[00:00:02]
[Call to Order]
I'M LOOKING FOR, UH, AIC AND MORGAN COUNSEL.ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER.
TODAY IS THURSDAY, MARCH 4TH, 2021.
UH, THIS IS THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
UH, WE'RE CONDUCTING THIS MEETING VIRTUALLY.
I'M GONNA READ INTO THE RECORD HERE, UH, UH, QUICKLY, UH, CHANGES IN CORRECTIONS BEFORE I DO THAT.
UH, CATHERINE POOLE, WAS THERE SOMETHING THAT YOU WANTED TO SAY OR TO RECOGNIZE AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS, I'M GOING TO DO IT RIGHT ABOUT THE TIME WE TAKE A VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AND IT JUST IS A RECOGNITION OF A, AN OUTGOING LONG TIME, UH, AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.
DON'T LET ME FORGET, MAKE SURE YOU GET RECOGNIZED TO DO THAT.
[Consent Agenda (Part 1 of 2) ]
I'M GOING TO READ THE CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS INTO THE RECORD, AND THERE WAS AN AMENDED ONE THAT CAME OUT THIS MORNING.ITEM NUMBER ONE, UH, IT'S APPROVED THE MINUTES OF THIS CITY COUNCIL MEETING, UH, AT THAT SENTENCE SHOULD CONCLUDE WITH A SPECIAL CALLED ON FEBRUARY 9TH.
WE ARE NOT APPROVING, UH, MINUTES ON THE SPECIAL CALL FOR FEBRUARY 25TH.
THIS IS THE AUTHORIZED NEGOTIATION AND EXECUTION OF A CONTRACT RATHER THAN TO RATIFY.
I AM 21, UH, PROVEN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE OPERATING BUDGET OF THE HOUSING AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
ITEM NUMBER 24, UH, IS, UH, BEING, UH, POSTPONED TO MARCH 25TH, 21.
WE HAVE THREE ITEMS, UH, THAT HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER TODAY.
UM, I HAVE NUMBER 40 PULLED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY ITEM 62, FULL BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, UH, AND COUNCIL AND, UH, ITEM NUMBER 68, UH, PULLED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.
WE HAVE LAID BACK UP IN ITEMS THREE SEVEN 21 2265, 87, 90 93, 94, 95 AND 98.
THAT CONSENT AGENDA IN FRONT OF US TODAY IS ITEMS ONE THROUGH 77 AND ALSO ITEM 99 COLLEGE.
WE, UM, UH, AS POSTED ON THE MESSAGE BOARD, UM, WE HAVE, UM, YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY OVER 80 SPEAKERS.
WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN THIS MORNING, UH, WITH, UH, UH, DISCUSSION, UH, BY THOSE SPEAKERS, EACH CARD THAT HAVE ONE MINUTE, UM, DURING THE, UM, SPEAKERS.
I THINK THAT, UM, UH, THE GOAL WAS TO GET EVERYBODY WHO IS SIGNING UP ON, UH, A H F C UP SPEAKING FIRST CLERK.
IS THAT CORRECT? SO THAT WE CAN TAKE AN EARLIER VOTE ON HFC? YES MA'AM THAT'S CORRECT.
SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ALL OF THEM SPEAK FIRST AT 10 30, WE'RE GOING TO STOP WHEREVER WE ARE.
UH, WITH RESPECT TO SPEAKERS, WE WILL ADD ALL THE HFC SPEAKERS AT THAT POINT, AND WE WILL HANDLE THE HFC, UH, UH, AGENDA.
UH, AND THEN WE WILL COME BACK, UH, AND, UH, FINISHED SPEAKERS AND THEN HANDLE THE, UH, CONSENT, UH, VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
UM, WE THEN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE A POLLED ITEMS. WE'RE GOING TO STOP AT NOON FOR THE SITCOM SPEAKERS.
UH, THERE ARE 10, UH, A FULL COMPLIMENT OF, UH, CITIZENS, MEDICATION SPEAKERS, AND AT 10 O'CLOCK WE'LL, WE'LL RECOGNIZE THEM THAT EACH HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
THE INTENT THEN IS TO TRY TO TAKE A, UM, A LUNCH BREAK.
UH, AT THAT POINT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION DEPENDING ON SCHEDULING, BUT, UH, LET'S SEE HOW THAT WORKS AT TWO O'CLOCK.
UH, WE HAVE, UH, ZONING SPEAKERS THAT WILL BE, UH, UH, QA UP.
UH, WE'RE GONNA GROUP SPEAKERS ON ITEM 94 TOGETHER.
UM, SINCE MOST OF THE SPEAKERS SIGNED UP FOR THAT ITEM, WE WILL CALL THE APPLICANT'S REPRESENTATIVE TO SPEAK, UH, AS, UH, AS, AS PART OF THAT, UH, GROUP.
BUT WE'RE GOING TO START WITH THE FIVE OTHER ZONING SPEAKERS FIRST SO THAT THEY
[00:05:01]
CAN SPEAK.UM, SO GENERALLY SPEAKING, THAT'S HOW WE'RE GONNA PROCEED.
UH, WE WOULD BEGIN WITH THE, UH, UH, OVER THE SPEAKERS, HAVE A SIGN UP FOR THE MORNING WORK COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN.
UM, I WANT TO, UH, NOTE THAT THERE IS, UM, UH, THERE'S A MISTAKE IN THE, THEN IN THE REVISED BACKUP FOR ITEM 65 NOMINATIONS IN WAIVERS.
UM, MY APPOINTMENT OF, UM, MY APPOINTMENT SHOULD BE NOT TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, BUT TO THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION.
AND SO I THINK THAT THAT IS LISTED WRONG.
UM, IS THIS, UH, MELANIE, UH, AT, I CHECKED THAT'S RIGHT.
SHE SHOULD BE LISTED AS THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION.
DID THEY GET THAT FINAL CORRECTED AND WHAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU? I DON'T SEE THAT CORRECT.
THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN SOMETHING THAT POSTS DATES MINE, BUT WE'LL MAKE THAT CHANGE.
AND THE OTHER J UM, THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION.
UH, WHAT WOULD THEY MOVE FORWARD
[Public Comment (Part 1 of 3) ]
WITH SPEAKERS? UH, CLARK, WE CALL THE SPEAKERS, PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET ALL THE, UH, UH, HSC SPEAKERS FIRST AT 10 30.WE'LL TAKE A RECESS IN THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO TAKE THAT AGENDA.
SO IF YOU'RE READY, GO AHEAD AND PROCEED.
THE FIRST SPEAKER IS FRANCIS
WAIT, CAN WE WAIT A LITTLE BIT? HOLD ON.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DOVE SPRINGS AND I'M AGAINST ITEM NUMBER ONE.
AND THE ISSUE IS OF 22 MILLION AS MULTIPLE, UH, HOUSING REVENUE BONDS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF DEVELOPMENT AND 4,400
I HAVE WALKED IN AND DRIVEN KNOCK-OFF CROSSING.
AND I KNOW YOU HAVE SEEN THE VIDEO FROM THE DIARY ON OUR LAST MEETING WE PRESENTED.
I WANT TO KNOW, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT A RESPONSIBLE DECISION TO PASS AN ITEM WHEN THE APPROPRIATE MOBILITY ACCESS IS NOT IN PLACE.
I URGE YOU TO NOT PASS THIS ITEM WITHOUT ENSURING THAT THE PROPER SIDEWALKS SPEED, MITIGATION, ACCESSIBILITY, AND ACCOMMODATIONS FOR RESIDENTS WITH MOBILITY ISSUES BEING PLACED.
IF WE'RE HONEST, WE ALL KNOW THAT THERE'S NO ACCESS TO SHOPS, GROCERY STORES, HEALTH CENTERS, OR ANY BUS ROUTES WITHIN WALKING THIS BOOTH FOR SENIOR RESIDENTS CLOSE TO THIS DEVELOPMENT.
AND THERE ARE NO PLANS TO STREET UPGRADES IN THIS AREA.
AT LEAST NOT ANYTIME SOON, PLEASE DON'T MAKE THE MISTAKE OF PUTTING RESIDENTS IN HOMES WITHOUT PROPER EXPIRED, SAFE ACCESS.
THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING TODAY.
FROM YOUR AFTER AND BOARD MEMBERS.
GET PASTURE FOR SOUTHEAST COMBINED NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN CONTACT TEAM.
AND I'M SPEAKING ON ITEM ONE OF THE HFC MEETING, THEY CONTACT TEAM AND SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS, INCLUDING THOSE THAT LIVE IN FAR SOUTHEAST DAWSON, TRAVIS COUNTY CONTINUED TO RAISE MAJOR PUBLIC SAFETY TRAFFIC CONCERNS.
THIS PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT WILL HAPPEN CURRENT AND FUTURE RESIDENT.
THIS HAS CONSISTENTLY BEEN A CONCERN SINCE THE PROPOSALS ON THIS PROPERTY WERE BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION.
IN 2016, WE HAVE CONSISTENTLY VOICED HER CONCERNS REGARDING THE VEHICULAR PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE SAFETY TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND CITY COUNCIL AT EVERY HEARING AND HOPING SOMEONE WILL LISTEN.
THIS IS THE THEATER AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT BEING BUILT ON THIS ROADWAY SINCE THE MID 1980S, NO SIGNIFICANT WORLD IMPROVEMENT SETTING MADE, WHICH IS SPEEDY TRAFFIC AND JUNIORS CONTINUE TO SAVE A SUBSTANDARD VOTE.
WE CONTINUE TO OBJECT TO BEING SUBJECTED TO POOR QUALITY OF LIFE CONDITIONS, JUST BECAUSE WE'RE A LOW INCOME AND PREDOMINANTLY PEOPLE OF COLOR COMMUNITY IN A VERY LOW OPPORTUNITY AREA.
OUR SAFETY SHOULD NOT BE NEGOTIATED IN THE WHIP AFFORDABILITY.
THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION SUPPORTED THIS PROJECT, SOMETHING BEING DONE TO US AND NOT FOR US.
WE NEED JEOPARDIZING OUR SAFETY.
AND THIS INCLUDES RESIDENTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE 55 AND OLDER FOR THIS PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT.
[00:10:02]
JESSICA ALEXANDER.I AM A LONGTIME AUSTIN RESIDENTS, A BIKE AUSTIN MEMBER BIKES, COMMUTER RECENT SEVEN EIGHT SEVEN FOUR FOUR HOMEOWNER AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNER HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO REITERATE THAT I AM OPPOSED TO THE FOUR FOUR ZERO ZERO KNUCKLE CROSSINGS PROJECT ITEM, NUMBER ONE ON THE H H F C ITEM AGENDA.
AND MY REASONS FOR THAT ARE SIMPLE DUE TO, TO REITERATE ON THE OTHER POINT THAT OUR CONSTITUENTS IN SEVEN, EIGHT, SEVEN 44 HAVE MADE ON THE DANGER OF THIS LOCATION.
I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND YOU THAT THERE ARE VERY FEW WALKWAYS, CROSSWALKS, PEDESTRIAN WAYS, BIKE WAYS, AND SAFE WAYS FOR RESIDENTS, AS WELL AS PEOPLE PASSING THROUGH THE AREA TO GET FROM POINT A TO POINT B.
I WOULD CONSIDER MYSELF IN THIS AREA WHERE I DO NOT FIND A SAFE WAY TO GET FROM POINT A TO POINT B UH, KNUCKLES CROSSING AS A YOUNG PERSON.
SO I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO CONSIDER HOW DIFFICULT THIS WILL BE FOR 179 LOW-INCOME SENIORS WITH LIMITED ACCESS TO SIDEWALK AND OTHER OPTIONS FOR MOBILITY.
THANK YOU, MAYOR ADLER AND SAMPLE MEMBERS, JASON LUCIO, HELLO, BOARD MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS JASON LUCIO, AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT TWO, BUT I'M HERE TODAY AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SOUTHEAST COMBINED NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN CONTACT TEAM.
OUR CONTACT TEAM IS OPPOSED TO THE ISSUANCE OF $22 MILLION IN MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING REVENUE, BONDS TO CITY HEIGHTS, WHICH IS A H F C AGENDA ITEM.
NUMBER ONE, WE BELIEVE THE REASON THAT THIS PROPERTY WAS ACHIEVED THROUGH A MISREPRESENT MISREPRESENTATION OF FASHION CITY COUNCIL.
WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT THE DEVELOPMENT OF ADDITIONAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS IN A CENSUS TRACKS THAT ALREADY HAS FOUR OTHER AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROPERTIES ON IT WOULD HAVE A SEGREGATE EFFECT AND DISPARATE IMPACT ON A ZIP CODE THAT IS 75% HISPANIC, WHICH WOULD VIOLATE THE FEDERAL FAIR HOUSING ACT.
WE DO NOT BELIEVE THIS BOARD SHOULD ISSUE BONDS TO FINANCE A HOUSING DEVELOPMENT THAT WOULD VIOLATE FEDERAL LAW.
LASTLY, I FEEL IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WE'VE BEEN MEETING WITH THIS APPLICANT FOR YEARS ABOUT THIS PROPERTY TO TRY TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT ABOUT ZONING, TRAFFIC, SAFETY, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT SINCE RESIGNING WAS ACHIEVED, WE HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THEM ONCE THE APPLICANT'S NOT ADDRESSING OUR CONCERNS.
CITY COUNCIL IS NOT ADDRESSING OUR CONCERNS.
WE HOPE THAT THIS BOARD WILL FINALLY TAKE NOTICE.
WE'RE ASKING YOU TO OPPOSE THE ISSUANCE OF THESE BONDS.
CAN I ASK A QUICK QUESTION IF IT'S AN ORDER, UM, FOR THE F H F C ITEMS, ARE WE SIMPLY RECEIVING PUBLIC COMMENT AND HOLDING THE PUBLIC HEARING? THERE'S NO ACTUAL VOTE TODAY, IS THAT CORRECT? I CAN'T HEAR YOU, MAN.
ITEM ONE IS TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING RECEIVE COMMENT AS IS ITEM TWO, ITEM NUMBER THREE A IS TO APPROVE AN INDUCEMENT RESOLUTION.
UH, SO THERE'S ACTION ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION.
YES, LAUREL, THE PROPOSED HOSTING DEVELOPMENT AT 4,400 NESTLE'S CROSSING KNOWN AS CITY HEIGHTS SHOULD NOT BE AWARDED MULTIFAMILY HOUSING REVENUE BOND.
THEY RECEIVED ZONING APPROVAL FROM SINGLE FAMILY TO MULTIFAMILY ZONING BY PRESENTING A TRAFFIC MITIGATION PLAN IN JULY THAT CONVINCED THE CITY COUNCIL TO APPROVE THE REZONING REQUESTS IN SEPTEMBER, EVEN THOUGH THE CONCERN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAD BEEN WORKING WITH THE OWNERS AND AGENTS FOR OVER FOUR YEARS WERE NOT CONSULTED ABOUT THIS PLAN IN OCTOBER, THAT PLAN WAS THROWN OUT AND CURRENTLY THERE IS NO APPROVED TRAFFIC MITIGATION PLAN.
THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS THAT SHOW THE LOCATION OF THEIR DRIVEWAY WILL CAUSE MAJOR TRAFFIC CANCERS.
IN ADDITION, THE DEVELOPERS START DOING THE LAND WITHOUT AN APPROVED SITE PLAN AND HAS CAUSED DAMAGE TO CRITICALLY SENSITIVE ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES AS DOCUMENTED BY THE CITY ENVIRONMENTALLY DEPARTMENT.
THEY HAVE HALTED FURTHER WORK UNTIL THE DEVELOPER HAS RESTORED THE LAND, WHICH HAS NOT HAPPENED YET.
BUT DELL HOUSING PARTNERS, THE DEVELOPER OF CITY HEIGHTS AS SHOWING DISREGARD AND DISRESPECT FOR CITY PROCESSES AND NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS, I ASK THAT YOU DO NOT ISSUE BONDS TO THIS DEVELOPMENT AND ENABLED THEM TO CAUSE FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE AND THREE, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
SO YOU SAVED THAT MONEY FOR DEVELOPMENTS THAT WILL TRULY BENEFIT THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS VERY MUCH.
UM, MY NAME IS ANNA
[00:15:01]
INVOLVED WITH IN THE PROJECT, UH, SINCE THE PORT ABOUT A YEAR.UM, I WORKED WITH TENDER DEVELOPER AND I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION THAT WE HAVE EXHAUSTED ALL THE MEANS THAT WE CAN LISTEN TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES, TO CONTACT THE CITY, THE DIFFERENT PARTIES INVOLVED WITH SAFETY.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE MAJOR SPONSORS AND WE HAVE BEEN ADDRESSING ALL OF THEM.
UM, WE ARE STILL WORKING THROUGH OUR WORK SITE DEVELOPMENT PERMIT, AND, UH, WE UNDERSTAND THAT OUR BONES HAVE BEEN AN ISSUE.
UM, AND, UM, SO I, I, WE ARE WILLING TO KEEP WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO, UH, CONSULT MEMBERS, UH, VANESSA PUENTES AND HER STAFF, SO WE CAN WORK TOGETHER, UH, FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT.
UM, WE JUST WANT TO BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY AND REINFORCE UNITY AND, UM, BEING A GOOD NEIGHBOR.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE TESTS, THESE SPEAKERS.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND THEN TAKE A RECESS HERE OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING AT 10 19.
UM, AM, UH, WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CAN YOU BE THE, UH, YES, I APOLOGIZE.
UM, JUST IN CASE THERE'S ANYBODY ELSE WHO I THINK WE SHOULD WAIT UNTIL 10 30 TO DO THAT.
OKAY, THEN CLERK, IF YOU'LL GO AHEAD AND CONTINUE TO CALL SPEAKERS.
UH WE'LL WE'LL WAIT TILL 10 30 BEFORE WE TAKE THE RECESS.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MICHAEL LOFTON.
THEY'RE HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO, UH, THE CITY COUNCIL TODAY.
I AM, UH, CALLING ON BEHALF, UH, UH, ITEM 67 ASKING THAT, UH, THE COUNCIL SUPPORTS IT, UH, THIS RESOLUTION, UH, THEN PRESENTED BY THE BLACK OFFS AND COALITION AS IT RELATES TO YOUTH, AS IT RELATES TO DISPARITIES FOR YEARS AND THAT COME UP IN COMMUNITY.
SO I COULD GO ON FOR DAYS AS IT RELATES TO A LOT OF THE DISPARITIES, BUT I WILL JUST SAY THIS HERE.
UH, IT IS MY HOPE THAT, UH, I CAN ALSO LOOK AT IT, UH, SUPPORTS IT SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.
I KNOW OVER THE YEARS WE'VE HAD TONS OF RACE RACE-RELATED, UH, CONVERSATIONS AND THE BOTTOM LINE IS ACTION NEEDS TO BE.
AND, UH, RACE RELATIONS CONVERSATIONS CAN NOT FIX THE YEARS OF DISPARITIES, UH, THAT THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY HAS FACED.
AND, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD ALSO LEAVE WITH Y'ALL IS I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, YOU KNOW, PROGRAMS PUT BACK INTO THE SCHOOLS, THE IDEA OF T AS IN HIGH SCHOOL, UH, SKILLS SUCH AS PLUMBING AND ELECTRICAL AUTO MECHANICS AND CONSTRUCTION, OR YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
PAUL ROBBINS COUNSEL, UH, ITEM FOUR ON YOUR AGENDA INCREASES EMERGENCY BILL ASSISTANCE FOR LOW INCOME ELECTRIC AND WATER CUSTOMERS BY $10 MILLION.
UH, HOWEVER, THERE'S A HUGE GAP IN UTILITY.
BILL ASSISTANCE, TEXAS GAS SERVICE AUSTRIAN UTILITIES.
WE'LL SPEND ABOUT $30 MILLION THIS YEAR WITH TEXAS GAS SERVICE, ABOUT $100,000.
I BROUGHT THIS ISSUE UP SEVERAL TIMES AND LAST YEAR'S GAS RATE CASE, LETTING A SURCHARGE SURCHARGE TO CREATE ADEQUATE FUNDING MAY REQUIRE A NEW RATE PROCEEDINGS, BUT I URGE YOU TO DO IT QUICKLY.
UH, THIS HAS BEEN A RECORD COLD SPELL, UH, IN THE MIDST OF A PANDEMIC CAUSING RAPID, UH, RABID UNEMPLOYMENT.
I'M A BORN AND RAISED AUSTINITE, LOCAL ACTIVIST, COMMITTED TO SERVING MY COMMUNITY.
AND I'M HERE TO, UM, SPEAK ON THE ITEM 67.
UM, I FEEL LIKE THE COUNCIL SHOULD JUST POUR INTO THE BLACK PEOPLE, INVEST INTO THE BLACK PEOPLE.
WE ALREADY KNOW WHAT WE'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH, ESPECIALLY DUE THROUGH SNOW, BUT IT DIDN'T DO ANYTHING BUT EXPOSE THAT
[00:20:01]
IN INTENTIONAL IN EQUITIES, WE FACE DAILY.SO IF Y'ALL ARE FOR US, THE BLACK PEOPLE SHOW US, IT'S SIMPLE.
THIS IS THE THOMAS SHOW US AND STAND ON WHAT Y'ALL ARE SAYING.
IF Y'ALL WERE BLACK PEOPLE SHOW US IN A SAMPLE.
I'M NOT GOING TO GET ON HERE AND SAY A WHOLE SPEECH.
THIS IS THE TIME TO POUR INTO US AND APPROVED TO AUSTIN.
AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY, STANLEY COBBLE, RIGHT? HELLO? CAN EVERYBODY HEAR ME? YES.
I'M A 54 YEARS OLD, BORN AND RAISED AND STILL LIVING IN EAST SOUTHWEST.
MY FAMILY, THE CREIGHTON FAMILY HAS DEEP ROOTS IN AUSTIN DATING BACK TO THE EARLY 19 HUNDREDS.
MY ANCESTRY IN AUSTIN, MY ANCESTORS WERE TEACHERS NURSES AND LIKE MYSELF, A BUSINESS OWNER, AND TO THE CITY POLICIES IN TECH, I COULDN'T STAY IN BUSINESS.
THE CITY'S 1928 MASTER PLAN REALLY DAMAGED BLACKS IN THE AUSTIN, AND WE WOULD BE BETTER POSITIONED ECONOMICALLY AND I SUPPORT THE BLACK EMBASSY AND ITEM 67.
SO HEY, LET'S MAKE AUSTIN GREAT AGAIN.
AND THAT'S WHAT I HAVE TO SAY.
HELLO, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS PERRIN HODGES AND I'M HERE IN FAVOR OF AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 67.
UM, ALTHOUGH MOVING FORWARD, WE CAN'T UNDO WHAT HAS BEEN DONE IN OUR PAST.
WE ARE ABLE TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD TO CLOSE, UM, THE GLA THE GAPS OF INJUSTICE AND, AND THE AWFUL POLICIES THAT HAVE BEEN IN PLACE.
AND THAT WE HAVE A CHANCE WITH THIS AGENDA ITEM TO MOVE FORWARD IN A REALLY POSITIVE WAY BY MAKING OUR CITY MORE EQUITABLE.
UM, AS A, UH, UH, UH, EDUCATOR IN TRAINING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AND AUSTIN STUDYING, UM, URBAN EDUCATION.
I WANT MY STUDENTS TO KNOW THAT THEY'RE THEY'RE EMPOWERED IN THE CLASSROOM, BUT THEY ARE ALSO EMPOWERED IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THIS AGENDA ITEM WOULD SHOW.
UM, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
MY NAME IS PAT
I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT YOU PROHIBIT, UM, NO ITEM TWO ON TODAY'S AGENDA, PROHIBITS THE USE OF A BASEBALL BAT, AX HANDLE PITCHFORK FULL HOOK, OR DIVISIVE, SIMILAR DESIGN ON ALL ANIMALS, EXCEPT A HORSE NEW JACK GEN PAL, BOTH DEER HOGS, PIGS, SWINE, SHEEP, OR GOAT, OTHER THAN A MINIATURE BREED, PLEASE AMEND THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE BY REMOVING SEAT.
THE PROVISION THAT HORSES, MULES, COWS, SHEEP, GOATS, AND OTHER ANIMALS, PLEASE OPPOSE EXEMPTING.
ANY ANIMAL FROM HAVING A BASEBALL BAT, AX HANDLE PITCHFORK BULL HOOK OR ANY DEVICE USED ON THEM.
THE DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS ITEM TOOK PLACE IN 2015 BY THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION.
IT IS A VERY OLD ITEM ON AN AUSTIN ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION AGENDA.
IT WAS NOT VOTED ON AT THE TIME BY THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
IF YOU VOTE ON IT TODAY, PLEASE ONLY VOTE ON IT.
IF YOU REMOVE THE EXEMPTION THAT THOSE INSTRUMENTS MAY BE USED TO INFLICT PAIN ON THOSE CERTAIN ANIMALS THAT WERE EXEMPTED BACK IN 2015, WE DO NOT NEED TO BE.
UM, WE DO NOT NEED TO BE PASSING WENDY MURPHY.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT FOUR IN AUSTIN.
I'M OPPOSED TO ITEM TWO ON A POST TO THIS AMENDMENT AS IT'S WRITTEN SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE OF PART FEE, WHICH EXCLUDES SEVERAL TYPES OF ANIMALS FROM PROTECTION.
[00:25:01]
UM, THIS AMENDMENT WOULD PROHIBIT CRUEL DEVICES, SUCH AS BASEBALL BAT, AX HANDLE AND PITCHFORK.OF COURSE, WE'RE OPPOSED TO THAT.
HOWEVER, THEY GO ON IN PART C TO EXEMPT CERTAIN ANIMALS, THESE EXEMPTED ANIMALS WHO FEEL PAIN AND FEAR EVERY BIT AS MUCH AS ANY OTHER ANIMAL WILL HAVE NO PROTECTION.
IF YOU PASS THIS BILL, AS IT'S WRITTEN, IT WILL ALLOW THIS EXEMPTION AND IT CONDONES ANIMAL CRUELTY.
IT IS ANIMAL CRUELTY PERIOD HERE IN AUSTIN.
THEN IF YOU WANT TO BEAT A HORSE WITH A BASEBALL BAT OR STAB A GOAT WITH A PITCHFORK, NO PROBLEM, BECAUSE WE PASSED A LAW SAYING THAT THAT'S OKAY, AND WE CAN GO ON THAT IN AUSTIN.
WE DON'T WANT ANIMAL CRUELTY IS OFTEN WE CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT.
PLEASE DO NOT PASS THIS AMENDMENT AS IT STANDS, DO NOT PASS IT UNLESS, AND UNTIL YOU REMOVE PART C, THANK YOU.
CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME? YES, GO AHEAD.
MY NAME IS ANA RITANI AND I AM THE CO-DIRECTOR OF FUND TEXAS CHOICE, AN ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES PRACTICAL SUPPORT TO PEOPLE IN TEXAS FACING BARRIERS TO ABORTION ACCESS.
AND SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF ITEM 40, WE ARE ONE OF THE ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVING FUNDING, ANY SUB GRANTEE AT GNC PROCESS THROUGH THE PROGRAM CREATED BY THE COUNCIL IN 2019 TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE, INCLUDING TRAVEL AND LIGHTING, TO AUSTINITE, TAKING ABORTION.
WE KNOW FIRSTHAND THE WEIGHT, THE WAYS IN WHICH LOTS OF RESOURCES CAN PUSH ABORTION OUT OF REACH FOR PEOPLE ALREADY STRUGGLING TO GET BY.
AND WE ARE SO GLAD THE COUNCIL TAKES THIS ISSUE.
ADDITIONAL FUNDING WILL HELP US OUTREACH TO PEOPLE IN AUSTIN CAN BE ANY AWESOME COMMUNITY TO ENSURE THAT MOST PEOPLE ARE LIKELY TO FACE BARRIERS TO ACCESS, KNOW THAT THIS PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE BECAUSE BLACK INDIGENOUS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR, LGBTQ PLUS PEOPLE AND UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY ECONOMIC INEQUALITY AND LACK OF ACCESS TO ADEQUATE RESOURCES.
WE ALSO EXPERIENCED THE IMPACT OF LOGISTICAL BARRIERS TO ABORTION.
ACCESS IS ACCESS IS UNFORTUNATELY SOME OF THESE LAYERS ARE LOGISTICAL.
PEOPLE ARE MORE LIKELY TO LIVE FURTHER AWAY FROM AN ABORTION PROVIDER AND THEREFORE HAVE EXTRA TRANSPORTATION CONSIDERATION COSTS, WORKING JOBS THAT RESTRICT THEIR ABILITY TO TAKE TIME OFF FOR CARE OR IN BARRIERS OR THERE'S OR LITERALLY, OR IN WHICH THEY LOSE WEIGHT IS TAKING TIME OFF FOR CARE AND STRUGGLES TO FIND HEALTHCARE.
I'M THOMAS STANDING WITH THE ANTI-RACISM TASK FORCE OF UNIVERSITY IN THAT METHODIST CHURCH.
SPEAKING FOR ITEM 67 LAST YEAR, THERE WERE A GREAT MANY DEMONSTRATIONS IN THE CITY PROCLAIMING THE BLACK LIVES MATTER.
HOWEVER, ENDING POLICE BRUTALITY IS JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG.
BEFORE THIS COUNTRY EVEN EXISTED ITS ECONOMY.
IT WAS ERECTED ON THE BACKS OF BLACK PEOPLE.
MUCH OF AUSTIN WAS BUILT BY PLACE AND CONVICT LABOR EXPLOITATION CONTINUED FROM THERE 1928 BLACK COMMUNITIES, SUCH AS CLARKSVILLE AND ST.
JOHN'S RAISED IN THEIR INHABITANTS, FORCED TO MOVE TO EAST AUSTIN SINCE THEN BLACK WEALTH IN THE FORM OF PARKS, BUSINESSES AND HOMES HAS CONTINUED TO BE TAKEN FROM ITS OWNER BY SO-CALLED SLUM CLEARANCE, URBAN RENEWAL AND GENTRIFICATION BECAUSE OF THIS, AUSTIN IS ONE OF THE MOST SEGREGATED CITIES IN THE COUNTRY AND THE WEALTH OF BLACK FAMILIES CONTINUES TO BE LESS THAN A QUARTER OF THAT, OF WHITES.
THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THIS IS FOR US TO PUT OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTHS ARE.
THIS RESOLUTION IS JUST TO START.
IF WE TRULY BELIEVE BLACK LIVES MATTER, THEN THE COUNCIL HAS NO CHOICE, BUT TO VOTE FOR THIS RESOLUTION.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME SPEAK TODAY.
I AM SPEAKING, UM, FOR ITEM 67, I WOULD LIKE YOU GUYS TO PLEASE, UH, PASS IT AND YOU CAN SEND AN AGENDA TODAY AND, UH, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR GOING FORWARD WITH THIS.
UH, I AGREE AND REITERATE EVERYTHING THAT EVERYONE ELSE HAS SAID PREVIOUSLY.
THIS IS A BIG STEP FORWARD, BUT IT IS JUST THE FIRST.
AND THANK YOU, MARY CHISM SITE.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT FOUR AND I'D LIKE TO, UM, ASK THE CITY COUNCIL TO VOTE FOR FOUR YEARS ON ITEM 67.
[00:30:01]
THE COUNCIL NEEDS TO SHOW LIKE THE GENTLEMAN SAID EARLIER, UM, WITH RESOURCES TO, UH, BLACK, AUSTINITES NOT JUST COMMITMENTS WITH WORDS.THEY NEED TO SPEND THE MONEY ON, UM, UH, THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN THAT DESERVE IT AND TO RECTIFY THE ENSLAVEMENT OF BLACK PEOPLE, UH, AND THE SYSTEMIC RACIST POLICIES PUT FORTH BY THE CITY COUNCIL OVER THE YEARS.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JENNIFER PETERSON AND WE HAVE AN ASL INTERPRETER ON THE LINE, SO THEY GET, SHE GETS THREE MINUTES.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT TWO IN EAST PARK AREA AND IN SUPPORT OF AN AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 67, I BELIEVE THAT OUR LAND WAS DEVELOPED BY BLACKS AND SLAVES.
AND THERE'S NO MENTION OF MCKINNEY FALLS, STATE PARK BEING BUILT BY SLAVES AS WELL.
AND IT'S NOT INCLUDED IN ANY OF THE BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION BY THE STATE PARKS OF TEXAS.
SO I THINK THAT'S REALLY EMBARRASSING AND WE NEED TO SUPPORT NUMBER 67, PLEASE.
IT'S NOW PAST 10 30, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A SHORT RECESS AND THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING, WE'LL COME BACK TO THE SPEAKERS IN JUST A MOMENT, BUT AT 10 35, WE'RE GOING TO RECESS THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
[Austin Housing and Finance Corporation]
35.WE ARE GOING TO CONVENE THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION MEETING.
WE HAVE A QUORUM OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
UH, I THINK WE HAVE THREE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
UH, THE FIRST, UH, TWO ARE THE DR.
PUBLIC HEARING AND RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON TWO ITEMS. WE HAVE DONE THAT, UH, CLERK, HAVE WE CALLED ALL OF THE FOLKS THAT WERE WANTED TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM EARLIER? YES.
THAT THOSE THAT CALLED IN, UM, SOME HAVE NOT CALLED IN, BUT YES.
SO EVERYBODY THAT'S WANTED TO HAVE CHANCE TO SPEAK THIS MORNING ON THIS AGENDA HAS HAD THAT OPPORTUNITY, CORRECT.
I DID WANT TO SHARE AS RELATES TO ITEM NUMBER ONE, BUT KNUCKLES CROSSING PROJECT.
I SHARED THE TRAFFIC AND SAFETY CONCERNS RAISED BY MY NEIGHBORS IN DOVE SPRINGS.
UM, THE TRAFFIC PLAN IS PART OF THE SITE PLAN PROCESS AND IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE FINANCING TODAY'S ITEM AS WE HAVE PREVIOUSLY SHARED WITH THE PUBLIC HEARING.
AND I'M GLAD THAT MY COMMUNITY WAS ABLE TO PARTICIPATE TO VOICE THESE CONCERNS, UM, BUT JUST EMPHASIZE TODAY'S HEARING AND THAT THE MEETING ON THE 25TH IS WHEN WE WILL VOTE ON THE ISSUANCE OF VONS FROM THE STATE.
AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT VOTE IS TO ACCEPT, UM, BOND DOLLARS FROM THE STATE ON AN ALREADY PREVIOUSLY APPROVED PROJECT BY THIS COUNCIL AT THE END OF LAST YEAR.
UM, SO WE'LL CONTINUE WORKING ON THIS.
UM, WE HAVE, UH, MY TEAM HAS A MEETING WITH CITY STAFF AND WITH OUR COMMUNITY NEXT FRIDAY TO DISCUSS THE TOPIC SAFETY CONCERNS.
UM, AND, UH, JUST TO REITERATE THAT PLAN IS PART OF THE SITE PLAN PROCESS.
AND I ALSO WANT TO, UM, SAY THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUE AT CANTERBURY KITCHEN FOR RAISING THAT WE ALSO HAVE IN THE 2020 MOBILITY BOND THAT WE PASS ALSO HAS DEDICATED TO HELP WITH MOBILITY AND SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENT FOR THAT AREA.
UM, SO AGAIN, I SHARE THE CONCERNS OF MY COMMUNITY AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH CITY STAFF TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET ADDRESSED.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
UM, WHEN W WHEN WE PASS THE ACT OF TRANSPORTATION BOND RESOLUTION, AND THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS FOR BRINGING THAT FORWARD, THERE'S SPECIFIC LANGUAGE IN IT ABOUT KNUCKLES CROSSING RECOGNITION, THAT KNUCKLES CROSSING IS A SUBSTANDARD GROWTH.
UM, AND THERE'S STILL MORE WORK TO BE DONE TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT FUNDING MAKES IT MAKES ITS WAY TO ACTUALLY MAKING THOSE IMPROVEMENTS ON KNUCKLES CROSSING.
AND I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER POINTERS WILL BE WORKING ON THAT AND JUST WANT TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT I SUPPORT HER IN THAT FOR, AND THERE IS AN IDENTIFIED, UM, UH, STREAM OF FUNDING TO BE USED FOR THAT.
[00:35:01]
UM, MAYOR, WE JUST RECEIVED A COMMUNICATION FROM MS. JOSEPH, WHO I BELIEVE WANTED TO SPEAK GENERAL CONSENT AGENDA RELATED TO THIS ITEM BEFORE WE GOT TO HFC.I THINK WE ONLY HAVE ONE MORE SPEAKER THAT WANTS TO SPEAK ON THE HFC ITEM.
I HAVE EMAILED HER WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS AGAIN, BUT WE ARE STILL NOT SHOWING HER IN THE QUEUE TO SPEAK.
IF SHE SHOWS UP, PLEASE INTERRUPT US.
ALBERTO, DID YOU WANT US TO WAIT? YOU DID.
SHE HAS INDICATING THAT SHE'S ON THE LINE FOR ANOTHER 30 SECONDS AND SEE IF SHE CAN BE LOCATED.
SO I HAVE ASKED HER TO HANG UP AND TO CALL BACK, OKAY.
CITY CLERK, WHILE WE'RE GIVING HER 30 SECONDS TO DO THAT.
UH, MANDY ROSIE, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE NEED TO SAY HERE BEFORE WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE'VE CONDUCTED A PUBLIC HEARING WHERE SHE'S PUBLIC KIND OF ONE AND TWO, AND BEFORE WE ENTERTAIN A VOTE ON NUMBER THREE? YES.
THIS IS MANDUKA MALE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.
I DID WANT TO OFFER SOME CLARIFICATION.
YOU HAVE THREE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA TODAY.
THE FIRST TWO ARE THE ACTUAL PUBLIC HEARINGS.
YOU'RE CONDUCTING THE PUBLIC HEARING AND FOR ITEM NUMBER ONE, RELATED TO CITY HEIGHTS AS COUNCIL MEMBER,
THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH AUTHORIZATION UP TO $20 MILLION TODAY.
IT IS JUST A HEARING FOR THOSE TWO ITEMS. ITEM NUMBER THREE IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PROJECT.
IT IS NEIGHBORS HAD A LIBRATORY.
AUSTIN DOES 140 PROJECT ON AN H H S C PROPERTY AT 900 GARDNER.
UM, YOU MAY RECALL THAT LAST SEPTEMBER, YOU ALL, UM, AUTHORIZED US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH NEGOTIATION WITH, UH, THE CNO GROUP AND YOUR CLASS AUSTIN FOR 140 UNIT PROJECT ON THE CURRENT VACANT, H H S C A PARCEL.
AND THIS IS ACTUALLY THE ITEM.
NUMBER THREE IS THE INDUCE, WHICH IS AUTHORIZING THEM TO GET THE PRIVATE ACTIVITY, BONDS VOLUME.
SO THREE ON YOUR AGENDA TODAY, UH, AT VARIOUS STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT.
THANK YOU, MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I JUST HAVE ONE QUICK QUESTION.
IS THIS TO COMMENT ON ALL OF THE AGENDA ITEMS IN THIS ONE MINUTE OR JUST THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION? I THINK YOU GET CALLED ON EVERYTHING YOU WANT TO SPEAK ON.
I APPRECIATE YOU CLARIFYING THAT.
UM, MY OPPOSITION TO ITEM NUMBER TWO SPECIFICALLY IS A 1934 RUTLAND DRIVE.
THERE IS NO TRANSPORTATION TO THAT SITE.
AND SO I HAVE SENT A DISPARATE IMPACT COMPLAINT.
AS YOU MAY BE AWARE TO THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS.
WHEN THIS ITEM WAS INITIALLY ON THE AGENDA, IT REFERRED TO ONE 42, WHICH IS A FLYER OUT THAT ONLY OPERATES TWICE IN THE MORNING.
AND THEN TWICE FROM DOWNTOWN TO NORTH AUSTIN.
MY OPPOSITION TO ITEM NUMBER 67 IS THAT WE DO NOT NEED MORE TALKS, TITLES AND TASK FORCES RELATED TO AFRICAN-AMERICAN INEQUITIES.
IF YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING FOR BLACKS, I WOULD ASK YOU TO FIND $4.7 MILLION AND TO PUT THE METRO RAPID LINE ON PARMER LANE BETWEEN SAMSUNG AND APPLE, I WILL PROCEED TO FOLLOW UP WITH THE LIVING CITIES OF, AS IT RELATES TO $75,000 FOR THE EQUITY TO CEO, BEN HECHT, AND ASK THEM TO DEFUND THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
UH, WE DO NOT NEED MORE FUNDING AS A SMOKE SCREEN.
AND MY COMMENTS ARE SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO TITLE SIX OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964, WHICH PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN.
UH, THERE ARE MANY OTHER ITEMS THAT I SIGNED UP FOR, BUT IN A NUTSHELL, I WOULD JUST ASK YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO MAKE MY COMMENTS THERE.
THE HEARING WAS SEPARATE FROM THE GENERAL ITEMS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GLADLY ANSWER THEM AND THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
[00:40:02]
COLLEAGUES, IT GETS US BACK TO THE AGENDA RECORD SHOULD REFLECT CLERK.IS THERE ANYONE ELSE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? THANK YOU.
SO THE RECORD WILL REFLECT THAT WE'VE TAKEN PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEMS. ONE, TWO.
UH, WE'RE GONNA TAKE NOW ACTION ON ITEM NUMBER THREE.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION AS WE READ THE RHEA MAKES THE MOTIONS.
THERE ARE TWO SECONDS
I SEE IT AS BEING ANONYMOUS BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, UH, THAT BEING THE CASE, IT PASSES.
THAT'S ALL THE BUSINESS PEOPLE.
UH, COUNCIL AND MORGAN COUNTS MEMBER, UH, HARPER, MADISON, WHERE YOU TRYING TO COME ON? YES.
KATHERINE BAR HARBOR, MADISON APPEARING, SHOWING GUY, SORRY.
AND MARIN JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE AS WE TRY TO DO ON THESE ITEMS, UH, THAT, BETWEEN, UH, THE UNITS THAT, UH, SPARE ON RUTLAND IN DISTRICT FOUR AND THE UNITS AT THE GARDENER TRACKING DISTRICT THREE, UH, AND THROUGH CARA TOSSIN, PACINO'S WORK AT BOTH OF THOSE SITES.
WE'RE TRYING TO BRING ONLINE, UH, HUNDREDS OF UNITS FOR FOLKS THAT ARE CURRENTLY LIVING ON THE STREETS.
UM, AND SO AGAIN, UM, I JUST THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR, FOR THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW, AND FOR US TO THANK THE STAFF AND THE NONPROFITS DOING THAT WORK TO REST, TO BRING, UM, UNITS ONLINE FOR US TO ACHIEVE A GOAL OF REALLY REDUCING HOMELESSNESS IN THE CITY.
I COULD, I ALSO DID REACH OUT DIRECTLY TO, UM, MS. JOSEPH TO ADDRESS HER COMMENTS REGARDING THE SPELLING, RUTLAND AND PROXIMITY TO TRANSPORTATION, BUT WE HAVE CONFIRMED, UM, UH, THAT, THAT, UH, A SPARROW IS FOUR MINUTES FROM CAPITA FOR LOOP THREE 25, WHICH HAS A 15 MINUTE HEADWAY DURING THE MORNING AND AFTERNOON, EVENING, AND THREE 25 NORTH THE SHOPS AND AMENITIES ALONG THE SHOP TECH BRIDGE.
IN ADDITION, WE HAVE A RED LINE RAIN STOP, NEW AUSTIN FC SOCCER STADIUM, WHICH IS ABOUT A 15 MINUTE WALK FROM SPECTRUM, YOU KNOW, VERY COMMITTED TO THE LINING, OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH, UH, TRANSPORTATION.
SO I DO WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR WAS SELECTED AS A SITE FOR ITS PROXIMITY REPUTATION.
MY COLLEAGUES HERE, ALL THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA, I THINK WITH THAT, I AM, UM, UH, A JOURNEY, THE, UH, ASSESSING FINANCE PREPARATION MEETING HERE AT 10 46 AND ALSO AT 10 46.
I AM RECONVENING THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING, OR TODAY, UH, MARCH 4TH, 2021.
WE'RE CONTINUING, UH, MEETING STARTED EARLIER THAN WE RECESSED IT'S BEING CONDUCTED VIRTUALLY.
WE HAVE A QUORUM PRESENT, AND IF THE
[Public Comment (Part 2 of 3) ]
CLERK WOULD CONTINUE CALLING THE SPEAKERS, COURTNEY ROBINSON, GOOD MORNING, MAYOR ADLER COUNCIL MEMBERS.IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU TODAY.
COURTNEY ROBINSON, AND I'M SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF ITEM 67 TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND TAKE ACTION AGAINST THE HARM THAT HAS BEEN AFFLICTED ON BLACK.
AUSTINITES DUE TO THE LONG HISTORY OF RACISM IN OUR CITY.
I HAVE BEEN IN AUSTIN FOR 21 YEARS.
I'VE LIVED HERE LONGER THAN ANY OTHER PLACE.
MY CHILDREN WERE BORN AND RAISED HERE.
SO I'M IN FAVOR OF ITEM 67 BECAUSE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT IS A BOLD FIRST STEP.
HOWEVER, IT ISN'T ENOUGH TO ACKNOWLEDGE HARM.
WE MUST TAKE BOLD STEPS IN OUR ACTIONS BECAUSE HARM HAS BEEN CAUSED IN ALL OF OUR SYSTEMS, EDUCATION, CRIMINAL, LEGAL HEALTHCARE, HOW THEY ARE ECONOMY AS THE FOUNDER OF THE EXCELLENCE IN ADVANCEMENT FOUNDATION AND CHAIR OF THE BOARD FOR THE MILLENNIUM YOUTH ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX.
I SEE FIRSTHAND HOW INEQUITABLE RESOURCES AND FUNDING HAS HARMED BLACK YOUTH.
I'M HERE TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY TO ENSURE THAT THIS NEXT GENERATION VIEWS DO NOT HAVE TO SUFFER UNDER THE WEIGHT OF RACISM IN THE SAME WAYS THAT GENERATIONS BEFORE THEM HAVE.
LET'S ALL SEEK TO BE ABLE TO HAVE COMMUNITY.
MY NAME IS KYLE HARMON, AND I'M SPEAKING ON ITEM 67, SINCE 1865, BLACK AMERICANS HAVE ONLY GAIN 1% OF THIS COUNTRY'S WEALTH.
GENERATIONAL WEALTH HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH THE ENSLAVEMENT OF BLACK PEOPLE AND WITH THE SICKENINGLY
[00:45:01]
CREATIVE AVENUES IN WHICH WE CONTINUE TO CONTROL AND KILL BLACK BODIES.OF COURSE, THE IMPACT OF CHATTEL SLAVERY IS SO MUCH MORE THAN ECONOMIC.
RACISM IS THE CAUSE OF A SEVEN TO 10 YEAR LIFE EXPECTANCY GAP BETWEEN BLACK AND WHITE FOLKS WAS A STRATEGY TO ISOLATE.
THE 1928 PLAN MADE EAST US IN THE ONLY PART OF THE CITY WHERE BLACK PEOPLE COULD ACCESS SCHOOLS, UTILITIES, AND PUBLIC SERVICES.
THIS PLAN IS STILL SEEPED INTO EVERY INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE CITY.
TRAVIS COUNTY IS HOME TO THE MOST SEGREGATED SCHOOLS IN THE ENTIRE STATE AND THE RECENT POWER CRISIS UNDENIABLY HIT ETHOS AND THE HARDEST, BUT OF COURSE, WHITE PEOPLE CAN'T STOP TAKING WHAT IS NOT OURS, GENTRIFICATION AND DISPLACEMENT MEAN THAT AUSTIN IS THE ONLY CITY IN THE COUNTRY WITH THE DECLINING BLACK POPULATION, THE FAILURE OF AUSTIN TO RECOGNIZE HISTORIC AND PERSISTING HARM REFLECTS AND INCRIMINATING NEED TO DEFLECT AND GASLIGHT SIMPLY ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY IS HOLLOW.
IF NOT PAIRED WITH REPARATIONS, ABOLITION AND CULTURAL INVESTMENT, THERE IS NO SOLUTION, BUT EARNEST WEEK MEETING THE DEMANDS OF BLACK AND INDIGENOUS QUEER AND DISABLED FOLKS, ANYTHING LESS IS AN INTENTIONAL CONTINUANCE OF VIOLENCE.
I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE BLACK HOSTEL COALITION, ALSO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DREAM OUT LOUD EXPERIENCE, A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION HERE IN HOSTEL, TEXAS, UH, BORN AND RAISED IN DISTRICT ONE, CURRENTLY RESIDING IN DISTRICT FIVE.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON, UH, ITEM 67 TO SAY THAT I AM FOR ITEM 67, UH, DUE TO MY FIRSTHAND ACCOUNTS OF GROWING UP IN AUSTIN AND SEEING THE RACIAL DISPARITIES THAT HAVE GONE ON FROM SCHOOL SYSTEM, THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE TO OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVANCEMENT, UH, WE WOULD LIKE FOR A CHANGE TO HAPPEN.
WE ARE TIRED OF THE EMPTY PROMISES.
AND THE TIME IS NOW TO SHOW US THAT YOU STAND WITH US.
UM, WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO CONTINUE TO KEEP ASKING FOR SO LONG AS A GIFT? THE TIME IS NOW FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO ATONE FOR WHAT IT'S DONE TO BLACKS IN AUSTIN.
THANK YOU ALL TIFFANY WASHINGTON.
MY NAME IS TIFFANY WASHINGTON.
I MEAN, I'M, I'M AN AUSTIN RESIDENT AND I'M THE AUTHOR IS BORN.
I WAS BORN HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND I AM ALSO THE ONLY BLACK FARMER IN OCCUPATION.
I'M AGAINST ITEM NUMBER 67 BECAUSE IT DOES NOT HAVE A BUDGET TO PAY US.
NOW, RIGHT NOW, THE CITY OF BOSTON IS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AGRICULTURE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THIS RESOLUTION DOES NOT TALK ABOUT BEING ADDED TO THE CITY CHARTERS SO THAT IT CAN BE FOR THIS.
A LAWS AND POLICIES CAN BE CHANGED.
IT'S JUST MORE FLUFF, MORE MONEY GOING TO THE SITUATION AND RESOURCES THEY ARE UNDER UTILIZED.
WE HAVE CULTURAL CENTERS, WE HAVE THE CITY SQUARE.
WE HAVE THE AFRICAN AMERICAN HAIR RESOURCE CENTER.
THERE ARE SO MANY RESOURCES HERE FOR US ALREADY.
AND I'M ASKING THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN PAY US, HEY, PAY BLACK FARMERS TO COME BACK TO THIS COMMUNITY SO THAT WE CAN REBUILD IT THE SAME WAY FROM THE BEGINNING.
HI, UH, MY NAME IS GRACE HANSON.
I'M A MEMBER OF DSA AND A VOLUNTEER WITH BOSTON.
I'M CALLING INTO SUPPORT ITEM 99.
THE EXTENSION OF THE EVICTION MORATORIUM 55% OF AUSTIN RESIDENTS ARE RENTERS.
AND ESPECIALLY OUR LOW INCOME ESSENTIAL WORKERS HAVE JUST FACED CHALLENGE AFTER CHALLENGE.
DURING THE PANDEMIC, HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE STILL DON'T HAVE RUNNING WATER IN THEIR HOMES FROM THE FREEZE.
AND NOW A LOT OF ESSENTIAL WORKERS ARE GOING TO BE AT HIGHER RISK OF COVID EXPOSURE DUE TO THE REOPENING OF BUSINESSES.
AND YOU REMOVE ALL THE MATH MANDATE EXTENDING THIS MORATORIUM IS ALSO A RACIAL JUSTICE ISSUE.
71% OF BLACK RESIDENTS AND 65% OF LATINO RESIDENTS ARE RENTERS IN AUSTIN.
AND THE EVIDENCE SHOWS THAT THE CDC, CDC MORATORIUM IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO PRESENT MASS EVICTION.
LET'S JUST LOOK AT HARRIS COUNTY.
THEIR NUMBERS ARE ASTRONOMICAL.
FIRST, AUSTIN LANDLORDS ARE STILL FINDING WAYS TO EVICT TENANTS FOR REASONS THAT ADDITION TO NONPAYMENT, BUT JUST IMAGINE WHAT THOSE NUMBERS WOULD LOOK LIKE IF WE DIDN'T HAVE OUR OWN MORATORIUM.
[00:50:01]
MARNIEUM, I AM HERE SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF, WE MAY HAVE LOST THE SPEAKER THEY'RE STILL ONLINE, BUT WE WILL CALL THEM BACK.
I'M A MEMBER WITH THE AUSTIN DSA AND A VOLUNTEER WITH THE EVICTION SOLIDARITY NETWORK.
UM, I'M CALLING IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 67 AND ITEM NINE.
UM, I THINK ITEM 67 IS A SOLID FIRST STEP TOWARDS, UH, IMPROVING THE DISPLACEMENT AND DISENFRANCHISEMENT OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY HERE IN AUSTIN.
UM, WE STILL HAVE A LOT TO DO, UH, I THINK THIS, UH, ITEM IS TOO VAGUE.
I'M CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT THE CITY MANAGER HAS PLANNED, UH, FOR SUPPORT ITEM 99 AND URGE THE COUNCIL TO DO SO TO EXTEND THE EVICTION MORATORIUM.
WE JUST EXITING THE LOCAL DISASTER AND ARE STILL FEELING THE REPERCUSSIONS OF THAT.
UM, AND AUSTIN IS ALSO, OUR TEXAS IS STILL ONE OF THE LOWEST STATES IN TERMS OF VACCINATION RATES.
UM, WE CAN'T RETURN TO NORMAL UNTIL THINGS ARE ACTUALLY, UH, BACK TO NORMAL HERE.
UM, AND THAT INCLUDES PEOPLE RETURNING, BEING ABLE TO RETURN SAFELY TO THEIR JOBS.
UH, THANK YOU, CAITLIN, CAITLIN, BONNIE, PLEASE UNMUTE YOUR PHONE FROM GOING TO THE NEXT SPEAKER NIKIA.
UM, I AM A NATIVE CENTRAL TEXTBOOKS AND I AM SPEAKING.
UM, UH, I DO UNDERSTAND THERE IS NO MONEY ATTACHED TO THAT AT THIS MOMENT.
I WOULD LIKE TO HOPE THAT THERE WILL EVENTUALLY BE A PRICE TAG ATTACHED TO THIS VARIANT WORDS.
UH, I, LIKE I SAID, I AM, MY FAMILY IS FROM HERE AND WE WERE ONE OF THOSE DISPLACED AS WE, UH, AFFORD TO GO TO LIVE IN AN APARTMENT IN THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY.
SO I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY WANT TO EMPOWER OUR CITY COUNCIL TO BE ACTIVE AND PROACTIVE AND REBUILDING THE GENERATIONAL WEST.
BOTH THAT WAS STRIPPED FROM BLACK PEOPLE.
UM, IF YOU WATCH FOR, UM, CONSIDERING ACTION THAT WILL BE ATTACHED TO THIS BY THE WAY I, LAURA BLACKWELL.
I AM CALLING ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE AUSTIN JUSTICE COALITION TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 67.
UM, THE FORMAL APOLOGY FOR AUSTIN TO PARTICIPATION IN THE ENSLAVEMENT OF BLACK AMERICANS IS LONG OVERDUE.
WE CAN'T OVERSTATE THE URGENCY OF THE NEED FOR OUR CITY'S COMMITMENT TO RECTIFYING THE GENERATIONS OF SEGREGATION AND EXPLOITATION, BUT TO TAKE THESE NECESSARY STEPS FORWARD.
UM, SO I'M, I'M SPEAKING ABOUT ITEM 67.
I'M NOT SURE IF I'M A FOR OR GIFTED, UM, JUST KIND OF LISTENING TO SOME OF THE OTHER, UM, CARLOS, SO I'M FROM AWESOME NATIVE AUSTIN IN THE DISENFRANCHISEMENT.
AUSTIN HAS DONE TO AN I'M GONNA SPEAK FROM A PERSONAL STANDPOINT THAT IT HAS DONE, UM, AGAINST ME AND MY PEOPLE IS, UH, WOW.
I RECOGNIZE THE ABILITY TO APOLOGIZE.
OKAY, GREAT BOOK WAS WORTH THE CHANGE OF ACTION.
[00:55:01]
THE ACTIONS OF THE COURSES THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE IN THAT ARE CURRENTLY TAKING PLACE, IT, IT, IT THERE'S, I DON'T SEE NO RECONCILIATION, RIGHT.UM, IT HAS, WE'VE ALREADY, UM, AS A PEOPLE, BLACK PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SET BACK HUNDREDS OF YEARS AND, AND, AND, AND NOW WE'RE OFTEN HAVE CONTINUOUSLY MADE, UM, DECISIONS.
AND WE'RE EVEN SAID THAT, I MEAN, I CAN'T EVEN AFFORD TO LIVE IN AUSTIN.
SPEAKER YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
SO I'M CALLING, UH, SUPPORT OF, UH, ITEM 67.
AND I WOULD ASSUME THAT, UH, CITY COUNCIL, UH, WOULD BE IN SUPPORT OF IT AS WELL.
UM, THIS IS THE MORALLY RIGHT THING TO DO, UH, WHEN IT COMES TO, UH, RESPONDING TO, UH, HUNDREDS OF YEARS OF OPPRESSION OF MY PEOPLE, UM, WHEN IT COMES TO AUSTIN SPECIFICALLY, THIS IS THE RIGHT RESPONSE WHEN IT COMES TO RECONCILIATION OF ANY KIND OF, OF MANY FORMS WHEN IT COMES TO, UH, THE HOMELESSNESS THAT, THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT INTO, THAT'S BEEN BROUGHT TO BLACK PEOPLE WHEN IT COMES TO THE GENTRIFICATION, WHEN IT COMES TO THE, UM, UH, THE BRUTALITY OF OUR PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, WE MAKE UP ABOUT 8% OF AUSTIN, BUT YET WE MAKE UP 40% OF THE HOMELESS POPULATION, UH, DUE TO THIS, UM, URBAN RENEWAL DUE TO GENTRIFICATION AND DUE TO MANY OTHER, UH, UH, INSTITUTION THAT INFRASTRUCTURE SET IN PLACE.
SO I HOPE THAT CITY COUNCIL, UH, SUPPORTS THIS, UM, BECAUSE YOU CAN'T HAVE EQUALITY WITHOUT EQUITY, AND WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT WITHOUT ACTION.
SO AFTER THIS APOLOGY AND AFTER, UH, THAT IS AGREED UPON FUNDING RESOURCES, UH, FOR OUR PEOPLE SPECIFICALLY, BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN SPECIFICALLY TARGETED, HAVE BEEN SPECIFIC VICTIMS OF OPPRESSION AND RACISM AND SYSTEMIC RACISM.
HELLO? CAN EVERYBODY HEAR ME? YES.
I'M A DIRECT DESCENDANT OF THE FREE MAN SLAVE TOWNS THAT WAS DISPLACED.
UM, SO IT TOUCHES ME A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
UH, I'M A LITTLE BIT MORE PASSIONATE ABOUT IT BECAUSE I, UH, LIKE I SAID, I WAS DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THE DISPARITIES THAT THE CITY HAS PUT UPON AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES HERE.
UM, SO, UM, AND SUPPORT OF ITEM 67, UM, I ASKED THAT YOU GUYS BEING SUPPORTIVE IT AS WELL, BECAUSE QUITE FRANKLY, UM, WE'RE RETIRED.
UM, OUR BACKS ARE AGAINST THE WALL AND, UM, IT'S GETTING TO A POINT THAT WE DON'T WANT TO BEG NO MORE.
WE READY FOR YOU GUYS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
UM, THAT'S ALL I GOT TO SAY ABOUT THAT.
UM, MY YIELD, MY TIME, CHAZ MOORE.
HEY, GOOD, GOOD, GOOD MORNING.
YOU KNOW, UM, CHAZ MOORE WITH THE AUSTIN JUSTICE COALITION.
UM, I WANT TO START BY READING A QUOTE BY JILL STEIN.
UM, THE HOLOCAUST OF NAZI GERMANY IS CERTAINLY NO LESS OF A HISTORIC CRUMB THAN THE HOLOCAUST THAT WENT ON FOR CENTURIES AGAINST AFRICAN-AMERICANS THAT PROCESS OF REPARATIONS AND THE TRUTH AND RECONSIDER, UH, IN TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION DISCUSSION WAS EXTREMELY HELPFUL IN THE COUNTRY OF GERMANY.
AND WE NEED TO HAVE THAT HERE.
UM, I, YOU KNOW, I'VE HEARD SO MANY PEOPLE SAY A LOT OF THINGS ALREADY, AND I, I DO THINK THAT ONE, I THINK THIS RESOLUTION IS, IS VERY BROAD.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, I, I, I ABSOLUTELY THINKS IT NEEDS A PRICE TAG.
I THINK IT'S A FIRST STEP AND I THINK THIS IS PART OF THE, THE TRUTH, THAT RECONCILIATION PART.
UM, BUT I WANT TO CHALLENGE YOU ALL.
AND I'VE BEEN HERE WITH YOU WHEN WE'VE DONE THE BIG LEAPS WITH THE POLICE, YOU CONTRACT WITH THE, WITH THE REALLOCATION OF FUNDS FROM THE POLICE.
UM, AND I REALLY THINK THIS IS ANOTHER MOMENT IN WHICH THE CITY CAN TAKE A BIG LEAP, A BIG LEAP, AND RIGHT.
THE WRONGS OF, OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS, UM, THAT, UM, THAT HAVE BEEN BORN AND RAISED THERE I'VE BEEN DISPLACED.
AND I REALLY THINK IT'S LIKE A BIG STEP IN WRITING THOSE ROOMS. SO I SUPPORT IT AND FILL UP LARISSA RODEO.
NOW, HI, I'M CALLING IN FAVOR OF ITEM 67 AND ITEM 99.
UM, I WANT TO FIRST STATE THAT I AM A WHITE AUSTINITE, AND I BELIEVE IT IS WAY PAST TIME FOR AUSTIN TO APOLOGIZE FOR ITS PARTICIPATION IN THE ENSLAVEMENT
[01:00:01]
OF BLACK PEOPLE AND TO COMMIT RESOURCES, TO RECTIFYING THE HARM DONE TO OUR BLACK COMMUNITY.SINCE THE MASS SENSITIZATION, THIS RESOLUTION IS AN IMPORTANT FIRST TOWARDS ACKNOWLEDGING AND CORRECTING OUR SYSTEMATICALLY RACIST POLICIES AND PRACTICES, WHICH CONTINUE TO ERODE OUR BLACK COMMUNITY.
AS YOU SHOULD ALREADY KNOW THAT POPULATION AND OFTEN IS NAMES WE NEED TO WORK TO INCLUDE ACTUAL FINANCIAL INVESTMENT IN OUR BLACK COMMUNITY.
I KNOW THAT'S NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RESOLUTION, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE FOLLOWED WITH IT.
UM, FOR ITEM 99, UH, WE ARE CLEARLY STILL IN THE MIDST OF AN ECONOMIC CRISIS CAUSED BY THE PANDEMIC.
IN ADDITION, WE CLEARLY DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES OR INFRASTRUCTURE TO DEAL WITH OUR CURRENT UNHOUSED POPULATION.
THE LAST THING WE NEED TO DO IS PUT MORE PEOPLE AT RISK OF LOSING THEIR HOMES.
THE EVICTION MORATORIUM NEEDS TO BE EXTENDED, AT LEAST UNTIL THE STATE OR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PROVIDE ADEQUATE AID FOR FOLKS TO STAY IN THEIR HOME.
THANK YOU, SHAWN GOODEN, SEAN, PLEASE UNMUTE.
UH, PARTICIPATING IN THIS MEETING TODAY, MY NAME IS SEAN
I'M A THIRD GENERATION NATIVE.
HE STOPPED AT NIGHT THAT HOLDS THOSE WORDS, HOLD GREAT WEIGHT, ME, UH, MY FAMILY, UH, UH, MADE IT A POINT TO BE CIVICALLY INVOLVED ON NUMEROUS LEVELS.
UM, AND SO I'M CALLING AS A GENERATIONAL DESCENDANT OF THE REQUIREMENT OF THAT PRODUCTIVITY AND PARTICIPATION.
I'M CALLING IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 67 WITH THE CAVEAT.
I LOVE THAT YOU'RE CONSIDERING THE THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD DO, AND THAT'S GREAT, BUT THESE CAN'T JUST BE A THEORETICAL DISCUSSION.
THEY CAN'T JUST BE FOR WORDS AND, UH, LOTS OF HYPE AND PLATES OR, YOU KNOW, BE ABLE TO PAT YOURSELVES ON THE BACK.
THIS WASN'T THE AMOUNT OF CALAMITY THAT YOU REPORTED, UH, UH, ENACTED AGAINST MY COMMUNITY AND MY PEOPLE AND WE'VE SUFFERED GREATLY ECONOMICALLY AND TRUTHFULLY ECONOMIC DISASTER WOULD BE ECONOMIC RETRIBUTION AND, UM, FUNDING.
UM, I WANT TO FIRST THANK BLACK OPS AND COALITION FOR WORKING SO HARD TO BRING ITEM 67 TO THIS COUNCIL.
UM, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I'M FOR IT.
UM, AS YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T TAKE A RESEARCH STUDY TO KNOW THAT BLACK PEOPLE DESERVE A CHECK AND EQUITABLE RED RETRIBUTION FOR THE CENTURIES LONG TRAGEDY PLACED UPON OUR LIVES.
UM, DESPITE DECADES OF ADVOCACY AND ACTIVISM AND MOVEMENTS AND SO FORTH, WE STILL HAVE YET TO SEE BROAD REACHING CHANGES WITHIN LAW ENFORCEMENT, EDUCATION, HOUSING, WEALTH, HEALTH, N AUSTIN DUE TO THE ENSLAVEMENT OF PEOPLE.
SO I JUST URGE YOU ALL TO VOTE FOR THE PASSING OF A REAL LIFE, RESTORATIVE JUSTICE TODAY, AND EVEN TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT EVANSTON ILLINOIS JUST DID AS WELL.
THEY THEY'RE, UM, YOU KNOW, THE FIRST CITY TO REALLY PAY, UM, THEIR, THEIR, UM, THEIR CITIZENS, YOU KNOW, OVER $25,000 A PIECE WITH A $10 MILLION PACKAGE.
SO I JUST URGE YOU AGAIN, TO GET IN LINE WITH OTHER CITIES LIKE THAT WHEN YOU ARE FINALLY TAKING THE NECESSARY STEPS TO YES.
APOLOGIZE, BUT YES, PAID BACK THE PEOPLE THEY WRONG FOR SO LONG.
SO I JUST URGE OFTEN AGAIN, TO BE A LEADING EXAMPLE AND COMPENSATE BLACK AMERICANS FOR THE LOSS OF GENERATIONAL WEALTH DUE TO INEQUALITY AND STRUCTURAL RACISM.
I AM CALLING IN SUPPORT OF AGENDA ITEM 67.
THERE MUST BE ACCOUNTABILITY FROM LOCAL OFFICIALS, BUT A HARM CAUSED TO BLACK INDIVIDUALS.
WE NEED RESOURCES AND ENERGY DEVOTED TO BLACK LIVES AND THE EFFORT FOR ENCOURAGING BLACK INDIVIDUAL INDIVIDUALS TO DRIVE IN A LAND WHERE THE DISENFRANCHISED ARE OFTEN FORGOTTEN.
WE NEED CULTURAL SUSTAINABILITY TO BE ABLE TO ALLOW DIVERSE CULTURES TO FLOURISH.
WHEN LOCAL OFFICIALS ARE HELD, ACCOUNTABLE, ACTIONS ARE MADE AWARE, AND IF BURGER PLACES PRESSURE TO ACT
[01:05:01]
WHEN GOVERNMENT ACTION FAILS, WE KNOW WE WILL HAVE THIS SUSTAINABILITY TO FILL IN THE GAPS WITH THE CURRENT RESOURCES WE HAVE IN PLACE, INVEST IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES, WHICH WILL BRING A LEVEL OF MUTUAL RESPECT AND UNDERSTANDING THAT WE ARE TRYING TO SURVIVE BLACK AND BROWN INDIVIDUALS DISADVANTAGE WITH THE SAME PRIVILEGES ARE NOT GRANTED.WE DON'T NEED TO APOLOGIZE WHEN THE ACCOUNTABILITY AND OFFICIALS TO OWN UP TO THE ACTION.
YOU HAVE THE REST OF MY TIME, GUILT OR SLEEP.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THIS IS KELLAN GILDERSLEEVE IN DISTRICT THREE.
I'M A LOCAL RN AND A MEMBER OF AUSTIN DSA CALLING IN FADER FAVOR OF ITEM 99.
IN ADDITION, I RECOMMEND YOU ALL, ARE I COMMEND YOU ALL ON A MEASURES ALREADY TAKEN TO PROTECT OUR CITIZENS FROM EVICTION.
THIS CALL IS THE URGENCY COUNSELED TO CONTINUE DOING THE RIGHT THING BY SENDING THE EVICTION MORATORIUM IN OUR CITY UNTIL AT LEAST MAY 17TH OF THIS YEAR, THE MAJORITY OF AUSTIN CITIZENS RENT INSTEAD OF OWNING THEIR HOMES DUE IN PART TO OUR PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE HOUSING MARKET, THESE CONDITIONS SHOULD NOT CAUSE A PERSON TO LOSE THEIR HOME DURING A PANDEMIC AND ECONOMIC CRISIS.
I SUPPORT ITEMS 21 AND 99 FOR THE RENTERS IN AUSTIN WHO NEED OUR AID AND COMPASSION.
AND THIS SEEMINGLY NEVER ENDING EMERGENCY.
IT IS IMPERATIVE FOR THE HEALTH OF OUR CITIZENS, THAT THESE ITEMS ARE PASSED.
AND AFTER LISTENING TO TESTIMONY TODAY, I ALSO SUPPORT ITEM 67 AS A PRELIMINARY STEP.
I AM A WHITE RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FOUR.
I AM SPEAKING TO URGE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO VOTE.
I APPLAUD THIS RESOLUTION COMING BEFORE COUNCIL WITH ITS START AT HONEST NAMING OF OUR HISTORY AND DIRECT CONNECTIONS TO CURRENT REALITY.
AND YET THE WORDS IN RESOLUTIONS AND STUDIES AND REPORTS, AREN'T THE ACTUAL WORK OF CHANGE.
THE WORK OF CHANGE IS IN BUDGETS AND POLICIES AND EXPECTATIONS AND THE HEAVY LIFT OF CHANGING THE CULTURE OF OUR SYSTEMS CHANGE COMES WITH PERSONAL AND COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY, TAKING AND PERSONAL SELF-REFLECTION AND GROWTH THAT CHANGES OUR OWN DECISION-MAKING IT'S IN HOW WE TALK TO OUR NEIGHBORS AND TO OURSELVES REPARATIONS AT THE PERSONAL CITY COUNTY, STATE AND NATIONAL LEVELS WILL ALL BE NECESSARY TO BEGIN TO REPAIR THE HARM DONE AND THE ACCESS PRIVILEGE AND RESOURCES DENIED AND WITHHELD FROM THOSE ON WHOSE BACKS WE BUILT OUR OWN GOOD FORTUNE AT THAT WHOSE EXPENSE WE CREATED OUR NARRATIVE OF WHITE RACIAL SUPERIORITY.
I HOPE THE CITY COUNCIL AND CITY LEADERSHIP WILL SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION AND FOLLOW THROUGH ON THE WORK OF CHANGE.
HELLO? CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, GO AHEAD.
MY NAME IS ALBERTA FELLA AND I TO OFFER QUALIFIED SUPPORT OF ITEMS 67.
I SERVE AS CHAIR OF THE ECHO BOARD AND AS A COMMISSIONER ON THE TRAVIS COUNTY, AFRICAN-AMERICAN CULTURAL HISTORICAL COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY ESTABLISHED IN 2020 BY THE TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT.
I'M ALSO A LONG TIME JOURNALIST WHO'S COVERED RACIAL AND SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES OVER THE PAST 30 PLUS YEARS.
I BELIEVE THIS RESOLUTION COULD BE A BIG STEP TOWARDS HEALING AND OPEN WOUND AND STEPS TO A TRULY ANTI-RACIST APPROACH, BUT ONLY IF THE CITY MANAGER AND HIS TEAM LOOK TO THE BEST PRACTICES OF CITIES AND COMMUNITIES UNDERGOING THIS KIND OF INTROSPECTIVE EXERCISE OF, SORRY, I JUST GOT MY SECOND COZY SHOT.
THERE SHOULD BE INVESTMENT IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY, BUT NO POOR GUM CONCLUSIONS AS TO THE ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES PRIOR TO STUDYING THE ISSUE.
TWO OF THE BEST WOMEN CITED THE INITIATIVES ON THIS FRONT ARE NOW BEING DONE BY THE CITY OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS.
ANOTHER SPEAKER MENTIONED, AND THE COUNTRY OF HARD DATA.
THANK YOU TO MAYOR PRO TEM, NATASHA HARPER, MADISON, AND ALL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WENT ADVANCING THIS RESOLUTION.
HELLO, MY NAME'S ELIZABETH BREAM.
I'M AN ATTORNEY AND A WHITE RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FIVE.
I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL FOR TAKING UP ITEMS 67 TODAY AND ENCOURAGE YOUR APPROVAL.
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT RESOLUTION IN APOLOGIZING FOR PAST WRONGS BY OUR CITY AGAINST BLACK AUSTINITES.
I SUPPORT DIVERTING WORK AND RESOURCES TO CORRECT THE ONGOING EFFECTS OF
[01:10:01]
PAST RACIST PRACTICES AMONG OTHER THINGS.IF THIS CAN BE WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE CITY, MANAGER'S PLANNING, I HOPE THAT THROUGH HIS OFFICE, HIS EFFORTS, AS A RESULT OF THIS ITEM, THAT WE CAN FIND WAYS TO CORRECT THE ONGOING, VERY VISIBLE RESIDENTIAL HOUSING SEGREGATION IN OUR CITY.
I KNOW MANY PEOPLE IN MY LARGELY WHITE AREA OF DISTRICT FIVE WOULD BE EXCITED TO WORK ON WAYS TO BRING MORE MIXED INCOME AND RACIALLY IMMIGRATED HOUSING INTO OUR AREA.
IT'S ESSENTIAL THAT ALL THE EFFORTS LAUNCHED BY AGENDA ITEM 67 ARE FOLLOWED UP BY ONGOING COMMITMENT OF TIME AND FUNDING.
AS MANY OTHER SPEAKERS HAVE HAVE SAID, AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHERE THIS LEADS.
MY NAME IS YASMIN SMITH, AND I AM PROUD TO BE A BORN AND RESOLVED NIGHT.
I COME TO YOU AND ASK FOR YOU TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF ITEM 67.
I ASKED FOR THIS SO THAT ALL THINKING, THESE ARE ALL STUDENT DESERVES.
I ASKED FOR AUSTIN TO BECKON THOSE THAT LOOK LIKE ME RATHER THAN PUSH THEM OUT.
I SIMPLY ASKED FOR THE LIFE AND BENEFITS THAT ARE AFFORDED TO OTHERS THAT DO NOT LOOK LIKE ME HERE IN AUSTIN.
AS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL DRAFTERS OF THIS RESOLUTION, OUR AGENDA IS CLEAR AND WILL NOT BE DETERRED.
I YIELD THE REST OF MY TIME, BUT WE WILL NEVER YIELD OUR DEMAND FOR JUSTICE AND EQUITY.
MARK WILLIAMS. HELLO, AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY, COUNSEL, UH, I'M CALLING PRINCIPALLY ABOUT ITEM NUMBER, UM, 80, UH, AND THE WATER, UH, SPECIFICALLY I LIVED AT ARBORETUM MOAKS, UM, AND HERE'S WHAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE FOR NOT JUST OUR COMPLEX, BUT OTHERS WITHOUT WATER.
WE'D LIKE TO A HAVE TENANTS GIVEN A REASONABLE TIMELINE, CLEAR AND TRUTHFUL COMMUNICATION.
SO TENANTS CAN MAKE ALTERNATE ARRANGEMENTS.
HAD WE KNOWN TWO WEEKS AGO, WE'D BE WITHOUT WATER, UH, PRORATED RENT THAT'S KEY AND NO WATER CHARGES DURING THE PERIOD.
OUR HOMES RUN AND HABITABLE ADA STANDARDS FOR WATER RESOURCE PROVIDED, UH, FOR SENIOR TENANTS.
LANDLORD PAYS FOR WATER SERVICES, HELP THE FEMA AND THEN CODE ENFORCEMENT.
I LOOKED AT THE CITY OF IRVING AND THERE THEY HAVE A, I GUESS, A CODE.
IF THE, UH, APARTMENT COMPLEX CAN'T PROVIDE WATER WITHIN 24 HOURS, THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE HOUSING.
AND IF WE HAD SOMETHING SOMEWHERE HERE IN AUSTIN, UM, MANY OF US THAT ARE STILL DISPLACED, I DID NOT HAVE WATER AS OF TODAY, UM, MIGHT BE ABLE TO FARE A LITTLE BETTER AND I'M WAY BETTER OFF THAN OTHERS.
UM, AS FAR AS ITEM 67 IS CONCERNED, UM, I'M A CHILD OF GOD.
I DO THINK WE OUGHT TO LOOK AT OUR PASSING KNOWLEDGE, WHAT WE DID.
UM, I'M GONNA LEAVE IT WITH, UM, DR.
BRIANNA BIRD, BRIANNA, PLEASE UNMUTE.
I AM A RESIDENT IN DISTRICT ONE.
I REMEMBER OF BLACK AUSTIN COALITION AS WELL AS THE OPERATIONS DIRECTOR OF JUMP ON IT.
I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR COUNCIL TO UNANIMOUSLY PASS THIS RESOLUTION AND DO THE WORK TO RECTIFY AND PROVIDE ECONOMIC AND EQUITABLE RESTITUTION.
SO KAPPA THE COUNTLESS LOSSES WE AS BLACK PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED AS THE MAJORITY OF THE SPEAKERS HAVE MENTIONED, WE ARE DO THIS AND DEMAND IT PASS OUT IN 67, NICK TURNER.
UH, FIRST ONE, UM, THANK EVERYONE WHO CO-SPONSORED THIS INITIATIVE.
UM, AND THANK EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTED REALLY UNDERSTANDING THE SITUATION THAT BLACK BOSTON IS IN.
UM, I REPRESENT BLACKOUTS IN COALITION AND I'M ALSO THE FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF JUMP ON IT.
SO I'M FAMILIAR WITH A FEW OF YOU GUYS.
I'VE BEEN IN SUPPORT OF THE YEARS OF INITIATIVES THAT WE HAVE FOUND TO EDIFY BLACK YUKON EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY.
THIS RESOLUTION HERE IS STEP ONE IN THE STEP OF MANY THAT WILL ACTUALLY PUT BLACK OFFICER IN THE POSITION TO RECEIVE RESTITUTION IN THE FORM OF US HAVING THE FINANCIAL INVESTMENT.
AND THAT'S HAPPENED TO RESOURCES, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE FINANCIAL INVESTMENTS IN ORDER TO GROW A THRIVING BLACK DISTRICT IN THE CITY.
SO I AM IN FAVOR OF COURSE, UH, ITEM 67.
[01:15:01]
WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS PASSES BECAUSE NOW THEY WILL GET A UNANIMOUS DECISION.SO ONCE THIS PATCH, THEN WE ALSO WOULD ADD AND CHALLENGE YOU COUNSEL, TO NOT ONLY REPORT BACK ON AUGUST 1ST WITH HOW MUCH MONEY BLACK LAW STUDENTS DO THE POLICY, BUT ALSO PUT THE ACTION THAT WOULD BE BEEN ADDED DOLLAR AMOUNTS OF DEBT.
AND WE GET IT GOING REAL FAST BECAUSE WE'RE DYING IN THE STREETS RIGHT NOW, A LIGHT, A LIGHT, AND SO DEFINITELY ON FOR THIS.
AND WE EXPECT Y'ALL TO DO WHAT Y'ALL NEED TO DO.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, GO AHEAD.
I AM A BLACK TEENAGER FROM DISTRICT ONE AND I'M FOR ITEM 67 AND I DEMAND MY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO VOTE UNANIMOUSLY TO PASS THIS RESOLUTION.
ARTHUR, PLEASE UNMUTE PAMELA BENSON OWENS.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, GO AHEAD.
MY NAME IS PAMELA BENSON OWENS.
I'M A LONG TIME AUSTINITE AND ENTREPRENEUR AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SIX SQUARE AUSTIN, BLACK CULTURAL ARTS DISTRICT.
I AM ALSO ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUES AND FELLOW BLACK CITIZENS, THE MANIFESTATION OF MY ANCESTORS RESILIENT, PLEASE.
I ASKED YOU TO BE INTENTIONAL AND CHANGING THE EQUITY LANDSCAPE OF AUSTIN BY VOTING FOR ITEM 67.
I KNOW THAT YOU KNOW THAT IT IS PAST TIME.
I FULLY TRUST THE TALENTED BODY OF LEADERSHIP THAT I AM ADDRESSING AS IT'S TIME TO MOVE US FORWARD TOWARD A TRUE SUSTAINED, EQUITABLE BELOVED COMMUNITY.
YOUR WOULD BE INTENTIONAL PAINTING THE EQUITY LANDSCAPE.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, I LIKE TO SAY GRAND RISING FOR THE CITY COUNCIL AND GRAND RIDES AND THE BLACK AUSTIN APOLOGIES ARE ONE THING, BUT ACTIONS AND ACCOUNTABILITY IS ANOTHER I'M DEX EX OF BLACK OPS AND COALITION.
AND I'M FOUR ITEMS, 67 GENTRIFICATION SEGREGATION AND FLAT-OUT RACISM HAS ALL BEEN THINGS THAT HAVE AFFECTED THE BLACKS AND MINORITIES SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE 1928 MASTER PLAN, WHICH PUT A PROVERBIAL CHOCO ON OUR COMMUNITIES AND ITS OCCUPANTS.
THIS STRANGLEHOLD STILL EXIST IN 2021.
BLACK PEOPLE ARE VICTIM OF 50 MEDIC CIRCUMSTANCES, MURDER CRIME RATES, POVERTY, AND SOCIAL INJUSTICE, INJUSTICES, OR ECONOMIC EQUALITIES WON'T CHANGE UNTIL WE GET THE RESOURCES WE NEED AS A PEOPLE, THE RESOURCES WE HAVE BEEN DEPRIVED OF AND THE RESOURCES WE DESERVE PAST ITEM 67 SHANTA MAJOR.
UM, MY NAME IS SHANTA MANGER AND WITH FAMILY FOR JUSTICE TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE.
WHY SHOULD WE PASS OUT OF 67? DON'T APOLOGIZE, RECOGNIZE AND LISTEN TO BLACK PERSON SOLUTIONS.
WE SAY IN AUSTIN THAT WE ARE LIBERAL, BUT IT'S VERY EASY TO SAY THAT YOU'RE LIBERAL.
[01:20:01]
BLACK PEOPLE OUT OF THE EAST SIDE OF BOSTON.NUMBER ONE, WE WEREN'T, WE WERE PUSHED THERE IN 1900, BETWEEN 1,919 28.
THE CITY'S PLAN WAS ADVISED, OF COURSE, BLACK PEOPLE TO GO TO THE EAST SIDE.
NOW THE CUSHION IS OUT TO PFLUGERVILLE.
NOW WE HAVE NO, WE DON'T HAVE VERY, WE DON'T HAVE RENTING.
WE HAVE VERY LITTLE OWNERSHIP, POVERTY.
LET'S GO TO SUFFERING FROM LACK OF FUNDING FOR SUPPLIES AND FACILITIES IN LIBERAL OFTEN.
SO YOU HAVE FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR HOUSING AND HEALTHCARE FOR A BLACK PRESIDENT.
OWNERSHIP IS CRUCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY FOR OUR FREE LABOR IS CRUCIAL HERE IN LIBERAL AUSTIN.
ARE WE REALLY LIBERAL? PASSAGING THE 67 BECAUSE IT IS OWED TO US.
STEPHEN F. AUSTIN, THE FOUNDER, HE PROMOTED SLAVERY.
HE EVEN GAVE MONEY TO PEOPLE, SLAVE OWNERS TO BUILD EVERYTHING ON OUR BACKS.
SO I JUST WOULD SAY IT IS CRUCIAL THAT YOU HOLD YOURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE FOR OUR FREE LABOR PAST 67.
MAHOEN UH, MY NAME IS, UH, SHOCKER I'M CHAIR OF THE AUSTIN MUSIC COMMISSION.
I'M AFFILIATED WITH MANY OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT I'VE SPOKEN.
AND I THINK THEY'VE SAID EVERYTHING THAT NEEDED TO BE SAID.
UM, FOLLOWING UP OFF OF WHAT THE LAST SPEAKER SAID, UM, YOU KNOW, THE CITY THAT CONSIDERS ITSELF PROGRESSIVE HAS WHETHER THROUGH COVERT OR OVERT MEANS DISPLACED THIS BLACK COMMUNITY AND HAS DONE IT VERY WELL.
IT'S DOING IT BETTER THAN ANY OTHER CITY IN THE COUNTRY.
IT SHOULD BE SOME SHAME IN THAT AND, AND THE SHAME SHOULD THEN MOVE US FORWARD TO, TO CHANGE.
WE HAVE TO DO MORE THAN A POT OF GS FOLKS TO SAID, AND WE HAVE TO GET TO THE, TO THE POINT OF PUTTING MONEY WHERE OUR MOUNTS HAVE BEEN.
SO THAT SOUNDS LIKE THE HUSBAND AND HER KIND OF SIDES, ARGUING, NOT WANTING TO BE MUCH UP TOP ON THE HUSBAND COMES AND SAYS, THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT.
THAT'S PRETTY MESSED UP WHEN WE'RE IN NEED.
I MEAN, BEING BLACK AND BROWN IS ALREADY AGAINST THE SYSTEM PART OF THE WORK.
WE'RE TRYING TO BE THE RIGHT WAY.
I DON'T CARE WHAT LIFESTYLE LOOKS ON HER, WHAT BACKGROUND, LIKE EVEN MORE SO COOL TO ME BECAUSE THEY'RE DIFFERENT, BUT THEY TREATED DIFFERENTLY.
IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THEY WANT TO BE CULTURED TO CARE ABOUT HELPING THE PEOPLE THAT GO WORK AND RICH AFFLUENT APARTMENT.
LIKE THAT, OR WORK IN WESTLAKE WHERE THEY HAVE THIS, THAT WE HAVE NOTHING AND THEY STILL WANT TO BLAME US AND SAY, I THINK A LOT I MET YOU WILL LET ME OPEN THE DOOR.
THEY WERE GIVING WHAT'S A NECESSARY BATHROOM SPENDING THEIR MONEY HERE.
I'M A WHITE RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SEVEN AND WANT TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT OF ITEM NUMBER 67.
WE KNOW BASED ON THE HISTORY OF AUSTIN, WE'VE CONTINUED TO PERPETUATE HARM FOR BLACK AUSTINITES, INCLUDING THINGS SUCH AS THE 1928 MASTER PLAN ALL THE WAY TO PRESENT DAY AND THE NUMBER OF BLACK AUSTINITES THAT DISPROPORTIONATELY EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS IN OUR CITY, BLACK AUSTINITES HAVE EXPERIENCED DEEP, PERSONAL INSTITUTIONAL, STRUCTURAL AND SYSTEMIC RACISM.
WE KNOW THAT IN ORDER FOR HEALING TO BEGIN AS A CITY, WE MUST FIRST ACKNOWLEDGE THE HARM THAT WE'VE CAUSED AND MAKING A FORMAL APOLOGY.
BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT APOLOGY WITHOUT CHANGE AND ACTION IS JUST MANIPULATION.
THAT'S WHY WE MUST PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES, INCLUDING FINANCIAL COMPENSATION IN THE FORM OF REPARATIONS TO BEGIN TO MAKE AMENDS TO BLACK.
WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BEGIN TO WRITE THE WRONGS AND ERADICATE THE DISPARITIES IN OUR CITIES THAT CONTINUES TO PERPETUATE THESE HARMS. AND I ASK YOU TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS.
THANK YOU, MICHAEL LOFTON, UH, GLEANERS AGAIN, IT'S MICHAEL LOFT.
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY I'M, UH, IN
[01:25:01]
FAVOR OF ITEM NUMBER 67.UH, I ECHO THE SENTIMENTS OF ALL OF THE SPEAKERS THAT HAVE COME BEFORE ME TO JUST SHARE, UH, THEIR SUPPORT AND THEIR HISTORY.
I, TO THEM A LONG TIME AUSTINITE BORN HERE, AND I'VE SEEN AT A VERY BARE MINIMUM, 50 PLUS YEARS OF SYSTEMIC RACISM AND IT HAS TO STOP.
THE CITY COUNCIL TODAY WILL SUPPORT THIS AND MOVING FORWARD, NOT ONLY, UH, APOLOGIZE, WOULD BRING ABOUT, UH, FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO BRING ABOUT A CHANGE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
YOU KNOW, WE CAN TALK ABOUT RACE RELATIONS ALL DAY, BUT RACE RELATIONS CAN'T, UH, UM, REPAIR THE HARM, THE DEBT THAT INSTITUTIONAL RACISM HAS CALLED.
SO I WILL USE THEM ON TIME, BUT I WANT TO THANK NICK BLACK AUSTIN COALITION AND EVERYBODY THAT HAS SPOKEN.
AND IT IS MY SINCERE HOPE THAT CITY COUNCIL WOULD TAKE THE NECESSARY ACTION TODAY AND LET EVERYONE IN THE UNITED STATES KNOW THAT PAMPHLET CHANGE AND IT CAN START RIGHT HERE.
UH, THIS IS REALLY A CROSS OF LAKEWAY, TEXAS.
MY COMMENTS REFER TO ITEM TWO CONCERNING THE TREATMENT OF ANIMALS FOR TRAINING AND CONTROL THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE DISALLOWS CERTAIN DEVICES TO BE USED ON ANIMALS.
HOWEVER, IT EXEMPTS IN SECTIONS FI UH, CERTAIN ANIMALS, MOSTLY, UH, FARM ANIMALS, UH, FROM, UH, FROM THAT RULE.
I FAILED TO UNDERSTAND WHY THESE ANIMALS WOULD BE EXEMPT FROM PROTECTION FROM THE USE OF OBJECTS SHOULD CAUSE CRUELTY.
I CANNOT IMAGINE USING A BALL BAT ON A HORSE OR ANY OTHER ANIMALS.
ALL ANIMALS ARE SENTIENT BEINGS AND FIELD PING.
GROUPED IS CRUELTY NO MATTER WHO IT IS INFLICTED UPON WHY THIS ORDINANCE ALLOWS CRUELTY TO BE INFLICTED ON SOME AND NOT OTHERS IS BEYOND ME.
PLEASE DO NOT PASS SUCH A MEASURE THAT ALLOWS FOR CRUELTY TO ANY ANIMAL.
THIS COULD BE REWRITTEN TO INCLUDE ALL ANIMALS, A MUCH MORE HUMANE RULING.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERIOUS CONSIDERATION SHANTA MAJOR SHANTHA PLEASE UNMUTE LAURA MORRISON.
I'M CALLING YOU TODAY AND WHEREVER ITEMS, C7, WHICH I BELIEVE IS NECESSARY TO UNNECESSARY STEP TO RECOGNIZING AND RECONCILING AUSTIN'S RACIST HISTORY.
UH, AS A RESOLUTION, RIGHTLY ADJUSTED THE IMPACT OF SLAVERY SEGREGATION, URBAN RENEWAL PROJECTS, AND GENTRIFICATION ARE ALL KEY FACTORS IN WEALTH AND HOUSING DISPARITIES FOR BLACK AUSTINITES.
UH, I SUPPORT THE CREATION OF A BLACK RESOURCE AND CULTURAL CENTER AND WANT THOSE ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES THAT ENSURE THAT THE EQUITY SUSTAINABILITY AFFORDABILITY THAT COMMUNITY TRUST AND RELATIONSHIPS THAT I MENTIONED IN THIS EVOLUTION IS TRULY FOLLOWED THROUGH AND ACHIEVE WITH THE COMMUNITY AT TABLE.
UM, I THINK IT'S NECESSARY FOR THE CITY, THE COUNTY, AUSTIN ISD, AND TEXAS TO RECKON WITH THE RACIST HISTORY AND IMPORTANTLY ON THE RACIAL HEALING AT THE POLICY ACTION AND RECONCILIATION.
AND I THINK 67 IS JUST ONE OF THOSE.
THAT'S IMPORTANT TOWARDS DOING THAT.
THAT CONCLUDES THE SPEAKERS, BUT WE ARE REACHING OUT TO ONE MORE THAT WE COULDN'T GET THROUGH.
SO IF YOU CAN GIVE US A COUPLE OF SECONDS.
MY NAME IS QUINTIN DOWN, OUR PRESIDENT AND
[01:30:01]
CEO OF THE AUSTIN AREA, URBAN LEAGUE.UH, I AM IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 67.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE ALL OF, UH, THE ESTEEM ELECTED OFFICIALS ON THE DIETS TO PRESENT NO BIAS.
UH, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO STRATEGICALLY INVEST, UM, IN THE COMMUNITY TO SHOW A CLOSING OF THE GAP OF BRIDGING OF THE DIVIDE, UH, AND, UH, AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD AND MOVE FORWARD.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO INVEST IN THE EVOLUTION OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY.
SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO, TO, TO VOTE YES.
UM, THIS IS ONE STEP ON A LONG JOURNEY TOGETHER.
SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO WITH US AS ALLIES, AS WE ADVANCE AND EVOLVE EQUITY AT PARODY HERE IN AUSTIN AND CENTRAL CHECKS.
MAYOR, THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF THE SPEAKERS.
THANK YOU, UH, COLLEAGUES, UM, BEFORE WE GO ON JUST A COUPLE HOUSE CLEANING MATTERS, UM,
[Consent Agenda (Part 2 of 2) ]
ON ITEM NUMBER 65, WHICH WAS THE, UM, UH, NOMINATIONS AND APPOINTMENTS.UH, THERE WERE SOME THAT WERE LISTED AND LAID BACK UP THAT I'M GOING TO READ INTO THE RECORD, THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION, UH, LOTTA AS MY DOULA, UH, BY THE, UH, HOW MANY BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM THE COMMISSION ON VETERANS AFFAIRS, KEVIN, THE NOW COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR, UH, TOURISM COMMISSION, MICHAEL CANADY COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR, UH, AND ALSO, UH, UPDATES TO COUNCIL COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP.
UM, MAYOR PRO TEM, A NEW MEMBER CAMPO IS GOING TO JOIN THE MOBILITY COMMITTEE.
AND I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND JOIN THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.
THESE THINGS ARE ON THE LAKE BACKUP FOR 65, BUT BECAUSE THEY'RE RELATED, I WANTED TO READ THEM INTO THE RECORD ALSO ITEM NUMBER 29, WHICH IS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, HAD A BLANKETS, THE LEGAL SETTLEMENT FOR THE WELLS, A LAWSUIT THAT BLANK SHOULD BE FILLED IN WITH $75,000 AS THE, UH, UH, AMOUNT, UM, COUNSELOR KITCHEN.
UM, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU OFFICIALLY READ IT INTO THE RECORD ALREADY.
THAT WAS THE MISTAKE THAT WAS MADE FOR MY HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONER.
WE HAVE HANDLED THAT ONE BEFORE.
SO IT'S OFFICIALLY IN THE RECORD.
AND THAT WAS, UH, MELANIE, UH, J IS THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, NOT THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, IS THAT CORRECT? OKAY.
UM, COLLEAGUES NOW THAT GETS US TO A DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT, UH, AGENDA CATHERINE POOLE.
DID YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING BEFORE WE, UM, ADD, GAVE PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? I WAS GONNA, UM, JUST SAY A FEW WORDS ON ITEM 65, BUT GO AHEAD WITH ANY OTHER COMMENTS AND THEN I'LL JUST COME IN AT THE TAIL END.
I DON'T HAVE THE PULLED ITEMS THAT, UH, UH, I SEE THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ITEMS ONE THROUGH 77 AND ITEM 99.
UH, THE PULLED ITEMS ARE ITEMS 40 62 AND 68.
IS THERE ANY, UH, DISCUSSION OR COMMENTS MADE ON A CONSENT AGENDA? KITCHEN? YEAH.
SO I JUST WANT TO COMMENT ON ITEMS 31 AND 32.
UM, THIS IS ONE OF OUR STEPS FORWARD WITH OUR PROJECT CONNECT.
UH, THESE ITEMS RELATE TO ESTABLISHING THE CITY'S PROJECT CONNECT OFFICE AND PROVIDING THE FUNDING FOR ADDITIONAL FTE.
SO THIS IS AN EXCITING STEP FORWARD FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF PROJECT CONNECT, UM, AND FOR THE, THE CITY'S, UH, PORTION AND ROLE IN PROJECT CONNECT.
I WAS JUST GOING TO MOVE PASSAGE, BUT YOU'RE NOT THERE YET THERE.
AND JUST A SECOND COUNCIL MEMBER.
COULD YOU PLEASE SHOW ME AS VOTING? NO.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER MOST PASSAGE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA IS, OR SECOND TO THAT MOTION.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, MAYOR PRO TEM SECONDS THAT CONTINUING ON WITH FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA THAT WAS OVER TOVO.
[01:35:01]
IF HE WOULD COME, I DO HAVE SOME COMMENTS, BUT I JUST REALIZED I HAD PLACED MY PAPER TO COME BACK.WAIT, IF YOU WOULD THINK MAYOR PRO TEM.
I HAVE COMMENTS ON ITEM NUMBER SEVEN.
I'M SO VERY GRATEFUL THAT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO, TO HAVE PASSED ON CONSENT.
I'M PROUD TO BRING FORWARD THE ITEM.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOWS THE TRUE POWER OF COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION.
UH, MY TEAM, I WORKED WITH GRASSROOTS LEVEL ADVOCATES TO ASSEMBLE THIS RESOLUTION AND WE OWED THEM SO MUCH CREDIT FOR WHAT IS BEFORE US.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK MY CO-SPONSORS MAYOR ADLER COUNCIL MEMBERS, FRONT-DESK ASSAD AND TOBO FOR THEIR INVALUABLE INPUT AND SUPPORT ITEM.
67 REPRESENTS A BIG STEP IN RECONCILING OUR SON'S LEGACY OF RACISM.
UM, WE CAN NOT MOVE FORWARD UNLESS WE RECOGNIZE THE CITY'S ROLE, THE CITY'S ROLE IN CREATING THE BLACK AND WHITE WEALTH GAP.
UM, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, I SAID BEFORE, AND, AND THE PRESS CONFERENCE THIS MORNING TO BE CLEAR GAP, ISN'T EVEN THE RIGHT WORD.
IT'S A CHASM OF INEQUALITY OF INEQUITY.
UM, LESS THAN ONE IN 10 AUSTINITES IS BLACK, BUT BLACK AUSTINITES MAKE UP A THIRD OF OUR NEIGHBORS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
I BELIEVE A COUPLE OF OUR SPEAKERS SPOKE TO THAT THIS MORNING.
UM, SO I WON'T BELABOR, UH, SOME OF THE REAL SPECIFIC IN PARTICULAR MANIFESTATIONS OF WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, INCLUDING THE BLACK MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME, AFRICAN-AMERICANS BEING LESS LIKELY TO GO TO COLLEGE OWN HOMES, OWN BUSINESSES, LEAVE INHERITANCES TO THEIR CHILDREN, UM, SLAVERY SEGREGATION, EXCLUSIONARY ZONING, RED LINING, DISINVESTMENT, URBAN RENEWAL, DISPLACEMENT, AND ALL THE THINGS THAT WE WOULD CONTINUE TO SPEAK ABOUT.
I THINK, UM, SOME OF OUR CALLERS, THEIR CONCERN IS, YOU KNOW, THAT WE DON'T CONTINUE TO HAVE THE SAME CONVERSATIONS AND I TEND TO AGREE WITH THEM, UH, IN WHICH CASE I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T JUST SETTLE FOR WORDS, THAT WE, UM, DEMAND ACTIONS, UH, JUSTICE DEMANDS ACTIONS IN THE COMING MONTHS, I WILL CONTINUE TO BRING FORWARD COMMUNITY LED INITIATIVES.
WE'RE ALREADY WORKING ON THE CREATION OF A TRUE AFRICAN-AMERICAN CULTURAL HERITAGE DISTRICT THAT DOESN'T JUST EXIST IN NAME ONLY, UM, THE LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD WOULD CONTINUE TO FALL SHORT OF THAT NAME UNTIL WE HAVE A PROPER MUSIC AND ARTS HUB THAT PROMOTES AND CELEBRATES EAST DUSTIN'S RICH CULTURAL LEGACIES PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE.
SO, UH, I'LL, I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH, THANK YOU, THANK YOU TO THE BLACK AUSTIN COALITION AND GRASSROOTS FOLKS WHO HELP MY OFFICE WORK ON THIS AND TO MY CO-SPONSORS WHO HAVE PUT IT ON THE AGENDA.
YOU, I WANT TO SPEAK TO THAT ISSUE TOO, UH, SINCE WE'RE ON, ON THIS ISSUE, BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS A REALLY BIG DEAL AND, AND, AND WANT TO HELP YOU IT THAT WAY.
UH, I WANT TO THANK, UH, UH, YOU MAY PRETEND FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS.
I WANT TO THANK THE BLACK AUSTIN COALITION, UH, AND THE OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT HAVE, THAT HAVE REALLY SOURCED THIS.
UM, I WANT TO, UM, REPEAT THAT SOME OF THE STUFF I SAID THIS MORNING AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE, BECAUSE THIS IS A DIFFERENT, UH, UH, FOLKS PRESENT, BUT WE HAVE TO, TO REALLY TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE FACT THAT THE SUCCESS OF THE CITY AND THE STATE BEGAN AT THE EXPENSE OF SLAVES.
THE FIRST SENTENCE CENSUS IN 1825 SHOWED AUSTIN WITH 450 SLAVES, WHICH WAS 35% OF THE POPULATION COUNT BY 1860.
THE NUMBER OF SLAVES WERE INCREASING FASTER THAN THE POPULATION AS A WHOLE.
THE COLONIZATION LAWS GAVE SETTLERS UP TO 4,605 ACRES OF LAND, BUT THEY GOT AN ADDITIONAL 80 ACRES OF LAND FOR EACH SLAVE THAT BLACKS WERE KEPT FROM VOTING IN 1902 OF POLL TAX SEGREGATED, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN 1906, PREVENTED FROM VOTING IN THE PRIMARIES IN 1923, IN 28.
WE ADOPTED THAT LAND PLAN, INFAMOUS LAND.
I THINK THAT WE'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH, UH, BUT IN THE 1950S, THE CITY COUNCIL DOUBLED DOWN ON THOSE POLICIES.
IT IS A CENTURY AND MORE OF THE LIBERAL SEGREGATION COMPOUNDED BY A LACK OF INVESTMENT OVER GENERATIONS, OUR OWN LOCAL VERSION OF INSTITUTIONAL RACISM THAT HAVE HAD DISASTROUS AND COMPLETELY PREDICTABLE RESULTS, EXTREME WEALTH AND WAGE DISPARITIES, POVERTY RATES FOR TRAVIS COUNTY, BLACKS, HISPANIC RESIDENTS, TWO AND A HALF TIMES GREATER THAN THE POVERTY RATES FOR WHITES IN TRAVIS COUNTY, 28% OF ALL PEOPLE UNDER 65 LOW INCOME HAVE NO HEALTH INSURANCE WHILE BLACK RESIDENTS ACCOUNT FOR 8% OF THE TOTAL ADULT POPULATION IN TRAVIS COUNTY.
23% OF ALL PEOPLE BOOKED INTO TRAVIS COUNTY JAILS ARE BLACK, A RECENT REPORT BY THE URBAN INSTITUTE AND CENTER FOR POLICING EQUITY FINDS A BLACK MOTOR FOUR TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE ARRESTED AFTER BEING STOPPED BY AUSTIN
[01:40:01]
POLICE DEPARTMENT.AS, AS OUR WHITE MOTORISTS, THESE STATISTICS, THE STAKES REFLECT NOT A DEFICIT OF, OF ABILITY OR AMBITION OR EFFORT, BUT RATHER A SHAMEFUL COMBINATION OF RACIST POLICY COMPOUNDED BY DECADES OF AN ATTENTION AND DISINVESTMENT BY AUSTIN'S PRIVILEGED, MOSTLY WHITE LEADERSHIP OVER THE ENSUING GENERATIONS.
NOW WE'VE DONE MUCH, ESPECIALLY HERE RECENTLY TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE VESTIGES OF INSTITUTIONAL RACISM AND SYSTEMIC EFFECTS, HOODIES, BUT NOT ENOUGH ARE PREPARED.
DEMEC ECONOMIC SUCCESS AND STRATOSPHERIC GROWTH HID FROM SOME AND THUS DELAYED THE MAGNITUDE OF THE RECKONING WITH AUSTIN'S LEGACY OF RACISM AND SYSTEMIC INEQUITY.
YES, WE HAVE BEEN TAKING SOME CONCRETE STEPS, BUT WHEN WE MOVE TOO SLOWLY, PEOPLE TO SUFFER AS A RESULT, WE HAVE TO IGNORE THE ROADBLOCKS TO PROSPERITY FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR IN AUSTIN, RIGHT? INTENTIONALLY AND THEIR IMPACT.
WE FELT FOR GENERATIONS, UNLESS WE ACTUALLY ACT, WE MUST HAVE HARNESS THE ENERGY OF DISRUPTION TO REMAKE AUSTIN AS A CITY, A REAL OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL.
IT'S GOT TO REQUIRE COMMITMENT FOR EACH OF US TO ADDRESS OUR AFFORDABILITY AND DISPLACEMENT CRISIS TO EXPAND HEALTHCARE OPTIONS, TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE, AND EVERY CORNER OF THE CITY, AND TO ENSURE OUR INSTITUTIONS ARE JUST, AND THE EQUITY IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE US TO MAKE INVESTMENTS.
I AM PROUD OUR CITY'S ADDING ITS VOICE, THOSE CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, CALLING ON CONGRESS TO DEVELOP AND EXECUTE A NATIONAL PROGRAM OF RESTITUTION FOR DESCENDANTS OF SLAVES IN THIS COUNTRY WHO ADDRESS THE AWNING CHASM AS A MAYOR PRO TEM SET OF WEALTH GAP BETWEEN BLACK AMERICANS BEGAN WITH SLAVERY, WIDENED OVER GENERATIONS THROUGH RECONSTRUCTION, THROUGH THE ST.
SHAMEFUL SCOURGE OF JOE GROPE, JIM CROW THAT REMAINS INSIDIOUS FORCE TO THIS DAY.
WE MUST DO THE WORK HERE LOCALLY, YAN.
WE'RE NOT ALONE IN THIS WORK CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY, ASHEVILLE, PROVIDENCE, DERM, TULSA, AND OTHERS ARE OWNING UP TO THE PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL AND ECONOMIC VIOLENCE VISITED UPON PEOPLE OF COLOR BY THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY CALL HOME.
THIS RESOLUTION SETS FORTH AT THE BEGINNING OF A PATHWAY TO AN ATONEMENT AND RESTITUTION ALREADY MOVEMENT IN THIS DIRECTION.
WE SHOULD SUPPORT THOSE THAT ARE TRYING TO FIND THE WAY FORWARD.
IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE FROM US TO BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT ADDRESSING OUR HISTORY AND WRITING THE WRONGS IS THE WORD OF SAYING BLACK LIVES MATTER.
THAT HISTORY IS GOING TO REMEMBER THE YEARS OF 20, 20, 20, 21 AS THE MOMENT THAT POINTED US IN THIS DIRECTION OF JUSTICE, BECAUSE THESE WERE THE YEARS THAT, THAT, THAT FORCED US TO SEE AND JUSTICE UNLIKE ANY TIME BEFORE LIKE SOMEONE GRABBING AND HOLDING OUR FACE BETWEEN YOUR HANDS AND NOT LETTING US TURN AWAY, FORCING US TO LOOK AT IT, THE UNFAIRNESS AROUND US AND OUR PART IN PERPETUATING IT.
THERE IS NO JUSTIFICATION FOR HAVING 10 YEAR DIFFERENTIAL IN LIFE EXPECTANCY, DEPENDING ON WHETHER YOU LIVE ON THE EAST OR WEST SIDE OF TOWN.
AND THAT WAS BEFORE CORONA VIRUS, A DISEASE THAT HAS KILLED ONE IN EVERY 600 YEARS AND 50 AFRICAN AMERICANS IN OUR COUNTRY.
ONE OF EVERY 650, WE HAVE TO GRASP THE ENORMITY OF THE OPPORTUNITY, GOLF, THE SEPARATES, OUR NEIGHBORS OF COLOR FOR MANY OF THEIR WHITE COUNTERPARTS.
NOW IS THE MOMENT FOR COMMUNITY-WIDE AND INTROSPECTION AND ACTION.
AS A RESULT, I'VE BEEN SO GREAT TO LIVE IN A MORE FAIR AND MORE JUST SOCIETY.
SO LET'S IMAGINE AND DO BIG THINGS ON PROUD ARE BEGINNING TO DO THE WORK TO END HOMELESSNESS PROUD OF THE 300 MILLION PROJECT CONNECT FUND DEDICATED TO ANY DISPLACEMENT PROUD WE'RE WORKING TO REIMAGINE PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOW WE KEEP ANOTHER SAFE, BUT THE CALL AND TODAY'S RESOLUTION IS TO BE EVEN MORE DELIBERATE, MORE FOCUSED, MORE PRACTICAL, AND REAL DOING THE WORK AND CALLING IT BY ITS NAME.
LET'S ADDRESS RACE, AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT CORRECTOR CORRECTING CENTURIES OF INJUSTICE, BECAUSE IT IS THE FUNDAMENTAL INJUSTICE THAT FUELS SO MANY OTHERS LET'S DO THIS WORK.
SO I WANT TO SAY THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE THAT GREW UP RIGHT OFF OF 10TH STREET NEXT TO 11TH, AND IT WAS ACTUALLY LIVED THROUGH THIS EPISODE OF THREE COLORS, ONLY WIPED ON ME.
AND I SEEN THE SCIENCE AT THE GREYHOUND RUN INTO WOOLWORTHS BETWEEN THE COUNTER SEPARATING
[01:45:01]
PEOPLE.YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF INJUSTICE, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY IN THE INSIDE.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST INJUSTICE HAPPENED TO THE LATINO MEXICAN AMERICAN PEOPLE WAS THE TAKEOVER AND THE DEL VALLEY THEY'LL BUY IT WITH A MAN THAT OUT THEO CAME DOWN HERE, HAD A BIG LAND GRANT.
HE WOULD REFUSE TO SELL IT OFF AND HE DISAPPEARED.
NOBODY EVER KNEW WHATEVER HAPPENED TO ME.
AND NOW WITH OUR, OUR AIRPORT, OUR PERSONAL BEAR BASE BASIS, I MEAN, OUR AIRPORT IS THERE.
AND, UH, THERE THERE'S A LOT OF REC, A LOT OF INJUSTICE THAT HAPPENED HERE IN AUSTIN.
AND I LIVED THROUGH A LOT OF IT SAID THAT MY FRIENDS COULDN'T GO INTO THE POOL, POOR JOHN B WHEREIN HE WOULDN'T, THEY WEREN'T ALLOWED TO PER MONTH THE STATE THEATER, MY BLACK FRIENDS USED TO GIVE ME MONEY TO GO OUT AND GO IN THERE AND BUY ICE CREAM SO THEY COULD EAT IT OUTSIDE.
IT'S JUST REALLY JUST BROKE OUR HEART.
AND WHAT HAPPENED DOWN TO 11TH STREET IN TRUST THREE, WHICH WAS THE COMMERCIAL AREA OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND WHAT THEY DID THERE WITH URBAN RENEWAL, AND ACTUALLY WENT THROUGH THAT WHOLE AREA OF THE MOLLUSK, ALL THE HOUSING.
INSTEAD, IT WAS ALL SUBSTANDARD AND NOTHING WAS GIVEN TO HIM.
THERE WAS NO COMPENSATION, NO MONEY FOR THEM.
THEY JUST HAD TO LEAVE EXCEPT FOR THE HOMEOWNERS THAT WERE ABLE TO HOLD ONTO IT ONTO THEIR LAND, THEIR HOUSE, THEY WOULD JUST MOVE DOWN.
AND WE SAW THAT THE DECAY OF THE WHOLE AREA AND NOTHING EVER HAPPENED TO IT.
I DID TWO OF THEM, LATE NINETIES, 1990.
HE SAID SOMETHING ACTUALLY STARTED TO GET DEVELOPED THERE AND WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.
UH, I, YOU KNOW, I WISH I COULD HAVE SAID THAT THAT WAS OUR PAST, BUT IT'S NOT.
THE STATE IS REALLY HORRIBLE AND THE WAY THAT IT'S BEING OPERATED IN, AND EVERY TIME WE TRY TO WORK ON A SOLUTION TO PROVIDE HOUSING, THE STATE KILLS IT.
I MEAN, IT JUST, IT'S JUST HORRIBLE.
AND, AND I HOPE THAT PEOPLE HAVE STATE OF TEXAS ANY PICK UP AND SEE WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON IN THIS STATE AND TURN AROUND AND HELP US OUT.
YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T DO IT OURSELVES.
IF THAT'S THE BIG, BIG PROBLEM THAT WE'RE FACING, YOU KNOW, WE CANNOT DO IT OURSELF.
WE NEED TO STAY TO HELP US OUT.
AND UNTIL THE STATE HELP US OUT, WE'RE STILL GOING TO BE STRUGGLING.
AND I SEEN IT SINCE I WAS BORN.
AND, YOU KNOW, AND AS SOON AS I COULD REMEMBER, I SEEN THE INJUSTICE THAT HAPPENED HERE IN AUSTIN AND THE STATE.
AND, AND WE'RE NOT GONNA, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SOLVE IT ON OUR OWN.
WE'RE GOING TO BE PUTTING A BANDAID ON IT.
IT STOPPED THE BLEEDING, BUT UNTIL THE STATE GETS BEHIND US AND THE CITIES AND GAVE US THE RESOURCES AND THE SUPPORT, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST GOING TO BE STRUGGLING AND LIMPING ALONG.
AND I HOPE THAT I CAN SEE IT WITHIN MY LIFETIME, BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN IT SO FAR.
ALEXANDRA LIKES TO SPEAK ON THE CONSENTED.
I APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES FOR SPEAKING SO ELOQUENTLY ON THIS ITEM AND FOR A TIME I THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME TO CO-SPONSOR IT.
UM, I THINK THAT SOME OF WHAT WAS SAID IS THAT, UH, THIS ITEM IS BOTH REALLY CALLS OUT COMING FORWARD WITH, WITH, UH, ECONOMIC PLAN ON RECONCILIATION, AS WELL AS THE BLACK AND MISSY OR CULTURAL AND RESOURCE CENTER.
BUT THEN BESIDE THEM ALSO CALLS ON US TO, TO, UH, ACT MORE DELIBERATELY ON ALL SORTS OF ITEMS, UH, ALL OF THE WORK THAT WE DO ON THE BUDGET OR ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE OR ON ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT, WE NEED TO BE THINKING OF THAT.
IT, I THINK IN A NEW WAY AFTER PASSING THIS ITEM, UM, AS, AS WE THINK ABOUT, AND, AND REALLY RESPONDS TO, UH, NOT JUST THE HISTORY OF ENSLAVEMENT IN JIM CROW, BUT ITS CONTINUED, UH, PRESENCE WITH US TODAY.
SO, SO I JUST REALLY WANT TO, TO SECOND AND THIRD AND FOURTH, UH, THE IDEA THAT THIS ITEM IS NOT JUST ABOUT THE, THE ACTIONS IN THE VIET RESULTS, BUT ALSO, UM, HOW WE FRAME ALL OF OUR WORK
[01:50:01]
MOVING FORWARD WITH RESPECT TO BLACK AUSTIN.AND THEN ALSO SOMETHING THAT I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S BEEN SET AS EXPLICITLY IS, UH, I DEEPLY APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS ITEM, A MAYOR PRO TEM.
BUT I THINK THAT IT ALSO IMPLIES THAT THEY CAN'T ALL BE ON DISTRICT ONE, THAT THIS IS REALLY SHARED WORK.
AND THAT I THINK AS UNANIMOUSLY VOTING ON THIS SHOW IS OUR SHARED WORK AND SHARED COMMITMENT TO THE ISSUES OF BLACK AUSTIN.
AND FOR, FOR DISTRICT FOURS PART, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, UM, THE, THE SITES OF THE HISTORIC, UH, BLACK ORPHANAGE WHERE WE NOW HAVE A CITY BUILDING AND OPEN SPACE FOR ARTS AND CULTURE.
AND WE SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT THAT DIFFERENTLY AND PASSING THIS RESOLUTION.
AND WE HAVE THE HOME DEPOT, UH, PROPERTY IN HISTORIC ST.
AND EACH OF US, UH, PROBABLY HAVE THAT LIST OF THINGS WHERE WE CAN PULL OUR WEIGHT AS WELL.
UH, BECAUSE, UH, I SO DEEPLY APPRECIATE THE LEADERSHIP OF, UH, BLACK AUSTINITES IN GRASS ROOTS ORGANIZATIONS PUTTING THIS TOGETHER AND YOU'RE SPONSORING IT, BUT IT CANNOT ALL FALL BACK, UH, ON, ON, ON DISTRICT ONES, UH, TO SOLVE AN ISSUE THAT HAS, THAT REALLY, UH, IS THE WHOLE CITY'S ISSUE.
AND SO, UH, I ALSO JUST WANT TO STATE THAT COMMITMENT FROM EACH OF US, I THINK FOR US TO ALL CONTINUE TO DO OUR PART, UH, SO THAT THIS RESOLUTION ISN'T WORDS ON A PAGE, BUT CONTINUED WORK.
SO I WANT TO SPEAK, UM, JUST, UM, QUICKLY ON ITEM 67 AND THEN I HAD THE ITEM THAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT, UM, UH, COMMISSIONER WHO WAS, UH, RETIRING.
SO IF THERE WAS ANYBODY ELSE WHO WANTED TO SPEAK ON 67, I COULD GO TOWARD THE END.
UM, BUT I DO HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD ON, ON THAT ITEM NUMBER KITCHEN.
DID YOU WANT TO GO FIRST COUNSELOR POOL? I WASN'T SURE SHE WAS INVITING ANYONE ELSE TO SPEAK.
OH, WELL I JUST WANT TO, UH, I WANT TO, UM, ECHO WHAT EVERYONE HAS SAID HERE.
UM, INCLUDING, UM, YOU KNOW, MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBER KASAR COUNCIL MEMBER RENTERIA, AND OF COURSE, UH, MAYOR PRO TIM.
I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT, UM, AS YOU SAID, COUNCIL MEMBER, CASARA BY ALL OF US VOTING FOR THIS AND IT GOES OUR SUPPORT.
UM, AS YOU KNOW, WE CAN ONLY HAVE FIVE PEOPLE SIGN ON AS CAUSE BOUNCERS, UH, BY VOTING FOR THIS I'M SIGNAL, SINGLING MY SUPPORT AND MY COMMITMENT TO CONTINUE THE WORK THAT I HAVE DONE AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO WITH ALL OF YOU.
UM, I THINK THIS IS AN IMPORTANT STATEMENT AND MORE A STATEMENT.
IT IS A CALL TO ACTION TO CONTINUE THE WORK THAT WE HAVE DONE AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, UM, AS WE GO FORWARD.
I'M ALSO GONNA SPEAK TO, TO HIM, UH, FOLKS WHO HAVE LEFT MY OFFICE.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT ME TO SPEAK BEFORE OR AFTER YOU DO WELL, LET ME START WITH JUST A COMMENT ON 67 AND THEN I'LL, I'LL, UM, SEGUE INTO THE COMMISSIONERS.
I THINK THAT SIDE IS 64, THE NOMINATIONS.
SO I TOO AM SUPPORTIVE OF, UH, THE ITEM FOR, UH, THE, UH, BLACK EMBASSY AND THE RECONCILIATION WORK AND THE HISTORY AND MAKING SURE THAT WE CAPTURE THE HISTORY OF THE CITY.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK, UM, THE CITY MANAGER AS PART OF THE WORK THAT IS GOING TO BE DONE, UM, ON THIS POINT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE, UM, THE SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND AND ORPHANED, UH, NEGRO CHILDREN WAS THE TITLE OF IT BACK IN THE LATE 1880S WAS AT THE SITE OF THE BULL CREEK, UH, THE BULL CREEK ROAD, UH, PROPERTY THAT WAS TURNED INTO A BIG, HUGE DEVELOPMENT A FEW YEARS AGO THAT THE BULL CREEK ROAD COALITION WORKED VERY HARD ON MEMORIALIZING THAT SCHOOL, UM, IT'S PRECEDENT, UM, AND HEADMASTER WILLIAM HOLLAND WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME AND THE NEIGHBORS IN THAT AREA.
AND I'M AFRAID THAT THAT RECOGNITION HAS KIND OF DROPPED DOWN THE LIST OF IMPORTANCE AND PRIORITY, UH, FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR FOLKS WHO ARE DEVELOPING THE GROVE.
AND SO I WOULD ASK THAT THIS BE, UH, REPRIORITIZE, WHICH WAS A SPECIFIC ASK AT THE TIME WHEN THAT WAS APPROVED LATE IN 2016, WHICH OF COURSE, SENIOR MANAGERS BEFORE YOU WERE HIRED ON HERE.
BUT MY COLLEAGUES WHO WERE ON THE DAYAS WILL PROBABLY REMEMBER THE DIFFICULTIES SURROUNDING THAT PARTICULAR PUT APPROVAL AND THE PIECE ABOUT, UH, RECOGNIZING AND MEMORIALIZING WITH A PLAQUE, A HISTORICAL PLAQUE AS, UM, WAS, WAS PART OF WHAT THE NEIGHBORS WERE REQUESTING.
AND SO FAR IT HASN'T HAPPENED.
SO I WANT TO NOTE THAT WITH ALL, UH, APPROPRIATE RESPECT AND EMPHASIS AND THAT THE STAFF WITH OUR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DO WORK WITH THE, UM, THE FOLKS IN
[01:55:01]
THE SECTOR WHO CAN MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS.SO I NOW WOULD LIKE TO SEGUE OVER TO ITEM 65 AND TAKE A MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND HONOR A COMMISSIONER WHO IS RETIRING AFTER 12 YEARS OF SERVICE AS A CHAMPION FOR AUSTIN'S TREES, TAKING MACIO HAS SERVED AS THE DISTRICT SEVEN APPOINTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AND AS CHAIR OF THE URBAN FORESTRY SUB-COMMITTEE SINCE 2015, BUT SHE HAD ALREADY DEDICATED MANY MORE YEARS ON THE URBAN FORESTRY BOARD WORKING TO PROTECT ONE OF THE CITY'S MOST VALUABLE ASSETS, OUR TREE CANOPY FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF AUSTIN'S TREE LADY, MARGARET HOFFMAN, PEGGY LEAVES HER OWN POWERFUL LEGACY AS PROTECTOR OF AUSTIN'S NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AND UNWAVERING CHAMPION FOR TREES, ESPECIALLY WITH HER WORK AS ONE OF THE ARCHITECTS OF AUSTIN'S HERITAGE TREE ORDINANCE IN 2010 AND THE URBAN FOREST MASTER PLAN IN 2014, THESE PROTECTIONS AND PLANS ARE MORE THAN JUST POLICY IMPLEMENTATIONS.
THEY ARE INVESTMENTS IN OUR FUTURE, AND THEY REPRESENT YEARS OF WORK BY CITY STAFF, THE COMMUNITY AND CHAMPIONS LIKE PEGGY.
IT IS WORK THAT IS NEVER COMPLETE.
IN FACT, YOU MIGHT SAY IT'S JUST BEGINNING.
AND IF WE ARE TO LEAVE OUR OWN LEGACY, WE MUST FOLLOW IN PEGGY'S FOOTSTEPS AND REDOUBLE OUR EFFORTS TO PROTECT THE NATURAL GIFTS THAT ARE UNDER OUR CARE.
PIGGY ALWAYS HAD HER EYE ON THE HORIZON, PROTECTING AUSTIN'S BEAUTIFUL AND BOUNTIFUL, NATURAL ENVIRONMENT FOR THOSE WHO COME AFTER IT TO ENSURE THAT THEY TOO WILL WALK UNDER OUR OLDEST TREES THAT STAND AS WISE AND EXPENSIVE GUARDIANS OVER OUR CREEKS RIVERS, GREENBELTS, AND PARKS FOR MANY GENERATIONS TO COME, THANK YOU, PEGGY AND ACO FOR YOUR PASSION AND YOUR HEART AND FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THIS CITY AND TO OUR FUTURE.
AND LAST THING, BEFORE WE TAKE A VOTE, I WANT TO ALSO RECOGNIZE TWO FOLKS FOR, UH, DISTINGUISHED SERVICE.
UH, FIRST WANT TO RECOGNIZE SLIME MAJID BY OFFICE, UH, HIS SERVICE, UH, AS AUSTIN'S FIRST CHIEF SERVICE OFFICER BEGAN WITH MAYOR LEFFINGWELL.
AFTER SIX YEARS IN MY OFFICE, HE HAS NOW LEFT TO JOIN THE BIDEN DEMONSTRATION IN WASHINGTON, DC.
HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR DEVELOPING CITYWIDE SUPPORT AND ENGAGEMENT PLANS TO INCREASE VOLUNTEERISM, PHILANTHROPY, NONPROFIT SUPPORT, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.
HE WAS OUR CONNECTION TO THE UNITED STATES CONFERENCE IN MAY, AND I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE HIS WORK COORDINATING HATE AND PHILANTHROPY DURING HARVEY AND KATRINA, HIS WORK TO SECURE MAJOR GRANTS, TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES, AND EXPERTISE FOR AUSTIN THROUGH THE BLOOMBERG PHILANTHROPIES AND MANY OTHER LARGE FOUNDATIONS.
I ESPECIALLY WANT TO COMMEND HIS ROLE IN HELPING TO ACHIEVE NET EFFECTIVE ZERO VETERAN'S HOMELESSNESS IN WASHINGTON AND IN AUSTIN, UH, BY HELPING TO BRING IN A PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR TOGETHER IN NEW WAYS.
AND BY LEVERAGING, UH, DOLLARS, WE MISSED HIM LAST MONTH AND I WISH HIM THE BEST IN HIS ADMINISTRATION.
I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AND THE, AND THE PARTNER OF HER, MY STAFF OF, UH, JOHN MICHAEL VINCENT CORTEZ.
UH, HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TWO HIRES IN MY OFFICE AND I CAME INTO OFFICE WANTING TO DO BIG TRANSFORMATIONAL THINGS.
AND, AND THAT WAS THE ONLY WAY THAT I, I TALKED TO HIM AND, UH, THE COMING ON BOARD TO, TO HELP HE ALREADY HAD ELECTED PUBLIC SERVICE AS AN ACC TRUSTEE.
HE HAD REAL PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE WITH SO MANY OF THE IMPORTANT ISSUES IN HIS ROLE WITH, WITH CAP METRO, UH, BEFORE HE CAME IN, HE HAD ALREADY HAD THESE LEADERSHIP ROLES AND SOME OF HIS, AND MY BIGGEST PUBLIC PRIORITIES, POLICY PRIORITIES, HISTORIC INVESTMENTS IN MOBILITY AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
HE LED THE EFFORT IN OUR OFFICE AND STRATEGIC HOUSING PLAN, THE STRATEGIC MOBILITY PLAN, THE REGIONAL WORKFORCE MASTER PLAN, ALL OF WHICH WILL MAKE AUSTIN MORE INCLUSIVE AND AFFORDABLE FOR GENERATIONS.
SO MUCH OF WHAT I'M PROUD OF IN MY TIME, THUS FAR IN OFFICE AS JOHN MICHAEL'S FINGERPRINTS ALL OVER IT, I'M EXTREMELY GRATEFUL.
I WISH HIM BEST IN HIS NEW ROLE AT GOOGLE, WHERE HE WILL EARN MORE THAN I COULD EVER PAY.
[02:00:01]
THE SERVICE SUPPORT ADVICE, COUNSEL, PASSION OF BOTH JOHN MICHAEL AND SLY WITH THAT, UH, COLLEAGUES.UH, I WANT TO TAKE A VOTE NOW ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, AND THEN WE CAN HEAR FROM THE CITIZENS COMMUNICATION SPEAKERS, COUNCIL MEMBER, TOVA MAYOR WITH APOLOGIES.
UM, I HAD INDICATED EARLIER I DID HAVE SOME COMMENTS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, SO I HATE TO PULL US BACK IN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THOSE, UM, TRIBUTES FOR, FOR SEVERAL REALLY VALUED, UM, MEMBERS OF THE, OF CITY HALL.
UM, AS WELL AS OF COURSE, PEGGY ON OUR BOARD.
UM, I WANTED TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT, UM, ITEM FIRST ITEMS, UM, 42 AND 43.
THESE ARE ITEMS THAT ARE, ARE VERY RELATED TO THE WORK THAT SEVERAL OF US DID ON A WORK GROUP, LOOKING AT AT THE USE OF OUTSOURCING CONTRACTS AND THESE CONTRACTS KEEP COMING, KEEP COMING BACK TO THE COUNCIL.
AND WE KEEP DELAYING REALLY WHAT THE, WHAT THE COUNCIL AS A WHOLE HAD SUPPORTED OF BRINGING THOSE POSITIONS, UM, ONLINE IN THOSE AREAS WHERE THERE IS A CONSISTENT NEED FOR, FOR THOSE SERVICES.
SO HAVING MET WITH HAVING MET WITH THE RELATED CITY STAFF, AND I APPRECIATE THEIR WILLINGNESS TO DO THAT.
I'M, I'M GOING TO SUPPORT KEEPING THEM ON CONSENT TODAY, BUT I WOULD ADD THE DIRECTION TO OUR MANAGER THAT, THAT NUMBER ONE, UM, THERE'D BE FUNDING BUILT INTO THIS YEAR'S BUDGET TO BRING, BRING THESE POSITIONS IN ONLINE, UH, BRING THESE POSITIONS INTO THE CITY.
AND, AND IF THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE, THEN I, THEN I WOULD URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO REALLY SUPPORT AN AMENDMENT THAT WE BRING FORWARD TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
THIS IS A COMMITMENT THAT WE MADE TO OUR CITY STAFF AND BY OUR CITY STAFF, I MEAN, NOT JUST THOSE WHO ARE OFFICIAL CITY OF AUSTIN EMPLOYEES, BUT ALSO THOSE WHO WORK IN OUR BUILDINGS, UM, CLEANING OUR BUILDINGS OR WORKING, DOING SECURITY AND, AND REALLY FULFILL THE ROLES OF OUR, OF OUR CITY STAFF WHO ARE PERMANENT MEMBERS OF OUR CITY STAFF.
SO I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ASK IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE MAY NEED TO BE MORE LEAD TIME ON THAT FOR THE CUSTODIAL IN SOURCING.
UM, BUT THAT SECURITY, THE SECURITY PIECE MAY BE ABLE TO BE ACHIEVED THIS YEAR.
AGAIN, IF WE, IF WE ARE ABLE TO IDENTIFY FUNDING IN THE BUDGET.
SO I'D LIKE TO ASK TWO THINGS.
ONE IS, IS WHAT I'LL JUST ASK MANAGER THAT YOU INCLUDE MONEY IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET FOR, OR THE SECURITY PIECE, UM, TO BE, TO BE BROUGHT IN-HOUSE UNDERSTANDING OF COURSE, THAT, THAT THERE ARE SOME POSITIONS THAT ARE, ARE BETTER HANDLED AS CONTRACT POSITIONS, BUT FOR THE BULK OF THOSE POSITIONS TO COME IN AS CITY OF AUSTIN EMPLOYEES.
AND THEN I'D LIKE TO ASK FOR AN UPDATE BY MAY.
UM, I THINK IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE, UM, TO POTENTIALLY PRESENT TO ONE OF OUR COMMITTEES, MAYBE AUDIT AND FINANCE, BUT AT LEAST VIA MEMO, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE PRESENTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL SOME PLAN FOR HOW, UM, IF, IF, IF OUR CITY MANAGER IS PROPOSING A PHASED APPROACH FOR THE CUSTODIAL STAFF, UM, BY MAY, I'D LIKE TO SEE AN UPDATE I'D LIKE TO HEAR AN UPDATE ABOUT HOW THAT, WHAT THAT PHASING MIGHT LOOK LIKE.
SO I'LL PAUSE THERE IN CASE THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS.
AND THEN I HAVE SOME COMMENTS ABOUT OTHER ITEMS AS WELL.
UM, MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO JUST CONFIRM THAT I'M 24 IS POSTPONED.
IT'S ON CHANGES TO, UH, MARCH 25.
UM, I'D LIKE TO JUST HIGHLIGHT FOR ONE MOMENT, UM, ITEM 37.
SO WE'VE LONGER THAN I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL.
THERE HAVE BEEN COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF REALLY WORKING TOGETHER WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN OUR AREA AND LOOKING TOWARDS JOINT USE AGREEMENTS AND REALLY USING THE SCHOOL CAMPUSES AS COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, AS PLACES WHERE OTHER KINDS OF SERVICES ARE CO LOCATED TO SUPPORT THOSE FAMILIES AND OF STUDENTS, NOT JUST THE STUDENTS THEMSELVES, BUT ALSO THE FAMILIES OF THOSE STUDENTS.
AND SO 37, I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT AS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF, OF THAT, UM, AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH FROM THE BACKUP.
IT, IT LOOKS AS IF IT'S GOING TO LOCATE SOME OF THOSE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES THERE ON THE CAMPUS.
AND THAT'S JUST, UM, I JUST WANT TO APPLAUD THEM FOR THAT AND, AND OFFER THIS AS A CHALLENGE THAT, YOU KNOW, AS WE CONTINUE TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE, HOW WE REALLY WORK WITH OUR, OUR OTHER INTERGOVERNMENTAL PARTNERS, UM, THE IDEA OF SHARING SPACES REALLY IS, IS SOMETHING I HOPE WE CAN DO MORE.
AND THEN LASTLY, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO, UM, JUST TO ADD MY THOUGHTS, UM, AND REAL THANKS TO OUR MAYOR PRO TEM HARPER MEDICINE FOR HER LEADERSHIP ON ITEM 67.
IT IS, IT WAS, I WAS REALLY HONORED TO BE ASKED TO CO-SPONSOR THAT, AND I REALLY THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND FOR THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT HELPED CO-CREATE THAT AS THE RESOLUTION
[02:05:01]
ITSELF STATES, UM, AUSTIN IS A PLACE WHERE LEADERSHIP COMES FROM THE PEOPLE AND, AND THIS IS, YOU KNOW, IT IS A MULTIFACETED RESOLUTION AS MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID.THE STATEMENT THAT WE'RE, THAT WE'RE MAKING IN PASSING, THIS IS ALSO REALLY SIGNIFICANT.
AND I THINK WORTH HIGHLIGHTING IN THAT WE, AS MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL ARE IN PASSING THIS RESOLUTION, ISSUING A FORMAL APOLOGY FOR THE CITY'S PARTICIPATION IN THE ENSLAVEMENT OF BLACK PEOPLE, UM, AND FOR THE RESULTING, UM, SYSTEMIC DISCRIMINATION AND INEQUITIES, UM, AND THAT EMMA CHASM AS MAYOR PRO TEM HARPER, MADISON, UH, DESCRIBED, UM, THAT EXISTS WITH IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC, ECONOMIC EQUITY.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN, I, I, FOR YOUR LEAVING THEM IN ADDITION, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING, SUPPORTING THE OUTCOMES AND THAT INVESTMENT THAT I KNOW WILL, WILL COME FROM THE GOOD WORK THAT OUR MANAGER IS GOING TO DO IN COMMUNITY, IN COLLABORATION WITH OUR COMMUNITY.
ANYBODY ELSE? OR WE HAVE A CONSENT MOTION IN FRONT OF US.
INCENTIVE GEN IS ITEMS ONE THROUGH 77 TO 99.
I'D LIKE TO PULL NUMBER TWO AS WELL.
HOLD ITEMS ARE NUMBER TWO 40 62 AND 68.
I BELIEVE IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.
LET'S TAKE A VOTE THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH THE, UH, COMMENTS NOTED, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
ARE YOU OPPOSING? ALLISON FROZE THERE FOR A SECOND.
YOU SEE ANANYMOUS WITH THE, UH, UH, ITEMS MENTIONED.
[Public Comment (Part 3 of 3) ]
COLLEAGUES, WE'RE GOING TO NOW MOVE TO THE, UH, SPEAKERS, UH, ON, UH, CITIZEN, UH, COMMUNICATIONS CLERK.DO YOU WANT TO CALL THEM? THEY EACH HAVE THREE MINUTES.
FIRST SPEAKER IS HASIB ABDULA MAYOR.
UM, MY NAME'S
I COME HERE TODAY BECAUSE OF WHAT I SEE AS AN INCREASED POLITICAL POLARIZATION, UM, WHERE, UH, CITY OF BOSTON RESIDENTS, INCLUDING MYSELF FEEL INCREASINGLY THAT THEIR LOCAL ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES DO NOT LISTEN TO THEIR CONCERNS OR THEIR CONCERNS ARE DROWNED OUT BY GROUPS OR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE A MORE ESTABLISHED LINE OF COMMUNICATION WITH THEIR ELECTED LEADERS.
AND WHY ELECTIONS ARE THE MAIN BAROMETER FOR PUBLIC SEDIMENT ELECTIONS, UM, INCREASINGLY DROWN OUT MANY VIEWPOINTS WISHING TO BE HAD BECAUSE IT'S NOT EASY, UM, TO GET YOUR VIEWPOINT HAD, UH, WITH, UM, PEOPLE WHO ARE RUNNING FOR ELECTIONS AND PEOPLE WHO RUN EVENTUALLY WIN ELECTIONS.
AND I HAVE TWO SUGGESTIONS THAT MAY LESS THAN THE FEELINGS OF HELPLESSNESS FELT BY MANY OF MY FELLOW CITIZENS OF AUSTIN, AND BOTH ARE NOT NEW.
I'M SURE EVERYONE ON THE DIOCESE, UH, VIRTUAL DIOCESE HAS HEARD THEM BEFORE.
THE FIRST IS TO ALLOW A COUNCIL MEMBER TO HAVE A VETO POWER, IF A NEW BUILDING OR FACILITY IS BEING PURCHASED OR BUILT ONLY IN THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS DISTRICT, FOR EXAMPLE, SPORT VENUES, FACILITIES FOR ANY CITY PURPOSES, WITH OR WITHOUT CITY REVENUE, UM, BEING INVOLVED, UM, WOULD, WOULD INCLUDE THAT.
SO HOWEVER, THIS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAN ALWAYS BE OVERCOME WITH A SUPER MAJORITY VOTE THAT WOULD ENSURE A SINGLE COUNCIL MEMBER COULD NOT WAIT UNREASONABLE SAY IN ANY ONE MATTERED, BUT WOULD STILL ENSURE THAT MOST IMPACTED IN THOSE MOST IMPACTING CLOSEST THIRD DISTRICT WOULD HAVE A REAL SAY IN WHAT HAPPENS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE COMMUNITIES.
THE SECOND ONE WOULD BE, UM, THE, UM, TO HAVE A PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE, UM, UH, OFFICIAL CITY OF AUSTIN, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, COMPLAINT PAGE, WHEREVER YOU VERIFY CONSTITUENT DISTRICT CONSTITUENT OF A COUNCIL MEMBER GETS A, IF THEY SO CHOOSE ONE COMPLAINT EVERY TERM.
SO EVERY FOUR YEARS, HAVING SUCH A WORD LIMITED RETRACTABLE COMPLAINT PAGE WOULD TELL EACH VOTER WHO THEY MAY WANT TO VOTE FOR, AND MAY EVEN ENCOURAGE THEM TO RUN THEMSELVES OR ENCOURAGE SOMEONE THEY KNOW WHO THEY THINK COULD DO A BETTER JOB, SUCH A FORUM WITH SLIGHTLY BETTER BALANCED THE INEQUITIES THAT RESULT IN INCUMBENT HAVING, UM, DURING ELECTION TIME, WHICH ARE USUALLY IN THE FINANCIAL AND NAME RECOGNITION AREAS THAT IN CHALLENGER INHERENTLY DOES NOT HAVE THIS COMPLAINT PAGE WOULD OBVIOUSLY NOT REQUIRE A COUNCIL MEMBER TO DO ANYTHING, BUT SOME MAY USE IT AS A USEFUL TOOL WHEN THEIR OFFICE MAY HAVE INADVERTENTLY IGNORED A DISTRICT MEMBER OR BRINGS LIGHT TO AN ISSUE
[02:10:01]
THAT THEIR COUNCIL MEMBER, THE COUNCIL MEMBER OF THEIR STAFF MAY HAVE NOT BEEN AWARE OF.SO, UM, I JUST, I MEAN, I'M, I'M HAPPY TO MEET WITH ANYONE TO DISCUSS THIS FURTHER IN DETAIL IF ANYONE DIOCESE OR STAFF WOULD LIKE, UM, I JUST THINK THESE SUGGESTIONS CAN GET US CLOSER TO A GOVERNMENT THAT WORKS FOR ALL.
UM, YEAH, SO, UM, UH, A HUNDRED WITH MAYOR AND A HUNDRED PLUS CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UH, I WANTED TO FIRST THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK HERE.
I NEVER SPOKEN IN A COUNCIL MEETING BEFORE, SO PARDON ME IF I MADE SOME MISTAKES, UM, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE EVICTION MORATORIUM.
UM, I'M A SMALL LANDLORD WITH TWO TO THREE PROPERTIES AND I'VE BEEN VERY IMPACTED WITH, UH, THE MORATORIUM.
UM, SO, UM, BASICALLY LIKE WE HAVE, UH, UH, ALMOST, UH, THIS HAS BEEN IMPACTING US FAR MORE THAN IT IMPACTED ME FOR MORE THAN EIGHT MONTHS NOW.
AND I'VE BEEN WITHOUT RENT FOR MORE THAN EIGHT MONTHS, BUT I STILL HAVE BILLS TO PAY.
SO I'M REQUESTING YOU TO PAY FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE, BUT DIDN'T GET IT YET.
UM, BUT I, SO I'M GOING TO BE REQUESTING YOU TO CONSIDER GIVING US SOME PROPERTY TAX BREAK FOR US.
UM, I HAVE A, UH, EVICTION FILING NOTICE ON THE COURT SO I CAN PROVIDE THAT.
UM, SO SOME, SOME SORT OF A RELIEF, UH, FOR LANDLORDS WHO ARE SUFFERING SILENTLY BECAUSE OF THE MORATORIUM, WE CAN HELP PUT THE US ON PROPERTY TAX.
UM, AND SECONDLY, UM, I WANT TO, UH, ALSO URGE THE MAYOR, UH, TO KINDLY CONSIDER THE, UH, PUTTING THROUGH THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR A MORATORIUM.
UH, CURRENTLY, UH, YOU KNOW, THE ONLY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA IS, UH, THE TENANT, AS YOU KNOW, THAT'S LESS THAN $2,435.
THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE MORATORIUM, BUT I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT THE BAD ACTOR IN MY APARTMENT CURRENTLY LIVING, UM, AND HE HAS REFUSED TO PAY SINCE SEPTEMBER.
I MEAN, THERE'S NO REASON, UM, HE'S NOT GONE THROUGH ANY, UH, YOU KNOW, UNEMPLOYMENT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT JUST REFUSE TO PAY.
UM, THAT'S TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE, UH, YOU KNOW, THE MORATORIUM HERE.
UM, SO I'M KIND OF GOING TO BE THE QUESTION YOU, MR. MAYOR, UM, UH, IF WE CAN HELP WITH, UH, MAKING THE, YOU KNOW, PROMEGA, I'M REQUESTING YOU TO, UH, HAVE THE TENANTS WITH, TO THE ELIGIBILITY, UH, FOR MORATORIUM PROTECTION TODAY DOESN'T HAPPEN.
AND IF YOU CAN HELP ENFORCE THAT, THAT WILL HELP WEED OUT BAD ACTORS.
UM, SO THOSE ARE THE TWO THINGS THAT I WANTED TO DISCUSS TODAY, UM, AND, UH, AND GET YOUR INPUTS IF POSSIBLE.
I, YOU, YOU BROKE UP FOR ME, I DUNNO FOR ANYBODY ELSE, BUT, BUT FOR ME DURING PART OF WHAT YOU SAID, IF YOU COULD REACH OUT TO ASHLEY AND MY OFFICE, UH, I WOULD APPRECIATE YOU MAKING THAT CONTACT PLEASE.
UH, NEXT SPEAKER, ETHAN SMITH.
HI, UH, GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL.
I KNOW IT'S BEEN A ROUGH MONTH.
IT REMINDED ME THAT I NEVER WANT TO RUN FOR OFFICE, AND THAT'S A GOOD THING.
UM, I WANTED TO UPDATE YOU, YOU KNOW, I'M DOING A THESIS ON, UH, HOW YOU CAN MAKE STUDENT HOUSING DECISIONS.
IT'S A LOT OF LONGITUDINAL WORK, UH, YOU KNOW, 25, 30 YEAR DATA SETS OF THE HOUSING AND DINING BUDGET OF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, LOOKING AT HOW UT HAS APPROACHED, UH, THE ON-CAMPUS HOUSING BENCHMARK OVER THAT SAME TIME PERIOD.
UM, AS WELL AS THE LOCATION POTENTIAL LOCATIONS THAT UT MIGHT BUILD.
AND I WANTED TO UPDATE Y'ALL THAT I HAVE SENT SOME PRELIMINARY, UH, CHAPTERS TO UT SYSTEM.
I SENT THEM TO THEIR GENERAL COUNSEL FRANCY FREDERICK, AND SHE EMAILED ME BACK SAYING ESSENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T COMMENT BECAUSE THIS IS RELATED TO THE BRAC TRACT.
AND OF COURSE, NO ONE CAN COMMENT ON THAT.
UM, I CAN'T COMMENT, BUT IS IT OKAY IF I SEND THIS TO THESE PEOPLE, THESE PEOPLE, THESE PEOPLE, THESE PEOPLE, AND I'M LIKE, PLEASE BY ALL MEANS.
SO I'M VERY HOPEFUL THAT IT'S GOING TO GET LOOKED AT SERIOUSLY, UM, BY UT SYSTEM, UH, AS FAR AS THE BRAC TRACK CONVERSATION, IT SUGGESTS, UH, EVEN THOUGH THE BASIC OUTLINE THAT PRESERVED A GOLF COURSE, YOU KNOW, TRY AND MAKE MONEY ON THE OTHER SIDE IS THE SAME.
THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT INFLECTION POINTS THAT ARE IMPORTANT.
I THINK HEALTH SOUTH Y'ALL DON'T HAVE
[02:15:01]
A LEVERAGE TO GET UT TO BUILD MORE HOUSING, BUT IF YOU DO IT AT HEALTH SOUTH, YOU DO.AND I ONLY HAVE THREE MINUTES.
ALSO, UT DOES WAY MORE FOR EQUITY BY BUILDING MARKET RATE THAN ANYBODY ELSE DOES.
IT'S 60% MSI, 80% MFI, SOMETHING COUNTERINTUITIVE ABOUT THAT, BUT ALSO THIS IS WHAT I GO AROUND PRESENTING ON.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK I KNOW HOW TO GET UT TO BUILD HOUSING, HOW TO GET THEM TO BUILD A LOT OF HOUSING.
AND, AND THAT'S GOING TO CREATE A GIANT REVENUE STREAM, PROBABLY AT LEAST AS BIG AS HALF OF THE BRAC TRACK REVENUE STREAM, JUST IN HOUSING AND DINING, WHICH WOULD THEN BE UNDER THE VICE PRESIDENT OF STUDENT AFFAIRS PORTFOLIO AND WOULD BE APPLIED TOWARDS EQUITY COMMITMENTS.
SO I'M HOPING TO PRESENT TO CITY STAFF ON THIS SOON SO THAT SOME OF THESE NEW IDEAS CAN KIND OF CIRCULATE AND WE CAN BUILD A KNOWLEDGE BASE.
AND I WILL CONTACT, UH, YOUR OFFICE TELEPHONE NUMBER TOBO AND COUNCILMEMBER ALTAR.
AND IF THERE'S A WAY TO PRESENT THAT DOESN'T IMPINGE ON YOU.
CAN'T TALK ABOUT A CLOSE NEGOTIATION.
I'D LOVE TO PRESENT SOME OF MY MATERIAL AND TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I WILL KEEP MY COMMENTS BRIEF.
MY NAME IS ERIC MCKELLEN AND I AM A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF ROSANKY IN SOUTHERN COUNTY AND A FREQUENT VISITOR TO YOUR CITY.
I AM DROPPING IN TODAY TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF A 2000 ACRE SOLAR FARM, SLATED TO BE BUILT IN OUR COMMUNITY BY GERMAN OWNED RWE RENEWABLES.
YOU HAVE A DIRECT CONNECTION TO THIS PROJECT FOR AUSTIN ENERGY PLANS TO BUILD A DISTRIBUTION STATION AT THE SITE TO SEND ELECTRICITY INTO YOUR CITY.
MANY RESIDENTS HERE ARE FRIGHTENED TO DEATH AT THE PROSPECT OF A 2000 ACRE DEVELOPMENT.
PINNACLED RIGHT ACROSS THEIR FENCE LINES WHERE EVERY TREE, BUSH AND ANIMAL WILL BE ELIMINATED FROM THE TRACT FOR COMPARISON, 2000 ACRES IS AS LARGE AS THE NEARBY CITY OF SMITHVILLE.
I AM NOT HERE TO DISCHARGE RENEWABLE ENERGY.
I HAPPEN TO ENJOY THE NOTION AND ATTEMPTS TO MAKE THE CITY CARBON NEUTRAL SHOULD BE HAILED AS A GOOD FIRST STEP TOWARD A RENEWABLE WORLD.
HOWEVER, MY SUPPORT STOPS WHEN DOING DOLLAR CORPORATIONS LIKE RWE, COMBA TOWN, UNHEARD OF, AND DOING DEALS BEHIND CLOSED BARS, MAKING PLANS THAT WILL CHANGE THE LANDSCAPE FOREVER.
I'LL ALSO ASKING FOR A MILLION DOLLARS IN TAX BREAKS FROM BASTROP COUNTY AND OUR TINY SMITHVILLE ISB.
YOU SHOULD BE HEARING FROM ONE OF OUR ORGANIZERS SHORTLY, JIM ROSE WHO'S PROPERTY, BUT THIS PROPOSED FACILITY, JUST THIS WEEK, WE BOTH WITNESSED A CONTRACTOR, BEGINS THE DISASTROUS WORK OF HIKING, CHOPPING, SEWING, AND GRINDING EVERY CENTURY, OLD OAK TREE IN SIGHT IN AUSTIN, YOU CALL IT THESE HERITAGE OAKS AND THEY ARE PROTECTED.
ONE OF YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS COMMENTED ON THESE JUST MOMENTS AGO.
I ASKED YOU TO RESEARCH IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY THE GREEN ENERGY THAT YOU SEEK AND ASK.
IF THE PROCESS ITSELF IS ACTUALLY AS GREEN AS ADVERTISING CHOPPING DOWN NATIVE FLOORS AND WILL THOSE IN PASTORAL LAND IS NOT RENEWABLE AND IS NOT THE WAY TO GET TO A CARBON NEUTRAL FOOTPRINT.
WE ARE THE ROSEANNE KEEP RURAL ALLIANCE AND OUR STORY CAN BE FOUND AT ROSANKY, TEXAS.COM.
I HAVE SUBMITTED A BRIEF PACKET IF YOU'D LIKE TO VIEW IT.
IT SHOWS A MAP OF THE PROPOSED SOLAR FARM, A PHOTO FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE DESTRUCTION FROM THIS WEEK, OUR WEB ADDRESS AND SOME ADDITIONAL REMARKS.
I KNOW YOUR INTENTIONS ARE GOOD, AND MY COMMENTS ARE UNLIKELY TO STIR YOU TO TRY TO HELP THIS PROJECT.
BUT I WANT TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF THE CONSEQUENCES THAT YOUR CARBON NEUTRAL AGENDA IS HAVING FOR LIFELONG RESIDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR ITS TREES AND WILDLIFE.
WE FIND IT HIGHLY IRONIC THAT SOLAR COMPANIES HAVE TO CHOP DOWN EVERY GREEN TREE IN SIGHT IN ORDER TO GET THE GREEN ENERGY.
AND I DO APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE, JIM ROSE, HELLO LAYER, THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M JUST GOING TO FOLLOW UP AND ADD TO WHAT, UH, ERIC THAT WAS BEFORE ME AND, UH, SAID, I AM A LANDOWNER.
THAT WILL BE RIGHT NEXT TO WHAT R W E UH, IS BUILDING.
THEY WILL TOTALLY DESTROY TAKE EVERYTHING DOWN TO BARE SOIL.
MY PARK TODAY IS THE ENVIRONMENT.
I LOVE THE WILDLIFE ON MY PROPERTY.
MY DEAR IS APPROXIMATELY 50 YARDS FROM WHAT WILL BE A CHAIN LINK FENCE WITH BOB WIRE ON TOP ARE DEBBIE AND LONE STAR LIED, LIED TO THE BACKDROP COMMISSIONER'S COURT SAYING THAT THEY HAD STUDIES BY THE PARKS AND WILDLIFE AND THE U S UH, FISH AND GAME OPEN RECORDS.
I FOUND OUT, UH, NO STUDIES WERE DONE.
MOST LIKELY MY WILDLIFE WILL BE DESTROYED.
[02:20:01]
VALUE, BECAUSE YOU ALL WANT GREEN ENERGY.MY PROPERTY IS GOING TO GO DOWN.
I'M GOING TO BE HURTING BECAUSE Y'ALL WERE DANY.
UM, WHO IN THE WORLD WANTS TO LIVE NEXT TO THIS? I MOVED TO THE COUNTRY BECAUSE I WANTED NICE PEACE, QUIET WILDLIFE.
THIS BECAUSE OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, AUSTIN ELECTRIC, WHICH MAYOR? I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF YOU KNOW OF THIS PROJECT GOING ON DOWN HERE.
I ASKED YOU, PLEASE FIND OUT CITY OF AUSTIN, AUSTIN, UH, AN ELECTRIC HIRED RWE, BIG STAR TO DEVELOP THIS SOLAR PROJECT.
YOU, I FEEL LIKE Y'ALL ARE RESPONSIBLE AND Y'ALL NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
BASICALLY I DRIVE DOWN CHEDDAR ROAD AND IT'S THREE MILES NORTH TO SOUTH ON THIS PROJECT.
Y'ALL, Y'ALL NEED TO KEEP AN EYE ON WHO DOES WORK FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND HOW THEY DO IT.
UH, THEY'VE HURT PEOPLE DOWN HERE.
UM, WE HAVE ONE GENTLEMAN, TOMMY SWENSON.
HE HAS TWO, HE HAD HAD 200 ACRES.
THEY BOUGHT AND LEASED PROPERTY ALL THE WAY AROUND HIM.
HE HAS OLD FAMILY LAND HANDED DOWN THROUGH THE CENTURY.
THEY BASICALLY FORCED HIM OUT.
IS THAT A WAY TO DO BUSINESS? NO.
UH, TUESDAY, LIKE ERIC SAID, THEY STARTED CLEARING MR. MAYOR FIND OUT WHAT YOUR PEOPLE, THAT MEANS AUSTIN ELECTRIC, UH, THEY'RE DESTROYING PROPERTY.
AS WE SPEAK, PLEASE HAVE THEM STOP IT AND FIND OUT AN ACT DECENT TOWARD PEOPLE DOWN HERE, UM, THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY ENVIRONMENTAL PAPERWORK THEY REFUSED TO.
IF THIS WAS GOING ON IN TRAVIS COUNTY, ANY IN AUSTIN Y'ALL WOULD HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT, MATT GOODMAN.
UH, WELL, FIRST I'D LIKE TO THANK THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
UM, PUBLIC INPUT IS A CRITICAL COMPONENT FOR A HEALTHY DEMOCRACY.
MY HOPE IS THAT SOME OF THE THOUGHTS I PRESENT TODAY CAN HELP TO BETTER PREPARE AUSTIN FOR FUTURE DISASTERS THAT IT WILL INEVITABLY FACE.
I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THE JEFF SCHLEGEL MILCH IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY'S EARTH INSTITUTE WAS KIND ENOUGH TO DISCUSS WITH ME.
MANY OF THE TOPICS I'LL TOUCH ON TODAY.
UH, HIS INPUT IS GREATLY APPRECIATED.
I FULLY RECOGNIZE THAT THE POWER OUTAGES AND ASSOCIATED ISSUES FROM THE RECENT WINTER STORM, A PART OF A VERY COMPLEX MASTIC, DESPITE MANY PUNDITS ATTEMPTS TO OVERSIMPLIFY THEM FIRST, IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT DISASTER PREPARATION REALLY SETS THE STAGE FOR DISASTER RESPONSE.
HOW WELL PREPAREDNESS IS DONE WILL DICTATE HOW OUR RESPONSE MECHANISMS PERFORM AND HOW BAD THE IMPACTS OF THE DISASTER WILL BE IMPORTANT.
WE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT PREPAREDNESS GOES BEYOND STEPS, INTENTIONALLY TAKEN TO READY.
THE COMMUNITY FOR DISASTER PREPAREDNESS REALLY EXTENDS TO OVERARCHING ISSUES LIKE ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION, INFRASTRUCTURE, UPKEEP, AND HOUSING SECURITY.
THESE ISSUES ARE OBVIOUSLY MULTIFACETED, BUT ONE FACET THAT IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED IS HOW THEY RELATE TO DISASTER PREPAREDNESS.
UM, NEXT WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE TOPIC OF DISASTER COMMUNICATION COMMUNICATION WITH THE PUBLIC IS ALWAYS A REALLY IMPORTANT ASPECT OF DISASTER RESPONSE, BUT IT'S EVEN MORE IMPORTANT WHEN DEALING WITH AN UNFAMILIAR THREAT, LIKE THE TYPICAL PROLONGED FREEZING TEMPERATURES THAT WE ENCOUNTERED.
UM, ALL COMMUNICATION REALLY SHOULD CONTAIN CLEAR, ACTIONABLE RECOMMENDATIONS, UH, WITH AS MUCH SPECIFICITY AS POSSIBLE, UH, NEEDS TO BE CONSISTENT, NEARLY ALL MAJOR COMMUNICATION OUTLETS SHOULD IDEALLY BE MAKING THE SAME CLEARLY DEFINED RECOMMENDATIONS.
UM, I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK NO FURTHER THAN AMERICA'S PANDEMIC RESPONSE TO SEE HOW, YOU KNOW, INCONSISTENT COMMUNICATIONS CAN SIGNIFICANTLY HAMPER RESPONSE TO DISASTER BECAUSE THIS INFORMATION NEEDS TO ACCESS A BROAD SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION.
YOU NEED TO EMPLOY A BROAD BASE OF COMMUNICATION CHANNELS.
UM, IT CAN BE ESPECIALLY ADVANTAGEOUS TO UTILIZE MORE FORMAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS. IF THE TIME ALLOWS, WE ALL PREFER INFORMATION FROM DIFFERENT SOURCES AND TEND TO TRUST DIFFERENT PEOPLE BY UTILIZING OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, UM, THIS ALLOWS MESSAGES TO REACH A BROADER RESIDENT BASE THAT MAY NOT HAVE ACCESS TO OR TRUST MORE OFFICIAL CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION.
UM, IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I'M GOING TO MOSTLY SKIP THE TOPIC OF CLIMATE CHANGE, BUT IT WILL SUFFICE TO SAY, YOU MUST BEGIN TO IMAGINE A FUTURE IN WHICH HISTORICALLY WILL RARE WEATHER EVENTS ARE NOT SO RARE.
IT IS MY OPINION THAT ONE GLARING FAILURE DURING
[02:25:01]
THE RECENT ONES, REALLY AT ALL LEVELS WAS POINTING ON OCCASION WITH THE PUBLIC.THE COMMUNICATION WAS STARTED TOO LATE.
IT WAS INCONSISTENT, OFTEN FAIL TO CONTAIN SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE CURRENT PUSH FOR WEATHERIZATION OF INFRASTRUCTURE WE OWN PREVENT MOST, BUT NOT ALL FUTURE INFRASTRUCTURE FAILURES.
AND, UH, WITH THAT I'VE INCLUDED MY CONTACT INFORMATION, IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.
HELLO, GO AHEAD, RIBBON, PLEASE.
LIKE I STATED BEFORE, UH, WELL, UM, I'VE, I'VE USED THIS AVENUE TO, TO EXPRESS MY FRUSTRATION WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SPECIFICALLY THIS UNIT, BUT I DECIDED TO COMMUNICATE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO MY GRANDSON WHO HAS MY SAME NAME, EXCEPT IF I'M SEEING IT THE THIRD ON JANUARY 24, MY GRANDSON WAS SHOT AT AND HIS VEHICLE WHILE GOING TO SEE HIS SISTER AT THAT TIME, MY SON AND MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW WENT TO THE SCENE AND THEY CALL THE POLICE.
I BELIEVE IT WAS THREE TO FOUR TIMES AND DOING THOSE CALLS, THE POLICE SAID THAT THEY HAVE A MORE URGENT CALLS.
SO AFTER SEVERAL HOURS CALLING AND WAITING FOR THE POLICE TO SHOW UP, MY SON PICKED UP THE SHELLS, YOU KNOW, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, MY GRANT'S MY GRANDSON, I BELIEVE I TELL YOU MY GRANDSON, HE LIVED IN PFLUGERVILLE AND EVENTUALLY THE FRUGAL POLICE MADE A COURTESY REPORT.
NOW THE, I DIDN'T FIND OUT TILL THE JANUARY, THE 30TH, THE SATURDAY, THEY INFORMED ME AT WHAT HAPPENED ON THE 24, WHICH THE POLICE DIDN'T DO THEIR JOB PERIOD.
UH, MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW WENT AND CHECKED INTO IT.
AND ACCORDING TO HER UNDERSTANDING, SHE THINK IT'S BECAUSE, UH, POLICE IS GOT DEFUNDED.
SO THEY JUST PRETTY MUCH A FOLD THEIR HANDS.
WHEN IT COMES TO THAT SITUATION.
I FEEL THE ATTACK IS MORE PERSONAL BECAUSE I'VE BEEN SAYING FOR THE LONGEST THAT I'VE BEEN BLACKLISTED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE OF THE MANY COMPLAINTS THAT I FILED TO, UH, WHAT, WHAT, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, IT'S GOING ON 18 YEARS NOW, FIVE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.
NOW MY SITUATION THAT ON JANUARY 29TH, THAT FRIDAY, THERE WAS A PERSON IN THE SAME GENERAL AREA WHERE MY, MY GRANDSON WAS SHOT AT.
THERE WAS A PERSON THAT WAS KILLED.
IT WAS IN A VEHICLE HE WAS SHOT AT.
AND THE PROBLEM IS, IS THAT SAME GENERAL AREA.
AND THE DESCRIPTION OF THE VEHICLE IS THE SAME AS THE ONE THAT MY GRANDSON GAVE DESCRIBING THAT, THAT VEHICLE A FOUR DOOR SEDAN, LIGHT COLORED VEHICLE.
AND IN MY OPINION, IF THE POLICE WOULD HAVE DONE THAT JOB BACK ON THE 24TH AND INVESTIGATED AND RELEASED A NEWS, MAYBE THE YOUNG MAN WOULD HAVE BEEN ALIVE TODAY.
AT LEAST I SORT OF SPECULATE, YOU KNOW, NOW WHAT I DID IS THAT YOU ALREADY KNOW FROM THIS.
AND, UH, I'M HOPING YOU READ MY EMAILS AS WELL AS MY PHONE CALLS, BECAUSE I'VE CALLED EVERYBODY, INCLUDING THE CITY MANAGER AND ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER AND THE MAYOR, MY COUNCIL MEMBER, GREG CASAR, AND OCCASIONALLY ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS DOING AUSTIN, TEXAS.GOV ABOUT WHAT I'M GOING THROUGH, BUT THIS IS ABOUT MY GRANDSON.
SO I WENT TO MY SUBSTATION, WHICH I'VE COMMUNICATED WITH ACTUALLY A SERGEANT BY THE NAME OF LAWRENCE DAVIS.
HE ENDED UP LOOKING IN THE COMPUTER AND HE STATED TO ME, AND I QUOTE, THERE'S NOTHING THERE ABOUT THAT, WHICH MEANS THAT THE POLICE ARE NOT DOING THEIR JOB.
YOU KNOW, IF ANYTHING, THEY SHOW ON ME THAT THEY I'M STILL THINKING BECAUSE OF ME COMPLAINING ABOUT THEM.
BUT AT THE BOTTOM LINE, THEY STILL HAVE A JOB TO DO.
YOU KNOW, HE'S ONLY 21, YOU KNOW, AND THEN I SENT YOU GUYS DID THE EMAILS.
I SENT YOU THE PICTURE OF THE COURTESY REPORT FROM PFLUGERVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT PICTURES.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME BEFORE YOU, UM, WHAT I'M HEARING AND SEEING ON
[02:30:01]
THE AGENDA THAT I'VE DONE RESEARCH ON SINCE DECEMBER THE THIRD.UM, IS THERE A LOT OF PEOPLE THEY'RE UNDERPAID AND NOT ENROLLED EMPLOYEES, I'VE LISTENED TO THE PROGRAMS. AND WHAT I DID IS I'D LIKE TO SIT DOWN AND TALK TO SOMEONE.
AND I REALIZED THAT THE MINUTE I CAME UP OVER THE FORMULA, AND BASICALLY WHAT I'M SEEING HERE AND HEARING IS THAT WE ARE UNDERPAID OVERWORKED AND THAT GOES IN MANY OFFICES AND WE'RE LOW BUDGETED AT THIS PRESENT TIME.
I CAME UP WITH A FORMER DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE PANDEMIC KIN 19, THAT WE, THAT IS BEST PAID MONEY.
AND THEN ALSO WITH THE EARTH CART, UM, GOING FORWARD THAT HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETED.
THE CERTIFICATE FORMULA CAME UP WITH, WE SHOULD HELP ALLEVIATE A LOT OF THE FRUSTRATION, THE LACK OF FUNDS.
UM, AND WHAT I'M WANTING TO EXPRESS IS THIS, THIS PACKAGE THAT I CAME UP WITH, UH, FINANCIAL PLANNING IS USED TO BE USED AS ONLY AN EMERGENCY PACKET, UM, TO HELP BRING US UP TO PAR AS CLOSE AS WE CAN BE IN UNDEFINED.
UM, I DID A SIMPLE FINANCE DECLINING FOR TRAVIS COUNTY.
WHAT I USED WAS 2020 CENSUS BUREAU.
AND IN THIS 2020 CENSUS BUREAU, THE POPULATION OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, BECAUSE I AM TOO OFTEN NOT BORN AND RAISED IN OFFICE WITH A FIXED INCOME.
AND IT CAME OUT TO A RATHER NICE PAYMENT.
AND I CALL THIS THE EMERGENCY PACKET REPAYMENT TOWARDS COVID PANDEMIC 19 AND OTHER EMERGENCY PACKAGE, SUCH AS ECKHART, ELECTRICITY, UM, AND ALSO WITH LISTEN TO MANY PEOPLE HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
A LOT, I BELIEVE IN WHAT I'M HEARING IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TO GO AROUND WITH, YOU KNOW, WE WANT ALL THIS TO BE DONE, BUT LIKE I SAID, PEOPLE ARE UNDERPAID AND OVERWORKED.
AND IN ORDER FOR US TO RESTRUCTURE BACK TO OUR FOCUS, I THINK THAT THIS IS SOMETHING ON THIS FORMULA.
IF YOU WOULD TAKE THIS INTO ACTION OR TAKE THIS FOR REVIEW BEFORE I THINK THAT THIS WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT COULD HELP OUT ON MAIN PROJECTS REGARDING WHETHER IT'S HOUSING, UM, THE FRUSTRATION OF PEOPLE.
WE'VE GOT DOCTORS, WE'VE GOT HOSPITALS, WE'VE GOT LAW ENFORCEMENT, WHICH I CALL LYNN.
WE'VE GOT PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE.
WE'VE GOT, COVID 19 PEOPLE ON THE STREET, OUR FOCUS, I THINK IT'S THAT PROBLEM.
AND SO I THINK THAT IF WE CAN DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT, I COULD HELP TO BE POSITIVE.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS PACKET GO TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WITH THE SAME FORMAT.
SO THAT WAY IT ALLEVIATES EVERYTHING IN 217 COUNTRIES IN LAND.
I THINK THAT, UH, THE, IT GOES POINT TO TECH.
I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COULD BE VERY POSITIVE FOR ALL OF US.
I'M SORRY, YOUR, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF THE NOON SPEAKERS.
UM, WE COULD STOP RIGHT NOW, TAKE AN HOUR BREAK, COME BACK AT A QUARTER TO TWO AND MAYBE KNOCK OFF, UH, UH, UH, AN ITEM OR TWO IN THAT 15 MINUTES.
AND THEN PART OF THE ZONING, UH, SPEAKERS, UH, AT THAT POINT ITEMS STILL IN FRONT OF US NOW, OR ITEMS TWO 40, 62 AND 68.
THOSE ARE THE FOURFOLD ITEMS. WE ALSO HAVE TWO OTHER NON-CONSENT ITEMS AND 79 IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND 80 IS A PUBLIC HEARING.
AND THEN WE HAVE EXECUTIVE SESSION, WHICH IS A DISCUSSION OF PERSONNEL.
UH, AND THEN WE HAVE THE ZONING ITEMS, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO, I'D LIKE TO SUGGEST, I'D LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT WE DO TAKE A BREAK.
I THINK THAT MAYBE WHERE YOU WERE MOVING TOWARD, BUT I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO JUST POSTPONE ITEM TWO AND ASSET OUR ANIMAL ADVISORY MISSION.
TAKE A LOOK AT THAT IN LIGHT OF SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT, THAT WERE, UM, BROUGHT FORWARD TODAY, ESPECIALLY WITH REGARD TO THE EXCLUSION.
SO IF MY COLLEAGUES WILL SUPPORT MY POSTPONEMENT, THEN THAT AT LEAST GETS THAT ITEM OFF, OFF OUR AGENDA FOR TODAY.
THE STAFF HERE ON THAT MINIMUM, IS THERE ANY PROBLEMS WITH PREJUDICE WITH
[02:35:01]
POSTPONING THAT, TO ADDRESS THE QUESTION? I GUESS WHAT YOU'RE ASKING ME AS I'VE TOLD, LIKE WHY, WHY ISN'T IT MORE UNIVERSALLY APPLIED? YEAH.WHY, WHY WOULD WE HAVE AN EXCEPTION THAT ALLOWS YOU TO USE, SAY AN AX HANDLE OR A BASEBALL BAT ON A GOAT? I MEAN, JUST AND THE OTHER ANIMALS ITEM IN THERE.
SO, SO LEARNING MANAGER, I DON'T KNOW IF STAFF'S HERE TO TELL US WHETHER THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, KELLY, YOUR HANDS RAISED.
I WOULD LIKE TO SECOND THE MOTION TO POSTPONE.
AND THIS CAME FROM THE COMMISSION, BUT I THINK HAVING THEM REVIEW IT AGAIN WILL BE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ACCOMMODATE.
SO IF YOU'RE MOVING AND SECONDED TO ASK THE COMMUNITY TO HELP US WITH THAT UNDERSTANDING, IF I COULD JUST ALSO ADD, UM, WE HAD KIND OF A VIGOROUS CONVERSATION AROUND THE USE OF BULL HOOKS WITHIN THIS COMMUNITY.
AND SO I'D LIKE THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION LIKELY THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CHANGE OVER IN THE YEARS SINCE, SINCE THE CITY COUNCIL PASSED THAT RESOLUTION, I'D LIKE THEM TO CONSIDER, CONSIDER THE EXCEPTION IN LIGHT OF THAT FURTHER WORK THAT THE CITY COUNCIL HAS DONE.
SO THEY CAN GO BACK TO THE COMMISSION HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED AND DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR.
OR THE, I SEE UNANIMOUS ON THE DIOCESE, BUT COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM AND COUNCIL MEMBER AND THE RITA OFF THE DIETS, UM, AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR.
THAT IS VOTING TO POSTPONE THAT ITEMS PUMP ON MAYOR PRO TEM IS BACK.
ANY PROBLEM WITH THE PHONE FOCUS POSTPONE? NO.
SO IT'S JUST I COUNCIL MEMBERS, BUT THERE ME AT ALL RIGHT.
DO YOU GUYS WANT TO COME BACK AT A QUARTER TO TWO THAT GIVES US THE LOWER AN HOUR.
NOW THE POLLS SAYING HOW ABOUT TWO O'CLOCK? UH, THE PEOPLE PREFER JUST COMING BACK AT TWO, WE WOULD START THEM WITH SPEAKERS.
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A RECESS AT THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
WHEN WE COME BACK AT TWO, WE'RE GOING TO START WITH THE, UH, UH, ZONING, UH, SPEAKERS.
LIKE I SEE YOU GUYS THEN TWO O'CLOCK.
THEY ARE ON MARCH 4TH, 2021 THURSDAY.
UM, CONTINUATION OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING BEGAN THIS MORNING AND THEN RECESSED FOR, UH, FOR LUNCH, UM, COLLEAGUES THAT WE HAVE SPEAKERS THAT ARE CALLED HERE TO SPEAK AT, UH, AND, UH, THAT TO, UH, WE HAVE SOME SPEAKERS THAT ARE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS, ITEM NUMBER 94 IS BEING PULLED FOR SPEAKERS.
UH, SO, UH, WE'RE GONNA TAKE THE STONING CONSENT SPEAKERS, UM, AND THEN WE'LL TAKE THE APPLICANT.
AND THEN THE SPEAKERS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP ON ITEM NUMBER 94, WE HAD ASKED THE STAFF TO TAKE A LOOK AT HOW WE DO CAUSE DURING ZONING CASES.
AND THEY'RE CONTINUING TO LOOK AT THAT.
HAVEN'T QUITE WORKED OUT WHAT THAT NEEDS TO BE FOR FUTURE MEETINGS.
UH, BUT, UH, FOR TODAY, THIS IS HOW WE'RE HANDLING IT TODAY BECAUSE BASICALLY MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT SIGNED UP AND SIGNED UP ON JUST ONE CASE, ONE OF THE CASES THAT'S ON CONSENT, HOWEVER, IS I, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, I REQUEST FOR A POSTPONEMENT, UH, ONE PERSON TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE POSTPONEMENT.
SO I'M GONNA ASK, UH, JERRY TO COMMENT AND HELP SET US UP.
BUT IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN IT WOULD BE MY INTENT TO LET THE SPEAKER, UH, THE PRO POSTPONEMENT AND THE APPLICANT SPEAK TO THE ISSUE OF POSTPONEMENT.
IF IT'S POSTPONED, THEN THAT'S THE WAY IT'LL BE HANDLED.
IF IT'S NOT POSTPONE, THEN IT WILL, UH, UH, STAY, UH, ON THE, ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, UH, FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS IN THAT FIRST GROUP.
YES, KATHY, IS THERE, UM, WHAT ITEM DO WE HAVE SPEAKERS FOR? UM, CLARK, YOU WANT TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION OTHER THAN 94? WHAT, WHAT CASES HAVE PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON AND ZONING? 96, 97, 98, 90 AND 95, BUT I'M NOT SURE IF THEY'VE ALL CALLED IN YET.
SO MAYOR, I AM, I HAVE FILED A RECUSAL FORM FOR ITEM 94 AND I THINK TECHNICALLY I'M SUPPOSED TO BE OFF THE DAYAS DURING THE CONVERSATION.
SO IF, IF WE HAVE A SENSE OF WHEN THOSE SPEAKERS ARE COMING UP, I WILL REMOVE MYSELF FROM THE VIRTUAL DYESS BY CLICKING MY
[02:40:01]
STOP VIDEO.UM, IF THAT'S SUFFICIENT, UM, THIS COTTON, IS THAT THE BEST WAY TO HANDLE THAT? JUST TO REMAIN IN THE MEETING, BUT JUST A QUICK MYSELF OFF? YES.
I ALSO HAVE A REQUEST FOR POSTPONEMENT FOR ITEM NUMBER 98.
LET'S HANDLE THE POSTPONEMENT ITEMS FIRST SO WE CAN SEE WHAT'S SUPPOSED TO COME IN AND WHAT'S IN FRONT OF US.
DOES THAT WORK FOR YOU? THAT WOULD BE FINE.
UM, THE ITEMS THAT WE HAVE WITH THE PROPOSED POMO TODAY ARE, UM, ITEM NUMBER 94, WHICH HAS THAT DISCUSSION POSTPONEMENT CASE THAT YOU SPOKE OF A MOMENT AGO.
WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER WHO IS REQUESTING A TWO WEEK POSTPONEMENT.
SO, UM, I BELIEVE WE'LL GET TO THAT PERSON IN A MOMENT.
WE HAVE A STAFF REQUESTED POSTPONEMENT MARCH 25TH.
AND I REMEMBER 98 AS CUSTOMER REPORT THAT SAID SHE IS REQUESTING A POSTPONEMENT OF THAT ITEM TO MARCH 20TH, AS WE NORMALLY DO THIS NUMBER 96 AND 97, I GUESS WE HAVE, WE HAVE SOMEONE SIGN UP TO SPEAK ON THAT ITEM TWO.
IS THAT RIGHT? ARE THEY WITH US TODAY? UM, I DON'T THINK THAT PERSON IS MICHAEL CANADY.
UM, I DON'T KNOW IF HE WAS UNDERLINED.
MR. CANADY, DO YOU, DO YOU OBJECT TO THE POSTPONEMENT? ONE SECOND HERE.
LET ME GET OVER MR. CANADY, MR. CANADY, PLEASE ON MUTE.
HE'S ON THE LINE MAYOR, BUT HE'S NOT RESPONDING.
IS HE SPEAKING? OH, I GUESS WE WOULDN'T KNOW.
IS THE, IS THE APPLICANT AND, UH, IS EVERYBODY THAT YOU'VE TALKED TO JUDY OKAY.
MA'AM, THERE'S A REQUIRED A POSTPONEMENT.
THERE WAS SOME NOTIFICATION THERE.
AND SO WE CANNOT LEGALLY TAKE THE CASE OFF TODAY.
THEN THEN 96 97 WILL BE POSTPONED.
WE HAVE ONE PERSON WHO WAS TO SPEAK AGAINST THE POSTPONEMENT OR IN FAVOR OF A POSTPONEMENT.
AND THEN THE APPLICANT TRYING TO SPEAK IN AGAINST THE POSTPONEMENT.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
AND THAT ONE PERSON IS, UM, WAIT NATIVE THING OR AN EDISON.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE SEGREGATED THE SPEAKERS OTHERWISE.
IS THAT RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT.
SO WE'RE GOING TO PULL THAT ONE FOR RIGHT NOW AND NOT DEAL WITH THAT ON NUMBER, NUMBER 98, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FLOYD.
THIS, UH, IS SEEKING A POSTPONEMENT ON THIS ITEM.
UH, WHEN WERE YOU, WAS THERE, YOU WERE TRYING TO POSTPONE IT TO IT TO A TIME CERTAIN, I THINK THE NEXT MEETING IS LIKE MARCH 25TH OR SOMETHING.
WHY DON'T YOU HOLD ON TO THAT AND WE'LL GET, OKAY.
LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU'RE READY.
WHEN WE GET TO THE 94 HERE IN JUST A MOMENT THAT WAS OTHERWISE FULL.
UM, AMONG THE, YOU SAID YOU HAVE A SPEAKER THAT HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON NUMBER 98.
THAT'S IN THIS FIRST GROUP, IS THAT CORRECT? WHERE ARE WE GOING TO DO SPEAKERS ON 98.
IT WAS JUSTIN MORGAN AND MARIA.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE ON THE LINE NOW.
DO I HEAR THEM WANT TO SPEAK AGAINST A POSTPONEMENT? I DON'T BELIEVE SO.
ONE WAS SIGNED UP FOR AND WHAT WAS SIGNED UP NEUTRAL.
SO I DON'T THINK THERE'LL BE A POSTPONEMENT.
COLLEAGUES, ANYBODY HAVE ANY OBJECTION TO POSTPONING THOSE HEARING? NONE THAT WILL BE POSTPONED IF THOSE SPEAKERS WANTED TO SPEAK AGAINST IT AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY DO AND WE CAN ALWAYS RECONSIDER.
OTHERWISE THIS ITEM WILL BE POSTPONED.
LET'S HEAR THE SPEAKERS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, WHICH IS ITEM 87 THROUGH 98, BUT NOT INCLUDING 94.
AND I'M ALSO GOING TO LET SPEAKERS SPEAK ON 98.
IF SOMEBODY WANTED TO SPEAK ON THE ISSUE OF THE
[02:45:01]
POSTPONEMENT, OTHERWISE 98 WILL BE POSTPONED.CLARIFY, WHY DON'T YOU CALL THOSE SPEAKERS TO SPEAK ON THE OTHER, THE 94 CASES, IVY KAISER.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SOUL CREEK CONSERVANCY.
AND I AM SIMPLY HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 90 WHEN IT COMES UP.
UH, IF THERE IS ANY INFORMATION, EITHER FROM US ON OUR SUPPORT OF THEIR RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AMENDMENT FOR THE SIXTH STREET BRIDGE IMPROVEMENTS, IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO GET HANDLED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
SO IF YOU HAD WANTED TO SPEAK TO IT, THAT WOULD BE THE TIME.
BUT I THINK WE GATHERED YOUR SUPPORT FOR ITEM NUMBER 90.
NEXT SPEAKER, SHELLY MITCHELL.
I AM ACTUALLY PART OF THE GROUP.
I DID NOT MEAN TO SIGN UP AS A SPEAKER.
I REALLY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY UNLESS THERE ARE QUESTIONS CALLED UPON IT LATER.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET MIKE CANADY BACK ON THE LINE AND HE WOULD BE THE NEXT TO SPEAK.
OTHERWISE THE OTHERS ARE FOR ITEM NUMBER 94.
WHAT IS THE, WAS THE POSTPONEMENT REQUEST ON 94? DID I MESS THAT UP? NO MAYOR ON 94, THAT IS THE ONE WHERE WE'RE TAKING ALL THE SPEAKERS TOGETHER.
I'M NOT CALLING UP 94 RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS WHAT MR. COMMODITY WOULD SPEAK TO.
IT'S ALSO BEEN POSTPONED AND HE IS AVAILABLE ON THE LINE NOW.
OKAY, MR. KENNEDY, THIS IS AN ITEM THAT HASN'T BEEN POSTED PROPERLY.
SO IT'S REQUIRED UNDER LAW THAT WE CAN'T CONSIDER IT TODAY.
UH, I CAN, I CAN HEAR YOU NOW, BUT WE'LL INVITE YOU BACK.
YOU COULD COME BACK AND SPEAK.
THIS HAS BEEN POSTPONED TO MARCH 25TH.
AND THEN WE'VE GOT ONE MORE FOR 98.
THERE'S BEEN A MOTION TO POSTPONE THIS CASE TILL MARCH 25TH.
DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO THE POSTPONEMENT REQUEST? I WOULD PREFER TO SPEAK MY MIND ABOUT IT NOW BECAUSE I TOOK TIME OFF FROM WORK IN ORDER TO DO THAT THE, THE CONFERENCE, BUT IF IT HAS TO BE POSTPONED, THAT'S ALL I KNOW.
IF YOU'RE HERE, I'LL LET YOU GO AHEAD AND SPEAK ABOUT IT THEN.
WELL, IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE ANYTHING'S BEEN ON THAT LOT.
AND SO I AM FOR ZONING CHANGE, BUT WITH A CONDITION THAT IT BE A PART OF THE LAB, YOU SET ASIDE FOR A PLAZA OR A PARK, BECAUSE I THINK THAT WOULD REALLY ENHANCE THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND A LOT OF US WOULD FORMALLY OR INFORMALLY USE IT AS A DOG WALKING AREA.
I DON'T, BUT SOME OF MY NEIGHBORS DO.
AND SO I WAS HOPING THAT, UM, IF THE, THE FINAL SITE DESIGN OF THIS LOT COULD INCLUDE SOME SORT OF PUBLIC AMENITY LIKE THAT, THAT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED BY ASSUMING THE NEIGHBORHOOD HERE.
UM, I WOULD, OTHER THAN THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE ZONING CHANGE.
HE SAID SOMETHING SHOULD BE BUILT THERE AND IT WOULD REALLY HELP OUT WITH THE HOUSING CRISIS IN THE CITY, MORE APARTMENTS, AND ALSO MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUSINESSES DEVELOP IN THAT AREA, TOO, SEEING HOW IT'S GOING TO BE A MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT.
UM, ALSO FROM A PLANNING PERSPECTIVE, I PREFER THAT IT WOULD HAVE A TRADITIONAL NEIGHBORHOOD DESIGN.
SO PARKING IN THE REAR AND BUILDING UP CLOSE TO THE STREET SIDEWALK AREA, UH, EASILY ACCESSIBLE BY PEDESTRIANS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
ESSENTIALLY, I WOULD LIKE A, UH, A NICE DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THIS AREA.
UM, SO I THINK ZONING CHANGE WOULD BE APPROPRIATE.
[02:50:04]
OKAY, THANK YOU.[Zoning Consent Agenda]
TAKE US THROUGH THE CONSENT AGENDA, WHICH IS EVERYTHING EXCEPT 94.AND WHICH NOTES THAT 90, IT'S GOING TO BE POSTPONED TO THE 25TH OF MARCH DEPARTMENT.
THE FIRST ITEM TODAY IS ITEM 87 IS KC 14, 2020 ZERO ONE ONE SIX.
I CAN OFFER THIS CASE FOR CONSENT FOR APPROVAL.
ON SECOND READING ONLY I BELIEVE COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN WANTED TO MAKE A STATEMENT.
LET'S LET THEM RUN THROUGH AND NOT COME RIGHT BACK TO YOU FROM THE STATES.
THE NEXT ITEM WE HAVE IS ITEM 88 KIDS NPA 2017, ZERO ZERO 21.01.
I CAN OFFER THIS CASE FOR CONSENT APPROVAL.
I HAVE SECOND THIRD READINGS ITEM NUMBER 89 IS KC 14, 2019 ZERO ONE 67.
I CAN ALSO OFFER THIS FOR CONCENTRA APPROVAL ON SECOND AND THIRD READINGS ON ITEM NUMBER 93, 14, 2,901 51, RCA THREE.
I CAN OFFER THIS FOR CONSENT APPROVAL, AN ITEM NUMBER 91, KC 14, 2020 ZERO ONE 54.
I CAN OFFER THIS CASE FOR CONSENT APPROVAL ON ALL THREE READINGS ITEM NUMBER 92 IS I SEE 14, 2020 ZERO, ONE 39.
OFFER THIS FOR CONSENT APPROVAL ON ALL THREE READINGS ON ITEM NUMBER 93, KC 14, 2000.00 91.
I CAN OFFER THIS CASE FOR CONSENT APPROVAL.
ON FIRST READING, ONLY NOTING THAT THE APPLICANT HAS AMENDED THE REQUEST TO G R M U C O ZONING.
UM, ITEM NUMBER 94 MAYOR, AS YOU SAID, THERE'S GOING TO BE A DISCUSSION CASE ITEM NUMBER 95.
THIS CAN SEE 14 2020 ZERO ONE ONE ZERO CAN OFFER THIS CASE FOR CONSENT FOR APPROVAL ON ALL THREE READINGS.
IT SHOULD BE SURE I'D REMEMBER.
THIS IS THE POSTPONE REQUEST BY THE STAFF TO MARCH 25TH RELATED ITEM ITEM NUMBER 97, C 14, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY FOUR.
ALSO IN STAFF POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO MARCH 25TH.
AS YOU SAID, MAYOR ITEM NUMBER 98 TO SEE 14 COUNCIL MEMBER POINT.
THIS IS REQUESTING A POSTPONEMENT OF THE DAY BEFORE.
I CAN'T REMEMBER BEFORE I RECOGNIZE HER KITCHEN FOR HER STATEMENT.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS 87 THROUGH 98, EXCEPT NUMBER 94.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE IT? COUNCIL MEMBER ALICE MAKES THE MOTION SECONDED BY MY COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN.
UH, NOW DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
COUNCIL MEMBER, KITCHEN Q FOR ITEM NUMBER 87, THE, UH, WHICH WERE GOING ON CONSENT FOR A SECOND.
READING, THE ISSUES HAVE RELATED TO, UM, ALL SAN ANTONIO ROAD AND THE SAFETY OF THAT ROAD, PARTICULARLY FOR STUDENTS FROM, UM, FROM AKINS WHO MAYBE, UM, HEADED, UM, NORTH ON OLD SAN ANTONIO ROAD.
SO, UM, MOVING THIS FORWARD ON, ON SECOND READING, UH, WITH TWO THINGS I WANTED TO MENTION FIRST IS DIRECTION FOR STAFF BETWEEN NOW AND THIRD READING, UH, TO PREPARE A LEGAL MECHANISM THAT CAPTURES, UH, THE COMMITMENT FOR SIDEWALK AND OTHER PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS.
THOSE IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED IN THE APPLICANT'S MEMO DATED FEBRUARY 14TH.
UM, AND SO THAT WILL BE RETURNING TO US FOR THIRD READING ON MARCH 25TH, THAT LEGAL MECHANISM.
THE SECOND THING IS I JUST WANTED TO SIGNAL ALSO THAT ON MARCH 25TH, I'LL BE RE BRINGING DIRECTION TO STAFF, UH, TO WORK ON NECESSARY SAFETY UPGRADES TO OLD SAN ANTONIO ROAD, UH, IN ADDITION OR BEYOND THAT, TO WHICH THE APPLICANT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR.
UH, AND THAT'S BECAUSE THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT SAFETY TURNS ON THAT ROAD, UH, PARTICULARLY NORTH OF THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S LIMITED SIGHT CURB, LOW WATER CROSSING, NARROW ROADWAY, TRYING TO ACCOMMODATE VEHICLES AND PEDESTRIANS, PARTICULARLY STUDENTS IN BIKES.
SO THAT'S JUST A SIGNAL THAT ON MARCH 25TH, I'LL BE BRINGING FURTHER DIRECTION FOR OUR STAFF.
AND, UM, THIS IS AN AREA THAT'S BEEN RECOGNIZED FOR QUITE SOME TIME, UH, THAT IS IN NEED OF SAFETY UPGRADES.
ANY FURTHER CONVERSATION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? THIS IS JEANETTE.
COULD WE CONFIRM ON ITEM 93, IF THE MOTION INCLUDES CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING? YES.
CLOSED CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING.
CAN YOU TELL THE DISCUSSION ON THE AGENDA CONSENT AGENDA HEARING NONE.
LET'S TAKE A VOTE THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THOSE OPPOSED LOOKS TO BE UNANIMOUS.
WE DON'T HAVE THE MAYOR PRO TEM WITH US, EVERYONE ELSE VOTING.
[94. C14-2020-0112 - Delta Kappa Gamma Society International - Conduct a public hearing and approve an ordinance amending City Code Title 25 by rezoning property locally known as 416 West 12th Street (Shoal Creek Watershed). Applicant’s Request: To rezone from general office (GO) district zoning to downtown mixed use (DMU) district zoning. Staff Recommendation: To grant downtown mixed use-conditional overlay (DMU-CO) combining district zoning. Planning Commission Recommendation: To grant downtown mixed use (DMU) district zoning. Owner/Applicant: The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International (Nita Scott). Agent: Armbrust & Brown, PLLC (Michael J. Whellan, Michael J. Gaudini). City Staff: Mark Graham, 512-974-3574.]
[02:55:01]
NUMBER 94.SO IT'S CALLED THE SPEAKERS UNDER ITEM 94.
WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THE APPLICANT THE CHANCE TO OPEN IN FIVE MINUTES.
UH, THE RECORD SHOULD REFLECT THAT, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO HAS, HAS LEFT THE DICE.
UH, WE'RE GONNA LIGHTLY AFRICAN START WITH FIVE MINUTES AND THEN WE'LL GIVE ALL THE OTHER SPEAKERS THREE MINUTES HIGHER AND WE'LL GET A CHANCE TO CLOSE AND THEN WE CAN DISCUSS IT.
UM, I BELIEVE THOUGH, MAYBE YOU WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FIRST FROM THE PERSON REQUESTING THE POSTPONEMENT.
SEE IF THE COUNCIL WANTS TO GET RID OF THAT POSTPONEMENT.
WE DO HAVE ONE SPEAKER ON 94, THE ONE THAT CONFUSED.
I THOUGHT THAT IT SHIFTED TO ITEM ANDY SIX 97.
SO YES, LET'S HEAR FIRST FROM THE PERSON WHO'S SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF THE POSTPONE.
UH, MY NAME IS
IT IS THE, UH, YOU KNOW, THE DELTA KAPPA GAMMA SOCIETY, WHICH IS ON THE NATIONAL HISTORIC REGISTER.
UH, WE DID NOT OPPOSE TO SUSPECT THE HOUSE WHEN IT CAME BEFORE THE HISTORICAL COMMISSION AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, VR, WE WANT DEVELOPMENT.
I'M ALSO ON THE BOARD OF THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE AND I'M ON THE MARKETING, UH, COMMITTEE.
UH, SO I, WE ARE NOT GETTING, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T WANT TO OPPOSE THAT ELEPHANT, BUT WHAT HAPPENED WAS THE HISTORICAL LAYER WATSON HOUSES BETWEEN OUR TWO PROPERTIES AND DAVE HAD OPPOSING IT AT THE, AT THE HISTORICAL COMMISSION, BUT NOW WHAT CHANGED IS THE APPLICANT HAS A CONTRACT TO BUY THE HISTORIC KALE WATSON HOUSE.
AND THE MOMENT HE CONFIRMED THAT THEY HAVE A CONTRACT, WE ENTERED INTO CONVERSATIONS WITH THE APPLICANT REGARDING HOW THEY ARE PLANNING ON INCORPORATING THE AIR WATSON HOUSE INTO THAT PLAN.
UH, WE DO NOT WANT THAT WATSON HOUSE TO BE DISTURBED BECAUSE, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, WE BOUGHT OUR PROPERTY WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE SAY WATSON HOUSE WILL BE THERE AND THE DELTA KAPPA GAMMA SOCIETY, IT IS ON THE NATIONAL STATIC.
THEY WILL BE THERE, BUT WHILE WE ARE FOR DEVELOPMENT, WE STARTED THIS, UH, HE STARTED ENGAGING INTO A CONVERSATION WITH THE APPLICANT ON SUNDAY, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO COOPERATE WITH, WE WORK WITH THE APPLICANT, BUT THE TIME HAS BEEN TOO SHOCKED.
UH, IT IS JUST THIS SUNDAY THAT WE ENTERED INTO A CONVERSATION WITH THEM.
WE HAD BEEN TALKING ABOUT DAVID PRESENTING ABOUT, UH, THIS IS WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO, BUT IT DID NOT IMPROVE THE WATSON HOUSE.
SO THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING FOR A POSTPONEMENT FOR TWO WEEKS.
SO THAT WEEKEND, YOU KNOW, UH, PROACTIVELY WORK THE APPLICANT AND PICK IT UP WITHOUT IT IMPACTING OUR PROPERTY.
UH, WE HAVE ONE FOR A LONG TIME NOW AND YOUR LONG-TERM RESIDENTS AND I'M NOT IN THIS DEVELOPMENT, UH, UH, FEET.
UH, I AM A PROFESSOR AT TEXAS STATE.
UH, YOU KNOW, I IDEALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND SOME OF THIS, SO I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
IF WE GET A TWO WEEK POSTPONE, IT IS NOT MUCH TO ASK, ESPECIALLY AFTER ALL THE WINTER STORM.
SO, UH, SO THAT WE CAN POSSIBLY BUILD WITH THE APPLICANT ON IT.
AND BEFORE WE HEAR FROM THE CATHOLIC, THANK YOU.
UM, BEFORE WE HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT, SOMETHING I NEGLECTED TO DO, JERRY, WOULD YOU CALL THIS CASE WITH THE NUMBERS IN THE LIGHT? SURE.
THE CASE IS ITEM C 14, 2020 ZERO.
ONE IS FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT FOUR 16 WEST 12TH STREET.
UH, THE ZONING REQUEST IS FROM GEO TO DMU.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION WAS ORIGINALLY FOR DMU, H D O HOWEVER, UH, UNDER STATE LAW.
THE, THE H DESIGNATION DID NOT RECEIVE THE SUPER MAJORITY AT THE LANDMARK COMMISSION OR THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
SO THE REQUESTS RIGHT NOW FROM THE OUTFIT IS FOR DMU.
I WOULD LIKE TO JUST QUICKLY NOTE THAT THE STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DMU CEO, THE CEO WOULD BE FOR A HEIGHT LIMITATION OF 60 FEET.
THE REASON FOR THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN PLAN, WHICH WAS ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL CALLS FOR A HEIGHT LIMITATION OF 60 FEET IN THIS AREA.
UM, THOSE LIMITATIONS WERE NEVER PUT INTO EFFECT FOR ZONING THAT WAS INTENDED TO BE DONE AS PART OF THE CODE REWRITE, WHICH THIS ON HOLD RIGHT NOW.
SO THE, UH, DOOR TO FOLLOW THE DOWNTOWN, BY THE WAY THAT STAFF DOES THAT IS WITH THE CEO ELIMINATING THE 60 FEET.
UH, THE PROPERTIES IN WHAT'S CALLED THE UPTOWN DISTRICT OF THE DOWNTOWN PLAN IS RIGHT ON THE EDGE OF WHAT'S CALLED THE NORTHWEST DISTRICT IS SUBJECT TO THE, UH, DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM.
HOWEVER, THERE IS A NO-NAME WOULD HAVE TO BE DONE WITHOUT THE CEO, IN ORDER FOR THE ACTOR TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS
[03:00:01]
PROGRAM.THE DENSITY PROS PROGRAM ALLOWS THE PROPERTY TO GO UP TO 400 FEET FROM THE ONE 20 THAT WOULD NORMALLY BE AT THAT.
I BELIEVE THE AFRICANS FREQUENT, UH, PROPOSING ABOUT A 360 FOOT BUILDING AT THIS TIME.
SO THE STANFORD PATIENTS AT CMU WITH A 60 FOOT CAT BECAUSE OF THE DOWNTOWN PLAN APPLICANT REQUEST, JUST STRAIGHT DMU ZONING.
UH, COLLEAGUES, IS EVERYONE STANDING BEFORE WE ASKED THE APPLICANT TO RESPOND TO THE POSTPONEMENT REQUEST? YES.
THIS IS ALL MOVING VERY QUICKLY BECAUSE IT WENT FROM POSTPONEMENT TO MAYBE NOT POSTPONEMENT.
SO I'M TRYING TO KEEP TRACK OF ALL THE MOVING PIECES, BUT I DID WANT TO SIGNAL MY INTENT TO SUPPORT THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION.
UM, SO I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PARTS, BUT WAS TRYING TO KIND OF KEEP SOME CLARITY TO THIS SITUATION.
SO WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON THE POSTPONEMENT.
WE'LL TAKE A LOOK, WE'LL SEE IF THE COUNCIL WANTS TO POSTPONE IF IT DOES.
AND WE WON'T TALK ABOUT ANY FURTHER STUFF POSTPONE, THEN WE'LL JUST HAVE THE DISCUSSION ON MERITS.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR A POSTPONEMENT TO OUR FEDERAL, OUR MARCH 25 MEETING BECAUSE OF THE, UM, THE FLUIDITY OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
UM, AS THE RESIDENT HAS REQUESTED, I'D LIKE TO HAVE A LITTLE MORE TIME TO DIG INTO THE CASE AND THE ENTITLEMENTS THAT ARE BEING SOUGHT.
IT'S AN IMPORTANT CASE FOR THAT PART OF TOWN.
I THINK, UM, IT COULD STAND THE ADDITIONAL TIME, UM, TO GET THIS TOO MUCH.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD.
UM, WE'LL COME BACK FOR A SECOND HERE IN JUST A MOMENT.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT.
AND THEN I'LL ASK FOR A SECOND, IS THE APPLICANT WITH US? DO YOU WANT TO RESPOND TO THE POSTPONEMENT? YES.
MICHAEL WHALEN ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT, WE WOULD ASK YOU TO TAKE UP THIS CASE TODAY ON ALL THREE READINGS AND NOT TO POSTPONE US.
AND I WANT TO ALSO WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT THIS REQUEST IS NOT COMING FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE'VE WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS JOINED US IN ASKING THAT YOU TAKE THIS CASE UP TODAY AND NOT POSTPONE IT.
THAT'S ACTUALLY IN THE STAFF BACKUP.
THE POSTPONEMENT IS BEING REQUESTED BY MR. TIERNAN.
AND THAT'S NOT A SIGN ON BEHALF OF WHITE SWAN INVESTMENTS, LLC, WHICH OWNS A PROPERTY ONE LOT OVER FROM OUR SITE.
THEIR PROPERTY IS A VACANT LOT THAT ALREADY HAS DMU ZONING.
THEY'VE OFFERED TWO RATIONALES FOR THEIR POSTPONEMENT REQUESTS.
THE FIRST IS THAT THEY NEED MORE TIME TO THINK ABOUT OUR CASE TO THAT.
I WOULD JUST POINT OUT THAT WHITE SWAN INVESTMENTS LLC HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS CASE AND THIS PROJECT FOR OVER A YEAR, AS THE APPLICANT HAS SOUGHT TO KEEP THEM LOOPED IN ON THEIR PROGRESS AS A NEIGHBOR, INCLUDING EMAILING THEM A WEEK BEFORE WE FILED OUR REZONING APPLICATION TO FLAG IT FOR THEM AND TO SHARE AN ARTICLE THAT WAS THAT WE HAD GOTTEN IN AUSTIN TOWERS ABOUT THE PROJECT.
YOU JUST RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM CLINTON.
SAYRES ABOUT HIS COMMUNICATION IN THIS REGARD, ADDITIONALLY WHITE SWAN INVESTMENTS, LLC RECEIVED THE CITY'S OFFICIAL NOTICE OF OUR CASE MONTHS AGO.
AND OF THIS HEARING, THE OTHER RATIONALE WHITE SWAN INVESTMENTS LLC OFFERS IS IN MY OPINION, THE REAL REASON FOR THEIR POSTPONEMENT REQUEST IN AN EMAIL TO THE CITY, THEY EXPLICITLY SAY THAT THEY WANT TO DELAY THE ZONING CASE BECAUSE THEY'RE IN CONVERSATIONS WITH DELTA KAPPA GAMMA'S BUYER, NOT WITH THE APPLICANT DELTA KAPPA GAMMA OVER A COMPLETELY SEPARATE PROPERTY THAT DELTA KAPPA GAMMA HAS ABSOLUTELY NO STAKE IN OR CONTROL OVER.
IN OTHER WORDS, WHITE'S WINES POSTPONEMENT REQUEST.
IT'S ABOUT LEVERAGING THE CITY PROCESS FOR BARGAINING PRO BARGAINING POWER IN A PRIVATE NEGOTIATION LAST WEEK, WHITE SWAN EMAILED DKG BUYER, EVEN ASKING TO COME OVER ON SUNDAY.
SO WINTER STORM HAS NOT BEEN AN ISSUE COMPLAINING THAT SINCE WHITE SWANS VACANT LOT ALREADY HAS A DMU ITS FULL HEIGHT.
THEY DON'T WANT OTHER NEARBY PROPERTIES TO ALSO BE ABLE TO BUILD UP AND POTENTIALLY BLOCK THEIR VIEWS TO THE WEST.
THEY ALSO PRESS THE BUYER TO COMMIT, TO REMOVING CERTAIN REGULATED TREES AND TO GIVE WHITES ON SWAN 20 FEET OF PROPERTY FOR FREE.
WE DON'T THINK THAT IT IS GOOD POLICY TO LIMIT HOUSING ON ONE SITE SO THAT ANOTHER SITE CAN HAVE A BETTER VIEW.
AS I MENTIONED, WEITZ WINE INVESTMENTS, LLC IS ONE LOT OVER THE LOT BETWEEN OUR TWO PROPERTIES IS THE AOL WATSON HOUSE, WHICH IS ZONED HISTORIC, AND THUS IS FULLY PROTECTED BY THE CITY AND CANNOT BE ALTERED AT ALL WITHOUT THE CITY'S CONSENT.
THIS HISTORICALLY ZONE AND PRESERVE MIDDLE PROPERTY PROVIDES A BUFFER FOR WHITE SWAN INVESTMENTS WITH STRONG PUBLIC PROTECTIONS.
PLEASE DO NOT LET THIS UNRELATED ISSUE DISTRACT FROM THE MERITS OF THE DELTA KAPPA GAMMA'S CASE.
THIS IS A CASE, THE NEIGHBORHOODS WITH NEIGHBORHOOD SUPPORT AND THEN AN 11 ZERO TO ONE RECOMMENDATION IN FAVOR FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION STAFF HAS PREPARED THE ORDINANCE FOR ALL THREE READINGS FOR ALL THREE READINGS.
WE ASK THAT YOU HEAR THE CASE TODAY, THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
[03:05:01]
SPECIFICALLY ASKED THAT YOU HEAR THIS CASE TODAY AND IT IS READY FOR COUNCIL ACTION.I THINK WE'RE ACTUALLY, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A QUESTION FOR YOU, MR. RUSTOLEUM, AND FOR YOU MR. WAYLON.
BUT, UH, THE STAFF MENTIONED THAT, UH, THROUGH THIS PROCESS YOU WERE LOOKING AT POTENTIALLY USING THE DENSITY BONUS, WHICH MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE DOWNTOWN AREA MEANS THAT THERE ARE, WOULD BE DOLLARS CONTRIBUTED TO PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS BEST ANSWERED BY YOU OR BY THE STAFF OR EACH OF YOU, BUT AT MORE OR LESS 300 PLUS FEET, HOW MUCH WOULD THAT CONTRIBUTE TO A PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING DENSITY BONUS APPLICATIONS? LIKE THANK YOU.
I, UH, UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU DON'T HAVE A SITE PLAN IN, BUT GENERALLY WHAT IS LOOKING TO BE BUILT AT THIS SITE? I THINK IT WAS DESCRIBED AT 300 FEET.
WHAT WOULD THAT POTENTIALLY, WHAT WOULD THAT DO IF THAT'S IN FACT WHAT YOU ALL SUBMITTED? YES, OUR, OUR VERY PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS IS THAT IT IS GREATER THAN $500,000.
SO, UM, AND THIS FIRST STAFF, THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS A, IS A 60 FOOT LIMIT, CORRECT.
IN ORDER TO BE, UH, TO KEEP WITH THE DOWNTOWN, UM, PLAN, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
AND, UM, SO CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW THAT RELATES? I, YOU EXPLAINED THIS ALREADY, BUT JUST TO, JUST TO CLARIFY FOR ME, SO UNDER THAT, UM, LIMITATION, COULD THE, UM, TO THE APPLICANT CONTRIBUTE TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING? NO MERIT, NO COST.
THAT'S THE POINT I WAS TRYING TO MAKE WAS THAT IF THE COUNCIL DOES ADOPT THE CEO, THEN THEY WOULD BE PRECLUDED FROM PARTICIPATING IN THE DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM.
SO I JUST OF MAKE SURE THAT Y'ALL UNDERSTOOD THAT OKAY.
AND THE DOWNTOWN DENSITY PRO PROGRAM WOULD SAY PARTICIPATED OUT HOW MUCH CAN THEY ADD OR GO UP TO 400 FEET MAXIMUM FOR ONLY $500,000.
WE HAVE A MOTION FOR A POSTPONEMENT OF MY COUNSELOR POOL.
IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION TO POSTPONE? AND IT'S A MEMBER OF KITCHEN SECONDS, THE MOTION CONTINUING DISCUSSION ON THE ISSUE OF POSTPONEMENT AS A MEMBER ALTAR, I HAVE A COUPLE OF CLARIFYING QUESTIONS AND I APOLOGIZE SOME OF THESE HAVE SORT OF UNANSWERED BY ASKED BY OTHERS, BUT WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I UNDERSTAND THE ANSWERS FROM JERRY.
SO WHAT HEIGHT ARE THEY ALLOWED TODAY? TODAY WILL BE LIMITED TO 60 FEET OF HEIGHT.
AND WHAT HIGH COULD THEY ACHIEVE UNDER THE DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM? WAS THAT 400? IS THAT WHAT YOU JUST SAID? YES.
AND IN TERMS OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS, THEY BE OBLIGATED TO PAY.
IF THEY MAXIMIZE THE HEIGHT THEY CAN ACHIEVE UNDER THE DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM.
LIKE IF THEY WENT TO 400, WHAT WOULD THEY BE REQUIRED? IT COMES WHERE I DON'T KNOW THAT BECAUSE THEY WOULD HAVE TO SUBMIT THE PROPOSAL FOR THE ACTUAL BUILDING, WHERE WE LOOKED AT THIS WORD FOOTAGE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND, UM, THEN WE WOULD COME BACK TO THEM WITH THEM, FIGURE OUT WHAT WOULD BE REQUIRED.
BUT AT THIS TIME WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION FROM THEM TO FIGURE THAT OUT, BASED ON BUILDINGS, SQUARE FOOTAGE, NOT JUST OKAY.
BUT MR. WAYLON WAS THE, UM, 500,000 FIGURE WHAT YOU WERE PROPOSING ON A 400 WHAT HOUSE? IT'S A VERY PRELIMINARY FIGURE.
WE BELIEVE IT'LL BE GREATER THAN THAT.
BUT THAT'S LIKE A 340 FEET INCREASE FOR LESS THAN THE COST OF A HOUSE IN MUCH OF AUSTIN.
THE ESTIMATED I'M NOT SURE THE, WE HAVEN'T HEARD OUR PRELIMINARY FIGURES AND OUR PRELIMINARY DESIGN HASN'T BEEN SAID, I DON'T ANTICIPATE WE'RE GOING TO HIT 400 FEET.
UH, I THINK A VERY PRELIMINARY MASSING LOOKS LIKE IT'S CLOSER TO 375.
BUT WITH THAT EXTRA 300 FEET, HOW MANY MORE UNITS WOULD YOU BE PROVIDING AGAIN? I DON'T HAVE THOSE FIGURES.
I THINK OVERALL WE'RE AT, UH, I THINK 280, UH, HOUSING UNITS IN DOWNTOWN IS, YOU KNOW, IS CRITICAL TO ACHIEVING SO MANY OF YOUR GOALS.
[03:10:03]
ALICE.I'M NOT SURE IF THIS QUESTION WOULD BE FOR JERRY OR FOR MR. WHALEN.
WHERE IS THIS IN RELATION TO THE ORANGE AND BLUE LINES OF PROJECT CONNECT? UH, THEY WOULD BE ON WATERLOO STREET, SO PROBABLY ABOUT A HALF A BLOCK AWAY.
REMEMBER WHAT'S IN FRONT OF US IS THE POSTPONEMENT REQUEST WHERE I SIT ON THIS RIGHT NOW, IS I PROBABLY BASED ON WHAT I'VE HEARD SO FAR, I, I WILL, I SUPPORT THE PC RECOMMENDATION, UH, THAT SAID, UH, WHICH ALLOWS THE 120 FEET PLUS THE USE OF THE DENSITY BONUS TO GO HIGHER.
BUT THAT'S NOT THE QUESTION IN FRONT OF US RIGHT NOW.
THE QUESTION IS WHETHER OR NOT THE POSTPONEMENT AND IN THESE KINDS OF CASES, WHEN A POSTPONEMENT REQUEST IS ASKED BY, THEY NEVER USUALLY BE GRANTED ABSENT THERE BEING PREJUDICE.
OTHERWISE I HAVEN'T HEARD A PREJUDICE OTHERWISE BECAUSE EVERYONE KNOWS THIS CASE WILL BE COMING BACK UP ON MARCH 25TH.
SO I JUST HAVEN'T HEARD IT OTHERWISE.
AND IN THIS CASE, WE ALSO HAVE ONE OF OUR COLLEAGUES ASKING FOR THE POSTPONEMENT.
SO ON THE QUESTION OF POSTPONEMENT, UM, WHERE I SIT RIGHT NOW IS I WOULD SUPPORT THE REQUEST FOR THE POSTPONEMENT FURTHER CONVERSATION ON THE MOTION TO POSTPONE.
LET'S TAKE A VOTE ON THE MOTION TO POSTPONE THOSE OF OVER FAVOR OF THE POSTPONEMENT.
UH, IT IS MAY, UH, POOL, KITCHEN, UH, KELLY, AND, UM, VANESSA, SORRY, THAT'S ONE AND ALTER.
SO I THINK THAT MAKES THAT SIX, THOSE OPPOSED TO THE POSTPONEMENT.
UH, AND IT IS, UH, UH, I'LL ASK MARY.
ALISON AND COSAR WITHIN EXTENSION BY RENTER RE UH, AND A COUNCIL MEMBER.
UM, AND THE MAYOR PRO TEM IS ALSO OFF THE DYES.
SO WITH A SIX, THREE, TWO VOTE, THE MOTION TO POSTPONE, UH, IS, UH, IS APPROVED.
I THINK IT WAS 63, ONE WITH, UH, TOVA RECUSE SIX, THREE, ONE, ONE ABSTENTION.
BUT, UH, BUT, BUT COUNCIL MEMBER OPERA MATTERS.
SIX TO ONE, I THINK IS WHAT DIRECT TO SIX YESES, ONE ABSTENTION AND TWO OFF THE DYES.
YEAH, SIX TWO ONE, TWO, TWO, ONE, TWO, I THINK IS WHERE WE, THE LOTTERY NUMBERS.
UM, SINCE WE'RE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE, UM, CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION.
I JUST WANTED TO, TO NOTE THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS NEAR THE ORANGE LINE AND THAT I DO SUPPORT GREATER DENSITY IN THIS AREA.
I WOULD THOUGH LIKE A LOT MORE CLARITY THAN WE HAVE AT THIS POINT IN TIME, UM, WITH RESPECT TO THE DENSITY BONUS, UM, PIECE OF THIS, UM, AND ALSO IN TERMS OF NUMBER OF UNITS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AND, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY SINCE WE'RE NOT CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION WE'RE KITCHEN.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO UNDERSTAND THE COST OF THESE UNITS.
UM, SO I, I DO SUPPORT DENSITY NEAR OUR, UM, TRA RAIL LINES, BUT I'M ALSO VERY CONCERNED ABOUT, UH, AFFORDABILITY AND, UM, JUST ON FIRST BLUSH 500,000 DOESN'T SOUND LIKE MUCH AT ALL TO ME, UH, IN TERMS OF A DENSITY BONUS.
SO I NEED SOME MORE INFORMATION.
I'D LIKE TO ASK MR. WAYLON, IF HE COULD MAYBE TALK WITH MY STAFF AT ME A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT, AND ALSO MR. RESTHAVEN ABOUT RAISING THE BASE FROM 60 FEET TO 120 FEET.
I WANT TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACTS OF THAT.
AND OF COURSE I TOO, AND VERY SUPPORTIVE, ENSURING THAT WE HAVE GOOD DENSITY ALONG OUR RAIL LINES, BECAUSE THAT'S HOW WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR RAIL LINES ARE SUCCESSFUL.
BUT I ALSO, UM, JUST NEED SOME MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROJECT ITSELF.
SO I DO APPRECIATE THE COST PRODUCT AND LOOK FORWARD TO TALKING WITH YOU STRESS DRIVEN AND MR. WAYLAND, UH, SOME MORE THANKS.
I, COLLEAGUES, I THINK THAT TAKES US PAST ALL OF THE ZONING CASES.
THANKS ALL THE SPEAKERS FOR SHOWING UP TODAY.
I APOLOGIZE THEY TO COME BACK ON THE 25TH, UH, WHEN THIS ITEM WOULD BE CONSIDERED AGAIN, COLLEAGUES THAT GETS US THEN BACK TO, UH, THE BALANCE OF OUR, UH, AGENDA, LET'S BEGIN WITH, UH, ITEM
[40. Authorize negotiation and execution of Amendment No. 1 to the agreement with Jane’s Due Process to provide logistical support services for abortion access to add one-time funding in an amount not to exceed $100,000 and two 12-month extension options each in an amount not to exceed $150,000, for a revised total agreement amount not to exceed $550,000. Strategic Outcome(s): Health and Environment and Government That Works for All.]
NUMBER 40 PULLED BY COUNCIL MEMBER.[03:15:01]
MUCH.UH, SO I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT IT AND I, I BELIEVE THIS QUESTION IS PROBABLY BEST FOR LEGAL.
SO, AND, UM, I JUST WONDER IF, AND I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP BEFORE PREVIOUS TIMES THAT THIS SORT OF THING HAS BEEN UP FOR COUNCIL, BUT COULD YOU EXPLAIN HOW THIS IS LEGAL FOR US TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR PEOPLE WHO MAYBE DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT? AND THEN I HAVE A FOLLOW-UP TO THAT QUESTION AS WELL.
COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, I THINK YOU WERE REFERRING TO THE JAMES, UM, THE DUE PROCESS.
AND AS YOU KNOW, THE FUNDING FOR THE CITY HAS BEEN CHALLENGED IN THE PAST.
WE DO THINK THIS IS ILLEGAL, UM, WAY TO USE THIS MONEY, TO HELP FOLKS WITH THE, UM, SERVICES, THE LEGAL CHALLENGE.
SO FAR, WE'VE HAD THREE SEPARATE CASES AND THE CITY HAS PREVAILED IN THOSE CASES.
UH, TWO OF WHICH ARE PENDING ON APPEAL.
AND, UM, SO I THINK THAT THE, THIS IS AN INAPPROPRIATE USE OF THE FUNDS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS? A ITEM 40 COUNTS? REMEMBER ALICE MAKES THE MOTIONS ARE SECOND TO THE SIGNUP COUNSELING.
CATHERINE, RENDER YOU TO DO IT THIS TIME.
UH, AND IN TWO SECONDS, IT'S NO COUNCIL MEMBER POOL IS A SECOND.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER RENTERIA, BOTH SECONDING.
THIS MOTION, UH, HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.
IS THERE DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR OF THIS MOTION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THOSE OPPOSED TO THIS MOTION, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, KELLY OPPOSES COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND THE MAYOR PRO TEM IS OFF THE DIOCESE.
UH, THIS ITEM, UH, IS, UH, IS APPROVED.
I THINK THAT GETS US TO ITEM 62, UM, PULLED BY A COUNCIL MEMBER AUTHOR.
UM, NEED SOME STAFF ON HERE FROM ATD AND PUBLIC WORKS OR, UM, MS. STAND-ON GOT DEPENDING ON HOW THEY ARE WHEN I ANSWER MY QUESTIONS.
[68. Approve a resolution consenting to a proposed borrowing transaction by Austin Convention Enterprises, Inc. under the terms of the federal Paycheck Protection Program. (Part 1 of 2)]
ITEM WHILE THEY'RE COMING OVER 68, UH, WHICH CONCERNS, UM, UH, BORROWING TRANSACTION FOR THE AUSTIN CONVENTION ENTERPRISE HAS BEEN A REQUEST FOR US TO, UM, UM, MOVE OVER TO EXECUTIVE SESSION BEFORE WE TAKE A VOTE ON THAT MATTER.UH, SO WE MAY DO THAT IN A MOMENT, RUN OVER TO EXECUTIVE SESSION, HANDLE THAT THEN COME BACK SO THAT WE CAN FINISH WITH OUR AGENDA.
UH, OUT HERE WE HAVE TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS.
WE'LL PROBABLY DISPENSE WITH THOSE, GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, COME BACK OUT AND VOTE ON THAT MATTER, GO BACK AND DO EXEMPTION ON PERSONNEL.
AND THEN OUR DAY WILL BE OVER.
I THINK THAT LETS MOST OF THE STAFF GO MOST EXPEDITIONS.
IT LOOKS LIKE MR. SPELLER AT LEAST IS ON.
I'M NOT SURE HIS, IF SOMEONE'S FROM PUBLIC WORKS.
UM, SO COLLEAGUES ITEM 62, IF WE WERE ALL TO HANG ON ONE SECOND, UH, COUNSELOR KELLY, DID YOU RAISE YOUR HAND? I DID.
I, I JUST WANT A LITTLE MORE CLARITY ON WHY WE'RE GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION OVER ITEM NUMBER 68.
NONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE, I FEEL ARE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION BECAUSE ONE OF OUR COLLEAGUES HAS ASKED FOR IT AND WE DON'T ASK OUT IN PUBLIC WIDE AS YOU WANT IT TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
CAUSE I COULD REMOVE THE PRIVILEGE OR SO WE'LL GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, BUT WE WON'T DECIDE ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING THAT'S AMENABLE OF A PUBLIC CONVERSATION.
WE WILL COME BEYOND THE DIET AND ALL THOSE.
SO ANY QUESTIONS YOU WANT TO ASK PUBLICLY, YOU WILL STILL BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
ABSOLUTELY COUNTS OVER ALL THREE OF YOU.
[62. Approve an ordinance amending the Fiscal Year 2020-2021 Austin Transportation Department Operating Budget (Ordinance No. 20200812-001) to increase appropriations by $215,941 and to increase the number of authorized staff positions by 27 full-time equivalents to support the 2020 General Obligation Transportation and Mobility Bonds; and amending the Public Works Department Operating Budget (Ordinance No. 20200812-001) to increase appropriations by $439,081 and to increase the number of authorized staff positions by eight full-time equivalents to support the 2020 General Obligation Transportation and Mobility Bonds. Related to Items #60 and #61.]
ITEM 62, I PULLED, UM, CAUSE I THINK WE NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE TRANSPARENCY ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS.UM, HAD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BACKUP.
UM, WE HAD, UM, AND I'VE WORKED CLOSELY WITH SOME OF OUR FINANCIAL STAFF TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE BACKUP AND THEY MADE SOME CHANGES TO THE FISCAL NOTES, UM, TO MAKE THINGS CLEARER.
UM, BUT I, I DO THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE TRANSPARENCY OVER THIS BOND THAT IS $440 MILLION.
AND THEY'RE ASKING FOR 35 POSITIONS, UM, THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE REALLY CLEAR ON WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON.
UM, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE WAS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED TO HAVE A PRESENTATION ON THE MOBILITY BOND ON TUESDAY THAT WAS SKIPPED DUE
[03:20:01]
TO SCHEDULING.SO PRESUMABLY SOME OF THIS INFORMATION MAY HAVE COME OUT AT THAT POINT IN TIME.
UM, BUT ABSENT THAT DENTATION, I THINK WE STILL NEED TO HAVE SOME CONVERSATIONS.
UM, YOU KNOW, I DO REALLY APPRECIATE THE FINANCIAL STAFF SPENDING THE TIME WITH ME ON THIS.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT OUR PROCESSES FOR OUR FISCAL NOTES, UM, AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE CRYSTAL CLEAR SO WE CAN EASILY SEE, UM, WHAT IS GOING ON.
UM, AND WHAT, SO FOR INSTANCE, IN THESE FISCAL NOTES WAS HIDDEN.
IN MY VIEW, IT WAS HIDDEN IN THE ORIGINAL VERSION, UM, THAT TO AUTHORIZE THE 27 PHYSICIANS IN ATD, WE WOULD BE REQUIRING AN INCREASE TO THE TRANSPORTATION USER FEE IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR OF AT LEAST 8 CENTS.
UM, AND I THINK WE, YOU KNOW, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE OUT THERE IN THE DOCUMENTS.
AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT, UM, AND I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS KIND OF HOW THAT PLAYS OUT.
OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A MAJOR UNDERTAKING, THE VOTERS OVERWHELMINGLY VOTED FOR THIS.
UM, SO THERE'S A LOT OF ENTHUSIASM, BUT WE NONETHELESS HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE, UM, THAT THERE'S ACCOUNTABILITY AND THAT WE ARE DOING PERFORMING OUR OVERSIGHT DUTIES.
UM, SO ON OUR AGENDA, WE HAD THREE IS RELATED TO THIS.
UM, HAD WE HAD THE PRESENTATION WHICH UNUSUALLY WAS ACTUALLY STILL POSTED.
UM, WE WOULD HAVE TALKED ABOUT WHAT EACH OF THOSE THREE WERE.
I WOULD ASK THAT WE POST THE PRESENTATION THAT WAS POSTED UP FOR WORK SESSION, ALONG WITH THESE ITEMS. SO IF SOMEBODY IS GOING BACK TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE ARE DOING, THEY HAVE THE BENEFIT OF THAT INFORMATION AND WOULD HAVE LIKED THOSE TWO HAVE BEEN POSTED, UM, FOR US AS WELL.
UM, SO MY FIRST QUESTION IS KIND OF A BROAD ONE AS YOU KNOW, TO ASK, UM, MR. SPELLER, AND IF THERE'S SOMEBODY ELSE FROM PUBLIC WORKS, YOU SHOULD BE SPEAKING BY ALL MEANS THEY SHOULD JOIN IN.
UM, CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY THE STAFF NEEDS EIGHT POSITIONS IN PUBLIC WORKS AND 27 IN ATD? AND CAN YOU ELABORATE ON THE DIVISION OF LABOR BETWEEN THE TWO DEPARTMENTS WITH RESPECT TO THE BOND IMPLEMENTATION? CAN'T HEAR YOU YET.
NOW YOU'RE ON MUTE AND TALK AND SEE WHAT HERE, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE STILL STUCK.
I RECALL MR. SPELLERS HAD TROUBLE ANOTHER TIME.
IT MAY HAVE TO JUST PLUG HIMSELF IN WITH HIS HEADPHONES AS THEY DID BEFORE.
LOOKS LIKE THAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
THE OTHER WAY TO DO IT IS TO CALL INTO THE NUMBER COUNCIL COUNCIL MEMBER ALTERRA, UM, MAYOR ADLER.
I'M AN ASSISTANT DIRECTOR WITH THE AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT.
UH, PERHAPS I CAN GET STARTED WHILE, UM, ROB WORKS OUT, UM, HIS TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES.
UM, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTIONS AND FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE TODAY.
UM, PER THE BACKUP WE ARE HERE TODAY WITH A REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL FTES FOR BOTH THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND THE AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT, UM, WHICH WILL FACILITATE OUR DELIVERY OF THE ADDITIONAL 470 MILLION IN TRANSPORTATION FUNDING FROM THE MOBILITY BOND.
UM, AS COUPLE OF MEMBER ALTAR POINTED OUT, UM, THERE MAY BE A LIKELIHOOD OF AN INCREASE IN THE TOUGH FOR FISCAL YEAR 22.
HOWEVER, FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS FISCAL YEAR, THERE WILL BE NO IMPACT, UM, TO THE TRANSPORTATION USER FEE AND WE CAN ABSORB THE ADDITIONAL, UM, POSITIONS WITHIN OUR OPERATING BUDGET.
UM, MOVING FORWARD, MOST OF THESE POSITIONS ARE THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME OF THESE POSITIONS WILL BE RECOVERABLE BY BOND FUNDS.
SO THE LONGTERM IMPACT ON OUR OPERATING BUDGET, UH, WILL BE MUCH LESS THAN IT WOULD BE IF WE WERE JUST HIRING 35 NEW POSITIONS OF OUR OPERATING BUDGET.
SO A LOT OF THIS WILL BE CHARGED BACK TO THE 2020 BONDS.
UM, AND AS FOR THE DIVISION OF RESPONSIBILITIES BETWEEN PUBLIC WORKS AND HDD PUBLIC WORKS OVERSEES, UM, THE SIDEWALK PROGRAM, URBAN TRAILS, NEIGHBORHOOD PARTNERING, UM, AND SOME OF THE LARGE CIP PORTIONS OF THE BOND AND ATD, UM, OVERSEAS, UM, BIKE WAYS, VISION ZERO SAFETY, UM, THE SUBSTANDARD STREET PROGRAM, UM, TRANSIT
[03:25:01]
ENHANCEMENT, AND ANOTHER PORTION OF THE LARGE CIP ATD ALSO HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF DOING A LOT OF THE IMPLEMENTATION.SO YOU'LL SEE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ON THE ATD SIDE, AND THOSE ARE FOR OUR SIGNALS CREWS, OUR SIGNS AND MARKETING'S CREWS THAT ARE ACTUALLY OUT THERE IMPLEMENTING THE PROJECTS THAT COVER ALL OF OUR BOND PORTFOLIO.
THE ANOTHER PORTION OF THE RESOURCES FOR ATD IS FOR OUR INSPECTION AND RIGHT AWAY PERMITTING PROGRAM.
UM, WE'RE PLANNING TO STAND UP A PUBLIC PROJECT REVIEW TEAM WITHIN ATD TO EXPEDITE ALL CAPITAL PROJECTS.
SO THAT'LL HELP, NOT JUST THE BOND, BUT ALSO, UM, AUSTIN WATER, AUSTIN ENERGY, OR OUR OTHER PARTNER DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE DELIVERING PROJECTS FOR THE CITY.
UM, RECTOR, SPILLER, HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO GET ON, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD TO WHAT I STARTED WITH? UM, CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? GREAT, THANK YOU.
AND UH, SORRY, COUNCIL MEMBER FOR HAVING THE DIFFICULTY GETTING ON, UM, YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE WITH THE EARLIER BONDS, WE DEFINED A BOND DELIVERY PROCESS, UM, BECAUSE THIS BOND IS REALLY FOCUSED ON FUNDING, A RANGE OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMS WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENTS.
UH, THE APPROACH THAT WE DECIDED WAS BEST AND WE'VE, UH, PLAN TO OVERCOME SORT OF THIS, UH, HUMP AND WORK IS TO REALLY ADD THE STAFF IN THE INDIVIDUAL PROGRAMS AND EXPAND THE PROGRAMS. AND SO THAT'S REALLY THE THINKING AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE STAFFING, UH, AS WE SUGGESTED OR REQUESTED.
CAN YOU ACTUALLY TALK TO THE SPECIFIC, UM, DIVISION FOR THE 27 POSITIONS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN PART OF THE PRESENTATION ON TUESDAY, WHICH WE DID NOT CERTAINLY JUST A SECOND HERE, LET ME PULL THAT UP.
UM, SO, UH, I WILL RUN DOWN THE, UH, DIFFERENT DIVISIONS AND THE STAFFING THAT WE HAVE ASKED FOR SOME OF THESE WILL BE, UM, UH, PUBLIC WORKS.
AND, UH, AND I DON'T KNOW IF CHRIS IS HERE, BUT HE CAN ALSO SPEAK TO THOSE.
SO OUR SIDEWALKS AND SPECIAL PROJECTS, THOSE ARE TWO STAFF.
AND SO REALLY JUST SUPPLEMENTING OUR SIDEWALK PROGRAM SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO MEET THE HIGH VOLUME OF SIDEWALKS, A DEMAND THAT'S OUT THERE, THE SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL, ADDING JUST ONE PERSON, URBAN TRAILS, THREE PERSON, ALL OF THOSE ARE PUBLIC WORKS, A NEIGHBORHOOD PARTNERING.
WE'RE NOT ADDING ANYONE TRANSIT ENHANCEMENTS.
UH, WE'RE ADDING ONE STAFF PERSON.
REMEMBER THESE ARE THE TRANSIT ENHANCEMENTS, UH, THAT DO NOT RELATE TO PROJECT CONNECT.
UH, CURRENTLY WE HAVE JUST ONE STAFF PERSON, UH, RESPONSIBLE FOR IMPLEMENTING THAT ENTIRE BOND, WHICH IS A MULTIPLE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE ENOUGH STAFFING TO MOVE FORWARD, UH, VISION ZERO, UH, ADDING TWO STAFF PERSONS TO REALLY, AGAIN, NOW THAT WE HAVE BOND MONEY, UH, TO HELP, UH, DELIVER THAT PROGRAM STREET DESIGN, UH, THREE TECHNICAL PEOPLE, UH, TO REALLY EXPAND OUR OVERSIGHT OF STREET DESIGN AND, AND ROLL OUT THE PROJECTS, UH, THAT WOULD BE BUILT NOT ONLY UNDER THIS BOND, BUT ALSO TO ACCELERATE THE EXISTING BONDS, UH, JUMPING DOWN TO PROJECT DELIVERY AS WE, UH, LOOK TO DELIVER A WHOLE NUMBER OF PROJECTS.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S ONE THING THAT'S UNIQUE ABOUT THIS BOND IS WE REALLY GET INTO THE GUTS OF THE PLANNING IS IT'S NOT SINGLE LARGE PROJECTS.
AND SO TO DO THAT, WE ACTUALLY NEED MORE PROJECT DELIVERY FOLKS AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT FOLKS.
UH, LIKEWISE OVER IN PUBLIC WORKS TO HELP WITH THE LARGE CIP WHEN WE GET TO THE LARGER ASKS FOR INSTANCE SIGNALS.
UH, WE ARE ACTUALLY AT FULL MAX, UH, DELIVERY IN TERMS OF NEW, UH, SIGNALS AND MAINTAINING EXISTING SIGNALS WITH OUR CURRENT STAFF.
WE REALLY NEED TO ADD A WHOLE SIGNAL TEAMS. AND SO THAT SEVEN PERSON IS REALLY ANOTHER ONE OR TWO TEAMS TO DELIVER NEW SIGNALS AND TO MAINTAIN THE SIGNALS WE'VE BEEN BUILDING WITH OUR CURRENT BOND PROGRAM.
AND SO THIS NEW STAFFING WILL BE FOCUSED ON THE NEW SIGNALS AND THEN OUR EXISTING STAFFING.
UH, WE'LL TAKE IT THE MAINTENANCE OF OUR, UH, ROBUST SYSTEM SIGNS AND MARKINGS.
A LOT OF THE CONSTRUCTION WE WILL BE DOING IS LAYING OUT NEW LANE MILES AND NEW LANE MARKINGS.
AND SO TO DO THAT, WE REALLY NEED INTERNAL STAFF TO EXPAND THAT CAPABILITY.
UH, THOSE TEAMS HAVE BEEN AT 110%, AND SO WE JUST NEED TO ADD SOME MORE TEAMS THERE.
AND THEN LASTLY, RIGHT AWAY, ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE REALIZED WITH ALL OF OUR CAPITAL WORKS PROJECTS IS THAT IT'S TIME TO GO AHEAD AND SET UP AN INTERNAL TEAM THAT JUST DOES RIGHT AWAY PERMITTING FOR CITY PROJECTS.
AND SO THIS TEAM OF NEW, UH, PERIMETERS WILL ACTUALLY, UM, SUPPORT ALL MUNICIPAL, UH, UH, PERMITTING AS WELL AS PERMITTING FOR CAP METRO TO MAKE SURE WE KNOW WHERE CONSTRUCTION
[03:30:01]
IS GOING WHEN PROJECT CONNECT ROLLS OUT.UH, BUT IT REALLY TAKES A WHOLE NEW TEAM TO PULL THAT AND KEEP THAT FROM COMPETING WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR, UH, WHO, UM, UH, I KNOW ALL OF OUR RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY ARE TELLING US THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE EXTREMELY BUSY OVER THE COMING YEARS AS PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT RESPONSE, TO ALL THE NEW CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT WE'RE DOING WITHIN THE CITY AND, AND CAP METRO AND TXDOT.
SO THAT REALLY ADDS UP TO THE 35.
I KNOW THAT 35 COULD BE, IS A SHOCKING NUMBER, BUT IT'S REALLY SPREAD OUT OF OVER A WHOLE NUMBER OF DIVISIONS THERE.
UM, SO AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE IDEA IS TO STAFF UP SO THAT WE CAN, UM, FINISH OUR RESPONSIBILITIES WITH RESPECT TO THE 2016 AND THE 2018 BONDS AT THE SAME TIME THAT WE'RE RAMPING UP FOR 2020.
UM, ARE YOU EXPECTING TO NEED TO ADD ADDITIONAL STAFF FOR THE 2020 BOND ABOVE AND BEYOND THESE 35 POSITIONS BEFORE YOU ANSWER THAT QUESTION? UH, I'M GONNA NEED TO STEP OFF THE DYESS FOR, FOR UP TO AN HOUR.
I'VE ASKED, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER TO TAKE THE CHAIR, UH, SINCE THE MAYOR PRO TEM IS NOT WITH US ON THE DIOCESE AS WELL.
SO WITH THAT COUNCIL MEMBER, ALL THREE, GO AHEAD AND PROCEED.
WE ARE DEVELOPING OUR 2022 2324 AND 25 BUDGET PROJECTIONS.
UM, YES, I ANTICIPATE THAT THE WORK DEMANDS WILL CONTINUE TO, UH, UH, REQUIRE STAFFING.
UH, WE DON'T KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS RIGHT NOW.
UH, BUT THIS STAFFING WE BELIEVE WILL HELP US ACCELERATE THE 2016 AND 2018 BOND DELIVERY SO THAT WE CAN START TO GET THAT WORK DIGESTED, UH, WITHIN THE INDUSTRY AND MOVE INTO THE 2020 BOND PROGRAM, UH, NEXT SUMMER.
UH, BUT YES, UH, AS WE HAVE ADDED INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, TO OUR PORTFOLIO HERE IN THE CITY, AND AS WE CONTINUE TO, UH, UH, COORDINATE WITH OTHER AGENCIES, AS WELL AS, AS YOU KNOW, UH, DELIVER THE PROJECTS THAT YOU ALL HAVE ASKED US TO DO, UM, WE BELIEVE WE WILL CONTINUE TO NEED MORE STAFFING AS WE GO FORWARD.
AND AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THESE POSITIONS ARE FOR, FOR, FOR ATD ANYWAY, THEY'RE 80% BOND FUNDED AND 20% OTHER SOURCES.
UH, THAT IS, YES, THAT IS THE PLAN.
THAT IS HOW WE HAVE THEM FUNDED, UH, IN THE CURRENT BUDGET PROPOSAL AND LOOKING FORWARD.
THAT'S HOW WE CONTINUE TO THINK WE WOULD HAVE THEM A RECOVERABLE.
AND, AND GIVEN THAT IF YOU WERE ADDING MORE POSITIONS, THEY WOULD BE ADDED ROUGHLY IN THAT RATIO AS WELL.
UH, IF THEY'RE RELATED TO, UM, UH, BOND CAPITAL TYPE PROJECTS YES.
BUT AS WE'RE DEVELOPING THESE, THESE PROGRAMS, WE WILL CERTAINLY NEED, UM, UH, STAFF THAT WOULD BE, UH, FUNDED BY OUR OTHER FUNDS.
FOR INSTANCE, WHETHER IT BE THE TOUGH FOR FEES THAT WE COLLECT, UM, AS WE GO FORWARD.
YES, FOR ATD, THE 20% IS PAID BY OTHER SOURCES.
UM, EXPLAIN HOW THIS IS BEING FUNDED.
THESE 27 THAT ARE IN ATD ARE BEING FUNDED THIS YEAR, AND THEN HOW THEY'RE GOING TO BE FUNDED IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS.
UH, SO THE 20, THE 27 THAT WE ARE FUNDING, UM, THIS YEAR 20% AS YOU TALK SINNED.
SO THE EASIEST WAY TO EXPLAIN THAT AS VACATION AND SICK LEAVE, WE CAN'T BILL OBVIOUSLY TO THE BOND.
UH, AND SO THAT IS BEING BUILT TO OUR CURRENT BUDGET, WHICH WE HAVE, UM, A BUDGET RESERVES.
AND SO THAT IS COMING FROM THE TUFT AND THOSE FEES, UH, THAT WE HAVE COLLECTED AND BUILT INTO THIS YEAR'S BUDGET ALREADY.
THAT IS FUNDS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE AVAILABLE.
BUT MOVING FORWARD, WHERE IS THAT FUNDING COMING? WE WOULD BUILD THAT INTO THOSE SAME FUND SOURCES, WHETHER IT BE THE TOUGH OR THE FEES THAT WE COLLECT.
AND SO THAT WOULD BE PART OF OUR ANNUAL BUDGET PROPOSAL TO COUNCIL.
SO THAT WOULD BE INCLUDING THE RIGHT OF WAY FEES AND THE TOUGH.
AND WHAT IS THE CURRENT ESTIMATE OF THE IMPLICATIONS FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS FOR THE TOUGH OF THESE 27 PHYSICIANS? UM, I THINK YOU, UH, QUOTED A NUMBER THAT IS, UH, I BELIEVE IS CORRECT.
UM, ARE YOU ANTICIPATING INCREASES TO THE TOUGH FROM OTHER THINGS BEYOND THESE BONDS? LIKE, SO WHEN YOU SAY YOU'RE ANTICIPATING AN 8 CENT INCREASE IN THE PAST, IS THAT JUST THE PORTION THAT'S FROM THIS, OR WILL THERE BE OTHER THINGS YOU'RE GOING TO COME TO US AND ASK US FOR AN INCREASE OF FEES ON, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE D COUNCIL MEMBER WE'RE DEVELOPING
[03:35:01]
THOSE, THOSE BUDGETS RIGHT NOW.AND SO IT'S HARD TO SPECULATE, BUT YES, UH, WE HAVE COST DRIVERS THAT DRIVE OUR BUDGET EVERY YEAR.
UH, AND WE WILL BE, UH, LIKELY COMING TO ASK FOR INCREASED FEES AS PART OF THE REGULAR BUDGET CYCLE.
BUT WE HAVE NOT, WE ARE NOT WITH THIS BOAT MEETING, MAKING THAT DECISION SO THAT IF WE DECIDED NOT TO INCREASE YOUR TOUGH IN THE FUTURE, OR WE FELT LIKE YOU NEEDED TO MAKE CHOICES WITHIN YOUR BUDGET WITHIN YOUR MEANS, THEN YOU WOULD NEED TO DO THAT, TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO FUND THESE POSITIONS.
THAT THAT WOULD, OF COURSE BE THE OTHER OPTION.
AND WHAT HAPPENS, UM, WHAT HAPPENS TO THESE POSITIONS AT THE END OF THE BOND CYCLE? WELL, WE ANTICIPATE THE BOND CYCLE TO BE AT LEAST SIX YEARS.
AND SO BETWEEN NOW AND THEN I WOULD ANTICIPATE THAT THAT, THAT WE WOULD EITHER HAVE MORE CAPITAL PROJECT OR WE WOULD HAVE WORKED THEM INTO OUR NORMAL PROGRAM.
THAT IS TYPICALLY WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST.
UH, WE'VE HAD A DECADE OF SUCCESSFUL, UH, CAPITAL PROJECT BONDS.
AND SO, UM, HAVING FACED THAT, BUT OBVIOUSLY IF WE DON'T HAVE A WORK AND WE DON'T HAVE FUNDING FOR POSITIONS, LONG-TERM OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, UH, WE'RE AN ENTERPRISE DEPARTMENT AND WE HAVE TO CONTRACT JUST LIKE A PRIVATE BUSINESS.
UM, SO THEN I HAVE A QUESTION FOR PUBLIC WORKS AND THEN I WILL OPEN IT UP TO ANY COLLEAGUES YOU WANT TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS OR HAVE ANY THOUGHTS? UM, IS SOMEONE NOT ON MY SPEAKER PHONE AND GET OFF MY HEADSET HERE? OKAY.
DOES IT, MS. FIDANKA, IS THERE SOMEONE ELSE ON, OR WHAT DID YOU WANT TO SPEAK FOR PUBLIC WORKS? UH, THIS IS DIRECTOR MENDOZA.
I HAD SOME VISUAL CHALLENGES WITH MY PC, BUT I'M ON IN THE MEETING ON MY CELL PHONE.
SO, UM, THANK YOU, MR. MENDOZA.
SO, UM, IF YOU COULD, UM, PLEASE DESCRIBE INSTEAD OF THE EIGHT POSITIONS AND HOW THEY'RE BEING FUNDED.
THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HOW THIS WORKS FOR ATD, UM, IN THEIR MOBILITY FUND AND FOR PUBLIC WORKS BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT YOU FUND YOUR POSITIONS AND YOUR INDIRECT COSTS.
UM, SO HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON WITH YOUR POSITIONS AND ANY ADDITIONAL MONEY THAT MIGHT NEED TO COME THROUGH FEES FOR THESE POSITIONS OVER TIME.
SO OUR MID-YEAR BUDGET AMENDMENT ASKED IS FOR EIGHT, UH, POSITIONS TO SUPPORT THE LAUNCH OF THE 2020, UH, ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION BOND PROJECTS.
THEY CONSIST OF TWO PROJECT MANAGERS, WHICH WILL RE RESIDE IN OUR CAPITAL DELIVERY GROUP.
THAT GROUP IS FUNDED THROUGH AN INTERNAL SERVICE FUND CALLED THE CAPITAL PROJECTS MANAGEMENT FUND.
SO NO IMPACT TO THE TOUGH, UH, THE REMAINING POSITIONS WE HAVE TO, AS I BELIEVE ANNA, UH, DESCRIBED TWO PROJECT COORDINATORS FOR OUR SIDEWALKS TEAM, UH, AS YOU'RE AWARE, WERE, UH, SUBSTANTIALLY THROUGH THE EXECUTION OF THE 2016 AND 2018 SIDEWALK PROGRAMS. THESE TWO POSITIONS WILL HELP US PLAN FOR THE ADDITIONAL 80 MILLION FOR A NEW SIDEWALK, UH, THREE PROJECT COORDINATORS FOR URBAN TRAILS PROGRAM.
UH, THE URBAN TRAILS PROGRAM SIGNIFICANTLY, UH, RECEIVE MORE FUNDING AS WELL, 80 MILLION TO, UH, PREPARE THOSE, UH, PROJECTS FOR IMPLEMENTATION.
AND THEN ONE, UH, PROGRAM MANAGER FOR SAFE HOUSE TO SCHOOL, UH, YOU KNOW, WITH OUR REPORTS ON THE HIGH BENEFIT, HIGH COST BENEFIT PROJECTS, WE HAVE A MULTITUDE OF PROJECTS AROUND THE CITY THAT THIS PROGRAM MANAGER WILL HELP US SUCCESSFULLY PLAN FOR AND GET STARTED.
SO THESE SIX POSITIONS, THEY GUIDE IN OUR, UH, PROGRAM LEAD OFFICES AND PUBLIC WORKS.
THEY ARE GOING TO BE BILLABLE POSITIONS AT 80%.
THE OTHER 20% OF COURSE ARE THE, UM, UH, BENEFITS AND VACATION AND LEAVE.
UH, WHEN WE PUT THE PEN TO THAT, THE IMPACT TO THE TUFTS IS MINIMAL IT'S, UH, LESS THAN 1 CENT.
SO WE'LL JUST ABSORB THAT IN OUR ONGOING, UM, UH, IN THE YEAR FUND BALANCES.
UH, WE ANTICIPATE AT THE CONCLUSION OF THIS PROGRAM COUNCIL MEMBER THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ONGOING WORK EVERY YEAR.
WE DO A WORKLOAD PROJECTION WITH OUR MULTIPLE SPONSORS FOR CAPITAL DELIVERY THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
WE TYPICALLY HAVE TURNOVER IN THESE POSITIONS, UH, PER WHICH, YOU KNOW, I FEEL PRETTY COMPETENTLY.
WE COULD ABSORB, UH, TO OTHER CAPITAL PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE VARIOUS ENTERPRISES OF THE CITY.
SO THESE ARE PROJECT MANAGERS AND PROJECT COORDINATORS,
[03:40:01]
UNLIKE TRANSPORTATION, I'M NOT ASKING FOR ANY, UH, IN-HOUSE CONSTRUCTION CREWS OR IMPROVEMENT CREWS.I ALREADY HAVE A MATURE SIDEWALKS AND SPECIAL PROJECTS TEAM THAT IS STAFFED UP, AND THAT HAS BEEN, UH, SUPPORTING WITHIN HOUSE, UH, CONSTRUCTION CAPABILITY, THE VARIOUS LOCAL MOBILITY PROGRAMS. SO, UH, THAT'S WHY MY, UH, PERSONNEL ASKS IS SOMEWHAT SMALLER THAN ATDS.
UH, AND ALSO IN TERMS OF THE OPERATING BUDGET AMENDMENT, UH, THAT NUMBER IS HIGHER JUST BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT WE, UH, PROGRAM OUR COSTS.
UH, WE PREFER TO SHOW ALL THE OPERATING COSTS UPFRONT SO WE CAN TRACK THAT AGAINST THE REPORTED REVENUE TEST.
THEY ARE BILLING, UH, ON THE REVENUE SIDE, UH, THAT MAKES, UH, THAT LETS US AS MANAGERS ENSURE THAT WE'RE BEING EFFICIENT AND THAT WE'RE ACHIEVING THOSE BILLABLE HOURS FOR THIS STAFF.
UH, SO FOR, IN PUBLIC WORKS, UH, WE DO NOT ANTICIPATE ANY, UH, IMPACT TO THE TOUGH, UH, RESULTING IN AN INCREASE FROM THIS MID-YEAR BUDGET AMENDMENT OR ON SOUVENIRS.
DO YOU ANTICIPATE FURTHER INCREASES IN EMPLOYEES NEEDED FOR PUBLIC WORKS THROUGH THIS AT THIS TIME AND THROUGH THIS? UH, WE'RE PRETTY VERSATILE IN OUR PROJECT MANAGEMENT.
WE HAVE A VERY MATURE CAPITAL DELIVERY, UH, DIVISION, UH, PROJECT MANAGERS, DESIGN ENGINEERS, CONSTRUCTION INSPECTORS.
EVERY YEAR, WE GO THROUGH AN EXERCISE WHERE WE MEET WITH OUR SPONSORS WORKLOAD PROJECTIONS, UH, AND, AND THESE SKILL SETS ARE VERY TRANSFERABLE ACROSS CAPITAL PROGRAMS AND SUPPORT.
UH, WE HAVE GROWN THAT TEAM IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, BUT WE HAVE SEEN A QUITE SIZABLE INCREASE IN THE CITY'S CAPITAL PROGRAM.
IT'S ON THE ORDER OF AN ANNUAL, UM, $1.8 BILLION ON THE HORIZONTAL SIDE AND A LITTLE OVER A BILLION ON THE VERTICAL SIDE.
UH, SO WE JUST GROW THAT TEAM APPROPRIATELY TO FULLY SUPPORT THE TIMELY DELIVER DELIVERY AND QUALITY OF CAPITAL PROJECTS.
AND WE WOULD JUST CONTINUE TO DO THE SAME WITH THIS PROGRAM.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN IT UP AND SEE IF ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS THAT THEY WANT TO RAISE COUNCIL MEMBER ALICE.
I HAD COMMENTS, BUT IF OTHER HAD MORE QUESTIONS WANTED TO LEAVE SPACE FOR THAT.
UM, SO MAYBE JUST BEFORE, IF THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS MAYBE JUST BEFORE, I'LL JUST MAKE ONE, UM, COMMENT.
UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT PROJECT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, YOU KNOW, AS WE'VE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD TO DO ON THE 2016 AND 2018 BONDS, UM, I'D LIKE US TO KEEP THAT SAME LEVEL OF TRANSPARENCY.
AND AGAIN, I KNOW FOR VARIOUS REASONS WITH EVERYTHING WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THE STORM, ET CETERA, WE DIDN'T HAVE THE PRESENTATION AND I UNDERSTAND THAT CHOICE.
UM, BUT, UH, BUT I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT, THAT WE CONTINUE THAT HIGH LEVEL OF ACCOUNTABILITY, UM, AND OVERSIGHT MOVING FORWARD, UM, WOULD JUST ASK THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE MAKE SURE THAT OUR FISCAL NOTES ARE ACTUALLY READABLE, UM, FOR FOLKS TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON.
AND IF THERE IS SOMETHING LIKE AN INCREASE TO THE TOUGH THAT IS IMPLIED BY THIS DECISION, THAT IT'S VERY TRANSPARENT, UM, AS A COUNCIL, SO THAT WE CAN SEE THAT, UM, THAT BEING SAID FOR THIS, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE'RE AGREEING TO THE INCREASE, UM, IN THE TOUGH, YOU KNOW, DOWN THE LINE AND WOULD STILL LIKE TO SEE YOU, UM, SEE, YOU KNOW, HOW YOU CAN, HOW YOU CAN MANAGE THINGS.
UM, DOES ANYONE ELSE WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT BEFORE COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS? DOES THAT'S A MEMBER ELLIS? I WOULD ALSO INVITE YOU IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A MOTION AND GET A SECOND.
UM, AND THEN YOU CAN MAKE YOUR REMARKS IF YOU'D LIKE, UM, MAKE THAT MOTION.
SO COUNCIL MEMBER LS MOVES PASSAGE OF 62.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN, UM, SECONDS THAT MOTION, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.
UM, I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE PREPARATION OF THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENTS.
THIS IS A HISTORIC $460 MILLION BOND OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVED BY VOTERS LAST NOVEMBER, IN ORDER FOR US TO BE ABLE TO MEET THE SIX YEAR TIMELINE APPROVED BY VOTERS AND TO MEET THE GOALS OF MANY OF OUR APPROVED PLANNING DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING THE ASM P VISION ZERO BICYCLE MASTER PLAN SIDEWALK, MASTER PLAN, SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL, URBAN TRAILS PLAN AND THE COMMUNITY CLIMATE PLAN.
OUR APPROVAL TODAY IS AN IMPORTANT STEP IN ACHIEVING OUR GOALS AS A CITY FOR COMMUTE OPTIONS THAT ARE SAFER, MORE COST-EFFECTIVE AND MAKE OUR CITY MORE RESILIENT TO CLIMATE CHANGE.
[03:45:04]
THANK YOU.DOES ANYONE ELSE WANT TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS SEEING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND.
THAT IS UNANIMOUS ON THE DYESS COUNCIL MEMBER.
KELLY, ARE YOU VOTING? UM, SO PLEASE NOTE, UM, MAYOR ADLER, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY AND MAYOR PRO TEM, SORRY, COUNCIL MEMBER.
SO, UM, EVERYONE WHO'S ON THE DIOCESE VOTING IN FAVOR WITH MAYOR ADLER AND MAYOR PRO TEM HARPER MADISON OFF THE DIET.
AND I'M GOING TO JUST GRAB MY SCRIPT HERE FOR, I THINK, DO WE HAVE A, I'M JUST GOING TO GRAB MY SCRIPT HERE THAT THEY PRINTED ME OUT ONE SECOND, OR ARE WE ABLE TO PICK UP THE MARINES, THE NON-CONSENT PUBLIC HEARINGS BEFORE WE GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, PLEASE CERTAINLY CAN TAKE THOSE UP.
I WAS JUST TRYING TO, I JUST GOT THIS IN.
SO, UM, SO BEFORE WE GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR 68, UM, AND FOUR 83 THROUGH 86, UM, WE MAY COME OUT FOR, BEFORE WE DO 83 THROUGH 86.
UM, WE HAVE ITEMS, I BELIEVE IT'S 79 AND 80 FOR PUBLIC HEARING.
UM, DOES STAFF WANT TO INTRODUCE ITEM 79? YES, I BELIEVE WE DO HAVE STAFF ON THE LINE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL I'M SUSANA CARBO HALL.
I'M ASSISTANT DIRECTOR AT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
UH, WE ARE CONDUCTING A PUBLIC HEARING AND TO CONSIDER AN AMENDMENT TO ORDINANCE NUMBER 2019 1114 DASH ZERO SIX EIGHT, TO RECOGNIZE OTHER LOCAL INCENTIVES AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOOLS AVAILABLE, YOU KNOW, ENTERPRISE ZONE PROJECTS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO MY TOWN.
OH, IT'S JUST FELL OR YOUR, UH, NOW IT CAN HEAR YOU, SO YOU MAY WANT TO MUTE, SORRY, MS. CARBO, SHOULD I REPEAT THAT AGAIN? OR IS THAT FINISHED? FEEL FREE TO REPEAT WHATEVER THOUGHT YOU FEEL MOST COMFORTABLE WITH.
[79. Conduct a public hearing and consider an amendment to Ordinance No. 20191114-068 to recognize other local incentives and economic development tools available to qualifying enterprise zone projects.]
CARBO HALL ASSISTANT DIRECTOR WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.UH, THIS ITEM IS TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER AN AMENDMENT TO ORDINANCE NUMBER 2019 1114 DASH ZERO SIX EIGHT.
TO RECOGNIZE OTHER LOCAL INCENTIVES AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOOLS AVAILABLE TO QUALIFYING ENTERPRISE ZONE PROJECTS.
THIS IS JUST AN AMENDMENT, UH, FOR A PIECE OF, OF INCENTIVES THAT WE JUST FAIL TO DO IT IN 2019.
AND YOU DO HAVE A, IN THE BACKUP, A, UH, DRAFT ORDINANCE THAT, UH, ADDS ROAD REPAIRS TO THE LIST OF ITEMS. THANK YOU, MS. KARMA HALL.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS SARAH MOTION TO APPROVE COUNCIL MEMBER CASAR MOVES, APPROVAL COUNCIL MEMBER, KELLY SECONDS, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, ALL THOSE OPPOSED.
SO I BELIEVE WE HAVE EVERYONE ON THE DIOCESE, UM, APPROVING WITH MAYOR ADLER AND MAYOR PRO TEM HARBOR MADISON OFF, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.
ARE YOU VOTING IN FAVOR? CANCEL MY EYEBROWS.
SO THAT, THAT PASSES, UH, NINE WITH TWO OFF THE DIOCESE.
UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. CARLA HALL, UM, STAFF HERE TO PRESENT ITEM 80 AS WELL.
YES, IT'LL JUST TAKE ONE MINUTE TO MOVE THEM OVER.
[80. Conduct a public hearing and approve an ordinance adopting temporary reductions to retail water rates, authorizing the director of Austin Water to temporarily use historical average customer water use for determining retail customer bills following the recent February 2021 winter storm, exclude water use caused by the effects of the February 2021 winter storm from retail wastewater averaging calculations, administratively adjust water bills for retail customers who sustained leaking or burst pipes or otherwise sustained unusually high water bills due to the recent February 2021 winter storm, waiving the emergency water service repair cut off/on fee, and declaring an emergency.]
[03:50:06]
ITEM EIGHT IS THE AUSTIN WATER RATE UPDATES.I JUST GOT, UH, UN-MUTED AND MY VIDEO.
I'M JOSEPH GONZALEZ, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR AUSTIN WATER.
AND THIS ITEM IS TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING TEMPORARY REDUCTIONS TO REACH A WATER RATES, UH, AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF AUSTIN WATER TO TEMPORARILY USE HISTORICAL AVERAGE CUSTOMER WATER USE FOR DETERMINING A RETAIL CUSTOMER BILLS.
FOLLOWING THE RECENT FEBRUARY, 2021 WINTER STORM EVENT, UH, EXCLUDE WATER USE, UH, CAUSED BY THE EFFECTS OF THE FEBRUARY, 2021 WINTER STORM, UH, FROM RETAIL WASTEWATER AVERAGING CALCULATIONS, UM, AND TO ADMINISTRATIVELY ADJUST WATER BILLS FOR RETAIL CUSTOMERS WHO SUSTAINED, UH, LEAKING OR BURST PIPES OR OTHERWISE TO SANE, UH, UNUSUALLY HIGH WATER BILLS DUE TO THE RECENT FEBRUARY, 2021 WINTER STORM, AND FINALLY WAVERING WAVING, UM, EMERGENCY WATER SERVICE REPAIR CUTOFF, AND CUT ON FEES AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN? I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION, BUT I WILL HAVE A COMMENT BEFORE WE VOTE ON THIS.
DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? UM, MR. GONZALEZ, PERHAPS YOU CAN JUST GO OVER THE PIECE THAT WE DISCUSSED YESTERDAY AT AUSTIN WATER OVERSIGHT, UM, WITH RESPECT TO WHAT'S HAPPENING FOR FEBRUARY AND FOR MARCH, UM, SO THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND, UM, HOW IT IS WORKING WITH, UH, UM, USING THE PAST, UM, USAGE FOR FEBRUARY, BUT THEN IN MARCH, THEY'RE READING THE METER AND, AND HOW THAT, UM, IS HELPING CUSTOMERS CERTAINLY.
UM, SO THE, THE TEMPORARY RESIDENTIAL RATE BELIEF THAT, THAT WE'RE PROPOSING WOULD REDUCE, UH, VOLUMETRIC RATES FOR TIERS THREE THROUGH FIVE, A TWO, 1 CENT PER THOUSAND GALLON, AND REDUCE THE TIERED FIXED FEES.
ALSO FOR TIERS THREE THROUGH FIVE TO THE CHAIR TO RATE OF $3 AND 55 CENTS.
IT WOULD TAKE US APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS TO GET THAT CHANGE IMPLEMENTED IN OUR BILLING SYSTEM.
AND SO WE'RE LOOKING TO ALIGN, UH, THE EFFECTIVE DATES FOR THOSE RATES WITH, UM, THE, UM, WITH THE USE OF ACTUAL METER READS BEGINNING, UH, FOR BILL CYCLES THAT WOULD READ DURING THAT TIME PERIOD IN THE INTERIM, WE WOULD USE, UH, ESTIMATED READS TO ENSURE THAT OUR CUSTOMERS RECEIVE BILLS THAT ARE CONSISTENT WITH THEIR NORMAL EXPECTED CONSUMPTION, UH, YOU KNOW, BETWEEN NOW AND THEN THE LAST METER READS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO RECEIVE.
UH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE LEAVING ON FEBRUARY 13TH, PRIOR TO FEBRUARY 12TH, UH, PRIOR TO THE WINTER STORM EVENT.
AND, AND SO THOSE METER READINGS WERE THE LAST METER READS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO OBTAIN AND BILL USING ACTUAL READS, UM, AS A RESULT WHERE WE WERE PROPOSING THE USE OF ESTIMATED READS, UH, TO, UM, TO AGAIN, UH, PUSH, YOU KNOW, HIGH LEVELS OF CONSUMPTION RESULTING FROM THE WINTER STORM INTO THE NEXT BILLING PERIOD, YOU KNOW, BEGINNING, MARCH 19TH.
UM, AND, AND THAT CONSUMPTION WOULD THEN BE BILLED AT, AT, YOU KNOW, ANY, ANY EXCESS OR HIGH CONSUMPTION OF ABOUT 6,000 GALLONS, UH, WHICH IS OUR AVERAGE LEVEL OF CONSUMPTION OR AVERAGE ANNUAL LEVEL OF RESIDENTIAL CONSUMPTION AND CONSUMPTION ABOVE THAT LEVEL WOULD THEN BE BILLED AT 1 CENT PER THOUSAND GALLONS.
SO, YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, IF A CUSTOMER SUSTAINED A, UM, EVEN EVEN A HUNDRED THOUSAND GALLON LEAK, UH, THE, THE 94,000 GALLONS ABOVE 6,000 GALLONS WOULD END UP BEING BILLED AT 1 CENT PER THOUSAND GALLONS OR EVEN TOTAL OF 94 CENTS.
UM, SO, UH, THIS WOULD MITIGATE THE POTENTIAL HIGH IMPACT, UH, THAT OUR CUSTOMERS MIGHT SEE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OF OUR INCLINING CONSERVATION BASED RATE STRUCTURE.
UM, YOU KNOW, UH, FOR EXAMPLE, AN AVERAGE BILL, UH, OR A, FOR A CUSTOMER WHO MIGHT'VE SUSTAINED 50,000 GALLON LEAK.
UM, LET ME PULL THAT UP REAL QUICK, UM, WOULD HAVE BEEN AROUND $500, $510 FOR I'M SORRY, FOR 40,000, UH, GALLONS OF CONSUMPTION THAT MIGHT'VE BEEN IMPACTED BY A LEAK AND UNDER THE PROPOSED RATES, UH, THE BILL FOR THAT LEVEL OF CONSUMPTION AT THE 1 CENT PER THOUSAND GALLONS WOULD, WOULD END UP BEING $44 AND 16 CENTS FOR CUSTOMERS WHO ARE NOT ENROLLED IN OUR CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, IF IT WERE A CAP CUSTOMER THAT BILL FOR THE SAME, YOU KNOW, LEVEL OF CONSUMPTION,
[03:55:01]
40,000 GALLONS RESULTING FROM A LEAK, UH, WOULD, WOULD BE BUILT ABOUT $19 AND 40 CENTS.SO IT'S THE COMBINATION OF USING THE HISTORICAL AVERAGING FOR THIS FILLING PERIOD WITH READING THE METERS FOR THE NEXT PERIOD, AND THEN ADJUSTING THE CHARGES.
SO YOU CAN'T BE CHARGED FOR MORE THAN 6,000 GALLONS EFFECTIVELY AT THE NORMAL RATES THAT'S GOING TO PROVIDE THE RELIEF.
SO THE END GOAL IS TO ENSURE THAT OUR CUSTOMERS DON'T RECEIVE ANY HIGH BILLS ASSOCIATED WITH UNUSUALLY HIGH LEVELS OF CONSUMPTION, THAT THE WERE ABLE TO, TO CAP THAT AGAIN, AND OUR AVERAGE ANNUAL LEVEL OF CONSUMPTION, UM, AND IN THE INTERIM, YOU KNOW, PROVIDE ESTIMATED BILLS THAT WOULD AGAIN BE CONSISTENT WITH THE NORMAL EXPECTED LEVEL OF CONSUMPTION FOR, FOR OUR INDIVIDUAL CUSTOMERS, UM, UNTIL WE'RE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THOSE RATES INTO OUR BILLING SYSTEM.
I APPRECIATE THE CLARIFICATION COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN.
DID YOU STILL WANT, WELL, NO, I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT THAT, UM, AND, AND MR. GONZALEZ GOT, GOT TO THAT.
Y'ALL APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION YESTERDAY AND THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COUNCIL AND THE, UM, UH, WATER OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE TO HAVE A THOROUGH DISCUSSION OF THE FINANCIAL RELIEF THAT THE, UM, THAT AUSTIN WATER IS BRINGING FORWARD.
AND THIS IS A KEY PIECE OF IT BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WORRIED ABOUT THEIR BILLS.
AND SO THANK YOU FOR THIS CLARIFICATION, WITH THIS TWO-STEP PROCESS, UH, IT'S DESIGNED TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT HARMED BY THE IMPACT OF A WATER LEAKAGE OR THE IMPACT OF THE STORM, UH, WITH REGARD TO THEIR WATER RATES AND THEIR WATER BILLS.
SO, UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.
UM, CITY MANAGER OR DIRECTOR MS. DORIS, WAS THERE ANYTHING YOU WANTED TO ADD BEFORE WE VOTE ON THIS? I JUST WANT TO APPRECIATE THE QUICK WORK OF STAFF BECAUSE THEY ANTICIPATED THAT THIS MIGHT BE IMPACTING PEOPLE'S BILLS AND DEFINITELY WANT TO GET IN FRONT OF THIS BEFORE THAT CAN HAPPEN.
AND SO THE QUICK WORK TO BRING IT TO YOUR ATTENTION TODAY FOR, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, UH, WAS WELCOMING.
SO THANK YOU, DIRECTOR AND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR.
UM, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE 80 COUNCIL MEMBER, KITCHEN MOVES, APPROVAL COUNCIL MEMBER, RENTER, MARIA, SECOND SPOT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.
SO EVERYONE ON THE DYESS APPROVES, THAT'S NINE I'M IN FAVOR AND TWO OFF THE DYESS.
AND I THINK THAT, UM, THE, THE LAST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA, UM, FOR, UM, OUTSIDE OF EXECUTIVE SESSION IS ITEM 68.
[68. Approve a resolution consenting to a proposed borrowing transaction by Austin Convention Enterprises, Inc. under the terms of the federal Paycheck Protection Program. (Part 2 of 2)]
UM, I BELIEVE WE WANT TO GO IN FOR ITEM 68, DO OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION AND THEN COME OUT AND VOTE ON IT.UM, AND THEN WE'LL GO BACK TO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR 83, 84, 85 AND 86.
IS THAT CORRECT? SO THAT THE STAFF CAN GO HOME? WHO, WHO ARE, WHO ARE RELATED TO 68? IS THAT THE PREFERENCE? UM, IF I COULD JUST REQUEST A FIVE MINUTE RECESS BEFORE WE GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION, CERTAINLY.
UM, MS. MORGAN, DO I HAVE THAT RIGHT BEFORE I HAVE TO READ THE DIRECTION FOR GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, BUT OTHERWISE, DO I HAVE THAT CORRECT? YES, THAT'S CORRECT.
MY UNDERSTANDING WAS, UH, I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE 68 IN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND COME BACK OUT.
AND I DID SEND JUST GROUP THAT JUST HAS 68.
UM, IF THAT'S, UH, I HAVE, I HAVE ONE THAT HAS BOTH, BUT I THINK I CAN FIGURE THAT PART OUT.
SO, UM, SO THE CITY COUNCIL WILL NOW GO INTO CLOSED SESSION TO TAKE UP ONE ITEM PURSUANT TO SECTION FIVE, FIVE ONE SEVEN.
ONE OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL DISCUSS LEGAL MATTERS RELATED TO ITEM 68.
I RESOLUTION CONSENTING TO A PROPOSED BOWERING TRANSACTION BY AUSTIN CONVENTION ENTERPRISES INCORPORATED UNDER THE TERMS OF THE FEDERAL CASE CHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM.
UM, IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THE ITEM ANNOUNCED HEARING NONE, THE COUNCIL WILL NOW GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
UM, WE WILL RECONVENE ABOUT, UM, THREE 30 TWO-ISH OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, UM, SO THAT WE CAN HAVE FIVE MINUTES BREAK IN BETWEEN.
WE'RE OUT OF CLOSED SESSION WHILE WE WERE IN CLOSED SESSION, WE DISCUSSED, UH, LEGAL MATTERS RELATED ITEM 68.
UM, WE ARE NOW BACK, I THINK THERE'S ONE ITEM LEFT ON THE AGENDA AND THAT IS ITEM NUMBER 68.
UH, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 68 COUNCIL MEMBER AT THREE? IT MAKES THE MOTION
[04:00:01]
COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS SECONDS.IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION THAT WAS A MEMBER? I'M SORRY.
DID YOU SAY ME MAYOR? OKAY, GREAT.
UM, I'VE RECEIVED A LOT OF INQUIRIES ABOUT THIS FROM RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT SIX, AS WELL AS ALL OVER THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND EVEN FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE, IT'S NOT PROVIDED AS INFORMATION POSTED ON THIS AGENDA ITEM IS THAT IT PERTAINS TO A FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER WHO WAS APPOINTED BY A VOLUNTEER BOARD.
THE WORK PERFORMED BY THIS NEW PRESIDENT WAS HISTORICALLY PERFORMED BY A THIRD PARTY CONSULTANT IN THE PAST.
AND THIS NEW POSITION IS A 20 HOUR WORK WEEK PAID AT $140,000 A YEAR.
STICK IN COLLEAGUES WHO'VE RAISED THESE QUESTIONS, I'LL HAVE THEM AS YOU DO, BUT REST ASSURED WE'RE LOOKING INTO THIS ISSUE AND INTEND ON GETTING ANSWERS OUTSIDE OF THIS AGENDA ITEM THAT WILL NOT BE RAISED TODAY.
AND BEFORE I BEGIN MY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEM, I'D LIKE CITY LEGAL TO CONFIRM THAT THE ITEM WE ARE DISCUSSING TODAY REGARDING THE PPP LOAN APPROVAL WILL NOT ALLOW THE PPP LOAN TO COVER THE $140,000 SALARY, THE PRESIDENT OF AUSTIN CONVENTION ENTERPRISES, CITY LEGAL.
CAN YOU CONFIRM THAT FOR US PLEASE? OKAY.
AND WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO DO THAT? SURE.
LEE CRAWFORD CITY LAW DEPARTMENT AND COUNCIL MEMBER.
I CAN CONFIRM THAT THE, UM, THE ADMINISTRATIVE SALARY COST FOR THE ACE ORGANIZATION ITSELF WERE NOT PART OF THE PPP LOAN CALCULATION AND WILL NOT BE, UM, UH, WILL NOT.
AND THE PPP LOAN PROCEEDS WOULD NOT BE USED TO OFFSET ANY OF THAT SALARY PAYMENT.
UH, I'M NOT SURE IF YOU ARE IN, COULD, COULD ANSWER THIS, BUT IN THE RESOLUTION THAT WAS PUT BEFORE US TODAY, IT STATES THAT OTHER ELIGIBLE EXPENSES ARE COVERED.
COULD YOU GIVE US SOME EXAMPLES OF WHAT THOSE OTHER ELIGIBLE EXPENSES MIGHT BE? UH, YES.
I THINK WE INCLUDED SOME INFORMATION THAT WE HAD GOTTEN FROM A S IN, UH, IN THE Q AND A RESPONSE FOR THIS ITEM THAT LISTED A COUPLE OF THOSE TYPES OF ELIGIBLE EXPENSES.
AND I AM SEARCHING FOR THAT RIGHT NOW.
UM, SO IF YOU'LL BEAR WITH ME FOR JUST A MOMENT, UM, AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE, UH, EXPENSES SUCH AS UTILITY COSTS AT THE HOTEL OR INSURANCE COSTS AT THE HOTEL.
UH, THOSE WOULD BE AN EXAMPLES OF THE OTHER TYPES OF ELIGIBLE EXPENSES IN ADDITION TO PAYROLL EXPENSES THAT COULD BE, UH, UH, UH, A USE OF THE PPP LOAN PROCEEDS.
UM, IN THE RESOLUTION, IT STATES THE EXPENSES COVERED WOULD NOT BE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF COSTS, WHICH I MENTIONED EARLIER.
COULD YOU EDUCATE US ON WHAT THE OPERATING EXPENSES OF THE FRONTLINE HOTEL STAFF ARE THAT WOULD BE COVERED BY THIS PPP LOAN? UH, YEAH, THAT WOULD BE THE, UM, UH, THE HOURLY WAGE, UH, WAGES PAID TO HOTEL WORKERS, THE EMPLOYEES OF THE HOTEL, UH, AND COULD ALSO BE USED TO COVER, UH, I BELIEVE, UM, UH, UM, EMPLOYEE BENEFIT OF THOSE HOTEL WORKERS AS WELL.
UM, UH, FORMULATION OF WHAT THE PAYROLL COSTS HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST AND POTENTIALLY I THINK WHAT THE IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC HAS BEEN ON THE HOTEL STAFF, HOW MANY PEOPLE THEY'VE LOST, UH, DUE TO ECONOMIC CONDITIONS ARISING FROM THE PANDEMIC.
SO I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT.
I KNOW THAT, UH, WHEN, IF, AND WHEN, UM, ACE GETS TO THE POINT WHERE THEY WOULD ACTUALLY SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO A BANK FOR THE PPP LOAN, THEY WOULD WORK OUT THAT CALCULATION AT THAT TIME.
BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS AT THIS POINT TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH.
CIRCLE BACK AND LET US KNOW WHAT THAT WOULD BE.
UM, AND THE SECOND PART IS JUST WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE PPP LOAN.
YEAH, SO THE PPP LOAN PROCEEDS, IF APPROVED THEN WOULD FLOW, UH, INTO A, UH, AN OPERATING EXPENSE ACCOUNT THAT IS ADMINISTERED BY OVER, UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE TRUSTEE OF, UH, OF THE ACE BOND, INDENTURE, WHICH IS US BANK AND TRUST OUT OF MINNEAPOLIS.
AND THEY WOULD HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ENSURING THAT ALL OF THE, ALL OF THE FUNDS THAT ARE GENERATED FROM, UH, THE, UH, THE HOTEL OPERATIONS, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE THESE PPP LOAN FUNDS ARE USED FOR APPROPRIATE PURPOSES IN ACCORD WITH THE BOND INDENTURE,
[04:05:02]
BUT AT AUSTIN CONVENTION ENTERPRISES, THAT WOULD BE THE PRESIDENT'S ROLE TO OVERSEE THE ADMINISTRATION OF THAT.AND ACTUALLY THE PRESIDENT WOULD HAVE VERY, VERY LITTLE TO DO WITH THAT BECAUSE UNDER THE TERMS OF THE BOND INDENTURE COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ADMINISTERING ALL OF THE REVENUES THAT COME INTO ACE BY VIRTUE OF OPERATING THE HOTEL, THE, UH, THE OVERALL OVERSIGHT OF THOSE IS THE CHARGE OF THE TRUSTEE.
THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT.
MY LAST QUESTION IS, UH, GOES BACK TO A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT YOU SAID EARLIER ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF COVID ON THE REDUCTION IN WORKFORCE AT ACE.
AND I WAS WONDERING IF YOU KNOW, HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE LAID OFF AND OVER WHAT TIME PERIOD, OR HOW MANY HOURS WERE REDUCED, UM, THE, SORT OF THE, THE SEQUENCE AND THE TIMING OF STAFF REDUCTIONS AT THE HOTEL.
UH, THE INFORMATION THAT WE RECEIVED FROM ACE WAS THAT PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC, THERE WERE A BIT OVER 500 TOTAL EMPLOYEES AT THE HOTEL.
AND AS A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC, UH, THEY'VE HAD TO WINNOW DOWN THEIR HEAD COUNT THERE TOO, A LITTLE BIT UNDER 200 TOTAL EMPLOYEES SORT OF LOST ABOUT 60% OF THE WORKFORCE.
THAT'S ALL THAT I HAVE RIGHT NOW.
NO, THERE ARE A LOT OF INDUSTRIES THAT HAVE BEEN HIT REALLY HARD BY COVID IN OUR CITY.
AND PROBABLY ONE OF THE ONE THAT WAS HIT, THE HARDEST THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING THE MOST DIFFICULTY GETTING DIRECT RELIEF TO IS THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY.
WE HAVE SO MANY WORKERS, UH, HOURLY WORKERS, UH, IN THAT, UH, INDUSTRY.
AND I REALLY DO APPRECIATE, UH, ALL OF THE EMPLOYERS IN THIS CITY THAT HAVE REALLY STRUGGLED TO KEEP AS MANY OF THOSE EMPLOYEES PAID AND ON THE PAYROLL AND RECEIVING BENEFITS AS IS AS, AS, AS, AS POSSIBLE.
AND I KNOW, UM, UH, SOME OF THEM SAW THE, THE, THE PE PP, UH, B UH, PROTECTIONS, UH, THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MADE AVAILABLE.
AND I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THE CITY DOING ITS PART TO HELP FACILITATE THESE HOURLY EMPLOYEES GETTING PAID AND GETTING THEIR BENEFITS AS MUCH AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
I HAVE A FEW FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS, UH, TO COUNCIL MEMBER KELLYS.
I'M NOT SURE WHETHER THIS IS FOR MR. CRAWFORD OR FOR THE SPONSOR, BUT I WANT TO BE SURE, UM, IN THE Q AND A, IN THE Q AND A, UM, I HAD ASKED ABOUT THE USE FOR ELIGIBLE EXPENSES, AND I UNDERSTAND MR. CRAWFORD, WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, AND THE ANSWER CAME BACK UP TO 40% CAN BE USED FOR OTHER ELIGIBLE EXPENSES BEYOND PAYROLL, LIKE UTILITY COSTS OR INSURANCE.
UM, BUT THE FIRST LINE INDICATES THAT ACE TENDS TO USE A HUNDRED PERCENT FOR FRONTLINE WORKERS.
SO I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT THOUGH 40% OF THIS LOAN COULD BE USED FOR UTILITY COSTS AND INSURANCE.
AND I ASSUME THAT WOULD BE INSURANCE OF ANY OF THEIR EMPLOYEES THAT A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THESE ARE GOING TO BE FOR, FOR PAYROLL FOR THOSE FRONTLINE WORKERS.
I DON'T HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON THAT BEYOND, UH, THE INFORMATION WE GOT FROM A, WHICH IS WHAT APPEARED IN THE Q AND A REPORT.
SO I DON'T KNOW THAT I HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL KIND OF AMPLIFICATION OF THAT INFORMATION.
WE'D BE, WE'D BE HAPPY TO, UH, REACH OUT TO ACE AND SEE IF WE CAN FIND OUT ANY MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE INTENDED USE OF THE PROCEEDS.
UM, I THINK THAT, I THINK THAT WE MIGHT HAVE A CONVERSATION HERE TODAY ABOUT WHAT, UM, WHAT KIND OF FOLLOW-UP WE WOULD LIKE US TO DO WITH REGARD TO THE COUNCIL AND, AND ADDITIONAL COMMUNICATIONS.
AND SO THAT, THAT CERTAINLY FALLS INTO THAT LINE.
LET ME JUST SAY THAT MY ASSUMPTION AND IN OUR CONSIDERATION TODAY IS THAT, THAT THIS A FIRM COMMITMENT, UM, FROM ACE, THAT THEY ARE INTENDING TO USE THE PPP LOAN FOR FRONTLINE WORKERS AND NOT EXPENSES LIKE UTILITY COSTS AND EXPENSES THAT MIGHT BE ELIGIBLE UNDER THE FEDERAL, BUT ARE, ARE NOT, UM, BEF SEEM TO BE NOT, NOT THE INTENT AS IT'S BEEN EXPRESSED IN THE RESPONSES TO THESE QUESTIONS, UM, BY FRONTLINE WORKERS.
I AM ASSUMING THOSE, UM, WELL, UM, BUT THE SPONSOR WHO BROUGHT THIS FORWARD COUNCIL MEMBER KASAI, CAUSE YOU PLEASE INDICATE, ARE YOU PRIMARILY RESPONDING? ARE YOU PRIMARILY TALKING ABOUT, UM, THOSE NON-MANAGERIAL EMPLOYEES OF THE HOTEL
[04:10:02]
THAT'S RIGHT.MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THAT'S THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE STAFF AND THAT THE BPP LOAN IS TO MAKE SURE THAT NO MORE, UH, OR AS FEW AS POSSIBLE, UH, FRONTLINE STAFF, HOUSEKEEPERS COOKS, UH, LOBBY STAFF THAT THEY DON'T, UM, ALSO GET FOR A LOADER LAW.
UM, MR. CRAWFORD, COULD YOU TALK ABOUT LIABILITY, UM, AND HOW IT WOULD FIT INTO THIS EQUATION? IF THERE, YOU KNOW, I, I FULLY EXPECT, UM, AS THE RESPONSE INDICATED TO MY QUESTION THAT THAT ACE AND THE HILTON, AND TEND TO MEET THE THRESHOLD, THE REQUIREMENTS FOR LOAN FORGIVENESS.
AND SO THERE WOULD BE, THERE WOULD NOT BE A REPAYMENT REQUIRED UNDER THE, UNDER THE FEDERAL GUIDELINES, UM, WHERE THE UNEXPECTED TO HAPPEN.
AND, AND THERE IS A DEFAULT ON THAT LOAN OR, OR THAT IT'S NOT FORGIVABLE AND THERE NEEDS TO BE A PAYMENT.
CAN YOU CONFIRM THAT THE CITY WOULD NOT BE LIABLE FOR THAT DEBT? I CAN CONFIRM COUNCIL MEMBER THAT THE CITY WOULD NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DEFAULT ON THE PPP LOAN.
UM, AND I SAY THAT LARGELY, UH, FOR, FOR THREE REASONS, UH, AND TO TAKE A STEP BACK, I JUST REMIND EVERYBODY THAT THE OSS CONVENTION ENTERPRISES INC, IS A SEPARATE ENTITY FROM THE CITY.
IT'S A NONPROFIT CORPORATION ESTABLISHED UNDER TEXAS LAW BASED ON THE AUTHORITY OF A SPECIAL PART OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE THAT PROVIDES FOR THESE PUBLIC FACILITY CORPORATIONS AND THAT LAW STATE LAW THAT CREATES THESE, THE PUBLIC FACILITY CORPORATIONS LIKE ACE PROVIDES THAT THEY ARE SEPARATE FROM THE SPONSORING ENTITY, WHICH IS THE CITY IN THIS CASE FOR LEGAL PURPOSES.
AND ALSO, UH, THAT THEY HAVE THEIR OWN SEPARATE AND INDEPENDENT AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO CONTRACTS WITH THIRD PARTIES.
AND ALSO THEY HAVE SEPARATE AND INDEPENDENT, UH, RESPONSIBILITIES, UH, TO SUE AND BE SUED UNDER THOSE CONTRACTS IF THEY DON'T PERFORM.
SO FROM A STATE LAW PERSPECTIVE, A AND THE ACE OPERATIONS ARE LEGALLY DISTINCT FROM THE CITY AND THE CITY WOULD NOT HAVE ANY OBLIGATION, UH, THEREFORE FOR THE DEATHS OF A THIRD PARTY ENTITY LIKE ACE.
UH, SECOND THING THAT I'D REMIND THE COUNCIL OF IS THAT IN THE, THE GOVERNING FOUNDATIONAL DOCUMENTS FOR A PARTICULAR, THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION, UH, THOSE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION PROVIDES SPECIFICALLY THAT, UH, THAT THE CITY IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY OF THE DEBTS OF HAYES.
UH, THE PART OF THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION THAT I REFER TO AS A SENTENCE THAT SAYS THE CORPORATION, WHICH IS A S SHALL HAVE NO POWER TO, AND SHALL NOT CREATE ANY CHARGE OR INDEBTEDNESS AGAINST THE FULL FAITH CREDIT OR TAXING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY.
SO IN THE FOUNDATIONAL DOCUMENT THAT THE CITY USED TO ESTABLISH A CASE, WE MADE CLEAR THAT ACE DOES NOT HAVE THE LEGAL ABILITY TO COMMIT THE CITY OR TO BIND THE CITY TO ANY AGREEMENT.
AND THEN THE THIRD THING THAT I'D REFERRED THE COUNCIL TO THERE IS, UH, AT LEAST, UH, IS OUR, OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE PPP, UM, UH, TRANSACTION THE WAY IT IS CONTEMPLATED BY AES, WHICH IS THAT ACE WOULD BE LISTED AS THE APPLICANT ON THE APPLICATION FOR THE PPP LOAN.
THEY WOULD EXECUTE THE PROMISSORY NOTE TO REPAY THE, UM, UH, THE LOAN INDEBTEDNESS, UM, SUBJECT TO THE FORGIVENESS PROVISIONS.
ACE HAS NOT REQUESTED THAT THE CITY BE A PARTY TO THAT LOAN TRANSACTION, NOR THAT HAVE THEY REQUESTED THAT THE CITY INDEMNIFY THEM OR GUARANTEE THAT ACE WOULD PAY IT.
SO THERE'S NO CONTRACTUAL, UH, UH, LIABILITY FOR THE CITY IN THIS SITUATION EITHER.
SO FOR THOSE THREE REASONS, WE FEEL LIKE IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT THE CITY WOULD NOT HAVE ANY LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY IN THE EVENT THAT THE, UM, THE PPP LOAN, IF GRANTED, UH, WAS, UM, UH, WAS NOT REPAID BY ACE.
THANK YOU, MR. CRAWFORD, YOU ARE MUTED MAYOR, BUT I THINK YOU CALL IT A COUNCIL MEMBER.
I JUST WANT TO GO BACK TO, UM, THANK YOU TO THE INTENT, TO, UH, USE THE DOLLARS FOR, TO SUPPORT THE FRONTLINE WORKERS, WHICH I THINK IS, UM, IS SOMETHING THAT I WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT.
I AM WONDERING, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CRUSOE, I DON'T SEE THAT IN YOUR RESOLUTION WITH THAT BEING THE INTENT, WOULD YOU CONSIDER IT TO BE FRIENDLY, TO ADD, UH, SOME PHRASE TO THE EFFECT, UM, UH, PROVIDED THAT THE PPE LOAN IS USED TO SUPPORT FRONTLINE WORKERS? THAT'S FINE WITH ME BECAUSE
[04:15:01]
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I THINK FOR PPP LOANS HAVE TO DO, BUT, BUT, UH, THAT LOOKS LIKE THE LAW MIGHT HAVE A COMMENT ON THAT AND CONCEPTUALLY A COUNCIL MEMBER, I THINK THAT'S CERTAINLY IN LINE WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT WE HAVE FROM ACE ABOUT THEIR INTENT FOR THE USE OF THE LOAN PROCEEDS.UH, I WOULD ALSO REMIND THE COUNCIL THAT HOW FUNDS THAT COME INTO A, UM, REGARDLESS OF THEIR SOURCE ARE USED AND ADMINISTERED ARE SUBJECT TO THE TERMS OF THE BOND INDENTURE, UM, THAT ESTABLISHES THE FINANCING STRUCTURE FOR ACE.
AND SO IF YOU WANTED TO GO THE DIRECTION THAT YOU'RE SUGGESTING COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN, I WOULD ALSO INCLUDE THE PHRASE, UH, YOU KNOW, TO THE EXTENT CONSISTENT WITH THE BOND, THE ACE BOND INDENTURE, UH, YEAH, I'M FINE WITH THAT.
I JUST, YOU KNOW, THIS RESOLUTION IS, UH, IS THE COUNCIL GIVING OUR CONSENT.
AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, SO WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY WITH REGARD TO OUR CONSENT.
AND SO, UM, I, I, THAT'S WHY I WANNA MAKE IT CLEAR IN WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON THAT OUR CONSENT IS ON THE USE OF THESE DOLLARS FOR FRONTLINE WORKERS, WHICH I UNDERSTAND TO BE THE INTENT, THE PHRASE THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
SO IT'D BE PROVIDED THAT THE PPE LOAN PROCEEDS ARE USED TO SUPPORT FRONTLINE WORKERS.
AND WHAT WAS THE LAST 14 YEARS TO THE EXTENT CONSISTENT WITH THE BOND INDENTURE? WHAT ABOUT TO THE EXTENT REQUIRED BY THE BOND? INDENTURE, MAY I MAKE A SUGGESTION ON WORDING? I JUST TYPED IT OUT HERE.
IT WOULD JUST BE RIGHT AT THE VERY END OF THE RESOLUTION, JUST ADDING THE WORKERS TO SUPPORT FRONTLINE WORKERS IN A COURT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE BOND INDENTURE.
THAT WORKS IN ACCORDANCE IS TO MY MIND AS REQUIRED BY THAT MAKES SENSE THAT OKAY, LEE, YEAH, THAT WORKS FOR US IS IN ACCORDANCE THE SAME THING AS SUBJECT TO IN MY MIND, IT WOULD BE MAYOR WOULD BE SYNONYMOUS.
WOULD YOU WANT TO INCLUDE, UH, THAT IT CAN ALSO BE USED FOR UTILITY COSTS OR INSURANCE? NO, THAT'S EXACTLY MY POINT IS THAT I WANT TO USE FOR DIRECTLY FOR THE FRONTLINE WORKERS NOW, UNLESS THE BOND AND INTERNS CHOIR AND SOMETHING DIFFERENT, IF I MIGHT SUGGEST THERE'S SOME LANGUAGE IN ONE OF THE, WHEREAS IS THAT YOU MIGHT INCORPORATE THE PROCEEDS OF THE LOAN WOULD BENEFIT FRONTLINE HOTEL WORKERS AT THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN HILTON BY COVERING PAYROLL EXPENSES FOR SUCH WORKERS.
UM, AND, AND THAT, WHEREAS WENT ON TO SAY, AND WOULD BE USED FOR OTHER ELIGIBLE EXPENSES.
IT SOUNDS AS IF, UM, THROUGH OUR CONVERSATION, WE ARE MOVING TOWARD A PLACE WHERE WE DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT.
AND IT ALSO SAYS IT WOULD NOT BE USED FOR ACE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.
SO I THINK THAT WHEREAS TRANSFORMED INTO A, INTO THE, BE IT FOR THE RESOLVED WITH THE CLAUSE THAT, UM, LEE MENTIONED IS, IS SORT OF CAPTURES THE INTENT.
CAN, CAN I ASK A QUESTION AND I I'M GOOD WITH, WITH PUTTING IN THERE, CAN'T BE USED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS, BUT IF THEY CAN GET A HIGHER, ALL HOTELS ARE REALLY HURTING RIGHT NOW, INCLUDING THIS ONE.
AND IF THEY CAN GET A GREATER LOAN, THAT'S POTENTIALLY FORGIVABLE THAT WOULD HELP OFFSET SOME OF THE UTILITY AND INSURANCE COSTS AFTER HOPEFULLY THEY HAVE EXHAUSTED THE POSSIBILITY OF TRYING TO GIVE THE GREATEST AMOUNT OF PROTECTION TO FRONTLINE EMPLOYEES.
WHY WOULD WE WANT TO LIMIT OUR HOTEL FROM GETTING ADDITION, OUR HOTEL OPERATION FROM GETTING ADDITIONAL DOLLARS TO HELP OFFSET OTHER COSTS WITH WHAT MIGHT BE A FORGIVABLE LOAN, BUT MAY I SPEAK TO THAT MAYOR? YEAH, YEAH, NO.
I MEAN, MY INTENT IS TO ENSURE THAT ALL THE DOLLARS THAT POSSIBLY CAN BE USED ARE USED FOR FRONTLINE WORKERS.
THAT IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET DONE.
SO I DON'T, I DON'T WANT US TO HAVE A HIGHER AMOUNT AND DECIDE WE'RE GOING TO GIVE SOME TO SOME, YOU KNOW, USE SOME FOR SOMETHING ELSE WHEN IT COULD BE USED FOR FRONTLINE WORKERS.
I WOULD AGREE WITH, I WONDER IF IT WAS A WAY OF, FIRST OF ALL, WITH WORDING THAT SAID EVERYTHING WE CAN GET THAT WILL PUT THE FRONT, I WORKERS WE'LL DO THAT FIRST.
AND THEN IF YOU CAN GET SOME ADDITIONAL TO HELP WITH UTILITY COSTS OR INSURANCE OR OTHER EXPENSES, NOT INCLUDING ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES, THEN, THEN, THEN DO THAT.
BUT THE FIRST PRIORITY HAS TO BE, TO SPEND IT ON FRONT LINE.
THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT ALLOWABLE ON FRONTLINE WORKERS.
[04:20:01]
BUT I WOULDN'T WANT TO LIMIT THE ENTIRE LOAN TO JUST THAT IN CASE AFTER THEY DO THAT, THEY CAN STILL GET SOME MORE FOR THESE OTHER THINGS.THAT'S IN LINE WITH WHAT I WAS AT MY INTENT THAT WAS AMERICA STAR.
AND I THINK THAT'S THE INTENT OF THE LANGUAGE EACH IS DESCRIBED IF WE DON'T ELIMINATE ELIGIBLE EXPENSES, BUT SAY THAT ITS PURPOSE IS TO SUPPORT FRONTLINE WORKERS.
I WOULD ALSO BE OKAY WITH LANGUAGE THAT SAID AT THE END, INSTEAD OF THE LANGUAGE WE DESCRIBED EARLIER TO SAY THE AMOUNT OF ALLOWABLE BEING SPENT TO SUPPORT FRONTLINE WORKERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE BOMBING, THAT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO ME.
UM, SO LET'S PUT THAT ON THE TABLE AND THEN PEOPLE CAN PLAY WITH IT.
SO, UH, KINDA SPARK A STAR MOVES THAT AMENDMENT.
IS THERE A SECOND TO THE AMENDMENT THAT COUNTS LIKE A, SORRY, JUST MAY, UM, YOU KNOW, MAYOR, THAT WAS MY AMENDMENT, UH, YOU KNOW, IF HE WANTS, WANTS TO DO FINE, THAT'S FINE.
SO ANN MAKES THE AMENDMENT WITH THE LAST LANGUAGE THAT GREG JUST SAID, YES.
DID YOU GET THAT LANGUAGE AND MORGAN, THE LAST LANGUAGE THAT GREG SAID ADD ON TO THE, TO THE END OF THE SENTENCE, LETTER TO COUNSEL WITH THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT ALLOWABLE BEING SPENT TO SUPPORT FRONTLINE WORKERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE BOND DENTURES.
THE KITCHEN MAKES THAT AMENDMENT SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM, COUNCIL MEMBER POOL.
THIS RAISES CONCERNS THAT I HAVE ABOUT THE STATUS OF THE FINANCES FOR THE HILTON HOTEL FOR ACE.
AND, UM, WE, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY BECAUSE OF COVID, BUT ALSO FOR OTHER REASONS, POTENTIALLY WE DIDN'T HAVE MUCH ROBUST REPORTING AT ALL FROM S UH, IN 2020.
AND I, I, I LITERALLY CAN'T REMEMBER WHEN, UH, ACE CAME TO THE COUNCIL TO GET ANY REPORTS.
AND I, I WENT THROUGH MY EMAILS AND I COULDN'T FIND ANY EMAIL STATUS REPORTS.
UH, I DO NOT REMEMBER, UH, PROVING THEIR BUDGET DURING OUR, OUR BUDGET, UH, PROCEEDINGS, UM, WHICH I'VE NOW DONE SIX TIMES.
SO I'VE, UH, RAISED THE ISSUE WITH THE CHAIR OF AUDIT AND FINANCE, UH, AS THE VICE CHAIR.
AND, UM, UH, I'M HOPING THAT THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE WILL BE AGREEABLE TO BEING THE, UM, THE VENUE FOR US TO HEAR FROM THE BOARD, OUR TRUSTEES, I HAVEN'T MET MR. SCHMANCE.
UM, HE IS THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD.
NOW WE APPOINTED HIM AND TWO OTHERS.
UM, MS. THOMAS AND MS. GREENBERG, UH, TWO YEARS AGO, I THINK, WAS IT 2019? AND WE HAVE TWO VACANCIES.
SO I THINK AUDIT AND FINANCE HAS VERY, DEFINITELY A ROLE, NOT ONLY IN, UM, LOOKING AT THE FINANCIALS, WHICH I THINK WE ALL WOULD BE INTERESTED IN, PARTICULARLY SINCE CLEARLY, THERE ARE SOME CONCERNS FINANCIALLY ABOUT THE VIABILITY OF THE HOTEL, SINCE WE ARE LOOKING FOR SOME PROTECTION FOR THE FRONTLINE WORKERS AND POTENTIALLY ALSO TO PAY FOR SOME UTILITIES, I THINK THAT'S LEGITIMATE, BUT I WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT IT.
AND I THINK THE COMMUNITY DOES TOO, SINCE THE, THERE IS INVOLVEMENT OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND, UH, UH, WHAT HAPPENS WITH THAT HOTEL.
SO I'LL BE LOOKING FOR THOSE REPORTS, I'M SAYING THIS PUBLICLY.
SO THE FOLKS OVER AT ACE WILL KNOW THAT THIS IS, UH, ON OUR RADAR, UH, WHICH IT PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN BEFORE, BUT WE CAN MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME WITH THAT AND BEGIN TO WHAT'S GOING ON AND HOW THEY'RE DOING.
WHY IS IT THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN OWNS A HOTEL STILL AT THIS POINT? UM, WOULD IT BE BETTER NOT TO OWN IT? I THINK THAT'S A LEGITIMATE QUESTION FOR US.
AND, UM, I, I HOPE TO THESE IN OTHER QUESTIONS AND THE, UH, WITH MY COLLEAGUES ON THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE JUST IN FRONT OF US RIGHT NOW, IS WHETHER WE WANT TO LIMIT THE PP B FINDING TO THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT FOR FRONTLINE EMPLOYEES, UM, UH, SUBJECT TO THE, UH, BOUGHT IN NATURE.
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED THE VOTING ON THE AMENDMENT.
I WOULD SAY IF YOU HAVE ANY OBJECTIONS WE DIDN'T HEAR FROM THE GROUP, DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY OBJECTION TO THAT AMOUNT OF BEING ADDED, HEARING THAT IN THE KITCHEN AMENDMENT IS ADDED? WE NOW HAVE THE ITEM NUMBER 68 IN FRONT OF US AS AMENDED ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM COUNCIL MEMBER TOVA.
UM, AS A COUPLE OF MY COLLEAGUES MENTIONED, WE DO HAVE A NEW BOARD IN PLACE.
UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO, TO HAVING A CONVERSATION AT, AT AUDIT AND FINANCE,
[04:25:01]
I AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER POOL, BUT THAT, THAT WOULD BE THE APPROPRIATE COMMITTEE.AND I THINK WE, WE SHOULD, UM, BE REVIEWING THE BUB BUDGET ON A REGULAR BASIS, WHICH APPARENTLY IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO.
UM, AND, AND AS FAR AS I KNOW, HAVE NEVER EXERCISED IT, I ALSO THINK WE SHOULD HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THOSE OTHER TWO VACANCIES AND TALK ABOUT, ABOUT HOW TO FILL THOSE.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, IT'S AN AWKWARD CONVERSATION, BUT I'M ALSO INTERESTED IN HEARING FROM THE BOARD, UM, ABOUT THEIR HIRING OF A PRESIDENT, BECAUSE IT IS SOMETHING THAT THAT IS BEING TALKED ABOUT IN THE PUBLIC.
UM, IT IS AN UNUSUAL THING FOR THE BOARD OF, UH, OF AN ORGANIZATION OF, UH, UM, IT'S NOT A LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION, BUT ANOTHER ENTITY THAT IS, THAT IS LIKE A LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION TO EXTEND AN OPERA OF EMPLOYMENT TO A COUNCIL MEMBER WHILE THAT PERSON IS, IS ACTUALLY STILL A MEMBER OF COUNCIL.
SO, UM, I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I LOOK FORWARD TO TALKING WITH THE BOARD ABOUT, ABOUT THAT DECISION AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE DO PLAN TO SUPPORT THIS TODAY.
UM, I THINK THE PPP LOAN IS AN IMPORTANT ONE FOR THE MANY INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE WORKING AT THE HILTON, WHO, YOU KNOW, I HOPE WE'LL BE ABLE TO RETAIN THEIR JOB BECAUSE, UM, THAT'S, THAT'S A HIGH VALUE AND, AND NOW WISH, WISH WE HADN'T SEEN, UM, YOU KNOW, UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THE HILTON'S ROLE IN KEEPING AS MANY EMPLOYEES RETAINED AS POSSIBLE.
AND IN TAKING THE STEP TO RETAIN THE WORKERS, THE EMPLOYEES WHO ARE STILL PRESENT THERE, NUMBER 68 COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.
AND THANK YOU CITY LEGAL FOR ANSWERING SOME OF OUR QUESTIONS TODAY.
I AGREED WITH PENCIL MEMBER TOVO THAT THERE ARE SOME AWKWARD CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE PROBABLY GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT NEED TO, AND IN THE FOCUS OF TRANSPARENCY, I TOO AM GOING TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM BECAUSE THE FRONTLINE HOTEL WORKERS AND THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY IN GENERAL DOES NEED ASSISTANCE RIGHT NOW BY NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN WITH COVID AND IT'S ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.
HOWEVER, IN THAT SAME VEIN, WE ALSO NEED MORE OVERSIGHT OF AUSTIN, UM, CONVENTION ENTERPRISES, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THOSE CONTINUED CONVERSATIONS WITH MY COLLEAGUES.
UH, APPRECIATE, UH, THE, THAT, THAT, THAT IT WAS RAISED THAT A PPP LOAN COULD BE, UM, COULD BE USED IN THIS, IN THE LETTER FROM THE BOARD PRESIDENT.
UM, WE KNOW THAT THOSE BOARD MEMBERS, UH, SOME OF THEM ARE ON OTHER BOARDS, UH, FOR CENTRAL HEALTH OR PROFESSORS, OR DO ALL THIS WORK.
AND SO APPRECIATE THEM, UH, SENDING US THE LETTER ABOUT THIS OPTION SO THAT WE CAN, UM, WE CAN, UH, SO THAT WE'RE HILTON STAFF CAN BE RETAINED IN THIS HARD TIME.
AND I JUST WANT TO, BY THE WAY, THANK THAT BOARD IS NOT AN EASY BOARD TO BE ON.
WE'VE HAD PEOPLE KIND OF ROTATE OFF THAT BOARD.
IT'S A DIFFICULT TIME TO BE A BOARD.
THESE ARE POLLEN TEARS, UH, THAT ARE, THAT ARE, THAT ARE WORKING HARD AND, AND IN A DIFFICULT PLACE, DIFFICULT SITUATION.
GIVEN SOME OF THAT, I PUT THEM ALL SUITS AND BOW WITH THE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION.
I JUST WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT AND A THANK YOU TO, TO THOSE COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS THAT HAVE BEEN BEEN ASSISTING, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POOL, AND COUNCIL NUMBER TOW.
I WAS ORIGINALLY PLANNING TO ABSTAIN ON THE ITEM, UM, BECAUSE OF THE REASONS THAT I HAD RAISED EARLIER, BUT I THINK, UM, SEEING THE RECEPTION ON THE DIOCESE THAT SUPPORT FOR, UM, UH, DIGGING IN AND, UH, ANALYSIS OF THE BUDGET AND THE FINANCES AND THE EXPECTATION THAT WE WILL HAVE MORE, UH, PUBLIC TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY OF THE BOARD AND IT'S, AND THE WORK THERE, THEN I, I WILL CHANGE MY VOTE AND, UM, I WILL ABSTAIN ANYMORE.
I WILL VOTE FOR IT BECAUSE THE POINT OF GETTING THE PPP FOR THE EMPLOYEES IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
AND MY CONCERN ABOUT THAT IS THAT SPEAKS TO THE FINANCIAL SITUATION OF A HOTEL.
AND I, I WON'T REST EASY UNTIL I HAVE SOME BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE WE ARE ACTUALLY AT, WITH THE HOTEL AS REGULARLY THESE DAYS.
SO, YOU KNOW, WHERE WAS IT BACK AT 19 AND WHERE DO WE THINK IT WILL BE NEXT YEAR? SO IN ORDER TO BRIDGE THAT GAP BECAUSE OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF LANDER, I THINK THIS IS A GOOD PATH FORWARD, BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE WON'T HAVE OVERSIGHT.
WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO HAVE SOME MORE, UM, ACTIVE OVERSIGHT BY THE COUNCIL ON THE BOARD.
AND I TOO APPRECIATE THE VOLUNTEERS.
UH, SOME GOOD FRIENDS ARE, ARE ON THAT BOARD, AND I DO APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT THEY DO.
UM, AND I KNOW THAT THEY TOO ARE, ARE
[04:30:01]
CONCERNED, UH, ABOUT TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.SO I THINK IT WILL BE A COLLEGIAL COLLABORATION WITH THAT BOARD AND HAVING A BETTER HANDLE ON THE OPERATIONS, UH, AND THE MISSION OF S AND THE HILTON HOTEL AS OUR TOTAL.
I FORGOTTEN MY COMMENTS JUST TO THANK THE BOARD FOR THEIR WORK, GETTING THE NEW WEBSITE UP.
THEY SENT US A MEMO IN JUNE OUTLINING SOME OF THE BYLAW CHANGES THAT THEY WERE ASKING US TO THINK ABOUT, BUT ALSO SOME OF THEIR GOALS, ONE OF WHICH WAS TO HAVE A WEBSITE UP WITH, UM, MEETING THE FINANCES.
AND I JUST WANT TO COMMEND THEM FOR TAKING A REAL STEP FORWARD IN TERMS OF TRANSPARENCY.
THAT IS INFORMATION THAT THAT'S NEVER REALLY BEEN ACCESSIBLE IN THAT FORMAT BEFORE.
AND AS, AS THE COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, IN THE DISTRICT IN WHICH THIS HILTON HOTEL SITS, I THAT'S, I'M REALLY, UM, I APPRECIATE THE INFORMATION THAT THEY'RE MAKING AVAILABLE.
NUMBER 68, DOESN'T FAVOR OF M 68, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
I THINK IT'S UNANIMOUS, UH, COUNCILOR BARBARA, MADISON, HOW DO YOU VOTE? AFFIRMATIVE.
AND I THINK THAT'S ALL OF US THEN, IS THAT RIGHT? 10, 11.
[Executive Session]
UM, AND WITH THAT COLLEAGUE, WE'VE HANDLED EVERYTHING EXCEPT FOR THE EXECUTIVE SESSION NOW ITEMS. SO HERE AT, UH, FOUR 55, UH, AND, UH, PURSUANT TO A FIVE, FIVE, ONE OH SEVEN FOR THE GOVERNMENT CODE, WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION TO TAKE OUR PERSONNEL MATTERS RELATED ITEMS, 83, 84, 85 AND 86, WHICH ARE THE DUTIES, ASSIGNMENTS, PERFORMANCE OF THE CITY CLERK, AUDITOR, MUNICIPAL COURT, CLERK, AND CITY, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL NOW GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.LET'S MOVE STRAIGHT ON OVER TO THERE, AND WE'LL SEE YOU THERE IN A SECOND.
WE WILL NOT COME BACK OUT INTO THE PUBLIC FORUM, JUST ME TO CLOSE OUT THE MEETING THREE TO 86.
WE HAVE WORKED OUR WAY THROUGH OUR AGENDA, ACCOMPLISHED EVERYTHING THAT WE SET OUT TO DO.
AND THIS MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED THIS THE FOURTH DAY OF MARCH, 2021.