[Call to Order]
[00:00:04]
UH, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND, UH, CALL TO ORDER TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
TODAY IS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17TH, UH, 2020.
WE'RE HOLDING THIS MEETING, UH, VIRTUALLY.
UM, MAYOR PROTE, DO YOU WANT TO, UM, TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT, UH, HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH AS WE'RE GETTING STARTED? SURE.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THAT HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH AGAIN THIS WEEK, AND I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE CELEBRATION.
THIS YEAR IN PARTICULAR, 2020 HAS BEEN SO CHALLENGING FOR OUR ENTIRE COUNTRY IN SO MANY WAYS.
FOR THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY, WE HAVE ALWAYS FACED DIVERSITY, AND WE HAVE ALWAYS, AND WILL ALWAYS MAKE IT THROUGH THIS YEAR, THOUGH THE WEIGHT OF WHAT WE'RE FACING FEELS ESPECIALLY HEAVY BEING.
EQUITIES WE'VE SUFFERED, SUFFERED IN OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM ARE BEING EXACERBATED BY A PANDEMIC THAT HAS LEFT US DISPROPORTIONATELY VULNERABLE.
THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT OF CITIZENSHIP, THE RIGHT TO VOTE AND CHOOSE.
OUR OWN GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO BE UNDER ATTACK HERE IN TEXAS AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
RACIST AND DIVISIVE POLITICS AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT CONTINUE TO MAKE LATINOS THE OTHER.
RATHER THAN EMPOWERING AND INCLUDING US.
INHUMANE TREATMENT OF MOSTLY LATINA MIGRANTS BY OUR GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE VIOLENCE, IS THREATENING OUR AUTONOMY AND HUMANITY.
IT IS IN PART BECAUSE OF THOSE OVERWHELMING CHALLENGES THAT I'VE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO CELEBRATING HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH THIS YEAR, MORE THAN EVER.
I LOVE THE SENSE OF CONNECTION AND KINSHIP.
I LOVE THAT THIS CONNECTEDNESS GIVES US STRENGTH AND RESILIENCE, AS WELL AS WARMTH, JOY, AND A SENSE OF PURPOSE.
THE INCREDIBLE CONTRIBUTIONS WE HAVE MADE AND CONTINUE TO MAKE WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN OR IGNORED BECAUSE THEY'RE PART OF OUR CITY, OUR STATE, AND OUR COUNTRY.
SO, HAPPY HISPANIC HERITAGE MOVE TO EVERYONE.
UM, I HOPE THAT WE'LL EACH LOOK FOR MEANINGFUL WAYS TO CELEBRATE THIS YEAR.
AND THEN I JUST WANTED TO QUICKLY THANK, UM, SOME ORGANIZATIONS, UH, THE, THE OUR LAW DEPARTMENT AND THE WORK THAT THEY DID TO FIGHT US BEFORE, UM, OUR COLLEAGUES WHO STOOD WITH US AT THE CAPITAL WHEN SB FOUR, WHEN WE ANNOUNCED THAT WE WERE GONNA HAVE THAT LEGAL FIGHT.
UH, SO MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY HAVE COME TOGETHER TO HELP WITH PPE DISTRIBUTION OF MASKS AND SANITIZER, UH, DURING THIS TIME, UH, THE DEL VALLEY COMMUNITY COALITION, THE LATINO COALITION, OUR PUBLIC HEALTH, OBVIOUSLY, COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN, THANK YOU FOR HELPING SPONSOR THE ONE IN OUR DISTRICTS, UH, AND SO MANY, IT'S, IT'S JUST TAKEN A REALLY BIG COMMUNITY EFFORT TO HELP, UM, ADDRESS THE DISPARITIES THAT WE'RE SEEING IN THIS PANDEMIC.
SO THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO CONTINUES TO COME TOGETHER TO SUPPORT OUR LATINO HISPANIC COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING THIS TIME TO MAKE THOSE COMMENTS NEAR ABSOLUTELY, AND IN SO MANY WAYS.
YOU'RE SPEAKING FOR THE ENTIRE COUNCIL.
SO I WOULD JOIN ALL OF OUR, UH, WELCOMING AND RECOGNITION OF, UH, HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH FOLLOWING ONE DAY AFTER, UH, TODAY, ONE DAY AFTER MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS YESTERDAY.
[Consent Agenda]
GOING TO, UH, BEGIN THIS, UH, MEETING.I'M GONNA READ SOME CHANGES IN CORRECTIONS INTO THE RECORD.
ITEMS 2 7 41 45 AND 50, UH, WERE, UM, ALL, UH, UNANIMOUSLY, UH, RECOMMENDED BY THE ELECTRIC UTILITY COMMISSION WITH COMMISSIONER RAY.
ABSENT, UH, ITEM NUMBER TWO, THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED SEVEN ZERO WITH COMMISSIONERS, UM, UH, BEAK AND SMITH OFF THE DIAS.
ABSENT ONE VACANCY ITEMS FOUR AND FIVE, RECOMMENDED BY THE WATER AND WASTE WATER COMMISSION ON THE SEVEN OH VOTE WITH COMMISSIONERS PART WILLIAMS AND FISHER ABSENT.
ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, POSTPONED OCTOBER 1ST, 2020.
ITEM 31, POSTPONED OCTOBER 1ST, 2020.
ITEM 38, WITHDRAWN AND REPLACED BY ITEM 1 0 5 ON THE ADDENDUM.
ITEM NUMBER 62, UH, IN ADDITION TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS FLAT, AGAIN, TOVO POOL AND MYSELF ALSO JOINING US SPONSORS OR COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER.
COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN COUNCIL MEMBER S, COUNCIL MEMBER RENT, COUNCIL MEMBER KAAR AND COUNCIL MEMBER FASHION HARPER MADISON.
UM, BY THE WAY, ON ITEM NUMBER 62, THE BASE
[00:05:01]
MOTION ON THAT SPAN TO BE THE ONE THAT WAS, UH, DISCUSSED ON, ON SUNDAY WITH SOME CHANGES, INCORPORATING AMENDMENTS THAT, UH, UH, WERE, UH, THE GIST OF AMENDMENTS.I THINK WITH RESPECT TO SOME OF THE COLLEAGUES THAT HAD POSTED BEING LEFT OFF, THAT WAS COUNCIL MEMBER POOLS.
UH, THEY'LL BE CIRCULATING AN AMENDMENT TO INCORPORATE THAT.
UH, ALSO, UH, IN THAT, THAT HASN'T ALREADY GONE OUT WOULD GO OUT WIL TERROR.
UH, BUT THAT WAS, THAT WAS SENT OUT TO EVERYBODY YESTERDAY.
I MEAN, WAS SENT OUT TO EVERYBODY THIS MORNING.
AND, UH, BOTH POSTED ON THE MESSAGE BOARD AND EMAILED OUT BY KATIE, UH, THIS MORNING.
DID YOU HAVE, SO, OH, I CAN LOOK ON THE MESSAGE BOARD.
UM, ITEM NUMBER, UH, 69 WITHDRAWN.
UH, ITEM NUMBER 72, UH, IT'S THE EXECUTIVE SESSIONS PRIVATE CONSULTATION FOR LEGAL COUNSEL.
SECTION 5 51 0 7, RUNNING GOVERNMENT CODE.
ITEM NUMBER 89, UH, VALID PETITION HAS BEEN FILED AT OPPOSITION TO THIS ZONING REQUEST.
UH, ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PULLED, UH, ITEM 12 BY, UH, ELLIS, UH, AND ITEM 17 BY, UH, ALTER, UH, 12 AND 17.
TODAY'S CONSENT AGENDA IS ITEMS, HANG ON.
TODAY'S CONSENT AGENDA IS ITEMS ONE THROUGH 64 AND ALSO 95 THROUGH 1 0 7.
UH, THE LATE BACKUP HAS BEEN FILED IN 4 8 11, 13, 14, 17, 21, 31, 57, 58, 59, 61, 62.
UM, ALSO 68, 81, 83, 85, 89, EXCUSE ME, AND 94.
AND ON THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION, WHICH WILL CONVENE LATER ITEMS ONE AND TWO.
UH, AND, UH, ITEM FOUR, UH, WE HAVE, UH, TODAY COLLEAGUES, UM, 58 SPEAKERS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON, UH, THIS MORNINGS ITEMS. UH, OTHER THAT, THAT WOULD BE THE CONSENT, THAT WOULD BE THE NON ZONING ITEMS IN THE NON, UH, HOUSING CORPORATION ITEMS. 58 PEOPLE SIGNED UP.
I THINK THERE'S 40 SOME ODD IN Q.
WE'RE GONNA CALL THOSE SPEAKERS AND GIVE EACH, UH, TWO MINUTES TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK, UH, AND WE'LL CONSIDER THE CONSENT, UH, RESOLUTION, THOSE CONSENT ITEMS. UH, AT NOON, WE HAVE CITIZEN COMMUNICATION, UH, EIGHT PEOPLE TO SPEAK.
UH, CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONS WILL BE THREE MINUTES PER SPEAKER.
THE OTHER SPEAKERS OVER THE COURSE OF THE DAY OR TWO MINUTES, BUT THAT WOULD HAVE US GOING FROM CITIZENS COMMUNICATION TO ABOUT 1230.
UH, AND THEN WE WOULD HAVE LUNCH.
UH, UH, WE COULD, IF COUNCIL IS INTERESTED, GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSIDER OR TO, TO HAVE FURTHER CONVERSATIONS ABOUT, UH, WHAT WE HAD, UH, UH, DISCUSSED ON ON THURSDAY.
UH, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN GOING BACK TO EXECUTIVE SESSION, UH, ON THAT ITEM, UH, LET ME KNOW SO I MAKE SURE THAT WE DO THAT.
SO WE'LL GO BACK INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, UH, PROBABLY ABOUT ONE 30, UH, AND THEN WE'LL COME OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION, UH, AS CLOSE TO TWO.
WE'RE SENDING A SIGN AS WE CAN AT TWO O'CLOCK, UH, OR THEREAFTER, UH, WE CAN TAKE UP THE, UH, ZONING, UH, MATTERS.
IT LOOKS LIKE THERE MAY BE FIVE DISCUSSION MATTERS IN ZONING.
UH, WE HAVE, UH, SPEAKERS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ABOUT 38 PEOPLE HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AT A COUPLE MINUTES EACH.
UH, AND THEN WE CAN CONSIDER THOSE ITEMS. THE AUSTIN, UH, HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION SPEAKERS, UH, WILL BE SHOWING UP, UH, AT THREE 30.
I DON'T KNOW HOW CLOSE TO THAT WE'RE GOING TO ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO GET, UH, BUT THAT'S THE THIRD TRANCHE OF SPEAKERS.
44 PEOPLE AT TWO MINUTES EACH.
UH, AND THEN, UH, MY HOPE IS TO BE ABLE TO TAKE A DINNER BREAK, UH, AROUND, UH, SIX, UH, PM UH, FOR AN HOUR.
UH, AND THEN, UH, WE WILL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE ON.
OBVIOUSLY THESE TIME THINGS ARE GONNA BE A
[00:10:01]
LITTLE BIT LOOSE AS WE SEE HOW LONG WE'RE TAKING IN THE VARIOUS ITEMS, BUT WE HAVE A FULL DAY IN FRONT OF US.UM, SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY.
SO THE CENTRAL HEALTH OVERLAY AND THE AIRPORT OVERLAY HAVE BOTH BEEN WITHDRAWN.
UM, AND THEN, UM, SINCE WE STILL HAVE TO FINISH OUR, UM, EXECUTIVE SESSION ON, UM, 95, YOU SAID THAT WAS ON CONSENT, UM, WE CAN PULL 95 TO, TO TAKE PLACE AFTER THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
CONTINUING ON COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN.
UM, I, I'M GONNA NEED TO PULL SIX TO TWO CAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE, I CAN'T TELL, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THE AMENDMENT THAT I BROUGHT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE BASE.
IT WAS, UM, WE'LL POINT THAT OUT TO YOU.
I DIDN'T, DIDN'T SEE IT ON THE MESSAGE BOARD, BUT I JUST LOOKED REAL QUICK, SO, OKAY.
I'LL HIGHLIGHT THAT AND SEND THAT TO YOU.
KATHY, YOU HAVE THAT CHIP VOICE AGAIN? NO, CAN'T HEAR YOU.
AND KATHY'S PROBABLY GONNA, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU NEED TO GO OUT AND COME BACK.
YOU'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE, UM, LESLIE, WHILE KATHY'S FIGURING THAT OUT, UH, COUNCILWOMAN POOL, UM, ITEM 62 IS PULLED FOR SPEAKERS ANYWHERE, RIGHT? SO I THINK YOU HAD THAT ON THE LIST OF POLLS.
62 IS NOT ON CONSENT, RIGHT? I MEAN, IT'S ON CONSENT, BUT WE'VE PULLED IT OFF CONSENT.
WE'VE PULLED 62 OFF CONSENT FOR SPEAKERS AND FOR DISCUSSION AMENDMENTS, SPEAKERS WILL ALL BE SPEAKING IN THE INITIAL GROUP.
UM, I ALSO WANTED TO DRAW EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION TO THE EMAILS WE'VE BEEN GETTING ON AFC ITEMS ONE AND TWO.
I WAS, I AM PREPARED TO PULL THOSE, ASK THAT THEY BE, UM, POSTPONE FOR ADDITIONAL, UM, INFORMATION BEING, UM, ASSEMBLED ON THAT.
BUT WE DO HAVE EITHER 58 OR 44 SPEAKERS ON A AGENDA, UM, ADDRESS.
HOW MANY ARE ON THAT? I HEARD FIRST I HEARD 58 UNIT THOUGHT I HEARD YOU SAY 44.
AT ANY RATE, THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PEOPLE SPEAKING ON THE H C, UM, AGENDA, AND I BELIEVE THEY'RE ALL FOCUSED ON ITEMS ONE AND TWO.
AND THOSE WERE THE TWO PROBABLY FROM FOLKS BECAUSE TO SPEAK TODAY, BUT I AM PREPARED TO JUST
AND I THINK THE BULK OF THOSE ARE ON ITEMS ONE AND TWO, IS THAT RIGHT? THAT WOULD BE MY GUESS.
SO WHAT I PROPOSED IS YOU GO AHEAD AND LISTEN TO FOLKS AND, UM, AND SEE WHAT THAT DISCUSSION SOUNDS LIKE.
BUT I, I WILL BE HAPPY TO MAKE A MOTION TO POST ON THAT ITEM SO ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY CAN BE HEARD AND, UM, ABSORB.
WE'LL GET TO THERE WHEN WE GET TO THE AUSTIN FINANCE CORPORATION MEETING.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER? YES, COUNCIL MEMBER ALICE FIRST, THEN COUNCIL MEMBER RENTER.
I KNOW THAT YOU DID MENTION THAT ITEM 12 WOULD BE, UM, PULLED TO GO WITH 67, I BELIEVE IT IS.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO DRIVE EVERYONE'S ATTENTION.
THERE IS AN EMAIL FROM KATIE AND A POST ON THE MESSAGE FOR WORKED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER FLA AGAIN TO INCORPORATE SOME OF THE IDEAS AND CONVERSATIONS WE HAD ON TUESDAY.
SO I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT SO PEOPLE HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW IT BEFORE THAT ITEM COMES UP.
[00:15:11]
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? YES, GO AHEAD.WELL, ON THE HOUSING, I, I, I REALLY WANNA HAVE THEM MAKE THAT PRESENTATION.
YOU KNOW, UH, I THINK THERE WAS SOME MISINFORMATION OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.
UH, YOU KNOW, THESE, UH, THERE'S SOME IMAGINE ART, IT'S NOT, IT'S, UH, FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE EXTREME DISABILITIES AND ARE TAKING CARE OF BY, OF THEIR, BY THEIR PARENTS RIGHT NOW, BUT THEY, THEY'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM.
THEY'RE, UH, THIS TIME HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THESE, THESE PEOPLE AND SOME OF THEM ARE EVEN ALREADY CREATIVE PEOPLE AND, AND WE NEED TO START SERVICING THIS POPULATION OF PEOPLE THAT WHEN THEIR PARENTS DIE, THEY BECOME WARD OF THE STATE AND, AND, UH, WE'RE JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO KEEP THESE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY BE PRODUCTIVE AT THE SAME TIME AND HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE STAFF MADE THAT PRESENTATION BEFORE WE GET STARTED ON ANYTHING.
AND MAY I ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH THAT.
WE, IT'S CLEAR THAT THERE IS, UM, A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION AS TO THE, UM, THOSE TWO ITEMS. AND I AGREE AS MUCH INFORMATION AS WE CAN GET OUT TODAY, INCLUDING HEARING FROM FOLKS, BUT MAYBE THAT WE WILL NEED TO POSTPONE THE, THE, UH, ANY KIND OF ACTION TO ALLOW THAT INFORMATION TO BE ABSORBED AND ANY ADDITIONAL S IN THAT, THAT WOULD BE IRONED OUT.
WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GOING TO GET STAFF TO SPEAK AND THEN WE'LL LISTEN TO THE SPEAKERS AND THEN WE CAN DECIDE WHAT TO DO.
THAT'LL BE IN THE HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION MEETING THAT WILL BE CONVENING, UH, UH, A LITTLE BIT, UH, A LITTLE BIT LATER.
MAYOR, CAN I TRY AGAIN? YES, GO AHEAD.
KATIE, CAN YOU HEAR ME IN YES.
SO I'VE LOST TRACK OF, OF A FEW THINGS.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST IF THEY'RE NOT ALREADY PULLED, IT WASN'T CLEAR TO ME WHAT THE END RESULT OF SOME OF THESE CONVERSATIONS WHERE I'D LIKE TO PULL 62.
AND I WAS STARTING TO SAY I HAD CIRCULATED AN AMENDMENT TO MY AMENDMENT AND I WILL HAVE TO LOOK AT YOURS TO SEE WHAT CHANGES MIGHT BE NECESSARY.
BUT I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR STAFF ABOUT SOME THEIR, SO I DO NEED TO TALK ABOUT THAT ISSUE.
UM, 18, I KNOW I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER PULLED 95 FOR AFTER EXECUTIVE SESSION.
I HAVE
AND SO IF WE COULD TAKE THOSE ALL THREE TOGETHER, UNLESS THERE'S, UNLESS THAT PULLS STAFF INTO THE CONVERSATION AND MAKES THEM WAIT FOR HOURS, WHO WOULDN'T OTHERWISE HAVE TO WORK CASE? UM, WE CAN KNOCK OUT 18 AND 48 PROBABLY, BUT IF IT, IF IT DOESN'T, UH, CAUSE US STAFF, CAUSE SOME, YOU KNOW, ATTENDING THE MEETING, WHO WOULDN'T OTHERWISE, I'D LIKE TO TAKE THOSE THREE UP TOGETHER.
UM, I HAVE A QUICK DISCUSSION I WANNA HAVE ABOUT
UM, I'M SORRY, 17, THE LAST ONE, KATHY, I DIDN'T HEAR THE LAST ONE.
UM, 17, DID THAT GET WHAT'S PULLED SO FAR AS 12 17 54 AND 62? UH, AND UM, 95 AND THEN YOU ALSO WANTED TO PULL, WHAT DID YOU SAY? UH, 18 AND 48.
AGAIN, IF STAFF WOULD LET ME KNOW IF THAT PULLS SOMEBODY IN WHO WOULD OTHERWISE BE ABLE TO GO BACK TO THEIR REGULAR WORKDAY.
UM, AND THEN I CAN JUST READ THE DIRECTION ABOUT THOSE AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT LATER.
UNLESS STAFF LETS US KNOW, OTHERWISE IT'D BE BETTER TO HANDLE THEM EARLIER.
AND 67 WE'RE TAKING UP LATER AS PART OF THE PUBLIC HEARINGS.
COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, THANK YOU FOR CALLING OUR ATTENTION TO INFORMATION ON THE MESSAGE BOARD.
I HAVEN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THAT AND WASN'T AWARE THAT THERE WAS ANY, SO THANK YOU.
UM, I HAD, I HAD INTENDED TO SUBMIT, AND I THINK I INDICATED THIS ON TUESDAY, SOME QUESTIONS, UM, RELATED TO 67 AND DID NOT GET THEM INTO THE QUESTION ANSWER IN TIME.
AND SO WHAT, WE CAN CERTAINLY TALK ABOUT THEM TODAY, BUT I HAD SOME QUESTIONS AND THEN AN AMENDMENT THAT BUILT ON THOSE QUESTIONS.
AND SO I WOULD JUST ASK OUR, MY COUNCIL
[00:20:01]
COLLEAGUES, IF YOU WOULD CONSIDER POSTPONING 67 TO 10 AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME TO TEN ONE, UM, THAT MIGHT, THAT MIGHT BE THE MOST EXPEDIENT WAY TO TAKE CARE OF IT.THERE'S JUST A LOT GOING ON ON THIS AGENDA AND I THINK THAT ONE REQUIRES JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE, A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME HAVING, HAVING URGED SPEED FOR THE YEAR OR SO THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS.
AND NOW I GUESS ASKING IF WE COULD JUST TAKE A COUPLE MORE WEEKS ON THAT 1 67 THOUGH, NOT 12.
AND I THINK THAT'S 60 SEVEN'S NOT PART OF THE CONSENT AGENDA, RIGHT? YEAH, I WAS JUST MENTIONING IT CUZ 12 WAS, AND I KNOW IT'S BEING TAKEN OUT LATER, BUT I JUST WANTED PEOPLE TO BE THINKING ABOUT WHETHER THAT'S, THEY COULD SUPPORT, UNDERSTAND.
UH, AND AGAIN, I CAN'T SEE THE SCREEN.
DOES SOMEBODY WANNA TALK BEFORE WE GO TO THE SPEAKERS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? UM, I WANTED TO SPEAK BRIEFLY ON 34 AFTER THE SPEAKERS SPEAK.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN HAS HER HAND UP.
UM, I'M JUST GONNA HAVE A BRIEF COMMENT ON 1 0 7.
I THINK IT CAN STAY ON CONSENT, BUT, UH, SO IT'S JUST A HEADS UP ON THAT ONE.
I'LL CALL YOU AFTER WE'VE HAD THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS.
LET'S GO THEN TO THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS AS THE CLERK HERE, UH, THE COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER, GRAD KAAR HAVE THEIR HANDS UP THERE.
AND AGAIN, I CAN'T SEE, SO SPEAK UP COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER KAAR.
AND I APOLOGIZE, I COULDN'T RE MUTED.
I I WAS SAYING I, UH, I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE CONSENT AGENDA, BUT HAPPY TO WAIT TILL AFTER SPEAKERS.
I WANTED TO NOTE FOR PEOPLE, UH, A SMALL AMENDMENT ON THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, UM, THAT WE POSTED AS THE MESSAGE BOARD.
YELLOW COPY SHOULD GET TO Y'ALL RELATED TO, UH, TO MAINTAINING THE SYSTEM OF REGULATING OUR PLUMBING AND KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE THAT WAY.
AND THEN THE, UH, PROBABLY HERE IN FIVE MINUTES OR SO, WE'LL POST UP ON MAKING REALLY CLEAR WHAT THE, UH, CITY STANDARDS ARE FOR WORKERS ON THE KINDS OF PROJECTS LIKE THE, UM, LIKE THE PROPOSED CONVENTION CENTER, UH, EXPANSION AND PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
UH, SINCE IN THE PAST IT WAS, OUR CONVERSATION WAS ABOUT, UH, CONVENTION CENTER, BUT NOW THAT THERE'S OFFICE AND HOTEL ASSOCIATED WITH IT, UH, JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE, UM, UH, EXTENDING OUR WORKER PROTECTIONS AND, AND, UH, AND ANTI-LABOR DISRUPTION RULES TO THE CUSTODIAL AND HOTEL STAFF ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE DEVELOPMENTS IF THEY OCCUR.
SO THAT WILL BE, I THINK LAW AND REAL ESTATE ARE LOOKING AT THAT.
AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE THAT POSTED BY 10 30 IN FOUR MINUTES.
UH, COUNCIL ON POOL AND THEN AFTER WE HEAR FROM SPEAKERS, I'D LIKE TO MAKE COMMENT ON 17 ALSO.
EVERYONE WILL, YEAH, AFTER THE SPEAKERS ARE OPEN, WE COME BACK TO US AND ANYBODY CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING THAT'S ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
UM, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE MY AMENDMENTS FOR 17, I HAVE TO MAKE THEM AS AMENDMENTS, BUT THEY WERE POSTED THE MESSAGE BOARD, I'M NOT ANTICIPATING ANY PROBLEM WITH THEM RELATED TO SCHOOL FINANCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULTS THAT I WOULD HATE TO HAVE STAFF HAVE TO STAY FOREVER FOR THAT.
WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN TAKE THAT ONE UP FIRST.
CAUSE I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING CONTROVERSIAL ON THOSE, ANY DISCUSSION.
[Public Comment]
DO WE WANNA, LET'S GO AHEAD AND CALL THE SPEAKERS TWO MINUTES EACH.THESE ARE SPEAKERS SPEAKING ON ANYTHING ON THE COUNCIL AGENDA TODAY, OTHER THAN ZONING CASES AND THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION, THOSE TWO THINGS WILL BE CALLED LATER IN THE DAY.
OKAY, SO MAYOR FOR, WELL, I'M SORRY, SPEAKERS IN QUEUE.
NOW, UM, MAYOR, WE ALSO HAD A SPANISH SPEAKER, BUT SHE ENDED UP HANGING UP, SO SHE'S LISTENING.
JA LASAN, WE'RE READY FOR YOU.
UM, THE FIRST SPEAKER WILL BE VICTORIA GUERRERO.
VICTORIA, PLEASE BE SURE TO UNMUTE.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, GO AHEAD.
GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT TWO AND I'M CALLING TO URGE COUNCIL TO APPROVE ITEMS 26 AND 62.
[00:25:01]
AM IN THE PRIVILEGED PHYSICIAN TO BE ABLE TO WORK FROM HOME WITH MY SON DURING THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC, BUT TOO MANY FAMILIES IN AUSTIN ARE NOT AS PRIVILEGED.50% OF CHILDCARE CENTERS HAVE CLOSED, LEAVING MANY FAMILIES HAVING TO MAKE THE DIFFICULT CHOICE BETWEEN WORKING AND THE SAFETY OF THEIR CHILDREN.
I'M A RECRUITER HERE IN AUSTIN AND THREE WOMEN THAT I EMPLOY WERE COMPELLED TO QUIT THEIR JOBS LAST WEEK DUE TO A LACK OF AVAILABILITY OF CHILDCARE IN THE AUSTIN AREA.
AS A COMMUNITY AND AS A CITY, WE MUST SUPPORT FAMILY'S ABILITY TO ACCESS STABLE AND NURTURING CHILDCARE.
RESEARCH SHOWS THAT ACCESS TO QUALITY CHILDCARE DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING CAN DRAMATICALLY REDUCE IN EQUALITIES FOR CHILDREN WHO GROW UP LIVING IN POVERTY.
THE FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY SUPPORT ECONOMIC STABILITY OF OUR FAMILIES AND THE HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN DEPRIVES US OF THEIR POTENTIAL AND ERODES OUR IDEAL EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL.
AQUA QUALITY CHILDCARE AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION IS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE INVESTMENTS OUR COMMUNITY CAN MAKE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND I HOPE THAT YOU WOULD VOTE TO ADOPT ITEM 26 62 AND INVEST IN OUR'S FUTURE.
MICHELLE MICHELLE, BE SURE TO UNMUTE.
I'M THE EARLY CHILDHOOD ORGANIZER FOR GO AUSTIN VA AUSTIN.
I AM ALSO A MOTHER AND A PERSON WHO HAS STRUGGLED TO AFFORD, UH, IN THE PAST TO PAY FOR, UM, QUALITY CHILDCARE.
UM, I ASK YOU TO VOTE YES TO ITEM 26 AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A 12 MONTH HUGE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES CONTRACT WITH CHILD INC.
TO FUND AND ADMINISTER THE EARLY HEADSTART CHILDCARE PROGRAM.
UM, ALSO TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORTS OF ITEM 62, WHICH, UH, DIRECTS CITY MANAGER CHRONIC TO EXPLORE AND IDENTIFY FUNDING OPTIONS TO SUPPORT THE MULTIPLE VULNERABLE INSTITUTIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING AND ESPECIALLY CHILDCARE.
UM, I SEE THIS AS A FIRST STEP IN SUPPORTING, UM, THIS ESSENTIAL, UM, SECTOR OF OUR COMMUNITY AND HOPING THAT THIS IS, UH, SOMETHING THAT WILL, UH, BE MORE, UM, PART OF THE MAINSTREAM CON CONVERSATION AT CITY COUNCIL, REALLY PRIORITIZING OUR FAMILIES AND OUR YOUNG CHILDREN.
THIS IS PAUL CORDERO SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE APARTMENT ASSOCIATION, THEIR BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE 1,735 PROPERTIES AND OVER 1000 RENTAL HOUSING PROVIDERS WHO OWN, MANAGE, AND OPERATE 260,000 RENTAL HOMES IN THE GREATER AUSTIN AREA.
PLEASE KNOW, BEFORE WE BEGIN THAT WE APPRECIATE YOUR CONTINUED PUBLIC SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP DURING THIS TIMES, AND WE UN ALSO UNDERSTAND THE REASONS BEHIND YOUR DESIRE TO FURTHER EXTEND THE 60 DAY NOTICE OF PROPOSED EVICTION, WHICH IS ITEM NUMBER 1 0 6.
NOW, I KNOW THIS ITEM IS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AND I HATE TO BO DOWN THE MEETING, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU KNOW THAT THIS ORDINANCE HAS CAUSED CONFUSION, DESTABILIZED APARTMENT KEY OPERATIONS, AND UNFORTUNATELY HAS PROVIDED RESIDENTS NOT IMPACTED BY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SITUATION.
THAT'S WHY WE WOULD, WOULD JUST LET WE REQUEST THAT THIS, THIS, UH, ORDINANCE JUST EXPIRE AT THE END OF THE MONTH AS IT'S, UH, ORIGINALLY WRITTEN OR AS IT'S WRITTEN NOW, YOU KNOW, IT WAS PLACE BECAUSE BEFORE THERE WAS ANY FEDERAL, UH, TERRORS ACT AND BEFORE ANY LOCAL EMERGENCY RENTAL RELIEF WAS AVAILABLE, UH, THEN IT WAS EXTENDED BECAUSE THE CARES ACT DIDN'T COVER ALL PROPERTIES.
BUT NOW THERE'S 13 MILLION IN DIRECT RENTAL ASSISTANCE FOR AUSTINITES AND THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL, UH, ANNOUNCED IN ADDICTION MORATORIUM ON SEPTEMBER 4TH TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF COVID THAT COVERS ALL PROPERTIES THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST.
NOW, ALTHOUGH NOT PERFECT, THE CDC EVICTION MORATORIUM APPLIES THE RESIDENTS WHO DECLARE THEMSELVES IMPACTED BY COVID AND AT THIS ASPECT OF THE RULE ALLOWS THE PROPERTY OWNERS TO EFFECTIVELY MANAGE THEIR PROPERTY.
THE 60 DAY ORDINANCE DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME, UH, ASPECT.
UH, JUST A FEW FINAL POINTS TO, UH, TO A STATE THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO NOTE.
IF YOU EXTEND THE 60 DAY NOTICE, THESE NOTICES WILL CONTINUE TO BE ISSUED EVEN TO THOSE WHO DECLARE THEMSELVES IMPACTED BY UNDER THE CDC RULES BECAUSE OF THE QUIRKY LEGAL REASONS TO WHICH.
SO WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND, AND LOOK FORWARD TO MAYBE A CONTINUING DISCUSSION ON THIS ORDINANCE IN THE WEEKS AHEAD.
[00:30:01]
HAYNES.MY NAME IS LINDSAY HAYNES AND I'M THE OWNER OF METRIC PROPERTY MANAGEMENT.
WE MANAGE 48 APARTMENTS IN AUSTIN.
I SPEND NO LESS THAN 25% OF MY TIME HELPING MY RESIDENTS WITH RENTAL APPLICATIONS AND GLADLY, SO THOSE THAT APPLY HAVE MOSTLY BEEN ACCEPTED.
ONE OF MY RESIDENTS, THE 60 YEAR OLD HOME HEALTHCARE WORKER, TOLD ME THAT SHE WAS TOO FAR BEHIND AND PROBABLY JUST GOING TO MO.
I SAID, NO, WE'RE GONNA TRY AND FIGURE THIS OUT TOGETHER.
AND I GOT TO WORK HELPING HER FIND RENTAL ASSISTANCE.
RENTAL HOUSING PROVIDERS DON'T WANT TO EVICT RESIDENTS.
THE GUIDANCE FROM THE APARTMENT ASSOCIATION TO OUR MEMBERSHIP WAS TO WAIVE WEIGHT FEES, OFFER PAYMENT PLANS, AND TRY AND HELP OUR RESIDENTS HOWEVER POSSIBLE.
AND WE HAVE REMEMBER THAT RENTAL HOUSING PROVIDERS COME IN MANY SHAPES AND SIZES.
FOR INSTANCE, THE VETERAN THAT I SOLD MY DUPLEX TO ON NORTHEAST DRIVE, HE WAS A LOW OFFER OUT OF FOUR, BUT HIS OFFER CAME WITH A HEARTWARMING LETTER EXPLAINING THAT HE WAS A VETERAN WHO WAS STARTING A FAMILY.
HE HAS A LANDLORD NOW AND HE CANNOT COVER HIS MORTGAGE BECAUSE HIS SINGLE TENANT HASN'T PAID A DIME SINCE MAY AND WON'T APPLY FOR ASSISTANCE.
THE ORDER MEANS THAT THE VETERAN HAS NO RECOURSE BUT TO KEEP WAITING.
60 DAYS WHEN HOUSING PROVIDERS DON'T LOVE THE CDC ORDERS, IT SHOULD HAVE COME WITH MORE FEDERAL AID, BUT WE DO RESPECT THAT THERE IS FINALLY ACCOUNTABILITY ON THE TENANT.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE FOOD, YOU DON'T GET TO WALK INTO HEB AND TAKE WHAT YOU NEED.
YOU CAN GO TO THE FOOD BANK AND I BET YOU COULD EVEN ASK H HEB FOR HELP, BUT YOU DON'T GET TO TAKE FROM A BUSINESS IF YOU CAN'T PAY YOUR RENT.
YOU HAVE TO ASK YOUR RENTAL HOUSING PROVIDER FOR HELP.
YOU HAVE TO DEMONSTRATE FINANCIAL IMPACT.
YOU HAVE TO APPLY FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE.
YOU DON'T GET TO EXPECT NO RENT AND NO EFFORT AND THEN NO RECOURSE.
I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WILL FEEL NO OBLIGATION TO PAY THEIR RENT.
IF THERE IS ZERO RECOURSE, I'M HELPING 20% OF MY RESIDENTS, BUT PAYMENT AND THEN THERE'S ANOTHER 20% THAT AREN'T PAYING A PENNY AND WON'T EVEN TALK TO ME OR APPLY FOR ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE CURRENT RULES ALLOW THEM TO, HOW DO I POSSIBLY CONTINUE TO HELP THOSE THAT ARE DOING THEIR VERY BEST WHEN THE PROPERTY RUNS OUTTA MONEY BECAUSE OF THOSE THAT AREN'T EVEN TRYING? TWO OF YOU ARE RENTERS, SO CONSIDER WHO IS GOING TO PAY THE MAINTENANCE PEOPLE WHEN RENTAL HOUSING PROVIDERS RUN OUT OF MONEY PICKING TAG, WHICH MEANS WHEN SELL THEY WILL FOR A HIGHER PRICE.
KEN RIDDLE, KEN RIDDLE WITH PUBLIC CONSULTING GROUP AND OUR ITEM IS NUMBER 49 AND IT WAS JUST GONNA BE AVAILABLE IF THERE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THAT ITEM.
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO CONDUCTING THE DISPATCH AND OPTIMIZATION EFFICIENCY FOR THE CITY AND UH, WE APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT.
HOWARD MOORE? YES, MY NAME IS, UH, HOWARD MOORE.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
UM, I JUST REALLY HAVE A QUESTION, UM, ABOUT THE DEFUND OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
UM, I'VE BEEN RUNNING ON THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL FOR A LONG TIME.
UH, I WAS RUNNING THIS LAST SATURDAY, UH, AS I WAS RUNNING A COUPLE OF, UH, POLICEMEN ON BICYCLES PAST ME.
UH, WHEN I FINISHED AND I WAS AT THE STRETCHING ROCK, I WENT OVER THERE TO THANK THEM FOR BEING THERE AND THEY SAID, WELL, WE'RE NOT GONNA BE HERE AFTER JANUARY.
AND I SAID, THAT CAN'T BE TRUE.
I'VE HEARD ON THE MEDIA THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS NOT BEING DEFUNDED.
UH, SO I GUESS THAT'S MY QUESTION.
UH, SURELY Y'ALL HEARD ABOUT THE ATTEMPTED RAPE FOLLOWED BY, UH, ARMED JOGGER ON THE TRAIL.
YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT SPEEDING BIKES, HITTING JOGGERS, HITTING WOMEN WITH, UH, KIDS IN STROLLERS.
UH, WE NEED BIKE POLICEMEN DOWN THERE ON THAT TRAIL.
SO I GUESS MY QUESTION RIGHT NOW, WHAT IS THE TRUTH? WILL THE POLICE BIKE PATROL STILL BE GUARDING THE SAFETY OF THE TAX PAYING CITIZENS OR NOT? AND THAT'S THE END OF MY QUESTION.
CAN GO THE NEXT SPEAKER TO ABOUT STEVEN I'LL OPPORTUNITY TODAY.
[00:35:08]
UH, GOOD MORNING, SOMEONE WITH FRANCO HERE, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE DRIVE COMMUNITY.
I WOULD FIRST LIKE TO START OFF BY SAYING THAT I APPRECIATE ALL THE HARD WORK AND EFFORT, NOT ONLY OUR STAFF, BUT THEIR CONSULTANTS AND DEVELOP CONVENT CENTER PROJECT.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO SAY THAT I HAVE NO OPINION ON WHETHER THE PROJECT MOVES FORWARD AND THAT I GENERALLY SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT, PARTICULARLY IN ECONOMIC DOWNTURNS.
I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS TODAY, COUNCIL IS VOTING TO SO EXECUTION OF EXCLUSIVE NEGOTIATION AGREEMENT WITH ALL NECESSARY PARTIES FOR ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT OF A WESTWARD NOTE TO WESTWARD EXPANSION OF THE COMMANDED CENTER SPACE.
WHILE Y'ALL MAY KNOW IT'S IN THE AGREEMENT, THE PUBLIC DOES NOT KNOW IT'S IN THIS AGREEMENT AND THAT THAT IS THE CRUX OF MY ISSUE WITH THIS PROCESS.
I UNDERSTAND THE REAL ESTATE EXCEPTION ALLOWS COUNCIL TO NEGOTIATE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.
HOWEVER, A PROCUREMENT SUCH AS THEY SHOULD BE MADE SHOULD BE MADE PUBLIC THE PROJECT SCOPE, THE MINIMUM SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTUAL TERMS BEFORE YOU EX EXECUTE AGREEMENT OF THIS MAGNITUDE.
FURTHERMORE, THERE'S BEEN NO COMPETITION TO ENSURE THE FEES OR OTHER PAYMENTS MADE BY THE CITY ARE COMPETITIVE AND BEING PERFORMED BY QUALIFIED PARTIES, WHICH IS SACRED IN ANY PUBLIC PROJECT.
THE COUNCIL INSTEAD IS TRYING TO SOLE SOURCE WHAT EVENTUALLY WOULD BE A MULTI BILLION DOLLAR PROJECT TO GROUP DEVELOPERS OWN LAND, BUT HAVE NOT HAD TO MEET ANY SORT OF MINIMUM PREQUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS.
YOU MADE THIS REAL ESTATE AGREEMENT BECAUSE YOU WANTED TO BUY THE LAND WEST OF THE CONVENTION CENTER, HOWEVER, ALL YOU REALLY HAD TO DO TO ACCOMPLISH THE SAME GOAL AND EXPAND WESTWARD WAS GET AN OPTION ON THE LAND AND THEN HOLD A COMPETITION AMONG QUALIFIED INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPERS WITH COMPETING DESIGNS, PROJECT COSTS AND FEES.
THIS LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND TOTAL DISREGARD FOR CENTER PROCUREMENT PROCESSES FOR PROJECTS OF THIS MAGNITUDE IS JUST PLAYING WRONG IN IRRESPONSIBLE AT BEST AS A MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY.
I'M HERE TO SAY THIS IS NOT RIGHT.
WHAT ELSE DO WE NOT KNOW ABOUT WHAT THE CITY EXPECTS TO GET OR NOT GET FROM THE DEVELOPER IN THIS MULTI-YEAR AGREEMENT ARE IMPORTANT REQUIREMENTS FOR EVERY CITY PROJECT SUCH AS WORKER PROTECTIONS FOR VULNERABLE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS INCLUDED ARE SMALL BUSINESS REQUIREMENTS INCLUDED.
WHAT IS THE MINIMUM DEVELOPER COMMITMENT ON UTILIZATION OF MINORITY OWNED FIRMS? WHAT ARE THE MINIMUM COMMUNITY BENEFITS SUCH AS MUSIC VENUES AND CREATIVE SPACES THE DEVELOPER MUST ACHIEVE BESIDES A PARTIALLY COMPLETE CONVENTION CENTER? HAS THE DEVELOPER EVEN CONFIRMED THAT THIS WESTWARD EXPANSION WORKS WITH THE PROJECT CONNECT AND THE UNDERGROUND DOWNTOWN TRANSIT CENTER THAT APPEAR TO BE IN THE SAME EXACT LOCATION BEFORE YOU PAID HIM 3.6 0.3 MILLION? WHAT THE PUBLIC DOES KNOW FOR CERTAIN IS THAT IF YOU MOVE FORWARD THIS TODAY, YOU WILL GREEN TO PURCHASE LAND WEST CONVENTION CENTER, WHICH IS COUNTRY STRATEGIC FOR THE CITY OF BOSTON'S ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND AFFORDABILITY.
I ASK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY WITHOUT THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT BEING MADE PUBLIC, NO ONE KNOWS.
NEXT UP IS I BELIEVE WE WERE ABLE TO CONNECT WITH RECONNECT WITH THE SPANISH SPEAKERS.
SO IF THE INTERPRETER CAN GET READY, YES.
WELL SHE HUNG UP
NEXT SPEAKER IS CARLOS LEON SOY CARLOS LEON, FIRST AND FOREMOST FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TO ITEM 17 PER BACKUP EXHIBIT.
A MAYOR AND COUNCIL CLAIMED TO SUPPORT PROTECTING AUSTIN RESIDENTS RIGHTS TO WORK WITH CITY GOVERNMENT TO ENFORCE ORDINANCES, ADDRESSING OUR SAFETY AND PUBLIC WELFARE, INCLUDING INVESTIGATIONS, TRANSPARENCY AND PUBLIC REPORTING OF MISCONDUCT AND COMPLAINTS.
THEREFORE, SEPTEMBER 14TH, 2020 WITH THE CITY AUDITOR, I FILED A NEW REQUEST TO INVESTIGATE CAT METRO SECURITY GUARD LONNIE HORNSBY, SUPERVISOR ROBERT LEWIS, SECURITY HEAD, BLAIR SPIKES AND PUBLIC INFORMATION COORDINATOR JACOB LADI FOR ALLEGEDLY CONSPIRING TO TAMPER WITH GOVERNMENTAL RECORDS TO DEFRAUD AND HARM ABUSING THEIR OFFICIAL CAPACITIES TO COMMIT OFFICIAL OPPRESSION TO PROTECT INSTEAD OF PUNISH HORNSBY FOR TRYING TO ILLEGALLY DENY ENTRANCE TO THE CAT METRO TRANSIT STORE DURING OPEN BUSINESS HOURS JULY 20TH, 2020 TO ILLEGALLY STOP AND RETALIATE AGAINST LEGAL WHISTLE BLOWING OF CAT METRO BUS DRIVERS, VIOLATING RULES AND OR CONSTITUTIONAL LAW.
LABOR'S AUGUST 28 LETTER WITH FINALIZED REPORT BY HORNSBY SIGNED OFF BY LEWIS ARE FULL OF FALSE, MISLEADING AND OR INCOMPLETE STATEMENTS AND INFORMATION TO TRY CREATING EX-POST FACTO A FALSE OPPOSITE ANTI REALITY TO GASLIGHT ATTORNEY GENERAL PAXTON.
THEREFORE, HORNSBY LEWIS AND LABE ALLEGEDLY ARE PATHOLOGICAL LIARS AND CRIMINALS WHO SHOULD BE IMMEDIATELY FIRED AND PROSECUTED, THREATENING OUR PUBLIC SAFETY VIOLATING CONSTITUTIONAL LAW.
THEREFORE PUNISH CAP METRO BY VOTING
[00:40:01]
NO ON PROJECT CONNECT TO NOT RAISE PROPERTY TAXES, TO NOT GIVE CAP METRO 7 BILLION IN NOVEMBER, TAKE MONEY FROM CAP METRO AND GIVE IT TO LAW BITING PROGRAMS, MAKING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS SAFER BECAUSE ALL LIVES MATTER TRUMP 2020.MAYOR, COULD I JUST INTERJECT HERE THAT I FEEL LIKE IT IS AGAINST OUR CIVIL DISCOURSE AND CIVIC DECORUM FOR ANYONE TO CALL ANYONE ELSE A LIAR EVEN THOUGH THIS IS CITIZENS COMMUNICATION.
I WANT TO REGISTER MY DISAPPROVAL OF THAT KINDA LANGUAGE, UM, FROM CITIZENS TOWARD OTHER CITIZENS.
COUNCIL TOVA, I SAID THANK YOU FOR THAT AND PLEASE GO TO THE NEXT SPEAKER.
JENNIFER HI IS JENNIFER SORRY, GO AHEAD.
UM, THIS IS JENNIFER HICKS WITH TRUE CASA CONSULTING, UM, SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF RUTLAND, UM, ITEM NUMBER 68.
UM, ON BEHALF OF KARA AND THE GROUP, WE ARE SO EXCITED TO BE PARTNERING WITH THE CITY OF AND THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION TO CREATE 171 UNITS OF DEEPLY SUPPORTIVE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT A TIME WHEN IT'S SO CRITICALLY NEEDED IN OUR CITY.
OUR TEAM IS ALREADY IN DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT AND A FINANCING PLAN WITH 4% CREDIT TAX CREDITS AND PRIVATE ACTIVITY BONDS IS UNDERWAY.
UM, JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS, UM, HOW GRATEFUL WE ARE FOR THIS CITY'S SUPPORT AND WE ARE SO EXCITED TO BUILD, UM, THE CAPACITY OF, UM, AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS AND GET MORE UNITS ON THE GROUND.
I JUST WANTED AVAILABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
HI, MY NAME'S KATE HOWARD AND I'M A MUSICIAN.
I'M IN FAVOR OF ITEM 62 AND AGAINST ITEM 95.
UM, AUSTIN PROVIDES A SOUNDTRACK FOR LIFE, NOT JUST LOCALLY, BUT THE WORLD OVER IT.
SMALL INDEPENDENT MUSIC VENUES AND AUSTIN FALL BY THE WAYSIDE.
NEW MUSICIANS WILL NO LONGER HAVE WORKSPACE.
THE SILENCE THAT WILL RIPPLE THE WORLD OVER AS A RESULT WILL BE DEAFENING.
THE NEWS AND AUSTIN MUST BE FUNDED AND THAT FUNDING CAN COME FROM THE 200 MILLION EXPANSION OF THE CONVENTION CENTER AND ASKING FOR THE GRACE AND GENEROSITY AS THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL, UM, TO KEEP SMALL MUSIC THINGS ALIVE.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, GO AHEAD.
HI, MY NAME IS JULIE MELAN AND I'M A MUSICIAN, SINGER, SONGWRITER.
UH, I LIVE IN DISTRICT NUMBER TWO, UH, AND GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND GOOD MORNING.
I AM HERE TO SUPPORT THE APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION 62 TO HELP, UH, MUSIC VENUES AND ARTS VENUES.
I'M FROM FLORENCE, ITALY AND I MOVED TO AUSTIN EIGHT YEARS AGO AND I BECAME A MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY PERFORMING AND PLAYING AND SUPPORTING HIM AND SIMS AND, AND RECORDING MAKING RECORDS AND ALL OF THAT.
AND, UM, I WANT TO TESTIFY IN FAVOR OF, UH, RESOLUTION 62.
AND I WANNA SAY AUSTIN IS AN AMAZING PLACE IN THE WORLD.
SOMEONE LIKE ME LEFT FLORENCE, ITALY, WHICH IS ARGUABLY ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING CITIES IN THE WORLD BECAUSE OF THE VITALITY AND CREATIVE ENERGY OF THIS CITY.
AND WHEN I SEE PLACES LIKE THREAD YIELDS AND SHADY GROVE AND ONE TO ONE DISAPPEAR, THIS BREAKS MY HEART AND OFTEN WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN ANYMORE.
AND IT'S GONNA ALSO IMPACT OF COURSE AND AND REVENUE FOR THE CITY.
SO I'M HERE TO SAY I KNOW THAT UH, GOOD WORK OFTEN HAS PROPOSED, UM, THE CREATION OF A SENDING 5 MILLION FUND OF GRANTS AND LOANS FOR LOCALLY OWNED BUSINESSES.
AND SO I'M HERE TO PLEASE, UH, STRONGLY REQUEST THE COUNCIL APPROVE OF THE RESOLUTION 62 AND SUPPORT GOOD AUSTIN GOOD WORK AUSTIN'S PROPOSAL FOR THE CREATION OF, UH, THE 75 MILLION FUND
[00:45:01]
TO INCREASE THE CHANCE OF THIS MUSIC COMMUNITY SURVIVAL OFTEN WILL NEVER BE THE SAME UNLESS, UH, UNLESS THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL AND, AND YOU MAYOR LER SUPPORT THE LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES AND MUSIC VENUES.THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
MY NAME IS WORKING MUSICIAN, THE FOUNDING PRESIDENT OF AUSTIN, TEXAS MUSICIANS AND A RESIDENT OF WINDSOR PARK IN DISTRICT ONE.
I'M HERE TODAY TO STRONGLY URGE COUNSEL TO INCLUDE EXPLICIT LANGUAGE AND ITEM 62 THAT CREATES A DEDICATED LIVE MUSIC VENUE PRESERVATION FUND.
OUR CITY'S MARKETING DEPARTMENT HAS NO PROBLEM REPEATING.
AUSTIN IS THE LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.
SO WHY IS IT SO HARD FOR OUR CITY COUNCIL TO PUT IN WRITING AND SEND THE STAFF A RESOLUTION THAT CREATES A DEDICATED FUND FOR THE VERY BUSINESSES THAT MADE THAT SLOGAN IMPOSSIBLE AND EMPLOY THOUSANDS OF MUSICIANS HOSPITALITY EVENT AND PRODUCTION STAFF THREAD YIELD BARRACUDA SHADY GROVE I COULD SPEND MY ENTIRE 10 MINUTES LISTING.
THE BIG NEWS THAT HAVE ALREADY CLOSED ARE MUSICIANS WHO ARE FORCED OUT OF THE CITY SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN.
YOU HAVE THE DATA, YOU KNOW WHAT'S COMING, GET TIME AND TIME AGAIN.
WHEN AUSTIN MUSIC IS GIVEN SOME PROMISE OF HOPE WITH AN ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTION COUNCIL WATERS IT DOWN AND WON'T TAKE SIDES OF ACTION TO HELP SAVE OUR STAGES.
INSTEAD, VENUES AND MUSICIANS ARE LUMPED IN WITH OTHER SMALL BUSINESSES AND FORCED TO JUMP THROUGH HOOPS JUST FOR WHAT TO TAKE A CHANCE ON A LOTTERY.
AUSTIN ISN'T THE SMALL BUSINESS CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.
OTHER BUSINESSES AREN'T DRIVING BILLIONS OF TOURISM DOLLARS TO THE CITY'S BANK ACCOUNT.
IT WASN'T JUST ANY SMALL BUSINESSES THAT MADE AUSTIN A BEACON TO THE REST OF THE WORLD.
IT WAS THE MUSICIANS CREATING MUSIC IN LIVE MUSIC VENUES THAT SENT THAT SIGNAL OUT.
OUR MUSIC VENUES ARE OUT OF TIME.
CREATE A DEDICATED LIVE MUSIC VENUE PRESERVATION FUND NOW TO MAKE SURE THOSE VENUES HAVE MAN THAT HAVE MANAGED TO HANG ON FOR THIS LONG.
MUSICIANS NEED PLACES TO PLAY WHEN THE LIGHTS COME BACK ON AND SIGNAL THE WORLD'S MUSIC COMMUNITY IS WATCHING AND IT.
MY NAME IS, UH, TAYLOR WALLACE, REGAL RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE AND TODAY I'M SPEAKING ON ITEM 62 AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN AND ADVOCATE FOR AUSTIN'S MUSIC SCENE.
IT IS ABHORRENT HOW POORLY OUR CITY HAS RESPONDED TO THE COVID CRISIS, SPECIFICALLY REGARDING AUSTIN'S MUSIC VENUES AND THE PEOPLE WHO PERFORM WORK AND RUN THEM.
THEN USER CLOSING IN DROVES AND OUR MUSICIANS, BOOKERS BARTENDERS MANAGERS ARE STRUGGLING TO PAY BILLS.
THEY'RE DEALING WITH IDENTITY CRISIS AND THEIR PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL HEALTH ARE RAILING AND SUFFERING AS A RESULT.
YOU'RE AWARE OF HOW DISPROPORTIONATELY COVID AFFECTS MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES, PARTICULARLY BLACK COMMUNITIES, SO AS LIVE MUSIC ONTO THAT.
AND THE PICTURE IS ABJECT DESOLATION EVERY DAY.
AND HERE THESE PEOPLE TALK ABOUT HOW THEY'RE STRUGGLING TO JUST SURVIVE, PAY FOR PRESCRIPTIONS AND HAVE ACCESSES TO THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO NOT ONLY STAY HEALTHY BUT NOT DIE.
SPEAKING OF THE SERVICE INDUSTRY DUE TO THE LACK OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT, THEY'RE BEING FORCED TO GO TO WORK IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE PEOPLE ARE PACKED IN AND PATRONS DON'T WEAR MASKS BECAUSE APPARENTLY COVID DOESN'T EXIST ANYMORE.
ONCE YOU SIT DOWN AT A TABLE EXACERBATING THE ISSUE AND REINFORCING THE MESSAGE BEING SENT BY OUR CITY THAT WE DON'T CARE IF YOU DIE.
I AMLO CITY COUNCIL TO SUPPORT ITEM 62 AND CREATE A DEDICATED MUSIC VENUE PRESERVATION FUND AND OTHER DEDICATED FUNDS FOR BLACK LATINX AND AAPI MUSICIAN AND VENUE FUNDS, NOT THROUGH THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU.
THERE IS NO LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL WITHOUT MUSIC VENUES AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE THERE WITHIN.
GOOD DAY MAYOR ADLER MAYOR APPROACH HIM GARZA AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I LIVE IN COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON'S, DISTRICT ONE.
I AM AN OWNER AT CASEY'S NEW ORLEANS SNOWBALLS.
LOCATED NEAR 51ST STREET AND AIRPORT BOULEVARD AND COUNCIL MEMBER TOBO DISTRICT NINE.
WE ARE ALSO CLOSE TO COUNCIL MEMBER KASSAR'S DISTRICT FOUR.
I AM HERE TO SUPPORT THE APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION THAT DIRECTS THE CITY MANAGER TO EXPLORE AND IDENTIFY WAYS TO SUPPORT AND TO INCREASE THE SURVIVABILITY OF BUSINESSES IN AUSTIN'S HARDEST HIT SECTORS, INCLUDING CHILDCARE, MUSIC AND ARTS VENUES AND SPECIFICALLY RESTAURANTS
[00:50:01]
AND BARS.CASEY'S HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR 24 YEARS.
WE ARE PROUDLY A LOCAL AND INDEPENDENTLY OWNED BUSINESS.
WE HAVE OPERATED IN AN ONLINE ORDERING ONLY MODEL SINCE EARLY MAY.
OUR SALES ARE DOWN 55% COMPARED WITH 2019 DUE TO A COMBINATION OF REDUCED DEMAND CLOSURES AND MEASURES IN OUR WORKPLACE TO PROVIDE A SAFE AND HEALTHY PLACE FOR ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES.
WE EMPLOYED 14 PEOPLE THIS YEAR.
NORMALLY WE WOULD'VE EMPLOYED 25.
I AM PROUD THAT MOST OF OUR STAFF ARE HIGH SCHOOLERS FROM MC, CALLUM AND NORTHEAST EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOLS.
I AM PROUD TO BE A FIRST EMPLOYER FOR AUSTIN'S YOUTH.
I ROUTINELY HEAR FROM CUSTOMERS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN COMING TO US SINCE THEY WERE KIDS AND NOW THEY COME WITH THEIR OWN FAMILY.
EARLIER THIS YEAR I ASKED A GENTLEMAN WHO WAS BEC AND LSU AND NOLA COLORS HOW THEIR SNOWBALL WAS AND THEY SAID, THIS ISN'T A SNOWBALL.
I CAME TO AUSTIN AFTER KATRINA AND THIS IS THE CHEAPEST TICKET HOME AND IT TAKES ME RIGHT BACK TO MY CHILDHOOD.
CASEY'S IS AN AUSTIN INSTITUTION IN A SHOTTY LITTLE WOOD BUILDING IN A CHANGING NEIGHBORHOOD AND BECAUSE OF THE FISCAL STRAIN OF OF COVID 19, WE ARE IN DANGER OF DISAPPEARING.
AUSTIN HAS PROPOSED THE CREATION OF A 75 MILLION FUND OF GRANTS AND LOANS FOR LOCALLY OWNED BUSINESSES WITHOUT THIS LEVEL OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR OUR HOT, HARDEST HIT SECTORS.
AUSTIN'S CULTURE, THE BRAND OF COOL WE'RE FAMOUS FOR WILL EVAPORATE.
I STRONGLY REQUEST THAT COUNCIL APPROVE RESOLUTION 62 AND SUPPORT GOOD WORK AUSTIN'S PROPOSAL.
THANK YOU TO ALL THE SPEAKERS IN QUEUE.
IF YOU HAVE NOT PRESSED ZERO, PLEASE DO SO NOW.
ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS? UH, THANK YOU FOR THE, UH, TIME TO SPEAK HERE AND UH, I HOPE THIS, UH, MESSAGE, UH, ALL HITS YOU ON THE HEART A LITTLE BIT.
UH, I KNOW YOU ALL LIVED HERE IN COMMUNITY.
I'M PART OF, UH, DISTRICT ONE.
I GREW UP HERE IN AUSTIN ON AUSTIN NIGHT, UH, BORN AND RAISED AND I'VE SEEN THE CITY, UH, TURN INTO WHAT IT WAS, INTO WHAT IT IS NOW AND I'VE SEEN A LOT OF BUSINESSES COME AND GO.
IT'S EXPECTED WITH GROWTH IN A CITY, BUT, UM, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT, UH, ITEM 62.
UM, MAINLY BECAUSE, UH, ONE WIFE AND I ARE INVESTED IN, UH, IN ALL BUSINESSES HERE IN TOWN, BUT SHE'S ALSO A MUSICIAN AND WE'VE BEEN ON THE MUSIC SCENE AND WE'VE SEEN, UH, A LOT OF OUR VENUES CLOSE DOWN AND TO DEPAUL, THE WHITE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD, WHICH, UH, A LOT OF OTHER SPEAKERS HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT.
UM, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT TO BE PROUD OF, BUT UH, WE CAN'T BE PROUD OF THAT RIGHT NOW CAUSE WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF OUR, OUR VENUES CLOSE DOWN AND UH, IT DOES, IT DOES HURT US.
IT HURTS ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WORK THERE.
IT HURTS THE MUSICIANS, IT HURTS, UH, HURTS THE COMMUNITY AND THE DOLLARS THAT ARE BROUGHT IN THAT THESE, UH, VENUES BRING IN AND THAT'S WHY PEOPLE MOVE HERE.
THAT'S WHY PEOPLE LOVE AUSTIN AS FAR LOST BEING LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL, THE WORLD, I DUNNO HOW LONG WE CAN KEEP THAT MONIKER UP FOR LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD WITHOUT IMPLEMENTING, YOU KNOW, THE DEDICATED MUSIC VENUE PRESERVATION FUND.
AND IF YOU GUYS CAN PUT IN PLACE AN MVP FOR THAT, THAT WOULD BE VERY BENEFICIAL TO ALL THESE VENUES THAT ARE TRYING TO HELP EACH OTHER OUT.
I MEAN WE'RE HOLDING, UH, ONLINE EVENTS AND SHOWS AND DONATING MONEY TO HELP PEOPLE.
WE'RE HELPING OUT MUSICIANS THAT AREN'T ABLE TO DO IT THEMSELVES, THAT THEY'RE STRUGGLING BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THAT REGULAR INCOME ANYMORE.
UH, THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE TRYING TO STAY UP AND RUNNING, PEOPLE ARE HELPING EACH OTHER AND IT'S JUST MONEY BACK AND RAISE MONEY.
THANK YOU ZACH MORGAN, WE ARE REALLY QUICK.
IF I COULD INTERJECT HERE, UM, FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF SPEAKERS.
UM, WE ALSO ARE HEARING THAT THE CONTRACTS, UM, THAT WERE INTENDED FOR OUR MUSIC SECTOR, UM, THAT THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU CONTRACT WAS INVOLVED WITH OR NOT REACHING THE INTENDED RECIPIENTS.
AND SO I THINK MY STAFF HAS PUT A QUESTION INTO EDD STAFF TO FIND OUT WHO THE RECIPIENTS WERE OF THAT, UM, FUNDING THAT WE AUTHORIZED ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO AND TO FIND OUT HOW IT WAS THAT THE INTENDED, UM, RECIPIENTS WEREN'T, UM, DIRECTLY, UM, DIDN'T GET ANY FUNDS FROM THAT.
CAUSE THIS IS, THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET SOME MONEY OUT TO OUR MUSICIANS, THE MUSIC SECTOR AND OTHER CREATORS.
[00:55:01]
UM, NOTED, UH, THERE'S SOME SIGNIFICANT ISSUES AND CONCERNS THAT THE CS RAISING WITH, UM, THAT DISTRIBUTION FUNDS.I'M A FULL-TIME MUSICIAN IN AUSTIN, LIVING IN DISTRICT FIVE.
AFTER GRADUATING FROM A M UNIVERSITY IN 2010, I MOVED TO AUSTIN TO PURSUE A CAREER IN MUSIC.
I WORKED VARIOUS JOBS IN STARTUPS AND MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR TECH COMPANIES SAVING MONEY AND BUILDING MY PERSONAL BRAND IN AUSTIN MUSIC UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO TAKE THE PLUNGE INTO PLAYING MUSIC FULL TIME IN 2015.
LAST YEAR I MADE MORE MONEY THAN I DID WORKING A HIGH PAYING TECH JOB BY PLAYING OVER 200 SHOWS WITH CLOSE TO 30 DIFFERENT BANDS.
I CANNOT HAVE DONE ANY OF THIS WITHOUT AUSTIN'S MUSIC VENUES.
THEY'RE THE REASON I MOVED TO AUSTIN.
THEY'RE THE REASON I WAS ABLE TO QUIT MY NINE TO FIVE JOB AND FULFILL MY DREAM OF PLAYING MUSIC FULL TIME.
THEY'RE THE MEAN PLACES FOR ALL OF MY BEST FRIENDS AND THEY'RE THE LIFEBLOOD OF THE CITY'S CULTURE.
MY LIFE IN 2020 AS A RESULT OF MY EXPERIENCES IN MUSIC VENUES ALL OVER AUSTIN IN THE LAST DECADE, IF THE CITY OF OF AUSTIN DOES NOT ACT NOW TO SAVE OUR VENUES, THEN THE WORLDWIDE APPEAL OF AUSTIN WILL BE DESTROYED AND A LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD WILL BE BECOME THE ABANDONED MUSIC VENUE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.
I'M URGING YOU TO SUPPORT ITEM 62 TO CREATE A DEDICATED LIVE MUSIC VENUE PRESERVATION FUND AND TO SAVE THE LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.
IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T HEARD ONE TO ONE BAR THREAD, GILLS, SHADY GROVE, THE NORTH DOOR, BARRACUDA, PLUSH, SCRATCH HOUSE DIRTY DOG AND WHO KNOWS WHO WILL BE NEXT.
IF THE CITY WANTS TO CONTINUE TO MARKET ITSELF GLOBALLY, BACK SOME MUSICIANS AND MUSIC VENUES, THEN IT'S TIME TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND SAVE OUR VENUES.
THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR ALLOWING ME TIME TO SPEAK TODAY.
MY NAME IS JODI MAKA, BUSINESS TEAM MANAGER OF BLACKSTAR CO-OP PUB AND BREWERY.
AS BLACKSTAR CELEBRATES ITS 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF BEING A COMMUNITY OWNED, DEMOCRATICALLY OPERATED COOPERATIVE IN DISTRICT SEVEN.
WE'RE HERE TODAY TO VOICE OUR SUPPORT OF RESOLUTION 62.
IT'S STEWARDS OF FAIR WORKER TREATMENT, LOCAL SOURCING, SUSTAINABILITY, AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT CONTINUING TO OPERATE WITHOUT ASSISTANCE WILL HAVE SHORT AND LONG TERM CONSEQUENCES, NOT JUST FOR BLACK STAR, BUT FOR THE CULTURAL INTEGRITY OF OUR CITY.
JUST THE LAST WEEK ALONE, WE'VE SEEN BUSINESSES LIKE NORTH DOOR CAP CITY COMEDY.
I LOVE VIDEO AND MORE MAKE THE HEADLINES BECAUSE THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR DOORS.
LOCAL FAVORITES LIKE THREADGILLS NORTH START BOWL, MAGNOLIA CAFE NORTH BY NORTHWEST BLUE DAHLIA, AUSTIN, JAVA, ET CETERA, HAVE ALSO CLOSED PERMANENTLY DURING THE SHUTDOWN.
I MENTIONED SO MANY SPECIFIC BUSINESSES BECAUSE I THINK ALL PERSONS PRESENT ON THIS CALL TODAY WOULD BE HARD PRESSED NOT TO BE EMOTIONALLY AFFECTED BY THE SHUTTERING OF AT LEAST ONE OF THESE AWESOME ICONS.
AS A FOUNDING MEMBER OF GOOD WORK, OFTEN I SPEAK TODAY NOT JUST FOR BLACKSTAR, BUT FOR A COMMUNITY OF LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT CONTINUE TO SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER, OUR VALUED WORKERS AND OUR INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE.
WE HAVE PLEDGE TO OPEN OUR BUSINESSES SAFELY AND WITH THE UTMOST KAREN CONCERN FOR OUR STAFF, PATRONS, FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS, BUT WE NEED ASSISTANCE IF WE WERE TO CONTINUE OPERATING OUR BUSINESSES SAFELY AND LONG OR ASK OF 75 MILLION IN ASSISTANCE FOR RESTAURANTS, BARS, AND VENUES WILL BE USED TO KEEP OUR INDUSTRY MEMBERS WORKING.
OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES ALIVE AND THE OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN ITSELF.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR ADLER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
JOAN ALBE AND I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT OF LICENSED CHILDCARE AT THE Y M C A OF AUSTIN AND A BOARD MEMBER FOR TEXAS LICENSED CHILDCARE ASSOCIATION.
I'M SEEKING IN FAVOR OF AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 62.
CHILDCARE IS THE BACKBONE OF THE ECONOMY.
IT IS A VITAL, IS A VITAL INFRASTRUCTURE TO OUR ECONOMY IN AUSTIN, THE STATE OF TEXAS AND NATIONAL PANDEMIC RECOVERY.
THE UNINTENDED DAMAGE DONE BY THE NECESSITY OF SHUTTING DOWN THE CITY AND THEN ALLOWING RETURN OF CHILDCARE UNDER STRICT, EXPENSIVE PRECAUTIONARY PRACTICES CONTINUES TO THREATEN THE EXISTENCE OF THE ENTIRE CHILDCARE INDUSTRY.
MEANWHILE, THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO INDIVIDUAL PARENTS IS BACKLOGGED WITH A WAITING LIST AT TEXAS WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS.
NONPROFITS LIKE Y M C OF AUSTIN ARE DOING WHAT WE CAN TO PROVIDE WHAT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WE CAN TO FAMILIES IN NEED.
BUT OUR RESOURCES ARE NOW QUICKLY DWINDLING AS THE OWNERS THAT
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PROVIDERS OF CHILDCARE IN OUR CITY CONTINUE TO SUFFER SIGNIFICANT MONTHLY LOSSES DUE TO EXPENSES.WE ARE UNWILLING TO PASS THAT COST ON TO PARENTS AND ARE UNABLE TO BEAR THE EXPENSE MUCH LONGER.
NO ONE HAS PROVIDED MORE IN PERSON CHILDCARE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAN OVER THE PAST SIX MONTHS THAN THE EXTENDED CARE Y M C A.
WE STARTED BY PROVIDING CARE TO CHILDREN OF ESSENTIAL WORKERS SHORTLY AFTER THE SHUTDOWN.
WE ADAPTED OUR SUMMER PROGRAM CAMPS TO PROVIDE SAFE, ENRICHING AND FUN EXPERIENCES FOR KIDS.
AND NOW THAT SCHOOL HAS RESUMED, WE'RE PROVIDING FULL DAYCARE AND SUPPORT FOR VIRTUAL LEARNING BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
WE'VE SERVED OUR NEIGHBORS AND FAMILIES, WE'VE HEARD THEIR STORIES, WE KNOW THE STRUGGLES THEY'RE FACING, JUST TRYING TO GO TO WORK.
WE WANT TO HELP THEM BUT TO SURVIVE, WE WILL NEED HELP TOO.
THAT IS WHY THE Y M C OF AUSTIN, THE TEXAS LICENSE CHILDCARE ASSOCIATION ARE IN FAVOR OF THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT BEING CONSIDERED IN CITY COUNCIL.
IF WORKING PARENTS ARE NOT ABLE TO FIND CHILDCARE AT ALL, NOT HIGH QUALITY, AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE, THERE IS NO GOING TO WORK.
THERE IS NO RETURNING TO EDUCATION OR TEACHING AND THERE IS NO ECONOMIC RECOVERY.
HI, MY NAME IS LAURA OLSON AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT EIGHT AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 62.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS, SLANT AGAIN, TOVO AND POOL, AS WELL AS MAYOR ADLER FOR SPONSORING THIS IMPORTANT RESOLUTION.
THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO HAVE SPOKEN UP TODAY IN SUPPORTIVE MUSIC VENUES SO IMPORTANT TO OUR CITY AND I ECHO THOSE CONCERNS.
HOWEVER, I AM HERE AS A MOM AND EARLY CHILDHOOD IN SCHOOL HEALTH EQUITY DIRECTOR FOR GO AND BAMA AUSTIN TO ASK FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THE CRITICAL AND VULNERABLE INSTITUTION OF CHILDCARE.
YOUR SUPPORTIVE CHILDCARE DEMONSTRATES YOUR SUPPORT AS A SECURITY OF STRUGGLING FAMILIES AND SHOWS THAT YOU RECOGNIZE THE ESSENTIAL ROLE THAT CHILDCARE PLAYS IN KEEPING THIS CITY GOING EVERY SINGLE DAY.
THINK ABOUT HOW MANY PEOPLE, HOW MANY OF YOU AND PEOPLE YOU WORK WITH AND PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS RELY ON CHILDCARE.
AND WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE IF CHILDCARE WERE NO LONGER AVAILABLE IN THIS CITY? I AM GRATEFUL AS A WORKING MOM OF FIVE CHILDREN THAT MY CHILDREN WERE ABLE TO HAVE HIGH QUALITY, AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE SO I COULD WORK AND PROVIDE FOR OUR FAMILY AND THEY COULD LEARN AND THRIVE IN A NURTURING ENVIRONMENT.
BUT TOO MANY OF CHILDREN OF CHILDREN IN AUSTIN ARE NOT AS FORTUNATE.
AND RIGHT NOW 50% OF CHILDCARE CENTERS AND HOMES ARE CLOSED AND POTENTIALLY CLOSING, LEAVING FAMILIES SCRAMBLING TO FIND CHILDCARE, ESPECIALLY FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IN AUSTIN'S EASTERN CRESCENT.
AS A CITY AND A COMMUNITY, THE MORE WE CAN SUPPORT FAMILIES ABILITY TO ACCESS AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE, THE BETTER WE WILL BE AT ADDRESSING THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF THIS PANDEMIC WORKING FAMILIES AND OUR CITY'S ECONOMY DEPEND ON THE AVAILABILITY AND STABILITY OF CHILDCARE.
ITEM 62 DEMONSTRATES AUSTIN'S COMMITMENT TO FAMILY STABILITY BY IDENTIFYING FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT CHILDCARE.
WHAT A GREAT EXAMPLE OF A COMMUNITY THAT COMES TOGETHER IN TIMES OF NEED.
I ALSO WANNA SPEAK FOR ITEMS 26, WHICH AUTHORIZES EARLY HEADSTART CHILDCARE,