[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TOO, IT'S BEEN WITHDRAWN.COUNCIL MEMBER POOL SPONSOR 44 IS WITHDRAWN.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,
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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.