[Proclamation 1]
[00:00:08]
I'M COUNCIL MEMBER, KATHY TOVO.
AND IT IS MY HONOR TO WELCOME YOU ALL TO PROCLAMATIONS FOR TODAY.
UM, WE'RE GOING TO START WITH A PROCLAMATION THAT WAS REQUESTED BY MARJORIE BEAMAN, WHO UNFORTUNATELY, COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY.
UM, AND THIS IS RECOGNIZING, UM, THE 213TH BIRTHDAY OF LOUIS BRAILLE.
SO ON BEHALF OF OUR ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL, I'D LIKE TO PRESENT THE FOLLOWING PROCLAMATION, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS IN 1824, LOUIS BRAILLE, A YOUNG FRENCH BOY DEVELOPED A SYSTEM OF EMBOSSED CODING THAT MADE WRITTEN COMMUNICATION ACCESSIBLE TO THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED, THUS OPENING VISTAS OF KNOWLEDGE AND BESTOWING THE GIFT OF LITERACY TO PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD.
AND WHEREAS BY USING CHARACTERS COMPOSED OF RES DOTS TO FORM LETTERS, WORDS, NUMBERS, AND MUSICAL NOTES, BRAILLE GIVES INDIVIDUALS THE TOOLS THEY NEED FOR MANY EVERYDAY TASKS.
BRAILLE ALLOWS PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES AND TO USE THEIR CREATIVITY AND INGENUITY IN AN IRREPLACEABLE WAY.
THE BRAILLE SYSTEM OF WRITING HAS ENABLED VISUALLY IMPAIRED STUDENTS TO ACHIEVE INDEPENDENCE, ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, AND EMPLOYMENT.
AND WHEREAS THE AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION IN BRAILLE FOR VISUALLY IMPAIRED CONSUMERS, BY ALL BUSINESSES AGENCIES, GOVERNMENT ENTITIES, AND ANY OTHER PROVIDERS OF GOODS AND SERVICES PROMOTES THEIR ACTIVE PARTICIPATION AND INDEPENDENCE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
AND WHEREAS BRAILLE HAS IMPROVED THE LIFE, THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR MILLIONS OF PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE NATION AND THE WORLD JANUARY 4TH, 2022 MARKS THE 213TH BIRTHDAY OF LOUIS BRAILLE.
NOW, THEREFORE I KATHY TOVO ON BEHALF OF MAYOR, STEVE ADLER DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JANUARY 3RD, 2022 AS BRAILLE LITERACY WEEK IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
THANKS VERY MUCH AND SURE THANK YOU.
[Proclamation 2]
NOW IT IS MY GREAT HONOR TO WELCOME UP CAROL GIBBS.CAROL IS A LONG TIME CITY EMPLOYEE AND IS, AND THIS PROCLAMATION IS IN RECOGNITION OF HER RETIREMENT.
AND I CAN HARDLY SAY THAT WITHOUT JUST REALLY TEARING UP.
UM, CAROL AND I HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR A LONG WHILE WE MET, UH, IN COMMUNITY WORK AND NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS.
AND I WAS TELLING HER, I REMEMBER EXACTLY WHERE I WAS SITTING, UM, IN THE ROOM WHEN SHE WAS UNDERGOING A REALLY GRUELING, GRUELING PROCESS, UH, TO, TO BECOME THE NEIGHBORHOOD ADVISOR.
THIS WAS SOME OF YOU IN THIS ROOM.
I KNOW, KNOW THAT IT HAD BEEN A LONG TIME, UM, NEED AND INTEREST OF THIS COMMUNITY TO HAVE SOMEBODY WITHIN THE CITY GOVERNMENT WHO COULD ASSIST NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, NEIGHBORS, INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE, WERE, UM, NAT, TRYING TO NAVIGATE THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS HERE AT THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND, YOU KNOW, SO DEVELOPERS AND OFTEN WOULD SHOW HERE AT CITY HALL WITH REPRESENTATION, WITH LEGAL REPRESENTATION, WITH LOBBYISTS, UM, AND NEIGHBORHOODS OFTEN FOUND THEMSELVES WITHOUT, WITHOUT EVEN THE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PUBLIC PROCESS.
AND SO CAROL, UH, WAS SOMEBODY WHO HELPED ADVOCATE FOR THAT POSITION, UM, AND THAT NEED, AND THEN, UH, EVENTUALLY APPLIED FOR IT.
AND AS I SAID UNDER, IT WAS A VERY COMPETITIVE PROCESS.
THERE WERE LOTS AND LOTS OF APPLICANTS.
UM, BUT THE COMMITTEE THAT SELECTED HER FELT AS, AS SO MANY OF US IN THE COMMUNITY DID THAT.
SHE WAS, UM, ONE OF THE VERY FEW PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY WHO HAD THE SKILLS, THE EXPERIENCE AND THE GREAT JUDGMENT, UM, AND DIPLOMACY THAT WAS NECESSARY TO FULFILL THAT POSITION.
IT IS A SUPER HARD JOB TO FILL A BRAND NEW POSITION AND YOU HAVE SET SUCH A HIGH STANDARD FOR ANYONE TO COME IN YOUR, IN YOUR WEIGHT, CAROL GIBBS.
AND, UM, OF COURSE WE WISH YOU THE BEST IN YOUR RETIREMENT.
AND I KNOW THIS COMMUNITY IS BETTER FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK, BOTH AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER, UM, AND AS A CITY EMPLOYEE.
AND CERTAINLY, UM, SO MANY OF US ARE REALLY GONNA MISS YOU SO VIETNAM THAT, WHEREAS CAROL GIBBS CUT HER TEETH AS A NEIGHBORHOOD ADVOCATE, AS A TIRELESS VOLUNTEER AND EVENTUAL PRESIDENT OF THE SOUTH LAMAR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, WORKING ON PARK AND TRAFFIC PLANNING, CHARRETTES NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUPS, NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING, HOLIDAY PARTIES, AND CELEBRATIONS, AND MANY MORE ISSUES OF NEIGHBORHOOD AND CITYWIDE IMPORTANCE.
AND WHEREAS AFTER YEARS OF ADVOCACY FROM COMMUNITY LEADERS, THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSISTANCE CENTER
[00:05:01]
WAS CREATED IN 2009 TO SUPPORT AUSTINITES AND NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS NAVIGATE AND ENGAGE IN DEVELOPMENT AND RELATED PUBLIC PROCESSES.AND WHEREAS WHEN THE CITY HOSTED PUBLIC MEETINGS TO DETERMINE WHAT SERVICES THIS OFFICE SHOULD PROVIDE, CAROL GIBBS PARTICIPATED IN ALL OF THEM AS A COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDER AND OFFICER IN HER OWN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
AND WHEREAS DURING ONE FINAL COMMUNITY MEETING A PARTICIPANT ASKED WITH ALL THE SKILLS AND REQUIREMENTS WE'VE REQUIRED, HOW WILL YOU EVER FIND SOMEONE TO FILL THIS POSITION? AND WHEREAS CAROL GETS EMERGED FROM AN INTENSELY COMPETITIVE HIRING PROCESS AS THAT VERY INDIVIDUAL WHO POSSESSED THE UNUSUALLY EXTENSIVE ARRAY OF SKILLS, EXPERTISE, AND EXPERIENCE TO SUCCEED IN THIS NEW ROLE.
AND WHEREAS AFTER A UNIQUE PUBLIC INTERVIEW PANEL IN 2009, WITH MORE THAN 100 ATTENDEES WITH AS MANY QUESTIONS, CAROL WAS SELECTED AS ONE OF TWO NEIGHBORHOOD ADVISERS, SINCE THEN, SHE'S WORKED IN FOUR DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING AND ZONING, THE PLANNING AND ZONING DEPARTMENT PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT REVIEW DEPARTMENT AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS WORKING ALONGSIDE MULTIPLE CITY COUNCILS.
AND WHEREAS IN HER ALMOST 15 YEARS AS A NEIGHBORHOOD ADVISOR, CAROL HAS PROVIDED INVALUABLE INSIGHT, EXCEPTIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE, WISDOM, RESOURCEFULNESS, AND DEDICATION IN HER WORK ASSISTING THOUSANDS OF NEIGHBORS.
AND WHEREAS ANYONE WHO CALLED CAROL GIBBS OR EMAILED HER WITH A QUESTION WOULD ALWAYS FIND A FRIENDLY EAR AND A COMPREHENSIVE ANSWER.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS A BETTER PLACE AS A RESULT OF CAROL'S SERVICE FROM HER STEWARDSHIP OF AUSTIN'S ENVIRONMENTAL ASSETS, TO HER COMMITMENT, TO OPEN AND TRANSPARENT GOVERNANCE GOVERNANCE TO OUR PASSION FOR PRESERVING THE UNIQUE CHARACTER OF THE CITY, ITS NEIGHBORHOODS AND ITS CULTURAL FABRIC.
NOW, THEREFORE I, KATHY TOVO HAD THE GREAT HONOR ON BEHALF OF MAYOR STEVE ADLER OF PROCLAIMING JANUARY 27TH, 2022 AS CAROL GIBBS DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
LET ME GET, YEAH, AND ME WEEPING.
AND I'D LIKE TO INVITE CAROL TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
WELL, LUCKILY FOR Y'ALL KATHY SAID IT ALL, YOU DON'T NEED TO HEAR MUCH FROM ME.
I JUST DO WANT TO SAY THAT IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO SERVE THE CITY FOR THESE ALMOST 13 YEARS.
I'M SO HAPPY TO LEAVE MY CAREER.
I'M NOT GOING BACK TO WORK ANYWHERE.
UM, ON THIS NOTE, UM, THIS IS A HIGHLIGHT AND, UH, I FEEL VERY GOOD ABOUT, ABOUT GOING OUT FROM HERE.
UM, I JUST HOPE THAT WHAT I HOPE I STARTED, UH, WILL CONTINUE AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSISTANT CENTER, UH, AND THAT THERE WILL CONTINUE TO BE VALUE PLACED IN THAT, UH, IN THAT JOB, IN THE, IN THE FUNCTIONS AND SERVICES IT PROVIDES.
AND, UM, THAT IT, WE WILL CONTINUE TO REMEMBER THAT THE NON APPLICANTS, UH, OF THE CITY, UH, THE PEOPLE WHO ALREADY LIVE HERE, THE TAXPAYERS, UM, THE CURRENT RESIDENTS OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, UM, THAT EVERYBODY WILL REMEMBER THAT THOSE PEOPLE ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THE NEW DEVELOPMENT THAT'S COMING TO TOWN AND INCREASING THAT TAX BASE, UM, THAT WE DON'T WANT TO DRIVE THOSE PEOPLE OUT.
UM, THE REGULAR PEOPLE, I THINK, EXPENSIVE OF GROWTH.
SO, UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, KATHY COUNCIL MEMBER TOBO, UH, AND CO AND MAYOR PRO TEM ALTER, UH, VERY MUCH APPRECIATE, UM, THIS GESTURE.
DO YOU WANT TO BE IN THE MIDDLE?
[00:11:32]
WELCOME EVERYONE.UM, AND WE'LL JUST, YEAH, YOU GUYS CAN, YOU GUYS CAN COME BACK HERE AS LONG AS YOU'RE COMFORTABLE, IF YOU'RE NOT COMFORTABLE, STAY WHEREVER YOU'RE, IF YOU'RE COMFORTABLE BEING BEHIND US.
UM, YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME OVER HERE.
IF YOU PREFER TO BE DISTANCED OR WHATEVER, UM, THAT'S, THAT'S UP TO YOU.
WE CAN DO A PICTURE OUTSIDE AFTERWARDS IF WE WANT, BUT UM, WANT TO COME OVER A LITTLE BIT IF WE WANT ANYONE ELSE IN THE YOU'RE NOT BEHIND THEM? WELL, PEOPLE CAN BE HERE.
WHAT'S UP TO YOU GUYS, WHATEVER BETSY, ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS BEFORE WE, NO, THIS IS FINE.
I MIGHT ASK YOU AT THE ENDS OF BUMPS UP A LITTLE WHEN I DO THE FINAL PICTURE ARGUMENT, BUT YEAH, AND I THINK WE MIGHT GO OUTSIDE SINCE WE HAVE SO MANY OF US.
WELL, AND WHERE SHOULD I BE LOOKING FOR THIS ROOM? JUST SO I'M CLEAR, SIR, IF I'M AT.
BECAUSE IT'S DIFFERENT IN THIS ROOM.
[Proclamation 3]
MY NAME IS ALISON ALTER AND IT IS MY HONOR TO SERVE THE CITY OF AUSTIN AS THE MAYOR PRO TEM, AND TO REPRESENT DISTRICT 10 ON THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL, I'M REALLY DELIGHTED THIS MORNING TO SHARE A PROCLAMATION HONORING THE CITY OF AUSTIN EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE MENTORED STUDENTS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SEVERAL KEY ORGANIZATIONS IN OUR CITY, AUSTIN PARTNERS, IN EDUCATION COMMUNITIES, IN SCHOOLS AND THE SEEDLING FOUNDATION.THOSE OF US WHO ARE PARENTS OR WHO WORK WITH CHILDREN KNOW VERY WELL, THAT IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD.
WE EACH HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO HELP OUR CHILDREN REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.
WELL, I'VE ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT INVESTMENTS IN CHILDREN AND THEIR EDUCATORS ARE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT INVESTMENTS WE CAN MAKE AS A COMMUNITY.
WE ALL KNOW IT TAKES MORE THAN FUNDING PROGRAMS. IT REQUIRES MEANINGFUL INDIVIDUAL CONNECTIONS.
PEOPLE WILLING TO SHOW UP WEEK AFTER WEEK TO BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS.
I'M SURE ALL OF US WHO ARE HERE TODAY WITH ME CAN THINK OF ADULTS OTHER THAN OUR PARENTS WHO HELPED US ACHIEVE OUR DREAMS AND PURSUE OUR AMBITIONS BECAUSE OF OUR OWN EXPERIENCES.
WE KNOW THAT EVERY CHILD NEEDS AND DESERVES A CHAMPION WHO BELIEVES IN THEM.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF THESE CHAMPIONS JOINING US THIS MORNING, JOHN LEWIS, WHO SERVES AS MY APPOINTEE TO OUR PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD, AND ALSO WORKS AS THE SCHOOL CONNECTIONS MANAGER FOR AUSTIN PARTNERS IN EDUCATION.
AND WE'RE JOINED BY MELISSA COSTA, WHO WORKS FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND HELPS TO MAKE ALL THIS WORK POSSIBLE.
ALONG WITH LEE DAWSON, DORCAS, MORE EDITH MURRAY, KIMBERLY FREEMAN, OR ALL COA MENTORS, ASHLEY, AMEN.
WHO'S A MENTOR FRANCIS BERRERA,
[00:15:01]
WHO'S AN API.WHO'S A MENTOR AND API STAFF, BIANCA GALVAN.
WHO'S A CITY OF AUSTIN MENTOR.
AND WE ARE ALSO JOINED BY REPRESENTATIVES FROM COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS, INCLUDING JENNA WHITTIER AND DOLSON MONTOYA, AND DAN LEO FROM THE SEEDLING FOUNDATION.
AND ONE MORE MENTOR SCOTT GORDON FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES ON THE CITY COUNCIL.
I WANT TO THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATE YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
WE RECENTLY LAST WEEK COMMEMORATED DR.
AND TODAY I'M REMINDED OF THESE SENTIMENTS.
EVERYBODY CAN BE GREAT BECAUSE ANYBODY CAN SERVE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A COLLEGE DEGREE TO SERVE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO MAKE YOUR SUBJECT IN VERB, AGREE TO SERVE.
YOU ONLY NEED A HEART FULL OF GRACE, A SOUL GENERATED BY LOVE.
SO WHILE WE ACKNOWLEDGE THESE SPECIAL INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TODAY, LET'S REMEMBER THAT WE ALL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTRIBUTE AND JOIN THEM IN THIS IMPORTANT WORK.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN JOINING THEM AND MENTORING A CHILD IN OUR COMMUNITY, YOU CAN SIGN UP TO BE A MENTOR TO AT WWW.AUSTINPARTNERS.ORGSLASHVOLUNTEERATWWW.CISCENTRALTEXAS.ORG, OR@WWWDOTSEEDLING.ORG.
I WILL NOW READ A PROCLAMATION DECLARING JANUARY S NATIONAL MENTORING MONTH.
BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS MENTORING BY ADULT ROLE MODELS HELPS YOUTH TO STAY IN SCHOOL, SUCCEED, ACADEMICALLY, IMPROVE SELF-ESTEEM AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS AND PURSUE HIGHER EDUCATION.
AND WHEREAS DURING THIS SPECIAL MONTH, WE CELEBRATE THOSE WHO MENTOR AND SUPPORT THE NEXT GENERATION.
AND WE ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION AND MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS ACROSS OUR CITY.
AND WHEREAS SINCE 2004 CITY EMPLOYEES HAVE MENTORED HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S MENTOR TUTOR PROGRAM AND AUSTIN PARTNERS IN EDUCATION COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS AND THE SEEDLING FOUNDATION.
THESE MENTORS HAVE SERVED AS ROLE MODELS, HELPING STUDENTS TO BUILD LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS AND STRENGTHENED SELF-ESTEEM.
AND WHEREAS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC BROUGHT CHALLENGES FOR VOLUNTEER MENTORS, BUT THEY SUSTAIN THEIR MENTORSHIP CONNECTIONS AND USE THEIR DEDICATION TO STRENGTHEN THE SPECIAL FRIENDSHIPS THEY HAD ACHIEVED.
AUSTINITES WHO DONATE THEIR TIME AND ENERGY TO SERVE AS MENTORS, INCLUDING CITY EMPLOYEES DESERVE SPECIAL RECOGNITION FOR MAKING A TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE.
NOW, THEREFORE I, ALISON ALDER MAYOR PRO TEM OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN ON BEHALF OF STEVE ADLER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND MY COLLEAGUES DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JANUARY OF 2022 AS NATIONAL MENTORING MONTH.
AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO DO A PHOTO IN HERE AND WE'LL GO DO A PHOTO OUTSIDE.
I DON'T THINK WE HAVE SOMEONE SPEAKING.
WHERE DO YOU WANT US, IF YOU GUYS ARE COMFORTABLE WISHING IN THIS WAY, THAT'D BE GREAT.
BETSY, WOULD YOU COME UP, WOULD YOU MIND COMING OUTSIDE WITH US OR DO YOU WANT TO GO IN THE CHAMBER GUYS OUTSIDE? ARE THE CHAMBERLAIN? YEAH.
[Call to Order]
IT LOOKS LIKE WE MIGHT HAVE TWO PEOPLE, UH, VIRTUALLY HERE, COUNCIL MEMBERS, HARPER, MADISON, AND RENT THEIR IA.AS A MEMBER HARPER, MADISON, UH, LET'S GO AHEAD AND CONVENE THIS, UH, AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING HERE ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 27TH, 2022 AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
UH, WE'RE ALL HERE AT CITY HALL.
WE HAVE SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, RENT 30 AND HARPER MADISON
[00:20:01]
PARTICIPATING, UH, VIRTUALLY HERE AT THIS POINT.UH, WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND BEGIN.
I'M GOING TO START BY READING SOME OF THE CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS.
UH, WE HAVE TODAY, UH, AUSTIN HOUSING, FINANCE CORPORATION ITEM NUMBER 10 HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN.
WE'RE NOT IN THAT MEETING NOW, BUT JUST TO GIVE PEOPLE NOTICE WHEN WE DO GET THERE.
ITEM NUMBER THREE ON THE COUNCIL AGENDA HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL MARCH 3RD, 2022, ITEM NUMBER 33.
UH, IT IS, UH, THE CLIENT DEPARTMENT IS THE FLEET MOBILITY SERVICES ITEM NUMBER 37, UH, IS, UM, UH, WITHDRAWN ITEM NUMBER 45 POSTPONED TO FEBRUARY 17TH, 2022, ITEM 63, UH, JANUARY 24TH, 2022 IS REMAKE RECOMMENDED WITH AMENDMENTS BY THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY ON EIGHT ZERO VOTE ITEM 67, WITHDRAWN ITEM 77, THE PETITION NO LONGER VALID DUE TO WITHDRAWAL OF A PETITIONER SIGNATURE ITEM.
NUMBER 85 ABOUT A PETITION HAS BEEN FILED IN OPPOSITION TO THIS REZONING CASE.
WE HAVE TWO ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA THAT HAVE BEEN POLLED ITEM NUMBER 19.
UM, THE ECONOMIC DISTRICTS PULLED BY COUNCIL MEMBER TOBO ITEM NUMBER 53, UH, WHICH IS THE, UM, UM, EMPLOYEE RIGHTS AND BENEFIT, UH, KITCHEN, UH, UH, IFC.
WE HAVE ABOUT A HUNDRED SPEAKERS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK TO US TODAY.
UH, WE'RE GOING TO, UH, START THIS MORNING, UM, UH, WITH, UH, SPEAKERS IN PERSON AND THEN ON THE PHONE TWO MINUTES, UH, EACH, UH, WE GET TO CITIZEN COMMUNICATION THREE MINUTES WHEN WE GET TO, UH, UH, ZONING IS AFTERNOON IT'S, UH, UM, WE SAID ONE MINUTE EACH, UH, ON THAT.
UM, AND THAT'S HOW WE'LL PROCEED THE INTENT RIGHT NOW.
I'LL GET TO YOU JUST ONE SECOND.
UH, THE, THE INTENT IS TO HEAR THE SPEAKERS FIRST.
IT'S GOING TO BE ALL THE SPEAKERS IN THE MORNING AND THEN PROBABLY WE'LL PULL UP FIRST BEFORE WE DO THE CONSENT AGENDA, THE CONSIDERATION OF THE SEXUAL ASSAULT, UH, SETTLEMENT ISSUE.
AND WE'LL TAKE A VOTE ON THAT.
UH, AND THEN WE'LL MOVE INTO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
WE HAVE NO EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM, UH, WITH US TODAY, UH, BUT, UH, OBVIOUSLY SOME ZONING CASES THAT LOOK LIKE THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT, UH, UH, INTEREST, UH, IN, UH, CANTERBURY KITCHEN, UM, JUST QUICKLY, UM, ITEM NUMBER, UM, 39, UH, I'D LIKE TO PULL IT FOR NOW.
I MAY BE ABLE TO PUT IT BACK ON CONSENT BY THE TIME WE GET TO IT.
I JUST HAVE A QUICK QUESTION FOR STAFF.
SO I'LL TRY TO RESOLVE THAT BEFORE WE ACTUALLY GET TO THE CONFINEMENT.
THAT'S OUR TOVO MARY, AS YOU NOTED, UM, ITEM THE ITEM I PULLED 19, I JUST HAVE SOME DIRECTION AND WE MAY BE ABLE TO LEAVE IT ON CONSENT.
AND, AND MY JUST READING THAT DIRECTION INTO THE RECORD.
I DO HAVE 30 I'VE RAPID-FIRE QUESTIONS FOR 33 AND 36, SO I'D LIKE TO PULL THEM, BUT THOSE MIGHT ALSO BE ABLE TO JUST REMAIN ON CONSENTED IF I COULD ASK A QUICK QUESTION ABOUT EACH ONE.
AND IF THEY'RE REALLY QUICK ON NEW TOPICS, WE HAVEN'T SEEN GOD'S WORD.
I TOLD HIM, YOU KNOW, WE COULD PASS CONSENT AND THEN IMMEDIATELY GO TO THOSE ITEMS. THAT MIGHT BE THE FACTOR.
SO, UH, WE HAVE SOME, UM, UH, LAID BACK UP IN ITEMS, AUSTIN FINANCE, HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.
PLEASE REMIND ME TO DO THIS LATER, UH, ON ITEM SEVEN, 11 AND 10 ON THE REGULAR COUNCIL AGENDA, WE HAVE LAID FILED MATERIALS ON ITEMS 44, 45, 48, 50 51 52 53 63 68, 70 73, 74, 75, 78, 80 81 82, 84, 85, 87 AND 89.
JUST TO REMEMBER THE CONSENT AGENDA TODAY IS ITEMS ONE THROUGH 56 AND ALSO ITEMS 88 AND 89 COUNCIL MEMBER LS.
I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS THE APPROPRIATE TIME, BUT I KNOW YOU READ ON ITEM 63, THAT IT WAS RECOMMENDED WITH AMENDMENTS BY THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION.
[00:25:01]
I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY EITHER NOW OR LATER, UM, WHETHER THAT RECOMMENDATION IS PART OF WHAT WE WOULD BE ADOPTING TODAY.THAT'S ALSO NOT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA BECAUSE THAT'S A PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS. WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME, BUT IF STAFF COULD A MANAGER, IF YOU COULD BE READY TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION, UH GASPAROTTO UH, MAYOR THE RENOVATION COSTS FOR THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING, AS I INDICATED ON TUESDAY AND TEND TO ASK FOR A POSTPONEMENT ON THAT ITEM.
AND I DON'T BELIEVE WE PULLED IT FOR TODAY.
SO I, I NEED TO PULL THOSE THREE ITEMS AS WELL.
WELL, I HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THOSE ARE JUST ONE MINUTE PLEASE.
BUT, UM, THIS IS THE DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY COURT ITEMS. IT IS THE RENOVATION COSTS FOR THE MUNICIPAL, UM, THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING.
OH, I HAVE A NINE, 10 AND 15, I THINK ARE THE DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY OFFICE BUILDINGS ISSUES NINE, 10 AND 15.
AND MY INTENT IS TASKED FOR POSTPONEMENT.
UM, I'M NOT SURE IF WE HAVE SPEAKERS SIGNED UP ON THAT ITEM TODAY, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW THAT MY INTENT IS TO POSTPONE THAT.
I WAS A MEMBER OF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'LL SUPPORT YOU ON.
UH, JUST NOTING, UH, CONGRATULATIONS TO, UM, UH, UH, JUDAH VALLA, UH, RAN, UH, FOR, UM, UH, WHAT WILL SOON BEING A VACATED SEAT FROM COUNCIL BARCA? SORRY, I THINK THIS IS YOUR PENULTIMATE MEETING WITH US ON THE DESK.
UH, WE'LL BE ABLE, UH, NEXT WEEK TO, UM, TO, UH, UM, CERTIFY THE RESULTS.
AND THEN THERE'LL BE A SWEARING IN, I THINK TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY OF NEXT, NOT MONDAY OF NEXT WEEK, BUT A WEEK FROM THIS COMING MONDAY.
ANYTHING BEFORE WE HAVE SPEAKERS, COUNCIL MEMBER CASAR AND PO PO AND THEY RECOGNIZE YOU.
UM, I JUST HAD, I JUST WANT TO HAVE A 28 AND 29, IF IT HADN'T BEEN PULLED, THEY HAVE NOT BEEN PULLED VACCINE INCENTIVES 28, 29.
I JUST WANT TO, WHEN I HAVE LEARNED A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT IT AND, UH, I DO HAVE SOME CONCERNS, BUT, UH, I'LL, I'LL WAIT UNTIL WE, WE BRING IT.
SO THE ITEMS THAT I HAVE BEEN PULLED ARE NINE, 10 AND 15, THE DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY COURT, I THINK PRIMARILY TO, UH, TO ADDRESS QUESTIONS IN POSTPONEMENT ITEM NUMBER 15.
UH, I REMEMBER 19 ALSO ITEMS 28, 29, 30, 36 39.
AND THE FIRST ONE WE'RE GOING TO HANDLE AFTER SPEAKERS IS GOING TO BE 44.
UM, I WILL BE, UM, I THINK ADDING MY CONSENT FOR MY DIRECTION FOR ITEM 48, WHICH IS ABOUT THE COVID COSTS, UM, ON CONSENT.
AND I'LL DO THAT WHEN WE BRING UP CONSENT, BUT I DON'T NEED TO PULL ITEM 48.
AND I THINK THAT'S FINE STAYING ON CONSENT, ESPECIALLY SINCE THAT WAS POSTED, WE ALL HAD CHANCE TO SEE THAT.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CASSARA THEN COUNCIL MEMBER, KITCHEN MAYOR.
YOU LAID OUT THAT THE SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVOR SETTLEMENT, UH, WOULD BE UP FOR A VOTE AFTER CONSENT.
ARE WE TAKING THOSE SPEAKERS AS PART OF THE CONSENT SPEAKERS OR IS THAT COMING UP SEPARATELY WITH THAT ITEM? I DON'T, YOU KNOW, SPEAKERS AS PART OF CONSENSUS THAT WE'RE GOING TO CALL ALL THE SPEAKERS, INCLUDING THOSE SPEAKERS.
AND I THINK THEY'VE SIGNED UP.
SO, UH, TOGETHER, SO THERE AREN'T THAT MANY SPEAKERS, SO THERE'LL BE SPEAKING PRETTY MUCH THAT WAY.
WE'RE GOING TO HEAR THE REMOTE SPEAKERS BECAUSE THEY NEED TO HAVE THE CHANCE TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK ON THAT.
I, IN CASE SOMEBODY DOES THAT.
UH, BUT WHEN WE'RE DONE WITH SPEAKERS, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THAT ITEM UP AND THEN WE'LL DO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CLEAR TO ME.
IT'S NOT A, YOU CAN PUT 39 BACK ON.
THAT'S NOT THE ONE I HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT.
SO I'LL IDENTIFY WHICH ONE BEFORE WE GET TO THE CONSENT, BUT YOU CAN PUT THAT ONE ON.
I WAS JUST GOING TO ASK, IF YOU COULD READ THROUGH THE PULLED ITEMS AGAIN BRIEFLY, I WAS WRITING SOME OF THEM DOWN AND NOT A PROBLEM.
THE PULLED ITEMS, REMEMBER CONSENT AGENDAS, ONE THROUGH 56, BUT ALSO ITEMS 88 AND 89.
[00:30:01]
LIST, THEY PULLED ITEMS NINE, 10 AND 15, WHICH ARE THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT ITEM, ITEM NUMBER 19 ITEMS, 28 AND 29 ITEMS, 33 AND 36.AND IT'S, WE'RE VOTING ITEM 44 SEPARATELY.
SHOULD THAT ALSO BE PULLED UP TO VOTE SEPARATELY? IT WILL BE, BUT IT'LL BE HANDLED BEFORE WE GET THE CONSENT, SO.
[Public Comments (Part 1 of 3)]
SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND HAVE, UH, UH, SPEAKERS CLERK.I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO, TO CALL THE, UH, SPEAKERS.
UH, PLEASE BEGIN WITH THE ONES THAT ARE HERE WITH US.
UH, AND IT'S, UH, TWO MINUTES PER SPEAKER.
THE FIRST SPEAKER IN PERSON WE HAVE IS PAUL WAGNER ITEM 29.
THIS WAS PULLED, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON IT JUST BECAUSE AS A CONCERNED CITIZEN, SEEING WHAT IT WAS GOING TO BE SPENT ON, AND THIS WILL GO TO THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS AS WELL.
THIS WOULD BE THE TIME TO SPEAK ON PULLED ITEMS. ANYHOW.
THERE IS A PRESENTATION WITH THIS.
IT WAS SENT IN, IS IT UP? OKAY.
I CAN, I CAN SPEAK ON IT WITHOUT IT.
UM, THERE ARE TWO ITEMS ON THERE.
28 AND 29, $550,000 HAS ALREADY BEEN SPENT ACCORDING TO CLAUDIA RODRIGUEZ FOR THE STAPLES CORPORATION FOR VACCINE INCENTIVES, 29 WAS AN ADDITIONAL $1 MILLION.
THERE WE ARE TO BE SPENT ON GIFT CARDS FOR VACCINE INCENTIVES AS WELL.
THERE IS AN ACCOUNTING ERROR THAT I CAUGHT ON 29 WORKING ON THIS HERE.
AND WE WILL GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
THEY PROBABLY GOT PULLED BECAUSE I'VE SPOKEN TO A COUPLE OF OTHER CONCERNS, CITIZENS ABOUT THIS, ABOUT WHAT I THINK IS IN SOME RESPECTS, A BAILOUT FOR THE STAPLES CORPORATION.
AND THERE'S PROBABLY A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM THAT HAVE THE VACCINE THAT DIDN'T RECEIVE AN INCENTIVE, WHICH ISN'T NECESSARILY THE PROBLEM I HAVE WITH IT.
BUT MOVING ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, JUST TO HIGHLIGHT, I THINK HOW THIS IS ONE KIND OF WASTEFUL IS THAT IF YOU WERE TO ACCOUNT HOW MUCH MONEY, $1.5 MILLION WILL BUY AND REAMS OF PAPER.
UH, IF YOU LOOK AT THE INDEPENDENT, IT'S THE TALLEST BUILDING IN AUSTIN.
AND IF YOU WERE TO GO BUY REAMS OF PAPER WITH THE SALES TAX INCLUDED, YOU'D BE AT 57 INDEPENDENCE HIGH IN PAPER.
I KNOW THIS IS AN EXTREME CASE, BUT DOES ANYONE NEED THAT MUCH PAPER? ANYWAY, NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
I THINK THERE'S A MUCH BETTER WAY TO SPEND THIS MONEY.
ONE, IF IT HAS TO BE SPENT, WHICH IT DOES, I BELIEVE BECAUSE IT'S FEDERAL MONEY, TAKE IT.
EVERYONE HERE HAS ALREADY PAID FOR IT WITH THEIR TAXES.
I'M NOT SPEAKING ON THEIR BEHALF, BUT A MUCH BETTER INCENTIVE WOULD BE TO GIVE PEOPLE A GIFT CARD TO THE YMCA, WHICH IS A NONPROFIT.
IT CAN EASILY BE AUDIBLE WITH A PHONE CALL.
THEY HAVE MULTIPLE BRANCHES AND THIS WOULD INCENTIVIZE PEOPLE TO MAINTAIN HEALTH COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
IT'S A GREAT FACILITY, AT LEAST ON TOWN LAKE.
THE OTHER ONES ARE NICE AS WELL.
JUDE HICKEY IS THE PERSON THAT I'VE SPOKEN WITH.
HE CAN BE CONTACTED TO SERVICE THESE GIFT CARDS AS NEEDED.
UH, GOOD MORNING, MR. UNDERWOOD.
I SHARED YOUR CONCERN AND IN THE Q AND A, I ASKED A QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
UM, AND THE, THE Q AND A, YOU CAN GO ON TO THE WEBSITE FOR THIS COUNCIL MEETING AND PULL THAT UP.
AND THE ANSWER TO MY QUESTION WAS THAT THE TYPE OF GIFT CARDS BEING PURCHASED ARE VISA GIFT CARDS AND RECIPIENTS MAY USE THEM AT ANY RETAILER THAT ACCEPTS VISA CREDIT CARDS.
ADDITIONALLY, THE RECIPIENTS OF THE GIFT CARDS ACKNOWLEDGED THE FOLLOWING UPON RECEIPT.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS INCENTIVE IS NOT TO BE USED FOR THE PURCHASE OF ALCOHOL OR TOBACCO PRODUCTS.
I UNDERSTAND THAT CITY OF AUSTIN, EMPLOYEES AND VENDORS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THIS INCENTIVE.
AND I AFFIRMED THAT I AM NOT A CITY OF AUSTIN EMPLOYEE OR VENDOR, AND I ATTEST THAT I HAVE NOT RECEIVED MORE THAN $600 IN GIFT CARDS FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN DURING THIS CALENDAR YEAR.
UM, SO I APPRECIATE YOUR CONCERNS.
UM, WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PURCHASE THE CARDS SOMEHOW.
[00:35:01]
DON'T HAVE A WAY TO DO THAT OTHERWISE.AND I BELIEVE THAT STAPLES IS SIMPLY THE VENDOR THAT'S PROVIDING US, UM, THE VISA CARDS SO THAT PEOPLE CAN SEE THESE ARE CASH GIFT CARDS.
WELL THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE YMCAS CAN'T PRINT 5,000 GIFT CARDS IN THREE DAYS.
THIS IS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS SINCE PART TO THE YMCAS.
IT'S, UH, I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S, UH, IT'S A CARD SO THAT PEOPLE CAN PURCHASE WHAT THEY, WHAT THEY NEED TO DO THE CASH INCENTIVE.
I THINK THAT SHOULD BE CLARIFIED BECAUSE IT JUST LOOKS LIKE YOU WERE GIVING MONEY TO THE STAPLES CORPORATION.
UM, I AGREE, WHICH IS WHY I ASKED THE QUESTION IN Q AND A, AND IT WAS CLARIFIED THERE, BUT THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE USED AS FOR THEM TO CLARIFY THAT ISSUE.
AND I THINK IT'S A GREAT INCENTIVE.
IT JUST COULD BE BETTER USED FOR HEALTH AND WELLNESS.
AND AFTER THE QA CLOSED, WE HAD SOME COMMUNICATIONS WITH OUR STAFF TOO, ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF FEES THAT ARE A PART OF THOSE VISA GIFT CARDS.
AND THAT NUMBER IS NOT IN FRONT OF ME AT THE MOMENT, BUT IT IS IN A NEIGHBORHOOD OF ABOUT $52,000.
SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THESE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT.
AND I, I BELIEVE IT IS WISE TO GIVE PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND THAT MONEY AS LIKE TO GIVE THEM A FLEXIBLE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND THAT MONEY AS THEY SEE FIT FOR THEIR, FOR THEIR, UH, FAMILY'S BUDGET.
I DO WISH WE COULD FIND A WAY TO LOWER, YOU KNOW, TO GET A DEAL THAT DIDN'T HAVE QUITE SO MUCH LOST ON, ON FEES, BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT THAT'S POSSIBLE GIVEN THE WAY THOSE STRUCTURE OF THOSE CARDS WORK.
AND THEN REAL IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THAT THIS IS A CAR THAT PEOPLE CAN REDEEM AT ANY PLACE THAT TAKES, UH, UH, CREDIT CARDS, UM, NEXT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER AT THE AREA, I GUESS MAYOR.
AND THE ONLY REASON I WAS, UH, CONCERNED ABOUT IT IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WENT OUT THERE AND GOT THERE AND VACCINATION AND DIDN'T RECEIVE ANYTHING.
AND THESE ARE THE QUESTIONS THAT THEY'RE ASKING ME, HOW COME WE DIDN'T GET ANYTHING, WE DID THE RIGHT THING.
AND NOW EVEN SEND THEM BY AS EVEN THE PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T DO THE RIGHT THING AND GOT THEIR VACCINATION HERE.
WHEN IT'S, YOU KNOW, NOW WE GOT THE BARRIERS OUT THERE AND I CAN SEE THE NEED FOR IT.
BUT, UH, I'M, I'M KIND OF DISAPPOINTED THAT WE DIDN'T OFFER ANY, ANYTHING TO THE ONES THAT REALLY PILED UP OR ADVICE TO GO OUT AND GET VACCINATED.
SO I DON'T WANT TO PULL IT ANYMORE.
CAUSE I, I, I, UH, LEARNED WHAT, WHAT, UH, THE CONCERNS WERE AND I'LL JUST LET IT HIT, STAY THERE ON NOT ON CONSENT.
AND, UH, AND, UH, I WAS JUST ABSTAIN FROM HIM.
YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER TO DREA, THANK YOU.
WE'LL PUT THOSE TWO ITEMS BACK ON TO THE, UH, UH, CONSENT THAT'S ITEMS, 28 AND 29.
I SHARE THE FRUSTRATION THAT YOU HAVE.
UH, AND, AND IT ISN'T, YOU KNOW, AT SOME LEVEL IT'S NOT FAIR.
ULTIMATELY THE REWARD THAT WHERE PEOPLE GET WHEN THEY TAKE THE VACCINE AND THE BOOSTER IS THEY HELPED SAVE THEIR LIFE AND THEIR HEALTH AND THEIR FAMILIES.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO DO, TO HELP OUR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL THAT THEY CAN'T GET VACCINATED YET.
BUT WE KNOW FROM LOOKING AT OUR HOSPITALS, JUST HOW EFFECTIVE THIS IS, UM, UH, AND IN A PERFECT WORLD, IT COUNTS, REMEMBER AT DORIA, EVERYBODY DOES THIS BECAUSE, UM, NOT ONLY THEY PROTECT THEM, BUT, BUT BECAUSE WE'RE DOING IT TO HELP PROTECT OTHER PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.
UM, I APPRECIATE YOU PUTTING IT BACK ON TO CONSENT BECAUSE ALSO AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS A FIGHT FOR NUMBERS.
IF YOU WALK THROUGH OUR ICU IS RIGHT NOW, IT'S PEOPLE THAT HAVE NOT BEEN VACCINATED AND BOOSTED.
UM, AND, AND KIND OF NOT LOOKING BACK OR ANYTHING, LOOKING JUST AT THE PLACE WE'RE IN, WE HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN, FOR WHATEVER REASON PEOPLE HAVE NOT GOTTEN IT, TRY AND ENCOURAGE THEM, BUT I SHARE THE, THE, THE FRUSTRATION, UH, BUT WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT IT RIGHT NOW.
WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TODAY TO HELP KEEP THE COMMUNITY SAFE? UH, KATHERINE POOL, YOU HAVE ONE QUESTION FOLLOW ON QUESTION.
THE GIFT CARD WILL BE GIVEN TO RESIDENTS WHEN THEY COME TO, UH, I GUESS, TO THE CITY AND SHOW THAT THEY HAVE BEEN VACCINATED OR ARE WE SIMPLY GIVING IT OUT IN ADVANCE AND HOPING THAT THEY WILL GO GET VACCINATED, MR. GONZALES, DO YOU KNOW, LET ME SEE IF THERE'S A MEMBER OF THE AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH.
WELL, WE'LL TRY TO GET AN ANSWER FROM AUSTIN.
ACM HAYDEN HOWARD, HOW ARE YOU? GOOD MORNING.
HER YOU, UM, STEPHANIE HAYDEN ACM, UM, THOSE
[00:40:01]
GIFT CARDS ARE REALLY USED AS AN INCENTIVE.SO WHEN PEOPLE ARE COMING IN TO GET THOSE VACCINES, THE GOAL IS, IS TO PROVIDE THAT VACCINE, UM, AFTER THEY HAVE RECEIVED THOSE, THOSE VACCINES.
AND I SEE ADRIAN STIRRUP IS, IS ON THE CALL AS WELL, SO SHE CAN HELP OUT.
BUT SO JUST TO CLARIFY, TO PROVIDE THE GIFT CARD AFTER HAVING GOTTEN THE JOB OF THE VACCINES.
OKAY, WELL, THAT SOUNDS LIKE A REALLY GOOD SEQUENCE.
LET'S CONTINUE ON WITH THE SPEAKERS, GREG UNDERWOOD AND AFTER HIS BEST PEN YET, EITHER OF THEM HERE.
I THINK GREG WAS THE FIRST SPEAKER, GREG UNDERWOOD.
NO, HE WAS THE PERSON WITH THE OTHER FIRST PRESENCE.
NEXT SPEAKER, MARINA, GARRETT, AND MAYOR.
I HAD MENTIONED THIS TO YOU AND OTHERS BEFORE, BUT, UM, WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A LIMITED TIME THAT FOLKS CAN SPEAK UNDER OUR RULES.
YOU KNOW THAT IF WE ASK THE SPEAKER A QUESTION THAT TIME CAN BE EXTENDED.
I CERTAINLY NEVER WANT TO, UH, FOR US TO STRETCH THAT RULE TOO, TOO FAR.
BUT GIVEN HOW IMPORTANT THE, THIS CASE HAS BEEN FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS, WHEN THE DIFFERENT SPEAKERS, IF THEIR TIME IS UP, I'M GOING TO ASK THEM TO FINISH THEIR THOUGHTS FOR THESE FOUR SPEAKERS, BECAUSE I THINK THEY HAD A LITTLE BIT MORE TO SAY THAN OUR TIME.
SO, SO THANK YOU ALL FOR, FOR THAT GRACE.
THE FIRST TIME I STOOD HERE, I WAS 19.
I WAS BEGGING FOR ANYONE TO HELP ME TO HEAR MY VOICE.
I WAS LIVING A LIFE THAT NO ONE, ESPECIALLY IN 19 YEAR OLD GIRLS SHOULD LIVE.
I WOULD SIT IN MY ROOM ALL NIGHT, STARING AT THE DOOR, WAITING FOR MY RAPIST TO COME FIND ME AGAIN, TO RATE ME AGAIN OR EVEN TO KILL ME BECAUSE HE KNEW THAT I REPORT IT.
AND HE KNEW THAT HE GOT AWAY WITH IT.
SO I CAME TO YOU ALL ASKING FOR HELP, BECAUSE I THOUGHT IF YOU KNEW WHAT WAS HAPPENING, YOU WOULD WANT TO MAKE A CHANGE.
INSTEAD, I HAD TO DEVOTE SIX YEARS OF MY LIFE TO FINALLY FEEL THE HEALING AND CLOSURE I NEEDED.
I GAVE UP MY EARLY TWENTIES TO DO WHAT YOU ALL WERE ELECTED TO.
YOU WERE THE LEADERS IN MY CITY, BUT INSTEAD I HAD TO LEAD, YOU WERE, EXCUSE ME, YOU WERE THE ONES THAT HAD THE POWER TO MAKE SWEEPING CHANGES.
BUT INSTEAD I HAD THAT TO FIND THAT POWER TO STAND HERE BEFORE YOU TO HAVE THIS REFORM THAT IS NEEDED TODAY, YOU'RE THE ONES THAT HAD THE KNOWLEDGE AND ACCESS.
BUT INSTEAD I HAD TO TEACH MYSELF AND I HAD TO LEARN HOW TO SEE THINGS THROUGH, TO GIVE THE SURVIVORS AND OUR COMMUNITY, WHAT THEY NEEDED.
YOU WERE THE ONES THAT HAD THE INFLUENCE TO CONDEMN THE BAD ACTORS FOR THEIR MISTAKES AND NOT SUPPORT THEM FOR REELECTION.
BUT INSTEAD IT WAS MY VOICE, MY TRAUMA AND MY PAIN THAT HAD TO BE TOLD ALL OVER THE CITY TO HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE, MY JOURNEY, AND NOT ANYTHING YOU HAD TO DO WITH COMES FULL CIRCLE TODAY.
I LOST EVERY PIECE OF MYSELF THAT NIGHT.
AND FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS, I HAVE FOUGHT EVERY MOMENT TO BUILD MYSELF BACK INTO THE POWERFUL PERSON I AM HERE TODAY.
I'M SO PROUD OF THIS SETTLEMENT, AND I'M SO PROUD OF MYSELF AND EVERYTHING I'VE PUT INTO THIS, BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT SURVIVORS DID THIS.
MY VOICE WAS HEARD BY SURVIVORS ALL ACROSS THE NATION.
ADVOCATES, LAWYERS LOVED ONES.
BUT I STILL QUESTION IF YOU EVER TRULY HEARD IT, AS YOU WANT TO SAY, THANK YOU.
IT'S A COUNCIL MEMBER CASAR, BECAUSE I DO KNOW THAT YOU HEARD MY VOICE.
YOU MADE SURE THAT I KNEW THAT DAY IN SEPTEMBER OF 2015, THAT YOU HEARD ME AND YOU HAVE FOUGHT FOR ME AND WITH ME EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
AND I DO FEEL VERY HONORED TO SHARE THIS MOMENT WITH YOU AGAIN, I'M SO PROUD OF WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE TODAY.
THE MONEY GOING INTO THE APD BUDGET FOR SURVIVORS AND THE POLICY CHANGES THAT WILL ABSOLUTELY HAVE EFFECT ON SOMEONE'S LIFE ARE HISTORICAL.
BUT I HOPE THAT YOU LOOK IN THAT AUDIENCE AND KNOW THAT THIS IS BECAUSE AN AMAZING GROUP OF SURVIVORS THAT WERE TOLD NO OVER AND OVER AGAIN, AND NEVER STOPPED WITH ALL THAT BEING SAID, IT IS UP TO YOU NOW TO SEE THOSE THINGS THROUGH IT IS UP TO YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SETTLEMENT MEANS SOMETHING.
I DON'T WANT IT TO BE THE CASE THAT A YEAR DOWN THE ROAD, YOU ALL FORGET ABOUT THIS POWERFUL MOMENT AND LOOSEN THESE POLICY CHANGES WE'RE ASKING FOR.
AND THE NEXT YOUNG WOMAN THAT IS RAPED HAS HER VOICE AND HER POWER STOLEN.
THE WAY THAT I DID WELL, I WOULDN'T CHANGE A STEP OF
[00:45:01]
MY JOURNEY.NO YOUNG WOMAN SHOULD EVER BE MADE TO TAKE IT.
SO WITH THAT, I, I HOPE YOU ABOUT YESTERDAY AND APPROVE THE SETTLEMENT AND GIVE SURVIVORS WHAT THEY NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE'LL GET BACK TO YOU, MR. PENA.
WE DID CALL YOUR NAME NEXT SPEAKER ON THE LIST.
NEXT IS JOSE GARZA AFTERWARD IS DANA NELSON.
MR. MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
UM, I AM HOPEFUL AS I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY, A FEW YEARS AGO, UM, SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT SUED OUR COUNTY AND OUR CITY FOR OUR FAILURE TO INVESTIGATE AND PROSECUTE THE BRUTAL CRIMES THAT THEY ENDURED.
THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THAT FAILURE, BUT THE PALY, THE FAILURES OF THE PAST DO NOT RELIEVE US OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO FIND A PATH FORWARD.
I AM PROUD TO SAY THAT UNDER BECAUSE OF THE COURAGE AND LEADERSHIP OF SURVIVORS IN OUR COMMUNITY, TRAVIS COUNTY SETTLED OUR PORTION OF THE LAWSUIT AS PART OF OUR COMMITMENT TO A PATH FORWARD.
I AM PROUD AND HUMBLED TODAY TO STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH SURVIVORS AND IN SUPPORT OF THE CITY.
AS YOU BRING TO CONCLUSION THE REMAINING PORTION OF THE LAWSUIT.
I KNOW THAT REGARDLESS OF THE DETAILS OF THE RESOLUTION WITH THE CITY OR THE COUNTY, THAT WE CAN NEVER TRULY RIGHT, THE HARM THAT HAS BEEN DONE TO SO MANY WOMEN IN OUR COMMUNITY.
BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT, UM, WE CAN ALL MOVE FORWARD IN A WAY THAT HONORS SURVIVORS GUIDED BY THE MISTAKES OF OUR PAST.
WE CAN, AND WE MUST, WE MUST HEAR THEIR DEMANDS FOR REFORM IN ORDER TO PREVENT FUTURE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE MUST HEAR THE FINDINGS FROM PERF AND THE WOMEN'S LAW PROJECT AND WORK TO HONOR THOSE FINDINGS THROUGH CHANGE ON BEHALF OF THE TRAVIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
AND WITH HUMILITY, I COMMIT TO WORKING WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO MOVE FORWARD, TO FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE ON BEHALF OF SURVIVORS.
AND I AM SO INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE SAME.
UH, GOOD TO HAVE YOU BACK WITH US.
THANK YOU, DANA NELSON AND FOLLOWING MARY RUTH RAYEZ.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS DANA NELSON AND I'M AN ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY WHO IS PROUD TO WORK FOR JOSE GARZA.
I'M HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF TWO OF MY FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES WHO WERE NOT ABLE TO BE HERE, BUT WHO WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN SUPPORTING THE SURVIVORS IN THE LAWSUIT.
FIRST, I'D LIKE TO READ THE WORDS OF NEEVA FERNANDEZ.
NEEVA SAYS, I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES I'VE HEARD MY FRIEND, LIZ DONEGAN WONDER AND FRUSTRATION.
WHY CAN'T FOLKS JUST DO THE RIGHT THING? IT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
MOST OF THE TIME WE KNOW WHAT'S RIGHT AND WE FAIL TO ACT AND TO CHANGE BECAUSE IT'S TOO HARD FOR PLAINTIFFS IN THIS LAWSUIT.
THE BATTLE TO FORCE OUR COMMUNITY TO DO THE RIGHT THING HAS BEEN MUCH MORE THAN HARD.
THEY HAVE FOUGHT AGAINST A CULTURE THAT DIDN'T BELIEVE THEM AGENCIES THAT DIDN'T FIGHT FOR THEM AND AN ENTIRE SYSTEM THAT FUNDAMENTALLY DEVALUES CRIMES AGAINST WOMEN.
WE HAVE RESPONSIBILITY TO CHANGE THAT SYSTEM.
AND I AM PROUD OF THE PROGRESS WE HAVE MADE TODAY IS AN IMPORTANT STEP TOWARDS THAT GOAL.
SETTLING, THIS LAWSUIT IS LONG OVERDUE FOR THE PLAINTIFFS AND THE THOUSANDS OF RAPE VICTIMS. THEY REPRESENT JUSTICE WAS NOT FOUND IN THE LEGAL CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM.
IF THEY CAN, THAT IF THEY CAN FEEL THAT THEY'VE FOUND SOME SEMBLANCE OF HEALING THROUGH THIS PROCESS, I AM GRATEFUL.
NO WORDS CAN EXPRESS THE BRAVERY OF THE WOMEN WHO STOOD UP AND DEMANDED ACCOUNTABILITY FROM US.
I AM RELIEVED THAT WE ARE CLOSING THIS CHAPTER IN OUR CITY'S HISTORY.
I AM COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH THE CITY AND WITH SURVIVORS TO START A NEW CHAPTER.
I KNOW THAT WE TOGETHER, WE CAN NEXT I'D LIKE TO READ THE WORDS OF AARON MARTINSON.
AARON IS CURRENTLY THE DIVISION DIRECTOR FOR THE SPECIAL VICTIMS DIVISION AT THE TRAVIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
AARON SAYS, OH MAN, I REALLY WISH I COULD BE THERE TODAY.
IT'S BEEN A HELL OF A ROAD, A HELL OF A FIGHT.
[00:50:01]
ALL OF THE PLAINTIFFS TO KNOW I AM WITH YOU THERE IN SPIRIT AND SOLIDARITY.AND IN MY CONTINUING COMMITMENT TO GIVE YOUR VOICE YOU VOICE IN THE SYSTEM AS MOST, NO, I MADE A VERY TOUGH DECISION TO QUIT MY JOB TO CHALLENGE THE STATUS QUO IN TRAVIS COUNTY IN 2019, IT WAS MO IT WAS AN EXPERIENCE I NEVER WOULD HAVE AGREED TO, BUT FOR THE WOMEN WE HONOR TODAY AND THE ABJECT FAILURES OF OUR SYSTEM, WHAT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU HAS BEEN THROUGH IS INEXCUSABLE WORDS WILL NEVER WRITE THE WRONGS AND SETTLEMENTS CANNOT UNDO THE HARM THAT HAS BEEN DONE.
I AM SO, SO SORRY FOR WHAT YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH.
YOU WEREN'T BELIEVED, I AM SORRY THAT YOU WILL WALK AWAY FROM THIS ENTIRE PROCESS, STILL HURTING FROM THE TRAUMA YOU'VE ENDURED.
BUT TODAY I'M TAKING A DEEP BREATH BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT TOGETHER, WE HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE THE SYSTEM.
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU LIFTED ME UP.
AND I, UM, AND, AND FINALLY, NOW OUR SYSTEM IS LIFTING YOU UP.
I PROMISE I WILL NEVER STOP FIGHTING FOR YOU AND THE THOUSANDS OF OTHER WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN VIOLATED IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I AM PROUD TO BE YOUR PARTNER AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
AND I'M ALSO AWARE OF THE GUARDED TRUST YOU'VE PLACED IN ME.
I PROMISE TO TAKE YOUR NOT TO TAKE YOUR TRUST FOR GRANTED.
AND I PROMISE YOUR VOICES WILL GUIDE US TOWARD CREATING A SYSTEM THAT DOES NOT RE-TRAUMATIZED SURVIVORS AND THAT SUPPORTS SURVIVORS THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS.
I COMMEND THE CITY FOR SETTLING THEIR PORTION OF THE LAWSUIT.
IT'S A VULNERABLE, BUT HONORABLE STEP TOWARD A FUTURE WHERE WE WILL WORK HARD EVERY SINGLE DAY TOGETHER TO ADDRESSING THE PERSONAL AND SYSTEMIC VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IN OUR COMMUNITY.
IF I WAS THERE TODAY, I WOULD HUG EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THE SURVIVORS FOR THE COURAGE AND STRENGTH.
IT HAS TAKEN YOU TO BRING US TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
AND FOLLOWING IS HANNAH SENCO HI, GOOD MORNING COUNCIL.
UM, I'D LIKE TO START OFF BY INTRODUCING MYSELF AS THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I'VE STOOD HERE IN FRONT OF YOU.
UM, YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW ME BY THE 2008 AUSTIN POLICE REPORT NUMBER, UM, 0 8 2 8 6 0 6 4 4, IN WHICH I WAS KIDNAPPED AND RAPED BY A STRANGER HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, OR AS IN 2009, THE VICTIM IN D 0 3 0 9 0 7 3 1.
AS THE CRIMINAL CASE, MOVED INTO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE LABELED ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES TO SEE IT MOVE THROUGH OR AS THE VICTIM AND THE CAUSE NUMBER 3 0 1 0 4, 0.
AS MY CASE WAS FREE FILED DUE TO DNA CONTAMINATION OR THE DEFENDANT.
MY RAPIST WAS ULTIMATELY RELEASED, BUT AS THE DISMISSAL OF PAPERWORK READS OTHER, THE DEFENDANT HAS PENDING CASES IN HARRIS COUNTY, WHO THEREAFTER RATE, NOT ONLY TWO MORE, BUT A MINOR AS WELL.
YOU MAY ALSO RECOGNIZE ME FROM THE FINAL AUDIT REPORT BY THE TEXAS FORENSIC SCIENCE COMMISSION, AN AUDIT FOR THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, FORENSIC SERVICES DIVISION, THE DNA SECTION ON PAGE 18 THAT SUPPORTED THE DECISION TO CLOSE THE DEPARTMENT'S DNA LAB FOR CONTAMINATING MY SANE EXAM OR IN THE FINAL REPORT OF THE QUATTRONE CENTER FOR THE FAIR ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE ON PAGE 49, SECTION F TITLED CONTAMINATION EVENT IN CASEWORK.
BUT YOU PROBABLY WON'T RECOGNIZE ME AT ALL BECAUSE NONE OF THOSE CHOICES WERE ME.
UM, MY NAME IS MARY RUTH HAS TAKEN ME A MINUTE TO FIND MY VOICE.
AND WHEN I SAY A MINUTE, IN FACT, IT'S TAKEN ME MORE THAN A DECADE OF INSURMOUNTABLE ANGUISH, DEDICATION, STAMINA, AND AN UNIMAGINABLE AMOUNT OF TEARS.
THAT'S 4,746 DAYS OF RELENTLESS COMMITMENT SEEKING JUSTICE BECAUSE MY MOTHER TAUGHT ME RIGHT FROM WRONG.
I AM BELIEVED PLAINTIFF AND THE SMITH VS CITY OF AUSTIN CASE KNOWN UNTIL NOW AS AMY SMITH.
AND I'M COMING FORWARD NOW AS MYSELF DO IN PART BECAUSE OF THE COURAGE I'VE GATHERED AFTER THE PAST 13 YEARS OF FIGHTING FOR MYSELF AND IN PART DUE TO THE SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY I'VE FOUND IN OTHERS DOING DURING THIS VERY, VERY LENGTHY JOURNEY.
AND I'M ONLY ONE OF MANY WHERE THE CITY OF AUSTIN FAILED ME.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN FAILED REPEATEDLY, EMOTIONALLY STERICALLY AND TRAUMATICALLY.
AND MY FIGHT DIDN'T COME OVERNIGHT.
IT SWEEPS OVER ME WHEN I WATCHED MY DAUGHTER FALL ASLEEP AT NIGHT.
AND WHEN I HEAR OTHER STORIES THAT PREFACE WITH ME TOO, IT BURNS WHEN I WATCHED THE NEWS AND IT HAS GROWN SIGNIFICANTLY WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY THAT ALL OF THIS HAS BROUGHT ME TO, YOU KNOW, THAT SILVER LINING.
I RECOGNIZE THAT THIS MAY BE TRIGGERING FOR ALL OF US HERE TO TALK ABOUT RAPE, BUT IT'S THE LACK OF TRUST, THE LACK OF CARE, LACK OF COMMITMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY FROM THOSE SWORN TO PROTECT US SURROUNDING THE SUBJECT THAT CAN SHIP THAT CONTRIBUTES
[00:55:01]
TO THAT TRAUMA.AND THE THING ABOUT COMPLEX TRAUMA IS THAT IT STRIPS YOU OF EVERYTHING.
MEMORIES, FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS, DREAMS, AND ALL CONTROL, ALL THE WINS, ALL OF WHICH IN THIS JOURNEY, I HAVE LOST.
I'M HERE IN PERSON TODAY TO ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER NOT JUST CLOSING THIS CHAPTER TODAY AND SETTLING THE LAWSUIT, BUT ALSO TURNING THE PAGE BECAUSE MAYBE JUST MAYBE THIS AUSTIN, TEXAS TRAUMA STORY CAN BE A HEALING STORY.
LET US CHOOSE TO MOVE AWAY FROM THIS HURT TOGETHER.
WE MAY EVEN ALL COME OUT OF THIS EXPERIENCE DIFFERENT IN TRULY REMARKABLE WAYS, BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST POST TRAUMATIC STRESS THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING IN VAST WAVES.
IT'S ALSO POST-TRAUMATIC GROWTH.
POST-TRAUMATIC BREAKTHROUGHS, POST-TRAUMATIC FRIENDSHIP, POST-TRAUMATIC WISDOM.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, POST-TRAUMATIC CHANGE.
MAYBE WE'LL WE WILL FIND CROCHETING OR PAINTING OR WRITING OR ADVOCACY AND NEVER UNDERSTAND HOW WE COULD HAVE LIVED OR BREATHED WITHOUT SUCH MEDICINE BEFORE.
AND MAYBE WE WILL LEARN HOW BEAUTIFUL IT IS TO CARE FOR OURSELVES AND OTHERS.
THE FACT IS THAT NONE OF US HERE WILL EVER BE THE SAME, BUT I ASKED THAT WE MAKE THIS A CONTINUOUS OPPORTUNITY TO UNDERSTAND THE IMMENSE FEELINGS THAT COME FROM SURVIVING, THE FEAR AND THE CHAOS, THE BONE DEEP EXHAUSTION.
WE MAY STILL FEEL UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WERE TERRIFYING THINGS AND PEOPLE BEYOND OUR CONTROL SUPPORT US WITH PROOF OF ACCOUNTABILITY.
AS WE COME HOME, OUR BODIES AGAIN, UNDERSTAND THE WAYS THAT WE STILL ATE EVEN YEARS OR DECADES LATER, SHOW US THAT OUR THOUGHTS, OUR FEELINGS AND OUR VIEWS DESERVE TO BE LISTENED TO JUST AS MUCH AS DORIS DO SEE US, SEE THE STRENGTH WE HAVE GATHERED IN THE DEPTHS OF THE RESISTANCE.
SEE THE GARDEN WE GREW UP WHEN WE THOUGHT WE WERE BURIED IN DARKNESS, CITY OF AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY, BEFORE YOU'RE REQUIRED TO APOLOGIZE, I CHOOSE TO FORGIVE YOU BECAUSE I CHOOSE TO HEAL TO MY FAMILY, FRIENDS, COUNSELORS, ATTORNEYS, ANYONE WHO HAS EVER STOOD BY ME, ADVOCATED FOR US, OR JUST OFFERED A SPACE, A SAFE SPACE, AND ESPECIALLY THE SHAUN CENTER.
HANNAH SENCO AND MAY OR THAT'S THE LAST SPEAKER I HAVE FRIED IN 44 MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS HANNA SINKO AND I AM ONE OF 15 PLAINTIFFS THAT HAVE BROUGHT SUIT AGAINST THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND THEIR HANDLING OF OUR SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES BY APD WITH THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT UP FOR VOTE TODAY, I WANTED TO SHARE A FEW WORDS IN 2017.
WHEN I BEGAN THE JOURNEY OF DIGGING INTO MY SEXUAL ASSAULTS FOR MY OWN HEALING, I HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF WHERE I WAS GOING OR WHERE IT WAS GOING TO TAKE ME.
I HAD NO INSIGHT THAT IT WAS GOING TO BRING ME HERE OR WHAT I WOULD LEARN ALONG THE WAY.
I LEARNED THAT THERE WASN'T SOMETHING WRONG WITH ME.
IN MY CASE, THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE SYSTEM THAT MY CASE FELL INTO.
I LEARNED THAT I WASN'T THE EXCEPTION THAT I WAS THE NORM.
I LEARNED THE TWO WILLING ATTORNEYS AND EIGHT BRAVE WOMEN HAD ALREADY LEARNED THESE LESSONS TOO.
I LEARNED THAT AWARENESS DIDN'T ALWAYS MEAN ALIGNMENT.
I LEARNED THAT MATTERS OF POLITICS REQUIRE POLITICIANS AND MATTERS OF LAW REQUIRE LAWYERS.
AND I LEARNED THAT I AM NEITHER.
I LEARNED THAT EIGHT COULD MULTIPLY INTO 12 AND 12 INTO 15.
WASN'T ALWAYS JUST ESPECIALLY WHEN LIABILITIES WERE REAL.
I LEARNED THAT POLICIES WEREN'T PROMISES WHEN THERE WASN'T BUY-IN.
I LEARNED THAT ACCOUNTABILITY WASN'T MEANINGFUL WITHOUT AN OWNER.
I LEARNED THAT EXCEPTIONAL CLEARANCE WASN'T EXCEPTIONAL AND THAT I WAS ONE OF THEM.
I LEARNED THAT APOLOGIES WERE HARDER TO COME BY THAN DOLLARS.
AND I LEARNED THAT THIS STORY DOESN'T END IN A PRETTY RED BOW.
I LEARNED THAT WHILE I THOUGHT I WAS FIGHTING FOR THEM, BUT JUST MAYBE I WAS STILL FIGURING HOW TO FIGHT FOR ME.
I LEARNED HOW TO PROVIDE A TESTIMONY.
I LEARNED HOW TO PROVIDE A TESTIMONY AND LEARNED HOW TO PROVIDE TOO MANY TESTIMONIES.
I LEARNED HOW TO GIVE A QUOTE, A STATEMENT OR A PHOTO TO MAKE THE MEDIA STORY COMPLAINT.
I LEARNED THAT I LEARNED THAT HEALING WASN'T LINEAR.
I LEARNED THAT WHAT I NEEDED IN MY DARKEST HOUR, ON MY DEMONSTRATION DAY ALREADY RESIDED WITHIN ME.
AND I LEARNED THAT I AM NOT WHOLE, BUT NOR AM I BROKEN.
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AND I FIND, AND FINALLY I LEARNED THAT LAWSUITS ARE MORE ABOUT STAMINA THAN THEY ARE ABOUT LAW.AND I LEARNED THAT THIS WAS AS FAR AS WE COULD TAKE IT.
AND NOW IT IS TIME FOR THE NEXT TO TAKE IT FURTHER.
THANK YOU TO OUR ATTORNEYS FOR MAKING THIS POSSIBLE.
THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER CASAR FOR STANDING BY OUR SIDES, EVEN WHEN YOU WERE TOLD NOT TO.
AND THANK YOU TO THE EIGHT, THE 12 AND THE 15 THANK YOU.
THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM.
WE'RE GONNA NOW GO BACK TO, UH, UH, MR. PENA, WE CALLED EARLIER.
UM, DO YOU WANT TO COME ON DOWN? WHO DO WE HAVE AFTER MR. PENA? KIM? OVER 10 IS NEXT.
UM, AND THEN RENEE, UH, LAURA, AFTER THAT, MR. PENA, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES, UH, GOOD MORNING OR GOOD AFTERNOON, WHICHEVER IT IS.
UH, CONGRATULATIONS TO, UH, CHITO VELA ON HIS, UH, VICTORY.
UH, SHE'S TOLD THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF VETTING DOWN HERE AND THIS COUNCIL, UH, AREA, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I AM SPEAKING, UH, FO ON HOUSING AND PLANNING.
AND ALSO ONE OF THE GOOD THINGS THAT OCCURRED WAS THAT, UH, THERE WAS, UH, A, UH, AUTHORIZATION AND NEGOTIATION AND EXECUTION OF A ONE-YEAR AGREEMENT WITH TEXAS RIO GRANDE LEGAL AID TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY EVICTION COUNSELING AND PREVENTION SERVICES, TO ENSURE TENANTS STABILIZATION IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED TWO, 222,000.
WHAT A MEAL, WHAT A, WHAT A LITTLE PERCENTAGE WHEN WE'RE LOSING PEOPLE TO THE STREETS, 220,000.
AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS.
I RAN FOR CITY COUNCIL JUST AS BS AND MAYOR.
AND I WILL TO TELL YOU THIS MUCH I AM, I SHOULD HAVE, IT SHOULD BE MORE THAN $220,000 ON THIS ITEM.
AND I PRAY THAT YOU ALL CHANGE IT AND HAVE MORE MONEY TO FIGHT THIS TYPE OF SITUATION.
NOBODY SHOULD BE ON THE STREETS.
WE LOSING PEOPLE TO THE STREETS.
WE NEED STABILIZATION FOR THEM AND MAYOR, WE'RE NOT DOING A GOOD JOB OF IT.
WE'RE NOT, THERE ARE MORE HOMELESS PEOPLE OUT THERE NOW.
THEY DON'T WANT TO STAY IN HOTELS AND MOTELS.
I CAN SHOW YOU WHERE THEY'RE AT.
SOMETHING'S GOTTA BE DONE SOMETHING BETTER.
THAT IS NOT COMPATIBLE COMPATIBLE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HOMELESS.
I'VE BEEN HOMELESS MEMBER BECAUSE I WORKED ON YOUR CAMPAIGN.
MY WIFE AND I WERE OVER THERE.
PHONE BANKING, YOU DIDN'T, AND I'LL, I'LL LET THIS GO.
I'LL JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE, PLEASE DO A BETTER JOB AND PUTTING MONEY ENOUGH FOR PEOPLE TO STABILIZE THEIR LIVES.
AND THEN, UH, GARY WARREN IS ON DECK MORNING COUNCIL.
AND I'M SPEAKING TO YOU TODAY AS A LONGTIME AUSTINITE AND REPRESENTATIVE OF THE INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICAL WORKERS, LOCAL FIVE 20, THE AUSTIN CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL IN THE CENTRAL TEXAS BUILDING TRADES COUNCIL.
AS A WORKER WHO HAS MYSELF BEEN ON THE RECEIVING END OF WAGE THEFT BY MY EMPLOYERS COUNTLESS TIMES, I'D LIKE TO PERSONALLY THANK MEMBERS, KITCHEN TOVO RENT, RHEA, AND CASAR FOR YOUR INITIATIVE AND ADDRESSING THE PRACTICAL INSTITUTION OF GREED AND WRONGDOING.
THAT IS WAGE THEFT, THE NEAR TOTAL LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY IN THIS SHOCKINGLY COMMON ISSUE IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THE FAILURE OF ALL LEVELS OF OUR GOVERNMENTS TO HOLD UP THEIR END OF THE SOCIAL CONTRACT AT THE MOST BASIC LEVEL, WHAT'S MORE BREAD AND BUTTER OF AN ISSUE THAN AN HONEST DAY'S PAY.
IF WORKING PEOPLE CAN'T COUNT ON THEIR PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS TO HOLD ACCOUNTABLE, THOSE WILL THREATEN THEIR ABILITY TO KEEP A ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS AND PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES.
THEN, IS IT ANY WONDER WHY THEIR TRUST IN THESE INSTITUTIONS HAVE DROPPED TO A HISTORIC LOW? THE RESOLUTION
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HAS A POTENTIAL TO CREATE A VALUABLE TOOL IN WORKING TO ENSURE THAT THE HONEST AND HARDWORKING AUSTINITES CAN LESSEN THEIR BURDENS AND FIND A BIT MORE COMFORT AND SECURITY IN THESE UNCERTAIN AND TRYING TIMES SHOULD THIS PASS.I HOPE THE MANAGER'S OFFICE WILL APPROACH THIS ISSUE WITH THE ATTENTION RESOURCES THAT THE HARDWORKING PEOPLE OF AUSTIN DESERVE.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE CITY ON THIS.
THANK YOU, RENEE LADA, MAYOR ADLER, UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS RENEE LOTTA I'M SPEAKING HERE IN SUPPORT OF ITEM NUMBER 53, UH, SPONSORED BY COUNCIL MEMBER AND KITCHEN.
UM, AND ALSO REPRESENTING THE, UM, CARPENTER'S UNION ALONG WITH GARY WARREN, WHO WILL FOLLOW ME.
I WANTED TO THANK THE COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN FOR SPONSORING THIS, UH, THE CO-SPONSORS AND EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTS THIS ITEM.
UM, THIS, UH, STUDY OF WAGE THEFT AND MISCLASSIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS, UM, STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS PROHIBIT THIS.
UM, THIS IS AN ISSUE DENYING A LABOR THERE OR THEIR HARD EARNED WAGES THAT GOES BACK TO ANCIENT TIMES AND IT'S SPOKEN OF AND CONDEMNED BY ANCIENT TEXTS.
SO IT'S NOT A NEW ISSUE, BUT UNFORTUNATELY IN MODERN TIMES, WE STILL FIND THAT THE FRAMEWORK LEGAL FRAMEWORK, UM, THAT WE HAVE NOW FAILS TO PROTECT THE MOST VULNERABLE WORKERS, ESPECIALLY IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRIES.
UH, THIS RESOLUTION AIMS TO CREATE, UH, A SYSTEM IN WHICH LOCAL AUTHORITIES WILL COLLABORATE ON WAYS TO ASSIST WORKERS, UM, IN ADDRESSING THE WAGE THEFT AND MISCLASSIFICATION ABUSES, WAGE THEFT, CHEATS WORKERS FROM THEIR WAGES, MISCLASSIFICATION, UM, OF THEM AS INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS, UH, INSTEAD OF EMPLOYEES CHEATS THEM OF MANY BENEFITS, INCLUDING SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICARE, UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, AND WORKERS' COMPENSATION, UH, INSURANCE FOR WORKPLACE INJURIES.
SO, UM, WORKERS ARE HURT THEIR FAMILIES AND, UH, ALSO TAXPAYERS BECAUSE MANY OF THESE WORKERS END UP RELYING ON THE SOCIAL SAFETY NET.
AND FINALLY, ALSO THE EMPLOYERS, THE GOOD ACTORS WHO, UH, PROPERLY CLASSIFY WORKERS ARE AT A DISADVANTAGE WHEN THEY COMPETE WITH THOSE WHO DO NOT AND, UM, AND ARE UNDERBID AS A RESULT.
SO, UM, WE ASK YOU TO PLEASE SUPPORT, UH, ITEM NUMBER 53, UH, STUDY RESOLUTION TO GET THIS PROCESS, UH, GOING IN TERMS OF DEVELOPING AN ORDINANCE.
UH, GARY, UH, WARREN, AND THEN, UH, PAUL ROBBINS, WHO I THINK IS THE LAST IN-PERSON SPEAKER IS ON DECK.
MR. WARREN, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.
UH, GOOD MORNING, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M THE POLITICAL DIRECTOR FOR THE CARPENTERS UNION, AND I SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 53, THE PROPOSED STUDY RESOLUTION RELATING TO WAGE THEFT AND TAX FRAUD FRAUD BY COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN.
UM, I HEAR REAL-WORLD EXAMPLES DAY IN AND DAY OUT OF ILLEGAL SCHEMES PERPETRATED BY CONTRACTORS THAT CHEAT WORKERS OUT OF WAGES AND BENEFITS.
THIS STEALING OF WAGES REMAINS OUT OF THE PURVIEW OF MOST GOVERNMENT REGULATORS AND THE PUBLIC.
THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY STRUCTURE ENABLES FRAUD THROUGH THE USE OF LABOR BROKERS.
THIS BUSINESS MODEL OF USING LABOR BROKERS TO PROVIDE MANPOWER TO CONTRACTORS, ACTS AS A LAYER OF PLAUSIBLE DENIABILITY TO UPPER TIER CONTRACTORS.
IT HAPPENS ON AN UNIMAGINABLE SCALE ON SOME OF THE LARGEST COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AND SITES IN AUSTIN.
IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO STUDY REAL WORLD SOCIAL INEQUITIES WITH A POTENTIAL TO HELP TAXPAYERS AND RESPONSIBLE CONTRACTORS.
AND WORKERS IN CONSTRUCTION THAT FACE EXTRAORDINARY CHALLENGES, CHALLENGES THAT ARE CRIPPLING THE PATHWAY TO SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC PROSPERITY.
ACCORDING TO A REPORT FROM UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY 46% OF CONSTRUCTION WORKERS IN TEXAS ARE ENROLLED IN ONE OR MORE PUBLIC SAFETY NET PROGRAMS. THE PUBLIC COST OF LOW WAGE JOBS IN TEXAS CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY TO THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS ALMOST $2 BILLION PER YEAR.
WHEN EMPLOYERS CHEAT THEIR WORKERS, THE BURDEN SHIFTS TO GOVERNMENT TO TAKE CARE OF WORKING FAMILIES AND CREATES AN ENORMOUS HEALTH AND WEALTH GAPS IN THE MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES.
TAXPAYERS, SHOULDN'T BE FORCED TO PICK UP THE SLACK FOR UNSCRUPULOUS CONTRACTORS.
IT'S TIME TO HELP TAXPAYERS AND WORKERS BY CLEANING UP THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.
THIS RESOLUTION HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CREATE REMEDIES FOR FAMILIES IN NEED OF INNOVATIVE ECONOMIC SOLUTIONS AND
[01:10:01]
TO SECURE THE FUTURE FOR CONSTRUCTION WORKERS IN AUSTIN, THEREBY ENABLING WORKERS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE ECONOMIC GROWTH OF THEIR COMMUNITIES AND PROD PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES.I ASK FOR YOU, UH, ASK THAT YOU VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS STUDY RESOLUTION.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. ROBBINS COUNSEL.
SO MR. ROBBINS, YOU HAD COME UP TO ME BEFORE YOU STARTED SPEAKING TO POINT OUT TO ME THAT YOU'RE ALSO SIGNED UP ON CITIZEN COMMUNICATION TO SPEAK ON THE SAME ISSUE WITHOUT COMPELLING YOU.
WE TALKED ABOUT GIVING YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO EXTEND YOUR TIME HERE, UH, UH, IN, IN LIEU OF THE CITIZEN COMMUNICATION TIME.
THAT MAKES SENSE TO ME, CAUSE YOU'LL BE SPEAKING ON THE SAME THING.
I'M PAUL ROBBINS, AN ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST CONSUMER ADVOCATE, AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON ENERGY RELATED ISSUES SINCE 1977.
UH, FIRST, UH, COULD YOU, UH, SORRY, WHERE'S THE POWERPOINT, BUT THERE'S NO PROMPT HERE.
YOUR RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION VOTED MONDAY TO RECOMMEND A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO GIVING APPLIANCE REBATES THAT ARE NOT COST-EFFECTIVE.
UM, UH, REGARDING THE CENTER POINT CONSERVATION PROGRAMS. THIS IS ITEM 63.
UH, THE COMMISSION ASKED COUNCIL QUOTE ENCOURAGED CENTER POINT TO CONSIDER THE SUBSTITUTION OF DUCT CEILING CEILING INSULATION AND COST-EFFECTIVE WEATHERIZATION MEASURES INSTEAD OF CENTRAL FURNACE AND WATER HEATER REBATES.
I URGE YOU TO INCLUDE THIS WHEN YOU VOTE ON ITEM 63 CENTER POINTS, APPLIANCE REBATES FOLLOW THE SAME BROKEN MODEL AS TEXAS GAS SERVICE.
THEY AWARD LARGE SUMS OF MONEY FOR HOME APPLIANCES THAT DO NOT SAVE MUCH ENERGY.
IF THE GOALS ARE TO HELP THE RATE PAYERS BY AVOIDING HIGH GAS COSTS AND TO MITIGATE GLOBAL WARMING, THESE APPLIANCES FAIL SLIDE, SLIDE, HIGH EFFICIENCY FURNACES OF THIS KIND DO NOT MAKE SENSE IN AUSTIN'S CLIMATE.
IT'S LIKE PLACING IN EFFICIENT INEXPENSIVE AIR CONDITIONER IN ALASKA SLIDE.
AND WHILE TANKLESS WATER HEATERS MIGHT MAKE SENSE IN HIGH TRAFFIC COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES, THERE IS NOT ENOUGH WATER USED IN MOST HOMES TO JUSTIFY THEIR HIGH COSTS.
THE COMMISSION WAS SPLIT AS TO WHETHER TO CEASE THESE REBATES IN THE CENTER POINT PILOT PROGRAM IMMEDIATELY, BUT THEY DEFINITELY WANT TO MOVE AWAY FROM THEM IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
UH, THE COMMISSION'S RESOLUTION HAS IMPLICATIONS FOR THE TEXAS GAS SERVICE CONSERVATION PROGRAM, UH, WHICH IS WASTING A MUCH LARGER AMOUNT OF MONEY ON GREENWASH REBATES SLIDE.
MY SECOND POINT IS THAT CENTERPOINT, UH, TRIED TO, UH, REBUT THE, UM, THE COMMISSION WHEN, WHEN THE COMMISSION ASKED, UH, WILL YOU, UM, UH, STOP THE REBATES? THEY SAID, UH, THAT, WELL, IF WE DO AWAY WITH THE REBATES THIS YEAR, WE HAVE NOTHING TO FALL BACK ON.
AND, UM, I THINK THAT'S A RATHER LAME ARGUMENT, UH, COUNSEL BETWEEN THE NATIONAL APPLIANCE STANDARDS STARTED 30 YEARS AGO, AUSTIN ENERGY'S BUILDING CODE ENERGY BUILDING CODE AUSTIN, ENERGY'S GREEN BUILDING PROGRAM, AND AUSTIN'S WEATHERIZATION RETROFITS.
THERE IS SUBSTANTIAL CONSERVATION ALREADY OCCURRING WITHOUT THROWING MONEY AT PROBLEMS. MY THIRD AND FINAL POINT IS THAT AGAIN, THIS IS A FAILING IN THE CITY'S REGULATORY OFFICE.
I REVIEWED THE COST EFFECTIVENESS DATA THAT CENTER POINT PROVIDED AND FOUND BLATANT ERRORS TO MY KNOWLEDGE, NO ONE IN THE REGULATORY OFFICE AS CENTER POINT TO CORRECT THEM.
I'M NOT EVEN SURE THERE IS ANYONE IN THAT OFFICE CAPABLE OF AN ANALYSIS.
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IF THIS WAS THE CASE THEY COULD HAVE SURELY ASKED AUSTIN ENERGY'S CONSERVATION STAFF FOR HELP.UH, AGAIN, I HOPE THAT YOU WILL INCLUDE THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION IN ITEM 63.
UH, IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE SIGNED UP FOR TO SPEAK THAT? UH, I HAVE NOT RECOGNIZED.
WE'RE NOW GOING TO GO TO THE PEOPLE.
WAS THAT, DID YOU HAVE HIM ON, HANG ON ONE SECOND.
DID YOU HAVE HIM AS A REMOTE SPEAKER SIGN UP THIS MORNING? I THINK THE, IT COULD BE THAT YOU SIGNED UP AFTER THE CUTOFF TIME.
IS THAT POSSIBLE? AND I THINK IT'S PROBABLY OPEN TILL NINE 15.
WHY DON'T YOU COME ON, GO AHEAD AND SPEAK.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE AUSTIN CHAPTER OF THE ASSOCIATED GENERAL CONTRACTORS OR MEMBERS ARE COMMERCIAL BUILDERS WORKING IN AUSTIN AND THROUGHOUT CENTRAL TEXAS, UH, ARE GENERAL CONTRACTORS, SPECIALTY CONTRACTORS, SUPPLIERS, ET CETERA.
UH, WE HAVE ABOUT 260 COMPANY MEMBERS EMPLOYING ABOUT 10,000 PEOPLE, UH, IN THE LOCAL CONSTRUCTION ECONOMY.
I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT ITEM 53.
I JUST WANT TO ELABORATE ON THAT.
AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE IT ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THAT YOU KNOW, OUR ORGANIZATION, WE HAVE UNION AND NON UNION MEMBERS.
WE STRONGLY OPPOSE WAGE THEFT.
WE STRONGLY SUPPORT EFFORTS, REASONABLE EFFORTS TO, UH, FIGURE OUT WHO'S THE BAD ACTORS IN THE INDUSTRY BECAUSE THEY MAKE THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY LOOK BAD.
AND EVERY DAY WE WORK WITH GOOD PEOPLE TO MAKE A GOOD PROJECTS AND EMPLOY GOOD PEOPLE AND TAKE CARE OF OUR PEOPLE.
UM, BUT THE REASON I SIGNED UP AS A NEUTRAL, I WAS A LITTLE FRUSTRATED BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS, UH, RESOLUTION UNTIL IT WAS PLACED ON THE AGENDA, UH, LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AGO.
UH, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WE GOT 260 CONSTRUCTION COMPANY MEMBERS, LARGE AND SMALL GENERAL CONTRACTORS, SPECIALTY CONTRACTORS, UNION NON-UNION, AND WE'RE NOT INCLUDED IN THE DRAFTING OF THE RESOLUTION.
UM, I WAS CONTACTED BY FRANKLIN TO IS WITH THE HISPANIC CONTRACTORS AND HE BROUGHT IN ALL THE OTHER BUSINESS CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATIONS WHO HAD NOT BEEN A PART OF THE INITIAL DRAFTING OF THE RESOLUTION.
UH, FORTUNATELY WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE SOME GIVE AND TAKE WITH, UH, VARIOUS, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS TO TWEAK THE LANGUAGE A LITTLE BIT.
UM, FOR EXAMPLE, THE ORIGINAL RESOLUTION DIDN'T DIRECT CITY STAFF TO REACH OUT TO BUSINESS GROUPS LIKE OURS AND THE DRAFTING OF THE ORDINANCE, UH, THAT IS GOING TO FOLLOW THIS RESOLUTION.
SO, UH, THAT HAS BEEN CHANGED, BUT, YOU KNOW, LET'S, WE'RE ALL PART OF THE INDUSTRY.
SO IN GOOD FAITH, UH, IN, IN ORDER TO MAKE A, UH, A, UH, ORDINANCE THAT'S BENEFICIAL FOR ALL LET'S, UH, YOU KNOW, ALL WORK TOGETHER.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE PART OF THE PROCESS MOVING FORWARD.
UH, I HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION WITH, UH, JOSE GARZA, UH, WALKING IN HERE.
WE HAD A GOOD CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS HORSE.
HE WORKED AT, UH, THE WORKERS DEFENSE PROJECT ALONG WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE, AND WE WORKED A LOT ON THESE ISSUES TRYING TO ROOT OUT THE, THE TRULY BAD ACTORS IN TOWN.
UM, WE WANT TO WORK TOWARDS REASONABLE EFFORTS.
ONE ITEM OF CONCERN IS THE, THE JOINT LIABILITY, UH, ISSUE.
WE'LL HAVE SOME GOOD DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT TAKING PLACE OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.
UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TESTIMONY.
UM, WE, UH, I MADE CHANGES TO, I MADE CHANGES TO THE ORDINANCE AS SOON AS I HAD THE CHANCE TO TALK TO FOLKS, W IT WAS ALWAYS THE INTENT TO INCLUDE STAKEHOLDERS IN TH THIS WAS JUST TO START THE CONVERSATION, BUT I REALIZED AFTER TALKING TO STAKEHOLDERS, THAT THAT WASN'T CLEAR.
SO THAT'S WHY I WENT FORWARD AND MADE THE CHANGES.
SO I REALLY LOOKED FORWARD TO THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH YOU AND WITH OTHERS.
UM, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR TESTIMONY TODAY.
I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW, UH, W WHEN YOU'RE GOING DOWN SOUTH, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR BUILDING HAS BEEN ON SOUTH LAMAR FOR 75 YEARS, AND WE'RE DOING A REALLY COOL MURAL, WHICH IS AN HOMAGE TO THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW.
WE'VE GOT A LIVE WEBCAM GOING ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA.
IT'S GOING TO BE SUPER COLORFUL AND IT'S 750 SQUARE FEET.
I'M REALLY, REALLY PLEASED TO HEAR THAT.
ANYONE ELSE TO SIGN UP THAT WE DIDN'T GET TO? YES.
AND I APOLOGIZE, RIGHT? NOT FOLLOWING YOU WITH THE GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT ITEM NUMBER 52 ON RENAMING OF THE LAMAR BEACH SHORES TO VOLUMA OVERTON SENIOR SHORES.
UM, I AM VOLUMA, OVERTON'S GRANDDAUGHTER.
I'M AN AUSTINITE, AND I'M A LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER.
AND GROWING UP, I KNEW VOLUMA AS GRANDPA.
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KIND MAN SOFT-SPOKEN AND I REMEMBER HIM WORKING VERY LATE AT NIGHT ON A REGULAR BASIS.ONE NIGHT, MY FATHER TOOK ME TO HIS OFFICE WHEN HE WAS THE PRESIDENT OF THE NAACP.
THE OFFICE WAS ON, IS ON EAST 12TH STREET.
AT THAT TIME, I WAS IN AWE AND SAW THE, THE REACH AND THE DEPTH OF THE WORK THAT HE HAS DONE FOR THE BLACK COMMUNITY IN AUSTIN AND FOR AUSTIN AS A WHOLE.
AND I WAS THEN IT JUST WITH ALL THE COUNTLESS CLIPPINGS FROM NEWSPAPER ARTICLES AND PICTURES ON THE WALLS, I WAS, SO I OPENED AT THAT POINT, AND I ALSO REALIZED AS A YOUNG CHILD, THAT IT TAKES AN INDIVIDUAL TO FIGHT FOR EQUAL RIGHTS TIRELESSLY LATE AT NIGHT.
IT'S SO EASY FOR US TO FORGET THE GREAT WORK THAT HE DID, EVEN THOSE WHO KNEW HIM AND REMEMBER HIS WORK AND FOR THOSE WHO ARE NEW TO TOWN WELL, UNLESS THEY DO THE RESEARCH AND THE HISTORY OF AUSTIN AND THE LEADERS, YOU HELPED DEVELOP THIS GREAT CITY.
THEY MAY NEVER KNOW ABOUT VELMA.
SO THIS GREAT RENAMING OF LAMAR BEACH TO BOMB OVER 10 SHORES WILL HELP TO REMIND US OF THE GREAT WORK THAT HE DID AND INFORM THOSE WHO ARE NEW TO TOWN AND THE LOCATION BEING WHERE IT IS.
IT'S JUST A PERFECT SIN SYMBOL OF THE PASSION THAT HE HAD IN BRIDGING THE EAST TO THE WEST AND AUSTIN, TEXAS.
THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF OUR FAMILY.
UM, I'D JUST LIKE TO THANK YOU, MS. OVERTON AND YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS FOR YOUR ADVOCACY AND FOR, UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
HE'S, HE'S INSPIRED ME AND HOPEFULLY HE WILL, FOR OTHER GENERATIONS OF INDIVIDUALS.
ANYONE ELSE HERE THAT SIGNED UP TO SPEAK THAT WE DIDN'T CALL MAY.
WE DID HAVE SOMEONE THAT SIGNED UP ON THE KIOSK FOR 57, BOB.
DOBALINA JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE.
OKAY, SO YOU HERE SAY THE NAME AGAIN, PLEASE.
LET'S GO THEN TO THE SPEAKERS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP VIRTUALLY, UH, WHEN WE'RE DONE WITH THAT, THEN WE ARE GOING TO CONSIDER THE, UH, UH, SETTLEMENT, UH, ITEM.
THE FIRST TWO SPEAKERS ARE SPANISH SPEAKERS AND THE FIRST ONE IS ROSALINA.
I AM A MEMBER LEADER OF WORKER'S DEFENSE, AND I AM A RESIDENT OF AUSTIN DISTRICT EIGHT AS .
I WORK IN HOUSE CLEANING A FEW YEARS AGO, MY HUSBAND WAS A VICTIM OF WAGE THEFT.
HE WAS PROMISED $10 AN HOUR, BUT WAS ONLY PAID $9 AN HOUR.
WHEN HE RECEIVED HIS CHECK MY HUSBAND WORKED 12 HOURS A DAY, BUT ONLY RECEIVED PAYMENT FOR EIGHT BECAUSE THE BOSS SAID THAT TIME WAS NOT PAID.
WHEN HE WENT FROM ONE WORK SITE TO ANOTHER I HAD A NEWBORN DAUGHTER AND WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY.
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IT CAUSED A LOT OF STRESS FOR MY FAMILY DURING THIS TIME, BECAUSE WE WERE WORRIED ABOUT PAYING RENT.THIS CAUSED A LOT OF FAMILY PROBLEMS, AND MY HUSBAND COULDN'T SPEND MUCH TIME WITH THE FAMILY I INSISTED TO MY HUSBAND THAT HE FINALLY WENT TO COMPLAIN TO THE BOSS.
THE BOSS TOLD HIM THAT IF HE DIDN'T MAKE IT, THEN HE SHOULD LEAVE.
HE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE NEED WE HAD AND GAVE MY HUSBAND THE EXCUSE THAT HE HIMSELF HADN'T BEEN PAID.
AND THAT'S WHY HE COULDN'T PAY MY HUSBAND.
I AM HERE SUPPORTING ITEM 53, BECAUSE AS A WORKER, I DO NOT WANT OTHER IMMIGRANTS TO GO THROUGH WHAT WE WENT THROUGH.
IF THERE IS A DATE, A DATABASE, PEOPLE CAN BE INFORMED AND KNOW WHO NOT TO WORK FOR FROM THE BEGINNING THEY CAN AVOID THE STRESS AND PROBLEMS OF WORKING WITH SOMEONE WHO IS NOT GOING TO PAY THEM.
ALSO, CONTRACTORS WHO ALREADY KNOW THEY CAN BE IN THE DATABASE WILL THINK TWICE AND STOP STEALING FROM PEOPLE.
AUSTIN WORKERS DESERVE FAIR PAY ON TIME AS PROMISED AND TO BE PROTECTED ON A JOB SITE.
I SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MY COMMUNITY.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE THE SUPPORT OF YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS, BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A DECISION THAT WILL BENEFIT ALL OF US.
AND AT THE SAME TIME WILL BENEFIT THE ENTIRE CITY.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR SUPPORT AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
NEXT SPEAKER IS LOUISE MONDRAGON.
I AM A MEMBER LEADER OF WORKER'S DEFENSE, AND I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FOUR IN AUSTIN.
I AM A FATHER OF A FAMILY WITH TWO CHILDREN IN SCHOOL WITH 25 YEARS LIVING IN AUSTIN.
I SUPPORT THIS ITEM BECAUSE A YEAR AGO I WAS THE VICTIM OF AN EMPLOYER WHO DID NOT PAY ME MY SALARY AND STILL HAS NOT PAID ME.
WHEN THIS OCCURRED, I WAS FACED WITH SOMETHING VERY HARD SINCE DUE TO ONLY A DAY OF NON-PAYMENT.
I WAS NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE FOOD FOR MY FAMILY.
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NOPE.IF THIS RESOLUTION PASSES, EMPLOYERS WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO CONTINUE DOING THESE TYPES OF INJUSTICES.
I COULDN'T PAY THE ELECTRICITY AND I COULDN'T PAY THE RENT.
I HAD TO ASK FRIENDS FOR HELP TO PAY THE RENT.
SO I AM A CONSTRUCTION WORKER AND I WORK DAY TO DAY.
IF THEY STEAL MY SALARY, I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TO PAY THE BILLS OR REFILL MY PANTRY.
I LOOK, AFTER ON THIS HORRIBLE EVIL, I SUPPORT THIS SO WE CAN STOP ABUSIVE EMPLOYERS.
IF WE GET THIS RESOLUTION PASSED, ALL WORKERS WILL BE PROTECTED AT THE CITY LEVEL, A CITY THAT NEEDS OUR WORK.
WE NEED YOU TO PASS THIS RESOLUTION SO THAT ALL WORKERS ARE PROTECTED FROM THESE ABUSES AND CONTINUE UNTIL ALL WORKERS IN THE WORLD ARE PROTECTED.
AUSTIN WORKERS DESERVE THIS, SO THEIR FAMILIES DON'T SUFFER AND SO THEY CAN LIVE BETTER SO THEY CAN RETURN FROM WORK WITH THEIR DESERVED AND FAIR PAYMENT.
THIS RESOLUTION NEEDS TO BE PASSED FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
CARMEN, YANNIS, PULIDO CARBON, PLEASE.
HELLO? CAN YOU ALL HEAR ME, CARMEN? YES, PLEASE.
I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AS A CITY OF BOSTON COMMISSIONER FOR NINE YEARS.
I WAS SELECTED AS A COMMISSIONER AND THEN APPOINTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER TOBO AND THAT'S THE WAY THAT I'M SPEAKING TO ALL STATE.
I KNOW ALMOST EVERY MEETING VENUE IN THE CITY FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, PLUS I'VE SERVED ON A SOVEREIGN COMMISSION OF LAND USE AND WE MAKE, AND THEN YOU ALL TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION.
WHAT I ARGUE IS YOUR MOST INFLUENTIAL POLICY POWER.
HOW OFTEN GETS DEVELOPED THE LAND AND ENTITLEMENTS THAT YOU GRANT AND HOW MUCH VALUE WE WILL CAPTURE FROM THE MILLIONS THAT ARE BEING MADE ON OUR BACKS FOR OUR CITY'S NEEDS.
I'M ALSO SPEAKING TO YOU AS SOMEONE WHO LIVES A FOUR-MINUTE DRIVE IN A 20 MINUTE WALK FROM THE PLANNING DEVELOPMENT CENTER.
SO MUCH TIME IN TRAFFIC, I'D BE SAVED IF WE MOVED THERE, WHEN WE GO BACK IN PERSON, BUT I'M ALSO AN ORGANIZER WHO HAS HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO WORK SHOULDER, TO SHOULDER WITH THOUSANDS OF SOUTH AUSTINITES.
I WATCH WHO LOSES POWER, WHO LOSES WATER, WHO FLOODS, WHO FACES THE WORST TRAFFIC AND WHO GETS IT ALL TOGETHER TO FIX THINGS AND MAKE THEM LIVABLE EVERY TIME.
PLEASE WATCH THAT NOVEMBER 29TH MEETING FOOTAGE, LISTEN TO JIM DUNCAN, LISTENED TO YOUR APPOINTED COMMISSIONERS, LAID IT OUT FOR YOU.
[01:35:01]
IT'S THE LESS ABLE TO SPEND TO DO.PLEASE SUPPORT THE BYLAWS THAT WE'VE PREPARED.
AND IF I DON'T GET A CHANCE TO COME BACK, UM, THIS AFTERNOON, PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT GALVEZ STATEMENT ON YOUR ZONING CASES.
THANKS SO MUCH, CARMEN COUNCIL MEMBER.
UM, CARMEN, I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT A FEW WEEKS AGO, WE RECEIVED A, A MEMO FROM ACM GONZALEZ THAT THOSE THREE, UM, COMMISSIONS WOULD BE STAYING AT CITY HALL.
UM, WE DID SHARE THAT WITH THE LEADERSHIP THAT HAD BEEN COMING TO SPEAK WITH US ABOUT THE BYLAWS THAT THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE.
UM, SO THE PLAN TODAY WILL BE TO WITHDRAW OR TO, TO POSTPONE INDEFINITELY THAT ITEM.
UM, BUT THOSE THREE COMMISSIONS ARE MOVED AND WE WILL HAVE SOME FURTHER DIRECTION, UM, FIRST STAFF WITH RESPECT TO THE OTHER COMMISSIONS.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR THAT UPDATE.
NEXT SPEAKER IS MONICA GUZMAN.
MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL ON BEHALF OF THE CENTRAL HEALTH POLICY COUNCIL AND THE PANDEMIC EQUITY COMMITTEE.
I WISH TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY FOR CHAMPIONING OUR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IDENTIFYING AND ADDRESSING INEQUITIES IN DISASTER PREPAREDNESS, DISASTER RESPONSE, AND POST DISASTER COMMUNITY HEALING AND RECOVERY, AND TO COUNCIL MEMBERS, WEDNESDAY POOL AND KITCHEN FOR CO-SPONSORING.
AND THIS HAS BEEN A LABOR OF LOVE FOR OUR GROUP, AND WE COULDN'T HAVE HOPED FOR A BETTER RESTAURANT.
THE PANDEMIC BROUGHT INTO SHARP FOCUS, THE NEED FOR THE CITY TO ADEQUATELY PREPARE FOR RESPOND TO AND PLAN DISASTER RECOVERY.
WE WEREN'T PREPARED FOR COVID-19 NOR FOR WINTER STORM YEARS.
THIS TIME WE RESOLUTIONS WILL ENGAGE US IN THE PROCESS TO ENSURE WE HAVE THE RIGHT RESOURCES AND PEOPLE IN PLACE BEFORE THE NEXT CATASTROPHE.
THE PANDEMIC HIGHLIGHTED THE INEQUITIES EXPERIENCED DAILY BY PEOPLE OF COLOR, INCLUDING ASIAN AMERICAN, BLACK, INDIGENOUS, AND HISPANIC, LATINO COMMUNITIES, AND OTHER HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS, SUCH AS LGBTQ PLUS THE ELDERLY, THE GEOGRAPHICALLY ISOLATED PEOPLE LIVING WITH DISABILITY AND MORE.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER AND THE OFFICE OF EQUITY TO HELP IMPLEMENT THESE RECOMMENDATIONS AND INCLUDE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO WILL ENSURE EQUITY IS AT THE CENTER OF PLANNING, RESPONSE AND RECOVERY.
ADDING THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE COMMUNITY ADVISORY PANEL WILL BRING THE COMMUNITY VOICE INTO THE PROCESS.
THE ADVISORY PANEL MUST BE REFLECTIVE OF GROUPS WHO HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY SERVING MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES DURING TIMES OF DISASTER AND WHO REPRESENT THEIR COMMUNITY ON BEHALF OF THE PANDEMIC EQUITY COMMUNITY.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE CITY AND THE EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTER ON IMPLEMENTING THESE RECOMMENDATIONS.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THIS RESOLUTION.
WE ARE READY TO WORK ON MAKING IT A REALITY.
HI, I WAS A JUNIOR IN AUSTIN HIGH WHEN BOMA OVER 10 JOINED OUR ALL WHITE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
AND I WAS AFRAID BECAUSE OF WHAT THE MEDIA WERE SAYING ABOUT HIM.
BUT BAMA WAS AT THE CHURCH ALL THE TIME.
THEN BRINGING HIS KIDS MY AGE, SITTING ON COMMITTEES, VISITING THE SICK AND THOSE IN NURSING HOMES.
HE QUIETLY BECAME EVERYBODY'S FRIEND A ROLE MODEL OF HOW A CHRISTIAN SHOULD LIVE AND HELPING THE COMMUNITY IN THE WORLD.
AT THE SAME TIME THROUGH THE NAACP NOW KNOWN AS FIRST AUSTIN BOMA ENCOURAGED US TO ADD PERSONAL INVOLVEMENT IN LOW INCOME AISD SCHOOLS TO OUR STRONG MISSIONS.
EMPHASIS YEARS LATER, I WAS APPARENT WHEN EMBARRASSING RACIAL INCIDENTS HAPPENED AT WESTLAKE HIGH FOOTBALL GAME.
I WAS AT RANDALL'S AND EXPLAINED TO THE TV NEWS CREW THAT TWO MIDDLE SCHOOL BOYS HAD BEEN FOUND RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MAIN OFFENSES THAT THEY WERE BEING PUNISHED.
AND THE VAST MAJORITY OF IAN'S PARENTS WISH OURS
[01:40:01]
WAS A MORE DIVERSE PLACE TO RAISE KIDS.INSTEAD OF ME, THE STATION BROADCAST INFLAMMATORY FOLKS, MY LETTER TO THE STATESMAN DIDN'T GET PUBLISHED AND I CALLED BOMA IN TEARS.
HE SAID, CAROL, COME TELL THE NAACP.
I DIDN'T BELIEVE THAT WESTLAKE PEOPLE WERE BIGOTS.
I COULD SEE IT IN THEIR EYES, BUT I ALSO SAW THAT THEY WERE A BEAUTIFUL, LOVING, AND AMAZINGLY GENEROUS PEOPLE DOING WONDERFUL THINGS FOR OTHERS, NOT THE WAY THE MEDIA PORTRAYED THEM.
THEN I REALIZED HOW MUCH SEGREGATION IT HURT ME.
AND I BECAME AN ACTIVE MEMBER A FEW YEARS LATER, THE MEDIA INFLAMED THINGS AGAIN, WHEN ACCRUAL FLEUR WAS SPRAY SPRAY PAINTED ACROSS THE FRONT OF WAS LIKE, HI THIS.
I SAID THE IMAGE TO MY DEAR NAACP FRIENDS.
AND THEY BELIEVED ME BECAUSE THEY KNEW ME.
VARMA OVERTON SENIOR SHOWED US A DIVERSE AUSTIN RICHER THAN I EVER IMAGINED.
THIS HUMBLE AND GREAT MAN LOVED US FIRST.
AND GOD USES THAT TO CHANGE US SUCH AN HONOR COULD NOT BE MORE APPROPRIATE.
THANKS SO MUCH CHRISTOPHER WILLETT.
OH, THIS IS CHRISTOPHER WILLIS.
I'M HERE TO WRITE TO MR. MY SUPPORT FOR RESOLUTION 53 AND EFFORTS MADE TO ASSIST WORKERS IN THE SYSTEM IN THE CITY AND PROTECT THEM FROM WAITSTAFF AND TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND AVENUES FOR WORKERS TO ENFORCE THEIR RIGHTS.
UM, I'M AN ATTORNEY AT THE EQUAL JUSTICE CENTER.
WE PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES TO LOW WAGE WORKERS HERE IN AUSTIN.
UM, I'VE WORKED DIRECTLY WITH WORKERS HERE IN AUSTIN FOR THE LAST 10, 15 YEARS OR SO AND WAGE THAT HAS BEEN AND CONTINUES TO BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM FOR WORKERS.
UM, FOR MANY, ESPECIALLY WITH THE HIGH COST OF LIVING, UH, MS. PAYCHECK CAN BE, UH, IT WILL CREATE IMMEDIATE SERIOUS AND HAVE A DEVASTATING IMPACT ON THEIR LIVES.
UH, RESOLUTION 53 IS A COMMON SENSE APPROACH TO BEGIN TO TAKE ADDITIONAL STEPS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.
SO I THANK YOU FOR THOSE WHO SUPPORT IT.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR MAYOR PRO TEM AND COUNCIL.
I AM THE AUSTIN POLICY COORDINATOR FOR WORKERS DEFENSE AND I'M TASTING.
I AM TESTIFYING IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 53 WORKERS.
DEFENSE IS A MEMBERSHIP-BASED ORGANIZATION THAT SUPPORTS TEXAS LOW INCOME CONSTRUCTION WORKERS AND IMPROVING THEIR LIFE, THEIR LIVING AND WORKING CONDITIONS.
WE WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN FOR WORKING ALONGSIDE LABOR AND THE COMMUNITY TO BRING THIS RESOLUTION FORWARD TO STRENGTHEN WORKER PROTECTIONS AND EMPLOYER ACCOUNTABILITY.
MOST OF THE WORKERS THAT COME THROUGH OUR DOORS ARE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS THAT HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF WAGE THEFT.
THESE CASES INCLUDE PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT PAID OVERTIME, NOT PAID FOR WORKING OFF THE CLOCK AND NOT PAID FOR ANY PORTION OF THEIR WORK, WHICH THEFT HAS REAL CONSEQUENCES FOR WORKERS SURVEY SHOW THAT SEVEN IN 10 WORKERS WHO EXPERIENCED WAGE THEFT REPORTED ECONOMIC HARDSHIP, INCLUDING THE INABILITY TO PAY BILLS UTILITIES OR RENT.
OUR MEMBERS ARE PARTICULARLY EXCITED THAT THIS RESOLUTION INCLUDES THE CREATION OF A PUBLICLY AVAILABLE DATABASE OF BAD ACTORS.
WHO'VE COMMITTED WAGE THEFT OR OTHER EMPLOYMENT RELATED CRIME WORKERS WANT TO WORK WITH SOMEONE THAT WILL RESPECT THEIR LABOR AND THE STATE OF BASE WILL ALLOW THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO.
IT WILL ALSO JUST WADE BUSINESSES FROM ROBBING THEIR WORKERS.
IF THERE IS A PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE DATABASE, NOT ONLY DOES WAGE THEFT HARM THE WORKER, BUT IT ALSO HARMS BUSINESSES THAT I CAN GOOD FACE COMPANIES THAT PAY THE REQUIRED TAXES AND PROVIDE WORKERS' COMPENSATION AND EMPLOYMENT.
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS ARE ROUTINELY UNDERBID, 15 TO 25% OF COMPETITORS THAT DON'T FOLLOW THE LAW.
RESPONSIBLE COMPANIES ARE PUT IN SEVERE DISADVANTAGE, CREATING A RACE TO THE BOTTOM.
WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY TO WORK WITH THE CITY THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS AND URGE YOU TO VOTE IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 53.
MY NAME IS JEREMY HENDRIX AND I'M WITH THE LABORERS INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA.
AND I'M ALSO HERE REPRESENTING THE CENTRAL TEXAS BUILDING AND TRADES THIS MORNING IN SUPPORT OF ITEMS 53.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, I'VE SPOKE WITH MANY OF YOU MANY TIMES ABOUT HOW TEXAS IS THE MOST DANGEROUS STATE FOR CONSTRUCTION WORKERS IS ALSO THE STATE WITH THE MOST MISCLASSIFICATION AND WORST WAGE THEFT OF ANY STATE IN AMERICA.
AND IT IS HIGH TIME THAT WE JOINED CITIES LIKE EL PASO AND HOUSTON WHO ARE ALREADY WORKING TO ADDRESS THIS SCOURGE OF WAGE THEFT AND MISCLASSIFICATION.
[01:45:01]
SAY THAT THIS IS ABOUT PROTECTING THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.IT'S ABOUT ENSURING BOTH DOCUMENTED AND UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS ARE PROTECTED.
IT'S ABOUT ENSURING COMPANIES THAT ROB INTENTIONALLY HARM AND LIE AND ABUSED WORKERS ARE HELD RESPONSIBLE.
AND IT'S ABOUT ENFORCING CURRENT LAWS AND WORKING WITH OUR NEW DISTRICT ATTORNEY.
THANK HIM FOR BEING HERE THIS MORNING, TO TESTIFY IN OUR NEW COUNTY ATTORNEY TO IDENTIFY BAD ACTORS, IT IS NOT ABOUT HARMING BUSINESS.
IT IS NOT ABOUT CHANGING THE WAY THAT GOOD CONTRACTORS DO BUSINESS.
IT IS ABOUT HELPING WORKERS IN NEED.
AND I WANT TO ESPECIALLY THANK THE MEMBERS OF WORKERS, DEFENSE PROJECT, WHO CAME TODAY TO GIVE THEIR PERSONAL STORIES.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH CITY STAFF AND ALL OF YOUR OFFICES IN THE MONTHS AHEAD TO FORM AN ORDINANCE THAT WILL WORK FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN, WHERE WE CAN BE A LEADER ON THIS ISSUE TO HELP FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU AND HAVE A GREAT DAY.
FRANCES AKUNA UM, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE CAN.
I'M A CLIMATE RESILIENT COMMUNITY LEAD ORGANIZER WITH JAVA AND A RESIDENT OF DEATH SPRINGS.
I'M CALLING TODAY AGAINST IDA 57.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT TINY COMMISSION ZONING AND PLANNING COMMISSION AND BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS ARE PEOPLE THAT VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD BE ACCOMMODATED BY WHAT'S MORE COMFORTABLE FOR THEM JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT GETTING PAID AS PLAY A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN, NOT TO MENTION THE BARRIERS YOU ARE SETTING FOR RESIDENTS THAT LIVE FAR AWAY FROM HIGHLAND, UM, LOCATION LIKE THE VALLEY OR SOUTHEAST RESIDENTS.
I HOPE YOU DO THE RIGHT THING SO THAT THEY CAN STILL BE DOING WHAT THEY CARE ABOUT, WHICH IS SERVING THE COMMUNITY AND ADVOCATING FOR THE COMMUNITY YOU REPRESENT.
AND I'M ALSO SPEAKING AGAINST ITEM 76 AND 77.
I'M SUPPORTING THE GRAVY AND BROWNIE RESIDENTS WHO ARE TRYING TO FIGHT FOR THEIR HEALTH AND SAFETY THAT WILL BE TAKEN AWAY.
IF ANY DRASTIC CHANGES ARE IMPLEMENTED IN THE COMMUNITY.
AS YOU KNOW, THIS REPORT IS A HEAT ISLAND.
RESIDENTS ARE ALREADY SUFFERING THE EFFECTS OF EXTREME HEAT WAVES THAT ARE CAUSING CHRONIC ILLNESSES, SUCH AS ASTHMA AND DIABETES AND HYPERTENSION, TO BE MORE SEVERE BY TAKING GREENSPACE FROM THEIR COMMUNITIES THAT ARE MORE IMPACTED.
YOU ARE INCREASING CHRONIC ILLNESSES, UH, TO BE MORE SEVERELY, PLEASE LISTEN TO RESIDENTS INPUT AND DO THE RIGHT THING.
AND THE FINAL REMOTE SPEAKER IS A NOVIA JOSEPH AND THANK YOU, MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS ANS ENOVIA JOSEPH MAYOR.
BEFORE YOU START MY TIME, I HAVE A TECHNICAL REQUEST, BUT LIKE, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS THIS MORNING, WHEN YOU CALL UP THE LATE BACKUP, CAN YOU PLEASE SLOW DOWN? I'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO WRITE DOWN ALL OF THE ITEMS AND IT ALSO DENIES INDIVIDUALS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SIGN UP, TO SPEAK ON THOSE ITEMS. WE DID DO THAT, KNOW THAT WE ALSO POST I'M SORRY.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT THAT'S POSTED, UM, UH, IN THE CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS.
SO IT'S ALSO SOMETHING YOU COULD PULL DOWN AND LOOK AT.
I APPRECIATE YOU TELLING ME THAT.
AS IT RELATES TO MY COMMENTS ON THE AGENDA ITEMS, I JUST WANTED TO CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION ITEM 41.
I ADAMANTLY OPPOSED THE $880,000 GOING TO ELWIN SUMMERY TUNNEL.
I WOULD ASK YOU TO TABLE THAT ITEM AND TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE ELBOWING SUMMARY TUNNEL ACTUALLY ONLY SERVES ABOUT 93% IMMIGRANTS, AND THEY ALSO SERVE THE HISPANIC POPULATION, BUT THAT IS NOT THE ONLY POPULATION THAT IS WANTING TO BE A VICTIM OR A NEED OF RENT ASSISTANCE.
I WOULD ALSO CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION AT THE BACK OF MATERIALS THAT SPECIFY THE CARE ZACK AND IMMIGRANTS WERE INELIGIBLE UNDER THE CARES ACT.
WHEN IT WAS FIRST ROLLED OUT AS RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO TEXAS RIO GRANDE LEGAL AID.
I WANT YOU TO TABLE THAT ITEM AS WELL.
AND I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU ACTUALLY DISCUSSED IT IN A JOINT MEETING THAT YOU'RE HAVING WITH TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT ON FEBRUARY 8TH, 2022.
AND THE REASON IS BECAUSE THERE IS A STRICT ELIGIBILITY, UM, INCOME
[01:50:01]
GUIDELINE.YOU HAVE TO BE ABOUT $24,000 ANNUALLY.
YOUR SALARY CAN EXCEED THAT AMOUNT IF YOU'RE AN INDIVIDUAL.
AND AS YOU RECALL FROM THE LINE OF CARS THAT NEEDED FOOD, UH, THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO MAKE MORE THAN $24,000 THAT ARE IN NEED.
AND SO MY RECOMMENDATION IS THAT THE $110 MILLION THAT THEY SET ASIDE FOR HOMELESSNESS, THAT THEY TAKE $10 MILLION AND ALLOCATE THAT FOR PREVENTION.
AND I WOULD CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION THERE ON MLK DAY, YOU MENTIONED THAT AFRICAN-AMERICANS HAVE 40% OF THE UNEMPLOYED, RIGHT? HE'S CONTINUED TO, AND THIS DOES NOT COVER AFRICAN-AMERICANS WHO ARE FACING EVICTION.
I WOULD ALSO CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION SPECIFICALLY AS IT RELATED TO ITEM 57.
I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO POSTPONE IT INDEFINITELY.
HOWEVER, I WOULD ASK COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY TO WORK WITH YOU, TO BRING REMOTE, UM, ACCESS TO THE PEOPLE IN DISTRICT SIX, AND ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT THOSE OF US WHO LIVE NORTH OF US, 180 3, IT TAKES TWO HOURS TO GET DOWNTOWN FROM A DISTRICT SIX.
AND IT TAKES ABOUT THAT MUCH TIME, REALLY, IF YOU LIVE NEAR SAMHSA.
AND SO WHILE THE PEOPLE ADVOCATED SO VEHEMENTLY FOR DISTRICT TWO, I JUST WANT YOU TO REALIZE THAT WELCOME TO OUR WORLD.
THAT'S HOW LONG IT TAKES FOR US TO GET DOWNTOWN.
SO IF YOU CAN RESTORE THAT, AND LASTLY, I WOULD JUST KIND OF ASK YOU ONE THING, A MAYOR TO CONSIDER WRITING A LETTER TO TREASURY, UM, $7.1 MILLION WAS ACTUALLY D OBLIGATED BY MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
AND SO THERE'S FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL ASSISTANCE.
WHY DON'T YOU REACH OUT TO MY OFFICE ON THAT LAST ISSUE NEXT SPEAKER, AND INCLUDES THE REMOTE SPEAKERS.
HOWEVER, MS. JOSEPH HAS SIGNED UP FOR AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCES.
UH, BUT THE SPEAKER WOULD STAY ON THE PHONE.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT INDIVIDUALS WHO LIVE IN DISTRICT SIX ARE ABLE TO SIGN UP AT THE LIBRARY TO DO REMOTE SPEAKERS.
THE SPICEWOOD SPRINGS LIBRARY ON SPICEWOOD SPRINGS, NEAR MCNEIL, AND 180 3 IS AVAILABLE FOR INDIVIDUALS TO DO REMOTE TESTIMONY.
AND WHILE WE HAVE THIS LAST SPEAKER HERE IS ALSO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE AS AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION AGENDA.
WE'RE GOING TO ACCOMMODATE THAT.
I'M I TO RECESS THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING HERE AT 1146,
[ Austin Housing and Finance Corporation (Part 1 of 2)]
I'M GOING TO CONVENE THE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION, UH, HERE ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 27TH, 2022.WE HAVE A, THE DIRECTORS ALL PRESENT, UH, WE'RE CONVENING SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF TAKING A PUBLIC COMMENT.
AND I THINK WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER THAT SIGNED UP IS JOSEPH.
THANK YOU, MIRA COUNCIL UMS. AND OVER YOUR JOSEPH.
MY COMMENTS ARE SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO ITEM NINE.
MY OPPOSITION TO AS FEDERAL RUTLAND HAS BEEN CONSISTENT OF SPECIFICALLY, THIS IS A SPARROW AT RUTLAND 1934 RUTLAND, AS YOU MAY RECALL, UH, YOU'D NOT BEEN HONEST WITH THE PUBLIC WITH THIS PROPERTY SPECIFICALLY, I'M LOOKING AT THE MAY 3RD, 2021, UH, ITEM THAT WAS, UH, ACTUALLY IN KCC N AND IT ACTUALLY SHOWS 51 PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING UNITS.
AND NOW IT'S 171 HIM THERE AREN'T THAT MANY HOUSING UNITS.
WHEN YOU GO, UH, SOUTH OF US, 180 3, I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE AS WELL THAT THERE WAS A CONFLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION FOR THE SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, UM, PROPERTY, UH, IN THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, UM, BOARD PACKET.
IT SAID SPECIFICALLY THAT THIS WOULD DEVELOP TWO APARTMENT COMMUNITIES THAT WILL BE DEEPLY AFFORDABLE AND INTENSELY SUPPORTED.
AND THEN IT MENTIONED THAT IT'S A HIGH OPPORTUNITY, HIGH QUALITY SUPPORTIVE LIVING, AND HIGH OPPORTUNITY TRANSIT CONNECTED THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER.
AND I'VE SAID IT BEFORE TO MANDY.
THE MAIL IS THAT IT'S, UH, TWO 40 RUTLAND WAS UNILATERALLY ELIMINATED JUNE 3RD, 2018 FOR KATHLEEN MAP.
AND SHE MENTIONED THAT THERE'S A WALK, UM, TO THE, UH, 8 0 3.
I JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU MIRROR ON JULY 9TH, 2021.
UM, OR MAYBE W WHEN YOU ACTUALLY, UH, DID THE BUDGET OVER AT COMMUNITY FOR VILLAGE COUNCIL AND THE STAFF DID NOT WANT TO WALK 200 YARDS AND YOU HAD THE FLEET ACTUALLY DROP YOU OFF BECAUSE IT WAS RAINING THAT DAY.
AND SO PLEASE RECOGNIZE THAT TRANSIT DEPENDENT RIDERS DON'T WANT TO WALK JUST LIKE YOU DON'T WANT TO WALK.
AND SO I WILL JUST ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS A CONCENTRATED POVERTY, AND IT DOES NOT ALIGN WITH THE EXECUTIVE ORDER BY PRESIDENT
[01:55:01]
BIDEN, 1 39 85 NUTRITION EQUITY, UM, EXECUTIVE ORDER.AND IT ALSO DOESN'T ALIGN WITH THE FAIR HOUSING ACT OF 1968.
AND I WOULD JUST LASTLY, CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT THERE WAS A SEVEN REGISTER THAT ACTUALLY TALKS ABOUT MOVING, UH, LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS TO HIGH OPPORTUNITY AREAS.
DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AT THE HUSBAND HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION MEETING? THERE'S NO ONE LEFT IN THE QUEUE MAYOR.
HEY, WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND RECESS THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION HERE AT 1149.
UH, WE'RE GOING TO RECONVENE THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING, UH, CONTINUED TO HERE ON A THURSDAY, JANUARY 27TH, 2022, IT'S 1149.
[44. Approve a settlement in Smith et al v. City of Austin et at. Cause No. D-1-GN-21-003081 in the 201 st District Court. Travis County. Texas: Senko et al v. City of Austin et al, Cause No. 1:20-cr-01047. iii the United States District Court Western Division. Austin. Texas.]
GO AHEAD AND CONSIDER, UH, ITEM, UH, 44, UH, AS WE INDICATED THAT WE, UH, WE WOULD, UH, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE SETTLEMENT IN THE SMITH VS UH, AUSTIN CASE? UH, CAN I MAYOR PRO TEM, DO YOU WANT TO MAKE THAT MOTION? UM, MAY I THINK WE MIGHT NEED TO HEAR THE SETTLEMENT BEFORE I MAKE I FOR THEIR COUNSEL.UM, I'M ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY, SARAH SHAFFER.
UM, I'M HERE TO, UM, RECOMMEND THAT, UH, THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE THE SETTLEMENT.
AND THE TWO LAWSUITS MENTIONED IN, UM, ITEM 44, THE SMITH LAWSUIT AND THE SANCO LAWSUIT.
UM, THIS SETTLEMENT IS COMPRISED OF A PAYMENT OF $825,000 TO BE SHARED AMONG THE 15 PLAINTIFFS.
IN THOSE TWO LAWSUITS, THERE WILL ALSO BE AN ADDITIONAL $50,000 PAID TO THE PLAINTIFF'S ATTORNEYS.
UM, THE SETTLEMENT ALSO INCLUDES BUDGET ALLOCATIONS FOR OPERATIONAL AND POLICY CHANGES WITH A FISCAL COST OF $3.5 MILLION IN BUDGET ALLOCATIONS AND EXPENDITURES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE SINCE FISCAL YEAR 2019, AND AN ADDITIONAL 862,000, WHICH HAS BEEN EARMARKED FOR FUTURE BUDGET, ALLOCATIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS, UM, IN FISCAL YEAR 2022 AND BEYOND.
UM, AND THEN THE OPERATIONAL AND POLICY CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE OR WILL BE MADE AS PART OF THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES RAISED IN THESE LAWSUITS.
AND, UM, THROUGH THIS SETTLEMENT INCLUDE, UM, INCREASED STAFFING IN THE SEX CRIMES UNIT, INCLUDING ADDING MORE DETECTIVES AND VICTIM SERVICES, COUNSELORS TO THE UNIT, THE CREATION OF A COLD CASE UNIT TO INVESTIGATE HISTORIC SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES, UM, SOFT INTERVIEW ROOMS FOR SURVIVOR INTERVIEWS, THE CREATION OF AN UPDATED SURVIVOR NOTIFICATION PROTOCOL TO KEEP SURVIVORS UPDATED ON THE PROGRESS OF THEIR CASES, ADDITIONAL TRAINING TO, UM, THE CADETS OFFICERS AND DETECTIVES ON TRAUMA-INFORMED RESPONSES AND RESPONDING TO SEXUAL ASSAULT, UM, THE CREATION OF A STAFF POSITION TO TRACK AND COLLATE DATA RELATED TO INVESTIGATIONS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, A PUBLIC INFORMATION CAMPAIGN ON TOPICS RELATED TO SEXUAL ASSAULT, UM, CREATION OF A VOLUNTARY SERVER SURVEY FOR SURVIVORS AT CASE CLOSURE.
UM, APD HAS REJOINED, UM, SALT START IN 2021, THE SEXUAL ASSAULT RESOURCE AND RESPONSE TEAM.
THE SETTLEMENT ALSO INCLUDES MULTIPLE, UM, LOOK BACK AUDITS TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE SETTLEMENT AND A FORMAL APOLOGY FROM THE CITY, AS WELL AS, UM, CHIEF TACAN WILL HOST A SIT DOWN MEETING WITH ANY PLAINTIFFS WHO WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND.
THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TAMMY, DO YOU WANT TO MAKE THE MOTION? THANK YOU.
I'M GOING TO MOVE APPROVAL OF ITEM 44 TO SETTLE THESE LAWSUITS, UM, WITH DIRECTION.
UM, AND I WILL SPEAK TO MY DIRECTION AFTER I HAVE A SECOND.
THE DIRECTION WAS POSTED ON THE MESSAGE BOARD, UM, LAST NIGHT, AND THERE WAS A SLIGHT REVISED VERSION, WHICH SIMPLY CHANGED, UM, THE ITEM NUMBER AT THE VERY END, UH, BACK TO 44.
IS THERE A SECOND TO THIS MOTION COUNCIL MEMBER SAR IS GOING TO SECOND, THE MOTION, A PARAPRO 10, NO ONE SHOULD EXPERIENCE SEXUAL ASSAULT.
UM, NO ONE SHOULD EXPERIENCE SEXUAL ASSAULT AND THEN HAVE TO SPEND YEARS AND YEARS ADVOCATING TO BE BELIEVED TO BE HEARD.
WE MUST FIX THE SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE.
UM, I WANT TO THANK THE 15 PLAINTIFFS AND YOUR LAWYERS AND THOSE WHO SUPPORTED YOU.
THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING LOUDLY AND BRIEFLY, WE HEARD YOU, IT TOOK A WHILE THAT WE HEARD YOU.
[02:00:01]
THANK YOU FOR FOCUSING ON SYSTEMIC CHANGE AND FOCUSING TO ENSURE THAT OTHERS DO NOT HAVE TO EXPERIENCE THE TRAUMA THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY BEEN THROUGH.I ASKED THE LAWYERS TO READ THE FULL, UM, SETTLEMENT WHEN THEY WERE PRESENTING.
CAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND SO MUCH OF WHAT YOU WERE ASKING FOR WAS SO THAT NO OTHER WOMAN OR MAN HAS TO GO THROUGH THE SAME EXPERIENCE.
UM, WE, AS A COUNCIL ARE CHARTING A PATH FORWARD.
UM, TODAY WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A WHILE, UM, WITH YOU RIGHT THERE, PUSHING US ALONG, UM, AS WE, AS A COUNCIL, AS WE, AS A CITY, UM, TAKE THE STEP TODAY TO SETTLE THESE CASES.
UM, WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL THAT YOU AND THE CITY, UM, AND THE WORLD FRANKLY, ARE WATCHING, UM, YOU WERE VERY BRAVE AND IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO NOT JUST SETTLE THE CASE, BUT TO AFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT, TO IMPROVE OUR SEXUAL ASSAULT RESPONSE SYSTEM.
UM, AND THE DIRECTION THAT I HAVE PROVIDED, UM, PROVIDES FURTHER AFFIRMATION ABOVE AND BEYOND THE SETTLEMENT, UM, BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE WORK TO DO.
AND WE ALL KNOW FROM THE EXPERIENCE OF THIS I'VE BEEN INVOLVED FOR OVER THREE YEARS, IT TAKES TIME.
IT TAKES PERSISTENCE, NOT JUST ON YOUR END, BUT ON OUR END.
UM, AND WHAT, WHAT THIS, UM, DIRECTION DOES IT HAS, UM, UH, FIRST PART THAT SIMPLY STATES AGAIN, UM, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL FURTHER AFFIRMS ITS COMMITMENT TO IMPROVE AUSTIN SEXUAL ASSAULT RESPONSE SYSTEM BY PROVIDING THE FOLLOWING DIRECTION TO THE CITY MANAGER, IT THEN GOES ON, UM, IN PART ONE TO PROVIDE DIRECTION RELATED TO IMPLEMENTING THE COMPREHENSIVE SEXUAL ASSAULT EVALUATION RECOMMENDATIONS.
UM, THAT IS THE EVALUATION THAT I WORKED WITH.
UM, SEVERAL OF THE ADVOCATES ON, UH, BACK IN JANUARY OF 2019 WAS IT WAS PASSED UNANIMOUSLY BY THIS COUNCIL.
IT ASKED THE CITY MANAGER TO, UM, COME BACK WITH A REPORT ON THE PRELIMINARY RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THAT REPORT AND THEIR STATUS.
UM, AND THEN, UM, IN RECOGNITION THAT THE FINAL REPORT WILL BE COMING OUT IN MAY, UM, DIRECTS THE CITY MANAGER TO PRIORITIZE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE POLICY AND THE BUDGETARY RECOMMENDATIONS OF THAT REPORT AND SETS DEADLINES FOR WHEN THEY HAVE TO COME BACK TO US, UM, ABOUT, ABOUT, UM, IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND THE, AND THE PLAN.
SECONDLY, UM, IT CALLS FOR IMPROVED TRAINING RELATED TO SEX CRIMES.
UM, WE ARE PRIORITIZING THE SUPPORT THAT IS NEEDED, UM, TO DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN TRAINING PROGRAMS THAT HAVE, UM, IMPORTANT CHARACTERISTICS.
UM, YOU KNOW, OUR SEX CRIMES UNIT HAS NOT HAD THE SUPPORT THAT THEY HAVE NEEDED TO DO THEIR JOB AT THE LEVEL THAT WE EXPECT.
UM, AND SO THIS LAYS OUT VARIOUS TYPES OF TRAINING, THE KIND OF TRAINING THAT WE WANT, UM, AND SUGGEST SOME MECHANISMS THAT THE CITY MANAGER CAN PURSUE, UM, TO DO THOSE.
UM, AND THEN, UM, DIRECTS THE CITY MANAGER TO PROVIDE US WITH A SEX CRIMES UNIT TRAINING PLAN THAT ADDRESSES THE GOALS ABOVE.
AND ALL OF THOSE GOALS ARE DESIGNED AROUND TO IMPROVE OUR SEX CRIMES, UM, OUR SEX CRIMES UNITS, ABILITY TO RESPOND EFFECTIVELY AND SOUNDLY IN A WAY THAT HELPS TO BRING JUSTICE, UM, AND HEALING.
UM, SO THANK YOU FOR BEING BRAVE.
UM, THANK YOU FOR FORCING CHANGE.
UM, I KNOW THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE AND I INVITE YOU TO CONTINUE TO KEEP US ACCOUNTABLE, UM, TO KEEP US PUSHING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
UM, IT IS MY FERVENT HOPE AND WISH THAT AUSTIN WILL BE CONSIDERED A LEADER IN SEXUAL ASSAULT RESPONSE, AND THAT WE WILL, AS WE'VE GONE THROUGH THIS, THIS TORTURE IS PROCESS THAT WE WILL COME OUT AS THE MODEL FOR THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.
AND THANK YOU, UM, FOR SHOWING US THE NEED.
UM, AND, AND FOR IDENTIFYING THE THANK YOU.
AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER READ THE AFTER COUNCIL MEMBER CASAR.
MA'AM HANG ON, HANG ON, HANG ON ONE SECOND.
YOU'RE ON DECK HOW'S MEMBER COSAR AND THEN YOU, UH, FIRST, THANK YOU, UH, HANNAH AND MARINA FOR SHARING YOUR STORIES
[02:05:01]
AND MARY, THANK YOU FOR COMING HERE WITH US TODAY.IF YOU'RE A DAUGHTER, SON, WIFE, OR ANY FAMILY MEMBER OF YOURS WAS IN THIS KIND OF TRAUMATIC PAIN, I HAVE TO BELIEVE YOU WOULD MAKE THIS A PRIORITY.
SO PLEASE MAKE YOUR COMMUNITY FAMILY MEMBERS A PRIORITY.
THESE ARE THE WORDS OF MONICA GARRETT TO THIS CITY COUNCIL IN 2016, ASKING FOR US TO STAND UP FOR HER DAUGHTER.
ONE OF THE PLAINTIFFS IN THIS CASE, ASKING FOR US TO CLEAR THE RAPE KIT, BACKLOG AND IMPLORING FOR US TO LISTEN.
IF ANY FAMILY MEMBER OF YOURS WAS IN THIS KIND OF PAIN, I HAVE TO BELIEVE YOU WOULD MAKE THIS A PRIORITY THAT DAY MONICA AND DOZENS OF OTHERS WERE BEFORE US BECAUSE THEIR FAMILIES HAD NOT BEEN MADE A PRIORITY.
IN FACT, JUST A FEW WEEKS EARLIER, TOP BRASS AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THAT SURVIVORS WERE MAKING MOUNTAINS OUT OF MOLEHILLS IN THE MONTHS THAT FOLLOWED.
HOWEVER, IT BECAME CLEAR THAT THE LAB WAS SHUT DOWN BECAUSE OF SERIOUS MALPRACTICE.
THAT CASES HAD BEEN MISHANDLED AND REPEATEDLY EXCEPTIONALLY CLEARED, AND THAT THERE WAS EVEN MOLD ON EVIDENCE.
SINCE THEN, THERE HAS BEEN A CONTINUED PUSH AND PULL BETWEEN THOSE WHO BELIEVED THE MOUNTAINS OUT OF MOLEHILLS THEORY AND THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO BELIEVED SURVIVORS.
I KNOW THERE WERE PEOPLE INCLUDING VERY POWERFUL PEOPLE WHO DISPARAGED YOU DURING THIS, THAT MADE THIS VERY DIFFICULT FOR YOU, BUT BECAUSE OF YOUR PERSISTENCE IN BRAVERY AND YOUR ADVOCACY AT COUNCIL, BECAUSE OF YOUR LAWSUIT, IT'S UNDENIABLE THAT SOME VERY IMPORTANT THINGS HAVE CHANGED.
WE CLEARED THE RAPE EVIDENCE BACKLOG.
THE CITY HAS HAD TO CREATE A COLD CASE UNIT.
WE WERE PUSHED TO HIRE A VICTIM SERVICES COUNSELORS THAT ARE SERVING PEOPLE TODAY.
THOSE COUNSELORS WILL BE ALLOWED TO BE WITH SURVIVORS AND THEIR CASE INTERVIEWS WITH POLICE.
THERE WILL BE REQUIRED TRAINING AT THE POLICE ACADEMY ON HOW TO BETTER HANDLE THESE CASES.
WE ARE NOW LEGALLY COMMITTED TO HEARING FROM SURVIVORS BEFORE CLOSING CASES, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT REJOINED THE SEXUAL ASSAULT RESPONSE TEAM.
WE ARE NOW ISSUING A FORMAL APOLOGY FROM THE CITY.
WE HAVE A NEW DISTRICT ATTORNEY WITH NEW PRACTICES ON SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES, THANKS TO THE WORK OF SURVIVORS ALONGSIDE, ALONGSIDE LEAD SPONSOR ALTAR.
THERE'S AN ONGOING REVIEW OF ALL OUR PROCESSES BEING DONE BY A PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION.
AND THANKS TO THE MAYOR PRO TEM HIS DIRECTION TODAY.
WE'LL TELL THE CITY MANAGER TO PRIORITIZE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND I'M GRATEFUL TO THAT FOR THAT COUNCIL MEMBER, THE SETTLEMENT TODAY WILL BE FURTHER ENFORCED BY OUTSIDE GROUPS AND BY OUR INDEPENDENT CITY AUDITOR.
THIS IS ALL SIGNIFICANT AND WAS ONLY POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF YOUR BRAVERY PERIOD, BUT EVEN STILL WITH THIS SETTLEMENT, MANY OF THE PLAINTIFFS I'VE SPOKEN WITH FEEL UNSETTLED BECAUSE THE MATTER IS NOT OVER, I HAVE TO BE HONEST WITH THE PUBLIC AND WITH YOU ALL, UH, THAT AS A POLICY MAKER, UH, MY FIRST REACTION ON HOW TO MOVE FORWARD WAS ASKING THE PLAINTIFFS, WHAT OTHER COUNCIL RESOLUTION I COULD BRING FORWARD TODAY? WHEN IT BECAME CLEAR THAT WE WERE GETTING CLOSE TO SETTLEMENT, I ASKED WHAT ELSE I COULD AUTHOR TO HAVE COUNCIL VOTE ON TODAY WHILE I'M STILL A MEMBER OF THIS BODY.
WHEN I FLOATED THE IDEA OF ANOTHER COUNCIL RESOLUTION, MANY SURVIVORS RESPONDED WITH EXHAUSTION.
YOU SAID, BECAUSE LET'S BE CLEAR.
ANOTHER RESOLUTION IS NO GUARANTEE THAT AUSTIN WOULD DO BETTER BY PLAINTIFFS AND COUNTLESS OTHERS WHO HAVE SURVIVED SEXUAL ASSAULT.
IN FACT, THE SETTLEMENT IN AND OF ITSELF IS NOT A GUARANTEE THAT AUSTIN WILL DO BETTER, BUT INSTEAD TODAY'S VOTE IS PROOF OF SOMETHING ELSE.
TO ME, IT IS PROOF THAT A FUTURE DOES EXIST WHERE SEXUAL ASSAULT IS LESS COMMON AND JUSTICE MORE WITHIN REACH, BUT THAT FUTURE ONLY EXISTS WHEN SURVIVORS LEAD THE WAY AND ARE HEARD.
SO INSTEAD OF ANOTHER RESOLUTION TODAY, MY CONTRIBUTION IS TO LEAVE THIS MESSAGE ON THE RECORD.
I'VE BEEN ASKING MYSELF SINCE LISTENING THAT DAY IN 2016, WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO SHIFT FROM A CITY THAT IS DEFENSIVE OR NEGLECTFUL OR DISMISSIVE TO BECOME A PLACE THAT RESPONDS TO THE CALL FOR JUSTICE.
AND THE ANSWER WAS ALWAYS THERE IN MS GARRETT'S WORDS.
AND BY HER EXAMPLE, IF WE WANT TO CREATE A CITY WHERE SURVIVORS DON'T HAVE TO TELL THEIR STORY PAINFULLY BEFORE, AS TIME AND TIME AGAIN, WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET LAWYERS AND FILMMAKERS AND FAMILY MEMBERS TO WEEP BEFORE US ASKING FOR US TO DO THE RIGHT THING, IF WE WANT TO BE THAT
[02:10:01]
CITY, WE MUST RECOGNIZE IT IS IN FACT, OUR DAUGHTERS AND SONS AND FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE IN PAIN, AND WE MUST LISTEN AND NOT DISMISS THEM AGAIN.THAT IS HOW WE ADDRESS SEXUAL ASSAULT.
IN FACT, I BELIEVE THAT IS HOW WE ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS.
THAT IS HOW WE END GUN VIOLENCE.
THAT'S HOW WE GET HEALTHCARE FOR ALL PEOPLE.
THIS IS HOW WE BECOME WHO WE SAY.
WE WANT TO BE BY RECKONING WITH THE FACT THAT THIS IS OUR SUFFERING FAMILY, AND IT CANNOT BE DISMISSED.
SO I, FOR 1:00 AM DECIDEDLY AND DEFIANTLY AND PERMANENTLY UNSETTLED.
AND I BELIEVE ANYONE WHO READS THROUGH YOUR LAWSUIT OR HEARS YOUR STORY WOULD BE SO TO RESPECT YOUR SACRIFICE AND YOUR WORK, WE WILL REMAIN UNSETTLED UNTIL WE CREATE A BETTER CITY.
AND, AND I AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUES, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M COMMITTED.
I, UM, UH, UH, GRANDFATHER AND GREAT-GRANDFATHER, AND I HAVE DARK DAUGHTERS AND GRANDDAUGHTER, AND I WOULD NEVER TOLERATE ANYTHING LIKE THAT TO HAPPEN TO ANY OF MY FAMILY.
SO I'M JUST, EVEN THOUGH I COULD HELP ME HAVE ONE YEAR ON THE CONSOLE, I'M GOING TO BE HERE IN AUSTIN AND I'M COMMITTED TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS NEVER HAPPENS, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE STEPPED BACK AND WHEN THIS HAPPENED.
AND WE FOUND OUT THAT, UH, THE APD WASN'T TAKING CARE AND, AND, UH, JENSEN DANA REALLY ABOUT HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THE KIDS AND THE FRIGERATOR BEING OUT, AND NO ONE CARED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ADDRESSING THOSE ISSUES.
AND WHEN THE ACTIONS WE DID WITH SUCH A PUSHBACK BY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND THE FUND, THE POLICE, AND WE WERE TRYING TO TELL THE, THE STUDENTS.
AND SO I WAS IN STATE OF TEXAS AND AUSTIN THAT WERE NOT THE FUNDING.
THE POLICE WERE TAKING A STEP BACK TO MAKE SURE THESE KINDS OF ACTIONS NEVER HAPPENED AGAIN.
AND WE MADE A COMMITMENT THAT IT WASN'T GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN, NOT ON OUR WATCH AND NOT IN THE FUTURE.
AND WE DID PAY A POLITICAL PRICE FOR IT.
AND I HOPE THE PEOPLE THAT WERE FIGHTING US REALIZED NOW THAT WHAT WE WERE DOING, WE WERE HURTING PEOPLE AND THERE WERE NO REMEDIES FOR THEM.
AND IT'S IT JUST SO FRUSTRATED THAT WHEN WE TRIED THAT YOU GOT OUT THERE DOING THE RIGHT THING, THAT THERE'S GROUPS THAT TAKES THAT AND TURN IT INTO A POLITICAL, TURNED IT INTO POLITICAL DRAMA THAT IS NOT WHAT'S HAPPENING.
AND I HOPE THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN SAID, STICK IT TO US, SAT HERE AND WATCHED THESE TESTIMONY WILL REALLY TAKE IT TO HEART.
THAT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY TO GROW AND, AND OUR, OUR CHILDREN AND OUR PROSPERITY TO MAKE THEM STRONG AND TO BE ABLE TO BE NOT AFRAID, NOT HURT TO BE, TO LEAD A HAPPY AND PRODUCTIVE LIFE.
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY, I'M COMMITTED TO THAT THINK, THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES, AND TAKE THE VICTIMS. I JUST PRAY FOR Y'ALL THAT Y'ALL HAVE ALL RECOVERY.
I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE HARD, UH, INJUSTICE, YOU KNOW, AND YOUR HEART IS VERY WHEN, WHEN THERE'S INJUSTICE, YOU KNOW, YOUR HEART TAKES A LONG TIME TO HEAL, BUT, UH, I JUST HOPE THAT THE BEST FOR YOU.
UH, I, I JUST WANT TO, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT, UM, THAT I HAVE HEARD WHAT YOU HAVE SAID, AND I WANT TO ADD MY VOICE TO THE SUPPORT THAT YOU'RE HEARING FROM THE COUNCIL AND THE COMMITMENT TO CONTINUE THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE BEGUN.
I WANT TO SAY, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE.
I, I COULD NEVER PRETEND TO KNOW HOW DIFFICULT IT HAS BEEN FOR YOU.
AND I, I SINCERELY HOPE THAT AS YOU CONTINUE, UH, WITH YOUR LIVES IN YOUR WORK, THAT YOU WILL FIND PEACE.
I KNOW THAT THIS IS A VERY DIFFICULT, DIFFICULT THING TO HAVE TO HAVE DEALT WITH, BUT I DO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR VOICE.
I WANT TO SAY A THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER COSAR AND TO KA AND TO MAYOR PRO TEM ALTAR.
THEY'VE BOTH BEEN CHAMPIONS, UH, IN WORKING WITH YOU.
[02:15:01]
THAT I SUPPORT THEIR EFFORTS AND I WILL ALWAYS SUPPORT THESE EFFORTS.I ALSO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE SETTLEMENT PROVIDES, PROVIDE THE MECHANISM TO CONTINUE THIS INTO THE FUTURE.
IT WAS, IT IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT IN MAKING THESE KINDS OF REFORMS TO HAVE A MECHANISM IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT THEY STAY IN PLACE NEXT YEAR, NEXT FIVE YEARS, NEXT 10 YEARS FOREVER.
SO I THINK THAT, UM, I'M PLEASED TO SEE THERE'S MECHANISMS IN PLACE WITH OUR CITY AUDITOR AND OTHER MECHANISMS, TO BE SURE THAT THE CITY REMAINS ACCOUNTABLE FOR, UM, THESE CHANGES AND THAT WE DON'T SLIP BACK INTO COMPLACENCY, UM, INTO, INTO IGNORING WHAT'S.
AND SO I JUST WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT I'M HERE TO SUPPORT YOU ALSO THANK YOU AS A MEMBER OF THANK YOU.
ALSO WANT TO ECHO BY COLLEAGUES AND THEIR SENTIMENTS AND THINKING OUR SURVIVORS FOR BEING HERE TODAY FOR RAISING THEIR VOICE AND FOR SHARING THEIR STORIES.
I KNOW THAT THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING, AND AS WE LOOK AT THE CLOSURE OF THIS LAWSUIT, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT AS PART OF IT, THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN WILL BE ISSUING A PUBLIC APOLOGY, ACKNOWLEDGING HOW OUR SYSTEM HAS FAILED THAT VERY IMPORTANT PIECE.
AND WE HAVE TO DO MORE AND HOLDING OUR SYSTEMS ACCOUNTABLE.
AND AS WAS MENTIONED TODAY, THIS IS JUST THE PATH FORWARD.
THERE'S STILL SO MUCH MORE THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
UM, AND THANK YOU TO THE LEADERSHIP OF OUR MAYOR, PRO TEM ALTER AND CONCERT WORK FACADE.
WE HAVE OUTLINED ADDITIONAL DIRECTION SO THAT WE ENSURE THAT THIS NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN, AND THAT WE DO ALL THAT WE CAN TO PREVENT VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO ALSO SHARE MY COMMITMENT AND SEEING THROUGH THE WORK AND SEEING THROUGH THE REFORMS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT IN PROGRESS, UM, AND TO HOLDING THE SYSTEM ACCOUNTABLE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR YOUR RELENTLESS ADVOCACY IS TRULY SPURRED CULTURAL CHANGE.
UM, AND I JUST WANT TO EXTEND MY HEARTFELT, THANKS.
I ALSO WANT TO ADD MY VOICE OF APPRECIATION FOR YOUR BRAVERY AND YOUR TENACITY AND YOUR RESILIENCE DURING SUCH A HARD TIME.
I KNOW THAT Y'ALL HAVE BEEN SUFFERING FOR YEARS.
IT'S CLEAR THAT AN INJUSTICE WAS DONE AND I'M APPRECIATIVE THAT YOU HAVE LYNCH YOUR VOICES, NOT ONLY TO YOURSELVES AND EACH OTHER, BUT TO ANYONE WHO MAY HAVE TO FOLLOW IN YOUR FOOTSTEPS.
WE ALL WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.
BUT KNOWING THAT SITUATIONS DO OCCUR, WE NEED TO BELIEVE SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
AND WE ARE COMMITTED AS A DIOCESE TO CHANGING THESE POLICIES FROM THE TOP DOWN, MAKING SURE THAT VICTIM SERVICES HAS THE SUPPORT THAT IT NEEDS FROM US, WITH BUDGETS AND WITH POLICY TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE TAKING CARE OF AND THAT ANYONE ELSE WHO HAS TO GO THROUGH THIS IS ALSO TAKEN CARE OF.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT YOUR STORIES REALLY TOUCHED MY HEART AND I AM SO PROUD TO BE UP HERE ON A COUNCIL THAT CAN TRULY RECOGNIZE WHAT YOU ALL WENT THROUGH AND CREATE CHANGE.
SO THAT OTHER INDIVIDUALS WHO GO THROUGH SIMILAR EXPERIENCES DON'T EXPERIENCE WHAT YOU DID.
THANK YOU FOR BEING BRAVE AND FOR COMING HERE AND FOR BEING RELENTLESS, BECAUSE WITHOUT YOUR ADVOCACY, WE MAY NOT BE WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.
YEAH, I TOO WANTED TO ADD MY VOICE, A THANKS TO THE SURVIVORS WHO HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR CHANGE FOR SO LONG, THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE HERE TODAY, THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE CONTACTED US IN THE PAST AND SPOKEN IN THE PAST.
UM, THANK YOU FOR SHARING EXTRAORDINARILY PAINFUL TESTIMONIES.
UH, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR ENDLESS ADVOCACY.
THANK YOU FOR, UM, HOLDING US ACCOUNTABLE.
YOUR ADVOCACY, AS MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ALREADY HAVE ALREADY DETAILED, HAS RESULTED IN CHANGES, AND WE KNOW THAT THIS WORK MUST CONTINUE.
YOU HAVE MY COMMITMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT AS LONG AS I AM ON THIS DYESS, UH, I WILL JOIN MY COLLEAGUES.
UM, IN HOLDING THE MANAGER ACCOUNTABLE, CONTINUED CHANGES IN HOW WE RESPOND TO HOW WE RE PREVENT AND RESPOND TO SEXUAL ASSAULT OF, OF INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM ALTER COUNCIL MEMBER CASAR, YOU'VE LED THE DIOCESE AND THIS WORK OF INCREASING RESOURCES AND OTHERS.
AND SO THANK YOU FOR THAT PART OF THE SETTLEMENT.
AS, AS MAYOR PRO TEM DETAILED DOES INCLUDE A FORMAL APOLOGY FROM THE CITY.
UM, AND AS A MEMBER OF THIS DIOCESE, I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER MY OWN APOLOGY, UM, FOR THE FAILURES OF
[02:20:01]
THE CITY AND IN HELPING, UM, ACHIEVE THE JUSTICE THAT YOU SO RIGHTLY DESERVED.I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR PERSISTING THROUGH SOME UNSPEAKABLE CIRCUMSTANCES.
I WANT TO OFFER YOU MY, MY COMMITMENT AS WELL AS MY COLLEAGUES HAVE OFFERED TO YOU TO ENSURE THAT WHERE YOUR SITUATION NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN.
AND FOR THOSE SURVIVORS WHO MAY NOT BE IN THE ROOM WITH US TODAY MAY HAVE SUFFERED AS WELL, OUR EMPATHY AND SUPPORT TO THEM FOR THEIR HEALING.
AND I OFFER AN APOLOGY TO YOU ALL AS WELL ON BEHALF OF THE CITY FOR WHAT YOU WERE FORCED TO ENDURE.
AND I PRAY FOR HEALING, EMOTIONAL, AND PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
I'LL CONCLUDE BY SAYING THAT IN MY SEVEN YEARS SITTING ON THIS DAY, AS I'M NOT SURE THERE WAS A MOMENT THAT WAS MORE IMPACTFUL AND TRANSFORMATIVE, THEN THAT EVENING AS WE WERE BEGINNING BUDGET CONSIDERATION, UH, AND YOU AND OTHERS TOLD YOUR STORIES AND YOUR TRUTHS.
UH, OBVIOUSLY THIS CITY SHOULD HAVE BEEN ACTING EARLIER, BUT THAT EVENING, I THINK EVIDENCED AND CREATED A, A POINT OF INFLECTION.
THERE WAS JUST SUCH A SENSE THAT NIGHT, THAT SO MANY SYSTEMS HAD HAD FAILED YOU.
WE INITIATED A PROCESS COLLECTIVELY AND IN THIS COMMUNITY, UH, THAT CONTINUES TO TAKE TOO LONG.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AS WELL, TO A SPECIAL GROUP OF SURVIVORS WHO STOOD STRONG AND HELPED TO BRING ABOUT SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS IN HOW OUR CITY SUPPORTS SURVIVORS OF VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT AND HOW WE DO OUR PART TO TRY TO BRING JUSTICE FOR HARMS ENDURED BEGINNING IN 2019, OUR CITY HAS, AND WE'LL INVEST OVER $4.4 MILLION TO IMPROVE OUR SYSTEMS AND THIS WORK WILL, AND MUST CONTINUE THE ADDITIONAL $875,000 SETTLEMENT THAT WE'RE APPROVING TODAY IS BOTH TO GIVE SOME SMALL MEASURE OF COMPENSATION FOR WHAT THE SURVIVORS WENT THROUGH.
NOTING THAT WHILE YOUR INJURIES CAN NOT BE MADE WHOLE, WE CAN RECOGNIZE THE VERY REAL INJURY.
IMPORTANTLY, I THINK THE, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO SAY WITH THAT COMPONENT OF THE SETTLEMENT IS TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF YOUR ADVOCACY IN CHANGING THE CITY.
WE SHOULD ALL BE SORRY, AS I AM, THAT YOU HAD TO ENDURE THE POST TRAUMA TRAUMAS AND THAT OUR SYSTEM DID NOT FIX THESE CHALLENGES ON ITS OWN.
AND THAT THE BURDEN FELL TO YOU IN LARGE PART TO CORRECT WHAT WAS GOING ON.
PLEASE KNOW THAT YOU MADE THIS A BETTER CITY.
THERE IS STILL A LONG WAY TO GO, BUT YOU HAVE SET US ON A BETTER PATH.
THERE'S A MOTION ON THE, UM, ON THE FLOOR, UH, ANY DEBATE ON THE MOTION ITSELF, AND LET'S GO AHEAD AND VOTE THOSE IN FAVOR.
THOSE OPPOSED SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO MISS ON THE DYESS.
UH, I WOULD PROPOSE THAT WE TAKE, UH, PUBLIC, UH, COMMUNICATION AND THEN BREAK FOR LUNCH AND THEN COME BACK TO HANDLE THE CONSENT ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PULLED AND THE PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS. I'M NOT SURE THEY'LL TAKE VERY LONG, UH, THOSE ITEMS. UM, I'M GOING TO GIVE PEOPLE THE CHANCE BEFORE WE TAKE THE BREAK, IF THEY WANT TO SPEAK ON THE CONSENT, UH, AGENDA ITEM.
UH, BUT THEN WE'LL TAKE THE BREAK AND COME BACK AND DO THE CONSENT, UH, UH, AGENDA.
UH, AND IF THAT'S OKAY, IF IT'S APPROPRIATE TO MAKE
[02:25:01]
THE COMMENT, THEN AFTER THE BREAK, DOES THAT WORK? OKAY, SO WE'RE GOING TO DO THE PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS.WE'RE GOING TO STOP, LIKE, WHY DON'T YOU COME BACK? WE'LL DO THE CONSENT AGENDA, THE PUBLIC AGENDA, AND THEN WE HAVE ZONING.
[Public Comments (Part 2 of 3)]
UH, PUBLIC COMMUNICATION IS THREE MINUTES.I WOULD ASK THE CLERK TO A NOTE THAT IN OUR AGENDA, UH, RATHER THAN LISTING THIS COMPONENT AS CITIZEN COMMUNICATION, WE SHOULD CHANGE THAT TO BE PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.
CAUSE WE CERTAINLY INVITE OTHERS OTHER THAN CITIZENS TO SPEAK DURING THIS PERIOD OF TIME.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND CALL THE SPEAKERS.
UH, IS LESLIE, UM, UH, SHOULD WE CALL THE S IS ANYONE HERE WITH US TODAY FROM AMONG THIS GROUP? DAN HAS, IS WHO I HAVE SIGNED UP FOR IN-PERSON OKAY.
ANYBODY ELSE HERE TO SPEAK ON PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS, THEN LET'S GO AHEAD AND CALL THE ONES THAT ARE HERE VIRTUALLY.
UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR ADLER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'VE SPOKEN TO YOU PREVIOUSLY ABOUT AUSTIN PETS ALIVE AND THE TERRIBLE CONDITIONS THAT TOWN LAKE ANIMAL CENTER I'VE VOLUNTEERED AT APA FOR FIVE YEARS.
AND THEN FOR THE CITY SHELTER FOR TWO, I LEFT AUSTIN TWO YEARS AGO AND MOVED TO ALBUQUERQUE NEW MEXICO, BUT APA AND AUSTIN'S PROBLEMATIC ANIMAL WELFARE POLICIES ARE FOLLOWING ME SHORTLY BEFORE CHRISTMAS.
I WAS AT A PETSMART STORE HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE, AND I MET A DOG AT AN ADOPTION EVENT THAT HAD BEEN SENT TO NEW MEXICO FROM AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER.
I LEARNED FROM THE RESCUE ORGANIZATION THAT THEY HAD RECENTLY TAKEN IN 17 DOGS FROM AUSTIN VIA A TRANSPORT.
I DOUBT THIS NEEDS EXPLAINING, BUT NEW MEXICO IS POORER THAN TEXAS.
AND THE ALBUQUERQUE AREA IS FAR LESS PROSPEROUS THAN AUSTIN.
THE MOST RECENT DATA I FOUND SHOWS THAT THE SHELTERS IN THE NEW MEXICO COUNTY, WHERE THESE DOGS WERE SENT TO HAVE A LIVE RELEASE RATE OF ONLY APPROXIMATELY 86%.
SO HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THAT DOGS FROM AUSTIN ARE BEING SENT TO STAND UP ALL COUNTY NEW MEXICO? I DON'T LAY THIS AT THE HANDS OF AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER.
I DO THINK IT WAS A BAD DECISION, BUT THE ROOT CAUSE IS NOT AAC.
IT'S AUSTIN PETS ALIVE, AND THE PERVERSE POLICIES.
THEY PERSUADED THIS COUNCIL TO ENDORSE AND THE ACTIONS THEY'VE TAKEN IN RECENT YEARS TO BRING IN MORE AND MORE ANIMALS FROM OUTSIDE TRAVIS COUNTY AND THE SURROUNDING AREA JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO, THIS COUNCIL SUPPORTED APA IN ITS EFFORTS TO TIE THE HANDS OF CITY MANAGERS WHO WERE TRYING TO ENSURE THAT APA WAS IN FACT, A GOOD PARTNER TO THE CITY, APA SUCCEEDED IN GETTING SPECIAL TREATMENT AND ITS NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE LICENSE AGREEMENT THAT LETS IT USE FOR FREE AND APA WILL NOW BE FREE AND CLEAR IN THE FUTURE TO CONTINUE IMPORTING ANIMALS FROM ACROSS TEXAS.
THIS PUTS PRESSURE ON THE CITY SHELTER, WHICH HAS SUFFERED FROM OVERCROWDING FOR YEARS AND HAS NOW LED TO DOGS ROUTINELY BEING OUT OF STATE, THIS SHELL GAME, HIGHLY ADOPTABLE DOGS BEING SENT OUT OF AUSTIN WHILE OTHER ADOPTABLE DOGS ARE BEING BROUGHT TO US.
AND BY APA IS IRRATIONAL AND ABSURD.
APA HAS COMPLETELY STIFLED RATIONAL.
POLICY-MAKING ABOUT THESE ISSUES.
THEY'VE STEPPED TO THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION WITH THEIR FRIENDS.
MANY OF WHOM HAVE CLEAR CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND HAVE CO-OPTED COUNCIL MEMBERS TO GET WHAT THEY WANT OFTEN IS THE ONLY LARGE CITY IN THE UNITED STATES WITH ONLY A SINGLE SHELTER LOCATION IN THE ENTIRE CITY AND COUNTY LACK UNDER APS MANAGEMENT WAS SUPPOSED TO ESSENTIALLY SERVE AS A SATELLITE SHELTER, BUT APA DOESN'T WANT TO DO THAT ANYMORE AND YOU'VE LET THEM OFF THE HOOK.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER IS IN AUSTIN, BUT IT ALMOST CERTAINLY DOESN'T INCLUDE APA BEING ALLOWED TO CONTINUE TO USE IT TO CORRECT DECREPITUDE INHUMANE FACILITY THAT MIGHT HAVE A MUCH BETTER USE IN THE FUTURE REBUILT OF COURSE, TO MODERN HUMANE STANDARDS TO ACTUALLY HELP AUSTIN'S ANIMALS.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS ETHAN SMITH.
HEY, Y'ALL, I'M TOUGH FACTS TO FOLLOW 'EM.
I'VE GOT SOME MORE KIND OF LIGHTHEARTED STUFF TO TALK ABOUT.
UM, SOME THINGS THAT SEEM REALLY OBVIOUS TO ME.
UM, HEY, I THINK THAT BARS IN THIS TOWN SHOULD BE OPEN TILL 4:00 AM.
UH, THOSE IN NEW ORLEANS, THE WORLD KEEPS ON TURNING
[02:30:01]
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WANT TO GET OUT THERE AND PARTY, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO KIND OF A TOUGH COUPLE OF YEARS AND PEOPLE JUST WANT TO BE PEOPLE.WE KIND OF SELL A LOT OF OUR ECONOMY, OUR ABILITY TO ATTRACT TOP TALENT ON THE NIGHTLIFE AND AUSTIN AND THE EVENTS.
AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WORTH CONSIDERING.
UM, I ALSO THINK PARKING DOWNTOWN, TOO EXPENSIVE PARKING IN DEEP ELLUM IS ONLY 50 CENTS AN HOUR.
YOU KNOW, I WAS AT THE DOMAIN, UH, THIS PAST WEEK AND PARKING DOESN'T COST ANYTHING THERE.
AND THEN THE MEANS A GREAT PLACE TO SHOP AND IT'S SEXUALLY REALLY NICELY DONE EVEN THOUGH, UM, YOU KNOW, I PROBABLY DIDN'T REALLY CARE THAT MUCH ABOUT IT WHEN IT WAS GETTING BUILT, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE SEEM TO ENJOY IT.
UM, AND I THINK PEOPLE WOULD ENJOY DOWNTOWN MORE IF PARKING WASN'T SO EXPENSIVE.
AND I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WORK DOWNTOWN AND KITCHENS THAT MIGHT ONLY BE MAKING $17 AN HOUR AND, UH, PARKING IS A REAL ISSUE AND I'VE BEEN THAT PERSON.
UM, ALSO WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING ELSE THAT SEEMS KIND OF OBVIOUS TO ME.
I'M GOING TO TAKE YOU TO WEST CAMPUS, DID PROJECT CONNECT, STOP AND WEST CAMPUS.
I FEEL PRETTY STRONGLY SHOULD BE AT 24TH AND RIO AND NOT ON GUADALUPE.
AND, UH, WE SHOULD MAINTAIN AUTO TRAFFIC AND ALL THE ABILITIES OF CARS AND VEHICLES TO GET INTO UT CAMPUS.
UM, AND YOU CAN AT 29TH STREET GUADALUPE AND RIO GRANDE, OR LIKE HALF A BLOCK, IF THAT FROM EACH OTHER, YOU CAN EASILY GET TO RIO GRANDE FROM THERE.
I THINK IT'S KIND OF A VALUE STATEMENT.
DO YOU WANT THE STOP TO BE CLOSER TO THE POPULATION CENTER OR THE WORK CENTER? AND I THINK THIS LITTLE TOWN AND GOWN CONCEPT, IF PEOPLE ARE AT 24TH AND RIO AND THEY'RE WALKING TO WORK PAST SHOPS, THREE BLOCKS, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE YOUR FIRST FLOOR COMMERCIAL.
I THINK THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE TO CREATE THAT FOOT TRAFFIC, BUT TRAFFIC'S GOOD FOR SAFETY IF YOU'RE DOWNTOWN AND YOU'RE THE BACKUP AND YOU KNOW, YOU'RE A WALKING HOME, YOU'RE PROBABLY A LOT CLOSER TO WHERE YOU LIVE.
IF YOU LIVE AT 26 AND LEON, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND THEN IF YOU'RE GETTING DROPPED OFF ON THE DRAG AND IT'S A, IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE.
UM, AND I THINK ALL THIS WOULD BE, UH, I THINK DEVELOPERS WOULD GIVE US A REAL LOOK.
YOU KNOW, RIO GRANDE GOES STRAIGHT ALL THE WAY TO 12TH.
SO, UM, AND IT'S A WIDE STREET AND 12TH IS A BOULEVARD YOU CAN TURN BACK UP AND GET TO WHERE THAT ROUTE KIND OF, YOU KNOW, WHERE THE MAP SAYS IT GOES, BUT, UM, 12TH AND RIO'S AN ACC CAMPUS.
YOU HAVE THE SKATE PARK DOWN THERE.
UM, SO I WOULD SAY, HEY, CONSIDER STOPS AT 24TH AND RIO AND 12TH AND RIO.
YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT REDOING , IF YOU GET RID OF TRAFFIC ON GUADALUPE, YOU DON'T HAVE A NORTH SOUTH BETWEEN PLEASANT VALLEY IN LAMAR AND THAT TRAFFIC IS GOING TO GO SOMEWHERE.
YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT GOING TO, UNLESS IT'S, WE'D LIKE IT TO MAGICALLY DISAPPEAR.
UM, THANKS FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.
AKUNA THE BITE FOR UP HERE, AROUND THE SIDES WITH THE VIEW.
I'M A CLIMATE RESILIENCE COMMUNITY LEAD ORGANIZER WITH GABA.
AND I DO WANT TO THANK ALL THE DEPARTMENTS, THE CITY DEPARTMENTS, SCHOOL STAFF, AND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS THAT HAVE BEEN MEETING, WORKING TO DEVELOP A PREPAREDNESS PLAN THAT CAN WORK FOR ALL.
I WANTED TO ASK OUR RESIDENTS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, FES ORGANIZATIONS, CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS, AND CITY DEPARTMENTS TO WORK TOGETHER.
SINCE EVERYONE PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN RE IN DISASTER PREPAREDNESS, WE NEED TO STOP WAITING FOR SOMEBODY, FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO TAKE THE INITIATIVE TO PREPARE.
WE EXPECT THE CITY TO RESPOND WITHIN 24 HOURS, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WITHIN 72 HOURS AND THE RESIDENTS TO RESPOND IMMEDIATELY.
WE ALL NEED TO BE TAKING DISASTER PREPAREDNESS TRAINING FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WE ALL CARE ABOUT AND THE PEOPLE WE ALL REPRESENT.
IT'S EVERYBODY'S JOB AND RESPONSIBILITY.
I'M ASKING ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE MAYOR, AND THE CITY MANAGER TO PRIORITIZE STANDING ORDERS FOR RESILIENCE HUBS IN THE EASTERN CRESCENT WITH, WITH CASE WORKERS, CASE MANAGERS, UH, LEGAL ADVICE TO REVIEW CONTRACTS, DOCUMENTS, AND RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGY.
WE NEED TO SET ASIDE FUNDING FOR COPAYS, UH, NEEDED FOR PRESCRIPTIONS THAT CAN BE THAT CAN HELP EMERGE EMERGENCY MEDICAL RESPONSE TEAM TO DO, TO DO THEIR JOB EASIER WITH, UM, RESIDENTS THAT DON'T HAVE MEDICAL ACCESS IN THOSE
[02:35:01]
EVENTS.THERE IS A, A SPREADSHEET WITH A NEEDS LIST THAT I BELIEVE MOST OF YOU HAVE IN.
I DO APPRECIATE ALL THE DEPARTMENTS IN EVERYBODY THAT HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS MS LIST.
AND, UM, IF WE'RE WORKING WELL AND I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR DEDICATION.
PROBABLY BECAUSE THAT'S THE PUBLIC COMMUNICATION IT'S BEEN SUGGESTED THAT WE TRY TO TAKE A VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA SO WE CAN LET A LOT OF STAFF GO.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO COME BACK AFTER OUR LUNCH, WHICH MAKES SENSE.
AND THEN WE CAN GIVE PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO COMMENT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AND WE'LL TAKE THE LUNCH BREAK.
I WAS JUST GONNA SAY, I NOTICED SOME OF OUR COLLEAGUES WERE MISSING.
SHOULD WE GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO COME BACK? CERTAINLY THEY, THEY, THEY, THEY, THEY CAN YEAH.
YEAH, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD SUGGESTION.
I WAS GOING TO SAY, REMEMBER I HAD THOSE TWO QUICK ITEMS AND IF IT HELPS WITH OUR TIMING HERE, I CAN ASK THOSE TWO QUICK QUESTIONS OF OUR STAFF.
UM, AND THEN WE COULD MAKE COMMENTS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA MAYBE BY THEN OUR, OUR COLLEAGUES WILL BE BACK THEN TO VOTE.
GO AHEAD AND ASK THOSE QUESTIONS.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, WELL KITCHEN, JUST WANT TO T TO MAKE CLEAR IDENTIFIED THE, THE NUMBER I WANTED TO PULL.
I HAD THE WRONG NUMBER EARLIER.
UM, I COULDN'T TELL IF IT'S BEEN PULLED ALREADY.
LET'S LET OUR COLLEAGUES KNOW SO THEY CAN COME BACK SO THAT THEY CAN VOTE.
AND IN THE MEANTIME, COUNCIL MEMBER TOBA HAS TWO QUESTIONS TO ASK ON THOSE TWO ITEMS. YOU CAN START KELLY.
AND THEN ALSO I HAVE JUST A COMMENT ON SOMETHING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[36. Authorize negotiation and execution 01 a ground lease with Protestant Episcopal Church Council oi the Diocese o f Texas for real property consisting of approximately 1.604 acres of land. more or less, located at 4601 Westlake Drive, Austin. Texas 78746. for a term of forty (40) years, with one additional forty (40) year option for the operation of a new Austin Fire Department Emergency Medical Services station. in an amount not to exceed S9,060.297. (part 1 of 2)]
YEAH, THANK YOU.UM, MY FIRST QUESTION IS FOR AN ITEM 36, THIS IS THE GROUND LEASE FOR THE FIRE AND EMS STATION.
AND I WANTED TO ASK OUR STAFF AND APOLOGIES.
I DIDN'T HAVE THIS QUESTION ARTICULATED IN TIME FOR THE Q AND A OR FOR TUESDAY, BUT I AM WONDERING IF YOU COULD PROVIDE US WITH SOME INFORMATION AND LIKELY THIS WOULD OUR REAL ESTATE DEPARTMENT.
WHAT KIND OF, UM, WHAT KIND OF RESEARCH YOU DID IN THAT AREA TO IDENTIFY A LOCATION? YOU KNOW, WE'RE, AGAIN AND AGAIN, FROM THIS DIOCESE, WE TALK ABOUT THE NEED TO MOVE FROM LEASE SPACES, INTO, INTO, UH, BUILDINGS THAT WE OWN JUST FOR, FROM A, A PERSPECTIVE OF FINANCIAL, UM, YOU KNOW, BEST FINANCIAL CASE.
AND SO IT SURPRISED ME A BIT TO SEE, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT WILL EVENTUALLY END UP BEING SOMETHING LIKE A $9 MILLION, UH, LEASE FOR THIS, FOR THIS FACILITY? I ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT HAVING THIS FACILITY.
I THINK THIS IS A LOCATION WHERE WE, WHERE WE REALLY NEED THOSE RESOURCES.
UM, BUT, BUT IT DOES CONCERN ME THAT WE'RE ENTERING INTO A LEASE RATHER THAN A SALE.
SO, AND, AND, UM, MAYOR, IF WE DON'T HAVE THE STAFF ON THE LINE, I'LL JUST THROW THAT.
I WAS GOING TO SAY THAT IS SOMETHING THEY CAN COME BACK AND ANSWER AFTER BREAK IF THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO, BUT I JUST SAY STOP.
MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM NUMBERS, UH, MARKETED OR TRICK PROGRAM MANAGER, FINANCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
WE HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN SEARCHING FOR THE SITES SINCE SEPTEMBER, UH, 2018.
WE COULDN'T FIND ANY LOCATIONS FOR PURCHASE.
WE WENT BACK AND REVISIT THE SEARCH OF IN NOVEMBER OF 2020.
SO WE HAVE DONE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH.
WE'RE SENDING AGENTS, UH, TALKING TO THE BROKERS IN THE AREA AND WE COULD NOT FIND ANY AVAILABLE PROPERTY FOR SELL, WHICH WOULD SERVE THE SPARK PURPOSE.
SO THEN WHEN WE START, UH, DISCUSSIONS WITH THIS PROPERTY OWNER, THE PROPERTY OWNER, WASN'T WILLING TO SELL THE PROPERTY, BUT THEY WERE OPEN TO, UH, TO THEIR LEASE.
THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION.
AND I APPRECIATE THAT YOU WENT BACK FROM AFTER 2018, YOU WENT BACK TO 2020 IN 2020.
DO YOU BELIEVE THAT IT WOULD BE USEFUL TO GO BACK AGAIN AND DO ANOTHER QUICK SEARCH OF THAT AREA TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO PROPERTIES TO IDENTIFY? AND IF SO, I DON'T, I DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO HOLD UP THIS ACTION, BUT I WONDER IF WE COULD PASS IT WITH THE DIRECTION, UM, THAT JUST ASKS YOU TO TAKE ONE MORE LOOK BEFORE ENTERING INTO A LEASE AGREEMENT.
MS. THOMAS, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT, THAT DEFINITELY WE CAN, UH, LOOK AGAIN NOW WE HAVE THE RIGHT OF ENTRY AND POSSESSION TO THE PROPERTY, AND I BELIEVE THE CONSTRUCTION STARTED IN DECEMBER AT THE COMPLETION OF THE FIRE STATION IS SCHEDULED FOR MAY, 2023.
WELL, IF WE'VE ALREADY STARTED BUILDING ON IT, THEN IT CERTAINLY WOULD BE DISRUPTIVE TO
[02:40:02]
START ALL, START ALL OVER AGAIN ELSEWHERE AND PROBABLY COSTLY AS WELL.THE ACTUAL LEASE AUCTION, THE COMMENCEMENT DATE IS STARTS 24 MONTHS.
FROM THE TIME WE RECEIVED A SIPHON AND PROVO OR SITE DEVELOPMENT PERMIT, OR THE CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY, ARE WE NOT PAYING LEASE RIGHT NOW DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE? WE ARE NOT THE YEAR.
UH, ONE WOULD START IN 24 MONTHS FROM ONE OF THOSE TWO, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST.
IS THERE A REASON WHY THE CONSTRUCTION BEGAN BEFORE THIS COUNCIL APPROVED THE LEASE? UM, I CAN GET BACK TO YOU WITH THAT ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION OF, WE MAY NEED TO ALSO GET PUBLIC WORKS INVOLVED IN THE CONVERSATION.
THE WAY THAT I READ THE RCA IS THAT WHAT'S CURRENTLY IN PROCESS IS THE SITE PLAN DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION.
SO I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE IF THERE HAS BEEN CONSTRUCTION THAT STARTED.
AND SO IT MAY BE WORTHY THAT PERHAPS WE PEOPLE BESIDE THEM FOR NOW AND ALLOW PUBLIC WORKS TO ASK THAT QUESTION, ANSWER THAT QUESTION ABOUT CONSTRUCTION.
I MEAN, ONE, I THINK THAT COUNCIL MEMBER TOPO IS SAYING, LET'S APPROVE THIS, BUT TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AND YOU HAVE AUTHORITY TO MOVE FORWARD, BUT TAKE ANOTHER LOOK.
AND IF YOU SEE SOMETHING THAT'S BETTER THAN BRINGING IT BACK TO US, I THINK THAT COULD GO INDEPENDENT OF THIS.
RIGHT? WE CAN STILL IMPROVE IT TODAY, BUT TO COUNCIL MEMBER, TOVA HIS POINT? I THINK THERE IS A POTENTIAL PROBLEM TO THE DEGREE THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS BEEN ON THE PROPERTY NOW IS REMOVING ROCKS FROM THE PROPERTY NOW.
SO I THINK THAT THERE HAS BEEN AN INITIATION OF ACTIVITY.
SO THE QUESTION OF HOW THAT COULD HAPPEN BEFORE THE COUNCIL SAID, THE START IS STILL AN OPEN QUESTION, WHICH DESERVES A, ALSO A RESPONSE.
SO I THINK WE COULD APPROVE IT WITH THE ASK.
YOU'RE AUTHORIZED TO MOVE FORWARD, BUT TAKE ANOTHER LOOK FROM WHAT I SEE.
THIS LOOKS LIKE A PRETTY GOOD DEAL BECAUSE WE'RE ABLE TO LEASE A SMALLER AREA THAN WE'D HAVE TO BUY BECAUSE IN THAT AREA WITH THE BEST OF US AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS THAT SAID, I THINK IT MAKES THAT WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER KOBO IS SUGGESTING.
I THINK IT MAKES SENSE, BUT SEPARATE FROM THAT, DO THE ADDITIONAL THING IS SOME KIND OF RESPONSES TO HOW OR WHY WE WOULD BE ON THAT PROPERTY.
AND, AND HOW DO WE AVOID THAT IN THE FUTURE SO THAT WE'RE NOT IN A POSITION WHERE SOMEONE SAYS, WELL, YOU REALLY CAN'T ASK FOR THAT BECAUSE WE'VE ALREADY BEGUN.
I'LL, I'LL BE GLAD TO MOVE APPROVAL, UM, TODAY.
AND I'LL PROVIDE SOME MORE DIRECTION HERE IN A MINUTE.
IF I GET A SECOND COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, I'M HAPPY TO SECOND THAT, AND I HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS TOO, WHENEVER THE TIME'S APPROPRIATE.
SO I'M GOING TO PROVIDE THE ADDITIONAL DIRECTION.
ONE THAT WE GET A RESPONSE, UM, FROM OUR MANAGER ABOUT WHY, HOW AND WHY WORK WAS ABLE TO BEGIN ON A SITE THAT WE HAD NOT YET AUTHORIZED THE LISA AND THEN TO, UM, THE ADDITIONAL DIRECTION THAT WE WOULD LIKE STAFF TO, TO PUT SOME, UM, ADDITIONAL, TO DO ANOTHER SCAN OF THAT AREA AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE NOT OTHER ACCEPTABLE PROPERTIES FOR SALE.
YOU KNOW, I'M JUST REMINDED AGAIN, I TALKED ABOUT THE PHILOSOPHY THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT A LOT FROM HERE OF, OF MOVING TOWARD OWNED SPACES RATHER THAN LEASED SPACES.
AND SO THAT'S REALLY WHAT IS DRIVING MY QUESTIONING HERE TODAY.
NOT A CONCERN ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE NEED A LOCATION THERE FOR EMS AND FIRE, BECAUSE I BELIEVE WE DO AND HAVE SUPPORTED THAT DIRECTION, BUT I'M REMINDED OF THE HYDE PARK POST OFFICE, WHICH SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW RECENTLY CLOSED.
AND THE REASON IT CLOSED IS BECAUSE IT WAS CONSTRUCTED ON LEASED SPACE AND THE PROPERTY OWNER DECIDED THEY WERE READY TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT WITH THAT SPACE.
AND SO THAT POST OFFICE IS NOW CLOSED AND THAT PROPERTY WILL REDEVELOP.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, AS A MATTER OF PRACTICE, A CITY ENTITY, A PUBLIC ENTITY PROBABLY SHOULDN'T CONSTRUCT, UH, A REALLY CRITICAL RESOURCE ON A PIECE OF PROPERTY.
IT DOESN'T OWN, UM, AND PUT THOSE TAX DOLLARS IN THERE.
SO I APPRECIATE THAT THIS MAY HAVE BEEN THE ONLY SOLUTION.
AND IT SOUNDS AS IF YOU DID YOUR DUE DILIGENCE TO REALLY SEE WHAT OTHER OPTIONS ARE THERE.
AND SO, UH, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I, I AM APPRECIATIVE THAT YOU WENT BACK AND, AND LOOKED AGAIN IN 2020, AND JUST BEFORE WE'RE TOO FAR ALONG THE PROJECT TO TURN BACK, I WOULD, I WOULD ASK THAT YOU TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AND MAKE SURE THERE AREN'T ANY AVAILABLE PROPERTIES FOR SALE THAT MAKES SENSE WITHOUT OBJECTION, THAT DIRECTION WILL BE ADDED TO THIS ITEM.
AND IT REMAINED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
UH, CAUSE WE'RE ALISON JASMINE GAS.
I DID, I'M, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THIS TYPE OF MOVEMENT FORWARD.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO NOTE, UM, SINCE THIS IS CLOSE TO WHERE MAYOR PRO TEM ALTERS DISTRICT IS AND WILL SHORTLY BE CLOSE TO WHERE MY DISTRICT WILL BE DISTRICT DATE, UM, THAT WE, IT WAS OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT THESE HAD ALREADY BEEN, UH, YOU KNOW, THERE WERE ALREADY EFFORTS TO TRY TO MAKE SURE WE COULD HAVE THE LAND, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT WE COULD BUY IT AND THAT IT WOULD FOREVER BE IN,
[02:45:01]
IN THE CITY'S POSSESSION.UM, BUT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT WASN'T AN OPTION.
AND SO, UM, THIS IS ANOTHER OPTION THAT'S MUTUALLY AGREEABLE TO ALL PARTIES FOR THE TIME BEING.
BUT I DO AGREE WITH YOU AND THE PREMISE THAT WE SHOULD BE OWNING, OWNING THESE SPACES IF AT ALL POSSIBLE.
UM, BUT MAYOR PRO TEM ALTER IS BACK.
I DIDN'T KNOW IF SHE HAD ANY THOUGHTS ABOUT IT, 36, THE, UM, THE FIRE EMS STATION AND WHILE MAYOR PRO TEM IS ORIENTING HERSELF ON THAT.
UM, I WOULD JUST POINT OUT, I DON'T THINK WE'VE EVER BEEN GIVEN NOTICE OF THIS PROPERTY.
SO THERE HASN'T BEEN A PRIOR MEMO OR ANYTHING ASSOCIATED WITH THAT, WHICH IS WHY GETTING THIS THING TO US AS A COUNCIL WOULD BE HELPFUL, ESPECIALLY IN THESE SITUATIONS.
SO, UM, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM, THIS ITEM IS STAYING RIGHT NOW ON THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH TWO ADMONITIONS.
THE FIRST ONE IS FOR STAFF TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THE AREA, UH, POST 2020 TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NOT AN AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE OPTION, UH, THAT WE COULD CONSIDER.
AND THEN SECOND ADDRESS WITH COUNSEL WHAT HAPPENED, UH, CAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE APPARENTLY WE MAY HAVE ALREADY BEEN ON THE PROPERTY OR GONE ON THE PROPERTY JUST TO, TO TRUE THAT UP, SEE WHETHER THAT'S TRUE AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR PROCESSES ARE SET SO THAT THIS KIND OF STUFF GETS TO COUNCIL FIRST OR PROTESTS.
UM, SO I'M SORRY I WAS OUTSIDE.
I THOUGHT WE WERE TAKING CONSENT UP AFTER, UM, THE COMMUNICATION STAFF GO AND THAT'S WHY WE HAD RAISED IT.
UM, WELL I HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS ON CONSENT ON THIS ITEM.
I'M GOING TO DISAGREE WITH THAT FIRST DIRECTION BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN EXHAUSTING LOOKING FOR PURCHASING.
UM, THE REASON THIS IS A LEASE IS BECAUSE THERE WAS NO OTHER PROPERTY THEY SPENT ABOUT TWO YEARS.
THIS PROPERTY IS OWNED BY ST STEPHENS.
UM, AND THERE ARE REASONS THAT WE ARE LEASING, UM, A BECAUSE ST STEPHENS WON'T SELL IT TO US AND B BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT PERVIOUS COVER WORKS, THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO BE COVERING MUCH LARGER AMOUNT OF TERRITORY IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO BUILD.
UM, BUT THEY HAVE TRAILS, ET CETERA THAT ARE RIGHT NEARBY THAT ARE ALLOWING THAT TO HAPPEN.
UM, THIS PROJECT IS ALREADY UNDERWAY.
UM, IT'S ALREADY FULLY DESIGNED.
UM, IT HAS BEEN, UM, IN THE MEMOS THAT WE'VE HAD FOR QUITE SOME TIME WHAT WAS GOING ON, UM, WITH THIS PARTICULAR PLACE, THE AMOUNT OF THE LEASE WAS NOT, BUT THE, UM, THE REST OF THE PROCESS WAS IN THE BUDGET WAS, UM, THROUGH, THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
UM, SO CERTAINLY YOU CAN HAVE THEM GO LOOK, BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO YIELD ANYTHING.
UM, SO I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT JUST BECAUSE OF THERE'S, THERE'S A LOT OF, UM, PROPERTIES THAT NEED TO HAPPEN HAVE TO, UM, BE PRESENT IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO PUT A FIRE STATION IN A LOCATION IN TERMS OF THE TURNING RADIUS IS ON THE OTHER KINDS OF THINGS.
THEY ARE ALREADY HAVE THE UTILITY RELOCATION UNDERWAY.
THEY'VE ALREADY GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS WITH THE NEIGHBORS.
UM, AND SO, UM, I AM PERFECTLY FINE IF WE WANT TO HAVE FUTURE, UM, PROCESSES, PROCEDURES IN PLACE THAT LOOK DIFFERENT SO THAT EVERYONE KNOWS WHERE TO LOOK FOR THIS INFORMATION.
UM, BUT I DON'T THINK MUCH IS GONNA COME FROM LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL PLACES.
AND THERE ARE A LOT OF SUNK COSTS ALREADY IN THE PROCESS.
I WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT THE MEMOS WITH THE FIRE STATIONS TO SEE IF WE HAD BEEN GIVEN ANY KIND OF NOTICES TO THIS LOCATION.
UH, SO, SO THE LEVEL OF DISCLOSURE TO THE COUNCIL ON A PROPERTY THAT APPARENTLY WE'VE MOVED FORWARD ON AND HAVE DESIGNED FOR.
AND, UM, MAYBE I'VE ACTUALLY PHYSICALLY BEEN ON, IS PROBLEMATIC TO ME, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, TOVO HIS REQUEST.
UH, NOT THAT WE DON'T APPROVE THIS, BUT IN FACT, WE GO AHEAD AND DO AUTHORIZE IT TODAY, BUT ASKING THEM SINCE THEY STOPPED THEIR LOOK IN 2020, AND NOW WE'RE IN 2022 TO, TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK.
AND MY SENSE IS YOU ARE PROBABLY ABSOLUTELY RIGHT THAT, THAT GIVEN THE WORK THAT WAS DONE EARLIER AND, AND, AND THE LIKE THAT, THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO FIND ANOTHER LOCATION, BUT I APPRECIATE AND, AND WILL AND SUPPORT THE, UH, CANDELABRA TOVA WAS REQUESTED.
THEY TAKE THAT UP AND LOOK, AND IF THEY DON'T FIND ANYTHING, THEY CAN CERTAINLY PROCEED.
BUT I WOULD LIKE US TO LOOK AT OUR PROCEDURES, UH, WITH RESPECT TO THIS KIND OF DECISION MOVING FORWARD WITHOUT, UH, UH, COUNSEL HAVING THAT LEVEL OF, OF NOTICE HE HAS PRIOR TO.
AND IT'S MY, AND WE, WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE FROM THE DIOCESE WHEN YOU WERE OUT OF THE ROOM, BUT IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING FROM WHAT ACM CONSELLA SAID, THAT THIS IS NOT, I MEAN, I DIDN'T ASK YOU THIS QUESTION SPECIFICALLY,
[02:50:01]
BUT LET ME JUST MAKE IT CLEAR.THE INTENT IS NOT TO SLOW PROGRESS ON THE SITE, BUT IT IS TO, AS THE MAYOR SAID, REVISIT THAT AREA AND MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NOT SOMETHING APPLICABLE FOR SALE.
I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE MORE INFORMATION GIVEN THAT IT'S, UM, IN YOUR DISTRICT, BUT I DO I, AND THE PROCEDURAL QUESTIONS THAT THE MAYOR HAS HIGHLIGHTED THAT I RAISED EARLIER, I THINK ARE REALLY IMPORTANT IF WE WANT TO DISCUSS IT AGAIN, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING.
AND IT'S MY, CERTAINLY MY INTENTION.
IT'S NOT SLOWING WORK ON THE PROJECT, BUT IT IS GETTING US SOME ANSWERS TO THOSE TWO QUESTIONS TO ASK OUR REAL ESTATE STAFF, TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AND TO GET AN ANSWER FROM OUR MANAGER, HOW IT WAS THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO ENGAGE IN WORK ON THIS SITE AND THE EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS WITHOUT OUR HAVING APPROVED THE LEAD.
AND I DON'T WANT TO CUT ANYBODY OFF.
SO IF WE WANT TO DISCUSS THIS MORE, LET'S JUST PULL THIS ITEM OFF OF CONSENT.
UH, AND WE CAN DO THAT OR WE CAN LEAVE IT ON CONSENT WITH THOSE TWO CHANGES, OR WE WANT TO DISCUSS THOSE CHANGES.
DO YOU HAVE A PREFERENCE OF A PER TIME? UM, I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND.
MY FIT'S ALREADY PRETTY MUCH UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
THEY'RE ALREADY MOVING THE UTILITIES, HOW YOU DON'T SLOW IT DOWN WITH THAT PROCESS.
UM, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY'S SUGGESTING THEY STOPPED THE ACTIVITIES, BUT TO TAKE A LOOK, I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR.
I MEAN, IF YOU WANT THEM TO LOOK AGAIN, THAT'S FINE, BUT, BUT, BUT IT WILL COST MONEY AND IT WILL CREATE HAVOC, UM, TO, I MEAN, TO DO THAT, OH, WE HAD TO ASK THE REAL ESTATE PERSON.
AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT AS WE CALLED THAT AUDIBLE, I THINK AFTER YOU HAD LEFT THE ROOM, THEY SAID REAL ESTATE SAID THAT THEY WERE COMFORTABLE DOING THAT, THAT REVIEW.
UH, SO IF REAL ESTATE IS COMFORTABLE AND DON'T HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH IT AND, AND PUBLIC WORKS IS COMFORTABLE, THEN I'M FINE WITH IT.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY SUGGESTION THAT ANY OF THE ACTIVITY HAPPENING NOW STOP.
SO AS TO STOP THAT, BUT TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK, IF THERE'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY THERE THAT WOULD MITIGATE ALL OF THOSE ISSUES, THEN THEY SHOULD BRING IT FORWARD.
OBVIOUSLY, ONE OF THE ISSUES WE HAVE THAT WE'RE ASKED TO APPROVE THIS AND THEY'RE ALREADY ON THE PROPERTY.
SO NOW, SO I MIGHT JUST, AREN'T COMFORTABLE WITH NOT TAKING A LOOK BECAUSE THEY'RE ALREADY ON THE PROPERTY WHEN IT DIDN'T COME TO US THAT THEY WOULD BE ON THE PROPERTY.
BUT I THINK WE CONTINUE TO PROCEED IN A WAY THAT, THAT DOESN'T DISRUPT THE ACTIVITY.
AND IF I COULD BE CLEAR, ALTHOUGH REAL ESTATE HAS WEIGHED IN, WE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM PUBLIC WORKS AS TO EXACTLY WHAT HAS TRANSPIRED.
AND SO THAT WAS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE FOLLOW-UP ITEMS. SO TO YOUR QUESTION, MAYOR, PORT, TIM, I CAN'T TELL YOU WHETHER OR NOT PUBLIC WORKS IS COMFORTABLE WITH THIS DIRECTION BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T WEIGHED YET, BUT THE DIRECTION YEAH, CLEAR AGAIN, THERE WAS NOT DIRECTION TO PUB THAT WOULD IMPACT PUBLIC WORKS AT ALL THE DIRECTION.
THE NUMBER ONE DIRECTION IS TO OUR REAL ESTATE DEPARTMENT WHO IS NOT INVOLVED, I ASSUME IN THE SITE WORK THAT'S HAPPENING ON THIS PROPERTY.
IT IS TO THE REAL ESTATE, TO OUR REAL ESTATE STAFF TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AND MAKE SURE.
SO I, I APPRECIATE YOU RAISING THAT BECAUSE I, I JUST THINK IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT CLARIFICATION, UM, FOR YOU MAYOR PRO TEM, NOBODY'S ASKING, NOBODY IS ASKING THAT THE SITE WORK AND I, I TAKE YOUR POINT AND ACKNOWLEDGED IT IN THE COMMENTS EARLIER THAT IF WE ARE, IF WE ARE IN A POSITION WHERE WE FOUND ANOTHER SITE, THEN IT CERTAINLY WOULD BE INTERESTINGLY, IT IS ON, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, CAN YOU NOT HEAR ME? OH, NO.
UM, BUT IN ANY CASE, I UNDERSTAND THEY'RE TWO SEPARATE PROCESSES.
ONE IS THE WORK THAT'S GOING ON ON THE SITE.
NONE OF THE DIRECTION IMPACTS THAT.
WOULD IT BE DISRUPTIVE IF WE FOUND ANOTHER SITE? YES.
AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER CONVERSATION.
SO I'M GOING TO ASK THE QUESTION.
THERE'S BEEN A SUGGESTION TO ADD THOSE TWO DIRECTIONS.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS TO THOSE TWO DIRECTIONS BEING ADDED? IF THERE ARE, WE'LL PULL THE ITEM, IF THEY'RE NOT, IT'LL STAY ON CONSENT.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS TO THAT? SO WHAT I WOULD, I WOULD ASK IS THAT WE CAN PASS IT ON CONSENT.
AND IF MR. GONZALEZ FINDS OUT FROM PUBLIC WORKS, THAT THERE'S AN OBJECTION THAT WE RECONSIDER IT LATER.
UM, IN, IN THAT WAY, UM, I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE LOGIC, BUT IF PUBLIC WORKS IS FINE WITH IT, UM, THEN WE CAN MOVE FORWARD AND WE'LL JUST RECONSIDER IT LATER TODAY.
IF WE NEED GET THE DIRECTION ON ITS FACE THOUGH SAYS DON'T DO ANYTHING THAT INTERFERES WITH PUBLIC WORKS ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD ON THE PROPERTY.
AND THAT WAS THE DIRECTION THAT WAS GIVEN.
SO I'D BE SURPRISED IF THEY HAVE A CHALLENGE, BUT IF THEY DO, LET'S HEAR ABOUT IT AND THEN WE CAN RECONSIDER.
AND THEN AT AN APPROPRIATE TIME, I HAVE SOME COMMENTS ON CONSENT.
I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T KNOW WHEN THAT'S.
SO THAT IS ITEM NUMBER, UM, UM, 36 AND THAT NOW STAYS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[Consent Agenda]
[02:55:01]
SO THE ITEMS THAT I HAVE BEEN CONSENTED, GENTLEMEN ITEMS ONE THROUGH 56, 88 AND 89, THE PULLED ITEMS ARE NINE, 10 AND 15, 19, UM, 33 AND 44 AND 53 44 HAS BEEN DECIDED ALREADY.SO THAT'S NOT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA THAT WAS INDEPENDENTLY VOTED ON.
UM, AND ALSO PULLED 53 AGAIN, 9, 10, 15, 19 33 53 AND 44, BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY BEEN VOTED ON.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? COUNCILMEMBER POOL MAKES THE MOTION.
IS THERE A SECOND? UH, THAT'S WHY I WENT THIS SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA BEFORE WE TAKE A VOTE COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, THANK YOU.
UH, ITEM 51 IS AN ITEM THAT AROSE FROM DISCUSSIONS I HAD WITH CENTRAL HEALTH PANDEMIC EQUITY COMMITTEE, CONSTITUENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS CONCERNS RAISED TO ME IN THESE MEETINGS WERE REGARDING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND HOW IT TAXED THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.
AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS OF ASSESSMENT, DIALOGUE AND DELIBERATION RECOMMENDATIONS WERE BROUGHT TO LIGHT AS TO WHAT THE COUNCIL'S NEXT STEPS SHOULD BE FROM CENTRAL HEALTH ON AUGUST 9TH, 2021, THE COMMITTEE SAID TO MEMO TO ALL OF COUNCIL OUTLINING THESE RECOMMENDATIONS, THE MEMO IS AVAILABLE IN BACKUP ON THIS ITEM ON OUR CITY'S WEBSITE, AS A COUNCIL MEMBER WHO HAS HELD A ROLE IN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AT THE COUNTY LEVEL, I RECOGNIZE THE GREAT VALUE THAT THIS COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS WILL PROVIDE TO THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.
AND I'M PROUD TO HAVE SPONSORED THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA TODAY.
MY HOPE IS THAT DESPITE OUR SHARED DIFFICULTIES THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC, OUR COMMUNITY WILL BE ABLE TO HEAL AND OVERCOME SOME OF THOSE DIFFICULTIES WITH A NEW ADDITION TO THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT CONVERSATION.
I WANT TO THANK ALL WHO PROVIDED INPUT AND RECOMMENDATIONS THAT MADE THIS RESOLUTION POSSIBLE.
FINALLY, I'D LIKE TO THANK MY CO-SPONSORS COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER POOL AND COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN FOR YOUR THOUGHTFUL ADDITIONS TO THE RESOLUTION.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE PASSAGE OF THIS ITEM TODAY AND SEEING THE FUTURE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND AUSTIN AND EXPERIENCE IT SERVES EVERYONE.
I ALSO LOOK FORWARD TO MY COLLEAGUES SUPPORTING THIS IMPORTANT ITEM ALSO ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
PLEASE LET THE RECORD REFLECT.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO YEAH, I HAVE SEVERAL COMMENTS FIRST.
I NEED TO CLARIFY 19 IS A 19 ON OR OFF THE CONSENT AGENDA THAT IS SPELLED.
UM, JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK COMMENTS THAT I WANTED TO MAKE.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, AND CO-SPONSORS, I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT WORK AND I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THAT FORWARD, AND I'M ALSO REALLY AM APPRECIATIVE OF THE CENTRAL HEALTH EQUITY POLICY COUNCIL FOR THAT IMPORTANT WORK.
UM, I WANTED TO ALSO JUST ACKNOWLEDGE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RENAMING TO BOMA OVER 10 SENIOR SHORES.
THIS IS I THINK, A, A REALLY FIT TEST, UH, TRIBUTE TO AN INDIVIDUAL WHO PLAYED SUCH AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN CIVIL RIGHTS HERE IN AUSTIN, AS WELL AS ACROSS THE STATE.
AND I'M SO GRATEFUL TO HIS FAMILY MEMBERS AND TO THE OTHER ADVOCATES WHO SHARED WITH US THIS IDEA, UM, AND TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS WHO RALLIED AROUND IT AS WELL.
IT IS SOMETHING HAVING THAT RENAMING AND HAVING A PLACE IN THIS CITY, A PROMINENT PLACE IN THIS CITY WHERE INDIVIDUALS CAN GO AND WILL BE REMINDED OF ALMOST BOMA OVERTON'S.
UM, LEGACY, I THINK WILL BE, WILL BE IMPORTANT, UH, TO RECOGNIZING BOTH THE HISTORY, UM, HERE IN AUSTIN, BUT ALSO TO INSPIRING US TO WORK TOWARD A MORE JUST COMMUNITY.
AND SO I AM VERY EXCITED TO SEE THAT MOVING FORWARD.
I'M ALSO VERY EXCITED TO SEE MOVE FORWARD THE TRANSPORTATION FOR, UH, ITEM ON ITEM 46 AT OUR CONGREGATE MEALS PROGRAM AND WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THINGS TAKE SO LONG THAT WE FORGET KIND OF WHO HELPED PROMPT THIS CHANGE.
AND SO I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE TWO COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO LONG AGO CAME TO MY OFFICE AND TO OTHER OFFICES TO ADVOCATE FOR A CONGREGATE MEALS PROGRAM AT THE ASIAN-AMERICAN RESOURCE CENTER.
AND THAT WAS, UH, LESLEY VARGHESE, WHO NOW SERVES ON YOUR STAFF MAYOR AND WHO REALLY COMPELLINGLY TALKED ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT WOULD BE TO HAVE A CONGREGATE MEALS PROGRAM THAT WAS CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, THEY BELIEVED IT WOULD HAVE A LOT OF SUCCESS AND IT HAS INDEED PROVED TO BE ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS, VERY, VERY HIGHLY UTILIZED AT THE ASIAN AMERICAN RESOURCE CENTER AT THE SAME TIME THAT WE WERE CONSIDERING WHETHER OR NOT WE COULD FUND SUCH A PROGRAM AND START SUCH A PROGRAM.
[03:00:01]
PARKS DIRECTOR, YOU KNOW, ARE THERE OTHER PROGRAMS IN THE CITY, ARE THERE OTHER REQUESTS FROM COMMUNITIES TO HAVE A CONGREGATE MEALS PROGRAM WHERE THERE WOULD BE A HIGH NEED AND A HIGH UTILIZATION THAT WE SHOULD CONSIDER AT THE SAME TIME? AND SHE AND DIRECTOR HENSLEY, UM, IDENTIFIED DOVE SPRINGS AS ANOTHER COMMUNITY THAT HAD LONG ASKED FOR A CONGREGATE MEALS PROGRAM.AND SO, UM, THAT YEAR, I BELIEVE I DID IT THROUGH BUDGET DIRECTION.
WE WERE ABLE TO GET TO BRING BOTH OF THOSE INTO BEING, BUT IT IS, IT HAS BEEN SOME OF THOSE SAME COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO THROUGH TIME HAVE SAID, YOU KNOW, IF WE HAD TRANSPORTATION, IT WOULD BE EVEN BETTER FOR INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO WANT TO USE THAT CONGREGATE MEALS PROGRAM.
SO MANY, SO MANY INDIVIDUALS DON'T HAVE TRANSPORTATION.
AND SO IT IS, THIS IS A GREAT, UM, A GREAT THING TO SEE ON OUR AGENDA.
AND I HAVE SOME OTHER THINGS, BUT I THINK I'LL JUST WRAP UP THERE.
UM, COUNSEL, DO WE HAVE THE SETTLEMENT NUMBERS AND THE 42 AND 43 GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I'M MEGAN RILEY WITH A LOT DEPARTMENT ON ITEM NUMBER 42.
WE RECOMMEND A SETTLEMENT PAYMENT OF $135,000 TO RESOLVE THE CAR WRECK CASE INVOLVING, UM, MS. ANDREWS AND MR. PERKINS AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
UH, AND WE RECOMMEND SETTLEMENT OF 135,000 ON ITEM NUMBER 43.
THE LAW DEPARTMENT IS RECOMMENDING A SETTLEMENT IN, UH, THE BRIANNA WILLIAMS VERSUS CONCHA CASE OF A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
IT'S RELATED TO A 2017 INCIDENT AND ARREST, UH, INVOLVING APD.
AND WITH THAT $100,000 PAYMENT, THE LAWSUIT AGAINST THE INDIVIDUAL OFFICER WOULD BE DISMISSED.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THOSE TWO ITEMS WILL BE FILLED WITH THOSE NUMBERS.
UH, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA COUNCIL MEMBER 20, THIS THANK YOU.
JUST WANTED TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY FOR INVITING ME TO CO-SPONSOR ITEM 51, AND ALSO THINK THE CENTRAL HEALTH PANDEMIC HEALTH EQUITY COMMITTEE FOR ISSUING A REPORT WITH RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WILL ENSURE THAT CHANGES ARE MADE TO OUR EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER AND THAT WE HAVE THE COMMUNITY VOICE PARTICIPATING IN PART OF ANY DISASTER RESPONSE.
AND SO I'M VERY HAPPY AND PLEASED TO BE PART OF THIS EFFORT AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON IT.
UH, I TOO WANT TO, TO, TO ALSO RECOGNIZE AS YOU DID COUNTS NUMBER 12, I APPRECIATE IT, UH, THE CONGREGATE MEAL AT THE, AT THE CENTER AND ALSO RECOGNIZE, UM, UH, LESLEY VARGHESE.
UH, MY CHIEF, WHO I KNOW IT'S WORKED ON THAT, BUT WITH SO MANY OTHERS AS WELL, UH, I APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY'S LEADERSHIP ON THE PATOMIC, UH, EQUITY, UH, RESOLUTION, UH, AND THE, AND THE CO-SPONSORS, I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT AND RECOGNIZING, UH, MR. OVERTON I THINK IS REAL SIGNIFICANT TO IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THOSE THINGS HAVE ALL BEEN MENTIONED BEFORE.
THE OTHER ONE THAT I WOULD MENTION THAT I THINK NEEDS TO BE HIGHLIGHTED IS ITEM NUMBER 39, THE HOUSING TRUST FUND.
UH, I THINK THAT PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT THINGS WE DID AS A, AS A COUNCIL, UH, VERY EARLY IN THE PROCESS OF, OF REORIENTING AND REFOCUSING, CONTINUING WORK THAT HAD BEEN DONE BY EARLIER COUNCILS.
UH, BUT FOR US, THAT WAS ONE OF OUR EARLIER THINGS COUNCIL MEMBER COSARA THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, UH, ON THAT, UH, ISSUE.
UH, BUT, UH, INSTITUTIONALIZING THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE, MAKING THAT MORE, UM, UM, UH, I GUESS AUTOMATIC IN ITS APPLICATION, I THINK IS ALSO A STEP FORWARD, UH, IN THE CITY.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA BEFORE WE VOTE COUNTS BY OUR ALTAR MAYOR PRO TEM, SORRY, THANK YOU.
UM, FOR ITEM 48, UM, THIS IS THE INTER LOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY FOR GOVERNING THE WORK OF AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, POSTED ON THE MESSAGE BOARD, UM, DIRECTION.
UM, THE DIRECTION READS THE CITY MANAGER IS DIRECTED TO CONTINUE NEGOTIATING AN AGREEMENT WITH TRAVIS COUNTY REGARDING THE COST SHARING OF COVID RELATED EXPENSES UNTIL THE NEGOTIATIONS ARE COMPLETED.
THE CITY MANAGER IS ALSO DIRECTED TO PROVIDE REGULAR UPDATES ON THOSE NEGOTIATIONS DURING JOINT COUNTY COUNCIL COVID BRIEFINGS UNTIL THE NEGOTIATIONS ARE COMPLETED.
THE CITY MANAGER IS ALSO DIRECTED TO PROVIDE A WRITTEN MONTHLY UPDATE TO COUNCIL ON THOSE NEGOTIATIONS.
UM, THIS DIRECTION IS NECESSARY BECAUSE THIS AGREEMENT DOES NOT COVER COVID, WHICH IS A GOOD CHUNK OF WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVEN'T BEEN PAID BY THE COUNTY SINCE DECEMBER AND AGREEMENT OF DECEMBER OF 2020 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
UM, AND I BELIEVE THAT THE COUNTY SHOULD BE CONTRIBUTING TO THE EXPENSES THAT WE ARE OCCURRING.
THEY HAVE FUNDING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO ASSIST WITH THIS.
WE HAVE PUT SEVERAL MILLION ASIDE, UM, FROM OUR ARPA FUNDS AND FROM OUR CARE FUNDS.
UM, AND I BELIEVE THAT THE COUNTY HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO BE SHOULDERING THAT BURDEN.
[03:05:01]
NEED CLARITY ON THAT.I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE ELEMENTS THAT ARE COMPLICATED BECAUSE OF FEMA REIMBURSEMENTS AND YOU DON'T NEED TO PAY FOR THINGS THAT WE'RE GETTING FEMA REIMBURSEMENTS FOR.
UM, BUT IF WE HAD GREATER CERTAINTY ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTIONS THEY WERE MAKING, WE WOULD BE IN A POSITION TO HELP TO FUND SOME OTHER THINGS THAT ARE OF GREAT CONCERN TO BOTH THE CITY AND THE COUNTY.
UM, BUT THAT WOULD BE UNDER THE CITY'S AUSPICES.
I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT, IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THAT DIRECTION BEING ADDED TO, UH, TO THAT ITEM 48 HEARING ON THAT DIRECTION IS ADDED REMAINS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA I HAD.
UM, I ALSO WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 20, WHICH IS A CONTRACT FOR WEATHERIZATION SERVICES.
UM, THIS REALLY HELPS LOTS OF FAMILIES IN NEED, STATE IN PLACE.
UM, I BELIEVE THERE MAY BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A COLLABORATION WITH AUSTIN, CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS AND, OR THE CITY'S GREEN JOBS INITIATIVE.
UM, SO STAFF MAY WISH TO ENGAGE TO IDENTIFY ANY OPPORTUNITIES THAT EXIST.
UM, AND IF IT'S OKAY WITH MY COLLECTION, THAT CITY STAFF EXPLORE WHETHER THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT HAS TO BE DONE THROUGH THE CONTRACT PROCESS OR AFTER, BUT IF STAFF COULD TAKE THAT STEP AS THEY'RE FINALIZING THESE TO INITIATE THOSE CON THOSE, UM, CONVERSATIONS, I DON'T KNOW IF WE NEED TO SEE IF THERE ARE OBJECTIONS TO THAT.
I WAS PROVIDING DIRECTION FOR THEM TO EXPLORE WHETHER, WHETHER THEY, THERE WERE ANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATION.
SO THIS DIRECTION, I WAS JUST PAUSING TO SEE IF YOU WANTED TO THAT DIRECTION, BIG INCLUDED HEARING ON THAT DIRECTIONS INCLUDED.
AND THEN I WANTED TO COMMENT ON TWO ARTS RELATED ITEMS THAT ARE ON THE AGENDA, ITEM SEVEN, RATIFIES THE CONTRACT AMENDMENT WITH THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL GRANTS TO ARTS AND CULTURE NONPROFITS WHO APPLIED FOR THE CITY'S PROGRAM.
UM, AS I MENTIONED LATE LAST YEAR, THIS ACTION ENABLED THE CITY TO PROVIDE GRANTS, TO GRANTS, TO EVERY ORGANIZATION THAT APPLIED.
AND THAT MEANS WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HELP A LOT OF FOLKS IN OUR ARTS COMMUNITY.
ITEM EIGHT IS A $500,000 GRANT ADMINISTERED BY THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS TO HELP THE LOCAL ARTS AND CULTURE SECTOR RECOVER FROM THE PANDEMIC.
THESE FUNDS WERE AWARDED THROUGH A VERY COMPETITIVE APPLICATION PROCESS TO ONLY 66 LOCAL ARTS AGENCIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
ONLY FOUR OF WHICH WERE IN TEXAS OF THE FOUR TEXAS SEED CITIES THAT RECEIVED THE NEA AWARD.
AUSTIN RECEIVED THE LARGEST ORD AMOUNT.
THE FUNDS WILL BE USED TO SERVE THE NEEDS OF ARTS LEARNING IN AUSTIN THROUGH THE SUB GRANTING TO TEACHING ARTISTS AND ARTS LEARNING ORGANIZATIONS TO SUPPORT NEW GENERATIONS OF ARTISTS, CREATIVE WORKERS, ARTS, AUDIENCES, AND RESIDENTS WHO FIND RICH MEANING THROUGH THE ARTS IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE IMPACT OF THESE FUNDS IN OUR CITY, AND I THINK EDD CULTURAL ARTS DIVISION FOR PURSUING OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THIS TO BENEFIT OUR ARTS COMMUNITY.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS BEFORE WE TAKE HIM OUT? COUNCIL MEMBER HOPPER, MADISON MAYER.
I MEAN, I'VE BEEN RAISING MY HAND FOR A WHILE, BUT THEN I REMEMBERED, UH, UH, FORGETTING A FEW PEOPLE WHEN I WAS SITTING ON THE DICE AND IT'S HARD TO SEE US BEHIND.
I REALLY JUST WANT IT TO, TO, UH, OFFER SOME COMMENTS ON ITEM NUMBER 52 REGARDING BOMA OVERTON SHORES.
UH, I REALLY DON'T NEED TO TELL YOU GUYS THAT I'M SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THIS ITEM, BUT BEING A MEMBER OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY IN AUSTIN, YOU KNOW, UM, I, I, SINCE I WAS LITTLE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE OVERTON NAME WAS, UH, WAS SORT OF A HOUSEHOLD NAME FOR US, AND I KNOW THAT EXTENDS BEYOND BLACK FAMILIES, BUT THIS IS SPECIAL TO ME TO BE A PART OF THE COUNCIL THAT PUTS THIS FORWARD.
AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE LIONS OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, VOMIT OVERTON SENIOR WAS THE KING OF THE PRIDE HERE IN AUSTIN, A VETERAN, A HUSBAND AND DAD AT DEACON.
I'M A TIRELESS ADVOCATE FOR EQUITY AND EQUALITY.
HE LED THE LOCAL NAACP DURING ONE OF THE MOST PIVOTAL TIMES IN OUR HISTORY.
I GET THE GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE, UH, MENTORS AND GUIDES LIKE, UH, COMMISSIONER.
TREVELYAN TALKING ME THROUGH, YOU KNOW, JUST WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE, UM, DURING THOSE TIMES.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE STRENGTH AND THE VALOR OF THE PEOPLE WHO CAME BEFORE ME.
UM, WE HAVE HIS STRENGTH, UH, THE WILL OF HIS LEADERSHIP TO THANK FOR GETTING OUR SCHOOLS DESEGREGATED, UM, FROM STARTING THE FIRST CREDIT UNION, ANY STUFF'S DONE TO DEVELOPING MENTORING PROGRAMS FOR EAST SIDE KIDS, THIS LAUNDRY LIST OF THINGS THAT HE DID FOR OUR CITY-WIDE OR FOR OUR CITY WOULD TAKE HOURS, PROBABLY DAYS TO READ OFF.
WE OWE HIM SO MUCH, UM, AND HIS INCREDIBLE FAMILY AS WELL.
I THINK RENAMING THIS PARK AFTER HIM IS A STEP IN THAT DIRECTION.
IT'S A STEP THAT HELPS TO BRIDGE EAST AND WEST AUSTIN, MUCH TO THE ORIGINAL CALLER FROM EARLIER TO THEIR POINT ABOUT BRIDGING EAST AND WEST AUSTIN AND RECOGNIZING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THAT.
UM, IT'S WELL BEYOND SYMBOLISM.
SO I'M INCREDIBLY THANKFUL FOR THE OVERTON FAMILY AND THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO BROUGHT THIS IDEA TO US.
I'M ALSO GRATEFUL TO COUNCIL MEMBER TOPO FOR COMING UP WITH A SOLUTION TO REALLY FAST TRACK WHAT EVERYBODY IS SO EAGER TO SEE HAPPEN HERE.
I TRULY LOOK FORWARD TO THE DAY AND IT'S COMING TO WHEN WE CAN ALL GATHER IN THE PARK AND MAYBE CUT SOME RIBBONS.
[03:10:01]
UM, ANYBODY WHO'S EVER BEEN TO A RIBBON CUTTING WITH ME, YOU KNOW, HOW I FEEL ABOUT GIANT SCISSORS.UM, SO MAYBE CUT SOME RIBBONS ON THE NEW SIGNS THAT HONOR THIS GREAT ESTIMATE.
UM, I'M REALLY PROUD TO, TO BE ABLE TO OFFER THOSE WORDS TODAY.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE A VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THOSE ARE FAVOR OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
SHE'D OPTED UNANIMOUSLY WITH THE COMMENTS THAT PEOPLE MADE COLLEAGUES IT'S, UH, 1 0 4.
WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK AT TWO O'CLOCK.
I WOULD PROPOSE AT TWO O'CLOCK WE'D BEGIN WITH THE SPEAKERS ON ZONING, UH, SINCE THERE'LL BE CUED UP AND READY TO GO WHEN WE'RE DONE WITH THOSE SPEAKERS, WE'LL HANDLE THE CONSENT ZONING AGENDA.
SO WE CAN LET A LOT OF THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND THE ZONING STAFF, UH, UH, PART OF THOSE STAFF GO, THEN WE'LL TAKE THE, UH, PULLED AND NON-CONSENT, UH, ITEMS FROM THIS MORNING.
AGAIN, THE CONSENT ITEM, THE PULLED ITEMS WERE NINE, 10 AND 15 ALSO IS NUMBERS 19 AND 33.
AND, UM, UH, 53, UH, AND THEN WE'LL DO THE NON-CONSENT ITEMS, WHICH WERE ITEMS 58 THROUGH 63.
WE DON'T HAVE TO CALL 57, UH, BECAUSE THAT'S BEING, UH, PULLED AND, UH, POSTPONED INDEFINITELY.
UM, MARY, I THINK I FOUND A SOLUTION FOR 33 THAT IT WILL ALLOW ME TO, UM, ASK MY QUESTIONS OUTSIDE OF THIS FORUM.
I'LL AIR IT HERE, BUT I'LL JUST GO AHEAD AND PASS IT.
SO OUR STAFF DON'T HAVE TO COME BACK AFTER GIVEN THAT IT WOULD BE AFTER ZONING.
SO I'M GOING TO MOVE APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM.
THIS IS A FLEET SERVICES ITEM.
THEN 33 WILL STAY ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THAT'S WHAT I'VE TOLD THEM WAS PASSAGE OF 33 COUNTS MEMBER PULLS SECOND SIDE.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? MY DISCUSSION, IF I COULD, I AM INTERESTED.
I HAD A VERY, UM, USEFUL CONVERSATION LAST WEEK WITH A MEMBER OF OUR AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHO TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO NAVIGATE IN THE DAYS AFTER THE WINTER STORM, BECAUSE THEY HAD ALL WHEEL DRIVE.
AND WE TALKED ABOUT HE AND I TALKED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF REALLY LOOKING AT THAT CITYWIDE AND DETERMINING, YOU KNOW, HOW MANY, MAYBE THERE'S A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE, UM, OF, OF CARS AND VEHICLES IN EACH DEPARTMENT THAT SHOULD HAVE, HAVE ALL WHEEL DRIVE TO BE ABLE TO NAVIGATE IN THOSE KINDS OF STORM, UH, CONDITIONS THAT WE FACE.
SO I AM INTERESTED IN EXPLORING THAT I WILL ASK, I DON'T SEE ANYTHING IN THE BACKUP THAT INDICATES WHETHER ANY OF THE PURCHASES WOULD BE THAT, UM, AND THAT MAY BE SOMETHING WE NEED TO SET WITH A POLICY DIRECTION.
SO I, I WILL EXPLORE THAT, UM, WITH FLEET SERVICES OUTSIDE OF THIS, BUT JUST KNOW THAT I, I REGARD THAT AS PART OF OUR RESILIENCE WORK AND PART OF THE WORK THAT WE NEED TO DO GOING FORWARD, THINKING ABOUT HOW WE MIGHT FACE THOSE KINDS OF EMERGENCY CONDITIONS, UM, DIFFERENTLY, AND REALLY BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT IT IN TERMS OF THE KINDS OF INVESTMENTS THAT WE'RE MAKING FOR EQUIPMENT, AS WELL AS, UM, IN OTHER AREAS.
BEFORE WE TAKE A VOTE ON 33 AND ON 57 MAYOR PRO TEM, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING? UM, I NEED TO OFFER SOME DIRECTION ON 57 THAT THE CLERK ASKED ME TO GIVE, OKAY, WE'LL GET THERE.
AND JUST ONE SECOND, UH, LET'S TAKE A VOTE ON 33 HAS BEEN MOVED IN SECOND.
THOSE OPPOSED YOU SHOULD ANATOMIST WITH COUNCIL MEMBER, READ THE RE OFF THE DIETS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO POSTPONE INDEFINITELY ITEM NUMBER 57 COUNCIL MEMBER OR A MAYOR PRO TEM MAKES THAT MOTION SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER LS, ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? UM, YES.
SO, UM, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER THIS MORNING, MR. GONZALES CIRCULATED A MEMO THAT THE LAND USE COMMISSIONS THAT WERE REQUESTING TO STAY IN CITY HALL, UM, WOULD STAY IN THE CITY HALL A FEW WEEKS AGO.
UM, AND THAT MAKES THE BYLAW ITEM MOOT.
UM, SO WE'RE GOING TO POSTPONE A DEFINITELY THAT ITEM THAT CAME THROUGH AUDIT AND FINANCE.
UM, THE REAL REASON THAT WE CAN SEND IT FORWARD THOUGH, WAS TO DAYLIGHT THE ISSUE OF THE COMMISSION'S, UM, LOCATION CHALLENGE.
UM, THE CLERK HAS INFORMED MY STAFF THAT THE DATA THAT WAS REQUESTED AT THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE IS COMPLETED.
UM, THEY ARE AVAILABLE TO PRESENT THAT, OR THEY CAN DISTRIBUTE IT VIA MEMO AS SUGGESTED IN THE WORK SESSION.
SO I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THEY DO IT BY A MEMO.
UM, BUT NOW THAT THE CMO HAS DETERMINED THAT PCS APP AND THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS WILL REMAIN AT CITY HALL AND WITH THE TRANSITION TO HYBRID MEETINGS, UM, THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE IS IN NEED OF DIRECTION ON WHICH BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS WILL CONDUCT THEIR MEETINGS AT CITY HALL, THE PDC AND AT THE AUSTIN ENERGY BUILDING.
UM, SO WE NEED TO HAVE THE CMO PROVIDE THAT DIRECTION.
YOU CAN USE THE DATA THAT WAS, UM, COLLECTED.
UM, THE CLERK'S OFFICE HAS INDICATED THAT IT WILL TAKE ABOUT THREE WEEKS TO SCHEDULE THE 70 BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS BY THE MARCH 1ST DEADLINE.
UM, SO THEY WILL NEED THAT DIRECTION, UM, FAIRLY QUICKLY.
AND IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU NEED INPUT FROM COUNCIL ON, UM, PERHAPS YOU
[03:15:01]
CAN LET US KNOW, UM, NEXT WEEK AND WE CAN HAVE THAT DISCUSSION, UM, FROM THE CONVERSATION WE HAD AT AUDIT AND FINANCE, IT WAS BROADLY, YOU KNOW, HISTORY OF WHERE YOU WERE AND HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE SHOWING UP FOR YOUR MEETINGS, WHERE THE THINGS THAT WE WERE MOST FOCUSED ON AS MOST IMPORTANT FOR, UM, CHOOSING THE LOCATIONS.AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS WE WERE LEANING TOWARDS KEEPING THE LAND USE COMMISSIONS HERE WAS THE REALLY THE, THE LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE TRYING TO GET HERE TO ACCESS, UM, THOSE MEETINGS AND THE HISTORY OF BEING WITHIN CITY HALL.
WE CAN GET WITH THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE.
AND TO YOUR POINT, WE'LL GO BACK TO THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING FROM DECEMBER 15TH AND LOOK AT THAT COUNCIL DISCUSSION AS WELL.
MOTION TO, UM, UH, INDEFINITELY POSTPONE, UH, THAT ITEM 57, UH, WOULD THAT DISCUSSION I'VE BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
ANANYMOUS ON THE DICE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER, RENTER MARIA OFF.
ALL RIGHT, GUYS, UH, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A RECESS HERE.
LET'S BE BACK HERE AT TWO O'CLOCK AND WE WILL START WITH, UH, SPEAKERS.
UH, WE'RE GOING TO, UM, BEGIN WITH THE, UH, SPEAKER OR WITH ASKING
[Items 76 & 77 (Part 1 of 3)]
STAFF TO MAKE A PRESENTATION ON THE POSTPONEMENT ITEM TO LAY THAT OUT.UH, THEN WE'RE GOING TO JUST THAT ONE ITEM.
THERE'S A DISCUSSION POSTPONEMENT.
I, WHEN, WHEN THE STAFF HAS FINISHED LAYING THAT OFF, IT'S GOTTA BE ONE SPEAKER ON EACH SIDE.
UH, THE COUNCIL WILL THEN VOTE ON WHETHER OR NOT EVEN IF SOMEONE WANTS TO MAKE, IF SOMEONE WANTS TO MAKE A MOTION TO POSTPONE AT THAT POINT, WE WOULD CONSIDER IT AND VOTE ON IT.
AND THEN WE'LL GO TO, UH, THE LIST OF FOLKS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
UH, MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM AND COUNSEL I'M JORIE HARDEN WITH THE HOUSING AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT, YOUR DISCUSSION POST VOMIT CASES, GRADY AND BROWNIE, WHICH IS NUMBER 76, MPA 20 21 0 0 2 6 0.01.
AND THE RELATED REZONING, WHICH IS NUMBER 77 C ONE FOR 20 21 0 0 3 9.
UM, WE HAVE TORI HUFFY HERE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THE POSTPONEMENT REQUESTS, AND I BELIEVE JAY LIVED THERE REMOTELY TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE POSTPONEMENT REQUESTS.
AND JUST IN WAY OF BACKGROUND, WE DO HAVE EMAIL CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, THAT ASKED THE APPLICANT FOR POST-MOMENT AT YOUR OCTOBER 21ST, MANY TO THE NOTE NOVEMBER 4TH COUNCIL MEETING.
AND THAT POST-MOMENT REGRESS REQUEST WAS GRANTED BY THE COUNCIL.
SO ARE YOU SAYING THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE NEIGHBORHOOD PREVIOUSLY REQUESTED AND WAS GRANTED A POSTPONED? YES.
OCTOBER 21ST TO NOVEMBER 4TH COUNCIL MEETING.
MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBER COSARA IS NOT ON A DIET.
I DON'T KNOW IF HE'S COMMUNICATED IF HE WANTED.
IF YOU TO FIND OUT WHERE HE IS, UH, YES.
I, I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION ABOUT THIS POSTPONEMENT REQUEST.
WILL WE, AS A CITY NEED TO RE NOTIFY IF WE WERE TO GRANT THE POSTPONEMENT REQUEST, SORRY.
IF THE POSTPONEMENT REQUESTS IS POSTPONE TO A DATE, CERTAIN THAT NO NOTIFICATION WILL BE REQUIRED.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS, HANG ON ONE SECOND.
OR TRYING TO SEE IF WE CAN GET COUNCIL MEMBER CASAR, PRESENT THIS IN HIS DISTRICT.
[03:20:07]
MIRA, ARE THERE ANY QUICK CONSENT ITEMS STILL LEFT OVER FROM THIS MORNING THAT WE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO KNOCK OUT WHILE WE'RE WAITING ON THE ZONING? WELL, YOU DRIVE AT, AS, AS THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION HERE, VIRTUAL.IF THEY WERE CLOSED, I WAS GONE.
ALL RIGHT, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND RECESS THE, UH, AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING HERE ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 27TH, 2022 HERE AT 2:13 PM.
[ Austin Housing and Finance Corporation (Part 2 of 2)]
TO CONVENE THE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION HERE ON JANUARY 27TH, 2022.UH, WE HAVE, UM, UH, SOME, UH, UM, LATE FILED UP, UM, IN, UH, CORPORATION.
I HAVE NUMBER SEVEN, ITEM NUMBER 11, AND ITEM NUMBER 10 IS, UH, WITHDRAWN.
AND THERE'S A WITHDRAWAL MEMO IN THE BACKUP.
YOU WANT TO TAKE US THROUGH THE CONSENT AGENDA? ABSOLUTELY.
UH, MANDY DUVAL, AUSTIN HOUSING, FINANCE CORPORATION ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
NUMBER ONE IS APPROVING THE MEETING MINUTES FROM DECEMBER 2ND AND NINTH OF 2021.
NUMBER TWO, UH, IS THE FIRST OF SEVERAL, UH, CONTRACTS 20 MONTH CONTRACTS WITH NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS CASE, IT'S FOR NONPROFITS TO ADMINISTER OUR OWNER, UM, AND RENTER ARCHITECTURAL BARRIER REMOVAL PROGRAM.
NUMBER THREE IS ANOTHER 20 MONTH CONTRACT WITH SEVEN NONPROFITS TO ADMINISTER OUR GO REPAIR PROGRAM.
THAT'S IN THE AMOUNT OF $7 MILLION.
NUMBER FOUR IS A 20 MONTH ON TRACK WITH THREE CONTRACTORS TO ADMINISTER OUR REHABILITATION LOAN PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF $2 MILLION.
NUMBER FIVE IS A 20 MONTH CONTRACT WITH SEVEN NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WHO ADMINISTER THE PLUMBING PROGRAM.
NUMBER SIX IS ANOTHER 20 MONTH CONTRACT WITH SEVEN NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO ADMINISTER THE P LAT PROGRAM OR A PRIVATE LATERAL PROGRAM AND AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $200,000.
UH, NUMBER SEVEN AGAIN, HAD LAID BACK UP, AND THIS IS AUTHORIZING STAFF TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CREATION OF A NONPROFIT AGENCY SUBSIDIARY CALLED EIGHT H FC BUNGALOWS NONPROFIT CORPORATION.
AND THAT WILL, UM, UH, CREATE A SEPARATE NONPROFIT TO REHABILITATE DEVELOP, MANAGE, AND OPERATE UM, IN CONJUNCTION WITH INTEGRAL CARE, THE FORMER TESTIS BUNGALOWS HOTEL AND SUITES NUMBER EIGHT IS A PAYMENT OF APPROXIMATELY $3.6 MILLION FROM MILESTONE COMMUNITY BUILDERS FOR THE, UH, HUD AGREEMENT OR 44, UH, AFFORDABLE RENTAL UNITS OF WHICH THOSE ARE AFFORDABLE TO 60% OR BELOW MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME, AN ADDITIONAL SIX UNITS AFFORDABLE TO 8% BELOW MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME.
NUMBER NINE IS AUTHORIZING STAFF TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE EXECUTION OF AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAM AGREEMENT OR THE FEDERAL HOME LOAN PAY, OR $750,000.
AND THIS IS FOR THE PROJECT KNOWN AS A SPARROW AT RUTLAND AT 1934 BUTLAND DRIVE, NUMBER 10, AS YOU NOTED WAS WITHDRAWN.
NUMBER 11, WE HAVE LATE BACKUP, AND THIS IS ALSO AUTHORIZING STAFF TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CREATION OF A SEPARATE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION KNOWN AS H H S C PONIES TERRACE, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.
AND THAT IS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FOUNDATION COMMUNITIES AND WILL HELP TO DEVELOP REHABILITATE, MANAGING, OPERATE THE DEVELOPMENT, UM, FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AND I OFFER THAT ALL ON CONSENT.
YOU, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? UH, KATHERINE KELLY MAKES EMOTIONS OR SECOND COUNTS OR A POOL OF SECONDS, ANY DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? THAT'S WHY OUR TOVO.
I KNOW THAT SEVERAL OF US PROBABLY RECEIVED SOME EMAIL CORRESPONDENCE ABOUT ONE OF THE ITEMS ON HERE AND WHETHER HOW HOME REPAIR PROGRAMS COULD BE, WHETHER THE FUNDS COULD BE USED FOR
[03:25:01]
MOBILE HOMES AND OR MANUFACTURED HOMES.AND SO WE HAD SOME CORRESPONDENCE WITH MANDY ABOUT THAT, AND THERE ARE SOME RESTRICTIONS THAT WERE, THAT ARE PLACED ON US BY SOME OF THOSE FUNDING SOURCES.
UM, BUT I JUST WANTED TO INDICATE TO OUR HOUSING STAFF THAT I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF, OF CONTINUING TO HAVE THE EXPLORATION THAT I BELIEVE MAY ALREADY BE IN PROGRESS OF HOW WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO USE THOSE FUNDS TO HELP TRANSITION SOME OF THOSE MOBILE HOMES TO MANUFACTURED HOMES, UM, TO ALLOW THOSE, THOSE RESIDENTS TO QUALIFY FOR THIS KIND OF FUNDING.
SO, THANKS, THANKS FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'VE ALREADY DONE ON THAT, AND CERTAINLY SUPPORT YOU CONTINUING THAT AND POTENTIALLY BRINGING TO US SOME POLICY CHANGES IF NEEDED TO, TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
THANK YOU ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, LET'S TAKE A VOTE ON THE CONSENT.
THERE WAS OPPOSED GENETICISTS BY THE DIRECTORS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE WORK YOU GUYS DO.
WE'RE GOING TO ADJOURN THE MEETING THEN OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION HERE AT 2:18 PM.
UH, I'M GOING TO RECONVENE THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING HERE ON JANUARY 22ND, 2022.
[Items 76 & 77 (Part 2 of 3)]
WE DO SPEAKERS, WE'RE GOING TO CONSIDER THE, UM, UH, THE DISCUSSION, UM, UH, POSTPONEMENT, UH THAT'S BEFORE US, UH, THIS IN A, IN A MATTER THAT THE, UH, UM, BEEN POSTPONED ONCE PREVIOUSLY, UM, BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD, DO WE HEAR FIRST FROM THE PERSON WHO WANTS TO ARGUE FOR THE POSTPONEMENT, THAT INDIVIDUAL IS REMOTE? WHAT ELSE? JADE.LAVERA UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
ON BEHALF OF THE RESIDENTS, WE URGE THAT YOU POSTPONE THE CASES FOR ITEMS 76 AND 77 UNTIL MARCH 3RD COUNCIL.
THE POSTPONEMENT IN OCTOBER WAS ACTUALLY INITIATED BY THE APPLICANT.
WE WERE HAVING A PRIVATE COMMUNICATION AND ABOUT POSSIBILITY OF POSTPONEMENT AND THE APPLICANT TOOK IT UPON HERSELF TO REQUEST AN OFFICIAL POSTPONEMENT.
UM, WE JUST FOUND OUT THIS MORNING THAT THE APPLICANTS SUBMITTED RECEIPT OF REMOVAL OF A SIGNATURE FROM A RESIDENT FROM THE VALID PETITION THAT WAS DATED NOVEMBER 22ND, 2021.
I WENT AND SPOKE WITH THIS RESIDENT TODAY TO ASK IF THEY AGREED WITH THE REZONING OR IF THEY OPPOSED IT.
THEY SAID THEY DID NOT AGREE WITH THE POSTPONEMENT AND MADE IT CLEAR THAT THEY WERE IN OPPOSITION.
THEY SAID THAT THE LADY THAT CAME AND TALKED TO THEM JUST TALK AND TALK, AND THEY DID NOT UNDERSTAND.
SO THEY JUST SIGNED WHATEVER SHE HAD.
UM, AND THESE ARE LONG-TERM RESIDENTS.
ENGLISH IS THEIR SECOND LANGUAGE, UH, VIETNAMESE AS THEIR FIRST LANGUAGE.
I ASKED THAT EITHER A PETITION, BE REVALUED VALIDATED AND INCLUDED TODAY TO PROCEED WITH FINALIZING THE CASE OR THAT WE POSTPONE AN ORDER FOR THE RESIDENT TO BE INFORMED IN THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGE OF VIETNAMESE, TO ENSURE PROPER UNDERSTANDING AND VOICE THEIR TRUE STANCE ON THIS.
I SPOKE WITH THEM TODAY TO CONFIRM THEIR OPPOSITION.
THEY ALSO SIGNED IN HANDWRITTEN NOTES THAT I SENT TO STAFF, UH, UH, ABOUT 20 MINUTES AGO, UM, TO CONFIRM THAT THEY DO OPPOSE THIS AND CONFIRM THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THE PETITION.
THEY ARE WILLING TO SPEAK WITH COUNSEL.
THEIR PHONE NUMBER WAS INCLUDED AS WELL.
THEY ARE NOT REGISTERED TO SPEAK TODAY, IF THERE'S ANY WAY FOR YOU ALL TO CALL THEM, UM, AND HEAR DIRECTLY FROM THEM.
I GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION AND UNDERSTANDING IN THIS LAST MINUTE.
UH, HOW MUCH TIME DID YOU SET THAT CLOCK FOR CLERK? D R OKAY.
UH, THE APPLICANT WANTED TO RESPOND TO THE, UH, REQUEST FOR POSTPONEMENT.
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES, VICTORIA.
HASI WITH THOROUGH DESIGN ON BEHALF OF THE LANDOWNER.
UM, WE HAVE, UH, THERE'VE BEEN MULTIPLE REQUESTS FOR POSTPONEMENT ON THIS CASE, UH, STARTING IN EARLY SUMMERTIME, AND WE'VE AGREED TO ALL THOSE REQUESTS MADE BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND, UH, THAT THEIR REQUEST FOR POSTPONEMENT NOW IS DUE TO THE PETITION BEING INVALIDATED.
AND I WILL SAY THAT THE PERSON THAT, UH, CAME OFF THE PETITION THIS MORNING, THEY HAD ORIGINALLY SIGNED A LETTER IN SUPPORT OF THIS CASE.
AND SO WHEN WE SAW THAT THEY HAD SIGNED THE PETITION AGAINST, WE REACHED OUT TO THEM TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED.
AND IT WAS CONVERSATION WITH THEM THAT WE FOUND THAT THEY WERE TOLD THINGS THAT SCARED THEM.
AND WHEN THEY HEARD ABOUT THE TRUTH AND THE FACTS OF WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN HERE, THEY THEN AGREED THAT THEY DID SUPPORT THE CASE.
UM, AND I'M JUST GOING TO SAY THAT,
[03:30:01]
YOU KNOW, THE REQUEST, AS FAR AS THE POSTPONEMENT FIRST, UH, POSTPONE A REQUEST TO STAFF, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT STAFF WAS INCLUDED ON THAT COMMUNICATION.AND, UH, SO I'M, I'M NOT, UH, WE MADE IT VERY CLEAR IN OUR EMAIL COMMUNICATION THAT WE WERE NOT ASKING FOR A POSTPONEMENT, BUT THAT WE WERE AGREEABLE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S REQUEST FOR POSTPONEMENT.
SO WE WOULD LIKE FOR THIS CASE TO MOVE FORWARD TODAY, UM, THIS CASE HAS BEEN LINGERING FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
AND, UM, ANY PETITION THAT COMES FORWARD, UH, AFTER TODAY OR IN THE EVENTS OF TODAY IS FOR NO CHANGE AT THIS SITE.
AND I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION OUT THERE TO SAY THAT THE SITE DOES DESERVE CHANGE AND DOES WARRANT, UM, DEVELOPMENT.
THAT'S GOING TO BRING A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES TO THIS AREA.
BUILDING SERVICES HAS ASKED THAT WE REMIND EVERYONE WHO'S WITH US TODAY, UH, IN THE CHAMBER, WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THE SOCIAL DISTANCING ROLES.
SO I THINK THERE ARE SOME SEATS THAT HAVE BEEN MARKED OR THAT WE'RE NOT WANTING PEOPLE TO SIT IN, PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT, UH, YOU'RE ACCOMMODATING THAT.
AND I THINK THAT STOPS PEOPLE FROM BEING ABLE TO JUST SIT RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER AS PART OF OUR SOCIAL DISTANCING PRACTICE HERE, UH, COLLEAGUES THERE'S, UM, UM, A REQUEST FOR POSTPONEMENT.
DOES ANYONE WANT TO MOVE FOR POSTPONEMENT AS R KELLY COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY MOVES TO POSTPONED TO MARCH 3RD? IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION TO POSTPONE? NO.
THEN THE MOTION TO POSTPONE FAILS FOR WANT OF A SECOND.
[Public Comments (Part 3 of 3)]
TO GO TO, UH, SPEAKERS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP, UM, ON THE AGENDA.DO WE HAVE ANY FOLKS HERE IN PERSON? YES.
THERE, THERE ARE A LOT OF SPEAKERS IN PERSON IT'S CALLED THE IN-PERSON SPEAKERS FIRST, AND THEN WE'LL DO THE REMOTE SPEAKERS.
THE FIRST SPEAKER IS PAT BOOT SHOP, UM, SPEAKERS EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE.
I THINK WE HAVE 60, 70 SPEAKERS, UH, FOR US TODAY.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, PUBLIC TO HERE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF AUSTIN, TEXAS MUSICIANS.
WE DID PULL OUR MUSICIAN MEMBERS 5,000 MEMBERS ABOUT A 200 ACADEMY.
90%, UH, SUPPORT LIFTING THAT ZONING RESTRICTION, THAT DENSITY RESTRICTION, UH, AND BRINGING BACK THE AUSTIN OPERA HOUSE, AS LONG AS, AS LONG AS THERE'S A AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMPONENT.
NOW 10% DID SUPPORT IT WITHOUT THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMPONENT IN ZERO.
NOBODY, UH, WAS ACTUALLY AGAINST, UH, BRINGING BACK THE AUSTIN OPERA HOUSE.
UH, SO THAT'S WHAT WE FOUND OUT.
UH, AND I'D LIKE TO ADD THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER.
YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE WE HAVE, THE TABLE IS SET TO CREATE THESE AFFORDABLE HOUSING SOLUTIONS, UH, WITH THE NEW CULTURAL TRUST, WITH YOUR, UH, IMPETUS TO CREATE, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THESE CULTURAL HUBS, UH, THE STARS ARE ALIGNED, UH, SO TO SPEAK.
UM, BUT FOR THE NCR TODAY, WE WON'T HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.
SO I JUST, UH, IMPLORE YOU TO CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION.
BRIAN BD FOLLOWING IS NOEL BRIDGES.
I'M A PROFESSIONAL MUSICIAN AND RECORD PRODUCER, AND I'VE LIVED IN AUSTIN AND BEEN INVOLVED IN THE AUSTIN MUSIC SCENE SINCE 1979.
MY WIFE AND I LIVE AND WORK AT OUR HOME ON RAVINE DRIVE DIRECTLY ACROSS THE ACADEMY FROM THE ONLY ENTRANCE TO THEIR PROPOSED NEW OPERA HOUSE DEVELOPMENT, UM, AGAINST SPRINGING BACK THE OPERA HOUSE BECAUSE I'M AN AUSTIN HISTORY NERD.
AND NOT ONLY DO I HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH HOW DISRUPTIVE THAT FINAL ITERATION OF THE OPERA HOUSE WHILE I WAS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, I'VE ALSO STUDIED THE HISTORY AND ACCESSIBILITY OF THE VARIOUS VERSIONS OF THE OPERA HOUSE IN THE PAST.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN THE PROPERTY'S HISTORY THAT SOMEONE HAS PROPOSED REOPENING THE CLUBS SINCE REAR ACCESS TO 200 ACADEMY HAS BEEN CUT OFF FROM MUSIC LANE.
THIS OCCURRED WHEN THE MAGDALENA MUSIC LANE DEVELOPMENT WAS STARTED.
ABOUT SIX YEARS AGO, THE PROPERTY NOW HAS BEEN ISOLATED FROM CONGRESS.
I WOULD NEVER ARGUE THAT OUR ARTISTS WHO PLAY THE OPERA HOUSE DIDN'T GIVE US MANY WONDERFUL MEMORIES, BUT JUST AS I WOULD NEVER ASK THE CONSCIOUS BE BROUGHT BACK TO THE FIESTA GARDENS MERELY BECAUSE I SAW A COOL TALKING HEAD SHOW THERE, UH, DON'T SACRIFICE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD FOR AN IDEA.
THAT'S ESSENTIALLY MORE SENTIMENTAL THAN A PRACTICAL OR REASONABLE.
[03:35:02]
THANK YOU, NOEL BRIDGES.AND UP NEXT WOULD BE VALERIE FOWLER.
UM, I'D LIKE TO READ A SHORT MESSAGE OF SUPPORT FROM MY CHILDHOOD FRIEND, GARY CLARK, JR.
THAT HE JUST SENT ME FROM THE ROAD WITH ALL OF THE CHANGE GOING ON IN THE CITY.
IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THOSE WHO UNDERSTAND THE CULTURE OF OUR CITY TO SOLIDIFY A SOLID STAPLE IN AUSTIN THAT REPRESENTS THE LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD, AS WELL AS A HISTORIC MONUMENT MONUMENT OF SORTS TO LET PEOPLE KNOW HOW RICH MUSIC HISTORY OF AUSTIN IS BEING FROM AUSTIN, PLACES LIKE THIS MADE ME MORE PROUD OF WHERE I CAME FROM AND EXCITED TO BE PART OF A LEGENDARY COMMUNITY.
I BELIEVE IT WOULD BE MORE OF AN EXCITING ASSET TO THE CITY, LIKE THE RYMAN IN NASHVILLE OR CAPITOL RECORDS IN LA.
THANK YOU, VALERIE FOWLER FOLLOWING WILL BE SARAH ALL ISA.
I'VE OWNED MY HOME SINCE 1993.
I LIVE ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AND I'M PART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD COMMITTEE, WHICH HAS WORKED ON THIS CASE.
I SUPPORT HOUSING AFFORDABLE IF POSSIBLE, AND MIXED USE ON THIS TRACK, BUT THE PROPOSED 10,000 TO 17,000 SQUARE FOOT MUSIC VENUE IS TOO LARGE AND INCOMPATIBLE AT LOCATION.
A VENUE OF THIS SIZE CATERS TO TOURING ACTS, NOT LOCAL MUSICIANS, PATRONS TO THESE SHOWS ARRIVE AT ROUGHLY THE SAME TIME AND LEAVE AT APPROXIMATELY THE SAME TIME.
THE PROPERTY HAS ZERO ACCESS TO ANY MAIN STREET, THE ONLY ENTRANCE AND EXIT OR ONTO, AND FROM ACADEMY DRIVE A SMALL WINDING RESIDENTIAL STREET ALREADY OVERBURDENED BY DEVELOPMENT ON SOUTH CONGRESS.
A SMALLER VENUE OF 3000 SQUARE FEET IS A COMPROMISE.
MAY, ARE THERE A LIST OF SPEAKERS FOR ITEM 72 AND I'LL READ THEM IN THE ORDER THAT THEY PROVIDED ME FIRST, WOULD YOU SAY THERE IS A LIST OF SPEAKERS IN ORDER FOR ITEM 72 AND I'LL READ THEM IN THAT ORDER THAT THEY GAVE TO ME, MARIA BOWEN IS FIRST FOLLOWED BY MICHAEL JUERGEN JERKINESS ROGER'S LINK CAN NOT SUPPORT DENSE HOUSING SAFELY DUE TO THE SUBSTANDARD CONDITION OF THE ROADS AND THE LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE.
NEXT NEXT LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE ROAD IS NOT WIDE ENOUGH FOR LONG ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE MANY MOTORISTS AND IS AN EXTREME SUBSTANDARD CONDITION.
NO SIDEWALKS, NOT ENOUGH FIRE HYDRANTS, NO SPEED LIMIT SIGNS OR SIGNS WARNING OF A STEEP BLIND HILL, NO CURBS WITH HOUSING NUMBERS TO FACILITATE PROMPT LOCATION BY EMERGENCY SERVICES, NO STORM DRAINAGE SYSTEM TO MITIGATE EROSION FLOODING ON A STEEP HILL, NO TRAFFIC LIGHT AT THE INTERSECTION WITH MAJOR HIGH-SPEED ROAD, FM 9 69, NO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, NO OFF THE STREET PARKING, NO TRAFFIC SIGN INDICATING SCHOOL BUS STOP NONCOMPLIANCE WITH AMERICAN DISABILITIES ACT, NO DEMARCATING LINE BETWEEN LANES NO, NO STREET LIGHTS IN SOME STRETCHES OF THE ROADS CAUSING COMPLETE DARKNESS, NO STREET LIGHTS AT MAJOR INTERSECTIONS NEXT ROGERS LANE AT NIGHT, EXTREMELY POOR VISIBILITY NEXT, MICHAEL, AND THEN SARAH ALI ISA.
UM, CONTINUING WITH THE SLIDES HERE.
UM, WE HAVE AN IMAGE OF, UH, UH, CON THE DARK FACING, UH, FM 9, 6, 9 NOTICE, UH, NO TRAFFIC LIGHTS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, COMPLETE DARKNESS, UH, NEXT, UM, THESE DETAILS, UM, THESE POINTS DETAIL OUR GRIEVANCES ABOUT THE LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE.
BASICALLY WE HAVE NARROW ROAD TO THE DON'T SUPPORT.
TWO-WAY TRAFFIC HEAVILY DEGRADED WITH POTHOLES, UM, STEEP INCLINES, UH, VERY DANGEROUS AT NIGHT AND UNDER INCREMENTAL WEATHER.
UH, NEXT HERE WE HAVE WHAT OUR, A SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS HAVE TO GO THROUGH.
THESE ARE, UH, INCREDIBLY STEEP INCLINES, AS YOU CAN SEE, HE'S STRUGGLING TO MANEUVER UP THESE HILLS NEXT.
[03:40:01]
OF A DAY TO DAY.UM, AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S ONLY ONE WAY TRAFFIC, SOME CARS ARE PARKED JUST BASICALLY ON THE STREET ITSELF NEXT AS IS SOME OF OUR, UH, DEGRADATED STREETS.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THEY'VE BEEN, UH, NEGLECTED FOR DECADES.
HI, MY NAME IS SARAH LISA, AND I'M ONE OF THE NEWEST MEMBERS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
IT'S, UH, THEN AN EXTREME EXPERIENCE.
UH, WE VERY QUICKLY COULD SEE THAT OUR SAFETY IS OVER AS CARE AT ITS CURRENT.
UH, YOU KNOW, A LEVEL OF COMMUNITY BRINGING IN MORE HOUSING WOULD, WE'RE JUST, I, YOU KNOW, AMPLIFY THAT SAFETY ISSUE.
SO NEXT, IF YOU COULD SEE HERE THAT OUR EROSION HAS ALREADY FACING TREMENDOUS, TREMENDOUS ISSUES WITH MORE IMPERVIOUS COVER, WE WILL HAVE MORE ISSUES THERE.
NEXT, THIS IS JUST A HIGHLIGHT OF OUR SAFETY.
WE'RE JUST SPEEDING THIS UP WITH A DEAD HORSE.
YOU KNOW WHAT, NO SIDEWALKS, NO STREETS.
YOU'RE PUTTING US AT RISK AND YOU KNOW WHAT? WE DON'T WANT TO PUT A PRICE TAG ON OUR, ON OUR SAFETY.
UM, YOU KNOW, WITH THE HIGHER RISK IN THE STEEP HILL, WE'VE SEEN WITH INCLEMENT WEATHER, SOME OF THESE BIG TRUCKS AND VEHICLES SPENDING OUT WE'VE PROVIDED NUMEROUS EXAMPLES AND VIDEOS IN OUR GOOGLE DRIVE, AND ONE DRIVE FOR YOU TO, TO WITNESS THIS FIRSTHAND.
THIS IS THE DAY TO DAY, UM, YOU KNOW, SAFETY ISSUE THAT WE FACE.
SO, UH, PLEASE CONSIDER THAT THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY RISK AS IT IS.
UH, WE APPRECIATE YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE.
NEXT IS GRACE KRAMER FOLLOWED BY JOE ALTAMIRANO NEXT? UH, THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF A FIRE THAT WE HAD ON OUR STREET A FEW ABOUT A YEAR OR SO AGO, AND IT TOOK DOWN A BUILDING THAT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO GET TO A FIRE HYDRANT.
NEXT, THE STRUCTURE IS A COMPLETE LOSS.
WE, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE BEEN IN THAT AREA.
WE ARE VERY HIGH, UH, UP THIS STEEP HILL, BLIND HILL, NEXT HAZARDOUS ROAD CONDITIONS AS SHOW THAT THE BUS COMES UP THERE AND HAS TO TURN AROUND ON A, A FORK IN THE ROAD.
AND IT'S VERY POORLY LIT AND VERY, UH, VERY HARD TO GET AROUND UP THERE.
NEXT VEHICLES ENCOUNTER EACH OTHER ON HEAD-ON AND YOU EITHER HAVE TO BACK UP OR GET OFF THE ROAD, OR IT'S JUST VERY DIFFICULT TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE GOING THE OTHER DIRECTION.
NEXT, THE PARK VEHICLES DO ARE ON ONE LANE OF THE ROAD AND THAT LIMITS HOW YOU CAN GET THROUGH THERE.
AND THE PARKING IS ON THE STREET.
OKAY, JOE, ALTAMIRANO FOLLOWED BY PARKER HYGIENIC.
Y'ALL LETTING THEM BE HERE TODAY.
UM, THE BIGGEST THING IS THAT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY TO COME IN.
AND THE THING IS, IS IF YOU DEVELOP THE PROPERTIES, THE BIGGEST QUESTION IS WHERE ARE THE EXITS GOING TO BE? I MEAN, YOU ONLY HAVE ONE WAY, TWO WAYS TO COME IN TWO WAYS TO GO BACK OUT.
WE LOST ONE IN BOSTON FINANCED, APD EARS, AND AN ACCIDENT RIGHT BELOW OUR HILL, UH, BECAUSE OF THE TRAFFIC, STUFF LIKE THAT.
AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, SAFETY IS A BIG AS ISSUE.
SO THE THING IS, UH, WE'RE PROBABLY ABOUT ONE OF THE ONLY OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS IN AUSTIN THAT IS A DADDY.
AND I THINK NIXON LANE IS THE OTHER LOCATION THAT THERE'S NO WAY TO GET OUT, BUT ONE WAY IN, AND ONE WAY OUT WHERE THE OTHER ONES, YOU KNOW, SO IF YOU DEVELOP THIS AND SAY AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WELL, I AIN'T BEEN ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN AUSTIN A. LONG TIME.
I MEAN, EVERYTHING COST HALF A MIL PARKER HIKING, AND THEN SANDY BALLARD, OH, I'LL CONTINUE THE PRESENTATION.
UH, THIS JUST SHOWS BASICALLY TRAFFIC EXITING ROGERS LOOP ON THE 9 69 IN THE MORNING SHOWING HOW CONGESTED IT CAN BE MAKING LEFT-HAND TURNS WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT.
IT WOULD BE NICE JUST LIKE ON A, IN THE GARVIN NEIGHBORHOOD.
IF THERE WAS A LIGHT AT THIS INTERSECTION, NEXT IT SHOWS THE SCHOOL BUS SWINGING INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE, THEY HAVE TO GO
[03:45:01]
WAY OVER THE DOUBLE YELLOW LINE TO GET IN.CAUSE THE DOUBLE YELLOW LINE ONLY GOES 20 FEET UP THE ROAD.
AND THEN IT BECOMES SO NARROW THAT YOU REALLY DON'T NEED TO DIVIDE BETWEEN THE LANES.
THESE ARE SOME VIEWS SHOWING CONSTRUCTION VEHICLES, TRYING TO BACK INTO THE CONSTRUCTION SITE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL AND NEIGHBORS TRYING TO GET DOWN THE ROAD.
YOU CAN SEE THE TRASH CAN THERE, IT MAKES THE ROAD EVEN NARROWER.
UM, PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, PUT THE TRASH CAN ON THE STREET AND IT MAKES IT SITUATION WORSE.
AND THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS TO PUT IT IN THE DITCH WHERE IT'S ALL ERODED AND IT FALLS OVER NEXT ENVIRONMENT.
SO THERE'S NO STORM DRAIN SYSTEM ON ROGERS, UH, WITH DENSE HOUSING, IT WILL ONLY ACCELERATE EROSION FROM THE ROADS AND AFFECT HER HOMES.
UH, TREES AND VEGETATION NEEDS TO STAY IN PLACE FOR THEM FURTHER EROSION, SANDY BALLARD, AND THEN LINDA HITCHCOCK WILDLIFE WILL BE DISPLACED.
THAT'S WITHIN 200 FEET OF 54 17, ROGER SLAIN, UH, THE PROPERTY REQUESTING ZONE CODE CHANGE AREAS, SUBJECT TO FLOODING DUE TO THE TOPOGRAPHY OF ROGERS HILL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS IS NEEDED TO SAFELY ASSESS HOW THIS AREA MAY BE FURTHER DEVELOPED WITHOUT CAUSING MORE EROSION AND DANGER IN EXISTING HOMES AFTER HEAVY RAINS AND OVER TIME.
NEXT IS AS EXAMPLES OF FLOODING IN THE EROSION IN OUR AREA.
NEXT CONTINUED A SHOWING OF RAINWATER FLOWING OVER OUR ROAD AND, UH, BROKEN PIECES OF ASPHALT.
UH, NEXT, THESE ARE SPRINGS AND PAWNS THAT ARE NATURALLY EXISTING IN OUR AREA NEXT, UH, THE WIDTH OF ROGER'S LANE, UH, ON THE RIGHT, COMPARED TO THE SANDERO HILLS ON LEFT, WHERE THE ECOBEE NEIGHBORHOOD IS LOCATED.
XED EROSION FILE, UH, FALLEN TREES, EXPOSED ROOTS IS COMMONPLACE LINDA HITCHCOCK AND THEN MELANIE OR, AND ENVIRONMENT DID THE EROSION FALLEN TREES AND EXPOSED ROOTS.
NEXT ROJAN FALLEN TREES EXPOSED ROOTS.
NEXT WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THE ZONE CODE REMAIN SF TWO WITH LIMITATIONS ON THE AMOUNT OF HOUSING PER ACRE.
OKAY, MELANIE HERB, THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MICHAEL CURRY.
WE SWITCHED, UH, CASES PRETTY QUICK.
THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
UM, CAME HERE TO SPEAK ON THE ON ITEM 73.
UH, THIS IS A VERY SIMPLE CASE.
UH, IT DOESN'T INVOLVE PRESSING ISSUES AS IT'S SOME OTHER CASES OR, UH, HOMELESSNESS OR, UH, HOUSING PROBLEMS, BUT IT'S, UH, UH, IT MAY SEEM SMALL POTATOES TO SOME, BUT IT'S, I KNOW IT'S IMPORTANT TO THE APPLICANT AND I KNOW IT'S IMPORTANT TO THE FOLKS WHO WILL BE AFFECTED BY IT.
THE APPLICANT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT A REDEVELOPMENT OF THIS SITE COULD GENERATE 1,856 TRIPS PER DAY AND BOTH GLENVIEW AND JEFFERSON, IF YOU MEASURED JEFFERSON AT 34TH STREET, UH, PURSUANT TO THE TRANSPORTATION CRITERIA MANUAL WERE APPROXIMATELY 27 FEET WIDE WITH A DESIRABLE OPERATING LEVEL OF 1200 VEHICLE TRIPS PER DAY.
SO TRAFFIC FROM THIS BUILDING WILL EXCEED OR CONTRIBUTE DISPROPORTIONATELY TO THE SITE.
WE'RE WILLING TO KEEP WORKING ON THIS AND HOPE WE CAN FIND SOMETHING THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE.
I, UM, OFFICE ABOUT, UH, ONE PROPERTY FROM THIS PROPERTY AND I TRAVELED IN THAT LOCATION AT LEAST THREE TO EIGHT TIMES A DAY.
UH, I FEEL LIKE THIS PROJECT TOO LARGE, TOO MUCH TRAFFIC, UH, DANGEROUS FOR CHILDREN,
[03:50:01]
CHILDREN FROM ALL THE NEIGHBORHOODS, WALK THROUGH JEFFERSON IN THAT PART TO GO TO BROKER WITH HIGH, UH, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.SO I WOULD LIKE THE, UH, THE I'M NOT AGAINST THE DEVELOPMENT, BUT I WANT IT TO BE MUCH SMALLER, MORE NEIGHBORHOOD ORIENTED.
PLEASE STOP BUILDING BIG BOXES WITH NO SOUL.
AND THAT'S WHAT THIS WILL BE A BOX WITHOUT ANY SOUL FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THEY'RE PLANNING TO BUILD 43,000 SQUARE FOOT SPACE IN A LOT THAT IS NOT EVEN HALF AN ACRE.
SO PLEASE STOP AND SAY AUBURN NEIGHBORHOODS.
HI, MY NAME'S RYAN BUCO I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF AUSTIN, HB RESIDENTIAL.
UM, OUR PUT AMENDMENT WAS RECOMMENDED BY STAFF, SO I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING SIGNIFICANT TO ADD.
NEXT WE HAVE RACY HIDAD AND THEN CHARLES STEINMAN.
I'M THE ATTORNEY REPRESENTING, UH, AUSTIN HB RESIDENTIAL.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH HEATHER CHAFING, UH, ON THIS FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.
THIS IS JUST A VERY SMALL AMENDMENT TO THE ORDINANCE THAT WOULD SORT OF CLARIFY A TERM ON THE STORY HEIGHT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT THAT'S PROPOSED HERE, WHICH IS MULTIFAMILY.
UM, THIS HAS BEEN APPROVED BY PNC AND WE'RE JUST SIMPLY HERE TO REQUEST THAT COUNCIL APPROVE IT AS RECOMMENDED BY STAFF.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, CHARLES STEINMAN.
MOVING TO ITEM 85, WE HAVE RUBEN PEREZ.
MOVING TO ITEM 69 AND 70 WILL BRIDGES.
HELLO, I'M WOODBRIDGE'S CO-OWNER OF LAMBERT.
ANTONE'S DBT CABARET, AND CISCO'S I'M BORN AND RAISED IN AUSTIN.
AND MY ENTIRE CAREER HAS BEEN DEDICATED TO PRESERVING OUR CITY'S HISTORY AND MAKING IT A PLACE WHERE MUSICIANS CAN BE SUCCESSFUL.
OVER THE PAST 15 YEARS, I'VE BEEN ASKED BY THE CITY TO REPRESENT OUR MUSIC ECONOMY IN MANY CAPACITIES AND WAS APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AS CHAIR OF THE VENUE PRESERVATION AND EXPANSION OMNIBUS TASK GROUP, IN ORDER TO BE A SUCCESSFUL LIVE MUSIC CITY.
IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE HAVE A DIVERSE ECOSYSTEM OF MUSIC VENUES AT VARYING SIZES TO ACCOMMODATE THE GROWTH OF OUR MUSICIANS.
CURRENTLY, AUSTIN HAS A MASSIVE VOID IN THAT ECOSYSTEM.
WE DON'T HAVE A SINGLE INDOOR STANDING ROOM VENUE BETWEEN 700 CAPACITY AND 1700 CAPACITY.
WHAT THIS MEANS IS OUR MUSICIANS ARE MISSING A CRITICAL STEPPING STONE IN THE MARKET, A MISSING MIDDLE THAT LIMITS THEIR ROOF, LIBERTY LAUNCH ZONA ROSA I'M A DUAL WORLD HEADQUARTERS AND THE ORIGINAL EMOS ARE ALL EXAMPLES OF VENUES IN 1000 1500 CAPACITY RANGE THAT WE'VE LOST AND NOT REPLACED HERE.
WE HAVE AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY TO BRING BACK A 1200 CAPACITY VENUE WITH GREAT HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE.
THE PERFECT SIZE BASED ON THE 2015 MUSIC SAYS SINCE THIS ASSESSMENT OF WHAT OUR MUSIC ECONOMY IS LACKING, WE REALIZED THAT JASON NEIGHBORS HAVE CONCERNS, BUT WE'RE VERY CONFIDENT WITH GOOD DESIGN, GOOD ENGINEERING AND GOOD OPERATING ALL THOSE CONCERNS TO BE MITIGATED.
ALL THAT WE'RE ASKING, JUST TO GIVE US A CHANCE TO PROVE IT.
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT DECISION FOR AUSTIN.
LET'S PLEASE MAKE IT BASED ON DATA AND INFORMATION, NOT EMOTION AND FEAR.
THANK YOU, FREDDIE FLETCHER, AND THEN MARK FORT.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
UH, I GREW UP IN AUSTIN AND WATCHED IT CHANGE AND GROW FOR OVER 60 YEARS.
I FOUNDED ARLAND STUDIOS IN 1984 AT THE REQUEST OF WILLIE NELSON WHO OWNED THE OPERA HOUSE.
OUR VISION WAS AN ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX THAT HOUSED A THEATER STUDIOS AND MUSIC RELATED BUSINESS.
THAT'S STILL OUR VISION TODAY.
THE OPERA HOUSE AND ARLIN HOSTED ARTISTS OF ALL.
JOHN WAS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD AND LAID THE FOUNDATION TO BE CALLED
[03:55:01]
THE LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.MUSIC HAS BEEN THE SOUL OF THIS CITY AND PRESERVING OUR MUSIC.
HISTORY IS ALSO PRESERVING THE SOUL OF THE CITY.
I HAVE A LETTER HERE FROM WILLIE NELSON THAT I'LL SUBMIT OVER HERE THAT HE GAVE ME SEPTEMBER 4TH.
NICHOLAS JAMES, AND THEN AMY NELSON.
MY NAME IS NICHOLAS JAMES AND I AM A PROUD NATIVE SOUTH AUSTINITE.
I AM HERE SPEAKING TO YOU TODAY IN FAVOR OF REMOVING 200 ACADEMY FROM THE NCCD FOR MY ENTIRE LIFE.
I'VE LISTENED TO LOCALS LIKE MYSELF, VOICED THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT GENTRIFICATION IN OUR CITY.
I'M CONFUSED AS TO WHY THERE IS NOW CONTROVERSY OVER THE OPPORTUNITY TO RESTORE SOME OF THAT SAME LOST HISTORY.
THE LOUDEST VOICES SEEM TO BE COMING FROM THOSE PRIVILEGED ENOUGH TO LIVE IN AN AREA THAT WILL NEVER BE AFFORDABLE TO MOST LOCALS LIKE MYSELF EVER AGAIN.
THEY SEEM OPPOSED TO THE SAME HISTORY THAT MAKES AUSTIN THE WONDERFUL CITY.
I'M ALSO SURPRISED AND GRATEFUL THAT THE DEVELOPER WOULD GO TO THE LINKS THAT THEY HAVE TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY ON THIS PROJECT.
ALMOST OTHERS ARE JUST SO OFTEN CONCERNED WITH THEIR BOTTOM LINE.
IT SADDENS ME THAT OTHER AUSTINITES WOULD BE SO ARDENTLY OPPOSED TO THE SAME WONDERFUL HISTORY THAT MADE THEM.
AND SO MANY OTHERS WANT TO MOVE HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
THANK YOU, AMY NELSON, TO BE FOLLOWED BY CHARLIE SEXTON.
MY NAME IS CHARLIE SEXTON AND I WANT TO DEFINITELY APPLAUD WHAT WAS JUST SAID, BECAUSE I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT.
UH, AND, UH, WHAT'S GOING ON HERE AT 200 ACADEMY.
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT A MUSIC VENUE.
IT'S ABOUT WHAT ALREADY EXISTS THERE.
AND I THINK THAT, UH, HONESTLY, UH, BE POTENTIAL TO DO THINGS FOR THE COMMUNITY, WHICH I HAVE A HISTORY WITH.
I THINK SMOKING NOW AS FAR AS CHARITABLE EVENTS AND WHAT'S NOT THIS SIZE VENUE AND WHAT IT COULD SERVE FOR THE COMMUNITY IS NEEDED, UM, THIS HEARTLESS SOUL AND THE SPEED OF ALL THIS, THIS IS NOT AN NOSTALGIA REQUEST THAT, THAT HEARTBEAT AND WHAT MADE THIS TOWN, WHAT IT IS, IS STILL THERE.
AND, UH, IF I COULD REAL QUICKLY, MY DEAR FRIEND, MR. LUCAS, NELSON SENT ME THIS AND IT SAYS EXACTLY WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY.
I WOULD LOVE NOTHING MORE THAN TO SEE THIS SPACE USED TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.
THE RICH AND SOULFUL HISTORY OF THE AUSTIN OPERA HOUSE SHOULD GUIDE THE PROPERTY TO PROPER USE THAT REALM OF CHARITY AND THE MUSIC IN KEEPING WITH THE CHARACTER WHICH MADE THIS CITY THE MOST SOUGHT AFTER PLACES TO LIVE IN THE NATION.
SHIPLEY FOLLOWED BY ERIC VAN HYPED.
I SPEAK TODAY IN FAVOR OF THE 200 ACADEMY PROJECT, SPECIFICALLY AS IT RELATES TO HOUSING, I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN SOUTH AUSTIN.
I'M A CURRENT RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE, THE SAME DISTRICT AS 200 ACADEMY AFTER RENTING IN AUSTIN FOR THE BETTER PART OF A DECADE, I AM FINALLY ABOUT TO PURCHASE MY FIRST HOME IN KYLE WHILE I FEEL BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO PURCHASE ANYTHING IN TODAY'S MARKET.
I AM SADDENED TO BE YET ANOTHER STATISTIC DISPLACED BY AUSTIN'S LOOMING HOUSING PROBLEM WITH THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE MOVING HERE, THE HOUSING SUPPLY CONTINUES TO DECREASE AS THE PRICES SKYROCKET.
NOT ONLY CAN I NO LONGER AFFORD TO RENT, LET ALONE BUY IN MY CURRENT DISTRICT, BUT I ALSO CAN NOT AFFORD TO BUY IN ANY DISTRICT IN AUSTIN.
AND SINCE MY JOB REMAINS IN THE CITY, I'LL NOW BE FORCED TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE GROWING TRAFFIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL STRAINS THAT INEVITABLY COINCIDE WITH AUSTIN'S HOUSING PROBLEM.
IF THE 200 ACADEMY PROJECT IS REMOVED FROM THE NCCD, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TURN A VACANT PARKING LOT INTO A SOLUTION TO ONE OF AUSTIN'S LARGEST PROBLEMS. THANK YOU, ERIC VAN HYPED FOLLOWED BY CHRIS WHALEN.
HI, MY NAME IS ERIC BEN HEFTY.
I'M A, A NEIGHBOR OF THIS PROJECT IN 200 AND ACADEMY.
I'VE LIVED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD 24 YEARS AND I LIVE WITHIN THE NCCD.
UH, I SUPPORT THE PRESERVATION OF THE AUSTIN MUSIC HALL, EXCUSE ME, THE AUSTIN OPERA HALL WITHIN ITS CURRENT FOOTPRINT.
UH, I UNDERSTAND THAT CHANGE CAN BE SCARY AND THAT THERE ARE
[04:00:01]
NEIGHBORS THAT HAVE CONCERNS, BUT I BELIEVE THAT THESE CONCERNS HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED QUITE A BIT ALREADY AND CAN BE FURTHER DRESSED AS THIS PROJECT MOVES FORWARD.UH, I, AND AT LEAST SEVEN OTHER NEIGHBORS THAT I KNOW WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE STR CC ATTENDED THE JANUARY MEETING OF THE NRCC TO HEAR PRESENTATIONS FROM BOTH NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE APPLICANT WE WERE IN THE IMPRESSION THAT WE WERE GOING TO GET A CHANCE TO ASK QUESTIONS AND EXPRESS OUR OPINIONS ON THE PROJECT, BUT THAT WAS NOT AFFORDED TO US.
THE AGENDA ITEM WAS CUT OFF WITHOUT DISCUSSION OR A VOTE, UH, PERHAPS BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION SAW THAT THERE WERE SOME UNFAMILIAR FACES IN THE CROWD AND MEDIA, UH, ON THE CALL AS WELL.
BUT I, I REALLY REGRET NOT HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THIS WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT THIS IS NOT A UNANIMOUS FEELING ON THE PART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, AGAINST THIS PROJECT.
SO THANK YOU, PLEASE SUPPORT CHRIS WALLEN, WAYLON, AND THEN FOLLOWED BY KELLY WEISS.
MY NAME IS CHRIS WALLEN AND I'M THE FOUNDER OF SPEARHEAD PROPERTIES AND THE OWNER AND DEVELOPER OF 200 ACADEMY.
I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR SHOWING UP TODAY.
UH, THE SUPPORT HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE FOR THIS PROJECT, AND I WANT TO SAY THAT I APPRECIATE IT.
IT WAS ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO AND I WAS OUT TO DINNER WITH MY WIFE AND I WAS TELLING HER ABOUT MY DAY, UM, THAT AFTERNOON I HAD SPOKEN TO MY TENANT, FREDDIE FLETCHER, I'M THE FOUNDER OF ARLAND STUDIOS, AND NOW A FRIEND AND FREDDY HAD BEEN TELLING ME ABOUT THE RICH HISTORY OF ARLAND AND THE AUSTIN OPERA HOUSE.
SO I'M TELLING MY WIFE ABOUT ALL OF THIS AND A MAN AT THE TABLE NEXT DOOR, OBVIOUSLY LISTENING, LISTENING IN, HE FINALLY CAN'T CONTAIN HIMSELF AND HE SAYS, HEY, EXCUSE ME.
UH, ARE YOU GOING TO BRING BACK THE AUSTIN OPERA HOUSE? AND HE SAID, THAT WOULD BE REALLY COOL.
AND, AND THAT NIGHT, UM, HE, HE, WELL, HE THEN PROCEEDED TO, TO TALK AND TELL ME ABOUT ALL THE DIFFERENT STORIES AND MEMORIES THAT HE HAD FROM THE OPERA HOUSE.
AND I REALIZED IT WOULD BE WRONG TO NOT TO DO MY PART, TO PRESERVE THIS IMPORTANT PART OF HISTORY AND TO HELP KEEP AUSTIN THE LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.
THANK YOU, KELLY WEISS FOLLOWED BY BILL WELKER.
I HAD A QUESTION FOR THE LAST, I HAD A QUICK QUESTION FOR YOU.
CAN YOU, I KNOW THAT THERE HAS BEEN CONVERSATION, INCLUDING PROBABLY IN THE MEETING THAT I HAD WITH YOU EARLIER ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I KNOW OUR FIRST SPEAKER HERE TODAY, AS, AS WE STARTED OFF THIS ZONING, TALKED ABOUT THE NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR MUSICIANS, WHICH I THINK IS, IS LIKELY A SENTIMENT THAT ALL OF US ON THE DIOCESE AND PROBABLY EVERYBODY HERE IN THE CHAMBERS, UM, SHARES AS WELL.
CAN YOU REMIND ME THOUGH? I DON'T, I DON'T BELIEVE I SAW IT IN YOUR PROPOSAL, A SPECIFIC ALLOCATION OF AFFORDABLE UNITS.
CAN YOU REMIND US IF THERE IS ONE AND IF SO, WHAT IT IS PLEASE? UM, YES.
UM, YEAH, SO OBVIOUSLY, UH, RICHARD WEISS, UH, UH, WHO'S REPRESENTING US AS WELL.
HE'S GOING TO SPEAK AND HE WILL TALK A LITTLE MORE SPECIFICALLY ABOUT IT, BUT WE'VE ACTUALLY APPLIED FOR THE, UH, SMART HOUSING PROGRAM.
UM, AND THAT'S THE PROGRAM THAT WE QUALIFIED FOR AND WE'VE ACTUALLY HAVE A, AN APPROVED APPLICATION.
UM, AND THAT'S A PART OF, AND THAT'S SOMETHING ACTUALLY FROM, FROM TALKING TO YOUR OFFICE, UM, AT THEIR REQUEST, UH, ORIGINALLY WE HAD NOT PLANNED TO DO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UM, AND, AND LIKE I SAID, IT WAS, I WAS ACTUALLY TALKING TO YOUR OFFICE THAT YOU GUYS SUGGESTED THE SMART HOUSING PROGRAM.
UM, AND NOW WE'RE COMMITTED TO DOING THE, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ASSUMING THAT WE CAN BE REMOVED FROM THE NCCD.
UM, AND WE ALSO WOULD LIKE TO, UH, TARGET MUSICIANS AS WELL.
AND, UM, WE'RE HOPING AGAIN THAT WE CAN MAKE THIS A GREAT PROJECT FOR EVERYONE IN AUSTIN.
I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW MANY UNITS THAT MIGHT YIELD ONCE THERE.
ONE LAST QUESTION REAL FAST, SIR.
W WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING TAKEN OUT OF THE NCCD FOR THE MULTIFAMILY TRACK AND STAYING IN THE NCCD FOR THE MULTIFAMILY TRACK, BUT WITH THE CHANGES TO THE NCCD THAT THE STAFF IS PROPOSING.
UM, AND AGAIN, RICHARD WEISS WE'LL GET INTO THIS MORE, BUT THE, THE ISSUE IS, IS THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THE NCCD, UM, AND I DON'T, I'M, I'M SURE YOU'VE ALL LOOKED AT IT AND READ IT.
IT IS A EXTREMELY COMPLICATED DOCUMENT AND WHAT IT DOES BY STAYING IN THE NCCD.
IT, IT CREATES ADDITIONAL LIMITATIONS THAT WOULD REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF HOUSING THAT WE COULD DO.
UM, AND SO WE'VE, WE'VE, UH, HAD SOME DISCUSSIONS BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN CONCERNS ABOUT US BEING REMOVED FROM THE NCCD.
UM, AND THE ISSUE IS, IS THAT I
[04:05:01]
GUESS IT IS POSSIBLE THAT WE COULD MAKE A LOT OF ADJUSTMENTS, UM, BUT IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY COMPLICATED, UH, TO TRY TO GET THE, UM, THE SAME AMOUNT OF HOUSING THAT WE COULD WITH THE BASE ZONING.UM, AND THE QUESTION IS IF WE'RE GOING TO, UH, MAKE A TON OF ADJUSTMENTS TO IT AND HAVE TO TWEAK EVERY LITTLE, UM, UH, RULE AND REGULATION, DOES IT NOT JUST MAKE MORE SENSE TO BE REMOVED FROM THE NCCD? SO THAT IS WHY WE'RE SUGGESTING IT, THAT REALLY THE BIGGEST PROBLEM THAT WE'LL FACE, UM, IF WE'RE NOT REMOVED FROM THE NCCD IS A LOSS OF HOUSING AND THAT'S WHAT WILL BE AFFECTED IF WE ARE NOT REMOVED FROM THE NCCD AND LAST WEEK AND MAKE, LIKE I SAID, UM, SOME, A LOT OF ADJUSTMENTS, AND I'M ASSUMING YOUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT TOO, WILL, UM, YEAH, IT WOULD HAVE TROUBLE WITH HOW DO WE EVEN WORD THAT? I'M NOT SURE HOW THAT WORKS.
YEAH, I WOULD JUST SAY, I, I, I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION.
I THINK THAT IS A REALLY IMPORTANT QUESTION AND I HAVE A LITTLE DIFFERENT ANSWER TO THAT.
UM, I THINK THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION HAVE GIVEN US A PATH FOR HOW TO, HOW TO AMEND THE REGULATIONS THAT WE'RE, UM, PROVIDING TO ALLOW FOR ADDITIONAL HOUSING ON THAT TRACT.
COUNSEL KELLY WEISS WITH COMMUNITY WHEELHOUSE HOUSE, SOME SERVING AS THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CONSULTANT FOR THE APPLICANT.
UM, WE ARE PROVIDING 10% OF THE UNITS, SO IT SHOULD YIELD ABOUT 20 UNITS, UH, BASED ON CURRENT DESIGN.
UM, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE, UM, TO YOUR POINT ABOUT NCCD IN THIS CONTEXT, IT FUNCTIONS AS EXCLUSIONARY ZONING, AND IT'S SOMETHING.
I THINK THAT COUNCIL SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE EQUITY INVOLVED AND THE HISTORY OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT THAT'S BEEN ALLOWED HAS BASICALLY MADE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNATTAINABLE IN TRAVIS HEIGHTS.
SO I WOULD ASK YOU TO THINK THOUGHTFULLY ABOUT HOW YOU APPROACH THE ZONING AND REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE NCC DOES TO THE HOUSING COMPONENT.
SO I STRONGLY, OF COURSE, AND THRILLED TO HAVE SO MUCH COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR A PROJECT I'M INVOLVED WITH, FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THAT'S NEW TO ME, AND I ALSO SUPPORT THE MUSIC.
AND THEN JANE WESTFALL, VERY ADLER.
I OWN SOUTH AUSTIN MUSIC ON SOUTH MAR.
I'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR OVER 35 YEARS.
YOU MIGHT IMAGINE THE CHANGES I'VE SEEN IN OUR WONDERFUL COMMUNITY, LESS THAN 10 YEARS AGO.
THERE WERE FOUR OTHER MUSIC STORES BETWEEN MINE AT 1400 SOUTH LAMAR, AND THE RIVER MINE IS THE ONLY ONE LEFT OUR CITY NEEDS TO NOURISH MUSIC RELATED BUSINESSES IN ORDER TO KEEP AUSTIN WHAT HAS BEEN CALLED FOR YEARS, AGAIN, THE LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.
FOLKS, THERE ARE CHANGES THAT TAKE PLACE IN ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WE DON'T CARE FOR.
I PERSONALLY HAVE TO MOVE TWO OR THREE OF THOSE DARN SCOOTERS ALMOST EVERY DAY.
OUR LOCAL MUSICIANS NEED OUR SUPPORT AND WE NEED THIS VENUE.
IT'S IN THE HEART AND SOUL OF BOSTON.
LET'S PLEASE DO OUR PART TO KEEP IT THERE.
THANK YOU, JANE WESTFALL, AND THEN PAULA KAUFMANN, JANE WESTFALL HERE.
AND LET'S GO ON TO PAULA WHO'S NEXT AFTER PAULA PAT.
ALREADY SPOKE AT PAD SPOKE AT FIRST OR SECOND WHO'S NEXT SO THERE'S A BIG MISCONCEPTION HERE.
THE OPERA HOUSE USED TO BE ON 15 ACRES.
WE WENT TO CONGRESS, IS THE OWNER WILLING TO BUY THE HOTEL MAGDELENA? THERE IS NO ROOM FOR 600 CARS FOR A 1200 CAPACITY VENUE ON TINY RESIDENTIAL STREETS.
THE RESIDENTS DO AGREE FOR MORE CAPACITY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SO WOULD YOU MUSICIANS RATHER LIVE THERE AND WALK AND BE ABLE TO WALK TO YOUR OTHER JOBS OR HAVE A VENUE THERE? SO THE LAMPS TOO VALUABLE FOR HOUSING.
YOU SAY THIS PROPERTY IS APPRAISED AT ONLY $2 MILLION AN ACRE.
WELL, MANY OF THE LOTS ARE PRAISED AND WE'RE LIKE THREE MIGHTY DOLLARS.
THAT'S WHY MANY OF US LIVE THERE, BUT PLEASE DON'T MAKE US
[04:10:01]
THE NEXT RAINY STREET.THE NCCD DOES ALLOW FOR MORE HOUSING.
IT IS A WELL-PLANNED, ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE OVER SIX YEARS OF AGE.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD ALL THINK ABOUT FOR PEOPLE THAT MAY WANT TO AGE IN PLACE AND HAVE HOUSING FOR OLDER PEOPLE WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE TO DRIVE.
AND THEN NICK KELLY MEAD MY NAME IS MARILYN HORTON.
I LIVE TWO BLOCKS FROM TWO, 200 ACADEMY AND FOUR BLOCKS FROM SOUTH CONGRESS ON HILLSIDE AVENUE.
I AM PERSONALLY IN FAVOR OF MUCH MORE DENSITY AND MASS TRANSIT IN OUR GROWING CITY.
AS WE SPEAK CARS ARE LINING BOTH SIDES OF MY STREET ACADEMY AND ALL OF THE OTHER SMALL NARROW NEIGHBORHOOD, RESIDENTIAL STREETS NEARBY.
EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE EMPTY PAY PARKING LOTS ALL AROUND US.
THIS IS NOT ONLY INCOME CONVENIENT FOR RESIDENTS.
IT IS UNSAFE FOR PEDESTRIANS, FOR SCOOTERS, FOR BICYCLES AND EVERYONE WHO IS USING THE SAME NARROW STREETS.
I ENCOURAGE COUNCIL MEMBERS NOT TO VOTE IN FAVOR UNLESS YOU HAVE PERSONALLY DRIVEN THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD TO SEE WHAT A PROJECT LIKE THIS WILL DO TO EXACERBATE THE SITUATION.
THE SITE DOES NOT HAVE DIRECT ACCESS TO A MAJOR ARTERY, NO MATTER HOW MUCH THE DEVELOPERS IMPLY THAT IT DOES.
AND IT'S TOTALLY UNSUITABLE FOR A LARGE MUSIC VENUE IN BAR.
THANK YOU, JENNIFER MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M JUST HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
WE REPRESENT SOME OF THE NEIGHBORS WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROJECTS MOVING ON TO ITEM 80.
WE MAY HAVE ALSO CALLED YES, I AM JENNIFER BUTCHER.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF TRAFFIC ENGINEERING FOR GENDER COKE.
I WAS ASKED TO LOOK AT THE SITE WITH THE ADDED TRAFFIC FOR THE MUSEUM ON BEHALF OF THE NEIGHBORS WITH THE ADDED SITE TRAFFIC WITH THE, UM, I'M SORRY, I'M NOT THE MUSEUM, THE CONCERT VENUE THAT ACTUALLY PUTS YOU OVER THE, UH, LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE FOR A 40 FOOT STREET OF TRAFFIC BY 168% OF THE CAPACITY.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN ALL THE CONCERT PEOPLE LEAVE AND GO TO THE, UH, JASON INTERSECTION ITSELF, CONGRESS, YOU CAN ALSO END UP BLOCKING THE ACCESS TO MUSIC LANE AS ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE QUEUING UP.
SO THESE ARE ADDITIONAL THINGS THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED.
THE ORIGINAL TRAFFIC STUDY ONLY LOOKED AT THE AM AND PM PEAK HOURS, WHICH IS NORMAL FOR A TRAFFIC STUDY OF A SITE WHERE THAT'S THE NORMAL PEAK HOURS.
BUT WHEN YOU HAVE A CONCERT VENUE, WE ALL KNOW THAT THAT DOES NOT OCCUR AT SEVEN TO 9:00 AM OR FOUR TO 6:00 PM.
SO I WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE FOR ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS THAT MAYBE HAVE, THANK YOU.
NEXT PHOTO COULD EVEN COUNSEL MARIO CANTU WITH THIS, UH, SOUTH KONG'S CONTACT TEAM.
UH, IF YOU LOOK AT THIS, A CENTER LINE HERE IN RED, THAT IS THE GAS LINE THAT'S GOING THROUGH.
WEDA MARK ON YOUR LEFT, UH, IS A FUTURE ONE THAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT.
AND THE ONE IN THE MIDDLE OF HE NOTICED THAT THE VERY END IT'S GOING TO CONCRETE NEXT.
THESE ARE SOME MAJOR CHAOS LINES.
YOU NOTICE THERE'S NO CONCRETE ON TOP.
THERE'S NO DEVELOPMENT ON TOP OF THESE GAS LINES AT ALL.
NEXT, UH, AFD DOES NOT SUPPORT NOR OBJECT TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS.
UM, SO AFD JUST BASICALLY GOES OUT AND CHECKS ALL THESE THINGS AND PASSES IT.
NEXT IT'S IN A RED LINE IS WE'RE.
[04:15:01]
UH, THIS DEVELOPMENT IS THAT, UH, YOU CAN SEE THE MAJOR GAS LINE THERE IN ORANGE AND THE PETROLEUM ONE IN YELLOW HICKS.UH, SOUTH CONGRESS HAS AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT 50% MFI, WHICH WE HAVE WORKED WITH DEVELOPERS IN THE PAST AND THE CHANCES OF SURVIVAL WITH THIS GAS LINE FROM A HUNDRED, UH, A HUNDRED FEET TO 700 FEET.
UH, IF THERE'S AN EXPLOSION WE, UH, ASK FOR, UH, TO DENY THE AMENDMENT ON THE FARM AND DENY THE ZONING CHANGE AND SUPPORT OUR, UH, APPLICATION THAT WE PUT IN FOR THE PETITION.
NEXT, WE HAVE PAUL SHEPHERD FOLLOWED BY CLAYTON STROLL.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I REPRESENT THE APPLICANT LEGACY DEVELOPMENT AND WHAT WE ARE DOING IS TRYING TO MEET THE NEEDS THAT WE HEAR EVERYDAY ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AS WELL AS THE HOUSING CRISIS IN AUSTIN, WE'RE PUTTING 520 NEW HOMES ON THIS LAND.
AND WE ASK THAT YOU SUPPORT OUR, OUR PROPOSAL OF WHICH 52 52 OF THOSE 10% WILL BE AFFORDABLE, THAT WE VOLUNTEERED.
WE'RE NOT REQUIRED TO UNDER THE STONING ORDINANCE.
AND WE ALSO HAVE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY THERE, TEXAS HOMEBASE, WHO WILL HELP US ENFORCE THE, UH, VOLUNTEERED, UM, PRIVATE, RESTRICTIVE COVENANT FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHETHER IT'S THIS OR THE EXISTING ZONING BUILDING, WHATEVER THAT IS IS BUILT, THERE WILL BE A RELOCATION I'M SURE OF A GAS LINE.
SO THE ART THERE ARE, THERE ARE, UH, THERE ARE CONSTRAINTS IN PLACE THAT MAKE THE SAFE THROUGH TEXAS GAS.
SO WE'RE JUST TRYING TO MEET A NEED FOR THAT'S NEEDED FOR THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND RESIDENTS IN THAT COMMUNITY.
UH, YES, CLAYTON STROLLY, I'M THE CIVIL ENGINEER FOR A PAUL SHIVERS PROJECT AND JUST WANTED TO GIVE SOME FEEDBACK ON THE GAS LINE.
WE'RE WORKING WITH TEXAS GAS RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE THEIR PRELIMINARY PLANS TO RELOCATE THE GAS LINE.
SO WE'RE IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION WITH THEM.
THEY'RE GOING TO FOLLOW ALL THE SAFETY STANDARDS AND PROTOCOLS THAT THEY'RE REQUIRED TO DO TO SAFELY MOVE THAT GAS LINE, UH, FARTHER AWAY FROM THE RESIDENCES ON THE EASTERN SIDE OF OUR PROPOSED BUILDING, UH, WHICH WOULD BE BETWEEN US AND IN THE RESIDENCE.
IS THERE, UM, SO WE JUST ASKED THAT COUNCIL, UM, FOLLOWS THE THING OF PLANNING AND ZONING AND GO GIVES THE THUMBS UP.
MAY I BELIEVE THAT'S ALL THE SPEAKERS WE HAVE IN PERSON I'M READY TO MOVE TO REMOTE.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE IN PERSON THAT THINKS THAT THEY SIGN UP? WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO COME ON DOWN.
TELL HER CLERK YOUR NAME PLEASE.
MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, ALICE GLASGOW, REPRESENTING THE APPLICANT ON ITEMS 80 AND 81.
AND, UM, UH, AS YOU HEARD FROM MY CLIENT, PAUL SHEPHERD, WE ARE PROPOSING TO CHANGE THE ZONING TO MF SIX.
AND UNDER THAT ZONING, THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS RECOMMENDED THE SIX WITH A CONDITIONAL OVERLAY, AND WE ARE PROPOSING TO BUILD 520 NEW HOMES OF WHICH 52 WILL BE AFFORDABLE.
AND THE SITE IS CURRENTLY UNDEVELOPED.
IT'S A GREENFIELD THAT IS EIGHT ACRES.
THE PROJECT WILL HAVE TWO TYPES OF DEVELOPMENTS, UH, UNITS FOR RENT.
AND THOSE UNITS WILL BE AFFORDABLE AT 40, FOR 40 YEARS AT 60, 60% MFI.
THE UNITS OF THAT FOR SALE, THE CONDOMINIUMS WILL BE AFFORDABLE FOR 99 YEARS.
AND THE BREAKDOWN IS 5% AT 80% MFI AND ANOTHER 5% AT A HUNDRED PERCENT MFI, WE HAVE AN APPROVED TRAFFIC IMPACT ANALYSIS, WHICH CALLS FOR SOME IMPROVEMENTS.
AND THOSE IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDE ADDING SIDEWALKS ALONG SHELBY AND ADD MORE LANES.
AND TO ALSO REBUILD TWO INTERSECTIONS AT TERRY OLD LANE AND SEND ELMA ROAD, WE ASK FOR YOUR APPROVAL AS APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO MF SIX C CEO.
WE HAVE AN EXECUTED PRIVATE, RESTRICTIVE COVENANT WITH A HABITAT FOR HUMANITY'S AFFILIATE HOMEBASE TO ENFORCE THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AND THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT FOR THE TRAFFIC IMPACT ANALYSIS AS ALSO BEEN EXECUTED.
AND THE CITY ATTORNEY HAS ALL THOSE DOCUMENTS.
UH, WE WILL BE, SHOULD WE GET YOUR APPROVAL? WE WILL, UH, THEN OF COURSE RECORD THE PRIVATE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT FOR THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
[04:20:01]
ELSE HERE TO SPEAK, THEN LET'S GO TO THE VIRTUAL SPEAKERS.I HAVE JADE LAVERA BACK ON THE LINE.
I BELIEVE SHE WANTED TO ADDRESS ITEM 76, JAY, PLEASE.
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THE PETITION SHOULD STILL BE VALID OR AT LEAST REVIEWED FOR REVALIDATION CONFIRMING THE RESIDENT OPPOSES THE SHAMEFUL PRACTICE OF THE APPLICANTS SUBMITTING AT 9:00 AM TODAY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A RESIDENT ENGLISH DEFICIENCY AND SUBMIT A LETTER INVALIDATING THE POSITION.
THE PETITION THAT WAS FINE TWO MONTHS AGO IS TRULY A DISGRACE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.
SO MEET THE RESIDENT SHOULD HAVE THE RESPECT OF HAVING THE CASE DETAILS EXPLAINED IN THEIR LANGUAGE.
OFTEN, OFTEN IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE A GOVERNMENT FOR ALL FAILURE TO PROVIDE THIS SPEAKS AGAINST WHAT WE STAND FOR AS A CITY, IF FOR NO OTHER REASON, BUT TO SHOW THAT THE COUNCIL OPERATES WITH INTEGRITY AND DOES NOT CONDONE THESE TACTICS, I URGE YOU TO VOTE IN OPPOSITION OF THIS CASE IN DECEMBER, THE APPLICANT REQUESTED POSTPONEMENT TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT ADDING AFFORDABLE UNITS.
HOWEVER, THERE HAS BEEN NO DISCUSSION OR UPDATE ON THIS FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND IT DOES NOT APPEAR ANY AFFORDABILITY WAS ADDED.
WHAT HAPPENED HERE AS A REMINDER, THE OWNER OWNS THE SURROUNDING MODS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY IN REVIEWED THIS CASE.
THIS DEVELOPMENT IS EXPECTED TO BE THREE TIMES LARGER IS COMPATIBLE AND WILL GOOGLE THE NEGATIVE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE AREA.
AND NEIGHBORHOODS AS ESTABLISHED INFRASTRUCTURE IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO ACCOMMODATE INCREASED DENSITY.
THIS IS ANOTHER REASON TO A PRINCIPLE.
DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION? I DO.
I HAVE A QUESTION FOR THIS SPEAKER, MS. LAVETTA COULD YOU, I'M SORRY.
UM, I HEARD THE DETAILS EARLIER, BUT I JUST NEED, I NEED TO BE SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING THE DETAILS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE PETITION AND THIS PARTICULAR SIGNER OF THE PETITION.
SO I RECEIVED NOTICE THIS MORNING AFTER 9:00 AM THAT THE APPLICANT SUBMITTED A LETTER FORM FROM A RESIDENT THAT RETRACTED THEIR SIGNATURE ON THE PETITION.
I WENT PERSONALLY TO TALK TO THE RESIDENT THIS MORNING AND ASKED IF THEY WERE IN AGREEANCE WITH THE REZONING, OR IF THEY WERE IN OPPOSITION.
THEY, UH, THEY, THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGES, VIETNAMESE, AND THEY LET ME KNOW THAT THEY DO NOT WANT THE DEVELOPMENT.
THEY SAID THAT THE LADY THAT WENT TO SPEAK WITH THEM, UM, JUST KEPT TALKING AND TALKING AND THEY FELT LIKE THEY HAD TO SIGN IT.
THEY DIDN'T REALLY KNOW AND UNDERSTAND WHAT IT WAS.
THEY DID PROVIDE THEIR PHONE NUMBER.
UM, I LET THEM KNOW THAT YOU ALL MAY OR MAY NOT BE ABLE TO CALL AND VERIFY AT THE VERY LEAST.
I THINK THAT IT IS, UM, APPROPRIATE TO HAVE THEM HAVE THIS EXPLAINED IN THEIR LANGUAGE.
SO THAT THERE'S THE, THE DEBATE OF WHETHER OR NOT THEY, UH, OPPOSE OR NOT CAN BE VERIFIED AND, AND ESTABLISHED IN THEIR LANGUAGE.
UM, AND I, THEY ALSO SIGNED A HANDWRITTEN NOTE THIS MORNING STATING THAT THEY DO SUPPORT THE PETITION AND THEY ARE IN OPPOSITION OF THIS REZONING, WHICH WOULD MAKE THEM, WHICH I SUBMITTED TO STAFF THIS MORNING THAT WOULD MAKE THE PETITION.
AND YOUR CONTENTION IS THAT THAT WOULD MAKE THE PETITION VALID AGAIN.
THAT, THANK YOU FOR GOING THROUGH THAT.
I MISSED, I MISSED THE UPSHOT OF THAT CONVERSATION.
I OWN TWO HOUSES ON WEST GRADY DRIVE.
I WAS PRETTY DISAPPOINTED JUST EARLIER.
WHEN WHAT SHE SEEMED TO LAY OUT ABOUT THE VIETNAMESE FAMILY SEEMED REALLY CONCERNING DEMAND.
THE WHOLE COUNCIL JUST LET OUT A BIG OLD COLLECTIVE YAWN.
UM, I LIVE ON WEST GRADING AND WEST GRADY HAS LOTS OF TRAFFIC ON IT.
IT'S CARS GET HIT ALL THE TIME.
I'VE TOLD Y'ALL BEFORE MY SON'S IN A WHEELCHAIR.
I'M SCARED TO WALK HIM ON MY STREET BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH TRAFFIC.
IF YOU APPROVE THIS, IT'S GOING TO DOUBLE OR TRIPLE THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC ON THIS STREET.
THE OTHER WAY IS MIDDLE FIFTH.
FISKVILLE WHICH PEOPLE SAY LET'S ON THE BREAKER.
YOU HAVE TO GO UP AND WEAVE THROUGH THIS TINY LITTLE INDUSTRIAL NEIGHBORHOOD IS STREETS ARE BIG ENOUGH FOR ONE CAR TO GET UP, TO BREAK THERE AND EVEN, AND IT'S JUST NOT POSSIBLE.
[04:25:01]
THE TRAFFIC ALONE FROM THIS THING IS, IS TOO MUCH.UM, I HEARD YOU DENIED THIS ZONING.
THE NEXT SEVERAL SPEAKERS ARE REGARDING ITEM 69 AND 70.
HELLO, MY NAME IS SUSAN AND TONE.
UM, I HAVE A CLUB WITH GREAT PARTNERS CALLED ANTONE'S DOWNTOWN, AND WE HAVE ALSO TO PUT FOR DAY IN TOWN FOUNDATION.
MY BROTHER UP IN THE CLUB IN 1975.
AND A LOT OF IT WAS BASED ON COMMUNITY.
AUSTIN IS A COMMUNITY BASED CITY AND YOU KNOW, THERE WERE PEOPLE LIKE, UH, MY PARTNERS TODAY WILL BRIDGES GARY CLARK, WHOSE PARENTS BROUGHT THEM DOWN TO ANTON WHITE BACK TO HEAR MUSIC.
UM, WE HAVE A MUSIC COMMUNITY FULL OF TEACHERS AND ACTORS AND STUDENTS AND BUSINESS PEOPLE, ARTISTS, WHATEVER PEOPLE THAT HAVE, UM, SUPPORTED AUSTIN FOR SO LONG.
WE'RE KNOWN WORLDWIDE FOR US BECAUSE WE'RE THE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.
THEY VISITED HERE BECAUSE OF OUR MUSIC VENUE.
WE NEED A VENUE THAT WOULD HOLD 1200 PEOPLE OR SO, AND WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT WITH THE WELL-KNOWN TEXAS, THE AUSTIN OPERA HOUSE AND THE FAMOUS ARLAND STUDIO.
NEXT SPEAKER IS JOHN DAVID SWAN.
I USED TO LIVE AT 1 22 B ACADEMY DRIVE.
THAT'S RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO THE SITE.
UM, THE, THE AGENT HAS, UH, RECRUITED A LOT, A LOT ON THE SOCIAL MEDIA, TRY TO MAKE THIS ABOUT MUSIC HISTORY, BUT THE ISSUE IS NOT ABOUT MUSIC, THE LOVE OF MUSIC OR MUSIC HISTORY.
IT'S ABOUT A VENUE AND THE VENUE THAT USED TO BE THERE CAUSE INSURMOUNTABLE PROBLEMS FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE OF A LACK OF VEHICULAR CONNECTIVITY AND OTHER REASONS.
UM, SO IT'S A TERRIBLE SPOT FOR A VENUE AND, UH, A BETTER SPOT SHOULD BE FOUND.
IT WON'T AFFECT THE MUSIC HISTORY.
ALSO THE, UH, AGENTS IDEA OF AN UNDERGROUND PARKING GARAGE IS PRETTY ABSURD.
THERE'S A TRIBUTARY OF THE WATERSHED AREA THAT GOES RIGHT THROUGH THE SITE.
SO, UM, I DOUBT HE'LL BE ABLE TO BUILD AN UNDERGROUND PARKING GARAGE.
HE'S GOT NO DIRECT ACCESS TO CONGRESS AND, UH, THE ACCESS, UH, USING ACADEMY DRIVE IS VERY POOR.
SO, UM, UH, THE, THE DEVELOPER JUST MADE A BAD INVESTMENT AND HE'S TRYING TO RECOVER THAT BY MAKING MORE MONEY FROM THIS PROJECT WITH ALCOHOL SALES.
WELL, THIS ISN'T THE SITE FOR THAT.
UH, IT'S NOT A GOOD PLACE FOR OUR VENUE BECAUSE THE VENUES THAT FAIL THEY'RE CLOSED MANY YEARS AGO, ARLYN STUDIOS COULD REMAIN IT DOESN'T CAUSE ANY PROBLEM.
UH, IT'S NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC WITH A, A LIVE AUDIENCE.
UM, W WE SHOULDN'T BE CHANGING THE RULES AND PROCEDURES OF GOOD GOVERNMENT IN AUSTIN ABOUT DEVELOPMENT.
JUST SO ONE MAN CAN MAKE MORE MONEY AND THE NEIGHBORS ALL AROUND THIS AREA WILL HAVE TO SUFFER BECAUSE OF IT.
UM, I HOPE I HAVEN'T EXCEEDED MY ONE MINUTE.
I'VE, UH, I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH DEVELOPMENT PLANNING IN THIS PARTICULAR AREA FOR ABOUT 40 YEARS, AND I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE SITE.
IT'S NOT A GOOD SITE FOR A MUSIC VENUE.
UH, WE, WE WOULDN'T MIND SOME AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT THE DEVELOPER HAS NEVER MENTIONED AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THREE YEARS.
SO, UH, THAT'S JUST A FACADE THAT, UH, HE'S PUTTING UP TO TRY TO WIN FAVOR AT THIS POINT IN THE DISCUSSION PROCESS.
HI, I'M SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION TO ITEMS 69 AND 70 AS ACTING CHAIR OF THE CONTACT TEAM.
AND IN MEMORY OF OUR FORMER CHAIR, CLAUDA LOWE WHO PASSED AWAY OVER THE CHRISTMAS BREAK, CAUGHT IN,
[04:30:01]
ATTENDED OUR MEETINGS WITH THE APPLICANT UNTIL JUST A FEW WEEKS BEFORE HER DEATH IN DECEMBER AT NO TIME DURING THESE ALMOST THREE YEARS OF MEETINGS ENDING LAST MONTH, DID THE APPLICANT PROPOSED AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO OUR NEIGHBORS OR ADDRESS OUR CONCERNS ABOUT TRAFFIC AND SAFETY? WHAT THEIR TRAFFIC STUDY DID PROPOSE WAS THAT THEIR CONCERTS WOULD ONLY PUT 24 CARS ONTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD STREET.THE BUILDING CURRENTLY HAS OFFICES AND EXERCISE WORKSPACE IN THE FORMER CLUB THAT HAS NOT EXISTED FOR MANY DECADES.
THE APPLICANT TOLD THE STATESMAN THAT THE VENUE SIZE WAS NON-NEGOTIABLE.
THIS IS HOW THEY HAVE TREATED THE NEIGHBORS FOR ALMOST THREE YEARS.
PLEASE DO NOT ALLOW A 17,000 SQUARE FOOT VENUE WITH ALL ITS WELL-DOCUMENTED PROBLEMS TO BE REINSTATED AT THIS LOCATION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN ROSALYN CLIFTON.
I LIVE ON HILLSIDE AVENUE AROUND THE CORNER FROM 200 ACADEMY.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AND OVERLAY WAS MOTIVATED BY THE TRAFFIC NOISE AND PARKING PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ORIGINAL AUSTIN OPERA HOUSE.
THIS ZONING WAS IN PLACE LONG BEFORE THE CURRENT OWNERS BOUGHT THE PROPERTY.
AND NOW THEY'RE IN BOOKING THE NAME OF WILLIE NELSON AND NOSTALGIC FOR OLD AUSTIN TO CHANGE IT.
I LOVE WILLIE AND MUSIC ALSO, BUT THERE IS NO MUSIC MAGIC AT 200 ACADEMY.
THEY CAN'T BE RECREATED IN A MORE APPROPRIATE LOCATION.
THE VENUES CUT OFF FROM CONGRESS AVENUE BY MUSIC, LANE DEVELOPMENT, AND ONLY ACCESSIBLE BY THE NARROW ACADEMY DRIVE, WHICH CAN'T BE WIDENED.
THEY HAVE, THE OPERA HOUSE HAS BEEN RECONFIGURING TO OFFICES FOR YEARS AND BEARS NO RESEMBLANCE TO THE ORIGINAL.
IT WOULD HAVE TO BE REBUILT ANYWAY, WHY NOT BUILD IT IN AN APPROPRIATE LOCATION THAT HAS THE RIGHT ZONING ALREADY.
I'M THE TRAFFIC ENGINEER FOR THE PROJECT.
I LOOKED UP WITH GI THE TIA ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROJECT WAS SET UP TO CAPTURE THE IMPACT OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND THEN THE APPROPRIATE IMPROVEMENTS TO ADDRESS THEM.
SO TO ACCOUNT FOR THE PANDEMIC RELATED TRAFFIC PATTERN CHANGES THE, UM, ADJUSTMENT FACTORS THAT WERE FAIRLY CONSERVATIVE WERE APPLIED TO THE DATA THAT WAS COLLECTED, UM, DURING THAT TIME.
AND THIS PROCESS WAS APPROVED CITY OF AUSTIN STAFF.
AND OF COURSE, IN ADDITION TO THAT EMPHASIS WAS PLACED ON HOW THE ACCESS WOULD BE LAID OUT IN RELATION TO THE, UM, COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.
SO AS TO ENSURE THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD WAS NOT IMPACTED WITH COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT, UH, OF COURSE A DETAILED TRANSPORTATION DEMAND MANAGEMENT PLAN WILL BE PROVIDED AT THE TIME OF SITE PLAN TO HONE INTO THE DETAILS OF THAT TO MANAGE COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC.
UM, THIS APPROACH WAS UNDERTAKEN TO MINIMIZE IMPACTS FROM THE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT TO THE ADJACENT NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE TIA ALSO WENT THROUGH A ROBUST REVIEW PROCESS WITH THE CITY PRIOR TO APPROVAL.
AND THAT CONCLUDES MY INPUT ON THIS PROJECT FROM A TRAFFIC STANDPOINT.
MAY YOU'RE IN CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS SAM NAKITA AND THEN MY DISTRICT TWO RESIDENT, I AM SPEAKING OF BOARD ITEM ITEM 69 AND 70.
I AM REPRESENTING ONLY MYSELF.
I AM CONCERNED MOSTLY ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT SPECIFICALLY DURING THE TWO ISSUES.
THIS PROJECT WILL HAPPEN IN THIS AREA.
MOSTLY CONCERNED THAT ANY DAMAGE CAUSED BY THIS PROJECT WILL RESULT IN THE TAXPAYERS PAYING FOR IT.
THE FINAL OUTCOMES MUST BE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED, AND WE, THE TAXPAYERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BEAR THE BURDEN FOR ANYTHING THAT IS TOTALLY PREVENTABLE.
IF THE NEEDED PICTURE OF THE SHADIEST COMPANY COULD FIND CONTACT TEAM REGARDING ITEM 7,677, WE MET AND VOTED ON THIS PROJECT.
LAST YEAR, OUR LATER SENIOR BACKUP, WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOU SUPPORT THE NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS IN THIS AREA.
THAT'S PART OF THE EASTERN CRESCENT, BOTH OUR AREAS, SEPTEMBER SIMILAR CONCERNS, WHICH INCLUDES UNPRECEDENTED GENTRIFICATION AND DISPLACEMENT OF LOW INCOME PEOPLE OF COLOR.
RUSSELL CAN, FOR ME, CHRIS, THE SAME PROPERTY TAXES.
THESE FAMILIES HAVE ESTABLISHED LONG-TERM NEIGHBORHOOD TIES, PUSHING THEM OUT.
WILL THEY STABILIZE THEM AND COSTLY NEW STRESSORS? THAT'S A REBUILT TO BE BURDENED WITH HAVING TO FIND NEW HOUSING SCHOOLS.
THEY NEEDED CRITICAL SERVICES, WHICH THEY MAY BE FORCED TO MOVE OUT.
THIS PROJECT DOES NOT PROVIDE ADMINISTRATIVE BENEFIT TO THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
[04:35:01]
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.REBECCA REYNOLDS, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
THIS IS REGRESSIVE RENTAL WITH THE MUSIC VENUE ALLIANCE.
I FIRST ATTENDED A SHOW AT THE AUSTIN OPERA HOUSE WHEN I WAS 15 AND SAW AT LEAST A DOZEN MORE THERE BEFORE THE VENUE, BOTH DO MY SENIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL.
SO MANY OF OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS AREN'T FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE ACTUAL MEMORIES OF THIS SPECIAL PLACE, BUT WE ARE ALL STILL BENEFITING FROM THE FACT THAT IT EXISTED.
I SUBMITTED A WRITTEN STATEMENT TO YOUR OFFICES ABOUT THE LOGISTICS OF WHY WE BELIEVE REVISING THE OPERA HOUSE IS IMPORTANT AND FEASIBLE.
I'M SPEAKING TODAY TO COMMIT TO WORKING WITH YOU AND OUR COMMUNITY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY FOR AUSTIN TO FORGE A PATH AHEAD, HONORING PRESERVATION AND PROGRESS EQUALLY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION OF PLEASE CONSIDER MBA YOUR PARTNER AND ACHIEVING A SOLUTION THAT WORKS FOR THOSE WHO CREATED THIS AUSTIN MAGIC AND THOSE WHO MOVED HERE BECAUSE THEY FELL IN LOVE WITH IT.
GAVIN GARCIA, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE MUSIC ORGANIZATION, DQ AUSTIN, MY HISTORY WITH THE AUSTIN OPERA HOUSE.
CAUSE BACK TO THE 1980S AS A MUSICIAN AND PROMOTER AS A FIRSTHAND WITNESS, I CAN ALLOW THAT IT WAS LOCATION WHERE RACIAL LINES WERE CROSSED IN AUSTIN.
GENERALLY SPEAKING, COMMUNITIES OF COLOR FOUND A WELCOMED SPACE AT THE AUSTIN OPERA HOUSE.
I WAS PART OF A GROUP THAT PRODUCED SEVERAL BLACK, URBAN AND LATIN CENTRIC EVENTS AT 200 ACADEMY, THRIVE, ATTENDED BY A MULTITUDE OF BIPAP MUSIC, CONSUMERS, WHICH IS A RARITY AND SEGREGATED AUSTIN.
AND THE ADDRESS IS IMPORTANT LIKE A, THE RYMAN AUDITORIUM AND THE APOLLO THEATER.
THIS LOCATION CAN'T BE PICKED UP AND MOVED ELSEWHERE.
SO IF AUSTIN MUSIC IS GOING TO BE INTEGRATED, MY EXPECTATIONS ARE THAT THE OPERA HOUSE WILL REFLECT THAT NEW BRAND OF MUSIC.
ONE THAT'S MORE INCLUSIVE OF HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES.
SO PLEASE SUPPORT THE AUSTIN OPERA HOUSE PROJECT.
UH, HI, I'M CALLING CORGAN A SOUTH AUSTIN RESIDENT.
UM, WHEN WILL THEY BOUGHT THIS MUCH LARGER 15 ACRE SITE IN THE LATE SEVENTIES? IT HAD OVER 850 FEET, ALMOST THREE FOOTBALL FIELDS OF FRONTAGE ON SOUTH CONGRESS.
IT NOW HAS NONE MULTIPLE ACCESS POINTS ON SOUTH CONGRESS WITH ACRES OF FREE PARKING WITH THAT THOROUGHFARE FRONT EDGE.
NOW IT HAS ZERO TO ADDRESS THIS SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE IN TRAFFIC.
THE APPLICANT COMMISSIONED THAT TRAFFIC SURVEY.
I WOULD ASK THE COUNCIL TO PLEASE JUST DO A SANITY CHECK.
AND HERE I ASKED ANY ABSOLUTE PEAK HOUR OF TRAFFIC LEAVING THIS VENUE, INCLUDING RIDESHARE, HOW MANY DEPARTING TRIPS DO YOU THINK THERE WILL BE FROM A 1200 PERSON MUSIC VENUE? THE APPLICANT SURVEY SHOWS A PEAK PM DEPARTURE OF 23 VEHICLES, 23.
AND IF DRIVERS WANT TO GET BACK TO SOUTH CONGRESS AVOIDING THE INEVITABLE TRAFFIC ON ACADEMY, THE SHORTEST DRIVE IS THREE QUARTERS OF A MILE THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT IT HAS DETRIMENTAL IMPACT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS BASED UPON A STUDY THAT IS CLEARLY WRONG BY ORDERS OF MAGNITUDE.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR GIVING ME THE TIME TO SPEAK.
I'M ONE OF THE PARTNERS AT ARLAND STUDIOS AND I'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF OUR LAND AS PARTS OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE DO UNDERSTAND AND RESPECT THE CONCERNS OF SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORS.
IT HAS BEEN SINCE 1984, IT'S OUR HOME, OUR STAFF, OUR ENGINEERS, OUR CLIENTS SPEND MORE TIME, A LOT OF THEM THAN THEY DO IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE'RE FIERCELY PROTECTIVE OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AS WELL.
THERE ARE VERY FEW DEVELOPERS THAT TAKE THE TIME AND HAVE THE CARE OF PRESERVING THE HISTORY.
WE'RE THANKFUL TO SPEARHEADING CHRIS WALLIN FOR TRYING TO WORK ON IT.
THEY LISTENED TO OUR CONCERNS.
I THINK THAT THEY'LL ADDRESS THEM AND WE REALLY DO WANT TO PRESERVE THE HISTORY AND THEN PROVIDE A LONG-TERM HOME FOR ARLAND STUDIOS.
SO WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, WE WANT TO COOPERATE WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE POLICE CONSIDER THAT WE, THIS IS A VERY, VERY VITAL PART OF AUSTIN MUSIC HISTORY.
THE NEXT TWO SPEAKERS ARE ADDRESSING ITEM 73.
THE FIRST IS MIA CARRA MARROWS.
MY NAME IS I GOT A MOUSE AND I'M SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION OF ITEM 73 AND DISTRICT 10.
I LIVE 35 STEPS AWAY FROM THIS PROPOSED PROJECT AND OUR BELOVED BRAGGER WOODS COMMUNITY.
[04:40:01]
OUR STREETS ARE 27 FEET WIDE AND THIS PROJECT IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.GREGOR WOODS ELEMENTARY IS TWO BLOCKS AWAY.
KIDS WALK AND RIDE THEIR BIKES ON THE STREET TO AND FROM SCHOOL AND FROM THEIR FRIENDS' HOMES.
WE HAVE A VALID PETITION, MEANING BUSINESS OWNERS AND NEIGHBORS ALIKE DO NOT SUPPORT THIS PROJECT.
THIS PROJECT IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND I WOULD, I WOULD REALLY ASK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS TO SEARCH YOUR OWN PERSONAL HOMES AND ASK, WOULD YOU LIKE TO LIVE WITHIN AN UNDERGROUND PARKING GARAGE IN THREE TO FOUR STORY COMMERCIAL BUILDING, WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT.
AND WE KNOW THAT YOUR TIME AND ENERGY SPENT FROM HEARING NEIGHBORS AND PROJECTS LIKE THIS CAN BE EXHAUSTING.
AND WE KNOW THIS IS MAYBE A SMALL POTATOES PROJECT, BUT IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US.
I'M SPEAKING ALSO IN OPPOSITION TO THE PETITION FOR THE CSA ZONING CHANGE.
UM, THE BURGER KING PARKING LOT.
I HAVE LOVED LIVING IN AUSTIN FOR THE PAST 12 YEARS AND I'M BREAKER WOODS FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS.
I'M ALSO VERY CLOSE TO THE BURGER KING SITE ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE BREAKER WORDS, UM, COMMUNITY AND A SMALL BUNGALOW AND I, AND ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD HAS MAJOR CONCERNS ABOUT THIS OFFICE PROJECT AND OVERDEVELOPMENT CREEPING UP ON, UH, ON THE SAFETY OF SCHOOL KIDS IN THE AREA THAT WILL RESULT FROM THE INCREASE OF THIS VERY LARGE BUILDING.
UM, IT MAY SEEM LIKE A SMALL CASE, BUT IT'S EMBLEMATIC OF A MUCH BIGGER PROBLEM IN AUSTIN.
THE LOSS OF CHARACTER OF COMMUNITIES, UM, WITH THIS CREEP OF DEVELOPMENT AND THE RISK TO PEDESTRIANS FROM OVERDEVELOPMENT, WE HAVE AN OVER 80 YEAR OLD COMMUNITY AND WE'D REALLY LIKE TO PRESERVE THE NATURE OF IT.
AND THIS IS SIMPLY INCOMPATIBLE, UM, WITH WHAT'S CURRENTLY GOING ON IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, WHICH IS ONE STORY, UM, OFFICE BUILDINGS.
THIS IS A FOUR STORY BUILDING UNDERGROUND PARKING.
SO WE KNOW WE'VE LOST A LOT OF THE BATTLE HERE BECAUSE THIS IS MOSTLY CSI ZONE, BUT WE'RE ASKING THE COUNCIL TO HOLD THE LINE FOR THE SAKE OF THE HISTORIC NATURE OF BREAKER WAS AND THE SAFETY OF OUR KIDS.
ADDRESSING SEVERAL ITEMS IS MONICA GUZMAN.
GOOD AFTERNOON, AMERICAN COUNCIL I'M MONICA GUZMAN POLICY DIRECTOR AT GABA GO AUSTIN VAMOS AUSTIN.
THIS MORNING, GABA SUBMITTED WRITTEN OPPOSITION TO THE EASTERN CRESCENT ZONING CASES, SPECIFICALLY ITEM 74 THROUGH 77 ON RAYJEAN ROAD AND GRADY BROWNIE MIXED USE CASES.
FROM THIS POINT FORWARD, I'M SPEAKING TO THE DISTRICT COURT CONSTITUENT.
THE FOLLOWING REMARKS ARE MINE AND MINE ALONE.
ON NOVEMBER 4TH, IT WAS REFRESHING TO HEAR THEN MAYOR PRO TEM HARPER MADISON SPEAK ON HOW THE AVERAGE PERSON DOES NOT ROUTINELY GET INVITED TO LAND USE CONVERSATION.
INSTEAD THEY'RE RACING AGAINST THE CLOCK TRYING TO NAVIGATE A COMPLEX SYSTEM LEARNING ALONG THE WAY INFORMATION OFTEN IN ENGLISH.
NOW WE'RE AT A POINT WITH GRADY BROWNIE WHERE WE HAVE A RESIDENT WHOSE POSITION ON THE ZONING IS IN QUESTION, AND I UNDERSTAND THEY NEED TO BE ALLOWED TIME TO RECEIVE THE INFORMATION IN THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGE.
I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY FROM MAKING THE MOTION FOR POSTPONEMENT.
IT'S MET OF DISRESPECT AND DISREGARD FOR OUR NON SPEAKERS.
CERTAINLY HOPE FOR OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, ESPECIALLY MY OWN OUTGOING COUNCIL MEMBER TO HAVE BETTER REGARD FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS.
THANK YOU, LYNN GALBREATH GREETINGS MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS RON GALVIN AND I'VE LIVED IN THIS PLANNING AREA FOR 26 YEARS.
I'M JOINING JED LAVERA PRESTON GANG ON A GARRETT AND MONICA GUZMAN IN, UH, RECOMMENDING AGAINST ITEMS 60 76 AND 77.
WE'VE HAD TWO MEETINGS WHERE WE'VE BEEN OVER THE DETAILS OF WHY APPROVING INCREASED ZONING ATTEMPTS TO BE IN THIS LOCATION IS WRONG.
A VOTE FOR THIS IS SIMPLY NOT MAKING A FAIR CHOICE.
IT THROWS THIS COMMUNITY UNDER THE REAL ESTATE PROFITS, STEAMROLLER IT REWARDS LAST MINUTE, UNDERHANDED TACTICS BY THE APPLICANT'S AGENTS.
IT PERPETUATES A SYSTEM WHERE ASSISTANT CITIZENS ARE GAMED BY CITY STAFF, DEVELOPER AGENTS, AND EVEN THEIR OWN COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IT SETS A PRECEDENT THAT SOMEHOW IT'S OKAY TO GOVERN OFF TO THIS WAY.
IT'S NOT THE REPRESENTATION FOR WHICH CONSTITUENTS VOTE MEMBERS INTO OFFICE, AND IT'S STILL NOT TOO LATE TO DO THE RIGHT THING, REJECT THESE TACTICS.
AND WE CHECKED THIS APPLICATION.
[04:45:05]
LYNN DAVIS.MY NAME IS LYNN DAVIS AND I AM SPEAKING AGAINST THE SHOVELING LANE RESIDENCES AND THE ZONING CHANGE REQUESTS.
UM, I HAVE BEEN OWNERS SINCE 2005 AND UM, THIS REQUEST IS, UH, AGAINST THE, UH, CURRENT, UM, LIN, UH, PLUM.
AND WHEN YOU'VE MAPPED, UM, WE HAVE ABOUT PETITION SIGNED BY, UH, NEIGHBORS AND BUSINESS OWNERS AND THE AREA.
UM, THEY ALSO ARE PROPOSING MOVING A GAS LINE OVER, UM, EIGHT INCHES WIDE, WHICH HAS NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND POSES A GREAT DANGER AND RISK TO BOTH THE CURRENT RESIDENTS AND FUTURE RESIDENTS.
UM, WE HAVE BEEN AN OPPOSITION FROM, UH, FOR THIS IDEA AGAINST THE BEGINNING.
IT IS OUT OF TOUCH WITH THE, THE CHARACTER, UM, AND STYLE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND IT IS, UH, NOT SOMETHING THAT WE ARE, THE NEIGHBORS ARE, UM, ARE AND, AND SUPPORT THEM.
AND SO WE ASK THAT YOU DO CONSIDER OUR VALID PETITION, UH, AND CONSIDER OUR WISHES AND WE ARE NOT AGAINST OR NOT AGAINST DEVELOPMENT, BUT WE DO THINK THAT, UM, PUTTING A RESIDENTIAL, UH, MULTI-STORY DEVELOPMENT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD GOES AGAINST THE CHARACTER OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND GOES AGAINST WHAT'S CURRENTLY IN PLACE.
BRIANA'S HELLO, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME ONE MINUTE OF YOUR TIME.
MY NAME IS MIGUEL BRIONES AND I AM A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER WITH GABA FOR THE LAST 10 MONTHS.
I'VE SUPPORTED RESIDENTS IN THEIR FIGHT AGAINST THE SPOT REZONING IN THE BROWNIE OF GRADY COMMUNITY.
I'VE BEEN IN THE MEETINGS WITH THE DEVELOPER AND THE RESIDENTS, AND I KEPT UP WITH ALL OF THE COUNCIL MEETINGS.
AND WHEN THE COUNCIL ASKS FOR THE DEVELOPER TO HAVE MEANINGFUL CONVERSATION WITH THE COMMUNITY, I CAN TELL YOU THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED.
WHEN RESIDENTS ASK HOW THIS DEVELOPMENT WOULD HELP THE COMMUNITY, THEY COULD ONLY GIVE REASONS THAT DIRECTLY BENEFITED THE LANDOWNER AND DEVELOPER.
I'VE SAT WITH MANY RESIDENTS WHO HAVE SHARED WITH ME THAT THEY FEEL ADVOCATING FOR THE COMMUNITY IS A LOST CAUSE FROM THE START.
THIS DISCOURAGEMENT COMES FROM WHAT SO OFTEN LOOKS LIKE DEVELOPERS AND OUR CITY COUNCIL WORKING IN COLLABORATION WITH EACH OTHER RECENT EFFORTS FROM THE DEVELOPER SUGGEST THAT YOUR INTENT, THAT THEIR INTENT WAS TO INVALIDATE THE COMMUNITY'S PETITION AS THE CLOCK RIGHT NOW, ALLOWING SOMEONE'S LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY TO BE WEAPONIZED IS NOT ANTI-RACIST OR JUST Y'ALL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE HISTORICALLY RANGE.
WE, I, MY REQUEST IS THAT YOU VOTE NO ON ITEM 76 AND 77, PAT GRIFFIN.
CAN YOU HEAR ME ALL RIGHT? YES, WE CAN.
A WONDERFUL I'M IN FAVOR OF OPRY HOUSE, MY OWN CAPSULE MEMBERS.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO JUST FACE.
I'M PAT GRIFFIN, THE PHONE OF FARMER OWNER OF THE RED POWERSHELL HOUSE AT TWO 10 ACADEMY DRIVE THAT HAS BEEN IN MY FAMILY FOR OVER A HUNDRED YEARS BEFORE I HAD TO SELL IT.
THE RED ROCHELLE HOUSES DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM AUSTIN OPERA HOUSE.
I'M VERY MUCH INTO HISTORICAL PRESERVATION.
BRINGING THE OPERA HOUSE BACK WILL ENHANCE AUSTIN IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT WAYS.
AUSTIN, AS THE LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD, RESTORING THE OPERA HOUSE WILL INCREASE THE TOURISM WITHIN THE AUSTIN.
I WAS BORN IN AUSTIN AND RAISED AT TWO 10 ACADEMY DRIVE.
I GREW UP LISTENING TO THE WONDERFUL MUSIC THAT WILLY NOW SHE'S OFF THE HOUSE.
I EVEN SAW WILLY A COUPLE OF PAY HORSES IN THE OLD DAYS, THE OPERA HOUSE WOULD ENHANCE AND STRENGTHEN AUSTIN'S MUSICAL REPUTATION, MUCH LIKE THE, THE GRAND OLE OPRY HOUSE AND NASHVILLE DRAWING, NOT ONLY THE TOURIST, BUT MUSICIANS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
I FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT THE AUSTIN OPERA HISTORY AS A FAIRVIEW VIEW, IF WE DON'T PRESERVE THIS PIECE OF AUSTIN'S LEGENDARY HISTORY, NOW IT WILL LIKELY BE LOST.
THANK YOU, PATTERSON, IRENE PIC ART.
I'M ASKING THAT YOU OPPOSE A ZONING CHANGE AT 34 27.
WE HAVE A VALID PETITION AGAINST THE ZONING CHANGE WHEN WE WERE ASKED TO BY THE STAFF.
UM, WHEN DO YOU WROTE TO WAS VERY WONDERFUL TO WORK WITH, TO GO BACK AND GET ADDITIONAL, UH, VALIDATION FROM OUR BUSINESS OWNERS WHO SIDE EVERY ONE OF THEM, UM, WENT TO THE TROUBLE TO GET US THAT ADDITIONAL VALIDATION WE HAVE,
[04:50:01]
THE PETITION IS VALID, PRIMARILY NOT BECAUSE OF ALL THE RESIDENTS WHO SIGNED, BUT BECAUSE OF ALL THE BUSINESS OWNERS SURROUNDING THIS SITE, WE WATCH PROPERTY THAT IS IN SCALE WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD GIVING THIS REZONING APPLICATION.WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE, WE HAVE AS LARGE A BUILDING AS WE WOULD, THAT WE DON'T HAVE 95% MAXIMUM BUILDING COVERAGE.
AND WE DON'T HAVE, UM, 95% IMPERVIOUS COVER WHERE THE WOULD RUN DOWN TO THE CREEK.
I'M ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT A ROOFTOP TERRACE THAT WAS, UM, SUGGESTED WOULD BE IN THIS PLACE.
WE DON'T NEED AN ENTERTAINMENT CENTER, THIS CLOSE TO OUR HOMES.
I AM ONLY 200 STEPS FROM THIS PROPERTY THAT REZONING PROPOSED RESULTING MYSELF.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS THAT WE HAVE THIS THANK YOU, HOLLY.
THESE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS THAT WE HAVE.
[Zoning Consent Agenda]
I'M GOING TO ASK STAFF TO TAKE US THROUGH THE CONSENT ZONING.IT'S BEEN SUGGESTED, MAKES SOME SENSE THAT WE HANDLE THE CONSENT SONY.
SO WE GET RID OF, WE HANDLE THE THINGS THAT ARE NOT CONTESTED THAT WE, UH, CALL UP THEN AFTER WE'VE DONE THE CONSENT ZONING THAT WE CALL UP THE UNCONTESTED NON-CONSENT ITEMS. SO AGAIN, WE CAN LET STAFF GO ON THINGS THAT ARE NOT CONTESTED.
UH, AND THEN WE DEAL WITH THE THINGS THAT ARE CONTESTED AND SUGGESTED THAT WE BEGIN WITH THE ZONING CASES BECAUSE THE PUBLIC'S HERE TO HEAR THAT.
UH, AND THEN WE DO THE POLL THEN CONTESTED NON-CONSENT ITEMS. UM, SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, I WOULD PROCEED THAT WAY.
UM, I TEXTED YOU THIS, BUT I'M GOING TO ASK THAT WE RECONSIDER ITEM 36 AT THE REQUEST OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECT.
WE'LL PUT THAT IN WITH THE COLD ITEMS WILL TAKE US THROUGH THE, AND MAYOR, CAN WE AT OUR EARLIEST CONVENIENCE, DO THE DOCK ITEMS. I'M NOT SURE THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE A CONTESTED THE POSTPONEMENTS, AND I'M NOT SURE IF WE STILL HAVE STAFF HERE, BUT WE OKAY.
IF WE CAN GET THE DOCK STAFF, I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE THE POSTPONEMENT AS YOU TALKED ABOUT EARLIER.
SO I THINK REAL QUICK AS WELL, WE'LL TREAT THAT AS AN UNCONTESTED CONSENT GUIDE.
UH, YOU WANT TO TAKE US THROUGH THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR WHAT? SURE.
MAYOR, I'M GOING TO, UM, JARED RESTAURANT AND HOUSING CLAIM DEPARTMENT.
I'M GOING TO ADDRESS ITEM NUMBER 68 ON CONSENT, AND THEN JOY.
HARDEN'S GONNA WALK US THROUGH THE REST OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
SO ITEM NUMBER, UM, 68 IS KC 14, 2020 100,109 FROM THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1725.
TO ME, UH, THIS IS TO APPROVE IT.
I CONSENT ON SECOND AND THIRD READINGS.
HOWEVER, THERE IS SOME ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE I'D LIKE TO READ INTO THE RECORD THAT WILL BE EDITED.
UM, ONE IS ON SECTION TWO B, WE WILL BE ADDING THE WORDS, NO FENCING, RAILINGS OR BARRIERS MAY BE CONSTRUCTED WITHIN THE BUFFER AREA.
AND WE WILL ALSO BE ADDING THE BENCHES MAY BE LOCATED WITHIN THE BUFFER AREA.
WE'LL BE ADDING A NEW CONDITION.
THE VEHICLE ACCESS TO TUMI ROAD IS PROHIBITED UNLESS REQUIRED BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN AT THE TIME OF SITE PLAN.
SO WITH THOSE THREE ADDITIONS, WE CAN IMPROVE THAT CASE ON CONSENT ON SECOND AND THIRD READING.
SO COULD I SAY SOMETHING? UM, I THINK THE LANGUAGE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JERRY.
I THINK THE, UH, THE, THE TRAFFIC RELATED LANGUAGE WAS, UM, VEHICULAR ACCESS TO TUMI ROAD IS PROHIBITED UNLESS REQUIRED BY, I THINK YOU SAID CITY BOSTON, WHICH IS FINE AT THE TIME OF SITE PLAN FOR TRAFFIC SAFETY REASONS.
SO I JUST WANTED TO GET THAT LAST PART IN THE, IN THE RECORD.
AGAIN, JOY HARDEN WITH THE HOUSE AGAIN, PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
SO I WILL TAKE YOU THROUGH THE REST OF THE AGENDA.
UM, I'LL BEGIN WITH, UM, ITEM 69, NPA 20 19 0 0 0 0 2 2 0.01.
AND, UH, THE RELATED RESENTING ITEM IS ITEM 70 C ONE FOR 20 20 0 1 4 7.
AND THIS WILL BE DISCUSSION ITEMS. ITEM 71 IS C1 FOUR H 20 21 0 1 6 4.
AND THERE IS A POSTPONEMENT REQUEST BY STAFF TO YOUR MARCH 3RD COUNCIL MEETING.
AND I'M 72 IS C1 FOR 20 21 0 1 2 7.
THIS CASE CAN BE OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
SECOND AND THIRD READINGS YOU'VE HEARD FROM ALL THE SPEAKERS.
[04:55:01]
A VALID PETITION, SO A SUPER MAJORITY IS REQUIRED FOR APPROVAL.AND AS A REMINDER, COUNCIL DID APPROVE STAFF RECOMMENDATION OF SFI ON FIRST READING, MOVING ON TO ITEM 73 C ONE FOR 20 21 0 1 3 7.
AGAIN, THAT YOU HEARD FROM THE SPEAKERS.
THIS ITEM CAN BE OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
FIRST READING ONLY THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION.
AND AGAIN, THERE IS A BALLOT PETITION.
SO AT THE FINAL READING, A SUPER MAJORITY VOTE WOULD BE REQUIRED.
I DON'T KNOW, 74 IS NPA 20 20 0 0 1 5 0.03.
THIS ITEM CAN BE OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
SECOND READING ONLY THE RELATED REZONING IS ITEM 75.
SO WENT FORWARD 20 20 0 1 5 0.
AND JUST FOR CLARITY PURPOSES, I WOULD LIKE TO STATE THAT, AND THIS WAS APPROVED ON FIRST READING, NO SIZE LIMIT WILL BE PLACED ON THE BREWERY.
AND WITH THAT, I CAN OFFER THIS, UM, FOR SECOND READING ONLY, AND I BELIEVE COUNCIL MEMBER OR HARPER MEDICINE WOULD LIKE THIS ITEM TO BE REPLACED ON NEXT WEEK'S COUNCIL AGENDA.
AND, UM, ITEM 76 IS MPA 20 21 0 0 2 6 0.01.
AND THE RELATED REZONING IS ITEM 77 C1 FOR 20 21 0 0 3 9.
AS A REMINDER, COUNCIL APPROVED THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION ON FIRST AND SECOND RATING, BUT THE APPLICANT WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THIS CASE SPECIFICALLY TRACK TWO.
SO THESE WILL BE DISCUSSION ITEMS. UM, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO PULL BOTH OF THEM.
I KNOW THAT THERE ARE NO ISSUES WITH 76, UM, THE NPA, BUT SINCE WE'RE TAKING THESE TOGETHER, UM, WE CAN JUST PULL BOTH OF THEM AND DISCUSS THEM TOGETHER.
UM, ITEM 78 IS C ONE FOR 20 21 0 1 6 0.
THIS ITEM CAN BE OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE RATINGS ITEM 79 IS C ONE FOR 20 21 0 1 6 8.
THIS ITEM CAN BE OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
FIRST READING ITEM 80 NPA 20 21 0 0 2 0 0.01.
AND THE RELATED REZONING IS ITEM 81 C ONE FOR 20 21 0 0 1 5.
UM, YOU HEARD FROM THE SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM, WE CAN OFFER THIS ITEM FOR CONSENT.
FIRST READING ONLY FOR FURTHER DISCUSSIONS TO OCCUR.
THERE IS A BALLOT PETITION, SO A SUPER MAJORITY VOTE WOULD BE REQUIRED UPON THE FINAL READING.
AND SO WE CAN OFFER BOTH OF THESE ITEM 80 AND 81 CONSENT.
FIRST READING ONLY ITEM 82 IS C ONE FOR 20 21 0 1 73.
THIS IDOL CAN BE OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS ITEM 83 IS C1 FOUR H 20 21 0 1 6 5.
AND THIS ITEM CAN BE OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS ITEM 84 IS C 8 1 4 9 0 0 0 0 3 0.21.
AND THIS ITEM CAN BE OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE RATINGS.
ITEM 85 IS SEEN ONE FOR 20 21 0 1 5 0.
THERE IS AN APPLICANT REQUEST TO YOUR FEBRUARY 17TH COUNCIL MEETING AND I'M 86 61 FOR 20 21 0 1 5 1.
THIS ITEM CAN BE OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS AND ITEM 87 C ONE FOR 20 21 0 1 6 6.
THERE'S A STEP POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR FEBRUARY 17TH COUNCIL MEETING.
AND THAT CONCLUDES THE READING OF THE ZONING AGENDA.
I'M GONNA MAKE SURE THAT I HAVE THIS CORRECTLY.
SO THE PULLED ITEMS IN 68 THROUGH 87 WOULD BE 69 AND ALSO 76 AND 77 69.
UH, AND, UM, UM, 69 AND 70 AND 76 AND 77.
AND EVERYTHING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA NEEDS JUST SEX ROADS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF, UH, UM, WHAT 72 WITH A SET WITH THE EXCEPTION OF 68 AND 72, CORRECT.
THERE WOULD NEED THE NINE VOTES, 68, NO 68.
YES, BUT IT DOES HAVE A VALID PETITION.
YES, IT'S, NON-CONSENT BOTH 68 AND 72 ARE ALL FOR, FOR CONSENT.
SECOND AND THIRD READINGS AND THEY WOULD REQUIRE A SUPER MAJORITY 68 REQUIRES THE SUPERMAJORITY IN 72 REQUIRES A SUPERVISOR.
SO THE, UH, CONSENT AGENDA, IT'S ALL ITEMS, UH, BETWEEN 68 AND 87.
UH, THE PULLED ITEMS ARE 69 AND 70 AND 76 AND 77.
UH, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA?
[05:00:03]
COUNCILOR KITCHEN MAKES THE MOTION COUNCIL MEMBER FOR THE SECOND TO THE MOTION DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, ALTER A BAD REP WROTE DEMO.
UM, I WANTED TO SPEAK TO, UM, ITEM 73, WHICH IS THE CASE ON THE BURGER KING LOT AT 35TH AND JEFFERSON.
UM, THIS CASE IS ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA TODAY FOR FIRST READING.
UM, IT WAS ONLY LATE LAST WEEK THAT AVAILA PETITION WAS TURNED IN.
UM, SO I WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT I AM COMFORTABLE MOVING FORWARD WITH FIRST READING APPROVAL OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION.
UM, BUT BETWEEN NOW AND OUR NEXT READING, I INTEND TO ENGAGED WITH A COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNERS WHO SIGNED THE PETITION SO THAT I CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND THEIR CONCERNS AND IDENTIFY IF WE HAD OPPORTUNITIES TO ADDRESS THEIR CONCERNS.
THE PROPHET, THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN POSTPONED BEFORE.
UM, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE NEIGHBORS, UM, TO BETTER UNDERSTAND, UM, THOSE CONCERNS.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, HARPER, MADISON.
APPRECIATE YOU RECOGNIZING ME.
I'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO ITEM NUMBER 72 ROGERS LANE.
UM, I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT I APPRECIATE THE NEIGHBOR'S ADVOCACY ON THIS CASE.
UH, THE TIME THAT THEY'VE TAKEN TO COME TO CITY HALL DIVORCED THEIR CONCERNS.
AND FRANKLY, I AGREE WITH THEM THAT SF SIX ISN'T APPROPRIATE FOR AN AREA THAT IS SO FAR FROM OUR URBAN CORE AND THE MIDDLE OF A VEST TRANSIT DESERT.
HOWEVER, I DO SUPPORT SFF AS A FIVE.
IN THIS CASE, WE'LL ALLOW THE SAME NUMBER OF HOMES AS SF THREE AND POTENTIALLY EVEN SF TWO, IF YOU INCLUDE THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT ORDINANCE, BUT ON TOP OF THAT, SF FIVE WILL ALLOW FOR SHARED INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH WILL HELP LOWER THE COST OF THE FUTURE HOMES AND ALSO ALLOW FOR MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY DEVELOPMENT.
AND THE CHERRY ON TOP IS AT SFI WOULD REQUIRE THAT THE DEVELOPER PAY INTO OUR SHINY NEW STREET IMPACT FEE PROGRAM, WHICH COULD HELP FUND BADLY NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS IN THIS PART OF TOWN.
SO THE PROPOSED PROJECT, IT ISN'T THE ONLY DEVELOPMENT IN THE PIPELINE OUT THERE, WHICH IS WHY I'VE REACHED OUT TO OUR TRANSPORTATION STAFF TO REQUEST THAT WE PRIORITIZE ROGERS LANE AND OUR INITIAL SLATE OF STREET IMPACT FEE IMPROVEMENTS.
UM, GROWTH IS HAPPENING ON THIS SIDE OF 180 3, WHETHER WE WANT IT OR NOT.
I HOPE THAT THE NORTHEAST DISTRICT PLANNING PROCESS WE INITIATED WILL HELP US GET AHEAD OF THAT GROWTH.
IN THE MEANTIME, I THINK SF FIVE ON THIS PROJECT IS A PRAGMATIC SOLUTION THAT HELPS US GET HOUSING ALONG WITH COMMUNITY BENEFITS.
I HAVE A COMMENT ON, UM, 73 AND A QUESTION ON 70.
SO I'LL JUST MAKE THE COMMENT ON 73 AND SAVED MY QUESTION ON 74, WHEN THAT ITEM COMES UP.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT THE, UM, THE CHANGES THAT ARE, UH, BEING OFFERED ON THE JEFFERSON LANE ZONING CASE SEEM LOGICAL AND NEEDED TO ME.
AND IT CERTAINLY SEEMS AN IMPROVEMENT ON, ON, UH, THE STRUCTURE AND THE SITE PLAN THAT'S THERE CURRENTLY.
I DO APPRECIATE HOWEVER, HEARING FROM THE COMMUNITY.
UM, I'D LIKE TO SUGGEST BETWEEN NOW AND OUR SECOND AND THIRD READINGS, UH, THAT IT WOULD BE GOOD TO HEAR FROM THE NEIGHBORS ABOUT ANY MITIGATIONS THEY MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN AND I'D BE HAPPY TO WORK WITH, UM, MY COLLEAGUE FROM DISTRICT 10, OUR MAYOR PRO TIME ON, UM, FINDING, UM, SOME, UH, REALLY GOOD RELEVANT SOLUTIONS TO BENEFIT EVERYBODY.
ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO COMMENT COUNCILMEMBER TOPO ON THE SAME CASE? UM, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THERE'S A VALID PETITION AND WE'VE HAD SOME COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE NEIGHBORS IN THAT AREA.
I TOO AM GOING TO SUPPORT IT ON FIRST READING TODAY AND LOOK FORWARD TO THOSE CONTINUED CONGRESS CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE MAYOR PRO TEM IS GOING TO HAVE WITH THE APPLICANT AND WITH THE NEIGHBORS.
UM, I THINK A FEW OF THE PEOPLE WHO CALLED IN TODAY SUGGESTED, UM, TALKED ABOUT THE SITE AND ITS PROXIMITY TO BREAK OR WOODS, AND I JUST WANT TO SHARE ALL OF THEM.
UM, MY CHILDREN WENT TO BREAK OUR WOODS.
BOTH OF THEM HAVE NOW FINISHED ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND ARE IN HIGH SCHOOL, BUT THEIR BUS STOPS ARE AT BREAKER WOODS.
UM, YOU KNOW, LITERALLY MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY, INCLUDING THIS MORNING WHEN I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO WALK THE SITE.
SO I'M REALLY FAMILIAR WITH IT.
I DO, I DO SUPPORT, UH, THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THAT TRACK.
I THINK IT'S REALLY READY AND RIPE FOR REDEVELOPMENT.
I APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS AND THE CONCERNS YOU'VE RAISED, AND WE'LL CERTAINLY CONTINUE TO, TO KEEP THOSE IN MIND AS WE
[05:05:01]
MOVE FORWARD AFTER FIRST READING.AND THANKS FOR THE PARTICIPATION TODAY, I HAD TO BEEN CONSENT AGENDA, BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.
AND FOR THIS DISCUSSION, LET'S TAKE A VOTE THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
I SEE IT AS BEING UNANIMOUS, WHICH IS, UH, MORE THAN THE NINE VOTES NEEDED ON THOSE TWO ITEMS THAT NEEDED THAT, UH, THAT GETS US THEN TO, UH, THE, THE, UH, NON-CONSENT, I MEAN, THE NON CONTESTED ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA.
AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK AND HANDLE THE TWO, UH, CONTESTED, UH, ZONING MATTERS, UH, COUNCIL
[Items 9, 10 & 15]
MEMBER TOBO, UH, NINE, 10 AND 15.UH, THESE ARE THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT.
DO YOU WANT TO MAKE A MOTION ON THOSE? DO YOU WANT ME TO COME BACK TO THOSE? OKAY.
IF YOU HAVE ANOTHER QUICK THING, I THINK I'VE GOT IT ACTUALLY.
UM, I MAYOR I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE POSTPONE THIS ITEM UNTIL THE 17TH OF FEBRUARY.
IT'S BEEN MOVED TO POSTPONE THIS ITEM TO FEBRUARY 17TH.
IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT MOTION? I'LL SECOND THAT MOTION.
SO LET ME BEGIN BY ACKNOWLEDGING THAT WE HAD, UH, A VERY WELL ATTENDED MEETING THIS WEEK, UM, TOBACCO, AND I'M SORRY, THIS ISN'T MAYBE GOING TO AS FAST AS I PROMISED, BUT I'LL, I'LL TRY TO MAKE MY COMMENTS TASKS.
SO AS MANY OF YOU WHO ARE WATCHING, THEY'RE FOLLOWING THIS ITEM, NOW WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR A PERMANENT LOCATION FOR THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT.
NOW FOR MULTIPLE YEARS, OUR CITY MANAGER AND HIS STAFF HAVE HAD IDENTIFIED, UM, A LIST OF MULTIPLE SITES HAVE DONE THAT ANALYSIS AND HAVE RECOMMENDED THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE SITE, THE SITE OF THE OLD MUNICIPAL COURT BUILDING DOWNTOWN.
UM, IN THE MEANTIME WE HAVE, I THINK OUR, OUR DOCK HAS BEEN IN TEMPORARY LOCATIONS, BOTH AT ONE TEXAS CENTER AND A PREVIOUS SITE.
UM, WHEN THIS WAS BROUGHT TO US IN THE FALL, WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY AT ONE OF OUR WORK SESSIONS TO DISCUSS IT.
AND THEN IT CAME FORWARD FOR APPROVAL OF THE RENOVATION COSTS IN THE FALL, BEFORE WE BROKE FOR THE HOLIDAYS.
UM, AT THAT TIME I STARTED AND PROBABLY THE MAYOR ALSO RECEIVED A GOOD DEAL OF FEEDBACK OF, UM, RESIDENTS IN THE NEARBY AREA WHO WANTED TIME TO UNDERSTAND IT, TO RAISE CONCERNS OR PROVIDE FEEDBACK.
UM, THOUGH, TYPICALLY AS I UNDERSTAND, AND THIS IS SETTING HERE TODAY, BECAUSE I THINK WE MIGHT WANT TO ADJUST THIS PROCESS MOVING FORWARD.
BUT TYPICALLY WITH WHEN WE'RE PUTTING USES IN OUR OWN CITY BUILDINGS, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING.
THERE'S NOT ALWAYS A PRACTICE OF HAVING A SPECIFIED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS.
UM, MY OFFICE ASKED OUR STAFF TO DO THAT KIND OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND TO, AND TO ATTEND A MEETING WITH SOME OF THE NEARBY RESIDENTS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS, WHICH WE DID EARLIER THIS WEEK, WE HAD NEARLY A HUNDRED PEOPLE.
UM, MOST OF THEM, I BELIEVE DOWNTOWN RESIDENTS OR DOWNTOWN AREA, THEY SUBMITTED LOTS OF QUESTIONS.
UM, I WANT TO THANK OUR DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT STAFF, JUDGE COFFEE, AND PETE VALDEZ AND, UM, UH, ROBERT KINGDOM, UH, LAURA, VARIOUS OTHERS, UM, FROM THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT WHERE THERE KIMBERLY ALVEREZ, UM, OUR BUILDING BUILDING DIRECTOR, UM, DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES, AS WELL AS SOME OTHER CITY STAFF.
AND I APPRECIATE ALL OF THEM FOR TAKING THE TIME TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS THEY HAVE COMMITTED TO PREPARING ANSWERS TO ALL THE REST OF THE QUESTIONS, WHICH IS GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE TIME.
WE HAVE RECEIVED A REQUEST TO POSTPONE THIS A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME.
UM, AND SO, UM, ACKNOWLEDGING THAT WE DID RECEIVE A REQUEST FOR A LONGER POSTPONEMENT INTO MARCH.
I AM PROPOSING, UH, IN CONSULTATION WITH SEVERAL OTHER COLLEAGUES HERE ON THE DIOCESE, UH, SHORTER POSTPONEMENT, BUT ONE THAT I BELIEVE WILL ALLOW FOR OUR STAFF TO GET ANSWERS BACK TO THOSE CONSTITUENTS WHO WERE NOT ABLE TO GET ANSWERS IN OUR MEETING EARLIER THIS WEEK.
AND HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES QUESTIONS IF THEY HAVE THEM.
THANK YOU, MOVED AND SECONDED TO POSTPONE THIS TILL FEBRUARY 17TH.
UH, BEFORE WE BRING IN FURTHER COMMENTS, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THE RECORD WAS CLEAR AND ASKED TO CLARIFY THIS THE CONSENT, UH, ZONING CASE.
WE, WE DID THAT CONSENT WAS, UH, EVERYTHING, UH, UH, BETWEEN ITEMS 68 AND 87.
THERE WERE FOUR ITEMS PULLED 69, 70, 76 AND 77.
THE OTHER ITEMS PASSED AS PART OF CONSENT DISCUSSION ON THIS, UH, UH, ITEMS NINE, 10 AND 15 AS R KELLY.
AND JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING ABLE TO VISIT THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT AND THE LOCATION WHERE IT IS NOW.
AND I WAS ABLE TO SEE THE VALUE THAT IT REALLY BRINGS TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER.
TOVO GETTING THAT COMMUNITY FEEDBACK
[05:10:01]
ON THAT LOCATION, WHERE IT'S PROPOSED TO MOVE TO, AND I WILL SUPPORT YOU IN A POSTPONEMENT DISCUSSION.LET ME JUST SAY IF I COULD, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY FOR TALKING ABOUT THE IMPORTANT WORK I GOT.
SO CAUGHT UP IN TALKING ABOUT THE MEETING.
I FORGOT TO ACKNOWLEDGE TO THAT THE GREAT WORK THAT THE JAC DOES EACH AND EVERY DAY.
THOSE ARE FAIR WITH THE POSTPONEMENT.
I SEE THAT AS BEING UNANIMOUS ON THE DYES, THOSE THREE ITEMS ARE, ARE POSTPONED.
[Items 58 - 60]
RIGHT, ON THE, UH, UH, CONSENT, UH, AGENDA.UH, WE HAVE, UH, THREE ITEMS THAT RELATE TO THE, UM, UH, BURNET ROAD, UH, CORRIDOR PROJECT.
THESE ARE THE EMINENT DOMAIN CASES, UM, AND I'M HAPPY TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ALL THREE OF THOSE, UH, EMINENT DOMAIN CASES THAT ARE CITED ON BURNET ROAD.
I'LL LET YOU MAKE THAT MOTION.
UM, I DON'T HAVE THE SCRIPT IN FRONT OF ME, BUT, UH, THE QUESTION IS, DO YOU MOVE THAT, UH, IS EMINENT DOMAIN BE APPROVED FOR THE PURPOSES AND PUBLIC USE AND CONSIDERATION AS STATED IN THE, UH, IN THE, IN THE ABSOLUTELY ON ALL THREE OF THE ITEMS. OKAY.
LEGO THAT I COME CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE SCRIPT FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD.
IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT MOTION COUNCIL MEMBER POOL, UH, YOU MADE THE MOTION COUNCIL MEMBER TOBO SECONDS, AND A DISCUSSION ON THESE THREE ITEMS, ALL IN FAVOR OF THESE 58, 59 AND 60.
I SEE THAT AS BEING UNANIMOUS AND THOSE THREE ITEMS ARE APPROVED.
I'M SORRY, WAS IT 58? 59 AND 60 OR 59? 60 AND 61.
IT WAS, I THINK 58, 59 AND 60.
[61. Approve a resolution authorizing the filing of eminent domain proceedings for the Loop 360 at Westlake Waterline Relocation Proiect for the public use ot accommodating roadway improvements. relocation of waterline infrastructure in conflict, and the acquisition of a Water Line Easement being 0.065 acre (1849 square feet) of land out ofand a part ofthe Burke Trainmel Survey No.3. Abstract No. 768 in Travis County. Texas. same being a portion o f Lot 4-A. Block A. amended plat of Lots 2-A. 3-A and 4-A. Block A of the amended plat of Lots 37-43, Block A, Davenport West P.U.D. Section 5, Phase 6, recorded in Document No. 200900133 of the Official Public Records of Travis County. Texas conveyed to San Clemente O ffice Partners. LLC. by Special Warranty Deed executed June 15. 2()17. filed for record on June 20.2017 and recorded in Document No. 2017098839 of the Official Public Records of Travis County. Texas in the amount of S24.216. The owner of the needed property is San Clemente Office Partners. LLC. The property is located at 3900 North C apital of Texas Highway, Austin, Texas 78746.]
NUMBER 60.UH, UH, ONE IS ANOTHER EMINENT DOMAIN ITEM.
AND IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 61, UH, FOR THE, UH, PUBLIC USES AND PURPOSES AS SET OUT IN THE, UH, RESOLUTION? IS THERE A MOTION TO PASS? THAT WAS, I REMEMBER KELLY MAKES A MOTION COUNCIL MEMBER TOBO SECONDS.
ANY DISCUSSION, LET'S TAKE A VOTE THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THOSE OPPOSED THAT ALSO PASSES UNANIMOUSLY NUMBER 61 NUMBER, UM, UM, 62 WAS THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION, WHICH WE'VE ALREADY HANDLED.
[63. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance regarding CenterPoint Energy's proposal to change customer natural gas rates and to adopt an Energy Efficiency Cost Recovery Rider.]
AND NUMBER 63 IS THE CENTER POINT ENERGY NATURAL GAS RATES.IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 63 COUNCIL MEMBER KELLYS MAKES THAT MOTION COMES.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION MAYOR? YES.
IT'S THE ITEM THAT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION EARLIER THIS MORNING.
UM, THERE IS A RECOMMENDATION IN BACKUP THAT IS FROM THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION.
AND SO I WANTED TO JUST MAKE SURE THAT THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE GOING TO BE INCORPORATED INTO WHAT WE PASS TODAY.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THEY ARE NOT CURRENTLY INCLUDED.
AND SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY WERE, AND I'M NOT SURE IF I NEED TO MAKE A MOTION TO MEND WHAT'S POSTED, OR IF THAT CAN, IF IT'S NOT IN THERE, I THINK YOU WOULD PROBABLY NEED TO HIS STAFF HERE TO, TO ADDRESS THAT.
I THINK AT THIS POINT, IT'S OKAY FOR JUST COUNCIL TO MAKE THAT MOTION TO INCORPORATE YOU'RE OKAY WITH THAT, OUR DIRECTOR HERE TO SPEAK TO IT AS, BUT, BUT HER STAFF IS OKAY WITH IT, THEN WE CAN JUST INCORPORATE THEM, BUT YOU HAVE TO MAKE THAT MOTION.
SO COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, ALICE MOVES TO AMEND THE MOTION.
SO IT WAS TO INCORPORATE THE RECOMMENDATIONS COMING FROM THE COMMISSION.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO, INCLUDING THAT IN THIS HEARING, NONE IT'S INCLUDED IN THE MOTION, FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION COUNCIL MEMBER TOBO THEN COUNCIL, THEN THE MAYOR PRO TEM COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.
I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM THAT YOU ARE INCLUDING THE RECOMMENDATION THAT MR. ROBBINS SPOKE TO THIS MORNING, WHICH WAS TO CONSIDER THE SUBSTITUTION OF DUCKS CEILING, CEILING INSTALLATION, AND COST-EFFECTIVE WEATHERIZATION METHODS MEASURES INSTEAD OF CENTRAL FURNACE AND WATER HEATER REBATES.
THERE ARE FOUR ITEMS IN THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE COMMISSION AND THAT IS ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
SO IT WOULD BE INCLUDED IN WHAT I PROFESSED TO BE APPROVING TODAY.
THANKS FOR BRINGING THAT FORWARD.
[05:15:01]
A CHANCE IF SHE HAD ANY CONCERNS YOU'RE MUTED.ERIC COUNCIL, CITY MANAGER, RON DELLA HAWKINS FINANCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
AND I, I DO WANT TO, UM, PROVIDE YOU ALL, UM, UM, UH, JUST A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE, UH, OF THE AMENDMENTS THAT WERE PASSED BY THE REESE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION AND PARTICULARLY, UH, SET UP POINT ENERGY, BUT I REPRESENTATIVES AND THE AUDIENCE TO ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS, UM, FOR ITEMS NUMBER TWO, THE RECOMMENDATION NUMBER TWO, AND NUMBER FOUR, WE'LL TAKE SOME TIME FOR, UM, IMPLEMENTATION REVIEW AND IMPLEMENTATION, UH, BECAUSE THIS IS A PILOT PROJECT AND THEY'RE READY TO KICK IT OFF FEBRUARY THE FIRST.
UM, AND WE'LL END DECEMBER THE 31ST OF 2022.
AND, UH, AS FAR AS REMOVING, UH, THE, UH, REMOVING THE REBATES FOR THE HOT WATER FOR THE WATER HEATER AND FOR THE, UM, FURNACE, UH, IMMEDIATELY STARTING OFF, IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME FOR THEM TO KIND OF READJUST.
AND ALSO THEY WANT TO, TO RELATIONSHIP WITH AUSTIN ENERGY, AS FAR AS THE REALIZATION PROGRAM CURRENTLY, UH, TEXAS GAS PARTICIPATES WITH, WITH US SYNERGY, UH, THE CONTRACTORS, UH, AND IN A PROGRAM FOR THE WEATHERIZATION AND THE DUCKS SAILING.
SO THAT IN ITSELF WILL TAKE A LITTLE TIME FOR, UH, JUST FOR IMPLEMENTATION.
SO I JUST WANTED TO JUST TO CONVEY THOSE, THOSE, UH, THOSE COMMENTS, THAT AGAIN, CENTER POINT, IF THEY WANT TO FURTHER ELABORATE, UM, UM, WANTING TO, TO BRING YOUR ATTENTION THAT THEY ARE IN THE CHAMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR THAT HEADS UP ON TIMING.
UM, COLLEAGUES, DOES ANYBODY WANT ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS BEFORE WE VOTE THOSE IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THOSE OPPOSED TO ANANYMOUS ON THE DIOCESE, UH, THIS ITEM, UH, PASSES.
I THINK THAT NOW HAS TAKEN US ALL OF THE, UH, UH, THOSE ITEMS. SO WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO THE ZONING CASES, HANDLE THE TWO ZONING CASES, AND I COME BACK TO THE, UH, ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PULLED.
AGAIN, THOSE ARE ITEMS 19, UH, 33 36 39 AND 53.
[Items 69 & 70]
THE FIRST ITEM THAT WE'LL CALL FROM MR. JERRY, WHY DON'T YOU COME ON UP, UH, IS GOING TO BE THE, UH, UH, SO ANY ITEMS 69 AND 70, I WANT TO LAY THOSE OUT.WE'LL GIVE THE APPLICANT A CHANCE TO SPEAK AND THEN WE'LL TURN TO THE DYES.
THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, UH, JERRY ROSTOV AGAIN FROM A HOUSING PLAN DEPARTMENT, UM, ITEM NUMBER 608 IS CASE NPA 2019 0 0 22 0.01 FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1 46 AND A HALF, 200, 200 AND A HALF AND TWO, A FOUR AND A HALF ACADEMY, AS WELL AS 1006 AND 10 20 WILLIS LANE.
UH, THIS IS A FUTURE LAND USE AMENDMENT TO GO FROM MIXED USE OFFICE TO MIXED USE LAND USE.
THE RELATED ZONING CASE IS CASE C 14, 2020 0 1 47.
UM, THE REQUESTED ZONING BY THE APPLICANT WAS TO GO FROM ONTRACK ONE NCCD NP TO JUST SEE US ONE M U N P ON TRACK TO, TO GO FROM SEE US NCCD NP TO SEE US M U N P ON TRACK THREE TO GO FROM MFA FOR NCCD NP, TO JUST MF FOUR AND P THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO RECOMMEND THE, UM, NCCD AND P ON TRACK ONE, C S N C C, D, AND P ON TRACK TWO AND D TO DO MF FOR NCCD NP ON TRACK THREE.
UM, THE PLANK MISSION, AGREE WITH THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION WITH THE EXCEPTION OF TRACK THREE, WHERE THEY AGREED WITH THE APPLICANT, THAT TO, TO, UM, SIMPLY REMOVE THE NCCD AND HAVE THE PROPER VIEW STRAIGHT UP MF FOUR AND P UM, WITH AN ADDITIONAL CONDITION THAT THE HEIGHT BE LIMITED TO 40 FEET.
UM, IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER WHAT AN NCCD DOES.
IT'S A NEIGHBORHOOD CONSERVATION COMBINING DISTRICT IT COMBATED BY BOTH SITE DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS, AS WELL AS USES.
SO EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE, UM, BASED ZONING DISTRICTS HERE, IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THE USES YOU MAY TYPICALLY SEE, OR THE SITE RAVES YOU'D BE TYPICALLY SEE IN THAT BASE ZONING DISTRICT CAN AND IS AMENDED IN THE CASE OF THE, UM, IN ALL THREE OF THESE TRACKS, UM, THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION ON THE TRACK THREE, THE MF FOR
[05:20:01]
NCCD NP, THAT'S ABOUT THE EQUIVALENT OF MP3 DENSITY, UM, THE EXISTING ZONING, ALTHOUGH IT'S A MIXTURE OF WHAT I JUST READ FOR THE MOST PART TRACKS ONE AND TWO ARE LIMITED TO WHAT YOU WOULD TYPICALLY ASSOCIATE WITH ZONING AND TRACK THREE IS WHAT YOU WOULD TYPICALLY ASSOCIATE WITH MF TWO ZONING.UM, THERE IS A TIA THAT WAS DONE WITH THE CASE.
I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH ALL THE PERMITTED AND RESTRICTED USES.
THIS LIST IS VERY LONG, BUT I THINK AT THIS POINT, I'LL STOP AND SEE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
COLLEEN HAS ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE CALL THE APPLICANT UP.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S GIVE THE APPLICANT A CHANCE TO SPEAK.
THANK YOU, JERRY FOR HER CHRIS LIGHTS, OR JUST FOR ME TO SPEAK AND ASSUME THAT THEY HAVE THE CASE.
I PREFER TO HAVE THE SLOTS AND I GOT CONFIRMATION THAT THEY RECEIVED THEM, BUT THEY'RE NOT, THEY DON'T TAKE THAT OUT.
UM, I THINK THAT'S YOUR, YOUR, YOUR, YOUR CALL HERE.
I HAVE QUESTIONS FOR STAFF IF THEY'RE AVAILABLE OR WE'RE WAITING.
THE FIRST ONE IS ABOUT SOME COMMUNITY CONCERNS RELATED TO PARKING.
I'M WONDERING IF STAFF COULD EXPAND HOW THEY PLAN TO MITIGATE, MITIGATE INCREASED TRAFFIC IN THAT AREA.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, WE HAVE, UM, STAFF FROM THE AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT ARE HERE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.
I BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE VIRTUAL.
SO IF WE HAVE ANYBODY FROM ATD ON THE LINE TO SPEAK TO, UM, PARKING ISSUES ON THE ACADEMY CASE, WHILE WE'RE WAITING ON THAT, I'M WONDERING IF YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO THIS.
I KNOW THAT THERE'S QUESTIONS REGARDING THE SQUARE FOOTAGE REDUCTION THAT THE NEIGHBORS ARE WANTING.
IS THAT FOR THE ENTIRE VENUE OR JUST PART OF THE, NO, THE, UH, THE MAIN ISSUE HAS BEEN THE SIZE OF THE MUSIC VENUE.
AND RIGHT NOW THE HOPKINS PROPOSING POSTING 17,000 SQUARE FEET.
AND THE NEIGHBORS SAID THAT THEY'RE AGREEABLE TO 3000 SQUARE FEET AND NO MORE.
SO WHEN TRANSPORTATION GETS ON, I'D BE HAPPY TO LEARN ABOUT THE TRAFFIC THERE.
HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE ATTACHMENT, HAVE OUR TECH PEOPLE RECEIVED IT? NOT YET? WELL, WHILE WE'RE WAITING FOR THAT MAYOR, UM, AND POOL IS ON THE LINE, I'M A CUSTOMER MEMBER.
KELLY HAD A QUESTION REGARDING THE PARKING FOR THE ACADEMY CASE.
ARE YOU THERE? I'LL SEND HIM A MESSAGE.
THIS IS DEVELOPMENT OFFICER FROM AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT.
UH, CURTIS FROM AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION IS AVAILABLE TO SPEAK ON THE PARKING.
I THINK HE'S IN THE PROCESS OF BEING MOVED OVER.
[05:25:08]
YES.MY NAME IS CURTIS BUDDY WITH BOSTON TRANSPORTATION.
WOULD YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION PLEASE? YES.
THERE ARE CONCERNS IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT PARKING.
I'M WONDERING IF YOU COULD EXPAND ON HOW THEY PLAN TO MITIGATE INCREASED TRAFFIC IN THE CASE OF VENUE IS CREATED.
AND IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO FOR US.
UM, AS PART OF THE TIA, THIS DEVELOPMENT WAS LOOKED AT HOLISTICALLY, UH, WITH THE DIFFERENT LAND USES IN INTENSITY AS PROPOSED.
UH, WE DO LOOK AT THE PEAK PERIODS, UM, AIMING AND PEAK IN PERIODS TRADITIONALLY, BECAUSE THAT IS THE GREATEST STRESS ON THE TRANSPORTATION NETWORK AS A WHOLE.
NOW, OBVIOUSLY THE MUSIC VENUE WILL HAVE A DIFFERENT PEAKING TOURISTIC THAN THE REST OF THE DEVELOPMENT, BUT IN GENERAL, THE PARKING, MOST OF IT IS UNDERGROUND.
UM, THERE WILL BE SOME SURFACE PARKING AND THERE WILL BE ALSO A VALET AND PICKUP DROP OFF AREA OR UBER LYFT DRIVERS.
RIGHT NOW WE ARE PROPOSING AT THOMAS SITE PLAN THAT AS TRAFFIC EXITS ACADEMY, IT WILL BE A RIGHT ONLY RIGHT TURN ONLY THAT WILL DIRECT PROFIT TO THE CONGRESS AVENUE AND THE TRAP SIGNAL LOCATED AT THAT LOCATION.
UM, THE NUMBER OF PARKING SPOTS I DO NOT HAVE, UM, OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, WE HAVE ASKED THEM TO PUT A TRANSPORTATION DEMAND MANAGEMENT PLAN TOGETHER AT TIME OF SITE PLAN.
SO THAT WILL ALSO ADDRESS HOW THEY INTEND TO MITIGATE SOME OF THEIR SITE TRAFFIC THROUGH, UM, ACCESS TO SOUTH CONGRESS ITSELF, UM, SCOOTERS, UM, UH, UH, PARKING, BICYCLING, THOSE TYPES OF FACILITIES.
ALSO, I WILL INDEED LIKE TO INDICATE THAT THE ORANGE LINE WILL BE COMING AT SOUTH CONGRESS.
AT SOME POINT ALONG THIS AREA, SOUTH CONGRESS WILL BE COMING FROM A SUBTERRANEAN ONTO SURFACE.
THEY HAVE NOT MADE THE DECISION OF THAT LOCATION.
THE LOCATION OF WHERE THAT EXITS FROM SUBTERRANEAN TO THE SURFACE COULD IMPACT OPERATIONS AT THE ACADEMY AND SOUTH CONGRESS SIGNAL, BUT THEY HAVE NOT MADE A DECISION, UH, ATP AND PROJECT CONNECT.
SO WE HAD TO ANALYZE WHAT IS THERE AT THIS TIME.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT CLARITY THERE.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE RELATED TO TRAFFIC OR PARKING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE US TO KNOW ABOUT THAT MAYBE WE HAVEN'T DISCUSSED YET? UM, NOT, NOT PARTICULARLY.
UM, WE ARE WELL AWARE OF THE CONDITIONS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE NARROW ROADS, THE, THE OLDER HOMES ESTABLISHED, UH, STREETS AND NETWORK.
UH, WE ARE MAKING SOME REQUIREMENTS THAT THEY ARE DOING TO PROHIBIT ON STREET PARKING IN THIS AREA.
UM, THERE IS ALSO GOING TO BE SOME REQUIREMENTS, LIKE I SAID TO STRUCTURALLY PUT SOME IMPROVEMENTS IN PLACE TO DO A RIDE OUT ONLY ONTO ACADEMY TO HEAD BACK TOWARDS, UH, UH, SOUTH CONGRESS.
UM, THERE'S ALSO A LITTLE BIT OF OTHER IMPROVEMENTS BEING LOOKED AT AT THE EAST RIVERSIDE, UH, AND, UH, THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO SEE IF THERE'S IMPROVEMENTS THAT COULD BE MADE THERE AS PART OF THAT DEVELOPMENT.
THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAVE.
I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR, FOR OUR TRANSPORTATION FOLKS WHILE WE HAVE TRANSPORTATION.
UM, THANKS SO MUCH FOR THAT INFORMATION.
SO, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE COMMENTARY THAT WE'VE RECEIVED IN SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS HERE TODAY TALKED ABOUT, TALKED ABOUT, UH, THE MUSIC VENUE THAT WAS THERE THREE D SEVERAL DECADES AGO, THREE DECADES AGO.
UH, AND THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE WERE, IT WAS A FAIRLY LARGE MUSIC.
IT WAS A LARGE MUSIC VENUE OF THE SORT THAT'S BEING PROPOSED NOW.
UM, CAN YOU SPEAK TO WHETHER THAT'S A GOOD MEASURE OF WHETHER, I GUESS, CAN YOU, CAN YOU TALK TO THE, WHAT HAS CHANGED IN THE SOUTH CONGRESS AREA, UM, FROM A TRANSPORTATION PERSPECTIVE IN THOSE INTERVENING NEARLY 30 YEARS IN A LITTLE BIT, UM, AS YOU KNOW, THE POPULARITY OF THE SOUTH CONGRESS AVENUE HAS INCREASED TREMENDOUSLY OVER THE PAST 10 TO 15 YEARS.
SO IT'S A MUCH MORE ACTIVATED STREET FRONT, UM, A LOT MORE PEDESTRIANS, A LOT MORE, UH, UH, SCOOTERS, MOPEDS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
UM, IT'S A VERY WALKABLE BIKEABLE AREA, UM, BOTH IN THE EVENINGS AND ON WEEKENDS.
SO THE AMOUNT OF ACTIVITY THAT IS OCCURRING IN THIS STRETCH OF, UM, SOUTH CONGRESS HAS INCREASED OVERALL.
NOW THERE IS A GENERAL METHOD TO LOOK AT, I MEAN, UH, UM, THERE'S BEEN GENERAL IMPROVEMENTS IN THE AREA, LOOKING AT ON-STREET PARKING, HOW TO IMPROVE THAT BOTH FOR, UH,
[05:30:01]
UH, THE IMMEDIATE BUSINESSES, BUT FOR THE AREA IN GENERAL, THERE'S BEEN SOME CHANGES TO ON-STREET PARKING IN THAT AREA.UH, PARKING ENTERPRISES HAVE ALSO WORKED WITH DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS TO LOOK AT RESIDENTIAL PARKING PERMIT PROGRAMS IN THIS AREA TO TAKE THE BURDEN OFF OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS, TO HAVE FREE PARKING AND TO MOVE THEM TO MORE TOWARDS THE PAID PARKING ON THE STREET ITSELF.
UH, THERE IS AN INITIATIVE TO LOOK AT THE OVERALL PARKING AVAILABILITY IN SOUTH CONGRESS, AND THERE WOULD BE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE FUTURE IN THAT MAJOR.
SO I CAN'T REMEMBER NOW WHETHER THIS IS, UM, SOME OF THE EMAILS WE GOT OR SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS, SOME OF THE SPEAKERS WHO WE HAD HERE TODAY, WHO TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT WHEN, WHEN THE MUSIC VENUE WAS OPERATING A WHILE BACK, UM, THE ACCESS WAS ACTUALLY AVAILABLE FROM CONGRESS.
UM, WHEREAS THE ACCESS NOW WOULD BE FROM ACADEMY, WHICH IS A VERY DIFFERENT KIND OF STREET.
WOULD YOU SAY THAT THAT'S AN ACCURATE ASSESSMENT IN TERMS OF HOW THAT AREA HAS SHIFTED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT ALONG MUSIC LANE? YES.
UH, THE DEVELOPMENT ON MUSIC LANE HAS, UM, PREVENTED THE DIRECT PUBLIC DIRECT ACCESS FROM THIS PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THE MUSIC CITY DEVELOPMENT TO SOUTH CONGRESS, UH, THAT THERE'S NOT A PRIVATE ACCESS EASEMENT AT THIS TIME TO GO THROUGH THAT DEVELOPMENT.
AND SO, YES, THERE'S BEEN A LIMITATION OF THAT DIRECT ACCESS TO SOUTH CONGRESS BY THIS, UH, THE FORMER, UH, MUSIC OPERA HOUSE.
SO THE ACCESS, SO IT IS ACCURATE THAT THE ACCESS WOULD HAPPEN PRIMARILY THROUGH ACADEMY, CORRECT.
WHICH IS IN ESSENCE A NEIGHBORHOOD STREET.
LET'S TURN TO THE, UH, TO THE THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CURTIS.
UH, LET'S UH, HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT.
YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES HI, I'M RICHARD WEISS AND I'M THE APPLICANT REQUESTING THE 200 ACADEMY BE REMOVED FROM THE 1986 FAIRVIEW PARK NCCD.
AND GIVEN THE MIXED USE OVERLAY ON TRACKS ONE AND TWO, OUR ASK IS FOR EXISTING BASED ZONING ENTITLEMENTS ON THIS LOG.
AND OUR TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE NEIGHBORS SINCE 2019 TO TRY AND FIND COMMON GROUND.
AND I THINK WE'RE GETTING CLOSER AT THE SRC MEETING IN JANUARY.
NEIGHBORS EXPRESSED NEW SUPPORT FOR THE HOUSING, BUT THEY WILL NOT SUPPORT REMOVAL FROM THE NCCD.
UH, HOWEVER, SINCE THE EXISTING BUILDING AND PARKING LOT ALREADY EXCEED THE NCCD RESTRICTIONS, NOTHING CAN BE BUILT WITHOUT TEARING DOWN AND BUILDING BACK LESS.
AND SINCE EVERY FACET OF THE NCCD NEEDS TO CHANGE TO PROVIDE HOUSING THAT WE ALL SUPPORT, IT SEEMS REASONABLE TO REVISIT HOW THIS TOOL IS PREVENTING DEVELOPMENT VERSUS PROTECTING THE CHARACTER OF A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT HAS CHANGED FROM WITHIN SLIDE.
THE NEIGHBORS DID THAT IN 2021 WHEN THE TRAVIS HEIGHTS FAIRVIEW PARK NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT WAS APPROVED.
UH, THE NEW DISTRICT BOUNDARY DOES NOT INCLUDE 200 ACADEMY, BUT THE RESTRICTIONS FROM THE 1986 DISTRICT HAVE CODIFIED AUSTIN'S LARGEST, HISTORICALLY ZONED PARKING LOT, 200 ACADEMY, SHOULDN'T BE IN AN NCCD, WHICH BRINGS US TO THE SIZE OF THE AUSTIN OPERA HOUSE.
UH, AND WHAT AN APPROPRIATE VENUE SIZE IS.
OUR GOAL IS TO PRESERVE 17,500 OF THE ORIGINAL 42,000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING IN ORDER TO SAVE THE MAIN ROOM AND STAGE WHERE WILLIE NELSON INTRODUCED AUSTIN MUSIC TO THE WORLD, THE IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORS HAVE DRAWN A LINE AT 3000 SQUARE FEET.
AND TO PUT THAT INTO PERSPECTIVE, A SLIDE 3000 SQUARE FEET IS ROUGHLY THE SIZE OF THE OPERA HOUSE STAGE AREA, WHICH IS SHOWN IN ORANGE ON THE TOP, RIGHT? 3000 SQUARE FEET IS LESS THAN A THIRD, THE SIZE OF THE HOUSE UNDER CONSTRUCTION ACROSS THE STREET.
NOW WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE 1980S VENUE SPILLED OUT INTO A LARGE OPEN PARKING LOT WITH NO NEIGHBORHOOD PROTECTIONS.
UH, CONCERNS ABOUT TRAFFIC PARKING AND NOISE ARE VALID AND WORKING WITH CITY STAFF HAS PRODUCED A COMPATIBLE SOLUTIONS THAT HAVE GOTTEN SUPPORT FROM STAFF AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, UH, WHO'S NOT ON THE DAYAS, UH, HER A TRAFFIC ENGINEER, UH, WHO'S HER COMMISSIONER.
WHO'S ALSO A TRAFFIC ENGINEER VISITED THE SITE, REVIEWED OUR SITE PLAN IN DEPTH AND MADE THE MOTION SUPPORTING THIS VENUE SIZE.
AND WHY IS IT COMPATIBLE? GOT IT.
UH, WHY IS IT COMPATIBLE? LET'S START WITH TRAFFIC.
200 ACADEMY IS ADJACENT TO A 500 SPACE PARKING GARAGE ON SOUTH CONGRESS AND WILL HAVE DIRECT PEDESTRIAN PROMENADE CONNECTING TO THE MUSIC LANE DEVELOPMENT.
THIS IS ADDITIONAL PARKING NOT MENTIONED OR, UH, IN OUR APPROVED TIA ONSITE UNDERGROUND PARKING WILL BE ACCESSIBLE FROM ACADEMY BEFORE
[05:35:01]
ANY SINGLE FAMILY, RESIDENTIAL AND CALIBRATED WITH THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT TO DIRECT TRAFFIC AWAY FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD.NONE OF THIS SOLVES THE CURRENT PARKING PROBLEM IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO WE HAVE OFFERED TO SPEARHEAD AN APPLICATION TO THE RPP PROGRAM TO ELIMINATE FUTURE PARKING CONCERNS BEFORE BREAKING GROUND.
UH, OUR PROJECT SUPPORTS SRC C GOALS OF ZERO DISPLACEMENT, NO LOSS OF HISTORIC HOUSING STOCK, NO CHANGES IN BASED ZONING AND PROVEN CODE PROTECTIONS IN BASE CODE, ADDRESSING SETBACKS, SCALE, NOISE, PARKING AND TRAFFIC, THE PRO.
UH, SO LET'S, UH, SLIDE PLEASE.
SO LET'S CLOSE WITH CONTEXT WHILE, UH, UH, UH, A PROJECT, UH, ALSO HAS NOW A CERTIFIED SMART HOUSING APPLICATION TO PROVIDE AFFORDABILITY WITHOUT ANY INTENTIONAL ENTITLEMENTS OVER BASE ZONING.
SO LET'S CLOSE WITH THE ACTUAL CONTEXT.
WELL, 200 ACADEMY HAS REMAINED UNCHANGED.
THE DEVELOPMENT, OUR MUSIC LANE NOW HAS A SOHO HOUSE AND A HERMES, BUT NO MUSIC AND ONLY SEVEN RESIDENTIAL UNITS WHERE IT'S NEEDED THE MOST.
AUSTIN RECOGNIZED CONCERNS ABOUT HOUSING.
WHEN IMAGINE AUSTIN WAS PASSED OVER A DECADE AGO, BUT THERE'S STILL NO REGULATING PLAN TO ADDRESS WHAT IS NOW A CRISIS.
AND WE BECOME THE MOST EXPENSIVE CITY IN THE COUNTRY, BUT YOU CAN GIVE US THE CHANCE TO DESIGN A SITE PLAN WITH BASE ZONING TOOLS, REQUIRING A NEW TIA AND ANOTHER TRIP TO PLANNING COMMISSION FOR APPROVAL CHECKS AND BALANCES.
PLEASE VALUE OUR HISTORY AND HOUSING NEEDS AND RECOGNIZE THE SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY AND FROM YOUR OWN EXPERTS AS YOU WEIGH THE MERITS OF REMOVING THIS OVERLAY.
AND IF I HAVE ADDITIONAL TIME, I'D JUST LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PASSING OF CLAUDETTE LO AND STEVE SEDOWSKY, WHO WERE BOTH CHAMPIONS OF PRESERVATION AND WILL BE SORELY MISSED IN THIS COMMUNITY.
THEY WERE BOTH REAL CHAMPIONS, AS YOU SAID, ARE GOING TO BE, HAVE CONTRIBUTED SO MUCH TO AUSTIN WILL BE REALLY MISSED.
UM, I WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I KNOW YOU TALKED ABOUT SMART HOUSING IT'S I GUESS I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU AND WILL ENCOURAGE YOU BETWEEN HERE AND OUR NEXT READING TO REALLY THINK THROUGH WHETHER YOU CAN, UM, PROVIDE US WITH SOME, SOME REAL SPECIFIC COMMITMENTS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU INTEND TO PARTICIPATE IN SMART HOUSING, BUT THAT, THAT IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN SOME OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CONVERSATIONS WE HAVE HERE SOMETIMES BECAUSE SMART HOUSING IS REALLY A COMMITMENT.
IF YOU ACCEPT THE FEE WAIVERS AND, AND SOME OF THE OTHER PROVISIONS THAT COME WITH THAT, UM, IT'S NOT REALLY, IT IS NOT BUILT INTO THE ZONING.
AND I KNOW WE CAN'T MAKE IT A CONDITIONAL OVERLAY, BUT WE CAN, UH, I MEAN, I'M SAYING IT ON THE DYESS AND WE ARE FIRMLY COMMITTED TO IT AS YOU WELL KNOW, AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS A DAILY TOPIC OF CONVERSATION IN OUR HOUSE.
AND, UM, UH, WE, WE ARE COMMITTED TO IT, BUT YOU KNOW, IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, IT'S A GIVE GET PROGRAM AND WE ARE, UH, ASKING FOR THE REMOVAL OF HANDCUFFS, BUT NOT ASKING FOR ANYTHING ADDITIONAL OVER BASED ZONING.
WELL, THE BASE ZONING AT THE MOMENT IS WITHIN AN OVERLAY.
SO THE BASE, THE BASE ZONING, THE BASE ZONING IS NOT ACHIEVABLE IN THE OVERLAY.
UM, SO I WOULD, I WOULD, UM, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THIS IS A CONVERSATION WE CAN CONTINUE OUTSIDE OF THIS FORUM, BUT I WILL, I WILL ASK YOU TO CONSIDER WHETHER, UM, I WILL ASK YOU TO CONSIDER MAKING US A SPECIFIC COMMITMENT AND ALSO COLLEAGUES.
YOU KNOW, IT, GIVEN THAT WE ARE CONTEMPLATING ADJUSTMENTS, AS MY AMENDMENTS, UM, ARE DOING WE'LL I WILL ASK YOU TO CONSIDER MAKING AMENDMENTS TO THE NCCD, TO ALLOW FOR THE DENSITY THAT'S BEEN REQUESTED.
UM, I AM GOING TO TALK WITH OUR LAW DEPARTMENT ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THAT THEN BECOMES A DENSITY BONUS.
I THINK IT'S, IT'S VERY LIKELY THAN A DENSITY BONUS WHERE THAT WERE AFFORDABLE.
HOUSING CAN ACTUALLY BE A PROVISION THAT WE, THAT IS A PART OF THAT, UM, INCREASE IN ENTITLEMENT.
SO JUST A HEADS UP THAT I, I THINK THAT'S ACHIEVABLE.
UM, AND I HOPE WE CAN HAVE THAT CURRENT.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU TO F TO FIND A SOLUTION.
AND THE OTHER QUESTION IS THE APPLICANT IN FRONT OF US.
I JUST WANTED TO ASK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER TBA HAD PASSED OUT EMOTION SHEET, AND I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU HAD A CHANCE TO SEE THAT.
I WASN'T SURE IF THERE WERE EXTRA.
I, I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO LOOK AT IT IN DEPTH AND, UH, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S STILL KEEPS ALL THREE TRACKS IN THE NCCD AND, UM, UH, AS SHOWN, YOU KNOW, NOW WE HAVE TWO DISTRICTS THAT ARE INTENDED TO, UH, PROTECT AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE SAME HOUSES.
AND, UH, THE SECOND ONE WAS PASSED LAST YEAR WITH NEIGHBORHOOD APPROVAL AND DOESN'T INCLUDE OUR TRACK.
UH, WE ALL KNOW HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO DEVELOP UNDER THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE AND ADDING THAT NCC D OVERLAY, UH, OR, OR MAINTAINING
[05:40:01]
THAT NCCD OVERLAY WHERE EVERY PROVISION WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE.UH, THERE ARE STILL GOTCHAS AND I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, STAFF, I THINK AGREED WITH OUR DENSITY, UM, UH, ON, ON THE TRACT, BUT BY LEAVING US IN INSIDE THE NCCD, UH, UH, PART TWO, WHICH IS THE COMPATIBILITY, UH, THEY THEN FORCED, UH, TWO STORIES AND 30 FEET ALL ACROSS THE, UH, MFR TRACT WHEN THE NEIGHBORING HOUSES ARE, UH, THREE OF THE FOUR NEIGHBORING HOUSES ARE THREE STORIES, AND ONE OF THEM IS FOUR STORIES WITH A WIDOW'S PEAK.
SO I, I'M NOT THAT DOESN'T REALLY TRANSLATE TO COMPATIBILITY WITH THE CURRENT ENVIRONMENT.
AND I APPRECIATE THE IMAGES THAT YOU SHARE, JUST SEEING KIND OF THE CONTEXT OF WHAT IS BEING DEVELOPED AROUND IT.
AND AS WE TALK ABOUT WHAT IS APPROPRIATE HEIGHT AND DENSITY IN CERTAIN LOCATIONS WHERE, YOU KNOW, WHERE THERE IS ACCESS TO PUBLIC TRANSIT AND OTHER PARKING GARAGES, THAT'S VERY MUCH SOMETHING I'M GOING TO BE CONSIDERING.
UM, I SAW ON ONE OF YOUR PICTURES THERE WAS, DID I SEE IT CORRECTLY THAT THE EXIT WOULD BE RIGHT TURN ONLY SO THAT THE PEOPLE LEADING THE VENUE WHO HAD PARKED IN THAT LOT WOULD NOT BE TURNING LEFT ONTO ACADEMY? IS THAT THE INTENT? WELL, A FOREST RIGHT TURN.
AND NOT ONLY IS IT THE INTENT, BUT IT IS PART OF THE TIA REQUIREMENT.
AND, YOU KNOW, IN ASKING FOR BASED ZONING, WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR IS A SET OF RULES TO TRY AND DESIGN A PROJECT THAT WILL BE BEST FOR THE CITY AND, UH, FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UH, AND SO WE WANT FLEXIBILITY, UH, IN ORDER TO DESIGN THE BEST PROJECT POSSIBLE, WHICH THEN HAS TO GO THROUGH THE SITE PLANNING PROCESS AND GET A NEW TIA AND A NEW PLANNING COMMISSION, UH, APPROVAL FOR THE CONDITIONAL USE.
SO I DON'T THINK THIS IS THE END OF THE ROAD ON THE, ON THIS CASE.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, UH, HOPEFULLY BRINGING MUSIC BACK TO MUSIC LANE.
CAUSE I KNOW SOUTH CONGRESS HAS ALREADY HOME TO SOME OF OUR FAVORITE VENUES.
UM, AND I WASN'T HERE IN THE SEVENTIES WHEN EVERYBODY SAYS AUSTIN WAS SO MAGICAL.
AND SO I THINK THIS IS AN INTERESTING PROJECT TO BE TRYING TO REVIVE THE MUSICAL NATURE OF THIS AREA.
KNOWING ARLYN STUDIOS IS STILL AROUND AND STILL HELPING MUSICIANS IN THEIR RECORDINGS.
UM, AND SO I APPRECIATE THAT YOU ARE ALSO THINKING ABOUT HOW TO HELP US THROUGH A HOUSING CRISIS AND, UM, COMMITTING TO AFFORDABILITY.
AND, UH, JUST AS A QUICK NOTE, I, UH, WAS A PROFESSIONAL MUSICIAN IN AUSTIN FOR THE FIRST FIVE YEARS THAT I LIVED HERE AND STILL PLAY MUSIC LIVE AS MANY TIMES AS I CAN.
AND, UH, I WOULDN'T HAVE COME HERE IF NOT FOR THE AUSTIN OPERA HOUSE, BECAUSE WHEN I GREW UP IN MIAMI BEACH, I HEARD THE ALBUM LIVE ALIVE THAT WAS RECORDED THERE ONLY APPLIED TO TEXAS COLLEGES AND, UH, MET MY WIFE, UH, RAISED TWO AUSTIN NIGHTS.
SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU, STEVIE.
UM, I WANT TO SAY THAT, UM, UM, I WAS HERE IN THE SEVENTIES BECAUSE I'M THAT OLD AND IT WAS MAGICAL AND IT'S STILL, AND IT'S STILL, I WASN'T ANYWHERE IN THE SEVENTIES.
UM, AND, AND I REMEMBER WATCHING, UH, WILLIE NELSON PLAY, UH, ON A SITE AND I THINK 78, UH, AND IT WAS MY INTRODUCTION TO, TO SO MUCH AS A, AS A STUDENT.
UH, BUT I RECOGNIZE, YOU KNOW, THE ISSUES ARE, ARE MORE COMPLICATED, UH, AS WE, AS WE COME BACK NOW.
UH, BUT I DO THINK THAT THAT, THAT HISTORY IS STILL IMPORTANT AND THAT TIE TO THE PROPERTY IS STILL VERY IMPORTANT.
I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING ON THIS TO TRY AND FIND A PATH THROUGH, UH, UH, SOMETHING THAT IS DIFFICULT.
UH, I UNDERSTAND THE MOTION IS JUST TO PROVE THIS ON FIRST READING HERE TODAY, SO THAT THERE'LL BE ADDITIONAL TIME TO WORK ON IT.
UH, I SAW WHAT YOU WERE HANDING OUT, WHICH YOU CAN GO THROUGH IN MORE DETAIL, UH, BUT TODAY ON THIS MOTION, UM, YOU KNOW, I, I, I APPRECIATE THE ATTEMPT TO TRY AND MAKE, UM, THE, WHAT THE APPLICANT WANTS ACHIEVABLE.
I STILL UNDER THE NCCD, SINCE IT'S JUST BEING APPROVED ON, ON FIRST READING, I THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT, IF ANY DO EXIST.
UH, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT I'M NOT SURE WE HAVE TO DECIDE TODAY WHAT THE SIZE OF THE VENUE IS.
UH, UM, UH, NOR DO WE HAVE TO DECIDE TODAY WHAT THE TOTAL AMOUNTS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS ON THE PROPERTY.
UH, BECAUSE I THINK BETWEEN FIRST READING AND SECOND READING WEEKEND, TRY TO WORK THROUGH THOSE ISSUES.
I WILL SAY, AS I SIT HERE, UH, I, UH, I WOULD SUPPORT THE, UH, APPLICANTS, UH, REQUESTED SIZE FOR THE VENUE BECAUSE I THINK GIVEN THE FUTURE TRAFFIC PATTERNS AND WHAT'S HAPPENING ON A PROPERTY AND WITH THE TRAFFIC CONTROLS IS SOMETHING THAT IS, UH, UH, FEASIBLE INAPPROPRIATE, UH, FOR, FOR THIS PARTICULAR SITE.
BUT I'M NOT SURE WE HAVE THE INFORMATION AND THE WHOLE, UH, UH, SURVEY OF THE FIELD TO REALLY MEANINGFULLY
[05:45:01]
DECIDE THAT QUESTION HERE TODAY.UH, SO I WON'T BE MOVING TO, I WON'T BE MOVING TO, TO FORMERLY AMEND THAT NUMBER, RECOGNIZING THAT, UH, UM, THAT'S MY POSITION AT THIS POINT, AS WE CONTINUE IN THE, IN THE CONVERSATIONS ON SOME MEMBER OF KITCHEN AND COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, RENT THE, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER POOL, UH, I WOULD JUST ASK ME, OR IF EVER, IF THERE ARE GOING TO BE RESPONSES TO MY AMENDMENTS, THAT I BE ABLE TO LAY THEM OUT FIRST KITCHEN.
I JUST HAVE A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION.
AND THEN I'M INTERESTED IN HEARING FROM COUNCIL MEMBER TOVA ON HER AMENDMENT.
SO, UM, IT'S, IT SEEMS LIKE THERE IS A PATH TO AMEND THE NCCD TO ADDRESS, YOU KNOW, THE PARAMETERS THAT ARE BEING SOUGHT.
SO, UM, I NEED TO UNDERSTAND AGAIN WHAT THE OBJECTION IS TO, UH, CONTINUING WITH THE NCCD.
UM, SO AS I MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, UH, WE BELIEVE THAT STAFF SUPPORTED OUR GOALS, BUT MISSED A PART OF THE NCCD.
AND THIS IS NO DIG ON STAFF BECAUSE I HAVE GREAT ADMIRATION FOR WHAT THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH, UH, EVERY, EVERY WEEK.
UH, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S A COMPLICATED ORDINANCE AND IF YOU HAVE TO CHANGE EVERY FACET OF AN ORDINANCE IN ORDER TO MAKE IT MATCH BASED ZONING, AND AT THE SAME TIME, UH, THE NEIGHBORHOOD, I BELIEVE HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE IS A HISTORIC BOUNDARY THAT IS NOW CODIFIED FEDERALLY.
UH, I DON'T UNDERSTAND, I THINK IT WAS MISPLACED IN THE FIRST PLACE.
AND SO I JUST DON'T THINK IT BELONGS IN THE NCCD.
OF COURSE, WE WANT TO WORK WITH YOU BECAUSE WE ALL WANT THIS TO HAPPEN.
UH, BUT I BELIEVE THAT THROUGHOUT THE SITE PLANNING PROCESS, IT'S GOING TO BE CLEANER.
AND IT ALSO TIES US TO, UH, THE 2022 REGULATIONS IF WE GET PAST THIS YEAR IN PERPETUITY.
SO ANY CODE THAT'S NOT ADDRESSED IN THE NCCD THEN FALLS TO 2022, IF WE CAN, UH, REACH A REGULATING PLAN FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, THEN I ENVISION IN 20 YEARS WHEN THE GOLD LINE AND THE ORANGE LINE ARE GOING DOWN SOUTH CONGRESS, THIS SITE IS WITHIN, UH, A MILE OF EVERY SINGLE RAIL LINE.
AND, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T WAIT TILL THE POINT IN MY LIFE WHERE I DON'T HAVE TO DRIVE A CAR ANYMORE.
AND MY 17 YEAR OLD IS ABOUT TO GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL AND DOESN'T WANT TO GET HER LICENSE.
I THINK THE TRENDS ARE CHANGING AND THE, THE PARKING SPACES THAT WE'RE PROVIDING TODAY, I COULD ENVISION IN 20 YEARS BEING A DATA STORAGE OR ANOTHER USE, BUT WE WILL ALWAYS BE TIED TO THE NCCD REGULATIONS AND THE 2022 REGULATIONS AS AN EXAMPLE, IF WE STAY WITHIN THE NCCD.
SO, UH, SO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS THAT EVEN IF, EVEN IF WE AMEND THE NCCD NOW TO DO WHAT YOU'RE ASKING, YOU STILL DON'T WANT TO BE UNDER THE NCCD BECAUSE IT, BECAUSE OF SOME UNKNOWN CHANGE THAT MAY HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE OR SOME UNKNOWN, UM, ADJUSTMENT THAT YOU MADE THAT SOMEONE MAY WANT IN THE FUTURE.
IS THAT WHAT I'M HEARING YOU SAY? UH, THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT WHAT I W WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT I BELIEVE THIS TOOL WAS MISPLACED FROM THE BEGINNING.
AND, UM, AND YEAH, AND ALSO, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, I'M CURIOUS YOUR THOUGHTS ON WHY THE NEIGHBORHOOD LEFT US OUT OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT WHEN THEY CREATED A VAL, A BOUNDARY AND CATALOG EVERY SINGLE, UH, HISTORIC PROPERTY WITHIN THAT BOUNDARY.
I IT'S, IT'S A QUESTION I'M NOT CERTAIN WHAT THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE NCCD, BUT LET ME JUST SAY, I SHOULD'VE SAID THIS AT THE BEGINNING.
UM, I AM ABSOLUTELY IN SUPPORT OF PRESERVING THIS VENUE AND, UH, AND, YOU KNOW, IN PROCEEDING WITH THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT YOU ALL WANT TO DO.
SO I SHOULD HAVE SAID THAT FIRST, BUT I ALSO THINK THAT NCCD IS IN NEIGHBORHOODS ARE IMPORTANT.
AND SO I THINK IF THERE'S A, IF THERE THERE'S A PATH AS COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO IS IN, I'LL LET HER SPEAK TO THAT.
IF, IF THERE IS A PATH TO, TO, UM, ALIGN WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO AND WHAT YOU WANTED TO DO WITHIN THE NCCD, I DON'T SEE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.
AND AGAIN, IT IS MY GOAL FOR US ALL TO GET TO THE SAME PLACE COLLECTIVELY.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO WORK THROUGH THOSE ISSUES.
UH, AND, UH, THE LAST TIME I CAME BEFORE YOU WAS TO, UH, MA GET HISTORIC ZONING ON A PROPERTY WITHIN AN NCCD, I'M NOT ANTI NCCD, EXCEPT IN CASES WHERE IT CREATES EXCLUSIONARY ZONING, WHICH IS WHAT IT'S DOING ON THIS SIDE.
WELL THEN MAYBE WE SHOULD JUST HAVE SOME CONVERSATION TO FOLLOW UP BECAUSE I DON'T SEE HOW IT'S DOING EXCLUSIONARY ZONING ON THIS SITE.
AND SO I NEED SOME MORE DETAIL TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT, UH, YOU KNOW, OFFLINE.
I JUST DON'T, I DON'T SEE THAT THAT'S HAPPENING.
WELL, THANK YOU THOUGH, FOR, FOR ENGAGING CASPER OCTOBER, YOU WANT TO LAY THAT OUT, THEN WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER THREE.
[05:50:01]
I DO.I NOW HAVE A NEW QUESTION FOR THE APPLICANT, OR THEN HOLD ON A SECOND.
LET ME GO TO THE PEOPLE THAT WE'VE CALLED IN COUNCIL MEMBER THANK YOU, MAYOR.
AND SOMEONE THAT HAVE BEEN IN A BIT OLDER THAN YOU ARE, I ALWAYS HAVE WENT FOR THE YOUNGER, LIKE YOU BETTER.
I ALSO WENT TO THAT TO MUSIC ADVANCED, AND WE EVEN HAD MEETINGS THERE.
HE RAN AT THAT LOCATION ONCE WE HAD A BIG DOWNTOWN CONFERENCE MEETING DATA, AND, UH, THIS IS, UH, REALLY A HISTORIC PLACE.
I, UH, I, AND I JUST HAVE TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THIS IS A GREAT PROJECT THAT Y'ALL WORKING ON.
AND I WANT TO SAY THAT I REALLY SUPPORT IT.
AND IF, IF, UH, THERE'S SOME WAY THAT WE CAN REMOVE THE MTC D AND I I'M GOING TO BE SUPPORTING IT ALSO.
SO, YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS IS BRINGS A LOT OF FOND MEMORIES TO BEING AT ONE TIME ACADEMY, WENT ALL THE WAY ACROSS TO WHIP INSIDE, BUT IT WAS CUT OFF ONE, THREE, I, UH, UH, ENLARGED, UH, RIVERSIDE DRIVE.
AND, AND IT WAS RIGHT, EXCEPT FOR THE GOLD LINE.
IT'S GOING TO BE ALSO THE BLUE LINE.
THAT'S CALLING ME TO GO DOWN EVERY SIDE AND IT'S GOING TO PROVIDE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES IN THE FUTURE WHERE WE CAN'T JUST USE THE RAIL TO LINK UP TO THE SUN IMPORTANT EVENTS, THAT WHERE WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TODAY TO PRESERVE, OR OUR FUTURE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN, YOU KNOW, THAT DEVELOPMENT THAT'S GOING TO COME DOWN INTO THAT AREA, ESPECIALLY ALONG THE RIVERSIDE, THE SOUTH SHORE, UH, IT'S GOING TO PROVIDE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY.
AND I THINK WE WILL BE DOING A DISSERVICE TO OUR, OUR MUSICIANS OUT THERE THAT AND ARTISTS THAT WE DON'T GO FOR FOR THIS PROJECT.
THAT'S, I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR OUR MISSION, THE MISSION THAT WE'RE ENVISIONED FOR, FOR THAT AREA.
AND THEN I THINK IT WAS KATHERINE POOL.
UM, I APPRECIATE ALL THE INFORMATION THAT FOLKS ARE BRINGING TO US TODAY, BOTH FROM THE COMMUNITY AND THE RESIDENTS AND THE APPLICANT, AND, UH, THOSE SUPPORTERS.
I WAS HOPING TO ASK A QUESTION OF THE APPLICANT.
UM, I'D LIKE TO SEE A COMPARISON CHART OF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT DIFFERENT VENUE SIZES WOULD ACCOMMODATE.
SO A COMPARISON CHART OF THE SIZES, UH, HOW MANY PEOPLE WOULD BE ACCOMMODATED, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU OR OUR STAFF CAN PROVIDE TO MAYOR AND COUNCIL BEFORE WE GET TO SECOND AND THIRD READING, I CAN CERTAINLY PUT THAT TOGETHER.
AND, YOU KNOW, ONE OF, ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE'RE TRYING TO PRESERVE THE 17,500 IS THAT INCLUDES THE ORIGINAL FOUR WALLS.
UH, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT SOAKED UP THE SOUNDS, UH, THAT THAT MADE US THE LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD AND, UH, THE ORIGINAL ENTRY AREA AND RESTROOMS AREAS.
SO IT'S, IT'S, IT'S NOT THE 42,000 SQUARE FEET.
IT'S JUST THE FABRIC OF THAT ONE ROOM.
AND WHEN YOU SAY, WELL, LET'S JUST DO 10,000 SQUARE FEET.
IF WE ELIMINATE THE RESTROOMS AND THE LOBBY, OR 15,000 SQUARE FEET, WHATEVER IT IS, THEN THOSE NOW ENTER WITHIN THOSE FOUR WALLS AND CONTINUE TO REDUCE CAPACITY.
IT'S ONE OF THOSE ITEMS WHERE YOU CAN'T JUST SAY, OH, 10,000 EQUALS THIS, FOR EXAMPLE, THE OPERA HOUSE STAGE, WHICH WE WOULD LIKE TO KEEP IS HUGE, BUT WE FEEL LIKE IT'S A PART OF HISTORY.
AND W YOU KNOW, IT'S 3000 SQUARE FEET, INCLUDING THE, THE TWO SATELLITES, UH, SIDE AREAS, THE BACKSTAGE AREAS.
SO, UH, YOU KNOW, WE CAN DO A KIND OF A DETAIL OF WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING, UH, BUT, UH, YOU CAN'T ALWAYS EQUATE A SQUARE FOOTAGE WITH AN OCCUPANCY.
YOU MENTIONED THE FOUR WELLS, ARE YOU LITERALLY RETAINING THE LITERAL WALLS THAT ARE THERE CURRENTLY? YEAH, I MEAN, OUR GOAL IS TO, IS TO KEEP, KEEP THE FABRIC THERE.
W UH, WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE FACING A VALID PETITION AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO NEGOTIATE DOWN, BUT THERE'S GOING TO BE A POINT WHERE WE NEGOTIATE DOWN TO THE POINT WHERE WE JUST HAVE TO TEAR IT DOWN.
AND I EQUATE IT TO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE STONEHENGE, YOU COULD ACCEPT A SEMICIRCLE, BUT WE FEEL LIKE WE GOT TO GO FOR THE WHOLE STORE AND THE, UM, THE PERFORMERS, UM, UH, ROOMS AT THE BACK THAT STAGE.
ARE THEY ALSO BEING PRESERVED OR ARE THEY GOING TO BE UPDATED WHEN YOU SAY THE PERFORMER ROOMS? I THINK W W WELL, I MEAN, IT'S BEEN DECADES, RIGHT? SINCE ANY OF US HAVE BEEN THERE, BUT I HAVEN'T YET, IF YOU CAN CALL UP THE MAP, I CAN SHOW, UH, IF YOU CAN CALL UP THE PRESENTATION I'VE GOT, I'VE GOT, I'VE GOT THE, UH, THE, UH, THE MAP OF THAT.
WE WOULD TRY AND PRESERVE THE BACKSTAGE AREA.
UH, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, OUR, OUR GOAL JUST LIKE THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS TO PRESERVE HISTORY.
SO WE WANT TO MAINTAIN AS MUCH OF THAT FABRIC AS IS FEASIBLE
[05:55:01]
IN TERMS OF, UH, UM, NOT ONLY SAVING THE ENVELOPE, BUT MAKING IT WORK WITH TRAFFIC AND, AND OCCUPANCY.AND ALL OF THAT, WE HAVE SUGGESTED THE, THE ORIGINAL, THAT ORIGINAL ENVELOPE, UH, SERVED 1800 AND WE'VE SUGGESTED THE SAME ENVELOPE, BUT CUTTING IT DOWN TO 1200.
SO CUTTING IT BY A THIRD IT'S, UH, YOU KNOW, WOULDN'T GENERATE AS MUCH REVENUE AND IT WOULD BE A LARGER, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD, IT WOULDN'T FEEL AS CROWDED, BUT IN DOING THE TRAFFIC IMPACT ANALYSIS AND LOOKING AT THE NEIGHBORS, UH, CONCERNS, WE FEEL LIKE 1200 IS SOMETHING THAT IS, UH, VERY MANAGEABLE GIVEN THE CONDITIONS.
AND, AND IF, IF I CAN TALK ABOUT THE, NOT HAVING ACCESS TO CONGRESS, BECAUSE I THINK THAT THAT'S, UH, BEEN SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN RAISED SEVERAL TIMES.
I'LL JUST SUGGEST, UM, BEFORE YOU GO ON TO ANOTHER QUESTION, WHICH REALLY WASN'T ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WAS ASKING, ASKING ABOUT, MAYBE SOMEBODY ELSE WANTS TO ASK THAT, BUT, UM, UM, I'LL GO AHEAD AND, AND OFFER A LITTLE BIT OF, OF, UH, HISTORY FOR ME WITH THAT, THAT LOCATION, BECAUSE I THINK EVERYBODY KIND OF LIKE IS WANTING TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT, BUT JUST QUICKLY, I, I PRETTY SURE IT WAS BACKSTAGE AREA, THE OPERA HOUSE WHERE I SAW I WAS AT A NANCY GRIFFITH CONCERT.
SHE WAS, UM, BACK IN THE NINETIES, MAYBE ROBERT EARL KEEN AND DARDEN SMITH, MAYBE IT WAS A TRIPLE BILL, WENT AROUND THE BACK, CAUSE YOU COULD GET AROUND THE BACK.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL STILL BE ABLE TO GET AROUND THE BACK WITH WHAT THE WORK YOU'RE GOING TO BE DOING ABOUT IT, BUT SHE WILL LEAN UP AGAINST THE WALL, SMOKING A CIGARETTE.
AND, AND I, AND THEN SHE SIGNED MY, MY ALBUM FOR ME.
AND SO THE ACCESS WAS THERE THAT WAS SMALL TOWN AUSTIN.
AND I THINK IT'S THAT PIECE THAT WE ARE DESPERATELY WANTING TO PRESERVE THE ACCESS AND THE SMALL TOWN AUSTIN.
AND IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT SHELL ARE INTENDING, THEN THAT'S TERRIFIC AND BRAVO, AND I HOPE IT, I HOPE IT HAPPENS IF THIS TURNS INTO SOMETHING THOUGH THAT IS FLASHY AND NOT AUSTIN, AND IS, IS JUST MONETIZING A PLACE THAT, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE'RE ALL THINKING IT'S GOING TO BE REMINISCENT AND, AND A REMINDER OF THE WAY WE WERE AND BRINGING IT INTO THE FUTURE, THEN THAT'S GREAT.
BUT, UM, SO THAT'S A HEAVY BURDEN FOR YOU ALL TO CARRY BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY LIKE ME IN THIS CITY, YOU'VE BEEN, YOU KNOW, WE ALL GREW UP HERE, NOT LITERALLY, BUT YOU KNOW, WE'D BE, WE BECAME THE ADULTS THAT WE ARE, UM, IN THIS AREA.
SO WE, THAT'S A, THAT'S A BIG BURDEN AND A BIG RESPONSIBILITY FOR, YOU KNOW, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN THE ARCHITECT FOR ALAMO DRAFT HOUSE FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS.
I UNDERSTAND SOUND MITIGATION AND ALL OF THAT, AND CREATING BUILDINGS WITH CHARACTER AND CREATING BUILDINGS THAT, THAT, UH, HAVE RESIDENTIAL DIRECTLY ABOVE, UH, MUSIC.
UH, ONE OF THE THINGS I DID NOT MENTION IN MY PRESENTATION IS THAT WE'VE AMASSED A COLLECTION OF OVER 4,000 ARTIFACTS FROM THE HISTORY OF AUSTIN MUSIC.
AND WE INTEND TO MAKE THE INSIDE OF THE AUSTIN OPERA HOUSE AND MUSEUM TO, YOU KNOW, HOW WE GOT HERE IN THE SAME WAY THAT RYMAN'S IS.
I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, SOUNDS LIKE RYMAN'S ONLY IT'LL BE BETTER BECAUSE IT'S IN AUSTIN.
SO I DID DISTRIBUTE SOME, AN EMOTION SHEET ON THE DIOCESE, UH, YOU KNOW, ON A STEP BACK AND JUST SAY, THIS IS A REALLY COMPLICATED CASE.
AND MY STAFF HAS SPENT, UM, PROBABLY DOZENS AND DOZENS AND DOZENS OF HOURS TALKING AND TRYING TO BALANCE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND TRY, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT DIFFERENT ITEMS. UM, I WANT TO START BY JUST THANKING ALL OF THE, ALL OF THE DIFFERENT VOICES WHO HAVE WEIGHED IN HERE ON THIS CASE.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, THIS IS AUSTIN AT ITS FINEST WHEN WE HAVE A ROOM FULL OF PEOPLE, UM, AS WELL AS OTHERS NOW ON THE PHONE, PROVIDING THEIR THOUGHTS AND SUGGESTIONS AND WORKING TO HELP SHAPE A PROJECT AND HELP IT HELP IT BECOME EVEN BETTER.
YOU KNOW, I REALLY FEEL STRONGLY THAT WE CAN, THAT WE CAN END UP HERE WITH A PROJECT THAT ALLOWS THE RETURN OF THIS, UH, HISTORIC USE ON THIS TRACT, UM, AND ALLOWS FOR INCREASED HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES, WHICH WE MUCH NEED, UM, AND ALSO REALLY BALANCES THOSE USES AGAINST, UM, BALANCES IN PARTICULAR, THE MUSIC USE, UM, AGAINST, UM, THE NEEDS OF, OF THE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY.
I DON'T, I SAID I HAD A QUESTION, BUT I'VE RESOLVED IT SO YOU DON'T NEED TO STAND HERE ANYMORE.
I THINK WE'RE MOVING INTO, INTO THE MOTION.
SO YOU CAN, YOU CAN SIT DOWN, SIR.
SO, YOU KNOW, THE OTHER, THE OTHER THING I WANT TO MENTION IS THAT MY STAFF HAD A REALLY GOOD CONVERSATION LAST NIGHT WITH OUR MUSIC
[06:00:01]
COMMISSIONER, UM, PATRICE PIKE.AND, AND THAT OFFERED, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF, OF REALLY GOOD THOUGHT ON THIS TOPIC TOO.
SO THIS, THIS SEWING INCLUDES THREE DIFFERENT TRACKS, ONLY ONE TRACT, ONE INVOLVES THE VENUE.
AND I WANT TO SORT OF GIVE AN OVERVIEW OF THE MOTION SHEET.
ONE OF THE THINGS MY MOTION SHEET DOES IS TO INCREASE THE ENTITLEMENTS ON ONE, TWO AND THREE TO ALLOW FOR INCREASED HOUSING DENSITY OVER WHAT COULD BE BUILT THERE TODAY.
AND I WANT TO BE REALLY CLEAR AND I'LL DETAIL THIS AS WE GO THROUGH POINT BY POINT, BUT THE STAFF AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED INCREASES AS WELL.
THE ONES THAT YOU'LL SEE ON MY MOTION SHEET GO FURTHER THAN THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND SO THEY ARE AMENDING, THEY ARE KEEP RETAINING THOSE PROPERTIES PROPOSING TO RETAIN THOSE PROPERTIES WITHIN THE NCCD AND MODIFYING THE SITE DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS AS THE APPLICANT HAS REQUESTED.
UM, WELL, TO BE CLEAR, I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE NOT ASKING FOR THOSE SITE DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS TO BE REQUESTED.
YOU'RE ASKING FOR THE REMOVAL, WE'RE ACHIEVING A SIMILAR OUTCOME, UM, BY RETAINING IT WITHIN THE NCCD, BUT MODIFYING THOSE REQUIREMENTS.
BUT TO BE REALLY CLEAR, WE ARE GOING THE ONES THAT I HAVE PROPOSED GO BEYOND WHAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE STAFF HAVE PROPOSED, AND THAT, THAT HAS INVOLVED LOTS OF CONVERSATIONS AND FRANKLY, COMPROMISES ON THE PART OF THE NEIGHBORS AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, UM, THAT IS MOST INVOLVED IN THIS CASE.
AS OF THIS MOMENT, THERE IS NO SPECIFIC COMMITMENT TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I BELIEVE THAT WE WOULD BE WITHIN OUR LEGAL RIGHTS TO INCLUDE A PROVISION FOR IT.
UM, GIVEN THAT THE NCCD IS AN OVERLAY, AND I THINK IT, IT IS, IT WOULD FALL WITHIN A DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM.
SO, UM, THAT IS AN AREA I'M INTERESTED IN EXPLORING.
I THINK IF 10 TO 20% OF THE HOUSING ON THIS SITE WAS AT 60% OF MFI.
I THINK THAT WOULD GO A LONG WAY IN TERMS OF PROVIDING HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR MUSICIANS, AS WELL AS OTHERS WHO WOULD QUALIFY FOR IT.
YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE AREAS, AND I THINK THIS IS THE AREA WHERE WE'RE GOING TO PROBABLY SPEND THE MOST TIME AND HAVE SPENT THE MOST TIME DISCUSSING IS THE SIZE OF THE VENUE.
AND OUR TRANSPORTATION STAFF AFFIRMED THIS.
THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT THIS AREA HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY IN THE LAST 30 YEARS, SINCE IT'S, SINCE THERE WAS A MUSIC VENUE ON THIS SITE, THE ACCESS TO THIS PROPERTY HAS CHANGED.
THE SITE ITSELF IS NO LONGER IT, YOU KNOW, LOTS OF PIECES OF THIS TRACK.
AS I UNDERSTAND IT HAVE BEEN SOLD OFF, THERE ARE NOW PRETTY VITAL ACTIVE BUSINESSES ALONG MUSIC LANE.
UM, IT IS A VERY, VERY DIFFERENT LANDSCAPE IN THAT AREA AND THAT, AND THAT WILL, UM, IN MY OPINION, SHOULD SHAPE WHAT KIND OF VENUE IS THERE YESTERDAY MORNING, I WENT TO THE ULI PANEL ON, UH, CULTURAL ART ON THE CULTURAL TRUST, WHICH IS AN INITIATIVE, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, KITCHEN CHAMPIONED.
AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT SEVERAL OF THE SPEAKERS, TALKED ABOUT THE NEED FOR MULTIPLE SIZES, DIVERSE SIZES OF VENUES OF ARTS VENUES GENERALLY, AND INCLUDING MUSIC VENUES OF DIFFERENT SIZES, YOU KNOW, AND WE NEED THOSE DIFFERENT SIZES.
UM, AS I BEGAN THE LOOK WITH MY STAFF AT DIFFERENT VENUES AROUND TOWN, IT IS VERY, WE WERE NOT ABLE TO FIND ONE OF THE SIZE THAT THE APPLICANT HAS PROPOSED.
THAT IS ON WHAT AMOUNTS TO A NEIGHBORHOOD STREET.
MOST OF THOSE ARE ON CORRIDORS AND I HAVE SOME NUMBERS AND THINGS THAT WE CAN TALK TO.
AND WE'VE WORKED WITH OUR MUSIC STAFF AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO SO TO LOOK AT WHAT SOME OF THOSE EQUIVALENT EXAMPLES ARE.
SO, YOU KNOW, AS I SEE THE ISSUES THAT REMAIN BEFORE US, AS WE MOVE FORWARD FROM HERE, IT'S REALLY ABOUT HOW BIG THAT VENUE IS.
YOU KNOW, HOW CAN WE SUPPORT, UM, HOW CAN WE CONTINUE FROM THIS DIOCESE AND AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO SUPPORT AND GROW THE MUSIC INDUSTRY AND MAKE SURE THAT THAT AUSTIN CONTINUES TO BE A PLACE WHERE ARTISTS WANT TO LIVE, CAN LIVE, WHERE WE CAN SEE LOCAL ARTISTS HAVE AT VARIOUS STAGES OF THEIR CAREER, THOSE STARTING OUT, UH, AS WELL AS THOSE WHO ARE MORE ESTABLISHED AND ARE NATIONALLY KNOWN, BUT IT REALLY IS ABOUT WHAT IS APPROPRIATE ON THIS SITE.
SO, UM, I DO WANT TO JUST MENTION, I MENTIONED THAT I HAD HAD, UH, MY STAFF SPOKE WITH PATRICE PIKE LAST NIGHT, AND SHE VERY GENEROUSLY OFFERED TO WORK WITH DEVELOPERS AS WELL AS OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TO COME TO HELP COME TO SOME KIND OF UNDERSTANDING ABOUT WHAT MIGHT WORK ON THIS SITE FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED.
AND SO I THINK THAT'S A GREAT OFFER.
AND I'M SURE MOST OF YOU IN THIS, IN THIS ROOM PROBABLY KNOW HER.
AND SO I THINK I'LL JUST END THERE, UH, AND LAY OUT THE MOTION SHEET AGAIN, IF YOU LOOK AT IT, IT IS TO BOTH FOR TRACKS ONE AND TWO AND THREE, TO KEEP THEM IN THE NCCD AND TO MODIFY THE SITE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS.
I HAVE SO MANY VERSIONS OF, TO MAKE SURE I'M LOOKING FROM THE, FROM THE RIGHT ONE, UM, WITH REGARD TO TRACKS ONE AND TWO, IT WOULD, IT WOULD INCREASE.
IT WOULD MODIFY, AS I UNDERSTAND
[06:05:01]
THE THREE, THE THREE CONDITIONS THAT THE APPLICANT HAS INDICATED, LET ME BACK UP BUILDING COVER AND PERVIOUS COVER AND UNIT COUNT ARE, ARE THE THREE ELEMENTS THAT ARE LIMITING, UM, WHERE THE NCCD SETS LOWER LIMITS THAN DOES CURRENT SITE DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS.AND SO FOR TRACKS ONE AND TWO, ALL OF THOSE THINGS WOULD, WOULD INCREASE FROM WHAT IS CURRENTLY ALLOWED WITHIN THE NCCD TO WHAT THE CURRENT SITE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS ARE FOR MIXED USE.
AND I HAVE THOSE SOMEWHERE, IF ANYBODY'S INTERESTED, IT'S SOMETHING LIKE 15 UNITS.
WHAT IS CURRENTLY ALLOWED WITHIN THE NCCD IS 15 UNITS.
IT WOULD GO TO CURRENT SITE REGULATIONS, WHICH HAS NO CAP.
UM, THE SAME IS TRUE FOR, UH, BUILDING COVER AND IMPERVIOUS COVER.
THOSE WOULD INCREASE FROM 35 AND 60 TO 95 AND 95.
UM, AND THEN ON TRACKS ONE AND TWO, IT WOULD, UM, IT WOULD LET ME GET BACK TO THE VENUE, UM, TRACKED THREE SAME.
IT WOULD REMAIN WITHIN THE NCCD AND THE SITE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS WOULD BE MODIFIED AS DESCRIBED ON ONE PIECE.
THE COMPATIBILITY BUFFER WOULD BE ELIMINATED ON THE OTHER.
THE COMPATIBILITY WOULD SHIFT FROM A HUNDRED TO 75.
ORIGINALLY THE REQUEST FROM THE NEIGHBORS WHO WERE ADJACENT, WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM THAT COMPATIBILITY BUFFER OF HAVING THAT PROPERTY AND THAT HEIGHT SET BACK A BIT, UM, WANTED TO SEE 50, THEY DID AGREE TO 75.
IF YOU GO AND LOOK AT THE SITE, WHICH I HOPE MOST OF YOU DO, UH, AT SOME POINT YOU'LL SEE THAT IT IS REALLY IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO LOTS OF LOTS OF FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN THERE FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME AND THEN BUILDING COVER UNITS AND IMPERVIOUS COVER WOULD INCREASE.
AND AGAIN, THESE WOULD INCREASE, I BELIEVE, BEYOND WHAT WAS RECOMMENDED BY THE STAFF AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
AND THEN TO BACK UP TWO TRACKS ONE AND TWO, THE LANGUAGE HERE IS IMPORTANT.
AND WE CAN ASK, WE CAN ASK JERRY RESTHAVEN TO WEIGH IN.
UM, THE, YOU'LL SEE THAT I'VE TALKED ABOUT COCKTAIL LOUNGE USE AND, OR ENTER INDOOR ENTERTAINMENT BECAUSE IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT SOME MUSIC VENUES OPERATE UNDER AN INDOOR ENTERTAINMENT PERMIT, SOME OPERATE UNDER A COCKTAIL LOUNGE USE, AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT, WHAT, UH, WHAT TERM IS MOST APPROPRIATE HERE.
BUT I THINK THAT THE GIST OF WHAT I'M TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH IS TO COME UP WITH A SIZE THAT IS MORE APPROPRIATELY SCALED TO THIS LOCATION.
AND I HAVE 3000 SQUARE FEET AS THE NEIGHBORS HAVE REQUESTED THEIR NUMBER BEGAN LOWER, BUT THROUGH COMPROMISE CLEARLY, IT'S, IT'S A WAYS FROM WHAT THE DEVELOPER HAS ASKED.
UM, THERE'S A LITTLE ASTERISK HERE BECAUSE MY COMMITMENT FROM, FROM HERE, FROM HERE BETWEEN HERE AND SECOND READING, IS TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH OUR MUSIC DEPARTMENT, WITH MEMBERS OF THE MUSIC COMMUNITY, AND OTHERS, TO REALLY LOOK AT WHAT SOME OF THOSE VENUES ARE.
UM, AND WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MOST ANALOGOUS USES.
BUT, BUT AS I MENTIONED, IF YOU LOOK AT THE CONTINENTAL CLUB, THE SAXON PUB, OTHERS, THEY HAVE SIMILAR SIZE TO WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED HERE.
THOSE ARE REALLY ON, ON COMMERCIAL QUARTERS.
UM, AND THIS, AND THIS ONE IS NOT, IS NO LONGER EVEN DRAWING ACCESS FROM THAT COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR, IMMEDIATE ACCESS.
AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
UM, HOW DOES THIS RELATE TO FAR AND HEIGHT? ARE THERE ANY STIPULATIONS IN THE NCCD THAT WOULD, UM, THAT WOULD AFFECT THOSE BEYOND THAT THESE ARE LISTING GOING TO CURRENT CODE AS IT WOULD BE WITHOUT THE NCCD? ARE THERE ANY LIMITATIONS TO FAR OR HEIGHT IN THE NCCD? AND MAYBE THAT'S A QUESTION FOR STAFF.
I CAN ANSWER THAT THERE ARE LIMITATIONS AND AT THE MOMENT, UH, AND THIS MAY SHIFT, BUT AT THE, WE ARE PROPOSING MODIFICATIONS TO THOSE.
UM, AND I NEED TO JUST CHECK MY NOTES ON WHETHER I'M WHERE SOME OF MY CONVERSATIONS LANDED, WHETHER THAT WAS ON PLANNING COMMISSION AND STAFF RECOMMENDATION, OR, UH, SOMEWHERE ELSE.
MR. , WOULD YOU, I BELIEVE THE STAFF RECOMMENDED SOME MODIFICATIONS IN BOTH OF THOSE AREAS.
SO, UM, FOR TRUCKS WENT INTO THE EXISTING NCST KEPT CFAR 0.3, FIVE, THE APPLICANT'S PROPOSAL TO JUST REMOVE THE NCCD WOULD KICK IT UP TO THREE TO ONE UNDER THE BASE ZONING.
UM, THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS FOR 1.5 FAR WITH REGARD TO HEIGHT, THE EXISTING ETHNICITY CAPS IT AT TWO STORIES OR 35 FEET, THE HOPKINS PROPOSAL TO REMOVE THE NCSD
[06:10:01]
WOULD KICK UP TRUCKS, WENT IN TWO TO 60 FEET.UH, THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS ALSO OKAY WITH 60 FEET IS ALSO AT SORRY.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS ALSO WHAT IS ALSO 60 FEET.
AND THEN FOR ATTRACT THREE, UM, THE MAIN LIMITATION SEEMS TO BE, WELL, IT WOULD JUST BE THE SAUDI AREA REQUIREMENTS SEEM TO BE THE ISSUE, NOT THAT THE HYDRA FOR.
AND SO UNDER TRACKS ONE AND TWO, UH, WITH COUNCIL MEMBER TABOS, UM, MOTION SHEET THAT SHE HAS HERE, WOULD, WOULD WE BE VOTING ON 1.5 TO ONE OR TWO TO ONE? I THINK IT WOULD BE GOING TO TWO TO ONE BECAUSE SHE SAID FOR TO MAXIMIZE DEVELOPMENT.
I JUST WANTED TO CHECK ON THAT.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
I THINK THAT A COUNCILMEMBER TOVO BOOZ PASSAGE OF THIS ITEM WITH THE CHANGES THAT SHE HAS IN HER MOTION SHEET, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POOL.
AGAIN, I'M, I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR THIS NOW, RECOGNIZING THAT WE'RE IN A PROCESS TO BE ABLE TO, TO WORK THROUGH THIS.
UH, I WANT TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT THE REAL DELTA IS BETWEEN BEING IN THE NCCD WITH THE CHANGES.
THESE CHANGES WERE SIMILAR KINDS OF CHANGES VERSUS WHAT IT IS OUTSIDE OF THE NCCD.
UM, I WANT TO, UM, YOU KNOW, I, AGAIN, I LEANED TO, UH, I MEAN, I SUPPORT A LARGER VENUE, UH, SIZE, UH, BUT I RECOGNIZE THAT THERE'S CONVERSATIONS THAT HAVE TO HAPPEN WITH RESPECT TO TRAFFIC AND, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WERE RAISED ABOUT WHETHER THAT WAS A LEGITIMATE, UH, UH, ASSESSMENT OF, OF MOVEMENTS.
I WAS, WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING CONVERSATION.
I NEED TO UNDERSTAND BETTER BECAUSE I THINK THAT TO A LARGE DEGREE, EVERYBODY IS READY TO, TO REALLY EXTEND THEMSELVES FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND I DON'T WANT TO LOSE, LOSE THAT.
UH, SO WITH THAT AND RECOGNIZING THAT THIS IS KIND OF A, UM, YOU KNOW, PROCESS POINT AS WE MOVE ALONG, HE HAS BEEN IN TROUBLE.
I'M GOING TO SUPPORT YOUR EMOTION, UH, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION BEFORE WE VOTE.
COUNCIL MEMBER, MAYOR PRO TEM.
IT'S LIKE MUSICAL THEATER PLACE.
CAN YOU HEAR ME BETTER NOW? YES.
UM, I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO, UM, FOR HER MOTION AND INDICATE THAT I INTEND TO SUPPORT THAT MOTION TODAY.
UM, I, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT ANY OF US QUESTIONED THE MERIT OF A LIVE MUSIC VENUE AND THAT OUR COMMUNITY WOULD BENEFIT FROM AN ADDITIONAL VENUE OF THIS SIZE AND TYPE, UM, THE QUESTIONS WE ARE DEBATING RELATE TO WHETHER AND HOW THAT SCALE OF VENUE CAN BE ACCOMMODATED HERE.
UM, THIS IS, HAS BEEN SAD, A COMPLICATED CASE, WHICH I'M STILL STUDYING CLOSELY, PARTICULARLY THE DETAILS OF THE TRAFFIC IMPACTS OF THE PROPOSED PROJECTS.
I'M SUPPORTING THIS MOTION TODAY, BUT I REMAIN OPEN TO ADJUSTMENT, UH, VARIOUS ELEMENTS OF THE PROJECT, INCLUDING THE SIZE OF THE VENUE AND THE SITE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS ON TRACK THREE.
UM, HOWEVER, I DO WANT TO LAY OUT A FEW ELEMENTS THAT I THINK WE SHOULD CONSIDER SETTLED, WHICH I THINK WOULD HELP US TO FOCUS ON A SOLUTION MOVING FORWARD.
UM, AND AT LEAST, YOU KNOW, RELATED TO EARNING MY VOTE, ALL OF THESE PARCELS SHOULD REMAIN WITHIN THE NCCD CHANGES TO THE NCCD CAN BE MADE TO ACCOMMODATE THE PROJECT, BUT ACHIEVING THIS PROJECT ABSOLUTELY DOES NOT REQUIRE US TO REMOVE ANY OF THE PARCELS FROM THE NCCD.
THEY INCREASED DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS MUST REMAIN COMPATIBLE WITH THE SURROUNDING RESIDENTIAL USES AND THE SIZE OF THE MUSIC VENUE IN MY MIND IS LARGELY DEPENDENT ON WHAT DEGREE OF INCREASED TRAFFIC THE AREA CAN ABSORB.
I'VE BEEN STUDYING BOTH THE TIA WE'VE BEEN PROVIDED, AND I'VE SUBMITTED QUESTIONS RELATED TO THOSE DOCUMENTS IN OUR Q AND A.
AND I HAVE OUTSTANDING QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ASSUMPTIONS IN THOSE STUDIES THAT REMAIN ON ANSWER.
AND I'M HOPING THAT BETWEEN NOW AND OUR NEXT READING, I CAN GET THOSE ANSWERS.
I'M COMMITTED TO CONTINUE ENGAGING WITH BOTH THE APPLICANT AND THE NEIGHBORS AS I WORK WITH MY COLLEAGUES AND OUR STAFF TO DETERMINE WHAT IS APPROPRIATE AT THE SITE.
I REALLY HOPE THAT ALL PARTIES CAN CONTINUE WORKING CONSTRUCTIVELY WITH ONE ANOTHER, AS WE BALANCED THE NEEDS OF OUR GROWING CITY ALONGSIDE THE IMPACT ON EXISTING RESIDENTS.
FORTUNATELY, WE DON'T HAVE TO WORK THOSE THINGS OUT HERE TODAY, UH, BECAUSE BARBARA ELLIS.
YES, I, I DO APPRECIATE, UH, THE COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT NINE, PUTTING, PUTTING OUR HEADS TOGETHER AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO MAKE, UM, TO MAKE THINGS WORK IN A WAY THAT DOES SUPPORT HOUSING DOES SUPPORT THE MUSIC COMMUNITY.
UM, I PERSONALLY WOULD PREFER TO SEE THE NCCD REMOVED, UM,
[06:15:01]
SIMPLY BECAUSE I LIKE, I LIKE TO BE SIMPLISTIC.UM, YOU KNOW, THAT PORTION WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.
AND SO I THINK THERE'S SOME VALIDITY INTO THE CHANGING NATURE OF THAT CORRIDOR AND THE FACT THAT THERE ALREADY IS A LOT OF MUSIC ON THAT CORRIDOR.
THERE'S GOING TO BE MASS TRANSIT SOON.
UM, AND SO I JUST FOR SIMPLICITY SAKE WOULD PREFER TO SEE THE NCCD REMOVED.
I HAVEN'T HEARD ENOUGH OTHER PEOPLE SAY THAT THEY'RE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.
SO I'M OKAY FOR TODAY, UM, TO BE ABLE TO APPROVE THIS MOTION SHEET.
CAUSE I THINK IT GETS US MOST OF WHERE WE WANT TO BE WITH THIS.
UM, I WILL SAY, HOWEVER, ON THE SIZE OF THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THE VENUE SPACE, I WOULD STILL PREFER TO SEE IT WHERE PLANNING COMMISSION HAD MADE THAT MOTION.
AND SO I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ARE OPEN TO DOING, KNOWING FULL WELL WHEN THIS COMES BACK TO US THAT THERE ARE FOLKS THAT ARE MORE COMFORTABLE WITH A SMALLER SIZE.
UM, BUT I THINK FOR SIMPLICITY SAKE, UM, I WORRY ABOUT ALL OF THE MOVING PARTS AND KEEPING TRACK OF ALL THESE DIFFERENT PERCENTAGES AND ALLOWANCES AND HEIGHTS AND, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, AND I DON'T KNOW IF I NEED TO MAKE A MOTION TO MAKE THAT AMENDMENT, OR, UM, SINCE I KNOW WE'LL HAVE THIS CONVERSATION ON, ON THE NEXT READING, , IT WOULD BE THE MOTION SHEET THAT HAS 3000 A YEAR.
IF YOU WANTED TO CHANGE IN 3000, YOU WOULD BE REQUIRED TO, TO, TO AMEND IT.
UM, I HAD OPTED NOT TO AMEND IT, BUT TO EXPRESS MY DESIRE AND MY HOPE THAT IT ENDS UP WITH A LARGER VENUE.
MY, UM, UH, AND THAT'S REAL IMPORTANT TO MY SUPPORT.
UH, ONLY THINKING THAT UNTIL WE ACTUALLY HAVE THE OTHER ELEMENTS, I'M NOT SURE WE'RE IN A REAL POSITION TO, TO HAVE THAT KIND OF DISCUSSION ON SIZE, BUT IT SAYS THREE.
NOW, IF YOU WANTED TO CHANGE IT, IT WOULD REQUIRE AN AMENDMENT.
I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE TO MAKE THE AMENDMENT JUST TO CHANGE THE 3000 SQUARE FEET TO 17,500 AS IS REFLECTIVE IN THE PLANNING, COMMISSION'S VOTE, KNOWING FULL WELL AGAIN, THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION SHORTLY AS, AS THIS CASE COMES BACK TO US.
IT HAS BEEN AN AMENDMENT TO HAVE IT AT 17 FIVE.
IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT AMENDMENT COUNCIL MEMBER WENT THIS, I CAN SIT ANY DISCUSSION ON, ON THIS ELEMENT COUNCIL MEMBER POOL.
I APPRECIATE THE, UM, AMENDMENT THAT MY COLLEAGUE IS MAKING, BUT UNTIL I CAN SEE THE LIST OF THE COMPARISON CHART THAT I'VE REQUESTED FROM THE APPLICANT ON THE VARIOUS VENUE SIZES IN THE, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT CAN BE ACCOMMODATED AND THEN THINK ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT MORE.
I, I CANNOT SUPPORT THAT AMENDMENT.
I THINK WE'RE IN A GOOD PLACE, UM, WITH COUNCIL MEMBER TABOS, UM, DILIGENT WORK, UH, TO GO FORWARD ON FIRST READING TONIGHT AS OUR KITCHEN.
UM, YES, I ALSO APPRECIATE THE AMENDMENT AND, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY WILLING TO CONSIDER, UH, OTHER, UH, ASPECTS OF SIZE AS WE MOVE FORWARD ON, YOU KNOW, THE SECOND AND THIRD.
BUT I HAVE TO SAY THAT, UM, THAT I, I, UH, I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT COUNCIL MEMBER TOVA HAS DONE.
THIS IS IN HER DISTRICT AND SHE'S VERY WELL AWARE OF WHAT'S NEEDED IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA.
AND SO I TRUST THAT THIS IS A GOOD STARTING POINT, AT LEAST.
AND I'M RELUCTANT IN CAN'T SUPPORT, UM, STARTING WITH, WITH SOMETHING THAT'S LARGER AT THIS POINT, FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS AMENDMENT.
WELL, I RECOGNIZE AS YOU'VE SAID, MAYOR, THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE DISCUSSED OVER THE NEXT FEW READINGS, UM, AND HAVING TO PICK NOW THAT WE HAVE THIS AMENDMENT BEFORE US, I REMEMBER, UH, MR. BRIDGES COMMENTS ABOUT THIS BEING A VENUE SIZE THAT IS MISSING IN THE CITY.
AND SO I'LL, I'LL VOTE THAT WAY UNTIL WE HAVE THE FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE OTHER READINGS, I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR THE AMENDMENT BECAUSE I THINK IT SHOULD BE A BIGGER SIZE.
I DON'T THINK THAT THE NO VOTE IN THIS INSTANCE NECESSARILY MEANS.
AND, AND MY ONLY CONCERN ABOUT TAKING HIS VOTE IS THAT IT LOOKS LIKE THERE MIGHT BE PEOPLE THAT MIGHT OPPOSE IT NOW, BUT MY LATER WELL SUPPORT SOMETHING THAT'S, UH, THAT'S A BIGGER SIZE.
UM, UM, SO, UH, HOPING THAT WHATEVER THIS VOTE IS RECOGNIZES THAT IT WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A CONVERSATION HERE.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I PUT AN ASTERISK ON THAT RIGHT NOW.
UM, YOU KNOW, I, HAVING, HAVING HAD DOZENS OF EMAILS AND MY STAFF, I'VE HAD DOZENS OF CALLS WITH NEIGHBORS GOING BACK AND ASKING THEM TO PLEASE RECONSIDER THE COMPATIBILITY PIECE, UH, A DIFFERENT SIZE INCREASING ENTITLEMENTS.
YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF GOOD FAITH WORK TO REALLY MAKE SURE THAT THE HOUSING PIECE COULD BE MAXIMIZED, UM, REALLY SUBSTANTIALLY BEYOND WHAT IS, WHAT IS CURRENTLY THERE.
[06:20:01]
CONSIDERATION.AND, YOU KNOW, I WOULD, I WOULD, UM, ASK THAT YOU PLEASE CONSIDER THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING CONVERSATION AND, UM, AND GRANT THE ABILITY FOR THAT TO TRANSPIRE OVER TIME WITH THE HOPE THAT WE WOULD LAND IN A DIFFERENT PLACE.
AND LET'S TAKE A VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT THAT WAS IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDMENT, UH, OH, SORRY.
COUNCIL MEMBER HOPPER MADISON.
I WAS JUST GOING TO INDICATE MY SUPPORT FOR THE AMENDMENT.
UM, BUT I ALSO HAD COMMENTARY PRIOR TO A COUNCIL MEMBER, ELLIS PRESENTING THIS ADDITIONAL AMENDMENT.
I HAD COMMENTARY FOR THE ORIGINAL, UM, MOTION.
SO, UM, A TWO-PARTER I FULLY SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT AND LOOK FORWARD TO THIS, CONTINUING TO BE A FLUID CONVERSATION WHERE EVERYBODY'S MOVING TOWARDS THE SAME GOAL, UM, WHICH IS WHAT'S BEST FOR, FOR AUSTIN.
SO, UM, UH, ONCE WE FINISHED WITH THIS VOTE, I'D LIKE TO BE RECOGNIZED AND TRYING TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR THE, UH, FOR THE ORIGINAL MOTION.
I'M GOING TO GO AND SUPPORT, UH, FOR THE, UH, THE ORIGINAL AND I THINK IT'S, UH, DATED AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO SERVE IT.
LET'S TAKE A, VOTE THOSE IN FAVOR OF AMENDING IT TO GO TO 17 FIVE, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
UH, I COUNT, UH, 1, 2, 3, 4 1 2 3, 4, 5, 6 VOTES.
UH, THOSE OPPOSED ARE, UH, TOVO PAUL, UH, KELLY AND KITCHEN, UH, SIX VOTES, UM, UH, IN FAVOR.
AND DID I LEAVE SOMEBODY OFF MERIT IN THE MAYOR PRO TEM VOTING? DID I, WAS THAT CORRECT? UH, MAY PRETEND WE'RE VOTING.
IF THE VOTE IS ON, HANG UP TO 17, I'M SORRY.
IF THE VOTING QUESTION IS WHETHER TO GO UP TO 17 NOW AT THIS POINT.
SO IT PASSES ON A SIX, FIVE, UH, VOTE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, TO BE CLEAR THAT MY NO VOTE NOW DOES NOT MEAN THAT I'M OPPOSED TO A LARGER VENUE.
IT JUST MEANS THAT THERE'S MORE DISCUSSION THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.
AND AT THIS POINT, I THINK IT'S A LITTLE PREMATURE FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO VOTE FOR IT, TO BE A LARGER VENUE.
WE HAVE EMOTION IN FRONT OF US.
UM, UH, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION BEFORE WE VOTE, CATHERINE.
YEAH, BUT JUST SAY I'M PROBABLY, I'M GOING TO BE A NO VOTE HERE TODAY.
HAVING WORKED REALLY HARD TO KIND OF COME UP WITH WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A GOOD STARTING PLACE.
AND THAT'S AN UNFORTUNATE THING TO DO.
I SUPPORT WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE.
I SUPPORT HAVING A MUSIC THAN YOU ON THERE AND THE HOUSING, BUT I BELIEVE THAT WE REALLY NEED TO WORK HARD TO, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THAT THERE'S A VALID PETITION.
I THINK WE NEED TO WORK HARD TO REALLY COME UP WITH A PROJECT THAT TELLS THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF WHO LIVED THERE, THAT WE'RE WORKING, THAT WE'RE LISTENING TO THEM AS WELL.
AND AS SOMEBODY WHO'S GOING TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS, I JUST HEARD THE APPLICANTS DON'T GO AWAY, OVERLY EXCITED WITH THE VOTE THAT WE JUST TOOK FOR LOTS OF REASONS.
A VOTES CAN FALL OFF IS AS MUCH AS THEY MOVE ON.
THERE'S A HIGHER BURDEN GIVEN THE VALID PETITION.
UH, I THINK THAT THAT PEOPLE ARE SUPPORTING IT OR SUPPORTING IT IN PART BASED ON WHERE THEY THINK WE'RE GOING TO END UP ON, ON SOME OF THE OTHER ELEMENTS AS WELL.
SO THERE'S STILL A LOT OF WORK TO BE DOING HERE.
AND I APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO, TO ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES AND TO EARNESTLY ENGAGE COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN.
I HAVE ANOTHER AMENDMENT I'D LIKE TO MAKE, I'D LIKE TO, UH, AMEND WHAT'S IN FRONT OF US TO REMOVE THE SIZE.
I THINK A SIX, FIVE VOTE ON THE SIZE INDICATES THAT, UM, THERE'S A LOT MORE CONVERSATION THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.
AND I'M VERY RELUCTANT MOVING FORWARD WITH A SIZE THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBER IN THAT DISTRICT HAS BEEN WORKING VERY HARD ON.
I THINK THAT SHE HAS BEEN WORKING VERY HARD WITH THE CONSTITUENTS AND HAS A BETTER READ OF WHERE WE MIGHT BE.
BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT FOR MYSELF AND FOR OTHERS, WE'RE NOT SURE ON WHAT WHAT'S THE, WHAT WOULD BE THE BEST SIZE.
SO I THINK AT THIS POINT IT MIGHT BE BETTER IF WE JUST, IF WE JUST DON'T ADDRESS THAT.
SO I, I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE REMOVE FROM THE AMENDMENT THAT'S IN FRONT OF US, THE REFERENCE TO THE SIZE I'D LIKE TO SAY, OKAY, WALKING AMENDMENT, TALKING AMENDMENT .
SO I HAVE AN AMENDMENT THAT IS MADE TO REMOVE THE SIZE ALTOGETHER.
JUST LEAVE IT INDETERMINANT ON FIRST READING, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER, KELLY DISCUSSION, WHICH YOU'VE HAD OTHER DISCUSSION.
YOU GUYS AREN'T TOO COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN.
ARE YOU SUGGESTING THAT WE REMOVE THE SIZE ENTIRELY? NOT JUST THE AMENDMENT.
[06:25:02]
I MEANT WHAT I MEANT TO DO, AND I WOULD BE, UH, OPEN TO, UM, IF YOU HAVE A SUGGESTION, IS THAT WE NOT, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP THE REST OF WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, BUT JUST, UH, NOT DECIDE ON WHAT THE SIZES, IF THAT MAKES, I HEARD THE MOTION TO BE JUST TO LEAVE THE SIZE UNDETERMINED AT THIS POINT IN FIRST READING, I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.UM, I THINK THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT, UH, AMENDMENT I'M TRYING, WHAT I'M TRYING TO DETERMINE IS WHETHER IT MODIFIES, WHAT IS, I MEAN, IN, IN ESSENCE, THE PROPOSAL WAS 17,000.
SO ARE YOU SUGGESTING, BUT YOUR AMENDMENT IS OVERRIDING.
THE STAFF IS OVERRIDING APPLICANTS AS WELL AND LEAVING AND LEAVING IT AS AN INDETERMINANT SIZE.
I READ THAT TO BE STRIKING THE 17 FIVE AND WRITING ANY BLANK.
I THINK THAT'S VERY, I WOULD SAY TRACK ONE FOR A SIZE OF BLANK SQUARE FEET OF GROSS FLOOR AREA.
SO THE MOTION IS TO GO FROM 75 TO A BLANK IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.
ANY DISCUSSION, NO DISCUSSION.
THERE WAS IN FAVOR OF REPLACING 17 FIVE WITH A BLANK.
UH, SAME, UM, UH, KELLY POOL, TOVO KITCHEN, THOSE OPPOSED, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR PRO TEM, UH, THOSE OPPOSED, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
UH, AND IT'S THE SAME SEX, UH, THAT WE HAD BEFORE? NO KATHERINE POOL.
I THINK YOU MISCOUNTED MY VOTE.
I THINK YOU CANDIDATE FOR WHAT I DIDN'T VOTE FOR.
AND THEN DIDN'T COUNT, UM, MAY REPORT.
HOW DID YOU WANT TO BE SHOWN VOTING ON THAT LAST WORD? I'M SORRY.
I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP THE NUMBERS.
SO THE LADDER I VOTED, NO FOR THE AMENDED.
I GOT YOU THAT I, SO I GOT US THE SAME SIX, FIVE THAT WE HAD ON THE EARLIER VOTE.
NOW FIVE, SIX, THIS AMENDMENT DOES NOT PASS.
SO THE VOTES IN FAVOR OF THIS LAST ONE WERE COUNCIL MEMBER, KELLY COUNCIL MEMBER POOL.
ON THE, ON THE MOTION ON THE AMENDMENT TO PUT IN THE BLANK, THE YES.
VOTES WERE COUNCIL MEMBERS, KELLY POOLE, TOVO KITCHEN, AND THE MAYOR PRO TEM I'M, I'M VOTING NO ON THE AMENDMENT.
UM, AND, AND, AND KEEPING IT, KEEPING IT PRESENT, ACTUALLY, I'M SORRY, MAY I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING, ARE YOU VOTING FOR A BLANK OR YOU VOTING? I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR THE BLANK.
SO SIX, FIVE, UH, LET'S DO IT THAT WAY.
CAUSE I THINK THAT'S GOING TO HELP US GET TO WHERE WE NEED TO GET TO SIX, FIVE I'M ON A VOTE FOR THE BLANK AND UH, IN THE, IN THE MOTION.
SO WE HAVE A BLANK KATHERINE POOL.
I, UM, WAS FIXING TO VOTE NO FOR THE MAIN MOTION, BECAUSE I DO THINK THAT SIGNIFICANT WORK HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED BY THE DISTRICT NINE COUNCIL MEMBER.
AND, UM, I WANT TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT WORK GOING FORWARD FOR ALL PARTIES.
AND THIS IS FRANKLY, A, A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE FOR HER TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH HER CONSTITUENTS AND THE RESIDENTS ON A REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUE THAT I THINK ULTIMATELY WE WILL ALL COME TO AN AGREEMENT ON, BUT IT'S NOT TODAY.
AND IT'S, AND, UH, TRYING TO STAGE MANAGE IT AT THIS POINT IS, IS COUNTERPRODUCTIVE FROM MY PERSPECTIVE.
UH, I THANK YOU FOR SAVING THE MAIN MOTION.
AT LEAST AS FAR AS MY VOTE IS CONCERNED, UM, I WILL NOW BE ABLE TO VOTE YES FOR THIS.
OTHERWISE I WOULD HAVE BEEN VOTING.
THE MAIN MOTION IS IN FRONT OF US.
I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO GET TOO EXCITED EITHER WAY ON THIS.
YOU GUYS NEED NINE VOTES IN ORDER TO GET THIS PASSED.
SO THERE'S WORK AHEAD OF YOU, UH, TO, TO BE ABLE TO GET FROM, FROM, FROM HERE TO THERE.
UM, THE MAIN MOTION IS IN FRONT OF US IS A BLANK AS TO THE SIZE, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THOSE OPPOSED STILL NEVER HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THE MAIN MOTION THAT I'VE BEEN TRYING TO, SORRY, GO AHEAD.
AND SOMETIMES I MISS THE SCREEN, PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO, TO AUDIBLY CALL OUT.
UM, HEY, MY HANDS RAISED, BUT HE SAID I WILL MOVING FORWARD.
I JUST THINK IT'S RUDE, BUT OKAY.
UM, I WILL DO THAT MOVING FORWARD.
SO I WANTING TO SPEAK TO, TO THE MAIN MOTION, UH, BUT I APPRECIATE HAVING HAD THIS CONVERSATION TRANSPIRE, UH, WITHOUT HAVING HAD THAT OPPORTUNITY TO, TO MAKE MY COMMENTARY IF FOR NO OTHER REASON, YOU KNOW, AS YOU LISTEN TO, UM, AS, AS, AS WE HAVE THIS DISCUSSION, I CERTAINLY DON'T WANT THERE TO EVER BE ANY IMPLICATION THAT THE EFFORTS, UH, OF A PARTICULAR COUNCIL MEMBER, ESPECIALLY AS IT PERTAINS TO THEIR DISTRICT OR DIMINISHED BY WAY OF A DIFFERENCE
[06:30:01]
OF OPINION, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THAT'S THE CASE.UM, AND SO, UH, I WOULD LIKE VERY MUCH TO, TO ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
IT FEELS LIKE WHEN YOU'VE WORKED SO HARD AND YOUR STAFF HAS WORKED SO HARD, YOU'VE INVESTED SO MUCH TIME, UM, AND AN ITEM AND NOT HAVE YOUR COLLEAGUES NECESSARILY, YOU KNOW, BE IN DIRECT ALIGNMENT.
I HOPE, YOU KNOW, A PART OF WHAT WE GET TO DO HERE IS NOT BEING DIRECT AGREEMENT, BUT STILL SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER, UM, AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
SO MY ORIGINAL COMMENTARY THOUGH, I WANTED TO SAY THAT I KNOW IT'S, I'M NOT BREAKING ANY NEWS.
WHEN I SAY THAT AUSTIN IS A CHANGING CITY.
IF YOU'VE BEEN HERE FOR MORE THAN A WEEK THAN YOU'VE SEEN IT, IF YOU'VE BEEN HERE SINCE THE SEVENTIES, LIKE I HAVE, WHEN I WAS BORN HERE, YOU'VE DEFINITELY SEEN IT.
SOME CHANGE IS GOOD, SOME IS BAD LIKE IT OR NOT, IT'S HAPPENING.
AND WITH THAT CHANGE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE EVOLVING NEEDS.
AND RIGHT NOW WE NEED A LOT MORE HOUSING.
UM, WE ALSO NEED TO BE VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT HOW WE NURTURE OUR PRICELESS, BUT INCREDIBLY FRAGILE LOCAL MUSIC ECOSYSTEM.
IN MY MIND'S EYE, THE APPLICANT'S PROPOSAL HERE WOULD CHECK A LOT OF BOXES FOR US.
I THINK IT WOULD CHECK THE BOX FOR NEW HOUSING.
SOME OF THAT BEING INCOME RESTRICTED, I THINK IT WOULD PUT HOUSING LESS THAN A MILE FROM DOWNTOWN AND JUST A FEW HUNDRED FEET FROM AN IMAGINED AUSTIN ACTIVITY CORRIDOR AND NOT ONE, BUT TWO FUTURE LIGHT RAIL LINES.
IT WOULD PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR A BELOVED RECORD, RECORDING STUDIO, CREATE SPACE FOR A MUSIC MUSEUM.
IT WOULD ALSO RESURRECT AN ICONIC VENUE.
THAT'S LINKED TO THE KING OF AUSTIN'S MUSIC SCENE, WILLIE NELSON HIMSELF.
UM, WE'VE RECEIVED HUNDREDS AND I MEAN VERY MUCH LITERALLY OF EMAILS IN SUPPORT OF THIS, AND JUST HEARD DOZENS OF SPEAKERS WHO TOOK THE TIME OUT OF THEIR DAY ON BEHALF OF THIS PROPOSAL.
UM, AND SO, YOU KNOW, I GUESS AS A, AS AN ADDITION TO MY ORIGINAL COMMENTARY ABOUT NOT BEING IN DIRECT ALIGNMENT, BUT CERTAINLY NOT DIMINISHING THE VALUE OF PEOPLE'S CONTRIBUTION, I HEARD THE RESIDENTS AND I HEAR THE RESIDENTS AND THEIR OPPOSITION AND THEIR CONCERNS.
UM, BUT I ALSO HEAR THE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE REACHING OUT TO US AS WELL.
AND I DON'T WANT TO, UM, OFFER ANY MORE WEIGHT OR RELEVANCE TO, YOU KNOW, A GROUP OF, OF CONSTITUENTS OVER ANOTHER GROUP OF CONSTITUENTS.
UM, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, SO THIS ITEM WAS BACKED BY OUR MUSIC COMMISSION, OUR PLANNING COMMISSION, YOU KNOW, THE KING HIMSELF, GARY CLARK, JR.
YOU KNOW, THOSE, THAT THOSE THINGS MEAN SOMETHING TO ME.
AND NOT JUST FROM A, UM, NOSTALGIC PERSPECTIVE, THOSE THINGS MEAN SOMETHING TO ME ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO I THINK ARE DIRECTLY INVESTED IN THE FUTURE OF AUSTIN MUSIC.
UM, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE INSTA CD WAS CREATED NEARLY 40 YEARS AGO TO PROTECT THE ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT THIS BUILDING AND ITS MASSIVE PARKING LOT CAME ALONG LONG AFTER THE HOMES IN THIS COMMUNITY WHERE VIRGINIA WOULD FEEL, UM, REALLY VERY COMFORTABLE, UM, MUCH LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS WITH REMOVING THE, THE PROPERTY FROM THE NCCD.
LIKE I SAID, THIS IS A CHANGING AND EVOLVING CITY, UM, WITH EVOLVING NEEDS.
I THINK OUR POLICY-MAKING SHOULD REFLECT THAT.
I THINK DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE 36 YEARS AGO, SHOULDN'T BE IRREVERSIBLE.
IF WE ALWAYS GAVE DIFFERENT DEFERENCE TO THE RULES THAT WE MADE LONG BEFORE OUR TIME FAIRVIEW PARK WOULD STILL BE THE WHITES ONLY SUBDIVISION.
IT WAS WHEN IT WAS ORIGINALLY ESTABLISHED.
UM, AS WE'VE HEARD, AUSTIN IS LACKING IN VENUES OF THIS SIZE.
UM, THE WOMEN THAT'S BEING PROPOSED BEFORE US TODAY.
AND I DO APPRECIATE THAT WE HAVE, UH, CONSIDERABLY MORE TIME TO HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS.
I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE SUPPORTING ANYTHING THAT WOULD MAXIMIZE OUR ABILITY TO ADDRESS THE EVOLVING NEEDS OF OUR CITY AND OUR CONSTITUENTS.
SO THAT SAID, WHILE I'M STRUGGLING TO UNDERSTAND THE UTILITY OF REALLY MAINTAINING THIS NCCD OVERLAY, I AM OPEN TO THE IDEA OF WORKING OUT A SOLUTION, UH, THROUGH AMENDMENTS, BUT WE'LL DEFINITELY NEED THAT ADDITIONAL TIME TO REVIEW THEM TO ENSURE THAT THEY SUPPORT THE PROJECT'S DESIRED GOALS, WHICH I FULLY SUPPORT HANG OUT BEFORE WE VOTE STEAK ABOUT THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THOSE POSED UNANIMOUS ON THE DICE.
IT MOVES FORWARD AFTER FIRST READING.
LET'S TAKE UP THE OTHER ZONING CASE, UH, WHICH, UH, IS FIVE 30.
LET'S KEEP WORKING A LITTLE BIT MORE.
AND THANK ALL THE NEIGHBORS AND EVERYONE WHO SHOWED UP AND JUST PUT TIME INTO THIS AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY.
I PROPOSED, LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET THROUGH THIS BY SIX ANTICIPATING WE CAN TAKE A LOOK ON THE AGENDA.
THEN WE CAN BAKE THEN FOR LUNCH OR WE CAN EAT DINNER.
WE CAN SEE WHAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US IS THIS LAST ZONING CASE.
AND THEN WE HAVE, UM, THE, UH, UH, PULLED ITEMS, WHICH ARE THE CONTRACT FOR FLEET, THE, UM, UH, EMS STATION, UH, AND THE, UM, UH, WAGE THEFT,
[06:35:01]
UH, ISSUE.AS I TOLD MAY, I THINK WE, WE, UH, DISPEND IT.
WE, I FORGOT WHAT THAT WORD IS.
SO OF 19 WAS ALREADY TAKEN CARE.
WOULD YOU BE, UH, ECONOMIC DISTRICTS? WE HAVE, UH, 36 COMING BACK, WHICH IS THE EMS STATION.
AND WE HAVE, UH, THE WAGE THEFT, UH, KITCHEN, THE IFC AND THE ZONING CASE.
SO LET'S DO A ZONING CASE AND THEN SEE
[Items 76 & 77 (part 3 of 3)]
COUNSELORS ARE MAYOR.UM, I DIDN'T MAKE A MOTION, UH, EARLIER ON THE I'LL ACTUALLY, I'LL JUST MAKE MY MOTION AND THEN I'LL EXPLAIN IT.
I MOVED TO POSTPONE THIS TO MARCH 24TH.
NO, THE BRADY GRANT, UH, CASE.
COUNSELOR AMERICAN SAR MOVES TO, UH, POSTPONE, UH, ZONING CASES, 76 AND 77 TILL WHEN, MARCH 24TH, MARCH 21ST, FOURTH, 24TH, RATHER SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER.
KELLY GOT TO TALK TO HIM ABOUT NO, I'LL JUST, I THOUGHT WE WERE STEPPING OUT FOR DINNER AT FIVE 30, SO I'M HAPPY TO EXPLAIN IT OR TALK ABOUT IT, BUT IF FOLKS JUST WANT TO VOTE FOR THE POSTPONEMENT, THEN HE GOT HERE.
WHY IS THE APPLICANT HERE? YES.
AS THE APPLICANT HAVE AN ISSUE WITH, DO YOU HAVE A NAP? YOU HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE POSTPONEMENT.
UH, STAFF, IS THERE ANY REASON WHY NOT TO POSTPONE THIS? I'M GOING TO LAND THE NEIGHBOR.
UM, AND THAT CASE WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO POSTPONE THIS, UH, DISCUSSION BEFORE WE VOTE.
UM, AND I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, WHO HAD MADE THE MOTION THAT DIDN'T GET SECONDED EARLIER, JUST TO LET HER KNOW THAT I WAS HAVING HEARD THE, THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO EXPLAINED WHAT, WHY THEY WERE ASKING FOR, UM, A POSTPONEMENT AND THE CONVERSATION IN PARTICULAR ABOUT THE, THE INDIVIDUAL WHO TOOK HER NAME OFF THIS MORNING.
I THINK THIS IS A REALLY APPROPRIATE, APPROPRIATE ACTION HERE TODAY.
I'M GOING TO SUPPORT IT FOR THE SAME REASON, THE SAME BASIS.
AND THEN I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S JUST COUNCIL MEMBER.
CASSARA TRYING TO PUSH OFF A VOTE WHEN HE WON'T BE ON THE COUNCIL COUNCIL MEMBER.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR SUPPORTING THE POSTPONEMENT.
NOW, EVEN THOUGH ORIGINALLY IT WASN'T SUPPORTED.
I KNOW THAT THE TESTIMONY THAT WE HEARD REALLY SOLIDIFIED THE REASONS FOR THE POSTPONEMENT.
AND I KNEW THAT THAT MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE.
SO I WANT TO ENCOURAGE ANYBODY WHO MAY BE WATCHING NOW, AND IF THEY FEEL LIKE THEIR VOICES, AREN'T HEARD WHEN THEY COME BEFORE COUNCIL, THIS IS A CLEAR EXAMPLE OF ONE WAY THAT A DIFFERENCE WAS MADE.
AND THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO SPEAK ABOUT THINGS YOU'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT.
AND MOVED IN SECOND TO POSTPONE THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HANDS.
COUNCIL MEMBER, HOPPER, MADISON.
ARE YOU GOOD WITH THAT? THAT'S OKAY.
THIS ITEM IS POSTPONED THAT WAY.
THAT GETS US THEN TO THE LAST COUPLE ITEMS. SEE IF WE CAN DO THIS BEFORE WE WOULD BREAK FOR DINNER.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER TOBO YOU PULLED THE ITEM NUMBER 19.
I MADE A MISTAKE ON 80 AND I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO DISCUSS IT.
SO IF YOU CAN SHOW ME VOTING NO ON IT.
THANK YOU WITH THE RECORD, PLEASE.
UM, WELL THAT'S, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO THAT OTHER
[Items 80 & 81]
THAN RECONSIDERING THE MOVE THAT WE RECONSIDER IT.ANY OBJECTION TO RECONSIDERING THE VOTE ON NUMBER 80 HEARING.
NOW THIS RECONSIDER I WERE TO TAKE A VOTE ON NUMBER 80, THOSE IN FAVOR OF, UH, NUMBER 80, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
REMEMBER READ THE REIA VOTES, KNOW THE OTHER'S VOTING COUNTS.
REMEMBER THIS ARE OFF THE DIOCESE, THAT ITEM PASSES.
I'LL JUST SAY ON THAT ONE, I THINK THERE'S MORE WORK TO DO, AND I HOPE THE APPLICANT WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORS, UM, TO IMPROVE THAT AT THAT PROJECT.
UM, 81 IS RELATED TO 80, SO THE ACTION WOULD BE FOR 80 AND 81.
RIGHT? LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT THAT BOAT WAS FOR 80 AND 81.
BOTH OBJECTIONS TO THE RECORDS ARE REFLECTING.
I SHOULD HAVE SAID IT THAT WAY.
WE'VE BEEN CALLING THEM THAT WAY CONSISTENTLY.
UH, THANK YOU, RUNNER, UH, A MAYOR PRO
[06:40:01]
TEM.I'M NOT SURE IF YOU'VE ALREADY CALLED UP 19 OR NOT, BUT I WANTED TO SEE IF WE COULD DO 36 QUICKLY.
I THINK, I THINK THAT THEY'RE ALL GOING TO BE PRETTY QUICK.
WE'RE GOING TO TRY AND DO ALL OF THEM BEFORE 600.
YEAH, LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET THAT 19 AND 36 WILL BE FAST AND THEN WE'LL CLOSE THEM WITH 53 AND I'M NOT SURE.
[19. Authorize negotiation and execution of a contract with Sabre Development. LLC to provide services to develop a framework for the economic districts in the City. for a term of two years for a total contract amount not to exceed S 1 20.000. (Note: This solicitation was reviewed for subcontracting opportunities in accordance with City Code Chapter 2-90 Minority Owned and Women Owned Business Enteirrise Procurement Program. For the services required for this solicitation. there were no subcontracting opportunities therefore. no subcontracting goals were established. However, the recommended contractor identified subcontracting opportunities).]
COUNSELOR TOHO YOU WANT TO TAKE US THROUGH, UH, THAT ONE 19 THAT'S COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN HAS PULLED IT.YES, I HAVE DIRECTION, BUT I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A MOOT POINT.
UH, MY CONCERN WITH 19, I, I, UM, I THINK 19 IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN AND, UM, BUT MY CONCERN IS THAT, UM, THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH, UH, LET ME BACK UP FOR THOSE WHO AREN'T FAMILIAR 19 IS A, UM, IS A DOLLARS FOR A CONSULTANT, UH, RELATED TO, UM, RELATED TO DOING SOME, UH, ANALYSIS AND WORK ON OUR CULTURAL DISTRICTS AND ECONOMIC DISTRICTS, WHICH I THINK IS WORK THAT IS USEFUL AND IMPORTANT TO DO.
MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS IS PROCEEDING FORWARD AT THE SAME TIME.
UH, WHEN, UH, THIS COUNCIL PASSED THE CCID, WHICH WAS THE CULTURAL AND CLIMATE INTER INTER UH, CULTURAL AND CLIMATE INNOVATION DISTRICT EIGHT MONTHS AGO, THIS COUNCIL PASSED IT.
AND I STILL DO NOT HAVE A COMMITMENT FROM OUR STAFF TO MOVE FORWARD WITH WHAT WAS INCLUDED IN THAT RESOLUTION.
AND THE REASON I DON'T HAVE A COMMITMENT, IS THERE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT FUNDING FOR CONSULTANT FOR THAT PROGRAM? SO I'M VERY RELUCTANT TO APPROVE.
I THINK IT'S 120,000 FOR THIS, WHICH IS A MORE GENERAL STUDY WHEN WE HAVE NOT YET IDENTIFIED A MUCH LOWER DOLLAR AMOUNT, HOW WE'RE GOING TO PROCEED WITH, WITH, UH, CARRYING OUT SOMETHING THIS COUNCIL PASSED.
SO I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO VOTE FOR THIS.
I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND IF OTHERS PROCEED WITH IT.
I, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK IT'S A BAD STUDY AT ALL.
YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S GOOD TO DO, BUT I NEED TO ASK THE CITY MANAGER RIGHT NOW, IF YOU CAN MAKE A COMMITMENT TO CARRY OUT THE RESOLUTION ON THE CULTURAL AND CLIMATE INNOVATION DISTRICT THAT THIS COUNCIL PASSED EIGHT MONTHS AGO, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.
I CERTAINLY CAN MAKE THE COMMITMENT TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH YOU ON THAT RESOLUTION AS WE HAVE IN THE PAST.
BUT AS YOU NOTED, WE HAVE NOT, AT THIS POINT IN TIME IDENTIFIED THE FUNDS TO HIRE THAT CONSULTANT.
I KNOW THERE ARE OTHER IFCS AND RESOLUTIONS THAT HAVE ALSO NOT BEEN FUNDED.
UM, BUT THOSE ARE PART OF OUR ONGOING DISCUSSIONS.
AS WE LOOK AT OUR OVERALL BUDGET, I KNOW THAT, UH, OUR BUDGET DIRECTOR MAY HAVE, OR I'M SORRY, OUR CFO MAY HAVE ADDITIONAL CONTEXT FOR THIS, BUT THESE ARE, THESE ARE CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE FACING AS WE PROCEED WITH, WITH, UH, WITH OUR BUDGET GOING FORWARD.
WELL, LET ME JUST SAY THAT THE, THE, THE DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT'S NEEDED FOR THE CCID IS MUCH LESS THAN THE 120,000 IS BEING PROPOSED FOR THIS PARTICULAR CONSULTANT.
AND, UM, AND LIKE I SAID, I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO VOTE FOR IT.
SO, AND I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT WE PASSED THE CCID, YOU KNOW, EIGHT MONTHS AGO AND THE ORDER MAGNITUDE OF THE DOLLARS THAT WE NEED IS A HUNDRED THOUSAND OR UNDER.
AND I ACTUALLY THINK WE COULD DO IT FOR SIGNIFICANTLY UNDER A HUNDRED THOUSAND.
SO CAN I AT LEAST HAVE A COMMITMENT THAT THERE'S SOME ACTION BEING TAKEN RIGHT NOW TO LOOK FOR THOSE DOLLARS? AND CAN I HAVE A DATE BY WHICH I MIGHT BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND IF WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PROCEED WITH SOMETHING THAT WE PASSED LAST YEAR, I CAN CERTAINLY COMMIT TO THAT AND WORKING WITH YOU AND YOUR OFFICE ON LOOKING FOR ALTERNATIVES FORWARD THAT RESOLUTION, AND WE CAN GET YOU SOME UPDATE IN THE MONTH.
AND SO WE'LL HAVE A, A FEW WEEKS TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT WITH YOU.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE NUMBER 19 COUNCIL MEMBER? WHAT THIS MAKES MOTIONS FOR A SECOND COUNTS WAS ON OCTOBER 2ND.
SO YOUR DISCUSSION FOR THE DISCUSSION.
UM, I DID WANT TO PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING DIRECTION, UM, THAT WE DESIRE FOR THE AUSTIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO PLAY A GUIDING ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ECONOMIC DISTRICTS, INCLUDING CULTURAL AND HISTORIC DISTRICTS.
UM, AND PLEASE RETURN TO COUNCIL BY MARCH.
PLEASE RETURN TO COUNCIL BY MARCH 3RD, 2022, WITH ANY AMENDMENTS NECESSARY TO ENSURE THE ROLE OF THE AEDC IN THIS PROCESS.
THERE IS SOME CONFUSION ABOUT WHETHER THERE'S A NEED FOR AN INTER LOCAL AGREEMENT AMENDMENT, AN AMENDMENT TO THE INTER LOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO AFFECT THAT CHANGE FOR THEM TO GUIDE THAT WORK.
AND SO IF THERE IS A NEED FOR AN AMENDMENT CITY MANAGER, I WOULD ASK THAT YOU BRING IT BACK SO THAT WE CAN, WE CAN MAKE THAT AMENDMENT, BUT IT IS, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT WAS ALWAYS CONTEMPLATED THAT THE
[06:45:01]
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BE INVOLVED IN THIS WORK, BE STRONGLY INVOLVED IN THIS WORK, MAYBE LEAD THIS WORK.AND SO I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT HAPPENS MOVING FORWARD.
UM, AND WE DID GET A MEMO EARLIER IN THE MONTH THAT SAID ADDITIONAL ROLES OR RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION WOULD HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY BOTH THE BOARD AND THE BOARD OF THE AEDC AND THE CITY COUNCIL.
SO THIS MAY FALL INTO THAT CATEGORY.
WE HAD A PRETTY LIVELY CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS BEFORE WE TOOK A BREAK LAST YEAR, AND ONE OF THE SUBJECTS THAT CAME UP, AND ONE OF THE CONCERNS I HAD WAS WHETHER THIS WOULD DELAY THE SIGNAGE FOR THE FIFTH STREET, MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL HERITAGE, UM, CORRIDOR.
AND THE STAFF CAME BACK WITH, UH, WHAT I THINK IS A VERY GOOD COMPROMISE TO PUT SIGNAGE UP IMMEDIATELY.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE GOING UP IN FEBRUARY SO THAT SIGNAGE WILL BE INSTALLED.
IT WILL BE MORE OR LESS TEMPORARY, BUT IT, AND THEN THEY WILL CONTINUE, BEGIN THE WORK WITH OUR STAKEHOLDERS WHO HAVE, HAVE DONE THE RESEARCH, HAVE, UM, IDENTIFIED SITES AND HAVE REALLY ADVOCATED FOR THAT QUARTER, FOR YEARS NOW, UM, TO, TO IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL SITES.
AND ONCE THE KIND OF DISTRICT-WIDE SIGNAGE AND LOGO IS ATION HAS BEEN DONE.
UM, THOSE PERMANENT SIGNS MIGHT LOOK A LITTLE DIFFERENT, BUT I APPRECIATE, I APPRECIATE THE RESPONSIVENESS.
I APPRECIATE GETTING THOSE SIGNS UP, UM, THAT RECOGNITION THAT REALLY LONG OVERDUE AND WELL-DESERVED RECOGNITION FOR THOSE SITES, UM, HAPPENING SOONER.
AND THEN WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK AND LOOK FOR THOSE, THE FULLER, UH, STAKEHOLDER WORK AND THE FULLER SIGNAGE RECOGNITION.
SO THE GIST OF YOUR AMENDMENT IS JUST TO SAY, WHEN YOU'VE INVESTIGATED, WHETHER ABC CAN GET, TAKE A SIGNIFICANT ARM OR A ROLE IN THIS, WELL, I'M BEING A LITTLE BIT MORE DIRECTIVE THAN THAT.
I'M SAYING THEY SHOULD BE, THEY SHOULD PLAY A GUIDING ROLE AND THE MANAGER SHOULD COME BACK TO US ON MARCH 3RD, BY MARCH 3RD, WITH ANY, IF THERE IS A NEED FOR AN AMENDMENT WITH ANY AMENDMENT NECESSARY TO AFFECT THAT CHANGE, STEPH STAFF.
IS THERE, UH, ANY, ANY THAT'S BEEN MOVED WITH THIS, UH, UH, ELEMENT? IS THERE A DISCUSSION? THERE WAS A FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
UH, WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CASAR, AND RENT A REIA OFF THE DAYAS SIX OTHERS VOTING IN FAVOR.
WELL, IT WOULD BE SEVEN TO TWO VOTE THAT RIGHT POOL AND KITCHEN VOTED.
NO CASSARA IS OFF THE ISP IS OFF THE DYES.
SO IT WOULD BE THE OTHER SEVEN VOTING.
[36. Authorize negotiation and execution 01 a ground lease with Protestant Episcopal Church Council oi the Diocese o f Texas for real property consisting of approximately 1.604 acres of land. more or less, located at 4601 Westlake Drive, Austin. Texas 78746. for a term of forty (40) years, with one additional forty (40) year option for the operation of a new Austin Fire Department Emergency Medical Services station. in an amount not to exceed S9,060.297.]
THAT GETS US THEN TO ITEM NUMBER 36.UM, WE ASKED PUBLIC WORKS TO COME BACK TO US IF THE DIRECTION TO SEE IF THERE WAS SOMETHING ELSE, UH, IN THE AREA, BUT NOT SLOWING OR STOPPING ANY OF THE EXISTING WORK WOULD CREATE AN ISSUE, SIR, AFTERNOON COUNSEL RICHARD MENDOZA, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO COME BACK AND SPEAK ON THE SIDE OF THEM.
I BELIEVE THE QUESTION FROM EARLIER WAS YES, IF REOPENING THE PROPERTY SEARCH, UH, WOULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE PROJECT, YOU KNOW, SPEAKING AS THE PROJECT LEAD, UH, I CAN ADVISE THAT DOING SO AT THIS MOMENT WOULD BE HUGELY, UH, ADVERSELY IMPACTFUL TO THE PROGRAM AND THE, UH, SUCCESS OF THIS, UH, BUILDING THIS FIRE STATION, BOTH TO PROJECT SCHEDULE AND PROJECT BUDGET.
UH, THIS LEASE AGREEMENT, UH, SUPPORTS THE THIRD OF THE FIVE HIGHEST PRIORITY FIRE EMS STATIONS TO BE BUILT WITHIN SIX YEARS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, UH, PER COUNCIL RESOLUTION IN 2018.
I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT OUR TEAM HAS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE FIRST TWO OF THOSE FIVE STATIONS AT DAVALLE MOORE'S CROSSING AS WELL AS TRAVIS COUNTRY.
THE DECISION POINT, UH, TO IDENTIFY THE PROJECT SITE FOR THE THIRD STATION.
THIS ONE HERE WAS ACTUALLY IN SUMMER OF 2020, AND THAT WAS NECESSARY IN ORDER TO MEET THAT SIX YEAR TIMELINE, THE ENTIRE PROGRAM THAT'S TO ALLOW THE NEGOTIATIONS TO BE COMPLETED, UH, FOR THE PROPERTY AS WELL AS FOR A PRELIMINARY AND FINAL DESIGN TO OCCUR ON TIME.
SO WE COULD START CONSTRUCTION OF THIS YEAR.
IF WE WERE TO GO BACK AND REVISIT THE PROPERTY SEARCH FOR THIS THIRD STATION.
NOW IT WOULD ESSENTIALLY MOVE US BACK TWO YEARS AND POSSIBLY MORE, UH, IF WE WERE NOT ABLE TO FIND A SUITABLE SITE OR HAD TO GO THROUGH CONDEMNATION TO SECURE THAT SITE IN 2020, UH, IN THAT PROPERTY SEARCH, OUR, UH, REALIST OFFICE OF REAL ESTATE, UH, SERVICES HAD BEEN SEARCHING FOR A SUITABLE
[06:50:01]
SITE IN THIS AREA SINCE 2018.UH, THEY WERE ALSO AT THAT TIME, UH, LOOKING FOR A SITE FOR THE SECOND STATION TRAVIS COUNTRY, UH, THAT STATION WAS BUILT JUST PRIOR AND SCHEDULED TO THIS ONE.
UH, AND AT THAT THIS AREA OF THE CITY, UH, PRESENTED A NUMBER OF CHALLENGES, UH, DATE, NAMELY TYPOGRAPHY, A LOT OF HARD ROCK AVAILABILITY OF UTILITIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL.
UH, SO WE HAD TO MAKE THAT DECISION POINT EARLY IN 2020, IF WE WERE TO SATISFY THE COUNCIL DESIRE TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS PROGRAM.
UH, IF WE WERE TO GO BACK NOW, EVEN IF WE FOUND A SITE TOMORROW AND THEN ENTERED INTO NEGOTIATIONS AND THEN HAD TO REVISIT THE DESIGN, UH, WE WOULD BE, UH, BEYOND THE SIX YEAR TIMEFRAME BY ANYWHERE FROM TWO TO FIVE YEARS.
AND THEN I'M SORRY, I HAVEN'T FINISHED.
SO MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS LEASE AGREEMENT, UM, SO THAT THE PROGRAM CAN CONTINUE ON ITS MOMENTUM SO WE CAN DELIVER THESE FIRE STATIONS TO THE COMMUNITY.
MR. MENDOZA HAD JUST QUICK QUESTION, CAUSE I, I JUST WANT TO TRY TO TRUE UP WHERE EVERYBODY IS ON THIS.
UM, I THINK THAT THE INTENT OF WHAT THE COUNCIL PASSED EARLIER WAS NOT TO SLOW DOWN THE PROJECT OR TO TELL PUBLIC WORKS.
THEY SHOULD DO ANYTHING DIFFERENT TOMORROW THAN WHAT THEY WERE OTHERWISE DOING.
IT WAS ASKING REAL ESTATE OR MAYBE EARLY NEXT WEEK TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE MARKET AND SEE IF THERE WERE ANYTHING THERE THAT THEY HADN'T SEEN BEFORE.
I DON'T THINK THAT ANYBODY WAS THINKING THEY WOULD ENGAGE IN ANOTHER RFP OR ANOTHER BIG SEARCH, YOU KNOW, AFTER, YOU KNOW, BY MID NEXT WEEK, STAFF MAY HAVE AN ANSWER TO THAT.
SO I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT SETS YOU BACK TWO YEARS OF LIKE, IF THEY FOUND A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT WAS AVAILABLE, THAT WASN'T AVAILABLE BACK IN 2020, THEY COULD IDENTIFY THAT.
AND THEN WE COULD FIGURE OUT WHAT, IF ANYTHING WE WANTED TO DO GIVEN WHERE WE WERE WITH THE PROJECTS.
BUT I THINK WHAT GAVE RISE TO THIS WAS THERE WAS PROBABLY INCOMPLETE INFORMATION THAT CAME TO THE COUNCIL.
WE CAN'T FIND ANYTHING THAT IDENTIFIES THIS LOCATION.
WE WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT THE BUDGET DOCUMENTS AND THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN, AND DIDN'T FIND THEM THERE.
THERE WAS NOTICE IN DECEMBER AND A MEMO THAT JUST CAME OUT IN DECEMBER THAT SAID CONSTRUCTION WAS GOING TO COMMENCE, BUT IT DIDN'T IDENTIFY THE TRACK.
AND FRANKLY, I, WE, WE MISSED, WE MISSED THAT.
UH, AND, AND, AND SO THE, SO PART OF IT IS ON US TO, UH, I THINK, UH, BUT I CAN'T FIND IN THE RECORD WHERE THIS PARTICULAR LOCATION CAME TO THE COUNCIL FOR AUTHORIZATION TO PROCEED, BUT THIS MORNING'S VOTE WAS NOT TO SLOW YOU DOWN OR TO ENTER INTO A NEW RFP PROCESS OR TO GO THROUGH WHAT WE WENT THROUGH IN 2018 TO 2020.
IT WAS JUST ASKING, UH, REAL ESTATE, UH, TO TAKE A QUICK LOOK, TO SEE IF THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT, THAT MIGHT BE AVAILABLE THAT, THAT WE MISSED.
AND I THINK IT'S IN PART BECAUSE NOT EVERYBODY WAS QUITE ON THE SAME PAGE YET, WHICH IS WHY WE ALSO ASKED JUST TO TAKE A LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO TO CHANGE THE PROCESSES GOING FORWARD TO.
SO AS WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO CATCH SOMETHING LIKE THAT SOONER, I UNDERSTAND MAYOR, UM, PART OF THE REASONING BEHIND NOT MAKING THIS AS LOCATION AS PUBLIC AS WE MAY HAVE IS BECAUSE THOSE NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE PROPERTY WERE STILL ONGOING.
AND WE WERE ALSO RESPECTING THE WISHES OF THE ST STEPHEN'S SCHOOL.
UH, THEY WERE SENSITIVE TO MAKING THIS INFORMATION PUBLIC AS WELL, UH, IN THE OCTOBER RESOLUTION, WHICH AUTHORIZED THE CONSTRUCTION TO MOVE FORWARD ON THE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS.
UH, THIS SITE WAS LISTED BY ADDRESS AS PROPOSED.
UM, BUT THE ONLY REASON IT WAS, UH, THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE STILL UNDER NEGOTIATIONS.
WE DIDN'T COMPLETE THOSE UNTIL JANUARY.
WE DID START CONSTRUCTION UNDER A RIGHT OF ENTRY, AND THAT'S NOT UNCOMMON.
WE HAVE FRIENDLY NEGOTIATIONS GOING ON.
WE HAD A HIGH DEGREE OF CONFIDENCE THAT WE WERE GOING TO REACH AN AGREEMENT WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER.
AND WE WERE, UM, MADE THAT DECISION SO THAT WE COULD STAY ON THAT SCHEDULE.
AND WE WANT YOU TO BE ABLE TO WORK EFFICIENTLY, AND WE DON'T WANT TO MAKE THINGS PUBLIC THAT SHOULDN'T BE PUBLIC.
AND WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO TALK TO COUNCIL MEMBERS ABOUT SPECIFIC PIECES OF PROPERTY WITHOUT MAKING THEM PUBLIC, WHICH I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND IN THE NEGOTIATING PROCESS, WE DON'T WANT TO DO, UH, ESPECIALLY AS CONCERNS REAL ESTATE.
THAT'S WHY THEY'RE SPECIAL RULES THAT, THAT ALLOW FOR STAFF TO BE ABLE TO, TO, TO ELEVATE THAT AND LET COUNCIL MEMBERS KNOW.
UH, AND, AND AGAIN, IF IT WAS IN THE BACKUP SOMEWHERE AGAIN, I MISSED IT.
UH, BUT I DON'T THINK THERE WAS AN EXECUTIVE SESSION THAT WAS CALLED THAT SAID, HEY, THIS IS A TRACK WE'RE LOOKING AT.
THESE ARE THE KIND OF NEGOTIATIONS THAT WERE HAPPENING.
IT'S GOING TO BE A LEASE AND NOT A PURCHASE.
UH, SO THAT, SO THAT THE COUNSELOR COULD BE, UH, INFORMED.
I'M NOT SAYING IT WASN'T ABSOLUTELY THE RIGHT DECISION TO MAKE GIVEN ALL THE CONSIDERATIONS.
[06:55:01]
IN FACT, FROM EVERYTHING I'VE HEARD, IT WAS THE, THE DIRECTION THAT WE WOULD CHOOSE TO GO.THAT, THAT, THAT WAS BEING RAISED.
AND THERE WASN'T AN ATTEMPT FROM ANYTHING THAT WE DID THIS MORNING.
AND AS I EXPLAINED IT, AND AS I HEARD THAT IT MADE, THAT WOULD ENTER INTO A TWO YEAR PROCESS OR DISRUPT ANYTHING, EVEN IF THEY FOUND ANOTHER PIECE OF PROPERTY, IT DOESN'T SAY YOU'D NEED TO STOP.
I IMAGINE THAT WOULD COME TO US.
AND IF THAT HAPPENED, THEN WE COULD DECIDE WHAT HAPPENED THEN, UH, BUT WE COULD MOVE TO RECONSIDER IT.
MY VOTE WOULD STILL PROBABLY BE THE SAME BECAUSE IT DOESN'T STOP ANYTHING OR DO ANYTHING.
I THINK IT MORE ADDRESSES THE, THE, THE, THE PROCESS ISSUE THAT'S BEEN RAISED AGAIN.
AND YOU WEREN'T HERE FOR THE DISCUSSION, BUT THE DISCUSSION REAL CLEARLY SAD THAT, THAT WE DIDN'T WANT PUBLIC WORKS TO DO ANYTHING TOMORROW, ANY DIFFERENTLY THAN IT'S OTHERWISE DOING.
AND IT SHOULD PROCEED FULL TILT BOOGIE ON THE DIRECTION THAT IT'S ON.
UH, BUT, BUT DOUBLING BACK I THINK WAS, WAS THE REQUEST AND IT SOUNDED LIKE A REASONABLE REQUEST TO ME.
SO I APPRECIATE YOUR TESTIMONY.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS MR. MENDOZA? HE ASKED MAYOR PRO TEM.
UM, YOUR CONCERN ON THE PROCESS STUFF.
UM, BUT WE DO DO REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS ALL THE TIME FOR, UM, SAY AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR FOR OTHER THINGS THAT WE DON'T HAVE EXECUTIVE SESSIONS ON ALL THE TIME.
UM, AND IT WASN'T OCTOBER, UH, AGENDA.
I, AGAIN, I'M NOT SURE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO SAY.
WE'RE GOING TO GO LOOK AROUND AND SEE IF THERE ARE OTHER PLACES, BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO IMPACT CONSTRUCTION.
I UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS PART IN WANTING TO IMPROVE THAT, UM, FOR CERTAIN TYPES OF PROJECTS, BUT I, I AM NOT SURE ABOUT THE GO CHECK OUT WHAT'S FOR SALE.
I GUESS OUR COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO REQUESTED THAT IT SOUNDED REASONABLE TO ME JUST TO TOUCH BASE BY BACKGROUND ALONE.
AND AGAIN, I CAN'T THINK OF ANY OTHER REAL ESTATE DEAL.
WE'VE DONE THAT'S OF THIS MAGNITUDE THAT WE'VE ACTUALLY GONE ON THE PROPERTY AND STARTED PHYSICALLY POSSESSING IT AND, AND, AND, AND MADE THE DEALS WITHOUT COMING TO THE COUNCIL ON SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
I CAN'T THINK OF ANOTHER ONE SUCH THING, UH, THAT WE, THAT WE HAVE DONE QUITE THIS WAY.
AND JUST TO ADD TO THAT, UM, MAYOR PER TIME, I THINK YOU SENT ALONG THE BACKUP FROM THE COUNCIL ITEM THAT WE DEALT, THAT WE DEALT WITH.
WELL, I'VE JUST MISPLACED IT, BUT IN LOOKING OVER IT, WHEN WE APPROVED THE, WHEN WE APPROVED THE CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION, IT DIDN'T INDICATE IT DIDN'T INDICATE THAT IT WAS HAPPENING ON LEASED PROPERTY.
SO, YOU KNOW, I JUST, I DO THINK THIS IS A FUNDAMENTAL, UM, GAP IN, IN COMMUNICATION HERE.
SO I APPRECIATE, I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU SAID.
I THINK WE STILL NEED TO GET SOME EXPLANATION OF HOW AND WHY IT WAS HANDLED THAT WAY AND TALK ABOUT, I THINK THE MAYOR HAS REALLY CLEARLY OUTLINED HOW WE SHOULD PROCEED ON FUTURE CASES.
AND ESPECIALLY AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LEASED SPACE, WHERE THERE WOULD BE A REALLY SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT OF CITY RESOURCES OF PUBLIC DOLLARS IN A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT WE DON'T OWN, AND THIS IS NOT TO DISCOUNT THE REALLY IMPORTANT WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING, DIRECTOR AND KITCHEN.
UH, WELL, I, I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY, BECAUSE WHAT I'M HEARING IS THE CONCERN IS THAT S TO SAY, NOW WE SHOULD GO LOOK FOR OTHER PROPERTIES.
THAT'S WHAT I'M HEARING THE CONCERN TO BE.
WHAT'S IT'S TO SURVEY THE MARKET AND SEE PERHAPS IF THERE'S ANOTHER TRUCK THAT MIGHT BE AVAILABLE THAT WASN'T BEFORE AT THIS POINT, WE'VE ALREADY GONE DOWN THIS ROAD AND IT, UH, I AM I'M HEARING WHAT IT, WHAT OUR DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS IS SAYING AS WELL AS COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR.
AND, UM, I'M COMFORTABLE WITH LEAVING US WHERE WE AT WE'RE AT, ON THIS PROJECT RIGHT NOW.
IS THERE A MOTION TO RECONSIDER COUNCILMEMBER MAYOR PRO TEM MAKES THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER? IS THERE A SECOND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, KITCHEN, UH, SECONDS, UM, ANY DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER COUNCIL MEMBER HER? I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY PROCEDURE BECAUSE WE DON'T USUALLY DO THIS.
SO I WOULD, WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO.
I THINK WE HAVE TO VOTE ON WHETHER WE CAN RECONSIDER OR NOT.
AND THEN I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION, UM, THAT PASSES 36, BUT, UM, ADOPTS THE PORTION OF A DIRECTION THAT IS AN IMPROVEMENT TO, UM, A PROCESS ON WHETHER OR NOT TO RECONSIDER.
I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT THAT WOULD BE THE NEXT MOVE.
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THAT IS THE NEXT MOVE.IT'S BEEN SECONDED THOSE IN FAVOR OF RECONSIDERING.
PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND, UH, THAT PASSES.
UH, NOW WE NEED ANOTHER MOTION MAYOR PRO TEM.
SO I WOULD MOVE PASSAGE OF ITEM 36, UM, AND WITH DIRECTION TO THE CITY MANAGER TO IMPROVE THE PROCESS, UM, ESPECIALLY FOR THESE, UM, THESE SITES, BUT, UM, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S LEASED AND ADDING WHATEVER LANGUAGE WAS THE LANGUAGE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER TOBO HAT ON THE PROCESS FROM BEFORE.
SO JUST THE PAST WEEK PAST, EARLIER, TAKING OUT THE LANGUAGE ABOUT LOOKING FOR A SITE, A, IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT MOTION THAT SUBSTITUTE MOTION COUNSEL RABBITS MAKES THAT MOTION? ANY DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THOSE OPPOSED UNANIMOUS ON THE PAST COUNCIL MEMBER COSAR OFF AS THAT MOVES FORWARD.
COUNCIL MEMBER COUNCIL MEMBER OF WHAT THIS ALSO SUPPORTS THE NEW MOTION.
[53. Approve a resolution directing the City Manager to initiate an ordinance to assist employees working within the city-limits to file complaints for unpaid wages and require those employers to take certain actions to ensure employees are paid wages due: determine strategies necessary to collaborate with local law en forcement to address allegations of wage theft: and develop a plan to maintain a database of final determinations of state and federal labor violations committed in the City ofAustin.]
ALL RIGHT.THAT GETS US TO THE LAST ITEM, WHICH IS A COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHENS, UH, IFC, UH, PULLED BY A COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.
SO WILL THE COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN MAKE HER MOTION? AND THEN WE'LL COME TO COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, DON BE EXPLAINED, BUT JUST GO AHEAD AND MAKE THE MOTION THAT, YEAH, I'LL, I'LL DO IT RIGHT THIS TIME.
I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE PASSAGE OF, UM, ITEM NUMBER 53.
IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT COUNTER ON POOL SECONDS, THEN CATCH KITCHEN.
YOU WANT TO ADDRESS IT? AND THEN WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.
LET ME JUST, UH, REMIND EVERYONE.
I THINK YOU'RE ALL AWARE THAT, UM, WE DID MAKE SOME AMENDMENTS AND, UH, SO WE HAVE A REVISED VERSION.
UM, UH, THAT'S, UH, THAT'S ON THE WEBPAGE.
AND WHAT WE DID IS WE MADE AMENDMENTS TO ADDRESS SOME QUESTIONS AND TO BE CLEAR ON WHAT THE PURPOSE WAS HERE.
AGAIN, THE PURPOSE IS TO, TO MOVE FORWARD TO, UM, INITIATE, UM, THE ACTION THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN, UM, ON, ON, UH, THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ORDINANCE.
AND SO WE MADE IT CLEAR THAT, UM, WE CHANGED THE LANGUAGE, UH, TO, TO SAY, UH, THERE WERE, UH, DIRECTED TO INITIATE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ORDINANCE WITH STAKEHOLDER INPUT, WANTED TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT THE INTENTION ALL ALONG HAS BEEN STAKEHOLDER INPUT, AND IT WASN'T CLEAR.
SO WE ADDED LANGUAGE TO THAT EFFECT AND ALSO ADDED SOME OTHER LANGUAGE.
AND I'M CERTAINLY OPEN TO UNDERSTAND THERE MIGHT BE SOME DIRECTION, WHICH I THINK IS, IS GOOD.
AND, UM, SO THE INTENT HERE IS TO MOVE FORWARD WITHIN THE SCOPE OF WHAT IS A MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION WITH, UH, WITH OTHER BODIES IN OUR CITY TO ADDRESS, UH, THE, THE, UH, THE SITUATIONS WE HEARD ABOUT EARLIER, THE, THE, UM, THE SITUATIONS WHERE WE HAVE WORKERS WHO ARE NOT PAID FOR THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING.
WE HEARD SOME VERY, UM, COMPELLING, VERY IMPORTANT, IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, AND, AND VERY, VERY, UM, CONCERNING AND HEARTBREAKING STORIES EARLIER ABOUT, UM, OUR WORKERS WHO LIVE FROM PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK.
AND WHEN THEY FIND THEMSELVES IN A CIRCUMSTANCE WHERE THEY'RE NOT PAID, UM, IT TOTALLY DISRUPTS THEIR LIVES AND REALLY PUTS THEM AT RISK AND THEIR FAMILIES AT RISK.
I APPRECIATE THEIR, THE TESTIMONY THAT WE HAD EARLIER, THE PURPOSE HERE, WE UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT THERE ARE, THAT ARE, THERE ARE MANY, MANY COMPANIES OUT THERE, AND MOST OF OUR COMPANIES ARE DOING A GOOD JOB WITH THEIR WORKERS AND THEY'RE, THEY ARE, UM, THEY'RE GOOD ACTORS.
THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.
THIS IS ABOUT PUTTING IN PLACE, WHAT WE CAN DO AS A CITY TO PROTECT AND HELP OUR WORKERS.
SO, UM, SO I APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT OF OUR CO-SPONSORS AND EVERYONE ELSE ON THE DYES.
I KNOW PEOPLE MAY HAVE QUESTIONS, WHICH IS FINE.
I PULLED THIS ITEM BECAUSE I DO HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT IT AND WAS HOPING THAT COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN COULD POSSIBLY ANSWER THEM FOR ME.
I UNDERSTAND YOU MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO, BUT I THINK THEY'RE WORTHY OF DISCUSSION.
WAGE THEFT IS AWFUL AND A TOPIC WE CAN ALL AGREE ON.
IT SHOULDN'T HAPPEN, BUT I DO YOU NEED CLARIFICATION ON A COUPLE OF THINGS BEFORE I CAN CAST A VOTE.
UM, DO YOU KNOW IF THE CITY HAS RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM? UH, YES.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH OUR, UM, OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS, FOR EXAMPLE, AND, UM, WE DEVELOPED THIS LANGUAGE WITH THEM.
AND SO WE KNOW THAT THEY, AND WE'VE
[07:05:01]
ALSO BEEN WORKING WITH OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT.SO WE KNOW WE HAVE RESOURCES TO, TO MOVE FORWARD AT THIS STAGE.
AND, UM, AND WE EXPECT THAT THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WILL BE BROUGHT BACK TO US, UM, WHATEVER'S ARE RECOMMENDED IN TERMS OF THE CITY'S ROLE.
WE WILL, WE'LL NEED TO HAVE A DISCUSSION AT THAT POINT ABOUT WHAT KIND OF RESOURCES THAT MIGHT TAKE, BUT TH THE, THE RESOURCES DO EXIST RIGHT NOW TO TAKE THIS ACTION.
DO YOU KNOW OR ANTICIPATE THAT IF THIS RECOMMENDATIONS COME BACK AND THE CITY IS UNABLE TO HAVE THE RESOURCES NEEDED, IF THE, THIS MAY BE CONTRACTED OUT TO A THIRD PARTY ORGANIZATION? I DON'T KNOW.
AT THIS POINT, I WOULD EXPECT THAT OUR STAFF, UH, WOULD, UH, ASK OUR STAFF TO COME BACK WITH RECOMMENDATIONS.
SO WE'LL JUST HAVE TO SEE WHAT THEY THINK.
UH, AND THERE'S TWO PARTS TO IT.
WHAT IS APPROPRIATE AND WITHIN THE AUTHORITY OF A MUNICIPALITY, AND THEN THE OTHER ASPECT OF IT IS WHAT'S APPROPRIATE AND WITHIN OUR, OUR RESOURCES.
IS THERE SUPPORTIVE DOCUMENTATION THAT YOU'VE SEEN THAT SHOWS THIS PROGRAM IS NECESSARY IN THIS CITY RIGHT NOW? OH, ABSOLUTELY.
AND WE HAVE RECEIVED, WE'VE ALL RECEIVED BACKUP.
UM, AND I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO LOOK AT IT.
WE HAVE INFORMATION FROM A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT ENTITIES, INCLUDING, INCLUDING WORKERS DEFENSE THAT REALLY SITE, UM, IN THE CARPENTERS UNION THAT REALLY SITE THE INCIDENCES OF WAGE THEFT AND THE IMPACT ECONOMICALLY TO OUR COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS THE IMPACT TO INDIVIDUALS.
SO I INVITE YOU ALL TO, I THINK THAT ALL THAT INFORMATION IS IN BACKUP.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'VE BEEN SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THE PUBLIC FEEDBACK THAT YOU'VE GOTTEN FROM THE COMMUNITY.
COULD YOU TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS YOU'VE SPOKEN TO SO THAT EVERYONE IS AWARE? WELL, WE WE'VE, WE'VE TALKED TO THE, YOU HEARD SOME OF THE TESTIMONY TODAY, AND SO WE'VE REACHED OUT TO DIFFERENT CONTRACTORS, UH, TO REASSURE THEM AND LET THEM KNOW AS WELL AS TO MAKE THE AMENDMENT, TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THIS IS A PROCESS OF CONVERSATION WITH STAKEHOLDER INPUT.
AND I THINK WE'VE CLARIFIED THAT.
I THINK WE HAD SOME TESTIMONY EARLIER FROM AGC, UM, AUSTIN GENERAL CONTRACTORS WHO, UH, WERE AWARE OF THAT AND APPRECIATED, I BELIEVE THEY APPRECIATED THAT CHANGE THAT WE MADE AND WANTING TO BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION.
MY FINAL QUESTION, BEFORE I MAKE ANOTHER STATEMENT, DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE FISCAL IMPACT OF PASSING THIS ITEM MIGHT BE ON THE CITY? I DON'T THINK THERE'S A FISCAL IMPACT AT THIS POINT.
WHAT WE'RE INITIATING IS AS A CONVERSATION.
AND, UM, AND, UH, WE'LL HAVE TO DETERMINE AGAIN, WITHIN THE LAW WHAT'S WITHIN OUR PARAMETERS THAT WE COULD DO.
AND I LOOK FORWARD WITH, I KNOW OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND IS, IS VERY INTERESTED IN WORKING ON THIS.
AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT THEY BRING BACK.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ANSWERING THOSE QUESTIONS.
I SEE IN THE RESOLUTION THAT YOU INCLUDED DIRECTION TO THE CITY MANAGER TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP OF LOCAL PROSECUTING AGENCIES.
I'D SPENT TIME TALKING WITH ORGANIZATIONS OVER THE LAST WEEK OR SO CONSTITUENTS AND CONTRACTORS IN THE COMMUNITY WHO HAVE COMBINED DECADES OF LIVED EXPERIENCES AND SHARE THESE CONCERNS AS WELL.
AND AFTER REVIEWING YOUR MESSAGE BOARD POST, AND THEN ALSO THE, I BELIEVE IT'S THE DIRECTION FROM THE MAYOR, THE MAYOR AND I WERE ON THE SAME PAGE.
I WAS GOING TO BRING FORWARD DIRECTION SIMILAR TO YOURS.
SO GLAD TO SEE THAT YOU DID THAT.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO ADD VALUE TO THIS IMPORTANT RESOLUTION FOR THE VERBIAGE TO INCLUDE A SEPARATE WORKING GROUP THAT INCLUDED PARTICIPATION FROM STAKEHOLDERS IN THE COMMUNITY.
I THINK THAT'S WONDERFUL IDEA.
AND, AND THIS IS A REALLY GREAT RESOLUTION IN THAT REGARD.
ONCE WE BRING EVERYBODY TOGETHER, WE'LL HAVE A MORE COMPLETE PICTURE OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY AND HOW WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO COMBAT WAGE THEFT.
AND WE'VE GOT LANGUAGE IN THE AMENDMENT ABOUT WORKING WITH STAKEHOLDERS, AND I APPRECIATE THE LANGUAGE THAT THE MAYOR HAS IN HIS DIRECTION ALSO.
SO TO THAT END, UH, COUNTER KITCHEN, UH, I DID PREPARE AND HANDED OUT.
IT'S POSTED NOW IN BACKUP DIRECTION.
UH, FIRST I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS, UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT, THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN RIGHTS THAT HAVE BEEN GUARANTEED TO WORKERS, UH, OBVIOUSLY TO BE FREE FROM WAGE THEFT.
AND THEN THOSE LAWS PRETTY WELL DEVELOPED ON, ON, ON JOB AND WORKER CLASSIFICATION.
UH, AND, AND THERE ARE CERTAIN, UH, BENEFITS, UH, AND PROTECTIONS THAT COME FOR, UH, WORKERS IN THAT AS WELL.
UH, AND WHEN, WHEN THOSE PROTECTIONS AND GUARANTEES AND RIGHTS ARE NOT PROVIDED, THERE'S A PROBLEM AND WE SHOULD BE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO HELP.
SO I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING A RESOLUTION.
THAT'S THE, TO ADDRESS THAT IN MY CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU, EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE IN DIRECTIONS, I THINK WAS YOUR INTENT AS YOU HAD ORIGINALLY DRAFTED IT.
UH, BUT AS WE HEARD IN SOME OF THE PEOPLE TALKING THIS MORNING, THERE'S SOME PEOPLE THAT STILL HAD QUESTIONS.
UH, SO, UM, UM, UH, ALL I DID HERE, I WAS JUST TO TRY AND MAKE EVEN MORE EXPLICIT.
WHAT I UNDERSTOOD YOUR INTENT WAS ANYHOW,
[07:10:01]
THIS WAS LANGUAGE THAT HOLLY, EVEN ON THE CARPENTERS AND WORKERS, DEFENSE ARE ALSO COMFORTABLE WITH.UH, THE FIRST ONE JUST BASICALLY SAYS IN THAT ENGAGEMENT AND PUT PROVISION OR WHERE YOU SAID YOU HAVE TO HAVE BUSINESS, UH, AS WELL AS OTHER PEOPLE.
IT JUST IT'S SPECIFICALLY HERE, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT MIGHT HAVE COUNTERING VIEWS ON, ON THIS ISSUE OR HOW THIS ISSUE WOULD BE APPLIED.
THE SECOND ONE, UH, GOES TO THE QUESTIONS THAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY WERE ASKING YOU ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE HAD OPTIONS THAT BOTH HAD, UH, POTENTIALLY A, A BUDGET IMPACT.
SO WE COULD CONSIDER THAT IF THAT'S THE WAY WE WANTED TO GO OR NOT, IF WE WANTED TO GO THAT WAY.
AND THEN THE LAST ONE, JUST MAKING SURE THAT, THAT AS WE WERE DOING ANY ACTION, WE WERE CENTERING ON THE IMPACT WOULD HAVE ON THE MOST VULNERABLE.
ARE YOU OKAY ACCEPTING THIS? UH, YES.
AND I, AND I READ THAT TO MEAN THAT, UM, THAT, UH, IN, IN TERMS OF OPTIONS, UH, THAT'S FINE.
I, BUT I DO WANT OUR STAFF TO UNDERSTAND THAT, THAT WE WANT THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS.
SO WE WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE STAFF WOULD LIKE TO SEE.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT THOSE TWO THINGS ARE MUTUALLY, NO OPTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO, INCLUDING MISDIRECTION IN THE MOTION HEARING? NO OBJECTION IS INCORPORATED FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION.
UH, THE IFC FROM COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN COUNTS, BARBARA WHITE, THIS AS THANK YOU.
CONTROVERT KITCHEN FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
AND, UM, TO GET TO SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU'RE ASKING, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, WE KNOW THAT ONE, ONE OUT OF EVERY FIVE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS EXPERIENCE, WAGE THEFT AT SOME POINT.
IN FACT, THE TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION PAID OUT OVER $49 MILLION OF WAGE THEFT CLAIMS OR BLAST FIVE YEARS AND THAT'S INFORMATION INCLUDED IN OUR BACKUP.
AND SO I WANT TO, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD CONTROVERT KITCHEN.
IT IS AN ISSUE THAT AFFECTS OUR HINT THAT, AND SO I'M PROUD TO CO-SPONSOR THIS, AND, YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE IT'S OUR OBLIGATION TO, UM, CALL OUT INJUSTICES AND ENSURE THAT WE HAVE SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES IN PLACE SO THAT WE CAN, UM, SUPPORT SAFE WORKING CONDITIONS AND SUPPORT DIGNITY OF PAY.
UM, FOR MANY PEOPLE THAT PAYCHECK IS A LIFELINE.
IT IS THE DIFFERENCE OF BEING ABLE TO PAY RENT, BEING ABLE TO PAY YOUR POWER AND WATER, OR BEING ABLE TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE.
AND SO, UM, I THINK THIS IS A GREAT FIRST STEP.
I APPRECIATE YOU INCLUDING A PROCESS THAT OUTLINES ENGAGEMENT WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND STAKEHOLDERS, UH, AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEE WHAT OUR STAFF RECOMMENDS.
I'VE BEEN A EMOTIONAL AND A SECOND, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION COUNCIL MEMBER .
I SAID, I ALSO WANT TO THINK, UH, THERE A KITCHEN, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE THAT, UH, I, I GO TO, UH, WHEN I BUILD MY ADU, UH, HIRED A CONTRACTOR AND ONE OF HIS WORKERS CAME TO BACK TO MY HOUSE AND SAID THAT HE DIDN'T GET PAID.
AND THIS GUY WOULD, DID ALL THE DRYWALL IN MY HOUSE TO THE EXCELLENT JOB, YOU KNOW, AND IT, IT REALLY BROKE MY HEART TO SEE THIS PERSON, YOU KNOW, HE COULDN'T GET HIS WAGES AND I JUST MADE A RECOMMENDATION TO GO TO THE LABOR, OR, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF HE EVER DID GET THAT OR WHAT, BUT, YOU KNOW, I EXPERIENCED IT THAT I, I GAVE GUY CONTRACTOR, YOU KNOW, THE, THE WORD THE POSTDOC CAN DO IS, YOU KNOW, PUT HIS NAME SAYING THAT HE'S NOT A VERY HONEST EMPLOYER, PLEASE STAY AWAY FROM THEM, BUT I'M SURE THAT THOSE KIND OF POSTING, UH, DOESN'T GET POSTED ALMOST NOWHERE.
I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO, BUT, YOU KNOW, AND, AND THOSE, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS ARE HAPPENING.
CAUSE I, I HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS THAT ARE ESPECIALLY IMMIGRANTS THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY, THEY GET HIRED AND THEY SAID, COME BACK FOR YOUR MONEY.
AND AIN'T NEVER FIND HIM WHERE TO GET WHERE TO GO OR ANYTHING.
THEY JUST LOSE OUT THEIR WAGES.
AND IT'S VERY HARD TO SEE THAT THE STRUGGLE THAT THE PEOPLE ARE WORKING SO HARD, YOU KNOW, WITH SWEAT AND, AND, AND NOT GET PAID.
AND WE NEED TO PUT A STOP TO THAT.
AND FOR BRINGING THAT KITCHEN, UH, I JUST WANT TO SAY, UH, I WANNA THANK, UM, ALL THE FOLKS THAT HELP PUT THIS TOGETHER.
THERE WAS A LOT OF WORK ON BEHALF OF OUR, UM, ON THE PART OF OUR STAFF, LEGAL STAFF OR CIVIL RIGHTS OFFICER, UM, AND A LOT OF WORK FROM, UH, FROM THE CON, FROM THE STAKEHOLDERS WHO BROUGHT THIS TO US.
UM, THE CARPENTER'S UNION WORKERS, DEFENSE, UM, AND MANY OTHERS, UH, APPRECIATED THE COLLABORATION WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, I WANT TO THANK JASON ON MY STAFF.
HE'S ALWAYS BEEN A, UH, PASSIONATE, UM, FIGHTER FOR WORKERS' RIGHTS.
[07:15:01]
THE WORK THAT HE'S DONE TO PULL THIS TOGETHER.GREG LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE A, VOTE THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE KITCHEN, UH, ISC, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THOSE OPPOSED PASSES UNANIMOUSLY WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CASAR OFF THE DIOCESE, UH, COLLEAGUES.
I THINK THAT'S ALL OF THE ITEMS THAT WE HAVE ON THE, UH, AGENDA.
UH, WE DO HAVE, UH, COUNCIL MEETINGS NEXT WEEK.
[Additional item]
TAKE JUST A, A MOMENT, UH, AND, UH, TAKE A, UM, UM, MOMENT IN SILENCE.UH, WE LOST, UH, UM, OUR REALLY IMPORTANT, UM, UH, CITY, UH, STAFFER, UH, THAT, UH, WE GOT MENTIONED HERE TONIGHT AS A SPOT DAY IN THE HISTORICAL, UH, UH, PRESERVATION AS KATHY WHEN I DRESS IT FIRST.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THAT TIME.
UM, WE HAD THE REAL HONOR OF RECOGNIZING STEVE SEDOWSKY WITH A DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD SLASH PROCLAMATION AT ONE, OUR SPECIAL CALLED MEETINGS.
AND, UM, HE DID PASS SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, AND HE IS, YOU KNOW, HE WAS A, A LONGTIME PUBLIC SERVANT, UH, SERVED THIS CITY ADMIRABLY AND WELL, AND I KNOW SO MANY OF US WILL WE'LL REALLY MISS HIM.
HE WAS, HE HELPED MAKE AUSTIN A BETTER PLACE.
AND OKAY, SO BEFORE WE, UH, LET'S JUST TAKE A MOMENT.
AND OUR MEETING IS ADJOURN HERE AT, UH, 6 0 8