AFTER WE PASS THE CONSENT AGENDA. >> MAYOR ADLER: LET'S DO IT AFTER WE PASS THE CONSENT AGENDA AND THAT WE WE CAN GET DONE WITH THAT. >> TOVO: THANK YOU. >> MAYOR ADLER: COUNCILMEMBER POOL. >> POOL: THANKS, MAYOR AND THANKS TO EVERYBODY ON THE DAIS FOR ALL OF THE OTHER AMAZING, AND WHAT A WIDE ARRAY OF ADDITIONAL NEW WAYS WE CAN HELP OUR COMMUNITY. EVERYDAY IT'S INSPIRING AND I THINK WE ARE ALSO AS A BODY INFUSING REAL HOPE AND OPTIMISM INTO OUR WORK. AND I THINK OUR COMMUNITY APPRECIATES THAT AND SEES IT AND I KNOW I DO. AND I AM JUST BLOWN AWAY BY THE VARIETY AND THE CARE AND [03:00:01] THE INSPIRATION THAT IS IN EVERYBODY'S WORK. I DON'T THINK WE'RE MISSING -- WE'RE NOT DROPPING A STITCH AT ALL IN ANY OF THIS WORK. AND I KNOW THERE'S EVEN MORE TO COME. THE SPEED WITH WHICH OUR STAFF ALSO IS RESPONDING IS REALLY ADMIRABLE AND COMMENDABLE SO THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER CRONK, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP THERE. APPRECIATE IT SO MUCH. >> RENTERIA: MAYOR? >> MAYOR ADLER: YES, COUNCILMEMBER RENTERIA. >> RENTERIA: I ALSO WANTED TO REALLY GIVE A SHOUT-OUT TO ANN KITCHEN ON THE NURSING HOME RESOLUTION. SOMEONE THAT MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW, THAT'S AN LVN AT ONE OF THESE NURSING HOME. HER MOTHER ALSO WORKS AT A NURSING HOME. AND HER SISTER ALSO WORKS AT A NURSING HOME. SO I'VE BEEN VERY WORRIED ABOUT THE CONDITIONS THAT THEY WERE FACING AT ONE TIME. WITH THIS RESOLUTION THAT ANN HAS GOT THERE, I REALLY WANT TO THANK HER FOR BRINGING THAT UP BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S NEEDED THERE. I KNOW THAT MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW'S MOTHER HAD TO BE TESTED AND THANK GOD SHE CAME BACK NEGATIVE, BUT THOSE ARE THE KIND OF CONDITIONS THAT THESE NURSES ARE FACING AND I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT-OUT TO THE NURSES IN AUSTIN. >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY, THANK YOU. MAYOR PRO TEM GARZA? >> GARZA: I WAS ABLE TO GET -- I PULLED 7 BECAUSE WE WERE WORKING ON DIRECTION. I WAS ABLE TO GET THAT DIRECTION THIS TIME. SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND READ IT AND IF THERE'S NO OBJECTIONS I DON'T HAVE TO PULL 7 AFTER ALL. IT WAS ABOUT THE CRITERIA WE UNDERSTAND THAT WAS USED TO POSSIBLY PICK THE SITES FOR THE LOCATIONS WHERE THESE FOOD MARKETS WILL BE PROVIDED. OUR UNDERSTANDING IS OF THE FOUR CRITERIA TO MEET USING THAT GIS MAP AND I'LL BE HONEST -- WE DIDN'T USE THAT MAP, BUT IF WE'RE GOING TO USE IT, INSTEAD OF USING THREE OR FOUR OF THE CRITERIA, I WOULD LIKE THE DIRECTION TO BE THAT THEY USE ANY OF THE CRITERIA. I'LL READ WHAT THE CRITERIA IS. IF YOU ARE FAR FROM A HEALTHY FOOD RETAIL, LIMITED AVAILABILITY -- LIMITED AVAILABILITY OF NEARBY HEALTHY FOOD OPTIONS. THREE, LIMITED HOUSEHOLD BUDGET AVAILABLE FOR HEALTHY FOOD PURCHASE. AND FOUR, HAVE LESS ACCESS TO A CAR OR OTHER TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS. SO THE DIRECTION WOULD BE IF IT MEETS ANY OF THOSE CRITERIA, ANY SINGLE ONE OF THEM, THAT THEY WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS PROGRAM. >> MAYOR ADLER: ANY OBJECTION TO THAT BEING ADDED AS THE UNDERSTANDING? HEARING NONE -- >> GARZA: AND I'LL JUST QUICKLY REMARK ON THIS AND I APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER TOVO ADDRESSING THE ITEM THAT SHE SPONSORED. I BE CREATIVE AND PROVIDE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AND GREAT FOR OUR STAFF TO TRY TO THINK OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO ADDRESS THE INCREDIBLE CHALLENGES OF WHAT WE HAVE. BUT THIS COMMUNITY -- DEL VALLE HAS BEEN ASKING FOR A GROCERY STORE AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN A COUNCILMEMBER AND 10 YEARS BEFORE THAT. SO I WOULD OFFER THAT MAYBE WE DON'T HAVE TO BE AS CREATIVE WITH PROGRAMS IF WE JUST ADDRESS SOME THINGS THAT PEOPLE ARE ASKING FOR. AND GET THEM THAT GROCERY STORE SO THEY'RE NOT MAKING A TRIP TO GO PICK UP A MEAL AND A TRIP TO GO PICK UP PRODUCE. PEOPLE HAVE ACTUALLY SOLVED THAT DOING SEVERAL TRIPS AND IT'S CALLED A GROCERY STORE. SO I HOPE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO CONCENTRATE ON ECONOMIC INCENTIVE OPPORTUNITIES TO GET THAT COMMUNITY THE FOOD ACCESS AND ACCESS TO THINGS LIKE DIAPERS AND TOILET PAPER AND ALL THAT THAT THIS COMMUNITY IS DESPERATELY IN NEED OF. >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY. ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO ADDRESS THE CONSENT AGENDA? I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SAY YOUR NAMES. >> ELLIS: MAYOR, I HAVE A FEW MORE WORDS. >> MAYOR ADLER: COUNCILMEMBER ELLIS. >> ELLIS: I WANTED TO SAY A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE HEALTHY STREETS INITIATIVE AND APPRECIATE MY CO-SPONSORS WORKING ON IT AS WELL, JIMMY AND NATASHA AND DELIA AND GREG. AND I KNOW ADAM GREENFIELD DID A LOT OF WORK ON THIS PETITION AS WELL, HE WAS TRYING TO GET BACK ON TOO, BUT HE DID SEND AN EMAIL TO EVERYBODY YESTERDAY OR THE DAY BEFORE AND IT HAS OVER A THOUSAND PEOPLE FROM ALL DISTRICTS, ALL PARTS OF AUSTIN THAT BELIEVE IN THIS AND WANT TO SEE US UTILIZING OUR PUBLIC SPACES IN A CREATIVE WAY DURING THE COVID CRISIS. AND TRANSPORTATION AND PARKS [03:05:02] HAVE REALLY DONE A LOT OF WORK ON THIS TOO TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE HEALTHY AND SAFE DURING THIS TIME. AND THANK YOU TO TED WHO HAS DONE AMAZING WORK IN OUR OUTDOOR SPACES ACTIVISM AND GEORGE COFER WAS ON THE LIST. AND IF YOU'RE LISTENING ONE OF THESE DAYS THE WORLD WILL ALLOW YOU TO RETIRE, I PROMISE, BUT DURING THIS TIME WE APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP AND IT'S BEEN REALLY COOL TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER AND I WANTED TO EXTEND MY THANKS TO THE COMMUNITY AND COUNCIL AND OUR ACTIVISTS FOR DOING THIS WORK. >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY. ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SPEAK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? YES, I WANT TO THANK -- >> MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBER HARPER-MADISON IS TRYING TO SPEAK. >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER HARPER-MADISON, GO AHEAD. MY SCREEN IS BLACKED OUT SO YOU NEED TO BE AUDIBLE FOR ME AT THIS TIME REVIEW. COUNCILMEMBER HARPER-MADISON. >> HARPER-MADISON: THANK YOU. I TEXTED YOU SO I WOULDN'T HAVE TO INTERRUPT, BUT NEXT TIME I WILL JUST INTERRUPT. MY KIDS DO IT ALL THE TIME. I HAVE A LOT OF PRACTICE. I WANTED TO SPEAK ON SEVERAL THINGS. I'LL START WITH JUST PIGGYBACKING OFF OF WHAT COUNCILMEMBER ELLIS HAD TO SAY ABOUT HEALTHY STREETS INITIATIVE. I'M SUPER EXCITED ABOUT SEEING WHAT THE POSSIBILITIES ARE HERE. I KNOW WE'VE HEARD BEFORE ABOUT HOW THIS PANDEMIC HAS EXPOSED A LOT OF OUR FLAWS AS A MUNICIPALITY, BUT THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TIMES THAT WE GET TO ACTIVELY ENGAGE IN TAKING A LOOK AT HOW IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE SIDEWALKS, PEOPLE ARE CROWDING ON TO FIVE FOOT PATHWAYS NEXT TO 40-FOOT ROADS. BUT I THINK ONE OF OUR SPEAKERS BROUGHT UP EARLIER THAT NOT ALL NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE SIDEWALKS AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO ACCESS THEIR STREETS IN A WAY THAT'S HEALTHY. AND WE HAVE OTHER CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY AND BEYOND THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, JUST SO MUCH MORE ADVANCED. LONDON AND PARIS ARE USING THIS PANDEMIC AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE MASSIVE INVESTMENTS IN BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE AND I REALLY HOPE THAT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BE THINKING BIG PICTURE AND SUSTAINABLE FUTURE-FACING INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND CHANGE. BUT I ALSO WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT IN MY MIND'S EYE AND SOME OF THE FOLKS THAT I FEEL LIKE I'M REPRESENTING IN MY COMMENTARY, THIS EFFORT ISN'T JUST ABOUT THE BENEFIT OF JOGGERS AND CYCLISTS AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT. IT'S ABOUT PEOPLE IN WHEELCHAIRS WHO NEED TO SAFELY GET TO THE PHARMACY. IT'S ABOUT GROCERY STORE CLERKS AND HEALTH WORKERS WHO NEED TO GET TO THEIR BUS STOPS. I THINK IT HAS REALLY BROUGHT APPEAL. I ALSO THINK IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR AUSTIN TO TAKE THE LEADING ROLE IN THE COUNTRY. AND THIS IS ONE OF SEVERAL ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA THAT I'M REALLY PROUD TO BE IN SUPPORT OF. COUNCILMEMBER TOVO'S INITIATIVE AROUND CAREGIVER MEALS SO IMPORTANT. $2.2 MILLION FOR FOOD ACCESS TO CAREGIVERS. I COULDN'T BE MORE PROUD TO BE A PART OF THIS AND IT'S SO IMPORTANT. THE PANDEMIC HAS ABSOLUTELY UP ENDED OUR FINANCIAL SECURITY. WE HEARD FROM ONE SPEAKER AFTER ANOTHER ABOUT FINANCIAL SECURITY. MAYBE OFF THE RECORD I'D LIKE TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE AS A BODY CAN GET INFORMATION TO FOLKS ABOUT NOT COMPROMISING THEIR HEALTH FOR COVERING THE COST OF LIVING EXPENSES. I KNOW THAT THERE ARE OPTIONS. I THINK I HEARD SOMEBODY SAY THAT THEY WERE CONSIDERING FOREGOING THEIR INSULIN AND SOMEBODY SAID THAT THEY WERE HAVING TO CONSIDER WHETHER OR NOT TO CONTINUE CHAIRPERSON OR CANCER TREATMENT AS OPPOSED TO PAY RENT. I REALLY HOPE THAT WE ARE TAKING THAT COMMENTARY VERY SERIOUSLY AND FOLLOWING UP WITH SOMETHING COMPREHENSIVE FOR THEM TO RECOGNIZE THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO MAKE THOSE HARD CHOICES WITH US HAVING SO MUCH ASSISTANCE COMING OUR WAY. WE REALLY NEED TO REACH DOWN AND MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE GETTING THE MOST GRANULAR INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO NOT MAKE THOSE SACRIFICES FOR THEIR HEALTH. SO BACK TO THE FOOD ACCESS INITIATIVE, I REALLY THINK HAVING ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD IS A BIG PART OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS. I'M SO HAPPY THAT PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS WILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO BEAT -- I -- TO EAT. I REMEMBER REMEMBERING IN MY FORMATIVE EXPERIENCE, I REMEMBER THE MOMENT I REALIZED WE WERE POOR. AND THAT MOMENT JUST HAPPENED TO BE RECOGNIZING THAT IT WAS MULTIPLE DAYS IN A ROW THAT MY SIBLINGS AND I WERE EATING FOOD, BUT MY MOTHER WASN'T EATING FOOD. AND I JUST -- I'M SO HAPPY THAT WE ARE ABLE TO HELP SOME FAMILIES NOT EXPERIENCE THAT REALLY TROUBLING REALITY. [03:10:06] >> MAYOR ADLER: SOMEONE HAS THEIR PHONE TURNED ON. GO AHEAD, KEEP SPEAKING. >> HARPER-MADISON: SURE, I WAS GOING TO SAY THAT ONE OF THE FINAL ITEMS I WANTED TO SPEAK ON WAS ITEM NUMBER 23. IT'S NOT EASY TO RUN A SMALL BUSINESS OR A NON-PROFIT. NOT EVEN IN, QUOTE, UNQUOTE, NORMAL TIMES. IN A PANDEMIC YOUR NON-PROFIT IS PROBABLY NOT ENJOYING ANY SORT OF TREMENDOUS OUTPOURING OF CHARITABLE DONATIONS RIGHT NOW. IT'S EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO RUN A SMALL BUSINESS WHEN STAY AT HOME ORDERS MEAN YOU LITERALLY HAVE NO BUSINESS. I WANT TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT ALL THE FOLKS THAT WERE BOLD AND BRAVE ENOUGH AND GENEROUS FRANKLY ENOUGH TO SHARE THEIR PERSONAL STORIES WITH US KNOW THAT WE HEAR YOU AND WE ARE DEFINITELY DOING WHAT WE CAN AS A BODY TO ADDRESS YOUR CONCERNS AND CONSIDERATIONS. THEY ARE OURS. I KNOW A LOT OF OWNERS RIGHT NOW, BUSINESS AND NON-PROFIT OWNERS, THAT ARE STRUGGLING WITH THE TOUGH CHOICE BETWEEN REOPENING AND PROTECTING THEIR WORKERS AND THEIR CUSTOMERS. AND YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE [INDISCERNIBLE] COWAN BROUGHT IT UP EARLIER AND THESE ARE TOUGH CHOICES AND WE ALL RECOGNIZE THAT. AND I THINK MOST OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE COMMENTED TODAY ABOUT HOW WE'RE BEING INNOVATIVE AND THINKING THROUGH HOW TO GET TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS CRISIS IN A WAY THAT WE HELPED AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE COULD. I ALSO REALLY APPRECIATE SOME OF THE SPEAKERS WHO BROUGHT UP THAT THIS IS AN IMPOSSIBLE SITUATION AND SO FREQUENTLY, MAYOR ADLER, LIKE YOU SAY, IT'S THE CHOICE BETWEEN A BAD DECISION AND A BAD DECISION. AND YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE IS GOING TO FALL BETWEEN THE CRACKS. AND THAT'S THE REALITY RIGHT NOW. AND WE ARE JUST SCRAMBLING AS A BODY AND AS A CITY, AS A COMMUNITY TO MAKE IT SO THAT THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN. SO I'M REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE THIS MOVING FORWARD. WE'VE SEEN THE ECONOMIC RESPONSE DASHBOARD, AND IT LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THIS CAN BE AN EFFECTIVE TOOL FOR TRANSPARENCY, WHICH WAS ALSO BROUGHT UP MULTIPLE TIMES TODAY. SO THIS IS ANOTHER ITEM THAT I'M VERY HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT. AND THEN LASTLY, THE COMMUNITY RESILIENCY PLAN. WHAT A GREAT ITEM TO BRING FORWARD. I KNOW THAT THERE WERE SOME FOLKS WHO EXPRESSED SOME CONCERNS AROUND EQUITY AND TRANSPARENCY WITH THIS ONE AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT THEY BROUGHT IT FORWARD BECAUSE EVEN IF IT WASN'T LAID OUT EXPLICITLY, IT CERTAINLY IS A PART OF OUR CONSIDERATION AND NOW OBVIOUSLY A PART OF THE DELIBERATION. YOU KNOW, THIS PANDEMIC REALLY CAUGHT EVERYBODY OFF GUARD, BUT WE CAN'T SAY THAT NOBODY WARNED US. WE'RE ONE OF THE WEALTHIEST CITIES IN THE WEALTHIEST COUNTRY, BUT THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS FOR GENERATIONS WE HAVE LET SO MANY NEIGHBORHOODS JUST HANG ON BY A THREAD AND NOW COVID-19 IS COMPOUNDING THE LACK OF ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE, GROCERY STORES, AS BROUGHT UP AGAIN BY MAYOR PRO TEM GARZA, LACK OF ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION AND QUALITY JOBS AND ECONOMIC MOBILITY. WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME IN MY MIND'S EYE TO FINALLY AND FULLY ADDRESS THE MAJOR INEQUITIES THAT ARE THE GREAT SHAME, FRANKLY, OF OUR CITY. I THINK THIS REALLY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CAN GET US MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION, ALTHOUGH NO ONE THING WILL BE THE MAGIC BULLET. I DO APPRECIATE THE EFFORT TO FIND FUNDING OUTSIDE OF THE GENERAL FUND, WHICH WE NEED TO DO MORE OF. AND IT'S BETTER FOR US ALL IF WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT. BUT AT THE SAME TIME I REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHALLENGE STAFF. AND THE FACT THAT STAFF IS STEPPING UP TO BE INNOVATIVE AND THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX AND CHANGE BUSINESS AS USUAL. AND BY THAT PART, I MEAN, WE CAN'T JUST SLAP TOGETHER ANOTHER SUPER HAPPY PLAN WITH PRETTY WORDS AND THEN THROW IT ON A SHELF. AND I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE FRUSTRATION THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC SOMETIMES FEELS WHEN WE CREATE POLICY. THEY WANT TO SEE THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF THE POLICY WE CREATE. AND THEY WANT TO SEE US DOCUMENT THAT RISES TO THE CHALLENGES OUR CITY FACES. I THINK SOME REALLY STRONG AND CLEAR DIRECTION THAT DOESN'T JUST TELL US ABOUT THE KIDS NATION, BUT REALLY SORT OF EXPLAIN -- THE DESTINATION, BUT REALLY EXPLAIN THE JOURNEY AND HOW WE'LL GET THERE IS SUPER CRITICAL. AND LASTLY I'LL SAY I THINK THIS IS THE MOMENT THAT 10-1 COUNCIL WAS MADE FOR. SO I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO US FULFILLING THE PROMISE OF TRUE REPRESENTATION. AND GIVEN OUR -- GIVING OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY THE EQUITY IT DESERVES. SO JUST REALLY PROUD TO VIRTUALLY SIT ON THIS DAIS WITH ALL OF YOU TODAY BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF REALLY STRONG, POWERFUL, LIFE CHANGING POLICY THAT'S GETTING PASSED ON THIS CONSENT AGENDA. SO THANK YOU ALL. [03:15:01] >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY. ANYONE ELSE TO SPEAK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? OKAY, I'M GOING TO CLOSE OUT ON THAT REAL FAST. I'M NOT GOING TO REPEAT WHAT EVERYBODY SAID. I THINK THERE'S SOME GREAT ITEMS ON THIS AGENDA THAT ARE REALLY DEALING WITH WHAT NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH FROM THE CHAIR THAT I'M SITTING IN RIGHT NOW, REAL HIGH PREFERENCE ON TRACING AND TESTING. BUT ALSO THE VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. AND A LOT OF THE WORK TODAY IN DEALING WITH THE VULNERABLE POPULATIONS IT IS HARD TO WATCH AND THOSE NUMBERS I THINK OVER TIME ARE GOING TO EVEN GET MORE APPARENT AS WE LOOK AT THE REFLECTION NOT ONLY OF HISTORIC FACTORS THAT ARE LEAVING PEOPLE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE, BUT'S AS WE BEGIN TO OPEN UP -- BUT AS WE OPEN UP THE ECONOMY, THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE LEAST OPPORTUNITIES TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE GOING TO STAY HOME ARE AGAIN IN A VERY CRUEL WAY OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. COUNCILMEMBER KITCHEN, I'M REAL APPRECIATIVE OF THE NURSING HOME ISSUE. THAT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT IS JUST ONE OF THE AREAS THAT WE HAVE TO GET UNDER CONTROL AND HAVE TO COCOON. WE HEARD FROM THE MODELER TALK ABOUT THAT, SO THANK YOU FOR TAKING THAT HEAD ON. WE HAVE TO PUSH ON THAT HARDER AND MORE COMPLETELY THAN WE ARE RIGHT NOW IF WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET AHEAD OF THAT AND BASICALLY TAKE THOSE PEOPLE OFF THE GRID AS WE START DOING WHAT THE GOVERNOR IS TELLING US TO DO. COUNCILMEMBER KITCHEN, WE CANNOT TALK TO EACH OTHER BECAUSE [INDISCERNIBLE] ON THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT. WE CAN LOOK AT IT OVER LUNCH. I LIKE ITEM NUMBER 59, WHICH TALKS ABOUT FUNDING. >> KITCHEN: 60 YOU MEAN? >> MAYOR ADLER: 60, YOU'RE CORRECT. YOU LISTED SOME POSSIBLE USES OF THE DOLLARS. I LIKE ALL OF THOSE. THAT PARAGRAPH THAT EXTENDS BETWEEN PAGE THREE AND PAGE FOUR. I THINK WE ALSO NEED TO INCLUDE IN THERE THE CONCEPT OF TO THE DEGREE THAT CONGRESS GIVES US THE ABILITY TO REPLACE REVENUE LOSS, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. I LOOKED AT PUTTING IT IN ONE OF THE OTHER BULLET POINTS, EXCEPT THAT THAT WAS MORE LIMITING THAN WHAT CONGRESS MAY GIVE US TO BE ABLE TO USE THAT REVENUE LOSS FOR. SO I HAD JUST PROPOSED IT AS A FIFTH BULLET POINT WHEREVER THEY WOULD LET US USE REVENUES, BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT THAT LET ME KNOW OR WE CAN [INDISCERNIBLE]. BUT THAT WAS JUST MY THINKING ON THAT. >> KITCHEN: MAYOR, I'LL TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT IT. I THINK IT'S FINE AS IT IS. I DON'T KNOW IF COLLEAGUES HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO SEE IT, BUT I WOULD ACCEPT IT AS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT. >> MAYOR ADLER: GREAT, THANK YOU. ALL THAT DOES IS SAY IN ALL THE THINGS THAT STAFF IS LOOKING AT THAT'S BEING ALSO ASKING THEM TO TAKE A LOOK AT USING THE MONEY FOR REVENUE REPLACEMENT AS ONE OF THE OPTIONS TO CONSIDER. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY OBJECTION TO THAT AMENDMENT BEING INCLUDED? IF NOT, WE'LL INCLUDE THAT AND THEN WE'LL LEAVE ITEM NUMBER 60 ON THE CONSENT AGENDA SO IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE CALLED UP SEPARATELY LATER. IS THAT OKAY? OKAY. THE AMENDMENTS IS INCLUDED WITH THE CONSENT AGENDA. ARE WE READY TO TAKE A VOTE? >> GARZA: IS 60 IS GOING -- IF 60 IS GOING ON CONSENT I WANTED TO CLARIFY. AND I APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER KITCHEN FOR TAKING MY AMENDMENT [INDISCERNIBLE] AND I WANTED TO BRIEFLY EXPLAIN WHAT I WAS TRYING TO ADDRESS THERE. AND THAT IS ANY SPECIFIC FUNDING THAT IS SPECIFIC FROM CERTAIN GRANTS, ONE THAT [INDISCERNIBLE], IF THAT MONEY CAN BE USED FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, AND I BELIEVE THAT MONEY IS ONE THAT CAN BE USED FOR LIKE DRUG TREATMENT AND REENTRY PROGRAMS, I WANT US TO PRIORITIZE THAT FUNDING. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT APD DID HAVE TO SUBMIT A PROPOSAL THAT WAS ACTUALLY ALREADY COMING. SO I'M NOT SURE WHETHER THEY CAN CHANGE THAT AT THIS POINT. OBVIOUSLY IF THEY CAN'T CHANGE T WE CAN'T CHANGE THAT. BUT IF THERE IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE FUNDING TO ORGANIZATIONS THAT -- OR IN OUR SOCIAL SERVICES BUDGET, TO REENTRY PROGRAMS OR MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS, THAT'S WHAT THAT AMENDMENT IS MEANT TO ADDRESS. >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY. ARE YOU OKAY WITH THAT AMENDMENT OR IS THAT AN AMENDMENT TO NUMBER 60 THAT WOULD HAVE US PULL 60? >> GARZA: SHE'S INCLUDED IT IN HER -- I BELIEVE, COUNCILMEMBER KITCHEN, IT'S IN THERE,. >> KITCHEN: YEAH. >> ALTER: MAYOR, AND IF I COULD JUST CLARIFY. I APPRECIATED MAYOR PRO TEM'S CLARIFICATION ON WHAT SHE MEANT BY THAT. I'M A CO-SPONSOR, BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT THAT PIECE. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE BROAD DIRECTION IS TO [03:20:05] SET UP THE SPENDING PLAN TO MAXIMIZE OUR ABILITY FOR COUNCIL TO ACCOMPLISH ALL OF OUR GOALS. AND SO IF SOMETHING WERE TO COME UP THAT THAT BALANCE DIDN'T MAKE SENSE, TO ALLOW US TO ACCOMPLISH THE GOALS THAT WE'VE EXPRESSED AS A COUNCIL THAT WE WOULD ACT TO LEVERAGE OUR ABILITY TO DO WHAT WE WANT AS A COUNCIL. I BELIEVE THAT WAS THE INTENTION. I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT. AND IT DOES SOUND LIKE THAT FROM WHAT MAYOR PRO TEM IS SAYING THERE THAT THEY WOULD DO THAT BECAUSE SOME OF THE THINGS, FOR INSTANCE, WITH THE JAG THEY COULDN'T DO FEMA MONEY FOR AND OTHER THINGS. SO I THINK THAT'S CONSISTENT. I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THE INTENTION OF THE. >> MAYOR ADLER: I THINK THAT'S A REALLY GOOD CLARIFICATION. MAYOR PRO TEM? >> GARZA: YES. >> MAYOR ADLER: AND I THINK THAT THE OVERALL ARCHING DIRECTION TO STAFF IS DON'T SEE THIS AS A RESTRICTIVE MEASURE. AS MUCH AS YOU CAN DO TO THE PRIORITIES YOU CAN, GIVE US OPTIONS FOR THIS CONVERSATION. >> KITCHEN: SO MAYOR, IT SOUNDS LIKE WE CAN PUT THIS ITEM BACK ON CONSENT. >> MAYOR ADLER: THAT WAS MY BELIEF AS WELL. SO ITEM NUMBER 60 IS BACK ON TO CONSENT. ALL RIGHT. LET'S TAKE A VOTE. YES, COUNCILMEMBER KITCHEN? >> KITCHEN: JUST VERY, VERY QUICK COMMENT ON ITEM NUMBER 60. I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY WORKING TOGETHER TO PULL THAT TOGETHER, AND I PARTICULARLY APPRECIATE THE CITY MANAGER AND OUR STAFF. WE GOT A REALLY GOOD BRIEFING ON TUESDAY AND WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS ON MAY 21E CATEGORIES AND SOME DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN THEM AS BUCKETS, UNDERSTANDING CONTINGENCY AND UNDERSTANDING THE KINDS OF GUIDANCE THAT WE HAVE IN THIS RESOLUTION. SO THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY. I THINK WE'RE ON A GOOD PATH TO HAVE THE DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW WE'RE USING OUR FEDERAL DOLLARS. >> MAYOR ADLER: SOUNDS GOOD. 60 WITH MY AMENDMENT IS NOW ON CONSENT. LET'S TAKE A VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE CONSENT AGENDA PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND? THOSE OPPOSED? IT'S UNANIMOUS ON THE DAIS. THE CONSENT AGENDA PASSES. IT IS 1:30. BUT WILDFIRE WE TAKE A BREAK --E A BREAK, ONE PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. COUNCILMEMBER TOVO, YOU AND I TALKED ABOUT RAISING AN ISSUE. >> TOVO: YEAH, MAYOR, I APPRECIATE IT. I WANTED TO ADDRESS A SITUATION I LEARNED ABOUT YESTERDAY. COLLEAGUES, YESTERDAY I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH FRANK FUENTES OF THE HISPANIC CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION, AND WAS REALLY DISTRESSED TO HEAR THAT SEVERAL OF HIS MEMBERS HAVE REPORTED INCIDENTS DURING WHICH RACIST, HATEFUL COMMENTS HAVE BEEN YELLED AT WORKERS ON CONSTRUCTION JOB SITES, WERE MADE TO CONSTRUCTION WORKERS IN OTHER SETTINGS. AND I KNOW ALL OF US CONDEMN THOSE ACTS OF HATE. BECAUSE WE HAD A CONVERSATION ON TUESDAY AT OUR WORK SESSION ABOUT INDUSTRIES, INCLUDING CONSTRUCTION, WHERE WORKERS ARE TESTING POSITIVE, IT SEEMED IMPORTANT TODAY TO RAISE IN THIS SETTING AND TO SEND A STRONG MESSAGE CONDEMNING THESE ACTS OF HATE AND REALLY URGING OUR COMMUNITY NOT TO TURN OUR FEARS OF THE VIRUS INTO FEARS OF OUR NEIGHBORS. IT IS CERTAINLY APPROPRIATE TO ENCOURAGE OUR EMPLOYERS IN ALL INDUSTRIES TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR WORKERS ARE PROVIDED WITH ADEQUATE SAFETY EQUIPMENT SO THAT THEIR EMPLOYEES CAN STAY AS SAFE AND HEALTHY AS POSSIBLE. I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER CASAR, YOU RAISED THIS IN A MESSAGE BOARD POST ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO ACTIVELY USE YOUR ON RESOURCES AND AUTHORITY TO ENSURE THAT EMPLOYERS ARE SUSTAIN IS SAFE WORKPLACES. AND I BELIEVE IT IS POSSIBLE THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN WORKERS' SAFETY AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY. SO AGAIN, I APPRECIATE MR. FUENTES FOR RAISING THIS ISSUE, AND CERTAINLY AGAIN WOULD ENCOURAGE OUR COMMUNITY TO REALLY COME TOGETHER AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT IN THIS TIME RESPONDING IN RACIST, HATEFUL WAYS. >> MAYOR ADLER: COUNCILMEMBER TOVO, THANK YOU FOR ADDRESSING THIS. I RECEIVED A CALL YESTERDAY AS WELL AS COMMUNICATION FROM MR. FUENTES. AND PAUL SALDANA. AND IT WAS REAL DISTRESSING TO HEAR. AND I THINK YOU COVERED IT REALLY, REALLY WELL. IN STRESSFUL TIMES LIKE THIS I THINK WE SEE BOTH THE BEST AND THE WORST. WE SEE INCREDIBLE SELFLESSNESS IN THIS COMMUNITY AND A WILLINGNESS [03:25:02] OF PEOPLE TO REALLY SACRIFICE AND COMPROMISE AND PUT AT RISK THEIR LIVES AND THEIR HEALTH TO HELP OTHERS. THEIR ECONOMIC WELL-BEING TO HELP OTHERS. THE ACT OF EVERYONE STAYING AT HOME WAS THE LARGEST DISPLAY OF SELFLESSNESS I HAVE EVER SEEN. AND WE SHOULD CELEBRATE THAT. THAT IS WHO WE ARE AT OUR BEST. BUT AS WE SAW EARLIER WITH THE ASIAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY AS WELL, AND NOW WITH THE REPORTS THAT WE'RE HEARING, STRESSFUL TIMES MAYBE BRING THAT OUT, AND THAT IS NO EXCUSE. AND IT REQUIRES ALL OF US TO REALLY REDOUBLE OUR EFFORTS. THERE IS NO SITTING IDLY BY AND SEEING THAT AND HEARING THAT AND NOT AFFIRMATIVELY ADDRESSING IT AND CONDEMNING IT. AND I KNOW THAT MEMBERS OF THIS COMMUNITY WILL JOIN IN DOING THAT. IT HAS NO PLACE HERE IN OUR CITY. THANK YOU FOR RAISING THAT ISSUE, COUNCILMEMBER. ANYTHING ELSE BEFORE WE TAKE OFF? ALL RIGHT. IT IS 1:33 NOW. DO WE WANT TO COME BACK AT 2:30, GIVE PEOPLE AN HOUR FOR LUNCH? AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK? WHEN WE COME BACK, COLLEAGUES, JUST TO GO OVER THE SCHEDULE, WHEN WE COME BACK WE ARE FIRST GOING TO TAKE UP THE NON-CONSENT ITEMS, THE AHFC, THE ELECTRIC CODE, THE TEXAS GAS RATES WILL BE THE FIRST THING THAT WE RAISE. SO ITEMS 28, TEXAS GAS, WILL GO FIRST, THEN THE OTHER NON-CONSENT ITEMS, 25, 28, 30, 31, 32, 63. THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT I THINK ARE GOING TO MOVE VERY QUICKLY. WE'LL THEN DO THE PULLED ITEMS. THE PULLED ITEMS FOR US ARE 22, 54, 56 AND 61. I WILL TAKE THE SPEAKERS ON ZONING FIRST WHEN WE COME UP SO THAT THEY CAN LEAVE. THERE WILL BE THREE SPEAKERS. AND THEN WE'LL GO INTO AUSTIN GAS. ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE TAKE A BREAK FOR THE NEXT 55 MINUTES? HEARING NONE, AT 1:35 THIS MORNING IS RECESSED. WE'LL RECONVENE >> YOU HAVE SIX. WE HAVE MORE THAN SIX. >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY. LET'S GO AHEAD AND -- IT IS 2:35. THIS IS THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON MAY 7TH. REMOTE MEETING. IS COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER-MADISON HERE? >> HARPER-MADISON: PRESENT. >> MAYOR ADLER: WHAT ABOUT PRO TEM GARZA? >> GARZA: HERE. >> MAYOR ADLER: COUNCIL MEMBER RENTERIA? WE DON'T HAVE PIO YET. >> RENTERIA: HE'S THERE. >> MAYOR ADLER: I SEE COUNCIL MEMBER CA SYRIA AS WELL. CAN YOU HEAR ME?SAR AS WELL. CAN YOU HEAR ME? IS COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN HERE? >> KITCHEN: YES, I'M HERE. >> MAYOR ADLER: WHAT ABOUT COUNCIL MEMBER FLANNIGAN? >> FLANNIGAN: I'M HERE. >> MAYOR ADLER: COUNCIL MEMBER POOL? >> POOL: YEP, I'M HERE. >> MAYOR ADLER: COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS? >> ELLIS: HERE. >> MAYOR ADLER: COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO? >> TOVO: I'M HERE. >> MAYOR ADLER: I CAN HEAR YOU, TOO. AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER IS HERE. >> ALTER: I'M HERE. >> MAYOR ADLER: ALL RIGHT. [Zoning Consent Agenda (Part 1 of 2)] SO, LET'S PICK UP. I SAID FIRST THING WE'RE GOING TO DO IS TO HEAR FROM THE SPEAKERS SO WE CAN LET THEM GO AND THEN WE'LL MOVE INTO THE TEXAS GAS RATES CASE. HOW WE DOING WITH SPEAKERS? I HAVE ZONING CASES TO CALL UP. IS MARIO CANTU HERE? >> MARIO CANTU IS HERE. >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY. WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD AND YOU CAN SPEAK TO US. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. >> OKAY, I JUST WANT TO MENTION ON THIS CASE, ON THE AGENDA THAT WE APPRECIATE MR. RIVERA WORKING WITH US AND WITH THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND THAT THOSE ARE GOING TO BE [03:30:01] SOME THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO BE -- WHERE WE'LL NEED TO BE LOOKING AT IN THE FUTURE. I THINK WE'VE BEEN KIND OF A LITTLE LAX ON MAKING BETTER MFI AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON THAT. SO I ASK COUNCIL TO REALLY KIND OF FOCUS ON THAT IN THE FUTURE. >> MAYOR ADLER: GREAT. >> THAT WILL BE IT. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR ADLER: THANK YOU, MARIO. IS JAMIE MOORE HERE? JAMIE MOORE, YOU HAVE TO PRESS STAR-6 IF YOU'RE HERE. WHAT ABOUT MAX ELLIOT? IS MAX ELLIOT HERE? S STAR-6. WHAT ABOUT MICHAEL RIVERA? >> HELLO. YES, MAYOR. YES, I'M HERE, BUT I WAS -- I'M REPRESENTING THE APPLICANT. I WAS ONLY READY TO SPEAK IN CASE THERE WERE ANY QUESTIONS. >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. RIVERA, I APPRECIATE THAT. IS JERRY HERE? >> YES, MAYOR, I AM. >> MAYOR ADLER: WHAT'S GOING TO BE THE RECOMMENDATION FROM 34? >> IT WILL BE FOR CONSENT APPROVAL ON SECOND AND THIRD READINGS. >> MAYOR ADLER: CONSENT ON SECOND AND THIRD. OKAY, IT LOOKS AS IF THAT'S GOING TO BE HEARD, AND WE JUST HEARD FROM MR. CANTU. ALL RIGHT. SO, LET'S DO THIS. LET'S FIRST DO THE TEXAS GAS CASE SO WE CAN LET THE ATTORNEYS GO. AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK AND DO THE CONSENT AGENDA, SO A LOT OF THE ZONING SPEAKERS CAN GO. [Item 28] LET'S BEGIN, STAFF, IF YOU'RE READY WITH THE GAS CASE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. JUST A BRIEF BACKGROUND. TEXAS GAS SERVICE FILED A STATEMENT OF INTENT -- >> MAYOR, I CAN'T HEAR ANYTHING. >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY. I THINK YOU NEED TO GET CLOSER TO YOUR MICROPHONE OR MOVE IT OFF SPEAKER. >> OKAY. I'VE GOT MY HEADPHONES ON. SORRY. >> MAYOR ADLER: I THINK WE'VE ALL MIGRATED OFF THEM, JUST USING THE COMPUTER SPEAKERS AND THE LIKE. >> OKAY. >> MAYOR ADLER: YOU'RE PERFECT. >> I'LL BEGIN AGAIN. ON DECEMBER 20TH OF 2019, TEXAS GAS SERVICE COMPANY FILED A STATEMENT OF INTENT TO INCREASE -->> MAYOR ADLER: HOLD ON ONE SECOND. DO YOU HAVE LIKE A PHONE ON OR SOMETHING ELSE? >> NO. >> MAYOR ADLER: UM -- >> GETTING FEEDBACK, THOUGH, I CAN HEAR IT. GO AHEAD AND TALK, AND LET'S SEE IF WE CONTINUE TO GET IT. >> MAYOR ADLER: GOOD AFTERNOON, AND MAYOR AND COUNCIL. RONDELLA HAWKINS. ON DECEMBER 20TH OF 2019, TEXAS GAS SERVICE COMPANY FILED A STATEMENT OF INTENT TO INCREASE GAS RATES IN ALL MUNICIPALITIES, EXERCISING ORIGINAL JURISDICTION WITHIN THE CITY OF BEAUMONT, THE CENTRAL TEXAS SERVICE AREA, WHICH INCLUDES AUSTIN, AND GULF COAST SERVICE AREA, EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 6TH OF 2020. SIMULTANEOUSLY, THE COMPANY SUBMITTED THEIR RATE APPLICATION TO THE RAILROAD COMMISSION, WHICH HAS APPELLATE AUTHORITY OVER THE CITY'S RATE ACTIONS. IN ITS APPLICATION, THE COMPANY IS SEEKING TO INCREASE RATES BY $15,670,445 PER YEAR. IN ADDITION, THEY ARE PROPOSING TO CONSOLIDATE THEIR CENTRAL TEXAS AND GULF COAST SERVICE AREAS, AND THEY'RE ALSO PROPOSING A NEW RESIDENTIAL RATE DESIGN AND NUMEROUS TARIFF CHANGES. CITIES ARE REGULATORY AUTHORITIES WITH ORIGINAL JURISDICTION OVER GAS RATES, OPERATIONS AND SERVICES WITHIN THEIR CITY LIMITS. TAKING EFFECT FOR 90 DAYS UNTIL MAY 6TH OF 2020, WHICH HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO JUNE 5TH DUE TO A CHANGE IN PROCEDURAL SCHEDULE. DURING THIS TIME, THE CITY JOINED THE COALITION OF 18 CITIES TO FACILITATE ITS REVIEW AND PREPARE A COMMON RESPONSE TO THE RATE REQUEST. IN ADDITION, THE CITY ENGAGED EXPERTS TO ANALYZE THE FILING TO CONDUCT THE DISCOVERY AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS. THE EXPERTS HAVE DETERMINED THAT THE PROPOSED RATE INCREASE AND SYSTEM CONSOLIDATION ARE UNREASONABLE. THE EXPERTS ALSO DETERMINED THAT THE COMPANY'S PROPOSAL RESIDENTIAL RATE DESIGN ENCOURAGES CONSUMPTION. THE PARTIES ARE ENGAGED IN ONGOING SETTLEMENT DISCUSSIONS, BUT HAVE NOT REACHED AN AGREEMENT. THE TIME HAS COME TO TAKE FINAL ACTION ON A REQUEST BASED UPON [03:35:05] THE EXPERT'S REVIEW, WE ADVISE THE CITY COUNCIL TO DENY THE COMPANY'S RATE REQUEST. THE ORDINANCE BEFORE YOU DOES THE FOLLOWING THREE THINGS. IT FINDS THE RATES PROPOSED BY TEXAS GAS ARE UNREASONABLE AND SHALL BE DENIED. IT REQUIRES TGS TO MAINTAIN ITS EXISTING RATES WITHIN THE CITY. AND IT DIRECTS TGF TO REIMBURSE THE CITY'S REASONABLE RATE CASE EXPENSES. ONCE COUNCIL ADOPTS THE ORDINANCE, THE COMPANY WILL HAVE 30 DAYS TO APPEAL THE DECISION TO THE RAILROAD COMMISSION, WHERE IT WILL BE CONSOLIDATED WITH PENDING CASE AT THE COMMISSION. CURRENTLY, THE COMMISSION HAS UNTIL AUGUST 4TH TO MAKE A FINAL DECISION ON THE RATE REQUEST. AFTER WHICH TIME, WE WILL COME BACK TO COUNCIL FOR ADOPTION OF FINAL RATE. OUTSIDE COUNSEL, MR. THOMAS BROCATO AND I ARE ABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE, AND ALSO WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT LARRY GRAHAM WITH TEXAS GAS SERVICE MAY WANT TO MAKE SOME REMARKS. THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR ADLER: MR. GRAHAM, DO YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING? >> YES, MR. MAYOR, JUST A FEW WORDS. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. LARRY GRAHAM WITH TEXAS GAS SERVICE. GOOD TO BE WITH YOU THIS AFTERNOON, EVEN UNDER THESE UNIQUE CONDITIONS. I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SAY A FEW QUICK THINGS. FIRST, TEXAS GAS SERVICE CONTINUES TO OPERATE DURING THE PANDEMIC AND PROVIDING THE VIABLE NATURAL GAS SERVICE TO OUR CUSTOMERS IN AUSTIN. WE ARE PRIORITIZING THE SAFE AND HEALTH OF OUR CUSTOMERS AND EMPLOYEES. LIKE MOST BUSINESS, WE'VE HAD TO MAKE CHANGES TO OPERATIONS OF PRACTICES IN THE FIELD. IN RECOGNITION OF THE CURRENT ECONOMIC SITUATION, BACK IN MARCH, WE SUSPENDED ALL DISCONNECTS FOR NONPAYMENT, CURRENTLY THROUGH MAY 15TH. WE HAVE A VARIETY OF PAYMENT OPTIONS AND ALTERNATIVE PAYMENT PLANS FOR OUR CUSTOMERS. WE CONTINUE TO WORK AND COMMUNICATE WITH TRAVIS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AS THEY ADMINISTER OR CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE SIFUNDS. RECENTLY, WE MADE A CONTRIBUTION TO OUR CORPORATE FOUNDATION, THE UNITED WAY FOUNDATION TO HELP PROVIDE IMMEDIATE RELIEF FOR NON-PROFITS AND PEOPLE MOST AFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC. AND WE'LL ALSO HAVE IT PAID ON THE WEBSITE FOR CUSTOMERS WHO NEED FINANCIAL HELP WITH THEIR BILLS. WE FILED THE CASE DECEMBER 20TH WELL BEFORE THE PANDEMIC. WE HAVE VOLUNTARILY AGREED TO EXTEND THE DEADLINE, SO THE NEW RATES WILL GO INTO EFFECT IN LIGHT OF CHALLENGES OF THE CURRENT SITUATION. WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE CITIES, AND -- ACTIVELY PARTICIPATED UP TO THIS POINT. FINALLY, THE HEADQUARTERS OF TEXAS GAS SERVICE, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING CUSTOMERS IN THE CITY AND WORKING COOPERATIVELY WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN IN YEARS TO COME AS WE ALL RECOVER FROM THE PANDEMIC. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. >> MAYOR ADLER: THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES, ANY DISCUSSION? IS THERE A MOTION TO -->> KITCHEN: I HAVE A QUESTION. >> MAYOR ADLER: COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN. >> KITCHEN: WE RECEIVED SOME RECOMMENDATIONS OR REQUESTS FROM DIFFERENT MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. MR. ROBINS TESTIFIED TO THAT. THIS VOTE IS -- HAS THE STAFF LOOKED AT THOSE SUGGESTIONS OR REQUESTS? AND IS THERE A HALF OR A PROCESS FOR CONSIDERING THEM? >> WE ARE AWARE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND ARE CERTAINLY INCORPORATING THOSE INTO OUR DISCUSSIONS AND NEGOTIATIONS INTO THE RATE SETTLEMENT. AND WE HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATING REGULARLY WITH MR. ROBINS. REGARDING THOSE. >> KITCHEN: AND SO ALL OF THEM HAVE BEEN INCORPORATED INTO THE PROCESS? >> ALL OF THEM -- THOMAS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO RESPOND? >> SURE, I CAN DO THAT. [03:40:04] >> GOOD AFTERNOON, THIS IS THOMAS BROCATO. I PREPARED A MEMO. I'M NOT SURE IF YOU RECEIVED IT. KIND OF SUMMARIZING THIS MATTER. IN THAT MEMO, I ALSO ADDRESSED THE ISSUES THAT WERE RAISED BY MR. ROBINS. ADDITIONALLY, I PROVIDED THE STAFF SOME ADDITIONAL COMMENTS WITH RESPECT TO THE PETITIONS THAT HE INCLUDED IN THE LETTER THAT I THINK HE PROVIDED TO THE MAYOR AND TO COUNCIL MEMBERS EARLIER THIS WEEK. AND YESTERDAY, I HAD A 30-MINUTE CALL WITH HIM. AND IN THAT CALL, I ENCOURAGED HIM TO REURGE HIS INTERVENTION IN THE RAILROAD COMMISSION PROCEEDINGS AS SOON AS THE CITY TAKES FINAL ACTION AND MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, HE BRINGS THOSE ISSUES TO LIGHT AS WE CONTINUE SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATION. IN DIRECT RESPONSE TO YOUR QUESTION, YES, WE'VE VISITED WITH HIM REPEATEDLY. WE SUPPORT THE POSITIONS THAT HE'S TAKEN BY AND LARGE. MAYBE NOT TO THE DEGREE THAT HE'S URGED THEM. BUT WE CERTAINLY HAVE TAKEN THEM INTO ACCOUNT. >> KITCHEN: YEAH, I'M ASKING, BECAUSE THERE'S, LIKE, NINE ORGANIZATIONS IN ADDITION TO -- WELL, EIGHT IN ADDITION TO MR. ROBINS WHO HAVE HIGHLIGHTED FOUR SPECIFIC THINGS THAT THEY THOUGHT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED. SO, I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS. BUZZ WHAT WE'D BE DOING TODAY IS DENYING, AND TECAUSE WHAT WE'D Y IS DENYING, AND THEN IT'S APPEALED. AND AS PART OF THE APPEAL, IF I'M HEARING YOU CORRECTLY, AS PART OF THE APPEAL, THESE THINGS CAN BE CONSIDERED; IS THAT RIGHT? >> THAT'S CORRECT. AND I DIDN'T MEAN TO EXCLUDE THE OTHERS. FRANKLY, I WAS UNAWARE OF THEIR INVOLVEMENT UNTIL EARLIER THIS WEEK WHEN THEY SUBMITTED THE LETTER. BUT I'M AWARE THOSE ARE THE SAME ISSUES THAT MR. ROBINSON IS ADVOCATING FOR. >> KITCHEN: WELL, I'LL JUST READ THEM REAL QUICKLY SO WE HAVE THEM ON THE RECORD. ONE IS TO ESTABLISH A WELL-FUNDED CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR LOW AND MODERATE INCOME RATE PAYERS. THE SECOND IS TO RESTRUCTURE RESIDENTIAL RATES BY CUTTING THE MONTHLY FEE AND CHARGING A PREMIUM TO HIGH USERS. THE THIRD IS TO ESTABLISH A RENEWABLE ENERGY RESEARCH FUND. AND THE FOURTH IS TO COLLECT FULL CAPITAL RECOVERY FEES. AND WHAT I'M UNDERSTANDING YOU SAY IS THAT NEXT STEP IN THE PROCESS IS THE APPEAL PROCESS, AND THESE TYPES OF THINGS CAN BE CONSIDERED AS PART OF THAT? >> CORRECT. >> KITCHEN: OR AS PART OF ANY SETTLEMENT THAT OCCURS? >> THAT IS ALSO CORRECT. INDEED, OF THE PART OF OUR COALITION, 17 HAVE TAKEN ACTION. JUST AN HOUR AGO, TGF APPEALED THE DECISIONS, THE DENIAL DECISION FOR A HANDFUL OF THOSE OTHER CITIES AND THEY WILL CONTINUE TO APPEAL THOSE. AND THOSE APPEALS WILL BE ROLLED INTO THE PENDING RAILROAD COMMISSION CASE. >> KITCHEN: OKAY, THANK YOU. >> MAYOR ADLER: THANK YOU. IS THERE A MOTION TO DENY THE RATE REQUEST ON ITEM NUMBER 28? COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER MAKES THE MOTION. SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POOL. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? >> TOVO: MAYOR, I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THE DENIAL. AS COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN JUST ARTICULATED, THERE ARE PARTICULAR RECOMMENDATIONS AND SO I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THE DENIAL WITH THE ADDITIONAL DIRECTION THEY SUPPORT THAT OUR STAFF USE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM COMMUNITY ADVOCATES, INCLUDING -- THAT WERE INCLUDED AN CONTAINED WITHIN THE LETTER THAT WAS SENT BY TIM ROBBINS. >> MAYOR ADLER: SO YOU'RE SUGGESTING ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTION? >> TOVO: I SAY THAT WE DENY IT TODAY WITH THE ADDITIONAL DRAX TO STAFF THAT THEY CONSIDER THE RECOMMENDATIONS, ALTHOUGH THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WERE CONTAINED WITHIN THAT LETTER. >> MAYOR ADLER: THAT THEY CONSIDER THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS? ANYBODY HAVE ANY OBJECTION TO THAT? HEARING NONE, THAT DIRECTION TO CONSIDER THAT IS ADDED. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION TO DENY THE RATE INCREASE? TAKE A VOTE THEN. THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THOSE OPPOSED. APPEARS TO ME THAT EVERYONE ON THE DAIS VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE [03:45:01] DENIAL OF THE RATE INCREASE. OKAY. LET'S GO TO THE NEXT ITEM. >> MAYOR ADLER: JERRY, YOU WANT [Zoning Consent Agenda (Part 2 of 2)] TO TAKE US THROUGH THE CONSENT AGENDA REAL FAST ON ZONING? >> SURE. JERRY WITH THE PLANNING AND ZONING DEPARTMENT. ITEM 34. STAFF IS OFFERING THIS CASE FOR CONSENT APPROVAL ON SECOND AND THIRD READING. THIS IS THE CASE THAT MR. CANTU SPOKE OF EARLIER. ITEM 35 IS CASE C-1420020. STAFF IS REQUESTING A POSTPONEMENT OF THIS ITEM TO MAY 21ST. ITEM 36. THIS IS A POSTPONEMENT REQUEST BY THE APPLICANT TO JUNE 11TH. ITEM 37. THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING A POSTPONEMENT OF THIS CASE TO JUNE 11TH. ITEM 38, A POSTPONEMENT REQUEST BY THE STAFF TO JUNE 4TH. ITEM 39 IS C-14-2019-0003. THIS IS POSTPONEMENT REQUEST BY THE STAFF TO MAY 21ST. ITEM 40 IS C-14-85-288.8, POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO MAY 21ST. ITEM 41 IS C14-2020-0015. POSTPONEMENT REQUEST BY THE STAFF TO MAY 21ST. ITEM 42 IS C-14-2019-0137. THIS IS THE DELWAU CAMPGROUNDS CASE. STAFF RECOMMENDING APPROVAL ON SECOND READING ONLY. >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY. >> AND THAT CONCLUDES THE ZONING, MAYOR. AND IF I COULD, WHEN WE'RE DONE WITH THE ZONING, I'D LIKE TO DO ONE OF THE NONCONSENT PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS AS RELATED TO THE CASE I JUST READ. THAT WOULD BE ITEM 29. >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY. AND IT WOULD BE POSTPONING ITEM NUMBER 29 TO -- >> JUNE 11TH, THE DATE CHANGED THIS MORNING 678 >> MAYOR ADLER: TO JUNE 11TH. OKAY. WE'LL GET THERE IN JUST A SECOND. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA ON ZONING? COUNCIL MEMBER POOL MAKES A MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? I NEED A SECOND. >> I'LL SECOND. THERE'S A COUPLE HANDS UP. >> MAYOR ADLER: I JUST CAN'T SEE THE HANDS. SO I APPRECIATE THAT. COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS SECOND THAT. ANY DISCUSSION ON THE ZONING CONSENT AGENDA? SEEING NONE AND HEARING NONE, LET'S TAKE A VOTE, THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE CONSENT AGENDA, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THOSE OPPOSED. I DON'T SEE ANY NO HANDS. ARE THERE ANY? >> MAYOR, I JUST NEED TO CONFIRM THAT THE DELWAU CASE IS NOT ON CONSENT, RIGHT? I SAW WE HAS SOME SPEAKERS. >> MAYOR ADLER: FOR SECOND READING ONLY. >> IT IS ON CONSENT? >> MAYOR ADLER: FOR SECOND READING ONLY. >> I THOUGHT WE HAD SOME SPEAKERS WHO WERE -- YOU CALLED ONE OF THEM, MAX ELLIOT. WAS HE NOT AVAILABLE? >> MAYOR ADLER: I CALLED FOR THE SPEAKERS EARLIER AND I RECOGNIZED EVERYBODY WHO WAS HERE. >> I SEE. I'M GOING TO VOTE AGAINST THAT AND I WANT TO MAKE A QUICK COMMENT. WE HAD, YOU KNOW, GOING BACK THROUGH SOME OF THE EARLIER TRANSSCRIPTS ON THAT, AND THE FIRST TIME IT CAME THROUGH IN AUGUST 2018, THERE WAS A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT MAKING IT AN EVENT SPACE, HAVING PEOPLE COME AND KIND OF ENJOY THEIR TIME IN THAT AREA. WE HEARD LOTS OF CONCERN FROM THE NEARBY RESIDENTS ABOUT THE APPROPRIATENESS OF THAT SITE FOR THAT USE. ON OUR LAST COUNCIL MEETING, WE HAD NEARBY NEIGHBORS EXPRESS SOME SIMILAR CONCERNS. AND IN THE COURSE OF THAT CONVERSATION ON THE DAIS, THE APPLICANT INDICATED THAT ACTUALLY THE INTENT WAS TO CREATE LONG-TERM HOUSING, WHICH WAS NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE CONVERSATIONS THAT HAD GONE ON BEFORE THAT. AND I DON'T BELIEVE ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE CONVERSATIONS THEY'RE HAVING WITH PLANNING COMMISSION. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO CALL THAT OUT. WE'LL HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITY ON THIRD READING HOPEFULLY TO HEAR FROM NEIGHBORS ABOUT THAT. EMAILS AND SUPPORT OVER THIS LAST WEEK TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS REZONING FOR TOURISM. SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S SHIFTED -- THE PURPOSE OF IT HAS SHIFTED DEPENDING ON WHICH DIRECTION THE CONVERSATION WENT. BUT I THOUGHT WE HEARD COMPELLINGLY FROM MAX ELLIOT OF URBAN ROOTS AND FROM SOME OF THOSE NEARBY NEIGHBORS THAT THE KIND OF USES BEING CONTEMPLATED FOR THIS SITE WOULD BE PRETTY IMPACTFUL GIVEN THE NATURE OF THAT ROAD AND THE NATURE OF THAT PARTICULAR AREA AND ITS IMPACT ON SURROUNDING NEIGHBORS. SO, I LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATION ON THIRD READING, [03:50:01] AND HOPE THAT WE CAN HEAR FROM SOME OF THE RESIDENTS AND REALLY GET A CONCRETE UNDERSTANDING FROM THE APPLICANT OF WHAT THE INTENT IS HERE. >> MAYOR ADLER: SOUNDS GOOD. WE'LL DO THAT ON THIRD READING. >> IN THE MEANTIME I'M AVAILABLE. >> MAYOR ADLER: I CAN NOW SEE EVERYBODY'S HANDS. COUNCIL MEMBER POOL, THEN COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER-MADISON, THEN COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER. >> POOL: GREAT. KATHY, THANKS FOR FLAGGING THAT. I HAD ANTICIPATED THAT WE WOULD HEAR FROM THE URBAN ROOTS FOLKS, TOO. WE DID GET A REALLY GOOD LETTER FROM URBAN ROOTS EXPLAINING THE IMPACT, THE ECONOMIC IMPACT AND THE PHYSICAL IMPACT THAT THE VIRUS IS HAVING ON THEIR OPERATIONS, AND SO I WANT TO -- AND I ALSO KNOW THAT THE NEIGHBORS HAVE BEEN TALKING WITH THE APPLICANT IN TRYING TO FIND A REASONABLE COMPROMISE TO ADDRESS THEIR CONCERNS. SO I'D LIKE TO SHOW MY VOTE AS AN ABSTENTION. I VOTED NO ON FIRST READING. I'M GOING TO ABSTAIN THIS TIME TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK THAT POSSIBLY HOPEFULLY IS UNDER WAY WITH THE NEIGHBORS, AND THEN ALSO IN SOME HOPES THAT WE ARE FOCUSING ON THE LEGITIMATE CONCERNS THAT ARE ALSO BEING EXPRESSED BY THE FOLKS AT URBAN ROOTS. THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT PROGRAM, AND THEIR OPERATIONS ARE REALLY VITAL TO THE COMMUNITY. AND THIS -- I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF WE APPROVE WANT TO MAKEE APPROVE SOMETHING IN THIS AREA THAT IT DOES NOT HAVE LONG-LASTING AND NEGATIVE AFFECTS ON THAT ORGANIZATION. SO SHOW ME AS AN ABSTENTION ON THAT ITEM. >> MAYOR ADLER: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER HARPER-MADISON. >> HARPER-MADISON: THANKS FOR RECOGNIZING ME. YEAH, I ALSO HAVE HEARD A GREAT DEAL FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS IN DISTRICT 1, BOTH IN OPPOSITION AND IN SUPPORT. AND ON MY END I PERCEIVE MORE IN THE WAY OF SUPPORT. SO I LOOK TOO FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US AS A BODY TO HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE AND NOT JUST A HANDFUL OF FOLKS WHICH I'M GETTING SOME PUSH BACK ON THE END OF SUPPORT, IN THAT THE SUPPORTED VOICES AREN'T BEING AS AMPLIFIED AS THE OPPOSITION. MY OFFICE HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE APPLICANT HERE -- I'M SORRY? >> MAYOR ADLER: KEEP GOING. >> HARPER-MADISON: AND THE NEIGHBORS, FRANKLY. AND IT HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN -- THANKS TO EVERYONE BEING STRETCHED THIN BY THE PANDEMIC, RIGHT? SO I LOOK FORWARD TO MORE CONVERSATION. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE NEGOTIATIONS HAVE BEEN PRODUCTIVE, THOUGH, AND THAT THERE'S A CONSENSUS TO MOVE FORWARD ON THE SECOND READING WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE NEIGHBORS, FOR URBAN ROOTS, WHICH I ALSO HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF RESPECT AND APPRECIATION FOR, AND THE APPLICANT. AND SO I'M CERTAINLY LOOKING FORWARD TO US HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO FACILITATE A CONVERSATION AND HOPE BOTH SIDES WILL KEEP UP THEIR COLLABORATION IN THE INTERIM AND HOPEFULLY AT THE END OF THE DAY MY HOPE IS THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO MAKE A DEAL THAT EVERYONE WILL BE OKAY WITH BY THE TIME IT COMES TO THE DAIS AGAIN. SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING PROGRESS HERE AND I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT WE WILL. >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER ALTER. >> ALTER: I'M NOT GOING TO REPEAT WHAT EVERYONE ELSE HAS SAID. I'M GOING TO VOTE NO ON THIS READING AND LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING MORE ON THE THIRD READING. >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY. WITH THOSE NOTATIONS MADE, THE MOTION IS ON CONSENT. COUNCILMEMBER RENTERIA? >> RENTERIA: YES. AND I'M GOING TO BE SUPPORTING THIS. MY CONSTITUENTS THAT JUST LIVE DIRECTLY SOUTH OF THIS LOCATION THERE, AND IT'S -- AND THEY LIVE IN AN AREA THERE THAT HAVE NOTHING, NO GROCERIES, THERE'S NO ENTERTAINMENT CENTER THERE. IT JUST -- AND IT'S A HUGE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT 183 JUST DIVIDED THEM AND ISOLATED THEM BECAUSE THEY DID AWAY WITH BOLM ROAD, THE ONLY ACCESS THEY HAD TO H.E.B.'S. NOW THEY HAVE TO GET FURTHER OUT TO GET AROUND THERE. AND THAT'S WHY I SUPPORTED IT THE FIRST TIME, AND ALSO GOING TO BE SUPPORTING IT THIS TIME BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, MICROSTATIONS REALLY WANT TO BE ABLE TO -- MY CONSTITUENTS REALLY WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WHAT'S OUT THERE AND RIGHT NOW THERE'S NOTHING. >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY. THERE'S BEEN A MOTION AND A SECOND. THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE CONSENT AGENDA? >> MAYOR? >> MAYOR, SORRY TO INTERRUPT, THIS IS JERRY RUSTHOVEN, ONE CORRECTION, ITEM 41 WAS TOLL A POSTPONEMENT TO JUNE -- WAS ACTUALLY A POSTPONEMENT TO JUNE 4TH. >> MAYOR ADLER: JUNE 4TH. ALL RIGHT, MOTION AND A SECOND WITH SOME INDICATED VOTES. [03:55:01] WE READY TO TAKE A VOTE? THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE CONSENT AGENDA RAISE YOUR HAND? THOSE OPPOSED? IT'S UNANIMOUS ON THE DAIS EXCEPT FOR AS INDICATED ON ITEM NUMBER 42, WHICH PASSES ON SECOND READING. ALL RIGHT. THAT IS THE ZONING AGENDA. LET'S DO THEN THE NON-PULLED [Austin Housing and Finance Corporation Meeting] ITEMS. AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION? LET'S GO AHEAD AND RECESS THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HERE AT 3:03 ON MAY 7TH AT 3:03, WE'RE GOING TO CONVENE THE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION. EVERYONE, ALL THE DIRECTORS ARE PRESENT. DOES STAFF WANT TO TAKE US THROUGH OUR AGENDA? >> SURE. THIS IS MANDY DE MAYO, AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION. WE HAVE SIX ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA WHICH I WILL OFFER FOR CONSENT. I WILL BRIEFLY RUN THROUGH THEM. ITEM NUMBER ONE IS PREVIOUS MARCH AND APRIL NINTH BOARD MEETING, MEETING MINUTES. ITEM NUMBER TWO IS AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A LOAN AGREEMENT WITH DMA DEVELOPMENT FOR 2 MILLION -- [BACKGROUND]. >> MAYOR ADLER: I THINK SOMEONE MIGHT HAVE THEIR PHONE ON. PLEASE PROCEED. >> OKAY. ITEM NUMBER TWO IS A TWO-MILLION-DOLLAR LOAN AGREEMENT WITH DMA DEVELOPMENT FOR A SENIOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN DISTRICT 6 TO BE KNOWN AS ARBOR PARK. ITEM NUMBER THREE IS A LOAN AGREEMENT WITH AUSTIN HABITAT FOR HUMANITY FOR 1.053 MILLION, PERSIMMON AT MEADOW LAKE. THAT IS LOCATED IN DISTRICT 2. ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A LOAN AGREEMENT WITH ASCENSION DAY RESIDENCE $2.5 MILLION FOR A COOPERATIVE HOUSING COMMUNITY TO BE KNOWN AS NORTH LAMAR MOBILE HOME PARK. THAT IS LOCATED IN DISTRICT 4. ITEM NUMBER 5 IS AN APPROXIMATE 1.4-MILLION-DOLLAR LOAN DEVELOPMENT FOR A HOUSING DEVELOPMENT TO BE LOCATED IN DISTRICT 7 KNOWN AS TALIA HOMES AT LAMP POST. AND ITEM NUMBER SIX IS THE AUTHORIZATION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A LOAN AGREEMENT WITH FOUNDATION COMMUNITIES FOR 2.95 MILLION FOR A MULTI-FAMILY RENTAL DEVELOPMENT TO BE KNOWN AS THE MARIETTA. AND THAT IS LOCATED IN DISTRICT 6. I OFFER THESE ON CONSENT, AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. AND IN ADDITION, SHOULD THERE BE ANY QUESTIONS WE CANNOT ANSWER, WE DO HAVE FOLKS ON THE LINE REPRESENTING ALL OF THESE DEVELOPERS. >> MAYOR ADLER: THANK YOU. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT? COUNCILMEMBER CASAR MAKES THE MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? >> POOL: I'LL SECOND. >> MAYOR ADLER: COUNCILMEMBER POOL SECONDS. AND AGAIN, I CAN NOW SEE EVERYBODY ON THE -- WHEN YOU RAISE YOUR HANDS. DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? COUNCILMEMBER CASAR, THEN COUNCILMEMBER RENTERIA. >> CASAR: MAYOR, I'VE GOT THOSE VIDEOS AND STUFF TO SHOW, AND SO IF COUNCILMEMBER RENTERIA HAS A QUESTION OR WANTS TO HANDLE THAT, I'LL DEFER TO HIM FIRST. >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER RENTERIA? >> RENTERIA: YES. I WANT TO HAVE A SHORT COMMENT. I REALLY WANT TO [INAUDIBLE] >> MAYOR ADLER: CAN'T HEAR YOU, PIO. CAN YOU GET CLOSER TO THE MIC. >> RENTERIA: CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? >> MAYOR ADLER: MUCH BETTER, THANK YOU. >> RENTERIA: I WANT TO THANK THE HOUSING STAFF FOR WHAT THEY BROUGHT TO US TODAY. YOU KNOW, NORMALLY YOU WILL SEE A LOT OF DISTRICT 1 AND DISTRICT 2 IN THESE TYPE OF HOUSING PROGRAMS, BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEING SCATTERED AROUND TOWN NOW. THERE ARE ALL THESE DIFFERENT DISTRICTS AND I REALLY WANT TO SAY JUST THANK YOU. >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? >> CASAR: THANK YOU. I REALLY WANT TO THANK STAFF. I HAVE A LIST OF THANK YOU YEARS RELATED TO THE ITEM IN DISTRICT 4 AND THEN THE VIDEOS THAT WERE GOING TO GET PLAYED BY THE SPEAKERS DURING THE CITIZEN COMMUNICATION. BUT I REALLY WANT TO THANK THE HOUSING STAFF AND EVERYBODY INVOLVED IN THIS. I REALLY WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY ON THE KEEP AUSTIN AFFORDABLE TEAM THAT GOT THE BONDS PASSED TO GET US HERE. AND FOR THE NORTH LAMAR MOBILE HOME COMMUNITY FROM DISTRICT 4. I WANT TO THANK BASTA, ALL THE ORGANIZERS WHO MADE IT HAPPEN. THERE ARE SO MANY THAT IT TOOK, GABBY, ALEJANDRA, ANDY, DREW, SOPHIE, THE UT LAW TEAM, FRANCES MARTINEZ [04:00:03] THAT WORKED ON THIS, ALL THE INTERPRETERS THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR YEARS, SUSANA, HOWARD. I WANT TO THANK BRADEN, SOPHIE AND STEPHANIE ON MY TEAM. SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR OVER FIVE YEARS WITH ME TO GET US TO THIS POINT AND SHOW SHANA AND BASTA FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR THAT ENTIRE ORGANIZATION AND ROBERT DOGGETT FOR FILING THE INITIAL LAWSUIT THAT GOT THE NORTH LAMAR COMMUNITY SAVED AND TO THIS POINT WHERE WE CAN SAVE IN PERPETUITY. I WANT TO THANK THE CURRENT AND PAST BOARDS OF ARNEL. I WANT TO THANK MARGARITA SANCHEZ, BOARDS DIANE, JESSICA, SO MAYOR, IF YOU'LL INDULGE ME FOR A SECOND, I THINK WE WANT TO PLAY THOSE TWO VIDEOS, THAT VIDEO THAT GOT SENT OVER TO US. >> MAYOR ADLER: SOUNDS GOOD, IF STAFF COULD PLAY THOSE VIDEOS. >> ROBERTO SANCHEZ >> HELLO, MY NAME IS FELIX AND I LIVE HERE AT NORTH LAMAR TRAILER PARK. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANKS FOR THE MONEY THAT Y'ALL PROVIDED FOR THE COMMUNITY HERE. WE TRULY APPRECIATE IT. AND I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE MY SISTER'S KIDS. SHE'S NOT HERE, SHE'S WORKING AND ONE OF HER OLDER KIDS IS NOT HERE. >> ALL RIGHT. HE'S THE SECOND OLDEST, STEPHAN. AND HE'S THE THIRD, JUANITO. AND JAYLE IS THE YOUNGEST, AND THESE ARE OUR TWO DOGS. WE LIVE IN LOT 71. I'VE BEEN LIVING HERE FOR EIGHT YEARS, I THINK, MAYBE A LITTLE MORE. WE ALSO HAVE TWO BIRDS. BUT, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANKS FOR THE HELP. WE TRULY APPRECIATE IT. >> HELLO. MY NAME IS JENNIFER SALAZAR AND I AM THE SECRETARY HERE AT ARNL. I HAVE LIVED IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR ABOUT 17 YEARS. AND I WANTED TO MAKE THIS VIDEO JUST TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR HELPING US WITH THIS GRANT, WITH THIS MONEY THAT IS GOING TO BE PUT TO WORK PURCHASING OUR OWN COMMUNITY. WE FEEL VERY GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE THE SUPPORT OF MR. GREG CASAR. HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN HERE TO HELP US AND HE'S VERY INVOLVED WITH US AS A COMMUNITY. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AND THAT WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO HELP COMMUNITIES LIKE OURS. THANK YOU. [04:05:47] >> THANK YOU, CITY COUNCIL, FOR ALL YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> CASAR: MAYOR, IF YOU'LL INDULGE ME FOR SOME LAST COMMENTS HERE. THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT VOTE FOR MY DISTRICT. IT'S SOMETHING I'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR MANY YEARS AND I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT MOMENT FOR ALL OF US. SO I'VE REFLECTED ON IT SOME AND WHEN WE THINK OF INVESTING BOND DOLLARS AND BIG CITY DOLLARS, WE USED TO THINKING OF BIG CIVIC PROJECTS, BRIDGES, COURTHOUSES, AIRPORTS, AND THAT'S ONE KIND OF CIVIC INFRASTRUCTURE. THAT'S ONE IMPORTANT PIECE OF CITY LEGACY, BUT WE LEAVE A DIFFERENT KIND OF LEGACY WHEN WE INVEST PUBLIC DOLLARS IN WORKING PEOPLE LIKE THIS. WE'RE PERMANENTLY MAKING AUSTIN BETTER BY HAVING SAVED THIS COMMUNITY, AND THEY COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT WHAT THE CITY IS STEPPING UP TO DO TODAY. FOR DECADES WORKING CLASS AND WORKING POOR PEOPLE HAVE GROWN NEWSPAPER THIS COMMUNITY. I KNOW SOME OF OUR OWN AUSTIN FIREFIGHTERS THAT GREW UP HERE. I KNOW SOME OF OUR OWN CIVIL RIGHTS CHAMPIONS AND NURSES AND EDUCATORS THAT HAVE GROWN UP HERE IN THIS PLACE THAT WE'RE VOTING TO INVEST IN TODAY. IT'S A HUB NOT JUST FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE, BUT FROM PEOPLE ALL AROUND THAT GO THERE FOR PASADAS OR GO THERE FOR CHILDREN'S PARTIES. IT'S JUST AN AMAZING PLACE AND IT WAS A PLACE THAT WAS UNDER THREAT IN 2015 WHEN SOME OUTSIDE INVESTORS PURCHASED IT AND STARTED RAISING THE PRICE OF LIVING THERE AGAINST LEASE TERMS, AND THAT'S WHEN TEXAS RIO GRANDE LEGAL AID SUED, RESIDENTS CAME TOGETHER AND THEY GOT A CHANCE TO STAY. AND I WAS LOOKING BACK AT THOSE OLD ARTICLES AND THE ARTICLE RIGHT AFTER THAT LAWSUIT WAS WON, AMY CAMP AT THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE WROTE, THE LAWSUIT MAY KEEP PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES UNTIL NOVEMBER OF 2015, BUT WHAT THEN? WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION FOR YEARS. HOW DO WE NOT JUST HAVE THESE PLACES WIPED OUT THAT ARE AFFORDABLE, NEAR THE CENTRAL EX CENTER OF OUR FACILITY. AND THIS COUNCIL HAS COME TOGETHER IN AMAZING WAYS ON SO MANY ISSUES AND SO MANY OF THOSE THINGS HAVE HELPED US GET TO THIS POINT. WE HELPED FUND TEXAS RIO GRANDE LEGAL AID AND HELPED SUPPORT THE CREATION OF BASTA SO THAT TENANTS CAN HAVE ADVOCACY THAT THEY NEED ALL OVER THE CITY. WE BROUGHT IN PARTNERS LIKE ROCK AND CHIA AND BROUGHT IN ORGANIZATIONS AND BROUGHT THEM HERE AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THIS. WE REZONED MOBILE HOME PROPERTIES LOOK BAC TO MOBILE HOMES SO THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TO GET DEVELOPED INTO SOMETHING ELSE AND WE PASSED THE LARGEST AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOND EVER SO FAR IN THIS STATE. AND WHENEVER I GOT TIRED OF MAKING HUNDREDS OF PHONE CALLS AND I WAS GOING TO PUT DOWN THE PHONE FOR THE NIGHT TO PASS THAT BOND, I ENVISIONED THIS VOTE. I ENVISIONED A VOTE WHERE I COULD THEN AFTER VOTING FOR IT RUN OFF THE DAIS AND HUG EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT HAD DONE SO MUCH TO SAVE THIS COMMUNITY. I DIDN'T ENVISION THAT WE WOULD BE VOTING THIS WAY, BUT I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT EVEN A GLOBAL DISASTROUS PANDEMIC COULD NOT STOP THESE RESIDENTS FROM HAVING ACHIEVED THEIR GOALS. AND THESE ORGANIZERS WHO HAVE DONE SO MUCH. SO THIS VOTE WILL MAKE SURE THAT THIS COMMUNITY CAN ACTUALLY PURCHASE THEIR LAND, THESE HOMEOWNERS CAN STAY AND RUN IT AS A COOPERATIVE RUN BY WORKING PEOPLE AND STAYING AFFORDABLE FOR GOOD. AND IT'S JUST A REALLY POWERFUL AND SPECIAL PART OF LEGACY OF WHAT THIS COUNCIL HAS BEEN ABLE TO DO BY WORKING TOGETHER. SO THANK YOU. I ALSO DIRECTLY WANT TO TALK TO THOSE FOLKS AT NORTH LAMAR. [04:10:08] >> GARZA: VIRTUAL HUG. >> CASAR: VIRTUAL HUGS. >> TOVO: I ALSO WANTED TO JUST THANK YOU, CASAR, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. AND I'VE FORGOTTEN WHO DID THIS EARLIER, BUT HATS OFF TO YOU AND ADVOCATES AND ALL OF THE RESIDENTS WHO HAVE WORKED TOGETHER ON THIS. THIS IS A HUGE DEAL. >> CASAR: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER. >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY. SO ON THE CONSENT, LET'S TAKE THE VOTE. THOSE IN FAVOR OF THIS PLEASE RAISE YOUR HANDS. THOSE OPPOSED? THE CON CONSENT AGENDA PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THOSE ARE ALL THE ITEMS WE HAVE ON OUR AGENDA HERE, SO AT 3:19 WE'RE GOING TO [Items 26 & 29] ADJOURN THE REMOTE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION. ALSO WE'RE NOW AT 3:19 WE'RE GOING TO RECONVENE THE CITY OF AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING HERE ON MAY 7TH, BEING VIRTUALLY HELD WITH A FULL DAIS, EVERYBODY IS HERE. WE'RE NOW GOING TO CONTINUE ON WITH SOME OF THE PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS. WE POSTPONED ITEM NUMBER 26. IT'S TO BE POSTPONED, THE HEARING KEPT OPEN TO 5-21. THAT'S ITEM NUMBER 25. I'M SORRY, 25 WE JUST DID. 26 IS THE ITEM BEING POSTPONED TO 5-21. ITEM NUMBER 27 IS ALSO BEING POSTPONED. ALSO IS ITEM NUMBER 29 THAT IS POSTPONED TO JUNE 11TH. THIS GOES WITH ONE OF THE ZONING CASES THAT'S BEING POSTPONED. SO LET'S TAKE UP THOSE TWO VOTES FIRST. IS THERE A MOTION TO POSTPONE ITEM 28 -- SAME OTHER, ITEM NUMBER 26 TO 5-51 AND ITEM NUMBER 29 TO JUNE 11TH? MAYOR PRO TEM MAKES A MOTION. SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER ALTER. TO POSTPONE AND KEEP THE PUBLIC HEARINGS OPEN. PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND? IT'S UNANIMOUS ON THE DAIS, THOSE TWO ITEMS POSTPONED. ITEM NUMBER 27 IS THE ELECTRIC CODE PUBLIC HEA HEARING. DOES STAFF WANT TO LAY THAT OUT. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. BETH CULVERT, BUILDING OFFICIAL AND ACTING DIRECTOR FOR THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT. CAN EVERYBODY HEAR ME? >> MAYOR ADLER: YES. >> OKAY. SO ITEM NUMBER 27 IS FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE 2020 NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE. IT'S FITTING THAT WE BRING THIS TODAY DURING NATIONAL ELECTRICAL SAFETY MONTH. THIS CODE PROVIDES A NATIONAL STANDARD FOR ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION ASSOCIATED WITH RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES. THE NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE IS ADOPTED BY THE STATE OF TEXAS WITH THE 2020 ADDITION HAVING AN EFFECTIVE DATE OF SEPTEMBER FIRST. WE'RE THEREFORE REQUESTING THE SAME EFFECTIVE DATE OF SEPTEMBER 1ST FOR OUR LOCAL ADOPTION AND AMENDMENT TO ALIGN WITH THE STATE. THIS ORDINANCE IS THE RESULT OF WORKING WITH STAKEHOLDERS AND WITH THE ELECTRICAL BOARD TO REDUCE AND CLARIFY OUR LOCAL AMENDMENTS. WE RECEIVED SUPPORT FROM STAKEHOLDERS AND HAVE THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE ELECTRICAL BOARD. I'M HERE TODAY ALONG WITH OUR ELECTRICAL INSPECTIONS SUPERVISORS, ERIC ZIMMERMAN AND MARTIN STERATE, SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ORDINANCE. >> IS THERE A MOTION TO PASS THE ELECTRICAL CODE AND WITH THE LOCAL AMENDMENTS? COUNCILMEMBER HARPER-MADISON MAKES THE MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT MOTION? COUNCILMEMBER CASAR SECONDS THAT. ANY DISCUSSION? THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE CODE AMENDMENTS PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THOSE OPPOSED? IT'S UNANIMOUS, AND THAT ITEM PASSES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT GETS US TO ITEM NUMBER [Items 30 - 32] 30, 31 AND 32, WHICH ARE THE THREE AFFORDABLE HOUSING MEASURES. AGAIN, WE'VE ALREADY CALLED PEOPLE SPEAK ON THESE ITEMS. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS 30, 31 AND 32? MAYOR PRO TEM MAKES THE MOTION. COUNCILMEMBER CASAR SECONDS. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THESE THREE ITEMS? LET'S TAKE A VOTE TO APPROVE THEM AND CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THOSE OPPOSED? IT'S UNANIMOUS ON THE DAIS. THOSE THREE ITEMS PASS. [04:15:02] THAT GETS US THEN TO ITEM NUMBER 63, THE JUDICIAL [Item 63] COMMITTEE. IT'S TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF A SUBSTITUTE JUDGE. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS ITEM NUMBER 63? COUNCILMEMBER FLANNIGAN MAKES THE MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? COUNCILMEMBER HARPER-MADISON SECONDS THAT MOTION. ANY DISCUSSION ON THE APPOINTMENT? COUNCILMEMBER POOL. >> POOL: I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE REALLY GREAT JUDGES THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED ON THESE APPOINTMENTS. I APPRECIATE THE SPLITTING BETWEEN TWO OF THEM TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL PERSON TO HELP WITH THE SITUATION WITH THE COVID, AND I APPRECIATE THE APPOINTMENT -- POTENTIAL APPOINTMENT OF CAREY KEY AS SUBSTITUTE JUDGES. GOOD JOB. >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY. LET'S TAKE A VOTE THEN. THOSE IN FAVOR OF THIS APPOINTMENT, NUMBER 63, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THOSE OPPOSED RAISE YOUR HAND. IT'S UNANIMOUS ON THE DAIS, ITEM NUMBER 63 PASSES. ITEM NUMBER 65 IN EXECUTIVE SESSION WILL BE THE VERY LAST THING TO TAKE UP. I THINK THAT GETS US TO THE PULLED ITEMS. LET'S FIRST TAKE UP ITEM NUMBER 22. [Item 22] WHICH IS THE RESILIENCY OFFICER. DO YOU WANT TO LAY THIS OUT, COUNCILMEMBER POOL? >> POOL: I'M HAPPY TO. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 22. I ALSO WANTED TO POINT EVERYBODY TO THE MESSAGE BOARD WHERE THERE WERE AMENDMENTS, AND I WANT TO INCLUDE IN MY MOTION THE AMENDMENTS FROM MAYOR PRO TEM GARZA AND COUNCILMEMBER ELLIS AS WRITTEN. COUNCILMEMBER FLANNIGAN ALSO OFFERED SOME AMENDMENTS AND I WILL ALSO TAKE THEM AS FRIENDLY WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE DELETION OF THE COMMUNITY RESILIENCE OFFICER. AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS THE POSITION IS KEY TO THE EFFORT AND TO OUR STAFF'S ABILITY TO IDENTIFY AND SECURE NECESSARY FUNDING FOR THE PLAN AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION. SO THAT'S THE MOTION -- >> MAYOR ADLER: COUNCILMEMBER POOL MAKES THE MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION AS MADE? COUNCILMEMBER TOVO SECONDS THE MOTION. DISCUSSION? COUNCILMEMBER POOL, YOU CAN GO FIRST FOR YOU WANTED TO. >> POOL: I LAID IT OUT ON TUESDAY. I'M HAPPY TO MAKE SOME ADDITIONAL COMMENTS IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS AND THEN SOME CLOSING THANK YOU'S. >> WE'LL RECOGNIZE YOU TO CLOSE. >> POOL: THANKS. >> MAYOR ADLER: FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? COUNCILMEMBER FLANNIGAN. >> FLANNIGAN: SO I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT LAST AMENDMENT, THE STRIKING OF THAT PHRASE ON LINE 67. >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER FLANNIGAN OFFERS AN AMENDMENT. IS THERE A SECOND TO COUNCILMEMBER FLANNIGAN'S AMENDMENT? COUNCILMEMBER HARPER-MADISON SECONDS IT. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. COUNCILMEMBER FLANNIGAN, DO YOU WANT TO ADDRESS DID? >> FLANNIGAN: SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, THIS DOESN'T REMOVE THE CONCEPT OF A CHIEF RESILIENCE OFFICER. WHAT MY CONCERN WAS WITH THIS PASSAGE WAS THAT THE FUNDING OF THAT OFFICER WOULD COME FROM A PRIVATE THIRD-PARTY. AND I HAVE CONCERNS WITH PRIVATE FUNDING SO WE'RE NOT -- I'M NOT SAYING THAT THERE SHOULDN'T BE A CHIEF RESILIENCE OFFICER. THE MANAGER IS GOING TO GO FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT ALL MEANS, BUT I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE FUNDED BY A PRIVATE ENTITY. >> POOL: MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAYBE HAVE MIRIAM RESPOND TO THAT. THERE MAY BE OTHER FOLKS WHO WANT TO COMMENT ON THAT. >> MAYOR ADLER: DOES YOUR MOTION REQUIRE FOR PRIVATE FUNDING OF THAT POSITION OR DOES IT ALLOW -- >> POOL: IT ALLOWS -- THANKS FOR THAT QUESTION, MAYOR. IT DOESN'T REQUIRE IT. IT ALLOWS FOR IT. IT IS HOW THE RESILIENCE OFFICERS HAVE BEEN FUNDED IN HOUSTON, DALLAS AND. >> ELLIS:. -- AND EL PASO.AT LEAST INITIA. AND WE DO ACCEPT GRANTS FROM NON-PROFITS A LOT. AND THE PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP APPROACH TO OUR FUNDING SOURCES AND REVENUES IS A REALLY IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THE WORK WE DO. >> MAYOR ADLER: THANK YOU. LET'S LET SOME OTHER PEOPLE TALK. WE'RE ON THE AMENDMENT NOW OFFERED BY COUNCILMEMBER FLANNIGAN. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? COUNCILMEMBER HARPER-MADISON. YOU'RE COMMUTED. COUNCILMEMBER HARPER-MADISON I ALMOST DO IT. I RECOVERED. I APPRECIATE THE RESOLUTION AS A WHOLE. I ALSO REALLY APPRECIATE THE CONTRIBUTIONS BY WAY OF AMENDMENTS. AND THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER POOL, FOR FLAGGING THAT POTENTIAL PROBLEMATIC ELEMENT WITH THE PRIVATE FUNDING, BUT I THINK WITH COUNCILMEMBER POOL SAYING THAT THAT'S AN OPTION, I [04:20:02] WONDER IF THERE'S A WAY TO WORK OUT THE CONFLICT THERE. AND THEN THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO ASK, AND MAYBE NURIA CAN ANSWER THIS ONE TOO. GIVEN THAT GRANT FUNDING IS NOT PERMANENT, I'M JUST WONDERING WHAT WOULD HAPPEN MOVING FORWARD IF WE DIDN'T SECURE THE GRANT THAT WOULD OTHERWISE COVER THE COST OF THIS EXECUTIVE LEVEL POSITION. I'M TRYING TO GET MORE CLARITY ON WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE FOR LONGEVITY PURPOSES. >> POOL: AND THAT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT THE CITY MANAGER CAN WEIGH IN ON OR THE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, BUT WITH THE RESOLUTION WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE FRAMEWORK AND ASKING THEM TO COME BACK WITH THE INFORMATION. AND IT'S A QUESTION THAT I HAVE AS WELL BECAUSE IF THE RESILIENCE PLAN AND THE RESILIENCE OFFICER IN FACT BECOME THE IMPORTANT ELEMENTS OF OUR PROCESS GOING FORWARD WITH THE INCLUSION OF ALL OUR COMMUNITIES AND THE FOCUS ON EQUITY AND EXCELLENCE, THEN WE WILL WANT TO CONTINUE IT. SO WE'LL OBVIOUSLY BE NEEDING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE SUSTAINED FUNDS FOR IT AND THAT'S WHAT I'M HOPING THE STAFF WILL COME BACK TO US WITH THAT INFORMATION. GOOD QUESTIONS. >> HARPER-MADISON: THANK YOU. >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY. MAYOR PRO TEM GARZA, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING? YOU'RE MUTED. >> GARZA: I KEEP HEARING THIS -- IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S BEING TALKED ABOUT AS IF -- THIS IS NOT APPROVING ANY NEW POSITION. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IT IS -- AND I HAD MY HAND RAISED IN THE BEGINNING SO I'M GOING TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS ABOUT THE RESOLUTION IN GENERAL, BUT I HAD ALSO READ ABOUT THE CONCERNS OF PUBLIC -- I'M SORRY, PRIVATE DOLLARS BEING USED TO PUSH PUBLIC POLICY. AND HOW THAT WAS ONE OF THE LESSONS LEARNED MAYBE FROM THE 100 RESILIENT CITIES. AND I HATE TO SAY SOMETHING THAT I'M NOT 100% SURE IS TRUE, BUT I'VE HEARD THAT SOME RESILIENT OFFICERS ARE FUNDED BY LIKE PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE OIL AND GAS. SO I SEE WHERE THERE'S A CONFLICT THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW THINGS ARE FUNDED AND WHO'S FUNDING THEM AND HOW THAT CAN RESTRICT THE POLICY THAT IS CREATED. BUT I -- I WOULD PREFER THAT PRIVATE DOLLARS BE NOT FUNDED. I WOULD PREFER THAT WE WON'T CREATE ANOTHER POSITION, BUT I'LL SPEAK TO THAT LATER. BUT YEAH, THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO ADD. >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER KITCHEN. >> KITCHEN: I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I THINK THAT I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS ABOUT PRIVATE DOLLARS FUNDING THE POSITION AND I WOULD SHARE THOSE CONCERNS, BUT I THINK THAT WE WOULD -- WE CAN DEAL WITH THAT AT THE POINT THAT WE NOW WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S EVEN AVAILABLE BECAUSE WE WOULD WANT TO HAVE PROTECTIONS BOTH FROM THE STANDPOINT OF INFLUENCE AND ALSO FROM THE STANDPOINT OF THE IMPORTANCE OF CONTINUING A POSITION. SO I'M READING THE LANGUAGE THAT'S IN THE RESOLUTION RIGHT NOW AS ALLOWING FOR, BUT NOT REQUIRING. SO I WOULDN'T WANT TO LIMIT OUR SCOPE OF OF WHAT WE COULD EXPLORE IN TERMS OF PARTNERING WITH THE GLOBAL RESILIENT CITIES NETWORK. I WOULDN'T WANT TO LIMIT IT NOW. I WOULD WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S AVAILABLE TO US. SO I WOULDN'T WANT TO STRIKE IN FUNDING A CHIEF RESILIENCE OFFICER BECAUSE WE'RE LIMITING OUR SCOPE BEFORE WE EVEN KNOW WHAT THE OPTIONS ARE. SO THAT'S WHAT MY THINKING WOULD BE. >> MAYOR ADLER: I'M GOING TO VOTE AGAINST THE AMENDMENT FOR THAT REASON AS WELL. I THINK THAT AT THIS STAGE WE CAN BE EXPLORING THE CREATION AND THIS ENABLES THE STAFF TO EXPLORE IT AS MUCH AS THEY THINK IS APPROPRIATE. I HAVE SHARED THE SAME RESERVATIONS THAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE EXPRESSED, BUT I THINK THE TIME TO RAISE THOSE WOULD BE IF OUR STAFF COMES BACK AND PROPOSES SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE OR DOESN'T FIT WITH US. FOR RIGHT NOW I DON'T WANT TO LIMIT THE EXPLORATION OF THE AGREEMENT. I THINK TO VEIT IT IS THE -- TO CREATE IT IS THE RIGHT THING. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? COUNCILMEMBER FLANNIGAN, COUNCILMEMBER ALTER. >> ALTER: YOU KNOW, IT'S CHALLENGING IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCES WHEN WE'RE DOING LOTS OF THINGS, BUT I THINK OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS TRYING TO CATCH UP WHERE EVERYONE IS AND PUTTING OUR HEADS AROUND THINGS IS CHALLENGING. AND IN THIS CASE I'M NOT GOING TO SUPPORT WHAT [04:25:02] COUNCILMEMBER FLANNIGAN IS PROPOSING BECAUSE I THINK IT'S PRETTY CLEAR THAT HE'S EXPLORING -- THIS IS EXPLORING FUNDING ASSISTANCE WITH FUNDING AND I DON'T THINK WE WANT TO PRECLUDE OPTIONS UNTIL WE UNDERSTAND WHAT THE OPPORTUNITIES MIGHT BE. >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY. WE'LL TAKE A VOTE ON THE FLANNIGAN AMENDMENT. THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. COUNCILMEMBER FLANNIGAN, HARPER-MADISON, THE MAYOR PRO TEM AND COUNCILMEMBER CASAR. THOSE OPPOSED RAISE YOUR HAND? THE BALANCE OF THE DAIS. THE AMENDMENT DOES NOT PASS. WE'RE NOW BACK TO DISCUSSION ON THE MAIN MOTION. FURTHER DISCUSSION? MAYOR PRO TEM. >> GARZA: I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER POOL FOR TAKING MY AMENDMENTS AS FRIENDLY. I HEARD A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THE INCLUSION OF EQUITY IN THIS PROCESS AND A BROADER EFFORT, BUT I WASN'T ABLE -- I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE IT WAS AS EMPHASIZED IN THE RESOLUTION. SO THAT IS MUCH OF WHY I ADDED WHAT I ADDED. BUT ONE PART OF THE DISCUSSION ON TUESDAY WAS THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE -- NOT GOING TO BE GENERAL FUND DOLLARS. AND I HAVEN'T SEEN A CASE WHERE A BIG EXECUTIVE POSITION IN A CITY IS FUNDED STARTS WITH GRANT FUNDING AND THEN WHEN THAT GRANT FUNDING ENDS THE PERSON DOESN'T HAVE A JOB ANYMORE. THE CITY CONTINUES TO FUND THAT POSITION. SO I WANT -- IF WE ARE INDEED GOING TO GO DOWN THIS ROAD, I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR TO SET THIS EXPECTATION THAT HEY, THIS ISN'T CITY DOLLARS, THIS IS PRIVATE FUNDING AND IT'S NEVER GOING TO TOUCH OUR GENERAL FUND BECAUSE IN FACT THAT HAS HAPPENED I BELIEVE IN EVERY SINGLE CITY WHERE A CHIEF RESILIENCE OFFICER HAS BEEN HIRED. IT STARTED WITH GRANT FUNDS AND NOW THEY'RE FUNDED OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND. I HAVE BIG HESITATIONS. I APPRECIATE THE SPEAKERS WHO MENTIONED THAT THEY WERE CAUTIOUSLY SUPPORTING THE RESOLUTION. I'M NOT A FAN OF CREATING ANOTHER POSITION FOR SOMEBODY WITH LIKELY A SIX-FIGURE SALARY. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO PAY PEOPLE WHAT THEY'RE WORTH AND I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR OUR CITY STAFF, BUT I'M NOT VERY KEEN ON SUPPORTING ANOTHER STAFF POSITION. I ALSO DON'T WANT -- AND COUNCILMEMBER HARPER-MADISON, YOU MADE SOME COMMENTS EARLIER THAT WERE AMAZING AND IT KIND OF SEEMED LIKE YOU WERE TALKING TO THIS ISSUE BECAUSE THEY WERE ALONG THE LINES THAT I WAS GOING TO SAY AND I THINK THAT SOMEBODY -- I SAW SOMETHING ON SOCIAL MEDIA ABOUT ARE WE CREATING JUST ANOTHER PDF HERE. SO I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT POSSIBLY CREATING JUST ANOTHER PDF THAT'S GOING TO GET SHELVED, I GUESS VIRTUAL LETTER SHELVED IS WHAT PDF'S DO. AND I KNOW OUR MINORITY COMMUNITY IS SENIOR TIRED. IF WE'RE GOING DOWN THIS PATH OF EQUITY, THIS POSITION, THIS WORK, THIS PLAN, WHATEVER IT ENDS UP BEING, HAS TO BE HOUSED IN MY OPINION UNDER THE EQUITY OFFICE. BECAUSE THEY'RE REALLY DOING THE WORK RIGHT NOW IN REACHING OUT TO OUR COMMUNITY AND FIGURING OUT HOW WE BECOME RESILIENT. BUT IN REMAINING AN ETERNAL OPTIMIST BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE TO BE IN THIS POSITION, CAN'T DO THIS WORK UNLESS YOU'RE AN OPTIMIST IN A LOT OF WAYS, I CAN SUPPORT THIS WITH THE ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS ABOUT EMPHASIZING EQUITY. I READ A COUPLE OF ARTICLES. I PUT ONE IN THE BACKUP ABOUT THE DEMISE OF THE 100 RESILIENT CITIES. AND IT WAS VERY INTERESTING. I ENCOURAGE Y'ALL TO READ SOME OF THE -- IF -- I'M SURE WE'RE ALL SO BUSY. I THOUGHT YOU HIT IT THE BEST. BASICALLY THE PRIORITIES BECAME SO BIG FOR THIS EFFORT. FOR SOME PEOPLE RESILIENTLY IS CLIMATE. FOR SOME PEOPLE RESILIENCY IS DIFFERENT FOR EVERY SINGLE COMMUNITY AND ONE OF THE LESSONS LEARNED IS YOU HAVE TO FOCUS IN ON SOMETHING. AND ONE OF THE WAYS THAT PEOPLE TRIED TO FOCUS ON THE RESILIENT PLANS IS LET'S TALK ABOUT VULNERABLE PEOPLE AND LIVES BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO PRODUCE ANY OUTCOMES. ALL THESE PLANS HAD BEEN DONE AND THERE WERE NOR QUANTIFIABLE OUTCOMES COMING FROM THEM. AND SO THAT ESSENTIALLY LED TO THE END OF THE 100 CITIES. NOW IT'S BEEN RENAMED. AND THEY WERE SIGNIFICANTLY SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY ON THIS POLICY AND THESE IDEAS AND THERE WAS NO REAL OUTCOMES BEING MADE. I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT IT'S THE IRONY OF A PLAN THAT ADDRESSES OUR MOST VULNERABLE BEING NAMED RESILIENT BECAUSE THE REALITY IS OUR MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITY ARE THE MOST RESILIENT PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE WHEN YOU ARE FORCED OUT OF YOUR HOME YOU HAVE TO BECOME RESILIENT AND YOU CAN'T PAY. [04:30:03] WHEN YOU GET A PHONE CALL THAT YOUR CHILD HAS BEEN KILLED BY A POLICE OFFICER, YOU HAVE TO BECOME RESILIENT. WHEN YOU HAVE TO WORK SEVERAL JOBS TO FEED YOUR CHILDREN, YOU BECOME RESILIENT. I VOLUNTEERED AT THE FOOD BANK, ONE OF THE DISTRIBUTION CENTERS A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, I CAN'T REMEMBER, AND IT WAS THE SAME FEELING I GOT WALKING UP AND HANDING OUT FOOD DURING THIS CRISIS THAT I GOT WHEN I DID IT BEFORE I WAS A COUNCILMEMBER IN DOVE SPRINGS AND SEEING 500 PEOPLE BEFORE THE CRISIS WE WERE IN, 500 PEOPLE LINED UP AT 6:00 A.M. IN THIS COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE FOOD. I THINK THAT WE KNOW WHAT MAKES A COMMUNITY RESILIENT. IT'S ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE, IT'S ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD, IT'S BETTER JOB OPPORTUNITIES. IT'S ADDRESSING RACIAL BIASES, IT'S A JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT DOESN'T FAVOR THE POWERFUL. OUR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES HAVE TIME AND TIME AGAIN SUPPORTED ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES ANDNER TIRED OF US WAITING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT REALLY AFFECT THEM AND IT SHOULD NOT BE SOMETHING THAT WE DO DURING THIS CRISIS. SO I HOPE THAT WHATEVER THIS PROCESSES IT'S REALLY SOMETHING ACTIONABLE AND I HOPE JUST AS THE MINORITY AND BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY HAVE COME TOGETHER TO SUPPORT ENVIRONMENTAL THINGS AND SAVING TREES AND ALL THOSE VERY IMPORTANT THINGS, YOU KNOW, WHEN CENTRAL HEALTH CLOSED CLINICS IN EAST AUSTIN BECAUSE PA OF CONCERNS ABOUT BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT, I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE EVER PERSON ON THIS DAIS CALLING CENTRAL HEALTH AND ASKING THEM TO OPEN UP. WHEN -- AND MAYBE YOU DO. EVERY TIME WE GET AN EMAIL ABOUT A POLICE SHOOTING I WONDER IF YOU HAVE THE FEELING IN YOUR STOMACH, THAT AWFUL DREADFUL FEELING OF WHICH DISTRICT DID IT HAPPEN IN, ONE, TWO, THREE OR FOUR? READING THAT EMAIL, WHICH DISTRICT DID IT HAPPEN IN? WHEN PRESIDENT TRUMP DECIDES HE'S GOING TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE ICE RAIDS AND THE FEELING THAT YOU GET WHEN YOU KNOW THAT FAMILIES ARE ABOUT TO BE SEPARATED. AND HOW IT'S GOING TO AFFECT YOUR COMMUNITY. SO BOTTOM LINE, I'M SORRY I'VE TAKEN A LOT OF TIME UP HERE, I JUST WANT TO EXPRESS THIS HAS GOT TO BE AN ACTIONABLE PLAN, IT'S GOT TO BE -- IT'S GOT TO BE DRIVEN BY COMMUNITY NEEDS. IT'S GOT TO BE THE AUSTIN PLAN. BECAUSE OUR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY ARE TIRED OF PLANS AND TIRED OF HEADLINES AND TIRED OF REPORTS. THEY WANT ACTION. SO HOWEVER WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS, IT'S GOT TO BE SOMETHING THAT REALLY MEANS SOMETHING AND MAKES CHANGE AND IT CAN'T JUST BE ANOTHER. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR ADLER: THANK YOU. FURTHER DISCUSSION? COUNCILMEMBER HARPER-MADISON. >> HARPER-MADISON: YOU'RE MUTED. >> HARPER-MADISON: THERE IT IS. IT WAS GIVING ME A HARD TIME UNMUTING IT. I WANT TO SAY I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF THE COMMENTS MADE BY MY COLLEAGUE JUST NOW. THOSE ARE ALL THE SAME CONCERNS. THE ONE THAT I HAVE, BUT TOO THAT I'M FIELDING. I'M ALSO SIMULTANEOUS IN WANTING TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER POOL FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD BECAUSE I DO THINK THIS IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO GET IT RIGHT IN THIS CITY. AND THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THAT MY COMMENTS WERE APPLICABLE TO THIS ONE, MAYOR PRO TEM GARZA, BECAUSE THEY WERE. I MADE THE MISTAKE OF THINKING THAT THIS WAS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AND SO THE COMMENTS THAT I MADE EARLIER WERE DIRECTLY POINTED AT THIS ITEM. AND RECOGNIZING THAT MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITIES, THEY WANT ACTION ACTION, THEY WANT TO SEE THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF THE POLICY THAT WE SIT UP HERE AND DELIBERATE. I'M PROUD TO BE ON THIS RESOLUTION AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING HOW IT PLAYS OUT AS WELL. AND POSITIVELY. I FEEL OPTIMISTIC THAT WE CAN FIGURE OUT THE PARTS THAT NEED TO HAVE SPECIAL ATTENTION PAID TO THEM. >> MAYOR ADLER: FURTHER DISCUSSION. I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT IT NECESSARILY SET A NEW EXECUTIVE POSITION. IT CERTAINLY EXPLORED THAT. IT COULD BE A CURRENT EXECUTIVE, SEE HOW RESPONSIBILITIES ARE MOVED. I THOUGHT THAT THE MAYOR PRO TEM GAVE A REALLY GOOD DEFENSE FOR WHY IT IS WE NEED A RESILIENCE OFFICER. AND I THINK THAT THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT ACTUALLY [INAUDIBLE] IN THAT DISCUSSION. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT STAFF COMES BACK WITH IF THIS PASSES. COUNCILMEMBER TOVO. >> TOVO: THANK YOU. I THINK SEVERAL OF YOU, MY COLLEAGUES TODAY, HAVE SAID WE'RE DOING REALLY IMPORTANT WORK TODAY AND I THINK THIS IS ONE OF OUR FINER MOMENTS AS A COUNCIL. [04:35:02] ALL OF US HAVE WORKED ON THE DIFFERENT INITIATIVES THAT ARE COMING FORWARD TOGETHER AND I APPRECIATE THE WAY AS A COUNCIL WE'RE RESPONDING TO THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS AND ALSO LOOKING CLOSELY AT THE DISPARITY -- THE DEEP DISPARITIES IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT THIS PANDEMIC HAS ESPECIALLY HIGHLIGHTED. AND HOW WE MOVE FORWARD AS A COMMUNITY TOGETHER AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE TOGETHER BUILDING AN AUSTIN WHERE EVERYONE CAN 35. AND YOU KNOW, I'M EXCITED AND I WANT TO JUST PAUSE AND APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER POOL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS. WE HAVE -- AS HAS BEEN SAID, WE CERTAINLY HAVE CLIMATE CHANGE PLANS AND PLANS IN PLACE THAT HAVE HELPED US MOVE FORWARD AND AREAS OF ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESILIENCY. AND THIS IS GOING TO HELP US UNIFY SO MANY OF OUR EFFORTS ACROSS HOUSING AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU HELPING US LEARN FROM OUR CURRENT TIME AND TAKE TOGETHER ALL THE WONDERFUL WORK THAT OUR STAFF HAS DONE AND COUNCILS BEFORE US IN INITIATING POLICY WORK AND KIND OF PULLING US INTO THIS GLOBAL MOVEMENT THAT I THINK IS GOING TO MAKE A VERY IMPACTFUL CHANGE HERE IN AUSTIN. SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON TUESDAY. I THANK YOUR STAFF AS WELL, BUT I'M GOING TO RECOGNIZE LOUISE AND SHANNON ON MY STAFF AND MANY OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO WORKED. BUT I KNOW THOSE TWO HAVE REALLY WORKED TIRELESSLY ON THIS ALONG WITH YOU. SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER POOL, DO YOU WANT TO CLOSE? >> POOL: THANKS A LOT. AND YES, YES TO ALL THAT THE MAYOR PRO TEM SAID. AND YES TO ALL THAT MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMEMBER HARPER-MADISON SAID. ABSOLUTELY ALL OF THOSE THINGS, WE ARE ALL THINKING IN THE SAME WAY. FRANKLY SOME OF MY -- SOME OF MY MOTIVATION AND FRANKLY PASSION BEHIND MOVING A COMMUNITY RESILIENCE, RESOLUTION HERE, AND FOR THE CITY TO PIVOT TO THE BROADER META, WHICH IS RESILIENT FOR OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE EVERYTHING WE DO FITS UNDER THAT AND IS THAT. LAST SUMMER I WAS LOOKING AT THE WORK THAT WE WERE TRYING TO DO WITH THE CLIMATE RESILIENT AND JUST FELT LIKE WE HAD REALLY STRONG SUPPORT IN THE COMMUNITY, ON THE DAIS AND WE WERE TAKING THE RIGHT VOTES AND WE WERE SAYING -- THE RHETORIC WAS RIGHT AND WE WERE FOCUSED AND DIRECTIVE AND EVERYTHING. AND THEN THINGS DO MOVE SLOWLY HERE AND WE CAN -- WE WERE ONLY ABLE TO DO THINGS AT THE CITY LEVEL. LIKE WE CAN REQUIRE THAT OUR FLEET BE ELECTRIC, BUT WE CAN'T REQUIRE THE COMMUNITY'S FLEET TO BE ELECTRIC, WE CAN ONLY INCENTIVIZE IT. SO PART OF MY MOTIVATION FOR THIS WAS TO TRY TO EXTEND THAT CONVERSATION AND FORCE THE CONVERSATION INTO THE COMMUNITY AND HAVE THE COMMUNITY RESPOND BACK IN HOW THEY SEE US MAKING ACTIONABLE THEIR DESIRES FOR RESILIENCE AND ALSO FURTHER MOTIVATING THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, FOR EXAMPLE, AND INDUSTRY TO TAKE THE NECESSARY STEPS THAT WE'VE DONE AT THE CITY, FOR EXAMPLE, WITH OUR WORKFORCE, BUT WHICH THEY'RE SLOWER AT DOING. AND NOW WITH THE PANDEMIC ON TOP OF US AND A LOT OF TELEWORK AND TELECOMMUTING UNDERWAY, I'M TOLD BY OUR FRIENDS ON THE COMMISSIONERS' COURT THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT ON THEIR AGENDA NEXT TUESDAY A RESOLUTION TO HAVE A 75% GOAL FOR TELEWORK, TELECOMMUTING AT THE COUNTY. AND I THINK PART OF -- WHEN WE LOOK BACK AT ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE IN ORDER TO REWORK OUR PROCESSES BECAUSE WE CAN'T MEET TOGETHER, WE WILL BE LOOKING FOR THE BEST PIECES OF THE CHANGES THAT WE'VE HAD TO MAKE AND MAKE THEM PART OF THE WAY MOVING FORWARD. WE KEEP HEARING THAT THINGS WILL NEVER BE LIKE THEY WERE THE END OF 2019, THAT OUR WORLD HAS CHANGED AND SOME PARTS OF THAT I WANT TO EMBRACE, SOME PARTS OF IT SCARE ME. BUT WHAT I KNOW FROM BOTH WANTING TO EMBRACE AND BEING AFRAID AND SCARED, WHICH I [04:40:02] THINK IS PRETTY NORMAL, FRANKLY, WITH THE KIND OF I AM PERMANANCE THAT -- IMPERMANENCE THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH RIGHT NOW IS WE WILL BE ABLE TO LOOK BACK AT SOME POINT OF EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE DONE IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS AND GOING FORWARD AND FIND THE BEST PARTS OF CHANGES THAT WE'VE MADE AND CODIFY THEM AND MAKE THEM PART OF OUR PERMANENT PROCESSES GOING FORWARD. SO IT'S LIKE A REAL WATERSHED TIME. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE ADDITIONAL INSIGHTS AND CREATIVITY AND JUST THE CARE AND ATTENTION THAT WE'VE BEEN GIVING ALL ALONG NOT JUST TO THE THINGS I'VE BROUGHT TODAY AND PREVIOUSLY, BUT TO ALL THE WORK OF THE DAIS. SO THEN I JUST WANT TO FINISH WITH SOME THANK YOUS. THIS WAS A MAJOR EFFORT FOR MY OFFICE, SO I WANT TO THANK MY CO-SPONSORS, THE MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBERS TOVO, HARPER-MADISON AND ALTER, AND THEIR STAFFS FOR CONTRIBUTING TO THIS INITIATIVE TO ALL MY COLLEAGUES FOR GETTING THE CONVERSATION STARTED AND EXTENDING IT. I HOPE AND INTEND FOR THIS WORK OF RESILIENCY TO BE A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS TO ADDRESS DISPARITIES AND MAKE OUR COMMUNITY STRONGER. I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE PASSION AND THE DEPTH OF KNOWLEDGE DEVOTED TO THIS INITIATIVE BY COMMISSIONER KATIE KLEIN, MY COLLEAGUE COUNCILMEMBER FLANNIGAN, HIS APPOINTEE TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, AS HE MENTIONED ON TUESDAY. SHE WAS A TREMENDOUS LIFT AND A TREMENDOUS ASSET. I WANT TO THANK OUR EXPERT STAFF IN SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS FOR THEIR GUIDANCE. IN PARTICULAR OUR DEPUTY, OUR NEW DEPUTY MANAGER NU NURIA, YOU'VE REALLY BROUGHT A LOT TO THE JOB HERE IN AUSTIN AND I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE WORKING SIDE BY SIDE WITH OUR CITY MANAGER. AND ALSO TO ELBA SERRANO FROM THE OFFICE OF INNOVATION WHO ADVISED US GIVEN HER DEEP EXPERIENCE IN COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION AND RESILIENT WORK. AND I'M GRATEFUL ALWAYS FOR THE BROAD SPECTRUM OF SUPPORT THIS INITIATIVE IN PARTICULAR HAS GATHERED FROM SOCIAL JUSTICE ADVOCATES, GROUPS FOCUSED ON FOOD SUSTAINABILITY AND OLDER ADULTS, PARKS AND ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS AND SISTER GOVERNING BODIES. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE AND INPUT. WE ARE ALL WORKING TOGETHER FOR A MORE RESILIENT AUSTIN. YOU ALL HAVE GOTTEN LETTERS AND INDICATIONS OF SUPPORT FROM THE ARRAY OF CLUBS. JUST REALLY QUICK I WANT TO TAKE A SHOUT-OUT TO THE AUSTIN SIERRA CLUB, AUSTIN UP, AGE OF CENTRAL TEXAS, CONSERVATION HISTORY ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS. REFUGEE SERVICES OF TEXAS, PLANNING OUR COMMUNITY, SUSTAINABLE FOOD CENTER, TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER BRIDGET SHEA, PUBLIC CITIZEN, PUBLIC GREEN AND WILD. A COUPLE OF INDIVIDUALS, DAVID [INDISCERNIBLE] AND TOM WHAT WOULD. SAVE BARTON CREEK ASSOCIATION. THE SHOAL CREEK CONSERVANCY. WORKERS DEFENSE PROJECT AND WATERLOO GREENWAY. AND THERE MAY BE SOME THAT MISSES AND IF SO I APOLOGIZE. TO THANK YOU, THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE BROUGHT TO THE TABLE ON THIS INITIATIVE. I KNOW IT HAS IMPROVED. >> MAYOR ADLER: LET'S TAKE A VOTE. THOSE IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM NUMBER 22 PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THOSE OPPOSED? UNANIMOUS ON THE DAIS. THAT GETS US TO ITEM NUMBER 54, WHICH WAS PULLED BY COUNCILMEMBER FLANNIGAN. DO YOU WANT TO STATE WHY YOU PULLED IT? >> FLANNIGAN: YEAH, LET ME PULL UP MY NOTES. I WASN'T SURE WHEN THAT WAS GOING TO HIT. 54, OH, RIGHT. SO I'VE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF FEEDBACK FROM MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY ON THIS. I CAN KIND OF GO ONE OF TWO WAYS. I HAVE A LEGAL QUESTION THAT WE CAN HANDLE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION OR WE COULD JUST POSTPONE THIS TO THE 21ST AND THEN I CAN GET MY MORE DETAILED QUESTIONS ANSWERED. SO MAYOR, WITH YOUR PERMISSION I'LL MOVE TO POSTPONE ITEM 54 TO THE 21ST. >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY. THERE'S A MOTION TO POSTPONE THIS ITEM. IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION TO POSTPONE. MAYOR PRO TEM SECONDS. DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION TO POSTPONE? >> TOVO: MAYOR? I WAS GOING TO ASK COUNCILMEMBER FLANNIGAN, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO SHARE, BUT IF YOU HAVE SOME -- I JUST WANTED TO INVITE YOU TO SHARE SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS SO WE COULD BE THINKING ABOUT THEM IF YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE DOING THAT. IF NOT -- >> FLANNIGAN: IT KIND OF TREADS ON HOW THE AGREEMENT WORKS AND SOME OF THE WORK RELATED TO THIS. [04:45:01] I DON'T KNOW THAT THIS IS NECESSARILY THE FORUM TO BEGIN TO DIG INTO IT, BUT I CAN RELAY THOSE QUESTIONS. I JUST NEEDED A LITTLE MORE TIME TO WORK ON THAT. I'LL GET MY LEGAL QUESTIONS ANSWERED THROUGH LAW AND MAKE SURE THE STAFF DISTRIBUTES THOSE ANSWERS TO EVERYBODY. >> TOVO: THAT WOULD BE TERRIFIC. THANK YOU. >> FLANNIGAN: NO PROBLEM. >> HARPER >> GARZA: I HAVE A A QUESTION. IF WE POSTPONE THIS CAN WE QUICKLY TALK ABOUT THIS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION? BECAUSE WE'RE DOING EXEC AT THE END AND THEN -- >> MAYOR ADLER: WE CAN DO THAT. >> GARZA: OKAY. >> MAYOR ADLER: WE COULD DO THAT BECAUSE IT WOULD BE IN ORDER FOR ANYBODY TO MOVE TO RECONSIDER IT. SO THERE'S BEEN A MOTION TO POSTPONE UNTIL OUR NEXT MEETING. ANY DISCUSSION? LET'S TAKE A VOTE. THOSE IN FAVOR OF POSTPONING PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND? THOSE OPPOSED, IT'S UNANIMOUS ON THE DAIS THIS ITEM IS POSTPONED UNTIL OUR NEXT MEETING, WHICH I THINK IS THE 21ST. THAT GETS US TO ITEM NUMBER 56, WHICH IS THE EVICTION [Item 56] ORDINANCE. FLANNIGAN, YOU PULLED THIS. >> FLANNIGAN: YES, MAYOR. I POSTED AN AMENDMENT ON THE MESSAGE BOARD. I BELIEVE IT WAS SENT OUT RELATED TO TENANT -- THE TENANT RESPONSE. >> MAYOR ADLER: LET ME DO IT IN THIS ORDER SINCE IT'S AN AMENDMENT. COUNCILMEMBER CASAR, DO YOU WANT TO MAKE THE MOTION? COUNCILMEMBER CASAR MOVES PASSAGE OF THIS ITEM. IS THERE A SECOND TO ITEM 56? MAYOR PRO TEM SECONDS IT. DISCUSSION? COUNCILMEMBER CASAR, DO YOU WANT TO ADDRESS IT BEFORE WE GO TO COUNCILMEMBER FLANNIGAN FOR HIS AMENDMENT? OKAY, COUNCILMEMBER FLANNIGAN. CAN YOU MAKE YOUR AMENDMENT. >> FLANNIGAN: SO I HAVE THE AMENDMENT POSTED TO THE MESSAGE BOARD. I WILL MAKE THAT MOTION TO AMEND. IF I HAVE A SECOND I WILL EXPLAIN. >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER FLANNIGAN MAKES HIS MOTION TO AMEND. IT'S BEEN POSTED. IT'S THREE PAGES -- TWO PAGES, I THINK. >> FLANNIGAN: TWO PAGES. >> FLANNIGAN: IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT? COUNCILMEMBER ALTER SECONDS THOSE. DISCUSSION? COUNCILMEMBER FLANNIGAN. >> FLANNIGAN: YEAH. SO THIS IS JUST A REQUIREMENT THAT TENANTS WORK WITH THEIR LANDLORDS. IT ESTABLISHES THE NOTICE LANGUAGE TO THAT EFFECT. THE ORIGINAL VERSION OF THIS THAT I WORKED ON WITH THE LAW DEPARTMENT MADE IT CLEARER THAT VIOLATING THIS PIECE DIDN'T TRIGGER THE PENALTY THAT'S DEFINED ELSEWHERE IN THE ORDINANCE SO THAT DOES NEED TO BE ADDRESSED IN HIGHWAY WE MOVE THIS FORWARD. BUT IT IS JUST TO ENSURE THAT FOLKS ARE ENGAGING WITH THEIR LANDLORDS OVER THIS SITUATION. AND I THINK ABOUT THIS IN TERMS OF THE ON -- THE WAY I POSTED IT ON THE MESSAGE BOARD, WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT FROM THE BEGINNING, FOLKS WHO ARE STILL EMPLOYED, ARE STILL RECEIVING INCOME, STILL HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO PAY THEIR RENT. SO JUST THE NOTICE OF HARDSHIP IS HOW WE GET THROUGH THIS AS A COMMUNITY. >> MAYOR ADLER: FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE AMENDMENT, THE FLANNIGAN AMENDMENT? WHAT DID YOU MEAN BY YOU WANTED TO DO THIS, BUT NOT TO INVOKE THE PENALTY. >> FLANNIGAN: THERE'S A SECTION OF THE ORDINANCE, I'M TRYING TO PULL IT UP SO I CAN TALK ABOUT IT SPECIFICALLY, WHERE IT SAYS A VIOLATION, CHARGES FEE. I'M LOSING IT BECAUSE THE DRAFT ORDINANCE SEEMS TO AMEND, DOESN'T HAVE THE FULL TEXT OF THE ORDINANCE. THAT'S WHY I'M LOSING TRACK OF WHERE IT'S AT. BUT THERE'S A PENALTY TO A LANDLORD THAT VIOLATES THE ORDINANCE. AND THERE'S A DOLLAR AMOUNT ON THAT. AND IN NO WAY IS A TENANT THAT REFUSES TO [INDISCERNIBLE] THEIR LANDLORD BE SUBJECT TO THAT PENALTY, JUST TO BE CLEAR. LAW DEPARTMENT. I CAN RECOMMEND SOMETHING THAT WOULD CHANGE PART 5 OF THE ORDINANCE -- >> MAYOR ADLER: I CAN'T HEAR YOU BECAUSE OF THE FEEDBACK. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE TWO THINGS OPEN MAYBE? >> IT'S TRISH LINK FROM THE LAW DEPARTMENT AND SHE'S SUGGESTING THAT THE CHANGE WOULD BE IN PART 5 OF THE ORDINANCE. THAT'S THE LANGUAGE THAT COUNCILMEMBER FLANNIGAN IS LOOKING FOR, I BELIEVE. >> AM I CLEARER NOW? >> MAYOR ADLER: YOU'RE CLEARER NOW, YES. THANK YOU. >> IN PART 5 OF THE ORDINANCE THAT WE'RE AMENDING IT SAYS A PERSON COMMITS AN OFFENSE, WE CAN MAKE -- SORRY, COUNCILMEMBER FLANNIGAN CAN MAKE A MOTION TO SAY A LANDLORD, WHICH THEN WOULD TAKE THE TENANT OUT OF THE [04:50:04] >> I WOULD CONSIDER THAT AS PART OF MY AMENDMENT. >> AND I'M FINE WITH THAT. >> MAYOR ADLER: I DIDN'T GET THAT. SORRY. THAT MIGHT BE BECAUSE I JUST DON'T HAVE THE BASE ORDINANCE IN FRONT OF ME. I HAVE THE AMENDMENT AND THE ORDINANCE, AS THAT CAME FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CASAR. WAS THAT FROM CASAR'S ORDINANCE OR -- >> THE ITEM WE'RE MOVING TODAY AMENDS THE UNDERLYING ORDINANCE. SO THE POSTED ITEM IS AN AMENDMENT TO AN EXISTING ORDINANCE. >> MAYOR ADLER: AND WHAT YOU ARE AMENDING TO CHANGE WAS NOT THE POSTED ORDINANCE FOR CONSIDERATION, BUT TO AMEND THE UNDERLYING ORDINANCE? >> I'M NOT SURE I UNDERSTAND THE DISTINCTION, MAYOR. WE'RE BOTH AMENDING AN UNDERLYING ORDINANCE. >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY. I'M LOOKING (INDISCERNIBLE) AND I'M TRYING TO FIND THE LANGUAGE THAT TRISH WAS PROPOSING WE TAKE. >> IT IS IN THE ORDINANCE THAT WAS ADOPTED BY COUNCIL IN MARCH. AND SO IT WOULD HAVEAMEND THAT ORDINANCE. >> MAYOR ADLER: (INDISCERNIBLE) IT'S A CHANGE TO WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER CASAR IS AMENDING, SO IT'S THAT OTHER BASE ORDINANCE THAT I DON'T HAVE IN FRONT OF ME. SO WE'RE STILL IN DISCUSSION AT THE POINT. WE'RE STILL WITH THE ORIGINAL AMENDMENT AS YOU HAVE. YOU CAN CERTAINLY AMEND YOUR AMENDMENT. BUT THAT'S WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW. WITH THE ORIGINAL AMENDMENT THAT YOU PROPOSED THAT WAS SECONDED. COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN. >> KITCHEN: YEAH, I NEED FOR TRISH TO REPEAT WHAT SHE WAS SUGGESTING. LET ME JUST EXPLAIN MY QUESTION. SO I WAS READING COUNCIL MEMBER FLANNIGAN'S AMENDMENT TO SAY, IT'S ALMOST LIKE CHANGING THIS FROM AN OPT OUT TO AN OPT IN, IN THE SENSE THAT IF YOU DON'T DO THE CHIP NOTICE IN 15 DAYS, THEN WHAT THIS -- THE TIME PERIOD THAT THIS ORDINANCE SETS UP, THE 60-DAY TIME PERIOD DOESN'T APPLY. IF FOR WHATEVER REASON YOU DON'T COMPLY WITH THE 15-DAY NOTICE SECTION, AND THE PROVISIONS THAT ALLOW FOR THE 60 DAYS, YOU KNOW, 60-DAY PERIOD TO APPLY, DON'T HAVE THE 60 DAYS, AM I UNDERSTANDING THAT CORRECTLY? >> THAT IS ULTIMATELY HOW IT IS IMPLEMENTED. SO THAT THERE'S NOT A FINANCIAL PENALTY LIKE THERE IS ON A LANDLORD THAT FAILS TO COMPLY WITH THIS ORDINANCE. THERE'S NO FINANCIAL IMPACT. BUT FOR THE PROVISIONS OF THE ORDINANCE ITSELF. >> KITCHEN: OKAY. WELL, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS. CAN I GO AHEAD WITH THAT, MAYOR? >> MAYOR ADLER: YES. >> KITCHEN: OKAY. WELL, FIRST OFF, I WANT TO SEE IF DIRECTOR PRE SINIO WAS ABLE TO ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS FOR ME. IS SHE ON THE LINE? >> COUNCIL MEMBER, I AM ON THE LINE. >> KITCHEN: OKAY. I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS THAT WERE RAISED. I THINK THEY WERE RAISED BY SEVERAL OF OUR SPEAKERS EARLIER ABOUT THE IMPACT ON LANDLORDS, PARTICULARLY SMALLER LANDLORDS THAT MAY BE DEPENDENT ON RENT. THE CONCERN THEY WERE RAISING ABOUT THE ADDITIONAL PERIOD AS RAISED BY THIS ORDINANCE, AND I THINK MAYBE THE ISSUE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER FLANNIGAN'S AMENDMENT IS TRYING TO ADDRESS. MY QUESTION FOR YOU, MISS PRESINIO, IN MY MIND, THE WAY TO APPROACH THE IMPACT ON LANDLORDS IS FOR THINGS LIKE RENTAL ASSISTANCE (INDISCERNIBLE) [FEEDBACK]. I WOULD ASK IF YOU COULD OUTLINE FOR US WHAT WE'RE DOING SO FAR WITH REGARD TO -- SO IF I'M A SMALLER LANDLORD AND I'VE GOT A PROPERTY OR TWO, AND I'VE GOT SOMEONE THAT IS NOT RESPONDING TO ME, FOR WHATEVER REASON, I [04:55:01] DON'T KNOW WHY, BUT THEY'RE NOT RESPONDING TO ME. SO THEREFORE, I'M NOT GETTING RENT AND I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THAT. WHAT IS THE CITY DOING TO HELP ME FROM MY POSITION? >> (INDISCERNIBLE). AS A SMALL BUSINESS, IF YOU ARE A LANDLORD THAT OWNS A SMALL PROPERTY, THE RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND ARE ALSO AVAILABLE TO THE LANDLORD. THAT INCLUDES OUR SBA LOANS, THE IDC LOAN AND THE BRIDGE PROGRAM THAT WE'RE ADMINISTERING AS WELL. IN ADDITION, WE WOULD TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN RESPONDING BACK TO COUNCIL ON ITEM NUMBER 23 WHICH YOU JUST APPROVED TODAY, WITH THE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR BUSINESSES. >> KITCHEN: OKAY. SO TO MY MIND, THAT IS THE WAY TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS THAT ARE BEING RAISED BY OUR SMALL LANDLORDS, OR OUR LANDLORDS IN GENERAL. WHAT'S PARAMOUNT TO ME IS THAT NO ONE WOULD END UP WITHOUT A PLACE TO LIVE. AND SO WHILE I APPRECIATE THE CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED, AND I APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER FLANNIGAN'S ATTEMPT TO ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS, I FEEL LIKE INTRODUCING A NOTICE REQUIREMENT, AND THE NOTICE REQUIREMENT IF NOT MET, WOULD, YOU KNOW, WOULD NEGATE THE 60 DAYS THAT WE'VE BUILT INTO THIS APPROACH. I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE WAY TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS, AND I THINK IT INTRODUCES SOME UNCERTAINTY. IT ALSO INTRODUCES THE NECESSITY (INDISCERNIBLE) DID SOMEONE ACTUALLY DO THEIR NOTICE IN 15 DAYS, DID THEY MEET THE REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE WRITTEN INTO HERE ABOUT WHAT THE NOTICE IS? I THINK IT JUST INTRODUCES A LEVEL OF ADJUDICATION OR DECISION-MAKING OR ABOUT DECISIONS WHETHER THIS HAS BEEN MET THAT I THINK IS NOT GOING TO BE HELPFUL IN THE LONG RUN. AND I THINK THAT EVERYONE IS EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTIES AS PART OF THIS CRISIS, AND JUST AS WE'RE TRYING TO HELP RENTERS WITH RENTAL ASSISTANCE, I THINK WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO HELP OUR LANDLORDS WITH SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE. SO I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT. >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY. FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE FLANNIGAN AMENDMENT? >> DID YOU SAY ME? >> MAYOR ADLER: YES. >> OKAY. SORRY. I GUESS I DON'T HAVE A FEEL FOR WHERE EVERYBODY ELSE IS ON IT. I'LL WAIT UNTIL IT PASSES. IS THERE ANYTHING IN THE AMENDMENT THAT REQUIRES -- I DON'T SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT. BUT IF IT PASSES, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT REQUIRES THE LANDLORD TO SHOW -- TO PROVE THAT THEY IN FACT GAVE THE NOTICE? WILL THEY BE REQUIRED TO FILE, LIKE AN AFFIDAVIT? IS THERE ANYTHING IN THE ORDINANCE THAT SHOWS THEY'LL HAVE TO FILE AN AFFIDAVIT UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY THAT THEY IN FACT GAVE THE TENANT NOTICE? AND I'LL JUST SAY, IF IT DOESN'T, IT NEEDS TO BE IN THERE. BUT I WOULD PREFER THE AMENDMENT WOULDN'T PASS. I HAVE THE SAME THOUGHTS THAT COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN HAD THAT ESSENTIALLY I UNDERSTAND THE -- I UNDERSTAND CONCERNS FROM THE APARTMENT ASSOCIATION AND LANDLORDS, BUT ADDING AN ADDITIONAL STEP FOR FOLKS ALREADY FACING A HARDSHIP, THEY'RE ALREADY IN A HARDSHIP AND THEY HAVE TO FILE SOMETHING TO SAY THEY'RE IN A HARDSHIP. I'LL POINT OUT THAT THE FEDERAL LOAN -- I JUST WENT TO PAY MY STUDENT LOAN A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO AND THEY AUTOMATICALLY PUT YOU ON A FORBEARANCE. YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING. IF YOU CAN PAY, YOU PAY. BUT YOU DO NOT HAVE TO DO ANYTHING AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY AND YOU DON'T GET ANY PENALTY. I UNDERSTAND IT'S A DIFFERENT SCENARIO, YOU HAVE A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BACKING A LOAN THERE, AND THIS IS A LANDLORD SITUATION, BUT I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE -- ANY KIND OF PROGRAM LIKE THIS NEEDS TO BE IN THE SPIRIT OF THAT. WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR SOMETHING ADDITIONAL FOR SOMEONE TO NOT TO HAVE TO BE -- OR NOT BE IN A SITUATION WHERE THEY MIGHT GET EVICTED. >> MAYOR ADLER: COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO? >> TOVO: THANK YOU. AND I THANK THOSE WHO HAVE WEIGHED IN ON THIS, FROM MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES, INCLUDING THE APARTMENT ASSOCIATION. AND OTHERS. I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT. I AGREE WITH THE STATEMENT THAT IT CREATES ANOTHER LEVEL OF COMPLIANCE, WHICH IS BURDENSOME. BUT ALSO, I THINK MAKES IT BURDENSOME FOR RENTERS, BUT ALSO [05:00:01] I THINK IT MAKES IT COMPLICATED IN A WAY THAT'S NOT PRODUCTIVE. AND I APPRECIATE VERY MUCH, VERONICA, DIRECTOR PRESINIO, THE INFORMATION THAT YOU OFFERED. WE ALL WANT TO SEE THE SMALL LANDLORDS, AND LARGER LANDLORDS, I MEAN, WE WANT TO SEE STABILITY IN OUR RENTAL MARKET AND THAT INCLUDES LOOKING OUT FOR THE ECONOMIC HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF OUR PROPERTY OWNERS AS WELL WHO ARE PROVIDING RENTAL HOUSING IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND SO I'M GLAD TO HEAR YOU CLARIFY FOR US THAT THE PROGRAMS THE CITY IS OFFERING ARE TO THE SMALLER LANDLORDS, AND PROPERTY OWNERS AS WELL. SO AGAIN, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THE ORDINANCE AS WRITTEN, AND THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CASAR, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON IT, AND I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT. >> MAYOR ADLER: I'M GOING TO -- I'M NOT GOING TO SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT EITHER. I THINK WE'RE BEING DRIVEN HERE IN THIS CRISIS BY TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT NO ONE LOSES THEIR HOME. I THINK THE NUMBERS WE SHOW, SHOW THAT, YOU KNOW, MID TO HIGH 80%, TENANTS ARE WORKING WITH THEIR LANDLORDS. BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE LANDLORDS WHO ARE SMALLER THAT ARE REALLY VULNERABLE HERE BECAUSE THEY'RE CAUGHT, YOU KNOW, AS WE HELP SOMEBODY, WE SOMETIMES MOVE THE RISK IN VULNERABILITY SOMEWHERE ELSE. I APPRECIATE THAT THOSE LANDLORDS ARE ABLE TO GO FOR THOSE LOANS, BUT I'D REALLY LIKE TO BE WORKING WITH THE APARTMENT ASSOCIATION, AND SEE IF THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE COULD BE DOING, AND TARGETING TO THAT GROUP AS WE DEAL WITH THE PEOPLE THAT ARE DOING THIS. WHEN THE TIME COMES AFTER THIS, COUNCIL MEMBER CASAR, I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT IF THERE'S ANY WAY YOU WOULD CONSIDER -- I HAVE MY EVICTION ORDER THAT WAS ANOTHER PIECE OF THIS, THEY WERE KIND OF BOOK-ENDS. I'M GOING TO PUT IN AN EXPIRATION DATE IN ON MINE AS JULY, TO BE ON TOP OF WHERE THE C.A.R.E.S. MOVEMENT (INDISCERNIBLE) FOR FEDERALLY SUPPORTED LOANS, THIS WOULD BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THAT. BUT SOMETHING THAT KEYED OFF OF THAT DATE, OR IN 30 DAYS OF THAT, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, I'D LIKE YOU TO CONSIDER TAKING. BUT I'M NOT GOING TO SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT. COUNCIL MEMBER CASAR? >> CASAR: YEAH. I APPRECIATE THAT. AND I APPRECIATE THE SPIRIT IN WHICH WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S FOLKS THAT DO FACE A HARDSHIP THAT ARE PROTECTED BY THIS. SO THIS ORDINANCE ONLY PROTECTS THOSE THAT ARE FACING A HARDSHIP, AND THE QUESTION IS, IS IT MORE ON THE LANDLORD TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT THE HARDSHIP OR IS IT MORE ON THE TENANT. I THINK JUST IN THIS CASE, I FALL ON THE SIDE OF TRYING TO PUT LESS OF THE ONUS ON THE TENANT GIVEN WHERE WE ARE. I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT AMENDMENT. MAYOR, WHEN WE GET PAST THIS AMENDMENT, I'M OPEN TO TALKING ABOUT HOW IT IS -- YOU KNOW, THIS ORDINANCE IS JUST WHEN WE'RE IN THE COVID TIMES, AND MY GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS CONTINUES TO COVER PEOPLE. AND SO I TIED IT TO THE LOCAL DISASTER, BUT IF WE TIED IT THROUGH THE C.A.R.E.S. ACT PORTION AND THEN COME BACK AND EXTEND IT IF WE HAVE TO, I DON'T SEE ANY HARM IN THAT. WE CAN DO THAT WHEN WE GET THERE. >> MAYOR ADLER: THANK YOU. I THINK THAT WILL HELP DRIVE US ALL BACK TO THE TABLE. COUNCIL MEMBER FLANNIGAN. >> FLANNIGAN: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN CASAR, FOR THE INTENT OF THE AMENDMENT. THIS IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FOLKS WITH THE ABILITY TO PAY THE RENT STILL HAVE THE REQUIREMENT TO PAY THEIR RENT. AS WE HEARD IN OUR BUDGET MEETINGS, MY RECOLLECTION IS IT WAS LIKE 15% OR 16% OF PEOPLE LOST THEIR JOBS, IT WASN'T LIKE HALF THE COMMUNITY. AND IN COMMUNITIES AND DISTRICTS LIKE MINE WHERE THERE'S A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF TECH WORKERS, THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF PEOPLE GETTING THEIR INCOME. THERE'S BEEN SOME CONFUSION ABOUT WHAT THE ORDINANCE MEANS FOR THOSE FOLKS. AND WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE IT CLEAR, SO EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THEIR INDIVIDUAL OBLIGATIONS DURING THIS CRISIS. AND MAYOR, I WOULD BE WILLING TO PULL THIS DOWN. I KNOW THE AMENDMENT GOES TO THE BODY, BUT I DON'T SEE ANY REASON TO URGE THIS FORWARD ANYMORE. I THINK WE'VE MADE IT CLEAR TO THE PUBLIC THAT THIS IS NOT A GENERAL -- NO ONE HAS TO PAY THEIR RENT, THAT IT'S MORE ABOUT TRYING TO HELP THOSE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING A HARDSHIP. >> MAYOR ADLER: ANY OBJECTION TO THIS AMENDMENT BEING PULLED DOWN? HEARING NOBNE, THIS AMENDMENT I PULLED DOWN. COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN? >> KITCHEN: I JUST WANT TO ECHO WHAT MY COLLEAGUES ARE SAYING, [05:05:04] COUNCIL MEMBER FLANNIGAN, COUNCIL MEMBER CASAR. YES, I THINK WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE IT CLEAR TO THE COMMUNITY THAT THE PURPOSE OF THIS IS FOR THOSE THAT ARE IMPACTED, AND SO I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE THAT -- IMPACTED BY COVID, AND LET'S MAKE THAT CLEAR. ALSO, MAYOR, I SHARE YOUR CONCERNS AND DESIRE TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO REALLY TARGET SOME ASSISTANCE TO OUR SMALLER LANDLORDS. AND SO I WOULD BE HAPPY TO WORK WITH THE APARTMENT ASSOCIATION, WITH ABOR, AND OTHERS TO HELP MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS. >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY. LET'S DO THAT THEN. AND COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO ALSO EXPRESSED INTEREST IN WORKING ON THAT AS WELL. COUNCIL MEMBER CASAR, I'M GOING TO BE EXECUTING TODAY AN EXTENSION OF THE ORDER THAT IS THE BOOK-END OF THIS. BUT WE FIRST ACTED BACK IN MARCH. THE ORDER THAT PROHIBITED THE ISSUANCE OF A NOTICE TO VACATE. ALSO THE REMOVAL OF PROPERTY, THE EXCLUSION OF A TENANT, WITH THOSE SAME EXCEPTIONS THAT THE SUPREME COURT HAD FOR POSING AN IMMINENT THREAT OF PHYSICAL HARM. THE PROPERTY OWNER AND EMPLOYEE IS IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AND THE PROPERTY IS NOT AN EXEMPT PROPERTY. WITH THE C.A.R.E.S. ACT, IT ONLY PERTAINED TO SIMILARLY BACKED MORTGAGE, PROPERTIES THAT WERE FEDERALLY BACKED. THAT RUNS THROUGH JULY 25TH. I'M GOING TO MAKE MY ORDER TAKING US THROUGH JULY 25TH. THAT GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY THIS SUMMER TO TALK ABOUT THE EXTENSION OF THIS, AND CERTAINLY WE'RE CERTAINLY STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF COVID. WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO. BUT THAT PUTS US BACK TO THE TABLE. AND I THINK IT WILL GIVE US ADDED IMPETUS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SITTING DOWN AND TRYING TO CRAFT A RELIEF FOR LANDLORDS WHO MAY BE CAUGHT IN THIS AND ARE AT LEAST ABLE TO PROTECT THEMSELVES. I GO BACK TO WHAT I SAID A SECOND AGO, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER LEAVING IT AN OPEN DATE. I KNOW A COUPLE OF CITIES HAVE DONE IT AS AN OPEN DATE. BUT WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO PUT IN SOMETHING THAT WAS EITHER JULY OR SHORTLY THEREAFTER SO THAT RECOGNIZING THAT THAT MEANS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO COME BACK AND EXTEND IT? >> CASAR: THAT'S ALL RIGHT. YOU CAN DO THAT UNILATERALLY, TO ACT. BUT THE COUNCIL, FOR THIS, WOULD HAVE TO GET TOGETHER, HAVE 10 DAYS IF WE DON'T HAVE A SUPER MAJORITY VOTE ON AN EMERGENCY. AND SO JULY 25TH, WE'RE JUST COMING BACK FOR BUDGET. SO I WOULD RATHER IT BE IN AUGUST. IT WAS ACTUALLY A C.A.R.E.S. ACT DATE OF AUGUST 24TH BEING THE DATE THAT THOSE FEDERALLY BACKED PROPERTIES CAN'T DO EVICTIONS UNTIL THAT DATE. SO I'M OKAY PUTTING AUGUST 24TH AS THE TIMELINE, JUST UNDERSTANDING THAT MOST LIKELY THAT MEANS IN AUGUST WE'LL HAVE TO EXTEND THIS AGAIN. I HOPE WE'RE NOT IN A DISASTER PERIOD THEN, BUT IT'S LIKELY. I'M HAPPY DOING THAT. AND WE MIGHT HAVE TO COME BACK AND STEPPED ONE MORE TIME. >> MAYOR ADLER: I'M OKAY WITH THAT. >> CASAR: WE WOULD JUST REPLACE THE WORDS IN THE ORDINANCE SAYING THE DATE OF THE DISASTER TERMINATES. WE WOULD REPLACE THOSE WORDS WITH THE AUGUST 24TH IN BOTH PLACES. >> MAYOR ADLER: ANY OBJECTION TO THAT AMENDMENT BEING MADE? BEING NONE, THAT AMENDMENT IS MADE. WE'RE BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION. JUST FOR THE RECORD, I'LL ALSO POINT OUT COUNTY JUDGE ECKHARDT IS ALSO GOING TO BE EXTENDING HER ORDER, EMERGENCY ORDER WITH RESPECT TO (INDISCERNIBLE). >> MAYOR, WHEN IS THAT ORDER COMING OUT? >> MAYOR ADLER: I'M SIGNING MINE TODAY. >> OKAY. >> MAYOR ADLER: IT EXPIRES ON THE 8TH. IF THERE'S NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, WE'LL THEN TAKE A VOTE. THOSE IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. THOSE OPPOSED? PASSES UNANIMOUSLY, WITH THAT CHANGE. THANK YOU. I THINK TO THE LAST THING ON OUR AGENDA, WHICH IS ITEM NUMBER 61. ALSO PULLED BY COUNCIL MEMBER [Item 61] FLANNIGAN. DOES THE AUTHOR WANT TO MAKE A MOTION? >> I WANT TO MOVE APPROVAL OF [05:10:02] 61. >> MAYOR ADLER: IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT MOTION? ITEM NUMBER 61. COUNCIL MEMBER POOL SECONDS. YOU CAN OPEN UP AND WE'LL GO TO MR. FLANNIGAN FOR HIS AMENDMENT. >> SURE. I'M GOING TO OPEN UP AND THEN MAYBE AFTER MR. FLANNIGAN MAKES HIS AMENDMENT, I CAN SPEAK TO IT. I WASN'T ABLE TO -- WE WERE WORKING ON SOME ELEMENTS TO MAKE SURE WE OBSERVE THE C.A.R.E.S. ACT AND WASN'T ABLE TO POST IT UNTIL LATE. SO I WANT TO CLARIFY AND MAKE SURE WE'RE UNDERSTANDING WHAT WE'RE DOING. THE IDEA WITH ITEM 61 IS TO CREATE AUSTIN CONSERVATION CORPS. YOU CAN THINK OF IT AS THE CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS 2.0. IT HEARKENS BACK TO THE 1930S WITH ROOSEVELT ON A VERY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM THAT WE KNOW WORKS, THAT PUT PEOPLE TO WORK, GAVE THEM HOPE, GAVE THEM TRAINING, AND LEFT A LASTING LEGACY FOR OUR COUNTRY. WE SEE IT WITH THE TREES WE SEE ALL OVER THE PLACE AND TRAILS AND LOTS OF THINGS THAT WE ENJOY AS A COUNTRY AND HERE IN AUSTIN. FIRSTLY, WE WANT TO PUT AUSTINITES WHO LOST THEIR JOBS BACK TO WORK. AND WITH SUPPORT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE GIVING THOSE AUSTINITES NEW SKILLS THAT THEY CAN USE IN FUTURE EMPLOYMENT. WE'RE GOING TO DO IT IN A WAY THAT MAKES AUSTIN MORE BEAUTIFUL, AND SAFER ALONG THE WAY, BY PUTTING THEM TO WORK ON A LOT OF THINGS THAT THEY CAN DO SAFELY WITH THE DISTANCING REQUIREMENTS, LIKE WILDFIRE MITIGATION OR PLANTING TREES, BUILDING TRAILS AND STUFF LIKE THAT. I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS, AS AN OPPORTUNITY. WE KNOW THIS TYPE OF PROJECT WORKS. WE HAVE ORGANIZATIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE ALREADY OPERATING ON THIS, AND WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE TO REALLY BUILD AND ADOPT IT FOR TODAY, RATHER THAN, YOU KNOW, THE 1930S, AND TO TURN THIS CRISIS INTO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR JOB CREATION, SKILLED DEVELOPMENT, AND IMPROVEMENT OF OUR CITY. IF MR. FLANNIGAN WANTS TO MAKE HIS MOTION, THEN I CAN SPEAK TO PROCESS STUFF. OR I CAN DO IT BEFORE. >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER FLANNIGAN, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM. >> FLANNIGAN: IS THERE A MAIN MOTION? DID I MISS THAT PART? >> MAYOR ADLER: IT WAS MOVED AND SECONDED. >> FLANNIGAN: OKAY, THANKS. I HAVE AN AMENDMENT THAT STAFF SENT OUT ABOUT 2:45 THIS AFTERNOON, I THINK IT WAS SENT TO EVERYBODY'S STAFF. I HAD TO GET MY STAFF TO SEND MY OWN AMENDMENT TO ME. SO IT MAY NOT BE IN YOUR OWN INBOX, BUT YOUR STAFF SHOULD HAVE IT. IT'S THE BOTTOM OF PAGE 2, THE VERY FIRST "BE IT RESOLVED," JUST CHANGING THE PHRASE CREATE, TO EXPLORE THE CREATION OF, AND THEN ADDING THE PHRASE, FOR THE EXPANSION OF SIMILAR EXISTING COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. THAT'S MY AMENDMENT, MAYOR, AND IN A SECOND I'LL EXPLAIN. >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY. THE AMENDMENT MADE. COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER-MADISON? >> FLANNIGAN: I REALLY SUPPORT THE CONCEPT OF THIS, AND I THANK COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER FOR BRINGING IT TO THE DAIS TONIGHT. BUT I THINK THE CONVERSATION THAT WE HEARD DURING PUBLIC COMMENT THIS MORNING WAS REALLY VALUABLE. AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT AS THE MANAGER AND THE STAFF EXPLORE THIS CONCEPT, THAT WE'RE NOT PRECLUDING THE ABILITY OF THIS TO BE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH EXISTING PROGRAMS LIKE YOUTH WORKS, WHERE THERE'S ALREADY SIGNIFICANT INFRASTRUCTURE AND PROCESS AND CAPABILITIES, RATHER THAN LEAVING THE MAIN OPTION TO BE A STAFF-DRIVEN PROGRAM. SO THAT'S ULTIMATELY THE ONLY THING MY AMENDMENT DOES. >> I SECOND IT. >> MAYOR ADLER: YEAH. AND THEN WE'LL GO TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS. >> SURE. I UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM, AND I JUST WANT TO -- I WANT TO EXPLAIN SOME PARTS OF THIS. AS HAPPENS SOMETIMES WHEN WE DO THINGS ON THE DAIS IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'RE ALLOWED TO DO IN PROVIDING OUR DIRECTION, WE HAVE TO DO IT AS APPROPRIATE FOR OUR ROLE AS POLICY MAKERS. AS I SEE WHAT WE HAVE FASHIONED, WE HAVE SAID, DO THIS, AND THEN GO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO IT BEST. AND THE GUIDANCE THAT WE'VE PROVIDED IN THE PROGRAM STRUCTURE HIGHLY RECOMMENDS RELYING ON EXISTING ORGANIZATIONS TO GET IT DONE. AND THAT IS EXACTLY HOW WE ALSO HAD SOME OTHER CONVERSATIONS ON ITEM 23. [05:15:02] AND JUST AS WE HAD CONVERSATIONS THAT WE COULDN'T DO IT THE SAME FOR THE SMALL BUSINESSES AS FOR THE NONPROFITS AS FOR CHILD CARE. I THINK THE SAME THING HAPPENS IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE. I AM COMPLETELY FINE IF STAFF GOES OUT AND THEY SAY THAT WE SHOULD COMPLETELY RELY ON ONE ORGANIZATION, AND THAT IS THE WAY WE WOULD DO IT. AND I THINK THAT THIS ORGANIZATION -- THIS FRAMEWORK ALLOWS THAT, FOR THAT. BY SAYING EXPLORE THE CREATION, YOU'RE NOT SAYING DO. I THINK WE NEED TO BE PUTTING PEOPLE INTO EMPLOYMENT. WE DO NOT HAVE EVERY PIECE OF THE STRUCTURE CREATED, BECAUSE WE HAVE HIGH EX PECT TAGSS FOR THIS PROGRAM. THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PULL DOWN A LOT OF POTENTIAL FEDERAL FUNDS. THERE IS MOVEMENT TO ADVOCATE FOR A CONSERVATION CORPS ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL. THERE ARE PARTS OF PLATFORMS THAT HAVE GREEN JOBS, AND ALL OF THIS WOULD POSITION US TO BE BRINGING THAT DOWN. SO WE ALSO NEED A FLEXIBLE STRUCTURE. AND I BELIEVE THAT WHAT I HAVE ACTUALLY ADDRESSES THE CONCERN, AND I'VE BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH AMERICAN YOUTH WORKS, AND I THINK THAT THE COMMUNICATION DID NOT REFLECT THE CONVERSATIONS IN THE WAY THAT WE HAVE STRUCTURED IT. JUST BECAUSE OF A NAVIGATING OF WHAT WE NEED TO DO AS A COUNCIL IN RESOLUTIONS. >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY. SO I NEED SOME HELP HERE. BECAUSE I'M NOT SEE ING THE SUBSTANTIVE DIFFERENCE. I UNDERSTAND MR. FLANNIGAN WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE SOMETHING NEW. IT COULD BE THE EXPANSION OR SUPPORT OF EXISTING COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. MY UNDERSTANDING FROM COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER IS SHE BELIEVES THAT TO ALREADY BE INCLUDED IN, BUT DOESN'T WANT TO SAY IN ORDER TO EXPLORE, WE WANT TO SAY WE ACTUALLY WANT TO DO SOMETHING. IS THE SWEET SPOT HERE TO SAY THE CITY MANAGER IS DIRECTED TO CREATE (INDISCERNIBLE) OR WHICH COULD BE THE EXPANSION OR SUPPORT OF SIMILAR EXISTING (INDISCERNIBLE) WHICH COULD BE WITHOUT LIMITATION THE EXPANSION OR SUPPORT OF EXISTING COMMUNITY PROGRAM? >> SO MAYOR, I THINK THAT IS WHAT IT DOES IN THE PROGRAM STRUCTURE, IF YOU PUT IT WHERE YOU HAVE IT, I HAVE TWO CHALLENGES WITH IT. ONE, IT KIND OF BREAKS UP THE FLOW OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, SO I WOULD RATHER -- I SORT OF RATHER PLACE IT SLIGHTLY DIFFERENTLY. THE OTHER THING IS THAT, WE HAD TO BE VERY CAREFUL IN CONSTRUCTING THIS, SO THAT WE WERE IN LINE WITH THE C.A.R.E.S. PROGRAM, WHICH DOESN'T ALLOW US TO SPEND MONEY ON EXISTING PROGRAMS THAT WE WOULD BE FUNDING OTHERWISE. AND SO IT IS DIFFERENT TO SAY WE'RE GOING TO DEPLOY AN EXISTING -- AN ORGANIZATION TO DO THIS WORK, THAN IT IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO EXPAND AN EXISTING PROGRAM. IT'S JUST A SEMANTIC, BUT WE HAD TO WORK THROUGH LOTS OF STEPS WITH THIS, AND SO WE TOOK A LOT OF CARE IN SHAPING LOTS OF LANGUAGE TO BE MINDFUL, THAT WE WOULD ACCOMPLISH OUR GOAL, AND STILL MEET THE REQUIREMENTS. AND I'M CONCERNED WITH THAT PHRASING THAT IT CROSSES SOME OF THE LINES THAT WERE RAISED TO ME AT VARIOUS POINTS, THAT WE TRY TO AVOID WITH RESPECT TO USING C.A.R.E.S. ACT FOR PORTIONS OF THIS. >> MAYOR ADLER: AND MY PREFERENCE ON THIS, I WOULD LIKE TO GET THIS GOING, BECAUSE TO ME, THIS IS ALL ABOUT COVID RESPONSE. I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE PUT PEOPLE TO WORK AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN THAT ARE OUT OF WORK. TO ME THIS IS A COVID RESPONSE MEASURE. AS LONG AS WE'RE DOING COVID RESPONSE STUFF, I'M FINE DOING IT IN WAYS THAT THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS. WE SHOULD BE DOING THAT EVERYWHERE. AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE CAN COMPLY. BUT IT SAYS THE CITY MANAGER IS DIRECTED (INDISCERNIBLE) WHICH COULD INCLUDE THE EXPANSION OF SIMILARLY EXISTING THIRD PARTY COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. IN OTHER WORDS, A THIRD PARTY. AND ADDRESS THE ISSUE THAT YOU WERE TRYING TO ADDRESS. WE COULD ASK BREE WHETHER THAT ADDRESSES THAT ISSUE. I RECOGNIZE KIND OF THE FORM ISSUE YOU'RE RAISING, BUT WE RUN INTO IT IN BOTH WAYS. THE OBJECTION IS JUST LEAVING CREATE BY ITSELF, WITHOUT SAYING THAT CREATION COULD BE OTHER THINGS. >> WHAT IF WE WERE TO SAY, THE CITY MANAGER'S DIRECTED TO PAY AUSTIN CIVILIAN CORPS IN COMPLIANCE WITH COVID RELATED PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES, AND OTHER BENEFICIAL PROJECTS. OR EXPAND. [05:20:02] SOMETHING LIKE THAT. OR PUT IT UNDER PROGRAM STRUCTURE IN THE FIRST PLACE. >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER FLANNIGAN, IF WE TAKE YOUR AMENDMENT, AND MOVE IT TO THE END OF THAT SENTENCE, DOES THAT SAY -- WHICH COULD INCLUDE THE EXPANSION OR SUPPORT OF SIMILARLY EXISTING THIRD-PARTY COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, DOES THAT GET TO WHAT YOU WANTED TO DO? >> FLANNIGAN: I THINK IT DOES, BECAUSE WE'RE REALLY DANCING AROUND SEMANTICS, AND I THINK WE ALL ARE GENERALLY TRYING TO SAY THE SAME THING. SO THAT WOULD SATISFY IT. I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THIS IS ON THE LIST OF THINGS THAT IS A WAY TO COMPLY WITH THIS DIRECTION. >> AND AGAIN, THIS IS I THINK SEMANTICS, BECAUSE THAT'S HOW WE -- YOU KNOW, I CAN'T TELL THEM TO GO GIVE IT TO THIS ORGANIZATION. SO WE HAVE TO -- YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO APPROACH THIS APPROP APPROPRIATELY, FOR THE POLICY ROLE. AND WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO DO THAT, WHICH WAS A CHALLENGE WE FACED. MAYOR, DO YOU WANT TO READ THE LAST PART? BECAUSE I THINK THAT WAS A LITTLE BIT BETTER. >> MAYOR ADLER: IT WOULD SAY YOUR LANGUAGE, CITY MANAGER IS DIRECTED TO CREATE -- >> CAN YOU JUST FOR THE RECORD SAY WHERE YOU ARE IN THE DOCUMENT? >> MAYOR ADLER: I AM IN THE CLAUSE AT THE BOTTOM OF 29. IT'S THE AREA WHERE COUNCIL MEMBER FLANNIGAN HAD OFFERED HIS AMENDMENT. THAT CLAUSE SAYS, THE CITY MANAGER IS DIRECTED TO, AND THIS IS WHERE MR. FLANNIGAN'S INITIAL AMENDMENT WAS, WHAT I HEARD, AND I THINK WE MIGHT HAVE A MEETING OF MINDS IS, THE CITY MANAGER IS DIRECTED TO CREATE AN AUSTIN CIVILIAN CORPS FOR AUSTINITES WHO HAVE BEEN (INDISCERNIBLE) AND COMPLETE THE BENEFICIAL PROJECTS. IT'S THE SAME PARAGRAPH AS IT WAS INITIALLY, BUT THEN IT WOULD ADD THE LANGUAGE, WHICH COULD BE, OR INCLUDE THE EXPANSION OR SUPPORT OF SIMILAR EXISTING THIRD-PARTY COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. >> MAYOR? >> MAYOR ADLER: YES. COUNCILMAN TOVO. >> TOVO: YES. TO ME THIS IS REALLY A PIECE OF INFORMATION THAT BELONGS IN THE PROGRAM STRUCTURE AND NOT IN THE MISSION STATEMENT. AND SO I WOULD PREFER THAT WE KEEP THE MISSION STATEMENT VERY CLEAR, AS THE LEAD SPONSOR HAS LAID IT OUT. TO ME, I READ THE VARIOUS PLACES WITHIN IT, INCLUDING -- I DON'T HAVE THE LAST VERSION LINES CORRECTLY, BUT THERE ARE LINES THROUGHOUT PROGRAM STRUCTURES THAT SPEAK TO COLLABORATION, OR TO THE UTILIZATION OF EXISTING CONTRACTS, TO MAKE THIS WORK HAPPEN. BUT MY PREFERENCE WOULD BE TO TAKE THE LINE THAT YOU ALL ARE CRAFTING AND PUT IT AT THE END OF THE PROGRAM STRUCTURE. SO AFTER THE LAST BULLET, SAY THIS COULD BE ACCOMPLISHED -- THIS COULD ALSO BE ACCOMPLISHED THR THROUGH, AND THEN PICK UP ON YOUR LANGUAGE AS YOU HAD IT. SO THAT'S -- THAT WOULD BE MY PREFERENCE. I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU, COU COUNCILWOMAN ALTER, WOULD LIKE -- >> MAYOR ADLER: IT'S LESS IMPORTANT TO ME WHERE IT IS, AS LONG AS IT IS IN THERE. THE QUESTION FOR YOU IS, DOES IT MEET YOUR PREFERENCE AT THE END OF THE PROGRAM STRUCTURE SECTION, THE LANGUAGE SAYS THAT THIS COULD BE ACCOMPLISH ED BY - BE ACCOMPLISHED WITH THE INCLUSION OR EXPANSION -- NO, THIS COULD BE ACCOMPLISHED WITH THE EXPANSION -- THIS COULD BE ACCOMPLISHED WITH THE INCLUSION OR EXPANSION OR SUPPORT OF THIRD-PARTY COMMUNITY PROJECTS. >> MAYOR, I WOULD JUST SAY THAT I PREFER IT IN THE PROGRAM STRUCTURE. BUT I WILL POINT OUT THAT THE SECOND BULLET SAYS, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EXISTING LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, THE CAPACITY TO ADMINISTER THE PROGRAMS OR DEPLOY AUSTINITES IN CONSERVATION PROJECTS. >> MAYOR ADLER: I THINK THAT'S CLOSE. >> THE LATTER PART IS THAT, I'M HAPPY WITH YOUR LANGUAGE, I WOULD MUCH PREFER IT IN THE PROGRAM STRUCTURE. >> MAYOR ADLER: JIMMY, I THINK THE QUESTION IS AT THE END OF THE PROJECT STRUCTURE SECTION. [05:25:04] IS THAT AN ACCEPTABLE PLACEMENT? >> FLANNIGAN: I THINK IT'S FINE. I THINK STAFF GETS THE POINT. >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY. IS THERE OBJECTION TO INCLUDING THAT LANGUAGE AT THE END OF THE PROJECT STRUCTURE SECTION? LANGUAGE AND SAYING THAT THIS COULD BE ACCOMPLISHED WITH INCLUSION, EXPANSION, OR SUPPORT OF THIRD-PARTY COMMUNITY PROJECTS. WITHOUT OBJECTION, THAT IS ADDED TO THAT SECTION. FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN? >> KITCHEN: LET ME JUST SAY, THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER FOR BRINGING THIS, AND TO YOUR CO-SPONSORS. I THINK IT'S A VERY INTERESTING AND TIMELY IDEA. I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE INTERPRETATION OF IT. I'M JUST GOING TO STATE WHAT MY INTERPRETATION WOULD BE, AND SEE IF YOU AGREE. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHO CAN BE EMPLOYED UNDER THIS, WOULD IT ALSO BE INCLUDING OUR HOMELESS POPULATION, AS THEY HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY COVID-19 ALSO? AND AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A PROGRAM RIGHT NOW, AND AGAIN, I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT ANY PARTICULAR PROGRAM NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED, JUST REMINDING PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE A PROGRAM THROUGH THE OTHER ONE'S FOUNDATION, THAT HELPS EMPLOY HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS. SO WHEN I READ THIS LANGUAGE ABOUT PEOPLE BEING IMPACTED, I READ IT TO BE BROAD ENOUGH TO NOT EXCLUDE PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, AND SO I JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM THAT THAT IS THE INTENT, SO THAT OUR STAFF DOESN'T LATER HAVE SOME QUESTION ABOUT THAT. >> ABSOLUTELY, IT DOES INCLUDE HOMELESS PEOPLE. THE FOCUS WOULD WHAT COMES FROM C.A.R.E.S. THE CURRENT INTERPRETATION IS NOT ON PUBLIC LAND, BUT THE OTHER ONE'S FOUNDATION WAS ABSOLUTELY ONE OF THE PROGRAMS HERE IN TOWN THAT WE WERE MODELING ON. AND THE REALITY IS THAT WE HAVE MULTIPLE ORGANIZATIONS IN TOWN THAT CAN TRAIN PEOPLE. WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO POTENTIALLY PARTNER WITH OTHER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT TO BRING DOWN MORE FUNDING, OR COMBINE FUNDING, AS WELL AS WITH OUR WORK FORWARD TO BE ABLE TO REALLY CREATE A PROGRAM FTHAT ALLOWS US TO DEPLOY FOLKS IN GREEN JOBS. AND AGAIN, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF IN 2021 THERE BEING MORE FUNDING THAT GOES INTO THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, AND HAVING THE INFRASTRUCTURE BUILT IN THE SYSTEMS, AND KNOWING HOW TO GET ALL THAT DOWN IS A BIG ADVANTAGE. BUT CERTAINLY THE OTHER ONE'S FOUNDATION COULD BE PART OF THAT DISCUSSION. YOU'D WANT TO MAKE SURE, YOU KNOW, PART OF CHOOSING -- IT JUST CAN'T BE ANY ORGANIZATION THAT COMES UP AND SAYS THEY WANT TO DO IT, BECAUSE WE WANT TO HAVE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE TRAINING AND THE WORK FORCE AND WORK WITH THEIR PARTICULAR POPULATION, THE HOMELESS IMPACTED BY COVID WOULD CERTAINLY BE A POPULATION THAT COULD BE SERVED. >> KITCHEN: I DON'T MEAN TO SUGGEST THAT THE OTHER ONE'S FOUNDATION IS THE ONLY PLACE THAT A HOMELESS INDIVIDUAL COULD BE HIRED THROUGH. I WAS JUST GIVING THAT AS AN EXAMPLE. SO CITY MANAGER, I WOULD WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE INTERPRET THIS LANGUAGE AS TO INCLUDE HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS, BECAUSE THEY HAVE CERTAINLY BEEN IMPACTED BY THE COVID-19. SO THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER. >> MAYOR ADLER: COUNCIL MEMBER POOL? >> POOL: THANKS. AND THIS EFFORT, THIS INITIATIVE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER IS BRINGING TODAY IS REALLY WONDERFUL. IT HAS ITS ROOTS, AND IS AN ECHO OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION PROGRAM, ONE OF THE NEW DEALS THAT FDR BROUGHT IN THE '30S AFTER HIS FIRST ELECTION. AND I'VE ALWAYS LOOKED TO THE WORK OF BOTH ROOSEVELTS, FDR AND THEODORE, AND THEN JOHN KENNEDY, AND LBJ IS KIND OF MINORITY STAR FOR PROGRESSIVE SOCIAL LEGISLATION AND WATERSHED CHANGES TO WHAT WAS AMERICA, AND HOW WE'VE CHANGED OVER THE LAST 100 YEARS, AND IT'S REALLY TIMELY, I THINK, FOR US TO BRING [05:30:01] A CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS TYPE EFFORT HERE TO AUSTIN. WE'RE THE RIGHT CITY TO MODEL AFTER WHAT WAS DONE AT A LARGE -- IT MADE A LARGE IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY. ALMOST 100 YEARS AGO. SO THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER. I REALLY, REALLY LIKE THIS INITIATIVE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> MAYOR ADLER: ANY DISCUSSION BEFORE WE TAKE A VOTE? MAYOR PRO TEM? >> GARZA: I LIKE THE IDEA OF T THIS. I'LL BE HONEST, MY INITIAL REACTION WAS -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE WORD IS, BUT YOU'RE CREATING THESE HARD LABOR JOBS, AND WHAT SEEM TO BE. THE ONE EXAMPLE I SEE IS MAYBE BEAUTIFICATION AND ART. I GET THE COMPARISON TO FDR. IT WAS AN INCREDIBLY DIFFERENT WORK ETHIC FOR PEOPLE IN THAT TIME, SO I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW EXACTLY -- IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO KNOW THE APPETITE OF FOLKS WHO APPLY FOR WHAT LOOKED LIKE INCREDIBLY HARD LABOR TYPE OF JOBS. AND SO I AM SUPPORTIVE WITH EXPLAINING THAT CAVEAT PART OF IT, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY JOBS ARE GOOD. I GUESS I WOULD ASK TO MAKE SURE T THAT, IF IN FACT WE PARTNER WITH A NONPROFIT, THERE COULD MAYBE -- I DID SEE SOMETHING ABOUT -- I'M TRYING TO FIND IT -- ABOUT CREATING TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES. AND I GUESS I WOULD WANT TO MAKE SURE WE COULD PROVIDE SOME DIGITAL TRAINING OF SOME SORT TO PEOPLE. SO MAYBE THEY WORK AND DO GREEN RAKING OR WHATEVER IT IS, AND THEN THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO, YOU KNOW, TO CONTINUE TO GET ACCESS TO MORE, I GUESS TECH. THIS WORK IS HONORABLE WORK, ABSOLUTELY. BUT THE IDEA OF US CREATING THIS CORPS OF -- EXCUSE ME -- THIS CORPS OF JOBS, I DON'T KNOW WHY I HAD THIS WEIRD FEELING ABOUT THAT. THERE'S A PART THAT SAYS, SHOULD PAY A LIVING WAGE. I WOULD ACTUALLY (INDISCERNIBLE) PAY A LIVING WAGE AND THAT IT BE SHALL PAY THE CITY, BECAUSE LIVING WAGE IS (INDISCERNIBLE). AND THEN THAT SAME -- LET ME FIND IT -- I WOULD PREFER IT SAY SHALL PAY A LIVING WAGE, AND THE CITY'S LIVING WAGE AND IT SAYS SHOULD PROVIDE LIKE ADDITIONAL TRAINING, THAT IT SHALL PROVIDE SOME KIND OF ADDITIONAL TRAINING FOR FOLKS (INDISCERNIBLE). CAN WE CHANGE THE SHOULDS TO SHALL? >> I'M HAPPY TO CHANGE IT ON THE TRAINING. THERE WERE LOTS OF NUANCES ON THE LIVING WAGES, BECAUSE WE HAVE EXISTING CONTRACTS, AND WE HAVE PROGRAMS THAT WORK WITH AMER I CORP AND THEY GET HOUSING AND OTHER STUFF THAT THERE'S -- I JUST DON'T WANT IT TO PRECLUDE SOMETHING THAT WE WORKED HARD TO GET THAT LANGUAGE FOR, SO THAT THE EXISTING PROGRAMS WOULD BE ABLE TO OPERATE WITH THEIR MODELS THAT PROVIDE VARIOUS TRAINING IN OTHER THINGS. THE INTENTION IS THERE. BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT JUST CHANGING IT ON THE DAIS WILL ADDRESS THEIR CONCERNS. THE INTENTION IS FOR THEM TO PAY THE LIVING WAGE. BUT IF WE HAVE SOME OF THE EXISTING CONTRACTS THAT WE HAVE ARE WITH AMERICAN YOUTH WORKS AND THEY HAVE AN AMERICORP SET UP, AND SO IT DOESN'T WORK EXACTLY THE SAME, AND SO THE INTENTION IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU SAY. I JUST -- THERE'S SOME NUANCES THERE THAT I DON'T WANT TO CREATE PROBLEMS THAT I'M JUST NOT ABLE TO ADDRESS. SO IF WE COULD -- THEY'RE CERTAINLY SUPPOSED TO BE TRAINING. I'LL ADD BACK ON YOUR EARLIER COMMENT, THERE ARE OPTIONS FOR DISASTER TRAINING AND OTHER KINDS OF THINGS, AND THE TYPE OF TRAINING THEY WOULD GET WOULD DEPEND ON THE ORGANIZATION AND DEPEND ON THE SCOPE OF PROJECTS THAT ARE DEVELOPED AND COULD BE A VARIANCE THAT CAN BE USED IN [05:35:02] LOTS OF DIFFERENT TRADES AND OTHER THINGS. WE DID ORIGINALLY HAVE IN THERE SOME WORK ABOUT GREEN JOBS WITH THE BUILDING SECTOR, AND WEATHERIZATION AND OTHER THINGS. BUT WE'RE ASKED TO NOT PUT THOSE IN THERE AT THIS TIME, BECAUSE OF CONCERNS ABOUT COMPETING WITH EXISTING BUSINESSES THAT ARE DOING THAT WORK. WHEREAS MOST OF THESE OTHER THINGS, THE GOAL OF THIS IS THE WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT, BUT FOR THIS PROGRAM THOSE JOBS WOULD NOT BE DONE. >> OKAY. SO I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT AS PASSING SOMETHING WHERE THEY'RE NOT REQUIRED TO PAY THE CITY'S LIVING WAGE. I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING BECAUSE IN FACT, I REMEMBER WE GOT AN INTERN FROM AN OUTSIDE ORGANIZATION IN MY OFFICE, AND WHEN WE ASKED WHAT THEY WERE PAYING HER, LIKE $13 AN HOUR, AND I SAID, NO, AT A MINIMUM IT SHOULD BE THE CITY'S. AND THEY SAID, SORRY, WE HAVE SPECIFIC FUNDING. AND I SAID, THEN LET ME SUBSIDIZE THE EXTRA $2 AN HOUR, SO THIS PERSON CAN GET AT LEAST A LIVING -- THE CITY'S LIVING WAGE. SO I'M JUST UNCOMFORTABLE IF WE'RE CREATING JOBS AND THEY'RE NOT GETTING PAID AT LEAST -- WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT THE FOLKS THAT WORK IN OUR CITY HALL, AND HOW WE CONTROL THAT. SO I DON'T KNOW IF I SHOULD MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO ADD THAT CHANGE, IF IT'S NOT CONSIDERED FRIENDLY. >> IT'S NOT THAT I DON'T CONSIDER IT FRIENDLY, I JUST DON'T WANT TO CREATE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. THE INTENTION IS TO PAY A LIVING WAGE. THERE WERE CERTAIN SITUATIONS THAT WE NEEDED TO ACCOMMODATE. AND I DON'T KNOW, FOR INSTANCE, IF THE OTHER ONE'S FOUNDATION, FOLKS ARE GETTING A LIVING WAGE OR THEY'RE GETTING ALL THIS OTHER SUPPORT, I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT'S STRUCTURED. SO YOU MAY BY MAKING THAT PRECLUDE THE MODELS THAT THEY HAVE FROM WORKING, AND I JUST -- YOU KNOW, THE INTENTION IS TO PAY A LIVING WAGE. BUT THERE ARE NUANCES HERE THAT I'M JUST A LITTLE -- >> MAYOR ADLER: DOES IT WORK -- STAFF'S GOING TO HAVE TO COME BACK TO IT. >> I KNOW YOU SAID SHOULD. >> MAYOR ADLER: THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO COME BACK TO US WITH HOW THEY WOULD ACTUALLY DO THIS. WHAT IF WE PUT IN THERE SOMETHING THAT SAID THAT, IF THEY WERE PROPOSING ANYTHING THAT WOULD RESULT IN ANYBODY BEING PAID LESS THAN A LIVING WAGE, THEY HAVE TO FLAG IT, OR THIS COMES BACK TO US. SO THAT WE COULD THEN HAVE THE CONVERSATION ABOUT WHY IT WAS THAT THEY WERE PROPOSING IT. I THINK WE ALL AGREE THAT THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD WANT, THAT IT WOULD TAKE SOME SPECIAL SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES. I DON'T WANT THEM TO NOT BE ABLE TO INCLUDE THAT. BUT IF IT COMES BACK TO US AND WE RECOGNIZE IT HAS TO BE RED FLAGGED, THAT WOULD, I THINK, PROVIDE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAYING, IT'S NOT JUST IN THAT INSTANCE. I DON'T THINK STAFF IS GOING TO PROPOSE IT AT ALL, OR CERTAINLY IN AN INSTANCE WHERE IT'S NOT GOING TO GET PAST US. I WONDER IF THAT'S A WAY TO GIVE THEM THE WHITEBOARD AND EXPRESS THAT CONCERN. >> YEAH. (INDISCERNIBLE) ALSO GIVE CHILD CARE SUBSIDIES. IT'S JUST COMPLICATED TO CHANGE ON THE DAIS. >> MAYOR? >> MAYOR ADLER: YES, COUNCIL MEMBER POOL. >> POOL: I'M FAMILIAR WITH AMERICORP PROGRAMS AND THEY DO SUBSTITUTE CASH MONEY FOR AN ALLOTMENT FOR HOUSING, AND I THINK THERE'S SOME PROGRAMS THAT GIVE, LIKE FREE CHILD CARE, FOR EXAMPLE. SO IN THE END YOU HAVE -- THERE'S VALUE TO LIKE THE HOUSING PIECE, YOU'RE NOT PAYING FOR THE HOUSING, THAT'S PROVIDED. AND SO THAT WOULD BE WHY THEY WOULDN'T BE OFFERING A $15 AN HOUR MINIMUM LIVABLE WAGE. JUST HOLD THAT -- I MEAN, I THINK WE UNDERSTAND THAT. HOLD THAT CONCEPT IN MIND, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO KEEP, FOR EXAMPLE, A GROUP LIKE AMERICORP OUT BECAUSE THEY DO REALLY GOOD WORK, IF THEY ARE NOT PAYING $15 AN HOUR BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE VALUE OF THE HOUSING AND POSSIBLY EVEN THE FOOD FOR THE FOLKS WHO ARE STAYING AT THEIR SITE. >> THAT FEELS REALLY WEIRD, PEOPLE WORKING FOR HOUSING AND FOOD, THAT REMINDS ME OF SOMETHING REALLY, REALLY BAD A LONG TIME AGO. >> I HAD A JOB LIKE THAT, WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE, IN THE SUMMERTIME. I WAS A WAITRESS. I GOT HARDLY ANY MONEY. BUT I HAD A PLACE TO STAY AND THEY FED ME. I MEAN, IT WAS THE THING THAT WAS THE PROGRAM. >> THEY ALSO GIVE EDUCATION (INDISCERNIBLE) AND PAY FOR SCHOOL AND STUFF. THERE'S A NATIONAL PROGRAM, I MER I CORP, IN ALL THAT. I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND YOUR SENTIMENT. THEY WILL BE COMING BACK TO US WITH THE PROGRAM. [05:40:02] I THINK THERE'S EVERY INTENTION TO DO THAT. IT'S JUST THERE ARE NUANCES HERE THAT I DON'T FEEL LIKE I HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION TO (INDISCERNIBLE) AND TO ME IS A STRONG STATEMENT. >> I GUESS I'M JUST -- >> LET ME JUST -- I THINK IT DOES SAY "SHALL" AND THOSE OTHER THINGS. IF IT'S SHALL PAY A LIVING WAGE AND THOSE OTHER THINGS, WE PROBABLY ARE COVERED. LET ME SEE. >> MAYOR ADLER: COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO? DID YOU HAVE A WAY OUT OF THE BOX? >> TOVO: I'LL LET IT -- I'LL JUST SAY -- >> MAYOR ADLER: IT'S A GOOD SENTIMENT. BUT HOW DO WE REFLECT IT. >> TOVO: I THINK WE'RE ALL IN AGREEMENT THAT THAT SHOULD BE THE STANDARD. I ALSO SUPPORT PROVIDING A WAY FOR PROGRAMS LIKE AMERICORP TO PARTICIPATE. I DON'T HAVE A WAY OUT OF THIS AT THE MOMENT, BUT MAYBE WE COULD JUST TAKE A COUPLE MINUTES AND I'LL LOOK AT THE RESOLUTION AND SEE WHETHER THERE'S A WAY TO JUST ENHANCE WHAT I KNOW IS COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER'S INTENT OF HA HAVING -- OR REFLECTING THAT. >> ALTER: I THINK IT SAYS -- >> MAYOIT SAYS ACCEPTING THOSE IN EXISTING CITY CONTRACTS OR FEDERALLY FUNDED WORK FORCE PROGRAM. SO WE PROBABLY COULD JUST CHANGE IT TO "SHALL" IN THAT CASE. THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT ON THE FLY. BUT I THINK IF WE SAW THE CONSERVATION CORPS SHALL PAY A LIVING WAGE EXCEPT THOSE PARTICIPATING IN EXISTING CITY CONTRACTS OR A FEDERALLY FUNDED WORK FORCE PROGRAM, WE'RE PROBABLY OKAY WITH THE SCENARIO WE NEEDED, WHICH WAS THE INTENTION ALL THE WAY LONG. WE JUST USED THE WORD SHOULD INSTEAD OF SHALL. >> MAYOR ADLER: ANY OBJECTION TO MAKING THAT "SHALL"? HEARING NONE, WE'LL MAKE IT SHALL. MY REQUEST WOULD BE THAT IF STAFF FINDS SOMETHING THAT DIDN'T FIT WITHIN THAT EXCEPTION THAT MAKES SENSE, THAT YOU PRESENT THAT BACK TO COUNCIL AS WELL. IF THERE'S NOTHING THAT MAKES SENSE FOR US -- I DON'T WANT US TO NOT BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD ALL AGREE TO BECAUSE IT JUST DIDN'T FIT THOSE WORDS. I'M HAPPY WITH THE WORDS EXACTLY THE WAY THEY ARE, BECAUSE NONE OF US WANT TO SEE PEOPLE WORKING FOR LESS THAN A LIVING WAGE. >> I WANT TO EMPHASIZE SOMETHING THAT HAD BEEN ECHOED BY THE COUNCIL MEMBERS IN VARIOUS FORMS. THIS IS THE FIRST STEP OF THAT DIRECTION. AND THEN WE'LL BE COMING BACK. BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO BE HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT FUNDING, BOTH NEXT COUNCIL CYCLE, OVER COVID FUNDING OVERALL, BUT THEN OBVIOUSLY AS WE LOOK AT OUR CURRENT BUDGETED EXPENSES, THAT WILL BE A FUTURE CONVERSATION. THERE MAY BE OPPORTUNITIES TO PILOT OR TO PROTOTYPE IN THE INTERIM. BUT JUST TO MANAGE EXPECTATIONS. BUT THAT'S THE INTENTION OF MY UNDERSTANDING OF THIS RESOLUTION AS WRITTEN. >> MAYOR ADLER: OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO? >> TOVO: I WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING QUICK, AND THEN I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER SAID SHE HAD COMMENTS. I JUST WANTED TO SAY HOW EXCITED I AM ABOUT -- TO SEE THIS RESOLUTION MOVE FORWARD. COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, I THINK THIS IS AN EXTREMELY INNOVATIVE AND CREATIVE WAY OF BUILDING ON THIS HISTORICAL EXAMPLE, TO REALLY MAKE IT A RELEVANT RESPONSE, NOT JUST TO OUR CURRENT SITUATION, BUT ALSO TO HELP US MEET SOME REAL NEEDS IN THIS CITY. MEET THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS FOR EMPLOYMENT, AS WELL AS TO REALLY MOVE OUR CITY INTO THE NEXT -- INTO THE YEARS AHEAD AND TO TAKE CARE OF SOME REALLY CRITICAL PROJECTS. SO I THANK YOU. I THINK THIS IS A VERY GOOD INITIATIVE. AND THAT'S ABOUT ALL. I KNOW THAT IT WILL HELP EMPLOY MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO NEED THOSE JOBS. AND WE WILL ALL, ACROSS THE COMMUNITY, BENEFIT FROM THE PROJECTS THAT ARE -- THAT COME ABOUT AS A RESULT OF THIS. I THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. >> MAYOR ADLER: YES? >> TWO THOUGHTS THAT I'VE HAD SINCE THIS STARTED. ONE, KEYING OFF OF THE MAYOR PRO TEM'S COMMENT ABOUT WORK OUTSIDE, AND THE IMPORTANT WORK TO BE DONE THERE. THEN ALSO THE IMPORTANCE OF TELEWORK DURING THE TIME OF COVID-19. ONE AMENDMENT THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER INCORPORATED IN HER MOST RECENT DRAFT, AND I APPRECIATE IT WAS, CERTAINLY FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED AND NEED A JOB AND NEED HELP BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMIC CRISIS, BUT ALSO TO DEVELOP A STRATEGY FOR HIGHER RISK PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT BE ABLE [05:45:01] TO GET UNEMPLOYMENT OR EVENTUALLY THEIR UNEMPLOYMENT RUNS OUT. IF THIS CREATES JOBS THAT ARE IN MORE SAFE SETTINGS BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT IN A CROWD, OR NOT INDOORS, NOT AROUND A LOT OF PEOPLE, THAT THIS COULD BE A GOOD VEHICLE FOR WHERE SOME OF THOSE FOLKS CAN GO, AND CONTINUE WORKING IN A SAFER WAY. AND SO I THINK IN THAT CASE, IF WE'RE DOING SOME LEVEL OF TARGETED HIRING, IT MAY BE BEST FOR IT TO BE A PRIVATE ACTOR THAT IS HIRING FOLKS, SO THEY CAN DIRECTLY CONNECT TO THOSE MORE -- THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE WORKING OUTSIDE RATHER THAN AN INDOOR JOB. SO I WANTED TO FLAG THAT OUT THERE, IF THERE IS SOME COMPONENT OF LINKING THOSE EFFORTS, I THINK THAT WOULD BE USEFUL. I DON'T THINK WE HAVE TO ADD MUCH MORE TO THE RESOLUTION. THEN TO THE MAYOR PRO TEM'S POINT, IF, YOU KNOW, IT MAKES SENSE THAT THE CONSERVATION CORPS IN THE FDR ERA, YOU KNOW, HAD CERTAIN GOALS, BUT ALSO HERE IN THE COVID ERA, IF THERE'S ALSO TRAINING AND THINGS WE CAN BE DOING TO GET PEOPLE TO THE PLACE WHERE THEY CAN DO SAFER TELEWORK JOBS, ALONG WITH THESE JOBS OUTDOORS, THAT MAY BE SOMETHING FOR US TO BE THINKING ABOUT. AND AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO RAISE THAT IDEA. AND THEN MY THIRD AND LAST POINT HERE IS, IF WE WIND UP NOT USING C.A.R.E.S. ACT MONEY, BECAUSE WE FIND A DIFFERENT WAY OF ALLOCATING C.A.R.E.S. ACT, BUT WE STILL MOVE FORWARD WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS, YOU KNOW, THERE MIGHT BE SOME BENEFIT TO IT BEING A LEVEL OF PRIVATE ACTORS. WE'VE HAD ALL THESE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT OUTSOURCING AND INSOURCING, SO THERE MAY BE CASES WHERE IT MAY BE USEFUL TO ACTUALLY HAVE THIS WORK DONE IN-HOUSE. I UNDERSTAND IF WE USE C.A.R.E.S. ACT MONEY, THAT MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT TRICKY BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO BE SEEN AS SUPPLANTING, BUT I JUST WANTED TO RAISE THOSE THREE POINTS. ONE, YOU KNOW, AS PART OF OUR STRATEGY OF HAVING FOLKS WE DON'T WANT IN A CROWDED SETTING, THESE MAY BE GOOD JOBS. TWO, APART FROM THE TRAINING FOR OUTDOORS WORK, THERE MIGHT BE SOME IDEAS AROUND IDEAS FOR TELEWORK THAT MIGHT BE SAFER DURING COVID. AND THIRD, LET'S THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH OF THIS IS OUTSOURCED THAN INSOURCED. I WANTED TO RAISE THOSE THREE POINTS AS YOU ALL THINK ABOUT WHAT TO BRING BACK. THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO HAS BEEN WORKING TO MAKE THIS RIGHT. >> MAYOR ADLER: THANK YOU. IT'S ALMOST 5:00. DO WE WANT TO MOVE ON? >> I WANTED TO THANK MY CO-SPONSORS, COUNCIL MEMBER POOL, TOVO, CASAR AND MAYOR ADLER. I THINK THIS IS A REAL OPPORTUNITY WITH THE CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE MAKE INVESTMENTS AND CHOICES THAT MEET IMMEDIATE NEEDS BUT ALSO PAY DIVIDENDS DOWN THE LINE IN TERMS OF SKILLED DEVELOPMENT, AND IN TERMS OF WORK PRODUCT OUTPUTS THAT HELP OUR COMMUNITY. THIS FOCUSED ON CONSERVATION PROJECTS, BUT IF WE CAN FIGURE OUT THE MODEL, THERE ARE LOTS OF OTHER WAYS THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD. AND I DON'T WANT TO GET TOO DEEP INTO THE POTENTIALS FOR THE MODELS. THERE ARE LOTS OF PERMUTATIONS THAT REALLY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ABILITY OF DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS TO IDENTIFY WORK FORCE NEEDS AND PULL DOWN FUNDING, AND I THINK IT SETS US UP TO BE ABLE TO GET FUNDING FROM OTHER JURISDICTIONS IN VARIOUS WAYS. BUT THIS -- IF WE WANT TO BE A RESILIENT CITY, WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT OUR INVESTMENTS, AND CERTAINLY THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS ARE IMPORTANT. BUT IF WE CAN COME UP WITH WAYS THAT MEET MULTIPLE OBJECTIVES, I THINK WE WILL BE STRONGER AS A CITY. IT REQUIRES US TO BE CREATIVE, IT REQUIRES US TO THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX AND THINK ABOUT THINGS A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY THAN WE IMMEDIATELY FEEL COMFORTABLE. BUT I LEARNED SO MUCH WITH ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WE WORKED WITH ON THIS, AND THE CONVERSATIONS, AND THE CHALLENGE HERE IS THAT WE CROSS SO MANY DEPARTMENTS AND THERE ARE SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES. BUT I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT MOVING IT FORWARD, AND BEING ABLE TO THINK FORWARD. I DO HOPE THAT WE WILL FUND PORTIONS OF IT, FUND THE C.A.R.E.S. THERE'S AN UNLIMITED NUMBER OF PROJECTS AND THERE'S AN UNLIMITED NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO COULD BE EMPLOYED. BUT I WANTED US TO HAVE A CHANCE TO SEE THE LARGER SPENDING PLAN FRAMEWORK BEFORE SAYING IT SHOULD BE X DOLLARS AND I WANTED TO GET THE PROGRAM STRUCTURE A LITTLE BIT MORE NAILED DOWN IN THE INTERIM. THERE IS ANOTHER PIECE OF THIS RESOLUTION THAT I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT AS WELL. ORIGINALLY WE HAD WANTED TO TALK ABOUT HOW IN COVID WE NEEDED TO PAY ATTENTION TO SOME OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS. WE HAVE SWITCHED IT, AND THE FOCUS IS REALLY SQUARELY ON OUR TELECOMMUTING POLICIES AND PROVIDING DIRECTION TO THE CITY MANAGER TO LOOK TOWARDS UPDATING [05:50:04] OUR TELECOMMUTING POLICIES AND OUR GOALS FOR OUR TELECOMMUTING, IN LIGHT OF WHAT WE'VE LEARNED FROM HAVING TO DO THE WORKING FROM HOME, AND I THINK WE'VE LEARNED A LOT. AND WE NEED TO BE CAPTURING THAT AND MAYBE REASSESSING WHAT OUR GOALS NEED TO BE MOVING FORWARD. SO I HOPE THAT WE WILL HAVE THAT. THAT ALSO CAME UP IN MOBILITY COMMITTEE AND WAS ALREADY IN THERE. THERE ARE OTHER WAYS THAT THIS PROGRAM CAN BE USED. I JUST WANT TO ADD, IN TERMS OF OTHER ACTIVITIES, THIS WORK THAT'S GOING ON BY SOME OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS, THAT REFURBISH COMPUTERS AND DO SOME OF THE GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE, THOSE ARE NOT OFF THE TABLE, WE JUST PICKED OUT SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT SEEMED TO MAKE THE MOST SENSE, GIVEN WHAT WE LEARNED THROUGH THE JOURNEY. I THINK WHEN WE LOOK TO EMPLOYMENT IN AN ERA WITH 25% UNEMPLOYMENT, THESE KINDS OF JOBS WITH TRAINING AND SKILLS ARE GOING TO BE VERY ATTRACTIVE. THEY ALSO ARE JOBS THAT HAVE OPEN AND HAVE THE OPTION FOR SOME COMMUNITY AND TO SEE THAT YOU HAVE VALUE, AND WHAT WE LOOK BACK IN HISTORY, YOU KNOW, GETTING OUT OF THE -- GETTING OUT OF THE RECESSION TOOK A LONG TIME AND THE PROGRAMS TOOK INTO CONSIDERATION NOT JUST THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS, BUT ALSO KIND OF THE MENTAL NEED FOR HOPE AND INSPIRATION AND TO BE ACTIVE AND DOING WORK THAT YOU CARED ABOUT. SO THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR >> MAYOR ADLER: ALL RIGHT. LET TAKE A VOTE. >> AND SORRY, JUST SO THE RECORD IS CLEAR, COUNCILMEMBER ALTER, DID YOU WANT TO SAY THAT WE'RE WORKING ON A VERSION THAT IS NOT QUITE FINISHED? >> ALTER: THERE ARE A FEW TINY GRAMMATICAL TINGES THAT WERE CHANGED THAT WILL BE IN THE VERSION LIKE AN APOSTROPHE AND A COMMA HERE OR THERE IS MY UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT'S IN THE OTHER VERSION. AND I'M MOVING THE VERSION THAT WAS DISTRIBUTED THIS MORNING. >> MAYOR ADLER: STAFF CAN MAKE THOSE CHANGES. THOSE IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM RAISE YOUR HAND. THOSE OPPOSED? IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY ON THE DAIS. [Executive Session] THOSE ARE ALL THE ITEMS EXCEPT FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION. WE HAVE TWO ITEMS ON EXECUTIVE SESSION, PURSUANT TO 551071 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE WE'LL TAKE UP LEGAL MATTERS RELATED TO ITEMS 54, WHICH IS THE JAIL TO JOBS PROGRAM. AND THEN ITEM 65, WHICH IS THE OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTING ON APRIL 24TH. WITHOUT OBJECTION, HERE AT 5:01, WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. I ANTICIPATE THAT AFTER EXECUTIVE SESSION ONLY I WILL COME BACK OUT TO CLOSE THE MEETING. WITH THAT WE ARE IN RECESS -- >> TOVO: MAYOR, MAYOR? COULD WE JUST LIKE HAVE A FIVE-MINUTE BREAK? >> MAYOR ADLER: I WILL SAY YES TO THAT. SO IN FIVE MINUTES AT JUST EIGHT AFTER 5:00 LET'S ALL MAKE SURE WE'RE BACK IN EXECUTIVE * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.