Jul 28, 2020 City Council Work Session

AS WELL AS OUR SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN, WE HAVE, UM, UH, ESTABLISHED AN INCIDENT COMMAND STRUCTURE THAT INCIDENT COMMAND STRUCTURE WILL WORK WITH OUR CHILDCARE FACILITIES, UM, WITH OUR TASK FORCE, AS WELL AS SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO ASSIST THEM WITH REOPENING PLANS.

SO AS WE CONTINUE TO, UM, WORK IN THAT SPACE, UM, OFF OF CLUSTERS AND OUR TESTING PLAN, WE WILL CONTINUE TO, UM, WORK THROUGH THE LONGTERM CARE FACILITIES.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, UM, WE ARE ALSO, UM, A SYSTEM SEEING OTHER FACILITIES THAT MAY HAVE, UM, TESTING NEEDS AS WELL.

WE'VE DETERMINED THAT THERE ARE SOME SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES THAT REQUIRE THIS TEST.

AND SO WE ARE USING ONE OF OUR VENDORS TO DO THAT.

OUR STRIKE TEAMS, UM, HAVE THE PRIMARY FUNCTION OF STABILIZING STAFF AT THESE IMPACTED.

AND SO, UM, THE PROVISION OF THE STRIKE TEAM ASSURES THE FACILITIES HAVE THE STAFF TO PROVIDE RESIDENT CARE, BUT IT ALSO, UM, PROVIDES ADDITIONAL STAFFING FOR THE TEAM WHERE PEOPLE WERE WHEN THEY HAVE KOBE POSITIVE INDIVIDUALS.

AND THEN WE'RE, WE'VE ALSO BEEN ABLE TO MODEL APPROPRIATE PPE USE.

SO WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME TRAINING TO ENSURE THAT APPROPRIATE USE OF PPE AND, UM, AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR TEAMS ARE FOCUSED ON PROCESS IMPROVEMENT AND PATIENT CARE TO ADDRESS THE OUTBREAK YOU'RE TODAY.

OUR STRIKE TEAMS HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED TO 19 FACILITIES.

THIS IS, UM, 13 ADDITIONAL STRIKE TEAMS. UM, SINCE WE RESPONDED IN MAY, SO A TOTAL OF 134 AGENCY STAFF HAVE RECEIVED STRIKE TEAM TRAINING, AND 167 AGENCY STAFF HAVE RECEIVED AN IN 95 FIT TESTING AS FAR AS THE NEED FOR THE STRIKE TEAMS. UM, WE ARE CONTINUING TO, UM, TO WORK WITH THE AGENCIES JUST TO DETERMINE THEIR NEEDS.

WE ARE CONTINUING TO ADDRESS THIS CHALLENGE BY, UM, ADDING STAFFING, UM, THROUGH A CONTRACT WITH OUR PPE, OUR LONGTERM FACILITIES.

UM, WE'RE OFFERED A ONE TIME, UH, WHAT WE'RE CALLING A PPE PUSHBACK TO ALL OF THE FACILITIES.

UM, 35 ASSISTED LIVING AND 32 NURSING HOMES HAVE ASSISTED, UM, THIS PPE AS OF TODAY WITH, UM, WITH TRAINING, WE CONTINUE TO, UM, PROVIDE TRAINING TO OUR, UM, TO OUR LONGTERM CARE STAFF.

AND SO 299 LONGTERM CARE FACILITY STAFF HAVE BEEN TRAINED ON VARIOUS TOPICS, UM, INCLUDING IN 95 FIT TESTS, INFECTION CONTROL, ONSITE, PPE, AND HAND HYGIENE CHECKOFF.

SO THIS IS JUST, UH, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT OUR, OUR, OUR TEAM HAVE BEEN DOING.

UM, AS I SHARED IN A MEMO LAST WEEK, UM, THE US DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES WILL DEVOTE $5 MILLION TO THE PROVIDER RELIEF FUND, WHICH IS REALLY GOOD NEWS TO OUR LEARNED LONGTERM CARE FACILITIES, UM, TO BUILD OUT THE NURSING HOMES AND ENHANCE NURSING HOME SUPPORT.

AND SO THE FUNDING CAN BE USED FOR, UM, FOR HIRING ADDITIONAL STAFF, IMPLEMENTING INFECTION CONTROL AND MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS AS A PART OF THAT, UM, 15,000 TESTING DEVICES WILL BE SENT OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

UM, AND 600 WERE SHIPPED OUT LAST WEEK, ACCORDING TO THE CENTER FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES TO RECEIVE A POINT OF CARE TESTING SITE, YOU MUST BE CONSIDERED A HOTSPOT AND IN TEXAS THERE DALLAS HARRIS HILDAGO AND TRAVIS ARE CONSIDERED TO BE HOTSPOTS IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THE POINT OF CARE TESTING DEVICE.

THE FACILITY MUST MEET THE CRITERIA AND MUST HAVE THE CLINICAL LABORATORY IMPROVEMENT AMENDMENT CERTIFIED OF A WAIVER TO RECEIVE A TESTING DEVICE WITH OUR HOMELESS.

ALL FOUR OF OUR, UM, PROLOGIS ARE FULL THAT'S 300 GUESTS, UM, 17 PEOPLE WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS 17, UM, PEOPLE HAVE EXITED, UM, TO PERMANENT HOUSING, AND WE ARE GOING TO ACTIVATE OUR PROTECTIVE LODGE AS THE ONGOING EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND INFECTION STRATEGY WITH OUR PARTNERSHIP.

UM, WE HAVE TESTED OVER 650 TESTS HAVE BEEN ADMINISTERED AND FOCUS OPPORTUNITIES FOR MULTIPLE SHELTERS AND ENCAMPMENT AREAS ACROSS THE CITY.

UM, UM, DOWNTOWN AUSTIN, COMMUNITY COURT, FRONT STEPS, SALVATION ARMY, AND COMMUNITIES FOR RECOVERY INTEGRAL CARE ARE CONTINUING TO PROVIDE THAT FOCUS CASE MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES WITH OUR CHILDCARE FACILITY,

[00:10:01]

SO MORE OF THAT, UM, WILL BE COMING.

UM, THE, THE LAST THING I DID WANT TO SHARE IS, UM, WE HAVE, UM, CONTINUE TO WORK ON, UM, THE SURVEY RESULTS AS WE REVIEWED THE RESULTS THAT CAME INTO THE DEPARTMENT.

UM, 29 OF THOSE 53 STRATEGIES HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED.

UM, OUR TEAM IS WORKING WITH, UM, OUR OUTREACH FOLKS, SO WE CAN ESTABLISH AND WORK TOGETHER A LITTLE CLOSELY ON THE 24 THAT NEED TO BE IMPLEMENTED.

SO AT THIS TIME WE WANT TO REALLY SPEND SOME TIME TO, UM, MEET WITH THE COMMUNITY IN THOSE STRIKE TEAMS TO ADDRESS HOW CAN WE DO MORE TARGETED WORK IN THE POPULATIONS, UM, THAT HAVE DISPARITIES.

THAT INCLUDES MY REPORT.

AND I AM GOING TO SHIFT OVER TO DR.

ED.

THANK YOU, STEPHANIE.

AND THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

I'M GOING TO ASK OUR FOLKS TO PULL UP MY SLIDES IF YOU DON'T MIND.

EXCELLENT.

AS MAYOR AND COUNCIL, AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'VE HAD A, UH, A SUBSTANTIAL DECREASE IN OUR NUMBER OF NEW CONFIRMED CASES, UH, OVER THE PAST 12 DAYS.

UH, RIGHT NOW OUR SEVEN DAY MOVING AVERAGE FOR NEW CASES IS, UH, 275.

UH, AND, UH, AND JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO AT THE BEGINNING OF JULY, UH, YOU KNOW, WE WERE CLOSER TO FIVE 50 TO 600, UH, SO DEFINITE IMPROVEMENTS.

UH, WE SAW A REPORT YESTERDAY THAT THE TRAVIS COUNTY HAS THE 15TH HIGHEST, UH, NUMBER OF ACTIVE CASES IN, UH, IN COUNTIES ACROSS TEXAS.

AND WE'RE PROUD OF THE, THE PROGRESS THAT WE'VE MADE.

UH, AND I, I THINK THIS IS A RESULT OF A COMMUNITY THAT HAS BEEN ENGAGED TOGETHER, UH, TO REALLY GET A LID BACK ON THIS.

WE'VE GOT MORE WORK TO DO, BUT WE'RE CERTAINLY HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

THIS IS A GRAPH OF OUR DOUBLING TIME WITH THE YELLOW REPRESENTING THE SEVEN DAY MOVING AVERAGE OF OUR DOUBLING TIME.

UH, YOU CAN SEE BACK ON, UH, JUNE THE SEVENTH, UH, WE WERE AT 40, A LITTLE OVER 40 DAYS.

UH, AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS MONTH, WE HIT OUR LOWEST, UH, DOUBLING TIME, WHICH WAS AROUND SEVEN OR CORRECTION, WHICH WAS AROUND 12 DAYS.

UH, NOW I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT WE ARE OVER 60 DAYS NOW WITH A SEVEN DAY MOVING AVERAGE OF 65 DAYS, UH, AT THIS STAGE.

UH, SO THIS IS THE, THE BEST POSITION WE'VE BEEN IN, IN, UH, IN TERMS OF, OF THE DOUBLING TIME.

AGAIN, THIS IS ALSO A FUNCTION OF THE NUMBER OF CASES THAT WE HAVE.

UH, THE MORE CASES WE HAVE, THE MORE DIFFICULT IT IS TO DOUBLE IT.

UH, BUT IT'S ALSO REFLECTIVE OF THE FACT THAT WE HAVE FEWER CASES BEING REPORTED EACH DAY.

AND WE CERTAINLY HOPE THAT TREND CONTINUES.

THIS SLIDE IS SHOWING YOU OUR, UH, OUR KEY INDICATOR OF NEW ADMISSIONS.

UH, AGAIN, THE YELLOW IS SHOWING THE SEVEN DAY MOVING AVERAGE OF THOSE NEW ADMISSIONS.

UH, SO AGAIN, WE'VE HAD 12 DAYS OF DECREASING, UH, UH, NUMBERS ON THE MOVING AVERAGE, WHICH IS CURRENTLY AT 47.

UH, AND THIS IS A NOW FULL 21 DAYS FROM THE PEAK OF THAT, OF THAT MOVING AVERAGE.

SO AGAIN, THIS CERTAINLY DOES APPEAR TO BE A DOWNWARD TREND.

UH, AGAIN, THIS DID NOT OCCUR BY MAGIC AND IT OCCURRED BECAUSE WE HAD A COMMUNITY COMMITTED TO DECREASING THE SPREAD OF DISEASE.

UH, IF WE REMOVE THAT COMMITMENT, THE DISEASE WILL RETURN AGAIN.

UH, AND THIS IS WHY IT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER TO STAY THE COURSE AND FOR US TO CONTINUE THOSE PROTECTIVE EFFORTS, NOT ONLY DOES IT DECREASE THE, THE ADMISSIONS AND THE BURDEN ON THE HOSPITALS, BUT SO THAT WE CAN BE IN A BETTER POSITION TO REOPEN OUR SCHOOLS AND GET KIDS BACK IN THE CLASSROOM.

IS SHOWING THE ICU ADMISSIONS AND THE GRAY IS SHOWING THOSE INDIVIDUALS ON A VENTILATOR.

NOW THIS GRAPH IS SHOWING US THREE THINGS.

UH, THE BLUE AGAIN IS SHOWING US THE TOTAL HOSPITALIZED INDIVIDUALS.

THE ORANGE

[00:15:01]

UH, THE HOSPITALIZATIONS HAS, UH, HAS HAD A SEVEN DAY, UH, DECREASE IN THAT MOVING AVERAGE, WHICH IS CURRENTLY AT 424.

UH, YOU CAN SEE A MORE GENTLE DOWNWARD TREND IN THE ICU IN VENTILATED PATIENTS, ALTHOUGH IT'S, WE'D STILL CALL THAT A PLATEAU AT THIS STAGE.

AGAIN, IT'S NOT INCREASING.

AND, UH, AND THAT'S SOMETHING TO BE GRATEFUL FOR.

UM, BUT, UH, UH, ON A, UH, A SLIDE THAT I'LL SHOW YOU HERE SHORTLY, UH, EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT WHY THAT NUMBER IS LIKELY TO STAY PLATEAUED FOR, FOR AT LEAST A LITTLE WHILE LONGER.

UH, THIS IS AN UPDATE ON OUR GRAPH, UH, RELATED TO RACE AND ETHNICITY AMONG OUR HOSPITALIZED INDIVIDUALS.

THE RIGHT SIDE IS SHOWING YOU THE LAST WEEK ADMISSIONS AND THE, THE RACE AND ETHNICITY BREAKDOWN.

UH, THAT'S SHOWING THAT OUR HISPANIC POPULATION IS REPRESENTING 51.1% OF THE ADMISSIONS LAST WEEK, AGAIN, A DOWNWARD TREND FROM THE PREVIOUS WEEKS, BUT STILL OVER REPRESENTATIVE, UH, UH, THE, UH, THE HISPANIC POPULATION IN OUR COMMUNITY, OUR WHITE NON-HISPANIC AND BLUE IS AT 31%.

SO RELATIVELY PLATEAUED FROM LAST WEEK AND OUR AFRICAN AMERICAN IN GRAY, UH, PERCENTAGES 11%, WHICH CONTINUES TO INCREASE AGAIN ALSO, UH, REPRESENTING OUR AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY, UH, IN, UH, IN TERMS OF HOSPITALIZATIONS.

THIS GRAPH IS SHOWING YOU THE BREAKDOWN OF HOSPITALIZATIONS BY AGE GROUP.

UH, YOU CAN SEE THAT ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SCREEN IS, IS THE RESULTS FROM THE LAST WEEK.

AND YOU SEE A CLUSTER OF, OF, UH, OF LINES REPRESENTING THE 50 PLUS AGE GROUPS, UH, ABOUT 50% OF THE HOSPITALIZATIONS LAST WEEK, WHERE AN INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE 60 YEARS OR OLDER, UH, ABOUT A THIRD OF THEM ARE 70 YEARS OR OLDER.

AND AGAIN, THIS, THIS TELLS US THAT, THAT THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THE, UH, VENTILATOR NUMBERS AND I SEE NUMBERS ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO PLATEAU AND ALSO IS A BIT OMINOUS IN TERMS OF OUR PREDICTIONS REGARDING DEATHS.

WE KNOW THAT PARTICULARLY OVER THE AGE OF 60, UH, THE RISK OF DEATH IS SUBSTANTIALLY HIGHER.

UH, SO I THINK THIS TELLS US IN THE, IN THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS HAS TOLD US THAT WE CAN EXPECT THAT OUR DEATH NUMBERS ARE GOING TO INCREASE, UH, AS THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE, UH, INCREASED THEIR REPRESENTATION AMONGST HOSPITALIZED INDIVIDUALS.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE LET'S SLIDE YOU A AGGREGATION OF DATA FROM A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT TESTING ENTITIES AROUND TRAVIS COUNTY.

UH, SO THIS INCLUDES AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, COMMUNITY CARE, AUSTIN, REGIONAL CLINIC, ESSENTIALLY SETON SAINT DAVID'S AND OTHERS.

AND THIS SHOWS US TRENDS OVER A WHILE SINCE, UH, SINCE THE BEGINNING OF JUNE.

UH, AND YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THE RIGHT SIDE, UH, THE LAST COLUMN OF, UH, UH, JULY 19TH THROUGH THE 25TH, UH, STILL HAS SOME RESULTS WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN RECEIVED YET.

UH, SO THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE A COMPLETE PICTURE YET.

UM, AND, UH, IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF CASES THAT, THAT, UH, OR A NUMBER OF TESTS THAT WERE PERFORMED AS WELL AS THEY, UH, PERCENT POSITIVE, UH, BUT YOU CAN SAY THAT WE HAVE HAD A, A THREE WEEKS, UH, OR PARTICULARLY THE PAST TWO WEEKS WHERE, UH, WE'VE HAD SUBSTANTIAL DECREASES IN THE RATE OF POSITIVITY.

UM, WE ARE ALSO NOTICING THAT WE HAVE A DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS, UH, WHO ARE REQUESTING TESTING THROUGH OUR DRIVE THROUGH SITE.

UH, AGAIN, WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE FOLKS IF, IF THEY HAVE SYMPTOMS OR THEY HAVE AN EXPOSURE, UH, TO GO ONLINE TO THE AUSTIN, TEXAS.GOV FORWARD SLASH COVID-19 WEBSITE, AND DO A SELF ASSESSMENT TO SEE IF, IF THEY NEED TO BE TESTED.

UH, WE ARE TESTING INDIVIDUALS WHO, UH, WHO HAVE RISK FACTORS WHO HAVE EXPOSURES, UH, AND WHO MAY NOT BE SYMPTOMATIC AT THIS STAGE.

AND SO IT'S IMPORTANT FOR FOLKS TO GO AND SIGN UP FOR TESTING TO SEE IF, IF IT TRIGGERS A REQUEST FOR A TEST.

LAST WEEK, THIS IS THE DATA FROM SEVEN 21 TO SEVEN 27.

YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

SORRY, THAT'S JUST A REDUNDANT SLIDE.

UM, THIS IS, UH, THIS GRAPH IS SHOWING US THE PERCENT OF POSITIVE CASES BY AGE GROUP.

UH, AGAIN,

[00:20:01]

YOU CAN SEE THAT THE 20 TO 29 AGE GROUP IS MORE THAN 20%, UH, OF, OF THE CASES.

SO THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF BASES, UH, YOU KNOW, FOLLOWED CLOSELY BY 30 TO 39 AND 40 TO 49.

SO THERE STILL IS QUITE A BIT OF SPREAD AMONGST THE, UH, THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE TESTING POSITIVE IN TERMS OF THEIR AGE GROUP.

UH, WE ARE, UH, TRYING TO, TO GET SOME, UH, ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS DATA TO DETERMINE PERCENT POSITIVE BY AGE GROUP, UH, LOOKING AT SOME OTHER DATA SETS, UH, THOSE DATA SETS OF SUGGESTING THAT THEY, UH, TEND TO 19 AGE GROUP HAVE THE HIGHEST RATE OF POSITIVITY, UH, OVER THE PAST, UH, TWO WEEKS.

UM, YOU KNOW, THE FACT THAT THEY ARE, ARE BEING TESTED LESS, UH, IS, IS WHY THEY, THEY, THEY REPRESENT A SMALLER NUMBER OF THE PERCENT POSITIVE CASES.

UH, BUT WE ARE SEEING DISEASE SPREAD AMONGST THAT GROUP.

AND WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR YOU, PARTICULARLY AS WE CONSIDER, UH, THE SCHEDULE FOR SCHOOL.

REOPENINGS NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

UH, THIS, UH, THIS CHART IS AN UPDATE ON OUR NURSING HOME, UH, AND LONGTERM CARE FACILITY, UH, OUTBREAKS.

UH, SO A TOTAL OF 113 NEW CASES IN THE PAST SEVEN DAYS.

UH, THIS IS A DECREASE FROM, FROM THE PREVIOUS TWO WEEKS, BUT WE CLEARLY HAVE MORE WORK TO DO IN TERMS OF, OF NURSING HOME OUTBREAKS.

UH, YOU CAN SEE THAT THIS INFORMATION IS STILL, UH, CODED AND IS NOT LISTING THE, THE FACILITY NAME.

UH, THIS IS A RESULT OF, OF A LEGAL OPINION BY THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THAT THE RECENT RULE RULING, WHICH APPLIED TO HHSC DOES NOT APPLY TO THE CITY.

UH, SO WE'LL CONTINUE, UH, CONTINUE UTILIZING THIS, THIS FORMAT OF SHARING INFORMATION, UH, UNTIL WE GET A DIFFERENT RULING.

UH, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

UH, AND, AND FINALLY, I WANT TO TOUCH A LITTLE BIT OF BOND WHERE WE ARE WITH, WITH THE SCHOOL'S DISCUSSION.

UH, WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS AS DIRECTOR HAYDEN SAID, UH, WE HAVE A TEAM WORKING ON GUIDELINES.

UH, ONE OF THOSE GUIDELINES IS GOING TO BE CENTERED AROUND OUR, OUR STAGING AND, AND, YOU KNOW, IF THE THING WE'RE LIKELY TO ADVOCATE FOR A PHASED REOPENING OF SCHOOLS, BASED UPON THE LEVEL OF RISK THAT WE'RE IN, UH, YOU KNOW, WE, WE FACE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN'S THE RIGHT TIME, HOW MANY STUDENTS DO WE LET IN? UH, WHAT ABOUT EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES? AND THOSE ARE ITEMS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON.

I WILL SAY THAT OUR PARTY HAS TO BE A SAFETY.

IT HAS TO BE MAINTAINING PUBLIC HEALTH.

WE'VE SEEN OVER AND OVER AGAIN, THAT WHEN WE RUSH TO OPEN THINGS, IF WE DON'T HAVE THE APPROPRIATE PROTECTIONS IN PLACE, IT LEADS TO CASES, SURGING AND SHUTTING THOSE THINGS DOWN AGAIN.

AND WE DO NOT WANT TO BE IN THAT SITUATION IN TERMS OF SCHOOLS, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO TRY TO GET KIDS BACK IN THE CLASSROOM, BUT WE ALSO MUST CONSIDER THE CONTINUITY OF EDUCATION FOR THESE STUDENTS.

AND WE DO NOT WANT TO BE IN A SITUATION WHERE SCHOOLS ARE OPEN AND CLOSE AND OPEN AND CLOSED, UM, BECAUSE THAT MAY BE WORSE, UH, THAN JUST WAITING, UH, PROGRESSIVELY OPENING SCHOOLS WITH, WITH A RELATIVELY FEW, A NUMBER OF STUDENTS ALLOW THE, THE SCHOOLS TO WORK OUT THE PROCESSES, ALLOW US TO BE IN A BETTER PLACE IN TERMS OF THE STAGE OF RISK IN THE COMMUNITY, AND THEN PROGRESSIVELY ALLOWING MORE STUDENTS INTO THE CLASSROOM.

UH, AGAIN, WE ARE WORKING ON THESE GUIDELINES, WE'RE WORKING ON ALGORITHMS TO, UH, TO ALLOW SCHOOLS, TO HAVE SOME, SOME UNIFORMITY AND HOW THEY RESPOND TO, UH, VARIOUS EVENTS, SUCH AS A NEW CASE OR A CLUSTER.

AND WE'RE ALSO WORKING ON, UH, SOME REQUIREMENTS FOR SCHOOL REOPENING.

UH, SO THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE HOPE TO HAVE DRAFTED THIS WEEK, THAT WE WILL ENGAGE OUR SUPERINTENDENTS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS ON, UH, SO THAT WE CAN, WE CAN HAVE A, A RELATIVELY UNIFORM APPROACH TO, UH, TO SCHOOL REOPENING.

UM, I ALSO WANT TO MENTION THAT I DO HAVE CONCERN ABOUT THE DIFFERENCES IN APPLICATION OF PUBLIC HEALTH PRINCIPLES BETWEEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND PRIVATE RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS.

[00:25:01]

UM, YOU KNOW, I, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, UH, OF THE STATE OF TEXAS HAS, HAS STATED THAT THIS IS A FIRST AMENDMENT ISSUE.

AND I, I DON'T PERSONALLY BELIEVE THAT'S CORRECT.

UH, PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE IS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE.

AND WHEN WE HAVE A UNIFORM CONCERN AND A UNIFORMLY APPLIED A STANDARD OR PUBLIC AND RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS, IT'S FAIR.

AND IT MAKES SENSE.

UH, OUR, OUR TEACHERS AT PRIVATE SCHOOLS ARE IN THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES, TEACHERS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

AND I THINK WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY TO ADDRESS ALL OF THESE VARIOUS SETTINGS, UH, TO ENSURE THAT THE PROTECTIONS ARE IN PLACE UNIFORMLY, UH, FOR, UH, FOR OUR EDUCATORS AND FOR OUR SCHOOL STAFF.

AND WITH THAT, UH, MAYOR, I WILL TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU FOR QUESTIONS, MARY YOU'RE MUTED.

THERE YOU GO.

AND WE RETURNED THE SCREEN PARTICIPANT OUR ACCOUNTS.

COOL.

THANKS MAYOR.

AND GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY.

I'M DR.

ASCOT.

I HAD A QUESTION FOR YOU.

AND THEN, UM, I GUESS, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A QUESTION FOR YOU OR FOR ILLEGAL.

SO ON THE POSITIVELY POSITIVITY CHART THAT SHOWS, WHICH SHOWED HOSPITALIZATIONS, IT LOOKED LIKE WE HAD ABOUT 8,000 TESTS ADMINISTERED LAST WEEK.

SO CAN I JUST REALLY ESTIMATE VR TESTING A THOUSAND? UH, SO COUNCIL MEMBER THAT'S, THAT'S THE, UH, THE TOTAL TESTING FROM THE ENTITIES THAT ARE CONTRIBUTING RESULTS TO US, AND THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT WE HAVE RESULTS FOR.

SO THERE MAY BE ADDITIONAL ONES FROM LAST WEEK THAT WERE STILL PENDING RESULTS.

THAT'S JUST WHAT WE HAVE BACK.

SO, BUT JUST LOOKING AT THAT CHART, KNOWING THAT IT IS ALL THE REPORTS THAT HAVE BEEN, THAT HAVE COME IN IN A CERTAIN TIMEFRAME, CAN WE JUST DO A SIMPLE DIVISION AND SAY, GENERALLY WE HAVE ABOUT X, THOUSANDS PER DAY BEING TESTED.

UH, BUT, UH, BUT AGAIN, THIS IS ONLY ABOUT EIGHT DIFFERENT CONTRIBUTORS.

THERE ARE MANY MORE DOING TESTING, INCLUDING URGENT CARE CENTERS AND FREESTANDING EMERGENCY ROOMS AND IN CLINICS.

UH, SO THIS IS A SNAPSHOT, BUT SNAPSHOT, OH, LIMITED UNIVERSE.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE LARGER UNIVERSE IS THAT IS NOT BEING CAPTURED IN THESE THEN? I DO NOT.

UM, AND THEN THE SECOND QUESTION I HAD IS RELATING TO THE AG RULING AND THE, UM, PUBLICATION OF THE NAMES OF THE DIFFERENT NURSING HOMES.

WE TALKED ABOUT BEING ABLE TO LIST THEM.

WE WENT TO THE CODING PROTOCOL IN ORDER TO PRESERVE SOME ANONYMITY, ALTHOUGH THAT IS NOW IN MY MIND, THE SAME THING AS HOLDING PRIVATE PARTICULAR PATIENTS PARTICULARS.

SO WHY DOES THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S RULING NOT APPLY THE CITY OF AUSTIN? UH, IF THAT INFORMATION IS NOW PUBLIC AND IN THE NEWSPAPER OF RECORD HERE IN AUSTIN, WHY WOULDN'T WE ALSO ADD THAT TO OUR CHARTS FOR TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABLE? THIS IS, THIS IS, UM, WE GOT A RULING FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TELLING US THAT WE HAD TO KEEP THE INFORMATION CONFIDENTIAL.

WE ALREADY HAVE A RULING.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ABIDING BY.

CAN WE GO BACK PLEASE TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND TRY TO ALIGN THE MORE RECENT MEANING WITH THE PREVIOUS RULING SO THAT THERE ARE NO GAPS.

IT SEEMS ODD, AND PEOPLE WERE QUESTIONING WHY THE CITY OF AUSTIN DOESN'T HAVE THE SAME INFORMATION THAT IS PUBLICLY AVAILABLE ON THE NEWSSTANDS.

WE CAN, WE CAN LOOK AT IT AGAIN.

UM, SO WHAT I'M ASKING IS WILL LEGAL PLEASE CONNECT WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE AND REVIEW THE DISPARATE RULING SO WE CAN GET SOME CLARITY.

WE ARE THINKING CLARITY AS WE OFTEN DO WHEN WE GET RULINGS JUDICIAL TYPE.

CAN WE DO THAT? BE HAPPY TO CONNECT WITH THEM? THAT'D BE GREAT.

I THINK THAT INFORMATION DOES NEED TO BE RECORDED IN OUR, IN OUR FILE FOR CLUSTER NEXT THAT'S OUR KITCHEN.

UM, I JUST WANT TO SAY, I AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER POOL.

I ACTUALLY, UM, AT SOME POINT I KNOW OUR SCHEDULES ARE PACKED RIGHT NOW, BUT AT SOMETIME AT SOME POINT I'D LIKE TO HAVE ANOTHER LEGAL CONVERSATION ABOUT OUR DISCRETION.

I THINK IT MAKES NO SENSE TO HAVE, UM, THE NAMES AVAILABLE

[00:30:01]

PUBLICLY.

UM, AND THEN WE'RE NOT RELEASING THEM.

I MEAN, SOME OF IT IS A DISCONNECT, BUT SO AS A RESULT, WE GET A DISCONNECT.

UM, WHAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING WITH REGARD TO THESE FACILITIES.

SO I CAN TALK WITH YOU OFFLINE, UM, CITY, ATTORNEY, AND OTHERS TO SEE IT.

AND AGAIN, I KNOW THAT OUR SCHEDULES ARE PACKED, BUT, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE FURTHER CONVERSATION ABOUT OUR DISCRETION, UM, AS A CITY TO, TO MAKE, UM, DATA AVAILABLE.

I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR A FAMILY.

IT'S COME FROM NUMBER ELLIS.

QUESTION MIGHT BE FIRST DOCTOR ASCOT.

THERE IS A CHART THAT A COUPLE OF TIMES THAT TALKS ABOUT RACE AND ETHNICITY AND THE VERY FIRST DAY OR TWO, THERE'S THIS JUMP FROM 50 TO ZERO.

CAN YOU TELL ME IF THAT IS AN ANOMALY OR IS THERE A CHANGE IN THE WAY THE DATA WAS COLLECTED DURING THE EARLY ON, OR WHAT MIGHT BE CAUSING THOSE NUMBERS TO JUMP IN THAT WAY? COUNCIL MEMBER IT'S BECAUSE WE HAD VERY FEW CASES.

UH, SO THERE WAS LOTS OF VARIATION IN, IN THE BEGINNING BECAUSE WE HAD, UH, A HANDFUL OF INDIVIDUALS HOSPITALIZED BACK THEN.

THAT'S HELPFUL.

UH, IN FAMILY GATHERINGS, UH, GATHERINGS FOR PARTIES, FOR BIRTHDAYS, FOR FUNERALS, UH, BECAUSE OF THE DURATION AND THE NATURE OF THOSE INTERACTIONS.

YOU BET COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YES, MARY, I JUST WANTED TO FOLLOW UP ON A COVER AND WE HAD, I THINK AT OUR LAST COVET BRIEFING, UM, WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THE SITUATION WITH THE SCHOOLS AND THE QUESTIONS THAT PARENTS WERE FACING AS THEY MADE THAT DECISION OF WHERE THEIR STUDENTS SHOULD GO TO SCHOOL, WHERE THEIR SCHOLARS SHOULD GO TO SCHOOL.

UM, A GREAT PHRASE OF, OF COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON'S.

AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT WE DID, UM, EXPLORE THE IDEA OF HAVING A JOINT SUB COMMITTEE CONVERSATION AROUND THAT OR HAVING A DIFFERENT COMMUNITY MEETING AND BECAUSE OF THE WAY IT WAS CHANGING SO QUICKLY, AND INDEED, YOU KNOW, THAT WEEK AISD AND OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS ANNOUNCED THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE GOING BACK TO SCHOOL IN PERSON UNTIL SEPTEMBER.

WE HAVE NOT, WE ARE NOT MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT PLAN OF HAVING A COMMITTEE THAT CAN BE IN THAT CONVERSATION AT THIS TIME, BECAUSE THEY'RE JUST ARE, ARE STILL CHANGING SITUATIONS EVERY DAY WITH REGARD TO SCHOOLS.

I THINK YOU AND I JUST REMIND FOLKS, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU AND I HAD TALKED IN THE MEETING ABOUT CONVENING, SUCH A CONVERSATION.

I JUST WANTED TO FOLLOW UP WITH MY COLLEAGUES AND LET THEM KNOW THAT AT THIS POINT, WE'RE KIND OF WATCHING, WATCHING THE SITUATION DR.

ASCOT.

I KNOW THAT YOU WERE, AS YOU SAID IN CLOSE COMMUNICATION.

AND SO IF THERE IS, UH, AN INTEREST AND YOU THINK THERE WOULD BE A FACILITY TO HAVING THAT BROADER CONVERSATION, THEN SOMEWHERE DOWN THE ROAD, THAT WOULD BE GOOD.

OF COURSE THEY ISD IS, IS ALSO CONVERSATIONS WITH THEIR, THANK YOU, THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION.

AND OF COURSE, WE WANT TO KEEP URGING PEOPLE TO DO WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

EVEN WITH THAT.

THERE ARE OF COURSE, PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL GETTING VERY SERIOUSLY SICK AND DYING.

HOW ARE WE CLEAN ON GETTING INFORMATION TO US ABOUT, UM, UH, BROKEN DOWN ABOUT WHAT TARGETED STRATEGIES WE SHOULD BE PUSHING FURTHER TO REDUCE, SPREAD, ESPECIALLY BASED ON ECONOMICS.

I KNOW WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS HERE ABOUT, DO WE KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE DENIED UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE? AND THAT'S WHY THEY'RE GOING TO WORK WITH KIDS THAT ARE SPREADING AT WORK VERSUS PEOPLE WHO AREN'T GIVEN SICK TIME.

AND THAT'S WHERE WE SEE SPREAD VERSUS PEOPLE GETTING SICK BECAUSE OF A GATHERING OR BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T KNOW THEY HAD IT IN WEREN'T TESTED, OR WE CAUSE EACH OF THOSE THINGS MERITS A DIFFERENT STRATEGY.

AND I KNOW WE'RE WORKING ON EACH OF THEM, BUT I STILL AM NOT CLEAR ABOUT HOW MUCH WE'RE SEEING EACH OF THOSE COMMON DRIVERS OF CASES, UM, BEING, YOU KNOW, GETTING PEOPLE INTO THE HOSPITAL.

I'LL, I'LL START.

AND THEN I'LL, I'LL HAVE, UH, DIRECTOR HAYDEN RESPOND AS WELL.

UM, YEAH, THERE, THERE CONTINUED TO BE BARRIERS IN TERMS OF, UH, PEOPLE GETTING TESTED AND, AND PEOPLE ISOLATING.

UH, SOME OF THOSE ARE ECONOMIC.

UH, WE'RE STILL HEARING THAT THAT FOLKS, UH, ARE GOING TO WORK, UH, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THEY'VE BEEN, UH, YOU KNOW, IDENTIFIED AS A CASE.

AND, UH, AND THERE'S CONCERN THAT, THAT PEOPLE WILL LOSE THEIR JOB OR CERTAINLY LOSE THE ABILITY TO JUST SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES.

UH, HAVING SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE HAVE A GROWING EVIDENCE ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT THAT DISEASE SPREAD IS, IS MORE LIKELY TO HAPPEN IN GATHERINGS,

[00:35:01]

UM, SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US WHILE WE FOCUS ON, ON THE, THE, THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING FOLKS TO HAVE THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO STAY HOME WHEN THEY'RE SICK.

UH, WE ALSO NEED TO FOCUS ON REMINDING THE COMMUNITY THAT, THAT THEY'RE NOT SAFE AROUND FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

UH, IN FACT, THEY PROBABLY HAVE INCREASED DANGER OF TRANSMISSION IN THOSE PERSONAL SETTINGS, THOSE FACE TO FACE SETTINGS THAN THEY DO IN A WORKPLACE, OR, UH, YOU KNOW, GOING TO A RESTAURANT OR A BUSINESS.

AND I'LL PASS IT OVER TO DIRECTOR HAYDEN WHO MAY COMMENT FURTHER ON SOME OF THE OTHER ELEMENTS AND RIGHT BEFORE DIRECTOR HAYDEN DOES THAT.

THAT IS ALSO ANECDOTALLY WHAT I HAVE SEEN AND HEARD THE MAYOR.

AND I GOT TOGETHER WITH, UH, A GROUP OF ABOUT 20 SPANISH SPEAKERS, PRIMARILY FROM, FROM MY DISTRICTS THE OTHER DAY, JUST A GROUP OF CONSTITUENTS.

AND IT WAS, UM, HEARTBREAKING, BUT, AND REAL THAT, OF THAT GROUP OF 20 PEOPLE, A LOT, A DECENT HANDFUL THAT HAD COVID-19 SEVERAL HAD BEEN HOSPITALIZED.

AND EVERY SINGLE PERSON KNEW PEOPLE WITH COVID-19 AND PEOPLE KNEW FOLKS THAT HAD DIED.

UM, AND THE STORIES WERE VARIED.

A PROBLEM.

PEOPLE BEING FORCED TO GO TO WORK, HAVING NO OTHER OPTION THAN TO WORK, NOT GETTING TESTED OR NOT KNOWING, OR GETTING IT AT A GATHERING.

WE KNOW THAT ALL OF THESE ARE SERIOUS.

I THINK MY QUESTION IS MORE TO, HOW ARE WE GETTING INFORMATION ABOUT HOW MUCH OF EACH OF THOSE KINDS OF SPREAD WE'RE SEEING IN THE COMMUNITY? BECAUSE OF COURSE WE HAVE TO WORK ON ALL OF THEM, BUT IT'S HARD TO KNOW WHICH ONES ARE IMPACTING US THE MOST RIGHT NOW, WHEN YOU GO TO A MEETING AND HEAR THAT ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE HAPPENING, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S EACH THING IS HAPPENING EQUALLY, OR IF THERE'S MORE OF ONE, THAT'S AN ISSUE, YOU KNOW, ACCORDING TO MY CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR EPIDEMIOLOGISTS, UM, YOU KNOW, THEY FEEL THAT IT IS MORE OF THE, THE PERSONAL GATHERING.

UM, I, I THINK THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, EVEN WHEN YOU DON'T LIVE WITH ANOTHER PERSON, THAT'S YOUR FAMILY.

I MEAN, IT, IT'S YOUR FAMILY.

SO EVEN THOUGH YOU MAY NOT BE GOING OUT IN PUBLIC IN PUBLIC SPACES, THE GATHERINGS ARE CONTINUING.

UM, AND SO IT IS, UH, IT IS STILL A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF THAT THAT IS OCCURRING, UM, YOU KNOW, IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND THAT IS WHY WE HAVE ALWAYS EMPHASIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF, UM, YOU KNOW, JUST TRYING TO FIND OTHER TRADITIONS.

AND IT'S REALLY HARD TO HAVE PEOPLE TO DO THAT IF, YOU KNOW, IF, IF A GRANDPARENT IS, YOU KNOW, TURNING 90 OR A HUNDRED, I MEAN, EVERYBODY WANTS TO COME AND, AND BEING IN THAT SPACE.

AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, WE CONTINUE TO EMPHASIZE THAT, UM, WE, WE HAVE RECEIVED, UM, INFORMATION AS WELL, UM, THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR STAFF HAVE REALLY EMPHASIZED TO FOLKS THAT WE'RE TALKING TO REMINDING THEM, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT A GOOD IDEA, UM, YOU KNOW, TO STAY HOME AND, YOU KNOW, SOME FOLKS ARE DOING THAT.

I MEAN, IT IS REFLECTIVE IN THE NUMBERS, BUT WE KNOW THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE MORE TARGETED WORK THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO DO.

AND SO IN THOSE STRIKE TEAM CONVERSATIONS THAT WE WILL BE HAVING, WE NEED TO GET MORE IDEAS FROM OUR PARTNERS OF WHAT STRATEGIES THAT WE, ADDITIONAL STRATEGIES WE CAN TAKE.

WE HAD A CHART THAT SHOWED WHERE THE CONTACT TRACING WAS SHOWING THE GREATEST INCIDENT OF STUFF.

IT'S VERY USEFUL DR.

HAYDEN, UM, UH, CAN YOU CLOSE THE LOOP ON THAT MEMO? THERE WAS A PLAN THAT, UH, YOUR OFFICE PUT OUT, WHICH I APPRECIATED YOU TOOK IT TO THE COMMUNITY.

UH, THERE WAS INPUT THAT CAME FROM THE COMMUNITY JUST TO CLOSE THE LOOP ON THAT, BY IDENTIFYING WHAT, UH, UH, UM, WELL, FINISH IT WITH WHATEVER INPUT THAT YOU'VE GOTTEN, BUT THEN TO IDENTIFY FOR THE COMMUNITY, WHAT THEY COULD EXPECT TO SEE HAPPENING, WHAT IS THE PRIORITY OF THE THINGS THAT ARE IN THERE AND WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO BE DONE AND WHO'S GOING TO DO THEM, AND IN THAT REGARD, IF EVENTS ARE NOW OVERTAKING THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, AND IT'S MORE THE FAMILY KIND OF STUFF THAT MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN MADE, IF YOU COULD CLOSE THE LOOP ON THAT MEMO SO THAT PEOPLE COULD SEE WHAT THE PRIORITIES ARE, WHAT THE TIME FRAMING IS ON WHAT THEY COULD EXPECT TO HAPPEN FROM THAT, I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT.

AND THEN THE OTHER QUESTION THAT, THAT COUNCIL MEMBER COSARA ANSWER, WHICH IS I GET ASKED A LOT RELATES TO KIND OF THE CONTACT TRACING, UH, IN THE CITY.

UH,

[00:40:01]

IF WE COULD RENEW THE REPORTING OF THAT CHART, I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR THE COMMUNITY TO SEE WHAT, WHERE, WHERE WE'RE SEEING THINGS AND, AND COLLEAGUES, AS WE TAKE A LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE ON THE, ON THE LONGER ARC AS WE BRING THE NUMBERS DOWN AND THE INFECTIVITY GOES DOWN, UM, UM, UH, DR.

UM, DIRECTOR HAYDEN, UM, UH, I'VE, I'VE ASKED THEM TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THE CONTACT TRACING IS IN A WORLD WHERE THE NUMBERS COME BACK DOWN AND TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE WERE TO QUADRUPLE THE NUMBER OF CONTACT TRACING THAT WE DO RELATIVE TO WHAT THE NATIONAL STANDARD IS TO ACTUALLY HAVE SOMETHING THAT MORE CLOSELY APPROXIMATES WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OTHER COUNTRIES, WHAT WOULD THAT TAKE? WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE? WHAT WOULD THAT COST, AND THEN WHAT WOULD THE BENEFITS, IF ANY, DOING THAT IN OUR COMMUNITY? SO DOCTOR, UH, DIRECTOR, THANK YOU, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR.

GOOD MORNING.

AND THANK YOU FOR THIS INFORMATION.

I WAS WONDERING IF I'M NOT SURE IF THIS WOULD BE DR.

S SCOTT OR DR.

HAYDEN.

UM, IF YOU COULD SPEAK TO ANY MORE INFORMATION WE HAVE ABOUT POTENTIAL SPREAD IN CHILDCARE CENTERS, OR IF WE'RE NOT EXPERIENCING THAT HERE IN AUSTIN, IF YOU CAN COMMENT ON WHAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING, UM, CURRENTLY, UM, ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE, UM, ADDED WHAT WE'RE CALLING, UM, AN INCIDENT COMMAND STRUCTURE WAS WE, WE WERE STARTING TO SEE AN INCREASE IN CHILDCARE FACILITIES.

UM, INITIALLY, UM, WE ESTABLISHED, UM, A, A CHILDCARE TASK FORCE.

AND SO BECAUSE OF THE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF FACILITIES, BECAUSE MORE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO WORK, THEY'RE TAKING THEIR, UM, YOU KNOW, THEIR CHILDREN INTO FACILITIES.

AND SO THE GOAL OF THIS GROUP WILL BE, IS, IS, IS THEY WILL HAVE BE SET UP JUST LIKE THE NURSING HOME TASK FORCE, AND THEY WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE MORE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.

AND, UM, YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S A NEED TO SHOW THEM HOW TO USE PPE, UM, HOW TO CLEAN, UM, THE CHILDCARE FACILITIES, UM, BUT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT WEEKLY, UM, YOU KNOW, DAILY KIND OF INTERVENTION, THERE'LL BE A MAILBOX SET UP, WE'VE IDENTIFIED, UM, EPIDEMIOLOGY STAFF THAT ARE GOING TO BE ASSIGNED TO THAT AREA.

UM, AND WE'RE DOING THIS JUST SO, BECAUSE WE DID SEE THAT INCREASE AND WE WANT TO GET AHEAD OF THE CURVE AND BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE AT THESE FACILITIES AS WE SEE CLUSTERS, UM, AT EACH SITE.

THAT HAS BEEN A CONCERN THAT HAPPENED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT, UH, COUNSEL OVER INTO REIA AND DR.

AND THEN I WANTED TO JUST ADD ONTO THE CONVERSATION THAT A COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO RAISED BEFORE ABOUT THE JOINT MEETING.

UM, I BELIEVE THAT DR.

S SCOTT AND SOME OTHER STAFF SPOKE WITH A BUNCH OF SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, UM, RECENTLY, AND I KNOW THAT WAS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO INTERACT DIRECTLY WITH, UH, DR.

S SCOTT.

UM, AND I KNOW I'M IN TOUCH REGULARLY, UM, WITH TRUSTEES, UM, AND YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF, A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS, A LOT OF COMPLICATED, UM, DECISIONS GOING ON, UM, BUT JUST WANT TO, YOU KNOW, CONTINUE TO REINFORCE OUR NEEDS TO BE AVAILABLE AND SUPPORTING, UM, OUR SCHOOL LEADERSHIP AS THEY MAKE, UM, THESE REALLY DIFFICULT DECISIONS ABOUT OPENING, UM, AND SUPPORT THEM, UM, IN ANY WAYS THAT, OKAY, ANYTHING ELSE FOR ROD, UH, THEO DOCTOR, THIS IS FOR SCOTT, HAVE YOU NOTICED IF THERE'S EVER A CLUSTER OF INFECTIONS IN A DAYCARE CENTER, OR ARE YOU ALLOWED TO REPORT THAT WHERE THE LOCATIONS COUNCIL MEMBER? I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT.

UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK GENERALLY, UH, WE APPROACH IT IN A SECOND TO, UH, TO NURSING HOMES WHERE THE CHILDCARE CENTER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR NOTIFYING, UH, FAMILY AND STAFF, IF THERE'S A CASE THERE, UH, TO ENSURE THAT, THAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO, WHO MAY BE EXPOSED ARE NOTIFIED, UH, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE LOOKED AT THE ISSUE OF PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF THAT YET OR NOT.

DR.

ESCADA.

I DON'T THINK THAT WE HAVE, I'M HAPPY TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.

I THINK A DIFFERENCE MIGHT BE WITH A NURSING HOME, PEOPLE ARE LIVING THERE.

SO THAT IS THE REAL ISSUE

[00:45:01]

ASCOT I'LL GET BACK TO YOU.

CAUSE I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO KNOW, UH, YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S A ARE INFECTIONS GOING ON AT, AT THESE DAYCARE CENTERS, BECAUSE WE'RE, WE'RE GETTING PRETTY CLOSE TO OPENING UP OUR SCHOOLS, EVEN AT A VERY, HOPEFULLY IN A, IN A WAY THAT'S THROUGH THE SCIENCE SCIENTIFIC WAY.

BUT, UH, I I'M REALLY CONCERNED BECAUSE IF, IF, UH, TRANSMISSION IS BEING PASSED AROUND IN DAYCARE CENTER, THEN IT WOULD BE ALSO PASSED AROUND.

I WOULD HAVE TO, AND, UH, KINDERGARTEN AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS ALSO.

YEP.

COUNCIL MEMBER.

LET ME JUST SAY THAT YES, THERE IS ACTIVITY IN CHILDCARE CENTERS ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS.

UH, YES, WE'LL BE FISHING IN SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS.

UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE, WE'VE GOTTA BE VERY CAREFUL AGAIN WHEN WE REOPENED SCHOOLS AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE FINALIZED GUIDANCE YET.

UH, BUT IT'S LIKELY THAT, THAT THE FIRST STEP OF, YOU KNOW, REOPENING SCHOOLS WILL PROBABLY BE CAPPED AT AROUND 25% OF STUDENTS IN PERSON, UH, BECAUSE WE'RE SURE THAT, THAT THOSE CHILDREN WHO REALLY MUST BE IN PERSON HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE IN PERSON.

THOSE ARE OUR, YOU KNOW, OUR SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS.

THOSE ARE INDIVIDUALS, UH, STUDENTS WHO MAY NOT HAVE ACCESS TO DIGITAL SERVICES AT HOME, OR A SUPPORT STRUCTURE AT HOME TO SUPPORT EDUCATION.

UH IT'S YOU KNOW, THOSE K THROUGH FIVE STUDENTS THAT I'VE MENTIONED BEFORE, UH, AND WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE PROCESSES WORKING WITH A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS, MAKE SURE THAT WE WORK OUT THE DETAILS OF THE SPACING AND THE MASKING AND THE SOCIAL DISTANCING AND THE HAND WASHING AND, AND HOW THE CAFETERIA SERVICES AND TRANSPORTATION SERVICES ARE GOING TO WORK.

UH, THERE'S STILL A LOT OF HEAVY LIFTING TO DO FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

UH, AND YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANT TO MENTION IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S STILL ONGOING DISCUSSION ABOUT, ABOUT ATHLETICS AND WHAT WE SHOULD DO ABOUT THAT, BOTH AT THE, AT THE, UH, YOU KNOW, SECONDARY SCHOOL LEVEL AND AT THE COLLEGE LEVEL.

AND, YOU KNOW, I, I THINK WE REALLY HAVE TO FOCUS ON THE PRIMARY MISSION AND THAT'S EDUCATION.

AND ONCE WE SORT THAT OUT, ONCE WE GET INTO A BETTER SITUATION TO GET KIDS IN CLASSROOMS, THEN WE NEED TO HAVE THE DISCUSSION ABOUT, ABOUT THE OTHER ELEMENTS OF, OF, UH, THE ACTIVITIES AFTER CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.

UH, BUT WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

WHAT CONCERNS ME A LOT IS, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THESE YOUNG KIDS COULD GET INFECTED AND, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF MY PEOPLE IN DISTRICT THREE, AND I'M PRETTY SURE IT'S THE DISTRICT ONE AND TWO ALSO.

AND THEN FOR WHERE THE BIG FAMILIES ARE WITH THE ACADEMY, THE WAY, UH, THEY'RE MOVING IN INTO ONE HOUSE.

SO YOU PROBABLY GOT MULTI-FAMILIES LIVING THERE.

AND THAT'S WHAT REALLY FRIGHTENED ME IS YOU'RE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE GOING TO SEND A KID TO SCHOOL THAT WE SHOULD ALSO REALLY FOCUS ON.

THE FAMILIES ARE SENDING THEIR KIDS THERE AND EDUCATE THEM TO IMMEDIATELY, YOU KNOW, TAKE CARE OF ONE OF THEM GET AFFECTED BECAUSE I KNOW INCIDENT WHERE ONE PERSON GETS AFFECTED INFECTED AND THEY GO, THEY ARE ONES GET TESTED AS NEGATIVE, AND THEN FIVE OR SIX DAYS DOWN THE ROAD, THEY, THEY GET INFECTED, YOU KNOW, SO IT'S JUST BECAUSE YOU GET A TEST AND IT COMES NEGATIVE THE FIRST TIME DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN'T GET IT LATER ON, BUT SHE HAD A HEART CONDITION AND WHERE BUDDIES THERE AND THE HEAT, THE WAY IT IS HERE IN TEXAS, EVERYBODY'S STAYING INSIDE HER CONDITION.

SO, UM, I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

SO A AGAIN, IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO SPEAK TO TODAY UNLESS YOU, YOU KNOW THAT, BUT, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE PRO LODGES HAVE BEEN PRETTY SUCCESSFUL, UH, IN TERMS OF DRESSING OUR HOMELESS RISKS FOR HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS.

ANYTHING ELSE WHILE WE HAVE THE KITCHEN, UH, THIS CAN BE ANSWERED LATER.

UM, I WOULD JUST LIKE, AT SOME POINT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE DECISION MAKING IS AROUND, UM, ADDING AN ADDITIONAL PRO-LIFE.

UM, LAST I HEARD THAT WE HAD A WAITING LIST FOR OUR PRO LODGES, UH, FOR HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS.

AND SO, UM, I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND, UM, IF IT'S BEING, I THOUGHT IT'D BEEN CONSIDERED TO OPEN A PROLOGUE, I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE THE, UH, CRITERIA TO DETERMINE IF THAT'S A YES OR NO, AND WHO'S MAKING THAT DECISION WHEN, SO, UM,

[00:50:01]

IT'S ALSO, IT'S ALSO, UM, INTENDED TO BE A PATH TO HOUSING, AS YOU MENTIONED EARLIER.

UM, AND SO A 300 IS, IS, IS CERTAINLY TO BE, UM, YOU KNOW, TO FEEL, TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT 300 PEOPLE IN OUR PRO LODGES, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ADDITIONAL NEED.

SO I'M WANTING TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THAT STANDS.

MAYBE IT'D BE HELPFUL MANAGER TO GET AN UPDATE ON THE REAL ESTATE ISSUES.

CAUSE I KNOW THAT THERE'S SOME ACTIVITY HAPPENING THERE IN PART IN RESPONSE TO COUNCIL KITCHENS, A QUESTION WE'LL DO WHEN WE PLAN TO BRING THIS UP AT THE AUGUST 4TH WORK SESSION, AND SOME WILL HAVE A FULL BRIEFING ON THIS.

THANK THANKS COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR.

ON THAT SAME POINT, IF YOU CAN ALSO UPDATE US ON THE, THE HOTEL THAT WE PURCHASED AND WHEN THAT WILL BE ONLINE, CAUSE IT SHOULD BE ABOUT ONLINE FROM THE PRIOR, UM, PREDICTIONS AND THAT MAY PROVIDE SOME ADDITIONAL WAY TO TRANSITION FOLKS INTO, UM, HOUSING WE'LL DO.

ANYTHING ELSE? ALRIGHT, SORRY.

JUST BEFORE WE CLOSE OUT, I WANT TO ADD MY VOICE TO THE CHORUS THAT I REALLY LIKE US TO SEE.

SHE HAS TO MAKE ANOTHER PURCHASE SOON.

AND, UH, BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE IN MY VIEW BEHIND TIMELINE ON THAT AS WELL AS THE WORKER RESOURCE CENTER QUESTION THAT I HAD ASKED EARLIER.

SO I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE BOTH OF THOSE UP AND RUNNING AS SOON AS, AND I THINK THAT'S TRUE FOR ME BEFORE.

I THINK THE COMMUNITY NEEDS TO SEE US PROACTIVELY TAKING STEPS TO, TO PROVIDE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES AND TO TRY TO LEVERAGE THE OPPORTUNITIES YOU HAVE NOW TO DELIVER THAT.

AND THEN I JUST WANT TO CONCLUDE AS YOU GUYS DO OFF, UM, I THINK THAT YOU AND YOUR STAFFS HAVE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB, ESPECIALLY WITH DR.

ASCOT AND DIRECTOR HAYDEN, UH, FOR US TO HAVE HALF THE COMMUNITY RESPONSE.

AND WE HAD HAPPENS IN NO SMALL PART BECAUSE OF THE MESSAGING THAT'S COMING OUT OF OFFICES AND THE WORK THAT YOUR STAFFS ARE DOING.

UM, WE'VE DRIVEN DOWN THE NUMBERS AND THAT GIVES OUR CITY A REALLY UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO BE ABLE TO GET TO A PLACE WHERE MAYBE WE'RE GOING TO BE IN A STRONGER AND BETTER POSITION TO BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN THE OPENING IN SCHOOLS OR IN A BETTER, STRONGER POSITION, TO BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN BUSINESSES, BEING OPEN.

IF WE'RE INCREDIBLY PROTECTIVE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY, WE HAVEN'T GIVEN OURSELVES.

UH, WHICH MEANS THAT EVEN WHILE THE NUMBERS LOOK GOOD, AS YOU SAID, DR.

SCOTT PEOPLE HAVE TO DOUBLE DOWN ON THEIR WEARING FACE COVERINGS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING.

NOW THAT WE SEE THAT THAT WORKS, THEN PEOPLE HAVE TO BE PREPARED TO DO THIS INDEFINITELY UNTIL THERE'S A BACKSEAT.

BUT WITH THAT INCONVENIENCE MAY REALLY COME OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE CAN SHOW HOW IT WORKS.

AND THERE HAVE NOT BEEN MANY CITIES THAT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAINTAIN THAT VIGILANCE AND DILIGENCE WHEN THINGS GET GOOD, UM, OR WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS OKAY WITH THAT.

WE'LL LET YOU GO.

UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THE MAYOR.

YES, MAYOR.

HOW'S THAT GOING? I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE SOMETHING.

DIRECTOR HAYDEN SAID EARLIER ABOUT 17 INDIVIDUALS LEAVING THE PRO LODGES INTO PERMANENT HOUSING.

YOU KNOW, WE ALL HAD QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS AND NOBODY HIT ON THAT.

AND I JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THAT.

THAT'S REALLY TREMENDOUS.

AND SO THANK YOU TO BELLA CARMEN AND DIRECTOR HAYDEN AND ALL OF MANY OTHERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH WHO ARE MAKING SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, FOR OUR, OUR NEIGHBORS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, THAT THE PANDEMIC BECOMES A WAY OF, OF REALLY, UM, GETTING THEM INTO SAFE AND STABLE HOUSING.

SO THANK YOU FOR, THANK YOU FOR HIGHLIGHTING THAT, THAT INFORMATION.

THIS MORNING, DIRECTOR HAYDEN, WE'RE GOING TO RELEASE SIDE'S ROCK DR.

SCOTT AND THEN DIRECTOR.

CADEN IS GOING TO INTRODUCE THE PRESENTATION FROM THE UT PARTNERS THAT WE HAVE ON THE NURSING HOME STUDY.

OF COVID-19 IN NURSING HOMES, ASSISTED LIVING CENTERS AND OTHER LONGTERM CARE FACILITIES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.

UM, AT THIS TIME ON THIS ON MAY SEVEN, UM, COUNCIL, UM, PASSED A RESOLUTION THAT DIRECTED THE CITY MANAGER TO PLAN AND COLLABORATE WITH THE DESIGN INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH, UM, AT DELL MEDICAL SCHOOL TO ANALYZE, EVALUATE, AND IDENTIFY APPROACHES FOR SYSTEMS IMPROVEMENTS, TO PROTECT RESIDENTS AND REDUCE THE RISK OF SPREAD

[00:55:01]

TODAY I HAVE STACY CHAIN IS WHO IS GOING TO PROVIDE A PRESENTATION, AND THIS IS, UM, ONE OF THE FIRST, UM, PRESENTATIONS THAT THEY ARE GOING TO PROVIDE.

AND SO I WILL TURN OVER TO HIM AND KEITH, THANK YOU, DIRECTOR HAYDEN, HOPEFULLY YOU ALL CAN HEAR ME.

UH, IF, UH, IF YOU COULD BRING UP THE SLIDES, UM, UH, WE'LL, UH, I'LL BEGIN THE BRIEFING THEN, WHILE WE'RE WAITING FOR THAT, BY WAY OF INTRODUCTION, MY NAME IS STACY CHANG.

I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE ZIONIST STATE FOR HEALTH.

UM, AND AS A DIRECTOR HAYDEN MENTIONED, UM, UH, THIS BRIEFING IS A REPORT.

IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, UM, IS A REPORT BACK ON THE FIRST PHASE OF STUDY THAT WE'VE CONDUCTED OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST TWO MONTHS.

UM, A PARTICULAR NOTE OF GRATITUDE TO DIRECTOR HAYDEN, DR.

ESCADA AND TO ANDREA HAN FEEDS FROM AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH FOR HELPING TO FACILITATE THIS STUDY.

UM, THEY'RE HARD ONE PERSPECTIVE FROM THE FRONT LINES OF THIS CRISIS HAS BEEN PARTICULARLY HELPFUL.

UM, SO I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A BRIEF RUNDOWN ON, UM, THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE TO DATE A LITTLE BIT OF GROUNDING AROUND NURSING HOMES, BUT I WANT TO SPEND THE BULK OF THE TIME DISCUSSING, UM, FOR, UH, INSIGHTS THAT HAVE EMERGED FROM THIS FIRST PHASE OF WORK AND LEAVE ROOM FOR A BIT OF DISCUSSION AND QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL ITSELF.

UM, IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, UH, WE ARE JUST CONCLUDING THIS FIRST PHASE OF STUDY, WHICH WE TERMED THE FOCUS INVESTIGATION, UH, BECAUSE IN IT, UH, WE STUDY KNOWN AREAS OF CONCERN.

SO WE LOOKED AT FACILITY ISSUES SUCH AS PHYSICAL SPACE AND LAYOUT AND PROXIMITY OF STAFF AND RESIDENTS AND DENSITY AND FLOW THROUGH THE FACILITIES AS WELL AS SHARED UTILIZATION OF SPACE.

UH, WE ALSO LOOKED AT OPERATIONAL FRAMEWORKS AND PROCESSES, INCLUDING CARE PROTOCOLS, UH, GROUP ACTIVITIES, UH, CAREGIVER, HANDOFFS, AND SCHEDULING AND TIMING OF CARE.

AND THEN FINALLY, UH, FOCUSED A FAIR AMOUNT OF EFFORT, UH, UNDERSTANDING, UH, THE CHALLENGES AROUND STAFFING, WHICH I WOULD CONSIDER BOTH PERSONNEL ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES AS WELL AS STAFF CONCERNS AND PRIORITIES.

UM, THE SUBSEQUENT PHASE OF RESEARCH, UM, WHICH BEGINS THIS WEEK, UH, WHICH WE'VE TERMED THE BROADENED INVESTIGATION WILL BE INFORMED BY THE DISCOVERIES FROM THIS FIRST PHASE, UH, WHICH I WILL SHARE SHORTLY.

UM, AND THEN PHASES THREE, FOUR, AND FIVE ARE MEANT TO DEVELOP RESPONSES TO THE CHALLENGES IDENTIFIED IN PHASES ONE AND TWO, UM, TOGETHER EVIDENCE FOR EFFICACY, AND THEN TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CHANGES, UH, BASED ON THAT EVIDENCE, I WILL NOTE, UM, AT THIS MOMENT WE HAVE, WE ARE NOT PROPOSING SOLUTIONS JUST YET, ALTHOUGH WE HAVE PLENTY OF IDEAS, UM, AS WE REQUIRE SOME ADDITIONAL DEPTH AND BREADTH FROM THE RESEARCH EFFORT BEFORE WE DRAW SPECIFIC CONCLUSIONS ABOUT, ABOUT THE DEFINITIVE ISSUES WE WANT TO ADDRESS, UH, NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, THE INSTITUTE, UM, HAS SPECIFIC EXPERTISE IN THE PROCESS OF IDENTIFYING AND SOLVING COMPLEX SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS. UM, BUT WE ARE NOT EXPERTS IN NURSING HOMES PER SE.

AND SO WE, UH, RECRUITED A NOTABLE CAST TO SERVE AS THE STEERING COMMITTEE ON THIS PROJECT, INCLUDING FROM, FROM APH, UM, AS WELL AS MICHELLE DION MAHOLICK AND MICHAEL GALE FROM THE STATES HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION.

UH, I WANT TO MAKE PARTICULAR NOTE OF THAT.

UM, AS PART OF THE, AS THE STATE AGENCY WITH STATUTORY OVERSIGHT OVER THE NURSING HOMES, UM, THEY'VE BEEN QUITE INVALUABLE AND PROVIDING PERSPECTIVE ON REGULATION, QUALITY IMPROVEMENT, UM, POLICY AND ENFORCEMENT, UH, THEIR PARTICIPATION IN PARTICULAR HAS BEEN, UH, UNIQUELY HELPFUL AND UNDERSTANDING THE BALANCE OF INFLUENCES ON NURSING HOMES.

UM, THE REMAINDER OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE IS ROUNDED OUT BY LEADERSHIP FROM THE, FROM THREE SCHOOLS AT UT, UH, SCHOOL OF NURSING SOCIAL WORK.

AND, UH, OF COURSE THE MEDICAL SCHOOL AS WELL.

THAT THERE'S A GAP ON THE EAST AND SOUTH SIDE, UH, WHICH WE WILL REMEDY IN THE COMING, UH, PHASE OF WORK.

UM, IN THIS FIRST PHASE OF WORK, WE BEGAN, UH, WITH SECONDARY RESEARCH TO FORM A BASELINE UNDERSTANDING OF THE NURSING HOME LANDSCAPE AND, UM, AND THE CURRENT COVID, UH, 19 RESPONSE, UH, BOTH THAT LOCAL REGIONAL AND NATIONAL LEVELS.

UH, AND THEN THE CONDUCTED NEARLY 50 INTERVIEWS AND OBSERVATIONS IN FACILITIES, UH, WITH EVERY MANNER OF STAFF, UH, LISTED HERE, UM, ALONG WITH SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS, UM, UH, EITHER ON THE STEERING COMMITTEE OR RECOMMENDED BY THE STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS, UH, MUCH OF THE INTERVIEW AND OBSERVATION WORK WAS DONE ONSITE IN NURSING HOME FACILITIES.

WE HAD PLANNED TO, UM, UH, VISIT FIVE SITES, UH, SPREAD AROUND AUSTIN.

UM, WE COMPLETED FOUR OF THEM.

THE FIFTH HAD A COVERT OUTBREAK JUST AS WE WERE ABOUT TO, UM, UH, TO VISIT, UH, AND WITH RESPECT TO, UM, MANAGING INFECTION, BOTH FOR STAFF AND RESIDENTS AND FOR THE TEAM.

WE DEFERRED THAT UNTIL LATER THIS WEEK, GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

THESE ARE THE FIVE FACILITIES REPRESENTED IN THE PHASE OF WORK.

YOU'LL SEE, ON THE LEFT A MAP OF THE FIVE FACILITIES AND THEN SOME DETAILS IN THE IMAGES ON THE RIGHT.

UM, THERE'S A GEOGRAPHICAL DIVERSITY HERE THAT IS NOT YET COMPLETE.

UM, WE RECOGNIZE

[01:00:01]

UH, WE WILL, UM, SOME OF THE FACILITIES INCLUDED MEMORY CARE UNITS, UH, CARING FOR PATIENTS WITH DEMENTIA, UM, UH, AND ONE INCLUDED INDEPENDENT LIVING FACILITIES AS WELL.

UM, WE WILL FOCUS MORE INTENTIONALLY ON ASSISTED LIVING AND INDEPENDENT LIVING IN THE SECOND PHASE OF WORK FOR THIS FIRST PHASE OF WORK.

UH, THE FOCUS REALLY WAS ON SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES.

UH, ALSO KNOWN AS NURSING HOMES.

IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, JUST AS A BRIEF GLIMPSE INTO OUR PROCESS, WE DON'T JUST CONDUCT INTERVIEWS.

WE ACTUALLY OBSERVED FACILITIES AND PERSONNEL IN OPERATION FIRSTHAND INTERVIEWS ARE USUALLY ONLY THE BEGINNING OF THE STORY.

THEY ARE THE TRUTH THAT PEOPLE, UH, CAN OR CHOOSE TO RELATE.

WE'D LIKE TO SEE WHAT LIES BEHIND, UH, BENEATH THAT VENEER.

UM, I WON'T NARRATE EACH OF THESE PHOTOS TO YOU.

THEY ARE IN THE COMPREHENSIVE REPORT THAT WE FILED WITH THE CITY, AND I THINK WAS PROVIDED TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AS A PREREAD.

YOU'RE WELCOME TO DIG INTO MORE OF THAT DETAIL.

UM, I WILL SAY THAT WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE EVERY MANNER OF OPERATION IN A COVID-19 CONTEXT FROM LAUNDRY AND FOOD SERVICE TO SOCIAL DISTANCING AND ISOLATION PROTOCOLS.

AND IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, UM, UM, UH, WE SAW QUITE A BIT OF, UH, HOW SPACE INSIDE NURSING HOMES WAS BEING CONVERTED AND WORKFLOW WAS BEING ADJUSTED TO ABIDE BY INFECTION PROTOCOLS.

SO THAT'S THE BRIEF INTRODUCTION.

I WANT TO ESTABLISH A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

UM, I THINK UNLESS YOU'VE SPENT SUBSTANTIAL TIME, OOPS, SORRY.

THE SLIDE PREVIOUS, UH, UM, THANK YOU.

UH, UNLESS YOU'VE SPENT SUBSTANTIAL TIME INSIDE A NURSING HOME OVER THE LAST DECADE, YOU MIGHT NOT RECOGNIZE HOW MUCH IT HAS CHANGED.

UM, AND THE INSIGHTS THAT HAVE EMERGED FROM THIS FIRST PHASE OF WORK, I THINK REQUIRE A BIT OF FAMILIARITY WITH SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT THE FACILITIES, THE STAFF AND THE INDUSTRY FACES A WHOLE.

I WON'T PRESERVE YOU.

I WON'T PRESUME YOU ARE ALL EXPERTS IN NURSING HOME CARE.

SO I'LL SHARE WITH YOU A FEW FACTS TO GROUND YOU IN THE REALITY OF THE INDUSTRY BEFORE WE DIG INTO THE INSIGHTS.

UM, SO THE, THE TYPE OF FACILITY DEPENDS, UM, UH, UH, QUITE SIGNIFICANTLY ON PATIENT ACUITY, ESSENTIALLY HOW MUCH MEDICAL CARE AND LIVING ASSISTANT AND INDIVIDUAL NEEDS.

OUR FOCUS IN THE FIRST PHASE OF WORK IS AT THE HIGH NEED HIGH LEVEL OF CARE SIDE OF THE SPECTRUM, THE SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES.

AGAIN, WHAT WE, UH, USUALLY CALLED NURSING HOMES.

UM, WE WILL EXPAND, UH, OUR INVESTIGATION INCLUDE INDEPENDENT LIVING ASSISTED LIVING AND MAYBE EVEN SOME IN HOME CARE.

UM, UH, WE, UH, UH, THOSE ASSISTANT DEPENDENT LIVING ARE SOMETIMES PART OF WHAT WE CALL A COMMUNITY CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY, UH, WHICH USUALLY INVOLVES ALL THREE LEVELS OF CARE.

UH, AND WE DID HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE ONE OF THOSE IN THIS FIRST PHASE OF STUDY.

SO AN IMPORTANT POINT TO EMPHASIZE HERE IS THAT THE LEVEL OF PATIENT CARE IN NURSING HOMES TODAY IS SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE FOUND IN A HOSPITAL JUST A DECADE OR TWO AGO, UH, UM, WOUND CARE, INTRAVENOUS THERAPY, ORTHOPEDIC CARE, BREATHING TREATMENTS ARE ALL STANDARD PROTOCOLS IN NURSING HOMES.

RIGHT NOW THEY'RE VERY MUCH MEDICAL FACILITIES AND NOT RETIREMENT HOMES, AS YOU MIGHT HAVE REMEMBERED FROM, UM, FROM A COUPLE OF DECADES AGO.

UM, THE MOST COMMON REASON FOR RESIDENTS IN THE NURSING HOME IS THE INABILITY FOR SOMEONE TO PERFORM ACTIVITIES OF DAILY, LIVING BATHING, UH, UH, UH, CHANGING CLOTHES, FEEDING THEMSELVES, UH, MORE THAN 80% OF RESIDENTS NEED HELP WITH THREE OR MORE, UH, ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING.

UH, MORE THAN 90% IN NURSING HOMES WHO CAN WALK NEED ASSISTANCE.

UM, MORE THAN 75% OF RESIDENTS HAVE TROUBLE MAKING DAILY DECISIONS, UM, AT LEAST A THIRD HAVE PROBLEMATIC BEHAVIORS, UM, HALF STRUGGLED TO UNDERSTAND, UH, OTHERS OR HAVE TROUBLE COMMUNICATING TO OTHERS, UH, ISSUES WITH COMPREHENSION.

SO THE POINT HERE IS THE ACUITY OF NEED, UM, FOR RESIDENTS IS ACTUALLY QUITE HIGH.

UM, AND THAT POINT IS IMPORTANT IF WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, UM, IT, 85% OF NURSING HOMES IN TEXAS, UH, THE RESIDENTS DEPEND ON MEDICARE OR MEDICAID FUNDING FOR THEIR CARE.

AND THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE FUNDING FOR MEDICARE IS TIME LIMITED TO A HUNDRED DAYS, UH, UH, FOR RECOVERY AFTER AN INCIDENT THAT REQUIRES HOSPITALIZATION.

SO A HUNDRED DAYS AFTER YOU'VE BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL, THE FUNDING FOR YOUR CARE RUNS OUT, UH, AND BECAUSE, UM, MEDICAID'S LIMITED DAILY REIMBURSEMENT RATE, CAN'T FUND MUCH MORE THAN ESSENTIAL SERVICES.

THESE ARE PRETTY NARROW MARGIN BUSINESSES.

IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, UM, TO WIT, UH, 86% OF TEXAS NURSING HOMES REPORT COSTS THAT ACTUALLY EXCEED THE REIMBURSEMENT THEY GET FROM MEDICAID.

UH, AND THIS HAS BEEN THE CASE, UM, FOR DECADES, UM, UH, WHICH MEANS THAT, UM, MOST OF THE HOMES, UH, WHO ARE MAJORITY OF MEDICAID, UH, DEPEND ON MEDICARE AND PRIVATE PAY PATIENTS AND MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE.

THIS IS A VERY LOW MARGIN BUSINESS.

THEY ARE ALWAYS RUNNING RIGHT ON THE CUT LINE BETWEEN IN THE RED AND IN THE BLOCK.

UM, EVEN THOUGH IN ANY GIVEN MOMENT, THERE'S ONLY ABOUT THREE FOOT, 3000 FOLKS IN TRAVIS COUNTY IN NURSING HOMES, UM, OVER THE COURSE OF A LIFETIME, 70% OF PEOPLE, UH, UH, OVER 65 CAN EXPECT TO USE SOME FORM OF LONGTERM CARE.

[01:05:02]

AND AS THE DEMOGRAPHICS IN TEXAS SHIFT, UM, THIS IS A CHALLENGE THAT WILL ONLY GROW.

SO THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE THAT WILL BE DIMINISHING OVER TIME.

UH, 55% OF RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN MEDICALLY DIAGNOSED WITH DEMENTIA.

UM, AND THAT HELPS YOU UNDERSTAND THAT MOST OF THESE PATIENTS HAVE SOME LEVEL OF COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT, WHICH MAKES NAVIGATING THIS COVID-19 MOMENT, EVEN MORE DIFFICULT, A LOT OF THE CHANGES THAT ARE BEING PRESSED DOWN INTO THE NURSING HOMES, UM, THAT THEY'RE EXPERIENCING ACTUALLY DON'T MAKE SENSE TO THEM.

UH, AND THE RESIDENTS STRUGGLE WITH THAT NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

UM, I THINK, UH, YOU MAY RECOGNIZE THAT NURSING HOMES ARE HIGHLY REGULATED.

UM, IN ADDITION TO THE FEDERAL STATUTES, UM, THE OPERATORS HAVE TO FOLLOW, UH, THOUSANDS OF OTHER CODES THAT THE FEDERAL STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL, UH, AND FAILURE TO DO SO MEANS THEY MAY LOSE THEIR ACCREDITATION, UH, AND THEIR ELIGIBILITY FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID PAYMENTS.

UM, MINOR INFRACTIONS, UH, MAY HAVE A SMALL PENALTIES, LARGE PROBLEMS CAN ACTUALLY HAVE A PRETTY CATASTROPHIC EFFECT ON THEIR ABILITY TO STAY IN BUSINESS.

LET ME STEP INTO THE INSIGHTS THEN.

UM, STAFF WORKLOAD IS, UH, DISPROPORTIONATE TO HOURLY WAGE, UH, ON AVERAGE IN TEXAS, A CERTIFIED NURSING AID.

WHO'S THE INDIVIDUAL WHO PROVIDES MOST OF THE HANDS ON CARE FOR PATIENTS.

UH, IT MAKES LESS THAN MINIMUM WAGE HERE IN AUSTIN.

SO THEY MAKE ON AVERAGE BETWEEN 12 AND $13, EVEN THOUGH MINIMUM WAGE HERE IN AUSTIN, IT'S 15.

UM, YOU CAN ESSENTIALLY MAKE MORE, AND THIS WAS A QUOTE WE HEARD FROM STAFF.

YOU CAN ESSENTIALLY MAKE MORE BUC-EE'S OVER THE WEEKEND AND YOU CAN, AS A CERTIFIED NURSE AID, UM, UH, UH, WORKING AN ENTIRE WEEK, UH, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

UH, THAT MEANS, UH, COMPETITION FOR STAFF IS PRETTY FIERCE.

A SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES ARE THE SECOND LARGEST HEALTHCARE EMPLOYER IN THE NATION AND IN AN HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY WHERE SUPPLY OF SKILLED LABORERS IS INSUFFICIENT, UH, TO MEET DEMAND.

THE COMPETITION FOR THAT STAFF IS ACTUALLY QUITE STIFF.

AND WHAT THAT MEANS, UH, ON THE NEXT SLIDE IS THAT, UM, STAFF RETENTION IS A CONSTANT CHALLENGE FOR THE FACILITIES AND THEIR ADMINISTRATORS.

UM, I'LL, I'LL CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO, UH, THE SECOND TO LAST LINE FOR CERTIFIED NURSING AIDES, WHO ARE THE FOLKS WHO, WHO, WHO PROVIDE MOST OF THE BEDSIDE CARE ON AVERAGE IN A FACILITY 85% OF THAT STAFF TURNS OVER IN THE COURSE OF A YEAR, THAT HIGH TURNOVER IS A CONSTANT REALITY AND A STRAIN ON NOT JUST CONTINUITY OF CARE, UM, AND FAMILIARITY WITH PROTOCOL WITHIN A FACILITY.

IT'S ALSO A PARTICULAR STRAIN ON VERY THIN OPERATING MARGINS AS WELL.

SO, UM, THANKS FOR, UM, ACCOMMODATING, UH, THAT, THAT RUN THROUGH, UM, UH, SOME FACTS.

I THINK IT'S USEFUL THEN TO GIVE CONTEXT IN THE NEXT SLIDE, UM, ONE ABOUT THE STATE OF NURSING HOMES, BUT THEN THIS IS, UH, SPECIFIC TO AUSTIN.

UM, UH, IT IS SPECIFIC TO AUSTIN.

UM, THERE ARE 31 NURSING FACILITIES IN TRAVIS COUNTY AT ANY GIVEN TIME, FOUR, 5,000 STAFF WORKING IN THOSE FACILITIES.

UH, AND, UH, IN, IN A USUAL TIME ABOUT 3000 RESIDENTS, UM, WHICH REPRESENTS ABOUT 75% OCCUPANCY OF THOSE HOMES.

UM, THERE ARE NURSING HOMES IN, UH, NEARLY EVERY DISTRICT REPRESENTED BY THIS COUNCIL.

AND SO THE, THE, UM, THE NEED AND THE CHALLENGE, UM, IS DIFFUSE.

SO, UM, I'LL MOVE THEN INTO INSIGHTS, IF YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

UM, I SHARED ALL THAT PREVIOUS CONTEXT BECAUSE THESE NEXT FOUR INSIGHTS ACTUALLY DERIVE FROM THAT CONTEXT.

UM, AGAIN, THIS IS JUST THE OUTPUT FROM THE FIRST PHASE OF WORK, BUT IT'S CLEAR THAT EACH OF THESE INSIGHTS, UH, REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE IN NEED OF A SOLUTION.

UM, UH, IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, UM, BEFORE I SHARE THE INSIGHTS, I NEED TO APOLOGIZE, UH, PAUSE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, UM, AS COMPLEX THE SYSTEM AS THIS IS, IT REALLY IS A COMPLEX SYSTEM OF PEOPLE.

UM, IT INCLUDES PEOPLE WHO NEED AND PROVIDE CARE AND IN BETWEEN THESE SETS OF PEOPLE OR SOME VERY HUMAN STORIES, UM, OF STRONG RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN STAFF, BETWEEN RESIDENTS, BETWEEN RESIDENTS AND STAFF, UH, THERE WASN'T A FACILITY WE VISITED WHERE THERE WEREN'T A HALF DOZEN HERO STORIES, UM, OF STAFF MAKING REALLY INCREDIBLE SACRIFICES, UH, IN THEIR OWN PERSONAL LIVES TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF RESIDENCES.

THERE WAS ONE DIRECTOR OF NURSING WHO HAD SEPARATED FROM SHE'S, A SINGLE MOTHER AND SAID SEPARATED FROM HER SON OF THREE YEARS, UH, HER THREE YEAR OLD SON, UH, FOR THREE MONTHS IN ORDER TO PROTECT, UM, UH, THE, UH, THE SAFETY OF THE RESIDENTS.

UH, REALLY, AND THAT'S JUST ONE OF DOZENS OF STORIES THAT, UH, WE CAME TO KNOW IN THE RESEARCH.

UH, I THINK IT'S SOMETIMES EASY TO FORGET THAT THE SYSTEM OF CARE REALLY IS A GIANT SET OF INTERTWINED, UM, HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT NOT TO LOSE SIGHT OF THAT.

SO, UM,

[01:10:01]

UM, NEXT SLIDE, THE FIRST INSIGHT IS SOMETHING WE'VE NAMED THEORY VERSUS REALITY IN NURSING HOMES, AND IT REFLECTS THIS NOTION THAT AS IMPORTANT AS INFECTION CONTROL PROTOCOLS ARE IN THEORY, UM, HOW THEY'RE OPERATIONALIZED ON THE GROUND IS THAT IS AFFECTED BY CLINICAL, UH, OPERATIONAL AND HUMAN REALITIES ON THE GROUND.

UM, THAT OPERATIONALIZATION CAN BE VERY CHALLENGING AND IN SOME CASES ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE WHEN THE THEORY AND REALITY CONFLICT.

SO LET ME GIVE YOU A COUPLE EXAMPLES IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

UM, UM, THERE ARE A LOT OF, UH, THERE'S A LOT OF GUIDANCE AROUND CREATING ISOLATION UNITS, UH, PATIENTS WHO ARE AT RISK OR HAVE CONTRACTED COVID-19 HAS TO BE SEPARATED FROM THE REST OF THE NURSING HOME POPULATION.

UM, PUTTING THOSE INFECTION CONTROL UNITS AND ISOLATION UNITS IN PLACE IN SOME CASES, UH, VIOLATES LIFE SAFETY CODE, YOU KNOW, CREATING SEPARATION MEANS THAT EGRESS, UM, IS THEN LIMITED, UH, IT DISPLACES RESIDENTS OUT OF A ROOM THAT THEY'VE LIVED IN IN SOME CASES FOR YEARS, BUT I KNOW THE PART OF THE FACILITY, WHICH FOR SOMEONE WITH DEMENTIA, IT'S VERY UPSETTING AND, AND, AND, UH, IT'S A PSAP SEPARATES STAFF, UH, FROM RESIDENTS THAT THEY'RE FAMILIAR WITH TRYING TO KEEP ISOLATED TO CERTAIN UNITS SO THAT THERE'S NO CROSS CONTAMINATION MEANS THAT SOME OF THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN STAFF AND RESIDENTS ARE BROKEN SOCIAL DISTANCING, UM, IS SOMETHING THAT THE NURSING HOMES HAVE BEEN ASKED TO PRACTICE.

UH, IN TERMS OF PATIENT CARE, I DIDN'T MEET A SINGLE, UH, CERTIFIED NURSE ASSISTANT AIDE WHO SAID I CAN PRACTICE, UH, WHAT I NEED TO DO, UH, AT A SAFE DISTANCE OF SIX FEET.

IF I'M GOING TO DRESS BATHE FEED A PATIENT, I'M GOING TO BE IN CONTACT WITH THEM.

UM, UH, RESIDENTS, UH, OFTEN THAT, UH, ARE, UH, MOVE TO NURSING HOMES TO HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR INCREASED SOCIALIZATION, UM, THAT IS NOW, UM, UH, ESSENTIALLY FORBIDDEN WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING, AND ACTUALLY A NUMBER OF RESIDENTS ARE LOSING APPETITE.

AND THERE ARE A LOT OF REPORTS OF FOLKS NOT EATING BECAUSE OF ANXIETY OR DEPRESSION.

UH, THE QUARANTINE HAS ELIMINATED, UH, FAMILY VISITATION AND ALSO FIELD TRIPS OUT OF THE NURSING HOME.

UM, I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF THAT IN A SECOND.

UM, THE USE OF PPE IS, UM, ACTUALLY, UH, PRODUCES A LOT OF ANXIETY FOR THE PATIENTS, ESPECIALLY WITH DEMENTIA WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEIR CAREGIVERS ARE NOW DRESSED, UM, LIKE, UH, ASTRONAUTS, UM, UH, WEARING MASKS IS, UH, SOMETIMES AN IMPOSSIBILITY, UH, UH, MADE EVEN MORE DIFFICULT BY THOSE WHO ARE HEARING IMPAIRED.

UM, YOU WATCH, UH, INTERACTIONS AND EVENTUALLY A MASK WILL DROP SO THAT SOMEONE CAN ACTUALLY COMMUNICATE WITH SOMEBODY ELSE.

UH, MANY OF THE CARE PROVIDERS, UM, ARE NOW BEING, UH, UH, THE APPOINTMENTS ARE BEING HAD, UH, VIA TELEHEALTH, WHICH ADDS AN ADDITIONAL BURDEN ON TOP OF, UM, CARE PROVIDERS, UH, UH, WORKLOADS.

AND THEN, UH, THE FINANCIAL IMPACT IS NOT, UM, IS NOT TO BE LOST HERE.

UH, TURNING DOUBLE OCCUPANCY ROOMS INTO SINGLE OCCUPANCY ROOMS IN ORDER TO CREATE THESE ISOLATION ZONES.

UM, THE REDUCTION IN ELECTIVE SURGERIES, UM, WHICH THESE NURSING HOMES DEPEND ON, UH, FOR BUSINESS, UH, IN RECOVERY AND THEN THEIR TREPIDATION AROUND NEW ADMISSIONS, ESPECIALLY PATIENTS WHO ARE HIGH RISK OR MIGHT WANDER, UM, AND THEREFORE INCREASE INFECTION, RISK ARE ALL ISSUES THAT, UM, UH, THAT THESE NURSING HOMES ARE DEALING WITH.

AND SO, UH, INFECTION CONTROL THEORY IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND GOOD THEORY IS IMPORTANT, BUT, UH, THE OPERATIONALIZATION OF THAT INSIDE THE REALITY OF THE NURSING HOME CAN BE SOMETIMES EXTREMELY DIFFICULT, SOMETIMES IMPOSSIBLE.

UM, IF WE'LL MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE INSIGHT TO, UM, UM, THIS IS, IS NOT MEANT AS A CONDEMNATION OF ANY AGENCY OR ANY TEAM.

WE ARE IN AN UNPRECEDENTED MOMENT WHERE GUIDANCE IS HARD TO COME BY, UH, AND, AND EVOLVING CONSTANTLY.

BUT THE NURSING HOMES, UM, UH, ARE CONSTANTLY RECEIVING GUIDANCE FROM ANY NUMBER OF AGENCIES, UH, RECOMMENDATIONS ARE COMMUNICATED MUCH MORE THAN, UH, UM, A WEEKLY, ALMOST ON A DAILY BASIS.

AND THEY COME FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT SOURCES.

UM, YOU WILL HEAR, UH, UH, ADMINISTRATORS SAY, I HAVE TO, UH, UH, I'M ABSORBING GUIDANCE FROM AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH HHSC FROM THE CDC, FROM THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, FROM OSHA AND FROM MY OWN CORPORATE, TRYING TO MAKE SENSE OF THE 90 EMAILS I GET IN A WEEK, UM, IS EXTREMELY DAUNTING.

AND, UH, MORE THAN, UH, I HAD, UM, A PLAN TO DO.

YOU CAN MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE EVERY TIME.

UM, UH, A FACILITY RECEIVES INFECTION, CONTROL GUIDANCE, THEY'RE ASKING A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS.

DOES IT APPLY TO ME? DOES IT EVOLVE PREVIOUS GUIDANCE? UM, HOW DOES AFFECT MY FACILITY? HOW WILL I DISSEMINATED TO THE STAFF AND ASK THEM TO, UM, ACCOMMODATE IT? UM, UH, UH, WHAT HAPPENS IF WE HAVE QUESTIONS OR CLARIFICATION WHO I GO TO, UM, IN CASES THEY ABIDE BY THE GUIDANCE FROM, UH, THE AGENCIES WHO CAN, UM, UH, UH, UH,

[01:15:01]

PENALIZE THEM.

AND THAT'S OFTEN THE REGULATORS LIKE THE SURVEYORS FROM HHSC.

UM, THE IMPACT ON THE FACILITY OPERATORS IS SIGNIFICANT.

UM, AND WE SAW A BIG DISTINCTION BETWEEN THOSE WITH STRONG CORPORATE GOVERNANCE WHO COULD INTERPRET IT AND THEN PRESS THE INTERPRETED GUIDANCE DOWN TO THE FACILITIES THEMSELVES.

UM, UH, WE CORPORATE OPERATORS, UH, LEFT THE FACILITIES TO THEMSELVES AND THEN INDEPENDENTLY OPERATED FACILITIES, UM, REALLY PRIORITIZE THE THINGS THAT PROTECTED THE SAFETY OF STAFF AND RESIDENT, AND, UM, BE A LITTLE BIT OVERWHELMED BY, UH, KNOWING WHICH ONE TO, UM, ABIDE BY, UM, THERE, UH, LACK OF SUPPORT, UM, FOR STAFF A BULLET HERE REALLY SAYS THAT A LOT OF THIS GUIDANCE DOESN'T YET, UM, RECOGNIZE THE KIND OF IMPACT IT HAS ON STAFF.

AND SO IT'S NOT DESIGNED YET FOR CONSUMPTION AND UTILIZATION JUST YET.

OF SUPPORT FOR YOUR NEXT STEPS? WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD AND PROCEED COSMIC KITCHEN? DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING? YEAH, I WOULD JUST SAY THAT, UM, THAT I APPRECIATE THE INSIGHTS RELATED TO WORKERS.

INSIGHT THREE, UM, IS REALLY AROUND STAFF.

UM, UH, THE, THE NOVELTY OF THIS VIRUS, UM, UH, REALLY, UH, UM, HAS, UH, PARTICULARLY THE, THE NOVEL CHALLENGES AROUND THIS VIRUS HAVE, UH, HAD A HUGE EFFECT ON STAFF, UM, UM, AND NOT JUST IN THE WORK ENVIRONMENT, BUT IN THEIR PERSONAL LIVES AS WELL.

IF WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, UM, THE STAFF THEMSELVES, UH, AND, UM, UH, HAVE A LOT OF FEAR, ONE THEY'RE WORKING IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY'RE AT A HEIGHTENED RISK FOR INFECTION, UM, AND THEY ALSO DON'T WANT TO BE THE PERSON THAT BRINGS THAT INFECTION INTO, INTO THE FACILITY.

THEY DON'T WANT TO BE THAT PERSON, UM, WHO ALL THEIR COLLEAGUES WILL KNOW, UM, UH, BROUGHT THE, UH, INFECTION INTO THE, INTO THE FACILITY AND INCURRED A BUNCH OF ADDITIONAL WORK AND, UM, AND PROTOCOL, UM, THEY'RE, THEY ARE WEARING MASKS, THEY'RE BEING SCREENED ON ARRIVAL.

UM, THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT PROTOCOL, WHICH IS MAKING THEIR WORK MUCH MORE DIFFICULT.

UM, AND IN MANY CASES, IN MOST CASES, THE STAFF FEEL LIKE, FEELS LIKE IT'S UNSUSTAINABLE.

THEY KEEP, UH, WONDERING WHEN THEY'LL RETURN TO NORMAL AND THE ADMINISTRATORS KEEP TELLING THEM THIS IS YOUR NEW NORMAL.

AND MOST OF THEM DON'T THINK THEY CAN SUSTAIN THEMSELVES IN THIS NEW NORMAL, UM, THERE'S A PARTICULAR NOTE HERE AROUND STAFF RISK.

UM, UH, WHEN THE EDICT CAME DOWN THAT, UM, STAFF SHOULD CONFINE THEMSELVES TO WORKING IN ONE FACILITY, AND MANY OF THESE STAFF WORK ACROSS FACILITIES, THEY HAD TO CHOOSE, UM, AND TIE THEIR FORTUNES, THEIR ECONOMIC, UH, UM, UH, UH, FORTUNES TO A SINGLE FACILITY.

AND, UM, THEY'RE NERVOUS ABOUT THAT IF THE FACILITY GOES DOWN OR HAS, UM, UH, UM, UH, COVID OUTBREAK, UH, THERE'S REAL CONCERN FROM AN ECONOMIC STANDPOINT THAT THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO PROVIDE, UH, FOR THEMSELVES OR FOR THEIR FAMILIES.

UH, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT CAME THROUGH, UH, IN A LOT OF THE RESEARCH AND I'LL END WITH THIS ONE, WHICH IS INSIGHT FOR, UH, THE, THE MEDICAL NEEDS OF PATIENTS IN THIS MOMENT.

HAVEN'T REALLY CHANGED THAT MUCH, BUT BECAUSE OF THE, UM, UH, UH, QUARANTINING, THE LACK OF VISITATION AND THE LACK OF OPPORTUNITY TO GET OUT OF THE NURSING HOME, THE PSYCHOSOCIAL CONSEQUENCES HAVE BEEN REALLY HIGH.

SO, UH, FAMILY, UH, THE INDIVIDUAL RESIDENTS ARE SUFFERING FROM ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, LONELINESS, UM, AND, UH, THE ONLY REMEDY TO THAT REALLY ARE THE STAFF IN THE FACILITY.

AND SO THEY ARE DOING YEOMAN'S WORK, UM, TRYING TO ACCOMMODATE, TRYING TO, UM, UH, UH, COMFORT AND EASE, UH, THE DIFFICULTIES OF THOSE RESIDENTS THAT HAS A CASCADE EFFECT OF ACTUALLY MAKING THE STAFF'S LIVES SO MUCH MORE DIFFICULT AS WELL.

AND THEY'RE CARRYING EMOTIONAL BURDEN AND MENTAL BURDEN AS A RESULT OF, OF, UH, THE PANDEMIC AS WELL.

IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, UM, YOU'RE SEEING, UM, FAMILY WHO HAS BEEN ISOLATED FROM THEIR LOVED ONES, MAKING INCREASINGLY, UH, UH, DIFFICULT REQUESTS OF STAFF, BECAUSE THE STAFF ARE THE ONLY ONES WHO HAVE CONTACT WITH THE RESIDENTS.

UM, THE STAFF THEMSELVES, I FIND IT HARD TO PROCESS ALL OF THE EMOTION, UM, AND THE ADDITIONAL WORKLOAD THAT'S BEING ASKED OF THEM.

UH, STAFF RETENTION IS AN ISSUE, UM, UH, AS IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN THIS MOMENT, EVEN MORE SO.

AND THE IMPACT OF START FROM STAFF BURNOUT IS STARTING TO BE SEEING PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING THEIR OWN, UH, MENTAL BREAKDOWNS, UM, AND ASKING FOR TIME AWAY, WHICH IS JUST AN EXACERBATING, THE STAFF RETENTION ISSUE.

SO, UM, UH, I'LL CONCLUDE WITH THIS NEXT SLIDE, UH, WHICH IS, UM, WHAT WE CALL THE EMERGING INSIGHTS.

THE FOUR I JUST SHARED, UH, ARE NOT AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST.

THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER EMERGING INSIGHTS.

I WON'T READ THEM TO YOU HERE.

UM, BUT, UM, THAT MERIT FURTHER EXPLORATION, EXPLORATION, AND WE WILL BE PURSUING THAT, UM, IN THE NEXT PHASE OF WORK.

UM, I'LL PAUSE HERE BEFORE I TALK ABOUT NEXT STEPS, JUST TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, COUNCIL.

I CAN SEE EVERYONE BECAUSE OF THIS SCREEN.

ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS

[01:20:01]

I'M ESPECIALLY CONCERNED THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, LOW WAGE, LOW WAGE WORKERS, I MEAN, BELOW MINIMUM WAGE FOR US, MANY OF WHOM.

UM, AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY STATISTICS ON THIS, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IF IT'S CORRECT, MANY OF THEM ARE FROM MINORITY COMMUNITIES, UH, COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, AND, UM, YOU JUST DON'T HAVE MUCH OPTIONS FROM AN ECONOMIC STANDPOINT.

SO, UH, I AM HOPING THAT AS YOU PROCEED THROUGH THIS STUDY, THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THERE'LL BE SOME, SOME THINGS THAT, UH, THAT WE AS CITY CAN DO TO HELP YOU FIRST.

UM, AND I'M, UM, WHAT IS THAT YOU HAVE ENGAGED THE STATE BECAUSE IT DOES REGULATE SEEN THE STATE STEP UP TO THE PLATE AT ALL IN TERMS OF HELPING OUT THESE WORKERS.

SO I'M, UH, AS WE'VE DONE WITH MANY OTHER WORKERS IN OUR COMMUNITY, THE HOPING THAT WE WOULD, WE CAN FIND A PATH TO, TO BE OF ASSISTANCE.

I THINK YOU SAID FOUR TO 5,000, UH, WORKERS IN THESE FACILITIES IN OUR COMMUNITY, UH, AT LESS THAN MINIMUM WAGE, UNDER VERY UNSTABLE ECONOMIC SITUATIONS.

SO, UM, I'D INVITE YOU IN THE FUTURE TO PROVIDE US MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE DEMOGRAPHICS, TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU, UM, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO, YOU KNOW, AS YOU CONCLUDE THE RESEARCH, HELPING US THINKING ABOUT WHAT WE DO SINCE THESE WORKERS.

THIS IS VERY HELPFUL.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, KITCHEN, FOR THE SUGGESTIONS AND GUIDANCE.

WE WILL CERTAINLY FOCUS ON THAT IN THE NEXT PLACE.

THANK YOU TOO, FOR REALLY, UM, PROVIDING SOME DEPTH TO THE WAY IN WHICH, UH, INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN, IN THESE GROUP FACILITIES THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THE LACK OF CONTACT WITH THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE, WE'VE BEEN READING ABOUT IT IN SUCH A GLOBAL FIRM, SUCH A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE THAT YOU REALLY HELPED, HELPED ME BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW, WHAT, WHAT THE DAILY IMPACT MIGHT BE ON SOMEONE WHO'S LIVING WITHIN, WITHIN A FACILITY OF THAT SORT.

AND MAYBE I'M SUFFERING FROM MEDICAL DEMENTIA AND, AND NOW IS EXPERIENCING THE WORLD IN A VERY, VERY DIFFERENT WAY AND EXPERIENCING THE PEOPLE WITHIN THEIR MOST FAMILIAR, UM, IN TERMS OF CAREGIVING IN A VERY DIFFERENT WAY AS WELL.

I KNOW THAT THERE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WAYS AND WAYS TO LINK, UM, YOUTH WITH INDIVIDUALS IN NURSING HOMES AND SOME OTHER CREATIVE PROGRAMS. I WONDER IF YOU COULD LET US KNOW WHAT THE, WHAT THE STATE OF SHARING THAT KIND OF, THOSE KINDS OF BEST PRACTICES.

IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE ROLES PLAY WITH PARKS PROGRAMMING, AND PERHAPS WE ARE, AND THAT'S WHAT I'M REMEMBERING IN THE BACK OF MY HEAD THAT I THINK OUR PARKS PROGRAM IS PILOTING A PROGRAM OF CONTACT AMONG YOUTH.

AND I WONDERED IF YOU COULD SHARE THAT AND AGAIN, JUST KIND OF BRING IT AROUND TO WHAT, WHAT IS THE, WHAT ARE THE NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES FOR SHARING THESE GOOD IDEAS AND OPPORTUNITIES AMONG, AMONG SOME FACILITIES IN THE AREA? YEAH.

THANK YOU FOR THE COMMENTS.

I, UM, THERE ARE CERTAINLY BRIGHT SPOTS IN, IN A, IN A BRIEFING AS, UH, AS QUICK AS THIS, I'M NOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO ALL OF THEM JUSTICE.

UM, THERE ARE CERTAINLY, UH, IMPROVISATIONS IN NURSING HOMES, UH, UH, THAT ARE SOLVING FOR SOME OF THE CHALLENGES.

UM, THEY'RE NOT COMPLETE, UM, UM, DEVELOPING NETWORK.

UH, WE SAW SOME AD HOC NETWORKS DEVELOPED BETWEEN NURSING HOMES TO ACTUALLY SHARE OUR BEST PRACTICES.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN ACTUALLY HELP TO DEVELOP AS PART OF THE CITY AS WELL.

UM, AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH ALREADY PLAYS A ROLE IN THAT, UH, IN THE WEEKLY CALLS THAT THEY HAVE, UH, WE CAN BUILD ON THAT AS WELL.

I THINK, UM, THE PRIMARY CONCERN IS, UH, ABOUT MANAGING INFECTION IN AND OUT OF THE FACILITIES.

AND, UM, AND TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN ENGAGE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO WANT TO HAVE AN EFFECT, I THINK WE SHOULD, AND, YOU KNOW, THE PARKER, UH, FINE, FINE EXAMPLE OF THAT, RIGHT.

UM, ENGAGING IN AN OUTDOOR SPACE WHERE RISK IS LOW, IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MITIGATE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT ISOLATION HAS CAUSED FOR THESE RESIDENTS.

AND SO, AS WE MOVE TO THE SOLUTION INSIDE OF THIS STUDY, WE'LL BEGIN TO START AGGREGATING THOSE BUILDING ON THEM AND HOPEFULLY FORMALIZING THEM WAYS THAT, UM, THAT EVERYONE CAN UTILIZE THE INFORMATION.

AND I WAS REALLY SPEAKING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT SOME OF THE VIRTUAL PROGRAMS THAT I SEE, UM, INDIVIDUAL CALLS OR, YOU KNOW, THE WRITING, IF THAT'S, UM, NOT, NOT POSING CHALLENGES WITH EMAIL, THINGS OF THAT

[01:25:01]

SORT.

SO THANK YOU FOR LETTING US KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME NETWORKS OF THAT SHARED INFORMATION, BUT TO THE EXTENT THAT OUR, OUR OWN CITY PROGRAMS, UM, ARE ALREADY REFASHIONING WHAT THEY'RE DOING WITH YOUTH AND WITH OTHERS, IT SEEMS LIKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY NEGATIVE, UH, BRING THEM INTO CONTACT WITH VIRTUAL CONTACT WITH, WITH SOME OF THESE FACILITIES.

ABSOLUTELY.

WHERE'D YOU GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO NEXT STEPS.

WE'LL BRING THE SLIDES UP, UM, UH, JUST TO CLOSE THEN, UH, IN TERMS OF NEXT STEPS, UH, THE NEXT PHASE OF WORK, UM, UH, WHEN AB BRINGS THESE UP, I'LL, I'LL JUST, I'LL READ THESE, UH, AS, AS ADY BRINGS THEM UP, UM, IS TO STUDY, UH, ADDITIONAL NURSING HOMES AND OTHER AREAS, AUSTIN, WHERE PERSPECTIVE WOULD BE INFORMATIVE.

AND I THINK AS I NOTED EARLIER, WE DON'T HAVE A PERFECT GEOGRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION, WHICH WE'D LIKE, UM, WE WILL EXPAND THE STUDY TO ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES AND OTHER MODELS, INCLUDING AGING IN PLACE.

UM, WE WILL FOCUS QUITE A BIT MORE ON INTERVIEWS WITH RESIDENTS, FAMILY, AND THEN ADDITIONALLY TO STAFF, THE HEAD OF DEPARTMENT, THE FIELD BECAUSE OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE EXISTING CRISIS, UH, LOOK AT ROLES AND UTILIZATION OF TECHNOLOGY, UM, AND THEN, UH, POLICIES IN PLACE THAT, UH, MAY IMPACT NURSING HOME AND STAFFING AND SEE IF THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO AMEND THOSE, UH, AS WELL AS REVIEWING SOME OF THE, UH, COST AND VALUE THAT, UM, THAT, UH, THE CITY HAS PROVIDED, UH, UH, IN TERMS OF, UH, TEMPORARY STAFFING AGENCIES AND SEEING IF THERE'S BETTER WAYS TO UTILIZE, UM, THAT FUNDING AND THEN ULTIMATELY TO DEVELOP SOME FRAMEWORKS, TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THE LANDSCAPE OF CHALLENGES ACTUALLY ALL, AND THEN WHICH ONES ARE, UH, THE MOST PRODUCTIVE ONES TO RESPOND TO, UH, THAT CONCLUDES, UH, UH, MARKS ZONE.

SO I THINK THE COUNCIL FOR, FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION, GREAT COUNCIL OVER KITCHEN.

OH, ONE LAST THING.

I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT.

UM, YOU'LL ALSO BE LOOKING AT OTHER MODELS, SPECIFICALLY AGING IN PLACE.

UM, WE HAVE MANY SENIORS ARE ACTUALLY ELDERLY PEOPLE, UH, ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY WHOSE FAMILIES, UM, ARE TAKING, TRYING VERY HARD TO TAKE CARE OF THEM AT HOME.

AND SO UNDERSTANDING THE CHALLENGES, UH, WOULD BE HELPFUL, UM, THAT ALSO HAPPENS BECAUSE OF THE INABILITY OF SAM BE ABLE TO AFFORD, UM, UH, PLACING THEIR FAMILY MEMBER, UM, IN ASSISTED LIVING OR A NURSING HOME.

SO, UM, UH, AGING AND AGING ASPECT OF THIS, BE INTERESTING TO UNDERSTAND THAT, UM, AS AN APPROACH FOR REDUCING RISK, BUT ALSO UNDERSTANDING THE KINDS OF BURDENS THAT PLEASE, UM, AND WHETHER IT ACTUALLY EVEN HAVE THAT CHOICE, UH, AND IF IT'S REALLY BECOMES AN ECONOMIC, UH, CHOICE.

THANK YOU FOR THAT REINFORCEMENT COUNCIL MEMBER, RIGHT? THANK YOU AS COUNCIL MEMBER.

ALL OF THE ITEMS WE HAVE TODAY THAT ARE PULLED OR ALL ON THE 29TH WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE ZONING CASE THAT YOU HAVE PULLED THE REST OF THEM SPRAWL ON THE 29TH IS A, IS A, UH, AT BENINA WITH US.

I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT REPORT AND THE WAY YOU MENTIONED HOW WORKERS ARE REALLY, REALLY OUR HEROES THAT ARE TAKING CARE OF OUR SENIORS.

I HAVE A MARKET FOR IT AND, AND THE MOTHER OF MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW JUST TURNED 70 WHERE THEY'RE BOTH VERY MARRIAGE AND I TRIED TO FIND OUT WHY SHE DIDN'T WANT TO RETIRE.

AND SHE SAID, THEY'RE ALL MY FRIENDS, AND I NEED TO KEEP GOING TO WORK TO TAKE CARE OF THEM.

SO I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT COMMENT AND THANK YOU FOR THE REPORT.

IT IS A 10 30.

WE HAVE A HALF AN HOUR BEFORE WE, UH, BREAK OR RECESS TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

SO LET'S DO SOME OF THE PULLED

[A. Pre-Selected Agenda Items (Part 1 of 2)]

THAT WE CAN DO NOW.

FIRST ON THE PULLED ITEM LIST IS ITEM NUMBER 29 COUNCIL MOVER ALTER.

DO YOU WANT TO ADDRESS THIS? YOU STILL WITH US? YES, I AM.

I DON'T KNOW.

I FORGOT TO PUT MY VIDEO BACK ON, UM, BACK THERE.

UM, SO ITEM 29 IS FOR, UM, AN AMENDMENT TO AFDS BUDGET.

UM, AND I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THEY CALCULATED THE AMOUNT OF THE 5 MILLION.

UM, I SHARE THOSE QUESTIONS WITH MR. VAN, YOU KNOW, UM, YESTERDAY, I DON'T KNOW IF HE'S PREPARED TO ANSWER THEM OR IF I NEED TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH HIM TODAY AND BRING THIS UP AGAIN TOMORROW.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF MR. VAN, YOU KNOW, IS ON THE LINE MAYOR, IF YOU WOULD, AS YOU ANNOUNCED, THE ITEMS, REMIND US WHICH COUNCIL MEETING ITEM IS FOR.

CAUSE I ALSO PULLED THE 29, BUT ON THE 30TH.

SO THIS IS GREAT.

THIS COULD POTENTIALLY BE VERY CONFUSING.

I'LL DO THAT.

[01:30:03]

I DON'T THINK HE'S WITH US RIGHT NOW.

SO I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK.

YEAH, I AM HERE CURIOUS.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE PREPARED TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS NOW OR DO YOU WANT TO CONTINUE OUR CONVERSATION AND HAVE IT PULLED TOMORROW? OKAY.

UM, I THINK IT'S PROBABLY BEST RIGHT.

BAD.

THE CONVERSATION FIRST COUNSELING, FAIRLY COMPLICATED ISSUE WITH A LOT OF DETAILS.

SO IF WE COULD TALK FIRST, THAT MIGHT, THAT MIGHT ANSWER FOR FEET BETTER WAY TO ANSWER A LOT OF YOUR QUESTIONS.

THAT'S FINE.

UM, I DO JUST WANNA, YOU KNOW, FIVE FOR FOLKS THAT I HAVE A NUMBER OF CONCERNS ABOUT THIS AMENDMENT AND THE FIRST ONE THAT I NEED TO GET ADDRESSED IS WHETHER WE HAVE CALCULATED THE AMOUNT, UM, CORRECTLY FOR HOW MUCH, UM, THE OVERTIME SHOULD BE.

UM, I HAVE MENTIONED IN SOME OTHER, OTHER PLACES THAT I'M SOMEWHAT FRUSTRATED WITH THE PROCESS FOR BRINGING FORWARD, UM, THIS AMENDMENT AND THE NEED FOR THE OVERTIME AND, UM, WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE SEEN MORE SOLUTIONS TRYING STAFF ON ADDRESSING THIS MUCH SOONER SINCE THIS GOES BACK TO SUPPOSEDLY BEING IDENTIFIED IN DECEMBER.

UM, AND WE ARE NOW IN JULY.

UM, SO I WILL BRING THAT UP TOMORROW AFTER I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO GO THROUGH THE NITTY GRITTY, UM, WITH MR. VAN, YOU KNOW, AND WE DON'T NEED TO, UM, HAVE EVERYONE ELSE, UM, WORK THROUGH THAT WITH ME, UH, VIA THIS VIRTUAL SETUP.

SO THANK YOU, UM, MR. VINO, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN FIND SOME TIME LATER TODAY TO CONNECT AS YOU KNOW, THANK YOU.

SHOW TO THE NEXT BULLET ITEM.

IT IS SOMEONE HAS SOMETHING NEXT BULLET ITEM IS ITEM NUMBER 43.

I THINK A FEW FOLKS ARE STILL UN-MUTED.

CAN YOU REPEAT WHAT YOU SAID? NOT A PROBLEM ARE NOW PULLING UP ITEM NUMBER 43.

THIS IS ON THE 29TH AGENDA ITEM 43.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

SO MY CONCERN REALLY ON THIS IS JUST THAT IN THE VERY FIRST SECTION OF THE INNER LOCAL, IT INCLUDES THE PHRASE NO MORE THAN SEVEN.

AND I JUST DON'T KNOW IF AT THIS MOMENT WE WANT TO PREDETERMINED HOW MANY, UH, MENTAL HEALTH, UH, FOLKS WE WANT TO PUT IN THE NINE 11 CENTER.

SO MY, MY STAFF, MY QUESTION FOR STAFF REALLY IS IT, DOES THIS PRECLUDE US DOING MORE OR, OR WHAT THE, WHAT IS THE PROCESS SINCE WE'RE ABOUT TO ENTERTAIN SOME PRETTY, UH, DELIBERATE PUBLIC SAFETY BUDGET CONVERSATIONS, STAFF HERE TO RESPOND TO THE NO MORE THAN LANGUAGE.

WE HAD AN ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER ARIANO WE WERE ALSO CONSIDERING JUST POSTPONING THIS ITEM IF THERE WERE OTHER OPTIONS, BUT I'LL SEE AN ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER ARIANO WANTS TO SPEAK TO THIS QUESTION DIRECTLY.

UM, GOOD OR GOOD MORNING, MAYOR COUNCIL AND COUNCIL MEMBER FLANAGAN VIA THE NO MORE THAN SEVEN RELIEVES THAT.

AND FIRST OF ALL, IT'S CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES.

IF WE GO FORWARD WITH IT NOW OR, UH, OR WE WOULD JUST POSTPONE IT, UM, UNTIL AFTER WE COMPLETE THE SOUNDS LIKE STAFF'S GOT TO POSTPONE THAT.

UH, THAT NUMBER SEVEN IS REALLY BASED ON SPACE CONSIDERATIONS AND WHAT IS CURRENTLY ENVISIONED IN TERMS OF THE M COD UM, UH, ARRANGEMENT THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE.

CERTAINLY IF THERE IS MORE INFORMATION AND OR BUDGET DECISIONS THAT REQUIRE, UM, ADDITIONAL PEOPLE, PERSONNEL TO BE STAFFED INTO THE SEAT TECH, UH, UM, DISPATCH, A CALL AND TAKE CENTER, WE WOULD CERTAINLY SEE HOW WE MIGHT ACCOMMODATE THAT, UM, THE LOCAL FIRE, BUT REALLY IT'S A SPACE CONSIDERATION AT THIS TIME.

SO I'M GETTING JUST SOME CONFLICTING INFO ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THIS ITEM FROM STAFF, IT STAFF WISHES IT TO BE POSTPONED STYLE.

I JUST, IF IT WAS GOING TO BE POSTPONED, THEN I PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE BROUGHT THE QUESTION.

WE WOULD HAVE JUST WORKED ON IT OFFLINE.

UM, AND IF I MAY, I THINK BASED ON SOME CONVERSATIONS THAT I'VE HAD, THE, UM, WE ARE INTENDING TO POSTPONE IT, AND THAT DECISION WAS JUST RECENTLY MADE JUST BASED ON THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'RE HAVING DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS COUNCIL MARKETS.

YEAH, I, UH, I'M WITH A COUNCIL MEMBER FLANAGAN.

I THINK WE ARE, WE CHANGED THIS LANGUAGE.

I WOULD RATHER NOT PASS SOMETHINGS WITH THIS LANGUAGE AND THEN HAVE TO CHANGE IT LATER.

SO I, AND I'M OKAY WITH EITHER, UM, I WOULD TAKE OUT THE NO MORE THAN

[01:35:03]

CAN WE JUST ASSUME THAT AT THIS POINT IT'LL COME UP IN THE BUDGET CONVERSATIONS IF APPROPRIATE.

SO DESIGN WILL BE POSTPONED, PLEASE PUT THAT ON THE YELLOW SHEET.

ALL RIGHT.

THE NEXT ITEM THAT WE HAVE PULLED ITEM IS ITEM NUMBER 49, ALSO PULLED BY COUNCIL MEMBER FLANAGAN.

THIS IS ON THE 29TH.

SO THIS ONE, I, I'VE KIND OF TWO QUESTIONS THAT MAY ALSO NEED OFFLINE EXPLANATIONS, BUT, UM, THIS SEEMS RELATED TO PAY FOR SUCCESS.

AND I STILL DON'T FEEL LIKE I HAVE BEEN GIVEN SATISFACTORY ANSWERS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF PAY FOR SUCCESS WITH TRAVIS COUNTY, UM, IS MY RECOLLECTION DECIDING TO NO LONGER TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT PROGRAM.

THAT'S ONE QUESTION.

THE SECOND QUESTION IS THIS APPEARS ACCORDING TO THE BACKUP TO HAVE BEEN APPROVED IN THE BUDGET ALMOST 12 MONTHS AGO AND ON AN ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN A REALLY HIGH PRIORITY, WHY WOULD IT TAKE 11 MONTHS TO BRING THIS BACK? WE, THESE ARE, I DON'T FEEL LIKE WE ADOPT AN ANNUAL BUDGET EXPECTING THE CONTRACTS TO COME BACK 11 MONTHS LATER, I'M STEPHANIE HAYDEN, DIRECTOR, AUSTIN, PUBLIC HEALTH.

SO THE FIRST QUESTION, UM, WITH THE, WITH THE PAY FOR SUCCESS, THIS WAS A PILOT, UM, UNDER THE, THE PAY FOR SUCCESS PROGRAM TO KIND OF GET THAT OFF THE GROUND.

UM, THERE HAVE BEEN, UM, UM, ON AUGUST 4TH, UM, THEY'RE GOING TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW ABOUT THE PAY FOR SUCCESS, BUT BECAUSE WE HAVE, UM, THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE, UM, LIVING IN THESE FACILITIES AND THEY NEED THIS ADDITIONAL FUNDING, THIS ADDITIONAL FUNDING ADDS ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO FUNDING THAT WAS ADDED BEFORE 11 MONTHS AGO, UM, TO ADD ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO TAKE US TO THE END OF SEPTEMBER.

SO THIS IS JUST BASICALLY BRIDGE FUNDING THAT WILL HELP US TO KEEP THESE INDIVIDUALS HOUSE UNTIL A FORMAL BRIEFING WILL HAPPEN ON THE FLOOR THAT WILL PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW ABOUT PAY FOR SUCCESS.

I MEAN, I GUESS IT'S LESS THAN IDEAL TO HAVE IT ON THE BUDGET, HAVE IT ON A COUNCIL AGENDA DAYS BEFORE THE BRIEFING.

UM, BUT YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF THAT'S MOVING QUICKLY.

SO I, THAT'S JUST, MY THAT'S JUST WHERE I'M AT.

I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S WORTH STOPPING.

IT'S ONLY A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN THE CONTEXT OF A VERY LARGE BUDGET.

THAT COUNCIL MEMBER FLANAGAN IS RAISING AND, UM, AND LOOK FORWARD TO THAT CONVERSATION ABOUT, UM, UH, ABOUT PAY FOR SUCCESS.

I SENSE IT'S DIRECT TO HAYDEN.

DOES THIS MAKE SENSE, REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS WITH PAY FOR SUCCESS? IS THIS GOING TO BE INSTRUCTIVE INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO HOW WE MOVE FORWARD ON, ON HOMELESS IS INTERVENTIONS? UH, YES.

UM, I THINK THE BIGGEST CONCERN WITH, WITH, WITH THESE 24, UM, PEOPLE, THEY WERE PART OF THE PILOT AND, UM, AND SO THE FUNDING FOR THAT PILOT AS THEY NO LONGER HAVE ENOUGH FUNDING, BECAUSE THE HOPES WAS, IS THAT PAY FOR SUCCESS WOULD ADD THIS 24 TO THE 250 WITHIN THAT STRATEGY.

AND SO WE, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE JUST TO STABILIZE AND KEEP THIS GROUP OF FOLKS HOUSED, UM, AS CARA TOV CONTINUES TO WORK WITH THEM.

SO, UM, KARA TAS, AS WELL AS, UM, UNICO CARE WITH THE, UM, ASSERTIVE, UM, COMMUNITY, UM, PROGRAM TO PROVIDE THOSE SUPPORT AND SERVICES.

SO WE, WE MUST KEEP THEM HOUSED AND THEN WE'LL HAVE A LARGER CONVERSATION ABOUT EIGHT, BUT IF I MIGHT, MAY OR JUMP IN, BUT WHAT I'M HEARING YOU SAY IS THAT BECAUSE PAPER SUCCESS DIDN'T MOVE THE WAY WE WERE PLANNING FOR IT TO MOVE.

WHAT I HEARD WAS BECAUSE TRAVIS COUNTY PULLED OUT.

NOW WE HAVE TO SPEND MORE CITY TAXPAYER MONEY TO ADDRESS THE SITUATION BECAUSE OF CHOICES MADE AT THE COUNTY.

I DON'T WANT TO PUT WORDS IN ANYONE'S MOUTH AND IF YOU'RE UNCOMFORTABLE ADDRESSING WHAT I JUST SAID, I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT, UH, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S WHAT IT SOUNDED LIKE TO ME.

UM, AND THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT, THAT I WILL SAY.

I THINK THE CHALLENGE IS, IS THEIR PAY FOR SUCCESS, UM, WAS NOT COMPLETED IN THE TIMELY FASHION TO ALLOW THESE 24 INDIVIDUALS.

AND SO WE ULTIMATELY, WE HAVE TO ENSURE THAT WE KEEP PEOPLE HOUSED THAT'S NUMBER, KITCHEN.

UM, I UNDERSTAND THE QUESTIONS

[01:40:01]

I THINK WITH REGARD TO THESE INDIVIDUALS AND LIKE, I, I AGREE THAT IT'S NOT, THIS IS A RELATIVELY SMALL AMOUNT OF NUMBER AND THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE NEED TO KEEP PEOPLE HOUSED.

SO I THINK IT'S OKAY.

MOVING FORWARD THIS, AND JUST UNDERSTANDING WHEN WE'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THE PAY FOR SUCCESS PROGRAM.

IS MORE THAN TRIPLE, SO IT'S NOT A SMALL INCREASE AND IT'S CERTAINLY NOT ONE THAT'S INCREASING WITH DEMAND.

GO AHEAD.

AT THE TIME THAT WE HAVE THAT CONVERSATION, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, HAVE EVEN MORE PEOPLE ENGAGED RIGHT NOW, UM, IN, IN THE CIVIC PROCESS WHO ARE VOICING CONCERNS FOR THEIR NEIGHBORS ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND PAY FOR SUCCESS.

I, I CONTINUE TO BELIEVE OFFERS US, YOU KNOW, AN INNOVATIVE WAY TO GET SOME, SOME NEW PARTNERS INVOLVED.

YOU KNOW, IT HAS BEEN THIS, THIS WOULD BE THE FIRST PAY FOR SUCCESS PROJECT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, LIKE ANY FIRST INNOVATIVE PROJECT, THERE HAVE CERTAINLY BEEN SOME HICCUPS.

UM, IT TOOK A WHILE TO GET, TO GET THE LEGAL MECHANISM THAT SATISFIED THE STUDY.

AND, AND CERTAINLY, UM, IT'S REALLY DISAPPOINTING TO SEE OUR FEW OF OUR INITIAL PARTNERS, PEOPLE, WE THOUGHT ENTITIES, WE THOUGHT WOULD PARTNER WITH US, UM, DECIDE IN THE END, NOT TO, BUT IT HAS BROUGHT FORWARD SOME POTENTIAL FUNDERS WHO MIGHT, WHO WE HAVEN'T WORKED WITH WITH BEFORE.

AND I CONTINUE TO THINK THAT PAY FOR SUCCESS OFFERS THE KIND OF STRATEGY THAT ALLOWS US TO GET, TO GET ENTITIES AND FOUNDATIONS AND POTENTIALLY EVEN INDIVIDUALS WHO DON'T, WHO DON'T CURRENTLY INVEST IN HOUSING SOLUTIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS TO INVEST IN.

SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING.

WE'RE NOT HAVING THAT CONVERSATION NOW, BUT WE HAVE AS A COUNCIL PASSED TWO RESOLUTIONS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH PAY FOR SUCCESS.

AND I'M REALLY EAGER TO CONTINUE TO PURSUE THAT MODEL, BUT ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN SAID ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR CONTRACT, REALLY BEING CRITICAL TO, TO SUPPORT.

LET'S GO TO THE NEXT ITEM.

THE NEXT ITEM IS ITEM 59 PULLED BY COUNCIL MEMBER FLANAGAN.

IT'S ON WEDNESDAY, THE 29TH AGENDA.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THIS IS THE, UH, DIGITAL CONTENT CONTRACT FOR THE LIBRARY SYSTEM.

UM, MY QUESTION IS THAT IT SEEMS RATIONAL.

THE EXPLANATION THAT THERE'S BEEN A VERY INCREASED DEMAND FOR THESE DIGITAL MATERIALS AS A RESULT OF, OF LITERALLY EVERYTHING RIGHT NOW.

UM, BUT MY QUESTION IS REALLY WHY THIS IS A THREE YEAR EXTENSION OF EXPANSE A THREE YEAR WITH EXPANDED SERVICES.

WHEN WE, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT YEAR OR THE YEAR AFTER, IT SEEMS LIKE A ONE YEAR EXPANSION WOULD MAKE THE MOST SENSE.

I'M JUST CHECKING.

I BELIEVE WE HAD ROOSEVELT WEEKS DIRECTOR WEEKS ON THE LINE, BUT WE JUST HAD TO MOVE THEM OVER TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION HERE HE COMES, YOU'RE ON MUTE.

IF YOU'RE TRYING TO SPEAK GOOD MORNING, COUNSEL, ROOSEVELT WEEKS, DIRECTOR OF POSSIBLE LIBRARY, COUNCIL MEMBER FINDING.

AND OVER THE, PROBABLY OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASE OF ALLOWING VIRTUAL SERVICES UP TO 85%, AND THAT IS NOT GOING TO SLOW DOWN AT ALL, BUT THE PANDEMIC WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST FOUR MONTHS, ALBERTO SERVICE HAVE GONE UP 37%.

UM, AND WITH THE RISE IN COST OF EBOOKS VERSUS OUR PHYSICAL BOOKS, THAT IS NOT GOING TO STOP ANYTIME SOON.

SO IT IS OUT, WE WILL, WE'RE LOOKING, UH, IN THE FUTURE AND PLANNING FOR THAT GROWTH, UM, OF THE NEW CUSTOMERS THAT WE'RE BRINGING THEM, UH, HERE IN THE CITY.

WE'VE, WE'RE LOOKING FROM THE LIBRARY STANDPOINT, WE'RE LOOKING TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL 80,000, UH, LIBRARY HOLDERS WHEN WE GO OUT AND, AND, UM, JUST CHARTER SCHOOLS, THAT'S IN THE AREA AREA.

WE TALKING, UM, TEXAS EMPOWERMENT ACADEMY, THE IDEAL SCHOOLS, THE KIPPS ACADEMY OF THE, OF THE, OF THE CITY AND ADDING THOSE VOTES.

AND THAT WOULD JUST INCREASE THE DEMAND ON, ON OUR, ON OUR VIRTUAL SERVICES.

SINCE WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THOSE KIDS ARE GOING BACK TO SCHOOL.

SO WE SEE A TREND THAT WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE TO PROVIDE VIRTUAL SERVICES THIS YEAR AND WAY INTO THE FUTURE.

SO THAT'S THE REASON WE WANT TO EXTEND THAT TWO TO THREE YEARS VERSUS ONE YEAR THE CHROME BUTTON.

UM, YEAH, IT'S NOT, IT'S OBVIOUSLY THE THREE YEARS IS ONLY A QUESTION BECAUSE THE ANNUAL AUTHORIZATION

[01:45:01]

IT IS A DRAMATIC INCREASE IMMEDIATELY.

AND FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

AND, AND I, THAT JUST SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF MONEY FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO BE ALLOCATING WHEN, WHEN WE DON'T KNOW IF WE NEED TO GO FROM A MILLION DOLLARS TO A FORK $3.3 MILLION IN THE NEXT BUDGET.

AND, AND JUST SO WE'RE CLEAR IS NOT GOING TO INCREASE OUR MATERIAL BUDGET.

WE'RE ACTUALLY LOOKING AT SPENDING LESS ON OUR PHYSICAL BOOKS, LESS ON OUR NESTING SERVICES, LIKE, UM, UM, PIPS, I MEAN, BOOKS, CDS, AND, AND, AND THESE EVENTS IN NATURE.

SO WE'RE NOT LOOKING TO EXPAND THE BUDGET, BUT TO MOVE MONEY AROUND, TO, UH, TO HELP OUT WITH THE VIRTUAL SERVICES.

I UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S, IT'S, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, AS THE PUBLIC KNOWS, THERE'S ONLY A COUPLE OF DEPARTMENTS WHERE THE BUDGETS COME FROM THE SAME SOURCE AND, AND, UH, PARKS AND LIBRARIES IS RIGHT ALONG THERE WITH PUBLIC SAFETY BUDGETS IN TERMS OF WHERE THE DOLLARS GET ALLOCATED AND THE FUNGIBILITY OF THOSE DOLLARS.

SO, UM, IT'S NICE TO HEAR THAT THE PHYSICAL, THAT THE COSTS AROUND PHYSICAL, UH, CONNECTION, UH, DIRECTOR WEEKS, YOU MIGHT WANT TO VIEW WHILE OTHER FOLKS ARE TALKING, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF FEEDBACK COMING FROM.

THERE WE GO.

UM, IT, IT, IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.

AND ACTUALLY, I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT, THAT THE DEPARTMENT IS LOOKING AT THE USE OF THE UTILIZATION OF PHYSICAL, UM, MATERIALS AND ADJUSTING THE BUDGET ACCORDINGLY.

UM, I'M JUST CONCERNED THAT THIS IS A VERY INCREASE IN ONE YEAR AND LOCKED IN FOR THREE YEARS.

WHEN AS, AS DIGITAL PRODUCTS ARE CONCERNED, YOU CAN BE A LOT MORE FLEXIBLE WITH WHEN YOU DIAL THAT UP AND MATCH IT TO NEED.

AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE'LL, WE'LL HAVE A LITTLE MORE CONVERSATION.

UM, WELL, YOU KNOW, THE PROBLEM CITY MANAGER WITH NEARLY 200 ITEMS IN A WEEK LIKE THIS IS THAT THERE'S JUST NOT TIME TO REALLY FIGURE OUT WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE.

AND THAT'S ALSO, THAT'S ALSO PROBLEMATIC.

UM, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT KNOWING MORE DETAILS ON HOW THESE CONTRACTS ARE STRUCTURED.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S POSSIBLE TO SAY BECAUSE IT'S DIGITAL, YOU CAN SCALE THE CONTRACT WITH THE ACTUAL UTILIZATION AS TO, AS OPPOSED TO PRE DETERMINING UTILIZATION.

THE ADVANTAGE OF DIGITAL IS THAT IT CAN BE ADJUSTED IN TIME TYPE OF COST ALLOCATION INSIDE.

I WISH I HAD MORE TIME TO REALLY DIG INTO THIS BECAUSE THAT'S $2 MILLION THAT WE CAN CERTAINLY FIND USES FOR IN AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH OR IN OTHER AREAS.

MAYOR.

UM, THANKS FOR RAISING THE QUESTION ABOUT OVERDRIVE.

I JUST WANT TO LET OUR LIBRARY DIRECTOR NOW HOW IMPORTANT THAT PARTICULAR ONLINE ELECTRONIC BOOK DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM IS TO THE CITY WITH ALL OF US STAYING HOME AND OUR STUDENTS AT HOME.

UM, THE, THE UTILIZATION OF THE EBOOKS HAS, AS I UNDERSTAND IT REALLY GONE THROUGH THE ROOF.

AND I, EVEN, IF WE GET BACK TO WHERE WE WERE PRE PANDEMIC, I DON'T THINK THAT WILL BAIT.

UM, I, THIS ALSO OPENS THE DOOR A LITTLE BIT INTO THE CONVERSATION ABOUT JUST GENERAL TECHNOLOGY ACCESS ACROSS THE CITY AND MAKING SURE THAT EVERY CORNER OF OUR CITY HAS ACCESS TO HIGH SPEED WIFI, BECAUSE YOU CAN'T CUT YOUR EBOOK DOWNLOADED TO READ IT OR TO DO YOUR STUDIES IF YOU DON'T HAVE WIFI.

AND SO THAT'S A CONVERSATION FOR A FURTHER ON INTO BUDGET, BUT I DO SEE THAT THESE, THE ELECTRONIC ASPECT, UH, KIND OF TIES IN, UM, AND, UM, AND I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT ACROSS THE CITY, UM, FOR ALL LEVELS OF INVOLVEMENT.

HOW THE DOLLARS COULD SERVE MULTIPLE PURPOSES MAYOR.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER PAUL, I APPRECIATE THAT ADDITIONAL INSIGHT.

YOU KNOW, I THINK SOMETIMES WHEN WE GET INTO A CONVERSATION, EVEN ON A VIRTUAL DYESS, WE, WE TAKE KIND OF A QUESTION ABOUT SCALE AND WE TALK ABOUT IT AS KIND OF A BINARY YES OR NO.

AND OBVIOUSLY NO ONE IS SAYING THAT WE SHOULDN'T HAVE THIS SERVICE ENTIRELY.

IT IS REALLY ABOUT HOW IT SCALES AND DO THE COSTS SCALE WITH THE, WITH THE CUSTOMER DEMAND.

RIGHT.

BUT YOU ACTUALLY BRING UP, THE SECOND POINT IS ACTUALLY VERY FASCINATING.

IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TAKING AN ADDITIONAL TWO TO $3 MILLION A YEAR AND INVESTING IT IN THE RESOURCE, DOES THAT MEAN WE'RE INVESTING IT ONLY IN THE PARTS OF THIS COMMUNITY THAT ALREADY HAVE WIFI, MIGHT IT MAKE MORE SENSE TO TAKE PART OF THOSE DOLLARS AND INVEST IT IN BROADBAND ACCESS RIGHT NOW? SO THAT FOLKS IN THIS COMMUNITY WHO DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE BROADBAND COULD THEN ACCESS IT? I THINK THAT'S AN INTERESTING KIND OF, I HADN'T THOUGHT ABOUT IT THAT WAY, BUT I THINK THAT'S AN INTERESTING, AND MAYBE MORE POINTED WAY TO TALK ABOUT

[01:50:01]

YES, THAT'S WHAT I TOLD THEM.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THE QUESTION OF, OF BROADBAND ACCESS AND EXPANDING BROADBAND ACCESS IS CLEARLY ONE THAT OUR, OUR COMMUNITY HAS BEEN CHALLENGED WITH IN THESE LAST MONTHS.

I REALLY APPLAUD AISD AND THE OTHER, UM, DISTRICTS FOR FINDING CREATIVE WAYS TO GET THAT INTERNET ACCESS TO THEIR STUDENTS WHO NEED IT AISD OF COURSE, AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, UM, HAD STAGED SCHOOL BUSES, UH, AROUND, AROUND THE CITY.

AND I KNOW THEY'VE DONE REALLY TREMENDOUS WORK IN REACHING OUT TO THEIR STUDENTS INDIVIDUALLY TO ASK THEM IF THEY NEEDED A HOTSPOT, IF THEY NEEDED OTHER, OTHER WAYS TO CONNECT ONLINE SO THAT THEY COULD CONTINUE WITH THEIR WORK.

AND I RECOGNIZE THIS AS A CRITICAL AREA OF NEED.

I CONTINUED TO NEED, I WOULD ASK THAT OUR PRIVATE PARTNERS IN AUSTIN STEP UP AND HELP US MEET THAT NEED.

WE HAVE SOME GREAT TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES, SOME GREAT TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANIES.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE OUR CITY FUNDING WITHIN THE PARK, WITHIN THE LIBRARY BUDGET, GO TO HELPING PROVIDE PEOPLE WITH THOSE RESOURCES THEY NEED EITHER FOR SCHOOL OR WORK OR ENJOYMENT.

I SEE, UM, OUR LIBRARY IS FUNCTIONING AND ALL OF THOSE WAYS, JOBS FOR JOB, UM, JOB SEEKERS, RESUME WRITING BOOKS.

YOU KNOW, THEY, I MEAN, LIBRARIES, PUBLIC LIBRARIES TRULY ARE, ARE CRITICAL TO OUR DEMOCRACY.

AND I WOULD RATHER USE OUR FUNDS FOR THAT PURPOSE RATHER THAN USE IT TO EXPAND BROADBAND ACCESS AGAIN, NOT BECAUSE IT'S NEEDED, BUT BECAUSE I, I THINK THAT THIS IS A NEED THAT OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY, OTHER ENTITIES IN THE COMMUNITY CAN STEP UP AND HELP US FILL.

AND I HOPE THEY WILL BECAUSE IT'S OBVIOUSLY GOING TO BE A CONTINUED, NOT JUST FOR SCHOOL EDGE KIDS, BUT, BUT FOR THE MANY OTHERS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO NEED THAT ACCESS.

NO, THERE'S THIS INTERESTING QUESTION, DIRECTOR WEEKS.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S POSSIBLE, UM, MAYBE REACHING OUT TO ASD OR THE OTHER DISTRICTS, IF IN THIS PERIOD OF TIME, WE NOW HAVE A GREATER FEEL FOR WHERE IT IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE SERVICE.

UH, WHICH I THINK WAS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT DISTRICTS WERE TRYING TO ADD THAT MIGHT VERY WELL BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATELY EITHER AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, TOVO SUGGESTS TRYING TO ENGAGE THE, THE BALANCE OF THE COMMUNITY FOR HELPING US TO FEEL OR OTHERWISE.

UH, BUT GIVEN IF THIS IS A SERVICE THAT WE PROVIDE AND MATERIALS PROVIDE REALLY HAVING A REAL GOOD FEEL FOR WHERE OUR GAPS AND HOLES ARE.

SO WE WOULD KNOW THE DIMENSION OF THE PROBLEM WE NEED TO.

CORRECT.

I THINK IT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL.

THAT'S A GREAT POINT, MR. MAN.

I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE PART FROM IT AND THE LIBRARY DEPARTMENT IS WORKING WITH AISD RIGHT NOW ON SEEING HOW WE CAN SUPPORT THEIR KIDS, OUR KIDS, I INTERVIEWED FUTURE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE LIBRARY IS DOING, WE'RE LOOKING AT PROVIDING ADDITIONAL HOTSPOTS AND LEFTS OFF OF THOSE STUDENTS THAT DON'T HAVE IT.

UH, WE, UM, APPLIED FOR A CAROL'S GRANT FOR 50,000 MILES WITH THE TEXAS STATE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.

UM, AND WE GOT 50,000 MILES AND WE'RE LOOKING TO ENHANCE OUR HOTSPOT AND OUR LAPTOP LENDING WITH THAT, WITH THOSE FUNDS.

THAT'D BE REALLY GOOD IF IT'S POSSIBLE.

IF YOU COULD JUST JOT THE COUNCIL AND MEMO, JUST TO GIVE US A FEEL FOR NOW THAT YOU'RE WORKING WITH THOSE PARTNERS.

IT JUST THE SCALE OF THE CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE WITH RESPECT TO THAT.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL IN TERMS OF GETTING SERVICED.

ALL OF THE CITY, I'M IN CONTACT WITH THEM, I'M IN CONTACT WITH THEIR TECHNOLOGY PERSON AND THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO GIVE ME A LIST OF WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE AND WHAT THE GAPS ARE WITH WHAT THEY'RE PROVIDING VERSUS WHAT THE STUDENTS NEED.

SO I GET THAT INFORMATION TO YOU, RIGHT.

A COUNCIL MEMBER ALTERED.

AND ET CETERA, UM, WE WILL NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT THAT AS WE THINK ABOUT OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA COME JANUARY.

I JUST WANT TO NOTE THAT ALL OF THE SCHOOL, UM, KIDS IN AISD AND I BELIEVE IN AT LEAST ONE OTHER DISTRICT HAVE ACCESS TO AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY CARDS AND HAVE ACCESS TO THE OVERDRIVE SYSTEM THROUGH THAT AND ARE ACCESSING, UM, THAT SYSTEM.

UM, SO IT, IT IS, UM, MULTIPLYING, UM, THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY.

I ALSO WANT TO ADD THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO EXPAND BROADBAND FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AND WORKING CLOSELY WITH TARA AND TRYING TO BRING TOGETHER SOME OF THE TELECOM FOLKS.

UM, AND I KNOW THAT THAT, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER HAD MADISON, UM, HAS ALSO BEEN BEGINNING TO THINK ABOUT THAT.

UM, I THINK THIS IS REALLY A BROADER, UM, ISSUE THAT WE NEED TO BE WORKING ON.

THERE ARE FOLKS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE TRYING TO THINK ABOUT HOW TO BRING PHILANTHROPY, TO BEAR AT A, AT A HIGHER LEVEL, UM, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY COVID HAS LAID BARE THE INEQUITIES, BUT IT IS ALSO A BASIC, UM, INFRASTRUCTURE QUESTION FOR THE CITY.

UM, AND AS WE LOOK AHEAD, UM, YOU KNOW, TO FUTURE BOND ISSUES

[01:55:01]

THERE ARE LOTS OF RESTRICTIONS ON OUR ABILITY AS A MUNICIPALITY TO, UM, SET UP A, ANY KIND OF BROADBAND SYSTEM OR TO FACILITATE IT THAT WE WOULD NEED TO HAVE REMOVED IF WE WANT TO TAKE MANY OF THE STEPS THAT MIGHT BE OF INTEREST.

SO, UM, JUST WANT TO FLAG IF, IF FOLKS ARE INTERESTED THAT, UM, WE'VE BEGUN SOME OF THAT WORK AND, UM, WELCOME OTHER, OTHER IDEAS AND THOUGHTS AND HELPING TO PUSH THAT FORWARD.

ANYTHING ELSE ON THIS? SORRY.

YEAH, SO MEMBER CASARA THEN COUNSELOR REPORT.

NO, I WOULD REALLY LIKE THE MANAGER AND ALL THE STAFF TO LOOK AT THIS MORE CLOSELY.

UM, BUT, UH, IT WAS JUST SHARED WITH, AT LEAST ME IN THE MAYOR PRO TEM THIS MORNING, SOME WORK SAN ANTONIO IS DOING, UM, THAT DOES NOT CONFLICT WITH THE STATE LAW, UM, THAT EXISTS.

UM, AND SO I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE HOW WE BETTER, HOW WE CAN BETTER USE CITY DOLLARS TO ADDRESS THIS AND HOW WE CAN LEVERAGE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS THAT WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF, BECAUSE IF WE CAN BE CONNECTING HOTSPOTS TO, UM, OUR TRAFFIC INFRASTRUCTURE, WHEN WE'RE ADDING UTILITIES, THERE'S JUST, THERE'S SEEMS TO BE REALLY GOOD REASON FOR US TO BE TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, UNIVERSAL BROADBAND, UH, FREE AND ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYBODY AS A PUBLIC UTILITY THAT HAS ALWAYS MADE SENSE.

UM, AND JUST LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE IN THE PANDEMIC, THINGS THAT MADE SENSE BEFORE NOW WE CAN SEE HOW CRITICAL THEY ARE.

SO I THINK YOU'VE HEARD ENOUGH INTEREST RATE.

UM, UH, I THINK DURING THIS CONVERSATION, I THINK MANAGER THAT YOU BRING US A MORE COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT THIS, AND I'D LIKE TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER FLANAGAN FOR HAVING PULLED THE ITEM AND BROUGHT THAT THIS WAY.

ITEMS THAT YOU WANT HAVE BEEN WITHDRAWN FOR TODAY.

AND I WOULD JUST REITERATE THE IMPORTANCE OF ENSURING THAT THE BROADBAND IS AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE WERE NOT AWARE OF.

PREVIOUS COUNCILS HAVE WORKED WITH PEOPLE AND OTHER TELECOMMUNICATIONS, SMALL COMPANIES OVER MANY YEARS, BUT THAT, THAT, UH, EFFORT DID STALL OUT A BIT A FEW YEARS AGO.

AND I THINK WE'RE JUST REAPING OURSELVES TO ENSURE EVERY SINGLE CORNER OF ALLSTON COUNTY CAPITAL.

YOU CAN HAVE HOT SPOTS TOO, BUT IT HAS TO BE A BLANKET OF ACCESS, THROWING IT OVER THE ENTIRETY OR COMMUNITY IS HOW I DO THAT.

THAT'S A MEMBER AUTHOR, UM, JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON WHAT, UM, MR. KASAR MENTIONED.

UM, SO SINCE WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THE MOBILITY BOND AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION WITH THE QUARTER PROGRAM, I DON'T HAVE ANY OF THE, UM, THE CORRIDOR WORK IN MY DISTRICT.

SO I'VE BEEN TALKING WITH THEM ABOUT HOW DO WE INTEGRATE THIS TECHNOLOGY THAT WE HAVE, UM, THE PIPING THAT WE NEED, UM, FOR BROADBAND BUILT INTO THOSE QUARTERS WHEN WE'RE DIGGING UP THE STREETS AND LOOKING AT IT, UM, YOU KNOW, IN THOSE DIFFERENT, IN DIFFERENT LENDERS SO THAT WHEN WE'RE BUILDING THE INFRASTRUCTURE, WE'RE CREATING THE SPACE FOR US AS WE GROW, UM, TO IDENTIFY WAYS THAT WE CAN BUILD OUT, UM, THAT INFRASTRUCTURE.

UM, SO I THINK SOME OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND STARTED, AND WE HAVE, UM, BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH TARA, UM, THE GROUP THAT IS RESPONSIBLE WITHIN THE CITY.

AND I THINK THERE, THERE IS A TREMENDOUS NEED, BUT THERE ALSO ARE TREMENDOUS OBSTACLES THAT WE HAVE TO, UM, NAVIGATE THROUGH.

WE'VE STARTED LOOKING AT, UM, SAN ANTONIO'S, UM, PACKAGE, THEIR COVID FRAMEWORK, UM, LOOKED SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT IN OURS AND THAT IT ALSO HAD A HUGE INVESTMENT IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, WHICH I'M HOPING WE'LL HAVE HOPING WE'LL HAVE SOME ABILITY TO HAVE ADDITIONAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT AS WELL.

IT HAD HAD A LARGE SEGMENT FOR BROADBAND AND A LARGE SEGMENT, UM, FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, UM, AND STILL TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW THEY WERE ABLE TO FIND THE MONEY FOR WHAT THEY DID PUT IN AND WHAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY, UM, INVESTING IN.

UH, SO, UM, WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE A RECESS NOW AND GO INTO EXECUTIVE

[Executive Session: E3. Discuss legal issues related to SJ Louis, Construction of Texas, LTD. v. City of Austin v. Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance Company v. Kellogg Brown & Root Services, Inc., Espey Consultants, Inc and KBR/Espey Joint Venture, Cause No. D-1-GN-18-001121, in the 459th Judicial District, Travis County (Private consultation with legal counsel-551.071 of the Government Code). E4. Discuss legal issues related to Wells v. City of Austin, Cause No. 1: 19-cv-1140-RP in the United States District Court, Western District, Austin, Texas (Private consultation with legal counsel - Section 551.071 of the Government Code).]

SESSION.

WE'LL, UH, EAT LUNCH, HOPEFULLY ABOUT NOON TO ONE AND BE BACK HERE AT ONE O'CLOCK.

I WILL BEGIN WITH THE, UM, UH, BRIEFING ON, UH, UH, ST.

JOHN, UH, WE'LL THEN GO TO THE BUDGET BRIEFING AND WORK SESSION PROBABLY FOR A COUPLE HOURS.

AND THEN WE WILL CONCLUDE BY PICKING UP THE PULLED ITEMS THAT WE HAVE YET TO ADDRESS.

SO THE CITY COUNCIL WILL NOW GO INTO CLOSED SESSION.

YOU TAKE UP TWO ITEMS PURSUANT TO FIVE, FIVE, ONE OH SEVEN.

ONE OF THE GOVERNMENT CODES, CITY COUNCIL WILL DISCUSS LEGAL MATTERS RELATED ITEM THREE, WHICH IS THE SJ LOUIS CONSTRUCTION OF TEXAS, UH, MATTER, AND E FOUR, WHICH IS THE WELLS MATTER

[02:00:01]

UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL NOW GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THE ITEMS ARE THAT IT IS 1102.

SO YOU GUYS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, GREG'S HERE.

SO AT 1:00 PM STILL TODAY ON JULY 20TH, 2020, UH, AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL, A WORK SESSION, UM, WE ARE NOW OUT OF CLOSED SESSION IN CLOSED SESSION.

WE DISCUSSED LEGAL MATTERS RELATED TO ITEMS THREE AND FOUR WE'RE NOW BACK, AND WE'RE GOING TO PICK UP WITH THE BRIEFING ROOM, UH, ON ST.

JOHN.

UH, AND THEN WHEN YOU'RE DONE WITH THAT BRIEFING, WE'LL GO INTO THE BUDGET BRIEFING AND THEN CONCLUDE THE DAY WITH THE PULLED ITEMS THAT WE HAVE DRESSED, UH, HIS STAFF WITH US TO

[B2. Update on St. Johns Home Depot Site]

TAKE US THROUGH THE ST JOHN'S BRIEFING.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER COMES, ALICE INTRODUCED THE TOPIC, AND THEN HE'LL TURN IT OVER FROM STAFF.

IT'S GREAT.

CHRISTINE LEADS OUR REDEVELOPMENT DIVISION.

THANK YOU, SPENCER MARIN COUNCIL, RODNEY GONZALES, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER FOR ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND AFFORDABILITY STRATEGIC OUTCOME TODAY'S BRIEFING ISN'T BRIEFING IS AN OVERVIEW OF A STUDY OF THE ST JOHN'S SITE, WHICH WAS CONDUCTED IN COLLABORATION WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.

YOU MAY RECALL THAT ON JUNE 24TH, STAFF PROVIDED A MEMO TO COUNCIL TO CONVEY BOTH AN OVERVIEW OF THE STUDY, AS WELL AS THE STUDY ITSELF, THE STUDY WAS CONDUCTED TO INFORM COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY ON REDEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES EXIST ON THE ST JOHN SITE.

AND IN DOING SO MULTIPLE SITE PLANNING OPTIONS WERE ASSESSED IN ORDER TO BRING FORWARD THE COMMUNITY VISION AND POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT SCENARIOS.

ADDITIONALLY, THE STUDY REVIEWED FINANCIAL GAPS THAT WOULD EXIST UNDER VARIOUS FINANCIAL SCENARIOS.

THE NEXT STEP IS WE MENTIONED IN OUR MEMO TOWARD THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE SITE WOULD BE THE ISSUANCE OF A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL PRIOR TO TAKING THAT STEP.

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE A DIALOGUE WITH COUNCIL, NOT ONLY ABOUT THE VISION CRAFTED THROUGH THE STUDY, BUT ALSO ABOUT THE FINANCIAL GAP AND THIS PRIORITIZATION OF THE ST.

JOHN SITE IN THOSE TERMS AT THIS POINT, I'LL TURN THE PRESENTATION OVER TO CHRISTINE MCGUIRE FROM THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, RODNEY.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

CAN YOU HEAR ME? OKAY, GREAT.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH TO FIND ME.

SO IT'S, I'M VERY PLEASED TO PRESENT THIS NEW VISION FOR THE FORMER HOME DEPOT AND FORMER CHRYSLER PROPERTIES AS PER CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION IN DECEMBER, 2017 AND REAFFIRMED BY A CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION THAT BRINGS UPON THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS GOOGLE ARCHITECTURE CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT THAT HAD LEAD THIS EFFORT, THE REDEVELOPMENT DIVISION.

AND IN FACT, THE ENTIRE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT REALLY IS FOCUSED IN FORGING PUBLIC, PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, ALONG MANY DIFFERENT, UH, TO BRING ABOUT MANY DIFFERENT COMMUNITY BENEFITS FOR OUR VIBRANT CULTURAL ARTS, COMMUNITY MUSIC, HERITAGE TOURISM, HELPING SMALL BUSINESSES GROW AND ENTREPRENEURS DEVELOP AS BUSINESS OWNERS AND BRINGING IN NEW BUSINESS AND HELPING BUSINESSES GROW OUR SPECIAL SAUCE.

AND THE REDEVELOPMENT DIVISION IS REALLY, UH, TAKING PROPERTY THAT THE CITY NO LONGER HAS IT USED FOR.

AND REPOSITIONING THAT INTO THE PRIVATE MARKET WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY, TO BRING US OUT SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT THAT IS GROUNDED IN COUNCIL POLICY AND MARKET REALITY, BUT REALLY DOES ACHIEVE OVER TIME, REALLY IMPORTANT COMMUNITY GOALS AND BENEFITS.

THEY HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHICH USED DEVELOPMENT RETAIL FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, PARKS OPEN SPACE, THE WHOLE GAMUT OF WHAT REALLY MAKES A COMPLETE COMMUNITY AND OUR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS TO REALLY ALIGN REWARD AND RETURN THROUGH A SERIES OF CIVIL LEGAL AGREEMENTS THAT SHOULD THIS PROPERTY, NO EXCEPTION.

THIS IS WALK ROUTED AND CITY COUNCIL, STRATEGIC DIRECTION, 2023 ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, AND ALSO A MESHING AUSTIN COMPLETE COMMUNITY.

SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO BRING FOOD.

THE REVISIONAL OF THIS SITE, IT WILL BE CALLED A SITE.

IT'S REALLY AN ASSEMBLAGE OF TWO PARCELS THAT THE CITY BOUGHT IN 2008 AND THEN

[02:05:01]

2013, THE CITY BOUGHT THESE TWO PARCELS THAT ARE ROUGHLY AS OF ASSEMBLAGE 19 ACRE FOR THE EXPRESS PURPOSE OF A MUNICIPAL COURT AND THE POLICE STATION.

AND WE USE 2006 PUBLIC FACILITY BOND DOLLARS TO DO THAT, BUT THOSE ARE TAX EXEMPT DOLLAR.

BY THE TIME THE CITY WENT IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION, THE CITY HAD SPENT ABOUT $12.4 MILLION OF THOSE BUGS.

SO THE VISION AND THE STRATEGY REALLY ISN'T, DECEASING THOSE UPFRONT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR THE BOND COVENANTS.

UM, WE DO THE SAME THAT EVEN THOUGH THAT SENSE, A LITTLE BIT OF A HURDLE, BUT THE SITE IS EXCELLENTLY SITUATED WITH HIGHWAY AND FREQUENT BUS SERVICE ACCESS THAT CONNECTS THIS SITE, NOT JUST TO BE ACC HOLLERED BALL CAMPUS, BUT ALSO TO THE CREST VIEW STATION, UM, ON THE LIGHT RAIL LINE, UH, IT DOES HAVE CERTAIN CHALLENGES.

IT IS A PART SUFFICIENT AIR.

I'LL BE RIGHT.

THERE IS A SMALL ST JOHN'S PARK THAT WAS REDEDICATED IN 2019 WITH THE FACILITIES.

AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

UM, I DO THINK THAT THE POWERPOINT, THOSE NEED TO GET UP, HOWEVER, SO I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.

CAN WE HAVE, UH, HELPED BRING THIS UP? YUP.

WELL, I CAN SHARE MY, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SHARE MY SCREEN, BUT WE PROBABLY DO NEED SOME ASSISTANCE BRINGING UP THE PRESENTATION.

IF YOU COULD PLEASE ADVANCE TO SLIDE.

AND REOPEN AT WHAT IS NOW THE ST.

ALRIGHT.

NOW WE ARE NOW WE'RE COOKING WITH GAS.

SO THIS IS THE SITE, UM, THE ST JOHN'S PARK, UH, WHICH KIND OF REDEDICATED IT'S BEEN AROUND SINCE THE EARLY SIXTIES, BUT IT'S REDEDICATED WITH NEW FACILITIES.

SO THAT IS A TRUE ASSET THAT WE HOPE TO BUILD UPON THROUGH THE RE ENVISIONING OF THIS PROPERTY.

UM, AND YOU KNOW, THE SITE IS WELL SITUATED.

IT IS ACTUALLY, THOSE ARE EARLY SIGNS OF GENTRIFICATION.

THE POPULATION SHOWED THEM BY THE LARGEST HISPANIC 80% OF THAT POPULATION IS HISPANIC.

THE POPULATION THAT'S SOCIAL PREDOMINANTLY USE ABOUT TWO THIRDS WHO ARE EVICTED OUT OF A LOW MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME.

AND THIS AREA, THE ST JOHN'S COMMUNITY IS NO STRANGER TO ESCALATING RENT AND HOUSING PRICES, WHICH REALLY PUT PRESSURE ON THE CITIZENS WHO ARE LIVING THERE.

THIS IS STAYING EARLY SIDE TO CHECK VACATION UPROOTED STUDY WITH CITY COUNCIL RECEIVED A PRESENTATION ON IT, BUT LEAD IN 2018 OR 2019 REALLY HAS THIS EARLY PIPE ONE, IF YOU COULD ADVANCE TO THE NEXT SLIDE, NEXT SLIDE.

I DO WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE SITE AND THE HISTORY IS PART OF AUSTIN'S HISTORY.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THE HISTORY TO REALLY PUT IN CONTEXT THE COMMUNITY'S FUTURE VISION, BUT THAT HAS A LONG HISTORY.

AND OFTEN IN PARTICULAR, THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY, IT IS THE LOCATION OF ONE OF AUSTIN'S ORIGINAL FREEMAN'S COMMUNITIES.

THE ST CHARLES MISSIONARY BAPTIST ASSOCIATION FOUNDED THIS AREA, AND IT'S A 350 ACRE PURCHASE IN 1894.

THE BAPTIST ASSOCIATION DIVIDED FROM THE LATE 1930S ACTUALLY MAKE WHAT IS CALLED THE ST.

JOHN NEIGHBORHOOD.

THAT IS A FORM OF FREEMAN'S TOWN, A LOT OF SERVICES, INCLUDING A SCHOOL THAT'S SERVED THAT COMMUNITY BEFORE IT WAS ANNEXED INTO THE CITY.

BEFORE THE ADVENT OF INTERSTATE 35, I WAS ON THE WESTERN PORTION OF THE, OF THE ACREAGE WITH THE ADVENT OF ICE, 35, UM, AS MANY OTHER, UH, AS AT HOUSE WAS REPEATED IN MANY OTHER PARTS OF THE UNITED STATES AT THAT TIME, NO INTERSTATE BISECTED, THIS AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY, THIS FIBERED AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY BISECTED AT THEREBY SEPARATING THE SCHOOL FOUNDED IN 1942, WHICH REALLY HELPED, WHICH REALLY SUPPORTED THAT COMMUNITY AND ACTUALLY FORCED IT TO CLOSE

[02:10:01]

JOHN OR THE HOME DEPOT SITE.

SO THIS TYPE DOES HAVE HISTORIC EXPLICIT SIGNIFICANCE.

UM, HOWEVER, THE SITE, UM, THE SCHOOL HAD THE CLOTHES WITH THE ADVENT OF FORCED BUSING AND THE SCHOOL CLOSED IN 1971.

IT WAS VERY KID FOR 10 YEARS, UM, AND THEN REPURPOSED BY AIS FOR THE NEXT DECADE AS THE CASE AND ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL ONLY TO BE CLOSED THE EARLY NINETIES AND THEN PURCHASED BY HOME DEPOT CORPORATION DEPOT DID OPERATE THAT STORE, BUT JUST CLOSED IT IN 2008.

AND THAT IS WHEN THE CITY PURCHASED THE PROPERTY.

THE CITY PURCHASED THAT PROPERTY 2008 AND THE CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP IN 2013 OVER TIME BETWEEN THE SEVENTIES, THROUGH THE 1980S AND NINETIES, AND THE ST JOHN'S COMMUNITY TRANSITION FROM IT, A PREDOMINANTLY AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY TO NOW THAT WAS PREDOMINANTLY HISPANIC.

AND NOW WE NOW SEE SIGNS OF DISPLACEMENT, ALL OF THIS, UH, OF THE STATE JOBS, NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS, AND WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND FOUNDATIONAL TO THE STRATEGY IS TO REALLY HAVE SOLUTIONS AND ANSWERS TO HELP BRING GOODS AND SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO KIND OF HAVE A COUNTERVAILING FORCE AGAINST THESE FORCES THAT GENTRIFICATION AND DISPLACEMENT.

AND THAT WAS CERTAINLY THE INTENT OF RESOLUTION THAT CITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY UNANIMOUSLY PASSED IN DECEMBER OF 2017 FOR A CALL FOR A MUSICIAN, BUT ALSO RODE OUT OF USAGE TO LOOK AT THAT WOULD BE COMMUNITY BENEFICIAL, SUCH AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SUCH AS JOBS, SUCH AS, UH, NON, UH, AREAS FOR NONPROFITS TO LOCATE, TO PROVIDE YOUTH SERVICES AND TO INCREASE THE PARK, TO BURN THE RECREATIONAL AND SPECIFIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY RESIDENTS TO CONGREGATE, UM, AFTER, UM, A COMMUNITY, UH, A, UH, ENGAGEMENT PROCESS.

WE ACTUALLY, UH, WITH IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNCIL OFFICES, UH, THE TESL OFFICES ISSUED A SURVEY WITH OVER 600 RESPONDENTS TO THAT SURVEY.

AND WE WORKED CLOSELY IN ORDER TO ENGAGE THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN IN JUNE OF 2019 TO, UH, TO ACTUALLY HELP READ THE STUDY.

AND AS YOU KNOW, WE GOT HER FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, UH, THOSE INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF DEEPEST WORK IN TERMS OF LOOKING AT PROPERTY AS HOW TO REPOSITION PROPERTY AND LOOKING AT STRATEGIES.

IT ALSO HAS A NUMBER OF REALLY KEY FACULTY THAT REALLY ARE EXPERTS IN WAYS TO COMBAT GENTRIFICATION AND DISPLACEMENT.

SO THAT IN COMBINED WITH ECONOMIC AND PLANNING SYSTEMS, IT'S REALLY A DREAM TEAM TO HELP REALLY LEAD THE REPOSITIONING PROCESS.

AND WE DO HAVE, I BELIEVE, MEMBERS OF THE FACULTY FOR THE CENTER OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT HERE, UM, AS WELL AS A COUPLE OF COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO MIGHT BE, UM, AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE AFTERWARDS, THE ROBUST COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS, NOT JUST BUILT UPON THE SURVEYS THAT WERE OVER 600 IN NUMBER, BUT ALSO HAD THREE MAIN COMMUNITY MEETINGS.

ONE IS SEPTEMBER THE OTHER IN NOVEMBER, AND THEN THE FINAL ONE IN MARCH AND THE MARCH WAS, DID HAPPEN AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF MARCH PRIOR TO THE ADVENT OF COVID.

WE HAD WHAT I'D RATHER, UH, WHAT I WAS MEETING.

WE HAD COFFEE WITH THE PRINCIPAL.

WE HAD A SERIES OF FOCUS GROUPS, AND THE RESULT WAS A SERIES OF SCENARIOS AND THE SCENARIOS REALLY HAVE CERTAIN THEMES.

WE ARE SHARING SCENARIOS, B ONE AND B TWO C ONE AND C TWO.

AND THE SALIENT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE B SCENARIO AND THE C SCENARIO B ACTUALLY INTRODUCES BACK A SCREEN, A STREET GRID TO ASSEMBLAGE AND SEE REALLY FOCUSED DEVELOPMENT ALL ON THE NORTHBOUND GREENVILLE AFAR.

WHAT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT UNDERPINS ALL OF THESE SCENARIOS IS WHAT THE COMMUNITY CALLED FOR.

AND THE COMMUNITY REALLY LOVED.

SHIRATI REALLY FAVORED ALL FOUR OF THESE.

SO REALLY THE UNDERLYING THEMES IS REALLY

[02:15:01]

WHAT WE WANT, THE PRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPERS IN THE RESPONSE TO THE RFP TO DREAD, TO PUT ON, WHICH IS MIXED JUICE, MIXED IT WITH JUICE, MIXED INCOME INCREASE, OPEN SPACE, INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT, AND FLEXIBLE COMMERCIAL AND PUBLIC SPACE, PARTICULARLY FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY.

I AM ON SLIDE NINE.

UM, IF THAT IS THE SLIDE THAT OTHERS ARE SAYING, YES.

SO AGAIN, THESE SCENARIOS, THE B ONE AND B TWO, THOSE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THOSE TWO SCENARIOS AND WITH C ONE AND C TWO, I RARELY DID DIFFERENT TYPES OF TESTS.

SO THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF DENSITIES AND INTENSITIES OF USES THAT CAN BE BROUGHT TO THE SITE.

SO AS YOU CAN SEE, SO USES, WHICH ARE, UM, IT REALLY ARE FOCUSED ON WHAT IS MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY AND COMMUNITY CENTERED.

I WILL SAY THAT , THERE'S A LOT OF POLLUTION THAT COMES OFF OF INTERSTATE 35.

SO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE SCENARIOS ACTUALLY SPECIFIED NON-RESIDENTIAL BUFFER AREA, THAT WOULD BE FOR MORE AUTO SERVING USES SUCH AS, UM, UH, MORE COMMERCIAL IN NATURE AS, AS OFFICE.

SO COMMERCIAL LAW AND RESIDENTIAL SIDE OF THAT HUNDRED SETS 500 FOOT BUFFER, HOWEVER, WHICH IS FREE THE BACKEND OF THE SITE AND THE SITE THAT WE'RE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY PART THAT IS WHERE THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

SO JUICE IN TERMS OF MULTIFAMILY AND SINGLE FAMILY ARE ON THE COMMUNAL SPACE THAT REALLY REMIT AND TIE IN, BUT ALSO THEY ALL CALL FOR IS RUSSIA THAT BEAUTIFUL ASSET OF THE PARK, AND REALLY BUILDING UPON THAT FOR MORE OPEN SPACE.

THIS IS OBVIOUSLY AN IMAGE OF THE CURRENT CONDITIONS OF THE PROPERTY.

IT IS A LITTLE BIT, UH, UH, HURTFUL ON THE EYES.

UM, BUT WHAT WE DO WANT TO REALLY PROJECT IS, UH, NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE IT'S REALLY, UM, X SLIDE ARE REALLY THE IMAGES OF THE FUTURE VISION, BUT WE DO RUN A MESSAGE TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY, AGAIN, MIXED USE AND MIXED INCOME, AND TO BE A COUNTERVAILING FORCE TO, UH, CHECK SUFFOCATION AND DISPLACES THAT WE'RE SEEING, WE'RE ASKING YOU ABOUT 50% OF THE UNITS BE SET ASIDE AS AFFORDABLE FOR PEOPLE BAKING OUT OF BELOW 80% OF MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME FOR SINGLE FAMILY FOR 60% OR BELOW FOR MOSTLY FAMILY.

WE'RE ALSO, THE FURNITURE IS REALLY CLEARLY TELL THAT KAISER SPACE THAT WE WANT TO ACTIVATE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES THAT PROVIDE IMPORTANT RETAIL OPPORTUNITIES, PARTICULARLY IN AN AREA THAT'S REALLY HARD TO ACCESS HEALTHY FOOD AND OBVIOUSLY OPEN SPACE AND BUILDING UPON THE PARK TO HELP BRING COMMUNITY TOGETHER AND CONGREGATE, BUT ALSO TO RECREATE AND TO BE A PLACE FOR CHILDREN ACTIVITY.

AND FINALLY, WE WANT A PLACE FOR JOBS AND TO HAVE AREAS WHERE TENANTS, TENANTS, SUCH AS NONPROFIT TENANTS THAT COULD HELP PROVIDE THE IMPORTANT SOCIAL SERVICES, UH, BE MADE AVAILABLE THAT COULD BE LOCATED TO SERVE THAT COMMUNITY.

SO IT'S PUTTING IN AND REMODEL THE GRID PATTERN.

SO THE RFP THAT WE HOPE TO, UH, ISSUE, WHAT WE DO WANT TO DO IS CLEARLY ARTICULATE THAT COMMUNITY VISION, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE BRIDGE THAT GETS FROM VISION, UM, TO REALITY AND ALL OF THE SCENARIOS, PARTICULARLY SOME OF THE SCENARIOS, B AND C SCENARIOS, UM, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ECONOMIC AND TIDING SERVICES, WE REALLY DONE AN AMAZING JOB AT KIND OF CALIBRATING AT ORDER OF MAGNITUDE, A ROUGH ORDER OF MAGNITUDE OF THE POTENTIAL FINANCING.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHEN THE ENTIRE DEVELOPMENT IS, UM, ON THE GROUND PETTED AND STABILIZED, WHAT IS THE MARKET VALUE OF THAT DEVELOPMENT VERSUS THE TOTAL COST OF DEVELOPMENT? SO THAT TOTAL COST OF DEVELOPMENT ACTUALLY INCLUDES THE LEAD TO RECEIVE THE BONDS, UM, GATHER THE TEXAS BONDS FOR WHICH WE HAD SPENT TO DATE ON THE PROPERTY, BUT IT ALSO INCLUDES BRINGING BACK THAT STREET NETWORK, EITHER A GRID OR THE NORTH GREEN CORRIDOR.

[02:20:01]

IT'S EXPANDING THE OPEN SPACE, INCREASING THE PARK AND RECREATIONAL, UM, AND COMMUNITY GATHERING SPACES.

BUT IT'S ALSO, THE GAP IS A TRICKY KID TO USE THIS THAT ARE NOT PAYING MARKET RATE RENT, AND THAT WOULD BE INCOME RESTRICTED HOUSING FOR MULTIFAMILY, BUT ALSO IF THERE ARE SPACES FOR NON PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE REALLY DOING GOOD IN COMMUNITY, THEY WOULD GET A REDUCED, A SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED RENT IN ORDER FOR THEM TO STAY AND BE SUCCESSFUL AND PRODUCTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO THOSE COMMUNITY BENEFITS, UM, DO ALL CONTRIBUTE TO THE GAP, BUT WE'RE NO STRANGER TO WORKING AND COVERING GAPS, UH, WITH THE EFFORT OF COUNCIL AND COUNCIL POLICY AND STRUCTURING THESE PARTNERSHIPS.

I WILL SAY, THOUGH, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO SAY UP FRONT THAT GIVEN THE NATURE OF THE BONDS, THE KIND OF PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE WOULD BE ENTERING IN WITH A DEVELOPER WORDS, UM, WOULD REQUIRE IT TO BE VERY SAFE.

IT'S TO HAVE THE DEVELOPER PAY THOSE BONDS UPFRONT AND COMPLETELY DCS ANY OTHER FUTURE OBLIGATIONS AND KIND OF WIPE THE BOND COVENANTS AWAY FROM THE PROPERTY.

AND SO THE EXCHANGE BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE DEVELOPER WOULD BE IN THE CITY IN EXCHANGE FOR THE DEVELOPERS UPFRONT PAYMENT, THE CITY IN SENSE, MAKE THE DEVELOPER WHOLE BY PUTTING IN PAYING FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND CONTRIBUTIONS AND OTHER GAP FINANCING TOOLS TO COVER THE GAP.

AND THEN WE WANT TO SPEND A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TODAY WITH CITY COUNCIL IN THE FEEDBACK PORTION OF THIS IS WE WANT TO CLEARLY ARTICULATE IN AND US CUTTING RSP OF COUNCIL, THIS COUNCIL, AT LEAST APPETITE FOR PARTICIPATION, APPETITE, AND DESIRE TO HAVE THIS PRIORITIZE FOR OUR PUBLIC FINANCING TOOLS WITH COMPLETELY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS COUNCIL CAN'T OBLIGATE FUTURE COUNCILS, WE CERTAINLY RUN UP TRANSPARENTLY AND ACCURATELY CONVEY HOW, UM, THE CITY COUNCIL SEEKS TO PARTICIPATE.

WE HAVE A DIFFERENT NUMBER OF TOOLS IN THE TOOL CHEST, AS YOU ALL ALREADY KNOW THAT WE'VE USED IT, OTHER PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP PROJECTS, WE CAN ISSUE LOU BACK SUCH A CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION.

SO IF WE CAN WAIT FOR A LOOP ON CYCLE BONDS AND PUT THIS IN THE PRIORITY, AS WE VET ALL OF OUR BOND PROJECTS, WE HAVE LOOKED AT EXISTING, UH, BOND MONEY FOR THE 2018 BOND ELECTION THAT HELPS, UM, WITH PARKS, FOR PURCHASES OF PARKS AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

UM, THE PARKS ALLOCATION WITH THE BOND SENSE THEY'VE ALREADY REALLY BEEN CRUSHED FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT HAS A VERY WELL STRUCTURED COMPETITIVE PROCESS FOR UPCOMING BUGS OR WHAT THE COUNCIL CAN DO IS JUST HELP MESSAGE AND DECIDE THE PRIORITY WITH THIS PROJECT HAS RELATIVE TO AN ALREADY EXISTING COMPETITIVE PROCESS, SUCH AS THE EARMARKS.

UM, AND PERHAPS THE LOOKING AT MAYBE RECALIBRATING THE PRIORITY OF RISK PROJECT RATHER TO OTHER BOND PROJECTS THAT HAVE ALREADY HAD FUDGED.

BUT I THINK THAT IT'S ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY TO NOT, UM, TO ALREADY ALLOCATED BOND PROCEEDS IS TO LOOK AT OTHER WAYS OF FINANCING, PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE, INVESTMENT, SUCH AS THROUGH A TAX INCREMENT FINANCING DISTRICT.

THAT IS WHAT YOU ALREADY KNOW.

IT'S THE CITY BASICALLY CAPTURING THE FISCAL REVENUE FROM THE SITE TO PASS AND, OR REAL PROPERTY TAXES AND PUTTING THAT IN AN ACCOUNT AND HAVING THAT SORT OF REVENUE HELP PAY THE DEBT FOR THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS THAT HELP PAY FOR THE UPFRONT INFRASTRUCTURE COST.

WE ALSO CASTLE HAS THE POWER TO WAIVE FEES THAT COUNCIL INSTITUTES.

AND THEN ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS ACTUALLY MAYBE DEDICATING PARKLAND DEDICATION FEES WITHIN A CERTAIN CAPTION AREA, BABY TO MILE CAPTION AREA.

SO DEDICATE SPECIFICALLY TO THIS PROPERTY.

SO IT'S A MATTER OF PRIORITIZING THIS PROPERTY AND USING THE DIFFERENT PUBLIC FINANCING TOOLS AND OUR OWN ABILITY TO ISSUE THAT, UM, TO MAKE THIS FUTURE VISION A REALITY SOONER THAN WHEN FOR THE NEXT ON CYCLE BOND OR FOR THAT BONDS TO DCS ON ITS OWN.

SO THAT JUST A NATURAL PAYOFF OF THE BOND OBLIGATIONS IN 2027, NEXT SIDE PIECE, PLEASE.

I DON'T WANT TO GET ON IT WHEN DEPARTMENT

[02:25:01]

IS NO STRANGER AND THE CITY HAS EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN DOING PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, BUT I DO WANT TO SAY WHEN WE'RE CONTEMPLATING, UM, THIS, UH, PROJECT PRIORITY, WE HAVE SEVERAL OTHER PROJECTS THAT ARE COMING IN YOUR SUCCESSION THAT ALSO HAVE PUBLIC FINANCING GAPS.

ONE OF WHICH IS CALLING ME PARKED 200 ACRES OF VACANT LAND FOR WHICH CITY COUNCIL IN 2014 APPROVED A MASTER PLAN AND A PLAN UNIT DEVELOPMENT.

THIS IS ALSO A REALLY MERITORIOUS CATALYTIC PROJECT THAT WAS BASED ON MANY YEARS OF VERY ROBUST COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND THE COMMUNITY LEADERS WE ARE INDEBTED TO AS PARTNERS IN THIS PROCESS WITH KATALA, WHO'S UNDER AN EXCLUSIVE NEGOTIATION AGREEMENT.

AS OF MAY THIS YEAR, WE'RE LOOKING AT A STRATEGY THAT WE'RE GOING TO BRING FORWARD TO CITY COUNCIL WITHIN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS OF HOW TO CLOSE, WHAT IS THE ESTIMATED A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLAR GAP? SO THE RECALIBRATION OF THE PATH TO A BREWERY UP TO MARKET CONTEXT THAT WILL INCREASE DENSITY AND LOWER INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS, OR WE'LL ACTUALLY LOOK AT A PACKAGE OF, UM, PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS, CIP, UM, PACKAGE OF PROJECTS TO CONSIDER AND LOOK AT DIFFERENT WAYS OF FINANCING THAT INFRASTRUCTURE THROUGH VALUE CAPTURE MECHANISMS, A FUTURE BOND, OR ISSUANCE, SOME CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION.

ALSO WE'LL BE RECEIVING IN VERY SHORT ORDER, UM, A MEMO THAT PROVIDES AN UPDATE TO INFORMATION ON THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT.

THIS INFORMATION, THIS SLIDE MIGHT HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF NEW INFORMATION, BUT A MEMO IS COMING VERY SOON THAT WILL EXPLAIN AND UPDATE THE INFORMATION THAT MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT NEW ON THIS SLIDE.

THIS AREA IS 118 ACRES, UM, THAT IS MOSTLY PRIVATELY OWNED LAND, BUT THE CITY DOES A ONE TEXAS CENTER THERE.

IT'S ALSO FOR THE SAME REASONS AS ST.

JOHN, THAT THIS PROJECT DOES HAVE A GAP, WHICH IS MERITORIOUS TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO COVER LOOKING AT THE VISION PLAN THAT HAS BEEN ADOPTED THE MODERNIZING OF THE CURRENT STREET GRID INFRASTRUCTURE, THE INCLUSION OF NEW PARKS AND OPEN SPACE, AND THE ADDITION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS, MUCH MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, LIKE WHAT CURRENTLY EXISTS TODAY, THE GAP BETWEEN 400 AND 600 MILLION.

AND THE WAY TO COVER THAT GAP IS THROUGH SIMILAR TOOLS IN THE TOOL CHEST, INCLUDING A TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE, A PLAN UNIT DEVELOPMENT, OR REGULATORY PLAN, AS WELL AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING BONDS AND OTHER TYPES OF TOOLS.

AND ALSO THERE'S SOME MENTION OF AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION THAT YOU ALSO, I HAVE BEEN BRIEFED UPON A REALLY BEING BRIEFED UPON IN THE NEW NEAR FUTURE.

WE ARE TWO DAYS.

WE DO WANT TO HEAR ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE AND, AND REALLY HEAR IN TIGHTLY FROM YOU, UM, THE, WHAT WE CAN MESSAGE TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN TERMS OF PRIORITY FOR THIS PROJECT.

AND REALLY, UH, THIS HELPS, UH, ITEM 83 ITEM FROM COUNCIL 83.

I BELIEVE IT'S THE MODERN CITY COUNCIL AGENDA THAT REALLY DOES BASICALLY MORE ELOQUENTLY ARTICULATE, UM, WHAT WE JUST COVERED IN THIS PRESENTATION, BUT ALSO REAFFIRMED THE NEED FOR A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP IN INNOVATIVE, UH, PROJECTS, FINANCING, AND ALSO TO INITIATE BONING FUNDING THAT'S APPROPRIATE TO ACHIEVE THE COMMUNITY EDITION.

AND INITIATING BURNING REALLY SENDS A VERY STRONG MESSAGE TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR, UM, DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY THAT THE CITY AND THE CITY COUNCIL LEADERSHIP ARE VERY ENGAGED AND SUPPORTIVE OF THE VISION.

AND WITH THAT, I, UH, I'M SORRY, NEXT SLIDE WITH THAT.

I AM, UH, WE ARE READY TO HEAR OUR COUNCIL INPUT.

UM, WE DO HAVE A DRAFT RFP THAT WE CAN TWEAK OR CALIBRATE DEPENDING ON THE DISPOSITION OF COUNCIL THAT CAN BE, UM, PUT UP IN FAIRLY SHORT ORDER WITHIN THE NEXT 30 TO 60 DAYS.

SO WE ARE READY TO TAKE THE NEXT STEPS AND LOOK FORWARD TO THIS CONVERSATION WITH COUNSEL.

AND I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UM, OTHER GUESTS HERE AS WELL, THAT CAN HELP, UH, ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS WITH THAT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH ACM DISSOLVE THIS AND, UH, AND JUST SITTING THERE AT YOUR CLOUD MAYOR AND COUNCIL, WOULD YOU GO AHEAD AND TAKE THE SCREEN DOWN AND MAY, OR DO WE STILL HAVE THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AND

[02:30:01]

THAT ST.

JOHN COMMUNITY FOLKS UP NEXT? OKAY.

COUNCIL MEMBER, HARPER, MADISON, YOUR HANDS RAISED.

DID YOU WANT TO SPEAK FIRST BEFORE WE CALLED THE OTHER FOLKS? I'M SORRY, I CAN'T HEAR YOU.

WHAT DOES HE HAVE THE, WE HAVE A COUPLE MORE PRESENTERS TO PRESENT.

YOU HAD YOUR HAND UP.

I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU WANTED TO.

NO, I, I CAN, I CAN WAIT UNTIL THE CONCLUSION OF ALL THE PRESENTATIONS.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, RONNIE.

I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS TO OFFER AT THIS POINT.

WE WILL.

UH, OF COURSE I BELIEVE THERE ARE OTHER GUESTS THAT HAVE BEEN INVITED THAT COUNCIL MEMBER CAUSE OUR MAY WANT TO CALL UP AS PART OF THE PRESENTATION.

GOT IT.

COUNCIL MEMBER CONCERNS OR SOMEONE THAT YOU WANTED TO SPEAK TO US? I THINK WE JUST HAD THE FOLKS FROM UT AND THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT WORKED WITH THEM HERE TO TALK TO US FOR FIVE OR SIX MINUTES.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE ON THE LINE YET.

I WOULDN'T MIND SHARING MY COMMENTARY.

UM, I'M HERE, BUT I'M HAPPY TO WAIT.

THIS IS LIZ MUELLER.

WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD.

UM, SO I'M LIZ MILAR, I'M FROM UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, A MEMBER OF THE TEAM AT THE CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT THAT WORKED ON THIS PROJECT.

AND I'M JUST GOING TO SAY, JUST MAKE A FEW POINTS AND THEN I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.

AND I KNOW MY COLLEAGUE, JAKE WEGMAN IS ALSO HERE AND WILL SPEAK AFTER ME.

UM, WE WERE EXCITED TO WORK ON THIS PROJECT, AS YOU MAY KNOW, JAKE AND I WORKED ON THE UPROOTED REPORT.

THIS WAS AN AREA IDENTIFIED IN OUR MAP AS ONE THAT WAS IN THE EARLY STAGES OF GENTRIFICATION.

AND IT WAS ALSO AN AREA THAT WE CHOSE TO DRILL DOWN ON TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PARTICULAR NEEDS OF THAT COMMUNITY IN THE REPORT AS KIND OF AN EXAMPLE OF HOW YOU MIGHT DO THAT.

UH, SO WE SAW THAT IT WAS AN AREA THAT WAS ALREADY SHOWING SOME DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGE, BUT NOT YET A LOT OF CHANGE IN THE HOUSING MARKET, BUT WE KNEW CHANGE WAS COMING BECAUSE OF THINGS THAT WERE HAPPENING AROUND THE SITE.

SO IT'S EXCITING TO THINK ABOUT DOING SOMETHING AT THIS SITE NOW.

UH, IT'S ALSO EXCITING, I THINK, GIVEN THE HISTORY OF THE SITE AND THE ENGAGEMENT OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE AREA IN COMING UP WITH IDEAS ABOUT COMMUNITY BENEFITS THAT THEY WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE THERE.

AND ALSO IT'S, UH, BECAUSE OF ITS HISTORY, IT PRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE MIGHT CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH TIES TO THE COMMUNITY TO RETURN IF THEY WANT.

UM, YEAH, THIS SITE ALSO AS A SITE SITTING ALONG THE HIGHWAY IN AN AREA THAT IS SOMEWHAT ISOLATED FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY BY THAT HIGHWAY, UH, REPRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO THINK ABOUT HOW DO WE TRANSFORM SUCH SITES IN WAYS THAT PROTECT THE COMMUNITY FROM THE POLLUTION COMING OFF THE HIGHWAY.

AND ALL OF THE SCENARIOS, AS CHRISTINE MENTIONED, HAVE TRIED TO BUILD THAT IN A, SO WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP RESIDENTS AND AN ACTIVE USES OF THAT LAND ON THE SIDE OF THE PROPERTY, AWAY FROM THE HIGHWAY AND DO THINGS NEXT TO THE HIGHWAY THAT PROVIDE A BUFFER OF SOME SORT.

UM, WE ALSO WERE, UH, TRYING TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOUSING OF DIFFERENT TYPES.

AND JAKE, WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN A MINUTE AND ALSO COMMUNITY SPACES THAT COULD BE PLACES THAT OFFERED SERVICES THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS IDENTIFIED AS IMPORTANT OR, UH, ALLOWS FOR ACTIVITIES TO TAKE PLACE THAT BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER THAT ARE ALSO THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN EXPRESSED BY THE COMMUNITY.

UM, SO I THINK THAT'S KIND OF THE MAIN THING I WANTED TO SAY.

I THINK ONE, ONE THING I WANTED TO JUST, UM, AMEND FROM WHAT CHRISTINE MENTIONED BEFORE ABOUT, UH, SHE MENTIONED THE INCOME TARGETING FOR SINGLE FAMILY AND MULTIFAMILY, AND I THINK, UH, IT WOULD BE THE INCOME TARGETING FOR OWNER OCCUPIED VERSUS RENTER OCCUPIED HOUSING, SINGLE FAMILY DOESN'T WORK, YOU KNOW, MO BECAUSE SOMETHING IS A TOWNHOME DOESN'T MEAN IT'S NECESSARILY BY A RENTER.

SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT POINT.

MMM.

SO THAT'S, I THINK THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO SAY.

AND I'LL, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO JAKE.

WE CAN TALK MORE ABOUT THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND FINANCING.

AND THAT THAT VALUE COULD BE TAPPED AND CAPTURED TO ACHIEVE GOALS SUCH AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND OPEN SPACE AND OTHERS.

WELL, THANK YOU.

AND GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL.

UM, I'LL KEEP IT VERY BRIEF BECAUSE KRISTI MCGUIRE, I THINK, UH, COVERED THE, JUST OF OUR, OF OUR SCENARIOS VERY WELL.

UH, BUT I'LL JUST FURTHER EMPHASIZE A FEW POINTS THAT SHE MADE, UH, EARLY ON IN THIS STUDY.

YOU KNOW, THERE WAS AN IDEA THAT THERE'S THIS, YOU KNOW, THIS VALUE ON THE SITE AND IT IS A VERY VALUABLE SITE

[02:35:01]

AND WE QUICKLY REALIZED, AND SHE MENTIONED THIS TO JUST GIVEN THE LEVEL OF DEBT ON THE SITE AND THE NEED FOR DEMOLITION ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUP, AND TO BASICALLY START FROM SCRATCH WITH BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S AN UNAVOIDABLE NEED IN OUR VIEW FOR CITY FUNDS IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, TO BE DEPLOYED, TO REALIZE THESE GOALS, UH, I GUESS THE GOOD NEWS IS AS SHE ALSO INTIMATED, THERE ARE, THERE'S A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY AND EXACTLY WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, BOTTOM LINE TO ACHIEVE THESE AFFORDABILITY LEVELS OF BETWEEN 48% AND THREE QUARTERS OF ALL THE HOUSING UNITS, WHICH WAS THE RANGE IN THOSE FOUR SCENARIOS THAT SHE SHOWED, YOU KNOW, THAT'S KIND OF WHAT'S INVOLVED.

UM, AND THE ONLY THING I WANT TO ADD TO HER EXCELLENT SUMMARY OF THE DIFFERENT POSSIBLE FINANCING TOOLS IS ONE REAL OPPORTUNITY HERE.

AND I'M PROBABLY I'M STATING THE OBVIOUS TO ALL OF YOU, BUT OF COURSE THE SITE CURRENTLY GENERATES ZERO PROPERTY TAXES.

SO IF SOMETHING THAT GENERATES PROPERTY TAXES IN THE FUTURE, AND TO THE EXTENT THAT SOME OR ALL THOSE PROPERTY TAXES CAN BE REDIRECTED INTO THE PROJECT, HELP CLOSE THAT GAP.

THAT'S, THAT'S SOME REAL MONEY.

UH, THE MOST AGGRESSIVE ARE OF OUR SCENARIOS.

UH, WE PROJECTED GENERATING UPWARDS OF $30 MILLION OVER 30 YEARS AND SIT THE CITY'S PORTION OF PROPERTY TAXES.

SO THAT COULD GO QUITE A WAYS TOWARDS CLOSING THAT PLANT AND WITHOUT ALL, UH, UH, AND BY QUESTIONS, IF, IF, IF THERE THANK YOU.

SORRY.

DO YOU HAVE SOMEONE ELSE THAT YOU WANTED TO HEAR FROM, AND THEN I THINK THEY WERE TWO COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT WORKED WITH, THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO BE ON THE LINE.

I DON'T KNOW IF REVEREND HORTON, CAN YOU REPEAT THE LAST NAME BEGINNING WITH VAN DARRYL HORTON AND SHERYL VAN WRINKLE.

THEY'VE BEEN ADDED AND THEN HORTON, CAN YOU HEAR US? YOU'RE ON IES COUNCIL MEMBER.

I CAN THANK YOU SO MUCH.

UM, GOOD AFTERNOON TO MAYOR COUNCIL AND TO CITY MANAGERS.

THANK YOU FOR THIS BRIEF MOMENT TO SHARE WITH YOU.

I JUST WANTED TO STOP IN AND TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THIS HAS BEEN A VERY IMPRESSIVE PROCESS WHERE THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THEIR VOICE ABOUT WHAT THEY DESIRE TO SEE ON THIS PROPERTY.

YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD THE PRESENTATIONS.

YOU HAVE ALREADY SEEN THE SLIDES ABOUT HOW HIS STORIC THIS PROPERTY IS BEGINNING WITH THE ST JOHN DISTRICT ASSOCIATION AND THE LEGACY THAT THEY HAVE LEFT BEHIND WHAT I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE EACH OF YOU, AS YOU CONSIDER THIS MOMENT IS JUST TO LET YOU KNOW THAT ALL OF US RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE UNABLE TO REWRITE HISTORY, ALL THE WRONGS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE, ALL OF THE NEGLECT THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE, YOU AND I CAN NOT REWRITE THAT, BUT I AM EXCITED THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY NOW THAT WE CAN MAKE HISTORY THAT WILL ESTABLISH A LEGACY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

I DO THINK THAT IF YOU MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PROJECT, YOU WILL GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE TOWARD THE CLAIM.

AND THE STATEMENT THAT WE ALWAYS HEAR ABOUT THE GREAT CITY OF AUSTIN AND THAT IT IS A DESIRABLE AND AFFORDABLE AND AN EQUITABLE PLACE FOR ALL PEOPLE TO LEAVE.

AND I THINK THAT THIS PROJECT HELPS US TO DO THAT.

AND SO THE ONLY THING I'M ASKING TODAY IS THAT YOU STRONGLY CONSIDER MOVING FORWARD WITH THE PROPOSAL THAT YOU HAVE SO THAT WE MIGHT HONOR THE FOUNDATION THAT'S BEEN ESTABLISHED BY THE ST JOHN DISTRICT ASSOCIATION.

AND THAT THROUGH THIS, THE CITY WOULD BE MAKING A BOLD STATEMENT THAT AFFIRMS THE DESIRES OF THE PRESENT COMMUNITY, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING THERE, BUT THEN ALSO WE WOULD BE DEMONSTRATING TO OUR STATE INTO OUR NATION, WHAT IT, WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE FOR A CITY TO REALLY RESPECT TO VALUE, AND TO PRIORITIZE THEIR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

AS YOU LEAVE THE CITY, AS YOU ENTER THE CITY ON WHAT A BLESSING IT WOULD BE TO BE ABLE TO SEE A BEAUTIFUL REDEVELOPMENT RIGHT THERE AT ST.

JOHN, WHERE PEOPLE HAVE TO COME IN AND WONDER, WHAT IS THE CITY OF AUSTIN DOING AT ST.

JOHN IN 35? AND WE COULD SHOUT WITH JOY EVERY TIME SOMEBODY ASKS US, THE QUESTION IS THAT THIS IS AN INVESTMENT THAT THE CITY OF BOSTON MADE INTO ITS COMMUNITY OF COLOR AND AN INVESTMENT THAT THEY MADE TO HONOR THE LEGACY OF THOSE WHO WERE THERE BEFORE THEM.

SO JUST WANTED TO GIVE MY SUPPORT FOR THIS, SAY THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER CASAR FOR ALL OF HIS HARD WORK AND HIS STAFF.

AND SO AGAIN, THANK YOU MAYOR.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL.

THANK YOU CITY MANAGERS FOR YOUR TIME.

TO SAY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP HERE.

GOOD AFTERNOON,

[02:40:01]

EVERYBODY.

UM, THANKS FOR TAKING SOME TIME TO, TO LISTEN TO ME.

UM, AND THANKS GREG, FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY.

I THINK THAT HE UNDERSTANDS HOW PASSIONATE I AM ABOUT THIS.

UM, MY NAME IS CHERYL VAN BRICKELL.

I AM BORN AND RAISED IN AUSTIN SEVEN EIGHT SEVEN FIVE TWO.

UM, I AM NOW THE DIRECTOR OF HEALTH PROMOTION AND COMMUNITY ADVOCACY AT PEOPLE'S COMMUNITY CLINIC THAT SITS IN THE ST JOHN NEIGHBORHOOD.

I'M ALSO ON THE AFRICAN AMERICAN RESOURCE ADVISORY COMMISSION.

UM, I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO BE A PART OF THIS PROCESS FROM THE BEGINNING.

UM, AS A CLINIC, WE THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR OUR PATIENTS IN THE, IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WE SERVE TO HAVE A VOICE IN WHAT HAPPENS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND SO WE, UM, WE WANT IT TO BE A PART OF THIS.

SO WE, UH, PARTICIPATED WITH IN BLOCK WALKS AND HOUSE MEETINGS AND HOSTED, HOSTED THINGS AT THE CLINIC, AS WELL AS AT THE REC CENTER AND WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, IT'S BEEN REALLY GREAT TO SEE, UM, HOW MANY RESIDENTS HAVE BECOME MORE ACTIVE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, POST THIS, UM, THIS WORK AND HOW MANY OF THEM ARE STILL ACTIVE? UM, ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT I AM, I AM NOT A RESIDENT OF BOSTON BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD TO LIVE IN AUSTIN.

UM, FOUR YEARS AGO, I BOUGHT A HOUSE IN MINER AND I CRIED FOR A WEEK BECAUSE I WAS MOVING OUT OF AUSTIN.

UM, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN SUPER PASSIONATE ABOUT AUSTIN, AND I THINK A LOT OF BLACK RESIDENTS LEAVE BECAUSE OF LACK OF, UM, BLACK CULTURE HERE.

UM, FOR ME, I ONLY LEFT BECAUSE I COULDN'T AFFORD IT AND THIS OPPORTUNITY, UM, FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO RETURN BACK TO A PLACE THAT THEY'RE AS PASSIONATE ABOUT, UM, I THINK IS GREAT.

AND THERE, I'M NOT THE ONLY PERSON, UM, IN AUSTIN WHO LEFT BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT AFFORD TO LIVE THERE NO MATTER HOW MUCH THEY LOVED THE CITY.

UM, I WORK IN AUSTIN.

UM, MY KIDS GO TO SCHOOL IN AISD AND I'M A COMMISSIONER FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN BECAUSE OF THE PASSION THAT I HAVE FOR HOSPITALS, BUT I CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE THERE.

SO, UM, I THINK PUSHING FORWARD WITH THIS IS NOT ONLY GOING TO HELP AUSTIN AS A WHOLE, UM, WITH, WITH THE BLACK RESIDENTS, BUT IT WILL REALLY HELP THIS COMMUNITY, UM, TO THRIVE.

THERE'S SO MUCH HISTORY THERE.

UM, THAT IS, IS, IS YET TO BE LOST IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING NOW.

UM, I JUST LIKE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S NOT AS A CITY.

WE CAN'T JUST RAISE PEOPLE TO LOVE AUSTIN AND TO WANT TO WORK, TO MAKE US FEEL BETTER.

WE ALSO HAVE TO RAISE, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, AUSTINITES WHO ARE ACTUALLY ABLE TO AFFORD TO LIVE IN AUSTIN, UM, AND NOT JUST BE PASSIONATE ABOUT AUSTIN.

UM, THAT'S IT.

THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR TIME.

ZEN BRICKELL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

UM, COLLEAGUES, UM, I KNOW THE CAST MEMBER HARPER, MADISON RAISED YOUR HAND COUNSELOR SAW, I THINK YOU'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS PROJECT.

DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK FIRST? SHE CAN GO AHEAD.

THAT'S FINE.

REMEMBER HARPER MADISON, IT'S TOTALLY INAPPROPRIATE THAT I GO FIRST BECAUSE I'M GOING TO GUSH AND BRAG ABOUT COUNCIL MEMBER CASSANDRA AND THE HARD WORK YOU'RE GOING TO DO THAT.

OH, YES.

UM, SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO, UM, BE A FLY ON THE WALL A COUPLE OF TIMES THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THIS PROCESS.

AND I WAS ABSOLUTELY IMPRESSED, UM, TO SEE COUNCIL MEMBER COULD START TO BE ABLE TO WORK SO CLOSELY WITH THE PARTNERS AT UT WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS, UM, TO SEE HOW DEDICATED AND COMMITTED, UM, SHIRELLE AND THE FOLKS OVER AT PEOPLE'S COMMUNITY CLINIC WERE, UM, TO SEE REVEREND HORTON AND SOME OF THE OTHER, UM, SOME OF THE OTHER CLERGY GET INVOLVED.

IT JUST WAS REALLY AMAZING.

I TRIED TO ATTEND ONE OF THE MEETINGS AT THE PEOPLE'S COMMUNITY CLINIC AND I COULDN'T GET IN, IT WAS TOO CROWDED.

SO I JUST WANT TO SAY WHAT A BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL TESTAMENT TO HOW WE CAN ACTUALLY GET WORK DONE WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER.

AND WE THINK IN A WAY THAT'S, UM, COMPREHENSIVE AND VERY INTENTIONAL.

I, I USED TO LIVE IN ST JOHN'S AS A KID, AND I, I JUST, I HAVE SOME REALLY INTERESTING AND FUNNY MEMORIES OF THAT LOT.

AND THEN AS AN AUSTIN, I DRIVE HIM PAST IT EMPTY AND, YOU KNOW, RUNNING RUN DOWN FOR A DECADE AS REALLY JUST KINDA BEEN SAD, FRANKLY.

SO TO KNOW THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY GONNA PURSUE THIS OPPORTUNITY TOWARDS, UM, A COMPLETE DIVERSE COMMUNITY WITH OPEN SPACES AND COMMUNITY SPACES AND, AND MIXED USE, AND REALLY, REALLY ACHIEVE OUR GOALS AROUND AFFORDABILITY WITH HOUSING.

I'M SUPER PROUD OF MY COLLEAGUE, UM, WATCHING EVERYTHING YOU DO HERE, CAUSE WE HAVE SO MUCH IN A SIMILAR CITY HELD ASSETS THAT ARE JUST SITTING THERE GOING TO ROT.

UM, AND SO I HOPE VERY MUCH THAT I'M ABLE TO DUPLICATE A LOT OF WHAT YOU'VE DONE HERE, INCLUDING SOME OF THE RIGHT TO RETURN PROGRAMMING THAT Y'ALL WORKED SO HARD TO FIGURE OUT THE LEGALITY OF.

SO I JUST WANTED

[02:45:01]

AND, AND, UH, I'M, I'M WATCHING AND I'M GOING TO COPY A LOT OF IT.

SO I HOPE IT'S NOT TRADEMARKED.

IT'S DEFINITELY NOT.

THANK YOU FOR SAYING ALL THOSE THINGS OF IT.

JUST TO SAVE US SOME TIME ON TOMORROW AND THURSDAY, I'LL MAKE MY GENERAL REMARKS ABOUT THE PROPERTY.

UM, I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT REVEREND HORTON SAID, WHICH IS THAT WE CAN'T REWRITE HISTORY, BUT WE CAN CREATE A BETTER FUTURE.

AND IF I THINK IF WE DO RIGHT BY ST.

JOHN, WE'RE REALLY SHOWING A REAL PROGRESS AND CHANGE IN THE CITY, UM, AS ROBERT HORTON MENTIONED, THIS IS A COMMUNITY ESTABLISHED BY BAPTIST MINISTERS.

SO THAT GENERATIONS OF PEOPLE FREED FROM ENSLAVEMENT COULD HAVE A COMMUNITY THAT REALLY THRIVED.

UH, BUT THEN THERE WERE LOTS OF PLACES WHERE THE CITY GOT IN THE WAY WHEN THE, UM, WHEN THIS COMMUNITY TRIED TO GROW WEST, UH, WITH ZONING REQUESTS AND REQUEST TO THE CITY, THE CITY DENIED THOSE REQUESTS TO ENFORCE THE COLOR LINE.

THEN WE BUILT THE CITY BUILT, AT THE STATE RIGHT THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.

UH, AND IN PART WE HEARD IN THE PRESENTATION TODAY, THAT PART OF WHY WE'D HAVE TO CLEAN UP THIS PROPERTY IS BECAUSE OF, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL EXTEND OF THIS PROPERTY IS BECAUSE OF SOME OF THAT POLLUTION.

UH, THE CITY AND SCHOOL DISTRICT GOT RID OF THE SCHOOL TWICE.

AND NOW THERE'S STILL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT TO KEEP OUR CLOTHES WET MIDDLE SCHOOL, WHICH WE NEED TO KEEP.

UH, SO A LOT OF THIS WAS NOT THAT LONG AGO.

AND THEN EVEN MORE RECENTLY, UH, WHEN THE COMMUNITY ASKED FOR SUPPORT FROM THE CITY, THE CITY MADE AN INVESTMENT AND PURCHASED THIS PROPERTY, UH, FOR A POLICE STATION IN COURTHOUSE.

BUT WHAT WE'VE GOT IS A EMPTY BIG BOX STORE.

THAT'S FALLEN INTO DISREPAIR REPAIR AND, UH, BARBED WIRE FENCES.

SO NOW I THINK WE'RE SHOWING THAT WE CAN DO BETTER.

AND IN CONVERSATION WITH THE COMMUNITY, THAT NEIGHBORHOOD HAS NOT BEEN ASKING FOR CONTINUED OVER POLICING, BUT INSTEAD FOR HOUSING, THAT'S AFFORDABLE TO PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN PRICED OUT FAMILIES THAT WANT TO BE ABLE TO STAY TO NOT HAVE THEIR SCHOOL CLOSED OPPORTUNITY FOR FAMILY MEMBERS TO COME BACK, UH, PLACES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND NONPROFITS TO THRIVE.

UM, AND, AND I THINK THAT WOULD REALLY DO RIGHT BY THIS.

AND IT WOULD BE GOOD NOT JUST FOR THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT FOR THE WHOLE CITY.

UM, YOU KNOW, I RECOGNIZE THAT THIS WILL TAKE SOME FINANCIAL WORK BY US, BUT THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THE HOUSING BONDS WERE FOR WHAT THE PARKS BONDS WERE FOR.

AND AS PROFESSOR WEGMAN MENTIONED, HIS PROPERTY IS OFF THE TAX ROLLS.

AND IF WE DO NOTHING, I'LL TELL YOU IT'S BEEN OFF THE TAX ROLLS FOR OVER A DECADE WITH NOTHING HAPPENING AND IT WILL STAY OFF THAT WAY FOR ANOTHER DECADE, PROBABLY, UH, IF WE DON'T STEP UP.

SO AT A MINIMUM REINVESTING TAX DOLLARS BACK INTO THIS PROJECT THAT ARE DEVELOPED BY REDEVELOPING, THIS DOESN'T COST US ANYTHING, UH, AND CAN DO A WHOLE LOT OF GOOD.

SO APART FROM THE ST JOHN NEIGHBORHOOD ITSELF, UM, Y'ALL WOULD PROBABLY RECEIVE SUPPORT LETTERS FROM THE BAPTIST MINISTERS UNION OF AUSTIN HOUSING WORKS, THE REVITALIZATION AUTHORITY, PEOPLE'S COMMUNITY, CLINIC, ASIAN FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES.

I LOST IN THE URBAN LEAGUE, UH, AJC MEASURE AND LOTS OF OTHERS.

UM, SO I RECOGNIZE THAT WHILE THIS IS IN THE MIDDLE OF MY DISTRICT, THAT THIS IS A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT HAS REALLY, REALLY DEEP HISTORY AND IMPORTANCE FOR PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

AND I THANK EVERYBODY FOR THEIR, UH, FOR THEIR SUPPORT, CO-SPONSORING THE RESOLUTION TO KEEP MOVING THIS FORWARD.

UH, AND THEN IF WE DO SO THEN WE'LL GET, UH, UH, PROPOSALS BACK IN THIS RFP PROCESS.

AND THEN WE CAN TALK ABOUT CLOSING THAT FINANCING GAP THAT, UH, IS ACTUALLY NOT THAT LARGE.

WHEN WE LOOK AT, UH, THE ABILITY TO REINVEST TAX DOLLARS, UM, UH, BACK INTO THE PROPERTY THAT COME FROM DEVELOPING IT IN THE FIRST PLACE.

SO THANK YOU, MARY, AND THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

WE'RE GOING TO TREAT THIS AS, UH, ITEMS, UH, 83 AND ONE 17 BEING PULLED, UH, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THESE ITEMS. IT'S EXCITING PROJECT TO SEE COUNCIL MEMBER, SORRY, AND I'M, AND I'M ANXIOUS TO SEE IT MOVE FORWARD AND DEVELOP.

I KNOW THAT YOU'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS SINCE THE DAY YOU ARRIVED, UH, HERE, UH, AND IT SHOWS A COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER THAN COUNCIL MEMBER FLANAGAN.

UM, FIRST I ALSO WANT TO THANK ALSO MEMBER CASAR FOR FEEDING ON THIS, UM, PROPERTY AND HELPING US TO ENVISION SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ALL BE PROUD OF.

UM, I DID WANT TO CLARIFY, UM, AND I'M GOING TO GET THE NUMBERS WRONG.

UM, ARE THOSE TWO DIFFERENT ITEMS OR DOES ONE REPLACE THE OTHER, UH, THE ONE 17 REPLACES THE, UM, UH, THE EARLIER ONE, THE CITY MANAGER HAD SOME CLEANUP LANGUAGE AND WE JUST DECIDED TO REPOST IT TO KEEP IT VERY, VERY CLEAR.

THAT HAD PROPOSED SOME PRETTY MASSIVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES AT MCCAULA PLACE, AND WE'RE NOT EVEN GOING TO NEED, THEY WERE GOING TO PASS MONEY FOR THE LAND, UM, THAT THEY'D BE INCLUDED.

SO I NEED TO, TO REVIEW THAT.

UM, MY NEXT COMMENT WAS REALLY JUST, UM, I WANTED TO, UM, ASK OUR STAFF THAT WHEN THEY, UM, POST THIS FOR RFP, UM, THAT THEY PARTICULARLY MAKE SURE THAT SOME OF THE DEVELOPERS

[02:50:01]

I THINK THEY HAVE SOME INTERESTING MODELS AND APPROACHES TO HOW THEY'RE DOING THEIR DEVELOPMENTS.

I DO NOT KNOW IF IT CAN TRANSLATE EASILY, UM, FROM OVER TO THAT AREA, TO THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY, UM, GIVEN THE PROXIMITY TO THE HIGHWAY AND SOME OF THE PARTICULARS.

UM, BUT I, I DO RECALL WHEN WE WERE REVIEWING, UM, THE WHITFIELD 10 DEVELOPMENT AND THE CAPELLA CAPITAL PARTNERS, THERE WAS MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THOSE PROPOSALS THAN IN ANYTHING THAT I HAD SEEN COMING, UM, BEFORE COUNCIL.

AND THEY WERE NOT ASKING FOR HANDOUTS FROM THE CITY, AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT WE SHOULDN'T MAKE INVESTMENTS.

UM, BUT I THINK IF WE HAVE, UM, DEVELOPERS WHO ARE WILLING TO BE CREATIVE AND WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY, UM, THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE AWARE OF THE OPPORTUNITY AND BROUGHT INTO THE CONVERSATION TOO, TO BE ABLE TO PUT PROPOSALS, UM, BEFORE US.

AND, YOU KNOW, MY HOPE IS THAT, UM, OUR DEVELOPERS CAN, UM, YOU KNOW, JOIN THE CONVERSATION OF HOW WE MAKE OUR CITY MORE EQUITABLE IN NEW WAYS.

AND HOPEFULLY THEY WILL HAVE LEARNED SOMETHING OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS AND BE ABLE TO STEP UP IN NEW WAYS, UM, AND WANT TO WELCOME THEM TO DO THAT.

WHEN THE PUBLIC HEARS THE WORD BOND, THEY THINK APPROVED BOND STUFF FROM THE PAST THAT THEY ALREADY THINK IS GOING TO BE ANOTHER THING REPROGRAM TO A NEW THING.

COUNCIL MEMBER FLANAGAN, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

UM, GREAT WORK CUSTOMER CASAR AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE SPENT THE LAST FEW YEARS WORKING THROUGH THESE ISSUES, READING THE BACKUP IN TERMS OF WHAT, WHAT IS BEING PRESENTED IN TERMS OF THE OBJECTIVES FOR THE PROPERTY LOOKS, IT LOOKS PRETTY GREAT.

UM, I'M PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN WHAT COUNCIL OPERA MADISON SAID.

THERE'S A LOT OF PROJECTS THAT COULD COME AFTER THIS ONE IN OTHER SITES AROUND THE CITY, UH, OF DIFFERENT SIZES AND SCALE.

MANY OF THEM ARE IN COUNCIL MEMBER, HARPER MEDICINES, ONE IN PARTICULAR THAT I AM INTERESTED IN AS THE ASIAN RESOURCE CENTER AND RUTHERFORD LANE SITE, WHICH WE ALREADY ADOPTED A RESOLUTION LAST YEAR, UH, UH, ENGAGING IN A SIMILAR PROCESS TO SAY, INSTEAD OF JUST SPENDING A PARTS BOND, UH, TO BUILD A FACILITY, WE SHOULD EXPLORE A MUCH BIGGER RE-IMAGINING AND OPPORTUNITY FOR CITY OWNED PROPERTY.

AND IT'S VERY SIMILAR.

SO I'M SUPER EXCITED TO SEE YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HOW WE CAN BE MORE CREATIVE AND HOW WE FUND THESE TYPES OF COMMUNITY PROJECTS AND GIVE VALUE, GIVE VALUE OUT OF THEM.

UM, THE, THE PRESENTATION TALKED ABOUT A FUNDING GAP THAT HAD A VERY BIG PRICE TAG ON IT.

AND I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND THERE ARE GOING TO BE FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY WHO THINK THAT MEANS WE NEED TO FIND $70 MILLION IN BOTS.

THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE SAYING, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF TOOLS IN A REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT THAT CAN HELP ADDRESS SOME OF THESE ISSUES.

IS THAT A FAIR STATEMENT? AND I'M ASKING STAFF COUNCIL MEMBER, THIS RODNEY GONZALES, AND THEN I'LL HAND IT OVER TO CHRISTINE, THE FINANCIAL GAP THAT'S THERE.

WE WANT TO BE VERY TRANSPARENT WITH COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY MADE SURE THAT YOU UNDERSTOOD THAT AT THIS POINT, WHAT IS PUT ON THE TABLE THROUGH COUNCIL MEMBER CONCERNS, RESOLUTION IS A TAX INCREMENT FINANCING DISTRICT CREATION THAT WON'T COMPLETELY COVER THE GAP.

UH, YOU KNOW, SO WHAT WE'LL HAVE TO DO IS LOOK AT OTHER OPTIONS LIKE HOUSING TAX CREDITS, PERHAPS SOME AFFORDABLE HOUSING BONDS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN APPROVED OR IN DISCUSSIONS WITH OUR HOUSING DEPARTMENT.

UM, WE MAY HAVE TO LOOK AT ROOT PRIORITIZING SOME CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT ARE ALREADY IN THE HOPPER AS WELL.

WE'LL WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR CIP COUNTERPARTS.

UM, AND WE MAY ALSO HAVE TO ISSUE DEBT AS CHRISTINE POINTED OUT CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION.

UM, AT THIS POINT IT'S NOT VERY CLEAR WHAT, UH, THOSE VARIOUS OPTIONS WOULD BE.

IT WOULD BE EMPLOYED, BUT AT THE VERY LEAST, I WOULD THINK THAT WE'D HAVE TO DO A TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE.

AND THAT OF COURSE, RESULTS INDEED ISSUANCE OF DEBT, UH, TO OFFSET THOSE COSTS.

AND SO IT'S, I DON'T WANT TO SAY THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO ISSUE BONDS BECAUSE THEY ACTUALLY COULD BE A POTENTIAL SCENARIO, UM, WHERE WE WANTED TO OF COURSE, BRING FORWARD THE, THE GREAT STUDY THAT WAS DONE AND HIGHLIGHT THE FACT THAT THERE IS A GAP.

AND AS WE MOVE FORWARD TO THE NEXT STAGE OF RP, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO BE VERY CLEAR TO US ON THE RESPONSES THAT THAT GAP IS GOING TO, UM, EXIST AND WE'LL WORK THROUGH OPTIONS WITH THE PROPONENTS AS TO FILLING THAT GAP.

UH, I'LL TRY TO OVERDO STUDENT AFFAIRS.

I JUST WANT, I JUST WANT TO, I JUST WANT TO SAY, LIKE, SOMETIMES I THINK WE GET INTO THIS LIKE WORDS MEAN DIFFERENT THINGS TO THE PUBLIC THAN THEY MEAN TO STAFF.

SO I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT CAPITAL PROJECTS REQUIRED DEBT, BUT

[02:55:01]

AND THAT WHILE THAT IS ALWAYS ON THE TABLE, WITHIN THE CONFINES OF A CONTRACT WITH THE VOTERS AND OTHER PRIOR BOND MATERIALS, THAT IS NOT WHAT, HOW THE PUBLIC GENERALLY DESCRIBES A TAX INCREMENT FINANCING OPTION.

BUT RODNEY, YOU SAID THAT THE TIF OPTION IS IN THE ITEMS FOR THE AGENDA THIS WEEK.

THAT IS PART OF THE COUNCIL MEMBER COULD START HIS RESOLUTION HIGHLIGHTS AT TIF AS PART OF THAT.

AM I, AM I READING? I DON'T SEE THAT IN THE ITEM.

LET'S SAY ITEM, IS THAT 83? NO, WAIT.

THAT'S YEAH.

83, ONE.

OH, THERE'S A NEW ONE.

OH, THE ONE 17 RESOLUTION SAYS TIF MAYOR.

IF I, IF I, IF I COULD HELP CLARIFY SOME OF THAT, PLEASE, UH, THE ITEM 83 SAYS WE SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE FINANCIAL OPTIONS LAID OUT BY STAFF, WHICH IS WHAT RODNEY JUST SAID IN THE MEMO THAT STAFF SENT TO US, UM, ITEM ONE 17.

UM, IT IS THE SAME INTENT.

IT JUST ACTUALLY WRITES WHAT THOSE ARE IN THE RESOLUTION RATHER THAN REFERRING TO IT.

OH, OKAY.

SO IT DOESN'T SAY USE A TIFF.

IT SAYS THIS A TIP IS ON THE LIST OF THINGS THAT CAN BE CONTEMPLATED.

THAT'S A VERY DIFFERENT, IT'S A VERY DIFFERENT THING THAN WHAT I HEARD.

RIGHT.

EXACTLY.

THE, THE POINT BEING THAT, UM, THAT TO COUNCIL MEMBER ALTERS POINT, WE COULD GET A RESPONDENT THAT IS, UH, ENTIRELY MISSION-DRIVEN AND PUTTING A LOT OF THEIR OWN MONEY IN AND THEY GOT MAYBE SMALLER THAN WHAT WE ANTICIPATE, OR IT COULD BE LARGER, OR IF SOMEBODY WAS MORE DENSITY CAN REQUIRE.

SO ESSENTIALLY WE DON'T NEED TO SET ASIDE THAT NOW BECAUSE THAT'S PART OF WHAT THE RFP IS NOW.

I GOT TRIPPED UP.

CAUSE IT SOUNDED LIKE RODNEY WAS SAYING WE WERE DECIDING IT NOW.

AND SO THAT, YEAH.

AND MY APOLOGIES, THERE IS NO DECISION ON A TIF NOW THE RESOLUTION, WHICH I THINK PLAYS OUT VERY WELL, UH, DOES SAY SUPPORT THE PRIORITIZATION OF THE PROJECT AND OPTIONS TO INCLUDE, COULD INCLUDE OF COURSE, A TIFF.

SO THERE IS NO DECISION YET ON A TIF, UH, BUT IT CERTAINLY LAYS OUT THE OPTIONS, UH, VERY WELL FOR COUNCIL.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, AND I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE STAFF.

I, UM, I THINK THE WORK THE COMMUNITY HAS DONE WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE SOUNDS AMAZING.

I AM PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN THE KIND OF LEGAL AND FINANCIAL STRUCTURES THAT COME WITH A PROJECT LIKE THIS BECAUSE AS COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER, MADISON SAID, THIS WILL NOT BE THE LAST ONE.

AND SO I WANT TO, I WANT TO OFFER MY, UH, UH, UH, UH, PARTNERSHIP TO STAFF IN WORKING THROUGH THOSE, UH, OPTIONS AND CONSIDERATIONS, BECAUSE THERE MAY BE THINGS THAT ARE MORE APPROPRIATE FOR THIS PROPERTY AND LESS APPROPRIATE MORE PROPERTY THAN THE FEE.

LIKE I WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN ALL OF THAT BECAUSE AS WE THINK THROUGH ONE TEXAS CENTER OR WE THINK THROUGH THE ASIAN RESOURCE CENTER, OR WE THINK THROUGH THE RYAN LANE PROPERTY, THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF THAT'S ON THE LIST AND IT'D BE GREAT TO KNOW KIND OF THE SUITE OF OPTIONS WITH, WITH THIS PROJECT COMPLETION AS ANOTHER TEST CASE IS THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AMONG THE OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO BE CONSIDERED.

GO AHEAD, GO ON.

I'M SORRY.

I'M SO SORRY.

WE ENVISION THE CORPORATION BEING ABLE TO ASSIST WITH THE MYRIAD OF PROJECTS, NOT JUST SOME COURSES PROJECT, BUT UM, A LOT OF OTHER PROJECTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN THE HOPPER.

I AGREE AS WELL.

COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN.

I JUST WANTED TO SAY THIS IS, UM, I ALSO WANTED TO SAY I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROJECT AND, UH, APPRECIATE THE, THE, UM, THE EFFORT AND THE WORK THAT'S GONE ON ON THE LAST FEW YEARS.

I THINK IT IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW WE CAN BE DELIBERATE ABOUT, UM, ABOUT DOING SOMETHING VERY USEFUL AND IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY WITH, WITH PROPERTY.

THAT'S JUST SITTING THERE.

SO WE HAVE OTHER PROPERTY, UM, IN THE CITY, SOME OF IT MUCH SMALLER AND IN MY DISTRICT WE HAVE A FEW PRETTY SMALL PARCELS.

AND SO, UM, THIS HELPS ME THINK ABOUT WHAT KIND OF PROCESS MIGHT WORK FOR THAT.

UM, SO, UM, I SUPPORT THIS MOVING FORWARD.

UM, I WANT TO ECHO WHAT COUNCILMEMBER FLANAGAN SAID, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF PUBLIC NOT MISUNDERSTANDING.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MAYBE HAVING TO REPRIORITIZE SOME CAPITAL INVESTMENTS, I DON'T WANT PUBLIC TO GET, TO GET SCARED THAT THAT MEANS THAT SOMETHING WE SPECIFICALLY ON A BOND WAS GONNA GET RE ALLOCATED TO THIS PROJECT.

SO I'M READY TO BE MORE SPECIFIC ABOUT THAT.

IT'D BE HELPFUL, BUT PEOPLE SHOULD UNDERSTAND TO THE EXTENT THAT WE PASS BONDS THAT WERE SPECIFICALLY NAMED FOR PARTICULAR PROJECTS, THAT'S PART OF OUR CONTRACT WITH THE VOTERS.

AND THAT'S NOT THE KIND OF THING THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF

[03:00:01]

MONEY.

WE HAVE OTHER OPTIONS, UH, TO, TO MAKE SURE WE, WHAT IS A BOND MONEY THAT'S NOT SPECIFIED, OR WHETHER IT'S, UM, OTHER FINANCING MECHANISMS. UM, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR PRIORITIES.

I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE NOT IN THAT COUNCILMEMBERS THE KITCHEN.

I THINK IT'S ALMOST IRONIC THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS ON THIS SITE FOR A DIFFERENT PURPOSE, THAT WE WILL HAVE TO REFUND IN ORDER TO DO THIS PURPOSE.

IT ALMOST IS ITS OWN PROOF OF THAT STATEMENT, COUNCILMEMBER RENTER VIA THANK YOU MIRROR.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S A, THERE'S A LOT OF, THERE'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING THAT PARTICULAR FOR, FOR YEARS.

AND, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF TOOLS IN OUR TOOLBOX.

I MEAN, WE CAN LOOK AT, AT THE MUELLER LINE.

I MEAN, WE HAVE OVER 25% OF AFFORDABLE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING THERE AT PRESENT, YOU KNOW, AND WE WENT INTO, UM, CAPITAL METRO, WENT INTO LONGTERM, LEASE THERE AT SOUTH THEO AND WE GOT 18% OF AFFORDABLE UNITS THROUGH THERE AND THEY STILL OWN THE LAND.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY BESIDES TARIFF AND BONDS.

AND, UH, WE, WE HAD OPPORTUNITIES AT ONE TIME WHERE A DEVELOPER WAS GOING TO COME AND ONE OF THE LAND AND BUILD APARTMENTS, HE WOULD KIND OF, UH, LEASE OUT HALF A MONTH AT MARKET RATE AND THE OTHER HALF WOULD BE OUR TO CONTROL AND RENT IT OUT TO DEEP AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

BUT A HURRICANE CAME THROUGH HOUSTON AND, AND WIPED HIM OUT.

AND SO HE, HE HAD TO PULL BACK OUT, BUT THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF OPPORTUNITIES THAT, THAT WE HAVE.

AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A KIND OF GREAT OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE NEED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WE'RE LIMITED.

AND ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO DEVELOPING OUR PROPERTY, HOW TO BUILD HOUSING, BUT WE'VE GOT LOTS OF, A LOT OF NONPROFITS OUT THERE THAT FOUNDATION COMMUNITY WHILE LOOPS HER HAVING TO HAVE ALL THESE, UH, UH, GROUPS OUT THERE THAT CAN GET TAX CREDITS ALSO.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE, WE, WE NEED TO REALLY LOOK AT ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR US, BUT THIS IS A GREAT, GREAT PROJECT, YOU KNOW, GROWING UP IN AUSTIN.

AND I KNEW ALL ABOUT THE HISTORY OF ST JOHN AND, UH, BUT A LOT OF AIRLINES WERE STICKING AWAY FROM THEM, YOU KNOW, WITH THE JIM CROW ERA.

AND, AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED TO A LOT.

WE, WHEN WE SAW WHAT HAPPENED TO CLARKSVILLE, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF PROPERTIES THAT WERE UNDER THE LAND GRANT.

YOU KNOW, THEY WENT TO, UH, AFTER THE CIVIL WAR, WE ENDED UP LOSING THAT, YOU KNOW, THOSE, YOU KNOW, W WE GOT PRIME EXAMPLES OF WHAT THE ADJUST IS HAPPENING IN THE PAST, YOU KNOW? AND, UH, AND THERE'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BRING PEOPLE THAT GREW UP THERE AND THE RIGHT TO RETURN.

AND, AND THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE HAPPEN TO THAT AREA.

YOU KNOW, WE JUST, WE, WE, UH, WE NEED TO, TO RIGHT.

THE INJUSTICE THAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST.

AND I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE COULD START OFF.

ANYTHING ELSE ON THIS BEFORE WE GO TO THE NEXT ITEM? YES.

I TOO WANTED TO ADD MY, THANKS TO COUNCIL MEMBER CASAR FOR CARRYING THIS PROJECT FORWARD AND REALLY DOING THE KIND OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

UM, I THINK IT IS GOING TO BE A GREAT EXAMPLE.

I WANT TO JUST ALSO MENTION THAT BACKGROUND, THE TIME THAT THIS WAS BEING IDENTIFIED AS A TRACK THAT COULD BE REDEVELOPED, POTENTIALLY THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHERS READING DRIVE AND ONE OR TWO AUDITORS.

THE STAFF MENTIONED RUBY WOULD BE GOOD TO CONSIDER FOR REDEVELOPMENT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS A PRIMARY COMPONENT.

AND SO I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER POOL HAS, HAS PROVIDED LEADERSHIP FOR RYAN DRIVE.

I HEARD THAT WILL BE A PROJECT MOVING FORWARD IN A SIMILAR TIMEFRAME I'VE EVER NEGOTIATED SOME WORK THERE TOO.

I THINK WE DO HAVE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES, AND I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE CONTINUE TO AS A BACKUP.

IS THAT READY WHEN YOU GET CLOSER TO YOUR MICROPHONE? YEAH.

UM, ANY BETTER, LET ME TAKE IT OFF FOR A MINUTE.

UM, THE OTHER THING I WANT TO HEAR ME, HOW'S IT GOING TO SAY? I THINK THE REAL BROADBAND IMPROVEMENT WE NEED IS FOR COUNCIL MEMBER.

TELE-HEALTH WELL, I'M DOING THE BEST I CAN UNDER SOME PRETTY FAST.

I'M SORRY.

I DON'T, I DON'T MEAN TO MAKE LIKE KATHY.

I KNOW THAT IT'S TOUGH.

IS LARGELY THE COMMUNITY.

UM, THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO JUST THINK IS THE OTHER PEOPLE I WANTED TO THANK

[03:05:01]

I THINK THEY DID TRAUMA, ABSOLUTELY TREMENDOUS WORK AS MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID, AND I WANT TO THANK OUR STAFF.

OUR REAL, UH, REAL ESTATE STAFF, UM, REALLY HAVE MADE SOME VERY STRATEGIC AND THE AUTO DEALERSHIP, UM, WAS A PIECE THAT WAS ADDED TO THIS TRACT AND, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY SAW THE OPPORTUNITY AND SEIZED ON IT.

UM, SO THANK YOU TO JUDY PLUMBER AND LORRAINE RISERS, AND WE'RE INVOLVED WITH THAT.

CAN YOU STILL HEAR ME? OKAY.

OKAY, GREAT.

I DID HAVE JOAN AND I, I DON'T HAVE ALL OF MY MATERIALS WITH ME AT HOME AT THE MOMENT, BUT I WANTED TO ASK IF SOMEONE COULD PLEASE, OR WITH ME AT THE MOMENT IN FRONT OF ME, COULD SOMEBODY PLEASE REMIND ME EXACTLY WHAT THE BONDS, I KNOW THEY WERE LUMPED TOGETHER AND I'M LOOKING AT THEM, BUT IS THERE NO WAY TO SEPARATE OUT WHAT THIS INDIVIDUAL, WHAT THESE INDIVIDUAL TRACKS, WHAT PORTION OF THOSE BONDS THEY CONSTITUTED OR IS THAT SIX TO $9 MILLION, TRULY THE HOME DEPOT PLUS THE DEALERSHIP PORTION OF THAT IS THAT NINE TO $10 MILLION.

ACTUALLY THE AMOUNT OF COUNCIL MEMBER TOBO, THIS IS COUNCIL MEMBER TOBA.

THIS IS CHRISTINE MCGUIRE WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, THE BONDS, UH, BOTH PROPERTIES.

UM, SO AT DIFFERENT TIMES, BUT THE SAME, UH, BONDS WITH THE SAME COVENANTS.

UM, AND SO THE TOTAL SPENT, WHICH INCLUDES, UH, APPRAISAL, UH, STUDIES IN ADDITION TO THE ACQUISITION, TOTAL 12.4 MILLION, AND THE LANGUAGE IN THE CONTRACT WITH THE VOTERS STATED I OR MUNICIPAL COURT.

IT WAS ACTUALLY IN THE BOND BROCHURE.

UM, THEN THAT I GUESS MAKES US A LITTLE STUCK.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR BOND COUNSEL AND OUR LAW DEPARTMENT ABOUT THE PARAMETERS OF THE BONDS AND GOING THROUGH ALL SORTS OF KABUKI DANCE ON HOW TO OVERCOME THAT HURDLE.

UM, AND SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK CLOSELY WITH LEGAL COUNSEL AND BOND COUNSEL, BUT RIGHT NOW, WHAT OUR CLEANEST PATH FORWARD IS TO LOOK AND ASK FOR BASICALLY AN UPFRONT PAYMENT THAT WOULD PAY WHAT WE CURRENTLY OWE ON THE BONDS.

AND, UH, WE, THERE IS A PREPAYMENT PENALTY, JUST FULL TRANSPARENCY.

WE FINANCE THOSE BONDS NOT TOO LONG AGO.

SO WE OWE 9.9 0.1 MILLION.

UH, THE PREPAYMENT PENALTY, IF IT'S RELATIVELY SOON IS ABOUT 1.1 MILLION.

UM, SO ANY WAY THAT IS, I HOPE THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION.

UM, BUT, UM, WE HAVE BEEN REALLY LOOKING AT DIFFERENT PIECES AND PARTS OF HOW TO PARSE THIS OUT.

UH, BUT IT IS A, IT IS COMPLICATED AND WE HAVE INVOLVED BOND COUNSEL AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO INVOLVE THAT BROAD COUNSEL AS WE CONTINUE.

ABOUT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

I WAS HOPING YOU WERE GOING TO SAY IT WAS CLOSER TO 2 MILLION.

UM, SO THAT'S STILL A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT SUM.

AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE, UM, GOTTEN SOME REVENUE.

I, I, I TOURED THE SITE, UH, AT SOME POINT WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CASAR, WE TOURED THE, THE, UM, AUTOMOTIVE SITE.

AND I KNOW WE WERE RENTING IT OUT AND SAID HE WAS RENTING IT OUT AT THAT TIME TO FILM COMPANIES AND OTHERS.

SO I KNOW WE'VE, I ASSUME THAT THE, THE DOLLAR FIGURES YOU'RE LOOKING AT ALSO SUBTRACT OUT ANY REVENUE THAT WE RECEIVED DURING THAT TIME COUNCIL MEMBER.

THAT'S A REALLY GOOD POINT.

AND WE WILL DIG DEEPER INTO THAT.

THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT OUT.

AGAIN, FOR THE TECHNOLOGICAL CHALLENGES, AS I MENTIONED, I'M VERY SENSING A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT FAMILY SITUATION.

AND SO I'M DOING MY BEST TO BALANCE ALL OF THOSE.

AND SO MY TECHNOLOGY IS NOT, UM, NOT UP TO PAR AT THE MOMENT.

UH TOBO I APPRECIATE THAT.

I ALSO WANTED TO STATE REALLY QUICKLY ABOUT THE RYAN DRIVE.

YOU MENTIONED THAT IT WAS ONE OF THE OTHER PROPERTIES FOR WHICH, UM, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS ACTIVELY REPOSITIONING.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSELY AND SHOULD BE ISSUING A MEMO VERY SOON.

THAT ACTUALLY IS, IS USING THE SAME KIND OF FORMAT AND STRUCTURE OF A REPORT THAT SUMMARIZES THE VISION AND OUR STRATEGY TO ACHIEVE THE VISION.

AND WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS AN RFP IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE, UM, THAT HAS BEEN DRAFTED.

SO WE OFFER TRACK.

THAT IS SUPER EXCITING.

AND I KNOW THE MAYOR ASKED

[03:10:01]

I HOPE THAT WE ARE ON THE VERGE OF SEEING THAT INTO IN LIFE.

I THINK IT WOULD REALLY HELP HELP US ON THIS, ON THIS FRONT, AS WE CONTINUE TO MOVE THESE PROJECTS FORWARD.

DO YOU HAVE A TIMELINE BY CHANCE ON THAT? THAT'S THE LIVER? IT COULDN'T HAPPEN SOON, ENOUGH AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, BUT I DO BELIEVE, UM, AND, UH, VERONICA WAS SAYING YOU OR SO THERE'LL BE A VOTE RAB OR ACM.

GONZALEZ IS ON THE LINE.

I DO THINK WE'RE ISSUING A MEMO AND, AND HOPING AND TARGETING AUGUST FOR A MORE ROBUST PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU, CHRISTIAN COUNSELOR, YOU MAY RECALL THAT WE HAD ISSUED A MEMO.

I BELIEVE IT WAS.

AND ABOUT AN UPDATE FOR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, GETTING COUNSELED THE REPORT MEMO BY THE END OF THE WEEK.

UM, THOSE ARE A POOL.

UM, WELL, THANKS TO CHRISTINE AND TO RODNEY AND EVERYBODY FOR ALL THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING ON THESE, UM, TWO WEEKS OF LAND, IF THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS RE-PURPOSING, THERE REALLY IS SOME AMAZING AND EXCITING STUFF GOING ON.

UM, MY DISTRICT HAS THE RYAN DRIVE PROPERTY, BUT IT'S RIGHT ACROSS LAMAR FROM GREG'S COUNCILOR, SARS, UH, HIGHLAND FOLKS.

AND SO THEY ARE ALSO JOINED WITH CRESTVIEW, UM, RESIDENTS AND BREATH, UH, BRENTWOOD RESIDENTS TO WORK ON THAT PLAN TOO.

SO WE'VE GOT SO MUCH, REALLY GREAT WORK GOING ON WITH OUR, UM, WITH OUR COMMUNITIES.

UH IT'S SO, UH, INSPIRING AND HEARTENING TO SEE THE WORK ENERGIZING, TO SEE THE WORK REALLY START TO COME TO FRUITION.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN TO OUR STAFF FOR ALL THE DILIGENCE.

REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

OKAY, COOL.

ANYTHING ELSE THEN? I THINK WE'RE READY TO MOVE ON.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

UM, COLLEAGUES, THANK YOU, RODNEY.

THE BUDGET, UH, PRESENTATION.

A MANAGER.

I THINK THAT GETS US TO

[D1. Discussion about the fiscal year 2020-2021 proposed budget and tax rate.]

PROCEEDING, WE'LL START OFF WITH A FINAL ROUND OF PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE BUDGET, UM, THAT WILL THEN BE FOLLOWED BY THE PROCEEDINGS TO ADOPT THE BUDGET, INCLUDING, UH, COUNSEL, CONSIDERING THE VARIOUS AMENDMENTS THAT THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, ELECT THE BRAND FORWARD.

THANK YOU, MAYOR COUNCIL.

UH, WE'RE NOW TURNING TO DISCUSS THE, UH, PORTION OF THE WORK SESSION ON OUR FISCAL YEAR 2021 BUDGETS.

AND TO DO THAT, WE HAVE ASKED OUR DEPUTY CITY, UH, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, I BET, YOU KNOW, TO, UH, LAY OUT SOME OF THE DATES AND THE FRAMING FOR THIS DISCUSSION AND FOR FUTURE CONVERSATIONS.

THEN I'VE ALSO ASKED OUR DEPUTY CITY MANAGER NURIA RIVERA, ABANDONED MINE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING FOR THE NEXT STEPS ON THE RE-IMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY CONVERSATION.

AS YOU KNOW, WHEN THIS BUDGET WAS PRESENTED TWO WEEKS AGO, UH, I HIGHLIGHTED THAT IT'S CHALLENGING BUDGETS THAT WE PUT TOGETHER.

UH, NOT ONLY ARE WE DEALING WITH A CRISIS OF A PANDEMIC OF, WE'RE ALSO COMING WITH A VERY CRITICAL DISCUSSION AROUND HOW WE LOOK AT PUBLIC SAFETY IN OUR COMMUNITY GOING FORWARD.

SO BOTH OF THOSE COMBINED KNOWING THAT WE HAVE TO PRODUCE A BUDGET A MONTH AHEAD OF TIME THAN WHAT WAS NORMALLY COMFORTABLE, UH, HAS THIS SITUATION.

AND SO WE'VE TALKED ABOUT AS A MOMENT IN TIME BUDGET, THAT WOULD BE AMENDED OVER THE COURSE OF THIS NEXT YEAR.

AND SO HOPEFULLY THAT WILL BE PART OF THESE DISCUSSIONS AS WELL.

BUT WITH THAT ALTERNATE OVER TO OUR DEPUTY CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AT BENIOFF, THANK YOU, SPENCER AND GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, MAYOR, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS AND BEING DEPUTY CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER FOR THE CITY.

I JUST HAVE A FEW SLIDES TO GET THE BALL ROLLING THIS MORNING, UM, TO TALK ABOUT OUR UPCOMING BUDGET DATES AND, UM, UH, THE PRE, UH, PROPOSED AGENDA FOR THE NEXT TWO WORK SESSIONS.

UM, AS WELL AS THE PROCESS THAT WE'D BE RECOMMENDING TO COUNCIL FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS TO BRING FORWARD YOUR VARIOUS AMENDMENTS TO THE CITY MANAGER, PROPOSED BUDGET.

LET'S MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

SO ON THIS SLIDE, YOU SEE THE, UM, WHAT OUR UPCOMING BUDGET DATES ARE.

THIS IS CERTAINLY NOT ALL THE BUDGET DATES.

WE HAD A WHOLE BUNCH OF BUDGET BASED LEADING UP TO THIS POINT TODAY.

UM, BUT HERE WE ARE ON JULY 28TH AT OUR BUDGET WORK SETS IN UP TO, UM, WE'LL BE BACK ON JULY 30TH AT THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED COUNCIL MEETING, WE'LL BE HOLDING OUR PUBLIC INPUT SETS ON A BUDGET.

THIS WILL BE OUR SECOND PUBLIC INPUT SESSION.

UM, ON AUGUST 4TH, WE HAVE AN ALL DAY BUDGET WORK SCHEDULE WITH THE CITY COUNCIL.

UM, AUGUST 6TH IS A PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.

THIS IS NOT, UM, A FISCALLY PART OF OUR BUDGET CALENDAR, BUT ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNITY, UM, IS A DISCUSSION OF THE CITY PUBLIC SAFETY BUBBLE.

SO I PUT THAT ON HERE FOR REFERENCE.

AND THEN ON AUGUST 12TH, WE'LL BEGIN OUR BUDGET ADOPTION PROCEEDINGS.

I'M A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE'VE DONE IN PAST YEARS.

[03:15:01]

UM, AND THEN FINALLY, UM, AFTER THE BUDGET HAS BEEN ADOPTED, UM, THAT'S ALSO WHEN COUNCIL WOULD BE ASKED TO DO ATTACK RATE ELECTION RELATED TO PROJECTS.

OH, FOR TODAY'S WORK SESSION.

UM, IT'S TWO 15.

WE HAVE MADE THIS WORK SESSION.

IT'LL PROBABLY TAKE ABOUT TWO HOURS.

THIS IS NOT GOING TO GET THROUGH ALL OF THE QUESTIONS.

WE'RE REALLY LOOKING TO THIS WORK, JUST TO TRY TO T UP THE AREAS THAT WE NEED TO SPEND MORE TIME ON OR WORKING WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS.

UM, HERE I AM TALKING ABOUT THE WORK SETS AND AGENDAS, AND I'LL GET INTO THE BUDGET AMENDMENT PROCESS IN A BIT.

UM, WHEN I'M DONE WITH THAT, WE WOULD LIKE TO TRANSITION INTO INDOLENT STAFF BRIEFING ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE CONTINUING EFFORTS TO REIMAGINE PUBLIC SAFETY AND WHAT NEXT STEPS STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT PROCESS.

UM, AFTER WE DO THAT, WE WOULD THEN BE LOOKING TO TURN IT OVER TO COUNCIL, TO HAVE A ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE REIMAGINING OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND USING THAT AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNCIL TO START BRINGING FORWARD ADDITIONAL IDEAS YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT WHAT THAT COULD LOOK LIKE.

UM, UM, FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021, UM, STAFF WOULD THEN WANT TO COME BACK BASED UPON THE IDEAS WE HEAR TODAY.

WE WOULD COME BACK AT THAT ALL DAY, AUGUST 4TH, WORK SESSION WITH THE DIGITAL DETAILS AND INFORMATION ABOUT THE VARIOUS CONCEPTS WE HERE TODAY, AND TO CONTINUE THAT CONVERSATION.

AND THEN FINALLY, WE ALSO THEN A SIMILAR PROCESS TO WHAT I JUST DESCRIBED FOR THE REIMAGINING OF PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT ANY OTHER BUDGET TOPICS THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS FEEL THAT NEED TO HAVE ADDITIONAL CONVERSATION LEADING UP TO ADOPTED ON THE BUDGET ON AUGUST 12TH? THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TODAY.

UM, LARGELY HEARINGS AND COUNSEL ABOUT WHAT ARE THOSE PRESSURE POINTS IN THE BUDGET THAT WE NEED TO SPEND SOME MORE TIME ON BEFORE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE BOTTLE, GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE AND LOOK AT THE PLANNED AGENDA FOR AUGUST 4TH.

AGAIN, WE WOULD, UH, PROPOSE THIS COULD BE AN ALL DAY WORK SESSION STARTING AT 9:00 AM.

UM, THERE'S A LOT IN THIS BUDGET RELATED TO HOMELESSNESS, AND OF COURSE THE CONSULTANT REPORT ON HOMELESSNESS RECENTLY CAME OUT.

SO, UM, WE WOULD PROPOSE THE COUNSELING USING THE MORAL OF THIS WORK SESSION TO TALK ABOUT THOSE TWO THINGS, UM, BREAKING FOR LUNCH, AND THEN COMING BACK AT ONE O'CLOCK TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE RE-IMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY CONCEPTS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED AT THE JULY 28 WORK SESSION.

UM, AND THEN FROM THREE TO FIVE, DOING THE SAME THING, BUT FOR THE OTHER TOPICS THAT WE IDENTIFIED TODAY, THE COUNCIL INDICATES WE WANT TO HEAR MORE ABOUT ON THE NEXT SLIDE OR JUST A REITERATION THAT, UM, AFTER AUGUST 4TH ON AUGUST SIX, THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE IS HAVING A MEETING TO FURTHER DISCUSS THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUDGET AND REPORTS.

THIS COMMITTEE MEETING WILL BE OPEN TO ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS.

UM, SO THOSE ARE THE KEY DATES, THE, THE TIMELINE AHEAD OF US ON THE NEXT SLIDE, THEN WE, UM, PUT TOGETHER A PROCESS FOR COUNCIL.

UM, WHAT WE HOPE IS AN ORDERLY PROCESS FOR COUNCIL BRINGING FORWARD, AND THEN NEXT TO THE PROPOSED BUDGET.

UM, THIS SEEMED TO WORK WELL LAST YEAR.

AND SO WE'RE PROPOSING THE FOLLOWING THE SAME PROCESS AS LAST YEAR.

UM, I'D SAID TO YOU LAST NIGHT, A STANDARDIZED FORM, UM, FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE VARIETY OR AMENDMENTS, THIS WILL HELP ENSURE THAT WE HAVE CONSISTENCY ACROSS THE VARIOUS AMENDMENTS.

UM, WE WOULD ASK THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS POSTS PERSPECTIVE AMENDMENT TO THE COUNCIL.

THAT'S A BOARD NO LATER THAN AUGUST 10TH.

SO YOU GIVE EVERYONE SUFFICIENT TIME TO REVIEW THE VARIOUS AMENDMENTS THAT WILL BE CONSIDERED ON AUGUST 11TH.

STAFF WILL COMPILE ALL THE AMENDMENTS THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED THAT HAVE BEEN POSTED TO THE MESSAGE BOARD INTO A SINGLE PACKAGE AND SEND THAT TO COUNCIL MEMBERS ON AUGUST 11TH AND IN DOING SO THAT ALL ENSURE THAT EVERYONE IS WORKING FROM THE SAME DOCUMENTS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE BUDGET THIS EVENING ON AUGUST 12TH.

I'M GOING TO TAKE A PAUSE.

THERE WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, JUST PUT THAT UP THERE.

UM, THIS IS JUST FOR ANY ANYBODY WATCHING AND GET A WHOLE BUNCH MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CITY, BUDGET IT, SPEAK UP AUSTIN DOT CORD.

UM, BUT I THINK A POLICY OR MAYOR TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE, THE TIMELINE OR THE AGENDA FOR THE MEETING OR THE BUDGET IN THAT PROCESS.

I JUST LAID OUT ANY QUESTIONS ON THOSE TOPICS.

WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD AND PROCEED.

UM, SO I JUST HAVE ONE MORE SLIDE IF WE COULD MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

UM, BEFORE I TRANSITION OVER TO DEPUTY CITY MANAGER RIVERA VAN DERMYDEN, UM, I WANTED TO LAY OUT FOR THE CITY COUNCIL, UM, AND A LITTLE BIT MORE AWKWARD.

[03:20:02]

HANG ON ONE SECOND.

LET'S GET TO OUR KITCHEN.

UM, I'M SORRY, MY HAND UP, UH, ON THE, UM, SO, UM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PLAN AGAIN, YOU'VE BEEN DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB OF LETTING US KNOW HOW YOU WANT TO HANDLE MEETINGS.

SO, UM, WHEN YOU GET THAT, UH, CLEAR ON FOR THE AUGUST, WHATEVER DATE THAT WAS MEETING, IF, IF YOU HAVE A WAY IN WHICH YOU WANT US TO PROVIDE OUR, OUR THOUGHTS ON AMENDMENTS, UH, LET US KNOW, CAUSE THAT THAT MEETING WILL BE BEFORE WE ACTUALLY WE'LL BE POSTING.

ALTHOUGH SOME OF US MAY BE ABLE TO POST BEFORE THEN.

I THINK A FEW, SOME OF US HAVE ALREADY POSTED ON THE MESSAGE BOARD I'M USING THE FORM THAT IT HAS PUT OUT.

AND I THINK THE SOONER WE CAN GET THE BIGGER IDEAS OUT, THE MORE LIKELY THERE'S WE CAN FIND A WAY TO FIT UP, SIT THEM ALL TOGETHER AND THEN DIG INTO THE DETAILS AT THE COMMITTEE MEETING ON THE SIXTH AND HOPEFUL THAT IF FOLKS ARE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE ON THE SIXTH, THEN WE CAN SPEND THE FOURTH ON, ON ALL THE OTHER THINGS WE GOTTA WORRY ABOUT.

CAUSE THERE THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A LOT MORE FOCUS ON.

HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING, UM, ON THE WORK TO REIMAGINE PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, SO FAR, AND HOPEFULLY, UM, GIVE YOU A SENSE OF SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS WE'VE HAD AND THE DIRECTION THAT WE'RE GOING.

SO I'LL WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, ANY SUGGESTIONS I HAVE ARE ON THE MESSAGE BOARD, UH, WELL IN ADVANCE OF THAT MEETING.

OH YEAH.

SORRY, SORRY.

SO I'M BACK TO THIS ONE SLIDE WE JUST LINED BEFORE TURNING OVER TO DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, RIVERA, VANDER MINOR LINE TO PROVIDE A SUMMARY OF THE INS AND OUTS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET AND HOW IT CHANGED FROM THE FISCAL YEAR 20 BUDGET TO FISCAL YEAR 21.

IT'S A COMPLICATED, THERE'S A LOTS OF MOVES, A LOT OF MOVING PIECES IN THEM.

UM, AND A LOT OF NUMBERS ARE DISCUSSED.

SO I PUT THIS SLIDE TOGETHER TO TRY TO HELP COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTAND THE INS AND OUTS OF THE CHANGES IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET.

SO ON THE FAR LEFT THAT VIRTUALLY BARCODE, THE FISCAL YEAR 2020 APPROVED BUDGET, THAT'S THE BUDGET THE COUNCIL APPROVED, UM, FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, $434.5 MILLION, A STANDARD PART KIND OF THE BEGINNING PART OF OUR BUDGET PROCESS EVERY YEAR.

UM, AND WE DO THIS WITH ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS BACK IN MARCH AND APRIL IS TO WORK THROUGH WITH THE DEPARTMENT, THEIR BASE COST DRIVER CASE OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THERE WAS $7.9 MILLION OF PROFIT DRIVERS THAT WE ADDED TO THEIR BASE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 21 THAT WAS 30 ADDITIONAL OFFICERS CALL FOR AND THREE STAFFING PLAN AS WELL AS 2% PAIN INCREASES BOTH WITH CIVILIANS AND SWORN PERSONNEL THERE'S OTHER UPS AND DOWNS IN THERE.

BUT FOR THE MOST PART, THOSE ARE THE TWO LARGEST DRIVERS OF THE BASE INCREASES.

UM, THEN IN JUNE, THE CITY COUNCIL PROVIDED DIRECTION TO STAFF TO DO A NUMBER OF THINGS, CITY COUNCIL DIRECTED STAFF TO NOT ADD THE 30 OFFICERS FOR THE POLICE STAFFING PLAN.

SO WE TOOK THOSE OUT OF THE BASE BUDGET.

UM, FURTHERMORE, THEY DIRECTED US TO DELAY TO DELIGHT THAT CLASS AND THEN TO DO A CALCULATION OF THE POSITIONS THAT COULDN'T READ, BE, BE FILLED.

UM, THE LANE, THE DRY QUICK CADET CLASS RESULTED IN SOME SAVINGS.

AND THEN WE ESTIMATE THAT THERE'S 70 POSITIONS, UM, THAT WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO FILL EVEN WITH, UM, RUNNING TO THAT CLASSES, THREE CADET CLASSES, UM, THROUGH THE COURSE OF FISCAL YEAR 2021, THAT ALL GO A LITTLE BIT, $11.3 MILLION REDUCTION FROM THAT BASE BUDGET.

UM, AND THEN SOMEONE AT 11.3 MILLION ENDED UP BEING ALLOCATED BACK TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, TWO ITEMS IN PARTICULAR, THE RECORD MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR TRAINING NEEDS, UM, WAS A $3.2 MILLION THAT WAS THEN ADDED BACK.

THEN YOU TAKE THOSE UPS AND DOWNS AND END UP AT THE FISCAL YEAR 21 BUDGET THAT STAFF IS PROPOSING AT $434.3 MILLION.

SO I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE BECAUSE WE'VE RECEIVED A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT ALL THE DIFFERENT CHANGES AND 11.3 MILLION VERSUS THE $200,000 REDUCTION THAT YOU'D SEE IF YOU LOOK AT THIS 21.

SO HOPEFULLY THIS HELPS CLARIFY SOME OF THOSE NUMBERS, NOT ONLY FOR COUNCIL, BUT ALSO FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE INTERESTED AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS SLIDE.

OTHERWISE I WOULD PASS IT OVER TO A DEPUTY CITY MANAGER.

THANK YOU, ED.

IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS I WILL MOVE TO MY PRESENTATION, RIGHT? WHILE THAT PRESENTATION IS BEING BROUGHT UP, I'LL SAY I'M NORIAH, RIBEIRA THEY UNDERMINE I'M THE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER.

UM, WE, UH, AS STAFF I'LL SAY, HAVE BEEN WATCHING WITH GREAT A MESSAGE BOARD, UM, AND REALLY EXCITED TO SEE SO MANY COMMENTS AND INITIATIVES ALIGN, UM, WITH SOME OF THE IDEAS THAT WE'VE HAD AND SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS WE'VE HAD AS WELL AND SEEING SOME NEW IDEAS AS THAT MOST FORWARD.

UM, AND TODAY I JUST WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU A VERY

[03:25:01]

NEXT SLIDE.

SO AS THE CITY MANAGER, UM, CONVENED A LEADERSHIP TEAM, UH, YOU'LL SEE THE MEMBERS, THE CORE MEMBERS IN THAT TEAM THERE, UM, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGERS, RAY YANO, AND CHRIS SHORTER OPO DIRECTOR, FARAH MUSCADET, CHIEF EQUITY OFFICER BRIAN OAKS, UH, CHIEF OF POLICE, BRIAN MANLEY, AC TROY GAY LEE CRAWFORD IN THE LAW DEPARTMENT AND JESSICA KING FROM COMMS HAVE REALLY BEEN THE CORE CMO LEADERSHIP.

AND FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, I'LL SAY THAT WE, UH, TOOK TO HEART WHAT THE MANAGER, UH, SAID IN HIS MESSAGE ABOUT REALLY CO-CREATING WITH COMMUNITY.

WE REALLY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CENTERED, UM, THE VOICES OF THOSE, UH, COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT FRANKLY HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY IMPACTED BY POLICE VIOLENCE.

AND SO WE CAME UP WITH AN INITIAL CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK TO REALLY THINK ABOUT HOW DO WE MOVE THIS WORK FORWARD, UM, AND KNEW THAT FRANKLY THERE WAS SOME BRIDGE BUILDING AND THERE WAS SOME TRUST BUILDING AS WE NEEDED TO, TO MOVE FORWARD.

SO THE NEXT SLIDE, I WANT TO FOCUS THE BULK OF MY COMMENTS ON THIS CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK, BECAUSE IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE SHARED IN LARGE PART WITH THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO.

UM, WHEN WE THOUGHT ABOUT CREATING A CITY COMMUNITY RE-IMAGINING TASKFORCE, WE REALLY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT AGAIN, THAT IT WAS CENTERED IN FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN, UM, WORKING IN SOCIAL JUSTICE INITIATIVES, WHO COME TO THIS WORK, KNOWING A LOT OF, UM, OUR, OUR ADVOCATES AND OUR, OUR NONPROFITS WHO COME TO THIS WORK, REALLY KNOWING A LOT OF THE BACKGROUND AND A LOT OF THE HISTORY IN AUSTIN ABOUT POLICING AND GENERALLY, UM, BUT WE ALSO KNEW, AND, AND FOR TAPS FOR AS A NEW PERSON TO THE COMMUNITY, UM, NOT JUST A YEAR HERE IN AUSTIN, UH, IT WAS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE SOME ONE ON ONE CONVERSATIONS TO SHARE.

UM, THE INITIAL FRAMEWORK THAT WE, UM, HAD THOUGHT OF, BUT TO REALLY MAKE THE INVITATION CLEAR THAT WE DIDN'T WANT TO JUST PUT SOMETHING OUT THERE THAT WAS BAKED, THAT WE REALLY WANTED TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION AND CO-CREATE, UH, THE NEXT STEPS WITH COMMUNITY.

AND SO WE HAVE ENDEAVORED TO DO THAT.

UM, I HAVE TWO LAST CONVERSATIONS LEFT THAT HOPEFULLY WRAP UP BY THIS WEEK, BUT IN THOSE WE ASKED FOR, UM, SOME FEEDBACK ON WHERE WE WERE MOVING TOWARDS AND WHAT WE'RE THINKING OF IN THAT FRAMEWORK, UH, AT A HIGH LEVEL, WE SHARED THAT, UM, PART OF WHAT WE WANTED TO DO IS TO CREATE THIS, THIS REALLY CITY COMMUNITY TASK FORCE THAT WOULD BE SEEING THE UMBRELLA OF WHAT RE-IMAGINING LOOKS LIKE WE ANTICIPATE, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO BE A SINGLE BODY OF WORK THAT BOTTLENECKS AND, OR HAS THINGS THAT WORK THAT IS CONCURRENT, THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO, I MEAN, THAT IS CONSECUTIVE.

WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE CONCURRENT WORK, IS THAT MOVE FORWARD? SO WE ANTICIPATE HAVING A SERIES OF WORK GROUPS, UM, THAT WOULD BRING IN EXPERTS AGAIN FROM COMMUNITY, UM, OTHER STAFF MEMBERS, UH, DEPENDING ON THE TOPIC, UM, AND THAT WORK GROUP AND THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD COME UP TO THE TASK FORCE AS WELL.

WE, WE FOUGHT IN THAT FRAMEWORK, BUT THAT WOULD ALSO ALLOW, UM, NOT ONLY FOR WORK TO GO FASTER, BUT FRANKLY WOULD ALLOW ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR INPUT, UM, FROM SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS AS WELL.

UM, SO AS WE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS COCREATION AND DEVELOPING A WORK PLAN AND CREATING THESE ADVISORY GROUPS, WE THREW OUT THERE IN OUR CONVERSATIONS THAT AT THE, AT OUR CONCEPT THAT WE THOUGHT OF USE OF FORCE AND DEESCALATION AS TWO OF THE MAIN TOPICS, OR THAT IS KIND OF TOGETHER, UH, TOPICS FOR A WORK GROUP.

WE ALSO THOUGHT, FRANKLY, THAT ALTERNATIVES TO TRADITIONAL POLICING IS A TOPIC THAT HAS COME UP AND IN PARTICULAR EXPANDING OR EXPLORING OTHER MODELS FOR MENTAL HEALTH OR CRISIS INTERVENTION, UM, APPROACHES TO HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE VICTIM SERVICES NEEDS.

AND IT IS A TOPIC THAT HAS COME UP AND WE WANTED TO EXPLORE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE WE TOO HAD THOUGHT.

AND I KNOW THAT WE SAW IT IN THE MESSAGE BOARDS ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF CREATING AN OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION.

AND WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE AS WE MOVE FORWARD? WE ALSO WANT TO, THERE ARE OTHER TOPICS AS WE MOVE FORWARD THAT WE, UM, HAVE POSED.

AND AGAIN, UH, ONCE THIS CITY COMMUNITY TASKFORCE IS CONVENED, WE HOPE THAT TOGETHER WE CAN FORMALIZE, UM, THE TOPICS AND THE PRIORITIES TO BE DOING NEXT, BUT WE HAVE NOT TAKEN ANYTHING OFF THE TABLE AND HAVE CONVERSED ABOUT GOVERNANCE MODELS.

[03:30:01]

UM, THERE ARE A VARIETY OF JURISDICTIONS THAT HAVE EITHER BOARDS OF POLICE COMMISSIONERS THAT ARE CIVILIANS.

WE HAVE EXAMPLES SUCH AS BOSTON THAT HAS ACTUALLY A POLICE COMMISSIONER THAT HEADS A DEPARTMENT WITH A SUPERINTENDENT AND CHIEF THAT IS SWORN.

UM, AND THERE WERE OTHER GOVERNANCE MODELS OUT THERE AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

WE'VE THOUGHT ABOUT REDUCTION OF ENFORCEMENT FOR MINOR CRIMES AND AS A WAY TO PERHAPS REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF INTERVENTION, UM, THAT UNIFORM OFFICERS DO IN COMMUNITY, CERTAINLY THERE IS WORK HAPPENING AND CONVERSATIONS HAPPENING ABOUT TRAINING.

UM, AND THERE IS CURRENT WORK ALREADY HAPPENING ABOUT CULTURE CHANGE IN THE DEPARTMENT AND LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING SOME OF THOSE EXISTING REPORTS COME FORWARD.

AND I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN A MOMENT.

UM, THE OTHER ASPECTS THAT WE TALKED TO IN THIS TASK FORCE, AS WE TALKED WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, IS THAT WE ARE EXPLORING THE HIRING OF 21ST CENTURY POLICING AS A REAL ACTIVE FACILITATOR FOR THIS WORK.

UM, I KNOW THAT MY COLLEAGUES, UM, ACM SHORTER AND ARIANO HAVE SPOKEN TO, UM, THE FOLKS AT 21ST CENTURY POLICING.

I AM JOINING THAT CONVERSATION WITH THEM DIRECTLY, UH, WITH RON DAVIS, UH, TOMORROW, UM, AS WE EXPLORE THAT AND WHAT WE HAVE SORT OF SCOPED OUT IN TERMS OF THAT WORK IS A FACILITATION, INACTIVE, FACILITATION, AND A NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE, MUCH LIKE WE HAVE DONE WITH OUR HOMELESSNESS CONSULTANTS, I'M WITH MATTHEW DOHERTY AND BARBARA POPPY AS WE HAVE BROUGHT THEM FORWARD.

UM, BUT CERTAINLY TO ASSIST US WITH THE TASK FORCE, BUT FRANKLY ALSO TO BE, UH, TECHNICAL ADVISORS, UM, DIRECTLY WITH PD AS WE MOVE FORWARD, BECAUSE AS THE WORK OF RE-IMAGINING PROGRESSES, WE ALSO MUST MAKE SURE THAT THE DAY TO DAY WORK THAT IS HAPPENING IN PD IS CONTINUES TO BE ALIGNED WITH HOW WE ARE MOVING FORWARD IN THAT RE-IMAGINING, UM, FRAMEWORK.

SO, UH, WE HAVE ALSO HAVE A GROUP THAT IS FOCUSED ON DATA AND RESEARCH, AND WHILE WE ARE WAITING TO HAVE THOSE LAST ONE ON ONE CONVERSATIONS, AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT THOSE CONVERSATIONS HAVE BEEN CERTAINLY INSTRUCTIVE AND BEEN, UH, I THINK REALLY NECESSARY TO PULL THIS GROUP TOGETHER.

UM, WE DIDN'T WANT TO BE WAITING FOR SOME OF THE WORK WE WANT TO BE READY TO JUMP IN.

AS SOON AS THAT TASKFORCE IS CONVENED.

SO WE HAVE THE INNOVATION TEAM CARRIER CONNELL HAS BEEN LOOKING AT NINE ONE ONE, UM, REVIEW AND ANALYSIS ALSO, UM, TAKING SOME OF THE WORK THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE IN COMMUNITY IN PARTICULAR, THE AJC, UH, WORK THAT THEY HAD HIRED WITH A DATA ANALYTICS, UM, BUT ALSO PERFORMING A DEEPER DIVE AND GETTING SOME ADDITIONAL RESEARCH AND SOME DATA FROM APD DIRECTLY.

WE ARE LOOKING AT PEER CITY REVIEWS AND HAVE A WHOLE SET OF, UM, CONVERSATIONS AND MODELS TO LOOK AT WHETHER IT'S CAHOOTS AND COUNCIL MEMBER FLANAGAN.

I KNOW THAT YOU BROUGHT CAHOOTS INTO THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, UM, AND WE HAVE BEEN EXPLORING SOME OF THAT, UH, POSSIBILITY AS WELL.

I KNOW OTHER JURISDICTIONS LIKE DENVER AND SAN FRANCISCO HAVE TAKEN THAT APPROACH AND MADE IT WORK FOR THEIR JURISDICTIONS.

WE WANTED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND THERE ARE OTHERS, YOU KNOW, NEW YORK CITY HAS LIFE CAMP THAT REALLY FOCUSES ON YOUTH VIOLENCE.

AND THERE ARE CITIES ACROSS THE NATION THAT DO DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION.

UM, AND SO WE WANTED TO TAKE A LOOK AT A VARIETY OF OTHER THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING, UH, IN THE NATION TO SEE WHAT COULD WORK IN AUSTIN.

SO WE ARE EXPLORING THOSE, AND WE'RE ALSO EXPLORING THE ROLE OF BIAS AND NOT JUST THE DATA COLLECTION.

AND WE SAW SOME OF THAT WITH THE RACIAL PROFILING REPORT, BUT THE EQUITY OFFICE, THE INNOVATION TEAM AND OPO PUT FORWARD.

UM, BUT WE ALSO KNOW FOR EXAMPLE, AND I'LL SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS IN A MOMENT UNDER CONCURRENT WORK, THAT IF WE'RE THINKING OF, UM, TAKING DISPATCH OR THE EMERGENCY CALL CENTER NINE ONE ONE, AND MAKING THAT A SEPARATE STANDALONE ENTITY, YOU'RE REMOVING THAT SOMEHOW FROM THE CURRENT POLICE DEPARTMENT, THAT, THAT ACHIEVES ONE PERHAPS ASPECT OF SEPARATING DUTIES, BUT THERE ARE STILL CONTINUES TO HAVE TO BE UNDERLYING WORK ON THE BIAS THAT WE ALL HAVE TO WORK, RIGHT? LIKE BIAS IS SOMETHING THAT WE ALL HAVE TO WORK ON, THAT WE ALL HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD, HOW THOSE CALLS ARE RECEIVED, HOW THE QUESTIONS ARE ANSWERED, THAT IS ONGOING WORK, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO THAT AS WE, UM, MOVE FORWARD AND ASSESSING THOSE CALLS AND THEN REALLY DIVERTING THEM TO, UM, POTENTIALLY OTHER FOLKS IN ADDITION TO PD, BUT PERHAPS OTHER FOLKS LIKE OUR MENTAL HEALTH, OUR CRISIS PREVENTION, WHETHER IT'S HOST, WHETHER IT'S EXPANDING M COT, UM, TO REALLY SEE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

AND SO THAT RESEARCH IS ONGOING AND WE HOPE THAT BY THE TIME WE CONVENE THE, UH, CITY COMMUNITY RE-IMAGINING TASKFORCE, UM, EARLY NEXT MONTH THAT WE ARE ABLE

[03:35:01]

TO THEN MOVE FORWARD AND HAVE SOME OF THOSE AT THE READY FOR THEM.

THE OTHER THING I'LL SAY ABOUT THE CITY COMMUNITY TASKFORCE IS THAT IT IS OUR EXPECTATION THAT WE WILL COME TO COUNCIL PERIODICALLY SEEKING, UM, EITHER APPROVAL OR BUDGET AMENDMENTS.

IN FACT, I MEAN, I, I KNOW THAT AS WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH SOME OF THE IDEAS, UM, WE CHOSE NOT TO, UH, FORWARD THEM IN BUDGET AT THE MOMENT BECAUSE WE JUST DIDN'T KNOW HOW THAT WAS GOING TO LAND.

UM, THE, I GAVE SOME EXAMPLES OF THINKING ABOUT, AND I'M JUMPING A LITTLE BIT TO THE CONCURRENT WORK COLUMN BECAUSE WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON THOSE MOVES BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THOSE CAN BE DONE ADMINISTRATIVELY.

UM, BUT WHEN WE'RE THINKING ABOUT NINE ONE, ONE WHERE WE'RE THINKING ABOUT THE FORENSICS LAB OR SHIFTING SOME OF THE MANAGEMENT SERVICES INTO OTHER DEPARTMENTS OR TO THE CORPORATE DEPARTMENTS, THE CORPORATE PIO, OR IT, OR HR OR FINANCE, UM, THERE ARE SOME UNDERLINED THERE'S UNDERLYING WORK THAT HAS TO BE DONE.

DO WE HAVE A STANDALONE? DO WE NOT? HOW DO THE SHIFTS REALLY, UM, FIT INTO THE CURRENT CLASSIFICATIONS OR DEPARTMENT? SO THERE ARE QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE TO DO, AND WE DID NOT HAVE THOSE ANSWERED YET, BUT WE HAVE ALREADY CONVENED SOME OF THOSE MEETINGS AND THAT WORK IS ONGOING.

AND AS THAT WORK PROGRESSES, WE ANTICIPATE COMING TO COUNCIL IN PIECES, NOT WAITING FOR THE ENTIRE FRAMEWORK TO BE DONE, BUT WE ANTICIPATE, UM, SEEKING APPROVAL TO SHIFT, UM, BUDGETS OR, UM, YEAH, SHIFT BUDGETS AROUND THROUGH BUDGET AMENDMENT PROCESS WORK.

UH, AND THIS FRAMEWORK AS THIS CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD WILL OF COURSE REQUIRE A GREAT DEAL OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

UM, WE ANTICIPATE TRYING TO REALLY ENGAGE THE WHOLE OF COMMUNITY AT THIS TIME AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT YET AS WE'RE JUST KICKING OFF THE WORK.

SO WE ASKED, UM, OUR TEAM, OUR CORE LEADERSHIP TEAM.

WE HAD EQUITY OFFICE AND OPO AND OUR INNOVATION OFFICE AND OUR PROJECT LEAD FOR RESILIENCE.

UH TO REALLY THINK FORWARD ABOUT CREATING A PILOT LISTENING SESSION AND THINKING ABOUT WHAT COULD THAT BE, THAT WE COULD THEN ENGAGE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.

WE CAN DO THIS OURSELVES, BUT ALSO ENGAGE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN HELPING US WITH THIS TEMPLATE ACROSS THE CITY, BECAUSE WE ALSO HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT FOR, UM, THERE ARE COMMUNITIES AND THERE ARE AREAS IN WHICH GOVERNMENT IS NOT THE MOST TRUSTED VOICE.

AND SO WE REALLY WANT TO LEVERAGE THOSE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT CAN REACH COMMUNITY DEEPER, UM, THAN PERHAPS IF IT WERE JUST GOVERNMENT I'M HOSTING A LISTENING SESSION ON ITS OWN.

WE ARE PILOTING AN INITIAL LISTENING SESSION WITH THAT TEMPLATE, THIS THURSDAY, WITH THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION, WITH THE JOINT INCLUSION COMMISSION AND WITH OUR QUALITY OF LIFE COMMISSION.

SO WE'LL KNOW MORE, UM, AS WE GET FEEDBACK FROM THEM ON THURSDAY EVENING ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

IT HAD BEEN A DATE THAT WAS, UM, SET A WHILE AGO, AT LEAST IN, IN OUR CALENDARS.

UM, AND SO WE ARE GOING TO, UH, GIVE THAT A GO AND SEE WHAT FEEDBACK WE GET, WHAT TWEAKS WE HAVE TO GET, UM, AND IF IT RESONATES AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

SO WE'RE HOPING THAT, UM, THAT WILL BE SUCCESSFUL.

WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH THE EQUITY OFFICE TO SEE HOW WE CAN LEVERAGE THEIR MINI GRANT PROGRAMS SO THAT WE CAN SUPPORT THOSE COMMUNITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS IN COMMUNITY THAT PERHAPS CAN TAKE ON SOME OF THIS ENGAGEMENT WORK.

UM, AND THAT WE FIND WAYS TO RESOURCE THAT AS WELL IN THESE CONVERSATIONS, I'LL SAY TOO, THAT WE WANT TO HAVE FOCUS GROUPS.

WE, WE, IT IS HARD FOR US TO IMAGINE DOING THIS WORK WITHOUT SPEAKING TO SOME OF OUR INTERNAL STAFF AS WELL, WHO WILL BE IMPACTED BY THIS WORK.

WE HAVE NOT YET HEARD FROM PD AND WE NEED TO HEAR FROM PD VOICES.

THERE ARE A LOT OF WHETHER IT'S CIVILIAN OR IT'S SWORN VOICES THAT WE HAVE NOT HEARD FROM.

I MENTIONED VICTIM SERVICES BEFORE.

IT IS AN AREA THAT HAS BEEN PUBLICLY TALKED ABOUT IN TERMS OF WHETHER THAT IS AN AREA THAT COULD SHIFT ELSEWHERE, OR WHETHER THAT NEEDS TO STAY WITHIN PD.

AND I APPRECIATE THE CONCEPT OF THINKING ABOUT DIFFERENT WAYS THAT WE CAN DO IT, BUT WE HAVE NOT SPOKEN TO STAFF THAT ACTUALLY DO THAT WORK.

AND SO WE WANT TO CREATE SOME LISTENING SESSIONS WITH BB DIRECTLY.

WE HAVE ALSO HEARD, AND WE'VE HAD IDEAS OURSELVES ABOUT EXPANDING THE ROLE OF EMS OR HOST OR SHIFTING SOME OF THE FUNCTIONS TO CODE OR TO PART AND OTHERS.

AND WE NOT HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THEM TO SEE HOW WOULD THAT IMPACT YOUR MISSION? HOW WOULD THAT IMPACT YOUR WORK? AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HOST SOME FOCUS GROUPS WITH INTERNAL STAFF AS WELL.

AND THEN WE'RE ALSO CREATING A, AND I KNOW THAT COMMUNICATIONS IS WORKING ON THIS AS, AS WELL AS OPO IS PROVIDING SOME ASSISTANCE ON CREATING A REALLY ROBUST COMMUNICATIONS PLAN.

WE WANT TO TRY TO BE AS TRANSPARENT AS WE CAN BE.

WE BELIEVE THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO BUILD TRUST AS WE DO THIS WORK.

AND SO

[03:40:01]

WE'RE WORKING ON A WEBSITE LANDING PAGE THAT WILL CONTAIN WHERE WE ARE WITH THE LISTENING SESSIONS WHEN THEY CAN BE SUMMARIES OF THOSE, UM, SUMMARY OF OUR MEETING NOTES, AS WE THINK ABOUT THE CITY COMMUNITY TASK FORCE, BECAUSE WE ALSO WANT TO BE AS TRANSPARENT AS WE CAN BE ABOUT THAT.

WE WILL HAVE SOME SURVEYS AND SURVEY RESULTS IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES AND BE ABLE TO PROVIDE PROGRESS REPORTS AS THAT MOVES FORWARD.

SO STAFF IS ACTIVELY WORKING ON CREATING THAT LANDING PAGE THAT WE CAN SHARE OUT.

AND THEN I MENTIONED A LITTLE BIT THAT WE ARE NOT WAITING TO CONVENE THE CITY COMMUNITY RE-IMAGINING TASKFORCE, WHERE THERE IS WHERE THERE ARE THINGS TO BE HAPPENING.

AND SO THERE IS SOME CONCURRENT WORK THAT'S, THAT'S MOVING FORWARD.

THERE WERE ALREADY SOME CONSULTING WORK AND I'LL TALK ABOUT, OR I'LL SHARE WITH YOU SOME SLIDES IN A MOMENT ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, BUT, UM, WE ARE MAPPING OUT EXISTING INITIATIVES IN TERMS OF WHAT CONSULTING WORK HAS ALREADY BEEN HAPPENING, OR AS A RESULT OF SOME OF THE RESOLUTIONS THAT YOU'VE HAVE PASSED AS A BODY THAT WE WERE FO FOLLOWING UP ON.

UM, I MENTIONED THAT OUR, UH, INNOVATION TEAM IS WORKING ON THE REVIEW OF NINE ONE, ONE CALLS TO SEE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, INCLUDING SORT OF ALL THE USUAL METRICS AND, UH, INCLUDING SORT OF OFFICER INITIATED, CALL TRENDS, THE CATEGORIZATION OF TYPE AND SORT OF THE, UH, GEOGRAPHIC DISPERSION AND RESPONSE TIMES, UH, AMONGST OTHER METRICS AS WE MOVE THAT FORWARD.

UM, I KNOW THAT THEY ARE SLATED TO COME FORWARD BEFORE THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE SOON.

AND SO, UM, WHILE I DON'T EXPECT THAT THERE'LL BE FINISHED WITH THEIR ENTIRE REPORT, I DO THINK THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME GOOD, UM, INITIAL DATA ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

UH, PART OF A RECENT RESOLUTION ALSO HAS THE, UH, THE OPM, THE OFFICE OF PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT, UM, PARTNERING WITH OUR, UM, EQUITY OFFICE AND OUR, UM, INNOVATION TEAM TO REALLY REVIEW METRICS AND BENCHMARKS, UH, AND HOW THOSE, UM, BASELINE MEASURES ARE ESTABLISHED AND ENHANCE RACIAL JUSTICE GOALS AND ALIGNMENT WITH .

SO THAT IS WORK THAT IS ONGOING, AND I'M SURE WE WILL BE RECORDING ON THAT SOON.

UM, AND THEN IF FINALLY MENTIONED THAT AS WE MOVE AND ARE GETTING THINGS DONE, AND SOME OF THE REVIEW THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT ADMINISTRATIVELY, WE HAVE ALSO HAD ADDITIONAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT OTHER ITEMS. I KNOW THAT THOSE ARE CONVERSATIONS THAT YOU YOURSELVES ARE HAVING ABOUT OTHER AREAS.

UM, CAN WE MOVE, OR SHOULD WE MOVE, UM, SOME OF THE POLICING THAT HAPPENS BY APD IN PARKS OR LAKES OR THE AIRPORT, COULD WE SHIFT THAT DIFFERENTLY? AND THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT INTERNAL AFFAIRS, QUITE FRANKLY.

I KNOW THAT THERE ARE NATIONAL TRENDS THAT SUGGEST THAT THAT SHOULD BE A STANDALONE.

SO WE ARE LOOKING AT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

UM, BUT THERE ARE SOME LEGAL CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE.

SO WE HAVE NOT BROUGHT THAT FORWARD YET, UM, AND WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT IT DOES NOT INCUR SOME UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES IN TERMS OF THE CANDOR, UM, PARTICULARLY THAT OFFICERS ARE ABLE TO BRING FORWARD AS, UH, THEY ARE REQUIRED TO BE, UM, TO REPORT OUT ON, UM, INCIDENTS.

SO THAT IS SOME OF THE WORK THAT IS HAPPENING.

UH, I CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE FOR A MINUTE.

SO AS WE THOUGHT ABOUT TO, UH, PIVOT A LITTLE BIT TO SOME OF THE UNANSWERED QUESTIONS THAT WE DON'T KNOW, AND IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE DIDN'T BRING A BIG CHANGE AND OUR RECOMMENDATIONS THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS YET, BECAUSE WE JUST DIDN'T KNOW WHAT SOME OF THE IMPACT OF THINGS LIKE CHAPTER ONE 43, UH, AND, UH, PERTINENT CASE LAW ABOUT WHERE OUR SWORN VERSUS CIVILIAN ROLES AND WHO CAN ASSUME THOSE AND WHO CAN SUPERVISE THOSE.

WE WANT TO BE REALLY THOUGHTFUL ABOUT ANY CHANGES AT THIS COULD HAVE ON PENSIONS OR BENEFITS OR JOB CLASSIFICATIONS AS WE RETHINK.

UM, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE JOB DUTIES THAT, UM, CIVILIANS COULD HAVE VERSUS SWORN OFFICERS, OR IF SWORN OFFICERS, UM, WERE ASKED TO RESPOND IN DIFFERENT WAYS? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? UM, AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED, SOME OF THE BEST PLACE FOR SOME OF THESE MOVES, IF THEY ARE APPROVED, WHERE DO THESE HAPPENS, BUT HOW DOES THAT FIT INTO DEPARTMENT'S ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURES AND THEIR MISSION? AND THEN IMPORTANTLY, UH, I HAVE LEARNED NOW BEING IN TEXAS, THAT TEXAS LAW HAS SOME ACUTE REALITIES THAT WE HAVE TO, UM, WORK WITH.

AND SO WHAT PROPOSALS MIGHT REQUIRE LEGISLATIVE CHANGES AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

NEXT SLIDE.

FINALLY, I, I JUST WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU SOME OF THE MAPPING OF EXISTING WORK AND GIVE YOU SOME GENERAL TIMEFRAMES.

UM, WE ARE THAT, UH, HAD BEEN HAPPENING.

WE HAD MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS, UH, ALREADY CONSULTING SERVICES, UM, THAT WE EXPECT TO HAVE SOME INITIAL ANALYSIS AT THE END OF THIS MONTH.

UM, AND

[03:45:01]

SOME ACTUALLY DEVELOPMENT OF SOME STRATEGIES.

AND NEXT MONTH THAT ARE HAPPENING BY DR.

JOYCE JAMES AND HER TEAM.

UH, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF MEETING HER AND HEARING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HER INITIAL WORK, AND I THINK SOME OF THAT, UM, WORK AND SOME OF HER ASSESSMENT AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON WORKPLACE CULTURE, I THINK ARE GOING TO BE REALLY INSTRUMENTAL FOR OUR WORK MOVING FORWARD.

UM, IN PART OF, UH, THERE WAS A DIFFERENT RESOLUTION OR A DIFFERENT, SORRY, CITY MANAGER'S THAT IS LOOKING AT AFD AND SOME OF THE DISPATCH, UH, AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL RESPONSE, UM, WHILE THAT EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS IS HAPPENING AT THE MOMENT, THERE COULD BE SOME AREAS WHERE THAT FITS INTO OUR BROADER FRAMEWORK.

AND WE CERTAINLY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEPT A TRACK OF WHERE THAT WORK WAS AND THAT WE APPRISED THE TASKFORCE AS A BODY OF WHAT THAT WORK IS.

AS WE MOVE FORWARD, THERE WAS A RECENT RESOLUTION, A COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATION OF HOW SEXUAL ASSAULTS THAT ARE REPORTED TO APD ARE INVESTIGATED AND PROCESSED.

THAT WORK IS ONGOING AND A FINAL REPORT AND A PRESENTATION ARE EXPECTED IN 2022.

WE WILL BE MONITORING THAT WORK TO SEE IF, WHAT, IF ANY OF THAT CAN BE BROUGHT INTO THE CURRENT WORK THAT WE HAVE AS WELL.

NEXT SLIDE.

AND THEN RECENT, UH, ANOTHER RESOLUTION ABOUT THE INVESTIGATIONS IS FOLLOWS THE TATUM REPORT.

UM, AND SO THAT FINAL REPORT AND PRESENTATION IS EXPECTED TO COME FORWARD BY DECEMBER SIX OF 2021.

AND WE WILL SEE AGAIN, IF THERE ARE SEGMENTS OR IF ANY LEARNINGS FROM THAT CAN BE BROUGHT INTO SOME OF THE RE-IMAGINING WORK AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

THERE'S ALSO A REVIEW OF CADET TRAINING ACADEMY THAT IS SCHEDULED FOR THEIR FINAL REPORT IN NOVEMBER OF THIS YEAR WITH INTERMITTENT REPORTS ON INDIVIDUAL TOPICS.

SO WE WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THAT SOON.

AND THEN FINALLY THAT REVIEW OF METRICS AND BENCHMARKS AND BASELINE MEASURES THAT ARE AIMED AT ZERO BASED RACIAL JUSTICE POLICY GOALS ARE, UH, EXPECTED TO HAVE AN UPDATE AND INTERIM RECOMMENDATIONS BY OCTOBER OF THIS YEAR.

SO AGAIN, I HOPE THAT YOU, UM, THIS GIVES YOU A BETTER, UH, SORT OF UPDATE ON AND A BETTER PERSPECTIVE ON WHERE WE ARE AS STAFF AND MOVING FORWARD, YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, WHICH IS MY END SLIDE.

UM, WE ARE REALLY THANKFUL AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT REALLY SO APPRECIATIVE OF THE TIME AND THE INSIGHT THAT SO MANY OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE GIVEN US, AS WE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS TASK FORCE WORK, MOVING FORWARD.

WE WERE HAPPY TO SEE THAT.

I THINK CONCEPTUALLY, WE WERE VERY ALIGNED WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS.

UM, THERE ARE SOME, IT HAS GIVEN US SOME INSIGHT AND SOME, UM, RECOMMENDATIONS TO THINK ABOUT IN TERMS OF THE COMPOSITION OF THE COMMUNITY TASK FORCE.

UM, AS WE HEARD SOME FEEDBACK FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON, UM, THE ROLE OF STAFF IN THOSE TASK FORCE.

SO WE WILL BE THINKING THROUGH THAT, BUT DIDN'T WANT TO MAKE A FINAL RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY MANAGER UNTIL WE HONORED THE FACT THAT WE HAVE TWO MORE OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS TO GO SO HAPPY TO, UM, ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, BUT JUST, UH, WANTED TO BE SO APPRECIATIVE OF BOTH OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND FRANKLY, OUR STAFF WHO HAS BEEN THAT CORE LEADERSHIP TEAM AND THE EXPANDED LEADERSHIP THAT YOU SAW IN THE BEGINNING.

THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING A LOT TOGETHER TO INFORMATION AND TO MOVE FORWARD.

WE MEET AS A GROUP, THE CORE LEADERSHIP TEAM WEEKLY FOR A PROTRACTED PERIOD WITH A LOT OF WORK HAPPENING IN BETWEEN.

AND WE ANTICIPATE THAT CONTINUING, AND TO PUT THAT SENSE OF URGENCY ON THIS WORK AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

SO WE ARE AS COMMITTED AS YOU ARE, UM, TO MAKING SURE THAT WE TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY AND AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY THAT FRANKLY IS HAPPENING ALL ACROSS THE NATION TO MAKE SYSTEMIC AND SUSTAINABLE CHANGE.

THAT WILL BE A LEGACY FOR THE CITY WITH THAT.

I WILL, UM, STAND FOR QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE THEM.

SOUNDS GOOD.

COULD YOU RETURN US TO THE FULL SCREEN COLLEAGUES? ANY QUESTIONS ON ANY OF THE PRESENTATIONS HAD AS A MEMBER COULD START AGAIN? I REALLY APPRECIATE, UH, THIS WORK.

UM, I POSTED TO THE MESSAGE BOARD THAT I THINK IT MIGHT BE USEFUL AS WE FINALIZE THE BUDGET TO, UM, RECEIVED THE OPS BETWEEN COMMUNITY COUNCIL AND CITY STAFF COMING TOGETHER ON A CALENDAR OF ACTION.

UM, I THINK THIS IS SORT OF IN SEVERAL PARTS OF YOUR,

[03:50:01]

OF THE PROPOSAL AS LAID OUT, BUT I'M INTERESTED IN, YOU KNOW, THERE THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT WE CAN'T EASILY JUST DO WITH BUDGET CHANGES.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, IF THERE IS A REALLY LARGE NUMBER OF COMMERCIAL BURGLAR ALARMS THAT ARE, UM, FALSE ALARMS, AND WE WANT TO REDUCE THE AMOUNTS OF THOSE THAT WE GO TO, AND THEREFORE THAT REDUCES THE AMOUNT OF POLICE TIME THAT'S NEEDED.

YOU WIND UP IN A CHICKEN AND THE EGG SCENARIO WHERE, UH, WE CAN'T REDUCE THE OVERTIME ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE UNTIL WE KNOW HOW MANY OF THOSE CALLS WE CAN REDUCE.

UM, AND THEN IT ALSO WORKS THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

AND SO WHAT I'D BE INTERESTED IN IS HOW DO WE CALENDAR OUT WAYS TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF THINGS THAT WE ADDRESS SPECIFICALLY WITH POLICING AND, UM, REALLOCATE DOLLARS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT SORT OF IN A CALENDAR WAY AFTER, YOU KNOW, AFTER WE DO WHATEVER WE NEED TO GET DONE SPECIFICALLY IN THE BUDGET IN AUGUST, UM, YOU KNOW, OTHER THINGS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT, WE'VE GONE THROUGH A LOT OF THOSE, UM, IN YOUR LIST.

BUT I THINK IF WE, I THINK THAT PASSING A SORT OF CALENDAR THAT SHOWS WHICH MONTHS WE'RE GOING TO TACKLE THOSE ISSUES AT COUNCIL THAT BOTH HAVE POLICING POLICY AND BUDGET IMPLICATIONS AT THE SAME TIME, UM, IS REALLY OF INTEREST TO ME.

AND, AND MAYBE WE SHOULD FIND A WAY TO WORK ON THAT CALENDAR, ALL OF US TOGETHER.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

I, I, UM, I REFERENCED THAT A LITTLE BIT IN THE WORK PLAN AS WE MOVE FORWARD, AND IT IS OUR, WE DID NOT WANT TO CREATE A CALENDAR AND A WORK PLAN.

AGAIN, WE WANT TO COCREATE THIS WITH THE TASK FORCE.

UM, AND SO WE HOPE THAT ONCE THAT TASK FORCE IS CONVENED, THAT WE CAN TOGETHER CREATE THE CALENDAR BECAUSE THAT WILL OF NECESSITY PRIORITIZE.

WHAT TOPICS ARE WE TAKING FIRST? AND WHEN DO WE THINK WE CAN PUT SOME DEADLINES AND SOME DATES TO IT AND COME BACK TO COUNCIL.

UM, BUT WE DID NOT WANT TO DO THAT.

THE STAFF ON OUR OWN, WE REALLY ARE GROUNDED IN TRYING TO DO THIS WITH A COMMUNITY AS A PARTNER.

SO WE HAVE STOPPED SHORT OF, UM, CALLING THIS A FORMAL, UH, FRAMEWORK WITH, UM, THAT IS ALL BAKED IN THAT REALLY IT IS ABOUT THE CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK, UH, AND BELIEVE THAT ONCE WE ARE ABLE TO CONVENE THAT QUITE QUICKLY, WE WILL, WE ALL HAVE A SENSE OF URGENCY TO COME FORWARD AND THINK THROUGH WHAT DOES THAT CALENDAR AND PRIORITIZATION LOOK LIKE? THANK YOU.

UM, YEAH, THIS IS A LOT OF, A LOT OF GOOD WORK IN PROCESS.

UM, ONE THING NURIA THAT YOU SAID ABOUT HAVING NOT ENGAGED WITH, UH, THE PD YET, UM, YOU KNOW, THE COUNCIL HAS, AND THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE HAS VERY INTENTIONALLY INCLUDED OFFICERS WHO ARE DOING WORK NOW IN THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING ABOUT BUDGET AND USE OF FORCE AND NINE 11 AND ALL OF THOSE ISSUES, BECAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT, IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

I DIDN'T WANT THE PUBLIC TO THINK NO ONE WAS DOING THAT BECAUSE IN FACT, THE COUNCIL IS DOING THAT THROUGH THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.

UM, AND THEN SOMETHING THAT YOU SAID AT THE END ABOUT WANTING TO CREATE, TO COCREATE THE WORK WITH THE TASKFORCE.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO ALSO COCREATE IT WITH THE COUNCIL.

YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE COMMUNITY IS DEMANDING IS DEMANDING ACTION BY THE COUNCIL.

AND IF, IF WE DON'T DO A BETTER JOB COLLABORATING IN TANDEM ON THIS WORK, THEN WE'RE GOING TO GO OFF IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.

AND I'M, I'M CONCERNED THAT SOME OF THAT IS HAPPENING.

UM, WE, WE, YOU KNOW, IT IS NOT A TYPICAL PROCESS.

NORMALLY COUNCIL DOES A RESOLUTION, STAFF GOES OFF AND DOES SOME WORK BRINGS BACK AN ANSWER.

THERE'S NOTHING ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW ON ANY LEVEL THAT IS NORMAL.

WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT HOW THIS WORK GETS DONE IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

I AM NOT GOING ANYWHERE I AM AT HOME.

I CAN ZOOM CALL WITH ANYBODY AT ANY TIME.

SO LET ME PLEASE ENGAGE THE COUNCIL, ENGAGE THE COMMITTEE IN THIS, IN THIS CO-CREATION BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL.

AND A, A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OCCURS THROUGH OUR OFFICES, THROUGH OUR CONSTITUENTS, THROUGH OUR APPOINTMENTS TO COMMITTEES, UH, TO OUR APPOINTMENTS TO COMMISSIONS.

UM, AND SO YOU, YOU HAVE PROPOSALS THAT I HAVE PUT ON THE MESSAGE BOARD.

THE PUBLIC CAN SEE THAT IT COMES FROM HER CASARA CUSTOMER POOL, CUSTOMER ALTAR.

IT COMES FROM HER KITCHEN.

A LOT OF US HAVE PUT PROPOSALS OUT ON THE MESSAGE BOARD AND IT'S UNKNOWN.

HOW MUCH OF THAT IS ACTUALLY PART OF THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE, OR HOW MUCH OF IT'S BEEN IN TANDEM.

AND I MEAN, IT ALL SOUNDS GREAT, BUT LET'S, LET'S PLEASE DO A BETTER JOB PARTNERING ON THIS BECAUSE I HAVE TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER TO THE PUBLIC EVERY STEP THAT YOU'RE TAKING.

OTHERWISE, I'M GOING TO START CREATING MY OWN STEPS.

I APPRECIATE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER FLANAGAN.

I THINK THAT WE, AS WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT, WE WANTED TO

[03:55:01]

MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD A CONCEPT THAT WAS, UM, SUPPORTED.

AND THAT WAS, UM, I THINK WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE COULD WORK WITH COMMUNITY ON AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

I KNOW WE HAVE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS, UH, AT A CERTAIN LEVEL, BUT I TAKE YOUR POINT THAT WE WANT TO DO MORE, AND WE WANT TO BE EVEN MORE ENGAGED IN OUR ENGAGEMENT PLAN.

AND IN OUR LISTENING SESSIONS, WE CERTAINLY INCLUDE, UM, CONVERSATIONS WITH COUNCIL AND COUNCIL OFFICES.

WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE, UH, KNOW, UH, FROM YOU DIRECTLY, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE ORGANIZATIONS OUT IN COMMUNITY THAT YOU THINK ARE CRITICAL THAT WE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD.

BUT CERTAINLY AS WE SAW, UM, THE, UM, AMOUNT OF, UH, IDEAS, SOME OF WHICH WE SHARE, AND SOME OF WHICH WERE NOVEL THAT WE'D LIKE TO CONSIDER, UM, IT IS CLEAR THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO ISSUE BRIDGE AND COLLABORATE, BUT I THINK IT'S JUST A MATTER OF, UM, FINDING BETTER AVENUES.

AND WE WILL CERTAINLY WORK WITH THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, UM, TO CONTINUE TO BRING IDEAS FORWARD AND TO SHARE WHERE WE ARE.

I THINK ONE OF THE PLACES WHERE THAT CONFLICT SHINES A LIGHT IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S NATURAL FOR, FOR YOU AND, AND MANAGER CRONK AND THE STAFF TO WANT TO HAVE A VERY SLOW AND CONCISE AND THOUGHTFUL AND DELIBERATE PROCESS WHERE YOU'VE DOTTED EVERY I AND CROSSED EVERY T AND YOU FIGURED OUT EVERY LEGAL RISK AND YOU'VE MADE YOUR OWN DECISIONS.

AND THEN YOU HAVE THE PUBLIC THAT SAYS DO IT NOW.

AND THE COUNCIL IS THE PLACE WHERE THAT, THAT LINE BETWEEN DO IT NOW AND TAKE, HAVE THIS LONG ELABORATE PROCESS.

WE'RE THE ONES WHO HAVE TO DECIDE WHEN YOU STOP DOING THE LONG PROCESS AND YOU START ACTING AND THAT'S, THAT'S HOW THE DEMOCRACY PIECE WORKS FOR ME AT LEAST.

AND, AND SO THAT'S IN PART WHY I THINK THE COLLABORATION IS SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE THERE, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A, YOU KNOW, RE-IMAGINING OR, UH, RECONSTRUCTING, OR, YOU KNOW, PICK A WORD, YOU WERE DOING THINGS THAT NO CITY HAS EVER DONE, THERE ARE INHERENTLY GOING TO BE UNKNOWNS AND RISKS.

AND I THINK THE COUNCIL AS THE ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PUBLIC NEED TO BE THE ONES WHO ARE DETERMINING WHAT LEVEL OF RISK WE'RE COMFORTABLE WITH.

ALRIGHT, I APPRECIATE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER.

I AM OFTEN, UH, I OFTEN SAY WE DON'T WANT TO LET PERFECT BE THE ENEMY OF GOOD, UH, AND THERE IS A SENSE OF URGENCY HERE.

WE WANT TO BALANCE BETWEEN AT LEAST EXPLORING.

AND THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO KNOW.

WE HAVE TO KNOW SOME OF THE LEGAL BARRIERS WE HAVE TO KNOW, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE AS WE SHIFT, BUT WE ALSO DON'T HAVE TO HAVE IT SO COMPLETELY POLISHED.

AND WAIT, AS YOU SAID, TILL EVERY I IS DOTTED AND EVERY T IS CROSSED TO BRING THAT FORWARD, WHICH IS WHY WE HAD ANTICIPATED BRINGING FORWARD THINGS TO COUNCIL, AS WE FELT THAT IT WAS, UM, MOVING, IT WAS SUFFICIENT TO BRING FORWARD.

UM, MOST OF WHAT OUR, UH, I WOULDN'T EVEN SAY DELAY, BUT MOST OF OUR PRE-WORK HAS BEEN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE COULD BRING, UM, SOME OF THE COMMUNITY FOLKS INTO THIS TASK FORCE SO THAT WE CAN CONVENE THAT AND COME TOGETHER.

IT WASN'T JUST STAFF, BUT I CERTAINLY TAKE YOUR POINT, UM, THAT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH COMMUNITY, WITH OUR STAFF AND WITH YOU AS COUNCIL TO REALLY TRULY GET TO THE WORK THAT WE'RE ALL TRYING TO GET TO, WHICH IS RE-IMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY.

I WANT TO REPEAT WHAT I THINK WHAT I HEARD GREG SAY AND WHAT I HEARD JIMMY SAY.

CAUSE I THINK IT'S, IT'S, IT'S REALLY ONE OF THE KEY ISSUES FOR, FOR HOW PRODUCTIVE THIS COULD BE OR NOT, OR HOW THE COMMUNITY AND THE STAKEHOLDERS SEE SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

UH, AND IT'S ON ITS FACE.

UH, YOU HAVE ADDRESSED A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS, HIS OPINION.

YOU HAVE RAISED A LOT OF THE ISSUES OF IDEAS, UH, THAT I'VE HEARD OF THE COMMUNITY RAISE AS WELL AS MY COLLEAGUES RACE, BUT ON ITS FACE.

THERE'S NOTHING IN IT THAT THAT WOULD SUGGEST THAT IT'S, IT'S DIFFERENT THAN YET ANOTHER COMMITTEE OR TASK TASKFORCE THAT'S ANALYZING THE QUESTIONS.

AND I THINK THAT COUNCIL MEMBER CASAR AND ASKING FOR A CALENDAR WITH GOING TO, UH, TO THE ISSUE OF HOW IS IT THAT ABS AS A COMMUNITY, WE WOULD KNOW THAT INSTITUTIONALIZED OR BAKED INTO THIS, UH, WAS SOMETHING THAT, THAT ACTUALLY RAISED THE LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE THAT THINGS WOULD IN FACT, REACH TO OCEAN AND WERE RESOLVED IN, IN REAL TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE.

AND SOMEHOW NOW THAT I THINK THAT HAS TO BE BUILT INTO THE PROGRAMMING OR THE INSTITUTIONALIZING OF THE IDEA ITSELF.

CAUSE I THINK THAT TO JIMMY'S POINT IS, IS EVERY BIT AS IMPORTANT AS ARE THE IDEAS THEMSELVES.

IT'S THE RESOLVE THAT IT ACTUALLY WORKS.

AND I APPRECIATE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE FACT THAT YOU WOULD ANTICIPATE

[04:00:01]

COMING TO THE COUNCIL, UH, NUMEROUS TIMES AS YOU HAVE IDEAS THAT ARE READY TO COME, BUT IF THERE'S A, A GROUP LIKE THIS IS LOOKING LIKE YOU NEED TO COME TO THE COUNCIL MORE FREQUENTLY THAN THAT, BECAUSE THE COUNSELOR MAY HAVE THINGS THAT IT WANTS TO RAISE WITH YOU, CHRISTIANS FROM THE COMMUNITY.

SO THAT THE POINT OF, OF GETTING TOGETHER, CAN'T BE JUST WHEN, WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE SOMETHING READY TO, TO REPORT, TO BE INSTITUTIONALIZED OR BAKED INTO THE, THE PROCESSES AS WELL.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE RECEIVED IT, IT HAS TO MANIFEST ON ITS FACE.

UH, THE DIRECTOR SHEERAN'S THAT, UH, THIS IS OPEN, TRANSPARENT, FAST, AND DESIGNED TO REALIZE CHANGE.

I APPRECIATE THAT MAYOR AND I, AND I, YOU KNOW, I'VE CERTAINLY HAD THIS CONVERSATION WITH SOME OF OUR, UH, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, HOW IS THIS TASKFORCE DIFFERENT? RIGHT.

UM, AND ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT WE ARE COMMITTED.

WE ARE LEANING IN THE PEOPLE ON THE TASK FORCE.

AND, UM, YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY AM I LEANING IN, BUT PEOPLE THAT I BELIEVE COMMUNITY TRUST, UH, ON THE TASK FORCE AND WHETHER THAT'S OUR EQUITY OFFICE OR WHETHER THAT'S RPO OFFICE, THE ACTIVISTS THAT WE HAVE IN THE, IN THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING TO.

UM, I THINK WE ARE BUILDING THAT TRUST TO KNOW THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD.

I THINK WE WILL, UH, LOSE THAT TRUST IF WE DON'T MAKE GOOD ON SOME OF THE COMMITMENTS THAT WE HAVE MADE EARLY ON.

AND PART OF THOSE IS COMING FORWARD, UH, EARLY IN THE FALL TO THINK ABOUT WHAT DOES SOME OF THOSE MOVES, WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE MOVES MEAN? AND THE COMMITMENT WE HAVE BY SAYING OUT LOUD? YES, WE ARE THINKING ABOUT, UM, SOME OF THE TRANSFERS OR, OR MOVING SOME, UH, NOTIONS OR EXPANDING NOTIONS OF CRISIS INTERVENTION AND MENTAL HEALTH, UM, AND COMMITTING TO IT.

I MEAN, ALL WE CAN DO IS TO MOVE FORWARD AND TO SHOW HOW COMMITTED WE ARE.

UM, CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THAT AGAIN, THAT THERE'S BRIDGE BUILDING AND TRUST BUILDING TO HAPPEN.

UM, AND I'M HOPING THAT AS SOON AS THIS, UH, COMMITTEE OR TASK FORCE CAN CONVENE THAT THE ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT WE DO IS TO PROVIDE OURSELVES THE CALENDAR BECAUSE IT IS THAT WORK PLAN AND THAT CALENDARING, THAT CREATES ACCOUNTABILITY FOR ALL OF US AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

SO THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, THEN COUNCIL KITCHEN.

I ACTUALLY WASN'T RAISING MY HAND YET.

SO COUNCIL COUNCIL, KITCHEN ONES, COUNCIL MEMBER KEDZIE.

UM, I JUST WANT TO ECHO WHAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID.

I THINK THAT, UM, A CALENDAR WOULD REALLY HELP EVERYONE UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PROCESS IS.

I THINK IT'S ALSO, UH, NECESSARY TO PUT SOME SPECIFICS ABOUT AROUND WHAT THE PROCESS IS FOR PEOPLE TO SHARE THEIR, THEIR, THEIR QUESTIONS OR THEIR CONCERNS.

UM, I DON'T, I DON'T, I'M NOT, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT IS IN THE PROCESS, BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE SO, CAUSE THERE'S, THERE'S A LOT, THERE'S A LOT.

I THINK THAT THERE ARE, THERE ARE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE.

I THINK ABOUT SAFETY AND ABOUT, ABOUT MATCHING THE, THE, THE FUNCTION TO THE RIGHT PERSON, WHICH IS A LOT OF WHAT I SEE RE-IMAGINING AND REALLOCATING IT, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT HOW, FOR EXAMPLE, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT HOMELESSNESS, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT OTHER THINGS IT'S REALLY A BETTER FIT FOR NON-SWORN OFFICER OR FOR A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL, OR SOME OTHER TYPE OF PROFESSIONAL TO, UH, ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS.

AND I THINK THAT, UH, OR TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES.

AND I THINK, I THINK THE POLICE, UH, WOULD AGREE WITH A LOT OF US AS COUNCIL MEMBER PLANNING.

AND HIS SAID IN THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION.

SO WITH THAT SAID, A LOT OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

THEY'RE WORRIED WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

AND SO THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND, THEY NEED TO SEE A TIMELINE AND I NEED TO SEE A PLACE IN A TIME IN WHICH THEY CAN EXPRESS ANY QUESTIONS THAT THEY HAVE.

SO, UM, YEAH, I THINK THAT, SORRY, COUNCIL MEMBER, I APOLOGIZE.

NO, NO, THAT'S IT.

THAT'S IT.

QUANTIFY, UM, SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD, THAT WHEN WE SORT OF COME AND SHARE WITH A COMMUNITY AND WITH COUNCIL, WE CAN SAY, WE'VE HEARD, YOU KNOW, THOUSANDS OF VOICES AND OF THESE VOICES.

SO AGAIN, THE TIMELINE, I THINK WE ARE, WE ALREADY ANTICIPATE WORKING OUT THE COMMUTE, THE ROBUST COMMUNICATIONS PLAN, NOT ONLY WE'LL HAVE THE WEBSITE, BUT WE WILL, AGAIN, THAT WE WILL PLANNING ON LISTENING SESSIONS ACROSS THE CITY.

WE PLAN ON SURVEYS.

WE PLAN ON PUTTING THIS IN, UH, AUSTIN, SPEAK UP, UH, WE'VE GOT A VARIETY OF OTHER AREAS AND WHERE WE WANT TO HEAR AS MANY VOICES AS WE CAN.

UM, WE HAVE DESIGNED, UH, THE LISTENING SESSIONS AND PART TO BE ABLE TO

[04:05:01]

THIS IS WHERE, UM, X PERCENT SAY, THIS IS WHERE I WANT A UNIFORM TO SHOW UP, OR THIS IS WHERE I DON'T WANT A UNIFORM SHOW UP BECAUSE IT IS A TRIGGERING THING TO ME IN COMMUNITY BECAUSE THERE ARE ALTERNATIVES THAT WE SHOULD DO, YOU SHOULD HAVE.

SO WE CERTAINLY ARE MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION.

AND AS SOON AS THAT IS FINALIZED AND WE CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT WITH OUR, UM, WITH OUR, UH, COMMUNICATIONS DESIGN TEAM AND OUR EQUITY TEAM.

UM, AND THINK THROUGH WITH COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY THOSE COMMUNITY MEMBERS OR ORGANIZATIONS THAT, UM, WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SOME OF THOSE MINI GRANTS TO DO SOME OF THAT ENGAGEMENT, WE WILL BE CONTINUING TO SHOWCASE WHERE THOSE EVENTS ARE HAPPENING AND HAVE DASHBOARDS ABOUT SOME OF THE INPUT THAT WE RECEIVED.

SO AGAIN, WE ARE TRYING TO BE AS TRANSPARENT AS WE CAN, UM, AS WE DO THIS WORK BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IT IS SO ESSENTIAL TO BUILDING AND THEN MAINTAINING THE TRUST AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

BIT EARLIER TODAY WHEN WE MENTIONED THAT WE HAD THINGS THAT WE PASSED IN THE BUDGET THAT WE WERE FIRST SEEING PAST TODAY.

I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT WENT INTO THIS AND THOUGHTFULNESS AND TRYING TO TAILOR, UM, OPTIONS TO AUSTIN AND MAKE SURE THAT, UM, WE'RE MOVING FORWARD, UM, IN THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY POSSIBLE.

UM, I DIDN'T SEE IN YOUR PRESENTATION THOUGH, WHO IS ON THE TASK FORCE, I SAW THIS THEME OF LEADERSHIP TEAM.

UM, CAN YOU HELP US UNDERSTAND WHO IS ON THE TASK FORCE OR WHICH GROUPS AT LEAST SURE I CAN.

I CAN SHARE WITH YOU SOME OF THE GROUPS THAT WE HAVE SPOKEN WITH, BUT I'LL ALSO SAY THAT THEY TOO NEEDED TO GO BACK TO SOME OF THEIR BOARDS TO SEE IF THIS, IF THIS IS THE RIGHT PLACE FOR THEM, OR IF WE DESIGNED DIFFERENT TABLES, IF THEY WANTED TO BE ON THAT TABLE.

BUT WE HAVE THOUGHT OF, UM, WE HAVE TALKED TO THE CRIME COMMISSION, WE HAVE TALKED TO ACLU, WE'VE TALKED TO H NAACP.

WE HAVE TALKED TO AJC, WE HAVE TALKED TO, UM, GABA, THE AUSTIN INTERFAITH TO TEXAS APPLESEED TO JUST LIBERTY.

UM, WE HAVE A FEW MORE TO GO, UM, AUSTIN, ASIAN COMMUNITY HEALTH INITIATIVE.

UH, AND I SPLIT OUT THE AUSTIN OR SOME OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE HAVE NOT TALKED TO YET.

I'M SURE I'M MISSING SOME FOLKS THAT, UM, HAVE NOT COME TO THE FORE, BUT THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE ARE SPEAKING TO DIRECTLY.

UM, AS WE MOVE FORWARD, SOME HAVE EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN SERVING ABSOLUTELY ON THE TASK FORCE.

UM, SOME HAVE EXPRESSED AN INTEREST DEPENDING ON WHO ELSE, UH, FROM THE CITY STAFF, UM, IS ON THE TASK FORCE AND IN PARTICULARLY THE ROLE OF PD AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

AND SO WE TAKE THOSE THAT INSIGHT AND THAT FEEDBACK TO HEART, UM, SOME HAVE SAID, OR AT LEAST ONE HAVE SAID THAT MAYBE THE TASK FORCE ITSELF IS NOT WHERE THEY WANT TO SIT, BUT IF THERE IS A SPACE FOR THEM TO PROVIDE BEST PRACTICES AND RESEARCH, THAT THAT IS THE AREA THAT THEY, UM, FEEL THAT, UH, THEY, THEY WANT TO DO.

I DID NOT MENTION, UM, COMMUNITIES OF COLOR UNITED, AND THAT IS ANOTHER ORGANIZATION THAT WE HAVE SPOKEN WITH AS WELL.

UM, SO WE ARE WAITING AND, UH, TO HAVE THOSE FINAL TWO CONVERSATIONS, WE HOPE TO SEND AN EMAIL OUT TO ALL SAYING, ALL RIGHT, NOW WE FINALIZE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

YOU'VE HAD A CHANCE TO GO BACK TO YOUR ORGANIZATIONS OR YOUR, UM, PARTNERS OR YOUR BOARD, LET US KNOW IF YOU'RE IN AND WE WILL START THE WORK IMMEDIATELY, BUT THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE HAVE FOCUSED ON.

THANK YOU, UM, FOR THAT OVERVIEW.

AND, UM, I JUST WANT TO REITERATE SOMETHING THAT I'VE SHARED WITH YOU, UM, PRIVATELY IS THAT I THINK THAT WE NEED TO HAVE VICTIMS VOICES IN HERE.

UM, AND I DIDN'T HEAR, UM, ANY OF THE SEXUAL ASSAULT ADVOCATES OR THE GUN VIOLENCE GROUPS BEING PART OF THAT.

UM, AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE HOLISTICALLY GOING TO REIMAGINE PUBLIC SAFETY, UM, IT IS NOT JUST THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SIDE OF IT THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IT ALL PART OF A PROCESS AND WE RISK FIXING ONE SIDE AND LEAVING ANOTHER SIDE BROKEN.

AND I THINK THE GOAL IS TO MAKE EVERYONE, UM, FEEL SAFER, UM, IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE VOICES ARE ABLE TO BE A PART OF THAT.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, IN SOME CONVERSATIONS THAT I'VE BEEN HEARING WHERE THEY'VE BEEN ABSENT, I THINK THERE'S BEEN SOME JUMPING TO IT PARTICULAR APPROACHES THAT MAY NOT SERVE THE VICTIMS WELL, AND WE NEED TO REALLY BE ASKING ABOUT, UM, WHAT OUR CHOICES DO FOR THE, FOR THE VICTIMS AND IN PARTICULAR CASES AS WELL.

UM, ONE OF THE, THE THINGS THAT I ALSO WANTED TO JUST FLAG IN TERMS OF A CALENDAR PROCESS, UM, YOU KNOW, AND THIS CAME UP A LITTLE

[04:10:01]

UM, I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A EMS AND, AND A FIRE, UM, RFP OUT FOR, UM, YOU KNOW, AN EFFICIENCY REVIEW THAT WE PASSED IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET.

IT IS JULY, IT HASN'T EVEN COME BACK TO BE, YOU KNOW, BE APPROVED YET.

AND SO I DO WORRY, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME REALITIES OF GOVERNMENT AND, AND OUR ABILITY TO ACT.

UH, BUT I DON'T THINK THEY'RE GOING TO BE IN VERY SYNC WITH THE DEMANDS THAT WE'RE HEARING FROM THE COMMUNITY.

UM, AND I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE SQUARE THAT.

UM, BUT YOU KNOW, WE NEED, WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE'RE NOT EVIDENCING, THAT WE CAN GET THINGS DONE QUICKLY, EVEN WHEN WE CARE ABOUT THIS, THAT, THAT STUDY IN PARTICULAR HAD BEEN, YOU KNOW, ON A PRIOR BUDGET AND WAS PUNTED AND THEN, YOU KNOW, IT, IT'S NOT THERE.

AND, AND, AND IT WOULD BE REALLY GOOD TO HAVE IT BACK RIGHT NOW AS WE'RE TRYING TO REIMAGINE, UM, PUBLIC SAFETY.

SO I, I THINK WE HAVE TO, WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO NAVIGATE THAT BOTH FOR THE PUBLIC AND FOR COUNCIL, IN TERMS OF THE TIMETABLE FOR GETTING EVERYTHING DONE.

WHILE AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND OUR STAFF HAVE LIMITED, UM, RESOURCES AND ARE ALSO OPERATING UNDER COVID, ETC.

UM, THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO, UM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS VERY HEAVY ON APD, UM, AND THERE'S, UM, AND HOW WE, HOW WE, UM, CHANGE THINGS RIGHT TO APD.

WE HAVE A LOT OF OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT OPERATE IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY REALM THAT I BELIEVE SHOULD BE PART OF OUR REIMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY.

IF WE REALLY WANT TO GET TO THE ROOT OF THINGS AND CHANGE THINGS FOR PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

UM, WE HAVE TO BE, UM, INVITING FIRE AND EMS AND, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC HEALTH TO BE REALLY AT THE CENTER OF THE, UM, DISCUSSIONS.

BUT, BUT THERE ARE OTHER, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A BROAD RANGE OF CONDITIONS THAT ARE TOUCHED, BUT SAFETY AND SAFETY AND, UM, AND THEY CAN BE HELPFUL IN TERMS OF, UM, HEARING FROM THE COMMUNITY AND UNDERSTANDING COMMUNITIES.

SO I UNDERSTAND THE, UM, THE EMPHASIS AT FIRST, UM, ON SOME OF THE, THE CHALLENGES THAT ARE WE'RE EXPERIENCING AND THINKING ABOUT HOW TO IMPROVE, UM, WITH RESPECT TO ABD, BUT WE REALLY NEED TO KEEP OUR EYES ON THAT LARGER PRIZES, REIMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY, MUCH MORE BROADLY.

IT'S A COUNCIL MEMBER.

I APPRECIATE ALL OF THAT, THOSE COMMENTS AS WELL.

I MEAN, I THINK WE HAD, AND I BELIEVE IN, IN ONE OF THE SLIDES, I SPECIFICALLY POINT TO HEALTH AND TO CODE AND THE EMS, BUT CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THAT, UM, AS WE THINK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, THAT WE ARE, UM, REALLY THINKING ABOUT IT MORE BROADLY, WE ARE STARTING WITH PD BECAUSE WE HAVE TO SORT OF THINK ABOUT THE WORK THAT THEY DO, BUT THEN ALSO THINK ABOUT THERE HAS BEEN SOME GREAT WORK DONE BY EMS AND HOW THEY ARE, UM, MANAGING CALL VOLUME.

AND THERE'S BEEN SOME GREAT WORK WITH THE HOST TEAM ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

THERE IS SOME THOUGHT ABOUT, UM, THINKING ABOUT WHAT ROLE CODE COULD PLAY IN MOVING, UM, SOME OF THESE FUNCTIONS AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

SO IT WILL BE KIND OF A CONVERSATION THAT WE HAVE WITH A VARIETY OF STAKEHOLDERS, BUT WE'RE ALSO COGNIZANT THAT WE CAN'T DO IT ALL AT ONCE.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT ALL THAT, THAT'S WHAT YOU WERE SUGGESTING.

I, I TAKE TO HEART, UM, THAT IT IS ABOUT SOME PRIORITIZATION, BUT PLEASE KNOW THAT WE ENVISION HAVING A MUCH BROADER CONVERSATION.

AND TO YOUR FIRST POINT, UM, I BELIEVE THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT WITH SOME OF OUR WORK GROUPS IN OUR, UM, MORE TARGETED, UH, GROUPS IS THAT MOVES FORWARD.

UM, WE ARE TRYING TO BALANCE THE DESIRE FOR MANY PEOPLE PERHAPS TO SERVE ON THIS TASK FORCE AND KEEPING, UM, A NUMBER THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD QUICKLY AND AGILELY, UM, AND SEEING WHAT OTHER FOLKS IN COMMUNITY CAN BRING THEIR EXPERTISE TO SOME OF THE WORK GROUPS.

UM, BUT CERTAINLY WE'LL BE BRINGING BACK, UM, AND THINKING ABOUT IF THERE ARE CRITICAL FOLKS THAT WE HAVE MISSED IN THE ABILITY TO HEAR ALL THESE VOICES AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

BUT I APPRECIATE THAT.

I DO THINK THAT THERE THOUGH THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE VICTIM COMMUNITY WHO KNOW A LOT ABOUT HOW THESE THINGS WORK AND HOW THEY DON'T WORK, UM, AND THEIR VOICES ARE VERY IMPORTANT.

UM, IF WE WANT TO PREVENT OTHER PEOPLE FROM BECOMING VICTIMS, UM, DOWN THE LINE HERE, YOU PROBABLY, I THINK I'VE MENTIONED THIS BEFORE, AND I THINK IT'S, IT'S PART OF WHAT YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT MARIA, BUT I JUST, FOR THOSE WHO MIGHT BE LISTENING, YOU KNOW, WE, WE ALSO HAVE A WEALTH OF, UH, COMMUNITY INTO OTHER PARTS OF THE COMMUNITY THROUGH OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS APPOINTEES.

SO, UM, AT SOME POINT IN YOUR PROCESS, UH, REACHING OUT AND HEARING FROM THOSE FOLKS PULL, I MEAN, THERE'S THE OBVIOUS BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS LIKE THE PUBLIC SAFETY COURSE, WHICH NEEDS TO BE FRONT AND CENTER IN OUR QUALITY OF VARIOUS QUALITY OF LIFE CONDITIONS.

UH,

[04:15:01]

I'M THINKING MAYBE I AGREE, COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN.

AND I THINK THAT W ONCE WE PILOT THIS FIRST LISTENING SESSION ON THURSDAY, WE'LL KNOW, WE'LL LEARN MORE ON WHETHER WE ARE THINKING ABOUT IT THE RIGHT WAY, OR WHETHER WE COMPLETELY MISS THE MARK, WHICH I HOPE WE HAVE NOT.

UM, BUT THE ANTICIPATION IS THAT WE THEN TAKE THAT AND MOVE FORWARD AND DO A MUCH MORE ROBUST CITYWIDE.

AND THAT INCLUDES INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS.

AND WHAT I'LL ALSO SAY IS THAT OUR COMMUNICATIONS PLANS AND VISIONS THAT THAT IS NOT THE ONLY PLACE THAT WE HAVE LISTENING SESSIONS THAT AS WE BRING FORWARD IDEAS AND RECOMMENDATIONS AND, AND DO THAT, THAT WE CONTINUE TO ENGAGE COMMUNITY.

WE HOPE THAT THIS IS A CONSTANT FEEDBACK LOOP, UM, AND THAT WE REALLY ENGAGE, UH, THE CITY OF AUSTIN IN GENERAL ABOUT REINVISIONING PUBLIC SAFETY, IT'S A LOFTY GOAL, BUT WE'RE REALLY HOPING TO TAKE ON COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN REALLY, UM, BIG, UH, WAYS THAT GET TO PARTICULARLY THOSE VOICES THAT, UM, HAVE TRADITIONALLY BEEN UNDERREPRESENTED IN OUR COMMUNITY.

ALL RIGHT, COUNSELOR POOL.

THANKS, MAYOR MARY.

I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH THAT YOU'RE TAKING ON THIS.

IT'S, IT'S REALLY, UM, A LOT OF DILIGENT WORK IN HERE, AND THERE'S A LOT OF OPENINGS FOR PEOPLE TO GET ENGAGED, UH, SHARE THEIR CONCERNS OF HER STORIES AND THEIR IDEAS AS WE'RE ALL WORKING TOWARD A BETTER FUTURE ON, IN POLICING IN OUR CITY.

I WANTED TO ALSO NOTE THAT EACH ONE OF US AS COUNCIL MEMBERS CAN ALSO ENGAGE OUR SPECIFIC DISTRICT COMMUNITIES, UM, TO, UM, GET THEIR FEEDBACK TOO.

AND TO THAT END, UM, NATASHA AND I ARE, ARE LOOKING AT HAVING THAT SORT OF A FOCUS GROUP.

UM, NEXT WEEK, I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE IN SEPTEMBER.

WE WERE LOOKING AT DOING THAT NEXT MONTH, BUT THINGS ARE THERE'S TOO MUCH GOING ON TO TRY TO SPECIFICALLY TALK TO DISTRICT SEVEN AND DISTRICT ONE ABOUT THEIR PARTICULAR ISSUES.

AND I FULLY INTENDED THEN TO FEED THIS INFORMATION BACK INTO THE LARGER GROUPS SO THAT ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE ABLE TO COMPILE CAN, UM, BE ADDED TO THE GRID COMPETITION THAT YOU'RE ALSO WORKING ON AND LEADING.

SO I IMAGINE OTHER, OTHER, EXCUSE ME, FOR SOME REASON, I JUST GOT SOMETHING STUCK IN MY THROAT.

EVERYBODY ELSE WOULD PROBABLY BE DOING THINGS LIKE GIVING IT BACK TO YOU AS WELL.

I APPRECIATE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER.

AND ACTUALLY ONCE WE FINISHED THE, UM, THE PILOT SESSION, WE HOPE TO PACKAGE THAT AND OFFER THAT, SHARE THAT HOPEFULLY IF THAT IS USEFUL TO, UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS, AS YOU DO ENGAGEMENT, BECAUSE WE'D LIKE TO GET SOME CONSISTENCY ON THE FEEDBACK, BUT THERE COULD BE OTHER WAYS TO DO IT.

YOU KNOW, ANECDOTALLY I'LL SHARE THAT, UM, IN MY FORMER CITY, IF SOMEONE HAD TOLD ME THAT I'D BE ABLE TO MOVE MINIMUM WAGE FORWARD AND DO 26 LISTENING SESSIONS AND GET COUNCIL TO APPROVE IT IN UNDER A YEAR, I WOULD HAVE, UM, CALLED SOMEBODY A LIAR.

AND, UH, I BELIEVE SPENCER, THE CITY MANAGER KNOWS AS WELL CAUSE HE LOST HIS DEPUTY FOR ABOUT A YEAR AS WE DID THIS.

IT WAS ALL I DID.

AND HE HAS ENCOURAGED ME TO THINK ABOUT SHIFTING THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES CURRENTLY TO REALLY FOCUS ON PUBLIC SAFETY.

I KNOW THAT THIS IS IMPORTANT.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU AS A COUNCIL, BODY IS IMPORTANT TO COMMUNITY.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO US AS STAFF.

AND SO WE WILL DO ALL THAT WE CAN TO BE AS ACCOUNTABLE AS WE CAN BE.

UM, BUT IT ALSO MEANS SORT OF THINKING ABOUT THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTINUE TO HAVE, UM, ENGAGEMENT WITH COMMUNITY AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

SO KNOW THAT WE HAVE, UM, PLAN TO TAKE ON THE LESSONS THAT WE LEARNED FROM THIS PILOT SESSION AND SHARE THAT WITH, UM, YOUR OFFICES.

AND AS WE HAVE ADDITIONAL TOOLS ON ENGAGEMENT, WE WILL DO THAT AS WELL.

COUNCIL MEMBER, THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT.

UM, AND, AND I JUST WANT TO EXPRESS IT BECAUSE WE'VE ASKED A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND, AND PUSHED A LOT HERE.

UH, JUST MY CONFIDENCE.

AND I KNOW IT'S SHARED BY SO MANY OF US IN, IN YOU DEPUTY MANAGER, UH, LEADING ON THIS AND THE CITY MANAGER ASSIGNING YOU TO, TO, TO LEAD ON THIS WORK.

AND I THINK MANY OF THE SUGGESTIONS COME JUST BECAUSE IT'S, UH, IT'S SO IMPORTANT.

AND I THINK HAVING A COUNCIL VOTE, UH, AT THE END OF THE BUDGET THAT SORT OF SOLIDIFIES THE SORT OF CALENDAR OR WORK PLAN CAN SHOW THAT WE'RE ALL COMMITTED TO DOING THIS TOGETHER, BUT I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK YOU'RE PUTTING INTO THIS COUNCILOR FLANIGAN.

AND, AND TO THAT END, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK EVERYTHING WE'RE SAYING TODAY IS STUFF YOU WEREN'T ALREADY THINKING ABOUT.

[04:20:01]

AND SO I'M ACKNOWLEDGING THAT TOO, BUT IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT THE COUNCIL IS ALSO THINKING ABOUT IT.

SO, YOU KNOW, WITH IT, WITH THAT SPIRIT, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I ALSO WANT TO BE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT ENGAGING IN A PROCESS THAT IS TRYING TO REINVENT THE VERY LONG STANDING WORK THAT BLACK AND BROWN LED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS HAVE BEEN DOING FOR A LONG TIME, A LONG TIME BEFORE ANY OF US USED A LOT OF THE WORDS WE'RE NOW USING, OR MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY USE THE WORDS THEY'RE ARE NOW USING AND MAKING SURE THAT THAT, THAT HARD WORK IS CENTERED BECAUSE I THINK A LOT OF THE CHALLENGES AND QUESTIONS MAY HAVE ALREADY BEEN ANSWERED, UH, THROUGH THE WORK OF THOSE GROUPS, UH, PO UH, UH, UH, UH, UH, ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU.

WHEN I CAME ON A COUNSELOR, I REALLY WAS PUSHING FOR COMMUNITY POLICING THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS GOING TO BE, UH, BE ABLE TO SOLVE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE HAVING OVER HERE.

UH, IT WORKED REALLY WELL IN MY COMMUNITY WHEN WE IMPLEMENTED IT ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO, UNDER CHIEF WATT, MRS. UH, CHIEF WATSON.

AND SHE, UH, SHE IMPLEMENTED THAT COMMUNITY POLICE, AND THEN WE RAN WITH IT AND, UH, AND IT WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL.

YOU KNOW, WE USED TO HAVE DRIVE-BYS AND IN A PLEA, AND THE PEOPLE WERE AFRAID TO CALL THE POLICE.

CAUSE, YOU KNOW, THERE WERE INCIDENTS WHERE YOU CALL THE POLICE AND YOU GET THE ONE ENDED UP GETTING SHOT KILLED.

AND THOSE WHO ARE KIND OF THINGS THAT WOULD HAPPEN TO YOU OVER HERE ON THE EAST SIDE AND THROUGH COMMUNITY POLICING, WE WERE ABLE TO, UH, YOU KNOW, GET THE POLICE OUT.

WE HAD, WE HAD VERY GOOD PROGRAM.

WE HAD OFFICERS THAT WORK WITH OUR KIDS.

WE HAVE POLICE, I STICK A RAPPER THAT HAPPEN WITH THE KIDS ON THE SIDE.

SO THERE WAS A LOT OF WORK AND A LOT OF OUTREACH, BUT, AND THAT WAS WHEN I GOT ON THE CONSOLE.

I THOUGHT MAYBE WE COULD, WE COULD REPLICATE THAT AROUND THE CITY AND OTHER PARTS THAT WERE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE PLACE, BUT IT JUST, I COULD NEVER GET IT GOING.

AND AFTER THAT, THEY WERE JUST TOO MANY INCIDENTS WITH POLICE, A COMMUNITY THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY LOST THE TRUST THAT WE HAVE WORKED SO HARD TO, TO BUILD.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT JUST TAKES ONE OR TWO OFFICERS TO REALLY, REALLY CREATE THIS BIG PROBLEMS, YOU KNOW? AND, UH, UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED AND HAPPENING HERE.

AND FOR SOME REASON, THERE JUST NO MATTER WHAT, WE TRIED THE ACADEMY ON TRAINING OFFICERS JUST DIDN'T WORK.

AND, UH, YEAH.

AND THERE WAS SOME OFFICERS OR THAT JUST DIDN'T WANT TO BE TOLD THAT YOU WORKING FOR THE COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOT WORKING FOR THE UNION OR YOU'RE NOT WORKING FOR, YOU KNOW, YOUR BROTHERHOOD, YOU WERE ACTUALLY GETTING PAID BY THE COMMUNITY.

AND, AND W WE NEED TO REALLY JUST LOOK AT THAT AND, AND REMIND THE OFFICERS THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S OUR, HER HARD EARNED TAX DOLLARS THAT WE PAY EVERY YEAR IS PAYING YOUR SALARY.

AND WE WANT THE RESPECT THAT WE DESERVE AS EVERYBODY ELSE, YOU KNOW, AS PEOPLE OF COLOR HAVE ALWAYS BEEN, YOU KNOW, LOOKED DOWN UPON THEM AND THE POLICE, WE ALWAYS FELT THAT THE POLICE WERE THE TOOLS TO KEEP US OPPRESSED.

AND THAT'S THE WAY I, YOU KNOW, WE GREW UP HERE IN THE EAST SIDE THINKING CONSTANTLY.

AND I, YOU KNOW, WE FINALLY GOT COMMUNITY POLICE IN HERE MEYER MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND, AND WE HAD A VERY GOOD RELATIONSHIP, BUT I SEE THAT GOING DOWN AND, AND WE REALLY NEED OUR STAFF TO COME BACK WITH A GOOD PROGRAM AND PLEASE COME WITH A CALENDAR SO THAT WE CAN SEE, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S, UH, WHAT W WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING.

SO THE COMMUNITY CAN ALSO SEE IT.

WE'LL DO COUNCIL MEMBER COLLEAGUES, ANYTHING BEFORE WE GO TO EVERY MANAGER.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR.

I DID HAVE A QUICK CALL.

CATS ARE TURBO.

SPOT, BUT I HOPE THAT EITHER YOU OR A NEW MANAGER AT SOME POINT IN TODAY'S DISCUSSION, OR PERHAPS PERHAPS NEXT WEEK WILL HELP US UNDERSTAND YOU.

UM, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER.

I APPRECIATE YOUR, I APPRECIATE THE PROCESS THAT YOU'RE ENGAGING IN AND THE CONTENT AND REALLY THE PERSPECTIVE THAT YOU'RE BRINGING TO IT, OF, OF MAKING SURE THAT IT IS CENTERED COMING FROM THE COMMUNITY.

UM, I THINK THAT'S REALLY, AS YOU'VE ARTICULATED, JUST SO, SO IMPORTANT.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT APPROACH AND FOR THE CARE THAT YOU'RE TAKING TO REACH OUT TO ALL OF OUR, ALL OF OUR OFFICES AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE INFORMED, UM, AND YOUR OPENNESS TO HEARING WAYS IN WHICH THAT WE CAN ASSIST IN GETTING THE WORD OUT AS YOU MOVE FORWARD.

I KNOW IT'S VERY, I DON'T WANT TO PUT YOU ON THE

[04:25:01]

YOU MENTIONED A COUPLE OF TIMES THAT THE KINDS OF CONVERSATIONS YOU'RE HAVING AT THE LEADERSHIP TEAM ARE VERY IN LINE.

AND SOME OF THE SAME IDEAS THAT YOU'VE SEEN POSTED ON THE MESSAGE BOARD HAVE COME UP IN YOUR OWN STAFF CONVERSATIONS.

AND SO I HOPE THAT YOU CAN HELP US.

UM, YOU IDENTIFIED A FEW OF THEM.

I THINK THE FORENSIC LAB WAS ONE, THE PARKS POLICE WAS ANOTHER, AS WE DISCUSS, UH, EITHER TODAY OR NEXT WEEK, THOSE MORE SPECIFIC PROPOSALS.

I HOPE THAT YOU WILL, UM, PROVIDE US WITH YOUR STAFF RECOMMENDATION ON WHETHER THOSE, WHETHER THE, IF THERE ARE THINGS THAT YOU'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT, I APPRECIATE THAT WE WANT THE COMMUNITY TO BE ENGAGED.

THERE'S JUST A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK TO DO THOUGH.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, I, I AM REALLY INTERESTED IN TALKING ABOUT AND SUPPORTING SOME OF THOSE PROPOSALS AND MOVING FORWARD DURING THIS BUDGET PROCESS.

AND SO I HOPE THE STAFF WILL, WILL HELP US.

AND WE'LL CHIME IN AS, AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THOSE AND LET US KNOW HOW THEY ALIGNED WITH THE CONVERSATIONS YOU'VE ALREADY BEGUN.

I APPRECIATE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER TOBO.

AND I THINK THAT WE, UM, WILL, UH, AS WE HAVE SEEN THAT NOW ON THE MESSAGE BOARDS MORE AND MORE, CAUSE WE HAD NOT NECESSARILY SEEN ALL THE IDEAS THAT WERE HAPPENING AND REALLY ACTUALLY SOME EXCITING NEW IDEAS THAT, UM, ARE INTERESTING TO EXPLORE.

UM, WE AT THE MOMENT HAVE PERHAPS MORE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS TO THAT, UH, IN TERMS OF HOW AND THE DYNAMICS AND THE MECHANICS OF SHIFTING THINGS OVER, BUT WE ABSOLUTELY WILL TAKE THE OPPORTUNITIES, UM, TO ENGAGE IN CONVERSATION ON SOME OF THESE IDEAS THAT WE SEEM TO, UM, BE VERY ALIGNED WITH IN THE FUTURE.

SOME OF THOSE WE WILL, WE ARE, UH, THINKING ABOUT HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH COMMUNITIES AND OTHERS, AS I NOTED.

AND PERHAPS YOU NOTED ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO ADMINISTRATIVELY, AND IT'S A MATTER OF FIGURING OUT ALL THE MOVING PIECES AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

SO WE WILL CERTAINLY CONTINUE TO CONVERSE WITH YOU AS A BODY AND MAYOR, THAT'S A GREAT TRANSITION IF WE'RE OPEN TO IT.

BUT GOING BACK TO WHEN I WAS LAYING OUT THE GOALS FOR THIS AFTERNOON SESSION, UH, TO NOT JUST TALK ABOUT WHAT SOME OF THOSE IDEAS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN POSTED BY YOUR COLLEAGUES, BUT THEN ALSO THINGS THAT MAY BE BROUGHT UP FOR THE NEXT WORK SESSION.

AND SO BEFORE WE GO TO PULL ITEMS, I WANTED TO AT LEAST CREATE A SPACE FOR THE COUNCIL TO BE ABLE TO AIR SOME OF THOSE PUBLIC LEAVES SO WE CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION AROUND THEM.

SO WE'LL OPEN UP THE CONVERSATION BROADLY ON BUDGET BEFORE WE GO AND DO A PULL ITEMS ON SOME, OUR KITCHEN.

I THINK I SAW THIS ON THE, UH, ON THE BUDGET.

I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO, UM, HEAR FROM THE CONSULTANTS ON THE HOMELESS, UH, REPORT, I THINK THAT'S SCHEDULED FOR NEXT WEEK.

UM, I THINK THAT, THAT, UM, I'M WANTING TO UNDERSTAND HOW OUR BUDGET ALIGNS WITH THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS, UNDERSTANDING OF COURSE, THAT WHERE THAT I DON'T, I DON'T THINK WE'VE GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE WE'RE FUNDING ALL RECOMMENDATIONS AT THIS POINT WE'RE ALIGNED, UH, WITH, SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING THAT CONVERSATION CAUSE WE'RE ALTAR.

UM, I ALREADY MENTIONED THIS TO ADD, BUT I WOULD, UM, LIKE TO HAVE, UM, DR.

S SCOTT, UH, PRESENT AT OUR NEXT WORK SESSION, UM, TO TALK WITH, UH, THROUGH, WITH US THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER, UH, POSITION, UM, AND TO BEEF UP THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR'S OFFICE TO ALLOW US TO BETTER MEET THE PUBLIC HEALTH NEEDS ACROSS THE EMS AND PUBLIC HEALTH AND FIRE.

UM, AND I THINK HE WOULD BE, UH, THE APPROPRIATE STAFF PERSON TO HELP US TO, TO UNDERSTAND THE POSSIBILITIES THERE ON A LARGER SCALE, UH, FOR OUR CITY.

UM, AND THEN I POSTED THIS MORNING, SOME AMENDMENTS THAT, UM, I'M OFFERING ALONG WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS, ELLIS TOVO POOL AND HYPER MADISON.

AND I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN CHIMED IN THAT SHE ALSO SUPPORTED WITH RESPECT TO EMS AND PROVIDING, UM, ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TMS TO MEET COVID NEEDS AND THE NEEDS OF OUR BREWING CITY.

UM, SO PERHAPS WE CAN HAVE EMS THERE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT, UM, SOME OF THOSE NEEDS ARE AND, AND, AND HOW, HOW THESE KINDS OF PROPOSALS WOULD, WOULD HELP IN THAT DIRECTION.

UM, AND I'VE MENTIONED THE OFFICE OF, OF, UH, VIOLENCE PREVENTION.

I THINK THAT'S, UM, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OTHER FOLKS ALSO MENTIONED IT AND I KNOW THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE WANTED TO WORK ON THAT.

UM, AND WE'LL WORK TOWARDS HAVING A MORE CONCRETE.

[04:30:05]

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER AND YOUR CO-SPONSORS FOR, OR YOUR GROUP FOR PUTTING THE EMS PROPOSAL TOGETHER.

I THINK IN PRIOR MEETINGS WE'VE MANY OF US, MYSELF INCLUDED HAVE EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR THOSE EMS, UH, INVESTMENTS.

AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD SPENCER TO, TO NAILING DOWN THE FUNDING SOURCES FOR THAT.

I THINK GIVEN THE PANDEMIC THAT WE'RE IN ADDING RESOURCES TO EMS 11 MONTHS FROM NOW IS PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH FOR US.

UM, SO I'M VERY INTERESTED IN FIGURING OUT HOW TO, HOW TO ADJUST THE BUDGET TO ACCOMPLISH THAT GOAL.

UH, THOSE INVESTMENTS FOR EMS, UM, I MAY HAVE MISSED WHAT YOU SAID TO MANAGER.

ARE YOU WANTING US TO LAY OUT WHAT WE POSTED ON THE MESSAGE BOARD YESTERDAY? I THINK THAT WOULD CERTAINLY BE A GOOD USE OF THIS TIME.

IF YOU'RE WILLING TO, AGAIN, IT'S ON THE MESSAGE BOARD, SO IT'S PUBLIC, BUT THIS IS A CHANCE TO HAVE YOUR COLLEAGUES ASKING YOU QUESTIONS IF THEY HAD ANY, OR TO AT LEAST SAY THAT THIS IS A DISCUSSION ITEM YOU WANT TO BE HAVING AT THE NEXT WORK SESSION.

NEW FACILITY OPENED IN APRIL, UH, CREDIT TO ALL THE STAFF FOR, FOR PULLING THAT OFF.

WELL, IF IT'S OKAY WITH YOU, MAYOR, I WILL GO AND TALK ABOUT MY TWO PROPOSALS.

I POSTED TWO PROPOSALS ON THE MESSAGE BOARD YESTERDAY.

UH, ONE IS A SIGNIFICANT RESTRUCTURING OF HOW WE ORGANIZE PUBLIC SAFETY ASSETS THAT ARE CURRENTLY ALLOCATED TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

UM, UH, YOU CAN READ THE LONGER VERSION OF THAT ON THE MESSAGE BOARD.

AND I HOPE I HOPE EVERYONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT.

UM, THIS TYPE OF STRUCTURAL CHANGE IS OBVIOUSLY NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN FINALIZE IN TWO WEEKS.

AND SO NO ONE I THINK IS SAYING THAT YOU CAN MAGICALLY WAVE A WAND AND ANSWER EVERY QUESTION IN THAT TIMEFRAME.

HOWEVER, I DO THINK THERE'S A LOT OF SIGNIFICANT VALUE IN THINKING THROUGH POLICING AND PUBLIC SAFETY RESOURCES IN A DIFFERENT WAY, AND BY CREATING THESE ADDITIONAL DEPARTMENTS OR, OR RE OR RESTRUCTURING IT IN THIS WAY, YOU CAN HAVE A MORE CIVILIAN LEADERSHIP BECAUSE THE WAY THE STATE LAWS WRITTEN ABOUT, UH, CHIEFS, IT ACTUALLY DOESN'T USE THE WORD CHIEF.

IT SAYS DEPARTMENT HEAD.

AND SO YOU CAN, UH, ELIMINATE SOME OF THE, UM, HIGHER LEVEL SWORN LEADERSHIP BECAUSE YOU CAN THEN REPLACE THEM WITH CIVILIANS AS LONG AS IT'S THE DEPARTMENTS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

AND THEN THAT, SO THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF COST SAVINGS THERE BY GOING FROM SWORN TO CIVILIAN AND BETTER OVERSIGHT, I THINK IN LARGE PART, BY GOING SWORN TO CIVILIAN.

AND THEN, UH, IN ONE CASE CREATING AN A CIVILIAN LED DEPARTMENT, THAT'S THE EMERGENCY COMMS, UH, SECTION, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE NOT JUST NINE ONE AND TECH, BUT ALSO, UH, DATA ANALYTICS AND FORENSICS AND OTHER THINGS.

AND I THINK THIS IS COMPATIBLE IN LARGE PART WITH WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER KASAR HAD POSTED, UH, WHERE HE TALKED ABOUT, UH, CERTAIN AREAS WANTING TO BE MOVED OUT.

AND SO ONE WAY TO DO THAT IS THROUGH THE PROPOSAL THAT, THAT I HAVE PUT TOGETHER.

AND THERE ARE CERTAINLY MULTIPLE WAYS THAT WE MIGHT ACCOMPLISH THIS IN TERMS OF SEQUENCING.

WE MIGHT, A STAFF MIGHT DECIDE THAT THE BEST WAY TO ACCOMPLISH IT AS ONE AT A TIME WHERE YOU CREATE ONE DEPARTMENT AND YOU STILL LEAVE AN AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHILE YOU SET THAT ONE UP, THEN YOU BREAK OFF ANOTHER PIECE, MOVE IT.

SO I'M, I'M CERTAINLY OPEN TO THAT LEVEL OF ANALYSIS FROM STAFF AND REALLY FIGURING OUT THE RIGHT WAY TO IMPLEMENT WHAT IS ULTIMATELY A SIGNIFICANT CONVERSION OF HOW WE MANAGE FROM CREATING MORE CIVILIAN LEADERSHIP IN KIND OF A CHAIN OF COMMAND SITUATION.

UH, BUT ALSO BY BEING IN SEPARATE DEPARTMENTS, WE CAN BE MORE IN LINE WITH WHAT THE MAYOR PRO TEM PUT TOGETHER IN HER METRICS RESOLUTION, WHERE YOU CAN HAVE A DIFFERENT SET OF METRICS FOR EACH OF THESE DEPARTMENTS, AND THAT WILL BETTER DRIVE ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE AND HOW DECISIONS ARE MADE BY MANAGEMENT IN MY PROPOSAL.

I ALSO SAY THAT THE DEPARTMENT I SUGGEST TO HANDLE, UH, UH, WHAT IS CURRENTLY NEIGHBORHOOD POLICING AND PATROL RESOURCES SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE TACTICAL SWAT BOMB SQUAD, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, UM, THAT THE LEADERSHIP OF THAT DEPARTMENT BE IN LINE WITH THE PROPOSAL I HAD DAYLIGHTED TO THE PUBLIC EARLIER, WHERE YOU HAVE, UH, EACH OF THE FOUR REGIONS PLUS DOWNTOWN COMMAND, WHICH ARE CURRENTLY LED BY A COMMANDER THAT THOSE FIVE COMMANDERS OPERATE AS A GROUP WITH ONE TECHNICALLY DESIGNATED DEPARTMENT HEAD IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH STATE LAW.

BUT THAT WAY YOUR PATROL RESOURCES ARE ALSO REPRESENTED BY SOMEWHAT OF A TEN ONE STYLE GEOGRAPHIC COUNSEL WITH THE FIVE COMMANDERS THAT YOU GET MORE DIVERSITY AND A MORE BROADER PERSPECTIVE THROUGH THE KIND OF DATASTAGE LEADERSHIP DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE IN, IN THAT BUCKET.

SO THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF, A LOT OF DETAIL THAT HAS TO BE FIGURED OUT IN ORDER TO FULLY IMPLEMENT THE PROPOSAL.

UM, AND SO, YOU KNOW, IT MAY NOT BE SOMETHING THAT IS, AS I SAID EARLIER TODAY, I'S DOTTED AND T'S CROSSED BEFORE NEXT WEEK'S ADOPTION, BUT SOMETHING I THINK IS A SIGNIFICANT MOVEMENT TOWARDS ACCOMPLISHING SOME OF THE OTHER IDEAS.

THAT'S ONE PROPOSAL.

THE OTHER ONE'S A LITTLE MORE STRAIGHTFORWARD.

UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE CURRENT SITE OF THE APD HEADQUARTERS, WHICH WAS ALSO THE FORMER SITE OF THE MUNICIPAL COURT, WE ALREADY TOOK CARE OF MUNICIPAL COURT.

THAT

[04:35:01]

AND MY NOW FORMER JUDICIAL COMMITTEE COLLEAGUES, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POOL CASARA, AND WE PRETEND, AND THEN A CUSTOMER OF OUR MEDICINE FOR MOVING THE MUNI COURT, UH, AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND ALEX GILL AND THE REAL ESTATE DEPARTMENT HAD A BIG ROLE IN THAT TOO.

UM, BY, UH, THAT SIDE HAS ALREADY BEEN IDENTIFIED PRIOR AS SOMETHING THAT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REDEVELOPMENT.

I THINK THIS PUBLIC SAFETY RE-IMAGINING CONVERSATION, THERE'S ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPEDITE THE CURRENT REMAINING STAFF THAT EXISTS ON THAT SITE, MOVING THEM INTO OTHER FACILITIES THAT ARE EMPTYING OUT BECAUSE WE HAVE BUILT NEW FACILITIES AND MILLER.

WE HAVE A NEW PDC BUILDING, WE'VE GOT THE AG BUILDING THAT'S COMING ONLINE.

SO WE'LL HAVE OFFICES THAT ARE EMPTY.

AND, UH, AND FOR THE PUBLIC, YOU KNOW, IN SOME CITIES, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS ALSO SERVES AS A BOOKING FACILITY OR A JAIL THAT IS NOT TRUE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE PARTNER WITH THE COUNTY FOR THOSE FACILITIES.

AND SO THIS IS ULTIMATELY RIGHT NOW, JUST OFFICES.

AND SO THERE'S NO REASON WHY THAT COULDN'T BE MOVED INTO ANOTHER FACILITY THAT FRANKLY, WHERE THE BUILDING IS SAFER OR THE BUILDING HAS BETTER WORKING CONDITIONS, UH, NOT A BUILDING THAT IS VERY MUCH AT THE END OF ITS USEFUL LIFE.

MY PROPOSAL IS TO EXPEDITE THAT PROCESS DEMOLISH THE BUILDING AS WE WERE PLANNING TO DO ANYWAY, AND THEN INITIATE A PUBLIC PROCESS, A COMMUNITY LED PROCESS TO DESIGN A WAY TO LEVERAGE THAT ASSET FOR, UH, TO HELP ADDRESS HISTORIC INEQUITIES FOR THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND TO SUPPORT FUTURE BLACK COMMUNITY ECONOMIC SUCCESS.

GIVEN THAT PROPERTY'S LOCATION DOWNTOWN IT'S PROXIMITY TO THE WATER, THE GREENWAY AND THE FUTURE BEARING OF , UH, IT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO REPRESENT SOME PRETTY SIGNIFICANT, UH, VALUE AND ASSET FOR THE PUBLIC.

JOHN'S, UH, THIS ONE HAD A, WILL HAVE A MUCH DIFFERENT SYMBOLIC MEANING, BUT I THINK CAN RESULT IN A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT ASSET IN A PLACE THAT ULTIMATELY MIGHT BE, UH, INSTEAD OF A BARRIER TO EAST AUSTIN, A GATEWAY TO IT.

THOSE ARE MY TWO PROPOSALS.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

UM, AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT HAVE PUT THEIR INFORMATION ON THE MESSAGE BOARD.

I THINK THAT'S REALLY HELPFUL FOR SOME OF US WHO MAY NOT BE IN SUB FORUMS TO BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT EVERYBODY'S WORKING ON.

UM, WE ARE WORKING ON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT SHEETS.

I KNOW, UM, PARKS FOUNDATION HAS ASKED FOR MORE FUNDING.

OBVIOUSLY OUR PARK SPACES ARE CHERISHED PLACES IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE FEEL ARE UNDERFUNDED.

SO WE ARE TAKING A LOOK AT THAT AND ALSO LOOKING AT THE ROLE OF PARK RANGERS, I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER POOL, BUT ALSO PUT THAT SPECIFICALLY IN HER POSTS.

UM, SOMETHING WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE HEARD, IF YOU'RE NOT IN A DIFFERENT SUB QUORUM AND, UM, AND LOOK AT THE ROLE OF PARK RANGERS BE SEEN IN CITATIONS, UH, WITHIN OUR PARK SYSTEMS. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON, UM, AND ADDRESSING THE USES OF CLEAN COMMUNITY, KNOWING THAT THE CLEAN CREEPS RESOLUTION, UM, CONTINUES TO MOVE ALONG.

AND WE WANT TO PUT OURSELVES IN A GOOD POSITION TO USE THIS BUDGET, TO ADDRESS LITTER, ABATEMENT STREET, BEING, UM, THINGS BETWEEN RESOURCE RECOVERY, PARKS, UH, WATERSHED PROTECTION, TO LOOK AT THAT FEE AND WHAT USES IT'S SET UP FOR.

AND THEN WE ALSO HAD LED ON THE SAFE STORAGE CAMPAIGN A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, AND THEY WERE PRETEND HAD ALSO HAD ONE.

UM, I THINK THEY WERE A COUPLE OF WEEKS APART.

SO I KNOW THERE'S SOME WORK WITH THE GUN SAFETY TASK FORCE, UM, THAT I APOLOGIZE, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR.

I HAVEN'T MADE MY WAY ALL THE WAY TO EUROPE, BUT, UM, I LIKE THE IDEA OF YOUR OFFICE OF VIOLENCE, VIOLENCE PREVENTION, AND WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH YOU ON THAT.

AND YOU MAY HAVE A COUPLE IDEAS THROUGH OUR RESEARCH WITH SAY STORAGE SPECIFICALLY, UM, THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO EITHER HAPPEN PARALLEL OR IN CONJUNCTION WITH THAT.

SO I JUST WANTED TO, UM, TOPICS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON AND APPRECIATE COUNCILOR BROKER'S LEADERSHIP FROM THE EMS ITEMS THAT, UM, WE'VE ALSO BEEN ABLE TO ASSIST HER COUNSELOR POOL.

THANKS MAYOR.

UM, I PUT UP MY PROPOSALS FOR DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION ON THE APD CHANGES ON THE MESSAGE BOARDS.

SO THAT'S ALL THERE.

EVERYBODY WAS SEEING.

I APPRECIATE THE ADVOCATES IN THE COMMUNITY, WORKING CLOSELY WITH ALL STAFF, AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HIGHLIGHT THE WORK THAT THEY HAD ALREADY DONE SO THAT I CAN SEE THE WORK, SEE THAT WORK AND THEN ADOPT PIECES OF IT, KNOWING THAT OTHER PIECES, UM, TAKEN ON BY OTHERS ON THE DAYAS.

I HAVE ADDITIONAL BUDGET AMENDMENTS, UM, THAT I'LL BE PUTTING UP ON THE MESSAGE BOARD TO JUST BASICALLY BRIEFLY, UH, WORKING WITH, UM, AN AFD STAFFING, UH, MOORE'S CROSSING FIRESTATION.

WE NEED SOME ADDITIONAL FTES FOR AN AERIAL

[04:40:01]

LADDER AND MAINTENANCE, UM, EMS, UH, WORKING, UH, PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ASSOCIATION AND PRESIDENT XI.

CO-SPONSORING THE ASKS FROM THE UNION WITH A COUNSELOR WILL ALTER WORKING ON SOME, UH, ADDITIONAL PIECES OF IT WITH PENCIL, KITCHEN, AND ALSO THE LS.

UH, THERE ARE SOME ADJUSTMENTS THAT WE'RE MAKING TO THE QUESTS AND WE'LL BE PRESENTING THOSE, UM, PART OF THE PARK'S RANGERS AS COUNCILMEMBER ELLIS MENTIONED, LOOKING AT THOSE ALSO OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE ON TRAILS CHILDCARE AT THE REC CENTERS.

I'VE BROUGHT THAT IN PAST YEARS, I'LL BE BRINGING THAT ADDITIONAL MONEY FOR THAT.

AND AGAIN, BRINGING MONEY AGAIN THIS YEAR FOR FACILITY REPAIRS, AND LET'S SEE PART WATERSHED WORKING, UH, THE WORKFORCE FIRST PROGRAM THAT I, UH, BROUGHT LAST YEAR, I'LL BE BRINGING SOME ADDITIONAL INCREASES TO THAT.

SO WE CAN DO THAT GOOD WORK AND, UH, THE ABORTION ACCESS LOGISTICS PROGRAM THAT WE FIND NEARED LAST YEAR WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF SAW THAT I HAVE FOUND I WILL BE BRINGING ADDITIONAL MONIES FOR THAT ITEM, ALSO PUBLIC HEALTH.

SO FOR ME, I APPRECIATED, UH, UM, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, THE PART OF YOUR PRESENTATION THAT TALKED ABOUT MORE THAN JUST, UM, UH, POLICING AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND TAKING A LOOK AT THE STRATEGIC DIRECTION, UH, HAVING TO DO WITH, UH, EQUITY, UH, UH, MORE BROADLY THAN THAT.

AND I THINK THAT THIS IS REALLY THE TIME TO BE LOOKING AT THE CITY REALLY FROM TOP TO BOTTOM IN TERMS OF EVERYTHING THAT THE CITY DOES.

UH, SO I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE WHAT THOSE INITIATIVES ARE AND YOU END UP BUDGET CYCLE LIKE THIS, WHETHER THAT LEADS TO DIFFERENT PRIORITIZATIONS WITHIN DEPARTMENTS, UH, ALL DEPARTMENTS, UM, TWO IN PARTICULAR, STAND OUT TO ME RECOGNIZING THAT THERE'S NO, THERE'S NO CIVIL JUSTICE WITHOUT, UH, ECONOMIC JUSTICE.

UH, SO THE CONVERSATIONS THAT RELATE TO, UM, THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND PROGRAM THAT HAVE COME BACK TO US, UH, BECAUSE THAT I THINK IS, UH, ARE ONE OF THE NECESSARY WAYS YOU START ADDRESSING, UH, WE'RE OFTEN IN INCOME INEQUALITIES IN THE CITY.

THERE'S A PROPOSAL IN FRONT OF US NOW FROM, FROM WORKFORCE, UH, SOLUTIONS.

UH, AND THEN, UH, BEYOND THAT, I THINK THAT, UH, IN THE SAME THING IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UH, CHILDCARE, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THAT, UH, LATER THIS WEEK.

UH, BUT THAT IS PERHAPS ONE OF THE CHIEF ROADBLOCKS IN THIS CITY, AS IN MANY CITIES FOR PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO, UM, UH, GET JOBS AND TAKE JOBS AND GET EDUCATION OR GET SKILLS AND INTO, UH, ADVANCED THEIR FAMILIES.

SO, UH, I THINK THAT, UH, ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW, GIVEN WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE VIRUS, UH, WE'RE REALLY IN DANGER OF LOSING WHAT CHILDCARE INFRASTRUCTURE WE HAVE AS A CITY.

UM, SO I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT RELATES TO, TO POTENTIAL FUTURE CARES FUNDING VERSUS, UH, OTHERWISE.

BUT I THINK IT'S REGARDLESS WHERE THAT MONEY COMES IN, IT'S GOTTA BE SOMETHING THAT WE ARE, WE FIGURE OUT HOW TO, TO, TO, TO BE ABLE TO RESOLVE.

AND THEN THE LAST ONE IN TERMS OF, AND THERE'LL BE LOTS OF OTHER EXAMPLES, AGAIN, AS YOU'RE LOOKING AT EQUITY THROUGHOUT THE CITY IS IN A HEALTH CARE DELIVERY.

AND I KNOW THAT QUESTION HAS COME UP.

THERE'S CERTAIN THINGS WE DO AND THAT WE DON'T DO THE WAY HEALTH CARE AT OUR STATE HAS BEEN PROVIDED.

BUT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT USING THIS MOMENT TO REALLY LEVERAGE WHAT WE DID IN THE CITY WITH RESPECT TO HEALTH INEQUITIES, LONGER TERM HEALTH INEQUITIES, AND USING THIS OPPORTUNITY.

I THINK I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT AND IT'S PROBABLY HAPPENING.

I JUST HAVEN'T SEEN IT, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS REAL IMPORTANT PRIORITY FOR THE CITY AS WELL, TO RECOGNIZE THE INEQUALITIES WE'RE SEEING IN SUSCEPTIBILITY AND FIGURE OUT HOW LONGTERM START CHANGING THOSE, THOSE UNDERLYING , I'VE POSTED THREE AMENDMENTS, UH, TO THE MESSAGE BOARD AS WELL.

UH, THE FIRST ONE RELATES TO, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT WHICH SECTIONS OF THE POLICE BUDGET WE WANT TO SEPARATE.

AND I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER FLANAGAN IS PROPOSING SOMETHING REALLY SIGNIFICANT.

AND I, AND, AND I'M SUPPORTIVE OF MAKING THAT KIND OF SIGNIFICANT CHANGE.

UM, BUT INTERNAL AFFAIRS IN PARTICULAR BEING SEPARATED, I THINK, IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD MOVE ON WITH ALL SWIFTNESS AND POTENTIALLY THE, UH, THE SIU AS WELL TO PROVIDE INDEPENDENCE.

UH, UH,

[04:45:01]

THIRD AMENDMENT IS ABOUT MOVING, UH, FORENSICS OUT, WHICH WE'VE JUST HAD A CONVERSATION FOR SO LONG AND HAS BEEN ADVOCATED.

AND THE CITY MANAGER, AND ONLY ADD THAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE METHOD BOARD AND ADDITIONAL IDEAS FORMULATE, POST THEM TO THE MESSAGE BOARD.

UM, AT A NATIONAL LEVEL, UH, BY NATIONAL SCIENTISTS FOR SO LONG THAT I THINK WE CAN JUST MOVE CORE WITH ONE SWIFT BLEED.

UH, AS COUNCIL MEMBER FLANAGAN SAID, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE TO PASS A BUDGET AND EXPECT THAT THERE IS A NEW DEPARTMENT HEAD AND THAT EVER THAT, THAT ALL THE SHIFTS HAVE HAPPENED BY DAY ONE OF THE FISCAL YEAR.

BUT I THINK SINCE OUR BUDGETS ARE A PLANNING DOCUMENT, I WOULD WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT THAT MEANS IT'S HAPPENING IN THE COURSE, THIS BUDGET IN THE COURSE OF THIS YEAR.

UH, MY SECOND AMENDMENT, UH, THAT I POSTED, SORRY, WENT OUT OF ORDER JUST CAUSE I THINK NOW THAT I SAY IT OUT LOUD, IT MAKES SENSE TO BUCKET THOSE TWO TOGETHER, UM, IS, UM, NOT HAVING THE NEXT, UH, THREE, UH, SETS OF CADET CLASSES THAT ARE PLANNED.

THERE'S A Q AND A POSTED THAT KEEP, THAT HAS A SMALLER LEVEL OF BUDGET SAVINGS ASSOCIATED WITH IT.

AND I'D BE INTERESTED IN HAVING THE BUDGET OFFICE AND THE MANAGER CLEAR UP.

I THINK WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT IS IF WE DON'T HAVE THOSE CLASSES AND THEN DON'T FILL THOSE POSITIONS, I THINK THERE'S PROBABLY MORE OF A SALARY SAVINGS.

BYE THAN WHAT'S CURRENTLY LISTED.

I JUST MEAN IF WE JUST DON'T HAVE THOSE CLASSES AT ALL AND DON'T FILL THOSE POSITIONS, WE GENERALLY HAVE BEEN CALCULATING AT ABOUT A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS WORTH OF SALARY AND BENEFITS FOR PER POSITION.

SO PROBABLY A NEARLY $20 MILLION, UH, REALLOCATION.

AND, UH, I THINK THAT WE SHOULD REALLOCATE THAT MONEY TO, UH, THINGS THAT PREVENT HARM AND PREVENT VIOLENCE, SPECIFICALLY, TWO THINGS THAT IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY.

WE TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF THOSE IN COMMITTEE AND IN COMMUNITY, AND WE HAVEN'T ADDED A FAMILY VIOLENCE SHELTER BED IN YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS, WE SHOULD DO THAT.

OUR SERVICES FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING AND HOMELESSNESS, THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION AS A COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR AND OTHERS HAVE MENTIONED.

AND I THINK WE SHOULD REALLY FOCUS ON THINGS LIKE GUN VIOLENCE, INTERVENTION, UM, AND PREVENTING VIOLENCE AND HARM THAT SURROUNDS SEX WORK AND AGAINST SEX WORKERS AND OTHER EVIDENCE BASED FORMS OF, OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION, UH, IN THAT AMENDMENT THAT I WROTE, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, PROVIDE DIRECTION THAT SOME OF THOSE REALLOCATED DOLLARS AWAY FROM THEM POLICING, UM, ARE DIRECTED TO AREAS OF THE CITY THAT FACE THAT VIOLENCE OR INEQUITY OR POVERTY OR PUBLIC SAFETY CHALLENGE.

I THINK, UM, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND, AND FOR US TO ACT IN A WAY THAT SHOWS THAT THIS IS ABOUT REDUCING HARM AND REDUCING VIOLENCE, UM, AND THAT, UM, AND THAT, THAT IS A BIG PART OF WHY WE'RE TRYING TO CHANGE PUBLIC SAFETY.

SHE BUDGETS IT BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE THINGS SAFER.

UM, AND SO IN PART I WOULD TO SEE THAT REDIRECTION OF DOLLARS REALLY GO TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES OF VIOLENCE AND HARM.

SO THOSE ARE THE PRIMARY THREE AMENDMENTS I'VE FLOATED, BUT I KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHERS OUT THERE AND, AND, AND I GENERALLY AM SUPPORTIVE, UM, AND, AND WANT TO WORK TOGETHER WITH YOU GUYS TO, TO LAND IT.

THAT'S A MEMBER OF KITCHEN AND COUNCILOR FLANIGAN.

UM, WELL, AS YOU ALL KNOW, I'VE, I'VE ALREADY BEEN, UM, UH, MAKING THE, UM, MOVING FORWARD ON THE, UM, PROPOSED, UH, ADDITIONAL DOLLARS FOR, UM, THE, UH, FIRST RESPONSE FOR MENTAL HEALTH CALLS AND CALLS AND MENTAL HEALTH DIVERSION INITIATIVE.

SO THOSE DOLLARS ARE REFLECTED, UM, IN THE, UM, IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET.

UM, I WILL HAVE A BUDGET RIDER THAT SPEAKS TO SOME ADDITIONAL DETAILS AROUND THAT PROGRAM, UH, SPECIFICALLY, UM, THINGS RELATED TO, UM, DATA ANALYSIS AND, UM, AND EVALUATING, UH, IMPACTS, UM, AS WELL AS THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT COMPONENT OF IT THAT WE, UH, INCLUDED, UH, DOLLARS FOR.

UM, AND THEN I, AS COUNSELOR PULL MENTIONED, I'LL BE WORKING WITH HER ON, UM, BUDGET AMENDMENT RELATED TO ADDITIONAL DOLLARS FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH, UM, COMMUNITY HEALTH PARAMEDICS, THE THINKING BEING THAT THOSE PARAMEDICS CAN BE OF ASSISTANCE WITH OUR HOMELESS POPULATION, UM, AND, UH, POTENTIALLY, AND COULD ALSO BE AN ASSISTANCE TO, UM, MENTAL HEALTH CALLS, UM, TO, TO, UH, TO SUPPLEMENT THE PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE.

SO, AND, UM, I APPRECIATE WHAT EVERYONE ELSE IS BRINGING FORWARD.

UM, LOOK FORWARD TO DISCUSSIONS ON THOSE.

I SUPPORT, UM, WHAT MANY OF YOU ARE INGESTING AND, UM, HAVE COME IN AND ON THE, UM, UH, ACTUALLY SUPPORT THE DIRECTION THAT ALL OF THESE ARE GOING IN.

AND, UM, I HAVE, UM, COMMENTED ON THE MESSAGE FORWARD, UH, MY REQUEST TO BE PART OF THE, UM, THE, UH,

[04:50:01]

UM, YEAH, I WANTED TO JUST ADD TWO THINGS.

ONE COMES NUMBER ALTAR BROUGHT UP THE PUBLIC SAFETY OUTSIDE OF POLICE.

AND I THINK, UM, HAVING A PUBLISHED SCHEDULE OF BUDGET AMENDMENTS, THE WAY IT COMES FROM CASAR HAS INCLUDED IN HIS MESSAGE WORK POST, WHICH I THINK A LOT OF US HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE I THINK THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE CAN START REALLY DIGGING INTO MORE THAN JUST GETTING INTO FIRE AND EMS AND AGAIN, TO CODE ENFORCEMENT, WHICH, WHICH IS A KIND OF UNSCRUTINISED, BUT NEEDS SCRUTINY AREA OF CITY TO, OF A, OF THE CITY RIGHT NOW.

SO I'M EXCITED TO DO THAT WORK TOO, UM, ON THE, ON THE CADET CLASSES.

UM, YOU KNOW, I, I THINK THERE'S A, THERE'S AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION TO HAVE WITH THE COMMUNITY ABOUT WANTING TO, TO REITERATE, AT LEAST FOR ME TO REITERATE THAT THESE DECISIONS THAT WE'RE MAKING AND THIS SHIFT AND RE-IMAGINING IS, IS, IS, UH, NO WAY INTENDED TO LEAVE A NINE 11 CALL UNANSWERED.

AND SO THE HARDEST PART OF THIS IS HOW DO YOU, HOW DO YOU FIND THE MONEY TO STAND UP A WHOLE NEW PROGRAM WHILE YOU DON'T, YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU MAKE THAT TRANSITION AS A HARD IS A HARD QUESTION.

SO I'M COMFORTABLE WITH SAYING THAT THE, THE, IN THE CONTEXT OF THE REVIEW OF THE TRAINING ACADEMY, BUT THAT IS NOT TO A PLACE THAT I AM COMFORTABLE WITH TO HAVE A NOVEMBER CLASS.

SO I'M DEFINITELY COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.

MY SUGGESTION IS THAT CLASSES BEYOND NOVEMBER, UM, THAT WE KIND OF PUT IN A HOLDING PATTERN UNTIL WE CAN COMPLETE AND HAVE COMFORT WITH THE REVIEW OF THE TRAINING MATERIALS AND THE PROCESS OF THE TRAINING ACADEMY.

IN PART, THIS IS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE REGULAR ATTRITION FROM OUR DEPARTMENT AND THOSE NUMBERS MIGHT GO UP OR DOWN IN WHAT OTHER, WHATEVER WAYS WE WANT.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE PARTS OF, OF, OF WORK THAT STILL REQUIRES SWORN OFFICERS, BUT FOR LEGISLATIVE CHANGES, THERE WILL STILL BE WORK THAT REQUIRES SWORN OFFICERS.

AND IF WE HAVE A TRAINING ACADEMY THAT WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT, THEN WE'RE GOING TO WANT NEW CADETS COMING IN AND ALLOWING OLDER OFFICERS WHO MAYBE DON'T FEEL THAT THEIR APPROACH TO POLICING IS WHERE THE DEPARTMENT IS HEADED TO LAW, ALLOW THEM A GRACEFUL EXIT.

UM, AND SO I, I WANT TO KIND OF RESERVE MY SUPPORT FOR THE FUTURE CADET CLASS DECISION, BUT I ALSO DON'T WANT TO GO AHEAD AND PRE SPEND THAT MONEY KNOWING WE'RE GOING TO DO IT.

IT'S ALL FOR ME, BASED ON THE REVIEW OF THE TRAINING MATERIALS AND THE ACADEMY PROCESS ALTERED.

THANK YOU, MARY.

I JUST WANTED TO UNDERSCORE YOUR CONCERN FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR, UM, CHILDCARE, UM, ACTIONS THAT ARE IMPORTANT, PARTICULARLY UNDER COVID.

UM, AND ALSO, UM, THE WORK THAT WORKFORCE IS DEVELOP WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS IS DOING, UM, AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A RELATIVELY SMALL INVESTMENT THAT WOULD GET US STARTED ON REALLY, UM, RATCHETING UP OUR, OUR WORKFORCE TRAINING.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING ELSE THAT I'M, UM, LOOKING AT IT I'VE BEEN HOLDING ON THAT, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF TRAVIS COUNTY IS FUNDING IT, UM, FIRST, UM, WHICH WOULD BE PREFERABLE IN MY, MY VIEW, UM, TO GET US STARTED IN THAT.

UM, BUT, BUT I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S IMPORTANT.

MMM.

I'M EXCITED TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS.

UM, AND I HOPE THAT, YOU KNOW, AS WE HAVE THEM THAT WE CAN ASK QUESTIONS AND TRY TO UNDERSTAND THINGS WITHOUT IT PRESUPPOSING WHERE WE ARE ON SOMETHING, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF UNANSWERED QUESTIONS.

UM, AND I WANT TO UNDERSCORE THE COMMENTS THAT ONE OF, UM, MY COLLEAGUES MADE EARLIER, I'M REALLY INVITING THE STAFF.

IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS OR ISSUES THAT WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT A PARTICULAR DIRECTION THAT WE MIGHT BE GOING, EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE ANSWERS, WE NEED YOU TO SURFACE, UM, THE QUESTIONS, UM, SO THAT WE, WE THINK ABOUT IT.

UM, I ALSO LIKED THE SUGGESTION THAT COUNCILMAN FLANAGAN IS SUGGESTING THAT EVEN IF WE DO IDENTIFY CUTS, UM, OR POSSIBLE CUTS, THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO SPEND ALL THE MONEY IMMEDIATELY, UM, AS WE MOVE THROUGH BUDGET, UM, THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO THINK THROUGH, TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MAKING A PRIORITIZED CHOICE, UM, MOST EFFECTIVELY, ANYTHING ELSE AS WE WRAP UP, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE DISCUSSION TODAY AND ERIN, SOME OF THESE IMPORTANT IDEAS OUT THERE, I'M GOING TO ASK CFR DEPUTY OR DEPUTY CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER HAS ANY CLOSING REMARKS, BUT WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ON THESE IDEAS AS YOU PUT THE AMENDMENTS FORWARD

[04:55:01]

WE'LL GET THEM FROM THERE.

AND OF COURSE I'M ALWAYS AVAILABLE IF I WANT TO TALK TO ME DIRECTLY ABOUT SENIOR MANAGER.

THANK YOU, UH, COLLEAGUES, UH, THAT GETS US TO

[A. Pre-Selected Agenda Items (Part 2 of 2)]

THE LAST TWO, UH, UH, ITEMS, UH, THAT WE HAVE, UH, THE FIRST ONE PULLED ITEM 74, YOU HEARD ON THE 29TH RELIEF ENTERPRISES OF TEXAS MAYOR.

AND, UM, UH, I JU I'VE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS AND WE'LL PROBABLY HAVE FURTHER CONVERSATIONS ABOUT IT, UH, THIS EVENING, BEFORE IT COMES UP TOMORROW.

UM, THIS HAS TO DO WITH, UH, OUR CONTINUED, UH, EFFORTS TO PICK UP TRASH, UH, AROUND THE CAMPS OF FOLKS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, OBVIOUSLY THERE'S MAJOR, UH, ISSUES.

AND IT KEPT BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE, WHEN A PERSON IS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, THEY DON'T HAVE TRASH SERVICE LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.

UM, AND SO, UM, WE'VE HAD PRIOR CONVERSATIONS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THESE CONTRACTS, UH, WORK TO PICK UP TRASH, UM, WHICH, AND LITTER, WHICH EVERYBODY AGREES WITH.

UM, BUT PEOPLE ARE, SHOULD NOT BE TREATED POORLY.

AND, UH, AND PEOPLE'S PERSONAL, LIKE THEIR MEDICINE OR, UM, THEIR ID AND OTHER THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THEM ARE NOT TRASH.

UH, WE'VE HEARD SOME, YOU KNOW, AMOUNT OF COMMUNITY CONCERN ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THE CONTRACT THAT WE'VE BEEN EXECUTING ACHIEVE THOSE.

UM, UH, I'VE TALKED PRIVATELY WITH SOME MEDICS AS WELL AS SERVICE PROVIDERS, UM, WHO HAVE FOUND THAT SOME OF OUR PROCESSES IN THEIR VIEW CREATE TENSION AND STRAIN AND, AND, AND ARE SOMETIMES COUNTERPRODUCTIVE TO OUR GOALS.

AND SO, UM, I'M GLAD THAT WITH THIS CLASS CONTRACT, IT SEEMS THAT THE STAFF HAVE PUT IN STRICTER AND BETTER PROTOCOLS TO MAKE SURE THIS IS ABOUT PICKING UP LITTER AND NOT ANYTHING ELSE.

UM, UH, BUT I STILL, I STILL HAVE QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS.

SO ONE IDEA THAT I'M GOING TO BE WORKING ON WITH THE STAFF AND WANT IT TO AIR IT NOW IS THAT WE HAVE ANOTHER PROGRAM, WHICH ALSO PICKS UP LITTER AND TRASH.

AND THAT IS MORE OF A PROGRAM WHERE WE PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE LIVING UNDER BRIDGES OR IN ENCAMPMENTS TO THROW AWAY THEIR OWN STUFF.

UM, AND FOR US TO PROVIDE THE LEVEL, YOU KNOW, SOME LEVEL OF TRASH SERVICE, UM, BECAUSE THAT'S PART OF THE BIGGEST REASON WHY THERE IS TRASH ONE, OBVIOUSLY YOU DON'T HAVE A KITCHEN AND OTHER THINGS THAT, UM, A LOT, YOU DON'T HAVE A LOT OF PACKAGING THAT IS, UM, THAT'S A CHALLENGE THAT OBVIOUSLY DON'T HAVE TRASH SERVICE.

SO THE CONVERSATION THAT I INTEND TO HAVE TONIGHT, AND TODAY I TRY TO BRING FORWARD SOMETHING TOMORROW IS CAN WE SHIFT SOME AMOUNT OF THE FUNDS FROM THESE PROGRAMS THAT SEEM TO CREATE SOME TENSION BECAUSE IT IS, IS, UM, PEOPLE SHOWING UP EXCITING, WHAT IS A LITTER AND WHAT IS NOT, COULD WE POTENTIALLY SHIFT SOME AMOUNT OF THAT MONEY OVER TO GETTING OUR PURPLE BAGS AND, AND OTHER, UH, VOLUNTEERING PROGRAMS TO A GREATER LEVEL OF SCALE.

AND THEN CAN WE SEE HOW THAT GOES? BECAUSE MY HOPE AND WHAT I'M HEARING FROM FOLKS ON THE GROUND, UM, IS THAT IF PEOPLE ACTUALLY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE SPACE TO CLEAN UP THEIR OWN AREA, BETTER, THAT PEOPLE DO.

UM, AND, UH, AND I THINK THAT THEN, UH, PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR A WHILE FOR PEOPLE TO SHOW UP, UM, TO PICK THINGS UP, WHICH ALSO CREATES TENSIONS.

AND SO I, I HAVE BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF INCREASING THE LEVEL OF TRASH PICKUP, UM, AS IT RELATES TO ENCAMPMENTS, I'LL CONTINUE TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO DO IT EFFECTIVELY AND POTENTIALLY REALLOCATE SOME OF THE MONEY FROM THE, UM, FROM THE CONTRACTORS, UM, AND MOVE SOME OF IT TO THE, TO THE MORE, UH, VOLUNTARY MODEL, UM, THAT WE SHOULD BE WORKING, BUT MAY NEED SCALE.

AND SO I JUST WANTED TO RAISE THAT, BUT I DON'T HAVE A PARTICULAR PROPOSAL, UH, AT THIS MINUTE BECAUSE, UM, MORE AND MORE STAFF ARE REACHING OUT TO MY OFFICE TO TRY TO SORT THAT OUT COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN.

UM, I AGREE THAT I AGREE THAT WE NEED TO LEARN FROM HOW WELL OUR PROGRAM, OUR PURPLE BAG PROGRAM IS WORKING, UM, THE PURPLE BAG PROGRAM FOR THOSE WHO AREN'T FAMILIAR IS SORT OF THE NAME GIVEN TO MAKING AVAILABLE, UM, TRASH RECEPTACLES

[05:00:01]

AND, UM, OTHER BAGS SO THAT PEOPLE CAN, UH, CAN, UH, YOU KNOW, GET RID OF THEIR OWN TRASH.

SO, UM, BUT I, I WOULD BE VERY CAUTIOUS ABOUT REALLOCATING MONEY OR REDUCING MONEY.

WHAT I WOULD RATHER DO IS SAY THAT THIS IS A, THIS IS A PROGRAM, THIS IS ONE PROGRAM, AND WE NEED TO EMPHASIZE WHEREVER WE CAN, THAT PEOPLE HAVE THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEED, THE RESOURCES THEY NEED, UH, TO CLEAN UP.

SO, BUT I, I DON'T THINK THIS IS A, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK THAT THESE THING, WELL, I WANT TO BE SURE THAT WE DON'T CHARACTERIZE THIS AS AN EITHER OR, AND WE ALSO DON'T, UH, CHARACTERIZE IT AS, UM, AS, UM, YOU KNOW, AS A CONFLICT IN ANY WAY, TRY TO DO THAT COUNCIL MEMBER CASSARA.

BUT I THINK THAT THERE ARE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH IT'S HELPFUL FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE, UM, ARE LIVING IN CERTAIN PLACES, UM, TRASH PICKUP.

UM, AND SO, UM, I THINK THAT THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

AND SO I, I'M NOT, UH, I'M GOING TO BE MORE INTERESTED IN, UM, NOT REDUCING THIS.

I COULD SEE US, YOU KNOW, MAKING IT A ONE YEAR INSTEAD OF A THREE YEAR CONTRACT.

I COULD SEE US DOING EXPLICIT, UM, UH, DIRECTION TO STAFF TO PROVIDE US SPECIFICS ON WHICH PARTS OF THIS PROGRAM OR, UH, MAKING SUPPLIES AVAILABLE AND WHICH PARTS ARE ACTUALLY HAVING FOLKS GO OUT AND HELP WITH CLEANUP.

SO, SO THAT'S WHAT I'D BE LOOKING FOR.

THE OTHER THING THAT I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT IS WRITTEN POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ABOUT HOW THESE PROGRAMS OPERATE, WHICH I HAVE NOT SEEN, AND THEY'RE NOT IN BACKUP.

SO I WOULD ASK STAFF TO MAKE THAT AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE.

SO WE CAN, ALL WE ALL ARE OPERATING OFF OF NOW IS, IS CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW THIS IS SUPPOSED TO WORK AND HOW WE HAVE SEEN IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES IT DOESN'T WORK.

SO, UM, SO WE REALLY NEED TO SEE WRITTEN POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, AND I THINK THEY NEED TO BE IN BACKUP.

UM, I APOLOGIZE IF I'VE MISSED SOMETHING THAT WAS RECENTLY SENT TO ME.

I HAVEN'T NOTICED IT IN MY, I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING IN MY, UH, IN MY BOX, BUT I DO THINK IT NEEDS TO BE, UM, IN BACKUP.

SO I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT IN, IN THE HAND AND GLOVE WITH THIS IS, IS THE STORAGE ISSUE.

SO PART OF THE PROBLEM THAT PEOPLE HAVE IS THAT, UM, THEY MAY, THEY MAY WELCOME THE ASSISTANCE OF OUR CITY TO COME AND CLEAN UP, BUT THEY MAY NOT HAVE A WAY TO, TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR EVERYONE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS PROPERTY THAT NEEDS TO BE NO KEPT OR STORED.

SO I THINK WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND HOW THAT WORKS WITH THIS.

ALSO, I ALSO WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT KIND OF RECOMMENDATIONS WERE MADE, UH, AS PART OF OUR WORK OF OUR, UM, OF OUR, UM, INSULTANT, UM, TO THE EXTENT BECAUSE THEY FOCUSED ON THESE, UM, ISSUES.

I THINK IT'D BE HELPFUL TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE MUTED.

AND THE SERVICE, UM, OF, OF THE LITTER PICKUP, WHICH I THINK WE'VE BEGUN TO DO AT A, AT A GREATER SCALE.

DID YOU WANT TO RESPOND TO MISCUT KITCHEN FIRST, GREG? HOW, HOWEVER YOU WANT, YOU WERE CALLING IT'S OKAY.

I CAN, I CAN DO NEXT.

WELL, YOU MAY ANSWER MY QUESTION.

SO WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD.

NO, I, I, UM, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I, I, I AGREE ENTIRELY WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN, UH, AS IT RELATES TO, UH, STORAGE AND I AGREE ENTIRELY WITH COUNCILMEMBER KITCHEN THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE, UH, REDUCING, UH, TRASH PICKUP BUDGETS.

I THINK THAT THE QUESTION I'M GOING TO TRY TO SORT OUT AND BRING IDEAS FOR TOMORROW IS THE RATIO OF THE BUDGET AS IT RELATES TO A MORE VOLUNTARY, UH, TRASH SERVICE PROGRAM VERSUS THE, UM, THE CONTRACTOR TRASH PICKUP PROGRAM AND WHAT, UM, AND SO, SO I THINK THAT THAT IS A OUTSTANDING ISSUE.

UM, SO, UM, I WANT TO JUST SAY THAT SEPARATE FROM THIS ITEM, MY STAFF HAS ALSO BEEN ASKING FOR SOME CLARITY ON, UM, DOCUMENTATION, AND I THINK WE WOULD, UM, ALL BE SERVED, UM, BY KNOWING EXACTLY WHAT SHOULD AND SHOULD NOT HAPPEN.

UM, WHEN WE'RE DOING THIS KIND OF, OF LITTER CLEANUP.

UM, I WANTED TO SUGGEST THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, I SEE THAT IT WOULD BE GREAT TO STEP UP, UM, THE VOLUNTARY, UM, TRASH OPPORTUNITIES

[05:05:01]

I'D LOVE TO SEE THAT ADDITIONALLY, BUT, BUT I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE US, UM, MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS CONTRACT AND MAKE THAT A YES, AND THAT DOES SEEM KIND OF OUT OF THE SCOPE OF THE CONTRACT, UM, AND THE POSTING.

UM, AND I, AND I WOULD HATE FOR US TO, UM, NOT BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS.

WE HAD ONE CONTRACT, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE SAME CONTRACT, BUT WE HAD ONE CONTRACTOR, UM, DECIDE NOT TO CONTINUE ANYMORE, UM, THAT SOME VERY LONG DELAYS ON TOP OF COVID, UM, DELAYS.

UM, AND I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD TO SEE THIS CONTRACT MOVE FORWARD.

I'D BE HAPPY, UM, TO WORK WITH YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CASSARA TO SEE HOW WE CAN, UM, INCREASE THOSE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES, WHICH I THINK ARE VERY VALUABLE.

SO I WOULD LIKE THIS TO BE, I GUESS, AN WHICH I THINK IS WHAT BOTH OF YOU HAVE SUGGESTED YOUR, YOUR STRIVING STRIVING FOR ANYBODY ELSE ON THIS ITEM.

THE LAST ITEM WE PULLED AS A ZONING ITEM FOR FLANAGAN, YOU PULLED THIS, THANK YOU MAYOR.

UM, THIS ONE IS AS A CASE IN MY DISTRICT, AND IT'S, UH, IT'S A PART IT'S IN THIS AREA THAT IS GOT SOME VERY ODD AND EXECUTIONS.

IT'S KIND OF A WEIRD PATCHWORK.

UH, LITERALLY PARTS OF THIS AREA LOOKED LIKE A CHESS BOARD WHERE IT IN, OUT IN, OUT IN, OUT AS YOU GO ALONG SIX 20 AND THE STREET THAT THIS PROPERTY IS ON BUCKNER ROAD IS A, IS ESSENTIALLY A DEAD END STREET THAT HEADS INTO LIMITED PURPOSE.

SO THIS ISN'T EVEN FULL PURPOSE JURISDICTIONS, LIMITED PURPOSE JURISDICTION.

UM, THE CURRENT PROPERTY IS KNOWN SF TO THE APPLICANT'S ASKING FOR GR, UM, THIS IS NOT A NEIGHBORHOOD STREET.

THIS IS A STREET WHERE THERE IS A TON OF AUTOMOTIVE USES AND BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BEEN BUILT IN CONSISTENT WITH ANY OF THE ZONING THAT EXISTS IN THAT AREA.

THERE'S A LOT OF DR.

UH, AND COUNCILMEMBER ALTER KNOWS HOW MUCH DR.

THERE IS OUT IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD, UH, STUFF GOT BUILT AND THEN IT WAS ANNEXED.

AND SO IT'S JUST NOT, IT'S NOT SOMETHING WHERE THE OLD PLANNING PRINCIPLES OF WHY ARE, IF YOU'VE GOT US AT TWO, YOU SHOULD KEEP US UP TO REALLY APPLY.

IT HONESTLY REMINDS ME OF A STREET IN COUNCIL MEMBER COOLS DISTRICT THAT I FIRST HEARD ABOUT DURING THE NORTH SHORE CREEK, A NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN ON BLACKWELL AVENUE WHERE THERE'S A WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD AROUND IT.

BUT THIS ONE STREET, THE COMMUNITY ACKNOWLEDGES IS A PLACE WHERE THEY WANT KIND OF LIGHT INDUSTRIAL AND AUTOMOTIVE USES AND THINGS.

IT SEEMS VERY MUCH SIMILAR TO WELL AVENUE, BUT JUST OUT ON SIX 20.

SO IT'S UNCLEAR TO ME THE, THE, THE PREMISE UNDER WHICH STAFF IS DENYING THIS ZONING REQUEST, BECAUSE IT JUST SEEMS SO IN LINE WITH EVERYTHING THAT EXISTS IN THAT AREA, ON, ON BUCKNER THAT THE COMMUNITY IS COMFORTABLE WITH.

HANG ON A SECOND.

I WAS, I'M WONDERING IF STAFF WAS HERE, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER YOU'RE YOU'RE CORRECT HODGEPODGE USES, AND THE FACT THAT THIS IS ON THE VARIOUS LIMITS AND THAT, UM, A LOT OF THE USES WERE BUILT BEFORE, UM, THE CITY AT X TIME, AND THEREFORE THEY'RE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE.

UM, THE REASON THAT WE ARE NOT RECOMMENDING AS YOU STATED, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MEET THE CRITERIA CURE ZONING, WHICH IS TYPICALLY AT, UM, AT LEAST ON A VERY MAJOR STREET OR THE INTERSECTION OF TWO MAJOR STREETS.

THIS IS A 20 FOOT WIDE, UM, NON-CARBON GUTTERED STREETS UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S ALREADY SIMILAR TYPE USES ALONG IT ALL THE STAFF HAS SUPPORTED GR ZONING FURTHER UP CLOSER TO A SIX 20, UH, TO TRY TO MATCH THE, UM, THE DEPTH LINE, IF YOU WILL BE A PROPOSED VOLVO DEALERSHIP, BUT THIS FAR INTO THE, UH, INTO THE STREET OFFICE SIX 20, AND WE FELT WE COULD NOT RECOMMEND IT.

TAILS OF THAT SITUATION WHEN WE, UH, YOU KNOW, PAUSE THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE ISSUE, BUT I AM, UH, SYMPATHETIC TO WHAT, WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

I WOULD JUST SAY, JIMMY, I'D BE HAPPY TO LOOK AT THAT WITH YOU AND, UM, HELP SUPPORT WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO.

I WILL SAY I'M IN MARSHALL CREEK.

WHEN WE APPROVED THE ZONING ON THAT STREET DURING THE, UM, NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN PROCESS, WE DID WHAT THE NEIGHBORS WANTED AND WE ENDORSED WHAT WAS THERE AND WE ENDORSED IT AND WOULD CONTINUE TO BE THAT SPECIAL PLACE BECAUSE IT IS UNIQUE.

BUT THEN WHEN WE CAME IN WITH LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE CHANGES, STAFF WENT IN AND MADE CHANGES ON ONE HALF OF THE STREETS OR WHAT THEY WOULD BE EXACTLY THE SAME ON BOTH SIDES.

AND THAT WAS A COMPLETE, UM, THAT COMPLETELY, UM, UH, OVERTURNED THE AGREEMENT THAT WE HAD AND, AND SUPPORT FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN.

SO, UH, WE WERE STILL TRYING TO MAKE HEADS AND

[05:10:01]

AND IN THESE INSTANCES WHERE NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE GROWN UP AROUND AREAS AND ARE, HAVE EMBRACED THEM AS THEY ARE, I THINK THERE IS A DEBT OF, UM, RESPECT THAT, THAT WE POTENTIALLY CAN OWE TO THE NEIGHBORS WHO ARE ASKING THAT WE NOT GET TOO FAR AFIELD FROM THEIR VISION OF WHAT, OF WHAT THAT PARTICULAR PART OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD SHOULD LOOK LIKE.

THAT'D BE HAPPY JIMMY, TO HELP HIM WITH THAT.

SHOULD YOU NEED ANY OTHER HELP? THANKS.

COUNCILMEMBER POOL.

SO IT'S NOT SO MUCH THAT WE'RE TRYING TO NAVIGATE A COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVE.

IT'S MORE OF A QUESTION ON WHAT ARE THE PRINCIPLES UNDER WHICH WE'RE GETTING RECOMMENDATIONS AND WHY DON'T THEY SEEM TO MAKE SENSE TO ME, UH, MAYBE A REVISITING OF LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE IN SOME DISTANT FUTURE IS GOING TO HELP US COME TO A UNIFIED AGREEMENT ON HOW WE DO THAT.

BUT, UM, I, SO I'LL, I'LL, I'LL TAKE YOUR, YOUR HEALTH, UH, GLADLY, GLADLY, AND, UM, WE'LL TRY TO FIGURE OUT THE BEST WAY TO HANDLE THE PROPERTIES ALONG BUCKNER ROAD.