[00:00:01]
READY FOR ME TO START? YES, MA'AM.OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CONVENE TODAY'S MEETING IT'S TUESDAY, JANUARY 18TH, 2022.
UH, WE'RE HAVING A HYBRID MEETING.
SOME FOLKS ARE HERE, PRESENCE, UM, REMOTE, UH, WE HAVE A COMBINED QUORUM.
WE HAVE, UH, FIVE SPEAKERS, FOUR ON THE PETITION, ONE ON THE BOARDS AND COMMISSION ITEM.
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THOSE SPEAKERS BEGINNING WITH THE ONES IN PERSON.
UH WE'RE THEN GOING TO HANDLE ITEM NUMBER THREE, WHICH I THINK WILL BE QUICKLY PASSED.
AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS AT LEAST THE PETITION.
UM, MAYBE THE OTHER ITEM AS WELL.
THE OTHER ITEM, THE, UM, LITIGATION, UH, ISSUE, UH, WILL ALSO BE PUT ON THE AGENDA FOR NEXT WEEK.
SO THE DEGREE TO WHICH WE DON'T DISCUSS IT TODAY, WE'LL DISCUSS IT NEXT WEEK.
UH, THERE'S ONE THING I HOPE TO BE ABLE TO NOTE QUICKLY.
UH, WE HAVE A HARD STOP AT 10 30.
UH, WE'RE LOSING MOST ALL THE COUNCIL AT THAT POINT.
UH, I THINK, AND CAN'T JOIN US TO 1130, SO SHE WON'T BE JOINING US EXCEPT SHE MAY BE ABLE TO COME IN FOR A VOTE.
[Public Comment]
GO AHEAD AND START WITH SPEAKERS.WE'LL BEGIN WITH THE SPEAKERS THAT ARE HERE WITH US SO THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO STAY IF THEY DON'T WANT TO.
AND WE WILL GO CATHY MITCHELL THEN, UH, UH, MICHAEL SIEGEL THEN, UH, ANA, UH, SILAS BROUGHT US AND THEN CHRIS HARRIS, HIV, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES WELCOME TO CITY HALL.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S GENERAL AGREEMENT THAT THE MARIJUANA PORTION CAN BE, UH, VOTED OUT AND PUT ON AS AN ORDINANCE, UH, WITHOUT AN ELECTION.
UH, BUT THERE IS SOME CONTROVERSY PERHAPS I HAVEN'T REALLY HEARD MUCH ABOUT THE NO-KNOCK WARRANT PORTION.
SO I JUST WANT TO SPEAK TO THAT.
UM, THIS IS, AND CHRIS HARRIS WILL SPEAK TO OTHER JURISDICTIONS WHERE THIS IS ALREADY IN PLACE AND IS WORKING FINE.
UH, I WOULD IMAGINE NOT HAVING HEARD ANY OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE BEING BROUGHT UP, UH, THAT THIS WOULD BE PRESENTED AS AN OFFICER SAFETY PROBLEM.
UH, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, UH, WHAT THIS BASICALLY DOES IS REQUIRED THEM TO WAIT A BIT LONGER, A FEW SECONDS LONGER, UH, BEFORE CRASHING IN, BECAUSE MOST WARRANTS ARE SERVED AS KNOCK AND ENTER, UH, AS OPPOSED TO NO KNOCK.
NOW, THERE ARE PROBABLY SOME NO KNOCK WARRANTS AND THAT SHOULD STOP.
BUT AS A PRACTICAL MATTER, THE DIFFERENCE IS REALLY TACTICAL.
IF OFFICERS FEEL THAT THEY ARE NOT SAFE STANDING AND WAITING AT THE DOOR FOR 15 SECONDS, THEN THEY CAN THEORETICALLY USE A BEANBAG GROUND OR SOME DISTANCE METHOD TO KNOCK ON THAT DOOR.
AND THEY CAN USE LOUDSPEAKERS, WHICH THEY DO NOW, UH, TO IX TO ANNOUNCE THEMSELVES.
SO AS A PRACTICAL MATTER TO ME, THIS IS A TACTICAL DIFFERENCE THAT HELPS PEOPLE WHO ARE PERHAPS THE WRONG HOUSE, COMPLETELY UNARMED, WILLING TO WALK OUT THE DOOR AND TURN THEMSELVES IN, WHICH IS IN THE FACT MOST CASES.
SO IT HELPS IN MOST CASES AND IN THOSE CASES WHERE THERE IS AN EXTREMELY HIGH LEVEL OF DANGER, IT CAN BE HANDLED REMOTELY, YOU KNOW, FROM A DISTANCE.
SO I DO NOT SEE THIS AS A PARTICULARLY RADICAL IDEA.
AND AS YOU WILL HEAR, IT IS ALREADY IN PLACE IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS.
SO I ASK THAT YOU GO AHEAD AND PUT ALL OF THIS ON AS A CITY ORDINANCE WITHOUT AN ELECTION TODAY.
I'M THE POLITICAL DIRECTOR OF GROUND GAME, TEXAS, WHICH IS A COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION THAT HELPED ORGANIZE THIS BALLOT, MEASURE THE AUSTIN FREEDOM ACT, WHICH WOULD FORMALIZE AND MAKE PERMANENT SOME VERY IMPORTANT AND COURAGEOUS REFORMS THAT HAVE BEEN PUSHED BOARD PUSHED FORWARD BY THIS CITY COUNCIL TO STOP IT FORCEMENT OF LOW-LEVEL MARIJUANA POSSESSION, AND TO, UH, ASK THE POLICE TO NOT USE NO KNOCK WARRANTS, BECAUSE THEY ARE, UH, REALLY A PUBLIC SAFETY RISK MORE THAN THEY HELP POLICE.
UM, THIS IS A MEASURE THAT HAS BEEN ENDORSED BY A BROAD COALITION OF ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING JUST LIBERTY AUSTIN, JUSTICE COALITION, TEXAS APPLESEED, THE TRAVIS COUNTY DEMOCRATIC
[00:05:01]
PARTY, AND OTHER STATE AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS OVER 34,000 PEOPLE SIGNED THESE PETITIONS INCLUDING OVER 22,000, WHO HAVE BEEN VERIFIED AS AUSTIN VOTERS.AND THEY SIGNED BOTH MEASURES.
THEY WANT BOTH THESE MEASURES TO COME INTO LA AND AUSTIN.
AND SO, UH, WE ASK THAT YOU STOP AND MAKE PERMANENT THAT THE CITY POLICE, UH, MAKING ANY ARRESTS OR ISSUING A TICKETS FOR MARIJUANA LOW-LEVEL MARIJUANA POSSESSION.
AND WE ALSO ASK THAT YOU AND THE PRACTICE OF NO-KNOCK WARRANTS.
AND WE ALSO ASK THAT YOU HONOR THE WORK OF ALL THE VOLUNTEERS, ALL THE STAFF IN ORGANIZATIONS THAT PUT THIS FORWARD, AND ESPECIALLY ALL THE PEOPLE THAT SIGNED THAT WANT THIS TO BECOME LAW IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
UM, I'M, UH, A BOARD MEMBER ON GROUND GAME, TEXAS.
SHE'S ALSO MY NEIGHBOR AND I'M HERE BECAUSE I'M MY HUSBAND AND I COLLECTED OVER 600 SIGNATURES FOR THIS, UM, UH, BALLOT PETITION.
AND SO I'M HERE JUST TO REPORT ON WHAT OUR EXPERIENCE WAS.
WE COLLECTED 600 SIGNATURES, BUT WE TALKED TO HUNDREDS MORE WHO WERE UNREGISTERED VOTERS AND WERE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS ORDINANCE.
UM, IN FACT, WE ENCOUNTERED NO OPPOSITION AT ALL.
THERE WAS OVERWHELMING SUPPORT TO HAVE BOTH PARTS OF THIS, UM, UH, ORDINANCE OR PETITION PASSED.
AND SO I'M HERE SIMPLY TO SAY, UM, THAT I, UH, AM VERY SUPPORTIVE AND HOPE THAT YOU ALL WILL PASS THIS TODAY.
HAPPY NEW YEAR AND HAPPY BELATED MLK DAY.
UH, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO Y'ALL TODAY ABOUT THESE ISSUES.
UM, SO YES, AUSTIN, JUST COALITION SUPPORT OF, UH, THIS, THESE JUST BEING PASSED, UH, NOT NECESSARILY PLACED ON THE BALLOT AND PUT FORWARD.
UH, I THINK, UM, WE HAVE A SITUATION NOW WHERE I THINK THERE'S SOME UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT BOTH MARIJUANA IS, IS PRACTICALLY DECRIMINALIZED AND THAT NO, NO KNOCK WARRANTS ARE NOT BEING EXECUTED IN THE CITY.
UH, SO WHY ARE WE DOING THIS? YOU KNOW, THERE'S A QUESTION THAT I'VE HEARD AND I THINK, UM, YOU KNOW, THIS COUNSELOR'S EXPERIENCE WITH THE DECRIMINALIZING MARIJUANA LAST YEAR, WHEREBY YOU PASS THE RESOLUTION, UH, RATHER IN 2020, UH, IN FEBRUARY, THAT RESOLUTION WAS NOT ACTED UPON BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT UNTIL THAT FOLLOWING SUMMER.
UH, OF COURSE IN THE MIDST OF GEORGE FLOYD SUMMER IS WHEN THEY DECIDED, OKAY, YES, WE WILL ACT ON THIS RESOLUTION.
SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT, UM, THAT THINGS THAT ARE GOOD, THAT ARE WORKING, UH, GET PUT INTO LAW, UH, RATHER THAN JUST RESOLUTION, WE UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S STILL UP TO A LOT OF DEPARTMENTAL, UH, INTERPRETATION ABOUT HOW AND WHETHER HOW TO, TO, TO DO THESE THINGS IF THEY'RE NOT PUT INTO LAW.
AND SO BOTH WITH MARIJUANA DECRIMINALIZATION AND BENDING NO-KNOCK WARRANTS, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU ALL PUT IT INTO LAW, UH, AND, AND THAT THIS IS SET AS THE LAW MOVING FORWARD.
SECONDARILY, I DO WANT TO ADDRESS THE NO-KNOCK WARRANT PIECE.
UM, THERE'S NO, NOT GOING TO ALREADY BANNED IN FLORIDA AND IN OREGON, UH, VIRGINIA PASSED THE BAN, UH, FOLLOWING BRIANA TAYLOR'S, UH, SHOOTING, UH, IN, IN 2020, UH, UH, UH, VIRGINIA PASSED THE BANK CITY OF LOUISVILLE WHERE BEYOND THE TAYLOR WAS SHOT AND KILLED PAST DEMAND.
AND LAST MAY, UH, MAY, 2021, UH, UH, PITTSBURGH, UH, HAD ABOUT MEASURE THAT IS EXACTLY AS THE SAME AS THIS EVEN STRONGER, BECAUSE IT ALSO HAS A BODY CAM REQUIREMENT, UH, INSTEAD OF A COUPLE OF OTHER UNIFORM REQUIREMENTS ON OFFICERS.
BUT OTHERWISE IT'S THE EXACT SAME AS THIS ONE.
IT PASSED 81 TO 19 IN A, IN A CITY ELECTION IN MAY, IN THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH.
SO, UM, WE DON'T THINK THAT THIS IS CONTROVERSIAL.
WE THINK THAT THIS IS IMPORTANT TO, TO PUT INTO LAW AND WE THINK IT'S NOT IMPORTANT TO HAVE AN ELECTION ABOUT IT AT THIS POINT, IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE ON THE BALLOT, THE RELEVANT COSTS THAT THAT WOULD BRING TO THE CITY AND THE COUNTY, UH, AND AGAIN, JUST THE NEED TO PUT THESE THINGS INTO, TO LOCK THEM DOWN.
SO REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO Y'ALL AND, AND, AND HOPE Y'ALL WILL GO AHEAD AND PUT THIS ON.
I THINK WE HAVE ONE REMOTE SPEAKER.
I BELIEVE MONICA GUZMAN IS ON THE PHONE.
I'M MONICA GUZMAN POLICY DIRECTOR AT JAVA.
SO AUSTIN VAMOS AUSTIN SPEAKING ON ITEMS RATE, UH, ON NOVEMBER 4TH, 2021.
I SPOKE ON RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 21, 11 0 4 DASH OH SIX TWO.
COUNCIL PASSED THE RESOLUTION BACK THEN AND SMART TO UPDATE THE EFFECTIVE DATE IN LIGHT OF THE ONGOING PANDEMIC.
[00:10:01]
I PULLED UP A FEW UPCOMING COMMISSION MEETINGS AND NOTICE REMOTE PARTICIPATION FOR RESIDENTS AT THE BICYCLE BICYCLE ADVISORY COUNCIL, WHILE PARTICIPATION FOR THE UPCOMING ENVIRONMENTAL ONSET COMMISSION MEETINGS APPEARS TO BE IN PERSON WHILE COMMISSIONERS ARE STILL AFFORDED THE CHOICE TO PARTICIPATE IN PERSONAL REMOTE, ADDRESSING RESIDENTS, ADDRESSING A BOARD OR COMMISSION, ESPECIALLY A LAND USE COMMISSION APPEAR TO NOT NECESSARILY BE AFFORDED THE SAME CHOICE IN SEPTEMBER, 2021.OTHER RESIDENTS OPPOSING THE GRADY RUNNING MIXED USE CASES HAD TO APPEAR IN PERSON FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
SOME DID NOT ATTEND EITHER DUE TO THE INABILITY TO TRAVEL TO CITY HALL OR BECAUSE IT DID NOT FEEL SAFE ATTENDING IN PERSON DURING THE ONGOING PANDEMIC ON NOVEMBER 29TH, 2021.
I SPOKE AT THE JOINT LAND USE COMMISSIONS MEETING WHILE I HAVE THE ABILITY TO TRAVEL TO CITY HALL, UH, MUCH WOULD HAVE PREFERRED REMOTE PARTICIPATION.
WE HOPE COUNCIL PATSY'S RESOLUTION WILL MAKE IT SAFER FOR RESIDENTS WHEN SPEAKING ANY AND ALL BOARD AND COMMISSION MEETINGS.
WE ALSO URGE COUNCIL TO ENSURE LANGUAGE ABOUT PARTICIPATION OPTIONS IS SIMPLY AND CLEARLY STATED.
SO NO RESIDENT IS LEFT WONDERING AND DECIDING NOT TO PARTICIPATE VERSUS REQUESTING CLARIFICATION.
I THINK IT'S ALL THE SPEAKERS THAT WE HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK COLLEAGUES THAT GETS US TO OUR AGENDA.
[3. Approve an ordinance amending Ordinance No. 20211104-062, relating to City Code Chapter 2-1 (City Boards) regarding hybrid participation at meetings of boards and commissions and their subcommittees and quorum requirements to change the effective date; and declaring an emergency.]
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER THREE, A WHICH IS THE BOARDS AND COMMISSION ITEM? HOW'S IT REMEMBER A MAYOR PRO TEM, UH, ALTER MAKES THE, UH, THE MOTION.IS THERE A SECOND, I GUESS OVER ELLIS SECONDS COLLEAGUES, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IS AWARE, UH, AS THE CLERK HAS ASKED ME TO, UH, READ THAT THE NEW EFFECTIVE DATE DOES NOT APPLY TO ALREADY POSTED, UH, BOARDS OF COMMISSION AGENDA REMINDER, THAT HYBRID MEETINGS CAN ONLY TAKE PLACE IN LOCATIONS WITH VIDEO CONFERENCING ABILITIES AND SUFFICIENT SPACE TO ALLOW THE PUBLIC ATTENDANCE AND SOCIAL DISTANCING AS REQUIRED BY LAW.
THE ADDITIONAL CITY FACILITIES ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE SAID, MEETINGS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL MARCH 1ST, 2022 CITY HALL IS ALREADY BOOKED THROUGH MARCH WITH LIMITED AVAILABILITY FOR ADDITIONAL VIRTUAL MEETINGS.
THIS OPTION WILL ALLOW BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THAT HAVE TIME SENSITIVE ACTION ITEM TO PROCEED AND TO TIMELY ALLOW COUNCIL CONSIDERATION THE CHAIR VICE CHAIR, OR A DESIGNATED BOARD COMMISSION MEMBER MUST BE PRESENT AS WELL AS THE STAFF LIAISON.
AND WE ENCOURAGE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THAT DO NOT HAVE TIME SENSITIVE ITEMS, UH, TO BE FLEXIBLE AND CANCEL MEETINGS.
AS AVAILABILITY AT CITY HALL IS SCARCE.
CONSIDERING MEETINGS HAVE ALREADY BEEN BOOKED THROUGH MARCH.
UH, THE PUBLIC MUST BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN PERSON.
TELEPHONE PARTICIPATION MAY BE OFFERED AS AN ADDITIONAL METHOD OF PARTICIPATION, BUT CANNOT BE THE ONLY METHOD.
AND BACK UP, I SAID THE CHAIR VICE-CHAIR OR DESIGNATED BOARD COMMISSIONER MEMBER, ONLY ONE OF THOSE THREE NEED TO BE PRESENT THE PERSON CHAIRING THE MEETING HAS TO BE, UH, PRESENT ANY FOR ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM.
BEFORE WE TAKE A VOTE, THEN LET'S TAKE A VOTE THOSE IN FAVOR.
UH, I'M SEEING 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
SO IT'S ALL IN FAVOR WITH THE EXCEPTION OF COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN, WHO IS OFF OF THE, THIS ALRIGHT, COLLEAGUES, UH, THAT TAKES CARE OF ITEM NUMBER THREE, WE'RE NOW GOING TO GO
[Executive Session]
INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, WHICH WILL BE DONE REMOTELY.UH, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL GO ON TO SESSION, TAKE UP, UH, TWO ITEMS PURSUANT TO 5, 5, 1 0 7.
ONE OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE WE'LL DISCUSS LEGAL ISSUES RELATED ITEM FOUR AND FIVE.
THAT'S THE P THE CITIZEN INITIATED ORDINANCE, UH, AND, UH, UH, APD LAWSUITS WITHOUT OBJECTION HERE AT, UH, UM, 9 21, UH, WE'LL GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION VALETS THE QUICKER WE CAN GET THERE AND START, UH, THE BETTER WE'LL BE WITH TIME MANAGEMENT TODAY.
THANK YOU, CITY COUNCIL OF ANY RADEK CLOSED SESSION AND CLOSED SESSION.
WE DISCUSSED LEGAL IONS, LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO, AND REMEMBER FOUR, WE'RE GOING TO SET, UH, ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
THE CLERK WOULD PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT IT'S ON THE AGENDA FOR NEXT WEEK FOR BOTH TUESDAY AND THURSDAY, SO THAT WE HAVE THE OPTION TO CALL IT.
UH, EITHER OF THOSE, UH, WITH THAT COLLEAGUES,
[00:15:01]
WE ARE BACK IN OUR REGULAR, UH, SESSIONS HERE.IT IS, UH, 10 41 STILL ON TUESDAY, UH, JANUARY 18TH, 2022.
[Items 1 & 2]
ITEMS THAT ARE ON THE AGENDA EFFECTIVELY.WE HAVE TO REALLY TAKE ONE OVER THE OTHER OF THOSE ITEMS. IS THERE A MOTION IF SOMEONE WANT TO MAKE A MOTION FOR THE COUNCIL COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN? UM, I MOVED THAT WE, UM, THE PETITION ITEM ON THE BALLOT.
IS THERE A, UH, THAT IS, UH, ITEM NUMBER TWO, YOU GUYS WERE KITCHEN MOVES, PASSAGE OF ITEM NUMBER TWO.
SO WE'RE SECOND TO THAT MOTION.
SORRY, I CAN'T REMEMBER KELLY.
SO DISCUSSION GUNTHER COSAR MAYOR.
I WANT TO THANK THE ORGANIZERS FOR HAVING BROUGHT THIS MISSION FOR THESE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, WE HAD WORKED A LONG TIME TO TRY TO AND ARRESTS AND CITATIONS FOR LOW-LEVEL MARIJUANA POSSESSION AND WORKED REALLY LONG TIME TO REDUCE THE USE OF NO KNOCK WARRANTS, WHICH HAVE RESULTED ON HAD RESULTED IN NEEDLESS INJURIES TO POLICE OFFICERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ALIKE.
UH, THE MOST CLEAR EXAMPLES BEING, UH, THE KILLING OF BRIANNA TAYLOR, AS WELL AS THE KILLINGS IN, IN HOUSTON, UH, THAT HAPPENED NOT SO LONG AGO.
AND SO, UH, WE'VE WORKED AS A COMMUNITY, UH, TO, TO BRING REAL SIGNIFICANT REFORM TO END THESE NEED LISTS, UM, PRACTICES OF NO-KNOCK WARRANTS AND, UH, PERSONAL MARIJUANA POSSESSION.
I'M GLAD THAT WE HAVE STRONG POLICIES IN PLACE, BUT FRANKLY IT WAS A REAL STRUGGLE TO GET THOSE POLICIES IN PLACE OFTEN WITH REAL RESISTANCE, UH, FROM OUR OWN, UH, DEPARTMENT.
AND SO I APPRECIATE THE COMMUNITY COMING FORWARD TO TRY TO MAKE THIS A MORE CODIFIED IN LAW.
AND SO I'M GOING TO BE VOTING NO ON THIS MOTION, BECAUSE I THINK WE COULD SIMPLY ADOPT THE ORDINANCE TODAY.
UM, I BELIEVE THAT THE COMMUNITY, UM, IS LIKELY TO JUST ADOPT IT AS ORDINANCE, UH, THROUGH THEIR VOTES.
UH, I'LL CERTAINLY BE VOTING FOR THIS IN MAY, UH, IF IT'S SET TO AN ELECTION.
SO I WOULD RATHER SAVE US THE EXPENSE AND JUST PUT IN POLICY THESE, UH, THESE POLICIES.
UM, UH, SO IF I COULD JUST ADOPT THE ORDINANCE TODAY, I WOULD DO SO.
UH, THAT'S WHY, ALTHOUGH NO, I'M PUTTING IT ON THE BALLOT BECAUSE I WOULD RATHER JUST ADOPT IT, BUT IF IT GOES ON THE BALLOT, UM, THEN I'LL JUST BE VOTING FOR AND ALONGSIDE, UM, COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
AND I, AND I CERTAINLY RESPECT, UM, YOUR POSITION, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CONCERN, EVERYBODY'S POSITION.
THIS IS A HARD DECISION FOR PEOPLE TO MAKE.
UH, BUT I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT ADOPTING THIS ORDINANCE IS ADOPTING OUR POLICIES.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO ME IS TO PROTECT, HAVE IN PLACE RIGHT NOW, THE REDUCTION IN THE USE OF NO-KNOCK AND THE, UM, IN THE, ON MARIJUANA THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACHIEVE.
AND I DON'T WANT TO PUT THAT AT RISK.
I ALSO THINK THIS IS AN IMPORTANT QUESTION FOR THE PUBLIC IN MY, UH, MY, UM, MOTION TO PUT THIS ON THE BALLOT IS NOT AN INDICATION OF MAYBE AN OPPOSED TO THE POLICIES HERE AT ALL.
IT'S SIMPLY THAT I THINK THAT THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO PROCEED, UH, THESE QUESTIONS.
AND I HAVE GRAVE CONCERNS ABOUT, UM, SKIING, THE PROGRESS WE'VE MADE TO DATE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION CATS, WARMER, RENTED IDF MAYOR.
YOU KNOW, I KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING REALLY DEAR TO ME, UH, ESPECIALLY, UH, THE, UH, LOW LEVEL MARIJUANA ISSUE.
AND, UH, I THINK THAT, UH, WELL, TEXAS HAS WAITED TOO LONG ALREADY, AND WE HAVE PUT IN RUINED A LOT OF REPUTATION ARE VERY GOOD PEOPLE JUST BECAUSE OF THEIR SMALL AMOUNT OF MARIJUANA THAT THEY HAD IN POSSESSION WHEN THEY GOT STOPPED.
SO, UH, UH, I BELIEVE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD JUST GO AHEAD AND PASS IT AND SAY THAT THE MONEY THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SPEND ON THE ELECTION, BUT, UH, I UNDERSTAND THE OTHER PEOPLE AND HOW THEY VOTING.
AND I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT EITHER, BUT I'M GOING TO THROW OKAY FOR THE DISCUSSION SEGA VOTE ON THE MOTION, THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
[00:20:03]
I COUNT SEVEN VOTES, COUNCIL MEMBERS, KELLY, THE MAYOR PRO TEM COUNCIL MEMBER, KITCHEN HARPER, MADISON TOVO ALICE AND ME, THOSE VOTING, NO, UH, I COUNT THREE VOTES.UH, THE RATING THREE ON THE DYESS, UH, COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL IS OFF THE DYES.
THIS, UH, PASSES SEVEN THREE, UH, ONE, UH, I THINK THOSE ARE ALL THE ITEMS THAT WE HAVE ON THE AGENDA TODAY.
THE OTHER ITEM BEING, UH, MOOTED COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO AND SPEAK BEFORE THE VOTE, BUT I JUST WANTED TO UNDERSCORE, UM, MY APPRECIATION ALSO TO THE ORGANIZERS FOR BRINGING THIS IMPORTANT QUESTION BEFORE THE VOTERS, AS, AS ANY, UM, WHO ARE FOLLOWING THIS CONVERSATION.
NO, THESE ARE OUR, IN ESSENCE ALREADY THE PRACTICES HERE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND ARE REFLECTED NOT JUST IN COUNCIL POLICY, THAT'S BEEN PASSED, BUT ALSO IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENTS, GENERAL ORDERS THAT THEY USE IN PRACTICE.
UM, WE MAY HAVE HAD DIFFERENT VOTES HERE TODAY ON WHAT'S BEST WHETHER TO PUT THIS BEFORE THE VOTERS OR WHETHER TO PASS, PASS IT AS AN ORDINANCE.
UM, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, I AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN, AND THAT IS WHAT DIRECTED MY VOTE THAT I BELIEVE, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT, WITHOUT GETTING INTO INFORMATION THAT I BELIEVE IS NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY TO REALLY DISCUSS HERE TODAY.
UM, IT'S MY, IT'S MY STRONG BELIEF THAT, UM, THAT WE ARE, ARE OFFERING THE BEST PROTECTION FOR THOSE CURRENT PRACTICES BY PUTTING THIS ON THE BALLOT.
I THINK PUTTING US IN FRONT OF THE VOTE FOR THE VOTERS WILL ENABLE THE VOTERS TO BE ABLE TO, TO, TO, TO VOTE.
UH, I THINK WE'RE IN A COMMUNITY THAT HAS AS A VALUE, UH, THAT, UH, WE'RE NOT GOING TO ARREST AND PROSECUTE PEOPLE FOR LOW LEVEL, UM, UH, DRUG CHARGES WITH MARIJUANA.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, THERE'S REMEDIAL ACTION THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN.
AND I THINK WE'VE ALL SEEN THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH NO KNOCK, UM, UH, ENTRY ONTO PROPERTY THAT, THAT PUTS EVERYBODY AT, UH, AT DANGER.
UM, AND, AND THIS GIVES US A CHANCE NOW TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE BEST WAY TO, TO IMPLEMENT, UH, THOSE, UH, POLICIES.
ALL RIGHT, WITH THAT, I THINK OUR MEETING IS OVER.
SO, UH, AT 10 48, THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.