[00:00:05]
[Call to Order]
WE HAVE A QUORUM SO I'LL CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER.I'M JUST GOING TO QUICKLY GO THROUGH AND MAKE SURE WE CAN HEAR EVERYBODY.
I KNOW, I KNOW AB DID THAT BUT JUST AGAIN IS A COUNSELOR FOR HYPER MADISON.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? COUNCIL MEMBER CONCERNS SOME OF THE KITCHEN? YES.
COUNCIL MEMBER FLANAGAN COUNCIL.
I WAS A COUNSELOR OVER AL ELLIS.
I'M HERE, COUNCIL MEMBER TOBO AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR.
OKAY, LET WE GO THROUGH THE CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS.
DO YOU WANT TO DO THAT? DO YOU WANT ME TO GO THROUGH CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS? THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.
UM, JUST SO YOU'RE ALL AWARE, WE DO HAVE A GROUP OF SPANISH SPEAKERS WHO WE DID NOT RECEIVE REQUESTS FOR INTERPRETATION SERVICES AND SO WE'RE WORKING WITH UM, CATHERINE TO TRY TO FIND IF WE CAN GET SOMEONE ON BOARD FOR THOSE.
UM, BUT AT THIS TIME SHE MAY, SHE HAS VOLUNTEERED TO POSSIBLY DO THE TRANSLATION IF NEEDED.
SO I TEXT YOU THOSE NAMES AND COUNSELOR AND HAS THOSE NAMES AS WELL.
WHEN WE GET CLOSE TO THAT ADD OR WHATEVER, WOULD YOU MAKE SURE THAT YOU COME ON LIVE? OKAY.
CHANGES OR CORRECTIONS, I REMEMBER
[Consent Agenda (Part 1 of 2)]
TOO, IT'S BEEN WITHDRAWN.COUNCIL MEMBER POOL SPONSOR 44 IS WITHDRAWN.
49 IS POSTPONED TO JULY 30TH 68 ABOUT PETITION HAS BEEN FILED IN OPPOSITION TO THE ZONING REQUEST.
WE HAVE FIVE ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PULLED NOT SHOWING THAT CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS.
ITEM NUMBER 38 HAS BEEN PULLED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER.
UH, ITEM 75 PULL BY COUNT BY MORE PROTIME GARZA.
ITEM 94 95 AND 96 ALL PULLED BY COUNCIL MEMBER FLANAGAN.
WE HAVE LAID BACK UP IN ITEMS TWO, EIGHT 1428 30 (730) 850-5469 72 73 AND 97.
UH, WE ALSO HAVE DRAFT MINUTES FILED UNDER THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.
ITEM NUMBER ONE, THE CONSENT AGENDA TODAY.
TODAY'S ITEMS ONE THROUGH 45 AND ITEMS 75 THROUGH 96.
WE HAVE SOME COKES THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AND COLLEAGUES.
WHAT I WOULD DO IS TO, SO NOW MY SCREEN IS GOING DARK.
DO YOU STILL SEE ME? OKAY? YES.
WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND START WITH, UM, RIGHT BEFORE YOU PIPE IN WITH THE SPEAKERS.
I WANTED TO SEE ON ITEM 38 COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER.
IS THAT JUST TO INCORPORATE YOUR AMENDMENTS CAUSE WE'RE WORKING UP A VERSION NOW WITH YOUR AMENDMENTS ALONG WITH ONE OR TWO OF THE OTHER SUGGESTED ONES.
UM, YES AND BECAUSE AS I MENTIONED WHEN I GOT ON, I HAVEN'T, I DIDN'T GET THE BACKUP UNTIL JUST BEFORE I HAVE TO READ THE SECOND VERSION.
UM, SO I DON'T HAVE A CHALLENGE TO WHAT, WHAT'S UP THERE AND DO WANT TO GET MY AMENDMENT INCORPORATED.
BUT I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I READ THE CHANGES, BUT I MAY HAVE THAT DONE BY THE TIME WE'RE DONE AND READY TO VOTE ON CONSENT.
LET US GET YOU A RED LINE WITH YOUR IMMERSION IN.
UM, AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE TIME TO DO IT, THAT'S OKAY.
BUT IF IT SAVES US TIME, WE'LL, WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN GET IT DONE.
[00:05:01]
GOING TO, JEANETTE WILL SEND THAT TO ME.WE'LL GET IT TO THE CLERK AND GET IT TO EVERYONE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED WITH MY ACTIVE THIS MORNING.
I JUST WANTED TO, I WANTED TO JUST CHECK, UM, STAFF WILL STILL BE HERE FOR OTHER ITEMS IF WE HAVE COMMENTS ON CONSENT AFTER OR DIRECTION ON CONSENT.
SO I THINK STAFF, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS TEST IS THERE FOR QUESTIONS AFTER THE, AFTER THE DISCUSSION.
AND THEN, UM, UH, ALSO ON ITEM NUMBER 96 ON PAGE FOUR, UH, I THINK THAT, UM, UH, WE HAD ALL AGREED THAT THE WORD EXISTING ON NUMBER 65 ON 65 ON PAGE FOUR
UH, BUT KEPT THE RECOVER ON THE PHONE.
UH, I DON'T KNOW IF I NEED TO PULL IT, IF THAT'S AN ACCEPTABLE, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT CONTINUES UNABATED.
WE WERE ABOUT TO GO DOWN THAT LIST OF TUITION.
UH, BUT I THINK THAT MY BOOK ON A VISIT WITH STAFF ABOUT MAKING BROADLY STATED TO THE GREATEST, UH, CREATIVE, UH, INPUT.
SO THIS IS MY, THIS IS THE ITEM THAT I FUCKED WITH THE WORD.
SHE, IF I NEEDED TO LEAVE THE MEETING AT FIVE O'CLOCK TO GO JOIN, UM, MY COMMITMENT ON A RANK AMENDMENT, I CAN'T METRO, I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE CONVERSATION YOU ALL HAD AND WOULD NEED TO, I, I NEED, I THINK THAT THAT'S FINE, BUT I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING THE RATIONALE FOR EXISTING, IT'S ALREADY BEEN FOOLED.
AND SO IF WE COULD JUST REVISIT THAT, UM, IN THE COURSE OF THE CONVERSATION AROUND IT, THAT WAS USEFUL.
CAN I SPEAK TO THAT FOR A MOMENT? COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO THAT'S ONE WORD IN THE LANGUAGE THAT I HAD PROVIDED YOU HAD AGREED TO THAT CHANGE AND IT JUST DIDN'T MAKE IT INTO THE BACKUP.
SO I DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH THAT CHANGE.
I, I, I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT MESSAGE HAS BEEN CONVEYED.
I'M JUST NOT UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE IMPACT OF, I'M SURE THAT THAT'S FINE.
I'M JUST NOT UNDERSTANDING ME.
I WANT TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT THE CONCERNS ARE WITH LEAVING THAT WORD IN AND TAKING IT OUT.
IF WE COULD JUST IN THE COURSE OF TALKING ABOUT THE RESOLUTION THAT I JUST WANTED TO FLAG IT.
SO MARY, DO WE HAVE A COPY OF 96 WITH THE LINES? CAUSE I HAVE A COPY THAT I HAD OFF OF THE, I THINK I MESSAGED MO FORWARD WITH THE VERSION TWO DOESN'T HAVE THE LINE NUMBERS SO I'M NOT SURE WHERE YOU'RE, THIS WOULD BE ON PAGE FOUR OF FIVE AND IT'S THE THIRD LINE DOWN RATHER THAN THROUGH THE SOLICITATION PROCESS.
[Public Comment (Part 1 of 2)]
WE WANT TO HEAR IT FROM A SPEAKERS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? OKAY, LET'S GO AHEAD AND DO THAT.UH, WE'RE GOING TO INVITE ALL THE SPEAKERS.
YOU CAN SPEAK, UH, ABOUT AS MANY OR AS FEW ITEMS AS YOU'D LIKE TO.
WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN WITH, UH, UH, CHANEL HOMEROOM.
IT'S CHANEL, HOW WE WEREN'T HERE.
IF YOU'RE SPEAKING, YOU NEED TO UNMUTE.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WOULD BE, UM, UH, SYNOVIA JOSEPH IT TO BE A JOSEPH HERE YOU NEED TO UNMUTE.
I DIDN'T HEAR I CALLED HER ROOM.
UH, ZENOBIA, UH, UH, JOSEPH, NO RESPONSE YET.
MR BRANDON, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES? YEAH.
THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THE REVEREND MILES BRAND AND PASTOR OF ST JULIAN OF NORWICH, A CRISTOBAL CHURCH AND A LEADER
[00:10:01]
SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF CENTRAL TEXAS INTERFAITH.I'M ALSO A RESIDENT OF COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN A CTI HAS CALLED ON THE CITY TO INVEST AT LEAST 40 MILLION IN RENTAL ASSISTANCE FOR LOW INCOME RESIDENTS.
WE STATE THE MANY OF YOU WHO'VE MET WITH US OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS FROM VOICE YOUR SUPPORT FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE IN THOSE MEETINGS.
AND THEN THE COUNCIL WORK SESSION THIS WEEK.
WE'D ALSO LIKE TO COMMEND THE CITY MANAGER, KROC AND HIS STAFF.
WE'RE RECOMMENDING 18 POINT $6 MILLION FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE PROPOSED COBIT SPENDING FRAMEWORK.
WE BELIEVE THIS IS AN EXCELLENT FIRST STEP AND WE CONTINUE TO HOLD BEFORE YOU AND BELIEVED THAT AT LEAST $40 MILLION IS NECESSARY TO JUST BEGIN TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS FOR MENTAL ASSISTANCE IN OUR CITY.
AS WE CONTINUE TO FACE THE FRONT OF VIRUS PAN DINNER, WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE NEEDS ARE GREAT AND THAT OTHER MEASURES HELP PEOPLE WITH RISKS SUCH AS DIRECT CASH ASSISTANCE TO THE RISE FUND, WHICH WE ALSO SUPPORTED AND ARE VERY GRATEFUL TO THE COUNSELOR FOR CREATING.
WE ARE SUPPORTED IN GETTING TO THE SECOND HALF OF THE $40 MILLION NUMBER BY USING A COMBINATION OF THESE TOOLS.
AS LONG AS COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THE MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION OF THE FIRST 1618 POINT 6 MILLION BEING FOR DIRECT RENTAL ASSISTANCE, WE SUPPORT ADDITIONAL FUNDS REACHING $40 MILLION COMING FROM SOME COMBINATION OF DIRECT RENTAL ASSISTANCE AS WELL AS DIRECT CASH ASSISTANCE BY INCREASING THE RISE FUND BEYOND ITS INITIAL 15 MILLION.
THE SURVEY OVERLAPPING LOW INCOME POPULATIONS, DIRECT RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND RISE HARD TO SPEAK TO RISE EFFECTIVELY TARGETS THOSE LED OUT OF THE STIMULUS PAYMENTS.
WHILE DIRECT RENTAL ASSISTANCE TARGETS A MUCH BROADER GROUP OF LOW INCOME RESIDENTS WHO MAY HAVE GOTTEN SOME STIMULUS HELP.
IT'S STILL A RACKING UP, SO CRUSHING DEBT IN THE FORM OF UNPAID RENT, $40 MILLION IS ITSELF A CONSERVATIVE NUMBER AND THERE'S A REAL CHANCE THAT WHEN MORATORIUMS ON RENT ARE LIFTED, MANY IN OUR CITY, EVEN TENS OF THOUSANDS COULD SPACE POTENTIAL EVICTIONS AND OR RUINOUS LEVELS OF DEBT THAT HAVE PROFOUND MENTAL HEALTH IMPLICATIONS.
THIS REMAINS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE AS PEOPLE ARE FACED WITH A CHOICE TO WORK IF THEY'RE NOT FEELING WELL OR FACE FUTURE ADDICTION DUE TO UNPAID BACK RENT.
LASTLY, WE SEE PROVIDING $40 MILLION IN RENTAL ASSISTANCE AS A AS SUPPORTING A STRUGGLING ECONOMY.
SINCE RENT PAID, THE LANDLORD ASSURES THEIR INCOME AND LESSENS THE POTENTIAL OF DEFAULTS ON THEIR MORTGAGES.
IF THE PAYMENTS ARE ACHIEVED THROUGH RISE DIRECT ATTACH, WE URGE THE COUNCIL TO DESIGN AIM AND AMOUNTS TO SUFFICIENTLY FULFILL RENTAL NEEDS PER HOUSEHOLD.
WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOU REMAIN AND THANK YOU FOR THE TIME.
UH, NEXT SPEAKER IS LIKE, YOU'RE UP NEXT SPEAKER.
YES, THIS IS CARLOS GARCIA WITH OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE CATHOLIC, UM, LINED UP ON BEHALF OF CENTRAL TEXAS INTERFACE.
UH, JUST UM, ONLY RUBBER AND MILD GRANT IS THAT IS EXACTLY, UH, THE ORGANIZATIONS, OUR ORGANIZATIONS, PHYSICIANS.
UH, WE WOULD JUST LIKE TO EMPHASIZE THAT WHILE SERVING OVERLAPPING POPULATIONS AND WINE ARE DISTINCT TARGETS.
SO PAYMENT, DIRECT RENTAL ASSISTANCE TARGETS A MUCH BROADER GROUP OF LOW INCOME RESIDENTS WHO MAY HAVE GOTTEN SOME STIMULUS HEALTH BUT ARE STILL RACKING UP THAT BALLOON PAYMENT.
AND SO, UH, WE DO SUPPORT THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS REACHING 40 MILLION COMING FROM SOME COMBINATION OF DIRECT RENTAL ASSISTANCE AS WELL AS DIRECT CASH ASSISTANCE.
NEXT SPEAKER IS KELLY WHITE KELLER RIGHT HERE? YES, WE CAN GO AHEAD.
UH, GOOD MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS AND I AM THE COACHEE CLIENTS MORE COMMONLY TO ESCALATE.
AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF MY BOARD OF DIRECTORS, OUR STAFF AND THE MANY PEOPLE WE SERVE IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND I WANT TO BEGIN BY SAYING THANK YOU.
I AM SO PROUD OF HOW THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL HAS COME TOGETHER AND DONE SUCH AN EXTRAORDINARY AND COURAGEOUS JOB OF WORKING TO KEEP BOSTON SAFE AND WELL DURING THIS UNPRECEDENTED AND DIFFICULT TIME.
WE ALSO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE CITY.
COURTS WANT LONG TIME SUPPORT, A PLACE, THE CITY OF AUSTIN, DECADES OF SUPPORT, ALMOST ONE POINT $3 MILLION EARLY OR LATE IS CRITICAL TO OUR OPERATIONS.
I'VE WORKED IN STAFF ALSO WENT TO LET ME KNOW WHAT IN
[00:15:01]
THE AUSTIN AND HOW WE ARE STEPPING UP TO RESPOND.IT'S BEEN A TOUGH TIME AND A TRIGGER WARNING.
MUCH OF WHAT WE ARE DEALING WITH IS VERY DIFFICULT TO HEAR ABOUT.
OUR SAFELINE CALLS INCREASED 200% YEAR OVER YEAR FROM MAY 19 2019 AND MAY 19 2020 WE ARE HEARING FROM SO MANY MORE PEOPLE, OUR SHELTER WAITLIST INCREASED ALMOST 20% BY THAT SAME MEASURE.
WE ARE HEARING HORROR STORIES.
UH, JUST A COUPLE OF WORDS THAT WE HEARD IN A REALLY, REALLY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
UH, THE FIRST CONTACT, A DECENT HUSBAND TOOK HER OUT OF THE HOME.
SHE CAN NOT AFFORD A HOTEL AND CAN'T FIND ANY SHELTER WITH IMMEDIATE OPENINGS.
SHE WILL SLEEP IN HER CAR AND IS LOOKING FOR IDEAS FOR SAFE PLACES.
WE JUST BEST PLACES WHERE PEOPLE CAN GENERALLY PARK OVERNIGHT, UM, WHERE UH, AND BE SAFE.
ALL WAS PLACED ONTO OUR WAITLIST.
SECOND ONE CALLER REACHED OUT FOR SHELTER, HAS BEEN HELD A GUN TO HER HEAD THAT WAS LOADED.
HE PULLED THE TRIGGER BUT THEN MALFUNCTION.
SO HE HIT HER OVER THE HEAD WITH IT AND STRANGLED HER.
SHE WAS ACCEPTED FOR IMMEDIATE SHELTER.
WE THOUGHT IF WE DIDN'T GET HER IN, SHE MIGHT DIE.
WE'RE HEARING ABOUT TOO MANY WOMEN.
THEY'RE SYNCING WITH THE CHILDREN IN THE CARS.
SO MANY PREGNANT WOMEN THAT ARE TRAPPED IN THEIR HOMES IF THEY'RE ABUSIVE PARTNERS, BUT WE KNOW IS THAT ABUSE ESCALATE DURING PREGNANCY AND DURING COBIT 19, THE RESULTS ARE HORRIFYING AND SOMETIMES DEADLY.
I KNOW THAT YOU'RE HEARING A LOT IN THE MEDIA ABOUT THE INCREASE IN FAMILY VIOLENCE DURING THE COVERT 19 PANDEMIC.
I'M HERE TO TELL YOU WHAT'S REAL AND OUR STAFF ARE STEPPING UP IN HEROIC WAYS TO DEAL WITH IT.
WE HAVE OPENED OUR DOORS WIDER.
WE ARE CREATING INNOVATIVE AND RESPONSIVE WAYS TO ADDRESS THE INCREASED NEED FOR SHELTER, FOR PREVENTION SERVICES AND OTHER SUPPORT FOR VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS.
SAFE HAS LAUNCHED A PILOT PROGRAM SHELTER AWAY UTILIZING A LOCAL HOTEL TO PROVIDE GRID SHELTER FOR SURVIVORS THAT ARE SPACE TO MOVE FROM OUR VERY SECURE FAMILY SHELTER, OPENING UP MORE SPACE BEHIND THE GATES FOR FAMILIES IN DANGER.
SO EACH COLOR IS ASSESSED BASED ON THE CAMPBELL DANGEROUS ASSESSMENT.
CAN'T BELIEVE I'M ALREADY DONE AND WE'RE DOING THIS, SORRY.
WE ARE DOING THIS AND WE NEED THE CITY TO STEP UP TO SUPPORT US.
UM, WE ARE OPEN, WE ARE DOING MORE.
WE ARE SUPPORTING THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND UM, WE'RE ADDRESSING THIS HISTORIC CRISIS AND FALL.
WE HAVE MAYBE ASK THE SPEAKER IF SHE COULD JUST BRIEFLY SUMMARIZE THE THINGS THAT HER ORGANIZATION HAS PLANNED.
I THINK SHE WAS JUST STARTING TO GIVE US A COUPLE EXAMPLES.
IF SHE COULD JUST, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IS, IS THAT WE HAVE, WE, WE HAVE OPENED, WHEN I'M WORKING WITH A HOTEL, WE ARE, WE ARE MOVING FAMILIES DIRECTLY INTO FROM OUR SHELTER AND THAT'S A CRITICAL PIECE OF THIS.
IF WE HAVE FUNDING WE CAN EXPAND BY UP TO 30 FAMILIES.
IT DOESN'T COVER OUR WAITLIST, BUT IT SURE GETS PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THIS IMMEDIATE CRISIS, UM, INTO SAFETY.
WE'VE ADDRESSED, WE HAVE LOTS.
WE MOVED, UM, STAFF THAT WERE NOT ESSENTIAL.
WE'VE MOVED THEM ONTO OUR SAFE LINE.
WE'VE MOVED, UM, WE'VE TRANSFERRED STAFF OVER TO WORK IN OUR SHELTER.
WE ARE, WE ARE ALL HANDS ON DECK.
WE'RE DOING A LOT, LOT OF PREVENTION, UM, DEVELOPING SAFETY PREVENTION PROGRAM.
REALLY INTERESTING IS THAT SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE THAT HAVE JUST EXPLODED ARE ALL OF OUR CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAM.
UM, WE HAVE MORE FATHERS CALLING US FOR SERVICES FOR FATHERHOOD SERVICES ABOUT HOW TO BE A GOOD FATHER DURING THIS TIME THAN WE'VE EVER, EVER HAD IN THE PAST.
WE HAVE ATTENDED OUR, OUR, UH, CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAM UP TO AGE 12, AND WE HAVE MORE FAMILIES WITH PRACTICALLY DOUBLED THE NUMBER OF FAMILIES THAT ARE CALLING US AND ENGAGING IN OUR PARENTING PROGRAM.
UH, WE'RE STEPPING INTO IT AND IT'S CHALLENGING.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE A REQUEST OF STAFF THAT THEY, UH, TALK WITH, UH, SAFE.
UH, SAFE HAS BEEN WORKING ON A
[00:20:01]
SHELTER AWAY PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDES, UM, HOTEL ROOMS FOR, UH, FOR, UH, VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WHO NEED, NEED A PLACE TO STAY.AND I WOULD JUST, UM, UH, LIKE OUR STAFF TO, TO TALK TO SAFE AND EXPLORE HOW WE MIGHT BE OF ASSISTANCE TO THEM, UH, FROM A FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVE AND FROM OTHER PERSPECTIVES TOO.
THANK YOU KELLY FOR EVERYTHING YOU AND YOUR TEAM ARE DOING RIGHT NOW.
AND I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THE, OF FINDING A WAY TO GET TO SOME OF THAT REALLY IMMEDIATE TERM SOLUTION WITH HOTELS THAT Y'ALL ARE GET PULLING ROOMS FROM RIGHT NOW.
UM, BUT I DO JUST WANT FOLKS ON THE DIETS AND THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW THAT WE ARE LOOKING IN DISTRICT FOUR, AT SOME NUMBER OF HOTELS, UM, FOR US TO HAVE A MORE PERMANENT, UM, EXPANSION OF THIS CAPACITY RIGHT NOW DURING COVERT.
BUT THEN ALSO GENERALLY THIS IS ACTUALLY A CRISIS.
UH, THAT'S ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, AS YOU MENTIONED, YOU'VE HAD A 200% INCREASE OVER THE PAST YEAR, NOT JUST RIGHT NOW.
AND SO, UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH YOU AND WITH THE DICE AND I THINK YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A LOT OF SUPPORT HOPEFULLY, UH, FOR US TO LOCK DOWN ONE OF THOSE DISTRICT FOUR HOTELS OR SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE CITY IF WE CAN FIND A BETTER ONE, UM, FOR, FOR THIS PURPOSE AND WE'LL KEEP ON WORKING WITH YOU ON THAT.
UM, SO, UH, ECHO THE APPRECIATION FOR SAFE, UM, AND I WON'T, UM, REPEAT WHAT SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID, BUT I DO THINK IT'S WORTH NOTING.
THERE'S AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA TODAY FOR AN ORGANIZATION CALLED SURVIVE TO THRIVE TO RECEIVE FUNDING FROM THE CITY.
AND I'M CERTAIN, UM, THAT THEY ARE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN HOUSING PEOPLE IN HOTELS WITH THEIR, UH, RELATIONSHIP WITH SOME OF THE HOTEL OWNERS AND THE HOTEL ASSOCIATION.
I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THEY'RE DOING THAT WORK.
SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T INADVERTENTLY OVERLOOK THE FACT THAT WE ARE ACTIVELY WORKING IN THAT DIRECTION CURRENTLY.
AND IF THEY AREN'T ALREADY, I CERTAINLY WOULD LIKE TO, UM, PROPOSE A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN SAFE AND SURVIVE TO THRIVE CONSIDERING THEY ARE SERVING THAT SAME VERY, UM, IMPORTANT POPULATION OF PEOPLE.
YEAH, WE HAVE REACHED OUT ABOUT DOING A FORMAL PARTNERSHIP.
I MEAN WE HAVE A LONG STANDING PROCESS AND WE'VE REACHED OUT ABOUT DOING THAT AND UM, HOPEFULLY WE WON'T BE ABLE TO MEET WITH THEM SOON.
THE, UH, UH, THAT'S NOT BEEN FORTHCOMING YET.
THE OTHER PIECE OF THAT IS THAT OUR R R IS DIFFERENT IN THAT WE, UM, MAKE SURE THAT, I MEAN WE, WE, WE'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT SCHOOL STATE.
SO OUR FIRST STEP IS WE DO A CAMPUS DANGER ASSESSMENTS THAT WE UTILIZE IN COOPERATION WITH THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND TO DETERMINE WHO'S IN FACT IN THE MOST CRITICAL SITUATION AT THE MOMENT.
AND THEN WE HAVE TO PRIORITIZE ABOUT WHO WE GET IN.
SO WE'RE BRINGING PEOPLE INTO SHELTER BEHIND THE GATES IN OUR VERY, VERY SECURE SHELTER FIRST.
AND THEN WE MOVE PEOPLE OUT ONCE WE GET THEM STABILIZED AND SAFETY PLANS, WE MOVED THEM OUT, WHICH IS A DIFFERENT PROCESS.
ANYONE ELSE? BUT CAN YOU NOT HEAR ME? UH, I COULD NOT.
YEAH, IT'S BEEN ASKING YOU TO SPEAK FOR A WHILE.
UM, THAT THE, YOU KNOW, WE ALL APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT THAT SAFE IS DOING.
UM, I HAPPEN TO HAVE A PRETTY CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH SURVIVE TO THRIVE.
COURTNEY SANTANA, WHO IS THE FOUNDER OF THAT IS ONE OF MY CONSTITUENTS.
UM, AND I'M REALLY GLAD TO SEE THAT THERE'S AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA TODAY TO, TO HELP PROVIDE FUNDING TO THE ORGANIZATION.
UM, I HAPPEN TO KNOW THAT SAFE AND SURVIVE TO THRIVE ALREADY HAVE A RELATIONSHIP AND IN FACT SAFE SENDS CLIENTS TO SURVIVE, TO THRIVE WHEN THEIR SHELTERS ARE FULL.
SO, UH, THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO REASON TO REINVENT THE WHEEL HERE.
UM, I THINK IN LARGE PART, UH, INVENTING, PUTTING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTELS AND WE'VE SPENT THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS DEVELOPING THE CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIPS AND FIGURING OUT LIABILITY INSURANCE AND ALL THE VERY CHALLENGING ELEMENTS THAT COME WITH THAT, UM, WHICH IS, UH, WHICH IS REALLY IMPORTANT COMPANION TO PHYSICAL SHELTERS THAT SAFE HAS BEEN DOING.
SO, UM, THERE'S NO REASON TO REINVENT ANY WHEELS HERE.
SURVIVE TO THRIVE HAS BEEN DOING IT AND THEY ALREADY RECEIVE REFERRALS FROM SAFE.
KEVIN, I'M NOT ENGAGING WITH THE SPEAKER.
[00:25:03]
THAT WAS, THAT WAS COUNCIL MEMBER FLANAGAN.ANYTHING ELSE WE'RE GOING TO GO TO? THE NEXT SPEAKER IS JOSEPH.
YES, I DID WANT TO HEAR MISS LIGHTS.
MS. WHITE, WOULD YOU, UM, YOU SAID YOU HAD ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO OFFER TO MR FLANAGAN'S POINT? UM, I JUST WANTED TO QUICKLY SAY THAT YES, WE DO.
UM, WE, WE HAVE WORKED WITH SURVIVED TO FLAGS.
THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
WE'RE TRYING TO, UM, TO EXPAND THAT RELATIONSHIP.
THERE HAVE BEEN SOME REFERRALS THAT HAVE COME FROM OUR SEXUAL ASSAULT RESOURCE OR SEXUAL ASSAULT PROGRAM.
WE ABSOLUTELY WANT TO EXPAND THAT RIGHT NOW.
THERE ARE MORE THAT COME THE OTHER DIRECTION FROM SUPERVISORS WISE FOR US TO HANDLE BECAUSE WE ACTUALLY HAVE GREATER CAPACITY AND, AND OUR PROGRAM IS DIFFERENT BASED UPON LEVEL OF DANGER.
ALRIGHT, LET'S MOVE ON THEN TO SPEAKERS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH AS AN OPIATE.
YOU MAY, YOU MIGHT NEED TO UNMUTE YOUR PHONE.
OKAY, THANK YOU MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M AS ENOVIA JOSEPH MAY I HAVE A TECHNICAL COMMENT FIRST IN THE BACKUP MATERIALS.
I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT THE PAGE 44, YOU'LL SEE MY NAME FROM YOUR WORK SESSION ON TUESDAY.
THIS PAST TUESDAY WAS THE 19TH OF MAY AND THAT SHOULD BE SYNOVIAL HOLOGRAM.
UM, AND THEN I JUST WANTED, YES, AND I JUST WANTED TO ASK AS IT RELATED TO YOUR TECHNICAL FUNDS, IF IT'S POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO LOOK AT OTHER PLATFORMS SINCE YOU CAN GET REIMBURSED FOR THAT.
UM, SPECIFICALLY THE MICROSOFT MEETINGS, WHICH CAPITAL METRO USES ARE UH, ZOOM BECAUSE THOSE ARE CLEAR AND NO ONE EVER SAYS, CAN YOU HEAR ME AS IT RELATES AS IT RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO THE AGENDA ITEMS, LINE ITEM NUMBER 75, WHICH IS YOUR 100, UM, UH, YOUR ALLOCATION FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WANTED A 70 POINT $8 MILLION.
MY OPPOSITION IS SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO THE MANNER IN WHICH YOU HANDLED THE $15 MILLION RICE FUNDS, WHICH WAS NOT TRANSPARENT.
AND SO WHILE I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THAT YOU HAVE SOME SMALL CONTRACTS, 120,000 UP TO A MILLION DOLLARS, IT IS QUESTIONABLE WHY FAMILY INDEPENDENCE INITIATIVE, THE $2 MILLION NEVER CAME BEFORE YOU.
SO I WOULD JUST ASK YOU TO HAVE THE EQUITY OFFICER AND FAMILY INDEPENDENCE INITIATIVE COME BEFORE YOU SO THAT THE PUBLIC KNOWS HOW THE FUNDS WERE SPENT.
UM, THE EQUITY OFFICER IS SCHEDULED TO GO BACK BEFORE COMMISSIONER'S COURT NEXT WEEK.
SO THAT SHOULD NOT BE PROBLEMATIC AS IT RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO THE CITIZEN'S PARTICIPATION PLAN.
I SHOULD HAVE BEEN SIGNED UP FOR NUMBER 12, BUT THAT WAS A TECHNICALITY.
SO YOU WILL SEE WHERE I'M SCHEDULED FOR TWO ITEMS, ONE FOR AND ONE AGAINST.
I WAS ACTUALLY AGAINST THE ITEM 12.
I DID WANT TO THANK A COMMISSION, NOT COMMISSIONER BUT UM, COUNCIL MEMBER PISSARRO AS IT RELATED TO ITEM 38.
HE DID INCLUDE AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THAT CATEGORY.
MY OPPOSITION AGAIN IS SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO UH, THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY AND I JUST TO BE CLEAR, THEY DO NOT QUALIFY FOR THE CARES ACT FUNDING.
SO WHEN YOU CONTINUOUSLY LEAVE THAT LANGUAGE IN YOUR CONTRACTS, YOU ARE CIRCUMVENTING FEDERAL LAW.
SO I'M GOING TO ASK YOU ONCE AGAIN TO STRIKE THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES LANGUAGE AND RECOGNIZE THAT SAINT DAVID'S FOR EXAMPLE, HAS FUNDING FOR PUBLIC ENTITIES AS WELL AS NONPROFITS.
AND I WOULD JUST GO BACK TO APRIL 7TH WHERE COUNCIL MEMBER RENTERIA DID ASK THE QUESTION ABOUT IF THERE WERE ANY, IF THERE WAS ANY WAY FOR YOU TO PARTNER WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
AND NO ONE ANSWERED HIS QUESTION.
SO I THINK YOU COULD ASK HIM IF THERE'S SOME RECOMMENDATIONS HE COULD GIVE YOU ON THAT REGARD AS IT RELATES TO THE ECONOMIC RESPONSE DASHBOARD.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT THAT AS IT RELATES TO FAMILY INDEPENDENCE INITIATIVE, THERE WAS MONEY THAT DID GO TO GREATER MOMS, ZION, HOWEVER, GOOD DASHBOARDS SPECIFIES THAT CHURCHES CAN NOT RECEIVE FUNDS.
AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THOSE POINTS AND IF I COULD MEET HER, I DID SEND INFORMATION TO COUNCIL MEMBER POOL ABOUT ITEM NUMBER SEVEN TO ASK YOU TO USE THE ONE POINT $5 MILLION THAT YOU HAVE FROM THE COMMUNITY WAS A DEVELOPMENT GRANT FOR TRANSPORTATION TO GET PEOPLE TO THE ENTERPRISE ZONE IN A DOMAIN.
AND I THINK IT WASN'T GOING OFF, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, MAYOR? YES.
[00:30:01]
FOR HER.UM, SUGGESTIONS ON ITEM SEVEN, WHICH IS UM, UH, ACCRUENT IN, UH, AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ZONE, ENTERPRISE ZONE.
AND I JUST WANTED, UM, ZENOBIA I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW, WE CHECKED IN ON MAKING A RECOMMENDATION OR AN AMENDMENT TO ITEM SEVEN AND WE, WE CAN'T CHANGE ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT CAUSE IT'S A STATE DESIGNATION AND WE WERE SIMPLY BEING ASKED FOR OUR SUPPORT OF THAT.
BUT WHAT I, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS SUGGEST THAT BUT IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY TO SEND THAT RECOMMENDATION UP TO THE, TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND THEN I WOULD BE HAPPY ALSO TO FORWARD THAT INFORMATION WITH MORE SUPPORT.
I HAVEN'T REACHED OUT TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE WITH THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER POOL AND JUST SO THE MEMBERS ARE UNDERSTANDING OUR CONVERSATIONS.
PART OF IT WAS THE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED CATEGORY SPECIFIES BEING UNEMPLOYED FOR THREE MONTHS.
AND SO I FELT LIKE THAT MIGHT TRUMP THE MINORITY.
UM, PARTICIPATION IN TRAINING IN THE ZONE IF THE ACCRUAL ACTUALLY JUST WENT WITH THE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED DEFINITION.
BUT I'LL GLADLY REACH OUT TO THE, TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND SEND YOU, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE STATE OF TEXAS STEP UP A LITTLE BIT MORE ROBUSTLY IN HELPING THOSE WHO ARE DISADVANTAGED IN OUR STATE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH CAUSE THIS IS A BIG DEAL.
IT'S $51,000 TO $98,000 JOBS SO YOU KNOW, HELP PEOPLE GET THERE.
HEY REMEMBER TO SPEAK BEFORE WE GO TO THE NEXT SPEAKER.
I DON'T WANT TO GO TO THE NEXT SPEAKER.
UH, IS UH, JENNIFER LEHMAN HERE? YES, I AM HERE MAYOR.
I'M JESSICA LEMON AND I AM ASSOCIATE STATE DIRECTOR FOR OUTREACH AND ADVOCACY FOR ARP, TEXAS AND I'M HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF OUR MEMBERS IN AUSTIN TO SUPPORT AGENDA ITEM 28 WHICH UPDATES THE CREDIT ACCESS BUSINESS ORDINANCE AAS.
HE CARES DEEPLY ABOUT THIS ISSUE BECAUSE IT'S ESTIMATED THAT ONE IN FIVE PAYDAY LENDER BORROWERS ARE AGE 50 OR OLDER AND THAT FIGURE DOES NOT ACCOUNT FOR THE COUNTLESS OLDER AUSTINITES WHO HAVE HELPED THEIR CHILDREN AND THEIR GRANDCHILDREN LIKE PRE FUND THESE HIGH COST LOANS IN OUR PIECE STOOD WITH AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL IN 2012 TO CELEBRATE THE PASSAGE OF THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE CRACKING DOWN ON PAYDAY AND AUTO HUDDLED LENDING ABUSES WITHIN THE CITY OF BATTERIES.
WE ARE BACK TODAY BECAUSE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S RULING HAS CREATED A NEW LOOPHOLE FOR PAYDAY AND AUTO TITLE LENDERS TO EVADE THE REASONABLE LIMITS AND ACTIVE IN THE 2012 ORDINANCE.
WE WERE ALL STRUGGLING WITH THE EFFECTS OF COVEN 19 CRISIS, ESPECIALLY OLDER AUSTINITES AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT BOTH THEIR PHYSICAL AND FINANCIAL HEALTH ARE BEING PROTECTED DURING THIS TIME.
HE SUPPORTS THE ORDINANCE AMENDMENT UNDER CONSIDERATION BECAUSE IT CLOSES THIS NEW POLL WHILE PRESERVING AUSTIN RESIDENTS ACCESS TO CREDIT UNDER THE TERM THAT GIVES THEM A REASONABLE CHANCE TO SUCCEED IN THEIR LOAN THAT WE THINK, UM, THE CITY COUNCIL AND STAFF WERE THERE TO THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE AND I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TODAY.
NEXT SPEAKER IS UM, UH, ROSS, YANNIS BROWSE YOU HEARING YOU NEED TO UNMUTE IF YOU'RE SPEAKING RIGHT.
IF THE LORD IS HERE, DO IT AGAIN.
UM, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING IN GUIDING US THROUGH THIS CHALLENGING TIME WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AT THIS MEETING.
UH, FINANCIAL LITERACY COALITION OF CENTRAL TEXAS STRONGLY SUPPORTS ITEM 28.
IT'S FINANCIAL SERVICES THAT OFTEN DRAIN COMMUNITY ASSETS ARE CONCENTRATED IN ZIP CODES IN AUSTIN WHERE THE POPULATION IS OVER 50% OF PEOPLE OF COLOR, PREDATORY LENDING AND OTHER TITLE LENDING PRACTICES THAT ARE A CHALLENGE FOR MANY OF OUR CLIENTS.
AND WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE WORK THAT CITY OF AUSTIN AND THE LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND STAFF, UM, UH, TO SUPPORT THIS, UH, SEVERAL IN PRACTICES IN AUSTIN.
I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT ITEM 38 BASED ON THE ALARMING STATISTICS OF LATINOS AFFECTED BY COLON 19.
I URGE YOU TO YOU AND THE COUNCIL TO APPROVE THE FORMATION OF FILIPINO TASK FORCE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO WE CAN CONDUCT MEANINGFUL OUTREACH AND UH, PREVENTATIVE MEASUREMENTS SO WE CAN, UH, STOP LOSING LIVES.
UH, THE LICENSE OUR COMMUNITY.
[00:35:01]
I HOPE THAT WE CAN ALL COME TOGETHER FOR THIS BIG, BIG UNDERTAKING.UM, I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE FAIRFAX FINANCIAL SERVICES PROJECT AT TEXAS APPLESEED AND ALSO AS A MEMBER OF THE FINANCE THINKING AND INDUSTRY WORKING GROUP OF THE MAYOR'S TASK FORCE ON INSTITUTIONAL RACISM AND SYSTEMIC INEQUITY.
AND I'M HERE TO SUPPORT ALSO ITEM 28 AND REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT THE CITY COUNCIL HAS DONE, THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE AND THE OPPORTUNITY.
JUST TO SHARE A FEW PERSPECTIVES ON THIS ISSUE.
I'M SURE MANY OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH PAYDAY AND AUTO TITLE LENDING, BUT SOME THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW OR THAT TEXAS HAS SOME OF THE WEAKEST PROTECTIONS AS A STATE IN THE NATION REGARDING THESE LOANS.
WE'RE ONE OF JUST FIVE STATES THAT HAS NO RATE OR FEE CAP AT THE STATE LEVEL ON THESE LOANS AND AS A RESULT WE SEE IN THIS MARKET AVERAGE APRS REACHING 500% OR MORE, WHICH MEANS A $500 LOAN WOULD COST $1,500 OR MORE TO REPAY JUST IN A FEW SHORT MONTHS.
AS THE PREVIOUS SPEAKERS HAVE MENTIONED, A 2019 ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION IN RESPONSE TO SOME MARKET INNOVATION THAT WAS GOING ON BASICALLY VALIDATED A NEW LOOPHOLE AROUND THE EXISTING PROTECTIONS WE HAVE IN AUSTIN FOR PAYDAY AND AUTO TITLE LOAN BUSINESSES CREATED THESE NEW LOAN PRODUCTS OR CALLING SIGNATURE LOANS OR PERSONAL LOANS THAT THEY CLAIM ARE NOT TAKING YOUR AUTO TITLE LOANS AND SO THEREFORE THEY DO NOT HAVE TO BE LICENSED BY THE STATE TO OFFER THESE PRODUCTS AND THEY'RE NOT COVERED BY THE ORDINANCE.
THE REVISION SUGGESTED AN ITEM 28 BRING THOSE NEW PRODUCTS IN LINE UNDER THE CURRENT PROTECTIONS AS WELL AS ADD CERTAIN TEETH PROTECTIONS FOR THE NEW PRODUCTS BECAUSE THERE'S ADDITIONAL CITY AUTHORITY TO ADDRESS OTHER ASPECTS OF THESE NEW PRODUCTS THAT WASN'T AVAILABLE FOR THE UM, PAYDAY AND AUTO TITLE LOAN PRODUCTS IS DEFINED IN STATE LAW.
JUST TO GIVE YOU A SENSE OF WHAT THESE NEW PRODUCTS LOOK LIKE, THESE, THESE PERSONAL LOANS OR SIGNATURE LOANS, AVERAGE 500 TO 800% APR, THEY LOOK EXACTLY LIKE UM, CURRENT INSTALLMENT PAYDAY ONE PRODUCT.
IT'S JUST A WAY TO GET AROUND THE PROTECTIONS THAT ARE IN THE ORDINANCE AS WELL AS I THINK AFFORD LOOKING, ATTEMPT TO GET AROUND POSSIBLE FEDERAL RULES.
SO I COMMEND THE ORDINANCE, THE, UM, THE CITY COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERING THIS AND SUPPORTED AND ESPECIALLY IN THE CONTEXT OF THE COBIT 19 PANDEMIC AND THE ECONOMIC HARDSHIP.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO ENSURE THAT PREDATORY LENDING PRACTICES ARE KEPT AT BAY IN OUR CITIES AND PEOPLE ARE GIVEN THE FINANCIAL TOOLS THEY NEED TO MOVE FORWARD AND SUCCEED.
AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
I JUST WANT TO QUICKLY THANK ANNE AND LOOMIS AND BOSS.
THIS CAME OUT OF THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, A RESOLUTION ABOUT THREE COUNCIL MEETINGS AGO.
AND IN, IN TALKING ABOUT HOW WE COULD ASK MORE OF OUR FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, UM, WE, WE HEARD ABOUT THIS LOOPHOLE THAT ANN BROUGHT UP, BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION AND THAT'S WHY IT WAS ADDED TO THAT, UH, RESOLUTION.
AND, UM, SO I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR BRINGING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION SO WE COULD ADDRESS IT AND CLOSE THIS LOOP, PAUL, THAT THIS AG OPINION ESSENTIALLY OPENED UP.
AND ALSO THANK OUR LITTLE DEPARTMENT FOR QUICKLY BRINGING THIS BACK FOR US TO VOTE ON.
AND I'M SURE IT'S LIKELY TO STAY ON CONSENT, BUT UM, WHILE LAW WORKED WITH, UM, TEXAS APPLESEED TO GET US ALL IN A GOOD PLACE AT A RESTORE PROTECTIONS THAT THAT LOOPHOLE CREATED.
SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE THAT WAS INVOLVED IN THIS, INCLUDING, UM, CYNTHIA FROM MY STAFF.
IS JOHN, UM, HERE YOU'VE DONE A MUTE IF YOU'RE TRYING TO SPEAK.
WHAT ABOUT JOEL WAGNER? JESSICA WOLF, PHYSICAL WELFARE, I SURE, YES.
WHAT'S YOUR NAME PLEASE? ALRIGHT, SO YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
GOOD MORNING MAYOR MAYOR PRO TEM AND COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS JESSICA WOLF, DEPUTY POLICY DIRECTOR FOR WORKERS DEFENSE AND I'M TESTIFYING IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 38 WORKERS.
DEFENSE IS A MEMBERSHIP BASED ORGANIZATION OF LOW WAGE WORKERS AND IMMIGRANT FAMILIES.
OUR MEMBERS ARE PLUMBERS, DISHWASHERS, ELECTRICIANS, HOUSE CLEANERS, COOKS, AND MORE.
MANY OF OUR MEMBERS CONTINUE TO WORK IN ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES AND FEAR THAT THEY WON'T
[00:40:01]
BE EXPOSED TO COBRA 19 ON THE JOB.COVEN 19 HAS AFFECTED OUR COMMUNITY IN MANY WAYS, BUT PARTICULARLY FINANCIALLY AND IN THEIR WORKPLACE.
MOST DO NOT QUALIFY FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS OR ANY FEDERAL SUPPORT AND FEAR THAT IF THEY DO TEST POSITIVE FOR COCAINE 19 THEY MIGHT LOSE INCOME AND FACE ECONOMIC HARDSHIP BECAUSE THEIR EMPLOYER MIGHT REFUSE TO PROVIDE PAID LEAVE TO THE FAMILY.
FIRST CORONA VIRUS RESPONSE ACT.
IN ADDITION, MANY HAVE BEEN FORCED TO PUT THEMSELVES AND MEMBERS OF THEIR HOUSEHOLD SOMEWHAT PREEXISTING HEALTH CONDITIONS AT RISK BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO GO TO WORK IN ORDER TO FEED THEIR FAMILIES AND PAY THEIR BILLS.
ITEM 38 CAN ADDRESS THIS BY CREATING A CITYWIDE STRATEGY FOR HIGH RISK WORKERS, SPECIFICALLY WORKERS THAT ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE HOSPITALIZED IF THEY ARE INTERSECTED WITH KOGAN 19 OR WORKERS WHO HAVE MEMBERS OF THEIR HOUSEHOLD TO FACE SUCH RISKS, BUT THAT'S THE NEXT COMMUNITY IS THE MOST VULNERABLE, ONE OF THE MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS IN OUR CITY RIGHT NOW WITH THE HIGHEST RATE OF HOSPITALIZATION.
MOST OF OUR MEMBERS WORKING IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.
CONSTRUCTION SITES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS HOTSPOTS WHERE PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS CURRENTLY REPORT 19 CLUSTERS OF POSITIVE COVEN 19 CASES AND ADDITION TESTING ON TWO CONSTRUCTION SITES SHOWED AN INFECTION RATE THAT WAS THREE TIMES HIGHER THAN LOCAL DRIVE.
THROUGH TESTING FOR OUR MEMBERS WHO AREN'T CONSTRUCTION WORKERS, WE KNOW LEVERAGE WORKERS WHO AREN'T ABLE TO WORK FROM HOME ARE ALSO MORE LIKELY TO BECOME INFECTED WITH COBRA 19 IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT OUR CITY PRIORITIZE CREATING A PLAN FOR WORKERS AND MEMBERS OF THEIR HOUSEHOLDS WHO ARE AT RISK OF BEING HOSPITALIZED IF INFECTED WITH KOGAN 19 WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT OUR MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES RECEIVE THE SUPPORT AND RESOURCES THEY NEED DURING THIS TIME OF CRISIS.
DURING THE WORK SESSION ON TUESDAY, WE WERE HAPPY TO SEE THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH FUND, WHICH WOULD HELP IMPLEMENT THIS RESOLUTION.
WE APPLAUD COUNCIL MEMBER CASAR AND CO-SPONSORS FOR BRINGING THIS FORTH AND HOPE THAT YOU GO IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 38 THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO TO PROTECT OUR MEMBERS AND OUR COMMUNITY DURING THIS TIME.
YOU OKAY? OH, THE NEXT SPEAKER.
COUNSEL, THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK THIS MORNING.
UH, JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I REMAIN DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT THE AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH DATA CONTINUES TO SHOW A GROWING DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT AND UPWARD TREND OF CODE 19 AND LATINO COMMUNITY.
WE LEARNED EARLIER THIS WEEK THAT DESPITE LARGER LATINO POPULATIONS IN HARRIS COUNTY AND DALLAS AND DALLAS COUNTY, AUSTIN'S LATINO POPULATION HAS HIGHER HIGHER RATES BOTH IN LATINO CONFIRMED CASES AND IN HOSPITALIZATIONS.
MANY OF US WATCH PORTIONS OF THE PRESENTATION FROM AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS AND CENTRAL HEALTH EARLIER THIS WEEK.
DURING YOUR COUNCIL WORK SESSION, PLEASE KNOW THAT OUR COALITION HAD PREVIOUSLY ENGAGED IN CONVERSATIONS DIRECTLY WITH CENTRAL HEALTH AND COMMUNITY CARE.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, WE PROVIDED THEM FEEDBACK AND RECOMMENDATION RECOMMENDATIONS, WHICH WERE ACTUALLY INCORPORATED, INCORPORATED INTO THE PRESENTATION THAT YOU ALL RECEIVED EARLIER THIS WEEK.
IN ADDITION, REPS FROM CENTRAL HEALTH APPEARED ON OUR TOWN HALL MEETING LAST WEEK TO DISCUSS PRETTY MUCH WHAT THEY PRESENTED TO YOU.
UM, WE RECEIVED SEVERAL MEDIA CALLS YESTERDAY AFTER THE MORNING BRIEFING, WHICH DIRECTOR HAYDEN WAS QUOTED IN REFERENCING THAT THERE WILL BE A CREATION OF A TASK FORCE WITHIN AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE COUNCIL AT NO DATE YET SET IN MIND, BUT THAT IT WILL BE STAFFED BY AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH.
IT CAN BE ENGAGED WITH DEPARTMENT EQUITY OFFICE.
JUST BE AWARE THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED BY, BY ANY MEMBER OF YOUR AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH STAFF.
UM, IF WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE TASK FORCE, WHICH WE CERTAINLY STRONGLY ENCOURAGE, WE WOULD HOPE THAT AT LEAST THE GOALS WOULD BE TO LOWER THE DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT OF POSITIVITY, HOSPITALIZATION AND DEATH RATES.
WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT THE TASK FORCE WOULD WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH YOUR STAFF TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE CULTURALLY RELEVANT BILINGUAL COMMUNICATIONS, INCLUDING PUBLIC EDUCATION, PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY PREVENTATIVE MESSAGING, AND THAT THIS TASK FORCE WOULD SERVE AS A STRATEGIC ADVISOR, CONTRIBUTOR AND RESOURCE TOWARDS EFFECTIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR SPECIAL TREATMENT.
WE'RE SIMPLY ASKING OUT OF CONCERNS BASED ON THE DATA PROVIDED BY YOUR HEALTH OFFICIALS THAT THE IMPACT OF COVERT 19 ON OUR LATINO COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO DEMONSTRATE DISPROPORTIONATE AND NEGATIVE RATES THAT IMPACTS OUR LATINO COMMUNITY AND PACKS OUT OF BOSTON.
THIS IS A CITY OF AUSTIN ISSUE AND ALL OF US SHOULD BE EQUALLY CONCERNED AS WE REPRESENT LARGE PERCENTAGE OF FRONTLINE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS, GROCERY STORE CLERKS, YOU NAME IT.
WE KNOW OUR COMMUNITY THE BEST.
WE KNOW OUR CULTURAL VALUES AND TRADITIONS AND DAILY LIFE EXPERIENCES, BUT WE ALSO KNOW AS A COMMUNITY IS THAT THE IMPLEMENTED STRATEGIES TO COMMUNICATE WITH BOSTON'S THAT THE NON DIVERSE COMMUNITY IS SIMPLY NOT WORKING.
HOW MANY MORE LIVES NEED TO BE LOST UNTIL WE IMPLEMENT A MORE EFFECTIVE CULTURALLY RELEVANT PLAN? WE NEED A PLAN OF ACTION AND A DEAL TASKFORCE, A PROCESS THAT WILL PROVIDE A MEANINGFUL BUDGET, HAVE PATIENT TO SUGGESTED ISSUES
[00:45:01]
AT TO SUGGEST THAT ISSUES POTENTIALLY BE PUNTED TO THE HISPANIC QUALITY OF LIFE.SOUTHERN MINIMIZES OUR CONCERNS AND CREATES A PERCEPTION THAT LATINO LIVES AFFECTED BY KOBE, WHETHER IT BE POSITIVITY RATES, HOSPITALIZATION OR DEATHS.
DO NOT WANT THE FULL UNDIVIDED ATTENTION OF CITY OFFICIALS.
THANKS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
UM, WHERE, UH, THANKS FOR YOUR SIGNING UP AND SUPPORTIVE OF THIS ITEM ABOUT OUR RISK WORKERS.
UH, WE'VE GOT A NEW VERSION THAT INCLUDES DIRECTION TO THE, TO THE MANAGER FOR US TO HAVE, UH, TASK FORCES, UH, SET UP TO, UH, TO LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES OR HIGH RISK WORKERS.
AND, AND I THINK WHEN WE ARE DONE WITH SPEAKERS, I'M GOING ASK THE THE MANAGER OR SOME OF OUR STAFF TO TALK THROUGH THE GOALS AND THE WAYS THAT WE CAN BE LOOKING AT THIS.
SO I APPRECIATE YOU RAISING THAT ISSUE.
SO I JUST WANTED YOU AND THE OTHER SPEAKERS COMING UP TO, TO KNOW THAT WE'LL ADD THAT WE'LL BE ADDING THAT LANGUAGE INTO THE RESOLUTION.
UM, I THINK YOU MENTIONED YOU DID TUNED INTO THE WORK SESSION.
WE ALSO TALKED RIGHT AT THE END OF THE DAY ABOUT THE FACT THAT EVEN WHEN WE ARE OFFERING AND TESTING AND HAVING DIRECT CONVERSATIONS WITH UH, LATINOS AND ESPECIALLY LATINO CONSTRUCTION WORKERS, THAT WE'RE STILL HAVING A MAJOR CHALLENGE, UM, BEYOND JUST THE COMMUNICATION ON THINGS LIKE THE ECONOMIC SUPPORT AND THINGS LIKE PAID SICK TIME.
UH, WE, UH, WENT TO BIG CONSTRUCTION SITES AND OVER 60% OF WORKERS DECLINED FREE COVEN TESTING.
UM, WE ARE CONTINUING TO GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT THE FACT THAT IT DOESN'T MATTER YOUR IMMIGRATION STATUS DOESN'T MATTER.
BUT ACTUALLY THE BIGGEST THING CITED BY THOSE WORKERS, LARGELY LATINO WAS THE CONCERN THAT, UM, IF THEY ENDED UP TESTING POSITIVE, BUT THEY MIGHT LOSE THAT WEEK OR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS PAY.
AND SO WHAT I WOULD REALLY LOVE THIS TASKFORCE SENTENCE HELP ON AND SOME OF YOUR HELP ON BECAUSE OF, UH, YOUR WORK, UM, UH, WORKING WITH BUSINESSES.
UM, AND, AND I APPRECIATE YOU VOLUNTEERING SO MUCH OF YOUR TIME AND OTHERS VOLUNTEERING THEIR TIME TO, TO HELP GET, UH, MAYBE GOING THROUGH THE CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATIONS, ALL OF THEM, ABC, THE AJC, AGC, HISPANIC CONTRACTORS, ASIAN CONTRACTORS, GETTING THOSE BUSINESSES TO ALL SIGN A PLEDGE, UM, ALL UP, TRY TO GET TO A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE MEMBERSHIP SIGNING APPLIED SAYING THAT THERE WILL, UH, EDUCATE WORKERS ABOUT THE NEW FEDERAL LAW THAT GUARANTEES THEM PAID SICK TIME IF THEY GET A POSITIVE COVERT TEST OR HAVE COVERED SYMPTOMS AND FOR THOSE BUSINESSES THAT ARE EXEMPTED BECAUSE THEY'RE REALLY BIG FOR THEM TO DO IT ANYWAYS.
AND SO I WANT TO KNOW IF YOU WOULD HELP US WITH THAT BECAUSE I THINK I'M ON TOP OF THE COMMUNICATION, UH, EVEN WITH FOLKS THAT DO KNOW, UH, WE ARE STILL SEEING THAT CHALLENGE.
AND SO IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU COULD, COULD, UH, WITHIN THIS TASKFORCE SOMETHING THAT YOU COULD BE HELPING US WITH TO GET BUSINESSES TO PLEDGE, TO FOLLOW THE SICK TIME LAWS AND RULES AND TO EDUCATE THEIR WORKERS ABOUT THAT LAW? ABSOLUTELY.
AND ON THE CONTRARY, I'M GOING TO DISTRIBUTE IT A LITTLE BIT IN THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING THAT.
SO IN ORDER FOR THE COMMUNICATION TO BE INCLUSIVE AND IN ORDER FOR US TO ASPIRE TO REACH THE GOALS OF LOWERING THE NUMBERS AND IMPACTS TO LATINO COMMUNITY, THAT ALSO MEANS THAT THE CITY OFFICIALS, I KNEW YOURSELF, SIR, I HAVE TO BE INCLUSIVE AND INCLUDING ALL OF OUR ORGANIZATIONS.
AND SO I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN PUT POLITICS AND DIFFERENT EGOS AND DIFFERENCES ASIDE AND REALLY FOCUS ON WHAT MATTERS.
AND THAT IS, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE PREVENT, UH, AND, AND WORK ON A DOWNWARD TREND THAT IMPACTS THEIR MOST IMPORTANT SAVING LIVES.
BUT YOU'RE ACTUALLY, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.
I NOTICED THE HISPANIC CONTRACTOR ASSOCIATION HAD DEVELOPED, UH, BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH VIDEOS ON SAFETY PREVENTIONS AND CAUTIONS.
THEY'RE ACTUALLY TAKING A STEP FURTHER AND HAVE NOW PRODUCED A PSA ABOUT DECONTAMINATION, DECONTAMINATION, AS YOU KNOW, IF, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE LATINO COMMUNITIES LIVING IN MULTIFAMILY GENERATION UNITS.
UH, IF YOU HAVE THE HUSBAND OR THE UNCLE ALL LIVE IN THE SAME UNIT WHO ARE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS OR, OR YOU KNOW, MOM IS A, IS A SERVER OR WORKS AT A GROCERY STORE AND EVERYBODY'S COMING HOME.
WE HA THERE HASN'T BEEN AN EMPHASIS ON HOW TO TEACH LATINO COMMUNITIES TO DECONTAMINATE AND MORE IMPORTANT WHAT RESOURCES ARE THERE OUT OUT THERE TO PROVIDE THEM THE SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED.
WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO GO? SAME THING APPLIES WITH THE MULTIFAMILY APARTMENT COMPLEX SECTION EIGHT HOUSING.
WE'RE OVERREPRESENTED IN THOSE AREAS, BUT THERE DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE RESOURCES OR SUPPORT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE LATINOS ARE COMING HOME.
THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DECONTAMINATE SO THAT IF THEY ARE WALKING IN AND NOT KNOWING, THEY'RE ACTUALLY POSITIVE FOR COBIT, THAT THEY'RE NOT ACTUALLY EXPOSING, PUTTING OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS AT RISK.
WE ABSOLUTELY COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH ALL OF US,
[00:50:01]
UH, WITH THE, WITH THE GOAL OF MAKING SURE THAT WE, UM, UH, DO WHAT WE CAN TO PROTECT OUR LATINO COMMUNITY.AND I, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE ACTUALLY DISAGREE ABOUT BECAUSE THE THINGS YOU JUST LISTED ARE WHAT THIS RESOLUTION IS CALLING FOR MORE OFTEN TO DO.
AND I APPRECIATE YOU SIGNING UP IN SUPPORT OF IT.
AND UM, AND I DO THINK THAT YEAH, ALL OF THOSE CONTRACTORS GROUPS WORKING WITH US TO, TO ADDRESS ONCE FOLKS HAVE THE RESOURCES AND COMMUNICATION MAY NEED THAT THOSE WORKERS FEEL SAFE AND COMFORTABLE EXERCISING THOSE RIGHTS AND STAYING AT HOME WOULD BE VERY, VERY VALUABLE.
AND I HOPE WE CAN GET TO SOME PEOPLE A HUNDRED PERCENT JIM TO HELP US ON THAT EFFORT.
SO THANK YOU FOR OFFERING THAT UP.
UM, IT'S COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR.
I WANTED TO JUST, UM, ASK FOR A CLARIFICATION I COULD IF I COULD FROM MY COLLEAGUE MR KASAR.
SO THERE WAS A VERSION TWO OF 38 THAT CAME OUT THIS MORNING.
YOU'RE ANTICIPATING A VERSION THREE THAT WILL INCORPORATE THE AMENDMENTS THAT I HAD PROPOSED AND THAT MAY OR ADLER AND THEN THERE'LL BE SOME ADDITIONAL PIECES OF THAT.
IS THAT RIGHT? THAT'S THE VERSION WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS MORNING.
THAT WOULD INCLUDE, AND I LOVE A SUGGESTION, YOUR SUGGESTION IN THIS AND WHAT I JUST DESCRIBED.
AND YOU SHOULD HAVE THAT IN A MOMENT.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I HAVE THE ORDER CORRECT.
THINK WE GO TO THE NEXT, GO TO THE NEXT SPEAKER.
GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE SPIRIT OF ITEM NUMBER 38 EVEN THOUGH WE SUBMITTED SUGGESTIONS AS TO, UH, SOME IMPROVEMENTS IN THE LANGUAGE AND HOW THE, UH, RESOLUTION RATES.
UH, RIGHT NOW IT'S JUST AS A PROOF OF RESIDENCE AND DIRECTING CITY MANAGER TO ESTABLISH A STRATEGY FOR HARVEST WORKERS IN ORDER TO PREVENT HOSPITALIZATIONS AND QUALITIES RELATED TO BILLS AT NIGHT.
WE WOULD SPECIFICALLY REQUEST THAT WE IDENTIFY THE LATINO COMMUNITY, WHETHER IT'D BE THERE OR AS AN IN ANOTHER, WHEREAS WE MUST, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO IDENTIFY THAT WE HAVE A GAP IN SERVICES, THAT THERE IS A PARTICULAR POPULATION THAT IS SUFFERING MORE AND DYING MORE FROM THIS PARTICULAR ILLNESS AND A VIRUS.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO, AND I KNOW YOU'RE FOCUSING ON WORKERS, BUT DO REMEMBER THAT HISPANICS OFTEN LIVE IN MULTIGENERATIONAL HOUSEHOLDS AND THAT WHATEVER IS GEARED FOR THE WORKER ALSO HAVE SOME SENSITIVITY TO THE FAMILY SO THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO EDUCATE THE WORKER, BUT ALSO THEY'RE ABLE TO BRING THAT EDUCATION HOME TO THE FAMILY IN TERMS OF PAMPHLETS, IN TERMS OF OTHER PROTECT MAYBE, UH, PROTECTIVE GEAR.
UM, AND I THINK THAT THAT WAS IT.
WE SUBMITTED ALSO SUBMITTED, UM, THE CHANGES, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, TO THE WHEREASES AND THEREFORE OF THE RESOLUTION TO MAKE IT STRONGER AND TO ASSURE THAT WE ARE TARGETING THE LATINO, UM, COMMUNITY AND THAT THAT IS TRANSPARENT.
OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER IS, UH, LOOPPAY MAUREEN, THANK YOU COUNSEL.
UH,
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON SOME LANGUAGE TO HELP, UM, BUILD UP THAT RESOLUTION, WHICH I'M, I'M TOTALLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE OTHER DIVISIONS THAT HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED ALREADY.
UM, AND NOW I WENT TO SHOW THAT I RECOGNIZED THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL AND THE STAFF FOR ALL THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE SO FAR TO HELP FLATTEN THE COVE AND PROVIDE ECONOMIC SUPPORT AND HOUSING FUNDING FOR MOST NEEDED, UH, POPULATION.
I AM STILL VERY, VERY CONCERNED ABOUT HOW WE GOT TO, UM, THE MEMBERS OF, UH, LATINOS WHO HAVE DIED AND WE'LL HAVE BEEN HOSPITALIZED 61% OF FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN HOSPITALIZED AND DON'T REALLY EVER WANT TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE'RE BEING REACTIVE RATHER THAN PROACTIVE.
HOW WE GOT TO THIS POINT, I'M NOT SURE.
UM, BUT I AGREE WITH WHAT'S BEEN SAID BEFORE THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ON THE TABLE THAT WE'LL HAVE INPUT, UH, AS A TASK FORCE AND MEMBERS OF GROUP TO BE ABLE TO BE INCLUDED IN
[00:55:01]
THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS.BUT UNDERSTANDING CULTURAL CHANGES AND BILINGUALISM AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE A COMMUNICATION THAT'S DIRECT TO THOSE MOST IN NEED.
SO ANYWAY, UH, MY, MY LAST THOUGHT IS THAT WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO WORK TOGETHER TO COLLABORATE, UH, AS A UNIFIED TEAM TO CONTINUE TO FLATTEN THIS, UH, PARTICULAR THE LATINO COMMUNITY.
YES, I CAN, YOU KNOW, UH, UH, WE GOT HERE BECAUSE OUR GOVERNORS DECIDED TO TELL THE CONSTRUCTION PEOPLE THAT IT WAS, THERE WERE ESSENTIAL WORKERS AND, AND THAT THEREFORE WE HAVE TO KEEP THE WORKERS OUT THERE WORKING WITHOUT PROVIDING ANY KIND OF GUIDANCE AT ALL.
IT DIDN'T GIVE US ANY OPPORTUNITY AT ALL TO, FOR US TO PREPARE AND EDUCATE PEOPLE.
AND THEN WHEN ME AND AMERICA, I TALKED TO THE MAYOR AND WE LOOKED AT KNOWING THAT EASTER WAS COMING AND KNOWING THAT PEOPLE WITH LAMPS AND THEIR SACRIFICE THAT THEY DO, AND ON EASTER DAY THAT EVERYONE GETS TOGETHER AND PARTY AND CELEBRATE.
AND, UH, I JUST SAW IT COMING AND THERE WERE NOTHING THAT WE COULD DO.
WE TRIED OUR BEST TO EDUCATE PEOPLE AND TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT THE STAY AWAY FROM THEIR PARENTS, THEIR GRANDMAS, THEIR GRANDFATHERS AND ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE VERY CLOSE TO THEM.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE WENT OUT AND DISTRIBUTED THIS MONDAY TO THE HISPANIC CONTRACTORS AND THEIR HISPANIC UNION TO GO OUT THERE AND FOR THEM TO PROTECT THEMSELVES.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO KEEP ON REMINDING EVERYONE THAT WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR PEOPLE.
IS UM, UM,
I MEAN, WHAT ABOUT MARTHA KATERRA ABOUT THAT? NO, YOU'RE ON SPEAKING.
ONE OTHER CODELLA IS KEVIN TUCKER HERE? YES, I'M HERE.
SO I HAVE JUST TO TUCKER, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES HERE.
THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, CONSIDERING THE STATEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE ABOUT COVERT AND ALL THE, THE EMERGENCY THINGS THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF, MY STATEMENTS ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
I WAS JUST, UH, WANTING TO SUPPORT THE ADOPTION OF THE ISP, ETSY, THE INTERNATIONAL FLOATING POOL AND SPA BUILDING CODE THAT APPLIES TO BUILDING.
AND CAN YOU PULL YOUR SMILE CLOSER SO WE CAN HEAR YOU? OKAY.
UM, MY NAME IS KEVIN TUCKER AND I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK.
UM, MY SUBJECT IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN MOST OF THESE EMERGENCIES THAT ARE COMING UP DUE TO COBIT.
BUT, UM, I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT, UH, MY SUPPORT AND THE INDUSTRY SUPPORT FOR THE INTERNATIONAL SWIMMING POOL AND SPA BUILDING CODE THAT THE CITY IS LOOKING AT ADOPTING, UH, TO MAKE THINGS MORE UNIFORM.
AND, UH, SINCE THESE POOLS ON THE GROUND FOR DECADES, THEN, UH, CERTAINLY IMPROVES THE HEALTH AND SAFETY FOR ALL THE PEOPLE USING THEM.
AND THE ENERGY CONSUMPTION ACTUALLY IS PART OF THIS AS WELL.
AND I ACTUALLY AM TEACHING CLASSES TO HELP THE INDUSTRY UNDERSTAND HOW TO ADOPT THIS CODE AND BUILD A BETTER COOLER SPA.
SO, UM, THAT WAS REALLY MY, MY SUPPORT THAT I JUST WANTED TO ADD TO THIS DISCUSSION.
OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER IS POCKET PENSKE.
THIS IS PROBABLY LIVE IN GM WITH THE SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE.
I'M ACTUALLY SPEAKING ON ITEM 50, WHICH I WASN'T SURE IT WAS PART OF THE CONVENTION OR NOT, BUT UM, THE UH, AGREEMENT BEFORE YOU, UM,
[01:00:01]
HAS BEEN AN ONGOING DIALOGUE BETWEEN, UH, STRATUS AND SOS, UH, SINCE THE SUMMER OF LAST YEAR.JUST TO EXPLAIN THE UH, POSITION THAT IS THAT WE CAME FROM, UH, THE PROPERTY IS PHASE FIVE OF A, UM, LARGE DEVELOPMENT.
UM, IT IS THE LAST PART OF THAT DEVELOPMENT THAT WOULD BE DEVELOPED.
THE WATER QUALITY PONDS HAVE ALREADY BEEN BUILT AS WELL.
SO, UM, WE SORT OF APPROACHED IT AS UM, UH, AND THERE'S ALSO AN APPROVED SITE PLAN, UH, OFFICE THAT IS KIND OF THE DEFAULT POSITION.
SO IF WE DON'T COME TO AN AGREEMENT ON SOMETHING, THEN, UM, THEY CAN JUST BUILD AN OFFICE PARK AND WE DON'T GET ANY ENVIRONMENTAL SUPERIORITY TO THE PROJECT.
SO THE AGREEMENT BEFORE YOU ESSENTIALLY, UH, TREATS THE IMPERVIOUS COVER AS, UM, AS AN EFFECTIVE NET SIDE AREA.
SO INSTEAD OF IT BEING JUST ON THE SITE, UH, STRATASYS AGREED TO AT TO ADD ADDITIONAL LAND TO THE SOUTH OF THEIR PROPERTY TO MAKE, UM, THE DEVELOPMENT AND OVERALL 25% NET THAT AREA THAT WOULD BE COMPLIANT WITH THE SOS ORDINANCE.
UM, THIS IS ACTUALLY AN OFFER THAT THEY MADE BEYOND THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
SO, UM, THEY WORKED WITH US AND THEY WERE INCREDIBLY, UM, RESPONSIVE TO OUR CONCERNS AND, UM, WE DO NOT TAKE AN SLS AMENDMENT LIGHTLY.
UM, THIS IS A UNIQUE SCENARIO.
UM, I DON'T THINK IT'S A MODEL FOR ALL FUTURE PROJECT.
WE'D OF COURSE PREFER A FULL COMPLIANCE WITH ALL ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS, BUT THIS IS A REASONABLE COMPROMISE AND WE UM, ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT IT.
UM, I'M NOT GONNA STAY ON THE LINE UNTIL TWO, BUT, UM, IF YOU DO HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO ME THROUGH EMAIL.
MR MINSKY IS, UM, WE'RE NOW, WE'RE GOING TO CALL SOME SPEAKERS THAT, UM, HAVE ASKED FOR, UH, TRANSLATION ASSISTANCE.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT, UH, ALICIA TORRES IS GOING TO HELP US WITH, UH, WITH TRANSLATION ASSISTANCE.
I'M HERE ON THE LINE AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT I AM GOING TO TRY MY BEST TO NOT BE DIRECT INTERPRETATION, BUT I WILL DO MY BEST.
THANK YOU MS. TORRES, AND WE GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR ASSISTANCE AND WILLING TO STEP UP.
YOU ARE A SPEAKER THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
UH, AND AT THE END OF THE TRANSLATION I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK YOURSELF, UH, RATHER THAN PUTTING YOU BACK IN THE QUEUE.
THERE ARE SEVEN PEOPLE THAT HAVE ASKED FOR ASSISTANCE OR TRANSLATION.
UM, FIRST ONE IS EDEN WROTE US.
DO YOU USE ME MAYOR? I'M ANOTHER PERSON HERE WHO COULD HELP BECAUSE SEVEN, TRANSLATING FOR SEVEN IS A LOT OF WORK.
IF BY CHANCE, ALISHA, I'M AFRAID I CAN'T HEAR YOU.
CAN YOU SEE YOUR MICROPHONE? YES.
I WAS JUST SAYING IF THAT SEVEN PEOPLE IS A LOT, IF I LEAVE HERE, I NEED TO AT SOME POINT A TURN.
DID YOU HEAR THAT? UH, MS. TORRES, I'M WILLING TO HELP AS WELL.
IF YOU, YOU WANT HER TO STEP IN AT ANY POINT.
WHEN I'M READY TO DO THAT, THEN I'LL JUST CALL YOU YOUR NAME SO THAT YOU CAN GO, UM, FINISH OFF.
AND LET'S GO TO, UH, MARSHA MORALES.
WOULD YOU TELL THEM THAT IF THEY'RE SPEAKING, I THINK THEY MAY NEED TO UNMUTE.
HOW DO THE SPEAKER PHONE PEOPLE IN NEED? UH,
[01:05:01]
MARSHA MORALEZ
UM, AND THE ROMANS, I FEEL THAT, UM, THE 1.1 MAKE CAN MAKE, WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE, UH, FOR FAMILIES IN THE COMMUNITY.
I HAVE LOST MY JOB BECAUSE OF WHAT WE'RE LIVING THROUGH.
WELL THE METAL, I DON'T HAVE MONEY.
I DID NOT HAVE MONEY TO PAY VANDERBILT BILLS.
I HAVE KIDS THAT ARE, THAT ARE MINORS AND THEY ARE THE ONES THAT I WORRY THE MOST ABOUT.
HE WILL BE PUT OUT ON THE STREET AND THAT IS WHAT I AM WORRIED ABOUT.
NEXT SPEAKER IS UM, THERE WAS A BUDDY I GOT TO SEE YA.
NOW THE NEXT SPEAKER IS UM, UH, JUDITH AT THE NIA.
[01:10:01]
I THINK FROM THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY, I LIVE IN DISTRICT SAY 81 87 87.AND TO GO TO THE COMMUNITY, THE REASON FOR THE CALL IS BECAUSE THE SITUATION HAS REALLY AFFECTED, UM, HAS REALLY AFFECTED THE COMMUNITY AND FOR THE SAME REASON WE'RE CALLING NAME AS THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMIC SITUATION IS VERY, UM, CRITICAL.
UM, AT THIS MOMENT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING IN PARTICULAR, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY IS REALLY FEELING THE EFFECT OF A MIMIC.
AND WE HOPE THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN CAN HELP, UM, CAN HELP US ECONOMICALLY.
FOR EXAMPLE, IN MY PARTICULAR SITUATION, I AM CURRENTLY NOT WORKING AND I KNOW THAT THERE MIGHT BE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE SAME SITUATION AND I WAS EXPECTED TO PAY RENT.
I HOPE THAT HE KNOWS THAT THIS HELP REALLY DOES COME.
UM, AND THAT IT COMES CAUSE MAYBE WE DO NEED IT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR TAKING A MINUTE AND, AND LISTENING TO US BECAUSE THEY'VE CALLED IT VERY IMPORTANT TO US HAVING A GOOD DAY.
WHAT ABOUT THE NEAR LOPEZ? OKAY.
THE TRUTH IS THAT WE'RE UP BY THIS TIME, WE ALL KNOW THAT BECAUSE OF COVERT 19, WE'RE OUT, UM, LIVING WILD, EXPERIENCING, UM, VERY MUCH UNEXPECTED MOMENTS.
[01:15:09]
AND THE TWO DAYS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT YOU REALLY HELP US OUT BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE MONEY TO PAY RENT TO PAY ELECTRICITY.LET ME CALL THE NAMES OF WERE LEFT.
WE'LL SEE IF SHE CAN GET BACK AND WE'LL, WE'LL TRY TO ACCOMMODATE THAT.
UM, MARSHA MIRALIS, RUTH, REBECCA MARYELLA'S, PEREZ, INA MORALES, PEREZ, ANY OF THOSE NAMES.
UM, MS. TORRES, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ASSISTING US WITH THAT.
UH, YOU CAN SPEAK NOW IF YOU'D LIKE TO TAKE YOUR GREEN.
I AM PART OF ICF, ONE OF THE AUSTIN OR I SAID A BOSTON.
UM, I DID, I WANTED TO SET UP BY BRINGING TO THE ATTENTION OF THE REST OF THE CITY COUNCIL THAT NIGHT.
UM, THE FACT THAT, UH, WE HAVE SPANISH SPEAKERS WHO TURNED IN AT THE VERY BEGINNING AS INSTRUCTIONS CALL FOR TIME, UM, TO CALL IN TODAY AND ATTEMPT TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS SPACE AS I HAVE OFTEN NOT BEEN FRIENDLY TO SPANISH SPEAKERS OR OTHER, UM, SPEAKERS THAT DO NOT, WHO, WHO THINK ENGLISH IS NOT THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGE.
UM, AND THERE WAS NO INTERPRETATION PROVIDED, UM, ONLY, UH, PROFESSIONAL REPUTATION PROVIDED, UM, ONLY BECAUSE THEIR INTERPRETATION SERVICES WERE NOT REQUESTED.
AND UM, YEAH, THAT THE FACT THAT THIS HAPPENED, IT'S A FORM OF THAT YOU KNOW, THE CITY NOT PRACTICING LANGUAGE JUSTICE BY ALLOWING THINGS LIKE THIS TO HAPPEN.
UM, CITY COUNCIL SENDING THE MESSAGE THAT THIS SPACE IS ONLY FOR PEOPLE WITH ACCESS TO TECH, UM, AND THAT SPEAK ENGLISH.
UM, IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT WE, THAT ALL WE HEARD WHEN MANY OF US ARE SUPPOSED TO INTERPRET, AND THIS WAS BEFORE THE CALL WAS MERGED WITH THE CITY COUNCIL.
IF WE ARE ALLOWING FLEXIBILITY FOR EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE, WHY NOT NOT ALLOW FLEXIBILITY FOR THE PROCESS OF LANGUAGE INTERPRETATION.
I HOPE THAT FOR THE NEXT MEETING, CITY COUNCIL CAN DO BETTER AND CAN DO BETTER AND IT DOES NOT TAKE, UM, COUNSELING INTERVENTION, UM, WHEN THE MEETING HAS ALREADY STARTED FOR US, UM, TO PRACTICE LANGUAGE JUSTICE.
SO I JUST WANTED TO AGAIN, UPLIFT THAT.
I'M APPRECIATIVE THAT THAT WILL CHANGE GIVEN I RIGHT.
THINK THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN VERY EASILY SOLVED FROM THE BEGINNING.
UM, I'M HERE TO SPEAK TO ITEM 75, THE CURRENT PROPOSED FRAMEWORK.
UM, ALSO IN THIS ITEM WE HAVE NOW, UM, AND AS, UH, BY THE EIGHT HOME, UM, YES, I THINK THAT THE LAST SPEAKER MAYBE GOT CUT OFF.
IT SOUNDED LIKE SHE WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A SENTENCE AND HADN'T STARTED GIVING HER COMMENTS YET.
YEAH, I DIDN'T KNOW SHE COMES, SHE EVENT'S STILL ON THE PHONE.
THAT WOULD BE, ALICIA TOLD US IF SHE COMES BACK, WE WILL GIVE HER ADDITIONAL TIME TO BE ABLE TO COMPLETE FOR ALL THE SPEAKERS WE HAVE THAT WERE ASKING FOR TRANSLATION ASSISTANCE WHILE WE WERE HERE.
[01:20:01]
WITH CANDICE VIA HOME.YEAH, WE USE CANVAS, THIS CANVAS.
UM, I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT YOUTH HIGHS, TEXAS.
WE'RE AN ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS WITH YOUNG PEOPLE WHOSE FAMILIES HAVE BEEN INCARCERATED OR DEPORTED.
WE WORKED WITH, UM, A NUMBER OF FAMILIES THAT HAVE BEEN NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY JOB LOSS BECAUSE OF COVANCE.
AND SO I'M, I'M HERE TO SPEAK TODAY ON ITEM NUMBER 75.
FIRST I WANT TO JUST THANK THE COUNCIL FOR SENDING FUNDS TO THE EQUITY OFFICE AND SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR DEMOGRAPHICS AND OUR NUMBERS.
SO, UM, AS AN ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS WITH FAMILIES THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY CRIMINALIZATION, INCARCERATION, AND DEPORTATION, UH, YOU CAN IMAGINE THE FAMILIES THAT WE WORK WITH ARE ALREADY, UM, ALL TOO OFTEN IN PRECARIOUS ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES.
WE WORK WITH MAJORITY FOLKS OF COLOR, MIXED IMMIGRATION STATUS FAMILIES, UM, A NUMBER OF BLACK FAMILIES AND, UM, US BORN FAMILIES AS WELL.
AND, UM, WE IN THE PAST, UH, FIVE AND A HALF YEARS HAVE SERVED ABOUT 270 YOUTH, UM, ACROSS THE CITY.
AND, UM, BECAUSE OF THE FUNDS THAT WERE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE EQUITY OFFICE THROUGH THE RISE FUND, WE WERE ABLE TO DISTRIBUTE SOME REALLY GENEROUS PAYMENTS TO THOSE FAMILIES.
AS I'M SURE YOU CAN UNDERSTAND, A NUMBER OF THE FAMILIES THAT WE WORK WITH.
WE'RE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR A FEDERAL STIMULUS CHECKS.
UM, YOU KNOW, DUE TO MIXED IMMIGRATION STATUS OR, UM, OTHER KINDS OF ISSUES, FOLKS ALSO WORKING IN CASH ECONOMIES, UM, NOT REALLY HAVING, UH, YOU KNOW, TAX RECORDS TO RELY ON JUST COMING OUT OF INCARCERATION, ET CETERA.
UM, I WANTED TO MAKE THIS BODY AWARE THAT AS AN ORGANIZATION AND OUR SIXTH YEAR OF OPERATION, UM, I WAS QUITE SURPRISED, UM, THAT UNFORTUNATELY, ALTHOUGH WE APPLIED FOR MULTIPLE CITY FUNDS, INCLUDING RISE FUNDS THROUGH AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE FUND THROUGH THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, DESPITE OUR HISTORY AND OUR REACH AND OUR DEEP ROOTS WITH VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES, WE WERE NOT APPROVED FOR ANY OF THOSE FUNDS.
WE STARTED FUNDRAISING FOR RELIEF FUNDS.
THE WEEK AFTER AISD SHUT DOWN, WE STARTED TURNING TO OUR DONORS AND, UM, YOU KNOW, SPEAKING OUT, AND I APPRECIATE THE COUNCIL TAKING AFFIRMATIVE ACTION ON THIS.
UM, THAT SAID, YOU KNOW, OUR PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, W WITHOUT FUNDS MADE AVAILABLE AGAIN, UM, OUR PEOPLE MAY NOT HAVE ACCESS TO OTHER KINDS OF FUNDS THAT ARE BECOMING AVAILABLE BECAUSE OF, UH, YOU KNOW, MAYBE NOT HAVING A SOCIAL CAPITAL OR THE ABILITY TO WAIT, UM, AND CALL BACK AGENCIES MULTIPLE TIMES.
WE'VE HEARD FROM FAMILIES THAT THEY CALLED AGENCIES AGAIN AND AGAIN NOT TO BE RESPONDED TO AND NOT TO BE ABLE TO REACH ANYONE OR BEING TOLD THEY HAD TO WAIT.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THE DEMAND IS SO HIGH AND THAT EVERYONE IS JUST DOING THE BEST THAT WE CAN.
UM, BUT AT THIS STAGE, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE FOLKS WHO ARE, UM, YOU KNOW, SOME ARE RETURNING TO WORK, SOME ARE NOT ABLE TO.
AND SO IN SOME, I'LL JUST FINISH BY SAYING THAT I REALLY HOPE THAT THE MAYOR, UM, YOU KNOW, CAN SUPPORT US AND THAT COUNCIL WILL SUPPORT US TO MAKE ADDITIONAL FUNDS AVAILABLE TO THE EQUITY OFFICE AGAIN, SO THAT ORGANIZATIONS LIKE MINE CAN CONTRIBUTE, CAN CONTINUE TO CONTRIBUTE DIRECTLY TO FAMILIES, LIKE THE ONES THAT WE SERVE THAT ARE NOT GETTING HELP.
SO MANY OF THE OTHER LARGER, UH, RELIEF INSTITUTIONS IN THE CITY.
THE NEXT SPEAKER THAT WE HAVE, UM, UH, I THINK WE CALLED HERE, UM, AND IS FE HO, UM, NORMA EMAIL.
WHAT ABOUT VERONICA NATO? WHAT ABOUT UH, FALLEN ROJAS? THIS IS VERONICA NIETO.
AT THE ANATOLE YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK IN REGARDS TO THE RENT RELIEF PROGRAM.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AT THIS FUNDING WOULD BE INCREASED SO THAT MORE FUNDING IS AVAILABLE FOR OUR RENTERS.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD THAT IF WE CAN START FILLING OUT APPLICATIONS FOR OUR RESIDENTS THAT ARE ONLY RENT AND THEY'RE NOT WANTING TO FILL OUT THE APPLICATIONS OR EVEN TRY TO GET THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE US, IT'S PROBABLY MATTERED TO HAVE TAKEN A HUGE LOSS JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER COMPANY THAT HAS DURING THIS PANDEMIC.
[01:25:01]
BUT I THINK US BEING ABLE TO FILL OUT THE APPLICATIONS TO HELP WITH HELP THE PROPERTY MANAGERS GET SECURED RENT.I ALSO TALKED TO OTHER COMMUNITIES AROUND OUR AREA TO SEE IF THEY'RE STRUGGLING WITH THE SAME ISSUES THAT WE'RE HAVING.
UM, YOU KNOW, WITH RESIDENTS NOT WANTING TO COOPERATE.
SO I THINK IF, IF WE CAN GET MORE FUNDING GRANTED, UM, WE'RE ABLE TO FILL OUT AND WE CAN GET MORE FUNDING GRANTED, I THINK THAT WOULD HELP US A LOT WITH RESIDENTS BEING SECURED ALSO AND EVEN TO HELP HOMELESS PREVENTION.
NEXT SPEAKER IS, UM, UM, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S, UM, PAULA ROSS.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE CAN READ YOUR THREE MINUTES.
I'M A MEMBER OF CCU, COMMUNITIES OF COLOR UNITED FOR RACIAL JUSTICE.
WE'RE A VOLUNTEER COALITION THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING TO ADVANCE RACIAL JUSTICE IN AUSTIN, UH, FOR YEARS.
AND I WORK AS A MIDWIFE WITH MY, MY SON, A VIBRANT WOMAN.
I WANTED TO BEGIN BY JUST REALLY ACKNOWLEDGING EACH OF YOU FOR HOLDING THIS TREMENDOUS RESPONSIBILITY OF KEEPING OUR CITY SAFE AND ECONOMICALLY STABLE DURING THIS PANDEMIC.
UM, I I THANK YOU FOR TAKING ON THIS RESPONSIBILITY.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO URGE YOU TO FULLY FUND AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH FROM THE FEDERAL COVERT RELIEF FUND OF $170 MILLION.
AS WE'VE BEEN SAYING AT TCU FOR YEARS NOW, IT'S MORE CLEAR THAN EVER WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES SAFER AND THAT WOULD BE INVESTING MORE SIGNIFICANTLY IN PUBLIC HEALTH.
IMAGINE IF WE HAD BEGUN THIS PANDEMIC WITH AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH BUDGET BEING AS ROBUST AND THAT PART AS UH, AUSTIN PUB AS US, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE WOULD BE IN A MUCH BETTER PLACE TO FACE THE PANDEMIC.
UM, AND IN TERMS OF THE FUNDING FOR US IN PUBLIC HEALTH, WE NEED MORE FUNDING FOR TESTING, CONTACT TRACING INVESTIGATION, AND TO SPEAK TO WHAT MANY LATINO FAMILIES TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, OUTREACH TO PARTICULAR COMMUNITIES AND POPULATIONS WITH STAFFING AND TRANSLATING OF MATERIAL.
BUT I WANT TO REALLY FOCUS ON ONE OTHER PIECE OF THE FUNDING FOR, FOR AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, WHICH IS FUNDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO VULNERABLE FAMILIES OF THE 170 MILLION COUNCIL.
I KNOW YOU HAVE LOTS OF COMPETING PRIORITIES RIGHT NOW, BUT AS HUMAN BEINGS, WE MUST PRIORITIZE THOSE WHO ARE LIVING ON THE EDGE ECONOMICALLY IN OUR CITY.
UM, AS A MIDWIFE, I'VE WORKED CLOSELY WITH HUNDREDS OF LOW INCOME BLACK AND LATINO FAMILIES FOR YEARS.
AND I'M REALLY IN CLOSE TOUCH WITH MANY, UM, SOME WHO, UH, WANTING TO BE ON THIS CALL.
AND THEN WHEN THEY, WHEN WE WERE TOLD THERE'S NO INTERPRETATION, I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST, UH, UH, HUNG UP AND THAT'S WHY THEY'RE NOT STILL HERE.
BUT MANY OF THOSE FAMILIES HAVE COMPLETELY RUN OUT OF RESOURCES.
NOW THE BIGGER CRISIS OF THIS PANDEMIC IS ECONOMIC.
SO IN THIS MOMENT I SEE THE POSSIBILITY OF AUSTIN BEING AN EXAMPLE OF A STUDENT THAT PRIORITIZES EQUITY.
UM, WE COULD COME OUT OF THE PANDEMIC STRONG BY MAKING SURE THAT THOSE MOST DIRECTLY HIT RIGHT NOW GET SUBSTANTIAL RELIEF.
SO IMAGINE A CITY WHERE WE COULD, UH, HELP THOSE WORKERS, LOW WAGE WORKERS, NOT BE ON THE FRONT LINE BY HAVING DIRECT TRANSFERS OF SUPPORT, UH, FOR THEM FOR MULTIPLE MONTHS SO THAT WE SUPPORT THE ECONOMY.
BUT WE ALSO SUPPORT THE HEALTH OF LATINEX COMMUNITIES OF BLACK COMMUNITIES, OF THOSE PEOPLE OF COLOR, DISPROPORTIONATELY LOW WAGE WORKERS AND WE KNOW NATIONALLY AND LOCALLY THAT LOW WAGE WORKERS ARE LOSING THEIR JOBS MORE THAN ANYBODY ELSE.
AND SO I'M FINISHING MY THOUGHT.
SO IF YOU CAN FOCUS A SUBSTANTIAL PIECE, THAT PORTION OF THE 170 MILLION TO GO TO DIRECT FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO FAMILIES, WE CAN COME OUT OF THIS STRONG.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT EIGHT, A MEMBER OF THE AUSTIN BOARD OF REALTORS, THE CHAIR
[01:30:01]
OF ABERS LEGISLATIVE MANAGEMENT TEAM.AND I'VE BEEN SERVING CLIENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR 11 YEARS.
TODAY I'M SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF ITEM 75 AND I'M ASKING COUNCIL TO IMMEDIATELY ALLOCATE $40 MILLION TO RENTAL ASSISTANCE THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR BOTH TENANTS AND LANDLORDS.
BASED ON INFORMATION I HAVE SEEN IN THE NEWS AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
THERE APPEARS TO BE A MISCONCEPTION THAT ALL LANDLORDS ENJOY LARGE PROFIT MARGIN AND CAN SUSTAIN THE ABSENCE OF FULL RENT PAYMENTS AND THAT THEY DON'T NECESSARILY CARE ABOUT THEIR TENANTS AS A REALTOR WHO MANAGES A SMALL NUMBER OF PROPERTIES FOR MY CLIENTS AND HERE TODAY TO HELP CORRECT THIS MISCONCEPTION.
THE PROPERTY OWNERS THAT I PERSONALLY REPRESENT ARE NOT LARGE CORPORATE COMPANIES, BUT INSTEAD ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO ONLY OWN ONE OR MAYBE TWO HOMES IN AUSTIN AND THEY'RE TERRIFIED AT THE THOUGHT OF GOING WITHOUT RENT PAYMENT.
FOR EXAMPLE, ONE OF MY CLIENTS IS CURRENTLY STATIONED OVERSEAS WITH HIS FAMILY ON A US MILITARY BASE IN ITALY.
THEIR HOME IN AUSTIN IS THE ONLY HOME OWNED BY THAT FAMILY AND THEY FULLY INTEND TO RETURN TO OUR COMMUNITY WHEN THEIR JOB ALLOWS.
THIS MILITARY FAMILY RELIES ON EACH MONTH RENT TO MAINTAIN AND PAY FOR THEIR FAMILY HOME UNTIL THEY CAN MOVE BACK TO AUSTIN.
FORTUNATELY, THEIR TENANT HAS BEEN ABLE TO PAY RENT DURING THIS CRISIS.
HOWEVER, MY CLIENT DOES HAVE ANXIETY ABOUT WHAT HE WILL DO IF HE'S FACED WITH A SITUATION WHERE HIS TENANT IS NOT ABLE TO MAKE A RENT PAYMENT BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.
HIS ANXIETY IS COMPOUNDED BY THE EXAMPLES WE HEAR FROM OTHER PROPERTY MANAGERS EXPERIENCING TENANTS WHO ARE PURPOSELY NOT PAYING RENT AND DIRECTLY TELLING LANDLORDS THEY'RE NOT GOING TO PAY CITING THE COUNCIL 60 DAY GRACE PERIOD OR THE FACT THEY CANNOT BE EVICTED BECAUSE OF THE MAYOR'S ORDER.
MY CLIENT'S ANXIETY RESURFACES EVERY TIME WE NEAR THE START OF ANOTHER MONTH SINCE THIS COUNCIL PLACED THE UNNECESSARILY COBIT 19 RESTRICTIONS ON SMALL LANDLORDS.
THIS IS THE SAME ANXIETY AND EXPERIENCE THAT ALL OF THIS SMALL LANDLORDS I REPRESENT ARE GOING THROUGH SMALL LANDLORDS SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BEAR THE BRUNT OF THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THIS PANDEMIC WITHOUT SIMILAR RELIEF AND ASSISTANCE OPTIONS PROVIDED TO OTHERS.
ALLOCATING ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND MAKING IT AVAILABLE FOR BOTH MENTORS IN SMALL LANDLORDS WILL GO A LONG WAY TO HELP EVERYONE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND PUBLIC SERVICE DURING THIS CRISIS.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS, UM, SUSAN HORTON.
THANK YOU MR MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR ALLOWING US TO SHOOT.
I AM SUSAN HORTON, A LANDLORD, A SMARTER LANDLORD, A REALTOR, AND PRESIDENT ELECT FOR THE AUSTIN BOARD OF REALTOR.
I CURRENTLY RESIDE IN DISTRICT 10 I AM HERE TODAY ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF NUMBERS 75 PER FULL RENTAL ASSISTANCE FOR LANDLORDS AND TENANTS.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO ASK FOR BETTER COMMUNICATION WITH THE COMMUNITY AS TO THE VALUE OF OPEN COMMUNICATION BETWEEN TENANTS AND LANDLORDS.
I CARE FOR THEM IN A VERY SPECIAL WAY AND I CARE FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY TAKE CARE OF MY PROPERTY.
I STRIVE TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF THE COMMUNITY THAT WE OWN PROPERTIES IN.
WE VALUE OUR TENANTS AND APPRECIATE THEIR TAKING CARE OF THE PROPERTIES FOR US, BUT TODAY AND THE FUTURE, WHAT AFFECTS OUR TENANTS AFFECTS THAT AND DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME, WE REACHED OUT TO OUR TENANTS MORE THAN USUAL, CHECKING IN ON THEIR NEEDS AND OFFERING ASSISTANCE, LETTING THEM KNOW THAT WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER.
WE ENCOURAGED OPEN COMMUNICATION AND MADE IT CLEAR THAT WE HAD NO INTENTIONS OF EVICTION.
AGAIN, ALL WE ASK IS THAT THEY COMMUNICATE WITH US WHAT THEIR NEEDS WERE AND THAT WE AGREED, UM, AND THEY ALL APPEARED.
THE ORDINANCE CAME OUT AND OUR GOODWILL JUST WENT DOWN THE DRAIN.
THIS ORDINANCE HAS BECOME A SHIELD FOR SOME OF OUR TENANTS TO USE AS A MEANS OF NOT COMMUNICATING AND A FREE PASS NOT TO PAY THEIR RENT.
WE HAD TENANTS SEND US THE ORDINANCE IN THE EMAIL THING.
THIS SAYS, I DON'T HAVE TO PAY ANOTHER.
SAID THIS SAYS I HAVE TOO MUCH.
WE HAD OUR ATTORNEY CREATE A DOCUMENT TO EXPLAIN WHAT THE ORDINANCE SAID AND THE INTENT TO BETTER HELP OUR TENANTS UNDERSTAND THAT THEY WOULD EVENTUALLY HAVE TO PAY ALL THEIR PAST DUE RAMPS.
THIS ORDINANCE PUT LANDLORDS IN A VERY BAD WAY.
THE TRICKLE DOWN EFFECT OF THE TENANT NOT PAYING RENT LEADS TO THE LANDLORD NOT BEING ABLE TO PAY THE MORTGAGE, THE TAXES, THE
[01:35:01]
INSURANCE AND UPKEEP.EVERYONE SUFFERS INCLUDING THE COMMUNITY.
I AM ASKING AGAIN TODAY ON BEHALF OF LANDLORD AND TENANT THAT YOU SUPPORT AND ALLOCATE THE $40 MILLION FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND CREATE A PATHWAY FOR LANDLORDS TO DIRECTLY ACCESS THAT ASSISTANCE.
I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR CONTINUING TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY WITH YOUR HARD WORK AND YOUR DEDICATION AND YOUR LEADERSHIP.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALLOWING US TO SPEAK.
RATHER THAN, UM, A SIDETRACK THAT CONVERSATIONS WE'RE ON RIGHT NOW.
WHEN WE GET TO ITEM SEVEN, FIVE, I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE SPEAK TO THE TOSS THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH AND ADDRESSING THE SPENDING FRAMEWORK.
AND AT THAT TIME I'LL SPEAK TO THIS, TO THIS, UM, SPEAKER'S CONCERN.
I MEAN BASICALLY WHAT'S BEEN PROPOSED TO US IS, IS A FUNDING APPROACH THAT IS MORE DIRECT, UH, FOR LANDLORDS AND WITH REGARD TO TENANTS.
AND IT'S PART OF WHAT WITH REGARD TO RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND IT'S PART OF WHAT WAS SHARED WITH US ON TUESDAY.
WE'RE UP TO SPEAKER NUMBER 34, UH, JENNY WILLIAMS. UH, AND THEN I'M GOING TO TURN THIS OVER TO YOU.
AND THEN I'LL TRY TO COME BACK COLLEAGUES.
WE HAVE ONE, TWO, THREE, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE, 10, 11, UM, KNOW 13, 14, ABOUT 15 SPEAKERS.
UH, IF WE DO WHAT WE DID LAST TIME, WE WOULD STAY WITH THE SPEAKERS TO BE ABLE TO WORK THROUGH THAT.
UH, AND THEN WE COULD EITHER TAKE A QUICK VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA OR HANDLE THAT AFTER LUNCH.
I WOULD PROPOSE THAT EITHER WAY WE FINISHED THE SPEAKERS, LAURA, THEY FINISHED A REMI, UH, REFINISHED THE, UH, SPEAKERS, UH, AND THEN TAKE A LUNCH BREAK.
UH, AND THEN WITH A TIME CERTAIN TO COME BACK INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, WE MAY LOSE SOME PEOPLE THE WAY WE CAN DO EXECUTIVE SESSION, THEN COME OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION, UM, CERTAINLY BY, BY TWO O'CLOCK TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THE AFTERNOON SPEAKERS IF WE NEED TO.
WE COULD GO RIGHT BACK INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, BUT I WOULD ENABLE US TO TAKE SPEAKERS, UM, ANSWER.
I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THAT AND I WOULD JUST WANT THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW THAT.
I THINK THE WAY I AND OTHERS HANDLED THIS LAST TIME IS, WELL, WE'RE HEARING YOUR TESTIMONY, WE JUST ARE TURNING OUR VIDEO OFF SO THAT NOT EVERYBODY HAS TO WATCH US CHEW OUR FOOD.
BUT WE WOULD ALL BE HERE LISTENING THROUGH THE TESTIMONY, EVEN IF WE DISAPPEAR, EVEN IF OUR SCREEN TURNS OFF WHERE WE'RE STILL HERE.
UH, I DO THINK THAT WE NEED A BREAK FOR LUNCH.
SO, WHICH I THINK YOU MENTIONED.
I WAS GOING TO SAY LET'S FINISH THE SPEAKERS AND THEN TAKE A BREAK FOR LUNCH AFTER LUNCH INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
I CAN, I CAN MAKE THAT WORK, UM, WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT COUNSEL, YOU KNOW, THAT AND I APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER CASSARA ARE YOU LETTING OUR AUDIENCE KNOW THAT WHEN WE'RE NOT ON SCREEN WE MAY, UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO LISTEN ON OUR PHONES AND OTHERWISE I WOULD SUGGEST THAT FAR IT'S JUST A LITTLE, YOU KNOW, MANY OF US ARE COORDINATING MEALS WITH OUR, OUR CHILDREN AND COORDINATING WITH THEIR SCHOOL SCHEDULES.
AND SO IT, I, I UNDERSTAND THE REASON AND APPRECIATE, UM, THE NEED TO HEAR SPEAKERS BECAUSE OF THE COMPLICATION OF THAT PUBLIC SPEECH.
IT JUST, IT DOES THROW SOME OF OUR HOUSEHOLDS INTO CHAOS WHEN WE'RE DELAYED BY 30, 45 MINUTES FOR LUNCH.
SO, UM, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT IN OUR NEXT MEETING, IF WE COULD MAYBE TAKE STOCK OF HOW MANY SPEAKERS WE HAVE AND LET SPEAKERS OVER A CERTAIN TIME THAT WE KNOW WOULD OTHER OTHERWISE PUSH THAT LUNCH PERIOD OR I CAN ARTICULATE THIS BETTER TO CTM.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S LOGISTICALLY POSSIBLE, BUT IF WE COULD TELL SINCE, YOU KNOW, A CERTAIN BATCH OF SPEAKERS THAT THEY WOULD BE BEST ADVISED TO CALL BACK AT ONE O'CLOCK RATHER THAN REMAIN ON THE LINE THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD ELIMINATE THIS CHALLENGE IN FUTURE MEETINGS AND ALLOW US TO KEEP A PRETTY RIGID LUNCH SCHEDULE.
BUT FOR TODAY I SUPPORT, YEAH, BUT SOUNDS LIKE THE COUNCIL'S WHEEL TO KEEP GOING THROUGH THE SPEAKERS.
AND THEN TO TAKE OUR BREAK AND THEN HOW MANY ARE THE POINTS WELL TAKEN AND WE NEED TO TRY TO, I DID THAT THIS MORNING, BUT AT THE TOTAL NUMBER OF SPEAKERS THOUGHT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO GET THROUGH.
I DIDN'T ANTICIPATE HOW MUCH DIOCESE CONVERSATION WE WOULD HAVE.
ALSO THE LOGISTICS WITH THE TRANSLATION WE HAD TODAY, WHICH WAS DIFFERENT.
BUT ANYHOW, LET'S GO THEN FINISHING SPEAKERS AND THEN TAKE THE LUNCH BREAK.
UM, AND UH, MAYOR PRO TEM, I'LL TURN
[01:40:01]
IT OVER TO YOU TO, UH, IS JENNY WILLIAMS HERE? I'M HERE.MARIN COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, LIKE THE MAYOR SAID, MY NAME IS JENNY WILLIAMS AND I'M SPEAKING TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE AUSTIN BOARD OF REALTORS AND OUR 14,000 MEMBERS.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND COLLABORATION.
UH, AS WE, UM, AS A COMMUNITY WORK TOGETHER THROUGH THESE CHALLENGES, UM, THESE IMPORTANT ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT FORWARD BY THE PANDEMIC.
WE HAVE BEEN ENCOURAGED TO HEAR SO MANY OF YOU EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR CREATING A PATHWAY FOR SMALL LANDLORDS TO ACCESS RENTAL ASSISTANCE ON BEHALF OF THEIR TENANTS AND WE ASK THAT YOU ALLOCATE $40 MILLION OF THE FUNDS THE CITY HAS RECEIVED FROM THE CARE BACK TO DIRECT RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND THAT THAT PROGRAM SHOULD INCLUDE A MECHANISM FOR LANDLORDS TO APPLY ON BEHALF OF THEIR TENANTS.
AS YOU HEARD SOME SOME PREVIOUS COLLEGE PROPERTY OWNERS ARE STRUGGLING IN THIS CRISIS JUST AS TENANTS ARE, THE MAJORITY OF LANDLORDS OPERATE ON VERY SMALL MARGINS AND ANY DIP IN REVENUE CAN HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT.
A LANDLORD MAY HAVE TO FORGO IMPORTANT MAINTENANCE PROJECTS OR CONSIDER SELLING A PROPERTY THAT CAN NO LONGER CARRY IF THEY DON'T RECEIVE THE RENT FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.
NO LANDLORD WANTS TO EVICT THEIR TENANTS.
AS SUCH, OUR MEMBERS HAVE BEEN PROACTIVELY WORKING WITH THEIR TENANTS TO SET UP PAYMENT PLANS WITH LATE FEES AND FIND CREATIVE SOLUTIONS.
OUR MEMBERS TAKE PRIDE IN PROVIDING SAFE HOUSING FOR OUR CENTRAL TEXAS COMMUNITY AND WHILE IT WON'T SOLVE EVERY PROBLEM, ALLOCATING 4 MILLION, $40 MILLION FOR DIRECT RENTAL ASSISTANCE WILL GO A LONG WAY TO BRIDGING THE GAP AS YOU MAKE THIS POLICY DECISION AND MANY OTHERS.
PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT NEARLY ONE IN FOUR RENTER HOUSEHOLDS IN TRAVIS COUNTY LISTEN SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AND THE MAJORITY OF THOSE AND RENTAL UNITS ARE OWNED BY AUSTIN RESIDENTS.
AS MANY BUSINESSES IN AUSTIN AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE SUFFERING PROPERTY OWNERS AS WELL AS HIREES.
HIS RETIREMENT PLAN IS A FEW INVESTMENT PROPERTIES ARE LOOKING AT LIVING PROPERTIES EXCEPT MINE, SWIMMING MEDICATION EXPENSES.
WE COULD GROCERY BAGS AND OTHERS AND WONDERING HOW THEY WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE ENDS MEET.
AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, THE LONGER THIS GOES ON, THE LESS LIKELY LANDLORDS WITH UNRESPONSIVE OR UNCOOPERATIVE WITH TENANTS WILL BE ABLE TO COLLECT BACKPACKS.
THOSE COULD HAVE DEVASTATING EFFECTS ON OUR COMMUNITY AND HOUSING MARKET IS OPENING IN FOLK CLOSURES AND SUBSEQUENTLY AFFECTIONS.
ALL OF THIS WILL PUT FURTHER STRAIN ON OUR INCREDIBLY TIGHT HOUSING MARKET.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME AND WE ARE HERE TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH YOU AS YOU MAKE THESE DIFFICULT DECISIONS.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS RACHEL MANNING.
RACHEL MANNING DID NOT CALL IN.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS CRYSTAL ERICKSON COLLINS.
GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND COUNCIL PEOPLE.
I'D FIRST LIKE TO SAY THAT I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR FLEXIBILITY AND BENDING THE RULES ON THE INTERPRETATION.
I COME TO THE AID TO SPEAK FOR THOSE WHO ARE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING THROUGH THE RISE FUND, THE EQUITY OFFICE, TO SUPPORT THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY MOST IMPACTED BY KOZAD.
LIKEWISE, THE COMMUNITY HAS STEPPED UP AS A MEMBER OF, I'M DOING WHAT'S PHARMACY AUSTIN AND THE DIRECT GUIBERT TO THE MUTUAL AID PROJECT OF COMMUNITIES OF COLOR UNITED.
I KNOW THAT FIRSTHAND GENEROSITY OF THE CITY.
HOWEVER, THE AMOUNT THAT IS RAISED BY THE CITIZENRY WILL NOT BE ENOUGH TO WEATHER US THROUGH THIS STORM.
WE ABSOLUTELY NEED OUR PARTNERS IN GOVERNMENT TO CONTINUE TO STEP UP.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE CASH ASSISTANCE AS YOU CONTINUE TO DISTRIBUTE FUNDS AND BEGIN THE BUDGET CYCLE.
THE MAJORITY OF THE FUNDING MUST BE SENT DIRECT SUPPORT TO FAMILIES WHO NEED IT MOST.
WE KNOW THAT WHAT WE DO TODAY DETERMINES WHAT HAPPENS WEEKS AND MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD.
I'M ESPECIALLY CONCERNED THAT THOSE WHO WERE STRUGGLING BEFORE COVERT STRUCK NOW WITHOUT ANY INCOME WILL BE THOSE EVICTED IN THE WORST HEAT OF SUMMER OR AS WE APPROACH A SECOND WAVE IN THE FALL.
WE ALREADY HAD A SITUATION OF HOMELESSNESS THAT WE WERE STRUGGLING TO SOLVE.
I FEEL THAT OUR POPULATION OF UNHOUSED WILL MUSHROOM TO AN UNFATHOMABLE NUMBER WITH A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF FAMILIES AND CHILDREN AND LET'S PLAN FOR THIS EVENTUALITY.
[01:45:01]
THE FAMILY TO USE THE FUNDS TO PAY LATE FEES OR PAST DUE RENT.IT ALLOWS A WOMAN TO FIND A SAFE PLACE TO STAY IN A CRISIS SITUATION.
IT ALLOWS FAMILIES TO PRIORITIZE THEIR INDIVIDUAL UNIQUE NEEDS.
AS WE OPEN UP OUR ECONOMY, WE KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE INCREASED CASES OF PEOPLE, IN FACT, PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO INTERACT IN THE PUBLIC FOR INCOME WHO DO NOT HAVE THE LUXURY OF A STAY AT HOME JOB, THEIR LIVES MATTER.
LASTLY, AS WE BEGIN TO LOOK AT THE BUDGET CYCLE, I EMPLOY YOU TO NOT GET SIDETRACKED FROM DATE.
THESE NEEDS INTO FALSE NARRATIVES ABOUT WHAT KEEPS PEOPLE SAY HOME JOBS AND BASIC NEED FULFILLMENT.
KEEP PEOPLE SAY INCREASED SCRUTINY AND OVER POLICING.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MONICA GUZMAN.
I'M MONICA THIS MONTH, POLICY DIRECTOR FOR DAVA AUSTIN VAMOS AUSTIN SPEAKING ON ITEM 75 IN LIGHT OF OUR STATE, OPENING UP THE ECONOMY, RESULTING IN INCREASING NUMBERS OF PROBATE, 19 CASES COMBINED WITH THE MASS MAIL HITTING HARD IN THE RETAIL SERVICE, RESTAURANT INDUSTRIES AND INFORMAL WORK SECTORS.
EVERYPLACE AND PEOPLE OF COLOR HAVE BEEN DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED SINCE 7.5 MILLION OF THE RISE.
SPENDING 15 MILLION WAS NOT FULLY ALLOCATED TO DIRECT FINANCIAL SUPPORT.
AS ORIGINALLY APPROVED, THE CITY NEEDS TO LEVERAGE FEDERAL FUNDS TO ADDRESS ADDITIONAL MUNICIPAL NEEDS, BUT JUST SMALL BUSINESSES UP CITY FARMS FOR ADDITIONAL MONEY FOR RISE FUNDING.
I URGE YOU TO PRIORITIZE AT LEAST 70 MILLION IN FOR ACH TRANSFERS, DIRECT DEPOSITS, AND PREPAID CARDS FOR AUSTIN'S MOST VULNERABLE FAMILIES.
NOW IS THE TIME FOR CITY COUNCIL TO TAKE ACTION AND PRIORITIZE THE NEEDS OF AUSTIN'S MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES.
NOW IS THE TIME TO CALL FOR EQUITABLE SPENDING OF COVERT 19 RELEASE ZONES.
WE DEMAND THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN DEDICATE AT LEAST 70 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR COVERT 19 RELEASE AND DIRECT FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR AUSTIN'S MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS.
FINALLY, AN ADDED NOTE FOR THE RECORD.
MR. PAUL RESIDENTS WHO SPOKE EARLIER, JUDITH AND THE NAVY I LOPEZ COMMUNITY LEADERS IN THE GOVERNOR COALITION.
WE'RE ACTUALLY SPEAKING ON ITEM 75 AND OTHER SPANISH SPEAKERS WHO DID NOT RESPOND WHEN THEIR MAIN, HER CALL IS DUE TO THEIR CALLS DROPPING.
THIS HAPPENED BEFORE AT THE MAY 7TH MEETING.
THE CITY MUST AMANDA CALL IN PROCESSES SO RESIDENTS ARE NOT DENIED THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM PROBLEMS. THANK YOU.
I DON'T HAVE HER MADISON HERE IF I MAY IN RESPONSE TO THE, OKAY.
MR LOWELL, ONE SECOND PLACE IN RESPONSE TO THE LAST SPEAKER.
I JUST WANTED TO REITERATE WHAT I SAID LAST MEETING WHEN WE WERE HAVING A SIMILAR TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES WHILE WE WERE TRYING TO SORT THROUGH GETTING THAT FIGURED OUT, I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO SEND US WHAT THEY WOULD HAVE SAID OTHERWISE AS OPPOSED TO JUST NOT SAYING IT.
WE ALL READ THOSE EMAILS WHEN WE GET THEM FROM THE CLERK OR IF WE SEND THEM DIRECTLY TO OUR OFFICE.
SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE KNOW THAT YOU CAN STILL REACH OUT AND YOUR TESTIMONY CAN STILL BE HEARD.
THANK YOU FOR PLAYING THAT OUT.
AND IN FACT, I BELIEVE ALL OF US HAVE RECEIVED EMAILS FROM FOLKS WHO MAY HAVE MISSED THE DEADLINE TO CALL IN AND DID IN FACT SEND EMAILS.
SO THANK YOU FOR REMINDING FOLKS THAT THEY CAN DO THAT.
UH, MR LAW, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
UM, WELL, MY NAME IS JONATHAN
I'M SPEAKING ON ITEMS 75 AND ANY OTHER, UM, ITEMS THAT DEAL WITH DIRECT CASH ASSISTANCE TO, UH, VULNERABLE, UH, RESIDENTS OF THE CITY.
SO FIRST OFF, I JUST WANT YOU TO THINK THE CITY'S EFFORTS, UM, AROUND PUBLIC HEALTH AND ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE THUS FAR.
UM, BUT I WANT TO REQUEST THAT WE CONTINUE AND AUGMENT ALL PROGRAMS THAT PRIORITIZE DIRECT CASH TRANSFERS TO THE ECONOMICALLY VULNERABLE FAMILIES THAT AUSTIN SAID AT THE BEGINNING, LET IT'S LIKELY TO BE A MEDIUM AND LONGTERM ECONOMIC CRISIS IN WHICH IMMIGRANTS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR HAVE BEEN AND WILL BE DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED.
UM, GIVEN THE RAPID INVOLVING THE CARE OF THIS CRISIS.
I WANT THIS FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION FOR US TO BE HOW CAN WE MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO GET THE AID AND RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED AND WE NEED TO REMOVE THE BARRIERS, WHETHER THEY BE BUREAUCRATIC, STRUCTURAL,
[01:50:02]
COMMUNICATIVE OR IMMIGRATION STATUS OR, OR WHATEVER, UM, FOR PEOPLE TO GET A, UM, AND I BELIEVE THAT CASH ASSISTANCE IS ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO DO THAT.UM, AND I ALSO WANT TO AS A SIDE NOTE, UM, ON THAT RELATED TO THE QUESTION OF HOW TO MAKE THINGS EASIER.
UM, I HOPE THAT IN THE FUTURE WE JUST, THE CITY JUST ASSUMES THAT SPANISH INTERPRETATION, UH, WILL BE NEEDED AND PLAN ACCORDINGLY.
BUT I APPRECIATE THAT FLEXIBILITY OF ALLOWING IT TO, UM, FOR AT LEAST YET IN POWERLESS, UM, TO PERFORM THAT FOR THIS MEETING.
UM, BUT TO, UM, TRYING TO MAKE THINGS EASIER AND NOT CREATING BARRIERS FOR RESIDENTS TO NAVIGATE THAT, UH, REQUEST SYSTEM.
OKAY, WELL THIS, UM, I'M SORRY, COWORKER JUST WALKED IN.
REMEMBER TIM? SHE DID NOT CALL IN EITHER.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WAS A LIST.
UM, ALSO JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT MY COLLEAGUE ALISA HAD PHOTOS ALSO JUST, UM, IS ON THE PHONE.
I DIDN'T GET TO FINISH OVER REMARKS EARLIER.
I'LL CALL, I'LL CALL HER RIGHT AFTER YOU, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
MY NAME IS BETHANY CARSON AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP AND I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, REQUEST THAT THE COUNCIL CONSIDER, UM, ON ITEM 75 A MORE EQUITABLE SPENDING FRAMEWORK FOR THE 170 MILLION THAT OPTIMUM WILL RECEIVE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
UM, CURRENTLY THE PROPOSED FRAMEWORK DOES NOT ALLOCATE MONEY INTO THE RISE FUND, WHICH IS THE ONLY CITY FUND THAT HAS HELPED WITH DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
AND AS OTHERS HAVE STATED HERE THIS MORNING, UM, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY ESSENTIAL AND, UM, WHAT WE HAVE PASSED SO FAR, WE ARE INCREDIBLY APPRECIATIVE FOR HOWEVER, IT ONLY SCRAPES THE SURFACE OF THIS ONGOING ECONOMIC CRISIS THAT IS HITTING PEOPLE WHO ARE DISPROPORTIONALLY IMPACTED IMMIGRANTS, PEOPLE OF COLOR, UM, MUCH HARDER THAN OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
AND SO WE ARE ASKING THAT THE CITY ALLOCATE AT LEAST 70 MILLION, UM, INTO THAT FUND AND TO PARTICULARLY THE EQUITY OFFICE SO THAT, SO THAT THIS CAN BE DISTRIBUTED, UM, IN THE MOST ACCESSIBLE WAY POSSIBLE TO THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO NEED IT.
AND, UM, SPECIFICALLY AT GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP, WE WORK WITH, UM, MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY STRUGGLING WHO ARE NOT GOING TO RECEIVE THE FEDERAL STIMULUS.
MANY OF THEM ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE SEEKING ASYLUM, WHO ARE NEW TO OUR COUNTRY, UM, MONOLINGUAL SPANISH SPEAKERS THAT HAVE DIFFICULTY ACCESSING SOME OF THE SYSTEMS, UM, AND APPLICATION PROCESSES ALREADY IN PLACE.
AND, UM, PEOPLE WHO WERE JUST BEGINNING AND STRUGGLING TO FIND STABILITY BEFORE THIS PANDEMIC HIT.
UM, THEY'RE ALSO PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN LONGTERM MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE IMMIGRANTS, WHO ARE FORMERLY INCARCERATED PEOPLE.
UM, AND THEY STILL HAVE REALLY URGENT NEEDS.
WE'RE HEARING FROM ADDITIONAL PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY CURRENT FUNDING.
UM, PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO PAY RENT.
AND NOW THAT EVICTION PROTECTIONS, UM, ARE BEING CANCELED THERE WE ARE GOING TO START SEEING, UM, EVICTIONS HAPPEN IF WE DO NOT TOSS ADDITIONAL FUNDING.
UM, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO'VE LOST THEIR CARS WHO STILL NEED FOOD ASSISTANCE.
UM, SO THERE ARE A MULTITUDE OF NEEDS THAT FAMILIES HAVE AND UM, THEY ARE THE ONES WHO ARE ABLE TO DETERMINE THEIR NEEDS BETTER THAN ANYONE.
AND SO, UM, I JUST REALLY WANT TO ASK THAT IF WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT PROMOTING EQUITY IN OUR CITY, UM, THAT WE NOT FOLLOW THE SAME ALLOCATION OF MONEY THAT IS UNJUSTLY AND INEQUITABLY DEPRIVING PEOPLE OF RECEIVING THESE GOVERNMENT FUNDING AND THAT OUR CITY ACTUALLY PROVIDE, UM, THOSE ECONOMIC RESOURCES SO THAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN HARDEST HIT BY BY THIS CRISIS.
I'M WHERE I DO WANT TO THANK UM, COUNCIL, UH, FOR ME AND TAKING MY CALL BACK, UM,
[01:55:01]
AND UH, DO THIS.UM, I JUST PROVIDE MY TESTIMONY THAT AGAIN, MY NAME IS DENNIS AND I AM PART OF, I SAID AUSTIN OUT OF AUSTIN.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK TO THE CURRENT PROPOSED WORK DEVELOPED THAT THE CITY MANAGER SAYS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE BECAUSE IT IS NOT EQUITABLE IN THIS CURRENT SPENDING FRAMEWORK.
THERE IS NO MONEY ALLOCATED TO THE RISE FUND THAT TO A MINIMUM EXTENT OFFER DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.
THIS FRAMEWORK NEEDS TO BE TAKEN BACK TO THE DRAWING TABLE AND SIMBA MILLION NEEDS TO BE ALLOCATED TO DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH NEEDS TO BE FULLY FUNDED.
THIS MEETING TO LEVERAGE THE FEDERAL FUNDS TO ADDRESS ADDITIONAL MUNICIPAL NEEDS FOR ADDITIONAL MONEY FOR LIFE FUNDING.
IF WE ARE TO BE PROACTIVE AND PREPARE FOR THE DARK WINTER, WE NEED TO ALLOCATE THE A HUNDRED WE NEED TO ALLOCATE THE 170 MILLION THAT THE CITY WILL BE SAVING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN THE MOST EQUITABLE WAY.
I ALSO WANT TO ASK THE CITY COUNCIL WHY ORDINANCE 81 THAT WAS PASSED AS APRIL 9TH CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND CREATED THE RICE HAS NOT BEEN EXECUTED AS IT WAS INTENDED.
THE LANGUAGE OF THE RESOLUTION CALLED FOR A TOTAL ALLOCATION OF 15 MILLION AND STATED FROM THE TOTAL ALLOCATION, 7.5 MILLION SHOULD BE ALLOCATED IN DIRECT RELIEF SERVICES SUCH AS FOOD ACCESS, RENTAL SLASH MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE BILLS, UTILITY BILLS, CASE MANAGEMENT, ET CETERA, AND THE REMAINING FOUR OR 5 MILLION SHOULD BE ALLOCATED INTO BY NATIONAL ASSISTANCE SUCH AS ACH TRANSFERS, PREPAID CARDS OR GIFT CARDS.
WHAT HAS TRANSPIRED IS THAT CURRENTLY ONLY UP AT A TOTAL OF 3 MILLION HAVE BEEN INVESTED IN THE SECOND CHARGE, 5 MILLION BEING ALLOCATED IN DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.
I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY IT HAS BEEN SO DIFFICULT FOR THIS EARNINGS TO BE CARRIED OUT.
IF IT WAS WRITTEN AND VOTED ON.
THE ONLY QUESTIONS I HAVE IS, IS IT THE MAYOR CITY COUNCIL ITSELF THAT VOTED ON DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND NOW THIS MODEL WANTS TO SUPPORT IT.
IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS THAT THERE, HOW THIS INITIATIVE WAS CARRIED OUT OR WHETHER IT WAS SUCCESSFUL? I ASKED ALL THE CITY COUNCIL TO REACH OUT, JOIN STATIONS THAT EXECUTED THIS INITIATIVE OF DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND LISTEN TO THE DIFFERENCE THAT THIS DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE MADE IN THIS CRITICAL MOMENT TO FOLKS THAT RECEIVED THIS HELP.
UM, I INVITE, UM, OBVIOUSLY THE COUNCIL TO REALLY LOOK AT HOW THE CADE OUT, UM, AND THAT, UM, WHAT, UH, CITY TOWN WOULD TAKE EVERY STEP TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S CARRIED OUT HIGH WITH WRITTEN OUT.
IT'S LESS THAN, SO I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED BECAUSE I THOUGHT WE HAD OR ARE TODAY.
IN FACT, I'M ALLOCATING, IF SOMEBODY COULD SPEAK TO THE CONCERNS THAT THE PICKET SPEAKER, I WAS NOT AWARE THAT WE, THERE WERE ANY SLOW DOWNS IN THAT.
THE ALLOCATION OF THE RICE BONDS, I THINK THAT CONCERN IS THE PERCENTAGE THAT LED TO A DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE VERSUS DIRECT SERVICES.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS SHOSHANA CRAIGER.
UM, YOU, GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
UM, MY NAME IS SZUSZANNA KRIEGER AND I WAS A FAUCET BUILDING AND STRENGTHENING TENANT ACTION, A PROJECT IN AUSTIN DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING AND ORGANIZING TENANTS TO EFFECTUATE THEIR RIGHTS.
I'M SPEAKING TODAY ON ITEMS 93 WHICH WOULD GIVE TENANTS THE ABILITY TO ASCERTAIN INFORMATION RELATED TO WHETHER THEIR PROPERTY HAS KIND OF PROTECTIONS UNDER THE FEDERAL THAT AS YOU LIKELY KNOW, THE CARE OF THEIR ACT EXTENDED PROTECTION TO TENANTS IN ORDER TO ENSURE HOUSING STABILITY DURING THIS PANDEMIC.
THESE PROTECTIONS INCLUDE PROHIBITIONS ON NOTICES.
THEY SAY IT UNTIL JULY 25TH AND PROHIBITIONS ON FILING OF EVICTIONS UNTIL AUGUST 24TH AND MOST NOTABLY IN RELATION TO THIS ITEM.
NO LATE FEES AND EXACT LIST OF PROPERTIES WHERE THESE PROTECTIONS APPLY DOES NOT EXIST.
THESE PROTECTIONS ARE SUPPOSED TO APPLY TO FEDERALLY SUBSIDIZED HOUSING AS WELL AS PROPERTIES WITH FEDERALLY BACKED MORTGAGES AND THOSE THAT TAKE
[02:00:01]
SECTION EIGHT VOUCHERS.NATIONAL HOUSING EXPERTS HAVE ESTIMATED THAT POTENTIALLY 50 TO 60% OF ALL RENTAL HOUSING IN THIS COUNTRY IS COVERED BY THE CARES ACT THAT THERE WAS NO PUBLICLY AVAILABLE DATABASE THAT HAS A COMPLETE LIST OF THESE PROPERTIES.
HOUSING ADVOCATES HAVE BEEN SCRAMBLING TO COMPILE THAT LIST.
I'M IN BOSTON ALONG WITH TEXAS RIO GRANDE LEGAL AID AND TEXAS HOUSERS RECENTLY PUT OUT A MAP THAT WE BELIEVE IS THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE, HENCE HAVE LESS, BUT THAT IS STILL NOT COMPLETE ON MISSING CRUCIAL INFORMATION, ESPECIALLY ABOUT PROPERTIES WHICH HAVE ONLY ONE TO FOUR UNITS.
ITEM 93 WILL ALLOW TENANTS TO FIND OUT IF THE PROPERTY IS COVERED UNDER THE CARERS ACT AND IF THEY HAVE THESE PROTECTIONS.
THIS IS ESPECIALLY HELPFUL TO PREVENT LANDLORDS FROM CHARGING ILLEGAL LATE FEES.
WE HAVE BEEN HEARING FROM A NUMBER OF TENANTS THAT THEIR LANDLORDS ARE CHARGING EXORBITANT FEES, BUT LIKE THESE ARE NOT JUST $25, BUT SOMETIMES A HUNDRED TO $200 INITIALLY AND THEN AN ADDITIONAL AMOUNT FOR EVERYDAY AFTER HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS ON TOP OF MY OWN BECOME OWED, BECOMES INSURMOUNTABLE.
MANY OF THE TENANTS, UH, RESIDE SINGLE FAMILY HOUSES AND RIGHT NOW THEY HAVE NO WAY TO DEFINITIVELY FIND OUT IF LATE FEES ARE PROHIBITED, UH, WHERE THEY LIVE.
AND WE HAVE DEFINITELY SEEN SOME LANDLORDS WHO WE KNOW ARE COVERED UNDER THE CARES ACT CHARGING THESE FEES.
SO WE'RE PRETTY CERTAIN THAT THOSE WHO ARE NOT PUBLICLY KNOWN ARE DOING SO AS WELL.
THIS ORDINANCE GIVES TENANTS THE ABILITY TO HAVE A MODICUM OF CONTROL OVER THEIR LIVING SITUATION IN THIS CHAOTIC TIME.
IT ALLOWS US AS ADVOCATES TO BE ABLE TO SAY TO PARENTS, HEY, HERE'S THE STUFF YOU CAN TAKE.
HERE'S A TEMPLATE LETTER YOU CAN FILL OUT, HERE'S HOW YOU CAN REPORT IF YOUR LANDLORD DOESN'T COMPLY WITH THE CITY AND THAT THE CITY WILL TAKE ACTION AND ALLOWS TENANTS TO HAVE A BIT OF POWER AND CONTROL.
IN A TIME WHEN MANY RIGHTFULLY FEEL POWERLESS AND DEMORALIZED.
THEY'RE HOPEFUL THAT THIS ORDINANCE WILL ALLOW TENANTS TO BE BETTER INFORMED OF THEIR RIGHTS AND INCREASE HOUSING STABILITY IN AUSTIN.
YEAH, I'M A TENANT ORGANIZER WITH PASTA.
I'M SPEAKING ON ITEM 93 REGARDING THE CARE THAT TENANT PROTECTIONS WILL HELP TENANTS IN AUSTIN, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO MAY BE CHARGED FOR HEADBUTTED LATE FEES AND THEY SHELTER IN PLACE.
THE ORDER WENT INTO, BEGAN MAKING OUTREACH CALLS TO THE TENANTS.
WE WORK WITH THESE FOLKS OVER 250 RESIDENTS AND THOSE FIRST FEW WEEKS, MANY HAD JUST LOST THEIR JOBS OR SOMEONE IN THE HOUSE WOULD HAVE THAT HOUR CUT AND THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT RENT AND POTENTIALLY ONE OF THE TENANTS I SPOKE TO AT THE END OF MARCH HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF SHE COULDN'T COVER HER RENT FOR APRIL.
SHE HAD JUST BEEN LAID OFF FROM HER JOB PUTTING RETAIL STORES AND ONLY HAD ENOUGH TO COVER HALF.
HE WAS ALSO RUNNING LOW ON FOOD AND SHE WAS VERY WORRIED BECAUSE THEY COULD GO HOME FROM SCHOOL AND IT WAS MORE EXPENSIVE TO FEED THEM.
THEY DIDN'T KNOW IF HER PROPERTY WAS COVERED BY THE CARES ACT, SO I GAVE HER INFORMATION ABOUT HER RIGHTS AND RESOURCES FOR FOOD DISTRIBUTION AND I CHECKED IN WITH HER AGAIN ABOUT A WEEK LATER.
SHE TOLD ME SHE HAD BORROWED MONEY FROM FRIENDS AND PUT EVERY PENNY TOWARD RENT TO AVOID LATE FEES.
SHE COULDN'T RISK GETTING FURTHER INTO DEBT.
THE FEE FOR LATE RENT AT HER APARTMENT WAS 10% OF HER RENT AND FOR HER THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ADDITIONAL 136 HOURS.
WHO HEARD STORIES LIKE THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN? MOST FAMILIES DON'T HAVE FRIENDS WHO COULD AFFORD TO LOAN THEM MONEY, SO FOR THEM HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT LATE FEES ADDED AN ADDITIONAL LAYER OF PRESSURE AND STUFF SINCE THEY WEREN'T SURE WHEN THEY WOULD GO BACK TO WORK OR HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE TO GET BACK ON THEIR FEET.
UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES, LATE RENT MOST LIKELY IMPACTS THOSE WHO CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR IN THE FIRST PLACE.
IN THE COVERT WORLD, LOW INCOME FAMILY OR HIT EVEN HARDER, WE GENERALLY DON'T HAVE SAVINGS TO FALL BACK ON AND THEY'RE FORCED TO MAKE DIFFICULT CHOICES LIKE WHETHER OR NOT THEY SHOULD BUY FOOD OR PUT THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES AT RISK.
I WAS IN FOR INFORMAL WORK DURING THE TIME MINUTES KNOWING THAT THEY HAVE PROTECTIONS AGAINST EAGLE EAST, SOME OF THE BURDENS.
SORRY, I MOVED AWAY FROM MY LIST FOR A SECOND.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS ANGELA VON SWOLLEN.
UM, THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M AN ACTIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGED CITIZEN.
I'M A AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS.
I'M THE FOUNDER OF ACADEMIC LOUDLY, A SATURDAY SCHOOL THAT SERVES, UH, FIVE EAST AUSTIN SCHOOLS IN, UM, YOU KNOW, HERE LOCALLY.
UH, WE'RE CONDUCTING RESEARCH, UH, WITH OUR TEACHERS, STUDENTS, PARENTS, AND ALSO, UH, WE'VE BRANCHED OUT TO, TO, UM, CONDUCT, UH, RESEARCH, UH, AMONG LOCAL
[02:05:01]
CHURCHES THAT ARE SPANISH SPEAKING.UH, ANOTHER ENTRY POINT FOR ME INTO THIS CONVERSATION IS RELATIONS THAT I HAVE WITH PEOPLE IN THE CONSTRUCTION AREA.
UM, AND WE ARE, UH, UH, WORKING WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, UH, ACADEMIC WILDLY AS A PARTNERSHIP WITH AISD AND WE'LL MEET SOON TO TALK ABOUT THE NEEDS OF THE PARENTS THAT INCLUDE, UM, INTERNET ACCESS, UH, AND COMPUTER LITERACY.
THESE ARE VERY, VERY BIG ITEMS. AND OF COURSE THERE WAS A WHOLE OTHER DIMENSION OF STUDENTS GETTING LOST TO THE SYSTEM.
UM, IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE DIGITAL EQUITY.
UM, MAYBE THE INTERNET IS A PUBLIC UTILITY.
IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT THE CITY COULD LEAD ON.
UM, IN TERMS OF THE CHURCHES, UM, UH, I'M WORKING WITH THIS, UH, GETTING INFORMATION ALONG WITH MARTHA
BUT, UM, WHAT WE'RE FINDING IS THAT, UM, THEY, UH, THE CHURCH MEMBERS DEFINITELY NEED RENTAL ASSISTANCE.
UM, AMY, THEY DIDN'T GET UP UNDER THE CARERS ACT, UH, FOR THEIR CHURCH MEMBERS OR PARISHIONERS, MIXED STATUS, UH, OR UNDOCUMENTED FAMILIES.
UM, ACCESS TO THE SUPPORT PROVIDED UNDER THE CARES ACT AND A PARTIAL OR FULL PAYMENT OF RENT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
UM, BUT THE COMMUNITIES NEED FOOD MASKS, HAND SANITIZERS, INFORMATION, UH, IN SPANISH.
UM, CONTACT TRACING IS SOMETHING THAT THEY MENTIONED.
UH, SO THAT CHURCHES DON'T GET BLAMED FOR COVERT INFECTIONS ON NECESSARILY, UH, WHEN IT'S REALLY JUST, IT GETS IMPORTED INTO CONGREGATIONS THAT ARE MEETING AND IN SOME INSTANCES AT 25% CAPACITY.
UM, WHAT WE HAVE IS, UH, TRANSPORTATION NEEDS AND, UM, UH, WITH A SUGGESTION THAT, UM, UH, AS SUPPORT FOR A LATINO TASK FORCE, UH, BECAUSE THAT WOULD BRING IN THE MUCH NEEDED CULTURAL RELEVANCE AND THIS RESPONSE.
AND, UM, AND THE TASKFORCE COULD BE ALSO A POINT OF DISTRIBUTION.
IT'S A NATURAL, I MEAN, I'M SORRY, THE CHURCHES COULD BE A NATURAL POINT OF DISTRIBUTION BECAUSE THEY ARE IN IMMEDIATE, UH, RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR LOCAL CONGREGATIONS AND COMMUNITIES SUPPORT FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND ACH TRANSFERS, ET CETERA.
UH, IN TERMS OF THE, UH, CONSTRUCTION PIECE THAT I WANTED TO MENTION, I'M FACULTY AT UT AND I'VE, I SAW, UH, EARLY IN MARCH, UH, CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY WORKERS.
I'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH, UH, SEVERAL WORKERS.
AND, UM, THE REASON THAT WE ARE IN THIS, UH, SITUATION HAS TO DO WITH GOVERNOR ABBOTT ORDERS RATIFIED SUBSEQUENTLY BY TRAVIS COUNTY.
SARAH ECKHARDT AND MANY WORKERS, THEY'RE WORKING ON LUXURY CONDOMINIUMS. THEY'RE WORKING RIGHT THERE ACROSS THE, THE TEXAS, UH, HISTORY OF CENTERED.
THESE ARE NOT ESSENTIAL BY ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION.
THEY'RE AFRAID, THEY DON'T HAVE AND HAVEN'T HAD MASKS, THE HAND SANITIZERS, GLOVES, UH, AND THE LIKE, UH, THE MAJORITY OF THESE WORKERS ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR.
AND NOW THAT WE KNOW IT WAS SO PREDICTABLE THAT THIS IS THE COMMUNITY THAT IS MOST HARDEST HIT.
UH, IT'S JUST A REALLY SAD, UM, TO, TO NOT HAVE THE CITY AS OUR, AS OUR LAST LINE OF DEFENSE AGAINST THE STATE OF TOUCH WITH LEADERSHIP TO PROTECT OUR WORKERS THAT NOW HAS CREATED A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS IS AFFECTING THE WHOLE CITY.
THANK YOU PROFESSOR RON SUELA.
I ALSO APPRECIATE YOU POINTING OUT THE MANY OF THE OUTCOMES WE'RE SEEING ARE BECAUSE OF FAILED LEADERSHIP, UH, AT OUR STATE LEVEL, UM, WRITING THINGS LIKE PAID SICK LEAVE AND WORKER PROTECTION.
SO THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT OUT.
THE NEXT SPEAKER ABOUT DELP, I BELIEVE WE RECEIVED COMMUNICATION THAT HE WAS NOT ABLE TO JOIN THE CALL, BUT UM, HE WOULD HAVE BEEN SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 94.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS REBECCA REYNOLDS.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME.
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? YES, I WAS JUST GONNA SAY YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
MY NAME IS REBECCA REYNOLDS AND I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE MUSIC VENUE ALLIANCE HERE IN AUSTIN.
UM, I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF ITEMS 95 AND 96.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, I WANT TO SHARE OUR VERY DEEP GRATITUDE FOR THE WORK AND CONSIDERATION THAT ALL OF YOU HAVE PUT INTO THESE PROPOSALS.
UH, SPECIFICALLY THE INCLUSION OF CARE SENDING FOR VENUES WILL HELP OUR BUSINESS OWNERS MAKE DECISIONS LED BY THE SAFETY FOR THEIR WORKERS RATHER THAN FEAR OF NOT BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR FUTURE LIVELIHOOD.
THESE BUSINESSES ARE IN A UNIQUE BIND DUE TO THEIR COMMUNITY BUILDING NATURE AND THERE IS NO WAY FOR THEM TO ADAPT UNDER CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES.
WE HAVE BEEN INSPIRED BY THE BROAD AND BIPARTISAN NATURE OF SUPPORT.
HAVE BEGAN TO RECEIVE BEGINNING AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE
[02:10:01]
LAST YEAR AND IN RECENT WEEKS IN CONGRESS AND TODAY AT CITY HALL, AUSTIN'S MUSIC.THEN YOU COMMUNITY IS COMMITTED TO RETURNING THAT SUPPORT AND INSPIRATION.
WE WILL NOT FORGET THE HISTORIC MEASURES THIS COUNCIL IS TAKING TO MAKE SURE IT'S RED GOES AND SHADY GROVE.
WE'RE NOT LOST IN VAIN, BUT THAT MUSIC WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE A PLACE IN OUR FUTURE FAR BEYOND THIS CRISIS.
PLEASE CONSIDER MPA AT YOUR SERVICE TO MAKE THE BEST USE OF AVAILABLE RESOURCES FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF AUSTIN.
OKAY, THE NEXT SPEAKER IS CODY COHEN.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, THEY'RE TO HOPE THAT THE DAY FINDS YOU HEALTHY, SAFE, AND IN GOOD SPIRITS TOWARDS THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE AHEAD OF YOU TODAY.
THIS IS CODY CALLAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT.
WHEN WE SPOKE LAST TO COUNCIL, I OUTLINED THE DIRE ECONOMIC FORECAST THAT CLOSURES OF 90% OF LIVE MUSIC VENUES HAVE BEEN INDICATED BY THE YEAR'S END BY MUSIC VENUES OR JOBS THAT CAN CULTURE CREATORS.
THE SPACES WHERE MUSICIANS, CAREERS, CULTURAL TOURISM IS BORN AND WHERE FANS FLOCK TO EXPERIENCE BOTH PHONICS, SPLENDOR AND HUMAN CONNECTIONS.
THE LISTING IS NOT VIABLE TO REOPEN UNDER PANDEMIC FOR SOME TIME.
AS AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY HEALTH AUTHORITY, DR. MARK S. SCOTT SAID THE STATESMEN YESTERDAY, THE LARGE EVENTS OF THE FIRST THING THAT WE TURNED OFF AND ARE GOING TO BE THE LAST THING WE'RE GOING TO TURN BACK ON BECAUSE OF THAT RISK OF EXPOSING LOTS OF PEOPLE, 20 ANOTHER PARTICULARLY INDIVIDUALS OF THE SAME HOUSEHOLD ITEMS 95 AND 96 DEMONSTRATE BOLD AND DECISIVE STEPS TOWARDS ADDRESSING THE ECONOMIC DISASTER EXPERIENCED BY AUSTIN MUSIC IN THE SHORT TERM CARES DOLLARS WILL HAVE BEEN USED TO NAVIGATE AND SURVIVE ONGOING COMMERCIAL LEASES PLUS BASIC COSTS WHILE CLOTHES FOR CROWDS, VINEYARD OWNERS ARE ALREADY IN THE WATER DRAWN DEEPLY FROM PERSONAL SAVINGS.
WITHOUT CARES, PROSPECTS ARE GRIM FOR VENUE SURVIVAL EVEN INTO THE SUMMER, MID TO LONG TERM.
THE LIVE MUSIC FUND WILL BE INSTRUMENTAL AND EMPLOYING LOCAL MUSICIANS AND RESTARTING AUSTIN'S MUSIC ECONOMY.
SINCE TOURS AND FESTIVALS WILL LIKELY NOT RESUME UNTIL 2021 WE EVEN RELATE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS TO CITY MANAGER COMING OUT OF THE MUSIC COMMISSIONS WORKING GROUP.
LONG TERM, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ENTITY, TRANSFER OF LAND DEVELOPMENT, THE RIGHTS, LAND TRUST AND CREATIVE SPACES, PROJECTS ACCELERATION WILL BE ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL TOWARDS BUILDING A THRIVING MUSIC AND CULTURAL ECONOMY.
WE'VE ALREADY LOST BELOVED INSTITUTIONS.
THESE STABILIZING MECHANISMS WILL CREATE BETTER SUSTAINABILITY FOR MUSIC AND USE AND THE MUSIC ECOSYSTEM.
A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO FOR LEADING THESE EFFORTS AND FOR COUNCIL MEMBER TOBO FOR ADOPTING SO MANY OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOOLS RECOMMENDED BY THE RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES IN LIVE MUSIC VENUES RESTART IN THE DISTRICT, INCLUDING ELIMINATION REDUCTION OF FEES FOR PARKING RIGHT AWAY AND PATIO CAFES AS WELL AS OUR CONTINUED STRONG SUPPORT FOR OUR DISTRICTS, DIVISION TOWNS, MUSIC AND CULTURAL TOURISM RECOVERY.
A BIG THANK YOU AS WELL TO ALL THE CO-SPONSORS COUNCIL MEMBERS, HOPPER, MADISON KITCHEN AND COSAR AS WELL AS COUNCIL MEMBER FLANAGAN FOR ONGOING SUPPORT EFFORTS FOR LIVE MUSIC.
THIS WORK REPRESENTS A BEACON OF LIGHT FOR THE LIVE MUSIC AND CULTURAL TOURISM ECONOMY IN THESE VERY HARD TIMES.
THANKS Y'ALL ALL DEEPLY FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
NEXT SPEAKER IS MILLIE MONCLER ON ITEM 97 GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR ADLER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I AM SENIOR COUNSEL FOR TEXAS APPLESEED CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROJECT AND I WANT TO EXPRESS TEXAS APPLESEED STRONG SUPPORT FOR ITEM 97 WHICH IS THE RESOLUTION TO END THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S CONTRACT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE OMNI BASED PROGRAM.
I'M THE BASIS A PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS FOR THE AUSTIN MUNICIPAL COURT AND OTHER PARTICIPATING COURTS TO PREVENT PEOPLE FROM RENEWING THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSES WHEN THEY DO NOT PAY THE FINES AND COSTS OWED TO THE COURT.
THIS PROGRAM HAS A PROFOUND NEGATIVE.
YOU'RE ALREADY STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY BY TAKING AWAY THEIR ABILITY TO LEGALLY DRIVE SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY CANNOT AFFORD FINES AND COSTS NOT HAVING A VALID DRIVER'S LICENSE.
MS MARGARET, CAN YOU HANG ON ONE SECOND? CAN EVERYONE PLEASE, PLEASE MUTE YOUR PHONE PLEASE, PLEASE MUTE YOUR PHONES.
I THINK HE MIGHT NEED TO HAVE SOMEBODY SAY IT IN SPANISH.
[02:15:03]
SHOULD I PROCEED? HANG ON ONE SECOND.NOT HAVING A VALID DRIVER'S LICENSE CREATES BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT SINCE A VALID LICENSE IS OFTEN REQUIRED TO APPLY FOR AN A PAIN MANY JOBS AND IT LEADS TO A CYCLE OF INCREASING DEBT AND EVEN INCARCERATION WHEN PEOPLE HAVE NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO CONTINUE DRIVING TO SURVIVE AND AS A RESULT GET ADDITIONAL TICKET AND WARRANTS FOR DRIVING WITH AN INVALID LICENSE.
IT IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT DURING THIS TIME WHEN SO MANY PEOPLE IN OUR CITY ARE STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY THAT COUNCIL REMOVE THIS BARRIER TO EMPLOYMENT AND TO FINANCIAL STABILITY.
FINALLY, I JUST WANT TO ADD THAT THERE'S NO EVIDENCE THAT THE OMNI BASED PROGRAM IS NECESSARY TO COLLECT FINES AND COSTS.
THERE ARE OTHER LARGE CITIES INCLUDING FORT WORTH, PLANO IN ARLINGTON THAT DO NOT PARTICIPATE AND THERE'S NO APPARENT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COLLECTION RATES AND A COURT'S PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM.
SO ABANDONING THE OMNI BASED PROGRAM CAN BE DONE WITHOUT NEGATIVELY IMPACTING THE COURT'S ABILITY TO ENFORCE ITS JUDGMENT.
I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT AND DEEM THE CITY'S CONTRACT TO IN OMNI BAY AND TO STOP THE HARMFUL PRACTICES, DRIVER'S LICENSE SUSPENSIONS TO COLLECT FINES AND FEES IN AUSTIN.
UM, THE NEXT SPEAKER IS EMILY GARRICK SPEAKING ON 97.
MY NAME IS EMILY AND I'M AN ATTORNEY AT THE TEXAS FAIR DEFENSE PROJECT.
I'M ALSO HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 97 WHICH WOULD END AUSTIN'S PARTICIPATION IN OMNI BASED LICENSE COACH PROGRAM.
UM, I REALLY JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR CONSIDERING THIS ITEM AND IT WOULD MAKE SUCH A HUGE DIFFERENCE FOR SO MANY PEOPLE IN AUSTIN.
RENEWING YOUR LICENSE OR OBTAINING YOUR LICENSE IF YOU MISS A COURT DATE OR A PAYMENT, UM, AND YOU CAN'T ACTUALLY EVEN NEW OR YOUR LICENSE, EVERYTHING IS COMPLETELY PAID OFF.
UH, WHAT THIS MEANS IS THAT ALL OF THESE HOLES END UP BEING SCARED TO PAY HOLES BECAUSE THEY AREN'T LISTED UNTIL EVERYTHING'S PAID OFF.
THAT MEANS THAT IF, EVEN IF THE ORIGINAL HOLE WAS FOR FAILURE TO APPEAR, EVEN IF A PERSON LATER APPEARS IN COURT AND GETS ON A PAYMENT PLAN THAT'S SOLD, ISN'T GOING TO LIFT AND YOU CAN'T GET YOUR LICENSE THE ENTIRE TIME YOU'RE ON THAT PAYMENT PLAN, UM, PEOPLE HAVE TO KEEP DRIVING IN ORDER TO PROVIDE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES.
SO THEY END UP GETTING MORE TICKETS AND THEN MORE HOLDS FOR DRIVING WITH AN INVALID LICENSE, WHICH TAKES THIS HORRIBLE, UH, INESCAPABLE CYCLE OF DEBT AND PEOPLE END UP THROWING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, UM, NOT BECAUSE THEY'RE BAD DRIVERS, BUT JUST BECAUSE OF THAT CYCLE.
UM, THE TEXAS SIDE OF FENCE PROJECT VERSUS THE BOSTON REPORT ON THE WHOLE CLINICS AND WE HELP HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE A YEAR, BIG ARMY BASE HOLES.
AND SO MANY OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE WORK WITH HAVE JUST COMPLETELY GIVEN UP HOPE.
UM, AND THEY SAY THAT GETTING THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE BACK IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT CAN HAPPEN TO THEM.
I SPOKE WITH ONE OF OUR CLIENTS LAST NIGHT AND SHE WAS JUST SO INCREDIBLY EXCITED SORT OF ITEM.
UM, SHE TOLD ME HOW SHE JUST HAD BECOME USED TO LIVING IN FEAR AND HOW SHE ENDED UP PASSING THAT FEAR ONTO HER CHILDREN, TELLING THEM NOT TO LOOK OUT THE WINDOW AND SHE WAS DRIVING BECAUSE OF A WORRY THAT IF THEY'RE HER CHILDREN MADE EYE CONTACT WITH A POLICE OFFICER, THEN SHE'D BE MORE LIKELY TO GET PULLED OVER AND GET ANOTHER TICKET FOR NOT HAVING HER LICENSE.
UM, WITH MY BROTHER ALSO MENTIONED THAT, UH, THE PROGRAM ISN'T NECESSARY FOR COLLECTION RATES.
UM, AND THIS MAKES SENSE FROM WHAT WE'VE SEEN ON THE GROUND.
I HAVE NEVER TALKED TO ANYBODY, NONE OF OUR CLIENTS OR ANYBODY WITH THESE HOLES WITH ANY IDEA WHAT IN THE WORLD AND AMI BAY POOL IS.
ALL THEY KNOW IS THAT THEY CAN'T SEEM TO GET OUT FROM UNDER IT.
THEY CAN'T SEEM TO GET THEIR LICENSE BACK.
THEY DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHY AND THEY'VE JUST GIVEN UP ALL HOPE.
AND SO, UM, I THINK THAT THIS ITEM IS JUST GOING TO MAKE SUCH A DIFFERENCE FOR SO MANY PEOPLE.
AND, UH, ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE REPRESENT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CONSIDERING IT.
THE LAST SPEAKER I HAVE SPEAKING ON AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE.
UM, ITEM EIGHT IS CHIVAS WATSON.
SO THIS WATSON MAY I PRETEND HE DID NOT CALL IN, UM, IN ADVANCE.
AND THEN I BELIEVE THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS.
THE REST ARE SIGNED UP FOR ZONING, IS THAT CORRECT JEANETTE? THAT IS CORRECT.
[Consent Agenda (Part 2 of 2)]
[02:20:04]
UM, THE MAYOR MENTIONED A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS AND SO IF WE CAN, I KNOW SOME OF US NEED TO YEAH.UM, IF WE CAN GET THROUGH, I, I, MY ASSUMPTION IS WE CAN'T GET THROUGH CONSENT QUICKLY.
SO, UM, CAUSE I KNOW THAT THERE ARE A COUPLE OF ITEMS. THE ITEMS I HAVE ON CONSENT ARE, UM, UH, PULLED, I'M SORRY, ARE 75, 94, 95 AND 96.
WAS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN PULLED OFF? CONSENT COUNT, THE NUMBER OF KITCHEN, THERE'S ANOTHER VERSION.
SO I'M NOT SURE IF WE'RE PULLING THAT OR, OR JUST TALKING ABOUT IT.
SO I WAS HOPING FOR THE NEW VERSION TO GO ON CONSENTS OF POSSIBLE.
BUT DOES DOES IT, DOES OUR CITY STAFF HAVE ANY CONSULTANTS WITH US? NOT REALLY.
IS THAT OKAY IF WE WAIT TILL THOSE CONSENTS? I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A TON OF STAFF ON THE LINE WAITING.
COULD WE JUST REVIEW? THANK YOU.
I THINK DEALING WITH IT AFTER THE BREAK MAKES GOOD SENSE.
WOULD YOU MIND JUST READING THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN? I THINK I CAPTURED FROM CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS.
I THINK THERE'S ONE ADDITIONAL ONE ADDITIONAL ONE AND THAT'S 74 IS THAT WHAT YOU SAID? 74 75 94 95 96 YEAH.
I DIDN'T HAVE 74 BUT HAPPY TO PULL THAT 70 70 I JUST MISHEARD IT THEN.
I WAS JUST, WHEN YOU ASKED, I JUST MISHEARD IT.
SO IT'S JUST 75 94 95 96 WE'LL HAVE OUR ADVISORS HAVE 38 TO CONSIDER SO THAT IT CAN STAY ON CONSENT.
UM, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND PULL 38 BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S SOME DISCUSSION ON IT.
SO RIGHT NOW I HAVE 38, 75, 94 95 AND 96 YES.
THE MAYOR POSTED AN UPDATED VERSION OF 95 THAT INCORPORATED MY AMENDMENT.
SO I DON'T NEED TO PULL 95 AND UH, COUNCIL MEMBER TOBO DISTRIBUTED, UH, AN ALTERNATIVE VERSION OF MY AMENDMENTS FROM THESE SIX WHICH ARE FINE.
AND IF YOU WOULD REVIEW MY AMENDMENT FOR 94, MY IS THAT IT WILL BE FRIENDLY.
SO IT MAY NOT TO BE NEED TO BE PULLED EITHER.
I ACTUALLY HAVE REVIEWED 94 AND I DO ACCEPT THAT AS FRIENDLY, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF EVERYBODY ELSE IF THERE IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO MY ACCEPTING COUNCILMEMBER FLANAGAN'S 94 WAS FRIENDLY.
SO THEN I'M SORRY THAT WE JUST STARTED GETTING AMENDMENTS AND A LOT OF DIFFERENT PLACES TODAY AND I'M NOT SURE THAT I'VE SEEN THAT ONE.
WOULD YOU MIND IF COUNCIL MEMBER FLANAGAN JUST REMINDS US WHAT THAT MEANS IS, I CAN SEE WE'RE GETTING, WE'RE GETTING INFORMATION THROUGH THE MESSAGE BOARD FROM KATIE AND FROM JEANETTE AND SO IT'S JUST A LITTLE HARD TO THAT ONE.
SO, YOU KNOW, SINCE WE'RE NOT GOING TO VOTE ON CONSENT, WHY DON'T WE JUST WAIT, WE CAN JUST GO INTO OUR LUNCH BREAK NOW BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T MATTER WHAT'S FULL BECAUSE WE'RE NOT VOTING ON RIGHT NOW ANYWAY.
AND I JUST WANT TO FLAG MY, PRETEND THAT I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ON 95 AND 96 I HAD THOUGHT IT WAS SOLD BY COUNCILMEMBER MICROPHONIC SO IT DIDN'T ADD THAT.
SO WHY DON'T WE JUST, WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT GOING TO VOTE ON CONSENT.
UM, ANYWAY, SO WE'LL, WE'LL GET ALL THAT STRAIGHTENED OUT WHEN WE GET BACK FROM OUR LUNCH BREAK ON WHAT IS AND ISN'T IN ON CONSENT.
SO EVERYTHING'S STILL FAIR GAME SO TO SPEAK, CAUSE WE'RE NOT VOTING NON-CONSENT I WOULD JUST ADD THAT MY AMENDMENTS ARE POSTED TO THE AGENDA ON THE, ON THE PUBLIC WEBSITE.
SO THERE THERE'S NOT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO DIG THROUGH EMAILS.
AND JUST TO THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER PLAN AGAIN AND THANKS FOR THAT RECAP CAUSE I THINK THAT'S HELPFUL.
SO IT SOUNDS AS IF MAYBE PART TIME GOES, SO YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER FLANAGAN'S AMENDMENT TO YOURS AND I'LL REVIEW THAT.
COUNCIL MEMBER FLANAGAN FOR ACCEPTING MY CHANGES TO YOUR AMENDMENT.
I THINK I HAVE ONE ADDITIONAL ONE, AN ERROR IN MY OWN THAT I JUST NEED TO CORRECT, BUT HOPEFULLY THAT CAN STILL STAY ON CONSENT.
YOU'RE GOING TO PULL THOSE TWO AND THEN WHERE ARE AND THEN 38 WE HAVE A THIRD VERSION THAT GOT CIRCULATED BY THE CLERK.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE? JUST SO WE'RE ALL KIND OF REGROUPING OVER THE BREAK, IS THERE, ARE THERE ANY OTHER AMENDMENTS OR REVISED ORDINANCES MADE REVISED RESOLUTIONS THAT WE SHOULD BE AWARE OF WHEN WE COME BACK SO WE CAN FINISH UP THE CONTINUUM? I BELIEVE ALL THE ONES HAVE BEEN, YOU ADDRESSED THEM ALL.
[02:25:02]
STARTED TO READ THE EXECUTIVE SESSION SCRIPT.ACTUALLY, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I SINCE MY MAIL THAT YOU'RE PULLING 38 75 94 95 AND 96 FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA, I THINK YOU COULD GO AHEAD AND VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
SO BE FINISHED WITH THAT AND THEN JUST COME BACK AND TALK ABOUT THESE AND THEN YOU CAN ALSO READ THE EXECUTIVE SESSION SO WE CAN A BREAK YOUR LUNCH BREAK AND THEN GO RIGHT INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION IF YOU'D LIKE.
I KNOW OTHER PEOPLE HAD, WERE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT MAY HAVE BEEN FELT LIKE GOING THROUGH CONSENT QUICKLY, BUT I'M, I'M, I'M OKAY WITH THAT.
IS THERE A MOTION TO PASS THE CONSENT THROUGH 45 AND 75 BUT 70 38 75 94 AND 96 MOVE ON BY THE COUNCIL.
MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLE, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR BRENNAN.
IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I WAS WORRIED ABOUT HER.
SO REMEMBER KITCHEN, JUST TO POINT OUT, JUST FOR THE RECORD, THAT ITEMS NUMBER TWO 23 AND 27 AND 44 WITHDRAWN FROM A CONTINUANCE OR WITHDRAWN PERIOD, YOU MEAN? RIGHT? YEAH.
DID ANYONE ACTUALLY PULL 38 I THOUGHT WE SENT OUT THE NEW VERSION A COUPLE OF HOURS AGO AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU, IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO PULL IT THAT'S FINE, BUT I DIDN'T HEAR ANYBODY ELSE.
I THINK THERE WERE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS THAT GREG, IF YOU DON'T MIND I'LL GO AHEAD AND PULL IT SO WE CAN GET TO IT.
DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING? YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE SOME DIRECTION, UM, TO STAFF.
UM, SO ITEMS 21 AND 88 AND 90 INCLUDE LANGUAGE THAT DESCRIBES USING THE RISE FUNDS WE ALLOCATED FROM OUR GENERAL FUND EMERGENCY RESERVE TO BE USED TOWARDS A VARIETY OF FINANCIAL NEEDS INCLUDING UTILITY ASSISTANCE.
I BELIEVE THESE CONTRACTS MAKE SENSE AND THEN ALSO CAN MAKE SENSE IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES THAT THESE DOLLARS GO TOWARDS UTILITY EXPENSES OVER, I WANT TO FLAG FOR OUR STAFF.
WE'RE WORKING WITH THESE NONPROFITS THAT ARE UTILITIES OF CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE FUNDS, WHICH HAVE RECEIVED ADDITIONAL ALLOCATIONS IN THE FACE OF COVERT 19 AND THE UTILITIES HAVE EXPANDED ELIGIBILITY FOR THOSE FUNDS.
AND I'M RAISING THIS BECAUSE IN OUR AUSTIN WATER OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, WE HEARD FROM STAFF THAT $270,000 WAS DISH WAS DISTRIBUTED IN THE MONTH OF APRIL FROM AUSTIN WATER'S PLUS ONE ASSISTANCE FUND.
BUT I IMAGINE THAT OUR NEED IS LIKELY MUCH GREATER THAN THAT.
SO WHAT I WANTED TO DO WAS ASK OUR STAFF TO PLEASE ENSURE OUR PARTNERS DISTRIBUTING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE ARE GIVEN THE LATEST INFORMATION ON THE FUNDS AVAILABLE TO UTILITY ASSISTANCE SO THAT WE CAN MAXIMIZE THE AMOUNTS COMING FROM OUR UTILITY FOR UTILITY RELIEF AND FREE UP OTHER FUNDS FOR OTHER NEEDS.
UM, I'M NOT SUGGESTING ANY CHANGE TO THE CONTRACTS OR ITEMS, UH, BECAUSE I BELIEVE THERE WILL BE CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE PEOPLE MAY NEED TO USE RISE FUNDS FOR UTILITY ASSISTANCE.
UM, BUT I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE AN EXTRA STEP TO MAKE SURE OUR PARTNERS HAVE THE LATEST INFORMATION ON OUR UTILITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. SO CAN TELL PEOPLE ABOUT THE EXPANDED ELIGIBILITY AND FUNDS AVAILABLE AND STRETCH THE RICE FUNDING FURTHER BECAUSE THERE IS MORE FUNDING BASED IN AUSTIN WATER POCKET THAT'S NOT BEEN TAPPED YET AT THE LEVEL OF WHAT MIGHT'VE EXPECTED.
IS ANYBODY A COUNSELOR? A TURBO? I THINK I NEEDED TO PULL ANOTHER ITEM.
I ALSO WANTED TO JUST THANK THE STAFF FOR JUST WORKING SO HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE BRINGING THIS IMPORTANT CONTRACTS BUT WERE TO RESPOND TO THE CURRENT CRISIS AND THAT JUST WANTED TO THANK, THANK YOU MANAGER AND YOUR STAFF FOR ALL THAT.
WE CONTINUE TO GET QUESTIONS TO AS AS COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN JUST REITERATED THE ITEMS RELATED TO CLEANUPS HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THE AGENDA TODAY HAVE BEEN WITHDRAWN AND I DO WANT TO JUST EMPHASIZE THAT OUR ALSO RESOURCE RECOVERY DOES CONTINUE TO SERVE AS AREAS WHERE INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS ARE USING THE VIOLET BAG PROGRAM.
IN FACT, THOSE HAVE INCREASED FROM TWO TIMES A WEEK TO DAILY.
SO I THINK THAT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE POINTS THAT KEEPS COMING UP IN SOME OF MY EMAILS I'M RECEIVING AND QUESTIONS FROM THE MEDIA THAT THOSE ARE OUR AUSTIN RESOURCE RECOVERY CONTINUES TO PROVIDE SANITATION SERVICES AND OUTREACH TO INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE PICKING UP THOSE VIOLET BAGS SO THAT THE ENVIRONMENTS CAN BE AS CLEAN AND SANITARY AND SAFE AS POSSIBLE.
[02:30:01]
THAT'S REALLY THE ONLY WANT ME TO, I WENT TO, TO MAKE ABOUT THAT AGAIN, I MAY PULL SOMETHING HERE IN THE NEXT 30 SECONDS.I JUST NEED HER COUNSELOR KITCHEN.
I'LL JUST SAY THAT I REVIEWED THE VERSION THREE THAT WAS SENT OUT AND IT DOES INCLUDE DIRECTION TO CREATE A TASK FORCE.
AND, UH, I'LL JUST SAY, AND I'M SURE THAT I KNOW THIS IS THE INTENT AND I'M SURE THE CITY MANAGER IS TO BE VERY INCLUSIVE IN THE CREATION OF THE TASK FORCE AND TO INCLUDE THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN SPEAKING TO US ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE TASK FORCE AS WELL AS OTHERS AS WELL AS OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.
YEAH, I HAVEN'T REVIEWED 38 BECAUSE I THOUGHT WE WERE ASKING ABOUT IT SO WE SHOULD KEEP IT.
LET'S STAY ON CONSENT AS THERE.
IS THERE ANY COMMENTS ON THE CONSENT? UM, ACTUALLY I JUST ASKED FOR US NOT TO PUT IT ON CONSENT 38 CAUSE I HAVEN'T REVIEWED THE CHANGES OF THE NEW VERSION.
I KNOW I SAID THEY WOULD STAY ON CONSENT.
I THOUGHT I SAID ARE THERE ANY MORE COMMENTS ON CONSENT? BUT UM, OKAY, SO THE PULLED ITEMS ARE 38 75 94, 95 96.
ANY COMMENTS ON THE ITEMS ON CONSENT THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO VOTE ON? OH, COUNSELOR TOLD HER, YOU SAID YOU MIGHT PULL SOMETHING.
I'M JUST REALLY STRUGGLING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT NUMBER IT IS.
I'D LIKE TO PULL THE CONTRACT FOR UM, MASK PURCHASES FOR THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I HAVE JUST A COUPLE QUICK QUESTIONS ON THAT ONE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK.
I KNOW THIS WAS BRIEFLY THE DISCUSSION ON AT THE WORK SESSION, BUT I, IN LOOKING THROUGH THE TRANSCRIPT, I DON'T BELIEVE THE QUESTION WAS SUFFICIENTLY ANSWERED SO I JUST NEED TO GET A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT.
IF SOMEBODY WOULD PLEASE TELL ME WHAT NUMBER IT IS.
OKAY, SO I HAVE 1838 75 94 95 96 ARE PULLED FROM CONSENT.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POOL HAS MADE THE MOTION SECONDED BY COUNCIL ROAD.
ANTHONY, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE CONSENT AGENDA, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
UM, MAYOR, DO YOU WANT TO, ARE WE GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION? YOU'RE ON MUTE AND NOW YOU DISAPPEARED.
OOPS, I HIT THE WRONG BUTTONS.
YOU THANK YOU FOR, FOR AND EVERYBODY IN THE DIOCESE FOR WORKING WAY THROUGH THAT.
[Executive Session (Part 1 of 2)]
WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO NOW IS WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE.WE'RE GOING TO BREAK FOR LUNCH.
WE'RE GOING TO PICK A TIME, THAT TIME WE WILL COME BACK INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, UH, AS OPPOSED TO COMING BACK TO THIS MEETING.
I'M GOING TO RECESS NOW TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION AND LET'S PICK THE TIME WHEN WE, WHEN WE CONVENE THAT WE'LL DO THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE'LL BREAK AT TWO O'CLOCK TO DO THE, UH, UH, SPEAKERS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP OVERTURNED TO EXECUTIVE SESSION IF WE, IF WE, IF WE NEED TO OR AS CLOSE TO TWO O'CLOCK AS WE CAN, DEPENDING ON WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE ROOM.
UH, SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, UH, THE COUNCIL WILL NOW GO INTO CLOSED SESSION TO TAKE UP THREE ITEMS, FIVE FIVE, ONE OH EIGHT SIX, UH, THE GOVERNMENT CODE.
UNDER THAT, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE UP ITEM 52, WHICH IS AWESOME.
THE ENERGY GENERATION RESOURCES PURSUANT AS COMPETITIVE MATTER PURSUANT TO FIVE FIVE ONE OH SEVEN ONE THE GOVERNMENT CODE, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A COUPLE OF LEGAL MATTERS RELATED TO THE ITEM 53, WHICH IS THE ELECTION 2020 ELECTION CODE.
AND THEN PURSUANT TO FIVE FIVE ONE OH SEVEN TO THE GOVERNMENT, WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS REAL MATTERS.
UH, REAL ESTATE MATTERS RELATED TO ITEM 98, WHICH IS THE, UM, UH, UT BRAC TRACK, UH, DISCUSSION.
YOU THINK WE COULD GET INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION BY ONE 30.
SO AT ONE 30, LET'S MAKE SURE WE'RE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
AND WITH THAT HERE AT 1242, UH,
[Item 18]
YEAH, MAYOR APOLOGIES, I'M GOING TO PUT 18 BACK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA GIVEN OUR SCHEDULE FOR TODAY.AND I WILL CONNECT WITH IF BD, UM, OR WITH PURCHASING, WHOEVER THE APPROPRIATE ENTITY IS TO TALK ABOUT THE QUESTION THAT I BELIEVE MAYOR PRO TEM GARZA, UH, BROUGHT UP IN THE WORK SESSION ABOUT THE COST OF THOSE ITEMS, WHICH I,
[02:35:01]
I STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND THE COST, BUT I'M NOT, I'M CERTAINLY GOING TO SUPPORT ACCEPTANCE OF THE GRANT FUNDS.AND JUST SINCE YOU'VE ALREADY VOTED ON THE CONSENT, LET'S TAKE A QUICK VOTE ON 18.
MEMBER TOBO MAKES THAT MOTION.
COUNCIL MEMBER AND ELLIS SECONDS.
ANY DISCUSSION AS A FAVOR? 18 PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AS OPPOSED TO ANANYMOUS ON THE DIOCESE PASSES COLLEAGUES AT 1244.
WE'LL SEE YOU AT ONE 30 IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WHILE WE WERE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, IT IS TWO 41 AND WE ARE NOW BACK INTO OUR REGULAR MEETING OR WE STILL HAVE ADDITIONAL ITEMS TO DO AN EXECUTIVE SESSION, BUT WE HAVE STOPPED EXECUTIVE SESSION SO THAT WE COULD GET OUT, UH, IN ORDER TO, UM, UH, HEAR THE SPEAKERS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP, UH, TO SPEAK ON, UH, THE ZONING CASES.
UH, SO, UM, DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN, UH, POSTPONED OR OTHERWISE MOVED DRAWN? WE HAVE SPEAKER SIGNED UP ON 54 62 67, 68 AND 74.
THERE IS A SCHEDULED TO BE POSTPONED.
UM, IT'S 54, 67 68 69 AND 74 STILL MOVING FORWARD.
I'M SORRY, I ACTUALLY GOT DISCONNECTED WHEN I TRIED TO UNMUTE MYSELF.
UM, I BELIEVE MAYOR, ALL THE SPEAKERS THAT WE HAVE ARE ON ITEMS THAT ARE GOING TO BE DISCUSSION ITEMS. UM, IF WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS, ANY POSTPONED ITEMS. ALRIGHT.
WELL THEN LET'S GO AHEAD AND WE'LL CALL THE SPEAKERS AND THEN WE'LL GO BACK AND DO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
UH, BEFORE WE DELIBERATE KITCHEN.
I'M SORRY MAN, I DIDN'T MEAN TO.
ITEM 62 IS LISTED FOR POSTPONEMENT.
DID YOU SAY SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN THAT? NO, I'M 62 IS LISTED FOR POSTPONEMENT.
UM, HE AT THE SPEAKER LIST, IT LOOKS LIKE I DO HAVE MONICA GUZMAN LISTED TO SPEAK ON THAT, BUT SHE'S LISTED AS NEUTRAL.
YOU WANT TO SPEAK DESPITE HIS BEING POSTPONED ADAM 62, YOU'RE OKAY WITH SPEAKING WHEN IT COMES UP IN JUNE? I WOULD RATHER THAT'S FINE.
BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE LIKE THREE MINUTES.
SO AS OUR CUSTOM, YOU WOULD SPEAK ON WHETHER OR NOT YOU WANTED TO HAVE IT POSTPONED OR NOT.
WHY DON'T YOU TAKE THE LENS IN FRONT OF YOU.
UH, IS UH, ANGELA GARZA HERE? YES SIR.
AND BY THE WAY, COLLEAGUES LET THE ZONING, THE APPLICANTS THEMSELVES SPEAK, UH, WHEN THEIR CASES GET CALLED AS WE'RE DELIBERATING THEM.
SO THEY'RE HERE TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
UH, BUT, UH, ANGELA GARZA, WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD.
[Public Comment (Part 2 of 2)]
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.AND CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR FOR ATLANTA SPEAK ON THIS.
UM, THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN YEARS IN THE PROCESS ALREADY AND IT'S ONE OF THE MOST INCREDIBLE PROJECTS THAT'S HAPPENING IN THE EASTERN CRESCENT TO UNITE SO MANY INCREDIBLE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING ON IT.
UM, EAST MLK CONTACT TEAM CITIZEN.
UM, DEVELOPERS WOULD LIKE TO CALL HIM D.
UM, WE, WE LIKE TO CALL THEM JUST LIKE LEGEND DEVELOPERS BECAUSE THEY HAVE REALLY WORKED HAND IN HAND
[02:40:01]
TO TRY TO GET PEOPLE'S INPUT AS THIS PROCESS MOVES ALONG.UM, I KNOW THAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR ABOUT 400 HEIGHT INCREASE.
WE HAVE WORKED WITH HEATHER, WE HAVE WORKED WITH THE COMMISSIONERS.
THEY, THEY WERE ACTUALLY ASKED TO DO SOMETHING MUCH STRICTER TO MEET THE GUIDELINES.
AND THE BEAUTY OF THIS PROJECT THAT IS THAT NO ONE IS BEING DISPLACED, NO ONE IS BEING REPLACED.
THEY'VE TAKEN AN INCREDIBLY UGLY AREA THAT WAS JUST UM, INDUSTRIAL AND THEY'RE BEAUTIFYING IT AND WORKING HAND IN HAND AND CITY LEADERS HAND IN HAND WITH NATURE AND THAT'S WHY IT'S GOING UP.
SO THEY'RE NOT TAKING MORE SPRAWL ON THE BOTTOM AND TAKING UP THAT LAND AS WELL.
THE BEAUTY OF THIS AS WELL, IT'S GOING TO OPEN UP SO MANY DOORS FOR FUTURE TOP PAYING JOBS SO THAT WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE INCLUSIVENESS OF OUR COLOR PEOPLE IN THE AREA TO TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOOT FOR THESE JOBS AND WOMEN AND ENTREPRENEURS AS WELL.
THE MORE BEAUTY THIS IS GOING TO CONNECT THE GREEN LINE, THE GREEN LINE STOP IS GOING TO COME ALL THE WAY FROM ELGON IN.
I MEAN IT'S JUST BEEN A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK.
AND THEN WHAT DID THE UM, ACTUAL, UM, IF YOU LOOK AT THE ENERGY SOURCE THEY'RE USING, THERE'S ONLY ONE OTHER PERSON WHO HAS THIS ENERGY SOURCE IN THE WORLD AND THAT'S ONE, THAT'S IT SOMEWHERE ELSE.
AND WE HAVE IT IN OUR BACKYARDS RIGHT HERE.
SO THEY'RE NOT TAKING AWAY FROM THE ENVIRONMENT TO GET THIS DONE.
THE OTHER BEAUTY THING THAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT AND THESE DEVELOPERS, IF THEY REALLY STEPPED UP DURING COBIT, THEY ACTUALLY OFFERED THEIR PROPERTY AS A BACKUP HOSPITAL FOR A DOLLAR TO YOUR CITY LEADERS AND CITY JUST IN CASE WE NEEDED IT BECAUSE THEY HAVE A SEATING AREA.
THEY PIVOTED TO PROVIDE THIS INSECT IT TO THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.
UM, THEY PIVOTED TO PROVIDE MASS TO OUR HEALTH PEOPLE AS WELL.
SO THEY ARE VERY COMMUNITY INCLUDED HERE AS WELL.
UM, SO I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH OF THIS, THIS IS JUST ONE OF THOSE BEAUTIFUL PROJECTS THAT IS GOING TO BE AMAZING THAT WE ARE ASKING FOR ALL THIS POINT ON CAUSE IT'S JUST A UNITING PROJECT WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND EVERYBODY HASN'T BEEN INVOLVED IN HANDS-ON MADE.
MAKE SURE THAT THEY'VE TAKEN THAT CONSCIOUS EFFORT TO BE INVOLVED WITH THIS AS WELL.
I HAD SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON TWO SEPARATE CASES.
SHOULD I ADDRESS THEM BOTH? OKAY.
YOU CAN USE IT HOWEVER YOU WISH.
UH, FIRST CASE IS NUMBER 54 AS IN GARDEN, WHICH ANGELA, JUST ADDRESS.
I'M SPEAKING AT THE PORT OF THIS TDA.
AS ANGELA MENTIONED, THAT OWNERS GOT COORDINATED, UH, REGULARLY, UH, DATING BACK TO EARLY 2019.
UM, WE FEEL THAT ALLOW ME TO TIGHT PROVIDES A COUPLE OF BENEFITS TO THE COMMUNITY.
ONE, IT ALLOWS THE ALLOWABLE FAR ARE TO BE BUILT IN A MUCH SMALLER FOOTPRINT, WHICH IN TURN ALLOWS MORE OF THE SITE TO BE PRESERVED, USABLE, BEING SPACE AND MAKE LAND AVAILABLE FOR THE PROPOSED CIVIC AMENITIES IN SECOND, IT COULD ACT AS A MAGNET FOR TEACHER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND JOB GROWTH.
WE SUPPORTED THE SPIRIT OF THE PLANNING.
THOUGH AFTER A COORDINATING WITH THE OWNER, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE MORE REALISTIC NUMBER SIT DOWN IS CLOSER TO 65.
WE SUPPORT INCREASING THAT UP TO 70% IF IT ALLOWS THE OWNER TO BUILD THE CIVIC AMENITY AND MOBILITY CONNECTION INDICATED ON THE CURRENT MASTER PLAN.
UH, THE SECOND CASE I'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO IS NUMBER 67.
UH, AND I'D LIKE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AMENDMENT.
THEY'RE AT 3,500 PECAN SPRINGS ROAD, UH, THE CONTACT TEAM ALONG WITH THE PECAN SPRINGS THING, DALE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, THAT WAS THE OWNER'S REPRESENTATIVE SEVERAL TIMES BETWEEN NOVEMBER, 2019 WHEN WE ALLOWED THE OUT OF CYCLE APPLICATION AND APRIL OF 2020.
DURING THOSE MEETINGS AND OVER PLENTY OF TIME COORDINATING IN BETWEEN, WE ASKED FOR CERTAIN CONCESSIONS FROM THE OWNER THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO PROVIDE SUPPORT THAT WERE ULTIMATELY UNSUCCESSFUL.
THOSE CONFESSIONS INCLUDED PROVIDING AT LEAST ONE TRUE AFFORDABLE UNIT FOR SOMEONE MAKING 80% MFI A AMENDMENT TO LIMIT AND COVER TO 40% TO MINIMIZE THE RISK OF SLIDING TO NEIGHBORS DOWNSTREAM OF BRANCH CREEK, WHICH RUNS THROUGH THE SITE AND LIMITING ACCESS TO SPRING OUT ROAD ONLY.
THE OWNER REFUSED THE HEB CONCESSION.
NOW, SOME MAY WRITE THIS OFF AS JUST ANOTHER NEIGHBORHOOD OPPOSING THE ZONING OF THE PROPERTY, BUT THIS IS NOT THE CASE.
IF ANYTHING, WE TRIED TO PUSH FOR A MORE PROGRESSIVE SETTLEMENT.
WHAT WE JUST ASKED YOU WANT TO PROVIDE IS SIMILAR TO WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR THE DENSITY BONUS IS DETAILED ELSEWHERE IN OUR LDC AND IS CONSISTENT WITH THE CITY'S GOALS FOR FUTURE GROWTH.
IRISH COUNCIL THAT SUPPORTS THESE EFFORTS DURING THE HOUR THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION DELIBERATED OVER THESE CASES.
NOT ONE CONDITIONER ASKED ABOUT OR EVEN ACKNOWLEDGED THE INPUT PROVIDED BY THE COMMUNITY, WHICH AGAIN WAS A RESULT OF HOURS AND HOURS OF COORDINATION.
SO I ASKED YOU TO PLEASE DON'T IGNORE IT, BUT NOW I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
[02:45:01]
THANK YOU.UM, MONICA BECAUSE WHEN DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO THE POSTPONEMENT, RIGHT? YES, I DO.
I'M MONICA GUZMAN, POLICY DIRECTOR FOR BABBO AUSTIN VAMOS AUSTIN ON ITEM 62 I AM AWARE IT'S POSTPONED.
I SUPPORT THE POSTPONEMENT IN HOPES THAT THE CITY WILL TAKE THE TIME TO DO THE NECESSARY STUDIES BECAUSE THE RUNOFF FROM THIS CONTEXT COULD IMPACT WATER QUALITY AND INCREASED FLOODING DOWNSTREAM ALONG ONION CREEK.
WE RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF LEARNING FROM HISTORY.
I WANT TO REMIND THE COUNCIL THAT THE HISTORIC FLOODS OF 2013 ARE CERTAINLY NOT A ONE TIME WITH CLIMATE CHANGE AND NEW DEVELOPMENT BOTH UPSTREAM AND DOWNSTREAM FROM THE SITE NEED TO BE CONSIDERED IN DETERMINING THE IMPACT.
UH, NEXT SPEAKER IS UM, UH, ZENOBIA JOSEPH COUNCIL MEMBERS NOVIA JOSEPH MAYOR.
DID YOU SAY NUMBER 67 WAS POSTPONE ITEM, WHICH NUMBER? 67 IT'S 3,500 PECAN SPRINGS ROAD 67 I THINK IS STILL WITH US.
SO MY COMMENTS ARE SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO THE CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE AND HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE, WHICH IS ON PAGE, WELL, IT'S ACTUALLY QUESTION EIGHT.
ON PAGE FOUR OF THE DOCUMENT, THE APPLICANT BASICALLY SAID THAT IT WAS NOT APPLICABLE AND I WANTED TO JUST CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO THE AFRICAN AMERICAN RULE OF SCHOOLS, THE TRAVIS COUNTY CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF LIFE, TRAVIS COUNTY HISTORICAL COMMISSION, A 2014 DOCUMENT, WHICH LISTS THE PECAN SPRINGS ELEMENTARY IN THAT AREA.
I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE AS WELL THAT ONE OF THE CONCERNS I HAVE IS IF YOU LOOK AT PAGE 15 OF THE DOCUMENT, YOU'LL SEE THE FLOODING THAT OCCURRED IN 2015 A 37 YEAR RESIDENT ACTUALLY INCLUDED THAT IN THE DOCUMENT.
AND THAT'S MR GRAY'S PROPERTY.
THE ONLY COMMUNITY BENEFIT THAT'S STATED IS BASICALLY A SIDEWALKS AND STORM WATER DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND I WANTED TO ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE LOWEST, UM, WHEN THE PROPERTY IS ACTUALLY BUILT, WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 25 CONDOS, THAT THE ELEVATION ON THE LOWEST FLOOR SHOULD BE HIGHER THAN THE FLOOD PLAIN, BUT THERE WAS NO MENTION OF THAT BY THE APPLICANT.
I WANT YOU TO ALSO RECOGNIZE THE SAFETY CONCERNS THAT ARE IN THAT LETTER.
THAT'S ON PAGE 15 OF THE DOCUMENT AND BASICALLY THERE'S SOME TRAFFIC CONCERNS THERE, BUT MINE IS SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO TRANSIT.
IF YOU LOOK SOUTH OF THE PROPERTY AT TOUCHSTONE, THE CORRIDOR ACTUALLY IS ACROSS, UM, IT'S SPRINGDALE, SO IT'S ACROSS THE STREET.
THERE'S A SILVER $7,000 BENCH, UM, RIGHT ACROSS FROM TOUCHDOWN AND THERE'S NO PEDESTRIAN HYBRID BEACON.
I WILL CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO THE 2009.
THERE'S A NORTH MEMORIAL CORRIDOR STUDY, BUT WHAT'S RELEVANT AND THAT IS 70% OF PEDESTRIAN FATALITIES OCCURRED.
MID-BLOCK CAPITAL METRO, THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND TEXAS TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE.
WE'RE THE ONES THAT DID THE STUDY AND YET THIS IS A MID-BLOCK STOP.
AND SO I WOULD ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT DURING THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING ON APRIL 28TH, I RAISED THESE CONCERNS AND STAFF DID NOT MENTION ANYTHING IN THE BACK OF MATERIALS FROM A TECHNICALITY.
I WOULD ASK YOU TO RESPOND TO HOW ITEMS GET FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO COUNCIL.
MY WRITTEN TESTIMONY IS NOT A PART OF YOUR BACKUP MATERIALS.
I WOULD ASK YOU TO AT LEAST ENSURE THAT THAT BECOMES A PART OF THE ACTUAL, UM, THE RECORD.
THE LAST THING THAT I'LL MENTION AND I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT IS TO RESERVE A PERCENTAGE OF UNITS FOR UM, TEACHERS AND PEOPLE WHO ARE AT THE 80% OF, UM, AREA MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME, WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY $52,000.
AND THAT WAS NOT DISCUSSED AT ALL.
AND I JUST WANT TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT THE CURRENT CODE WOULD ONLY ALLOW US TO DO SELLING UNITS.
AND THE DEVELOPER IS WANTING TO GO UP TO 25 CONDO CITY WOULD STILL GET A RETURN ON INVESTMENT IF YOU RESERVED A COUPLE OF THE UNITS FOR AFFORDABLE OWNERSHIP.
AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF ALLELE, ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME.
SPEAKER UH, CHRIS RING
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES? YEAH, I'M SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 67 AND 68.
UH, MY NAME IS CHRISTOPHER RING AND I LIVE DOWN THE STREET FROM THIS SITE.
UH, MY ADDRESS IS 48 OH NINE PECAN SPRINGS ROAD.
AGAIN, I'M TALKING ABOUT 3,500 PECAN SPRINGS
[02:50:01]
ROAD IN 2015 NEXT DOOR TO ME THERE WAS A ZONING CHANGE REQUEST FROM SF THREE TOOUR MEETINGS PRODUCED TWO DOCUMENTS, A CONDITIONAL OVERLAY IN A RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AND RESULTED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION VOTING IN FAVOR OF SUPPORTING THAT ZONING CHANGE.
THE FIRST STEP THE NEIGHBORHOOD TOOK TO ACHIEVE THAT ACCOMPLISHMENT BACK IN 2015 WAS OPPOSING THE ZONING CHANGE.
TODAY, FIVE YEARS LATER, I'M OPPOSING THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AMENDMENT AND ALSO OPPOSE GRANTING THE ZONING CHANGE AS IT IS INITIALLY PRESENTED TODAY I NEED ASSURANCE IT WILL BE COMPATIBLE WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN A STRAIGHT SF ZONING CHANGE CAN NOT DO THAT ON THIS LOT.
IF THE LOT ORIENTED TOWARDS SPRINGDALE ROAD IT WOULD BE DIFFERENT IF IT PRINTS ON THE KHAN SPRINGS ROAD.
THE APPLICANT AGREES IT WOULD BE BEST IF VEHICLE TRAFFIC WAS RESTRICTED TO SPRINGDALE ROAD BUT CANNOT ASSURE US THAT WILL HAPPEN IS IT IS UP TO THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT EXPLORING THE POSSIBILITY THAT SPRINGDALE ACCESS CAN BE ASSURED IS A GOOD START AS THAT IS WHERE WE HAVE FOUND COMMON GROUND.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS OKAY WITH HIGHER DENSITY HOUSING ALONG SPRINGDALE ROAD AND 51ST STREET AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN REFLECTS THAT.
I'M ASKING THAT CITY COUNCIL REJECT THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AMENDMENT AND ZONING CHANGE AS PRESENTED TODAY AND THEN THE APPLICANT WORK WITH THE CITY AND NEIGHBORHOOD TO BETTER DELINEATE THE PROCESS AND IN PRODUCT.
UM, I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
MAYOR, I DID HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE SPEAKERS.
TOBA HAS A QUESTION FOR MR. RAY.
I JUST WANT TO BE SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING YOUR REQUEST.
SO YOU'RE ASKING, YOU'RE ASKING THE COUNCIL TO, UM, DANCED VOTED AGAINST THE APPLICATION.
UM, BUT AS I UNDERSTOOD YOUR COMMENTS, WHO WOULD BE WILLING TO SIT DOWN WITH A DEVELOPER AND BELIEVE THAT THERE'S COMMON GROUND THERE TO GET TO SOME SHARED? I THINK THERE IS FROM TALKING TO OTHER NEIGHBORS, I BELIEVE THERE'S POTENTIALLY SUPPORT FOR THIS, BUT YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO HAMMER OUT SOME DETAILS SUCH AS, YOU KNOW, THE, THE BIG ONE BEING IT'S FRONTAGE WHERE, YOU KNOW, THE ORIENTATION, IF WE COULD GET IT OFF THE QUIET STREET AND HAVE IT ORIENTED MORE TOWARD SPRINGDALE ROAD, UH, IT'LL GIVE A SMOOTHER TRANSITION INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BE A LOT MORE COMPATIBLE AND UH, GET THE, YOU KNOW, IN THE CONSTRUCTION STAGE AND THE FINAL PRODUCT.
UH, SO YEAH, BUT UH, ANSWER YOUR QUESTION DIRECTLY IS REQUESTING THAT YOU WOULD DENY IT BOTH THOSE TODAY 67 AND 68 AND UH, I GUESS DIRECT THE APPLICANT TO MEET WITH US FURTHER AND BE A LITTLE MORE, UH, RECEPTIVE TO OUR INPUT AND HE HAS BEEN
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR CLARIFYING THAT SIR.
NEXT SPEAKER IS, UH, ELLEN SCOTT.
UM, THE AGENDA ITEM THAT CHRIS SPOKE ON, MY NAME IS ELLEN SCOTT AND MY FAMILY HAS LIVED AT 33 12 TO KHAN SPRINGS ROAD TWO DOORS DOWN FROM 3,500 KHAN SPRINGS ROAD SINCE 1983.
I AM OPPOSED TO COUNCIL APPROVAL OF THE DOWNING RENTED WITHOUT THE REQUESTED RESTRICTIONS AND THE WORK CONDITIONS AS ONE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MARLOW HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD.
I HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF COMMUNICATING SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT THE RESIDENTS HOPE CAN BE ADDRESSED.
WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE A VALID LOCATION WITH 33 POINT 33%
[02:55:01]
ELIGIBLE ELIGIBLE SIGNATURE.ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE ALSO COLLECTED A LIST OF 28 NEIGHBORHOOD STAKEHOLDERS OUTSIDE OF THE VALID PETITION AREA WHO HAVE CONCERNS.
THE MEMBERS OF PSS VOTED AGAINST THE ZONING CHANGE ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS.
IT WAS AGAIN UNANIMOUSLY VOTED DOWN AT OUR CONTACT MEETING.
NEVERTHELESS, THE PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVED IT FOR THE RECORD.
I WAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING ON APRIL 28TH AND WAS CUT OFF FROM THE QUEUE BEFORE MY TURN.
MARLOWE HEIGHTS SPRINGS ROAD IS A NARROW 27 FOOT WIDE CUT THROUGH STREET THAT CONNECTS ONE MAJOR CHORD OR TO ANOTHER SPRINGDALE TO 61ST STREET.
I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST A CONDITIONAL OVERLAY LIMITING ACCESS OF THE PROPERTY TO SPRING NAVAL ATDS.
MOST RECENT STUDY OF SPRINGDALE ROAD WAS COMPLETED IN 2015 THE TRAFFIC COUNTS HAVE CHANGED DRASTICALLY SINCE THEN, RESULTING IN INCREASED DENSITY AND THE RECONFIGURATION OF SPRINGDALE ROAD WHEN DRIVING NORTH ON SPRINGDALE ROAD.
THERE ARE VERY REAL SAFETY CONCERNS AS A MOTORIST AND THE MIDDLE LANE TO TURN LEFT ONTO PECAN SPRINGS ROAD, I FEEL CREATES A BLIND SPOT THAT AFFECTS THE DRIVER'S FIELD OF VISION.
EVERYONE IN MY FAMILY AND MANY NEIGHBORS HAVE ALMOST EXPERIENCED A HEAD ON COLLISION FOR THE DRIVER UNLAWFULLY USING THE MIDDLE LANE TO PASS VEHICLES COMING SOUTH.
ALSO, DANGEROUS IS TURNING LEFT FROM PECAN SPRINGS ROAD ONTO SPRINGDALE FOR THE SAME REASON I ASKED THE COUNCIL, DENY THE REQUEST WITH CONDITIONS OR POSTPONE THE FIRST READING AND INSTRUCT THE APPLICANT TO MEET WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND THE CONTACT TEAM TO COLLABORATE ON A SOLUTION THAT ACCOMMODATES GROWTH AND FIX THE EXISTING CONTEXT.
KEEPING IN MIND THE SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE AND FOR ALLOWING ME TO HAVE THIS PLATFORM TO SPEAK.
I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.
SO, UM, I JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM THAT, UM, THAT THIS IS MASCOT, RIGHT? AND PRESENT THE, THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM THAT YOU ARE INTERESTED IN CONTINUING TO WORK ON A SOLUTION AND SO YOU WOULD BE AMENABLE TO POSTPONING IT TODAY.
IS THAT WHAT I HEARD YOU SAY? WELL.
UM, THE BEST WAY TO BE ABLE TO GET EVERYONE INVOLVED AND COME UP WITH A SOLUTION IS, IS WHAT I WOULD LIKE.
HELLO? CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, YES, I'M GOOD.
I'VE LIVED AT 33 12 NO APP PROVIDED CONDITIONAL OVERLAY ON THIS PROJECT.
I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE CHANGES BEING CONSIDERED FOR THE PROPERTY AT 3,500 POUND SPRINGS.
ABOUT HALF THE PROPERTY LIES IN THE A HUNDRED YEAR FLOOD PLAIN ACCORDING TO THE ATLAS 14 FLOOD PLAIN MAP OF 2018 THIS THAT TIME NUMEROUS DEVELOPMENTS HAVE SPRUNG UP ON THE FORT BRANCH AND NORTH FORT BRANCH OF BOGGY CREEK.
BOTH CREEKS CONVERGE AT THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF THIS PROPERTY.
OUR HOUSE IS TWO DOWN, TWO DOORS DOWN WEST OF 3,500 POUND SPRINGS.
I HAVE SOME SEVERAL FLOODING OF THAT ON THE CREEK.
BEFORE THE ADDITION OF OF ELEPHANTS WERE ADDED, ONE OF WHICH WAS IN MAY OF 2015 THE WATER FLOODED OVER SPRINGDALE ROAD ON THE NORTHEAST SIDE OF THIS PROPERTY, PROBING SPRINGDALE ROAD FOR MOST OF THE DAY.
UM, MY WIFE HAS ADMITTED I VIDEO ON FIVE 20 IS POSSIBLE.
YOU OFTEN VIEW THAT UM, APPROPRIATE COVER CAN AFFECT THE FLOODPLAIN.
I AM CONFIRMED THAT EVEN MORE OR THIS FACT TO BE PRONE TO FLOODING WITH THE 2018 ATLAS PLAYING SHOWS IT IS ALREADY A SMALL PARCEL OF LAND AND WILL NO DOUBT NEEDED DETENTION POND WILL BE CRITICAL TO PREVENT IT FROM BEING UNBANKED IN UNBRAIDED WITH FLOOD WATERS, WHICH WOULD OBVIOUSLY BE BAD FOR WATER QUALITY
[03:00:01]
AND FLOOD CONTROL.THERE'S ALREADY QUITE A BIT OF EROSION OCCURRING ALONG THE FORT GRANT CREEK WEST OF THE PROPERTY THAT IS UNDERCUTTING TREES.
THEY WILL EVENTUALLY FALL AND COULD POSSIBLY HAVE SCRIPT FLOW IF THEY WERE TO GET STUCK AT THE BRIDGE WITH THE INCREASED RUNOFF DUE TO THE IMPERVIOUS COVER FROM THIS AND OTHER RECENT DEVELOPMENT.
THIS COULD LEAD TO MORE FLOODING DOWNSTREAM AS WELL AS UPSTREAM PROJECT CANNOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP THE UPSTREAM EROSION CONCERN.
I BELIEVE THAT SPECIAL ATTENTION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE DETENTION POND WHEN THAT IS AVAILABLE.
THE ONE THING THAT MIKE, ALL RIGHT, LET'S TAKE CARE OF THEM.
I'D VOTE NO OR ABSTAIN ABSENT A CONDITIONAL OVERLAY RECOMMENDED BY THE SPEAKERS TODAY.
UM, YOU ALL HAPPEN TO HAVE THAT VIDEO.
WE DON'T HAVE IT TO PULL UP AT THE MEETING NOW.
I LIVE AT 3,408 THE KHAN SPRINGS ROAD.
I'M NOT ADJACENT PROPERTY DOWN TO 3,500 I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN EAST AUSTIN HOLY CROSS HOSPITAL BABY WHEN 30 YEARS ON PECAN SPRINGS.
I'M IN OPPOSITION TO BOTH ITEMS. 6,060 8,000 3,500 PECAN SPRINGS ROAD FROM
I FEEL THAT THIS IS WAY TOO MANY FOR THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
THERE ARE ONLY 55 RESIDENTIAL, HALF HOMES AND THE ENTIRE FOURTH STREET FRUSTRATES IT.
THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, THE CAR SPRINGS ROAD, TOUCHDOWN STREET, ROUND ROCK TRAIL AND MARLOW HEIGHT, MARLO DRIVE.
TO ME A MORE COMPATIBLE REZONING IS AN SFI WITH URBAN FAMILY RESIDENTIAL, BUT 15 UNITS OR LESS.
THIS WOULD BE MORE CHARACTERISTIC WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE DEVELOPER WILL STEAL PROFIT WITH MARKET RATE UNITS.
I ALSO FEEL THAT THE DEVELOPER WAS LEFT STANDING STRAIGHT FORWARD AND HE LUCID WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
IT'S A PET AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION B TO B THREE MEETING PER SITE PLAN.
YEAH, YOU BROUGHT UP, THE REPRESENTATIVE SHOWED AN OPEN DAY OF 24 GRADE RECTANGLES ON A WATER ZONE MAP.
I'M SURE THAT DEVELOPMENT HAS MORE INSIGHT IN FACT FOR SEVERAL YEARS OF PLANNING IN THE WORKS AND FEEL THE NEED NOT TO DISCLOSE AT THIS TIME.
SO DEVELOPERS NUMBER TWO IS A DEVELOPER'S REPRESENTATIVE LIKE TO SHOWCASE SPRING CREEK DEVELOPMENT TO THE NORTH OF 3,500 BUT FAIR TO STATE THAT THIS IS A FOUR PLUS ACRE SITE WITH NO PREEXISTING NEIGHBORHOOD AND CLOSE PROXIMITY.
SO THE DUAL USE WAS REDUCED FROM EIGHT FEET.
THAT NUMBER THREE ON ANOTHER TUNE THAT I WAS CONCERNED TO THE PFS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION ON THE REMOVING OF TREES.
WELL I'M BIG FOR YOU CAUSE SMILE, SMILE TREE.
SO I RUN OUT IT TO 150 YEARS, 40 FOOT TALL TREES HERE WITH IT BE DEAD.
YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND FINISH YOUR THOUGHT BEFORE SMALLER TREES WITH THE ONE BIG TREE
[03:05:01]
TO INCLUDE ENVIRONMENT, NEIGHBORHOOD OF DIVERSE RESIDENTS.THANKS FOR YOUR TIME AND ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.
IS BENJAMIN BERGER HERE? OKAY.
WHAT ABOUT JANICE WEEKS? YES, THANK YOU.
THERE'S SOME PEOPLE THAT HAVE TO TURN OFF.
YOU NEED TO MUTE IF YOU'RE NOT SPEAKING, MR. WEEKS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH MR MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, I AM SPEAKING TODAY, UM, IN OPPOSITION OF THE AGENDA VOTING NO FOR 67 AND EIGHT AS THEY ARE PRESENTED TODAY.
UM, I AM UM, ON THE PETITION OF 28 OR 33RD THROUGH IT WAS GROWING AS I HAVE ONLY KNOWN ABOUT THIS A FEW DAYS WITHOUT THE SAME SIGNS POSTED.
UM, AND WITH THE CUTTER V GOING ON, UM, I'M NOT COMMUNICATING VERY MUCH WITH UM, PEOPLE.
I SEE PASSERBUYS I HAVE ONLY WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD 46 30 MARLO DRIVE.
IF I HADN'T SAID BEFORE, WHICH IS JUST THE THROW FROM PECAN SPRINGS.
MY, THE FRONT OF MY HOME IS A NATURAL HABITAT SPACE.
IT'S APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET WIDE AND GOES TO THE COMPLETE LENGTH OF MY FRONT.
SO IT REALLY KEEPS ME FROM RAVING AND STRIKING UP EASY CONVERSATION TO FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON FROM, I GUESS THAT'S THE MAIN REASON THAT I'M HOPING THAT THEY WOULD AT LEAST BE A POSTPONEMENT.
UM, WITH THIS, UM, GOING FORWARD.
I AGREE WITH THE NUMBER OF UM, PROPOSED SPACES THAT THERE REALLY IS ONLY 1.5 ACRES OF USABLE SPACE THAT JUST SEEMS TO UM, NOT MAKE SENSE THAT THERE COULD BE SMALLER STEPS.
UM, 20 PERHAPS 12 TO 16 MIGHT BE A BETTER NUMBER AND JUST MAKING THEM SMALLER, THOSE NOT MAKE THEM MORE AFFORDABLE.
THEY WOULD BE AFFORDABLE FOR PEOPLE IN THE AREA IF THAT IS ONE OF THE DEVELOPERS PURPOSES.
I'M ALSO THE TRAFFIC IN THE TWO YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, I MOVED HERE EXACTLY FOR THE PURPOSE CAUSE EXCUSE ME, EXACTLY FOR THE REASON THE SPACE, THE WILDLIFE.
MY BACK IS ALSO A TEXAS, UM, WILDLIFE AREA TOO.
AND I TAKE THEM VERY SERIOUSLY AND I APPRECIATE THE WILDLIFE AND I APPRECIATE THE DIVERSITY THAT IS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND I WANT TO SEE THAT CONTINUE AND CONTINUE.
UM, AND SO WE NEED TO HAVE TRAFFIC, UM, UM, UNDER CONTROL.
IS UM, UH, MATT BRADFORD HERE.
WHAT ABOUT AARON RONDOR? OKAY.
SO, UM, I AM HERE TO DISCUSS, UM, ITEM NUMBER THREE, DIAMOND 42 AND ITEM NUMBER 67 TO SPRINGS.
I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE HOG PEN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND DISTRICT
[03:10:01]
ONE AND ALSO A MEMBER OF THE EAST MLK CONTACT TEAM.DIAMOND 42, UM, SALLY GASKIN APPROACHED, UH, THE EAST MLK CONTACT TEAM IN AUGUST OF 2019.
SHE WAS REFERRED TO THE HOG PEN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION WHEREIN SHE PROVIDED A COMMUNITY, UM, EVENTS AT GIVENS REC CENTER IN SEPTEMBER ON SEPTEMBER 17TH, WHERE THE NEIGHBORHOOD CAME TOGETHER AND ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROJECT.
BY OCTOBER OF 2019 WE RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM SALLY GASKIN SAYING THAT THEY WERE GOING TO GIVE UP ON THAT PROJECT AND MOVED OVER TO OTHER PROJECTS THAT THEY WERE WORKING ON.
AND WE ALSO RECEIVED A LETTER FROM MR. MOSLEY SAYING THAT GIVE IT UP THAT PROJECT AND THAT THEY MAY ATTEMPT TO PICK IT UP AGAIN IN THE SPRING.
HOGTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION OR EAST MLK CONTACT TEAM IN THE FOLLOWING MONTHS.
ALSO, THE ORIGINAL ASK WAS N F TOO.
NOW I SEE IT SURPRISINGLY ON TODAY'S AGENDA AS AN S S ASK, WE PRESENTED AS BOTH A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND THE EAST MLK CONTACT TEAM.
UM, OUR REQUIREMENTS FOR GAINING NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, SUPPORT FOR ANY PROJECT.
AND, UM, WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANY RESPONSE TO THOSE QUESTIONS SINCE OCTOBER OF 2019 WHEN SALLY GASKIN EMAILED US TO SAY THAT THEY WERE ABANDONING THE PROJECT.
SO, UM, THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND YOUTH MLK CONTACT TEAM HAS NOT PROVIDED SUPPORT FOR THIS PROJECT.
AND I, AND I HOPE THAT YOU GUYS HEAR THAT.
UM, ITEM NUMBER 67 POPS PECAN SPRINGS HAS ALREADY BEEN TALKED ABOUT REPEATEDLY TODAY.
I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THE TIMELINE.
IN MARCH ON MARCH 14TH, YES, SNA VOTED TO NOT SUPPORT AND THEN AGAIN IN APRIL UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO NOT SUPPORT THIS PROJECT.
IT WAS BROUGHT TO THE EAST MLK CONTACT TEAM.
AFTER MUCH DELIBERATION ON APRIL 20TH, 2012 OF OUR MEMBERS VOTED IN SUPPORT OF WRITING A LETTER OF OPPOSITION FOR THIS PROJECT.
ONLY ONE MEMBER VOTED NEUTRAL ON THE TOPIC AND THEN IT APPEARS THAT UM, OR WE HAD A MEETING AND IT APPEARS THAT UM, YOU GUYS AT THE HEARING ON THE 28TH OF APRIL, UM, DIDN'T EVEN UM, ADDRESS THE FACT THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND THE EASTERN, I'LL SAY CONTACT TEAM, I PROVIDED LETTERS OF OPPOSITION.
OUR DIGITAL DIVIDE HAS EXACERBATED COMMUNITY ON ALL LEVELS OF THIS PROCESS.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MAX ELLIOT.
IN AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE CO FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF URBAN ROOTS, WE LET YOU KNOW THAT OUR BELIEF IS NEITHER IN FAVOR NOR IN OPPOSITION TO AGENDA ITEM 74 TELL A RV PARK REZONE APPLICATION REQUEST.
WE ARE TRULY GRATEFUL FOR THE TIME AND SUPPORT OF A COUNCIL MEMBER, A HOPPER, MADISON MAYOR, PRETEND GAZA COUNCIL MEMBER, TOBIN TOPO AND COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN IN THEIR OFFICES WHO WILL HELP NEGOTIATE SOME COMMENDATIONS FOR THE DEL LA LANE NEIGHBORS.
WE APPRECIATE THE OWNERS OF THE APPLICANT'S EFFORTS TO ACCOMMODATE SOME OF THE NEIGHBOR'S CONCERNS AND WE ARE GRATEFUL TO HAVE THE CHANCE TO UTILIZE INCREASED PARKING AT THE END TO TELL WALT LANE.
HOWEVER, UM, WE STILL CONTINUE TO HAVE SAFETY CONCERNS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ADEQUATELY ADDRESSED.
SO, UM, AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, WE STRUGGLED TO READ THAT THE ROAD CANNOT SAFELY ACCOMMODATE THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC FOR THE CAMPGROUND PROJECT.
UM, AS, AS MANY PEOPLE KNOW, DARLENE IS VERY SUBSTANDARD.
IT'S NARROW, THERE'S NO RIGHT OF WAY.
IT'S PINNED IN BETWEEN SOUTH WALNUT CREEK BIKE PATH, RAILROAD TRACK, AND A HUNDRED YEAR FLOOD PLAIN.
UM, IN FACT, IN THE ATLAS 1412 MAP, A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE LANE IS IN, WHICH IS THE ONLY ENTRANCE TO THE CAMPGROUNDS IS IN A HUNDRED YEAR FLOOD PLAIN.
UH, WE APPRECIATE THE APPLICANT'S EFFORTS TO INCLUDE IN A RESTRICTED COVENANT THAT THEY WOULD INSTALL SAFETY HERE AT DEVIL LANE BRIDGE CROSSING BOGGY CREEK, UH, TO ENHANCE THE SAFETY OF VEHICLES AND PEDESTRIANS CROSSING THE BRIDGE AS WELL AS CAUTION SIGNS IN EACH DIRECTION.
UM, HOWEVER, THESE IMPROVEMENTS NOT ONLY SATISFY OUR SAFETY CONCERNS, UH, THE BRIDGE ITSELF THAT GOES EVERYBODY.
LANE, BOGGY CREEK IS FLOOD PLAIN AND THE CITY HAS DECLARED THE BRIDGE TO BE THE FIRST, THE FOURTH,
[03:15:01]
OUR SCRIMMAGE AND NEEDED REPAIR.UH, THIS BRIDGE FLOODED TWICE IN 2015 STRANDING RESIDENTS, UM, FOR THE RECORD OF THE RISK TAKES THIS SERIOUSLY AND WE ARE USING COMMUNITY MEMBERS AT OUR FARM AND IT BEGINS TO THUNDER.
WE EVACUATED OUR PROPERTY BECAUSE OF OUR SAFETY PROTOCOLS WHEN OUR FARM IS FLOODED.
MOVIES THAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE EVER BEEN AT RISK.
SO WE WOULD ASK HER WHAT WOULD HAPPEN WHEN BOGGY CREEK FLOODED AGAIN, AND IF THERE WAS A FIRE OR A MEDICAL EMERGENCY IN THE CAMPGROUND, UM, THE VEHICLES WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CROSS A FLOODED CREEK.
ADDING MORE TRAFFIC IN THIS AREA WITH SUCH VULNERABLE AND SUBSTANTIVE TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE FEELS UNSAFE.
UM, SO, UH, IF COUNCIL APPROVES THE REASON WE HAVE THIS PROPERTY, WE ASK THAT THE CITY RESPOND TO OUR SAFETY CONCERNS AND COMMIT TO INVESTING IN THE BRIDGE AND ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE THAT CAN HELP MINIMIZE ANY OF THIS.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
YEAH, I DO HAVE A QUESTION FOR MR. ELLIOTT.
UM, SO I KNOW WE'VE HEARD FROM OKAY, FROM SEVERAL, UM, NEIGHBORS, UH, REQUEST THAT THERE AND I KNOW THAT YOU'VE BEEN WORKING REALLY CLOSELY WITH THE, YOU BEING VARIOUS NEIGHBORS, WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE APPLICANT TO NEGOTIATE SOME CONDITIONS AND AS I UNDERSTAND, IF I'M KEEPING UP WITH MY EMAIL.
WHICH IS A BIG F AT THIS POINT.
UM, I THINK I SAW THAT THERE IS ANOTHER RESTRICTIVE COVENANT COMING FORWARD POTENTIALLY WITH SOME LANGUAGE ABOUT A BUFFER.
UM, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE NEIGHBORS HAVE REQUESTED THAT THERE BE A BUFFER OF A HUNDRED FEET FROM THE WESTERN PROPERTY LINE OF THE OWNER'S PROPERTY FOR RETAIL SALES OR DISPOSAL OR STORAGE OF TRASH OR TRASH RECEPTACLES OR DUMPSTERS.
UM, ARE YOU IN INVOLVED? I KNOW WE'VE GOT SOMEONE ELSE ON THE CALL WHO'S ALSO BEEN INVOLVED IN THE NEGOTIATIONS THAT I WANTED TO ASK YOU, MR. ELLIOTT THAT'S, UM, BEEN FINALIZED AND RESOLVED OR IF THAT'S STILL A PENDING ISSUE, I WOULD DEFER TO, UH, THE LABOR REPRESENTATIVE JAMIE MOORE, WHO IS, WHO SAID TO SPEAK THEIR RESTRICTIVE COVENANT.
OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER IS JAMIE MOORE.
DO YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES? OKAY.
UM, HI, MY NAME IS JAMIE MOORE AND I LIVE AT SEVEN SEVEN OH NINE DARWALLA LANE AND I'M TRYING TO PULL UP MY COMMENTS RIGHT NOW.
UM, I AM, I FEEL A LITTLE BIT HARRIED SPEAKING WITH YOU RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE'RE STILL IN THE MIDST OF SOME LAST MINUTE NEGOTIATIONS.
UM, I SIGNED AN RC YESTERDAY AND BEFORE SIGNING THAT RCF A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE RESIDENTS OF THIS IMPACTED NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE'RE IN OPPOSITION TO THIS ZONING CHANGE.
BUT, UM, I SIGNED THE RC YESTERDAY AND ASKED HER THAT I WAS, UM, CONTACTED BY THE APPLICANT BECAUSE I STILL WANTED TO PURSUE THE POSSIBILITY OF GETTING THAT HUNDRED FOOT BUFFER, UM, ON THEIR, UM, EASTERN THE EASTERN SIDE OF THEIR PROPERTY.
UM, AND ALSO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RC WAS NOT CONTINGENT ON THE RV PARK BECAUSE THE WORDING OF IT WAS THAT IT WAS CONTINGENT ON THE RV PARK.
UM, NOW I'M A LITTLE BIT WORRIED THAT THE WORDING IS CONTINGENT ON DELWAN LLC, UM, SUBMITTING THE APPLICATION.
BUT I DID JUST SIGN THAT NEW, UM, RESTRICTIVE COVENANT BECAUSE I MEAN EVEN THOUGH WE FEEL REZONING FROM SF TO TO C S M U IN A RURAL RESIDENTIAL LOCATION SHOULD COME WITH STRONGER PROTECTIONS FOR THE EXISTING RESIDENTS.
AND IDEALLY WE WOULD PREFER A TRUE 100, 100 FOOT BUFFER.
UM, I CAME TO THE COMPROMISED CONDITIONS, UM, THAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT, UM, THAT THEY WILL ONLY HAVE, LIKE WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT, BUT THAT THEY WILL ONLY, THEY WILL NOT PUT BATHROOMS OR, UM, DUMPSTERS OR, UH, RETAIL ACTIVITY IN THAT A HUNDRED FOOT BUFFER.
UM, AND THEN I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT THE APPLICANT AGREED TO ADDITIONAL RESTRICTED USES.
UM, AND THOSE ARE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER MEMBER HOPPER, MADISON WE'LL MENTION TODAY.
AND THOSE ARE HOTEL, MOTEL, OUTDOOR ENTERTAINMENT, RESTAURANT, GENERAL INDOOR SPORTS AND REC AND THEATER.
UM, I APPRECIATE THE MANY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THEIR STAFF THAT HAVE TAKEN THE TIME TO TALK WITH AND SUPPORT ME.
THEN LASTLY, I WANT TO EXPRESS MY DEEPEST GRATITUDE FOR YOUR WORK TO KEEP AUSTINITES SAFE.
I AM AN ESSENTIAL HEALTHCARE WORKER AND ALMOST DAILY FACE POSSIBLE EXPOSURE TO COBY 19.
SO SINCERELY THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS, ESPECIALLY IN THE FACE OF STATE AND FEDERAL PUSHBACK.
THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS WE HAD OBSERVED.
[03:20:02]
I DON'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT YOU, I JUST DON'T WANT TO LOSE OUR LAST SPEAKER.I HAVE, I HAVE TO CLARIFY HER COMMENTS.
UM, SO IF SHE WOULD JUST STAY ON THE LINE.
AGAIN, SORRY FOR INTERRUPTING.
NOW I AM, I CONTINUE TO HAVE THE SAME QUESTION I GUESS WHERE, WHERE, UM, WHERE DOES IT STAND WITH REGARD TO THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT? SO I, SO I JUST, I JUST, YEAH, IT JUST SENT THEM THE NEW RESTRICTIVE COVENANT THAT I SIGNED THAT TOOK OUT, UH, LIKE I SAID, I'M SORRY SIR SPEAKING WITH YOU BECAUSE I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS AND IN REAL TIME RIGHT NOW.
SO, UM, I JUST SIGNED THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT COVENANT AND PERSONAL AGREEMENT THAT TOOK OUT THE CONDITIONALITY.
IT WAS CONDITIONAL ONLY ON THIS BEING AN RV PARK AND MARKET.
AND UM, I, THEY AGREED TO TAKE THAT OUT IN EXCHANGE FOR UM, A 10 YEAR, UM, SUNSET CLAUSE, UM, AND THEY, UH, WOULD NOT AGREE TO A TRUE 100 FOOT BUFFER, UM, BUT DID PUT IN THERE THAT THEY WOULD NOT PUT TRASH, TRASH RECEPTACLES, UM, BATHROOMS OR RETAIL ACTIVITY IN THAT CENTERED FOOT ZONE.
AND THIS IS ALL CONTINGENT ON, UH, THE SITE PLAN BEING APPROVED AND, AND THE CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY
SO THE LANGUAGE ABOUT THE 100 FOOT BUFFER IS NOT IN THE REST OF THEIR COVENANT OR IT IS, IT IS, YES, IT IS.
THE WAY IT WAS WRITTEN BEFORE.
YEAH, I KNOW YOU HAVEN'T, I KNOW YOU HAVEN'T READ IT, SO LET ME BE CLEAR.
THE WAY THAT IT WAS WRITTEN BEFORE JUST SAID THAT THEY WOULDN'T PUT RETAIL SALES FEAR.
I ASKED THEM TO PUT BATHROOMS, NOT PUT BATHROOMS OR TRASH THERE AND THEN I REALIZED WHAT WE WERE REALLY LOOKING FOR WAS A TRUE BUFFER, UM, WHICH THEY, UM, WHICH WE, WE COMPROMISED I SUPPOSE ON, UM, NOT PUTTING DUMPSTERS OR BATHROOMS OR RETAIL ACTIVITY THERE, BUT THAT IS NOT CORRECT.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
BUT THAT IS NOT CURRENTLY IN THE CONDITIONAL OVERLAY.
THAT IS ONLY, THAT EXISTS ONLY IN THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT.
I GUESS I SHOULD ASK STAFF THAT THAT EXISTS ONLY IN THE YES, THAT EXISTS ONLY IN THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT.
I DON'T KNOW IF SOMETHING CAN BE IN BOTH PLACES, RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AND CONDITIONAL OVERLAY, BUT OF COURSE WITH THIS ZONING CHANGE FROM SF TO, TO UM, CSM, YOU AS A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE YOU KNOW THAT THAT PROPERTY COULD CHANGE HANDS.
UM, IT WOULD BE LOVELY TO KNOW THAT WE WOULD NEVER HAVE ANYTHING WITHIN A HUNDRED FEET, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S AN OPTION.
AND I WOULD, UM, SOME OF, CERTAINLY SOME OF THE CONDITIONS I THINK COULD BE IN A CONDITIONAL OVERLAY WHAT I THINK, BUT YOU'RE RESTRICTED RUNS WITH THE LAND, NOT WITH THOSE PARTICULAR, YEAH.
NOT WITH THIS PARTICULAR, UM, APPLICANT, IS THAT CORRECT OR IS IT TIED? YES.
FROM WHAT I, THE WAY I UNDERSTAND IT IS THAT THAT IS ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF A RESTRICTIVE COVENANT IS THAT IT DOES RUN WITH THE LAND WITH THE DEED.
IT'S FILED ALONG WITH THE DEED, I BELIEVE.
THE WAY, I'M ASSUMING IT COULD BE ALTERED IN TERMS OF THE LANGUAGE, BUT IT'S YOUR UNDERSTANDING THAT IT RUNS WITH, BUT THE WAY YOU'VE GOT THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT PHRASE, IT WON'T RUN WITH WHOEVER OWNS THE PROPERTY IF THEY PURSUE THIS KIND OF, UM, USE OF IT.
UM, LET'S SEE IF I MAY REAL QUICK WHILE MY COLLEAGUE IS ON THIS LINE OF QUESTIONING, UM, BECAUSE AS MS. MORRIS SAID IN WHICH, BY THE WAY, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR ADVOCACY FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND IT'S BEEN TO, YOU KNOW, THE PROCESS AND I REALLY APPRECIATE HAVING HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH YOU.
BUT, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER TOBO IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IS NOT ALLOWED IN A CONDITIONAL OVERLAY, IN WHICH CASE I'D REALLY LIKE TO MAYBE TABLE THAT SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS AND LET STAFF ANSWER THEM.
YEAH, NO, THAT'S, I THINK THAT'S APPROPRIATE TO HAVE OUR STAFF.
I WAS REALLY ASKING, I REALLY WANTED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS MORE, SINCE WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT, AT LEAST NOT THE MOST RECENT ONE, AT LEAST OUR OFFICE HASN'T.
UM, I WANTED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HER UNDERSTANDING IS OF THE LANGUAGE IN THE RC IN TERMS OF THE LEVEL OF PROTECTION.
DOES SHE BELIEVE THAT IT RUNS WITH YEAH.
UM, THE PROPERTY, NOT THE PROPERTY, NOT THIS.
[03:25:01]
YEAH.WITH REGARD TO THE WHO THEY'VE CRAFTED THE DEAL WITH.
WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH MS. MOORE, AND I APPRECIATE AND I, I'M SURE MY COLLEAGUES DO TO ALL OF YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
BUT THAT SAID, THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS WE HAD ON ZONING OTHER THAN THE APPLICANTS, WHICH WE'LL HAVE COME BACK WHEN WE ACTUALLY HEAR THOSE.
UH, WE DO HAVE ONE MORE SPEAKER THAT'S SIGNED UP THAT WISHES TO SPEAK OR, SO I MET HFC ITEM, UH, WHICH IS, UH, ITEM NUMBER 48.
UH, SO I'M GOING TO ENABLE THAT SPEAKER TO BE CALLED, UM, UH, AT THIS POINT.
UH, SO I AM GOING TO RECESS THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HERE AT THREE 31.
[10:30 AM - Austin Housing and Finance Corporation Meeting]
I'M GOING TO CONVENE THE, UH, HFC AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION MEETING HERE ON MAY 21ST, 2020.WE HAVE A QUORUM OF THE DIRECTORS PRESENT OR WE'RE GOING TO CONVENE FOR THE PURPOSE OF CALLING A SPEAKER THAT HAS A, OKAY.
UH, SIGNED UP TO, UH, TO, TO SPEAK.
DO WE STILL HAVE THE SPEAKER ON THE PHONE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK OKAY.
TELL ME ABOUT WHAT YOU, WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD.
YOU HAVE THEM THREE MINUTES, SPENCER.
I'VE BEEN WAITING ON HOLD SO LONG.
APPRECIATE YOU TAKING SOME KIND OF ACTION.
I WANT TO BE QUICK IN REGARDS TO AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION NUMBER EIGHT, RATIFYING AN EMERGENCY CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT OF ALMOST 1,000,005 BUT ALSO, UM, ITEM 75 THAT WAS DISCUSSED EARLIER.
I BELIEVE IT'S STILL ON THE, UH, ON THE NOTES.
IT'S PULLED BY PROTOCOLS A BIT.
UM, I KIND OF WANT TO CORRELATE BOTH, BOTH ITEMS TOGETHER.
THEY'RE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO ME.
AS I NOTED IN MY EMAIL TO YOU ALL, I'M WORKING CONSTRUCTION GIGS.
I DON'T QUALIFY FOR STIMULUS PACKAGES AND OTHER RELIEF FUNDS THAT ARE CURRENTLY EXISTING, BUT I KNOW THAT, THAT, THAT IT TAKES ACTIVISTS AND ADVOCATES LIKE US TO COME TO YOU ALL TO REQUEST THAT THOSE FUNDS BE USED APPROPRIATELY.
UM, I DO THINK IT WAS IN RECENT MONTHS THAT UM, MR
AND I WANTED THAT TO BE TOP OF MIND TO YOU.
UM, WE SPECIFICALLY NEED YOU TO PRIORITIZE ANY AND ALL ITEMS REGARDING FUNDING FROM THE DIRECT DEPOSITS AND PREPAID CAUSE FOR AUSTIN'S MOST VULNERABLE, VULNERABLE FAMILIES.
EVEN IF THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE ME SPECIFICALLY FAMILIES LIKE THOSE THAT UM, THAT I INTERACT WITH THAT I REPRESENT AND STAND FOR.
FAMILY VIOLENCE SURVIVORS, ABSOLUTELY LOW INCOME FAMILIES THAT HAVE TO DEAL WITH FOOD INSECURITY HERE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, FORMERLY INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS, TRAVIS COUNTY AND WILLIAMSON COUNTY HAVE HAD TO LET HUNDREDS GO IN RECENT MONTHS THAT COME BACK HOME AND THAT'S ANOTHER MOUTH TO FEED AT THE TABLE.
WE ARE ASKING YOU TO OPEN UP THE ECONOMY, WHICH WILL INCREASE THE NUMBER OF, I'M ASKING YOU TO CONSIDER WHAT YOU'RE DOING WITH THE ECONOMY WITH THE FUNDS THAT WERE GAINED SINCE THE GOVERNOR WANTED TO OPEN UP THE ECONOMY.
THAT AS WE'VE SEEN INCREASES THE NUMBER OF COLD CASES.
I THINK SOMEONE ASKED FOR 70 MILLION OF THOSE DOLLARS TO BE ALLOCATED FOR VULNERABLE FAMILIES EARLIER.
AND I WOULD, I WOULD ECHO THE SAME.
I HAVE TO CATCH UP ON QUITE A BIT THAT I'VE MISSED OVER THE LAST YEAR.
BUT NOTHING HAS EVER CHANGED WITH ME BELIEVING THE DIET DOESN'T INTENTIONALLY KEEP THE FAMILIES EAST OF 35 TOP OF MIND.
SO I AM HERE STANDING FOR THE EAST OF 35 COMMUNITIES LIKE SEVEN, EIGHT, SEVEN OH TWO COLONY PARK, WINDSOR HILLS, DOVE SPRINGS BECAUSE RIGHT NOW EXIST INDIVIDUALS IN GASOLINE'S PLACE
[03:30:01]
IN SHAUN WAS PLACED IN SANTA RITA BUT ALSO THAT LIVE OFF OF WILLIAM CANNON AND STAFF NEED THAT NEED RENT ASSISTANCE THAT NEED, UM, DIRECT DEPOSIT, UM, THAT WERE DEPOSITED PHONES FOR GROCERIES FOR UM, MAYBE CALL IT MIDDLE SUSTAINABILITY AS, AS WE PROGRESS IN IN MONTHS, YOU ALL WILL HAVE TO BRING BACK UP THESE EBC CONVERSATIONS, PROJECT CONNECT TAX RATE REFERENDUM IN AUGUST.THE FAMILIES THAT ARE, UM, NICE, UH, CAPABLE OF EMERGING THROUGH THE DIGITAL DIVIDE.
I NEED YOU TO KEEP THEM TOP OF MIND AND MAKE SURE THAT ALL FUNDS, THE MAJORITY OF THE FONDA DIRECTED THEIR WAY.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.
WHILE WE'RE IN THE HFC, UH, UH, MATTERS STAFF HERE.
I CAN OFFER THEM ALL ON CONSENT.
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW MA'AM? NOT WELL.
MANDY, ARE YOU ON THE LINE? ARE YOU ABLE TO CALL HIM? SO HOW MANY ITEMS ARE THERE?
ALL EIGHT ITEMS ARE OFFERED ON CONSENT ON HFC.
UH, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE ITEMS ON CONSENT? I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION.
THE MOTIONS ARE SECOND TO THAT MOTION.
I CAN TELL YOU DISCUSSION THAT'S A MEMBER TOTAL THERE AT THE HOUSING AND PLANNING COMMITTEE, WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THE FUNDING THAT CAME OUT OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING TRUST FUND FOR RENT RELIEF.
AND I'M SUPER GRATEFUL TO OUR STAFF FOR MAKING, MAKING THAT ALLOCATION SO QUICKLY SO THAT THAT MONEY COULD BE OUT IN CIRCULATING AMONG PEOPLE WHO REALLY NEEDED IT RIGHT AWAY.
I WOULD JUST ADD THE ADDITIONAL DIRECTION TO NUMBER EIGHT THAT OUR STAFF, I'M ASSUMING THOSE WERE ELIGIBLE REIMBURSABLE.
COSTS UNDER CARES, WHICH IT SOUNDS AS IF THEY CERTAINLY ARE, UM, THAT OUR STAFF SEEK TO, UH, TO REIMBURSE, TO SEEK REIMBURSEMENT FOR THOSE COSTS AND THAT THEY REPLENISH THE AUSTIN HOUSING, TRYING TO FIND IT THAT THEY REPLENISH THE AUSTIN HOUSING TRUST FUND.
UM, SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO KEEP THAT AUSTIN HOUSING TRUST FUND AS FULL AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE IT OFFERS US SOME FLEXIBILITIES THAT SOME OF THEIR CARES FUNDING MAY NOT.
UM, IN PARTICULAR AT THE HOUSING COMMITTEE, THERE WAS A CONVERSATION ABOUT, UM, EXTENDED INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY BE STAYING IN EXTENDED STAY HOTELS AND SOME OTHER HINES OF LIVING ARRANGEMENTS WHERE WE WOULD WANT TO MAYBE HAVE SOME OF THOSE MORE FLEXIBLE FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE.
SO IF THE, IF MY COLLEAGUES SUPPORT ME, I WOULD MAKE THAT AS FORMAL DIRECTION AGAIN, THAT OUR STAFF SEEK REIMBURSEMENT FOR THOSE FUNDS.
AND THAT THEY MOVE TOWARD REIMBURSING AND REPLENISHING THE AUSTIN HOUSING TRUST FUND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
UM, DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY OBJECTIONS TO THAT, THAT INSTRUCTION? THEY'RE JUST CLARITY REAL QUICK.
HOW'S THE MEMBER TOLD ME YOU SAY TO REPLENISH IT BUT TO REPLENISH IT FROM WHICHEVER SOURCES MOST PRUDENT.
MY SECOND TENT HERE IS THAT THAT IS PRETTY FLEXIBLE FUNDING AND SOME OF THE KARA'S FUNDING IS LESS FLEXIBLE BUT IS CAN BE USED AS I UNDERSTAND IT FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND SO I WANT TO REPLACE, I WANT IT TO REPLENISH TO THE EXTENT THAT STAFF CAN, I WANT THEM TO REPLENISH THE AUSTIN HOUSING TRUST FUND.
IS THAT, YEAH, I WOULD, I WOULDN'T WANT TO REPLENISH.
I THINK WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE.
BUT IF IF FOR EXAMPLE, THE CARES MONEY IS BEST, I THINK THAT THE MANAGER HAS, HAS EXPRESSED A LITTLE SO ALSO IN CITY AND BY CITY LEGAL AND TIMES OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS THAT WE ARE STILL SORT OF SORTING OUT WHICH DOLLARS ARE BEST SPECIFICALLY FOR KAREN'S GIVEN REQUIREMENTS IN FEDERAL AUDITS.
AND SO I DON'T KNOW IF I'M COMFORTABLE SAYING EXACTLY WHICH FUNDS REPLENISH IT WITH, BUT I THINK A GENERAL INTENT TO TRY TO REPLENISH IT WHEN WE CAN I THINK MAKES SO THAT CLARIFICATION CAUSE IT MIGHT BE BETTER UNDER FEMALE RATHER THAN KEROS AND SO, SO YES.
LET ME, LET ME, UM, ABSOLUTELY
[03:35:02]
AMEND MY DIRECTION TO BE OKAY TO BE REFLECTIVE OF THAT CONVERSATION WERE ALTAR.I JUST WANTED TO ADD TO WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER CASARA SAID BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S ALSO VARIOUS MONEY THAT CAME OUT OF THE CARES ACT THAT'S GOING DIRECTLY INTO LIKE CDBG, ET CETERA.
WE HAD AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA ON IT DEPENDING ON HOW THINGS SHAKE OUT, THAT MAY ALSO BE OKAY AND APPROPRIATE SOURCE RATHER THAN THE 170 MILLION, WHICH WE'VE BEEN REFERRING TO AS THE CARE'S MONEY.
SO I LIKE THIS DIRECTION, YOU KNOW, FROM THE MOST SUITABLE FUND.
IT COMES FROM THE MOST SUITABLE FINDS.
ANY OBJECTION MAPPING ADDED DEPENDENT AS A DIRECTION HEARING MAN THAT'S ADDED.
CAN YOU NOT SEE ME AND GO AHEAD.
YEAH, I DON'T LIKE, I WOULD JUST, UM, OKAY, UH, SHARE WHAT COUNTS.
MEMBER CASA AND COUNCIL MEMBER OFFICER SAID, AND I AGREE THAT OUR GOAL IS TO REPLENISH AS COUNCIL MEMBER TOBO IS ASKING, BUT I WOULD ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT THAT UM, DIRECTION IS SUBJECT TO WHAT WE ULTIMATELY DECIDE WITH REGARD TO OUR SPENDING FRAMEWORK.
WE HAVE NOT YET FINISHED THAT PROCESS OF DISCUSSING OUR SPENDING FRAMEWORK.
SO I DON'T WANT TO BE, UH, I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO THINK THAT ANY DIRECTION WE'RE GIVING RIGHT NOW IS OVER WOULD OVERRIDE ANYTHING THAT WE MIGHT ULTIMATELY DECIDE AS WE LOOK AT THE WHOLE PICTURE AS PART OF OUR SPENDING SPENDING FRAMEWORK.
SO WHILE I CERTAINLY WANT TO REPLENISH THE TRUST FUND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, UM, SUPPORTING THAT DIRECTION NOW DOES NOT MEAN THAT I MIGHT, I MEAN THAT'S GOT TO BE SUBJECT TO WHAT WE DECIDE AS PART OF OUR OVERALL SPENDING FRAMEWORK.
I THINK IT WOULD BE THE SPECIFIC SCAR CONTROL OVER THE GENERAL.
JUST WANTED TO MAKE PUT THAT ON THE RECORD.
AND ANY OBJECTION THAT THEN IS INCLUDED? WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA IN FRONT OF US.
THOSE OPPOSED LIKE ALL THE HANDS WERE RAISED PASSES UNANIMOUSLY OR THAT CONCLUDES THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION AGENDA.
IT'S THREE 42 AND THAT MEETING IS ADJOURN.
UH, I'M GOING TO RECONVENE THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING HERE AT THREE 42.
IT'S STILL MAY 21ST, 2020 WE'RE STILL MEETING.
I THINK WE HAVE CALLED ALL THE SPEAKERS.
[Items 46 & 47]
THAT WE CAN GO AND LET STAFF LEAVE THAT ARE DISCUSSION ITEMS. I THINK WITH RESPECT TO ITEMS 46 AND 47, THOSE ARE NON-CONSENT KIND OF NATION ITEMS. IS THERE A MOTION TO THE EFFECT THAT THE CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZES THE USE OF THE POWER OF EMINENT RANGE TO ACQUIRE THE PROPERTY SET FORTH AND DESCRIBED IN THE AGENDA AND RESOLUTION FOR THE CURRENT MEETING WHERE THE PUBLIC USES DESCRIBED THEREIN? I NEED A MOTIONI REMEMBER, UH, COSARA MAKES A MOTION SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR AND DISCUSSION.
THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THOSE OPPOSED LOOKS TO BE UNANIMOUS FOR PASSAGE OF ITEMS 46 AND ALSO 47.
[Item 49]
WITH, UH, ITEM NUMBER 49, UH, WHICH IS A PUBLIC HEARING.UH, NO ONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK OF IT AS PART THAT HAS NOT BEEN CALLED, BUT WE'RE GOING TO POSTPONE THIS ITEM TO JULY 30TH.
ANY OBJECTION TO POSTPONE THIS ITEM TO JULY 30TH.
[Item 97]
GO DOWN TO ITEM NUMBER NINE 97 AND FROM THE JUDICIAL COMMITTEE, UM, BUT I'M NOT RENEWING A CONTRACT, UH, IS UH, DOES THAT REQUIRE AN AFFIRMATIVE MOTION TO NOT RENEW? YES MA'AM.IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT?
CAUSE WE HAVE A MEDICINE SO I CAN SEND YOU A DISCUSSION
DO YOU WANT TO DESCRIBE WHAT THIS IS A CALVIN, SORRY, JUST REAL BRIEFLY.
I THINK I SAW THIS REAL BRIEFLY.
YOU WERE SAYING SOMETHING I MIGHT'VE BEEN LOOKING AT.
YOU KNOW, I CAN EXPLAIN IT AS WELL.
USUALLY IT'S COUNCILMEMBER FLANAGAN ON THE LINE CAUSE IT'S USUALLY IT BECOMES FROM COMMITTEE.
THE CHAIR WOULD, UNLESS HE'S DEFERRED AND WASN'T RAISED BY THE WAY.
IS COUNCIL MEMBER FINDING IT ON YEAH, I'M HERE.
YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO THE TRUCK? UM, YEAH, SO THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING CONVERSATION AT THE JUDICIAL COMMITTEE ABOUT, ABOUT UH, A LIST
[03:40:01]
OF CONTRACTS THAT THE MUNICIPAL COURT USES AND IT COMES FROMI WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO GO INTO FURTHER DETAIL ON THIS ITEM AS VICE CHAIR, BUT UM, WE HAD A LONG CONVERSATION WITH ADVOCATES AND THE COURT AND ULTIMATELY DECIDED AS A COMMITTEE TO RECOMMEND DENIAL OF THE SERVICE AND RENEWING THIS CONTRACT.
BECAUSE REMEMBER YOU'VE GOT SOME MORE INFORMATION ON IT.
I THINK THAT THAT COVERS OUR NEED TO DO IT.
UNLESS YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO IT.
IT'S GREAT BECAUSE IT COMES FROM A COMMITTEE WE HAVE, WE JUST CAN'T PASS IT WITHOUT DEBATE OR IT LOOKS LIKELY ACTED IN THE COMMITTEE.
SO WE'VE MET THAT SOMEONE WANTS TO TALK.
LET'S TAKE, LET'S TAKE A VOTE.
I WAS JUST ALLOWING THE PROCESS TO HAPPEN.
BURST CATS ARE A KITCHEN THAT HAS ALSO RAISED HER HAND FIRST TO MAKE COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO TO THINK, UM, UM, I'M ONE OF THE JUDICIAL COMMITTEE AND THIS IS JUST ONE ADDITIONAL THING THAT OUR COMMITTEE HAS BEEN DOING TO REDUCE BARRIERS AND YOU KNOW, REFORM SYSTEMS THAT WE'VE SEEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN.
WE ARE SOMETIMES SO MANY POLICIES AND RULES ARE PUT UP, BUT ACTUALLY MAKE IT HARDER FOR PEOPLE.
UM, TRYING TO GET OUT OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, TRYING TO UM, GET BACK TO NORMAL LIVES AND THERE'S BEEN DECADES OF POLICIES THAT MAKE IT HARDER FOR PEOPLE.
AND SO, UM, UH, THANK YOU FOR COUNSELING.
SORRY FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
WE HAD A GOOD DISCUSSION AT THE COMMITTEE.
THAT'S ONE MORE IMPORTANT STEP, NOT ONLY IN THE WORK THAT THE JUDICIAL COMMITTEE HAS BEEN DOING, BUT THIS COUNCIL HAS BEEN DOING, INCLUDING OUR WORK TO DECRIMINALIZE HOMELESSNESS SO THAT WE CAN HELP PEOPLE, OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATION.
THAT'S ALL RIGHT CAUSE IT'S OUR KITCHEN ACTUALLY.
SO I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR BRINGING IT AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO VOTING FOR IT.
ALL RIGHT, THOSE IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM NUMBER 97 PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THOSE OPPOSED PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
[Zoning Consent Agenda]
WHILE WE HAVE YOU HERE, CAN YOU TAKE US THROUGH THE CONSENT ZONING SO WE CAN LET THOSE PEOPLE GO AS WELL? SURE.JERRY REST UP AND WITH THE PLANNING AND ZONING DEPARTMENT.
UH, FOR TODAY'S ZONING AGENDA ITEM 54 WILL BE A DISCUSSION CASE ON ITEM 55 IS CASE NPA 2019 ZERO ZERO 3.01 STEPH HAS REQUESTED A POSTPONE THIS ITEM TO JUNE 11TH.
ITEM 56 IS CASE 2016 ZEROS OR ONE 4.0 ONE.SH STAFF IS REQUESTING A POSTPONEMENT OF THIS ITEM TO YOUR JUNE 11TH.
AGENDA ITEM 57 SKC 14 2017 ZERO ZERO ONE ZERO STAFF IS REQUESTING OVER THIS ITEM.
ALSO THE JUNE 11TH ITEM 58 IS CASE NPA 2017 ZERO ZERO 21.01 THIS IS A POSTWAR.
WHAT REQUESTS BY THE APPLICANT TO DO AN 1159 SKC 14 2019 ZERO ONE 67 THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING A POSTPONEMENT THIS ASSIGNMENT JUNE 11TH I AM 60 HIS CASE NPA 2019 ZEROS OR 21.02 THIS IS AN INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT REQUEST BY THE APPLICANT.
ITEM 61 IS CASEY 14 2019 ZERO ONE ONE ZERO THIS IS ALSO AN INDIFFERENT POST FORM REQUEST BY THE APPLICANTS.
ITEM NUMBER 62 IS CASEY 14 2019 ZERO 1.9 THIS IS A POSTPONEMENT REQUEST BY STAFF TO JUNE 4TH I DIDN'T REMEMBER.
63 THIS CASE SEE 14 2019 ZERO ONE ZERO SEVEN DOT S H THIS IS A POSTPONEMENT REQUEST BY THE STAFF.
JULY 30TH 54 IS CASEY 14 2019 ZERO ONE 65 I CAN OFFER THIS CASE FOR CONSENT APPROVAL ON FIRST READING ONLY.
ITEM 65 IS HIS NPA 2019 ZERO ZERO ONE 6.01 THIS IS A POST FORM REQUEST BY THE STAFF THAT JUNE 11TH ITEM 66 14 2019 ZERO ZERO 98 THIS IS A RELATED CASE ALSO POSTPONEMENT BY STAFF TO JUNE 11TH I AM 67 AND 68 OUR DISCUSSION, WE HAD SPEAKERS SPEAK ABOUT THEM EARLIER.
ITEM 69 IS CASEY 14 2020 ZERO ZERO ONE NINE THIS CASE I CAN OFFER FOR CONSENT APPROVAL ON ALL THREE READINGS.
ITEM 69 70 IS C 14 2020 ZERO ZERO 36 STAFF IS CRYSTAL CLEAR OF THIS ITEM TO YOUR JUNE 4TH AGENDA ITEM 71 IS 14 2020 ZERO ZERO ZERO SEVEN STAFF IS REQUESTING TO POSTPONE THIS ITEM TO YOUR AGENDA.
AGENDA ITEM 72 AND 73 WILL BE A VERY UH, VERY BRIEF, UH, STAFF PRESENTATION.
UH, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE ALSO TAKE THOSE UP WITH THE UH, PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE PROJECT CONSENT AGREEMENT, WHICH IS ITEM 50.
SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND PULL 72 AND 73 CONSIDER THAT MORE THAN 50 ALL AT THE SAME TIME.
AND ITEM 74 IS 50 14 2019 ZERO ONE 37 THAT'S A DON'T WALK CAMPGROUNDS.
I THINK WE SHOULD GO AHEAD AND PULL THAT SO WE CAN ANSWER THE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CONDITIONAL OVERLAY.
[03:45:01]
AGENDA FOR A ZONING OR ITEMS 54 THROUGH 74 ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PULLED ARE 54 67 68 AND 74 IS THAT CORRECT? YES.BUT THE POLL ITEMS ARE 50 (460) 760-7273 AND ALSO 74 YEAH.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? CONSENT AGENDA ITEM 72 AND 73 TO WAIT UNTIL ITEM 50 HAS BEEN CONSIDERED? YEAH, CORRECT.
ARE 54 67 68 72 73 AND 70 UM, I MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THE NON PULLED ITEMS, I CAN'T SEE EVERYBODY ON THE DIET.
SO IF SOMEONE WOULD CALL OUT, THAT'D BE GREAT.
THOSE IN FAVOR AND DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THOSE OPPOSED? I'M SAYING UNANIMOUS APPROVAL ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
COLLEAGUES, THOSE ARE THE ONLY ITEMS THAT WE'LL COME BACK AFTER EXECUTIVE SESSION TO HANDLE.
[Executive Session (Part 2 of 2)]
67 68 72 73 AND 74.UH, AND AT THIS TIME THEN WE WOULD GO, YES, MAYBE YOU'RE GOING TO THAT AGE.
NOW WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THE REST OF THE CONSENT ITEMS THAT ARE STILL, WE'RE GOING TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION 38 ITEM ITEMS ON THE ORIGINAL CONSENT AGENDA.
38 WOULD BE REALLY QUICK PROBLEM THAT WE CAN WAIT AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK OUT AND THEN NEVER GUARD.
SO IT IS UH, THREE 15 WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO EXACTLY ITEM NUMBER 53, UM, NOVEMBER, 2020, UH, ELECTION PURSUANT TO
I WILL ALSO GOING TO GO INTO CHAPTER EIGHT, WHICH IS THE BRAC TRACK A PERCENTAGE BY 572.
THIS IS GOVERNMENT REAL ESTATE.
SO WITHOUT OBJECTION OR THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING, EXECUTIVE SESSION COLLEAGUES, I'LL SEE YOU ON THAT OTHER, DID YOU ALL HEAR ME? SEVEN OH FOUR.
AND WE HAVE A QUORUM PRESENT CONTINUING IN THE CITY COUNCIL.
A MEETING HERE ON FIVE 2120 A CONTINUATION OF OUR VIRTUAL REMOTE MEETING.
[Items 67 & 68]
I'M GOING TO SUGGEST WE START WITH ITEM 67 68 BECAUSE I THINK APPLICANT IS NOW REQUESTED POSTPONEMENT THAT, YOU KNOW, 11 AND THEN WE'LL JUST WORK THROUGH THE CONSENT ITEMS. UH, 38 75 94 95 AND 96 AND THEN THE THREE ZONING ITEMS, UH, TAKING 50, 72 AND 73 TOGETHER.THEN 54 DESIGN GARDEN AND THEN 74 DEMO 67 AND 68 IS JERRY WITH US? YES, MAYOR.
UH, YEAH, WE HAVE RECEIVED, WE HAVE RECEIVED A POSTPONE REQUEST.
WE HAVE 67 68 THE PECAN SPRINGS FACES.
THE REQUEST DATE IS JUNE 11TH.
THEY MIGHT WANT TO MAKE A MOTION THAT THIS ITEM BE POSTPONED JUNE 11TH.
HARPER MADISON MAKES THE MOTION SECOND.
I WAS A MEMBER OF ELLIS SECOND'S NOT A NEW DISCUSSION.
YOU NEED TO DO, AS SOON AS I OPENED MY MOUTH I REALIZED THEY DID IT AGAIN.
SO I, I'M ACTUALLY REALLY RELIEVED HERE.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO CALLED IN TO SPEAK ON THIS CASE TODAY.
UM, IT DEFINITELY SEEMS TO ME LIKE THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE DISCUSSION BETWEEN THE APPLICANT AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD BEFORE WE PROCEED.
SO I'M REALLY GLAD THAT UM, THE MOTION PASS FOR US TO POSTPONE THIS ITEM TO JUNE 11TH.
I THINK IT'S THE APPROPRIATE COURSE OF ACTION.
UM, I THINK THAT UM, WE'RE MISSING,
[03:50:01]
UH, AT THIS POINT.I THINK, UH, KATHY AND ALISON AND JIMMY.
NO, UP TO THE TOP RIGHT OF YOUR SCREEN.
YOU CAN PUSH ON THE LITTLE, BUT IF YOU HOVER OVER THERE, YOU CAN CHANGE WHAT THE SCREEN LOOKS LIKE.
IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, JUST MOVE IT AROUND FOR ME.
UH, SO I GUESS WE HAD EVERYBODY HEAR ABOUT KATHY AND I'M GOING TO HEAR CATHY SAY SHE'S HERE TOO, I'M SURE.
IT'S BEEN MOVED IN STACK AND HE POSTPONED, THEY SIGNED THEM UNTIL JUNE 11TH.
I SUPPOSE IT'S ALL IN FAVOR, CATHY.
[Item 38]
IT GETS US THEN TO ITEM NUMBER 38 COUNCIL MEMBER CASSARA.THIS WAS PULLED I THINK BY A COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR.
MAKES EMOTIONS ARE A SECOND TO THIS MOTION.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER AND NEED A SECOND TO THIS MOTION.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON SECONDS.
UM, ANY DISCUSSION, UH, ON THIS ITEM ON SOME MEMBER KITCHEN, ALL THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ALTOGETHER.
SO, UM, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER COSAR FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD INTO YOUR CO-SPONSORS.
I THINK IT'S, UM, A REALLY IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF OUR STRATEGY FOR KEEPING PEOPLE HEALTHY AND SAFE IN OUR COMMUNITY AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
UM, I APPRECIATE YOU ACCEPTING AS FRIENDLY, UM, MY AMENDMENT, UH, ADD THAT CAN HELP ENSURE WORKPLACES HAVE THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND RESOURCES TO ADOPT THE WORKPLACE FOR, UM, COVET 19 SAFETY GUIDELINES.
UM, I ALSO APPRECIATE THE ADDITION, UM, ON PAGE NINE WHERE YOU CALL FOR THE CITY MANAGER TO ENGAGE A COMMUNITY TASK FORCE MEETINGS.
AND I APOLOGIZE, EARLIER REPUBLIC HAD KIND OF PASSED IT EARLIER, BUT, UM, I DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO READ IT EARLIER, BUT I DID WANT TO ASK IF YOU COULD ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU HAVE IN MIND.
I THINK THAT THAT WORDING COULD BE INTERPRETED IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS AND WE'VE HEARD FROM MANY MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY ARE WILLING TO STEP UP AND HELP US TO ADDRESS, UM, SOME OF THE PARTICULAR, UM, WAYS IMPACTING, UM, SOME OF THE POPULATIONS IN OUR, IN OUR COMMUNITY USING THEIR LEADERSHIP, UM, AND THEIR CULTURAL KNOWLEDGE.
SO COULD YOU JUST SPEAK A LITTLE BIT TO HOW THAT WORDING IS ANTICIPATED TO ADDRESS, UM, THAT OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEIR ADDITIONAL HELP? YES.
UM, NO, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF WORK DONE BY THIS DIOCESE AND BY MEMBERS OF THE CITY STAFF TO ALREADY ENGAGE LOTS OF PEOPLE.
I KNOW THERE'S A COUNCIL CABINET THAT'S SPECIFICALLY CONNECTING COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND DOING OUTREACH.
UH, AND THAT WORK HAS ALL REALLY IMPORTANT.
UM, I THINK THAT A LOT OF US HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT HOW TO GET EVEN MORE FOLKS INVOLVED CAUSE WE HEAR MORE AND MORE PEOPLE SAYING I WANT TO HELP.
AND AS THESE DISPARITIES GET MORE SIGNIFICANT, UM, I THINK BRINGING IN, HAVING PUBLIC MEETINGS, UM, WHERE MORE FOLKS CAN COME TOGETHER AND THE STAFF CAN PRESENT WHAT WE'RE DOING, WHERE THE GAPS MIGHT BE, WHERE WE NEED PEOPLE'S HELP I THINK WOULD BE REALLY IMPORTANT.
UM, AND I THINK HAVING SOME OF THAT TASK FORCE BE A FOCUS ON LATINO COMMUNITY MAKES SENSE.
UH, BUT I THINK THIS IS OPEN ALSO FOR THERE TO BE SPACE TO TALK ABOUT ISSUES FACING BLACK FOLKS AND AFFECTING OUR SENIORS.
UM, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF LEADERSHIP IN EACH OF THOSE AREAS.
BUT I DO, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE YOU'RE GETTING AT SOME TESTIMONY ABOUT THE FACT THAT OVER 60% OF OUR HOSPITALIZATION PHILOSOPHY, TWO TIMES A DAY DATA'S COME OUT IMPACTED LATINOS.
SO I WOULD CERTAINLY EXPECT THAT IT WOULD BE A MAJOR, A MAJOR TOPIC AND A MAJOR AREA WOULD BE CALLING COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN FOR, UH, SO I WROTE THE LANGUAGE THIS WAY SO THAT THE MANAGER COULD EXECUTE IT QUICKLY AND THAT WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH, YOU KNOW, WEEKS OF WAITING FOR COUNCIL APPOINTEES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND I THINK IT'S WRITTEN DOWN THAT THIS WOULD BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
UM, SO THAT WE'RE SO THAT WE CAN GET A WIDE SWATH OF PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE.
A MANAGER, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE A DIRECTOR OR A MUST GET IN WANTS TO TO TO ELABORATE ON SORT OF HOW YOU SEE UM, DOING THIS IN A WAY I THINK I'VE HEARD ALSO TO THE STAFF IS THINKING ABOUT NOT, NOT JUST PUNTING THIS TO QUALITY OF LIFE COMMISSIONS BUT ACTUALLY LEVERAGING THOSE QUALITY OF LIFE COMMISSIONS TO BRING IN LOTS MORE FOLKS AND ALSO STEP IN AND HELP.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF MANAGER YOU ARE MS MUSKET AND WANT TO ADD ANYTHING.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER IN THAT, THAT ADDITIONAL CLARIFICATION IS HELPFUL.
[03:55:01]
I KNOW THAT STAFF SINCE THIS WAS POSTED HAD BEEN THINKING ABOUT HOW TO BEST IMPLEMENT THAT AND WE DO HAVE DIRECTOR MUST GET IN WHO'S STAFFS ARE OUR COBIT CABINET FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ON THE LINE TO ALSO PROVIDE SOME CONTEXT.YOU MAY HAVE TO UNMUTE SHE WITH US.
WHAT'S THE NAME OF THE PERSON WHO NEEDS TO BE UN-MUTED AGAIN? IT'S MASCULINE IF WE CAN'T GET HER, I THINK OUR DEPUTY CITY MANAGER COULD ALSO CHIME IN AS WELL.
I KNOW SHE WAS TRYING TO GET ON THE LINE.
UM, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CONGRESS.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? I ASSUME? YES.
UH, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CABINETS, UH, AND IT HAS GROWN TO ALMOST 20 MEMBERS, UM, AS THAT HAS MOVED FORWARD.
UM, AND DOING THAT, I THINK THEY'VE DONE SOME REALLY TERRIFIC WORK, UM, TO MOVE SOME OF THAT, UH, REALLY FOCUSED AND TARGET OUR COMMUNITIES, PARTICULARLY OUR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
UM, BUT THEY HAVE ALSO BEEN THINKING ABOUT HOW TO MOVE FORWARD IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS AND DEEPEN THAT.
UM, THERE WAS SOME CONVERSATION EARLIER IN THE WEEK TO REALLY THINK ABOUT, UH, HOW TO MOVE SOME OF THAT WORK, UM, TOGETHER THINKING ABOUT THE COLLABORATION WITH THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND THE PARTNERS.
UH, THEY REALLY HAVE BEEN FOCUSED ON, UM, WORKING WITH GETTING A BILINGUAL MAILER OUT AND IT'S INTENDED TO BE SENT TO HOUSEHOLDS IN THE ESTER EASTERN CRESCENT, UM, WITH AN ANNUAL SALARY OF 45,000.
IT'S SUPPOSED TO REACH, UH, OVER 40,000 HOUSEHOLDS.
SO THEY'VE BEEN REALLY TARGETED IN THEIR APPROACH, BUT THEY ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE PACERS AND BROUGHT FORWARD BY OUR LATINO HISPANIC COMMUNITY.
UM, AND LOOKING REALLY FORWARD TO LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF THAT COMMUNITY.
BUT WE'VE ALSO HEARD OF OTHER COMMUNITIES AS WELL.
AND SO WHAT WE REALLY WANTED TO DO WAS, UM, SHIFT A LITTLE BIT AND THINK ABOUT HOW DO WE LEVERAGE OUR QUALITY OF LIFE COMMISSIONS AS WELL AND START TO HAVE A SERIES OF REALLY COMMUNITY, UH, TASKFORCE MEETINGS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND REALLY SPECIFIC ABOUT TOPICS OF INTEREST TO GET FEEDBACK.
AND SO WE HAVE TALKED TO SOME OF OUR OTHER CABINET MEMBERS AND PARTICULARLY LIKE TO FOCUS ON JUST ON EITHER HOUSING INITIATIVES OR RENT ASSISTANCE AND HAVE OTHERS FOCUSED ON WHAT ARE THE BUSINESS AND THE INDIVIDUAL ECONOMIC NEEDS OF FOLKS, UM, WHAT ARE THE HEALTH CONCERNS THAT PEOPLE HAVE.
AND SO WE WILL BE WORKING WITH THE QUALITY OF LIFE COMMISSIONS AND SETTING FORTH A SERIES OF OPEN COMMUNITY TASKFORCE MEETINGS TO REALLY HEAR FROM COMMUNITY SPECIFICALLY ON OUR TOPICS OF INTEREST TO GET FEEDBACK.
SO WE HAVE SOME OF OUR OTHER CABINET MEMBERS AND PARTICULARLY FOCUS ON JUST THE EITHER HOUSING INITIATIVES, HAVE OTHERS FOCUSED ON EQUITY AND THE INDIVIDUAL ECONOMICALLY NEEDS, WHAT ARE THE HEALTH CONCERNS THAT PEOPLE HAVE.
AND SO WE WILL BE SETTING UP, SOMEBODY HAS THE ATX N ON IN THE BACKGROUND BECAUSE THAT'S ON A DELAY FROM OUR MEETING.
I WILL SAY THAT I BELIEVE, UH, DIRECTOR MUSKEGON IS ON NOW AND IF SHE EITHER WANTS TO CORRECT ANYTHING HORRIBLE I'VE SAID OR ADD ANYTHING, UM, SHE MAY POP IN.
SARAH, ARE YOU ON? YOU HEAR ME? YEAH.
UM, HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A MIRROR COUNCIL OF CITY MANAGER CAR? APOLOGIZE AS HAVE HAVING SOME TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES, BUT I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE WORK THAT WAS DONE ON THE CABINET AND UM, ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
UM, MARIA, UM, I THINK HE'S A REALLY GOOD OVERVIEW OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING WITH THE CABINET IN COLLABORATION WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOOL'S OFFICE AND ALSO HARPER MADISON.
UM, WE'VE DEVELOPED A CADENCE OF GIVING INFORMATION OUT OF BASIC MESSAGES ON A WEEKLY BASIS TO OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
AND THAT'S BEEN REALLY HELPFUL WITH HELPING TO GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT, PARTICULARLY WHATEVER THE MESSAGE OF THE WEEK HAS
[04:00:01]
BEEN THIS WEEK.WE'VE BEEN PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON RESOURCES TO CONSTRUCTION WORKERS.
UM, WE'RE ALSO WORKING ON, UM, THE MAILER THAT WE SENT OUT THAT IS GOING OUT THAT SHOULD BE IN MAILBOXES, THIS A WEEKEND AND IT INCLUDES A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT VARIOUS RESOURCES, THE RISE FUND, RENTAL ASSISTANCE TESTING, MOST IMPORTANTLY TESTING, UM, THAT'S GOING TO REACH 40,000 HOMES, UM, BY THIS WEEKEND.
AND SO WE'RE ALSO WORKING IN COLLABORATION WITH THE SOCIAL SERVICE BRANCH.
UM, BECAUSE THEY ARE ALSO HAVE A SUBCOMMITTEE OF PRIORITY POPULATIONS.
AND SO WE'VE KIND OF MERGED OUR GROUPS TO WORK MORE COLLABORATIVELY TOGETHER AND ALSO TO AVOID KIND OF DUPLICATION OF WORK.
BUT I DO THINK THAT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY, PARTICULARLY FROM WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY AND THE FEEDBACK TO EXPAND OUR EFFORTS AND ENGAGE MORE COMMUNITY LEADERS.
AND I THINK THAT THAT'S WHY IT WAS A GREAT IDEA TO ENGAGE IN WORK WITH THE COMMISSION.
UM, AND SO WE'LL BE DEVELOPING A PLAN TO WORK MORE DIRECTLY WITH OUR QUALITY OF LIFE CONDITIONS, WHICH I'M PRETTY SURE THEY'RE OPEN TO AND, UM, AND, AND ROCK TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY MORE SO IN A DIRECT WAY.
UM, AND SO I THINK THAT WE, OKAY, WE WILL ABSOLUTELY MAKE THIS WORK, BUT WE ARE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS WORK BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THE NEED IS IN THE COMMUNITY AND AS WE SEE THE DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
AND SO WE'RE WORKING REALLY HARD TO MAKE IT HAPPEN, UM, IN, IN THE BEST WAY THAT WE CAN.
BUT OBVIOUSLY THE MORE HELP THAT WE HAVE, SOME COMMUNITY PARTNERS, I THINK THE BETTER IT WILL BE TO GET INTO THOSE, UM, TO THOSE, THOSE THAT NEED IT THE MOST.
SO, UM, THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION.
UM, MR COSAR, I, MARIANNE FARRAH.
I THINK IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW WE WERE TAKING THE NEXT STEPS AND I THINK THAT WAS A WELCOME ADDITION, UM, TO THE RESOLUTION TO, TO HELP US, UM, PROVIDE SOME CLOSURE.
UM, FROM THE CONVERSATION ON TUESDAY ABOUT NEXT STEPS AND HOW WE WERE GOING TO TAKE FURTHER STEPS TO, TO COMMUNICATE, UM, AND ADDRESS THE NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY.
UM, I WOULD ECHO WHAT FOLKS HAVE SAID ABOUT THE UH, TASK FORCE CONCEPT.
UM, I WANT TO ASK, UM, ONE THING WITH REGARD TO THAT, UH, ONCE YOU GET THAT GOING, UH, I'D LIKE YOU TO LET US KNOW HOW THAT'S WORKING AND I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, TO MY MIND WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
SOME, THE LANGUAGE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER CASA HAS INCLUDED IS THE, THIS IS OPENED TO THE PUBLIC AND I WOULDN'T, I WOULD WANT TO BE CAREFUL THAT WE'RE NOT JUST, I MEAN THE QUALITY OF OD COMMISSIONS ARE ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL TO BE PART OF THIS, BUT WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE NOT ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE COMMISSIONS THAT HAVE OFFERED TO BE VERY PROACTIVE AND TO IN THIS KIND OF CONVERSATION.
SO I'M JUST WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER MECHANISM IS SET UP, IT INCLUDES THOSE ORGANIZATIONS AND IT IS, AND IT IS DONE AT A VERY SPECIFIC FOCUS, TARGETED WAY SO THAT WE CAN GET THE, THE PARTICIPATION IN THE FEEDBACK OF THE COMMUNITY TO MOVE, TO MOVE THE BALL ON THE, UH, ON THE NUMBERS.
I MEAN, WE ALL KNOW, WE'VE HAD PLENTY OF CONVERSATION ABOUT, UM, ABOUT THE DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT ON PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO CHANGE.
AND SO I'M HOPING THAT WHAT WE STAND UP IS, IS A FOCUSED EFFORT, UM, TO DO THAT.
AND THEN THE LAST THING I WOULD SAY IS JUST, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER CASSARA I APPRECIATE THE, UM, UH, ASPECTS, VARIOUS ASPECTS OF, OF THIS RESOLUTION.
AND I WOULD JUST ASK THAT, UM, AS THE CITY MANAGER IS WORKING ON THIS, THAT, UM, WE PARTICULARLY WORK WITH THE, UM, YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND THE, UM, ABOUT, ABOUT, UH, AND WITH EMPLOYERS IN, IN THINKING ABOUT WAYS THAT THEY CAN NOTIFY WORKERS IF ONE OF THE COWORKERS, IF ONE OF THEIR COWORKERS TEST POSITIVE.
AND THERE MAY BE WAYS THAT THAT CAN BE DONE THAT PROVIDES, UM, NO, SOME DOCUMENTATION TO THE WORKER THAT THEY CAN USE TO HELP THEM WITH ACCESSING UNEMPLOYMENT OR OTHER THINGS, OTHER RIGHTS THAT THEY MAY HAVE.
SO, UM, I'LL JUST SAY TO THE CITY MANAGER, UH, I THINK THAT'S CONTEMPLATED IN THE BROAD LANGUAGE IN THE SUGGESTIONS THAT COUNCIL MEMBER CASA HAS INCLUDED.
[04:05:01]
AND I JUST WANT TO POINT THAT OUT AND SUGGEST THAT WE'D BE SURE AND ADDRESS THAT.AND UM, AND UM, UM, UM, ALSO ASKING OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, UM, TO HELP US WITH THAT.
THAT'S WHERE THEIR HARPER MADISON.
I WAS, I WOULD SAY IN MY APOLOGIES, I WISH THERE WAS A WAY FOR ME TO SEE THE QUEUE.
I JUST ASSUMED THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL HANDS RAISED BEFORE ME.
UM, I WANNA SAY PROBABLY WHAT MOST OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ALREADY SAID AND, AND JUST SAY THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER CAUSE OUR FIRST LEADERSHIP HERE, I'M SUPER HAPPY TO SUPPORT.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO, I FELT LIKE EITHER WE HAD TO, WE HAD TO RECOGNIZE THAT THESE ARE LONG TIME ISSUES COMING TO ROOTS.
UM, AND WE WON'T FIX THEM OVERNIGHT, BUT THIS IS AN IMPORTANT STEP.
UH, I'M GOING TO, I WANT TO TO, UM, OKAY TO ADD THAT, I APPRECIATE THAT A PART OF THIS IS MAKING CERTAIN THAT WE'RE ACCOUNTABLE AT EVERY LEVEL AND ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THIS JUST ISN'T, ISN'T A MATTER OF A MORE ROBUST OUTREACH EFFORTS.
YOU KNOW, WE, WE DEFINITELY HAVE A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM.
UH, I JUST WALKED DOWN THE STREET TO LOOK AT THE INSTRUCTION SIDE OF THEIR LIFETIME AND A LOT OF THE WORKERS DOWN THERE WERE JUST SITTING THERE WITH NO MASK SITTING NEXT TO EACH OTHER.
UH, I THINK WHAT WE NEEDED REALLY NEED TO DO IS START HAMMERING DOWN ON THE, UH, ON THE PROJECT MANAGERS.
UH, YOU KNOW, THIS IS, UH, ONE OF OUR DEVELOPMENT THAT REBECCA JOHNSON, THAT'S OUR MONEY THAT WE INVESTED OR INVESTED INTO THESE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND I JUST REALLY FEEL REALLY DISAPPOINTED THAT WE, YOU KNOW, WE GOT WORKERS UP THERE, THEY'RE STILL EATING TOGETHER WITHOUT ANY PROTECTION ON.
AND, UH, I HOPE WHEN THIS TEST, THIS GROUP AND THE MANAGER REALLY START HAMMERING DOWN ON SPREADSHEET CONTRACTORS THAT WERE THROUGH OUR HOUSING BOND MONEY, UH, AND UH, AND REALLY TELL THEM, HEY, THIS IS A REALLY SERIOUS PROBLEMS BECAUSE ALL THE CONTRACT CONSTRUCTION WORKERS THERE ON THAT SIDE ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR.
UM, AND, AND WE'RE, I'M SEEING THIS, YOU KNOW, WE ALSO HAVE VERY SERIOUS PROBLEMS HERE IN EAST AUSTIN.
WE HAVE A CAMPSITE IN FRONT OF MY, UH, I BURIED THAT IS CLUSTERED AND I MEAN, THERE'S MUST BE SOMEWHERE LIKE 40 PEOPLE OR YOUNG PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT WEARING ANY KIND OF PROTECTION AT ALL AND TENTS ARE RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER.
WHEN OUR WORKERS FROM THE, UH, RESOURCE RECOVERY GOES IN THERE AND CLEANS UP, UM, JUST, YOU KNOW, MOST OF THOSE BURGERS ARE MINORITIES, PEOPLE OF COLOR, AND FOR THEM THAT THEY HAVE A SICK LEAVE AND INSURANCE.
BUT WE NEED TO REALLY START GETTING SERIOUS ABOUT THIS, THAT WE'RE REALLY GOING TO BE LOOKING AT TRYING TO PUT THAT TO SPREAD.
ESPECIALLY HERE IN EAST AUSTIN.
MY PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO WALK BY HIM.
I SAW THOSE WORKERS DOWN THERE SITTING THERE EATING ON THE SIDEWALK UNDERNEATH SPIRIT SHAPED.
THERE WAS A TREE AND I HAD TO TURN AROUND BECAUSE I WOULDN'T BEEN A LONG TIME.
SO THESE ARE THE KINDS OF PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING OVER HERE AND WE REALLY NEED, I REALLY NEED SOME HELP AND SUPPORT ON MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE TAKING CARE OF YOUTH PROBLEMS. I JUST RECALL AND THEY CALL AND WE STILL DON'T GET ANY KIND OF RESPONSE, ESPECIALLY AT THE LIBRARY THAT SAID THAT WE SHOULD BE GETTING, I MEAN, WHY ARE WE ALLOWING PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY I KNOW THEY'RE HOMELESS, BUT WHY ARE WE ALLOWING THEM TO BE THAT CLOSE TOGETHER? WOULD THAT MANY PEOPLE CAMP SIDE BY SIDE? I WOULDN'T ALLOW ANYBODY IN MY FAMILY.
THEY WERE, WHAT WAS IT? I KNEW FRIENDS TO GO DOWN THERE AT ALL.
SO I REALLY HOPE THAT WE TAKE THIS SERIOUS AND IT REALLY STARTED HAMMERING DOWN ON PEOPLE THAT ARE VIOLATING THESE RULES.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SAR, THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY.
I THINK IT WAS, IT WAS GOOD THAT WE GOT SOME TIME TO TALK ABOUT THIS.
UM, I APPRECIATE WHAT A DIRECTOR MUST GET AND LAID OUT ABOUT HOW WE HANDLE THE TASKFORCE WORK.
AND I THINK THAT WHILE THERE'S ALL OF THIS OUTREACH AND RESOURCE PROVISION STUFF, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF THE RULES.
[04:10:01]
THINK WHAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER OF NVIDIA AND OTHER FOLKS HAVE MENTIONED IS ALSO IMPORTANT.LIKE I THINK, UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT ENFORCEMENT'S AT WORKPLACES COULD LOOK LIKE AND CONSTRUCTION ENFORCEMENT MIGHT BE SOMETHING FOR THEM THAT, THAT GROUP TO LOOK AT WHEN I TALKED TO ABOUT ABOUT MAKING SURE PEOPLE HAVE A COMMITMENT TO FOLLOWING THE SICK LEAVE POLICIES AND EDUCATING THE WORKERS ON SICK LEAVE, ANY OF THAT STUFF IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THIS GROUP TO WORK ON.
UH, SOMETHING ELSE I THINK IMPORTANT TO MENTION BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD ON THIS, AS WE'VE TALKED SO MUCH ABOUT THE LATINO COMMUNITY THAT WE, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO ALL RECOGNIZE AND ELEVATE THAT EVEN IF IT'S A SMALLER TOTAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE, THAT THE DISPROPORTIONALITY SOME WEEKS IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY HAS BEEN JUST AS HIGH.
SO I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO SAY IN THIS.
UM, AND THEN THE LAST THING I WANTED TO SAY IS I THINK SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'LL SAY POTENTIALLY SAVE THE MOST LIVES AND THEREFORE HAVE BEEN SOME OF THE LEAST CONTROVERSIAL, I HAVE BEEN LEAST TALKED ABOUT AS FAR AS THE RESOLUTION, THE CORE PARTS OF THE RESOLUTION ARE THE MOST IMPACTFUL PARTS ARE GOING TO BE ABOUT OUR CONSTITUENTS WHO ARE OVER 65 AND WHO ARE BEING CALLED BACK INTO WORK AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
THE CITY BEING ABLE TO NAVIGATE THEM TO PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE OR BEING ABLE TO NAVIGATE THEM TO AN MORE TELEWORKER JOB IS GOING TO BE THE MOST IMPACTFUL THING.
SO I JUST DON'T WANT THAT TO BE LOST BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH WE DIDN'T TALK, WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT IT AS MUCH CAUSE IT'S JUST THE MOST COMMON SENSE PART.
BUT WE'VE GOT TO PICK UP THAT WORK AND THE SAME ISSUE OF, YOU KNOW, 60% PLUS OF CONSTRUCTION WORKERS DECLINING US A COBIT TEST, UH, US BEING ABLE TO ACTUALLY SAY, WE'RE GOING TO HELP YOU GET YOUR SICK TIME.
IF YOU'VE GOT A POSITIVE CODE TEST, PLEASE TAKE THIS TEST.
AGAIN, THOSE ARE THE LEAST CONTROVERSIAL PARTS OF THIS, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE DIDN'T LOSE THEM, UH, AS PART OF THE CONVERSATION.
I SHOULD HAVE GONE BEFORE YOU WENT BECAUSE I DIDN'T REALIZE YOU WERE GOING TO CLOSE.
I DON'T KNOW, BUT I DO WANT TO SPEAK TO IT.
UH, UH, YOU KNOW, SO MUCH WITH THIS, WITH THIS VIRUS HAS BEEN NOT ONLY THE GENERAL POPULATION APPROACH, BUT RECOGNIZING THAT THERE ARE SOME AREAS, UH, AS OUR MODEL OR SHOWED US, UH, WHERE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE REAL CRISES.
UM, NURSING HOME BECAME ONE OF THE FIRST AND CONTINUES TO BE A STRONG EXAMPLE OF THAT.
UH, BUT IN THE, THE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IN OUR CITY FOR LOTS OF REASONS THAT'S BECOMING NOW.
UH, THE REAL, THE REAL FOCAL POINT IS EVIDENCED BY THE NUMBERS AS THEY MOVE THROUGH TIME.
UH, IT'S NOT JUST THAT THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY HAD NUMBERS EARLIER THAT WERE HIGH.
THEY'RE STILL THE MOST DISPROPORTIONATELY REPRESENTED IN DEATHS.
UH, RIGHT NOW WHERE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS.
UH, BUT THE NUMBERS THAT WE'RE LOOKING IN HISPANIC COMMUNITY ARE THE REALLY LARGE NUMBERS RIGHT NOW.
AND THE ONES THAT, UH, ARE THE MOST DIFFICULT FOR US TO, UH, TO, TO GET UNDER CONTROL AS EVIDENCED BY THE NUMBER OF CLUSTERS THAT WE SEE AND THE ONES THAT LOOK LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE KIND OF THE RECURRENT CHALLENGE.
SO I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING, YOU KNOW, SPARKED BY WHAT WE SAW AT THE CONSTRUCTION SITES WHERE WE ONLY GOT 40% OF THE WORKERS TO TEST.
THERE'S A REASON WHY THE OTHER 60% ARE NOT.
AND I THINK YOU'RE A RESOLUTION.
THE BULK OF YOUR RESOLUTION GOES TO THAT AND WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO, HOW TO HAVE A CRACK THAT THAT'S NOT, UH, AND I THINK THAT THE, THE ADDITIONS THAT I APPRECIATE THOSE WITH RESPECT TO THE TASKFORCE, UH, AND, AND BRINGING IN THE, THE LARGER COMMUNITY CONVERSATION TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING IS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE EXPERTISE AND THE INSIGHT AND THE CULTURAL CONNECTIONS AND THE NETWORKING AND SENSITIVITIES THAT EXIST IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, I LIKE THAT YOU HAVE FOUND A WAY TO MAIN STREAM IT INTO OUR SYSTEM MOST QUICKLY.
UM, BECAUSE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS, IT'S LIKE PUTTING OUT FIRES RIGHT NOW AND WE NEED THE, THE, THE IMMEDIATE ACTION AND THE IMMEDIATE ATTENTION.
UM, BECAUSE THIS IS, IT'S A, IT'S A CRISIS AND IT'S HAPPENING QUICKLY AND IT'S HAPPENING IN REAL TIME.
I APPRECIATE THE LEADERSHIP ON THIS.
I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT THE CABINET IS GOING TO BE DOING IN THIS REGARD AND THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL THAT WE KIND OF GIVEN THIS RESPONSIBILITY TO KIND OF TAKE THE LEAD IN THAT FOR THE REST OF US.
AND THIS WORK THAT'S COMING UP AS WELL AS UH, UH, THE STAFF THAT I KNOW, UM, FOR, FOR WEEKS NOW HAS BEEN REALLY ALMOST SINGLE-MINDEDLY FOCUSED IN ON, ON, UH, THE CHALLENGE WE HAVE AND THE SPINAL.
I'M PROUD TO VOTE FOR IT AND IT IS JUST A START.
THERE'S A LOT MORE THAN IT HAS TO STILL HAPPEN THAT SAID.
ANYBODY ELSE? ALL RIGHT, LET'S TAKE A VOTE THEN.
ON ITEM NUMBER 38, THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
I'M TRYING TO DO THIS JUST SO THE RECORD IS CLEAN RIGHT NOW IN THE BACKUP.
[Item 75]
TO, UM, UH,[04:15:01]
ITEM NUMBER 75.I THINK THIS WAS PULLED BY, UM, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM YOU'RE MUTED.
UM, I THINK THIS IS A LENGTHY DISCUSSION THAT MAYBE WE'RE HAPPY ARE WE HAVING THE SPECIAL CALL, UM, SESSION AND SO JUST GENERALLY IT'S GOING TO BE THURSDAY AFTERNOON OR BEGINNING AT ONE 30.
I GUESS I'LL JUST NOTE BECAUSE I'M ASSUMING SPEAKERS WILL SIGN UP TO SPEAK THERE, BUT I JUST WANTED TO HAVE THAT TO SORT OF MINE MANY OF THE SPECTRUM, THE SPEAKERS WERE SPEAKING ABOUT RISE TODAY AND THE NEED TO INCREASE THE FUNDING TO THAT.
UM, WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE ALREADY ORGANIZATIONS THAT, UM, HAVE DISTRIBUTED ALL THAT FUNDING AND HAVE ASKED FOR MORE.
AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT MOST AWESOME AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH IDEA WAS TO GIVE EACH ORGANIZATION ONE LIKE A ONETIME KIND OF FUN KIND OF THING.
AND SO AS WE MOVE INTO, UM, MORE ON WHERE THAT FUNDING GOES, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE, WE INCREASED THE AMOUNTS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE SEEING HISTORIC UNEMPLOYMENT RATES AND, UM, HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR ABOUT MORE, MORE MONEY NEEDED FOR RENTAL PROTECTIONS AND, AND THE LIKE.
SO, UM, I JUST PULLED IT CAUSE I WASN'T A HUNDRED PERCENT SURE FROM THE DISCUSSION ON THURSDAY.
UM, YOU KNOW, YES, TUESDAY AND TODAY WE'VE, AND NOT EVEN JUST THE HOURS THAT WE SPENT TALKING, TALKING ABOUT GOLF COURSES AND OPEN SPACE AND ALL THAT, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT STUFF.
UM, BUT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR GOLF COURSE FOR LIKE YEARS NOW.
AND I JUST FEEL IF WE DEDICATE IT, EVEN HALF OF THE TIME WE SPEND TALKING ABOUT THOSE THINGS, I'M PROUD OF THE WORK WE'VE DONE.
I THINK WE'VE CHANGED A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE FOCUSED ON.
BUT, UM, WE NEEDED MORE DISCUSSION ABOUT HELPING OUR VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES AND WORKING FAMILIES AND JUST LOOK TO THEM TO BUILD OUR ECONOMY.
UM, AND THEN WHEN, WHEN THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPENED TO, TO, UM, YOU KNOW, AND NOT TO SAY WE HAVE, WE'VE DONE A LOT.
WE, I WISH WE COULD GET MORE HELP FROM OUR STATE AND OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BECAUSE A $1,200 CHECK, UM, THAT MANY FAMILIES STILL HAVEN'T EVEN RECEIVED, UM, IS NOT DOING VERY MUCH HELP.
SO JUST GENERAL THOUGHTS AND I HONESTLY HAVE TO LOOK BACK AT 75 TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON.
BUT I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY ELSE HAS ANY COMMENTS.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE IT CLEAR FOR EVERYONE WHAT THE PROCESS IS, BUT 79 IS DOING NOTHING OTHER THAN JUST APPROPRIATING THE, THE CARES ACT FUND, WHICH IS, UH, YOU KNOW, WHICH IS A TECHNICAL STEP THAT THE COUNCIL NEEDS TO, TO MOVE FORWARD WITH.
IT DOESN'T, IT DOESN'T ALLOCATE THE MONEY IN ANY OTHER, ANY WAY OTHER THAN WE'VE ALREADY DONE WHAT, WHAT'S BEFORE US.
UM, AND WHAT WE'LL ADDRESS IN THE WORKSHOP, UH, THE WORK SESSION NEXT WEEK, WHAT'S BEFORE US IS APPROVAL OF THE, THE BIG PICTURE SPENDING FRAMEWORK.
WHICH OUR STAFF LAID OUT FOR US ON TUESDAY, WHICH WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK ON AND WHICH NEXT THURSDAY WE'LL HAVE MUCH MORE DISCUSSION ABOUT AS AS MATT WAS, UM, HIGHLIGHTING.
SO I JUST WANT THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE NOT, UM, WE'RE NOT VOTING ON THE SPENDING FRAMEWORK TODAY, THAT OUR EXPECTATION IS THAT NEXT THURSDAY WE WILL DIG INTO THE DETAILS.
I REALLY APPRECIATE HOW FAST THE STAFF HAS BEEN WORKING WITH US ON THIS, UM, LAYING OUT SOMETHING FOR US TO WORK FROM AND TO CONTINUE TO HAVE SOME CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN NOW AND THE IN THE WORK SESSIONS.
SO, UM, OKAY, SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WAS CLEAR FOR EVERYONE.
UM, AND I DON'T KNOW, SAY THIS TO THE PUBLIC TO THE WORK SESSION IS SCHEDULED FOR NEXT WEEK.
UM, WE WILL, UH, AND FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, WE NEED TO TAKE SOME SORT OF VOTE ON THE SPENDING FRAMEWORK, WHETHER THAT'S NEXT WEEK OR THAT WAITS UNTIL JUNE 4TH.
UM, I DON'T KNOW THAT IT DEPENDS ON THE WILL OF THE GROUP.
UH, BUT, UM, I THINK AT SOME POINT WE NEED TO TAKE A VOTE THAT INDICATES OUR GENERAL LEVEL OF PRIORITIES IN TERMS OF THE USE OF THIS.
AND THAT WAS ON MY LIST OF THINGS TO DISCUSS NEXT WEEK.
[04:20:01]
NO FOLLOWING FROM, I THINK IT WAS KATHY'S, UH, OKAY.WE NEVER HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO EACH OTHER AT THE LAST WORK SESSION.
UH, SO THIS IS ALMOST A CONTINUATION OF THE WORK SESSION.
IT'S BEING SET THAT WAY SO THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE A CHANCE TO REALLY TALK TO ONE ANOTHER ABOUT PRIORITIES AND THE LIKE AND WE CAN CERTAINLY TALK TOGETHER AS A GROUP AS TO WHAT WE WANT THE SUBSEQUENT ACTION TO.
SO, SO IT'S PITCHED AS A WORK SESSION SO WE CAN TALK THROUGH ISSUES AND THEN WHEN WE VOTE WE'LL HAVE MORE OF THE PUBLIC.
UM, AND THEN IN OUR, UM, FISCAL CABINET.
I THINK THAT'S THE CABINET WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS.
UM, WE HAD A FOLLOW UP DISCUSSION BASED ON OUR CONVERSATION, UM, ON TUESDAY AND I UNDERSTAND THAT AD IS GOING TO BE, UM, FOLLOWING UP WITH SOME ADAPTATION TO THE WEEKEND AND THE, I'M FOLLOWING SOME OF THE SUGGESTIONS THAT CAME OUT OF THE DISCUSSION TUESDAY AND THAT WE WENT OVER AGAIN THERE.
UM, ONE OF THOSE IS TO ADD A BUCKET FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
ANOTHER IS THE KIND OF SHAPE IT, UM, SO THAT IT'S A LITTLE EASIER TO READ TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S IN, IN WHAT, UM, BUCKET.
AND WE HAD TALKED ABOUT SOMETHING.
SO MY EXPECTATION IS THAT THERE'LL BE A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT VERSION THAT WILL BE COMING TO US, UM, NEXT WEEK FOR US TO, TO, TO REVIEW.
UM, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, I FEEL FORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE $170 MILLION TO ASSIST US THROUGH THIS TIME AND IT IS MY HOPE THAT, UM, THE FEDERAL LEVEL ON THE STATE LEVEL WILL CONTINUE TO RECOGNIZE THE NEED AND HELP US, UM, HELP OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH THIS TIME.
WE ARE THE CLOSEST TO THE COMMUNITY AND UM, THERE'S A LOT THAT WE NEED TO DO, BUT IT'S, THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT MORE FUNDING, UM, WOULD HELP TREMENDOUSLY FOR US TO ADDRESS THE MANY NEEDS THAT WE HAVE.
UM, SOME OF YOU SAID THAT NEAR THE END OF YOUR COMMENTS, COUNSELOR AND ALTERNATIVE, WOULD YOU SAY THAT THE STAFF IS BRINGING US A NEW VERSION OF THAT SPREADSHEET? UM, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH OF IT'S CHANGING WHAT'S IN THE BUCKETS, BUT WE HAD DISCUSSION OF UM, LIKE HOW TO REORGANIZE IT AND MY BRAIN'S A LITTLE FRIED SO I CAN'T TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT THEY WERE, WERE PLANNING SOME OF THAT AS A SUGGESTION.
AND THEN THERE WERE OTHER SUGGESTIONS, UM, THAT WERE MADE AND THEY, DURING THE SESSION AND, AND DISCUSSION AFTERWARDS, IT WASN'T SO MUCH ABOUT THAT YOU ALLOCATE THE MONEY TO DIFFERENT THINGS AS IT WAS ABOUT HOW TO, HOW TO MAKE IT HELPFUL FOR US TO WORK WITH WHEN WE'RE HAVING A DISCUSSION.
THEN IT WOULD JUST BE HELPFUL TO KNOW AS EARLY ON AS WE COULD WHAT WE'RE GOING TO EXACTLY BE TALKING ABOUT BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY IT'S AN IMPORTANT FOR EACH OF US TO KNOW ABOUT IT AND FOR FOLKS TO SORT OF HAVE EXPECTATIONS OF WHAT WE'RE HAVING.
SO MANAGER, IF THERE'S ANY RECONFIGURING, THE SOONER WE CAN GET IT THE BETTER FOR WHAT IS A WORK SESSION NEXT WEEK, BUT NOT TESTIMONY OR HUTS, IS THAT RIGHT? YES.
LET'S REMEMBER KITCHEN, JUST TO HELP CLARIFY A COUNCIL MEMBER PLAN AGAIN HAD SUGGESTED SOME WAYS TO ORGANIZE THAT MAY BE MORE INTUITIVE.
SO IT'S MORE ABOUT ORGANIZING THE PRESENTATION, NOT A CHANGE IN THE DOLLARS IN THE POCKETS.
JUST TO SPEAK TO THAT, A GOOD EXAMPLE IS THAT THERE ARE BUCKETS THAT I THINK COULD BE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH RISE.
THERE WAS ALSO A RISE BUCKET AND THAT I THINK ADDED A LOT OF CONFUSION ABOUT WHAT WAS OR WASN'T GOING TO BE INCREASED.
AND SO I THINK THERE'S A WAY TO SIMPLIFY THAT WHERE THAT IS NOT A CHOICE WE'RE FORCED TO MAKE AS WE APPROVE A FRAMEWORK OR CAN STILL MAKE IT CLEAR TO THE PUBLIC THAT THE THINGS WE ACCOMPLISHED WITH RISE ARE STILL BUCKETS THAT ARE GROWING BECAUSE THEY'RE TITLED RENTAL ASSISTANCE WITH THEIR TITLE FOOD ASSISTANCE.
I THINK THAT'LL MAKE IT EASIER FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD.
I A
AND I THINK YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS LABELED WHAT, UM, IS I DON'T WANT THAT TO BE WHAT GETS IN THE WAY OF US MAKING A DECISION FOR ME.
UM, I THINK THAT'S SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF RENTAL ASSISTANCE IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND GLAD TO HAVE SEEN THAT THERE BEING SOME KIND OF MORE FLEXIBLE, DIRECT CASH OR DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WAS WHAT I SAW MISSING MORE
[04:25:01]
THAN MORE THAN RISE, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.UM, WHEN I, WHEN I SAID THERE'S NOT VERY MUCH RISE, RISE IS MISSING IN SOME WAYS.
FOR ME, WHAT WAS MISSING WAS THAT MIX OF RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND MAYBE ADDING SOME DIRECT CASH ASSISTANCE AS AS AS POSSIBLE.
UM, I THINK THAT SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE SAW ALSO WERE SORT OF THESE FIRST COME FIRST SERVED PROGRAMS AND, AND JIM'S PHONE LINES.
AND SO I AM ALSO REALLY INTERESTED AS WE GET INTO THIS ABOUT HOW DO WE GET HELP EFFICIENTLY TO PEOPLE, UH, AND QUICKLY AS WELL WITHOUT WORRYING AS MUCH ABOUT THE LABEL OF WHAT IT'S CALLED.
WE CAN TALK THROUGH A LOT OF THESE THINGS NEXT WEEK AT THE WORK SESSION.
UM, THEN WHAT ELSE WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT THIS.
THOSE IN FAVOR OF ITEM NUMBER 75.
LET'S TAKE SOME MORE TO MOVE PASSAGE.
DID THE MOTION COUNCIL MEMBER HALTER MAKES THE MOTION COUNSELOR DOESN'T GIVE HER 75 PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
[Item 95]
ITEM NUMBER 95.UM, I WOULD MAKE THE MOTION ON ITEM NUMBER 95.
THERE'S A POSTING THAT HAD SOME CHANGES THAT WERE MADE TO IT.
UH, I'M GONNA MAKE ONE LAST, UH, CHANGE TO THAT, UH, IN THAT DOCUMENT ON PAGE THREE OF SIX, UH, HEADLINE 48 TO TALKED ABOUT LEGAL DOCUMENTS FOR THE CREATION AND IT SAID OF THE CULTURAL TRUST OR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, IT WAS POINTED OUT, UH, THAT, UH, THAT WAS NOT CLEAR.
UH, WE DEFINITELY WANT THE EDC TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD, BUT THE CONCEPT OF IF THERE WAS APPROPRIATE TO HAVE A CULTURAL TRUST INSIDE THAT OR ALONGSIDE THAT, THAT WOULD BE FINE TO DEVELOP AS WELL.
BUT WE DEFINITELY WANT THE EDC TO MOVE FORWARD.
SO THAT CHANGE CHANGING LANGUAGE FROM THE CREATION OF THE CULTURAL TRUST, UH, OR EVC CHANGING IT TO THE CREATION OF THE C COMMA, INCLUDING WILL TRUST.
JUST TO EMPHASIZE THAT THE EDC ISN'T TO ME, SLOWED DOWN.
AND WITH THAT EMOTION, IT'S OUR SECOND TO TINY NUMBER THAT I ALSO REMEMBER HOPPER MADISON SECONDS.
I NEED TO UNDERSTAND YOUR AMENDMENT BETTER.
SO CAN YOU READ IT ONE MORE TIME? IT'S LINE, UM, LINE 48.
UH, AND, UH, I, THE CHANGE THAT I HAD MADE BEFORE, I DIDN'T MEAN TO IMPLY THAT THERE SHOULDN'T BE THE IMMEDIATE WORK ON THE EDC.
AND IT WAS POINTED OUT TO ME THAT SOMEBODY COULD READ THAT TO THINK, WELL, WE'LL WORK ON THE CULTURAL TRUST INSTEAD OF THE EDC.
THE INTENT WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE CONTINUE THE WORK THAT WE USED FOR EDC AND IS APPROPRIATE TO HAVE A CULTURAL TRUST EITHER IN SOME OF YOUR DAD OR ALONGSIDE THAT IS UNCERTAIN.
HERE'S MY CONCERN IS MY WORD IT A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT I MIGHT SAY.
AND UM, BECAUSE I THINK THE INTENT OR THIS, THE CULTURAL TRUST IS ANOTHER ITEM THAT HAS BEEN WORKED ON FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND NEEDS TO BE MOVED FORWARD AND IT MAY END UP BEING MOST APPROPRIATE AS PART OF THAT UDC.
BUT COULD YOU PERHAPS SAY, UM, WE COULD SAY AND ANY CULTURAL TRUST? YEAH, THAT'D BE FINE.
BECAUSE THE CULTURAL TRUST I WOULD, I WOULD NOT SAY ANY, I WOULD SAY THE EDC AND THE CULTURAL TRUST BECAUSE THE CULTURAL TRUST IS, IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN JUST LIKE THE EDC IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE NEEDED TO WORK ON.
SO I THINK THE INTENT HERE WAS I KNOW THAT THERE'S CERTAIN WORK FOR A SPECIFIC CULTURAL TRUST THAT I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
I'M JUST TRYING TO, TO ALLOW FOR DIFFERENT STRUCTURES.
IT MAY BE SOME THINGS THAT THE EDC DOES THAT ARE BEST DONE WITHIN A TRUST.
SO I DIDN'T MEAN IT TO BE THAT KIND OF COUNTRY.
THE COMFORTABLE TRUST THAT HAS THE BOND FUNDING ASSOCIATED WITH DIFFERENT THINGS.
YEAH, THE CULTURAL TRUST DOESN'T HAVE THE BOND ME.
SO, SO IT MAY BE, OKAY, WHAT YOU WERE SAYING, SO YOU WERE SUGGESTING FOR THE CREATION OF THE EDC AND ANY CULTURAL TRUST.
KATHY, ARE YOU OKAY WITH THAT? THE EDC AND ANY CULTURAL TRUST? HERE'S THE ISSUE.
IF WE COULD JUST BACK UP DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AS IT WAS ORIGINALLY CONCEIVED IN 2014 AND THEN WE REAFFIRMED IT AND ADDED SOME ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE AROUND.
IT WAS ALWAYS, I MEAN PART OF ITS
[04:30:01]
FUNCTION IS TO ACQUIRE PROPERTIES INCLUDING FOR CULTURAL VENUES INCLUDING FOR PRESERVATION AND USE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING WORK THAT FOLLOWED TO BUILD OUT THE CULTURAL TRUST.BUT THEY ARE, THEY ARE NOT NECESSARILY GOING TO BE DIFFERENT ENTITIES AND WE, WE'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION A COUPLE OF TIMES ABOUT WHETHER IT WOULD BE ONE ENTITY WITH A COUPLE DIFFERENT BOARDS FOR DIFFERENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT'S JUST US.
THAT'S JUST A TOOL FOR ACHIEVING SOME OF THESE DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS.
SO THE ISSUE I HAD RAISED WITH THE MAYOR IS THAT THE LANGUAGE THAT WAS ADDED SUGGEST THOSE ARE GOING TO BE DIFFERENT ENTITIES, THAT THERE'LL BE A CULTURAL TRUST AND AN EDC.
AND AGAIN, IT WAS ALWAYS
SO I THINK THE MAYOR'S LANGUAGE CAPTURES THAT BETTER FOR ME.
THAT THOSE ARE NOT NECESSARILY GOING TO BE DIFFERENT ENTITIES.
I THINK WE'RE ALL ON BOARD WITH WITH THE GENERAL POINT THAT THEY MAY BE.
WE MAY AT THE END OF THE DAY END UP WITH
ONE, ONE AS A CULTURAL TRUST, ONE FOCUSING ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR IT MAY BE, YOU KNOW, ONE THAT IS NIMBLE ENOUGH WITH DIFFERENT BOARDS TO DO DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE UM, BE THE EDC THAT WAS ENVISIONED FOR SOUTH WATERFRONT BE AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UM, ACQUISITION ENTITY BE A CULTURAL TRUST ENTITY.
SO I THINK THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE ASKED OUR CONSULTANT WHO'S BEEN DOING THIS WORK NOW FOR A YEAR TO KIND OF SORT IT OUT AND FIGURE OUT WHAT I, WHAT I DON'T WANT TO DO IS PASS ANYTHING TODAY THAT, THAT COUNTER THAT CONTRADICTS WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST.
SO MOSTLY COMFORTABLE MAYOR WITH YOUR LANGUAGE.
IF WE COULD JUST TALK ABOUT THOSE OTHER INSTANCES WHERE IT'S OR, AND AGREE THAT, THAT WE'RE NOT NECESSARILY TALKING ABOUT ONE OR THE OTHER.
I THINK IT IS EVERYONE'S INTENT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT DECIDING STRUCTURES HERE OR, OR WHATEVER.
SO IT IS CLEAR EVERYONE'S INTENT IS
SO WHATEVER WORDS WE USE, I'M FINE WITH SAYING, UH, THE CREATION OF THE EDC INCLUDING A CULTURAL TRUST OR OF EDC AND OR CULTURAL TRUST PARENTHESES ASK CLOSE PARENTHESES.
UH, I MEAN ANY OF THOSE THINGS HAVE THE SAME TO ME RECOGNIZING THAT IN THIS DOCUMENT STAFF NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT PRESCRIBING, UH, WHICH STRUCTURES GO WHERE IN WHICH WAY.
SO ANDY, NEITHER OF THOSE OPTIONS WORKS FOR ME.
I JUST TO THINK THAT WHAT WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO DO HERE, AGAIN, WE'VE INITIATED THIS WORK.
THE CONSULTANT'S BEEN WORKING ON IT.
WE JUST, I MEAN REALLY THE INTENT OF MY PUTTING IT IN MY RESOLUTION WAS JUST TO SET SOME DEADLINES FOR BRINGING THAT BACK TO COUNCIL.
SO IT'S MY HOPE THAT MOST OF THAT WORK IS DONE AS I READ YOUR AMENDMENT.
IT WOULD BE, THE PROPOSAL WOULD COME BACK ON JUNE 11TH, AND THAT'S CONSISTENT WITH MINE.
AND THEN THE LEGAL DOCUMENTS WE'RE GIVING ANOTHER MONTH AND A HALF FOR, IS THAT HOW THOSE TWO DATES WORK IN YOURS? AND I WILL SEND, YOU AND I WERE WRITING THESE TOGETHER AND SWAPPING BACK AND FORTH SECTIONS.
WE KNEW THAT THE DATES WOULD IN FACT LINE UP BECAUSE WE WERE DOING IT THAT WAY.
THAT WAS THE INTENT OF BOTH OF OUR WORK.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THE 27TH OF JULY 27TH CAUSE THAT DOESN'T EXIST IN MIND, BUT IT'S FINE AS I UNDERSTAND IT FOR THE PURPOSE, THE INITIAL PROPOSAL FROM THE CONSULTANT WILL COME TO US ON THE 11TH BY THE 11TH AND THEN WE'RE ALLOWING THAT EXTRA TIME UNDER YOUR RESOLUTION FOR THE LEGAL, THE LEGAL AGREEMENT PIECE.
TAKING WHAT YOU AND I DECIDED ON THE JUNE DATE AND THEN TRYING TO HAVE IT COME BACK AND ACTUALLY WORK.
SO IF IT'S A, WITH THAT UNDERSTANDING THAT WE'VE TALKED THROUGH IT AT LENGTH, UH, ARE YOU OKAY WITH SAYING THE CREATION OF THE EDC AND MORE CULTURAL TRUST PARENTHESES S CLOSE PARENTHESES? I'M FINE MAN.
ALL RIGHT, KATHY, YOU OKAY WITH THAT? OKAY.
NOT TO RECAP, BUT I PREFERRED YOUR, THE LANGUAGE THAT YOU INITIALLY STARTED WITH.
I'M GOING TO ASK ALISON TARGETS FOR THIS.
[04:35:01]
GET THIS CONVERSATION DONE THEN THAT'S FINE.AS LONG AS, AS LONG AS OUR CITY MANAGER UNDERSTANDS WHAT THE INTENT IS.
NEW YORK CITY'S FOR EXAMPLE, DOES ALL OF ALL OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE JUST DESCRIBED.
SO IT'S NOT A VARIETY OF ENTITIES.
IT'S ONE AND THAT'S I THINK THE BETTER MODEL.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE NOT PRESCRIBING STRUCTURES OR LAYOUTS, ORGANIZATIONS, PLEASE FIGURE OUT THE BEST WAY TO USE THE TOOLS.
THAT'S MY, THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING OF YOUR DIRECTION.
SO, SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, I WOULD SAY THE CREATION, UM, THE UH, AND UM, CULTURAL AND A AND, AND CULTURAL TRUST PARENTHESES AS CLOSE FOR INSTANCE, OBJECTION.
THAT CHANGE HAS MADE, THEY'RE APPLYING 48 AND ALSO ONLINE 55.
UM, SO, UM, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING, IF I, IF I MAY I WANT TO SPEAK TO 95 AND 96 CAUSE I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, PART OF WHAT I WANT TO UNDERSTAND IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEM.
UM, SO FIRST LET ME JUST SAY I SUPPORT THE GOALS OF BOTH OF THESE RESOLUTIONS THAT AID OUR CREATIVE COMMUNITY AND BUSINESSES.
UM, I DO WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE CO-SPONSORS TO ELABORATE ON THE 10TH OF EACH OF THE RESOLUTIONS AND THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES.
UM, WE NEVER REALLY GOT TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION, UM, IN WORK SESSION AND, AND SPECIFICALLY I'D WELCOME SOME CLARITY ON HOW THE TWO ITEMS RELATE TO EACH OTHER, HOW THE GOALS OVERLAP.
UM, AND YOU MAY HAVE GOTTEN TO THIS TO SOME DEGREE, BUT I THINK I'D LIKE A LITTLE MORE CLARITY OF HOW THE CULTURAL TRUST RELATES TO ONGOING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION WORK.
AND THEN I KNOW THAT UM, COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO HAS BEEN BEEN PUSHING THIS, UM, CONCEPT FOR A LONG TIME.
I WAS PLEASED TO CO-SPONSOR AN EARLIER VERSION OF THIS.
I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW THIS DIFFERS FROM WHAT WE ALREADY INSTRUCTED.
UM, AND THEN AFTER I'VE HEARD FROM YOU, I'VE SIDE, UM, ANOTHER COMMENT ON THIS AND THEN I WANTED TO ASK STAFF A QUESTION WHICH OF THE CO-SPONSORS WANTS TO OH, SURE.
UM, AND THAT'S ONE REASON MAYOR, I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY.
YOU RAN IT BOTH WAYS BEFORE AND THEN WHEN YOU CALLED FOR THE OBJECTIONS YOU SAID AND, AND WORKS FINE OR DOESN'T, UM, BECAUSE IT WOULD THEN BE CULTURAL TRUST OR AN EDC AND THAT'S NOT WHAT OUR INTENT WAS.
SO AS LONG AS WE'RE STUCK WITH IT AS LONG AS WE LANDED ON.
AND SO WE'VE, UM, WE HAVE, WE BEING SEVERAL DIFFERENT COUNCILS HAVE NOW INITIATED, HAVE NOW DIRECTED THE MANAGER TWICE TO CREATE AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
AND WE PROBABLY ALL ANSWER IT VERY BRIEFLY AND IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, OH AND I'LL ANSWER THOSE NEXT.
WE HAVE THE CONSULTANT, BUT AS I MENTIONED, WHO HAS CON HAS DONE LOTS OF STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS, HAS A LOT OF EXPERTISE FROM WORKING IN NEW YORK CITY AND OTHER PLACES.
AND I BELIEVE WE'RE, WE ARE READY NOW TO GET THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION UP AND UP AND WORKING HERE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND YOU KNOW, AS I LOOKED OVER THE BRIEF POWERPOINT LAST WEEK, UM, THAT OUR CONSULTANT HAD MADE TO SHOW HOW NIMBLE AND FLEXIBLE THE EDC HAS BEEN ABLE TO BE, UM, IN RESPONDING TO THE PANDEMIC.
AND EVEN I SEE IT AN IMPERATIVE OF, OF GETTING THAT WORK COMPLETED.
SO IN THE RED RIVER, YOU KNOW, MY RESOLUTION RESPONDS PRETTY DIRECTLY TO THE RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT RECOMMENDATION.
HOWEVER, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION COULD BE A STRATEGY THAT RELATES TO ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
MINE AND I AND THE MAYORS IS CONSISTENT WITH THIS IS REALLY JUST REITERATING, THIS WORK HAS BEEN COMPLETED I BELIEVE BY THE CONSULTANT AND I AND I WOULD REALLY LIKE US TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP.
IT IS, UM, NOT A NECESSARY DIRECTION BECAUSE WE'VE TWICE DIRECTED THE MANAGER TO CREATE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
BUT I WANTED TO KIND OF PUT SOME TIMELINES ON IT BECAUSE YEAH, THAT WORK, AS I SAID, IS IN MY UNDERSTANDING NEARLY DONE OR DONE.
AND I WOULD LIKE THE COUNCIL TO TAKE THAT ACTION OF ACTUALLY, YEAH.
SORRY, WHAT DO I STOP THERE? AND THEN I CAN ADDRESS SOME OF THE OTHER SPECIFIC THINGS AFTER YOU MAYOR.
UH, I THINK THAT A LOT OF US ON THE COUNCIL AT VARIOUS POINTS HAVE ALL BEEN TRYING TO WORK ON MANY OF THESE ISSUES.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE RED RIVER DISTRICT AND PEOPLE ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE GOING ON.
KATHY CONTACTED OUR OFFICE AND SAID SHE HAD A DRAFT WANTED TO LOOK
[04:40:01]
AT.SO WE KIND OF THREW OUR LOTS IN TOGETHER ON THAT.
I THINK GENERALLY SPEAKING, THE WAY THAT I LOOK AT IT IS A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT ARE IN 96 RELATE TO MORE IMMEDIATE ACTIONS, UH, IN TERMS OF, UH, RELIEF.
UM, ALSO RECOGNIZING THE EDC COULD BE A REALLY GOOD COMPONENT IN THAT AND LEVERAGING THAT.
95 IS LOOKING MORE AT MAKING, UH, UH, THE, THE INDUSTRY CHANGES, THE VERTICAL CHANGES OR RELATES MORE TO THE LONG TERM SUSTAINABILITY OR VIABILITY OF THE, OF THE INDUSTRY.
UH, THE INTERSECTING POINT BETWEEN 95 AND 96 OR THE, THE C AND THAT BEING A TOOL, UH, THAT COULD BE USED, UH, FOR, FOR BOTH AS A GENERAL STATEMENT.
I THINK YOU COULD FIND EXCEPTIONS IN BOTH THAT RELATE TO THAT, BUT GENERALLY SPEAKING, THAT'S HOW I SEE IT AND THE COMPLIMENTARY COMPONENTS OF THEM.
AND SO COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, JUST TO ANSWER THE FIRST PART OF YOUR QUESTION ABOUT WHAT THE ACTUAL, WHAT THE OUTCOMES WOULD BE.
96, I WOULD, UM, THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPONENTS.
ONE IS TO EVALUATE SOME OF THOSE SPECIFIC STRATEGIES THAT THE RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT SUGGESTED THAT WOULD HELP THEM, UM, PERFORM WHATEVER IMPROVEMENTS THEY MIGHT NEED TO ON THEIR VENUES SO THAT THEY CAN OPEN UP SAFELY.
AND SO THOSE RANGE FROM CONSIDERATION OF FEE WAIVERS TO CONSIDERATION OF EXPEDITION OF PERMITS OR EXPEDITING PERMITS, SOME ACQUISITION AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT.
ASKING THE MANAGER TO CONSIDER WHETHER IT'S APPROPRIATE WITHIN THE CARES, UM, WITHIN THE COMMERCIAL LOANS FOR ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE AND RECOVERY PACKAGE OF THE CORRESPONDING TO CONSIDER WHETHER IT'S APPROPRIATE TO ALLOCATE SOME MONEY WITHIN THAT SPECIFICALLY FOR MUSIC VENUES.
GIVEN THAT THEY ARE PROBABLY GOING TO BE THE LAST TO BE ABLE TO REOPEN IN, IN THE FULL WAYS THAT WOULD ALLOW THEM TO BE ECONOMICALLY VIABLE.
AND SO I THINK AS WE LOOK ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY AT DIFFERENT BUSINESSES, MUSIC VENUES HAVE SOME SPECIFIC CHALLENGES WITH REOPENING THAT MAKE THEM, YOU KNOW, MANY CASES INELIGIBLE FOR OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING.
UH, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE REST OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT, UM, THERE THERE'S A REQUEST TO HAVE THE LIVE MUSIC FUNDING FUND WORK IN GROUPS.
UM, CONSIDER AN ADDITIONAL WAY THAT THAT MONEY MIGHT BE INVESTED THAT'S ALREADY IN THE LIVE MUSIC FUND FROM THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX.
AND THEN WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WE HAVE BY WAY OF PREVIOUS RESOLUTION THAT I'D BROUGHT TO DESIGNATED THE RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT.
AND IT WAS CONTEMPLATED AT THAT TIME THAT WE WOULD SUPPORT.
IN FACT, I THINK THE RESOLUTION EVEN TALKS ABOUT, UM, POTENTIAL FUTURE SUPPORT FOR A STATE DESIGNATION.
BUT THIS JUST CLARIFIES THE COUNCIL'S INTENT BY WAY OF THIS VOTE TODAY, UM, TO ENDORSE THE STATE DESIGNATION AS WELL.
SO THOSE ARE THE OUTCOMES FROM 96.
I APPRECIATE, UM, THE CLARIFICATION.
UM, CAUSE I, I WANT TO SEE US MOVE FORWARD ON THIS, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE HAD CLARITY WHERE YOU'RE KIND OF BUILDING ON WHAT WE'D DONE AND THEN IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S SOME ADAPTATIONS FOR THE COVERT PERIOD, UM, THAT ARE WITHIN HERE AND SOME, SOME UPDATED DEADLINES.
UM, LET ME JUST MAKE A COUPLE OTHER COMMENTS AND THEN I WANT TO ASK THE STAFF TO SPEAK TO SOMETHING.
UM, SO WITHIN, UM, 95, UM, THERE'S A REFERENCE TO A RETAIL SPACE AT THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER.
UM, AND I JUST WANNA I DON'T KNOW THAT THIS IS WITH RESPECT TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, BUT IN TERMS OF, UH, ACCESS FOR CREATIVE SPACE, UM, THERE'S A LAUNCH REALLY BE USED FOR CREATIVE THINGS ON WEEKENDS AND EVENINGS.
UM, THAT'S NOT THE RETAIL SPACE.
I WENT ON A TOUR OF THE SPACE.
THERE'S A VERY LARGE ROOM IN THERE WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE ZAP AND THE PLANNING HEARINGS AND IT'S, IT'S ENORMOUS, UM, AND HAS THE POTENTIAL AND I THINK IT WAS DESIGNED TO POTENTIALLY BE USED FOR OTHER THINGS.
UM, AND THE ATRIUM IS ALSO POTENTIALLY AN INTERESTING PLACE FOR SOME CREATIVE PERFORMANCES.
SO, UM, I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT PER SE, BUT I JUST WANT TO FLAG FOR, FOR STAFF THAT THERE WERE SOME OTHER OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THAT SPACE THAT WE CAN BE THINKING OF.
UM, AND THEN ON MINE 66, UM, IT TALKS ABOUT REGIONAL PARTNERS THAT WE COULD ENGAGE IN THIS EXERCISE AND MENTIONED AISD, AISD, I WANTED TO FLAG THAT, UM, EUSTON TILLOTSON IS ALSO A REALLY GOOD POTENTIAL PARTNER.
UM, THEY HAVE PLANNED BUT NOT ALWAYS THE ABILITY TO
[04:45:01]
BUILD THE SPACES AND THERE MIGHT BE MULTIPURPOSES, UM, FOR STUDENTS DURING THE DAY AND, AND OTHER THINGS, UM, AT NIGHT THAT COULD BE, COULD BE EXPLORED, UM, WITH THEM.UM, NOT JUST FOR THEIR CREATIVE STUFF, BUT, BUT MORE GENERALLY, UM, WOULD BE WORTH EXPLORING.
UM, AND THEN ON 96, UM, I DON'T THINK IT FITS INTO THE POSTING LANGUAGE, BUT I WOULD ASK THE CITY MANAGER, UM, THAT IF WE'RE LOOKING AT HOW TO MAKE OUTDOOR SEATING EASIER FROM A PERMITTING PERSPECTIVE, UM, FOR RED RIVER, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD REALLY BE LOOKING AT, UM, THROUGHOUT THE CITY BECAUSE I THINK FOR SOME TIME IT'S GOING TO BE PREFERABLE FOR FOLKS TO ENJOY OUTDOOR SEATING AT RESTAURANTS.
UM, AND WE SHOULD SEE HOW WE CAN FACILITATE THAT.
AND IF WE NEED TO TAKE MORE PARKING OUT TO DO THAT, UM, WE SHOULD.
AND THAT MAY HAVE BEEN IN THE HEALTHY STREETS, UM, RESOLUTION FROM THE OTHER WEEK.
UM, BUT, UH, BUT I THINK THAT WOULD BE, UM, APPLICABLE BEYOND THAT, BUT I DON'T REALLY FEEL LIKE WE NEED A WHOLE NOTHER RESOLUTION TO KIND OF PUSH THAT FORWARD.
UM, AND THEN THE FINAL THING THAT I WANTED TO DO WAS ASK STAFF FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IF THEY'RE HERE.
THE QUESTION I REALLY JUST WANTED TO GET US.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE SO LATE.
UM, I WANTED TO SEE IF YOU HAD ANY CONCERNS ON THE PROPOSED TIMELINES FOR THE DELIVERABLES OR THE DELIVERABLES ON EITHER OF THESE ITEMS. THANK YOU.
UM, AS MENTIONED IN OUR MEMO ON MAY 14TH, WE ARE CONTINUALLY TO, UM, WORK WITH THE TEXAS FACILITIES CONDITION IN TERMS OF PARTNERING AND WORKING WITH US ON THE CREATIVE SPACE ON, UH, WE ARE AGAIN DILIGENTLY WORKING ON THAT AND WE ARE NOT SURE THAT WE WERE BUILT TO MEET THE JUNE 30TH DEADLINE AS OUTLINE, BUT FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THE DATE OF AUGUST OF SEPTEMBER IS ACHIEVABLE.
I WAS JUST TRYING TO GET A SENSE OF WHAT HER OPTIONS ARE HERE.
WELL, I THINK, YOU KNOW, I, I, YOU KNOW, IN, IN TALKING ABOUT THE MEMO THAT CAME BACK, I TALKED ABOUT THE GSA HAVEN'T BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY CONVERSATIONS ON THAT YET, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING WAS, IS THAT ONE OF THE REASONS THAT THAT FUND WAS SEEING AS BEING IMPLEMENTED THAT WAY WAS BECAUSE OF LIMITATIONS THAT WOULD ARISE FROM CITY OWNERSHIP IN CITY'S ABILITY TO DO THINGS.
UM, I THINK THAT THE, THE, THE EDC CONCEPT, UH, MIGHT PROVIDE ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT, THAT MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE EXIST.
SO HOPE NOT AS IN NOT HERE THAT THE DIETS, BUT MY HOPE IS TO BE ABLE TO VISIT WITH, WITH STAFF OUTSIDE OF THIS TO SEE IF BY USING THESE OTHER STRUCTURES, WHETHER THERE'S AN INCREASED OPPORTUNITY, UH, FOR, FOR, FOR, FOR DIFFERENT KINDS OF IDEAS TO BE SOLICITED, UH, THEN THEN WOULD BE PRESENTLY SOLICITED THROUGH THE GSA PROPOSAL.
UM, BUT THEN THEY ARE YOUR DEADLINES IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO GET THOSE CONVERSATIONS MOVING FORWARD, UH, AND DISCUSS THEM.
AND I WANTED TO GET THIS DONE EARLY IN THAT PROCESS RATHER THAN LATER IN THAT PROCESS SINCE YOU HAD INDICATED THAT THAT OTHER PROCESS WAS GOING TO BE, UH, ENDING THE END OF THE SUMMER, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD A CHANCE TO BE ABLE TO TALK THROUGH THAT.
UM, CERTAINLY IF YOU CAN'T, I WANT TO HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS NOW.
UM, UH, BECAUSE I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THIS THING MOVE FORWARD JUST AS QUICKLY AS IT AS IT CAN.
I PUT, I APPRECIATE THE CONCERNS ABOUT MEETING THE DEADLINE, BUT THE DEADLINE IS IN HERE FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE AND THAT IS BECAUSE IT BETTER REFLECTS THE TIMELINE THAT I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH, WITH STAFF ON FOR QUITE SOME TIME IN APRIL.
THE TIMELINE THAT WAS GIVEN TO MY OFFICE WAS TO COMPLETE BY JUNE.
SO I APPRECIATE THE CONCERNS THAT ARE BEING RAISED AND WE CAN WORK TOGETHER AS WE PROCEED.
BUT THE TIMELINE THAT IS IN THE MEMO THAT YOU REFERENCED IS NOT SOON ENOUGH.
AND, UM, UM, YOU BE HEARING SOME FRUSTRATION FROM ME BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A 2018 BOND THAT IS NOW 2020 AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS TIMELINE FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND I THINK THAT THE MAYOR IS POINTING OUT PERHAPS A ROUTE THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO STAFF TO GET THIS DONE QUICKER.
AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE MAYOR AND WITH YOU, UH, WITH YOUR OFFICE, UH, TO, TO, UM, DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO MEET THE TIMELINE THAT'S EXPRESSED, UM, IN THIS RESOLUTION.
OF THE KITCHENS AND THE ATLER.
[04:50:01]
WORKING WITH YOUR OFFICES.AND AGAIN, WE DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A CRITICAL PROJECT AND WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR BEST TO MOVE AS FAST AS POSSIBLE.
BUT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH BOTH OFFICES.
YEAH, IF I MAY, UM, I'D CERTAINLY LIKE BEING INCLUDED INTO THIS AS WELL TO BE OKAY AS IT RELATES TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
AND SO WE'RE NOW CONFLATING MULTIPLE THINGS NEAR THE JUNE 11TH DATE IS THE DATE FOR COMING BACK WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RACE AND WORK.
I'M NOT SURE THESE THINGS HAVE BEEN MERGED EXACTLY, BUT, AND I, I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, HAVE THAT WORK HAS BEEN NOW IN PROCESS FOR QUITE A LONG TIME SINCE 2014 SO I HOPE THAT, I HOPE THAT WE CAN GET THAT PROPOSAL BACK AND IF AND IF THE BOND PIECE WELL, AND I WOULD JUST SAY, I THINK THE BOND PIECE IS A DIFFERENT, IT'S A DIFFERENT RELATED HOPE.
THEY CAN BOTH GET BACK ON JUNE 11TH, BUT I WANT TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO CONFLATE THE TWO.
JIMMY, YOU KNOW, FOR A WHILE I WOULD ASK ON A LOT OF IFCS WHAT THE STAFF IMPACT WOULD BE OR WHAT THE COST WOULD BE.
UM, BUT IF, IF, IF THE COUNCIL IS TELLING THE STAFF TO ACCOMPLISH A HUNDRED THINGS BUT WE'RE ONLY GIVING YOU STAFF AND RESOURCES TO ACCOMPLISH 10 THINGS, THEN WE NEED A BETTER ANSWER FROM STAFF THAN JUST A DEADLINE.
WE NEED TO KNOW IF WE HAVE GIVEN YOU TOO MANY THINGS, IF WE NEED TO SET A DIFFERENT SET OF PRIORITIES, THERE JUST HAS TO BE SOME TYPE OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT FOR US COMING FROM STAFF SO THAT WE CAN RELIABLY KNOW WHAT PRIORITIES YOU ALL ARE WORKING UNDER OR IT'LL JUST BE KIND OF A SHINY OBJECT SITUATION, WHICH I FEAR IS WHAT OFTEN OCCURS.
THANK YOU FOR RAISING THAT COUNCIL MEMBER.
I LOOK FORWARD TO TALKING TO YOU ABOUT THAT AT AN APPROPRIATE TIME TO THE WHOLE BODY.
AND MOVED IN SECOND AND 95 THOSE IN FAVOR OF 95 PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND WAS OPPOSED.
[Item 96]
I'M GOING TO HIT 96 CONVERSATION, THEN WE'LL GO BACK AND GET I THINK 34.UM, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT YOU ADDRESSED THAT WE'RE GOING BACK TO MY BAD.
IS THERE A SECOND TO 96? I'LL SECOND 96.
UM, ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER? WERE YOU THE ONE THAT PULLED THIS WAS YOUR QUESTION ANSWERED BEFORE? YEAH, IT WAS, THAT'S WHY I WAS TRYING TO UNDERSTAND BOTH OF THEM.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER FLANAGAN HAD PROPOSED AN AMENDMENT AND I PROPOSED AN ALTERNATIVE AND I BELIEVE HE HAD SAID HE WAS COMFORTABLE WITH IT.
DID YOU HAVE A UM, THANKS FOR THE THUMBS UP.
DID YOU HAVE A SUGGESTION? OKAY.
OR A PREFERRED PLACE THAT YOU WANTED TO INSERT THAT? I THINK IT WAS JUST IN KIND OF THE CHRONOLOGICAL SEQUENCE OF RESOLUTIONS.
SO TOWARDS THE BOTTOM OF THE, WHEREAS THIS.
I THINK I WOULD, I'M GOING TO THEN SUGGEST THAT IT BE MMM.
SO THIS WOULD BECOME THE SECOND TO LAST.
AND THEN I AM LOOKING OVER SOME OF THE, ANYWAY AND THEN I HAVE ONE MORE EDIT TO MY OWN LANGUAGE THAT I NEED TO MAKE.
ANY OBJECTION TO INCLUDING UM, AS TOGO'S LANGUAGE CONCERNING, UH, WHAT WAS ITEM NUMBER 91 HEARING NONE THAT WERE AS CLAUSES ADDED.
AND THEN IN THE CLAUSE IN, IN LINE 34 IN THE AREA THAT BEGINS LINE 34, I KIND OF, MY LANGUAGE DOESN'T MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THERE WERE ACTUALLY TWO DIFFERENT RESOLUTIONS.
SO I WOULD PROPOSE THE FOLLOWING CHANGE AFTER THE WORD ENTITY ONLINE 35.
I WOULD LIKE TO INSERT THE FOLLOWING LANGUAGE AND THIS RESOLUTION AND VISIONS AND ENTITY AND THAT'S IT
[04:55:03]
REITERATED PRIOR COUNCIL DIRECTION TO CREATE AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.AND, AND THEN HERE'S THE ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE CHANGE ENTITY TO CORPORATION AND THEN ADD THE FOLLOWING LANGUAGE AND THIS RESOLUTION ENVISIONS AN ENTITY THAT COULD MANAGE AND THEN PICK UP THE REST OF THE SENTENCE.
ANYBODY HAVE AN OBJECTION TO THAT CHAIN? HEARING? NONE.
THAT CHANGES ADDED CATHOLIC TOVA WHERE YOU ALSO CAME WITH TAKING OUT THE WORD EXISTING ON THE TOP OF PAGE FOUR OR FIVE? I THINK IT WAS LINE 65 MMM, FINE WITH IT.
AS I UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE, I THINK WE'RE ALL IN AGREEMENT.
MAYBE A COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN.
I SHOULD LET YOU DESCRIBE WHAT WE'RE IN AGREEMENT ABOUT, BUT AS I UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE, WE ARE CERTAINLY NOT ATTEMPTING TO PRECLUDE ANY EXISTING, ANY MUSIC VENUES FROM APPLYING FOR OPPORTUNITIES THAT EXIST, WHETHER THOSE ARE BOND FUND PROGRAMS OR ANY OTHER FUND FUNDING PROGRAMS AND EXISTING IN OR OUT.
ANY OBJECTION TO THAT, YURI? NONE THAT'S MADE THIS TAKE HIMSELF.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM NUMBER 96 THOSE IN FAVOR OF 96 PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
I SEE IT AS UNANIMOUS TO THE DICE.
CAN I JUST CLARIFY WHAT YOU JUST DID? THE WORD EXISTING ON BLIND 65 OR PAGE FOUR OR FIVE CORRECT.
OTHER THAN THE SOLICITATION PROCESS OPENED ALL IN IT.
AND ON PAGE THREE AT LINE 44, YOU'RE GOING TO ADD IN THE FLANAGAN AMENDMENT LANGUAGE THAT'S IN THE BACKUP.
IT WAS THERE CATS OVER TOGO'S ULTRA RICH.
TO BE FAIR, I THINK I CIRCULATED IT VIA THE CITY CLERK AND EARLIER TODAY THAT'S BEEN BACK UP AS WELL.
SO IT'S THE TOBO LANGUAGE THAT DESCRIBES WHAT WAS ITEM NUMBER 91 AND IT WAS INSERTED AND UM, SOMEWHERE, LET'S SAY AROUND RIGHT AFTER THE, WHEREAS THAT CURRENTLY ENDS, UM, LINE 44.
[Item 94]
ON.NOW LET'S TURN TO ITEM NUMBER 94.
UM, THIS WAS POOR BY COUNCILOR FLANAGAN.
THERE'S A LOUD BIRD THAT JUST LANDED.
I JUST NEEDED TO GET SOME FRESHER.
UM, AND I'M EXCEPT HIS, AS FAR AS FRIENDLY.
THE ONLY REASON WE COULDN'T GET IT ON CONSENT WAS BECAUSE, UM, I THINK COUNCILMAN TOBO WANTED TO LOOK AT THE AMENDMENT, SO, OKAY.
DID YOU SAY IT WAS FINE COUNCILMEN? YES, I MOVED 94 SORT OF SECOND TO ITEM NUMBER 94.
MADISON SECONDS DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
CAN YOU SPEAK QUICKLY ON IT? AND IT, IT KILLS ME THAT I FEEL LIKE I HAVE TO REST THESE THINGS BECAUSE WE SPEND SO MUCH TIME ON OTHER THINGS THAT I KNOW EVERYTHING'S IMPORTANT, BUT THEN I FEEL BAD THAT I HAVE TO RUSH WHAT I FEEL IS IMPORTANT TOO.
AND I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT, UM, COUNCILMEMBER COSTAR AND I WERE ABLE TO BE ON A CALL, UM, IT'S TUESDAY OR WEDNESDAY AND IT WAS TALKING TO THE AIRPORT WORKERS AND I MEAN, I'LL BE ON IT.
Y'ALL KNOW, I'M THE CRIER OF THE GROUP.
AND IT WAS HARD TO, TO LISTEN TO MANY OF THEIR STORIES ABOUT BEING FURLOUGHED, BEING LAID OFF, UM, WANTING TO GO BACK TO WORK, WAITING TO GET THE CALL TO GO BACK TO WORK.
SOME OF THEM HAD GOTTEN, UM, HAD, ARE GETTING UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.
UM, ANOTHER WOMAN TALKED ABOUT HOW SHE, UM, WAS ABLE TO GET UNEMPLOYMENT, BUT SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT ANOTHER WORKER AT THE AIRPORT WHO HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET UNEMPLOYMENT AND, AND HOW SHE HAS IS HELPING HER FEED HER CHILDREN AND, AND, AND DO GET FOOD ON THE TABLE FOR THIS OTHER EMPLOYEE.
[05:00:01]
ALWAYS AM SO AMAZED BY PEOPLE.SO AFFECTED BY THIS, I'M NOT ASKING FOR HELP FOR THEMSELVES, BUT TELLING, YOU KNOW, SAYING MY FRIEND NEEDS HELP DURING THE DEVS SPRINGS, FLOODS.
WHEN WE WENT TO GO HELP PEOPLE, WE KNOCK ON THEIR DOOR AND THEY WOULD TELL US, UM, I'M OKAY, CAN YOU GO, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN GO HELP MY NEIGHBOR CAUSE YOU COULD YOU GO HELP MY NEIGHBOR? THEY'RE IN A LITTLE BIT WORSE SHAPE THAN I AM.
SO, UM, THIS, EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS CAUSE I KNOW IT'S GONNA PASS.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE, UM, IF YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO FOLKS WHO ARE, WHO ARE SO AFFECTED BY THIS CRISIS, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO, BECAUSE, UM, IT IS JUST SO, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S HEARTBREAKING AND ADMIRABLE THAT THEY ARE, UM, GETTING THROUGH THIS.
WELL, YOU KNOW, WE ARE, MANY OF US ARE IN VERY DIFFERENT POSITIONS, SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
YES, NO, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE METAPHOR AT TIMES.
UM, IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT ITEM AND, AND COURSE, BECAUSE IT HAS THE UNANIMOUS SUPPORT.
WE'VE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT IT THIS WEEK, BUT IT'S JUST SO, UM, AND A REALLY SMART WAY TO USE OUR, UH, THE AUTHORITY WE HAVE AT THE CITY TO HELP FOLKS OUT.
AND THESE WORKERS JUST WANT TO KNOW THAT WHEN THEY, THERE'S WORK THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET A CALL BACK AND THEY'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO BACK AND WORK.
UH, AND THAT'S SO LITTLE TASK FLOOR.
UM, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU'VE HIGHLIGHTED IS THAT FOLKS JUST DESERVE THE BASICS.
AND THAT'S WHAT YOU'VE EMPHASIZED SO MUCH, UM, IN THIS TIME.
SO I WANNA I APPRECIATE YOU SPONSORING THIS.
APPRECIATE, UM, THOSE WORKERS AT THE AIRPORT.
UH, YOU KNOW, CALLING US AND WORKING FOR THIS AND THE WAY THAT THEY'RE WORKING TOGETHER IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
AND MOVED IN SECOND AND ITEM NUMBER 94.
THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
IT WAS A POST I WENT TO ALSO IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED ON THE DIOCESE.
I THINK THAT TAKES US THEN THROUGH EACH OF THE CONSENT ITEMS THAT GETS US TO THE ZONING
[Items 50, 72, & 73]
CASES.I'M ON A FIRST CALL UP A ZONING ITEM 50 72 AND 73 50 IS THE PUBLIC HEARING AND 72 AND 73 THAT'S LANTANA.
JERRY, YOU WANT TO LAY THESE OUT FOR US? SURE.
MARY CURIE, REST OVER PLANNING ZONING DEPARTMENT.
UM, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO POINT OUT AN ITEM 50, UM, I'M GOING TO HANDLE ALL THREE CASES TOGETHER, BUT ITEM 50 IS AN ITEM THAT'S BEEN HANDLED BY THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT, UM, ALONG WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT.
UM, BUT QUICKLY I'M REQUIRED TO, WE DIDN'T, DIDN'T.
ITEM 50 IS TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A PROJECT IN CENTER AGREEMENT WAIVING OR MODIFYING PROVISION SAYS CITY CODE TITLE 25, INCLUDING 25 EIGHT SUBJECT OR A ARTICLE 13, THE SAVE SPRINGS INITIATIVE TO ALLOW CONSTRUCTION OF A MIXED USE RESIDENTIAL PROJECT LOCATED AT 74 15 SOUTHWEST PARKWAY IN THE EAST OAK HILL NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING AREA.
THIS ACTUALLY CONCERNS LAND LOCATED IN THE BARTON SPRINGS ZONE.
UM, THE RELATED ZONING CASE IS ITEM 72 C 14 2019 ZERO ZERO ZERO THREE, UM, LANTANA BLACK P LOT THREE.
UH, SAY THAT AGAIN AT 74 15 SOUTHWEST PARKWAY WHICH CHANGES ZONING FROM UM, GRMP, UM, AND CO AND P TO GRM UNP AND CS ONE M UCO AND P.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO ADD ON THAT THERE WAS A CLERICAL ERROR.
THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL CO, UH, THAT THE APPLICANT AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD AGREE TO.
IT'S ACTUALLY CARRYING OVER AN EXISTING CEO FROM THE PREVIOUS OWNER, THE ORDINANCE, AND THAT IS ON TRACK TO THE MAXIMUM HEIGHT OF A BUILDING OR STRUCTURE OF THE PROPERTY.
SO IT'D BE LIMITED FROM ONE STORY AND NOT MORE THAN 28 FEET.
AND FINALLY THE RELATED STRICTLY COVENANT AMENDMENT IS ITEM 73 IS C 1485 TWO 88.8 RCA LANTANA BLOCK.
HE LEFT THREE AT THE SAME ADDRESS WE HAVE HERE.
A COUNCIL IS A PROJECT THAT'S ALREADY PARTIALLY DEVELOPED A MESIC COMMERCIAL RETAIL OFFICE, MOVIE THEATER AND UNDER CONSTRUCTION HOTEL.
THIS IS THE FIFTH PHASE OF THAT DEVELOPMENT.
THE APPLICANT HAS THE APPROVAL ALREADY TO CONSTRUCT AN OFFICE BUILDING ON THE SITE THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING TODAY.
UM, AND THAT THAT'S THAT OFFICE BUILDING WOULD BE GRANDFATHERED UNDER A RESTRICTED COVENANT TIED TO THE AREA STUDY.
THE OPTION WAS JUST A CHANGE OF USE TO MULTIFAMILY.
IT PUTS THAT GRANDFATHER IN QUESTION INTO DISPUTE AND WERE TO SETTLE THAT DISPUTE.
THE CITY AND THE APPLICANT HAVE COME TO AN AGREEMENT ON A PROJECT AND SENDING RAYMOND THAT'S ITEM 50.
UM, LONG AND SHORT OF THAT AGREEMENT IS THAT IN EXCHANGE FOR THE APPLICANT DONATING SIX ACRES OF PARKLAND ADJACENT TO THIS PROPERTY AND AN ADDITIONAL ALMOST FOUR ACRES, A PARK ACROSS THE STREET, THE TOTAL NET IMPERVIOUS COVER IS ABLE TO COME DOWN TO 25%, WHICH IS THE CURRENT FIELD LEVEL.
I MEAN, AS YOU HEARD EARLIER TODAY ABOUT BOBBY LEVINSKY FROM THE SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE SPOKE THAT THE OPINION OF HIS GROUP IS THAT THIS IS A REASONABLE COMPROMISE.
SO THE STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF ITEM 50
[05:05:01]
AND RELATED ITEMS 72, THE ZONING CASE IN 73 TO ALLOW FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A MULTIFAMILY PROJECT AND LOUISVILLE OFFICE PROJECT.WITH THAT I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS? UH, THESE THREE ITEMS AND CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ALSO MEMBER ELLIS MAKES THE MOTION SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POOL.
THREE ITEMS ARE IN FRONT OF US.
ANY DISCUSSION THAT'S A MEMBER OF ELLIS? JUST NOT SO MUCH DISCUSSION, BUT JUST I KNOW THAT THIS PROJECT HAS TAKEN A LOT OF COORDINATION AND I REALLY APPRECIATE CITY STAFF TIME AND COMMUNITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL STAKEHOLDERS AND THE APPLICANT WHO WORKED ON THIS TIRELESSLY FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
SO I JUST WANTED TO EXTEND MY APPRECIATION TO YOUR PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THIS.
I'M SORRY, MARY, JUST WANT TO POINT OUT QUICKLY.
MICHAEL WAYLAND IS ON THE LINE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, BUT HE DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK.
UM, THOSE ARE FAVORITE ITEM 50 72 73.
THOSE OPPOSED THEN MISS ON THE DIES, THOSE THREE PAST THEN GETS US TO THE, THE NEXT ITEM.
[Item 54]
REMEMBER, THE NEXT ITEM IS ITEM 54.IT IS CASE C 14 2017 ZERO ONE 48, UH, KNOWN AS IN GARDEN.
UH, THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED AT 3,501 AT BLUESTEM BOULEVARD.
THE REQUEST FROM L I N P TO L I P AND P M.
THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY IS APPROXIMATELY 110 ACRES.
IT IS THE SITE OF THE OLD, UM, MOTOROLA AT BLUE STEEN CHIP FABRICATION FACTORY, WHICH CLOSED QUITE A WHILE AGO.
THE SITE IS MOSTLY BUT NOT TOTALLY, UM, UNOCCUPIED RIGHT NOW.
UH, THE AFRICAN CAME IN A REQUEST WHICH I CAN BASICALLY, UH, BASICALLY BREAK INTO TWO SIMPLE PIECES.
ONE IS TO, UM, USE THE PDA, UM, TOOL TO ALTER THE PARKING REQUIREMENT TO BE 50% OF THE STANDARD CODE.
AND THEN SECONDLY TO CUT THE PROPERTY INTO THREE DIFFERENT AREAS OF UM, HEIGHT LIMITATION.
UH, ONE AREA WOULD HAVE AN A HEIGHT LIMITATION OF 120 FEET WITH ONE BUILDING KNOWN AS BUILDING B BEING ALLOWED TO GO UP TO 160.
THE SECOND AREA WOULD HAVE A HEIGHT LIMITATION OF 280 FEET AND THE ONE AREA WOULD HAVE A HEIGHT LIMITATION OF 400 FEET.
UM, CAUSE THE PLANNING COMMISSION DID RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM.
WHAT THE ADDITIONAL CONDITION THAT THE, UH, IMPERVIOUS COVER BE LIMITED TO 60%.
HOWEVER, STAFF WAS NOT ABLE TO RECOMMEND THE CASE.
UM, THE REASON BEING THAT THE CURRENT HEIGHT LIMITATION ON THE PROPERTY IS 60 FEET AND THE STAFF IS OKAY GOING TO 120 ACROSS THE ENTIRE SITE.
WE'RE ALSO OKAY WITH BUILDING B GOING UP 260, BUT WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE PRECEDENT OF THE 280 AND THE 400 FOOT HEIGHT LIMITATION, UM, ON A BLUE STEAM BOULEVARD.
UM, WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, A PRECEDENT THAT THAT WOULD BECOME THE EXPECTATION ALONG THE INTEGRITY OF, UH, OF IT BLUE STAIN THAT, YOU KNOW, 400 FEET AND THEN, UM, WE'RE JUST CONCERNED THAT UM, YOU KNOW, THAT EXCEEDS THE HEIGHT LIMITATION THAT YOU'VE BEEN OF.
UM, UM, A DOMAIN FOR INSTANCE.
UM, SO ANYWAY, IF THEY'RE REQUESTING TO USE THE, UH, THE PDA, THE ONLY DISPUTED POINT AT THIS POINT IS THE 280 IN THE 400 FEET OF HEIGHT AND WITH THAT MOBILE WITH ANY QUESTIONS AND TERRY AREA AND ADAM, THE APPLICANT ARE ALSO UNDERLINED FOR THIS.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS BLUE THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO, UH, TO MAKE A PRESENTATION.
I'M SORRY, WHAT? THE LAST THING HE BELIEVES THE APPLICANT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PRESENTATION, WHICH THEY'RE ENTITLED TO DO.
SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL THE APPLICANT.
UH, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, THIS IS TERRY ARION.
UH, DO Y'ALL HAVE THE POWERPOINT UM, IN FRONT OF YOU? YES.
IF HE'LL, UH, GO TO PAY IT PAGE ONE OR SLIDE ONE OF THE POWERPOINT, THERE'S A SITE PLAN THERE.
UM, THE, THE AREA THAT, UH, JERRY IS, UH, CONCERNED WITH THAT STAFF SAID THEY COULD NOT SUPPORT IS, UH, BUILDINGS ONE THROUGH FIVE, UH, ALONG THE FRONTAGE OF US HIGHWAY ONE 83.
UH, TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF THE SCALE OF THIS, UH, LOTS, ONE, TWO AND OR BUILDINGS, ONE, TWO AND THREE, OCCUPY ABOUT A 10 ACRE, UH, SITE, UH, BUILDINGS FOUR AND FIVE, OCCUPY ABOUT AN EIGHT ACRE SITE WITH ABOUT FOUR ACRES OF THAT HAVING BEEN CONDEMNED BY CTR, MMA FOR A DETENTION POND TO SUPPORT THE NEW HIGHWAY.
UH, W WE, JERRY HAS BEEN OUT TO THE SITE SEVERAL TIMES.
[05:10:01]
HEATHER CHASEN'S HAS BEEN OUT THERE SEVERAL TIMES.WE'VE, UH, WE'VE REALLY APPRECIATED THEIR HARD WORK ON THIS AND THEY'VE, THEY'VE TRIED REALLY HARD TO TRY AND UNDERSTAND THIS PROJECT, BUT WE DO THINK THAT, UH, THIS IS THE THING WAS FROM ANY OF THE OTHER SITES OR BAR.
IF YOU'RE NOT SPEAKING, COULD YOU MUTE YOUR COMPUTER? UH, THIS IS THE, THE SITE IS ACTUALLY WHERE WE'RE ASKING FOR.
THE INCREASED HEIGHT IS ACTUALLY KIND OF A HOLE IN THE DONUT, UH, OF THE 110 ACRE SITE.
THE LOAD IS ON THAT SITE PLAN.
ANNEX PAGE HAS GOT, UH, 79 ACRES ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE PROPERTY.
HP IS 39 ACRES ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE PROPERTY, UH, TO THE REAR TO THE EAST, UH, IS, UH, THE, UH, WALNUT CREEK, UH, UH, BYPLAY.
AND THEN, UH, BEYOND THAT IS THE WALNUT CREEK PLACE, WATER TREATMENT PLANTS.
MY POINT IS THIS, THIS SIDE IS PRETTY UNIQUE.
IT'S, IT'S, IT'S IN A 280 ACRE INDUSTRIAL PARK.
UH, THIS IS THE PART THAT HAS BEEN ABANDONED FOR THE LAST A DECADE AND A HALF, UH, AND WE'RE TRYING TO DO A REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT ON IT.
UH, THE AREA WHERE WE'RE ASKING FOR THE INCREASED HEIGHT REPRESENTS ABOUT 15% OF THE TOTAL SITE.
IT'S KIND OF A HOLE IN THE DONUT.
UH, AND AS JOHN HAGAR, THE, THE, THE CHAIR OF THE, UH, EAST MLK CONTACT TEAM STATED, UH, UH, EARLIER TODAY, UH, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY REALLY WANT A JOB CENTER, PART OF THE NECK, THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN.
GOAL NUMBER FOUR WAS TO CREATE HIGH QUALITY JOB CENTERS ALONG THE FRONTAGE OF BLUE STEAM BOULEVARD.
TO THE EXTENT THIS IS CREATING A PRECEDENT, YOU KNOW, WE THINK IT'S TIME THAT EAST AUSTIN GOT A MAJOR JOB CENTER AND THIS IS THE PLACE TO DO IT BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAVE ANY NEGATIVE IMPACT ON ANY NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, IF, UH, IF YOU'LL LOOK AT SLIDE TWO, UM, IN DETAILS WHAT THE, UH, THE REQUEST OF THIS PROJECT IS, UM, THE PROJECT HAS, HAS AN FAR OF ONE TO ONE WITH 110 ACRES.
UM, THIS, THIS SIDE IS ENTITLED TO 4 MILLION, 775,000 SQUARE FEET OF, UH, OF DEVELOPMENT.
UM, WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR ANY INCREASE IN, IN FAR.
UM, UH, WE, WE OFFERED AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO DO A CONDITIONAL OVERLAY TO LIMIT OUR IMPERVIOUS COVER IN EXCHANGE FOR HEIGHT.
UH, WHEN, WHEN THE PLANNING COMMISSION ASKS US HOW MUCH WE'D BE WILLING TO REDUCE THE IMPERVIOUS COVER FROM THE ALLOWED 80% IN THE SUBURBAN WATERSHED.
WE SAID AT THAT TIME WE WEREN'T REALLY ABLE TO COMMIT BECAUSE WE HADN'T COMPLETED OUR SITE PLAN.
UH, IMPERVIOUS COVER ANALYSIS, THEY, THEY WANTED TO PUT A NUMBER DOWN, THEY SAID 60%.
IF YOU'RE, WHEN YOU COMPLETE YOUR ANALYSIS, IF YOU NEED MORE, TAKE IT UP WITH THE COUNCIL.
WE, WE UNDERSTAND, UH, THE REQUEST HERE IS TO 70%.
WE ACTUALLY COMPLETED OUR SITE PLAN ANALYSIS AND CAN PROBABLY GET FIVE WAS WAS 65%.
SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO ASK FOR IS THAT THE CONDITIONAL OVERLAY, UH, THE, UH, STAT THAT 65%, WHICH IS LESS THAN THE NEIGHBORHOOD SAID THAT THEY WOULD SUPPORT IF THAT MEANT THAT THEY GOT ALL THE AMENITIES THAT WERE SHOWING ON THE SITE PLAN FOR THE, UH, FOR THE, UM, IF YOU JUST GO BRIEFLY, AND I'M, UM, I'M GOING TO MAKE THIS REAL QUICK FOR THE REST OF THIS BECAUSE OF THE HOUR.
BUT IF YOU GO TO SLIDE THREE, UH, ELC THAT THIS PROJECT PHASE ONE OF THE PROJECT HAS ALREADY STARTED, UM, UH, BUILDING FH AND JAY HAVE BEEN, UM, UH, THOSE WERE TWO STORY BRICK BUILDINGS.
UH, THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REFURBISHED
[05:15:01]
AS FOUR STORY BUILDINGS.UM, THAT WILL BE, UH, QUALIFYING FOR LEAD SILVER STATUS WHEN COMPLETED.
UH, THEY SHOULD BE FINISHED AND ONLINE FIRST QUARTER OF NEXT YEAR.
UM, YEAH, ALL OF THE, UH, EXISTING BUILDINGS WHICH ARE ALL LABELED WITH LETTERS IN THE CENTER OF THE PROJECT.
UM, MOST OF THEM ARE GOING TO BE 60 FEET OR, OR, OR LESS.
A BUILDING B, UH, WILL BE AN EXCEPTION TO THAT.
THAT'S THE BUILDING THAT WE'VE ASKED FOR 160 FOOT HEIGHT.
UH, IT HAS A, A, UH, A FLOOR AREA OF, UH, A FIRST FLOOR AREA OF ABOUT 85,000 SQUARE FEET WITH A 37 FOOT CEILING HEIGHT.
WE THINK IT WILL MAKE AN EXCELLENT, UH, EVENT CENTER WITH TWO OFFICE TOWERS, UH, RISING UP OFF OF THAT FOOTPRINT.
IN PHASE TWO, WE, WE WILL BE, UH, DEVELOPING, UH, THE WAREHOUSE PROPERTY IN THE BACK.
AND THEN, UH, IN PHASE THREE, WHICH PROBABLY WILL BE ABOUT A TWO AND A HALF, THREE YEARS FROM NOW IS WHEN, UH, WE PROPOSE BUILDING THE OFFICE TOWERS, UM, ON THE FRONT.
UM, I'M GOING TO, UH, UH, TURN THIS OVER TO ADAM, UH, XERO SHAWNEE, WHO'S THE PROJECT MANAGER OF THE PROJECT, AND HE'S GOING TO WALK THROUGH SOME OF THE SPECIAL FEATURES THAT WILL BE INCORPORATED INTO THE BUILDING DESIGNS.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I WOULD LIKE TO BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO SLIDE 13.
THAT IS THE COMMUNITY CENTER THAT WE'VE DESIGNED THAT WILL FEATURE APPROXIMATELY 25,000 SQUARE FEET FOR CIVIC USES FOR EAST AUSTIN.
THAT NEEDS TO BE COMPLETED BY PHASE FOUR.
AND THAT WILL FEATURE A LOVE OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMS FOR MUSIC AND ART WHICH IS BEING THE BEDROCK OF EAST AUSTIN.
AND THIS PARTICULAR BUILDING WILL NOT BE A FOR PROFIT CENTER.
THIS WOULD BE RUN BY THE COMMUNITY AND MANAGED BY THE COMMUNITY.
I WOULD LIKE TO BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO THE SLIDE NUMBER 14 WE RECEIVED APPROVAL FROM CITY OF BOSTON IN REGARDS TO AVIATION AND FLIGHT PATH.
THAT GAVE US A CLEARANCE ON THAT BACK IN FEBRUARY 2ND OF 2018 PLEASE GO TO SLIDE 15 WE'RE NOT THERE YET IS IT SHOWS THE ROAD CAR THERE, GREEN LINE, WATER CREEK TRAIL, TRAIL ACCESS AND AIRPORT IS WITHIN 5.5 MORALS OF US THAT WILL GIVE ACCESS TO AIRPORT.
IT WOULD BE A WONDERFUL FEATURE FOR ACTIVATING GREEN LINE.
YOU ALSO KNOW THIS THAT WE ARE IN A PARTICULARLY UNIQUE SITUATION THAT WE ACTUALLY GREENLIGHT IS WITHIN A STONE TOOL OF THE PROPERTY AND IT WILL CONNECT A LOT OF THE SMALLER COMMUNITIES AND GIVE ACCESS TO THE AIRPORT.
ALSO, THIS PARTICULAR LOCATION WILL HELP REALLY JUMPSTART EAST ESTEEM AND THE EXPO CENTER AND OTHER DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE BEING CURRENTLY CONSIDERED FOR DEVELOPMENT OR BEING PLANNED.
PLEASE GO TO THE SLIDE NUMBER 18 WHEN YOU GREW UP THERE, THE IMAGE ON THE SLIDE 18 IS VERY MUCH TELLING.
THESE ARE SEVERAL OF THE STORAGE UNITS THAT WE USED TO MAKE ICE DURING UPTICK HOURS AND WE WILL GET OFF THE GRID AT A PEAK TIME, WHICH HAS BETWEEN THREE AND FIVE NOW OUR ENERGY PROGRAM IS UNIQUE BECAUSE AT THE VERY BEGINNING WE GOT INVOLVED WITH US THE ENERGY AND WE MADE THEM PARTS
[05:20:01]
OF THE DESIGN OF THE PROGRAM, WHICH INCLUDES THERMAL STORAGE AND SHOULDER.WHEN WE ARE PUTTING MATURED, THIS WILL BE ONE OF THE LARGEST THERMAL STORAGE UNITS IN THE COUNTRY AS WELL AS 30% OF OUR ENERGY WILL BE PRODUCED BY SOLAR.
NOW WE'VE TAKEN THAT ENERGY WITH DISTRIBUTED TO LOWER THE COST FOR OUR FUTURE TENANTS TO MAKE THE BUILDINGS MORE AFFORDABLE AND JUMPSTART EAST AUSTIN.
WE ALSO HAVE QUALIFIED FOR PACE, WHICH IS THE PROPERTY ASSESSED ENERGY, CHAPTER THREE 99 LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE.
THIS WILL BE THE MERCHANTS ALONE.
THAT PACE WOULD BE CLOSING IN TEXAS AND THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED AS IN THE WORKS.
PLEASE TAKE YOUR ATTENTION TO NUMBER AND LINK TEAM.
AGAIN, THE TOP OF THESE ROOFS ARE GOING TO BE POPULATED BY SOLAR PANELS AND THE SOLAR PANELS THAT ARE ON TOP OF THE BUILDINGS WILL REDISTRIBUTE POWER TO THE OCCUPANTS.
THAT DOMINANCE OF IT IS GOING TO BE REDISTRIBUTED TO THE COMMON AREAS OF THE CAMPUS.
WE HAVE ALSO PLANS ON PHASE ONE FOR 25 CHARGING STATIONS FOR FUTURE ELECTRIC CARS THAT ARE COMING.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSELY AS YOU HEARD FROM THE SPEAKERS EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON AND WE HAVE MADE THEM PART OF OUR DESIGN.
THEY HAVE BEEN FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS.
WE'VE TAKEN THEIR COMMENTS AND CONCERNS INTO CONSIDERATION.
THERE WILL BE MARKETS AND RETAIL COMPONENTS TO THESE BUILDINGS AND BY REDUCING THE PARKING WE WILL BE GETTING MUCH MORE GREEN.
THEIR FOOTPRINT ON THIS SIDE RATHER THAN MAKING A CONCRETE JUNGLE.
WE'RE, WE'RE ASKING FOR 65% I PERSONALLY THINK 70 WOULD BE BETTER, BUT WE'RE ASKING FOR 65 BECAUSE WE WANT TO, WE HAVE, IF YOU LOOK AT THE SITE PLAN, WHICH IS FIRST PAGE IS, LET'S GO TO SLIDE NUMBER ONE.
THE YELLOW LINES THAT YOU OBSERVED ARE ALL OF THESE ARE TRAILS THAT CONNECT THE ENTIRE CAMPUS.
ANY CLINICS HAVE TO WATER CREEK PLAZA AND THIS INCLUDES WHAT WAR OR CREEK SIDEWAY WATER COULD THEY BUY? WHAT BIKE WEIGHT? THE OTHER UNIQUE FEATURE IS THAT AREA THAT MR ADRIAN JUST MENTIONED THAT WAS TAKEN BY TEXDOT OR CTR MAY.
WE HAVE OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS NEGOTIATED AND WE FINALLY HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO USE THOSE FOUR ACRES TO CLEAN THE WATER.
DON'T BE COMING OFF OF THE HIGHWAY.
THEY'RE ALLOWING US TO PUT AT OUR OWN EXPENSE MECHANICAL DEVICES THAT WILL THE WATER.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAS HAPPENED BETWEEN A PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT AND A GOVERNMENT ENTITY.
WE W THEY ARE ALLOWING US TO MAINTAIN AND BEAUTIFIED AND IT WILL NOT BE A COOKIE CUTTER DETENTION PUMP THAT YOU TYPICALLY SEE IT ALONG THE HIGHWAY.
WE HAVE TAKEN A LOT OF MEASURES TO PRESERVE THE ENVIRONMENT AND MAKE THIS A VERY ESPECIAL CENTER FOR EAST AUSTIN.
WE DO NEED TO CREATE EMPLOYMENTS WITH HIGH PAYING JOBS IN EAST AUSTIN.
WE DO NEED TO CREATE A TRANSIT SYSTEMS AS WELL AS BUS SYSTEMS CAPITAL.
WE'VE BEEN IN DISCUSSIONS WITH AS SOON AS WE GET PRACTICE MATURES MORE THAN WE'LL BE ACTIVATING BUS LINES AS THEY USED TO HAVE IN WHEN MOTOROLA WAS USED TO BE THE CENTRAL OF AUSTIN.
SO ALL OF THOSE COMPONENTS HAVE BEEN PUT INTO PLACE.
WE HAVE EVEN BEGUN PRELIMINARY DISCUSSIONS WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO BRING IN DRIVERLESS VEHICLES TO GET PEOPLE AROUND THE CAMPUS.
I THINK THAT, UH, COMPLAINTS ARE A PRESENTATION.
WE'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS WHILE YOU'RE, WHILE THE SITE PLAN IS STILL UP THERE.
UM, I UH, I WANTED TO POINT OUT, YOU SEE THE BLUE CIRCLE ROAD THAT CIRCLES AROUND THE ENTIRE, UH, 238 ACRE PROPERTY, UM, IN THE
[05:25:01]
BACK THEY YELLOW TRAIL, UH, GOING FROM THE LOOP ROAD, UH, TO THE WALLER CREEK BIKEWAY IS WHAT ADAM WAS REFERRING TO.UH, BECAUSE OF THE CLAY SOILS THERE WE CAN'T, WE CAN'T MAKE THAT A TRAIL OUT OF DECOMPOSE.
GRANTED IT WILL HAVE TO BE AN ALL WEATHER SURFACE.
UH, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE'RE GOING TO NEED A LITTLE BIT EXTRA IMPERVIOUS COVER AND WOULD ASK THAT THE CONDITIONAL OVERLAY BE SET AT 65%.
WELL THAT COMPLETES OUR PRESENTATION.
YEAH, SO THAT GETS US TO THE DICE THEN WHEN WE'RE MAKING A MOTION.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, REMEMBER DONE MUTE THIS TIME.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE PLANNING COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION WITH THIS ITEM AND AN IMPERVIOUS COVER LIMIT OF 65% ON FIRST MEETING AND REMOVED THE PC RECOMMENDATION.
SO OUR SECOND TO THE MOTION IN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
AND TO THE PUBLIC HEARING, THAT'S A MEMBER RENTERIA SECONDS.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HELPER MEDICINE.
ALMOST DIDN'T REMEMBER THAT AT THAT TIME.
I HAVE A LOT TO SAY ABOUT THIS.
I THINK YOU GUYS PROBABLY GOT PRETTY CLEAR IMPRESSION ABOUT WHAT THE UM, WHAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD THINKS OF THE, OF THE PROJECT.
YOU KNOW, IT'S EXCITING TO FEEL THAT FEELING.
I KNOW MAYOR PRO TEM PROBABLY FEELS THIS AND SOME OF THE OTHER FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN ON THE DICE FOR A LITTLE LONGER AND WHEN YOU FINALLY GET SOMETHING THAT YOU THINK YOUR AREA NEEDED, IT'S EXCITING.
UM, IT'S NOT EVERYDAY THAT YOU SEE A LANDMARK PROJECT LIKE THIS THAT HAS OVERWHELMING SUPPORT FROM THE NEARBY RESIDENTS.
RIGHT? THIS PROJECT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO GENERATE JOBS, COMMUNITY ACTIVITY WHERE WE OFFER, WE NEEDED THE MOST AND OUR EASTERN CRESCENT.
IT ALSO SITS ALONG THAT SOUTHERN WALNUT CREEK TRAIL WITH A ALL WEATHER TRAIL, YOU KNOW, AS OPPOSED TO THE ALTERNATIVE AT WHICH I THINK, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF FOLKS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT AND IT CAN HELP PROVIDE THE KIND OF ACTIVITY YOU REALLY NEED TO SEE TO SET THE GREEN LINE UP FOR SUCCESS.
I STILL WISH THERE WAS A HOUSING COMPONENT.
UM, I'LL BE HONEST, BUT FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO AREN'T THAT FAMILIAR WITH THE PROJECT, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND HOW THE APPLICANT'S HANDS ARE KINDA TIED RIGHT NOW.
UM, UM, I ALSO REMAIN HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN CUT THROUGH THOSE KNOTS EVENTUALLY AND FIND A WAY TO MAKE THIS A TRULY MIXED, TRULY EXCUSED, TRULY MIXED INCOME COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
AND WITH THAT I'LL, UM, I'LL DEFER TO MY COLLEAGUES.
AND WHO DID SECONDED DISCUSSION.
FIRST READING AND CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING PC RECOMMENDATION PREVIOUS COVERED A 65%.
OKAY, WELL I SUPPOSED SHANANA MAY, I WOULD LIKE TO UPDATE.
I JUST HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THAT.
THE 400 FOOT TOWER THAT I SEE.
THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD IN THIS, BUT AT FIRST READING I'D LIKE TO THINK COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER ABSTAINS, THE OTHERS VOTING AYE.
[Item 74]
THEN TO THE LAST ITEM ON OUR SURE.THAT IS ITEM 74, CASEY 14 2019 ZERO ONE 37 OF THE DEL LA CAMPGROUND.
UM, THIS CASE IS FOR, UM, THIRD RATING, UM, ADDRESS THE TWO ISSUES THAT WERE RAISED EARLIER TODAY.
UM, AND THEN ANY QUESTIONS? I THINK THAT, UH, I WAS FAMILIAR WITH THIS CASE AT THIS POINT.
UH, THE FIRST QUESTION HAD TO DO WITH THE CONDITIONAL OVERLAY AND THE QUESTION WAS ASKED WHETHER THE RESTRICTION HAS BEEN PUT IN RESTRICTED COVENANT THAT THE NEIGHBOR SPOKE OF EARLIER TODAY, WHETHER THAT COULD ALSO BE MIMICKED AND OF RESTRICT IN A CONDITIONAL OVERLAY.
UM, UH, CONDITIONAL OVERLAY CAN ESTABLISH A SETBACK.
UM, JUST WITH SIMPLY THE AMOUNT OF FEES, THE SETBACK, THE MORE SPECIFIC CONDITION THAT THERE'LL BE SPECIFIC USE IS NOT ALLOWED IN THE SETBACK SUCH AS THE BATHROOMS. AND I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT THAT WAS, BUT SEE, I CANNOT DO THAT.
I CAN ONLY STATE THAT THE SETBACK IS X NUMBER OF FEET.
IT CANNOT GET INTO X NUMBER OF FEET FOR ONE USE AND X NUMBER OF FEET FOR ANOTHER USE.
UH, BUT THAT CONDITION ISN'T THE RESTRICTED COVENANT THAT THE NEIGHBOR SPOKE OF HER AND SHE SAID SHE HAD SIGNED ON.
THE LAST THING HAD TO DO WITH THE, UH, THE PRIVATE USES LISTED THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE APPLICANT AGREED TO, UH, THIS COULD BE A CONDITIONAL OVERLAY AND THAT IS TO PROHIBIT
[05:30:01]
OUTDOOR SPORTS AND RECREATION, HOTEL, MOTEL, OUTDOOR ENTERTAINMENT AND THEATER.ANOTHER THING THAT CAME UP THIS MORNING WAS RESTAURANT IN GENERAL.
I HAVE SPOKEN WITH THE AFRICAN CLAN COLEMAN, WHO IS UNDERLINED IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
UM, THEY DO WISH TO HAVE THE RESTAURANT, HAVE THE ABILITY TO SELL BEER AND WINE.
UH, THEREFORE WE CANNOT PROHIBIT A RE, UH, RESTAURANT IN GENERAL BECAUSE THAT IS BY DEFINITION A TYPE OF RESTAURANT THAT ALLOWS US TO SELL BEER AND WINE.
BUT THE APPLICANT HAS READ TO RESTRICT THE RESTAURANT, UM, ON THIS PROPERTY DOWN TO 1500 SQUARE FEET.
AND WE COULD DO THAT AS A PART OF THE SEAL, SO IT WOULD'VE BEEN AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION THAT WE APPROVE SERVED READING WITH THE FOLLOWING PROHIBITED USES ADDED TO THE CONDITIONAL HOTEL, MOTEL, OUTDOOR ENTERTAINMENT, INDOOR SPORTS AND REC THEATER.
AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO LIMIT THE PERMITTED PERMITTED USE OF RESTAURANT GENERAL TO 1500 SQUARE FEET.
IS THERE A SECOND TO THIS MOTION DISCUSSION? DO YOU WANT TO GO FIRST? YES, PLEASE.
UM, SO THIS WAS, UH, THIS WAS A HARD ONE FOR A LOT OF US IN A LOT OF WAYS, BUT I REALLY DID IT EARLIER, BUT I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO REITERATE THAT I APPLAUD THIS MORE AS LEADERSHIP AND ADVOCACY FOR DELL LAW AND MR ZIMMERMAN'S WILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I KNOW THESE CONVERSATIONS AREN'T EASY, SO I TRULY APPRECIATE THE EFFORT PUT FORWARD BY ALL PARTIES.
UM, I REMAIN ABSOLUTELY COMMITTED TO FINDING THE RESOURCES WE NEED TO MAKE A SAFER STREET, UM, FOR ALL USERS.
UH, WE'VE KNOWN FOR TWO YEARS NOW THAT THE BRIDGE OVER BOGGY CREEK IS ONE OF THE TOP FIVE IN OUR CITY REQUIRING MAJOR REHABILITATION.
WE CAN'T JUST SIT ON OUR HANDS AND HOPE IT'LL FIX ITSELF.
SO THERE'S ALSO CLEARLY A RENEWED NEED FOR SAFER BICYCLING AND PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS.
NOW THAT WE CAN EXPECT MORE PEOPLE COMING FROM THE WALNUT CREEK TRAIL WHERE THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO CHECK OUT THE CAMPGROUND AND DIFFERENCE, UM, WE DON'T NEED TO URBANIZE THIS LITTLE POCKET, BUT WE CAN AND MAKE INVESTMENTS THAT PROTECT THE PEOPLE, LIVE, WORK AND PLAY HERE.
AND AGAIN, I REMAIN ABSOLUTELY COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THAT THAT HAPPENS.
AND THIS IS ANOTHER PROJECT THAT I'M HAPPY TO KEEP MY EYES ON ELLEN AND CAN'T WAIT TO WATCH IT EVOLVE.
I ALREADY GAVELED THIS ONE THROUGH.
WE'RE NOW DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER 74 DISCUSSION.
I COULDN'T TELL IF YOU CALLED AN ON COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN OR IF YOU HAD CALLED ON ME CAUSE YOU CUT OUT THAT FOR A MINUTE.
UM, I NEEDED TO GET BACK TO ONE OF THE QUESTIONS.
UM, MR. ROSS TOBIN THAT YOU ANSWER.
OH, I KEEP LOOKING FOR YOU UP ON THE SCREEN.
I'M REALLY LOOPY TIRED, I GUESS.
UM, SO THE QUESTION WAS ASKED EARLIER ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THE, WHETHER OR NOT, UM, A BUFFER COULD BE ESTABLISHED IN A CONDITIONAL OVERLAY.
YOU ANSWERED NO, I'M LOOKING AT SOME ANSWERS WE RECEIVED FOR ANOTHER ZONING CASE.
AND THE ANSWER I THOUGHT WAS YES, I THOUGHT YOU COULDN'T ESTABLISH WHAT KINDS OF, OKAY, WHAT THE BUFFER MIGHT LOOK LIKE, LIKE WHETHER IT'S TREES OR PARTICULAR KINDS OF PLANTS.
BUT I THOUGHT YOU COULD ESTABLISH A BUFFER.
AND SO I KNOW THAT THEY NEIGHBORS AND THE APPLICANT HAVE NEGOTIATED AN ELEMENT AND RESTRICTIVE COVENANT THAT WE DISCUSSED EARLIER ABOUT NOT USING THE PROPERTY WITHIN A HUNDRED FEET OF THE WESTERN PROPERTY LINE FOR CERTAIN KINDS OF USES.
AND CAN THOSE BE IN A CEO OR NO? UM, COUNCIL MEMBER OF THIS JURY, RESTAURANT PLANNING ZONING.
THE A CEO CAN MODIFY A ZONING REGULATION.
SO A SETBACK IS A ZONING REGULATION.
SO A CEO COULD CHANGE A SETBACK FROM, YOU KNOW, 10 FEET TO 15 FEET TO 30 FEET TO WHATEVER FEET.
UM, BUT WHAT A CEO CANNOT DO IS SAY A HUNDRED FOOT SETBACKS FOR OKAY.
BATHROOMS AND I CAN'T RECALL, I THINK THERE WERE ANOTHER, OKAY.
IT WAS RETAIL BATHROOM SO IT COULD ESTABLISH A SETBACK.
YEAH, IT WOULD JUST BE ANYTHING.
I'M TRYING, MAYBE THE APPLICANT IS ON THE LINE AND COULD HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT'S NOT COVERED BY THIS RETAIL.
THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT, UM, INCLUDES
[05:35:01]
RETAIL ACTIVITY, UH, PROHIBITION WITHIN THAT A HUNDRED FEET FROM THE WESTERN PROPERTY LINE OF RETAIL ACTIVITY, BATHROOM FACILITIES OR THE DISPOSAL OR STORAGE OF TRASH OR TRASH RECEPTACLES OR DUMPSTERS.WAS THERE SOMETHING ELSE CONTEMPLATED WITHIN THAT HUNDRED FEET? NO, NO.
WE MADE A BLEND COLEMAN TO THE APPLICANT.
UM, WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT SUGGESTING THAT THERE'D BE NO STRUCTURES AND NO DEVELOPMENT OF ANY KIND WITHIN A HUNDRED FOOT SETBACK, BUT WE WANTED TO GET THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSURANCES THAT, UM, THAT THOSE NUISANCE USES WOULD BE KEPT, UH, WITHIN, UH, YOU KNOW, PROHIBITED WITHIN A HUNDRED FEET OF THAT ADJACENT PROPERTY LINE.
SO THERE WOULD BE SO UNDER THE RESTRICT.
SO THERE ARE CONTEMPLATED USES WITHIN THAT A HUNDRED FEET, JUST NOT THE ONES I JUST READ ALOUD.
SO THERE COULD BE STRUCTURES, THERE COULD BE, UH, UTILITIES OR UM, W WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT ELIMINATING ALL USES FOR A HUNDRED FEET.
THAT'S QUITE A BIT OF PROPERTY, BUT WE WANTED TO SET ASIDE THOSE, UM, THOSE NUISANCE USES FOR THEM.
ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION FOR YOU, MR. COLEMAN.
UM, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING FROM THE NEIGHBORS THAT YOU, YOU ALL HAVE CONTINUED AS COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR MEDICINE, UM, INDICATED YOU'VE NEGOTIATED VERY CLOSELY INCLUDING THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
UM, AND THAT THERE IS AN INTENT TO RECORD THAT RESTRICTIVE COVENANT.
I UNDERSTAND FROM ONE OF THE NEIGHBORS THAT THERE'S AN INTENT TO RECORD THAT SIGNED AGREEMENT AND RC WITH LANGUAGE, UM, TOMORROW.
IN THE ORIGINAL SIGNED AGREEMENT, WE HAD SAID THAT WE WOULD, THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT WAS SPECIFIC TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN RV PARK.
UH, AND, AND THAT AGREEMENT WAS SIGNED WITH THE NEIGHBORS, BUT LATER IN THE DAY AT THE REQUEST OF A COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, WE WENT INTO A BONUS ROUND OF NEGOTIATIONS.
THE NEIGHBORS SAID, LOOK, WE'RE CONCERNED THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT HAPPENS IF THIS DEVELOPER GOES AWAY? IT GOES BROKER SELLS THE PROPERTY.
WE WOULD LIKE THESE CONDITIONS TO APPLY REGARDLESS.
UM, WE SAID, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, NO MATTER WHAT, WE'LL KEEP AMPLIFIED NOISE, PROHIBITION AND SOME OTHER THINGS IN THE RC TOGETHER.
WE WANT A SENSE THAT IT THOUGH, I MEAN, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO A BLANKET RC FOREVER FOR ALL TIME.
I WAS AFTER LUNCH BEFORE WE MADE THOSE, UM, WE MADE THOSE CHANGES AND WITH THAT CHANGE, UM, THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO FOLLOW THE RC AFTER THE ZONING CASE IS PASSED AND NOT NECESSARILY WAIT FOR A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY OR A PERMIT SPECIFIC TO THE RV.
SO IS IT YOUR INTENT THEN, UM, TO FILE IT, TO FILE IT SOON? YEAH.
DO YOU HAVE THAT? I MEAN, WE CAN'T FILE IT TONIGHT, BUT AS SOON AS DONE IN CASES WE'RE GOOD TO GO.
I APOLOGIZE MR. COLEMAN, YOU CUT OUT FOR A BIT AND THEN I HAD TO TURN MY MIC OFF CAUSE I HAD A LITTLE BIT MORE NOISE BACK HERE THAN I THOUGHT ANYBODY WANTED TO HEAR BUT YOU, I DIDN'T HEAR YOUR RESPONSE TO THE QUESTION ABOUT WHEN IT, WHEN IT WOULD BE FILED.
WE'RE GOING TO FILE IT TOMORROW MORNING OR THE MINUTE WE GET IT BACK FROM, FROM OUR ATTORNEYS REFLECTING THE LANGUAGE THAT YOU JUST DESCRIBED.
SO THIS HAS UNFOLDED ONLY IN THE LAST SEVERAL HOURS OF THE DAY.
SO THE ANSWER IS TOMORROW OR MONDAY AT THE LATEST.
SORRY AGAIN ABOUT ALL THE IN AND OUT THE INTERRUPTIONS.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND YEAR.
THOSE IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
IT WAS A POWER AND MISS ON THE AND INSIGHT AND PASSES AS WELL.
YEAH, THERE'S VOTING AYE
I THINK THAT'S ALL THE THINGS WE HAD IN OUR AGENDA FOR TONIGHT.
SO AT THE TIME, ALTHOUGH THE EIGHT 55 FOR SOMEONE WANTING TO SAY SOMETHING.
YES MAYOR, I JUST WANT TO PAGE A COUNCIL MEMBER PAGE BECAUSE WALKED OFF MY STREET THERE AND COME OUT AND I HAVEN'T.
I THINK YOU CAN PEOPLE SPEAK THROUGH HERE SO QUICK, LIKE CRAZY AND I JUST WANTED TO, I'M SO EXCITED.
THEY'RE SPEAKING OF SOCIAL DISTANCING.
I FEEL LIKE LESLIE AND PR SITTING TOO CLOSE TO EACH OTHER ON THAT COUCH.
[05:40:01]
MAKE SOME ROOM NEXT TIME.ALSO, I KNOW THAT JEANETTE AND THE FOLKS IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE HAD TO DEAL WITH A LOT OF SPEAKERS AND A LOT TODAY AND SO WE APPRECIATE CGM AND AND ALSO THE CITY CLERK STAFF FOR GETTING US THROUGH A LONG DAY.
GREG? YOU KNOW I WOULD BE DOWNSTAIRS IN MY OFFICE, BUT WHEN I BUILT THIS ADU, THEY DID NOT ALLOW ME TO PUT A AIR CONDITIONED CHEF DOWN THERE SO IT GETS PRETTY HOT.
SO THAT'S WHY I'M UP HERE UPSTAIRS AIR CONDITIONED.
AFTER HEARING ABOUT YOUR ADU EVERY OTHER WEEK, I THINK YOU HAVE TO SET THE GOAL OF HELPING YOU REFURBISH THAT UNDER THE NEW RULES.
I ALSO WANTED TO JUST THANK OUR CITY CLERK AND ALL OUR CITY STAFF AND, AND, AND ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO KIND OF STUCK WITH IT.
IT'S BEEN AN EXTREMELY LONG DAY AND WE HAD A PRETTY LONG DAY ON TUESDAY AS WELL.
UM, YOU KNOW, AND I KNOW THROUGHOUT THE DAY THERE'VE BEEN FRUSTRATIONS ABOUT THE EXTENT TO WHICH WE COULD TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE TOPICS AND I KNOW ON TUESDAY WE RAN OUT OF TIME TO TALK ABOUT THE TASK FORCE, UM, IDEA THAT HAD COME PROPOSAL THAT CAME FORWARD FROM SOME OF OUR, UM, COMMUNITY ADVOCATES.
AND THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER TIMES THROUGHOUT THE DAY THAT WE HAVEN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY DIG INTO SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE MIGHT MIGHT WANT TO HAVE.
UM, AND SO I THINK WE'VE ALSO SUGGESTED SOME CHANGES FOR NEXT WEEK ABOUT HOW WE HANDLE THINGS.
AND I WOULD JUST ASK US TO ALL THINK CREATIVELY ABOUT OTHER WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN OPERATE WITHIN THIS NEW ENVIRONMENT BECAUSE 10 HOURS IN OUR HOME.
SO IT WAS A LITTLE MORE CHALLENGING THAN IT IS AT CITY HALL.
UM, AND I THINK WE TOO CAN REALLY DIG IN.
WE HAD A LOT OF REALLY MEATY ISSUES THIS WEEKEND IN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND WOULD ASK THE MANAGER TO HELP US FIGURE OUT HOW TO, HOW TO BALANCE THAT.
IT'S JUST, IT'S CHALLENGING TO MAINTAIN THAT LEVEL OF INTENSITY FOR, FOR THIS PERIOD OF TIME.
BUT THANKS TO ALL THE CITY STAFF AGAIN AND TO OUR PUBLIC.
I'M SORRY, I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY SOMETHING I SAID, UM, WHAT DOES IT MEANT SO MUCH AS A CRITICISM? I THINK IT'S A, IT'S A GREAT THING THAT WE CAN PASS REALLY GOOD POLICY VERY QUICKLY WITHOUT MUCH DISCUSSION.
BUT I THINK WHAT HAPPENS SOMETIMES IS PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE WE'VE DONE THAT BECAUSE WE DON'T TALK ABOUT IT AND IT JUST GOES ON CONSENT OR THERE'S NOT A LOT OF DISCUSSION.
UM, AND I, AND THAT'S, I THINK I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT.
THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME TIMES SOMETIMES I GOTTA PULL IT JUST TO TALK ABOUT IT.
SO THE PUBLIC KNOWS THAT WE ARE IN FACT WORKING ON A LOT OF THE VERY ISSUES THAT, THAT THEY ARE, THAT SOMETIMES PEOPLE SAY WE AREN'T WORKING.
ANYTHING ELSE? COLLEAGUES?